Quinic Acid Research Articles

Ethiopian coffee (Coffea arabica) improves glucose uptake and modulates metabolic enzyme activities linked to hyperglycemia-induced infertility in isolated rats’ testes

The present study evaluated the inhibitory effect of Ethiopian coffee (Coffea arabica) on carbohydrate digestive enzymes and its protective effect against glucose-induced testicular dysfunction using in vitro and in silico study models. Testicular oxidative stress was initiated by co-incubating testocular tissue collected from male Sprague-Dawley rats in glucose solution with different concentrations of Ethiopian coffee aqueous extracts (hot and cold) for 2 h at 37ºC. Glucose-mediated oxidative stress significantly (p < 0.05) depleted reduced glutathione and total glycogen levels while it lowered catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities in the testicular tissue. Concomitantly, this led to elevated malondialdehyde and nitric oxide levels while it also increased glycogen phosphorylase, fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase, ATPase, and acetylcholinesterase activities. Treatment with different concentrations of coffee aqueous extracts restored the enzymes’ and markers’ levels and activities. Although both the cold and hot coffee extracts strongly inhibited α-glucosidase and α-amylase enzymes, the former showed better activities. The subjection of the coffee extracts to LC-MS analysis indicated the presence of several compounds, including chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, cafestol, kahweol, caffeine, quinic acid, ferulic acid, and catechol which were further docked with the carbohydrate digestive enzymes. The in silico results displayed that among the various metabolites, chlorogenic acid strongly interacted and had the best binding affinity with α-glucosidase and α-amylase. Our findings implied that Ethiopian coffee may have a preventive effect against glucose-induced testicular damage. These are evidenced by the capacity of the plant product to decrease oxidative stress and protect against testicular dysfunction.Graphical

New Perspectives on the Old Uses of Traditional Medicinal and Edible Herbs: Extract and Spent Material of Persicaria hydropiper (L.) Delarbre

Background/Objectives:Persicaria hydropiper (L.) Delarbre, commonly known as water pepper, possesses multifunctional potential. Our research focuses on its complex phenolic composition, bioactivity, safety evaluation and utilization in a sustainable manner. Moreover, a survey was conducted among the Serbian population to gain insight into the attitude towards traditional wild-growing herbs (i.e., P. hydropiper), the level of familiarity with their zero-waste culture, and to assess eating behaviors. Methods: A survey was conducted with 168 participants to assess attitudes towards traditional herbs, zero-waste culture, and eating behaviors, while cytotoxicity, in vivo toxicity, chemical analysis of secondary metabolites, and probiotic viability assays were performed to evaluate the effects of the PH extract. Results: Notably, P. hydropiper extract (PH) exhibits a diverse phenolic profile, including quinic acid (3.68 ± 0.37 mg/g DW), gallic acid (1.16 ± 0.10 mg/g DW), quercetin (2.34 ± 0.70 mg/g DW) and kaempferol-3-O-glucoside (4.18 ± 0.17 mg/g DW). These bioactive compounds have been linked to anticancer effects. The tested extract demonstrated a cytotoxic effect on the human neuroblastoma cell line, opening questions for the further exploration of its mechanisms for potential therapeutic applications. Based on the toxicity assessment in the Artemia salina model, the PH could be characterized with good safety, especially for the lower concentrations (LC50 = 0.83 mg/mL, 24 h). The utilization of the spent PH material supports the viability of psychobiotic strains (up to 9.26 ± 0.54 log CFU/mL). Based on the conducted survey, 63.7% (n = 107) of respondents mainly prefer traditional instead of imported herbs. The respondents were skeptical about zero-waste edibles; 51.2% (n = 86) would not try them, and a bit more than half were not familiar with zero-waste culture (57.7%; n = 97). Only 8.3% (n = 14) followed a flexitarian diet as a dietary pattern. Conclusions: The use of underutilized traditional plants and their spent material could potentially contribute to the acceptance of a zero-waste culture in Serbia. Reinventing the use of neglected traditional plants and addressing ways for spent material valorization could contribute to the acceptance of a zero-waste strategy and encourage healthier eating behavior.

Quinic acid contributes to neurogenesis: Targeting Notch pathway a key player in hippocampus

Coordinated proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells (NSCs) results in continuous neurogenesis. The present study provides novel insights into the Notch intracellular signaling in neuronal cell proliferation, maintenance, migration, and differentiation regulated by naturally based Quinic acid (QA) in primary hippocampal cell culture. Further, this study might help in the discovery and development of lead molecules that can overcome the challenges in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. The growth supporting effect of QA was studied using Alamar Blue assay. The migratory potential of QA was evaluated using scratch assay. The in vitro H2O2-induced oxidative stress model was used to upregulate neuronal survival after QA treatment. The RT-qPCR and immunocytochemical analysis were performed for selected markers of Notch signaling to determine the proliferation, differentiation, and maintenance of NSCs at gene and molecular levels. The Mash1 and Ngn2 are the upstream proneural genes of the Notch pathway which were included to evaluate the differentiation of NSCs into mature neurons after treatment with QA.Furthermore, regarding the role of QA in maintaining the pool of NPCs, we used Notch1 and Hes1 markers for proliferation analysis. Also, secondary neuronal markers i.e. Pax6, PCNA, and Mcm2 were included in this study and their gene expression analysis was analyzed following treatment with QA. Based on the study’s results, we suggest that naturally based QA can promote the growth and differentiation of neonatal NSCs residing in hippocampal regions into neuronal lineage. Therefore, we propose that the neurogenic potential of QA can be employed to prevent and treat neurodegenerative diseases.

Water and nutrient availability modulate the salinity stress response in Olea europaea cv. Arbequina

Salinity stress represents a key factor for global agriculture. Plants can respond to salinity stress by adapting their physiology in different ways with the aim of limiting reductions in growth and development. Importantly, moisture retention capacity, permeability and nutrient availability of substrates represent critical variables for plants as they may further influence the effect of osmotic stress. Here, a multidisciplinary approach was applied to evaluate the role of two different substrates, peat and perlite, on 2-year-old potted cuttings of Olea europaea (cultivar Arbequina) under different salinity stress conditions (0, 100 and 200 mM NaCl). Biometric and physiological data indicate that plants potted in perlite (AP) generally present lower growth and photosynthetic rates when compared with peat (AS) in combination with salinity stress. Ion measurements indicate a rise in Na+ accumulation with increasing stress severity, which alters the ion ratio in both substrates. In addition, differences occurred in polyphenol contents, with a general increase in quinic acid and rutin contents in AS and AP samples, respectively. Metabolomic and biometric data were also coupled with metabarcoding analysis, which indicates that the moderate salinity treatment (100 mM NaCl, T100) reshaped the endophytic community of plants grown on both substrates. Taken together, the data suggest that the strategy used by a glycophytic species such as the olive tree to cope with salinity stress seems to be highly related to availability of water and nutrients. The lack of both may be simulated by perlite, enhancing the effect of salinity stress response in woody plants. Lastly, applying the beneficial endophytic bacterial taxa identified here could represent a step forward in increasing plant defence and nutrient uptake and reducing inputs for modern and more sustainable agriculture.

In vitro Antioxidant Activity of 5-caffeoylquinic Acid and Ester Analogues

Background: Chlorogenic acid, an ester of caffeic acid with quinic acid, also known as 5- O-caffeoylquinic acid (5-CQA), is a ubiquitous plant constituent that is an important intermediate in lignin biosynthesis. In some cases, it occurs at surprisingly high levels in the leaves and fruits of certain higher plants, such as coffee beans. Due to its catechol moiety and an extended side chain conjugation, it easily forms a resonance-stabilised phenoxy radical, accounting for its powerful antioxidant potential. Objective: The objective of this work was to determine if the esterification and methylation of 5- CQA would enhance its antioxidant activity. Methods: Two 5-CQA derivatives were prepared for this study. Chlorogenic acid was esterified with methanol over Amberlite IR120-H to obtain methyl chlorogenate, while methyl 3',4´-dimethyl chlorogenate was prepared from 5-CQA by treatment with diazomethane. Spectroscopic methods confirmed the structure of these derivatives. Their antioxidant properties were tested to establish a relationship between structure and antioxidant activity. Results: Antioxidant activity results were generated for 5-CQA and its ester analogues using eight different methods. Depending on the method applied, results were expressed as IC50/MCE50 values or as equivalents of the applied standard (ascorbic acid and Trolox). Conclusion: In most of these tests, 5-CQA showed the highest antioxidant activity compared to its derivatives. Nevertheless, due to their hydrophobic characteristics, their ester analogues remain promising antioxidant candidates in emulsifying systems.

UPLC-MS/MS-based metabolomics combined to chemometrics reveal the anti-inflammatory metabolites of African Marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) flowers

African Marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) is widely recognized for its ornamental value and therapeutic properties, particularly its anti-inflammatory potential. This study employs UPLC-MS/MS-based metabolomics combined with chemometric analysis to identify bioactive metabolites contributing to the anti-inflammatory effects of T. erecta flowers. The flowers were fractionated using hexane, methylene chloride, ethyl acetate, and butanol, and a total of 79 metabolites were identified across the fractions, including flavonoids, phenolic acids, tannins, quinic acids, terpenoids, alkaloids, and amino acids. The anti-inflammatory efficacy of each fraction was assessed in vitro by evaluating their impact on the expression of four pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, and IFN-γ) in LPS-stimulated leukocytes using PCR. Orthogonal Projections to Latent Structures was employed to determine the key metabolites contributing to the observed bioactivity. The analysis revealed that the methylene chloride and ethyl acetate fractions exhibited the most potent anti-inflammatory effects, primarily due to the presence of flavonoids and phenolic acids. Notably, disyringic acid hexoside, ellagic acid, gallic acid, p-coumaric acid, and quercetagetin dimethyl ether were identified as major anti-inflammatory agents based on their high correlation coefficients with cytokine inhibition and their substantial concentrations within the active fractions. These findings underscore the importance of selecting appropriate extraction solvents to isolate specific bioactive compounds and provide a deeper understanding of the metabolite profiles that contribute to the anti-inflammatory properties of T. erecta flowers.

Estrogenic post-menopausal anti-osteoporotic mechanism of Achyranthes aspera L.: Phytochemicals and network pharmacology approaches

Hormone replacement therapy is used to treat postmenopausal syndrome caused by estrogen deficiency, but it has been linked to an increased risk of breast cancer. In India, Achyranthes aspera L. is traditionally used to treat menstrual problems; however, there is a lack of mechanistic evidence of its phytoestrogenicity. Therefore, this study investigated the estrogenic activity of A. aspera on estrogen-responsive MCF-7 breast cancer cells. In a cell proliferation assay, the MeOH fraction (100 μg/mL) exhibited the highest proliferation effect (PE) of 138 % (p < 0.001) and relative proliferation effect (RPE) of 96.5 %, compared to 17β-estradiol (0.01 μM: 143 % PE, p < 0.001; 100 % RPE). The MeOH fraction was shown to upregulate the oestrogen marker genes trefoil factor 1 and progesterone receptor by 20.14–23.94 folds and 10.83–14.83 folds, respectively. Twelve phenolics were identified by LC-MS/MS in the active MeOH fraction, i.e. quinic acid, kaempferol hexoside, kaempferol 3-O-(2″-O-galloyl)-glucoside)-β-D-glucoside, geniposide, 3-O-(6′-O-(9Z,12Z-octadecadienoyl)-β-D-glucopyranosyl)-stigmast-5,22E-dien-3β-ol, kaempferol-3-O-glucoside (astragalin), 3,30-di-O-methylellagic acid isomer, procyanidin, naringin, propapyriogenin A2, (3β,22E,24R)-23-methylergosta-5,7,22-trien-3-ol and 6-prenylapigenin. Through network pharmacology, the potential effects, and mechanisms of these compounds in osteoporosis were revealed. About 55 target genes were linked to osteoporosis. GO and KEGG enrichment suggest regulation of female reproductive hormone related signaling pathways, which are also associated with estrogen dependent osteoporosis. Molecular docking analysis of the compounds revealed potential interactions with hERα receptor for 3-O-(6′-O-(9Z,12Z-octadecadienoyl)-β-D-glucopyranosyl)-stigmast-5,22E-dien-3β-ol and kaempferol-3-O-glucoside (astragalin) (docking scores of −9.3 and −10.1 kcal/mol, respectively) as compared to 17β-estradiol (−9.3 kcal/mol). These results suggest the estrogenicity of A. aspera via an ERα-associated mechanism and support its traditional usage in the management of menopausal-related problems.

Analysis of Main Components of Five Mulberry Varieties in Tropics.

Mulberries (Morus alba L.) contain rich and beneficial nutrients for human health. However, as a temperate adaptive species, high-temperature and high-humidity climate conditions may alter the main nutritional value of mulberries after their intended arrival in tropical regions, which has not yet been reported on. In this study, we analyzed the differences in morphology, sugars, organic acids, free amino acids, and aroma contents of five mulberry varieties in the tropics between two harvesting periods. The results show that the full-ripe fruits of M. laevigata W (TLM) have the longest fruit length (83.67 mm) and highest brix (25.90); meanwhile, full-ripe fruits of M. atropurpurea R (D10M) have the longest fruit transverse stem (20.00 ± 0.577 mm) and single-fruit weight (9.63 ± 0.033 g). Fructose, glucose, and sucrose were the main sugars, and oxalic acid, quinic acid, malic acid, and citric acid were the main organic acids in all varieties; in addition, the sucrose content in mature fruits of M. laevigata W. (BLM) and M. alba L. BZZ (BZM) was significantly higher than other sugars. Twenty free amino acids were detected in all five varieties and asparagine was the main free amino acid. A total of 100 volatile compounds were identified, including 31 esters, 20 aldehydes, 14 hydrocarbons, 11 alcohols, 10 acids, 6 ketones, and 8 others. Although the main components of five mulberry full-ripe fruits were significantly higher than the green-ripe fruits, gamma-amino butyric acid and a few other components were otherwise. The research results show that the tropical climate conditions could increase the main nutritional components of mulberries, but the specific molecular regulatory mechanisms need to be further analyzed.

Characterization of flavonoid and quinic acid derivatives from Calystegia soldanella with antioxidant activities

Characterization of flavonoid and quinic acid derivatives from Calystegia soldanella with antioxidant activities

NMR Metabolite Profiling and Antioxidant Properties of Spartan, Jewels, Misty, and Camelia Blueberries.

The health-promoting properties of blueberries are widely recognized and are mainly attributed to anthocyanins. However, fruit's chemical composition includes also other components and strongly depends on varieties and climatic conditions. Here, 1H NMR metabolite profiling and biological activity of four blueberry cultivars (Spartan, Jewels, Misty, Camelia) grown in Central Italy over two years were reported. Untargeted and targeted NMR analyses allowed the quantification of sugars, organic acids, amino acids, anthocyanins, lipids, and other compounds. Spectrophotometric assays evaluated total phenolic and flavonoid content, antioxidant activity, and enzyme inhibitory activity toward cholinesterase, α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and tyrosinase. Statistical analysis showed a correlation between chemical composition and biological activity, revealing markers specific to blueberry cultivars (quinic acid, quercitrin, myo-inositol, myrtillin, and petunidin-3-O-glucoside). Almost all antioxidant assays were correlated with the chlorogenic acid levels. A strong effect of harvesting on chemical composition and biological activities was observed, with Misty cultivar having the highest antioxidant activity.

The profile of plant bioactive compounds in Xinjiang, China unifloral safflower honey and their inhibitory on ACE, and determination of the mechanism of inhibition

Investigating the plant bioactive compounds in unifloral safflower honey from Xinjiang, China, is helpful for verifying its botanical origin and evaluating its functional properties. Therefore, this study quantifying hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA), anhydroxysafflor yellow B (ASYB), quercetin, kaempferol, rutin, myricetin, hyperoside, gallic acid, quinic acid, and ferulic acid in safflower honey by high-performance liquid chromatography; HSYA and ASYB accounted for 16.12–28.83% and 13.63–33.09%, respectively, of the quantified plant bioactive compounds and were considered characteristic markers for authentication. These compounds also exhibit angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity; the IC50 ranges from 13.33 to 132.45 μmol L−1, and the inhibition constant (Ki) is between 17.13 and 121.34 μmol L−1. HSYA (IC50 = 20.24 μmol L−1, Ki = 19.63 μmol L−1) and ASYB (IC50 = 19.33 μmol L−1, Ki = 17.13 μmol L−1) exhibited the strongest inhibitory effects. Molecular simulation studies have shown that these bioactive compounds bind key residues in the active pocket of ACE through hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions, leading to ACE inhibition. Overall, HSYA and ASYB could be considered bioactive chemical markers for verifying the botanical origin of Xinjiang, China, unifloral safflower honey, and safflower honey may be a potential functional food by inhibiting ACE.

Exhaustive Search of Dietary Intake Biomarkers as Objective Tools for Personalized Nutrimetabolomics and Precision Nutrition Implementation.

To conduct an exhaustive scoping search of existing literature, incorporating diverse bibliographic sources to elucidate the relationships between metabolite biomarkers in human fluids and dietary intake. The search for biomarkers linked to specific dietary food intake holds immense significance for precision health and nutrition research. Using objective methods to track food consumption through metabolites offers a more accurate way to provide dietary advice and prescriptions on healthy dietary patterns by healthcare professionals. An extensive investigation was conducted on biomarkers associated with the consumption of several food groups and consumption patterns. Evidence is integrated from observational studies, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses to achieve precision nutrition and metabolism personalization. Tailored search strategies were applied across databases and gray literature, yielding 158 primary research articles that met strict inclusion criteria. The collected data underwent rigorous analysis using STATA and Python tools. Biomarker-food associations were categorized into 5 groups: cereals and grains, dairy products, protein-rich foods, plant-based foods, and a miscellaneous group. Specific cutoff points (≥3 or ≥4 bibliographic appearances) were established to identify reliable biomarkers indicative of dietary consumption. Key metabolites in plasma, serum, and urine revealed intake from different food groups. For cereals and grains, 3-(3,5-dihydroxyphenyl) propanoic acid glucuronide and 3,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid were significant. Omega-3 fatty acids and specific amino acids showcased dairy and protein foods consumption. Nuts and seafood were linked to hypaphorine and trimethylamine N-oxide. The miscellaneous group featured compounds like theobromine, 7-methylxanthine, caffeine, quinic acid, paraxanthine, and theophylline associated with coffee intake. Data collected from this research demonstrate potential for incorporating precision nutrition into clinical settings and nutritional advice based on accurate estimation of food intake. By customizing dietary recommendations based on individualized metabolic profiles, this approach could significantly improve personalized food consumption health prescriptions and support integrating multiple nutritional data.This article is part of a Nutrition Reviews special collection on Precision Nutrition.

Oral toxicity of the acetone extract of Coffea arabica var. Oro Azteca leaves in CD-1 mice

The investigation of coffee leaves as a source of bioactive principles represents a relatively unexplored area of research. The study assesses the potential adverse effects of an aqueous acetone extract derived from Coffea arabica var. Oro Azteca leaves. The phenolic composition of the extract was identified and quantified by UPLC-MS/MS, and its acute and repeated-dose effects were evaluated in six-week-old CD-1 mice (n = 11 for acute evaluation and n = 20 female and n = 20 male for repeated-dose evaluation). The extract demonstrated no significant toxicity, maintaining consistent body weight and exhibiting a hepatoprotective effect by reducing ALT levels at a dose of 500 mg/kg. Some hyperactivity was observed at the highest doses, but overall, the extract enhanced the immune response and showed no histological alterations, except for mild inflammation in certain organs. The extract, which contains abundant quinic acid, chlorogenic acid, epicatechin, procyanidin B2, and mangiferin, has been deemed safe for consumption.

Rice Varieties Intercropping Induced Soil Metabolic and Microbial Recruiting to Enhance the Rice Blast (Magnaporthe Oryzae) Resistance.

[Background] Intercropping is considered an effective approach to defending rice disease. [Objectives/Methods] This study aimed to explore the resistance mechanism of rice intraspecific intercropping by investigating soil metabolites and their regulation on the rhizosphere soil microbial community using metabolomic and microbiome analyses. [Results] The results showed that the panicle blast disease occurrence of the resistant variety Shanyou63 (SY63) and the susceptible variety Huangkenuo (HKN) were both decreased in the intercropping compared to monoculture. Notably, HKN in the intercropping system exhibited significantly decreased disease incidence and increased disease resistance-related enzyme protease activity. KEGG annotation from soil metabolomics analysis revealed that phenylalanine metabolic pathway, phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan biosynthesis pathway, and fructose and mannose metabolic pathway were the key pathways related to rice disease resistance. Soil microbiome analysis indicated that the bacterial genera Nocardioides, Marmoricola, Luedemannella, and Desulfomonile were significantly enriched in HKN after intercropping, while SY63 experienced a substantial accumulation of Ruminiclostridium and Cellulomonas. Omics-based correlation analysis highlighted that the community assembly of Cellulomonas and Desulfomonile significantly affected the content of the metabolites D-sorbitol, D-mannitol, quinic acid, which further proved that quinic acid had a significantly inhibitory effect on the mycelium growth of Magnaporthe oryzae, and these three metabolites had a significant blast control effect. The optimal rice blast-control efficiency on HKN was 51.72%, and Lijiangxintuanheigu (LTH) was 64.57%. [Conclusions] These findings provide a theoretical basis for rice varieties intercropping and sustainable rice production, emphasizing the novelty of the study in elucidating the underlying mechanisms of intercropping-mediated disease resistance.

NMR-based metabolic profiling and antioxidant activity of Eleutherine bulbosa bulb ethanol extract

The metabolite profile of the ethanol extract from Eleutherine bulbosa was assessed using the 1D NMR approach amalgamated with 2D NMR. E. bulbosa, an indigenous plant found in Indonesia, possesses considerable promise as a raw material for medicinal products. We examined the antioxidant capacity of the E. bulbosa extract using DPPH and ABTS methods. The antioxidant evaluation demonstrated that the ethanol extract exhibits strong antioxidant properties. Furthermore, we have successfully identified thirteen metabolites in the ethanol extract without separation. These metabolites include eleutherol A, eleutherol B, eleutherol C, eleuthione B, eleuthione C, hongconin, karwinaphthol, isoeleuthoside C, quinic acid, chlorogenic acid, isoeleutherin, cyanidin-3-o-β-glucopyranoside, and kadsuric acid. Metabolite Cyanidin-3-o-β-glucopyranoside (4.89 mM ± 0.02) was the highest metabolite contained in this extract. This result showed that NMR methods could detect and measure metabolites in the E. bulbosa ethanol extract without requiring separation.

Impact of fruit reserve conditions from harvest to processing on the chemical composition and quality of coffee

Changes in the different stages of fruit processing are becoming a differentiating factor in coffee quality. Currently, generating delays in the processing of the fruit, that is, reserve, is a practice that can modify the sensory profile of the beverage. In this study, the fruit was reserved in three stages of maturity, two temperatures (15° and 20°C) and at two timepoints (24 and 48 h), establishing its chemical composition and sensory characteristics using analytical techniques such as liquid and gas chromatography. The state of maturity 1 showed an effect on malic and quinic acids due to the interaction of temperature and reserve time, while stage of maturity 3 showed an effect on glucose and fructose. The state of maturity 2 showed an effect of the reserve time on the same compounds of states 1 and 3, in addition to the content of defective beans and sucrose. The sensory quality expressed as the total SCA (Specialty Coffee Association) score and the attributes did not show treatments effect, the reserve of the fruit under the evaluated conditions presents an effect on the descriptors of the flavor. Extending the fruit reserve time from 24 to 48 h showed an increase in the groups of flavor descriptors associated with fruit and red fruits from 33.33 to 66.66% and from 34.04 to 65.95%. This implies that the constituent parts of the fruit such as the exocarp and mesocarp interact with the bean, leading to changes in the chemical composition and the improvement of the qualitative complexity of the sensory quality. This is a consequence of the increase in the frequency of the flavor descriptors of the fruit and red fruit category.

Antioxidant Capacity and Bioactive Ingredients of Asian Pear

The combinations of soluble sugars, organic acids, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are crucial for how food is perceived and accepted. In order to evaluate the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in Asian pears (Pyrus pyrifolia), headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) was combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) in this study. Among the 19 aroma compounds identified in the study conducted with a PDMS fiber, acetaldehyde and ethanol were found to be the most abundant. In addition, two more significant organic acids found in Asian pears were found to be malic acid (46.89 mg/100 g) and tartaric acid (45.08 mg/100 g). Glucose (84.70 mg/100 g) and sorbitol (65.75 mg/100 g) were identified in significant concentrations among the soluble sugars that directly affect fruit quality. LC-MS was used to investigate the phenolic content of Asian pears, and important phenolic compounds such as quinic acid (19227 g/L), chlorogenic acid (8445 g/L), procyanidin B2 (3146 g/L), liquiritin (435.1 g/L), and benzoic acid (363.1 g/L) were found.

Isolation of Allelochemicals from Rhododendron capitatum and Their Allelopathy on Three Perennial Herbaceous Plants.

Rhododendron capitatum community expansion is a major threat to alpine meadow. Allelopathy is an important mediator in managing relationships between plants in natural ecosystems. However, allelopathy and specific allelochemicals of R. capitatum have not been studied yet. In this study, the allelopathy of the foliage litter of R. capitatum was explored on Elymus nutans, Poa pratensis and Medicago ruthenica, and the chemical composition and their allelopathy were studied. The results showed that the aqueous extract of the foliage litter of R. capitatum had an allelopathy of "low concentration promotion and high concentration inhibition" on the germination of E. nutans, P. pratensis, and M. ruthenica. Organic acids, fatty acids, terpenes, phenols, and phenolic acid compounds were identified, with Zanamivir (77.81%), alpha-linolenic acid (18%), Kaurenoic acid (23.50%), 4-hydroxyphenylglycolic acid (21.54%), and Quinic acid (28.24%) having the highest relative content, and all five compounds showed significantly inhibitory effects on seed germination and seedling growth of E. nutans, P. pratensis, and M. ruthenica, which further suggests that the five compounds are the critical allelochemicals for negative allelopathy of R. capitatum. These results highlight the crucial role of inhibitory allelopathy produced by R. capitatum in the establishment and expansion of its populations.

Characterising the Metabolomic Diversity and Biological Potentials of Extracts from Different Parts of Two Cistus Species Using UHPLC-MS/MS and In Vitro Techniques.

This study investigates the biochemical composition and biological properties of different parts (leaves, roots, and twigs) of two Cistus species (Cistus monspeliasis and Cistus parviflorus). The extracts were analysed using UHPLC-MS/MS to determine their chemical profiling. A range of antioxidant assays were performed to evaluate the extract's antioxidant capabilities. The enzyme inhibition studies focused on acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), α-amylase, and α-glucosidase and tyrosinase. In addition, the study examined the antimicrobial effects on different bacteria and yeasts and evaluated the toxicity using the MTT assay. Quinic acid, citric acid, gallic acid, catechin, quercetin derivatives, kaempferol, myricetin, ellagic acid, prodelphinidins, procyanidins, scopoletin, and flavogallonic acid dilactone are the main bioactive compounds found in both species. In enzyme inhibition assays, C. monspeliasis roots exhibited significant activity against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), with the values of 2.58 ± 0.02 mg GALAE/g and 11.37 ± 1.93 mg GALAE/g, respectively. Cytotoxicity studies showed mostly weak toxicity, with some samples moderately reducing viability in RAW and HepG2 cells. These findings underscore the diverse biochemical profiles and bioactive potential of Cistus species, suggesting their utility as natural sources of antioxidants and enzyme inhibitors for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical development.

Quinic acid as an inhibitor of α‐glucosidase activity, nonenzymatic glycosylation, and glucose transport in Caco‐2 cells

Quinic acid as an inhibitor of α‐glucosidase activity, nonenzymatic glycosylation, and glucose transport in Caco‐2 cells