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The branches and leaves of 8 varieties of Lonicera japonica as materials, a high-performance liquid chromatography detection method for 8 phenolic acid components was established to determine the content characteristics of phenolic acids in the samples. The content determination results were evaluated by multivariate statistical methods such as cluster analysis, factor comprehensive analysis, and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA). The results indicated that the established method for determining the content of 8 phenolic acids in the branches and leaves of L. japonica was stable, reliable and simple. The variation range of phenolic acids total content in the branches and leaves of 8 varieties of L. japonica was 19.4162~33.6684 mg·g−1, and 40.9900~80.3068 mg·g−1, respectively. The total content of phenolic acids varied greatly among different varieties, with 'Beihua No.1' had the highest total content in both branches and leaves, and 'Juhua No.1' had the lowest total content. Cluster analysis found that among the branches of 'Beihua No.1' was clustered separately into one group, with higher content of each component than other varieties. Factor comprehensive analysis showed that the comprehensive score of 'Beihua No.1' was >1. PLS-DA analysis identified isochlorogenic acid A, isochlorogenic acid C, ferulic acid and chlorogenic acid as the main components that might cause differences in phenolic acid content in branches. Among leaves, 'Beihua No.1' and 'Jiufeng No.1' were clustered into one category, and their comprehensive factor analysis scores were both greater than 1. PLS-DA analysis identified chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid and ferulic acid as the main components that might cause differences in phenolic acid content in leaves. In summary, there were differences in the main phenolic acid composition characteristics of different varieties. In terms of phenolic acid content, the branches and leaves of 'Beihua No.1' and 'Jiufeng No.1' have more advantages. This study provides a scientific basis for the utilization of L. japonica branches and leaves.

Abstract Ulcerative colitis is intricately linked to intestinal oxidative stress and dysbiosis of the gut microbiota. Lonicera japonica Thunb. (LJ) is a traditional edible and medical flower in China, and chlorogenic acid (CGA) is one of its characteristic components. However, it remains unclear whether gut microbiota plays a role in the therapeutic effects of LJ and GCA on colitis. Here, we first observed that oral administration of LJ and CGA for 3 weeks dramatically promoted the growth of Lactobacillus and fecal short‐chain fatty acids (SCFAs) production in healthy mice. Subsequently, the alleviating effects of LJ and CGA on colitis were explored with a dextran sulfate sodium‐induced colitis mice model. The intervention of LJ and CGA notably alleviated inflammation, intestinal barrier impairment, and oxidative stress in colitis and led to a significant elevation in Lactobacillus and fecal SCFAs. Eventually, the key role of gut microbiota and their metabolites on the therapeutic effects was validated by performing fecal microbiota transplantation and sterile fecal suspensions transplantation from LJ and CGA‐treated healthy mice to colitis mice. Our findings demonstrated that consumption of LJ and CGA could benefit the host both in healthy condition and colitis. The beneficial effects were attributed to the improvement of the endogenous antioxidant system and promotion of the probiotic Lactobacillus and SCFAs production. Our study highlighted the great potential of LJ and CGA to be consumed as functional foods and provided novel mechanisms by which they alleviated colitis.

In this study, copper nanoparticles with an average particle size of 2–4 nm were synthesized using the green extract of Lonicera japonica Thunb. The catalytic activity and dye degradation efficiency of Cu NPs were evaluated using ultraviolet spectroscopy. To confirm that Cu NPs can continuously remove organic dyes, this study used Cu/Lj-C composite material adsorbed on cotton balls as a simulated bed to study the cyclic catalytic activity of Cu NPs for the reduction of methylene blue by sodium borohydride (NaBH4). The experiment showed that after multiple cycles, it can also quickly and effectively reduce methylene blue. To evaluate the toxicity of Cu NPs, experiments were conducted using HUVEC and MC3T3-E1 cells. The median lethal doses (LD50) were 37.64 µg/mL and 7.50 µg/mL. The synthesized Cu NPs also exhibited antibacterial efficacy against Aspergillus niger (fungus), Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive bacteria), Escherichia coli (Gram-negative bacteria), and Candida albicans (yeast).

Lonicera japonica Thunb [...]

Context: Radix Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. f. (Celastraceae) (LGT) has outstanding curative efficacy; however, side effects include high toxicity, particularly hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity. Objective: To investigate detoxification mechanisms of LGT through processing separately with each of these medicinal herbs including Flower Lonicera japonica Thunb. (Caprifoliaceae) (JYH), Radix Paeonia lactiflora Pall. (Ranunculaceae) (BS), Herba Lysimachia christinae Hance (Primulaceae) (JQC), Radix et Rhizoma Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. (Fabaceae) (GC) and Seed Phaseolus radiatus L. (Fabaceae) (LD) in S180-bearing mice by involving nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2). Materials and methods: LGT raw and processed products were orally administered at 60 mg/kg to KM male mice inoculated with S180 tumour cells for 14 consecutive days, and blood, tumour, liver and kidney were taken to observe the detoxifying effects and biological mechanisms. Results: Herbal-processing technology significantly weakened hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity evoked by LGT with ED50 of the converted triptolide in each processed-herb product for serum alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, creatinine and urea nitrogen of 9.3, 16.6, 2.5 and 4.2 μg/kg, for liver glutathione, glutathione S-transferase, catalase, tumour necrosis factor-α and interleukin-10 of 114.9, 67.8, 134.1, 7.7, 4171.6 μg/kg, and for kidney 21.9, 20.5, 145.0, 529.7, 19.4 μg/kg, respectively. Moreover, herbal-processing technology promoted the accumulation of Nrf2 into the nucleus, and upregulated mRNA expression of Nrf2 and heme oxygenase-1. Additionally, herbal-processing technology enhanced the tumour inhibition rate with ED50 12.2 μg/kg. Discussion and conclusions: Herbal-processing technology improves the safety and effectiveness of LGT in cancer treatment, and future research may be focused on the Nrf2-related molecules.

This study investigated the effects of different heating times (30–150 min) at 100°C on nutraceuticals and antioxidant properties of Lonicera japonica Thunb. (LJ). Total phenolic, phenolic acid (chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, 4,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid, and 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid) and flavonoids (rutin, quercetin, and luteolin) in LJ were significantly increased after heat treatments. Antioxidant activities, such as DPPH radical scavenging activity, ABTS radical scavenging activity, FRAP and reducing power, of LJ, were improved after heating. Antioxidant activities were positively correlated with total phenolic, total flavonoid, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, and quercetin contents.

Objective(s):Pharmacological studies showed that the extracts of Jin Yin Hua and its active constituents have lipid lowering, antipyretic, hepatoprotective, cytoprotective, antimicrobial, antibiotic, antioxidative, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory effects. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the protective effects of caffeoylquinic acids (CQAs) from Jin Yin Hua against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced and hypoxia-induced cytotoxicity using neonatal rat cardiomyocytes. Materials and Methods:Seven CQAs (C1 to C7) isolated and identified from Jin Yin Hua were used to examine the effects of H2O2-induced and hypoxia-induced cytotoxicity. We studied C4 and C6 as preventative bioactive compounds of the reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, apoptotic pathway, and apoptosis-related gene expression. Results:C4 and C6 were screened as bioactive compounds to exert a cytoprotective effect against oxidative injury. Pretreatment with C4 and C6, dose-dependently attenuated hypoxia-induced ROS production and reduced the ratio of GSSG/GStotal. Western blot data revealed that the inhibitory effect of C4 on H2O2-induced up and down-regulation of Bcl-2, Bax, caspase-3, and cleaved caspase-3. Apoptosis was evaluated by detection of DNA fragmentation using TUNEL assay, and quantified with Annexin V/PI staining. Conclusion: In vitro experiments revealed that both C4 and C6 protect cardiomyocytes from necrosis and apoptosis during H2O2-induced injury, via inhibiting the generation of ROS and activation of caspase-3 apoptotic pathway. These results demonstrated that CQAs might be a class of compounds which possess potent myocardial protective activity against the ischemic heart diseases related to oxidative stress.