Medicinal and therapeutic potentialities of tea (Camellia sinensis L.) – A review

Herbal preparations for the treatment of hair loss

Though hair does not serve any crucial physiological function in modern humans, it plays an important role in our self-esteem. Androgenic baldness (androgenic alopecia) and circular/spot baldness (alopecia areata) are the most common forms of hair loss. Many active ingredients of synthetic origin are available for treatment; however, they have a number of limitations. Their effectiveness and safety are questionable and the amount of time needed to achieve the effect is both long and unclear. This has increased interest in finding an alternative approach against hair loss using preparations containing plants and/or their isolated active ingredients. A number of studies (mostly randomized, placebo-controlled) of plants and preparations made of plants have been performed to confirm their effectiveness in treating hair loss. The plants with the most evidence-based effect against alopecia are Curcuma aeruginosa (pink and blue ginger), Serenoa repens (palmetto), Cucurbita pepo (pumpkin), Trifolium pratense (red clover), and Panax ginseng (Chinese red ginseng). The assumed mechanism of action is predominately inhibition of 5α-reductase, with enhanced nutritional support and scalp blood circulation playing a role as well.

Preventive effect of flavonoids from Wushan Shencha (Malus doumeri leaves) on CCl4-induced liver injury

Wushan Shencha (Malus doumeri leaf) is a unique tea-like drink. Herein, the effect of flavonoids from Wushan Shencha (FWSSC) on carbon tetrachloride-induced liver injury was studied. The serum and liver tissues of experimental mice were analyzed by kits, a slice technique, and qPCR assay. The liver index is a calculated liver-to-body weight ratio, and the experimental results showed that FWSSC reduced the liver index of the model group with liver injury, which was the highest. Sections stained with H&E showed that FWSSC reduced stem cell necrosis caused by liver injury. FWSSC reduced the serum levels of AST, ALT, TG, and TC, as well as the levels of IL-6, TNF-α, and IFN-γ cytokines in the serum of mice with liver injury. Liver biochemical tests also showed that FWSSC increased the SOD activity and decreased TC, TG, and MPO levels in mice with liver injury. It was found that FWSSC upregulated the expression of Cu/Zn-SOD, Mn-SOD, CAT, and IκB-α, and downregulated the expression of NF-κB, COX-2, TNF-α, and IL-1β in the liver tissue of mice with liver injury by detecting the expression of mRNA in liver tissue. It is concluded that FWSSC is an active substance with hepatoprotective effects. The activity of FWSSC increased with increasing concentration, and the hepatoprotective effect of FWSSC at 100 mg/kg concentration was stronger than that of silymarin.

Acute and Subchronic Oral Toxicity of Fermented Green Tea with Aquilariae Lignum in Rodents

Green tea is generally considered safe, but there have been concerns regarding side effects relating to the main component, catechins, especially hepatotoxicities. We have previously shown beneficial effects of fermented green tea with Aquilariae Lignum (fGT) via an oral route in diabetic and obese models. Thus, the toxicological safety of fGT was assessed at limited oral doses for a rodent. Mice or rats of both genders were orally administered distilled water as a control and fGT at 2.0, 1.0, and 0.5 g/kg. There were no mortalities or gross abnormalities in the fGT groups for 2 weeks following the single oral dose in mice. No fGT-relevant abnormalities were found in postmortem and histopathological examinations, suggesting LD₅₀ of fGT at more than 2.0 g/kg with no specific target organs. There were also no fGT-relevant mortalities or abnormal signs in the repeated oral dose for 13 weeks in rats. In the fGT groups, no body weight changes or daily metabolic changes were found, and hematological and serum biochemical ranges were normal. The postmortem and histopathological examinations revealed few fGT-related abnormalities in most of the organs including the liver, although slight lymphoid cell hyperplasia in the lymph node was observed in a few rats with fGT at 2.0 g/kg. This may be secondary to increased immune response to the highest dose because there were no histopathological lesions or organ weight changes. It suggests nontoxic safety of fGT at up to 2.0 g/kg, which provides useful information for clinical use.

Immuno-physiological and antioxidant responses of Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baerii) fed with different levels of olive pomace

Nowadays, use of the natural plant derivatives as an immunostimulant in aquaculture is becoming more useful than antibiotics which are destructive to target animals, consumers, and the environment. The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of dietary substitution of wheat flour at 2, 5, 7.5, and 10% of olive pomace (OP₂, OP₅, OP_7.5, and OP₁₀) in some immune-physiological and antioxidant variables of yearling Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baerii) weighing 165 ± 6.8 g at 19.1 ± 1.52 °C for 56 days. Fifteen fish per tank were randomly accommodated in triplicates per treatment and the control group was also included. No significant difference was seen in hematological indices including red blood cells (RBS) and immunocompetent cell population sizes among the treated groups (P > 0.05). Also, malondialdehyde (MDA) activity and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in serum remained unaffected in different treatments (P > 0.05). Total protein (TP), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), catalase (CT), and lysozyme were affected by dietary OP levels (P < 0.05), and the highest value was observed at the OP₅ diet, but no influence was seen in serum IgM by OP. These data show that application of olive pomace as a partial substitute of wheat flour in the diet of Siberian sturgeon is feasible with stimulatory and antioxidant functions.

Culturable endophytic bacteria of Camellia species endowed with plant growth promoting characteristics

AIM

Tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze) is an economically important caffeine-containing beverage crop with massive plantation in the Northeast corner of the agroclimatic belt of India. The main aim of the work was to isolate, identify and characterize the native plant growth promoting endophytes associated with tea for future microbe based bioformulation.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A total of 129 endophytic bacteria were isolated and characterized for plant growth promoting traits such as indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), phosphate solubilization, ammonia production, biocontrol traits like siderophore and extracellular enzyme production. BOX-PCR fingerprinting was used to differentiate the various bacterial isolates obtained from six different tea species. 16S rRNA sequencing and blast analysis showed that these isolates belonged to different genera, that is, Bacillus, Brevibacterium, Paenibacillus and Lysinibacillus. Lysinibacillus sp. S24 showed the highest phosphate solubilization and IAA acid production efficiency of 268·4 ± 14·3 and 13·5 ± 0·5 µg ml^-1 , respectively. Brevibacterium sp. S91 showed the highest ammonia production of 6·2 ± 0·5 µmol ml^-1 . Chitinase, cellulase, protease and pectinase activities were shown by 4·6, 34·1, 27·13 and 13·14% of the total isolates, respectively. Similarly, 41% of the total isolates were positive for 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) deaminase activity. Further, the potent PGP isolates, S24 and S91 were able to enhance the vegetative parameters such as dry/fresh weight of root and shoot of tea plants in nursery conditions.

CONCLUSION

Our findings corroborate that tea endophytic bacteria possess the potential to demonstrate multiple PGP traits both, in vivo and in vitro and have the potential for further large-scale trials.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

The exploration of tea endophytic bacterial community is suitable for the development of bioformulations for an integrated nutrient management and thus sustainable crop production and decreasing the hazardous effects of chemical fertilizers on the environment and human health.

Dietary Flavonoids for Immunoregulation and Cancer: Food Design for Targeting Disease

Flavonoids, one of the most abundant phytochemicals in a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, have been recognized as possessing anti-proliferative, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and estrogenic activities. Numerous cellular and animal-based studies show that flavonoids can function as antioxidants by preventing DNA damage and scavenging reactive oxygen radicals, inhibiting formation of DNA adducts, enhancing DNA repair, interfering with chemical damage by induction of Phase II enzymes, and modifying signaling pathways. Recent evidence also shows their ability to regulate the immune system. However, findings from clinical trials have been mixed with no clear consensus on dose, frequency, or type of flavonoids best suited to elicit many of the beneficial effects. Delivery of these bioactive compounds to their biological targets through "targeted designed" food processing strategies is critical to reach effective concentration in vivo. Thus, the identification of novel approaches that optimize flavonoid bioavailability is essential for their successful clinical application. In this review, we discuss the relevance of increasing flavonoid bioavailability, by agricultural engineering and "targeted food design" in the context of the immune system and cancer.

Molecular Mechanism by Which Tea Catechins Decrease the Micellar Solubility of Cholesterol

Tea polyphenols lower the levels of cholesterol in the blood by decreasing the cholesterol micellar solubility. To clarify this mechanism, the interactions between taurocholic acid and (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg) and its derivatives were investigated. ¹³C NMR studies revealed remarkable chemical-shift changes for the carbonyl carbon atom and the 1″- and 4″-positions in the galloyl moiety. Furthermore, ¹H NMR studies using (-)-EGCg derivatives showed that the number of hydroxyl groups on the B ring did not affect these interactions, whereas the carbonyl carbon atom and the aromatic ring of the galloyl moiety had remarkable effects. The configuration at the 2- and 3-positions of the catechin also influenced these interactions, with the trans-configuration resulting in stronger inhibition activity than the cis-configuration. Additionally, a 1:1 component ratio for the catechin-taurocholic acid complex was determined by electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry. These molecular mechanisms contribute to the development of cholesterol-absorption inhibitors.

Plant Resources, Chemical Constituents, and Bioactivities of Tea Plants from the Genus Camellia Section Thea

Tea, as one of the most popular beverages with various bioactivities, is commonly produced from the fresh leaves of two widely cultivated tea plants, Camellia sinensis and C. sinensis var. assamica. Both plants belong to the genus Camellia section Thea, which was considered to have 12 species and 6 varieties according to Min's taxonomic system. Most species, except the cultivated species, are known as wild tea plants and have been exploited and utilized to produce tea by the local people of its growing areas. Thus far, six species and varieties have been phytochemically studied, leading to the identification of 398 compounds, including hydrolyzable tannins, flavan-3-ols, flavonoids, terpenoids, alkaloids, and other phenolic and related compounds. Various beneficial health effects were reported for tea and its components, involving antioxidant, antitumor, antimutagenic, antidiabetic, hypolipidemic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiviral, antifungal, neuroprotective, hepatoprotective, etc. In this review, the geographical distribution of tea plants and the chemical constituents (1-398) reported from the genus Camellia section Thea and some tea products (green, black, oolong, and pu-erh tea) that have ever been studied between 1970 and 2018 have been summarized, taking species as the main hint, and the main biological activities are also discussed.

Investigation of antioxidant activity of selenium compounds and their mixtures with tea polyphenols

The antioxidant interactions between selenium species and tea polyphenols were investigated using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) radicals, cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC) and Folin-Ciocalteu (FC) assay. Se(IV) exhibited the lowest antioxidant properties in comparison to other selenium compounds in all assays. The highest reducing power was obtained for SeMet, while the highest ability to scavenging DPPH radicals for MeSeCys. The results obtained experimentally for the mixtures containing selenium species and green or black tea infusion were compared with theoretical values calculated by adding up the effects of both individual components analyzed separately. The results obtained from each assay clearly show that observed effect is not additive. In almost every case the theoretical value of antioxidant capacity was significantly higher from that obtained from the activity of the binary mixture of black tea infusion with selenium compound decreased in the order: SeMet > Se(IV) > Se(VI) > MeSeCys, while for similar mixtures with green tea infusion: MeSeCys > Se(VI) > SeMet ~ Se(IV).

UPLC-Q-TOF/MS-based untargeted metabolomics coupled with chemometrics approach for Tieguanyin tea with seasonal and year variations

The taste and aroma quality of Tieguanyin tea fluctuate seasonally and yearly. However, the compounds responsible for the seasonal and year variations of metabolic pattern and its sensory quality are far from clear. 60 Tieguanyin tea samples harvested in different years and seasons were analyzed by ultraperformance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF/MS) and chemometrics. Principal component analysis (PCA) explained 33.2% of the total variance, while orthogonal projection to latent structures discriminate analysis (OPLS-DA) can obtain potential metabolites with better discrimination, and with R²X and Q² of cross-validation as 0.974 and 0.937, respectively. Subsequently, heat map analysis (HCA) visualized relationships between Tieguanyin teas with these significantly different potential metabolites by Mann-Whitney U test (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the best discriminate metabolites contributing to different sensory qualities were revealed by stepwise liner discrimination analysis (SLDA) with 100% accuracy rate. The present strategy also exhibited great potential for untargeted metabolomics of other foods.

Natural Product Repertoire of the Genus Amphimedon

Marine sponges are a very attractive and rich source in the production of novel bioactive compounds. The sponges exhibit a wide range of pharmacological activities. The genus Amphimedon consists of various species, such as viridis, compressa, complanata, and terpenensis, along with a handful of undescribed species. The Amphimedon genus is a rich source of secondary metabolites containing diverse chemical classes, including alkaloids, ceramides, cerebrososides, and terpenes, with various valuable biological activities. This review covers the literature from January 1983 until January 2018 and provides a complete survey of all the compounds isolated from the genus Amphimedon and the associated microbiota, along with their corresponding biological activities, whenever applicable.

The effects of five types of tea solutions on epiboly process, neural and cardiovascular development, and locomotor capacity of zebrafish

The effects of teas on embryonic development are still known little. The objective of this study was to compare and analyze developmental effects of green tea, delicate flavor oolong tea, strong flavor oolong tea, black tea, and pu'er tea using zebrafish embryos. Embryos were exposed in tea solutions from one-cell stage; the morphology, locomotor capacity, and gene expression of embryos or larvae were analyzed. The results showed that either tea could decrease the length of body and the size of head and eyes. The effect of green tea had the most significant effects on morphology. Only green tea disturbed cell movement, epiboly, and nervous system development. All five tea solutions caused heart structure alternations and lowered heart rates, and effects caused by green tea were severe. Green tea inhibited the formation of dorsal aorta and segmental arteries and decreased the velocity and total movement distance of larvae. In conclusion, the toxicity of green tea to epiboly, neural and cardiovascular development, and locomotor capacity is more severe than that of other teas. Our study played a warning role for safety consumption of teas and provided references for further study of tea's physiological and pharmacological effects and biological activity.

Evaluation of probiotic Bacillus coagulans MTCC 5856 viability after tea and coffee brewing and its growth in GIT hostile environment

In recent years, probiotic functional foods have gained quite a popularity and become a preferred choice among consumers, due to their positive effects on the gut microbiota and overall health. However, it is imperative for a probiotic strain to remain live and active at the time of consumption in high enough population density, in order to provide such health benefits. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the Bacillus coagulans MTCC 5856 spore stability after tea and coffee brewing and its subsequent growth in gastrointestinal tract (GIT) hostile environment. B. coagulans MTCC 5856 showed remarkable survival (94.94% and 99.76% in unroasted green coffee and tea, respectively) after brewing conditions and was able to grow in GIT hostile conditions using tea and coffee as a sole nutritional source. B. coagulans MTCC 5856 inclusion in tea and coffee after brewing did not significantly (P > .05) alter the sensory profile when compared to that without the probiotic inclusion. Moreover, B. coagulans MTCC 5856 growth was significantly (P < .05) higher when water soluble fibers were added during brewing, suggesting a synergistic property. It showed over 99% viability (P > .05) in tea and coffee powder at room temperature up to 24 months of storage. This study demonstrated the stability of the tested probiotic strain B. coagulans MTCC 5856 after tea and coffee brewing and its growth in GIT hostile environment, thereby suggesting functional probiotic use in tea and coffee.

Hexafluoroisopropanol-based hydrophobic deep eutectic solvents for dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction of pyrethroids in tea beverages and fruit juices

A series of new hydrophobic deep eutectic solvents (DESs), which are liquid at room temperature and have high density (>1.4 g mL^-1), were synthesized using hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP) as hydrogen-bond donor and l-carnitine/betaine as hydrogen-bond acceptor. Then these hydrophobic DESs were used as extraction solvents to establish dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) method for extraction of pyrethroids. The DES extraction phase was in the bottom after DLLME, being easy to be collected for analysis. After optimization by one-variable-at-a-time and response surface methodology, the enrichment factors of 265-360 were achieved for five pyrethroids. The proposed DLLME method coupled with HPLC has good performance: linear ranges of 0.25/0.5/1-100/200/400 ng/mL (r ≥ 0.9990), limits of detection of 0.06-0.17 ng mL^-1, relative recoveries of 85.1-109.4%, intra-day and inter-day RSDs below 7.5%. The novel DLLME method is simple, rapid, highly efficient and eco-friendly for extraction of pyrethroids in real tea beverages and fruit juices.

A novel high-performance liquid chromatography-fluorescence analysis coupled with in situ degradation-derivatization technique for quantitation of organophosphorus thioester pesticide residues in tea

A novel high-performance liquid chromatography-fluorescence analysis in combination with in situ degradation-derivatization (ISD-D) technique was developed for simultaneous determination of seven organophosphorus thioester pesticides (OPTPs) in tea. The ISD-D technique was based on degradation of OPTPs by a nucleophilic substitution reaction between phenylbutane-1,2,3-trione-2-oxime and OPTPs, which can give thiol degradation products (DPs). The thiol DPs obtained were derivatized with the novel derivatization reagent N-(4-(carbazole-9-yl)-phenyl)-N-maleimide (NCPM) in a syringe. Attractively, NCPM itself did not fluoresce, whereas the derivatives of the thiol DPs fluoresced intensely, with excitation and emission maxima at 290 nm and 368 nm, respectively, which extraordinary reduced the background interference and increased the detection sensitivity for thiol DPs. Excellent linearity (R² > 0.995) for all OPTPs was achieved, with limits of detection and limits of quantitation ranging from 0.23 to 0.45 μg/kg and from 0.75 to 1.43 μg/kg, respectively. Satisfactory recoveries ranging from 90.5% to 96.0% were obtained for all OPTPs. The ISD-D technique provided a novel and sensitive strategy for quantitation of trace amounts of OPTPs in real samples. Graphical abstract ᅟ.

Cytotoxicity of 18 Cameroonian medicinal plants against drug sensitive and multi-factorial drug resistant cancer cells

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Recommendations have been made stating that ethnopharmacological usages such as immune and skin disorders, inflammatory, infectious, parasitic and viral diseases should be taken into account if selecting plants for anticancer screening, since these reflect disease states bearing relevance to cancer or cancer-like symptoms. Cameroonian medicinal plants investigated in this work are traditionally used to treat cancer or ailments with relevance to cancer or cancer-like symptoms.

AIM OF THE STUDY

In this study, 21 methanol extracts from 18 Cameroonian medicinal plants were tested in leukemia CCRF-CEM cells, and the best extracts were further tested on a panel of human cancer cell lines, including various multi-drug-resistant (MDR) phenotypes. Mechanistic studies were performed with the three best extracts.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Resazurin reduction assay was used to evaluate cytotoxicity and ferroptotic effects of methanol extracts from different plants. Flow cytometry was used to analyze cell cycle, apoptosis, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) of extracts from Curcuma longa rhizomes (CLR), Lycopersicon esculentum leaves (LEL), and Psidium guajava bark (PGB).

RESULTS

In a pre-screening of all extracts, 13 out of 21 (61.9%) had IC₅₀ values below 80 µg/mL. Six of these active extracts displayed IC₅₀ values below 30 µg/mL: Cola pachycarpa leaves (CPL), Curcuma longa rhizomes (CLR), Lycopersicon esculentum leaves, Persea americana bark (PAB), Physalis peruviana twigs (PPT) and Psidium guajava bark (PGB). The best extracts displayed IC₅₀ values from 6.25 µg/mL (against HCT116 p53^-/-) to 10.29 µg/mL (towards breast adenocarcinoma MDA-MB-231-BCRP cells) for CLR, from 9.64 µg/mL (against breast adenocarcinoma MDA-MB-231 cells) to 57.74 µg/mL (against HepG2 cells) for LEL and from 1.29 µg/mL (towards CEM/ADR5000 cells) to 62.64 µg/mL (towards MDA-MB-231 cells) for PGB. CLR and PGB induced apoptosis in CCRF-CEM cells via caspases activation, MMP depletion and increase ROS production whilst LEL induced apoptosis mediated by caspases activation and increase ROS production.

CONCLUSION

The best botanicals tested were CLR and LEL, which are worth to be explored in more detail to fight cancers including MDR phenotypes.

Metabolomics Investigation Reveals That 8-C N-Ethyl-2-pyrrolidinone-Substituted Flavan-3-ols Are Potential Marker Compounds of Stored White Teas

White teas of different stored ages have varied flavor, bioactivity, and commercial value. In this study, a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-based metabolomics investigation revealed that there are distinct differences among the compound patterns of Baihaoyinzhen (BHYZ) and Baimudan (BMD) white teas with various storage durations. The levels of flavan-3-ols, procyanidins, theasinensins, theaflavins, flavonol- O-glycosides, flavone- C-glycosides, and most of the amino acids were reduced after long-term (>4 years) storage. More importantly, 8-C N-ethyl-2-pyrrolidinone-substituted flavan-3-ols (EPSFs), including seven novel compounds discovered in white teas for the first time, were formed from theanine and flavan-3-ols during storage, and their contents were positively correlated with the storage duration. These findings were further confirmed by the linearly increasing formation of EPSFs in reaction solution and BMD white teas stored in an environment-controlled cabinet. In conclusion, EPSFs were detected in white teas for the first time and were discovered as marker compounds and potential indicators for long-term storage of white tea.

C-8 N-Ethyl-2-pyrrolidinone-Substituted Flavan-3-ols from the Leaves of Camellia sinensis var. pubilimba

Camellia sinensis var. pubilimba, one variety of the genus Camellia sect. Thea (Theaceae), has been used for producing green tea mainly by the local people of its growing areas of Guangxi province, China. Forty compounds, including eight C-8 N-ethyl-2-pyrrolidinone-substituted flavan-3-ols (1-8) and their substituted unit N-ethyl-5-hydroxy-2-pyrrolidinone (9), four flavan-3-ol monomers (10-13) and one dimer (14), nine flavonoids (15-23), three hydrolyzable tannins (24-26), two lignans (27-28), 11 simple phenolics (29-39), and caffeine (40), were first isolated and identified from the leaves. Their structures were determined by detailed spectroscopic analysis and comparison with the literature data and authentic samples. Both 1 and 4 were obtained as a mixture of the N-ethyl-2-pyrrolidinone C-5 enantiomers (1a and 1b and 4a and 4b), respectively, while the resolution of another three pairs of enantiomers (2 and 3, 5 and 6, and 7 and 8) was achieved. Among them, 1b is a new compound whose NMR data together with its enantiomer (1a) were reported for the first time, while 2 and 3 are two new natural products. Most of the isolates exhibited significant antioxidant activities, stronger than ascorbic acid and trolox, while parts of the isolates, particularly C-8 N-ethyl-2-pyrrolidinone-substituted flavan-3-ols, showed obvious inhibitory effects on acetylcholinesterase (AChE). The results indicated that C. sinensis var. pubilimba is a valuable plant resource for tea production.

Interference Potential of Tannins and Chlorophylls in Zebrafish Phenotypic-Based Assays

Natural products are prolific producers of diverse chemical scaffolds, which have yielded several clinically useful drugs. However, the complex features of natural products present challenges for identifying bioactive molecules using high-throughput screens. For most assays, measured endpoints are either colorimetric or luminescence based. Thus, the presence of the major metabolites, tannins, and chlorophylls, in natural products could potentially interfere with these measurements to give either false-positive or false-negative hits. In this context, zebrafish phenotypic assays provide an alternative approach to bioprospect naturally occurring bioactive compounds. Whether tannins and/or chlorophylls interfere in zebrafish phenotypic assays, is unclear. In this study, we evaluated the interference potential of tannins and chlorophylls against efficacy of known small-molecule inhibitors that are known to cause phenotypic abnormalities in developing zebrafish embryos. First, we fractionated tannin-enriched fraction (TEF) and chlorophyll-enriched fraction (CEF) from Camellia sinensis and cotreated them with PD0325901 [mitogen-activated protein kinase-kinase (MEK) inhibitor] and sunitinib malate (SM; anti-[lymph]angiogenic drug). While TEF and CEF did not interfere with phenotypic or molecular endpoints of PD0325901, TEF at 100 μg/mL partially masked the antiangiogenic effect of SM. On the other hand, CEF (100 μg/mL) was toxic when treated up to 6 dpf. Furthermore, CEF at 100 μg/mL potentially enhanced the activity of γ-secretase inhibitors, resulting in toxicity of treated embryos. Our study provides evidence that the presence of tannin and/or chlorophyll in natural products do interfere with zebrafish phenotype assays used for identifying potential hits. However, this may be target/assay dependent and thus requiring additional optimization steps to assess interference potential of tannins and chlorophylls before performing any screening assay.

Effect of Fermentation Conditions and Plucking Standards of Tea Leaves on the Chemical Components and Sensory Quality of Fermented Juice

The effects of fermentation conditions (temperature, time, and pH) and plucking standards (one leaf and a bud to four leaves and a bud) on the chemical components and sensory quality of the fermented juices processed from crushed fresh tea leaves were investigated. The results showed that optimum fermentation conditions that resulted in fermented juices of the best sensory quality and the highest content of TFs were a temperature of 35°C, time duration of 75 min, and pH 5.1. The fermented juices processed from new shoots with three leaves and a bud or four leaves and a bud afforded high overall acceptability and TF concentration. These differences arise because tea leaves with different plucking standards have different catechin content and enzyme activities. Fermented tea juice possessed higher concentrations of chemical components such as soluble solids, amino acids, and TFs and exhibited better sensory quality as compared to black tea infusion. The TF concentrations decreased as the pH of the fermenting juice increased, and the fermented juice showed the best overall acceptability. These results provide essential information for the improvement of the processing of black tea beverage by suggesting fermentation of fresh tea leaves as a better alternative to their infusion.

Highly stable graphene-oxide-based membranes with superior permeability

Increasing fresh water demand for drinking and agriculture is one of the grand challenges of our age. Graphene oxide (GO) membranes have shown a great potential for desalination and water purification. However, it is challenging to further improve the water permeability without sacrificing the separation efficiency, and the GO membranes are easily delaminated in aqueous solutions within few hours. Here, we report a class of reduced GO membranes with enlarged interlayer distance fabricated by using theanine amino acid and tannic acid as reducing agent and cross-linker. Such membranes show water permeance over 10,000 L m⁻² h⁻¹ bar⁻¹, which is 10–1000 times higher than those of previously reported GO-based membranes and commercial membranes, and good separation efficiency, e.g., rhodamine B and methylene blue rejection of ~100%. Moreover, they show no damage or delamination in water, acid, and basic solutions even after months.

Graphene oxide membranes show great potential for water filtering, but improving their performance and stability remains difficult. Here, the authors use theanine amino acid and tannic acid to reduce and cross-link graphene oxide membranes with remarkably high permeability and stability in aqueous solution.

Exploring the potential of black tea based flavonoids against hyperlipidemia related disorders

Background

In recent decade, Hyperlipidemia related disorders like obesity, hypercholesterolemia and diabetes are considered as the leading killers for mankind. Fundamental nexus between nutrition and health diverting the consumers focus towards plant based natural products as a remedy against various metabolic syndrome. Considering this, present study was conducted to explicate the role of black tea polyphenols such as Theaflavins and thearubigins therapeutic potential to tackle targeted maladies especially oxidative stress related disorders like hypercholesterolemia and diabetes.

Methods

The mandate of current investigation was to explore the hypoglycemic and hypocholestrolemic perspective of isolated theaflavin and thearubigins through a model feeding trial. For the purpose, theaflavin & thearubigins were isolated from black tea through solvent partition method and utilize to form three types of nutraceutical drinks (theaflavin, thearubigins & theaflavin + thearubigins based) alongside control to be further utilized in bioefficacy trial. In bioefficacy trial, three types of independent studies were design on the bases of diet by involving 20 male wistar rats in each study (5 for each group). In study I, normal diet was administrated while, in study II & III high cholesterol and high sucrose diet was given, respectively along with prepared nutraceutical drinks to synchronize their therapeutic effect for a period of 56 days. At the termination of trial, Feed & drink intakes, body weight, total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, triglycerides, glucose and insulin levels were measured.

Results

The results indicated reduction in cholesterol, LDL and triglycerides levels of experimental rats in all studies with significant increase in HDL. In this context, theaflavin based drink imparted maximum reduction in cholesterol (3.75, 11.03 & 10.39%), LDL (3.84, 14.25& 10.84%) & triglycerides (2.99, 8.54 & 6.65%) in respective studies compared to thearubigins and theaflavin + thearubigins based drinks. However, theaflavin+ thearubigins based drink caused highest glucose decline and maximum insulin increase in all studies as compared to other nutraceutical drinks. The reported value for the insulin increase were 13.02 ± 1.02 & 14.55 ± 1.13, 10.09 ± 0.15 & 11.59 ± 0.86 for Hyperglycemic and Hypocholestrolemic rats respectively compared to control (7.84 ± 0.45 & 9.10 ± 0.41) for study I and II.

Conclusions

In the nutshell, theaflavin and thearubigins based dietary interventions are helpful to alleviate the hypercholestrolemia and hyperglycemia and should be promoted as parallel therapy to combat these disorders.

Long-Term Intake of Green Tea Extract Causes Mal-Conformation of Trabecular Bone Microarchitecture in Growing Rats

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of green tea extract (GTE) intake on bone structural and physiological properties, such as bone mass, trabecular bone microarchitecture, cortical bone geometry, and bone mechanical strength, in growing rats. Four-week-old male Wistar rats were divided into the following four groups: standard diet feeding for 85 days (S-CON) or 170 days (L-CON), and GTE diet feeding for 85 days (S-GTE) or 170 days (L-GTE). At the end of the experiment, in addition to measurement of circulating bone formation/resorption markers, bone mass, trabecular bone microarchitecture, and cortical bone geometry were analyzed in the left femur, and bone mechanical strength of the right femur was measured. There was no difference in all bone parameters between the S-CON and S-GTE groups. On the other hand, the L-GTE group showed the decrease in some trabecular bone mass/microarchitecture parameters and no change in cortical bone mass/geometry parameters compared with the L-CON group, and consequently the reduction in bone weight corrected by body weight. There was no difference in bone formation/resorption markers and bone mechanical strength between the S-CON and S-GTE groups and also between the L-CON and L-GTE groups. However, serum leptin levels were significantly lower in the L-GTE group than in the L-CON group. Thus, the long-term GTE intake had negative effects on bone, especially trabecular bone loss and microarchitecture mal-conformation, in growing rats.

Pharmacological values and therapeutic properties of black tea (Camellia sinensis): A comprehensive overview

Medicinal plants are essential parts of traditional medicine due to their phytochemical constituents having pharmacological values and therapeutic applications. Black tea have thousands of various biological compounds such as flavonoids (Thearubigins (TRs) and theaflavins (TFs) and catechins), amino acids (L.theanine), vitamins (A, C, K), phenolic acids (caffeic acid (CA), gallic acid (GA), chlorogenic acids (CGA) and cauramic acid), lipids, proteins, volatile compounds carbohydrates, β-carotene and fluoride that illustrated many promising pharmacological effects regarded as growth promoter, cardioprotector, potent cholesterol-lowering effect, antioxidant and antimicrobial, etc inhuman. Although there is an exponential growth in molecular evidence of cholesterol-lowering and antioxidant effect in human, there is still a lack of information of the pharmacological effects of black tea. To fill this information gap, therefore, this review article underscores broadening the new insight pertaining to black tea that could be used as safe food additive. This article also illuminates the interesting role of black tea as an herbal medicine that is the future demand to get rid of synthetic health promoters in the human health practice. Moreover, this information would be useful in terms of the low-cost practice of natural medicines with no residual effects, and a natural protection of the human being. In addition, further studies at a molecular level are needed to reveal its mechanism of action particularly for the hypocholesterolemic effect of black tea to overcome the heart-related diseases, fewer side effects and being a natural safeguard of human health.

Are identities oral? Understanding ethnobotanical knowledge after Irish independence (1937-1939)

BACKGROUND

The Schools' Folklore Scheme (1937-1939) was implemented at a pivotal time in Irelands' political history. It resulted in a body of ethnological information that is unique in terms of when, why and how it was collected. This material consists of over 700,000 pages of information, including ethnomedicinal and ethnobotanical traditions, reflecting an oral identity that spans generations and that in many cases was not documented in writing until the 1930s. The intention of this study is to highlight the importance of the Schools' Folklore Scheme and to demonstrate an ethnographic approach based on recollections of original participants of the scheme, to further understand the material in the collection and the impact it had on the participants.

METHODS

This study involves an analysis of both oral and archival data. Eleven semi-structured interviews with original participants of the scheme were carried out between April and September 2016. Their corresponding schools' archival contributions to the scheme were located, and ethnomedicinal information was analysed and compared with the participants' recollections.

RESULTS

The majority of participants' stated the scheme had a positive impact on them. Five participants' recalled collecting ethnomedicinal information, and there was a direct correlation between three of the participants' ethnomedicinal recollections and their entries in the archives. One third of all the ethnomedicinal entries analysed included the use of a plant. There were 191 plant mentions and 64 plant species named.

CONCLUSIONS

Contacting the original participants offers a novel approach of analysing this archival material. It provides a unique first-hand account of this historical initiative, an insight into how the scheme was implemented and how it impacted upon the children. The ethnomedicinal and ethnobotanical information provides an understanding of the medicinal practices in Ireland during the 1930s. The plant species that were both orally recalled by participants and documented in the archives are in keeping with key ethnomedicinal systems throughout the world.

Inhibition of Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate-Specific Phosphodiesterase by Various Food Plant-Derived Phytotherapeutic Agents

Background: Phosphodiesterases (PDEs) play a major role in the regulation of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)- and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)-mediated pathways. Their inhibitors exhibit anti-inflammatory, vasodilatory and antithrombotic effects. Therefore, consumption of foods with PDE-inhibiting potential may possess beneficial influence on the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Methods: Four plant extracts (Arbutus unedo, Camellia sinensis, Cynara scolymus, Zingiber officinale) with promising ingredient profiles and physiological effects were tested for their ability to inhibit cAMP-specific PDE in vitro in a radioactive assay. Results: Strawberry tree fruit (Arbutus unedo) and tea (Camellia sinensis) extracts did not inhibit PDE markedly. Alternatively, artichoke (Cynara scolymus) extract had a significant inhibitory influence on PDE activity (IC₅₀ = 0.9 ± 0.1 mg/mL) as well as its flavone luteolin (IC₅₀ = 41 ± 10 μM) and 3,4-dicaffeoylquinic acid (IC₅₀ > 1.0 mM). Additionally, the ginger (Zingiber officinale) extract and one of its constituents, [6]-gingerol, significantly inhibited PDE (IC₅₀ = 1.7 ± 0.2 mg/mL and IC₅₀ > 1.7 mM, respectively). Crude fractionation of ginger extract showed that substances responsible for PDE inhibition were in the lipoid fraction (IC₅₀ = 455 ± 19 μg/mL). Conclusions: A PDE-inhibitory effect was shown for artichoke and ginger extract. Whether PDE inhibition in vivo can be achieved through ingestion of artichoke or ginger extracts leading to physiological effects concerning cardiovascular health should be addressed in future research.

Natural medicines for acute renal failure: A review

Acute renal failure (ARF) is a life-threating disease with high mortality percentage. Two important mechanisms of ARF are inflammation and oxidative stress. Plants are rich source of antioxidant compounds and have a strong anti-inflammatory activity, so they may be useful for the treatment of ARF. Some herbal medicines are effective against different models of experimentally induced ARF such as cisplatin, gentamicin, glycerol, and ischemia-reperfusion injury. Some of these plants such as ginseng, black seed, ginger, garlic, grape, pomegranate, saffron, and green tea are so famous and are effective against various models of ARF. However, we found several articles examining the effectiveness of different plants for treating ARF. In the current article, we discussed plants and natural products that are effective in the treatment of ARF.

Multiresidue Method for the Rapid Determination of Pesticide Residues in Tea Using Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography Orbitrap High Resolution Mass Spectrometry and In-Syringe Dispersive Solid Phase Extraction

A method based on in-syringe dispersive solid phase extraction (IS-D-SPE) and ultra performance liquid chromatography Orbitrap high resolution mass spectrometry for the multiresidue analysis of 117 pesticides in tea was developed. Full scan mode was acquired over an m/z range of 100-800 with Orbitrap resolution at 70000, followed by full scan/dd-MS² mode for confirmation. The identification criteria of retention time and mass accuracy tolerance was ±0.20 min and ±5.0 ppm, respectively. MS/MS fragment ions obtained dd-MS² were necessary to identify the pesticides with the same molecular mass weight. The IS-D-SPE technique involved a mixture of 200 mg PSA, 100 mg C18, and 15 mg multiwalled carbon nanotubes for the cleanup of tea matrix. Good linearity (R² > 0.99) for 117 pesticides was obtained. Satisfactory recoveries in the range of 70-120% were obtained for 105 pesticides, while intraday and interday precisions were below 20%. Limits of quantification were generally 10 μg kg^-1. Finally, this method was employed to analyze 117 pesticides in 70 tea samples.

Improving the quality of fermented black tea juice with oolong tea infusion

Fresh tea leaves were crushed into juice and then fermented (oxidation) to obtain fermented black tea juice, which can be used to prepare black tea beverage. The effects of addition of oolong tea infusion or tossing of tea leaves on the sensory quality and theaflavins (TFs) concentration of fermented black tea juice were investigated. The results showed that both addition of tea infusion and tossing of fresh tea leaves increased the TFs/thearubigins (TRs) ratio and improved the sensory quality of fermented black tea juice. The TFs/TRs ratio was found to be significantly correlated with the scores for flavor (r = 0.98), mouth feel (r = 0.94), and overall acceptability (r = 0.91) of the fermented black tea juices from different processes. This result suggested that a relatively high concentration of catechins and stepwise enzymatic oxidation were the crucial factors that increased the TFs/TRs ratio and improved the sensory quality. The combination of adding tea infusion and tossing fresh tea leaves greatly improved the quality of the fermented black tea juice by markedly increasing the TFs/TRs ratio (87%). Results of the present study provided useful information for improving the quality of fermented black tea juice.

Antibacterial and Antibiotic-Modifying Activity of Methanol Extracts from Six Cameroonian Food Plants against Multidrug-Resistant Enteric Bacteria

The present work was designed to investigate the antibacterial activities of methanol extracts from six Cameroonian edible plants and their synergistic effects with some commonly used antibiotics against multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacteria expressing active efflux pumps. The extracts were subjected to qualitative phytochemical screening and the microdilution broth method was used for antibacterial assays. The results of phytochemical tests indicate that all tested crude extracts contained polyphenols, flavonoids, triterpenes, and steroids. Extracts displayed selective antibacterial activities with the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging from 32 to 1024 μg/mL. The lowest MIC value (32 μg/mL) was recorded with Coula edulis extract against E. coli AG102 and K. pneumoniae K2 and with Mangifera indica bark extract against P. aeruginosa PA01 and Citrus sinensis extract against E. coli W3110 which also displayed the best MBC (256 μg/mL) value against E. coli ATCC8739. In combination with antibiotics, extracts from M. indica leaves showed synergistic effects with 75% (6/8) of the tested antibiotics against more than 80% of the tested bacteria. The findings of the present work indicate that the tested plants may be used alone or in combination in the treatment of bacterial infections including the multidrug-resistant bacteria.