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In this world, unnoticed sound that disturbs frequently is called as noise. It is one of the main reasons for reducing the environment quality of human being. This effect can be minimized by using acoustic absorbent material in different areas where the sound absorption is required. In textile, acoustic property of non-woven is better than the woven fabric. The non-woven fabrics were developed using the needle punching technique using kapok, jute, flax, viscose, polyester, polypropylene, and recycled polyethylene terephthalate (R-Pet) fibers. Sound absorbency parameter was tested by sound absorption tester specially designed for this purpose. The effects of fiber type, number of layers in the fabric, thickness of the sample, areal density, air permeability, and pore size on sound absorption capacity were investigated in this research work. Experimental results show that 100% kapok non-woven fabric with its high compact structure, higher thickness, lesser air permeability, and less average flow diameter exhibit good sound absorption property than other samples, and it is best-suitable for interior in automotive applications for noise control.

Abstract With the increasing globalization of the food trade across countries and continents, reliable identification of the geographical origin of products is critical. In this study, we describe the limitations of the current origin labeling system for non-soil-based agricultural products and suggest alternative strategies for the identification of the geographical origin of such products. An origin identification model based on stable isotope ratio analysis combined with discriminant analysis is used to evaluate the similarities and dissimilarities between domestic and foreign shiitake mushrooms, including Chinese inoculated sawdust blocks and Chinese origin. The results show a classification sensitivity of 92.0%, classification specificity of 91.5%, and overall accuracy of 93.5%. In particular, δ15N was the most important isotope marker for the identification of the origin of shiitake mushrooms. Hence, the current origin labeling system for mushroom species has to be revised to establish fair trade and avoid improper origin labeling in the global shiitake market.

This report focuses on the application of a biodegradable biowaste [human hair-(HHR)], to produce a mild steel corrosion inhibitor. The performance of HHR extract in inhibiting metallic corrosion in 1 mol/L HCl was investigated. The analysis of the metal corrosion behavior using electrochemical and weight loss techniques revealed that HHR exhibits an efficient corrosion-mitigating effect via adsorption on the metal surface following a Langmuir isotherm. Tafel-plot results revealed the mixed-mode corrosion protection behavior of HHR. Surface analysis using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy provided evidence for the precipitation of a protective HHR film on the metal surface.

Iron oxides in general and especially hematite, α-Fe2O3 have been proved promising materials for efficient removal of various organic pollutants. Herein, we report a successful preparation of hematite (α-Fe2O3) by a facile precipitation method and its potential application in the removal of phenol from wastewater. The prepared material was subjected to extensive characterization using a variety of techniques such as scanning electron microscope coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and the Brunauer Emmett Teller (BET) method. The operating conditions were optimized to improve the adsorption process efficiently. The adsorption analysis showed an adsorption capacity of 16.17 mg g−1 towards phenol at 30 °C. The reaction kinetics and potential rate-limiting steps were studied by Lagergren's pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order models, and it was found that the pseudo-second-order accurately described the adsorption kinetics. Freundlich and Langmuir adsorption isotherms models were applied, and the quality of the fittings clearly shows that the Langmuir model well describes the phenol adsorption on the hematite. The interaction mechanism between phenol and α-Fe2O3(0 0 1) surface was further addressed by Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Experimental and theoretical results indicate that there is strong evidence for the decisive effect of π–π interactions and H-bonds on the adsorption capacity.

Diabetes mellitus, an endocrine disorder, has a wider reach among most of the world population. The incidence of diabetes is high not only among adults but wider-age groups are also becoming susceptible to this disease because of modified food habits and lifestyle changes that are alien to the physiological system. The control of blood glucose level would be the prime focus of all the therapeutic targets, which is achieved through drugs, modified lifestyle, and paleo-based diets. To find a solution to these problems, earlier humans have revolutionized the science with the discovery of insulin from the porcine pancreatic crude extract. Later, developments have been made with artificial recombinant insulin and even insulin analogs that would mimic the physiological basal insulin in controlling the blood sugar levels. Various factors such as cost and logistics for quality delivery to the end-user at various corners of the world have impeded the reach of the original product. Hence, biosimilar insulins that are original insulin analogs were designed to execute similar physiological functions. In the current situation, the use of biosimilars has been approved in various clinical conditions that are very promising in its functions. In the present review, the various developmental phases of biosimilar preparations and the regulations enforced ensuring a quality product in the market through the Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency have been discussed.

Poor corrosion resistance of mild steel (MS) is a serious concern in many industrial applications. Application of corrosion inhibitors is a possible solution to combat steel corrosion. As yet, there is very little research reported focusing on hydrazone derivatives as corrosion inhibitors, here we present a combined experimental and theoretical study of the adsorption of three newly synthesized hydrazones (HDZs), namely, (E)-N′-(4-(dimethylamino)benzylidene)-2-((2,3-dimethylphenyl)amino)benzohydrazide (HDZ-1), (E)-2-((2,3-dimethylphenyl)amino)-N′-(4-methylbenzylidene)benzohydrazide, (HDZ-2) and (E)-N′-benzylidene-2-((2,3-dimethylphenyl)amino)benzohydrazide (HDZ-3) on the MS surface in 1 M HCl. The interaction of HDZs and the metal surface was investigated using electrochemical techniques, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), DFT and molecular dynamic (MD) simulations. XPS shows that inhibitor molecules form a stable layer on steel surface through chemical and physical interactions. HDZs adsorption onto the steel surface was found to follow Langmuir model. Furthermore, electrochemical measurement results demonstrated that our developed inhibitors act as of mixed-type (anodic and cathodic), with HDZ-1 showing the highest polarization resistance and lowest corrosion current density. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to examine the surface morphology of the steel samples. The new hydrazones showed significantly improved steel corrosion resistance, which provides opportunities to explore the inhibitive activity of structurally similar compounds. Keywords: Mild steel, Corrosion inhibition, HCl, Hydrazone derivative, Modelling studies

Ferrocement is a cost-effective construction material used in the low-cost constructions. It is produced with the combination of cement mortar with closely spaced wire mesh known as chicken wire mesh. Ferrocement process eliminates coarse aggregates when compared to reinforced concrete thus makes the process simple. This paper deals with the influence of various characteristics of warp knitted fabric on the flexural properties of ferrocement composites. Ferrocement composites have a wide range of applications in the construction industry and it has some limitations due to the durability issues. Among the various durability issues, corrosion is one of the main issues to be addressed to enhance the long-term service life of the ferrocement composites. The idea of using non-metallic mesh to eliminate the corrosion problem is discussed in this paper. In this experiment, warp knitted fabric reinforced ferrocement composites were produced using polypropylene warp knitted fabrics. This paper deals with the flexural properties of ferrocement composites made of warp knitted fabric coated with expoxy. This paper deals with the flexural properties of ferrocement composites made of warp knitted fabric coated with expoxy. These composites were analyzed for their flexural strength, energy absorption and ductile property. The variables in the experiment are filament thickness, warp knitted structure and number of layers in the composites. Experimental results proved that the replacement of chicken mesh wire by warp knitted fabrics has an impact in the flexural properties of the composites and the effect of variables in the experiment set up has been analyzed. There is an imporvement of 200% is observed in the first crack load and 120% improvement in the ultimate load of the warp knit fabric reinforced composite compared to control sample. Experimental results proved that there is an increase in flexural strength of ferrocement composites made up with warp knitted fabrics. Microstructure studies like SEM and EDX on ferrocement laminates confirmed good bonding between the mortar mix and warp knitted fabrics.

Granule-bound starch synthase I (GBSSI) is responsible for Waxy gene encoding the, which is involved in the amylose synthesis step of starch biosynthesis. We investigated the genotypic and haplotypic variations of GBSSI (Os06g0133000) gene, including its evolutionary relatedness in the nucleotide sequence level using single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), indels, and structural variations (SVs) from 475 Korean World Rice Collection (KRICE_CORE), which comprised 54 wild rice and 421 cultivated represented by 6 ecotypes (temperate japonica, indica, tropical japonica, aus, aromatic, and admixture) or in another way by 3 varietal types (landrace, weedy, and bred). The results revealed that 27 of 59 haplotypes indicated a total of 12 functional SNPs (fSNPs), identifying 9 novel fSNPs. According to the identified novel fSNPs, we classified the entire rice collection into three groups: cultivated, wild, and mixed (cultivated and wild) rice. Five novel fSNPs were localized in wild rice: four G/A fSNPs in exons 2, 9, and 12 and one T/C fSNP in exon 13. We also identified the three previously reported fSNPs, namely, a G/A fSNP (exon 4), an A/C fSNP (exon 6), and a C/T fSNP (exon 10), which were observed only in cultivated rice, whereas an A/G fSNP (exon 4) was observed exclusively in wild rice. All-against-all comparison of four varietal types or six ecotypes of cultivated rice with wild rice showed that the GBSSI diversity was higher only in wild rice (π = 0.0056). The diversity reduction in cultivated rice can be useful to encompass the origin of this gene GBSSI during its evolution. Significant deviations of positive (wild and indica under balancing selection) and negative (temperate and tropical japonica under purifying selection) Tajima's D values from a neutral model can be informative about the selective sweeps of GBSSI genome insights. Despite the estimation of the differences in population structure and principal component analysis (PCA) between wild and subdivided cultivated subgroups, an inbreeding effect was quantified by FST statistic, signifying the genetic relatedness of GBSSI. Our findings of a novel wild fSNPS can be applicable for future breeding of waxy rice varieties. Furthermore, the signatures of selective sweep can also be of informative into further deeper insights during domestication.

The aim of this paper is to study the anticorrosive performance of the polymer–surfactants system comprising of mixed solutions of varying concentrations (10–700 ppm) of sodium salt of carboxymethylcellulose (NaCMC) and fixed concentration (1 ppm) of synthesized oppositely charged biodegradable cationic di-ester bonded gemini surfactants i.e., ethane-1,2-diylbis(N,N-dimethyl-N-alkylammoniumacetoxy)dichloride, referred as m-E2-m, (where m = 12, 14, 16, the number of carbon atoms in alkyl chain and E2 is the di-ester group in gemini’s spacer part), for mild steel in 1 M HCl solution. The inhibition effect of mixed NaCMC - gemini surfactant system was examined using weight loss measurement, potentiodynamic polarization (PP) measurements, electrochemical impedance (EIS) measurements, surface morphological observation by scanning electron microscopy (), and molecular dynamics simulation study. NaCMC alone was observed to offer moderate inhibition efficiency (IE) of 57.3% at 500 ppm, which was synergistically increased in the presence of very small amount of synthesized gemini surfactants. The improvement in IE was highly dependent on the surfactant tail length; the maximum improvement in IE of 90.1% was observed in presence of 16-E2-16. The adsorption of the studied systems followed Langmuir adsorption isotherm. PP result showed that all the examined systems behave as mixed type inhibitors. EIS results supported the existence of protective layer by the adsorption of inhibitor molecules on the metal surface. The formation of protective layer of studied systems on the mild steel surface was confirmed by FT-IR and SEM results. Molecular dynamics simulation was further performed to provide molecular level insights into the adsorption mechanism with the structure of studied systems. Keywords: Acid corrosion, Inhibition, Natural polymer, Gemini surfactants, Green inhibitor, Synergism, MD simulation

Industrial silica sand is a by-product obtained from the industries like paint, paper, rubber etc. It has a similar property with river sand and& M sand. This study explores the effect of high content of silica sand as a partial replacement for fine aggregate for concrete making in construction purpose. In this present research four types of silica sand from two different industrial units (coarser silica sand (VC and TC) and finer silica sand (VF and TF)) were used. The physical classification and morphology observation of silica sand through scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDAX), X-ray fluorescence (XRF) is examined. Fresh and hardened concrete properties were performed for the six sand samples, with two grades (M20 and M30) of concrete. No new compositions or phases were identified in silica sand concrete. Both fine and coarse silica sands were finer than river sand and M sand, as evaluated from the physical classification. The workability of silica sand mix at a fresh state improves the concrete performance up to 40%. The mix, which contains 80% coarser silica sand (TC) with 20% river sand, attained the maximum compressive strength of 34.5 Mpa and tensile strength of 3.5 Mpa at 28 days, which was the greatest of all the mixes. The combination of silica sand and river sand or M sand showed the superior impact of the concrete over the discrete concrete. SEM images showed the well-developed hydrated products like calcium silicate hydrate (CSH), calcium hydroxide (CH) and ettringite in all concrete mixes. It was observed from the XRD pattern that all concrete mixes containing silica sand have a high peak of quartz (SiO2), and calcium silicate hydrate (CSH) exhibits the formation of hydration products in the concrete. Similar stretching and bending patterns of silica sand concrete relates the pattern of nominal sand concrete as observed from Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR).

Dyeing wastewater from textile industries is often contaminated with chemical pollutants, which causes severe water pollution problems that are challenging to treat. Recently, Zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) have attracted extensive research interest due to their potential applications in the removal of pollutants from wastewater. Herein, a Cd- zeolitic-imidazolate framework (Cd-ZIF-8) was synthesized and used as an adsorbent for the removal of methyl orange (MO) at different operating conditions. The prepared adsorbent was characterized using a variety of techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), the Brunauer Emmett Teller (BET) method, FT-IR and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Its stability after adsorption was confirmed by XRD and pH tests. The effects of different variables, such as adsorbent dose, initial concentration, pH and temperature, were investigated to optimize the adsorption process. Adsorption parameters were determined by applying Langmuir and Freundlich models, and good fitting was observed for the Langmuir isotherm. Maximum MO adsorption capacities on Cd-ZIF-8 were 93.24 and 145.41 mg g−1 at 30° and 50°, respectively. Possible controlling mechanism and the potential rate-limiting steps were analyzed using Lagergren's pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order models, and the data were found to follow the pseudo-second-order equation. The prepared material was found to have good stability after the adsorption with no release of Cd ions over a wide range of pH. For a further explanation of the adsorption mechanism, interactions of MO molecules with the Cd and organic linkers of ZIF-8 were investigated using Density Functional Theory (DFT) cluster calculations.

Chrysanthemum indicum is an important ornamental and medicinal plant that is often difficult to propagate commercially because of its poor germination and low seed viability. This plant is mostly propagated by cutting, but the rooting is slow and non-uniform. The present investigation evaluated the regeneration capacity of stem cutting by examining the influence of auxins, growth medium, temperature, and explant type on adventitious root formation in C. indicum. The auxin-treated cuttings were planted in different growth substrates under greenhouse conditions. Among the different auxins tested, indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) more effectively induced roots. The cutting position of stock plants influenced rooting capacity. Cutting the stock plants from the apical region enhanced root number and length in the explants. Among the different explant types, apical stem cuts with 2000 ppm IBA produced a significantly higher number of adventitious roots when grown in vermiculite and perlite (V + P) at a ratio of 1:1 at 25 °C. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis revealed that protocatechuic acid, gentisic acid, chlorogenic acid, biochanin A, salicylic acid, caffeic acid, glycitein, and luteolin were the most dominant phenolic compounds present in C. indicum. These results indicate that IBA treatment promoted the synthesis and accumulation of phenolic compounds in C. indicum stem cuttings at the time of root formation. The present results demonstrate that applying auxins is essential for early root initiation and higher rooting success and thus may be beneficial for vegetative C. indicum propagation.

Background: The geographical origin of Panax ginseng Meyer, a valuable medicinal plant, is important to both ginseng producers and consumers in the context of economic profit and human health benefits. We, therefore, aimed to discriminate between the cultivation regions of ginseng using the stable isotope ratios of C, N, O, and S, which are abundant bioelements in living organisms. Methods: Six Korean ginseng cultivars (3-yr-old roots) were collected from five different regions in Korea. The C, N, O, and S stable isotope ratios in ginseng roots were measured by isotope ratio mass spectrometry, and then these isotope ratio profiles were statistically analyzed using chemometrics. Results: The various isotope ratios found in P. ginseng roots were significantly influenced by region, cultivar, and the interactions between these two factors (p ≤ 0.001). The variation in δ15N and δ13C in ginseng roots was significant for discriminating between different ginseng cultivation regions, and δ18O and δ34S were also affected by both altitude and proximity to coastal areas. Chemometric model results tested in this study provided discrimination between the majority of different cultivation regions. Based on the external validation, this chemometric model also showed good model performance (R2 = 0.853 and Q2 = 0.738). Conclusion: Our case study elucidates the variation of C, N, O, and S stable isotope ratios in ginseng root depending on cultivation region. Hence, the analysis of stable isotope ratios is a suitable tool for discrimination between the regional origins of ginseng samples from Korea, with potential application to other countries. Keywords: geographical origin, Panax ginseng, PCA, PLS-DA, stable isotope ratio

Five new flavonoids namely, 5-hydroxy-6-isoprenyl-7,4′-dimethoxyflavonol-3-O-β-d-arabinofuranoside (1), 5,7-dihydroxy-4′-methoxyflavone-7-O-β-d-arabinopyranosyl-2′′-n-decan-1′′′-oate (2), 3-butanoyl-5,6,8-trihydroxy-7,4′-dimethoxyflavonol--5-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (3), 7, 4′-dimethoxy-5-hydroxyflavone-5-O-α-d-arabinopyranosyl-(2′′ → 1′′′)-O-α-d-arabinopyranoside (4), and 5,6-dihydroxy-7, 4′-dimethoxyflavone-5-O-α-d-glucopyranoside (5), together with two known compounds, were isolated from the methanol extract of Oryza sativa leaves and straw. Their structures of new compounds were elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR spectral methods, viz: COSY, HMBC and HSQC aided by mass techniques and IR spectroscopy. The cytotoxicity of these compounds (1–7) were assessed by using (RAW 264.7) mouse macrophages cell line, and allelopathic effects of compounds (1–7) on the germination characteristics of barnyardgrass (Echinochloa oryzicola) and pigweed (Chenopodium album L.) were also evaluated. The compounds 1, 6 and 7 showed cytotoxicity and compounds 1–7 exhibited significant inhibitory activity on the seed germination of two weed species.

Oxidative stress is a pathological condition occurring due to an imbalance between the oxidants and antioxidant defense systems in the body. Nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (NRF2), encoded by the gene NFE2L2, is the master regulator of phase II antioxidant enzymes that protect against oxidative stress and inflammation. NRF2/ARE signaling has been considered as a promising target against oxidative stress-mediated diseases like diabetes, fibrosis, neurotoxicity, and cancer. The consumption of dietary phytochemicals acts as an effective modulator of NRF2/ARE in various acute and chronic diseases. In the present review, we discussed the role of NRF2 in diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), cancer, and atherosclerosis. Additionally, we discussed the phytochemicals like curcumin, quercetin, resveratrol, epigallocatechin gallate, apigenin, sulforaphane, and ursolic acid that have effectively modified NRF2 signaling and prevented various diseases in both in vitro and in vivo models. Based on the literature, it is clear that dietary phytochemicals can prevent diseases by (1) blocking oxidative stress-inhibiting inflammatory mediators through inhibiting Keap1 or activating Nrf2 expression and its downstream targets in the nucleus, including HO-1, SOD, and CAT; (2) regulating NRF2 signaling by various kinases like GSK3beta, PI3/AKT, and MAPK; and (3) modifying epigenetic modulation, such as methylation, at the NRF2 promoter region; however, further investigation into other upstream signaling molecules like NRF2 and the effect of phytochemicals on them still need to be investigated in the near future.

Sorghum is a major cereal food worldwide, and is considered a potential source of minerals and bioactive compounds. Its wide adaptive range may cause variations in its agronomic traits, antioxidant properties, and phytochemical content. This extensive study investigated variations in seed characteristics, antioxidant properties, and total phenolic (TPC) and flavonoid contents (TFC) of sorghum collected from different ecological regions of 15 countries. The antioxidant potential of the seed extracts of various sorghum accessions was determined using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azinobis 3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate (ABTS) radical scavenging assays. Significant variations in TPC were observed among the sorghum accessions. All 78 sorghum accessions used in this study exhibited significant variations in TFC, with the lowest and highest amount observed in accessions C465 and J542, respectively. DPPH scavenging potential of the seed extracts for all the accessions ranged from 11.91 ± 4.83 to 1343.90 ± 81.02 µg mL−1. The ABTS assay results were similar to those of DPPH but showed some differences in the accessions. Pearson’s correlation analysis revealed a wide variation range in the correlation between antioxidant activity and TPC, as well as TFC, among the sorghum accessions. A wide diversity range was also recorded for the seed characteristics (1000-seed weight and seed germination rate). A dendrogram generated from UPGMA clustering, based on seed traits, antioxidant activity, TPC, and TFC was highly dispersed for these accessions. Variations among the accessions may provide useful information regarding the phytoconstituents, antioxidant properties, and phytochemical contents of sorghum and aid in designing breeding programs to obtain sorghum with improved agronomic traits and bioactive properties.

Plant phytochemical accumulation is influenced by various external factors that change with the seasons (e.g., harvesting time). Atractylodes japonica, an important medicinal plant rich in bioactive compounds, is used to treat several human diseases. We analyzed the influence of harvesting time on phenolic compound concentration and antioxidant activity of A. japonica roots. We investigated the correlation between phenolic compound and minerals contents and antioxidant activity in different harvests. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents varied significantly with the harvesting time. Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) analysis revealed significant changes in the concentration of various phenolics between harvests. The content of different types of phenolics were significantly higher in the samples collected in October. Among them, chlorogenic acids (133,833.30 µg/g dry weight of root extract) were the most dominant phytochemical compounds detected. Samples harvested in October had higher concentrations of flavonoids, including rutin, orientin, vitexin, and apigenin. Roots harvested in October had a significantly higher (p < 0.05) antioxidant activity than that of those harvested later. Root mineral concentrations also varied with the harvest time. The analysis revealed that macro elements such as Ca ad Mg contents were significantly increased with delaying harvesting time, whereas a different trend was observed for the microelements including Fe, Cu, Al, and As contents in the October harvest. We also found a significant relationship between antioxidant activity and phenolic compound content. The most abundant minerals (Ca, Mg, Mn, Fe, and Al) correlated positively with the antioxidant activity indicating that these elements and compounds may be associated with the A. japonica antioxidant potential. Furthermore, A. japonica root extracts inhibited NIH/3T3 cellular proliferation in a season- and dose-dependent manner. Hence, harvesting time influenced the antioxidant properties and phenolic compound accumulation of A. japonica roots. These results indicate that the harvesting time is essential for obtaining the specific phytochemicals.

Abstract Background Pickled soybeans or vinegar beans have long been used as a folk remedy and also a supplemental nutritional source in Korea. In general the pickling process in vinegar improves the digestibility of soybeans as well as increases the availability of various (non-)nutrients in soybeans. However, detailed information about the changes in functional substances such as (poly)phenolic compounds, vitamin E, and fatty acids (FAs) in soybeans during the pickling process is quite limited. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the changes in the selected phenolic compounds, vitamin E, and FAs in soybeans as a function of the pickling time. Results The sum of the total phenolics in both the pickled soybeans and the pickling solutions increased by as much as 47% after pickling. Naringenin, vanillin, and catechin were the major phenolics observed in the pickled soybeans and pickling solutions. The total vitamin E content in the pickled soybeans decreased by 23% after pickling, although no vitamin E molecules were found in the pickling solution. γ–Tocopherol was abundant in the untreated soybeans, but decreased by ~29% after pickling. Both the total and major FA contents varied by less than 1% during the pickling period. In this study, a 10–20 day pickling period may be considered suitable in terms of retention of functional substances in the pickled soybeans, such as selected phenolics, vitamin E, and FAs. Conclusions Our findings provide basic information and insight into the production of functional compounds in soybeans upon immersing in brewed vinegar, and also may be helpful toward improving the health-functionality of soybean-based foods in the food industry. Graphical abstract How to change bioactive compounds during the pickling process?

Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer (Araliaceae), is a well-known herb and used in the old established system of Oriental remedy, especially in Japan, China and Korea. Four new compounds characterized as (cis)- 7β,11α,19,21-tetra-O-decanoyl-18, 22β-dihydroxy-dammar-1-en-3-one (1), 3β,4α,12β-trihydroxystigmast-5-en-21-yl octadecan-9′,12′-dienoate (2), dammar-12, 24-dien-3α, 6β, 15α-triol-3α-D-arabinopyranosyl-6β-L-arabinopyranoside (3) and dammar-24-en-3α, 6β, 16α, 20β-tetraol-3α-D-arabinopyranosyl-6β-D-arabinopyranoside (4) were isolated and established from the ethyl acetate and butanol extracts of the roots of P. ginseng. Their structures were established on the basis of spectral data and chemical reactions. Natural compounds indicative a great reservoir of materials and compounds with evolved biological activity, including antioxidant. Compounds 1–4 were investigated in vitro for antioxidant potential using ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), the Nitric oxide (NO) scavenging activity, reducing power, phosphomolybdenum and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging actions, and the decision showed the compounds 3and 4 have probablyessential antioxidant properties than the compounds 1and 2 presented weak activity.

Background: The natural ratios of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and sulfur (S) stable isotopes can be varied in some specific living organisms owing to various isotopic fractionation processes in nature. Therefore, the analysis of C, N, and S stable isotope ratios in ginseng can provide a feasible method for determining ginseng authenticity depending on the cultivation land and type of fertilizer. Methods: C, N, and S stable isotope composition in 6-yr-old ginseng roots (Jagyeongjong variety) was measured by isotope ratio mass spectrometry. Results: The type of cultivation land and organic fertilizers affected the C, N, and S stable isotope ratio in ginseng (p

Metal oxide nanoparticles demonstrate uniqueness in various technical applications due to their suitable physiochemical properties. In particular, yttrium oxide (Y2O3) nanoparticle is familiar for technical applications because of its higher dielectric constant and thermal stability. It is widely used as a host material for a variety of rare-earth dopants, biological imaging, and photodynamic therapies. Y2O3 has also been used as a polarizer, phosphor, laser host material, and in the optoelectronic fields for cancer therapy, biosensor, and bioimaging. Yttrium oxide nanoparticles have attractive antibacterial and antioxidant properties. This review focuses on the promising applications of Y2O3, its drawbacks, and its modifications. The synthetic methods of nanoparticles, such as sol-gel, emulsion, chemical methods, solid-state reactions, combustion, colloid reaction techniques, and hydrothermal processing, are recapitulated. Herein, we also discuss the advantages and disadvantages of Y2O3 NPs based biosensors that function through various detection modes including colorimetric, electrochemistry, and chemo luminescent regarding the detection of small organic chemicals, metal ions, and biomarkers.

Light is a key factor that affects phytochemical synthesis and accumulation in plants. Due to limitations of the environment or cultivated land, there is an urgent need to develop indoor cultivation systems to obtain higher yields with increased phytochemical concentrations using convenient light sources. Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) have several advantages, including consumption of lesser power, longer half-life, higher efficacy, and wider variation in the spectral wavelength than traditional light sources; therefore, these devices are preferred for in vitro culture and indoor plant growth. Moreover, LED irradiation of seedlings enhances plant biomass, nutrient and secondary metabolite levels, and antioxidant properties. Specifically, red and blue LED irradiation exerts strong effects on photosynthesis, stomatal functioning, phototropism, photomorphogenesis, and photosynthetic pigment levels. Additionally, ex vitro plantlet development and acclimatization can be enhanced by regulating the spectral properties of LEDs. Applying an appropriate LED spectral wavelength significantly increases antioxidant enzyme activity in plants, thereby enhancing the cell defense system and providing protection from oxidative damage. Since different plant species respond differently to lighting in the cultivation environment, it is necessary to evaluate specific wavebands before large-scale LED application for controlled in vitro plant growth. This review focuses on the most recent advances and applications of LEDs for in vitro culture organogenesis. The mechanisms underlying the production of different phytochemicals, including phenolics, flavonoids, carotenoids, anthocyanins, and antioxidant enzymes, have also been discussed.

An efficient in vitro direct shoot regeneration system has been described for Lycium chinense Miller using leaf explants. Influence of various parameters such as growth regulator concentration, explant type, effect of basal salt type, Murashige and Skoog (1962) medium (MS), Schenk and Hildebrandt (1972) medium (SH), Gamborg et al. (1968) medium (B5), and carbon sources (sucrose, maltose, and fructose) on the regenerating shoots has been studied. Micromorphological studies and genetic fidelity of regenerated shoots were assessed and compared with those of the donor plants. Among the different concentrations of plant growth regulator (PGRs) tested, MS supplemented with lower concentration of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) (0.5 mgL−1) and thidiazuron (TDZ) (0.5 mgL−1) increased the frequency of shoot. Comparatively, indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) was more effective in the regeneration and growth of the root system. A higher number of root formation (6.67 ± 1.25) was observed when the rooting medium comprised half-strength MS salts supplemented with 3% sucrose. The surviving plantlets were gradually transferred to the greenhouse and natural soil. More than 90% of the plantlets survived and matured within 85 days. Similarity in the band patterns produced by inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) primers confirmed the genetic stability and uniformity between the regenerated and donor plants. The present optimized direct shoot regeneration system may be useful for mass propagation and improving the genetic traits in L. chinense.

The quality and intensity of light can have a huge influence on plant growth and bioactive compound production. Compared to conventional lighting, very little is known about the influence of light emitting diodes (LED) irradiation on the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties and resveratrol content of peanut sprouts. This study was aimed at understanding the effects of LED light on the growth and antioxidant capacity of peanut sprouts. The resveratrol concentration was determined by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Peanut sprouts grown under blue LED light exhibited a higher total resveratrol content grown than those under fluorescent light and other LED light sources. The highest total phenolic content was recorded in the case of blue LED. The 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2-azino-bis 3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid radical scavenging values of blue LED‒treated and micro-electrodeless light-treated sprouts were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than that of sprouts grown under lights with other wavelengths. A Pearson correlation analysis revealed a strong association of the resveratrol, total phenolic, and flavonoid contents of peanut sprouts with 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2-azino-bis 3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS), indicating its contribution to antioxidant activities. The anti-tyrosinase activity increased with an increase in the concentration of the tested sample. Blue LED-irradiated peanut extracts at a selected concentration range showed moderate cytotoxicity. Furthermore, the antimicrobial activity of peanut sprouts grown under blue LED was effective against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, and Vibrio litoralis. The present study revealed that the application of LEDs during the peanut sprouts growth improves the antioxidant activity, resveratrol concentration, and metabolite accumulation.

Panax ginseng C.A. (P. ginseng) Meyer has been in use since ancient times for its therapeutic activities. Although several studies have investigated the roles of phytoconstituents in human and animal health, no comparative studies have been conducted to test the efficacy of P.ginseng leaf, fruit and root. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the antioxidant and anticorrosion activities of ginseng prepared using five different solvents. The methanolic fruit extract showed comparatively good activity in all assays. The total phenolic content (TPC) was higher in fruit (95.21 mg/g), followed by leaf (39.21 mg/g) extracted in methanol solvent compared other solvents. The total flavonoid content (TFC) of fruit methanolic extract was 50.21 mg/g, which was followed by fruit extracted in ethanol (41.33 mg/g). The same phenomenon was observed in all antioxidant studies. Through Ultrahigh Performance Liquid Chromatography (UHPLC), the presence of 23 phenolic components categorized as hydroxycinnamic acids, hydroxybenzoic acids and a few other groups that play a vital role in antioxidation was identified. Phenols such as chlorogenic acid (1002.2 μg/g), gentisic acid (854.21 μg/g) and rutin (165.32 μg/g) were found in higher amounts in fruit whereas leaf showed significant amounts of m-coumaric acid (185.32 μg/g) and p-coumaric acid (125.24 μg/g). The anti-corrosive property of the fruit extract of the ginseng with methanol as a solvent was analyzed for a copper specimen exposed to 1 M HCl medium and found to have 96% corrosion inhibition efficiency at a 1000-ppm concentration. The smooth surface of the specimen exposed to corrosive media shown in a field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) image confirms that the specimen was protected from corrosion, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) spectra show that the loss of Cu is reduced in inhibited metal surface. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) images and surface roughness factor also validate the corrosion inhibition characteristic of ginseng plant extract.

Background: The study of phenolic compounds profiles and antioxidative activity in ginseng fruit, leaves, and roots with respect to cultivation years, and has been little reported to date. Hence, this study examined the phenolic compounds profiles and 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free-radical-scavenging activities in the fruit, leaves, and roots of Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng Meyer) as a function of cultivation year. Methods: Profiling of 23 phenolic compounds in ginseng fruit, leaves, and roots was investigated using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography with the external calibration method. Antioxidative activity of ginseng fruit, leaves, and roots were evaluated using the method of DPPH free-radical-scavenging activity. Results: The total phenol content in ginseng fruit and leaves was higher than in ginseng roots (p

Reliable geographical identification can protect producers of excellent agroproducts, and also provide reliable purchasing information to satisfy consumers. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the regional and monthly variation in fatty acid (FA) and tocopherol (TOC) in organic milk (OM) and develop a geographical discriminant model of OM in Korea. In this study, OM had α-TOC and showed a regional or monthly difference of 3–5%. Moreover, C16:0, C18:1 n9 cis + trans, C18:0, and C14:0 were the predominant FAs in OM, and OM mostly had higher ∑UFA, including nutritionally desirable FAs; but lower ∑SFA among four regions or in April and August (p < 0.001). The model prepared using stepwise discriminant analysis showed a classification accuracy of 100% for original and cross-validated sample sets. Our results have characterized regional and monthly nutritional variations of OM, thereby potentially suggesting the applicability of a reliable Korean geographical identification labeling system using nutrient compositional analysis of OM.

Shiitake mushroom (Lentinula edodes) is commonly consumed worldwide and is cultivated in many farms in Korea using Chinese substrates owing to a lack of knowledge on how to prepare sawdust-based substrate blocks (bag cultivation). Consequently, issues related to the origin of the Korean or Chinese substrate used in shiitake mushrooms produced using bag cultivation have been reported. Here, we investigated differences in fatty acids (FAs) and stable isotope ratios (SIRs) in shiitake mushrooms cultivated using Korean and Chinese substrates under similar conditions (strain, temperature, humidity, etc.) and depending on the harvesting cycle. The total FA level decreased significantly by 5.49 mg∙g−1 as the harvesting cycle increased (p < 0.0001); however, no differences were found in FAs between shiitake mushrooms cultivated using Korean and Chinese substrates. Linoleic acid was the most abundant FA, accounting for 77–81% of the total FAs during four harvesting cycles. Moreover, the SIRs differed significantly between the Korean and Chinese substrates, and the harvesting cycles resulted in smaller maximum differences in SIR values compared to those of the cultivation substrate origins. Our findings contribute to the identification of the geographical origin of shiitake mushrooms and may have potential applications in international shiitake-mushroom markets.

We investigated the effects of the type of rice and degree of milling (DOM) on the nutraceutical content and antioxidant activity of rice (Oryza sativa L.). The fatty acid (FA), vitamin E homolog, and phenolic contents in organic (OR), pesticide-free (PFR), and conventional rice (CR) decreased significantly with an increase in the DOM of rice grains, particularly for a DOM of 7 and 9 (p < 0.05). The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity also decreased with the DOM; particularly, this activity decreased significantly, by approximately 60%, in rice grains with a DOM between 7 and 11, as compared to that of brown rice (p < 0.05). α-Tocopherol (r = 0.854) and p-coumaric acid (r = 0.501) showed the strongest correlation with DPPH activity in each chemical group. Stepwise discriminant analysis enabled the correct original and cross-validated classification of 87.0% and 81.5% of rice types, respectively. Additionally, the original and cross-validated classification of rice DOM levels showed that, overall, 93.8% and 92.6% of rice samples were correctly classified. Our findings reveal variations in the nutraceutical levels and antioxidant activities in rice grains based on the rice type and DOM, which can help improve the nutritional evaluation of human-health-promoting rice grains.

This research aimed to develop a better understanding of the corrosion inhibition of the mild steel in acidic medium by new organic molecules. For this purpose, two new compounds namely, 2,3-dihydrobenzo[4,5]imidazo[2,1-b]thiazole (2-BIT) and 3,4-dihydro-2H-benzo[4,5]imidazo[2,1-b]thiazole (3-BIT) were synthesized and evaluated for mild steel (MS) corrosion in HCl. Analyses were carried out using weight loss measurements, electrochemical techniques, and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The adsorption of inhibitors onto the steel surface follows the Langmuir adsorption model. Generally, results showed that the corrosion inhibition efficiency of the investigated molecules was found to increase with increased concentration of inhibitors. Electrochemical tests, i.e., electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and potentiodynamic polarization (PDP) techniques, showed that the addition of our investigated inhibitors decreases the dissolution of the metal and generally act as mixed-type inhibitors. In addition, the influence of temperature (from 303 to 333 K) on the corrosion inhibition was studied, and the results demonstrated that with an increase in temperature, the inhibition efficiency decrease. SEM results confirmed that the inhibition process is due to a protective film that prevents corrosion. Similarly, the results showed that the inhibitory efficiencies reach 93% at 5 × 10−3 M in the case of inhibitor 3-BIT. These results revealed that this compound could effectively control and reduce the corrosion rate of mild steel in the corrosion test solution.

Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide and sustained focus is on the discovery and development of newer and better tolerated anticancer drugs, especially from plants. In the present study, a simple, eco-friendly, and inexpensive approach was followed for the synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) using the aqueous leaf extract of Eclipta prostrata. The synthesized ZnO NPs were characterized by UV-visible absorption spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and Selected area (electron) diffraction (SAED). The HRTEM images confirmed the presence of triangle, radial, hexagonal, rod, and rectangle, shaped with an average size of 29 ± 1.3 nm. The functional groups for synthesized ZnO NPs were 3852 cm−1 for H-H weak peak, 3138 cm−1 for aromatic C-H extend, and 1648 cm−1 for Aromatic ring stretch. The 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-Diphenyltetrazolium Bromide (MTT), caspase and DNA fragmentation assays were carried out using various concentrations of ZnO NPs ranging from 1 to 100 mg/mL. The synthesized ZnO NPs showed dose dependent cytopathic effects in the Hep-G2 cell line. At 100 mg/mL concentration, the synthesized ZnO NPs exhibited significant cytotoxic effects and the apoptotic features were confirmed through caspase-3 activation and DNA fragmentation assays.

Background: The effect of polyamines (PAs) along with cytokinins (TDZ and BAP) and auxin (IBA) was induced by the multiple shoot regeneration from leaf explants of gherkin (Cucumis anguria L.). The polyphenolic content, antioxidant and antibacterial potential were studied from in vitro regenerated and in vivo plants. Results: Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 3% sucrose containing a combination of 3.0 μM TDZ, 1.0 μM IBA and 75 μM spermidine induced maximum number of shoots (45 shoots per explant) was achieved. Regenerated shoots elongated in shoot elongation medium containing 1.5 μM GA3 and 50 μM spermine. The well-developed shoots were transferred to root induction medium containing 1.0 μM IBA and 50 μM putrescine. Rooted plants were hardened and successfully established in soil with a 95% survival rate. Twenty-five phenolic compounds were identified by ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) analysis The individual polyphenolic compounds, total phenolic and flavonoid contents, antioxidant and antibacterial potential were significantly higher with in vitro regenerated plants than in vivo plants. Conclusions: Plant growth regulators (PGRs) and PAs had a significant effect on in vitro plant regeneration and also a biochemical accumulation of flavonols, hydroxybenzoic and hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives in C. anguria. Due to these metabolic variations, the antioxidant and antibacterial activities were increased with in vitro regenerated plants than in vivo plants. This is the first report describing the production of phenolic compounds and biological activities from in vitro and in vivo regenerated plants of C. anguria.

Four new constituents, as cis-6-oxogeran-4-enyl-10-oxy-O-β-arabinopyranosyl-4′-O-β-arabinopyranosyl-2″-octadec-9‴,12‴,15‴-trienoate (1), geran-3(10)-enyl-1-oxy-O-β-arabinopyranosyl-4′-O-β-arabinopyranosyl-2″-octadec-9‴,12‴,15‴-trienoate (2), geranilan-8-oxy-O-α-d-xylopyranosyl-2′-n-octadec-9″,12″,15″-trienoate (3), 1-cyclohex-2′, 5′-dienyl 1-cyclohexylethanol-O-β-d-xylopyranoside (4), along with six known constituents, guaiacol-O-β-d-arabinopyaranoside (5), n-tetradecanyl oleate (6), oleyl-O-β-d-xyloside (7), n-octadec-9,12-dienoyl-O-β-d-arabinopyranoside (8), linolenyl-O-β-d-arabinofuranoside (9) andglyceryl-1,3-dipalmito-2-olein (10), were isolated and identified from the Dendropanax morbifera bark. The new structures were established by one-and two-dimensional NMR (and in combination with IR, FAB-MSand HR-ESI-FTMS. The comparative evaluation of antioxidant potential by phosphomolybdenum, DPPH, FRAP and the NO assay of four different compounds (1−4), we have found that the compounds 1 and 2 have power as a natural antioxidant, whereas the compound 3 and 4 exhibited mild activity in comparison to compounds 1 and 2.

Potato is the most widely cultivated non-cereal crop in the world, and like any other crop, it is susceptible to yield losses because of various factors, including pathogen attacks. Among the various diseases of potato, late blight caused by the oomycete Phytophthora infestans is considered as the most devastating disease worldwide. In this study, transgenic potato plants overexpressing the D-galacturonic acid reductase (GalUR) gene with an enhanced level of cellular L-ascorbate (L-AsA) were challenged with Phytophthora infestans to determine the level of stress tolerance induced in those plants. With the onset of pathogen infection, necrotic lesions progressively expanded and became necrotic in the control plants. The transgenic potato lines with enhanced ascorbic acid showed reduced necrotic lesions. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were relatively lower in transgenic plants compared to the untransformed control (UT) plants. The mRNA expressions of pathogenesis-related (PR) genes, such as pathogenesis related 1 (PR1) and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) were slightly higher in GalUR overexpressing transgenic lines as compared to the untransformed control plants. Pathogen infection also altered the mRNA expression of genes associated with gibberellic acid (GA) and abscisic acid (ABA) biosynthesis. Furthermore, the increase in various antioxidant enzymes was also observed in the gene expression analysis with the transgenic plants. The complete loss of the pathogen growth and disease occurrence was not observed in our study; however, the findings indicated that an increase in the level of cellular L-ascorbate in the transgenic potato leads to enhanced cellular antioxidants, PR genes and plant defense hormones, such as GA and ABA resulting in the reduction of the disease symptoms caused by the Phytophthora infestans.

In this study, the allelopathic properties of Medicago sativa on different weeds were investigated under in vitro conditions. The compounds involved in the autotoxicity of M. sativa were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography. The extracts of all concentrations inhibited the growth of the calluses of Digitaria ciliaris, Chenopodium album, Amaranthus lividus, Portulaca oleracea, and Commelina communis. Six allelopathic compounds in alfalfa were identified and quantified, and the most predominant phenolic compounds were salicylic acid and p-hydroxybenzoic acid. Various concentrations (10−2, 10−3, and 10−5 M) of all the tested phenolic compounds exerted inhibitory effects on callus fresh weight. Rutin, salicylic acid, scopoletin, and quercetin significantly inhibited alfalfa seed germination. Of the seven identified saponins, medicagenic acid saponins exhibited the highest autotoxic effect and significantly lowered seed germination rate. Principal component analysis showed that the phenolic compounds and saponin composition significantly contributed to the different variables. The highly phytotoxic properties of the alfalfa-derived phenolic compounds and saponins indicate that these phytochemicals can be a potential source of bioherbicides.

Gymnema sylvestre is a plant that is enriched in bioactive compounds. In particular, gymnemic acids (GA) and phenolic compounds (PC) are pharmaceutically important. There is a commercial demand for naturally occurring bioactive compounds, but their availability is limited due to geographical and seasonal variations. The elicitation approach can enhance the biosynthesis of phytochemicals during in vitro culture of G. sylvestre. Here, to further improve gymnemic acid II (GA II) and phenolic compounds (PC) production by G. sylvestre, cell suspension cultures (CSC), which has attracted attention for the production of essential phytochemicals, was explored using copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs). Callus was obtained on MS medium containing 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, kinetin, phytoagar, and sucrose. Agar-free MS medium was used to initiate CSC, which was treated with three concentrations of CuO NPs (1, 3 or 5 mg/L). Treatment for 48 h with 3 mg/L CuO NPs resulted in the greatest yields of GA II, total phenolics, and flavonoids. The cultures also displayed pronounced antioxidant, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, and anticancer activities. The use of CuO NPs (3 mg/L) significantly increased the production of GA II (nine-fold) and PC compared to unamended CSC. We propose that CSC and use of nanoparticles (NPs) as a new generation of elicitors, offer a suitable prospect for the production of bioactive compounds.

A considerable amount of bioactive compounds have been used for the biopharmaceutical engineering to help human health and nutrition. Hairy root culture (HRC) or transgenic root is a favourable alternative technique for phytochemical production. Ligularia fischeri is a significant source of pharmaceutically important active compounds with an enormous range of health care applications. HRC of L. fischeri was developed using Agrobacterium rhizogenes for the production of polyphenolic compounds with antioxidant, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, anticancer and anti-inflammatory pharmaceutical activities. Hairy roots (HRs) were selected by morphological assessment, genetic and molecular analyses. The maximum accumulation of fresh mass (94.15 g/L) and dry mass (9.45 g/L) was recorded in MS liquid medium supplemented with 30 g/L sucrose at 28 days. Furthermore, HRs successfully produced numerous polyphenolic compounds, including six hydroxycinnamic acids, seven flavonols, seven hydroxybenzoic acids, vanillin, resveratrol, pyrogallol, homogentisic, and veratric acids, which were identified by UHPLC analysis. HRs produced higher total phenolic (185.65 mg/g), and flavonoid (5.25 mg/g) contents than non-transformed roots (125.55 mg/g and 3.75 mg/g). As a result of these metabolic changes, pharmaceutical activities were found higher in HRs than non-transformed roots (NTRs). The present study indicates that HRC has the potential to increase the content of beneficial polyphenolic compounds with higher potential pharmaceutical activities. To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first report on enhancing the production of polyphenolic compounds with pharmaceutical activities from the HRCs of L. fischeri.

This study was carried out to evaluate genetic diversity, phenolic compound composition, and biological activity of Setaria italica L. collected from different parts of South Korea. Antioxidant potential of seeds was estimated by the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay, and antimicrobial activity was determined by evaluating the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Eight phenolic acids and 3 flavonoids were identified and quantified, among which myricetin and salicylic acid were the most dominant phytochemical compounds detected in the majority of accessions. The antioxidant potential of the leaf extracts of all the accessions was significantly higher (ranging from 32.33 ± 1.53 µg mL−1 in SI-03 to 87.87 ± 1.63 µg mL−1) in SI-10 than that of the root, stem, or seeds. Among the 15 accessions, methanolic extracts of the SI-15 accession strongly suppressed the growth of Escherichia coli (250 µg mL−1). Accessions SI-14 and SI-15 showed positive antimicrobial activity against all gram-positive bacteria. Interestingly, extracts of all accessions were more sensitive towards E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus, with MICs ranging from 250 to 1000 µg mL−1. Three phenolic acids, namely chlorogenic acid, catechin, caffeic acid, naringin, hesperetin, and myricetin, were found to be moderately positively correlated with antioxidant activities. A wide range of diversity was observed in morphological traits, namely plant height (99.33 to 201.33 cm), culm length (67.10 to 160.00 cm), spike length (12.80 to 24.00 cm), 1000 seeds weight 1.44 to 2.91 g), bloom beginning (93.67 to 128.00 days), and full bloom (99.67 to 135 days). A dendogram generated from unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean clustering (UPGMA) cluster analysis based on the morphological traits and inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) marker data revealed three major groups. However, no clear correlation between these two different approaches was found. The average Shannon’s information index value (I) was 0.492, and it ranged from 0 to 0.693. The average expected heterozygosity (He) was 0.335, and it ranged from 0 to 0.499. The substantial variation in the morphological traits, bioactive properties, and genetic diversity among the accessions may provide useful information for breeding programs attempting to obtain S. italica with improved bioactive properties.

The genetic diversity and antioxidant potential of Panicum miliaceum L. accessions collected from different geo-ecological regions of South Korea were evaluated and compared. Antioxidant potential of seeds was estimated by the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) radical scavenging assays and total phenolic content was determined by the Folin–Ciocalteu method. Total phenolic content (TPC) in 80% methanolic extracts ranged from 16.24 ± 0.86 to 58.04 ± 1.00 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g of the sample extracts and total flavonoid content (TFC) varied from 7.19 ± 1.05 to 52.56 ± 1.50 mg quercetin equivalents (QE) mg/g of the sample extracts. DPPH radical scavenging capacity of the extracts from the 15 accessions of P. miliaceum varied from 206.44 ± 7.72 to 2490.24 ± 4.641 mg GAE/g of the sample extracts and ABTS radical scavenging capacity ranged from 624.85 ± 13.1 to 1087. 77 ± 9.58 mg GAE/g of the sample extracts. A wide range of genetic variation was observed as measured by Shannon’s information index (I), number of effective alleles (Ne), number of observed alleles (Na), expected heterozygosity (He), unbiased expected heterozygosity (uHe). The observed variation in the bioactive properties, morphological traits, and genetic diversity among the accessions may provide useful information for breeding programs seeking to improve bioactive properties of P. miliaceum.

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) contains generous amounts of carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, and dietary fibers, in addition to secondary metabolites such as phenols and flavonoids that act as antioxidants. The phenolic compounds detected in rice (organic rice (OR), conventional rice (CR), and pesticide-free rice (PFR)), namely, protocatechuic, gentisic, p-hydroxybenzoic, p-coumaric, ferulic, salicylic, and caffeic acids, are notable free radical scavengers. The sum of these phenolic compounds was found to be higher in PFR, followed by CR and OR (p < 0.0001), when the rice types were classified based on the farming system employed. In addition, significant differences were observed in the p-hydroxybenzoic acid levels for the OR and CR groups compared with the PFR groups (p < 0.01). Furthermore, greater quantities of p-coumaric acid were found in CR-08 and OR-02, although these groups contained overall higher and lower sums of phenolic compounds, respectively. Moreover, significance was observed in the sum of the phenolic compounds, although only small quantities were found in polished rice. Further research is thus required to provide a clearer picture regarding the phenolic profiles of different rice brands.

A sesquiterpene glycoside, cadin-2-en-1β-ol-1β-D-glucuronopyranoside (known as CR4-1), was isolated from Catharanthus roseus (Apocynaceae) hairy root cultures. C. roseus is widely used as an ornamental and medicinal plant and is cultivated mainly for its alkaloids. C. roseus has been reported to have pharmacologic properties such as anti-cancer, enzymatic anti–oxidant, and anti-diabetic effects. In this study, we demonstrated that CR4-1 significantly inhibited the in vitro invasion of MCF-7 human breast adenocarcinoma cells induced by 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate (TPA). Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are known to be involved in cancer invasion and metastasis. Zymographic analysis showed that CR4-1 suppressed TPA-induced MMP-9 activity in a dose-dependent manner. We further demonstrated that CR4-1 suppressed the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase, but not p38 kinase or c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). Moreover, CR4-1 attenuated TPA-induced degradation of κBα inhibitor (IκB-α). These results suggest that CR4-1 reduces the invasiveness of human cancer cells by suppressing MMP-9 expression through inhibition of the NF-κB signaling pathways. Keywords:: Catharanthus roseus, ERK1/2, invasion, migration, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9

Soybeans are low in saturated fat and a rich source of protein, dietary fiber, and isoflavone; however, their nutritional shelf life is yet to be established. This study evaluated the change in the stability and quality of fatty acids in raw and roasted soybean flour under different storage temperatures and durations. In both types of soybean flour, the fatty-acid content was the highest in the order of linoleic acid (18-carbon chain with two double bonds; C18:2), oleic acid (C18:1), palmitic acid (C16:0), linolenic acid (18:3), and stearic acid (C18:0), which represented 47%, 26%, 12%, 9%, and 4% of the total fatty-acid content, respectively. The major unsaturated fatty acids of raw soybean flour—oleic acid, linoleic acid, and linolenic acid—decreased by 30.0%, 94.4%, and 97.7%, and 38.0%, 94.8%, and 98.0% when stored in polyethylene and polypropylene film, respectively, after 48 weeks of storage under high-temperature conditions. These values were later increased due to hydrolysis. This study presents the changes in composition and content of two soybean flour types and the changes in quality and stability of fatty acids in response to storage temperature and duration. This study shows the influence of storage conditions and temperature on the nutritional quality which is least affected by packing material.

The phenolic compounds (PC) of soybeans (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) varies mainly based on factors like genetics, the environment, and also the food processing techniques used. The effect of storage time and temperature on the phenolic acids and isoflavones composition of raw soybean flour (RWSF) and roasted soybean flour (RSF) were analyzed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Based on the analysis results, 56 PC and free amino acids were detected in the RWSF and RSF. The total phenolic content (TPC) was 301.59 µg/g in the control RWSF and 257.47 µg/g in the control RSF. In the analysis, eight types of phenolic acids and one flavonoid group belonging to the isoflavone group were detected. When comparing storage conditions of RWSF, 24 and 48 weeks of storage showed higher concentration of phenolic acids. In RSF, the percentage of total acetyl glucosides was high, but the outcome was reversed after 2 weeks. This study had identified that the composition of PC in RWSF and RSF were affected when the storage temperature increased and the storage time lengthened.

Four new constituents, as 5, 7-dihydroxy-4′-methoxyflavonol-3-O-β-d-arabinopyranosyl-(2′′→1′′′)-O-β-d-arabinopyrnosyl-2′′′-O-3′′′′, 7′′′′-dimethylnonan-1′′′′-oate (1), 5-hydroxy-7, 4′-dimethoxyflavone-5-O-α-d-arabinopyranosyl-(2"→1′′′)-O-α-d-arabinopyranosyl-2′′′-O-3′′′′, 7′′′′-dimethylnonan-1′′′′-oate (2), 5-hydroxy-7, 4′-dimethoxyflavone-5-O-β-d-arabinofuranosyl-(2"→1′′′)-O-β-d-arabinopyranosyl-2′′′-O-lanost-5-ene (3) and 4′,4′′-diferuloxy feruloyl-O-α-d-arabinopyranosyl-(2a→1b)-O-α-d-arabinopyranosyl-(2b→1c)-O-α-d-arabinopyranosyl-(2c→1d)-O-α-d-arabinopyranosyl-(2d→1e)-O-α-d-arabinopyranosyl-2e-3′′′, 7′′′-dimethylnonan-1′′′-oate (4), along with three known compounds (5–7) were isolated from Oryza sativa leaves and straw. The structures of new and known compounds were elucidated by 1D (1H and 13C NMR) and 2D NMR spectral methods, viz: COSY, HMBC, and HSQC aided by mass techniques and IR spectroscopy. The cytotoxicity of these constituents was assessed by using (RAW 264.7) mouse macrophage cell line, and allelopathic effects of compounds (1–7) on the germination and seedling growth characteristics such as seedling length and root length of barnyardgrass (Echinochloa oryzicola) were evaluated. Significant inhibitory activity was exhibited by compounds comprising flavone derivatives such as (1–3) on all of seed germination characteristics. The allelopathic effect of flavone derivatives were more pronounced on seedling length and root length than the germination characteristics. The higher concentration of flavone derivatives showed stronger inhibitory effects, whereas the lower concentrations showed stimulatory effects in some cases.

Two new compounds stigmasta-3α-ol-3α-(2′R,3′S)-butane-1′,2′,3′,4′-tetraolyl-2′,3′-dioctadec-9″/9‴-enoyl-4′-octadec-9″″,12″″-dienoate (1) and stigmasta-5-en-3β-ol-3β-(2′R,3′S)-butane-1′,2′,3′,4′-tetraolyl-2′,3′-dioctadec-9″/9‴-enoyl-4′-octadec-9″″,12″″-dienoate (2) along with β-sitosterol-β-D-glucoside were isolated and identified from the heat processed roots of Panax ginseng. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR (COSY, HSQC, and HMBC) spectroscopic techniques aided by FAB-MS, ESI FT/MS, and IR spectra.

Anthraquinones (AQs) and phenolic compounds are important phytochemicals that are biosynthesized in cell suspension cultures of Polygonum multiflorum. We wanted to optimize the effects of plant growth regulators (PGRs), media, sucrose, l-glutamine, jasmonic acid (JA), and salicylic acid (SA) for the production of phytochemicals and biomass accumulation in a cell suspension culture of P. multiflorum. The medium containing Murashige and Skoog (MS) salts and 4% sucrose supplemented with 1 mg/L 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, 0.5 mg/L thidiazuron, and 100 µM l-glutamine at 28 days of cell suspension culture was suitable for biomass accumulation and AQ production. Maximum biomass accumulation (12.5 and 12.35 g fresh mass (FM); 3 and 2.93 g dry mass (DM)) and AQ production (emodin 295.20 and 282 mg/g DM; physcion 421.55 and 410.25 mg/g DM) were observed using 100 µM JA and SA, respectively. JA- and SA-elicited cell cultures showed several-fold higher biomass accumulation and AQ production than the control cell cultures. Furthermore, the cell suspension cultures effectively produced 23 phenolic compounds, such as flavonols and hydroxycinnamic and hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives. PGR-, JA-, and SA-elicited cell cultures produced a higher amount of AQs and phenolic compounds. Because of these metabolic changes, the antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anticancer activities were high in the PGR-, JA-, and SA-elicited cell cultures. The results showed that the elicitors (JA and SA) induced the enhancement of biomass accumulation and phytochemical (AQs and phenolic compounds) production as well as biological activities in the cell suspension cultures of P. multiflorum. This optimized protocol can be developed for large-scale biomass accumulation and production of phytochemicals (AQs and phenolic compounds) from cell suspension cultures, and the phytochemicals can be used for various biological activities.

Over 70 different genetic variants with a significant association with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have been discovered. Anti-citrullination protein antibodies (ACPA)-positive RA variants are more well-defined than their ACPA-negative counterparts. The human leukocyte antigen, HLA-DRB1 locus remains the prime suspect in anti-citrullination protein antibodies (ACPA)—positive RA. Different HLA-DRB1 alleles are linked to RA susceptibility across different ethnicities. With evolving techniques, like genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays, more non-HLA susceptibility loci have been identified for both types of RA. However, the functional significance of only a handful of these variants is known. Their roles include increasing susceptibility to RA or in determining the speed at which the disease progresses. Additionally, a couple of variations are associated with protection from RA. Defining such clear-cut biological functions can aid in the clinical diagnosis and treatment of RA. Recent research has focused on the implication of microRNAs, with miR-146a widely studied. In addition to disease susceptibility, genetic variations that influence the efficacy and toxicity of anti-RA agents have also been identified. Polymorphisms in the MTHFR gene influence the effectiveness of methotrexate, the first line of therapy in RA. Larger studies are, however, needed to identify potential biomarkers for early disease identification and monitoring disease progression.