Anthocyanin and spermidine derivative hexoses coordinately increase in the ripening fruit of Lycium ruthenicum

Polyphenolic Spectrum of Goji Berries and Their Health-Promoting Activity

A significant increase in interest in new, naturally occurring sources of antioxidants is evident not only in the food industry but also in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. Plant sources such as fruits, both traditional and less common, are often investigated. Goji berries (Lycium barbarum, Lycium chinense, and Lycium ruthenicum) represent fruits rich in polyphenols, especially phenolic acids (38.91 to 455.57 mg/kg FW) and flavonoids, with black goji berries (L. ruthenicum) containing a predominance of anthocyanins (119.60 to 1112.25 mg/kg FW). In this review, a comparison of polyphenol occurrence and content in the orange-red and black berries of L. barbarum, L. chinense, and L. ruthenicum is described. Goji berries represent a valuable source of nutrients and bioactive compounds that manifest a wide range of health-promoting effects. These benefits represent antioxidant, neuroprotective, and cytoprotective impacts, with effects on the metabolic control of glucose and lipids. This review is focused on an overview of the polyphenolic compounds occurring in these fruits, as well as their antioxidant activity and health benefits.

Hypoglycaemic activity of the anthocyanin enriched fraction of Lycium ruthenicum Murr. Fruits and its ingredient identification via UPLC-triple-TOF-MS/MS

Lycium ruthenicum Murr. is mainly distributed in the northwest region of China and its berries are rich in anthocyanin. This study evaluated the hypoglycaemic activity of the anthocyanin-enriched fraction (AEF) of L. ruthenicum Murr. on α-glucosidase in vivo and in vitro. Overall, 10 anthocyanins were identified via UPLC-Triple-TOF-MS/MS. The AEF exhibited strong inhibitory activity against α-glucosidase, with an IC50 value of 4.468 mg/mL. It behaved as a reversible, mixed-type inhibitor. Molecular docking and dynamic results indicated that the compounds in AEF interacted with enzymes primarily through van der Waals and hydrogen bond and the complex system was stable. The postprandial blood glucose and area under the curve of diabetic mice was significantly decreased by AEF in the carbohydrate tolerance experiments. The results indicate that the AEF from L. ruthenicum Murr. berries could be as a promising food supplement for managing blood sugar levels in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Integrating UPLC-MS/MS with in Silico and in Vitro Screening Accelerates the Discovery of Active Compounds in Stephania epigaea

Traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) are popular in clinic because of their safety and efficacy. They contain abundant natural active compounds, which are important sources of new drug discovery. However, how to efficiently identify active compounds from complex ingredients remains a challenge. In this study, a method combining UHPLC-MS/MS characterization and in silico screening was developed to discover compounds with dopamine D2 receptor (D2R) activity in Stephania epigaea (S. epigaea). By combining the compounds identified in S. epigaea by UHPLC-MS/MS with reported compounds, a virtual library of 80 compounds was constructed for in silico screening. Potentially active compounds were chosen based on screening scores and subsequently tested for in vitro activity on a transfected cell line CHO-K1-D2 model using label-free cellular phenotypic assay. Three D2R agonists and five D2R antagonists were identified. (-)-Asimilobine, N-nornuciferine and (-)-roemerine were reported for the first time as D2R agonists, with EC50 values of 0.35 ± 0.04 μM, 1.37 ± 0.10 μM and 0.82 ± 0.22 μM, respectively. Their target specificity was validated by desensitization and antagonism assay. (-)-Isocorypalmine, (-)-tetrahydropalmatine, (-)-discretine, (+)-corydaline and (-)-roemeroline showed strong antagonistic activity on D2R with IC50 values of 92 ± 9.9 nM, 1.73 ± 0.13 μM, 0.34 ± 0.02 μM, 2.09 ± 0.22 μM and 0.85 ± 0.08 μM, respectively. Their kinetic binding profiles were characterized using co-stimulation assay and they were both D2R competitive antagonists. We docked these ligands with human D2R crystal structure and analyzed the structure-activity relationship of aporphine-type D2R agonists and protoberberine-type D2R antagonists. These results would help to elucidate the mechanism of action of S. epigaea for its analgesic and sedative efficacy and benefit for D2R drug design. This study demonstrated the potential of integrating UHPLC-MS/MS with in silico and in vitro screening for accelerating the discovery of active compounds from TCMs.

Anticancer Therapies Based on Oxidative Damage: Lycium barbarum Inhibits the Proliferation of MCF-7 Cells by Activating Pyroptosis through Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress

Lycium barbarum, commonly recognized as goji berry or wolfberry, is highly appreciated not only for its organoleptic and nutritional properties but also as an important source of bioactive compounds such as polysaccharides, carotenoids, phenolics, and various other non-nutritive compounds. These constituents give it a multitude of health benefits, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties. However, the precise biochemical mechanisms responsible for its anticancer effects remain unclear, and the comprehensive composition of goji berry extracts is often insufficiently explored. This study aimed to investigate the biochemical pathways modulated in breast cancer cells by an ethanolic extract of Lycium barbarum fruit (LBE). Following metabolomic profiling using UHPLC-HRMS/MS, we assessed the antitumoral properties of LBE on different breast cancer cell lines. This investigation revealed that LBE exhibited cytotoxic effects, inducing a pro-oxidant effect that triggered pyroptosis activation through endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and subsequent activation of the P-IRE1α/XBP1/NLRP3 axis in MCF-7 cells. In addition, LBE did not display cytotoxicity toward healthy human cells but demonstrated antioxidant properties by neutralizing ROS generated by doxorubicin. These findings underscore the potential of LBE as a highly promising natural extract in cancer therapy.

Characterization of dicaffeoylspermidine derivatives related glucosyltransferases during fruit development of goji berry

The fruit of Lycium barbarum (Lb), known as red goji berry, is a "superfruit" due to its abundance of bioactive compounds. Among these compounds, dicaffeoylspermidine derivatives (DCSPDs) have anti-oxidant and anti-Alzheimer's Disease activity. This study employed ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry to investigate metabolic changes during the development and ripening stages of red goji berries. Totally 97 compounds, including 51 DCSPDs, were tentatively identified. Correlation analysis of these DCSPDs revealed that glycosyltransferases (GTs) play an important role in the formation of glycosylated DCSPDs. In vitro experiments characterized 3 novel GTs could add a glucosyl moiety to N1-caffeoyl-N10-dihydrocaffeoyl spermidine. Homologous GTs from L. ruthenicum (Lr) exhibited similar activity, despite the absence of abundant glycosylated DCSPDs in Lr. These findings provide insights into the metabolic changes and interconnections among active compounds in red goji berries. The identified GTs hold potential for metabolic engineering of DCSPDs and functional food development.

Antimicrobial Activity and Mechanisms of Walnut Green Husk Extract

Walnut green husks (WGHs), by-products of walnut production, are believed to possess antimicrobial properties, making them a potential alternative to antibiotics. In this study, the antibacterial activities of three extracts, derived from WGH, against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, and Escherichia coli were investigated, and the antibacterial mechanisms of an anhydrous ethanol extract of WGH (WGHa) were examined. The results showed that WGHa exhibited inhibitory effects on all tested bacteria. The ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis revealed that the major active compounds present in WGHa were terpenoids, phenols, and flavonoids. Treatment with WGHa resulted in the leakage of intracellular ions and alkaline phosphatase; a reduction in intracellular ATP content, ATPase activity, and nucleic acid content; as well as cellular metabolic viability. The transmission electron microscopy images showed varying degrees of cell deformation and membrane damage following WGHa treatment. The transcriptome sequencing and differentially expressed gene enrichment analyses revealed an up-regulation in pathways associated with RNA degradation, translation, protein export, and oxidative phosphorylation. Conversely, pathways involved in cell movement and localization, as well as cell wall organization and carbohydrate transport, were found to be down-regulated. These findings suggest that WGHa alters cell membrane permeability and causes damage to the cell wall. Additionally, WGHa interferes with cellular energy metabolism, compromises RNA integrity, and induces DNA replication stress, consequently inhibiting the normal growth and proliferation of bacteria. These findings unveiled the antimicrobial mechanisms of WGHa, highlighting its potential application as an antibiotic alternative.

The health-promoting anthocyanin petanin in Lycium ruthenicum fruit: a promising natural colorant

Acylated anthocyanins derived from dietary sources have gained significant attention due to their health-promoting properties and potential as natural colorants with high stability. However, exploration of the functional food products using acylated anthocyanins enriched in fruits and vegetables remains largely delayed in food industries. The black goji (Lycium ruthencium) fruit (LRF) is a functional food that is extensively used due to its exceptionally high levels of acylated anthocyanins, including petanin. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the functional properties and anthocyanin components of LRF. The stability, bioaccessibility, bioavailability, and bioactivities of petanin, the major anthocyanin component, are compared with those of LRF anthocyanin extracts and other food sources. Furthermore, the biosynthetic pathway and regulatory network of petanin in LRF are proposed and constructed, respectively. The key genes that could be potentially used for metabolic engineering to produce petanin are predicted. Finally, the potential application of petanin derivatives in the food industry is also discussed. This review presents comprehensive and systematic information about the dual-function of petanin as a bioactive component and a promising natural colorant for future food industrial applications.

Effect of hot water, ultrasound, microwave, and pectinase-assisted extraction of anthocyanins from black goji berry for food application

Lycium ruthenicum, commonly known as black goji berry, is a rich anthocyanin source containing a high amount of monoacylated anthocyanins. This study investigates the effect of different extraction methods to extract anthocyanins from black goji berry for food application. Different hot water extraction conditions were applied to investigate the effect of specific substrate: solvent ratio (1:15 and 1:20 (w/v)), extraction time (30 and 60 min) and extraction temperature (40, 50 and 60 °C) on the extraction yield, total anthocyanin content (TAC) and the total phenolic content (TPC) of the anthocyanin extracts. Best hot water extraction conditions for obtaining an anthocyanin extract with high TAC (13.8 ± 1.14 mg CGE/g), TPC (69.7 ± 2.50 mg of GAE/g), and extraction yield (48.3 ± 3.25%) consuming less solvent, time and heat were substrate: solvent ratio of 1: 15 (w/v), extraction temperature of 50 °C, and extraction time of 30 min. The effect of pectinase, ultrasound, and microwave on hot water extraction of anthocyanins from black goji berry was investigated using the best conditions for hot water extraction. Pectinase-assisted extraction [1.5% (w/v) pectinase, substrate: solvent ratio of 1:15 (w/v) at 50 °C for 30 min] was the best extraction method to extract black goji berry anthocyanins demonstrating higher extraction yield, TAC, TPC, and the highest percentage of petunidin-3-O-(trans-p-coumaroyl)-rutinoside-5-O-glucoside.

Controlled Atmosphere Improves the Quality, Antioxidant Activity and Phenolic Content of Yellow Peach during the Shelf Life

Controlled atmosphere (CA) has been demonstrated to maintain the shelf-life quality of fruits, but its effect on the antioxidant activities and phenolic content of yellow peach is not comprehensive. This study analyzed the role of CA on the quality of shelf period, phenolic content and antioxidant activity of "Jinxiu" yellow peach. Yellow peach was left under specific aeration conditions (3.5-4% CO2, 2-3% O2, 92-95.5% N2, 1 ± 0.5 °C) and the control (1 ± 0.5 °C) for 21 d, to observe changes in physiological parameters of the fruit during 10 d of the shelf life (25 ± 1 °C). The result showed that CA reduced the weight loss rate (WLR), decay rate (DR), and browning index (BI) of yellow peaches. Furthermore, the CA held a high level of total flavonoid content (TFC), total phenol content (TPC) and phenolic content in the fruit. Antioxidant analysis showed that polyphenol oxidase (PPO) enzyme activity was lower and free radical scavenging capacity (DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP) and antioxidant enzyme activities (POD and PAL) were higher in the CA group. Combining the results of significance analysis, correlation analysis, principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) clearly identified the differences between the CA group and the control group. The results showed that the CA could maintain higher phenolic content and reduce the oxidation of yellow peach fruit and enhance fruit quality by affecting the antioxidant activities of yellow peach.

Environmentally-driven metabolite and lipid variations correspond to altered bioactivities of black wolfberry fruit

Black wolfberry is a commonly cultivated woody plant in China, and is rich in nutrients that are beneficial for human. To characterize the endogenous metabolite differences among black wolfberry fruits grown in different geographical regions, mass spectrometry-based metabolomic and lipidomic analyses were performed in black wolfberry grown in nine locations throughout five provinces in China, from which 204 primary and specialized metabolites, and 267 lipids were identified in their fruits. Three samples from Alxa Left Banner, Jinta, and Minqin showed dramatically altered metabolite profiles, displaying higher levels of phenolic acids, soluble sugars and flavonoids, but lower levels of tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates and aromatic amino acids. Moreover, the lipid profile of the Alxa Left Banner sample was strikingly distinct from all other samples, with high levels of monogalactosyl diacylglycerol and sulfoquinovosyl diacylglycerol, which are positively correlated with their anti-inflammatory capacities. These findings thus prompt for further studies on black wolfberry fruit for their health benefits.

Current findings and future prospective of high-value trans Himalayan medicinal plant Lycium ruthenicum Murr: a systematic review

Background

The genus Lycium is commercially known for its nutrient dense goji-berries, among these berries, black goji-berries obtained from Lycium ruthenicum Murr are highly valued and widely used as traditional medicine in trans-himalayan cold desert Ladakh and as functional food in several countries.

Methods

The current collection of data and literature was done by exploring different scientific portals like SciFinder, Google scholar, PubMed, Dictonary of Natural Products, Institute for Scientific Information, Web of Science and Scopus by searching keywords like black goji berry, crystal pearl, and trans-Himalayan plant.

Results

Fruits of L. ruthenicum Murr, are overwhelmingly enriched in anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins, polysaccharides, spermine and spermidine alkaloids. The presence of these bioactive phyto-chemicals has been linked with reported anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-fatigue, anti-atherosclerosis and neuro-protective properties of black goji berries. A unique color of these berries makes them exceptional as compared to other berries.

Conclusions

In this article, we have reviewed the variety of high value phytochemicals of Lycium ruthenicum Murr, with a special focus on health promoting anthocyanins which will provide an insight to the readers for exploring novel applications of L. ruthenicum Murr in field of medicine and food industries.

Identification of prenylated phenolics in mulberry leaf and their neuroprotective activity

BACKGROUND

Neurodegenerative diseases are becoming increasingly prevalent over the world. Therefore, drug development in this field is urgently required. Neuron impairment leads to the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, while amelioration of oxidative stress can inhibit the impairment. As a traditional Chinese medicine, mulberry leaf exhibits various pharmacological properties, including neuroprotective activity. But the major components responsible for the neuroprotective activity of mulberry leaf remained unknown. Phytochemicals were potent candidates of neuroprotective drug. Prenylated phenolics are the leading phytochemicals present in mulberry leaf.

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to investigate the neuroprotective activities and mechanisms of prenylated phenolics.

METHODS

The chemical structure of isolated compounds were elucidated by MS and NMR. UPLC-MS/MS was used to determine the contents of prenylated phenolics in fresh mulberry leaf. Neurotoxicity was induced by erastin in HT22 cells. CCK-8 assay was performed to assess cell viability. ROS production, GSH level and iron release were monitored by using DCFH-DA, monobromobimane, and FeRhoNox™-1, respectively. qRT-PCR and Western blotting assays were performed to assess gene and protein expression, respectively.

RESULTS

Four prenylated phenolics, including isobavachalcone, morachalcone B, moracin N and morachalcone A were isolated and identified from mulberry leaf. Their levels in fresh mulberry leaf were in a decreasing order, moracin N > morachalcone A > morachalcone B > isobavachalcone. Moreover, moracin N showed a good neuroprotective activity with an EC₅₀ < 0.50 µM. The neuroprotective mechanisms of moracin N included inhibition of glutathione depletion, glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPx4) inactivation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) overproduction and iron accumulation, as well as improvement of intracellular antioxidant enzyme activities. Moracin N augmented the transcriptional levels of genes involved in antioxidant defense and glutathione biosynthesis in the early state of ferroptosis induction, and downregulated expression of genes related to iron accumulation and lipid peroxidation.

CONCLUSION

The results confirmed that moracin N was a good ferroptosis inhibitor, which exerted neuroprotective activity through preventing from oxidative stress.

Transcriptome and Flavonoids Metabolomic Analysis Identifies Regulatory Networks and Hub Genes in Black and White Fruits of Lycium ruthenicum Murray

Lycium ruthenicum Murry. is a highly nutritional cash crop due to its fruit abundant anthocyanins. To understand the complex metabolic networks underlying the color formation in black and white fruits of L. ruthenicum, we conducted transcriptome and flavonoid metabolic profiling to identify the candidate genes possibly involved in flavonoid biosynthesis. As a result, 147 flavonoids were identified and there was almost no anthocyanin in white fruits, while luteolin, kaempferol, and quercetin derivatives showed markedly higher abundance. Furthermore, applying weighted gene co-expression network analyses, 3 MYB, 2 bHLH, 1WRKY and 1 NAC transcription factor, associated with anthocyanin biosynthesis were identified. A bHLH transcription factor, LrAN1b showed the greatest correlations with anthocyanin accumulation with no expression in white fruits. In addition, gene function analysis and qRT-PCR experiments identified a new activated anthocyanin MYB transcription factor designed as LrAN2-like. Yeast two-hybrid and transient tobacco overexpression experiments showed that LrAN1b could interact with LrAN2-like and LrAN11 to form MBW complex to activate the anthocyanin pathway. The yeast one-hybrid experiment indicated that LrAN2-like bonded anthocyanin structural gene LrDFR and LrANS promoters. Heterologous expression of LrAN1b in tobacco can significantly increase the anthocyanin content of tobacco florals and capsules, and activate anthocyanin synthesis related genes. Taken together, an anthocyanin regulatory network model in L. ruthenicum fruit was proposed firstly and we speculate that the white fruit phenotype was due to abnormal expression of LrAN1b. The findings provide new insight into the underlying mechanism of flavonoids, laying the foundation for future functional and molecular biological research in L. ruthenicum.