Alba Root Research Articles

Antibacterial Activity Test of Sonneratia alba Mangrove Root Infusa Against Propionibacterium acnes and Salmonella typhi Bacteria

Infectious diseases can be caused by microbiological agents, namely bacteria. The ability of bacteria to invade and cause infection is referred to as a pathogenicity. The results of phytochemical screening produced secondary metabolite compounds alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, phenolics that act as antibacterial. This study aims to determine the antibacterial activity of Sonneratia alba mangrove root infusa against Propionibacterium acnes and Salmonella typhi bacteria. This type of research is a laboratory experimental research, using the well method by doing three repetitions on 5 concentration series, 1 positive control and 1 negative control for two types of bacteria namely Propionibacterium acnes and Salmonella typhi. The results obtained from the Kruskal Wallis test on Propionibacterium acnes bacteria are Sig 0.028 < 0.05, and the results of the ANOVA test on Salmonella typhi bacteria from Sig = 0.000 < 0.05. And it is known in Propionibacterium acnes bacteria that 25% concentration inhibits 5.83 mm, 50% concentration inhibits 6.3 mm, 100% concentration inhibits 9.43 mm. And in Salmonella typhi bacteria that concentration is known that 25% concentration inhibits 9.73 mm, 50% concentration inhibits 9.43 mm, 100% concentration inhibits 11.57 mm. Based on the results of the study, it can be concluded that Sonneratia alba root infusa has antibacterial activity on Propionibacterium acnes and Salmonella typhii bacteria.

Antiviral Potential of Chiococca alba (L.) Hitchc. Plant Extracts Against Chikungunya and Mayaro Viruses.

Chikungunya and Mayaro fevers are viral infectious diseases characterized by fever and arthralgia, for which there are currently no effective vaccines or treatments. The urgent need for novel antiviral agents against Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) and Mayaro virus (MAYV) has led to interest in plant-based compounds that can disrupt the viral replication cycle. Chiococca alba (L.) Hitchc., a Neotropical plant traditionally used by Yucatec Maya healers as an antipyretic and antirheumatic, may hold potential as a source of antiviral agents. This study aimed to evaluate the antiviral potential of C. alba methanolic extracts (CAH21 and CAH24) against CHIKV and MAYV through preliminary in vitro and in silico analyses. The cytotoxicity of two methanolic extracts from C. alba roots was assessed in Vero cells using the neutral red assay, and their viral activity was determined via plaque assay post-treatment. Given the observed antiviral effects, we used computational predictions to explore interactions between the multifunctional nsP2 proteases and secondary metabolites identified in C. alba extracts. The metabolites were identified using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of flavonoids, coumarins, and phenolic acids in the C. alba extracts. In vitro assays demonstrated that both extracts inhibited over 70% of activity against CHIKV and MAYV at a concentration of 60 µg/mL. In silico predictions suggested that the flavonoids naringin and vitexin had the highest affinity for the nsP2 proteases of CHIKV and MAYV, indicating their potential as viral inhibitors. Our findings revealed that C. alba extract represents a promising source of novel antiviral compounds.

Cadmium (Cd) detoxification and activation of plant defense enzymes activation in Wheat (Triticum aestivum) through the use of endophytic Bacillus thuringiensis and Salix alba root powder

Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic heavy metal and a threat to the ecosystem therefore the current investigation was designed to use endophytic bacteria from the Salix alba roots and to investigate its plant growth promoting and Cd detoxification ability with and without Salix alba root powder. In a complete randomized design (CRD), the cadmium sulfate was applied at the rate of 20mg/kg and 40mg/kg soil. The Bacillus thuringiensis (Accession # MW979616) was identified from Salix alba roots. The combination of Bacillus thuringiensis inoculated seeds +0.5gm root powder showed significant increase in wheat shoot dry weight, root fresh weight, catalase, and ascorbate peroxidases by 457%, 223%, 105% and 74%, respectively. The application of Bacillus thuringiensis with Salix alba root powder boosted the plant growth and defense at higher concentrations of Cd. In another treatment with Bacillus thuringiensis inoculated seeds + CdSO4 40mg/kg + 0.5gm root powder significantly increased the shoot fresh weight, root fresh weight, root dry weight, proline, sugar, superoxide dismutase, and peroxidase by 456%, 650%, 115%, 91%, 80%, 350%, and 250%, respectively with 80% reduction in plant Cd accumulation and increased bacterial population. Bacillus thuringiensis and Salix alba root powder can be useful for plant growth, Cd toxicity mitigation, accelerating bacterial activity in Cd-contaminated soil and uplifting the plant defense under heavy metal stress.

Biopharmaceutical profiling of anti-infective sanggenons from Morus alba root bark for inhalation administration

Mulberry Diels-Alder-type adducts (MDAAs), isolated from Morus alba root bark, exhibit dual activity against viral and bacterial pathogens but show sobering efficacy following oral administration. Inhalation administration may overcome issues with oral bioavailability and improve efficacy for the treatment of respiratory infections. To assess the suitability of MDAAs for inhalation administration, physicochemical (e.g. pH, pKa, logP, pH-dependent solubility) and biopharmaceutical (epithelial cytotoxicity, permeability, and uptake) properties of two bioactive MDAA stereoisomers sanggenon C (SGC) and sanggenon D (SGD) were evaluated as isolated natural compounds and within parent extracts (MA21, MA60). Despite their structural similarity, SGD exhibited a 10-fold higher solubility than SGC across pH 1.2–7.4, with slight increases at neutral pH. Both compounds were more soluble in isolated form than in the parent extracts. The more lipophilic SGC was found to be more cytotoxic when compared to SGD, indicating a better cellular penetration, which was confirmed by uptake studies. Nonetheless, SGC and SGD exhibited no measurable permeability across intact Calu-3 monolayers, highlighting their potential for increased lung retention and improved local anti-infective activity following inhalation administration. Results suggest that SGC and SGD in isolated form, rather than as extracts, are promising candidates for pulmonary drug delivery to treat lung infections.

Unveiling the Antimicrobial and Larvicidal Potential of Butyrolactones and Orsellinic Acid Derivatives from the Morus alba-derived Fungus Aspergillus terreus via Integrated In vitro and In silico Approaches.

The emergence of multi-drug-resistant microbial strains spurred the search for antimicrobial agents; as a result, two distinct approaches were combined: four in vitro studies and four corresponding molecular docking investigations. Antituberculosis, anti-methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (anti-MRSA), antifungal, and larvicidal activities of the crude extract, two fractions, and seven isolated compounds from Aspergillus terreus derived from Morus alba roots were explored. The isolated compounds (5 butyrolactones and 2 orsellinic acid derivatives) showed potent to moderate antitubercular activity with MIC values ranging from 1.95 to 62.5 μg/mL (compared to isoniazid, 0.24 μg/mL) and promising anti-MRSA potential with inhibition zone diameters ranging from 8 to 25 mm. Additionally, the in silico study proved that the isolated compounds bind to the two corresponding proteins' active sites with high to moderate -(C-Docker interaction energies) and stable interactions. The isolated compounds displayed antifungal activities against different fungal strains at diverse degrees of activity, among them compound (8"S,9")-dihydroxy-dihydrobutyrolactone I eliciting the best antifungal activity. Meanwhile, all isolated compounds, fractions, and the crude extract demonstrated extremely selective potent to moderate activity against Cryptococcus neoformans. The isolated five butyrolactone derivatives could develop potential mosquito larvicidal agents as a result of promising docking outcomes in the larval enzyme carboxylesterase.

Streptococcus mutans와 Porphyromonas gingivalis에 대한 상백피(Morus alba root bark) 에탄올 추출물의 항균 효과

This study aimed to analyze the antibacterial activity of the ethanol extract of Morus alba root bark (MAEE) against two critical oral pathogens, Streptococcus mutans and Porphyromonas gingivalis. The Griess reaction and WST-1 assays were used to analyze the nitric oxide (NO) inhibitory and cytotoxic effects of MAEE on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. The antibacterial activity of MAEE was evaluated using a disk diffusion assay and a growth inhibition assay by determining minimum inhibition concentrations (MICs) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs). MAEE treatment dose-dependently inhibited NO production and had no cytotoxic effect on LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Furthermore, MAEE exhibited potent antibacterial activity and more potently generated a clear zone in the presence of S. mutans than P. gingivalis. The MICs of MAEE for S.mutans and P. gingivalis were 0.4 and 0.4~0.8 mg/mL, and its MBCs were 0.4 and 0.8 mg/mL, respectively. In addition, MAEE significantly inhibited the growths of both pathogens, but no dose-dependency was observed. The OD600 of S. mutans treated with MAEE at 3.2 mg/mL for 24 h was 0.146 compared to a control OD600 of 0.509. Absorbance at 600 nm for P. gingivalis treated with MAEE at 3.2 mg/mL for 24 h was 0.154 compared to a control OD600 of 0.486. In conclusion, MAEE showed potent antibacterial activity against both oral pathogens but affected S.mutans stronger than P. gingivalis. The study indicates that MAEE might help prevent dental caries and periodontal diseases.

Correlation of bioactive marker compounds of an orally applied Morus alba root bark extract with toxicity and efficacy in BALB/c mice.

Introduction: In traditional Chinese medicine, the root bark of Morus alba L. is used to treat respiratory infections. Recently, anti-inflammatory and multiple anti-infective activities (against influenza viruses, corona virus 2, S. aureus, and S. pneumoniae) were shown in vitro for a standardized root bark extract from M. alba (MA60). Sanggenons C and D were identified as major active constituents of MA60. The aim of the present preclinical study was to evaluate, whether these findings are transferable to an in vivo setting. Methods: MA60 was orally administered to female BALB/c mice to determine 1) the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) in an acute toxicity study and 2) its anti-influenza virus and anti-inflammatory effects in an efficacy study. A further aim was to evaluate whether there is a correlation between the obtained results and the amount of sanggenons C and D in serum and tissues. For the quantitation of the marker compounds sanggenons C and D in serum and tissue samples an UPLC-ESI-MS method was developed and validated. Results: In our study setting, the MTD was reached at 100mg/kg. In the efficacy study, the treatment effects were moderate. Dose-dependent quantities of sanggenon C in serum and sanggenon D in liver samples were detected. Only very low concentrations of sanggenons C and D were determined in lung samples and none of these compounds was found in spleen samples. There was no compound accumulation when MA60 was administered repeatedly. Discussion: The herein determined low serum concentration after oral application once daily encourages the use of an alternative application route like intravenous, inhalation or intranasal administration and/or multiple dosing in further trials. The established method for the quantitation of the marker sanggenon compounds in tissue samples serves as a basis to determine pharmacokinetic parameters such as their bioavailability in future studies.

Phytochemicals and Larvicidal Activity of Sonneratia alba Root Extracts from Ngurah Rai Mangrove Forest, Denpasar-Bali

Dengue is an endemic disease with a high incidence in almost all Southeast Asian countries, including Indonesia. This infectious disease is caused by a virus transmitted by the bite of Aedes aegypti mosquito as the main vector. Effective mosquito vector control is a crucial step in stopping the spread of this virus. Of the several methods available, the use of larvicides is considered one of the most successful treatments in reducing the number of mosquito vectors. However, widely used synthetic larvicides can have undesirable side effects on the environment and non-target organisms including human health. The aim of this study was to discover a new biolarvicide from natural materials that is relatively safer. In this study, the biolarvicidal activity of mangrove plant species that are commonly found in Ngurah Rai Mangrove Forest Bali was tested, namely Sonneratia alba. Mangrove root simplicia was extracted by reflux method using three different solvents namely methanol, chloroform, and n-hexane. The content of compounds in the extract were analyzed using GC/MS method. The larvicidal activity of the extracts were tested on A. aegypti instar III/IV larvae with concentrations of 0.1, 1, 10, 100, and 1000 ppm for 24 hours. Subsequently, the average value of larval mortality was used to calculate the LC50 of each extract. The results showed that S. alba methanol extract provided the best larvicidal activity compared to chloroform and n-hexane extracts, with mortality of 69.33% at a concentration of 1000 ppm and LC50 of 1265 ppm. GC-MS analysis showed that the methanol extract of S. alba contained five dominant compounds namely Methyl 2-hydroxy-eicosanoate (19.55%); 4H-1-Benzopyran-4-one, 3,5-dihydroxy-2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-7-methoxy (16.48%); 4-((1E)-3-Hydroxy-1-propenyl)-2-methoxyphenol (10.06%); Benzamide, N-[4-(2-naphtyl)-2-thiazolyl]- (9.40%); and 2,3-Dihydro-3,5-bis(3-methoxyphenyl)-1H-inden-1-one (6.52%). The results of this study provide a preliminary result on larvicide activity from mangrove S. alba in order to develop bio larvicides from nature which is safer for human health and environment.

Combined Treatment of Mori folium and Mori Cortex Radicis Ameliorate Obesity in Mice via UCP-1 in Brown Adipocytes.

Mori Folium (Morus alba leaf, MF) and Mori Cortex Radicis (Morus alba root cortex, MR) have been studied for their anti-obesity effects by enhancing the browning process and inhibiting adipogenesis. However, important aspects of their protective mechanisms have not been thoroughly investigated, which could aid in developing functional food. Thus, this study aims to determine the synergistic effects of MF and MR against obesity and its associated mechanisms. In an in vitro cell culture model of brown adipocytes, a 1:1 mixture of MF and MR showed a synergistic effect on the expression of brown adipocyte-specific genes, including Ucp-1, Ppargc1a, Cbp/p300-interacting transactivator (Cited), Prdm16, Tbx1, and Fgf21 compared with either MF- or MR-treated conditions. Moreover, they demonstrated the involvement of cAMP and Ca2+ in induction of brown adipocyte-specific genes. In an in vivo model using HFD-fed mice, MF/MR significantly inhibited weight gain, plasma cholesterol, LDL, TG content, fat mass, and adipocyte size. Furthermore, MF/MR inhibited morphological alteration and the expressions of fatty acid synthesis genes such as Srebp1 and Fasn in the white adipose tissue. Thermogenesis genes were recovered in the brown adipose tissue with MF/MR supplementation, indicating that MF/MR regulated adipocytic dysmetabolism where AMPK signaling is involved. In conclusion, these results suggested that MF/MR regulates brown and beige adipocyte processes, providing one of the preventive functional food/herbal medicines against obesity and its associated metabolic diseases.

Morusinol extracted from Morus alba induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis via inhibition of DNA damage response in melanoma by CHK1 degradation through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway

BackgroudFlavonoids have a variety of biological activities, such as anti-inflammation, anti-tumor, anti-thrombosis and so on. Morusinol, as a novel isoprene flavonoid extracted from Morus alba root barks, has the effects of anti-arterial thrombosis and anti-inflammatory in previous studies. However, the anti-cancer mechanism of morusinol remains unclear. PurposeIn present study, we mainly studied the anti-tumor effect of morusinol and its mode of action in melanoma. MethodsThe anti-cancer effect of morusinol on melanoma were evaluated by using the MTT, EdU, plate clone formation and soft agar assay. Flow cytometry was used for detecting cell cycle and apoptosis. The ɣ-H2AX immunofluorescence and the alkaline comet assay were used to detect DNA damage and the Western blotting analysis was used to investigate the expressions of DNA-damage related proteins. Ubiquitination and turnover of CHK1 were also detected by using the immunoprecipitation assay. The cell line-derived xenograft (CDX) mouse models were used in vivo to evaluate the effect of morusinol on tumorigenicity. ResultsWe demonstrated that morusinol not only had the ability to inhibit cell proliferation, but also induced cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase, caspase-dependent apoptosis and DNA damage in human melanoma cells. In addition, morusinol effectively inhibited the growth of melanoma xenografts in vivo. More strikingly, CHK1, which played an important role in maintaining the integrity of cell cycle, genomic stability and cell viability, was down-regulated in a dose- and time-dependent manner after morusinol treatment. Further research showed that CHK1 was degraded by the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. Whereafter, morusinol-induced cell cycle arrest, apoptosis and DNA damage were partially salvaged by overexpressing CHK1 in melanoma cell lines. Herein, further experiments demonstrated that morusinol increased the sensitivity of dacarbazine (DTIC) to chemotherapy for melanoma in vitro and in vivo. ConclusionMorusinol induces CHK1 degradation through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, thereby inducing cell cycle arrest, apoptosis and DNA damage response in melanoma. Our study firstly provided a theoretical basis for morusinol to be a candidate drug for clinical treatment of cancer, such as melanoma, alone or combinated with dacarbazine.

LC-MS Metabolite Profiling and the Hypoglycemic Activity of Morus alba L. Extracts.

Morus alba L. is used in traditional Chinese medicine for its anti-diabetic activity; however, the part of the hypoglycemic activity and related active metabolites are still not fully clarified. In this study, the metabolites in the M. alba roots, leaves, twigs, and fruits extracts (70% ethanol extracts) were systematically identified, and their hypoglycemic activity was evaluated by the high-fat diet/streptozotocin-induced 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) mouse model. A total of 60 high-level compounds, including 16 polyphenols, 43 flavonoids, and one quinic acid, were identified by high-performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC-Q-TOF-MS) combined with the fragmentation pathways of standards and the self-established database. Among them, 23 metabolites were reported for the first time from this plant. In contrast to the extracts of M. alba leaves and fruits, the extracts of roots and twigs displayed significant hypoglycemic activity The glycemia was significantly reduced from 32.08 ± 1.27 to 20.88 ± 1.82 mmol/L and from 33.32 ± 1.98 to 24.74 ± 1.02 mmol/L, respectively, after 4 weeks of treatment with roots and twigs extracts. Compound 46 (morusin), which is a high-level component identified from the extracts of M. alba roots, also displayed significant activity in decreasing the blood glucose level of T2D mice reduced from 31.45 ± 1.23 to 23.45 ± 2.13 mmol/L. In addition, the extracts of roots and twigs displayed significant activity in reducing postprandial glycemia. This work marks the first comparison of the metabolites and hypoglycemic activity of M. alba roots, leaves, twigs, and fruits extracts, and provides a foundation for further development of M. alba extracts as anti-diabetic drugs.

Inhibition Mechanism of Components Isolated from Morus alba Branches on Diabetes and Diabetic Complications via Experimental and Molecular Docking Analyses.

Previously, we reported the anti-diabetic effect of Morus alba root bark and the compounds therein. In our continuous study of other parts of this plant, the ability of the branch of Morus alba to inhibit α-glucosidase, protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B), and advanced glycation end products (AGEs) formation was evaluated. Moreover, there are no previous studies that have performed enzyme kinetics and molecular docking analyses, along with assessments of peroxynitrite (ONOO−) inhibitory activities. Since the Morus alba branch exhibited favorable inhibitory effects, repeated column chromatography was performed to obtain eight compounds, including four flavonoids (1, 3, 6, 8), one arylbenzofuran (2), one stilbene (5), one Diels–Alder-type adduct (7), and one sterol (4). Among them, compounds 1–3 and 5–7 were mixed-type inhibitors of α-glucosidase, sharing the same catalytic residues with acarbose and the same allosteric sites with (Z)-3-bytylidenephthalide. On the other hand, kuwanon C (1) and oxyresveratrol (5) interacted with residues of the allosteric site (α3 and α6 helices) of PTP1B, indicating their use as non-competitive inhibitors. Interestingly, kuwanon G (7) directly bound the catalytic site, or interrupted the binding between the substrate and the active site, as a mixed-type inhibitor. Moreover, most of the compounds exhibited greater activity against AGE formation and ONOO− than positive controls. The IC50 values required to inhibit ONOO− using compounds 1, 3, 5, 6, and 7 were reported for the first time, and range from 1.08 to 12.92 μM. Based on the structure–activity relationship, the presence of hydroxyl, resorcinol, and prenyl moieties was important in the prevention of diabetes’ pathological mechanisms, and these findings have been further supported by molecular docking analysis. These computational and experimental results will be useful in the development of therapeutic candidates to prevent/treat diabetes and its complications.

Chemometric Evaluation of WWTPs’ Wastewaters and Receiving Surface Waters in Bulgaria

Wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) installations are designed and operated to reduce the quantity of pollutants emitted to surface waters receiving treated wastewaters. In this work, we used classical instrumental studies (to determine chemicals and parameters under obligations put with Directive 91/271/EEC), ecotoxicological tools (Sinapis alba root growth inhibition (SA-RG) and Heterocypris incongruens mortality (MORT) and growth inhibition (GRINH)) and multivariate statistical analysis to gain information on feature profiles of WWTPs’ effluents and the possible burden of surface water bodies receiving treated wastewaters in eleven locations of Bulgaria. Initial screening of results has shown that only phosphorus content exceeds the admissible level in 5 out 11 WWTP effluents, while As, Cr, Cu, Mn, and Zn show exceedance at several locations. The multivariate statistical analysis reveals the discriminating water quality parameters and outlines the ability of Heterocypris incongruens to evaluate the ecotoxicological potential of different groups of waters.

Effect of edible coating with Morus alba root extract and carboxymethyl cellulose for enhancing the quality and preventing the browning of banana (Musa acuminata Cavendish) during storage

This study aimed to develop an edible coating to extend the shelf life of bananas and increase their consumption. Bananas were coated with coating materials containing 1.5% carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC); 2.0% Tween 80; and 0% (CM0), 0.5% (CM0.5), 1.5% (CM1.5), and 2.5% (CM2.5) of Morus alba root extracts, respectively. The experiment evaluated weight loss, texture, total chlorophyll contents, ion leakage, CO2 evolution rate, color, polyphenol oxidase activity, browning index, and visual quality score of bananas during storage. The CM1.5 treatment induced less change in weight loss, texture, sucrose, total chlorophyll content, and CO2 evolution of stored bananas. In addition, the CM1.5 treatment delayed changes in colors, polyphenol oxidase activity, browning index, and visual quality levels to their lowest. Therefore, the CM1.5 treatment was the most suitable material to create an edible coating that maintains banana quality characteristics and appearance during storage.

Isolation of alkaloids compound of ethanol extract of mangrove perepat (S. alba) root and its antibacterial activity

Background: Exploration of the chemical contents and bioactivities of mangrove plants is important to discover new therapeutic agents for society and to develop its medicinal values. Objective: This study aims to isolate alkaloid compounds from the ethanol extract of Sonneratia alba root which is likely to have an antibacterial activity. Methods: Isolation was carried out using fractionation and chromatography, while antibacterial activity test was performed using the disc diffusion methods. Results: Our phytochemical screening shows that the ethanol extract has a high concentration of alkaloid compounds. The alkaloid which contain in isolate (F4) is further confirmed through UV-Vis Spectra and FT-IR spectra. The ethanol extract exhibits the antibacterial activity against S. aureus and E. coli with the inhibition zone of 1.5 mm and 2.5 mm, respectively. Conclusion: Alkaloid compound has been isolated from Sonneratia alba and has potential as antibacterial agent. Keywords: mangrove perepat (Sonneratia alba), alkaloid, antibacterial agent

Morus alba Root Extract Induces the Anagen Phase in the Human Hair Follicle Dermal Papilla Cells.

Restoring hair follicles by inducing the anagen phase is a promising approach to prevent hair loss. Hair follicle dermal papilla cells (HFDPCs) play a major role in hair growth via the telogen-to-anagen transition. The therapeutic effect of Morus alba activates β-catenin in HFDPCs, thereby inducing the anagen phase. The HFDPCs were treated with M. alba root extract (MARE) to promote hair growth. It contains chlorogenic acid and umbelliferone and is not cytotoxic to HFDPCs at a concentration of 20%. It was demonstrated that a small amount of MARE enhances growth factor secretion (related to the telogen-to-anagen transition). Activation of β-catenin was observed in MARE-treated HFDPCs, which is crucial for inducing the anagen phase. The effect of conditioned medium derived from MARE-treated HFDPCs on keratinocytes and endothelial cells was also investigated. The findings of this study demonstrate the potency of MARE in eliciting the telogen-to-anagen transition.

New Natural Products from Asphodelus albus MILL. Essential Oil.

A detailed chemical analysis of the essential oil of Asphodelus albus roots performed in this work, in combination with a chemical synthesis approach - the synthesis of selected compounds and their detailed spectral analysis - has led to the identification of a series of new natural products, the esters of furan-3-ylmethanol: furan-3-ylmethyl 2-methylpropanoate, furan-3-ylmethyl butanoate, furan-3-ylmethyl 2-methylbutanoate, furan-3-ylmethyl 3-methylbutanoate, furan-3-ylmethyl pentanoate, furan-3-ylmethyl 4-methylpentanoate, and furan-3-ylmethyl hexanoate.

Sono-Biosynthesis and Characterization of AuNPs from Danube Delta Nymphaea alba Root Extracts and Their Biological Properties.

Root extracts from Danube Delta Nymphaea alba were used to prepare gold nanoparticles (AuNPRn) by reducing HAuCl4 at different pHs (6.4–8.4) using ultrasonic irradiation: an easy, cheap, eco-friendly and green approach. Their antibacterial and anticancer activities were evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, and A2780 ovarian cancer cells, respectively. The AuNPRn were characterized concerning their phytoconstituents (polyphenols, flavonoids and condensed tannins) and gold content. All of the nanoparticles were negatively charged. AuNPRn exhibited a hydrodynamic size distribution ranging from 32 nm to 280 nm, with the larger nanoparticles being obtained with an Au/root extract ratio of 0.56, pH 7 and 10 min of sonication (AuNPR1), whereas the smallest were obtained with an Au/root extract ratio of 0.24, pH 7.8 and 40 min of sonication (AuNPR4). The TEM/SEM images showed that the AuNPRn had different shapes. The ATR-FTIR indicated that AuNPRn interact mainly with hydroxyl groups present in the polyphenol compounds, which also confirm their high antioxidant capacity, except for AuNPR2 obtained at pH 6.4. Among the AuNPRn, the smallest ones exhibited enhanced antimicrobial and anticancer activities.

Investigation of the Mechanism of Traditional Chinese Medicines in Angiogenesis through Network Pharmacology and Data Mining.

Although traditional Chinese medicine is effective and safe for the treatment of angiogenesis, the in vivo intervention mechanism is diverse, complex, and largely unknown. Therefore, we aimed to explore the active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine and their mechanisms of action against angiogenesis. Data on angiogenesis-related targets were collected from GeneCards, Therapeutic Target Database, Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man, DrugBank, and DisGeNET. These were matched to related molecular compounds and ingredients in the traditional Chinese medicine system pharmacology platform. The data were integrated and based on the condition of degree > 1, and relevant literature, target-compound, compound-medicine, and target-compound-medicine networks were constructed using Cytoscape. Molecular docking was used to predict the predominant binding combination of core targets and components. We obtained 79 targets for angiogenesis; 41 targets were matched to 3839 compounds, of which 110 compounds were selected owing to their high correlation with angiogenesis. Fifty-five combinations in the network were obtained by molecular docking, among which PTGS2-astragalin (−9.18 kcal/mol), KDR-astragalin (−7.94 kcal/mol), PTGS2-quercetin (−7.41 kcal/mol), and PTGS2-myricetin (−7.21 kcal/mol) were top. These results indicated that the selected potential core compounds have good binding activity with the core targets. Eighty new combinations were obtained from the network, and the top combinations based on affinity were KDR-beta-carotene (−10.13 kcal/mol), MMP9-beta-sitosterol (−8.04 kcal/mol), MMP9-astragalin (−7.82 kcal/mol), and MMP9-diosgenin (−7.51 kcal/mol). The core targets included PTGS2, KDR, VEGFA, and MMP9. The essential components identified were astragalin, kaempferol, myricetin, quercetin, and β-sitosterol. The crucial Chinese medicines identified included Polygoni Cuspidati Rhizoma et Radix, Morus alba Root Bark, and Forsythiae Fructus. By systematically analysing the ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine and their targets, it is possible to determine their potential mechanisms of action against pathological angiogenesis. Our study provides a basis for further research and the development of new therapeutics for angiogenesis.

다양한 천연 갈변 저해제를 이용한 가식성 코팅이 바나나(Musa acuminata Cavendish Subgroup)의 저장 중 품질 특성에 미치는 영향

Bananas (Musa acuminata Cavendish Subgroup) have a short shelf-life due to surface browning. This study aimed to select the best edible coating agent including a natural browning inhibitor (green tea, Rhus chinensis, rice bran and Morus alba root extracts) that can extend the shelf-life of bananas. Bananas were coated with 1.5% carboxymethyl cellulose and 2.0% Tween 80 (CM), CM and 1.5% green tea extract, CM and 1.5% Rhus chinensis extract, CM and rice bran extract, and CM and 1.5% Morus alba extract (CM-M). An uncoated sample was used as the control. The weight loss, firmness, polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity, browning index (BI), total chlorophyll content, and color of the coated bananas during storage were evaluated. Treatment with CM-M exhibited lesser changes in the weight and firmness of bananas during storage, compared with the other treatments. Moreover, CM-M delayed the enzymatic browning of bananas during storage, maintained the PPO activity, and showed the lowest BI, compared with other treatments. The changes in the total chlorophyll content and color (ΔE value) were lower in the CM-M coated samples than in the control samples. The CM-M coated samples showed decreases in the total chlorophyll content and ΔE value compared with that noted in bananas with the other coatings. Therefore, our findings indicated Morus alba root extract supplementation to be the most suitable edible coating agent, which maintains the quality and appearance of bananas during storage.