Search

Valorizing neglected crop byproducts through eco-friendly techniques has gained attention as underutilized crops offer new sources of bioactive components. This study examined the chemical composition, phytochemicals, and antioxidant activities in six fractions of the underutilized chayote (Sechium edule). Each fraction was microwave-dried and extracted with ultrasound assistance. Shoots were high in ash and fiber, while pulp had high moisture and carbohydrates, and seeds were rich in fat and protein. Shoots, leaves, roots, and peels had high mineral levels, particularly Ca, K, Mg, P, Fe, and Zn. Shoots were also high in phenolics, flavonoids, and ascorbic acid, while leaves had a high carotenoid content. Polyphenol compounds such as myricetin and catechin were abundant in shoots, which exhibited the highest antioxidant activity. Chayote shoots, roots, and leaves are abundant in bioactive compounds that can be utilized in food and, therefore, offers an opportunity for utilization of a currently neglected plant byproduct., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Garcinia subfalcata, an edible species endemic to China, has limited research on its chemical composition and biological effects. This study aimed to analyze metabolites in different plant parts and identify potential anticancer constituents. Using UPLC-IMS-QTOF-MS-based metabolomics, a total of 124 compounds were identified, with xanthones, flavonoids and phloroglucinols being the predominant compounds. PCA and PLS-DA analyses revealed significant metabolite differences among plant parts, identifying 28 differential metabolites, including bronianone and (±)-fukugiside. Antiproliferative assays showed varying bioactivities, with bark exhibiting the highest cytotoxicity against A549, HeLa and HGC-27 cells (IC 50 : 2.72-5.71 μg/mL). Mechanism studies indicated that the bark inhibited cell proliferation by inducing apoptosis and disrupting mitochondrial membrane potential. S-plot models revealed 23 potential anticancer constituents, including (-)-epicatechin and 1,7-dihydroxyxanthone. These findings highlight G. subfalcata's potential as a source of functional food supplements and medicinal agents and indicate the efficacy of UPLC-IMS-QTOF-MS-based metabolomics in exploring bioactive components within Garcinia., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The cocktail enzyme-assisted natural deep eutectic solvent (CE-NADES) has been tailored for the efficient extraction of capsaicin, the characteristic bioactive compound of chili peppers (CPs), in this study. The extraction procedures were optimized as choline chloride:1,4-butanediol (molar ratio 1:3), extraction temperature 38 °C, liquid-solid ratio 27.5 mL/g, water content 17.8 % (v/v) and extraction time 28 min, which yield was 9.91 ± 0.13 mg/g. Moreover, CE pretreatment, by destroying plant structures, accelerated the release of capsaicin and consequently reduced the maximum decomposition temperature of CP residues to 260.5 °C after extraction. Meanwhile, more hydrogen bonds (134.72 at lifetime 3.98 ps) formed between capsaicin and NADES to facilitate the mass transfer. Larger solvent accessible surface area (210.09 nm 2 ) and lower average interaction energy (-455.12 kJ/mol) enhanced the stability and solubility of capsaicin. Overall, CE-NADES could serve as an industrialized and green alternative method for the efficient extraction of capsaicin., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Ultrasonic-assisted supramolecular deep eutectic solvents (SUPRADESs) extraction of active ingredients from plants is a novel green extraction method. In this study, a series of SUPRADESs combined with cyclodextrins (CDs) and organic acids or polyols were synthesized and used to extract the tea polyphenols (TP). SUPRADESs, consisting of Hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) and L-lactic acid (LA) with a mass ratio of 1:5, contributed to achieving the maximum extraction efficiency of TP. Then, the extraction rate was optimized by different experimental conditions, and the optimal extraction yield of TP was (111.36 ± 2.31 mg/g). Then, the biofilms were successfully prepared using HP-β-CD/LA extract as a plasticizer for polyvinyl alcohol and chitosan. Furthermore, the antioxidant activity of extract and film containing TP was determined using biochemical kits. Finally, the synthesis process of HP-β-CD/LA and the TP extraction were investigated using molecular simulation. The findings indicate that enhanced TP yield could be attributed to an increase in non-covalent bonds between HP-β-CD and TP through the assistance of LA., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Conventional consecutive separation methods based on overlapping injection modes produce interactions between samples as the separation time increases. This will lead to a reduction in the purity of the target due to the gradual saturation of the stationary phase distribution. To enhance the purity of the sample preparation and separation efficiency, we devised a consecutive separation method under high-performance counter-current chromatography (HPCCC) utilizing co-current elution and overlapping injection. The method was used for the separation and preparation of olive leaves for their main bioactive polyphenolic constituents. Six HPCCC separations were conducted in reversed-phase mode using a two-phase solvent system consisting of petroleum ether/ethyl acetate/water (1:40:40, v/v). Finally, 302.7 mg of luteolin-4'-O-β-D-glucoside and oleuropein were isolated from 720 mg of crude sample with purities of 93.3% and 96.2%, respectively. The optimization strategy outlined in this study can be used to enhance the extraction of bioactive components from olive leaves., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Natural polysaccharides derived from Hemerocallis citrina Baroni exhibit significant biological activity. To enhance extraction efficiency and antioxidant activity, ultrasonic-assised plasma-activated water (PAW) was utilized to extract polysaccharides from Hemerocallis citrina Baroni. PAW demonstrated enhanced permeability and diffusion capabilities due to a reduced percentage of fully hydrogen-bonded structures, along with optimal pH (3.4) and conductivity (157.20 μS/cm). Compared to other methods, PAW significantly improved the extraction efficiency of polysaccharides to 38.24 %. Hemerocallis citrina Baroni polysaccharides predominantly consisted of α-pyranose sugars with sugar uronic acids, and ultrasound-assisted PAW did not alter their major functional groups. The extracted Hemerocallis citrina Baroni polysaccharides exhibited a semi-rigid triple-helical structure. Importantly, these polysaccharides displayed strong antioxidant activity, with ABTS + , DPPH, and O 2 - radical scavenging rates of 66.31 %, 65.98 %, and 47.73 % respectively. This study provides an effective method for extracting natural plant polysaccharides and offers valuable insights into their potential applications in the food industry and beyond., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Chinese agarwood (Aquilaria sinensis) has been a traditional treatment for digestive disorders in South and East Asia. While sesquiterpenes are recognized as the key active constituents of Chinese agarwood, the efficacy and mechanism of the sesquiterpene-enriched extract of Chinese agarwood (PEE) on bile reflux gastritis (BRG) remain unclear., Aim of the Study: To explore the protective impact of PEE against BRG and unveil its underlying mechanism in suppressing apoptosis of gastric mucosal cells., Materials and Methods: A taurocholic acid (TCA)-induced BRG mouse model was used to assess PEE's protective effects on gastric mucosa histopathology. Transcriptomic analysis was conducted to identify the key signaling pathways affected by PEE. The impact of PEE on apoptosis modulation and Wnt/β-catenin signaling in GES-1 cells was examined. Additionally, the influence of PEE on the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in BRG mouse gastric mucosa was evaluated., Results: PEE substantially improved gastric tissue damage and inflammation in BRG mice. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that PEE modulates genes linked to apoptosis and the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. In TCA-induced GES-1 cells, PEE enhanced cell viability and mitigated apoptosis via the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, a process potentially mediated by IWP-2, an antagonist of this pathway. Similar regulatory effects were noted in the gastric mucosa of BRG mice., Conclusion: Our research suggests that PEE exerts a protective effect on the gastric tissue through modulating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway to combat apoptosis, which highlights the potential of PEE as a natural remedy for BRG and warrants further investigation into its therapeutic benefits., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Five undescribed polyprenylated xanthones ( 1 , 3 , 4 , 22 , and 23 ) and 27 known compounds were isolated from Garcinia resins, and the antifungal activities of 15 of them were investigated. Compound 7 exhibited notable in vitro antifungal effects against Magnaporthe grisea with an IC 50 value of 3.54 μg/mL, superior to isoprothiolane (10.30 μg/mL), and showed an excellent protective efficiency of 78.4% at 200 μg/mL against RB (rice blast), equivalent to isoprothiolane (87.2%). Its antifungal activity may be related to the destruction of the cell membrane and the effect of absorption and utilization of sugar by the mycelium, which was proven by the transcriptome sequencing and preliminary mechanism, showing a good application prospect for replacing agrochemical fungicides in the control of RB disease.

Heracleum sphondylium subsp. cyclocarpum (K. Koch) P.H. Davis from Heracleum L. genus, which is one of the widest genera of the Apiaceae family and known as "Hogweed or Tavşancılotu". This genus has a variety of traditional uses, including treating gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, gynecological, and cognitive disorders, skin problems, rheumatism, and inflammation. In particular, these plants are commonly used for inflammatory diseases. This research aimed to examine in detail the anti-inflammatory properties of Heracleum sphondylium subsp. cyclocarpum roots. Bioactivity-guided fractionation was used to isolate the active compounds. Carrageenan- and prostaglandin E2-induced inflammation models were employed to test the activity. Dichloromethane and methanolic extracts of the plant material were tested for activity and found to be effective in inhibiting inflammation. The subfractions obtained by column chromatography were further evaluated for their activities. The active fractions were used to obtain responsible compounds by using semipreparative HPLC. Five coumarin derivatives were isolated and identified as heraclenol (1), byakangelicin (2), heraclenol-3″-O-β-glucoside (3), byakangelicin-3″-O-β-glucoside (4), and meranzin hydrate III (5). The isolated compounds were investigated for their anti-inflammatory activities, and heraclenol-3″-O-β-glucoside was found to inhibit the carrageenan and prostaglandin E2-induced edema significantly compared to the control group and have higher activity than the extracts., (© 2025 The Author(s). Chemical Biology & Drug Design published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Favelines, benzocycloheptene diterpenes exclusively found in Cnidoscolus quercifolius, have shown promising anticancer properties, particularly phyllacanthone. Nevertheless, the isolation of these compounds remains challenging due to their similar polarity. The use of centrifugal partition chromatography (CPC) has enabled the quick and efficient purification of phyllacanthone from C. quercifolius crude extract with a yield of 4.5% (w/w) and a purity of 83%. Favelines-enriched fractions were also obtained and purified by preparative HPLC, resulting in the isolation of faveline, isofavelol, and deoxofaveline. In addition, phyllacanthone B, a previously unreported derivative, was identified and characterized. Pharmacological evaluations revealed the significant anti-melanoma activity of purified metabolites, with distinct structure-activity relationships. These results shed light on the mechanism of action of favelines, suggesting their potential as hits for the development of novel anticancer agents., (© 2025 The Author(s). Journal of Separation Science published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Food waste presents a critical environmental and economic challenge across Europe. In the Mediterranean region, the agricultural industry generates considerable quantities of citrus fruits, leading to significant byproduct waste, which remains underutilized. To help address this, this study explored the valorization of orange peel waste using non-thermal ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE) and a one-factor-at-a-time experimental design to investigate the effects of nine chemical and physical UAE parameters. The goal was to identify ideal operational ranges for each parameter using several responses (bioactive compound recovery, antioxidant activity, and radical scavenging activity), thus elucidating the most influential UAE factors and their role in co-extracting various classes of natural compounds. The key findings revealed that the polarity and ionic potential of the extraction medium, tuned through ethanol:water or pH, significantly influenced both the chemical profile and bioactivity of the extracts. Notably, citric acid and citrates appeared to stabilize co-extracted compounds. Lower solid-to-liquid ratios increased yields, while particle sizes between 1400 and 710 µm enhanced phenolic recovery by approximately 150 mg/L GAE. In contrast, increases in pulse, probe diameter, immersion depth, and extraction time led to degradation of bioactive compounds, whereas the maximal amplitude improved phenolic acid recovery by up to 2-fold. Collectively, these insights provide a foundation for optimizing non-thermal UAE to valorize orange peel waste.

The ethanol extract of the roots of Clausena excavata gave two previously undescribed coumarins, clauexcatin A (1) and clauexcatin B (2), as well as a pair of new isomers, trans/cis-clauexcatin C (3a, 3b), along with thirty known compounds. Among these, compound 33 was isolated from this genus for the first time. The structures of these compounds were elucidated based on their physicochemical properties and spectroscopic data. The anti-neuroinflammatory activities were assessed using LPS-activated BV-2 microglial cells. Compounds 6, 8, 17, 24, 29, and 30 exhibited significant inhibition of nitric oxide release in a dose-dependent manner, with their inhibitory effects being 1.2 to 10.9 times greater than that of the positive control (minocycline)., (© 2024 Wiley-VHCA AG, Zurich, Switzerland.)

Various members of the family Brassicaceae are economically important and traditionally used to treat many disorders. Among the family members, Enarthrocarpus strangulatus Boissier is a common Egyptian species that was rarely studied. Consequently, the current study aims to characterize its phytochemical composition and assess its potential bioactivity comprehensively. A metabolomics approach integrating UPLC-HRMS/MS-based molecular networking enabled the dereplication of 91 metabolites, including primary (i. e. organic acids, amino acids, fatty acids, and phospholipids) and secondary metabolites (i. e. glucosinolates, phenolic acids, and flavonoids). Among the 91 annotated features, 13 major metabolites were fully characterized following their isolation and purification. Exclusive of only three flavonoids, all the detected metabolites are described for the first time within this species. Furthermore, the crude extract and four major isolated flavonoids were subjected to in vitro biological screening, including antioxidant, radical scavenging, anti-diabetic, anti-Alzheimer's, and anti-inflammatory activities. It was noticed that nobiletin (61) exhibited the highest antioxidant and anti-Alzheimer's activities. At the same time, isorhamnetin 3-O-glucose (51) showed the highest anti-diabetic activity compared to the other isolated flavonoids and the total extract itself. Regarding the anti-inflammatory activity, no obvious differences were detected numerically among all studied flavonoids., (© 2024 Wiley-VHCA AG, Zurich, Switzerland.)

In this study, quince soluble dietary fiber (SDF) and insoluble dietary fiber (IDF) were obtained by acid extraction, enzyme extraction and alkaline extraction methods. The acid extracted DF displayed higher results compared to enzyme and alkaline extraction methods in terms of water holding capacity (15.97 g/g SDF), oil holding capacity (1.05 g/g SDF) and nitrite ion adsorption capacity (92.83 mg/g SDF). The antioxidant activity and phenolic content of acid extracted IDF were significantly higher than the other quince DFs. In addition, quince DFs exhibited in vitro hypoglycaemic activity, exhibiting high glucose adsorption capacity (237 mg/g) and α-amylase inhibition activity (82 %). Similarly, acid extracted SDF of quince showed in vitro hypolipidemic activity, with cholesterol adsorption capacity of 155 mg/g and lipase inhibition activity of 36 %. The structures and thermal properties of quince DFs were characterized by FT-IR and TGA. Quince DFs with high functional properties might be suitable agents for functional food formulations, such as meat products, low-calorie fruit bars, flour mixtures, etc., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Although the nutritional and health benefits of Rumex species are well known, little is known about the chemical composition and pharmacological activities of Rumex balcanicus Rech. fil. (Polygonaceae), an endemic plant of the Balkan Peninsula. To the best of our knowledge, this paper represents the first attempt to comparatively analyse phenolic composition, as well as in vitro pharmacological activites of dry hydromethanol extracts of R. balcanicus fruit (RBF), leaf (RBL) and root (RBR), collected in Serbia. The maximum total phenolic content was found in RBF (386.6 mg GAE/g). The RBF was characterized by high amounts of miquelianin (28.8 mg/g) and procyanidin B 1 (28.1 mg/g). The RBL was the richest in quercitrin (18.4 mg/g) and miquelianin (15.0 mg/g), while nepodin (54.1 mg/g) and procyanidin B 2 (40.6 mg/g) were the major compounds in RBR. The RBF exhibited significant antioxidant activity, evaluated by DPPH (IC 50 =4.9 μg/mL), ABTS (IC 50 =0.8 μg/mL) and FRAP (5.9 mmol Fe 2+ /g) assays. Moreover, RBF showed strong α-glucosidase inhibitory activity (IC 50 =1.8 μg/mL), in addition to notable anti-α-amylase, anti-acetylcholinesterase and anti-tyrosinase activities. Molecular docking analysis predicted miquelianin and procyanidin B 2 as the greatest inhibitors of these enzymes. Overall, R. balcanicus fruits stood out as the most promising plant material worth further research., (© 2024 Wiley-VHCA AG, Zurich, Switzerland.)

Hawk tea, a conventional herbal beverage, is renowned for its beneficial properties in enhancing digestion and mitigating hyperglycemic tendencies. However, the extraction methodology for hawk tea polyphenols (HTP) has been understudied thus far, impeding its progress and broader application. To develop an efficient approach for HTP extraction, the present study introduced and optimized the application of ultrasonic-assisted aqueous two-phase extraction. Under optimal extraction conditions, the extraction yield of polyphenols from raw HTP was 7.86 %. During purification, LX-B14 was selected due to the highest adsorption and desorption abilities. Then in an in vitro simulated digestion system, HTP significantly reduced the expected glycemic index, raised the content of resistant starch, and decreased the activities of α-amylase and α-glucosidase, indicating its potential for alleviating starch digestion. Accordingly, the results provide an alternative approach for efficiently obtaining phenolic compounds from hawk tea, facilitating the advanced utilization of HTP within the food industry., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

In the current study, a rapid online extraction combined with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) antioxidant analysis approach was developed to explore the antioxidant ingredients in three different parts of Polygonum Chinense. A total of 22 chromatographic peaks were found, among which 8 components were found for the first time. And among these 22 peaks, 19 of them were demonstrated as antioxidants. Furthermore, all three parts from Polygonum Chinense exhibited antioxidant activity (13.19, 3.89, and 19.85 mg CE/g extract, for the leaf, stem, and flower, respectively) and the antioxidant activity values of the leaf and flower were more than 3 times that of the stem. The leaf, flower, and stem of Polygonum Chinense had 17, 13, and 15 antioxidant components, respectively. Among them, neochlorogenic acid (2) and quercetin-3-O-malonylglucoside (18) were considered as the main antioxidants in the leaf of Polygonum Chinense. In terms of flower, geraniin (10) and quercetin-3-O-malonylglucoside (18) were proved as the major antioxidants. This is the first report on the antioxidant components from different parts of Polygonum Chinense. It provides foundational scientific data for the continued exploration of chemical and pharmacological study of Polygonum Chinense, which is beneficial for the future product development and quality evaluation improvement of Polygonum Chinense., (© 2024 Wiley-VHCA AG, Zurich, Switzerland.)

This study aimed to evaluate and compare the antioxidant capacity and enzyme inhibitory activity of extracts, sub-extracts, and fractions prepared from the aerial parts and roots of A. pseudocartalinica. The phytochemical content of the active extracts was also analyzed. According to the results, ellagic acid (38.42 mg/g) was the major compound in the aerial part methanol extract and catechin (185.30 mg/g) in the root methanol extract. The DPPH inhibition activity of all fractions was monitored, with the most active one (Fr B) reaching an IC 50 value of (4.92±0.59 μg/mL). All the fractions prepared from the aerial parts' water sub-extract showed higher a-glucosidase inhibitory activity than the positive control acarbose. In the tyrosinase assay, Fr B (58.81±7.50 μg/mL) exhibited the highest inhibitory actions among all fractions. The structure of the major substances of the most active fraction were elucidated as quercetin 7-O-β-glucopyranosyl-3-O-β-glucuronopyranoside- (1), and α-[(2-formyl-5-hydroxymethyl)pyrrol-1-yl]aspartic acid (2)., (© 2024 Wiley-VHCA AG, Zurich, Switzerland.)

Calophyllum tomentosum belonging to Clusiaceae family is an Indian medicinal plant used as folklore medicine to cure various kinds of diseases reported in Ayurveda, and the leaves of the plant are also used as an active ingredient for the preparation of a botanical medicine known as 'Punnaga', 'Surapunnaga' and 'Tamoil' among other common names. Chemical profiling of the methanol extract of the defatted leaf revealed the presence of amentoflavone (1) as one of the constituents along with coumarins, terpenoids, steroids, and apetalic acids. Structural determination of amentoflavone (1) has been conducted by chemical, spectral, and spectrometric methods in comparison with spectral values available in the literature and confirmed by a single crystal X-ray diffraction study. Amentoflavone (1) and its derivative (2-5) tested to check the efficacy of anti-malarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum. Amongst them, only tetra methoxy amentoflavone, (2) exhibited moderate anti-malarial activity with IC 50 value 1.99±0.42 μM against Plasmodium falciparum in comparison with artemisinin as control, whereas the other products possessed almost negligible activity although their structural skeletons are identical with little variation of number and nature of substituents. The structure activity relationship (SAR) of the active constituent and its derivatives is reported herein., (© 2024 Wiley-VHCA AG, Zurich, Switzerland.)

Soy extract waste, okara, is a rich source of bioactive compounds such as isoflavones, which are phytoestrogens with potential health benefits. To develop a green approach to recovering these compounds and valorizing okara, a study was developed to screen variables for the extraction of isoflavones from okara and soybean (for comparison) using Deep Eutectic Solvents (DES) composed with choline chloride ([Ch]Cl) and acetic acid (AA) ([Ch]Cl: AA, 1:2). A fractional design (2 4-1 ) was used to evaluate variables in the extraction of isoflavones, followed by a Central Composite Rotatable Design (CCRD). The variables analyzed included temperature, % water, solid-liquid ratio, and stirring speed. Furthermore, cytotoxicity tests were carried out using Caco-2 cells from the extracts obtained under best conditions, and the solid matrices were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). This study showed that 1194.56 µg TIC/g of dried soybeans were extracted using [Ch]Cl: AA with 70 % water added at low temperature (25 °C), 500 rpm, S/L ratio of 10 mg/mL and extraction time of 2 h. For okara, 450.9 µg TIC/g of dry okara were extracted at 40 °C, 500 rpm, 61.5 % water in DES, S/L ratio of 10 mg/mL, and extraction time of 1 h. In the cytotoxicity tests, it was observed that the neutralization step of the extracts is necessary to reduce the cytotoxic effects caused by the high acidity of the solvents. In summary, this work has shown that aqueous mixtures of DES can be used as sustainable alternative techniques for recovering isoflavones from soybean residue and can replace toxic conventional solvents., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Hyperlipidemia poses a serious threat to human health, but its medication remains some issues including significant adverse reactions. Polyphenols exhibit great potential in lowering blood lipids and the lipid-lowering effects of quinoa polyphenols are still waiting to be explored. In this study, a deep eutectic solvent-based ultrasonic-assisted extraction method of quinoa polyphenols was developed. Then, the constituents of quinoa polyphenols after purification CQP were analyzed. Besides, their lipid-lowering activities and mechanism were explored. Results suggested that CQP comprised at least 12 kinds of polyphenols. CQP could inhibit lipase, adsorb cholesterol, inhibit oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation. Subsequent network pharmacology, cellular experiments and molecular docking revealed that CQP might influence the expression levels or bind to AKT1 and FOXO1, thereby affecting their content or activity, ultimately regulating their functions and leading to changes of the cellular lipid levels. This study lays foundation for developing novel lipid-lowering drugs and functional foods., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Haloxylon salicornicum is traditionally used for the treatment of several disorders associated with inflammation. Despite it is a defense response against tissue injury and infections, inflammation can become a chronic condition that can negatively impact the body. This study investigated the effect of H. salicornicum phytochemicals nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cytokines release by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-challenged macrophages in vitro. The binding affinity of the tested phytochemical towards NF-κB and iNOS was investigated using molecular docking. Ten compounds (four coumarins, three sterols and three flavonoids) were isolated from the ethanolic extract of H. salicornicum. Treatment of LPS-challenged macrophages with the compounds resulted in remarkable decrease in NF-κB p65 and iNOS mRNA abundance. All compounds suppressed the production of nitric oxide (NO) and the pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6) from macrophages challenged with LPS. Molecular docking revealed the ability of the isolated phytochemicals to bind NF-κB p65 and iNOS. In conclusion, H. salicornicum is a rich source of phytochemicals with anti-inflammatory properties. The anti-inflammatory efficacy of H. salicornicum phytoconstituents is mediated via their ability to modulate NF-κB and iNOS, and suppress the release of NO, TNF-α, and IL-6 from macrophages., (© 2024 Wiley-VHCA AG, Zurich, Switzerland.)

Carob, Ceratonia siliqua L. (CS), is a legume well-known for its edible pod pulp. Its seeds are used almost exclusively as a source of the food additive E410. Although a variety of metabolites have been identified by HPLC and LC-MS analysis in CS, reports concerned with their isolation are scarce. In this study, two flavonoid derivatives were isolated from the methanolic extract of CS seeds, namely, quercetin-3-O-rhamnoside and 4'-p-hydroxybenzoylisorhamnetin-3,7-di-O-rhamnoside. Network pharmacology was unusually used as a guide for estimation of the biological potential of the isolated compounds. Finally, the methanolic extract of CS seeds and its ethyl acetate fraction were standardized for their 4'-p-hydroxybenzoylisorhamnetin-3,7-di-O-rhamnoside content by HPLC. The identified isolates displayed the ability to interfere with the activity of several target proteins associated with renal and colon cancers. Their cytotoxic effect on renal and colorectal cancer cell lines was investigated in comparison to Doxorubicin. The selectivity of the isolated compounds was evaluated on normal human fetal fibroblast cell lines. The isolated 4'-p-hydroxybenzoylisorhamnetin-3,7-di-O-rhamnoside showed very potent cytotoxic activity against the tested cell lines with the highest selectivity. CS seeds can be used as a source of bioactive flavonoid derivatives that can be incorporated in pharmaceutical industries., (© 2024 Wiley-VHCA AG, Zurich, Switzerland.)

Swollen culms of Zizania latifolia possess a peculiar flavor, nutritional value and health-promoting effects. This study investigated the wound healing ability of polysaccharides isolated from Zizania latifolia (ZLP). Through in vitro assays, ZLP demonstrated negligible cytotoxicity and promoted the migration and phagocytosis of Staphylococcus aureus by macrophages where ZLP-2 had a significantly greater effect. Moreover, ZLP-2 has a higher purity and molecular weight, an integral and large lamellar morphology, and a larger particle size in solution, suggesting its ability to form films. Thus, ZLP-2 was fabricated as a gel formulation for topical application. The in vivo results showed that the ZLP-2 gel had significantly greater effects than did the autonomous healing process according to quantitative analysis of the wound closure area. The ZLP-2 gel decreased the levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in wounded tissue. Furthermore, the quantification of the molecular indexes via qRT-PCR revealed that the levels of tnf-α, tgf-β, mcp-1, ifn-γ, inos, and vegf in the treated group increased during the inflammatory and proliferation stages but decreased after wound closure. These results suggest that ZLP-2 has great potential in pharmaceutical applications for wound care., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Curcuminoids originated from the plant Curcuma longa L. show high medical values. Herein, ionic liquids (ILs) were synthesized using fatty acids and alcohol amines to extract curcuminoids. Through single-factor experiments and response surface methodology (RSM) optimization, the extraction amount of curcuminoids by [TEA][FA-C 7 ] aqueous solution reached 34.89 mg/g at a liquid-solid ratio of 16.36 mg/g and an extraction temperature of 36 °C, surpassing that of methanol. The extraction capacity of [TEA][FA-C 7 ] to curcuminoids was 299.33 mg/g. Furthermore, the separation of extracts and recovery of fatty acids were studied. Quantum chemical calculations and molecular dynamics simulations were performed to investigate the extraction mechanism profoundly. This study not only proposed a novel green solvent for the extraction of curcuminoids from the plant Curcuma longa L. but also provided the possibility of applying fatty acid-based ILs to extract natural medicine efficiently., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Resistance remains the fundamental problem with antiplasmodial treatments. The study investigated the antiplasmodial, cytotoxic, and antioxidant properties of two Cameroonian medicinal plants, Entandrophragma utile and Melochia umbellata. Antimalarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum strains 3D7 and Dd2 was assessed using the SYBR Green I assay. Cytotoxicity was assessed against Raw and Vero cells using the resazurin assay, and against red blood cells using a hemoglobin release quantification assay. Antioxidant potential was determined using DPPH (2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazine), ABTS (2, 2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid), and FRAP (ferric-reducing antioxidant power) assays. The most bioactive extract was further analyzed using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS) to determine its phytochemical composition. Extracts from E. utile exhibited moderate anti-malarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum (IC 50 =32.81-100 μg/mL), while M. umbellata leaf extract (MULAE) showed strong activity (IC 50 =11.62 and 11.91 μg/mL). All extracts demonstrated antioxidant activity (9.22 to 135.8 μg/mL), were selective for Raw and Vero cells, and were not toxic to red blood cells. UHPLC-MS analysis annotated potential pyrimidones, phenolic compounds, and terpenoids in MULAE. MULAE exhibited better antiplasmodial activity, suggesting the presence of unique bioactive compounds. Further research, including in vivo investigations, is needed to develop safe and effective antiplasmodial therapies., (© 2024 Wiley-VHCA AG, Zurich, Switzerland.)

Ziziphora tenuior is a herb known for its potent pharmaceutical activities. However, the specific compounds of the flowers of this herb have not been fully studied yet. This study used GC-MS to conduct a chemical analysis of the methanol and dichloromethane extracts of Z. tenuior flowers. Additionally, it sought to assess the potential antibacterial activity of the extracts against vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) bacteria by predicting the interactions between one of the most prevalent compounds in the extracts and the D-alanyl-D-lactate ligase (VanA) protein, which is responsible for enterococci resistant to vancomycin. The results revealed a total of 15 compounds in the methanolic extract and 12 compounds in the dichloromethane extract. Among these, 5-methyl-2-(1-methylethylidene)-cyclohexanone, also known as pulegone, constituting 52.6 % of the methanolic extract and 34.6 % of the dichloromethane extract, was the most abundant compound in the extracts. Furthermore, the in-silico analysis demonstrated that pulegone exhibited significant interactions with VanA, as indicated by docking energy values of -7 kcal/mol and the formation of one hydrogen bond. The study suggests that pulegone shows promise as an antibacterial agent against VRE by potentially interacting with VanA protein and serving as a key inhibitor in fighting vancomycin resistance., (© 2024 Wiley-VHCA AG, Zurich, Switzerland.)

Phillinus gilvus (Schwein.) Pat has pharmacological effects such as tonifying the spleen, dispelling dampness, and strengthening the stomach, in which sterol is one of the main compounds of P. gilvus , but there has not been thought you to its extraction and detailed identification of its composition, in the present study, we used artificial neural network (ANN) and response surface methodology (RSM) to optimize the conditions of ultrasonic-assisted extraction, and the parameters of the independent and interaction effects were evaluated. Ultra performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS) was used to identify the major components in the purified extract. The results showed that the optimal extraction process conditions were: ultrasonic time 96 min, ultrasonic power 140 W, liquid to material ratio 1:25 g/ml, and ultrasonic temperature 30.7 °C. The compliance rates of the predicted and experimental values for the artificial neural network model and the response surface model were 98.3% and 96.12%, respectively, indicating that both models have the potential to be used for optimizing the extraction process of P. gilvu s in industry. A total of 120 compounds and 30 major steroids were identified by comparison with the reference compounds. Among the major steroidal components are these findings will contribute to the isolation and utilization of active ingredients in P. gilvus.

Echinophora genus is represented by six species in Türkiye, including three endemics. The objective of this study was to ascertain the antioxidant, tyrosinase, and collagenase inhibitory activities and to analyse the volatile oil and extracts derived from E. chrysantha using GC/MS/SPME. The antioxidant and enzyme inhibition activities were evaluated using spectrophotometric methods. The findings indicated that the methanol extract of E. chrysantha exhibited the highest antioxidant activity. Furthermore, both the methanol extract and volatile oil of the plant demonstrated potent inhibitory effects on tyrosinase and collagenase. A total of 84 volatile compounds were identified from the hydrodistilled oil obtained using a microwave oven, and 23 compounds were detected by the solid-phase microextraction (SPME) method. The most frequently occurring volatile components were α-Phellandrene, o-Cymene, p-Cymene, E-β-Farnesene, Carotol, trans-Caryophyllene, and β-Phellandrene. The results of this study indicate that E. chrysantha has the potential to be developed for the treatment of hyperpigmentation issues and anti-aging applications. Furthermore, it may also have applications in pharmacology, cosmetics and the food industry., (© 2024 Wiley-VHCA AG, Zurich, Switzerland.)

Solanum xanthocarpum, a perennial herb native to India, contains steroidal glycoalkaloids with notable anticancer properties. This study investigated the antioxidant and antiproliferative effects of methanolic fruit extract of S. xanthocarpum on human breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231). Phytochemical screening and LC-HRMS analysis confirmed presence of various primary and secondary metabolites. Antioxidant activity was assessed through DPPH, ABTS radical scavenging, reducing power, and phosphomolybdate assays. The extract demonstrated significant antioxidant potential with EC 50 values of 60.10±0.88 μg/mL (DPPH) and 392.29±3.93 μg/mL (ABTS). Cytotoxicity against MDA-MB-231 cells was evaluated via morphological analysis, MTT assays, and IC 50 determination (24.19±0.56 μg/L). Apoptosis was confirmed using dual staining techniques (AO/EB, Hoechst 33342/PI, DAPI), revealing condensed nuclei, apoptotic bodies, and reduced mitochondrial membrane potential, as indicated by Rhodamine staining. Additionally, increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were observed using H2-DCF-DA staining. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents of the extract were 127.78±3.547 mg GAE/g and 98.06±4.289 mg QE/g, respectively. These findings suggest that the methanolic fruit extract of S. xanthocarpum possesses strong antioxidant and anticancer activities, indicating its potential role in cancer treatment. Further studies are warranted to explore its bioactive compounds for developing novel anticancer therapies., (© 2024 Wiley-VHCA AG, Zurich, Switzerland.)

Callistemon viminalis (Sol. ex Gaertn.) G.Don ex Loudon) (family: Myrtaceae) is used for its medicinal properties in treating various metabolic disorders. We investigated the chemical characterization and biological screening of the n-hexane extract of C. viminalis. The total phenolic content was (37.45±7.40 mg GA.E/g D.E±S.D) and the total flavonoid content was (18.43±6.34 mg R.E/g D.E±S.D). GC-MS screening of the n-hexane extract tentatively identified 70 bioactive phytochemicals. The maximum antioxidant potential (289.99±9.01 mg T.E/g D.E±S.D) was observed via the FRAP assay. Enzyme inhibition assays revealed that n-hexane extract of C. viminalis showed enzyme inhibition against the enzymes including α-glucosidase (6.9±0.13 mmol of ACA.E/g D.E±S.D); α-amylase (7.2±0.56 mmol of ACA.E/g D.E±S.D), urease (4.95±0.9 mg of TU.E/g D.E±S.D), acetylcholinesterase (2.9±0.08 mg GALA.E/g D.E±S.D), lipoxygenase (4.93±1.05 mg of Indo.E/g D.E±S.D) and tyrosinase (4.33±0.62 mg of KA.E/g D.E±S.D). The extract showed maximum antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (71.30±4.44 %) followed by Bacillus subtilis (68.55±2.70 %), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (57.86±6.02 %), and Salmonella typhi (53.90±5.05 %). Docking studies revealed good docking interactions between ligands and the studied enzymes, whereas ADME analysis revealed the pharmacokinetic profiles of the phytoconstituents. C. viminalis possesses promising therapeutic potential and can be further explored for drug development and drug design., (© 2024 Wiley-VHCA AG, Zurich, Switzerland.)

Plant products and its by-products are rich source of bioactive compounds like antioxidants, flavonoids, phenolics, pigments and phytochemicals. Bioactive compound's health-promoting properties are well studied. However, optimal extraction of bioactive compounds is a complex, labour- and time-intensive process. It is also highly sensitive to experimental variables. Predicting output variables can reduce the experimental work and has positive environmental impact. Various tools such as Response Surface Methodology (RSM), Mathematical modelling have been commonly used for optimization and predictive modelling of the extraction process. Although mathematical modelling and RSM are efficient, recent studies have used Artificial Neural Network (ANN) which is more efficient and accurate and can perform extensive predictions with high accuracy. The manuscript focuses on current trends of ANN application in optimizing the extraction of bioactive compounds. In this study, ANN and RSM have been compared in terms of their performances in optimizing and modelling the extraction of bioactive compounds from herbs, medicinal plants, fruit, vegetables, and their by-products. The findings from the literature indicate that efficiency of ANN was superior to RSM. Future researches can focus on use of ANN in industrial optimization experiments., Competing Interests: Declarations. Conflict of interest: The authors declare that we have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to The Japan Society for Analytical Chemistry.)

Asthma, a chronic inflammatory disease, remains a global health challenge due to its complex pathophysiology and the limited treatment efficacy. This study explored the effect of Inula japonica Thunb. water extract (IJW) on asthma and its protective mechanisms. To assess the effects of IJW, we established an experimental asthma model in BALB/c mice using ovalbumin (OVA). Airway hyper-responsiveness (AHR) in response to methacholine was measured. We quantified inflammatory cell infiltration and cytokine and chemokine levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), as well as total IgE levels in serum. Staining with hematoxylin and eosin and periodic acid-Schiff was used to examine the impact of IJW on lung pathology. We performed RNA sequencing to identify differentially expressed genes, which were subjected to Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analyses. We used interleukin (IL)-4/IL-13-treated human bronchial epithelial (HBE) cells to explore the associated mechanisms. IJW showed therapeutic effects against OVA-induced asthma by alleviating AHR, peribronchial inflammation, mucus hypersecretion, and collagen fiber deposition. It reduced total IgE levels in the serum and IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, eotaxin, macrophage-derived chemokines, and periostin levels in BALF. In IL-4/IL-13-treated HBE cells, IJW and its components suppressed the Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of the transcription (JAK-STAT) signaling. These findings support IJW's potential as a pharmacological agent for allergic airway inflammation and asthma., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.. All rights reserved.)

Papain a protease enzyme naturally present in the Carica papaya has gained significant interest across several industries due to its unique properties and versatility. The unique structure of papain imparts the functionality that assists in elucidating how papain enzyme works and making it beneficial for a variety of purposes. This review highlights recent advancements in papain extraction techniques to enhance production efficiency to meet market demand. The extraction of papain from the Carica papaya plant offers various advantages such as cost-effectiveness, biodegradability, safety, and the ability to withstand a wide range of pH and temperature conditions. Key findings reveal that non-conventional papain extraction techniques offer significant advantages in terms of efficiency, product quality, and environmental sustainability. Furthermore, papain treatment enhances the value of final products due to its anti-bacterial, anti-oxidant, and anti-obesity properties. The ability of papain to hydrolyze a wide range of proteins across various conditions makes it a suitable protease enzyme. While the study emphasizes the advantages of papain, the study also acknowledges limitations such as the continuous research and development to optimize extraction processes which will help unlock papain's potential and meet the growing demand. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.)

Objectives: To evaluate the in vitro antifungal activity of extracts and compounds from Trichilia catigua against clinically relevant Candida species, notably Candida glabrata , and investigate possible mechanisms of action using electron microscopy and in silico techniques., Methods: Extracts and fractions of T. catigua were obtained through turboextraction and partitioning, while the isolated compounds were previously purified. The ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) was characterized by HPLC. Antifungal activity against C. glabrata was evaluated through MIC tests, synergism was assessed via checkerboard assays, and structural changes were analyzed via electron microscopy. Molecular docking was performed to identify potential targets of action., Results: The EAF and isolated compounds (cinchonains and procyanidin B2) exhibited significant activity against C. glabrata , with MICs of 9.76 µg/mL (EAF) and 3.9 µg/mL (cinchonains Ia and Ib). Cinchonain Ib combined with epicatechin or procyanidin B2 displayed synergistic effects, particularly with amphotericin B. Microscopy analysis revealed cell membrane damage, and reverse docking analysis suggested that the compounds may target an enzyme essential to the metabolic processes of C. glabrata ., Conclusions: The findings suggest that compounds isolated from T. catigua hold considerable potential for developing new antifungal agents against Candida species, particularly C. glabrata , with promising safety and synergistic profiles.

This study proposed ultrasound-assisted deep eutectic solvent (DES) for the extraction of capsaicinoids (CAP) from the placenta of lantern peppers. The DES of choline chloride-citric acid (ChCl-CA), with the highest CAP yield (8.25 mg/g) was screened. 1 H nuclear magnetic resonance and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy showed that the ChCl-CA formed hydrogen bonds through -COOH of CA and N + Cl - of ChCl. Furthermore, the CAP preferred the diffusion of ChCl during the extraction of CAP, which indicated that ChCl played a better solvent role in the DES via molecular dynamics. High-performance liquid chromatography results showed capsaicin (65.02 %) as the major compound in the extracts. Notably, DES-extracted CAP had excellent antioxidant activity and provided enhanced inhibition of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Thus, this study will provide a reference for the future use of DES in the extraction of other alkaloids, either in the laboratory or the industry., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that no competing financial interest or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Candida albicans, a common fungal organism, often lives harmlessly in the human body. However, under certain conditions, it can turn into a dangerous pathogen, causing infections that range from mild to life-threatening. With rising resistance to antifungal treatments, understanding and controlling this opportunistic fungus has never been more crucial. This study highlights the potential of combining natural plant extracts, specifically the aqueous (Jdext Aq ) and ethanolic (Jdext Et ) extracts of Jatropha dioica, with nanotechnology in the form of magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) to combat this persistent pathogen. FTIR spectra revealed significant interactions between the metabolites and MNPs, specifically through binding to the Fe 3+ and Fe 2+ sites. The average size of the MNPs was 11±3 nm, and they are non-toxic even at high concentration (500 μg/ml). The same effect is observed with Jdext Et ; however, Jdext Aq is cytotoxic at this concentration. The Jdext Aq -MNPs hybrid is toxic even at very low concentrations (250-50 μg/ml). All materials demonstrated high inhibition against C. albicans. At safe concentrations for cell viability, MNPs (500 μg/ml) and Jdext Et -MNPs (500-50 μg/ml) achieved the highest inhibition rates of 97.13 % and 97.56 %, respectively. As antifungal resistance rises, these findings pave the way for innovative therapeutic strategies against this opportunistic pathogen., (© 2024 Wiley-VHCA AG, Zurich, Switzerland.)

The current study intends to reach the optimal use of plant wastes and explore their biological activities. It evaluated the bioactivities and phytoconstituents of 70 %methanol extract of Vicia faba L. peels. The results revealed that the extract possessed very potent cytotoxicity against ovarian cancer cell line (SKOV-3) (IC 50 =0.01 μg/mL) which exceeds doxorubicin (IC 50 =0.95 μg/ml), a reference anticancer agent, potent cytotoxicity against prostate cancer cell line (PC-3) (IC 50 =13.60 μg/ml), and moderate cytotoxicity against liver cancer cell line (HepG2) (IC 50 =40.9 μg/ml). Furthermore, the extract exhibited a potent antimicrobial effect on the tested gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Enterococcus faecalis& Micrococcus luteus) with inhibition zone (IZ) range (14.0-23.0 mm), gram-negative bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa) (IZ=14.0 mm), and pathogenic fungal yeast (Candida albicans) (IZ=19.0 mm). Moreover, 46 phytoconstituents were tentatively identified using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) hyphenated with quadrupole-time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (QTOF-MS) in positive ionization mode, 21 phytoconstituents were detected in Vicia faba peel for the first time. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to quantify phenolic compounds, the major compounds were chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid, catechin, and vanillin. In conclusion, plant wastes are a rich source of phytoconstituents that exhibit biological efficacy., (© 2024 Wiley-VHCA AG, Zurich, Switzerland.)

Rutaceae Juss. stands out as a botanical family recognized for its remarkable diversity in taxonomy, worldwide distribution, chemical composition, and biological activity exhibited by its compounds. Conchocarpus J. C. Mikan is one of the main genera of this family, comprising 50 species distributed throughout the Neotropical America. Brazil is the main center of diversity for this genus, hosting 66 % of the species as endemic. This is the first review concerning the genus Conchocarpus, emphasizing its chemical composition and biological activities. The selected papers for this review cover studies on 11 species, of which were identified 88 compounds. Among these, quinoline and acridone alkaloids predominate (57 %), followed by flavonoids, amides, coumarins and terpenoids. The biological activities of extracts and compounds indicate trypanocidal and leishmanicidal actions, as well as cytotoxic, fungicidal, molluscicidal, insecticidal, anticholinesterase and antioxidant activities., (© 2024 Wiley-VHCA AG, Zurich, Switzerland.)

Helicteres angustifolia L. (H. angustifolia), a well-known traditional Chinese medicine, has been demonstrated to have hypoglycemic activity. We found that the EtOAc extract of H. angustifolia (HAEF) showed stronger α-glucosidase inhibitory activity than that of positive control. Furthermore, the hypoglycemic activity of HAEF was evaluated in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) rats. The results demonstrated that HAEF reduced the drinking quantity, feeding quantity, and controlled weight loss in diabetic rats. Besides, the fasting blood glucose (FBG), viscera index, and the area under time-blood glucose curve (AUC) were significantly decreased, and the oral glucose tolerance was also improved after 5 weeks. Then, the high-performance liquid chromatography with quadrupole time of flight tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS) method was performed for qualitative analysis of the chemical constituents in HAEF. Twenty-one compounds were identified from in HAEF. Four compounds were further isolated from HAEF and subjected to α-glucosidase inhibition experiments. At the end, molecular docking was empolyed simulate the interaction of three compounds with α-glucosidase. This is the first report on major hypoglycaemic components has been identified in the roots of H. angustifolia. These findings provide a material basis for the use of H. angustifolia in the treatment of diabetes., (© 2024 Wiley-VHCA AG, Zurich, Switzerland.)

The concentration and purification of trace substances from natural products represent a bottleneck in current chromatographic separations. In this study, a twin-column recycling chromatography with a step solvent gradient method was proposed and successfully applied in the purification of unknown substances with tiny content in yew extracum. The method consists of two steps. Initially, the target substances were enriched from the yew extracum stock solution, followed by further separation and purification of the enriched substances in the second step. Ultimately, the target substances A and B were obtained with a purity of 99.7 % and 96.6 %, respectively. The proposed method has the potential to be applied in the preparation of trace substances for toxicological evaluation in natural product studies., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Diosgenin, falls under the category of steroidal saponin present in fenugreek seeds (Trigonella foenum-graecum) in the amount of 0.2-09%. This compound possesses certain pharmacological characteristics like anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-oxidant etc., that render it a desirable component in the medicinal and nutraceutical industries. Various methods such as, conventional solvent extraction, green extraction methods like Soxhlet extraction, microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), maceration methods, ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) and supercritical fluid extraction methods are employed to extract diosgenin from fenugreek seeds. Fundamentals such as solvent choice, pre-treatment techniques, and optimization parameters, affect the diosgenin extraction process. Furthermore, the quantification of diosgenin is governed by analytical methods(chromatography and spectroscopy), underscoring the significance of standardizing diosgenin levels to set the stage for upcoming pharmacological research. However there have been very negligible resources which focuses on conventional and novel techniques for extraction of diosgenin from Fenugreek seeds. This review aims to provide combined insights into the diverse methodologies employed for diosgenin extraction from fenugreek seeds and their implications in pharmaceutical research., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

This study investigated the therapeutic effect of Conocarpus erectus leaves methanolic extract against AlCl 3 -induced Alzheimer's disease (AD) in rats comparing with Donepezil-hydrochloride as a reference drug. The bioactive compounds of C. erectus leaves were isolated and identified by GC/MS and LC-ESI-MS analysis. Malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), amyloid-β-peptide (Aβ-peptide), tau protein, acetylcholinesterase (AChE), serotonin (5-HT), dopamine (DA) and nor-adrenaline (NE) levels were estimated. The neuromuscular strength, memory behavior and histopathological examination of cerebral cortex region were also conducted. Forty-three compounds were characterized from the non-polar fraction of C. erectus L. leaves extract and nineteen compounds were identified from the defatted extract. AlCl 3 - induction caused significant elevation of brain oxidative stress, Aβ-peptide, tau protein, IL-6, TNF-α and AChE levels. A significant decrease in 5-HT, ND and DA levels were noticed. Additionally, AlCl 3 reduced neuromuscular strength and compromised memory function. Treatment of AlCl3- induced rats with C. erectuse extract ameliorated these selected parameters by variable degrees. In conclusion, C. erectus protects against AlCl 3 - induced AD in rats through its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antineural damage. [Correction added on 3 December 2024, after first online publication: The term "antineutron" was corrected to "antineural" in the preceding sentence.]. It could be considered as a new nutraceutical agent for attenuating symptoms associated with Alzheimer's disease., (© 2024 Wiley-VHCA AG, Zurich, Switzerland.)

This study investigates the multifaceted potential of Tripolium pannonicum methanolic extract, focusing on its antimicrobial, antioxidant, and prebiotic properties alongside a comprehensive phytochemical analysis. The antioxidant capacity of the methanolic extract was demonstrated through 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging and iron ion chelating assays, revealing an IC 50 value of 0.073 mg/mL and 5.79 ± 0.04 mg/mL, respectively. Furthermore, the prebiotic activity of T. pannonicum was evaluated, showing enhanced growth of probiotic strains Lactobacillus plantarum and L. fermentum, compared to standard prebiotics, inulin, and fructooligosaccharides. The study also identified 27 bioactive phytochemical compounds in the methanolic extract, including 5-hydroxymethylfurfural and palmitic acid, which were further explored through molecular docking analyses, revealing significant interactions with the human pregnane X receptor. These findings underscore the potential of T. pannonicum as a sustainable health solution in both agricultural and medicinal contexts, warranting further exploration of its therapeutic applications and mechanisms of action., (© 2024 Wiley‐VHCA AG, Zurich, Switzerland.)

Juncus maritimusan extremophilous microorganism speciesknown for its medicinal properties was collected in the Biskra region with the aim of its valorization. The volume size of polyphenols, flavonoids and condensed tannins was performed using the Folin-Ciocalteu method, aluminum trichloride and vanillin respectively. The volume of Polyphenols was 127.73±0.20 μg EAG/mg ES, the volume offlavonoids was 16.42±0.42 μg EQ/mg ES, and the volume ofcondensed tannins was 10.10±0.35 μg EC/mg ES. The results of the antioxidant activity tests using the DPPH and ABTS methods reveal that the ethyl acetate extract had the highest activity in both tests. The results of the in vitro anti-inflammatory activity, using the BSA protein denaturation assay, showed that the percentage of denaturation inhibition wasproportional to the concentration of the extract. At a concentration of 5 mg/mL, the inhibition percentage of the extract were 82.03 % and 80.23 %, respectively,which wereclose tothose of theanti-inflammatory drug Diclofenac.Furthermore, molecular docking simulations indicated that Berberine has high binding affinity to the targets COX-2 and PLA-2 In fact,bioisosteric replacement is being usedto discover new analogs of Berberine. Finally, ADME-Tox predictions demonstrated that this compound and its analogs were not hepatotoxic. This result may lead to the selection ofBerberine and its analogs as active compounds with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects., (© 2024 Wiley-VHCA AG, Zurich, Switzerland.)

The genera Geranium and Erodium (Geraniaceae) have been documented to possess diverse ethnopharmacological uses, including diabetes mellitus. Relevant to their ethnopharmacological use, the current study aimed to evaluate the α-glucosidase, α-amylase, acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) enzyme inhibitory activity of ethanol extracts from 46 samples belonging to thirty-one species of Geranium (20) and Erodium (11) collected throughout Türkiye. The majority of the extracts displayed a marked α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibitory activity. Besides, 23 extracts out of 46 exhibited a concentration-dependent inhibitory effect over 50 % towards AChE. The highest AChE inhibition was found in G. subcaulescens collected from Konya with an IC 50 value of 4.73±2.96 μg/mL. E. somanum, E. leucanthum, and E. sipthorpianum exhibited the most potent α-glucosidase inhibitory activity, while E. birandianum and E. pelargoniiflorum were the most active extracts against AChE and BChE, respectively. Three extracts that had inhibitory activity over 50 % against four of the enzymes were selected and proceeded to RP-HPLC analysis. Geraniin and ellagic acid were identified as major compounds in the active extracts. Most species screened in the current study were examined for the first time against α-glucosidase, α-amylase, AChE, and BChE., (© 2024 Wiley-VHCA AG, Zurich, Switzerland.)

The usage of ginger (Zingiber officinale) has increased in recent years due to its positive effect on human health affiliated with its richness in gingerols and shogaols. This study optimized the Ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) for better phenolic compounds isolation from ginger herbal dust (GHD), a filter tea industry by-product. The extraction was performed using raw and defatted GHD-previously processed by Supercritical fluid extraction - CO 2 . An additional advantage was using COSMOtherm software for 71 natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) screening, to select the optimal one for GHD 6-gingerol recovery. As an optimal NADES, Malic acid:Glucose (MA:Glc) in the 1:1 ratio was determined. The optimal MA: Glc-based extract with a 6-gingerol content of 1.90±0.05 mg/g, an antioxidant activity of 321.28±5.09 μmol TE/g, and a favorable toxicological profile was obtained in 2 min of UAE under the sonication amplitude of 20 %, approving the benefits and the sustainability of the present study., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The date palm, scientifically known as Phoenix dactylifera, is an important cultural and economic source of wealth in southern Tunisia. It produces considerable agricultural waste, including palm leaves, the disposal of which is often a challenge. Our study addresses the sustainable conversion of date palm leaves into a valuable product through kombucha fermentation, focusing on two widely used varieties in Tunisia: Deglet Nour and Alig. HPLC-RI analysis showed a significant difference in the fermentation process between the treated samples, which is reflected in the highest sugar consumption and metabolite production in Alig palm. Unfermented and fermented date palm leaves were sequentially extracted with solvents of increasing polarity (ethyl acetate and butanol) to evaluate their chemical composition and bioactivity. The results showed that kombucha fermentation significantly increased the total phenolic content, with the highest amounts in the ethyl acetate fraction. In terms of antioxidant activity, the ethyl acetate extracts showed a high percentage inhibitory activity (82.76 %) against the DPPH radical found in fermented Palm Alig, which also exhibited the most important antidiabetic capacity (resulting in an IC 50 value of 20 μg/mL). The chemical analyses resulted in the detection of 19 compounds by HPLC-DAD and 50 volatiles by GC-MS, which are mainly found in kombucha extracts., (© 2024 Wiley-VHCA AG, Zurich, Switzerland.)

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Late-onset hypogonadism (LOH) is a common age-related condition in men, characterized by a decline in serum testosterone and a range of associated signs and symptoms, and is classified as impotence in traditional medicine. Saffron is the dried stigma of Crocus sativus L., which is used in traditional medicine as an aphrodisiac., Aim of the Study: This study aimed to investigate the effects of saffron extract (SE) on LOH using an aging mouse model and Leydig cells., Methods: The potential mechanisms and therapeutic targets of SE for the treatment of LOH were first identified using network pharmacology. An aging model was induced in mice by administration of D-galactose, followed by treatment with varying concentrations of SE. Subsequent assessments of serum testosterone levels, semen quality, testicular aging, oxidative stress, and apoptotic markers were performed to assess the impact of SE and to elucidate its mechanisms. In addition, in vitro experiments assessed the effect of SE on Leydig cell viability, oxidative stress, and apoptosis., Results: The results showed that SE could modulate the PI3K-Akt-Nrf2 signaling pathway, enhancing Leydig cell resistance to oxidative stress and reducing Leydig cell apoptosis, thereby improving Leydig cell function and alleviating the decrease in serum testosterone associated with aging., Conclusion: Saffron is a promising strategy for the treatment of LOH and provides an effective approach to alleviate serum testosterone decline in older men., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a chronic metabolic disorder marked by excessive lipid deposition, represents a considerable health burden with no established efficacious treatment strategy. Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.), valued for its health benefits, is replete with flavonoid bioactives. The aims of this work are to isolate and purify flavonoids from quinoa whole grain that can intervene in NAFLD and to elucidate some of the underlying mechanisms., Results: Chenopodium quinoa Willd. flavonoids (CQWF) were obtained successfully through an optimized ultrasonic extraction methodology, followed by isolation and purification utilizing macroporous resin D101. The study then explored the therapeutic potential of CQWF and its eluted fractions in models emulating NAFLD conditions: an in vitro fatty liver cell model induced by oleic acid (OA) and palmitic acid (PA) in the HepG2 and BEL-7402 cell lines, and an in vivo high-fat diet (HFD)-induced NAFLD model in C57BL/6N mice. The findings revealed a comprehensive mitigating effect of CQWF30 on NAFLD, manifesting in reduced intracellular lipid accumulation in steatotic hepatocytes and a concerted downregulation of key lipid metabolism genes, CD36 and FASN. Administration of CQWF30 reduced triglyceride (TG) levels in both the cellular model and the livers of HFD-fed mice. It also reduced serum concentrations of TG, total cholesterol (T-CHO), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), while increasing high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in the mice., Conclusion: These results highlighted the promising therapeutic capacity of CQWF, particularly CQWF30. This research advances the exploration and utilization of flavonoids derived from quinoa whole grain, providing innovative dietary intervention strategies for NAFLD. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.)