Search Results (516)

Tianshanhong (TSH), black tea products originating from the Ningde Tianshan Mountain, has gained significant recognition in the market. However, the chemical characteristics contributing to the flavor of TSH have not yet been reported. To systematically investigate the non-volatile and volatile compounds in TSH, four grades of TSH were evaluated using national standard sensory methods, revealing that overall quality improved with higher grades. Based on the detection of ultra-performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS), the content of ester-type catechins was relatively high and decreased with lower grades. A total of 19 amino acids (AAs) were clustered, among them, three amino acids, L-Theanine (L-Thea), Arg, and GABA, showed highly significant correlations with the refreshing taste of TSH. Notably, the content of Arg had the highest correlation with TSH grade, with a coefficient of 0.976 (p < 0.01). According to gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis, a total of 861 kinds of volatile compounds were detected, with 282 identified and aroma-active compounds across grades selected using the PLS model. Methyl salicylate and geraniol were particularly notable, showing strong correlations with TSH grades at 0.975 and 0.987 (p < 0.01), respectively. Our findings show that non-volatile and volatile compounds can rationally grade TSH and help understand its flavor quality. Full article

Saposhnikovia divaricata (Turcz. ex Ledeb.) Schischk., commonly known as divaricate siler, is a well-known medicinal plant from the Apiaceae family. Its natural habitat is rapidly declining owing to the harvesting of its roots, used as fángfēng in traditional Oriental medicine. This underutilized herb may serve as a valuable source of bioactive phenolic compounds, which can potentially be influenced by salicylic acid (SA) elicitation—a practical method to increase the concentration of valuable substances in plants. A field study showed that foliar application of SA on one-year-old S. divaricata positively influenced the total phenolic content in the herb, with the highest increase observed at 1.0 mM SA. Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) data became increasingly complex with rising SA levels, identifying up to 48 compounds, including cinnamoyl quinic acids (CQAs), dihydrofurochromones (DFCs), and flavonol O-glycosides (FOGs), most reported for the first time in this species. The highest concentrations of CQAs, DFCs, and FOGs in plants treated with 1.0 mM SA were 83.14, 3.75, and 60.53 mg/g, respectively, compared to 42.76, 0.95, and 40.73 mg/g in untreated (0.0 mM SA) plants. Nine in vitro antioxidant assays revealed strong radical-scavenging and nitric oxide (NO)- and Fe²⁺-chelating activities in 1.0 mM SA-treated plants, indicating robust antioxidative properties of the S. divaricata herb. Thus, foliar application of SA considerably enriches the herb with target antioxidants, increasing its medicinal value, which is reflected in the plant’s biological response. This could potentially reduce the overexploitation of natural populations of S. divaricata, helping to preserve this valuable plant. Full article

Nitrogen (N) availability often limits primary productivity in terrestrial ecosystems, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can enhance plant N acquisition. This study investigated the interactive effects of N fertilization and AMF inoculation on N uptake, plant performance and phenolic acid content in Hyssopus officinalis L., with the aim of promoting sustainable N management in H. officinalis cultivation. A factorial randomized complete block design was employed to evaluate four AMF inoculation strategies (no inoculation, root inoculation, soil inoculation and combined root–soil inoculation) across three N application rates (0, 0.5 and 1,1 g N pot⁻¹ (7 L)) in a controlled greenhouse environment. Combined root and soil AMF inoculation alongside moderate N fertilization (0.5 mg N pot⁻¹) optimized N use efficiency, maximizing plant biomass and bioactive compound production. Compared to non-inoculated controls, this treatment combination increased N uptake by 30%, phosphorus uptake by 24% and potassium uptake by 22%. AMF colonization increased chlorophyll content and total phenolic compounds under moderate N supply. However, excessive N application (1 g N pot⁻¹) reduced AMF effectiveness and secondary metabolite accumulation. Notably, AMF inoculation without N fertilization yielded the highest levels of anthocyanin and salicylic acid, indicating differential N-dependent regulation of specific biosynthetic pathways. The interaction between AMF and N demonstrated that moderate N fertilization (0.5 g N pot⁻¹) combined with dual inoculation strategies can reduce total N input requirements by 50%, while maintaining optimal plant performance. These findings provide practical insights for developing N-efficient cultivation protocols in medicinal plant production systems, contributing to sustainable agricultural practices that minimize environmental N losses. Full article

Plant growth regulators of natural origin are becoming increasingly important in crop production to protect plants against various abiotic stresses and often to modulate plant pathological processes. These compounds offer the potential to enhance plant health exogenously by protecting plants against oxidative stress. Melatonin has been studied previously; however, the role of exogenous melatonin in abiotic stress tolerance and the underlying mechanisms are still less understood. In this study, potato plants were grown in vitro to study the effects of exogenous melatonin and ultrasound treatment (latter as an abiotic stress). The measured parameters included morphological data and the concentrations of melatonin and its degradation products, indole-3-acetic acid and salicylic acid, at 0 h, 24 h, 1 week, and 4 weeks after treatment. In addition, the expression levels of the genes responsible for the production of enzymes involved in melatonin synthesis were traced by RT-qPCR analysis. Melatonin added to the culture medium was taken up by the in vitro plantlets, and it participated both in the plant stress reaction and stress mitigation when an abiotic stress reaction was triggered by ultrasound. Among the degradation products, we detected N-acetyl-5-methoxykynuramine, 6-hydroxymelatonin, and 5-methoxytryptamine by UHPLC-MS. Among the enzymes involved in the synthesis of melatonin and indole-3-acetic acid, the expression levels of COMT, SNAT, TSB, TAA, ASMT, TPH, AANAT, ASMT, and TSA were measured and no pattern was observed in response to the treatments. Full article

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe₂O₄NPs), and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are widely used in various applications, such as biomedicine, environmental remediation, and agriculture. In addition, these nanomaterials can affect the production of bioactive compounds in plants that have pharmacological activities. In the current study, the in vitro plant cultures of Chinese lobelia (Lobelia chinensis Lour.) were established in MS medium and treated with 0, 12.5, 25, 37.5, and 50 mg L⁻¹ AgNPs or Fe₂O₄NPs, or MWCNTs. Initially, plants were grown for four weeks without any elicitors, and after that, the cultures were treated with nano-elicitors for one week. After five weeks, the effects of nano-elicitors were estimated on growth, total phenolic, flavonoids, polyacetylenes, and ABTS/DPPH/FRAP antioxidant activity was investigated. The results showed that lower levels of AgNPs (25 mg L⁻¹), Fe₂O₄NPs (25 mg L⁻¹), and MWCNTs (12.5 mg L⁻¹) favored the accumulation of fresh and dry biomass. Whereas, 37.5 mg L⁻¹ AgNPs, 25 mg L⁻¹ Fe₂O₄NPs, and 37.5 mg L⁻¹ MWCNTs enhanced the accumulation of total phenolics, flavonoids, specific phenolic compounds including chlorogenic acid, catechin, phloretic acid, coumaric acid, salicylic acid, naringin, myricetin, linarin, and polyacetylenes viz. lobetylonin and lobetyolin in higher concentrations. The plant extracts elicited by nanomaterials also depicted very good antioxidant activities according to ABTS, DPPH, and FRAP assays. These results suggest that specific nanomaterials, and at specific levels, could be used for the production of bioactive compounds from shoot cultures of Chinese lobelia. Full article

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) demands safer and more effective therapies to control postprandial hyperglycemia. Here, we report the synthesis and in vitro evaluation of ten salicylic acid-derived Schiff base derivatives (4a–4j) as α-glucosidase inhibitors. Compounds 4e, 4g, 4i, and 4j exhibited potent enzyme inhibition, with IC₅₀ values ranging from 14.86 to 18.05 µM—substantially better than acarbose (IC₅₀ = 45.78 µM). Molecular docking and 500 ns molecular dynamics simulations revealed stable enzyme–ligand complexes driven by π–π stacking, halogen bonding, and hydrophobic interactions. Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations and molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) maps highlighted key electronic factors, while ADMET analysis confirmed favorable drug-like properties and reduced nephrotoxicity. Structure–activity relationship (SAR) analysis emphasized the importance of halogenation and aromaticity in enhancing bioactivity. Full article

A high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD) method was optimized and validated for the simultaneous analysis of 16 phenolic compounds, namely gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, vanillic acid, caffeic acid, catechin, chlorogenic acid, vanillin, syringic acid, coumaric acid, epicatechin, ferulic acid, sinapic acid, salicylic acid, resveratrol, and quercetin, in edible fruits from spontaneous species. Following the validation protocol, the proposed analytical method met the criteria of specificity, linearity, precision, and accuracy. The validated method was then applied for the analysis of phenolic compounds in fruits of hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), cornelian cherry (Cornus mas), rosehip (Rosa canina), and blueberry (Vaccinium myrtillus). Of the phenolic compounds investigated, ten were identified in blueberry fruit (Vaccinium myrtillus), ten in cornelian cherry fruit (Cornus mas), nine in hawthorn fruit (Crataegus monogyna), and seven in rosehip fruit (Rosa canina). In the case of hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), cornelian cherry (Cornus mas), and blueberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) fruit, epicatechin was identified as the main phenolic compound, while in rosehip (Rosa canina) fruit, catechin was the phenolic with the highest content. Full article

Wild ales represent a diverse category of spontaneously fermented beers, influenced by complex microbial populations and variable ingredients. This study employed an integrated metabolomic profiling approach combining proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR) spectroscopy, liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS), and spectrophotometric assays (DPPH and FRAP) to characterize the molecular composition and antioxidant potential of 22 wild ales from six countries. A total of 53 compounds were identified and quantified using NMR, while 62 compounds were identified by using LC-MS. The compounds in question included organic acids, amino acids, sugars, alcohols, bitter acids, phenolic compounds, and others. Ingredient-based clustering revealed that the addition of dark fruits resulted in a significant increase in the polyphenolic content and antioxidant activity. Concurrently, herb-infused and light-fruit beers exhibited divergent phytochemical profiles. Prolonged aging (>18 months) has been demonstrated to be associated with increased levels of certain amino acids, fermentation-derived aldehydes, and phenolic degradation products. However, the influence of maturation duration on the antioxidant capacity was found to be less significant than that of the type of fruit. Country-specific metabolite trends were revealed, indicating the influence of regional brewing practices on beer composition. Correlation analysis was employed to identify the major contributors to antioxidant activity, with salicylic, dihydroxybenzoic, and 4-hydroxybenzoic acids being identified as the most significant. These findings underscore the biochemical intricacy of wild ales and exemplify metabolomics’ capacity to correlate compositional variation with functionality and authenticity in spontaneously fermented beverages. Full article

This work explores zinc oxide nanoparticle (ZnO NP) synthesis utilizing leaf extract of the Gaultheria fragrantissima plant that are useful in medicine, environmental remediation, and cosmetics due to their antibacterial activity, photocatalytic efficiency, and UV-blocking characteristics. Traditional synthesis methods involve energy-intensive procedures and hazardous chemicals, posing environmental and human health risks. To overcome these limitations, this research focuses on utilizing G. fragrantissima, rich in bioactive compounds such as phenolics and flavonoids, with the methyl salicylate previously reported in the literature for this species, which helps reduce and stabilize NPs. ZnO NPs were characterized through X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV–visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The ZnO NPs were found to have a well-defined crystalline structure, with their average crystallite size measured at around 8.26 nm. ZnO NPs exhibited moderate antimicrobial activity against selected microbial strains. These findings underscore the potential of G. fragrantissima-mediated synthesis as an environmentally sustainable and efficient method for producing ZnO NPs with multifunctional applications. This study provides a greener alternative to conventional synthesis approaches, demonstrating a method that is both eco-friendly and capable of yielding NPss with desirable properties. Full article

The sensory quality of black tea is intrinsically linked to cultivar genetics, yet comprehensive characterization of flavor compounds in emerging northern Guangdong black tea (NGBT) remains limited. This study employed high-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet (HPLC-UV) and headspace solid-phase microextraction coupled with GC-MS (HS-SPME-GC-MS) to analyze non-volatile and volatile compounds in five NGBT cultivars—Jinshahong (JSH), Danxia No.1 (DXY), Danxia No.2 (DXE), Yingde Black Tea (QTZ), and Yinghong No.9 (YHJ)—alongside sensory evaluation. Orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) identified key non-volatile discriminants (VIP > 1) ranked by contribution: total catechins > simple catechins > CG > EGCG > ester catechins > EGC. HS-SPME-GC-MS detected 97 volatiles, with eight aroma-active compounds exhibiting OAV > 1 and VIP > 1: Geraniol > Methyl salicylate > Linalool > β-Myrcene > Benzyl alcohol > (Z)-Linalool Oxide > Phenethyl alcohol > (Z)-Jasmone. These compounds drive cultivar-specific aromas in NGBTs. Findings establish a theoretical framework for evaluating cultivar-driven flavor quality and provide novel insights for targeted breeding and processing optimization of NGBTs. Full article

Transdermal drug delivery offers a non-invasive route for the systemic and localized administration of therapeutics; however, the skin’s barrier function limits its efficiency. This study investigates the application of various electromagnetic field (EMF) configurations to enhance the transdermal delivery of salicylic acid, a model compound with moderate lipophilicity and ionizability. Samples were exposed to pulsed, oscillating, static, and rotating magnetic fields, and their effects on physicochemical properties, thermal stability, skin permeation, and accumulation were evaluated. Structural analyses (FTIR, XRD) and thermal assessments (TGA, DSC) confirmed that EMF exposure did not alter the chemical structure or stability of salicylic acid. In vitro transdermal studies using porcine skin and Franz diffusion cells revealed that pulsed magnetic fields—especially with a 5 s on/5 s off cycle—and rotating magnetic fields at 30–50 Hz significantly enhanced drug permeation compared to controls. In contrast, static fields of negative polarity increased skin retention, suggesting their potential for controlled, localized delivery. These findings demonstrate that EMFs can be used as tunable, non-destructive tools to modulate drug transport across the skin and support their integration into transdermal delivery systems aimed at optimizing therapeutic profiles. Full article

Traditional medicinal plants are valued for their therapeutic potential, yet the full spectrum of their bioactive compounds often remains underexplored. Recent advances in multiomics technologies, including metabolomics, proteomics, and transcriptomics, combined with in vitro culture systems and elicitor-based strategies, have revolutionized our ability to characterize and enhance the production of valuable secondary metabolites. This review synthesizes current findings on the integration of these approaches to help us understand phytochemical pathways optimising bioactive compound yields. We explore how metabolomic profiling links chemical diversity with antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, how proteomic insights reveal regulatory mechanisms activated during elicitation, and how in vitro systems enable controlled manipulation of metabolic outputs. Both biotic and abiotic elicitors, such as methyl jasmonate and salicylic acid, are discussed as key triggers of phytochemical defense pathways. Further, we examine the potential of multiomics-informed metabolic engineering and synthetic biology to scale production and discover novel compounds. By aligning traditional ethnobotanical knowledge with modern biotechnology, this integrative framework offers a powerful avenue to unlock the pharmacological potential of medicinal plants for sustainable and innovative therapeutic development. Full article

Various metabolic modulators have been widely used in recent years to increase the accumulation of desired secondary metabolites in medicinal plants, although most studies to date have focused on in vitro systems. Although simpler and cheaper, their potential application in vivo is still limited. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the effect of three chemically different elicitors (150 mg/L chitosan lactate—ChL; 10 mg/L selenium as selenite—Se; 100 mg/L salicylic acid—SA) applied to the soil substrate on some aspects of the secondary metabolism and physiological responses of Chelidonium majus L. Using HPLC-DAD, six isoquinoline alkaloids were identified and quantified in shoot extracts. LC-ESI-TOF-MS analysis confirmed the molecular identity of all target alkaloids, supporting the identification. The strongest stimulatory effect on the accumulation of protopine, berberine, and allocryptopine was observed with the Se and SA treatment, whereas ChL was less effective. In turn, the dominant alkaloids (coptisine and chelidonine) remained unaffected. There was also an increase in total phenolic compounds, but not in soluble flavonols. The elicitor treatments caused an increase in the antioxidant activity of the plant extracts obtained. Regardless of the metabolic modulator type, the strongest effect was generally observed on days 7 and 10 after application. No visual signs of toxicity and no effect on shoot biomass were found, although some elicitor-induced changes in the oxidative status (increased H₂O₂ accumulation and enhanced lipid peroxidation) and free proline levels in leaves were observed. We suggest that Se or SA can be applied to C. majus grown in a controlled pot culture to obtain high-quality raw material and extracts with increased contents of valuable specialized metabolites and enhanced antioxidant capacity. Full article

Poplar leaves (Populi folium) are a herbal remedy traditionally used for the treatment of rheumatic diseases and prostate inflammation. The aim of our study was a comprehensive identification of secondary metabolites occurring in the leaves of Populus alba, Populus × candicans, and Populus nigra, in order to search for a source of raw plant material rich in active compounds. Total salicylate (TSC), flavonoid (TFC), and phenolic compound (TPC) contents were determined, and the antioxidant potential was assessed using DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl), ABTS (2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline- 6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt), and FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power) assays as well as 2D-TLC (two-dimensional thin layer chromatography) bioautography using DPPH, riboflavin-light-NBT (nitro blue tetrazolium chloride), and xanthine oxidase inhibition tests. Secondary metabolites present in the analyzed poplar leaves were identified under the developed HPLC-DAD-ESI/MS (high performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection and electrospray ionization mass spectrometric detection analysis conditions and using the 2D-TLC method. Among the 80 identified compounds, 13 were shown for the first time in the genus Populus. The most diverse and similar set of flavonoids characterized the leaves of P. × candicans and P. nigra, while numerous salicylic compounds were present in the leaves of P. alba and P. × candicans. All analyzed leaves are a rich source of phenolic compounds. The highest flavonoid content was found in the leaves of P. × candicans and P. nigra, while the leaves of P. alba were characterized by the highest content of salicylates. All examined poplar leaves demonstrated antioxidant potential in all the assays used, which decreased in the following order: P. nigra, P. × candicans, P. alba. Full article

Current tomato harvesters rely primarily on external color as the sole indicator of ripeness. However, this approach often results in premature harvesting, leading to insufficient lycopene accumulation and a suboptimal nutritional content for human consumption. Such limitations are especially critical in controlled-environment agriculture (CEA) systems, where maximizing fruit quality and nutrient density is essential for both the yield and consumer health. To address that challenge, this study introduces a novel, multimodal harvest readiness framework tailored to nutrient film technology (NFT)-based smart farms. The proposed approach integrates plant-level stress diagnostics and fruit-level phenotyping using wearable biosensors, AI-assisted computer vision, and non-invasive physiological sensing. Key physiological markers—including the volatile organic compound (VOC) methanol, phytohormones salicylic acid (SA) and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), and nutrients nitrate and ammonium concentrations—are combined with phenomic traits such as fruit color (a*), size, chlorophyll index (rGb), and water status. The innovation lies in a four-stage decision-making pipeline that filters physiologically stressed plants before selecting ripened fruits based on internal and external quality indicators. Experimental validation across four plant conditions (control, water-stressed, light-stressed, and wounded) demonstrated the efficacy of VOC and hormone sensors in identifying optimal harvest candidates. Additionally, the integration of low-cost electrochemical ion sensors provides scalable nutrient monitoring within NFT systems. This research delivers a robust, sensor-driven framework for autonomous, data-informed harvesting decisions in smart indoor agriculture. By fusing real-time physiological feedback with AI-enhanced phenotyping, the system advances precision harvest timing, improves fruit nutritional quality, and sets the foundation for resilient, feedback-controlled farming platforms suited to meeting global food security and sustainability demands. Full article