Multivariate approach to assess the bioactive compounds of Atractylodes chinensis (DC.) Koidz in different harvest periods.

BACKGROUND: The Atractylodes chinensis (DC.) Koidz (A. chinensis) Chinese herb possesses numerous therapeutic properties and is extensively utilized in the pharmaceutical industry. Its quality is closely associated with the harvest periods. However, the optimal quality and harvest periods of A. chinensis remain elusive. METHODS: The bioactive compounds of perennial A. chinensis were detected by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole Orbitrap mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap/MS) metabolomics, and differentially abundant compounds were selected by multivariate statistical analysis. Then, variations in the content of differential compounds in samples harvested at different periods were analyzed, while correlation analysis was carried out on the differential compounds to determine the suitable harvest period for distinct components. RESULTS: A total of 61 bioactive compounds were detected in all samples, grouped into 9 known classes. The results revealed that the chemical compositions of A. chinensis at different harvest periods were significantly different. The volatile oil content in the four-year-old and five-year-old samples was relatively high, at 31.92 mg/g and 32.42 mg/g, respectively. There were also significant differences in the content of the six active ingredients, for example, the five-year-old sample had the highest content of atractylodin (4.38 mg/g). Indeed, the harvest period was correlated with the abundance of most bioactive compounds. Specifically, quinquennial samples were significantly negatively correlated with the abundance of organic acids and aliphatics while moderately positively correlated with the abundance of other classes of bioactive compounds. CONCLUSIONS: According to the results, the ideal harvest time for atractylenolide Ⅲ was 3 years. Regarding organic acids, the optimal harvest time was around 2-3 years. Taken together, these results offer valuable insights to producers for optimizing the harvest period for A. chinensis.

Mechanism of aroma formation in white tea treated with solar withering.

Withering is a crucial process that determines the quality of white tea (WT). Solar withering (SW) is reported to contribute to the aroma quality of WT. However, the mechanism by which aroma is formed in WT subjected to SW remains unclear. In this study, through headspace solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS) and transcriptomics, we found that 13 key genes enriched in the mevalonic acid and methylerythritol phosphate pathways, such as those of 1-deoxy-D-xylulose-5-phosphate synthase and terpineol synthase, were significantly upregulated, promoting the accumulation of α-terpinolene, geraniol, and nerolidol, which imparted floral and fruity odors to WT subjected to SW. Additionally, the significant upregulation of lipoxygenases enriched in the lipoxygenase pathway promoting the accumulation of hexanol, 1-octen-3-ol, (E, Z)-3,6-nonadien-1-ol, and nonanal, which contributed to the green and fresh odor in WT subjected to SW. This study provided the first comprehensive insight into the effect mechanism of SW on aroma formation in WT.

The Content of Volatile Organic Compounds in Calypogeia suecica (Calypogeiaceae, Marchantiophyta) Confirms Genetic Differentiation of This Liverwort Species into Two Groups.

Calypogeia is a genus of liverworts in the family Calypogeiaceae. The subject of this study was Calypogeia suecica. Samples of the liverwort Calypogeia suecica were collected from various places in southern Poland. A total of 25 samples were collected in 2021, and 25 samples were collected in 2022. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from liverworts were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). A total of 107 compounds were detected, of which 38 compounds were identified. The identified compounds were dominated by compounds from the sesquiterpene group (up to 34.77%) and sesquiterpenoids (up to 48.24%). The tested samples of Calypogeia suecica also contained compounds belonging the aromatic classification (up to 5.46%), aliphatic hydrocarbons (up to 1.66%), and small amounts of monoterpenes (up to 0.17%) and monoterpenoids (up to 0.30%). Due to the observed differences in the composition of VOCs, the tested plant material was divided into two groups, in accordance with genetic diversity.

Bioelectronics for bitterness-based phytocompound detection using human bitter taste receptor nanodiscs.

Various organisms produce several products to defend themselves from the environment and enemies. These natural products have pharmacological and biological activities and are used for therapeutic purposes, retaining bitter taste because of chemical defense mechanisms. Cnicin is a plant-derived bitter sesquiterpene lactone with pharmacological characteristics such as anti-bacterial, anti-myeloma, anti-cancer, anti-tumor, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, allelopathic, and cytotoxic properties. Although many studies have focused on cnicin detection, they have limitations and novel cnicin-detecting strategies are required. In this study, we developed the bioelectronics for screening cnicin using its distinct taste. hTAS2R46 was produced using an Escherichia coli expression system and reconstituted into nanodiscs (NDs). The binding sites and energy between hTAS2R46 and cnicin were investigated using biosimulations. hTAS2R46-NDs were combined with a side-gated graphene micropatterned field-effect transistor (SGMFET) to construct hTAS2R46-NDs bioelectronics. The construction was examined by chemical and electrical characterization. The developed system exhibited unprecedented performance, 10 fM limit of detection, rapid response time (within 10 s), 0.1354 pM-1 equilibrium constant, and high selectivity. Furthermore, the system was stable as the sensing performance was maintained for 15 days. Therefore, the hTAS2R46-NDs bioelectronics can be utilized to screen cnicin from natural products and applied in the food and drug industries.

Stability study of ptaquiloside biotoxin from P. esculentum var. Arachnoideum in bovine milk and artisanal dairy-food products.

The potential health risk of consuming dairy products made from milk processed in an artisanal manner was investigated due to possible contamination with Ptaquiloside (PTA), a carcinogenic compound found in the food chain of the bracken fern. The study aimed to assess the occurrence and stability of PTA across various processing stages, including pasteurization, cheese production, and yogurt production. Results indicated that pasteurization effectively converted all PTA to Pterosin (PTB), with PTB levels decreasing during refrigerated storage for up to two weeks. The stability and occurrence of initial PTA contamination remained unchanged in yogurt production. Biotoxin concentrations in soft cheeses decreased over time, independent of ionic strength; cheeses with low salt concentrations showed lower retention of the biotoxin within the cheese protein network. These findings offer valuable insights into the stability and occurrence of PTA, facilitating the monitoring and identification of potential adverse health effects.

Chemical analysis of different parts from agarwood columns by artificially agarwood-inducing method based on GC-MS and UPLC-TOF-MS.

Agarwood is resin-containing wood produced by plants that have been injured. It is widely used in herbal medicine, incense, decorative items, and so on. In this study, we conducted resin area statistical analysis, determined starch particle and reducing sugar contents, and performed multivariate statistical analysis of chemical composition by GC-MS and UPLC-Q-TOF-MS to explore the different components in sections cut from an agarwood column, designated as A1-A4. The results showed that after stimulation by Agar-Bit inducer, the internal phloem parenchyma cells of the column started to form agarwood, and then starch granules were converted into soluble reducing sugars and agarwood resin. Section A1 showed rapid loss of starch granules, resulting in higher contents of reducing sugars and resin. The resin areas of agarwood in the respective sections were different, gradually decreasing on going from A1 to A4. Total numbers of metabolites of 87 and 63 were identified by GC-MS and UPLC-Q-TOF-MS, respectively. Of these, 10 and 16 metabolites with significant differences (variable importance projection >1) were selected through multivariate statistical analysis. These metabolites included chromones, sesquiterpenes, alkanes, and fatty acids. Among them, 6-methoxy-2-(2-phenylethyl)chromone and 6,7-dimethoxy-2-(2-phenylethyl)chromone were significant markers detected by both GC-MS and UPLC-Q-TOF-MS, which may be essential substances responsible for differences in the agarwood-forming capacities of the cut sections. In conclusion, there has been limited research on the different agarwood-forming capacities of agarwood columns. Here, we explored the differences in various sections of agarwood through chemical analysis to provide a more comprehensive and in-depth understanding of its constitution.

Effect of Storage Conditions on the Volatilome, Biochemical Composition and Quality of Golden Delicious and Red Delicious Apple (Malus domestica) Varieties.

The effects of normal (NA) and controlled atmosphere (CA) storage and postharvest treatment with 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) before CA storage for 5 months on the volatilome, biochemical composition and quality of 'Golden Delicious' (GD) and 'Red Delicious' (RD) apples were studied. Apples stored under NA and CA maintained and 1-MCP treatment increased firmness in both cultivars. NA storage resulted in a decrease of glucose, sucrose and fructose levels in both cultivars. When compared to CA storage, 1-MCP treatment caused a more significant decrease in sucrose levels and an increase in glucose levels. Additionally, 1-MCP-treated apples exhibited a significant decrease in malic acid content for both cultivars. All storage conditions led to significant changes in the abundance and composition of the volatilome in both cultivars. GD and RD apples responded differently to 1-MCP treatment compared to CA storage; higher abundance of hexanoate esters and (E,E)-α-farnesene was observed in RD apples treated with 1-MCP. While 1-MCP was effective in reducing (E,E)-α-farnesene abundance in GD apples, its impact on RD apples was more limited. However, for both cultivars, all storage conditions resulted in lower levels of 2-methylbutyl acetate, butyl acetate and hexyl acetate. The effectiveness of 1-MCP is cultivar dependent, with GD showing better results than RD.

Geosmin, a Food- and Water-Deteriorating Sesquiterpenoid and Ambivalent Semiochemical, Activates Evolutionary Conserved Receptor OR11A1.

Geosmin, a ubiquitous volatile sesquiterpenoid of microbiological origin, is causative for deteriorating the quality of many foods, beverages, and drinking water, by eliciting an undesirable "earthy/musty" off-flavor. Moreover, and across species from worm to human, geosmin is a volatile, chemosensory trigger of both avoidance and attraction behaviors, suggesting its role as semiochemical. Volatiles typically are detected by chemosensory receptors of the nose, which have evolved to best detect ecologically relevant food-related odorants and semiochemicals. An insect receptor for geosmin was recently identified in flies. A human geosmin-selective receptor, however, has been elusive. Here, we report on the identification and characterization of a human odorant receptor for geosmin, with its function being conserved in orthologs across six mammalian species. Notably, the receptor from the desert-dwelling kangaroo rat showed a more than 100-fold higher sensitivity compared to its human ortholog and detected geosmin at low nmol/L concentrations in extracts from geosmin-producing actinomycetes.

Potential of hyperspectral imaging for nondestructive determination of α-farnesene and conjugated trienol content in 'Yali' pear.

The sesquiterpene α-farnesene and its corresponding oxidation products, namely conjugated trienols (CTols) is well known to be correlated with the development of superficial scald, a typical physiological disorder after a long term of cold storage in pear fruit. In this work, hyperspectral imaging (HSI) technology was used for nondestructive predicting of α-farnesene and CTols [CT258, CT281 and CT(281-290)] content in 'Yali' pear. In order to obtain the best performance of calibration model and simplify the calibration model further, various preprocessing methods together with their combinations and different wavelength selection algorithms, including successive projections algorithm (SPA), competitive adaptive reweighted sampling (CARS) and uninformative variable elimination (UVE), were investigated and compared based on linear partial least square regression (PLSR) and nonlinear least square support vector machine (LS-SVM) models, respectively. In conclusion, compared to the PLSR models, the results of LS-SVM models based on original and preprocessing methods performed better for the prediction of α-farnesene and CTols, while the performance of LS-SVM models based on the selected characteristic wavelengths were worse. For α-farnesene, the best result was obtained by LS-SVM model based on MSC-FD pretreatment with the RPD value of 2.6, Rp = 0.925 and RMSEP = 4.387 nmol cm-2. And for CTols, CT281 performed better compared with CT258 and CT(281-290), achieving the result with RPD = 2.4, Rp = 0.913 and RMSEP = 2.734 nmol cm-2 based on LS-SVM model combined with SD pretreatment. The overall results illustrated HSI technology could be used for rapid and nondestructive prediction of α-farnesene and CTols in 'Yali' pear, which would be helpful for supporting postharvest decision systems.

Evaluation of Aromatic Characteristics and Potential Applications of Hemerocallis L. Based on the Analytic Hierarchy Process.

Hemerocallis L. possesses abundant germplasm resources and holds significant value in terms of ornamental, edible, and medicinal aspects. However, the quality characteristics vary significantly depending on different varieties. Selection of a high-quality variety with a characteristic aroma can increase the economic value of Hemerocallis flowers. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) is an effective decision-making method for comparing and evaluating multiple characteristic dimensions. By applying AHP, the aromatic character of 60 varieties of Hemerocallis flowers were analyzed and evaluated in the present study. Headspace solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS) was employed to identify volatile components in Hemerocallis flowers. Thirteen volatile components were found to contribute to the aroma of Hemerocallis flowers, which helps in assessing their potential applications in essential oil, aromatherapy, and medical treatment. These components include 2-phenylethanol, geraniol, linalool, nonanal, decanal, (E)-ß-ocimene, α-farnesene, indole, nerolidol, 3-furanmethanol, 3-carene, benzaldehyde and benzenemethanol. The varieties with better aromatic potential can be selected from a large amount of data using an AHP model. This study provides a comprehensive understanding of the characteristics of the aroma components in Hemerocallis flowers, offers guidance for breeding, and enhances the economic value of Hemerocallis flowers.

Insecticidal Activities and Phenological Variations of Characteristic Component from Michelia yunnanensis.

Volatile secondary metabolites of plants interact with environments heavily. In this work, characteristic components of Michelia yunnanensis essential oils (EOs) were isolated, purified and identified by column chromatography, GC-MS and NMR. Leaves of M. yunnanensis were collected monthly and extracted for EOs to investigate chemical and insecticidal activity variations as well as potential influencing environments. Different organs were employed to reveal distribution strategies of characteristic components. Results of insecticidal activities showed that all EOs samples exerted stronger contact activity to Lasioderma serricorne, but repellent effect was more efficient on Tribolium castaneum. One oxygenated sesquiterpene was isolated from EOs, basically it could be confirmed as (+)-cyclocolorenone (1). It exerted contact toxicity to L. serricorne (LD 50 = 28.8 µg/adult). Chemical analysis showed that M. yunnanensis leaves in reproductive period would produce and accumulate more 1 than in vegetative period. Moreover, reproductive organs (flowers and fruits) contained more 1 than vegetative organs (leaves and twigs). Partial correlation analysis indicated that temperature-related elements positively correlated with the relative content of 1.

Non-destructive SPE-UPLC-based Quantification of Aflatoxins and Stilbenoid Phytoalexins in Single Peanut (Arachis spp.) Seeds.

Aflatoxins are highly carcinogenic secondary metabolites of some fungal species, particularly Aspergillus flavus. Aflatoxins often contaminate economically important agricultural commodities, including peanuts, posing a high risk to human and animal health. Due to the narrow genetic base, peanut cultivars demonstrate limited resistance to fungal pathogens. Therefore, numerous wild peanut species with tolerance to Aspergillus have received substantial consideration by scientists as sources of disease resistance. Exploring plant germplasm for resistance to aflatoxins is difficult since aflatoxin accumulation does not follow a normal distribution, which dictates the need for the analyses of thousands of single peanut seeds. Sufficiently hydrated peanut (Arachis spp.) seeds, when infected by Aspergillus species, are capable of producing biologically active stilbenes (stilbenoids) that are considered defensive phytoalexins. Peanut stilbenes inhibit fungal development and aflatoxin production. Therefore, it is crucial to analyze the same seeds for peanut stilbenoids to explain the nature of seed resistance/susceptibility to the Aspergillus invasion. None of the published methods offer single-seed analyses for aflatoxins and/or stilbene phytoalexins. We attempted to fulfill the demand for such a method that is environment-friendly, uses inexpensive consumables, and is sensitive and selective. In addition, the method is non-destructive since it uses only half of the seed and leaves the other half containing the embryonic axis intact. Such a technique allows germination and growth of the peanut plant to full maturity from the same seed used for the aflatoxin and stilbenoid analysis. The integrated part of this method, the manual challenging of the seeds with Aspergillus, is a limiting step that requires more time and labor compared to other steps in the method. The method has been used for the exploration of wild Arachis germplasm to identify species resistant to Aspergillus and to determine and characterize novel sources of genetic resistance to this fungal pathogen.

A validated high-performance liquid chromatography method for detecting geniposide, ellagic acid, piperine, costunolide and dehydrocostus lactone in Liuwei Muxiang capsules.

In this study, a sensitive high-performance liquid chromatography detector was established and validated for the simultaneous determination of geniposide, ellagic acid, piperine, costunolide and dehydrocostuslactone in Liuwei Muxiang Capsules. The analysis was achieved on CHANIN 100-5-C18-H column (5µm, 250 mm×4.6 mm) with the temperature of 30oC. Gradient elution was applied using 0.1% phosphoric acid solution-methanol-acetonitrile (50:50) as mobile phase at the flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. The determination was performed at the wavelength of 225 nm (detecting geniposide), 254 nm (detecting ellagic acid), 343 nm (detecting piperine) and 225 nm (detecting costunolide and dehydrocostuslactone) along with the sample volume of 10µL. The linear ranges of geniposide, ellagic acid, piperine, costunolide and dehydrocostuslactone demonstrated good linear relationships within their respective determination ranges. The average recoveries were 100.04%, 99.86%, 99.79%, 100.17% and 100.41%, respectively. RSD% was 1.3%, 1.2%, 1.2%, 1.2%, 1.5%, respectively. The developed method was proved to be simple, accurate and sensitive, which can provide a quantitative analysis method for the content determination of geniposide, ellagic acid, piperine, costunolide and dehydrocostuslactone in Liuwei Muxiang capsules.

A simple and green offline-online capillary electrophoresis stacking strategy for the simultaneous determination of hydrophobic compounds in complicated samples using sodium dodecyl sulfate as the solubilizer and pseudophase.

BACKGROUND: Capillary electrophoresis is a powerful analytical method featured with high separation efficiency, minimal sample requirements, and reduced organic solvents consumption. However, its low sensitivity hinders its wide application in determination of trace analytes especially for the weakly ionized hydrophobic compounds. Offline and Online capillary electrophoresis stacking methods are more favored to enhance detection sensitivity of analytes. The determination of two sesquiterpenes and an alkaloid from the dried root of Lindera aggregata merged as an example for developing a simple, sensitive and green method for the simultaneous determination of two hydrophobic compounds in complicated matrix samples. RESULTS: An offline-online capillary electrophoresis stacking strategy by integrating micro matrix solid phase dispersion with field-amplified sample stacking and micelle to cyclodextrin stacking has been developed for the simultaneous determination of dehydrocostus lactone, linderane, norisoboldine in complex matrices. The optimized parameters were set at 65 mM sodium dihydrogen phosphate, 35 % methanol, 180 s for sample injection and 210 s for cyclodextrin injection, 20 mM sodium dodecyl sulfate of sample matrix for online stacking; 1:1 sample to MCM-48, 180 s grinding time, and 1000 µL of 20 mM sodium dodecyl sulfate elution for offline procedure. Under the optimum conditions, the method showed good linearity with correlation coefficients (R2 ≥ 0.9927), low limits of detection within the range of 25-50 ng mL-1, satisfactory repeatability and reproducibility below 3.98 %, and acceptable recoveries between 94 % and 97 %. The developed method was successfully applied to two real samples, the root of L. aggregata and rat feces. SIGNIFICANCE: Sodium dodecyl sulfate is firstly used as an eluent in micro matrix solid phase dispersion and plays a dual role throughout the analytical procedure, including extraction solvent in sample preparation and micelle pseudophase during online stacking. It brings great procedure convenience to the method. The sensitivity of this method can improve up to 1283-folds compared with the normal mode. Moreover, the overall strategy indicates satisfied green potential evaluated by greenness assessment tools.

[Difference of effective component content and key enzyme gene expression of biosynthesis in Atractylodes chinensis with different leaf shapes].

In this study, four Atractylodes chinensis(A. chinensis) with different leaf shapes, such as the split leaf, long and narrow leaf, oval leaf, and large round leaf, were used as experimental materials to establish a method for simultaneously determining atractylodin, atractylenolide Ⅰ, ß-eudesmol, and atractylon in the rhizome of A. chinensis. The expression of key enzyme genes for biosynthesis of acetyl-CoA carboxylase(ACC), 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase(HMGR), and farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase(FPPS) was detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR). High performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) was used to compare the difference in the content of four active components in A. chinensis with different leaf shapes, and the correlation between the content of active components and the expression of key enzyme genes in biosynthesis was discussed. The results show that there was good linearity among atractylodin, atractylenolide Ⅰ, ß-eudesmol, and atractylon in the range of 3.30-33.00 µg·mL~(-1)(r =0.999 7), 12.04-120.40 µg·mL~(-1)(r =0.999 5), 29.16-291.60 µg·mL~(-1)(r =0.999 5), and 14.20-142.00 µg·mL~(-1)(r =0.999 5), respectively. The average recoveries were 99.77%(RSD=2.1%), 98.56%(RSD=1.2%), 103.0%(RSD=1.2%), and 100.6%(RSD=1.5%), respectively. The method was accurate and had good reproducibility, which could be used to simultaneously detect atractylodin, atractylenolide Ⅰ, ß-eudesmol, and atractylon. The results showed that there were significant differences in the content of four active components in A. chinensis with different leaf shapes. The content of atractylodin, atractylenolide Ⅰ, and ß-eudesmol in A. chinensis with split leaves was the highest, which were 1.341 9, 5.237 2, and 12.084 3 mg·g~(-1), respectively. The content of atractylon in A. chinensis with long and narrow leaves was the highest(5.470 1 mg·g~(-1)). The content of atractylodin, atractylenolide Ⅰ, ß-eudesmol, and atractylon in A. chinensis with oval leaves was the lowest. The total content of the four effective components in descending order was A. chinensis with split leaves > A. chinensis with long and narrow leaves > A. chinensis with large round leaves > A. chinensis with oval leaves. The gene expression levels of key enzymes ACC, HMGR, and FPPS in A. chinensis with split leaves were the highest(P < 0.05), and the gene expression levels of key enzymes ACC and HMGR in A. chinensis with oval leaves were the lowest(P < 0.05). The gene expression level of key enzyme FPPS in A. chinensis with large round leaves was the lowest. In A. chinensis with different leaf shapes, the key enzyme gene ACC was significantly positively correlated with the polyacetylene component, namely atractylodin(P < 0.01), and the key enzyme genes HMGR and FPPS were positively correlated with the sesquiterpene components, namely atractylenolide Ⅰ, ß-eudesmol, and atractylon. In summary, the quality of A. chinensis with split leaves is the best, and the biosynthesis of atractylodin is significantly correlated with the gene expression of key enzyme ACC, which provides a theoretical basis for screening and optimizing the germplasm resources of A. chinensis and improving the quality of medicinal materials.

Quantitative analysis of six sesquiterpene glycosides from Dendrobium nobile Lindl. under different growth conditions by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry in MRM mode.

INTRODUCTION: The sesquiterpene glycosides (SGs) from Dendrobium nobile Lindl. have immunomodulatory effects. However, there are no studies on the growth conditions affecting its contents and quantitative analysis methods. OBJECTIVE: In the present study, a quantitative analysis method for six SGs from D. nobile was established. We explored which growth conditions could affect the contents of SGs, providing a basis for the cultivation and clinical application of D. nobile. METHODS: Firstly, based on the optimization of mass spectrometry parameters and extraction conditions for six SGs in D. nobile, a method for the determination of the contents of six SGs was established using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-QqQ-MS/MS) in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. Then, the methodology of the established method was validated. Secondly, the established method was applied to determine the contents of six SGs from 78 samples of D. nobile grown under different growth conditions. Finally, chemometrics analysis was employed to analyze the results and select optimal growth conditions for D. nobile. RESULTS: The results indicated significant variations in the contents of SGs from D. nobile grown under different growth conditions. The primary factors influencing SG contents included age, geographical origin, altitude, and epiphytic pattern. CONCLUSION: Therefore, the established method for determining SG contents from D. nobile is stable. In particular, the SG contents were relatively high in samples of 3-year-old D. nobile grown at an altitude of approximately 500 m on Danxia rocks in Chishui, Guizhou.

GC-MS AND Chemometric Analysis of the Essential Oils Obtained from Mexican Commercial Chamomilla Recutita Teas.

The essential oils prepared by hydrodistillation of twenty-one brands of German chamomile (S1-S21) commercialized in Mexico were analyzed by GS-MS. Altogether, twenty-four different compounds were identified in the analyzed samples, varying from 77 to 100 % of the total composition. Multivariate analyses were applied to explore similarity/dissimilarity and correlation between all samples; the results revealed a strong correlation among samples S4, S5, and S7-S21 due to the presence of (Z)-en-yn-dicycloether [(Z)-tonghaosu], α-bisabolol, ß-farnesene, ß-eudesmol, and xanthoxylin. The samples S1-S3 and S6 were clustered separately. Samples S1, S3, and S6 were characterized by their higher content of bisabolol oxide A (38.78 %, 51.84 %, and 70.46 %, respectively) as most known chemotypes of German chamomile, but only S1 and S3 contained chamazulene. Finally, S2 differed from the others because of its high content of (E)-anethole (62.28 %), suggesting a case of adulteration or substitution of the crude drug employed for manufacturing the product.

Sesquiterpene Lactones and Flavonoid from the Leaves of Basin Big Sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata subsp. tridentata): Isolation, Characterization and Biological Activities.

This research is an exploratory study on the sesquiterpenes and flavonoid present in the leaves of Artemisia tridentata subsp. tridentata. The leaf foliage was extracted with 100% chloroform. Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) analysis of the crude extract showed four bands. Each band was purified by column chromatography followed by recrystallization. Three sesquiterpene lactones (SLs) were isolated-leucodin, matricarin and desacetylmatricarin. Of these, desacetylmatricarin was the major component. In addition, a highly bio-active flavonoid, quercetagetin 3,6,4'-trimethyl ether (QTE), was also isolated. This is the first report on the isolation of this component from the leaves of Artemisia tridentata subsp. tridentata. All the components were identified and isolated by TLC, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and mass spectrometry (MS) techniques. Likewise, the structure and stereochemistry of the purified components were characterized by extensive spectroscopic analysis, including 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) studies. The antioxidant activities of crude extract were analyzed, and their radical-scavenging ability was determined by Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. The crude extract showed antioxidant activity of 18.99 ± 0.51 and 11.59 ± 0.38 µmol TEg-1 FW for FRAP and DPPH assay, respectively, whereas the activities of matricarin, leucodin, desacetylmatricarin and QTE were 13.22, 13.03, 14.90 and 15.02 µmol TEg-1 FW, respectively, for the FRAP assay. The antitumor properties were probed by submitting the four isolated compounds to the National Cancer Institute (NCI) for NCI-60 cancer cell line screening. Overall, the results of the one-dose assay for each SL were unremarkable. However, the flavonoid's one-dose mean graph demonstrated significant growth inhibition and lethality, which prompted an evaluation of this compound against the 60-cell panel at a five-dose assay. Tests from two separate dates indicate a lethality of approximately 75% and 98% at the log-4 concentration when tested against the melanoma cancer line SK-Mel 5. This warrants further testing and derivatization of the bioactive components from sagebrush as a potential source for anticancer properties.

Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of essential oil of Alpinia menghaiensis S Q Tong & Y M Xia in S Q Tong from Vietnam / Composición química y actividad antimicrobiana de aceite escencial de Alpinia menghaiensis S Q Tong y Y M Xia en S Q Tong de Vietnam

The chemical constituents and antimic robial activity of the essential oil isolated from the rhizomes of Alpinia menghaiensis S.Q. Tong & Y.M. Xia in S.Q. Tong from Vietnam was studied and reported. The techniques of gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS) were used to characterize the chemical constituents of the essential oil while the microdilution assay was used to evaluate the antimicrobial activity. The main compounds identified in the rhizome essential oil consist of ß - pinene (46.5%), ß - phellandrene (25.7%) and α - pinene (8.5%). The studied essential oil inhibited the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC27853 with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) value of 15.32 µg/mL ± 0. 01, and median inhibitory concentration (IC50) value of 32.0 ± 0.01 µg/mL. The essential oil also displayed activity against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC25923 (MIC 31.57 ± 0.01 µg/mL) and Bacillus cereus ATCC14579 (MIC, 34.21 µg/mL ± 0.01 µg/mL), and IC 50 va lue of 64.0 ± 0.01 µg/mL. This is the first report on the rhizome oil composition, as well as the antimicrobial of essential oils from A. menghaiensis . The paper discusses further the comparative analysis of essential oils from A. menghaiensis .

Se investigaron los componentes químicos y la actividad antimicrobiana del aceite escencial aislado de los rizomas de Alpinia menghaiensis S.Q. Ton g & Y. M. Xia en S.Q. Tong de Vietnam. Se usaron las técnicas de cromatografía de gases (GC) y cromatografía de gases con espectrometría de masas (GC/MS) para caracterizar los componentes químicos del aceite escencial, mientras que se utilizó un ensayo de microdilución para evaluar la actividad antimicrobial. Se identificaron los componentes principales en el aceite escencial del rizoma, compuesto de ß - pineno (46.5%), ß - fellandreno (25.7%) y α - pineno (8.5%). El aceite escencial estudiado inhibió el crecimie nto de Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC27853 con concentraciones de actividad mínima inhibitoria (MIC) de 15.32 µg/mL ± 0.01, y una m ediana de concentración inhibitoria (IC 50 ) de 32.0 ± 0.01 µg/mL. El aceite escencial también mostró actividad contra Staphylococ cus aureus ATCC25923 (MIC 31.57 ± 0.01 µg/mL) y Bacillus cereus ATCC14579 (MIC, 34.21 µg/mL ± 0.01 µg/mL), y valor IC 50 de 64.0 ± 0.01 µg/mL. Este es el primer reporte sobre la composición del aceite de rizoma, así como de las propiedades antimicrobianas d e los aceites escenciales de A. menghaiensis . El artículo discute el análisis comparativo de los aceites escenciales de A. menghaiensis .

Undescribed sesquiterpene-diterpene heterodimers from the fruits of Aphanamixis polystachya selectively modulate inflammatory markers in RAW 264.7 cells.

Aphanapolystachones A-C (1-3), three undescribed sesquiterpene-diterpene heterodimers, were obtained from the fruits of Aphanamixis polystachya. Their structures and absolute configurations were identified by extensive analysis of HR-ESI-MS, NMR, experimental and TD-DFT calculated ECD spectra. The biosynthetic pathway of them was also proposed, which is produced by key intermolecular Diels-Alder [4 + 2]-cycloaddition reaction between a guaiane sesquiterpene and an acyclic diterpene. Compounds 1-3 inhibited NO production in LPS activated RAW 264.7 cells with the IC50 values of 1.7 ± 0.2, 3.0 ± 0.3, 5.3 ± 0.3 µM, respectively, lower than that of the positive control L-NMMA (31.5 ± 2.6 µM). In addition, compounds 1-3 significantly reduced IL-6 secretion at diluted concentration of 0.4 µM.