LC-qTOF-MS/MS phytochemical profiling of Tabebuia impetiginosa (Mart. Ex DC.) Standl. leaf and assessment of its neuroprotective potential in rats.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Tabebuia impetiginosa (Bignoniaceae) was traditionally used for memory enhancement and central nervous system (CNS) stimulation. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aims to create a metabolic profile of the ethyl acetate fraction of T. impetiginosa (TEF) and investigate for the first time its neuroprotective potential on cyclophosphamide (CP)-induced chemobrain, validating its traditional use. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Metabolite profiling of TEF was performed using Liquid Chromatography coupled with Quadrupole Time of Flight-Mass/Mass Spectrometry (LC-qTOF-MS/MS). For the in vivo study, CP (200 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered to induce cognitive impairment in rats; TEF (30 mg/kg, p.o.) was administered throughout the 14 days of the experiment to assess its role in mitigating CP-induced neuronal deficits. Behavioral tests including locomotor, Y-maze, and passive avoidance tests were conducted. Additionally, biochemical markers such as reduced glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and caspase-3 immunoexpression were assessed in the hippocampus area. RESULTS: Forty-four phytoconstituents were tentatively identified in TEF, mainly iridoids and organic acids. TEF showed significant memory enhancement as evidenced by the increase in step-through latency in the passive avoidance test by 1.5 folds and the increase in sequence alternation percentage (SAP) in the Y-maze test by 67.3%, as compared to CP-group. Moreover, it showed pronounced antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potentials evidenced by the significant elevation in reduced glutathione (GSH) levels by 80% and a pronounced decline in MDA and TNF-α levels by 24% and 45%, respectively relative to the CP group. TEF treatment restored normal hippocampal histological features and attenuated apoptotic caspase-3 expression by 70% compared to the CP group. CONCLUSIONS: TEF can act as a promising natural scaffold in managing the chemobrain induced by CP in cancer patients.

Ethnobotanical uses, phytochemistry and bioactivities of Cymbopogon plants: A review.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Cymbopogon (Poaceae) plants have been used for various purposes by many indigenous peoples in all continents. In particular, almost all species in the genus have traditionally been used as folk medicine to treat ailments. Traditional application records indicated that Cymbopogon might be used extensively to treat cold, dizziness, headache, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, rheumatism, diarrhea, whole grass for cold, sore throat, tracheitis and others. AIMS OF THE REVIEW: Despite several research confirmed that Cymbopogon includes a range of active components, no review has been undertaken to consolidate information on its traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and/or quality control. Thus this article aims to update a comprehensive review about the traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, cultivation techniques, economic benefits, trade, threats, and future conservation implications of Cymbopogon species. It may provide informative data for future development and further investigation of this important plant group. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Traditional medicinal books and ethnomedicinal publications related to Cymbopogon from 1992 to 2023 were collated to investigate its ethnobotanical, phytochemical and pharmacological information. The online databases including Google Scholar, SciFinder, Web of Science, Scopus, Springer Link, PubMed, Wiley, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Baidu Scholar, and WanFang Database were screened. RESULTS: Cymbopogon (Gramineae or Poaceae) plants have been grown worldwide. Traditional Chinese medicine and other medicinal systems believes that Cymbopogon has the effect of relieve a cough, analgesia, treating dizziness, traumatic injury and can relieve abdominal pain. A total of 153 compounds, including flavonoids, terpenoids, fatty acid and other compounds were isolated or identified from Cymbopogon species by phytochemical studies. The extracts or compounds from Cymbopogon have exhibited numerous biological activities such as antibacterial, antiinflammatory, antiviral, antineoplastic, antiarrhythmic, antidiabetic and other activities. The rich contents of citronellal, citronellol and geraniol found in Cymbopogon also provide significant nutritional benefits. CONCLUSION: Based on their traditional uses, phytochemicals, and pharmacological activities, Cymbopogon plants are potential medicinal and edible resources with diverse pharmacological effects. Due to various advantages of this group, they possess huge application potential in food and pharmaceutical industries, and animal husbandry. Among them, citronella is very important in terms of economic development. Further comprehensive research to evaluate the medicinal properties of Cymbopogon species will be necessary for future development.

Uncovering Potentially Therapeutic Phytochemicals, In silico Analysis, and Biological Assessment of South-Chinese Red Dragon Fruit (Hylocereus polyrhizus).

Red dragon fruit is gaining popularity globally due to its nutritional value and bioactive components. The study aimed to assess the phytochemical, nutritional composition, antioxidant, antibacterial, and cytotoxic properties of extracts from the South Chinese red dragon fruit peel, flesh, and seeds. Extract fractions with increasing polarity (ethyl acetate

Current perspectives on fenugreek bioactive compounds and their potential impact on human health: A review of recent insights into functional foods and other high value applications.

Despite long-standing uses in several food and medicine traditions, the full potential of the leguminous crop fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) remains to be realized in the modern diet. Not only its seeds, which are highly prized for their culinary and medicinal properties, but also its leaves and stems abound in phytochemicals with high nutritional and health promoting attributes. Fenugreek dual food-medicine applications and reported metabolic activities include hypoglycemic, antihyperlipidemic, antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, antiatherogenic, antihypertensive, anticarcinogenic, immunomodulatory, and antinociceptive effects, with potential organ-protective effects at the cardiovascular, digestive, hepatic, endocrine, and central nervous system levels. Effectiveness in alleviating certain inflammatory skin conditions and dysfunctions of the reproductive system was also suggested. As a food ingredient, fenugreek can enhance the sensory, nutritional, and nutraceutical qualities of a wide variety of foods. Its high nutritive density can assist with the design of dietary items that meet the demand for novelty, variety, and healthier foods. Its seeds provide essential protective nutrients and other bioactive compounds, notably galactomannans, flavonoids, coumarins, saponins, alkaloids, and essential oils, whose health benefits, alone or in conjunction with other bioactives, are only beginning to be tapped into in the food industries. This review summarizes the current state of evidence on fenugreek potential for functional food development, focusing on the nutrients and non-nutrient bioactive components of interest from a dietary perspective, and their applications for enhancing the functional and nutraceutical value of foods and beverages. New developments, safety, clinical evidence, presumed mechanisms of action, and future perspectives are discussed. HIGHLIGHTS: Fenugreek seeds and leaves have long-standing uses in the food-medicine continuum. Fenugreek phytochemicals exert broad-spectrum biological and pharmacological activities. They show high preventive and nutraceutical potential against common chronic diseases. Current evidence supports multiple mechanisms of action mediated by distinct bioactives. Opportunities for fenugreek-based functional foods and nutraceuticals are expanding.

Validation of low-cost reflectometer to identify phytochemical accumulation in food crops.

Diets consisting of greater quantity/diversity of phytochemicals are correlated with reduced risk of disease. This understanding guides policy development increasing awareness of the importance of consuming fruits, grains, and vegetables. Enacted policies presume uniform concentrations of phytochemicals across crop varieties regardless of production/harvesting methods. A growing body of research suggests that concentrations of phytochemicals can fluctuate within crop varieties. Improved awareness of how cropping practices influence phytochemical concentrations are required, guiding policy development improving human health. Reliable, inexpensive laboratory equipment represents one of several barriers limiting further study of the complex interactions influencing crop phytochemical accumulation. Addressing this limitation our study validated the capacity of a low-cost Reflectometer ($500) to measure phytochemical content in selected crops, against a commercial grade laboratory spectrophotometer. Our correlation results ranged from r2 = 0.81 for protein in wheat and oats to r2 = 0.99 for polyphenol content in lettuce in both the Reflectometer and laboratory spectrophotometer assessment, suggesting the Reflectometer provides an accurate accounting of phytochemical content within evaluated crops. Repeatability evaluation demonstrated good reproducibility of the Reflectometer to assess crop phytochemical content. Additionally, we confirmed large variation in phytochemical content within specific crop varieties, suggesting that cultivar is but one of multiple drivers of phytochemical accumulation. Our findings indicate dramatic nutrient variations could exist across the food supply, a point whose implications are not well understood. Future studies should investigate the interactions between crop phytochemical accumulation and farm management practices that influence specific soil characteristics.

Phytochemical analysis and hepatotoxicity assessment of braised Polygoni Multiflori Radix (Wen-He-Shou-Wu).

Polygoni Multiflori Radix (PMR) is a medicinal herb commonly used in China and Eastern Asia. Recently, the discovery of hepatotoxicity in PMR has received considerable attention from scientists. Processing is a traditional Chinese medicine technique used for the effective reduction of toxicity. One uncommon technique is the braising method-also known as 'Wen-Fa' in Chinese-which is used to prepare tonics or poisonous medications. Braised PMR (BPMR)-also known as 'Wen-He-Shou-Wu'-is one of the processed products of the braising method. However, the non-volatile components of BPMR have not been identified and examined in detail, and therefore, the hepatotoxic advantage of BPMR remains unknown. In this study, we compared the microscopic characteristics of different samples in powder form using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), investigated the non-volatile components, assessed the effects of different processed PMR products on the liver, and compared the differences between BPMR and PMR Praeparata recorded in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2020 edition). We found that the hepatotoxicity of BPMR was dramatically decreased, which may be related to an increase in polysaccharide content and a decrease in toxic substances. The present study provides an important foundation for future investigations of the processing mechanisms of BPMR.

Assessment of multi-biomedical efficiency of Andrographis paniculata shoot extracts through in-vitro analysis and major compound identification.

The present investigation looked into the various biomedical potentials of Andrographis paniculata shoot extracts. The results showed that the methanol extract (Met-E) of A. paniculata contains more phytochemicals than the acetone and petroleum ether extracts, including alkaloids, saponins, tannins, phenolics, flavonoids, glycosides, terpenoids, phytosterol, steroids, and protein. Accordingly, the Met-E alone showed considerable bactericidal activity (through agar well diffusion method) against the bacterial pathogens namely Shigella dysenteriae, Bacillus cereus, Salmonella typhi, Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphlococcus aureus, E. coli, and B. subtilis. This bactericidal activity was found as dose dependent manner, since at 1000 µg ml concentration, the Met-E showed better antibacterial activity. Similarly, at increased concentration (1000 µg ml) it showed notable antidiabetic (α-amylase inhibition: 74.31% and α-glucosidase inhibition: 72.34%), antioxidant (DPPH: 78.24%), and anti-inflammatory (albumin denaturation inhibition: 79.84% and lipoxigenase inhibition: 69.4%) activities. The phytochemical profiling of Met-E was characterized by UV-visible spectrophotometer (UV-vis), Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) analyses. The results showed the Met-E contain bioactive compounds such as gallic acid, epicatechin, catechin, naringin, vitexin-2-rhamnoside, taxifolin, kaempferol, hesperidin, myricetin, rutin, quercetin, phloretin, and ursolic acid compounds. While most of these substances have been recognised for their pharmacological application perspective, the biological properties of particular substances must be studied in the future using in-vivo strategies.

Assessment of the phytochemical composition and antimicrobial properties of Tapinanthus bangwensis leaves hosted by the branches of Persea americana.

BACKGROUND: Medicinal plants represent a valuable source for new effective and safe antimicrobial drugs making them an alternative therapy. Existing antimicrobial agents are costly and mostly associated with possible side effects. The aim of the present study therefore, was to assess the antimicrobial property and phytochemical composition of hydroethanolic extract of Tapinanthus bangwensis leaves and its fractions. METHOD: T. bangwensis leaves (harvested from its host plant, Persea americana) was extracted by cold maceration with 70% ethanol and further fractionated with different organic solvents using the solvent partitioning method to obtain the crude extract, petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate and the resulting aqueous fractions. The phytochemical constituents of the extracts were screened and quantified. Also, the TLC of the extracts were analyzed to serve as a fingerprint. Using the agar diffusion and broth dilution methods, the antimicrobial properties of the extracts were assessed. RESULTS: The study showed that the hydroethanolic (70%) crude extract of T. bangwensis leaves and its fractions contain phenolic compounds, flavonoids, saponins, phytosterols and reducing sugars. The phytoconstituents were well extracted into the ethyl acetate fraction than the other fractions evidenced in the high levels (p < 0.0001) of saponins (66.47 ± 1.72% w/w), phenolic compounds (77.75 ± 1.06 mg/100 mg GAE) and flavonoids (44.34 ± 0.06 mg/100 mg QE) contents. From the antimicrobial studies, all the microorganisms tested exhibited varying degrees of susceptibility to the extracts with MIC values between 0.78 to 12.5 mg/mL. The crude extract of T. bangwensis leaves, its ethyl acetate and chloroform fractions also exhibited lethal antimicrobial activity with MLC between 6.25 to 50 mg/mL. CONCLUSION: The crude extract of T. bangwensis leaves and its fractions demonstrated antimicrobial properties against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus saprophyticus and Candida albicans, thereby representing a potential source of natural antimicrobial agent. Further study is required to identify and isolate antimicrobial compounds from the plant for the development of the natural bioactive antimicrobial agents.

Bee Pollen and Bread as a Super-Food: A Comparative Review of Their Metabolome Composition and Quality Assessment in the Context of Best Recovery Conditions.

Recently, functional foods have been a subject of great interest in dietetics owing not only to their nutritional value but rather their myriad of health benefits. Moreover, an increase in consumers' demands for such valuable foods warrants the development in not only production but rather tools of quality and nutrient assessment. Bee products, viz., pollen (BP) and bread, are normally harvested from the flowering plants with the aid of bees. BP is further subjected to a fermentation process in bee hives to produce the more valuable and bioavailable BB. Owing to their nutritional and medicinal properties, bee products are considered as an important food supplements rich in macro-, micro-, and phytonutrients. Bee products are rich in carbohydrates, amino acids, vitamins, fatty acids, and minerals in addition to a myriad of phytonutrients such as phenolic compounds, anthocyanins, volatiles, and carotenoids. Moreover, unsaturated fatty acids (USFAs) of improved lipid profile such as linoleic, linolenic, and oleic were identified in BP and BB. This work aims to present a holistic overview of BP and BB in the context of their composition and analysis, and to highlight optimized extraction techniques to maximize their value and future applications in nutraceuticals.

Authenticity assessment of cultivated berries via phenolic profiles of seeds.

Considering the health-benefits of berry fruits consumption and increased market demands for food authenticity as one of the most important quality assurances, phenolic profiling by high-performance thin layer chromatography and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography hyphenated with mass spectrometry was combined with multivariate analysis for phytochemical characterization and intercultivar discrimination of cultivated berry seeds. The phenolic profiles of 45 berry seeds from nine genuine Serbian cultivated fruit species (strawberry, raspberry, blackberry, black currant, blueberry, gooseberry, cape gooseberry, chokeberry, and goji berry) revealed a good differentiation according to botanical origin. In order to determine biomarkers responsible for the classification, a total of 103 phenolic compounds were identified, including 53 phenolic acids and their derivatives, 26 flavonoids and 24 glycosides. Biomarkers derived from the phenolic profile of berry seeds proved to be a powerful tool in the authentication of botanical origin, and may be useful in detection of frauds in berry-based seed-containing product.

Biological isolation and characterization of Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don methanolic leaves extracts and their assessment for antimicrobial, cytotoxic, and apoptotic activities.

BACKGROUND: Biological synthesis of natural products from plants has made us an inspiring methodology in the field of science and biotechnology. METHODS: The methanolic extracts of Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don plant leaves (CrPLE) were extracted and characterized by utilizing the phytochemicals estimation, Thin-layer chromatography (TLC), and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) analysis; and further evaluation for an understanding of the biomedical uses of CrPLE was done. RESULTS: The evaluation of the seven phytochemicals designates the presence of secondary metabolites in the CrPLE. The CrPLE (test samples) exhibited the Catechin and Caffeic acid contents of 0.0055 and 0.0149 mg/g respectively. The CrPLE revealed the highest antimicrobial activity and showed a mortal effect against the tested microorganisms. Cytotoxicity of the breast cancer cell lines was exposed that CrPLE as a respectable anticancer specialist and metabolically vigorous cells. CONCLUSION: Consequently, the biological synthesized methanolic leaf extracts of the C. roseus plants would be appreciated and have incredible contributions to the field of medicinal applications.

Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.): A Comprehensive Review of Nutritional Value, Phytochemical Composition, Health Benefits, Development of Food, and Industrial Applications.

Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.), of the Pedaliaceae family, is one of the first oil crops used in humans. It is widely grown and has a mellow flavor and high nutritional value, making it very popular in the diet. Sesame seeds are rich in protein and lipids and have many health benefits. A number of in vitro and in vivo studies and clinical trials have found sesame seeds to be rich in lignan-like active ingredients. They have antioxidant, cholesterol reduction, blood lipid regulation, liver and kidney protection, cardiovascular system protection, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and other effects, which have great benefits to human health. In addition, the aqueous extract of sesame has been shown to be safe for animals. As an important medicinal and edible homologous food, sesame is used in various aspects of daily life such as food, feed, and cosmetics. The health food applications of sesame are increasing. This paper reviews the progress of research on the nutritional value, chemical composition, pharmacological effects, and processing uses of sesame to support the further development of more functionalities of sesame.

Assessment of phytochemicals, antioxidants and in-silico molecular dynamic simulation of plant derived potential inhibitory activity of Thalictrum foliolosum DC. and Cordia dichotoma G. Forst. against jaundice.

Medicinal plants have been exploited for therapeutic purposes since the dawn of civilization and have long been acknowledged essential to human health. The purpose of this research is to examine the scientific evidence for using the therapeutic herbal plants Thalictrum foliolosum DC. and Cordia dichotoma G. Forst. to treat hepatitis illness. The fundamental explanation for the therapeutic relevance of these plants is phytochemicals, which were evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively in three separate extracts with different solvent properties (methanol-polar, chloroform-non-polar, and aqueous-polar as one of the bases of traditional use). Flavonoids, phenols, tannins, saponins, and alkaloids were all evaluated for their presence in plant extracts, and it was observed that methanolic extract had the highest content of phytochemicals among different extracts whereas, the aqueous extract showed least amount of phytochemicals. Additionally, the antioxidant activity of these plants was also evaluated and methanolic extract was revealed with potential antioxidant activity, as also evidenced by the lowest half inhibitory concentration (IC50) values in the DPPH, ABTS, and high %inhibition in µM Fe equivalent of FRAP assays. Following that, the dominant phytochemicals were investigated using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography from the selected plants. Furthermore, default docking algorithms were used to appraise the dominant phytoconstituents for their in-silico investigation, in which rutin was found with the highest binding affinity (8.2 kcal/mol) and interaction with receptor which is further involved in causing jaundice. The receptor is infact an enzyme that is sphingomyelin phosphodiesterase Leptospira interrogans (PDB: 5EBB) which is holded back in its position by rutin and do not interact with Leptospira inferrogans spp which causes jaundice. Overall, the study suggested that these herbs have significant therapeutic properties, and their in-silico analysis strongly recommends further clinical investigations to get insight into the mechanisms of action in curing variety of diseases.

Purple passion fruit (Passiflora edulis f. edulis): A comprehensive review on the nutritional value, phytochemical profile and associated health effects.

Passiflora is a highly diverse genus where taxonomic lack of consensus remains. This may be the reason why numerous studies do not specify to the infraspecific level the plant material used or lack consistency in the nomenclature of botanical formae of Passiflora edulis. Ultimately, this may contribute to inaccurate chemical composition and health effects attributed to different Passiflora edulis species and formae. Hence, this review aims to overcome these challenges by exploring the phytochemical profile, specific nutritional value and potential health benefits of purple passion fruit (PPF). PPF is often consumed fresh for its pulp (including seeds) or juice, either directly or added to food dishes. It is also used industrially to produce a wide range of products, where peels and seeds are abundant by-products, most often discarded or used in low-value applications. Herein, in a perspective of integral valorisation of the fruit, the potential use of all PPF fractions (peel, pulp and seeds) is discussed as a source of important macro and micronutrients, adequate to integrate a balanced and healthy diet. In addition, the phytochemical profile of such fractions is also discussed along with the associated in vitro biological activities (antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antifungal) and in vivo beneficial effects in the management of several diseases (asthma, hypertension, osteoarthritis, diabetes and pulmonary fibrosis). In summary, this review gathers the current knowledge on the nutritional and phytochemical composition of PPF and highlights the potential of using all fractions as a source of ingredients in food formulations that promote health and well-being. At the same time, it also contributes to defining sustainable strategies for an integrated valorisation of this natural product.

Total Bioactive Contents, Metabolic Profiling, Docking Studies, Antioxidant and Enzyme Inhibition Activities of Convolvulus Arvensis L. and Multivariate Analysis to Unravel a Potential Herb as Natural Resource for Pharmaceutical Industry.

Convolvulus arvensis L. is an evergreen herb growing in various regions of Pakistan. Despite of several medicinal properties associated to this herb, it was not investigated scientifically for its bioactive compounds and detailed pharmaceutical properties. Therefore, its methanolic extract was divided into hexane (CA-H), chloroform (CA-C), ethyl acetate (CA-E) and butanol (CA-B) soluble fractions. CA-H and CA-C were found rich in phenolics (30.73±0.63 and 20.15±0.59 mg GAE/g of the extract, respectively), and the same fractions exhibited significant antioxidant activities (DPPH: 5.23±0.11 & 12.34±0.17 mg TE/g extract, respectively; ABTS: 36.82±0.04 & 56.74±0.61 mg TE/g extract, respectively). Also in CUPRAC activity assay, CA-H and CA-C exhibited highest activities as 87.30±0.46 and 56.74±0.61 mg TE/g extract, respectively, while CA-C was most active in FRAP activity assay with value of 40.21±2.19 mg TE/g extract. Total antioxidant capacity (1.23±0.033 mmol TE/g extract) was also found higher for CA-C, while CA-H activity was also comparable, however, CA-H showed higher metal chelating activity (22.74±0.001 mg EDTAE/g extract) than that of CA-C (17.55±0.22 mg EDTAE/g extract). These activities clearly revealed a direct relation between antioxidant potential and phenolic contents of CA-H and CA-C. In AChE and BChE inhibitory assay, CA-H and CA-E showed better inhibition (AChE: 8.24±0.77 & 4.46±0.007 mg GALAE/g extract; BChE: 5.40±0.02 & 1.92±0.24 mg GALAE/g extract) as compared to other fractions, whereas, against tyrosinase, CA-B was most active (37.35±0.53 mg KAE/g extract). CA-H and CA-C also showed higher inhibitory potential (0.98±0.08 & 0.58±0.01 mmol ACAE/g extract) against α-Amylase; while against α-Glucosidase, CA-E was the most active fraction. UHPLC/MS analysis of the methanolic extract of C. arvensis disclosed the presence of 62 compounds as sterols, triterpenes, flavonoids, fatty acids, alkaloids and coumarins. In Multivariate Analysis, the total phenolic contents were correlated strongly with all antioxidant assays except FRAP and DPPH. Regarding enzyme inhibitory properties, only AChE, BChE and α-amylase were correlated with the total phenolic contents in the extracts. Docking analyses confirmed these findings, as identified compounds had high binding free energy and inhibition constants with the enzymes studied. It was finally concluded that C. arvensis is a potential industrial crop, which can be a component of nutraceuticals and functional foods, if evaluated for its toxicity.

Multifaced Assessment of Antioxidant Power, Phytochemical Metabolomics, In-Vitro Biological Potential and In-Silico Studies of Neurada procumbens L.: An Important Medicinal Plant.

This work was undertaken to explore the phytochemical composition, antioxidant, and enzyme-inhibiting properties of Neurada procumbens L. extracts/fractions of varying polarity (methanol extract and its fractions including n-hexane, chloroform, n-butanol, and aqueous fractions). A preliminary phytochemical study of all extracts/fractions, HPLC-PDA polyphenolic quantification, and GC-MS analysis of the n-hexane fraction were used to identify the phytochemical makeup. Antioxidant (DPPH), enzyme inhibition (against xanthine oxidase, carbonic anhydrase, and urease enzymes), and antibacterial activities against seven bacterial strains were performed for biological investigation. The GC-MS analysis revealed the tentative identification of 22 distinct phytochemicals in the n-hexane fraction, the majority of which belonged to the phenol, flavonoid, sesquiterpenoid, terpene, fatty acid, sterol, and triterpenoid classes of secondary metabolites. HPLC-PDA analysis quantified syringic acid, 3-OH benzoic acid, t-ferullic acid, naringin, and epicatechin in a significant amount. All of the studied extracts/fractions displayed significant antioxidant capability, with methanol extract exhibiting the highest radical-scavenging activity, as measured by an inhibitory percentage of 81.4 ± 0.7 and an IC50 value of 1.3 ± 0.3. For enzyme inhibition experiments, the n-hexane fraction was shown to be highly potent against xanthine oxidase and urease enzymes, with respective IC50 values of 2.3 ± 0.5 and 1.1 ± 0.4 mg/mL. Similarly, the methanol extract demonstrated the strongest activity against the carbonic anhydrase enzyme, with an IC50 value of 2.2 ± 0.4 mg/mL. Moreover, all the studied extracts/fractions presented moderate antibacterial potential against seven bacterial strains. Molecular docking of the five molecules ß-amyrin, campesterol, ergosta-4,6,22-trien-3ß-ol, stigmasterol, and caryophyllene revealed the interaction of these ligands with the investigated enzyme (xanthine oxidase). The results of the present study suggested that the N. procumbens plant may be evaluated as a possible source of bioactive compounds with multifunctional therapeutic applications.

The Free Radical Scavenging Property of the Leaves, Branches, and Roots of Mansoa hirsuta DC: In Vitro Assessment, 3D Pharmacophore, and Molecular Docking Study.

In this work, a metabolic profile of Mansoa hirsuta was investigated, and in vitro assays and theoretical approaches were carried out to evaluate its antioxidant potential. The phytochemical screening detected saponins, organic acids, phenols, tannins, flavonoids, and alkaloids in extracts of leaves, branches, and roots. Through LC-MS analysis, the triterpenes oleanolic acid (m/z 455 [M-H]-) and ursolic acid (m/z 455 [M-H]-) were identified as the main bioactive components. The extracts of the leaves, branches, and roots revealed moderate antioxidant potential in the DPPH test and all extracts were more active in the ABTS test. The leaf extracts showed better antioxidant capacity, displaying IC50 values of 43.5 ± 0.14, 63.6 ± 0.54, and 56.1 ± 0.05 µg mL-1 for DPPH, ABTS, and kinetics assays, respectively. The leaf extract showed higher total flavonoid content (TFC) (5.12 ± 1.02 mg QR/g), followed by branches (3.16 ± 0.88 QR/g) and roots (2.04 ± 0.52 QR/g/g). The extract of the branches exhibited higher total phenolic content (TPC) (1.07 ± 0.77 GAE/g), followed by leaves (0.58 ± 0.30 GAE/g) and roots (0.19 ± 0.47 GAE/g). Pharmacophore and molecular docking analysis were performed in order to better understand the potential mechanism of the antioxidant activity of its major metabolites.

Polyphenol Characterization of the Aqueous Extract from Hubertia ambavilla L. (Asteraceae) by HPLC-DAD-ESI-MSn and Assessment of Its Antioxidant Activity.

In this work, phytochemical components, and the antioxidant properties of an aqueous extract obtained from a medicinal plant Hubertia ambavilla, endemic to Reunion Island, were investigated. A total of 37 compounds were detected and identified by high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) using a photodiode-array detector (DAD) coupled with electrospray ionization/mass spectrometry (ESI/MSn ). From calibration curves, the quantity of secondary metabolites in the aqueous extract was calculated. The mean amounts of phenols, flavonoids, and condensed tannins found were 158.38±1.20 mg GAE/g DE, 60.41±1.65 mg AE/g DE and 23.77±1.36 mg CE/g DE, respectively. The in vitro antioxidant properties of the Hubertia ambavilla plant were measured using three methods: DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and ABTS (2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) scavenging and ferric reducing antioxidant power. The results showed that crude aqueous extract of H. ambavilla had effective radical scavenging and reducing power in comparison with standard antioxidant compounds. In conclusion, the crude extract herein presented offers a natural alternative biosource of antioxidants with potential applications in food and health industries.

Comparative Assessment of Phytochemical Compounds and Antioxidant Properties of Kernel Oil from Eight Sour Cherry (Prunus cerasus L.) Cultivars.

New plant oils as a potential natural source of nutraceutical compounds are still being sought. The main components of eight cultivars ('Koral', 'Lucyna', 'Montmorency', 'Naumburger', 'Wanda', 'Wigor', 'Wolynska', and 'Wróble') of sour cherry (Prunus cerasus L.) grown in Poland, including crude fat, protein, and oil content, were evaluated. The extracted oils were analysed for chemical and biological activity. The oils had an average peroxide value of 1.49 mEq O2/kg, acid value of 1.20 mg KOH/g, a saponification value of 184 mg of KOH/g, and iodine value of 120 g I2/100 g of oil. The sour cherry oil contained linoleic (39.1-46.2%) and oleic (25.4-41.0%) acids as the major components with smaller concentrations of α-eleostearic acid (8.00-15.62%), palmitic acid (5.45-7.41%), and stearic acid (2.49-3.17%). The content of sterols and squalene varied significantly in all the studied cultivars and ranged between 336-973 mg/100 g and 66-102 mg/100 g of oil. The contents of total tocochromanols, polyphenols, and carotenoids were 119-164, 19.6-29.5, and 0.56-1.61 mg/100 g oil, respectively. The cultivar providing the highest amounts of oil and characterised by the highest content of PUFA (including linoleic acid), plant sterols, α-and ß-tocopherol, as well as the highest total polyphenol and total carotenoids content was been found to be 'Naumburger'. The antioxidant capacity of sour cherry kernel oils, measured using the DPPH• and ABTS•+ methods, ranged from 57.7 to 63.5 and from 38.2 to 43.2 mg trolox/100 g oil, respectively. The results of the present study provide important information about potential possibilities of application of Prunus cerasus kernel oils in cosmetic products and pharmaceuticals offering health benefits.

Dereplication and Quantification of Major Compounds of Convolvulus arvensis L. Extracts and Assessment of Their Effect on LPS-Activated J774 Macrophages.

Convolvulus arvensis is used in Pakistani traditional medicine to treat inflammation-related disorders. Its anti-inflammatory potential was evaluated on hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, methanol, and aqueous extracts of whole plant on pro-inflammatory mediators in LPS-activated murine macrophage J774 cells at the non-cytotoxic concentration of 50 µg/mL. Ethyl acetate (ARE) and methanol (ARM) extracts significantly decreased mRNA levels of IL-6, TNF-α, MCP-1, COX-2, and iNOS. Furthermore, both extracts dose dependently decreased IL-6, TNF-α, and MCP-1 secretion. Forty-five compounds were putatively identified in ARE and ARM by dereplication (using HPLC-UV-HRMSn analysis and molecular networking), most of them are reported for the first time in C. arvensis, as for example, nineteen phenolic derivatives. Rutin, kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, chlorogenic acid, 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid, N-trans-p-coumaroyl-tyramine, and N-trans-feruloyl-tyramine were main constituents identified and quantified by HPLC-PDA in ARE and ARM. Furthermore, chlorogenic acid, tyramine derivatives, and the mixture of the six identified major compounds significantly decreased IL-6 secretion by LPS-activated J774 cells. The activity of N-trans-p-coumaroyl-tyramine is shown here for the first time. Our results indicate that ARE, ARM and major constituents significantly inhibited the expression of pro-inflammatory mediators, which supports the use of this plant to treat inflammatory diseases.