Illicium Verum Fruit Research Articles

Ultra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-High-Definition Mass Spectrometry-Based Metabolomics to Reveal the Potential Anti-Arthritic Effects of Illicium verum in Cultured Fibroblast-like Synoviocytes Derived from Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease. The fruits of Illicium verum, which is a medicinal and edible resource, have been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, we investigated the effects of I. verum extracts (IVEs) on human RA fibroblasts-like synoviocytes (RA-FLS) by using a sensitive and selective ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography with high-definition mass spectrometry (UPLC-HDMS) method. We subsequently analyzed the metabolites produced after the incubation of cultured RA-FLS with IVEs. IVEs inhibited the proliferation and suppressed the migration of RA-FLS, and reduced the levels of inflammatory factors including TNF-α and IL-6. Twenty differential metabolites responsible for the effects of IVEs were screened and annotated based on the UPLC-HDMS data by using a cell metabolomics approach. Our findings suggest that treating RA-FLS with IVEs can regulate lipid and amino acid metabolism, indicating that this extract has the potential to modify the metabolic pathways that cause inflammation in RA. This might lead to novel therapeutic strategies for managing patients with RA.

Herbal Formulation of High Phenols and Flavonoids with the Extract of Phyllanthus emblica, Punica granatum, and Illicium verum and Assessment of Hematotoxicity Assay: An In vitro Study.

A growing number of consumers are embracing the philosophy that natural products are better for their health and the environment. As such, they are seeking products they perceive to be safer, healthier, and without toxic chemical or synthetic ingredients. Natural products are gentle enough for daily use and provide a less abrasive alternative to more potent prescription formulations meant for short-term use. Herbal antimicrobial and antioxidant mouth rinses are considered effective adjuncts to toothbrushing and flossing for patients having gingivitis who have undergone implant treatment, providing a clinically significant benefit in the reduction of dental plaque, and also being antioxidant in nature. Three types of plant species were taken into consideration. Phyllanthus emblica fruit, Punica granatum flower, and Illicium verum fruit and seed were collected from the native trees of Chennai, Tamil Nadu. We conclude that P. emblica fruit, P. granatum flower, and I. verum fruit and seed exhibit large amounts of flavonoids, phenolics, and tannins. This study also shows that these samples can be used in clinical practice as it has less hematotoxixity percentage. P. granatum that is a pomegranate flower shows a high positive percentage in the presence of flavonoids and phenols. These plant extracts can be used in further studies and in clinical use as mouthwash or topical gel by adding preservatives and flavoring agents.

Phytofabrication of silver nanoparticles from Illicium verum fruit extract and its role in Cr+6 removal: a comparative analysis

ABSTRACT Herein, using Illicium verum (IV) aqueous fruit extract, spherical shape silver nanoparticles (IV-AgNPs) of 40 nm average size with typical SPR at 422 nm were synthesised through the one-pot chemical reduction method. In the presence of Cr+6, IV-AgNPs rapidly changed from yellow to pink colour, with immediate SPR quench at 422 nm and new peak appearance at 510 nm, suggesting carboxylate groups involvement in AgNPs synthesis and Cr+6 interaction, respectively. Clusters were formed in Cr+6 presence; as a result, IV-AgNPs’ zeta potentials changed from −24.1 to 14 mV. Moreover, with the lowest limit of detection (22.1 nM), IV-AgNPs displayed higher potential for Cr+6 adsorption in aqueous medium. The Langmuir isotherm predicts monolayer adsorption on a homogeneous surface of both adsorbents via chemisorption kinetics with adsorption capacity of 1511.65 and 720.35 mg/g for IV-AgNPs and IV fruit extract, respectively. Calculated thermodynamic values of -∆G°, +∆H°, and +∆S° indicate spontaneity, randomness, and endothermicity of the adsorbate system(s). Akaike information criterion ranking alignment and kinetics equilibrium for adsorbents showed that the Elovich plot and intra-particle diffusion produced the best output in comparison to other models. These findings indicate adsorption dynamics are controllable for both adsorbents, but the size-dependent properties of IV-AgNPs significantly improve interaction efficiency for Cr+6 adsorption.

Transcriptomic and biochemical analyses revealed antifungal mechanism of trans-anethole on Aspergillus flavus growth.

Plant volatile compounds have great potential for preventing and controlling fungal spoilage in post-harvest grains. Recently, we have reported the antifungal effects of trans-anethole, the main volatile constituent of the Illicium verum fruit, on Aspergillus flavus. In this study, the inhibitory mechanisms of trans-anethole against the growth of A. flavus mycelia were investigated using transcriptomic and biochemical analyses. Biochemical and transcriptomic changes in A. flavus mycelia were evaluated after exposure to 0.2 μL/mL trans-anethole. Scanning electron microscopy showed that trans-anethole treatment resulted in the surface wrinkling of A. flavus mycelia, and calcofluor white staining confirmed that trans-anethole treatment disrupted the mycelial cell wall structure. Annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate/propidium iodide double staining suggested that trans-anethole induced apoptosis in A. flavus mycelia. Reduced mitochondrial membrane potential and DNA damage were observed in trans-anethole-treated A. flavus mycelia using 5,5',6,6'-tetrachloro-1,1',3,3'-tetraethyl-imidacarbocyanine and 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole staining, respectively. 2',7'- Dichloro-dihydro-fluorescein diacetate staining and biochemical assays demonstrated that trans-anethole treatment cause the accumulation of reactive oxygen species in the A. flavus mycelia. Transcriptome results showed that 1673 genes were differentially expressed in A. flavus mycelia exposed to trans-anethole, which were mainly associated with multidrug transport, oxidative phosphorylation, citric acid cycle, ribosomes, and cyclic adenosine monophosphate signaling. We propose that trans-anethole can inhibit the growth of A. flavus mycelia by disrupting the cell wall structure, blocking the multidrug transport process, disturbing the citric acid cycle, and inducing apoptosis. This study provides new insights into the inhibitory mechanism of trans-anethole on A. flavus mycelia and will be helpful for the development of natural fungicides. KEY POINTS: • Biochemical analyses of A. flavus mycelia exposed to trans-anethole were performed • Transcriptomic changes in trans-anethole-treated A. flavus mycelia were analyzed • An inhibitory mechanism of trans-anethole on the growth of A. flavus mycelia was proposed.

Antifungal effects of trans-anethole, the main constituent of Illicium verum fruit volatiles, on Aspergillus flavus in stored wheat

Natural gaseous fungicides have great application potential for controlling the fungal decay of postharvest agroproducts. In fact, the fruit of Illicium verum has traditionally been buried in household grain piles to prevent fungal infection in China. However, the antifungal effects of the I. verum fruit against fungi in storage grains remain unclear. In this study, the volatile compounds from I. verum fruit were analyzed, and trans-anethole was found to be the main constituent, accounting for 87.9%. The antifungal potency of trans-anethole on the fungus Aspergillus flavus was then tested. Trans-anethole completely inhibited the growth of A. flavus at concentrations of 0.286 and 0.4 μL/mL in the vapor and liquid phases, respectively. Fumigation with 0.8 μL/mL trans-anethole prevented A. flavus proliferation in wheat grains with 20% moisture content. Further biochemical and transcriptomic analyses revealed the inhibitory effect of trans-anethole on A. flavus spores. Using scanning electron microscopy, we observed that trans-anethole could affect spore morphology in a dose-dependent manner. Transcriptomic analyses showed that 8722 genes, mainly those related to oxidative phosphorylation, citric acid cycle, mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling, ABC transport, and autophagy, were significantly differentially expressed in A. flavus spores exposed to trans-anethole. Trans-anethole treatment also increased mitochondrial membrane potential and induced intracellular accumulation of reactive oxygen species and DNA damage in A. flavus spores. This study provides new insights into the antifungal effect of trans-anethole on A. flavus in postharvest grains and promotes the use of natural volatile compounds in protecting agroproducts from fungal decay.

Toxicological and molecular adverse effect of Illicium verum fruit constituents toward Bradysia procera.

Bradysia procera, a ginseng stem fungus gnat, is one of the most serious insect pests of Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng), causing significant damage to plant growth. The goal of this study was to determine the toxicity and mechanism of action of phenylpropanoids (trans-anethole and estragole) isolated from the methanol extract and hydrodistillate of Illicium verum fruit against third-instar larvae and eggs of Bradysia procera. The filter-paper mortality bioassay revealed that estragole [median lethal concentration (LC50 ) = 4.68 g/cm2 ] has a significant fumigant effect, followed by trans-anethole (LC50 = 43.92 g/cm2 ). However, estragole had the lowest toxic effect when compared to commercially available insecticides. After 7 days, estragole and trans-anethole at 75 g/cm2 inhibited egg hatchability up to 97% and 93%, respectively. At 0.09 g/cm2 , insecticides had an inhibitory effect on egg-hatching ability ranging from 88% to 94%. Furthermore, in both closed and open containers, these active constituents were able to consistently induce vapor-phased toxicity. Both estragole and trans-anethole have the ability to inhibit acetylcholinesterase (AChE), which is involved in neurotransmitter function. However, the active constituent estragole from I. verum fruit acted as a potent AChE inhibitor and had a slightly lower effect on cyclic adenosine monophosphate (AMP) than octopamine alone. This finding suggests that estragole may influence Bradysia procera neurotransmitter function via both the AChE and octopaminergic receptors. More research is needed to demonstrate the potential applications of I. verum fruit-derived products as potential larvicides and ovicides for Bradysia procera population control. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Bio‐fabricated chromium (III) oxide nanorods for catalytic and bactericidal applications in water treatment

AbstractThe treatment of chemical and biological contaminants in water through bio‐fabricated metal nanoparticles is one of the promising sustainable methods. Herein, an efficient synthesis of novel chromium oxide nanorods is introduced by Illicium verum fruit extract as a bio‐reducing, capping, and stabilizing agent. The morphological, optical, catalytic, and bactericidal properties of nanorods are investigated by various techniques. The UV–visible spectra displayed strong absorption peak in the region of 309.8 nm, whereas Fourier transform infrared presented the characteristic vibrations at 605.65 and 651.94 cm−1 attributed to CrO binding mode. Scanning electron microscopy results showed that chromium oxide nanoparticles are well‐dispersed with small rod‐shaped morphology. The average size of nanorods was found to be ~15 to 20 nm in length. Due to their ultra‐large surface area and strong π–π interaction, the plant‐coated nanorods were tested for the catalytic removal of methyl orange (MO), a common water‐soluble textile dye. Adsorption potential of Cr2O3 nanoparticles was monitored by UV–visible spectrophotometer, which showed 90–95% successive decrease in the absorption maxima of aqueous MO (1 μM). The elimination rate of MO was drastically improved from 45 to 30 min, while a combination of Cr2O3 nanorods and sodium borohydride NaBH4 was used. Bactericidal activities of these nanorods were tested against vast number of Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria. The significant results were obtained with 27 mm zone of inhibition against Klebsiella. oxytoca and Serratia. marcescens. This quick and simple procedure can be scaled up for commercial applications of new, eco‐friendly, and cost‐effective water treatment process.

Comparison of the Phytochemical Composition and Antibacterial Activities of the Various Extracts from Leaves and Twigs of Illicium verum.

Previous studies have revealed the numerous biological activities of the fruits of Illicium verum; however, the activities of its leaves and twigs have remained undiscovered. The study aimed to investigate the phytochemical components and antibacterial activity of the various extracts from the leaves and twigs of Illicium verum. The herbal extracts were prepared by supercritical CO2 extraction (SFE) and 95% ethanol extraction, followed by partition extraction based on solvent polarity. Analysis of antimicrobial activity was conducted through the usage of nine clinical antibiotic- resistant isolates, including Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii. Among the tested samples, the SFE extracts exhibited broader and stronger antibacterial activities against the test strains, with a range of MIC between 0.1–4.0 mg/mL and MBC between 0.2–4.5 mg/mL. Observations made through scanning electron microscopy revealed potential mechanism of the antimicrobial activities involved disruption of membrane integrity of the test pathogens. Evaluation of the chemical composition by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry indicated the presence of anethole, anisyl aldehyde, anisyl acetone and anisyl alcohol within the SFE extracts, demonstrating significant correlations with the antibacterial activities observed. Therefore, the leaves and twigs of Illicium verum hold great potential in being developed as new natural antibacterial agents.

Two new phenolic glycosides from the fruits of Illicium verum

Two new phenolic glycosides (1–2) and eleven known compounds (3–13) were isolated from the fruits of Illicium verum Hook.f. using silica-gel column and preparative middle pressure liquid chromatography (MPLC). The structures of the compounds were elucidated by NMR spectroscopic data. Among them, compounds 3, 5, and 10 were isolated from the family Magnoliaceae for the first time. Additionally, all the compounds were evaluated for their anti-complementary activities against the classical pathway (CP) and the alternative pathway (AP).

Chemical composition, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of the essential oil of Illicium verum

In recent years, a concern has been expressed about the impact of antibiotics and synthetic antioxidants, which are used to inhibit microbial growth and retard fat oxidation in foods. In addition, antibiotic resistance presents a serious menace to human and environmental ecosystems. This has led the food industry to use natural resources such as essential oils in the preparation of foods, this forming their sensory profile and increasing preservation time there. The objective of this work is to determine the chemical composition and evaluate the antibacterial and antioxidant activity of the essential oil of Illicium verum. The yield of essential oil extracted by hydro distillation is about 4.13%. The chemical composition of the essential oil extracted from the dried fruits of Illicium verum was studied by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC and GC/MS). Twenty-eight constituents, representing 99.74% of the essential oil were identified. The major compounds are: trans-anethole (83.46%), D-Limonene (4.56%), Estragole (3.47%) and Linalool (1.07%). Antioxidant activity was determined by the DPPH assay. The essential oils of Illicium verum showed low antioxidant activity with IC50= 286.19 ± 7.4 mg/mL, compared to Ascorbic acid IC50= 0.09 ± 0.01 mg/mL. The antibacterial effect of this essential oil was tested against six microorganisms, of which Staphylococcus aureus is the most sensitive with an MIC of about 1/1000 (v/v), followed by Staphylococcus epidermidis and Enterobacter cloacae with an MIC equal to 1/100 (v/v).

Molecular docking analysis of phytoconstituents of Illicium verum fruit against Caspase 3, MMP-9 and TNF-α

Present study was designed to evaluate the anti-apoptotic activity and anti-inflammatory of phytocompounds of Illicium verum fruits. Bioactive compounds from the alcoholic, chloroform and ethylacteate fractions of Illicium verum were selected based on GC-MS analysis, which were in silico docked against Caspase 3, Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 and TNF-α. The structures of Caspase 3, Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) and TNF-α enzymes were obtained from the protein data bank. Molecular docking was done by using Glide XP module of Schrodinger software and binding energies of ligands were also calculated. The phytocompound Strychane,1-acetyl-20α- hydroxy-16-methylene showed good docking score against Caspase 3 and TNF-α. The phytocompound Pyrrolidine, 1-(7-oxo-2,4,6 trimethylheptanoyl) showed good docking score against MMP-9. The results revealed that phytoconstituents obtained from Illicium verum showed good docking against Caspase-3, MMP-9 and TNF-α indicating their potential towards apoptosis and inflammation.

Chemical composition and acaricidal activity of essential oils from fruits of Illicium verum and rhizomes of Curcuma zedoaria against Dermacentor nitens (Acari: Ixodidae)

ABSTRACT This study aimed to determine the chemical composition of essential oils (EOs) from fruits of Illicium verum and rhizomes of Curcuma zedoaria and evaluate the acaricidal activity against Dermacentor nitens, the tropical horse tick. The EOs were characterized by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry analysis. Mostly, the chemical compounds found were (E)-anethole (88.32%) from I. verum, and 1,8-cineole (43.49%), curzerenone (13.40%) and camphor (12.29%) from C. zedoaria. The acaricidal activity was evaluated on D. nitens engorged females by Adult Immersion Test (AIT) using 40.0 mg mL−1 of each essential oil. Illicium verum EOs showed a high acaricidal activity (89.6%) on the engorged females and also influenced on larvae hatching percent, while C. zedoaria presented low acaricidal activity (4.9%). The present data provide support for further investigation of I. verum EOs components as novel botanical acaricide to control D. nitens infestations.

Evaluation of Allelopathic Activity of Chinese Medicinal Plants and Identification of Shikimic Acid as an Allelochemical from Illicium verum Hook. f.

This study focused on the potential allelopathy of 50 species of Chinese medicinal plants, which are mainly distributed in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, Inner Mongolia, and Yunnan Province. The “sandwich method” was adopted and used for the screening for allelopathic potential among these plant species. Further phytotoxic evaluation of the candidate species was conducted by applying plant extracts to crops and weed species. The results of this study indicated that among the 50 medicinal plant species evaluated, the fruits of Illicium verum Hook. f. (star anise) showed the most significant allelopathic potential through the leaf leachates. Shikimic acid was identified to be the main bioactive compound (about 7% dry weight) in star anise by reversed-phase High Performance Liquid Chromatography (RP-HPLC) analysis. The phytotoxic bioassay indicated that both the crude extract of the Chinese star anise and the synthetic shikimic acid showed strong inhibitory activity on the radicle and hypocotyl growth of lettuce. The radicle growth inhibition of lettuce caused by the crude extract of star anise could be explained by the contribution of the biological activity of shikimic acid. In conclusion, shikimic acid could be a putative allelochemical in the fruits of Illicium verum and could be utilized in sustainable weed management.

In Vitro Anthelmintic Activity of Three Tropical Plant Extracts on Haemonchus contortus.

To evaluate the anthelmintic activity of Anacardium occidentale shell, Illicium verum fruit, and Artocarpus heterophyllus seed to substantiate their traditional use against helminths. In vitro anthelmintic activity of hydroalcoholic extracts of three plants was evaluated against eggs, infective larvae (L3), adult, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) of Haemonchus contortus of naturally infected sheep. The three extracts exhibited significant (P < 0.001) dose-dependent anthelmintic responses by inhibiting egg hatching and causing paralysis of larvae and mortality of worms. The extracts were most effective on egg and adult stage of H. contortus than on L3 stage at a higher concentration of 6 mg/mL. Anacardium occidentale shell exhibited maximum activity with 100% paralysis of L3 larvae. Probit analysis revealed that the extracts of A. Occidentale shell induced 50% egg hatch inhibition (LD50 = 0.0255 mg/mL), larval paralysis (LD50 = 0.196 mg/mL), and adult worm mortality (LD50 = 1.0365 mg/mL) at a lower concentration (LD50) compared with those of I. verum fruit and A. heterophyllus seed extracts. Further, all extracts significantly (P < 0.01) inhibited the LDH activity catalyzing the oxidation of lactate in adult H. contortus, with maximum level of inhibition caused by A. occidentale shell extract. Phytochemical screening of the extracts revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, and amino acids that could be responsible for the anthelmintic effects noticed. The results warrant further in vivo evaluation of these plants for potential use as anthelmintic agents.

Larvicidal activity of selected essential oil in synergized combinations against Aedes aegypti

This study was conducted to attain an alternate plant essential oil (EO) based mosquito larvicide against the dengue vector Aedes aegypti. Here three plants were selected based on their local availability, safety and insecticidal properties. EOs were extracted from Syzygium aromaticum (Myrtaceae) flower buds, fruits of Illicium verum (Schisandraceae) and Trachyspermum ammi (Apiaceae) by hydro-distillation and tested against Ae. aegypti larvae individually and in combinations to find synergistic interactions. Chemical constituent analysis of EOs was done by GC/MS/MS analysis and the main constituents in T. ammi were thymol (93.58%) and terpinen-4-ol (2.16%), in S. aromaticum eugenol 56.32% and caryophyllene 17.91% and in I. verum trans-anethole 53.05% and p-anisaldehyde 12.47%. The EOs from T. ammi, I. verum and S. aromaticum and their top components thymol, trans-anethole and eugenol exhibited larvicidal activity with LC50 values 39.48, 41.30, 66.90, 59.76, 50.19 and 60.89 mgL−1 respectively against Ae. aegypti larvae. The values for the co-toxicity factors for the binary combinations of the EOs were > 20 showing synergistic interactions among the binary mixtures. The respective LC50 values for the 1:1 binary combinations (S. aromaticum + I. verum), (S. aromaticum + T. ammi) and (I. verum + T. ammi) were 49.07, 48.54 and 27.67 mgL−1. β-cyclodextrin inclusion complex made with I. verum + T. ammi combination showed an LC50 value of 23.93 mgL−1. On the whole the outcome of this study draw attention to the capability of synergistic EO combinations to emerge as a safe and environment friendly effective larvicide to control Aedes mosquitoes.

A novel strategy for rapid identification of the fruits of Illicium verum and Illicium anisatum using electronic nose and tongue technology

Purpose: To develop an effective and rapid strategy for the identification of fruits of I. verum and I. anisatum based on their odor and taste.Methods: Electronic nose (E-nose) and electronic tongue (E-tongue) technology was used to identify the fruits of I. verum (FIV) and I. anisatum (FIA). Samples of FIA, FIV, and FIA : FIV mixtures in different proportions (1 : 3, 1 : 1, and 3 : 1) were prepared to evaluate the identification abilities of E-nose and Etongue methods. Samples were powdered and sifted through a standard sieve (aperture size 355 ± 13 μm) for E-nose analysis. Each sample was refluxed with water for 1 h before E-tongue analysis. The acquired data were analyzed by principal component analysis (PCA) and discriminant factor analysis (DFA).Results: Based on the signals acquired by E-nose and E-tongue analyses, a total of 90 data points each were used for PCA. The three principal component values for E-nose analysis were PC1 = 93.89 %, PC2 = 6.08 %, and PC3 = 0.03 %, and those for E-tongue analysis were PC1 = 98.72 %, PC2 = 0.68 %, and PC3 = 0.57 %. The sample data were significantly divided into two groups representing FIV and FIA. Furthermore, E-nose and E-tongue assessments combined with PCA and DFA analyses effectively identified FIV, FIA and their mixtures.Conclusion: The use of E-nose and E-tongue technology is an effective and rapid strategy to identify the fruits of I. verum and I. anisatum and their mixtures. This strategy may also offer an effective method for detection of adulterants.Keywords: Illicium verum, Illicium anisatum, Discrimination, Electronic nose, Electronic tongue, Safety, Principal component analysis, Discriminant factor analysis

Protocatecheuic Acid Underlies the Antioxidant Activity Exhibited by Illicium Verum Fruit

Illicium verum Hook F Star anise belongs to the family Illiciacea In traditional medicine it is used for variety of ailments The current study was aimed at investigating the antioxidant potential of I verum IV constituents Various extract fractions and pure compounds of I verum were explored for their antioxidant activity using DPPH diphenyl picrylhydrazyl and deoxyribose sugar assays The structure of pure compound was elucidated through spectral studies UV IR EIMS and H NMR data In DPPH assay the methanolic extract of I verum displayed antioxidant activity with an IC of mg ml Among its various fractions the ethyl acetate IV EA appeared to be potent antioxidant with IC value of mg ml and its sub fractions theethyl acetate soluble sub fraction of ethyl acetate fraction IV EA EA S was most potent with IC of mg ml Further fractionation led to potent sub fraction i e Petroleum ether ethyl acetate insoluble sub fraction IV EA PE EA I with an IC of mg ml The purified fraction subsequently appeared to be most potent mg ml which led to the isolation of dihydroxy benzoic acid protocatechuic acid as active principle In deoxyribose degradation assay the IV E IV EA and protocatechuic acid also demonstrated antioxidant activity with IC of approximately and mg ml respectively In conclusion the protocatechuic acid residing in I verum most probably underlies its antioxidant action

Chemical composition of Illicium verum fruit extract and its bioactivity against the peach–potato aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer)

The chemical components of Illicium verum fruit extracts in methyl alcohol (MA), ethyl acetate (EA), and petroleum ether (PE) were determined through GC–MS analysis. The bioactivity of the extracts against Myzus persicae was also investigated to assess their roles in the control of aphids. Forty-four compounds with more than 0.20% mass percentage were identified. Trans-anethole was the most abundant component and comprised 41.14, 52.54, and 72.25% of the MA, EA, and PE extracts, respectively. The biological activity assays on M. persicae showed that increasing the concentration and prolonging the exposure to the extracts enhanced contact toxicity. After 72 h of treatment, 1.000 mg/L MA, EA, and PE extracts caused 68.93, 89.95, and 74.46% mortality, respectively. The LC50 values of MA, EA, and PE extracts against M. persicae were 0.31, 0.14, and 0.27 mg/L, respectively. The deterrent effect of 1.0 mg/L EA extract was the highest. The average antifeedant rate reached 76.88% at 48 h. The development period of M. persicae nymphs was prolonged to more than 2 days when sprayed with 0.1 mg/L MA extract at 25 °C. Hence, I. verum fruit extracts exhibit considerable potential for M. persicae control programs.

Asymmetric reduction of acetophenone into R-(+)-1-phenylethanol by endophytic fungus Neofusicoccum parvum BYEF07 isolated from Illicium verum

Seventy-nine strains of endophytic fungi isolated from the healthy leaves, twigs and fruits of Illicium verum were screened for the asymmetric reduction activities to acetophenone. Strain BYEF07, which showed relatively high reduction activities, has been classified as Neofusicoccum parvum, and the main product was confirmed to be (R)-(+)-1-phenylethanol by GC–MS and chiral HPLC methods. The bio-reduction conditions of acetophenone by cells of N. parvum BYEF07 were investigated in detail. Under the conditions of 1.8 g/L of acetophenone, 100 g/L of microorganism cells and 10 g/L of glucose in 40 mL Na2HPO4 KH2PO4 buffer solution at pH7.5, 30 °C and 150 rpm, after 48 h reaction, the production yield of 1-phenylethanol and enantiomeric excess value of (R)-(+)-1-phenylethanol were 78% and 96%, respectively.

A new flavane acid from the fruits of Illicium verum

A new compound, illiciumflavane acid (1), along with 13 known compounds (2–14), were isolated from the fruits of Illicium verum Hook. F. Their structures were elucidated through various spectroscopic methods, including 1D NMR (1H NMR, 13C NMR), 2D NMR (HMQC, HMBC and NOESY) and HRMS. The stereochemistry at the chiral centres was determined using CD spectrum as well as analyses of coupling constants and optical rotation data. Cytotoxicity evaluation of four compounds showed that illiciumflavane acid and (E)-1,2-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)ethene exhibited potential against A549 activities with IC50 values of 4.63 μM and 9.17 μM, respectively.