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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.

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.)

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.)

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.)

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.)

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.

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.)

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.)

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.)

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.)

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Trifolium resupinatum L. (Fabaceae), known as Persian clover, ethnomedicinally used in Persian folk medicine to treat peritoneal inflammation, rheumatism, and back pain., Aim of the Study: To investigate the antineuropathic and antinociceptive activities of Trifolium resupinatum leaves essential oil (TREO) in male Wistar rats, as well as to explore the potential mechanisms of action., Materials and Methods: The antinociceptive activity of TREO and its main constituents, quercetin (Qc) was assessed using the formalin-induced paw licking test. Moreover, the potential mechanisms of antinociception were evaluated through various competitive and non-competitive antagonisms. Additionally, the antineuropathic potential was investigated using the cervical spinal cord hemi-contusion (CCS) model, and the role of phosphorylated Stat-3 was analyzed using Western blotting., Results: TREO exerted significant antinociceptive activity (P < 0.01) in both phases of the formalin-induced test; however, its effects were more pronounced in the second phase. Modulators of the NO-cGMP-K + channel pathway significantly reversed the antinociceptive activity of TREO (P < 0.05). Additionally, antagonists of TRPV1 and TRPV2, as well as CB1 and GABA A receptors, significantly reversed the antinociceptive effects of TREO (P < 0.05). In another study, both TREO and Qc significantly attenuated hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia (P < 0.01) when evaluated using the CCS-induced nociception model. Notably, TREO also reduced the expression levels of interleukin-1 beta, interleukin-2, and tumor necrosis factor alpha in CCS-induced rats (P < 0.05)., Conclusion: TREO and Qc exhibit both antinociceptive and anti-neuropathic activities. The antinociceptive effects are partially mediated through the NO-cGMP-K + channel pathways, along with the activation of TRPV, GABA, and cannabinoid receptors. Furthermore, the anti-neuropathic activity of TREO may be partially regulated through the inhibition of cytokines., 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.)

The leaves of Crataegus pinnatifida Bge., a medicinal plant and a source of brewed tea, are often overlooked as a byproduct of fruit consumption. Despite this, these leaves have demonstrated significant cardiovascular protective and lipid-lowering properties. To further investigate their potential applications, nine novel compounds (1-9) and twelve known flavonoids were isolated from C. pinnatifida leaves. Their structures were elucidated through comprehensive spectroscopic analysis, including experimental and calculated electronic circular dichroism. The antioxidant capacities of these 21 compounds were assessed using DPPH˙ and ABTS˙ + assays. Notably, the newly identified biphenyl compounds 7 and 8 exhibited potent antioxidant activities, surpassing that of vitamin C in both assays. Additionally, the ABTS˙ + assay revealed that flavonoid O -glycosides generally possess stronger antioxidant activity compared to flavonoid C -glycosides. To evaluate their cytoprotective potential, compounds 12-14 and 18-20 were tested against H 2 O 2 -induced neurotoxicity in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. At 100 μM, these compounds demonstrated significant protective effects. Furthermore, flavonoid C -glycosides exhibited stronger protective activity against alcohol-induced injury in BRL-3A hepatocytes than flavonoid O -glycosides. In conclusion, this study provides compelling evidence that C. pinnatifida leaves contain valuable bioactive compounds with potent antioxidant and cytoprotective properties. These findings further validate the traditional use of this plant and offer promising avenues for future research and potential therapeutic applications.

The separation of large polar constituents presents a substantial challenge in natural product research when employing column chromatography techniques, as the process is both complex and time-consuming. In this study, an acetonitrile/tetrahydrofuran/di-(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid/aqueous saturated sodium chloride solvent system was developed and utilized for the countercurrent chromatography of polar constituents from Ginkgo biloba L. seeds. Five polar constituents were effectively isolated using an acetonitrile/tetrahydrofuran/di-(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid/aqueous saturated sodium chloride (2:2:0.8:3, v / v ) solvent system using a two-step countercurrent chromatography method. In the initial countercurrent chromatography process, three constituents were successfully purified from the methanol extract: compound 1 , compound 4 , and compound 5 . Compounds 2 and 3 , co-eluted from the column, were further subjected to three inner-recycling chromatographic procedures. At last, five constituents were purified and identified, including 4'-O-methylpyridoxine ( 1 ); two indole alkaloid N-glucosides, ginkgoside B ( 2 ) and ginkgoside A ( 3 ); 2-(4-hydroxybenzyl) malic acid ( 4 ); and coniferyl alcohol ( 5 ). The results demonstrated that the acetonitrile/tetrahydrofuran/di-(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid/aqueous saturated sodium chloride solvent system serves as a feasible system for the efficient countercurrent chromatography separation of polar components.

In this work, new sorbents for the purification of anthocyanin-rich extracts were evaluated. Copolymers of 4-vinylpyridine crosslinked with trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate (poly(4VP-co-TRIM)) or 1,4-dimethacryloyloxybenzene (poly(4VP-co-14DMB)) were tested for their potential to capture polyphenols. Copolymers were obtained by seed swelling polymerization in the form of microspheres with permanent porous structure - attractive features of sorbents used for sample purification by dispersive solid phase extraction. The microspheres were characterized by AFM, elemental analysis, SEM, and nitrogen adsorption-desorption method. Their capacity to remove polyphenols was evaluated using spectrophotometry, HPLC-DAD, and LC-MS/MS. For proof-of-concept, the aqueous extracts of berries classified into three different groups regarding their anthocyanin composition (strawberries, raspberries, blackcurrants) were selected. It was found that studied microspheres adsorbed flavonoids more effectively compared to primary secondary amine and graphitized carbon black. Copolymers of 4-vinylpyridine also capture anthocyanins and might be used for the purification of extracts of fruits before LC-MS/MS analysis to reduce the matrix effect., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Ilona Sadok, Agnieszka Krzyszczak-Turczyn, Marta Grochowicz have patent “Method of obtaining purified berry fruit extracts and the use of microspheres based on 4-vinylpyridine for the purification of berry fruit extracts”, P.448492 pending to The Patent Office of the Republic of Poland., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Proanthocyanidin (PAC) is recognized as a potent natural antioxidant that prevents various diseases. As societal awareness increases, eco-friendly and efficient natural product extraction technologies are gaining more attention. In this study, an electron beam irradiation (EBI) coupled with ultrasound-assisted natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) extraction method was developed to enable the green and highly efficient extraction of PAC from walnut green husk (WGH). NADES, prepared with choline chloride and ethylene glycol, demonstrated excellent extraction capacity and storage stability for PAC. Molecular dynamics simulations elucidated the high compatibility between NADES and PAC, attributed mainly to a higher SASA value (207.85 nm 2 ), a greater number of hydrogen bonds (330.99), an extended hydrogen bonding lifetime (4.54 ps), and lower inter-molecular interaction energy. Based on these findings, the optimal conditions (13 kGy EBI, 42 mL/g liquid-solid ratio, 38 °C extraction temperature, 70 min extraction time) resulted in a maximum PAC extraction yield of 56.34 mg/g. Notably, this yield was 32.93 % higher than that observed in samples not treated with EBI and ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE). Analysis of tissue morphology, extract functional groups and thermal behavior suggested a possible mechanism for the synergistically enhanced PAC extraction by the EBI-NADES-UAE method. Additionally, the PAC extracted using the NADES by the EBI coupled with ultrasound-assisted method exhibited outstanding antioxidant activity (comparable to Vc), digestive enzyme inhibition (IC50: 17-0.61 mg/mL), and anti-glycation capacity (IC50: 86.49 μg/mL). Overall, this work provided a green and efficient strategy for PAC extraction from WGH, elucidated the extraction mechanism and bioactivities, and offered valuable insights for potential industrial applications., 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.)

Cowslip (Primula veris L.) is an anioxidant-rich plant used for many food and medicinal purposes. In this study, the effect of incorporating hydrogen (H 2 ) into water (HRW), ethanol (HRE), and methanol (HRM) on the extraction of flavonoids (TFC), phenolics (TPC), and antioxidants (metal chelation, FRAP, DPPH, and ABTS) as well as color (L*, a*, b*, C*, H°), chlorophyll (a, b), lycopene, and β-carotene of wild cowslip flowers was evaluated. The results were submitted to Principal Component Analysis and correlation. Phenolic compounds, organic acids, vitamin C, and sugar content of the extract were analyzed using high-performance reverse phase liquid chromatography (HPLC-DAD/RID). The highest TPC, TFC, and antioxidant activity (metal chelation, FRAP, DPPH, and ABTS) were shown for HRM samples, followed by HRE samples, while the lowest were found for pure solvents. Incorporating H 2 into all solvents significantly increased TPC, TFC, metal chelation, DPPH, and ABTS scavenging activity, as well as b*, C*, H°, chlorophyll, lycopene, and β-carotene values. The levels of some phenolics (catechin, epicatechin, rutin, and quercetin), organic acids (tartaric acid and succinic acid), reducing sugars (maltose, glucose, and fructose), and ascorbic acid increased by 10-90 % when an H 2 -rich solvent was used instead of the pure solvent. This is the first report showing the enhanced extraction of organic acids, pigments, and ascorbic acid by hydrogen-rich solvent. The main benefits of the HRS method are its sustainability and high efficiency in extracting bioactive compounds from medicinal plants., 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.)

Recalcitrant structure of cell walls restricts the extraction of bioactive components from edible plants. In this study, the impacts of steam explosion (SE) on the release and transformation of flavonoids in Astragali Radix (AR) were evaluated. Results revealed that SE destroyed the compact structure of cell walls. Furthermore, the porous network was reformed due to the degradation of hemicelluloses and water-soluble components. The maximum extraction contents of ethanol-soluble and water-soluble flavonoids of 6.34 and 1.48 mg/g were obtained from the pretreated AR (1.5 MPa, 5 min), which were 5.22 and 2.88 times higher than those obtained from the untreated AR, respectively. SE not only released bound flavonoids from cell walls by cleaving glycoside or ester bonds, but also transformed some flavonoid glycosides into aglycones through deglycosylation. In conclusion, SE can reduce mass transfer hindrance and facilitate flavonoid transformation, thus providing a green and facile processing method for traditional edible plants., 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.)

From a perspective focused on phyto-nutraceuticals, alkaloids are considered to be the most significant metabolites, as they exhibit a broad range of pharmacological applications. Therefore, it is essential, to conduct a thorough investigation of the extraction techniques employed and to optimize the overall process. Considering this, we delved into tailor-made natural deep eutectic solvents coupled with ultrasonic-assisted extraction and macroporous resins aided recovery of therapeutics alkaloids from Thalictrum foliolosum DC. The extraction parameters including duty cycle (X 1 ), extraction time (X 2 ), water content (X 3 ), and liquid-to-solid ratio (X 4 ) were optimized through response surface methodology. Under the optimal extraction conditions [duty cycle- 61 %, ultrasonication extraction time- 10.35 min, water content- 30.51 %, and liquid-to-solid ratio- 30 mL/g], the yield of berberine (11.91 ± 0.12 mg/g DW), berbamine (11.85 ± 0.16 mg/g DW), magnoflorine (6.06 ± 0.05 mg/g DW), and palmatine (2.53 ± 0.015 mg/g DW) were found to be near the model prediction. Further, adsorption/desorption characteristics were investigated, and the results highlight AB-8 resin as most effective for the recovery of berberine and palmatine, while, XAD-7HP resin is best suited for berbamine and magnoflorine. FT-IR analysis shows similar spectra among the purified extracts with significantly (p < 0.05) higher antioxidant and anti-glycemic activities. In conclusion, the developed method complies with the criteria of green extraction which can be harnessed as a natural antioxidant in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Interest in fruit juice extracts as nutraceuticals is constantly increasing due to their health-beneficial properties, mainly caused by polyphenols. However, the correlation between the various effects of fruit juice extracts and their individual composition, including anthocyanins and copigments, is unknown. Therefore, in the present study, eight red fruit juice extracts were prepared using XAD-7 column chromatography, followed by fractionation and identification of the different compounds as well as characterization of their health-promoting effects. The fruit juice extract of pomegranate, chokeberry, and cranberry showed the highest antimicrobial potential against food-borne pathogens. The highest antioxidant and cell proliferation-inhibiting potential was also found in the pomegranate extract. It can be assumed that pomegranate extracts, which are rich in copigments, especially hydrolyzable tannins, are suitable natural antioxidants and antimicrobial agents. Pomegranate extracts could be used as nutraceuticals or natural preservatives., 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 Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Persimmon-derived pectin (PP) is a versatile dietary polysaccharide with considerable industrial and biological significance, demonstrating a range of functionalities and health-promoting benefits. This review explores the changes in PP during postharvest and processing, detailing structural alterations and extraction techniques for optimal characteristics. Key functional attributes of PP-such as emulsification, rheology, antioxidant capacity, immunomodulation, and gut microbiota regulation-highlight its potential applications in food, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. The review also explores methods to enhance the functional properties of PP through synergistic interactions with polyphenols. A strategic roadmap for advancing PP research is proposed, connecting extraction methods, structural characteristics, and functional properties to tailor PP for specific applications in food science and technology. Overall, persimmon-derived pectin is positioned as a valuable food-derived bioactive ingredient with diverse capabilities, poised to drive innovation and advance nutritional science across multiple sectors., 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.)

This study investigated the potential health benefits of spearmint, orange peel, and baby sage oleoresins extracted using supercritical CO 2 and subsequently emulsified. The oleoresins were incorporated into dark chocolate, and their impact on physicochemical properties was evaluated. Characterization revealed rich sources of phenolic compounds, carotenoids, and volatile compounds in these oleoresins. In vitro studies demonstrated anti-obesogenic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties of the emulsified oleoresins. However, only physicochemical properties were determined for the formulations of dark chocolate with these emulsified oleoresins. Chocolate formulations fortified with these emulsions displayed a softer texture, lower water activity, and solid-like behavior. The findings suggest that these oleoresins could serve as nutraceutical agents for mitigating metabolic syndrome and associated pathologies. Incorporating them into chocolate matrices offers a practical approach to formulating functional foods. Further research is warranted to explore the preventive and therapeutic efficacy in an in vivo model., 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.)

Hazelnut skins (HS) are usually managed as waste; however, this by-product is a source of bioactive compounds, with potential applications in feed and food sectors. Phenolic compounds can be extracted using green protocols combining enabling technologies and green solvents. This work investigates subcritical water extraction (SWE) of bioactive compounds from HS. A laboratory-scale study was performed on four different batches, with significant batch-to-batch heterogeneity. The evaluation of polyphenolic profiles and antioxidant activities afforded promising results compared to the benchmark of reflux maceration. To evaluate process effectiveness, the extraction protocol was replicated on a semi-industrial plant that processed 8 kg of matrix. Downstream processes have been optimized for scale-up, demonstrating the effectiveness of SWE in retaining product concentration and bioactivity avoiding excipients in spray-drying phase. Hazelnut extracts exhibited antibacterial properties against animal- and food-borne pathogens, supporting their potential use as sustainable feed ingredients for improved hazelnut production and animal farming practices., 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 Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Wheat germ is one of the richest natural sources of polyamines, especially spermidine. Cell proliferation property of polyamines has given them inductive effects in the reduction of a variety of chronic diseases and fertility enhancement. Preparing a polyamine-rich extract powder from wheat germ for use in supplements is the aim of the present study. For the first time, the effects of three independent variables of clean-up replicate (A), extraction time (B), and solid-to-liquid ratio (C) on the response of total spermidine content (Y) were investigated using a central composite design optimizing polyamine enrichment. The optimal extraction conditions were 7 h, 3 clean-up replicates, and 1:4 solid to liquid ratio. This is the first production report of spermidine-enriched powder for encapsulation purposes. To obtain an acceptable rheological property, the polyamine-enriched extract was spray dried together with a selected group of excipients, among which glucose was evidenced as the best choice based on encapsulation properties., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare. All co-authors have seen and agree with the contents of manuscript and there is no financial interest to report. We certify that the submission is original work and is not under review at any other publication., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

This study focuses on evaluating new methods for the green extraction of saponin compounds from Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua (PCH). This study utilized a combination of carboxylic acid-based natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) and various extraction techniques including conventional heat reflux-, ultrasound-, and microwave-assisted extraction. The primary objectives were to assess total saponin yield, antioxidant capacity, and enzyme inhibition efficiency. Additionally, the solvents and extracts were evaluated for their antibacterial activity. Oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions of NADES extracts were also characterized and analyzed for stability. Results indicated that three NADES systems were effective in extracting saponins, with choline chloride and lactic acid (ChCl-LA) system being the most efficient. The ChCl:LA extract exhibited antimicrobial and antioxidant activities superior to conventional organic solvent extracts. Additionally, it demonstrated maximum inhibitory activity (IC 50 values: 0.98 ± 0.03 and 1.46 ± 0.07 mg/mL, respectively) against α-glucosidase and α-amylase. The NADES extract as an aqueous phase significantly improved the stationarity of the O/W emulsion. Collectively, the study highlights the antimicrobial and technological advantages of NADES as a potential solvent for extracting saponin compounds from PCH., 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.)

This study focuses on the extraction of bioactive compounds from Quercus sideroxyla Bonpl., leaves which have been shown to possess health benefits. The extraction process was done using pressurized liquid extraction (PLE), which is efficient and preserves heat-sensitive compounds. Key factors in the process included the choice of solvents, pressure, temperature, and extraction duration. The Hansen solubility parameters analysis aided in selecting effective solvents, such as ethanol and benzyl alcohol. The extracts were found to contain phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and polyphenols with antioxidant properties. The UPLC-PDA-ESI-QqQ was employed for the precise identification and quantification of these compounds, demonstrating superior extraction of quinic acid and gallic acid at elevated temperatures. Notably, the extracts obtained through PLE exhibited significant inhibitory activity of the MAO-A enzyme, linked to neuronal and cognitive health, suggesting potential benefits in these areas., 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.)

When conventional solvents such as water, methanol, ethanol, hexane, petroleum ether, etc., are used to extract active ingredients from natural resources, an evaporation process is required to remove solvent from active ingredients, which not only consumes huge amounts of energy, but also causes harm to human health and the environment. The CO 2 -responsive switchable hydrophilic solvent (SHS) based on amines and water is an emerging, green and recyclable solvent, which not only has high extraction efficiency of active ingredients, but also can remove solvent from active ingredients without evaporation process. This paper reviews the research progress of amine-based SHS in the extraction of bioactive ingredients from natural resources. The process flow, extraction mechanism, critical influencing factors, recovery of amines and latest applications have been summarized. On this basis, some shortcomings of amine-based SHS are also pointed out. Finally, the improvement directions of amine-based SHS extraction in the future is prospected., 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.)

During lutein extraction, isomerization from all-trans to cis form reduced stability and antioxidant capacity. Alkaline electrolyzed water (AEW), with its reduced-state and small molecular clusters, effectively extracted bioactive substances and inhibited oxidation. Thus, an AEW-assisted ultrasonic extraction method was used to extract lutein from daylily. Compared to ultrasonic extraction alone, AEW treatment increased the lutein yield by 60 %. Structural analysis confirmed the preservation of all-trans lutein by AEW. Assess AEW extraction's impact on lutein's bioactivity by examining its protection against blue light cell damage. The results showed that that lutein extracted using AEW exhibited enhanced antioxidant capacity, significantly boosting the viability of ARPE-19 cells and the activity of intracellular antioxidant enzymes, thereby mitigating oxidative stress damage to the retina caused by blue light exposure. This study provided an effective method for efficiently extracting bioactive substances and preventing the impact of the extraction process on their structure and function., 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.)

In this study, the isolation and purification of melanin pigment from Mesona chinensis (MCM) were conducted, and the structural characterization and stability evaluation of MCM were performed. The results indicate that MCM is consistent with the spectral features of catechins and polyphenols, identified the stretching vibrations of functional groups such as OH, CH, CO, and CO. It is inferred that the structure of MCM is consistent with that of theophylline and it is mainly composed of phenolic acids, terpenoids, and organic acids. Stability evaluations indicate that MCM exhibits stability under white light, ultraviolet (UV) light, neutral, and alkaline environments, and it shows low sensitivity to reducing agents., 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.)

Separation of polar compounds especially with similar polarities is challenging. In the present study, three polar compounds with similar polarities, including gentiopicroside, sweroside and mangiferin, have been successfully separated from Swertia mussotii by a combination of two counter-current chromatography modes. With the selected solvent system of ethyl acetate/n-butanol/water (8/2/10, v/v), a continuous injection mode was firstly employed. As a result, 10.4 g of mangiferin with purity higher than 98% and 8 g of Peak I mainly composed of gentiopicroside and sweroside could be easily obtained from 24 g of the sample by counter-current chromatography through eight injections. Then, a recycling counter-current chromatography mode was introduced for the separation of gentiopicroside and sweroside. Through six cycles, 5.3 g of gentiopicroside and 0.8 g of sweroside with purity higher than 98% were obtained from 8 g of Peak I. The research provides a reference for the large-scale separation of polar compounds with similar polarities., (© The Author(s) 2025. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

In this research, eight natural deep eutectic solvents (NaDESs) consisting of food-grade ingredients were screened for the extraction of four bioactive compounds (acteoside, cinnamic acid, angoroside C and harpagoside) from radix scrophulariae (RS). Among these NaDESs, Proline-Glycerol NaDES with higher comprehensive score was selected. The Criteria Importance Through Intercriteria Correlation (CRITIC) was applied to calculate the information entropy and the weight of indexes, and figured out a comprehensive score. The weights of acteoside, cinnamic acid, angoroside C and harpagoside were 0.369, 0.172, 0.241 and 0.218, respectively. Response surface methodology (RSM) mathematical model was used to optimize the extraction parameters. The optimal extraction parameters were as follows: extraction time with 42.21 min, NaDES concentration with 52.89%, solid-to-liquid ratio with 1 : 37.05 g/mL and the predicted value of comprehensive score was 0.885. Under the optimal condition, the comprehensive score was 0.903 ± 0.005. Finally, the antioxidant activity experiment revealed that the 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl · radical scavenging activity and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity of the extract at 2.0 mg/mL and 1.5 mg/mL were approximately equal to those of ascorbic acid, respectively. The results showed that the extraction condition optimized by RSM combined with CRITIC was reasonable and dependable, and the extract of radix scrophulariae exhibited good antioxidant activity., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

In this study, a practicably complementary size exclusion chromatography and reversed-phase liquid chromatography method was constructed and applied to efficiently separate and purify structural analogs or isomers from natural products. First, a ternary styrene-divinylbenzene matrix CHP20P medium-pressure elution system was applied for Ligustrum qianluoenenst leaf crude sample pretreatment, with a recovery of 91.2 %, and 13.0 g of the target fraction Fr4 was obtained. A complementary HW-40C SEC and ReproSil-Pur C18 AQ RPLC system was subsequently constructed by optimizing the HW-40C separation conditions and ReproSil-Pur C18 AQ analysis. Finally, the established complementary SEC and RPLC method was used for the separation and purification of compounds from Ligustrum qianluoenenst leaf target fraction Fr4, and 12 flavone-C-glycosides were successfully prepared with purities exceeding 95 %. The overall methodologies established for flavone-C-glycoside preparative isolation have the potential to maximize the possibility of discovering more structural analogs, including new structural analogs or isomers from natural products., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors state that they have no known conflicting financial interests or personal ties that may have influenced the work presented in this publication., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Pistacia lentiscus L., commonly known as the mastic tree or lentisk, is a woody Mediterranean plant revered for its ecological relevance as well as for its extensive ethnobotanical heritage. Historically, the fruits and the resin of P. lentiscus have been widely utilized in traditional medicine, underscoring its important role in local healing practices. Given these properties, this study explored an innovative approach to efficiently extract anthocyanins and flavonols from P. lentiscus oilcakes utilizing ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) as an alternative to conventional solvent extraction. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and high-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection (HPLC-DAD) were used to identify and quantify the anthocyanins and flavonols, revealing the successful extraction of eight distinct anthocyanins and twenty flavonols. A Fractional Factorial Design (FFD) followed by a Box-Behnken design (BBD) were applied to optimize the yield of anthocyanins and flavonols. The optimal extraction conditions found were to be an extraction time of 15 min with 70% ethanol as the solvent and a liquid-to-solid ratio of 0.012 L g -1 , which resulted in a maximum extraction yield of 19.78 mg g -1 dry extract for the Total Flavonol Content and over 25.4 mg g -1 dry extract for the Total Flavonol and Anthocyanin Content. By elucidating the optimal conditions for extracting anthocyanins and flavonol glycosides, this study opens promising avenues for utilizing P. lentiscus oilcake by-products, supporting sustainable practices, and advancing the valorization of Mediterranean bio-resources for health-promoting applications.

This study presents the development of an analytical characterization strategy tailored to end products derived from an alfalfa ( Medicago sativa )-based biorefinery with particular emphasis on protein concentrates and phenolic-enriched fractions. Our approach began with a comprehensive full-factorial experimental design aimed at optimizing the extraction process, taking care to design a biocompatible extraction protocol. Liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) techniques were used to characterize the molecular profile of the extracts. In particular, the extracts showed a significant relative abundance of flavonoids and isoflavonoids in both their aglycone and glycosylated forms, in which antioxidant activity was evaluated. In addition, we elucidated the proteomic profiles of the protein concentrates. This proteomic characterization served as a valuable resource for understanding the differences between these end products, providing insights that can guide informed decisions about their potential applications.

Grape processing generates large amounts of by-products, including seeds rich in hydrophilic and lipophilic antioxidants. This study demonstrates, for the first time, that subjecting grape seeds to a single ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) with aqueous ethanolic solutions yields both flavan-3-ols and tocochromanols in the final extract. Notably, the water content in ethanol significantly influences the extractability of tocochromanols more than flavan-3-ols. Solid-to-solvent ratios of 1:50 to 1:2 were tested for both analytical and industrial applications. A sustainable analytical approach for recovering flavan-3-ols and tocochromanols using 60% and 96.4% ethanol extractions was validated and employed to profile nineteen genotypes of lesser-studied interspecific grape crosses (Vitis spp.). Different genotypes showed a wide range of concentrations of tocopherols (1.6-6.3 mg/100 g), tocotrienols (1.0-17.4 mg/100 g), and flavan-3-ols (861-9994 mg/100 g). This indicated that the genetic background and maturity of the plant material are crucial factors from an industrial perspective due to the initial concentration of bioactive compounds. Finally, the study also discussed the fundamental aspects of hydrophobic antioxidant extractability from the lipid matrix with aqueous ethanol solutions and the limitations of the workflow, such as the non-extractable tocochromanols and their esters and the losses of these lipophilic antioxidants during extraction., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing Interest All other authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Tea saponin has garnered tremendous interest for its potential use in surfactant and drug synthesis. This research was designed to develop a technique based on pH-responsive switchable deep eutectic solvents (SDESs) for extracting tea saponins from Camellia oleifera seed meal. SDES synthesized from hexanoic acid and triethanolamine (1:1 molar ratio) offered the optimum extractive performance and the optimal conditions were obtained through single-factor experiments: 30 wt% water content in SDES, solid-liquid ratio of 1:30 g/mL, 60°C extraction temperature, 30 min extraction time, and acid volume of 1500 µL. The extraction yield was 162.14 mg/g after optimization, which increased by 15.65% and 9.47% compared to water and ethanol extraction methods, respectively. After pH adjustment, 98.95% of the tea saponins were recovered in the bottom phase. After precipitation and freeze-drying procedures, the purity of the tea saponin solid was 62.9%., (© 2025 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

The use of direct injection ion mobility mass spectrometry (DI-IM-MS) to detect and identify betacyanin pigments in A. hortensis 'rubra' extracts was explored for the first time, with results compared to conventional LC-MS/MS analysis. The anti-inflammatory activities of leaf and seed extracts, alongside purified amaranthin and celosianin pigments, were investigated using a model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated murine macrophages. Extracts and purified pigments significantly inhibited the production of prostaglandin E 2 and NO by up to 90% and 70%, respectively, and reduced the expression of Il6, Il1b, Nos2, and Cox2. Leaf and seed extracts also decreased secretion of Il6 and Il1b cytokines and reduced protein levels of Nos2 and Cox2. Furthermore, extracts and purified pigments demonstrated potent dose-dependent radical scavenging activity in a cellular antioxidant activity assay (CAA) without any cytotoxic effects. Our research highlights the promising biological potential of edible, climate-resilient A. hortensis 'rubra' as a valuable source of bioactive compounds., 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 Ltd.. All rights reserved.)