The Profile and Content of Polyphenolic Compounds and Antioxidant and Anti-Glycation Properties of Root Extracts of Selected Medicinal Herbs.

The objective of our study was to analyse the extracts from six medicinal herb roots (marshmallow, dandelion, liquorice, angelica, burdock, and comfrey) in terms of antioxidant capacity (ABTS, DPPH) and inhibition of advanced glycation end product (AGEs) formation. The quantification of phenolic acids and flavonoids was analysed using the UHPLC-DAD-MS method. Fifteen polyphenolic compounds were detected in the studied herbs. The higher number of polyphenols were found in marshmallows (ten polyphenols), while the lowest was in comfrey (five compounds). Liquorice root revealed the highest individual phenolic concentration (382 µg/g dm) with the higher contribution of kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside. Comfrey root extract was characterised by the most abundant TPC (Total Phenolic Content) value (29.79 mg GAE/ g dm). Burdock and comfrey showed the strongest anti-AGE activity studies with the BDA-GLU model. Burdock root was also characterised by the highest anti-AGE activity in the BSA-MGO model. The highest antioxidant capacity was determined by ABTS (72.12 µmol TE/g dw) and DPPH (143.01 µmol TE/g dw) assays for comfrey extract. The p-coumaric acid content was significantly correlated with anti-AGE activity determined by the BSA-MGO model. This research sheds new light on the bioactivity of root herbs, explaining the role of p-coumaric acid in preventing diabetes.

LC-MS/MS, GC-MS and molecular docking analysis for phytochemical fingerprint and bioactivity of Beta vulgaris L.

The plants that we consume in our daily diet and use as a risk preventer against many diseases have many biological and pharmacological activities. In this study, the phytochemical fingerprint and biological activities of Beta vulgaris L. leaf extract, which are widely consumed in the Black Sea region, were investigated. The leaf parts of the plant were dried in an oven at 35 °C and then ground into powder. The main constituents in B. vulgaris were identified by LC-MS/MS and GC-MS analyses. Phenolic content, betaxanthin and betacyanin levels were investigated in the extracts obtained using three different solvents. The biological activity of the extract was investigated by anti-microbial, anti-mutagenic, anti-proliferative and anti-diabetic activity tests. Anti-diabetic activity was investigated by in vitro enzyme inhibition and in-silico molecular docking was performed to confirm this activity. In the LC-MS analysis of B. vulgaris extract, a major proportion of p_coumaric acid, vannilin, protecatechuic aldehyde and sesamol were detected, while the major essential oils determined by GC-MS analysis were hexahydrofarnesyl acetone and phytol. Among the solvents used, the highest extraction efficiency of 2.4% was obtained in methanol extraction, and 36.2 mg of GAE/g phenolic substance, 5.1 mg/L betacyanin and 4.05 mg/L betaxanthin were determined in the methanol extract. Beta vulgaris, which exhibited broad-spectrum anti-microbial activity by forming a zone of inhibition against all tested bacteria, exhibited anti-mutagenic activity in the range of 35.9-61.8% against various chromosomal abnormalities. Beta vulgaris extract, which did not exhibit mutagenic, sub-lethal or lethal effects, exhibited anti-proliferative activity by reducing proliferation in Allium root tip cells by 21.7%. 50 mg/mL B. vulgaris extract caused 58.9% and 55.9% inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase activity, respectively. The interactions of coumaric acid, vanniline, hexahydrofarnesyl acetone and phytol, which are major compounds in phytochemical content, with α-amylase and α-glucosidase were investigated by in silico molecular docking and interactions between molecules via various amino acids were determined. Binding energies between the tested compounds and α-amylase were obtained in the range of - 4.3 kcal/mol and - 6.1 kcal/mol, while for α-glucosidase it was obtained in the range of - 3.7 kcal/mol and - 5.7 kcal/mol. The biological activities of B. vulgaris are closely related to the active compounds it contains, and therefore studies investigating the phytochemical contents of plants are very important. Safe and non-toxic plant extracts can help reduce the risk of various diseases, such as diabetes, and serve as an alternative or complement to current pharmaceutical practices.

Optimization of the Zhou Tian Formula extraction technology based on AHP-CRITIC method and analysis of transfer efficiency of key components based on HPLC fingerprinting.

INTRODUCTION: Zhou Tian Formula (ZTF) is an antidepressant traditional Chinese medicine utilized widely in clinical settings for the treatment of patients with depression. However, shortcomings persist in its extraction technology and quality control. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to propose a methodology for ZTF extraction technology based on the analytic hierarchy process (AHP)-criteria importance through intercriteria correlation (CRITIC) method and to establish a quality control framework for the efficient transfer of index components. METHOD: Firstly, we analyzed the chemical components of ZTF and determined the optimal extraction technology. Secondly, we calculated the transfer efficiency of the index components during the conversion of water decoction to extract powder and subsequently to granules. Thirdly, we established HPLC fingerprints for 15 batches of ZTF water decoction, extract powder, and granules. We employed SIMCA software to analyze the chemicals responsible for variations in quality among different batches of ZTF granules. RESULTS: We determined the optimal extraction process. The average transfer efficiency of ferulic acid, puerarin, mirificin, isoferulic acid, and calycosin during the conversion of water decoction to extract powder and subsequently to granules exceeded 41%. The HPLC fingerprints of ZTF exhibited a similarity exceeding 0.890. Variable importance in projection values indicated that calycosin, ferulic acid, and puerarin were the primary contributors to quality variations. CONCLUSIONS: The AHP-CRITIC method, coupled with an orthogonal array design, could be used for exploring extraction technology. In addition, the rules governing the transfer of index components from water decoction to extract powder, and subsequently to granules, could be applied for the evaluation and quality assessment of ZTF.

Potential of Kalanchoe pinnata as a Cancer Treatment Adjuvant and an Epigenetic Regulator.

Cancer is a global public health problem that is related to different environmental and lifestyle factors. Although the combination of screening, prevention, and treatment of cancer has resulted in increased patient survival, conventional treatments sometimes have therapeutic limitations such as resistance to drugs or severe side effects. Oriental culture includes herbal medicine as a complementary therapy in combination with chemotherapy or radiotherapy. This study aimed to identify the bioactive ingredients in Kalanchoe pinnata, a succulent herb with ethnomedical applications for several diseases, including cancer, and reveal its anticancer mechanisms through a molecular approach. The herb contains gallic acid, caffeic acid, coumaric acid, quercetin, quercitrin, isorhamnetin, kaempferol, bersaldegenin, bryophyllin a, bryophyllin c, bryophynol, bryophyllol and bryophollone, stigmasterol, campesterol, and other elements. Its phytochemicals participate in the regulation of proliferation, apoptosis, cell migration, angiogenesis, metastasis, oxidative stress, and autophagy. They have the potential to act as epigenetic drugs by reverting the acquired epigenetic changes associated with tumor resistance to therapy-such as the promoter methylation of suppressor genes, inhibition of DNMT1 and DNMT3b activity, and HDAC regulation-through methylation, thereby regulating the expression of genes involved in the PI3K/Akt/mTOR, Nrf2/Keap1, MEK/ERK, and Wnt/ß-catenin pathways. All of the data support the use of K. pinnata as an adjuvant in cancer treatment.

In Vitro Bioaccessibility and Antioxidant Activity of Phenolic Compounds in Coffee-Fortified Yogurt.

Yogurt is considered one of the most popular and healthy dairy products, and has been exploited as a delivery matrix for phenolic compounds. In this study, coffee powder was added to yogurt as a functional ingredient to produce coffee-fortified yogurt. Total phenolic compounds, antioxidant activity and individual hydroxycinnamic acids have been identified and quantified through mass spectrometry. The results from coffee-fortified yogurt were compared with fermented coffee and plain yogurt. Coffee-fortified yogurt had higher total phenolic content and antioxidant activity compared to plain yogurt. However, the total phenolic compounds found in coffee-fortified yogurt represented only 38.9% of the original content in coffee. Caffeoylquinic acids were the most abundant phenolic compounds in coffee. Fermented coffee and coffee-fortified yogurt displayed lower amounts of individual phenolic compounds with respect to coffee (69.8% and 52.4% of recovery, respectively). A protective effect of the yogurt matrix on total and individual coffee phenolic compounds has been observed after in vitro digestion, resulting in a higher bioaccessibility in comparison with digested fermented coffee. Moreover, coffee-fortified yogurt showed the highest antioxidant values after digestion. These findings clearly demonstrate that coffee-fortified yogurt can be considered a significant source of bioaccessible hydroxycinnamic acids, besides its health benefits as a fermented dairy product.

Phytochemical and biological investigations on the pollen from industrial hemp male inflorescences.

Cannabis sativa L. belongs to the Cannabaceae family and includes annual, robust, fast-growing and generally dioecious plants. Industrial hemp, and particularly the inflorescences, has been recently recognized as important source of bioactive extracts with antioxidant and antimicrobial effects. The goal of the present study was to explore botanical, phytochemical, and biological properties of water and hydroalcoholic hemp pollen extracts from male inflorescences. The extracts from hemp pollen were found rich in phenolic compounds, such as hydroxytyrosol, coumaric acid, and hesperitin. The phenolic profile was also consistent with the observed scavenging/reducing, enzyme inhibitory, and antimicrobial properties of the extracts. Regarding the antimicrobial effects, Escherichia coli, Trycophyton rubrum, and T. tonsurans were the most sensitive to growth inhibitory effects (MIC values: 9.92-79.37 µg/mL) of the extracts. Whereas, null effects on prostate PC3 and myocyte C2C12 cell viability, in the range 1-1000 µg/mL, are consistent with MIC values and suggest extracts' biocompatibility. The experimental data obtained, which are not reflected in the literature as the topic of hemp pollen is almost completely unexplored, confirm the innovativeness of a product obtained directly from bees, which in the face of greater variability and complexity can reserve promising applications in food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic sectors.

Lactic Acid Bacteria Simultaneously Encapsulate Diverse Bioactive Compounds from a Fruit Extract and Enhance Thermal Stability.

This study develops an innovative cell-based carrier to simultaneously encapsulate multiple phytochemicals from a complex plant source. Muscadine grapes (MG) juice prepared from fresh fruit was used as a model juice. After incubation with inactivated bacterial cells, 66.97% of the total anthocyanins, and 72.67% of the total antioxidant compounds were encapsulated in the cells from MG juice. Confocal images illustrated a uniform localization of the encapsulated material in the cells. The spectral emission scans indicated the presence of a diverse class of phenolic compounds, which was characterized using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Using HPLC, diverse phytochemical compound classes were analyzed, including flavanols, phenolic acid, hydroxycinnamic acid, flavonols, and polymeric polyphenols. The analysis validated that the cell carrier could encapsulate a complex profile of bioactive compounds from fruit juice, and the encapsulated content and efficiencies varied by the chemical class and compound. In addition, after the heat treatment at 90 °C for 60 min, >87% total antioxidant capacity and 90% anthocyanin content were recovered from the encapsulated MG. In summary, these results highlight the significant potential of a selected bacterial strain for simultaneous encapsulation of diverse phenolic compounds from fruit juice and improving their process stability.

[Instant drinks based on extracts of Japan sea brown algae and fruit and berry juices as functional products].

Nowadays, there is a need to create functional drinks that not only normalize the water-electrolyte balance, but also correct and optimize the chemical structure of the diet. The basis for the production of dry drinks can be fruit and berry juices, extracts of herbal raw materials, including algae, etc. The aim of the study was to develop dry drinks based on dry extracts of brown algae (Costaria costata and Undaria pinnatifida) and concentrated fruit and berry juices and to evaluate the content of biologically active substances in them, as well as the antioxidant properties of the resulting drinks. Material and methods. Brown algae of the Far Eastern region Costaria costata and Undaria pinnatifida were used as objects, from which dry hydrothermal extracts were obtained, as well as dry drinks based on these extracts (21-26%) and concentrated fruit and berry juices of black currant and blueberry (31-37%). The content of iodine was determined by titrimetric method, fucoidan, the sum of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, catechins - by spectrophotometric method, vitamin C - titrimetrically, anthocyanins - by pH-differential spectrophotometry. Identification of phenolic compounds was carried out by HPLC. The antiradical properties of beverages were evaluated by the ability to interact with the stable 2.2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical in vitro spectrophotometrically. Results. Dry hydrothermal extracts of C. costata and U. pinnatifida brown algae are characterized by a high content of bioactive substances, the main of which are fucoidan and iodine. The fucoidan content in C. costata extract was 1.7 g/100 g, in U. pinnatifida extract - 0.5 g/100 g; the iodine content was 0.0036 and 0.0028 g/100 g, respectively. The content of phenolic compounds was at least 205 mg of tannic acid per 1 g, the main compounds were syringic acid and epicatechin, salicylic and coumaric acids, as well as chlorogenic, caffeic, 2.5-dihydroxybenzoic, ferulic acid and gallates of epigallocatechin and epicatechin. The developed drinks based on dry extracts of C. costata and U. pinnatifida brown algae (21-26%) and concentrated blueberry and blackcurrant juices (31-37%) (the rest is powdered sugar) are a food system enriched with bioactive substances. The content per 1 serving of drinks (10 g per 200 ml) of iodine was high and amounted to 70-75 mcg, phenolic compounds - about 250 mg, vitamin C level was maximum in a drink with black currant (41-44 mg), fucoidan content ranged from 79 to 84 mg. The resulting dry drinks satisfy the daily physiological requirement in iodine by at least 40%, in vitamin C - by at least 30% when consuming 1 serving. The radical binding activity of all the studied beverages was quite high and amounted to 91.1-96.5%. The drink with blueberry juice and C. costata extract showed maximum antiradical properties. Conclusion. The developed dry soft drinks based on dry extracts of C. costata and U. pinnatifida brown algae and concentrated juices of black currant or blueberry contain a wide range of bioactive compounds. They can be attributed to functional products due to the high degree of satisfaction of the daily physiological requirement of the human body in vitamin C and iodine and are characterized by high antiradical properties.

Polyphenolic QTOF-ESI MS Characterization and the Antioxidant and Cytotoxic Activities of Prunus domestica Commercial Cultivars from Costa Rica.

There is an increased interest in plum research because of their metabolites' potential bioactivities. In this study, the phenolic profiles of Prunus domestica commercial cultivars (Methley, Pisardii and Satsuma) in Costa Rica were determined by Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled with High Resolution Mass Spectrometry using a quadrupole-time-of-flight analyzer (UPLC-ESI-QTOF MS) on enriched phenolic extracts obtained through Pressurized Liquid Extraction (PLE) under acidic and neutral extraction conditions. In total, 41 different phenolic compounds were identified in the skin and flesh extracts, comprising 11 flavan-3-ols, 14 flavonoids and 16 hydroxycinnamic acids and derivatives. Neutral extractions for the skins and flesh from all of the cultivars yielded a larger number of compounds, and were particularly rich in the number of procyanidin trimers and tetramers when compared to the acid extractions. The total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant potential using the DPPH and ORAC methods exhibited better results for neutral extracts with Satsuma skins and Methley flesh, which showed the best values (685.0 and 801.6 mg GAE/g extract; IC50 = 4.85 and 4.39 µg/mL; and 12.55 and 12.22 mmol TE/g extract, respectively). A Two-Way ANOVA for cytotoxicity towards AGS gastric adenocarcinoma and SW620 colon adenocarcinoma indicated a significant difference (p < 0.05) for PLE conditions, with better results for neutral extractions, with Satsuma skin delivering the best results (IC50 = 60.7 and 46.7 µg/mL respectively) along with Methley flesh (IC50 = 76.3 and 60.9 µg/mL, respectively). In addition, a significant positive correlation was found between TPC and ORAC (r = 0.929, p < 0.05), as well as a significant negative correlation (p < 0.05) between TPC and cytotoxicity towards AGS and SW620 cell lines (r = -0.776, and -0.751, respectively). A particularly high, significant, negative correlation (p < 0.05) was found between the number of procyanidins and cytotoxicity against the AGS (r = -0.868) and SW620 (r = -0.855) cell lines. Finally, the PCA clearly corroborated that neutral extracts are a more homogenous group exhibiting higher antioxidant and cytotoxic results regardless of the part or cultivar; therefore, our findings suggest that PLE extracts under neutral conditions would be of interest for further studies on their potential health benefits.

Magnetic carbon nanotubes-molecularly imprinted polymer coupled with HPLC for selective enrichment and determination of ferulic acid in traditional Chinese medicine and biological samples.

A molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) with magnetic carbon nanotubes (MCNTs) as carrier was synthesized and used for the enrichment and determination of ferulic acid (FA) by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The morphology and structure of the FA magnetic carbon nanotubes-molecularly imprinted polymers (MCNTs@FA-MIPs) were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The results demonstrated that the prepared MCNTs@FA-MIPs had excellent magnetic properties and uniform appearance. The adsorption properties of the novel MIP were studied by kinetic, and isothermal adsorption experiments. The results showed that the MCNTs@FA-MIPs exhibited relatively good uptake kinetics (equilibrium time, 2 h), high adsorption capacity (50 mg⋅g-1), fast separation, and good selectivity for the template molecule with a separation factor α of 1.73. The MCNTs@FA-MIPs combined with HPLC were successfully applied to the separation, enrichment, and determination of FA in a Ligusticum chuanxiong extract and in plasma of rats which had been administered with Taitai beauty essence. The recoveries for FA were 95.53-100.03 % with relative standard deviations (RSDs) less than 5.5%. The results confirmed that the proposed MCNTs@FA-MIPs offered efficient extraction of FA from traditional Chinese medicinal preparations and blood samples and with high specificity.

Structural elucidation, distribution and antioxidant activity of bound phenolics from whole grain brown rice.

Chemical profiles, distribution, and antioxidant activity of bound phenolics from brown rice were investigated. Four new dehydrodiferulic acid dimers (DFA) along with eighteen known phenolics were isolated from brown rice bound phenolic extracts and their structures were determined by multiple spectroscopic methods. Among them, ferulic acid and 8-5' DFA were the most abundant monomeric and dimeric bound phenolics in brown rice, rice bran and polished rice. In whole brown rice, polished rice contributed more than 50% of three phenolic monomers and six phenolic dimers, while rice bran contributed more than half of the other thirteen phenolics including eight monomers, four dimers, and one trimer. All the isolated compounds exhibited oxygen radical absorbance capacity. Thomasidioic acid, caffeic acid, methyl caffeate, and 8-5' DC DFA displayed potent peroxyl radical scavenging capacity, and the last three compounds also showed moderate cellular antioxidant activity.

Physicochemical, Thermal and Rheological Properties of Pectin Extracted from Sugar Beet Pulp Using Subcritical Water Extraction Process.

The objective of this study was to characterize the properties of pectin extracted from sugar beet pulp using subcritical water (SWE) as compared to conventional extraction (CE). The research involved advanced modeling using response surface methodology and optimization of operational parameters. The optimal conditions for maximum yield of pectin for SWE and CE methods were determined by the central composite design. The optimum conditions of CE were the temperature of 90 °C, time of 240 min, pH of 1, and pectin recovery yield of 20.8%. The optimal SWE conditions were liquid-to-solid (L/S) ratio of 30% (v/w) at temperature of 130 °C for 20 min, which resulted in a comparable yield of 20.7%. The effect of obtained pectins on viscoamylograph pasting and DSC thermal parameters of corn starch was evaluated. The contents of galacturonic acid, degree of methylation, acetylation, and ferulic acid content were higher in the pectin extracted by SWE, while the molecular weight was lower. Similar chemical groups were characterized by FTIR in both SWE and CE pectins. Color attributes of both pectins were similar. Solutions of pectins at lower concentrations displayed nearly Newtonian behavior. The addition of both pectins to corn starch decreased pasting and DSC gelatinization parameters, but increased ΔH. The results offered a promising scalable approach to convert the beet waste to pectin as a value-added product using SWE with improved pectin properties.

U.S. Montmorency Tart Cherry Juice Decreases Bone Resorption in Women Aged 65-80 Years.

Pre-clinical studies have demonstrated that tart cherries, rich in hydroxycinnamic acids and anthocyanins, protect against age-related and inflammation-induced bone loss. This study examined how daily consumption of Montmorency tart cherry juice (TC) alters biomarkers of bone metabolism in older women. Healthy women, aged 65-80 years (n = 27), were randomly assigned to consume ~240 mL (8 fl. oz.) of juice once (TC1X) or twice (TC2X) per day for 90 d. Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans were performed to determine bone density at baseline, and pre- and post-treatment serum biomarkers of bone formation and resorption, vitamin D, inflammation, and oxidative stress were assessed. Irrespective of osteoporosis risk, the bone resorption marker, tartrate resistant acid phosphatase type 5b, was significantly reduced with the TC2X dose compared to baseline, but not with the TC1X dose. In terms of indicators of bone formation and turnover, neither serum bone-specific alkaline phosphatase nor osteocalcin were altered. No changes in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances or high sensitivity C-reactive protein were observed in response to either TC1X or TC2X. We conclude that short-term supplementation with the higher dose of tart cherry juice decreased bone resorption from baseline without altering bone formation and turnover biomarkers in this cohort.

Simultaneous determination of multiple components in formula and preparations of Xiaoyaosan.

Xiaoyaosan is one of the famous formulas treating for liver, spleen and blood deficiency syndrome along Chinese history. Their five main components, paeoniflorin, ferulic acid, glycyrrhizic acid, liquiritin, and atractylenolide I are believed to partly representative of this formula. Ultra performance liquid chromatography method was newly established, UPLC BEH-C18 column (2.1 × 100 mm, 1.7 µm) with acetonitrile - 0.1% phosphate acid gradient elution system, in 0.4 mL/min and the temperature was 30 °C; Detection wavelengths were optimized separately. The five components were linear within their linear range (r ≥ 0.9991), average recovery 97.63%∼102.83%, RSD 1.88%∼4.38%. The newly established method is accurate, rapid, and convenient, with satisfied separation performance to quantify multi-components in formula and preparations of Xiaoyaosan. It will provide a reliable reference for the quality evaluation of both Xiaoyaosan formula and preparations during the process of manufacture, administration and clinical application in the future.

Physico-chemical characterization of Cornus kousa Burg. fruit: determining optimal maturity for fresh consumption.

BACKGROUND: Japanese dogwood (Cornus kousa Burg.) is a popular ornamental plant which develops edible compound fruit utilized in traditional Asian medicine. Previous compositional studies have focused on a small fraction of secondary metabolites at a single maturity stage. In order to address the question of optimal ripeness of Japanese dogwood fruit for consumption the study provides a comprehensive insight into its primary and secondary metabolic profile. RESULTS: The aim of the study was to investigate biochemical composition and morphological traits of Japanese dogwood (Cornus kousa Burg.) fruit at four maturity stages: GF, green fruit; BF, fruit with a defined red blush; RF, ripe fruit; OF, over-ripe fruit. Fruit was characterized by a nearly spherical shape, decreased water content in later stages of ripeness and highest a* values at RF and OF stages. Total sugars increased significantly from GF to OF stage and total organic acids and vitamin C decreased with maturation. Japanese dogwood fruit was characterized by four major phenolic groups: anthocyanins (three), flavonols (eight) hydroxycinnamic acids (three) and flavonoids (one) as well as by four lipophilic antioxidants: tocopherols (two), xanthophylls (five), carotenes (two) and chlorophylls (two). The progression of fruit ripening caused faster accumulation of individual phenolic compounds and lipophilic antioxidants which resulted in significantly higher total phenolic content at the RF and OF stages. CONCLUSION: Japanese dogwood fruit is a rich alternative source of ascorbic acid, α-tocopherol, flavonols and anthocyanins and should be consumed fresh at fully developed red colour of compound berries when their composition is optimal. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Preparative separation of high-purity trans- and cis-ferulic acid from wheat bran by pH-zone-refining counter-current chromatography.

Ferulic acid stereoisomers are the most abundant phenolic acids in cereal bran. However, it is challenging to separate them because of the similar structures and properties. In this study, a preparative separation method of ferulic acid stereoisomers from the crude extract of wheat bran was successfully developed. The method contained a two-step separation, the traditional counter-current chromatography (CCC, hexane: ethyl acetate: methanol: water = 2:5:2:4) was followed with a pH-zone-refining CCC (hexane: ethyl acetate: acetonitrile: water = 2:5:2:2, 10 mmol L-1 trifluoroacetic acid in organic stationary phase and 10 mmol L-1 ammonia in aqueous mobile phase). Trans-ferulic acid and cis-ferulic acid with HPLC high purity over than 99% and 98% can be yielded in large-scale separation. Moreover, it is found that different proton affinity, deprotonation ability and interaction site of hydrogen bond result in distinct partition behavior of stereoisomers, which is illustrated by quantitative analysis of molecular surface. This contributes to our in-depth understanding of the separation mechanism toward pH-zone refining CCC. The developed method can be applied in the exploitation of ferulic acids and related phenolic acids from other resources.

Quality suitability regionalization analysis of Angelica sinensis in Gansu, China.

The genus Angelica encompasses 80 species worldwide. Among them, only Angelica sinensis is widely used in China and Japan. To explore the quality and geographical distribution of A. sinensis, we collected 1,530 plants from Gansu Province and analyzed them for their contents of chlorogenic acid (CA), ferulic acid (FA), senkyunolide I(SI), senkyunolide A(SA), senkyunolide H (SH), coniferyl ferulate (CF), ligustilide (LI), and butenyl phthalide (BP) using UPLC. We also assessed the relationship between the ecological environment and quality of A. sinensis through maximum entropy modeling and a geographical information system. The habitat suitability distribution demonstrated that the most influential ecological factors for the growth of A. sinensis were altitude, precipitation during March, May, and December, precipitation during the wettest month, and the soil pH. The most suitable areas for cultivation are concentrated to the south of Gansu Province, including Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture, Dingxi City, Tianshui City, south of Wuwei City, east of Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, north of Longnan City, and northwest of Pingliang City. The quality suitability regionalization analysis divulged that the most influential ecological factors for the index components of A. sinensis were the altitude, sunshine, rainfall, temperature, and soil pH. The highest quality A. sinensis grow in Dingxi City, Tangchang, Lixian, and Wen counties in Longnan City, Wushan County in Tianshui City, Lintan, Zhouqu, and Zhuoni counties in Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Kangle and Linxia counties in Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture. The experiment yielded highly accurate results (accuracy of 0.955), suggesting that the results were consistent with the actual distribution of A. sinensis in Gansu. The inferences of this research will naturally draw the attention of the authorities in the fields of natural resources and agriculture departments and provide a scientific basis for the rational selection of A. sinensis cultivation areas.

Application of "spider-web" mode in discovery and identification of Q-markers from Xuefu Zhuyu capsule.

BACKGROUND: The selection of quality control indicators in a complex system is a key scientific issue for the study of Chinese materia medica (CMM), which is directly related to its safety and efficacy. In order to scientifically understand and control the quality of CMM, quality marker (Q-marker) has been recently raised as a new concept, which provided a novel research idea for the quality control and evaluation of CMM. PURPOSE: By a new and integrated "spider-web" mode, Q-markers of Xuefu Zhuyu capsule (XZC) were comprehensively uncovered, conducing to great improvement of quality control of XZC. METHODS: Mainly established by three dimensions derived from six variables including content, stability and activity, "spider-web" mode was constructed to evaluate Q-marker property of candidate compounds by taking regression area of the tested compounds into account. RESULTS: The candidate compounds with larger regression area were preferentially adopted as Q-markers, which should possess the satisfactorily integrated properties of content, stability and activity. Six compounds, naringin, isoliquiritin, paeoniflorin, protocatechuic acid, neohesperidin and ferulic acid, were identified and preferred as Q-markers of XZC. CONCLUSION: Based on "spider-web" mode, Q-markers from Xuefu Zhuyu capsule were successfully screened, which would substantially perform quality control of XZC and prove the feasibility of "spider-web" mode in solving the selection of quality control indicators from compound formulae.

Phytochemical, nutritional and antioxidant characteristics of whitebeam (Sorbus aria) fruits.

BACKGROUND: Common whitebeam, Sorbus aria (L.) Crantz is an European and Near-Eastern deciduous tree with small red fruits. However, the edible use of this forest fruit is currently not widespread. Also, its nutritional and antioxidative properties remained undiscovered. In this study, the chemical composition and antioxidant properties of common whitebeam fruit were investigated. METHODS: The fruit were collected from Golo Bardo Mountain in Bulgaria. The phytochemical (carotenoids, phenolic compounds, flavonoids), nutritional (moisture, ash, titrable acidity, lipids, proteins, pectin, carbohydrates) and antioxidant activity were evaluated by four assays (DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, and CUPRAC). RESULTS: Sugar analysis demonstrated that only fructose and glucose were detected in the fruit. Pectin content did not exceed 1.30%. Moreover, the fruit had a low lipid content (0.80%). The whitebeam fruit were also characterized as a source of carotenoids (1.69 mg/100 g fresh weight, fw), phenolic compounds (32.42 mg GAE/100 g fw), and flavonoids (20.08 mg QE/100 g fw). Among phenolic acids, only 2,4-dihydrohybenzoic, caffeic, p-coumaric, and sinapic acid were detected. The antioxidant potential of the fruit was from 168.52 mM TE/100 g fw (FRAP) to 244.81 mM TE/100 g fw (CUPRAC assay). CONCLUSIONS: The current research enriched the available information about the nutritional potential and chemical composition of common whitebeam fruit and their low sugar content. The absence of sucrose, together with its high phenolic content, demonstrated the potential of this fruit for future application in food products and supplements.

Are Supplements Safe? Effects of Gallic and Ferulic Acids on In Vitro Cell Models.

Polyphenols display health-promoting properties linked to their biological activities. They are initially absorbed in the small intestine, then they are largely metabolized in the colon, whereupon they are able to exert systemic effects. The health-promoting properties of polyphenols have led to the development of food supplements, which are also largely consumed by healthy people, even if data on their safety are still yet lacking. In the present paper, the content of gallic acid and ferulic acid was analyzed in two supplements, and shown to be higher than the relative contents found in fruit and flour. To evaluate the effects of these phenolic compounds on epithelial intestinal tissue, gallic and ferulic acids were added to a new in vitro model of the intestinal wall at different concentrations. The effects on viability, proliferation and migration of these compounds were respectively tested on three different cell lines (Caco2, L929 and U937), as well as on a tridimensional intestinal model, composed of a mucosal layer and a submucosa with fibroblasts and monocytes. Results indicated that gallic and ferulic acids can exert toxic effects on in vitro cell models at high concentrations, suggesting that an excessive and uncontrolled consumption of polyphenols may induce negative effects on the intestinal wall.