Search Results (59)

Exogenous application of methyl jasmonate (MeJ) at different concentrations (0, 1, 10, and 100 µM) during flowering was studied for its impact on phytochemical profile, antioxidant activity, and biomass accumulation in hemp inflorescences of the monoecious cv. Codimono. MeJ treatments had no significant effect on CBD levels, while a 23–54% decrease in total terpene levels was observed in plants treated with 1 and 10 μM MeJ. In particular, MeJ treatments reduced β-caryophyllene and α-humulene levels by 24–43%, α-bisabolol levels by 30–40%, and α-pinene, β-pinene, and β-myrcene levels by 32–61%. By contrast, MeJ treatments had a positive effect on all other classes of phytochemicals analyzed. Plants treated with 100 μM MeJ experienced the highest increases in total flavonoid and phenolic acid levels (+42% and +50%, respectively). In particular, this treatment increased orientin, vitexin, and isovitexin levels by 36–52%, while ferulic acid level increased by 103%. Treatments with 10 and 100 µM MeJ resulted in the highest increases in total carotenoid and tocopherol levels (+41% and +33%, respectively). In particular, lutein, β-carotene, and α-tocopherol levels increased by 44%, 35%, and 36%, respectively. In line with these findings, total antioxidant activity increased by 26% following treatment with 100 μM MeJ and by 13% following the other two treatments. Interestingly, MeJ treatments did not affect plant growth and biomass accumulation in the inflorescences. This implies higher yields for those phytochemicals whose concentrations were increased by MeJ. In summary, our results indicate that hemp plants treated with 100 μM MeJ represent an interesting source of phytochemicals, fiber, and biomass. These characteristics make them suitable for multiple industrial applications and enhance both the economic and health-related value of this crop. Full article

Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench is a medicinally valuable plant with well-documented pharmacological properties; however, its physiological and molecular responses to biochar amendment remain largely unexplored. This study applied integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic approaches to investigate the underlying mechanisms of biochar-induced effects in E. purpurea. Biochar amendment significantly promoted plant growth and improved nutrient status. Concurrent transcriptomic analysis revealed the molecular basis for these changes, identifying 4733 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Further analysis showed significant enrichment in plant hormone signal transduction pathways, particularly those of auxin and jasmonic acid (JA). The activation of the JA pathway was specifically validated by the concurrent upregulation of its biosynthetic and metabolic genes, together with the marked accumulation of JA, jasmonoyl-isoleucine, and 12-hydroxy-jasmonoyl-isoleucine. Metabolomic profiling further revealed a pronounced upregulation of phenylpropanoid pathway metabolites, including 3-hydroxy-4-methoxycinnamic acid, chlorogenic acid methyl ester, ferulic acid O-hexoside, and coumarin derivatives such as 7-methoxy-4-methylcoumarin. Correlation analysis of transcriptomic and metabolomic data confirmed the concurrent up-regulation of phenylpropanoid biosynthetic genes. These integrated results reveal the mechanistic basis through which biochar application simultaneously promotes growth and enhances the secondary metabolism of E. purpurea by coordinately activating phytohormone signaling and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis. These results establish the potential of biochar in enhancing E. purpurea cultivation, with future work needed to determine optimal application rates. Full article

Background/Objectives: The rapid progression of stroke often results in irreversible brain damage and poor outcomes when treatment is delayed. Prophylactic administration of FAD012 (3,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxycinnamic acid), a synthetic derivative of ferulic acid (FA), has demonstrated cerebroprotective effects in ischemic models through antioxidant and endothelial protective mechanisms. This study investigated the effects of FAD012 on cerebral infarction and blood–brain barrier (BBB) integrity using a photothrombotic stroke model in rats. Methods: Male Sprague Dawley rats received a single intraperitoneal injection of FAD012 or FA (100 or 300 mg/kg) 60 min prior to stroke induction. Under isoflurane anesthesia, the middle cerebral artery was exposed, and stroke was induced by intravenous administration of Rose Bengal followed by green laser irradiation. Cerebral blood flow (CBF) was monitored by laser Doppler flowmetry. BBB disruption was evaluated by Evans Blue extravasation and immunohistochemistry for tight junction (TJ) proteins. Results: Control rats exhibited extensive infarction, BBB disruption, and reduced expression of claudin-5, occludin, and ZO-1, along with fragmented collagen IV. In contrast, FAD012 (300 mg/kg) significantly attenuated CBF reduction, reduced infarct size, preserved BBB integrity, and maintained TJ protein expression, with greater efficacy than an equivalent dose of FA. FAD012 also preserved the expression and phosphorylation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), a key marker of vascular integrity. The CBF-preserving effect of FAD012 was completely abolished by N^G-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor. Conclusions: These findings suggest that FAD012 protects endothelial function, thereby contributing to the maintenance of CBF and BBB integrity, supporting its potential as a prophylactic therapeutic agent for ischemic stroke. Full article

In recent years, active packaging has become a focal point of research and development in the food industry, driven by increasing consumer demand for safe, high-quality, and sustainable food products. In this work, solvent casting processed an active antibacterial multicomponent film based on hydroxypropyl methylcellulose incorporated with ferulic acid and chitin nanofibers. The influences of ferulic acid and different content of chitin nanofibers on the structure, thermal, mechanical, and water vapor stability and antioxidant and antibacterial efficiency of films were studied. It was shown that the inclusion of only ferulic acid did not significantly influence the mechanical, water vapor, and thermal stability of films. In addition, films containing only ferulic acid did not display antibacterial activity. The optimal concentration of chitin nanofibers in hydroxypropyl methylcellulose–ferulic acid films was 5 wt%, providing a tensile strength of 15 MPa, plasticity of 52%, and water vapor permeability of 0.94 × 10⁻⁹ g/m s Pa. With further increase of chitin nanofibers content, films with layered and discontinuous phases are obtained, which negatively influence tensile strength and water vapor permeability. Moreover, only films containing both ferulic acid and chitin nanofibers demonstrated antibacterial activity toward E. coli and S. aureus, suggesting that the presence of fibers allows easier release of ferulic acid from the matrix. These results imply that the investigated three-component systems have potential applicability as sustainable active food packaging materials. Full article

Phenolic compounds, with their diverse biological activities, are widely explored as cosmetic ingredients with photoprotective, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-hyperpigmentation properties, offering a multitargeted approach to combat photo-induced skin aging. The study analyzed 1299 cosmetic products from 2021 to 2024 to understand the market impact of phenolic compounds and their mechanism of action against photo-induced skin damage. A total of 28 active phenolic compounds were identified and the prevalence of phenolics was 13.2% in anti-aging products, 5.2% in sunscreens and 4.8% in aftersun products. Bakuchiol and polyphenols, such as resveratrol, chrysin, and hesperidin methyl chalcone, were found in anti-aging products. Sunscreens and aftersun products were counted with ferulic and caffeic acids, and salicylic acid, respectively. Antioxidant activity was found to be the primary mechanism of action of phenolic compounds by scavenging reactive species, thus mitigating oxidative stress. Ferulic and caffeic acids, chrysin, and glucosylrutin can also absorb UV radiation, acting preventively against solar-induced skin damage. This study provides insights into the limited use of phenolic compounds in commercial cosmetics, despite their diverse biological activities, and suggests potential barriers to wider use in skin and sun care products. Full article

Background/Objectives: The phytochemicals ferulic acid (Fer) and eugenol display neuroprotective effects for their anti-oxidative properties; moreover, eugenol can induce dopamine (DA) release from dopaminergic neuronal cells. However, poor bioavailability and/or fast elimination rate limit their clinical benefits. We therefore propose a new nasal formulation based on a nanoemulsion (NE) for the jointed brain-targeting of eugenol and methyl ferulate (Fer-Me, i.e., a Fer-lipidized derivative maintaining the parent compound anti-oxidative properties). NE was obtained using chitosan oleate, a surfactant combining mucoadhesive and absorption-enhancing properties with stabilizing effects on the dispersion of eugenol, used as a Fer-Me vehicle. Methods: The nasal formulation was obtained by spontaneous emulsification processes; cell viability and uptake studies were performed on an in vitro model of respiratory mucosa (RPMI 2650 cells). After intravenous and nasal administrations, the pharmacokinetic profiles of eugenol and Fer-Me in rats’ bloodstreams and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were analyzed via HPLC-UV analysis. Results: The NE dispersed-phase mean diameter was 249.22 ± 32.78 nm; Fer-Me and eugenol loading in NE was about 1 and 2 mg/mL, respectively. NE increased the uptake of loaded compounds by mucosal cells. Following intravenous administration, the Fer-Me plasma half-life was 10.08 ± 0.37 min, and a negligible ability of the compound to permeate in the CSF, compared to eugenol, was observed. NE nasal administration allowed us to sensibly increase the Fer-Me brain-targeting and prolong the eugenol permanence in the CSF. Conclusions: This nasal formulation appears promising to overcome Fer and eugenol pharmacokinetic issues. The possible translational relevance of the present findings is discussed. Full article

Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) berry is a horticultural product containing antioxidants and pigments. Its extract can be used as a food dye and antioxidant in food engineering. The aim of present study is to research the effects of different possible conditions (temperature, pH, interacting ions, and storage conditions) on the color and antioxidant capacity of hawthorn berry extract. Color was assessed by monitoring the CIELab parameters, while antioxidant capacity was measured using the reaction with ABTS and DPPH radicals. The total phenolic content in berry powder was 1146 mg GAE/100 g and the main polyphenols identified by HPLC were epicatechin, ferulic acid methyl ester, catechin, procyanidins B1 and B2, and various phenolic acids. The main carotenoids, also quantified by HPLC, were mutatoxanthin, lutein, α-cryptoxanthin, β-cryptoxanthin, cis-β-carotene, all-trans-β-carotene, and lycopene. The values of the overall color difference suggest that storage affected the color of the hawthorn extract more than any of the thermal treatments. Alkaline pH values affected color by changing the blue/yellow component, but also luminosity and the green/red parameter. The antioxidant capacity decreased in acidic and neutral media and increased in mildly alkaline media at pH 8.1. The possible presence of interacting salts as potassium nitrate and sodium chloride did not produce any significant changes in antioxidant capacity, while calcium chloride lowered it, but only at 0.001 M. The interaction with the studied salts had little effect on the extract’s color. The obtained results demonstrated that hawthorn berry extracts can be used in the food industry as natural dyes, as it was proven to have very good antioxidant capacity and color stability after different thermal, pH, interacting salt, or storing conditions. Full article

Background/Objectives: Elevated plasma homocysteine levels constitute a risk factor for vascular and cardiovascular disorders. Ferulic acid (FA), a polyphenol is tested on L-methionine-induced hyperhomocysteinemia (hHcy). The present study investigated the protective effect of ferulic acid (FA) on hyperhomocysteinemia (hHcy) induced changes in hemodynamic, biochemical, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory parameters as well as histopathological changes in abdominal aorta and heart. Methodology: The Wistar rats were divided into six groups (n = 6) and treated orally for 36 days. The rats were treated with Met (1 gm/kg) to induce Hcy. They were treated with either standard (Vit. B12 + Folic acid; 15 + 70 mg) or test FA (20/40/60 mg/kg, respectively) post-Met treatment. Homocysteine, cholesterol, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatinine kinase (CK-MB), and liver enzymes were estimated in blood followed by the measurement of hemodynamic parameters. The liver was estimated for antioxidant parameters and nitric oxide (NO). Heart and abdominal aorta were studied histopathologically. Result: Diseased rats showed increased Hcy, cholesterol, LDH, CK-MB, alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), malondialdehyde (MDA), NO, and reduced glutathione (GSH). Following FA treatment, these parameters returned to normal. Atherosclerotic lesions in the aorta were observed in the hHcy group; however, in the FA treatment groups, they were lessened. Conclusions: Ferulic acid reduces oxidative and nitrosive stress, thereby reducing hypercyteinemia and improving the lipid profile. It might be acting by increasing the activity of methylation dependent on S-adenosylmethionine (SAM)/S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH), which in turn prevents the formation of Hcy and reduces hHcy. The docking study supports these findings. Full article

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a respiratory failure disease associated with high mortality rates in patients. The primary pathological damage is attributed to the excessive release of pro-inflammatory mediators in pulmonary tissue. However, specific therapy for ALI has not been developed. In this study, a series of novel ferulic acid-parthenolide (FA-PTL) and ferulic acid-micheliolide (FA-MCL) hybrid derivatives were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for their anti-inflammatory activities in vitro. Compounds 2, 4, and 6 showed pronounced anti-inflammatory activity against LPS-induced expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in vitro. Importantly, compound 6 displayed good water solubility, and treatment of mice with compound 6 (10 mg/kg) significantly prevented weight loss and ameliorated inflammatory cell infiltration and edema in lung tissue, as well as improving the alveolar structure. These results suggest that compound 6 (((1aR,7aS,8R,10aS,10bS,E)-8-((dimethylamino)methyl)-1a-methyl-9-oxo-1a,2,3,6,7,7a,8,9,10a,10b-decahydrooxireno[2′,3′:9,10]cyclodeca[1,2-b]furan-5-yl)methyl (E)-3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)acrylate 2-hydroxypropane-1,2,3-tricarboxylate) might be considered as a lead compound for further evaluation as a potential anti-ALI agent. Full article

Aegle marmelos (L.) Correa is an economically and therapeutically valuable tree. It is cultivated as a fruit plant in southeast Asian countries. In this research, we investigated the allelopathy and possible allelochemicals in the leaves of A. marmelos. Aqueous methanol extracts of A. marmelos exhibited significant inhibitory effects against the growth of Lepidium sativum, Lactuca sativa, Medicago sativa, Echinochloa crusgalli, Lolium multiflorum, and Phleum pratense. Bioassay-directed chromatographic purification of the A. marmelos extracts resulted in identifying five active compounds: umbelliferone (1), trans-ferulic acid (2), (E)-4-hydroxycinnamic acid methyl ester (3), trans-cinnamic acid (4), and methyl (E)-3’-hydroxyl-4’-methoxycinnamate (5). The hypocotyl and root growth of L. sativum were considerably suppressed by these compounds. Methyl (E)-3’-hydroxyl-4’-methoxycinnamate also suppressed the coleoptile and root growth of E. crusgalli. The concentrations of these compounds, causing 50% growth reduction (I₅₀) of L. sativum, were in the range of 74.19–785.4 μM. The findings suggest that these isolated compounds might function in the allelopathy of A. marmelos. Full article

In the current study, the ethanolic extract of the stem bark of Ceiba speciosa, the silk floss tree (SFSB), was evaluated against various phytopathogenic microorganisms, including Ralstonia solanacearum, Dickeya solani, Pectobacterium atrosepticum, P. carotovorum, Fusarium oxysporum, and Rhizoctonia solani. At 300 µg/mL concentration, the SFSB extract exhibited the highest inhibition percentages of 83.33 and 86.67 for R. solani and F. oxysporum, respectively. In addition to its antimicrobial activity, SFSB extract exhibited strong antioxidant activity (IC50 value of 140.88 g/mL). HPLC analysis of the extract revealed the presence of various phenolic acids and flavonoids. Among these compounds, naringenin (18,698.83 µg/g), chlorogenic acid (2727.49 µg/g), ferulic acid (1276.18 µg/g), syringic acid (946.26 µg/g), gallic acid (812.34 µg/g), and methyl gallate (651.73 µg/g) were found to be the most abundant constituents. GCMS analysis showed that there were antimicrobial compounds like terpenoids, benzoic acid derivatives, phthalate esters, and different fatty acids. Isopropyl myristate was the most common compound, with a relative abundance of 55.61%. To our knowledge, this is the first investigation on the phytochemical composition and antimicrobial properties of SFSB extract. Consequently, utilizing SFSB extract could hold significant potential as a sustainable and natural approach for controlling and mitigating plant diseases. Full article

Plant secondary metabolites are key components for new, safe and effective drugs. Ethanolic extract of Maesa indica Roxb. Sweet (ME) aerial parts were used for biosynthesis of sustainable green zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) with an average particle size 6.80 ± 1.47 nm and zeta potential −19.7 mV. Both transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction assay confirmed the hexagonal shape of ZnO NPs. Phenolic ingredients in ME were identified using LC-ESI-MS/MS-MRM revealing the identification of chlorogenic acid, gallic acid, caffeic acid, rutin, coumaric acid, vanillin, naringenin, quercetin, ellagic acid, 3.4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, methyl gallate, kaempferol, ferulic acid, syringic acid, and luteolin. The major compound was chlorogenic acid at concentration of 1803.84 μg/g. The antiviral activity of ME, ZnO NPs, and combination of ME with ZnO NPs against coronavirus 229E were investigated. ZnO NPs had superior antiviral effect against coronavirus 229E than ME while their combination showed the highest anti-coronavirus 229E effect, with 50% inhibition concentration (IC₅₀) of 5.23 ± 0.18 µg/mL and 50% cytotoxic concentration (CC₅₀) of 138.49 ± 0.26 µg/mL while the selectivity index (SI) was 26.47. The current study highlighted the possible novel anti-coronavirus 229E activity of green ZnO NPs synthesized from Maesa indica. More studies are needed to further investigate this antiviral activity to be utilized in future biomedical and environmental applications. Full article

It is worth noting that laurel (Laurus nobilis L.) contains several pharmacologically and nutritionally active compounds that may differ according to the pretreatment process. The current study is designed to clarify the effect of moist heat on the phenolic and flavonoid constituents and anti-Helicobacter pylori, antioxidant, antidiabetic, and anti-Alzheimer’s activities of laurel leaf extract (LLE). Unmoist-heated (UMH) and moist-heated (MH) LLEs showed the presence of numerous flavonoid and phenolic constituents, although at different levels of concentration. MH significantly induced (p < 0.05) the occurrence of most compounds at high concentrations of 5655.89 µg/mL, 3967.65 µg/mL, 224.80 µg/mL, 887.83 µg/mL, 2979.14 µg/mL, 203.02 µg/mL, 284.65 µg/mL, 1893.66 µg/mL, and 187.88 µg/mL, unlike the detection at low concentrations of 3461.19 µg/mL, 196.96 µg/mL, 664.12 µg/mL, 2835.09 µg/mL, 153.26 µg/mL, 254.43 µg/mL, 1605.00 µg/mL, 4486.02 µg/mL, and 195.60 µg/mL using UMH, for naringenin, methyl gallate, caffeic acid, rutin, ellagic acid, coumaric acid, vanillin, ferulic acid, and hesperetin, respectively. Chlorogenic acid, syringic acid, and daidzein were detected in the UMH LLE but not in the MH LLE, unlike pyrocatechol. The anti-H. pylori activity of the UMH LLE was lower (23.67 ± 0.58 mm of inhibition zone) than that of the MH LLE (26.00 ± 0.0 mm of inhibition zone). Moreover, the values of MIC and MBC associated with the MH LLE were very low compared to those of the UMH LLE. Via MBC/MIC index calculation, the UMH and MH LLEs showed cidal activity. The MH LLE exhibited higher anti-biofilm activity (93.73%) compared to the anti-biofilm activity (87.75%) of the MH LLE against H. pylori. The urease inhibition percentage was more affected in the UMH LLE compared to the MH LLE, with significant (p < 0.05) IC₅₀ values of 34.17 µg/mL and 91.11 µg/mL, respectively. Promising antioxidant activity was documented with a very low value of IC₅₀ (3.45 µg/mL) for the MH LLE compared to the IC₅₀ value of 4.69 µg/mL for the UMH LLE and the IC₅₀ value of 4.43 µg/mL for ascorbic acid. The MH LLE showed significantly higher (p < 0.05) inhibition of α-glucosidase and butyrylcholinesterase activities, with IC₅₀ values of 9.9 µg/mL and 17.3 µg/mL, respectively, compared to those of the UMH LLE at 18.36 µg/mL and 28.92 µg/mL. The molecular docking of naringenin showed good docking scores against acetylcholinesterase 1E66 and butyrylcholinesterase 6EMI, indicating that naringenin is an intriguing candidate for additional research as a possible medication for Alzheimer’s disease. Full article

The structure of cellulolytic enzyme lignin (CEL) prepared from three bamboo species (Neosinocalamus affinis, Bambusa lapidea, and Dendrocalamus brandisii) has been characterized by different analytical methods. The chemical composition analysis revealed a higher lignin content, up to 32.6% of B. lapidea as compared to that of N. affinis (20.7%) and D. brandisii (23.8%). The results indicated that bamboo lignin was a p-hydroxyphenyl-guaiacyl-syringyl (H-G-S) lignin associated with p-coumarates and ferulates. Advanced NMR analyses displayed that the isolated CELs were extensively acylated at the γ-carbon of the lignin side chain (with either acetate and/or p-coumarate groups). Moreover, a predominance of S over G lignin moieties was found in CELs of N. affinis and B. lapidea, with the lowest S/G ratio observed in D. brandisii lignin. Catalytic hydrogenolysis of lignin demonstrated that 4-propyl-substituted syringol/guaiacol and propanol guaiacol/syringol derived from β-O-4′ moieties, and methyl coumarate/ferulate derived from hydroxycinnamic units were identified as the six major monomeric products. We anticipate that the insights of this work could shed light on the sufficient understanding of lignin, which could open a new avenue to facilitate the efficient utilization of bamboo. Full article

Nutricines, the nutritionally active substances in feed, play a vital role in enhancing immune function, antioxidant activity, and feed efficiency in dairy cows. Identifying nutricines in total mixed ration (TMR) provides insights into feed quality and their impact on dairy cow health. However, due to the structural diversity of nutricines, data mining using multivariate variable models faces challenges in exploring their relationships. To address this, this study established a hierarchical clustering and optimization factor strategy for 13 common flavonoid peaks detected using apparent data and HPLC-DAD. The establishment of the flavonoid fingerprint of TMR diet in dairy cows detected 13 common peaks, five of which were found using standard products: p-coumaric acid, sinapic acid, tricin, and diosmetin. In vitro fermentation results using different TMR samples in substrate fermentation indicated that the dry matter disappearance rate, NH₃-N, acetate, propionate, butyrate, isovalerate, and valerate changes varied significantly (p < 0.05). In spectrum–activity relationship studies, P2, P6, P8, P9, P10, and P11 were all considered possible factors causing this effect. In the analysis of optimization factor strategy, the peak spectrum model of four fermentation parameters, i.e., pH, dry matter digestibility, NH₃-N, and acetate, was constructed after optimization (p < 0.05), and the data model is listed in the main text. In structure–activity relationship studies, ferulic acid, isoferulic acid, methyl sinapic acid, methyl 4-hydroxycinnamate, and p-hydroxybenzalacetone may serve as candidate references for compound 10 and may play an important role in affecting the digestibility of dry matter in in vitro fermentation. These findings highlight the role of flavonoids in TMR feed as key factors in maintaining dairy cow health and differentiating nutritional value. This study proposes a novel method for future TMR diet formulation and quality evaluation, with potential implications for improving dairy cow health and performance. Further research is needed to validate these findings and elucidate the mechanisms underlying nutricine effects on dairy cow nutrition and health. Full article