Employing Central Composite Design for Evaluation of Biomass Production by Fusarium venenatum: In Vivo Antioxidant and Antihyperlipidemic Properties

The present study deals with the cost effective production of biomass from Fusarium venenatum using different carbon sources (cane sugar, brown sugar, malt and fructose). Optimization of selected carbon sources and seed size using Central Composite Response Surface Design (CCRSD) indicated that sucrose (1.64 g/100 mL) and seed size (10% v/v) were optimal in maximizing biomass yield (0.5602 g/100 mL, p < 0.0001) and protein yield (49.99%, p < 0.01) of Fusarium venenatum. The acetonitrile and methanolic extracts of biomass showed promising antioxidant activity (DPPH assay, 59.7 and 51.9% respectively, 250 μg/mL). The mycoprotein, in the Triton-X 100-induced hyperlipidemic model in rats, exhibited significant reduction of serum lipids levels (p < 0.01 at 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight) with significant increase in HDL level. It also exhibited antibacterial activity against S. aureus. LC-MS analysis of ACN extract of biomass showed two major peaks (Compound 3: m/e 701.4941 and Compound 2: m/e 651.4984). Spectral matching with standard MS libraries indicated that compound 3 may be structurally similar to sterol glycoside (m/e 716.99) with absence of methyl group. Also, compound 2 may be cholest-5-en-3-ol (3β)-, 9-octadecenoate. These results showed that Fusarium venenatum can act as a source of natural antioxidant along with acting as a valuable protein source. It may also prove to be beneficial in treatment of hyperlipidemia and other cardiovascular conditions. Further bioactivity-guided fractionation and isolation will help to obtain bioactives that may serve as leads for design of new class of therapeutic agents.

Chemical and biological comparison of different sections of Uncaria rhynchophylla (Gou-Teng)

Uncaria rhynchophylla (Gou-Teng in Chinese) is officially documented in Chinese pharmacopoeia as one of the authentic sources for the crude drug of Gou-Teng which has long been used for mental and cardiovascular diseases. Indole alkaloids are the characteristic constituents responsible for the desired hypotensive effect; however, the psychiatric active constituents of Gou-Teng are still unclear. According to traditional Chinese medicine theory, only the hook-bearing stems of U. rhynchophylla are used as the crude materials for Gou-Teng, while its leaves and fruits are scarcely used. The present study aimed to compare the metabolic fingerprints of different parts (hooks, stems, leaves and fruits) of U. rhynchophylla by LC-DAD-MS/MS analysis and further evaluate their psychiatric activities on HEK293 cell line in vitro. A total of 38 constituents including 26 alkaloids, six flavonoids, two triterpenoids, two chlorogenic acid analogs and two other compounds were characterized. The different parts of U. rhynchophylla can be well differentiated from their chemical profiles. Leaves displayed the most potent activity on both MT₁ and MT₂ receptors, with agonistic rates of 39.7% and 97.6%. For 5-HT_1A and 5-HT_2C receptors, hooks showed the strongest activity with agonistic rates of 92.6% and 83.1%, respectively. This investigation provided valuable information for understanding the chemical divergence between different parts of U. rhynchophylla, and their substantial bases for psychiatric purposes.

Iridoids and anti-inflammatory properties of n-butanol extract of Linaria tingitana Boiss. & Reut

The analysis of the n-butanol extract of Linaria tingitana (BELT) by HPLC-DAD-ESI/MS allowed the identification of four iridoids structurally confirmed by NMR and ESI-MS/MS extensive experiments data. The subjection of BELT to the anti-inflammatory activity showed that it exhibited a concentration dependent stabilisation of HRBC membrane, inhibition of protein denaturation and nitric oxide scavenging effect in the in vitro process. These results were confirmed in the in vivo experiments which showed that BELT was found to be most pronounced at 200 mg/kg after carrageenan injection which significantly reduced the swelling in both early and late phases of carrageenan-evoked oedema, as well as a significant reduce at the accumulation of infiltrating cells, inhibition of the myeloperoxidase activity and suppressed the lipid peroxidation. These results were supported by the histological analysis which revealed the reduction of oedema and cells infiltration, this might be influenced by the synergistic action of the above isolated compounds.

LC/MS/MS analysis of α-tocopherol and coenzyme Q10 content in lyophilized royal jelly, beebread and drone homogenate

This study shows the results of application liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) for assay of the content of α-tocopherol and coenzyme Q₁₀ in bee products of animal origin, i.e. royal jelly, beebread and drone homogenate. The biological matrix was removed using extraction with n-hexane. It was found that drone homogenate is a rich source of coenzyme Q₁₀ . It contains only 8 ± 1 µg/g of α-tocopherol and 20 ± 2 µg/g of coenzyme Q₁₀ . The contents of assayed compounds in royal jelly were 16 ± 3 and 8 ± 0.2 µg/g of α-tocopherol and coenzyme Q₁₀ , respectively. Beebread appeared to be the richest of α-tocopherol. Its level was 80 ± 30 µg/g, while the level of coenzyme Q₁₀ was only 11.5 ± 0.3 µg/g. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Metabolite profile of marine-derived endophytic Streptomyces sundarbansensis WR1L1S8 by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and evaluation of culture conditions on antibacterial activity and mycelial growth

AIMS

This study was designed to investigate whether culture conditions (media, seawater concentration and pH) could lead Streptomyces sundarbansensis strain (isolated from marine brown algae Fucus sp. collected from Algerian coastline) to produce bioactive secondary metabolites. The most favourable condition for the production of anti-MRSA compound 1 [2-hydroxy-5-((6-hydroxy-4-oxo-4H-pyran-2-yl)methyl)-2-propylchroman-4-one] was determined.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The profile of metabolites present in the crude extracts was carried out by HPLC analysis equipped with a diode array detector evaporative light scattering detection (DAD-ELSD) or online coupled to electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). Compound 1 was the most abundant secondary metabolite by culturing the strains on starch casein agar (SCA) medium in freshwater or 50% seawater at pH 7 or 9 using agar-state fermentation method.

CONCLUSIONS

The study has shown the efficiency of HPLC/ESI-MS technique in the analysis of polyketides produced by the strain under investigation. It was possible to establish the best culture conditions for obtaining the most bioactive compound 1, previously isolated by the same strain.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

Marine algae-actinobacteria associations are a particularly promising renewable system for the production of new antibacterial metabolites. Based on the promising bioactivity of the chemically characterized compound 1, the analytical methodology here applied has resulted as an effective approach for establishing its optimized production.