Cressa cretica Pharmacognosy, and Pharmacology (A review )

Cressa cretica (Shuwwayl) is a halophytic that belongs to Convolvulaceae, naturally grown in the Middle East including Iraq. Traditionally the plant is used as a paste for sore treatment, also it is used for fever, jaundice, and other illness. Regarding nonclinical use it is used as goat, sheep, and camel feed also as an oil source. Flavonoids including quercetin, kamepferol, apigenin, and their glycosides, phenolic acid as chlorogenic acid, and phytosterols mainly ?–sitosterol were the most important phytochemicals that were detected in this halophyte. Crude ethanolic, methanolic extracts and ethyl acetate fraction of the areal parts were used in clinical studies and demonstrated various effects as hepatoprotective, cytotoxic, and genotoxic effect. In molecular docking studies, 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid showed antiviral effect vs SARS-CoV-2 (sever acute respiratory syndrome corona virus-2). The purpose of this review was to clarify and discuss all aspects regarding Cressa cretica.

Bioactivity-guided Isolation of TRAIL-Resistance-Overcoming Activity Compounds From the Leaves of Murraya exotica

Fractionation of the leaf extract from Murraya exotica led to the successful isolation of 12 compounds (1-12) with TRAIL-resistance-overcoming activity. Xanthinosin (1), 11α, 13-dihydroxanthinin (2), 11β, 13-dihydroxanthinosin (3), 4α, 11α, 13-trihydroxanthuminol (4), desacetylxanthanol (5), and lasidiol p-methoxybenzoate (6) were sesquiterpenes isolated from this plant for the first time, and 3 was isolated from natural sources for the first time. Among them, compounds 1 and 5 showed strong TRAIL-resistance-overcoming activity, but their mechanisms have already been revealed. Furthermore, dihydroxanthinin (2), 1, 5-dicaffeoylquinic acid (7), and (-) loliolide (8), which belong to different phytochemical groups, were investigated for their effects on increasing apoptosis induction to overcome TRAIL resistance using Western blot analysis. The results demonstrated that 2, 7, and 8 promoted TRAIL-induced apoptosis by increasing the expression of several proapoptotic markers, including cleaved caspases −3 and −8, and suppressing anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2.

An Evaluation of Phenolic Compounds, Carotenoids, and Antioxidant Properties in Leaves of South African Cultivars, Peruvian 199062.1 and USA's Beauregard

In this study, leaves of sweet potato cultivars from South Africa (“Ndou,” “Bophelo,” “Monate,” and “Blesbok”), “Beauregard,” a sweet potato cultivar from the USA, and a Peruvian cultivar “199062. 1” were analyzed using UPLC/QTOF/MS and chemometrics, with the aim of characterizing the locally developed sweet potato cultivars and comparing them with already well-known established varieties on the market. A set of 13 phenolic compounds was identified. A partial least squares discriminant analysis, a hierarchical cluster analysis, and variables importance in projection were used to successfully distinguish sweet potato varieties based on their distinct metabolites. Caffeic acid enabled to distinguish Cluster 1 leaves of varieties (“Beauregard” and “Ndou”) from Cluster 2 (“199062.1,” “Bophelo,” “Monate,” and “Blesbok”). The leaves of “Bophelo” contained the highest concentrations of rutin, quercetin 3-O-galactoside, 3-caffeoylquinic acid (3-CQA), (5-CQA), 1,3 dicaffeoylquinic acid (1,3-diCQA), 1,4-diCQA, and 3,5-diCQA. Furthermore, Bophelo leaves showed the highest antioxidant activities (FRAP 19.69 mM TEACg−1 and IC50 values of (3.51 and 3.43 mg ml−1) for DPPH and ABTS, respectively, compared to the other varieties. Leaves of “Blesbok” contained the highest levels of β-carotene (10.27 mg kg−1) and zeaxanthin (5.02 mg kg−1) on a dry weight basis compared to all other varieties. This study demonstrated that the leaves of local cultivars “Bophelo” and “Blesbok” have the potential to become functional ingredients for food processing.

Plantain based dough meal: nutritional property, antioxidant activity and dyslipidemia ameliorating potential in high-fat induced rats

Abstracts Background Dyslipidemia is an aberrant rise in blood lipids due to diet and lifestyle. It has implicated as the major risk factor for developing hypertension among other diseases. This study was designed to evaluate plantain based dough meal nutritional property, antioxidant activity and dyslipidemia ameliorating potential in high-fat induced rats. Methods The flour blends, i.e., PSC (Plantain 70%, Soycake 30%), PSR (Plantain 65%, Soycake 30%, Rice-bran 5%), PSO (Plantain 65%, Soycake 30%, Oat-bran 5%), PSRO (Plantain 60%, Soycake 30%, Rice-bran 5%, Oat-bran 5%) and controls (100% Plantain flour & Cerolina) were evaluated for chemical, antioxidants and antihyperlipidemia. Results Protein, fiber and energy composition varied from 2.2–4.97 g/100 g, 16.44–19.59 g/100 g and 369.7–385.5 kcal/100 g, respectively. Essential amino acid index and predicted-biological values of the foods ranged from 68.31–76.31% and 62.19–71.48%, respectively. Phenolic profiles (mg/g) were gallic acid (25.33–31.26), caffeic acid (2.75–4.61), ferulic acid (5.16–12.73), luteolin (16.31–23.60), kaempferol (21.51–30.64), quercetin (24.28–37.13), chlorogenic acid (42.25–59.78), myricetin (28.41–38.41), 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid (27.17–41.59) and 4, 5-dicaffeoylquinic acid (39.96–51.28). The antioxidant activity of PSRO on ABTS, DPPH, FRAP, Fe2+ chelation and OH free radicals was higher than other foods. Atherogenic index, coronary risk index and log (TG/HDL-conc.) of rats fed on experimental foods were lower than recommended values. Conclusion The study established that PSRO had higher antioxidant and anti-hyperlipidemia properties; hence, it may be suitable as a functional food.

Valorization of Carrot Pomace: UVC Induced Accumulation of Antioxidant Phenolic Compounds

Carrot pomace is the main waste residue obtained during carrot juice extraction. Plant tissues respond to abiotic stresses (i.e., wounding stress and ultraviolet C (UVC) radiation) by accumulating bioactive compounds. Due to the mechanical damage occurring during juice extraction, carrot pomace undergoes extreme wounding stress. In this study, the effects of UVC light (11.8 W m−2, 0–120 min) and storage time (48 h, 25 °C) on the accumulation of phenolics compounds and the antioxidant activity (AOX) of carrot pomace were evaluated. Carrot pomace that was non-treated with UVC (control) showed a 709.5% increase in total phenolics at 48 h. A high correlation of AOX values against total phenolics (R2 = 0.87) was observed, indicating that phenolics were the main contributors to the AOX of the tissue. After UVC treatment, the pomace that was radiated for 120 min with UVC showed an increase (40.4%) in chlorogenic acid (CHA) content. At 24 h, protocatechuic acid and 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid, which were not detected before storage, showed accumulation by 166.5 mg/kg and 169.4 mg/kg, respectively, in UVC treated pomace. Chlorogenic acid showed the highest increase (143.6%) at 48 h in the control. Valorization of carrot pomace was achieved by increasing its concentration of antioxidant phenolics through UVC radiation.

Metabolite Profiling of Helichrysum italicum Derived Food Supplements by 1H-NMR-Based Metabolomics

Helichrysum italicum is a medicinal plant from the Mediterranean area, widely used in traditional medicine for its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antioxidant properties and for its preventive effects on microcirculation diseases. Due to these properties, it finds large applications in cosmetic, food and pharmaceutical fields. Additionally, hydroalcoholic extracts and mother tinctures based on H. italicum represent products with a high commercial value, widely distributed not only in drug stores but also on on-line markets. The different extraction procedures used can greatly affect the fingerprints of the extracts, resulting in a different qualitative or quantitative profile of the chemical constituents responsible for biological activity. The aim of the present study was to characterize the composition of bioactive compounds present in water-ethanol and glycerol extracts of H. italicum derived food supplements. Metabolite profiles of the extracts were obtained by 1H NMR experiments and data were processed by multivariate statistical analysis to highlight differences in the extracts and to evidence the extracts with the highest concentrations of bioactive metabolites. In detail, this work highlights how derived food supplements of H. italicum obtained using ethanol-water mixtures ranging from 45% to 20% of ethanol represent the products with the highest amount of both primary (amino acids) and secondary metabolites including 3,4-dicaffeoylquinic acid (9), chlorogenic acid (10), 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid (11), and kaempferol 3-O-glucopyranoside (12). Moreover, it is evident that the use of an ethanol-water mixture 20:80 is the most suitable method to afford the highest number of phenolic compounds, while food-derived supplements obtained by glycerol extraction are characterized by a high amount of β-glucose and α-glucose and a low content of phenolic compounds.

Calystegia soldanella Extract Exerts Anti-oxidative and Anti-inflammatory Effects via the Regulation of the NF-κB/Nrf-2 Pathways in Mouse Macrophages

Plant polyphenols are widely used to treat various inflammatory diseases, owing to their ability to suppress reactive oxygen species production and the expression of inflammatory cytokines. Herein, we investigated phenolic compounds from Calystegia soldanella using UPLC Q-TOF MS/MS and their antioxidative and anti-inflammatory activities were analyzed. The C. soldanella ethyl acetate fraction (CsEF) had the strongest antioxidative activity, given its high polyphenol compound content. It also exhibited anti-inflammatory effects, inhibiting the production of inflammatory cytokines such as NO, PGE2, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in LPS-stimulated mouse macrophages. CsEF activated the nuclear transcription factor Nrf-2, thereby upregulating antioxidant enzymes such as HO-1 and NQO-1 and inhibiting NF-κB expression, which in turn, suppressed the expression of COX-2, iNOS, and inflammatory cytokines, ultimately exerting anti-inflammatory effects. Further, UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS was used to analyze the polyphenol compound contents in CsEF. The quercetin glycosides isoquercitrin and quercitrin were the primary flavonoid compounds, while the caffeic acid derivatives, chlorogenic acid and dicaffeoylquinic acid, were the primary phenolic acids. Thus, C. soldanella, which had only a limited use thus far as a medicinal plant, may serve as a natural medicinal resource for treating inflammatory diseases.

Anti-Inflammatory Effect of 4,5-Dicaffeoylquinic Acid on RAW264.7 Cells and a Rat Model of Inflammation

Anti-inflammatory agents that are safer and more effective than the currently used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are urgently needed. The dicaffeoylquinic acid (diCQA) isomer 4,5-diCQA exhibits antioxidant activity and various other health-promoting benefits; however, its anti-inflammatory properties require further investigation. This study was conducted to evaluate the anti-inflammatory properties of 4,5-diCQA in vitro and in vivo using RAW264.7 cells and a carrageenan-induced inflammation model, respectively. In RAW264.7 cells, 4,5-diCQA pretreatment significantly inhibited lipopolysaccharide-induced expression of nitric oxide, prostaglandin E2, nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, and interleukin-6, without inducing cytotoxicity. The inhibitory effects of 4,5-diCQA were mediated by the suppression of nuclear factor-κB nuclear translocation and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation. Oral administration of 4,5-diCQA at doses of 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg of the body weight suppressed carrageenan-induced edema and the expression of nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, and tumor necrosis factor-α in a dose-dependent manner. Collectively, our results suggest that 4,5-diCQA exerts anti-inflammatory effects by suppressing activation of the nuclear factor-κB and MAPK pathways in vitro and reducing carrageenan-induced edema in vivo. Therefore, 4,5-diCQA shows potential as a natural alternative to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Protective mechanism of Erigeron breviscapus injection on blood–brain barrier injury induced by cerebral ischemia in rats

This study investigates the protective effect of Erigeron breviscapus injection, a classic traditional Chinese medicine most typically used by Chinese minority to treat stroke, on cerebral ischemia–reperfusion injury and the related signaling pathways. Use network pharmacology methods to study the relationship between E. breviscapus (Vant.) Hand-Mazz. and ischemic stroke, predict the mechanism and active ingredients of E. breviscapus (Vant.) Hand-Mazz. in improving ischemic stroke disease. We study the protective effect of E. breviscapus injection on blood–brain barrier (BBB) injuries induced by cerebral ischemia in rats by regulating the ROS/RNS-MMPs-TJs signaling pathway. The rat model of focal cerebral ischemia–reperfusion injury has been prepared using the wire-suppository method. Firstly, the efficacy of E. breviscapus injection, Scutellarin and 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid in protecting BBB injury caused by cerebral ischemia has been evaluated. Secondly, the following two methods have been used to study the mechanism of E. breviscapus injection in regulating the ROS/RNS-MMPS-TJS signaling pathway: real-time PCR and western blot for the determination of iNOS, MMP-9, claudin-5, occludin, ZO-1 mRNA and protein expression in brain tissue. We find that PI3K-Akt signaling pathway predicted by network pharmaology affects the blood–brain barrier function, so we chose the blood–brain barrier-related MMP-9, claudin-5, iNOS, occludin and ZO-1 proteins are used for research. The results of our research show that 3 drugs can reduce the rate of cerebral infarction in rats, relieve the abnormal neuroethology of rats, reduce the degree of brain tissue lesion, increase the number of the Nissl corpuscle cells and repair the neuron ultrastructure in injured rats. At the same time, it can obviously reduce the ultrastructure damage of the BBB in rats. All three drugs significantly reduced the content of Evans blue in the ischemic brain tissue caused by cerebral ischemia in rats with BBB injury. In addition, E. breviscapus injection, Scutellarin and 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid can decrease the protein expression of iNOS and MMP-9 in rat ischemic brain tissue. In addition, 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid can increase the protein expression of claudin-5. We conclude that E. breviscapus injection, Scutellarin and 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid have obvious therapeutic effects on BBB and neuron injury induced by cerebral ischemia in rats. Our results from studying the mechanism of action show that E. breviscapus injection and Scutellarin inhibited the activation of MMP-9 by inhibiting the synthesis of iNOS, 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid inhibits the expression and activation of MMP-9 by inhibiting the activation of iNOS and reducing the generation of free radicals, thus reducing the degradation of important cytoskeleton connexin claudin-5 in the tight junction (TJ) structure by inhibiting the expression and activation of MMP-9. Finally BBB structure integrity was protected.

Prohydrojasmon Promotes the Accumulation of Phenolic Compounds in Red Leaf Lettuce

Prohydrojasmon (PDJ) is a synthetic jasmonate derivative that is primarily used as a growth regulator, but its mechanism of action is unclear. In this study, we elucidated the effects of PDJ on phytochemical production in red leaf lettuce. The PDJ treatments promoted the accumulation of phenolic compounds in aerial plant parts. An LC-MS analysis revealed that these accumulated compounds were identified as cyanidin-3-O-glucoside, cyanidin-3-O-(6″-O-malonyl)-glucoside and cyanidin-3-O-(6″-O-malonyl)-glucoside methyl ester. The abundance of these compounds in lettuce extracts increased significantly in response to the PDJ treatment. Additionally, the LC-MS analysis also identified the accumulated phenolic compounds in the extracts of PDJ-treated lettuce, including caffeoyltartaric acid, chlorogenic acid, caffeoylmalic acid, chicoric acid, and dicaffeoylquinic acid. Gene expression analyses indicated the PDJ treatments upregulated the expression of PAL, F3H, and ANS genes in lettuce. These results suggest that PDJ treatments enhance the expression of genes involved in the synthesis of anthocyanins and phenolic compounds, resulting in an increase in the quantities of these compounds, which reportedly have various functions affecting human physiology.