Natural Compounds in Plants

Prunella vulgaris L. (PV) is a well-known renewable drug resource full of different groups of biologically active substances with a wide range of pharmacological actions and applications in medicine. In this review, we present an updated comprehensive overview of the botany, extracting methods, chemical composition, and pharmacological activity of different parts of PV extracts. As a result of this review, it was found that chemical composition of PV depends on various factors ranging from the part of the plant to the method of extraction. We also highlight extraction methods that have not been previously used for obtaining PV extracts and may have high scientific interest. With this review, we hope to guide present and future professionals and provide possible previously unexplored areas to find new solutions associated with PV plant. Full article

(1) Background: Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) is a staple food cereal for most of the rural populations in sub-Saharan Africa. In Burkina Faso, a great diversity of sorghum cultivar is cultivated, but its nutritional potential still needs to be assessed. This study aims to characterize the physicochemical and nutritional profile of grains from 15 sorghum cultivars grown in Burkina Faso in order to identify the best ones for selection and breeding programs. (2) Methods: The physicochemical, nutritional, and antioxidant-activity characterizations of the grains were performed according to standard methods. (3) Results: The study shows significant differences between cultivars according to the physicochemical traits of the grains, such as 1000-grain weight, moisture, and germination rate. For nutritional parameters, the best contents of carbohydrates (79.36%), proteins (9.21%), and fats (4.40%) were recorded with cultivars V12, V8, and V11, respectively. The heavy grains are flouriest with high contents of carbohydrates with high ABTS antiradical activity. However, these grains have low contents of proteins and flavonoids. Those with high ash contents are the richest in amylose and phenolic compounds. Principal component analysis based on physicochemical and nutritional characteristics of sorghum grains identified four groups of varieties with specific characteristics. Group 1 (G1), which includes cultivars V1, V12, V13, V14, and V15, is characterized by a high weight of 1000 grains and mealy cultivars with relatively high total carbohydrate content and ABTS^.+ antiradical activity. Group 2 (G2) includes cultivars V7, V9, and V11 and is characterized by cultivars with low 1000-grain weight, less floury but good germination rate, high protein, flavonoids, and relatively high antioxidant activity. Group 3 (G3) includes cultivars V3, V4, and V8 with relatively high ash, amylose, and polyphenol contents, while group 4 (G4), which includes cultivars V2 and V6, has high antioxidant activity and high fatty acid content. Conclusions: The study recorded a variation of physicochemical and nutritional characteristics of sorghum grain according to cultivars. The cultivars were divided into four groups. Among them, the group 1 cultivars have the best nutritional traits and could therefore be used in breeding and selection programs to improve the nutritional potential of sorghum. Full article

Salvia lavandulifolia Vahl essential oil is becoming more popular as a cognitive enhancer and treatment for memory loss. It is high in natural antioxidants and has spasmolytic, antiseptic, analgesic, sedative, and anti-inflammatory properties. Its aqueous extract has hypoglycemic activity and is used to treat diabetic hyperglycemia, but few studies have focused on it. The objective of this work is to evaluate the various biological and pharmacological powers of Salvia lavandulifolia Vahl leaf aqueous extract. Quality control of the plant material was first carried out. Followed by a phytochemical study on the aqueous extract of S. lavandulifolia leaves, namely phytochemical screening and determination of total polyphenols, flavonoids, and condensed tannins contents. Then, the biological activities were undertaken, in particular the antioxidant activity (total antioxidant activity and trapping of the DPPH° radical) and the antimicrobial activity. The chemical composition of this extract was also determined by HPLC-MS-ESI. Finally, the inhibitory effect of the α-amylase enzyme as well as the antihyperglycaemic effect was evaluated in vivo in normal rats overloaded with starch or D-glucose. The aqueous extract obtained by use of the decoction of leaves of S. lavandulifolia contains 246.51 ± 1.69 mg EQ of gallic acid/g DE, 23.80 ± 0.12 mg EQ quercetin/g DE, and 2.46 ± 0.08 mg EQ catechin /g DE. Its total antioxidant capacity is around 527.03 ± 5.95 mg EQ of ascorbic acid/g DE. At a concentration of 5.81 ± 0.23 µg/mL, our extract was able to inhibit 50% of DPPH° radicals. Moreover, it showed bactericidal effect against Proteus mirabilis, fungicidal against Aspergillus niger, Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and fungistatic against Candida krusei. A marked antihyperglycemic activity (AUC = 54.84 ± 4.88 g/L/h), as well as a significant inhibitory effect of α-amylase in vitro (IC₅₀ = 0.99 ± 0.00 mg/mL) and in vivo (AUC = 51.94 ± 1.29 g/L/h), is recorded in our extract. Furthermore, its chemical composition reveals the presence of 37.03% rosmarinic acid, 7.84% quercetin rhamnose, 5.57% diosmetin-rutinoside, 5.51% catechin dimer, and 4.57% gallocatechin as major compounds. The antihyperglycemic and α-amylase inhibitory activities, associated with the antioxidant properties of S. lavandulifolia, justify its use in the treatment of diabetes in traditional medicine and highlight its potential introduction into antidiabetic drugs. Full article

Saponins represent important natural derivatives of plant triterpenoids that are secondary plant metabolites. Saponins, also named glycoconjugates, are available both as natural and synthetic products. This review is focused on saponins of the oleanane, ursane, and lupane types of triterpenoids that include several plant triterpenoids displaying various important pharmacological effects. Additional convenient structural modifications of naturally-occurring plant products often result in enhancing the pharmacological effects of the parent natural structures. This is an important objective for all semisynthetic modifications of the reviewed plant products, and it is included in this review paper as well. The period covered by this review (2019–2022) is relatively short, mainly due to the existence of previously published review papers in recent years. Full article

Nitrogen is a major plant macronutrient and its supply affects the entire metabolism of plants. This study evaluated the effect of different nitrogen concentrations in the nutrient solution: 0, 4.2, 8.4, and 12.6 mg L⁻¹ Mexican marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) var. Inca plants in an open soilless culture system under greenhouse conditions on the concentration of chlorophylls, carotenoids, phenolics, and flavonoids derived from the secondary metabolism, as well as on the antioxidant activity in different tissues. With the 12.6 mg N L⁻¹ dose, chlorophylls a, b, and total chlorophyll concentrations increased by 98.8, 11.9, and 56.6%, respectively. The highest concentrations of total carotenoids in flowers, 28–30%, were recorded in plants with doses of 8.4 mg N L⁻¹. With doses of 12.6 mg N L⁻¹, phenolic compounds and total flavonoids increased in leaves, but decreased in flowers. The low and medium N concentrations increased the antioxidant activity with respect to the control without N by 53% and 50.2%, respectively. We conclude that the applications of N in Tagetes erecta differentially affected the concentrations of photosynthetic pigments and biomolecules with antioxidant capacity, and that such effects were dependent on the doses of N tested and the plant organ evaluated. Full article

Lysiphyllum strychnifolium (Craib) A. Schmitz (LS) has been traditionally used as a medicinal herb by folk healers in Thailand with rare evidence-based support. Hepatic cytochrome P450s (CYPs450) are well known as the drug-metabolizing enzymes that catalyze all drugs and toxicants. In this study, we investigated the mRNA levels of six clinically important CYPs450, i.e., CYP1A2, 3A2, 2C11, 2D1, 2D2, and 2E1, in rats given LS extracts. Seventy Wistar rats were randomized into seven groups (n = 10). Each group was given LS stem ethanol (SE) and leaf water (LW) extracts orally at doses of 300, 2000, and 5000 mg/kg body weight (mg/kg.bw) for twenty-eight consecutive days. After treatment, the expression of CYPs450 genes was measured using quantitative real-time PCR. The results revealed that SE and LW, which contained quercetin and gallic acid, promoted the upregulation of all CYPs450. Almost all CYPs450 genes were downregulated in all male LW-treated rats but upregulated in female-treated groups, suggesting that CYP gene expressions in LS-treated rats were influenced by gender. Moderate and high doses of the LS extracts had a tendency to induce six CYP450s’ transcription levels in both rat genders. CYP2E1 gene showed a unique expression level in male rats receiving SE at a dose of 2000 mg/kg.bw, whereas a low dose of 300 mg/kg.bw was found in the LW-treated female group. As a result, our findings suggest that different doses of LS extracts can moderate the varying mRNA expression of clinically relevant CYP genes. In this study, we provide information about CYP induction and inhibition in vivo, which could be a desirable condition for furthering the practical use of LS extracts in humans. Full article

Resveratrol is a polyphenol compound beneficial to human health, and its main source is grapes. In the present study, the molecular regulation of resveratrol biosynthesis in developing grape berries was investigated using weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). At the same time, the reason for the resveratrol content difference between grape exocarp (skin) and mesocarp (flesh) was explored. Hub genes (CHS, STS, F3’5’H, PAL, HCT) related to resveratrol biosynthesis were screened with Cytoscape software. The expression level of hub genes in the exocarp was significantly higher than that in the mesocarp, and the expressions of the hub genes and the content of resveratrol in exocarp peaked at the maturity stage. While the expression levels of PAL, CHS and STS in the mesocarp, reached the maximum at the maturity stage, and F3′5′H and HCT decreased. These hub genes likely play a key role in resveratrol biosynthesis. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis further indicated that resveratrol biosynthesis was related to flavonoid biosynthesis, phenylalanine metabolism, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, and stilbene biosynthesis pathways. This study has theoretical significance for exploring genes related to resveratrol biosynthesis in the exocarp and mesocarp of grapes, and provides a theoretical basis for the subsequent function and regulatory mechanism of hub genes. Full article

Essential oils (EOs) are widely used topically in musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs); however, their clinical efficacy is controversial. Our aim was to find evidence that topical EOs are beneficial as an add-on treatment in MSDs. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to summarize the evidence on the available data of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The protocol of this work was registered on PROSPERO. We used Web of Science, EMBASE, PubMed, Central Cochrane Library and Scopus electronic databases for systematic search. Eight RCTs were included in the quantitative analysis. In conclusion, EO therapy had a favorable effect on pain intensity (primary outcome) compared to placebo. The greatest pain-relieving effect of EO therapy was calculated immediately after the intervention (MD of pain intensity = −0.87; p = 0.014). EO therapy had a slightly better analgesic effect than placebo one week after the intervention (MD of pain intensity = −0.58; p = 0.077) and at the four-week follow-up as well (MD of pain intensity = −0.52; p = 0.049). EO therapy had a beneficial effect on stiffness (a secondary outcome) compared to the no intervention group (MD = −0.77; p = 0.061). This systematic review and meta-analysis showed that topical EOs are beneficial as an add-on treatment in reducing pain and stiffness in the investigated MSDs. Full article

Aloe plant species have been used for centuries in traditional medicine and are reported to be an important source of natural products. However, despite the large number of species within the Aloe genus, only a few have been investigated chemotaxonomically. A Molecular Network approach was used to highlight the different chemical classes characterizing the leaves of five Aloe species: Aloe macra, Aloe vera, Aloe tormentorii, Aloe ferox, and Aloe purpurea. Aloe macra, A. tormentorii, and A. purpurea are endemic from the Mascarene Islands comprising Reunion, Mauritius, and Rodrigues. UHPLC-MS/MS analysis followed by a dereplication process allowed the characterization of 93 metabolites. The newly developed MolNotator algorithm was usedfor molecular networking and allowed a better exploration of the Aloe metabolome chemodiversity. The five species appeared rich in polyphenols (anthracene derivatives, flavonoids, phenolic acids). Therefore, the total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of the five species were evaluated, and a DPPH-On-Line-HPLC assay was used to determine the metabolites responsible for the radical scavenging activity. The use of computational tools allowed a better description of the comparative phytochemical profiling of five Aloe species, which showed differences in their metabolite composition, both qualitative and quantitative. Moreover, the molecular network approach combined with the On-Line-HPLC assay allowed the identification of 9 metabolites responsible for the antioxidant activity. Two of them, aloeresin A and coumaroylaloesin, could be the principal metabolites responsible for the activity. From 374 metabolites calculated by MolNator, 93 could be characterized. Therefore, the Aloe species can be a rich source of new chemical structures that need to be discovered. Full article

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of baicalein or Scutellaria baicalensis root extract interaction with methyldopa in pregnant spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) at the pharmacodynamic, molecular, and biochemical levels. The rats, after confirming pregnancy, received baicalein (200 mg/kg/day, p.o.) and extract (1000 mg/kg/day, p.o.), in combination with methyldopa (400 mg/kg/day; p.o.), for 14 consecutive days, 1 h before blood pressure and heart rate measurements. In the heart and placenta from mothers after giving birth to their offspring, mRNA expression of factors related to inflammatory processes (TNF-α, Il-1β, IL-6) and vascular diseases (TGF-β, HIF-1α, VEGF, PlGF) was measured. Levels of markers of oxidative stress (superoxide dismutase and malondialdehyde) in the placenta and indicators of myocardial damage (troponin cTnC and cTnI, creatine kinase, myoglobin, and lactate dehydrogenase) in the heart were also assessed. Baicalein co-administered with methyldopa was associated with reduced blood pressure, especially during the first three days. The interactions were more pronounced for such factors as TGF-β, HIF-1α, VEGF, and PlGF than TNF-α, Il-1β, and IL-6. Combined application of baicalein and extract with methyldopa may be of value in the development of a new antihypertensive medication intended for patients suffering from preeclampsia or pregnancy-induced hypertension. Full article

This study evaluated the variation in bioactive compounds (anthocyanins, phenols, and antioxidants) among 22 rice varieties in the same growing locations and among four varieties collected from eight different provinces in Northern Thailand. Wide variation in anthocyanins, phenols, and antioxidant capacity was established, ranging from 1.6 to 33.0 mg/100 g, 249.9 to 477.7 mg gallic acid/100 g, and 0 to 3,288.5 mg trolox equivalent/100 g, respectively. The highest straw anthocyanin and phenol concentrations were found in KDK (a traditional photoperiod-sensitive variety with purple pericarp and leaves) and K4 (an advanced, photoperiod-insensitive variety with purple pericarp and leaves), while the highest antioxidant capacity was found in KH CMU (an improved traditional photoperiod sensitive variety with a purple pericarp and green leaves) and K4. The variation of the bioactive compounds was also found in the same variety grown at different locations, e.g., the KDMl105 grown in Prayao province had a straw anthocyanin concentration higher than when grown in Mae Hong Son province. The effect was also observed in phenol content and antioxidant capacity when the same rice variety was grown across various locations. A significant correlation between total phenol and antioxidant capacity was observed across rice varieties and growing locations but was not found between anthocyanin and antioxidant capacity. This study found that the bioactive compounds in rice straw varied among rice varieties and growing locations. Straw phenol acts as a major antioxidant that can be used as a characteristic for the selection of rice varieties with high antioxidant capacity for use at the industrial scale for the processing of food, pharmaceuticals, and medicinal products. Full article

Aristotelia chilensis is a plant whose fruit is considered a powerful natural antioxidant. During the last years, some investigations of the fruit have been carried out, finding antioxidant properties in the juice or the phenolic fraction. The antioxidant properties of the plant are useful in the inhibition of enzymes related to diabetes such as pancreatic aldose reductase and alpha-amylase. Because many synthetic drugs used today have limitations and potentially harmful side effects, the use of naturally occurring compounds, such as flavonoids, is clinically attractive. In this study, the characterization of aqueous extracts of fruits and in vitro plants of A. chilensis was carried out based on their content of anthocyanins and total phenols, the antioxidant capacity by the antiradical activity 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrilhydrazil (DPPH), and the profile of anthocyanins and other phenolic compounds by liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Subsequently, the effect of these extracts on the inhibition of bovine aldose reductase and pancreatic alpha-amylase enzymes was determined. According to our results, extracts of fruits and in vitro plants of A. chilensis achieved inhibition of the bovine aldose reductase enzyme of 85.54 ± 1.86% and 75.67 ± 1.21%, respectively. Likewise, the percentage of inhibition of the pancreatic alpha-amylase enzyme for fruit extracts was 29.64 ± 0.63%, while for in vitro plant extracts it was 47.66 ± 0.66%. The antioxidant and enzymatic inhibition activity of the extracts were related to the content of anthocyanins, such as delphinidin and cyanidin glycosides as well as the phenols derived from quercetin, myricetin, and kaempferol. The results obtained allow us to suggest that the in vitro culture of plants of A. chilensis represents a viable biotechnological alternative to obtain phenolic compounds for the inhibition of aldose reductase and pancreatic alpha-amylase enzymes. Full article

Gesneriaceae plant family is comprised of resurrection species, namely Boea hygrometrica and Paraboea rufescens, that are native to the Southeast Asia and Haberlea rhodopensis, Ramonda myconi, and Ramonda serbica, which are mainly found in the Balkan Peninsula. Haberlea rhodopensis is known to be able to survive extreme and prolonged dehydration. Study was carried out after the dried plant Haberlea rhodopensis Friv. had been hydrated and had reached its fresh state. Two juice samples were collected from the plant blossom: The first sample was prepared with 1% filtered water through a patented EVOdrop device. Then the sample was saturated with hydrogen with EVOdrop booster to a concentration of 1.2 ppm, pH = 7.3, ORP = −390 mV. This first sample was prepared with filtered tap water from Sofia, Bulgaria. The second sample, which was a control one, was developed with tap water from Sofia, Bulgaria, consisting of 1% solutions of Haberlea rhodopensis. A study revealed that during the drying process in H. rhodopensis the number of free water molecules decreases, and water dimers are formed. The aim of our study was to determine the number of water molecules in clusters in 1% solutions of hydrated H. rhodopensis plants. Results were analyzed according to the two types of water used in the experiment. Th EVOdrop device is equipped with an ultranano membrane and rotating jet nozzle to create a vortex water and saturation thanks to a second device EVObooster to obtain hydrogen-rich water. In the current study Hydrogen-rich water is referred to as Hydrogen EVOdrop Water (HEW). Research was conducted using the following methods—spectral methods non-equilibrium energy spectrum (NES) and differential non-equilibrium energy spectrum (DNES), mathematical models, and study of the distribution of water molecules in water clusters. In a licensed Eurotest Laboratory, the research of tap water before and after flowing through the EVOdrop device was proven. Studies have been carried out on the structuring of water molecule clusters after change of hydrogen bond energies. The restructuring comes with rearrangement of water molecules by the energy levels of hydrogen bonds. Local extrema can be observed in the spectrum with largest amount of water molecules. The structural changes were tested using the NES and DNES spectral methods. The conducted research proved that the application of EVOdrop device and EVObooster changes the parameters of water to benefit hydration and health. Full article

The aim of this study was to establish the best ultrasound assisted extraction (UAE) conditions of saponins from Hedera helix L. leaves and to evaluate the in vitro biocompatibility of the extracts richest in saponins. Different parameters, such as extraction time, temperature, ultrasound power, solvent to plant material ratio, and solvent concentration, were investigated. The most efficient extraction conditions were a temperature of 50 °C, an ultrasound amplitude of 40%, an extraction time of 60 min, a plant material to solvent ratio of 1:20 (w:v), and 80% ethanol as solvent. In vitro cytotoxicity of the extracts richest in saponins and their influence on the DNA content of L929 (NCTC) fibroblasts were tested. Until 200 µg/mL, the studied extracts were cytocompatible with L929 fibroblast cell lines at 48 h of treatment. These in vitro cell culture results provide useful information for further applications of Hedera helix extracts in a pharmaceutical field. Full article

Collagen loss in the skin dermis is a major cause of age-related changes to the skin. Natural phytochemical substances are desirable for the prevention of skin aging and the formation of wrinkles. Ipomoea pes-caprae (IPC) has been utilized for nutritional and therapeutic purposes, and its extract contains collagenase inhibitory activity while causing no cytotoxicity. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of IPC extracts on cell proliferation and collagen production in human fibroblasts (CCD-986sk cells). IPC leaves were macerated in 70% and 95% ethanol and the chemical composition of the resulting extracts (IPC70 and IPC95) were determined using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The bioactivity of IPC extracts was examined in CCD-986sk cells, including antioxidant capacity, inhibition of collagenase, effects on cell proliferation and collagen production, as well as wound healing using an in vitro scratch test. Changes in expression of collagen type I (COL1A1), tumor growth factor beta 1 (TGFB1), and beta-fibroblast growth factor (FGF2) genes were also evaluated. The antioxidant and collagenase inhibitory properties of IPC extracts were associated with 3,5-di-caffeoylquinic acid, chlorogenic acid, and ferulic acid. IPC extracts at noncytotoxic concentrations significantly increased cell proliferation, collagen production, and wound healing. These effects appear linked to the upregulation of COL1A1, TGFB1, and FGF2 genes. The bioactivity of the IPC70 extract was greater than that for IPC95. This is useful in cosmeceutical applications for human skin aging. Our findings indicate that IPC extracts have the potential for use in skin anti-aging cosmeceutical preparations. Full article

In recent years, people have become increasingly interested in bioactive molecules in plants that are beneficial to human health, and melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) has attracted research attention due to its excellent performance. In this study, the content of melatonin in oilseeds was investigated. From the results, it was found that sesame is an important natural food source of melatonin intake. Furthermore, the variation in melatonin content was explored in a natural sesame population, and its contents varied from 0.04 to 298.62 ng g⁻¹. Through a genome-wide association study (GWAS), a candidate gene SiWRKY67 was screened that regulates melatonin content in sesame. The sesame hairy root transformation system was developed and used to verify this gene, and it was found that the overexpression of SiWRKY67 could positively promote the melatonin content in the hairy roots. Our results provide not only a foundation for understanding the genetic structure of melatonin content in sesame seeds but also a reference for the marker-assisted breeding of sesame varieties with high melatonin content. Full article

Land mollusks are one of the most destructive agricultural pests worldwide, the management of which depends on synthetic molluscicides. However, many of these molluscicides are harmful to nontarget organisms. Hence, there is a need to develop alternative ecofriendly molluscicides that are less impactful toward nontarget organisms. So, an investigation into the fumigant toxicity and feeding deterrent effect of essential oils (EOs) from Lavandula dentata L. (Lamiaceae), Juniperus procera Hochst. (Cupressaceae), and Mentha longifolia (L.) Huds. (Lamiaceae) against the land snail Monacha obstructa (Pfeiffer, 1842) (Hygromiidae) was performed. L. dentata EO exhibited the highest fumigant toxicity with LC₅₀ values of 8.68 μL/L air and 7.24 μL/L air after 24 h and 48 h exposure periods, respectively. Its main components were camphor, 1,8-cineole, fenchone, and β-myrecene. The fumigant toxicity of J. procera EO was lower than that of L. dentata, with LC₅₀ values of 25.63 μL/L air and 20.11 μL/L air after 24 h and 48 h exposure periods, respectively. The major constituents of J. procera EO were α-pinene, p-cymene, and β-ocimene. The analysis of M. longifolia EO showed that pulegone, and menthol were the major constituents. However, it displayed no fumigant toxicity up to 50 μL/L air. The three EOs exhibited a strong feeding deterrent effect at sublethal concentrations. The EOs extracted from L. dentata, J. procera and M. longifolia are promising ecofriendly botanical molluscicides against the land snail M. obstructa. Full article

Dietary polyphenols, which are present in Aronia melanocarpa, have been associated with various beneficial effects on human health including antioxidant, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory activities. We aimed to investigate the immunomodulatory effects of aronia juice polyphenols in a randomized placebo-controlled human intervention study and cell culture experiments. A total of 40 females were asked to consume either 200 mL of aronia juice or a placebo drink for six weeks and were investigated again after a washout period of another six weeks. We observed that only half of the participants tolerated the aronia juice well (Vt) and the other half reported complaints (Vc). The placebo (P) was generally tolerated with one exception (p = 0.003). Plasma polyphenol levels increased significantly in Vt after the intervention (p = 0.024) but did neither in P nor in Vc. Regulatory T cell (Treg) frequencies remained constant in Vt and P during the intervention, whereas Tregs decreased in Vc (p = 0.018). In cell culture, inhibiting effects of ferulic acid (p = 0.0005) and catechin (p = 0.0393) on the differentiation of Tregs were observed as well as reduced activation of CD4-T cells in ferulic acid (p = 0.0072) and aronia juice (p = 0.0163) treated cells. Interestingly, a CD4⁺CD25⁻FoxP3⁺ cell population emerged in vitro in response to aronia juice, but not when testing individual polyphenols. In conclusion, our data strengthen possible individual hormetic effects, the importance of the food matrix for bioactivity, and the need for further investigations on possible impacts of specific physiological features such as the gut microbiota in the context of personalized nutrition. Full article

Orchidaceae is one of the largest families of flowering plants with more than 27,000 accepted species, and more than 31,000–35,000 species are estimated to exist in total. The orchid Spiranthes sinensis (Pers.) Ames, having ornamental and medicinal value, is widely distributed throughout Asia and Oceania. S. sinensis (Shou Tsao) is also known as Panlongshen among the common folk herbs. It has a fleshy root similar to ginseng, and the entire plant is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine. Owing to overexploitation and habitat destruction in recent years, the wild population has become scarce. The traits of this species show obvious differences in different countries. In the Taiwanese climate, it flowers during the Ching Ming Festival, also called the ching ming tsao. Previous investigations into S. sinensis have revealed the presence of flavonoids, homocyclotirucallane, dihydrophenanthrenes, ferulic acid, and 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde. Phenolic constituents of structural and biological interest, including phenanthrenes and flavonoids, have been isolated and identified from S. sinensis. This natural product possesses extensive bioactivity, including anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects. In this review, we outline the herbal medicine formulations and plant-derived natural products of S. sinensis. Full article

Herein, a method of ultrasound treatment combined with surfactant aqueous phase dispersion was proposed for the extraction of high-purity gutta-percha in its native state from enzymatic hydrolyzed Eucommia ulmoides pericarps. Firstly, the plant tissues wrapped around gutta-percha were destructed through enzymatic hydrolysis, then the plant tissues debris still attached to gutta-percha were further stripped off by ultrasound. Finally, under the “amphiphilic” action of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), the entangled gutta-percha was untwined, allowing the residual plant tissue debris to be released and precipitated, thus high purity gutta-percha was obtained. The process parameters were optimized through single factor and response surface experiments. The optimal parameters for ultrasonic treatment were displayed as follows: frequency of 40 kHz, power of 320 W, time of 7.3 h, temperature of 50 °C, and material-to-liquid ratio of 1:70 g/mL, and for the aqueous phase dispersion of surfactant were SDS concentration 1.7%, temperature 80 °C, stirring speed 1200 rpm, solid-to-liquid ratio 1:60 g/mL, and time 60 h. Under optimal conditions, the purity of gutta-percha reached 95.4 ± 0.31% and its weight average molecular weight (Mw) was 20.85 × 10⁴. Moreover, the obtained gutta-percha maintained its native filamentous form. The obtained products were characterized by IR, NMR, XRD, TGA, DSC, and tensile experiments, which showed that the obtained product was gutta-percha and maintained the natural α- and β- crystal structure. The proposed method overcomes the disadvantages of the traditional organic solvent method, which has great environmental pollution and destroys the gutta-percha structure. This is also the first reported method to obtain high purity gutta-percha while maintaining its native state. Full article

Chrysanthemum is a popular ornamental plant with a long history of cultivation. Both the leaf and flowerhead of Chrysanthemum are known to produce diverse secondary metabolites, particularly terpenoids. Here we aimed to determine the relationship between terpene chemistry and the trichome traits in Chrysanthemum. In our examination of three cultivars of C. morifilium and three accessions of C. indicum, all plants contained T-shaped trichomes and biseriate peltate glandular trichomes. The biseriate peltate glandular trichome contained two basal cells, two stalk cells, six secondary cells and a subcuticular space, while the non-glandular T-shaped trichome was only composed of stalk cells and elongated cells. Histochemical staining analysis indicated that the biseriate peltate glandular trichome contained terpenoids and lipid oil droplets but not the T-shaped trichome. Next, experiments were performed to determine the relationship between the accumulation and emission of the volatile terpenoids and the density of trichomes on the leaves and flowerheads in all six Chrysanthemum cultivars\accessions. A significant correlation was identified between the monoterpenoid and sesquiterpenoid content and the density of glandular trichomes on the leaves, with the correlation coefficients being 0.88, 0.86 and 0.90, respectively. In contrast, there was no significant correlation between the volatile terpenoid content and the density of T-shaped trichomes on the leaves. In flowerheads, a significant correlation was identified between the emission rate of terpenoids and the number of glandular trichomes on the disc florets, with a correlation coefficient of 0.95. Interestingly, the correlation between the density of glandular trichomes and concentrations of terpenoids was insignificant. In summary, the relationship between trichomes and terpenoid chemistry in Chrysanthemum is clearly established. Such knowledge may be helpful for breeding aromatic Chrysanthemum cultivars by modulating the trichome trait. Full article

Apart from the nutritional value, Cucumis sativus L. has also been used in the traditional medicine of Iran, Pakistan, and India. Its seeds are used by herbalists to treat gastrointestinal, respiratory, and urinary problems. However, more investigations are required to explain its mechanisms for treating GI, respiratory, and urinary diseases. Accordingly, the aim of the present work was to investigate the antispasmodic, bronchodilator, and antidiarrheal activities of C. sativus seeds extracts and the underlying mechanisms of action. For this purpose, sequential extracts of C. sativus seeds were prepared in n-hexane, dichloromethane, ethanol, and water. Bioactive compounds in C. sativus seed extracts were identified and quantified by utilizing LC ESI–MS/MS and HPLC. Moreover, network pharmacology and molecular docking were employed to examine the antispasmodic and bronchodilator effects of the bioactive substances in the extracts. In vitro and in vivo experiments were also conducted to validate the mechanistic insights gained from the in silico analysis. Results indicated the presence of kaempferol with a concentration of 813.74 µg/g (highest concentration) in the seed extract of C. sativus, followed by quercetin (713.83 µg/g), narcissin (681.87 µg/g), and orientin (676.19 µg/g). In silico investigations demonstrated that the bioactive chemicals in C. sativus seeds inhibited the expression of the target genes involved in smooth muscle contraction and calcium-mediated signaling. Sequential seed extracts of C. sativus caused a dose-dependent relaxant response for spasmolytic reaction and resulted in a relaxation of K⁺ (80 mM) spastic contraction. In animal models, C. sativus seed extracts exhibited partial or complete antiperistalsis, antidiarrheal, and antisecretory actions. By modulating the contractile response through calcium-mediated signaling target proteins, C. sativus seeds generated bronchodilator, antispasmodic, and antidiarrheal therapeutic effects. Full article

In order to mitigate the detrimental impact that climate change is having on plants, the study of new practices that allow for the reduction of such effects has become imperative. In addition, the revaluation of the promotion of healthy plant by-products has also markedly increased in importance in recent years. In this work, the modifications in biomass and some antioxidant compounds of cauliflower by-products treated with putrescine under extreme temperatures in two different CO₂ scenarios (the control (400 ppm) and a high concentration of CO₂ (1000 ppm)) were studied. Additionally, the compositions of inner and outer leaves were also compared. According to results found in this work, cauliflower grown under elevated CO₂ and treated with putrescine (2.5 mM) prior to heat stress showed the highest biomass accumulation (20%) compared to the control. Moreover, in the outer leaves from cauliflower grown under elevated CO₂ and treated with putrescine prior to high temperature exposure, the highest biosynthesis of sugars (20%) was recorded. Although cauliflower by-products turned out to be rich in polyamines (208.6 nmoles g⁻¹ fresh weight (FW) and 124.3 nmoles g⁻¹ FW for outer and inner leaves, respectively) and phenolic compounds (1070.2 mg gallic acid equivalents ( (GAE) 100 g⁻¹ FW in outer leaves and 772.0 mg GAE 100 g⁻¹ FW in inner leaves), it was the outer leaves that after applying the new strategy showed the greatest increase in polyamines (68%) and phenolic compounds (39%), obtaining here the highest increase in antioxidant activity (3%). Thus, they should no longer be regarded as mere by-products and should be used for pharmaceutical or nutraceutical purposes. The novel strategy presented in this work may allow us to take advantage of both the continued increase in CO₂ and heat waves that are becoming more frequent. Full article

Thailand is one of the leading exporting countries of rambutan and rambutan peels are considered as a biological waste. In this study, rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum L. cv. Rong Rian) peel extracts (RPE) obtained by water extraction were analyzed for their phytochemical composition, antibacterial and antioxidant activities, and cytotoxicity. The bioactive compounds in RPE identified by GC-MS were mome inositol (35.99 mg/g), catechol (29.37 mg/g), 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5.69 mg/g), 2-pentenal, (E)-(5.22 mg/g), acetic acid (3.69 mg/g), 1,2,3-propanetriol (3.67 mg/g), 2-furan-carboxaldehyde (2.66 mg/g), and other compounds. FT-IR analysis confirmed the presence of alcohol and phenol in the extract. Antibacterial activities of RPE against food pathogenic and spoilage bacteria showed that RPE could inhibited Bacillus subtilis, B. cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Vibrio cholerae, V. parahaemolyticus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and P. fluorescens, with MIC values ranging between 1024 and 8192 µg/mL. The extract also showed antioxidant properties, as determined by DPPH and ABTS assays. The cytotoxicity analysis after 72 h of treatment showed the IC₅₀ values at 194.97 ± 4.87, 205.92 ± 2.55, and 94.11 ± 1.33 µg/mL for L929, Vero, and MCF-7 cell lines, respectively. Therefore, this study provided a basis of knowledge of rambutan peels as an excellent source of natural bioactive compounds for various applications. Full article

The objective of this study was to investigate the response of Japanese and Polish soybean varieties to algal extract in terms of yield and other agronomic traits. A field experiment was conducted in 2019 at Pawlowice Experimental Station near Wroclaw city (Poland) to study the effect of a foliar spray of the algal extract prepared from freshwater Cladophora glomerata on the growth of two varieties of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill.)—Polish Erica and Japanese Enrei—cultivated under Polish environmental conditions. The foliar spray was applied once during the beginning of the soybean flowering (BBCH65) at one concentration (20%) of algal extract. The research showed that the foliar application of C. glomerata extract significantly enhanced the yield parameters. The plant height, first pod height, number of first branches, 1000-seed weight and yield were significantly higher compared with the control. The home variety Erica was better adapted to the climatic conditions in Poland than the Japanese variety Enrei. The study confirms that a foliar spray of algal extracts could be a promising option to increase soybean yield. The enhanced growth of the crop may be due to the presence of growth-promoting substances occurring in the algal extract. Full article

A comparative analysis of Gaultheria fragrantissima (Ericaceae) essential oils based on geographical location, distillation time, and varying distillation conditions was carried out, and their compositions were evaluated by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), chiral GC–MS, and gas chromatography–flame ionization detection (GC–FID). In addition, each of seven commercial wintergreen essential oil samples from Nepal and China were analyzed. The highest extraction yield was 1.48% and the maximum number of compounds identified in natural wintergreen oil was twenty-two. Based on distillation time, the maximum numbers of identified compounds are present in 120 min. Linalool, phenol, vetispirane, and ethyl salicylate were present in commercial wintergreen oils both from Nepal and China. The presence of compounds such as elsholtzia ketone and β-dehydroelsholtzia ketone in the China samples represented a significant difference in wintergreen oil between the two geographical sources. Dimethyl 2-hydroxyterephthalate is a well-known synthetic marker for wintergreen oil when synthesis is carried out using salicylic acid, but the synthetic marker was absent while using acetylsalicylic acid as a precursor during synthesis. Adulteration analysis of wintergreen oil showed an increase in the concentration of dimethyl 2-hydroxyterephthalate, whereas the concentrations of minor components decreased and methyl salicylate remained unchanged. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the enantioselective analysis of wintergreen essential oil. Furthermore, three samples showed notable antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus epidermidis, with an MIC value of 156.3 μg/mL. Similarly, one sample showed effectiveness against Aspergillus niger (MIC = 78.1 μg/mL). Full article

The aerial parts of Anthemis tinctoria L. and Angelica sylvestris L. and the roots of A. sylvestris have been used as traditional anticancer remedies in Estonian ethnomedicine. The aim of this study was to investigate content of essential oils (by gas chromatography) and polyphenolic compounds (using two different methods of high performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (HPLC–MS)) of both plant species, as well as the in vitro anti-cancer effects of their essential oils and methanolic extracts. The average (n = 5 samples) yield of essential oils was 0.15%, 0.13%, and 0.17%, respectively. The principal compounds of the essential oil from the aerial parts of A. tinctoria were palmitic acid (15.3%), p-cymene (12.6%), and α-muurolene (12.5%), and α-pinene (45.4%), p-cymene (15.5%), and β-myrcene (13.3%) in aerial parts of A. sylvestris, while isocaryophyllene oxide (31.9%), α-bisabolol (17.5%), and α-pinene (12.4%) were the main constituents in the roots. The most abundant phenolic compounds in aerial parts were the derivatives of caffeic acid, quinic acid, and quercetin; the main compounds in roots of A. sylvestris were chlorogenic acid, quinic acid, and naringenin. The strongest anticancer effects were observed in essential oils of A. sylvestris roots and aerial parts on human carcinoma in the mouth cells (KB, IC₅₀ 19.73 μg/mL and 19.84 μg/mL, respectively). The essential oil of A. tinctoria showed a strong effect on KB and LNCaP cells (27.75–29.96 μg/mL). The methanolic extracts of both plants had no effect on the cancer cells studied. Full article