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Pyracantha fortuneana fruit is a potential source of nutraceutical and therapeutic agents. We investigated the effects of P .  fortuneana fruit extract (PFE) on hyperlipidaemia, obesity, and oxidative stress in rodents. PFE significantly decreased body weight, triacylglycerol, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, and malondialdehyde levels. By contrast, PFE elevated high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase activities in both preventive and therapeutic rodent groups. These results indicate that the amelioration of PFE on hyperlipidaemia and obesity was highly associated with the improvement of endogenous antioxidant activity. Polyphenols and saponins were quantified by spectrophotometric and HPLC methods. Several new saponin compounds were identified by liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry as ursolic acid (UA) derivatives. The quercetin, rutin, and procyanidin treatments in HepG2 cells showed increases in low-density lipoprotein receptor activity and apolipoprotein-A1, but UA less affected these protein activities. Therefore, PFE could be promising in ameliorating chronic metabolic diseases via multiple constituent synergies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proanthocyanidins (PCs) with poor bioavailability were argued for their health benefits. In this study, water-soluble polymeric polyphenolic PCs fractions from Pyracantha fortuneana fruit were used to investigate whether the presence of PCs is correlated with the increased cell antioxidant activities (CAA) of quercetin (Q). The results indicated that the most decrement in the values of EC 50 , which Q inhibited peroxyl radical-induced DCFH oxidation effective in the HepG 2 cells, was observed to be 2.91 (vs. control 5.97) in the present of the fraction with 15.8 of the average degree of polymerisation of PCs (ADP). Also, the order of efficacy was the same with the ADP of PCs. Further, this effect is associated with the improvement of the solubility and stability of Q after the addition of the PCs. Our current study suggests that the additive effects of PCs on small molecular polyphenols may be responsible for their antioxidant benefits in vivo . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Lycopene accounted for approximately 96% of the total carotenoids. [•] Cis-lycopene accounted for approximately 35% of the total lycopene. [•] The content and nutritional quality of lycopene from B. trispora were high. [•] B. trispora is an ideal source of natural lycopene. [•] 2-isopropylimidazole can be completely biodegraded. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Optimized solid–liquid extraction conditions by response surface methodology (RSM) and optimal solvent selectivity liquid–liquid fractionation by mixture design were studied for process of Pyracantha fortuneana fruits (PFF) healthy products. A combination of total polyphenolic content (TPC), total antioxidant activity (TAA) and chromatographic profiling was used to evaluate the optimization. RSM results were ethanol concentration, 71%; extraction temperature, 51°C; and pH solution, 3.2. The mixture design indicated that the fraction with the highest TAA and TPC was directed to ethyl-acetate phase. The fractions of water-soluble and n-butylalcohol-soluble were rich in TAA and TPC compared with the starting row of PFF. Twenty-seven polyphenols were detected in chromatographic profilings, most of which were reported for the first time in this study. The improvements of accessibility in the optimized fractions suggest their flexible applicabilities for nutraceutical food industries. This study may be crucial approach for all similar natural functional product optimization. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Yields of paclitaxel decreased with repeated subculturing of Taxus media cells. We used minimal growth conservation and manipulation of genome methylation to sustain paclitaxel production by Taxus media cell cultures. The subculture period of Taxus cells can be prolonged to 180d by incubating them at a low temperature (5°C). Paclitaxel levels increased in the cells after conservation and during the first recovery subculture cycle, and then decreased during the subsequent recovery subculture cycle. Analysis of genetic variations in these cultures using amplified fragment-length polymorphism (AFLP) technology identified only two polymorphic bands associated with the second and sixth recovery cycle cultures. However, the results of high-performance liquid chromatography indicated that DNA methylation increased during the course of repeated subculturing. A decrease in DNA methylation level caused by treatment with 5-Aza-2′-deoxycytidine coincided with an increase in paclitaxel levels. Simultaneous exposure to both methyl jasmonate and 5-Aza-2′-deoxycytidine increased paclitaxel levels to 320.43μgg−1 (dry weight), which is more than six times the paclitaxel content before conservation. To our knowledge, this is the first report about improving paclitaxel production by ensuring sustainable use of Taxus cells. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]