Search Results (5,024)

Background/Objectives: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, and oxidative stress, leading to severe systemic complications. Medicinal plants rich in polyphenolic compounds have gained increasing attention as complementary therapeutic agents. This study aimed to comparatively evaluate the chemical composition, as well as the antidiabetic, hypolipidemic, and antioxidant effects of Polygonum persicaria and Vaccinium myrtillus in a streptozotocin-induced diabetic model. Although Vaccinium myrtillus has been more extensively investigated for its antidiabetic potential, the pharmacological relevance of Polygonum persicaria in diabetes remains insufficiently characterized, particularly in direct comparison with a recognized phytotherapeutic comparator. Methods: Hydroalcoholic tinctures prepared from Polygonum persicaria L. herb and Vaccinium myrtillus L. leaves were subjected to phytochemical analysis using High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) for the identification of flavonoids and phenolcarboxylic acids, alongside spectrophotometric determination of total polyphenol and flavonoid content. Experimental diabetes was induced in CD1 mice by streptozotocin administration. Animals were treated orally for 35 days, and glycemic parameters, lipid profile, body weight, food and water intake, and oxidative stress markers (MDA, SOD, TAC, and GPx) were evaluated. Results: HPTLC/CSS screening indicated the presence of rutin, chlorogenic acid, and caffeic acid in Polygonum persicaria, while Vaccinium myrtillus showed stronger densitometric signals for phenolcarboxylic acid-type compounds, particularly chlorogenic and caffeic acids. Total polyphenol and flavonoid content were also higher in Vaccinium myrtillus (433.89 ± 8.67 mg/L GAE; 154.38 ± 3.08 mg/L QE) compared to Polygonum persicaria (269.28 ± 5.25 mg/L GAE; 132.75 ± 2.65 mg/L QE). Functionally, Vaccinium myrtillus demonstrated a significant antihyperglycemic effect from day 14 (p = 0.009) and improved lipid parameters, while Polygonum persicaria showed a delayed glycemic effect, significant only at day 35 (p = 0.014), without significant hypolipidemic activity. In contrast, Polygonum persicaria exerted a marked antioxidant effect, significantly increasing GPx activity (p = 0.025) and reducing MDA levels (p = 0.053). Conclusions: Vaccinium myrtillus showed stronger antihyperglycemic and hypolipidemic effects, while Polygonum persicaria was mainly associated with antioxidant-related biochemical changes. These differences may be influenced by phytochemical composition, but they cannot be attributed solely to total polyphenol or flavonoid content. Full article

Japonica rice offers high cost-effectiveness and yield, with the potential to replace glutinous rice in Chinese sweet rice wine (CSRW) brewing. It can be classified into aromatic and non-aromatic types, but whether different varieties cause flavor and metabolite differences in CSRW remains unclear. In this study, glutinous rice (GR), three aromatic japonica varieties (CS-217, HXR-450, SXJ-1018), and two non-aromatic varieties (TA-1, HR-1212) were used as raw materials. The qualities of different CSRWs were evaluated through physicochemical indices, sensory evaluation, phenolic and flavonoid contents, antioxidant capacities, HS-GC-IMS, and UPLC-MS/MS. The results showed that CS-217 displayed the highest total acid content, along with excellent overall sensory evaluation, total phenolic content, and antioxidant capacity. A total of 28 VOCs were identified by HS-GC-IMS, among which 13 compounds with VIP ≥ 1, including butyl isobutyrate, butyl acetate, and ethyl pentanoate, were identified as key flavor discriminant factors. Additionally, 2501 non-volatile metabolites were identified, and five key metabolic pathways were revealed. These pathways synergistically regulate CSRW flavor and nutritional quality. Different japonica rice varieties exhibited respective advantages in CSRW quality indicators, providing a basis for the diversification of raw materials in CSRW production. Full article

In contemporary research on natural bioactive compounds, increasing emphasis is placed on the development of efficient and sustainable extraction technologies. This study aimed to develop and optimize an innovative extraction process for wild cyclamen (Cyclamen purpurascens Mill.) tubers to maximize the yield of total extractives using a Box–Behnken design. The effects of four extraction parameters were evaluated on the system response. A second-order polynomial model accurately described the extraction process, yielding a coefficient of determination of 0.919. The liquid-to-solid ratio was identified as the dominant factor affecting the extraction efficiency compared to the other factors investigated. The optimal extraction conditions were as follows: extraction time of 15.5 min, 13% (v/v) ethanol, liquid-to-solid ratio of 13.5 mL/g, and extraction temperature of 34 °C, resulting in a yield of 53.44%. The optimized process yielded a significant saponin content of 16.19 g/100 g, while the levels of phenolic compounds (132.52 mg GAE/100 g) and flavonoids (12.04 mg QE/100 g) were also quantified. UHPLC–ESI–MS/MS analysis confirmed the presence of triterpene saponins, flavonoids, and terpenoids. DPPH, ABTS⁺, and CUPRAC assays indicated the antioxidant potential of the extract, while the minimum inhibitory concentration assay showed antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The established chemical profile and observed biological activities provide the basis for further evaluation of wild cyclamen tubers as a source of bioactive secondary metabolites. Full article

Morus alba L. fruit extract (MFE), which is rich in cyanidin 3-glucoside (C3G), demonstrates antioxidant properties and pharmacological effects, but its reproductive safety remains poorly understood. Polyphenols modulate steroidogenesis, spermatogenesis, and sperm acrosome integrity; therefore, toxicity assessment is needed for use. This study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant profiles and subchronic reproductive effects of MFE. MFE was standardized using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. Male rats were administered MFE (250 or 500 mg/kg BW) for 56 days. Assessments included computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA), testosterone, seminal fructosamine, and testicular CYP11A1 and androgen receptor (AR) expression. Acrosomal status was determined using PNA lectin staining. The results showed that MFE contained C3G (119.42 mg/g), antioxidant capacity (DPPH IC₅₀: 0.101 mg/mL; FRAP: 465.01 µmol Fe (II)/g), and total contents (phenolics: 41.15 mg GAE/g; flavonoids: 3.15 mg CE/g; anthocyanidins: 11.04 mg C3G/g). MFE did not alter testicular histology and seminiferous stages VII-IX. High doses significantly increased sperm concentration, while both doses reduced sperm beat cross frequency. Testosterone, fructosamine, and CYP11A1/AR expressions showed increasing trends. Significantly, high doses induced a precocious acrosome reaction. In conclusion, MFE has no reproductive toxicity and pro-fertility effects on sperm quantity or androgenic markers, supporting safe subchronic use. Full article

To identify quality markers (Q-markers) for daodi authenticity evaluation of Lycium barbarum L., a comprehensive strategy integrating appearance trait analysis, multi-component quantification, and chemometrics was developed. Forty-five sample batches were collected from four major producing areas in China, namely Ningxia (NX), Gansu (GS), Qinghai (QH), and Inner Mongolia (NM). Appearance traits (50-fruit weight, moisture, and color) and the contents of polysaccharide, total sugar, betaine, zeaxanthin dipalmitate, and 27 small-molecule compounds, including flavonoids and phenolics, were determined using UV–vis spectrophotometry, HPLC-CAD, and UPLC-MS/MS. Pearson correlation analysis revealed a significant negative association between polysaccharide and total sugar (r = −0.344, p < 0.05), suggesting a possible allocation shift between the two carbohydrate fractions, while zeaxanthin dipalmitate strongly correlated with redness (r = 0.609, p < 0.01). Principal component analysis identified total sugar, polysaccharide, scopoletin, and scopolin as key discriminatory variables. AHP-CRITIC combined weighting highlighted polysaccharide (weight 0.195) and zeaxanthin dipalmitate (weight 0.157) as candidate core Q-markers. Top-ranked comprehensive scores predominantly belonged to samples from NX and GS, chemically supporting the traditional daodi authenticity. This dual-dimensional “efficacy–trait” framework provides a robust, traceable basis for origin authentication and quality standard improvement of L. barbarum. Full article

Bauhinia forficata leaves were subjected to ultrasonic pretreatment and subsequently dried using a refractance window (RW) and tray drying (TD). The physical, chemical, and biological properties of the dried leaves were evaluated under both drying methods, with and without ultrasound. RW combined with ultrasound (RW-US) resulted in the shortest drying time (90 min) and the lowest values of water activity (0.21), color difference (ΔE = 0.61), and maximum shear force (14.72 N), indicating improved drying efficiency and texture preservation. In addition, the RW-US samples exhibited the highest water solubility capacity (13.75%), water absorption capacity (5.56 g water/g dry matter), and swelling power (9.95%). With respect to structural changes, thickness showed the greatest percentage reduction during drying. The RW-US treatment also preserved bioactive compounds more effectively, yielding the highest total polyphenol content (61.96 mg GAE/g extract), flavonoid content (308.44 mg QE/g extract), antioxidant activity (60.50% by DPPH• and 70.15% by ABTS•+), and chlorophyll content (2.65 mg/g), the values of which were closest to those of fresh leaves. None of the extracts showed cytotoxic effects, with respect to hypoglycemic activity, the best treatments were RW, RW-US, and TD, which resulted in glucose reductions of 51.64%, 41.95% and 39.70%, respectively. Overall, RW-US drying preserved most of the physical, chemical, and biological properties, resulting in the production of a potential functional ingredient for foods. Full article

Arnica montana L. is a valuable medicinal plant with strong anti-inflammatory properties attributed to its high levels of antioxidants and specific metabolites. The species is endemic to Europe, and its natural populations are threatened by habitat disturbance and poor management. In vitro plant cultures are an alternative method for rapid plant multiplication and the controlled synthesis of biologically active substances. Elicitation is a common strategy for inducing physiological changes and defense responses in plants, thereby increasing their antioxidant potential and the synthesis of specialized metabolites. Methyl jasmonate, a plant growth regulator involved in the modulation of plant growth and development at morphological and molecular levels, has gained increasing attention as an elicitor. In the present study, three concentrations of MeJA (50, 100, and 200 μM) were applied for 3 and 7 days to evaluate their effects on growth, antioxidant capacity, and accumulation of caffeoylquinic acids in in vitro shoots of arnica. Seven-day MeJA treatment reduced growth parameters and was accompanied by increased activities of antioxidant enzymes SOD and APX, as well as elevated levels of water-soluble antioxidants, which correlated with the enhanced accumulation of caffeoylquinic acids, total phenolics, and flavonoids. The results demonstrate that MeJA affected shoot growth and antioxidant potential of A. montana, with concentration and treatment duration playing a critical role in response magnitude. Full article

Natural extracts derived from plants and algae are increasingly recognized for their ability to modulate plant growth and physiological processes due to their rich content of bioactive compounds. Depending on their composition and concentration, these extracts may act as biostimulants, enhancing germination, stress tolerance, and antioxidant activity, or may exhibit inhibitory effects. This study aimed to determine the effects of extracts from Ascophyllum nodosum, Fucus vesiculosus, and Sideritis scardica, prepared using different solvents, on germination parameters, early growth, chlorophyll content, chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters, secondary metabolite levels (phenolic compounds and flavonoids), and antioxidant activity in mung bean (Vigna radiata L.). The results showed that aqueous and hydroethanolic extracts were generally safe for germination, maintaining high germination capacity, whereas 10% ethanolic extracts exhibited pronounced inhibitory effects, reducing germination energy to as low as 8%. Secondary metabolism was markedly affected, particularly by S. scardica extracts, with dose-dependent changes observed in total phenolic and flavonoid contents. Despite these biochemical alterations, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters remained stable, indicating the absence of photoinhibitory stress. Overall, the results indicate that the biological activity of the extracts depends strongly on solvent type and concentration, which determine whether they act as biostimulants or inhibitors by modulating early growth, metabolism, and physiological status. These findings provide a basis for the development of optimized plant- and algae-based biostimulant formulations. Full article

Fruits of edible plants belonging to the Rosoideae subfamily are widely consumed as foods or utilized as herbs by various traditional medicine systems. Although these plants are mostly known for their rich phenolic content, there are only limited studies exploiting the relationship between their phenolic composition and bioactivities. The present study constitutes an exploratory chemical and bioactivity screening of fruits harvested from the following eight wildly grown edible Rosoideae plant species: Rosa canina, Rosa sempervirens, Rosa pulverulenta, Rosa arvensis, Fragaria vesca, Rubus sanctus, Rubus idaeus and Sanguisorba officinalis. In this context, the total phenolic and flavonoid contents of the investigated fruits were determined, and the presence of selected individual phenolic compounds was quantified. In addition, their antioxidant properties were evaluated by applying the ABTS and DPPH• assays, and their antiproliferative properties were assessed against selected tumor cell lines. Finally, the antiviral properties of fruits were investigated against fourteen common viruses. Respective results highlighted ellagic acid as the prevailing phenolic molecule for six investigated species, whereas several extracts displayed varying levels of antioxidant activities and moderate antiproliferative effects in the tested models. Furthermore, most extracts exhibited an inhibitory effect against Influenza viruses A (H1N1 and H3N2) and B, displaying IC₅₀ values ranging from 0.6 to 4 μg/mL, comparable to currently used antiviral agents. Finally, the Rubus idaeus and Rosa canina fruit extracts were active against adenovirus-2. Since the bioactivities determined herein are based on single biological replicates, they are considered an indicative lead that provides an initial basis for prioritizing these edible Rosoideae species for future studies, which will involve a more detailed characterization of their bioactive phenolic constituents and more extensive, replicated biological experiments. Full article

Background: The residues of Camphora officinarum c.t. borneol after essential oil extraction are often discarded, causing resource waste and environmental pollution, while the edible fungi industry is facing a shortage of traditional cultivation substrates. Methods: This study integrated UPLC-MS/MS and GC-MS to comprehensively profile volatile and non-volatile metabolites. Samples included fresh branches and leaves (ZSXY) and residues after steam distillation (ZSZL), boiling combined with distillation (ZSSZ), and sun-drying after distillation (ZSSG). Results: In total, 2454 metabolites across 25 categories were detected. PCA revealed clear separation between fresh samples and all processed samples, with ZSZL and ZSSZ exhibiting similar metabolic profiles that were distinctly separated from ZSSG. Compared with ZSXY, most metabolites decreased after processing. ZSSG exhibited the strongest degradation, with 1408 down-regulated and only 146 up-regulated metabolites, and total terpenoid content decreased by 92.27%. ZSZL retained the highest levels of nutrients (e.g., amino acids and nucleotides) and bioactive compounds (e.g., phenolic acids, flavonoids, terpenoids), with 322 up-regulated metabolites. Among the specific comparisons, 113, 212, and 487 differentially accumulated metabolites were identified in ZSXY vs. ZSZL, ZSXY vs. ZSSZ, and ZSXY vs. ZSSG, respectively. KEGG enrichment revealed distinct pathway alterations: monoterpenoid degradation and biosynthesis pathways were activated in ZSZL, nitrogen metabolism-related pathways were disturbed in ZSSZ, and both limonene and pinene degradation and aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis pathways were enriched in ZSSG. Conclusions: Based on metabolomic profiling, steam distillation residues exhibited favorable retention of nutrients and bioactive compounds, whereas sun-drying led to excessive metabolite loss. These findings support the valorization of processing residues and promote circular agriculture. However, whether these residues can serve as effective substrates for edible fungi cultivation remains to be tested in dedicated cultivation trials. Full article

Optimizing the extraction of bioactive compounds from Solidago sp. is essential for the development of plant-derived products with therapeutic and nutraceutical potential. Microwave-assisted (MW) and thermal maceration (TM) extraction of S. canadensis aerial parts were comparatively investigated to maximize total flavonoid content (TFC). The obtained extracts were subsequently freeze-dried for storage prior to chemical and biological analyses. Extraction conditions were optimized using a Box–Behnken design. Chemical characterization was performed by FTIR, HPLC-PDA, LC-MS/MS, and GC-MS, enabling detailed profiling of phenolic compounds and terpenoids. Antioxidant capacity was assessed using the DPPH radical scavenging assay, while cytotoxic activity was evaluated against HepG2, HCT-8, and HT-29 tumor cell lines, with HEK-293 cells used as a non-tumorigenic control cell line. Multivariate analysis (PCA) was applied to establish relationships between phytochemical composition and biological responses. Higher TFC values were obtained using MW extraction, whereas TM extracts exhibited greater antioxidant activity. Both extract types induced selective cytotoxic effects against tumor cell lines, while maintaining negligible toxicity toward normal HEK-293 cells. PCA revealed distinct clustering patterns between MW and TM extracts and confirmed a strong association between phenolic composition and bioactivity. The combination of optimized extraction, freeze-drying, and integrated chemical–biological evaluation produced S. canadensis extracts with well-defined phytochemical profiles and biological activity, supporting their potential use in nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical applications. Full article

Salvia fruticosa Mill. (Anatolian sage) is an important medicinal and aromatic plant widely valued for its essential oil and phenolic compounds. Harvesting practices may influence both biomass yield and the chemical quality of plant raw materials. This study evaluated the effects of manual and machine harvesting on selected physical characteristics, essential oil composition, mineral content, and antioxidant-related phytochemical properties of S. fruticosa cultivated under Central Anatolian conditions, together with the operational performance of both harvesting methods. Manual harvesting resulted in higher fresh and dry biomass yields and a greater essential oil content (2.03%) compared with machine harvesting (1.57%). Mineral analysis showed that Ca, Zn, Cu, and B concentrations were higher in manually harvested samples, whereas K and Mg contents were slightly higher in machine-harvested plants. Essential oil characterization demonstrated that 1,8-cineole was the dominant compound and its proportion differed markedly between harvesting methods, reaching 43.07% in manual harvesting and 21.77% in machine harvesting. Antioxidant activity determined by the DPPH assay was 0.093 mg TE mL⁻¹ for manual harvesting and 0.096 mg TE mL⁻¹ for machine harvesting. Additional phytochemical analyses revealed total phenolic contents of 134.6 and 129.3 mg GAE g⁻¹ extract, total flavonoid contents of 22.7 and 25.2 mg QE g⁻¹ extract and FRAP values of 382 and 336 µmol Fe²⁺ g⁻¹ extract for manual and machine harvesting, respectively. These findings indicate that harvesting technique affects certain compositional parameters but causes only limited changes in the overall antioxidant potential of S. fruticosa extracts. Full article

Flavonoids play critical roles in plant adaptation to abiotic stress by acting as potent antioxidants that regulate reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis. In Atriplex canescens (Pursh) Nutt., a halophytic shrub well-adapted to saline and arid environments, transcriptomic analyses revealed that salt stress induces strong upregulation of flavanone 3-hydroxylase (F3H), a key enzyme in the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway. However, the functional role of AcF3H in stress adaptation remains poorly understood. Here, we cloned the AcF3H gene from A. canescens and generated transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. lines constitutively overexpressing this gene. Overexpression of AcF3H significantly enhanced flavonoid accumulation, as confirmed by DPBA staining and total flavonoid quantification, and selectively upregulated the expression of downstream biosynthetic genes AcDFR and AcANS, which encode the dihydroflavonol 4-reductase (DFR) and anthocyanidin synthase (ANS), respectively. Under salt and drought stress, transgenic lines exhibited improved root elongation, increased shoot and root biomass, and higher relative water content compared to wild-type plants. Mechanistic investigations revealed that AcF3H overexpression led to reduced H₂O₂ accumulation and lower plasma membrane permeability under stress conditions, indicating enhanced antioxidative capacity and cellular membrane stability. These results suggest that AcF3H confers enhanced tolerance to abiotic stresses by promoting flavonoid-mediated ROS homeostasis. Our findings highlight AcF3H as a promising genetic target for engineering salt- and drought-tolerant crops. Full article

Bacopa monnieri (BM) is a traditional medicinal herb that has been reported to have neuroprotective and cognitive-enhancing properties. In this study, the antioxidant, safety, and neuroprotective properties of BM extract (BME) were assessed in a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) model of cognitive impairment. Ethanol was used for extraction, after which the ethanolic extract was profiled to characterize total phenolic and flavonoid content and major bioactive constituents. The assessment of antioxidant activity was done through several in vitro tests (DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, NBT, OARC, and metal chelation). Toxicity was assessed in Caenorhabditis elegans using pharyngeal pumping and food clearance tests. For in vivo evaluation, rats were pre-treated with BME, and then LPS was administered, followed by evaluation of cognitive performance by the Morris water maze and Y-maze test. Phytochemical examination revealed the existence of phenolics and flavonoids, as well as bacoside A components. The extract showed good antioxidant activity, mainly via hydrogen atom transfer and single-electron transfer, suggesting effective radical scavenging and reducing ability, but no metal chelating activity was observed. Toxicity tests demonstrated that lower concentrations of the extract were well tolerated, and higher concentrations resulted in temporary inhibition of feeding behavior, indicating mild, dose-dependent effects. In the LPS-induced rat model, the inflammatory challenge produced significant cognitive deficits relative to normal controls, validating the model. Pre-treatment with BME at 70 mg/kg did not produce statistically significant rescue of any behavioral endpoint compared with the LPS-only group, although small-to-medium effect sizes in the protective direction were observed for several measures. Additionally, BME modulated LPS-induced neuroinflammatory responses by reducing cortical IL-1β, TNF-α, iNOS, and COX-2 levels while enhancing hippocampal AChE and PGE2 activity, suggesting region-specific anti-inflammatory and cholinergic regulatory effects. The most robust positive findings of this study are therefore the phytochemical characterization and the in vitro antioxidant profile of this standardized extract, which support its potential as a candidate for further investigation in inflammation-related cognitive impairment; the in vivo findings are preliminary and warrant confirmation in larger-scale, dose-ranging studies. Full article

Organic fruit production is associated with a specific form of farm management: no artificial pesticides or mineral fertilizers are allowed. Only natural methods of fertilization and plant protection, including preventive practices, are used. The Organic Production Regulation describes all organic farming practices. Fruits from organic production are often perceived by consumers as safe and potentially beneficial to health. Pears contain many bioactive compounds from the polyphenol and carotenoid groups. In the present study, three pear cultivars, namely ‘Alexander Lucas’, ‘Conference’, and ‘Xenia’, grown under organic and conventional systems, were examined during the 2019–2020 cultivation season. The contents of polyphenols, carotenoids, chlorophylls, and vitamin C in pear fruits were measured using total and HPLC methods. Compared with conventional pears, organic pears were characterized by significantly higher vitamin C (8.99 mg/100 g fresh weight), total polyphenol (108.20 mg/100 g F.W.), total flavonoid (63.92 mg/100 g F.W.), total carotenoid (14.58 mg/100 g F.W.), and total chlorophyll (4.29 mg/100 g F.W.) contents. Among the three examined cultivars, ‘Xenia’ exhibited the highest concentrations of several analysed phytochemicals. The growing season significantly affected the phytochemical composition and quality attributes of pear fruits. Full article