An analytical framework combining online high-performance liquid chromatography methodologies and biological properties of different extracts of Leonurus cardiaca.

Little or no information is available concerning online high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) antioxidants and the antibiofilm effect of Leonurus cardiaca. Five distinct extractions of methanolic, ethyl acetate, dichloromethane, hexane, and water were obtained from L. cardiaca. In the online-HPLC-antioxidant analysis of all examined samples, rosmarinic acid emerged as the primary antioxidant, registering concentrations ranging from 6 to 15 ppm at wavelengths of 517 and 734 nm. Notably, the water extract exhibited robust antioxidant activity In vitro. Regarding acetylcholinesterase and butrylcholinesterase inhibition, the n-hexane extract exhibited superior inhibition with values of 3.08 and 5.83 galanthamine equivalent, respectively. Except for the water extract, all tested extracts (at a concentration of 20 µg/mL) exhibited substantial inhibitory activity against biofilm formation, in many cases superior to 80%, and reached even 94.52% against Escherichia coli. Although less vigorous, the extracts also acted against the mature biofilm (inhibition up 76.50% against Staphylococcus aureus). They could work against the metabolism inside an immature and mature biofilm, with inhibition percentages up to 93.18% (vs. Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and 76.50% (vs. Acinetobacter baumannii), respectively. Considering its significant antioxidants, enzyme inhibition, and antimicrobial activity, L. cardiaca emerges as a promising candidate for therapeutic potential.

An integrated multi-system to screen quality markers of blossom of Citrus aurantium L. var. amara Engl. via combining lipid-lowering and expectorant assays.

The present research demonstrated that an integrated multi-system based on the assays of lipid-lowering and expectorant effects was used to screen quality markers of an edible and medical material-the blossom of Citrus aurantium L. var. amara Engl. (BCAVA)-and a portion of active constituents were quantified in multiple batches to provide scientific data to establish a quality standard for BCAVA. Mouse models were developed to evaluate the lipid-lowering and expectorant effects, facilitating the investigation of medicinal parts through different polar extractions of BCAVA. Subsequently, ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry was utilized for the in vivo and in vitro identification of chemical profiles within the medicinal parts of BCAVA. This methodological approach led to the selection and quantification of several active compounds from 21 batches of BCAVA sourced from different geographical regions samples. Notably, the ethanol extract of BCAVA exhibited significant lipid-lowering and expectorant effects while 183 compounds were identified in vitro and 109 in vivo, respectively. Then, five key ingredients were quantified, and the quantitative data were subjected to statistical analysis to discriminate between samples from various geographical regions. Overall, the findings underscore the significance of an integrated, assay-based approach for the characterization and quality assessment of BCAVA.

A systemic review on Liubao tea: A time-honored dark tea with distinctive raw materials, process techniques, chemical profiles, and biological activities.

Liubao tea (LBT) is a unique microbial-fermented tea that boasts a long consumption history spanning 1500 years. Through a specific post-fermentation process, LBT crafted from local tea cultivars in Liubao town Guangxi acquires four distinct traits, namely, vibrant redness, thickness, aging aroma, and purity. The intricate transformations that occur during post-fermentation involve oxidation, degradation, methylation, glycosylation, and so forth, laying the substance foundation for the distinctive sensory traits. Additionally, LBT contains multitudinous bioactive compounds, such as ellagic acid, catechins, polysaccharides, and theabrownins, which contributes to the diverse modulation abilities on oxidative stress, metabolic syndromes, organic damage, and microbiota flora. However, research on LBT is currently scattered, and there is an urgent need for a systematical recapitulation of the manufacturing process, the dominant microorganisms during fermentation, the dynamic chemical alterations, the sensory traits, and the underlying health benefits. In this review, current research progresses on the peculiar tea varieties, the traditional and modern process technologies, the substance basis of sensory traits, and the latent bioactivities of LBT were comprehensively summarized. Furthermore, the present challenges and deficiencies that hinder the development of LBT, and the possible orientations and future perspectives were thoroughly discussed. By far, the productivity and quality of LBT remain restricted due to the reliance on labor and experience, as well as the incomplete understanding of the intricate interactions and underlying mechanisms involved in processing, organoleptic quality, and bioactivities. Consequently, further research is urgently warranted to address these gaps.

Bacterial community and chemical profiles of oil-polluted sites in selected cities of Uganda: potential for developing a bacterial-based product for remediation of oil-polluted sites.

BACKGROUND: Oil spills are ranked among the greatest global challenges to humanity. In Uganda, owing to the forthcoming full-scale production of multi-billion barrels of oil, the country's oil pollution burden is anticipated to escalate, necessitating remediation. Due to the unsuitability of several oil clean-up technologies, the search for cost-effective and environmentally friendly remediation technologies is paramount. We thus carried out this study to examine the occurrence of metabolically active indigenous bacterial species and chemical characteristics of soils with a long history of oil pollution in Uganda that can be used in the development of a bacterial-based product for remediation of oil-polluted sites. RESULTS: Total hydrocarbon analysis of the soil samples revealed that the three most abundant hydrocarbons were pyrene, anthracene and phenanthrene that were significantly higher in oil-polluted sites than in the control sites. Using the BIOLOG EcoPlate™, the study revealed that bacterial species richness, bacterial diversity and bacterial activity (ANOVA, p < 0.05) significantly varied among the sites. Only bacterial activity showed significant variation across the three cities (ANOVA, p < 0.05). Additionally, the study revealed significant moderate positive correlation between the bacterial community profiles with Zn and organic contents while correlations between the bacterial community profiles and the hydrocarbons were largely moderate and positively correlated. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed largely similar bacterial community profiles between the oil-polluted and control sites suggestive of the occurrence of metabolically active bacterial populations in both sites. The oil-polluted sites had higher petroleum hydrocarbon, heavy metal, nitrogen and phosphorus contents. Even though we observed similar bacterial community profiles between the oil polluted and control sites, the actual bacterial community composition may be different, owing to a higher exposure to petroleum hydrocarbons. However, the existence of oil degrading bacteria in unpolluted soils should not be overlooked. Thus, there is a need to ascertain the actual indigenous bacterial populations with potential to degrade hydrocarbons from both oil-polluted and unpolluted sites in Uganda to inform the design and development of a bacterial-based oil remediation product that could be used to manage the imminent pollution from oil exploration and increased utilization of petroleum products in Uganda.

Comprehensive chemical profile and quantitative analysis of the Shabyar tablet, a traditional ethnic medicine prescription, by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography with quadrupole-orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry.

The Shabyar tablet is commonly used as a traditional ethnic medicine prescription for the treatment of night blindness, poor vision, and headaches. However, the chemical components of the Shabyar tablet have not been holistically explored, which seriously hinders the discovery of the activity. This study qualitatively and quantitatively investigated the overall chemical profile of the Shabyar tablet using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography hyphenated with quadrupole-orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry. Altogether, 170 chemical components, including 59 flavonoids, 78 organic acids, 12 anthranones, three anthraquinones, one naphthalene, and 17 other compounds were tentatively identified and attributed, with 40 among these being unambiguously characterized in comparison with their corresponding authentic standards. To further determine the major representative constituents of the Shabyar tablet, a quantitative method was used for the simultaneous analysis of 33 characteristic components in Shabyar samples. The results were validated in terms of linearity, precision, repeatability, stability, and recovery. This newly developed approach could be successfully employed for evaluating the holistic quality of crude extracts and Chinese medicines in the Shabyar compound tablet and provide a solid chemical foundation for additional investigations on in vivo pharmacodynamics and therapeutic mechanisms to identify the potential effective components of traditional medicines.

Influence of thermal processing on the quality of hawthorn: Quality markers of heat-processed hawthorn.

Hawthorn and its derived products are used worldwide as foods as well as complementary medicine. During the preparation of hawthorn, heating and thermal processing are frequently reported. The thermal processing will change the medicinal purposes and modify the efficacy of hawthorn. However, details including the chemical profile shifting and quality markers of heat-processed hawthorn have not been well understood. In this study, we analyzed the hawthorn samples processed at different temperatures and different times by ultraviolet visible absorption spectrum and liquid-mass spectrometry technologies combined with multivariate statistical analysis. It was revealed for the first time that thermal processing could greatly change the ultraviolet-visible absorption spectra and chemical profiles of hawthorn even with heat treatment at 130°C for 10 min. And the ultraviolet visible absorption spectrum, especially the ratio value (RA500 nm/400 nm ), was a descriptive and qualitative indicator of heating degree for the thermal processing at the macroscopic level. Several components, such as hyperoside, chlorogenic acid, quercetin, and apigenin, decreased or increased in content during the processing, and they could be utilized as the chemical quality markers. The proposed quality markers for heat-processed hawthorn will be helpful for further optimizing the processing conditions of hawthorn.

Rapid analysis of components in Qizhiweitong tablets and plasma after oral administration in rats by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS based on a self-developed database.

Qizhiweitong is a famous traditional Chinese prescription medicine. It has been used to treat various stomach disorders, such as functional dyspepsia, chronic gastritis and intestinal stress syndrome, for a long time and gives favorable therapeutic effects in clinical settings. However, its chemical composition and possible bioactive components are not completely known. In the present study, we used ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MS) and qualitatively analyzed the chemical composition of Qizhiweitong tablet extract and the absorbed prototype constituents along with corresponding metabolites in rat plasma following oral administration of Qizhiweitong tablet on the basis of our self-developed component database that was established accurately and rapidly. We detected a total of 119 compounds and 61 xenobiotics in the Qizhiweitong tablet, which included 32 prototypes and 28 metabolites. The results of the present study laid a solid foundation for quality marker screening and an integrative pharmacology-based study on the Qizhiweitong tablet.

[Identification of chemical constituents of Xiaoer Chiqiao Qingre Granules based on UHPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap-MS/MS and network pharmacology analysis].

This study aimed to qualitatively analyze the chemical components in Xiaoer Chiqiao Qingre Granules(XRCQ) by UHPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap-MS/MS and identify its material basis. The absorbed components in plasma were combined for exploring the potential action mechanism by integrated network pharmacology. ACQUITY UPLC HSS T3(2.1 mm×100 mm, 1.8 µm) column and mobile phase system of 0.1% formic acid solution(A)-acetonitrile(B) were used for gradient elution, followed by high resolution liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry in both positive and negative ion scanning modes. According to the precise relative molecular mass and MS/MS fragment ions, a total of 124 chemical components were identified in XRCQ by the comparison with references and literature reports, among which 29 compounds were completely confirmed by comparison with reference substances. Then, the main absorbed components of XRCQ in plasma were also analyzed and clarified by UHPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap-MS/MS. BATMAN-TCM and SwissTargetPrediction were used for target prediction of absorbed components in plasma. Following the plotting of association network with Cytoscape 3.8.2, the core targets were subjected to GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis and a component-target-pathway network was constructed. A total of eight main targets of XRCQ against fever in children were obtained together with eight absorbed components in plasma, including glycyrhydinic acid, hesperidin, emodin, reticuline, daidzein, magnolignan C, magnolignan A, and magnolaldehyde D. It was inferred that XRCQ might improve alimentary system abnormality, inflammatory response, oxidative stress, and endocrine disorder through tumor necrosis factor, PI3 K-AKT, and other signaling pathways. The present study comprehensively expounded the chemical profiles of XRCQ and the main absorbed components in plasma and predicted the potential mechanism of XRCQ based on integrated network pharmacology, which has provided certain theoretical reference for the clinical application of XRCQ.

Quality transitivity of Danhong Huayu Koufuye: A study on chemical profiles of medicinal herbs, compound preparation and dosed rat plasma using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

Danhong Huayu Koufuye (DHK), an effective Chinese medicine preparation, is mainly used for the treatment of blurred vision and sudden blindness caused by qi stagnation and blood stasis, as well as the absorption period of central retinal vein occlusion. However, the current quality standard is relatively low, only stipulating the content of protocatechualdehyde. Chemical transitivity is the basis for discovering quality markers and is used in quality process control of Chinese medicines. Herein, the chemical profiles of seven medicinal herbs, DHK and dosed rat plasma were comprehensively analyzed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. As a result, 134 chemical constituents were identified in seven medicinal herbs, including salvianolic acids, diterpene quinones, phenolic acids, phthalides, cyanogenic glycosides, flavonoids and triterpenoid saponins. Among them, 55 chemical constituents were transferred to DHK along with extraction and preparation, and 26 were further absorbed into blood and metabolized to produce 11 metabolites after oral administration. The transitivity of DHK from medicinal herbs to compound preparation and into blood was analyzed for the first time. This article will be valuable to ascertain the quality markers for quality process control and further pharmacokinetic studies.

Neuroprotective and Anti-Amyloid ß Effect and Main Chemical Profiles of White Tea: Comparison Against Green, Oolong and Black Tea.

White tea (WT) is one of six tea types originally derived from Fujian Province, China. White tea is known for its health-promoting properties. However, the neuroprotective and anti-aggregatory properties of WT against the hallmark toxic Alzheimer's protein, Aß have not been investigated. In this study, WT, green tea (GT), oolong tea (OT) and black tea (BT) were manufactured using tea leaves from the cultivar Camellia sinensis (Jin Guanyin). The protective effects of these tea extracts were then studied under oxidative stress conditions via t-bhp and H2O2 exposure, in addition to Aß treatment using a PC-12 cell model. Each tea type failed to rescue PC-12 cells from either t-bhp or H2O2-mediated toxicity, however each extract exerted significant protection against Aß-evoked neurotoxicity. Results of the Thioflavin T Kinetic (ThT) and TEM assay showed that Aß aggregate formation was inhibited by each tea type. Additionally, TEM also supported the different anti-aggregatory effect of WT by modifying Aß into an amorphous and punctate aggregate morphology. Higher accumulated precedent or potential neuroprotective compounds in WT, including ECG''3Me, 8-C-ascorbyl-EGCG, GABA and Gln, in addition to flavonol or flavone glycosides detected by using UPLC-QTOF-MS and UPLC-QqQ-MS, may contribute to a favourable anti-aggregative and neuroprotective effect of WT against Aß.

Comparison of the chemical profiles and inflammatory mediator-inhibitory effects of three Siegesbeckia herbs used as Herba Siegesbeckiae (Xixiancao).

BACKGROUND: Herba Siegesbeckiae (HS, Xixiancao in Chinese) is a commonly used traditional Chinese medicinal herb for soothing joints. In ancient materia medica books, HS is recorded to be the aerial part of Siegesbeckia pubescens Makino (SP) which is also the only origin of HS in the 1963 edition of the Chinese Pharmacopeia (ChP). The aerial parts of Siegesbeckia orientalis L. (SO) and Siegesbeckia glabrescens Makino (SG) have been included as two additional origins for HS in each edition of ChP since 1977. However, chemical and pharmacological comparisons among these three species have not been conducted. METHODS: An HPLC with diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) method combined with similarity analysis, hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and principal component analysis (PCA) was developed for comparing the fingerprint chromatograms of the three species. The inhibitory effects of the three species on NO production and IL-6 secretion in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages were compared. RESULTS: Fingerprint chromatograms of the three species showed different profiles, but had 13 common peaks. Results from HCA and PCA of the common peaks demonstrated that all 14 herbal samples of the three species tended to be grouped and separated species dependently. The extents of inhibition on NO production and IL-6 secretion of the three species were different, with SG being the most and SP the least potent. CONCLUSIONS: Both chemical profiles and inflammatory mediator-inhibitory effects of the three species were different. These findings provide a chemical and pharmacological basis for determining whether the three species can all serve as the origins of HS.

Electrocardiographic effects of hawthorn (Crataegus oxyacantha) in healthy volunteers: A randomized controlled trial.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the electrocardiographic effects of hawthorn in healthy adult volunteers. It was double-blind cross-over trial randomized 20 healthy adult volunteers to receive either a single oral 160-mg dose of hawthorn or matching placebo. Triplicate 12-lead electrocardiograms were taken before treatment and at 1-, 2-, 4-, and 6-hr post-dose. Following at least a 7-day washout period, participants were crossed over to the opposing treatment arm and had the measurements repeated. The primary endpoint was the change in corrected (Fridericia) QT intervals (QTc I) at 4 and 6 hr. Maximum post-dose QTc I and changes in PR and QRS intervals were measured. No significant differences in 4- or 6-hr QTc I were seen between hawthorn and placebo. Maximum post-dose QTc I in the hawthorn and placebo groups were similar (346 ± 35 vs 346 ± 40 ms; p = .979). No significant adverse events were seen. In conclusion, a single dose of oral hawthorn had no effect on electrocardiographic parameters in healthy volunteers.

Chemical and biological comparison of different sections of Uncaria rhynchophylla (Gou-Teng).

Uncaria rhynchophylla (Gou-Teng in Chinese) is officially documented in Chinese pharmacopoeia as one of the authentic sources for the crude drug of Gou-Teng which has long been used for mental and cardiovascular diseases. Indole alkaloids are the characteristic constituents responsible for the desired hypotensive effect; however, the psychiatric active constituents of Gou-Teng are still unclear. According to traditional Chinese medicine theory, only the hook-bearing stems of U. rhynchophylla are used as the crude materials for Gou-Teng, while its leaves and fruits are scarcely used. The present study aimed to compare the metabolic fingerprints of different parts (hooks, stems, leaves and fruits) of U. rhynchophylla by LC-DAD-MS/MS analysis and further evaluate their psychiatric activities on HEK293 cell line in vitro. A total of 38 constituents including 26 alkaloids, six flavonoids, two triterpenoids, two chlorogenic acid analogs and two other compounds were characterized. The different parts of U. rhynchophylla can be well differentiated from their chemical profiles. Leaves displayed the most potent activity on both MT1 and MT2 receptors, with agonistic rates of 39.7% and 97.6%. For 5-HT1A and 5-HT2C receptors, hooks showed the strongest activity with agonistic rates of 92.6% and 83.1%, respectively. This investigation provided valuable information for understanding the chemical divergence between different parts of U. rhynchophylla, and their substantial bases for psychiatric purposes.

Comparison of chemical profiles between the root and aerial parts from three Bupleurum species based on a UHPLC-QTOF-MS metabolomics approach.

BACKGROUND: Bupleuri Radix (Chaihu) represents one of the most successful and widely used herbal medicines in Asia for the treatment of many diseases such as inflammatory disorders and infectious diseases over the past 2000 years. In the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, Chaihu is recorded as the dried roots of Bupleurum chinense DC. and B. scorzonerifolium Willd. (Umbelliferae). However, the widespread demand for the herb has tended to far outstrip the supply. Whether the aerial parts, which account for 70 ~ 85% of the dry weights of Bupleurum species, could be used as an alternative for the root has become an important scientific issue for the sustainable utilization of Bupleurum species. On the other hand, in some areas including the southeast of China as well as in Spain, the aerial parts of Bupleurum species have already been used in the folk medications. Therefore, to clarify whether the root and aerial parts of Bupleurum species are "equivalent" in the types and quantities of chemical constituents which subsequently influence their biological activities and therapeutic effects is of great importance for both the rational and sustainable use of this herb. METHODS: In the present study, the chemical profiles between the root and aerial parts of Bupleurum species from different species and collected from various locations were analyzed and compared by the ultra-high performance liquid chromatography quadrupole/time of flight-mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOF-MS). RESULTS: A total of 56 peaks were identified in the root and/or aerial parts from different batches of Bupleurum species, by comparison of references standards or with those reported in the literature. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was conducted for displaying the differentiating clustering between these two parts. CONCLUSION: The results disclosed the distinct variations between them, which indicated that the aerial parts could not be used as an alternative of root from a chemodiversity perspective. The differentiating markers resulted from the PCA analysis could also be utilized for the differentiation between them. Further validation of their biological differences is anticipated in the future study.

Chemical Profiles and Protective Effect of Hedyotis diffusa Willd in Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Renal Inflammation Mice.

Protective effect of Hedyotis diffusa (H. diffusa) Willd against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced renal inflammation was evaluated by the productions of cytokines and chemokine, and the bioactive constituents of H. diffusa were detected by the ultra-fast liquid chromatography-diode array detector-quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry (UFLC-DAD-Q-TOF-MS/MS) method. As the results showed, water extract of H. diffusa (equal to 5.0 g/kg body weight) obviously protected renal tissues, significantly suppressed the productions of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-6, and monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, as well as significantly promoted the production of IL-10 in serum and renal tissues. According the chemical profiles of H. diffusa, flavonoids, iridoid glycosides and anthraquinones were greatly detected in serum from H. diffusa extract treatment mice. Two main chemotypes, including eight flavonoids and four iridoid glycosides were found in renal tissues from H. diffusa extract treatment mice. The results demonstrated that water extract of H. diffusa had protective effect on renal inflammation, which possibly resulted from the bioactive constituents consisting of flavonoids, iridoids and anthraquinones.

Chemical differentiation of volatile compounds in crude and processed Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma by using comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography with time-of-flight mass spectrometry combined with multivariate data analysis.

In the present study, comprehensive 2D GC-TOF-MS combined with multivariate data analysis was applied to analyze the differences of the volatile components in crude and processed Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (AMR) samples. As a result, 26 compounds that were found in crude AMR samples disappeared in processed AMR samples, and 19 compounds were newly generated and identified in AMR after processing with wheat bran. Meanwhile, principal component analysis demonstrated that there were significant chemical differences between crude and processed AMR samples, and processing procedure caused obvious quantitative and qualitative changes of volatile components in AMR. The established method could be used to explain the chemical differentiation between crude and processed AMR, and to further understand the processing mechanism of herbal medicines.

Phytochemical Profiles and Cytotoxic Activity of Bursera fagaroides (Kunth) Engl. Leaves and Its Callus Culture.

Bursera fagaroides, popularly used in México, possesses bioactive lignans. These compounds are low in the bark, and its extraction endangers the life of the trees. The aim of the present investigation was to search for alternative sources of cytotoxic compounds in B. fagaroides prepared as leaves and in vitro callus cultures. The friable callus of B. fagaroides was established using a combination of plant growth regulators: 4 mgL-1 of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), 1 mgL-1 Naphthaleneacetic Acid (NAA) and 1 mgL-1 Zeatin. The maximum cell growth was at day 28 with a specific growth rate of µ = 0.059 days-1 and duplication time td = 11.8 days. HPLC quantification of the dichloromethane callus biomass extract showed that Scopoletin, with a concentration of 10.7 µg g-1 dry weight, was the main compound inducible as a phytoalexin by the addition of high concentrations of 2,4-D, as well as by the absence of nutrients in the culture medium. In this same extract, the compounds γ-sitosterol and stigmasterol were also identified by GC-MS analysis. Open column chromatography was used to separate and identify yatein, acetyl podophyllotoxin and 7',8'-dehydropodophyllotoxin in the leaves of the wild plant. Cytotoxic activity on four cancer cell lines was tested, with PC-3 prostate carcinoma (IC50 of 12.6 ± 4.6 µgmL-1) being the most sensitive to the wild-type plant extract and HeLa cervical carcinoma (IC50 of 72 ± 5 µgmL-1) being the most sensitive to the callus culture extract.

Phytochemical Profiles and Biological Activities of Plant Extracts from Aromatic Plants Cultivated in Cyprus.

Medicinal and aromatic plants' properties, still an interesting research area, are attributed to the presence of various specialized products that possess important pharmacological activities. In the present study, six medicinal/aromatic plants (Sideritis cypria, Origanum dubium, Melissa officinalis, Mentha piperita, Thymus capitatus, and Salvia fruticosa) were evaluated for their phytochemical and nutritive composition, as well as their biological activities, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic properties. The results obtained indicate that M. piperita was rich in proteins and minerals such as N and Mg, while S. cypria accumulated more K, Na, P, and Ca. The highest content of phenols and flavonoids was observed in M. piperita, followed by O. dubium and T. capitatus, which eventually influenced their high antioxidant capacity. NMR screening revealed the presence of (i) triterpenoids and hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives in M. officinalis; (ii) terpenoids, flavonoids, and phenolic acid derivatives in S. fruticosa; (iii) flavonoids and phenolic acid derivatives in M. piperita; (iv) phenolic monoterpenes in O. dubium and T. capitatus; and (v) terpenoids, flavones, and phenylethanoid glycosides in S. cypria. The results of the antimicrobial activity showed that the tested samples overall had quite good antimicrobial potential. High antibacterial activity was found in O. dubium and T. capitatus, while O. dubium and S. cypria exhibited great antifungal activities. The studied species also had an important effect on the viability of female-derived and colon cancer cells. In particular, in colon cancer cells, the extracts from T. capitatus, M. officinalis, M. piperita, and S. fruticosa exhibited a stronger effect on cell viability in the more metastatic cell line at significantly lower concentrations, indicating an important therapeutic potential in targeting highly metastatic tumors. This finding is worth further investigation. The present study unveiled interesting phytochemical profiles and biological properties of the six medicinal/aromatic plants, which should be further explored, contributing to green chemistry and the possible creation of natural health products for humans' health/nutrition and additives in cosmetics.

Preparation, chemical profiles, antioxidative activities, and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 inhibitory effect of date fruit vinegar.

Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is an important commercial crop extensively consumed as a staple food and has been applied in many ethnomedical systems. Fruit vinegar is a preservative, condiment, and beverage with a spectrum of health benefits. Studies about the preparation, chemical profiles, and bioactivities of date fruit vinegar (DFV) are fundamental requirements for industrialization production. This study focused on the lab-scaled producing conditions, chemical profiles of DFV, and its bioactivities in vitro. According to the results, a date wine containing 9.75% methanol was obtained by yeast fermenting the enzyme-hydrolyzed date juice with 23.11% ± 0.39% of total sugar content. The optimized acidic fermentation conditions were an inoculation amount of 0.02%, a fermentation temperature of 31.14°C, and an initial alcohol content of 7.78%. Total acidity and total phenolic contents of the DFV were 7.74% ± 0.29% and 1.44 mg gallic acid equivalent/mL, respectively. In total, 32 organic acids were quantitated in the unaged DFV, with acetic, L-malic, and oxoglutaric acids as the predominant compounds. A total of 930 volatiles were identified in the DFV, including 186 esters, 177 terpenoids, and 148 heterocyclic compounds. There are 18 phenolic acids presented in the DFV. In addition, 42 flavonoids were quantitated in the DFV, including catechin, taxifolin, and cynaroside. The results of free radical scavenging activities and reducing power demonstrated that the DFV displayed good antioxidant properties. The DFV also acted well on angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 inhibition. These results suggest that the DFV can be industrially developed as a dietary supplement.

Chemically modified galactans of Grateloupia indica: From production to in vitro antiviral activity.

Herpes simplex viruses (HSVs) have an affinity for heparan sulfate proteoglycans on cell surfaces, which is a determinant for virus entry. Herein, several sulfated galactans that mimic the active domain of the entry receptor were employed to prevent HSV infection. They were produced from Grateloupia indica using chlorosulfonic acid-pyridine (ClSO3H.Py)/N,N-dimethylformamide reagent (fraction G-402), SO3.Py/DMF reagent (G-403), or by aqueous extraction (G-401). These galactans contained varied molecular masses (33-55 kDa), and sulfate contents (12-20 %), and have different antiviral activities. Especially, the galactan (G-402) generated by using ClSO3H.Py/DMF, a novel reagent, exhibited the highest level of antiviral activity (EC50 = 0.36 µg/mL) compared to G-403 (EC50 = 15.6 µg/mL) and G-401 (EC50 = 17.9 µg/mL). This most active sulfated galactan possessed a linear chain containing ß-(1 â†’ 3)- and α-(1 â†’ 4)-linked Galp units with sulfate group at the O-2/4/6 and O-2/3/6 positions, respectively. The HSV-1 and HSV-2 strains were specifically inhibited by this novel 33 ± 15 kDa galactan, which also blocked the virus from entering the host cell. These results highlight the significant potential of this sulfated galactan for antiviral research and drug development. Additionally, the reagent used for the effective conversion of galactan hydroxy groups to sulfate during extraction may also be useful for the chemical transformation of other natural products.