Phytochemical Diversity Research Articles

Morphological, Biochemical, and Molecular Diversity of an Indian Ex Situ Collection of Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.).

Pomegranate (Punica granatum, L.) is a fruit tree that is increasingly popular worldwide due to the health-related properties of the fruit juice. While several studies highlighted the rich phytochemical diversity, few efforts have been devoted to an integrative understanding of the level of diversity of this species. This study investigated the diversity of 40 pomegranate accessions in an Indian ex situ collection by using twenty-nine morphological traits, six biochemical parameters, and twenty-nine Simple Sequence Repeats (SSR) markers. Among the evaluated traits, fruit volume (23.34% CV), fruit weight (21.12% CV), and fruit color (*a) (22.69 % CV) largely contributed to the morphological classification. Based on Mahalanobis D2 distance and Tocher's clustering, the 40 pomegranate accessions were grouped into eight clusters, partly consistent with their origin. Specifically, cultivars introduced from foreign countries were present in distinct clusters. The SSR marker analysis generated 66 alleles. The observed heterozygosity values ranged from 0.05 to 0.63, with a mean value of 0.30. Maximum molecular genetic dissimilarity was observed between 'IC-318720' and 'Gul-e-Shah Red' (0.30). The neighbor-joining dendrogram separated wild accessions from cultivated varieties. The combination of morphological, biochemical, and molecular characterization allowed for comprehensively characterizing the pomegranate diversity and provided information on the relationships between the different aspects of the diversity. This work also suggests that the origin of the accessions is an important factor of discrimination and that the level of admixture between local and foreign material is currently limited.

Geographical and seasonal phytochemical variation of Artemisia afra Jacq. ex Willd.

Artemisia afra Jacq. ex. Willd. (Asteraceae) is a popular traditional medicine in South Africa, mainly used in the form of an infusion, for the treatment of respiratory ailments. Quality control methods are limited and phytochemical variation for the infusion is not well known. To develop a sensitive quality control method for A. afra infusions by validating a liquid chromatography electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) method and quantitatively comparing six marker compounds in A. afra samples collected from different locations and over a 12-month period. There was a multiple reaction monitoring method optimised and validated, according to ICH and FDA guidelines, to quantify the chemical markers present in infusions. The chemistry differed significantly and interestingly, with an interchangeable trend between chlorogenic acid (CGA) and 4,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid (DCQA) observed in the samples collected monthly, elevated levels of CGA during winter and elevated levels of DCQA during summer. The remaining four markers showed a steady decrease as winter approached and a steady increase as summer approached. The ranges of the six markers were the following: CGA (0.68-14.68 μg/mg), DCQA (0.005-8.110 μg/mg), quercetin (0.01-0.65 μg/mg), luteolin (0.05-1.30 ng/mg), scopoletin (0.10-1.14 μg/mg), scopolin (0.03-1.21 μg/mg). A sensitive LC-ESI-MS/MS method was developed, validated, and used to quantify six marker compounds. The results indicated a large degree of phytochemical variation occurred across all samples tested, which highlights the importance of producing herbal medicine under controlled conditions and the necessity of analytical quality control methods.

Molecular and Phytochemical Variability of Endemic Juniperus sabina var. balkanensis from Its Natural Range

Juniperus sabina L. var. balkanensis R.P. Adams & Tashev is a recently described endemic variety from the Balkan Peninsula. Its strong sprouting ability and fast vegetative propagation, on one hand, and fragmented distribution, on the other, can lead to lower genetic diversity in local populations and to the differentiation of populations. As there has been no detailed investigation of this variety, we studied Balkan natural populations using phytochemical and molecular markers. Leaf essential oils (EOs) were chosen based on their proven usability in the population studies of Juniperus taxa, while ISSRs (Inter Simple Sequence Repeats) have been used due to their high resolution. In addition, since this variety is best described using molecular markers, the chloroplast trnS-trnG region was amplified from individuals from different populations having different chemotypes. Based on the essential oil profile, three chemotypes could be identified with a difference in their distribution. The analysis of molecular variance showed moderate differentiation of populations and regions, attesting to the start of the separation of three regions in the Balkans: west, east and south. The bioclimatic and environmental parameters and sex of the individual did not influence the EO profile, although some of the compounds present in low-to-medium concentrations showed strong correlation with several bioclimatic parameters.

Anti-proliferative and Apoptotic Activities of Kasturi Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) Leaf Resinoid on Cervical Cancer Cell

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer has a high rate of morbidity and mortality in women with cancer. Recent studies have found that tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) is a potential source of anti-cancer agents. Hence, this study was conducted to determine the potential of Kasturi tobacco leaf resinoids as apoptotic agents against cervical cell malignancies, since it has not been fully elucidated before.METHODS: The phytochemical diversity of Kasturi tobacco resinoids was generated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis followed by spectral similarity to National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) database. Cytotoxicity and proliferative activity of HeLa cells treated with Kasturi tobacco resinoids at various concentrations were evaluated by MTT assay. The expression of Caspase-3, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and heat shock protein 90 (HSP-90) in HeLa cells was analyzed by immunocytochemistry. Next, the migration ability of HeLa cells was observed by the scratch method.RESULTS: Kasturi tobacco resin contains 4,8,13-cyclotetradecatriene-1,3-diol, 1,5,9-trim with α-2,7,11-cembratriene-4,6-diol (α-CBD) structure in the form of a diterpenoid compound with the chemical formula C20H34O2 and a molecular weight of 306 Da. Kasturi tobacco resinoid with IC50 value of 2500 μg/mL inhibited proliferative activity during 72 hours. At a concentration of 1¼ IC50 and incubation for 48 hours, Caspase-3 expression increased by 74.1%, while COX-2 and HSP-90 expression decreased by 28.3% and 26.1%, respectively. HeLa cell migration was inhibited by Kasturi tobacco resinoid at 24 hours incubation.CONCLUSION: Kasturi tobacco resinoids with a concentration of 1¼ IC50 have potential as cervical anti-cancer agents by increasing Caspase-3 expression and decreasing COX-2 and HSP-90 expression within 48 hours.KEYWORDS: Kasturi tobacco resinoids, cervical cancer, anti-cancer agent, proliferative activity

Diversity and divergence: evolution of secondary metabolism in the tropical tree genus Inga.

Plants are widely recognized as chemical factories, with each species producing dozens to hundreds of unique secondary metabolites. These compounds shape the interactions between plants and their natural enemies. We explore the evolutionary patterns and processes by which plants generate chemical diversity, from evolving novel compounds to unique chemical profiles. We characterized the chemical profile of one-third of the species of tropical rainforest trees in the genus Inga (c. 100, Fabaceae) using ultraperformance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-based metabolomics and applied phylogenetic comparative methods to understand the mode of chemical evolution. We show: each Inga species contain structurally unrelated compounds and high levels of phytochemical diversity; closely related species have divergent chemical profiles, with individual compounds, compound classes, and chemical profiles showing little-to-no phylogenetic signal; at the evolutionary time scale, a species' chemical profile shows a signature of divergent adaptation. At the ecological time scale, sympatric species were the most divergent, implying it is also advantageous to maintain a unique chemical profile from community members; finally, we integrate these patterns with a model for how chemical diversity evolves. Taken together, these results show that phytochemical diversity and divergence are fundamental to the ecology and evolution of plants.

Commercial and phytochemical quality in biofortified ‘Orejona’ lettuce with zinc oxide nanoparticles

Crop biofortification is a recent strategy based on the production of plants rich in micronutrients for human consumption. The biofortification of plants with minerals is considered one of the least expensive and most efficient ways to improve the commercial and nutritional quality of horticultural products, in addition to improving crop yields. The objective of the research was to evaluate commercial and phytochemical quality, physiological parameters, and zinc concentration in lettuce leaves (Lactuca sativa L.) after foliar application of zinc oxide nanoparticles (NPsZnO) produced under a hydroponic system. The experiment was carried out with six treatments (0, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 mg.L-1 NPsZnO) of five replicates each, under a completely randomized design. Five applications every 15 days of each concentration of NPsZnO were made through the crop cycle. The results show no statistical differences in physiological parameters (height, number of leaves, leaf size, crown perimeter, fresh and dry weight), but that do show a slight tendency to increase on the treated lettuce mainly at concentrations of 20 and 25 mg.L-1. A positive correlation was found between the phytochemical variables (phenolics and total flavonols) and the concentration of NPsZnO. Even though there was not a clear correlation between NPsZnO concentration and the variables of commercial quality; Zn content in the plant tissue was improved, thereby obtaining a biofortified product for the final consumer.

Molecular and Phytochemical Characterizations of Cichorium intybus L. in Diverse Ecogeographical Regions of Kashmir Himalaya

Cichorium intybus L. (chicory) is an important medicinal plant with significant economic potential and has recently gained rapid momentum in the functional food sector. In the present study, soil chemistry, phytochemical, and molecular diversity were assessed for 50 accessions of chicory collected from diverse agro-climatic zones. In total, 64 common metabolites were identified from the leaves of 7 chicory accessions collected from different altitudes and among them, the predominant metabolites included methyl commate B (6.3–10.14%), gamma sitosterol (2.79–9.3%), and 9, 12, 15-octadecatrienoic-acid (2.55–8.42%). Three terpenoid compounds, viz., betulin, kolavelool and betulinaldehyde, were observed at high altitudes (1790, 1901, and 2172 m) and not observed at low altitudes. Among these compounds, betulin had the highest concentration with an average value of 23.53% followed by kolavelool with 7.37% and betulinaldehyde with 7.21%. For molecular diversity analysis, 12 ISSR primers were selected for PCR amplification and 86 bands were generated with an overall polymorphism percentage of 67.44%. The observed Nei’s genetic diversity (H) and Shannon’s information indices (I) were highest for the Pulwama (CIN-PU) group of accessions (H = 0.222 ± 0.018; I = 0.343 ± 0.027) and lowest for the Baramulla (CIN-BM) group of accessions (H = 0.115 ± 0.019; I = 0.173 ± 0.028). The Analysis of Molecular Variance (AMOVA) analysis revealed 56% variation existing within the groups and 44% among the groups of chicory accessions. This study shows that chicory populations vary considerably in terms of their molecular and phytochemical composition as a function of their geographic location. Furthermore, this study demonstrates that chicory phytochemical and molecular diversity are significantly influenced by altitude, soil chemistry, and growing conditions. Using metabolomics and altitudinal variation, cluster analysis showed that geographic origin was correlated with diversity patterns.

Are South African Wild Foods the Answer to Rising Rates of Cardiovascular Disease?

The rising burden of cardiovascular disease in South Africa gives impetus to managerial changes, particularly to the available foods in the market. Since there are many economically disadvantaged groups in urban societies who are at the forefront of the CVD burden, initiatives to make healthier foods available should focus on affordability in conjunction with improved phytochemical diversity to incentivize change. The modern obesogenic diet is deficient in phytochemicals that are protective against the metabolic products of sugar metabolism, i.e., inflammation, reactive oxygen species and mitochondrial fatigue, whereas traditional southern African food species have high phytochemical diversity and are also higher in soluble dietary fibres that modulate the release of sugars from starches, nurture the microbiome and produce digestive artefacts that are prophylactic against cardiovascular disease. The examples of indigenous southern African food species with high horticultural potential that can be harvested sustainably to feed a large market of consumers include: Aloe marlothii, Acanthosicyos horridus, Adansonia digitata, Aloe ferox, Amaranthus hybridus, Annesorhiza nuda, Aponogeton distachyos, Bulbine frutescens, Carpobrotus edulis, Citrullus lanatus, Dioscorea bulbifera, Dovyalis caffra, Eleusine coracana, Lagenaria siceraria, Mentha longifolia, Momordica balsamina, Pelargonium crispum, Pelargonium sidoides, Pennisetum glaucum, Plectranthus esculentus, Schinziophyton rautanenii, Sclerocarya birrea, Solenostemon rotundifolius, Talinum caffrum, Tylosema esculentum, Vigna unguiculata and Vigna subterranea. The current review explains the importance of phytochemical diversity in the human diet, it gives a lucid explanation of phytochemical groups and links the phytochemical profiles of these indigenous southern African foods to their protective effects against cardiovascular disease.

Phytochemical Diversity in Relation to Cytogenetic Variability in Inula racemosa Hook.f., an Endangered Medicinal Plant of Himalayas.

Inula racemosa, a resourceful critically endangered medicinal herb in the Himalayas is traditionally utilized to cure various human disorders. The species is a wealthy source of sesquiterpene lactones has many pharmacological properties. To quantify and identify the best genetic stocks for a maximum build-up of desired metabolites (isoalantolactone and alantolactone) among existent cytotypes in the species, LC-MS/MS analysis was made. The other comprehensive experiments carried out at present included detailed meiotic examinations of different populations collected from different areas of Kashmir Himalayas. The results presented the occurrence of variable chromosome numbers as n=10 and n=20 in different populations, but the tetraploid cytotype (n=20) is new for the species. The LC-MS/MS investigation revealed significant variability in the content of sesquiterpene lactones in different plant tissues (stem, leaf, and root). An upsurge in the quantity of isoalantolactone and alantolactone was noticed with increasing ploidy levels along the increasing altitudes. Therefore, a habit to accumulate abundant quantities of secondary metabolites and increased adaptability by species/cytotypes thriving at higher altitudes is seen among tetraploid cytotypes during the present investigation. Also, the chromosomal variations seem to enhance the flexibility of polyploid species primarily at upper elevations. Thus, the present study strongly provides quantification of elite cytotypes/chemotypes with optimum concentration of secondary metabolites.

Phytochemical Profile, Plant Precursors and Some Properties of Georgian Propolis.

Propolis (bee glue) is a resinous substance produced by different species of bees i.a. from available plant resins, balsams, and exudates. It is characterized by significant biological activity (e.g., antimicrobial and antioxidant) and phytochemical diversity related to the available plant sources in specific geographical regions. The available scientific literature on propolis is quite extensive; however, there are only a few reports about propolis originating from Georgia. Therefore, our research was focused on the characterization of Georgian propolis in terms of phytochemical composition and antimicrobial/antioxidant activity. Performed research included UHPLC-DAD-MS/MS phytochemical profiling, determination of total phenolic and flavonoid content, antiradical and antioxidant activity (DPPH and FRAP assays) as well as antibacterial activity of propolis extracts obtained using 70% ethanol (70EE). Georgian propolis extracts exhibited strong activity against Gram-positive bacteria (22 mm-disc assay/64 µg/mL-MIC for S. aureus, sample from Imereti) and weaker against Gram-negative strains as well as strong antioxidant properties (up to 117.71 ± 1.04 mgGAE/g in DPPH assay, up to 16.83 ± 1.02 mmol Fe2+/g in FRAP assay for samples from Orgora and Qvakhreli, respectively). The phytochemical profile of Georgian propolis was characterized by the presence of flavonoids, free phenolic acids, and their esters. In most of the samples, flavonoids were the main chemical group (52 compounds), represented mainly by 3-O-pinobanksin acetate, pinocembrin, chrysin, galangin, and pinobanksin. The primary plant precursor of the Georgian bee glue is black poplar (Populus nigra L.) while the secondary is aspen poplar (P. tremula L.).

Phytochemical Variability, In Vitro and In Vivo Biological Investigations, and In Silico Antibacterial Mechanisms of Mentha piperita Essential Oils Collected from Two Different Regions in Morocco.

The objective of this work is to explore the phytochemical profile of Mentha piperita essential oils (MPEO) collected from two different Moroccan regions using gas chromatography-mass spectrophotometer (GC-MS) and to investigate their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic and, antimicrobial effects using in vivo and in vitro assays. The chemical constituent of MPEO from the Azrou zone is dominated by carvone (70.25%), while MPEO from the Ouazzane zone is rich in Menthol (43.32%) and Menthone (29.4%). MPEO from Ouezzane showed higher antioxidant activity than EO from Azrou. Nevertheless, EO from Ouezzane considerably inhibited 5-Lipoxygenase (IC50 = 11.64 ± 0.02 µg/mL) compared to EO from Azro (IC50 = 23.84 ± 0.03 µg/mL). Both EOs from Azrou and Ouazzane inhibited the α-amylase activity in vitro, with IC50 values of 131.62 ± 0.01 µg/mL and 91.64 ± 0.03 µg/mL, respectively. The EOs were also tested for minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). The discdiffusion test revealed that MPEOs from both regions have significant antibacterial efficacy, and MPEOs from the north region showed the highest effect. The gram-positive bacteria were the most susceptible organisms. The MIC concentrations were in the range of 0.05 to 6.25 mg/mL, and the MBC concentrations were within 0.05-25.0 mg/mL. The MBC/MIC index indicated that MPEO has strong bactericidal effects.

Climate and the biotic community structure plant resistance across biogeographic groups of yellow monkeyflower.

Characterizing correlates of phytochemical resistance trait variation across a landscape can provide insight into the ecological factors that have shaped the evolution of resistance arsenals. Using field-collected data and a greenhouse common garden experiment, we assessed the relative influences of abiotic and biotic drivers of genetic-based defense trait variation across 41 yellow monkeyflower populations from western and eastern North America and the United Kingdom. Populations experience different climates, herbivore communities, and neighboring vegetative communities, and have distinct phytochemical resistance arsenals. Similarities in climate as well as herbivore and vegetative communities decline with increasing physical distance separating populations, and phytochemical resistance arsenal composition shows a similarly decreasing trend. Of the abiotic and biotic factors examined, temperature and the neighboring vegetation community had the strongest relative effects on resistance arsenal differentiation, whereas herbivore community composition and precipitation have relatively small effects. Rather than simply controlling for geographic proximity, we jointly assessed the relative strengths of both geographic and ecological variables on phytochemical arsenal compositional dissimilarity. Overall, our results illustrate how abiotic conditions and biotic interactions shape plant defense traits in natural populations.

Nutritional and Phytochemical Variation of Marula (Sclerocarya birrea) (Subspecies caffra and birrea) Fruit among Nine International Provenances Tested in Malawi.

Sclerocarya birrea (Marula) is one of the indigenous fruit trees that was selected for domestication in Malawi. This study was conducted to assess nutritional and phytochemical variation of Sclerocarya birrea (subspecies caffra and birrea) fruits planted in an international provenance trial in Malawi. Vitamin C, calcium, iron, zinc, fat, and fibre content ranged from 6 to 81 mg/100 g; 1.8 to 5.3 mg/100 g; 1.4 to 3.3 mg/100 g; 0.3 to 0.8 mg/100 g; 51.6 to 57.7%; and 4.1 to 6.9%, respectively. Phytochemical scores showed that all nine provenances contained weak (+) concentration of alkaloids. Kalimbeza (Namibia) and Magamba-Turiani (Tanzania) provenances showed moderate (++) concentrations of saponins. Chikhwawa (Malawi), Missira (Mali), and Moamba (Mozambique) provenances had moderate (++) concentrations of tannins. Missira (Mali) and Kalimbeza (Namibia) provenances showed weak (+) concentration of terpenoids. Variations observed in nutritional and phytochemical composition could be attributed to genetic make-up and origin of the genotypes, since all genotypes were planted in the same environment. Therefore, selection of Sclerocarya birrea for domestication purposes should consider the provenance (origin of genotypes) and subspecies levels. Further studies should investigate vegetative propagation and heritability of nutritional and phytochemical traits before the use of seed for propagation.

Correlation of chemical profiles obtained from 1 H-NMR and LC-MS metabolomics with α-glucosidase inhibition activity for varietal selections of Ficus deltoidea.

Ficus deltoidea Jack (Moraceae) is a plant used in Malaysia to treat various ailments, including diabetes. The presence of several varieties raises essential questions regarding which is the potential bioactive variety and what are the bioactive metabolites. Here, we explored the phytochemical diversity of the seven varieties from Peninsular Malaysia using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) analyses and correlated it with the α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. The Nuclear Overhauser Effect Spectroscopy (NOESY) One-Dimensional (1D)-NMR and LC-MS data were processed, annotated, and correlated with in vitro α-glucosidase inhibitory using multivariate data analysis. The α-glucosidase results demonstrated that different varieties have varying inhibitory effects, with the highest inhibition rate being F. deltoidea var. trengganuensis and var. kunstleri. Furthermore, diverse habitats and plant ages could also influence the inhibitory rate. The heat map from NMR and LC-MS profiles showed unique patterns according to varying levels of α-glucosidase inhibition rate. The Partial Least Squares (PLS) model constructed from both NMR and LC-MS further confirmed the correlation between the α-glucosidase inhibition rate of F. deltoidea varieties and its metabolite profiles. The Variable Influence on Projection (VIP) and correlation coefficient (p(corr)) values values were used to determine the highly relevant metabolites for explaining the anticipated inhibitory action. NMR and LC-MS annotations allow the identification of flavan-3-ols and proanthocyanidins as the key bioactive factors. Our current results demonstrated the value of multivariate data analysis to predict the quality of herbal materials from both biological and chemical aspects.

Variations in Phytochemicals and Antioxidant Activity of Clitoria ternatea Flowers and Leaves

a peer-reviewed, open access online international journal which publishes original research papers. The journal welcomes submission from scholars and experts for possible publication from all over the world. The scope of the journal includes: Pharmaceutical research, chemistry and biochemistry of naturally occurring compounds, biological evaluation of crude extracts, ethnomedicine, traditional and complementary medicine, ethnopharmacology, biomedical research, Biotechnology, Evaluation of natural substances of land and sea and of plants, microbes and animals, pharmacognosy, bioavailability, clinical, pharmacological, toxicological studies and pharmacokinetics of phytochemicals, Isolation and characterization of compounds, structure elucidation, synthesis and experimental biosynthesis of natural Product as well as developments of methods in these areas are welcomed in the journal.

Essential Oil Variability in Iranian Populations of Heracleum persicum Desf. ex Fischer: A Rich Source of Hexyl Butyrate and Octyl Acetate.

Heracleum persicum Desf. ex Fischer seeds are a rich source of essential oils (EOs) with high antimicrobial and antioxidant effects. In order to determine the phytochemical variability in various Iranian H. persicum populations, seed samples were collected from 10 different climatic locations. The current study indicated that hexyl butyrate (20.9–44.7%), octyl acetate (11.2–20.3%), hexyl-2-methylbutyrate (4.81–8.64%), and octyl 2-methyl butyrate (3.41–8.91%) were the major components of the EOs. The maximum (44.7%) and the minimum (20.9%) content of hexyl butyrate were obtained from Kaleibar and Sari populations, respectively. Moreover, the octyl acetate content ranged from 2% (in Mahdasht) to 20.3% in Torghabeh population. The CA and PCA analysis divided the 10 Iranian H. persicum populations into three major groups. Populations from Khanghah, Kaleibar, Shebeilo, Showt, Mahdasht, and Amin Abbad showed a distinct separation in comparison with the other populations, having high contents of hexyl butyrate (39.8%) and low contents of octyl acetate (13.5%) (Chemotype II). According to correlation analysis, the highest correlation coefficient was among habitat elevation and hexyl butyrate content. In addition, the mean annual precipitation was negatively correlated with the content of hexyl butyrate. Although octyl acetate content showed high correlation with soil EC and mean annual temperature, it was not statistically significant. In general, in order to have plants with a high content of hexyl butyrate, it is recommended to harvest these plants from regions with high altitude and low rainfall such as Kaleibar.

Medicinal Plants of Solanum Species: The Promising Sources of Phyto-Insecticidal Compounds.

Several medicinal plants have the potential to be a promising alternative pharmacological therapy for a variety of human illnesses. Many insects, including mosquitoes, are important vectors of deadly pathogens and parasites, which in the world's growing human and animal populations can cause serious epidemics and pandemics. Medicinal plants continue to provide a large library of phytochemicals, which can be used to replace chemically synthesized insecticides, and utilization of herbal product-based insecticides is one of the best and safest alternatives for mosquito control. Identifying new effective phyto-derived insecticides is important to counter increasing insect resistance to synthetic compounds and provide a safer environment. Solanum genus (Solanaceae family or nightshades) comprises more than 2500 species, which are widely used as food and traditional medicine. All research publications on insecticidal properties of Solanaceae plants and their phytoconstituents against mosquitoes and other insects published up to July 2020 were systematically analyzed through PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, EBSCO, Europe PMC, and Google Scholar databases, with focus on species containing active phytoconstituents that are biodegradable and environmentally safe. The current state of knowledge on larvicidal plants of Solanum species, type of extracts, target insect species, type of effects, name of inhibiting bioactive compounds, and their lethal doses (LC50 and LC90) were reviewed in this study. These studies provide valuable information about the activity of various species of Solanum and their phytochemical diversity, as well as a roadmap for optimizing select compounds for botanical repellents against a variety of vectors that cause debilitating and life-threatening human diseases.

Biological activities associated with tannins and flavonoids present in Hymenaea stigonocarpa and Hymenaea courbaril: A systematic review

The genus Hymenaea belongs to the Fabaceae family and has species distributed from Central America to South America in the Amazon. The wood of these species are widely used in civil construction, as well as the leaves, roots, sap and bark to treat inflammatory and respiratory diseases, infections, tumors and pain. This systematic review aimed to identify the biological activities associated with tannins and flavonoids in Hymenaea courbaril and Hymenaea stigonocarpa. Thus, research articles published between 2009 and 2019 that directly address this topic were searched using the following descriptors: Hymenaea AND flavonoids AND tannins AND biological activities AND medicinal plant, in PubMed Central, Web of Science, Scopus and Science Direct databases. The results obtained suggest that tannins and flavonoids are among the main compounds involved with potential antifungal and termiticidal effects, in addition to antioxidant, antibacterial, antidiarrheal, antiulcer, anti-inflammatory, myorelaxant, antiviral and larvicidal action for Aedes aegypti. The phytochemical diversity of these plants and the various biological activities help to expand scientific knowledge about these species, contributing to the eventual production of new products and/or new technologies.

Assessing available phytochemicals from commercial blackcurrant and raspberry pomaces

BACKGROUND: Berry pomaces obtained after commercial juice production contain phytochemicals which may find use as antioxidants, food additives and biomedical products. Oil extraction from seeds provides additional value but the availability of phytochemicals before and after oil extraction is not well established. OBJECTIVE: This pilot study defines the content and composition of phytochemicals from raspberry and black currant pomaces after extraction with water-ethanol mixes, but also before and after milling/ oil extraction. METHODS: The total phenol (TPC), total anthocyanin (TAC) and antioxidant content of extracts was assessed. Their phytochemical composition was studied using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MSn). RESULTS: TPC and TAC increased with increasing % ethanol. Anthocyanins were major components in blackcurrant pomace and were more readily extracted than total phenols. Total oil content and composition was not influenced by solvent pre-extraction. Milling/ oil extraction markedly increased TPC from raspberry but not from blackcurrant pomace. LC-MSn confirmed characteristic phytochemical compositions and that increasing % ethanol increased yield of certain components. Milling increased specific ellagitannins, proanthocyanins and triterpenoids from raspberry. CONCLUSIONS: Milling/ oil extraction increased the yield and phytochemical diversity of extracts from raspberry but not from blackcurrant pomace which suggests that the phytochemicals from blackcurrant pomace are largely available on the pomace surfaces.

Effect of drying treatments on the global metabolome and health-related compounds in tomatoes

Drying fruits and vegetables is a long-established preservation method, and for tomatoes, in most cases sun-drying is preferred. Semi-drying is relatively a new application aimed to preserve better the original tomato properties. We have assessed the effects of different drying methods on the phytochemical variation in tomato products using untargeted metabolomics and targeted analyses of key compounds. An LC-MS approach enabled the relative quantification of 890 mostly semi-polar secondary metabolites and GC–MS analysis in the relative quantification of 270 polar, mostly primary metabolites. Metabolite profiles of sun-dried and oven-dried samples were clearly distinct and temperature-dependent. Both treatments caused drastic changes in lycopene and vitamins with losses up to > 99% compared to freeze-dried controls. Semi-drying had less impact on these compounds. In vitro bioaccessibility analyses of total phenolic compounds and antioxidants in a gastrointestinal digestion protocol revealed the highest recovery rates in semi-dried fruits. Semi-drying is a better way of preserving tomato phytochemicals, based on both composition and bioaccessibility results.