Search Results (45)

This study reports the first molecularly confirmed occurrence of Phlegmacium herculeum in Algeria, identified through morphological features and ITS sequence analysis (GenBank accession: PQ133121). Phytochemical profiling revealed a diverse composition of metabolites. SPME–GC–MS analysis detected volatile aldehydes (butanal, pentanal), organic acids (butanoic, pentanoic), terpenoids (limonene, 1,8-cineole), phenolics, and long-chain alkanes. Furthermore, the macrofungus has been extracted with organic solvents, and the obtained extracts have been analyzed via NMR and GC–MS, revealing the presence of organic acids (lactic, succinic, azelaic), fatty acids (palmitic, linoleic), and phenolic acids (protocatechuic, 4-hydroxybenzoic). DPPH-based analysis indicated that the antioxidant response of the crude extracts strengthened as the dose increased, with the ethyl acetate (EtOAc) extract exhibiting the highest inhibition and lowest IC₅₀, attributed to its rich phenolic content. The chloroform (CHCl₃) extract showed moderate activity, consistent with its composition of less polar metabolites such as fatty acids and terpenoids. Antibacterial assays revealed extract-specific effects: CHCl₃ strongly inhibited Staphylococcus aureus (18 mm), while EtOAc was more effective against Gram-negative strains, including Escherichia coli (18 mm) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (13 mm). Cytotoxicity testing using Saccharomyces cerevisiae confirmed that both extracts were non-toxic, maintaining ≥90% cell viability. These findings highlight P. herculeum as a novel source of bioactive metabolites with antioxidant and antibacterial potential. Full article

Equisetum telmateia Ehrh. (great horsetail) belongs to the Equisetaceae family and its aerial parts have been traditionally used for skin conditions and to achieve healthy and resilient skin, nails, and hair. This study aimed to evaluate the inhibition of skin-related enzymes by, the antioxidant capacity of, and the phytochemical composition of E. telmateia. Additionally, a novel emulgel was formulated from the main methanolic extract and characterized in terms of pH, viscosity, determination of content quantification, textural profile analysis, and spreadability. After the characterization studies, in vitro release and ex vivo permeation and penetration studies were performed. Firstly, the dried aerial parts of E. telmateia were macerated in methanol, followed by partitioning with solvents of increasing polarity: n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol. Antioxidant activity was assessed using DPPH, FRAP, CUPRAC, and TOAC assays, while enzyme inhibition was analyzed for collagenase, elastase, hyaluronidase, and tyrosinase. LC-MS/MS analysis identified 53 phytochemical compounds. Protocatechuic acid, the main phenolic compound, was quantitatively analyzed in each subfraction by HPTLC. The in vitro release studies showed sustained release of the reference substance (protocatechuic acid) and the kinetic modeling of the release was fitted to the Higuchi model. The ex vivo permeation and penetration studies showed that the formulation exhibited a retention of 3.06 ± 0.21 µg.cm⁻² after 24 h, whereas the suspended extract demonstrated a skin retention of 1.28 ± 0.47 µg.cm⁻². Both the extracts and the formulated emulgel exhibited inhibitory effects on skin-related enzymes. Our finding suggested that E. telmateia might be a valuable ingredient for wrinkle care and skin-regenerating cosmetics. Full article

In this study, we compared different parameters in the ultrasound-assisted extraction of polyphenolic acids from seven parts of Zea mays (kernels, leaves, stems, corn silks, roots, the whole plant, and the whole fermented plant) to identify its richest natural sources. Additionally, the correlation between extraction parameters and polyphenol yield was investigated. The extraction was performed using ultrasound at varying powers (480 or 240 W) and frequencies (80 or 37 kHz). Total phenolic content (TPC) was determined using the Folin–Ciocalteu assay, while radical scavenging activity (RSA) was assessed via the DPPH assay. The TPC values ranged from 0.69 ± 0.00008 mg GAE/g to 4.07 ± 0.0004 mg GAE/g in corn. RSA analysis revealed the highest scavenging activity in corn silk (80.06% ± 1.01) and the lowest in kernels (2.77% ± 0.90). High-performance liquid chromatography identified up to 22 different phenolic acids per sample, with the 5 most abundant being chlorogenic acid, protocatechuic acid ethyl ester, quercetin, sinapic acid, and trans-cinnamic acid. The study found small effects of power and frequency on the extraction efficiency. This suggests a practical advantage for industrial-scale applications, as using 240 W instead of 480 W under the same conditions can reduce energy consumption without compromising yield. Full article

Background/Objectives: Argania spinosa L. Skeels is a Moroccan endemic plant widely used by the local population as folk medicine. This study aimed to investigate the effects of Argan fruit pulp on lipid metabolism disorders and liver steatosis in hypercaloric diet-fed mice. Methods: Animals were treated with the Argan fruit pulp extract and its fractions for 12 weeks at 100 and 200 mg Kg⁻¹ BW daily. The analysis was conducted on lipid levels in plasma, liver, feces, and bile as well as on glycemia. The liver glutathione, malondialdehyde, and antioxidant enzyme activities were assessed. The hepatic steatosis was evaluated by measuring transaminases and alkaline phosphatase activities and examining histological sections. The polyphenol profiles were determined using HPLC-DAD. Possible underlying mechanisms in the hypolipidemic and hepatoprotective activities were predicted by molecular docking. Results: The crude extract and its aqueous fraction (rich in protocatechuic and gallic acids) significantly restored plasma lipids and glucose levels. Indeed, total cholesterol level (TCHO) was decreased in the liver but increased in bile and feces. The treatment also reduced body weight and liver and adipose tissue mass and prevented liver steatosis. The ethyl acetate fraction exhibited no effect on lipid metabolism but significantly prevented liver oxidative stress. The crude extract and its fractions appear to be nontoxic (LD50 > 5000 mg Kg⁻¹) in mice. The phenolic acids demonstrated strong binding affinity to key targets involved in regulating lipid homeostasis, including ABCA-1, LXR, CYP7A1, HMH-CoA reductase, and PCSK-9. However, the identified flavonoids exhibited high affinities to targets involved in oxidative stress defense (SOD, CAT, and CYP2E1). Conclusions: The Argan fruit pulp, particularly its polyphenols, could be a promising natural approach for preventing cardio-metabolic diseases by improving lipid metabolism and reducing liver oxidative stress. Full article

The nutritional value of honey is closely related to its components, which are highly influenced by the botanic origin. C. pi. Shen (Codonopsis pilosula (Franch.) var. modesta (Nannf.) L. T. Shen), a key plant in traditional Chinese medicine, mainly produced in Gansu Province of China, has attracted much attention for its medicinal value. However, there are few reports about C. pi. Shen honey. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the contents of phenolic profiles and antioxidant activities in C. pi. Shen honey by colorimetric, UPLC-MS/MS, Ferric ion Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP), 2,2-bisazo-bis (3-ethyl-benzothiazole-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) free radical capacity, and 1,1-diphenyl-2-trinitrophenylhydrazine (DPPH) scavenging ability methods. In comparison with four other high-yield unifloral honeys in China (Acacia honey, linden honey, rape honey, and jujube honey), C. pi. Shen honey demonstrated remarkable advantages. Specifically, the levels of total phenolic acids, total flavonoids, and phenolic components of C. pi. Shen honey were significantly pronounced, especially protocatechuic acid and kaempferol. Furthermore, the antioxidant activity of C. pi. Shen honey was also excellent, which was attributed to its phenolic compounds, underscoring its potential biological value. This study is anticipated to serve as a reference for the identification, nutritional assessment, and functional advancement of C. pi. Shen honey. Full article

This study investigates the antimalarial potential of extracts and compounds from various plants used in traditional Korean medicine, in response to the increasing resistance of Plasmodium falciparum to standard treatments such as chloroquine and artemisinin. The antimalarial activity screening was conducted on 151 extracts, identifying the top seven candidates, including Geranium thunbergii (50% ethanol and 100% methanol extract), Reynoutria japonica, Amomum villosum (hot water and 50% ethanol extract), Cinnamomum zeylanicum, and Platycodon grandiflorum. Among these, G. thunbergii was identified as the top priority for further analysis due to its high antimalarial activity and high yield of bioactive compounds. The plant extracts were fractionated using ethyl acetate, chloroform, and hot water, and their efficacy against P. falciparum was evaluated through IC₅₀ determination and microscopic analysis. The compounds evaluated included ellagic acid, gallic acid, afzelin, quercetin, and protocatechuic acid. Among the tested compounds, ellagic acid showed the most potent antimalarial activity with an IC₅₀ of 1.60 ± 0.09 µM, followed by gallic acid (39.43 ± 1.48 µM) and afzelin (52.77 ± 1.84 µM). In contrast, quercetin (116.8 ± 3.78 µM) and protocatechuic acid (1.23 ± 0.02 mM) exhibited minimal antimalarial effects. Giemsa staining was employed to visualize parasite morphology and confirmed that ellagic acid is effective in inhibiting growth at the late trophozoite stage. These findings suggest that ellagic acid could serve as a promising lead compound for developing a novel antimalarial agent. This study highlights the importance of exploring plant-based compounds as alternative strategies against drug-resistant malaria. Further investigation into the mechanisms underlying the antimalarial activity of these compounds is necessary to fully validate their therapeutic potential. Full article

Twelve compounds (1–12), kaempferol (1), luteolin (2), luteolin 4′-O-β-xyloside (3), luteolin 4′-O-β-glucoside (4), quercetin 4′-O-β-xyloside (5), kaempferol-3-O-[6″-O-(E)-p-coumaroyl]-β-D-glucoside (trans-tiliroside) (6), protocatechuic acid (7), gallic acid (8), methyl gallate (9), ethyl gallate (10), shikimic acid-3-O-gallate (11), and 3,3′,4′-tri-O-methyl-ellagic acid 4-sulfate (12), were isolated and identified from the aerial parts of Helianthemum cinereum (Cav.) Pers (synonym: Helianthemum rubellum C. Presl. All compounds were isolated by applying different chromatographic procedures, such as silica gel, RP-18 and Sephadex LH-20 columns. The structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic methods, mainly nuclear magnetic resonance NMR 1D and 2D, and mass spectrometry, as well as by comparison with the reported spectroscopic data. The two organic extracts, ethyl acetate (EtOAc) and butanol (BuOH), were evaluated for their potent phenolic and flavonoid contents using the Folin–Ciocalteu and aluminum chloride colorimetric methods. Furthermore, the antioxidant activity of the two extracts was determined using the DPPH, FRAP, and ABTS methods. Pure trans-tiliroside (6), the main isolated compound, and luteolin 4′-O-β-xyloside (3) were evaluated for their antitumor activity against the lung cancer (A549), melanoma (A375) and pancreatic cancer (Mia PaCa-2 and Panc-1) cell lines by MTT assay. Full article

The Verbesina gender represents the second most diverse group from the Asteraceae family in Mexico; Verbesina sphaerocephala is one of the most distributed species along the Mexican territory. This species has been poorly studied, reporting the presence of some bioactive compounds with antioxidant and antibacterial activity. In this study, phenolic and flavonoid contents and composition, antioxidant and antifungal activities of aqueous extracts of the stem of V. sphaerocephala and its fractions were determined. The results showed that the highest antifungal activity against Botrytis cinerea was shown by the aqueous extract (IC₅₀: 0.10 mg/mL) and the ethyl acetate fraction (IC₅₀: 14.8 mg/mL). In addition, the aqueous extract and the ethyl acetate fraction exhibited the highest phenolic (21.40 and 21.26 mg gallic acid equivalents per gram of dry extract, respectively) and flavonoid contents (11.53 and 3.71 mg rutin equivalents, respectively) and high antioxidant activity determined by the Total Antioxidant Capacity (20.62 and 40.21 mg ascorbic acid equivalents per gram of dry extract, respectively), Ferric Reducing Power (74.76 and 129.57 mg gallic acid equivalents per gram of dry extract, respectively), DPPH (IC₅₀: 12.38 and 7.36 mg/mL, respectively), and ABTS (IC₅₀: 5.60 and 7.76 mg/mL, respectively) methods. Twelve phenolic compounds were detected in the aqueous extract using UPLC-MS analysis, of which the major ones were protocatechuic, vanillic, and hydroxybenzoic acid, while in the ethyl acetate fraction, the presence of 18 phenolic compounds were identified, of which the majority were vanillin, rutin, and hydroxybenzoic acid. The results of this research demonstrate that the aqueous extract of V. sphaerocephala stems has phenolic compounds with antifungal and antioxidant activity. Full article

Chaenomeles speciosa (Sweet) Nakai (C. speciosa) is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine that possesses not only abundant nutritional value but also significant medicinal properties. The extracts of C. speciosa fruits effectively reduce urate levels, but the specific chemical constituents responsible for this effect in C. speciosa fruits are still unknown. Therefore, this study aims to investigate and analyze the structure–activity relationships of these constituents to better understand their ability to lower uric acid. Activity-guided fractionation and purification processes were used to isolate compounds with xanthine oxidase (XO) inhibitory activity from C. speciosa fruits, resulting in three extracts: petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol. The ethyl acetate and n-butanol fractions showed strong activity and underwent further separation and purification using chromatographic techniques. Twenty-four compounds were isolated and identified, with nine showing potent activity, including chlorogenic acid, methyl chlorogenate, butyl chlorogenate, ethyl chlorogenate, cryptochlorogenic acid methyl ester, caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid, benzoic acid and protocatechuic acid. The docking analysis showed that these compounds interacted with amino acid residues in the active site of XO through hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions. These findings suggest that these compounds help reduce uric acid in C. speciosa, supporting further investigation into their mechanism of action. Full article

Novel foods especially formulated and targeted for the elderly population should provide sufficient nutrients and bioactive ingredients to counteract the natural age-related deterioration of various organs and tissues. Dietary protein and phenolic compounds achieve this goal; however, older adults have alterations in their gastrointestinal system that may impact their bioavailability and few studies have been aimed at this population. Since phenolic compounds are the subject of multiple biotransformations by host and microbiome enzymes during the digestion process, identification of their bioavailable forms in human plasma or tissues represents a considerable analytical challenge. In this study, UHPLC-ESI-QTOF/MS-MS, chemometrics, and multivariate statistical methods were used to identify the amino acids and phenolic compounds that were increased in the plasma of elderly adults after a 30-day intervention in which they had consumed an especially formulated muffin and beverage containing Brosimum alicastrum Sw. seed flour. A large interindividual variation was observed regarding the amino acids and phenolic metabolites identified in the plasma samples, before and after the intervention. Three phenolic metabolites were significantly increased in the population after the intervention: protocatechuic acid, 5-(methoxy-4′-hydroxyphenyl) valerolactone, and phloretic acid. These metabolites, as well as others that were not significantly increased (although they did increase in several individuals), are probably the product of the microbiota metabolism of the major phenolic compounds present in the B. alicastrum Sw. seed flour and other food ingredients. A significant decrease in 4-ethyl-phenol, a biomarker of stress, was observed in the samples. Results showed that the incorporation of foods rich in phenolic compounds into the regular diet of older adults contributes to the increase in bioactive compounds in plasma, that could substantially benefit their mental, cardiovascular, and digestive health. Full article

Sea buckthorn pomace (SBP) is a by-product of sea buckthorn processing that is rich in bioactive compounds. In this study, different active ingredients were extracted by using different solvents (water, methanol, ethanol, glycerol, ethyl acetate, and petroleum ether) combined with an ultrasonic assisted method. The correlation between the active ingredients and antioxidant properties of the extract was studied, which provided a research basis for the comprehensive utilization of SBP. This study revealed that the 75% ethanol extract had the highest total phenolic content (TPC) of 42.86 ± 0.73 mg GAE/g, while the 75% glycerol extract had the highest total flavonoid content (TFC) of 25.52 ± 1.35 mg RTE/g. The ethanol extract exhibited the strongest antioxidant activity at the same concentration compared with other solvents. The antioxidant activity of the ethanol, methanol, and glycerol extracts increased in a concentration-dependent manner. Thirteen phenolic compounds were detected in the SBP extracts using UPLC-MS/MS analysis. Notably, the 75% glycerol extract contained the highest concentration of all identified phenolic compounds, with rutin (192.21 ± 8.19 μg/g), epigallocatechin (105.49 ± 0.69 μg/g), and protocatechuic acid (27.9 ± 2.38 μg/g) being the most abundant. Flavonols were found to be the main phenolic substances in SBP. A strong correlation was observed between TPC and the antioxidant activities of SBP extracts. In conclusion, the choice of solvent significantly influences the active compounds and antioxidant activities of SBP extracts. SBP extracts are a valuable source of natural phenolics and antioxidants. Full article

Polyphenols from residual non-food grade Salicornia ramosissima have health-promoting effects in feed, food, or nutraceutical applications. Therefore, the isolation of polyphenols is of interest from a series of environmentally friendly isolation methods with recyclable solvents. The isolation of polyphenols from non-food grade S. ramosissima was investigated using sequential membrane filtration with and without acid pretreatment, liquid–liquid extraction, resin adsorption, and centrifugal partition chromatography (CPC); analyzed by the Folin–Ciocalteu assay for total polyphenols; and finally analyzed using UPLC-TQMS in negative ion-spray mode for detection of 14 polyphenols. Sequential membrane filtration and acid hydrolysis indicated the polyphenols forming complexes with other compounds, retaining the polyphenols in the retentate fraction of large molecular weight cut-off membrane sizes. Conventional liquid–liquid extraction using sequential ethyl acetate and n-butanol showed most polyphenols were extracted, apart from chlorogenic acids, indicating a low isolation efficiency of higher polarity polyphenols. Analysis of the extract after resin adsorption by Amberlite XAD-4 resin showed high efficiency for separation, with 100% of polyphenols adsorbed to the resin after 13 bed volumes and 96.7% eluted from the resin using ethanol. CPC fractionations were performed to fractionate the concentrated extract after resin adsorption. CPC fractionations of the 14 polyphenols were performed using an organic or aqueous phase as a mobile phase. Depending on the mobile phase, different compounds were isolated in a high concentration. Using these easily scalable methods, it was possible to comprehensively study the polyphenols of interest from S. ramosissima and their isolation mechanics. This study will potentially lead the way for the large-scale isolation of polyphenols from S. ramosissima and other complex halophytes. The compounds of the highest concentration after CPC fractionation were isoquercitrin and hyperoside (155.27 mg/g), chlorogenic acid (85.54 mg/g), cryptochlorogenic acid (101.50 mg/g), and protocatechuic acid (398.67 mg/g), and further isolation using CPC could potentially yield novel polyphenol nutraceuticals. Full article

The yield and quality of potato can be severely affected by bacterial ring rot, which is caused by Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus (Cms). Recently, using natural compounds to control bacteria has received more attention. In this study, five antibacterial compounds from ethyl acetate (EtOAc) extract of Fructus Polygoni orientalis (FPO) against Cms were isolated and the most active compound was screened. Five active compounds were identified as 3,3′-di-O-methylellagic acid (1), 3,3′-di-O-methylellagic acid-4-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (2), dihydroquercetin (3), protocatechuic acid (4) and quercetin (5). Compound 3 (dihydroquercetin, DHQ) was confirmed as the most active compound. The diameter of inhibition zone (DIZ), minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), protective efficiency and curative efficiency of DHQ were 22.50 mm, 0.313 mg/mL, 84.49% and 79.63%, respectively, which exceeded these of thiophanate-methyl (TM) in antibacterial activity assays; this indicated that DHQ had satisfactory antibacterial activities against Cms in vitro and in vivo. Results of cell membrane damage assessments indicated that DHQ could reduce membrane potential (MP), disrupt the cell membrane integrity, and promote the leakage of nucleic acids and proteins. Overall, these findings suggested that DHQ could serve as a promising lead molecular against Cms, which could provide a basis for its further derivatization. Full article

Cinnamomum japonicum Siebold (CJ) branch bark, commonly known as Japanese cinnamon, has been used for various culinary and medicinal applications for many centuries. Although the efficacy of CJ branch bark’s anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity for the treatment of various diseases has been confirmed, the efficacy of CJ leaves (CJLs) has not been examined. We therefore investigated whether CJL3, an ethyl acetate extract of a 70% ethanol CJL extract, exerts anti-inflammatory effects on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated Kupffer cells, specialized macrophages found in the liver. Liver inflammation can activate Kupffer cells, inducing the release of pro-inflammatory molecules that contribute to tissue damage. We found that CJL3 has high 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical-scavenging activity. Among the CJL extracts, CJL3 exhibited the greatest polyphenol content, with protocatechuic acid and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid being the most abundant. In addition, we verified that CJL3, which has strong antioxidant properties, ameliorates LPS-induced pro-inflammatory responses by inhibiting p38/JNK/AP-1 signaling. CJL3 therefore has potential for treating liver disease, including hepatitis. Full article

Chenopodium formosanum Koidz (CF) is an indigenous cereal plant of Taiwan. Its high content of secondary metabolites and nutrients has attracted attention for its use in skin care products and functional foods. However, most studies have focused on the extract of CF seeds, which are relatively expensive, and none have investigated the effects of combining extraction and fermentation. In this study, we evaluated the utility of using extracts of different parts of CF, i.e., the leaves, stems, and unhulled and hulled seeds. We first made aqueous, ethanolic, methanolic, and ethyl acetate extracts of the four parts. After assessing their biological activities, we selected only unfermented and fermented CF leaf methanolic extracts for subsequent analysis. None of the concentrations of fermented CF leaf extract (≤400 mg/L) were cytotoxic, and all exhibited antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, skin-whitening, moisturizing, and antiaging activities. The concentrations of protocatechuic acid, epicatechin, gallic acid, and quercetin increased the most after fermentation. Therefore, they were subjected to a molecular docking analysis, which revealed that quercetin and epicatechin may contribute the most to skin-whitening and antiaging properties, respectively. In conclusion, fermented CF leaf methanolic extracts can be useful as a functional ingredient in health foods, botanical drugs, and cosmetic products. Full article