Search Results (126)

Polyscias fruticosa (L.) Harms, a Southeast Asian medicinal plant of the Araliaceae family, has gained increasing attention due to its rich phytochemical profile and potential pharmacological applications. This review provides an up-to-date synthesis of biotechnological strategies and chemical investigations related to this species. In vitro propagation methods, including somatic embryogenesis, adventitious root, and cell suspension cultures, are discussed with emphasis on elicitation and bioreactor systems to enhance the production of secondary metabolites. Phytochemical analyses using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) have identified over 120 metabolites, including triterpenoid saponins, polyphenols, sterols, volatile terpenoids, polyacetylenes, and fatty acids. Several compounds, such as tocopherols, conjugated linoleic acids, and alismol, were identified for the first time in the genus. These constituents exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, anticancer, and neuroprotective activities, with selected saponins (e.g., chikusetsusaponin IVa, Polyscias fruticosa saponin [PFS], zingibroside R1) showing confirmed molecular mechanisms of action. The combination of biotechnological tools with phytochemical and pharmacological evaluation supports P. fruticosa as a promising candidate for further functional, therapeutic, and nutraceutical development. This review also identifies knowledge gaps related to compound characterization and mechanistic studies, suggesting future directions for interdisciplinary research. Full article

Helicobacter pylori, a spiral-shaped bacterium found in the stomach, is associated with various gastrointestinal and systemic health conditions. Effective suppression of H. pylori is therefore critical for managing gastrointestinal diseases. In a search for natural products with anti-H. pylori activity, the extract of Atractylodes macrocephala rhizoma showed significant inhibitory effects. Chromatographic purification of A. macrocephala extract yielded thirteen compounds, which were identified as ten sesquiterpenes and three polyacetylenes by spectroscopic analysis. The sesquiterpene compounds belong to the eudesmane or eudesmane lactone types and exhibited structure-dependent efficacy. The major eudesmane lactone sesquiterpene, atractylenolide I (1), showed strong inhibitory activity comparable to metronidazole, a positive control, and atractylenolide III (3) also showed good efficacy. However, structural modification such as hydroxylation, methylation, or acetylation of the sesquiterpenes led to reduced activity. In contrast, polyacetylene derivatives displayed only mild inhibitory effects. Further evaluation of the active compounds against three H. pylori strains such as 51, 43504, and 26695 showed that atractylenolide I (1) had potent inhibitory effects against all three strains, with MIC₅₀ values of ranging from 27.3 to 48.6 μM and MIC₉₀ values from 45.4 to 87.2 μM. Atractylenolide III (3) exhibited selective activity against strain 51 with MIC₅₀ value of 89.9 μM. Both compounds also exhibited anti-inflammatory activity with IC₉₀ values of 23.3 and 31.1 μM, respectively, although they showed little effect on urease. This is the first report on the anti-H. pylori efficacy of various constituents of A. macrocephala and comparative analysis of inhibitory effects against several strains, which will provide scientific evidence supporting its potential as therapeutic agent for H. pylori-related infection. Full article

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

Chrysanthemum species represent an economically important group of flowering plants. Many species also present a medicinal interest, notably for the treatment of inflammatory pathologies. This is the case for Chrysanthemum boreale Makino, endemic to Japan and widespread in Eastern Asia. This perennial plant has long been used in folk medicine to treat inflammatory diseases and bacterial infections. An extensive review of the scientific literature pertaining to C. boreale has been performed to analyze the origin of the plant, its genetic traits, the traditional usages, and the properties of aqueous or organic plant extracts and essential oils derived from this species. Aqueous extracts and the associated flavonoids, such as acacetin and glycoside derivatives, display potent antioxidant activities. These aqueous extracts and floral waters are used mainly as cytoprotective agents. Organic extracts, in particular those made from methanol or ethanol, essentially display antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties useful to protect organs from oxidative damage. They can be used for neuroprotection. Essential oils from C. boreale have been used as cytoprotective or antibacterial agents. The main bioactive natural products isolated from the plant include flavonoids such as acacetin and related glycosides (notably linarin), and diverse sesquiterpene lactones (SLs). Among monomeric SLs, cumambrins and borenolide are the main products of interest, with cumambrin A targeting covalently the transcription factor NF-κB to regulate proinflammatory gene expression to limit osteoclastic bone resorption. The dimeric SL handelin, which is characteristic of C. boreale, exhibits a prominent anti-inflammatory action, with a capacity to target key proteins like kinase TAK1 and chaperone Hsp70. A few other natural products isolated from the plant (tulipinolide, polyacetylenic derivatives) are discussed. Altogether, the review explores all medicinal usages of the plant and the associated phytochemical panorama, with the objective of promoting further botanical and chemical studies of this ancestral medicinal species. Full article

C₁₇-polyacetylenic (PA) oxylipins are bioactive compounds in carrots (Daucus carota L.) with structurally unique features and diverse biological roles. These PA-derived compounds have garnered attention for their potential contributions to human health, particularly in cancer prevention and anti-inflammatory applications. This trade-off between health benefits and sensory quality underscores the importance of understanding the genetic and biochemical basis of PA biosynthesis, as it may allow for the development of carrots with optimized levels of these compounds that balance both nutritional and sensory qualities. In this review, we seek biochemically inspired strategies to elucidate the complexities of PA-derived oxylipins biosynthesis in carrots, a topic that remains largely unexplored. By integrating current knowledge on polyacetylene biology, biosynthesis, genetic and enzymatic factors involved in their production and the implications for enhancing the medicinal value of carrots we aim to provide a foundation for future research that could unlock the full potential of carrots as a source of health-promoting bioactive compounds. Full article

Background/Objectives: Inflammatory disorders contribute to the pathogenesis of numerous diseases and are known to markedly reduce quality of life. Although anti-inflammatory drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration are available, their prolonged use is frequently associated with adverse effects. In this study, we evaluated the pharmacological properties of araliadiol, a naturally occurring polyacetylene compound, as a novel anti-inflammatory agent. Methods: An in vitro hyperinflammatory model was established by stimulating RAW 264.7 cells with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Dexamethasone (DEX) was used as a positive control to compare anti-inflammatory efficacy. The protective effects of araliadiol against LPS-induced cytotoxicity were assessed using adenosine triphosphate content and crystal violet staining assays. The anti-inflammatory activity was further examined by quantitative reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting, cell fractionation, immunofluorescence staining, a nitric oxide assay, and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Araliadiol significantly attenuated cytotoxicity and cell death in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. It suppressed the expression of cell death markers Cleaved caspase-3 and Cleaved PARP-1. In addition, araliadiol downregulated key pro-inflammatory mediators, including inflammasome-related genes, cytokines, chemokines, and inducible nitric oxide synthase. It also reduced the expression of Cox-2 and PGE₂, indicating potential anti-hyperalgesic effects. Moreover, araliadiol inhibited the activation of Nfκb and Stat1 signaling pathways in LPS-stimulated macrophages. Conclusions: Araliadiol demonstrated robust anti-cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-hyperalgesic activities in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells, with efficacy comparable to DEX. These findings support its potential as a plant-derived therapeutic candidate for the management of inflammatory conditions. Full article

Lobelia chinensis (Lour.) is a medicinal plant that contains phytochemicals, such as phenolics and polyacetylene compounds, with beneficial biological activities. In vitro cultures are typically employed for biomass generation and plant multiplication. However, the current biotechnological approaches for producing these chemicals are ineffective, which is why bioelicitors are being used to boost synthesis of these molecules. Plantlet cultures were established in vitro using Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 3% sucrose (w/v). Following 4 weeks of culture initiation, the plantlet cultures were treated with 0, 25, 50, 100, or 200 mg L⁻¹ of yeast extract (YE) or with 0, 25, 50, 100, or 200 µM of salicylic acid (SA) for 1 week to boost the synthesis of bioactive compounds. The amounts of total phenolics, total flavonoids, specific phenolics including catechin, phloretic acid, linarin, and polyacetylenes, including lobetyolinin and lobetylin, were considerably elevated in the plantlet cultures treated with 50 mg L⁻¹ YE and/or 25 µM SA. The 2,2 Diphenyl 1 picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay, 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethybenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) assay, and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay were performed to assess the antioxidant properties of the plantlets. The elicitor-treated plantlets were found to have higher antioxidant activity. Thus, plantlet biomass produced in vitro can be used as a raw material to produce medicinal and nutraceutical products. Full article

Medicinal beverages are herbal drinks that are consumed by people in numerous countries including China, India, Brazil, Greece, Turkey, and others. These herbal drinks possess many beneficial properties for human health, such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antiaging, anti-fertility, antitumor properties, and anti-diabetic effects. Flavonoids, phenols, carotenoids, sterols, glucosinolates, alkaloids, polyacetylenes, coumarins, saponins, and terpenoids are the main constituents which offer benefits to human health. In this context, this review aimed to highlight medicinal beverages’ origin, physico-chemical properties, and bio-functionality, focusing mainly on olive leaf extracts and their bioactive components that have not been extensively studied. Full article

Microporous soluble polymers attract great attention as materials for membrane gas separation, gas storage and transportation, as sorbents, supports for catalysts, and matrices for mixed matrix membranes. The key problems in the development of this area of polymer chemistry include the search for methods of controlling the porous structure parameters and ensuring the stability of their properties over time. In this connection, a fruitful approach is to introduce bulky and rigid, often framework carbocyclic moieties into the polymer backbones and side chains. This review discusses the effect of carbocyclic moieties on gas transport properties, BET surface area, and FFV of glassy polymers, such as polyacetylenes, polynorbornenes, polyimides, and ladder and partially ladder polymers. In the majority of cases, the incorporation of carbocyclic moieties makes it possible to controllably increase these three parameters. Carbocyclic moieties can also improve CO₂/gas separation selectivity, which is displayed for ladder polymers and polynorbornenes. Full article

Goutweed (Aegopodium podagraria L.) is a species of medicinal perennial in the celery family (Apiaceae), also considered an edible plant with medicinal effects and high nutritional value. In traditional folk medicine, it was known as a remedy for gout (arthritis) and also used to relieve rheumatism or sciatica. The botanical characteristics, occurrence, nutritional composition, and traditional and present-day applications of this plant are discussed. Furthermore, the important specific plant metabolites including organic acids and their derivatives, flavonoids, coumarins, polyacetylenes and terpene components of essential oil are presented and their biological activity is described. The valuable medicinal properties of Aegopodium podagria L. include anti-inflammatory, antirheumatic, antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, diuretic, sedative and protective effects on the kidneys and liver. The aim of this paper was to describe, on the basis of the available literature, the chemical composition, bioactivity and health-promoting properties of this wild edible plant. The information obtained is described and summarized in tables. Full article

Plant-derived biopesticides are emerging as a promising and popular alternative for promoting cleaner and safer agricultural practices. The present work aims to explore Argyranthemum frutescens (Asteraceae) as a source of botanical pesticides and to validate this through a cultivation process. To this task, a bioassay-guided fractionation of the ethanolic root extracts from both wild and cultivated A. frutescens on phytopathogenic fungi of Botrytis cinerea, Fusarium oxysporum, and Alternaria alternata was conducted. This approach led to the identification of polyacetylenes with higher potency than commercial fungicides. Specifically, compounds 3 (capillin) and 5 (frutescinone) showed more than 90% growth inhibition at 0.05 mg/mL concentration on B. cinerea, while compounds 2 (capillinol) and 3 were also more active than positive controls, Fosbel-Plus and Azoxystrobin, against F. oxysporum. The structures of the isolated polyacetylenes (1–6, 9, and 10) and alkamides (7, 8, and 11) were determined through spectroscopic analysis, and the absolute configuration of stereocenter C1 of compounds 1, 2, 4 and 9 was determined by NMR-spectroscopy with (R)-(-)-α-methoxy-phenylacetic as a chiral derivatizing agent, and biogenetic considerations. Overall, this study supports the potential of polyacetylenes as promising agrochemical lead compounds against phytopathogens, and validates A. frutescens cultivation as a viable source of biopesticides. Full article

One novel C₁₀ polyacetylene rhamnoside, 4,6,8-decatriyne-1-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside, named xylariside A (1), together with two novel C₁₀ polyacetylene quinovopyranosides, 4,6,8-decatriyne-1-O-α-D-quinovopyranoside, xylariside B (2), and 8E-decaene-4,6-diyne-1-O-α-D-quinovopyranoside, xylariside C (3), were obtained from the solid fermentation of Xylaria sp. VDL4, an endophytic fungus isolated from Vaccinium dunalianum wight (Ericaceae). Their chemical structures were elucidated through a combination of spectroscopic techniques. The antifungal activities of these compounds were evaluated in vitro against four phytopathogenic fungi (Fusarium oxysporum, Botrytis cinerea, Phytophthora capsici, and Fusarium solani). Compound 2 demonstrated significant antifungal activities, with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging from 3.91 to 7.81 μg/mL. Compound 2’s effectiveness levels were similar to those of the reference drugs thiabendazole and carbendazim (each MIC = 0.98−15.62 μg/mL). Xylariside B (2) was further evaluated against B. cinerea in vivo. It exhibited remarkable efficacy in both the prevention and treatment of tomato and strawberry gray mold. Molecular docking studies confirmed the antifungal mechanism of compound 2 by revealing its binding interactions with key enzyme targets in B. cinerea, thereby supporting the observed in vitro and in vivo results. Additionally, compound 2 showed effective inhibition of α-glucosidase, with IC₅₀ values of 5.27 ± 0.0125 μg/mL. Full article

The contemporary approach to nutrition increasingly considers the role of non-nutritive bioactive compounds in modulating the immune system and maintaining health. This article provides up-to-date insight into the immunomodulatory effects of selected bioactive compounds, including micro- and macronutrients, vitamins, as well as other health-promoting substances, such as omega-3 fatty acids, probiotics, prebiotics, postbiotics (including butyric acid and sodium butyrate), coenzyme Q10, lipoic acid, and plant-derived components such as phenolic acids, flavonoids, coumarins, alkaloids, polyacetylenes, saponins, carotenoids, and terpenoids. Micro- and macronutrients, such as zinc, selenium, magnesium, and iron, play a pivotal role in regulating the immune response and protecting against oxidative stress. Vitamins, especially vitamins C, D, E, and B, are vital for the optimal functioning of the immune system as they facilitate the production of cytokines, the differentiation of immunological cells, and the neutralization of free radicals, among other functions. Omega-3 fatty acids exhibit strong anti-inflammatory effects and enhance immune cell function. Probiotics, prebiotics, and postbiotics modulate the intestinal microbiota, thereby promoting the integrity of the intestinal barrier and communication between the microbiota and the immune system. Coenzyme Q10, renowned for its antioxidant attributes, participates in the protection of cells from oxidative stress and promotes energy processes essential for immune function. Sodium butyrate and lipoic acid exhibit anti-inflammatory effects and facilitate the regeneration of the intestinal epithelium, which is crucial for the maintenance of immune homeostasis. This article emphasizes the necessity of an integrative approach to optimal nutrition that considers not only nutritional but also non-nutritional bioactive compounds to provide adequate support for immune function. Without them, the immune system will never function properly, because it has been adapted to this in the course of evolution. The data presented in this article may serve as a foundation for further research into the potential applications of bioactive components in the prevention and treatment of diseases associated with immune dysfunction. Full article

In spite of the many chemical reports on polyacetylenes of the genus Artemisia, combined conclusions regarding their distribution and biological functions are widely missing. The aim of the present review was to arrange the diversity of polyacetylenes in the genus following biogenetic aspects and group them together into characteristic structural types. The co-occurrence of the dehydrofalcarinol type with the aromatic capillen-isocoumarin type represents a characteristic biogenetic trend, clearly segregating species of the subgenus Dracunculus from those of the subgenera Artemisia and Absinthium, distinguished by the spiroketal enol ether and/or linear triyne type. Various accumulation trends toward specific structures additionally contribute to a more natural species grouping within the subgenera. Biological activities were reported for all four structural types, ranging from antifungal, insecticidal, nematicidal, and cytotoxic properties to allelopathic effects. Of particular interest were their remarkable cytotoxic potencies, from which the very high values of dehydrofalcarin-3,8-diol may be associated with the pronounced affinity of this type to form extremely stable bonds to proteins acting in signaling pathways. The aromatic acetylene capillin inhibited the viability of various tumor cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Its potent apoptosis-inducing activity was induced via the mitochondrial pathway. A group of spiroketal enol ethers was identified as inhibitors of PMA-induced superoxide generation. Among them, the epoxide of the isovalerate ester exhibited the highest potency. The ecological impact of acetylene formation was made apparent by the allelopathic effects of DME of the linear triyne type, and the aromatic capillen by inhibiting seed germination and growth of widespread weeds. Full article

Recent developments in the synthesis of substituted polyacetylenes have considerably benefitted from advancements in organometallic catalysis; however, most important developments rely on the advent of Rh-catalyzed living polymerizations. The latter not only allow the tailoring of well-defined degrees of polymerization with low and narrow polydispersity but also enable access to stereochemical well-defined cis-transoidal polymers with a helical structure. These novel polymers open new avenues for application in photonics and electronics. Rh-catalyzed living polymerizations are mild and concise metal-catalyzed polymer syntheses that not only allow for the decoration of sidechains with multiple functionalities, including chiral units, but also enable enantioselective induction of helical chirality, memory of chirality, well-defined copolymerization, and end-group functionalization at both termini. This review summarizes recent developments in metal-catalyzed syntheses of substituted polyacetylenes, with a special focus on Rh-catalyzed living polymerizations. Full article