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The low bioavailability of most phytochemicals limits their anticancer effects in humans. The present study was designed to test whether combining arctigenin (Arc), a lignan mainly from the seed of Arctium lappa, with green tea (GT) and quercetin (Q) enhances the chemopreventive effect on prostate cancer. We performed in vitro proliferation studies on different cell lines. We observed a strong synergistic anti-proliferative effect of GT+Q+Arc in exposing androgen-sensitive human prostate cancer LNCaP cells. The pre-malignant WPE1-NA22 cell line was more sensitive to this combination. No cytotoxicity was observed in normal prostate epithelial PrEC cells. For an in vivo study, 3-week-old, prostate-specific PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homolog) knockout mice were treated with GT+Q, Arc, GT+Q+Arc, or the control daily until 16 weeks of age. In vivo imaging using prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) probes demonstrated that the prostate tumorigenesis was significantly inhibited by 40% (GT+Q), 60% (Arc at 30 mg/kg bw), and 90% (GT+Q+Arc) compared to the control. A pathological examination showed that all control mice developed invasive prostate adenocarcinoma. In contrast, the primary lesion in the GT+Q and Arc alone groups was high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN), with low-grade PIN in the GT+Q+Arc group. The combined effect of GT+Q+Arc was associated with an increased inhibition of the androgen receptor, the PI3K/Akt pathway, Ki67 expression, and angiogenesis. This study demonstrates that combining Arc with GT and Q was highly effective in prostate cancer chemoprevention. These results warrant clinical trials to confirm the efficacy of this combination in humans.

The cleavage of C−O bonds is one of the most promising strategies for lignin‐to‐chemicals conversion, which has attracted considerable attention in recent years. However, current catalytic system capable of selectively breaking C−O bonds in lignin often requires a precious metal catalyst and/or harsh conditions such as high‐pressure H2 and elevated temperatures. Herein, we report a novel protocol of paired electrolysis to effectively cleave the Cβ−O−4 bond of lignin model compounds and real lignin at room temperature and ambient pressure. For the first time, "cathodic hydrogenolysis of Cβ−O−4 linkage" and "anodic C−H/N−H cross‐coupling reaction" are paired in an undivided cell, thus the cleavage of C−O bonds and the synthesis of valuable triarylamine derivatives could be simultaneously achieved in an energy‐effective manner. This protocol features mild reaction conditions, high atom economy, remarkable yield with excellent chemoselectivity, and feasibility for large‐scale synthesis. Mechanistic studies indicate that indirect H* (chemical absorbed hydrogen) reduction instead of direct electron transfer might be the pathway for the cathodic hydrogenolysis of Cβ−O−4 linkage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lignin is the main component of plant cell walls, conferring upon lignocellulosic biomass both excellent mechanical and barrier properties. At the same time, the considerable number of unsaturated groups and conjugated structures present in lignin render it a promising candidate for applications in the optical domain. In recent years, the development of the optical properties of lignin and lignin-derived optical materials has paved the way for a novel avenue of lignin valorization. This review is concerned with the mechanisms of lignin-derived optical materials, with particular emphasis on the physical and chemical structures that are linked to their optical performance, including UV absorption, photothermal conversion, and photoluminescence. Additionally, the potential applications of these materials in energy storage, bioimaging, structural materials, and photonic crystal are also presented, demonstrating the unique optical properties of lignin. Finally, the challenges and future directions of lignin as an optical material are presented, with the objective of developing lignin into a polymer biobased raw material that can serve advanced emerging industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-quality liquid biofuels can be produced from renewable lignin-derived phenolic compounds through an efficient hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) process in which the traditional catalysts usually include metal sites and acid sites that catalyze the hydrogenation and deoxygenation procedures respectively. This work presents a novel acid-free NixMoyN/C catalyst from the perspective of green chemistry providing a new pathway for HDO of lignin-derived phenolic compounds that involves hydrogenation deoxygenation and hydrogenolysis at the same time. A series of NixMoyN/C catalysts were prepared by varying the Ni :Mo molar ratio among which the Ni1Mo3N/C catalyst showed the best HDO performance. Guaiacol could be completely converted at 260 °C after 4 h with 95.8% cyclohexane selectivity. In addition a small amount of benzene could be obtained as a valuable fuel additive by-product by altering the conventional HDO reaction path. By shortening the reaction time benzene could be obtained as an intermediate product with a relative high selectivity. Based on the characterizations using XRD BET SEM TEM XPS H2-TPD and EPR, the results demonstrate that the multiple active components of the Ni1Mo3N/C catalyst allow it to efficiently catalyze the hydrogen activation and C--O bond cleavage even under acid-free conditions. The existence of the active phases of Ni Ni2Mo3N and β-Mo2C as well as the interaction between Ni and Mo metals together contributed toward efficient HDO performance. Not only for the various phenolic model compounds the feasibility of Ni1Mo3N/C catalysts for upgrading raw lignin oil was also demonstrated with the hydrocarbon content increasing from 5.7% to 88.4%. Notably arenes accounted for 18.2% of the hydrocarbon products which confirmed the occurrence of hydrogenolysis in the catalytic process. This work provides a novel route for the conversion of lignin-derived phenolic compounds to produce high-quality hydrocarbon liquid biofuels especially the direct production of arene components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) is an important crop plant with pharmaceutical significance. It is described in pharmacopoeias (the United States Pharmacopeia and the European Pharmacopoeia), which confirms that it (especially the seeds) is a valuable medicinal product. Similar to flax seeds, which accumulate bioactive compounds, flax in vitro cultures are also a rich source of flavonoids, phenolics, lignans and neolignans. In the present study, flax suspension cultures after treatment of the non-pathogenic Fusarium oxysporum strain Fo47 were established and analyzed. The study examined the suitability of Fo47 as an elicitor in flax suspension cultures and provided interesting data on the impact of these endophytic fungi on plant metabolism and physiology. Two flax cultivars (Bukoz and Nike) and two compositions of media for flax callus liquid cultures were tested. Biochemical analysis revealed enhanced levels of secondary metabolites (total flavonoid and total phenolic content) and photosynthetically active pigments in the flax callus cultures after treatment with the non-pathogenic fungal strain F. oxysporum Fo47 when compared to control, untreated cultures. In cultures with the selected, optimized conditions, FTIR analysis was performed and revealed changes in the structural properties of cell wall polymers after elicitation of cultures with F. oxysporum Fo47. The plant cell wall polymers were more strongly bound, and the crystallinity index (Icr) of cellulose was higher than in control, untreated samples. However, lignin and pectin levels were lower in the flax callus liquid cultures treated with the non-pathogenic strain of Fusarium when compared to the untreated control. The potential application of the non-pathogenic strain of F. oxysporum for enhancing the synthesis of desired secondary metabolites in plant tissue cultures is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fresh-cut sweet potatoes are popular among consumers for their freshness and convenience. However, rapid browning and oxidative damage under stress significantly degrade their storage quality. This study aims to evaluate the effects of citric acid (CA) treatment on maintaining the quality of fresh-cut sweet potatoes during storage and to explore the underlying mechanisms. Fresh-cut sweet potatoes were immersed in 1% (w/v) CA for 10 min, with water treatment as the control (CK), and stored at 4 °C for 8 d. Physicochemical parameters were evaluated every 2 d. After 8 d of storage, CA-treated samples exhibited significantly lower total colony count (3.34 lg CFU g−1), soluble sugar content (1.52%), and lignin content (2.62 OD280 g−1) compared to the CK group (P < 0.05), and better maintained color values. Additionally, CA treatment inhibited the increase in browning-related enzyme activities (phenylalanine deaminase, polyphenol oxidase, peroxidase) and the accumulation of browning products (total phenolics, soluble quinones), resulting in a browning index 8.15% lower than the CK group at the end of storage. The CA-treated fresh-cut sweet potatoes also exhibited lower malondialdehyde content (0.58 µmol g−1) and lipoxygenase activity (3.19 U g−1), while showing higher activities of antioxidant enzymes such as catalase and ascorbate peroxidase, and enhanced free radical scavenging capacity, indicating that CA treatment helps mitigate cutting-induced oxidative stress. In conclusion, our findings highlight the significant potential of CA treatment in preserving the storage quality of fresh-cut sweet potatoes and provide new insights into its regulatory mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This work focused on the characterization of lignin residues from bioethanol production of olive stones (OS) and the use of these residues to chemically thicken epoxidized linseed oil (ELO). OS were processed by an acid/steam explosion pretreatment, followed by pre-saccharification, using different enzyme dosages, and simultaneous saccharification and fermentation. The chemical composition of the OS lignin residues was analysed, revealing a high lignin content (66.6–69.5%), and lower quantities of glucan (17.4–19.3%) and xylan (2.8–2.9%). Whereas, the structural properties of OS lignin residues were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), thermogravimetric analysis and size exclusion chromatography (SEC). OS lignin residues displayed the main inter-unit linkages (β–β′ resinol (51.0–59.0%), followed by β-O-4′ alkyl aryl ethers (27.0–35.2%) and β-5′ phenylcoumaran (11.4–13.2%) substructures), high molecular weights (22,000–25900 Da), low S/G ratios (1.2–1.5) and phenolic groups content (48–55 mg GAE/g lignin). Moreover, OS lignin residues were dispersed in ELO to obtain thickened formulations, which were characterized by FTIR and NMR. Oil thickening was achieved by promoting the chemical crosslinking between lignocellulose hydroxyl groups and ELO epoxy groups, enabling the compatibilization of both components. Up to tenfold viscosity increment of the resulting thickened formulations in relation to ELO's viscosity was observed. Besides, thickened formulations exhibited viscoelastic properties, evincing oil structuration to some extent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study introduces an alternative approach towards lignocellulosic biomass fractionation. For this purpose, reactive eutectic media (REM) based on ammonium formate and different organic acids are investigated, possible products are identified, and the REM are employed for lignin extraction and terminal isolation of cellulose pulp from beech wood. The method promises a considerable process intensification by simultaneous separation of high purity cellulose pulp, lignin isolation as a cationically modified species, and production of value‐added chemicals from reaction products of the REM. This study puts a further focus on the generated cellulose pulp and investigates it with respect to surface charge and fiber length. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polysaccharides are an excellent renewable source for developing food-packing materials. It is expected that these packages can be an efficient barrier against oxygen; can reduce lipid peroxidation, and can retain the natural aroma of a food commodity. Starch has tremendous potential to be explored in the preparation of food packaging; however, due to their high hydrophilic nature, packaging films produced from starch possess poor protective moisture barriers and low mechanical properties. This scenario limits their applications, especially in humid conditions. In contrast, lignin's highly complex aromatic hetero-polymer network of phenylpropane units is known to play a filler role in polysaccharide films. Moreover, lignin can limit the biodegradability of polysaccharides films by a physical barrier, mainly, and by non-productive bindings. The main interactions affecting lignin non-productive bindings are hydrophobic interactions, electrostatic interactions, and hydrogen-bonding interactions, which are dependent on the total phenolic –OH and –COOH content in its chemical structure. In this review, the use of lignin as a reinforcement to improve the biodegradability of starch-based films in wet environments is presented. Moreover, the characteristics of the used lignins, the mechanisms of molecular interaction among these materials, and the sensitive physicochemical parameters for biodegradability detection are related. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary In this study, sesame hull oil (SHO) was extracted to characterise its composition. SHO was heated to determine the volatiles and their effect on the quality of cold‐pressed dehulled sesame oil (SO). Seventeen fatty acids, four lignans (1088.65 mg/100 g), tocopherols (284.17 mg/100 g) mainly in the γ‐form, and sterol (1722.16 mg/100 g, 4.67 times more than in sesame kernel oil) were detected in SHO. After heating, the volatiles found in SHO were mainly aldehydes and acids, represented by hexanal (fatty, green aroma) and 3‐methyl‐butanoic acid (fatty, rancid aroma), respectively. The acid value, peroxide value, anisidine value, and turbidity of SO increased significantly after adding SHO, and the scavenging ability of 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) was enhanced. The oxidation induction times of SO with the addition of SHO ranged from 8.93 to 9.53 h. The present study provides information about SHO and a new direction for the utilisation of sesame hulls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indan‐1,3‐diones stand as versatile precursors to a plethora of complex molecules with wide applications; however, their direct cross‐coupling methodologies remain largely unexplored. Herein, we unveil an in situ triflation‐tandem cross‐coupling strategy to synthesize a diverse variety of indenones and benzofulvenes from indan‐1,3‐diones. The successful synthesis of a neolignan natural product and the key intermediate of Indatraline (antidepressant) showcased the synthetic utility of the methodology. The strategy enabled tuning the electronic characteristics of indenones and benzofulvenes, modulating the HOMO‐LUMO gaps. The photophysical properties of these molecules were studied, and the experimental results were compared with the predictions obtained from the DFT studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an efficient and environmental‐friendly strategy, electrocatalytic oxidation can realize biomass lignin valorization by cleaving its aryl ether bonds to produce value‐added chemicals. However, the complex and polymerized structure of lignin presents challenges in terms of reactant adsorption on the catalyst surface, which hinders further refinement. Herein, NiCo‐based metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs) are employed as the electrocatalyst to enhance the adsorption of reactant molecules through π‐π interaction. More importantly, lattice strain is introduced into the MOFs via curved ligand doping, which enables tuning of the d‐band center of metal active sites to align with the reaction intermediates, leading to stronger adsorption and higher electrocatalytic activity toward bond cleavage within lignin model compounds and native lignin. When 2′‐phenoxyacetophenone is utilized as the model compound, high yields of phenol (76.3%) and acetophenone (21.7%) are achieved, and the conversion rate of the reactants reaches 97%. Following pre‐oxidation of extracted poplar lignin, >10 kinds of phenolic compounds are received using the as‐designed MOFs electrocatalyst, providing ≈12.48% of the monomer, including guaiacol, vanillin, eugenol, etc., and p‐hydroxybenzoic acid dominates all the products. This work presents a promising and deliberately designed electrocatalyst for realizing lignin valorization, making significant strides for the sustainability of this biomass resource. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the transition towards sustainable practices, cork has emerged as a pivotal material. Its distinctive cellular structure and chemical composition, encompassing suberin, lignin, cellulose, and extractives, underpin a multitude of properties. The honeycomb arrangement of cells confers upon cork advantages such as lightweightness, insulation, thermal regulation, and remarkable mechanical performance. Breakthroughs in nanotechnology have enabled precise modifications, broadening the scope of cork's applications beyond conventional uses. This review offers a comprehensive exploration of cork's natural structure and composition, with a focus on its intricate cellular arrangement and specialized suberin components. It elucidates the intricate interplay between cork's structure and properties, evaluating modification strategies and lifecycle impacts. Furthermore, the discussion extends to the realm of functional polymers and structural components derived from cork, underscoring the potential for designing eco-friendly materials. Ultimately, this review aims to catalyze future research endeavors geared towards the sustainable utilization of cork in tackling global challenges, emphasizing the crucial nexus between structure, assembly, and function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lignin, a vital renewable biopolymer, serves as the Earth's primary source of aromatics and carbon. Its depolymerization presents significant potential for producing phenolic fine chemicals. This study assesses promoted Ni-based bimetallic catalysts (Ni-Co/C and Ni-Cu/C) supported on activated carbon in isopropanol for lignin depolymerization, compared to monometallic counterparts. BET, SEM, EDX, and XPS analyses highlight their physicochemical properties and promotional effects, enhancing hydrogenolysis activity and hydrogen transformation. Reaction parameter exploration elucidates the influence on lignin depolymerization, with cobalt and copper as promoters notably increasing conversion and monomer yield. Ni-Co/C exhibits the highest lignin conversion (94.2%) and maximum monomer yield (53.1 wt%) under specified conditions, with lower activation energy (36.1 kJ/mol) and higher turnover frequency (31.6 h−1) compared to Ni/C. FT-IR, GPC, GC-FID, and GC–MS analyses confirm effective depolymerization, identifying 20 monomer products. Proposed reaction mechanisms underscore the potential of Ni-based bimetallic catalysts for lignin valorization, offering insights into developing efficient catalytic systems for lignin hydrogenolysis. This research enhances understanding and facilitates the development of selective catalytic processes for lignin valorization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The actual study is the description of the biochemical characteristics of a wide range of enzymes (phenylalanine ammonia lyase, superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase) and metabolites (malondialdehyde, phenols, extractives, cellulose, lignin), as well as the profiles of their activities during the xylem structural elements' formation during the predominance of differentiation processes during straight-grained wood formation or proliferation while the figured wood formation in the radial row cambial zone (Fraction 1)—differentiating xylem (Fraction 2)—mature xylem (MX) in the period of active cambial growth in 16-year-old straight-grained Betula pendula var. pendula and figured Betula pendula var. carelica plants. We generalized the processes associated with abnormal xylogenesis were separated spatially, and, to the greatest extent, the metabolism of the studied birch forms differed in the Fraction 2, while the diagnostic contribution of secondary metabolism enzymes and malondialdehyde (MDA) probably characterized the active secondary metabolism of parenchyma cells, which formed figured wood basis. This study described for the first time the biochemical features of a wide range of enzymes and metabolites as well as the profiles of their activities in the xylem structural elements' formation. The necessity of separately analyzing all tissue complexes was proven. This approach made possible to separate the generally observed biochemical patterns spatially. Thus, during the active cambial growth period in 16-year-old B. pendula var. pendula and B. pendula var. carelica, the differences between straight-grained plants and Karelian birch plants (non-figured and figured trunk parts) were most clearly expressed in the differentiating xylem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sesamolin, a lignan isolated from sesame oils, has been found to possess neuroprotective, anticancer, and free radical scavenging properties. We hypothesized that sesamolin could stimulate the activity of nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2-like 2 (Nrf2) and inhibit adipocyte differentiation of preadipocytes. The objective of this study was to investigate effects of sesamolin on adipocyte differentiation and its underlying molecular mechanisms. In this study, we determined the effects of treatment with 25 to 100 µM sesamolin on adipogenesis in cell culture systems. Sesamolin inhibited lipid accumulation and suppressed the expression of adipocyte markers during adipocyte differentiation of C3H10T1/2, 3T3-L1, and primary preadipocytes. Mechanism studies revealed that sesamolin increased Nrf2 protein expression without inducing its mRNA, leading to an increase in the expression of Nrf2 target genes such as heme oxygenase 1 and NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (Nqo1) in C3H10T1/2 adipocytes and mouse embryonic fibroblasts. These effects were significantly attenuated in Nrf2 knockout (KO) mouse embryonic fibroblasts, indicating that effects of sesamolin were dependent on Nrf2. In H1299 human lung cancer cells with KO of Kelch like-ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1), a negative regulator of Nrf2, sesamolin failed to further increase Nrf2 protein expression. However, upon reexpressing Keap1 in Keap1 KO cells, the ability of sesamolin to elevate Nrf2 protein expression was restored, highlighting the crucial role of Keap1 in sesamolin-induced Nrf2 activation. Taken together, these findings show that sesamolin can inhibit adipocyte differentiation through Keap1-mediated Nrf2 activation. • Sesamolin inhibits lipid accumulation during adipocyte differentiation. • Sesamolin inhibits adipocyte markers expression in C3H10T1/2 adipocytes. • Seasmolin enhances Nrf2 protein levels and its target genes expression. • The effects of sesamolin on Nrf2 activation are dependent on Keap1 protein. The effects of sesamolin on adipogenesis in C3H10T1/2 cells and molecular mechanisms were investigated in Nrf2 KO and Keap1 KO cells. Sesamolin at 50 to 100 µM activated the Nrf2, inhibited lipid accumulation and suppressed adipocyte markers expression. Sesamolin's inability to activate the Nrf2 pathway in Keap1 KO lung carcinoma cells can be rescued by reexpression of Keap1. Abbreviations: Keap1, Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1; Nrf2, Nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2; KO, knockout. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The list of standard abbreviations for JDS is available at adsa.org/jds-abbreviations-24. Nonstandard abbreviations are available in the Notes. Lignin is a polyphenolic polymer that is an important factor in limiting fiber digestibility by ruminants. The objective of the current study was to evaluate lignin's effects on whole animal energy utilization in diets similar in NDF content. A low-lignin (LoLig) diet was formulated to contain 32.5% NDF (DM basis) and 9.59% lignin (NDF basis) and the high-lignin (HiLig) diet was formulated to contain 31.0% NDF (DM basis) and 13.3% lignin (NDF basis). These diets were randomly assigned and fed to 12 late-lactation (mean ± SD; 214 ± 14.9 DIM) multiparous Jersey cows (mean ± SD; 435 ± 13.9 kg) in a 2-period crossover design. Cows fed the LoLig treatment consumed more DM than cows on the HiLig diet (mean ± SD; 19.9 vs. 18.7 ± 0.645 kg/d) and the LoLig diet was concurrently of a greater gross energy concentration (mean ± SEM; 4.27 vs. 4.23 ± 0.03 Mcal/kg). As expected, increasing the concentration of lignin resulted in a reduction in total-tract NDF digestibility (45.5% vs. 40.4% ± 0.742%). Increasing lignin also resulted in a reduction in the digestibility of starch (97.7 vs. 96.3 ± 0.420) and CP (65.0 vs. 60.0 ± 0.829). Lignin also decreased the concentration of digestible energy (2.83 vs. 2.63 ± 0.04 Mcal/kg) and ME (2.52 vs. 2.36 ± 0.05 Mcal/kg), but the concentration of NE L was similar (1.81 vs. 1.75 ± 0.06 Mcal/kg). Increasing the concentration of lignin also reduced yields of ECM (33.7 vs. 30.0 ± 0.838 kg/d), milk protein (1.00 vs. 0.843 ± 0.027 kg/d), and milk fat (1.30 vs. 1.19 ± 0.058 kg/d). Decreasing the dietary lignin concentration did not affect daily methane emissions, averaging 391 ± 29.6 L/d. Results of this study indicate that feeding a diet greater in lignin decreases the digestibility of nutrients and provides less energy for production responses and that energy supplied from digestible NDF may be less than predicted by some nutrition models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lignin is part of the lignocellulosic biomass found in hardwoods, softwoods, and herbaceous plants. It is isolated by fractionation and pulping processes, where it is considered a waste product and is mainly burned to generate electricity and heat. However, lignin is a biopolymer that can be a source of many chemicals of significant value after treatments of functionalisation or depolymerisation. The main processes for its valorisation require solubilisation in organic solvents, which may affect the process's mass balance and the biopolymer's chemical structure, as lignins are rarely completely soluble in organic solvents. In this research, two industrial Kraft lignins derived from softwood and hardwood were treated using different green organic solvents (2-methyl tetrahydrofuran, tetrahydrofuran, 1-methoxy-2-propanol, and acetone), measuring the soluble and insoluble content to determine the mass balance, and the solubility was evaluated using Hansen parameters and FTIR. The results showed that both lignins were more soluble in tetrahydrofuran and 1-methoxy-2-propanol. Also, tetrahydrofuran performed better than the 2-methyl tetrahydrofuran, which is considered the green alternative. The reason can be explained using the Hansen solubility parameters. Moreover, the solubilised fractions showed similar FTIR spectra. The same is the case for the insoluble parts. In conclusion, the two lignins studied showed different solubilities in absolute values in organic solvents, but the trends were similar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetic and environmental factors influence the growth and quality of medicinal plants. In recent years, rhizosphere microorganisms have also emerged as significant factors affecting the quality of medicinal plants. This study aimed to identify Schisandra resources with high lignan content and analyze the microbial diversity of the rhizosphere soil. High-performance liquid chromatography was used to measure the lignan content in nine Schisandra fruits. High-throughput sequencing was used to analyze the 16S rDNA sequences of rhizosphere bacteria to identify bacterial species diversity. The total lignan content of the nine Schisandra resources ranged from 9.726 mg/g to 14.031 mg/g, with ZJ27 having the highest content and ZJ25 the lowest. Among the six lignan components, Schisandrol A had the highest content, ranging from 5.133 mg/g to 6.345 mg/g, with a significant difference between ZJ25, ZJ27, and other resources (p < 0.05). Schizandrin C had the lowest content, ranging from 0.062 mg/g to 0.419 mg/g, with more significant differences among the resources. A total of 903,933 sequences were obtained from the rhizosphere soil of the nine Schisandra resources, clustered into 10,437 OTUs at a 97% similarity level. The dominant bacterial phyla were Actinobacteriota, Acidobacteriota, Proteobacteria, Chloroflexi, Gemmatimonadota, and Verrucomicrobiota. The dominant bacterial genera were Candidatus_Udaeobacter, Candidatus_Solibacter, RB41, Bradyrhizobium, Gaiella, and Arthrobacter. ZJ27 is the Schisandra resource with the highest lignan content, and the rhizosphere bacteria of Schisandra are rich in diversity. Schisandra B is negatively correlated with Bryobacter, Candidatus_Solibacter, and unnamed genera of Gaiellales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cellulose and lignin, sourced from biomass, hold potential for innovative bioprocesses and biomaterials. However, traditional fractionation and purification methods often rely on harmful chemicals and high temperatures, making these processes both hazardous and costly. This study introduces a sustainable approach for fractionating acacia wood, focusing on both cellulose and lignin extraction using a deep eutectic solvent (DES) composed of choline chloride (ChCl) and levulinic acid (LA). A design of experiment was employed for the optimization of the most relevant fractionation parameters: time and temperature. In the case of the lignin, both parameters were found to be significant variables in the fractionation process (p-values of 0.0128 and 0.0319 for time and temperature, respectively), with a positive influence. Likewise, in the cellulose case, time and temperature also demonstrated a positive effect, with p-values of 0.0103 and 0.028, respectively. An optimization study was finally conducted to determine the maximum fractionation yield of lignin and cellulose. The optimized conditions were found to be 15% (w/v) of the wood sample in 1:3 ChCl:LA under a treatment temperature of 160 °C for 8 h. The developed method was validated through repeatability and intermediate precision studies, which yielded a coefficient of variation lower than 5%. The recovery and reuse of DES were successfully evaluated, revealing remarkable fractionation yields even after five cycles. This work demonstrates the feasibility of selectively extracting lignin and cellulose from woody biomass using a sustainable solvent, thus paving the way for valorization of invasive species biomass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A density functional theory method was employed to conduct theoretical calculations on the pyrolysis reaction pathways of lignin monomer model compounds with an aldehyde or carboxyl group under the catalytic effect of alkali metal ions Na+ and K+, exploring their influence on the formation of the small molecular gaseous products CO and CO2. The results indicate that Na+ and K+ can easily bind with the oxygen-containing functional groups of the lignin monomer model compounds to form stable and low-energy complexes. Except for benzaldehyde and p-hydroxybenzaldehyde, Na+ and K+ can facilitate the decarbonylation reactions of other benzaldehyde-based and phenylacetaldehyde-based lignin monomer model compounds during the pyrolysis process, thereby enhancing the generation of CO. When the characteristic functional groups on the benzene rings of benzaldehyde-based and phenylacetaldehyde-based lignin monomer model compounds are the same, the phenylacetaldehyde-based ones are more prone to undergo decarbonylation than the benzaldehyde-based ones. Additionally, both Na+ and K+ can inhibit the decarboxylation reactions of benzoic acid-based and phenylacetic acid-based lignin monomer model compounds, thereby restraining the formation of CO2. When the characteristic functional groups on the benzene rings of benzoic acid-based and phenylacetic acid-based lignin monomer model compounds are the same, the phenylacetic acid-based ones are more difficult to undergo decarboxylation than the benzoic acid-based ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lignin, an amorphous biomacromolecule abundantly distributed in the plant kingdom, has gained considerable attention due to its intrinsic bioactivities and renewable nature. Owing to its polyphenolic structure, lignin has a variety of human health activities, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, antitumor, and other activities. The extraction of lignin from various sources in a green and sustainable manner is critical in the food industry. Deep eutectic solvent (DES) has recently been recognized as a class of safe and environmentally friendly media capable of efficiently extracting lignin. This article comprehensively reviews the recent advances in lignin extraction using DES, discusses the influential factors on the antioxidant activity of lignin, interprets the relationship between antioxidant activity and lignin structure, and overviews the applications of lignin in the food industry. We aim to highlight the advantages of DES in lignin extraction and valorization from the nutrition and food views. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the potential of plant-based nanoparticles derived from renewable resources, specifically cellulose and lignin, in various fields such as advanced materials and medical innovations. It highlights the importance of integrating renewable resources and nanotechnology for sustainable practices and the prudent utilization of natural resources. The article also references a comprehensive review that addresses the surface interactions of plant-based nanomaterials and poses questions for future research in the field. The synthesis of nanoparticles from biomass is seen as a catalyst for technological progress and a way to maximize the benefits of nature in a sustainable and ecologically responsible manner. The article emphasizes the need for rigorous environmental regulations and the integration of life cycle assessment and techno-economic analysis in research and development processes. It concludes by presenting a list of top-10 concerns for future studies on plant-based nanomaterials. [Extracted from the article]

In this work the influence of o-fluorine substituents on the photo-dehydro-Diels–Alder (PDDA) reaction was investigated and the findings of this study were applied to the total synthesis of natural products. The reactant molecules consisted of two alkyl arylpropiolates, connected by a suberic acid tether and bearing fluorine substituents in each of the o-positions. While quantum chemical calculations suggested that a fluorine substituent prevents an attack of the adjacent carbon atom in the second C–C bond forming step of the PDDA reaction, this attack took place nevertheless. The subsequent fluoride elimination, assisted by protic solvents or trialkylsilanes, resulted in an "Umpolung" of the 4-position of the cycloallene intermediate enabling the introduction of nucleophiles at this position. The nucleophilic replacement of the second fluorine substituent could also be triggered photochemically. After removal of the tether, the two arene moieties stand nearly perpendicular to each other and a selective excitation of the naphthalene moiety was possible. This led to an intramolecular photoinduced electron transfer (PET) followed by a nucleophilic replacement of the fluoride according to a SR+N1Ar* mechanism. The formed phenolic hydroxyl group underwent spontaneous lactonization with the adjacent ester group. Based on these results, the first total synthesis of the lignan Comfreyn A and some structural analogues were developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cestrum parqui L'Herit. (Solanaceae family) is a species of forest shrub, self-incompatible and specialized in pollination, widespread in the subtropical area of the planet, and now widely distributed also in the Mediterranean area. The constituents of its leaves have antimicrobial, anticancer, insecticidal, antifeedant, molluscicidal, and herbicidal properties. The spread of this species represents a valuable source of compounds with high biological value. Various research groups are engaged in defining the chemical composition of the different parts of the plant and in defining its properties in view of important and promising commercial applications. To date, there are only a few incomplete reports on the potential applications of C. parqui extracts as selective natural pesticides and on their potential phytotoxic role. Scientific knowledge and the use of extraction techniques for these components are essential for commercial applications. This article summarizes the research and recent studies available on the botany, phytochemistry, functional properties, and commercial applications of C. parqui. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Linum album is a rich source of various phenolic compounds, especially lignans. Our previous studies revealed that phenylalanine (Phe), an aromatic amino acid, participates in lignans production. In this study, we tried to characterize how Phe as the precursor feeding affects metabolic fluxes in L. album cells. As expected, the results indicated that an increase in phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) and tyrosine ammonia-lyase activities (TAL) occurred at 250 μM. Their actions induced phenolic acids production, especially cinnamic acid and salicylic acid (SA). The low dosages of Phe stimulated hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and nitric oxide (NO) generation, lipid peroxidation, and antioxidant enzymes activation, while the high dosages suppressed the mentioned physiological processes. A depletion in rhamnose/xylose, glucose, and mannose was observed at high concentrations of Phe compared with the control. These molecules altered amino acids profile through supplying carbon skeleton and cell required energy. Our observations also showed that amino acids contents were significantly influenced by Phe treatment. The reduction of endogenous Phe content in the treated cells may closely related to phenolics accumulation such as flavonoids and lignans, as the enhancement of catechin, myricetin, and kaempferol were observed in the treated cells. Likewise, phenylalanine increased lignans, except for lariciresionol (LARI), and the highest amounts of podophyllotoxin (PTOX), and 6-methoxy podophyllotoxin (6MPTOX) were detected at 1000 μM. In summary, metabolic and physiological changes can elucidate that Phe involves in the lignans production in L. album through a SA-dependent pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Biomass‐derived carbon is a promising electrode material in energy storage devices. However, how to improve its low capacity and stability, and slow diffusion kinetics during lithium storage remains a challenge. In this research, we propose a "self‐assembly‐template" method to prepare B, N codoped porous carbon (BN‐C) with a nanosandwich structure and abundant pyridinic N‐B species. The nanosandwich structure can increase powder density and cycle stability by constructing a stable solid electrolyte interphase film, shortening the Li+ diffusion pathway, and accommodating volume expansion during repeated charging/discharging. The abundant pyridinic N‐B species can simultaneously promote the adsorption/desorption of Li+/PF6− and reduce the diffusion barrier. The BN‐C electrode showed a high lithium‐ion storage capacity of above 1140 mAh g−1 at 0.05 A g−1 and superior stability (96.5% retained after 2000 cycles). Moreover, owing to the synergistic effect of the nanosandwich structure and pyridinic N‐B species, the assembled symmetrical BN‐C//BN‐C full cell shows a high energy density of 234.7 W h kg−1, high power density of 39.38 kW kg−1, and excellent cycling stability, superior to most of the other cells reported in the literature. As the density functional theory simulation demonstrated, pyridinic N‐B shows enhanced adsorption activity for Li+ and PF6−, which promotes an increase in the capacity of the anode and cathode, respectively. Meanwhile, the relatively lower diffusion barrier of pyridinic N‐B promotes Li+ migration, resulting in good rate performance. Therefore, this study provides a new approach for the synergistic modulation of a nanostructure and an active site simultaneously to fabricate the carbon electrode material in energy storage devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our ability to study and valorize the lignin fraction of biomass is hampered by the fundamental and still unmet challenge of precisely quantifying native lignin's structural features. Here, we developed a rapid elevated‐temperature 1H−13C Heteronuclear Single‐Quantum Coherence Zero (HSQC0) NMR method that enables this precise quantification of native lignin structural characteristics even with whole plant cell wall (WPCW) NMR spectroscopy, overcoming fast spin relaxation in the gel phase. We also formulated a Gaussian fitting algorithm to perform automatic and reliable spectral integration. By combining HSQC0 measurements with yield measurements following depolymerisation, we can confirm the combinatorial nature of radical coupling reactions during biosynthesis leading to a random sequential organization of linkages within a largely linear lignin chain. Such analyses illustrate how this analytical method can greatly facilitate the study of native lignin structure, which can then be used for fundamental studies or to understand lignin depolymerization methods like reductive catalytic fractionation or aldehyde‐assisted fractionation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advanced conductive hydrogels demonstrate substantial potential for wearable devices. Nevertheless, the transformative advance in soft electronics raises harsh requirements on the hydrogel candidates, such as rapid and on‐site fabrication, mechanical flexibility, high sensitivity, and wide use temperature. Here, this problem is overcome by incorporating a dual catalytic system based on lignin‐modified MXene‐Fe3+ into commercial hydrogels. This system 1) can form a composite hydrogel in a time scale of min at ambient condition without the supply of external energy, 2) incorporates multiple enhanced strategies into polymer chains, and 3) constructs well‐organized hybrid conductive network. The fabricated hydrogel displays an improved and balanced overall performance, including high ductility (2139%), moderate electrical conductivity, and strong temperature tolerance (−70–50 °C). Combined with the great merits of above performance, the hydrogel‐based sensor with good sensing (maximum GF: 2.8), stable repeatability (200% for 200 cycles), and wide work window of 0%–947%, thereby disclosing promising application in physiological movements, such as motion recognition and breathing state detection. Sensationally, even in complex or harsh surroundings, the sensors also produce stable and reliable signal output. Together, the strategy provides a new mentality of designing hydrogel materials for booming and advanced wearable electronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the quest for sustainable lignin valorization, the development of efficient catalytic systems for hydrogenolysis of lignin-derived compounds remains a pivotal focus. Utilizing sub-nanometer cobalt catalysts, we achieved the successful hydrogenolysis of model lignin molecules, including 1-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-(2-methoxyphenoxy)ethanone and 2-(2,6-dimethylphenoxy)-1-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl), resulting in the formation of highly efficient catalytic species characterized by high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM). Our catalyst exhibited remarkable recyclability over five cycles. Additionally, we conducted hydrogenolysis tests on authentic lignin samples, shedding light on the promising potential of this approach for sustainable lignin valorization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When attempting to obtain light-color lignin from lignocellulosic biomass or industrial lignin, the available options based on chemical or morphological modification suffer from low yield, high cost, and lack of availability at the required scales. In this study, we adopted a polyhydric-alcohol-based deep eutectic solvent (PA-DES) to directly extract light-color lignin from natural biomass, which is even whiter than native cellulolytic enzyme lignin (CEL). The isolated lignin possessed a high recovery yield (97.36%), regular micro-spherical morphology, enriched β-ether linkage of 58/100Ar, low phenolic hydroxyl content of 1.25 mmol g−1, minimal carbonyl content of 0.70 mmol g−1, and less condensed structures, thus yielding a lower content of chromophores. This lignin showed excellent sunscreen effects, which could enhance the SPF of a commercial sunscreen from 15 to 40 with only 5 wt% addition. This study can provide essential guidance for the scale-up production of light-color lignin and obtaining near-complete digestible cellulose for further saccharification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The photocatalytic conversion in aqueous media of phenol and guaiacol as a lignin model compound using Nb2O5 with different crystal phases was studied. Nb2O5 particles were synthesized using hydrothermal methods, where it was observed that changes in the solvent control their morphology and crystal phase. Different photocatalytic behavior of Nb2O5 was observed with the selected model compounds, indicating that its selection directly impacts the resulting conversion and selectivity rates as well as the reaction pathway, highlighting the relevance of model molecule selection. Photocatalytic conversion of phenol showed conversion rate (C%) up to 25 % after 2 h irradiation and high selectivity (S%) to pyrogallol (up to 50 %). Orthorhombic Nb2O5 spheres favored conversion through free hydroxyl radicals while monoclinic rods did not convert phenol. Guaiacol photocatalytic oxidation showed high conversion rate but lower selectivity. Orthorhombic and monoclinic Nb2O5 favored the formation of resorcinol with S % ~0.43 % (C % ~33 %) and ~13 % (C % ~27 %) respectively. The mixture of both phases enhanced the guaiacol conversion rate to ~55 % with ~17 % of selectivity to salicylaldehyde. The use of radical scavengers provided information to elucidate the reaction pathway for these model compounds, showing that different reaction pathways may be obtained for the same photocatalyst if the model compound is changed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new aryltetralin-type lignans (1-2) were isolated from the dichloromethane fraction of 95% ethanol extract of Camellia oleifera fruit husk. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis, and the absolute configurations of compounds 1-2 were determined by the comparison of measured ECD curves with the quantum chemical calculated ones. The new compounds were tested for their antioxidant activities and cytotoxicity against three human cancer cell lines (Huh-7, H460 and MCF-7). While compounds 1 and 2 only showed slight DPPH radical scavenging activities with the IC50 values of 38.68 ± 5.02 and 56.62 ± 1.49 μM, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this work is to explore the properties of the lignin-derived amine-free photoinitiating systems (PISs) during the curing process. Four novel hydrogen donors (HD1, HD2, HD3, and HD4) derived from lignin α-O-4 structural were designed and synthesized by simple methods, and their low C–H bond dissociation energies on methylene were determined by molecular orbitals theory. Four experimental groups using CQ (camphorquinone)/HD PIs formulated with Bis-GMA/TEGDMA (70 w%/30 w%) were compared to CQ/EDB (ethyl 4-dimethylamino benzoate) system. The photopolymerization profiles and double bond conversion rate was tracked by FTIR experiments; the color bleaching ability of the samples and color aging test assay were performed using color indexes measurements; The cytotoxicity of the samples was also compared to EDB related systems. All of the experimental groups with new HDs were compared to the control group with EDB by statistical analysis. Compared to CQ/EDB system, new lignin-derived hydrogen donors combined with CQ showed comparable or even better performances in polymerization initiation to form resin samples, under a blue dental LED in air. Excellent color bleaching property was observed with the new HDs. Aging tests and cytotoxicity examination of the resin were performed, indicating the new lignin compounds to be efficient hydrogen donors for amine-free CQ-based photo-initiating system. Novel lignin α-O-4 derived hydrogen donors are promising for further usage in light-curing materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractZhachong-13 pills (ZC-13), as a traditional prescription of Mongolian medicine, are often used in the clinical practice of Mongolian hospitals for the treatment of stroke and rheumatic arthritis. In this experiment, UHPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap MS was used to explore the chemical composition of ZC-13. The results showed that 315 compounds were identified or inferred, including 56 alkaloids, 77 2-(2-phenylethyl)chromones, 61 flavonoids, 31 tannins, 8 coumarins, 16 lignans, 21 terpenoids, 5 amino acids, 19 organic acids, and 21 other components. In addition, the pharmacological activities related to anti-cerebral ischemia of these components were summarized. This result laid a foundation for further study on the pharmacodynamic material basis of ZC-13 and provided a scientific basis for the formulation of ZC-13 quality specifications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: According to Chinese ancient books, both fruits and rhizomes of Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua have medicinal and edible values. Up to now, there is no report about the metabolite profiles and regulatory network in fruits and different year-old rhizomes of P. cyrtonema. Results: In this study, we performed integrative analyses of metabolome and transcriptome to reveal the dynamic accumulation and regulatory network of fruits and different year-old rhizomes in P. cyrtonema. The relative content of phenolic acids, lignans and coumarins, flavonoids and alkaloids increased with growth years, while steroids and lipids decreased with it. In addition, the relative content of nucleotides and derivatives, flavonoids, organic acids, steroids and lipids in fruits were higher than rhizomes. Genes that might relate to the biosynthesis of polysaccharides, flavonoids, triterpene saponins and alkaloids biosynthesis were further analyzed by transcriptome analysis, including sacA, GMPP, PMM, CCoAOMT, CHI, ANR, CHS, DXS, GGPS, ZEP, CYP72A219 and so on, for their expressions were positively correlated with the relative content of the metabolites. Additionally, the correlation network in sugar and aromatic amino acids metabolites were constructed to further illustrate the biosynthesis of polysaccharides, flavonoids and alkaloids in P. cyrtonema, and some transcription factors (TFs) were screened, such as C2C2, MYB, bZIP, GRAS and NAC. Conclusions: This study can deepen our understanding of the accumulation patterns and molecular mechanism of the main compounds in P. cyrtonema, and provide reference for the standardize production of P. cyrtonema. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The design of lignin nanostructures where interfacial interactions enable enhanced entanglement of colloidal networks can broaden their applications in hydrogel‐based materials and light‐based 3D printing. Herein, an approach for fabricating surface‐active dendritic colloidal microparticles (DCMs) characterized by fibrous structures using nanostructured allylated lignin is proposed for the development of lignin‐based photocurable resins. With allyl‐terminated surface functionality of 0.61 mmol g−1, the entanglement between lignin‐DCM fibrils with a size of 1.4 µm successfully produces only lignin‐based hydrogels with structural integrity through photo‐crosslinking. The colloidal network of lignin dendricolloids reinforces the poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) hydrogels during a digital light processing (DLP) 3D printing process by generating bicontinuous morphologies, resulting in six‐fold increases in toughness values with respect to the neat PEG hydrogel. The dual effectiveness of photoabsorption and free‐radical reactivity of lignin‐DCMs allow the light‐patterning of rather dilute PEG hydrogels (5–10%) with high geometric fidelity and structural complexity via DLP 3D printing. This study demonstrates a green and effective strategy for the design of 1D lignin‐DCMs that increases the versatility of the nanostructured biopolymer, opening up numerous opportunities for formulating functional hydrogels with robust structure‐property correlations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The literature on polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) films is extensive, however, these methods often necessitate intricate synthesis processes or the addition of plasticizers to modify the strength and water solubility of the PVA material. A high‐strength UV radiation‐resistant composite film by chelating Fe3+ with lignin and PVA, which exhibits excellent hydrolysis resistance is developed. This composite film is prepared simply by incorporating a small amount of dealkalized lignin (APPL) and ferric chloride (FeCl3) into PVA through a straightforward composite process. During the scanning test, it is noted that the film exhibits a high density of uniformly dispersed particles, endowing it with efficient ultraviolet absorption capabilities. The infrared and anti‐dissolution tests reveal that the coordination of Fe3+ with lignin imparts an outstanding hydrolysis resistance to the film, obviating the need for any extender, curing agent, acid or base. The tensile fracture strength reaches an impressive 187.81Mpa in the tensile test. UV and indicator card tests unequivocally demonstrate that the film achieves a remarkable 100% anti‐UV efficiency. This Fe3+ chelated lignin/PVA composite film, with its facile preparation, environmental sustainability, high strength, and outstanding anti‐ultraviolet efficiency, can be deployed across diverse applications requiring robust protection against ultraviolet radiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phenolic compounds are the main special metabolites of Cyperaceae species from phytochemical, pharmacological, and chemotaxonomical points of view. The present study focused on the isolation, structure determination, and pharmacological investigation of constituents from Carex praecox. Twenty-six compounds, including lignans, stilbenes, flavonoids, megastigmanes, chromenes, and phenylpropanoids, were identified from the methanol extract of the plant. Five of these compounds, namely, carexines A–E, are previously undescribed natural products. All compounds were isolated for the first time from C. praecox. The ACE-inhibitory activity of seven stilbenoid compounds was tested, and (–)-hopeaphenol proved to be the most active (IC50 7.7 ± 0.9 μM). The enzyme–kinetic studies revealed a mixed-type inhibition; therefore, domain-specific studies were also conducted. The in silico docking of (–)-hopeaphenol to the ACE affirmed some favorable interactions. In addition, the antiproliferative and antibacterial effects of some compounds were also evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Angelica dahurica var. formosana (ADF), which belongs to the Umbelliferae family, is one of the original plants of herbal raw material Angelicae Dahuricae Radix. ADF roots represent an enormous biomass resource convertible for disease treatment and bioproducts. But, early bolting of ADF resulted in lignification and a decrease in the coumarin content in the root, and roots lignification restricts its coumarin for commercial utility. Although there have been attempts to regulate the synthesis ratio of lignin and coumarin through biotechnology to increase the coumarin content in ADF and further enhance its commercial value, optimizing the biosynthesis of lignin and coumarin remains challenging. Based on gene expression analysis and phylogenetic tree profiling, AdNAC20 as the target for genetic engineering of lignin and coumarin biosynthesis in ADF was selected in this study. Early-bolting ADF had significantly greater degrees of root lignification and lower coumarin contents than that of the normal plants. In this study, overexpression of AdNAC20 gene plants were created using transgenic technology, while independent homozygous transgenic lines with precise site mutation of AdNAC20 were created using CRISPR/Cas9 technology. The overexpressing transgenic ADF plants showed a 9.28% decrease in total coumarin content and a significant 12.28% increase in lignin content, while knockout mutant plants showed a 16.3% increase in total coumarin content and a 33.48% decrease in lignin content. Furthermore, 29,671 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained by comparative transcriptomics of OE-NAC20, KO-NAC20, and WT of ADF. A schematic diagram of the gene network interacting with AdNAC20 during the early-bolting process of ADF was constructed by DEG analysis. AdNAC20 was predicted to directly regulate the transcription of several genes with SNBE-like motifs in their promoter, such as MYB46, C3H, and CCoAOMT. In this study, AdNAC20 was shown to play a dual pathway function that positively enhanced lignin formation but negatively controlled coumarin formation. And the heterologous expression of the AdNAC20 gene at Arabidopsis thaliana proved that the AdNAC20 gene also plays an important role in the process of bolting and flowering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The phenolic polymer lignin is one of the primary chemical constituents of the plant secondary cell wall. Due to the inherent plasticity of lignin biosynthesis, several phenolic monomers have been shown to be incorporated into the polymer, as long as the monomer can undergo radicalization so it can participate in coupling reactions. In this study, we significantly enhance the level of incorporation of monolignol ferulate conjugates into the lignin polymer to improve the digestibility of lignocellulosic biomass. Results: Overexpression of a rice Feruloyl-CoA Monolignol Transferase (FMT), OsFMT1, in hybrid poplar (Populus alba x grandidentata) produced transgenic trees clearly displaying increased cell wall-bound ester-linked ferulate, p-hydroxybenzoate, and p-coumarate, all of which are in the lignin cell wall fraction, as shown by NMR and DFRC. We also demonstrate the use of a novel UV–Vis spectroscopic technique to rapidly screen plants for the presence of both ferulate and p-hydroxybenzoate esters. Lastly we show, via saccharification assays, that the OsFMT1 transgenic p oplars have significantly improved processing efficiency compared to wild-type and Angelica sinensis-FMT-expressing poplars. Conclusions: The findings demonstrate that OsFMT1 has a broad substrate specificity and a higher catalytic efficiency compared to the previously published FMT from Angelica sinensis (AsFMT). Importantly, enhanced wood processability makes OsFMT1 a promising gene to optimize the composition of lignocellulosic biomass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrochemical catalysis emerges as a promising method for lignin depolymerization due to its environmental friendliness and mild reaction condition. Metal oxyhydroxides have displayed appealing electrochemical activity for the oxidation for various biomass substrates. In this study, we prepared different metal (Ni, Co, Mn, Fe, and Cu) oxyhydroxides on nickel foam electrodes through electrodeposition. Their electrochemical properties were characterized and the reactivity towards lignin oxidative cleavage was investigated using lignin model compounds. NiOOH exhibited significantly higher activity for oxidative cleavage of the β-O-4 linkage compared to other metal oxyhydroxides, resulting in a 93% yield of aromatic monomers with 99% selectivity towards benzoic acids. Furthermore, the reconstruction process of the active site NiOOH was revealed by in-situ testing, and the reaction mechanism was explored. The non-phenolic structure underwent Cβ–Cγ/Cβ–O or Cα–Cβ cleavage, predominantly producing benzoic acids, while the phenolic structure was rapidly oxidized into dicarboxylic acids over NiOOH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The utilization of plant polyphenols as catalyst carriers holds promise for environmentally friendly catalysis. However, challenges such as the inhomogeneous distribution of organic ligands often hinder their effectiveness. In this study, lignin–metal supramolecular framework were formed through ionic coordination self-assembly, achieved by oxidative ammonolysis modified lignin. The specific spatial domain-limiting effect of lignin–metal supramolecular framework ensures the dispersion and stability of catalyst active sites. Carbon-coated trimetallic catalysts (Ru–FeNi@OALC) derived from lignin–metal supramolecules exhibit promising performance, with low overpotentials for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER, η10 = 290 mV) and the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER, η10 = 52 mV), surpassing commercial noble metal catalysts. Additionally, these catalysts demonstrate long-lasting water-splitting performance, highlighting their potential for sustainable catalytic reactions. Molecular simulations and DFT theoretical calculations elucidate the feasibility of lignin oxidative ammonolysis modification and reveal the coordination mechanism. Furthermore, the abundant defects and disorder in the coordination polymer-derived carbon materials optimize electron transfer processes and accelerate reaction kinetics. This construction strategy towards designable polyphenol–metal supramolecular framework presents a promising avenue for the green synthesis of a variety of metal/carbon composite catalysts, contributing to sustainable catalysis and environmental protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Due to the complexity of the metabolic pathway network of active ingredients, precise targeted synthesis of any active ingredient on a synthetic network is a huge challenge. Based on a complete analysis of the active ingredient pathway in a species, this goal can be achieved by elucidating the functional differences of each enzyme in the pathway and achieving this goal through different combinations. Lignans are a class of phytoestrogens that are present abundantly in plants and play a role in various physiological activities of plants due to their structural diversity. In addition, lignans offer various medicinal benefits to humans. Despite their value, the low concentration of lignans in plants limits their extraction and utilization. Recently, synthetic biology approaches have been explored for lignan production, but achieving the synthesis of most lignans, especially the more valuable lignan glycosides, across the entire synthetic network remains incomplete. Results: By evaluating various gene construction methods and sequences, we determined that the pCDF-Duet-Prx02-PsVAO gene construction was the most effective for the production of (+)-pinoresinol, yielding up to 698.9 mg/L after shake-flask fermentation. Based on the stable production of (+)-pinoresinol, we synthesized downstream metabolites in vivo. By comparing different fermentation methods, including "one-cell, one-pot" and "multicellular one-pot", we determined that the "multicellular one-pot" method was more effective for producing (+)-lariciresinol, (-)-secoisolariciresinol, (-)-matairesinol, and their glycoside products. The "multicellular one-pot" fermentation yielded 434.08 mg/L of (+)-lariciresinol, 96.81 mg/L of (-)-secoisolariciresinol, and 45.14 mg/L of (-)-matairesinol. Subsequently, ultilizing the strict substrate recognition pecificities of UDP-glycosyltransferase (UGT) incorporating the native uridine diphosphate glucose (UDPG) Module for in vivo synthesis of glycoside products resulted in the following yields: (+)-pinoresinol glucoside: 1.71 mg/L, (+)-lariciresinol-4-O-d-glucopyranoside: 1.3 mg/L, (+)-lariciresinol-4'-O-d-glucopyranoside: 836 µg/L, (-)-secoisolariciresinol monoglucoside: 103.77 µg/L, (-)-matairesinol-4-O-d-glucopyranoside: 86.79 µg/L, and (-)-matairesinol-4'-O-d-glucopyranoside: 74.5 µg/L. Conclusions: By using various construction and fermentation methods, we successfully synthesized 10 products of the lignan pathway in Isatis indigotica Fort in Escherichia coli, with eugenol as substrate. Additionally, we obtained a diverse range of lignan products by combining different modules, setting a foundation for future high-yield lignan production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sand pear is the main cultivated pear species in China, and brown peel is a unique feature of sand pear. The formation of brown peel is related to the activity of the cork layer, of which lignin is an important component. The formation of brown peel is intimately associated with the biosynthesis and accumulation of lignin; however, the regulatory mechanism of lignin biosynthesis in pear peel remains unclear. In this study, we used a newly bred sand pear cultivar 'Xinyu' as the material to investigate the biosynthesis and accumulation of lignin at nine developmental stages using metabolomic and transcriptomic methods. Our results showed that the 30 days after flowering (DAF) to 50DAF were the key periods of lignin accumulation according to data analysis from the assays of lignin measurement, scanning electron microscope (SEM) observation, metabolomics, and transcriptomics. Through weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), positively correlated modules with lignin were identified. A total of nine difference lignin components were identified and 148 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), including 10 structural genes (PAL1, C4H, two 4CL genes, HCT, CSE, two COMT genes, and two CCR genes) and MYB, NAC, ERF, and TCP transcription factor genes were involved in lignin metabolism. An analysis of RT-qPCR confirmed that these DEGs were involved in the biosynthesis and regulation of lignin. These findings further help us understand the mechanisms of lignin biosynthesis and provide a theoretical basis for peel color control and quality improvement in pear breeding and cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The slightly altered samples of dioxan lignin were extracted from coniferous (spruce and juniper) and deciduous wood (aspen) by the Pepper's method. Lignins were characterized by data of elemental, functional composition, macromolecular and reactive (acid–base and redox) properties. IR spectra of lignins were recorded by the attenuated total refection method. The absorption band of lignins in the 3000–3700 cm−1 region corresponds to the valence vibrations of hydroxyl groups involved in hydrogen bonds. This band was divided into separate Gaussian contours by deconvolution method. The characteristic parameters (energy, length, and relative content) were calculated on the basis of correlation dependencies for each type of H-bonds. The relationship between reactivity (acid–base and redox properties) and the involvement of hydroxyl groups of a natural polymer in H-bonds was shown. The highest reactivity of aspen lignins is caused by the presence of syringyl structures and lower H-bond energies involving reaction centers of macromolecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fourteen diphyllin 4-C-substituted alkylide derivatives were designed and synthesized using a Heck coupling and subsequent hydrogenation reaction. Olefins 3g and 3i exhibited the highest cytotoxicity on breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 with IC50 values of 0.08 and 0.07 µM, and they showed weaker V-ATPase inhibitory potency compared to diphyllin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study was conducted to assess the prospective association between dietary polyphenols intakes and risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components. Methods: Participants in this study (n = 4559) were selected from among the adults of the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study (TLGS) with an average follow-up of 5.9 + 2.5 years. Biochemical and anthropometric variables were measured at baseline and follow-up examinations. A reliable and valid semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire was used to evaluate dietary intakes. The incidence of MetS and its components in relation to polyphenols and its subclasses (phenolic acids, flavonoids, lignans, and stilbenes) was evaluated using multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression models. Results: Of the 4559 subjects who enrolled in the present study, 1765 were male aged 38.6 + 14.2 y and 2794 were female aged 35.9 + 11.7 y. The hazard ratios of MetS were 25% lower in Q2 (HR, 95% CI: 0.75, 0.64-0.88), 22% lower in Q3 (HR, 95% CI: 0.78, 0.65-0.94) and 24% lower in Q4 (HR, 95% CI: 0.76, 0.61-0.95) in comparison to Q1, whereas the results for subclasses of polyphenol were non-significant. The risk of high blood pressure (BP) reduced from quartiles 1 to 4 for phenolic acid (HR: 1.00, 0.88, 0.79, 0.80, Ptrend = 0.03). The risk of low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) increased across quartiles of phenolic acid (HR: 1.00, 1.22, 1.07, 1.30, Ptrend = 0.02). Conclusion: This study highlights the potential protective role of total dietary polyphenols in the prevention of MetS. These findings could be the starting point of upcoming trials to illuminate the optimal level of polyphenols deriving from the intake of polyphenolrich diets to prevent MetS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]