Polymethoxyflavones Isolated from the Peel of Miaray Mandarin (Citrus miaray) Have Biofilm Inhibitory Activity in Vibrio harveyi

Cytotoxic Effects of Citrus Peels on Breast Tumor: Opportunities for Waste to Raw Material Conversion

Citrus species have long been known for their rich nutritional value. Recent research has shed light on their therapeutic potential, particularly in cancer treatment. Citrus peels, on the other hand, often discarded as waste, contain a wealth of bioactive compounds, such as flavonoids, coumarins, and essential oil components, which have proven medicinal properties. Converting Citrus peels from waste products to medicinal raw materials is a crucial approach in both healthcare and sustainability. Therefore, the present study aims to investigate the cytotoxic potential of the peels of Citrus aurantium L., Citrus maxima (Burm.) Merr. (syn. Citrus grandis), Citrus medica L. and Citrus paradisi Macfad. cultivated in Türkiye, and to find out the compounds responsible for the cytotoxic activity. The cytotoxic effects of the peel extracts were evaluated on MCF-7 cell lines according to bioactivity-guided fractionation and isolation assay procedures. The compounds CAS-5 (isomeranzin), CAS-10 (3-methoxy nobiletin), CAS-11 (nobiletin), and CAS-12 (tangeretin) were isolated. In silico analyses conducted on the isolated compounds provided supporting information for the results obtained from in vitro experiments regarding their anticancer activity. Indeed, one of the key components of Citrus fruits is polymethoxy flavonoids (PMFs), a group of bioactive constituents recognized for their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer activities. As a valuable byproduct of Citrus waste, PMFs offer a dual benefit by reducing waste while providing a natural source of bioactive compounds and making them an exciting research area in cancer management. The therapeutic promise of PMFs lies not only in their ability to combat cancer but also in their potential to contribute to sustainable practices.

Cytotoxic, antibacterial, and aromatase inhibitory activities of cycloartane triterpenes and flavones from Gardenia obtusifolia

Ten previously undescribed cycloartane-type triterpenes (1-10) and nineteen known compounds (11-29), including flavones, were isolated from Gardenia obtusifolia, a plant belonging to the family Rubiaceae. Their structures were elucidated using a combination of spectroscopic techniques, including 1D and 2D NMR and HRESIMS, while their absolute configurations were determined through single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis and ECD calculations. Among the isolates, compound 2 featured a δ-lactone moiety as the D-ring, representing the first report of such a structural novelty in cycloartane triterpenoids. Biological evaluations revealed that most isolated cycloartane triterpenoids exhibited moderate to weak cytotoxicity, while the flavones showed stronger cytotoxic effects. Notably, flavone 27 exhibited potent cytotoxicity against the A549, MOLT-3, and HepG2 cell lines (IC50: 0.4-1.0 μM), and flavone 25 was selectively efficacious against the A549 cell line (IC50: 0.5 μM). Antibacterial assays indicated that cycloartane triterpenoids 4, 13, 16, and 18 exhibited activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus, with compound 18 showing the strongest inhibition. In addition, the seco-cycloartane derivatives 13 and 16 were identified as effective inhibitors of aromatase activity.

Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of novel 5,7,4'-trimethoxyflavone sulfonamide-based derivatives as highly potent inhibitors of LRPPRC/STAT3/CDK1

Leucine-rich pentatricopeptide repeat-containing protein (LRPPRC), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), and cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1) are promising therapeutic targets for cancer treatment. However, there is a lack of effective inhibitors of LRPPRC, STAT3, and CDK1 in clinic. Our previous study has proved that 5,7,4'-Trimethoxyflavone (TMF) is a novel inhibitor of LRPPRC/STAT3/CDK1. However, the extraction rate of TMF from Tangerine Peel is quite low, and the doses of TMF in cells and mice are rather high. Herein, structural modifications of TMF have led to two series of TMF derivatives including sulfonamide substituted at 3'-position (7a-m) and 3',8-position (11a-m). Among all compounds, 7e, 7k, 11e, and 11g exhibited as effective, broad-spectrum, and potent anticancer agents in vitro. Moreover, 7e, 7k, 11e, and 11g showed better antitumor effects than TMF and clinical used chemotherapy drug capecitabine in vivo with no obvious toxicity. Mechanism studies showed that 11g could bind to LRPPRC, STAT3, and CDK1 to disassociate the LRPPRC-JAK2-STAT3 and JAK2-STAT3-CDK1 complexes, resulting in suppression of JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway. These findings suggest that 11g may serve as a leading compound for cancer therapy as a triple-target (LRPPRC, STAT3, and CDK1) inhibitor.

Effects of Nobiletin supplementation on the freezing diluent on porcine sperm cryo-survival and subsequent in vitro embryo development

Nobiletin (NOB) is a bioflavonoid compound isolated from citrus fruit peels. The present study aimed to elucidate whether NOB facilitates the porcine sperm cryosurvival and embryo development after in vitro fertilization (IVF). To this end, spermatozoa were diluted and cryopreserved in a freezing extender supplemented with 0 (control), 50, 100, 150, and 200 μM Nobiletin. The kinematic patterns of frozen-thawed (FT) sperm were assessed after 30 and 90 min incubation using a Sperm Class Analyzer (SCA). Viability, acrosome integrity, and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) were measured by fluorescence microscopy 30 min after thawing using SYBR-14/PI, PSA/FITC, and R123/PI, respectively. Lipid peroxidation was determined using MDA assay after incubation for 90 min. The addition of 100 μM and 150 μM NOB to the extender significantly improved sperm progressive motility, and acrosome integrity compared to the control group (P < 0.05). The proportion of viable spermatozoa was significantly higher in the 150 μM NOB group. MDA levels were less in 50 μM and 150 μM NOB treated groups compared to the control. In addition, IVF with FT sperm was used to assess the embryo developmental competence. Treatment with 150 μM NOB before cryopreservation increased the cleavage and blastocyst formation rates compared to the control group. Furthermore, the relative expression of POU5F1 and AMPK, genes related to pluripotency and cell differentiation were significantly upregulated in embryos resulting from NOB-treated sperm compared to the control group. These results suggest that Nobiletin is a functionally novel phytochemical to mitigate oxidative stress during the freezing-thawing of porcine spermatozoa as reflected by improved FT sperm quality and IVF outcome.

Advances in extraction and purification of citrus flavonoids

Flavonoids are the representative active substances of citrus with various biological activities and high nutritional value. In order to evaluate and utilize citrus flavonoids, isolation and purification are necessary steps. This manuscript reviewed the research advances in the extraction and purification of citrus flavonoids. The structure classification, the plant and nutritional functions, and the biosynthesis of citrus flavonoids were summarized. The characteristics of citrus flavonoids and the selection of separation strategies were explained. The technical system of extraction and purification of citrus flavonoids was systematically described. Finally, outlook and research directions were proposed.

Inhibiting bacterial biofilm formation by stimulating c-di-GMP regulation using citrus peel extract from Jeju Island

Biofilms consist of single or multiple species of bacteria embedded in extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs), which affect the increase in antibiotic resistance by restricting the transport of antibiotics to the bacterial cells. An alternative approach to treatment with antimicrobial agents is using biofilm inhibitors that regulate biofilm development without inhibiting bacterial growth. In this study, we found that citrus peel extract from Jeju Island (CPEJ) can inhibit bacterial biofilm formation. According to the results, CPEJ concentration-dependently reduces biofilm formation without affecting bacterial growth. Additionally, CPEJ decreased the production of extracellular polymeric substances but increased bacterial swarming motility. These results led to the hypothesis that CPEJ can reduce intracellular bis-(3'-5')-cyclic dimeric guanosine monophosphate (c-di-GMP) concentration. The results showed that CPEJ significantly reduced the c-di-GMP level through increased phosphodiesterase activity. Altogether, these findings suggest that CPEJ as a biofilm inhibitor has new potential for pharmacological (e.g. drug and medication) and industrial applications (e.g. ship hulls, water pipes, and membrane processes biofouling control).

The Chemistry and the Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Polymethoxyflavonoids from Citrus Genus

Polymethoxyflavonoids (PMFs) are a large group of compounds belonging to the more general class of flavonoids that possess a flavan carbon framework decorated with a variable number of methoxy groups. Hydroxylated polymethoxyflavonoids (HPMFs), instead, are characterized by the presence of both hydroxyl and methoxy groups in their structural unities. Some of these compounds are the aglycone part in a glycoside structure in which the glycosidic linkage can involve the -OH at various positions. These compounds are particular to Citrus genus plants, especially in fruits, and they are present mainly in the peel. A considerable number of PMFs and HPMFs have shown promising biological activities and they are considered to be important nutraceuticals, responsible for some of the known beneficial effects on health associated with a regular consumption of Citrus fruits. Among their several actions on human health, it is notable that the relevant contribution in controlling the intracellular redox imbalance is associated with the inflammation processes. In this work, we aim to describe the status concerning the chemical identification and the anti-inflammatory activity of both PMFs and HPMFs. In particular, all of the chemical entities unambiguously identified by isolation and complete NMR analysis, and for which a biochemical evaluation on the pure compound was performed, are included in this paper.

Transcriptome and metabolome reveal the accumulation of secondary metabolites in different varieties of Cinnamomum longepaniculatum

BACKGROUND

Cinnamomum longepaniculatum (Gamble) N. Chao ex H. W. Li, whose leaves produce essential oils, is a traditional Chinese medicine and economically important tree species. In our study, two C. longepaniculatum varieties that have significantly different essential oil contents and leaf phenotypes were selected as the materials to investigate secondary metabolism.

RESULT

The essential oil content and leaf phenotypes were different between the two varieties. When the results of both transcriptome and metabolomic analyses were combined, it was found that the differences were related to phenylalanine metabolic pathways, particularly the metabolism of flavonoids and terpenoids. The transcriptome results based on KEGG pathway enrichment analysis showed that pathways involving phenylpropanoids, tryptophan biosynthesis and terpenoids significantly differed between the two varieties; 11 DEGs (2 upregulated and 9 downregulated) were associated with the biosynthesis of other secondary metabolites, and 12 DEGs (2 upregulated and 10 downregulated) were related to the metabolism of terpenoids and polyketides. Through further analysis of the leaves, we detected 196 metabolites in C. longepaniculatum. The abundance of 49 (26 downregulated and 23 upregulated) metabolites differed between the two varieties, which is likely related to the differences in the accumulation of these metabolites. We identified 12 flavonoids, 8 terpenoids and 8 alkaloids and identified 4 kinds of PMFs from the leaves of C. longepaniculatum.

CONCLUSIONS

The combined results of transcriptome and metabolomic analyses revealed a strong correlation between metabolite contents and gene expression. We speculate that light leads to differences in the secondary metabolism and phenotypes of leaves of different varieties of C. longepaniculatum. This research provides data for secondary metabolite studies and lays a solid foundation for breeding ideal C. longepaniculatum plants.

Fruit Peels: Food Waste as a Valuable Source of Bioactive Natural Products for Drug Discovery

Fruits along with vegetables are crucial for a balanced diet. These not only have delicious flavors but are also reported to decrease the risk of contracting various chronic diseases. Fruit by-products are produced in huge quantity during industrial processing and constitute a serious issue because they may pose a harmful risk to the environment. The proposal of employing fruit by-products, particularly fruit peels, has gradually attained popularity because scientists found that in many instances peels displayed better biological and pharmacological applications than other sections of the fruit. The aim of this review is to highlight the importance of fruit peel extracts and natural products obtained in food industries along with their other potential biological applications.

Valorization of Taiwan's Citrus depressa Hayata peels as a source of nobiletin and tangeretin using simple ultrasonic-assisted extraction

As the highest yield crop worldwide, citrus peels that possess bioactive compounds were discarded as a futile by-product. Ultrasonication with environmentally friendly solvent (50% ethanol and ddH₂O) were used in the present study to extract flavonoids from Citrus depressa Hayata peels with extraction period and fruit maturity as other variables. DPPH scavenging activity was investigated. Qualitative flavonoid content analysis was done by UV/Vis and FTIR-ATR spectra. Quantification of flavonoid using LC-MS/MS found that solvent type, fruit maturity, and ultrasonication period significantly affect the extracted flavonoid yield (p < 0.05). Extraction using 50% ethanol showed a higher yield than ddH₂O. Flavonoid content was also higher in unripe than ripe samples. Nobiletin, tangeretin, and rutin were dominant among the identified compounds in all sample treatments. Flavonoid content in Citrus depressa Hayata extract was found to negatively correlate to DPPH scavenging activity, which needs further research to identify other bioactivities of these flavonoids.

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Utilization of simple ultrasonication method with less preparation to extract flavonoids from Citrus depressa Hayata peels.

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Fruit maturity, extraction time and solvent preference significantly affect the yield of extracted flavonoid.

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Environmentally friendly solvent for extraction, deliver a comparable yield of flavonoid compounds to other methods.

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The negative correlation of extracted flavonoid to DPPH scavenging activity.

Antioxidant and antibacterial study of 10 flavonoids revealed rutin as a potential antibiofilm agent in Klebsiella pneumoniae strains isolated from hospitalized patients

The emergence of multidrug resistance (MDR) and extensive drug resistance (XDR) in Klebsiella pneumoniae strains has posed great threats to conventional antibiotics. Previous studies have shown that plant-derived flavonoids have inhibitory functions against pathogens. However, in K. pneumoniae, the antibacterial activity of different flavonoids against growth and biofilm formation remains a mystery. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the antioxidant abilities of different flavonoids, to screen active ingredients and to identify their inhibitory effects on K. pneumoniae growth and biofilm formation. In total, 10 flavonoids representing 4 major categories were screened and used in this study. The antioxidant capacity of each flavonoid was evaluated through a DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) assay. Rutin showed the highest level of free radical scavenging capacity, followed by kaempferol, luteolin, quercetin, apigenin, hesperidin, sinensetin, naringenin, naringin and 3,5,6,7,8,3',4'-heptamethoxyflavone. The inhibitory effects of rutin and naringin on bacterial growth were also compared. The lowest MICs of rutin were found against K. pneumoniae ATCC700603 (1024 μg/mL) and E. coli ATCC25922 (512 μg/mL). However, the MBICs were not found. Rutin showed strong inhibitory ability against both the growth curve and biofilm production. The expression profiles of 15 biofilm-related genes were analyzed in biofilm cells both with and without rutin treatment. The luxS gene and wabG gene were downregulated significantly by rutin treatment. Correlation analysis showed that mrkA gene expression was positively correlated with biofilm biomass accumulation. Our study indicated that biofilm production is correlated with the expression of several genes rather than one. MrkA gene expression was positively correlated with biofilm biomass accumulation. Our study screened rutin as a potential agent to inhibit K. pneumoniae biofilm formation.

Phytochemical characterization and anti-inflammatory potential of Egyptian Murcott mandarin cultivar waste (stem, leaves and peel)

The stem (S), leaf (L) and fruit peel (P) of Murcott mandarins were separately extracted using 80% ethanol and then fractionated into dichloromethane (DCM) and ethyl acetate (ET). Their metabolic profiles were studied via HPLC-PDA-ESI-MS/MS and afforded a tentative characterization of 98 compounds, including free organic acids, phenolic acid derivatives, flavonoid aglycones, flavonoid glycosides, flavonoids containing 3-hydroxyl-3-methylglutaroyl (HMG) units, coumarin derivatives and limonoids. Column chromatography resulted in isolation of six metabolites for the first time that were identified as nobiletin (C1), isosinensetin (C2), limonin (C3), 4'-demethylnobiletin (C4), stigmasterol-O-glucoside (C5) and hesperidin (C6). In vitro studies of the anti-inflammatory activity of DCM-L against cyclooxygenases (COXs) and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) enzymes revealed that DCM-L showed higher activity than the other tested fractions. The in vivo gastroprotective effects of that fraction were evaluated using alcohol-induced gastric ulcers in rats. The obtained findings validated the gastroprotective and anti-ulcerogenic activities of DCM-L through its anxiolytic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-apoptotic effects. Therefore, we recommend the use of Murcott mandarin leaves as a part of a protection strategy for gastric ulcer.

Nobiletin in Cancer Therapy: How This Plant Derived-Natural Compound Targets Various Oncogene and Onco-Suppressor Pathways

Cancer therapy is a growing field, and annually, a high number of research is performed to develop novel antitumor drugs. Attempts to find new antitumor drugs continue, since cancer cells are able to acquire resistance to conventional drugs. Natural chemicals can be considered as promising candidates in the field of cancer therapy due to their multiple-targeting capability. The nobiletin (NOB) is a ubiquitous flavone isolated from Citrus fruits. The NOB has a variety of pharmacological activities, such as antidiabetes, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, and neuroprotective. Among them, the antitumor activity of NOB has been under attention over recent years. In this review, we comprehensively describe the efficacy of NOB in cancer therapy. NOB induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in cancer cells. It can suppress migration and invasion of cancer cells via the inhibition of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and EMT-related factors such as TGF-β, ZEB, Slug, and Snail. Besides, NOB inhibits oncogene factors such as STAT3, NF-κB, Akt, PI3K, Wnt, and so on. Noteworthy, onco-suppressor factors such as microRNA-7 and -200b undergo upregulation by NOB in cancer therapy. These onco-suppressor and oncogene pathways and mechanisms are discussed in this review.

Construction and Chemical Profile on "Activity Fingerprint" of Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium from Different Cultivars Based on HPLC-UV, LC/MS-IT-TOF, and Principal Component Analysis

Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium (CRP), known as Chenpi (CP) in Chinese, is a medicinal food for health and fitness. In order to find out the characteristic activity chemicals distinguishing various cultivars of CRP and provide a reference for effective development of citrus resources, an “activity fingerprint” of CRP from 21 different cultivars was established based on the evaluation of antitussive and expectorant activities. There were 18 common peaks in the HPLC fingerprint, of which 3 flavonoid glycosides and 14 polymethoxyflavonoids (PMFs) were identified by LC/MS-IT-TOF. Furthermore, five characteristic chemicals were determined and similarity calculation with principal component analysis (PCA) was combined together to compare the similarity and difference among various cultivars. The results showed that some other cultivars were also similar to C. reticulata “Chachi” except for C. reticulata “Tangerina” and C. reticulata “Dahongpao” recorded in Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Most importantly, the peels of C. reticulata “Shiyueju,” C. reticulata “Ponkan,” C. reticulata “Tribute,” and C. reticulata “Bayueju,” traditionally rarely used for medicinal food, were highly similar to that of C. reticulata “Chachi” and rich in bioactive flavonoids, which can be considered the effective medicinal resources of CRP.

Citrus Flavones: An Update on Sources, Biological Functions, and Health Promoting Properties

Citrus spp. are among the most widespread plants cultivated worldwide and every year millions of tons of fruit, juices, or processed compounds are produced and consumed, representing one of the main sources of nutrients in human diet. Among these, the flavonoids play a key role in providing a wide range of health beneficial effects. Apigenin, diosmetin, luteolin, acacetin, chrysoeriol, and their respective glycosides, that occur in concentrations up to 60 mg/L, are the most common flavones found in Citrus fruits and juices. The unique characteristics of their basic skeleton and the nature and position of the substituents have attracted and stimulated vigorous investigations as a consequence of an enormous biological potential, that manifests itself as (among other properties) antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antimicrobial, and anticancer activities. This review analyzes the biochemical, pharmacological, and biological properties of Citrus flavones, emphasizing their occurrence in Citrus spp. fruits and juices, on their bioavailability, and their ability to modulate signal cascades and key metabolic enzymes both in vitro and in vivo. Electronic databases including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and SciFinder were used to investigate recent published articles on Citrus spp. in terms of components and bioactivity potentials.

Nobiletin and Derivatives: Functional Compounds from Citrus Fruit Peel for Colon Cancer Chemoprevention

The search for effective methods of cancer treatment and prevention has been a continuous effort since the disease was discovered. Recently, there has been increasing interest in exploring plants and fruits for molecules that may have potential as either adjuvants or as chemopreventive agents against cancer. One of the promising compounds under extensive research is nobiletin (NOB), a polymethoxyflavone (PMF) extracted exclusively from citrus peel. Not only does nobiletin itself exhibit anti-cancer properties, but its derivatives are also promising chemopreventive agents; examples of derivatives with anti-cancer activity include 3'-demethylnobiletin (3'-DMN), 4'-demethylnobiletin (4'-DMN), 3',4'-didemethylnobiletin (3',4'-DMN) and 5-demethylnobiletin (5-DMN). In vitro studies have demonstrated differential efficacies and mechanisms of NOB and its derivatives in inhibiting and killing of colon cancer cells. The chemopreventive potential of NOB has also been well demonstrated in several in vivo colon carcinogenesis animal models. NOB and its derivatives target multiple pathways in cancer progression and inhibit several of the hallmark features of colorectal cancer (CRC) pathophysiology, including arresting the cell cycle, inhibiting cell proliferation, inducing apoptosis, preventing tumour formation, reducing inflammatory effects and limiting angiogenesis. However, these substances have low oral bioavailability that limits their clinical utility, hence there have been numerous efforts exploring better drug delivery strategies for NOB and these are part of this review. We also reviewed data related to patents involving NOB to illustrate the extensiveness of each research area and its direction of commercialisation. Furthermore, this review also provides suggested directions for future research to advance NOB as the next promising candidate in CRC chemoprevention.

An optimized solvent extraction and characterization of unidentified flavonoid glucuronide derivatives from spinach by UHPLC-HR-QTOF-MS

A rapid, sensitive analytical method using ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HR-QTOF-MS) was developed for the identification and quantification of flavonoids from spinach. The extraction efficiency of flavonoids was evaluated by different solvents such as acetone, ethanol, methanol, acetone: water (70:30), ethanol: water (70:30) and methanol: water (70:30). Flavonoid identification was achieved by UV spectra, high resolution accurate mass and their fragmentation pattern. The precursor and product ions were recorded by both broadband collision ion dissociation (bbCID) and multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) techniques. Different collision energies (5, 10, 15, 20, 40, and 70 eV) were optimized to obtain the mass spectra of flavonoids in positive and negative ionization modes. For the first time, five minor flavonoid glucuronide derivatives were identified in spinach. MRM and bbCID provided glucuronide fingerprint ions at m/z 175.0278 and m/z 113.0257 respectively in negative ionization mode. The quantification of identified flavonoids was achieved by 5,3',4'-trihydroxy-3-methoxy-6:7-methylen-dioxyflavone-4'-β-D-glucuronide which was purified by semi-preparatory HPLC. The purity of the isolated compound was confirmed by NMR analysis. The identified 5,3',4'-trihydroxy-3-methoxy-6:7-methylen-dioxyflavone-4'-β-D-(2'-O-feurloyl-glucuronide) was the prominent flavonoid and the level was significantly higher in the acetone fraction (2.95 ± 0.16 µg/g FW). This study demonstrates the systematic identification of potential bioactive compounds especially glucuronide derivatives from spinach.

Dose- and time-dependent pharmacokinetics of apigenin trimethyl ether

Apigenin trimethyl ether (5,7,4'-trimethoxyflavone, ATE), one of the key polymethoxyflavones present in black ginger (rhizome of Kaempferia parviflora) possesses various health-promoting activities. To optimize its medicinal application, the pharmacokinetics of ATE was assessed in Sprague-Dawley rats with emphases to identify the impacts from dose and repeated dosing on its major pharmacokinetic parameters. Plasma ATE levels were monitored by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method. Upon single intravenous administration (2 mg/kg), plasma levels of ATE declined through an apparent first-order process while dose-escalation to 4 and 8 mg/kg led to its non-linear disposition, which could be described by the Michaelis-Menten model. Similarly, dose-dependent oral pharmacokinetics was confirmed and when the dose was escalated from 5 to 15 and 45 mg/kg, much longer mean residence time (MRT_0→last), higher dose-normalized maximal plasma concentration (C_max/Dose) and exposure (AUC/Dose) were observed at 15 and/or 45 mg/kg. One-week daily oral administration of ATE at 15 mg/kg caused its accelerated elimination and the plasma exposure (AUC) after intravenous (2 mg/kg) and oral administration (15 mg/kg) dropped ~40 and 60%, respectively. As ATE displayed both dose- and time-dependent pharmacokinetics, caution is needed in the medicinal applications of ATE and/or black ginger.

Plant flavones enhance antimicrobial activity of respiratory epithelial cell secretions against Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Flavones are a class of natural plant secondary metabolites that have anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effects. Some flavones also activate the T2R14 bitter taste receptor, which is expressed in motile cilia of the sinonasal epithelium and activates innate immune nitric oxide (NO) production. Flavones may thus be potential therapeutics for respiratory infections. Our objective was to examine the anti-microbial effects of flavones on the common sinonasal pathogens Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, evaluating both planktonic and biofilm growth. Flavones had only very low-level antibacterial activity alone. They did not reduce biofilm formation, but did reduce production of the important P. aeruginosa inflammatory mediator and ciliotoxin pyocyanin. However, flavones exhibited synergy against P. aeruginosa in the presence of antibiotics or recombinant human lysozyme. They also enhanced the efficacy of antimicrobials secreted by cultured and primary human airway cells grown at air-liquid interface. This suggests that flavones may have anti-gram-negative potential as topical therapeutics when combined with antibiotics or in the context of innate antimicrobials secreted by the respiratory or other epithelia. This may have an additive effect when combined with T2R14-activated NO production. Additional studies are necessary to understand which flavone compounds or mixtures are the most efficacious.

Quantification of apigenin trimethyl ether in rat plasma by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry: Application to a pre-clinical pharmacokinetic study

Apigenin trimethyl ether (5,7,4'-trimethoxyflavone, ATE) is a naturally occurring polymethoxyflavone with a wide range of health-promoting activities. In this study, a sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was developed and validated for the quantification of ATE in rat plasma. Protein precipitation was applied as plasma clean-up procedure; the electrospray ionization was operated in its positive ion mode while ATE and formononetin (internal standard) were measured by multiple reactions monitoring (ATE: m/z 313.1→298.1; formononetin: 269.2→213.3). This LC-MS/MS method displayed good selectivity, sensitivity (lower limit of quantification=2.5ng/ml), accuracy (both intra- and inter-day analytical recovery within 100±10%) and precision (both intra- and inter-day RSD <10%). The matrix effect was found to be insignificant. The pharmacokinetic profiles of ATE were subsequently examined in Sprague-Dawley rats after single oral administration (10mg/kg). When given in an aqueous suspension, ATE was slowly absorbed with quite low plasma exposure (AUC). Fasting further attenuated its oral absorption and led to ∼70% drops in average maximal plasma concentration (C_max) and AUC. When dosed in a solution formulated with 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin, the oral absorption of ATE was substantially improved with ∼500% increases in average C_max and AUC. Clearly, aqueous solubility has been identified as a barrier to the oral absorption of ATE. The information obtained from this study will facilitate further medicinal exploration on ATE.

Label-free Imaging and Characterization of Cancer Cell Responses to Polymethoxyflavones Using Raman Microscopy

We determined the cellular responses of human colon cancer HT29 and HCT116 cells to the treatments of nobiletin (NBT) and 5-demethylnobiletin (5DN) using Raman microscopy. Evaluation at both single cell and cell population levels revealed found that NBT induced more changes in the peak intensity of nucleic acid than 5DN, whereas 5DN induced more changes in the peak intensity of localized lipid than NBT. This result indicates the different modes of inhibitory action of these two PMFs against colon cancer cells. Between the two colon cancer cells tested, HCT116 cells were more sensitive to both PMFs than HT29 cells. The Raman data were generally in a good agreement with the flow cytometry data. Our results demonstrate that Raman microscopy is able to provide macromolecular information on cellular responses to anticancer treatments.

Converting citrus wastes into value-added products: Economic and environmently friendly approaches

Citrus fruits, including oranges, grapefruits, lemons, limes, tangerines, and mandarins, are among the most widely cultivated fruits around the globe. Its production is increasing every year due to rising consumer demand. Citrus-processing industries generate huge amounts of wastes every year, and citrus peel waste alone accounts for almost 50% of the wet fruit mass. Citrus waste is of immense economic value as it contains an abundance of various flavonoids, carotenoids, dietary fiber, sugars, polyphenols, essential oils, and ascorbic acid, as well as considerable amounts of some trace elements. Citrus waste also contains high levels of sugars suitable for fermentation for bioethanol production. However, compounds such as D-limonene must be removed for efficient bioethanol production. The aim of the present article was to review the latest advances in various popular methods of extraction for obtaining value-added products from citrus waste/byproducts and their potential utility as a source of various functional compounds.

Binding mode exploration of LuxR-thiazolidinedione analogues, e-pharmacophore-based virtual screening in the designing of LuxR inhibitors and its biological evaluation

Master quorum sensing (QS) regulator LuxR of Vibrio harveyi is a unique member of the TetR protein superfamily. Recent studies have demonstrated the contribution of thiazolidinedione analogues in blocking QS by decreasing the DNA-binding ability of LuxR. However, the precise mechanism of thiazolidinedione analogues binding to LuxR is still unclear. In the present study, molecular docking combined with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations was performed to understand the mechanism of ligand binding to the protein. The binding pattern of thiazolidinedione analogues showed strong hydrogen bonding interactions with the amine group (NH) of polar amino acid residue Asn133 and carbonyl (C=O) interaction with negatively charged amino acid residue Gln137 in the binding site of LuxR. The stability of the protein-ligand complexes was confirmed by running 50 ns of MD simulations. Further, the four-featured pharmacophore hypothesis (AHHD) consists of one acceptor (A), two hydrophobic regions (HH) and one donor (D) group was used to screen compounds from ChemBridge database. The identified hit molecules were shown to have excellent pharmacokinetic properties under the acceptable range. Based on the computational studies, ChemBridge_5343641 was selected for in vitro assays. The 1-(4-chlorophenoxy)-3-[(4,6-dimethyl-2-pyrimidinyl)thio]-2-propanol (ChemBridge_5343641) showed significant reduction in bioluminescence in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, ChemBridge_5343641 inhibits biofilm formation and motility in V. harveyi. The result from the study suggests that ChemBridge_5343641 could serve as an anti-QS molecule.