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Commonly used to treat skin injuries in Asia, several Homalium spp. have been found to promote skin regeneration and wound healing. While ethnobotanical surveys report the use of H. bhamoense trunk bark as a wound salve, there are no studies covering bioactive properties. As impaired cutaneous healing is characterized by excessive inflammation, a series of inflammatory mediators involved in wound healing were targeted with a methanol extract obtained from H. bhamoense trunk bark. Results showed concentration-dependent inhibition of hyaluronidase and 5-lipoxygenase upon exposure to the extract, with IC50 values of 396.9 ± 25.7 and 29.0 ± 2.3 µg mL−1, respectively. H. bhamoense trunk bark extract also exerted anti-inflammatory activity by significantly suppressing the overproduction of interleukin 6 (IL-6) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages at concentrations ranging from 125 to 1000 µg mL−1, while leading to a biphasic effect on nitric oxide (NO) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) levels. The phenolic profile was elucidated by HPLC-DAD, being characterized by the occurrence of ellagic acid as the main constituent, in addition to a series of methylated derivatives, which might underlie the observed anti-inflammatory effects. Our findings provide in vitro data on anti-inflammatory ability of H. bhamoense trunk bark, disclosing also potential cutaneous toxicity as assessed in HaCaT keratinocytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chukrasia tabularis A.Juss. is a canopy tree widely distributed in Asia and commonly used for construction-grade timber. While the residues resulting from the timber exploration constitute the major source of waste, other parts of the plant remain underutilized. Therefore, aiming the valorisation of a major residue resulting from C. tabularis wood industry, the leaves were here investigated on their potential content in bioactive constituents, but also on their capacity to modulate mediators and enzymes engaged in metabolic disorders, particularly those involved on the development and progression of diabetes. HPLC–DAD–ESI/MS n and UPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS2 characterization of a methanol extract obtained from the leaves, allowed the identification of 25 phenolic constituents, quercetin-3- O -rhamnoside being identified as the main bioactive. The leaf extract and the major flavonoid (quercetin-3- O -rhamnoside) were investigated on their impact towards a series of targets involved in the physiopathology of diabetes. The extract displayed significant scavenging properties against nitric oxide and superoxide radicals, inhibiting also lipid peroxidation and aldose reductase activity. While no noteworthy effects were noted on pancreatic lipase and α-amylase activity, the extract strongly inhibited α-glucosidase (IC 50 = 21.14 µg/mL) and proved to be ca. 5 times more effective than the benchmark drug, acarbose. Moreover, the leaf extract significantly inhibited also 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) (IC 50 = 13.12 µg/mL). Kinetic studies on α-glucosidase and 5-LOX activity disclosed a mixed type inhibition. Furthermore, C. tabularis extract reduced LPS-induced overproduction of NO, L-citrulline and IL-6 in activated RAW 264.7 macrophages. When individually assayed, quercetin-3- O -rhamnoside significantly contributed to the antiradical properties and inhibitory effects of the extract upon the enzymatic targets, but other phenolic bioactives appear also to underlie the recorded anti-inflammatory effects. Taken together, our results demonstrate that the leaves of C. tabularis are rich in phenolic constituents with a great potential to improve metabolic disorders. The evidenced bioactivity of this industrial product might feed R&D programs for the development of new drugs that might simultaneously improve glycaemic, oxidative and inflammatory benchmarks in diabetic patients. [Display omitted] • Twenty-five phenolics identified in Chukrasia tabularis leaves. • Quercitrin (quercetin-3 -O -rhamnoside) corresponds to 80% of the flavonoids. • C. tabularis inhibited enzymatic targets and radicals enrolled in diabetes. • C. tabularis exhibited anti-inflammatory effects in LPS-stimulated macrophages. • Valorisation and reuse of the leaves for therapeutic purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The consumption of sprouts, common in Asia, has been growing in western countries, once they are a natural healthy food and considered as a valuable dietary supplement. Comparing with their mature counterparts, sprouts are usually richer in health-promoting phytochemicals. So, the nutritional composition and the biological potential of widely consumed sprouts of three species – Glycine max (L.) Merr., Vigna radiata L. and Medicago sativa L. – were compared for the first time. Phenolic compounds and phytosterols were analyzed by HPLC–DAD and organic acids by HPLC–UV. The volatile profile was determined by HS-SPME/GC–IT/MS. Fourteen phenolic compounds (including four isoflavones), three sterols one triterpene, sixteen fatty acids, seven organic acids and thirty volatile compounds were determined. The antioxidant activity was assessed against DPPH•, superoxide and nitric oxide radicals. G. max sprouts were the most active against DPPH• (IC50 =1.337mg/mL), while those of M. sativa were the most effective against superoxide and nitric oxide radicals (IC50 =67μg/mL and IC50 =426μg/mL, respectively). Data provide evidence of great similarities between G. max and M. sativa sprouts, both being rich in phenolic compounds, fatty acids and volatiles, and exhibiting better antioxidant activity. On the other hand, V. radiata showed higher amounts of sterols, triterpenes and organic acids. In this study it was found that the sprouts are a good source of bioactive compounds in our diet with health-promoting antioxidants. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]