Search Results (2,831)

Wild edible plants, historically valued for their medicinal properties, can be a sustainable source of food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. The blue berries of Prunus spinosa L., known as blackthorns, have antioxidant, astringent, and antimicrobial benefits. To preserve these properties after harvesting, understanding the best storage methods is essential. In this study, blackthorns were preserved using different methods (air-drying, freezing, or freeze-drying) to determine the optimal procedure for preserving their antioxidant activity. The fruits were extracted using a 50:50 (V/V) mixture of ethanol and water. The different extracts were phytochemically characterized for their phenolic content and antioxidant activity. The Folin–Ciocalteu test revealed total phenolic contents of 7.97 ± 0.04, 13.99 ± 0.04, and 7.39 ± 0.08 (mg GAE/g raw material) for the three types of extracts, respectively. The total flavonoid contents were 2.42 ± 0.16, 3.14 ± 0.15, and 2.32 ± 0.03 (mg QE/g raw material), respectively. In line with the polyphenol analysis, the antioxidant activity as determined by DPPH method was higher for the frozen extract, with a value of 91.78 ± 0.80%, which was confirmed by the ROS test on keratinocytes. These results show that both air-drying and freeze-drying processes negatively impact the preservation of antioxidant activity in blackthorns, suggesting that freezing may be the best preservation method before bioactive compound extraction. Full article

Chilean Schinus molle has been used in traditional medicine for effects such as antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antiviral, antitumoral, antioxidant, antispasmodic, astringent, antipyretic, cicatrizant, cytotoxic, diuretic, among others. In this study, we evaluated the pharmacological potential of Schinus molle seed essential oil extract (SM_EO) through in vitro and in silico approaches. In vitro, the antioxidant potential was analyzed, and antitumor activity was evaluated in non-tumor and human epithelial tumor cell lines. Caenorhabditis elegans was used as a model for evaluating toxicity, and the chemical composition of the SM_EO was analyzed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The oil contained four major monoterpenes: α-phellandrene (34%), β-myrcene (23%), limonene (13%), and β-phellandrene (7%). Based on quantum mechanical calculations, the reactivity of the molecules present in the SM_EO was estimated. The results indicated that α- phellandrene, β-phellandrene, and β-myrcene showed the highest nucleophilic activity. In addition, the compounds following these as candidates for antioxidant and antiproliferative activities were α-phellandrene, β-phellandrene, ρ-cymene, sabinene, caryophyllene, l-limonene, and α-pinene, highlighting β-myrcene. Based on ADME-Tox properties, it is feasible to use these compounds as new drug candidates. Moreover, the antibacterial activity MIC value obtained for B. cereus was equivalent to 2 μg/mL, and for Y. enterocolitica, S. enteritidis, and S. typhimurium, the MIC value was 32.5 μg/μL. SM_EO could selectively inhibit the proliferation of human epithelial mammary tumor MCF7 cells treated with SM_EOs at 64 and 16 ug/mL—a significant increase in BCL-2 in a dose-dependent manner—and showed low toxicity against Caenorhabditis elegans (from 10 to 0.078 mg·mL⁻¹). These findings suggest that SM_EO may be a potential source of bioactive compounds, encouraging further investigation for applications in veterinary medicine, cosmetics, and sanitation. Full article

Atopic dermatitis (AD) remains a therapeutic challenge due to the limitations of current treatments, creating demand for safer multi-target alternatives to corticosteroids. Our integrated study establishes Hibiscus syriacus L. (H. syriacus) as a mechanistically validated solution through computational and biological validation. The fraction’s two main compounds, linoleic acid and palmitic acid, exhibit favorable drug-like properties including high lipophilicity (LogP 5.2) and 87% oral absorption. Molecular docking collectively predicts comprehensive NF-κB pathway blockade. Experimental validation showed that the fraction (100 μg/mL) inhibited LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO) by 78% and TNF-α/IFN-γ-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) by 40%, while significantly downregulating the chemokines TARC (73%) and MDC (71%). In DNCB-induced AD mice, the treatment (200 mg/kg/day) produced a 62% improvement in clinical severity scores, reduced serum IgE by 27%, decreased transepidermal water loss by 36%, and doubled skin hydration while normalizing pH levels from the alkaline to physiological range. While both treatments reduced DNCB-induced epidermal hyperplasia, H. syriacus (62.9% reduction) restored the normal thickness without pathological thinning, a critical advantage over corticosteroids that cause atrophy. This dual-action therapeutic achieves corticosteroid-level anti-inflammatory effects while restoring skin barrier integrity to normal levels and avoiding corticosteroid-associated atrophy, positioning it as a next-generation AD treatment. Full article

The extract of powdered raspberry pomace was characterized in terms of its phenolic profile and antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. Kuromanin, chlorogenic acid, protocatechuic acid, and pelargonidin-3-O-glucoside were found to be the major phenolic compounds, while the antioxidant activity of the extract correlated positively with the total phenolic content (TPC), which was 472.9 ± 0.1 mg GAE/g dw. The extract also showed good antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive foodborne bacteria. More importantly, in vitro bioaccessibility of phenols from the raspberry pomace extract was 5-fold higher when the extract was incorporated into meringue cookies. Although the concentrations of anthocyanins, flavonoids, and tannins decreased after the oral, gastric, and intestinal phases of digestion, the TPC slightly increased as the compounds were released from the food matrix. The content of available phenolics was 4-fold lower in the case of a commercial raspberry colorant, demonstrating that the waste from raspberry pomace could serve as a valuable health-promoting ingredient for functional food formulations. Full article

Bifora testiculata (L.) Spreng. (Apiaceae), an understudied species endemic to the Mediterranean and the only representative species of the genus Bifora in Sicily, was investigated for the first time for its essential oil (EO) chemical composition and cytotoxic properties. The EO was obtained via hydrodistillation and analyzed using GC-MS, revealing an aldehyde-rich profile (86.10%), dominated by trans-2-dodecenal (67.49%). Comparative analysis with previous studies on B. testiculata from Greece confirmed a similar aldehyde-rich profile, although minor compositional differences suggest potential chemotype variation. Given the biological relevance of trans-2-dodecenal and related aldehydes, further investigations into the cytotoxic properties of the EO of B. testiculata (Bt) and its main constituent against cancer cell lines were undertaken. Three human tumor cell lines (MDA-MB 231, A375, and CaCo2) and a human non-tumor cell line (HEK293) were subjected to viability tests using the MTT assay. The EO and trans-2-dodecenal exhibited remarkable cytotoxic activity against all cell lines, with IC₅₀ values ranging between 7.93 and 14.41 µg/mL for Bt and between 1.88 and 5.29 µg/mL for trans-2-dodecenal. AO/BE fluorescent staining and Hoechst nuclear staining showed the presence of apoptotic bodies in the treated cells. N-acetyl-L-cysteine was able to invert the effects of Bt and trans-2-dodecenal on cell lines, suggesting ROS involvement in cytotoxic activity. The results demonstrated that the Bt cytotoxic activity was mainly due to the presence of trans-2-dodecenal. Full article

This study evaluated the influence of compost and bioinoculants (mycorrhizal fungi and plant growth-promoting bacteria) on the yield and composition of essential oil extracted from Tanacetum balsamita L. over two growing seasons. The plants were cultivated under four treatments: compost, bioinoculants, a combination (bioinoculants + compost), and a control. At each harvest, essential oil was extracted from fresh leaves via stem-flow distillation and analyzed using gas chromatography coupled with single quadrupole mass spectrometry. Twenty to twenty-four compounds were identified. Based on the dominant terpene derivative, the results indicated that Tanacetum balsamita L. cultivated in Italy belongs to “camphor” chemotype, a pharmacologically active compound known for its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic properties. Moreover, three compounds, α-, β-phellandrene and myrtenol, were identified as typical of Tanacetum balsamita L. cultivated in Italy. Treatment effects were significant for some compounds (camphor, borneol, terpinen-4-ol, α-terpineol, dehydro sabinene ketone, and 3-thujanol), and the interaction between treatment and year was significant for a few compounds (borneol, terpinen-4-ol, dehydro sabinene ketone, 1,8-cineol, and 3-thujanol). These results emphasize the need to account for seasonal variation and underline the necessity of a deeper understanding of how experimental factors interact with them, especially in long-term essential oil studies. Full article

A comprehensive metabolic profiling of Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don was performed using tandem mass spectrometry, along with an evaluation of the biological activities of its various solvent extracts. Among these, the methanolic leaf extract exhibited mild radical scavenging activity, low to moderate antimicrobial activity, and limited cytotoxicity in both the brine shrimp lethality assay and MTT assay against HeLa and A549 cell lines. High-performance liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization–high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-HRMS/MS) analysis led to the annotation of 34 metabolites, primarily alkaloids. These included 23 indole alkaloids, two fatty acids, two pentacyclic triterpenoids, one amino acid, four porphyrin derivatives, one glyceride, and one chlorin derivative. Notably, two metabolites—2,3-dihydroxypropyl 9,12,15-octadecatrienoate and (10S)-hydroxypheophorbide A—were identified for the first time in C. roseus. Furthermore, Global Natural Products Social Molecular Networking (GNPS) analysis revealed 18 additional metabolites, including epoxypheophorbide A, 11,12-dehydroursolic acid lactone, and 20-isocatharanthine. These findings highlight the diverse secondary metabolite profile of C. roseus and support its potential as a source of bioactive compounds for therapeutic development. Full article

Chrysanthemum × morifolium (Ramat) Hemsl. (Hangbaiju), which has been widely consumed as a herbal tea for over 3000 years, is renowned for its biosafety and diverse bioactivities. This study investigates the impact of polyphenol-rich Hangbaiju extracts (HE) on high-fat diet-induced obesity in mice. HE contains phenolic acids and flavonoids with anti-obesity properties, such as apigenin, luteolin-7-glucoside, apigenin-7-O-glucoside, kaempferol 3-(6″-acetylglucoside), etc. To establish the obesity model, mice were randomly assigned into four groups (n = 8 per group) and administered with either HE or water for 42 days under high-fat or low-fat dietary conditions. Administration of low (LH) and high (HH) doses of HE both significantly suppressed body weight growth (by 16.28% and 16.24%, respectively) and adipose tissue enlargement in obese mice. HE significantly improved the serum lipid profiles, mainly manifested as decreased levels of triglycerides (28.19% in LH and 19.59% in HH) and increased levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (44.34% in LH and 54.88% in HH), and further attenuated liver lipid deposition. Furthermore, HE significantly decreased the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio 0.23-fold (LH) and 0.12-fold (HH), indicating an improvement in the microecological balance of the gut. HE administration also elevated the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria (e.g., Allobaculum, norank_f__Muribaculaceae), while suppressing harmful pathogenic proliferation (e.g., Dubosiella, Romboutsia). In conclusion, HE ameliorates obesity and hyperlipidemia through modulating lipid metabolism and restoring the balance of intestinal microecology, thus being promising for obesity therapy. Full article

Aizoon africanum (L.) Klak (Synonym Galenia africana L.) is traditionally used for a variety of medicinal purposes; however, it has been reported to cause liver damage and severe ascites, particularly in sheep and Angora goats in the arid regions of the Western Cape. This study explores its cytotoxic properties to identify potential cytotoxic compound(s) in the plant. The methanolic extract of A. africanum was re-investigated and subjected to various chromatographic techniques, including preparative HPLC, resulting in the isolation of eight compounds (1–8). Structural elucidation was primarily based on NMR data. Among the isolated compounds, four were flavanones, one was a flavonone, and three were chalcones. Notably, compound 8 was identified as a new chalcone, while compounds 2 and 3 were reported for the first time from this plant. The toxicity of these isolated compounds was evaluated against the HepG2 and SH-SY5Y cancer cell lines using the MTT assay. We further investigated markers of cell death using spectrophotometric and luminometric methods. Among the isolated compounds, 7 and 8 exhibited cytotoxic activities within the range of 3.0–20.0 µg/mL. Notably, the compounds demonstrated greater cytotoxicity towards liver-derived HepG2 cells compared to the neuronal SH-SY5Y cell line. Compound 7 (2′,4′-dihydroxychalcone) was identified as inducing apoptosis through the intrinsic pathway without causing overt necrosis. The findings indicate that the phytochemicals derived from A. africanum exhibit differential cytotoxic effects based on cell type, suggesting potential for developing novel anticancer agents, particularly compound 7. Additionally, the identification of compound 8 provides insight into the liver toxicity of this plant observed in sheep in South Africa. Full article

The impact of seasonality on the aroma quality of tea has been documented in various tea types, but not specifically in oolong tea. This study is the first to explore the complex relationships between seasonality, volatile compounds, and aroma quality in oolong tea. Using Headspace Solid-Phase Microextraction Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS)-based untargeted metabolomics, we analyzed 266 samples of Tieguanyin oolong tea. The data identified linalool, linalool oxides (trans-linalool oxide (furanoid) and trans-linalool oxide (pyranoid)), and their metabolites (diendiol I; hotrienol) as key seasonal discriminants. Four out of the top ten key differential compounds for distinguishing aroma scores were metabolites from fatty acid degradation, namely trans-3-hexenyl butyrate, trans-2-hexenyl hexanoate, hexyl hexanoate, and hexyl 2-methyl butyrate. Approximately one-fifth of the seasonal discriminant volatile compounds were significant in influencing aroma quality. Overall, the impact of seasonality on the aroma quality of finished Tieguanyin oolong tea is marginal. These findings enhance our understanding of the interplay between seasonal variations, volatile composition, and aroma quality in oolong tea. Full article

Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) fruits represent the recognized wellspring of bioactive compounds with various documented bioactivities. Although bilberry leaves are often treated as industrial by-products, they also represent a valuable source of phytochemicals with potential dermocosmetic applications. In this study, extracts of bilberry fruits and leaves were prepared using both conventional solvents (water and 50% ethanol) and natural deep eutectic solvents (NaDES) as green, biodegradable alternatives. The aim of this study was to examine the UV protective activity and inhibitory potential of those extracts against some enzymes (tyrosinase, hyaluronidase, collagenase) that are important in terms of skin conditioning and skin aging. The results of in vitro tests have shown the superiority of NaDES extracts compared to conventional extracts regarding all tested bioactivities. In addition, bilberry leaves extracts were more potent compared to fruit extracts in all cases. The most potent extract was bilberry leaf extract made with malic acid–glycerol, which exhibited strong anti-tyrosinase (IC₅₀ = 3.52 ± 0.26 mg/mL), anti-hyaluronidase (IC₅₀ = 3.23 ± 0.30 mg/mL), and anti-collagenase (IC₅₀ = 1.84 ± 0.50 mg/mL) activities. The correlation analysis revealed correlation between UV protective and anti-tyrosinase, UV protective and anti-collagenase as well as between anti-hyaluronidase and anti-collagenase activity. UV protection and anti-tyrosinase activity correlated significantly with chlorogenic acid and hyperoside contents in extracts. The extracts with the best activities also demonstrated a good safety profile in a 24 h in vivo study on human volunteers. Full article

Several natural products have been shown to display antiviral activity against the hepatitis B virus (HBV), among a number of other viruses. In a previous study, the hydro-alcoholic extracts (n = 66) of 31 species from the Venezuelan Amazonian rain forest were tested on the hepatoma cell line HepG2.2.15, which constitutively produces HBV. One of the species that exerted inhibitory activity on HBV replication was Senna silvestris. The aim of this study was the bioassay-guided purification of the ethanol fraction of leaves of S. silvestris, which displayed the most significant inhibitory activity against HBV. After solvent extraction and two rounds of reverse-phase HPLC purification, NMR analysis identified salsolinol as the compound that may exert the desired antiviral activity. The purified compound exerted inhibition of both HBV DNA and core HBV DNA. Pure salsolinol obtained from a commercial source also displayed anti-HBV DNA inhibition, with an approximate MIC value of 12 µM. Although salsolinol is widely used in Chinese traditional medicine to treat congestive heart failure, it has also been associated with Parkinson’s disease. More studies are warranted to analyze the effect of changes in its chemical conformation, searching for potent antiviral, perhaps dual agents against HBV and HIV, with reduced toxicity. Full article

Chamaecyparis obtusa (Siebold & Zucc.) Endl. (C. obtusa) is an evergreen conifer native to temperate regions such as South Korea and Japan, traditionally used for its anti-inflammatory properties. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the anti-inflammatory effects of C. obtusa bark extracts remain poorly understood. In this study, I compared the biological activities of C. obtusa bark extracts prepared using boiling water (COWB) and 70% ethanol (COEB), and investigated their anti-inflammatory mechanisms in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. COEB significantly suppressed both mRNA and protein expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), along with decreased production of their respective inflammatory mediators, nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂). Additionally, COEB selectively downregulated interleukin (IL)-1β expression, without affecting tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and unexpectedly upregulated IL-6. Notably, COEB did not inhibit the LPS-induced activation of major inflammatory signaling pathways, including mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), and Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT). These findings suggest that COEB exerts anti-inflammatory effects by modulating key inflammatory mediators independently of canonical signaling pathways and may offer a novel therapeutic strategy for controlling inflammation. Full article

Moringa peregrina (Forssk.) Fiori is a tropical tree in southern Iran known as the most important natural coagulant in the world. Today, plant tissue culture is a new method that has a very high potential to produce valuable medicinal compounds on a commercial level. Advances in in vitro cultivation methods have increased the usefulness of plants as renewable resources. In this study, in addition to the phytochemical analysis of the extract of M. peregrina using HPLC, the interaction effect of different concentrations of aqueous extract of M. peregrina (0, 1, 1.5, and 3 mg/L) in two types of MS and ½ MS basal culture media over three weeks on the in vitro growth of Staurogyne repens (Nees) Kuntze was studied. The amounts of quercetin, gallic acid, caffeic acid, and myricetin in the aqueous extract of M. peregrina were 64.9, 374.8, 42, and 4.6 mg/g, respectively. The results showed that using M. peregrina leaf aqueous extract had a positive effect on the length of the branches, the percentage of green leaves, rooting, and the fresh and dry weight of S. repens samples. The highest increase in growth indices was observed in the MS culture medium supplemented with 3 mg/L of M. peregrina leaf aqueous extract after three weeks of cultivation. Of course, this effect was significantly greater in the MS medium and at higher concentrations compared to the ½ MS medium. Three weeks after cultivation at a concentration of 3 mg/L of the extract, the length of the S. repens branches was 5.3 and 1.8 cm in the two basic MS and ½ MS culture media, and the percentage of green leaves was 14 and 4 percent, respectively. Also, rooting was measured at 9.6 and 3.6 percent, fresh weight at 6 and 1.4 g, and dry weight at 1.1 and 0.03 g, respectively. Therefore, adding M. peregrina leaf aqueous extract as a stimulant significantly increased the in vitro growth of S. repens. Full article

For the first time, essential oils (EOs) from the leaves and flowers of Lantana camara L., grown in Loja, Ecuador, have been isolated by steam distillation and analyzed. The oil yields from the extractions were 0.021 and 0.005% for the leaves and flowers, respectively. A compositional analysis using gas chromatography revealed the presence of EOs, comprising approximately 97.98% of the extract from the leaves and 74.58% of the extract from the flowers. The chemical characterization of these EOs indicated sesquiterpenic profiles. The most representative constituents of the essential oils from the flowers were γ-Curcumene (21.79%), (E, E)-α-Farnesene (20.07%), and α-Zingiberene (13.38%), while the EOs from the leaves were characterized by the abundant presence of γ-Curcumene (21.87%), (E)-Nerolidol (15.09%), and cis-Muurola-4(14),5-diene (12.65%). Furthermore, the acaricidal efficacy of the EOs from the leaves of L. camara was tested by a dip test with adult ticks, resulting in acaricidal efficacy at concentrations of 10%, demonstrating the useful properties of these EOs. Full article