Crataegus Pinnatifida Research Articles

Comparative metabolomics analysis of unique yellow hawthorn (Crataegus pinnatifida) and red-skinned cultivars reveals a different polyphenol biosynthesis flux and antioxidative and antidiabetic potential

Abstract Objectives This paper aims to investigate the polyphenol metabolite variation and bioactivities of different-colored hawthorn berries (Crataegus pinnatifida). Materials and Methods Comparative metabolomics analysis between peel and flesh of yellow hawthorn 'Jinruyi' (JRY) and red-skinned ones was carried out by UPLC-MS/MS. Antioxidant activities and α-glucosidase inhibition capacity were also tested among different colored hawthorn samples. Results A total of 453 polyphenols was characterized, among which phenolic acids and flavonoids were abundant, and were closely relevant to the antioxidant capacity of hawthorn fruits. Polyphenol profile showed accession-specific accumulation in peel or flesh of different colored hawthorn. The unique yellow hawthorn was found to have few anthocyanins but showed enhanced flux to synthesize flavones and flavonols, especially flavone C-glycosides and acylated flavonol glycosides. The specific acylation decoration included acetylation, p-coumaroylation, and malonylation. In addition, yellow hawthorn showed excellent α-glucosidase inhibitory effect, which might be associated with the high concentration of 8 polyphenols including 5 phenolic acids, 2 flavone C-glycosides, and an acylated flavonol glycoside, namely, quercetin-7-O-(6ʹʹ-malonyl)glucoside. Such acylated flavonol showed the strongest correlation with the inhibition effect of hawthorn fruits on α-glucosidase, and was predicted to have the lowest binding energy with the enzyme according to molecular docking analysis, indicating its great potential as a strong α-glucosidase inhibitor and an important antidiabetic ingredient in yellow hawthorn. Conclusions The acylated flavonol glycosides and C-glycosyl flavones might be chemotaxonomic markers differentiating varieties and bioactivities of yellow hawthorn from the traditional red-skinned ones. These findings complement the existing knowledge on the metabolite composition and nutritional properties of hawthorn fruits.

Study on the hypotensive effect and mechanism of hawthorn (Crataegus pinnatifida) fruits and hyperoside in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Hawthorn fruits have a sweet and sour taste, besides having beneficial therapeutic effects on hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and coronary heart disease, making them widely used in food and clinical medicine. However, their hypotensive effects and potential mechanisms of anti-hypertension still need to be elucidated. This study aims to explore the antihypertensive effect of hawthorn and its monomer hyperoside on spontaneously hypertensive rats through pharmacodynamics, serum metabolomics, and in vivo mechanism studies. After 7 weeks of intervention with hawthorn extract and hyperoside, the blood pressure was significantly reduced. Aortic vascular staining results showed that the injury was significantly improved after intervention with hawthorn extract and hyperoside. According to the serum metabolomics study, the main metabolic pathway regulating blood pressure in hawthorn extract and hyperoside groups was the primary bile acid biosynthesis pathway. Quantitative experiments confirmed that the level of bile acid in the model group was significantly different from that in the normal group, while that in the hawthorn group and the hyperoside group was close to that in the normal group. Based on the prediction of bile acid-hypertension related targets and the literature, nine genes involved in bile acid metabolism and inflammatory pathways were selected for further study. The FXR, TGR5, ET-1, NOS3, Akt1, TNF-α, Ptgs2, ACE2 and Kdr mRNA expression levels in the hawthorn extract and hyperoside groups were significantly different from those in the model groups. In summary, hawthorn extract and hyperoside have a hypotensive effect on spontaneously hypertensive rats through bile acid and inflammation related targets. Hence, hawthorn extract has the potential to become a functional food or an alternative therapy for hypertension.

High-density genetic map and quantitative trait loci map of skin color in hawthorn (Crataegus pinnatifida bge. Var. major N.E.Br.).

Fruit skin color is an important trait of the hawthorn tree, which has an important influence on fruit quality. Crataegus pinnatifida Bge. var. Major N.E.Br. Is one of the most widely cultivated varieties in China and has a long history of medicinal use. In recent years, it has attracted the attention of the world due to its nutritional and medicinal values. Skin color is the focus of breeders and food processors. At present, skin color-related genes have still not been mapped. In this study, "Shandong Da Mianqiu" (♀, red skin color), "Da Huang Mianzha" (♂, yellow skin color) and 131 F1 hybrids were used to construct genetic map of hawthorn by RAD-seq, and QTL mapping was performed by combining these features with the hue angle and the observed color. In this study, 13,260 SNP was assigned to 17 linkage groups, with an integrated map covering 2,297.75cM was constructed. A total of 5 QTLs related to hawthorn skin color were detected on LG1, LG3 and LG15. Whether hue angle or pericarp color acts as phenotype for QTL mapping, the candidate genes include bHLH086, WD repeat regions and Myb-like. bHLH, WD and Myb play an important role in the color regulation of Hawthorn skin color. These results lay a solid foundation for QTL mapping and molecular marker-assisted breeding of hawthorn.

Ultrasensitive ratiometric electrochemical aptasensor based on novel MnCo@C as nonenzyme catalysis for the detection of patulin

With the accumulation of patulin (PAT) in the human body, harm to health could easily be ignored, we urgently required an ultrasensitive platform for the rapid detection. Due to the porosity of NH2-MIL-101, more methylene blue (MB) were adsorbed to form a signal reference by changing the cover of the nucleic acid chain. Combined with a novel innovative manganese/cobalt nanobeam@carbon (MnCo@C) enzyme-free nanoprobe (Nanopro) which has remarkable catalytic performance to develop a novel ratiometric aptamersensor for detection of PAT. The ratio was changed by varying the electrochemical signal of benzoquinone (BQ) (IBQ) and the number of NH2-MIL-101 @MB exposed (IMB). The linear range of the sensor for PAT is 1.00 × 10−4-1.00 × 101 pg·mL−1, and the limit of detection is as low as 0.040 fg·mL−1 (S/N = 3). This aptasensor was successfully applied to detect PAT in Crataegus pinnatifida Bge and Semen Coicis, which exhibited satisfactory RSD (1.21–4.70% and 3.18–5.00%, respectively) and recovery (90.6–106.3% and 90.2–103.1%, respectively).

Four pairs of neolignan enantiomers with distinctive isochroman moiety from the fruits of Crataegus pinnatifida and their protective activities against H2O2-induced SH-SY5Y cells

Four pairs of neolignan enantiomers (±)-1− (±)-4 with a distinctive isochroman moiety, including seven undescribed compounds, were isolated and identified from the fruits of Crataegus pinnatifida. Structural characterization of these compounds was established through comprehensive spectroscopic analyses, as well as quantum chemical calculations of ECD and NMR data. The preliminary bioassay displayed that compounds (+)-2 and (±)-3 exerted protective activities against H2O2-induced human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells compared with the positive control. These bioactive compounds could be potential candidates for further pharmaceutical applications.

First Report of Fire Blight on Chinese hawthorn (Crataegus pinnatifida Bunge) Caused by Erwinia amylovora in Korea.

Fire blight is one of the destructive plant diseases caused by Erwinia amylovora and causes enormous economic losses worldwide. Fire blight was initially reported in apples, pears, and Chinese quince (Park et al. 2016; Myung et al. 2016a, 2016b) in Korea, but recent studies have reported new hosts such as apricot (Lee et al. 2021) and mountain ash (Lim et al, 2023). These reports indicate that fire blight is likely to disperse to new hosts in Korea. During the nationwide survey in June 2021, we observed typical symptoms of blossom blight and shoot blight on a Chinese hawthorn (Crataegus pinnatifida Bunge) just near an orchard (37°09'21.7"N, 127°35'02.6"E) in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province, where fire blight of Asian pear occurred. For identifying its causal agent, bacterial isolates were recovered after incubating at 28 ℃ for 24 hours on tryptic soy agar (TSA) medium (BD Difco, USA) from blighted leaves and shoots that were surface sterilized with 70% alcohol for 30 sec and homogenized in 500 µl of 10mM MgCl2. Pure cultures of white to mucoid colonies were grown on mannitol glutamate yeast extract (MGY) medium, a semi-selective medium for E. amylovora (Shrestha et al, 2003). Two isolates produced 1.5 kb amplicon through colony PCR using amsB primers (Bereswill et al. 1995). Two strains (CPFB26 and CPFB27) from the Chinese hawthorn produced amplicons identical to that from the TS3128 strain of E. amylovora, isolated from the pear tree and identified in 2016 (Park et al. 2016). For the partial 16s rRNA sequences, the total DNA of these two strains was extracted using the Wizard DNA prep kit (Promega, USA), and PCR was performed using fD1 (5'-AGAGTTTGATCCTGGCTCAG-3') and Rp2 (5'-ACGGCTACCTTGTTACGACTT-3') primer sets and further sequenced (Weisburg et al. 1991). These sequences belonged to the E. amylovora clade and were identified as E. amylovora in phylogenetic analysis (GenBank accession no. OP753569 and OP753570). Based on BLASTN analysis, CPFB26 and CPFB27 showed 99.78% similarity to the sequences of the E. amylovora strains TS3128, CFBP 1430, and ATCC 49946. To confirm pathogenicity of the isolates, 10 ㎕ bacterial suspensions (1.5 ⅹ 108 CFU/ml) was injected through the veins of the upper 2nd leaf of 3-month-old clone of apple rootstock (Malus domestica cv. M29) and incubated for six days at 28 ℃ in a chamber with 12 hours of light per day. Petioles and stems turned red hue, and the shoots finally blighted. To complete Koch's postulates, colonies were recovered on TSA medium from the inoculated apple rootstocks and verified through colony PCR for the amsB and A/B primer set (Powney et al. 2011). Hawthorn has been reported as an epidemiologically important alternate host plant of fire blight (van der Zwet et al. 2012). This study is the first to report fire blight caused by E. amylovora in Chinese hawthorn in Korea. Because Chinese hawthorn is natively distributed in Korea and is widely used as a landscaping tree (Jang et al. 2006), the findings of this study suggest that early monitoring could prevent the spread of fire blight through natural hosts.

Folium crataegi boosts skin regeneration for burn injury in rats through multiple ways

Appropriate topical dressings for burn treatments are important to accelerate skin wound recovery and prevent external infections. This study aimed to evaluate the effect and investigate the mechanism of folium crataegi (Crataegus pinnatifida Bge.) for the treatment of burn wounds, as well as to compare the therapeutic effects of aqueous extracts (HLW) and alcoholic extracts (HLE) from folium crataegi. The results demonstrated that both HLW and HLE groups exhibited a higher wound contraction rate than the silver sulfadiazine (SSD) ointment group. Moreover, HLW showed more significant wound repair effects than HLE. HLW significantly increased levels of EGF and FGF-2 in wound tissue, as well as TGF-β1, VEGF, CAT and IL-10 in serum. Folium crataegi extract, especially aqueous extracts, exerted good anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and anti-bacterial effects by upregulating the expression of lag3, txn1 and slpi, respectively. Folium crataegi extract significantly inhibits the expression of npas2, a key gene in the circadian rhythm pathway. In conclusion, this research illustrated that the folium crataegi extract, especially aqueous extracts, had better therapeutic effects on skin burns through multiple ways, possibly including a novel mechanism related to circadian rhythm pathway. These findings suggest that folium crataegi could be a valuable source of compounds for enhancing skin regeneration through multiple ways.

Optimization of Aqueous Two‐Phase Extraction of Polysaccharides from Hawthorn by Response Surface Methodology Coupled with Genetic Algorithm and Its Antioxidant Activity

AbstractHawthorn (Crataegus pinnatifida Bge.) contains various active components including polysaccharides, polyphenols, vitamin, phenolic acid, etc. Polysaccharides are one of the most critical active components in hawthorn, which exhibits different biological activities such as immunomodulatory antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, hypoglycemic, and other activities. Hence, the main purpose of this paper is to optimize the aqueous two‐phase extraction (UTPE) of polysaccharides from hawthorn via a response surface methodology coupled genetic algorithm (RSM‐GA) and then evaluate its antioxidant activity through free radicals scavenging experiments. The results show that the optimal extraction conditions to achieve the maximum polysaccharides yield (6.42 ± 0.08)% from hawthorn by UTPE is obtained under the mass fraction of ammonium sulfate of 11%, extraction temperature of 57 °C, liquid‐to‐solid ratio of 33 mL g−1, ethanol concentration of 26%, and extraction time of 30 min, and the relative error between the experimental value and the theoretical value is 4.56%. The antioxidant capacity is enhanced with the increase of hawthorn polysaccharides (HPs) concentration. However, the antioxidant activity of HPs is weaker than that of ascorbic acid. The results of this study provide a critical material basis for promoting the further research of HPs, and have certain significance for the deep processing and product development of hawthorn.

Hyperoside Prevents Aβ42-Induced Neurotoxicity in PC12 Cells and Caenorhabditis elegans.

Traditional Chinese medicines such as hyperoside-rich Acanthopanax senticosus and Crataegus pinnatifida have been confirmed to exhibit anti-oxidative stress properties. Hyperoside, the main ingredient of numerous antioxidant herbs, may have the ability to postpone the onset of neurodegenerative diseases. This study investigates the possible therapeutic mechanism of hyperoside as a natural antioxidant against Alzheimer's disease (AD) in Caenorhabditis elegans and PC12 cells. Specifically, hyperoside reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) level and Aβ42-induced neurotoxicity in C. elegans worms. Meanwhile, hyperoside reduced ROS production and increased mitochondrial membrane potentialin Aβ42-induced PC12 cells, which possibly due to the increase of antioxidant enzymes activity and the diminution of malondialdehyde levels. Hoechst 33,342 staining and flow cytometry analysis results suggested that hyperoside reverses cell apoptosis. Network pharmacology predicts potentially relevant hyperoside targets and pathways in AD therapy. As anticipated, hyperoside reversed Aβ42-stimulated downregulation of the PI3K/Akt/Nrf2/HO-1. The PI3K inhibitor LY294002 partially abolished the protective capability of hyperoside. The results of molecular docking further indicated that the PI3K/Akt pathways may be involved in the protection of Aβ42-induced PC12 cells by hyperoside treatment. The study provides theoretical information for research and development of hyperoside as an antioxidant dietary supplement.

Polysaccharides extracted from hawthorn (Crataegus pinnatifida) exhibiting protective effects against DSS/AOM-induced colorectal cancer in vivo

Polysaccharides extracted from hawthorn (Crataegus pinnatifida) exhibiting protective effects against DSS/AOM-induced colorectal cancer in vivo

Comparative Assessment of the Functional Efficiency of Arboriflora Species Composition in Urban Green Spaces

The article discusses the results of a comprehensive analysis of the ecological state and environment-stabilizing functions of the species composition of arboriflora in the urban planting structure. It’s based on a large amount of factual material obtained during the course of a long-term monitoring of Vladivostok’s urban greenery. A methodological substantiation has been developed for a comprehensive qualitative-quantitative assessment of species using the applied qualimetry techniques. An integral indicator, named the coefficient of the functional efficiency of the species (JFEC) was proposed as the main evaluation unit. It is a relative-quantitative magnitude of plants quality that characterises their functional efficiency and significance in urban ecosystems: prevalence in greenery planting, vitality, the ability for accumulation of the priority pollutant metals in the urban environment, their concentration relative to the local ecological background; the capability for accumulating metals from the soil. Comparative analysis of the functional efficiency of 80 species of trees and shrubs forming the urban greenery of Vladivostok on the basis of the proposed coefficient was carried out. Among the compared sample of plants, the JFEC decreases from 3.70 (Crataegus pinnatifida) to 1.13 (Malus mandshurica). This values measure up to 74 and 23% of the quality standard (QS), which corresponds to the ideal plant species. The groups of species of different functional significance in the urban green spaces structure have been identified. The best efficiency in creating the comfortable environmental conditions in the city was demonstrated by species widespread in landscaping: Fraxinus mandshurica, Ulmus japonica, Betula platyphylla, Physocarpus opulifolia et al. They are characterized by the maximum participation in the formation of the urban greenery structure and a high ability to absorb the main pollutants of the urban environment. The JFEC of these species is within 3.26–2.61, which corresponds to 65–52% of the QS. In conclusion, author makes a suggestion on a rational use of species for the formation of a comfortable urban environment and introduction of the results into the practice of managing the urban green fund.

Hyperoside prevents high-fat diet-induced obesity by increasing white fat browning and lipophagy via CDK6-TFEB pathway.

Hypericum perforatum L. (genus Hypericum, family Hypericaceae) is a flowering plant native to Europe, North Africa and Asia, which can be used in the treatment of psychiatric disorder, cardiothoracic depression and diabetes. Crataegus pinnatifida Bunge (genus Crataegus pinnatifida Bunge, family Rosaceae) was another traditional Chinese medicine for treating hyperlipidemia. Hyperoside (Hype), a major flavonoid glycoside component of Hypericum perforatum L. and Crataegus pinnatifida Bunge, possesses multiple physiological activities, such as anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. However, the role of Hype on obesity and related metabolic diseases still needs to be further investigated. We explored the effect of Hype on high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity and its metabolic regulation on white fat tissues. In vivo four-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were randomly assigned to vehicle (0.5% methycellulose) and Hype (80mg/kg/day by gavage) group under a normal chow diet (NCD) or HFD for 8 weeks. In vitro, 3T3-L1 preadipocyte cell line and primary stromal vascular fraction (SVF) cells from inguinal white adipose tissue (iWAT) of mice were used to investigate the molecular mechanisms of Hype regulation on adipocyte energy metabolism. Hype treatment in vivo promotes UCP1-dependent white to beige fat transition, increases glucose and lipid metabolism, and resists HFD-induced obesity. Meanwhile, Hype induces lipophagy, a specific autophagy that facilitates the breakdown of lipid droplets, and blocking autophagy partially reduces UCP1 expression. Mechanistically, Hype inhibited CDK6, leading to the increased nuclear translocation of TFEB, while overexpression of CDK6 partially reversed the enhancement of UCP1 by Hype. Hype protects mice from HFD-induced obesity by increasing energy expenditure of white fat tissue via CDK6-TFEB pathway.

Integrative Analysis of Metabolome and Transcriptome Reveals Molecular Insight into Metabolomic Variations during Hawthorn Fruit Development.

Hawthorn (Crataegus pinnatifida var. major), a cultivated fruit tree, is native and unique to China. Its fruits have high nutritional, health, and medicinal values. However, the development and ripening process of hawthorns is accompanied by dramatic changes in flavor, aroma, and bioactive phytochemicals, which are the fundamental factors that contribute to the potential health benefits and establishment of fruit quality. Therefore, an exploration of the dynamic changes in metabolites and their regulatory networks during the development of hawthorn fruits can elucidate the formation mechanisms of active substances in hawthorn fruits. In this study, we used a broad targeted metabolomics approach to identify and analyze the dynamics of metabolites in hawthorn fruits at five developmental stages. The results revealed 998 primary and secondary metabolites that were classified into 15 categories. The accumulation levels of most sugars increased during fruit development and then accelerated at the fruit ripening stage. The accumulation levels of a few organic acids (e.g., citric acid, isocitric acid, and quinic acid) continuously increased. Many organic acids exhibited significant decreasing trends. Among the 561 secondary metabolites detected, 189 were phenolic acids and 199 were flavonoids. The levels of many flavonoids were significantly reduced at later stages of fruit development; in contrast, the levels of two anthocyanins significantly increased during fruit ripening. Correlation analysis revealed that there is a certain correlation within and between primary as well as secondary metabolites during fruit development. Furthermore, the integration of metabolomic and transcriptomic data in this study revealed that changes in the expression of some differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were associated with the accumulation of metabolites such as sugars, organic acids, and flavonoids, e.g., the upregulated expression levels of CS (citrate synthase) genes were consistent with the continued accumulation of citric acid. Overall, this study demonstrates the metabolic changes that occur during the development of hawthorn fruit, explores the molecular mechanisms that underlie metabolite changes during fruit development, and lays a strong theoretical foundation for the improvement of hawthorn fruit quality and the development of functional components.

In Vivo Effects of Crataegus pinnatifida Extract for Healthy Longevity.

Aging is a complex series of multi-organ processes that occur in various organisms. As such, an in vivo study using an animal model of aging is necessary to define its exact mechanisms and identify anti-aging substances. Using Drosophila as an in vivo model system, we identified Crataegus pinnatifida extract (CPE) as a novel anti-aging substance. Regardless of sex, Drosophila treated with CPE showed a significantly increased lifespan compared to those without CPE. In this study, we also evaluated the involvement of CPE in aging-related biochemical pathways, including TOR, stem cell generation, and antioxidative effects, and found that the representative genes of each pathway were induced by CPE administration. CPE administration did not result in significant differences in fecundity, locomotion, feeding amount, or TAG level. These conclusions suggest that CPE is a good candidate as an anti-aging food substance capable of promoting a healthy lifespan.

Protective Effect of Hawthorn Fruit Extract against High Fructose-Induced Oxidative Stress and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in Pancreatic β-Cells

Hyperglycemia has deleterious effects on pancreatic β-cells, causing dysfunction and insulin resistance that lead to diabetes mellitus (DM). The possible causes of injury can be caused by glucose- or fructose-induced oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Hawthorn (Crataegus pinnatifida) fruit has been widely used as a hypolipidemic agent in traditional herbal medicine. The study aimed to investigate whether high fructose-induced pancreatic β-cell dysfunction could be reversed through amelioration of ER stress by the treatment of polyphenol-enriched extract (PEHE) from hawthorn fruit. The extract was partitioned using ethyl acetate as a solvent from crude water extract (WE) of hawthorn fruits, followed by column fractionation. The results showed that the contents of total polyphenols, flavonoids and triterpenoids in PEHE could be enhanced by 2.2-, 7.7- and 1.1-fold, respectively, in comparison to the original obtained WE from hawthorn fruit. In ER stress studies, a sharp increase in the inhibitory activity on the gene expression levels of GRP79, ATF6, IRE1α and CHOP involved in ER stress was evident when dosages of PEHE at 50-100 μg/mL were used against high-fructose (150 mM)-treated cells. HPLC-MS/MS analysis showed that polyphenols and flavonoids collectively accounted for 87.03% of the total content of PEHE.

Identification, characterization and chemical management of Alternaria alternata causing blackcurrant leaf spot inChina.

The aims of this study were to identify the pathogen causing blackcurrant leaf spot, assess the pathogenicity of different isolates, the host range, and the sensitivity to common fungicides, and test the effectiveness of field control for controlling A. alternata in blackcurrants in China, and potentially elsewhere. In 2020 and 2021, an uncommon leaf spot on blackcurrants was observed in Harbin (125°42'-130°10'E, 44°04'-46°40'N), Heilongjiang Province, China. Based on morphological, molecular characteristics, and phylogenetic analyses, 10 fungal isolates, identified as Alternaria alternata, were obtained from infected blackcurrant leaves of 10 infected plants in this study. To our knowledge, this is the first description of A. alternata as a causal agent of leaf spot on blackcurrants in China. A. alternata has a wide host range and infects eight of the 10 crop and ornamental plants evaluated, namely Sorbus pohuashanensis, Malus pumila, Rosa davurica, Padus racemosa, Hippophae rhamnoides, Crataegus pinnatifida, Pyrus ussuriensis, and Sambucus williamsii, but not Viburnum trilobum and Prunus tomentosa. Moreover, ten blackcurrant cultivars were screened and found to have contrasting levels of resistance to A. alternata. One was moderately resistant, four were resistant, four were susceptible, and one was highly susceptible. The A. alternata isolate was most sensitive to propiconazole-azoxystrobin, with EC50 values of 0.0038 μg ml-1 and efficacy ranging between 83.34% and 84.13% at 317 μg ml-1 in the field. The work reported that A. alternata is the pathogen that causes blackcurrant leaf spot in northern China. It can infect a variety of crops and ornamental plants. Considering the control cost and effect, propiconazole-azoxystrobin is more suitable for controlling leaf spot in the field.

Structural characterization of a heteropolysaccharide from the fruit of Crataegus pinnatifida and its bioactivity on the gut microbiota of immunocompromised mice

Crataegus pinnatifida is a common food in China, Europe and North America. In order to confirm polysaccharide was the material basis for C. pinnatifida to exert immune regulation. A polysaccharide (CPP) with a molecular weight of 13.58 kDa was isolated from C. pinnatifida. The structure of CPP was determined to be a backbone composed of → 3,5)-α-l-Araf-(1→, with two branches consisting of → 4)-α-d-Galp-(1 → and → 5)-α-l-Araf-(1→, with α-l-Araf and α-d-Manp as the terminal unit. CPP (10 ∼ 500 μg/mL) could promote the secretion of nitric oxide, interleukin-2, interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α in vitro. CPP could significantly restore the body weight of immunosuppressive mice and improve the immune organ index and interleukin-2, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α secretion. In addition, CPP increased the abundance of Bacteroidetes and Verrucomicrobia and decreased the abundance of Proteobacteria at the phylum level. So CPP can regulate the gut microbiota and play an important role in immune regulation.

The chemistry, stability and health effects of phenolic compounds in cultivated hawthorn (Crataegus pinnatifida var. major): a review

Abstract Cultivated hawthorn (Crataegus pinnatifida var. major), the principal cultivated hawthorn species in China, is rich in phenolic compounds. These phytochemicals are considered essential bioactive ingredients in different organs of cultivated hawthorn, contributing to its health effects. However, there is lack of a comprehensive review that systematically summarizes the chemistry, health effects, and stability of phenolic substances. This review summarizes recent progress in the characterization, classification, and distribution of phenolic compounds in C. pinnatifida var. major, including procyanidins, flavonoids, phenolic acids, lignans, and others. Importantly, the stability of these compounds was found to be influenced by factors such as the hawthorn development process, postharvest storage, postharvest processing, and the gastrointestinal tract environment. Additionally, the health effects of phenolic compounds in cultivated hawthorn and their underlying mechanisms were discussed. This review provides valuable insights into the utilization of hawthorn resources and the development of the hawthorn industry.

Comprehensive metabolomic variations of hawthorn before and after insect infestation based on the combination analysis of 1H NMR and UPLC-MS

Hawthorn, the sliced and dried ripe fruits of Crataegus pinnatifida Bge. Var. Major N. E. Br. (Rosaceae), is an edible and medicinal substance with a variety of health-promoting benefits. Hawthorn needs to be stored in warehouses after harvesting to meet people's perennial demand. However, it is easily infested by insects of Plodia interpunctella and Tribolium castaneum during storage, which inevitably leads to poor quality and causes adverse effects on people's health. So far, there has been no report on insect-infested hawthorn. In this study, we analyzed the changes of metabolites in hawthorn before and after insect infestation and screened out potential biomarkers to effectively and quickly detect the occurrence of insect infestation. A combination analysis of 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) was used to identify the primary and secondary metabolites. By the comparison of hawthorn and insect-infested hawthorn samples, it was found that the differences were mainly manifested in the content of metabolites. The metabolites of 32 and 1463 were identified by 1H NMR and UPLC-MS analysis, respectively. According to the parameters of VIP >1 and P<0.05, 10 differential metabolites were screened from 1H NMR analysis. Based on the parameters of VIP >1.0, P<0.05, and (FC)>1 or<1, 47 differential metabolites were screened from UPLC-MS analysis. Therefore, a total of 57 differential metabolites were considered as differential biomarkers. The heat map analysis showed that the content of some differential biomarkers with significant pharmacological activities decreased after insect infestation. Through receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve assessment, 52 differential biomarkers (6 of 1H NMR analysis and 46 of UPLC-MS analysis) were screened to distinguish whether insect infestation occurred in hawthorn. This is the first report on the changes of metabolites between hawthorn and insect-infested hawthorn and on the screening of differential biomarkers for monitoring insects. These results contributed to evaluate quality of hawthorn and ensure food safety for consumers. It also laid a foundation for further research on the infestation mechanism and safe storage monitoring in hawthorn.

Neuroprotection in Aβ25-35 -Induced Alzheimer's Disease Model by Hawthorn Leaf Flavonoids

It has been observed that increased accumulation of Aβ peptides in the brain triggers endogenous oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and memory dysfunction in Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). Crataegus pinnatifida Bge. Commonly referred to as the Hawthorn leaf is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine. The plant is used for conditions such as hyperlipidemia, heart palpitations, forgetfulness, and tinnitus in mainstream medicinal practice, where the most important bioactive components consist of Hawthorn Leaf Flavonoids (HLF). Xu and associates showed that in a rat model given Aβ25-35 (bilateral hippocampus injection), the neuroprotective effects of HLF were significant. Oral doses of 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg for a time period of 30 days of HLF demonstrated significant attenuation of the damage to neurons alongside marked inhibition in memory deficits. Enhancement in the enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase, and glutathione content was seen. In contrast, HLF decreased the malondialdehyde content in the Aβ25-35 rat AD model and suppressed astrocytes’ activation, ameliorating neuroinflammation. HLF upregulated NQO-1, Nrf-2, and HO-1 protein expressions. These results demonstrated the potential of HLF as a potential AD therapeutic. Phytother Res (2022) DOI: 10.1002/ptr.7690.