Dracocephalum jacutense Peschkova from Yakutia: Extraction and Mass Spectrometric Characterization of 128 Chemical Compounds.

Dracocephalum jacutense Peschkova is a rare and endangered species of the genus Dracocephalum of the Lamiaceae family. The species was first described in 1997 and listed in the Red Data Book of Yakutia. Significant differences in the multicomponent composition of extracts from D. jacutense collected in the natural environment and successfully introduced in the Botanical Garden of Yakutsk were identified by a team of authors earlier in a large study. In this work, we studied the chemical composition of the leaves, stem, and inflorescences of D. jacutense using the tandem mass spectrometry method. Only three cenopopulations of D. jacutense were found by us in the territory of the early habitat-in the vicinity of the village of Sangar, Kobyaysky district of Yakutia. The aboveground phytomass of the plant was collected, processed and dried as separate parts of the plant: inflorescences, stem and leaves. Firstly, a total of 128 compounds, 70% of which are polyphenols, were tentatively identified in extracts of D. jacutense. These polyphenol compounds were classified as 32 flavones, 12 flavonols, 6 flavan-3-ols, 7 flavanones, 17 phenolic acids, 2 lignans, 1 dihydrochalcone, 4 coumarins, and 8 anthocyanidins. Other chemical groups were presented as carotenoids, omega-3-fatty acids, omega-5-fatty acids, amino acids, purines, alkaloids, and sterols. The inflorescences are the richest in polyphenols (73 polyphenolic compounds were identified), while 33 and 22 polyphenols were found in the leaves and stems, respectively. A high level of identity for polyphenolic compounds in different parts of the plant is noted for flavanones (80%), followed by flavonols (25%), phenolic acids (15%), and flavones (13%). Furthermore, 78 compounds were identified for the first time in representatives of the genus Dracocephalum, including 50 polyphenolic compounds and 28 compounds of other chemical groups. The obtained results testify to the unique composition of polyphenolic compounds in different parts of D. jacutense.

Maackia amurensis Rupr. et Maxim.: Supercritical CO2 Extraction and Mass Spectrometric Characterization of Chemical Constituents.

Three types of extraction were used to obtain biologically active substances from the heartwood of M. amurensis: supercritical CO2 extraction, maceration with EtOH, and maceration with MeOH. The supercritical extraction method proved to be the most effective type of extraction, giving the highest yield of biologically active substances. Several experimental conditions were investigated in the pressure range of 50-400 bar, with 2% of ethanol as co-solvent in the liquid phase at a temperature in the range of 31-70 °C. The most effective extraction conditions are: pressure of 100 bar and a temperature of 55 °C for M. amurensis heartwood. The heartwood of M. amurensis contains various polyphenolic compounds and compounds of other chemical groups with valuable biological activity. Tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-ion trap) was applied to detect target analytes. High-accuracy mass spectrometric data were recorded on an ion trap equipped with an ESI source in the modes of negative and positive ions. The four-stage ion separation mode was implemented. Sixty-six different biologically active components have been identified in M. amurensis extracts. Twenty-two polyphenols were identified for the first time in the genus Maackia.

Autofluorescence-Based Investigation of Spatial Distribution of Phenolic Compounds in Soybeans Using Confocal Laser Microscopy and a High-Resolution Mass Spectrometric Approach.

In this research, we present a detailed comparative analysis of the bioactive substances of soybean varieties k-11538 (Russia), k-11559 (Russia), k-569 (China), k-5367 (China), k-5373 (China), k-5586 (Sweden), and Primorskaya-86 (Russia) using an LSM 800 confocal laser microscope and an amaZon ion trap SL mass spectrometer. Laser microscopy made it possible to clarify in detail the spatial arrangement of the polyphenolic content of soybeans. Our results revealed that the phenolics of soybean are spatially located mainly in the seed coat and the outer layer of the cotyledon. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used in combination with an amaZon SL BRUKER DALTONIKS ion trap (tandem mass spectrometry) to identify target analytes in soybean extracts. The results of initial studies revealed the presence of 63 compounds, and 45 of the target analytes were identified as polyphenolic compounds.

Phytochemical Analysis of Phenolics, Sterols, and Terpenes in Colored Wheat Grains by Liquid Chromatography with Tandem Mass Spectrometry.

The colored grain of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) contains a large number of polyphenolic compounds that are biologically active ingredients. The purpose of this work was a comparative metabolomic study of extracts from anthocyaninless (control), blue, and deep purple (referred to here as black) grains of seven genetically related wheat lines developed for the grain anthocyanin pigmentation trait. To identify target analytes in ethanol extracts, high-performance liquid chromatography was used in combination with Bruker Daltonics ion trap mass spectrometry. The results showed the presence of 125 biologically active compounds of a phenolic (85) and nonphenolic (40) nature in the grains of T. aestivum (seven lines). Among them, a number of phenolic compounds affiliated with anthocyanins, coumarins, dihydrochalcones, flavan-3-ols, flavanone, flavones, flavonols, hydroxybenzoic acids, hydroxycinnamic acids, isoflavone, lignans, other phenolic acids, stilbenes, and nonphenolic compounds affiliated with alkaloids, carboxylic acids, carotenoids, diterpenoids, essential amino acids, triterpenoids, sterols, nonessential amino acids, phytohormones, purines, and thromboxane receptor antagonists were found in T. aestivum grains for the first time. A comparative analysis of the diversity of the compounds revealed that the lines do not differ from each other in the proportion of phenolic (53.3% to 70.3% of the total number of identified compounds) and nonphenolic compounds (46.7% to 29.7%), but diversity of the compounds was significantly lower in grains of the control line. Even though the lines are genetically closely related and possess similar chemical profiles, some line-specific individual compounds were identified that constitute unique chemical fingerprints and allow to distinguish each line from the six others. Finally, the influence of the genotype on the chemical profiles of the wheat grains is discussed.

Telomerase and telomeres in aging theory and chronographic aging theory (Review).

The current review focuses on the connection of telomerase and telomeres with aging. In this review, we describe the changes in telomerase and telomere length (TEL) during development, their role in carcinogenesis processes, and the consequences of reduced telomerase activity. More specifically, the connection of TEL in peripheral blood cells with the development of aging­associated diseases is discussed. The review provides systematic data on the role of telomerase in mitochondria, the biology of telomeres in stem cells, as well as the consequences of the forced expression of telomerase (telomerization) in human cells. Additionally, it presents the effects of chronic stress exposure on telomerase activity, the effect of TEL on fertility, and the effect of nutraceutical supplements on TEL. Finally, a comparative review of the chronographic theory of aging, presented by Olovnikov is provided based on currently available scientific research on telomere, telomerase activity, and the nature of aging by multicellular organisms.