Native Compounds Research Articles

Linguistic synesthesia in language contact: Sino-Korean vs. native Korean synesthetic compounds

This study examines whether linguistic synesthesia shares mapping directionality across languages and cultures in terms of language contact. This motivation has led to the examination of Sino-Korean synesthetic compounds compared to native Korean ones. A comparative analysis of Sino-Korean and native Korean synesthesia proposes that language contact has observed linguistic variations in transfer directionality in linguistic synesthesia. In other words, this study’s results show that Sino-Korean compound synesthesia has a directionality model similar to Mandarin Chinese, which differs from previous universality models. In contrast, native Korean compound synesthesia directionality follows diagrams from Korean synesthesia research and previous studies based on Indo-European languages.

Metabolic picture of microbial interaction: chemical crosstalk during co-cultivation between three dominant genera of bacteria and fungi in medicinal plants rhizosphere.

Microbial communities affect several aspects of the earth's ecosystem through their metabolic interaction. The dynamics of this interaction emerge from complex multilevel networks of crosstalk. Elucidation of this interaction could help us to maintain the balance for a sustainable future. To investigate the chemical language among highly abundant microbial genera in the rhizospheres of medicinal plants based on the metabolomic analysis at the interaction level. Coculturing experiments involving three microbial species: Aspergillus (A), Trichoderma (T), and Bacillus (B), representing fungi (A, T) and bacteria (B), respectively. These experiments encompassed various interaction levels, including dual cultures (AB, AT, TB) and triple cultures (ATB). Metabolic profiling by LC-QTOFMS revealed the effect of interaction level on the productivity and diversity of microbial specialized metabolites. The ATB interaction had the richest profile, while the bacterial profile in the monoculture condition had the lowest. Two native compounds of the Aspergillus genus, aspergillic acid and the dipeptide asperopiperazine B, exhibited decreased levels in the presence of the AT interaction and were undetectable in the presence of bacteria during the interaction. Trichodermarin N and Trichodermatide D isolated from Trichoderma species exclusively detected during coexistence with bacteria (TB and ATB). These findings indicate that the presence of Bacillus activates cryptic biosynthetic gene clusters in Trichoderma. The antibacterial activity of mixed culture extracts was stronger than that of the monoculture extracts. The TB extract exhibited strong antifungal activity compared to the monoculture extract and other mixed culture treatments. The elucidation of medicinal plant microbiome interaction chemistry and its effect on the environment will also be of great interest in the context of medicinal plant health Additionally, it sheds light on the content of bioactive constituents,and facilitating the discovery of novel antimicrobials.

Development of a porcine decellularized extracellular matrix (DECM) bioink for 3D bioprinting of meniscus tissue engineering: formulation, characterisation and biological evaluation

ABSTRACT This study aims to present an easily scalable, cost-efficient process of dECM extraction from porcine meniscus, dedicated to bioink preparation and 3D bioprinting. Due to its cartilage like structure and mechanical robustness, the meniscus is an exceptionally demanding tissue for extraction and decellularisation of its ECM. Its processing poses a great difficulty and renders the methods previously developed for soft tissues useless. A process, combining homogenisation, hydrolysis, supercritical CO2 (scCO2) extraction and lyophilisation, was developed to meet this challenge. This protocol allows for retaining its native compounds and biocompatibility while offering good printability and providing a stimulatory environment for cell proliferation and differentiation towards a meniscus-like phenotype. Also, this process is economically and ecologically friendly since it doesn't require the use of high amounts of solvents, detergents or expensive enzymes (DNase). The decellularisation process has been meticulously studied, demonstrating a substantial reduction in DNA content but still exceeding accepted thresholds. The study further explores the biocompatibility of the dECM, demonstrating no detrimental effects of remnant DNA on cell survival during extended in vitro culture, indicating excellent biocompatibility. These findings challenge the current definition of decellularisation effectiveness based solely on DNA content, proposing a broader assessment of biological effects.

Phenolic Compounds from Apples: From Natural Fruits to the Beneficial Effects in the Digestive System.

Conditions in the gastrointestinal tract and microbial metabolism lead to biotransformation of parent, native phenolic compounds from apples into different chemical forms. The aim of this work was to review current knowledge about the forms of phenolic compounds from apples in the gastrointestinal tract and to connect it to their potential beneficial effects, including the mitigation of health problems of the digestive tract. Phenolic compounds from apples are found in the gastrointestinal tract in a variety of forms: native (flavan-3-ols, phenolic acids, flavonols, dihydrochalcones, and anthocyanins), degradation products, various metabolites, and catabolites. Native forms can show beneficial effects in the stomach and small intestine and during the beginning phase of digestion in the colon. Different products of degradation and phase II metabolites can be found in the small intestine and colon, while catabolites might be important for bioactivities in the colon. Most studies connect beneficial effects for different described health problems to the whole apple or to the amount of all phenolic compounds from apples. This expresses the influence of all native polyphenols from apples on beneficial effects. However, further studies of the peculiar compounds resulting from native phenols and their effects on the various parts of the digestive tract could provide a better understanding of the specific derivatives with bioactivity in humans.

Effect of Inlet Air Temperature and Quinoa Starch/Gum Arabic Ratio on Nanoencapsulation of Bioactive Compounds from Andean Potato Cultivars by Spray-Drying

Nanoencapsulation of native potato bioactive compounds by spray-drying improves their stability and bioavailability. The joint effect of the inlet temperature and the ratio of the encapsulant (quinoa starch/gum arabic) on the properties of the nanocapsules is unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine the best conditions for the nanoencapsulation of these compounds. The effects of two inlet temperatures (96 and 116 °C) and two ratios of the encapsulant (15 and 25% w/v) were evaluated using a factorial design during the spray-drying of native potato phenolic extracts. During the study, measurements of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, anthocyanins, antioxidant capacity, and various physical and structural properties were carried out. Higher inlet temperatures increased bioactive compounds and antioxidant capacity. However, a higher concentration of the encapsulant caused the dilution of polyphenols and anthocyanins. Instrumental analyses confirmed the effective encapsulation of the nuclei in the wall materials. Both factors, inlet temperature, and the encapsulant ratio, reduced the nanocapsules’ humidity and water activity. Finally, the ideal conditions for the nanoencapsulation of native potato bioactive compounds were determined to be an inlet temperature of 116 °C and an encapsulant ratio of 15% w/v. The nanocapsules obtained show potential for application in the food industry.

Digestion and gut-microbiota fermentation of cocoa melanoidins: An in vitro study

This research aimed to compare the in vitro digestibility and fermentability of melanoidins extracted from cocoa nibs fast-roasted with a fluidized bed roaster (FR-melanoidins), melanoidins from cocoa nibs slow-roasted in a convective oven (SR-melanoidins), and native high molecular weight compounds extracted from unroasted cocoa nibs (UR-HMWC). Data showed that both types of melanoidin extracts, especially FR-melanoidins, better release polyphenols during digestion and earlier produce short-chain fatty acids during in vitro fermentation than UR-HMWC. The delayed catabolism of UR-HMWC resembled that of dense fibers, while FR- and SR-melanoidins resembled oligosaccharides. The production of SCFA was positively correlated with the increase in Bacteroides sp. The profile of the genera identified in the proximal colon showed the differences in fermentability between FR- and SR-melanoidins, with FR-melanoidins having the higher relative growth of nonpathogenic bacteria. This study demonstrated the in vitro digestibility of bound phenolic compounds and the potential prebiotic activity of cocoa melanoidins.

Apparent Failures in Interpretation of Interfacial Characterization When Formulating Emulsions Stabilized by Cellulose Nanocrystals.

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are sustainable particles that are effective at stabilizing emulsions by adsorbing at droplet interfaces and providing a steric barrier to coalescence. However, CNCs have surface charges that reduce the coverage of the emulsion droplets due to the electrostatic repulsion between CNCs. In such cases, adding salt is a typical (and straightforward) way to adjust the formulation so that the charges are screened, allowing increased coverage of the droplets. At the outset of this work, we hypothesized that characterization of the interfacial tension and interfacial shear rheology of the oil-water interface would be correlated to interfacial coverage and therefore predictive of the optimal salt concentration for emulsion stability. Included in the methods section as a useful reference to others is the presentation of a detailed derivation for the equations needed to compute interfacial shear moduli in a custom, double-gap geometry. In contrast to our hypothesis, we found that interfacial tension did not correlate well with emulsion stability and that the native surface-active compounds in corn oil overwhelmed any influence of the CNCs on the interfacial tension. Additionally, we found that interfacial shear rheology (which can be painstakingly difficult to measure) was not a useful tool for formulating these emulsions. This is because at commonly used concentrations of CNCs, the bulk rheology is increased to a much greater degree than that of the interface, making the details of the interfacial rheology unimportant. Finally, we found that at concentrations of CNCs that are typical in industrial processes, characterizing the bulk viscoelastic properties of the aqueous suspending phase without added oil (a relatively simple measurement) is sufficient to predict the influence of NaCl concentration on charge screening between the CNCs and, by extension, increased surface coverage of droplets for greater emulsion stability.

Native-compound-Coupled Affinity Matrix (NCAM) in target identification and validation of bioactive compounds: Application, mechanism and outlooks

In drug discovery and development, the direct target identification of bioactive small molecules plays a significant role for understanding the mechanism of action, predicting the side effects, and rationally designing more potent compounds. However, due to the complicated regulatory processes in a cell together with thousands of biomacromolecules, target identification is always the major obstacle. New methods and technologies are continuously invented to tackle this problem. Nevertheless, the mainly used tools possess several disadvantages. High synthetic skills are typically required to laboriously synthesize a probe for protein enrichment. To detect the ligand–protein interaction by analyzing proteins’ responses to proteolytic or thermal treatment, costly and precise instruments are always necessary. Therefore, convenient and practical techniques are urgently needed. Over the past decades, a strategy using native compounds without the requirement of chemical modification, also termed Native-compound-Coupled Affinity Matrix (NCAM), is developing continuously. Two practical tactics based on “label-free” compounds have been invented and used, that is Photo-cross-linked Small-molecule Affinity Matrix (PSAM) and Native-compound-Coupled CNBr-activated Beads (NCCB). Presently, we will elucidate the characteristics, coupling mechanism, advantages and disadvantages, and future prospect of NCAM in specific target identification and validation.

Detailed LC-UV-MS quantification of native and oxidized phenolic compounds in experimental and commercial apple juices revealed highly contrasting compositions

During apple juice production, phenolic compounds undergo enzymatic oxidation leading to newly formed molecules. More quantitative information is needed concerning these oxidized phenolic compounds (OP) that contribute to the organoleptic and nutritional properties of apple juices. Firstly, a new HPLC-UV-MS method was developed to simultaneously quantify native phenolic compounds and two families of OP (i.e. 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid dehydrodimers and epicatechin-5-O-caffeoylquinic acid heterodimers). Secondly, the method was applied to 54 commercial and experimental apple juices. Then, statistical cluster analysis (Euclidian Ward’s method) was performed on all the phenolic compound data sets. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first time that two families of OP have been successfully quantified in a large series of apple juices revealing that they may represent up to 14% of the total phenolic compounds quantified (TPQ). Furthermore, the statistical classification of the juices based on their native and oxidized polyphenol compositions clearly underlined the great discrepancies in polyphenol composition observed in this panel of juices available on the French market. Interestingly, the polyphenol concentration in most of the juices made from cider apple varieties (experimental juices and local cider producers) was on average 8-fold higher than in most of the juices found in supermarkets.

Development of a Gas Chromatography with High-Resolution Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry Methodology for BDNPA/F.

Analysis of thermally labile compounds such as bis(2,2-dinitropropyl) acetal/formal (BDNPA/F), an energetic plasticizer, is usually performed via liquid chromatography (LC) as opposed to gas chromatography (GC) due to thermal decomposition in the inlet or the analytical column. While LC is a powerful technique, the analysis of volatile and semivolatile compounds is best suited to GC. Herein, a method was developed for a gas chromatograph coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometer (GC-HRMS), utilizing a programmable temperature vaporizer (PTV) inlet. A subset of the native compounds and several produced by the thermal decomposition of BDNPA/F in the inlet were evaluated by using multiple PTV inlet parameters to determine the optimal ramp rate and final temperature of the inlet (60 °C/min from 60 to 325 °C). The optimized GC-HRMS method nearly reduced all thermal decomposition, allowing for an excellent separation to be obtained. Furthermore, multiple ionization methods, including electron impact (EI), negative chemical ionization (NCI), and positive chemical ionization (PCI), were used to explore the many chemical differences between the BDNPA/F samples. A preliminary investigation of the benefits of using GC-HRMS to evaluate the chemical differences between unaged and aged BDNPA/F samples for unique insight was evaluated.

Investigation of the therapeutic role of native plant compounds against colorectal cancer based on system biology and virtual screening

This study investigated the anticancer effects of compounds extracted from native plants on colon cancer following drug–target-network analysis and molecular docking. Based on the ChEBI database, compounds were identified in medicinal plants and weeds in the Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari provinces of Iran. A drug–target network was constructed based on candidate colon cancer protein targets and selective compounds. Network pharmacology analysis was conducted against the identified compounds and subjected to molecular docking studies. Based on molecular dynamics simulations, the most efficient compounds were evaluated for their anticancer effects. Our study suggests that TREM1, MAPK1, MAPK8, CTSB, MIF, and DPP4 proteins may be targeted by compounds in medicinal plants for their anti-cancer effects. Multiorthoquinone, Liquiritin, Isoliquiritin, Hispaglabridin A, Gibberellin A98, Cyclomulberrin, Cyclomorusin A, and Cudraflavone B are effective anticancer compounds found in targeted medicinal plants and play an important role in the regulation of important pathways in colon cancer. Compounds that inhibit MIF, CTSB, and MAPK8-16 appear to be more effective. Additional in vitro and in vivo experiments will be helpful in validating and optimizing the findings of this study.

The role of L1 translation form in L2 compound processing: the case of native Czech speakers processing German noun-noun compounds

This study explores how Czech-German late bilinguals process German (L2) noun-noun compounds. Using a lexical decision task combined with translation constituent priming, we investigated two factors potentially influencing the L2 compound processing: (a) the compound translation corresponds to one derived noun (e.g., Abendstern—večernice, ‘evening star') or to an adjective + noun phrase (e.g., Weizenmehl—pšeničná mouka, ‘wheat flour'); and (b) the compound translation entails translations of compound constituents (L1 translation of Abendstern, večernice, includes only first constituent, i.e. modifier, Abend = večer, ‘evening'; L1 translation of Weizenmehl, pšeničná mouka, includes both constituents, Weizen = pšenice, ‘wheat', Mehl = mouka, ‘flour'). Two experiments were conducted; one focussing on head priming, the other on modifier priming. The results are in line with non-selective bilingual access and decomposition of L2 compounds. They reveal no influence of factor (a), while (b) affects processing.

Deep dewatering of refinery oily sludge by Fenton oxidation and its potential influence on the upgrading of oil phase.

Highly efficient dewatering is essential to the reduction and reclamation disposal of oily sludge, which is a waste from the extraction, transportation, and refining of crude oil. How to effectively break the water/oil emulsion is a paramount challenge for dewatering of oily sludge. In this work, a Fenton oxidation approach was adopted for the dewatering of oily sludge. The results show that the oxidizing free radicals originated from Fenton agent effectively tailored the native petroleum hydrocarbon compounds into smaller organic molecules, hence destructing the colloidal structure of oily sludge and decreasing the viscosity as well. Meanwhile, the zeta potential of oily sludge was increased, implying the decrease of repulsive electrostatic force to realize easy coalescence of water droplets. Thus, the steric and electrostatic barriers which restrained the coalescence of dispersed water droplets in water/oil emulsion were removed. With these advantages, the Fenton oxidation approach derived the significant decrease of water content, in which 0.294kg water was removed from per kilogram oily sludge under the optimal operation condition (i.e., pH value of 3, solid-liquid ratio of 1:10, Fe2+ concentration of 0.4g/L and H2O2/Fe2+ ratio of 10:1, and reaction temperature of 50°C). In addition, the quality of oil phase was upgraded after Fenton oxidation treatment accompanying with the degradation of native organic substances in oily sludge, and the heating value of oily sludge was increased from 8680 to 9260kJ·kg-1, which would facilitate to the subsequent thermal conversion like pyrolysis or incineration. Such results demonstrate that the Fenton oxidation approach is efficient for the dewatering as well as the upgrading of oily sludge.

Particle and gas phase sampling of PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs by activated carbon fiber and GC/MS analysis

Polychlorodibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorodibenzofurans (PCDFs), and polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs) are semi-volatile compounds and can be partitioned in the atmosphere between the gas and particulate phase, due to their physicochemical properties. For this reason, the reference standard methods for air sampling include a quartz fiber filter (QFF) for the particulate and a polyurethane foam (PUF) cartridge for the vapor phase, and it is the classical and most popular sampling method in the air. Despite the presence of the two adsorbing media, this method cannot be used for the study of the gas-particulate distribution, but only for a total quantification. This study presents the results and the performance aim to validate an activated carbon fiber (ACF) filter for the sampling of PCDD/Fs and dioxin-like PCBs (dl-PCBs) using laboratory and field tests. The specificity, precision, and accuracy of the ACF in relation to the QFF + PUF were evaluated through the isotopic dilution technique, the recovery rates, and the standard deviations. Then the ACF performance was assessed on real samples, in a naturally contaminated area, through parallel sampling with the reference method (QFF + PUF). The QA/QC was defined according to the standard methods ISO 16000–13 and -14 and EPA TO4A and 9A. Data confirmed that ACF meets the requirements for the quantification of native POPs compounds in atmospheric and indoor samples. In addition, ACF provided accuracy and precision comparable to those offered by standard reference methods using QFF + PUF, but with significant savings in terms of time and costs.

White Wine Antioxidant Metabolome: Definition and Dynamic Behavior during Aging on Lees in Oak Barrels.

White wines' oxidative stability is related to a flow of chemical reactions involving a number of native wine compounds comprising their antioxidant metabolome. By applying the combination of powerful and modern analytical approaches (EPR, DPPH, and UPLC-qToF-MS-based metabolomics), we could define wine antioxidant metabolome as the sum of molecular antioxidant markers (AM) characterized by their radical scavenging (AM-RS) and nucleophilic (AM-Nu) properties. The impact of on-lees barrel aging of chardonnay wines on the antioxidant metabolome was studied for two consecutive vintages. The identification of wines' antioxidant metabolome allows for a detailed understanding of the transient chemical interplays involved in the antioxidant chemistry associated with well-known antioxidants and opens an avenue towards personalized winemaking. The present study gathers for the first time the dynamics of wines' antioxidant metabolome during on-lees aging. Monitoring the variations of the wine antioxidant metabolome can provide an avenue to better control the winemaking process using the knowledge of how to optimize the wine aging potential.

Oil body extraction from oleo-proteaginous seeds and conservation of valuable native compounds

Oil bodies, also called oleosomes have been the object of an increased interest since the last decade. Different processes of extraction and purification involve an aqueous crushing with methods to soften the cell membranes. An integrated process was used on different oilseeds to compare the different oil-body dispersions obtained. Once extracted with an aqueous crushing, oil bodies are dispersed in a creamy phase containing also an important protein content. Their stability depends on membranous proteins but also surrounding, extraneous ones. To eliminate these non-membranous proteins, the emulsion can be washed with different compounds allowing a good protein solubilization. If the fatty acid, phytosterol, tocopherol contents and distribution are compared between seeds and dispersions of oil bodies, there appears to be little significant change. These valuable compounds are hence preserved in the oil bodies. However, aqueous crushing releases phospholipase partly explaining the lower phospholipid content and the higher relative concentration of phosphatidic acid. To preserve these emulsions, it is possible to dry them either through freeze-drying or spray-drying. Spray-drying allows a better recovery of the physical structure of the emulsion after rehydration but cryo-protectants as Tris or Glycerol can limit emulsion degradation provoked by hard mechanical constraints of a freeze-drying process.

Meme Kanseri Tedavisi için Potansiyel Bir Aday Olan Kurkumin--Sitosterol Konjugatının Tasarımı, Sentezi ve Biyolojik Değerlendirmesi

In this study, a novel steroidal conjugate was prepared via a convenient click chemistry technique. -sitosterol (BS), a widely distributed phytosterol throughout the plant kingdom, was chosen as a steroidal component. It is known that BS uses in the stabilization of cell membranes and has beneficial effects in different diseases. On the other hand, curcumin (CUR), a phenolic compound, was used as a phytochemical agent with a variety of biological activities. The steroidal conjugate (BS-CUR) was achieved in high yield using azide-alkyne cyclization reaction. The structure of BS-CUR was elucidated by using FTIR, NMR, HRMS, and fluorescence spectroscopy techniques. In vitro cytotoxicity assays of the BS-CUR conjugate were evaluated against human breast cancer (MDA-MB-231) and healthy mouse fibroblast cell line (L929), respectively. The preliminary evaluation indicated that BS conjugate exhibited good cytotoxicity compare with the native compounds, CUR and BS. The BS-CUR conjugate could be considered a potential compound for further design and synthesis of highly effective anticancer agents.

Compositional changes of CH, O, and N moieties in petroleum ether-extractable portions from the three-step mild degradation of Dongming lignite

Migration and distribution changes of CH, O, and N moieties in Dongming lignite (DL) derived petroleum ether-extractable portions (EPs), including cyclohexane (EPC), ethanol (EPE), and cyclohexane/ethanol (EPCE) systems were focused on in this work. Overall, EPC and EPE are rich in aromatics with short side-chains, while EPCE has the highest aromaticity. The gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer (GC/MS) analysis indicated that CH, >C-O-, and >C=O are three main parts. Alkanes in EPC are mainly concentrated in C11-C31 and the pristane/phytane ratio is 0.7, indicating the early anaerobic diagenesis of DL. Arenes are dominated by mono- to tricyclic compounds. The identification of these native compounds with low aromaticity implies the low coalification degree of DL. In addition, >C-O- and >C=O moieties predominate in EPE and EPCE. The differences in characteristic oxygenates, such as phenols and acetophenones, further indicated that ethanol involves in the cleavage of >Cal-O-Cal<, >Cal-O-Car<, and >Cal-Cal< bridged bonds in DL. GC/MS-undetectable oxynitrides, such as N1O1 and N2O1-4 species, were also discovered by Orbitrap MS. The compositional changes of O/N-containing species are related to source differences: (1) Step 1: the release of intrinsic fragments, (2) Step 2: the cleavage of weak O/N-containing covalent bonds, and (3) Step 3: the cleavage of covalent bonds with higher bond dissociation energies and the dissolution of macromolecules. The investigation on the changes of CH, O, and N moieties during the three-step mild degradation is beneficial to the secondary upgrading and value-added utilization of DL-derived soluble portions.

A general arene C-H functionalization strategy via electron donor-acceptor complex photoactivation.

The photoactivation of electron donor-acceptor complexes has emerged as a sustainable, selective and versatile strategy for the generation of radical species. However, when it comes to aryl radical formation, this strategy remains hamstrung by the electronic properties of the aromatic radical precursors, and electron-deficient aryl halide acceptors are required. This has prevented the implementation of a general synthetic platform for aryl radical formation. Our study introduces triarylsulfonium salts as acceptors in photoactive electron donor-acceptor complexes, used in combination with catalytic amounts of newly designed amine donors. The sulfonium salt label renders inconsequential the electronic features of the aryl radical precursor and, more importantly, it is installed regioselectively in native aromatic compounds by C-H sulfenylation. Using this general, site-selective aromatic C-H functionalization approach, we developed metal-free protocols for the alkylation and cyanation of arenes, and showcased their application in both the synthesis and the late-stage modification of pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals.

Phytochemical characterization and anti-inflammatory activity of a water extract of Gentiana purpurea roots

Ethnopharmacological relevanceGentiana purpurea was one of the most important medicinal plants in Norway during the 18th and 19th centuries, and the roots were used against different types of gastrointestinal and airway diseases. Aim of the studyTo explore the content of bioactive compounds in a water extract from the roots, a preparation commonly used in traditional medicine in Norway, to assess the anti-inflammatory potential, and furthermore to quantify the major bitter compounds in both roots and leaves. Materials and methodsG. purpurea roots were boiled in water, the water extract applied on a Diaion HP20 column and further fractionated with Sephadex LH20, reverse phase C18 and normal phase silica gel to obtain the low molecular compounds. 1D NMR, 2D NMR, and ESI-MS were used for structure elucidation. HPLC-DAD analysis was used for quantification. The inhibition of TNF-α secretion in ConA stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was investigated. ResultsEleven compounds were isolated and identified from the hot water extract of G. purpurea roots. Gentiopicrin, amarogentin, erythrocentaurin and gentiogenal showed dose-dependent inhibition of TNF-α secretion. Gentiopicrin is the major secondary metabolite in the roots, while sweroside dominates in the leaves. ConclusionsThe present work gives a comprehensive overview of the major low-molecular weight compounds in the water extracts of G. purpurea, including metabolites produced during the decoction process, and show new anti-inflammatory activities for the native bitter compounds as well as the metabolites produced during preparation of the crude drug.