Chemical Profiling and Biological Activity of Plant Natural Compounds

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Phytochemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2022) | Viewed by 34893

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
Interests: natural products chemistry; NMR; structural elucidation; botanicals; analysis of plant secondary metabolites through LC-MS; food chemistry
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
Interests: natural product discovery; chemical analysis of medicinal, food, and aromatic plants; extraction and separation of specialized metabolites from plants; structure elucidation of natural products by NMR and MS techniques; chemical profile of natural compounds by LC-MS analyses
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In the last decade, interest in natural products is growing, not only for their key role in drug discovery, but also for their potential use as health compounds in the prevention of many diseases. The development of advanced techniques contributes to a more efficient screening of bioactive components from natural sources, with an increasing performance in their extraction, isolation and structural characterization, even if in complex mixtures or matrixes. In particular, NMR and mass spectrometry tools have improved over the years for the analysis of natural products complex mixtures, such as are found in most botanical extracts. In the meantime, investigation on the biological activity of pure biomolecules or phytocomplexes has produced a large quantity of studies, elucidating the role in the human health of a large number of plants, foods, and their constituents.

Therefore, the aim of this Special Issue is the collection of scientific contributions (research papers, short communications, and review articles) focused on investigations of chemical features of naturally plant-derived compounds, including extraction, separation, isolation, and structural elucidation, as well as utilization and/or development of innovative techniques for these purposes. Furthermore, relevant studies on biological activity evidencing the health benefits of naturally occurring plant metabolites are welcome.

Prof. Dr. Alessandra Braca
Dr. Marinella De Leo
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • natural products
  • NMR
  • plant-derived compounds
  • biological activity
  • LC-MS
  • isolation
  • chemical profile

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Published Papers (11 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 3111 KiB  
Article
Exudates of Picea abies, Pinus nigra, and Larix decidua: Chromatographic Comparison and Pro-Migratory Effects on Keratinocytes In Vitro
by Thomas Goels, Elisabeth Eichenauer, Ammar Tahir, Paul Prochaska, Franziska Hoeller, Elke H. Heiß and Sabine Glasl
Plants 2022, 11(5), 599; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11050599 - 23 Feb 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2355
Abstract
Balms and resins of Picea abies, Larix decidua, and Pinus nigra are traditionally used to treat wounds. Three chromatographic techniques differing in separation capacity and technical demands were employed to distinguish among these plant exudates. A TLC method was established for [...] Read more.
Balms and resins of Picea abies, Larix decidua, and Pinus nigra are traditionally used to treat wounds. Three chromatographic techniques differing in separation capacity and technical demands were employed to distinguish among these plant exudates. A TLC method was established for fingerprint comparison, providing a quick overview of a large number of samples at low cost. HPLC-DAD (RP18) and UHPSFC-DAD (Torus 2-Picolylamin), hyphenated to ESI-MS, represented orthogonal chromatographic systems with high separation performance. The developed methods allow for the separation and detection of major and minor constituents belonging to different compound classes (phenyl carboxylic acids, lignans, diterpene resin acids). The qualitative compositions of the diterpene resin acids, the main compounds in the exudates, were comparable in all three genera. Differences were detected in the distribution of hydroxylated diterpene resin acids, pinoresinol, and hydroxycinnamic acids. The three tested chromatographic systems with varying demands on lab equipment offer appropriate tools for the quality assessment of Picea abies, Larix decidua, and Pinus nigra. The extracts were furthermore tested at three different concentrations (10 µg/mL, 3 µg/mL, and 1 µg/mL) for boosted re-epithelialization, a crucial step in the wound-healing process, in an in vitro HaCaT keratinocyte-based scratch assay. Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA, 10 µM) and extracts of several medicinal plants well known for their wound-healing properties (birch, marigold, St. John’s wort, manuka honey) were used as positive controls. Picea abies and Pinus nigra showed concentration dependency; significant activity was measured for Larix decidua at 3 µg/mL. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Chemical Profiling and Biological Activity of Plant Natural Compounds)
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12 pages, 908 KiB  
Article
Assessment of Biochemical Composition and Antioxidant Properties of Algerian Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) Seed Oil
by Hamza Harkat, Ratiba Bousba, Cinzia Benincasa, Kamel Atrouz, Mine Gültekin-Özgüven, Ümit Altuntaş, Evren Demircan, Hamdy A. Zahran and Beraat Özçelik
Plants 2022, 11(3), 381; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11030381 - 29 Jan 2022
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 4194
Abstract
Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) trees are largely cultivated across the Algerian oases; they are principal sources of remuneration and the economic basis for residents of these areas. Date palm fruits are rich sources of essential nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and dietary fibers, [...] Read more.
Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) trees are largely cultivated across the Algerian oases; they are principal sources of remuneration and the economic basis for residents of these areas. Date palm fruits are rich sources of essential nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and dietary fibers, with many potential health benefits, yet there are few studies on the chemical composition and biological properties of date palm seed oil. In this study, we present an in-depth characterization of the biochemical composition and antioxidant properties of date palm seed oil (DPSO) produced in Algeria. DPSOs of eight Algerian cultivars, Arechti, Degla-Baida, Deglet-Nour, Ghars, Haloua, Itima, Mech-Degla, and Tentbouchet, were investigated to determine their biochemical compositions and antioxidant properties. The results highlight the potential of DPSO as an alternative food and a natural resource, thanks to several important compounds having high antioxidant capacity. In particular, fatty acids and triacylglycerol (TAGs) analyses showed that oleic (42.74–50.19%), lauric (18.40–22.2%), and myristic (8.83–10.17%) were the major fatty acids, while 1-myristoyl 2-oleoyl 3-linoleoyl glycerol, 1-linolenoyl 2-oleoyl 3-linoleoyl glycerol, 1-2-linolenoyl 3-linoleoyl glycerol, and 1-linolenoyl 2-myristoyl 3-linoleoyl glycerol were the major TAGs. Biophenols and tocopherols analyses revealed the presence of important compounds, such as catechin (22.04–24.92 mg/kg), vanillin (10.67–23.98 mg/kg), and α-tocopherol (443.59 mg/kg), at high remarkable levels. Therefore, a comparison with the literature data concerning other seed oils, including olive oil, confirms that DPSO can be considered a high-quality oil, from a biochemical and biological point of view. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Chemical Profiling and Biological Activity of Plant Natural Compounds)
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18 pages, 24409 KiB  
Article
Hydrosols from Rosmarinus officinalis, Salvia officinalis, and Cupressus sempervirens: Phytochemical Analysis and Bioactivity Evaluation
by Matteo Politi, Claudio Ferrante, Luigi Menghini, Paola Angelini, Giancarlo Angeles Flores, Beatrice Muscatello, Alessandra Braca and Marinella De Leo
Plants 2022, 11(3), 349; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11030349 - 27 Jan 2022
Cited by 20 | Viewed by 4010
Abstract
The present work evaluates the aromatic waters of rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus Spenn. syn. Rosmarinus officinalis L.), sage (Salvia officinalis L.), and cypress (Cupressus sempervirens L.) obtained as innovative commercial products of a hydrodistillation process. All extracts were exhaustively analysed by [...] Read more.
The present work evaluates the aromatic waters of rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus Spenn. syn. Rosmarinus officinalis L.), sage (Salvia officinalis L.), and cypress (Cupressus sempervirens L.) obtained as innovative commercial products of a hydrodistillation process. All extracts were exhaustively analysed by GC-MS, 1H-NMR, and LC-MS in order to evaluate potential metabolite fingerprint differences. GC-MS appears to be the most exhaustive technique for the qualitative identification of the single constituents, although in this case, the use of 1H-NMR and LC-MS techniques allowed some useful considerations in semi-quantitative terms. Antimycotic effects were studied against Tricophyton, Candida, and Arthroderma species, resulting in weak activity. The toxicological impact was partly evaluated in vitro by means of allelopathy and brine shrimp lethality. Cytotoxicity was investigated in human colon cancer cells (HCT116) and in hypothalamic cells (Hypo-E22) challenged with hydrogen peroxide. Sage and rosemary hydrosols were the most effective antimycotics, whereas all hydrosols displayed antiradical effects. Cytotoxic effects against HCT116 cells (at 500 µL/mL) were related in silico to the endovanilloid TRPM8 and TRPV1 receptors. At lower concentrations (5–50 µL/mL), the hydrosols protected hypothalamic neurons Hypo-E22 cells from hydrogen peroxide-induced toxicity. The overall experience indicates that hydrolates are an important source of relevant phytochemicals with significant pharmacological potential. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Chemical Profiling and Biological Activity of Plant Natural Compounds)
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23 pages, 3254 KiB  
Article
Novel Perceptions on Chemical Profile and Biopharmaceutical Properties of Mentha spicata Extracts: Adding Missing Pieces to the Scientific Puzzle
by Gokhan Zengin, Gunes Ak, Ramazan Ceylan, Sengul Uysal, Eulogio Llorent-Martínez, Simonetta Cristina Di Simone, Monica Rapino, Alessandra Acquaviva, Maria Loreta Libero, Annalisa Chiavaroli, Lucia Recinella, Sheila Leone, Luigi Brunetti, Amelia Cataldi, Giustino Orlando, Luigi Menghini, Claudio Ferrante, Marwa Balaha and Viviana di Giacomo
Plants 2022, 11(2), 233; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11020233 - 17 Jan 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2790
Abstract
Mentha spicata is one of the most popular species in the genus, and it is of great interest as a gastrointestinal and sedative agent in the folk medicine system. In this study, different M. spicata extracts, obtained by the use of four solvents [...] Read more.
Mentha spicata is one of the most popular species in the genus, and it is of great interest as a gastrointestinal and sedative agent in the folk medicine system. In this study, different M. spicata extracts, obtained by the use of four solvents (hexane, chloroform, acetone and acetone/water) were chemically characterized using HPLC-ESI-MS n, which allowed for identification of 27 phenolic compounds. The extracts’ antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory properties were investigated. In addition, neuroprotective effects were evaluated in hypothalamic HypoE22 cells, and the ability of the extracts to prevent the hydrogen peroxide-induced degradation of dopamine and serotonin was observed. The best antioxidant effect was achieved for all the extraction methods using acetone/water as a solvent. These extracts were the richest in acacetin, eriodictyol, hesperidin, sagerinic acid, naringenin, luteolin, chlorogenic acid, chrysoeriol and apigenin. The intrinsic antioxidant and enzyme inhibition properties of the acetone/water extract could also explain, albeit partially, its efficacy in preventing prostaglandin E2 overproduction and dopamine depletion (82.9% turnover reduction) in HypoE22 cells exposed to hydrogen peroxide. Thus, our observations can provide a scientific confirmation of the neuromodulatory and neuroprotective effects of M. spicata. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Chemical Profiling and Biological Activity of Plant Natural Compounds)
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15 pages, 333 KiB  
Article
Betalains in Edible Fruits of Three Cactaceae Taxa—Epiphyllum, Hylocereus, and Opuntia—Their LC-MS/MS and FTIR Identification and Biological Activities Evaluation
by Michaela Barkociová, Jaroslav Tóth, Katarzyna Sutor, Natalia Drobnicka, Slawomir Wybraniec, Boris Dudík, Andrea Bilková and Szilvia Czigle
Plants 2021, 10(12), 2669; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10122669 - 4 Dec 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3285
Abstract
Epiphyllum, Hylocereus, and Opuntia plants belong to the Cactaceae family. They are mostly known as ornamental plants but also for their edible fruits, which can potentially be sources of betalains, such as betanin, a natural pigment used in the food industry, e.g., [...] Read more.
Epiphyllum, Hylocereus, and Opuntia plants belong to the Cactaceae family. They are mostly known as ornamental plants but also for their edible fruits, which can potentially be sources of betalains, such as betanin, a natural pigment used in the food industry, e.g., under the European label code E 162. The aim of this work was the identification of betalains (using LC-MS/MS), evaluation of total betalain content (spectrophotometrically), analysis of functional groups (using FT-IR), evaluation of antioxidant activity (using DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, DCFH-DA, and reducing power methods) and evaluation of antimicrobial activity (S. aureus, E. coli, and C. albicans) in fruits of Epiphyllum, Hylocereus, and Opuntia taxa. A total of 20 betalains were identified in the studied Cactaceae fruits. The Epiphyllum pink hybrid had the highest values of total betalains amongst all samples. The highest antioxidant activity was observed in the Epiphyllum pink hybrid, in Opuntia zacuapanensis and O. humifusa fruits. The antimicrobial activity assay showed that cacti fruits were not able to effectively inhibit the growth of E. coli, S. aureus, or C. albicans. Our results prove that these fruits are good sources of natural pigments—betalains. They do not contain toxic compounds in significant amounts and they exhibit antioxidant activity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Chemical Profiling and Biological Activity of Plant Natural Compounds)
13 pages, 2525 KiB  
Article
Pharmacological Investigations in Traditional Utilization of Alhagi maurorum Medik. in Saharan Algeria: In Vitro Study of Anti-Inflammatory and Antihyperglycemic Activities of Water-Soluble Polysaccharides Extracted from the Seeds
by Fatma Zohra Chakou, Zakaria Boual, Mohamed Didi Ould El Hadj, Hakim Belkhalfa, Khaldoun Bachari, Zainab El Alaoui-Talibi, Cherkaoui El Modafar, Farah Hadjkacem, Imen Fendri, Slim Abdelkafi, Mounir Traïkia, Didier Le Cerf, Pascal Dubessay, Cédric Delattre, Guillaume Pierre and Philippe Michaud
Plants 2021, 10(12), 2658; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10122658 - 3 Dec 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2751
Abstract
The anti-inflammatory and antihyperglycemic effects of polysaccharides extracted from Alhagi maurorum Medik. seeds, spontaneous shrub collected in Southern of Algerian Sahara were investigated. Their water extraction followed by alcoholic precipitation was conducted to obtain two water-soluble polysaccharides extracts (WSPAM1 and WSPAM2). They [...] Read more.
The anti-inflammatory and antihyperglycemic effects of polysaccharides extracted from Alhagi maurorum Medik. seeds, spontaneous shrub collected in Southern of Algerian Sahara were investigated. Their water extraction followed by alcoholic precipitation was conducted to obtain two water-soluble polysaccharides extracts (WSPAM1 and WSPAM2). They were characterized using Fourier transform infrared, 1H/13C Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry and Size Exclusion Chromatography coupled with Multi-Angle Light Scattering. The capacity of those fractions to inhibit α-amylase activity and thermally induced Bovine Serum Albumin denaturation were also investigated. WSPAM1 and WSPAM2 were galactomannans with a mannose/galactose ratio of 2.2 and 2.4, respectively. The SEC-MALLS analysis revealed that WSPAM1 had a molecular weight of 1.4 × 106 Da. The investigations highlighted antinflammatory and antihyperglycemic effects in a dose-dependant manner of WSPAM1 and WSPAM2. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Chemical Profiling and Biological Activity of Plant Natural Compounds)
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14 pages, 594 KiB  
Article
Glucosinolates and Isothiocyantes in Processed Rapeseed Determined by HPLC-DAD-qTOF
by Ana Miklavčič Višnjevec, Angelica Tamayo Tenorio, Anne Christine Steenkjær Hastrup, Natanya Majbritt Louie Hansen, Kelly Peeters and Matthew Schwarzkopf
Plants 2021, 10(11), 2548; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10112548 - 22 Nov 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2627
Abstract
Glucosinolates are well known as natural antimicrobials and anticarcinogenic agents. However, these compounds can lose their properties and transform into antinutrients, depending on processing conditions. In addition, the bitterness of some glucosinolate in rapeseed meal can affect the likability of the final product. [...] Read more.
Glucosinolates are well known as natural antimicrobials and anticarcinogenic agents. However, these compounds can lose their properties and transform into antinutrients, depending on processing conditions. In addition, the bitterness of some glucosinolate in rapeseed meal can affect the likability of the final product. Therefore, it is important to identify and determine each glucosinolate and its derived form, not just the total glucosinolate content, in order to evaluate the potential of the final rapeseed protein product. This study provides a comprehensive report of the types and quantities of glucosinolates and their derived forms (isothiocyanates) associated with different rapeseed processing conditions. Glucosinolates and isothiocyanates were determined by HPLC-DAD-qTOF. In our study, the enzymatic degradation of glucosinolates by myrosinase was the main factor affecting either glucosinolate or isothiocyanate content. Other factors such as pH seemed to influence the concentration and the presence of glucosinolates. In addition, process parameters, such as extraction time and separation technology, seemed to affect the amount and type of isothiocyanates in the final protein extracts. Overall, both determined intact glucosinolates and their derived forms of isothiocyanates can give different types of biological effects. More studies should be performed to evaluate the impact of glucosinolates and isothiocyanates on human health. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Chemical Profiling and Biological Activity of Plant Natural Compounds)
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17 pages, 10286 KiB  
Article
Thonningia sanguinea Extract: Antioxidant and Cytotoxic Activities Supported by Chemical Composition and Molecular Docking Simulations
by Reda F. A. Abdelhameed, Sameh S. Elhady, Alaa Sirwi, Hanan Samir, Elsayed A. Ibrahim, Ama Kyeraa Thomford, Alaa El Gindy, Ghada M. Hadad, Jihan M. Badr and Mohamed S. Nafie
Plants 2021, 10(10), 2156; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10102156 - 11 Oct 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2200
Abstract
The current study was designed to investigate the antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of Thonningia sanguinea whole-plant extract. The total phenolic content was determined using Folin–Ciocalteu reagent and found to be 980.1 mg/g, calculated as gallic acid equivalents. The antioxidant capacity was estimated for [...] Read more.
The current study was designed to investigate the antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of Thonningia sanguinea whole-plant extract. The total phenolic content was determined using Folin–Ciocalteu reagent and found to be 980.1 mg/g, calculated as gallic acid equivalents. The antioxidant capacity was estimated for the crude extract and the phenolic portion of T. sanguinea, whereupon both revealed a dose-dependent scavenging rate of DPPH with EC50 values of 36.33 and 11.14 µg/mL, respectively. Chemical profiling of the plant extract was achieved by LC-ESI-TOF-MS/MS analysis, where 17 compounds were assigned, including ten compounds detected in the negative mode and seven detected in the positive mode. The phenolic portion exhibited promising cytotoxic activity against MCF-7 and HepG2 cells, with IC50 values of 16.67 and 13.51 μg/mL, respectively. Phenolic extract treatment caused apoptosis in MCF-7 cells, with total apoptotic cell death 18.45-fold higher compared to untreated controls, arresting the cell cycle at G2/M by increasing the G2 population by 39.7%, compared to 19.35% for the control. The apoptotic investigation was further validated by the upregulation of proapoptotic genes of P53, Bax, and caspases-3,8 9, and the downregulation of Bcl-2 as the anti-apoptotic gene. Bcl-2 inhibition was also virtualized by good binding interactions through a molecular docking study. Taken together, phenolic extract exhibited promising cytotoxic activity in MCF-7 cells through apoptosis induction and antioxidant activation, so further fractionation studies are recommended for the phenolic extract for specifying the most active compound to be developed as a novel anti-cancer agent. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Chemical Profiling and Biological Activity of Plant Natural Compounds)
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12 pages, 2032 KiB  
Article
Chemical Constituents of the Leaves of Diospyros kaki (Persimmon)
by Jaeyoung Kwon, Jeong-Eun Park, Jin-Su Lee, Jung-Hwan Lee, Hoseong Hwang, Sang-Hoon Jung, Hak-Cheol Kwon and Dae-Sik Jang
Plants 2021, 10(10), 2032; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10102032 - 28 Sep 2021
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3260
Abstract
Diospyros kaki (persimmon) leaves have long been utilized as traditional medicine for the treatment of ischemic stroke, angina, and hypertension and as a healthy beverage and cosmetic for anti-aging. This study aimed to isolate as many compounds as possible from an ethanol extract [...] Read more.
Diospyros kaki (persimmon) leaves have long been utilized as traditional medicine for the treatment of ischemic stroke, angina, and hypertension and as a healthy beverage and cosmetic for anti-aging. This study aimed to isolate as many compounds as possible from an ethanol extract of the persimmon leaves to identify the biologically active compounds. The antioxidative effect of the ethyl acetate layer from the ethanol extract of the persimmon leaves was demonstrated by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay and online high-performance liquid chromatography-2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (HPLC-ABTS) analysis. A new flavonoid, kaempferol-3-O-β-d-2″-coumaroylgalactoside (1), and a new natural compound, kaempferol-3-O-β-d-2″-feruloylglucoside (3) were isolated from the ethyl acetate layer, along with 25 previously known compounds, including fourteen flavonoids, one ionone, two coumarins, seven triterpenoids, and one acetophenone. Their structures were determined by the interpretation of spectrometric and spectroscopic data. All isolated compounds were rapidly evaluated using an online HPLC-ABTS assay, and of these, compounds 48, 11, 13, 15, and 16 clearly showed antioxidative effects. The amount of these compounds was 0.3–0.65% of the extract. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Chemical Profiling and Biological Activity of Plant Natural Compounds)
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10 pages, 1929 KiB  
Article
Investigation of Chemical Profiles of Different Parts of Morus alba Using a Combination of Molecular Networking Methods with Mass Spectral Data from Two Ionization Modes of LC/MS
by Seong Yeon Choi, Jinyoung Park, Juyeol Kim, Jiho Lee and Heejung Yang
Plants 2021, 10(8), 1711; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10081711 - 19 Aug 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2196
Abstract
Plants produce numerous secondary metabolites with diverse physicochemical properties. Because different parts of a single plant produce various components, several spectroscopic methods are necessary to inspect their chemical profiles. Mass spectral data are recognized as one of the most useful tools for analyzing [...] Read more.
Plants produce numerous secondary metabolites with diverse physicochemical properties. Because different parts of a single plant produce various components, several spectroscopic methods are necessary to inspect their chemical profiles. Mass spectral data are recognized as one of the most useful tools for analyzing components with a wide range of polarities. However, interpreting mass spectral data generated from positive and negative ionization modes is a challenging task because of the diverse chemical profiles of secondary metabolites. Herein, we combine and analyze mass spectral data generated in two ionization modes to detect as many metabolites as possible using the molecular networking approach. We selected different parts of a single plant, Morus alba (Moraceae), which are used in the functional food and medicinal herb industries. The mass spectral data generated from two ionization modes were combined and analyzed using various molecular networking workflows. We confirmed that our approach could be applied to simultaneously analyze the different types of secondary metabolites with different physicochemical properties. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Chemical Profiling and Biological Activity of Plant Natural Compounds)
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14 pages, 1251 KiB  
Article
Citral-Containing Essential Oils as Potential Tyrosinase Inhibitors: A Bio-Guided Fractionation Approach
by Francesca Capetti, Massimo Tacchini, Arianna Marengo, Cecilia Cagliero, Carlo Bicchi, Patrizia Rubiolo and Barbara Sgorbini
Plants 2021, 10(5), 969; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10050969 - 13 May 2021
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 3418
Abstract
Excessive melanin production causes serious dermatological conditions as well as minor aesthetic problems (i.e., freckles and solar lentigo). The downregulation of tyrosinase is a widespread approach for the treatment of such disorders, and plant extracts have often proven to be valuable sources of [...] Read more.
Excessive melanin production causes serious dermatological conditions as well as minor aesthetic problems (i.e., freckles and solar lentigo). The downregulation of tyrosinase is a widespread approach for the treatment of such disorders, and plant extracts have often proven to be valuable sources of tyrosinase inhibitors. Citral (a mixture of neral and geranial) is an important fragrance ingredient that has shown anti-tyrosinase potential. It is highly concentrated in the essential oils (EOs) of Cymbopogon schoenanthus (L.) Spreng., Litsea cubeba (Lour.) Pers., Melissa officinalis L., and Verbena officinalis L. However, only L. cubeba EO has been investigated for use as a potential skin-whitening agent. This work evaluates the in vitro tyrosinase inhibitory activity of these EOs and studies, using bio-assay oriented fractionation, whether their differing chemical compositions influence the overall EO inhibitory activities via possible synergistic, additive, and/or competitive interactions between EOs components. The inhibitory activity of C. schoenanthus EO and that of M. officinalis EOs, with negligible (+)-citronellal amounts, were in-line with their citral content. On the other hand, L. cubeba and V. officinalis EOs inhibited tyrosinase to considerably greater extents as they contained β-myrcene, which contributed to the overall EO activities. Similar observations were made for M. officinalis EO, which bears high (+)-citronellal content which increased citral activity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Chemical Profiling and Biological Activity of Plant Natural Compounds)
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