Evaluation of Anti-Obesity and Antidiabetic Activities of Orostachys japonicus in Cell and Animal Models.

Orostachys japonicus is a popular traditional medicinal herb used in Asian countries. This study is focused on evaluating its role in lipid and glucose metabolism in cell and animal models to establish the plant as an anti-obesity and antidiabetic herb. A butanol fraction of O. japonicus was used in the study. The lipid production was evaluated by the Oil Red O technique while the expression of adipogenic markers by Western blotting and RT-PCR using 3T3-L1 preadipocyte. The effect on glucose uptake activity was evaluated in C2C12 myoblast cells. The animal study was carried out in C57BL mice to evaluate anti-obesity activity using the high-fat diet model. The evaluation of serum lipid, blood glucose, adipogenic and fibrosis markers in the liver, and fat deposition in the liver and adipose tissue (by histology) of mice was conducted. Butanol fraction of O. japonicus significantly inhibited the lipid production in the 3T3-L1 cells and reduced the expression of PPARγ, C/EBPα, SREBP-1c and aP2. It enhanced glucose uptake in insulin-resistant C2C12 myoblast cells. It reduced body weight, triglycerides, and blood glucose in the obese mice. It significantly inhibited lipid accumulation in the liver and adipose tissue of obese mice along with suppression of expression of adipogenic and fibrosis markers in the liver. In summary, supporting the previous results, this study helped to establish the potent anti-obesity, antidiabetic, and liver-protecting effect of the butanol fraction of O. japonicus.

Comparative effects of dietary herbal mixture or guanidinoacetic acid supplementation on growth performance, cecal microbiota, blood profile, excreta gas emission, and meat quality in Hanhyup-3-ho chicken.

Phytogenic feed additives are renowned for their growth promotion, gut health enhancement, and disease prevention properties, which is important factors for sustaining prolonged poultry rearing. The study aimed to evaluate the effect of herbal mixture (mixture of ginseng and artichoke) or guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) on growth performance, cecal microbiota, excretal gas emission, blood profile, and meat quality in Hanhyup-3-ho chicken. A total of 360 one-day-old chickens (half males and half females) were allocated into one of 3 dietary treatments (12 replicate cages/treatment; 10 broilers/replicate cage) for 100 d of age. Experimental diets were CON: basal diet; TRT1: basal diet combined with 0.05% herbal mixture; and TRT2: basal diet combined with 0.06% GAA. All birds received a basal diet during the first 30 d, but from d 31 to 100, an experimental diet was supplied. The addition of 0.05% herbal mixture improved the average body weight gain and feed conversion ratio from d 31 to 100 as well as the overall experimental period. The cecal Lactobacillus, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella count remained consistent across all dietary treatments. Blood albumin and Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) levels increased in the herbal mixture supplemented diet. Additionally, there was a notable reduction in excretal NH3 and H2S emissions in the herbal mixture group. Furthermore, the herbal mixture group exhibited increased breast muscle weight, improved breast muscle color, improved water holding capacity, and a decrease in abdominal fat compared to the control group. Additionally, the supplementation of 0.06% GAA did not demonstrate any statistically significant impact on any evaluated parameter throughout the experiment. The results from the present investigation underscore the potential of ginseng together with artichoke extract supplementation as a viable feed additive, conferring improvements in growth performance, feed efficiency, excreta gas emission, meat quality parameters, and defense mechanism against oxidative stress in Hanhyup-3-ho chicken.

Micronutrient supplements as antioxidants in improving sperm quality and reducing DNA fragmentation.

BACKGROUND: Spermatogenesis and sperm quality may be negatively impacted by an increase in reactive oxygen species. This study investigates the efficacy of combined antioxidant therapy for treating male infertility, as measured by semen analyses and the sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI). Infertile men with a high sperm DNA fragmentation index were instructed to take two oral micronutrient capsules daily for three months. Each antioxidant formulation contained 60 mg vitamin E, 400 µg folic acid, 30 mg selenium, 125 mg L-arginine, 220 mg L-carnitine, 7.5 mg coenzyme Q10, 40 mg L-glutathione, and 20 mg zinc citrate. At entry and post-treatment, the general characteristics, semen analysis, and sperm chromatin dispersion assays were recorded and compared. RESULTS: After three months of treatment with antioxidant compounds, the quality of spermatozoa improved significantly, as indicated by a decrease in the mean DNA fragmentation index from 45.6 ± 17.2% to 34.8 ± 20.3%; an increase in sperm concentration from 29.7 × 106/mL to 35.7 × 106/mL (p < 0.001), an increase in a total number of spermatozoa from 72.1 × 106 to 95.5 × 106 (p = 0.012), and an increase in the vitality from 75.5 ± 17.1 to 81.1 ± 14.4% viable forms (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Micronutrient supplementation can improve sperm quality and DNA integrity in infertile men. Men with infertility and significant sperm DNA fragmentation who take antioxidants for three months experience a reduction in DNA fragmentation index and an increase in sperm quality as measured by the semen analysis. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT04509583 . Registered 12 August 2020, Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy Ethics Committee-Retrospectively registered.

RéSUMé: CONTEXTE: La spermatogenèse et la qualité du sperme peuvent être affectées négativement par une augmentation des espèces réactives de l'oxygène. La présente étude évalue l'efficacité d'une thérapie antioxydante combinée pour traiter l'infertilité masculine, telle que mesurée par les analyses du sperme et l'indice de fragmentation de l'ADN des spermatozoïdes (DFI). Les hommes infertiles avec un indice de fragmentation de l'ADN des spermatozoïdes élevé ont été invités à prendre, par voie orale, deux capsules de micronutriments par jour pendant trois mois. Chaque formulation antioxydante contenait 60 mg de vitamine E, 400 µg d'acide folique, 30 mg de sélénium, 125 mg de L-arginine, 220 mg de L-carnitine, 7,5 mg de coenzyme Q10, 40 mg de L-glutathion et 20 mg de citrate de zinc. À l'entrée et après le traitement, les caractéristiques générales, l'analyse du sperme et les tests de dispersion de la chromatine spermatique ont été enregistrés et comparés. RéSULTATS: Après trois mois de traitement avec des composés antioxydants, la qualité des spermatozoïdes s'est considérablement améliorée, comme l'indique une diminution de l'indice moyen de fragmentation de l'ADN de 45,6±17,2% à 34,8±20,3%; une augmentation de la concentration de spermatozoïdes de 29,7×106/mL à 35,7×106/mL (p<0,001), une augmentation du nombre total de spermatozoïdes de 72,1x106 à 95,5x106 (p=0,012), et une augmentation de la vitalité de 75,5±17,1 à 81,1±14,4% des formes viables (p<0,001). CONCLUSIONS: La supplémentation en micronutriments peut améliorer la qualité du sperme et l'intégrité de l'ADN chez les hommes infertiles. Les hommes souffrant d'infertilité et d'une fragmentation importante de l'ADN des spermatozoïdes qui prennent des antioxydants pendant trois mois subissent une réduction de l'indice de fragmentation de l'ADN et une augmentation de la qualité du sperme, mesurée par l'analyse du sperme.

A comparative study on essential oils from the leaves and stems of Vietnamese Mikania micrantha Kunth.

Mikania micrantha Kunth is widely known as potential herbal medicine, although it is an invasive alien species in Southeast Asia. In this study, the essential oils from leaves and stems of M. micrantha were extracted by hydrodistillation method, and the chemical profiles of essential oils were then analysed by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS). It was found that there were similarities and differences in chemical compositions and their percentage between the essential oils obtained from these two parts. The dominant components of leaves essential oil are ß-Cubebene, Germacrene D, and α-Zingiberene, accounting for 11.34%, 10.96%, and 10.76%, respectively. Additionally, the major components of stems essential oils are D-Limonene (16.99%), ß-Pinene (7.91%), and α-Zingiberene (7.26%). The research sheds fresh light on the chemical makeup of M. micrantha essential oils, emphasising their potential for the future.

Discovery of Four New Compounds from Macropanax membranifolius and Their Cytotoxic Activity.

A phytochemical investigation of the methanolic extract of the Macropanax membranifolius C.B. Shang leaves led to the isolation of three new flavans, (2R,3R)-4'-O-methylcatechin 5-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside (1), (2S,3S)-4'-O-methylcatechin 5-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside (2), (2S,3R)-4'-O-methylcatechin 5-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside (3), one new triterpene glycoside 3-O-ß-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→6)-[ß-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→2)]-ß-D-glucopyranosyl-oleanolic acid 28-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside (4), together with nine known compounds (5-13). Their chemical structures were elucidated based on HR-ESI-MS, NMR spectroscopic data. The absolute configurations of compounds 1-3 were established by electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra. At concentration of 20 µM, compounds 1-13 showed the percentages of dead cell in the range of 2.14 % to 33.61 % against KB, HepG2, HL60, P388, HT29, and MCF7 cancerous cell lines by SRB assay.

Desmodinosides A-E: New Flavonoid C-glycosides from Desmodium heterocarpon var. stigosum with hepatoprotective and antifungal activity.

Five new flavonoid C-glycosides named desmodinosides A-E (1-5) and one known compound, apigenin 6-C-ß-d-xylopyranosyl-2''-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside (6) have been isolated from the methanol extract of the aerial parts of Desmodium heterocarpon var. stigosum. These compounds were determined by 1D and 2D-NMR and HR-MS spectroscopies. The methanol extract of this plant, in particular, demonstrated hepatoprotection and antifungal inhibition. This extract has a remarkable hepatoprotection and activity-dose response with an EC50 of 43.07 µg/mL. The hepatoprotective effect on human liver hepatoma cells (HepG2) of the isolated flavonoid C-glycosides 1-6 was observed. Desmodinosides A-C (1-3) were found to exhibit moderate hepatoprotective activity on HepG2 cells. Of these, compound 2 showed the best hepatoprotective activity with an EC50 value of 74.12 µg/mL. While compounds 1 and 3 displayed EC50 values of 271.21 and 211.99 µg/mL, respectively. Quercetin, a positive control, also caused an EC50 value of 36.42 µg/mL. In addition to having hepatoprotective effect, the methanol extract had an inhibitory effect on the growth of oomycete; it inhibited Phytophthora infestans with IC50 of 13.3 µg/mL and IC90 of 78.7 µg/mL. The oomycete inhibition was directly attributed to compounds 5 and 6, which significantly inhibited P. infestans with IC50 values of 27.4 and 24.7 µg/mL, respectively. Both 5 and 6 and methanol extract were active against P. infestanse in a dose-dependent manner. Our study demonstrated for the first time the new flavonoid C-glycosides from D. heterocarpon var. stigosum and their novel pharmacological properties. The study findings also suggest the plant extract and its metabolites could be used as a new botanical source of bioactive compounds.

Effectiveness of bee venom acupuncture for patients suffering from periarthritis humeroscapularis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of bee venom acupuncture in humeroscapularis (PHS) patients. METHODS: One hundred and twenty patients diagnosed with PHS were assigned into four groups: BV1 (0.01 mg/kg), BV2 (0.005 mg/kg), BV3 (0.0025 mg/kg), and control group (vitamin B1 plus novocain 3% injection) with 15 d of treatment. The outcomes of the study including visual analogue scale (VAS) score and ß-endorphin, inflammatory cytokines including interleukin-10 (IL-10), IL-1ß and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and shoulder function score were assessed at baseline, after 10 and 15 d of treatment. RESULTS: All four groups reported statistically significant improvement in VAS score, motion range, and shoulder function score ( < 0.01), only the BV3 group showed significant increase of anti-inflammatory (IL-10) and decrease of pro-inflammatory (IL-1ß, TNF-α) cytokines after treatment ( < 0.05). The BV3 group presented a significant difference between all outcomes compared to the control and other groups. CONCLUSION: BV3 groups showed better recovery including reduced pain, improved motor function and normalized inflammatory cytokines than current therapy used in Vietnam and other groups.

Isolation and characterization of novel potassium-solubilizing purple nonsulfur bacteria from acidic paddy soils using culture-dependent and culture-independent techniques.

The current research as aimed (i) to isolate and select the purple nonsulfur bacteria (PNSB) possessing the potassium-solubilizing ability from acid paddy fields and (ii) to evaluate the ability to release the plant growth-promoting substances (PGPS) of selected PNSB. A total of 35 acid sulfate (AS) soil samples were collected in An Giang province, Vietnam. Then, 70 PNSB strains were isolated from the AS soil samples. In the current study, the isolated strains were screened and selected according to their tolerability to acidic conditions, ability to solubilize potassium, and characteristics of a plant growth promoter on basic isolation media with various incubation conditions. Therein, three strains, TT07.4, AN05.1, and AC04.1, presented the highest potassium solubilization under the microaerobic light (11.8-17.7 mg L-1) and aerobic dark (16.4-24.7 mg L-1) conditions and stresses from Al3+, Fe2+, and Mn2+ toxicity. The selected strains were identified as Rhodopseudomonas pentothenatexigens by the 16S rDNA sequence, with 99% similarity. The selected acidic-resistant strains possessed the traits of biofertilizers under both microaerobic light and aerobic dark conditions, with abilities to fix nitrogen (0.17-6.24; 7.93-11.2 mg L-1); solubilize phosphorus from insoluble compounds with 3.22-49.9 and 9.49-11.2 mg L-1 for Al-P, 21.9-25.8 and 20.2-25.1 mg L-1 for Ca-P, and 10.1-29.8 and 18.9-23.2 mg L-1 for Fe-P; produce 5-aminolevulinic acid (0.63-3.01; 1.19-6.39 mg L-1), exopolymeric substances (0.14-0.76; 0.21-0.86 mg L-1), indole-3-acetic acid (12.9-32.6; 13.6-17.8 mg L-1), and siderophores (28.4-30.3; 6.15-10.3%). The selected potassium-solubilizing strains have a great potential to apply in liquid form into rice seed and solid form in AS soils to supply nutrients and PGPS for enhancing rice growth and grain yield.

Ethyl Caffeate Can Inhibit Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AhR) Signaling and AhR-Mediated Potentiation of Mast Cell Activation.

Ethyl caffeate (EC) is a natural phenolic compound that is present in several medicinal plants used to treat inflammatory disorders. However, its anti-inflammatory mechanisms are not fully understood. Here, we report that EC inhibits aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) signaling and that this is associated with its anti-allergic activity. EC inhibited AhR activation, induced by the AhR ligands FICZ and DHNA in AhR signaling-reporter cells and mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs), as assessed by AhR target gene expressions such as CYP1A1. EC also inhibited the FICZ-induced downregulation of AhR expression and DHNA-induced IL-6 production in BMMCs. Furthermore, the pretreatment of mice with orally administered EC inhibited DHNA-induced CYP1A1 expression in the intestine. Notably, both EC and CH-223191, a well-established AhR antagonist, inhibited IgE-mediated degranulation in BMMCs grown in a cell culture medium containing significant amounts of AhR ligands. Furthermore, oral administration of EC or CH-223191 to mice inhibited the PCA reaction associated with the suppression of constitutive CYP1A1 expression within the skin. Collectively, EC inhibited AhR signaling and AhR-mediated potentiation of mast cell activation due to the intrinsic AhR activity in both the culture medium and normal mouse skin. Given the AhR control of inflammation, these findings suggest a novel mechanism for the anti-inflammatory activity of EC.

Identifying temporal sensory drivers of liking of biscuit supplemented with brewer's spent grain for young consumers.

Brewer's spent grain (BSG), a by-product of the brewing industry, has great potential as food additive. BSG is particularly rich in protein and fibre content which makes it an ideal nutritional fortifier for biscuits. However, adding BSG to biscuits can lead to changes in sensory perception and consumer acceptance. This study explored the temporal sensory profiles and drivers/inhibitors of liking in BSG-fortified biscuits. Six biscuit formulations were obtained from a design with factors oat flake particle size (three levels: 0.5 mm, small commercial flakes, large commercial flakes) and baking powder (two levels: with, without). Consumers (n = 104) tasted the samples, described their dynamic sensory perception using the Temporal Check-All-That-Apply (TCATA) method, and rated their liking on a 7-point categorical scale. The Clustering around Latent Variables (CLV) approach was used to group consumers into two clusters based on their preferences. The temporal sensory profiles and drivers/inhibitors of liking were investigated within each cluster. Foamy and Easy-to-swallow were sensory drivers of liking for both groups of consumers. However, inhibitors of liking were different in the two clusters: Dense and Hard-to-swallow for one cluster and Chewy, Hard-to-swallow and Hard for the other cluster. These findings give evidence that manipulating oat particle size and presence/absence of baking powder changes BSG-fortified biscuits' sensory profiles and consumer preferences. A complementary analysis of the area-under-curve of the TCATA data and inspection of individual temporal curves showed the dynamics of perception and showed how oat particle size and presence/absence of baking powder affected consumer perception and acceptance of BSG-fortified biscuits. The methods proposed in this paper can be further applied to understand how enriching products with ingredients that would otherwise go to waste affects acceptance in different consumer segments.

Characteristics and Relationships between Total Polyphenol and Flavonoid Contents, Antioxidant Capacities, and the Content of Caffeine, Gallic Acid, and Major Catechins in Wild/Ancient and Cultivated Teas in Vietnam.

Vietnam has diverse and long-established tea plantations but scientific data on the characteristics of Vietnamese teas are still limited. Chemical and biological properties including total polyphenol and flavonoid contents (TPCs and TFCs), antioxidant activities (DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, and CUPRAC), as well as the contents of caffeine, gallic acid, and major catechins, were evaluated for 28 Vietnamese teas from North and South Vietnam. Higher values of TPCs and TFCs were found for green (non-oxidised) and raw Pu'erh (low-oxidised) teas from wild/ancient tea trees in North Vietnam and green teas from cultivated trees in South Vietnam, as compared to oolong teas (partly oxidised) from South Vietnam and black teas (fully oxidised) from North Vietnam. The caffeine, gallic acid, and major catechin contents depended on the processing, geographical origin, and the tea variety. Several good Pearson's correlations were found (r2 > 0.9) between TPCs, TFCs, the four antioxidant capacities, and the content of major catechins such as (-)-epicatechin-3-gallate and (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate. Results from principal component analysis showed good discriminations with cumulative variances of the first two principal components varying from 85.3% to 93.7% among non-/low-oxidised and partly/fully oxidised teas, and with respect to the tea origin.

Effectiveness on post-stroke hemiplegia in patients: electroacupuncture plus cycling electroacupuncture alone.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of cycling in combination with electroacupuncture in treatment of post-stroke hemiplegia patients at National Hospital of Acupuncture, Vietnam. METHODS: The study was designed as a single-centre, outcome-assessor-blinded parallel randomised controlled trial with 120 post-stroke hemiplegia patients randomly assigned into two groups: electroacupuncture plus cycling (CT group) and electroacupuncture (AT group). Patients were assessed before and after the treatment (using muscle grading, modified Rankin, Barthel, Orgorozo scores and electromyography). Statistical Man-Whitney U test, and Fisher's exact tests were used to compare between CT and AT groups. RESULTS: The results reported statistically significant improvement in motor function in patients suffering from hemiplegia following ischemic stroke in both CT and AT groups. Patients in CT group experienced a greater improvement compared to those in AT group including better muscle contraction (increased frequency and amplitude of electromyography and increased muscle grading scale); increased recovery (Orgogozo scale), increased independency (Barthel scale) and decreased disability (Modified Rankin scale) (< 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Combination with cycling training significantly improves the recovery of post-stroke patients treated with electroacupuncture.

Systematic mapping of the conformational landscape and dynamism of soluble fibrinogen.

BACKGROUND: Fibrinogen is a soluble, multisubunit, and multidomain dimeric protein, which, upon its proteolytic cleavage by thrombin, is converted to insoluble fibrin, initiating polymerization that substantially contributes to clot growth. Fibrinogen contains numerous, transiently accessible "cryptic" epitopes for hemostatic and immunologic proteins, suggesting that fibrinogen exhibits conformational flexibility, which may play functional roles in its temporal and spatial interactions. Hitherto, there have been limited integrative approaches characterizing the solution structure and internal flexibility of fibrinogen. METHODS: Here, utilizing a multipronged, biophysical approach involving 2 solution-based techniques, temperature-dependent hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry and small angle X-ray scattering, corroborated by negative stain electron microscopy, we present a holistic, conformationally dynamic model of human fibrinogen in solution. RESULTS: Our data reveal 4 major and distinct conformations of fibrinogen accommodated by a high degree of internal protein flexibility along its central scaffold. We propose that the fibrinogen structure in the solution consists of a complex, conformational landscape with multiple local minima. This is further supported by the location of numerous point mutations that are linked to dysfibrinogenemia and posttranslational modifications, residing near the identified fibrinogen flexions. CONCLUSION: This work provides a molecular basis for the structural "dynamism" of fibrinogen that is expected to influence the broad swath of its functionally diverse macromolecular interactions and fine-tune the structural and mechanical properties of blood clots.

Effectiveness of progesterone supplementation in women presenting low progesterone levels on the day of frozen embryo transfer: a randomised controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Progesterone is an essential hormone involved in the process of implantation and pregnancy maintenance. Evidence from recent studies has supported the importance of serum progesterone level around the time of embryo transfer in hormonal replacement therapy frozen embryo transfer cycles and recommended the need for individualised luteal support. Low progesterone around the time of embryo transfer is found to be associated with decreased rate of pregnancy after frozen embryo transfer. This single-centre, longitudinal, randomised, interventional controlled study aims to compare the rate of ongoing pregnancy between two groups of women with progesterone level below 10 ng/mL on the day of frozen embryo transfer: the study group using 800 mg vaginal micronised progesterone supplemented with 50 mg intramuscular progesterone per day and the control group using only 800 mg vaginal micronised progesterone. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: We enrol patients who are undergoing frozen embryo transfers with blastocyst-stage or cleavage-stage embryos and who satisfy the inclusion and exclusion criteria. After signing the informed consent, participants are randomised into two groups: the study group using vaginal micronised progesterone supplemented with progesterone intramuscular 50 mg per day and the control group using only vaginal micronised progesterone. Randomisation will be performed using R software at a 1:1 allocation ratio. Sequentially numbered, opaque sealed envelopes are used for allocation. The primary outcome is the rate of ongoing pregnancy. To demonstrate a difference of 10% with regard to rate of ongoing pregnancy, at least 370 participants per arm are required (type I error α=0.05, power=0.8). Assuming a dropout rate of 10%, a total of 824 patients (412 per group) will be invited. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Tu Du Hospital on 17 May 2021 (reference number: 1251/QD-BVTD). All participants provide informed consent before being enrolled in the study. The results of our study will be submitted to reproductive medicine conferences and journals. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT04897269.

Chemical composition and antibacterial activities of essential oils from rhizomes and aerial parts of Homalomena cochinchinensis (Araceae).

In this study, the phytochemical composition and antibacterial activity of the essential oils isolated from the rhizomes and the aerial parts of Homalomena cochinchinensis were analysed for the first time using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and disk diffusion method. Consequently, 36 constituents were reported from H. cochinchinensis rhizomes, including linalool (57.4%), terpinen-4-ol (10.6%), α-sabinene (4.2%) as major compounds. Meanwhile, 30 compounds have been identified in the essential oil of the aerial parts of H. cochinchinensis, which myrcene (41.1%), sabinene (8.2%), D-limonene (9.1%) were the main constituents. Furthermore, the antibacterial activity of the essential oil from the rhizomes of the studied species could inhibit the growth of all six tested bacterial strains, including Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella enteritidis and Salmonella typhimurium whereas the essential oil from the aerial parts was proved to be able to inhibit the growth of five bacterial strains except S. enteritidis.

Comparison of Phytochemical Contents, Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activities of Various Solvent Extracts Obtained from 'Maluma' Avocado Pulp Powder.

Although avocado is a superfood rich in phytochemicals with high antioxidant activities, studies on the antibacterial properties of its pulp are limited, except for seed and peel portions. In this study, three types of solvent (acetone, methanol, and diethyl ether) were used to obtain the extracts from "Maluma" avocado pulp powder prepared by infrared drying. The extracts were analyzed for total polyphenols, phytopigments (total chlorophylls and carotenoids), antioxidant activities (ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and 2,2-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) assays), and antibacterial activities against seven pathogens (Shigella sonnei ATCC 9290, Escherichia coli ATCC 8739, Salmonella typhi ATCC 6539, Vibrio parahaemolyticus ATCC 17802, Proteus mirabilis ATCC 25933, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538, and Bacillus cereus ATCC 11778). The results showed that the acetone solvent could extract the highest polyphenols and chlorophylls with the highest antioxidant activity in terms of ABTS and DPPH assays. In contrast, diethyl ether exhibited the most significant content of carotenoids and FRAP values. However, the methanol extract was the best solvent, exerting the strongest antibacterial and meaningful antioxidant activities. For the bacterial activities, Gram-positive pathogens (Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus) were inhibited more efficiently by avocado extracts than Gram-negative bacteria. Therefore, the extracts from avocado powder showed great potential for applications in food processing and preservation, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics.

New Polyesterified Ursane Derivatives from Leaves of Maesa membranacea and Their Cytotoxic Activity.

Maesa membranacea A. DC. (Primulaceae) is a plant species that has been frequently used by practitioners of the traditional ethnobotany knowledge from northern and central Vietnam. However, the chemical constituents of the plant remained unknown until recently. Chromatographic separation of a chloroform-soluble fraction of extract from leaves of M. membranacea led to the isolation of two new polyesterified ursane triterpenes (1-2) and two known apocarotenoids: (+)-dehydrovomifoliol (3) and (+)-vomifoliol (4). The chemical structures of the undescribed triterpenoids were elucidated using 1D and 2D MNR and HRESIMS spectral data as 2α,6ß,22α-triacetoxy-11α-(2-methylbutyryloxy)-urs-12-ene-3α,20ß-diol (1) and 2α,6ß,22α-triacetoxy-urs-12-ene-3α,11α,20ß-triol (2). The newly isolated triterpenoids were tested for their cytotoxic activity in vitro against two melanoma cell lines (HTB140 and A375), normal skin keratinocytes (HaCaT), two colon cancer cell lines (HT29 and Caco-2), two prostate cancer cell lines (DU145 and PC3) and normal prostate epithelial cells (PNT-2). Doxorubicin was used as a reference cytostatic drug. The 2α,6ß,22α-triacetoxy-11α-(2-methylbutyryloxy)-urs-12-ene-3α,20ß-diol demonstrated cytotoxic activity against prostate cancer cell lines (Du145-IC50 = 35.8 µg/mL, PC3-IC50 = 41.6 µg/mL), and at a concentration of 100 µg/mL reduced viability of normal prostate epithelium (PNT-2) cells by 41%.

Kinetic Study on Chlorophyll and Antioxidant Activity from Polyscias fruticosa (L.) Harms Leaves via Microwave-Assisted Extraction.

Polyscias fruticosa (L.) leaves contain significant bioactive compounds with high antioxidant activity such as chlorophylls, total polyphenols, etc. but these have still been underutilized. In this study, the kinetics of chlorophyll and antioxidant activity extraction from P. fruticosa leaves by microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) were investigated. Microwave power was 300, 450, or 600 (W); the ratio of material/solvent varied from 1:40 to 1:80 (g/mL). In this study, the second-order kinetic model successfully predicted the change of chlorophyll and antioxidant activity during MAE. The increase of microwave power or/and the solvent amount increased saturated extraction efficiency and the extraction rate constant. However, the saturated concentration of chlorophyll and antioxidant activity increased with the increment of microwave power and the decrease in solvent amount.

An investigation into the optimal granular sludge size for simultaneous nitrogen and phosphate removal.

An aerobic granular sludge (AGS) pilot plant fed with a mixture of acetate amended centrate and secondary effluent was used to investigate the optimal granule size range for simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (SND) and ortho-phosphate removal. The anaerobic phase was mixed to understand how AGS will perform if integrated with a continuous flow activated sludge system that cannot feed the influent through the settled sludge bed. Five different granule size fractions were taken from the pilot (operated at DO setpoint of 2mgO2/L) and each size was subjected to activity tests in a well-controlled lab-scale AGS reactor at four dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations of 1, 2, 3, and 4 mgO2/L. The size fractions were: 212 - 600 µm, 600 - 1000 µm, 1000 - 1400 µm, 1400 - 2000 µm, and >2000 µm. The smallest size range (212 - 600 µm) had the highest nitrification and phosphate removal rates at DO setpoints from 1 - 3 mgO2/L, which was attributed to the higher aerobic volume fraction in small granules and hence a higher abundance of phosphorus accumulating organisms (PAO) and ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB). In comparison, large granules (>1000 µm) had 1.4 - 4.7 times lower ammonia oxidation rates than the smallest size range, which aligned with their lower AOB abundance relative to granule biomass. The granules with the highest anoxic volume fraction had the highest abundance of nitrite reductase genes (nir gene) but did not show the highest specific nitrogen removal rate. Instead, smaller granules (212 - 600 and 600 - 1000 µm), which had a lower nir gene abundance, had the highest specific nitrogen removal rates (1.2 - 3.1 times higher than larger granules) across all DO values except at 4 mgO2/L. At a DO setpoint of 4 mgO2/L, nitrite production by ammonia oxidation (ammonia monooxygenase) exceeded nitrite reduction by nitrite reductase in granules smaller than 1000 µm, in addition, some denitrifying heterotrophs switched to oxygen utilization in deeper layers hence suppressing denitrification activity. At the DO range of 2 - 4 mg/L, granular size had a greater effect on nutrient removal than DO. Therefore, for AGS developed at an average DO setpoint of 2 mgO2/L, selecting for size fractions in the range of 212 - 1000 µm and avoiding DO values higher than 3 mgO2/L can achieve both a higher nitrogen removal capacity and energy savings. This study is the first to investigate the influence of different DO values on SND and biological phosphorus removal performance of different aerobic granular sludge sizes.