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Background: Despite the availability of mainstream biomedical healthcare in New York City (NYC), community-based ethnomedicine practices remain a low-cost, culturally relevant treatment for many immigrants. Previous urban ethnobotany research in NYC has established that several Caribbean communities continue using medicinal plants for women's health after immigration. This study sought to address to what extent: (1) NYC Haitian women continue using medicinal plants for women's health after migration; (2) their plants and the conditions treated were similar to those identified in an earlier survey with NYC immigrants from the Dominican Republic. Methods: Through an ethnobotanical survey, 100 Haitian women living in NYC and born in Haiti were interviewed about their knowledge of medicinal plants for women's health conditions. Reported species were purchased based on local names in NYC Haitian stores and markets, vouchered, and identified. Results: Nearly all Haitian women (97%) reported using medicinal plants while living in Haiti. Most Haitian women continued using medicinal plants after coming to the USA (83%). The 14% decrease, although significant (z = 3.3; p = 0.001), was mainly due to logistical difficulties with sourcing plants after recent immigration. Popular medicinal plant species reported were primarily global food plants, re-emphasizing the intertwined food-medicine relationship in Caribbean diasporas. Comparison with data from NYC Dominicans identified childbirth and puerperium, gynecological infections, and vaginal cleansing as priority Haitian women's health concerns treated with plants. Conclusion: Our findings support the global nature of Caribbean migrant plant pharmacopeia, predominantly centered around food plants and adapted to transnational urban settings. They underscore cultural diversity, dispelling the notion of one uniform traditional knowledge system labeled "Caribbean." The importance of preventative medicine for women's health, particularly the regular consumption of "healthy" foods or teas highlights the role food plants play in maintaining health without seeking treatment for a particular condition. Cross-cultural comparisons with other NYC Caribbean immigrants emphasize the importance of conducting ethnobotanical surveys to ground-truth plant use in the community. Such surveys can also identify culture-specific health priorities treated with these plants. Healthcare providers can leverage these insights to formulate culturally relevant and community-tailored healthcare strategies aligned with Haitian women's health beliefs and needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Four isoflavones were isolated from the MeOH extract of a sample of Azorella madreporica from the high Andes of northern Chile by selective fractionation using the bleaching of the DPPH radical. The compounds were identified by NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry together with 18 additional complex isoflavones present in the plant extract which were detected for the first time using HPLC hyphenated with UV–visible and high resolution mass detectors (HR-PDA-ToF-ESI-MS). The results obtained showed that the methodology developed is appropriate for rapid analysis and identification of isoflavones in extracts from native A. madreporica which can have potential use as an additive for food, or as a nutritional supplement due to the high content on isoflavones (yield of 162.98, 290.18, 44.25 and 31.03mg/kg dry plant for the isolated compounds genistein-8-C-β-d-glucopyranoside (1), alpinum isoflavone (19), angustone C (21) and 4´-acetyl-alpinum isoflavone, 22, respectively). The latter compound 22 is a new isoflavone derivative isolated for the first time from a plant source. The moderate antioxidant properties and content of isoflavonoids found in the aerial parts can explain, at least in part, the traditional use of the native plant and health benefits of the infusions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We present a model of the absolute radiance of the disk-resolved Moon at visible to near infrared wavelengths. It has been developed in order to use the Moon as a calibration reference, particularly by space-based sensors observing the Earth. We begin with the development of Hillier et al. (Hillier, J., Buratti, B., Hill, K. [1999]. Icarus 141, 205–225) for the reflectance as a function of phase angle and base the lunar reflectance on the Clementine 0.750μm basemap. We adopt Hapke’s (Hapke, B. [2002]. Icarus 157, 523–534) expression for the multiple scattering term, including the more accurate approximation to the Chandrasekhar H function. The geometry is based on the Jet Propulsion Laboratory Lunar Ephemeris DE 421, and the topographic slope is from the Kaguya-LALT laser altimetry (). We define three types of terrain by combining the reflectance from the Clementine basemap and the topographic model to specify maria, highlands, and crater regions, and allow mixed types between each class. Parameters of the model are solved for as a function of surface type and wavelength by comparison against data “chips” from the Robotic Lunar Observatory (ROLO; Kieffer, H.H., Stone, T.C. [2005]. Astron. J. 129, 2887–2901). The reflectance in any waveband may be computed by spectral interpolation of the model predictions relative to the scaled Apollo 16 soil spectrum. The accuracy of the model, evaluated against ROLO imagery, was found to be 2–4%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of satellite band-to-band coregistration errors on fire retrievals from biomass burning has not been well quantified. However, the retrieval of fire temperature and area using a two-channel algorithm can be extremely sensitive to coregistration between the channels because fire sizes are generally much smaller than the sensor pixel resolution, Simulations are used to determine the magnitude of these errors for a range of spatial .response shapes, including one case that is representative of the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectro radiometer (MODIS) sensor. Presented are results that show typical sensor band to band coregistration errors of 10% to 15% are a dominant source of error in the retrieved fire properties. For example, a MODIS-type instrument with a l-km horizontal spatial resolution and a 10% coregistration error would generate retrieval errors on the order of 150 K and 210% for a single retrieved fire temperature and fractional fire area, respectively. The retrieval errors, which depend on the position of the fire in the pixel, are asymmetric in the direction of the misregistration, and it is noted that this characteristic could be utilized in validation studies to flag or correct for coregistration errors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses the use of ethanobotanical leads in the discovery of potentially sweet natural product compounds. Importance of plant-derived sweetening agents; Approaches to the discovery of highly sweet molecules from higher plants.

Diterpenoid alkaloids (DAs) have been often utilized in clinical practice due to their analgesic and anti‐inflammatory properties. Natural DAs are prevalent in the family Ranunculaceae, notably in the Aconitum genus. Nevertheless, the evolutionary origin of the biosynthesis pathway responsible for DA production remains unknown. In this study, we successfully assembled a high‐quality, pseudochromosome‐level genome of the DA‐rich species Aconitum vilmorinianum (A. vilmorinianum) (5.76 Gb). An A. vilmorinianum‐specific whole‐genome duplication event was discovered using comparative genomic analysis, which may aid in the evolution of the DA biosynthesis pathway. We identified several genes involved in DA biosynthesis via integrated genomic, transcriptomic, and metabolomic analyses. These genes included enzymes encoding target ent‐kaurene oxidases and aminotransferases, which facilitated the activation of diterpenes and insertion of nitrogen atoms into diterpene skeletons, thereby mediating the transformation of diterpenes into DAs. The divergence periods of these genes in A. vilmorinianum were further assessed, and it was shown that two major types of genes were involved in the establishment of the DA biosynthesis pathway. Our integrated analysis offers fresh insights into the evolutionary origin of DAs in A. vilmorinianum as well as suggestions for engineering the biosynthetic pathways to obtain desired DAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to oxidative stress, which is known to be involved in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). Mogrosides are plant-derived triterpene glycosides that exhibit anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity in animal cell lines and mouse models. Since amyloid-β toxicity is known to cause oxidative stress and damage to brain cells, we hypothesized that mogrosides may have a protective effect against AD. In this study, we investigated the potential anti-AD effect of mogrosides in vitamin B12-deficient wild-type N2 and in transgenic CL2355 Caenorhabditis elegans expressing amyloid-β peptide. Our data indicated that mogrosides have a beneficial effect on the lifespan and egg-laying rate of N2 and vitamin B12-deficient N2 worms. Additionally, the results revealed that mogrosides can effectively delay the paralysis of CL2355 worms as determined by serotonin sensitivity assay. Our analysis showed that mogrosides increase the expression of oxidative protective genes in N2 worms fed with vitamin B12-deficient OP50 bacterium. We conclude that mogrosides may exert preventative rather than curative effects that counteract the detrimental vitamin B12-deficient environment in N2 and CL2355 C. elegans by modulating oxidation-related gene expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alzheimer's disease (AD) accounts for 60–80 % of dementia cases worldwide and has no effective treatment currently, presenting a pressing need to search for new anti-AD agents. One of the AD therapeutic options is to improve the cognitive impairment by restoring the characteristic cholinergic deficiency with acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors. It has been previously shown that the natural Amaryllidaceae alkaloids galanthamine and haemanthidine from Lycoris radiata inhibit the ace-2 gene expression in transgenic CL4176 C. elegans. The aim of this project was to screen and characterize the Amaryllidaceae alkaloids extracted from twelve Lycoris species. Different type of alkaloids were tentatively identified by UPLC-QTOF-MS method. Three alkaloids lycorine, lycoramine and galanthamine were quantified in these species. These Lycoris alkaloids were shown to reduce the toxicity and the neurodegeneration induced by the neuronal expression of amyloid β in transgenic CL2355 C. elegans by a serotonin assay and to collectively inhibit the ace-2 gene expression by both qRT-PCR and BLItz™ analyses. The active species includes L. chinensis , L. caldwellii , L. squamigera and L. incarnate. The alkaloid metabolite profiling results indicate that these active species are rich in different alkaloids, which are potential markers for anti-Alzheimer disease. [Display omitted] • Amaryllidaceae alkaloids were characterizing from twelve Lycoris species. • Forty-two alkaloids belonging to ten chemotypes were identified by UPLC-QTOF-MS. • Some species showed activities in anti- ace2 gene expression and anti-amyloid β. • Lycoris alkaloids markers are promising in anti-Alzheimer disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants in the genus Hypericum (Hypericaceae), include more than 500 species worldwide, and many are valued for their medicinal properties, and are used as traditional herbal medicines. However, only H. perforatum is officially recognized as herbal drug in several pharmacopoeias, and used as an antidepressant clinically. Hypericum perforatum had been used as an herbal medicine since the Han Dynasty (206 B.C. -220 A.D.) in China. It taxonomically belongs to the section Hypericum in the genus Hypericum. There are about 42 species in the section Hypericum , with six species occurring in China. All six are recorded as traditional herbal medicines for treating aliments, including hepatitis, malaria, traumatic hemorrhage, irregular menstruation, wounds, and bruises. The study aimed to characterize the chemical profiles of five phylogenetically related Hypericum species, and compare their metabolites with three H. perforatum products. Informed by ethnobotanical use, the extracts prepared from the five species were further investigated into anticancer, anti-inflammatory and antiplasmodial activity. This study tested the hypothesis that systematic metabolomic and bioactivity characterization of species in section Hypericum will help to validate their phytotherapeutic use and reveal potential drug lead compounds. Targeted and non-targeted metabolic analyses coupled with chemometrics were conducted on H. perforatum and four medicinal species, H. attenuatum , H. enshiense , H. erectum , and H. faberi , native to China from section Hypericum. UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS and UPLC-TQD-MS/MS were used for non-targeted and targeted metabolic analyses, respectively. Cytotoxicity bioassays on four cancer cell lines, anti-inflammation tests and anti-plasmodial activity on Plasmodium falciparum 3D7, selected based on traditional medicinal use, were evaluated on extracts from Hypericum species. Progenesis QI and EZinfo were used for chemometrics analysis to link the chemical profile and bioassay activity to aid in the identification of bioactive compounds. In total, 58 compounds were identified from the five species, including compounds with well-characterized bioactivity. Hypericum attenuatum , H. erectum , and H. perforatum , displayed the highest cytotoxicity, and contain the cytotoxic compounds petiolin A, prolificin A, and hypercohin G, respectively. Hypericum faberi and H. perforatum showed the highest anti-inflammatory activity, with pseudohypericin, quercetin and chlorogenic acid being observed at higher concentrations. Hypericum perforatum and H. erectum showed anti-plasmodial activity, with higher hyperforin and xanthones in these species that may account for the anti-plasmodial activity. This study characterized the chemical differences among five Hypericum species using metabolomics. These ethnomedically important species were tested for their biological activities in three distinct in vitro assays. The ethnobotanical data were useful for identifying bioactive Hypericum species. Hypericum attenuatum , H. erectum and H. faberi are promising phytotherapeutic species, although they are much less studied than H. perforatum , St. John's wort. Combining ethnobotanical surveys with chemometric analyses and bioactivity screening can greatly enhance the discovery of promising active constituents. [Display omitted] • Profiled five Hypericum species with non-targeted and targeted chemometrics. • Identified 58 representative compounds from five species that drive chemotaxonomy. • Described Hypericum cytotoxicity, anti-inflammatory, and anti-plasmodial activity. • Employed chemometrics to aid in the identification of bioactive compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Cymbopogon (Poaceae) plants have been used for various purposes by many indigenous peoples in all continents. In particular, almost all species in the genus have traditionally been used as folk medicine to treat ailments. Traditional application records indicated that Cymbopogon might be used extensively to treat cold, dizziness, headache, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, rheumatism, diarrhea, whole grass for cold, sore throat, tracheitis and others. Despite several research confirmed that Cymbopogon includes a range of active components, no review has been undertaken to consolidate information on its traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and/or quality control. Thus this article aims to update a comprehensive review about the traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, cultivation techniques, economic benefits, trade, threats, and future conservation implications of Cymbopogon species. It may provide informative data for future development and further investigation of this important plant group. Traditional medicinal books and ethnomedicinal publications related to Cymbopogon from 1992 to 2023 were collated to investigate its ethnobotanical, phytochemical and pharmacological information. The online databases including Google Scholar, SciFinder, Web of Science, Scopus, Springer Link, PubMed, Wiley, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Baidu Scholar, and WanFang Database were screened. Cymbopogon (Gramineae or Poaceae) plants have been grown worldwide. Traditional Chinese medicine and other medicinal systems believes that Cymbopogon has the effect of relieve a cough, analgesia, treating dizziness, traumatic injury and can relieve abdominal pain. A total of 153 compounds, including flavonoids, terpenoids, fatty acid and other compounds were isolated or identified from Cymbopogon species by phytochemical studies. The extracts or compounds from Cymbopogon have exhibited numerous biological activities such as antibacterial, antiinflammatory, antiviral, antineoplastic, antiarrhythmic, antidiabetic and other activities. The rich contents of citronellal, citronellol and geraniol found in Cymbopogon also provide significant nutritional benefits. Based on their traditional uses, phytochemicals, and pharmacological activities, Cymbopogon plants are potential medicinal and edible resources with diverse pharmacological effects. Due to various advantages of this group, they possess huge application potential in food and pharmaceutical industries, and animal husbandry. Among them, citronella is very important in terms of economic development. Further comprehensive research to evaluate the medicinal properties of Cymbopogon species will be necessary for future development. [Display omitted] • This review summarized the traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicology and quality control of Cymbopogon (Poaceae) for the first time. • A total of 153 compounds, including flavonoids, terpenoids, fatty acid and other compounds isolated or identified from Cymbopogon species were reviewed. • It may provide comprehensive information on different aspects of Cymbopogon and its potential applications in foods, pharmaceuticals and other bio-industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Correction for 'Structural diversity, bioactivities, and biosynthesis of natural diterpenoid alkaloids' by Yong Shen et al., Nat. Prod. Rep., 2020, 37, 763–796, https://doi.org/10.1039/D0NP00002G. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Marketplaces reflect not only the commerce of an area, but also its culture. In Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture with Kaili as its capital, Guizhou Province, China, traditional medicine is thriving in both rural and urban areas. The local people rely extensively on plants for traditional medicines, and these are commonly sold in local specialized markets. The Kaili medicinal market is the biggest in the prefecture. However, ethnobotanical study on herbal plants traded in the traditional market in Kaili has not been performed. The aims of this study are: (1) to document medicinal plants traded in the Kaili traditional market and the associated traditional knowledge; and (2) to analyze the level of agreement among vendors in the purported uses of medicinal plants by using informant consensus (FIC) and the fidelity level (FL). Methods: Market surveys were conducted in 2014–2019 to collect information about medicinal plants and associated traditional knowledge. Information including vernacular names, preparation methods, and plant uses was obtained by interviewing 116 vendors of herbal plants. Specimens of fresh and dried herbs, collected as vouchers, were identified by the authors and other botanists at the Minzu University of China, and deposited in the herbarium at Minzu University of China. The level of agreement among information provided by different vendors was assessed using the FIC, and the percentage of vendors claiming the use of a certain medicinal plant for the same indication was assessed with the FL. Results: The Miao people comprise 53.4% of all informants in this study of medicinal plants. In total, 237 medicinal plant species traded in the Kaili traditional market were recorded. They belong to 219 genera and 107 families. These plants have been categorized into their purported treatments for 20 medical conditions. The inflammation category showed the highest FIC value of 0.95, showing the best agreement among market vendors claiming its usefulness to treat this condition. The FL index helped to identify 15 culturally important medicinal plant species based on the reported uses by 20 or more vendors in the market. Three medicinal plant species, Eleutherococcus gracilistylus, Sargentodoxa cuneata, and Stephania cepharantha, had an FL > 90%, being used to treat sprains/traumas, rheumatism, and heat/toxins. Conclusions: The medicinal plants sold in the Kaili market are highly diverse and have unique medicinal characteristics. The Miao people often use traditional herbal plants for disease prevention and thereby prioritize the use of medicinal plants in everyday life. The future of this medicinal marketplace, however, is uncertain since few young people (< 30 years old) are vendors or customers. Therefore, it is urgent to conserve traditional ethnomedicinal culture in local communities and pass on the associated traditional knowledge to future generations in this prefecture. And the next step should include further studies on FL > 90% plants' chemistry, pharmacology, biological activity, and toxicity for potentially developing functional foods or pharmaceutical products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The structures of three complex saponins from the fruit pods of Blighia sapida have been elucidated and their 1H and 13C NMR spectra assigned employing a variety of one- and two-dimensional NMR techniques without degradative chemistry. The saponins have either four or six monosaccharide units linked to a triterpene aglycone. High-resolution, proton-coupled-HSQC spectra were important for determining both the identities of the intact monosaccharide units and coupling constants in strongly coupled proton spin systems. These NMR experiments will prove crucial as the complexity of saponin structures reaches the limit that can be determined solely by NMR. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Covering: up to 1 October 2020 Solanum steroidal glycoalkaloids (SGA), characterized by nitrogenous steroidal aglycone and glycoside residues, mainly occur in the Solanum species, including economically important edible plants such as potato, tomato, and eggplant. To date, 107 SGA assigned to six total skeletons have been identified from Solanum plants. SGA have unique structures and display significant pharmacological activities such as cytotoxic, antimicrobial, anticholesterol, and some are well-known poisons. The biosynthesis pathway, transcriptional regulation, and the evolution of SGA are also examined in detail. This report updates the chemical knowledge of the naturally occurring SGA from Solanum species, thereby providing an in-depth analysis of their diversity, biological activities, and biosynthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fumaria species, commonly known as fumitory or earth smoke, are considered weeds in many regions. However, several Fumaria species have long been used in folk medicine, such as F. capreolata L., F. densiflora DC., F. indica (Hausskn.) Pugsley, F. officinalis L., F. parviflora Lam., and F. vaillantii Loisel. as well. The ethnobotany, phytochemistry, and pharmacology of 24 Fumaria species have been investigated. Phytochemical studies on Fumaria species revealed the presence of numerous alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, and terpenoids. Phthalideisoquinolines (PTIs), protoberberines, and spirobenzylisoquinolines (SBIs) are the major alkaloids in the genus Fumaria. The plants biosynthesize a diverse group of biologically active isoquinoline alkaloids, and these may help to explain the use of various Fumaria species in folk medicine. Pharmacological studies revealed a broad spectrum of bioactivities such as hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and antitumor activities. We found 159 articles published from 1969–2019 by searching the keyword " Fumaria " using databases such as SciFinder, Google Scholar, and PubMed. Based on our reading of these papers, Fumaria species appear to be a source of bioactive isoquinoline alkaloids and ethnomedicines. The lack of studies on pharmacological mechanisms, pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy, quality control, and toxicology are discussed in this review. There is great potential for broader medicinal applications of this genus. Unlabelled Image [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Covering: 2009 to 2018. Diterpenoid alkaloids, originating from the amination of natural tetracyclic diterpenes, are a diverse class of compounds having complex structural features with many stereocenters. The important pharmacological activities and structural complexity of the diterpenoid alkaloids have long interested scientists due to their medicinal uses, infamous toxicity, and unique biosynthesis. Since 2009, 373 diterpenoid alkaloids, assigned to 46 skeletons, have been isolated and identified from plants mostly in the Ranunculaceae family. The names, classes, molecular weight, molecular formula, NMR data, and plant sources of these diterpene alkaloids are collated here. This review will be a detailed update of the naturally occurring diterpene alkaloids reported from the plant kingdom from 2009–2018, providing an in-depth discussion of their diversity, biological activities, pharmacokinetics, toxicity, application, evolution, and biosynthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Correlated Acer truncatum leaf (ATL) metabolites and environmental factors. • Flavonoids (FLAs) and gallic acid-containing products (GANPs) are main metabolites. • Thirty-four compounds were identified for the first time from A. truncatum. • FLAs and GANPs levels are affected by humidity, temperature, and sunshine duration. • Prioritized cultivation sites for harvesting ATL with potential health benefits. Traditionally in Northern China, Acer truncatum leaves (ATL) have been used as herbal tea, now consumed worldwide. Few studies have reported ATL metabolites from different areas and their correlation with the environment. Thus, metabolomic analyses were conducted on ATL collected from twelve locations throughout four environmental zones in Northern China to understand the phytochemical differences with regards to environmental conditions. Sixty-four compounds, mostly flavonoids (FLAs) and gallic acid-containing natural products (GANPs), were characterized, including 34 previously unreported constituents from A. truncatum. Twenty-two markers were useful to differentiate ATL from the four environmental zones. Humidity, temperature, and sunshine duration are the predominant factors affecting FLAs and GANPs levels. Sunshine duration was positively correlated with eriodictyol (r = 0.994, p < 0.01), and humidity negatively with epicatechin gallate (r = −0.960, p < 0.05). These findings provide insights into ATL phytochemistry, aiding cultivation of A. truncatum tea with higher potential health benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aconitum carmichaelii has long been used as a traditional Chinese medicine, and its processed lateral roots are known commonly as fuzi. Aconitine-type C 19 -diterpenoid alkaloids accumulating in the lateral roots are some of the main toxicants of this species, yet their biosynthesis remains largely unresolved. As a first step towards understanding the biosynthesis of aconitine-type C 19 -diterpenoid alkaloids, we performed de novo transcriptome assembly and analysis of rootstocks and leaf tissues of Aconitum carmichaelii by next-generation sequencing. A total of 525 unigene candidates were identified as involved in the formation of C 19 -diterpenoid alkaloids, including those encoding enzymes in the early steps of diterpenoid alkaloids scaffold biosynthetic pathway, such as ent -copalyl diphosphate synthases, ent -kaurene synthases, kaurene oxidases, cyclases, and key aminotransferases. Furthermore, candidates responsible for decorating of diterpenoid alkaloid skeletons were discovered from transcriptome sequencing of fuzi, such as monooxygenases, methyltransferase, and BAHD acyltransferases. In addition, 645 differentially expressed genes encoding transcription factors potentially related to diterpenoid alkaloids accumulation underground were documented. Subsequent modular domain structure phylogenetics and differential expression analysis led to the identification of BAHD acyltransferases possibly involved in the formation of acetyl and benzoyl esters of diterpenoid alkaloids, associated with the acute toxicity of fuzi. The transcriptome data provide the foundation for future research into the molecular basis for aconitine-type C 19 -diterpenoid alkaloids biosynthesis in A. carmichaelii . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2015 edition, Ganoderma (Lingzhi) is a species complex that comprise of Ganoderma lucidum and Ganoderma sinense . The bioactivity and chemical composition of G. lucidium had been studied extensively, and it was shown to possess antitumor activities in pharmacological studies. In contrast, G. sinense has not been studied in great detail. Our previous studies found that the stipe of G. sinense exhibited more potent antitumor activity than the pileus. To identify the antitumor compounds in the stipe of G. sinense , we studied its chemical components by merging the bioactivity results with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-based chemometrics. The stipe of G. sinense was extracted with water, followed by ethanol precipitation and liquid–liquid partition. The resulting residue was fractionated using column chromatography. The antitumor activity of these fractions were analysed using MTT assay in murine breast tumor 4T1 cells, and their chemical components were studied using the LC-QTOF-MS with multivariate statistical tools. The chemometric and MS/MS analysis correlated bioactivity with five known cytotoxic compounds, 4-hyroxyphenylacetate, 9-oxo-(10E,12E)-octadecadienoic acid, 3-phenyl-2-propenoic acid, 13-oxo-(9E,11E)-octadecadienoic acid and lingzhine C, from the stipe of G. sinense . To the best of our knowledge, 4-hyroxyphenylacetate, 3-phenyl-2-propenoic acid and lingzhine C are firstly reported to be found in G. sinense . These five compounds will be investigated for their antitumor activities in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypericum species (Hypericaceae) are a group of important plants with medicinal, edible, and ornamental values. A phytochemical study on the whole plants of H. hengshanense W. T. Wang, a species endemic to China, led to the isolation and elucidation of 25 monoterpenoid acylphloroglucinols (MAPs). Among them, 10 are undescribed compounds, namely hyphengshanols A–D, (+)-empetrilatinol A, (−)-empetrilatinol B, (−)-hyperjovinol A, (9 S ,2′ S)-dauphinol F, and (8 R ,2′ S)-empetrikathiforin. In addition, the absolute configurations of other six compounds were firstly determined in the current study. The structures were established by ultraviolet (UV), high resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrum (HR-ESI-MS), and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) data. The absolute configurations were determined by experimental and calculated electronic circular dichroism (ECD) data analyses. Cytotoxicity assays on five human cell lines HL-60, A549, SMMC-7721, MDA-MB-231, and SW480 revealed that 16 compounds exhibited broad-spectrum antiproliferative activities with IC 50 ranging from 7.54 to 45.70 μM. Ten undescribed monoterpenoid acylphloroglucinols and 15 known analogs were isolated and identified, including six pairs of stereoisomers. Their cytotoxicity against five cancer cell lines was evaluated. [Display omitted] • MAPs were isolated from Hypericum hengshanense including 10 undescribed ones. • The absolute configurations of 16 MAPs were determined by ECD calculations. • Six pairs of stereoisomers were separated via chiral-phase HPLC. • Sixteen isolates showed cytotoxicity against five cancer cell lines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Ethnopharmacological relevance The leaves of Phaleria nisidai Kaneh. (Thymelaeaceae) are brewed into a tea commonly used as a tonic, strengthening beverage and immune enhancer in Palau, Micronesia. Recently, the leaves of P. nisidai have been shown to contain toxic daphnane diterpene esters which may pose a public health threat to Palauans. Aims of the study This project documents the use frequency, preparation and side effects of P. nisidai . The content of daphnane diterpene esters in aqueous and methanol extracts and infusions prepared by healers in Palau is compared to assess the risk of daphnane ingestion associated with traditional consumption. Quantitative results are correlated with an in vitro assessment of the immunomodulating activity of the extracts. Materials and methods Research participants, comprising traditional healers and laypeople, were interviewed concerning use patterns and side effects of P. nisidai . Several traditional healers prepared and provided boiled tea samples for chemical analysis. Leaves were collected and methanolic and aqueous extractions were prepared in the laboratory. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were cultured with various concentrations of methanol and aqueous leaf extracts and their output of IFNγ was measured using ELISA. Cell proliferation was also assessed using the MTT assay. The concentration of selected daphnane diterpene esters in healer-prepared infusions, lab methanol and lab aqueous extracts was quantified using ultraperformance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-triple quadrupole detection (UPLC-MS-TQD). Results Through structured interviews it was determined that P. nisidai tea was used frequently, with many participants drinking it daily. The reported side effects were mild, and with the exception of diarrhea ( n =2), no side effect was mentioned more than once. Methanol extracts contained 4.0 μg simplexin, 17.6 μg acetoxyhuratoxin and 2.3 μg huratoxin per g dry leaf material. In traditional water infusions provided by healers and in standardized lab-prepared aqueous extracts all three compounds were below the limit of detection (16.3 ng/mL) using our UPLC-MS-TQD method. Methanol and aqueous extracts increased the release of IFNγ by PBMCs ( p <0.05); however, methanol extracts were significantly more active than aqueous extracts ( p <0.05). Methanol and aqueous extracts significantly increased proliferation of PBMCs, causing at least 60% more cell proliferation than negative control ( p <0.05). Conclusions The presence of daphnane diterpene esters in a frequently consumed traditional beverage was initially viewed as a public health concern, though interview data reveal that Palauans do not observe toxicity or side effects associated with their use of P. nisidai tea. Concurrently, daphnanes are present in methanolic extracts but not detected in aqueous preparations indicating that the traditional method of preparation avoids the extraction of these potentially toxic compounds, while still maintaining immunostimulant activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

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

The HPLC profiles of six fruits endemic of the VIII region of Chile were investigated using high resolution mass analysis (HR-ToF-ESI-MS). The anthocyanin fingerprints generated for the fruits were compared and the antioxidant capacities measured by the scavenging of the DPPH radical, the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), the superoxide anion scavenging activity assay (SA), and correlated with the inhibition of lipid peroxidation in human erythrocytes (LP) and total content of phenolics, flavonoids and anthocyanins measured by spectroscopic methods. Several anthocyanins were identified, including 3- O -glycosides derivatives of delphinidin, cyanidin, petunidin, peonidin and malvidin. Three phenolic acids (feruloyl-quinic acid, chlorogenic acid, and neochlorogenic acid) and five flavonols (hyperoside, isoquercitrin, quercetin, rutin, myricetin and isorhamnetin) were also identified. Calafate fruits showed the highest antioxidant activity. However, the highest LP activity was found for Chilean blueberries (>95%) followed by calafate fruits (91.27%) and luma (83.4%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

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

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

The anthocyanin composition and HPLC fingerprints of six small berries endemic of the VIII region of Chile were investigated using high resolution mass analysis for the first time (HR-ToF-ESI-MS). The antioxidant features of the six endemic species were compared, including a variety of blueberries which is one of the most commercially significant berry crops in Chile. The anthocyanin fingerprints obtained for the fruits were compared and correlated with the antioxidant features measured by the bleaching of the DPPH radical, the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), the superoxide anion scavenging activity assay (SA), and total content of phenolics, flavonoids and anthocyanins measured by spectroscopic methods. Thirty one anthocyanins were identified, and the major ones were quantified by HPLC-DAD, mostly branched 3-O-glycosides of delphinidin, cyanidin, petunidin, peonidin and malvidin. Three phenolic acids (feruloylquinic acid, chlorogenic acid, and neochlorogenic acid) and five flavonols (hyperoside, isoquercitrin, quercetin, rutin, myricetin and isorhamnetin) were also identified. Calafate fruits showed the highest antioxidant activity (2.33 ± 0.21 μg/mL in the DPPH assay), followed by blueberry (3.32 ± 0.18 μg/mL), and arrayán (5.88 ± 0.21), respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The study objective was to evaluate the composition of a neutral and weakly acidic water-soluble extract from Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench (EchNWA) previously shown to modify murine influenza infection, and to assess immunomodulatory effects on human T-cells. EchNWA extract from fresh aerial parts was extracted with water, ethanolic precipitation, and size-exclusion chromatography. The chemical profile of EchNWA was characterized by chromatography (size-exclusion, HPLC, GC–MS), and small molecule fingerprint analysis performed by HPLC–PDA. Jurkat T-cells at high and low cell density were pretreated or not with doses of EchNWA, followed by activation with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate plus ionomycin (PMA+I). Interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferon gamma (IFNg) cytokine secretions were measured by multi-cytokine luminex technology. Results showed that EchNWA contains 80% polysaccharides, predominantly a 10kDa entity; phenolic compounds, cynarin, cichoric and caftaric acids, but no detectable alkylamides. Cytokine production required stimulation and was lower after PMA+I activation in high-density compared to low-density conditions. EchNWA mediated a strong dose-dependent enhancement of high-density T-cell production of IL-2 and IFNg response to PMA+I. EchNWA alone did not stimulate T-cells. EchNWA enhanced mean fluorescence intensity of IL-2 in Jurkat T-cells activated by PMA+1 or ionomycin alone. Conversely EchNWA mediated modest but significant suppression of IFNg response and reduced the percentage of CD25+ T-cells under low-density conditions. Conclusions are that EchNWA polysaccharides, but not phenolic compounds have dose-related adjuvant effects on human T-cell cytokine responses characterized by enhancing and suppressive effects that are regulated by T-cell density. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] Prohexadione-calcium treatment alters flavour compound biosynthesis in hops. [•] Twenty-nine metabolites among three pathways were targeted by LC-ToF-MS and UHPLC methods. [•] Developmental time-courses revealed changes in the velocity of accumulation of hop bitter acids. [•] Prohexadione-calcium may be useful for crop and food quality improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elephantopus scaber is an ethnomedicinal plant used by the Zhuang people in Southwest China to treat headaches, colds, diarrhea, hepatitis, and bronchitis. A new δ-truxinate derivative, ethyl, methyl 3,4,3',4'-tetrahydroxy-δ-truxinate (1), was isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of the entire plant, along with 4 known compounds. The antioxidant activity of these 5 compounds was determined by ABTS radical scavenging assay. Compound 1 was also tested for its cytotoxicity effect against HepG2 byMTT assay (IC50 = 60μM), and its potential anti-inflammatory, antibiotic, and antitumor bioactivities were predicted using target fishing method software. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

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

The endemic Chilean tree Gomortega keule (Molina) Baillon (Gomortegaceae) was highly appreciated for its edible fruits. Due to substitution of the native forest by tree monocultures, this species in now endangered. Antioxidant assay-guided fractionation of the methanolic extract led to the isolation of eight antioxidant compounds, including rare highly oxygenated coumarins, besides the more common antioxidant compounds chlorogenic acid (compound 6) and rutin (compound 16). The isolation of the compounds was achieved by preparative reverse phase HPLC and the structural elucidation was performed using 1H and 13C NMR techniques. A metabolomic fingerprint was generated and 32 compounds were detected and analyzed on the basis of HPLC-PDA and HR-ESI-ToF-MS. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents of the fruits were determined by spectroscopic means. The content of the major compounds chlorogenic acid (6) and dimethylfraxetin (22) was 51.80±1.49mg/100g dry weight and 9.57±0.11mg/100g dry weight, respectively, while compounds 6 and 16 showed the highest antioxidant capacity (42.37±3.72?g/ml and 23.91±1.50?g/ml in the DPPH scavenging assay, respectively). This is the first report of antioxidant capacity and polyphenolic content of the edible queule fruits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Chemical profiles were established using UPLC-QTof-MS metabolomics. • Over 100 marker compounds contributing to the chemotaxonomy were characterized. • All extracts inhibited NO production in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells at 100 μ g/mL. • H. japonicum showed cytotoxicity to SMMC-7721 cells (IC 50 = 59.8 μ g/mL). • Potential antiproliferative markers were identified using a chemometrics approach. Many Hypericum species have been used as medicinal plants, herbal teas, and dietary supplements around the world. A previous ethnobotanical survey found that seven Hypericum species in southern China (H. daliense , H. hengshanense , H. himalaicum , H. japonicum , H. petiolulatum subsp. yunnanense , H. seniawinii , and H. wightianum) have been used traditionally to treat inflammation and infectious diseases, but studies on the chemical compositions and bioactivities of these folk medicines are limited. The current study aimed to characterize bioactive marker compounds correlated with two in vitro bioassays for cytotoxicity and anti-inflammation. Methanolic extracts of these species were chemically profiled using UPLC-QTof-MS metabolomics, characterizing the 52 major components from these Hypericum species. To chemically differentiate these seven species, 112 chemical features were characterized as potential chemotaxonomic markers, out of which 89 were tentatively identified. Using a chemometric approach, antiproliferative activity was tracked with chemical markers. H. japonicum showed antiproliferative effects on SMMC-7721 human hepatocarcinoma cell line with an IC 50 value of 59.8 μ g/mL. Comparison of H. japonicum to six other Hypericum species revealed that betulinic acid, isojacareubin, and taxifolin are potential antiproliferative compounds. In addition, a primary in vitro anti-inflammatory assay revealed that all the seven extracts inhibited NO production in lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW 264.7 murine macrophage cells at 100 μ g/mL, indicating that anti-inflammatory compounds may exist in all the seven species. Out of the 52 major components identified from these species, 11 have been previously reported to possess anti-inflammatory properties. These findings provide a scientific rationale for traditional uses of the seven Hypericum species in China and merit further study for the development of new medicinal products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Essential oil profiles were obtained from four Hypericum species. • H. bellum and H. perforatum demonstrated neuroprotective activity. • H. hookerianum and H. bellum oil showed strong antibacterial activity. • H. perforatum collected in Wushan showed tyrosinase inhibition activity. • The study provided a scientific basis for future exploration of Hypericum species. St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) is a well-known medicinal plant often used to treat mild to moderate mental depression. In southwest China, four species of Hypericum including H. perforatum , H. hookerianum , H. bellum and H. pseudohenryi have been used as traditional medicines for skin care, such as healing wounds, burns, and snake bites by local people. Hypericum volatile oils of these four species were obtained by supercritical CO 2 extraction and analyzed by GC–MS. From H. perforatum , 56 compounds were identified, the amounts of marker components are different between two collection sites. From H. hookerianum , 71 compounds were identified, mainly comprised of alkanes. From H. bellum , 43 compounds were identified, and its essential oil contains mainly oxygenated sesquiterpenoids. From H. pseudohenryi , 57 compounds were identified, and the essential oil has relatively high levels of alkanes. Because Hypericum species are used traditionally to treat depression, wounds, and other skin problems, their volatile oils were evaluated in vitro for neurite outgrowth-promoting, neuroprotective, antimicrobial, and enzyme inhibitory activities. H. bellum and H. perforatum from Wushan demonstrated significant neurite-promoting and neuroprotective activity. The Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus ssp. aureus was inhibited by most of the tested oils. Sesquiterpenoids and alkanols are the most abundant constituents of H. hookerianum and H. bellum oils which showed strong antibacterial activity and help to explain the observed antimicrobial activity of the oil. H. perforatum collected in Wushan showed tyrosinase inhibition activity. Based on the current results, three Asian Hypericum species and two Chinese H. perforatum populations may be promising ingredients for cosmetics, foods, and pharmaceuticals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

The banana passion fruit (Passiflora tripartita Breiter, Passifloraceae) known as "tumbo" is very appreciated in tropical and subtropical countries of South America. Methanolic extracts from peel and the fruit juice of P. tripartita growing in Chile were analyzed for antioxidant capacity as well as for flavonoid and phenolic content. A chromatographic method was developed for the rapid identification of the main phenolics in the samples by HPLC-DAD and HPLC-MS. The fast fingerprint analysis allowed the detection of eighteen flavonoid C-glycosides and four flavonoid O-glycoside derivatives which were characterized by UV spectra and ESI-MS-MS analysis. Several of the C-glycosides detected are structurally related to the orientin derivative 4'-methoxy-luteolin- 8-C-(6"acetyl)-β-D-glucopyranoside (31), fully elucidated by spectroscopic methods. The antioxidant derivative 31 along with schaftoside, vicenin II, orientin and vitexin were isolated from the fruit extract by high-speed countercurrent chromatography (HSCCC). A suitable method for the preparative isolation of flavonol C-glycosides from "tumbo" extracts by HSCCC is reported. The pulp of the fruits showed good antioxidant capacity (12.89 ± 0.02 μg/mL in the DPPH assay). The peel presented the highest content of flavonoids (56.03 ± 4.34 mg quercetin/100 g dry weight) which is related to the highest antioxidant power (10.41 ± 0.01 μg/mL in the DPPH assay). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Nine anthocyanins (1–9) from the edible fruits of Eugenia brasiliensis were identified by HPLC-PDA and LC–MS, and seven of these are described for the first time in this Brazilian fruit. Two of the major anthocyanins, delphinidin (8) and cyanidin (9), were studied for their inhibitory activity against chemokine interleukin-8 (IL-8) production before and after cigarette smoke extract (CSE) treatment of cells. In non-treated cells the amount of IL-8 was unchanged following treatment with cyanidin and delphinidin in concentrations 0.1–10μM. Both delphinidin (8) and cyanidin (9) decreased the production of IL-8 in treated cells, at 1 and 10μM, respectively. Delphinidin (8) demonstrated IL-8 inhibition in the CSE treated cells in a dose-dependent manner. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Plant carotenoids play essential roles in photosynthesis, photoprotection, and as precursors to apocarotenoids. The plastid-localized carotenoid biosynthetic pathway is mediated by well-defined nucleus-encoded enzymes. However, there is a major gap in understanding the nature of protein interactions and pathway complexes needed to mediate carotenogenesis. In this study, we focused on carotene ring hydroxylation, which is performed by two structurally distinct classes of enzymes, the P450 CYP97A and CYP97C hydroxylases and the nonheme diiron HYD enzymes. The CYP97A and HYD enzymes both function in the hydroxylation of β-rings in carotenes, but we show that they are not functionally interchangeable. The formation of lutein, which involves hydroxylation of both β- and ε-rings, was shown to require the coexpression of CYP97A and CYP97C enzymes. These enzymes were also demonstrated to interact in vivo and in vitro, as determined using bimolecular fluorescence complementation and a pull-down assay, respectively. We discuss the role of specific hydroxylase enzyme interactions in promoting pathway flux and preventing the formation of pathway dead ends. These findings will facilitate efforts to manipulate carotenoid content and composition for improving plant adaptation to climate change and/or for enhancing nutritionally important carotenoids in food crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Abstract: Four flavone C-glycosides, isoorientin (1), orientin (2), vitexin (3), and isovitexin (4), were isolated from the neotropical blueberry of Anthopterus wardii, a so-called “superfruit”, using antioxidant activity-guided fractionation. A dose–response relationship of compounds 1–4 was determined for their anti-inflammatory activity against interleukin-8 (IL-8) and for the inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) expression, an inflammatory marker for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The four flavone C-glycosides exhibited inhibitory activity against IL-8 production and MMP-1 expression, with compounds 1, 3, and 4 having the most potent inhibitory activities in both assays at 100μg/ml. The structures of compounds 1–4 were determined by spectroscopic methods. These flavone C-glycosides are reported for the first time in the Anthopterus genus. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The rhizome of Curcuma longa (turmeric) is often used in Asia as a spice and as a medicine. Its most well-studied component, curcumin, has been shown to exhibit poor bioavailability in animal studies and clinical trials. We hypothesized that the presence of lipophilic components ( e.g., turmerones) in turmeric extract would affect the absorption of curcumin. The effects of turmerones on curcumin transport were evaluated in human intestinal epithelial Caco-2 cells. The roles of turmerones on P-glycoprotein (P-gp) activities and mRNA expression were also evaluated. Results showed that in the presence of α- and aromatic turmerones, the amount of curcumin transported into the Caco-2 cells in 2 hours was significantly increased. α-Turmerone and verapamil (a P-gp inhibitor) significantly inhibited the efflux of rhodamine-123 and digoxin ( i.e., inhibited the activity of P-gp). It is interesting that aromatic turmerone significantly increased the rhodamine-123 efflux and P-gp ( MDR1 gene) mRNA expression levels. The effects of α- and aromatic turmerones on curcumin transport as well as P-gp activities were shown here for the first time. The presence of turmerones did affect the absorption of curcumin in vitro. These findings suggest the potential use of turmeric extract (including curcumin and turmerones), rather than curcumin alone, for treating diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Eight Garcinia species including seven edible fruits, Garcinia aristata, G. hombroniana, G. intermedia, G. livingstonei, the “superfruit”G. mangostana, G. spicata, and G. xanthochymus, and the wood of G. kola were analyzed using a validated high-performance liquid chromatography photo-diode array (HPLC-PDA) method. Three benzophenones, guttiferone A, guttiferone E, and xanthochymol, and four biflavonoids amentoflavone, fukugeside, fukugetin, and volkensiflavone were identified and quantified by HPLC-PDA with authentic standards to verify their identity. Garcinia intermedia (IC50 =60.1±27.3μg/mL) and G. mangostana (IC50 =64.3±11.3μg/mL) fruits demonstrated the highest antioxidant activity. The highest level of xanthochymol was found in G. spicata (70.50±1.10mg/g dry weight), while the highest quantity of guttiferone A was detected in G. intermedia (43.00±0.30mg/g dry weight), and thus was determined to be rich in total phenolic content. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]