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Iridoids are natural monoterpenoids, widely distributed in ornamental plants, herbs, and medicinal plants, but particularly in the green parts of plants. Their significance arises from diverse biological activities (anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, anti-cancer, anti-atherogenic, antidiabetic, neuroprotective, etc.) which have been well-documented and point out to the natural-origin, non-toxic compounds for the use in disease prevention and treatment. Nonetheless, iridoids are scarce in edible fruits and are not perceived as important phytocompounds of dietary fruits and food products. However, they do occur in some common edible fruits – olive, noni, berries, and a few less-common, but unique fruits – Japanese cornel, cornelian cherry, kousa dogwood, haskap berry, and guelder rose. In this review, we present the current state of knowledge regarding the identification and content of iridoids in edible fruits, their predominant activities, and above all, the possibilities and effects of iridoids' application in foods, drinks, and pharmaceuticals. The consulted literature shows that iridoids or iridoid-rich fruits can be successfully applied to broaden the variety of foods, as functional additives, and possibly as future pharmaceuticals of natural origin. Therefore, iridoids deserve an important role in a healthy diet and disease prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are silver atom masses that are attracting widespread interest due to their diverse applications, particularly their activity as antimicrobial agents. Physico-chemical methods of AgNP synthesis are associated with high costs, high temperatures and toxic byproducts. Thus, the plant mediated pathway represents a better option. The indigenous medicinal plant Morinda lucida was employed in the fabrication of AgNPs. The nanoparticles were characterized using different analytical techniques and also evaluated for their antimicrobial potential. Phytochemical screening of the plant was also carried out. For the synthesis, 10 ml of aqueous M. lucida leaf extract was added to 90 ml of freshly prepared 3 mM silver nitrate (AgNO3) solution in a flask. The mixture was allowed to stand at ambient temperature, in a dark cupboard for 48 hours. Positive AgNP synthesis, indicated by a colour change from red to brown was further validated by UV-vis spectroscopy wherein an absorption peak at 460.51 nm was recorded. The utilitarian aspects of the particles were further characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The SEM images showed that particles were round to irregular in shape. Amide, amine, alkene and alkynes were the most occurring functional groups from the FTIR spectra. Quantitative phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of flavonoids, terpenoids, phenols, reducing sugars and alkaloids in varying amounts, which play a significant role in the synthesis and stabilization of the AgNPs. The XRD diffractogram of AgNPs showed two peaks at 45.53° and 77.17° that correspond to miller indices of (200) and (311) respectively and an average crystalline size of 62.60 nm obtained using the Debye-Scherrer's formula. The DLS result indicated a Z-average size of 235.1 nm and a polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.4. EDX analysis showed that elemental silver (Ag) had the highest atomic concentration of 64.50 %. Using the agar well diffusion assay, the nanoparticles exhibited antimicrobial activity against P. aeruginosa (bacteria) and A. flavus (fungi). It can be concluded that M. lucida is capable of synthesizing stable, smallsized AgNPs with antimicrobial potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Asia, Morinda officinalis F.C. How, a member of the Rubiaceae family, is frequently used as a medicinal plant and is thought to have several biological properties. This study aimed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant of M. officinalis. Nitric oxide (NO) generation in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells was used to measure the anti-inflammatory effects, while the antioxidant activity of the extract was determined using the 2,2'-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate (ABTS) assay. The results show that the root extract of the plant dramatically reduced the amount of NO produced, with IC50 values of 37.11 ± 2.6 μgmL-1 (compared to IC50 14.20 ±1.1 μgmL-1 for dexamethasone). The antioxidant activity against ABTS has an SC50 value of 318.37 ± 12.21 μgmL-1 (Trolox, IC50 7.02 ± 0.24 μgmL-1). These results gave important background data for future research on the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits of M. officinalis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista de Investigación en Salud VIVE is the property of Revista de Investigacion en Salud VIVE and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In cancer progression, angiogenesis plays a crucial role in the formation of newer blood vessels. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an important factor which stimulates angiogenesis. By blocking VEGF signaling, the antiangiogenic potential can be accomplished. In this study, the potential can be achieved by the phytochemicals using Morinda tinctoria Roxb. belongs to the family Rubiaceae. The structures of the phytochemicals were downloaded from PubChem database and they were screened in silico for their physicochemical properties, pharmacokinetics parameters, drug likeness and toxicity profiles using various online tools and databases including Swiss ADME, pkCSM and ProTox II. All the phytochemicals were virtually screened against VEGFR-2 Tyrosine Kinase domain targets namely 3VHE, 4GA8 and 6GQQ) using iGEMDOCK. Molecular docking with VEGFR-2 target was performed by using AutoDock 4.2 software and the docking results were visualized using Biovia Discovery Studio version 16.1.0. Binding score and interaction profile were compared with the standard anti-angiogenic drugs Gefitinib and Pazopanib. The results revealed that Kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, Ursolic acid, Acacetin-7-O-glucopyranoside and ß-sitosterol showed greater binding energy and good interaction profile. In conclusion, these compounds may be taken as lead molecules to identify new chemical entities for cancer therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: While prior studies have explored the efficacy of Morinda officinalis oligosaccharides (MOs) as a treatment for patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), the mechanistic basis for the effects of MOs on brain function or the default-mode network (DMN) has yet to be characterized. The objective of this was to examine the effects of MOs treatment on functional connectivity in different regions of the DMN., Methods: In total, 27 MDD patients and 29 healthy control subjects (HCs) underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. The patients were then treated with MOs for 8 weeks, and scanning was performed at baseline and the end of the 8-week treatment period. Changes in DMN homogeneity associated with MOs treatment were assessed using network homogeneity (NH) analyses of the imaging data, and pattern classification approaches were employed to determine whether abnormal baseline NH deficits could differentiate between MDD patients and controls. The ability of NH abnormalities to predict patient responses to MOs treatment was also evaluated., Results: Relative to HCs, patients exhibited a baseline reduction in NH values in the right precuneus (PCu). At the end of the 8-week treatment period, the MDD patients showed reduced and increased NH values in the right PCu and left superior medial frontal gyrus (SMFG), respectively. Compared to these patients at baseline, the 8-week MOs treatment was associated with reduced NH values in the right angular gyrus and increased NH values in the left middle temporal gyrus and the right PCu. Support vector machine (SVM) analyses revealed that NH abnormalities in the right PCu and left SMFG were the most accurate (87.50%) for differentiating between MDD patients and HCs., Conclusion: These results indicated that MOs treatment could alter default-mode NH in patients with MDD. The results provide a foundation for elucidation of the effects of MOs on brain function and suggest that the distinctive NH patterns observed in this study may be useful as imaging biomarkers for distinguishing between patients with MDD and healthy subjects., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declared that they have no conflicts of interest to this work., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Background of the study: The genus Morinda of the Madder family, (Rubiaceae) has been widely documented in traditional medicine due to its therapeutic properties and also, contributed a great deal in chemical industry. Different parts of Morinda species have traditionally been used to treat malaria, diabetes, memory loss, cancer, inflammation, skin infections, and typhoid fever. Aim and Objectives: The review provide a critical and innovative information on the traditional uses, phytochemical constituents, and industrial applications of the genus Morinda. This will help researchers understand future research trends by bridging the gap between documented literature and contemporary uses. Methodology: All the systematic literature data or information on the genus Morinda was collected via selected electronic databases, including Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, Springer, Medline, ChemSpider, Taylor and Francis, Google Scholar, SciFinder, ScienceDirect and Wiley. Relevant book chapters, Wikipedia and books were also explored. Results: The study reveals that different parts of Morinda plants have been extensively used for folkloric therapeutic purposes and are a plethora of mineral or nutritional benefits and secondary metabolites. Several classes of bioactive compounds have been elucidated from Morinda plants via spectroscopic and chromatographic phytochemical analyses. Compounds such as terpenoids, glycosides, anthraquinones, polyphenols, steroids, saponins and reducing sugars are among the bioactive substances reported in the genus. Plant extracts, fractions and isolates of Morinda plants have exhibited pronounced antidiabetic, antioxidant, antiplasmodial, antidepressant, wound healing, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory effects (in vitro and in vivo). These pharmacological activities exhibited could be linked to the presence of secondary metabolites reported. The applications of this genus is well documented in textile, metallurgical, agrochemicals and food industries. Conclusion: A number of reports on Morinda showed significant therapeutic effect against several diseases such as cancer, dermal infection, diabetes, inflammation, malaria, typhoid, cholera and memory loss, however, there were several drawback in previous reports including mechanism of action, drug dose, controls and toxicological data of extracts or isolates. In view of this, further studies should emphasis on targeting active secondary metabolites which responsible for the therapeutic activities, structural elucidation and toxicological assessment. Furthermore, industrial uses require authentication.

• Leaf extracts of M. morindoides possess the antimalarial activity against the multi-resistant strain K1 and FcB1 of plasmodium falciparum. • The activity of M. morindoides related to terpenes, steroids, and flavonoids, whereas the active ingredients of M. lucida might be anthraquinones. • Anthraquinones extract from the stem bark present a higher effect than other extracts. • M. citrifolia, M. elliptica and M. pubescens were reported in very limited literature. Morinda , which includes many members in its genus, is a traditional medicine against malaria in Africa. We aim to systematically review the antimalarial activities of Morinda species. We conducted a systematic search in nine databases. A manual search of the reference list was also used to identify relevant articles. We included all original researches investigating the antimalarial activities and cytotoxicity of Morinda species. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO with CRD42018102856. We finalized 33 studies for quality synthesis. Our study showed that leaf extracts of M. morindoides possessed antimalarial activity against the multi-resistant strain K1 and FcB1 of Plasmodium falciparum. Its extracts including the ethanol extracts, ethyl acetate fraction and ethanol fraction from water extract, chloroform fraction from ethanol and methanol extract, presented significant antimalarial activity. Quercetin and four phenylpropanoids conjugated iridoid extracted from methanol extract might be active ingredients. Dichloromethane leaf extract of the plants was more effective than others to suppress parasite growth in vivo models. M. lucinda with its stem bark extract, ethanol, and dichloromethane leaf extracts had a noticeable antimalarial activity. The effect of the plant could relate to the synthetic action between active compounds. Anthraquinones were supposed as constituents causing its main effect. Other Morinda species only reported in limited literature. Our findings provided the chemical constituents, which may become a promising treatment in malaria. The mechanism of their actions should be elucidated in further studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Morinda lucida Benth is a valuable plant used in traditional medicine for the management of diarrhea, dysentery, malaria and other illnesses. The study evaluated the safety of Morinda lucida stem bark methanol extract (MLSE) in Wistar rats. The stem part was air-dried and extracted by maceration in 70% methanol. Phytochemical compounds in MLSE were determined by qualitative methods and Gas chromatography/Mass spectroscopy (GC/MS). The single oral dose and repeated 28-day oral toxicity were employed for acute and sub-acute toxicity studies respectively. Signs of convulsion, sedation, lacrimation, changes in fur, respiratory distress and mortality were recorded. Alterations in haematological, biochemical and histoarchitectural indices were investigated. Phytochemical analysis on MLSE confirmed the presence of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, alkaloids, phytosterols and glycosides. Hexadecenoic acid, oleic acid and its derivatives and two anthraquinones, digitolutein and rubiadin 1-methyl ether were detected. There was no mortality at doses =5000 mg/kg of MLSE. Treatment with MLSE significantly increased (p<0.05) percentage mean body weight gain in rats. However, percentage mean relative weight of the liver, kidney, heart of the rats that received MLSE were not significantly different (p>0.05), compared to control. MLSE did not adversely affect haematological parameters investigated. There was no derangement in fasting blood sugar, serum electrolytes, biochemical parameters and liver enzymes of rats treated with MLSE. Histopathology of target organs showed no relevant anatomical change. The findings indicate that Morinda lucida stem bark methanol extract was non-toxic at oral doses =5000 mg/kg and thus represents a potentially valuable product for further investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evolutionary expansion of sensory neuron populations detecting important environmental cues is widespread, but functionally enigmatic. We investigated this phenomenon through comparison of homologous olfactory pathways of Drosophila melanogaster and its close relative Drosophila sechellia, an extreme specialist for Morinda citrifolia noni fruit. D. sechellia has evolved species-specific expansions in select, noni-detecting olfactory sensory neuron (OSN) populations, through multigenic changes. Activation and inhibition of defined proportions of neurons demonstrate that OSN number increases contribute to stronger, more persistent, noni-odour tracking behaviour. These expansions result in increased synaptic connections of sensory neurons with their projection neuron (PN) partners, which are conserved in number between species. Surprisingly, having more OSNs does not lead to greater odour-evoked PN sensitivity or reliability. Rather, pathways with increased sensory pooling exhibit reduced PN adaptation, likely through weakened lateral inhibition. Our work reveals an unexpected functional impact of sensory neuron population expansions to explain ecologically-relevant, species-specific behaviour., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Ethnophamacological Relevance: Morinda officinalis oligosaccharides (MOs) is a mixture of oligosaccharides extracted from the roots of Morinda officinalis (MO). It is approved by Chinese Food and Drug Administration (CFDA) for depression treatment. MOs could improve the antidepressant efficacy of escitalopram in clinic., Aim of the Study: We aim to explore the antidepressant activity and potential mechanism of the combination usage of MOs and escitalopram on animal model of depression., Materials and Methods: Depressive animal model was induced by chronic mild stress (CMS). Behavioral tests were conducted to evaluate the antidepressant efficacy of MOs and escitalopram. Serum neurotransmitter levels were detected by High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Quantitative real-time PCR and Western blotting were applied to assay the hippocampus neurotrophic factors' mRNA and protein levels. Peripheral cytokines levels were measured through Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Micorglia polization phenotype was assayed by immunofluorescence and flow cytometry., Results: MOs and escitalopram obviously attenuated depression-like behaviors of CMS mice. Importantly, MOs plus escitalopram exhibited better antidepressant activity on CMS mice than monotherapy. At the same time, MOs combined escitalopram treatment significantly increased hippocampus neurotransmitters and neurotrophic factor levels, stimulated hippocampus neurogenesis and relieved central nervous system (CNS) microglia over-activation of CMS mice. The combination therapy had greater effect on neuroprotection and inflammation attenuation of CMS mice than monotherapy., Conclusion: Our results indicates MOs combined escitalopram might produce antidepressant activity through protecting neuron activity, relieving inflammation and modulating microglia polarization process., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Essential oils (EOs) extracted from botanical resources have greatly been appraised as antimicrobials against a broad spectrum of microorganisms. A panoply of experimental studies have pointed out the immense potency of EOs as natural antimicrobial agents at relatively low doses; largely attributed to the synergistic interaction of various bioactive components. In the present study, 10 EOs prepared from two endemic (Pittosporum senacia Putterl. subsp. Senacia and Syzygium coriaceum J. Bosser & J. Guého) and seven exotic (Cinnamomum camphora (L.) Nees & Eberm, Citrus aurantium L., Curcuma longa L, Morinda citrifolia L., Petroselinum crispum (Mill.) Fuss , Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour.) Sprengel and Syzygium samarangense (Blume) Merr. & L. M. Perry) aromatic medicinal plants from Mauritius, were screened for their growth inhibitory activities against eight bacteria (ATCC strains and clinical isolates) using broth microdilution techniques. The EOs were found to possess varying degree of antibacterial potency. The most active EOs were found to have minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 0.25-4 mg/mL and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of 0.25-16 mg/mL. In particular, at its MIC values, P. amboinicus EO showed bactericidal effects against four strains. However, all tested bacteria were insensitive to P. senecia and C. aurantium fruit peel EOs. Bacillus spizizenii was found to be the most susceptible strain to the active EOs. Additionally, P. amboinicus and the two Syzygium spp. EOs showed antibiotic potentiating activities. Mostly synergistic and partial synergistic actions of the EOs, in combination with the conventional antibiotics (streptomycin, chloramphenicol and ciprofloxacin) at a ratio of 1:1 were obtained against the tested bacteria. Thus, results from this study highlighted the antibacterial potential and the efficacy of the most active EOs as antibiotic potentiating agents that could potentially be used in combinational therapy along with conventional antibiotics for a synergistic approach in the treatment/management of clinically relevant bacterial infections. Essential oils from 9 exotic and endemic medicinal plants from Mauritius shows in vitro antibacterial and antibiotic potentiating activities [Display omitted] • Essential oils from 9 medicinal plants were screened for antibacterial properties • Active essential oils exhibited bacteriostatic/bactericidal effect at 0.25-32 mg/mL • Antibiotic potentiating activities were demonstrated by 3 essential oils • Synergism and partial synergism were reported for most oil/antibiotic combinations [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Medicina Naturista is the property of Sociedad Europea de Medicina Naturista Clasica (Seccion Espanola) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Morinda officinalis is a well-known medicinal and edible plant that is widely cultivated in the Lingnan region of southern China. Its dried roots (called bajitian in traditional Chinese medicine) are broadly used to treat various diseases, such as impotence and rheumatism. Here, we report a high-quality chromosome-scale genome assembly of M. officinalis using Nanopore single-molecule sequencing and Hi-C technology. The assembled genome size was 484.85 Mb with a scaffold N50 of 40.97 Mb, and 90.77% of the assembled sequences were anchored on eleven pseudochromosomes. The genome includes 27,698 protein-coding genes, and most of the assemblies are repetitive sequences. Genome evolution analysis revealed that M. officinalis underwent core eudicot γ genome triplication events but no recent whole-genome duplication (WGD). Likewise, comparative genomic analysis showed no large-scale structural variation after species divergence between M. officinalis and Coffea canephora. Moreover, gene family analysis indicated that gene families associated with plant–pathogen interactions and sugar metabolism were significantly expanded in M. officinalis. Furthermore, we identified many candidate genes involved in the biosynthesis of major active components such as anthraquinones, iridoids and polysaccharides. In addition, we also found that the DHQS, GGPPS, TPS-Clin, TPS04, sacA, and UGDH gene families—which include the critical genes for active component biosynthesis—were expanded in M. officinalis. This study provides a valuable resource for understanding M. officinalis genome evolution and active component biosynthesis. This work will facilitate genetic improvement and molecular breeding of this commercially important plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Morinda (Morinda officinali s How.) is widely consumed as a functional food owing to its potential to promote health. This study investigated the anti-inflammatory phytochemicals of morinda and isolated 30 monoterpenes, including 6 undescribed iridoids (1 , 6 , 9 – 11 and 25), 2 undescribed acyclic monoterpenoids (28 , 29), a known acyclic monoterpenoid and 21 known iridoids. Their chemical and stereo-structures were elucidated based on HR–ESI–MS, NMR, 13C-NMR calculations, ECD data and ECD calculations. Notably, compounds 11 , 12 and 20 exerted pronounced inhibitory effects on lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide production in RAW 264.7 macrophages, with IC 50 values of 28.51 ± 1.70, 25.45 ± 4.17 and 29.17 ± 3.71 μM respectively (indomethacin, IC 50 of 33.68 ± 2.19 μM). The same compounds exert anti-inflammatory effects by blocking nuclear translocation of nuclear factor κ-B, and down-regulating the expression of inflammatory cytokines such as cyclooxygenase-2, inducible nitric oxide synthase, interleukin-1 β and interleukin-6 at mRNA and protein levels in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that moderate consumption of morinda helps prevent and reduce the occurrence of inflammatory-related diseases. [Display omitted] • Anti-inflammatory constituents of Morinda officinalis were conducted. • Thirty compounds, including 8 new compounds, were isolated and identified. • Most of the isolated iridoids showed potent anti-inflammatory activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a gram-negative facultative anaerobic bacterium implicated as the causative agent of several shrimp diseases. As part of the effort to provide biocontrol and cost-effective treatments, this research was designed to elucidate the effect of Morinda citrifolia fruit extract on the immunity of Penaeus vannamei postlarvae (PL) to V. parahaemolyticus. The methanol extract of M. citrifolia was vacuum evaporated, and the bioactive compounds were detected using gas chromatography‒mass spectrometry (GC‒MS). Thereafter, P. vannamei PL diets were supplemented with M. citrifolia at different concentrations (0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 mg/g) and administered for 30 days before 24 h of exposure to the bacterium V. parahaemolyticus. A total of 45 bioactive compounds were detected in the methanol extract of M. citrifolia, with cyclononasiloxane and octadecamethyl being the most abundant. The survival of P. vannamei PLs fed the extract supplement was better than that of the control group (7.1-26.7% survival greater than that of the control group) following V. parahaemolyticus infection. Shrimp fed 50 mg/g M. citrifolia had the highest recorded survival. The activities of digestive and antioxidant enzymes as well as hepatopancreatic cells were significantly reduced, except for those of lipase and hepatopancreatic E-cells, which increased following challenge with V. parahaemolyticus. Histological assessment of the hepatopancreas cells revealed reduced cell degeneration following the administration of the plant extracts (expecially those fed 50 mg/g M. citrifolia) compared to that in the control group. Therefore, the enhanced immunity against V. parahaemolyticus infection in P. vannamei could be associated with the improved hepatopancreas health associated with M. citrifolia fruit extract supplementation., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: This study focused on the antiplasmodial activities of two botanicals: Morinda lucida and Alstonia boonei used in malaria treatment. The in vivo activity of the plants against established Plasmodium berghei NK65 infection was evaluated in 75 experimental mice randomly distributed into 15 groups and treated with extracts of M. lucida and A. boonei, combined recipe of the two plants at graded doses of 400, 600, and 800 mg/kg and chloroquine at 10 mg/kg. Results: The results revealed that the percentage parasitemia was higher in the infected untreated mice (18.40%) than the treated mice. Among the treated mice, the highest percentage parasitemia (6.0%) was obtained in mice treated with 800 mg/kg of A. boonei while the lowest percentage parasitemia (0.0%) was obtained in mice treated with 10 mg/kg of chloroquine. Chloroquine eliminated all the parasites (100% clearance) when compared to the percentage clearance by the plant extracts. For the plant extracts, antiplasmodial activity was highest with the combined recipe of M. lucida and A. boonei at 800 mg/kg (92%) and lowest at 800 mg/kg (45%) of M. lucida. Meanwhile, the optimal antiplasmodial activity (83%) of M. lucida was obtained at 400 mg/kg and that of A. boonei was obtained at 600 mg/kg (85%). Conclusions: This study revealed that the two plant extracts under the study have antiplasmodial activities which are promising in reducing the morbidity and mortality of drug-resistant malaria in endemic communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we attempted for the first time to determine the phytochemical compositions and biopharmaceutical properties of the methanolic and aqueous extracts of Morinda morindoides fruits and seeds. Antioxidant propensities of the extracts were determined via free radical‐scavenging, phosphomolybdenum, metal chelating, and reducing power assays. Inhibitory activities against cholinesterases (acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE)), tyrosinase, α‐amylase, and α‐glucosidase were assessed. Moreover, the total phenolic and flavonoid contents were determined. High Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled to Electrospray Ionization Quadrupole Time‐of‐Flight Mass Spectrometry (HPLC‐ESI‐Q‐TOF‐MS) analysis was performed to establish the chemical profile of the investigated extracts. The tested extracts showed remarkable antioxidant abilities with aqueous fruit extract being most potent in all assays, except for ferrous ion chelating assay. Overall, the methanolic extracts were potent inhibitors of the tested enzymes. In conclusion, M. morindoides may be endorsed as promising sources of bioactive compounds and used for designing functional foods. Practical applications: In recent years, new compounds from plant sources have attracted great interest to design functional foods. Thus, we aimed to detect biological and chemical properties of Morinda morindoides fruits and seeds, a widely used as food with medicinal properties in Africa. Based on our findings, fruits extracts exhibited stronger activity when compared to seed extracts. Also, chemical identification was performed for each extracts. The presented findings could provide valuable information into the pool of scientific knowledge and may be basis for the design of novel functional applications from M. morindoides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different ripeness plays a key role in the final quality and flavor of Noni products, but the variations of quality and flavor during Noni ripening are still unclear. In this study, physicochemical analysis combined with electronic nose, electronic tongue and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) were used to investigate the effect of different ripeness levels on Noni fruit quality and flavor chemistry. The results showed that the optimum stage of nutrient accumulation is 7-8 ripe (7M-8M), in which especially the higher contents were 144Mg/100 g vitamin C, 11.08 g/kg polyphenols, 15.32 g/kg flavonoids and 2420Mg/kg potassium. Octanoic acid and hexanoic acid with an unfriendly odor began to decrease significantly after 8 ripe (8M), the lowest contents were 256.76 and 231.26 ng/g at 9 ripe (9M). Sour, astringent and fresh tastes are the dominant tastes of Noni fruit. Therefore, the optimum harvesting time of Noni fruit is 8M., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Aim: Assessment of the impact of contemporary disinfection techniques Moringa Oleifera (M. Oleifera), NanoCare Plus Silver Gold® (Nanocare), and Fullerene (C60) on survival rates of S.Mutans and shear bond strength (SBS) of composite to the carious affected dentin (CAD) MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sixty mandibular molars having caries progression till the middle 1/3rd of the dentin were disinfected. The CAD surface of twenty samples was inoculated with S.mutans. Based on different disinfection regimens samples were arbitrarily assigned to four groups (n:15) Group 1: 2 % CHX, Group 2:NanoCare, Group 3:Fullerene (C60), and Group 4 (M. Oleifera. This was followed by calculating the survival rate of S.mutans. Ten samples from each group were then restored with composite restoration and thermocycled. Assessment of SBS and failure mode was performed using a universal testing machine and stereomicroscope at 40X magnification. Statistical significance among groups was assessed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey's test at a significance level of p = 0.05 RESULTS: Group 2 samples treated with NanoCare exhibited the lowest survival rate (0.39 ± 0.02 CFU/ml) of S.Mutans. However, Group 1 (CHX) samples exhibited the highest survival count (0.51±0.10 CFU/ml). Furthermore, the highest composite to CAD bond was observed in Group 3 Fullerene(C60) (18.44±0.25 MPa) samples and the lowest SBS was observed in Group 1 (CHX) (12.48±1.69 MPa) CONCLUSION: Fullerene(C60) and Moringa Oleifera extract hold promise as potential substitutes for chlorhexidine (CHX) in clinical applications, offering the potential for improved S.Mutans elimination and enhanced bond strength to CAD surface., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Morinda citrifolia, commonly known as noni, is a plant belonging to the Rubiaceae family. This plant has a high biological potential, which has different biological properties, including antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antitumor and anti-inflammatory. In this work, the immunomodulatory, antitumor and antimicrobial activities of lignin isolated from Morinda citrifolia leaves were investigated. The results showed that this lignin was not cytotoxic and that it was able to promote activation and differentiation of immune cells in addition to inducing the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, it was able to inhibit the growth of different tumor and microbial cells in vitro. This pioneering study on these different activities shows that the lignin isolated in this study can be used as a raw material to obtain biomedical and pharmaceutical products.

Plant-parasitic nematodes are known as one of the most important pests attacking various plants in the world, and investigating the nematode component is very essential for management of this pest and prevent damage to plants in general. Our survey of plant-parasitic nematodes on medicinal plants in Me Linh Station for Biodiversity, a place for conservation of precious plants and animals in Vietnam, identified ten species that belong to nine genera, five families, and two orders of plant-parasitic nematodes parasitizing six medicinal plants. Excoecaria cochinchinensis was parasitized by the highest number of nematode genera (5 genera, including Xiphinema, Discocriconemella, Meloidogyne, Helicotylenchus, and Hemicriconemoides), while Hymenocallis littoralis was associated with the highest number of plant-parasitic nematodes (2060 nematodes/250g soil). The results also showed that Discocriconemella limitanea was found to be a dominant species with the highest number of individuals on 6 medicinal plants, and the genus Helicotylenchus had the highest frequency of appearance (5/6 plants or 83.3%). These nematodes caused symptoms such as yellowing leaves, root galls, and root lesions, which directly affect the quality and yield of medicinal plants. Based on the results, this study showed that plant-parasitic nematodes are a potential threat to the cultivation of medicinal plants in Me Linh Station for Biodiversity, and thus, control measures should be applied to ensure sustainable cultivation of medicinal plants in this place. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Morinda officinalis (MO) mitigates the bone loss induced by glucocorticoid in rats. • MO enhances the bone formation of glucocorticoid-injured osteoblasts. • MO reverses the bone loss in GIOP rats by intervening arachidonic acid pathway. Abstract Morinda officinalis (MO) has long been used as a traditional herbal medicine for the treatment of bone fractures and joint diseases in China. Monotropein (Mon) and rubiadin-1-methyl ether (Rub) are major bioactive components in MO. Ample evidence shows that MO and its chemical constituents can prevent osteoporosis induced by estrogen-deficiency and ageing. However, there is no study reporting glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP). The aim of the present study was to explore the protective effect of MO on GIOP modeled rats and osteoblasts, and elucidate the underlying mechanisms via UHPLC-Q-TOF/MS based metabolomics profiling. Eight weeks after dexamethasone (DEX) injection and MO treatment in female SD rats aged 12 weeks, bone mineral density (BMD), the micro-architecture of the trabecular bone, serum level of bone metabolism markers, and urine metabolomics were assayed in vivo. Cultured osteoblasts were injured with DEX, and the effects of MO, Mon and Rub on osteoblastic proliferation, differentiation and mineralization were examined in vitro. The results showed that MO was able to increase BMD, improve the micro-architecture and intervene bone metabolism via regulating alkaline phosphatase (ALP), tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) and c-terminal telopeptides of type I collagen (CTX-I) levels in DEX-treated rats. The in vitro experiment showed that MO, Mon and Rub all increased the cell proliferation and ALP activity, and enhanced extracellular matrix mineralization in DEX-injured osteoblasts. Metabolomics profiling identified a total of 37 differential metabolites in DEX group vs. the control group, of which 20 were reversed significantly after MO treatment. Further metabolic pathway enrichment and Western blotting analysis showed that MO prevented bone loss mainly by interfering with arachidonic acid metabolism. These results suggested MO had a notable anti-GIOP effect, and the underlying mechanisms might be related to arachidonic acid metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Tetracyclic iridoids in Morinda lucida have anti-trypanosomal activity. • An analytical method and an isolation method for the compounds were developed. • Factors affecting the compound contents were evaluated by the analytical method. • New isolation method dramatically improved the yield of the compound. • These findings will facilitate investigation of tetracyclic iridoids as anti-trypanosomal agents. Abstract A new high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method has been established for quantitative and qualitative analysis of three tetracyclic iridoids: ML-2-3 (1), molucidin (2), and ML-F52 (3), which are responsible for anti-trypanosomal and anti-leishmanial activities of Morinda lucida Bentham leaves. Separation of 1–3 from dried 80% aqueous (aq.) ethanol extract was achieved on a reversed-phase cholester column packed with cholesteryl-bonded silica using an acetonitrile-0.1% aq. formic acid mobile phase system. Ultraviolet-visible (UV-VIS) spectroscopy was employed for detection of compounds, and their contents were determined by measuring absorbance at 254 nm. Depending on the above system, several factors potentially affecting the concentration of tetracyclic iridoids were evaluated resulting in several variation on plant organs, seasonality, variation between individual trees, and branch positions within the trees. Moreover, we developed a simple, quick, and effective method for tetracyclic iridoid isolation from M. lucida leaves that consisted of extraction by sonication into 80% aq. ethanol, basic hydrolysis, acid neutralization, liquid-liquid extraction into an organic solvent, and reverse phase open column chromatography. Employing this method, we have succeeded to obtain 1 as a colorless crystal yielding of 0.23%, which was 28 times higher than that of previous isolation method. Setting up methodology in this paper may be important for future in vitro and in vivo studies of tetracyclic iridoids and moreover for their applications in new drug design and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Rubiadin-1-methyl ether (RBM) is a natural anthraquinone compound isolated from the root of Morinda officinalis How. In our previous study, RBM was found to have inhibitory effects on the TRAP activity of osteoclasts, which means that RBM may be a candidate for therapy of bone diseases characterized by enhanced bone resorption. However, the further effect of RBM on osteoclasts and the underlying mechanism remain unclear. In the present study, we investigated the effects of RBM isolated from Morinda officinalis How. on osteoclasts derived from bone marrow macrophages (BMMs) and the underlying mechanism in vitro. RBM at the dose that did not affect the viability of cells significantly inhibited RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis and actin ring formation of osteoclast, while RBM performed a stronger effect at the early stage. In addition, RBM downregulated the expression of osteoclast-related proteins, including nuclear factor of activated T cells cytoplasmic 1 (NFATc1), cellular oncogene Fos (c-Fos), matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP-9) and cathepsin K (CtsK) as shown by Western blot. Furthermore, RBM inhibited the phosphorylation of NF-κB p65 and the degradation of IκBα as well as decreased the nuclear translocation of p65. Collectively, the results suggest that RBM inhibit osteoclastic bone resorption through blocking NF-κB pathway and may be a promising agent for the prevention and treatment of bone diseases characterized by excessive bone resorption. Highlights • Rubiadin-1-methyl ether (RBM) inhibits osteoclastogenesis at early stage. • RBM inhibits bone resorption by reducing expression of osteoclastic c-Fos and NFATc1. • RBM is involved in RANKL-induced NF-κB signaling pathway in osteoclasts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Scope In China, the root of M. officinalis has been widely used over thousands of years against a wide range of bone disease such as lumbago, limb-ache, sciatica and rheumatic arthralgia, and has tremendous medicinal value. But the bioactive constituents responsible for the osteoprotective effects in M. officinalis remain unknown. Methods and results M. officinalis polysaccharides were extracted, isolated and purified via DEAE-cellulose 52 and Sephacryl S-100HR column to obtain two saccharides (MOP70-1 and MOP70-2). The results of osteogenic activity assays revealed that MOP70-1 and MOP70-2 significantly promoted the proliferation, differentiation and mineralization of MC3T3-E1 cells. Furthermore, MOP70-2 also upregulated gene expression of runt-related transcription factor 2, osterix, osteocalcin, osteopontin, bone sialoprotein and osteoprotegerin, which implied that MOP70-2 stimulated osteoblastic differentiation by up-regulating osteogenic differentiation-related marker genes. In addition, structural analysis indicated that MOP70-2 contained (2 → 1)-linked- β -D-Fru f residues and terminated with a glucose residue. Morphological and conformational analyses indicated that MOP70-2 exhibited spherical structure of conglomeration and had no triple helix structure. Conclusion Our studies reported the osteogenic inulins obtained from root of M. officinalis for the first time. The systematical investigation including extraction, purification, biological activities and structural characterization provide a strong evidence for future therapeutic applications as anti-osteoporosis agent. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • Two polysaccharides (MOP70-1 and MOP70-2) were obtained from Morinda officinalis. • MOP70-2 exhibited more significant osteogenic activities than MOP70-1. • MOP70-2 stimulated osteoblast differentiation by up-regulating osteogenic genes. • The structure of inulin (MOP70-2) from M. officinalis was characterized. • MOP70-2 may act potentially as a natural anti-osteoporotic agent in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objectives: Morinda citrifolia (Noni) has been widely used in herbal remedies to treat and prevent various kinds of diseases. We conducted this study to evaluate the effects of Noni extract on the maintenance of morphology, the improvement of cellular viability, and the enhancement of osteogenesis of stem cell spheroids. Materials and Methods: We cultured stem cell spheroids made with gingiva-derived stem cells in the presence of Noni extract at concentrations of 10, 100 and 200 ng/mL. We performed analysis of the cell morphology and changes in the cellular viability. We conducted alkaline phosphatase activity assays using a kit, and mineralization assays using an anthraquinone dye to evaluate the osteogenesis of stem cell spheroids with the addition of Noni extract. Results: The applied cells formed spheroids well, and the addition of Noni at 10, 100 and 200 ng/mL concentrations did not produce significant morphological changes. The quantitative values for cellular viability on Day 3 showed that the absorbance values at 450 nm were 0.314 ± 0.013, 0.318 ± 0.008, 0.304 ± 0.000 and 0.300 ± 0.011 for Noni at 0, 10, 100 and 200 ng/mL concentrations, respectively. The results of alkaline phosphatase activity with absorbance values at 405 nm were 0.189 ± 0.019, 0.174 ± 0.023, 0.192 ± 0.014 and 0.210 ± 0.062 for Noni at 0, 10, 100 and 200 ng/mL concentrations, respectively, on Day 4. There were significantly higher values of Alizarin Red S staining for Noni in the 10, 100 and 200 ng/mL groups, with the highest value at 100 ng/mL when compared with the unloaded control on Day 14. Conclusions: Based on these findings, we concluded that Noni extract might be applied for the enhanced osteogenic differentiation of stem cell spheroids.

Background and Objectives : To investigate the antiplaque properties of two plant-based mouthwashes, Morinda citrifolia (MC) and Ocimum sanctum (OS), and their effect on TNF-α, IL-α, IL-β, IL-2, and IL-6 in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) of patients undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment. Materials and Methods : Seventy-five individuals were recruited according to defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. This study was structured into two distinct phases. Phase I was a combination of toothbrushing using toothpaste containing fluoride (Protocol A), while Phase II toothbrushing included fluoride toothpaste and use of a mouthwash (Protocol B). For Phase II, individuals participating in this study were allocated into different groups through a randomization process: Group 1-0.12% CHX, Group 2-5% MC, and Group 3-4% OS. Each individual's Phase I and Phase II scores were assessed. GCF was measured in three phases to determine the level of inflammatory biomarkers. The paired t -test evaluated the disparities between the pre- and post-plaque index. Categorical data were subjected to crosstab analysis to assess qualitative variables. The mean values of cytokine levels were presented. An unpaired t -test was employed to assess the levels of cytokines between individuals in Phase I and Phase II. Results : Toothbrushing, fluoride toothpaste, and the supplementary use of mouthwash (Phase II) resulted in mean plaque scores significantly lower than group A ( p < 0.001). Cytokines TNF-α, IL-α, and IL-β demonstrated a significant downward trend in herbal mouthwash users. Conclusions : In conjunction with fluoridated toothpaste and brushing, OS and MC can serve as a viable alternative to conventional synthetic mouthwash CHX. This combination demonstrates reducing mean plaque scores and diminishing the levels of cytokines TNF-α, IL-α, and IL-β.

Many traditional Chinese herbs are susceptible to ochratoxin A (OTA), a potent mycotoxin, which causes serious effects on the quality of the herb and on people's health. The development of methods to detect OTA is extremely important. Most methods for detecting OTA are based on a single-signal output mode, which might be easily influenced by complex environmental conditions. In this research, by taking advantage of the cleavage of DNA by target-induced CRISPR-Cas12a activity and the difference in electrostatic force of DNA to different charge electrochemiluminescent (ECL) and electrochemical (EC) probes, a biosensor is developed for the detection of OTA. First, the CRISPR-Cas12a system consists of a well-designed crRNA, its complementary strand (also as an aptamer for OTA), and Cas12a. Without the target, this CRISPR-Cas12a system is in the "activated stage", which digests hairpin DNA on the electrode, resulting in a weak ECL signal and strong current response. With the introduction of OTA bound with the aptamer, CRISPR-Cas12a activity is inhibited ("locked stage"). Thus, hairpin DNA remained intact on the electrode, resulting in recovery of the ECL signal and attenuation of the current intensity. As a result, this label-free dual-mode sensing platform realizes an assay for OTA in Morinda officinalis . This target-regulated CRISPR-Cas12a activity-sensing platform with dual-mode output not only provides high sensitivity (due to the CRISPR-Cas12a system), but also has good anti-interference ability against complex substrates (due to dual-mode output), and exhibits a broad range of prospects for application.

Background: The search for new antimalarial drugs remains elusive prompting research into antimalarial combinations from medicinal plants due to their cheapness, efficacy and availability. Azadirachta indica (AI), Morinda lucida (ML) and Mangifera indica (MI) have all been reported as potent antimalarial plants., Purpose: This study evaluated the efficacy of an antimalarial combination therapeutics prepared from leaves of AI, ML and MI using in vitro, in vivo and molecular methods., Methods: Refined extracts of the plants combination was made by partitioning the aqueous extract of plants combinations (AI + MI, AI + ML, MI + ML, AI + MI + ML) using methanol and ethyl acetate consecutively. The resulting ethyl acetate partitioned fraction was evaluated for its antimalarial activity. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation were employed to determine the possible mechanism of action of the constituent of the most active combination against four important P. falciparum proteins., Results: The result revealed that the refined extract from combinations AI + ML and MI + ML at 16 mg/kg bodyweight have the highest chemo-suppressive effect of 90.7% and 91.0% respectively compared to chloroquine's 100% at 10 mg/kg. Also, refined extract from MI + ML combination improved PCV levels significantly (p < 0.05) compared to controls. Molecular docking revealed oleanolic acid and ursolic acid as multiple inhibitors of plasmepsin II, hiso-aspartic protease, falcipain-2 and P. falciparum Eonyl acyl-carrier protein reductase with relative stability during 100 ns of simulation., Conclusion: The study unveiled the potentials of ML and MI as good candidates for antimalarial combination therapy and further established their use together as revealed in folklore medicine., (© 2023. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to Witold Stefański Institute of Parasitology, Polish Academy of Sciences.)

Eight previously undescribed naphthohydroquinone glycosides, namely morindaparvins H–O, together with four known anthraquinone glycosides were isolated from the n -BuOH extract of the aerial parts of Morinda parvifolia Bartl. ex DC (Rubiaceae). The structures of morindaparvins H–O were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis. To our knowledge, this is the first isolation of quinone glycosides from the plant M. parvifolia . The results showed that all 12 compounds at the concentration of 50 μM significantly increased p53 mRNA expression in A2780 cells compared with the blank control group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inulin-type fructooligosaccharides (FOS) purified from Morinda Officinalis , with degrees of polymerization (DP) from 3 to 9, have been approved in China as an oral prescribed drug for mild and moderate depression episode, while the stability and oral absorption of this FOS mixtures are largely unknown. As the main active component and quality control marker for above FOS, DP5 was selected as the representative FOS in this study. Desalting method by ion exchange resin was developed to treat bio-sample, followed by separation and quantification by high performance liquid chromatography-charged aerosol detector. Results showed that the DP5 was stepwisely hydrolyzed in simulated gastric fluid and gut microbiota, while maintained stable in intestinal fluid. DP5 has poor permeability across Caco-2 monolayer with P app of 5.22 × 10 −7  cm/s, and very poor oral absorption with bioavailability of (0.50 ± 0.12)% in rat. In conclusion, FOS in Morinda Officinalis demonstrated poor chemical stability in simulated gastric fluid and human gut microbiota, and low oral absorption in rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alzheimer's disease (AD), a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, lacks preclinical diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic drugs. Thus, earlier intervention in AD is a top priority. Studies have shown that the gut microbiota influences central nervous system disorders and that prebiotics can improve the cognition of hosts with AD, but these effects are not well understood. Preliminary research has shown that oligosaccharides from Morinda officinalis (OMO) are a useful prebiotic and cause substantial memory improvements in animalmodels of AD; however, themechanismis still unclear. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate whether OMO are clinically effective in alleviating AD by improving gut microbiota. OMO were administered to APP/PS1 transgenic mice, and potential clinical biomarkers of AD were identified with metabolomics and bioinformatics. Behavioral experiments demonstrated that OMO significantly ameliorated the memory of the AD animal model. Histological changes indicated that OMO ameliorated brain tissue swelling and neuronal apoptosis and downregulated the expression of the intracellular AD marker Aβ1-42. 16S rRNA sequencing analyses indicated that OMO maintained the diversity and stability of the microbial community. The data also indicated that OMO are an efficacious prebiotic in an animal model of AD, regulating the composition and metabolism of the gut microbiota. A serum metabolomics assay was performed using UHPLC-LTQ Orbitrap mass spectrometry to delineate the metabolic changes and potential early biomarkers in APP/PS1 transgenic mice. Multivariate statistical analysis showed that 14 metabolites were significantly upregulated, and 8 metabolites were downregulated in the model animals compared to the normal controls. Thus, key metabolites represent early indicators of the development of AD. Overall, we report a drug and signaling pathway with therapeutic potential, including proteins associated with cognitive deficits in normal mice or gene mutations that cause AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]