Concentrations Of Ferulic Acid Research Articles

Evaluation of inhibition of lignocellulose-derived by-products on bioethanol production by using the QSAR method and mechanism study

To evaluate the inhibition of by-products that exist in pretreated lignocellulose hydrolysate on bioethanol fermentation, quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) models were established in the present study. These models have the potential to predict the fermentation inhibition to minimize the experimental effort. They also provided an innovative methodology for removing fermentation inhibitors purposefully and for optimizing pretreatment parameters and thus could enhance the bioethanol yield. The results indicated that the fermentation inhibition of phenolic aldehyde were stronger than that of phenolic acid followed by phenolic alcohol in which the fermentation inhibition was weakened by the existence of the methoxy group in the benzene ring. Meanwhile, the formation of the intramolecular hydrogen bonds of fermentation inhibitors also played an important role in weakening their fermentation inhibition. The individual fermentation inhibition of fermentation inhibitors was found strongly related to their molecular descriptors. Furthermore, ferulic acid was chosen as the representative inhibitor for the primary investigation on the combined fermentation inhibition of the various complex binary fermentation inhibitor mixtures, which co-existed in the lignocellulose hydrolysate. As indicated by the results, antagonism occurred mainly under the higher ferulic acid concentrations in the binary mixtures, while a simple additive effect was generated.

Effect of different drying techniques on chemical composition, color and antioxidant properties of kinnow (Citrus reticulata) peel.

Aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of different drying techniques on chemical composition, color and antioxidant activity of kinnow peel. Fresh peel was dehydrated by three different techniques (tray, vacuum and freeze) and regardless of the method results showed significant decreases in moisture, total phenols, flavonoids, antioxidant activity and color when compared to the fresh sample. Freeze drying was found superior in retention of polyphenolic characteristics and color attributes when compared with other drying techniques. The fresh and freeze-dried citrus peel extract was analyzed for individual phenolics and flavonoids with the help of HPLC indicating highest concentrations of ferulic acid and hesperidin.

High glucose induced calcium overload via impairment of SERCA/PLN pathway and mitochondrial dysfunction leads to oxidative stress in H9c2 cells and amelioration with ferulic acid.

Oxidative stress and associated complications are the major pathological concerns of diabetic cardiomyopathy (DC). We aim to elucidate the mechanisms by which high glucose (HG) induced alteration in calcium homeostasis and evaluation of the beneficial effect of two concentrations (10 and 25 μm) of ferulic acid (FA). HG was induced in H9c2 cardiomyoblast by treating with glucose (33 mm) for 48 h, and FA was co-treated. Intracellular calcium ([Ca2+ ]i) overload was found increased significantly with HG. For elucidation of mechanism, the SERCA pathway and mitochondrial integrity (transmembrane potential and permeability transition pore) were explored. Then, we assessed oxidative stress, and cell injury with brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release. HG caused significant [Ca2+ ]i overload through downregulation of SERCA2/1, pPLN, and pPKA C-α; and upregulation of PLN and PKA C-α and alteration in the integrity of mitochondria with HG. The [Ca2+ ]i overload in turn caused oxidative stress via generation of reactive oxygen species, lipid peroxidation, and protein carbonylation. This resulted in cell injury which was evident with significant release of BNP, ANP, and LDH. FA co-treatment was effective to mitigate all pathological changes caused by HG. From the overall results, we conclude that [Ca2+ ]i overload via SERCA pathway and altered mitochondrial integrity is the main cause for oxidative stress during HG. Based on our result, we report that FA could be an attractive nutraceutical for DC.

A Novel Fluorescence and SPE Adsorption Nanomaterials of Molecularly Imprinted Polymers Based on Quantum Dot-Grafted Covalent Organic Frameworks for the High Selectivity and Sensitivity Detection of Ferulic Acid.

A fluorescence and solid phase extraction (SPE) adsorption nanomaterials of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) based on quantum dot-grafted covalent organic frameworks (QD-grafted COFs) was prepared by one-pot surface-imprinting synthesis method. Amino groups of silane reagent were at the surface of QDs to coordinate COFs efficiently by Schiff-base reactions, providing thermal and chemical stability to MIPs. It also reacted with the phenolic hydroxyl groups of ferulic acid (FA) through non-covalent interactions. The nanomaterials were used as fluorescence sensing and SPE adsorption toward determination of ferulic acid. The MIPs based on QD-grafted COFs had good fluorescence response ability, and quenching linearly at concentrations of ferulic acid from 0.03 to 60 mg kg−1, with a detection limit of 5 µg kg−1. At the same time, it exhibited a good SPE adsorption ability, and the FA extraction was from 1.63 to 3.11 mg kg−1 in grain by-products by SPE coupled with high performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS). The fluorescence and SPE-HPLC/MS were used for the efficient detection of ferulic acid in real samples with recovery values of 88–114% and 90–97%, respectively. Furthermore, the nanomaterials of MIPs based on QD-grafted COFs were used for FA detection with high sensitivity and selectivity, and it also increased the recycling of waste resources.

Extraction optimization, antidiabetic and antiglycation potentials of aqueous glycerol extract from rice (Oryza sativa L.) bran

The purpose of this investigation was to explore aqueous glycerol as food grade solvent for rice bran polyphenolic antioxidants extraction and investigate the antidiabetic and antiglycation potential of the extract and its major polyphenols. Response surface methodology (Box-Behnken design) was implemented to optimize experimental conditions for rice bran polyphenols and antioxidants extraction. The optimum conditions provided a very satisfactory outcome in total polyphenols (549.6 ± 8.05 mg gallic acid equivalent per 100 g dry weight) and DPPH scavenging activity (57.83 ± 1.8%). The chromatographic separation of the extract showed higher concentrations of ferulic acid, ρ-coumaric acid and chlorogenic acid followed by caffeic acid, syringic acid and rutin. Moreover, the extract inhibited α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and lipase activity as 34.2 ± 3.2%, 29.9 ± 1.0%, and 12.4 ± 2.3%, respectively. Furthermore, fructose readily forms Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs) fluorescence with basic amino acids in low concentration in simulated intestinal digestion conditions. The extract inhibited AGEs formation by 52.6% at 20 μL/mL. Our study indicated that the antidiabetic and antiglycation potential of rice bran extract was mainly driven by the extract polyphenols. Rice bran glycerol extract could be employed as a natural antidiabetic and antiglycation remedy, and as economically and eco-friendly source of potent bioactive compounds with satisfactory outcome.

A stoichio-kinetic model for a [formula omitted] -ferulic acid reaction

Estimates of the activity of antioxidants in the literature often appear inconsistent. In the specific case of the DPPH∙ test, the diversity of measurements may arise from variations in the protocols followed. This paper proposes an unbiased method which models the reduction mechanism. This method is applied to the reduction of DPPH∙ by ferulic acid. A scheme with eight coupled reactions is proposed and has been validated on different solvents and using a wide range of DPPH ̇, ferulic acid, and 5,5′-diferulic acid concentrations, and verified using data from the literature on ferulic acid activity. This modeling approach permits a correction to the bias of the 8th reaction (spontaneous reduction of DPPH ̇), because of its sensitivity to solvent, which in most cases is not taken into account. The best experimental strategy to determine the Efficient Concentration of ferulic acid to reduce 20% (EC20) and 50% (EC50) of DPPH∙ is then detailed in terms of initial DPPH∙ concentrations and the duration of the experiment.

Absorption and metabolites of anthocyanins and phenolic acids after consumption of purple wheat crackers and bars by healthy adults

The physiological effects of polyphenols in human health are dependent on their bioavailability and metabolism. The aim of this study was to determine anthocyanin and phenolic acid metabolites and their absorption following acute consumption of two purple wheat products by healthy adults. A secondary objective was to track changes in plasma antioxidant status and short-term markers of inflammation postprandially for 8 h. Anthocyanin and phenolic acid metabolites were quantified in the plasma and urine of 16 healthy female and male participants following the consumption of 4 servings of bran-enriched purple wheat bars and crackers containing 6.7 mg anthocyanins and 176–213 mg total phenolic acids. A few anthocyanin metabolites were detected in the urine and none were found in plasma. Ferulic acid was detected in plasma and urine, while hippuric acid was the major metabolite in the urine. The maximum plasma concentration of ferulic acid and phenolic acid metabolites reached 9–31 and 765-745 ng/mL within 30–60 min following products consumption. With acute consumption of purple wheat bars and crackers by healthy adults, rapid absorption and excretion of anthocyanin and phenolic acid metabolites was observed with no short-term impacts on plasma antioxidant activity or the inflammatory biomarkers, IL-6 and TNF-α.

Influence of nitrogen fertilization on yield and phenolic compounds in wheat grains (Triticum aestivum L. ssp. aestivum)

AbstractNitrogen (N) is an important plant nutrient and is crucial for the plant growth and grain yield formation of field crops such as wheat (Triticum aestivum L. ssp. aestivum). However, little is known about the influence of N on secondary metabolites in wheat grains which are supposed to be beneficial for human health due to their antioxidant potentials. Therefore, we investigated the influence of N fertilization on plant growth and yield performance of winter wheat, as well as on total phenolic concentration, antioxidant capacity, and the accumulation of (in)soluble phenolic acids in wheat grains during the grain‐filling phase. It was found that ferulic acid was the predominant phenolic acid in wheat grains. As expected, higher amounts of N fertilizer led to increasing grain yields, whereas the concentration of soluble ferulic acid decreased. In contrast, insoluble bound ferulic acid, total phenolic content, and antioxidant capacity were not affected by the N treatment. Insoluble phenolic compounds seemed to be less susceptible to variations in N supply.

Can plant phenolic compounds reduce Fusarium growth and mycotoxin production in cereals?

ABSTRACTTo assess the in vitro activity of three phenolic acids (ferulic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, vanillic acid) and two flavonols (quercetin, rutin) on mycelial growth and mycotoxin accumulation of Fusarium graminearum (FG), F. langsethiae (FL) and F. poae (FP), two different approaches were chosen. First, grains from oat varieties were inoculated with a suspension of three FL isolates to determine the influence of phenolic compounds on the accumulation of mycotoxins. The oat variety Zorro showed a tendency for lower accumulation of T-2/HT-2, diacetoxyscirpenol and neosolaniol. Second, a mycelium growth assay was conducted to follow FG, FL and FP growth on cereal based media supplemented with phenolic compounds. Increasing concentrations of ferulic acid substantially inhibited growth of FG and FL, while FP growth was reduced to 57%. In contrast, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, vanillic acid, quercetin, and rutin slightly stimulated mycelium growth. Results about mycotoxin production in cereal based media were less conclusive.

Ferulic acid potentiates the antibacterial activity of quinolone-based antibiotics against Acinetobacter baumannii

Ferulic acid is a cinnamic derivative of phenolic acid and its pharmacophore (catechol) is responsible for antioxidant, prooxidant and antibacterial activities. In this study, we evaluated the influence of ferulic acid on the antibacterial activity of quinolone-based antibiotics against Acinetobacter baumannii. The minimum inhibitory concentration of ferulic acid against Acinetobacter baumannii AB5075 were considerably lowered for ΔsodB and ΔkatG mutants. Checkerboard assay shows synergistic interactions between ferulic acid and quinolones. In a murine sepsis model, ferulic acid potentiated the antibacterial activities of quinolones. Ferulic acid amplified quinolones-induced redox imbalance by increasing superoxide ion generation, NAD+/NADH ratio and ADP/ATP ratio. Conversely, the level of reduced glutathione was significantly lowered. We conclude that ferulic acid potentiates the antibacterial activity of quinolone-based antibiotics against A. baumannii by increasing ROS generation, energy metabolism and electron transport chain activity with a concomitant decrease in glutathione.

Comparative Studies of White-Rot Fungal Strains (Trametes hirsuta MTCC-1171 and Phanerochaete chrysosporium NCIM-1106) for Effective Degradation and Bioconversion of Ferulic Acid.

Biodegradation of ferulic acid, by two white-rot fungal strains (Trametes hirsuta MTCC-1171 and Phanerochaete chrysosporium NCIM-1106) was investigated in this study. Both strains could use ferulic acid as a sole carbon source when provided with basal mineral salt medium. T. hirsuta achieved complete degradation of ferulic acid (350 mg L–1) in 20 h, whereas P. chrysosporium degraded it (250 mg L–1) in 28 h. The metabolites produced during degradation were distinguished by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Bioconversion of ferulic acid to vanillin by P. chrysosporium was also investigated. The optimum experimental conditions for bioconversion to vanillin can be summarized as follows: ferulic acid concentration 250 mg L–1, temperature 35 °C, initial pH 5.0, mycelial inoculum 0.32 ± 0.01 g L–1 dry weight, and shaking speed 150 rpm. At optimized conditions, the maximum molar yield obtained was 3.4 ± 0.1%, after 20 h of bioconversion. Considering that the degradation of ferulic acid was determined by laccase and lignin peroxidase to some extent, the possible role of ligninolytic enzymes in overall bioconversion process was also studied. These results illustrate that both strains have the potential of utilizing ferulic acid as a sole carbon source. Moreover, P. chrysosporium can also be explored for its ability to transform ferulic acid into value-added products.

Combined spectroscopic, molecular docking and quantum mechanics study of β-casein and ferulic acid interactions following UHT-like treatment

Temperature induced interactions between β-casein and ferulic acid were investigated under ultra-high temperature (UHT) conditions (140 °C) utilising a variety of spectroscopic methods. Fluorescence measurements indicate that structural alterations to the protein have occurred; the resulting red shift in tryptophan peak fluorescence with increasing concentrations of ferulic acid indicates that the single tryptophan residue has become more exposed to the polar environment. This evidence is further supported by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and circular dichroism (CD) measurements showing an increase in irregular and intermediary structural components upon addition of ferulic acid, as well as UV-vis measurements that record an increase in absorption. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) work strongly argues that the ferulic acid is bound covalently to the protein post heat treatment. This outcome is in agreement with molecular docking simulations and quantum mechanics calculations that indicate the formation of a covalent bond between ferulic acid and glutamine54 residue of β-casein to create a new adduct.

Pharmacokinetics, Bioavailability, and Tissue Distribution Study of Angoroside C and Its Metabolite Ferulic Acid in Rat Using UPLC-MS/MS.

Angoroside C is a phenylpropanoid glycoside compound isolated from the dried root of Scrophularia ningpoensis Hemsl., which possesses the effects of preventing ventricular remodeling, reducing pulmonary oedema, and reducing blood pressure, as well as having the properties of anti-platelet aggregation, hepatoprotection and anti-nephritis, etc. However, few investigations have been conducted on the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) study of angoroside C. Thus, a fast ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem quadrupole mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method was established for the determination of angoroside C and its metabolite ferulic acid in rat plasma and tissue homogenate. The two analytes were extracted from the biosamples using a simple protein precipitation with acetonitrile. The developed method was validated and successfully applied to the pharmacokinetics, bioavailability and tissue distribution study after the intragastric administration of angoroside C (100 mg/kg) or the intravenous administration of angoroside C (5 mg/kg), respectively. The results showed that angoroside C can be absorbed extremely quickly (Tmax = 15 min), can be eliminated very rapidly (t1/2 = 1.26 h), and its oral bioavailability is only about 2.1%. Furthermore, angoroside C was extensively distributed in all main organs (liver, heart, spleen, lung, kidney, and brain), and the highest concentration was detected in the lung 15 min after oral administration. This paper also indicated that angoroside C could be converted to the active metabolite ferulic acid in vivo. The maximum concentrations of ferulic acid in the kidney occurred at 6 h after oral administration. In summary, this study explored some of the pharmacokinetic characteristics of angoroside C in vivo, and the data produced could provide a basis for the further investigation of angoroside C.

Enzymatically obtaining hydrogels of PVA crosslinked with ferulic acid in the presence of laccase for biomedical applications

Hydrogels are three-dimensional natural or synthetic polymeric materials with numerous medical and biological applications, such as the ophthalmic area. In this context, a hydrogel using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and ferulic acid in the presence of laccase was obtained. The concentrations of PVA, laccase, and ferulic acid were modified, and their effects were analyzed in terms of refractive index, density, and dynamic viscosity. The best condition for obtaining the hydrogel was 12.0% of PVA (w/w), laccase concentration of 836 μg mL−1, and ferulic acid concentration of 1.95 mM. The rheological measurements confirmed the PVA reticulation with ferulic acid in the presence of laccase, as it promoted an increase in viscosity. On the other hand, the reaction stimulated a decrease in the swelling degree, crystallinity, and melting temperature. Therefore, these results confirm the formation of crosslinks among the PVA chains.

Ferulic Acid exerts concentration-dependent anti-apoptotic and neuronal differentiation-inducing effects in PC12 and mouse neural stem cells

Ferulic Acid (FA) is a phenolic compound with anti-apoptotic and anti-oxidative properties. There are reports regarding its neuro-protective, neuro-proliferative and neuro-differentiative effects. However, effect of FA on neuronal differentiation and its effective neuro-protective and neuro-differentiative concentrations are unknown. Also the role of sirtuin molecules in neuroprotective effects of FA were not reported. We used PC12 and mouse neural stem cells (mNSCs) in our experiments. Intact and apoptotic (H2O2-exposed) cells were treated with different concentrations of FA, and then they were evaluated by MTT, quantitative real-time RT-PCR and immunostaining assays. FA treatment at low concentrations (50 µg/ml) significantly reduced apoptosis in H2O2-treated PC12 cells. Real-time RT-PCR and western blot assays confirmed that FA induced this effect through stabilization and degradation of P53 by increasing the expression rate of SIRT1, SIRT7 and MDM2 but down-regulation of USP7. Beside this anti-apoptotic effect, treatments of PC12 cells and mNSCs with higher concentrations of FA (250–800 µg/ml on PC12 cells and 100–500 µg/ml on mNSCs) increased the rate of neuronal differentiation. Immunocytochemical staining for β-tubulin III and Map2 verified the presence of mature neurons, and western blot assay showed that FA-treated PC12 cells had a stepwise rise of phosphorylated-ERK1/2 with increasing concentrations of FA. Our findings showed that FA at low concentrations has neuroprotective effect through up-regulation of SIRT1, SIRT7 and MDM2, and at higher concentrations can promote neural differentiation and neurite outgrowth.

Carbon (δ13C) and Nitrogen (δ15N) Stable Isotope Composition Provide New Insights into Phenotypic Plasticity in Broad Leaf Weed Rumex acetosa under Allelochemical Stress

Phenolic compounds, hydroquinone and cinnamic acid derivatives have been identified as major allelochemicals with known phytotoxicity from allelopathic plant Acacia melanoxylon R. Br. Several phenolic compounds such as ferulic acid (FA), p-hydroxybenzoic acid (pHBA) and flavonoid (rutin, quercetin) constituents occur in the phyllodes and flowers of A. melanoxylon and have demonstrated inhibitory effects on germination and physiological characteristics of lettuce and perennial grasses. However, to date, little is known about the mechanisms of action of these secondary metabolites in broad-leaved weeds at ecophysiological level. The objective of this study was to determine the response of Rumex acetosa carbon isotope composition and other physiological parameters to the interaction of plant secondary metabolites (PSM) (FA and pHBA) stress and the usefulness of carbon isotope discrimination (Δ13C) as indicative of the functional performance of intrinsic water use efficiency (iWUE) at level of plant leaf. R. acetosa plant were grown under greenhouse condition and subjected to PSM stress (0, 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 mM) for six days. Here, we show that FA and pHBA are potent inhibitors of Δ13C that varied from 21.0‰ to 22.9‰. Higher pHBA and FA supply enhanced/retard the Nleaf and increased the Cleaf while ratio of intercellular CO2 concentration from leaf to air (Ci/Ca) was significantly decreased as compared to control. Leaf water content and leaf osmotic potential were decreased following treatment with both PSM. The Ci/Ca decreased rapidly with higher concentration of FA and pHBA. However, iWUE increased at all allelochemical concentrations. At the whole plant level, both PSM showed pronounced growth-inhibitory effects on PBM and C and N concentration, root fresh/dry weight, leaf fresh/dry weight, and root, shoot length of C3 broad leaf weed R. acetosa. Carbon isotope discrimination (Δ) was correlated with the dry matter to transpiration ratio (transpiration efficiency) in this C3 species, but its heritability and relationship to R. acetosa growth are less clear. Our FA and pHBA compounds are the potent and selective carbon isotope composition (δ13C) inhibitors known to date. These results confirm the phytotoxicity of FA and pHBA on R. acetosa seedlings, the reduction of relative water content and the induction of carbon isotope discrimination (Δ) with lower plant biomass.

Concentrations of health-promoting phytochemicals in ripe mango fruit triggered by postharvest application of elicitors.

Mango fruit harvested at green mature stage were treated with methyl jasmonate (MeJA), nitric oxide (NO), or salicylic acid (SA) to investigate their effects on phytochemical concentrations in ripe fruit. Fruit fumigated with MeJA showed the highest increase in the concentrations of gallic acid (33.0%), caffeic acid (80.0%), total phenols (38.4%), and total antioxidant capacity (20.9%) in the peel, and total carotenoids (48.7%) in the pulp, compared to control. The fruit dipped in SA showed the highest increase in the concentrations of lupeol (59.8%) and ferulic acid (73.2%) in the pulp and ferulic acid (67.4%) in the peel. Fruit fumigated with NO or MeJA showed the highest concentrations of lupeol in the peel (94.3%, 119.4%), and gallic acid (37.9%, 61.0%), total phenols (62.7%, 31.0%), and ascorbic acid (17.7%, 18.8%) in the pulp respectively. All the elicitor treatments were significantly effective in increasing concentrations of mangiferin and chlorogenic acid in the pulp and peel, vanillic acid in the peel, and total antioxidant capacity in the pulp. Overall, MeJA (10-5 to 10-4 mol L-1 ) was identified as the most effective elicitor for triggering phytochemical production during ripening of harvested mango fruit. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

Harvest maturity stage affects the concentrations of health-promoting compounds: Lupeol, mangiferin and phenolic acids in the pulp and peel of ripe ‘Kensington Pride’ mango fruit

Mango (Mangifera indica L.) fruit is known as a good source of lupeol, mangiferin and phenolic acids. However, the effect of harvest maturity on the concentrations of these compounds in the pulp and peel of ripe ‘Kensington Pride’ mango fruit has not been reported. Thus, quantitative analysis of lupeol, mangiferin, phenolic acids and other important health-promoting compounds in the pulp and peel of ripe mango fruit harvested at four different maturity stages namely, green mature (commercial standard), sprung stage, half ripe and tree ripe was carried out. The highest concentrations of lupeol, mangiferin, vanillic acid, ferulic acid and caffeic acid in both pulp and peel and gallic acid, chlorogenic acid and total phenols in the peel were recorded in ripe fruit harvested at the sprung stage. The highest concentrations of ascorbic acid and total carotenoids in pulp and total antioxidant capacity in peel were recorded in the fruit harvested at tree ripe stage, whilst the highest antioxidant capacity in ripe pulp was recorded in those fruit harvested at half ripe stage. The sprung stage could, therefore, be considered as the best stage to harvest to obtain mango fruit with enhanced health benefits.

Bacillus methylotrophicus CSY-F1 alleviates drought stress in cucumber (Cucumis sativus) grown in soil with high ferulic acid levels

Drought and ferulic acid (FA) inhibit plant growth. Here, we investigated whether Bacillus methylotrophicus CSY-F1 alleviates drought stress in cucumber (Cucumis sativus) plants grown in high-FA soil. Cucumber seedlings grown in high-FA soil were inoculated with CSY-F1 for 20 d, and then subjected to drought for 3 d. In rhizospheric soil of drought-stressed seedlings, CSY-F1 decreased FA levels and increased soil water contents, polysaccharide levels, and catalase, phosphatase, urease, and sucrase activities at low or high FA concentrations. In drought-stressed seedlings grown in FA-containing soil, CSY-F1 improved plant growth, and reduced leaf wilting; CSY-F1 decreased superoxide radical, hydrogen peroxide, and malonaldehyde levels. CSY-F1 increased superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, guaiacol peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase, dehydroascorbate reductase, monodehydroascorbate reductase, and glutathione reductase activities in these seedlings. In addition, CSY-F1 elevated plant relative water content and osmotic potential, and enhanced ascorbate and glutathione contents, proline and soluble sugar levels, and catalase, copper/zinc SOD, manganese SOD, CsPYL1, and CsPYL2 transcript levels. CSY-F1 increases the polysaccharide levels and enzyme activities in soil, and enhances antioxidant enzyme activities, proline and soluble sugar levels, and transcript levels of CsPYL1 and CsPYL2 in leaves, thus alleviating drought stress in cucumber under FA conditions.

Simultaneous Determination of the Traditional Herbal Formula Ukgansan and the In Vitro Antioxidant Activity of Ferulic Acid as an Active Compound.

Ukgansan (UGS), a traditional herbal formula composing seven medicinal herbal plants, has been applied in Asian countries for treating neurosis, insomnia, and irritability. Here, the current study performed a simultaneous determination of the seven marker compounds (liquiritin apioside, liquiritin, ferulic acid, glycyrrhizin, decursin, decursinol angelate, and atractylenolide I) using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), to establish quality control of UGS. A 70% ethanol extract of UGS and a mixture of the seven compounds were separated using a C-18 analytical column on a gradient solvent system of 1.0% (v/v) aqueous acetic acid and acetonitrile. Data were recorded at a UV wavelength of 250 nm for glycyrrhizin; 276 nm for liquiritin apioside, liquiritin, and atractylenolide I; and 325 nm for ferulic acid, decursin, and decursinol angelate. The results exhibited high linearity (correlation coefficient (r2) ≥ 0.9998) and proper precision (0.38–3.36%), accuracy (95.12–105.12%), and recovery (95.99–104.94%) for the seven marker compounds. The amount of the seven marker compounds at the concentrations from 0.190 to 16.431 mg/g. In addition, the current study evaluated the antioxidant effects of UGS by measuring their scavenging activities against the 2,2′-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) and 2,2′-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals using in vitro cell-free systems and observed its antioxidant activity. Among the seven components of the UGS extract, ferulic acid dramatically enhanced the scavenging of ABTS and DPPH radicals compared with other compounds. The concentrations of ferulic acid required for a 50% reduction (RC50) in ABTS and DPPH radicals were 16.22 μM and 41.21 μM, respectively. Furthermore, UGS extract exerted the neuroprotective effect and blocked the inflammatory response in neuronal hippocampal cells and microglia, respectively. Overall, the established method of HPLC will be valuable for improving the quality control of UGS extract, and ferulic acid may be useful as a potential antioxidant agent.