Biomolecules

23 pages, 2400 KB

Open AccessArticle

Methanol Extract of Dicranopteris linearis Leaves Attenuate Pain via the Modulation of Opioid/NO-Mediated Pathway

by Zainul Amiruddin Zakaria^1,2,*

, Rushduddin Al Jufri Roosli¹

, Najihah Hanisah Marmaya³, Maizatul Hasyima Omar⁴, Rusliza Basir⁵

and Muhammad Nazrul Somchit¹

¹ Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia

² Integrative Pharmacogenomics Institute (iPROMISE), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Puncak Alam Campus, Bandar Puncak Alam Selangor 42300, Malaysia

³ Faculty of Business and Management, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Melaka Campus, Melaka 75300, Malaysia

⁴ Phytochemistry Unit, Herbal Medicine Research Centre, Institute for Medical Research, Jalan Pahang, Kuala Lumpur 50588, Malaysia

⁵ Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia

Biomolecules 2020, 10(2), 280; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom10020280 - 12 Feb 2020

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4246

Abstract

Dicranopteris linearis leaf has been reported to exert antinociceptive activity. The present study elucidates the possible mechanisms of antinociception modulated by the methanol extract of D. linearis leaves (MEDL) using various mouse models. The extract (25, 150, and 300 mg/kg) was administered orally [...] Read more.

Dicranopteris linearis leaf has been reported to exert antinociceptive activity. The present study elucidates the possible mechanisms of antinociception modulated by the methanol extract of D. linearis leaves (MEDL) using various mouse models. The extract (25, 150, and 300 mg/kg) was administered orally to mice for 30 min priot to subjection to the acetic acid-induced writhing-, hot plate- or formalin-test to establish the antinociceptive profile of MEDL. The most effective dose was then used in the elucidation of possible mechanisms of action stage. The extract was also subjected to the phytochemical analyses. The results confirmed that MEDL exerted significant (p < 0.05) antinociceptive activity in those pain models as well as the capsaicin-, glutamate-, bradykinin- and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-induced paw licking model. Pretreatment with naloxone (a non-selective opioid antagonist) significantly (p < 0.05) reversed MEDL effect on thermal nociception. Only l-arginine (a nitric oxide (NO) donor) but not N(ω)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME; a NO inhibitor) or 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ; a specific soluble guanylyl cyclase inhibitor) significantly (p < 0.05) modified MEDL effect on the writhing test. Several polyphenolics and volatile antinociceptive compounds were detected in MEDL. In conclusion, MEDL exerted the opioid/NO-mediated antinociceptive activity, thus, justify D. linearis as a potential source for new analgesic agents development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant-Food-Derived Bioactive Molecules on Human Longevity and Disease Prevention)

▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 1875 KB

Open AccessArticle

Investigating the Systems-Level Effect of Pueraria lobata for Menopause-Related Metabolic Diseases Using an Ovariectomized Rat Model and Network Pharmacological Analysis

by Ji Hong Oh^1,†, Seon-Eun Baek^2,†, Won-Yung Lee¹

, Ji Yun Baek^3,4

, Tuy An Trinh³, Do Hwi Park³, Hye Lim Lee⁵, Ki Sung Kang³, Chang-Eop Kim^1,*

and Jeong-Eun Yoo^2,*

¹ Department of Physiology, College of Korean Medicine, Gachon University, Seongnam 13120, Korea

² Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Korean Medicine, Daejeon University, Daejeon 35235, Korea

³ Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Gachon University, Seongnam 13120, Korea

⁴ Department of Food Science, Gyeongnam National University of Science and Technology, Jinju 52725, Korea

⁵ Department of Pediatrics, College of Korean Medicine, Daejeon University, Daejeon 35235, Korea

^† These authors contributed equally to this work.

Biomolecules 2019, 9(11), 747; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom9110747 - 18 Nov 2019

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 5542

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the biological activities of Pueraria lobata (PL) on menopause-related metabolic diseases and to explore the underlying mechanism of PL by network pharmacological analyses. We used ovariectomized (OVX) rats as a postmenopausal model and administered PL at different [...] Read more.

This study was conducted to evaluate the biological activities of Pueraria lobata (PL) on menopause-related metabolic diseases and to explore the underlying mechanism of PL by network pharmacological analyses. We used ovariectomized (OVX) rats as a postmenopausal model and administered PL at different doses (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg). In OVX rats, decreased uterine weights and PPAR-γ (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma) mRNA expression in the thigh muscle were significantly recovered after PL administration. PL also significantly alleviated OVX-induced increases in total cholesterol, triglyceride, alanine aminotransferase (ALT/GPT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST/GOT) levels. To identify the systems-level mechanism of PL, we performed network pharmacological analyses by predicting the targets of the potential bioactive compounds and their associated pathways. We identified 61 targets from four potential active compounds of PL: formononetin, beta-sitosterol, 3’-methoxydaidzein, and daidzein-4,7-diglucoside. Pathway enrichment analysis revealed that among female sex hormone-related pathways, the estrogen signaling pathways, progesterone-mediated oocyte maturation, oxytocin signaling pathways, and prolactin signaling pathways were associated with multiple targets of PL. In conclusion, we found that PL improved various indicators associated with lipid metabolism in the postmenopausal animal model, and we also identified that its therapeutic effects are exerted via multiple female sex hormone-related pathways. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant-Food-Derived Bioactive Molecules on Human Longevity and Disease Prevention)

▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

34 pages, 692 KB

Open AccessReview

Therapeutic Potential of α- and β-Pinene: A Miracle Gift of Nature

by Bahare Salehi¹

, Shashi Upadhyay², Ilkay Erdogan Orhan^3,*

, Arun Kumar Jugran^4,*, Sumali L.D. Jayaweera⁵, Daniel A. Dias⁵

, Farukh Sharopov⁶

, Yasaman Taheri⁷

, Natália Martins^8,9

, Navid Baghalpour⁷, William C. Cho^10,*

and Javad Sharifi-Rad^11,*

¹ Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Bam University of Medical Sciences, Bam 44340847, Iran

² G. B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment and Sustainable Development, Kosi-Katarmal, Almora-263643, Uttarakhand, India

³ Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Gazi University, 06330 Ankara, Turkey

⁴ G. B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment and Sustainable Development, Garhwal Regional Centre, Srinagar-246174, Uttarakhand, India

⁵ School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, Discipline of Laboratory Medicine, RMIT University, P.O. Box 71, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia

⁶ Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Avicenna Tajik State Medical University, Rudaki 139, 734003 Dushanbe, Tajikistan

⁷ Phytochemistry Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1991953381, Iran

⁸ Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Alameda Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal

⁹ Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (i3S), University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal

¹⁰ Department of Clinical Oncology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, 30 Gascoigne Road, Hong Kong, China

¹¹ Zabol Medicinal Plants Research Center, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol 61615-585, Iran

Show full affiliation list Hide full affiliation list

Biomolecules 2019, 9(11), 738; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom9110738 - 14 Nov 2019

Cited by 553 | Viewed by 43920

Abstract

α- and β-pinene are well-known representatives of the monoterpenes group, and are found in many plants’ essential oils. A wide range of pharmacological activities have been reported, including antibiotic resistance modulation, anticoagulant, antitumor, antimicrobial, antimalarial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-Leishmania, and analgesic effects. [...] Read more.

α- and β-pinene are well-known representatives of the monoterpenes group, and are found in many plants’ essential oils. A wide range of pharmacological activities have been reported, including antibiotic resistance modulation, anticoagulant, antitumor, antimicrobial, antimalarial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-Leishmania, and analgesic effects. This article aims to summarize the most prominent effects of α- and β-pinene, namely their cytogenetic, gastroprotective, anxiolytic, cytoprotective, anticonvulsant, and neuroprotective effects, as well as their effects against H₂O₂-stimulated oxidative stress, pancreatitis, stress-stimulated hyperthermia, and pulpal pain. Finally, we will also discuss the bioavailability, administration, as well as their biological activity and clinical applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant-Food-Derived Bioactive Molecules on Human Longevity and Disease Prevention)

▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 267 KB

Open AccessReview

Fructans as Immunomodulatory and Antiviral Agents: The Case of Echinacea

by Erin Dobrange¹, Darin Peshev¹, Bianke Loedolff^2,† and Wim Van den Ende^1,*,†

¹ Laboratory of Molecular Plant Biology, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium

² Institute for Plant Biotechnology, Department of Genetics, Faculty of AgriSciences, Stellenbosch University, Matieland 7602, South Africa

^† Equally contributing senior authors.

Biomolecules 2019, 9(10), 615; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom9100615 - 16 Oct 2019

Cited by 63 | Viewed by 11346

Abstract

Throughout history, medicinal purposes of plants have been studied, documented, and acknowledged as an integral part of human healthcare systems. The development of modern medicine still relies largely on this historical knowledge of the use and preparation of plants and their extracts. Further [...] Read more.

Throughout history, medicinal purposes of plants have been studied, documented, and acknowledged as an integral part of human healthcare systems. The development of modern medicine still relies largely on this historical knowledge of the use and preparation of plants and their extracts. Further research into the human microbiome highlights the interaction between immunomodulatory responses and plant-derived, prebiotic compounds. One such group of compounds includes the inulin-type fructans (ITFs), which may also act as signaling molecules and antioxidants. These multifunctional compounds occur in a small proportion of plants, many of which have recognized medicinal properties. Echinacea is a well-known medicinal plant and products derived from it are sold globally for its cold- and flu-preventative and general health-promoting properties. Despite the well-documented phytochemical profile of Echinacea plants and products, little research has looked into the possible role of ITFs in these products. This review aims to highlight the occurrence of ITFs in Echinacea derived formulations and the potential role they play in immunomodulation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant-Food-Derived Bioactive Molecules on Human Longevity and Disease Prevention)

13 pages, 1892 KB

Open AccessArticle

Effects on the Caco-2 Cells of a Hypoglycemic Protein from Lupin Seeds in a Solution and Adsorbed on Polystyrene Nanoparticles to Mimic a Complex Food Matrix

by Alberto Barbiroli^1,†, Jessica Capraro^1,†

, Serena Marulo²

, Marta Gamba¹ and Alessio Scarafoni^1,*

¹ Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milano, Italy

² Department of Agricultural Sciences, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, 80055 Portici (Napoli), Italy

^† These authors contributed equally to this work.

Biomolecules 2019, 9(10), 606; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom9100606 - 14 Oct 2019

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3444

Abstract

The search for bioactivities influencing the human wellbeing of food proteins and peptides is a topic of broad and current interest. γ-Conglutin (γC) is a lupin seed protein drawing remarkable pharmacological and/or nutraceutical interest, as it is able to reduce hyperglycemia in humans [...] Read more.

The search for bioactivities influencing the human wellbeing of food proteins and peptides is a topic of broad and current interest. γ-Conglutin (γC) is a lupin seed protein drawing remarkable pharmacological and/or nutraceutical interest, as it is able to reduce hyperglycemia in humans and animal models. The present work deepens our investigations to understand the molecular basis of the in vitro effects of γC by testing the possible metabolic effects on cultivated Caco-2 cells. γC and its derived peptides (obtained via simulated gastrointestinal digestion) did not influence the cell viability at incubation times up to 24 h. The incubation of cells with native or digested γC caused no detectable inflammation processes mediated by Nuclear Factor kappa B (NFκB). We checked if treatment with γC or its derived peptides can elicit the expression of two peptide transporters (Pept-1 and Htp-1) by using an RT-qPCR approach. Native γC caused the halving of Pept-1 expression compared to untreated cells, but this effect disappeared when γC was digested. Either native γC or γC peptides reduced the expression levels of Hpt-1. Finally, this work also sheds light on the possible structural modifications of γC that may occur in the gastrointestinal tract, using an in vitro simulated dispersed system with polystyrene nanoparticles (NPs). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant-Food-Derived Bioactive Molecules on Human Longevity and Disease Prevention)

▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 1383 KB

Open AccessArticle

Bio-Guided Fractionation of Ethanol Extract of Leaves of Esenbeckia alata Kunt (Rutaceae) Led to the Isolation of Two Cytotoxic Quinoline Alkaloids: Evidence of Selectivity Against Leukemia Cells

by Juan Manuel Álvarez-Caballero^1,*

, Luis Enrique Cuca-Suárez² and Ericsson Coy-Barrera³

¹ Grupo de Química y Bioprospección de Productos Naturales, Universidad del Magdalena, Santa Marta 470004, Colombia

² Laboratorio de Investigación en Productos Naturales Vegetales, Facultad de Ciencias, Departamento de Química, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá D.C. 111321, Colombia

³ Bioorganic Chemistry Laboratory, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas y Aplicadas, Universidad Militar Nueva Granada, Cajicá 250247, Colombia

Biomolecules 2019, 9(10), 585; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom9100585 - 8 Oct 2019

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3790

Abstract

Bio-guided fractionation performed on the leaves-derived ethanol extract of Esenbeckia alata (Rutaceae), a plant used in traditional medicine, led to the isolation of two alkaloids, kokusaginine 1 and flindersiamine 2, as main cytotoxic agents. Primary ethanolic extract and raw fractions exhibited cell [...] Read more.

Bio-guided fractionation performed on the leaves-derived ethanol extract of Esenbeckia alata (Rutaceae), a plant used in traditional medicine, led to the isolation of two alkaloids, kokusaginine 1 and flindersiamine 2, as main cytotoxic agents. Primary ethanolic extract and raw fractions exhibited cell inhibition against five cancer cell lines at different levels (25–97% inhibition at 50 µg/mL) as well as isolated alkaloids 1–2 (30–90% inhibition at 20 µM). Although alkaloid 2 generally was the most active compound, both alkaloids showed a selective effect on K562, a human chronic myelogenous leukemia cell line. The E1-like ubiquitin-activating enzymes (e.g., UBA5) have been recently described as important targets for future treatment of cancer progression, such as leukemia, among others. Therefore, as a rationale to the observed cytotoxic selectivity, an in-silico evaluation by molecular docking and molecular dynamics was also explored. Compounds 1–2 exhibited good performance on the interaction within the active site of UBA5. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant-Food-Derived Bioactive Molecules on Human Longevity and Disease Prevention)

▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

121 pages, 6615 KB

Open AccessReview

Antidiabetic Potential of Medicinal Plants and Their Active Components

by Bahare Salehi¹

, Athar Ata², Nanjangud V. Anil Kumar³

, Farukh Sharopov⁴

, Karina Ramírez-Alarcón⁵

, Ana Ruiz-Ortega⁶, Seyed Abdulmajid Ayatollahi^7,8, Patrick Valere Tsouh Fokou⁹

, Farzad Kobarfard^7,10, Zainul Amiruddin Zakaria^11,12, Marcello Iriti^13,*

, Yasaman Taheri⁷

, Miquel Martorell^5,14,*

, Antoni Sureda¹⁵

, William N. Setzer¹⁶, Alessandra Durazzo¹⁷

, Massimo Lucarini¹⁷, Antonello Santini^18,*

, Raffaele Capasso¹⁹

, Elise Adrian Ostrander²⁰, Atta -ur-Rahman²¹, Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary²¹, William C. Cho^22,*

and Javad Sharifi-Rad^23,*

Show full author list Hide full author list

¹ Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Bam University of Medical Sciences, Bam 44340847, Iran

² Department of Chemistry, Richardson College for the Environmental Science Complex, The University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, MB R3B 2G3, Canada

³ Department of Chemistry, Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal University, Manipal 576104, India

⁴ Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Avicenna Tajik State Medical University, Rudaki 139, Dushanbe 734003, Tajikistan

⁵ Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Concepcion, Concepción 4070386, Chile

⁶ Facultad de Educación y Ciencias Sociales, Universidad Andrés Bello, Autopista Concepción—Talcahuano, Concepción 7100, Chile

⁷ Phytochemistry Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1991953381, Iran

⁸ Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 11369, Iran

⁹ Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde 1, Yaounde P.O. Box 812, Cameroon

¹⁰ Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 11369, Iran

¹¹ Laboratory of Halal Science Research, Halal Products Research Institute, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

¹² Integrative Pharmacogenomics Institute (iPROMISE), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Puncak Alam Campus, Bandar Puncak Alam Selangor 42300, Malaysia

¹³ Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Milan State University, via G. Celoria 2, 20133 Milan, Italy

¹⁴ Universidad de Concepción, Unidad de Desarrollo Tecnológico, UDT, Concepción 4070386, Chile

¹⁵ Research Group on Community Nutrition and Oxidative Stress, Laboratory of Physical Activity Sciences, and CIBEROBN—Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition, CB12/03/30038, University of Balearic Islands, E-07122 Palma de Mallorca, Spain

¹⁶ Department of Chemistry, University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, AL 35899, USA

¹⁷ CREA—Research Centre for Food and Nutrition, Via Ardeatina 546, 00178 Rome, Italy

¹⁸ Department of Pharmacy, University of Napoli Federico II, Via D. Montesano, 49-80131 Napoli, Italy

¹⁹ Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80055 Portici, Italy

²⁰ Medical Illustration, Kendall College of Art and Design, Ferris State University, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA

²¹ H.E.J. Research Institute of Chemistry, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi 75270, Pakistan

²² Department of Clinical Oncology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China

²³ Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Jiroft University of Medical Sciences, Jiroft 7861756447, Iran

Show full affiliation list Hide full affiliation list

Biomolecules 2019, 9(10), 551; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom9100551 - 30 Sep 2019

Cited by 544 | Viewed by 64897

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is one of the major health problems in the world, the incidence and associated mortality are increasing. Inadequate regulation of the blood sugar imposes serious consequences for health. Conventional antidiabetic drugs are effective, however, also with unavoidable side effects. On the [...] Read more.

Diabetes mellitus is one of the major health problems in the world, the incidence and associated mortality are increasing. Inadequate regulation of the blood sugar imposes serious consequences for health. Conventional antidiabetic drugs are effective, however, also with unavoidable side effects. On the other hand, medicinal plants may act as an alternative source of antidiabetic agents. Examples of medicinal plants with antidiabetic potential are described, with focuses on preclinical and clinical studies. The beneficial potential of each plant matrix is given by the combined and concerted action of their profile of biologically active compounds. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant-Food-Derived Bioactive Molecules on Human Longevity and Disease Prevention)

▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

34 pages, 1004 KB

Open AccessReview

Anacardium Plants: Chemical,Nutritional Composition and Biotechnological Applications

by Bahare Salehi¹

, Mine Gültekin-Özgüven², Celale Kırkın³

, Beraat Özçelik^2,4, Maria Flaviana Bezerra Morais-Braga⁵, Joara Nalyda Pereira Carneiro⁵, Camila Fonseca Bezerra⁶, Teresinha Gonçalves da Silva⁶, Henrique Douglas Melo Coutinho⁷, Benabdallah Amina⁸, Lorene Armstrong⁹, Zeliha Selamoglu¹⁰, Mustafa Sevindik¹¹

, Zubaida Yousaf¹², Javad Sharifi-Rad^13,*

, Ali Mahmoud Muddathir¹⁴, Hari Prasad Devkota^15,16, Miquel Martorell^17,18,*

, Arun Kumar Jugran^19,*, Natália Martins^20,21,*

and William C. Cho^22,*

Show full author list Hide full author list

¹ Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Bam University of Medical Sciences, Bam 44340847, Iran

² Department of Food Engineering, Faculty of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, Istanbul Technical University, Maslak, 34469 Istanbul, Turkey

³ Department of Gastronomy and Culinary Arts, School of Applied Sciences, Özyeğin University, Çekmeköy, 34794 Istanbul, Turkey

⁴ Bioactive Research & Innovation Food Manufac. Indust. Trade Ltd., Katar Street, Teknokent ARI-3, B110, Sarıyer, 34467, Istanbul, Turkey

⁵ Laboratory of Applied Mycology of Cariri, Department of Biological Sciences, Cariri Regional University, Crato, Ceará–Brazil

⁶ Laboratory of Planning and Synthesis of Drugs, Department of Antibiotics, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil

⁷ Laboratory of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Department of Biological Chemistry, Regional University of Cariri, Crato, Brazil

⁸ Department of Agronomy, SAPVESA Laboratory, Nature and Life Sciences Faculty, University Chadli BENDJEDID, El-Tarf 36000, Algeria

⁹ State University of Ponta Grossa, Departament of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ponta Grossa, Paraná, Brazil

¹⁰ Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Nigde Ömer Halisdemir University, Campus, Nigde, Turkey

¹¹ Department of Food Processing, Bahçe Vocational School, Osmaniye Korkut Ata University, 80500 Osmaniye, Turkey

¹² Department of Botany, Lahore College for Women University, Jail Road, Lahore 54000, Pakistan

¹³ Zabol Medicinal Plants Research Center, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol 61615-585, Iran

¹⁴ Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Khartoum, Shambat 13314, Khartoum North, Sudan

¹⁵ School of Pharmacy, Kumamoto University, 5-1 Oe-honmachi, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto 862-0973, Japan

¹⁶ Program for Leading Graduate Schools, Health Life Science: Interdisciplinary and Glocal Oriented (HIGO) Program, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 860-8555, Japan

¹⁷ Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Concepción, Concepcion, Chile

¹⁸ Universidad de Concepción, Unidad de Desarrollo Tecnológico, UDT, Concepcion 4070386, Chile

¹⁹ Govind Ballabh Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment and Sustainable Development, Garhwal Regional Centre, Srinagar-246 174, Uttarakhand, India

²⁰ Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Alameda Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal

²¹ Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (i3S), University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal

²² Department of Clinical Oncology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China

Show full affiliation list Hide full affiliation list

Biomolecules 2019, 9(9), 465; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom9090465 - 9 Sep 2019

Cited by 69 | Viewed by 15695

Abstract

Anacardium plants are native to the American tropical regions, and Anacardium occidentale L. (cashew tree) is the most recognized species of the genus. These species contain rich secondary metabolites in their leaf and shoot powder, fruits and other parts that have shown diverse [...] Read more.

Anacardium plants are native to the American tropical regions, and Anacardium occidentale L. (cashew tree) is the most recognized species of the genus. These species contain rich secondary metabolites in their leaf and shoot powder, fruits and other parts that have shown diverse applications. This review describes the habitat and cultivation of Anacardium species, phytochemical and nutritional composition, and their industrial food applications. Besides, we also discuss the secondary metabolites present in Anacardium plants which display great antioxidant and antimicrobial effects. These make the use of Anacardium species in the food industry an interesting approach to the development of green foods. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant-Food-Derived Bioactive Molecules on Human Longevity and Disease Prevention)

▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 970 KB

Open AccessArticle

Phytochemical Composition, Antioxidant, and Antimicrobial Attributes of Different Solvent Extracts from Myrica esculenta Buch.-Ham. ex. D. Don Leaves

by Atul Kabra^1,2

, Rohit Sharma³

, Christophe Hano⁴

, Ruchika Kabra⁵, Natália Martins^6,7,*

and Uttam Singh Baghel^5,8,*

¹ Research Scholar, I.K. Gujral Punjab Technical University, Kapurthala 144603, Punjab, India

² Department of Pharmacology, Kota College of Pharmacy, Kota 325003, Rajasthan, India

³ Central Ayurveda Research Institute for Drug Development, CCRAS, Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India, Bidhannagar, Kolkata 700091, West Bengal, India

⁴ Laboratoire de Biologie des Ligneux et des Grandes Cultures, INRAUSC1328, Universitéd’Orléans, 45100 Orléans, France

⁵ Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Analysis, Kota College of Pharmacy, Kota 325003, Rajasthan, India

⁶ Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal

⁷ Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (i3S), University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal

⁸ Department of Pharmacy, University of Kota, Kota 325003, Rajasthan, India

Biomolecules 2019, 9(8), 357; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom9080357 - 9 Aug 2019

Cited by 37 | Viewed by 7218

Abstract

Background: Plant diversity is a basic source of food and medicine for local Himalayan communities. The current study was designed to assess the effect of different solvents (methanol, ethyl acetate, and water) on the phenolic profile, and the corresponding biological activity was [...] Read more.

Background: Plant diversity is a basic source of food and medicine for local Himalayan communities. The current study was designed to assess the effect of different solvents (methanol, ethyl acetate, and water) on the phenolic profile, and the corresponding biological activity was studied. Methods: Antioxidant activity was investigated using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2″-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic) acid (ABTS) assay, while the antimicrobial activity was evaluated by disk diffusion method using various bacterial and fungal strains. Results: The outcomes demonstrated that methanol acted as the most effective solvent for polyphenols extraction, as strengthened by the liquid chromatography and mass spectroscopy (LC-MS) and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis. M. esculenta methanol extract showed the highest DPPH and ABTS radical scavenger antioxidant activity with IC₅₀ values of 39.29 μg/mL and 52.83 μg/mL, respectively, while the ethyl acetate and aqueous extracts revealed minimum antioxidant potential. Methanol extract also revealed higher phenolic content, 88.94 ± 0.24 mg of equivalent gallic acid (GAE)/g), measured by the Folin–Ciocalteu method, while the minimum content was recorded for aqueous extract (62.38 ± 0.14 GAE/g). The highest flavonoid content was observed for methanol extract, 67.44 ± 0.14 mg quercetin equivalent (QE)/g) measured by an aluminum chloride colorimetric method, while the lowest content was recorded for aqueous extract (35.77 ± 0.14 QE/g). Antimicrobial activity findings also reveal that the methanol extract led to a higher inhibition zone against bacterial and fungal strains. FTIR analysis reveals the presence of various functional groups, viz. alkenes, amines, carboxylic acids, amides, esters, alcohols, phenols, ketones, carboxylic acids, and aromatic compounds. This FTIR analysis could serve as a basis for the authentication of M. esculenta extracts for future industrial applications. Compounds identified by LC-MS analysis were gallic acid, myricanol, myricanone, epigallocatechin 3-O-gallate, β-sitosterol, quercetin, p-coumaric acid, palmitic acid, n-pentadecanol, n-octadecanol, stigmasterol, oleanolic acid, n-hexadecanol, cis-β-caryophyllene, lupeol, and myresculoside. Conclusion: This study suggests that the methanolic extract from M. esculenta leaves has strong antioxidant potential and could be a significant source of natural antioxidants and antimicrobials for functional foods formulation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant-Food-Derived Bioactive Molecules on Human Longevity and Disease Prevention)

▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

22 pages, 880 KB

Open AccessReview

Euphorbia-Derived Natural Products with Potential for Use in Health Maintenance

by Bahare Salehi¹, Marcello Iriti²

, Sara Vitalini²

, Hubert Antolak³

, Ewelina Pawlikowska³

, Dorota Kręgiel³

, Javad Sharifi-Rad^4,*

, Sunday I. Oyeleye^5,6, Adedayo O. Ademiluyi⁵

, Katarzyna Czopek⁷, Mariola Staniak⁷

, Luísa Custódio⁸

, Ericsson Coy-Barrera⁹

, Antonio Segura-Carretero^10,11, María de la Luz Cádiz-Gurrea^10,11,*

, Raffaele Capasso¹²

, William C. Cho¹³

and Ana M. L. Seca^14,15,*

¹ Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Bam University of Medical Sciences, Bam 44340847, Iran

² Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Milan State University, via G. Celoria 2, 20133 Milan, Italy

³ Institute of Fermentation Technology and Microbiology, Lodz University of Technology, Wolczanska 171/173, 90-924 Lodz, Poland

⁴ Zabol Medicinal Plants Research Center, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol 61615-585, Iran

⁵ Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals Unit, Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology, Akure 340252, Nigeria

⁶ Department of Biomedical Technology, Federal University of Technology, Akure 340252, Nigeria

⁷ Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation – State Research Institute, Czartoryskich 8, 24-100 Puławy, Poland

⁸ Centre of Marine Sciences, University of Algarve, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, Building 7, Campus of Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal

⁹ Bioorganic Chemistry Laboratory, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas y Aplicadas, Universidad Militar Nueva Granada, Campus Nueva Granada, Cajicá 250247, Colombia

¹⁰ Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Granada, Avda. Fuentenueva s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain

¹¹ Research and Development Functional Food Centre (CIDAF), Bioregión Building, Health Science Technological Park, Avenida del Conocimiento s/n, 188016 Granada, Spain

¹² Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80055 Portici, Italy

¹³ Department of Clinical Oncology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China

¹⁴ cE3c- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes/ Azorean Biodiversity Group & University of Azores, Rua Mãe de Deus, 9501-801 Ponta Delgada, Portugal

¹⁵ QOPNA & LAQV-REQUIMTE, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal

Show full affiliation list Hide full affiliation list

Biomolecules 2019, 9(8), 337; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom9080337 - 2 Aug 2019

Cited by 92 | Viewed by 14972

Abstract

Euphorbia genus (Euphorbiaceae family), which is the third largest genus of angiosperm plants comprising ca. 2000 recognized species, is used all over the world in traditional medicine, especially in the traditional Chinese medicine. Members of this taxa are promptly recognizable by their specialized [...] Read more.

Euphorbia genus (Euphorbiaceae family), which is the third largest genus of angiosperm plants comprising ca. 2000 recognized species, is used all over the world in traditional medicine, especially in the traditional Chinese medicine. Members of this taxa are promptly recognizable by their specialized inflorescences and latex. In this review, an overview of Euphorbia-derived natural products such as essential oils, extracts, and pure compounds, active in a broad range of biological activities, and with potential usages in health maintenance, is described. The chemical composition of essential oils from Euphorbia species revealed the presence of more than 80 phytochemicals, mainly oxygenated sesquiterpenes and sesquiterpenes hydrocarbons, while Euphorbia extracts contain secondary metabolites such as sesquiterpenes, diterpenes, sterols, flavonoids, and other polyphenols. The extracts and secondary metabolites from Euphorbia plants may act as active principles of medicines for the treatment of many human ailments, mainly inflammation, cancer, and microbial infections. Besides, Euphorbia-derived products have great potential as a source of bioactive extracts and pure compounds, which can be used to promote longevity with more health. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant-Food-Derived Bioactive Molecules on Human Longevity and Disease Prevention)

▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

10 pages, 1059 KB

Open AccessArticle

Investigation of Biological Activities of Wild Bitter Melon (Momordica charantia Linn. Var. Abbreviata Ser.)

by Thi My Hanh Pham¹, Dai-Hung Ngo^2,*, Dai-Nghiep Ngo³ and Thanh Sang Vo^4,*

¹ Vo Van Kiet Senior High School, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Vietnam

² Faculty of Natural Sciences, Thu Dau Mot University, Thu Dau Mot City 820000, Binh Duong province, Vietnam

³ Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Science, Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Vietnam

⁴ NTT Hi-Tech Institute, Nguyen Tat Thanh University, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Vietnam

Biomolecules 2019, 9(6), 211; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom9060211 - 30 May 2019

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 7655

Abstract

Wild bitter melon (Momordica charantia L. var. Abbreviata Ser.) is a wild edible variety of M. charantia, often used in folk medicine. In this study, the biological activities of its extract and fractions were investigated in vitro. It was found that [...] Read more.

Wild bitter melon (Momordica charantia L. var. Abbreviata Ser.) is a wild edible variety of M. charantia, often used in folk medicine. In this study, the biological activities of its extract and fractions were investigated in vitro. It was found that ethyl acetate (EA) fraction exhibited high 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activity with a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) value of 0.43 ± 0.04 mg/mL, while the chloroform (CF), EA, and n-butanol (Bu) fractions had strong 2,2-azinobis-3-ethyl benzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS)⁺ scavenging ability with IC₅₀ values of 0.36 ± 0.04 mg/mL, 0.35 ± 0.02 mg/mL, and 0.35 ± 0.05 mg/mL, respectively. Moreover, the EA and Bu fractions exhibited the highest protective effect against H₂O₂-induced DNA damage in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, the EA fraction was effective in the inhibition of enzyme α-amylase activity with an IC₅₀ value of 0.27 ± 0.029 mg/mL. Finally, it was observed that the production of nitric oxide (NO), a pro-inflammatory mediator, was significantly reduced from LPS-stimulated murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cells by the ethanol extract (ET) and the EA fraction. Therefore, wild bitter melon could be considered as a promising biomaterial for the development of pharmaceutical products. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant-Food-Derived Bioactive Molecules on Human Longevity and Disease Prevention)

▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

24 pages, 1745 KB

Open AccessReview

Chyawanprash: A Traditional Indian Bioactive Health Supplement

by Rohit Sharma^1,*

, Natália Martins^2,3,*

, Kamil Kuca⁴

, Ashun Chaudhary⁵

, Atul Kabra⁶, Meda M. Rao¹ and Pradeep Kumar Prajapati⁷

¹ Central Ayurveda Research Institute for Drug Development (CCRAS), Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India, 4-CN Block, Sector-V, Bidhannagar, Kolkata-700091, India

² Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Alameda Prof. Hernani Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal

³ Institute for research and Innovation in Heath (i3S), University of Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal

⁴ Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Hradec Králové, Rokitanskeho 62, 50003 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic

⁵ Department of Biotechnology, MMEC, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be University), Mullana, Ambala-133207, India

⁶ Department of Pharmacology, Kota College of Pharmacy, Kota, Rajasthan-324005, India

⁷ Department of Rasashastra & Bhaishajya Kalpana, All India Institute of Ayurveda, New Delhi-110076, India

Biomolecules 2019, 9(5), 161; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom9050161 - 26 Apr 2019

Cited by 106 | Viewed by 27720

Abstract

Chyawanprash (CP) is an Ayurvedic health supplement which is made up of a super-concentrated blend of nutrient-rich herbs and minerals. It is meant to restore drained reserves of life force (ojas) and to preserve strength, stamina, and vitality, while stalling the [...] Read more.

Chyawanprash (CP) is an Ayurvedic health supplement which is made up of a super-concentrated blend of nutrient-rich herbs and minerals. It is meant to restore drained reserves of life force (ojas) and to preserve strength, stamina, and vitality, while stalling the course of aging. Chyawanprash is formulated by processing around 50 medicinal herbs and their extracts, including the prime ingredient, Amla (Indian gooseberry), which is the world’s richest source of vitamin C. Chyawanprash preparation involves preparing a decoction of herbs, followed by dried extract preparation, subsequent mixture with honey, and addition of aromatic herb powders (namely clove, cardamom, and cinnamon) as standard. The finished product has a fruit jam-like consistency, and a sweet, sour, and spicy flavor. Scientific exploration of CP is warranted to understand its therapeutic efficacy. Scattered information exploring the therapeutic potential of CP is available, and there is a need to assemble it. Thus, an effort was made to compile the scattered information from ancient Ayurvedic texts and treatises, along with ethnobotanical, ethnopharmacological, and scientifically validated literature, that highlight the role of CP in therapeutics. Citations relevant to the topic were screened. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant-Food-Derived Bioactive Molecules on Human Longevity and Disease Prevention)

▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 14433 KB

Open AccessArticle

Preventive Effect of Anji White Tea Flavonoids on Alcohol-Induced Gastric Injury through Their Antioxidant Effects in Kunming Mice

by Bihui Liu^1,2,3,4,†, Xingxing Feng^4,†, Jing Zhang^5,†, Yang Wei^1,2,3 and Xin Zhao^1,2,3,*

¹ Chongqing Collaborative Innovation Center for Functional Food, Chongqing University of Education, Chongqing 400067, China

² Chongqing Engineering Research Center of Functional Food, Chongqing University of Education, Chongqing 400067, China

³ Chongqing Engineering Laboratory for Research and Development of Functional Food, Chongqing University of Education, Chongqing 400067, China

⁴ College of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Chongqing University of Education, Chongqing 400067, China

⁵ Environment and Quality Inspection College, Chongqing Chemical Industry Vocational College, Chongqing 401228, China

^† These authors contributed equally to this work.

Biomolecules 2019, 9(4), 137; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom9040137 - 4 Apr 2019

Cited by 47 | Viewed by 7335

Abstract

Anji white tea (Camellia sinensis) is a traditional Chinese tea beverage, which is classified as green tea and contains an abundant amount of flavonoids. In this study, the preventive effect of Anji white tea flavonoids (AJWTFs) on ethanol/hydrochloric acid-induced gastric injury [...] Read more.

Anji white tea (Camellia sinensis) is a traditional Chinese tea beverage, which is classified as green tea and contains an abundant amount of flavonoids. In this study, the preventive effect of Anji white tea flavonoids (AJWTFs) on ethanol/hydrochloric acid-induced gastric injury in mice was evaluated. The serum and gastric tissues of mice were analyzed using a biochemical kit and by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Observation of the appearance of the stomach indicated that AJWTFs could effectively reduce the area of gastric injury caused by ethanol/hydrochloric acid, and the inhibition rate of AJWTF on gastric injury increased with an increase in AJWTF concentration. The Anji white tea flavonoids could also reduce the volume and pH of gastric juice in mice with gastric injury. Biochemical results showed that AJWTFs could increase the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH) activities, as well as decrease the malondialdehyde (MDA) level, in the serum and liver of mice with gastric injury. Pathological observation confirmed that AJWTFs could inhibit the tissue damage caused by ethanol/hydrochloric acid in the stomach of mice. Further qPCR experiments also showed that AJWTFs could inhibit the decreases in neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn–SOD), manganese superoxide dismutase (Mn–SOD), catalase (CAT), and the increase in inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression in the gastric tissue of mice caused by gastric injury. As observed, AJWTFs exerted a good preventive effect on alcohol-induced gastric injury in mice induced by ethanol/hydrochloric acid, and the effect is close to that of ranitidine. Anji white tea flavonoids present good antioxidant effect, which allows them to effectively prevent alcoholic gastric injury and be used as biologically active substances with a broad range of applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant-Food-Derived Bioactive Molecules on Human Longevity and Disease Prevention)

▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 1896 KB

Open AccessArticle

Structural Stabilization of Human Transthyretin by Centella asiatica (L.) Urban Extract: Implications for TTR Amyloidosis

by Fredrick Nwude Eze

, Ladda Leelawatwattana and Porntip Prapunpoj^*

Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla 90112, Thailand

Biomolecules 2019, 9(4), 128; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom9040128 - 29 Mar 2019

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 5137

Abstract

Transthyretin is responsible for a series of highly progressive, degenerative, debilitating, and incurable protein misfolding disorders known as transthyretin (TTR) amyloidosis. Since dissociation of the homotetrameric protein to its monomers is crucial in its amyloidogenesis, stabilizing the native tetramer from dissociating using small-molecule [...] Read more.

Transthyretin is responsible for a series of highly progressive, degenerative, debilitating, and incurable protein misfolding disorders known as transthyretin (TTR) amyloidosis. Since dissociation of the homotetrameric protein to its monomers is crucial in its amyloidogenesis, stabilizing the native tetramer from dissociating using small-molecule ligands has proven a viable therapeutic strategy. The objective of this study was to determine the potential role of the medicinal herb Centella asiatica on human transthyretin (huTTR) amyloidogenesis. Thus, we investigated the stability of huTTR with or without a hydrophilic fraction of C. asiatica (CAB) against acid/urea-mediated denaturation. We also determined the influence of CAB on huTTR fibrillation using transmission electron microscopy. The potential binding interactions between CAB and huTTR was ascertained by nitroblue tetrazolium redox-cycling and 8-anilino-1-naphthalene sulfonic acid displacement assays. Additionally, the chemical profile of CAB was determined by liquid chromatography quadruple time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC-QTOF-MS). Our results strongly suggest that CAB bound to and preserved the quaternary structure of huTTR in vitro. CAB also prevented transthyretin fibrillation, although aggregate formation was unmitigated. These effects could be attributable to the presence of phenolics and terpenoids in CAB. Our findings suggest that C. asiatica contains pharmaceutically relevant bioactive compounds which could be exploited for therapeutic development against TTR amyloidosis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant-Food-Derived Bioactive Molecules on Human Longevity and Disease Prevention)

▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

23 pages, 1407 KB

Open AccessReview

Plant-Derived Bioactives in Oral Mucosal Lesions: A Key Emphasis to Curcumin, Lycopene, Chamomile, Aloe vera, Green Tea and Coffee Properties

by Bahare Salehi¹

, Pia Lopez-Jornet²

, Eduardo Pons-Fuster López³, Daniela Calina⁴

, Mehdi Sharifi-Rad^5,*, Karina Ramírez-Alarcón⁶

, Katherine Forman⁶, Marcos Fernández⁷, Miquel Martorell^6,*

, William N. Setzer⁸

, Natália Martins^9,10,*

, Célia F. Rodrigues¹¹

and Javad Sharifi-Rad^12,*

¹ Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Bam University of Medical Sciences, Bam 44340847, Iran

² Instituto Murciano de InvestigaciónBiosanitaria (IMIB-Arrixaca-UMU), Clínica Odontológica Universitaria Hospital Morales Meseguer Adv. Marques de los velez s/n, 30008 Murcia, Spain

³ University of Murciaand, Clínica Odontológica Universitaria Hospital Morales Meseguer, Adv. Marques de los velez s/n, 30008 Murcia, Spain

⁴ Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania

⁵ Department of Medical Parasitology, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol 61663-335, Iran

⁶ Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Concepcion, Concepcion 4070386, Chile

⁷ Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Concepcion, Concepcion 4070386, Chile

⁸ Department of Chemistry, University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, AL 35899, USA

⁹ Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Alameda Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal

¹⁰ Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (i3S), University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal

¹¹ LEPABE, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, s/n, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal

¹² Food Safety Research Center (Salt), Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan 35198-99951, Iran

Show full affiliation list Hide full affiliation list

Biomolecules 2019, 9(3), 106; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom9030106 - 17 Mar 2019

Cited by 133 | Viewed by 16565

Abstract

Oral mucosal lesions have many etiologies, including viral or bacterial infections, local trauma or irritation, systemic disorders, and even excessive alcohol and tobacco consumption. Folk knowledge on medicinal plants and phytochemicals in the treatment of oral mucosal lesions has gained special attention among [...] Read more.

Oral mucosal lesions have many etiologies, including viral or bacterial infections, local trauma or irritation, systemic disorders, and even excessive alcohol and tobacco consumption. Folk knowledge on medicinal plants and phytochemicals in the treatment of oral mucosal lesions has gained special attention among the scientific community. Thus, this review aims to provide a brief overview on the traditional knowledge of plants in the treatment of oral mucosal lesions. This review was carried out consulting reports between 2008 and 2018 of PubMed (Medline), Web of Science, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane Database, Science Direct, and Google Scholar. The chosen keywords were plant, phytochemical, oral mucosa, leukoplakia, oral lichen planus and oral health. A special emphasis was given to certain plants (e.g., chamomile, Aloe vera, green tea, and coffea) and plant-derived bioactives (e.g., curcumin, lycopene) with anti-oral mucosal lesion activity. Finally, preclinical (in vitro and in vivo) and clinical studies examining both the safety and efficacy of medicinal plants and their derived phytochemicals were also carefully addressed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant-Food-Derived Bioactive Molecules on Human Longevity and Disease Prevention)

▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 268 KB

Open AccessReview

The Health Beneficial Properties of Rhodomyrtus tomentosa as Potential Functional Food

by Thanh Sang Vo^1,* and Dai Hung Ngo^2,*

¹ NTT Institute of Hi-Technology, Nguyen Tat Thanh University, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Vietnam

² Faculty of Natural Sciences, Thu Dau Mot University, Thu Dau Mot City 820000, Binh Duong Province, Vietnam

Biomolecules 2019, 9(2), 76; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom9020076 - 21 Feb 2019

Cited by 66 | Viewed by 8749

Abstract

Rhodomyrtus tomentosa (Aiton) Hassk. is a flowering plant belonging to the family Myrtaceae, native to southern and southeastern Asia. It has been used in traditional Vietnamese, Chinese, and Malaysian medicine for a long time for the treatment of diarrhea, dysentery, gynecopathy, stomachache, and [...] Read more.

Rhodomyrtus tomentosa (Aiton) Hassk. is a flowering plant belonging to the family Myrtaceae, native to southern and southeastern Asia. It has been used in traditional Vietnamese, Chinese, and Malaysian medicine for a long time for the treatment of diarrhea, dysentery, gynecopathy, stomachache, and wound healing. Moreover, R. tomentosa is used to make various food products such as wine, tea, and jam. Notably, R. tomentosa has been known to contain structurally diverse and biologically active metabolites, thus serving as a potential resource for exploring novel functional agents. Up to now, numerous phenolic and terpenoid compounds from the leaves, root, or fruits of R. tomentosa have been identified, and their biological activities such as antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer have been evidenced. In this contribution, an overview of R. tomentosa and its health beneficial properties was focused on and emphasized. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant-Food-Derived Bioactive Molecules on Human Longevity and Disease Prevention)

10 pages, 994 KB

Open AccessArticle

Oxygen Availability during Growth Modulates the Phytochemical Profile and the Chemo-Protective Properties of Spinach Juice

by Francesco Milano¹, Francesca Mussi^1,2, Silvia Fornaciari², Meltem Altunoz², Luca Forti²

, Laura Arru^2,*

and Annamaria Buschini^1,3

¹ Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, della Vita e della Sostenibilità Ambientale, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 11/A, 43124 Parma, Italy

² Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita, Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia, via Amendola 2, 42122 Reggio Emilia, Italy

³ COMT (Centro di Oncologia Molecolare e Traslazionale), Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 11/A, 43124 Parma, Italy

Biomolecules 2019, 9(2), 53; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom9020053 - 4 Feb 2019

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 5798

Abstract

Fruits and vegetables are a good source of potentially biologically active compounds. Their regular consumption in the human diet can help reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Plants produce additional chemical substances when subject to abiotic [...] Read more.

Fruits and vegetables are a good source of potentially biologically active compounds. Their regular consumption in the human diet can help reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Plants produce additional chemical substances when subject to abiotic stress or infected by microorganisms. The phytochemical profile of spinach leaves (Spinacia oleracea L.), which is a vegetable with widely recognized health-promoting activity, has been affected by applying root hypoxic and re-oxygenation stress during plant growth. Leaf juice at different sampling times has been subject to liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MSn) analysis and tested on the human colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line HT29 by using the Comet assay. The cells were previously treated with H₂O₂ to simulate the presence of an oxidative stress (as in colon cancer condition) and the leaf juice application resulted in a significant antioxidant and protective in vitro effect. The duration of the hypoxic/re-oxygenation stress imposed on the plant reflects the antioxidant leaf juice content. After hypoxic stress (24 h) and reoxygenation (2 h), we show a decrease (50%) of the relative abundance of the principal identified antioxidant molecules but a higher antioxidant activity of the spinach juice on HT29 cells (20%). Data shows a complex relation between plant growing conditions and the modulation of secondary metabolites content in leaf juice that results in different chemo-protective activities in colon cancer cells. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant-Food-Derived Bioactive Molecules on Human Longevity and Disease Prevention)

▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

12 pages, 2631 KB

Open AccessReview

Dietary Nitrate from Beetroot Juice for Hypertension: A Systematic Review

by Diego A. Bonilla Ocampo^1,2,3,*

, Andrés F. Paipilla^1,4, Estevan Marín^1,5, Salvador Vargas-Molina^1,6, Jorge L. Petro^1,3

and Alexandra Pérez-Idárraga^1,7

¹ Research Division, DBSS, 110861 Bogotá, Colombia

² Research Group in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas, 110311 Bogotá, Colombia

³ Research Group in Physical Activity, Sports and Health Sciences (GICAFS), Universidad de Córdoba, 230002 Montería, Colombia

⁴ Institución Educativa CCAPF, 111511 Bogotá, Colombia

⁵ Molecular Biology Laboratory, Dr. Félix Gómez Endocrinometabolic Research Center, University of Zulia, 15424 Maracaibo, Venezuela

⁶ EADE-University of Wales Trinity Saint David, 29017 Málaga, Spain

⁷ Move Nutrition, 050021 Medellin, Colombia

Biomolecules 2018, 8(4), 134; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom8040134 - 2 Nov 2018

Cited by 72 | Viewed by 39025

Abstract

According to current therapeutic approaches, a nitrate-dietary supplementation with beetroot juice (BRJ) is postulated as a nutritional strategy that might help to control arterial blood pressure in healthy subjects, pre-hypertensive population, and even patients diagnosed and treated with drugs. In this sense, a [...] Read more.

According to current therapeutic approaches, a nitrate-dietary supplementation with beetroot juice (BRJ) is postulated as a nutritional strategy that might help to control arterial blood pressure in healthy subjects, pre-hypertensive population, and even patients diagnosed and treated with drugs. In this sense, a systematic review of random clinical trials (RCTs) published from 2008 to 2018 from PubMed/MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, and manual searches was conducted to identify studies examining the relationship between BRJ and blood pressure. The specific inclusion criteria were: (1) RCTs; (2) trials that assessed only the BRJ intake with control group; and (3) trials that reported the effects of this intervention on blood pressure. The search identified 11 studies that met the inclusion criteria. This review was able to demonstrate that BRJ supplementation is a cost-effective strategy that might reduce blood pressure in different populations, probably through the nitrate/nitrite/nitric oxide (NO₃⁻/NO₂⁻/NO) pathway and secondary metabolites found in Beta vulgaris. This easily found and cheap dietary intervention could significantly decrease the risk of suffering cardiovascular events and, in doing so, would help to diminish the mortality rate associated to this pathology. Hence, BRJ supplementation should be promoted as a key component of a healthy lifestyle to control blood pressure in healthy and hypertensive individuals. However, several factors related to BRJ intake (e.g., gender, secondary metabolites present in B. vulgaris, etc.) should be studied more deeply. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant-Food-Derived Bioactive Molecules on Human Longevity and Disease Prevention)

▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Plant-Food-Derived Bioactive Molecules on Human Longevity and Disease Prevention

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Published Papers (18 papers)

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI