Search Results (1,898)

Protea venus, a hybrid of Protea repens and Protea aristata, is a commonly found flower in the South African market. To date, there are no reported chemical or biological studies on this hybrid. This study presents the first investigation of the chemical composition and preliminary biological activity of the methanolic extract of P. venus. Phytochemical analysis of the methanolic extract led to the isolation of nine known phenolic compounds (2–10) and one new compound, p-coumaroyl calleryanin (1). The identified known constituents include calleryanin derivatives (2–4), lacticolorin (5), quercetin derivatives (6–8), protocatechuic acid (9), and p-hydroxybenzoic acid (10). Notably, calleryanin (2), protocatechuoyl calleryanin (3), kaempferol-3-O-rhamnoside (6), and quercetin-3-O-rhamnoside (7) are reported for the first time in the genus Protea. Compounds 3 and 9 exhibited strong antioxidant activity in the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay, with 9 exceeding vitamin C. Molecular docking studies suggest that the isolated compounds may interact with Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1). In H9c2 cardiomyocytes exposed to high glucose (40 mM) and palmitate (0.15 mM), the extract and compound 6 were non-cytotoxic (≤100 µg/mL) and produced a moderate restoration of ATP levels under glucolipotoxic conditions. These findings expand the phytochemical profile of P. venus and provide preliminary insight into its biological activity under metabolic stress. Full article

This study investigated the inhibitory effect of nanoemulsions (NEs) derived from various essential oils (EOs) and seed oils (SOs) against pathogenic bacteria isolated from rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). The EOs of eucalyptus, mandarin, and basil were extracted by hydrodistillation, while the SOs of avocado and pumpkin were extracted by supercritical fluids. GC–MS analysis determined the chemical composition, revealing that limonene (70.88%), eucalyptol (57.85%), and camphor (24.61%) were the main components of the EOs. The SOs were rich in palmitic acid (avocado) and linoleic acids (pumpkin) and contained phytosterols such as β-sitosterol and stigmasterol. Avocado seed oil had the highest total phenolic content and antioxidant activity. Eight stable NEs, prepared from individual and mixed oils, were tested against Salmonella enterica subsp. salamae, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella variicola, Bacillus oceanisediminis, and Bacillus thuringiensis. Most NEs were effective against E. coli and B. oceanisediminis, with an additive effect for SOs mixtures and a minimum inhibitory concentration of 0.53 μL/mL (E. coli), 0.53 μL/mL (B. oceanisediminis), and 2.13 μL/mL (B. thuringiensis). The bacteriostatic and bactericidal activity was 1.62 and 6 h with E. coli and NE Mix AP. These findings suggest that nanoemulsions containing SOs are promising candidates for controlling bacterial contamination in fishery products. Full article

Background: Microglial metabolic reprogramming drives neuroinflammation in Diabetes-associated cognitive dysfunction (DACD). This study aims to evaluate Buwang formula (BWF) effects on diabetic neuroinflammation and microglial metabolism. Methods: The chemical constituents present in BWF-containing cerebrospinal fluid (BWF-CCSF) were profiled by UHPLC-MS/MS, and putative targets were predicted via network pharmacology analysis. Diabetic db/db mice were treated with BWF, and behavioral, biochemical, and histopathological assessments were performed. The in vivo findings were further validated in BV2 cells exposed to high glucose (HG) and palmitic acid (PA). Cellular energy metabolism analysis was used to quantify dynamic changes in oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) and glycolysis in BV2 cells, while flow cytometry and immunofluorescence were used to examine BV2 cell polarization. The expression levels of pathway-related proteins were examined by Western blot analysis. Results: A total of 15 chemical components were identified in BWF-CCSF. According to the network pharmacology prediction, the mTOR/HIF-1α pathway might participate in the effects exerted by BWF compounds that enter the brain. In diabetic mice, BWF notably suppressed the expression of pro-inflammatory factors and reduced the accumulation of pathological proteins within the hippocampal tissue, which improved learning and memory impairments, and these improvements were accompanied by suppressed activation of the mTOR/HIF-1α pathway and its downstream glycolysis. In BV2 cells exposed to HG and PA, BWF-CCSF treatment significantly increased OXPHOS and inhibited glycolysis, promoting a polarization toward M2 anti-inflammatory phenotype. Conclusions: BWF regulates microglial metabolic reprogramming and attenuates neuroinflammation, effects that are associated with modulation of the mTOR/HIF-1α pathway, and these findings suggest that BWF warrants further investigation as a potential therapeutic candidate for DACD. Full article

Organic residues were extracted from ten amphorae recovered during excavations at the Late Roman Villa del Tellaro (Noto, Sicily). The samples were analysed using liquid chromatography coupled to a high-resolution Orbitrap mass spectrometer (LC-MS). Biomarkers of plant oils, including saturated and unsaturated fatty acids (oleic, linoleic, palmitic, stearic) and the oxidation product azelaic acid, were identified in eight samples. Wine-compatible biomarkers (syringic acid, L-proline, malic acid), albeit in the absence of tartaric acid, were detected in two samples alongside the oil markers, a pattern that would be consistent with, though not in itself proof of, amphora reuse. Two further samples yielded a more saturated, degraded fatty-acid profile most parsimoniously interpreted as a strongly degraded plant oil, although a contribution of animal or fish fat (possibly garum) cannot be excluded on the fatty-acid data alone. Diterpenoid resin acids diagnostic of Pinaceae spp. pitch (dehydroabietic acid, 7-oxo-DHA, 15-hydroxy-7-oxo-DHA) were identified in all ten samples, confirming the systematic application of pine resin coatings. The assemblage comprises mainly North African types (Tripolitana II, Tripolitana III, Keay 35A/B, Keay 62Q) alongside one Eastern Mediterranean amphora (LRA8) and unidentified forms. The results offer the first archaeometric evidence for the contents of transport amphorae from the Villa del Tellaro, contributing new data on Late Antique trade between North Africa, the Eastern Mediterranean, and southeastern Sicily. Full article

The utilisation of cosmetic plant waxes as sustainable functional ingredients in personal care formulations is on the rise. This is due to their emollient, structuring and film-forming properties. Nevertheless, the intricate lipid composition of these substances engenders considerable analytical difficulties, impeding the reliable characterisation and quality assessment thereof. In this study, an optimised gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) workflow was developed and evaluated for the compositional profiling of waxes derived from R. succedanea and R. verniciflua, two East Asian botanical species that have historically been utilised in cosmetic and lacquer-related applications. Wax samples originating from China, Vietnam, Korea, and Japan were extracted using solvents of different polarity, including petroleum ether, dichloromethane (DCM), ethyl acetate, and acetone. Following the process of BSTFA derivatisation, the extracts were subjected to analysis by GC–MS to evaluate the efficiency of the extraction process and the chemical composition of the extracts. DCM was found to provide the highest extraction yields and the most representative compositional profiles. Across all samples, palmitic acid was identified as the predominant constituent (80–90%), followed by lower amounts of oleic acid, stearic acid, and minor monoacylglycerols. The proposed analytical workflow exhibited satisfactory reproducibility and effective discrimination of lipid constituents, thereby substantiating its application in comparative compositional evaluation, potential support for future quality assessment studies, and formulation development of cosmetic plant waxes. Full article

This study aimed to obtain the lipid fraction from cocoa bean husks by applying ethyl acetate as an extraction solvent in an ultrasound-assisted extraction process. The effects of temperature (T), time (t), and solvent:husk ratio (R) on the lipid fraction (LF) yield were evaluated. The removal of minor compounds (phytosterols and tocopherols) and total phenolics was evaluated under selected conditions, as well as the value of conjugated dienes (CDs). Extraction with n-hexane was performed for comparative purposes. The prediction of the solubility of the main compounds identified in the solvents used was conducted. The influence of the variables on LF removal was T > t > R, which provided the highest result (13.54 ± 0.47 wt%) at the highest levels adopted (70 °C, 60 min, 12 g/mL), a value 23% higher than that obtained using n-hexane. Under these conditions, there is also greater recovery of minor compounds from the peels, especially β-sitosterol, which was quantified at 43 to 50% of the concentration of these compounds. The use of ethyl acetate provided greater removal of minor compounds and total phenolics, resulting in lower primary lipid oxidation products (CD value). The relationship between these properties was evidenced by the Pearson correlation matrix, especially for stigmasterol, campesterol, total phenolics, and total minor compounds. The thermodynamic modeling reveals regimes ranging from full miscibility of liquid solutes to limited solubility of phytosterols and gallic acid; however, the contrast with experimental data indicates that real extraction is limited by kinetic barriers and plant matrix effects. The solvent extractor did not influence the fatty acid profile of the LF obtained, consisting mainly of saturated fatty acids (palmitic and stearic). Full article

The aim of the current study is to determine the nutritional value and the content of the biologically active components in kidney vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria L.). It is established that the dry biomass contains substantial amounts of proteins and carbohydrates, primarily dietary fiber, while the total oil content is relatively low (below 3.0%). The isolated glyceride oil represents the complete lipid fraction derived from all plant parts (leaves, stems, and flowers). The glyceride oil of A. vulneraria is notable for its high levels of biologically active constituents, particularly sterols, tocopherols, and phospholipids. Palmitic (30.3%) and oleic (11.5%) acids dominate the fatty acid profile; β-sitosterol, α-tocotrienol, and α-tocopherol are the major sterol and tocopherol components, respectively. On the other hand, phosphatidylinositol, together with phosphatidic acids, prevails within the phospholipid fraction. Based on the obtained fatty acid composition, several important ratios were calculated—unsaturated fatty acids (UFA)/saturated fatty acids (SFA), saturated fatty acids/monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA)/saturated fatty acids, and n-6/n-3, providing an integrated assessment of the lipid quality. The PUFA/SFA value (0.24) suggests relatively high oxidative stability. In contrast, the n-6/n-3 ratio (0.86) shows a balanced distribution of essential fatty acids, which is associated with favorable nutritional properties. Full article

The growing demand for effective delivery of active ingredients in cosmetic formulations has stimulated the development of advanced carrier systems. This study evaluates the potential of the dicephalic di-N-oxide surfactant N,N-bis [3,3-(dimethylamino)-propyl]dodecylamide (C₁₂-(DAPANO)₂) as a stabilizer for aqueous dispersions of solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) and nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs). Lipid nanoparticles were prepared using three classes of solid lipids—cetyl palmitate, glyceryl behenate, and stearic acid—through high-speed homogenization followed by ultrasonication. Their physicochemical properties were characterized using DLS, TEM, AFM, DSC, and TGA. All formulations exhibited particle sizes below 300 nm and a low polydispersity index (<0.30), indicating good uniformity. High absolute zeta potential values and stability studies confirmed excellent physical stability, with all dispersions remaining stable for at least 90 days at room temperature. Compared with bulk lipids, nanoparticles showed lower melting temperatures and reduced crystallinity. NLCs exhibited lower crystallization and melting temperatures than SLNs and displayed a more spherical morphology. Cytotoxicity assessment using J774.E macrophages revealed no adverse effects. These findings highlight the surfactant’s potential as a stabilizing agent for lipid-based cosmetic nanocarriers, supporting the development of stable systems with improved active ingredient loading and controlled release properties. Full article

Exercise is one of the safe and effective methods to improve obesity and its complications, but the mechanism has not been fully elucidated. Sestrin2 (SESN2) is a stress-induced protein that protects cells from stress damage. The role and mechanism of SESN2 in the improvement of obesity-induced cardiac dysfunction by exercise are still unclear. Male C57BL/6J mice were used to prepare a high-fat diet-induced obesity mouse model and conducted aerobic exercise training. After training, echocardiography was used to evaluate the cardiac function of mice, and HE and Masson staining were used to assess the extent of cardiac damage. Cell experiments were conducted using the H9C2 cell line derived from embryonic rat hearts, with the intervention of palmitic acid ester and exogenous SESN2. We detected indicators related to myocardial cell damage, fibrosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress, as well as the activation level of the AMPK-PGC-1α signaling pathway. The results showed that aerobic exercise significantly inhibited myocardial fibrosis, inflammation, oxidative stress, and cell damage in HFD mice, upregulated cardiac SESN2 expression, and activated the AMPK-PGC-1α signaling pathway. Cell experiments have found that exogenous SESN2 pretreatment alleviates palmitate-induced injury, inflammation, and oxidative stress in H9C2 cardiomyocytes, and activates the AMPK-PGC-1α signaling pathway. This indicates that aerobic exercise significantly upregulates the expression of SESN2 and activates the AMPK-PGC-1α signaling pathway, which is potentially involved in alleviating myocardial inflammation, oxidative stress, cardiac fibrosis and cardiac dysfunction in HFD mice. Full article

This study evaluated the effects of monolaurin intake per finishing feedlot cattle on growth performance, metabolic status, ruminal environment, and meat fatty acid profile. Twenty-four castrated Holstein males (379 ± 8.5 kg; 12 months old) were randomly assigned to two treatments: basal diet (control) or basal diet with α-monolaurin (treated: 0.762 g/kg dry matter intake; ≈6.63 g/animal/day) for 79 days. Feed intake, body weight, and feed efficiency were recorded, and blood and ruminal samples were collected during the trial. Ruminal fermentation parameters, protozoa counts, hematological and biochemical variables, oxidative status biomarkers, ruminal microbiota composition (16S rRNA sequencing), and Longissimus dorsi fatty acid profile were analyzed. Monolaurin feed did not affect dry matter intake or final body weight, but increased total weight gain, average daily gain, and feed efficiency (p ≤ 0.05), indicating improved nutrient utilization. Hematological and serum biochemical variables were largely unchanged, although total leukocyte counts were lower in treated cattle. Animals receiving monolaurin showed reduced reactive oxygen species and lower superoxide dismutase activity, suggesting improved oxidative balance without changes in lipid peroxidation. During the adaptation phase (day 14), treated cattle exhibited lower acetate, propionate, valerate, and total volatile fatty acid concentrations and higher protozoa counts, but these differences disappeared by day 79, indicating ruminal adaptation. Microbiota diversity was not altered overall, although specific genera differed in relative abundance between treatments. In meat, monolaurin increased lauric, linoleic, and arachidonic acids, reduced palmitic and heptadecanoic acids, decreased total saturated fatty acids, and increased polyunsaturated fatty acids (p ≤ 0.05). Overall, dietary monolaurin improved feed efficiency, modulated oxidative status, induced transient ruminal microbial adjustments, and enhanced the nutritional quality of beef lipids without compromising metabolic health. Full article

A newly isolated red-pigmented yeast, Sporobolomyces reniformis EMCC1691, was evaluated for its biotechnological potential in an integrated case study aimed at developing an efficient microbial cell factory for the valorization of delactosed whey. Fermentation trials in 5 L bioreactors demonstrated robust yeast growth on this dairy by-product, with complete consumption of glucose (21.86 g/L) and galactose (20.36 g/L), leading to the accumulation of approximately 6172 mg/L of lipids and 5634 µg/L of total carotenoids. Fatty acid analysis revealed a final concentration of 3924 mg/L, mainly represented by oleic (2037 mg/L), palmitic (779 mg/L), stearic (403 mg/L), and linoleic (362 mg/L) acids. HPLC analysis showed a pigment profile dominated by torularhodin, torulene, γ-carotene, and β-carotene. To complement downstream processing, the fermented culture was spray-dried into a stable powder and subsequently subjected to a simple, cost-effective, and unconventional mechanical pretreatment using a hydraulic press. This post-drying operation ensured extensive cell-wall disruption without the use of chemical agents or specialized equipment, thereby significantly enhancing the recoverability of intracellular lipids and carotenoids through supercritical CO₂ extraction. Under optimized conditions, SFE-CO₂ with ethanol recovered 92.18 ± 1.61 µg/g of total carotenoids, achieving an extraction efficiency of 84% relative to organic solvent extraction (109.17 ± 2.10 µg/g). Importantly, fermentation also reshaped the fatty acid composition of delactosed whey, shifting it toward a profile enriched in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, thereby further highlighting the metabolic impact and bioconversion potential of S. reniformis EMCC1691. Overall, this work highlights the technological relevance of a recently characterized yeast species and its potential to convert dairy by-products into high-value compounds within a proof-of-concept microbial cell factory framework, paving the way for future scale-up investigations. Full article

Background/Objectives: Vitex agnus-castus L. is a well-known medicinal herb shown to be effective in treating gynecological disorders. However, no systematic comparative studies have been conducted between V. agnus-castus leaf extract (VACLE) and Vitex agnus-castus seed extract (VACSE). We performed gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis of VACLE and VACSE and measured total phenolic and flavonoid contents. Methods: The bioactivity testing included antioxidants, antibacterial, antifungal, anticancer, and antidiabetic activities. Results: A total of 55 GC–MS compounds were identified in VACLE and 34 in VACSE; isoamyl formate (27.96%) and a pyranone derivative (14.11%) were detected exclusively in VACLE, whereas cis-linoleic acid (40.58%) and palmitic acid (21.87%) predominated in VACSE. VACLE showed significantly higher TPC (94.12 vs. 54.12 mg GAE/g DW) and TFC (82.00 vs. 42.00 mg QE/g DW). The VACLE demonstrated moderate antioxidant activity and generally stronger bioactivity than VACSE, as evidenced by its lower ABTS⁺ radical scavenging IC₅₀ value (55 vs. 70 μg/mL), antibacterial activity (MIC: 6.25–50 vs. 12.5–100 μg/mL), anticancer activity against HepG2 cells (IC₅₀: 93.2 vs. 247.5 μg/mL), and antidiabetic activity through α-amylase inhibition (IC₅₀: 28.7 vs. 70.1 μg/mL). VACSE exhibited greater antifungal activity than VACLE against all tested Candida strains, with the highest activity observed against C. parapsilosis (MIC: 6.25 ± 2.26 μg/mL). VACLE induced transcriptional changes consistent with caspase-mediated apoptosis, characterized by increased expression of caspase-8, caspase-9, and Bax and decreased expression of Bcl-2/Bcl-xL, pending protein-level confirmation. Conclusions: In conclusion, VACLE exhibits notable antioxidant, antibacterial, anticancer, and antidiabetic properties, whereas VACSE shows greater antifungal activity. These findings highlight tissue-specific differences in phytochemical composition and in vitro biological activities and provide a basis for future studies involving compound isolation, mechanistic validation, toxicity assessment, and in vivo evaluation. Full article

Phytolacca americana L. (pokeweed) is an invasive alien plant in China that experiences little herbivore or disease pressure, suggesting the presence of effective chemical defenses. Although insecticidal activity of P. americana tissues has been reported, its potential repellent effects against the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.), remain unexplored. In this study, we further optimized distillation conditions to obtain fruit extract (FE) from P. americana. Subsequently, its chemical composition was analyzed. behavioral repellency, and antennal olfactory activity against P. xylostella adults. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) tentatively identified 11 compounds, accounting for 96–99% of the total distillate composition. The major constituents in the final distillate were palmitic acid ethyl ester (26.00%), 6,10,14-trimethyl-2-pentadecanone (25.75%), and ethyl oleate (14.19%). Behavioral assays using a Y-tube olfactometer demonstrated that the FE, as well as diethyl phthalate, palmitic acid ethyl ester, and ethyl oleate, exhibited strong repellent activity against adult P. xylostella, whereas 6,10,14-trimethyl-2-pentadecanone showed moderate repellency only at high concentrations (10 μg/μL). Electroantennogram (EAG) recordings revealed robust antennal responses to the three highly repellent compounds, with ethyl oleate eliciting the strongest response (0.58 mV at 100 μg/μL). Furthermore, Diethyl phthalate shows moderate repellency to P. xylostella. These results indicate that P. americana FE mediates repellency primarily through olfactory perception and that its major constituents contribute substantially to this effect. Overall, this study provides the first laboratory evidence that P. americana FE functions as an effective olfactory repellent against P. xylostella. The findings offer preliminary proof-of-concept for developing phytogenic repellents. Full article

Caryocar coriaceum Wittm. (Caryocaraceae) is a native Brazilian species predominantly distributed in Cerrado areas and transitional regions with the Caatinga in Northeastern Brazil, whose fruits exhibit significant nutritional, technological, and biofunctional potential. This review systematizes and critically analyzes the available scientific evidence regarding the fixed oil extracted from its fruits, addressing extraction methods, chemical composition, physicochemical parameters, nutritional value, technological applications, and the main bioactivities described in experimental models. Chromatographic and bromatological studies demonstrate that the oil presents a lipid profile characterized by the predominance of monounsaturated and saturated fatty acids, especially oleic acid and palmitic acid, in addition to the presence of carotenoids, phenolic compounds, and other bioactive lipophilic constituents. Available preclinical evidence indicates antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, wound-healing, gastroprotective, respiratory, anticonvulsant, and microbial resistance-modulating properties, suggesting potential applications in the food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and biotechnological fields. From the perspective of Food Science, the oil demonstrates characteristics compatible with lipid matrices of functional interest, although aspects related to oxidative stability, compositional standardization, sensory acceptability, and industrial scale-up remain insufficiently explored. Additionally, important limitations persist regarding the scarcity of systematic toxicological studies, the absence of clinical trials in humans, and the limited elucidation of the molecular mechanisms involved in the observed bioactivities. Although C. coriaceum presents promising biotechnological potential, its translational application still depends on further multidisciplinary studies integrating chemical standardization, toxicological safety, and technological development. Full article

Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide, highlighting the critical need for non-invasive, accurate, and interpretable diagnostic tools. Metabolomic profiling of fecal microbial extracellular vesicles (EVs) offers a promising yet underexplored avenue for biomarker discovery when integrated with explainable machine learning (ML) frameworks. This study aimed to identify stool-derived microbial EV metabolite biomarkers that discriminate CRC patients from healthy controls and to develop interpretable ML classifiers for non-invasive CRC detection. Metabolomic profiles of fecal microbial EVs from 76 age- and sex-comparable participants (36 CRC, 40 controls) were obtained using LC/QTOFMS and GC/TOFMS. Three ML classifiers (TPOT, LightGBM, XGBoost) were trained and evaluated through 100-repeat stratified hold-out and nested 5-fold cross-validation, with SHAP and LIME applied for global and local interpretability. Fourteen metabolites were significantly dysregulated between the CRC and control groups (adjusted p < 0.05), with 13 upregulated and one (aminoisobutyric acid) downregulated. Furoic acid exhibited perfect diagnostic discrimination, followed by palmitic acid and tyramine. Nested cross-validation demonstrated robust performance: TPOT achieved AUC = 0.997 ± 0.005, sensitivity = 0.973 ± 0.022, and MCC = 0.957 ± 0.033. Hold-out validation corroborated these findings (AUC = 0.998 ± 0.008). SHAP analysis identified furoic acid, palmitic acid, and tyramine as the dominant predictive features, while aminoisobutyric acid exhibited a distinctive protective pattern. LIME analysis corroborated these findings at the individual prediction level. The identified fecal EV-derived metabolite panel—particularly furoic acid, palmitic acid, and tyramine—shows strong potential to predict CRC in a non-invasive, interpretable manner; however, given the modest sample size, these findings should be considered hypothesis-generating and require validation in larger, prospective, multi-center cohorts before clinical translation. Full article