Separation and enrichment of phenolics improved the antibiofilm and antibacterial activity of the fractions from Citrus medica L. var. sarcodactylis in vitro and in tofu

Combating bacterial biofilms and related drug resistance: Role of phyto-derived adjuvant and nanomaterials

The emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in clinical microbes has led to a search for novel antibiotics for combating bacterial infections. The treatment of bacterial infections becomes more challenging with the onset of biofilm formation. AMR is further accelerated by biofilm physiology and differential gene expression in bacteria with an inherent resistance to conventional antibiotics. In the search for innovative strategies to control the spread of AMR in clinical isolates, plant-derived therapeutic metabolites can be repurposed to control biofilm-associated drug resistance. Unlike antibiotics, designed to act on a single cellular process, phytochemicals can simultaneously target multiple cellular components. Furthermore, they can disrupt biofilm formation and inhibit quorum sensing, offering a comprehensive approach to combat bacterial infections. In bacterial biofilms, the first line of AMR is due to biofilms associated with the extracellular matrix, diffusion barriers, quorum sensing, and persister cells. These extracellular barriers can be overcome using phytochemical-based antibiotic adjuvants to increase the efficacy of antibiotic treatment and restrict the spread of AMR. Furthermore, phytochemicals can be used to target bacterial intracellular machinery such as DNA replication, protein synthesis, efflux pumps, and degrading enzymes. In parallel with pristine phytochemicals, phyto-derived nanomaterials have emerged as an effective means of fighting bacterial biofilms. These nanomaterials can be formulated to cross the biofilm barriers and function on cellular targets. This review focuses on the synergistic effects of phytochemicals and phyto-derived nanomaterials in controlling the progression of biofilm-related AMR. IT provides comprehensive insights into recent advancements and the underlying mechanisms of the use of phyto-derived adjuvants and nanomaterials.

Preparation and Tumor Inhibitory Activity of Tricin from Carex Meyeriana Kunth

This study describes the purification and preparation of tricin (5, 7, 4-trihydroxy-3, 5-dimethoxyflavone) from Carex Meyeriana Kunth via adsorption and desorption using macroporous resins and high-performance liquid chromatography. Six resins were tested to evaluate the static adsorption and desorption capacities. The HPD-300 resin was selected as the adsorption material to enrich tricin because of its suitable adsorption and desorption capacities. Adsorption thermodynamics and kinetics were studied on HPD-300 resin, and the results agreed with the Langmuir model and quasi-second-order kinetics model, respectively. The parameters of the dynamic adsorption and desorption tests were then optimized. The purity of tricin increased from 2.6 mg/g to 45.1 mg/g with a recovery yield of 76.4% after purification using HPD-300 resin. Then, Prep-HPLC was used to further purify tricin. The purity of tricin reached 99.4%, with a recovery yield of 78.0% thereafter. Tricin exerts an inhibitory effect on the proliferation of various tumor cells, including gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells. It significantly suppresses cell colony formation while also altering cell cycle progression metabolism by decreasing the proportion of cells in the G0/G1 phase and increasing the proportion in the S and G2/M phases. Additionally, tricin affects the efficiency of SGC-7901 cell lactate production, ATP content, and glucose uptake. These findings suggest that tricin may impede tumor cell proliferation through its impact on cell cycle progression and energy metabolism.

Phenolic acids from medicinal and edible homologous plants: a potential anti-inflammatory agent for inflammatory diseases

Inflammation has been shown to trigger a wide range of chronic diseases, particularly inflammatory diseases. As a result, the focus of research has been on anti-inflammatory drugs and foods. In recent years, the field of medicinal and edible homology (MEH) has developed rapidly in both medical and food sciences, with 95% of MEH being associated with plants. Phenolic acids are a crucial group of natural bioactive substances found in medicinal and edible homologous plants (MEHPs). Their anti-inflammatory activity is significant as they play a vital role in treating several inflammatory diseases. These compounds possess enormous potential for developing anti-inflammatory drugs and functional foods. However, their development is far from satisfactory due to their diverse structure and intricate anti-inflammatory mechanisms. In this review, we summarize the various types, structures, and distribution of MEHP phenolic acids that have been identified as of 2023. We also analyze their anti-inflammatory activity and molecular mechanisms in inflammatory diseases through NF-κB, MAPK, NLRP3, Nrf2, TLRs, and IL-17 pathways. Additionally, we investigate their impact on regulating the composition of the gut microbiota and immune responses. This analysis lays the groundwork for further exploration of the anti-inflammatory structure-activity relationship of MEHP phenolic acids, aiming to inspire structural optimization and deepen our understanding of their mechanism, and provides valuable insights for future research and development in this field.

Ethnobotany and diversity of Citrus spp. (Rutaceae) as a source of "Kem-kem" traditional medicine used among the Karo sub-ethnic in North Sumatra, Indonesia

The Karo sub-ethnic is one of five Batak sub-ethnicities in the Karo Regency, North Sumatra Province, Indonesia. They are famous for their local knowledge about the traditional use of medicinal plants to treat various diseases. The "Kem-kem" traditional medicine is one of the traditional healing practices that involve using plants passed down through generations from their ancestors. One of the plant genus group in the Rutaceae family utilized in the traditional "Kem-kem" healing practice is a citrus known as "Rimo". This study aims to document the local knowledge about the diversity of Citrus spp. as Kem-kem's herbal medicinal plant. This study was conducted from April to July 2023 in the Kabanjahe and Berastagi districts, Karo Regency, North Sumatra. Data was collected using interviews with traditional healers, herbal medicine vendors, and direct observations at traditional markets, involving a total of 8 Citrus spp. The Karo uses "Rimo" with different local names as sources of traditional medicinal ingredients in practicing "Kem-kem". There are 15 local names comprising eight species of Citrus. Four are hybrids, i.e., Citrus x aurantiifolia (Christm.) Swingle, Citrus × aurantium L, Citrus × junos Siebold ex Yu.Tanaka, and Citrus × taitensis Risso. Two of the remaining species are recognized in infraspecific rank, one variety (Citrus medica var. sarcodactylis (Hoola van Nooten) Swingle) and one form (Citrus × aurantium f. deliciosa (Ten.) M.Hiroe). They were used as material sources for Kem-kem traditional medicine to treat at least nine health problems. There are two species with six local names included in the Least Concern (LC) category, namely C. medica (Rimo Gawang, Rimo Hantuantu, Rimo Kayu), C. medica var. sarcodactylis (Rimo Kuku Harimau), and C. medica (Rimo Telur Buaya), C. maxima (Burm.) Merr. (Rimo Malem). Nine local names are included in the Not Evaluated (NE) category, namely C. × junos (Rimo Kejaren), C. × taitensis (Rimo Jungga), C. × aurantium f. deliciosa (Rimo Keling), C. × aurantium (Rimo Kersik), Citrus hystrix DC. (Rimo Mukur), C. × taitensis (Rimo Puraga), C. × aurantium (Rimo Kalele), Citrus swinglei Burkill ex Harms (Rimo Pagar), and C. x aurantiifolia (Rimo Bunga). Rimo Kejaren (C. × junos) is a species that has the most benefits.

An online preparative high-performance liquid chromatography system with enrichment and purification modes for the efficient and systematic separation of Panax notoginseng saponins

In this study, an online preparative high-performance liquid chromatography (prep-HPLC) system based on the combination of the enrichment and purification modes for the efficient and systematic separation of Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) was achieved. Five separation columns were used for the first and second separation of target components, eighteen trap columns were used to capture the effluents from the first separation or loading the trapped sample effluents, and a two-position eight-port valve was used to switch between the first and second separations. The conditions for the first and second separation of PNS were simulated and optimized with the online prep-HPLC system. Then, the PNS were separated using optimized chromatographic conditions. Notably, 14 monomer compounds with >90% purity (11 compounds with purity >97%) were simultaneously isolated from PNS using the above self-developed device, and their chemical structures were identified. Moreover, the separation time was less than 33.0 h. After 6 repeated enrichment and purification, the weight of each compound obtained was more than 5.0 mg, with compound 2 weighing over 900 mg. In brief, the self-developed prep-HPLC system, which integrated enrichment and purification, is suitable for the efficient and systematic separation of PNS and has broad application prospects, especially for the separation of complex chemical components in natural products.

Coumarins from Jinhua Finger Citron: Separation by Liquid-Liquid Chromatography and Potential Antitumor Activity

In this paper, liquid-liquid chromatography was introduced for the first time for the separation of fingered citron (Citrus medica L. var. sarcodactylis Swingle). The fingered citron cultivated in Jinhua is of significant industrial and medicinal value, with several major coumarin compounds detected in its extract. Therefore, further separation for higher purity was of necessity. A preparative liquid-liquid chromatographic method was developed by combining two elution modes (isocratic and step-gradient) with selection according to different polarities of the target sample. Five coumarin derivatives-5,7-dimethoxycoumarin (52.6 mg, 99.6%), phellopterin (4.9 mg, 97.1%), 5-prenyloxy-7-methoxycoumarin (6.7 mg, 98.7%), 6-hydroxy-7-methoxycoumarin (7.1 mg, 82.2%), and byakangelicol (10.5 mg, 90.1%)-with similar structures and properties were isolated on a large scale from 100 mg of petroleum ether (PE) extract and 100 mg of ethyl acetate (EA) extract in Jinhua fingered citron. The productivity was much improved. The anti-growth activity of the isolated coumarins was evaluated against three cancer cell lines (HeLa, A549, and MCF7) with an MTT assay. The coumarins demonstrated potential anti-tumor activity on the HeLa cell line, with 5,7-dimethoxycoumarin in particular exhibiting the best anti-growth activity (IC50 = 10.57 ± 0.24 μM) by inhibiting proliferation. It inhibited colony formation and reduced the size of the tumor sphere in a concentration-dependent manner. The main mechanism was confirmed as inducing apoptosis. This work was informative for further studies aimed at exploring new natural-product-based antitumor agents.

Enhancing effects of 60Co irradiation on the extraction and activities of phenolic components in edible Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus

In this study, the impact of 60Co-γ ray irradiation treatment on the content of active chemicals and their functions in Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus (CSF) was assessed. Scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and γ-ray diffraction revealed physical structure changes in CSF powder. According to the findings, the content of total flavonoids in the ethanol extract of CSF increased by 9.5%-21.62%, 7-hydroxycoumarin, hesperidin, 5,7-dimethoxycoumarin, and 5-methoxypsoralen increased by 5.31%-51.8%, 10.07%-99.81%, 6.6%-62.29%, and 3.03%-300%, respectively, when the irradiation dosage was raised, and the antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer properties were all raised considerably. These results imply that the principal components and activity changes are proportional to the irradiation dosage. At present, the findings of this study serve as a reference for the use of irradiation technology in assisting extraction and enhancing the effects of functional foods.

An Insight into Citrus medica Linn.: A Systematic Review on Phytochemical Profile and Biological Activities

Plant species are a reservoir of natural compounds that can potentially be used to treat different diseases. Citrus medica Linn. belonging to the Rutaceae family, has been used for centuries in medicine for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiviral, and antihyperglycemic properties. These activities are ascribable not only to the presence of health-promoting macronutrients and micronutrients, such as carbohydrates, minerals, amino acids, and vitamins, but also to specialized metabolites, such as flavonoids (apigenin, hesperetin, hesperidin, naringin, naringenin, rutin, quercetin, and diosmin), coumarins (citropten, scoparone, and bergapten), terpenes (limonene, γ-terpinene, limonin, and nomilin), and phenolic acids (p-coumaric acid, trans-ferulic acid, and chlorogenic acid). In recent years, particular attention has been focused on the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial activity, antidiabetic, anticancer, and neuroprotective activity of C. medica. However, although many studies have reported this species' chemical and biological properties, the literature has never been analyzed via a systematic approach. For this reason, using PubMed and Scopus as databases, we performed a systematic review of C. medica's chemical composition and biological properties to inspire new research approaches and increase its curative application.

Antibacterial Activity from Momordica charantia L. Leaves and Flavones Enriched Phase

Momordica charantia L. (Cucurbitaceae) is a plant known in Brazil as "melão de São Caetano", which has been related to many therapeutic applications in folk medicine. Herein, we describe antibacterial activities and related metabolites for an extract and fractions obtained from the leaves of that species. An ethanolic extract and its three fractions were used to perform in vitro antibacterial assays. In addition, liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry and the molecular networking approach were used for the metabolite annotation process. Overall, 25 compounds were annotated in the ethanolic extract from M. charantia leaves, including flavones, terpenes, organic acids, and inositol pyrophosphate derivatives. The ethanolic extract exhibited low activity against Proteus mirabilis (MIC 312.5 µg·mL-1) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (MIC 625 µg·mL-1). The ethyl acetate phase showed interesting antibacterial activity (MIC 156.2 µg·mL-1) against Klebsiella pneumoniae, and it was well justified by the high content of glycosylated flavones. Therefore, based on the ethyl acetate phase antibacterial result, we suggest that M. charantia leaves could be considered as an alternative antibacterial source against K. pneumoniae and can serve as a pillar for future studies as well as pharmacological application against the bacteria.

Structural Characterization and Anti-inflammatory Activity of a Galactorhamnan Polysaccharide From Citrus medica L. var. sarcodactylis

This study aimed to extract polysaccharides from Citrus medica L. var. sarcodactylis (finger citron fruits) and analyze their structures and potential bioactivities. A new polysaccharide named K-CMLP was isolated and purified by Diethylaminoethylcellulose (DEAE)-Sepharose Fast Flow and DEAE-52 cellulose column chromatography with an average molecular weight of 3.76 × 10³ kDa. Monosaccharide composition analysis revealed that K-CLMP consisted of rhamnose, galactose, and glucose, with a molar ratio of 6.75:5.87:1.00. Co-resolved by methylation and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), K-CLMP was alternately connected with 1, 2-Rha and 1, 4-Gal to form the backbone, and a small number of glucose residues was connected to O-4 of rhamnose. The results of DPPH⋅ and ABTS⁺⋅ radical scavenging assays indicated that both crude polysaccharide Citrus medica L. var. polysaccharide (CMLP) and K-CLMP exhibited strong free-radical-scavenging properties in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, K-CMLP significantly inhibited the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-α) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in RAW 264.7 cells treated with LPS. These results provide a basis for further use as one of the potential functions of food or natural medicine.

Characterization of the 2,6-Dimethylphenol Monooxygenase MpdAB and Evaluation of Its Potential in Vitamin E Precursor Synthesis

2,6-Dimethylphenol (2,6-DMP) is a widely used chemical intermediate whose residue has been frequently detected in the environment, posing a threat to some aquatic organisms. Microbial degradation is an effective method to eliminate 2,6-DMP in nature. However, the genetic and biochemical mechanisms of 2,6-DMP metabolism remain unknown. Mycobacterium neoaurum B5-4 is a 2,6-DMP-degrading bacterium isolated in our previous study. Here, a 2,6-DMP degradation-deficient mutant of strain B5-4 was screened. Comparative genomic, transcriptomic, gene disruption, and genetic complementation data indicated that mpdA and mpdB are responsible for the initial step of 2,6-DMP degradation in M. neoaurum B5-4. MpdAB was predicted to be a two-component flavin-dependent monooxygenase system, which shows 32% and 36% identities with HsaAB from Mycobacterium tuberculosis CDC1551. The transcription of mpdA and mpdB was substantially increased upon exposure to 2,6-DMP. Nuclear magnetic resonance analysis showed that purified 6×His-MpdA and 6×His-MpdB hydroxylated 2,6-DMP and 2,3,6-trimethylphenol (2,3,6-TMP) at the para-position using NADH and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) as cofactors. The apparent K_m values of MpdAB for 2,6-DMP and 2,3,6-TMP were 0.12 ± 0.01 and 0.17 ± 0.01 mM, respectively, and the corresponding k_cat/K_m values were 4.02 and 2.84 s^-1 mM^-1, respectively. Since para-hydroxylated 2,3,6-TMP is a major precursor for vitamin E synthesis, the potential of MpdAB in vitamin E synthesis was preliminarily evaluated using whole-cell catalysis. Low expression levels of MpdA and 2,3,6-TMP cytotoxicity limited the efficiency of whole-cell catalysis. Together, this study reveals the genetic and biochemical basis for the initial step of 2,6-DMP biodegradation and provides candidate enzymes for vitamin E synthesis. IMPORTANCE Although the microbial degradation of the six isomers of dimethylphenol has been extensively studied, the genetic and biochemical mechanisms of 2,6-DMP degradation remain unclear. This study identified the genes responsible for the initial step in the 2,6-DMP catabolic pathway in M. neoaurum B5-4. Moreover, MpdAB also catalyzed the transformation of 2,3,6-TMP to 2,3,5-trimethylhydroquinone (2,3,5-TMHQ), a crucial step in vitamin E synthesis. Overall, this study provides candidate enzymes for both the bioremediation of 2,6-DMP contamination and the development of a green method to synthesize vitamin E.

Phytochemical profile of Tibetan native fruit "Medog lemon" and its comparison with other cultivated species in China

Tibet's native fruit resources have not been explored and remain underutilized due to geographical isolation. "Medog lemon" (ML), an ethno-species of wild citron, is an important functional food and dietary resource for the local people in southeastern Tibet. Herein comprehensive characterization of components of ML were firstly performed with an integrated strategy based on UHPLC-QE Orbitrap MS. A total of 196 components were characterized, among which 33 were detected from Citrus genus for the first time, and 55 were identified as potential new phytochemicals. The chemical comparison of ML with cultivated citron and fingered citron based on partial least squares-discriminant analysis model and univariate analysis revealed the distinct chemical composition of ML and in which more than 30 differentiated components were identified. The distinct morphological and chemical characters, as well as its good antioxidant properties, indicated ML as a potential new food resource that can be beneficial for human health.

Preparation of WPU-based super-amphiphobic coatings functionalized by in situ modified SiOx particles and their anti-biofilm mechanism

Fabrication of anti-wetting coatings with anti-biofouling and anti-biofilm properties has become a hot spot of attention in recent years. However, the anti-biofilm mechanism of anti-bacterial adhesion coatings with different wet resistance properties has not been explored in detail. In this work, SiO_x micro-nano particles were prepared by the Stöber method and were in situ modified. The SiO_x/waterborne polyurethane (WPU) coatings were prepared by the drop coating method, and the coatings with different hydrophobic and oleophobic properties were constructed by modifying the process conditions using SiO_x micro-nano particles as the roughness construction factor. Taking the dominant spoilage bacteria of aquatic products, Shewanella putrefaciens as the object, the anti-bacterial adhesion properties and anti-biofilm mechanism of the SiO_x/WPU coatings were investigated. The results show that, with the unmodified SiO_x particles increasing from 1.2% (w/V) to 4.0% (w/V), the hydrophobicity and thermal stability of the SiO_x/WPU coatings are significantly enhanced, but the oil repellency becomes worse due to the mesoporous structure. After SiO_x micro-nano particles are modified with 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorooctyl trichlorosilane (PFOTS), the surface energy of the SiO_x/WPU coatings is decreased, the liquid repellency is improved, and the surfaces are rough with the appearance of fluorocarbon compounds, but the thermal stabilities are slightly reduced. Among them, after the secondary modification of SiO_x micro-nano particles, the SiO_x/WPU coatings showed excellent oil repellency, lower surface energies and higher fluorocarbon content on the surface. Particularly, SiO_x/WPU coatings exhibited super-amphiphobicity after adjusting the amount of concentrated ammonia added during the secondary modification process. Meanwhile, we found that for the hydrophobic SiO_x/WPU coatings, the stronger the oleophobic property, the greater the anti-bacterial adhesion ability is, while the anti-bacterial adhesion ability of hydrophobic and selectively oleophobic or superhydrophobic and oleophobic SiO_x/WPU coatings is poor than that of amphiphilic SiO_x/WPU coatings. However, because the super-amphiphobic SiO_x/WPU coatings can be in the Cassie state with the bacterial solution for a long time, it can "capture" enough air to inhibit the irreversible adhesion of the bacteria. More importantly, the coatings can also inhibit the metabolic activity, secretion of extracellular polysaccharides, and activities of ATPase and AKP of the adherent bacteria, so it has a better anti-biofilm property. The anti-biofilm coatings can be used as food packaging materials or coated on the inner surface of packaging boxes to prevent the microbial infection.

Structurally diverse biflavonoids from the fruits of Citrus medica L. var. sarcodactylis Swingle and their hypolipidemic and immunosuppressive activities

The fruit of Citrus medica L. var. sarcodactylis Swingle is not only used as a traditional medicinal plant, but also served as a delicious food. Six new (3'→7″)-biflavonoids (1-6), and twelve known biflavonoid derivatives (7-18) were isolated and characterized from the fruits of C. medica L. var. sarcodactylis Swingle for the first time. Their structures were determined by extensive and comprehensive analyzing NMR, HR-ESI-MS, UV, and IR spectral data coupled with the data described in the literature. Compounds (1-18) were evaluated for their hypolipidemic activities with Orlistat as the positive control, and assayed for their immunosuppressive activities with Dexamethasone as the positive control, respectively. Among them, compounds (1-3) exhibited moderate inhibition of pancreatic lipase activity by inhibiting 68.56 ± 1.40%, 56.18 ± 1.57%, 53.51 ± 1.59% of pancreatic lipase activities at the concentration of 100 μM, respectively. Compounds (4-6) and 8 showed potent immunosuppressive activities with the IC₅₀ values from 16.83 ± 1.32 to 50.90 ± 1.79 μM. The plausible biogenetic pathway and preliminary structure activity relationship of the selected compounds were scientifically summarized and discussed in this study.

Grape Pomace as a New Coagulant for Tofu Production: Physicochemical and Sensory Effects

Tofu, one of the most important products made from soymilk, is obtained through a coagulation process performed with various coagulants (acids, salts and, enzymes). In this study, innovative tofu samples were produced using the grape pomace (GP) powders of different varieties (Barbera, Chardonnay, Moscato, and Pinot Noir) with different origins (fermented and distilled) at two concentration levels (2.5% and 5% w/v) as coagulants, and comparisons with traditional tofu were made. Physicochemical characteristics, phenolic contents, radical scavenging activity levels, textural properties, and consumer acceptability were evaluated. The moisture, protein content, and pH levels of GP tofu samples were slightly lower than those of traditional tofu. Regarding textural parameters, except for hardness, all other parameters were significantly lower in GP tofu samples, with differences due to GP concentration. The colours of GP tofu varied from amber-yellow to violet according to the GP origin. The blue-violet colours were observed predominantly in tofu samples obtained with Barbera and Pinot Noir GPs, while the other GP tofu samples showed amber-yellow colours. The concentrations of polyphenols were 2–10 times higher than in traditional tofu, while the radical scavenging activity levels were 9–80 times higher. The GP tofu samples were favoured by consumers, with small differences among the GP varieties.

Isolation and characterization of neolignan derivatives with hepatoprotective and neuroprotective activities from the fruits of Citrus medica L. var. Sarcodactylis Swingle

The fruit of Citrus medica L. var. sarcodactylis Swingle is a functional food with rich nutrients and medicinal values because of its content of bioactive compounds. A bioactivity-guided chemical investigation from the fruits of C. medica L. var. sarcodactylis Swingle afforded three new benzodioxane neolignans (1-3), three new phenanthrofuran neolignan glycosides (4-6), two new biphenyl-ketone neolignans (7-8), two new 1',7'-bilignan neolignans (9-10), as well as fourteen known neolignan derivatives (11-24), which were isolated and characterized from the fruits of C. medica L. var. sarcodactylis Swingle for the first time. These neolignan derivatives were determined by extensive and comprehensive analyzing NMR, HR-ESI-MS, UV, IR spectral data and compared with the data described in the literature. Among them, compounds 1-3 and 12-13 exhibited moderate hepatoprotective activities to improve the survival rates of HepG2 cells from 46.26 ± 1.90% (APAP, 10 mM) to 67.23 ± 4.25%, 62.87 ± 4.43%, 60.06 ± 6.34%, 56.75 ± 2.30%, 58.35 ± 6.14%, respectively. Additionally, compounds 7-8 and 21-22 displayed moderate neuroprotective activities to raise the survival rates of PC12 cells from 55.30 ± 2.25% to 66.94 ± 3.37%, 70.98 ± 5.05%, 64.64 ± 1.93%, and 62.81 ± 4.11% at 10 μM, respectively. The plausible biogenetic pathway and preliminary structure-activity relationship of the selected compounds were scientifically summarized and discussed in this paper.

Tofu products: A review of their raw materials, processing conditions, and packaging

Tofu is a traditional product made mainly from soybeans, which has become globally popular because of its inclusion in vegetarian, vegan, and hypocaloric diets. However, with both commercial production of tofu and scientific research, it remains a challenge to produce tofu with high quality, high nutrition, and excellent flavor. This is because tofu production involves multiple complicated steps, such as soybean selection, utilization of appropriate coagulants, and tofu packaging. To make high-quality tofu product, it is important to systematically understand critical factors that influence tofu quality. This article reviews the current research status of tofu production. The diversity of soybean seeds (the raw material), protein composition, structural properties, and nutritional values are reviewed. Then, selection of tofu coagulants is reviewed to provide insights on its role in tofu quality, where the focus is on the usage of mix coagulants and recent developments with new coagulants. Moreover, a comprehensive summary is provided on recent development in making high-fiber tofu using Okara (the major by-product during tofu production), which has a number of potential applications in the food industry. To help encourage automatic, environmental friendly, and high-efficient tofu production, new developments and applications in production technology, such as ultrasound and high-pressure process, are reviewed. Tofu packaging, including packaging materials and techniques, is evaluated as it has been found to have a positive impact on extending the shelf life and improving the quality of tofu products. Finally, the future research directions and potential areas for new developments are discussed.

Evaluation of total phenol and flavonoid content and antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities of Trollius chinensis Bunge extracts on Streptococcus mutans

Dental caries is a chronic disease with multiple bacterial infections, Streptococcus mutans is the main cariogenic bacteria. Trollius chinensis Bunge is a common folk medicine in the Xinjiang area of China. In this study, we investigated the total flavonoid content and total phenol content in four types of T. chinensis Bunge extracts and the inhibitory effects of these extracts on S. mutans. Agar diffusion method was used to measure the inhibition zone diameters, and the minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration were determined by the twofold dilution method. Water extracts from T. chinensis Bunge and ethanol (30, 60, and 90%) extracts at different concentrations could significantly inhibit the growth of S. mutans. Among them, 30% ethanol extract exhibited the best antibacterial and antibiofilms effect. Biofilm research (crystal violet staining and CLSM) showed that 30% ethanol extract of T. chinensis Bunge plays an important role in inhibiting S. mutans growth and the number of biofilms. The results indicate that T. chinensis Bunge extract has good antibacterial and anti-biofilm activity on S. mutans. It has the potential to be developed for the treatment of caries in clinical application.

UPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap MS Analysis for Identification of Lipophilic Components in Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus from Different Origins in China Using Supercritical CO2 Fluid Extraction Method

To thoroughly evaluate the quality of Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus (CSF) and acquire knowledge of the lipophilic components of CSF from different origins, a simple and efficient approach based on supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) combined with ultraperformance liquid chromatography plus Q-Exactive Orbitrap tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap/MS) detection for the discrimination of components from CSF was set up for the first time in this work. Eight batches of CSF samples from five main producing areas were extracted by SFE under optimized conditions, and then SFE extracts were dissected via UPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap/MS. The results indicated that 39 lipophilic compounds were successfully separated and unambiguously or tentatively identified, where 4 coumarins, 6 polymethoxyflavones, 3 phthalides, 6 terpenes, and 4 phenolics were not reported formerly. It was illustrated that CSF may be abundant in polymethoxyflavones, as in coumarins. Moreover, there were significant differences in the components of CSF from different origins. Especially, coumarin, dehydrocostus lactone, atractylenolide II, and atractylenolide I were exclusively found in CSF from the Guangdong province; isopsoralen was almost exclusively found in CSF from the Guangxi province; and ferulic acid was exclusively found in CSF from the Zhejiang province. These observations indicated that SFE joint with UPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap/MS owing to the potential of characterizing the lipophilic components could be used to promote quality assessment and chemotaxonomic investigation in phytology sciences of CSF.