The dosage- and size-dependent effects of micro- and nanoplastics in lettuce roots and leaves at the growth, photosynthetic, and metabolomics levels.

The occurrence of microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) in soils potentially induce morphological, physiological, and biochemical alterations in plants. The present study investigated the effects of MPs/NPs on lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. var. capitata) plants by focusing on (i) four different particle sizes of polyethylene micro- and nanoplastics, at (ii) four concentrations. Photosynthetic activity, morphological changes in plants, and metabolomic shifts in roots and leaves were investigated. Our findings revealed that particle size plays a pivotal role in influencing various growth traits of lettuce (biomass, color segmentation, greening index, leaf area, and photosynthetic activity), physiological parameters (including maximum quantum yield - Fv/Fmmax, or quantum yield in the steady-state Fv/FmLss, NPQLss, RfdLss, FtLss, FqLss), and metabolomic signatures. Smaller plastic sizes demonstrated a dose-dependent impact on aboveground plant structures, resulting in an overall elicitation of biosynthetic processes. Conversely, larger plastic size had a major impact on root metabolomics, leading to a negative modulation of biosynthetic processes. Specifically, the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, phytohormone crosstalk, and the metabolism of lipids and fatty acids were among the most affected processes. In addition, nitrogen-containing compounds accumulated following plastic treatments. Our results highlighted a tight correlation between the qPCR analysis of genes associated with the soil nitrogen cycle (such as NifH, NirK, and NosZ), available nitrogen pools in soil (including NO3- and NH4), N-containing metabolites and morpho-physiological parameters of lettuce plants subjected to MPs/NPs. These findings underscore the intricate relationship between specific plastic contaminations, nitrogen dynamics, and plant performance.

Rapid Indentification of Auramine O Dyeing Adulteration in Dendrobium officinale, Saffron and Curcuma by SERS Raman Spectroscopy Combined with SSA-BP Neural Networks Model.

(1) Background: Rapid and accurate determination of the content of the chemical dye Auramine O(AO) in traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) is critical for controlling the quality of TCMs. (2) Methods: Firstly, various models were developed to detect AO content in Dendrobium officinale (D. officinale). Then, the detection of AO content in Saffron and Curcuma using the D. officinale training set as a calibration model. Finally, Saffron and Curcuma samples were added to the training set of D. officinale to predict the AO content in Saffron and Curcuma using secondary wavelength screening. (3) Results: The results show that the sparrow search algorithm (SSA)-backpropagation (BP) neural network (SSA-BP) model can accurately predict AO content in D. officinale, with Rp2 = 0.962, and RMSEP = 0.080 mg/mL. Some Curcuma samples and Saffron samples were added to the training set and after the secondary feature wavelength screening: The Support Vector Machines (SVM) quantitative model predicted Rp2 fluctuated in the range of 0.780 ± 0.035 for the content of AO in Saffron when 579, 781, 1195, 1363, 1440, 1553 and 1657 cm-1 were selected as characteristic wavelengths; the Partial Least Squares Regression (PLSR) model predicted Rp2 fluctuated in the range of 0.500 ± 0.035 for the content of AO in Curcuma when 579, 811, 1195, 1353, 1440, 1553 and 1635 cm-1 were selected as the characteristic wavelengths. The robustness and generalization performance of the model were improved. (4) Conclusion: In this study, it has been discovered that the combination of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and machine learning algorithms can effectively and promptly detect the content of AO in various types of TCMs.

The effect of vegetable oil pre-emulsified with whey protein and pectin on physicochemical properties and microstructure of low-fat yogurt.

The effects of whey protein isolate (WPI)-pectin pre-emulsified vegetable oil on the physicochemical properties and microstructure of low-fat yogurt (LFY) were investigated by particle size distribution, water-holding capacity (WHC), texture, rheology, electron microscopy, storage stability, and sensory analysis. The vegetable oil was pre-emulsified into two types of emulsions, a mixed emulsion (ME: WPI-pectin complexes were adsorbed directly at the interface) and a bilayer emulsion (BE: Pectin was added to a previously established WPI-stabilized interface). The results showed that yogurts added with pre-emulsified vegetable oil (ME-Y, BE-Y) had significantly better quality than LFY, with better WHC, textural properties, rheological properties, and storage stability. The average particle size of ME (11.96 µm) was larger than that of BE (10.23 µm). The consistency of yogurt added with ME (ME-Y) was significantly higher than that of yogurt added with BE (BE-Y), at 2359.10 and 2181.12 g s, respectively. Meanwhile, ME-Y exhibited storage stability similar to full-fat control (FFY) and higher sensory scores. Interestingly, the WHC of BE-Y (49.03%) was higher than that of ME-Y (45.63%). In addition, WPI + Pectin-Y exhibited higher WHC (53.81%) and consistency (2518.73 g s) compared to ME-Y and BE-Y, but the particle size distribution was not uniform, and the direct addition of WPI, pectin, and oil had no positive effect on improving the rheological properties of yogurt. Overall, the addition of WPI-pectin pre-emulsified vegetable oil improved the quality of LFY. These findings are particularly relevant for the production of higher quality LFY.

Phenolic profile, in vitro antimicrobial and in vivo diuretic effects of endemic wild thyme Thymus comosus Heuff ex. Griseb. (Lamiaceae) from Romania.

Thymus comosus Heuff ex. Griseb. (Lamiaceae) is a wild thyme species endemic for Romanian Carpathian areas, frequently collected as substitute for collective herbal product Serpylli herba, cited as antibacterial and diuretic remedy in traditional medicine. The present study aimed to evaluate the in vivo diuretic effect and in vitro antimicrobial properties of three herbal preparations (infusion-TCI, tincture-TCT and an hydroethanolic extract prepared through an optimized ultrasound-assisted method-OpTC) obtained from the aerial parts of T. comosus Heuff ex. Griseb, also evaluating their comprehensive phenolic profile. In vivo diuretic effect was tested using Wistar rats treated orally with each herbal preparation (125 and 250 mg/kg dispersed in 25 ml/kg isotonic saline solution) and quantified based on cumulative urine output (ml), diuretic action and diuretic activity. Additionally, sodium and potassium excretion were monitored using a potentiometric method with selective electrodes. In vitro antibacterial and antifungal activities were assessed using p-iodonitrotetrazolium chloride assay against six bacterial strains and six fungal strains by monitoring minimum inhibitory concentration (MICs), minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) and minimum fungicidal concentrations (MFCs). Finally, phenolic profile of the aforementioned herbal extracts was evaluated using an ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography (UHPLC) coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) method to check the impact of the different preparations on the most abundant and significant compounds. All the extracts exerted a mild diuretic action, TCT and OpTC inducing the most intense diuretic effect. Both herbal preparations produced a statistically significant, dose-dependent and gradual increase of the urine output, the effect being more intense at 24 h (6.63-7.13 ml/24 h). Potentiometric evaluation of urine samples collected from treated rats revealed a clear and mild natriuretic and kaliuretic effect after the administration. In terms of antimicrobial activity, E. coli (MIC-0.38 mg/ml), B. cereus (MIC-0.75 mg/ml)), Penicillium funiculosum and P. verrucosum var. cyclopium (MIC-0.19 mg/ml) showed the greater sensitivity to the tested extracts, respectively. UHPLC-HRMS screening showed that the bioactive potential of T. comosus herbal preparations was likely related to the higher amounts of phenolic acids (including rosmarinic acid), flavonoids (mainly flavones and derivatives) and other phenolics (such as different isomers of salvianolic acids) in their composition. The obtained results support the ethnopharmacological evidence regarding the mild diuretic and antibacterial potentials of the endemic wild thyme T. comosus, this study being the first one that assessed the aforementioned bioactivities for this species.

Combined Deflection Angle Classification: A Novel Typing System of Adult Femoral Neck Fracture.

OBJECTIVE: Femoral neck fracture (FNF) is a common clinical trauma with high mortality and disability rates. Furthermore, its incidence increases exponentially with increasing age. Existing classifications have some disadvantages. Thus, this study aimed to establish a novel typing system for FNF. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed all adult patients with FNF admitted to our hospital between December 2015 and November 2017 for cannulated screw internal fixation. The study population was divided into the femoral varus offset group (VAR) and the valgus offset group (VAL). The data collected included sex, age, affected side, injury mode, body mass index, complications, pelvic incidence (PI), hip deflection angle (HDA), combined deflection angle (CDA), and neck shaft angle. Statistical analysis was conducted to determine the correlation between complications and deviation angles. A novel typing system was developed and compared with the Garden classification to detect its superiority. RESULTS: A total of 108 patients were recruited, with 59 patients in the VAR and 49 patients in the VAL groups. The incidence of complications in the VAR group was significantly higher than that in the VAL group (P < 0.05). Moreover, there were more male participants in the VAR group. Compared with the VAL group, the VAR group had significantly higher PI, HDA, and CDA (P < 0.05). The CDA classification (CDAC) was defined, with CDA as the main criterion and HDA as the supplementary criterion. Furthermore, there was a hierarchical correlation between the actual incidence of complications and the typing level, which was increased in CDAC but not in the Garden classification. This showed that CDAC was more accurate. CONCLUSION: A novel typing system, CDAC, for FNF was established, which was more accurate than the Garden classification. We suggest combining CDAC and Garden classifications for the preoperative diagnosis, treatment selection, and prognostic evaluation for patients with FNF.

Application of whey protein emulsion gel microparticles as fat replacers in low-fat yogurt: Applicability of vegetable oil as the oil phase.

Low-fat, healthy yogurt is becoming increasingly favored by consumers. In the present study, whey protein emulsion gel microparticles were used to improve the quality of low-fat yogurt, and the effects of vegetable oil emulsion gel as a fat substitute on the qualities of low-fat yogurt were investigated, expecting to obtain healthier and even more excellent quality low-fat yogurt by applying a new method. First, emulsion gel microparticles were prepared, and then particle size distribution of emulsion gel and water holding capacity (WHC), textural properties, rheological properties, microstructure, storage stability, and sensory evaluation of yogurt were carried out. The results showed that yogurt with emulsion gel had significantly superior qualities than yogurt made with skim milk powder, with better WHC, textural properties, rheological properties, and storage stability. The average particle size of whey protein-vegetable oil emulsion gel microparticles was significantly larger than that of whey protein-milk fat emulsion gel microparticles, and the larger particle size affected the structural stability of yogurt. The WHC of yogurt made with whey protein-vegetable oil emulsion gel microparticles (V-EY) was lower (40.41%) than that of yogurt made with whey protein-milk fat emulsion gel microparticles (M-EY; 42.81%), and the texture results also showed that the hardness, consistency, and viscosity index of V-EY were inferior to these of M-EY, whereas no significant differences were found in the cohesiveness. Interestingly, the microstructure of V-EY was relatively flatter, with more and finer network branching. The whey separation between V-EY and M-EY also did not show significant differences during the 14 d of storage. Compared with yogurt made with whey protein, vegetable oil, and skim milk powder, the structure of V-EY remained relatively stable and had no cracks after 14 d of storage. The sensory evaluation results found that the total score of V-EY (62) was only lower than M-EY (65) and significantly higher than that of yogurt made with skim milk powder. The emulsion gel addition improved the sensory qualities of yogurt. Whey protein emulsion gel microparticles prepared from vegetable oil can be applied to low-fat yogurt to replace fat and improve texture and sensory defects associated with fat reduction.

Neurofuzzy logic predicts a fine-tuning metabolic reprogramming on elicited Bryophyllum PCSCs guided by salicylic acid.

Novel approaches to the characterization of medicinal plants as biofactories have lately increased in the field of biotechnology. In this work, a multifaceted approach based on plant tissue culture, metabolomics, and machine learning was applied to decipher and further characterize the biosynthesis of phenolic compounds by eliciting cell suspension cultures from medicinal plants belonging to the Bryophyllum subgenus. The application of untargeted metabolomics provided a total of 460 phenolic compounds. The biosynthesis of 164 of them was significantly modulated by elicitation. The application of neurofuzzy logic as a machine learning tool allowed for deciphering the critical factors involved in the response to elicitation, predicting their influence and interactions on plant cell growth and the biosynthesis of several polyphenols subfamilies. The results indicate that salicylic acid plays a definitive genotype-dependent role in the elicitation of Bryophyllum cell cultures, while methyl jasmonate was revealed as a secondary factor. The knowledge provided by this approach opens a wide perspective on the research of medicinal plants and facilitates their biotechnological exploitation as biofactories in the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical fields.

Optimized ultrasound-assisted extraction of phenolic compounds from Thymus comosus Heuff. ex Griseb. et Schenk (wild thyme) and their bioactive potential.

An optimized ultrasound-assisted extractive method was developed to obtain a polyphenol-enriched extract from the aerial parts of Thymus comosus Heuff. ex Griseb. et Schenk. Optimization process was conducted based on Design of Experiment (DoE) principles, determining the influence of three independent variables (time, ultrasound amplitude, ethanol concentration) on the total phenolic content of the extract (dependent variable). Additionally, the phenolic composition of the extract was characterized through UHPLC-HRMS, revealing beside the most abundant flavonoid-type compounds the presence of salvianolic acids C, D and L in high amounts. Phytochemical profile of the extract was correlated with its antioxidant activity (tested through five complementary assays) and enzyme-inhibitory potential, showing important antiglucosidase and anticholinesterase effects. Overall, it was concluded that the developed method is suitable for obtaining a good recovery of both phenolic and non-phenolic compounds from Thymus comosus aerial parts, and their presence in the optimized extract is responsible for its pharmacological potential.

The Untargeted Phytochemical Profile of Three Meliaceae Species Related to In Vitro Cytotoxicity and Anti-Virulence Activity against MRSA Isolates.

BACKGROUND: A high mortality rate is associated with about 80% of all infections worldwide, mainly due to antimicrobial resistance. Various antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities have been proposed for Meliaceae species. This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro anti-virulence and cytotoxic effect of the leaf extracts of Aphanamixis polystachya, Toona ciliata and Melia azedarach against five MRSA strains and on three cancer cell lines, followed by biological correlation to their encompassed phytoconstituents. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We explored three plants of this family against a panel of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains and several cancer cell lines to select the most promising candidates for further in vivo and preclinical studies. The phytochemical composition was evaluated by UHPLC-QTOF-MS untargeted profiling. Cell viability was assessed by SRB assay. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration was carried out by using the agar micro-dilution technique. Inhibition of biofilm formation and preformed biofilm disruption were assessed spectrophotomertically, according to the Sultan and Nabil method (2019). RESULTS: A total of 279 compounds were putatively annotated to include different phytochemical classes, such as flavonoids (108), limonoids/terpenoids (59), phenolic acids (49) and lower-molecular-weight phenolics (39). A. polystachya extract showed the most potent cytotoxic activity against Huh-7, DU-145 and MCF-7 cell lines (IC50 = 3, 3.5 and 13.4 µg mL-1, respectively), followed by M. azedarach, with no effect recorded for T. ciliata extract. Furthermore, both A. polystachya and M. azedarach extracts showed promising anti-virulence and antimicrobial activities, with A. polystachya being particularly active against MRSA. These two latter extracts could inhibit and disrupt the biofilm, formed by MRSA, at sub-lethal concentrations. Interestingly, the extracts inhibited hemolysin-α enzyme, thus protecting rabbit RBCs from lysis. A. polystachya extract reduced the pigmentation and catalase enzyme activity of tested pigmented strains better than M. azedarach at both tested sub-MICs. Consequently, susceptibility of the extract-treated cells to oxidant killing by 200 mM H2O2 increased, leading to faster killing of the cells within 120 min as compared to the extract-non-treated cells, likely due to the lower antioxidant-scavenging activity of cells exhibiting less staphyloxanthin production. CONCLUSION: These findings suggested that both A. polystachya and M. azedarach natural extracts are rich in bioactive compounds, mainly limonoids, phenolics and oxygenated triterpenoids, which can combat MRSA biofilm infections and could be considered as promising sources of therapeutic cytotoxic, antibiofilm and anti-virulence agents.

The functional potential of nine Allium species related to their untargeted phytochemical characterization, antioxidant capacity and enzyme inhibitory ability.

In this study, the aerial parts and bulbs of nine Allium species were investigated for their functional phytochemical profile, in vitro antioxidant activities, acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and tyrosinase inhibitory properties. Phenolics, alkaloids, glucosinolates and other sulfur-containing compounds were distinctively profiled in the different species. Maceration in methanol allowed recovering the highest cumulative phenolic content in A. scabrifolium (42.31 mg/g), followed by A. goekyigiti (33.15 mg/g) and A. atroviolaceum (28.35 mg/g). The aerial parts of all Allium species showed high in vitro antioxidant activity whereas methanolic extract of A. cappadocicum bulb showed the highest inhibition against AChE (2.44 mg galantamine equivalent/g) and the water extracts of A. isauricum aerial part were the best BChE inhibitors (4.31 mg galantamine equivalent/g). Bulbs were the richer source of oligosaccharides, and in vitro digestion determined an increase of oligosaccharides bioaccessibility. A promising nutraceutical potential could be highlighted in our understudied Allium species.

The Combination of Untargeted Metabolomics and Machine Learning Predicts the Biosynthesis of Phenolic Compounds in Bryophyllum Medicinal Plants (Genus Kalanchoe).

Phenolic compounds constitute an important family of natural bioactive compounds responsible for the medicinal properties attributed to Bryophyllum plants (genus Kalanchoe, Crassulaceae), but their production by these medicinal plants has not been characterized to date. In this work, a combinatorial approach including plant tissue culture, untargeted metabolomics, and machine learning is proposed to unravel the critical factors behind the biosynthesis of phenolic compounds in these species. The untargeted metabolomics revealed 485 annotated compounds that were produced by three Bryophyllum species cultured in vitro in a genotype and organ-dependent manner. Neurofuzzy logic (NFL) predictive models assessed the significant influence of genotypes and organs and identified the key nutrients from culture media formulations involved in phenolic compound biosynthesis. Sulfate played a critical role in tyrosol and lignan biosynthesis, copper in phenolic acid biosynthesis, calcium in stilbene biosynthesis, and magnesium in flavanol biosynthesis. Flavonol and anthocyanin biosynthesis was not significantly affected by mineral components. As a result, a predictive biosynthetic model for all the Bryophyllum genotypes was proposed. The combination of untargeted metabolomics with machine learning provided a robust approach to achieve the phytochemical characterization of the previously unexplored species belonging to the Bryophyllum subgenus, facilitating their biotechnological exploitation as a promising source of bioactive compounds.

Phytochemical Analysis and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Different Ethanolic Phyto-Extracts of Artemisia annua L.

Artemisia annua L. (AA) has shown for many centuries important therapeutic virtues associated with the presence of artemisinin (ART). The aim of this study was to identify and quantify ART and other secondary metabolites in ethanolic extracts of AA and evaluate the biological activity in the presence of an inflammatory stimulus. In this work, after the extraction of the aerial parts of AA with different concentrations of ethanol, ART was quantified by HPLC and HPLC-MS. In addition, anthocyanins, flavanols, flavanones, flavonols, lignans, low-molecular-weight phenolics, phenolic acids, stilbenes, and terpenes were identified and semi-quantitatively determined by UHPLC-QTOF-MS untargeted metabolomics. Finally, the viability of human neuroblastoma cells (SH-SY5Y) was evaluated in the presence of the different ethanolic extracts and in the presence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The results show that ART is more concentrated in AA samples extracted with 90% ethanol. Regarding the other metabolites, only the anthocyanins are more concentrated in the samples extracted with 90% ethanol. Finally, ART and all AA samples showed a protective action towards the pro-inflammatory stimulus of LPS. In particular, the anti-inflammatory effect of the leaf extract of AA with 90% ethanol was also confirmed at the molecular level since a reduction in TNF-α mRNA gene expression was observed in SH-SY5Y treated with LPS.

Untargeted Phytochemical Profile, Antioxidant Capacity and Enzyme Inhibitory Activity of Cultivated and Wild Lupin Seeds from Tunisia.

Lupin seeds can represent a valuable source of phenolics and other antioxidant compounds. In this work, a comprehensive analysis of the phytochemical profile was performed on seeds from three Lupinus species, including one cultivar (Lupinus albus) and two wild accessions (Lupinus cossentinii and Lupinus luteus), collected from the northern region of Tunisia. Untargeted metabolomic profiling allowed to identify 249 compounds, with a great abundance of phenolics and alkaloids. In this regard, the species L. cossentinii showed the highest phenolic content, being 6.54 mg/g DW, followed by L. luteus (1.60 mg/g DW) and L. albus (1.14 mg/g DW). The in vitro antioxidant capacity measured by the ABTS assay on seed extracts ranged from 4.67 to 17.58 mg trolox equivalents (TE)/g, recording the highest values for L. albus and the lowest for L. luteus. The DPPH radical scavenging activity ranged from 0.39 to 3.50 mg TE/g. FRAP values varied between 4.11 and 5.75 mg TE/g. CUPRAC values for lupin seeds ranged from 7.20 to 8.95 mg TE/g, recording the highest for L. cossentinii. The results of phosphomolybdenum assay and metal chelation showed similarity between the three species of Lupinus. The acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition activity was detected in each methanolic extract analyzed with similar results. Regarding the butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) enzyme, it was weakly inhibited by the Lupinus extracts; in particular, the highest activity values were recorded for L. albus (1.74 mg GALAE/g). Overall, our results showed that L. cossentinii was the most abundant source of polyphenols, consisting mainly in tyrosol equivalents (5.82 mg/g DW). Finally, significant correlations were outlined between the phenolic compounds and the in vitro biological activity measured, particularly when considering flavones, phenolic acids and lower-molecular-weight phenolics.

UHPLC-QTOF-MS based metabolomics and biological activities of different parts of Eriobotrya japonica.

Eriobotrya japonica, commonly known as loquat, has been used traditionally for the treatment of different diseases. Herein, untargeted profiling based on ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOF-MS) was used to depict the phytochemical profile of loquat roots, leaves, stems, seeds, and fruits. This allowed the tentative annotation of 349 compounds, representing different phytochemical classes that included flavonoids, phenolic acids, lignans, stilbenes, and terpenoids. Among others, low molecular weight phenolics (tyrosol derivatives) and terpenoids were the most abundant phytochemicals. After that, in vitro antioxidant and enzyme inhibition assays were applied to investigate the biological activity of the different organs of Eriobotrya japonica. Roots of E. japonica exhibited the highest antioxidant capacity, showing 181.88, 275.48, 325.18, 169.74 mg Trolox equivalent (TE)/g in DPPH, ABTS, CUPRAC, and FRAP assays, respectively. Furthermore, the root extract of E. japonica strongly inhibited butyryl cholinesterase (3.64 mg galantamine equivalent (GALAE)/g), whereas leaves, stems, seeds, and fruits showed comparable inhibition of both acetyl and butyryl cholinesterases. All the investigated organs of E. japonica exhibited in vitro tyrosinase inhibition (57.27-71.61 mg Kojic Acid Equivalent (KAE)/g). Our findings suggest a potential food and pharmaceutical exploitation of different organs of E. japonica (mainly roots) in terms of enrichment with health-promoting phenolics and triterpenes.

Metabolomic profiling and biological properties of six Limonium species: novel perspectives for nutraceutical purposes.

The genus Limonium includes important halophyte plants containing a variety of bioactive compounds of therapeutic interest. In the present work, the untargeted phytochemical profiles of both aerial part and root extracts from six Limonium species namely, L. bellidifolium, L. globuliferum, L. gmelinii, L. lilacinum, L. sinuatum and L. iconicum from Turkey were determined. Furthermore, several biological activities (in vitro antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory effects) were investigated. Overall, significant amounts of total phenolics (43.64-238.18 mg g-1) and flavonoids (1.61-129.69 mg g-1) were recorded. Particularly, the root extracts of L. gmelinii, L. iconicum and L. globuliferum showed the highest total phenolic content (204.13-238.18 mg g-1), whilst the highest total flavonoid content was recorded in the root extracts of L. gmelinii (129.69 mg g-1). Overall, the tested extracts demonstrated potent radical scavenging activities in both DPPH (2,2- diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and ABTS (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (90.10-507.94 mg g-1 and 163.39-1175.34 mg g-1, respectively). However, the highest scavenging potential (p < 0.05) was displayed by the root extracts of L. iconicum. Conversely, the metal chelating ability assay revealed that L. lilacinum root extract showed the highest activity (21.03 mg g-1). Interestingly, all the extracts were found to be active inhibitors of cholinesterases (AChE (acetylcholinesterase): 4.20-5.11 mg GALAE (galantamine equivalent) per g; BChE (butyrylcholinesterase): 3.89-10.75 mg GALAE per g), amylase (0.52-1.09 mmol ACAE (acarbose equivalent) per g) and tyrosinase (119.41-155.67 mg KAE (kojic acid equivalent) per g), unlike for glucosidase (2.31-2.41 mmol ACAE per g). Taken together, these findings demonstrated a diverse chemical profiles and biological of the extracts, to be potentially considered as phytotherapeutic or functional ingredients due to their antioxidant properties and inhibition of key enzymes involved in several diseases.

Highly efficient Co single-atom catalyst for epoxidation of plant oils.

Epoxidation of bio-derived plant oils is a sustainable route to manufacturing plasticizers, additives in lubricants, and other chemicals. The traditional synthetic approaches suffer from the employment of corrosive mineral acid or expensive peroxides (e.g., H2O2). In this work, we report the epoxidation of plant oils using O2 as the terminal oxidant catalyzed by Co-N-C/SiO2 single-atom catalyst. The single-atom dispersion of cobalt is confirmed by high-angle annular dark field-STEM and x-ray absorption fine structure techniques. In the epoxidation of methyl oleate under mild reaction conditions (35 °C, 0.1 MPa O2), 99% selectivity to the desired product is achieved at full conversion. Even for crude oils, Co-N-C/SiO2 is also effective and good yields of the corresponding epoxides are obtained. In addition, the catalyst is easily recovered and can be reused five times without obvious decay in catalytic activity/selectivity. A superoxide radical involved reaction mechanism is proposed on the basis of kinetic study and EPR experiment.

Protective Effects of Gynostemma pentaphyllum (var. Ginpent) against Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Inflammation and Motor Alteration in Mice.

Gynostemma pentaphyllum (var. Ginpent) (GP) is a variety of Cucurbit with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects in patients. In this manuscript, the main components present in the dry extract of GP have been identified using Ultra High Performance Liquid Chromatography quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC/Q-TOF-MS). In addition, the anti-inflammatory action of GP was evaluated in animal models with acute peripheral inflammation and motor alteration induced by lipopolysaccharide. The results showed that GP dry extract is rich in secondary metabolites with potential antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. We found that the treatment with GP induced a recovery of motor function measured with the rotarod test and pole test, and a reduction in inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1ß and interleukin-6 measured with the ELISA test. The data collected in this study on the effects of GP in in vivo models may help integrate the therapeutic strategies of inflammatory-based disorders.

Red beet (Beta vulgaris) and amaranth (Amaranthus sp.) microgreens: Effect of storage and in vitro gastrointestinal digestion on the untargeted metabolomic profile.

This study aimed to investigate the combined effect of storage at 4 °C (10-days) and in vitro gastrointestinal digestion on the phytochemical profile of red beet (Beta vulgaris) and amaranth (Amaranthus sp.) microgreens. The untargeted profiling based on UHPLC-QTOF metabolomics allowed annotating 316 compounds, comprising mainly polyphenols and lipids. An impact of storage on the total phenolic content (TPC) was observed, with a maximum increase at 10-days of storage for both red beet (+1.3-fold) and amaranth (+1.1-fold). On the other hand, in vitro digestion of both red beet and amaranth microgreens produced a significant increase in TPC (36-88%), CUPRAC (27-40%), DPPH (6-43%), and BC (41-57%) to reach the maximum at 10 days of storage. Tyrosinase inhibitory potential also decreased following digestion. The combination of biochemical changes occurring in microgreen immature plants (likely in response to the harvest stress) with changes during digestion, determined the actual functional value of microgreens.

Elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.) as potential source of antioxidants. Characterization, optimization of extraction parameters and bioactive properties.

The present study aimed to characterize the nutritional value and potential use of elderberries as a source of antioxidant compounds. The chemical composition, fatty acids and phenolic compounds were determined for elderberries. The optimization of extraction parameters was designed with a Box-Behnken design coupled with response surface methodology (RSM) and desirability function analysis. The process parameters tested included extraction temperature, % of ethanol and pH, while response variables were global extraction yield, total phenolic and anthocyanins content (TAC), carotenoids and antioxidant activity. Analyses revealed that elderberry was a rich source of total soluble solids, proteins and polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega-3: 38.12 g/100 g and omega-6: 39.54 g/100 g fatty acids). Regarding phenolic compounds, elderberries were found abundant in flavonoids (rutin and quercetin), and phenolic acids (i.e. gallic acid and gentisic acid). Finally, numerical optimization indicated that the best extraction parameters were the following: temperature 60 °C, 50% of ethanol and pH 2.

Study of Cinobufagin as a Promising Anticancer Agent in Uveal Melanoma Through Intrinsic Apoptosis Pathway.

Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most common primary intraocular carcinoma in adults. Cinobufagin, secreted by the Asiatic toad Bufo gargarizans, is a traditional Chinese medicine, widely used in tumor treatment. Here, we explored the potential antitumor function of cinobufagin and investigated its biochemical mechanisms in UM cells. The antitumor potential of cinobufagin was determined via cell viability, cell cycle, and apoptosis assays. Colony formation assays confirmed that cinobufagin exerted potent antitumor activity in a dose-dependent manner. We found that cinobufagin could induce cell apoptosis and upregulate the expression of cleaved caspase-3, cleaved poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), and cleaved caspase-9 in vivo and in vitro. In addition, after treatment with increased concentrations of cinobufagin, the intrinsic mitochondrial apoptosis pathway was also activated, which was demonstrated by increased cell apoptosis with increased expression of Bad and Bax, decreased expression of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl, and reduced mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) in OCM1 cells. Taken together, the results of this preclinical study suggest that cinobufagin can both inhibit cell survival and induce cell apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner in UM cells, which provides new insights into the biochemical mechanism of cinobufagin and its potential as a future chemotherapeutic agent for UM.