Bioactive compounds from Vellozia pyrantha A.A.Conc: A metabolomics and multivariate statistical analysis approach.

The chemical composition of V. pyrantha resin (VpR) and fractions (VpFr1-7 and VpWS) were assessed by LC-MS and NMR. Twenty-eight metabolites were identified, including 16 diterpenoids, seven nor-diterpenoids, one fatty acid, one bis-diterpenoid, one steroid, one flavonoid, and one triterpenoid. The pharmacological potential of VpR, VpFr1-7, and isolated compounds was assessed by determining their antioxidant, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic activities. VpFr4 (IC50 = 205.48 ± 3.37 µg.mL-1) had the highest antioxidant activity, whereas VpFr6 (IC50 = 842.79 ± 10.23 µg.mL-1) had the lowest. The resin was only active against Staphylococcus aureus (MIC 62.5 µg.mL-1) and Salmonella choleraesius (MIC and MFC 500 µg.mL-1), but fractions were enriched with antibacterial compounds. V. pyrantha resin and fractions showed great cytotoxic activity against HCT116 (IC50 = 20.08 µg.mL-1), HepG2 (IC50 = 20.50 µg.mL-1), and B16-F10 (12.17 µg.mL-1) cell lines. Multivariate statistical analysis was used as a powerful tool to pinpoint possible metabolites responsible for the observed activities.

Metabolite Profiling of Pleurotus ostreatus Grown on Sisal Agro-Industrial Waste Supplemented with Cocoa Almond Tegument and Wheat Bran.

Pleurotus ostreatus is an edible fungus with high nutritional value that uses industrial and agricultural lignocellulosic residues as substrates for growth and reproduction. Understanding their growth metabolic dynamics on agro-industrial wastes would help to develop economically viable and eco-friendly biotechnological strategies for food production. Thus, we used UHPLC/MS/MS and GNPS as an innovative approach to investigate the chemical composition of two strains of P. ostreatus, coded as BH (Black Hirataki) and WH (White Hirataki), grown on sisal waste mixture (SW) supplemented with 20 % cocoa almond tegument (CAT) or 20 % of wheat bran (WB). Metabolite dereplication allowed the identification of 53 metabolites, which included glycerophospholipids, fatty acids, monoacylglycerols, steroids, carbohydrates, amino acids, and flavonoids. This is the first report of the identification of these compounds in P. ostreatus, except for the steroid ergosterol. Most of the metabolites described in this work possess potential biological activities, which support the nutraceutical properties of P. ostreatus. Thus, the results of this study provide essential leads to the understanding of white-rot fungi chemical plasticity aiming at developing alternative biotechnologies strategies for waste recycling.

Identification of bioactive metabolites from corn silk extracts by a combination of metabolite profiling, univariate statistical analysis and chemometrics.

Corn silk has been widely used as a nutritional and medicinal supplement due to its pharmacological properties, but there is a lack of studies that correlate the extracts' chemical composition with their biological activities. Herein, we performed the large-scale chemical characterization of corn silk extracts and used chemometrics to correlate the chemical composition with the biological activities of the extracts. Twenty-two metabolites were identified by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled to Mass Spectrometry (HPLC-MS), whereas twelve were identified by Gas Chromatography coupled to Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Chemometrics allowed us to discriminate extracts obtained in different organic solvents from in natura and commercial product samples and to pinpoint potential candidate metabolites for the antioxidant and anti-glioma activities. Two flavone glycosides (7 and 8), along with a O-methylated anthocyanidin (26) seems to be the main contributors for the biological activities of the corn silk extracts.

Combination of a multiplatform metabolite profiling approach and chemometrics as a powerful strategy to identify bioactive metabolites in Lepidium meyenii (Peruvian maca).

Lepidium meyenii is an edible plant that has been used as a nutritional supplement worldwide due to its medicinal properties. However, most of the studies have focused on the pharmacological activities of the extracts rather than their chemical composition. Herein, we used a combination of a multiplatform metabolite profiling approach and chemometrics to identify bioactive metabolites in L. meyenii. Extracts obtained with ethyl acetate and ethanol showed the promising antioxidant, anti-glioma and antibacterial activities. Sixty metabolites were identified by HPLC-MS, whereas fifteen were identified by GC-MS. Partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), and Variable Importance in Projection (VIP) successfully discriminated extracts obtained in different organic solvents from in natura dry roots and commercial product samples of L. meyenii. Additionally, correlation analysis allowed us to pinpoint potential candidates responsible for each biological activity tested for the extracts, which could be extrapolate for other food-related species.

A new isoflavone glucoside and other compounds from Poiretia bahiana C. Mueller: Chemophenetics, fragmentation pattern and biogenetic implications.

The genus Poiretia belongs to the Fabaceae (Leguminosae) family and it encompasses twelve species of flowering plants. The chemistry of this genus is scarcely investigated, although some studies have demonstrated the potential of Poiretia species to produce important bioactive compounds. Herein, we describe the phytochemical investigation of P. bahiana C. Mueller leaves. A new isoflavone glucoside named as 2',4',5'-trimethoxyisoflavone-7-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside (1), along with six known isoflavones (2-7), two rotenones (8-9), cyclitol 3-O-methyl-chiro-inositol (10), the amino acid proline (11), a mixture of sitosterol (12) and stigmasterol (13), and a mixture of the triterpenes lupeol (14) and ß-amirine (15) were obtained from P. bahiana leaves. The structures were established by extensive analysis of their spectroscopic data, which included 1H NMR, 13C NMR, DEPT, and 2D-NMR (13C1H HETCOR and 13C1H COLOC). Two isoflavones (3 and 5) and two rotenones (8-9) exhibited antifungal activity against the plant pathogenic fungus Cladosporium sphaerospermum. Furthermore, the biogenetic implications of the oxygenation pattern of the B-ring of the isoflavones, and the chemophenetics and fragmentation pattern of the isoflavones and rotenones are discussed.

HPLC/HR-MS-Based Metabolite Profiling and Chemometrics: A Powerful Approach to Identify Bioactive Compounds from Abarema cochliacarpos.

Despite its importance as a medicinal plant, there is a lack of studies that assessed the chemical composition of A. cochliacarpos extracts. Herein, we used a metabolite profiling approach and chemometrics as a powerful strategy to correlate the chemical composition with the antioxidant activity of A. cochliacarpos extracts. Extracts obtained with ethyl acetate showed greater antioxidant activity and higher total phenolic content than extracts obtained with hexane. The chemical composition was assessed by HPLC/HR-MS and it encompassed fatty alcohols, terpenoids, phenolic derivatives, lipids, carotenoid-like compounds, alkaloids, flavonoids, polyketides, and glycerophospholipids. Chemometrics successfully differentiated not only the chemical composition of extracts in response to the nature of the extraction solvent and the botanical part used during extraction but also it allowed us to associate the chemical composition with the antioxidant activity of the extracts, which might be particularly helpful for drug discovery and development programs.

Novel polyprenylated benzophenone derivatives from Clusia burle-marxii.

Three new caged polyprenylated benzophenone derivatives named burlemarxiones D-F (1-3) were isolated from the hexane extract of Clusia burle-marxii trunks. Burlemarxione D (1) contains the tetracyclo[8.3.1.03,11.05,10]tetradecane core skeleton also observed for burlemarxione A, its probable immediate precursor. However, two additional rings are formed to produce an unprecedented complex-caged core skeleton. These additional rings could be formed by a radical cyclization reaction of one prenyl group at C-5 with C-1 and C-33, followed by oxidative dehydrogenation (rearomatization) or by an intramolecular [4 + 2] radical cycloaddition (Diels-Alder reaction), followed by an enolization reaction (rearomatization). Burlemarxiones E and F were isolated after methylation with diazomethane that was necessary to avoid the interconversion of the pair of ß-diketones in tautomeric equilibrium. The proposed biosynthetic pathway for burlemarxiones D-F involves the condensation of either lavandulyl pyrophosphate or 2-(1-methylvinyl)-hexa-5-enyl pyrophosphate with the acylphloroglucinol derivative 6-benzoyl-5-hydroxy-5-cyclohexen-1,3-dione, followed by consecutive prenylation reactions. Therefore, Clusia burle-marxii reinforces the claim that the genus Clusia is an important source of sophisticated caged polyprenylated benzophenone derivatives.

Chemical profiling of secondary metabolites from Himatanthus drasticus (Mart.) Plumel latex with inhibitory action against the enzymes α-amylase and α-glucosidase: In vitro and in silico assays.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Himatanthus drasticus is an important medicinal plant whose latex is traditionally used in Northeast Brazil to treat various diseases, including diabetes. The use of α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitors can be an effective strategy to modulate levels of postprandial hyperglycemia via control of starch metabolism. AIMS OF THE STUDY: This study aimed to verify if H. drasticus latex has inhibitory activity against enzymes linked to type 2 diabetes, besides chemically characterizing the metabolites responsible for such activities. In addition, in silico analysis was performed to support the traditional claim of possible antidiabetic activity of this latex. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Latex from H. drasticus stems was sequentially partitioned with n-hexane (FHDH), CHCl3 (FHDC) and EtOH (FHDHA). Wash extraction of the FHDHA fraction was performed to obtain the other extract fractions. The FHDHA was submitted to chromatography in a SPE C18 cartridge using gradient elution with MeOH/H2O to produce five fractions: FHDHA1, FHDHA2, FHDHA3, FHDHA4 and FHDHA5. The FHDHA1 was subjected to semi-preparative reverse phase HPLC. Lineweaver-Burk plots were used to investigate the kinetic parameters of α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. The interactions between plumieride and porcine pancreatic α-amylase and α-glucosidase were analyzed through an in silico molecular docking study. RESULTS: Phytochemical identification of compounds present in the FHDHA fraction of H. drasticus latex was possible by 1H, 13C NMR analysis and mass spectrometry, and the results were compared with the literature. The identified compounds were α-ethyl glucoside, protocatechuic acid, 3-O-caffeoylquinic acid, 15-demethylplumieride acid, 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid, caffeic acid, vanillic acid, plumieride, and catechin. The inhibition results of the fractions tested against α-amylase and α-glucosidase showed inhibitory activities dependent on the increase of fractions and compound concentrations. The IC50 results obtained from FHDHA, FHDHA1 and plumieride fractions against α-amylase were 36.46, 72.61, 33.87 µg/mL respectively. The IC50 of plumieride was the closest to that of acarbose (22.52 µg/mL), a result similar to that obtained for α-glucosidase. The type of inhibition was competitive for both enzymes. CONCLUSIONS: There was strong inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase by FHDHA, FHDHA1 and plumieride, suggesting that these enzymes slow glucose absorption.

Structural diversity, biosynthetic aspects, and LC-HRMS data compilation for the identification of bioactive compounds of Lepidium meyenii.

Lepidium meyenii is widely used as a food supplement because of its medicinal properties and nutritional value. Several studies have described the identification of its metabolites and LC-HRMS analysis is one of the most frequently used analytical tool to assess plant extract metabolome. Nevertheless, proper and reliable metabolite identification is essential for such metabolomics studies. Although HRMS distinguishes even minor changes in the metabolites structures, highly specialized secondary metabolites might not be present on available databases imposing serious obstacles for metabolite identification This review discusses the structural diversity and biosynthetic aspects of 101 compounds previously identified in L. meyenii. More importantly, we have compiled the available information on expected and experimental high-resolution masses of L. meyenii compounds. This will help upcoming metabolomics studies not only of L. meyenii but also other plant species by providing the necessary tools to perform proper and reliable identification of their bioactive compounds.

Polyprenylated benzophenone derivatives with a novel tetracyclo[8.3.1.03,11.05,10]tetradecane core skeleton from Clusia burle-marxii exhibited cytotoxicity against GL-15 glioblastoma-derived human cell line.

Three new polyprenylated benzophenone derivatives (1-3) were identified in the hexane extract of Clusia burle-marxii trunks, through the isolation and structural elucidation of their methyl derivatives, along with two known polyprenylated benzophenone derivatives sampsonine N (4) and obdeltifolione C (5). Burlemarxiones A (1) and B (2) show an unprecedent tetracyclo[8.3.1.03,11.05,10]tetradecane core skeleton. These compounds are a pair of ß-diketones in tautomeric equilibrium, whereas isonemorosonol (3) is the respective ß-diketone pair in tautomeric equilibrium with nemorosonol. Burlemarxione A methyl derivative (1a) and sampsonine N exhibited strong in vitro cytotoxic activity against GL-15 glioblastoma-derived human cell line.

The intake of dry cashew apple fiber reduced fecal egg counts in Haemonchus contortus-infected sheep.

Helminthiasis is a common disease in which parasite resistance is frequently caused by inadequate administration of anthelmintics in small ruminant production. Since phytotherapy may be an adjuvant for parasite control, we assessed whether the ingestion of cashew apple fiber (Anacardium occidentale) would reduce Haemonchus contortus infection in Santa Inês sheep. Twenty-one male sheep with mean age of 240 ±â€¯9.7 days were dewormed, infected with 4000 L3 of H. contortus Embrapa2010 (day 0 - D0) and on D28 were divided into three equally sized experimental groups: 1) control (no treatment), 2) treated with anthelmintic (monepantel, 2.5 mg/kg PV) and 3) cashew apple fiber (0.3% BW) for 7 days of adaptation plus 28 days (D63). The animals were weighed weekly for diet adjustment and individual EPGs were performed twice a week. Corn silage was given ad libitum after each animal had eaten all the cashew apple fiber, which always occurred due to its palatable flavor. The silage, cashew apple fiber and leftovers were weighed daily and the samples were analyzed for dry matter. In cashew apple fiber, the total polyphenol contents were determined spectrophotometrically and the phenol compounds were identified by LC-MS. Cashew apple fiber contained 93.6% DM, 13.0% CP, 68.7% NDF, 47.6% FDA, 1.3% MM, 1.9% EE and 22.3% LIG. Twenty phenolic compounds were detected, among them phenolic acids and flavonoids, including glycosylated ones. The general EPG averages were statistically different among control, anthelmintic and cashew groups (3449, 14 and 2070, respectively), while the mean total weight gain did not differ (3.21, 3.20 and 1.94 kg, respectively) (p < 0.05). In relation to the control group, the anthelmintic showed efficacy of 99.6% and the cashew apple fiber 40.8%. Phenolic compounds appear to play an important role in the anthelmintic activity of cashew apple fiber. Thus, its use as an adjuvant in the control of H. contortus can be encouraged in regions where it is available at low cost, mitigating the use of veterinary drugs, reducing environmental contamination by agroindustrial residues and promoting the more sustainable production of small ruminants.

A new biphenyl and antimicrobial activity of extracts and compounds from Clusia burlemarxii.

Phytochemical investigation on Clusia burlemarxii (Clusiaceae) led to isolation and identification of nine compounds. Were isolated from leaves 3-O-α-L- rhamnopyranosylquercetin, 3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosylkaempferol, 4-hydroxy-5,5-dimethyldihydrofuran-2-one, 2Z-δ-tocotrienoloic acid and friedelin and were isolated from trunk betulinic acid, protocatechuic acid, lyoniresinol, and a new biphenyl 2,2-dimethyl-3,5-dihydroxy-7-(4-hydroxyphenyl)chromane. The structures were determined by ¹H, ¹³C-NMR, DEPT, HMBC, HMQC, HRESIMS. The Minimal Inhibitory Concentration against Streptococcus mutans, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Micrococcus luteus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella choleraesuis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Aspergillus niger and Cladosporium cladosporioides was also determined. Extracts and compounds showed significant activity against tested Gram-positive bacteria, none activity against tested Gram-negative bacteria and fungi.