Chemical Profiling and Biological Activity of Plant Natural Compounds II

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Phytochemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 July 2023) | Viewed by 22826

Special Issue Editors

Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
Interests: natural products chemistry; NMR; structural elucidation; botanicals; analysis of plant secondary metabolites through LC-MS; food chemistry
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
Interests: natural product discovery; chemical analysis of medicinal, food, and aromatic plants; extraction and separation of specialized metabolites from plants; structure elucidation of natural products by NMR and MS techniques; chemical profile of natural compounds by LC-MS analyses
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In the last decade, interest in natural products has grown significantly, not only for their key role in drug discovery, but also for their potential use as health compounds in the prevention of many diseases. The development of advanced techniques contributes to a more efficient screening of bioactive components from natural sources, with an increasing performance in their extraction, isolation, and structural characterization, even if in complex mixtures or matrixes. In particular, NMR and mass spectrometry tools have improved over the years for the analysis of natural products’ complex mixtures, such as those found in most botanical extracts. At the same time, investigation on the biological activity of pure biomolecules or phytocomplexes has produced a large quantity of studies, elucidating the role in the human health of a large number of plants, foods, and their constituents.

Therefore, the aim of this Special Issue is the collection of scientific contributions (research papers, short communications, and review articles) focused on investigations of chemical features of naturally plant-derived compounds, including extraction, separation, isolation, and structural elucidation, as well as utilization and/or development of innovative techniques for these purposes. Furthermore, relevant studies on biological activity evidencing the health benefits of naturally occurring plant metabolites are welcome.

Prof. Dr. Alessandra Braca
Dr. Marinella De Leo
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • natural products
  • NMR 
  • plant-derived compounds
  • biological activity 
  • LC–MS 
  • isolation 
  • chemical profile

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Published Papers (12 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 1043 KiB  
Article
Antioxidant and Antiproliferative Activities of Phenolic Extracts of Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl. Fruits and Leaves
by Agata Maria Pawłowska, Natalia Żurek, Ireneusz Kapusta, Marinella De Leo and Alessandra Braca
Plants 2023, 12(18), 3221; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/plants12183221 - 10 Sep 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 946
Abstract
Increasing interest in new sources of secondary metabolites as biologically active substances has resulted in an advanced study of many plant species. Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl. = Rhaphiolepis bibas (Lour.) Galasso & Banfi, Rosaceae family), an evergreen, subtropical fruit tree, native [...] Read more.
Increasing interest in new sources of secondary metabolites as biologically active substances has resulted in an advanced study of many plant species. Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl. = Rhaphiolepis bibas (Lour.) Galasso & Banfi, Rosaceae family), an evergreen, subtropical fruit tree, native to China and Japan, but cultivated in southern countries of Europe, is a species commonly used in folk medicine and may be an excellent source of bioactive compounds. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the profile of the phenolic constituents of E. japonica fruits and leaves originating from Tuscany (Italy), as well as their in vitro antioxidant and chemopreventive activities on human cancer cell lines breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7), colon adenocarcinoma (Caco-2 and HT-29), and glioblastoma (U87MG). Results revealed that the extract of leaves displayed higher antioxidant and anticancer potential than the fruit extract and contained 25 individual phenolic compounds that have been characterized and quantified by the UPLC-PDA-MS method. The antiproliferative activity was correlated with the content of polyphenolic compounds indicating that both fruits and leaves are a good source of antioxidants and may be exploited as nutraceuticals enriching food or as components for the cosmetic/pharmaceutical industry. Full article
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16 pages, 2632 KiB  
Article
Chemical Constituents with Anti-Lipid Droplet Accumulation and Anti-Inflammatory Activity from Elaeagnus glabra
by Ju-Hsin Cheng, Ho-Cheng Wu, Chia-Hung Yen, Tsong-Long Hwang, Horng-Huey Ko and Hsun-Shuo Chang
Plants 2023, 12(16), 2943; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/plants12162943 - 14 Aug 2023
Viewed by 960
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a type of steatosis caused by excess lipids accumulating in the liver. The prevalence of NAFLD has increased annually due to modern lifestyles and a lack of adequate medical treatment. Thus, we were motivated to investigate the [...] Read more.
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a type of steatosis caused by excess lipids accumulating in the liver. The prevalence of NAFLD has increased annually due to modern lifestyles and a lack of adequate medical treatment. Thus, we were motivated to investigate the bioactive components of Formosan plants that could attenuate lipid droplet (LD) accumulation. In a series of screenings of 3000 methanolic extracts from the Formosan plant extract bank for anti-LD accumulation activity, the methanolic extract of aerial parts of Elaeagnus glabra Thunb. showed excellent anti-LD accumulation activity. E. glabra is an evergreen shrub on which only a few phytochemical and biological studies have been conducted. Here, one new flavonoid (1), two new triterpenoids (2 and 3), and 35 known compounds (438) were isolated from the ethyl acetate layer of aerial parts of E. glabra via a bioassay-guided fractionation process. Their structures were characterized by 1D and 2D NMR, UV, IR, and MS data. Among the isolated compounds, methyl pheophorbide a (37) efficiently reduced the normalized LD content to 0.3% with a concentration of 20 μM in AML12 cell lines without significant cytotoxic effects. 3-O-(E)-Caffeoyloleanolic acid (13) and methyl pheophorbide a (37) showed inhibitory effects on superoxide anion generation or elastase release in fMLP/CB-treated human neutrophils (IC50 < 3.0 μM); they displayed effects similar to those of the positive control, namely, LY294002. These findings indicate that E. glabra can be used for developing a new botanical drug for managing LD accumulation and against inflammation-related diseases. Full article
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16 pages, 3394 KiB  
Article
Wound Healing Effect of Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Datura metel L. Leaves Extracts: An In Vitro Study of Anti-Inflammation, Cell Migration, MMP-2 Inhibition, and the Modulation of the Sonic Hedgehog Pathway in Human Fibroblasts
by Warintorn Ruksiriwanich, Pichchapa Linsaenkart, Anurak Muangsanguan, Korawan Sringarm, Pensak Jantrawut, Chaiwat Arjin, Sarana Rose Sommano, Yuthana Phimolsiripol and Francisco J. Barba
Plants 2023, 12(13), 2546; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/plants12132546 - 04 Jul 2023
Viewed by 1212
Abstract
Datura metel L. (thorn apple) has been used in Thai folk wisdom for wound care. In this study, we chose supercritical carbon dioxide extraction (scCO2) to develop crude extraction from the leaves of the thorn apple. The phytochemical profiles were observed [...] Read more.
Datura metel L. (thorn apple) has been used in Thai folk wisdom for wound care. In this study, we chose supercritical carbon dioxide extraction (scCO2) to develop crude extraction from the leaves of the thorn apple. The phytochemical profiles were observed using liquid chromatography–quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-QTOF-MS). The biological activities of D. metel were performed through antioxidant assays, anti-inflammation based on the Griess reaction, the migration assay, the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), and regulatory genes in fibroblasts. Dm1 and Dm2 extracts were obtained from scCO2 procedures at different pressures of 300 and 500 bar, respectively. Bioactive compounds, including farnesyl acetone, schisanhenol B, and loliolide, were identified in both extracts. The antioxidant properties of both D. metel extracts were comparable to those of l-ascorbic acid in hydrogen peroxide-induced fibroblasts with no significant difference. Additionally, Dm1 and Dm2 significantly inhibited the nitrite production levels of 1.23 ± 0.19 and 1.52 ± 0.05 μM, respectively, against the lipopolysaccharide-treated group (3.82 ± 0.39 μM). Interestingly, Dm1 obviously demonstrated the percentage of wound closure with 58.46 ± 7.61 and 82.62 ± 6.66% after 36 and 48 h of treatment, which were comparable to the commercial deproteinized dialysate from the calf blood extract. Moreover, both extracts were comparable to l-ascorbic acid treatment in their ability to suppress the expression of MMP-2: an enzyme that breaks down collagen. The gene expressions of SHH, SMO, and GLI1 that control the sonic hedgehog pathway were also clearly upregulated by Dm1. Consequently, the scCO2 technique could be applied in D. metel extraction and contribute to potentially effective wound closure. Full article
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15 pages, 4521 KiB  
Article
Rosa davurica Inhibited Allergic Mediators by Regulating Calcium and Histamine Signaling Pathways
by Seojun Lim, Sarang Oh, Quynh T. N. Nguyen, Myeongju Kim, Shengdao Zheng, Minzhe Fang and Tae-Hoo Yi
Plants 2023, 12(7), 1572; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/plants12071572 - 06 Apr 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1442
Abstract
Rosa davurica Pall. exhibits antioxidant, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties; however, its pharmacological mechanism in allergy is yet to be understood. This study confirmed the effects of R. davurica Pall. leaf extract (RLE) on allergy as a new promising material. To evaluate the therapeutic [...] Read more.
Rosa davurica Pall. exhibits antioxidant, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties; however, its pharmacological mechanism in allergy is yet to be understood. This study confirmed the effects of R. davurica Pall. leaf extract (RLE) on allergy as a new promising material. To evaluate the therapeutic potential of RLE against allergy, we investigated the effects of RLE on the regulatory β-hexosaminidase, histamine, histidine decarboxylase (HDC), Ca2+ influx, nitric oxide (NO), and cytokines induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and DNP-IgE/BSA in Raw 264.7 and RBL-2H3 cells. Furthermore, we examined the effects of RLE on the signaling pathways of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and Ca2+ pathways. After stimulating Raw 264.7 cells with LPS, RLE reduced the release of inflammatory mediators, such as NO, cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, inducible nitric oxygen synthase (iNOS), interleukin (IL)-1β, -6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. Also, RLE reduced the β-hexosaminidase, histamine, HDC, Ca2+ influx, Ca2+ pathways, and phosphorylation of MAPK in DNP-IgE/BSA-stimulated RBL-2H3 cells. Our studies indicated that RLE is a valuable ingredient for treating allergic diseases by regulating cytokine release from macrophages and mast cell degranulation. Consequently, these results suggested that RLE may serve as a possible alternative promising material for treating allergies. Full article
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15 pages, 2026 KiB  
Article
Pharmacognostic Study, Diuretic Activity and Acute Oral Toxicity of the Leaves of Xiphidium caeruleum Aubl. Collected in Two Different Phenological Stages
by Yamilet I. Gutiérrez Gaitén, Alejandro Felipe González, Ramón Scull Lizama, Carlos R. Núñez Cairo, Greisa L. Álvarez Hernández, Venancio Díaz Masó, Ana C. Noa Rodríguez, José A. Herrera Isidrón, Luc Pieters, Kenn Foubert and Lisset Herrera Isidrón
Plants 2023, 12(6), 1268; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/plants12061268 - 10 Mar 2023
Viewed by 1604
Abstract
Xiphidium caeruleum Aubl. is traditionally used in Cuba as an analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antilithiatic and diuretic remedy. Here we studied the pharmacognostic parameters of the leaves of X. caeruleum, the preliminary phytochemical composition, diuretic activity and acute oral toxicity of the aqueous extracts [...] Read more.
Xiphidium caeruleum Aubl. is traditionally used in Cuba as an analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antilithiatic and diuretic remedy. Here we studied the pharmacognostic parameters of the leaves of X. caeruleum, the preliminary phytochemical composition, diuretic activity and acute oral toxicity of the aqueous extracts from the leaves of plants collected in the vegetative (VE) and flowering (FE) stages. The morphological characteristics and physicochemical parameters of leaves and extracts were determined. The phytochemical composition was assessed by phytochemical screening, TLC, UV, IR and HPLC/DAD profiles. The diuretic activity was evaluated in Wistar rats and compared to furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide and spironolactone. Epidermal cells, stomata and crystals were observed on the leaf surface. Phenolic compounds were identified as the main metabolites, including phenolic acids (gallic, caffeic, ferulic and cinnamic acids) and flavonoids (catechin, kaempferol-3-O-glucoside and quercetin). VE and FE showed diuretic activity. The activity of VE was similar to furosemide, and the activity of FE resembled spironolactone. No acute oral toxicity was observed. The presence of flavonoids and phenols in VE and FE may explain at least in part the traditional use and provide some insight into the reported ethnomedical use as a diuretic. Because of the differences in polyphenol profiles between VE and FE, further studies should be carried out to standardize the harvesting and extraction conditions in order to use X. caeruleum leaf extract as herbal medicine. Full article
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22 pages, 3844 KiB  
Article
Potential Anti-Cholinesterase Activity of Bioactive Compounds Extracted from Cassia grandis L.f. and Cassia timoriensis DC.
by Maram B. Alhawarri, Roza Dianita, Mira Syahfriena Amir Rawa, Toshihiko Nogawa and Habibah A. Wahab
Plants 2023, 12(2), 344; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/plants12020344 - 11 Jan 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1352
Abstract
Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors remain the primary therapeutic drug that can alleviate Alzheimer’s disease’s (AD) symptoms. Several Cassia species have been shown to exert significant anti-AChE activity, which can be an alternative remedy for AD. Cassia timoriensis and Cassia grandis are potential plants with [...] Read more.
Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors remain the primary therapeutic drug that can alleviate Alzheimer’s disease’s (AD) symptoms. Several Cassia species have been shown to exert significant anti-AChE activity, which can be an alternative remedy for AD. Cassia timoriensis and Cassia grandis are potential plants with anti-AChE activity, but their phytochemical investigation is yet to be further conducted. The aims of this study were to identify the phytoconstituents of C. timoriensis and C. grandis and evaluate their inhibitory activity against AChE and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE). Two compounds were isolated for the first time from C. timoriensis: arachidyl arachidate (1) and luteolin (2). Five compounds were identified from C. grandis: β-sitosterol (3), stigmasterol (4), cinnamic acid (5), 4-hydroxycinnamic acid (6), and hydroxymethylfurfural (7). Compound 2 showed significant inhibition towards AChE (IC50: 20.47 ± 1.10 µM) and BChE (IC50: 46.15 ± 2.20 µM), followed by 5 (IC50: 40.5 ± 1.28 and 373.1 ± 16.4 µM) and 6 (IC50: 43.4 ± 0.61 and 409.17 ± 14.80 µM) against AChE and BChE, respectively. The other compounds exhibited poor to slightly moderate AChE inhibitory activity. Molecular docking revealed that 2 showed good binding affinity towards TcAChE (PDB ID: 1W6R) and HsBChE (PDB ID: 4BDS). It formed a hydrogen bond with TYR121 at the peripheral anionic site (PAS, 2.04 Å), along with hydrophobic interactions with the anionic site and PAS (TRP84 and TYR121, respectively). Additionally, 2 formed three H-bonds with the binding site residues: one bond with catalytic triad, HIS438 at distance 2.05 Å, and the other two H-bonds with GLY115 and GLU197 at distances of 2.74 Å and 2.19 Å, respectively. The evidence of molecular interactions of 2 may justify the relevance of C. timoriensis as a cholinesterase inhibitor, having more promising activity than C. grandis. Full article
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10 pages, 2083 KiB  
Article
Estrogenic Activity of 4-Hydroxy-Benzoic Acid from Acer tegmentosum via Estrogen Receptor α-Dependent Signaling Pathways
by Quynh Nhu Nguyen, Seoung Rak Lee, Baolo Kim, Joo-Hyun Hong, Yoon Seo Jang, Da Eun Lee, Changhyun Pang, Ki Sung Kang and Ki Hyun Kim
Plants 2022, 11(23), 3387; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/plants11233387 - 05 Dec 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1555
Abstract
Acer tegmentosum, a deciduous tree belonging to Aceraceae, has been used in traditional oriental medicine for treating hepatic disorders, such as hepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. We evaluated the estrogen-like effects of A. tegmentosum using an estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer cell [...] Read more.
Acer tegmentosum, a deciduous tree belonging to Aceraceae, has been used in traditional oriental medicine for treating hepatic disorders, such as hepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. We evaluated the estrogen-like effects of A. tegmentosum using an estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer cell line, namely MCF-7, to identify potential phytoestrogens and found that an aqueous extract of A. tegmentosum promoted cell proliferation in MCF-7 cells. Five phenolic compounds (15) were separated and identified from the active fraction using bioassay-guided fractionation of crude A. tegmentosum extract and phytochemical analysis. The chemical structures of the compounds were characterized as vanillic acid (1), 4-hydroxy-benzoic acid (2), syringic acid (3), isoscopoletin (4), and (E)-ferulic acid (5) based on the analysis of their nuclear magnetic resonance spectra and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry data. All five compounds were evaluated using an E-screen assay for their estrogen-like effects on MCF-7 cells. Among the tested compounds, only 4-hydroxy-benzoic acid (2) promoted the proliferation of MCF-7 cells, which was mitigated by the ER antagonist, ICI 182,780. The mechanism underlying the estrogen-like effect of 4-hydroxy-benzoic acid (2) was evaluated via western blotting analysis to determine the expression levels of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), serine/threonine kinase (AKT), and ERα. Our results demonstrated that 4-hydroxy-benzoic acid (2) induced the increase in the protein expression levels of p-ERK, p-AKT, p-PI3K, and p-Erα, concentration dependently. Collectively, these experimental results suggest that 4-hydroxy-benzoic acid (2) is responsible for the estrogen-like effects of A. tegmentosum and may potentially aid in the control of estrogenic effects during menopause. Full article
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21 pages, 2741 KiB  
Article
Marrubium alysson L. Ameliorated Methotrexate-Induced Testicular Damage in Mice through Regulation of Apoptosis and miRNA-29a Expression: LC-MS/MS Metabolic Profiling
by Reda F. A. Abdelhameed, Asmaa I. Ali, Sameh S. Elhady, Hend E. Abo Mansour, Eman T. Mehanna, Sarah M. Mosaad, Salma A. Ibrahim, Rawan H. Hareeri, Jihan M. Badr and Nermeen A. Eltahawy
Plants 2022, 11(17), 2309; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/plants11172309 - 03 Sep 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1797
Abstract
Despite the efficient anti-cancer capabilities of methotrexate (MTX), it may induce myelosuppression, liver dysfunction and testicular toxicity. The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether Marrubium alysson L. (M. alysson L.) methanolic extract and its polyphenol fraction could protect mouse testicles [...] Read more.
Despite the efficient anti-cancer capabilities of methotrexate (MTX), it may induce myelosuppression, liver dysfunction and testicular toxicity. The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether Marrubium alysson L. (M. alysson L.) methanolic extract and its polyphenol fraction could protect mouse testicles from MTX-induced damage. We also investigated the protective effects of three selected pure flavonoid components of M. alysson L. extract. Mice were divided into seven groups (n = 8): (1) normal control, (2) MTX, (3) Methanolic extract + MTX, (4) Polyphenolic fraction + MTX, (5) Kaempferol + MTX, (6) Quercetin + MTX, and (7) Rutin + MTX. Pre-treatment of mice with the methanolic extract, the polyphenolic fraction of M. alysson L. and the selected pure compounds ameliorated the testicular histopathological damage and induced a significant increase in the serum testosterone level and testicular antioxidant enzymes along with a remarkable decline in the malondialdehyde (MDA) level versus MTX alone. Significant down-regulation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), p53 and miRNA-29a testicular expression was also observed in all the protected groups. Notably, the polyphenolic fraction of M. alysson L. displayed a more pronounced decline in the testicular levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and MDA, with higher testosterone levels relative to the methanolic extract. Further improvements in the Johnsen score, histopathological results and all biochemical assays were achieved by pre-treatment with the three selected pure compounds kaempferol, quercetin and rutin. In conclusion, M. alysson L. could protect against MTX-induced testicular injury by its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiapoptotic activities and through the regulation of the miRNA-29a testicular expression. The present study also included chemical profiling of M. alysson L. extract, which was accomplished by LC-ESI-TOF-MS/MS analysis. Forty compounds were provisionally assigned, comprising twenty compounds discovered in the positive mode and seventeen detected in the negative mode. Full article
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14 pages, 1447 KiB  
Article
Combined LC-MS/MS and Molecular Networking Approach Reveals Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Compounds from Erismadelphus exsul Bark
by Morel Essono Mintsa, Elvis Otogo N’nang, Élodie Choque, Ali Siah, Justine Jacquin, Jerome Muchembled, Roland Molinié, Romain Roulard, Dominique Cailleu, Mehdi A. Beniddir, Cédric Sima Obiang, Joseph-Privat Ondo, Brice Kumulungui and François Mesnard
Plants 2022, 11(11), 1505; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/plants11111505 - 03 Jun 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2477
Abstract
Erismadelphus exsul Mildbr bark is widely used in Gabonese folk medicine. However, little is known about the active compounds associated with its biological activities. In the present study, phytochemical profiling of the ethanolic extract of Erismadelphus exsul was performed using a de-replication strategy [...] Read more.
Erismadelphus exsul Mildbr bark is widely used in Gabonese folk medicine. However, little is known about the active compounds associated with its biological activities. In the present study, phytochemical profiling of the ethanolic extract of Erismadelphus exsul was performed using a de-replication strategy by coupling HPLC-ESI-Q/TOF with a molecular network approach. Eight families of natural compounds were putatively identified, including cyclopeptide alkaloids, esterified amino acids, isoflavonoid- and flavonoid-type polyphenols, glycerophospholipids, steroids and their derivatives, and quinoline alkaloids. All these compounds were identified for the first time in this plant. The use of molecular networking obtained a detailed phytochemical overview of this species. Furthermore, antioxidant (2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazylhydrate (DPPH) and ferric reducing capacity (FRAP)) and in vitro antimicrobial activities were assessed. The crude extract, as well as fractions obtained from Erismadelphus exsul, showed a better reactivity to FRAP than DPPH. The fractions were two to four times more antioxidant than ascorbic acid while reacting to FRAP, and there was two to nine times less antioxidant than this reference while reacting to DPPH. In addition, several fractions and the crude extract exhibited a significant anti-oomycete activity towards the Solanaceae phytopathogen Phytophthora infestans in vitro, and, at a lower extent, the antifungal activity against the wheat pathogen Zymoseptoria tritici had growth inhibition rates ranging from 0 to 100%, depending on the tested concentration. This study provides new insights into the phytochemical characterization and the bioactivities of ethanolic extract from Erismadelphus exsul bark. Full article
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11 pages, 1740 KiB  
Communication
Structural Characterization of Withanolide Glycosides from the Roots of Withania somnifera and Their Potential Biological Activities
by Ji Won Ha, Jae Sik Yu, Bum Soo Lee, Dong-Min Kang, Mi-Jeong Ahn, Jung Kyu Kim and Ki Hyun Kim
Plants 2022, 11(6), 767; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/plants11060767 - 13 Mar 2022
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2727
Abstract
Withania somnifera (Solanaceae), commonly known as “ashwagandha”, is an ayurvedic medicinal plant that has been used for promoting good health and longevity. As part of our ongoing natural product research for the discovery of bioactive phytochemicals with novel structures, we conducted a phytochemical [...] Read more.
Withania somnifera (Solanaceae), commonly known as “ashwagandha”, is an ayurvedic medicinal plant that has been used for promoting good health and longevity. As part of our ongoing natural product research for the discovery of bioactive phytochemicals with novel structures, we conducted a phytochemical analysis of W. somnifera root, commonly used as an herbal medicine part. The phytochemical investigation aided by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC/MS)-based analysis led to the isolation of four withanolide glycosides (14), including one new compound, withanoside XII (1), from the methanol (MeOH) extract of W. somnifera root. The structure of the new compound was determined by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic data, high-resolution (HR) electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectroscopy (MS), and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) data as well as enzymatic hydrolysis followed by LC/MS analysis. In addition, enzymatic hydrolysis of 1 afforded an aglycone (1a) of 1, which was identified as a new compound, withanoside XIIa (1a), by the interpretation of NMR spectroscopic data, HR-ESIMS, and ECD data. To the best of our knowledge, the structure of compound 2 (withagenin A diglucoside) was previously proposed by HRMS and MS/MS spectral data, without NMR experiment, and the physical and spectroscopic data of withagenin A diglucoside (2) are reported in this study for the first time. All the isolated compounds were evaluated for their anti-Helicobacter pylori, anti-oxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities. In the anti-Helicobacter pylori activity assay, compound 2 showed weak anti-H. pylori activity with 7.8% inhibition. All the isolated compounds showed significant ABTS radical scavenging activity. However, all isolates failed to show inhibitory activity against nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. This study demonstrated the experimental support that the W. somnifera root is rich in withanolides, and it can be a valuable natural resource for bioactive withanolides. Full article
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Review

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21 pages, 2925 KiB  
Review
Antidiabetic Potential of Plants from the Caribbean Basin
by Vanessa Méril-Mamert, Alejandro Ponce-Mora, Muriel Sylvestre, Genica Lawrence, Eloy Bejarano and Gerardo Cebrián-Torrejón
Plants 2022, 11(10), 1360; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/plants11101360 - 20 May 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3236
Abstract
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a group of metabolic disorders characterized by hyperglycemia, insulin insufficiency or insulin resistance, and many issues, including vascular complications, glycative stress and lipid metabolism dysregulation. Natural products from plants with antihyperglycemic, hypolipidemic, pancreatic protective, antioxidative, and insulin-like properties complement [...] Read more.
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a group of metabolic disorders characterized by hyperglycemia, insulin insufficiency or insulin resistance, and many issues, including vascular complications, glycative stress and lipid metabolism dysregulation. Natural products from plants with antihyperglycemic, hypolipidemic, pancreatic protective, antioxidative, and insulin-like properties complement conventional treatments. Throughout this review, we summarize the current status of knowledge of plants from the Caribbean basin traditionally used to manage DM and treat its sequelae. Seven plants were chosen due to their use in Caribbean folk medicine. We summarize the antidiabetic properties of each species, exploring the pharmacological mechanisms related to their antidiabetic effect reported in vitro and in vivo. We propose the Caribbean flora as a source of innovative bioactive phytocompounds to treat and prevent DM and DM-associated complications. Full article
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16 pages, 3762 KiB  
Review
Xylosma G. Forst. Genus: Medicinal and Veterinary Use, Phytochemical Composition, and Biological Activity
by Rodrigo Duarte-Casar and Juan Carlos Romero-Benavides
Plants 2022, 11(9), 1252; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/plants11091252 - 05 May 2022
Viewed by 2194
Abstract
Xylosma G. Forst. is a genus of plants belonging to the Salicaceae family with intertropical distribution in America, Asia, and Oceania. Of the 100 accepted species, 22 are under some level of conservation risk. In this review, around 13 species of the genus [...] Read more.
Xylosma G. Forst. is a genus of plants belonging to the Salicaceae family with intertropical distribution in America, Asia, and Oceania. Of the 100 accepted species, 22 are under some level of conservation risk. In this review, around 13 species of the genus used as medicinal plants were found, mainly in Central and South America, with a variety of uses, among which antimicrobial is the most common. There is published research in chemistry and pharmacological activity on around 15 of the genus species, centering in their antibacterial and fungicidal activity. Additionally, a variety of active phytochemicals have been isolated, the most representative of which are atraric acid, xylosmine and its derivatives, and velutinic acid. There is still ample field for the validation and evaluation of the activity of Xylosma extracts, particularly in species not yet studied, and concerning uses other than antimicrobial and for the identification and evaluation of their active compounds. Full article
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