Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry-based metabolite profiling of chia and quinoa seeds in comparison with wheat and oat.

INTRODUCTION: With an increasing interest in healthy and affordable cereal intake, efforts are made toward exploiting underutilized cereals with high nutritional values. OBJECTIVES: The current study aims to explore the metabolome diversity in 14 cultivars of chia and quinoa collected from Germany, Austria, and Egypt, compared with wheat and oat as major cereals. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The samples were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Multivariate data analysis (MVA) was employed for sample classification and markers characterization. RESULTS: A total of 114 metabolites were quantified (sugars, alcohols, organic and amino acids/nitrogenous compounds, fatty acids/esters), but the inorganic and phenolic acids were only identified. Fatty acids were the major class followed by amino acids in quinoa and chia. Chia and oats were richer in sucrose. Quinoa encompassed higher amino acids. Quinoa and chia were rich in essential amino acids. Higher levels of unsaturated fatty acids especially omega 6 and omega 9 were detected in quinoa versus omega 3 in chia compared with oat and wheat, whereas ω6/ω3 fatty acid ratio of chia was the lowest. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive metabolite profiling of these pseudo cereals. CONCLUSION: Quinoa and chia, especially red chia, are more nutritionally valuable compared with oat and wheat because of their compositional profile of free amino acids, organic acids, and essential fatty acids, besides their low ω6/ω3 fatty acid ratio. Such results pose them as inexpensive alternative to animal proteins and encourage their inclusion in infant formulas.

Biosynthesis and Characterization of Aeonium arboreum-Derived Silver Nanoparticles: Antimicrobial Activity, Biofilm Inhibition, Antihemolytic Activity, and In Silico Studies.

Environmentally friendly biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) from Aeonium arboreum (L.) Webb & Berthel is reported for the first time. The synthesized AgNPs were characterized using UV-Vis, FTIR, TEM, Zeta potential, and XRD analysis, revealing high stability (-29.1 mV), spherical shape, and an average size of 100 nm. The antimicrobial activity levels of both A. arboreum extract and biosynthesized AgNPs were evaluated against five uropathogens (Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans). Both the extract and the AgNPs exhibited significant efficacy, particularly against E. coli, with inhibition zones of 27 mm and 30 mm, respectively. LC-MS analysis tentatively identified 11 secondary metabolites in the extract, including quercetin-3-O-glucoside, quercetin-3-O-rhamnoside, myricetin 3-glucoside, and daphneresinol. In silico docking studies revealed promising binding affinities of these metabolites in relation to key enzymes involved in bacterial folate synthesis (dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) and dihydropteroate synthase (DHPS)) and DNA replication (DNA gyrase). These findings demonstrate the potential of A. arboreum-based AgNPs and their associated metabolites as a novel therapeutic approach for combating urinary tract infections. Their antimicrobial, antihemolytic, and antibiofilm properties warrant further investigation.

Computational metal-flavonoids complexes presentation of greenly synthesized silver nanoparticles combined flavonoids from Lens culinaris L. as anticancer agents using BcL-2 and IspC proteins.

Lens culinaris L., has been widely recognized for its medical applications. LC-ESI-TOF-MS identified 22 secondary metabolites including phenolics, flavonoids, and anthocyanidin glycosides among its total extract (LCTE). The study aimed to apply LCTE as a biogenic material for reducing and capping the silver nanoparticles (LC-AgNPs). The ynthesized LC-AgNPs were characterized using different techniques. The UV absorption was observed at λmax 379 nm. LC-AgNPs were spherical, with 19.22 nm average size. The face cubic centre nature was demonstrated by HR-TEM and XRD. The LC-AgNPs were then evaluated for their anticancer and antimicrobial potentials. LC-AgNPs showed an extremely potent cytotoxic activity against MCF-7, HCT-116 and HepG2 cell lines (IC50= 0.37, 0.35 and 0.1 µg/mL, respectively). LC-AgNPs induced significant apoptotic effects in the three examined cancer cell lines. LC-AgNPs resulted in sequestration of cells in G1 phase of the cell cycle in both MCF-7 and HCT-116 cells, meanwhile it trapped cells at the G2 phase in HepG2 cells. Moreover, the antimicrobial activity of LC-AgNPs was highly confirmed against Klebsiella pneumoniae and Acinetobacter baumannii. Molecular docking study designated Kaempferol-3-O-robinoside-7-O-rhamnoside and Quercetin-3-D-xyloside as the topmost LCTE active constituents that caused inhibition of both Bcl-2 and IspC cancer targets in combination with the produced silver nanoparticles.

Comparative GC-MS based nutrients profiling of less explored legume seeds of Melilotus, Medicago, Trifolium, and Ononis analysed using chemometric tools.

Exploring novel sources of plant protein for nutrition of both humans and animals is motivated mainly by its growing demand worldwide, besides identifying healthy alternatives for animal protein. The present study evaluates metabolome diversity within 15 legume seed species. The examined samples comprised three Melilotus, four Medicago, four Trifolium, and four Ononis seed species. A holistic approach for metabolites profiling using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) led to the annotation and quantification of 87 metabolites comprising alcohols, free amino acids, aromatics, fatty acids/esters, nitrogenous compounds, organic acids, sugar alcohols, sugars, terpenes, and steroids. Fatty acids represented the major metabolite class represented by palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic, and linolenic acids. Sucrose and pinitol were the major sugars and sugar alcohols among seeds. Ononis seeds (OR, OS and OA) were the most abundant in fatty acids, sugars, sugar alcohols, and free amino acids, whereas Melilotus species (MO and MS) were least enriched in these key nutrients posing Ononis as potential food source for humans and animals. The examined seeds were generally low in sulfur-containing free amino acids and lacking many of the essential free amino acids. Multivariate data analysis aided in the identification of Ononis metabolite markers belonging to various classes i.e., (alcohol) glycerol, (sugar) allofuranose, and (sugar alcohol) pinitol, although the differentiation between Medicago, Melilotus, and Trifolium genera was not attained suggestive for other analytical platforms for its classification.

Effect of Phenolics from Aeonium arboreum on Alpha Glucosidase, Pancreatic Lipase, and Oxidative Stress; a Bio-Guided Approach.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a global issue affecting over a billion people, raising the risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, and other ailments. It is often characterized by hypertension, dyslipidemia and/or obesity, and hyperglycemia. Chemical investigation of Aeonium arboreum (L.) Webb & Berthel led to the isolation of six compounds, viz. ß-sitosterol, ß-sitosterol glucoside, myricetin galactoside, quercetin rhamnoside, kaempferol rhamnoside, and myricetin glucoside. Interestingly, A. arboreum's dichloromethane (DCM), 100 and 50% MeOH Diaion fractions and the isolated compound (quercetin-3-rhamnoside) revealed potent α-glucosidase inhibitory activity, especially 50% Diaion fraction. In addition, they also showed very potent antioxidant potential, especially the polar fractions, using DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, ORAC, and metal chelation assays. Notably, the 50% Diaion fraction had the highest antioxidant potential using DPPH and ORAC assays, while the 100% Diaion fraction and quercetin-3-rhamnoside showed the highest activity using ABTS, FRAP, and metal chelation assays. Also, quercetin-3-rhamnoside showed a good docking score of -5.82 kcal/mol in comparison to acarbose. In addition, molecular dynamic stimulation studies illustrated high stability of compound binding to pocket of protein. Such potent activities present A. arboreum as a complementary safe approach for the management of diabetes mellitus as well as MetS.

Ongoing and potential novel trends of pomegranate fruit peel; a comprehensive review of its health benefits and future perspectives as nutraceutical.

Pomegranate is an ancient shrub, globally distributed nowadays. It has been used in the middle east as a medicinal food and traditional medicine for thousands of years. Pomegranate peel (PP) constitutes about 50% of the total fruit, however, it has been previously regarded as a waste. Recent research points to PP as a rich source of phenolics (e.g., ellagitannins, flavonoids, and anthocyanins), polysaccharides, in addition to its biotransformed metabolites viz. urolithins making it a valuable waste with promising pharmacological actions. Compared to the pulp and the juice, PP exhibited stronger antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Besides, it inhibited inflammation in several conditions, including colitis, arthritis, hepatitis, contact dermatitis, and lung inflammation. Moreover, it displayed anti-osteoporosis, anti-hyperglycemic, antidiabetic, antihypertensive, vasculoprotective, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, and immunomodulatory effects. Additionally, it was effective as a prebiotic and in obesity control, besides it promoted wound healing. Furthermore, PP demonstrated anticancer effects against different cancer types, for example, colon, liver, thyroid, uterine, breast, bladder, prostate, leukemia, and osteosarcoma. Despite PP safety, it may interfere with the metabolism of other drugs because it inhibits cytochromes (CYP) changing their bioavailability, effectiveness, and toxicity. PP biowaste valorization not only avoids against its environmental and economic burden but can also provide a promising platform to produce novel or improved nutraceuticals. This study provides a comprehensive overview of PP biological activities with the reported action mechanisms related to its phytochemicals and further biotransformed metabolites inside the body. Future research prospects to unravel the merits of such waste and optimize its use are discussed. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Pomegranate is widely distributed throughout the world. Although its peel was previously considered a waste, recent research regards it as a rich source of bioactive compounds with promising biological activities. Its recycling not only overcomes the bio-waste problems, but also provides a source of valuable compounds with several health benefits. In recent years, PP has been demonstrated to exhibit excellent pharmacological bioactivities, for example, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiosteoporosis, antihyperlipidemic, and anticancer activities. Its health-promoting power is mostly attributed to the phenolic and polysaccharide content, in addition to its amazing biotransformed metabolites. The underlying action mechanisms of such pharmacological activities are discussed and related to its chemical content. This review presents the latest research progress on the role of PP in the prevention and treatment of various chronic diseases, and its protective health effects for future research to be used in nutraceuticals.

Dissecting coffee seeds metabolome in context of genotype, roasting degree, and blending in the Middle East using NMR and GC/MS techniques.

With a favored taste and various bioactivities, coffee has been consumed as a daily beverage worldwide. The current study presented a multi-faceted comparative metabolomics approach dissecting commercially available coffee products in the Middle East region for quality assessment and functional food purposes using NMR and GC/MS platforms. NMR metabolites fingerprinting led to identification of 18 metabolites and quantification (qNMR) of six prominent markers for standardization purposes. An increase of ß-ethanolamine (MEA) reported for the first time, 5-(hydroxymethyl) furfural (5-HMF), concurrent with a reduction in chlorogenic acid, kahweol, and sucrose levels post roasting as revealed using multivariate data analyses (MVA). The diterpenes kahweol and cafestol were identified in green and roasted Coffea arabica, while 16-O-methyl cafestol in roasted C. robusta. Moreover, GC/MS identified a total of 143 metabolites belonging to 15 different chemical classes, with fructose found enriched in green C. robusta versus fatty acids abundance, i.e., palmitic and stearic acids in C. arabica confirming NMR results. These potential results aided to identify novel quality control attributes, i.e., ethanolamine, for coffee in the Middle East region and have yet to be confirmed in other coffee specimens.