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Ficus spp. are often used as food and in traditional medicine, and their biological activities as anti-inflammatory and diuretic, for wound healing, and as antimicrobial agents have been largely reviewed. The aim of this work was to investigate the polyphenol content and the antioxidant and anti-tyrosinase properties of the extracts from F. rubiginosa, a very poorly explored Ficus species. For this purpose, F. rubiginosa leaves were collected at three different maturity stages (H1, H2, and H3), and the environmentally sustainable methanolic extracts were evaluated for the total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and total catechins content (TCC). The polyphenolic profile was studied using HPLC-UV/DAD and UHPLC-MS, and the antioxidant activity was determined in vitro using DPPH, FRAP, and ABTS assays. The study showed that the H2 extract had higher TPC and TFC values (113.50 mg GA/g and 43.27 mg QE/g, respectively) and significant antioxidant activity. Therefore, the H2 extract was selected to study the anti-tyrosinase activity. The results also showed that H2 was able to bind and inhibit tyrosinase, with rutin being the compound responsible for the measured activity on the enzyme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ficus rubiginosa plant extract showed antimicrobial activity, but no evidence concerning its antiviral properties was reported. The antiviral activity of the methanolic extract (MeOH) and its n-hexane (H) and ethyl acetate (EA) fractions against Herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1), Human coronavirus (HCoV) -229E, and Poliovirus-1 (PV-1) was investigated in the different phases of viral infection in the VERO CCL-81 cell line. To confirm the antiviral efficacy, a qPCR was conducted. The recorded cytotoxic concentration 50% was 513.1, 298.6, and 56.45 µg/mL for MeOH, H, and EA, respectively, assessed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay after 72 h of treatment. The Ficus rubiginosa leaf extract inhibited the replication of HSV-1 in the early stages of infection, showing a complete inhibition up to 0.62, 0.31, and 1.25 µg/mL. Against HCoV-229E, a total inhibition up to 1.25 µg/mL for MeOH and H as well as 5 µg/mL for EA was observed. Otherwise, no activity was recorded against PV-1. The leaf extract could act directly on the viral envelope, destructuring the lipid membrane and/or directly blocking the enriched proteins on the viral surface. The verified gene inhibition suggested that the treatments with M, H, and EA impaired HSV-1 and HCoV-229E replication, with a greater antiviral efficiency against HSV-1 compared to HCoV-229E, possibly due to a greater affinity of Ficus rubiginosa towards membrane glycoproteins and/or the different lipid envelopes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dendroctonous pseudotsugae is better known as the Douglas-fir beetle. This species possesses a striking pheromone system which is found in the female beetle. The system is a complex mix of substances and is composed primarily of (S)- and (R)-1-methyl-2-cyclohexen-1-ol of unknown enantiomeric composition. These compounds are the subject of a new methodology, now used for synthesizing analogs of these natural pheromones, which is reported on.

The dirhodium tetraacetate-catalyzed decomposition of diazoacylisooxazoles in the presence of furan leads to bonding at the heterocycle's beta-carbon site. This is contrary to the behavior of diazoacyclofurans where the side chain interaction is at the heterocycle's alpha-carbon site.

Bursera microphylla (BM), one of the common elephant trees, is widely distributed in the Sonoran Desert in Mexico. The Seri ethnic group in the Sonoran Desert uses BM as an anti-inflammatory and painkiller drug for the treatment of sore throat, herpes labialis, abscessed tooth, and wound healing. Dried stems and leaves of BM are used in a tea to relieve painful urination and to stimulate bronchial secretion. Furthermore, BM is used for fighting venereal diseases. To investigate the effects of the hexane fraction of resin methanol extract (BM-H) on cell growth, the acute myeloid cell line (OCI-AML3) was treated with 250, 25, or 2.5 µg/mL of BM-H. The first 2 concentrations were able to significantly decrease OCI-AML3 cell number. This reduced cell number was associated with decreased S-phase, blockade of the G2/M phase of the cell cycle, and increased cell death. Similar results were obtained on all tested tumor cell lines of different origins. We found that blockade of the cell cycle was due to upregulation of p21 protein in a p53-independent way. Increase of p21 was possibly due to upstream upregulation of p-ERK (which stabilizes p21 protein) and downregulation of p-38 (which promotes its degradation). Regarding cell death, activation of caspase-3, but not of caspase-8 or -9, was detectable after BM-H treatment. In conclusion, these data suggest that the BM’s hexane fraction inhibited proliferation of cell lines mainly by a p21-dependent, p53-independent mechanism and promoted apoptosis through activation of caspase-3, but not caspase-8 or -9. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The direct conversion of selenides to selenones under mild conditions is presented. The synthesis involves the use of Oxone or potassium hydrogen persulfate as the oxidizing agent. Selenones were produced when selenides were treated with three mol equivalent of Oxine in a methanolic, aqueous, bufferred solution at room temperature. The scheme was applied to the oxidation of alkyaryl selenides, beta-methoxyalkyl selenides and beta-hydroxyalkyl selenides.

Copal is the Spanish word used to describe aromatic resins from several genera of plants. Mexican copal derives from several Bursera spp., Protium copal, some Pinus spp. (e.g., P. pseudostrobus) and a few Fabaceae spp. It has been used for centuries as incense for religious ceremonies, as a food preservative, and as a treatment for several illnesses. The aim of this review is to analyze the chemical composition and biological activity of commercial Mexican Bursera copal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of increasing concentrations of oregano (Origanum vulgare L.) and rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) essentials oil (EO) on ruminal gas emissions were tested in vitro using 50 mL serum bottles. Each bottle contained a 200 mg substrate (alfalfa hay and corn meal 1:1) and a 20 mL solution composed of a buffered medium and rumen fluid (1:2). The percentage of ruminal fermentation products was quantified by an infrared analyzer. The reduction of total gas production was 6% and 9% respectively when using the 1.5 and 2.0 g/L oregano EO measurements. The reduction of methane production was 55%, 72% and 71% respectively with regard to the 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 g/L oregano EO doses, while rosemary EO (2.0 g/L) reduced the methane production by 9%. The production of ammonia was significantly reduced (59%-78%) by all treatments with the exception of rosemary EO at the lowest dose. Dry matter and neutral detergent fiber degradability was reduced by most of the treatments (respectively 4%-9% and 8%-24%). The total volatile fatty acids (VFA) concentration was markedly decreased by oregano EO and was not affected by rosemary EO. Both EOs mitigated rumen fermentations, but oregano EO gave rise to the highest reduction in methane and ammonia production. However, further research is needed to evaluate the use of these essential oils as dietary supplements by taking into account the negative effects on feed degradability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hinokinin is a lignan isolated from several plant species that has been recently investigated in order to establish its biological activities. So far, its cytotoxicity, its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities have been studied. Particularly interesting is its notable anti-trypanosomal activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new cyathane diterpene, cyrneine E (1) was isolated from the mushroom Sarcodon cyrneus. The structure of the novel compound was determined by analysis of its spectroscopic data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacteria are social organisms able to build complex structures, such as biofilms, that are highly organized surface-associated communities of microorganisms, encased within a self- produced extracellular matrix. Biofilm is commonly associated with many health problems since its formation increases resistance to antibiotics and antimicrobial agents, as in the case of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, two human pathogens causing major concern. P. aeruginosa is responsible for severe nosocomial infections, the most frequent of which is ventilator-associated pneumonia, while S. aureus causes several problems, like skin infections, septic arthritis, and endocarditis, to name just a few. Literature data suggest that natural products from plants, bacteria, fungi, and marine organisms have proven to be effective as anti-biofilm agents, inhibiting the formation of the polymer matrix, suppressing cell adhesion and attachment, and decreasing the virulence factors' production, thereby blocking the quorum sensing network. Here, we focus on plant derived chemicals, and provide an updated literature review on the anti-biofilm properties of terpenes, flavonoids, alkaloids, and phenolic compounds. Moreover, whenever information is available, we also report the mechanisms of action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, we evaluated for the first time the variability of antioxidant traits of four Brassica wild species: B. incana, B. macrocarpa, B. villosa, and B. rupestris. The content of the main water-soluble antioxidants (phenolics, ascorbic acid, and total biothiols) and the in vitro antioxidant potential (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazil (DPPH) and superoxide anion scavenging capacity) were investigated. A total of 28 polyphenolic compounds were identified by LC/MS and quantitated by HPLC/DAD analysis. Kaempferol and quercetin derivatives were the most abundant phenolics compared to hydroxycinnamoyl gentiobiosides. In the ten populations, phenolics ranged from 163.9 to 533.9 mg/100 g dry weight (d.w.), ascorbic acid from 7.6 to 375.8 mg/100 g d.w., and total biothiols from 0.59 to 5.13 mg/100 g d.w. The different classes of phytochemicals were separated using solid-phase extraction at increasing methanol concentrations, and the antioxidant power of fractionated extracts was evaluated. The superoxide anion scavenging activity was significantly correlated to phenolics, particularly to flavonol derivatives, while DPPH was mainly related to ascorbic acid content. The present findings improve the knowledge of the phytochemical composition of Italian Brassica wild species by showing the great diversity of phytochemicals among populations and highlighting their importance as a valuable genetic resource for developing new cultivars with improved bioactive content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The feasibility of the use of two lipid sources and their impact on the cannabinoid profile, terpene fingerprint, and degradation products in medical cannabis oil preparations during 3 months of refrigerated storage time were investigated. LCHRMS-Orbitrap® and HS-SPME coupled to GC-MS for the investigation of targeted and untargeted cannabinoids, terpenes, and lipid degradation products in Bedrocan® and Bediol® macerated oils were used as analytical approaches. As regards the cannabinoid trend during 90 days of storage, there were no differences between PhEur-grade olive oil (OOPH) and medium-chain triglycerides oil (MCT oil) coupled to a good stability of preparations for the first 60 days both in Bedrocan® and Bediol® oils. MCT lipid source extracted a significant concentration of terpenes compared to olive oil. Terpenes showed a different scenario since MCT oil displayed the strongest extraction capacity and conservation trend of all compounds during the shelf life. Terpenes remained stable throughout the entire storage period in MCT formulations while a significant decrease after 15 and 30 days in Bediol® and Bedrocan® was observed in olive oil. Therefore, MCT oil could be considered a more suitable lipid source compared to olive oil involved in the extraction of medical cannabis for magistral preparations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diterpenes are characteristic compounds from the genus Sideritis L., possessing an array of biological activities. Siderol is the main constituent of the ent-kaurene diterpenes in Sideritis species. In order to isolate the specific compound and evaluate for the first time its cytotoxic activity, we explored the dichloromethane extract of cultivated Sideritis euboea Heldr. To track the specific natural bioactive agent, we applied NMR spectroscopy to the crude plant extract, since NMR can serve as a powerful and rapid tool both to navigate the targeted isolation process of bioactive constituents, and to also reveal the identity of bioactive components. Along these lines, from the rapid 1D 1H NMR spectrum of the total crude plant extract, we were able to determine the characteristic proton NMR signals of siderol. Furthermore, with the same NMR spectrum, we were able to categorize several secondary metabolites into chemical groups as a control of the isolation process. Therefore, this non-polar extract was explored, for the first time, revealing eleven compounds—one fatty acid ester; 2-(p-hydroxyphenyl)ethylstearate (1), three phytosterols; β-sitosterol (2), stigmasterol (3), and campesterol (4); one triterpenoid; ursolic acid (5), four diterpenoids; siderol (6), eubol (7), eubotriol (8), 7-epicandicandiol (9) and two flavonoids; xanthomicrol (10) and penduletin (11). The main isolated constituent was siderol. The antiproliferative potential of siderol was evaluated, using the MTT (3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-Diphenyltetrazolium Bromide) assay, on three human cancer cell lines DLD1, HeLa, and A549, where the IC50 values were estimated at 26.4 ± 3.7, 44.7 ± 7.2, and 46.0 ± 4.9 μΜ, respectively. The most potent activity was recorded in the human colon cancer cell line DLD1, where siderol exhibited the lowest IC50. Our study unveiled the beneficial potential of siderol as a remarkable cytotoxic agent and the significant contribution of NMR spectroscopy towards the isolation and identification of this potent anticancer agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chemical composition of the volatile fraction from Galium verum L. (leaves and flowers) and Cruciata laevipes Opiz (whole plant), Rubiaceae, was investigated. Samples from these two plant species were collected at full bloom in Val di Susa (Western Alps, Turin, Italy), distilled in a Clevenger-type apparatus, and analyzed by GC/FID and GC/MS. A total of more than 70 compounds were identified, making up 92%–98% of the total oil. Chemical investigation of their essential oils indicated a quite different composition between G. verum and C. laevipes, both in terms of the major constituents and the dominant chemical classes of the specialized metabolites. The most abundant compounds identified in the essential oils from G. verum were 2-methylbenzaldheyde (26.27%, corresponding to 11.59 μg/g of fresh plant material) in the leaves and germacrene D (27.70%; 61.63 μg/g) in the flowers. C. laevipes essential oils were instead characterized by two sesquiterpenes, namely β-caryophyllene (19.90%; 15.68 μg/g) and trans-muurola-4(15),5-diene (7.60%; 5.99 μg/g); two phenylpropanoids, benzyl alcohol (8.30%; 6.71 μg/g), and phenylacetaldehyde (7.74%; 6.26 μg/g); and the green-leaf alcohol cis-3-hexen-1-ol (9.69%; 7.84 μg/g). The ecological significance of the presence of such compounds is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this report was to study the effect of salinity (control: 2dS/m, S1: 4 dS/m and S2: 6 dS/m) and harvest time (first harvest on 9 May 2018 and second harvest on 19 April 2018) on the growth and the chemical composition of Centaurea raphanina subsp. mixta plants. The plants of the first harvest were used for the plant growth measurements (fresh weight and moisture content of leaves, rosette diameter, number and thickness of leaves), whereas those of the second harvest were not used for these measurements due to the flowering initiation, which made the leaves unmarketable due to their hard texture. The results of our study showed that C. raphanina subsp. mixta plants can be cultivated under mild salinity (S1 treatment) conditions without severe effects on plant growth and yield, since a more severe loss (27.5%) was observed for the S2 treatment. In addition, harvest time proved to be a cost-effective cultivation practice that allows to regulate the quality of the final product, either in edible form (first harvest) or for nutraceutical and pharmaceutical purposes as well as antimicrobial agents in food products. Therefore, the combination of these two agronomic factors showed interesting results in terms of the quality of the final product. In particular, high salinity (S2 treatment) improved the nutritional value by increasing the fat, proteins and carbohydrates contents in the first harvest, as well as the tocopherols and sugars contents (S1 and S2 treatments, respectively) in the second harvest. In addition, salinity and harvest time affected the oxalic acid content which was the lowest for the S2 treatment at the second harvest. Similarly, the richest fatty acid (α-linolenic acid) increased with increasing salinity at the first harvest. Salinity and harvest time also affected the antimicrobial properties, especially against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus and Trichoderma viride, where the extracts from the S1 and S2 treatments showed high effectiveness. In contrast, the highest amounts of flavanones (pinocembrin derivatives) were detected in the control treatment (second harvest), which was also reflected to the highest antioxidant activity (TBARS) for the same treatment. In conclusion, C. raphanina subsp. mixta plants seem to be tolerant to medium salinity stress (S1 treatment) since plant growth was not severely impaired, while salinity and harvesting time affected the nutritional value (fat, proteins, and carbohydrates) and the chemical composition (tocopherols, sugars, oxalic acid, fatty acids), as well as the bioactive properties (cytotoxicity and antimicrobial properties) of the final product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Schinus molle (L.) is a dioecious plant of the Anacardiaceae family, originating in South America and currently widespread in many regions throughout the world. In this work leaf extracts and derived low-pressure column chromatography (LPCC) fractions of S. molle L. male and female plants were investigated for the antimicrobial activity. Leaf extracts were tested on microbes Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Candida albicans and Bacillus subtilis. Furthermore, the extracts showing antimicrobial activity were fractionated by LPCC and the obtained fractions tested on the same microorganism strains. Positive fractions were investigated by gas-chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and were seen to be rich in sesquiterpenes, sesquiterpenoids and other terpens. The obtained effects highlighted the antimicrobial properties of S. molle (L.) leaf compounds and revealed their importance as a source of bioactive molecules of potential pharmaceutical interest. To our knowledge, this is the first paper reporting investigations on the chemical composition of the extracts and derived positive fractions from Schinus molle (L.) plants grown in central Italy [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As part of the efforts to find natural alternatives for cancer treatment and to overcome the barriers of cellular resistance to chemotherapeutic agents, polymeric nanocapsules containing curcumin and/or methotrexate were prepared by an interfacial deposition of preformed polymer method. Methods: Physicochemical properties, drug release experiments and in vitro cytotoxicity of these nanocapsules were performed against the Calu-3 lung cancer cell line. Results: The colloidal suspensions of nanocapsules showed suitable size (287 to 325 nm), negative charge (−33 to −41 mV) and high encapsulation efficiency (82.4 to 99.4%). Spherical particles at nanoscale dimensions were observed by scanning electron microscopy. X-ray diffraction analysis indicated that nanocapsules exhibited a non-crystalline pattern with a remarkable decrease of crystalline peaks of the raw materials. Fourier-transform infrared spectra demonstrated no chemical bond between the drug(s) and polymers. Drug release experiments evidenced a controlled release pattern with no burst effect for nanocapsules containing curcumin and/or methotrexate. The nanoformulation containing curcumin and methotrexate (NCUR/MTX-2) statistically decreased the cell viability of Calu-3. The fluorescence and morphological analyses presented a predominance of early apoptosis and late apoptosis as the main death mechanisms for Calu-3. Conclusions: Curcumin and methotrexate co-loaded nanocapsules can be further used as a novel therapeutic strategy for treating non-small-cell lung cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The studies of plant bacterial endophytes, colonizing the plant tissues without any signs of diseases, are essential for understanding of ecological interactions. The aim of our study is to detect microbiological contamination and to assess the antimicrobial, antioxidant activity, total phenolic, carotenoid content, genome size, and ploidy of non-cultivated Rosa canina sampled from urban areas. Samples of Rosa canina fruits were collected in three locations in Slovakia. The highest total viable count and the Enterobacteriaceae count in fruits were 4.32 log CFU/g and 4.29 log CFU/g, respectively. Counts of the mesophilic anaerobic sporulating bacteria, Pseudomonas spp., and of the microscopic fungi and yeasts were 3.00, 2.15 log CFU/g, 3.65 log CFU/g, and 2.76 log CFU/g, respectively. Regarding the antimicrobial activity, Escherichia coli and Klebsiela oxytoca were the most sensitive species among the assayed microorganisms to the treatment with the ethanolic extracts of Rosa canina fruits. The fruits were rich in bioactive compounds, polyphenols, and carotenoids, that could be related to their antioxidant activity. Genome sizes of analyzed samples ranged from 2.3 to 2.96. DNA-based fingerprinting obtained by iPBS markers of the Rosa canina var. lapidicola Heinr. Braun., was characterized by some distinctive inserted loci. An interdisciplinary study was performed for the dog roses from different parts of Slovakia that resulted in deeper characterization of this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Papaver rhoeas plant is common in many regions worldwide and contributes to the landscape with its red flower. In the present study we first carried out morphological investigation by optical and scanning electron microscopy of the ovules within the ovary. After ovules' isolation we prepared extracts to test possible cytotoxic activities on HL60 leukemia human cells and investigated the extracts using thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and gas-chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS). P. rhoeas ovules showed an elongated, round shape and the presence of ordered sculptures on the ovule surface. The ovule extracts showed cytotoxic activity on HL60 human cells mainly found in some TLC-isolated spots. Compounds consisting of active spots were identified by GC-MS investigations. Our findings on the P. rhoeas ovule compounds open perspectives for further investigations of TLC-isolated spots on other human cancer cell lines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In our natural products screening program for mosquitoes, we tested essential oils extracted from different plant parts of Magnolia grandiflora L. for their insecticidal and biting deterrent activities against Aedes aegypti. Biting deterrence of seeds essential oil with biting deterrence index value of 0.89 was similar to N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide (DEET). All the other oils were active above the solvent control but the activity was significantly lower than DEET. Based on GC-MS analysis, three pure compounds that were only present in the essential oil of seed were further investigated to identify the compounds responsible for biting deterrent activity. 1-Decanol with PNB value of 0.8 was similar to DEET (PNB = 0.8), whereas 1-octanol with PNB value of 0.64 showed biting deterrence lower than 1-decanol and DEET. The activity of 1-heptanol with PNB value of 0.36 was similar to the negative control. Since 1-decanol, which was 3.3% of the seed essential oil, showed biting deterrence similar to DEET as a pure compound, this compound might be responsible for the activity of this oil. In in vitro A & K bioassay, 1-decanol with MED value of 6.25 showed higher repellency than DEET (MED = 12.5). Essential oils of immature and mature fruit showed high toxicity whereas leaf, flower, and seeds essential oils gave only 20%, 0%, and 50% mortality, respectively, at the highest dose of 125 ppm. 1-Decanol with LC50 of 4.8 ppm was the most toxic compound. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A method has been developed for the separation and quantification of terpenic compounds typically used as markers in the chemical characterization of resins based on capillary liquid chromatography coupled to UV detection. The sample treatment, separation and detection conditions have been optimized in order to analyze compounds of different polarities and volatilities in a single chromatographic run. The monoterpene limonene and the triterpenes lupeol, lupenone, β-amyrin, and α-amyrin have been selected as model compounds. The proposed method provides linear responses and precision (expressed as relative standard deviations) of 0.6% to 17%, within the 0.5–10.0 µg mL−1 concentration interval; the limits of detection (LODs) and quantification (LOQs) were 0.1–0.25 µg mL−1 and 0.4–0.8 µg mL−1, respectively. The method has been applied to the quantification of the target compounds in microsamples. The reliability of the proposed conditions has been tested by analyzing three resins, white copal, copal in tears, and ocote tree resin. Percentages of the triterpenes in the range 0.010% to 0.16% were measured using sample amounts of 10–15 mg, whereas the most abundant compound limonene (≥0.93%) could be determined using 1 mg portions of the resins. The proposed method can be considered complementary to existing protocols aimed at establishing the chemical fingerprint of these kinds of samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seven new butanolides, peltanolides A–G (1–7), and two lignan glucosides, peltasides A (8) and B (9), along with eleven known compounds, 10–20, were isolated from a crude CH3OH/CH2Cl2 (1:1) extract of the fruit of Hernandia nymphaeifolia (Hernandiaceae). The structures of 1–9 were characterized by extensive 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic and HRMS analysis. The absolute configurations of newly isolated compounds 1–9 were determined from data obtained by optical rotation and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) exciton chirality methods. Butanolides and lignan glucosides have not been isolated previously from this genus. Several isolated compounds were evaluated for antiproliferative activity against human tumor cell lines. Lignans 15 and 16 were slightly active against chemosensitive tumor cell lines A549 and MCF-7, respectively. Furthermore, both compounds displayed significant activity (IC50 = 5 µM) against a P-glycoprotein overexpressing multidrug-resistant tumor cell line (KB-VIN) but were less active against its parent chemosensitive cell line (KB). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lauridia tetragona (L.f) R.H. Archer is routinely used in traditional medicine; however, its hepatoprotective property is yet to be scientifically proven. To this effect, the hepatoprotective activity of the polyphenolic-rich fractions (PPRFs) was investigated against acetaminophen (APAP) injured HepG2 cells. The ability of the PPRF to scavenge free radicals was tested against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and [2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonicacid)] (ABTS). The ferric ion reducing power (FRAP) was also evaluated as a cell-free antioxidant assay. The hepatoprotective activity was then investigated by observing the effect of PPRFs against APAP-induced reduction in cell viability of HepG2 cells. The concentrations of alanine aminotransferase (AST), aspartate aminotransferase (ALT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) released into the medium were evaluated while the underlying mechanism was further explored through western blot analysis. Thereafter, the isolated PPRFs were identified using UHPLC-QToF-MS. All six fractions of the PPRFs isolated showed significant antioxidant properties that were evident by the effective scavenging of DPPH, ABTS, and higher FRAP. The results indicated that PPRF pretreatments ameliorated APAP-induced hepatocellular injury by significantly inhibiting the leakage of AST, ALT, and LDH into the medium. The most active fractions for hepatoprotection were PPRF4 and PPRF6 with IC50 of 50.243 ± 8.03 and 154.59 ± 1.9 μg/mL, respectively. PPRFs markedly increased activities of liver superoxide dismutase, total antioxidant capacity, and liver glutathione concentration. Both PPRF4 and PPRF6 significantly increased the expression of Nrf2 and translocation. The LC-MS analysis revealed the presence of a wide variety of polyphenolics such as coumarin, ferulic acid, and caffeine among the dominant constituents. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that the isolated PPRFs have potential hepatoprotective activity that may be due to the increased expression of antioxidative genes dependent on Nrf2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agarwood is the resinous wood produced in some Aquilaria species and is highly valued for wide usages in medicine, incense, and perfume. To protect the threatened Aquilaria species, the cultivation of Aquilaria sinensis and artificial agarwood induction techniques have been effectively established in China. To evaluate the quality of agarwood induced by different techniques, patterns of chemical constituents in artificial agarwood by four methods (wounding using an axe, burning-chisel-drilling, chemical inducer, and biological inoculation) were analyzed and compared by UPLC-ESI-MS/MS and GC-EI-MS in this study. Results of GC-MS gave a panorama of chemical constituents in agarwood, including aromatic compounds, steroids, fatty acids, sesquiterpenoids, and 2-(2-phenlyethyl)-chromones (PECs). Sesquiterpenoids were dominant in agarwood induced by wounding using an axe. PEC comprised over 60% of components in agarwood produced by biological inoculation and chemical inducers. PECs were identified by UPLC-ESI-MS/MS in all artificial agarwood and the relative contents varied in different groups. Tetrahydro-2-(2-phenylethyl)-chromones (THPECs) in wounding by axes induced agarwood were lower while 2-(2-phenylethyl)-chromones (FPECs) were higher than other groups. The results showed that methods used for inducing agarwood formation in Aquilaria sinensis affect the chemical constituents of agarwood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Humulus japonicus is an annual plant belonging to the Cannabacea family, and it has been traditionally used to treat pulmonary tuberculosis, dysentery, chronic colitis, and hypertension. We investigated the active components against Parkinson's disease from H. japonicus fraction (HJF) using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with quadruple-time-of-flight mass spectroscopy (qTOF-MS) and NMR. Fourteen compounds were isolated from HJF, including one new compound, using HPLC-qTOF-MS and NMR. The major compounds of HJF were luteolin-7-O-glucoside and apigenin-7-O-glucoside, and there was approximately 12.57- and 9.68-folds increase in the contents of these flavonoids compared to those of the 70% EtOH extract. Apigenin and luteolin exhibited the strongest inhibitory effects on monoamine oxidase (MAO) B enzyme activity. In animal studies, limb-use behavior was significantly reduced by unilateral 6-OHDA lesion and ipsilateral rotations. These results indicated that oral administration of 300 mg/kg HJF resulted in the improvement of motor asymmetry and motor impairment in unilateral 6-OHDA-lesioned mice. HJF, including active components leads to an improvement of motor behavior in a Parkinson's disease mouse model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decoction is one of the oldest forms of traditional Chinese medicine and it is widely used in clinical practice. However, the quality evaluation and control of traditional decoction is a challenge due to the characteristics of complicated constituents, water as solvent, and temporary preparation. ShenFu Prescription Decoction (SFPD) is a classical prescription for preventing and treating many types of cardiovascular disease. In this article, a comprehensive and rapid method for quality evaluation and control of SFPD was developed, via qualitative and quantitative analysis of the major components by integrating ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography equipped with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry and ultra-fast-performance liquid chromatography equipped with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. Consequently, a total of 39 constituents were tentatively identified in qualitative analysis, of which 21 compounds were unambiguously confirmed by comparing with reference substances. We determined 13 important constituents within 7 min by multiple reaction monitoring. The validated method was applied for determining five different proportion SFPDs. It was found that different proportions generated great influence on the dissolution of constituents. This may be one of the mechanisms for which different proportions play different synergistic effects. Therefore, the developed method is a fast and useful approach for quality evaluation of SFPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sample configurations of distaminolyne A (1a); isolated from the ascidians Pseudodistoma opacum and P. cereum, and collected at different sites in New Zealand, were investigated by two methods: Exciton coupled electronic circular dichroism (EC ECD) of the corresponding N,O-dibenzoyl derivative 1b; and chiral reagent derivatization of 1a with (S)- and (R)-α-methoxyphenylacetic acid (MPA), followed by 1H-NMR analysis. Configuration and optical purity of 1a (%ee) was found to vary depending on the geographic distribution of ascidian colonies. An improved method for preparing N,O-diarenoyl derivatives of 1a was optimized. The EC ECD method was found to be complementary to the MPA-NMR method at different ranges of %ee. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of the addition of ionic liquids (ILs) during the hydrodistillation of Myristica fragrans Houtt. (nutmeg) essential oil was studied. The essential oil of M. fragrans is characterized by the presence of terpenes, terpenoids, and of phenylpropanoids, such as methyl eugenol and safrole, that are regarded as genotoxic and carcinogenic. The aim of the work was to determine the best ionic liquid to improve the yield of the extraction of M. fragrans essential oil and decrease the extraction of toxic phenylpropanoids. Six ILs, namely 1,3-dimethylimidazolium chloride (1), 1,3-dimethylimidazolium dimethylphosphate (2), 1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-methylimidazolium chloride (3), 1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-methylimidazolium dimethylphosphate (4), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (5), and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium dimethylphosphate (6), were prepared by previously reported, innovative methods and then tested. An experimental design was used to optimize the extraction yield and to decrease the phenylpropanoids percentage using the synthesized ILs. The influence of the molarity of ILs was also studied. MODDE 12 software established 0.5 M 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride as the best co-solvent for the hydrodistillation of M. fragrans essential oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The total phenolic compounds content, free radical-scavenging capacity and capsaicinoid content in populations of wild Piquin chili (C. annuum) were studied. Aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts from nine ecotypes were evaluated. High contents of phenolic compounds and free radical-scavenging capacities were observed for both extracts; however, the values that were found for the hydroalcoholic phase were substantially higher. LC-MS analysis allowed for the detection of 32 compounds, where apigenin-8-C-glucoside followed by vanillic acid 1-O-β-o-glucopyranosylester (Isomer I or II) and 7-ethoxy-4-methylcoumarin were the most widely distributed; they were found in more than 89% of the ecotypes. The diversity of identified phenolic compounds was different among ecotypes, allowing them to be distinguished by chemical diversity, free radical-scavenging capacities and heat Scoville units. The total capsaicinoid content was higher in Population I (23.5 mg/g DW) than in Populations II and III, which had contents of 15.3 and 10.7 mg/g DW, respectively. This variability could lead to phytochemical exploitation and the conservation of the natural populations of wild chili. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rowanberries have been traditionally used in various processed foods. Scientific research demonstrates the pharmacological effects of Sorbus L. fruits are determined by their unique composition of biologically active compounds. The aim of this study was to determine the composition of flavonoids, phenolic acids, anthocyanins, carotenoids, organic acids and sugars as well as the total antioxidant activity in fruit powders of 20 Sorbus cultivars. Chemical profiles of rowanberry fruit powders vary significantly. Cultivars 'Burka', 'Likernaja', 'Dodong', and 'Fructo Lutea' distinguish themselves with exclusive phytochemical composition and high antioxidant activity. Fruit powders from 'Burka', 'Likernaja' contain the highest contents of anthocyanins while fruit powder samples from 'Fructo Lutea' and 'Dodong' contain the highest levels of phenolic acids, ascorbic acid and the lowest levels of fructose. Fruit powder samples from 'Dodong' also contain the highest levels of β-carotene and sorbitol and the lowest levels of malic acid. Cultivars 'Burka', 'Likernaja', 'Dodong', and 'Fructo Lutea' could be selected as eligible raw materials for the preparation of rowanberry fruit powders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to understand the distribution of the main secondary metabolites found in Olea europaea L., eight different samples (olive leaf, stem, seed, fruit skin and pulp, as well as virgin olive oil, olive oil obtained from stoned and dehydrated fruits and olive seed oil) coming from a Picudo cv. olive tree were analyzed. All the experimental conditions were selected so as to assure the maximum coverage of the metabolome of the samples under study within a single run. The use of LC and GC with high resolution MS (through different ionization sources, ESI and APCI) and the annotation strategies within MetaboScape 3.0 software allowed the identification of around 150 compounds in the profiles, showing great complementarity between the evaluated methodologies. The identified metabolites belonged to different chemical classes: triterpenic acids and dialcohols, tocopherols, sterols, free fatty acids, and several sub-types of phenolic compounds. The suitability of each platform and polarity (negative and positive) to determine each family of metabolites was evaluated in-depth, finding, for instance, that LC-ESI-MS (+) was the most efficient choice to ionize phenolic acids, secoiridoids, flavonoids and lignans and LC-APCI-MS was very appropriate for pentacyclic triterpenic acids (MS (−)) and sterols and tocopherols (MS (+)). Afterwards, a semi-quantitative comparison of the selected matrices was carried out, establishing their typical features (e.g., fruit skin was pointed out as the matrix with the highest relative amounts of phenolic acids, triterpenic compounds and hydroxylated fatty acids, and seed oil was distinctive for its high relative levels of acetoxypinoresinol and tocopherols). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Bursera belongs to the family Burseraceae and has been used in traditional Mexican medicine for treating various pathophysiological disorders. The most representative phytochemicals isolated from this genus are terpenoids and lignans. Lignans are phenolic metabolites known for their antioxidant, apoptotic, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal, and anti-protozoal properties. Though the genus includes more than 100 species, we have attempted to summarize the biological activities of the 34 lignans isolated from selected Mexican Bursera plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previously tested n-hexane extracts of the Scorzonera latifolia showed promising bioactivity in vivo. Because triterpenes could account for this activity, n-hexane extracts were analyzed by HPLC to identify and quantify the triterpenes as the most abundant constituents. Other Scorzonera and Podospermum species, potentially containing triterpenic aglycones, were included in the study. An HPLC method for simultaneous determination of triterpene aglycones was therefore developed for analysis of Podospermum and Scorzonera species. n-Hexane extracts of root and aerial parts of S. latifolia, ten other Scorzonera species and two Podospermum species were studied to compare the content of triterpenes. HPLC was used for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of α-amyrin, lupeol, lupeol acetate, taraxasteryl acetate, 3-β-hydroxy-fern-7-en-6-one acetate, urs-12-en-11-one-3-acetyl, 3-β-hydroxy-fern-8-en-7-one acetate, and olean-12-en-11-one-3-acetyl. Limits of detection and quantification were determined for each compound. HPLC fingerprinting of n-hexane extracts of Podospermum and Scorzonera species revealed relatively large amounts of triterpenes in a majority of investigated taxa. Lupeol, lupeol acetate, and taraxasteryl acetate were found in a majority of the species, except S. acuminata. The presence of α-amyrin, 3β-hydroxy-fern-7-en-6-one-acetate, urs-12-en-11-one-3-acetyl, 3β-hydroxy-fern-8-en-7-one-acetate, and olean-12-en-11-one-3-acetyl was detected in varying amounts. The triterpene content could correlate with the analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity of Scorzonera, which was previously observed and Scorzonera species that have been determined to contain triterpenes in large amounts and have not yet been tested for their analgesic activity should be tested for their potential analgesic and anti-inflammatory potential. The presented HPLC method can be used for analysis of triterpene aglycones, for example dedicated to chemosystematic studies of the Scorzonerinae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]