Bioactivity-Guided Isolation and Identification of Antiadipogenic Compounds in Shiya Tea (Leaves of Adinandra nitida)

Kombucha enables to inhibit digestive enzymes activity and adipocyte differentiation of OP9 cells

Obesity is a global challenging epidemic caused by surplus adipose accumulation or energy intake, and available medications are quite limited. Studies focused on identifying potent anti-adipogenic pharmaceuticals and functional foods have gained great interests. This study evaluated the obesity prevention potential of oolong tea kombucha (OTK) and yellow tea kombucha (YTK) by in vitro experiments. The results showed that the total polyphenol content in OTK and YTK increased by 50.00% and 47.49% after fermentation, and the antioxidative capacity of kombucha was enhanced by 7.57% and 7.83% as well. After fermentation, the inhibitory activity of OTK and YTK on α-amylase and lipase was increased by 53.15% and 64.43%, and 45.24% and 39.74%, respectively. The anti-adipogenic effects evaluated by using mouse OP9 cell model indicated that both OTK and YTK could downregulate the expression levels of FABP4, PPARγ, C/EBPα, and SERBP-1C which are involved with adipocyte differentiation. Taken together, kombucha showed great potential in regulating glucose and lipid metabolism by inhibiting digestive enzymes and adipocyte differentiation, which could be a functional beverage in aiding obesity prevention or treatments. However, further animal or clinical experiments are needed to verify its potential in obesity intervention. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: This study showed that kombucha showed great potential in preventing obesity, which provided an alternative functional beverage for obesity intervening or prevention.

Comparative study on the antioxidant efficacy of Adinandra nitida extracts in inhibiting lipid oxidation in edible oils

Exploring natural antioxidants is essential to delay lipid oxidation. This study investigated the inhibitory effect of Adinandra nitida (AN) extract in six edible oils, compared to TP and TBHQ. Methods included extract preparation, bioactive compounds analysis, in vitro antioxidant activities by FRAP, DPPH, and ABTS assays, fatty acid composition detection, and POV determination. The results showed that AN was rich in total flavonoids, total phenols and had better iron ion reduction ability than TBHQ. In oleic and linoleic acid-rich oils, AN significantly delayed early-stage lipid oxidation, outperforming TP and TBHQ. In linolenic acid-rich oils, AN maintained a stable effect. Molecular docking studies revealed strong binding interactions between main compounds and fatty acids, with Camelliaside A in (7.83) showing higher binding energy to linolenic acid than TBHQ (7.64), supporting the antioxidant effects. These findings suggest AN as a promising natural alternative to synthetic antioxidants, enhancing oil stability and shelf life.

Ultra-High Hydrostatic Pressure Pretreatment on White Que Zui Tea: Chemical Constituents, Antioxidant, Cytoprotective, and Anti-Inflammatory Activities

Herbal tea has numerous biological activities and exhibits broad benefits for human health. In China, the flower buds of Lyonia ovalifolia are traditionally processed as herbal tea, namely White Que Zui tea (WQT). This study was aimed to evaluate the effect of ultra-high hydrostatic pressure (UHHP) pretreatment on the chemical constituents and biological activities of free, esterified, and insoluble-bound phenolic fractions from WQT. A total of 327 chemical constituents were identified by a quasi-targeted metabolomics analysis. UHHP pretreatment extremely inhibited reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and cell apoptosis in H2O2-induced HepG2 cells, and it increased the activities of intracellular antioxidant enzymes (SOD and CAT) and GSH content in different phenolic fractions from WQT. In addition, after UHHP pretreatment, the anti-inflammatory effects of different phenolic fractions from WQT were improved by inhibiting the production of nitric oxide (NO) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β) in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells. Thus, the UHHP method might be a potential pretreatment strategy for improving the bioavailability of phytochemicals from natural plants.

Research progress on the lipid-lowering and weight loss effects of tea and the mechanism of its functional components

Obesity caused by poor eating habits has become a great challenge faced by public health organizations worldwide. Optimizing dietary intake and ingesting special foods containing biologically active substances (such as polyphenols, alkaloids, and terpenes) is a safe and effective dietary intervention to prevent the occurrence and development of obesity. Tea contains several active dietary factors, and daily tea consumption has been shown to have various health benefits, especially in regulating human metabolic diseases. Here, we reviewed recent advances in research on tea and its functional components in improving obesity-related metabolic dysfunction, and gut microbiota homeostasis and related clinical research. Furthermore, the potential mechanisms by which the functional components of tea could promote lipid-lowering and weight-loss effects by regulating fat synthesis/metabolism, glucose metabolism, gut microbial homeostasis, and liver function were summarized. The research results showing a "positive effect" or "no effect" objectively evaluates the lipid-lowering and weight-loss effects of the functional components of tea. This review provides a new scientific basis for further research on the functional ingredients of tea for lipid lowering and weight loss and the development of lipid-lowering and weight-loss functional foods and beverages derived from tea.

Shibi Tea (Adinandra nitida) and Camellianin A Alleviate CCl4-Induced Liver Injury in C57BL-6J Mice by Attenuation of Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Apoptosis

Liver injury is a significant public health issue nowadays. Shibi tea is a non-Camellia tea prepared from the dried leaves of Adinandra nitida, one of the plants with the greatest flavonoid concentration, with Camellianin A (CA) being the major flavonoid. Shibi tea is extensively used in food and medicine and has been found to provide a variety of health advantages. The benefits of Shibi tea and CA in preventing liver injury have not yet been investigated. The aim of this study was to investigate the hepatoprotective effects of extract of Shibi tea (EST) and CA in mice with carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced acute liver injury. Two different concentrations of EST and CA were given to model mice by gavage for 3 days. Treatment with two concentrations of EST and CA reduced the CCl₄-induced elevation of the liver index, liver histopathological injury score, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). Western blotting and immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that EST and CA regulated the oxidative stress signaling pathway protein levels of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/heme-oxygenase-1 (HO-1), the expression of inflammatory cytokines, the phosphorylated nuclear factor-kappaB p65 (p-NF-κB)/nuclear factor-kappaB p65 (NF-κB) ratio, the phospho-p44/42 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p-MAPK), and the apoptosis-related protein levels of BCL2-associated X (Bax)/B cell leukemia/lymphoma 2 (Bcl2) in the liver. Taken together, EST and CA can protect against CCl₄-induced liver injury by exerting antioxidative stress, anti-inflammation, and anti-apoptosis.

Pentacyclic Triterpenoid Saponins, Poterinasides A-J, from Silverweed Cinquefoil Roots Promising Hepatoprotective and Anti-inflammatory Agents

Silverweed cinquefoil roots, as dietary supplements, foods, and medicines, are widely used in western areas of China, specifically in Tibet Autonomous Region and Gansu and Qinghai Provinces. In this paper, 10 new natural pentacyclic triterpenoid saponins (1-10), named poterinasides A-J, along with 14 known compounds (11-24) were isolated and purified from silverweed cinquefoil roots. The chemical structures of 1-10 were established by extensive analysis of 1D and 2D NMR data and mass spectrometric data. Poterinasides A (1), B (2), and G (7) with the unique position of substituents on the E ring had never been discovered in natural products before. Saponins 1-8, 14, and 22 displayed potent hepatoprotective activities, and 1-8, 10, 11, 14, 16, 19, and 22-24 showed outstanding anti-inflammatory effects. On the basis of the present results, some structure-activity relationships were summarized, in which 3α-OH, 19β-CH₃, 20α-CH₃, 20β-CH₃, 21α-OH, and 30-OH groups in isolated pentacyclic triterpenoid saponins were found to strengthen the hepatoprotective and anti-inflammatory activities, respectively. Further, the following pharmacophore-based virtual screening and docking studies on special targets proteins, SIRT1 and COX-2, revealed roughly similar results with the structure-activity relationships, and this combination method was used for the first time for active natural compound screening.

Complete chloroplast genome of novel Adrinandra megaphylla Hu species: molecular structure, comparative and phylogenetic analysis

Adrinandra megaphylla Hu is a medicinal plant belonging to the Adrinandra genus, which is well-known for its potential health benefits due to its bioactive compounds. This study aimed to assemble and annotate the chloroplast genome of A. megaphylla as well as compare it with previously published cp genomes within the Adrinandra genus. The chloroplast genome was reconstructed using de novo and reference-based assembly of paired-end reads generated by long-read sequencing of total genomic DNA. The size of the chloroplast genome was 156,298 bp, comprised a large single-copy (LSC) region of 85,688 bp, a small single-copy (SSC) region of 18,424 bp, and a pair of inverted repeats (IRa and IRb) of 26,093 bp each; and a total of 51 SSRs and 48 repeat structures were detected. The chloroplast genome includes a total of 131 functional genes, containing 86 protein-coding genes, 37 transfer RNA genes, and 8 ribosomal RNA genes. The A. megaphylla chloroplast genome indicated that gene content and structure are highly conserved. The phylogenetic reconstruction using complete cp sequences, matK and trnL genes from Pentaphylacaceae species exhibited a genetic relationship. Among them, matK sequence is a better candidate for phylogenetic resolution. This study is the first report for the chloroplast genome of the A. megaphylla.

Chemical characterization of the polar antibacterial fraction of the ethanol extract from Rosmarinus officinalis

Rosmarinus officinalis L. has been widely used as a spice to extend the shelf life of foods. Most studies in the literature indicate that its essential oil is its major antibacterial component. In this study, a polar fraction from rosemary exhibited considerably stronger antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis than its essential oil. Guided by rapid characterization of the chemical compositions based on UPLC-Orbitrap-MS/MS, further investigation resulted in the isolation and identification of sixteen compounds. Among them, two new and six known compounds were identified in rosemary for the first time. Most isolated compounds exhibited significant antibacterial activities with minimum inhibitory concentration values of 2-128 μg/mL; however, these activities were weaker than that of the polar fraction. Thus, the polar fraction demonstrated a promising potential to serve as a food additive, as an alternative to the essential oil, because of its stronger antibacterial activity.

Bioguided isolation, identification and activity evaluation of antifungal compounds from Acorus tatarinowii Schott

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY RELEVANCE

As a traditional folk medicine, Acorus tatarinowii Schott was used to treat digestive diseases, such as diarrhea, which may be related to Candida albicans infection; however according to literature surveys, there have been few studies of A. tatarinowii focusing on its antimicrobial activity, and almost all describe investigations using crude extracts or fractions.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The aims of the current study were to isolate and identify antifungal fractions of A. tatarinowii based on their antifungal activity, explore the preliminary mechanism of 60% ethanol elution (AT60) by metabonomics, and evaluate the antifungal activity of AT60 in vivo and in vitro, to provide natural resources against fungal infections.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

As a pilot evaluation of activity, A. tatarinowii fractions and compounds with antifungal bioactivity were isolated by bioactive-guided column chromatography, and identified by LC-QTOF-MS/MS and NMR spectroscopy. The antifungal effects of the active ingredients against resistant C. albicans were evaluated by in vivo and in vitro colony forming unit assays. The mechanism underlying the activity of AT60 against C. albicans was explored using an LC-QTOF-based metabonomics approach and fluorescence microscopy imaging.

RESULTS

AT60 showed better activity against C. albicans than the same dose of the first line antifungal drugs, fluconazole and itraconazole (positive control drugs). Subsequent phytochemical investigation of AT60 identified twenty-five known compounds, six of which were isolated: asaraldehyde (7), 1-(2,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-1,2-propanediol (12), α-asarone (14), β-asarone (15), γ-asarone (18), acotatarone C (19). Further, the compounds α-asarone (14) and acotatarone C (19) may be responsible for the antifungal activity, and exhibit synergistic effects. Metabonomics analysis indicated that AT60 can inhibit biofilm formation by regulating the C. albicans protein kinase C pathway.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results show that A. tatarinowii has potent bioactivity against C. albicans in vitro and in vivo, and can be considered an antifungal botanic agent.

Bioactivity-Guided Identification of Anti-Adipogenic Isothiocyanates in the Moringa (Moringa oleifera) Seed and Investigation of the Structure-Activity Relationship

Due to the side effects of obesity medications, many studies have focused on the natural products used in the daily diet to control weight. Moringa seed pods and leaves are widely used as vegetables or diet supplements due to the high nutrition value. However, no bioactivity-guided anti-adipogenic study was previously conducted. Therefore, a preadipocyte cell line was adopted as the bioactivity assay to identify the anti-adipogenic compounds in the peeled Moringa seed. Two known sulphur-containing compounds (1 and 2) were isolated and identified. Compound 2, 4-(α-l-rhamnosyloxy) benzyl isothiocyanate, showed a great anti-adipogneic effect with an IC₅₀ value of 9.2 μg/mL. The isothiocyanate (ITC) group in compound 2 could be responsible for the inhibitory activity. In addition, a series of compounds with the ITC group were used to further investigate the structure-activity relationship, indicating foods containing ITC derivatives have the potential of being used to control weight.