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Simple Summary: In the context of international commitments to reduce the environmental impact of herbicides, ecologically more favorable control method approaches must be explored. This is particularly important for allergenic Ambrosia artemisiifolia L., one of the most harmful species in the world. Secondary plant metabolites and, in particular, some phenolic compounds are known to have a strong allelopathic effect on weed growth. In this study we investigated whether phenolic acids (chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, ferulic acid, gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, syringic acid, vanillic acid, and p-coumaric acid) can inhibit the early growth of A. artemisiifolia. Phenolic acids were tested at five different dose levels that were up to 16 times than those naturally occurring in plants. The results show that the suppression of the early growth of A. artemisiifolia is strongly dependent on phenolic acid and its dose. Treating seeds with ferulic acid, vanillic acid, p-coumaric acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, or a mixture of all phenolic acids resulted in significantly better inhibition of early growth parameters than other phenolic acids. However, none of the phenolic acids tested were effective as bioherbicides at their naturally occurring doses in plants. Therefore, selected doses of phenolic acids with significantly reduced herbicide doses should be further explored to effectively control A. artemisiifolia. This study aimed to investigate whether different doses of specific phenolic acids (chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, ferulic acid, gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, syringic acid, vanillic acid, and p-coumaric acid), alone or in combination, can inhibit the early growth of the common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L., Asterales: Asteraceae). A seed bioassay was performed in Petri dishes and placed in a climate chamber to assess the effects of five dose levels of phenolic acids to radicle and shoot length, as well seedling biomass of A. artemisiifolia. The lowest dose of phenolic acid corresponded to the natural phenolic acid concentration previously reported in dry plant tissue samples from Brassicaceae cover crop plants. Results show that the inhibition of the early growth of A. artemisiifolia depends strongly on phenolic acid. Across different treatments, high doses of phenolic acids significantly shortened shoots and radicles, as well as reduced seedling biomass. Treating seeds with ferulic acid alone, vanillic acid alone, p-hydroxybenzoic acid alone, or a mixture of all phenolic acids significantly reduced all early growth parameters. The estimated effective dose for the 50% inhibition (ED50) of radicle growth in A. artemisiifolia seedlings was 368.39 ± 59.85 × 10−8 mol with ferulic acid, 135.41 ± 17.65 × 10−8 mol with p-coumaric acid, 810.36 ± 134.15 × 10−8 mol with p-hydroxybenzoic acid, and 160.11 ± 12.30 × 10−8 mol with the combination of all phenolic acids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vanillic acid is a phenolic compound, found in various dietary sources and medicinal plants. Apart from its extraction from these biological sources, it is also synthesized chemically. It is used as flavouring agent in various food products. It possesses anticancer, antiobesity, antidiabetic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects. Despite possessing good therapeutic potential and safety profile, it has not been well explored as nutraceutical or, therapeutic moiety. Literature search was conducted to systematically review the various mechanistic pathways through which vanillic acid showed multiple therapeutic effects. Along with these pathways, other applications of vanillic acid and its derivatives are highlighted. Some of the patents that have been filed hitherto, for the production and uses of vanillic acid are also entailed in the manuscript. Vanillic acid exerts diverse bioactivity against cancer, diabetes, obesity, neurodegenerative, cardiovascular, and hepatic diseases by inhibition of the associated molecular pathways. Its derivatives also possess the therapeutic potential to treat autoimmune diseases as well as fungal and bacterial infections. Owing to these benefits, vanillic acid has great potential to be used as a nutraceutical and provides scope for therapeutic uses beyond its traditional use as a flavouring agent. However, its oral bioavailability is limited due to its rapid elimination (metabolism) from the plasma. This, in turn, impedes its successful delivery through conventional formulations. Hence, efforts are required to develop nanoformulations of vanillic acid to overcome the associated challenges. • Vanillic acid is used as flavouring agent that can be synthesized and extracted from natural sources. • The roots of Angelica sinensis are the largest commercial natural source of vanillic acid. • It is used as powerful antioxidant in food products and drinks. • Therapeutic benefits of vanillic acid are mostly due to modulation of Nrf 2 and NF-ĸB pathway. • Patents filed on nutraceutical applications of vanillic acid indicate its commercial potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, the effect of vanillic acid in comparison with vitamin EIC on the semen characteristics of Zel's ram under short and long-term preservation, was investigated. The experimental groups consisted of different concentrations of vanillic acid (0, 1, 10 and 100 pg/mL), a mixture of alpha-tocopherol and ascorbic acid (vitamin EIC), and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) (as alpha-tocopherol solvent). The samples were evaluated at 0, 24, 48 and 72 hours after storage at 4 °C and following the freeze-thawing process. During the cold storage, sperm quality traits (motility, viability and membrane integrity) and mitochondrial activity increased significantly (P<0.05) at concentrations of 1 and 10 pg/ml vanillic acid in comparison with control and vitamin EIC groups. Our results revealed that the total motility and percentage of spermatozoids in the concentration of 1 pg/ml of vanillic acid were higher than control and vitamin EIC groups (P<0.05). Also, plasma membrane integrity and morphology of spermatozoid were higher in concentrations of 1 and 10 pg/ml of vanillic acid than control group. Concentration of 1 pg/ml of vanillic acid showed the highest mitochondrial activity than vitamin EIC treatment (P<0.05). Our findings showed that addition of vanillic acid at the concentrations of 1 and 10 pg/mL to the semen extender improved the quality of spermatozoid in the Zel breed sheep. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Ether bond helps VAE improve the plasticizing effect of PVC by 12 times. • VAE has better plasticizing performance than commercial plasticizers. • Ether groups in VAE enhance PVC's miscibility and mechanical properties. • VAE exhibited safety characteristics in toxicity assessment. Phthalate-based plasticizers are widely used to improve the flexibility and ductility of engineering plastics. However, their hazardous toxicity and unsustainability have prompted the plastics industry to develop safe and efficient green plasticizers. Therefore, it is imperative to develop safe biobased plasticizers from renewable resources. The ether group had been introduced into renewable vanillic acid to synthesize vanillic acid ester derivatives (VAE) using a clean method, and characterized using various spectral methods. The application performances were compared for VAE and three commercial plasticizers for poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) plasticization. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) indicated that the presence of VAE could reduce the glass transition temperature of PVC by over 50 %, which is 32 % lower than induced by the dioctyl phthalate. The presence of carbonyl and ether groups in VAE increases the elongation at break of PVC by more than 12 times, and the elongation at break (419.8 %) is 10 % higher than that of acetyl tributyl citrate plasticized PVC. Thermogravimetric analysis and aging experiments indicated that PVC blend plasticized by VAE exhibited superior thermal stability compared to acetyl tributyl citrate. The interaction between PVC and the carbonyl and ether groups in VAE has been demonstrated through multifaceted analysis utilizing density functional theory calculations. The binding energy between fragments was −17.8 kcal/mol, and the interaction was visualized by IGMH. Under this interaction, VAE exhibited extremely low migration in PVC blends. Acute oral toxicity tests were used to demonstrate that VAE is harmless to rats even at high doses. Overall, VAE, as a sustainable, low-risk, and efficient PVC plasticizer, outperforms typical commercial plasticizers and is a promising alternative to phthalates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) causes oxidative stress, such as Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Acute oxidative stress is one of the main reasons for cell death. In this study, the antioxidant properties of vanillic acid- a polyphenolic compound was evaluated. Therefore, this study aims to check the effectiveness of vanillic acid in H2O2-induced oxidative stress in D. Mel-2 cell line. The efficacy was determined by biochemical tests to check the ROS production. The cytotoxicity of H2O2 and vanillic acid was checked by MTT assay. The DNA fragmentation was visualized by gel electrophoresis. Protein biomarkers of oxidative stress were analyzed by western blotting. The results depict a promising antioxidant effect of vanillic acid. The IC50 value of vanillic acid and H2O2 was found 250 μg/ml and 125 μg/ml, respectively. The catalase activity, SOF, GPx, and PC was seen less in H2O2 treated group compared with the control and vanillic acid treated group. However, the TBRAS activity was hight in H2O2 treated group. The effect of H2O2 on DNA fragmentation was high as compared with vanillic acid-treated cells. The protein expression of Hsp70, IL-6 and iNOS was seen significant in a vanillic acid-treated group as compared with H2O2 treated group. These results reinforce that at low concentration, vanillic acid could be used as an antioxidant agent in the food and pharmaceutical industries.

4-Hydroxybenzoic acids (4-HBA) and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzoic acid (Vanillic acid, VA) have exhibited several pharmacological activities. Generally, the biological activities of compounds are highly involved in the interaction between protein and compounds in blood plasma. The objective was to investigate the interaction of 4-HBA or VA with human serum albumin (HSA) and their anti-proliferation properties on doxorubicin-sensitive K562 and doxorubicin-resistant K562/Dox leukemia cells. The protein binding of 4-HBA or VA to HSA was investigated using fluorescence quenching at temperatures of 298 and 310 Kelvin (K) under the pH of 6.0, 7.4, and 8.0 conditions. The effect of 4-HBA and VA on anti-proliferation was also studied on doxorubicin-sensitive K562 and doxorubicin-resistant K562/Dox leukemia cells using resazurin assay. The results showed that 4-HBA and VA could interact with HSA. The fluorescence quenching process in HSA-4-HBA system might be attributed to static quenching mechanism. In contrast, a dynamic quenching mechanism might be mainly involved in the fluorescence quenching process in the HSA-VA system. Thermodynamic data suggested that the spontaneous interaction between HSA and 4-HBA or VA had occurred in the system and it also indicated that hydrogen bonds and Van der Waals forces contributed to the binding of HSA to 4-HBA or VA. In addition, 4-HBA and VA decreased K562 and K562/Dox cells viability in a dose- and time-dependence manner. In conclusions, the 4-HBA and VA could interact with HSA. In addition, the 4-HBA and VA decreased in cell viability for both doxorubicin-sensitive K562 and doxorubicin-resistant K562/Dox leukemia cells in a dose- and time-dependence manner. Therefore, these current studies could provide useful information about the nature of 4-HBA or VA binding to protein HSA and their anticancer activities in both of these types of leukemia cells. The cell death mechanisms should be investigated through future study.

[Display omitted] • VAn-P breaks the record of plasticity of flame-retardant plasticizers. • The VAn-P addresses the issue with traditional flame-retardant solutions. • Vanillate plasticizer VAn-P has a multi-functional gain on PVC. • Effects of chain length on vanillate plasticizer is novelly studied. The current market for poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) plasticizers is dominated by flammable petroleum-based compounds, accounting for over 80 % of the total share. Due to their high flammability, the search for novel approaches to enhance the fire resistance of flexible PVC has gained urgency. However, traditional flame-retardant schemes suffer from shortcomings such as poor compatibility, inferior long-term performance, and weak mechanical properties. Herein, we synthesized a novel biobased flame-retardant plasticizer (VAn-P) using vanillic acid as a skeleton. This plasticizer exhibits remarkable properties, including a substantially lower glass transition temperature compared to unplasticized PVC. The binding energy between VAn-P and PVC is calculated to be –33.30 kcal/mole, indicating a strong interaction. Furthermore, the maximum elongation at break of VAn-P plasticized PVC is 16 times higher than that of unmodified PVC. All PVC samples plasticized with VAn-P achieved a UL-94 VTM-0 rating. TGA-FTIR analysis revealed that the flame-retarding mechanism of VAn-P involves solid-phase action, significantly delaying the dehydrochlorination process of PVC. Moreover, VAn-P exhibits superior migration resistance compared to dioctyl phthalate (DOP). We also investigated the effects of alkyl chain lengths in VAn-P on various properties of PVC blends, including thermal stability, flame retardancy, mechanical properties, and optical performance. The toxicity of vanillic acid-based flame-retardant plasticizer has undergone an initial assessment. Overall, this green plasticizer is expected to endow polymers with high plasticizing performance and flame retardancy, providing a novel and sustainable approach for the synthesis of functional plasticizers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vanillic acid (4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzoic acid) (VA) is a natural benzoic acid derivative commonly found in herbs, rice, maize, and some fruits and vegetables. However, due to the wide use of VA in various industrial sectors, its presence in the environment might harm living organisms. This study evaluated the toxicity of VA and its isomers, iso -VA and orto -VA. Firstly, the antimicrobial effect of VA and its isomers iso -VA and orto -VA (in doses of 1000; 100, 10, 1; 0.1; 0.01 mg/L) against Escherichia coli , Sarcina spp., Enterobacter homaechei , Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans were identified. The toxic effect and protein degradation potential of VA and its isomers were determined using E. coli grpE:luxCDABE and lac:luxCDABE biosensor strains. However, the genotoxicity and oxidative stress generation were assessed with the E. coli recA:luxCDABE biosensor and E. coli strain. The results showed that VA, iso -VA, and orto -VA exhibited antimicrobial activity against all tested bacterial strains. However, VA's antimicrobial effect differed from iso -VA and orto -VA. Similar toxic, genotoxic, and oxidative stress-inducing effects were observed for VA and its isomers. Each compound exhibited toxicity, cellular protein degradation, and genotoxic activity against E. coli grpE:luxCDABE , E. coli lac:luxCDABE , and E. coli recA:luxCDABE strains. Analysis of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation within E. coli cells highlighted oxidative stress as a contributing factor to the toxicity and genotoxicity of VA and its isomers. While the findings suggest potential applications of VA compounds as food preservatives, their presence in the environment raises concerns regarding the risks posed to living organisms due to their toxic and genotoxic characteristics. [Display omitted] • VA and its isomers (iso -VA and orto -VA) have antimicrobial activity. • VA and its isomers are toxic and genotoxic. • VA and its isomers have the potential to generate oxidative stress. • VA isomerism affects its biological activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • 46 vanillic acid derivatives across five series were synthesized in high yields. • Some derivatives showed antifungal effects against drug-resistant Candida strains. • Compound 1a showcased an exceptional ROS inhibition. • Compound 5g revealed potent synergism with established antifungal drugs. • All the derivatives had a favorable safety profile. Vanillic acid (VA) — a naturally occurring phenolic compound in plants — is not only used as a flavoring agent but also a prominent metabolite post tea consumption. VA and its associated compounds are believed to play a significant role in preventing diseases, underscoring the need for a systematic investigation. Herein, we report a 4-step synthesis employing the classical organic reactions, such as Willamson's alkylation, Fischer-Spier reaction, and Steglich esterification, complemented with a protection-deprotection strategy to prepare 46 VA derivatives across the five series (1a – 1i , 2a – 2i , 3 , 3a – 3i , 4a – 4i , 5a – 5i) in high yields. The synthesized compounds were investigated for their antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and toxic effects. Notably, compound 1a demonstrated remarkable ROS inhibition with an IC 50 value of 5.1 ± 0.7 µg/mL, which is more than twice as effective as the standard ibuprofen drug. A subset of the synthesized derivatives (2b , 2c , 2e , 3b – 3d , 4a–4c , 5a , and 5e) manifested their antifungal effect against drug-resistant Candida strains. Compound 5g , in particular, revealed synergism with the established antifungal drugs amphotericin B (AMB) and fluconazole (FLZ), doubling FLZ's potency against azole resistant Candida albican ATCC 36082. Furthermore, 5g improved the potency of these antifungals against FLZ-sensitive strains, including C. glabrata ATCC 2001 and C. parapsilosis ATCC 22019, as well as various multidrug-resistant (MDR) Candida strains, namely C. albicans ATCC 14053, C. albicans CL1, and C. krusei SH2L OM341600. Additionally, pharmacodynamics of compound 5g was examined using time-kill assay, and a benign safety profile was observed with no hemolytic activity in whole blood, and no cytotoxicity towards the normal BJ human cell line. The synergistic potential of 5g was further investigated through both experimental methods and docking simulations. These findings highlight the therapeutic potential of VA derivatives, particularly in addressing inflammation and circumventing FLZ resistance in Candida albicans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vanillin dehydrogenase (VDH) has recently come forward as an important enzyme for the commercial production of vanillic acid from vanillin in a one-step enzymatic process. However, VDH with high alkaline tolerance and efficiency is desirable to meet the biorefinery requirements. In this study, computationally guided site-directed mutagenesis was performed by increasing the positive and negative charges on the surface and near the active site of the VDH from the alkaliphilic marine bacterium Bacillus ligniniphilus L1, respectively. In total, 20 residues including 15 from surface amino acids and 5 near active sites were selected based on computational analysis and were subjected to site-directed mutations. The optimum pH of the two screened mutants including I132R, and T235E from surface residue and near active site mutant was shifted to 9, and 8.6, with a 2.82- and 2.95-fold increase in their activity compared to wild enzyme at pH 9, respectively. A double mutant containing both these mutations i.e., I132R/T235E was produced which showed a shift in optimum pH of VDH from 7.4 to 9, with an increase of 74.91 % in enzyme activity. Therefore, the double mutant of VDH from the L1 strain (I132R/T235E) produced in this study represents a potential candidate for industrial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The damage of integrated epithelial epithelium is a key pathogenic factor and closely associated with the recurrence of ulcerative colitis (UC). Here, we reported that vanillic acid (VA) exerted potent therapeutic effects on DSS-induced colitis by restoring intestinal epithelium homeostasis via the inhibition of ferroptosis. By the CETSA assay and DARTS assay, we identified carbonic anhydrase IX (CAIX, CA9) as the direct target of VA. The binding of VA to CA9 causes insulin-induced gene-2 (INSIG2) to interact with stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1), rather than SREBP cleavage-activating protein (SCAP), leading to the translocation of SCAP-SREBP1 from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to the Golgi apparatus for cleavage into mature SREBP1. The activation of SREBP1 induced by VA then significantly facilitated the transcription of stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1) to exert an inhibitory effect on ferroptosis. By inhibiting the excessive death of intestinal epithelial cells caused by ferroptosis, VA effectively preserved the integrity of intestinal barrier and prevented the progression of unresolved inflammation. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that VA could alleviate colitis by restoring intestinal epithelium homeostasis through CA9/STIM1-mediated inhibition of ferroptosis, providing a promising therapeutic candidate for UC. [Display omitted] • VA alleviates colitis by restoring intestinal epithelium homeostasis via inhibiting ferroptosis. • CA9 is identified as the direct target of VA. • VA promotes the binding of CA9 to STIM1, leading to the activation of SCAP/SREBP1 complex. • Inhibition of ferroptosis by VA is dependent on CA9-SREBP1/SCD1 axis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photocatalysis, a sustainable development strategy, employed to produce value-added chemicals from lignin, has attracted much attention due to its low energy consumption and mild reaction conditions. Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) and tungsten oxide (WO 3) composite photocatalysts (CQDs/WO 3) were prepared by ultrasonic assisted wet impregnation method in this study. The CQDs/WO 3 nanosheets exhibit good optical properties and satisfactory performance of lignin depolymerization. Characterization results embody that the addition of CQDs significantly changes the morphology of WO 3. Compared with bulk pure WO 3 , CQDs/WO 3 becomes a nanosheet structure in the size of ∼ 200 nm. Furthermore, CQDs can absorb photogenerated electrons as well as reduce the recombination of photogenerated electrons and holes. The strong oxidizing ability of n -type semiconductor WO 3 enables it to effectively break the typical bonds like C-O or C-C near polar functional groups in lignin. Due to this ingenious design, dealkaline lignin conversion was up to 34.21% as well as the highest yields of vanillin and vanillic acid in the form of lignin were 24.74 mg/g and 8.02 mg/g in 2 h at room temperature, visible light illumination and air atmosphere, respectively. And optimized CQDs/WO 3 also had satisfactory effects on three natural lignin (grass lignin, pine lignin and birch lignin), which proved its universality. Electron spin resonance experiments and mechanism investigation demonstrated that ·O 2 - and ·OH play a weighty role in photocatalytic depolymerization of lignin. This study provides a new gambit for converting lignin to high value-added chemicals (vanillin and vanillic acid) over modified WO 3. [Display omitted] • The photocatalyst was synthesized by a simple preparation method. • Carbon quantum dots can collect and release electrons as an electronic medium, which promotes the separation of photogenerated carriers. • The obtained high value-added chemicals have high yield. • Photocatalysts have good effects on commercial lignin and natural lignin. • It was confirmed that ·OH and ·O 2 -played a key role in the catalytic depolymerization of lignin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ferulic acid (FA) is a naturally occurring phenolic antioxidant that is widely used in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries due to its low toxicity. Its derivatives also find numerous industrial applications and may have even higher biological activity than ferulic acid. In this study, the effect of the addition of FA and its derivatives—including vanillic acid (VA), dihydroferulic acid (DHFA), and 4-vinylguaiacol (4-VG)—on the oxidative stability of cold-pressed flaxseed oil and the degradation of bioactive compounds during oxidation was investigated. The results showed that FA and its derivatives affected the oxidative stability of flaxseed oil, but their antioxidant activity depended on the concentration (25–200 mg/100 g oil) and temperature of treatment (60–110 °C). Based on Rancimat test results, flaxseed oil oxidative stability predicted at 20 °C increased linearly with ferulic acid concentration, while its derivatives effectively prolonged the induction time at lower concentrations (50–100 mg/100 g oil). The addition of phenolic antioxidants (80 mg/100 g) generally showed a protective effect against polyunsaturated fatty acids (DHFA and 4-VG), sterols (4-VG), tocols (DHFA), squalene, and carotenoids (FA). The exception was VA, which increased the degradation of most bioactive compounds. It is believed that adding properly composed mixtures of FA and its derivatives (DHFA and 4-VG) can extend the shelf life of flaxseed oil and provide nutritional benefits.

Diabetes is the most prevalent disorder in the world characterized by uncontrolled high blood glucose levels and nephropathy is one of the chief complications allied with hyperglycemia. Vanillic acid; the main bioactive compound derived from natural sources such as vegetables, fruits and plants possesses various pharmacological activities such as antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory and anti‐proliferative. The current study was designed to investigate the antidiabetic and renoprotective effects of vanillic acid by its various pharmacological activities. Streptozotocin (50 mg/kg)/nicotinamide (110 mg/kg) was used to induce diabetes in rats. Oral administration of vanillic acid once daily for 6 weeks (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg) significantly reduced the hyperglycemia, increased liver enzymes and normalized lipid profile that was altered in diabetic rats. Moreover, vanillic acid attenuated the impaired renal function as evidenced by a reduction in serum creatinine, urea, uric acid and urinary microproteinuria levels with a concomitant increase in urinary creatinine clearance in the nephropathic rats. Diabetic rats showed a marked increase in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and superoxide anion generation (SAG) along with decreased reduced glutathione (GSH) in the renal tissue which was ameliorated in the vanillic acid‐treated rats. Histopathologically, vanillic acid treatment was associated with reduced damage with normalized structural changes in renal tissue. Furthermore, treatment groups showed the suppression of upregulation of nuclear factor (NF)‐κB, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, cyclo‐oxygenase (COX)‐2 and up‐regulation of Nuclear factor‐erythroid 2‐related factor 2 (Nrf‐2) in the renal tissue. In conclusion, vanillic acid's ameliorative impact on diabetic nephropathic rats may be attributed to its powerful free radical scavenging property, down‐regulation of NF‐κB, TNF‐α, COX‐2 and up‐regulation of Nrf‐2 proteins in renal tissue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The contribution of cold-adapted yeasts to the emerging field of lignin biovalorization has not yet been studied. The red-pigmented basidiomycetous yeast strain Rhodosporidiobolus colostri DBVPG 10655 was examined for its potential to degrade five selected lignin-derived aromatic monomers (syringic acid, p-coumaric acid, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, ferulic acid, and vanillic acid). The strain utilized p-coumaric acid, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, and ferulic acid not only as the sole carbon source; full biodegradation occurred also in mixtures of multiple monomers. Vanillic acid was not utilized as the sole carbon source, but was degraded in the presence of p-coumaric acid, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, and ferulic acid. Syringic acid was utilized neither as the sole carbon source nor in mixtures of compounds. Biodegradation of lignin-derived aromatic monomers was detected over a broad temperature range (1–25 °C), which is of ecological significance and of biotechnological relevance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Coir pith, an agro-industrial residue, is resistant to natural degradation, and its accumulation causes environmental pollution. Ferulic acid, a precursor of vanillin, was extracted from the raw coir pith by chemical pre-treatment such as alkaline hydrolysis, acidification, and liquid–liquid extraction method. The obtained ferulic acid (1.2 g/50 g) was analysed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and used as a substrate for biotransformation by Aspergillus niger to vanillic acid, which, in turn, was fermented by using Phanerochaete chrysosporium to vanillin. The quantity of vanillic acid detected by HPLC on the third day of incubation was 0.773 g/L, while the optimal yield of vanillin on the subsequent third day of incubation was 0.628 g/L. Thus, the chemical extraction of ferulic acid from coir pith ensued bioconversion into vanillin. These products are highly valuable and economical to be used in industries such as pharmaceuticals, health, cosmetics, and neutraceuticals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vanillic acid (VA) exhibited antioxidant and neuroprotective properties in some neurodegenerative disorders. So, the current study examined the neuroprotective potential of VA as an antiepileptic agent in pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced epileptic rats and the prospective role of Insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and nuclear factor-2 erythroid-related factor-2 (Nrf2)/heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) pathway in this respect. Thirty male albino rats were equally subdivided into 3 groups; (1) normal control (NC) group, (2) PTZ-group: received PTZ (50 mg/Kg, i.p. every other day) for 14 days, and (3) PTZ + VA group: received PTZ and VA (50 mg/Kg daily for 2 weeks). The seizure score and latency were evaluated after PTZ injection. Also, the markers of oxidative stress (malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase, and reduced glutathione (GSH)), histopathological examination, the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) (a marker of astrocytes) IGF1, Nrf2, and HO-1 were assessed in the brain tissues by the end of the experiment. PTZ caused significant decrease in seizure latency and significant increase in seizure score by the end of the experiment (p<0.01). This was associated with significant increase in MDA and GFAP with significant decrease in GSH, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and IGF-1 in brain tissues compared to normal group (p < 0.01). On the other hand, treatment with VA caused significant attenuation in PTZ-induced seizures which was associated with significant improvement in oxidative stress markers and downregulation in GFAP and upregulation of Nrf2, HO-1 and IGF-1 in CA3 hippocampal region (p < 0.01). VA showed neuroprotective and anti-epileptic effects against PTZ-induced epilepsy which probably might be due to its antioxidant properties and upregulation of Nrf2/HO-1 pathway and IGF-1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Interferon-alpha (IFN-α) is a useful therapy for some types of cancers and viral infections. Cyclosporine A (CSA) is an immunosuppressant drug used to reduce the risk of graft rejection. Chronic use of IFN-α and CSA are related to psychological symptoms such as depression. Vanillic acid (VA) is a naturally occurring flavoring substance with antidepressant potential. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of VA on depression caused by these two drugs in a mice model. Materials and Methods: Male Swiss mice (25–30 g) were used. Depression was induced by IFN-α 1600000 IU/kg, sc for six days, or CSA20 mg/kg, ip for 3 days as VA 25 mg/kg, and pretreatment was ip injected. After evaluating the locomotor activity, depression was assessed by forced swimming test (FST) and sucrose preference (SP) test. Results: The selected treatments did not cause significant changes in the locomotor activity. IFN-α significantly increased the immobility time during FST (184.5 ± 12.9 s vs. vehicle 107.1 ± 11.4s) indicating depressive-like effect, and VA pretreatment reversed it (94.8 ± 17.8 s vs. IFN-α), SP increased to 76%. CSA also increased the immobility time during FST (160.3 ± 3.4 s vs. vehicle 113.2 ± 7.6 s; P < 0.05), VA pretreatment reduced it (81.8 ± 16.9 s, vs. cyclosporine; P < 0.001), and SP increased from 38% to 75%. SP results were in agreement with FST results. Conclusion: VA showed useful effect against IFN-α and cyclosporine-induced depression in mice. Further clinical studies regarding VA antidepressant effect in patients receiving IFN-α or CSA are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vanillic acid, a phenolic compound isolated from Angelica sinensis and green tea, exhibits excellent antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory activities. In this study, a rapid and sensitive ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method was established and validated for the determination of vanillic acid in rat plasma. Plasma samples were prepared by protein precipitation with acetonitrile. Chromatographic separation was performed on a Zorbax RRHD Eclipse Plus C18 column (2.1 × 100 mm, 1.8 μm) with gradient elution at a flow rate of 0.3 ml/min, using mobile phase consisting of 0.1% formic acid (A) and acetonitrile (B). Vanillic acid and caffeic acid (internal standard, IS) were quantified by multiple reaction monitoring in negative ion mode. The method was fully validated according to the US Food and Drug Administration guidelines. The calibration curve was linear over the range of 2–1,000 ng/ml with a correlation coefficient of >0.99. The carryover, matrix effect, extraction recovery, dilution effect, intra‐ and interday precision and accuracy were within acceptable limits. The method was then applied to a pharmacokinetic study of vanillic acid in rats. After oral administration at doses of 2, 5 and 10 mg/kg, the plasma concentration reached peaks of 0.42 ± 0.09, 0.73 ± 0.21 and 0.92 ± 0.28 μg/ml at the time of 0.55–0.64 h, respectively. The oral bioavailability was calculated as 25.3–36.2% in rat plasma. The result provided pre‐clinical information for further application of vanillic acid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic illness and it is a result of hyperglycemia ensuing since a deficiency in insulin production, insulin function. Based on WHO statistics, more than 347 million peoples are suffered from the DM globally and it may increase to 694 million in 2030. Vanillic acid (VA) is a phenolic derived compound from dietary vegetations and fruits with the many biological acitivities. This current research was planned to investigate the antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory potential of VA on streptozotocin-challenged DM in rats. Methods: Later than an overnight fast, the rats were induced diabetes via one intraperitoneal treatment of STZ (40 mg/kg b.wt) in a newly organized 0.1 M citrate buffer. We analyzed body weight, plasma glucose, liver marker enzymes, insulin, carbohydrate metabolic enzymes, glycosylated hemoglobin, protein profiles, oxidant/antioxidant levels, inflammatory mediators and also evaluate histopathology of pancreatic tissues in normal control and investigational animals. Results: Diabetic animals were revealed an increased in HbA1c, blood glucose, food and fluid intake and relative weight of kidney and liver, whereas the reduced level of insulin and body weight. Furthermore, augmented levels of ALT, glucose-6-phosphatase, AST, TBARS, TNF-α, creatinine, LOOH, fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase, ALP, IL-6 and IL-1β whereas, reduced status of antioxidant enzymes were observed in diabetic rats. Histopathological analysis of pancreatic tissues was in support of the biochemical parameters. Conclusions: Diabetic rats treated by VA significantly alter all these parameters toward normal levels. These results recommended that the VA is a potential antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory effect for the cure of DM.

Objectives Our aim was to synthesize, characterize and evaluate the antihyperglycaemic and anti-oxidative properties of a new Zn(II) complex of vanillic acid. Methods The complex was synthesized using ZnSO4.7H2O and vanillic acid as precursors. NMR and FTIR techniques were used to characterize the synthesized complex. The cytotoxicity of the complex was measured. The antihyperglycemic and anti-oxidative properties of the complex were evaluated using in vitro, cell-based and ex vivo models and compared with those of its precursors. Key findings Zn(II) coordinated with vanillic acid via a Zn(O6) coordination, with the complex having three moieties of vanillic acid. The radical scavenging, Fe3+ reducing and hepatic antilipid peroxidative activity of the complex were, respectively, 2.3-, 1.8- and 9.7-folds more potent than vanillic acid. Complexation increased the α-glucosidase and glycation inhibitory activity of vanillic acid by 3- and 2.6-folds, respectively. Zn(II) conferred potent L-6 myotube (EC50 = 20.4 μ m) and muscle tissue (EC50 = 612 μ m) glucose uptake effects on vanillic acid. Cytotoxicity evaluation showed that the complex did not reduce the viability of L-6 myotubes and Chang liver cells. Conclusions The data suggest that Zn(II)–vanillic acid complex had improved bioactivity relative to vanillic acid. Thus, Zn(II) may be further studied as an antihyperglycaemic and anti-oxidative adjuvant for bioactive phenolic acids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A feasible approach against the low yield of microalgae biomass involves the use of a stimulator for microalgal growth. In this research, vanillic acid present in the hydrolysate of agricultural waste, was applied to the cultivation of unicellular microalga Euglena gracilis. At the optimal dosage of 800 mg L−1 vanillic acid, biomass yield at treatment increased 2.08-fold. Correspondingly, the content of chlorophyll a and carotenoids was 3.48 and 2.69 fold than of the control ground, respectively. Increased in cell aspect ratio demonstrated that the alga was more active after vanillic acid treatment. Furthermore, relative lipid and carbohydrate content were analyzed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, the result showed that vanillic acid increased the lipid content in algal cells without sacrificing biomass, which would be a promising way for future biofuel production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antibiotics are the most powerful weapon against bacterial infectious diseases in aquaculture. However, the indiscriminate usage of antibiotics often culminates in the emerging development of antibiotic‐resistant bacteria, making it imperative to search for novel types of antimicrobial agents. This study investigated the antibacterial and antivirulence effects of vanillic acid (VA) against the fish pathogen, Vibrio alginolyticus. We showed that VA had a good anti‐Vibrio activity with minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 1.0 mg/ml. In addition, VA wielded its antibacterial action in a dose‐/time‐dependent manner by causing cell membrane damage and increasing membrane permeability, which is evidenced by increasing the conductivity and malondialdehyde content in the treated cell cultures and the scanning electron microscopy images. Furthermore, VA significantly reduced the biofilm‐forming capability, mobility and exotoxin production (protease and exopolysaccharide) and downregulation of the expression of biofilm‐ and virulence‐associated genes (sypG, fliS, fliK, lafA, lafK, asp and luxR) was seen in the V. alginolyticus that exposed to VA at subinhibitory concentrations. Overall, our findings suggested that VA may be of interest for treating V. alginolyticus‐associated infections in aquaculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biobased chemicals are gaining popularity and market in attempts to mitigate the deteriorating environmental and sustainability issues. Components of renewable agricultural and forest biomass residues are projected to serve as abundant precursors to synthesis of expanding range of products. Agroindustrial wastes comprises of several phenolic compounds associated with lignin via ether linkages such as ferulic acid, p-coumaric, syringic acid and vanillin. These aromatic chemicals have myriad industrial applications. In this study, p-coumaric acid and ferulic acid were found to be two major components in corn bran derived lignin hydrolysate. Engineered Pseudomonas putida KT2440 was constructed and found to convert p-coumaric acid and vanillic acid to protocatechuic acid in >90% and >50% yields, respectively. Engineering the strain included deletion of the gene encoding protocatechuate 3,4-dioxygenase, and overexpression of vanillate-O-demethylase gene from Acinetobacter sp. ADP1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This study was conducted to evaluate the potential of pineapple peel (PP) and pineapple crown leaves (PCL) as the substrate for vanillic acid and vanillin production. About 202 ± 18 mg L−1 and 120 ± 11 mg L−1 of ferulic acid was produced from the PP and PCL respectively. By applied response surface methodology, the ferulic acid yield was increased to 1055 ± 160 mg L−1 by treating 19.3% of PP for 76 min, and 328 ± 23 mg L−1 by treating 9.9% of PCL for 36 min in aqueous sodium hydroxide solution at 120 °C. The results revealed that PP extract was better than PCL extract for vanillic acid and vanillin production. Furthermore, the experiment also proved that large volume feeding was more efficient than small volume feeding for high vanillic acid and vanillin yield. Through large volume feeding, about 7 ± 2 mg L−1 of vanillic acid and 5 ± 1 mg L−1 of vanillin was successfully produced from PP extract via Aspergillus niger fermentation.

Background and purpose: Doxorubicin (DOX) is an effective agent for the treatment of many neoplastic diseases. Cardiotoxicity is the major side effect of this drug and limits its use. Vanillic acid (VA) is a pharmaceutical compound from the phenolic acids family. The present study is an attempt to investigate the possible helpful effects of VA against DOX-induced cardiotoxicity in rats. Experimental approach: For induction of cardiotoxicity, male Wistar rats received total of six doses of DOX (2.5 mg/kg i.p.) three times per week from days 14 to 28. Treatment groups received daily oral doses of VA (10, 20, and 40 mg/kg) two weeks before DOX injection and then plus DOX for 2 weeks. At the end of experiment, systolic blood pressure (SBP) and heart rate (HR) were detected using tail-cuff method. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine phosphokinase-MB (CK-MB), serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), malondialdehyde (MDA), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) were measured in serum samples. Troponin-I and toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) were measured in cardiac tissue. All the measurements processed spectrophotometrically using commercial ELISA kits. Cardiac tissue was also processed for histopathological examination. Findings / Results: Treatment with VA significantly increased SBP compared to the DOX group and restored HR near to the normal level. Administration of VA at all of doses, decreased serum levels of LDH, SGOT, CK-MB, MDA, cardiac troponin-I, cardiac TLR4 and increased FRAP value. Conclusion and implications: These results suggest that VA may exert cardioprotective effects against DOX-induced cardiotoxicity by decreasing oxidative stress and biomarkers of cardiotoxicity, suppression of TLR4 signaling and consequently inflammation pathway.

Vanillic acid is used in the food industry and perfumery, and the optimization of its extraction process from the natural source is important for saving time and money. The presence of vanillic acid in pumpkin seeds was proven using HPLC analysis. Computational optimization of the extraction shows that for the concentration of ethanol 40% and solmodul: V/m=20, the optimum condition for the extraction of vanillic acid from pumpkin seeds was 100 min and 450C. The estimation of fitting for each kinetic model to the experimental kinetic data was performed using the root mean square, standard deviation, and the correlation coefficient. Ponomarev model was shown as the most suitable with the highest accuracy among the six considered kinetic models. The enthalpy and entropy changes were positive, while the Gibbs free energy was negative and decreased when temperature increased during the thermodynamic analysis. Therefore, the extraction of vanillic acid from pumpkin seeds was endothermic, spontaneous, and irreversible.

The engineered nano-vehicle was constructed using magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (MIONs) and chitosan (CTS) to stabilize anticancer agent vanillic acid (VNA) which was loaded on CTS-coated MIONs nanocarrier, and more importantly, to achieve sustained VNA release and subsequent proper anticancer activity. The new thermally stable VNA-CTS- MIONs nanocomposite was spherical with a middle diameter of 6 nm and had a high drug loading of about 11.8 %. The MIONs and resulting nanocomposite were composed of pure magnetite and therefore, were superparamagnetic with saturation magnetizations of 53.3 and 45.7 emu.g -1 , respectively. The release profiles of VNA from VNA-CTS-MIONs nanocomposite in different pH values were sustained and showed controlled pH-responsive delivery of the loaded VNA with 89 % and 74 % percentage release within 2354 and 4046 min at pH 5 and 7.4, respectively, as well as were in accordance with the pseudo-second-order model. The VNA-CTS-MIONs nanocomposite treatment at diverse concentrations remarkably decreased the viability and promoted ROS accumulation and apoptosis in the MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. Hence, it can be a propitious candidate for the management of breast cancer in the future., Competing Interests: 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., (© 2024 The Authors.)

In the current study, the hepatoprotective activity of vanillic acid, silymarin, and vanillic acid-loaded silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity was tested in male rats for four weeks. Thirty male rats were divided into five groups (n = 6). The 1st group was a negative control, the 2nd group was a positive control, the 3rd group was treated with 100 mg/kg b.w. of vanillic acid, the 4th group was treated with 100 mg/kg b.w. of vanillic acid–AgNPs, and the 5th group was treated with 50 mg/kg b.w. of silymarin. The CCl4-induced hepatic toxicity in the 2nd group was revealed by the liver function and all other biochemical tests. Liver enzymes, bilirubin, lipid peroxidation, lactate dehydrogenase, and interleukin-6 were elevated, whereas, total protein, antioxidant enzymes, and irisin were decreased compared to the negative control. The hepatic tissues were also injured as a result of the CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity. Treating the hepatotoxic rats with vanillic acid moderately protected the rats of the 3rd group, whereas treatment with vanillic AgNPs and silymarin in G4 and G5, respectively, greatly protected the rats against the CCl4 hepatotoxicity, approaching the normal biochemical levels and liver tissue appearance. The biochemical tests were confirmed by the histological investigations of liver tissue.

A new and practical method for the thermal degradation of technically relevant bio-based lignin is presented. By heating a solution of lignin in highly concentrated caustic potash, vanillic acid is almost exclusively obtained in yields up to 10.6 wt %. By altering the reaction parameters, the selectivity of the reaction can be shifted towards the demethylation product, protocatechuic acid, which is obtained in a yield of 6.9 wt %. Furthermore, the procedure was applicable to different types of Kraft and organosolv lignin. To create an economically feasible process, ion exchange resins were used for the work-up of the highly caustic reaction media without neutralizing the complete mixture. By the selective removal of the desired vanillic acid from the caustic potash, this alkaline media could directly be reused for at least 5 further lignin degradations without significant loss of yield., (© 2024 The Authors. ChemSusChem published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Vanillin is a valuable natural product that can be used as a fragrance and additive. Recent research in the biosynthesis of vanillin has brought attention to a key enzyme, carboxylic acid reductase (CAR), which catalyzes the reduction of vanillic acid to vanillin. Nevertheless, the biosynthesis of vanillin is hampered by the low activity and stability of CAR. As such, a rational design campaign was conducted on a well-documented carboxylic acid reductase from Segniliparus rugosus (SrCAR), using vanillic acid as the model substrate. After combined active site saturation and iterative site-specific mutagenesis, the best quadruple mutant N292H/K524S/A627L/E1121W (M3) was successfully obtained. In comparison to the wildtype SrCAR, M3 demonstrated a 4.2-fold increase in catalytic efficiency (k cat /K m ), and its half-life (t 1/2 ) was enhanced by 3.8 times up to 385.08 minutes at 40 °C. In silico docking and molecular dynamics simulation provided insights into the improved activity and stability. In the subsequent preparative-scale reaction with 100 mM (16.8 g L -1 ) vanillic acid, the whole cell catalysis utilizing M3 produced 10.15 g·L -1 of vanillin and 1.11 g·L -1 of vanillyl alcohol, respectively. This work demonstrates a dual improvement in the activity and thermal stability of SrCAR, thereby potentially facilitating the application of carboxylic acid reductase in the biosynthesis of vanillin., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest This work described here has been included in patents applied by the Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

This review discusses the main factors that govern the oxidation processes of lignins into aromatic aldehydes and acids using hydrogen peroxide. Aromatic aldehydes and acids are produced in the oxidative degradation of lignin whereas mono and dicarboxylic acids are the main products. The stability of hydrogen peroxide under the reaction conditions is an important factor that needs to be addressed for selectively improving the yield of aromatic aldehydes. Hydrogen peroxide in the presence of heavy metal ions readily decomposes, leading to minor degradation of lignin. This degradation results in quinones which are highly reactive towards peroxide. Under these reaction conditions, the pH of the reaction medium defines the reaction mechanism and the product distribution. Under acidic conditions, hydrogen peroxide reacts electrophilically with electron rich aromatic and olefinic structures at comparatively higher temperatures. In contrast, under alkaline conditions it reacts nucleophilically with electron deficient carbonyl and conjugated carbonyl structures in lignin. The reaction pattern in the oxidation of lignin usually involves cleavage of the aromatic ring, the aliphatic side chain or other linkages which will be discussed in this review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, an inexpensive and practical way to detect phenolic compounds in wastewater was investigated. By using a simple one compartment three-electrode cell and performing cyclic voltammetry measurements, it was possible to quantitatively determine the presence of gallic and vanillic acid in acidic aqueous solutions due to their electrooxidation upon potential scanning. In the case of gallic acid, two oxidation peaks were observed whereas the vanillic acid cyclic voltammograms consisted of two oxidation and one reduction peaks. Correlation of the observed electrooxidation current density value with the concentration of each phenolic compound led to a linear relationship. Following the above methodology for a 1:1 mixture of these phenols, it was found that only a qualitative analysis was possible rather than a quantitative one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vanillic acid (VA) is a phenolic acid derivative commonly found in plants and foods, with a pleasant creamy odor and pharmacologic activities, which is hypothesized to help improve silage fermentation. The silage profile of stylo silage ensiled with addition of VA was evaluated. The results showed that VA addition resulted in the decrease of pH value (5.22 vs. 4.33), dry matter loss (5.37 vs. 2.51% DM), and ammonia-N proportion (14.57 vs. 1.51% CP) of stylo silage as well as the increase of lactic acid concentration (0.51 vs. 1.17% DM), true protein proportion (51.18 vs. 58.47% CP), and saccharification yield (113.64 vs. 126.40 mg/g DM). Meanwhile, bacterial community of stylo silage was altered, where the relative abundance of Enterobacter , Clostridium , and Kosakonia decreased and that of Commensalibacter and Methylobacterium increased. In conclusion, it is suggested that VA could be used as a novel silage additive to improve silage fermentation and nutrient preservation of stylo silage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phenolic compounds such as vanillic and p‐coumaric acids are pollutants of major concern in the agro‐industrial processing, thereby their effective detection in the industrial environment is essential to reduce exposure. Herein, we present the quenching effect of these compounds on the electrochemiluminescence (ECL) of the Ru(bpy)32+/TPrA (TPrA=tri‐n‐propylamine) system at a disposable screen‐printed carbon electrode. Transient ECL profiles are obtained from multiple video frames following 1.2 V application by a smartphone‐based ECL sensor. A wide range of detection was achieved using the sensor with limit of detection of 0.26 μM and 0.68 μM for vanillic and p‐coumaric acids, respectively. The estimated quenching constants determined that the quenching efficiency of vanillic acid is at least two‐fold that of p‐coumaric acid under the current detection conditions. The present ECL quenching approach provided an effective method to detect phenolic compounds using a low‐cost, portable smartphone‐based ECL sensor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The kinetics of oxidation of vanillic acid by colloidal MnO2 in an acidic medium was investigated and used as a probe to study the micellar catalysis and its correlation to micellar properties of surfactants. Three surfactants were employed; cationic cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), anionic sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS), and non-ionic Tween-20 (TW-20), and some compositions of the two mixed systems CTAB-TW-20 and SDS-TW-20. The micellar properties were studied using the conductivity method. The reaction rate was enhanced in the presence of the three surfactants and the mixed systems. The catalytic profiles of the pure and mixed surfactant systems could be used to estimate the critical micelle concentrations of surfactant catalytic systems. Nevertheless, the kinetic measurements could not detect the variations in the micellar structures that occur at post-micellar compositions. Overall, the mixed systems studied showed a negative deviation of ideality with synergetic interaction. Therefore, Rubingh equations were used to calculate the micellar mole fraction and interaction parameters in the mixed surfactant systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Alzheimer disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorderliness that involves deductible progressive cognition function caused by amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptide accumulation in the interstitial space. The increase of Aβ stimulates all kinds of active oxygen and causes oxidative stress and apoptosis. In this investigation, we researched the neuroprotective impacts of vanillic acid (VA) on the Aβ-induced (Aβ1-40) long-term potentiation (LTP) of the hippocampus – a commonly probed synaptic plasticity model that happens at the same time as memory and learning – in the AD rats. Methods: Forty-five male Wistar rats were categorized into five groups (n = 8 rats/group, 200–220 g), and studied as control (standard diet), sham (vehicle), VA (50 mg/kg), Aβ and Aβ + VA (50 mg/kg) groups. In vivo electrophysiological recordings were implemented after the stereotaxic surgery to gauge the excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) slope and population spike (PS) amplitude in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. By the stimulation at high-frequency of the perforate pathway, long-term potentiation (LTP) was induced. To assess the plasma levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and total thiol group (TTG), blood samples were garnered. Results: In the Aβ-injected rats, EPSP slope, and PS amplitude were significantly reduced after the induction of LTP. Thus, the findings demonstrate that VA decreases the impacts of Aβ on LTP; also, the treatments through VA neuroprotective against the negative effects of Aβ on the synaptic plasticity of the hippocampus can decrease the MDA levels and also increase the TTG levels significantly. Discussion: Therefore, based on this experiment on male rats, VA has neuroprotective effects and antioxidants benefits against the Aβ-mediated inhibition of long-term potentiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study deals with quantification of phenolic compounds by a simple, rapid, sensitive and selective highperformance thin-layer chromatographic (HPTLC) method and evaluation of its traditional claims. A chromatographic separation was performed by using a combination of toluene: ethyl acetate: formic acid (70:30:10, v/v/v) as a mobile phase. A densitometric absorption mode has been used for the estimation of catechin and vanillic acid by comparing the peak area against the standard at wavelength 220 nm. The amount of catechin and vanillic acid was found to be 0.15% and 0.45% dry weight basis. The developed method was validated and found to be specific, linear, precise and accurate as per the International Conference on Harmonization guidelines. Antioxidant potential was evaluated by five different models having variable mechanisms of action viz., total phenolic and flavonoid content, reducing power assay, DPPH assay, deoxyribose assay and total antioxidant potential. In vitro potential data reveals that the species has significant potential and may be used as an alternative plant in future for the treatment of diabetic condition. However, identified bioactive compounds (catechin and vanillic acid) may be used as a reference tool for proper recognition and confirmation of right plant material and monitoring of batch-to-batch consistency of finished herbal products using Leucas mollissima as an ingredient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vanillic acid (VA) is a phenolic acid derivative commonly found in plants and foods, with a pleasant creamy odor and pharmacologic activities, which is hypothesized to help improve silage fermentation. The silage profile of stylo silage ensiled with addition of VA was evaluated. The results showed that VA addition resulted in the decrease of pH value (5.22 vs. 4.33), dry matter loss (5.37 vs. 2.51% DM), and ammonia-N proportion (14.57 vs. 1.51% CP) of stylo silage as well as the increase of lactic acid concentration (0.51 vs. 1.17% DM), true protein proportion (51.18 vs. 58.47% CP), and saccharification yield (113.64 vs. 126.40 mg/g DM). Meanwhile, bacterial community of stylo silage was altered, where the relative abundance of Enterobacter, Clostridium, and Kosakonia decreased and that of Commensalibacter and Methylobacterium increased. In conclusion, it is suggested that VA could be used as a novel silage additive to improve silage fermentation and nutrient preservation of stylo silage.