Vanillic Research Articles

Phenolic compound vanillic acid modulates growth and defense system of cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. Capitata L.) under drought stress

Phenolic compound vanillic acid modulates growth and defense system of cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. Capitata L.) under drought stress

Unveiling the distribution of free and bound phenolic acids, flavonoids, anthocyanins, and proanthocyanidins in pigmented and non-pigmented rice genotypes.

The total phenolic content, phenolic acid profile, anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins, flavonoids, and antioxidant capacity of the whole-grain and bran portion of sixteen distinct rice genotypes that correspond to three distinct pericarp bran colors-black, red, and non-pigmented (NP)-were examined. Ten free and bound phenolic acids, as well as two flavonoids, were analyzed using HPLC-PDA. The flavonoids included kaempferol and catechin hydrate, and the free phenolic acids included gallic acid, 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid, vanillic acid, syringic acid, p-coumaric acid, chlorogenic acid, trans-cinnamic acid, trans-ferulic acid, p-coumaric acid, and sinapic acid. Trans-ferulic acid (207.39 mg/kg), p-hydroxybenzoic acid (94.36 mg/kg), and p-coumaric acid (59.75 mg/kg) were the principal bound phenolic acids in pigmented rice genotypes, whereas in NP genotypes they were trans-ferulic acid (95.61 mg/kg) and p-hydroxybenzoic acid (58.32 mg/kg). The main free phenolic acid was syringic acid (120.43 mg/kg) in all genotypes. 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid was also detected in NP genotypes, mainly in the bound form (4.88 mg/kg). NP genotypes Basmati 386 and Punjab Basmati 7 also displayed high content of bran flavonoids (1001 and 1028 mg CE/100g). The bound form of phenolics had significant DPPH and ABTS + activity. This study found wide diversity in the phenolic acid profile, total phenolic constituents, and antioxidant activity in the bran and whole grain of pigmented and NP rice. The individual phenolic acids in free and bound forms in different fractions of the grain were found to exert their antioxidant activity differently. The results obtained will provide new opportunities to improve the nutritional quality of rice with enhanced levels of phytochemicals in the ongoing breeding programs. Black rice bran contains a high level of phytochemicals and thus has a potent pharmaceutical role. This information would enhance the use of whole-grain and bran of pigmented rice in food product development by food technologists. Further studies may be focused on clinical trials with respect to cancer and diabetes.

Synergistic Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Phenolic Acid-Conjugated Glutamine-Histidine-Glycine-Valine (QHGV) Peptides Derived from Oysters (Crassostrea talienwhanensis).

The glutamine-histidine-glycine-valine (QHGV), a peptide derived from oysters, exhibits antioxidant activity and is being actively researched as a potential pharmaceutical and functional cosmetic ingredient. In this study, we synthesized the QHGV peptide and explored the hitherto unknown anti-inflammatory effects of QHGV. The antioxidant property was also characterized by conjugating with various naturally derived phenolic acids, such as caffeic, gallic, ferulic, sinapinic, and vanillic acids. Conjugation with phenolic acids not only enhanced the antioxidant activity of QHGV but also diminished the lipopolysaccharide-induced generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the murine macrophage cell line, RAW 264.7. The reduction in the levels of reactive oxygen species led to the reduced mRNA expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNos) and cyclooxygenase 2 (Cox-2), resulting in an anti-inflammatory effect through the inhibition of the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase, including extracellular signal-activated protein kinase, c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase, and p38. Furthermore, the phenolic acid-conjugated peptides increased the mRNA and protein levels of collagen type I, indicative of a wrinkle-improvement effect. The phenolic acid conjugates of the peptide were not cytotoxic to human keratinocytes such as HaCaT cells. These results suggest that phenolic acid conjugation can enhance the potential of peptides as drug and cosmetic resources.

Evaluation of chemical components and quality in Xinhui Chenpi (Citrus reticulata 'Chachi') with two different storage times by GC-MS and UPLC.

Xinhui Chenpi (XHCP) is a well-known type of Chenpi (CP) widely used as both a Chinese herb and a food ingredient. While previous studies have explored how the quality of CP changes over time, there has been limited research specifically on XHCP. This study aims to assess the chemical components and quality of XHCP based on total flavonoid content (TF), antioxidant activity (AA), and color value (CV) at two stages: freshly harvested (XHCP-0Y) and after 3 years of storage (XHCP-3Y). Thirty-eight common volatile compounds were identified, and the content of 17 compounds among them, nine nonvolatile compounds, which included one alkaloid (synephrine), three phenolic acids (PA, protocatechuic acid, vanillic acid, and ferulic acid), and five flavonoids (narirutin, hesperidin, sinensetin, nobiletin, and tangeretin), were firstly detected by the newly developed gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC-MS) and ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) methods. Compared to XHCP-0Y, the content of 17 volatile compounds and synephrine decreased in XHCP-3Y to varying degrees, while the content of PA, five flavonoids, TF, AA, and CV increased. The reduction of dryness caused by volatile compounds and the enhancement of efficacy related to PA, flavonoids, and AA suggested improved quality of XHCP after 3 years of storage. The methods developed in this study show promise for evaluating the quality of XHCP during the aging process.

Pulsed electric field treatment improves the oil yield, quality, and antioxidant activity of virgin olive oil

Pulsed electric field (PEF) is an innovative technique used to assist in the extraction of vegetable oils. There has been no research on the effects of PEF on virgin olive oil (VOO) quality and antioxidant activity to date. The present study aimed to analyze the effects of PEF on oil yield, quality, and in vitro antioxidant activity of “Koroneiki” extra virgin olive oil. The results show that the PEF treatment increased the oil yield by 5.6%, but had no significant effect on the saponification value, K232, K270, and ∆K value of the VOO. PEF treatment reduced the oleic acid content by 3.12%, but had no significant effect on the content of palmitic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, arachidonic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, and palmitic acid. After PEF treatment, the levels of total phenolics, total flavonoids, and oleuropein increased by 7.6%, 18.3% and 76%, respectively. There was no significant effect on the levels of 4 phenolic acids (vanillic acid, p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid and cinnamic acid), 2 lignans (lignans and apigenin), hydroxytyrosol, and 3 pigments (lutein, demagnetized chlorophyll, and carotenoids). In addition, PEF treatment significantly increased the content of tocopherols, with α, β, γ, and δ tocopherols increasing by 9.8%, 10.7%, 13.6% and 38.4%, respectively. The free radical scavenging ability of DPPH and ABTS was also improved. In conclusion, the use of PEF significantly increased the yield of VOO oil as well as the levels of total phenolics, total flavonoids, oleuropein, tocopherol, and in vitro antioxidant activity.

Optimization of extraction condition to improve blackthorn (Prunus spinosa L.) polyphenols, anthocyanins and antioxidant activity by natural deep eutectic solvent (NADES) using the simplex lattice mixture design method

In the present study, a statistical tool called the simplex lattice mixture design method was used to create a new formulation of Natural Deep Eutectic Solvent (NADES) that is derived from a combination of three compounds (lactic acid, maltose, and water) to extract phenolic compounds, including the anthocyanin content, as well as their antioxidant activity from blackthorn fruits (Prunus spinosa L.). The optimal condition for the highest compounds and antioxidant activity was obtained by simultaneous optimization of the ternary mixture containing lactic acid: maltose: water (66:16:16 v/v/v), which was the most suitable for simultaneous maximization of maximum total phenolic content (TPC) (134 ± 1.6 mg GAE/g) and antioxidant activity (AA) showing a 141 ± 1.4 mmol/TE g, which were measured using the DPPH assay. The ternary mixture containing lactic acid: maltose: water (33:33:33 v/v/v), which was the most suitable for simultaneous maximization of the total anthocyanin content (TAC) (120.3 ± 1.3 mg C3G/g)/TE g. The ANOVA analysis of the mixture design showed that all three responses (TPC, TAC, and AA) were statistically significant, with determination coefficients of 94.41 %, 94.96 %, and 98.38 %, respectively, and fit the quadratic regression models. A chromatographic analysis of the NADES extract of the blackthorn fruit revealed that phenolics (vanillic acid, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, and gallic acid) and anthocyanin (Cyanidin-3-O-glucoside, Cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside, Peonidin-3-O-glucoside and Delphidin-3-O-β-O-glucoside) are the most prevalent bioactive compounds. These results indicate that the simplex lattice mixture design effectively optimized the phenolic and anthocyanin content, thereby preserving their antioxidant activity. This optimization is valuable, as it can potentially enhance the nutritional and functional value of blackthorn fruit extracts that are rich in phenolic compounds and have antioxidant properties. These discoveries could be used in the creation of functional food, dietary supplement, and natural antioxidant for several fields.

How do in vitro digestion and cell metabolism affect the biological activity and phenolic profile of grape juice and wine

Cabernet Sauvignon grape juice and wine underwent in vitro digestion, resulting in a reduction of most phenolic compounds (10%–100% decline), notably impacting anthocyanins (82%–100% decline) due to pH variations. However, specific phenolics, including p–hydroxybenzoic, protocatechuic, vanillic, p-coumaric, gallic and syringic acids, and coumarin esculetin, increased in concentration (10%–120%). Grape juice and wine samples showed comparable polyphenolic profile during all phases of digestion. Antioxidant activity persisted, and inhibition of angiotensin-I converting enzyme was improved after the digestion process, likely because of increased concentrations of listed phenolic acids and esculetin. Digested grape juice displayed comparable or superior bioactivity to red wine, indicating it as a promising source of accessible grape polyphenols for a broader audience. Nevertheless, Caco-2 cell model metabolization experiments revealed that only 3 of 42 analyzed compounds passed to the basolateral compartment, emphasizing the significant impact of digestion on polyphenol bioactivity, suggesting potential yet unmeasurable and overlooked implications for human health.

Impact of Biomass Burning on Arctic Aerosol Composition.

Emissions from biomass burning (BB) occurring at midlatitudes can reach the Arctic, where they influence the remote aerosol population. By using measurements of levoglucosan and black carbon, we identify seven BB events reaching Svalbard in 2020. We find that most of the BB events are significantly different to the rest of the year (nonevents) for most of the chemical and physical properties. Aerosol mass and number concentrations are enhanced by up to 1 order of magnitude during the BB events. During BB events, the submicrometer aerosol bulk composition changes from an organic- and sulfate-dominated regime to a clearly organic-dominated regime. This results in a significantly lower hygroscopicity parameter κ for BB aerosol (0.4 ± 0.2) compared to nonevents (0.5 ± 0.2), calculated from the nonrefractory aerosol composition. The organic fraction in the BB aerosol showed no significant difference for the O:C ratios (0.9 ± 0.3) compared to the year (0.9 ± 0.6). Accumulation mode particles were present during all BB events, while in the summer an additional Aitken mode was observed, indicating a mixture of the advected air mass with locally produced particles. BB tracers (vanillic, homovanillic, and hydroxybenzoic acid, nitrophenol, methylnitrophenol, and nitrocatechol) were significantly higher when air mass back trajectories passed over active fire regions in Eastern Europe, indicating agricultural and wildfires as sources. Our results suggest that the impact of BB on the Arctic aerosol depends on the season in which they occur, and agricultural and wildfires from Eastern Europe have the potential to disturb the background conditions the most.

Experimental investigation on nontoxic solvents for separation of vanillic acid

AbstractBACKGROUNDVanillic acid, an aromatic carboxylic acid and a derivative of vanillin, is used as an additive in consumer goods for its aroma. Previously, most vanillic acid was produced through a petrochemical route, but as a consequence of stringent environmental policies, it is now produced by the biotransformation of ferulic acid. Vanillic acid is also found in the wastewater streams of paper‐pulp industries and olive‐oil mills. So, recovering vanillic acid from fermentation broth, either during bioproduction or from a wastewater stream, while minimizing toxicity, is a difficult task. In order to reduce the toxicity substantially, bio‐based solvents such as sunflower, mustard and rice bran oils were employed as diluents along with tri‐n‐butyl phosphate (TBP) as extractant in order to recover vanillic acid by reactive extraction.RESULTSThe extraction performance was elucidated using terms such as distribution ratio, extraction efficiency, loading ratio and equilibrium complexation constant for different extractant–diluent combinations. The highest extraction efficiency and distribution ratio for the different solvents were in the following order: TBP + sunflower‐oil (72.02%–92.47%; 2.57–12.29) > TBP + rice bran‐oil (65.56%–90.55%; 1.90–9.58) > TBP + mustard‐oil(64.03%–89.87%; 1.78–8.87). The theoretical number of stages was determined as 4 to achieve a targeted extraction efficiency of 90%; these predictions were borne out experimentally.CONCLUSIONIn this study, vanillic acid was recovered from the aqueous phase using tri‐n‐butyl phosphate in sustainable, environmentally friendly, bio‐based solvents such as rice bran oil, sunflower oil and mustard oil. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).

Phase Diagrams of Praziquantel and Vanillic Acid Cocrystals: Racemic Compound and Conglomerate System

Phase Diagrams of Praziquantel and Vanillic Acid Cocrystals: Racemic Compound and Conglomerate System

Blood Plasma as a Sampling Model during Drug-induced Thrombocytopenia: Effects of Antioxidants

OBJECTIVE Blood plasma, a complex biological mixture, plays a part in a variety of roles including clotting, defense, and transport, and reflects the overall status of blood components. Drug-induced thrombocytopenia (DIT) is characterized by abnormally low platelet count (below ~150,000 per μL) which can be caused by adverse effects of medications. This study aims to address a basic question, can plasma be employed as a sampling model to assess the oxidative stress (OS) changes and antioxidant status during DIT? The objective was to analyze the antioxidant status and OS in plasma during DIT, and to determine the effects of antioxidant supplementation such as Caripill™, L-Carnitine (LC), and vanillic acid (VA) during DIT. METHODS Male Wistar rats were used as animal models and grouped into control groups (n=5) and thrombocytopenia groups (n=5). Antioxidants were given to the thrombocytopenic and the control rats (50 mg/kg body weight) once a day for 7 days. Blood plasma from both groups was evaluated for total antioxidant capacity, antioxidant enzymes, markers of lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation, and OS. RESULTS The antioxidants significantly increased the total antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC) and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) of the plasma and decreased the levels of conjugate dienes. Caripill™ also reduced lipid peroxidation, significantly elevated protein sulfhydryl and nitrite/nitrate levels, LC elevated lactate dehydrogenase levels, and VA increased superoxide dismutase activity and attenuated lipid peroxidation during DIT. CONCLUSIONS The antioxidants Caripill™, vanillic acid, and L-carnitine were demonstrated to be beneficial during DIT and to have prospects in alternate therapeutics. This study confirms that plasma can be utilized as a sampling model to study changes during OS situations.

Herbo-Mineral Medicine, Lithom Exhibits Anti-Nephrolithiasis Activity in Rat Model of Hyperoxaluria by Attenuating Calcium Oxalate Crystal Formation and Oxidative Stress.

Calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM) forms the most common type of kidney stones observed in clinics, elevated levels of urinary oxalate being the principal risk factor for such an etiology. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the anti-nephrolithiatic effect of herbo-mineral formulation, Lithom. The in vitro biochemical synthesis of COM crystals in the presence of Lithom was performed and observations were made by microscopy and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) based analysis for the detection of crystal size and morphology. The phytochemical composition of Lithom was evaluated by Ultra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (UHPLC). The in vivo model of Ethylene glycol-induced hyperoxaluria in Sprague-Dawley rats was used for the evaluation of Lithom. The animals were randomly allocated to 5 different groups namely Normal control, Disease control (ethylene glycol (EG), 0.75%, 28 days), Allopurinol (50 mg/kg, q.d.), Lithom (43 mg/kg, b.i.d.), and Lithom (129 mg/kg, b.i.d.). Analysis of crystalluria, oxalate, and citrate levels, oxidative stress parameters (malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase, myeloperoxidase (MPO)), and histopathology by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Von Kossa staining was performed for evaluation of Lithom. The presence of Lithom during COM crystals synthesis significantly reduced the average crystal area, feret's diameter, and area-perimeter ratio, in a dose-dependent manner. SEM analysis revealed that COM crystals synthesized in the presence of 100 and 300 μg/mL of Lithom exhibited a veritable morphological transition from irregular polygons with sharp edges to smoothened smaller cuboid polygons. UHPLC analysis of Lithom revealed the presence of Trigonelline, Bergenin, Xanthosine, Adenosine, Bohoervinone B, Vanillic acid, and Ellagic acid as key phytoconstituents. In EG-induced SD rats, the Lithom-treated group showed a decrease in elevated urinary oxalate levels, oxidative stress, and renal inflammation. Von Kossa staining of kidney tissue also exhibited a marked reduction in crystal depositions in Lithom-treated groups. Taken together, Lithom could be a potential clinical-therapeutic alternative for management of nephrolithiasis.

유용미생물에 의한 저이용 산채류의 복합발효 중 생리활성 성분 및 항염증 변화

It was confirmed that complex fermentation (CF) was more efficient than single-strain fermentations in inducing changes in the contents of phenolic compounds of Maclura tricuspidate and Pyrus Montana Nakai. A mixture of Maclura tricuspidata, Pyrus montana Nakai, Platycodon grandiflorum and Codonopsis lanceolata were fermented in CF using Aspergillus shirousamii (koji), yeast, and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) for 24 days, and the pH, °Brix, total acidity, anti-oxidant activity, polyphenol content, nitric oxide (NO), and Western blotting of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) of the sample were determined. There was no significant change in pH and total acidity. °Brix significantly decreased from day 6 onwards. HPLC confirmed that the concentrations of chlorogenic acid, 4-hydrobenzoic acid, vanillic acid, and caffeic acid significantly increased from day 18 during the fermentation. Additionally, DPPH, ABTS radical scavenging activity, total phenol, and total flavonoid were confirmed to be increased until 18 days. NO was significantly inhibited from day 6, along with significant inhibition of iNOS, COX-2, and TNF-a. In conclusion, this study confirmed that CF of low-use (or underutilized) wild vegetables enhances phenolic compounds. It effectively suppresses NO, iNOS, COX-2, and TNF-α, markers of inflammation-related pathogenesis. Altogether, our results suggest that CF of the above plants has a potential anti-inflammatory effect.

Effect of different extraction solvents on bioactive phenolics and antioxidant potential of Illicium griffithii fruit

The fruits of Illicium griffithii are of medicinal and economic importance. In this study, five solvents viz. methanol, ethanol, acetone, ethyl acetate and water at 20–100% concentration analyzed for phenolic content (TPC and TFC) and antioxidant activities (DPPH and ABTS) of I. griffithii fruit. TPC was highest (40.06±0.48 mg GAE/g dw) in 80% MeOH, and TFC was highest (6.58±0.12 mg QE/g dw) in 100% EtOAc extracts. The antioxidant activities were higher in extract(s) with 100% of each solvent (93.35–94.27% inhibition) and highest in 100% EtOAc extracts. A total of 7 phenolic compounds, viz. gallic acid, catechin, chlorogenic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, vanillic acid, ferulic acid, and phloridzin, were identified in different solvent extracts. 100% MeOH extracted the highest content of gallic acid (2.54 mg/g) and catechin (2.59 mg/g). The ATR-FTIR spectra showed the presence of aliphatic, aromatic, and phenolic groups. The TGA analysis exposed volatile matter, cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin content. The FESEM analysis also revealed the morphological changes in treated samples. The extraction efficacy of phenolic compounds was better in extracts with higher concentration of solvents (60% −100%). The fruit is a rich source of phenolics and antioxidants; thus, it can provide multiple industrial benefits.

Pomological and Biochemical Characteristics of Local Pomegranate Genotypes of Kahta (Adıyaman) Region

In the study carried out to determine the pomological characteristics of local pomegranate genotypes grown in Kahta district center and Bostanli, Eceler, Balli, Kilisk, Sarica, and Narince villages of Adıyaman province, one orchard belonging to a grower in each region and 1 genotype in each orchard were determined. 10 fruits in each genotype were harvested, and pomological measurements and biochemical analyses were performed. The largest fruit was obtained with the Sarıca genotype and Narince was the genotype with the smallest fruit. In genotypes, the fruit weight was between 196.300-328.909 g, the fruit length 61.528-72.801 mm, and the fruit width between 73.047-86.613 mm. Total aril weight was between 94.144-203.567 g and the fruit volume was between 188.333-327.000. The Sarıca genotype had the highest juice volume and the lowest juice ratio was recorded in the Eceler genotype. Calyx length was longer in the Sarıca genotype and the highest values in terms of calyx radius were recorded with the Kilisk genotype. The Eceler genotype had thicker shells and the Narince genotype had thinner shells. The number of chambers in the genotypes was between 5 and 6. There were significant differences between genotypes in terms of fruit skin and aril color. The soluble solids content (SSC) in genotypes was determined between 12.011-17.267, pH was 3.583-4.073 and total acidity (TA) was 0.736-1.489%. Phenolic compounds such as protocatechuic acid, rutin, gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, epicatechin, ferulic acid, floridzin, vanillic acid, hydroxycinnamic acid, catechin, caffeic acid, syringic acid, and p-coumaric acid were detected in pomegranate fruit, and rutin was phenolic compound with the highest concentration.

Bioremediation of Kraft Lignin in Wastewater: Optimization of Temperature and Isolation of Valuable Compounds

Conventional methods for the treatment of complex lignin found in the pulp and paper mill effluent is a strenuous and expensive process. Microbial degradation is a promising technique to degrade lignin efficiently due to its adaptability and rapid growth of microbes in diverse environments. This study is focused on the isolation of potential ligninolytic bacterial strains from agricultural soil and decomposed wood sources for successful degradation of lignin present in the wastewater. Initially, 15 ligninolytic strains were identified and three dominant species, Staphylococcus lentus (SB5), Bacillus megaterium (RWB15) and Pseudomonas geniculata (RWP9) were isolated as per their growth tolerance pattern with different lignin concentrations. The lignin degradation study was carried out at different temperatures (25-45℃) with 1000 mg/l of feed lignin concentrations. The optimum degradation temperature of all the strains fell within the range 30-35℃. The maximum lignin degradation of SB5, RWB15 and RWP9 was identified as 89, 77 and 90% at the end of the 6th, 3rd and 7th day of biodegradation, respectively. There was a steep reduction of COD by all three microbes before attaining the stationary phase and thereafter COD reduction was sluggish due to the death phase. Besides, the microbes used in this study showed the transformation of lignin into valuable low-molecular by-products, vanillin, vanillic acid and adipic acid with their concentration being quantified as 28, 101 and 130 mg/l, respectively. This study shows the successful degradation of waste lignin and the recovery of valuable byproducts from waste streams.

The Protective Effects of Vanillic Acid and Vanillic Acid-Coated Silver Nanoparticles (AgNPs) in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats.

The production of nanoparticles enhances the bioactivity of biological molecules for drug delivery to diseased sites. This study explains how silver nanoparticle (AgNP) coating enhanced the protection effects of vanillic acid in male diabetic rats with streptozotocin- (STZ-) induced diabetes. Twenty-four rats were divided into four groups (n = 6) for this investigation. The first group (G1) is untreated, whereas diabetes was induced in the other three groups through STZ injection. Diabetic rats that were not getting therapy were included in the second group (G2, STZ-positive), whereas the other diabetic rats were divided into the third group (G3, vanillic acid-treated) and the fourth group (G4, vanillic acid-coated AgNPs treated). The treatment lasted four weeks. In G2, the induction of diabetes significantly (at P = 0.05) increased in serum glucose, glycated proteins, renal indices, interleukin-6 (IL-6), K+, immunoglobulins, and lipid peroxidation, while decreased Ca++, Na+, and other antioxidants in the kidney tissue homogenate. In addition, pathological altered signs were present in the pancreas and kidneys of diabetic rats. The renal and pancreatic tissues were effectively enhanced by vanillic acid or vanillic acid-coated AgNPs, bringing them very close to their prediabetic conditions. Vanillic acid-coated AgNPs offered a stronger defense against STZ-induced diabetes and lessened the effects of hyperglycemia compared to ordinary vanillic acid. Additionally, using vanillic acid coated with silver nanoparticles greatly increased the antioxidant and antidiabetic activity and reduced inflammation when compared to using vanillic acid alone.

Vanillic acid protects mortality and toxicity induced by N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea in mice; in vivo model of chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Alkylating agents such as N-Ethyl-N-Nitrosourea (ENU) are ubiquitous within living cells and in the environment. This study designed to evaluate the chemopreventive activity of vanillic acid on ENU-induced toxicity and carcinogenesis in mice as an animal model of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). The female, Swiss albino mice were divided into three groups each with 7 mice, group I received normal saline, group II, mice received ENU at a dose of 80 mg/kg body weight i.p. to induce CLL on the 31th day of the study, and group III, the mice pretreated with vanillic acid at a dose of 20 mg/kg body weight/day, i.p. up to 30 days and received ENU. The animals were monitored for weight changes and mortality during 120 days, and then were sacrificed for isolation of lymphocytes, as target cells in CLL. Cellular parameters like reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, malondialdehyde (MDA) production, depletion of glutathione (GSH), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and lysosomal membrane integrity were studied. We found that pretreatment with vanillic acid significantly increased the survival of mice up to 57%, delay in death time (30%) and prevented weight changes after exposure to ENU. In addition, it was found that vanillic acid protected ROS formation, lipid peroxidation mitochondrial dysfunction, and lysosomal membrane destabilization in isolated lymphocytes. These data suggest that vanillic acid exhibited significant protection against ENU-induced toxicity and carcinogenicity, which might be related to the protection of the mitochondria and lysosomes and the reduction of ROS formation and oxidative stress.

Phytochemical analysis and chemophenetic evaluation of Phlomis fruticosa L.

In this work, the first complete phytochemical analysis ever performed on a European population of Phlomis fruticosa L., led to the identification of twelve metabolites from its leaf ethanolic extract: pheophytin a (1), verbascoside (2), leucosceptoside A (3), apigenin (4), kaempferol (5), 5-hydroxy-8-epi-loganin (6), lamiide (7), penstemoside (8), 5-deoxy-pulchelloside I (9), quinic acid (10), vanillic acid (11) and glycerol (12). Their chemophenetic value was evaluated individuating and even suggesting chemophenetic markers at various levels.

Identification of a di-glucose conjugate of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid in bamboo cells expressing bacterial 4-hydroxycinnamoyl-CoA hydratase/lyase.

Rational metabolic-flow switching is an effective strategy that we proposed for producing exogenous high-value natural products using transformed plant cells. In an earlier proof-of-concept study, we generated bamboo (Phyllostachys nigra; Pn) cells expressing the 4-hydroxycinnamoyl-CoA hydratase/lyase gene of Pseudomonas putida KT2440 (PpHCHL). The encoded enzyme catalyzes the formation of 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde and vanillin from p-coumaroyl-CoA and feruloyl-CoA, respectively. The PpHCHL-transformed Pn cells accumulated mono-glucose conjugates (glucoside and glucose ester) of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid and vanillic acid, indicating that the products (aldehydes) of the PpHCHL-catalyzed reaction were oxidized by endogenous enzyme(s) in Pn cells. In this study, we re-examined the extracts of PpHCHL-transformed Pn cells to screen for additional 4-hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives. An unidentified compound was detected exclusively in the PpHCHL-transformed Pn cells. This compound was purified via column chromatography and then identified as a di-glucose conjugate of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (i.e., β-D-glucopyranosyl 4-O-β-D-glucopyranosylbenzoate), implying that some of the mono-glucose conjugates of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid were converted to the di-glucose conjugate by endogenous enzyme(s) in Pn cells. The maximum production titer of this di-glucose conjugate in the suspension-cultured cells was 0.38 g l-1, which was the second highest titer among the four glucose conjugates produced by the PpHCHL-transformed Pn cells. The study findings further support the utility of PpHCHL-transformed Pn cells for the bioproduction of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid and its derivatives.