Bioactive Flavonoids Research Articles

Phytochemical composition, antioxidant and antibacterial activity of the Philippine copperleaf (Acalypha wilkesiana) ethanolic extract

The Philippine copper leaf (Acalypha wilkesiana) is a relatively untapped plant with notable ethnopharmacological properties. This study investigated the phytochemical composition, antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of the leaf ethanolic extract of A. wilkesiana collected at Central Philippine University Gardens in Iloilo City, Philippines. Qualitative phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of bioactive compounds, including alkaloids, tannins, saponins, proteins, phenols, flavonoids, glycosides, carbohydrates, and terpenoids. Quantitatively, the total phenolics and flavonoid contents of the extract were 1,203.7±0.33 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g and 235.36±2.0 mg of quercetin equivalent (QE)/g, respectively. The antioxidant activity, assessed using the 1,1-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, demonstrated a concentration-dependent radical scavenging capacity. The ethanolic extract exhibited strong antibacterial effects against Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), Streptococcus agalactiae, Escherichia coli, Edwardsiella tarda, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Salmonella typhi, with significant inhibition observed at 100 mg/mL. Resolute results from this first study on the phytochemicals, antioxidants, and antimicrobial activity of the Philippine copperleaf clearly demonstrate that it contains potent bioactive compounds with notable antibacterial and antioxidant properties. This underscores its potential for developing new therapeutic agents.

A comprehensive review on neurotrophic receptors and their implications in brain health: Exploring the neuroprotective potential of berries

Neurotrophic receptors are specialized proteins on the surface of neurons that regulate the growth, development, and survival of nerve cells, interacting with specific neurotrophic factors to support neuronal function and overall brain health. Key examples include the tropomyosin receptor kinase (Trk) family and the p75 neurotrophin receptor. This review highlights the neuroprotective potential of berries such as blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries known for their rich content of bioactive compounds, including polyphenols, flavonoids, and anthocyanins. These phytochemicals possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that may play a critical role in neuroprotection. Emerging evidence from clinical trials suggests that berry consumption can enhance cognitive function and provide protection against age-related neurodegenerative diseases. Notably, the modulation of signaling pathways related to neurotransmission, cell survival, inflammation, and neuroplasticity underscores the significance of these fruits in neuroprotection. This review uniquely synthesizes recent findings on the specific neurotrophic factors influenced by berry-derived phytochemicals, providing insights into their mechanisms of action. Furthermore, we explore the implications of these compounds in developing functional foods aimed at preventing neurodegeneration and promoting cognitive health, thereby contributing to the growing body of research on dietary interventions for brain health.

Red sorghum [Sorghum bicolor L. Moench]: A biochemical, nutritional hub and key food supplement - a review

Red sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) stands out as a crucial dietary staple food, particularly in economically disadvantaged and food-insecure regions worldwide. Its diversity among landraces makes India a key hub for production. Red sorghum, renowned for its nutrient density and stress tolerance, holds immense potential as an alternate crop amidst climate change challenges. This review explores red sorghum's grain structure and nutritional profile, emphasizing its macronutrient and micronutrient composition, dietary fibre content, soluble sugars and bioactive secondary metabolites, including phenols, tannins and flavonoids. Understanding these aspects underscores the importance of red sorghum in addressing nutritional deficiencies and forecasting agricultural sustainability. Red sorghum offers many health benefits, particularly as a gluten-free alternative for individuals with celiac disease. Its rich phenolic compounds exhibit potential in combating carcinoma, while its starch composition, including slowly digestible starch, benefits diabetics with its low glycemic index. Combining sorghum with probiotic milk reduces oxidative stress in chronic renal disorders. Sorghum emerges as a versatile gluten-free ingredient rich in minerals and phenolic compounds, offering health benefits in various food products like cookies, RTE cereals, pasta and pet food. Additionally, exploring sorghum's genetic variations and health impacts paves the way for developing nutritionally superior varieties with robust agronomic traits.

Targeting Nudix Hydrolase 5 with Bioactive Flavonoids: Molecular Dynamics and Docking Studies for Breast Cancer Therapy.

Breast cancer (BC) is the most prevalent malignancy among women globally and the leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Consequently, there is an urgent need for new, effective treatment strategies for breast cancer. Research has shown that the enzyme nudix hydrolase 5 (NUDT5) plays a critical role in promoting breast cancer aggressiveness and serves as a key regulator of oncogenic pathways. The development of NUDT5 inhibitors presents a viable strategy for enhancing treatment results in managing BC. The ability of the flavonoids to modulate key biochemical pathways and improve therapeutic outcomes highlights their promise in developing novel breast cancer treatments. Hence, the main objective of the present investigation is to identify the potential interaction of structurally diverse bioactive flavonoids with the active site of the target NUDT5. Our docking analysis revealed that the flavonoids such as naringin and genistein have shown a significant binding association with residues Arg51, Asp60, Gln82, Arg84, Ala96, Leu98, Glu112, Glu116, Met132, Cys139, Ile141, and Glu166 of NUDT5, suggesting its potential as a potent inhibitor. The stabilizing effects of these leads (naringin and genistein) were further validated using molecular dynamics investigations, including RMSD, RMRF, Rg, SASA, PCA, and FEL. The results of the MD simulation studies evidenced a more significant interaction between genistein and NUDT5, indicating a steady and robust affinity, making genistein a more promising inhibitor. In conclusion, the flavonoid genistein has a strong potential as a therapeutic agent for targeting NUDT5 in breast cancer treatment making it viable candidates for further preclinical and clinical investigations.

Determination of Antioxidant Activity and Biochemical Content of Homalothecium philippeanum (Spruce) Schimp.

Living organisms produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) during the oxygen processing. ROS damage biomolecules and causes oxidative stress. Antioxidants prevent cellular damage against these harmful effects of ROS by neutralizing free radicals. Medicinal plants provide a rich source of antioxidants to reduce oxidative stress and play an important role in the treatment of diseases. Bioactive compounds, especially polyphenols and flavonoids, protect cells against oxidative damage by neutralizing free radicals. Bryophytes, especially mosses, are one of the plant groups that attract attention in this area. Mosses show biologically active properties with secondary metabolites such as terpenes and flavonoids they contain. In this study, extraction of Homalothecium philippeanum moss with ethanol, methanol, and n-hexane solvents was carried out and the biochemical content analysis of the extracts was investigated. 1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid, bis(2-methylpropyl) ester was detected as the major component in the ethanol and methanol extracts of the H. philippeanum. Biologically active alkanes such as Tetradecane and Hexadecane were found in the n-hexane extract. The antioxidant activity of moss ethanol extract was investigated using the DPPH method and the EC50 value was determined as 7.084 mg/ml.

Advanced PROTAC and Quantitative Proteomics Strategy Reveals Bax Inhibitor-1 as a Critical Target of Icaritin in Burkitt Lymphoma.

Understanding the molecular targets of natural products is crucial for elucidating their mechanisms of action, mitigating toxicity, and uncovering potential therapeutic pathways. Icaritin (ICT), a bioactive flavonoid, demonstrates significant anti-tumor activity but lacks defined molecular targets. This study employs an advanced strategy integrating proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) technology with quantitative proteomics to identify ICT's key targets. A library of 22 ICT-based PROTAC derivatives were synthesized, among which LJ-41 exhibited a superior IC50 of 5.52 μM against Burkitt lymphoma (CA-46) cells. Then, differential proteomic analysis identified Bax inhibitor-1 (BI-1) as a potential target. Target validation techniques, including cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA), drug affinity responsive target stability (DARTS) assay, surface plasmon resonance (SPR) assay, and molecular docking, confirmed LJ-41's high specificity for BI-1. Mechanistic investigations revealed that LJ-41 induces apoptosis through BI-1 degradation, triggering endoplasmic reticulum stress and activating inositol-requiring enzyme 1 α (IRE1α), activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6), and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor transcription factor heme oxygenase 1 (NRF2-HO-1) signaling pathways. This study establishes a refined methodological framework for natural product target discovery and highlights ICT-PROTAC derivatives' potential for clinical application in Burkitt lymphoma treatment.

Phytochemical Profile and Bioactive Compounds in Aqueous Leaf Extract of Vernonia amygdalina (Asteraceae): A GC-MS Analysis

The identification of bioactive compounds in medicinal plants provides valuable insights into their therapeutic potential, especially for chronic diseases like diabetes. This study conducted a comprehensive Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis to characterize the phytochemical profile of the aqueous leaf extract of Vernonia amygdalina, a plant widely utilized in traditional medicine across West Africa. GC-MS analysis identified key bioactive compounds, including alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, and sesquiterpenes, known for their anti-diabetic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. These phytochemicals are associated with glucose regulation, oxidative stress reduction, and improved liver and kidney function markers. However, the semi-quantitative analysis based on peak area percentages highlights the need for more rigorous quantification methods. Furthermore, the absence of preclinical and clinical trials, along with a lack of toxicity data, limits the full assessment of its therapeutic potential. The results emphasize the need for safety and efficacy studies to support Vernonia amygdalina’s development as a therapeutic agent for diabetes management.

A comprehensive study on the bioactive flavonoids in Paulownia flowers: Uncovering metabolic pathways, effective components, and regulatory genes for industrial applications

The study explores Paulownia flowers as an emerging resource in medicine, food, health supplements, cosmetics, and animal feed, despite a lack of characterization of their secondary metabolite accumulation mechanisms. We conducted a comprehensive investigation into the biological activities, metabolite profiles, and gene expression patterns of flavonoids in Paulownia flowers. Our results, obtained using ABTS/FRAP/DPPH assays, MTT assays, and colorimetric analyses, demonstrate the potent antioxidant, antibacterial, hypolipidemic, and antiproliferative activities of Paulownia flower flavonoid (PFF) extracts. Notably, the Paulownia elongata tetraploid (M4) exhibited particularly notable effects. HPLC fingerprinting, molecular docking, and density functional theory calculations led to the identification of rhoifolin and luteolin as key bioactive flavonoids. UV-Vis, fluorescence, and circular dichroism spectroscopy confirmed PFF's role as a reversible and mixed inhibitor of xanthine oxidase (XOD). Transcriptome and metabolomic analyses further revealed substantial enrichment in phenylpropanoid, flavonol, and flavonoid biosynthetic pathways, with PfPP2C, PfPYR, PfPYL, PfNPR1, PfMYBs, and PfbHLHs identified as crucial regulators. This work provides a foundational understanding of flavonoid biosynthesis in Paulownia flowers, paving the way for targeted genetic modification and biotechnological interventions aimed at enhancing flavonoid accumulation for industrial applications.

Fabrication of hybrid nanocomposites for electrochemical evaluation of food-based preservative and bioactive targets of hydrogen peroxide and rutin in real fruit and drug samples.

Development of a reliable tool to detect hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and rutin in food-derived products and bioactive flavonoids is essential for food safety. Nevertheless, food/drug-based real samples are complex matrices that affect the sensor's specificity and sensitivity. For this purpose, we developed a simple electrochemical detection platform using covalent organic framework‑silver nanoparticles (COF-AgNPs). Based on spectral and electrochemical tests, COF-AgNPs displayed enhanced electroactive sites and facile electron transfer. For H2O2 and rutin, the designed sensor surface exhibited outstanding concentration linearity of 0.5nM-1000μM and 1nM-900μM, respectively, along with superior detection limits of 0.126nM and 0.133nM. Additionally, it demonstrated acceptable reproducibility and interference capability. In practical analysis, H2O2 and rutin were detected in milk, fruits, and drug samples with high recovery rates of 94.60-99.31% (n=3). Consequently, the designed sensor is ideal for screening targets for H2O2 and rutin in food sources and for food research.

A Descriptive Analysis of the Nutraceutical Constituents, Extraction Techniques, and Possible Health Benefits of Tamarind

Background: Tamarind is a multifunctional tree, with nearly every portion having significant nutritional or therapeutic use. The fruit, which produces acidic pulp, is the most valuable and often utilized portion. Objective: The aim of this paper is to discuss the distribution, habitat, chemical constituents and extraction techniques of tamarind. Methods: This study reviews the chemical constituents, health benefits and extraction techniques of tamarind. Databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, and Google Scholar were used to search articles from 1990 to 2022. The key search terms included tamarind, phytoconstituents extraction and anti-nutritional factor. Research studies also included similar plant parts extracted from similar solvents which were considered in this review. Results: According to our observations, Tamarindus indica is a crucial plant with significant pharmacological properties. It is extensively used as a conventional medicine to treat a variety of disorders; however, its active ingredients require further investigation for future drug development and pharmacological activity. Tamarind contains a diverse range of bioactive compounds, including polyphenols, flavonoids, alkaloids, vitamins, and minerals, which have been associated with various health-promoting properties. The study examines different extraction methods used to isolate tamarind's bioactive constituents, such as solvent extraction, supercritical fluid extraction (SFE), and microwave-assisted extraction (MAE). Furthermore, the research highlights the potential health benefits of tamarind, including antioxidant activity, anti-inflammatory effects, gastrointestinal support, cardiovascular benefits, and antimicrobial properties. Discussion: Tamarind includes citric acid, linoleic acid, volatile oils, vitamin C, potassium, Camp sterol, -amyrin, Tannins, saponins, and glycosides as a result of this. It has several pharmacological properties such as reducing swelling, preventing oxidation, hypolipidemic, weight loss, antibacterial, hepatoprotective, anthelmintic, and painkiller properties. These properties will assist to generate interest in Tamarind and develop novel preparations with more medicinal and commercial potential. The findings indicate that tamarind holds significant promise as a natural resource for developing functional foods, nutraceuticals, and pharmaceuticals with potential positive impacts on human health.

Antiviral effect of pinostrobin, a bioactive constituent of Boesenbergia rotunda, against porcine epidemic diarrhea virus.

Global swine industry has long been severely affected by the periodic outbreaks of porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED), a deadly infectious disease in piglets caused by the porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV). Currently, available vaccines and antiviral drugs could not provide effective prevention and treatment of PEDV infection in pigs. In this study, Boesenbergia rotunda (B. rotunda) extract and its major bioactive flavonoid, pinostrobin, were demonstrated to exhibit remarkable anti-PEDV activities with EC50 values of 0.33±0.02μg/ml and 2.71±0.12μM, and selectivity indices (SI) of 11.93 and>184.55, respectively. Results based on a time-of-addition assay showed that pinostrobin blocked PEDV infection mainly at the early stages of infection. More specifically, pinostrobin reduced cell-cell fusion mediated by the viral spike protein, suggesting that the compound may target the virus fusion step. We also synthesized pinostrobin derivatives and explored the impact of pinostrobin structural features to the observed anti-PEDV activity. Results indicated the importance of the hydroxyl group and substituent on the phenyl ring. In summary, this study highlights the potential of B. rotunda extract and its bioactive compound, pinostrobin, as candidates for the development of antiviral drugs to more effectively control PEDV infection.

Co-expression of α-L-rhamnosidase and β-glucosidase in Aspergillus Niger and its application in enzymatic production of quercetin

Quercetin (3,3′,4′,5,7-pentahydroxy flavonoid) is a bioactive flavonoid with significant medicinal properties. Similarly, Rutin (quercetin-3-O-rutinoside or 3′,4′,5,7-tetrahydroxy-flavone-3-rutinoside) is widely recognized flavonoid, and is converted to quercetin by α-L-rhamnosidase and β-D-glucosidase. In this study, engineered Aspergillus niger co-expressing α-L-rhamnosidase and β-glucosidase was successfully constructed, and engineered strain Rha1-BGL8 was obtained by enzyme activity assay. When submerged fermentation after 120 h in 5 L of fermenter, the α-L-rhamnosidase activity was 36.90 U/ml and β-glucosidase activity was 61.02 U/mL. The fermented complex enzyme solution was employed for the hydrolysis of rutin to quercetin, and the yield of quercetin reached 95.31 % after 48 h, molecular structure of quercetin was verified by highly specific chromatographic methods. This study lays a technical foundation for the potential industrial application of enzyme-catalyzed conversion of rutin to quercetin.

Physiochemical, Bio, Thermal, and Non-Thermal Processing of Major and Minor Millets: A Comprehensive Review on Antinutritional and Antioxidant Properties.

Millets are recognized as future foods due to their abundant nutrition and resilience, increasing their value on the global stage. Millets possess a broad spectrum of nutrients, antinutrients, and antioxidants, making it imperative to understand the effects of various processing methods on these components. Antinutritional factors interfere with the digestibility of macro-nutrients and the bioavailability and bio accessibility of minerals. This necessitates methods to reduce or eliminate antinutrients while improving nutritive and antioxidant value in food. This review aims to elucidate the rationale behind processing choices by evaluating the scientific literature and examining the mechanisms of processing methods, categorized as physiochemical, bio, thermal, novel non-thermal, and their combination techniques. Physiochemical and bioprocessing methods alter antinutrients and antioxidant profiles through mass transfer, enzyme activation, product synthesis, microbial activity, and selective removal of grain layers. Thermal methods break functional bonds, modify the chemical or physical structures, enhance kinetics, or degrade heat-labile components. Non-thermal techniques preserve heat-sensitive antioxidants while reducing antinutrients through structural modifications, oxidation by ROS, and break down the covalent and non-covalent bonds, resulting in degradation of compounds. To maximize the trade-off between retention of beneficial components and reducing detrimental ones, exploring the synergy of combination techniques is crucial. Beyond mitigating antinutrients, these processing methods also stimulate the release of bioactive compounds, including phenolics, flavonoids, and peptides, which exhibit potent health-promoting properties. This review underscores the transformative potential of processing technologies in enhancing millets as functional ingredients in modern diets, promoting health and advancing sustainable food practices.

Electrochemical studies of ytterbium doped Cu/Co nanoparticles synthesized by green fabrication using Callistemon viminalis leaves extract

AbstractBACKGROUNDUtilization of phytochemicals for the preparation of metal oxides nanocomposites has been proven to be a best alternate of chemical synthesis methods. Here, we have extracted, isolated and characterized the phytochemicals of Callistemon viminalis plant extract and utilized them as biofuel in the synthesis of Cu/Co and doped Cu/Co nanoparticles. Callistemon viminalis has been shown to have reducing and stabilizing properties. The plant extracts contain a variety of bioactive substances, including tannins, vitamins, amino acids, saponins, inositol, alkaloids, flavonoids, and terpenes. The use of plant extracts in the synthesis of NPs is a quick, dependable, nontoxic, benign, environmentally friendly, and cost‐effective method. Thus, in the present work, the Callistemon viminalis leaves extract a synthesis of Cu/Co nanoparticles and ytterbium doped Cu/Co nanoparticles, and these nanoparticles were characterized by optical properties (UV), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X‐rays diffraction (XRD), and electrochemical application.RESULTSSynthesis of Cu/Co nanoparticles and ytterbium doped Cu/Co nanoparticles at room temperature have been successfully done using Callistemon viminalis aqueous leaf extract. Products were confirmed by conducting UV‐ visible spectrophotometry, FTIR, SEM, and XRD confirming the formation of cubic shaped Cu/Co nanoparticles of average diameter of 14 nm. The aqueous leaf extract acted as a capping agent and the existence of organic functional groups were confirmed by FTIR. Upon varying the Yb content in Cu/Co, the particle's size obtained from SEM showed a decrease in size. The band gap energies were also reduced with Yb doping. The stability of the produced NPs was investigated using linear sweep voltammetry LSV on this special and innovative metal oxide electrode. The LSV analysis has shown an elevation in the scan rate detection with an increase in voltage. 55.6 μA current was detected at 10 V for Cu/Co NPs. Ytterbium doped nanoparticles have shown 471.3 μ current voltage value at scan rate of 10 V. Observed value of current of synthesized Cu/Co NPs was 5.7 μA and the observed current of doped Yb(Cu/Co) was 12.5 μA. The increase in current values of dopant Cu/Co nanoparticles is due to the higher pore volume and surface area of copper, which promotes the transfer of electrons, so the current density is greater of the doped material than the composite NPs. The electrical resistivity of Cu/Co nanoparticles has shown a decline with elevation in current indicating its semiconducting nature.CONCLUSIONIn summary, biologically synthesized Cu/Co and ytterbium doped Cu/Co nanoparticles at room temperature have been successfully synthesized based on the greener approach using Callistemon viminalis aqueous leaf extract. The utilization of the Callistemon viminalis plant‐mediated approach, which makes the procedure more affordable and environmentally benign than chemical synthesis, is one of the study's major contributions. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).

Carob Seeds as a Source of Bioactive Flavonoid Derivatives: Isolation, Network Pharmacology-guided Anti-cancer Activity, and HPLC Standardization.

Carob, Ceratonia siliqua L. (CS), is a legume well-known for its edible pod pulp. Its seeds are used almost exclusively as a source of the food additive E410. Although a variety of metabolites have been identified by HPLC and LC-MS analysis in CS, reports concerned with their isolation are scarce. In this study, two flavonoid derivatives were isolated from the methanolic extract of CS seeds, namely, quercetin-3-O-rhamnoside and 4'-p-hydroxybenzoylisorhamnetin-3,7-di-O-rhamnoside. Network pharmacology was unusually used as a guide for estimation of the biological potential of the isolated compounds. Finally, the methanolic extract of CS seeds and its ethyl acetate fraction were standardized for their 4'-p-hydroxybenzoylisorhamnetin-3,7-di-O-rhamnoside content by HPLC. The identified isolates displayed the ability to interfere with the activity of several target proteins associated with renal and colon cancers. Their cytotoxic effect on renal and colorectal cancer cell lines was investigated in comparison to Doxorubicin. The selectivity of the isolated compounds was evaluated on normal human fetal fibroblast cell lines. The isolated 4'-p-hydroxybenzoylisorhamnetin-3,7-di-O-rhamnoside showed very potent cytotoxic activity against the tested cell lines with the highest selectivity. CS seeds can be used as a source of bioactive flavonoid derivatives that can be incorporated in pharmaceutical industries.

Quercetin Boosts Pulsatile Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Release to Improve Luteal Function via Inhibiting NF-κB/NLRP3-Mediated Neuron Pyroptosis.

Luteal phase deficiency (LPD) is the main cause of infertility without an effective cure. Quercetin (QUE) is a bioactive flavonoid with antioxidant properties, while its role in treating LPD remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the therapeutic effects of QUE on infertility and menstrual disorders induced by LPD, thus further exploring the underlying mechanism. Mifepristone-induced rats are used to explore the protective effects of QUE against LPD. QUE stimulates the spontaneous secretion of progesterone to improve luteal function and endometrial receptivity in LPD rats by activating the kisspeptin/GPR54 system to facilitate the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) pulsatility. Bioinformatics analysis reveals that the core mechanism of QUE in treating LPD is to attenuate the GnRH neuron pyroptosis by inhibiting the NF-κB pathway, which is further verified in LPD rats and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated GT1-7, as QUE significantly reduces the expression of key factors concerning NF-κB pathway and NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome. This study first proposes that neuron pyroptosis-induced GnRH pulsatility disruption accounts for the pathogenesis of LPD, and QUE facilitates the pulse secretion of GnRH to boost the spontaneous progesterone secretion by inhibiting NF-κB/NLRP3-mediated neuron pyroptosis, which provides a new therapeutic target and strategy for LPD.

Comparative study of phytochemical content, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties of Merremia hirta Merr. mature plant and microgreen

Merremia hirta Merr. is a plant belonging to the Convolvulaceae family, commonly used as a vegetable in Southeast Asia. The plant harbours diverse bioactive constituents, including polyphenols and flavonoids. Microgreens have gained popularity as a cultivation trend. They are referred to as superfoods due to their high bioactive content, which is estimated to be up to 10 times greater than mature plants. M. hirta Merr. microgreen and mature plant were investigated to determine their total phenol content using the Folin Ciocalteu method, total flavonoid content using AlCl3, antioxidant activity using 2,2-diphenyl-1- picrylhydrazyl and ferric reducing antioxidant power, and anti-inflammatory activity by protein denaturation inhibition in vitro. Microgreen demonstrated greater total phenolic content, directly associated with its high antioxidant activity compared to mature plants. However, the mature stage of M. hirta Merr. remains superior in terms of overall flavonoid content and anti-inflammatory activity.

Elicitation of licorice callus for improving anti-inflammatory agent production

ABSTRACT Ononin and formononetin are bioactive licorice flavonoids with known anti-inflammatory effects. This study used methyl jasmonate (MJ, dose 50 or 100 µM) or cellulase (CL, dose 33.6 and 168 mU/mL) to enhance their production in licorice callus, with samples pre-treated at harvest. Ononin levels peaked on day 3, increasing 3- and 5.93-fold with MJ and CL, respectively. Formononetin levels peaked on day 7, rising 3.22- and 5.46-fold. Anti-inflammation assay exhibited a dose-dependent reduction of nitric oxide (NO) level induced by LPS. MJ and CL (33.6 mU/mL) exhibited NO reduction lower than L-NAME (positive control). At 1000 µg/mL of MJ and CL elicited callus extract showed maximum inhibition of iNOS, COX-2 and IL-6 expression corresponding to 3.8, 6.5, and 14 times, respectively over the LPS treated group. Elicitation enhanced antioxidant defenses, gene expression, and flavonoid levels, improving anti-inflammatory activity. Combining pretreatment with elicitation can thus enhance medicinal yields from licorice.

Efficient Simultaneous Isolation of Pinostrobin and Panduratin A from Boesenbergia rotunda Using Centrifugal Partition Chromatography.

The bioactive flavonoids pinostrobin (PN) and panduratin A (PA) from Boesenbergia rotunda are essential for research and therapeutic applications. This study introduces an innovative method utilizing ultrasound-assisted extraction with n-hexane pre-treatment, followed by one-step centrifugal partition chromatography (CPC) purification. Extraction efficiency was evaluated using ultra high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC), and the isolated compounds were characterized through 1H-NMR and liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS), adhering to AOAC validation guidelines. Optimal extraction conditions comprised a particle size of 125 μm, a solid-to-liquid ratio of 1:30 g/mL, and a 10 min extraction time, yielding a crude extract of 6.96 ± 0.07%. Using an n-hexane/MeOH/water (5/3.4/1.6, v/v) solvent system in ascending mode, PN (2.16 mg, 98.78% purity) and PA (0.4 mg, 99.69% purity) were isolated from 67 mg of crude extract within 30 min. This streamlined approach enhances purification efficiency, allowing for faster extraction and higher purity, making it a suitable method for commercial applications.

UNDERSTANDING THE BENEFITS OF STEVIA REBAUDIANA BERTONI FOR DIABETES: A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a complicated metabolic condition defined by long-term elevated blood glucose levels. This chronic hyperglycemia induces metabolic dysfunctions that cause structural and functional disruptions in the vasculature, leading to macrovascular and microvascular complications. Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni, commonly known as Stevia, is a perennial shrub that contains various bioactive constituents responsible for its sweetness and several other activities. Many studies on Stevia have shown that it possesses various beneficial effects on health, including being zero-calorie, anti-obesity, anti-diabetic, anti-hypertensive, antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-tumor. Several studies have found that neither gastric juice nor digestive enzymes decompose stevioside. The presence of bioactive phenolic and flavonoid compounds supports Stevia's medicinal properties and its potential use in both the food/nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industries. A significant antioxidant capacity of Stevia has been identified recently. It can also help limit essential nutrient supply to tumor cells. Research on Stevia's effects on the human body has largely found no negative side effects. The growing body of evidence underscores Stevia's potential role in managing various health conditions, particularly for diabetic patients, due to its minimal impact on blood sugar levels. However, to fully harness its benefits and meet the increasing global demand, further scientific research is essential to optimize its cultivation, enhance its chemical constituents and ensure its safety. Overall, Stevia stands out as a promising natural sweetener with significant health benefits for diabetic patients. In this review article, we explore different aspects of Stevia and its beneficial effects on diabetic patients.