Search Results (706)

Fistulina hepatica (Schaeff.) With. and Clitocybe nuda (Bull.) H.E. Bigelow & A.H. Sm. are wild edible mushrooms with nutritional and functional potential that remain insufficiently characterized. This study provides the first comparative assessment of their nutritional profiles, phenolic composition, and antioxidant activity, using specimens collected from Montesinho Natural Park (Portugal). Proximate composition, organic and phenolic acids, free sugars, and fatty acids were analyzed by chromatographic methods, and antioxidant capacity was assessed through OxHLIA and TBARS assays. F. hepatica showed higher carbohydrates (9.3 ± 0.2 g/100 g fw) and estimated energy values (43 ± 1 kcal/100 g fw), increased phenolic acids content (2.7 ± 0.1 mg/g extract), and the exclusive presence of p-coumaric and cinnamic acids, along with OxHLIA activity (IC₅₀ = 126 ± 5 µg/mL at Δt = 60 min). C. nuda displayed higher protein (2.5 ± 0.1 g/100 g dw) and quinic acid contents (4.13 ± 0.02 mg/g extract), a PUFA-rich profile, and greater TBARS inhibition (EC₅₀ = 303 ± 17 µg/mL). These findings highlight distinct and complementary bioactive traits, supporting their valorization as natural functional ingredients. Their compositional features offer promising applications in sustainable food systems and nutraceutical development, encouraging further investigations into safety, bioaccessibility, and formulation strategies. Notably, F. hepatica is best consumed at a young developmental stage, as its sensory properties tend to decline with maturity. Full article

Chiral molecules are crucial in the field of optical devices, molecular recognition, and other novel functional materials due to their unique spatially asymmetric configuration and optical activity. In this study, a chiral molecule, Cholest-3-yl (E)-3-(4-carbamoylphenyl)acrylate (CCA), was combined with dyes containing large conjugated structures, tetramethylporphyrin tetrasulfonic acid (TPPS), and Nickel(II) phthalocyanine-tetrasulfonic acid tetrasodium salt (TsNiPc), and composite LB films of CCA/TPPS and CCA/TsNiPc were successfully prepared by using Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) technology. The circular dichroism (CD) test proved that the CCA/TPPS composite film had a strong CD signal at 300–400 nm, and the composite film showed chirality. This significant optical activity provides a new idea and option for the application of LB films in chiral sensors. In the Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) test, the CCA/TPPS composite film was sensitive to signal sensing, in which the enhancement factor EF = 2.28 × 10⁵, indicating that a large number of effective signal response regions were formed on the surface of the film, and the relative standard deviation (RSD) = 12.08%, which demonstrated that the film had excellent uniformity and reproducibility. The high sensitivity and low signal fluctuation make the CCA/TPPS composite LB film a promising SERS substrate material. Full article

Cinnamic acid, an organic acid naturally occurring in plants of the Cinnamomum genus, has been highly valued for its medicinal properties in numerous ancient Chinese texts. This article reviews the chemical composition, pharmacological effects, and various applications of cinnamic acid and its derivatives reported in publications from 2016 to 2025, and anticipates their potential in medical and industrial fields. This review evaluates studies in major scientific databases, including Web of Science, PubMed, and ScienceDirect, to ensure a comprehensive analysis of the therapeutic potential of cinnamic acid. Through systematic integration of existing knowledge, it has been revealed that cinnamic acid has a wide range of pharmacological activities, including anti-tumor, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antidepressant and hypoglycemic effects. Additionally, it has been shown to be effective against a variety of pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and foodborne Pseudomonas. Cinnamic acid acts by disrupting cell membranes, inhibiting ATPase activity, and preventing biofilm formation, thereby demonstrating its ability to act as a natural antimicrobial agent. Its anti-inflammatory properties are demonstrated by improving oxidative stress and reducing inflammatory cell infiltration. Furthermore, cinnamic acid enhances metabolic health by improving glucose uptake and insulin sensitivity, showing promising results in improving metabolic health in patients with diabetes and its complications. This systematic approach highlights the need for further investigation of the mechanisms and safety of cinnamic acid to substantiate its use as a basis for new drug development. Particularly in the context of increasing antibiotic resistance and the search for sustainable, effective medical treatments, the study of cinnamic acid is notably significant and innovative. Full article

In order to develop modern polymer films intended for food packaging, materials based on cellulose acetate propionate (CAP) with the addition of Tween 80 as a plasticizer and cinnamic acid (CA), known for its antibacterial properties, were prepared. It should be emphasized that materials based on CAP combined with Tween 80 have not been previously reported in the literature. Therefore, not only is the incorporation of cinnamic acid into these systems an innovative approach, but also the use of the CAP-Tween80 matrix itself represents a novel strategy in the context of the proposed applications. The conducted studies made it possible to assess the properties of the obtained materials with and without the addition of cinnamic acid. The obtained results showed that the addition of cinnamic acid significantly influenced the crucial properties relevant to food storage. The introduction of CA into the polymer matrix notably enhanced the UV barrier properties achieving complete (100%) blockage of UVB radiation and approximately a 20% reduction of UVA transmittance. Furthermore, the modified films exhibited pronounced antibacterial activity, with over 99% reduction in Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa populations observed for samples containing 2 and 3% CA. This antibacterial effect contributed to the extended freshness of stored blueberries. Moreover, the addition of cinnamic acid did not significantly affect the transparency of the films, which remained high (97–99%), thereby allowing the fruit to remain visible. Full article

In this study, the design and synthesis of a novel series of cinnamic acid and 1,2,4-triazole hybrids were reported, aiming to enhance antioxidant and lipoxygenase inhibitory activities through pharmacophore combination. Cinnamic acid derivatives and 1,2,4-triazoles exhibit a broad spectrum of biological activities; therefore, by synthesizing hybrid molecules, we would like to exploit the beneficial characteristics of each scaffold. The general synthetic procedure comprises three synthetic steps, starting from the reaction of appropriate substituted cinnamic acid with hydrazine monohydrate in acetonitrile with cyclohexane and resulting in the formation of hydrazides. Consequently, the hydrazides reacted with phenylisothiocyanate under microwave irradiation conditions. Then, cyclization proceeded to the 1,2,4-triazole after the addition of NaOH solution and microwave irradiation. All the synthesized derivatives have been studied for their ability (a) to interact with the free radical DPPH, (b) inhibit lipid peroxidation induced by AAPH, and (c) inhibit soybean lipoxygenase. The synthesized derivatives have shown significant antioxidant activity and have been proved to be very good lipoxygenase inhibitors. Compounds 4b and 4g (IC₅₀ = 4.5 μM) are the most potent within the series followed by compound 6a (IC₅₀ = 5.0 μM). All the synthesized derivatives have been subjected to docking studies related to soybean lipoxygenase. Compound 4g exhibited a docking score of −9.2 kcal/mol and formed hydrophobic interactions with Val126, Tyr525, Lys526, Arg533, and Trp772, as well as a π−cation interaction with Lys526. Full article

Aromatic compounds are vital in both natural and synthetic chemistry, and they are traditionally sourced from non-renewable petrochemicals. However, plant biomass, particularly lignin, offers a renewable alternative source of aromatic compounds. Lignin, a complex polymer found in plant cell walls, is the largest renewable source of aromatic compounds, though its degradation remains challenging. Lignin can be chemically degraded through oxidation, acid hydrolysis or solvolysis. As an alternative, microorganisms, including fungi, could offer a sustainable alternative for breaking down lignin. The aromatic compounds released from lignin, by either microbial, chemical or enzymatic degradation, can be used by microorganisms to produce valuable compounds. Fungi possess unique enzymes capable of converting aromatic compounds derived from lignin or other sources into chemical building blocks that can be used in several industries. However, their aromatic metabolic pathways are poorly studied compared to bacterial systems. In the past, only a handful of genes and enzymes involved in the aromatic metabolic pathways had been identified. Recent advances in genomics, proteomics, and metabolic engineering are helping to reveal these metabolic pathways and identify the involved genes. This review highlights recent progress in understanding fungal aromatic metabolism, focusing on how Aspergillus niger converts plant-derived aromatic compounds into potentially useful products and the versatility of aromatic metabolism within the Aspergillus genus. Addressing the current knowledge gaps in terms of fungal pathways could unlock their potential for use in sustainable technologies, promoting eco-friendly production of chemical building blocks from renewable resources or bioremediation. Full article

Background: Catalpa bungei ‘Jinsi’ has excellent wood properties and golden texture, which is widely used in producing furniture and crafts. The lignin content and structural composition often determine the use and value of wood. Hence, investigating the characteristics of the annual dynamics of lignin anabolic metabolites in C. bungei ‘Jinsi’ and analyzing their synthesis pathways are particularly important. Methods: We carried out targeted metabolomics analysis of lignin synthesis metabolites using ultra-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) on the xylem samples of C. bungei ‘Jinsi’ in February, April, July, October 2022, and January 2023. Results: A total of 10 lignin synthesis–related metabolites were detected: L-phenylalanine, cinnamic acid, p-coumaraldehyde, sinapic acid, p-coumaric acid, coniferaldehyde, ferulic acid, sinapaldehyde, caffeic acid, and sinapyl alcohol (annual total content from high to low). These metabolites were mainly annotated to the synthesis of secondary metabolites and phenylpropane biosynthesis. The annual total content of the 10 metabolites showed the tendency of “decreasing, then increasing, and then decreasing”. Conclusions: C. bungei ‘Jinsi’ is a typical G/S-lignin tree species, and the synthesis of G-lignin occurs earlier than that of S-lignin. The total metabolite content decreased rapidly, and the lignin anabolism process was active from April to July; the metabolites were accumulated, and the lignin anabolism process slowed down from July to October; the total metabolite content remained basically unchanged, and lignin synthesis slowed down or stagnated from October to January of the following year. This reveals the annual dynamic pattern of lignin biosynthesis, which contributes to improving the wood quality and yield of C. bungei ‘Jinsi’ and provides a theoretical basis for its targeted breeding. Full article

Avian infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) infection has caused significant economic losses to the poultry industry. Unfortunately, there is currently no effective cure for this disease. Understanding the pathogenic mechanism is crucial for the treatment of the disease. Studying the pathogenic mechanism of IBV based on metabolomics analysis is helpful for identifying antiviral drugs. However, studies on metabolomics analysis of IBV infection have been relatively limited, particularly without metabolomics analysis in sera after IBV infection. In this study, 17-day-old SPF chicks were infected with the IBV GX-YL5 strain, and serum samples were collected 7 days post-infection (DPI) for metabolomics analysis using ultraperformance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). A total of 143 differential metabolites were identified across 20 metabolic pathways, with the phenylalanine pathway showing the most significant changes. The level of cinnamic acid (CA), an upstream metabolite in the phenylalanine pathway, was notably increased following IBV infection. To investigate the antiviral effects of CA, chicken embryo kidney (CEK) cells and SPF chicks infected with IBV were treated with different concentrations of CA to assess its effect on viral replication. The results demonstrated that CA at 25 μg/mL effectively inhibited IBV replication in vitro; meanwhile, CA at 50 μg/mL and 25 μg/mL effectively inhibited IBV replication in vivo. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation studies showed that CA interacts with the N domains of the IBV nucleocapsid (N) protein. In conclusion, the serum metabolite CA is significantly elevated following IBV infection and demonstrates remarkable antiviral effects both in vitro and in vivo, providing a promising avenue for the development of antiviral therapies to combat IBV infection. Full article

Colletotrichum capsici is an important pathogen causing anthracnose in postharvest peppers in parts of Asia, seriously compromising quality and storage life. Unveiling the pathogenic mechanism can better prevent postharvest disease in pepper. This study investigated the impacts of C. capsici infection on cell wall and phenylpropanoid metabolism in postharvest pepper. Compared to the non-inoculated peppers, C. capsici infection notably increased the disease index, damaged visual quality, and reduced the firmness. Morphological observations showed that C. capsici infection contributed to the collapse of epidermal cell structure. During the early stage, C. capsici triggered pepper’s defensive responses, including lignin deposition around the wounds, increased cellulose and hemicellulose content, and boosted disease-resistance enzymes, including phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), cinnamic acid 4-hydroxylase (C4H), 4-coumarate-CoA ligase (4CL), cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD), laccase (LAC), β-1,3-glucanase (β-1,3-Glu), and chitinase (CHI), alongside elevated total phenolics and flavonoids. However, as storage time progressed, the activities of carboxymethy cellulase (Cx), polygalacturonase (PG), pectin methylesterase (PME), and β-glucosidase (β-Glu) remained at a high level, leading to a reduction in cell wall components, a decline in the activities of disease-resistance enzymes, and a decrease in phenylpropanoid metabolite, resulting from disease progression in pepper. These insights highlight the need for early intervention strategies to mitigate postharvest losses by targeting pathogen-induced stress responses and cell wall integrity preservation. Full article

Chilling injury can limit the productivity of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), especially in over-wintering greenhouse. We here explored the effect of the pre-application of chlorogenic acid (CGA) in mitigating the impact of chilling on tomato. Flowering plants subjected to either chilling (15 °C/5 °C, day/night) or pre-treatment with CGA followed by chilling for 6 days and then by a two-day control recovery period were compared to plants maintained at control conditions (25 °C/18 °C, day/night). Chilling significantly affected the expression of PSII CP43 Chlorophyll Apoprotein, NAD (P) H-Quinone Oxidoreductase Subunit 5 and ATP Synthase CF1 Beta Subunit, reduced leaf Fv/Fm and increased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, suggesting elevated oxidative stress. These correlated with reduced shoot biomass. All these aspects were mitigated by pretreatment with CGA. Transcriptomic and metabolomic co-analysis indicated that CGA also suppressed the shikimate pathway, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and phenylalanine accumulation but enhanced cinnamic acid and indole acetate synthesis. Hence, the pre-chilling CGA protected the tomato plant from chilling injury by maintaining light energy utilization and reprograming secondary metabolism. This study describes the mechanism through which CGA pre-treatment can be used to maintain tomato productivity under chilling conditions. Full article

Background/Objectives: Natural products such as honey and propolis have been widely studied for their antimicrobial properties. Combining these substances has shown synergistic effects against foodborne pathogens and has also demonstrated promising results in previous applications on fermented meat products. This study evaluated the antibacterial potential of Spanish thyme (Thymus spp.) and chestnut (Castanea sativa) honeys, enriched with 10% ethanolic extract of propolis, against two major foodborne pathogens: Listeria monocytogenes and Clostridium perfringens. Methods: Antibacterial activity was assessed using broth microdilution assays and colony-forming unit (CFU) counts. The phenolic composition of the most active samples was characterized by LC-MS-Q/TOF and UPLC-PDA to identify and quantify the bioactive compounds. Results: All samples exhibited differential responses depending on the pathogen, with C. perfringens being the most susceptible. Propolis addition significantly enhanced the bactericidal response of honey against L. monocytogenes and C. perfringens (p < 0.05). This effect correlated with higher levels of antimicrobial phenolic compounds, particularly cinnamic acid derivatives, pinobanksin-3-O-hexanoside, sakuranetin, quercetin, and quercetin-3,7-dimethyl ether. Conclusions: These findings support the synergistic antibacterial potential of honey-propolis combinations, highlighting their application as natural preservatives for reducing the risk of foodborne diseases, as well as bioactive ingredients in nutraceutical formulations with antibacterial properties and additional health benefits. Full article

The market value of litchi fruit is declining quickly due to its susceptibility to disease and rapid pericarp browning. Slightly acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW) treatment is recognized as a safe disinfection technology that not only preserves the quality of postharvest produce, but also enhances disease resistance. This study assessed the efficacy of SAEW in preserving litchi fruit and boosting its resistance to disease. Litchi fruit underwent treatment with SAEW at various available chlorine concentrations (ACC) (10, 25, 50, and 75 mg/L) and subsequently stored at 25 °C for a duration of six days. The results revealed that SAEW with an ACC of 25 mg/L markedly improved the postharvest quality of litchi fruits, reduced disease incidence, and enhanced the appearance of the pericarp and nutrient levels in the arils. Additionally, this treatment enhanced the levels of disease resistance-related compounds, including lignin, flavonoids, and total phenolics, in the pericarp of litchis during the later storage stages (p < 0.05). Furthermore, in the final three days of storage, there were also noticeable increases (p < 0.01) in the activities of pericarp disease resistance enzymes (DREs), such as phenylalanine ammonialyase, cinnamate-4-hydroxylase, 4-coumarate CoA ligase, cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase, peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase, chitinase, and β-1,3-glucanase. Based on these results, it was concluded that SAEW triggered DRE activities and increased the accumulation of disease resistance-related compounds by regulating the phenylpropane pathway to suppress disease development, and elevated the storage quality of harvested litchi fruit. Consequently, SAEW has proven to be an effective and safe method for enhancing the storability of litchi fruit. Full article

Peach fruit faces severe postharvest losses due to thin epidermis and susceptibility to Rhizopus stolonifer-induced soft rot. Chemical control risks residue and resistance issues, demanding eco-friendly alternatives. This study elucidated the mechanism by which trans-2-hexenal (E2H) mitigated postharvest soft rot caused by Rhizopus stolonifer in peach (Prunus persica cv. Hujing Milu) fruit. The results demonstrated that E2H treatment significantly delayed lesion expansion by 44.7% and disease incidence by 23.9% while effectively maintaining fruit quality by delaying firmness loss, reducing juice leakage, and suppressing malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation. E2H treatment upregulated phenylpropanoid pathway gene expression, enhancing key phenylpropanoid metabolism enzymes activities (phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), cinnamate 4-hydroxylase (C4H), 4-coumarate-CoA ligase (4CL), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), peroxidase (POD)), leading to the increase of total phenolics by 7.9%. E2H treatment analysis revealed significant enhancements in both chitinolytic activity (CHI) and β-1,3-glucanase (GLU) activity by 85.7% and 12.9%, indicating potentiation of the enzymatic defense system. Concurrently, E2H treatment could improve the redox modulation capacity of peach fruits through promoting catalytic efficiency of redox-regulating enzymes, increasing the accumulation of ascorbic acid (AsA) by 8.1%, inhibiting the synthesis of dehydroascorbic acid (DHA) by 18.6%, as well as suppressing the biosynthesis of reactive oxygen species (ROS). These coordinated enhancements in pathogenesis-related proteins (CHI, GLU), phenylpropanoid metabolism activation, and antioxidant systems are strongly associated with E2H-induced resistance against Rhizopus stolonifer, though contributions from other factors may also be involved. Full article

The aim of the present study was to investigate how different drying techniques (lyophilization, convective drying, and osmotic dehydration) affect the phytochemical profile, biological activities, color parameters, and antimicrobial potential of sweet potato peel from four varieties (white, pink, orange, and purple). Lyophilized orange peel showed the highest carotenoid content (21.31 mg β-carotene/100 g), while osmotic dehydration resulted in the highest retention of anthocyanins in purple peel (229.58 mg cyanidin-3-glucoside/100 g). Among phenolic compounds, the most abundant were caffeic and cinnamic acids, reaching up to 434.57 mg/100 g and 430.91 mg/100 g, respectively, in white peel. Antioxidant activity was strongest in purple peel, particularly in lyophilized samples. Convective drying enhanced anti-inflammatory activity in orange peel (68.25% inhibition), and all samples demonstrated significant α-glucosidase inhibition, with values up to 96.93%. Antimicrobial effects were observed only in purple peel extracts, which showed strong antifungal activity, especially against Saccharomyces cerevisiae (inhibition zone >50 mm). These results confirm that sweet potato peel holds considerable potential as a functional ingredient and that its bioactive value can be significantly influenced by the drying method applied. Full article

Benzoic acid and benzyl alcohol are the most used raw materials in cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries as preservative ingredients. Cinnamon cassia oil is an important natural starting material to synthesize organic compounds because it contains a high amount of cinnamaldehyde and benzaldehyde. Thanks to green chemistry techniques using mild solvents such as water and ethanol, as well as low-cost and safe reagents such as potassium permanganate, and sodium borohydride, this natural starting material was used to synthesize high yields of benzoic acid, benzyl alcohol, cinnamyl alcohol, phenylpropanol, and cinnamic acid; these products are used in cosmetics, pharmaceutical, and food industries. Various reaction conditions were applied to find convenient green chemistry procedures. Equivalents (molar) of catalysts to starting materials were optimized. The highest yields (60–90%) were achieved using water as a solvent, potassium permanganate as an oxidation catalyst, and sodium borohydride as a reduction catalyst. Water was used as a solvent in all reactions except phenylpropanol. The uses of a single natural starting material, water as a solvent, and mild reagents to synthesize five important organic compounds are all in line with green chemistry techniques. Full article