Fruit Epicarp Research Articles

Biodegradable and antioxidant films with barrier properties to visible and ultraviolet light using Hass avocado (Persea americana Mill.) by-products

The search for renewable sources that can be used to develop products as alternatives to traditional polymers in the future, without affecting food safety, represents a challenge for the food industry. In this context, agro-industrial waste has emerged as an interesting alternative. This study evaluated biodegradable films made from Hass avocado seed flour without (Control film; PC) and with antioxidant extracts (PExBIO and PExIND) derived from the epicarp of the same fruit. The results showed that all the films blocked visible (over 96 %) and ultraviolet light (99.9 %), which was mainly attributed to perseorangine, a compound generated by the action of polyphenol-oxidase. The films also exhibited good water vapor barrier properties. PExIND showed the highest mechanical strength (Young's modulus = 901.8 ± 33.4 MPa; tensile strength = 9.1 ± 1.0 MPa; elongation = 3.5 ± 0.5 %), correlating with the highest crystallinity index (14.9 %). The incorporation of extracts increased the content of phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity in PExBIO and PExIND compared to PC, with no significant differences between them. Moreover, the biodegradation test indicated that the films showed high biodegradability. Therefore, Hass avocado residues could be used to produce biodegradable antioxidant films, suitable for packaging light-sensitive and low-moisture products.

The efficiency of Raphia hookeri adsorbent in indigo carmine dye removal: Economy depth via chemometrics

The remediation of dye pollutants remains a concern in contemporary water management practices. Hence, the need for efficient and cost-effective techniques for dye removal from wastewater. In this study, the epicarp of Raphia hookeri fruits was treated with orthophosphoric acid for enhanced porosity and efficiency in the uptake of Indigo carmine dye (ICD). Treated Raphia hookeri fruit waste (RHPW) presented morphologically distributed pores as well as high porosity with Branneur-Emmet-Teller (BET) surface area of 945.43 m2/g. RHPW displayed functional groups suitable for adsorption. The maximum ICD uptake was observed at pH 5 while the maximum uptake (qmax) was 20.41 mg/g in the concentration range of 2–10 mg/L. Freundlich isotherm and Pseudo-second order kinetics well-described equilibrium and kinetics data respectively. This indicated a multilayered adsorption. The Dubinin-Radushkecich model energy value was 40.82 kJ/mol, indicating chemical adsorption. The ridge regression, the Lasso and the Elastic net statistical models were used to establish a positive relationship between the various adsorption operational parameters studied. Lasso provided the best result based on the estimated mean squared error. The RHPW-ICD adsorption system was more favorable at room temperature, as the removal efficiency decreased with temperature rise. The findings established Raphia hookeri fruit epicarp as an economical and sustainable precursor for the preparation of potent adsorbent for Indigo carmine dye removal. This can find possible application in wastewater treatment.

Clarification of the infection pattern of Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri on citrus fruit by artificial inoculation

BackgroundCitrus canker is a significant bacterial disease caused by Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri (Xcc) that severely impedes the healthy development of the citrus industry. Especially when citrus fruit is infected by Xcc, it will reduce or even lost its commercial value. However, due to the prolonged fruiting cycle and intricate structure, much less research progress had been made in canker disease on fruit than on leaf. In fact, limited understanding has been achieved on canker development and the response to Xcc infection in fruit.ResultsHerein, the progression of canker disease on sweet orange fruit was tracked in the field. Results indicated that typical lesions initially appear on the sepal, style residue, nectary disk, epicarp, and peduncle of young fruits after petal fall. The susceptibility of fruits to Xcc infection diminished as the fruit developed, with no new lesions forming at the ripening stage. The establishment of an efficient method for inoculating Xcc on fruit as well as the artificial inoculation throughout the fruit's developmental cycle clarified this infection pattern. Additionally, microscopic observations during the infection process revealed that Xcc invasion caused structural changes on the surface and cross-section of the fruit.ConclusionsAn efficient system for inoculation on citrus fruit with Xcc was established, by which it can serve for the evaluation of citrus germplasm for canker disease resistance and systematic research on the interactions between Xcc and citrus fruits.

Passion fruit by-products (Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa) as a potential fat replacer in ice cream.

In recent years, people have become interested in consuming low-fat foods as this reduces the risk of obesity and cardiovascular disease. For this reason, this study optimized the incorporation of passion fruit epicarp (PFE) as a partial fat substitute in dairy ice cream. For this purpose, a central composite rotational design 22 was performed and 5 response variables were optimized, of which 4 variables were maximized (percentage overrun, hardness, adhesiveness, and color coordinates L*, a*, b*), while the melting rate was minimized as a function of two factors (% PFE and % fat). The stability of three types of ice cream was then evaluated: experimental ice cream (3% milk fat and 0.97% PFE), commercial ice cream (4% milk fat and 2% vegetable fat) and control ice cream (3% milk fat without PFE added), according to their physicochemical and sensory properties during 57 days of storage (-22 °C, 85% relative humidity). The results showed that it was possible to reduce the milk fat by up to 25% by adding PFE (0.97%), which significantly reduced the melting rate and resulted in higher hardness (N), adhesiveness and increased yellowness compared to the commercial samples. The optical microscopy analysis also showed that PFE keeps the air bubbles immobile due to the increased viscosity in the serum phase during the 57-day storage.

Nondestructive Determination of Epicarp Hardness of Passion Fruit Using Near-Infrared Spectroscopy during Storage.

The hardness of passion fruit is a critical feature to consider when determining maturity during post-harvest storage. The capacity of near-infrared diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) for non-destructive detection of outer and inner hardness of passion fruit epicarp was investigated in this work. The passion fruits' spectra were obtained using a near-infrared spectrometer with a wavelength range of 10,000-4000 cm-1. The hardness of passion fruit's outer epicarp (F1) and inner epicarp (F2) was then measured using a texture analyzer. Moving average (MA) and mean-centering (MC) techniques were used to preprocess the collected spectral data. Competitive adaptive reweighted sampling (CARS), successive projection algorithm (SPA), and uninformative variable elimination (UVE) were used to pick feature wavelengths. Grid-search-optimized random forest (Grids-RF) models and genetic-algorithm-optimized support vector regression (GA-SVR) models were created as part of the modeling process. After MC preprocessing and CARS selection, MC-CARS-Grids-RF model with 7 feature wavelengths had the greatest prediction ability for F1. The mean square error of prediction set (RMSEP) was 0.166 gN. Similarly, following MA preprocessing, the MA-Grids-RF model displayed the greatest predictive performance for F2, with an RMSEP of 0.101 gN. When compared to models produced using the original spectra, the R2P for models formed after preprocessing and wavelength selection improved. The findings showed that near-infrared spectroscopy may predict the hardness of passion fruit epicarp, which can be used to identify quality during post-harvest storage.

Elucidating the genetics of post-harvest shelf-life of cucumber fruits and identification of associated QTLs and candidate genes

Cucumber is a perishable vegetable crop with limited storability, and development of genotypes with extended shelf-life will help in reducing post-harvest loss. One natural variant, DC-48 with extended shelf-life, was used to understand the genetics of the associated traits and identify the genomic regions and associated candidate genes. Scanning electron microscopy revealed differences in the structure of the epicarp in the genotypes. Programmed cell death (PCD) and appearance of senescence-related dark spots (SRDS) in the epicarp of the cucumber fruit with low shelf-life were also detected. Retention of green colour, absence of any shrinkage, retention of fruit firmness and slow change in the pH of the endocarp were essential traits associated with extended shelf-life. Single recessive gene govern retention of green colour while the remaining traits were polygenic. One QTL detected through QTL-seq on chromosome 4 was associated with retention of green colour spanning over a region of 5.01 Mb. Conventional mapping in F2 progenies with PCR-based markers also identified one QTL within the same region. RNA-seq and RT-PCR analysis at two different developmental stages revealed two genes in the QTL region namely, Csa_4G000860 with unknown function and Csa_4G016490 with acyl-transferase activity in the early and late developmental stages of the fruit, respectively associated with retention of green colour. Two PCR-based markers, InDel 861 and InDel 016, closely linked with retention of green colour can be used in marker-assisted back-cross introgression. This study provides greater insight into the molecular network associated with extended shelf-life in cucumber.

Cola rostrata K. Schum. constituents induce cytotoxicity through reactive oxygen species generation and mitochondrial membrane depolarisation

Aim: While the traditional use of Cola rostrata in treating illnesses and diseases has not been reported, the presence of cytotoxic principles has been reported in phylogenetically and biogeographically related species within the Cola genus. This study, therefore, evaluated the cytotoxic potential of extracts of the plant, and the associated cellular and molecular mechanisms. Methods: Activity-based fractionation of the extracts was carried out and cytotoxicity was assessed in the human cervical cancer cell line, HeLa, and the transformed human lung cell line, MRC5-SV2, using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay complemented with brightfield imaging. The 2ʼ,7ʼ-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCFDA) assay was used to assess induction of cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), while flow cytometry of 5,5ʼ,6,6ʼ-tetrachloro-1,1ʼ,3,3ʼ-tetraethyl-imidacarbocyanine iodide (JC-1)-stained cells assessed the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (∆ΨM). Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis was carried out on an active fraction. Results: Extracts of the fruit epicarp and leaf were cytotoxic against the cell lines. Half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values for the 48 h cytotoxicity of the ethanol extract of the epicarp against HeLa and MRC5-SV2 cells were 48.0 μg/mL ± 12.1 μg/mL and 40.4 μg/mL ± 7.2 μg/mL, respectively, while fractions from second-level partitioning of the hexane fraction of the leaf extract elicited cytotoxicity with IC50 values ranging from 12.8 μg/mL ± 1.0 μg/mL to 39.6 μg/mL ± 7.2 μg/mL in both cell lines, following 48 h treatment. GC-MS revealed the presence of seventeen compounds in a hexane fraction of the leaf extract, including even- and odd-chain fatty acids, the most abundant of which were n-hexadecanoic acid, decanoic acid 10-(2-hexylcyclopropyl); and octadecanoic acid. The mechanisms of cytotoxicity of most active fractions involved generation of ROS and mitochondrial membrane depolarisation. Conclusions: The findings show that C. rostrata is rich in cytotoxic phytochemicals which could be isolated for developing new anti-cancer agents.

Polyphenol Profiling by LC QTOF/ESI-MS and Biological Activity of Purple Passion Fruit Epicarp Extract.

A polyphenolic preparation in the form of the passion fruit epicarp extract was analyzed to identify and quantify the polyphenolic compounds using LC QTOF/ESI-MS and UPLC-PDA-FL. The analyzed parameters included antidiabetic activity (α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and pancreatic lipase), inhibitory activity toward cholinesterase (AChE, BuChE), anti-inflammatory activity (COX-1, COX-2, 15-LOX) and antioxidant activity based on ORAC and ABTS. The polyphenolic preparation of the passion fruit epicarp extract contained 51 polyphenolic compounds representing five groups-flavones (25 compounds; 52% of total polyphenolic), flavonols (8; 16%), flavan-3-ols (6; 7%), phenolic acids (4; 3%), and anthocyanins (7; 21%), with derivatives of luteolin (13 derivatives) and apigenin (8 derivatives) as dominant compounds. The preparation was characterized by an antioxidant activity of 160.7 (ORAC) and 1004.4 mmol Trolox/100 mL (ABTS+o). The inhibitory activity toward α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and pancreatic lipase reached IC50 of 7.99, 12.80, and 0.42, respectively. The inhibition of cholinesterases (IC50) was 18.29 for AChE and 14.22 for BuChE. Anti-inflammatory activity as IC50 was 6.0 for COX-1, 0.9 for COX-2, and 4.9 for 15-LOX. Food enriched with passion fruit epicarp extract has a potentially therapeutic effect.

Evaluation of Compounds from Balanites aegyptiaca against Squalene Epoxidase of Micropsorum gypseum—In Vitro and In Silico Studies

Microsporum gypseum is a dermatophyte with a geophilic nature that is found all over the globe. It mainly causes tinea in the scalp, arms, and legs in humans. Squalene epoxidase (SE) is a crucial enzyme in M. gypseum for the biosynthesis of ergosterol. The medicinal plant Balanites aegyptiaca is an abundant supply of secondary constituents with great therapeutic values. In this research, the fruit epicarp portion was used to inhibit M. gypseum using experimental and computational techniques. The anti-dermatophytic activity of epicarp extracts on M. gypseum was evaluated using the poison plate method at five different concentrations. At 3 mg/mL, the M. gypseum was completely controlled by the fractioned chloroform extract of epicarp. The compounds from previous research were utilized for docking studies (Abuthakir et al., 2022). The ideal compounds and the drug terbinafine were then docked using Schrödinger’s Glide module. It demonstrates that (3E)-7-Hydroxy-3,7-dimethyl-3-octen-1-yl-6-O-(6-deoxy-alpha-L-mannopyranosyl)-beta-D-glucopyranoside outperforms other substances and the drug terbinafine in docking analysis. Desmond, Schrödinger Molecular Dynamics simulations were also performed for (3E)-7-Hydroxy-3,7-dimethyl-3-octen-1-yl-6-O-(6-deoxy-alpha-L-mannopyranosyl)-beta-D-glucopyranoside-squalene epoxidase complexes. The complex appears to be more stable, according to the MD simulation research. This study indicates that (3E)-7-Hydroxy-3,7-dimethyl-3-octen-1-yl-6-O-(6-deoxy-alpha-L-mannopyranosyl)-beta-D-glucopyranoside could be used as a potential inhibitor of M. gypseum growth, and it could be studied further.

Analysis of Pharmacological Activities and Mechanisms of Essential Oil in Leaves of C. grandis 'Tomentosa' by GC-MS/MS and Network Pharmacology.

Citrus grandis 'Tomentosa,' a fruit epicarp of C. grandis 'Tomentosa' or C. grandis (L.) Osbeck is widely used in health food and medicine. Based on our survey results, there are also rich essential oils with bioactivities in leaves, but the chemical compounds in this part and relevant pharmacological activities have never been studied systematically. Therefore, this study was to preliminarily decipher the pharmacological activities and mechanisms of the essential oil in leaves of C. grandis 'Tomentosa' by an integrated network pharmacology approach. Essential oil compositions from leaves ofC. grandis 'Tomentosa' were identified using GC-MS/MS. And then, the targets of these oil compositions were predicted and screened from TCMSP, SwissTargetPrediction, STITCH and SEA databases. STRING database was used to construct the protein-protein interaction networks, and the eligible protein targets were input into WebGestalt 2019 to carry out GO enrichment and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis. Based on the potential targets, disease enrichment information was obtained by TTD databases. Cytoscape software was used to construct the component-target-disease network diagrams. Finally, 61 essential oil chemical components were identified by GC-MS/MS, which correspond to 679 potential targets. Biological function analysis showed 12, 19, and 12 GO entries related to biological processes, cell components and molecular functions, respectively. 43 KEGG pathways were identified, of which the most significant categories were terpenoid backbone biosynthesis, TNF signaling pathway and leishmaniasis. The component-target-disease network diagram revealed that the essential oil compositions in leaves of C. grandis 'Tomentosa' could treat tumors, immune diseases, neurodegenerative diseases and respiratory diseases, which were highly related to CHRM1, PTGS2, CASP3, MAP2K1 and CDC25B. This study may provide new insight into C. grandis 'Tomentosa' or C. grandis (L.) Osbeck and may provide useful information for future utilization and development.

GC-MS Analysis and Antimicrobial Evaluation of Essential Oil from the Epicarp of Nigerian Grown Afraegle paniculata (Rutaceae)

Essential oils are used as therapeutic agents in aromatherapy. In this study, the chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oils from the epicarp of Afraegle paniculata fruits from Nigeria were evaluated. The essential oil was obtained via hydro distillation and chemical components of the oils were analysed on Agilent Technologies 7890A gas chromatograph-mass spectrometry system. Antimicrobial assay was performed by disc diffusion method. GC-MS analysis revealed sixteen compounds consisting mainly of oxygenated monoterpene (39.61 %), esters (15.3 %), sesquiterpenes (13.1 %) and sesquiterpene alcohol (9.42 %). The oil showed appreciable activity against all the tested microorganisms except Aspergillus niger. At concentration of 1000 μg/ml, the inhibitory effect observed for S. aureus was 16 mm followed by 15 mm for B. subtilis and 7 mm for P. aeruginosa. The findings suggest that essential oil from A. paniculata fruits could serve as a valuable raw material for perfumery and cosmetic products. Dhaka Univ. J. Pharm. Sci. 22(1): 73-80, 2023 (June)

Adsorption Potential of Contaminants with Activated Carbon Monoliths from Dried Fruit Epicarp of Lecythis minor

Lecythis minor is a tree commonly known as Monkey pot tree. Its fruits are composed of urn-shaped epicarps, which are bulky ligneous capsules of slow degradation. Activated carbon monoliths were prepared from this fruit epicarp (bioresidue, the source of lignocellulosic matter) by chemical activation with H3PO4. The activation conditions were optimized using a central composite design, considering parameters of temperature, time, and chemical ratio as variables, and iodine and methylene blue number (IN and MBN), along with yield (Y), as responses. The best conditions for activation were 532°C (T), 1.5 h (t), and 1.5-g H3PO4/1-g raw matter (chemical ratio, CR), with response values of 996 mg I/1-g activated carbon (AC) (IN), 361-mg MB/1-g AC (MBN), and 42% (Y). Likewise, the physicochemical/surface characterization of the activated carbon Lecythis minor (ACLM) allowed establishing that it developed micro- and mesopores (Vmicro=0.72 cm3/g; Vmeso=0.87 cm3/g), as well as ultra-microporosity, a BET surface area of 2,164 m2/g, and a total pore volume of 1.7 cm3/g; also, the removal percentages of the emerging contaminants diclofenac and cephalexin in water were above 96%. It is concluded that fruit epicarp of L. minor is a natural-origin resource to produce AC monoliths, with satisfactory yield, desirable surface development, and high thermal stability, capable of adsorption and removal of pharmaceutical products, and other emergent contaminants from water bodies.

Comparative Proximate, Vitamins, Minerals and Phytochemical Analysis of Cola rostrata K. Schum. and Cola parchycarpa K. Schum.

Cola rostrata and Cola parchycarpa are under-utilized indigenous kola plants, known as achicha by the Igbo natives in Nigeria, whose fruit pulps are edible and tasty. The proximate, vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals constituent of the fruit epicarp, fruit pulp and seed of C. rostrata and C. parchycarpa were evaluated using standard analytical laboratory procedures. The results revealed that C. rostrata and C. parchycarpa fruit pulps contained high moisture contents (56.56 % and 58.83 %) and carbohydrates (31.30 % and 55.39 %) respectively. They also contained vitamins and minerals that are required for nutrition in humans and animals. However, C. rostrata fruit pulp had higher concentrations of magnesium (80.36 mg/100g), calcium (170.31 mg/100g), vitamin A (54.53 mg/100g), vitamin C (21.41 mg/100g) and vitamin E (4.25 mg/100g), while C. parchycarpa had higher concentrations of all the phytochemicals screened. These phytochemicals, if explored further, can be implored in the treatment of certain ailments. The fruit pulp can be recommended for individuals who suffer from calcium deficiency while the seed and fruit epicarp could be used in the formulation and fortification of animal feeds due to the substantial nutrient deposits in them as revealed by this study.

Combination of Aspartame and Acesulfame Potassium Does not Alter Blood Glucose, Lipids and Cytokines of Female Rats

Cola rostrata and Cola parchycarpa are under-utilized indigenous kola plants, known as achicha by the Igbo natives in Nigeria, whose fruit pulps are edible and tasty. The proximate, vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals constituent of the fruit epicarp, fruit pulp and seed of C. rostrata and C. parchycarpa were evaluated using standard analytical laboratory procedures. The results revealed that C. rostrata and C. parchycarpa fruit pulps contained high moisture contents (56.56 % and 58.83 %) and carbohydrates (31.30 % and 55.39 %) respectively. They also contained vitamins and minerals that are required for nutrition in humans and animals. However, C. rostrata fruit pulp had higher concentrations of magnesium (80.36 mg/100g), calcium (170.31 mg/100g), vitamin A (54.53 mg/100g), vitamin C (21.41 mg/100g) and vitamin E (4.25 mg/100g), while C. parchycarpa had higher concentrations of all the phytochemicals screened. These phytochemicals, if explored further, can be implored in the treatment of certain ailments. The fruit pulp can be recommended for individuals who suffer from calcium deficiency while the seed and fruit epicarp could be used in the formulation and fortification of animal feeds due to the substantial nutrient deposits in them as revealed by this study.

Novel R2R3 MYB transcription factors regulate anthocyanin synthesis in Aubergine tomato plants

BackgroundA high content in anthocyanins, for their health beneficial properties, represents an added value for fruits and vegetables. Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is one of the most consumed vegetables worldwide and is rich in vitamins and carotenoids. In recent years, purple-skinned tomatoes, enriched of anthocyanins, were produced recovering allelic variants from wild Solanum species. The molecular basis of the Anthocyanin fruit (Aft) locus, exploited by breeders to activate the anthocyanin synthesis in tomato epicarp, has been recently identified in the correct splicing of the R2R3 MYB gene AN2like. Aubergine (Abg) is a tomato accession which introgressed from Solanum lycopersicoides a locus activating the synthesis of anthocyanins in the fruit. The Abg locus was mapped in the region of chromosome 10 containing Aft and the possibility that Abg and Aft represented alleles of the same gene was hypothesized.ResultsWe dissected the R2R3 MYB gene cluster located in the Abg genomic introgression and demonstrated that AN2like is correctly spliced in Abg plants and is expressed in the fruit epicarp. Moreover, its silencing specifically inhibits the anthocyanin synthesis. The Abg allele of AN2like undergoes alternative splicing and produces two proteins with different activities. Furthermore, in Abg the master regulator of the anthocyanin synthesis in tomato vegetative tissues, AN2, is very poorly expressed. Finally, a novel R2R3 MYB gene was identified: it encodes another positive regulator of the pathway, whose activity was lost in tomato and in its closest relatives.ConclusionIn this study, we propose that AN2like is responsible of the anthocyanin production in Abg fruits. Unlike wild type tomato, the Abg allele of AN2like is active and able to regulate its targets. Furthermore, in Abg alternative splicing leads to two forms of AN2like with different activities, likely representing a novel type of regulation of anthocyanin synthesis in tomato.

Adsorptive removal of acetaminophen onto acid-modified Raphia hookeri fruit epicarp

Adsorptive removal of acetaminophen onto acid-modified Raphia hookeri fruit epicarp

Exploring the chemical composition and coloring qualities of cacao fruit epicarp extracts.

Cacao pod husks (CHs), the most abundant by-product of cacao beans production, can potentially become a source of functional ingredients for the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries. Three pigment samples (yellow, red, and purple) from lyophilized and ground cacao pod husk epicarp (CHE), were isolated by ultrasound-assisted solvent extraction, with yields between 11 and 14 wt%. The pigments exhibited UV-Vis flavonoid-related absorption bands at 283 nm and 323 nm and, only for the purple extract, reflectance bands in the 400-700 nm range. As per the Folin-Ciocalteu method, the CHE extracts contain high yields of antioxidant phenolic compounds amounting to 161.6, 153.9, and 167.9 mg GAE per g extract for the yellow, red, and purple samples, respectively. Phloretin, quercetin, myricetin, jaceosidin, and procyanidin B1 were among the main flavonoids identified by MALDI-TOF MS. A biopolymeric bacterial-cellulose matrix can effectively retain up to 541.8 mg of CHE extract per g of cellulose in dry weight. Also, MTT assays revealed that CHE extracts are non-toxic and increase viability in cultured VERO cells.

In Silico Identification of Protein Targets for Drug-like Compounds from Epicarp Extract of Cola rostrata K. Shum

Fruit epicarp has been found to contain several bioactive compounds which are useful for herbal treatment of several ailments and diseases. The phytochemicals present in C. rostrata epicarp as well as their potential to bind to human proteins and modify their function have not been investigated. This study, therefore, identified the top protein targets of drug-like components of C. rostrata epicarp extract in humans as well as the disease conditions associated with the targets. The identities of constituents of methanol and n-hexane fractions of absolute ethanol extract of C. rostrata epicarp were determined via GCMS analysis. Druglikeness (adherence to Lipinski, Ghose, Veber, Egan, and Muegge filters) and the protein targets of drug-like constituents were determined using SwissADME and SwissTargetPrediction web tools. GCMS analyses revealed the presence of 49 compounds in the n-hexane and methanol fractions. Corynan-16-carboxylic acid, 16,17-didehydro-9,17-dimethoxy-, methyl ester, (16E)-, a yohimbine derivative, was abundant (13.33%) in the methanol fraction. The n-hexane fraction was rich in odd-chain fatty acids and phytosterols. Four drug-like compounds were identified in the fractions: (1) Azelaic acid, monoethyl ester; (2) 3-(2-Methoxymethoxyethylidene)-2,2 dimethylbicyclo[2.2.1]heptane; (3) Cyclododecanol, 1-aminomethyl-, and (4) Corynan-16-carboxylic acid, 16,17-didehydro-9,17-dimethoxy-, methyl ester, (16E)-. The predicted top protein targets of the drug-like compounds include carbonic anhydrase II, protein-tyrosine phosphatase 1B, sphingosine kinase 1, maltase-glucoamylase, adenosine A2b receptor, P2X purinoceptor 7, MAP kinase p38 alpha, δ-opioid receptor, and alpha-2 adrenergic receptors. Findings show that C. rostrata epicarp contains drug-like phytochemicals with potential against cancer, diabetes, pain and inflammatory diseases, and the extract could have aphrodisiac potential.

Genome-Wide Analysis of the Gene Structure, Expression and Protein Interactions of the Peach (Prunus persica) TIFY Gene Family.

The TIFY family is a plant-specific gene family involved in regulating many plant processes, such as development and growth, defense and stress responses, fertility and reproduction, and the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. The v2.0 peach (Prunus persica) genome, which has an improved chromosome-scale assembly and contiguity, has recently been released, but a genome-wide investigation of the peach TIFY family is lacking. In this study, 16 TIFY family genes from the peach genome were identified according to the peach reference genome sequence information and further validated by cloning sequencing. The synteny, phylogenetics, location, structure, and conserved domains and motifs of these genes were analyzed, and finally, the peach TIFY family was characterized into 9 JAZ, 1 TIFY, 1 PPD and 5 ZML subfamily members. Expression profiles of peach JAZ, PPD, and ZML genes in various organs and fruit developmental stages were analyzed, and they showed limited effects with fruit ripening cues. Four TIFY members were significantly affected at the mRNA level by exogenous treatment with MeJA in the peach epicarp, and among them, PpJAZ1, PpJAZ4 and PpJAZ5 were significantly correlated with fruit epicarp pigmentation. In addition, the TIFY family member protein interaction networks established by the yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) assay not only showed similar JAZ-MYC2 and JAZ homo- and heterodimer patterns as those found in Arabidopsis but also extended the JAZ dimer network to ZML-ZML and JAZ-ZML interactions. The PpJAZ3-PpZML4 interaction found in this study suggests the potential formation of the ZML-JAZ-MYC complex in the JA-signaling pathway, which may extend our knowledge of this gene family’s functions in diverse biological processes.

Phenolics Profile and Protective Effect on Injuried HUVEC Cells of Epicarp Extracts from Kadsura coccinea.

This study evaluated the phenolics profile and the antioxidative properties of K. coccinea fruits epicarp. A total of 13 phenolic compounds (six phenolic acids, four anthocyanins, two flavonols, and one flavone) were identified by ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spetrometry(UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS). Two anthocyanins, cyanidin-3-xylosylrutinoside and cyanidin-3-rutinoside, comprise 30.89~74.76% and 13.90~46.17% of the total amount of anthocyanins in K. Coccinea. Cytoprotective effect results evidenced that pretreatment of Human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs) with Kadsura. coccinea fruits’ epicarp phenolic extracts at the concentrations of 50–200 µg/mL improved the cell viability after exposure to H2O2 significantly, and inhibited malonaldehyde(MDA) and reactive oxygen species(ROS) overproduction, as well as enhancing the content of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione Reductase (GR. This study proved that K. coccinea is a natural resource of phenolics rich with potential antioxidant ability, which may be valuable for developing nutraceuticals and dietary supplements.