Abundant Natural Compounds Research Articles

The dissolution of galactomannans in type II/III deep eutectic solvents: Effect of polysaccharide structure and interaction mechanism

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) have garnered increasing attention as sustainable solvents for natural polysaccharides. Galactomannans (especially guar and locust bean gums) are abundant natural compounds used in food, medicine, agriculture and daily chemical products, whereas their high molecular weight and randomly distributed non-linear structures remain a huge challenge in solubilization and high value-added utilization. In this study, the dissolution of galactomannans in type II/III DESs was comprehensively investigated using density functional theory (DFT) calculation, experimental results, and molecular dynamics simulation (MD). The results indicated that immense anionic and neutral H-bonds supported by type II DESs (consisting of a quaternary ammonium salt and a metal chloride hydrate) could break and rebuild galactomannan H-bond networks, thereby exhibiting remarkable physical solubilization. A large number of active acid sites in type III DESs (consisting of a quaternary ammonium salt and a hydrogen bond donor) greatly improved solubility and cleaved the glycosidic bond, enabling the recovery of polysaccharides with a target molecular weight. Furthermore, significant correlations between solubility and the structure of galactomannans had been established, which meant that high molecular weight and rich galactose side-chains produced repulsive interactions with DESs, directly hindering dissolution. Overall, this work not only offered a framework for enhancing the dissolution of polysaccharides, but also proposed a promising strategy for development of task specific DESs promoting green chemistry and the use of sustainable bioresources.

Renoprotective effect of a novel combination of 6-gingerol and metformin in high-fat diet/streptozotocin-induced diabetic nephropathy in rats via targeting miRNA-146a, miRNA-223, TLR4/TRAF6/NLRP3 inflammasome pathway and HIF-1α

BackgroundMiRNA-146a and miRNA-223 are key epigenetic regulators of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/tumor necrosis factor-receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6)/NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome pathway, which is involved in diabetic nephropathy (DN) pathogenesis. The currently available oral anti-diabetic treatments have been insufficient to halt DN development and progression. Therefore, this work aimed to assess the renoprotective effect of the natural compound 6-gingerol (GR) either alone or in combination with metformin (MET) in high-fat diet/streptozotocin-induced DN in rats. The proposed molecular mechanisms were also investigated.MethodsOral gavage of 6-gingerol (100 mg/kg) and metformin (300 mg/kg) were administered to rats daily for eight weeks. MiRNA-146a, miRNA-223, TLR4, TRAF6, nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) (p65), NLRP3, caspase-1, and hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) mRNA expressions were measured using real-time PCR. ELISA was used to measure TLR4, TRAF6, NLRP3, caspase-1, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin-1-beta (IL-1β) renal tissue levels. Renal tissue histopathology and immunohistochemical examination of fibronectin and NF-κB (p65) were performed.Results6-Gingerol treatment significantly reduced kidney tissue damage and fibrosis. 6-Gingerol up-regulated miRNA-146a and miRNA-223 and reduced TLR4, TRAF6, NF-κB (p65), NLRP3, caspase-1, TNF-α, IL-1β, HIF-1α and fibronectin renal expressions. 6-Gingerol improved lipid profile and renal functions, attenuated renal hypertrophy, increased reduced glutathione, and decreased blood glucose and malondialdehyde levels. 6-Gingerol and metformin combination showed superior renoprotective effects than either alone.Conclusion6-Gingerol demonstrated a key protective role in DN by induction of miRNA-146a and miRNA-223 expression and inhibition of TLR4/TRAF6/NLRP3 inflammasome signaling. 6-Gingerol, a safe, affordable, and abundant natural compound, holds promise for use as an adjuvant therapy with metformin in diabetic patients to attenuate renal damage and stop the progression of DN.

Integrating UPLC-MS/MS with in Silico and in Vitro Screening Accelerates the Discovery of Active Compounds in Stephania epigaea

Traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) are popular in clinic because of their safety and efficacy. They contain abundant natural active compounds, which are important sources of new drug discovery. However, how to efficiently identify active compounds from complex ingredients remains a challenge. In this study, a method combining UHPLC-MS/MS characterization and in silico screening was developed to discover compounds with dopamine D2 receptor (D2R) activity in Stephania epigaea (S. epigaea). By combining the compounds identified in S. epigaea by UHPLC-MS/MS with reported compounds, a virtual library of 80 compounds was constructed for in silico screening. Potentially active compounds were chosen based on screening scores and subsequently tested for in vitro activity on a transfected cell line CHO-K1-D2 model using label-free cellular phenotypic assay. Three D2R agonists and five D2R antagonists were identified. (-)-Asimilobine, N-nornuciferine and (-)-roemerine were reported for the first time as D2R agonists, with EC50 values of 0.35 ± 0.04 μM, 1.37 ± 0.10 μM and 0.82 ± 0.22 μM, respectively. Their target specificity was validated by desensitization and antagonism assay. (-)-Isocorypalmine, (-)-tetrahydropalmatine, (-)-discretine, (+)-corydaline and (-)-roemeroline showed strong antagonistic activity on D2R with IC50 values of 92 ± 9.9 nM, 1.73 ± 0.13 μM, 0.34 ± 0.02 μM, 2.09 ± 0.22 μM and 0.85 ± 0.08 μM, respectively. Their kinetic binding profiles were characterized using co-stimulation assay and they were both D2R competitive antagonists. We docked these ligands with human D2R crystal structure and analyzed the structure-activity relationship of aporphine-type D2R agonists and protoberberine-type D2R antagonists. These results would help to elucidate the mechanism of action of S. epigaea for its analgesic and sedative efficacy and benefit for D2R drug design. This study demonstrated the potential of integrating UHPLC-MS/MS with in silico and in vitro screening for accelerating the discovery of active compounds from TCMs.

A step closer to sustainable CO2 conversion: Limonene carbonate production driven by ionic liquids

This work aims to advance the biocarbonate concept by developing the first process to produce limonene carbonate based on ionic liquids (ILs). Conventional petroleum-derived cyclic carbonates are recognized products partially composed of CO2 with the main drawback of the high energy consumption that imposes epoxide production. In contrast, natural epoxidable compounds, such as terpenes, stand out in the literature as a more sustainable open research line to enable CO2 conversion processes with better sustainable indicators. Limonene, an abundant natural compound, is identified as a key terpene in the aforementioned discussion. Ammonium-based ILs are experimentally selected and optimized, after covering massive anion and cation substituent tuning, achieving high selectivity and competitive yields to limonene carbonate. The reaction-extraction platform concept, which recovers the catalyst by liquid-liquid extraction, is envisioned and developed using a rational experimental-computational approach. The work concludes with a novel process to effectively produce limonene carbonate by using an IL catalyst and water as an extracting solvent. Ultimately, taking advance of the process simulation, a CO2 emissions assessment was conducted. Using renewable raw materials enhances the sustainability of CO2 conversion to cyclic carbonate, reducing global warming impact compared to fossil-based epoxides. However, limonene extraction and epoxidation have a tangible impact on the overall result of CO2 balance, turning efforts outside battery limits of the CO2 conversion process in the search of a limonene carbonate production line with negative neat CO2 emissions that may change the paradigm in the fixation of CO2 through cycloaddition reactions.

Annulated Heterocyclic[g]Coumarin Composites: Synthetic Approaches and Bioactive Profiling.

Coumarins, widely abundant natural heterocyclic compounds, are extensively employed in creating various biologically and pharmacologically potent substances. The hybridization of heterocycles presents a key opportunity to craft innovative multicyclic compounds with enhanced biological activity. Fusing different heterocyclic rings with the coumarin structure presents an intriguing method for crafting fresh hybrid compounds possessing remarkable biological effects. In the pursuit of creating heterocyclic-fused coumarins, a wide range of annulated heterocyclic[g]coumarin composites has been introduced, displaying impressive biological potency. The influence of the linear attachment of heterocyclic rings to the coumarin structure on the biological performance of the resulting compounds has been investigated. This review centers on the synthetic methodologies, structural activity relationship investigation, and biological potentials of annulated heterocyclic[g]coumarin composites. We conducted searches across several databases, including Web of Science, Google Scholar, PubMed, and Scopus. After sieving, we ultimately identified and included 71 pertinent studies published between 2000 and the middle of 2023. This will provide valuable perspectives for medicinal chemists in the prospective design and synthesis of lead compounds with significant therapeutic effects, centered around heterocycle-fused coumarin frameworks.

Caffeic Acid Phosphanium Derivatives: Potential Selective Antitumor, Antimicrobial and Antiprotozoal Agents.

Caffeic acid (CA) is one of the most abundant natural compounds present in plants and has a broad spectrum of beneficial pharmacological activities. However, in some cases, synthetic derivation of original molecules can expand their scope. This study focuses on the synthesis of caffeic acid phosphanium derivatives with the ambition of increasing their biological activities. Four caffeic acid phosphanium salts (CAPs) were synthesized and tested for their cytotoxic, antibacterial, antifungal, and amoebicidal activity in vitro, with the aim of identifying the best area for their medicinal use. CAPs exhibited significantly stronger cytotoxic activity against tested cell lines (HeLa, HCT116, MDA-MB-231 MCF-7, A2058, PANC-1, Jurkat) in comparison to caffeic acid. Focusing on Jurkat cells (human leukemic T cell lymphoma), the IC50 value of CAPs ranged from 0.9 to 8.5 μM while IC50 of CA was >300 μM. Antimicrobial testing also confirmed significantly higher activity of CAPs against selected microbes in comparison to CA, especially for Gram-positive bacteria (MIC 13-57 μM) and the yeast Candida albicans (MIC 13-57 μM). The anti-Acanthamoeba activity was studied against two pathogenic Acanthamoeba strains. In the case of A. lugdunensis, all CAPs revealed a stronger inhibitory effect (EC50 74-3125 μM) than CA (>105 µM), while in A. quina strain, the higher inhibition was observed for three derivatives (EC50 44-291 μM). The newly synthesized quaternary phosphanium salts of caffeic acid exhibited selective antitumor action and appeared to be promising antimicrobial agents for topical application, as well as potential molecules for further research.

Bio–based polymers from lignin

<p>Lignin, the most abundant natural aromatic compound on earth, offers valuable resources for the development of bio–based polymers. In recent years, a plethora of diverse polymer materials has been reported using either separated lignin or lignin–derived monomers. In this review, we present a comprehensive summary of recent achievements and compare these two well–known strategies. While utilizing lignin directly as starting materials has advantages in terms of cost–effectiveness and wider options, employing lignin–derived monomers suffer from higher costs and limited structural variety. However, the well–defined structure of lignin-derived aromatic monomers, and retention of functional group characteristics make this a promising strategy for future applications. Through this review paper, we aim to inspire more researchers in material science to focus on lignin—an intriguing and emerging carbon-neutral biomaterial.</p>

A review on bioactive compounds and health benefits of Baccaurea ramiflora

AbstractThe purpose of this review is to explore the underutilized and underexploited Burmese grape (Baccaurea ramiflora) as a valuable plant food crop grown in the northeastern region of India. Despite its seasonal availability, this fruit is used in various culinary applications and local delicacies. It is noteworthy for its abundant natural bioactive compounds that offer diverse health benefits. These bioactive compounds have demonstrated properties such as anti‐inflammatory, antiobesity, cytotoxic, and antidiabetic effects. This review compiles and analyzes the most recent research findings concerning the bioactive compounds found in Burmese grape's leaves, fruit, and seeds. Additionally, it investigates the physicochemical properties and nutritional composition of the fruit pulp and seed oil. The synthesis of this information provides a comprehensive understanding of the plant's phytochemical content, including essential components like vitamin C, iron, potassium, alkaloids, saponins, and phenolic acids, which contribute to its medicinal and health‐promoting attributes. The results presented in this review shed light on the potential applications of the Burmese grape and its bioactive compounds in various industrial sectors. With the growing interest in functional and nutraceutical products, the insights gathered here offer promising opportunities for leveraging the nutritional and health‐enhancing benefits of this fruit in the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Natural and anthropogenic organic brominated compounds in the southwestern Atlantic ocean: Bioaccumulation in coastal and oceanic dolphin species

Marine pollution is considered a current driver of change in the oceans and despite the urgency to develop more studies, there is limited information in the southern hemisphere. This study aimed to analyze the levels and profiles of natural (MeO-PBDEs) and anthropogenic (BFRs: PBDEs, HBB, PBEB) organic brominated compounds in adipose tissue of two species of dolphins with different distribution and trophic requirements from the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean; the short-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) and the Fraser's dolphin (Lagenodelphis hosei). In addition, we aim to investigate maternal transfer and biological pattern relationship (sex, age, sexual maturity) in short-beaked common dolphin bioaccumulation. The levels of both groups of contaminants were in the same order of magnitude as those reported for other marine mammals on both a regional and global scale. BFRs profiles were dominated by BDE 28 and BDE 47 in short-beaked common dolphin and Fraser's dolphin, respectively, whereas 2-MeO-BDE 68 was the most abundant natural compound in both species. Evidence of maternal transfer, temporary increase in BDE 154 levels and no influence of sex, age, or sexual maturity on brominated compound concentration was observed in short-beaked common dolphin. This study fills a gap in the knowledge of the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean providing new information on emerging organic pollutants bioavailability for dolphins and, therefore, for the different trophic webs. In addition, it serves as a baseline for further contamination assessments.

Biofumigation by Mustard Plants as an Application for Controlling Postharvest Gray Mold in Apple Fruits

Gray mold caused by Botrytis cinerea is a critical disease that results in severe postharvest losses for the apple industry. In recent years, biological control has become an increasingly effective approach for controlling postharvest diseases in fruits. Brassica plants contain abundant natural compounds with known antimicrobial activity against numerous plant pathogens. In this study, a large-scale screening of 90 mustard cultivars was conducted to evaluate their biofumigation effects against B. cinerea. Among these, one mustard cultivar named Dilong-1, displayed the highest inhibitory effect against B. cinerea, and was able to completely inhibit mycelial growth. Further investigations showed that fumigation with Dilong-1 inhibited mycelial growth, sporulation, and spore germination of B. cinerea in vitro. In addition, fumigation using Dilong-1 showed a wide antifungal spectrum, including other fruit postharvest pathogens such as Phytophthora litchii. Furthermore, apple gray mold disease severity was significantly reduced by biofumigation using Dilong-1. Importantly, fumigation with Dilong-1 did not negatively impact final apple qualities, including weight loss, firmness, and total soluble solids. These results suggested that Dilong-1 significantly inhibited gray mold decay caused by B. cinerea without affecting the quality of apple fruits. In conclusion, biological fumigation of apple fruits with the mustard cultivar Dilong-1 is a promising eco-friendly approach for controlling apple gray mold during storage and shipment.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibition Properties and Antioxidant Effects of Plants and their Bioactive Compounds as Cardioprotective Agent

Background: The prevalence of cardiovascular diseases is being increased; researchers are trying to explore effective preventive and treatment options. Antioxidant effects and AngiotensinConverting Enzyme (ACE) inhibitors demonstrated cardioprotective effects. Many herbs and plants have shown antiinflammatory, antioxidant, free radical scavenging, and ACE inhibition properties in preventing and treating cardiac-related disorders. Therefore, the exploration of bioactive compounds such as polyphenols, flavonoids, quercetin, kaempferol, isoflavones, and catechin needs to be explored as potential ACE inhibitors and antioxidants in preventing and treating cardiac-related diseases Objective: The present study is designed to investigate the cardio-protective potential of important bioactive compounds from plants and herbs. Methods: Articles were collected from electronic databases, such as PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and Science Direct, using the keywords antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, ACE inhibition and antihypertensive properties of plants and herbs. In vitro and in vivo studies on animal models have been included in the current study. Articles published in languages other than the English language were excluded, and finally, 100 manuscripts were included in this study. Results: Plants and herbs chosen for this study with abundant natural bioactive compounds have demonstrated ACE inhibition, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-hypertensive properties and can be an effective cardioprotective. Hence, it could pave the way for the development of new therapeutics that could be beneficial in treating cardiovascular diseases Conclusion: The current review focuses on herbs and plants possessing ACE inhibition, antioxidant, antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, hyperaccumulating and anti-hypertensive properties with their ability to prevent the breakdown of ACE I enzyme into ACE enzyme II, acting as ACE inhibitors and showing its strong potential as a cardioprotective agent. Also, it could support the development of new therapeutic agents to address cardiovascular problems.

ITRAQ Quantitative Proteomic Analysis of Different Expressed Proteins and Signal Pathways in Bakuchiol-Induced Hepatotoxicity.

Bakuchiol (BAK) is an abundant natural compound. BAK has been reported to have several biological activities such as anticancer, antiaging, anti-inflammatory, and prevention of bone loss. However, it causes hepatotoxicity, the mechanism of which is not known. In this study, we explored the mechanism of BAK hepatotoxicity by treating rats with 52.5 mg/kg and 262.5 mg/kg of BAK, administered continuously for 6 weeks. We examined the liver pathology and biochemical composition of bile to determine toxicity. Mechanisms of BAK hepatotoxicity were analyzed based on relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ) protein equivalent signatures and validated in vitro using LO2 cells. iTRAQ analysis revealed 281 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in liver tissue of the BAK-treated group, of which 215 were upregulated, and 66 were downregulated. GO and KEGG enrichment analysis revealed that bile secretion, lipid metabolism, and cytochrome P450 signaling pathways were enriched in DEPs. Among them, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα), farnesoid X receptor (FXR), and cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase (CYP7a1) were closely associated with the development and progression of BAK-induced hepatic metabolic dysfunction and abnormal bile metabolism. This study shows that BAK can induce hepatotoxicity through multiple signaling pathways.

Recent Progress of Cellulose-Based Hydrogel Photocatalysts and Their Applications.

With the development of science and technology, photocatalytic technology is of great interest. Nanosized photocatalysts are easy to agglomerate in an aqueous solution, which is unfavorable for recycling. Therefore, hydrogel-based photocatalytic composites were born. Compared with other photocatalytic carriers, hydrogels have a three-dimensional network structure, high water absorption, and a controllable shape. Meanwhile, the high permeability of these composites is an effective way to promote photocatalysis technology by inhibiting nanoparticle photo corrosion, while significantly ensuring the catalytic activity of the photocatalysts. With the growing energy crisis and limited reserves of traditional energy sources such as oil, the attention of researchers was drawn to natural polymers. Like almost all abundant natural polymer compounds in the world, cellulose has the advantages of non-toxicity, degradability, and biocompatibility. It is used as a class of reproducible crude material for the preparation of hydrogel photocatalytic composites. The network structure and high hydroxyl active sites of cellulose-based hydrogels improve the adsorption performance of catalysts and avoid nanoparticle collisions, indirectly enhancing their photocatalytic performance. In this paper, we sum up the current research progress of cellulose-based hydrogels. After briefly discussing the properties and preparation methods of cellulose and its descendant hydrogels, we explore the effects of hydrogels on photocatalytic properties. Next, the cellulose-based hydrogel photocatalytic composites are classified according to the type of catalyst, and the research progress in different fields is reviewed. Finally, the challenges they will face are summarized, and the development trends are prospected.

International comparison CCQM-K165: dimethyl sulfide in nitrogen at 5 nmol mol-1

Main textDimethyl sulfide (DMS) is produced mainly by the metabolic activities of oceanic phytoplankton and the most abundant natural sulfur compound in the atmosphere. DMS plays an important role for climate change since it is oxidized and forms sulfate aerosols in the atmosphere, affecting the Earth's radiation budget directly and indirectly. DMS is designated as one of the target reactive gases and monitored in the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Global Atmospheric Watch (GAW) programme. It is important to accurately monitor its global background levels with SI traceability for better understanding of the role of DMS in climate change. This comparison is organized by Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS). Gas mixtures gravimetrically prepared by KRISS are used for demonstrating measurement equivalence at the highest metrological level. This comparison (Track C) is designed to underpin participants' measurement capabilities of trace level DMS in nitrogen at the nominal amount fraction of 5 nmol mol-1.To reach the main text of this paper, click on Final Report. Note that this text is that which appears in Appendix B of the BIPM key comparison database https://www.bipm.org/kcdb/.The final report has been peer-reviewed and approved for publication by the CCQM, according to the provisions of the CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement (CIPM MRA).

Ecological Role of 6OH-BDE47: Is It a Chemical Offense Molecule Mediated by Enoyl-ACP Reductases?

Although hydroxylated polybrominated diphenyl ethers (OH-BDEs) are among the most abundant natural organobromine compounds, the fundamental biological rationale for marine organisms to produce OH-BDEs remains elusive. Herein, we demonstrated that natural OH-BDEs exerted strong antibacterial activities against Escherichia coli by inhibiting enoyl-[acyl-carrier-protein] reductase (FabI), while anthropogenic OH-BDEs were inactive. Distinct from E. coli, OH-BDE-producing marine γ-proteobacteria including Marinomonas mediterranea MMB-1 (MMB-1) and Pseudoalteromonas luteoviolacea 2ta16 (Pl2ta16) exhibited resistance to 6OH-BDE47. An alternative enoyl-[acyl-carrier-protein] (ACP) reductase, FabV, was detected in all three OH-BDE-producing marine γ-proteobacteria. Thermal stability and protein affinity purification studies revealed that 6OH-BDE47 did not bind to recombinant or endogenous FabV of MMB-1 or Pl2ta16, demonstrating that FabV was the primary mechanism for OH-BDE-producing marine γ-proteobacteria to be resistant to 6OH-BDE47. To further confirm if the laboratory results were evidenced in the field, the 16S rRNA sequencing and metagenomics data from seven field-collected marine sponges were analyzed. Notably, the two Clade 4 sponges containing high concentrations of 6OH-BDE47 exhibited a distinct microbiome community structure compared to the other analyzed clades. Correspondingly, FabV was found to be selectively enriched in the same Clade 4 sponges. The merged evidence from the laboratory experiments and field studies demonstrated that 6OH-BDE47 may act as a chemical offense molecule in marine sponges.

Research progress in synthetic biology of active compounds in Chinese medicinal plants

Mecicinal plants boast abundant natural compounds with significant pharmacological activity, and such compounds, featuring diversified and complex structures, can be used for research and development of drugs. At present, these natural compounds are directly extracted from herbs which, however, suffer from damaged wild resources and shortage of planting resources attributing to the increasing demand. Moreover, the low content in medicinal plants and complex structures are another challenge to the research and development of drugs. Heterologous synthesis with synthetic biology methods is a solution that has attracted wide attention. Synthetic bio-logy for the production of natural active compounds in Chinese medicinal plants involves the exploration of key enzymes in compound bio-synthetic pathways from plants, analysis of enzyme functions and mechanisms, and reconstruction and optimization of biosynthetic pathways in microorganisms for efficient synthesis of compounds. This study briefed the development process of synthetic biology and the biosynthetic pathways of terpenoids, alkaloids, and flavonoids, and summarized the related strategies of synthetic biology such as the reconstruction and optimization of metabolic pathways, regulation of fermentation process, and strain improvement, and the latest applications of heterogeneous synthetic biology in the production of natural compounds from Chinese medicinals. This study is expected to serve as a reference for the efficient production of terpenoids, alkaloids, flavonoids, and other active compounds from Chinese medicinal plants with strategies of synthetic biology.

Gallic acid attenuates cadmium mediated cardiac hypertrophic remodelling through upregulation of Nrf2 and PECAM-1signalling in rats

Gallic acid (GA) is an abundant natural polyphenolic compound found in vegetable and fruits that reduces the cardiac disease risk factor. This study aims to evaluate GA's role on cadmium (Cd) induced cardiac remodelling in experimental rats. Male Wistar rats were exposed to Cd (15 ppm) in drinking water and administered with GA orally (15 mg/kg/d) for 60 days. The results showed that GA regulated the lipid profile and reduced the LDL to 57 % compared with Cd treated rats. GA inhibited cardiac marker enzymes activity of CK-NAC (to 72.7 %) and CK-MB (to 100.3 %). Moreover, GA attenuated lipid peroxidation and enhanced the cardiac glutathione S transferase (GST) activity (89.2 %), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) (87 %), superoxide dismutase (SOD) (88.4 %) and catalase (CAT) activity (86.5 %). Histopathological examination showed that GA impaired the ventricular hypertrophy and fibrotic proliferation induced by Cd in rats. The combination of GA + Cd, decreased the gene expression of ANP (1-fold), BNP (0.5-fold) and β- MHC (0.9-fold). Furthermore, GA significantly reduced the expression of profibrotic (TGF-β) and proinflammatory (MCP-1) gene in Cd intoxicated rats. GA upregulated the expression of Nrf2 (2-fold), HO-1 (3-fold), and PECAM-1 (0.6-fold), which augments the detoxifying enzyme activity and cellular immunity in Cd intoxicated rats. The increased protein expression of Nrf2, PECAM-1 and decreased AKT-1 levels confirmed the mechanical action of GA during the hypertrophic condition. Thus, our results suggest that GA could act as a potential therapeutic agent regulating Nrf2 and PECAM-1 signalling pathways, thereby ameliorating Cd-induced pathological cardiac remodelling.

Interactions with Microbial Proteins Driving the Antibacterial Activity of Flavonoids.

Flavonoids are among the most abundant natural bioactive compounds produced by plants. Many different activities have been reported for these secondary metabolites against numerous cells and systems. One of the most interesting is certainly the antimicrobial, which is stimulated through various molecular mechanisms. In fact, flavonoids are effective both in directly damaging the envelope of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria but also by acting toward specific molecular targets essential for the survival of these microorganisms. The purpose of this paper is to present an overview of the most interesting results obtained in the research focused on the study of the interactions between flavonoids and bacterial proteins. Despite the great structural heterogeneity of these plant metabolites, it is interesting to observe that many flavonoids affect the same cellular pathways. Furthermore, it is evident that some of these compounds interact with more than one target, producing multiple effects. Taken together, the reported data demonstrate the great potential of flavonoids in developing innovative systems, which can help address the increasingly serious problem of antibiotic resistance.

Anticancer and biological properties of leaf and flower extracts of Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench

Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench is an important medicinal herb; its roots, leaves and, flowers have been used by the food and pharmaceutical industries. In this study, DNA protection, antimicrobial, antioxidant-enzyme inhibition, and antiproliferative activities of water, methanol (MeOH), and ethyl acetate (EA) extracts of leaves and flowers of E. purpurea were evaluated. In addition, total phenolics and flavonoids, as well as individual compounds, were identified using colorimetric assays and HPLC-ion trap mass spectrometry, respectively. Chicoric acid and its isomer were the most abundant natural compounds, with concentrations similar to previous studies of E. purpurea. All extracts had antimicrobial activity against a broad range of bacteria, particularly Enterococcus faecalis. The antiproliferative activity of the extracts on the HeLa cells was shown. The lowest value of IC50 (73 μg/ml) came from the 24 h MeOH extract of flowers. The water extract of leaves showed strong antioxidant activity with the DPPH, ABTS, CUPRAC, and FRAP assays. EA and MeOH extracts of leaves showed a significant inhibition ability of cholinesterase and tyrosinase, respectively. The presented study suggested that E. purpurea extracts had promising therapeutic properties. Further investigation at the cellular level could be done to highlight the mechanism behind these biological activities.

NMR detection of fatty acids content in walnut oil and compared with liquid chromatography

Walnut oil is endowed with a variety of physiological functions due to abundant natural compounds, and the effect of unsaturated fatty acids is crucial. In order to accurately and conveniently detect the fatty acids components and content in walnut oil, a quantitative method was developed to detect fatty acids content based on the 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR techniques. In addition, HPLC combined with MS was used to conduct qualitative analysis. HPLC method with an evaporative light-scattering detector was for the quantitative analysis and the fatty acids content was compared with the content from NMR. The result showed that there was no significant difference between 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR and HPLC (P > 0.05) and indicated that the NMR has the potential to be applied as a routine method for the analysis of fatty acids content in walnut oil.