Eleutherococcus divaricatus Fruits Decrease Hyaluronidase Activity in Blood Serum and Protect from Antioxidative Damages in In Vitro Model.

Fruits are very important dietary components and a source of biologically active compounds used in nutritional pharmacology. Particularly due to the presence of polyphenolic compounds, fruits play an important role in the prevention of diseases of civilization. Therefore, it is important to study the phytochemicals and biological activity of fruits, especially those with a long-standing use in ethnomedicine. In this study, we determined the chemical profile and biological activity of a methanolic extract of the Eleutherococcus divaricatus fruits. Amongst nine polyphenols studied, only chlorogenic acid, protocatechuic acid, and eleutheroside E have been detected. The extract showed a weak anti-hyaluronidase activity from bovine testicular in a range of 9.06-37.70% and quite high for human serum hyaluronidase from children diagnosed with acute leukemia in a range of 76-86%. A weak anti-tyrosinase activity was obtained in a range of 2.94-12.46%. Moreover, the extract showed antioxidant properties against DPPH radical, ABTS radical, and O2•-. In addition, the antioxidant activity of the extract was evaluated by FRAP assay and Fe2+ ion chelation assay. These preliminary studies partially justify the traditional use of the plant in inflammatory- and immune-related diseases, in which hyaluronidase and free radicals can participate. A difference in human serum hyaluronidase inhibition may result from the inter-patient variability. Regardless of that, the results mean that polyphenolic compounds may stimulate activity of hyaluronidase, as well as to protect cells from the oxidative damages. However, further studies in ex vivo and in vivo models are needed, including blood isolated from a larger number of patients.

Plant Extracts as Skin Care and Therapeutic Agents.

Natural ingredients have been used for centuries for skin treatment and care. Interest in the health effects of plants has recently increased due to their safety and applicability in the formulation of pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. Long-known plant materials as well as newly discovered ones are increasingly being used in natural products of plant origin. This review highlights the beneficial effects of plants and plant constituents on the skin, including moisturizing (e.g., Cannabis sativa, Hydrangea serrata, Pradosia mutisii and Carthamus tinctorius), anti-aging (e.g., Aegopodium podagraria, Euphorbia characias, Premna odorata and Warburgia salutaris), antimicrobial (e.g., Betula pendula and Epilobium angustifolium), antioxidant (e.g., Kadsura coccinea, Rosmarinus officinalis, Rubus idaeus and Spatholobus suberectus), anti-inflammatory (e.g., Antidesma thwaitesianum, Helianthus annuus, Oenanthe javanica, Penthorum chinense, Ranunculus bulumei and Zanthoxylum bungeanum), regenerative (e.g., Aloe vera, Angelica polymorpha, Digitaria ciliaris, Glycyrrihza glabra and Marantodes pumilum), wound healing (e.g., Agrimonia eupatoria, Astragalus floccosus, Bursera morelensis, Jatropha neopauciflora and Sapindus mukorossi), photoprotective (e.g., Astragalus gombiformis, Calea fruticose, Euphorbia characias and Posoqueria latifolia) and anti-tyrosinase activity (e.g., Aerva lanata, Bruguiera gymnorhiza, Dodonaea viscosa, Lonicera japonica and Schisandra chinensis), as well as their role as excipients in cosmetics (coloring (e.g., Beta vulgaris, Centaurea cyanus, Hibiscus sabdariffa and Rubia tinctiorum), protective and aromatic agents (e.g., Hyssopus officinalis, Melaleuca alternifolia, Pelargonium graveolens and Verbena officinalis)).

Photoprotective and Anti-Aging Properties of the Apical Frond Extracts from the Mediterranean Seaweed Ericaria amentacea.

There is a growing interest in using brown algal extracts thanks to the bioactive substances they produce for adaptation to the marine benthic environment. We evaluated the anti-aging and photoprotective properties of two types of extracts (50%-ethanol and DMSO) obtained from different portions, i.e., apices and thalli, of the brown seaweed, Ericaria amentacea. The apices of this alga, which grow and develop reproductive structures during summer when solar radiation is at its peak, were postulated to be rich in antioxidant compounds. We determined the chemical composition and pharmacological effects of their extracts and compared them to the thallus-derived extracts. All the extracts contained polyphenols, flavonoids and antioxidants and showed significant biological activities. The hydroalcoholic apices extracts demonstrated the highest pharmacological potential, likely due to the higher content of meroditerpene molecular species. They blocked toxicity in UV-exposed HaCaT keratinocytes and L929 fibroblasts and abated the oxidative stress and the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, typically released after sunburns. Furthermore, the extracts showed anti-tyrosinase and anti-hydrolytic skin enzyme activity, counteracting the collagenase and hyaluronidase degrading activities and possibly slowing down the formation of uneven pigmentation and wrinkles in aging skin. In conclusion, the E. amentacea apices derivatives constitute ideal components for counteracting sunburn symptoms and for cosmetic anti-aging lotions.

Antioxidant and anti-melanogenesis activities of extracts from Leonurus japonicus Houtt.

Leonurus japonicus Houtt is an important anti-skin pigmentation herb used in traditional Chinese medicine. However, the molecular basis for this activity is complex and not fully understood. In this study, water and ethanol extracts and polysaccharide extract from L. japonicus (LJPs) were analyzed by LC-MS/MS and HPLC-DAD separately. Cytotoxicity was analyzed by using CCK-8, antioxidant activity using flow cytometer, anti-MMPs, anti-tyrosinase and signalling pathway analysis using Western blotting to investigate their anti-melanogenesis function. The results showed that the water and ethanol extracts contained alkaloids, flavonoids, and phenolic acids. The LJPs mainly contain glucose, fucose, glucuronic acid, mannose, threonine and arginine, and structure characterization by FITR analyses indicated that LJPs have ß- or α-D-glycosidic bonds and contain pyranose rings. The L. japonicus extracts displayed high cell viability at their maximum concentration. The water extract and polysaccharides significantly reduced lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) content and exhibited a cytoprotective role. Also, these extracts displayed higher matrix metalloproteinase-2 (anti-MMP-2), anti-MMP-9 and anti-tyrosinase activities. Furthermore, the polysaccharides displayed significantly greater inhibitory effect on intracellular ROS and tyrosinase protein expression than α-arbutin and ursolic acid used for the clinical treatment of skin pigmentation. This study also investigated the polysaccharide inhibition of melanin synthesis by repressing the expression of melanocytic lineage-specific transcription factor (MITF) and melanogenic enzymes via modulation of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K-Akt-mTOR) and ß-catenin pathways. The overall results indicate that L. japonicus is a promising candidate for anti-pigmentation treatment.

Phytochemical Study on Seeds of Paeonia clusii subsp. rhodia-Antioxidant and Anti-Tyrosinase Properties.

In this study, the black fertile (BSs) and the red unfertile seeds (RSs) of the Greek endemic Paeonia clusii subsp. rhodia (Stearn) Tzanoud were studied for the first time. Nine phenolic derivatives, trans-resveratol, trans-resveratrol-4'-O-ß-d-glucopyranoside, trans-ε-viniferin, trans-gnetin H, luteolin, luteolin 3'-O-ß-d-glucoside, luteolin 3',4'-di-O-ß-d-glucopyranoside, and benzoic acid, along with the monoterpene glycoside paeoniflorin, have been isolated and structurally elucidated. Furthermore, 33 metabolites have been identified from BSs through UHPLC-HRMS, including 6 monoterpene glycosides of the paeoniflorin type with the characteristic cage-like terpenic skeleton found only in plants of the genus Paeonia, 6 gallic acid derivatives, 10 oligostilbene compounds, and 11 flavonoid derivatives. From the RSs, through HS-SPME and GC-MS, 19 metabolites were identified, among which nopinone, myrtanal, and cis-myrtanol have been reported only in peonies' roots and flowers to date. The total phenolic content of both seed extracts (BS and RS) was extremely high (up to 289.97 mg GAE/g) and, moreover, they showed interesting antioxidative activity and anti-tyrosinase properties. The isolated compounds were also biologically evaluated. Especially in the case of trans-gnetin H, the expressed anti-tyrosinase activity was higher than that of kojic acid, which is a well-known whitening agent standard.

assessment of antioxidant, neuroprotective, anti-urease and anti-tyrosinase capacities of leaves extracts.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the chemical profile of methanolic crude extract and its fractions (Ethyl acetate, n-butanol and aqueous) using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis, to evaluate their biological and pharmacological properties: antioxidant (1, 1-diphenyl-2-pycrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic) (ABTS), galvinoxyle free radical scavenging, reducing power, phenanthroline and ß carotene-linoleic acid bleaching assays), enzymes inhibitory ability against several enzymes [acetyl-cholinesterase (AChE), buthyrylcholinesterase (BChE), urease and tyrosinase]. METHODS: Secondary metabolites were extracted from Tamarix africana air-dried powdered leaves by maceration, the crude extract was fractionated using different solvents with different polarities (Ethyl acetate, n-butanol and aqueous). The amount of polyphenols, flavonoids and tannins (hydrolysable and condensed) were determined using colorimetric assays. A variety of biochemical tests were carried out to assess antioxidant and oxygen radical scavenging properties using DPPH, ABTS, galvinoxyle free radical scavenging, reducing power, phenanthroline and ß carotene-linoleic acid bleaching methods. Neuroprotective effect was examined against acetylcholinesterase and buthy-rylcholinesterase enzymes. The anti-urease and anti-tyrosinase activities were performed against urease and tyrosinase enzymes respectively. The extract's components were identified using LC-MS and compared to reference substances. RESULTS: The results indicated that Tamarix africana extracts presented a powerful antioxidant activity in all assays and exhibited a potent inhibitory effect against AChE and BChE as well as urease and tyrosinase enzymes. LC-MS analysis identified amount of eight phenolic compounds were revealed in this analysis; Apigenin, Diosmin, Quercetin, Quercetine-3-glycoside, Apigenin 7-O glycoside, Rutin, Neohesperidin and Wogonin in methanolic extract and its different fractions of Tamarix africana from leaves. CONCLUSIONS: Based on these findings, it is reasonable to assume that Tamarix africana could be considered as a potential candidate for pharmaceutical, cosmetics, and food industries to create innovative health-promoting drugs.

Synthesis and evaluation of the antioxidant and anti-tyrosinase activities of thiazolyl hydrazone derivatives and their application in the anti-browning of fresh-cut potato.

Tyrosinase is a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of melanin, which is responsible for the browning of foods as well as many skin disorders. In order to develop new anti-browning agents with dual antioxidant and anti-tyrosinase capacities, a series of 30 thiazolyl hydrazone derivatives were synthesized. Among the molecules prepared, 6 and 30 were found to be the most potent tyrosinase inhibitors with IC50 values ​​comparable to that of kojic acid. Interestingly, 6 also has the highest radical scavenging activity among the prepared molecules. The inhibition kinetics study indicated that 6 is a non-competitive inhibitor while 30 inhibits tyrosinase competitively. The anti-browning assay of fresh-cut potato slices revealed that 6 and 30 are potent anti-browning agents with a capacity as high as kojic acid. The mechanisms of free radical scavenging and tyrosinase inhibition have been fully investigated in silico using computational kinetics, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulations.

Phytochemical compositions and biological activities of the branches and leaves of Ormosia hosiei Hemsl. et Wils.

Ormosia hosiei Hemsl. et Wils. is an economical and medicinal plant, increasingly cultivated in China; however, its branches and leaves are often pruned as waste. This is the first study focused on the phytochemical profiles and antioxidant, anti-α-glucosidase, anti-tyrosinase, and anti-neuroinflammatory activities of the branches and leaves of O. hosiei. Herein, thirty-seven characteristic compounds were identified by UPLC-MS/MS and twelve were detected for the first time in O. hosiei. Twenty-seven phenolics were further quantified and significant differences in phenolic compositions between the branches and leaves of O. hosiei were observed. The ethanol extracts exhibited promising antioxidant, anti-α-glucosidase, anti-tyrosinase, and anti-neuroinflammatory effects, and the bioactivities significantly correlated with total phenolic content and twelve individual phenolics. Naringin, genistein, vitexin, vitexin-2-O-rhamnoside, syringaresinol and syringaresinol-4-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside can be considered potential quality markers of O. hosiei. Our results provided solid evidence that the branches and leaves of O. hosiei deserve more attention and exploitation, considering the potential to be developed as functional foods or herbal medicines.

Chemical Profiling, Formulation Development, In Vitro Evaluation and Molecular Docking of Piper nigrum Seeds Extract Loaded Emulgel for Anti-Aging.

Emulgel is a new innovatory technique for drug development permitting controlled release of active ingredients for topical administration. We report a stable emulgel of 4% Piper nigrum extract (PNE) prepared using 80% ethanol. The PNE-loaded formulation had an antioxidant activity of 84% and tyrosinase inhibition was 82%. Prepared formulation rendered spherical-shaped globules with high zeta potential (-45.5 mV) indicative of a stable system. Total phenolic contents were 58.01 mg GAE/g of dry extract whereas total flavonoid content was 52.63 mg QE/g of dry extract. Sun protection factor for PNE-loaded emulgel was 7.512 and formulation was stable without any evidence of physical and chemical changes following 90 days of storage. Gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) revealed seventeen bioactive compounds in the PNE including monoterpenoids, triterpenoids, a tertiary alcohol, fatty acid esters, and phytosterols. In silico studies of GC-MS identified compounds show higher binding affinity in comparison to standard kojic acid indicating tyrosinase inhibition. It can be concluded that PNE-loaded emulgel had prominent antioxidant and tyrosinase inhibition and can be utilized as a promising topical system for anti-aging skin formulation.

Chemical structures and anti-tyrosinase activity of the constituents from Elephantopus scaber L.

Four undescribed compounds including one germacrane-type sesquiterpene lactones (1), alkaloid (2) along with two neolignans (3-4) were isolated from Elephantopus scaber L. Their structures and absolute configurations were elucidated unambiguously by means of 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data analysis, and quantum chemical electronic circular dichroism calculations, as well as single-crystal X-ray crystallography. Their anti-tyrosinase activities have been evaluated in vitro and compound 2 exhibited significant inhibitory activity. Furthermore, molecular docking was performed to study the interaction patterns between 2 and the tyrosinase.

Molecular Action Mechanism of Coixol from Soft-Shelled Adlay on Tyrosinase: The Future of Cosmetics.

Coix lacryma-jobi var. ma-yuen L. Gramineae is widely cultivated in Taiwan. Literature regarding the molecular action mechanism of coixol on tyrosinase and the application of coicis seed extracts to the processing of facial masks is still lacking. Solvent extractability analysis revealed that most of the polyphenolics in coicis seeds were water soluble (3.17 ± 0.12 to 3.63 ± 0.07 µg/mLGAE). In contrast, the methanolic extract contained the most flavonoids (0.06 ± 0.00~0.26 ± 0.03 µg/mL QE) and coixol (11.43 ± 0.13~12.83 ± 0.14 µg/mL), showing potent antioxidant capability. Additionally, the contents of coixenolide (176.77 ± 5.91 to 238.60 ± 0.21 µg/g), phytosterol (52.45 ± 2.05 to 58.23 ± 1.14 mg/g), and polysaccharides (3.42 ± 0.10 to 4.41 ± 0.10 mg/g) were rather high. The aqueous extract (10 µg/mL) and the ethanolic extract (1 mg/mL) showed no cytotoxicity to B16F10 melanocytes. More attractively, the ethanolic extract at 1 mg/mL caused 48.4% inhibition of tyrosinase activity in B16F10 melanocytes, and 50.7% on human tyrosinase (hTyr) fragment 369-377. Conclusively, the coicis seed extracts containing abundant nutraceuticals with promising anti-hTyr activity and moisturizing capability can serve as good ingredients for facial mask processing.

Undescribed alkyne-geranylcyclohexenetriols from the endophyte Diaporthe caulivora 09F0132 and their anti-melanogenic activity.

To explore valuable endophytic fungus from Formosan Lauraceous plants as natural medicinal products, the fungus, Diaporthe caulivora isolated from leaves of Neolitsea daibuensis, was investigated. Through a thorough investigation of the ethanolic extract of the solid fermentation of D. caulivora 09F0132, six undescribed alkyne-geranylcyclohexenetriols, caulivotrioloxins A-F, one undescribed trichopyrone, diapopyrone, two undescribed sesquiterpenes, caulibysins A-B, one compound firstly isolated from the natural source, 3-O-desmethyl phomentrioloxin, and eight known compounds have been successfully identified. The absolute configuration of caulibysin A was confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and those of (3R,8S)-5,7-dihydroxy-3-(1-hydroxyethyl)phthalide and (3S,8S)-5,7-dihydroxy-3-(1-hydroxyethyl)phthalide were determined by circular dichroism (CD) spectra. Among the isolated compounds, caulivotrioloxin A concentration-dependently decreased the cellular melanin contents and tyrosinase activities in mouse melanoma B16-F10 cells, suggesting the anti-melanogenic potentials. The anti-melanogenic effects of caulivotrioloxin A involved the decrease in the protein expressions of melanogenic enzymes, including tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein (TRP)-1, and TRP-2. Taken together, these results suggested that the isolates from D. caulivora could be served as natural melanogenesis inhibitors for cosmeceutical applications.

New Alk(en)ylhydroxycyclohexanes with Tyrosinase Inhibition Potential from Harpephyllum caffrum Bernh. Gum Exudate.

This work presents the first report on the phytochemical investigation of Harpephyllum caffrum Bernh. gum exudate. A known cardanol, 3-heptadec-12'-Z-enyl phenol (1) and three new alk(en)ylhydroxycyclohexanes, namely, (1R,3R)-1,3-dihydroxy-3-[heptadec-12'(Z)-enyl]cyclohexane (2) (1S,2S,3S,4S,5R)-1,2,3,4,5-pentahydroxy-5-[octadec-13'(Z)-enyl]cyclohexane (3) and (1R,2S,4R)-1,2,4-trihydroxy-4-[heptadec-12'(Z)-enyl]cyclohexane (4) were isolated from the gum. The structures of the compounds were determined by extensive 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy and HR-ESI-MS data. The ethanolic extract of the gum was found to be the most potent tyrosinase inhibitor with IC50 of 11.32 µg/mL while compounds 2 and 3, with IC50 values of 24.90 and 26.99 µg/mL, respectively, were found to be potential anti-tyrosinase candidates from the gum. Gum exudate may be a potential source for non-destructive harvesting of selective pharmacologically active compounds from plants. The results also provide evidence that H. caffrum gum may find application in cosmetics as a potential anti-tyrosinase agent.

Inhibitory activity of soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) Cell Culture Extract on tyrosinase activity and melanin formation in alpha-melanocyte stimulating Hormone-Induced B16-F10 melanoma cells.

BACKGROUND: Hyperpigmentation, which causes excessive melanin synthesis and accumulation, is an important issue in the cosmetic industry. Since compounds developed against hyperpigmentation often come with side effects such as skin irritation and contact dermatitis, new studies focus on the use of natural agents that have no side effects. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this study, it was found that the effects of soybean cell culture extract (SCE) on alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) induced melanogenesis in B16-F10 murine melanoma cells. The cells were incubated with SCE for 48 h after treatment with α­MSH for 24 h to analysis the melanin content, cellular tyrosinase activity, and gene and protein expression. SCE at 1 mg/mL decreased melanin content and tyrosinase activity by 34% and 24%, respectively, compared to the α-MSH-treated group, which did not decrease cell viability. In addition, SCE (1 mg/mL) downregulated the expression of tyrosinase (TYR), tyrosinase-related protein (TRP)-1, tyrosinase-related protein (TRP)-2, and microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) genes 1.5-, 1.5-, 2-, and 2-fold, respectively. Furthermore, SCE inhibited the expression of TYR, TRP1, and TRP2 by decreasing the expression of MITF, as shown in a western blot assay. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that SCE reveals dose-dependent inhibition of melanin synthesis through the suppression of tyrosinase activity as well as molecular levels of TYR, TRP1, TRP2, and MITF in B16-F10 murine melanoma cells. Therefore, SCE has the potential to be an effective and natural skin-whitening agent for application in the cosmetic industry.

GC/MS Profiling, Anti-Collagenase, Anti-Elastase, Anti-Tyrosinase and Anti-Hyaluronidase Activities of a Stenocarpus sinuatus Leaves Extract.

Today, skin care products and cosmetic preparations containing natural ingredients are widely preferred by consumers. Therefore, many cosmetic brands are encouraged to offer more natural products to the market, such as plant extracts that can be used for their antiaging, antiwrinkle, and depigmentation properties and other cosmetic purposes. In the current study, the volatile constituents of the hexane-soluble fraction of a Stenocarpus sinuatus (family Proteaceae) leaf methanol extract (SSHF) were analyzed using GC/MS analysis. Moreover, the antiaging activity of SSHF was evaluated through in vitro studies of anti-collagenase, anti-elastase, anti-tyrosinase, and anti-hyaluronidase activities. In addition, an in silico docking study was carried out to identify the interaction mechanisms of the major compounds in SSHF with the active sites of the target enzymes. Furthermore, an in silico toxicity study of the identified compounds in SSHF was performed. It was revealed that vitamin E (α-tocopherol) was the major constituent of SSHF, representing 52.59% of the extract, followed by γ-sitosterol (8.65%), neophytadiene (8.19%), ß-tocopherol (6.07%), and others. The in vitro studies showed a significant inhibition by SSHF of collagenase, elastase, tyrosinase, and hyaluronidase, with IC50 values of 60.03, 177.5, 67.5, and 38.8 µg/mL, respectively, comparable to those of the positive controls epigallocatechin gallate (ECGC, for collagenase, elastase, hyaluronidase) and kojic acid (for tyrosinase). Additionally, the molecular docking study revealed good acceptable binding scores of the four major compounds, comparable to those of ECGC and kojic acid. Besides, the SSHF identified phytoconstituents showed no predicted potential toxicity nor skin toxicity, as determined in silico. In conclusion, the antiaging potential of SSHF may be attributed to its high content of vitamin E in addition to the synergetic effect of other volatile constituents. Thus, SSHF could be incorporated in pharmaceutical skin care products and cosmetics after further studies.

Potential use of native fruits waste from Argentina as nonconventional sources of cosmetic ingredients.

BACKGROUND: Collagenase, hyaluronidase, elastase, and tyrosinase enzymes are overexpressed and overactive in the skin aging process and hydrolyze the components of the dermal extracellular matrix (ECM) of the skin; these enzymes produce the clinical framework of aging, which includes skin dryness, hyperpigmentation, wrinkles, and inelasticity. AIMS: The aim of this study was to explore the potential use of waste from two Argentine native fruits, namely Ziziphus mistol, and red and orange varieties of Solanum betaceum, as sources of bioactive compounds. METHODS: Phenolic enriched extracts (PEE) from waste of Z. mistol and S. betaceum were obtained, and their total contents of phenolics and flavonoids were evaluated. The bioactive properties of the extracts were analyzed by measuring their antioxidant capacity and the inhibitory activity on collagenase, hyaluronidase, elastase, and tyrosinase enzymes. RESULTS: The increased ability to inhibit the collagenase was demonstrated by the PEE of Z. mistol seeds and peel, while the enzyme elastase was mostly inhibited by extracts of S. betaceum skin. Z. mistol seed extract was the most active to inhibit hyaluronidase, reaching 96% inhibition at a concentration of 100 µg GAE/mL. The most active extracts to inhibit the tyrosinase enzyme were obtained from the peel of two varieties of chilto fruits, orange and red, and the mistol seed. CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained suggest that Z. mistol and S. betaceum waste may be considered as a source of bioactive phenolics. Here, Argentine native fruits waste is presented as a most promising alternative in cosmetic products, with future uses such as hydrogels, creams, or lotions.

Phytochemicals and anti-tyrosinase activities of Paeonia ostii leaves and roots.

Tree peony (sect. Moutan) is a kind of Traditional Chinese Medicine and ornamental plant, which has been widely cultivated and utilized for thousands of years. To further study the active components of Paeonia ostii (Moutan, Fengdan), six fractions (soluble free (F), soluble esterification, soluble glycosylation, insoluble bound, insoluble esterification and insoluble glycosylation) were extracted from the leaves and roots by alkaline and acid treatment for the first time. Twenty-one typical compounds were identified and quantified by HPLC-MS. The results showed that total phenolic content (TPC) in peony roots (PR) and peony leaves (PL) were as high as 125.48 and 280.38 mg GAE·g-1 dw, which maximizes the extraction efficiency of phenolic compounds, especially leaves, compared with the conventional method. PR-F and PL-F had the highest TPC, antioxidant and anti-tyrosinase activities. Paeoniflorin was the main compounds in PL and PR. It and pentagalloylglucose (PGG) almost reached the anti-tyrosinase level of kojic acid, but they showed different inhibitory mechanisms by molecular docking. On the whole, PR-F, PL-F, PGG and paeoniflorin might be potential for skin whitening products.

One-pot biofabrication and characterization of Tara gum/Riceberry phenolics-silver nanogel: A cytocompatible and green nanoplatform with multifaceted biological applications.

This work proposed a one-pot green route for the development of a biocompatible Tara gum-Riceberry phenolics­silver nanosphere hybrid nanocomposite (TG/RiPE-SNG) with manifold biological potentialities. The reaction system comprised of AgNO3 as nanosilver precursor, Riceberry phenolic extract as the green in situ reductant, and Tara gum as stabilizing and anchoring agent. TG/RiPE-SNG was extensively characterized using UV-vis spectroscopy, FTIR, RAMAN, TEM, FESEM, EDX, DLS/zeta potential, XRD, and TGA analyses. Small, stable, spherical, well-dispersed SNP with an average particle size of 13.01 nm and λmax of 421 nm were synthesized in situ, and uniformly distributed within the gel-like TG/RiPE composite. The prepared nanocomposite demonstrated superior antibacterial properties (MIC of 12.5 µg/mL) against S. aureus and S. epidermidis compared to the gum or extract. Additionally, TG/RiPE-SNG exhibited strong light barrier, tyrosinase inhibitory and antioxidant functionalities. TG/RiPE-SNG also exhibited high stability at different pH and was more thermally stable relative to the plain TG/RiPE composite. Furthermore, TG/RiPE-SNG showed good biocompatibility towards mouse L929 fibroblasts and rat erythrocytes. The obtained findings revealed a simple, benign, and inexpensive approach using only natural ingredients for the preparation of gum-based biopolymer-nanosilver hybrid nanocomposite and underscored the strong attributes of TG/RiPE-SNP as a nanomaterial with desirable biomedical potentials.

Comparison of Various Solvent Extracts and Major Bioactive Components from Portulaca oleracea for Antioxidant, Anti-Tyrosinase, and Anti-α-Glucosidase Activities.

Portulaca oleracea is a well-known species for traditional medicine and food homology in Taiwan. In traditional medicine, P. oleracea is also used to treat gastrointestinal disorders, liver inflammation, fever, severe inflammation, and headaches. We investigated antioxidant, anti-tyrosinase, and anti-α-glucosidase activities of various solvent extracts and major bioactive components from P. oleracea. Ethanol and acetone extracts showed potent DPPH, ABTS, and hydroxyl radical scavenging activities. Chloroform and n-hexane extracts displayed significant superoxide radical scavenging activity. Furthermore, ethyl acetate and acetone extracts of P. oleracea showed potent anti-tyrosinase and anti-α-glucosidase activities. Examined and compared to the various solvent extracts for their chemical compositions using HPLC analysis, we isolated seven major compounds and analyzed their antioxidant, anti-tyrosinase, and anti-α-glucosidase activities. Seven active compounds of P. oleracea, especially quercetin, rosmarinic acid, and kaempferol, exhibited obvious antioxidant, anti-tyrosinase, and anti-α-glucosidase activities. The molecular docking model and the hydrophilic interactive mode of tyrosinase and α-glucosidase revealed that active compounds might have a higher antagonistic effect than commonly inhibitors. Our result shows that the active solvent extracts and their components of P. oleracea have the potential as natural antioxidants, tyrosinase and α-glucosidase inhibitors. Our results suggest that the active solvent extracts of P. oleracea and their components have potential as natural antioxidants, tyrosinase and α-glucosidase inhibitors.

Terpenoid and Fatty Acid Profiling along with Anti-Tyrosinase and Anti-Urease Potentials of Scorzonera pygmaea Sibth. & Sm. an Endemic Plant of Turkey.

Petroleum ether (PE), chloroform (CH), ethyl acetate (EA) and butanol (BU) fractions were obtained from ethanol extracts of the roots (SPR) and the above ground (SPH) parts of S. pygmaea. PE fractions were evaluated by GC/MS for profiling the terpenoids and the fatty acids of the plant. 29 compounds in total including saturated (major palmitic acid), unsaturated (major linoleic acid) fatty acids and triterpenes were tentatively determined. Short-term extraction methods might be preferred to avoid esterification of fatty acids. Phytochemical profiles of SPR-PE and SPH-PE were found to be similar to each other and to other few Scorzonera species reported previously. These results will contribute to the chemotaxonomic studies about the genus which is considered taxonomically complex genus. Activity studies were carried out using kojic acid (87.10 % inhibition) standard for tyrosinase and thiourea (95.83 % inhibition) standard for urease. SPR-CH was determined as the most potent fraction with 55.94 % and 55.10 % inhibition of tyrosinase and urease, respectively at the same concentration of the standards (200 microgram/mL). These moderate results might be considered encouraging for more detailed studies to determine the active compounds and to evaluate the plant's potential in pharmaceutical, food and cosmetic industries in terms of tyrosinase and urease inhibition.