Search

The antioxidant activity and identification of phenolic compounds of seven edible guava ( Psidium guajava ) cultivars that varied in colour from white to pink were examined. In the DPPH assay all four pink-pulp guavas (Barbie Pink, Homestead, Sardina 1, Sardina 2) included in the study showed higher activity than the white pulp cultivars (Yen 2 and Sayla) and less than the red pulp guava cultivar (Thai Maroon). In the ABTS + assay this trend was the same up to 20 min, but from 20 to 40 min Barbie Pink showed lower activity than the white guavas. Twenty-one compounds were characterised in the cultivars, and ten of them are reported for the first time in this fruit. Principle component analysis was performed to identify differences in chemistry among these cultivars. Our results suggest that the antioxidant activity and phytochemical composition of P . guajava vary significantly according to the cultivar and pulp colour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a strategy based on repeatable reversed-phase LC-TOF-MS methods and chemometric statistical tools, including untargeted PCA and supervised OPLS-DA models, to identify low-yielding compounds with potent immunostimulant activity in Phaleria nisidai (Thymelaeaceae), a plant with a history of use as an adaptogen on the islands of Palau in Micronesia. IFNγ ELISA assays were used to classify chromatographic fractions according to imunomodulatory activity prior to LC-TOF-MS chemometric analysis to target and identify compounds likely to contribute to observed activity. Simplexin, a daphnane diterpene ester, was identified for the first time from this genus and caused an increase in the production of cytokines (IFNγ, IL1β, IL6, and IL13) by peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Five other daphnane diterpene esters were tentatively identified for the first time from this plant based on mass spectral data and are marker metabolites distinguishing active from inactive fractions. This analytical approach increased the efficiency of bioactivity-guided fractionation and has the potential to minimize redundant isolation and identify minor constituents with potent activity from a complex matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Covering: from 1998 to early 2014 Natural benzophenones are a class of compounds consisting of more than 300 members, which exhibit great structural diversity and bioactive properties. Many benzophenones have been reported from higher plants or fungi, most with polyisoprenylated benzophenone skeletons, and are mainly found in the Clusiaceae (formerly Guttiferae) family, a number from edible or medicinal species. Owing to their variable substituents and complex ring systems, many new polyisoprenylated benzophenones (PPBS), including ones with unusual skeletons, were isolated and identified. These natural benzophenones exhibit a range of biological activities including antifungal, anti-HIV, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiviral and cytotoxic. Because of the increased numbers and biological importance of these unique natural product polyphenols, we will review natural benzophenones and provide an in-depth discussion of their structural diversity and biological activity. By focusing on these key developments in benzophenones, we will contribute a focused review, selecting examples mostly from the last 15 years, but extending our scope to other historically important benzophenones discovered prior to that time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] 31 accessions representing 24 Solanum species were analyses by LC–TOF-MS. [•] 62 Solanum metabolites including two new 5-CQA derivatives were identified. [•] A new database of Solanum metabolites was established. [•] Untargeted PCA and targeted PLS/OPLS-DA models were used to analyze the data. [•] Seven marker metabolites were identified to distinguish four Solanum sections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Many edible dark-colored fruits, rich in anthocyanins, are thought to be important for human health. Jaboticaba (Myrciaria cauliflora (Mart.) O. Berg) fruit, native to Brazil, is a pleasant-tasting, dark-colored fruit, and a rich source of a wide variety of phenolic compounds, including flavonoids, anthocyanins, tannins, phenolic acids, as well as less well-known polyphenols like depsides. These dietary phenolics and polyphenols are important natural products, most of them having human health benefits, such as treating or preventing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and stroke. In the past decade, there has been an increase in the number of publications about jaboticaba. This review will discuss the morphology, taxonomy, nutritional composition, and use of the edible parts of jaboticaba (i.e. peel and pulp). In addition, an exhaustive survey of this fruit's secondary products, including volatiles, anthocyanins, and other phenolics, is included, and related to the ethnobotanical use of this plant in Brazil and implications of these compounds to human health. Optimization of extraction, focusing on bioactive constituents from this fruit, will be discussed, and prospects and challenges of future jaboticaba studies are pointed out. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Six flavonoids, diosmetin (1), apigenin (2), luteolin (3), chrysoeriol (4), apigenin-7-O-glucuronide (5) and acacetin (6), two caffeic acid sugar esters, verbascoside (7) and isoverbascoside (8), as well as one norsesquiterpene, blumenol A (9) were isolated or detected from the EtOAc and n-BuOH extract of the whole plants of Striga asiatica. Their structures were identified by 1H &13C NMR, HR-LC-TOF-MS and co-injection with the reference standards. Among them, blumenol A (9) was firstly found from the Scrophulariaceae. Diosmetin (1) and isoverbascoside (8) were firstly reported from the genus Striga, while verbascoside (7) was reported from this plant for the first time. Based on our chemotaxonomic studies and the previous phytochemical studies on Scrophulariaceae, Striga could be tentatively treated as a member of the family Scrophulariaceae instead of Orobanchaceae. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Three new (1–3) and several known (4–6) steroids were isolated from the leaves of Chinese Melia azedarach. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by means of spectroscopic methods including 2D NMR techniques and mass spectrometry to be (20S)-5,24(28)-ergostadiene-3β,7α,16β,20-tetrol (1), (20S)-5-ergostene-3β,7α,16β,20-tetrol (2), and 2α,3β-dihydro-5-pregnen-16-one (3). The cytotoxicities of the isolated compounds against three human cancer cell lines (A549, H460, U251) were evaluated; only compounds 1, 2, and (20S)-5-stigmastene-3β,7α,20-triol (4) were found to show significant cyctotoxic effects with IC50s from 12.0 to 30.1μg/mL. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Nine (1–9) and seven (1–6, 10) compounds were isolated from the fruits of Sonneratia caseolaris and Sonneratia ovata, respectively. Their structures were identified by comparing their MS and NMR data as well as the physical properties with the literature. All the isolated compounds were screened against a rat glioma C-6 cell line using the MTT assay method; only compounds (-)-(R)-nyasol (1), (-)-(R)-4′-O-methylnyasol (2) and maslinic acid (6) were found to show moderate cytotoxic activity. Our findings from these two kinds of fruits can be used as a foundation for further chemotaxonomic studies on Sonneratia species. The nor-lignans (1, 2) and 6H-benzo[b,d]pyran-6-one derivatives (3, 4) were isolated from this genus for the first time, indicating that these two classes of compounds may tentatively be considered as taxonomic markers for Sonneratia genus. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objectives: Patients with severe stroke are at high risk of developing acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), but this severe complication was often under-diagnosed and rarely explored in stroke patients. We aimed to investigate the prevalence, early predictors, and outcomes of ARDS in severe stroke. Methods: This prospective study included consecutive patients admitted to neurological intensive care unit (neuro-ICU) with severe stroke, including acute ischemic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, and subarachnoid hemorrhage. The incidence of ARDS was examined, and baseline characteristics and severity scores on admission were investigated as potential early predictors for ARDS. The in-hospital mortality, length of neuro-ICU stay, the total cost in neuro-ICU, and neurological functions at 90 days were explored. Results: Of 140 patients included, 35 (25.0%) developed ARDS. Over 90% of ARDS cases occurred within 1 week of admission. Procalcitonin (OR 1.310 95% CI 1.005–1.707, P = 0.046) and PaO2/FiO2 on admission (OR 0.986, 95% CI 0.979–0.993, P < 0.001) were independently associated with ARDS, and high brain natriuretic peptide (OR 0.994, 95% CI 0.989–0.998, P = 0.003) was a red flag biomarker warning that the respiratory symptoms may be caused by cardiac failure rather than ARDS. ARDS patients had longer stays and higher expenses in neuro-ICU. Among patients with ARDS, 25 (62.5%) were moderate or severe ARDS. All the patients with moderate to severe ARDS had an unfavorable outcome at 90 days. Conclusions: ARDS is common in patients with severe stroke, with most cases occurring in the first week of admission. Procalcitonin and PaO2/FiO2 on admission are early predictors of ARDS. ARDS worsens both short-term and long-term outcomes. The conflict in respiratory support strategies between ARDS and severe stroke needs to be further studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Garcinia oblongifolia Champ. ex Benth. (Clusiaceae) is a well-known medicinal plant from southern China, with edible fruits. However, the phytochemistry and bioactivity of the different plant parts of G. oblongifolia have not been studied extensively. Comparative metabolic profiling and bioactivities of the leaf, branch, and fruit of G. oblongifolia were investigated. A total of 40 compounds such as biflavonoids, xanthones, and benzophenones were identified using UPLC-QTOF-MS and MS E , including 15 compounds reported for the first time from this species. Heatmap analyses found that benzophenones, xanthones, and biflavonoids were predominately found in branches, with benzophenones present in relatively high concentrations in all three plant parts. Xanthones were found to have limited distribution in fruit while biflavonoids were present at only low levels in leaves. In addition, the cytotoxic (MCF-7 breast cancer cell line) and antioxidant (ABTS and DPPH chemical tests) activities of the crude extracts of G. oblongifolia indicate that the branch extract exhibits greater bioactivity than either the leaf or the fruit extracts. Orthogonal partial least squares discriminate analysis was used to find 12 marker compounds, mainly xanthones, from the branches, including well-known antioxidants and cytotoxic agents. These G. oblongifolia results revealed that the variation in metabolite profiles can be correlated to the differences in bioactivity of the three plant parts investigated. This UPLC-QTOF-MS strategy can be useful to identify bioactive constituents expressed differentially in the various plant parts of a single species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] The antioxidant activity of the Costa Rican guava pulp extract and its fractions was assessed. [•] The ethyl acetate fraction showed the highest antioxidant activity. [•] Its inhibitory activities against IL-8 and MMP-1 expression were assessed. [•] The ethyl acetate fraction displayed activity in both the IL-8 and MMP-1 assays in a concentration-dependent manner. [•] Nine compounds are reported for the first time in the Costa Rican guava. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Tetracyclic triterpenoids (named as altissimanins A–E, 1–5) and a terpenylated coumarin (denominated as altissimacoumarin G, 6), along with fifteen known compounds (7–21) were isolated from the bark of Ailanthus altissima. Structures of compounds 1–6 were established by spectroscopic methods and chemical transformations. Altissimanin A (1) is a tirucallane-type triterpenoid bearing an uncommon oxetane ring in the side-chain, while altissimanins D (4) and E (5) are two unprecedented dimers each consisting of one tirucallane-type and one dammarane-type triterpenoid moiety. All the isolates were evaluated for their cytotoxic effects against a small panel of human cancer cell lines. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The edible fruits of Myrciaria vexator McVaugh (Myrtaceae), from northern South America, are eaten in certain locales, either fresh or processed into jellies and drinks. Activity-guided fractionation of M. vexator resulted in identification of ellagic acid (1), cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (2), delphinidin-3-O-glucoside (3), 2-O-(3,4-dihydroxybenzoyl)-2,4,6-trihydroxyphenylacetic acid (4), and jaboticabin (5), and latter two compounds are being reported for the first time in this species. Ellagic acid was further examined, and found to inhibit cigarette smoke extract induced MMP-1 expression in vitro, and may be of significance in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary (COPD). Other compounds identified for the first time from M. vexator include cyanidin-3-O-galactoside (6), cyanidin-3-O-arabinoside (7), cyanidin-3-O-rutionoside (8), petunidin (9), peonidin-3-O-galactoside (10) malvidin (11), hyperoside (12), querecetin-3-O-glucoside (13), and guajaverin (14), methyl protocatechuate (15), and protocatechuic acid (16). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Seven new Lycopodium alkaloids, squarrosusines A–E ( 1 – 3 , 5 and 6 ), 8-epilycoposerramine U ( 4 ) and squarrosusine F N -exide ( 7 ), and 4 related known compounds ( 8 – 11 ) were isolated from the aerial parts of Phlegmariurus squarrosus . The structures of these seven new compounds share a unique heterocyclic C 16 N-type skeleton. The chemical structures of the new compounds were established through spectroscopic methods, including 2D NMR techniques and mass spectrometry, as well as chemical reaction. The inhibition effects of the isolates against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) were evaluated in vitro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crop domestication is often accompanied by changes in metabolite compositions that alter traits such as flavor, color, or other beneficial properties. Fruits of eggplants ( Solanum melongena L.) and related species are abundant and diverse in pharmacologically interesting phenolic compounds, particularly hydroxycinnamic acid (HCA) conjugates such as the antioxidant caffeoylquinic acids (CQA) and HCA-polyamine amides (HCAA). To understand metabolite variability through the lens of natural and artificial selection, HPLC-DAD was used to generate phenolic profiles for 32 compounds in fruits from 93 accessions representing 9 Solanum species. Profiles were used for identification of species-level and infraspecific chemical patterns across both genetic distance and landscape. Sampling of plant lines included the undomesticated progenitor of eggplant and Asian landraces with a genetic background associated with three Asian regions near proposed separate centers of domestication to test whether chemical changes were convergent despite different origins. Results showed ten compounds were unique to species, and ten other compounds varied significantly in abundance among species. Five CQAs and three HCA-polyamine conjugates were more abundant in wild (undomesticated) versus domesticated eggplant, indicating that artificial selection may have led to reduced phenolic levels. No chemical abundance patterns were associated with site-origin. However, one genetically distinct lineage of geographically-restricted SE Asian eggplants ( S. melongena subsp. ovigerum ) had a higher HCAA content and diversity than other lineages, which is suggested to be related to artificial selection for small, firm fruit. Overall, patterns show that fruit size, palatability and texture were preferentially selected over health-beneficial phytochemical content during domestication of several nightshade crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eleven known compounds were isolated from the whole plant of Hedyotis cryptantha .On the basis of spectroscopic data, their structures were identified as asperuloside (1), asperulosidic acid (2), asperulosidic acid methyl ester (3), asperulosidic acid ethyl ester (4 ), 3,4-dihydro-3-methoxy asperuloside (5), kaempferol (6), kaempferol 3,7-di-O -β-D-glucoside (7), kaempferol 3-O -β-D-galactopyranosyl- (1 → 3) -β-D-galactopyranoside (8), ursonic acid (9), stigmasterol (10), and β-sitosterol (11) .All of these compounds were isolated from this plant for the first time, while compounds 7 and 8 were found from the genus Hedyotis for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eight compounds including four caffeoyl phenylpropanoid glycosides, jasnervosides A–D ( 1 – 4 ), one monoterpenoid glycoside, jasnervoside E ( 5 ), and three secoiridoid glycosides, jasnervosides F–H ( 10 – 12 ), were isolated from the stems of Jasminum nervosum Lour. (Oleaceae), along with four known compounds, poliumoside ( 6 ), verbascoside ( 7 ), α- l -rhamnopyranosyl-(1→3)- O -(α- l -rhamnopyranosyl(1→6)-1- O - E -caffeoyl-β- d -glucopyranoside ( 8 ), and jaspolyanthoside ( 9 ). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of their physicochemical and spectroscopic properties. Compounds 1 , 2 , 4 and 11 displayed potent antioxidant activities in the DPPH assay, while 2 and 3 displayed good activities against LPS-induced TNF-α and IL-1β production in BV2 cells. Compounds 1 – 5 and 10 – 12 were evaluated for their cytotoxic activities against three human cancer cell lines (A-549, Bel-7402, and HCT-8), but none displayed significant activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]