Influence of fractionation of polyphenols by membrane chromatography on antioxidant, antimicrobial and proliferation-inhibiting effects of red fruit juices.

Interest in fruit juice extracts as nutraceuticals is constantly increasing due to their health-beneficial properties, mainly caused by polyphenols. However, the correlation between the various effects of fruit juice extracts and their individual composition, including anthocyanins and copigments, is unknown. Therefore, in the present study, eight red fruit juice extracts were prepared using XAD-7 column chromatography, followed by fractionation and identification of the different compounds as well as characterization of their health-promoting effects. The fruit juice extract of pomegranate, chokeberry, and cranberry showed the highest antimicrobial potential against food-borne pathogens. The highest antioxidant and cell proliferation-inhibiting potential was also found in the pomegranate extract. It can be assumed that pomegranate extracts, which are rich in copigments, especially hydrolyzable tannins, are suitable natural antioxidants and antimicrobial agents. Pomegranate extracts could be used as nutraceuticals or natural preservatives.

Yeast cell biocarrier for the encapsulation of ascorbic acid: effect of plasmolysis process, suspension media and ascorbic acid levels on the physicochemical, morphological and bioactive properties of microcapsules.

BACKGROUND: Ascorbic acid is a water-soluble vitamin and shows weak stability against external factors such as heat, oxygen, light etc. Due to its lower stability, encapsulation is an effective process for the preservation of its activity. Although there are a wide variety of encapsulation methods, the technique of encapsulation with yeast cells has been followed with increasing interest in recent years. In this study, encapsulation possibilities of ascorbic acid by yeast cells were investigated. In this context, Saccharomycess cerevisiae yeast cells in plasmolyzed and non-plasmolyzed forms were used in two different suspension media (water and ethanol) and effect of ascorbic acid concentrations (10, 20 and 50 g per 10 g yeast) were studied. A total of 12 different yeast microcapsule samples were produced and some physicochemical, bioactive and structural characterizations were performed. RESULTS: The ascorbic acid level of yeast microcapsule samples was determined as 206.4-713.9 and 202.8-726.1 mg g-1 for plasmolyzed and non-plasmolyzed yeast cell types, respectively. ABTS radical scavenging activity increased from 27.23 to 233.04 µg TE g-1 by increased ascorbic acid levels. Ascorbic acid capsules were used in soft candy processing against free ascorbic acid and it was found that 47.9% ascorbic acid loss was detected for control sample at the 24-day storage while the ascorbic acid loss was approximately 25% for yeast microcapsules. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that yeast cells are capable of preserving ascorbic acid stability during storage and yeast cells can be used effectively and safely for the manufacturing of the ascorbic acid microcapsules. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Mentha aquatica (Water Mint) as a Source of Active Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Ingredients: A Critical Review.

Mentha aquatica L., or water mint, is an important member of the Mentha genus, and has long been used in traditional medicine, mainly to treat respiratory diseases such as the common cold. Nevertheless, although over the years many studies have shown that it's potential grows beyond this use, a review that highlights M. aquatica L.'s true potential is still lacking. Thus, the main purpose of the present article is to provide a thorough and multidisciplinary critical review of M. aquatica L., including its phytochemical characterization, main bioactivities, and current marketed cosmetic products. Many compounds have been identified as part of M. aquatica L. composition, such as terpenes, phenolic acids, phenols, and terpenoids, which have been linked to a vast therapeutic potential, namely anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, antiobesity, and hepatoprotection bioactivities, with additional anticancer potential for several types of tumors (breast, lung, and skin), and psycho and neuroactive potential in depression, or Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease. Additionally, it has been proven to be suitable for cosmetic application since several cleansing, hydrating, protecting, and/or odor masking products containing it are already available, with the main functions attributed to M. aquatica including refreshing/cooling effects, calming/soothing/relaxing effects, and purifying effects, properties closely related to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant bioactivities. Hence, M. aquatica is an extremely versatile plant, with its extracts and essential oils having great therapeutic and cosmetic potential. With many marketed cosmetic products, future studies should focus on this plant's medicinal aspects, so that 1 day it can be part of therapeutic regimens.

Adipogenic Effects of Cresyl Diphenyl Phosphate (Triphenyl Phosphate Alternative) through Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Pathway: A Comprehensive Study Integrating In Vitro, In Vivo, and In Silico from Molecule to Health Risk.

Cresyl diphenyl phosphate (CDP), a novel organophosphate ester (OPE), has been detected in various environmental and human samples. However, there is very limited knowledge regarding its toxicity, mechanisms of action, and potential health risks. Using new alternative methods (NAMs), across the molecular interactions, signaling pathways, cell functions, animal effects, and population risks, we investigated the potential adipogenic effects and associated risks of CDP and legacy OPE triphenyl phosphate (TPHP) by acting on peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ). Among the 19 screened OPEs, CDP bound to PPARγ with the highest binding potency, followed by TPHP. CDP activated PPARγ through fitting into the binding pocket with strong hydrophobicity and hydrogen bond interactions; CDP exhibited higher potency compared to TPHP. In 3T3-L1 cells, CDP enhanced the PPARγ-mediated adipogenesis activity, exhibiting greater potency than TPHP. The intracellular concentration and receptor-bound concentrations (RBC) of CDP were also higher than those of TPHP in both HEK293 cells and 3T3-L1 cells. In mice, exposure to CDP activated the PPARγ-mediated adipogenic pathway, leading to an increased white adipose tissue weight gain. Overall, CDP could bind to and activate PPARγ, thereby promoting preadipocyte differentiation and the development of white adipose tissue. Its potential obesogenic risks should be of high concern.

Plant based steroidal and triterpenoid sapogenins: Chemistry on diosgenin and biological aspects.

Plants are rich in steroidal and triterpenoid saponins. Diosgenin is an important sapogenin obtained from various steroidal saponins and specially from dioscin. It possesses diverse pharmacological activities as it is capable of modulating various endogenous pathways. Diosgenin is the molecule of choice for the industrial synthesis of the steroid based clinical drugs namely progesterone, testosterone, dexamethasone, dehydroepiandrosterone, vitamin D3, steroidal contraceptive pills, norethindrone, norgestrel etc. Diosgenin has been a molecule of discussion due to its high demand in industry as well as for future research applications. Present review describes its chemistry and detailed pharmacological profile.

AI Prediction of Structural Stability of Nanoproteins Based on Structures and Residue Properties by Mean Pooled Dual Graph Convolutional Network.

The structural stability of proteins is an important topic in various fields such as biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and enzymology. Specifically, understanding the structural stability of protein is crucial for protein design. Artificial design, while pursuing high thermodynamic stability and rigidity of proteins, inevitably sacrifices biological functions closely related to protein flexibility. The thermodynamic stability of proteins is not always optimal when they are highest to perfectly perform their biological functions. Extensive theoretical and experimental screening is often required to obtain stable protein structures. Thus, it becomes critically important to develop a stability prediction model based on the balance between protein stability and bioactivity. To design protein drugs with better functionality in a broader structural space, a novel protein structural stability predictor called PSSP has been developed in this study. PSSP is a mean pooled dual graph convolutional network (GCN) model based on sequence characteristics and secondary structure, distance matrix, graph, and residue properties of a nanoprotein to provide rapid prediction and judgment. This model exhibits excellent robustness in predicting the structural stability of nanoproteins. Comparing with previous artificial intelligence algorithms, the results indicate this model can provide a rapid and accurate assessment of the structural stability of artificially designed proteins, which shows the great promises for promoting the robust development of protein design.

Osteoinductivity enhancement by tailoring the surface chemical bond status: A strategy to mobilize host bone growth factors for in situ bone regeneration.

The incorporation of growth factors and biomaterials is a promising strategy for improving osseointegration. However, current strategies to develop biomaterials with exogenous growth factors present disadvantages like inefficiency, difficult deployment, and potential off-target activation, making their translation into clinical practice challenging. This study reveals a bioactive N-doped tantalum carbide (TaC) solid solution film that can be used to construct a TaCN film via bionic interface engineering to recruit host bone growth factors to the wounded site and improve bone regeneration. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and protein absorption analysis reveal that the performance of TaCN is related to the surface chemical bonds of films. The introduction of N to TaC causes a cascade effect wherein negative charges enrich on the TaCN surface, and the recruitment of positively charged bone growth factors around the TaCN film is facilitated. Under these circumstances, the endogenous bone growth factors enhance bone healing. The TaCN film shows an outstanding performance for in vivo osteogenic differentiation along with a superior in vitro cytocompatibility. Incorporation of N atoms into TaC provides a new clinically translatable strategy to mobilize host bone growth factors for in situ bone regeneration without the need for incorporation of exogenous growth factors.

A critical examination of human data for the biological activity of phenolic acids and their phase-2 conjugates derived from dietary (poly)phenols, phenylalanine, tyrosine and catecholamines.

Free or conjugated aromatic/phenolic acids arise from the diet, endogenous metabolism of catecholamines (adrenaline, noradrenaline, dopamine), protein (phenylalanine, tyrosine), pharmaceuticals (aspirin, metaprolol) plus gut microbiota metabolism of dietary (poly)phenols and undigested protein. Quantitative data obtained with authentic calibrants for 112 aromatic/phenolic acids including phase-2 conjugates in human plasma, urine, ileal fluid, feces and tissues have been collated and mean/median values compared with in vitro bioactivity data in cultured cells. Ca 30% of publications report bioactivity at ≤1 µmol/L. With support from clinical studies, it appears that the greatest benefit might be produced in vascular tissues by C6-C3 metabolites, including some of gut microbiota origin and some phase-2 conjugates, 15 of which are 3',4'-disubstituted with multiple sources including caffeic acid and hesperetin, plus one unsubstituted and two mono-substituted examples which can originate from protein. There is an unexamined potential for synergy. Free-living and washout plasma data are scarce. Some metabolites have been overlooked, notably phenyl-lactic, phenyl-hydracrylic and phenyl-propanoic acids, especially those from amino acids plus glycine, hydroxy-glycine and glutamine conjugates. Phenolic acids and conjugates from multiple sources exhibit biological activities, some of which are likely relevant in vivo and link to biomarkers of health. Further targeted studies are justified.

Chemical profiling, bioactive compounds, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities of Indonesian propolis extract produced by Tetragonula laeviceps.

Propolis produced by stingless bees contains various chemical compounds that contribute to its bioactivity. The availability of certain plants at the growth site and the propolis's geographic origin have a significant impact on its chemical composition. The objective of this study was to examine the chemical profile, yield, total flavonoid and phenolic content, and in vitro antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of propolis extract from 10 distinct locations in Indonesia. The yield of propolis extract investigated in this study lies in the range of 26.25 ± 1.76 to 43.25 ± 3.60 %. The total phenolic content of the propolis extract varies from 50.03 ± 3.40-98.03 ± 13.94 mg GAE/g whereas the total flavonoid content of the propolis extract varies from and 0.70 ± 0.08-57.76 ± 0.67 mg QE/g. The antioxidant activity of the propolis extract in terms of IC50 values lies in the range of 332.07 ± 6.12 to 831.48 ± 29.48 ppm whereas the anti-inflammatory activity of the propolis extract in terms of IC50 values lies in the range of 28.69 ± 4.95 to 44.12 ± 19.22 ppm. Both the total flavonoid and phenolic content of the propolis extract from various locations were correlated with the antioxidant activities and anti-inflammatory activities. The results indicate that there was a significant negative correlation between the total flavonoid and phenolic content of the propolis extract with the antioxidant activity. However, the anti-inflammatory activity was not strongly correlated with the total flavonoid and phenolic content of the propolis extract. There were 36 volatile compounds in the propolis extract as identified by the Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry with triterpenoid as the major substances (28.66-44.86 %). The presence of anti-inflammatory compounds particularly α, ß-Amyrin (2.2-6.52 %) and lupeol (2-4.72 %) in the propolis extract highlights the potential of propolis in health and medicine application.

A mechanism of action-reflective, dual cell-based bioassay for determining the bioactivity of sclerostin-neutralizing antibodies.

Osteoporosis is a major threat to the elderly worldwide. The Wnt signaling pathway plays a critical role in bone development and homeostasis. Sclerostin, a Wnt ligand inhibitor, competes with Wnt ligands for low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 5 or 6 (LRP5/6) on osteoblasts, thereby suppressing bone formation. Sclerostin-neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have emerged as a potential bone-forming therapy for osteoporosis. A cell-based bioassay which determines the relative activity of a product, related to its mechanism of action, is of great importance from drug discovery to quality control and batch release. Currently used cell-based bioassays for sclerostin-neutralizing mAbs usually use Wnt1 or Wnt3a to stimulate the Wnt pathway; sclerostin is a direct inhibitor of Wnt1 but not Wnt3a. Wnt1 is a highly hydrophobic protein that binds to the producing cell membrane and acts in a juxtacrine manner to stimulate the Wnt pathway in neighboring cells. Bioassays for drugs that induce Wnt1 signaling should be performed in a juxtacrine manner. Here, we present a mechanism of action-reflective, dual cell-based reporter gene assay. In this assay, Wnt1 producer cells are co-cultured with cells containing the Wnt reporter genes, Wnt1 on the producer cells activates the Wnt signaling pathway in the reporter cells that are in direct cell-to-cell contact, and sclerostin-neutralizing mAbs specifically and effectively antagonize the sclerostin-mediated Wnt reporter gene suppression. This bioassay demonstrates good specificity, accuracy, linearity, and precision and is suitable for quality control, stability testing, batch release, and biosimilarity assessment of sclerostin-neutralizing mAbs.

Structure-based virtual screening of novel chitin synthase inhibitors for the control of Phytophthora sojae.

BACKGROUND: Chitin synthase (CHS) is an important target for pesticide development as chitin biosynthesis is essential for the survival and reproduction of various organisms, such as oomycetes, fungi and insects. Small-molecule inhibitors of CHS have potential applications for the control of agricultural pests and diseases. RESULTS: In this study, exploiting the cryo-EM structures of PsChs1, the CHS indispensable to the sporangial production and virulence of soybean root rot pathogenic oomycete Phytophthora sojae, a virtual screening method combining by molecular docking, inhibitory activity measurement and biological activity determination was conducted, to identify novel small-molecule inhibitors of CHS. A chemical library containing ≈1.8 million compounds was screened, and four potent inhibitors (HS-20, HS-24, HS-36 and HS-40) were identified. Amongst these compounds, HS-20 showed the most potent inhibitory activity with a Ki value of 4.2 ± 0.2 µM. Besides inhibitory activities towards PsChs1, these compounds were effective in decreasing sporangial production and preventing zoospore infection. When inoculated with zoospores, HS-20 and HS-24 completely inhibited the growth of P. sojae, suggesting their potential in its prevention and control. CONCLUSION: This study identified four new compounds with potent chitin synthase (CHS) inhibitory activity, all of which significantly reduce sporangia production and zoospore infection. It also presents promising in silico techniques and small molecule candidates for the design and development of novel CHS inhibitors. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Shape Memory Polymer Bioglass Composite Scaffolds Designed to Heal Complex Bone Defects.

An off-the-shelf scaffold with requisite properties could enable the viable treatment of irregular craniomaxillofacial bone defects. Notably, the scaffold should be conformally fitting, innately bioactive, and bioresorbable. In prior work, we developed a series of shape memory polymer (SMP) scaffolds based on cross-linked poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL). These were capable of "self-fitting" into complex bone defects when exposed to temperatures above the melt transition of the constituent PCL, either linear-PCL-diacrylate (linear-PCL-DA, Tm ∼55 °C) or star-PCL-tetraacrylate (star-PCL-TA, Tm ∼45 °C) for the potential to improve tissue safety. To achieve favorably increased degradation rates versus PCL-only scaffolds, semi-interpenetrating networks (semi-IPNs) were formed by including linear- or star-poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA). A potential limitation of these self-fitting scaffolds is the lack of bioactivity, which is essential to osteoinductivity and osseointegration. Herein, analogous composite scaffolds were formed with 45S5 bioglass (BG) to impart bioactivity. The solvent-cast particulate leaching fabrication method was adapted to introduce BG to the fused salt template, resulting in composites with BG concentrated on the pore wall surfaces rather than within pore struts. Composite scaffolds with good pore wall integrity were produced with 2.5, 5, and 10 wt % BG. All composite scaffolds exhibited non-brittle behavior and did not fracture with 85% strain. For semi-IPN composite scaffolds, PLLA crystallinity was lost, and mechanical properties were not appreciably altered versus the non-BG controls. Sufficient retention of PCL crystallinity led to excellent shape memory behavior. The inclusion of 5 and 10 wt % BG led to hydroxyapatite mineralization after 1 day of exposure to simulated body fluid, as well as increased rates of in vitro degradation.

Antimicrobial, Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of the Mucus of the Tropical Sea Slug Elysia crispata.

Elysia crispata (Sacoglossa, Gastropoda) is a tropical sea slug known for its ability to incorporate functional chloroplasts from a variety of green macroalgae, a phenomenon termed kleptoplasty. This sea slug, amenable to laboratory cultivation, produces mucus, a viscous secretion that serves diverse purposes including protection, locomotion, and reproduction. In this study, we profiled the antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities of the mucus of this sea slug. Results revealed inhibitory activity against several bacterial strains, more pronounced for Gram-negative bacteria. Particularly interesting was the strong inhibitory effect against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a bacterial species classified by the WHO as a high-priority pathogen and associated with high-risk infections due to its frequent multidrug-resistant profile. Similar inhibitory effects were observed for the mucus native protein extracts, indicating that proteins present in the mucus contributed significantly to the antimicrobial activity. The mucus also showed both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The latter activities were associated with the low molecular weight (<10 kDa) fraction of the mucus rather than the native protein extracts. This study opens the way to further research on the biotechnological applications of the mucus secreted by this unique marine organism, particularly as an antimicrobial agent.

Three New Ent-Kaurane Diterpenes with Antibacterial Activity from Sigesbeckia orientalis.

Three novel ent-kaurane diterpenes, namely sigesbeckin A-C (1-3), in conjunction with eight previously identified analogues (4-11), were isolated from Sigesbeckia orientalis. Their chemical structures were resolved through multiple spectroscopic analyses. All compounds were assessed for antimicrobial bioactivity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) strains. In particular, compounds 1 and 5 demonstrated moderate efficacy, with MIC values of 64 µg/mL. Moreover, compounds 3, 5, and 11 were found to synergize with doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) and vancomycin (VAN) against MRSA and VRE. The aforementioned findings offer valuable insights for the development of novel alternatives to antibiotics, which can effectively tackle the escalating issue of antibiotic resistance.

Application of microorganisms in Panax ginseng: cultivation of plants, and biotransformation and bioactivity of key component ginsenosides.

Panax ginseng is a precious Chinese medicinal plant with a long growth cycle and high medicinal value. Therefore, it is of great significance to explore effective ways to increase its yield and main active substance content to reduce the cost of ginseng, which is widely used in food and clinical applications. Here, we review the key roles of microorganisms in the biological control of ginseng diseases, enhancement of ginseng yield, biotransformation of ginsenosides, and augmentation of ginsenoside bioactivity. The application of microorganisms in P. ginseng faces multiple challenges, including the need for further exploration of efficient microbial strain resources used in the cultivation of ginseng and biotransformation of ginsenosides, lack of microbial application in large-scale field cultivation of ginseng, and unclear mechanism of microbial transformation of ginsenosides. This review provides a deeper understanding of the applications of microorganisms in P. ginseng.

In Vitro Evaluation of Electrospun PCL Bioscaffold with Zinc-Doped Bioactive Glass Powder Addition.

Preparing electrospun fibers by applying a potential difference between a polymeric solution and a contacting substrate is increasingly attracting attention in tissue engineering applications. Among the numerous polymers, polycaprolactone (PCL) bioscaffold has been widely investigated due to its biocompatibility and biodegradability. Bioactive powder can be added to further improve its performance. In the present study, bioactive glass powder modified by adding 0-6 wt.% antibacterial zinc element (coded as ZBG) was prepared through the sol-gel process. Furthermore, PCL bioscaffolds with various ZBG additions were prepared using the electrospinning technique. The zinc-doped bioactive glass powder and electrospun PCL/ZBG bioscaffolds were evaluated using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy to determine their structural properties. Additionally, in vitro bioactivity, biocompatibility and antibacterial performance were investigated. Experimental results showed that sol-gelled ZBG powder possessed superior bioactivity and 0.8 g ZBG was the optimal addition to prepare PCL/ZBG bioscaffolds with. All the electrospun PCL/ZBG bioscaffolds were biocompatible and their antibacterial performance against two S. aureus strains (SA133 and Newman) improved with increasing zinc concentration. Electrospun PCL/ZBG bioscaffolds exhibited excellent bioactivity and have great potential for biomedical application.

Functional Properties and Components of Koenigia alpina Extract.

BACKGROUND: Koenigia alpina (All.) T.M.Schust. & Reveal (alpine knotweed) is a perennial herb belonging to the Polygonaceae family. Several studies have examined Polygonaceae species' potential applications as cosmeceutical materials; however, the potential of K. alpina as a cosmeceutical has not yet been studied. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and lipopolysaccharide were used to induce an inflammatory response in RAW 264.7 cells. 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals and H2O2 were used to evaluate the free-radical scavenging activity of K. alpina extract and its protective effect against reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced cell damage. The whitening, antiaging, and cell proliferation/migration effects of the extracts were evaluated via tyrosinase inhibition, collagenase/elastase inhibition, and wound healing assays, respectively. The anti-inflammatory effect was confirmed by evaluating nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW 264.7 cells. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), UV, and MS/MS were used to determine the main components of the extract and fractions. RESULTS: The ethyl acetate (EA) fraction and its aglycone fraction showed very high free-radical scavenging activities (47.5 and 47.1 µg/mL, respectively). The extract/fractions also showed significant tyrosinase inhibition (IC50 = 0.38 mg/mL in EA fraction), collagenase inhibition (IC50 = 0.21 mg/mL in EA fraction), and elastase inhibition (IC50 = 0.57 mg/mL in aglycone fraction). NO production in lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW 264.7 cells was inhibited by the extract/fractions. The extract also promoted the closure of scratch wounds in HaCaT cells. The K. alpina extract/fractions contained cardamonin, quercetin, and quercitrin. CONCLUSION: K. alpina extracts/fractions showed antioxidant, antiaging, whitening, and anti-inflammatory activities, suggesting they may have potential as antiaging cosmeceuticals.

Evaluation of biocompatibility and bioactive potential of Well-Root PT by comparison with ProRoot MTA and Biodentine.

Background/purpose: Well-Root PT is a novel bioceramic material developed to overcome limitations of conventional calcium silicate cements. The purpose of this study was to assess the biocompatibility and bioactivity of a premixed putty-type cement, Well-Root PT. Materials and methods: Identical cylindrical samples were prepared from ProRoot MTA, Biodentine, and Well-Root PT. In vitro calcium weight volume and calcium ion release from the materials were evaluated with scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive spectroscopy and inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy. An in vivo rat direct pulp capping model was implemented with the materials (n = 14 per material). The rats were sacrificed at 7 or 28 days. Hematoxylin and eosin and immunohistochemical analyses were performed. Results: In vitro calcium weight volume was 42.83 ± 8.82 % in ProRoot MTA, 47.05 ± 8.83 % in Biodentine, and 29.99 ± 4.94 % in Well-Root PT. Calcium ion releases from Well-Root PT after 7 and 28 days were similar with those from ProRoot MTA, but lower than those from Biodentine (P = 0.001 after 7 and 28 days equally). In an in vivo rat model, hematoxylin and eosin analysis showed no significant differences in inflammatory infiltration (P = 0.393) and hard tissue formation scores among the materials (P = 0.905). Also, both CD68 and DSPP expression showed similar results, with no significant differences among the materials (equally P = 0.874 for both markers). Conclusion: Within the limits of this study, Well-Root PT was comparable to ProRoot MTA and Biodentine in terms of biocompatibility and bioactivity.

Comprehensive Secondary Metabolite Profiling and Antioxidant Activity of Aqueous and Ethanol Extracts of Neolamarckia cadamba (Roxb.) Bosser Fruits.

BACKGROUND: Neolamarckia cadamba (Rubiaceae) is a well-recognized medicinal plant with recorded therapeutical attributes. However, a thorough assessment of active compounds in its fruits is lacking, limiting their use and valorization in pharmacological industries. METHODS: Thus, this study investigated variations in the fruits' secondary metabolite (SM) profiles, as well as antioxidant activities in aqueous (WA) and ethanol (ET) extracts. RESULTS: Liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry identified 541 SMs, of which 14 and 1 (di-O-glucosylquinic acid) were specifically detected in ET and WA, respectively. Phenolic acids (36.97%), flavonoids (28.10%), terpenoids (12.20%), and alkaloids (9.98%) were the dominant SMs. The SM profiles of the fruits in WA and ET were quite different. We revealed 198 differentially extracted (DE) metabolites between WA and ET, including 62 flavonoids, 57 phenolic acids, 45 terpenoids, 14 alkaloids, etc. Most DE flavones (36 out of 40), terpenoids (45 out of 45), and alkaloids (12 out of 14) had higher content in ET. Catechin and its derivatives, procyanidins, and tannins had higher content in WA. ABTS and DPPH assays showed that the antioxidant activity of ET was significantly higher than that of WA. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings will facilitate the efficient extraction and evaluation of specific active compounds in N. cadamba.

Foliar application of biostimulants improves nutritional and bioactive quality of walnuts.

BACKGROUND: Owing to their health benefits, walnuts are attracting interest as a good option for nutritious meals, thereby promoting their production. Furthermore, the adoption of ecologically and environmentally friendly agriculture strengthens biostimulant use as a sustainable complement to traditional fertilizers. This study evaluated the effects of different foliar-applied biostimulants in walnut tree orchards, in northeastern Portugal, on walnuts' chemical composition and bioactivity. RESULTS: Walnut samples were rich in fat (particularly the polyunsaturated linoleic acid), dietary fiber and protein. Sucrose was the most prevalent soluble sugar, followed by glucose and fructose. Studied samples also showed an antioxidant activity comparable (or superior) to that of Trolox. Some plant biostimulants (e.g. Sprint Plus®) had a positive impact on the nutritional composition of walnuts, more specifically by boosting tocopherol levels, besides improving the bioactivity of walnut extracts against specific bacteria. CONCLUSION: Overall, this research demonstrated that important quality traits of walnuts can be improved using sustainable agricultural bioproducts and practices. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.