Coriander (Coriandrum sativum) Polyphenols and Their Nutraceutical Value against Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome.

Coriander is a widely used plant for its medicinal and biological properties. Both coriander essential oil and extracts are interesting sources of bioactive compounds and are widely used as spices in culinary practice due to their exclusive aroma and flavour. We focus our attention on coriander extracts that are rich in polyphenols. It is well known that plant polyphenols possess different biological activities and several functional foods contain this class of compounds. The polyphenol profile in an extract can be influenced by the plant part studied, the method of extraction and other parameters. This study performs a literature review using the words "coriander", "polyphenols" and "extraction" or "biological activity" in different databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar and Scopus. After that, we focus on the evidence of coriander polyphenols as protective agents against some inflammation-related diseases. Due to the bioactivities of coriander extract, this herb can be considered a valuable functional food against obesity, metabolic syndrome and diabetes.

Influence of choline chloride-based NADES on the composition of Myristica fragrans Houtt. essential oil.

Natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) have emerged as green extracting solvents in recent years. In this study, a variety of choline chloride (ChCl)-based natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) were used as co-solvents for the hydrodistillation of nutmeg with the aim to obtain M. fragrans essential oil (EO) in higher yield and with a lower content of toxic phenylpropenoids (e.g. myristicin and safrole). The influence of ChCl-based NADES as additives in the hydrodistillation process was studied. The results showed that NADES additives improved the yield of the extracted essential oil and influenced its composition leading to a decrease in toxic phenylpropenoids. Best results were achieved by using ChCl-CA NADES ultrasound-assisted pretreatment coupled with traditional 2 â€‹h Clevenger hydrodistillation that increased the yield of the EO from 0.98% (traditional) to 1.41% and a decrease of the phenylpropenoids amount in the essential oil.

Metabolite Storage in Theobroma cacao L. Seed: Cyto-Histological and Phytochemical Analyses.

Cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.), an economically important tropical-fruit crop as source of chocolate, has recently gained a considerable attention; its seeds contain a large amount of different bioactive compounds that have attracted interest because may be beneficial to humans by improving cardiovascular health, by cancer chemo-preventive effects and also through neuroprotective activities. The morphological and anatomical characteristics of cocoa seeds are closely related to the aroma and to the nutritional properties. This study aimed to provide more information about the storage of some metabolites in the various components of cocoa seed by microscopical and phytochemical analyses. Polyphenols, sterols, tocopherols and fatty acids were detected in different portions of the seeds (teguments, cotyledons, embryo axis and pulp). Quali and quantitative differences were observed and a characteristic polyphenol pattern was detected in the different portions of the seed; cytological analysis demonstrated the presence of these compounds in big vacuolated polyphenolic cells. Among the analyzed fatty acids, the stearic and oleic acids were the most abundant in all the seed components (teguments, cotyledons and embryo axis). Fatty acids, usually found in the form of esters, thioesters and amides, represent one of the storage substances of cocoa seed probably localized in lipid globules, which in our observations occupied almost the entire volume of small isodiametric cells of cotyledon mesophyll. In the cocoa seeds we observed also a different distribution of sterols: ß-sitosterol and Δ5-avenasterol were the most abundant, above all in the embryo axis; stigmasterol and campesterol were less present in embryo axis and more abundant in teguments; campestanol level was again higher in teguments but lower in cotyledons. The specific localization of different kind of sterols was probably related to a peculiar function. Our experiments demonstrated that all seed components contribute to the metabolites storage, but with interesting differences in the localization and amount of each metabolite.

Two new lignans from the resin of Bursera microphylla A. gray and their cytotoxic activity.

Two new lignans, namely 7-O-podophyllotoxinyl butyrate (1) and dihydroclusin 9-acetate (2), were isolated from the dichloromethane fraction of a methanol extract of Bursera microphylla (Burseraceae), along with eight known lignans (3-10). Their structures were determined by means of comprehensive spectroscopic analysis. Lignans 2-6 were tested for their anti-proliferative activity on the cancer cell lines LS180, A549 and HeLa, and on a non-cancer cell line, ARPE-19. Only compounds 4 and 5 showed an interesting activity on HeLa cells.

In vitro toxicity evaluation of estragole-containing preparations derived from Foeniculum vulgare Mill. (fennel) on HepG2 cells.

Estragole, a common component of herbs and spices, is a wellknown genotoxic hepatocarcinogen in rodents, whereas its potential toxic effect in humans is still debated. In the European contest, one of the major sources of human exposure to this phytochemical is Foeniculum vulgare Mill. (fennel). Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro toxicity of estragole in the context of two complex phytochemical mixtures derived from fennel: fennel seed powder (FSPw) and fennel seed essential oil (FSEO). The estragole-containing preparations were analysed for their ability to cause cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, apoptosis and cell cycle perturbation in the human hepatoma (HepG2) cell line. None of the tested concentrations of FSPw induced DNA damage, nor apoptosis or cell cycle perturbation. Although FSEO did not induce any genetic damage as well, it exerted marked dose-dependent apoptotic effects on HepG2 cells with a concurrent cell cycle arrest in G2/M at the highest tested dose. Although prospective analyses are required to clarify the observed toxic effects of FSEO, our results support the hypothesis that the genotoxicity of estragole may be significantly reduced or null in the context of botanical mixtures.

Diterpenoids and Triterpenoids from the Resin of Bursera microphylla and Their Cytotoxic Activity.

A chemical study of the nonpolar fraction of a methanol-soluble extract of Bursera microphylla resin yielded a variety of di- and triterpenoids. In total, 15 compounds were isolated, of which three are new, namely, malabaricatrienone (1), malabaricatrienol (2), and microphyllanin (3). The antiproliferative activity of the major compounds was evaluated in different murine cancer cell lines (M12.C3.F6 and RAW264.7) and human cancer cells (A549, HeLa, and PC-3). The new compounds (1-3) did not show significant antiproliferative activity. The known compounds ariensin (4), burseran (5), and dihydroclusin diacetate (6) were effective against the RAW264.7 cell line, with IC50 values in the micromolar range.

Role of pathogen-induced volatiles in the Nicotiana tabacum-Golovinomyces cichoracearum interaction.

Plant injuries activate signal transduction cascades mediated by the plant hormones, which lead to enhanced expression of defence related genes and/or to changes in the emission of volatile organic compounds that can act as semiochemicals. In this research we demostrated that infection with the biotrophic pathogen Golovinomyces cichoracearum (DC.) V.P. Heluta (ex Erysiphe cichoracearum DC.), the causal agent of powdery mildew, led in the susceptible host Nicotiana tabacum L. cv Havana 425 to an increased emission of volatile compounds including Methyl-jasmonate (MeJA), (E)-2-hexenal and (E)-ß-ocimene. Furthermore we investigated the role of these volatiles in the plant-pathogen interaction. Exogenous application of MeJA induced in tobacco an increase in the transcripts level of the defence related genes lipoxygenase, allene oxide cyclase and defensin and a decrease in the severity of the infection. Qualitative and quantitative differences in volatile compounds emission were showed also in MeJA-treated plants, where the emission of (E)-ß-ocimene was significantly increased instead (E)-2-hexenal was not detected. Application of (E)-2-hexenal reduced the severity of powdery mildew while application of (E)-ß-ocimene did not. Since (E)-2-hexenal did not activate in tobacco the accumulation of the above reported genes transcripts and the plant cell death, the reduction of the infection severity could be attributable to its inhibitory activity on the fungal germ tube growth. Our data highlight the contributions of natural substances that can act, directly or indirectly, against phytopathogens. In the global context of sustainability, food safety and environmental protection, such semiochemicals represent an alternative and promising approach to integrated pest management.

Adventitious rooting is enhanced by methyl jasmonate in tobacco thin cell layers.

Adventitious roots (ARs) are induced by auxins. Jasmonic acid (JA) and methyl jasmonate (MeJA) are also plant growth regulators with many effects on development, but their role on ARs needs investigation. To this aim, we analyzed AR formation in tobacco thin cell layers (TCLs) cultured with 0.01-10 microM MeJA, either under root-inductive conditions, i.e., on medium containing 10 microM indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and 0.1 microM kinetin, or without hormones. The explants were excised from the cultivars Samsun, Xanthii and Petite Havana, and from genotypes with altered AR-forming ability in response to auxin, namely the non-rooting rac mutant and the over-rooting Agrobacterium rhizogenes rolB transgenic line. Results show that NtRNR1 (G1/S) and Ntcyc29 (G2/M) gene activity, cell proliferation and meristemoid formation were stimulated in hormone-cultured TCLs by submicromolar MeJA concentrations. The meristemoids developed either into ARs and xylogenic nodules, or into xylogenic nodules only (rac TCLs). MeJA-induced meristemoid over-production characterized rolB TCLs. No rooting or xylogenesis occurred under hormone-free conditions, independently of MeJA and genotype. Endogenous JA progressively (days 1-4) increased in hormone-cultured TCLs in the absence of MeJA. JA levels were enhanced by 0.1 microM MeJA, on both days 1 and 4. Endogenous IBA was the only auxin detected, both in the free form and as IBA-glucose. Free IBA increased up to day 2, remaining constant thereafter (day 4). Its level was enhanced by 0.1 microM MeJA only on day 1, while IBA conjugation was not affected by MeJA. Taken together, these results show that an interplay between jasmonates and auxins regulates AR formation and xylogenesis in tobacco TCLs.