Impact of Environmental Conditions on the Concentrations of Trichothecenes, Their Glucosides, and Emerging Fusarium Toxins in Naturally Contaminated, Irradiated, and Fusarium langsethiae Inoculated Oats.

Trichothecenes produced by Fusarium species are commonly detected in oats. However, the ratios of the concentrations of free trichothecenes and their conjugates and how they are impacted by different interacting environmental conditions are not well documented. This study aims to examine the effect of water activity (0.95 and 0.98 aw) and temperature (20 and 25 °C) stress on the production of T-2 and HT-2 toxins, deoxynivalenol and their conjugates, as well as diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS). Multiple mycotoxins were detected using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry from 64 contaminated oat samples. The highest concentrations of HT-2-glucoside (HT-2-Glc) were observed at 0.98 aw and 20 °C, and were higher than other type A trichothecenes in the natural oats' treatments. However, no statistical differences were found between the mean concentrations of HT-2-Glc and HT-2 toxins in all storage conditions analysed. DAS concentrations were generally low and highest at 0.95 aw and 20 °C, while deoxynivalenol-3-glucoside levels were highest at 0.98 aw and 20 °C in the naturally contaminated oats. Emerging mycotoxins such as beauvericin, moniliformin, and enniatins mostly increased with a rise in water activity and temperature in the naturally contaminated oats treatment. This study reinforces the importance of storage aw and temperature conditions in the high risk of free and modified toxin contamination of small cereal grains.

Occurrence of alkyl glucosides in rinse-off cosmetics marketed as hypoallergenic or for sensitive skin.

Rinse-off cosmetic products, primarily shampoos, are frequently implicated in the onset of allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) caused by alkyl glucosides (AGs). AGs are increasingly popular surfactants and known contact allergens. Glucoside-induced ACD was most frequently observed with shampoos and skin-cleansing products in both consumer and occupational settings. Thereby, studies have shown that atopic individuals are the most susceptible to ACD. Also, several investigations have indicated that individuals with sensitive skin might be more prone to skin allergies. This is why the presence of AGs was investigated in shampoos and body cleansers marketed as hypoallergenic or for sensitive skin. For this purpose, the website of Amazon.com was surveyed. Four groups of cosmetics were obtained by using the following keywords: "hypoallergenic shampoo for adults," "sensitive skin shampoo for adults," "hypoallergenic body cleanser for adults," and "sensitive skin body cleanser for adults." The first 30 best-selling cosmetics in each group were investigated for the presence of AGs, by analyzing the product information pages. The results showed that as much as 56.7% of hypoallergenic shampoos contained AGs, as ingredients, whereas the percentage was somewhat lower for other product categories. Even though decyl and lauryl glucoside were nearly ubiquitously used AGs in cosmetics over the past decade, the most commonly present AG in our analysis was coco-glucoside. The results of this study indicated a necessity to include coco-glucoside in the baseline series of patch testing allergens. Industry, regulators, and healthcare providers should be made aware of the frequent presence of AGs in rinse-off cosmetic products marketed as hypoallergenic or for sensitive skin to ensure the safety and well-being of consumers and patients.

Influence of the Nitrogen Fertilization on the Yield, Biometric Characteristics and Chemical Composition of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni Grown in Poland.

Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni is a plant native to South America that has gathered much interest in recent decades thanks to diterpene glycosides, called steviosides, which it produces. These compounds are characterised by their sweetness, which is 250-300 times higher than saccharose, and they contain almost no caloric value. Stevia is currently also grown outside the South American continent, in various countries characterised by warm weather. This research aimed to determine whether it is viable to grow Stevia rebaudiana plants in Poland, a country characterised by a cooler climate than the native regions for stevia plants. Additionally, the impact of adding various dosages and forms of nitrogen fertiliser was analysed. It was determined that Stevia rebaudiana grown in Poland is characterised by a rather low concentration of steviosides, although proper nitrogen fertilisation can improve various characteristics of the grown plants. The addition of 100 kg or 150 kg of nitrogen per hectare of the field in the form of urea or ammonium nitrate increased the yield of the stevia plants. The stevioside content can be increased by applying fertilisation using 100 kg or 150 kg of nitrogen per hectare in the form of ammonium sulfate. The total yield of the stevia plants grown in Poland was lower than the yield typically recorded in warmer countries, and the low concentration of steviosides in the plant suggests that more research about growing Stevia rebaudiana in Poland would be needed to develop profitable methods of stevia cultivation.

Evaluation of drug interactions of Saposhnikoviae Radix and its major components with astragaloside IV and paeoniflorin using in vitro and in vivo experiments.

Saposhnikoviae Radix (SR) may enhance the pharmacodynamics of Huangqi Chifeng Tang (HQCFT) in the treatment of cerebral infarction according to our previous research, but the underlying mechanism is unknown. Herein, an in vivo pharmacokinetic assay in rats and in vitro MDCK-MDR1 cell assays were used to investigate the possible mechanism of SR, its main components, and its interactions with Astragali Radix (AR) and Paeoniae Radix (PR). An ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC‒MS/MS)-based analytical method for quantifying astragaloside IV (ASIV) and paeoniflorin (PAE) in microdialysis and transport samples was developed. The pharmacokinetic parameters of SR were determined using noncompartmental analyses CCK-8 assays were used to detect the cytotoxicity of ASIV, PAE, cimifugin (CIM), prim-o-glucosylcimifugin (POG) and their combinations. Moreover, drug transport was studied using MDCK-MDR1 cells. Western blotting was performed to measure the protein expression levels of P-GP and MRP1. Claudin-5, ZO-1, and F-actin expression was determined via immunohistochemical staining of MDCK-MDR1 cells. harmacokinetic studies revealed that, compared with those of Huangqi Chifeng Tang-Saposhnikoviae Radix (HQCFT-SR), the Tmax of ASIV increased by 11.11 %, and the MRT0-t and Tmax of PAE increased by 11.19 % and 20 %, respectively, in the HQCFT group. Transport studies revealed that when ASIV was coincubated with 28 µM CIM or POG, the apparent permeability coefficient (Papp) increased by 71.52 % and 50.33 %, respectively. Coincubation of PAE with 120 µM CIM or POG increased the Papp by 87.62 % and 60.95 %, respectively. Moreover, CIM and POG significantly downregulated P-gp and MRP1 (P < 0.05), inhibited the expression of Claudin-5, ZO-1, and F-actin (P < 0.05), and affected intercellular tight junctions (TJs). In conclusion, our study successfully established a selective, sensitive and reproducible UPLC‒MS/MS analytical method to detect drug‒drug interactions between SR, AR and PR in vivo and in vitro, which is beneficial for enhancing the therapeutic efficacies of AR and PR. Moreover, this study provides a theoretical basis for further research on the use of SR as a drug carrier.

Molecular imprinting-based Ru@SiO2-embedded covalent organic frameworks composite for electrochemiluminescence detection of cyanidin-3-O-glucoside.

Cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (C3G), a natural antioxidant, plays multiple physiological or pathological roles in maintaining human health; thereby, designing advanced sensors to achieve specific recognition and high-sensitivity detection of C3G is significant. Herein, an imprinted-type electrochemiluminescence (ECL) sensing platform was developed using core-shell Ru@SiO2-CMIPs, which were prepared by covalent organic framework (COF)-based molecularly imprinted polymers (CMIPs) embedded in luminescent Ru@SiO2 cores. The C3G-imprinted COF shell not only helps generate a steady-enhanced ECL signal, but also enables specific recognition of C3G. When C3G is bound to Ru@SiO2-CMIPs with abundant imprinted cavities, resonance energy transfer (RET) behavior is triggered, resulting in a quenched ECL response. The constructed Ru@SiO2-CMIPs nanoprobes exhibit ultra-high sensitivity, absolute specificity, and an ultra-low detection limit (0.15 pg mL-1) for analyzing C3G in food matrices. This study provides a means to construct an efficient and reliable molecular imprinting-based ECL sensor for food analysis.

Fabrication of a bio-based polymer adsorbent and its application for extraction and determination of glycosides from Huangqi Liuyi decoction.

Huangqi Liuyi Decoction, a famous classical Chinese prescription, shows significant curative effect on diabetes and its complications, in which calycosin-7-glucoside, liquiritin and glycyrrhizic acid are the main components that playing these mentioned pharmacological activity, under the synergistic action of various other ingredients in the decoction. However, there are significant differences in the content of active compounds in Chinese medicinal materials, which mainly due to origin, picking seasons, and processing methods. Hence, the accurate content of the glycosides is the prerequisite for ensuring the pharmacological efficacy. Aiming at establishing an efficient extraction and determination method for accurate quantitative analysis of calycosin-7-glucoside, liquiritin and glycyrrhizic acid in Huangqi Liuyi Decoction, an on line solid-phase extraction-high-performance liquid chromatography method was developed, using a homemade bio-based monolithic adsorbent. The bio-based adsorbent was prepared in a stainless steel tube, using bio-monomers of methyleugenol and S-allyl-L-cysteine, which effectively reduced the dependence of the polymer field on non-renewable fossil resources and reduced carbon emissions. Furthermore, the prepared adsorbent owned abundant chemical groups, which can produce interactions of hydrogen bond, dipole-dipole, π-π and hydrophobic force with the target glycosides, thus improving the specific recognition ability of the adsorbent. The experiments were carried out on an LC-3000 HPLC instrument with a six-way valve. Methodology validation indicates that the recovery is in the range of 97.0%-103.4% with the RSD in the range of 1.6%-4.0%, due to the specific selectivity of the bio-based monolithic adsorbent for these three glycosides, and good matrix-removal ability for Huangqi Liuyi decoction. The limit of detection is 0.17, 0.50 and 0.33 µg/mL for calycosin-7-glucoside, liquiritin and glycyrrhizic acid, respectively, and the limit of quantitation is 0.50, 1.50 and 1.00 µg/mL, respectively, with the linear range of 2-200 µg/mL for calycosin-7-glucoside, and 5-500 µg/mL for liquiritin and glycyrrhizic acid. The present work provided a simple and efficient method for the extraction and determination of glycosides in complex medicinal plants.

Development and validation of two analytical strategies for the determination of glucosides of acidic herbicides in cereals and oilseed matrices.

The aim of the present research was the development and validation of a selective and reliable method for the indirect and direct determination of acidic herbicide glucosides. Enzymatic deconjugation was investigated as a mild alternative to harsh alkaline hydrolysis. Various enzymatic options for deconjugation were exploited. One out of nine tested specific enzymes proved to be practical and repeatable for different matrices and concentration ranges, leading to the complete deconjugation of the glucosides. The method was validated according to the SANTE/11312/2021 guideline for cereals and oilseeds and for a rice-based infant formula. Additionally, for four acidic herbicide glucosides available on the market, a quantitative method for direct determination of the intact glucosides was optimized and validated. In both methods, the average recoveries were within 70-120%. The limits of quantification (LOQ) achieved were 10 µg kg-1 and 2.5 µg kg-1 for the intact glucosides and the free acids in cereal and oilseeds. For the rice-based infant formula, the LOQ was 1 µg kg-1 (3 µg kg-1 for dichlorprop). To confirm its applicability, the deconjugation approach was tested for fifteen samples (cereals, oilseeds, and citrus) with incurred residues. Comparisons were made between the method without deconjugation, and two methods with deconjugation, the here proposed enzymatic deconjugation and the more commonly used alkaline hydrolysis. The inclusion of enzymatic deconjugation during sample preparation led to an increase up to 2.7-fold compared to analysis without deconjugation. Enzymatic deconjugation resulted in comparable results to alkaline hydrolysis for 13 out of 15 samples.

Innovative UV Protocols Based on Straightforward Mathematical Filtration for Concurrent Estimation of Two Antidiabetic Drugs in Their Brand-New Combination: A Comparative Study.

BACKGROUND: In 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a brand-new combination of linagliptin and empagliflozin in a formulation called Glyxambi® tablets for managing type 2 diabetes mellitus. Nowadays, spectrophotometric techniques occupy the first place among their peers in terms of ease of application, friendliness to the environment, and low costs. OBJECTIVE: This research discusses the development of two very simple spectrophotometric protocols based on zero-order spectra for the determination of linagliptin and empagliflozin. METHODS: The developed protocols were the induced dual-wavelength and absorption correction protocols. Linagliptin could be determined directly at 305 nm, at which the empagliflozin spectrum was zero-crossing. Empagliflozin was determined using the two developed protocols. The induced dual-wavelength technique was developed by calculating the equality factor of linagliptin to cancel its interference. The absorption correction technique was developed by measuring the correction absorption factor. RESULTS: The concentration ranges of linagliptin and empagliflozin were 1-10 µg/mL and 3-30 µg/mL, respectively. Excellent recovery results were found in bulk, dosage form, and synthetic mixtures. Low LOD and LOQ values were obtained, indicating the high sensitivity of the protocols. The statistical Student's t-test was performed to compare the results of the applied and reported protocols, indicating no difference between them. CONCLUSION: The proposed protocols have the advantages of being straightforward, affordable, and requiring no sophisticated manipulations, just simple mathematical calculations. The proposed protocols are acceptable for routine usage in QC laboratories and in future research applications. HIGHLIGHTS: Two novel univariate methods were developed for quantitative analysis of linagliptin and empagliflozin in their pharmaceutical and laboratory mixtures, and produced satisfactory results.

Manganese sulfate application promotes berry flavonoid accumulation in Vitis vinifera cv. 'Cabernet Sauvignon' by regulating flavonoid metabolome and transcriptome profiles.

BACKGROUND: Flavonoids are vital for the development of high-quality grapes and wine, and manganese deficiency decreases grape berry coloration. However, the effects and underlying mechanisms of action of manganese sulfate on grape metabolic profiles have not been adequately researched. In this study, three concentrations of manganese sulfate solutions, 0.5 µmol·L-1 (low, L), 5 µmol·L-1 (middle, M - the standard manganese concentration of Hoagland nutrient solution, control), and 1000 µmol·L-1 (high, H), were applied to the 'Cabernet Sauvignon' grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) to explore the effect on berry composition. RESULTS: Manganese application improved manganese concentration effectively in grape organs. Furthermore, the concentrations of malvidin 3-O-(6-O-acetyl)-glucoside, malvidin 3-O-glucoside, malvidin-trans-3-O-(6-O-p-coumaryl)-glucoside, and peonidin 3-O-(6-O-acetyl)-glucoside increased significantly under H treatment. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) revealed that the structural genes (VvDFR, VvUFGT, and VvOMT) of flavonoid biosynthesis were upregulated under H treatment, and their transcription levels correlated positively with malvidin- and peonidin-derived anthocyanin concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggested that manganese application regulates berry transcriptional and flavonoid metabolic profiles, providing a theoretical basis for improving the color of red grapes and wines. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Exploring the Effects of Cyanidin-3-O-Glucoside on Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Insights into Gut Microbiome Modulation and Potential Antidiabetic Benefits.

Berries and their functional components have been put forward as an alternative to pharmacological treatments of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and more attention has been paid to the gut microbiome in the pathophysiology of T2DM. Thus, we tried to examine the metabolic impact of red bayberry-derived cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (C3G) and investigate whether the antidiabetic effects of C3G were associated with the gut microbiome. As a result, C3G administration was found to reduce blood glucose levels of diabetic db/db mice, accompanied by increased levels of glucagon-like peptide (GLP-1) and insulin. Moreover, 16S rRNA analysis showed that the dominant microbiota modulated by C3G were pivotal in the glucose metabolism. Furthermore, the modulation of C3G on metabolic activities of gut bacteria leads to an increase in intestinal levels of key metabolites, particularly short-chain fatty acids. This contribution helps in promoting the secretion of GLP-1, which in turn increases insulin release with the purpose of reducing blood glucose levels. Overall, these findings may offer new thoughts concerning C3G against metabolic disorders in T2DM.

Residue of Chlormequat and Regulatory Effects on the Specialized Metabolites of Astragali Radix.

Presently, the utilization of chlormequat in Astragalus mongholicus Bunge (Leguminosae) cultivation is prevalent for augmenting rhizome (Astragali Radix) yield. However, indiscriminate and excessive chlormequat employment can detrimentally influence Astragali Radix quality and safety. This research aimed to comprehensively comprehend chlormequat risks and its influence on Astragali Radix metabolites. Diverse chlormequat concentrations were employed in Astragalus mongholicus cultivation, with subsequent analysis of residual chlormequat levels in Astragali Radix across treatment groups. Astragali Radix metabolic profiling was conducted through UPLC-QTOF-MS, and thirteen principal active components were quantified via UFLC-MS/MS. Findings revealed a direct correlation between chlormequat residue levels in Astragali Radix and application concentration, with high-dose residue surpassing 5.0 mg/kg. Metabolomics analysis identified twenty-six distinct saponin and flavonoid metabolites. Notably, the application of chlormequat led to the upregulation of seven saponins (e.g., astragaloside I and II) and downregulation of six flavonoids (e.g., methylnissolin-3-O-glucoside and astraisoflavan-7-O-ß-d-glucoside). Quantitative analysis demonstrated variable contents of active ingredients due to differing chlormequat concentrations, leading to astragaloside I increase (14.59-62.55%) and isoastragaloside II increase (4.8-55.63%), while methylnissolin-3-O-glucoside decreased (22.18-41.69%), as did astraisoflavan-7-O-ß-d-glucoside (21.09-47.78%). In conclusion, chlormequat application influenced multiple active components in Astragali Radix, causing constituent proportion variations. Elevated chlormequat concentrations led to increased active components alongside heightened chlormequat residues in Astragali Radix. Consequently, prudent chlormequat application during Astragali Radix production is imperative to avert potential detriments to its quality and safety.

Anti-osteoporosis effects of mammalian lignans and their precursors from flaxseed and safflower seed using zebrafish model.

Secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG) and tracheloside (TCL) are the main lignan components of flaxseed cake and safflower seed cake, which are by-products of oil extraction. Both SDG and TCL are metabolized into mammalian lignan enterolactone (EL) with the involvement of intestinal bacteria. In this research, we evaluated the anti-osteoporosis effects of SDG and the in vivo metabolites EL and enterodiol (ED) prepared in our previous work, as well as the newly isolated chemical constituents from safflower seed, including TCL, the lactone ring opening product of TCL (OTCL) and two alkaloids on the alloxan-induced zebrafish model. All the compounds showed significant anti-osteoporosis effects at 80 µM, with p < 0.05 for EL and p < 0.001 for other compounds compared with the model. SDG and TCL showed the most significant and concentration-dependent effects, with p < 0.001 compared with model at 20 µM. The alkaloids, N-coumaroylserotonin glucoside and N-feruloylserotonin glucoside, also showed anti-osteoporosis at 20 µM with p < 0.01, whereas EL, ED, and OTCL showed no significant effects. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction revealed that SDG and TCL upregulated the expression of osteogenic genes Runx2, SP7, OPG, Col1a1a, Alp, ON, OPN, and OCN in alloxan-treated zebrafish. The in vivo metabolite of lignans, EL, showed significant anti-inflammatory effect (p < 0.01) at 20 µM, which might also help to combat osteoporosis and other complications caused by excessive immune response in the body. The results provided scientific data for using the oil extraction by-products as sources of anti-osteoporosis compounds. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: This study found that lignans in flaxseed cake and safflower seed cake exhibited anti-osteoporosis effects by upregulating the expression of osteogenic genes, making the oil extraction by-products sources of anti-osteoporosis compounds.

Separation and purification of glycosides from medicinal plants based on strong polar separation medium with online closed-loop mode.

Natural glycosides widely distributed in medicinal plants are valuable sources of therapeutic agents, showing various pharmacological effects. The separation and purification of natural glycosides are meaningful for their pharmacological research, which face with great challenges due to the complex of medicinal plants samples. In this work, two kinds of functional monolithic separation mediums A and S were fabricated and fully applied in the online extraction, separation and purification of active glycoside components from medicinal plants with a simple-procedure closed-loop mode. Chrysophanol glucoside and physcion glucoside were detected and separated from Rhei Radix et Rhizoma using separation medium A as a solid-phase extraction adsorbent. Rhapontin was isolated and purified from Rheum hotaoense C. Y. Cheng et Kao using separation medium S as the stationary phase of high-performance liquid chromatography. Compared to the reported literatures, high yield of 5.68, 1.20 and 4.76 mg g-1 of these three products were obtained with high purity. These two online closed-loop mode methods were carried out using high-performance liquid chromatography system, in which the sample injection, isolation and purification procedures are all online mode, and reduced loss compared to offline extraction and purification procedures, thus achieving high recovery and high purity.

Screening of Tyrosinase, Xanthine Oxidase, and α-Glucosidase Inhibitors from Polygoni Cuspidati Rhizoma et Radix by Ultrafiltration and HPLC Analysis.

Polygoni Cuspidati Rhizoma et Radix (PCR), the rhizome and root of Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb. et Zucc., has been used as an herbal medicine for a long time. In this study, the ultrafiltration combined with high performance liquid chromatography (UF-HPLC) method was developed to screen tyrosinase (TYR), α-glucosidase (α-GLU), and xanthine oxidase (XOD) inhibitors from PCR. Firstly, the inhibitory activity of 50% methanol PCR extract on TYR, α-GLU, XOD, and acetylcholinesterase (ACHE) was tested. The extract showed a good inhibition on the enzymes, except for ACHE. Therefore, UF-HPLC experiments were carried out to screen TYR, α-GLU, and XOD inhibitors from PCR extract. Seven potential bioactive components were discovered, including methylgallate (1), 1,6-di-O-galloyl-D-glucose (2), polydatin-4'-O-D-glucoside (3), resveratrol-4'-O-D-glucoside (4), polydatin (5), malonyl glucoside resveratrol (6), and resveratrol-5-O-D-glucoside (7). Most of them were found as enzyme inhibitors from PCR for the first time, except polydatin (5), which had been reported as an α-GLUI in PCR in the literature. Finally, molecular docking analysis was applied to validate the interactions of these seven potential active components with the enzymes. Compounds 1-7 were proven as TYR inhibitors, compounds 2, 4-7 were identified as XOD inhibitors, and compounds 4-6 were confirmed as α-GLU inhibitors. In short, the current study provides a good reference for the screening of enzyme inhibitors through UF-HPLC, and provides scientific data for future studies of PCR.

Optimization of Magnetic and Paper-Based Molecularly Imprinted Polymers for Selective Extraction of Charantin in Momordica charantia.

Charantin is a mixture of ß-sitosterol and stigmastadienol glucosides, which effectively lowers high blood glucose. Novel molecularly imprinted polymers coated magnetic nanoparticles (Fe3O4@MIPs) and filter paper (paper@MIPs) were synthesized by sol-gel polymerization to selectively extract charantin. ß-sitosterol glucoside was selected as a template for imprinting a specific recognition owing to its larger molecular surface area than that of 5,25-stigmastadienol glucoside. Factorial designs were used to examine the effects of the types of porogenic solvents and cross-linkers on the extraction efficiency and imprinting factor before investigating other factors (for example, amounts of template and coated MIPs, and types of substrates for MIP immobilization). Compared to traditional liquid-liquid extraction, the optimal Fe3O4@MIP-based dispersive micro-solid phase extraction and paper@MIP extraction provided excellent extraction efficiency (87.5 ± 2.1% and 85.0 ± 2.9%, respectively) and selectivity. Charantin was well separated, and a new unidentified sterol glucoside was observed using the developed high-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection (Rs ≥ 2.0, n > 16,400). The developed methods were successfully utilized to extract and quantify charantin from M. charantia fruit powder and herbal products. Moreover, these methods are rapid (<10 min), inexpensive, simple, reproducible, and environmentally friendly.

The isolation of anthocyanin monomers from blueberry pomace and their radical-scavenging mechanisms in DFT study.

This study explored the isolation of anthocyanin monomers using a medium- and high-pressure separation technique as a means to increase the added value of a by-product of the blueberry juice industry. Six anthocyanin monomers were isolated with a purity of 95% and identified as mono-galactoside, glucoside, and isomers of delphinidin, malvidin, and even malvidin-3-O-arabinoside, malvidin-3-(6″-acetyl)-O-glucoside by LC-MS and 1H NMR. Following the conformation search, the computer calculation manifested the active sites of six anthocyanins (C4'-OH) and their stabilities based on the structural and energy parameters. The DPPH tests demonstrated that delphinidin glycoside's free radical scavenging ability (89.93 ± 2.03 % and 86.50 ± 3.16 %) was significantly higher than that of malvidin (80.39 ± 1.30 % and 81.02 ± 0.45 %), and that malvidin's capacity was improved by conjugation arabinoside (87.48 ± 2.39 %) and acetylated glucoside (88.39 ± 1.37 %), which was compatible with the computer calculation.

Screening of anti-fatigue active ingredients of Eleutherococcus senticosus via spectrum-effect relationship based on factor analysis and LC-MS/MS.

ES contains compounds known to have significant anti-fatigue activity. In recent years, it has received extensive attention because it is efficient. However, its active ingredients on antifatigue effect are still unclear. This study attempts to establish the spectrum-effect relationship of ES antifatigue activity to screen the effective components. The results showed that the similarity of 15 ES fingerprints obtained by LC-MS/MS was 0.533-0.992, and the chemical structures of 22 common peaks were identified. The anti-fatigue activity of 15 batches of ES was characterized by forced swimming test of mice and quantified by CAFI, among which S4, S1 and S5 had better activity. 9 components (caffeic acid, 5-(4-O-ß-D-glucosylferoyl)-quinic acid, (±)13-HODE, isofraxidin, eleutheroside E, syringin, pinoresinol diglucoside or its isomer, 7,8-dihydrodehydrocarbinol alcohol-4-O-ß-D-glucoside, secoisolariciresinol-4-O-ß-D-glucoside) highly related to anti-fatigue activity may be the effective components of ES.

Eupatorin 3'-O-glucopyranoside, a trimethoxyflavonoid glucoside from the aerial parts of Salvia mellifera.

Salvia mellifera, native to California, Baja California, and Mexico, is a medicinal herb traditionally used to relieve pain, body aches, including chronic pain. A detailed phytochemical investigation of aerial parts of S. mellifera was accomplished to find species-specific markers and to differentiate the closely related, often (un)intentionally substituted with S. apiana. A total of 22 metabolites, including flavonoids (1-14), triterpenoids (15-18), diterpenoids (19-21), and phenylpropanoid (22), were isolated and characterized thoroughly. Among the isolates, eupatorin 3'-O-glucopyranoside (1) was identified as undescribed phytochemical and detailed structure elucidation was achieved through extensive NMR and mass spectral data analysis.

Diterpenoid glucosides with anti-inflammatory activity from Rubi Fructus.

For centuries, dried unripe fruits of Rubus chingii Hu (Chinese name "Fu-pen-zi") have been widely used in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of various diseases, commonly associated with kidney deficiency. Rubi Fructus is an edible berry suitable for consumption either directly or in the form of juice and jam. The phytochemical investigation focused on the bioactive non-nutrient ingredient from the fruit of R. chingii, especially diterpenoid compounds. Seven diterpenoid glucosides, including three new (1-3) and four known (4-7) compounds, were obtained from the fruits of R. chingii. The structures along with the absolute configurations of the new compounds were determined by extensive NMR spectroscopic analysis. Compounds 1, 2, 4, 5, and 7 showed anti-inflammatory activity against LPS-induced NO production in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Further, the preliminary structure-activity relationships of these active compounds have been scientifically evaluated and discussed in this study.

Pomegranate Flower Extract-The Health-Promoting Properties Optimized by Application of the Box-Behnken Design.

Herbal raw materials with antidiabetic activity can be a valuable support to therapy. An optimized extraction process allows for the best possible health-promoting effect. Box-Behnken design was employed to optimize the content of methanol used in the extraction mixture, its time, and temperature. The aim of this study was to enhance the efficiency of the pomegranate flowers extraction process in order to obtain extracts with the highest enzyme inhibition power (α-amylase and α-glucosidase), which is important for the antidiabetic effect and the highest antioxidant activity (DPPH assay). In the Box-Behnken design model, the content of pelargonidin-3,5-glucoside-anthocyanin compound that is associated with antidiabetic activity was also optimized as a variable associated with the action profile of pomegranate flower extracts. The process optimization carried out in this study provides a basis for further research using the pomegranate flower extract with the most potent desired properties, essential for supporting diabetes treatment based on pomegranate flowers.