Search Results (1,704)

Dracocephalum kotschyi Boiss., an endangered and endemic medicinal plant of Iran belonging to the Lamiaceae family, is a valuable source of methoxylated flavonoids with proven anticancer activity. In this study, hairy roots were effectively induced from two-week-old hypocotyl explants using Agrobacterium rhizogenes strain ATCC 15834. Biomass optimization showed that maximum seedling growth occurred in ¼-strength MS medium, while the highest hairy root induction (76.55%) was achieved in ½-strength MS medium supplemented with 1 mM L-arginine. Root induction varied significantly with explant type and age, with the lowest response (14.66%) observed in five-week-old leaf explants. To increase rosmarinic acid (RA) accumulation, transgenic hairy roots were treated with yeast extract (200 mg L⁻¹) as a biotic elicitor and titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles (200 and 400 mg L⁻¹) as abiotic elicitors for 24 and 48 h. HPLC analysis revealed that treatment with yeast extract (200 mg L⁻¹ for 48 h) resulted in the highest accumulation of rosmarinic acid (5.65 mg g⁻¹ DW), corresponding to a 26% increase over the control, accompanied by a substantial enhancement of antioxidant activity (63.4%). Yeast extract application also elevated total protein content and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity, while markedly suppressing ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activities. In contrast, TiO₂ nanoparticles, particularly at a concentration of 400 mg L⁻¹ for 48 h, augmented APX and PPO activities, indicating the induction of oxidative stress. These findings demonstrate that yeast extract and low concentrations of TiO₂ nanoparticles can serve as effective elicitors to enhance rosmarinic acid accumulation in D. kotschyi hairy root cultures, providing valuable insights for applications in plant biotechnology. Full article

Terephthalic acid (TPA), a major monomer of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), represents a significant challenge in plastic waste management due to its persistence in the environment. In this study, we report a newly developed bacterial consortium capable of using TPA as the sole carbon source in a defined mineral medium. The consortium achieved stationary phase within five days and metabolized approximately 85% of the available TPA. Metabolite analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) revealed the activation of the benzoate degradation pathway during TPA catabolism. Additionally, the consortium secreted commercially relevant metabolites such as cis,cis-muconic acid and catechol into the culture medium. Genetic profiling using a reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and 16S rRNA sequencing identified Paraburkholderia fungorum as the dominant species, suggesting it plays a key role in TPA degradation. The ability of this microbial community to efficiently convert TPA into high-value by-products offers a promising and potentially economically sustainable approach to addressing plastic pollution. Full article

In the last decades, extracts of Viscum album L., commonly known as European mistletoe, have attracted increasing interest for their immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. Nowadays, they are mainly used in complementary cancer treatments. A targeted LC-MRM-MS was selected to determine the chemical composition and the activities of a V. album homeopathic mother tincture (MT#39998). Results showed a complex chemical composition, which was compared with that of other similar extracts. The LC-MRM-MS data were confirmed and complemented by HPLC analysis. Viscotoxins content was evaluated because of their cytotoxicity. MT#39998 was tested for its cytotoxic and antioxidant effect, before and after viscotoxins removal. The composition of MT#39998 in viscotoxins was similar to that of other products already present in the market and its safety was confirmed by estimation of LD₅₀ based on in vitro IC₅₀ values (LD₅₀ was >2 g/kg). The aim of this study is to report a case study on a plant extract. The study was based on the chemical composition, including the metabolome, and on the pharmacological data, including toxicity and antioxidant activities, to validate the current utilization. Full article

The palo prieto (Lysiloma divaricata) is a tree with grayish bark and pinnate leaves that is native to Mexico. This tree can reach heights close to 15 m and is a source of phytochemical compounds, including polyphenols. The optimized extraction method is important for preserving phytochemical compounds, particularly gallic acid. In general, solid-liquid extraction methods are the most commonly used methods for obtaining phytochemical compounds from Lysiloma divaricata. Herein, we report the results of a complex experimental design in which different parts of the plant (leaf, stem, and fruit) were used to investigate their antioxidant activities and gallic acid contents. In this design, we included variations in the type of solvent, time, and temperature. This method yields an extract rich in phytochemical components that may exhibit significant antioxidant activity, making it suitable for isolating natural antioxidant compounds. For these compounds, bromatological analysis, quantification of phenolic content, and identification and quantification of phytochemical compounds via UPLC-MS/MS identified 27 compounds, with gallic epicatechin, catechin, kaemferol-3-glucoside, procyanidin B1, and gallic acid as the major compounds. For the quantification of gallic acid by HPLC, the highest concentration of gallic acid was detected in the water-leaf-40 °C-90 min fraction. In addition, antioxidant activity via 1,1-diphenyl-1,2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) was studied, and color measurements were performed. Additionally, the antioxidant activity of the fruit samples was evaluated via the DPPH method with an ethanol/water ratio of 30:70 % v/v at 60 °C for 60 min, which resulted in the highest percentage of inhibition. There was no significant difference in the antioxidant activity when ABTS was used between the samples. For the antioxidant activity determined via FRAP, the leaf sample exhibited the most significant activity when ethanol was used as the solvent at 50 °C for 90 min, with a value of 195,861 ± 44.20 µM eq Trolox/g DM. The phenol compounds of Lysiloma divaricata are promising sources of natural antimicrobials and antioxidants for potential applications in food packaging. Full article

This study investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of Rubus parvifolius leaf (RPL) extract, and its phytochemical composition was characterized using LC-MS/MS and HPLC analyses. In an inflammation model using HaCaT keratinocytes, treatment with RPL extract led to a significant reduction in inflammatory markers, indicating strong anti-inflammatory activity. Phytochemical analysis revealed that the extract is rich in flavonoids, with quercetin 3,7-diglucoside (12.73 mg/g DW) as the most abundant compound, followed by hirsutrin (4.74 mg/g DW) and ellagic acid (1.58 mg/g DW). Kaempferol 3-O-glucuronide was detected in lower amounts (0.31 mg/g DW), and tiliroside was present only in trace levels. These compounds are well known for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, suggesting that RPL extract may exert multiple beneficial effects on skin health. Collectively, these findings support the potential of RPL extract as a natural therapeutic agent for managing skin inflammation, particularly in conditions such as atopic dermatitis, with its efficacy likely attributed to the high levels of quercetin 3,7-diglucoside, hirsutrin, and ellagic acid. However, the present work was confined to in vitro experiments, and the mechanistic pathways were not experimentally validated. Future in vivo studies are needed to confirm these findings. Full article

In this study, a novel polysaccharide (PSH) with potent anti-gout activity was extracted and separated from Sanghuangporus vaninii (S. vaninii). The structural characteristics of PSH were elucidated using analytical techniques. HPLC analysis revealed that PSH was a heteropolysaccharide with a molecular weight of 5.25 × 10⁴ Da. FT-IR, NMR, and GC-MS collectively demonstrated that PSH was a pyranose with both α and β configurations, primarily composed of Glcp-(1→, →4)-Glcp-(2→, →3)-Galp-(1→, and Araf-(1→ linkages. The cell viability confirmed the non-toxicity of PSH. CAT and SOD showed that compared with the model group, PSH significantly offset the oxidative damage induced by MSU (p < 0.01). The results from ROS and MDA mutually corroborated the antioxidant capacity of PSH. Furthermore, PSH effectively suppressed MSU-triggered inflammatory responses. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory experiments provided evidence for the anti-gout efficacy of PSH. Collectively, these findings support the potential development of PSH as an anti-gout active substance. Full article

Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis (Kolbe, 1886) larvae have traditionally been used in East Asian medicine and have recently attracted attention as functional food ingredients because of their pharmacological potential. However, chemical investigations remain limited, and no marker compounds have been established for quality control. This study aimed to isolate and identify a primary constituent from the 70% ethanol extract of P. brevitarsis (PBE) and to develop an analytical method for its quantification. Among the solvent-partitioned fractions, the n-butanol fraction (PBE-B) exhibited a major peak in HPLC analysis. The compound was purified through a combination of vacuum liquid chromatography (VLC), medium-pressure liquid chromatography (MPLC), and recycling preparative HPLC. Its structure was identified as L-tryptophan based on HR-ESI-MS and NMR spectroscopy. Quantitative analysis was conducted using HPLC-DAD under optimized analytical conditions, employing a Thermo Scientific™ Acclaim™ Polar Advantage II column and an acidified mobile phase (0.1% formic acid in water and methanol) to improve resolution. The method demonstrated excellent linearity (r² > 0.9999), and the L-tryptophan content in PBE was determined to be 1.93 ± 0.05 μg/mg. The analyte was well separated with minimal interference, supporting the reproducibility of the method. These results indicate that L-tryptophan is a promising candidate Q-marker for the quality control of P. brevitarsis extracts. Full article

The present study focuses on recovering phenolic compounds and terpenes from olive leaves, which are generated as by-products during olive oil processing. To this end, conventional extraction/maceration (CE) and advanced extraction techniques such as subcritical water extraction (SWE), pressurized fluid extraction (PLE) and ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) were employed to compare and determine the most effective procedure. The phenolic and terpenoid composition of the extracts revealed a total of 33 compounds in HPLC-QTOF-MS analysis. According to these findings, the optimal extraction techniques for the maximum recovery of secoiridoids from olive leaves were PLE and UAE, with no significant difference between them (21.9891 ± 2.5521 mg/g DW and 21.0888 ± 1.3494 mg/g DW, respectively). Regarding to flavonoids, UAE was the most effective extraction technique, yielding 4.9837 ± 0.6739 mg/g DW. However, SWE recovered the highest amount of phenolic alcohols (7.4201 ± 0.9848 mg/g DW), which could be due to degradation of the secoiridoids during extraction. Conversely, UAE was more successful than the other techniques for the extraction of the terpene family (0.7373 ± 0.0601 mg/g DW). The present study therefore focuses on comparing different extraction techniques for revalorizing olive leaves as a source of bioactive compounds, specifically polyphenols and terpenes, due to their beneficial health properties. Full article

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a growing global health concern, driving the need for novel diagnostic and prognostic approaches. The aim of this study was to analyze the amino acid profile in the mother–fetus system (maternal venous blood, umbilical cord blood, and amniotic fluid) and to identify specific biological markers of GDM and macrosomia. Using HPLC-MS/MS, we analyzed serum from maternal venous and umbilical cord blood, along with amniotic fluid, across 94 mother–fetus pairs (53 GDM, 41 controls). Machine learning and metabolic pathway analysis revealed significant alterations in 19 amino acids. In GDM, maternal serum showed elevated 5-OH-lysine and homocitrulline, while cord blood had higher isoleucine, serine, and threonine. Amniotic fluid exhibited increased leucine, isoleucine, threonine, serine, arginine, and ornithine. Conversely, histidine, glutamine, alanine, asparagine, β-/γ-aminobutyric acids, phenylalanine, ornithine, and citrulline were reduced. Histidine, glutamine, and asparagine inversely correlated with blood glucose (r = −0.26, r = −0.33, r = −0.30) and were lower in GDM. These findings highlight three key metabolic loci in GDM pathogenesis, with glutamine, histidine, and asparagine emerging as potential maternal blood biomarkers for early macrosomia prediction. However, given confounding factors in metabolomic studies, further large-scale validation is essential. Full article

The present study investigated the chemical composition of the main components of five commonly occurring Thymus species in Bulgaria: T. sibthorpii Benth., T. pulegioides L., T. glabrescens Willd. (syn. T. odoratissimus Mill.), T. callieri Borbas ex Velen. (syn. T. roegneri K. Koch), and T. zygioides Griseb. The phytochemical profiling of the Thymus species was performed using GC-MS for the analysis of essential oils and HPLC for the identification and quantification of phenolic compounds in the ethanolic extracts. Linalool was the dominant essential oil constituent in T. sibthorpii (48.17%), T. pulegioides (50.96%), and T. callieri (38.08%) while thymol prevailed in T. glabrescens (35.35%). A novel chemotype was observed in T. zygioides. The HPLC analysis confirmed rosmarinic acid as the major phenolic acid across all species. Rutin was the predominant flavonoid in four species whereas T. sibthorpii exhibited a remarkably high concentration of (+)-catechin. Overall, the high chemical diversity within the Thymus genus was confirmed. Due to the variability of compounds among plant species, the findings of the present study suggest that, along with essential oils, phenolic components may also contribute to the chemotaxonomic classification of the Thymus genus and influence the pharmacological activity of the species, which requires further study. Full article

Background/Objectives: Aristolochia ringens, a medicinal plant widely used in traditional medicine, has shown potential therapeutic applications. This study aimed to investigate the anticancer mechanism of action of its crude extract against human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells (Caco-2 and HT-29). Methods: Cell viability was assessed using the MTT assay to determine IC₅₀ values. Immunofluorescence microscopy was used to examine nuclear morphology and microtubule integrity. Flow cytometry with PI staining was used for cell cycle analysis and Annexin V-FITC/PI staining for apoptosis detection. Mitochondrial membrane potential was evaluated using JC-1 dye. Bioactivity-guided fractionation was performed via HPLC, and GC–MS was used to profile active constituents. Results: The extract exhibited dose-dependent cytotoxicity with IC₅₀ values below 30 µg/mL in colon adenocarcinoma cell lines. Treated Caco-2 cells showed nuclear shrinkage and disrupted microtubules. PI-based flow cytometry revealed G₁ phase arrest, and Annexin V-FITC/PI staining indicated enhanced late apoptosis. JC-1 staining demonstrated mitochondrial depolarization. HPLC fractionation identified fractions 2 and 3 as active, and preliminary GC–MS analysis tentatively annotated the presence of alkaloids, sesquiterpenes/diterpenes, and steroidal compounds. Conclusions: A. ringens exerts anticancer effects through a mitochondria-mediated apoptotic pathway, involving G₁ checkpoint arrest and cytoskeletal disruption. These findings provide the first integrated cellular and mechanistic evidence of its anticancer potential in colorectal cancer, supporting its promise as a source of novel therapeutic lead compounds. Full article

The acetic acid fermentation stage is a key determinant of fruit vinegar’s aroma profile. Therefore, this study employed GC-MS, HPLC, E-nose and E-tongue techniques, in conjunction with multivariate statistical analysis, to investigate the dynamic changes of compounds during the acetic acid fermentation process of blackened pear vinegar (BPV), as well as the transformation of volatile and non-volatile aroma-active compounds. Results revealed accumulation of organic acids and esters alongside declines in alcohols, aldehydes, and ketones. Isoamyl acetate, benzaldehyde, and nonanal (OAV > 1) were identified as key aroma contributors (VIP > 1, p < 0.05). Total organic acids significantly increased from 4.82 ± 0.53 mg/mL to 10.29 ± 2.38 mg/mL. Correlation analysis revealed a negative relationship between amino acids and volatile compounds, and this negative correlation suggests a possible precursor–product relationship between them. These findings provide theoretical support for the enhancement of fruit vinegar flavor, as well as the application of blackened fruits. Full article

Rhododendron tomentosum Harmaja is a marsh plant known for its high content of bioactive components, including essential oil, flavonoids, and phenolic acids. In the current work, the effects of cultivation mode (agar, liquid stationary, shake flask, and temporary immersion) and experiment duration (30, 60, and 90 days) on the growth and contents of non-volatile phenolics in Rhododendron tomentosum microshoots were investigated. Agar and liquid stationary cultures provided the highest dry biomass yield per liter, but their dry weight productivities per day were the lowest among the tested systems. Agitated and temporary immersion cultures, on the other hand, were the most productive in terms of fresh and dry biomass yield per day. LC-DAD-ESI-MS analysis of extracts from microshoots and wild-grown plants revealed similarities in phenolic composition: in both cases, the presence of catechin, chlorogenic acid, and flavonoids of flavonol type (mainly glycosides of quercetin and myricetin) was confirmed. The qualitative composition of the phenolic fraction was not affected by experiment duration and cultivation mode. As determined by HPLC analysis, shake flask and temporary immersion cultures were characterized by the highest phenolic contents: up to 37.5 and 26 mg/g dry weight, respectively. The maximum productivities of the above systems were equal to 18 and 13.5 mg/L/d, respectively. Full article

In recent years, numerous studies have emerged on the biological activities of endemic berries from the Valdivian Forest and their potential for therapeutic use. However, some species appear to have been relatively neglected. The objective of this study was to conduct, for the first time, a phytochemical composition analysis of a hydroalcoholic extract of Luzuriaga radicans Ruiz & Pav. and to evaluate its potential as an antioxidant and as an enzyme inhibitor in relation to chronic non-communicable diseases. The berries were collected in the Saval Park in Valdivia and were subsequently extracted via sonication in ethanol/water. UHPLC-DAD, HPLC-APCI (+)-MS, and UHPLC-ESI (+)-TOF-MS analysis allowed for the identification of several carotenoid ester species. According to UHPLC-DAD, the sum of carotenoids yielded was 983.4 ± 26.3 mg/kg DW, while the concentration of the phenolic compounds was 9.33 ± 0.01 mg GAE/g dry fruit. The extract exhibited antioxidant properties by scavenging DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl), ABTS (2,2-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothioazolin-6-sulfonic acid)) radicals, and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). It also demonstrated cholinesterase enzyme inhibitor capacities (AChE and BuChE—IC₅₀: 6.904 ± 0.42 and 18.38 ± 0.48 µg/mL, respectively). Docking calculations were additionally performed for a selection of compounds in the berries. The data obtained suggest that the hydroalcoholic extract of L. radicans possesses significant potential as a natural antioxidant and for the inhibition of enzymes, making it a promising candidate for the development of phytotherapeutic and nutraceutical products, especially as a supplement against chronic diseases. Full article

This study aimed to valorize underutilized local ingredients by developing nutritionally enhanced pasta products enriched with sorghum and cork oak flours. The resulting pasta samples were characterized by their chemical composition, color attributes, functional properties, texture, microstructure, and antioxidant capacity. Semolina-based pasta showed higher protein content, while cork oak flour contributed significantly to lipid content, and sorghum flour was notably rich in fiber and minerals. Colorimetric analysis quantified visible differences in appearance, depending on the type of flour used. Functional assessment showed comparable water absorption indices across all samples; however, sorghum-enriched pasta exhibited significantly higher water solubility. Textural analysis indicated that sorghum reduced pasta adhesiveness and cohesiveness, whereas cork oak flour increased hardness, gumminess, and adhesiveness—likely due to its high fiber content, contributing to a stickier mouthfeel. Microstructural observations confirmed a denser and more compact matrix in pasta formulated with cork oak flour. Antioxidant analysis revealed that cork oak flour imparted the highest antioxidant potential, followed by sorghum and semolina. HPLC/ESI-TOF-MS profiling demonstrated a rich and diverse polyphenolic composition in the enriched samples. These formulations not only enhance the functional and nutritional profile of traditional pasta but also align with the increasing consumer demand for low-carbohydrate, fiber-rich foods. Full article