Phenolic Glycosides from the Roots of Ficus hirta Vahl. and Their Antineuroinflammatory Activities

Phenolics and Phenolic Glycosides from Wrightia pubescens and Their Hepatoprotective Activities

Thirty compounds including 13 new phenolic glycosides (1-6, 9-15) and 17 known aromatic compounds and aromatic glycosides (7-8, 16-30) were isolated from the roots of Wrightia pubescens. The structures of the new phenolic glycosides were established by extensive NMR spectroscopic data analysis as well as chemical derivatization method. The isolated compounds were evaluated for their hepatoprotective activities using cell model of acetaminophen (APAP)-induced HepG2 cells. The results indicated that phenolic glycosides (2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 13) pretreatment enhanced the cells viability and reduced the levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT). The hepatoprotective mechanism of a representative new compound, wrightioside D (4), was further investigated. Compound 4 exhibited hepatoprotective effects via reducing oxidative stress by attenuating ROS formation and inhibiting apoptosis in APAP-treated HepG2 cells.

Discovery of sesquiterpene lactones with anti-inflammatory effect from Youngia japonica

The preliminary study revealed that the ethyl acetate eluate of Youngia japonica (YJ-E) could inhibit the expression of key proteins of p-p65, p-IκBα, p-IKKα/β, and p-AKT in LPS stimulated BV2 cell. Further phytochemical study led to the isolation of eight compounds from YJ-E, including one new sesquiterpene lactone. Their structures were elucidated by several spectroscopic data, and comparing the NMR data of known compound. In addition, all of the isolates were evaluated for the anti-inflammatory effect. As a result, compounds 3 and 4 distinctly attenuated the expressions of p-IκBα, p-p65, and p-AKT in LPS stimulated BV2 cell, respectively.

A review of Ficus L. genus (Moraceae): a source of bioactive compounds for health and disease. Part 1

The Ficus L. genus, belonging to the Moraceae family, includes around 850 species that are widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions around the world; including the Eastern Mediterranean, Asia, Africa, Australia, and a large territory of America. Among the most important species are F. deltoidea, F. exasperata, F. sycomorus, F. religiosa, F. microcarpa, F. hirta Vahl, F. benghalensis, F. racemosa, F. elástica, and F. carica. Different parts of Ficus plants (root, stem bark, latex, leaves, pulp and fruits) contain bioactive compounds [flavonoids (flavanols, flavones, flavonols, isoflavones, chalcones, anthocyanins), phenolic acids (hidroxylcinnamic acids, hidroxylbenzoic acids), phytosterols, terpenes (triterpenes, tetraterpenes, diterpenes, sesquiterpenes, monoterpenes), coumarins, hydroxybenzoates, phenylpropanoids, chlorins, pheophytins, megastigmanes, chitinases, organic acids, fatty acids, amino acids, alkaloids, glycosides] which together, are currently useful to more than 30 traditional ethnomedical uses. The present manuscript is the result of scientific search processed with the main electronic databases (PubMEd, SciELO, Latindex, Redalyc, BiologyBrowser, ScienceResearch, ScienceDirect, Academic Journals, Ethnobotany, and Scopus). This first review (Part 1), compiles information from published research (in vitro, in vivo and clinical studies) on its antimicrobial, antifungal, antiviral, anti-helminthic, hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antipyretic properties; as well as its possible adverse and/or toxicological effects. Given the amount of evidence described in this review it aims to trigger a more detailed scientific research on the important pharmacological properties of all angiosperm plants of the genus Ficus L.

Discovery of Sesquiterpene Lactones with Cytotoxicity from the Herb of Youngia japonica

In the process of searching for anti-breast cancer agents, five sesquiterpene lactones (1-5), including two previously undescribed ones, yjaponica B-C (1-2), were isolated from the herb of Youngia japonica. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic data analyses and Marfey's method. Cytotoxic activities of all compounds against A549, U87, and 4T1 cell lines were tested using the CCK8 assay. The result showed that compound 3 possessed the highest cytotoxic activity against 4T1 cells with an IC50 value of 10.60 μM. Furthermore, compound 3 distinctly induced apoptosis, inhibited immigration, and blocked the cell cycle of 4T1 cells. In addition, compound 3 induced the production of reactive oxygen species. Further anticancer mechanism studies showed that compound 3 significantly upregulated expression of the cleaved caspase 3 and PARP, whereas it downregulated the expression of Bcl-2, cyclin D1, cyclin A2, CDK4, and CDK2. Taken together, our results demonstrate that compound 3 has a high potential of being used as a leading compound for the discovery of new anti-breast cancer agent.

Quality evaluation for Ficus hirta Vahl granules, using TLC and HPLC fingerprint combined with chemical pattern recognition

Ficus hirta Vahl is a healthy food with both medicinal and culinary properties and with anti-inflammatory and anti-aging effects. There is currently no standardized or universally accepted research strategy for evaluating the quality of Ficus hirta Vahl granules (FHGs). Therefore, the development of a comprehensive quality evaluation method is crucial for the quality control of FHGs. In this study, we used n-hexane : trichloromethane : ethyl acetate : glacial acetic acid = 20 : 4 : 7 : 1 as the optimal developing agent for TLC to separate and identify 15 batches of FHGs from different origins. Using HPLC, a fingerprint with 7 common peaks was established, and peaks 6 and 7 were attributed to psoralen and bergapten, respectively. The content of the identified components was determined. Further quality evaluation of FHGs was performed using chemical pattern recognition, and the results showed that hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) could cluster 15 batches of FHGs into 2 categories. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that 2 principal components can show the similarities and differences between different batches of FHGs. Orthogonal partial least squares discrimination (OPLS-DA) showed that components 5, 6 (psoralen) and 7 (bergapten) are landmark components that cause differences in FHG quality from different regions. By integrating the analytical modes of TLC, HPLC fingerprint and chemical pattern recognition, a scientific basis is provided for the comprehensive control and evaluation of herbal medicine quality.

Undescribed Lignanamide and Flavone C-Glucoside Isolated from the Aerial Parts of Piper Samentosum with NO Production Inhibitory Activity in LPS Activated RAW 264.7 Cells

In this study, two undescribed compounds (1 and 2), together with eight known compounds (3-10) were isolated from the aerial parts of Piper samentosum by various chromatography methods. Their chemical structures were determined to be 7'''-oxolyciumamide N (1), vitexin 2''-O-β-D-(6'''-feruloyl)-glucopyranoside (2), 1,2-dihydro-6,8-dimethoxy-7-hydroxy-1-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-N1,N2-bis-[2-(-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl]-2,3-napthalene dicarboamide (3), vitexin 6''-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (4), vitexin 2''-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (5), methyl 2-hydroxybenzoate-2-O-β-D-apiofuranosyl-(1→2)-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (6), ficuside G (7), methyl 2-O-β-D-glucopyranosylbenzoate (8), methyl 2,5-dihydroxybenzoate-5-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (9), and 3,7-dimethyloct-1-ene-3,6,7-triol 6-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (10) by spectroscopic data analysis including HR-ESI-MS, 1D-, and 2D-NMR spectra. Compounds 1-5 inhibited nitric oxide production in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages with the IC50 values of 27.62, 74.03, 38.54, 70.39, and 44.95 μM, respectively. The NMR data of 9 were firstly reported herein.

Discovery of sesquiterpene from Youngia japonica with antitumor effect

Fourteen sesquiterpenes, including one undescribed sesquiterpene lactone, were isolated from Youngia japonica, and their structures were identified by NMR, HRESIMS, ECD and calculated ECD. Cytotoxic activities of all isolates against A549, HeLa, and 4 T1 cell lines were detected by CCK8 assay. Among them, 2 showed obvious cytotoxic activity against A549 cells. Subsequently, the production of ROS, and apoptosis of A549 cells treated with 2 were evaluated. The result showed that 2 distinctly increased the ROS level, and induced the apoptosis of A549 cells. Further anticancer mechanism studies showed that 2 increased the expression of cleaved caspase 3. Taken together, our results demonstrated that 2 might become potential leading compounds for the treatment of lung cancer.

Four undescribed coumarin derivatives, with ten amides from the roots of Ficus hirta and their cytotoxic activities

Four undescribed coumarin derivatives, ficusalt A (1) and ficusalt B (2), a pair of racemic coumarins, (±) ficudimer A (3a/3b), along with ten known amides, were isolated from the roots of Ficus hirta. Their structures were elucidated by several spectroscopic data analyses, including HRESIMS, NMR, and X-ray single-crystal diffraction. The cytotoxic activities of all compounds against HeLa, HepG2, MCF-7, and H460 cell lines were detected using the MTT assay. Among these, 5 showed the highest activity against HeLa cells. Subsequently, the apoptotic, anti-invasive, and anti-migration effects of 5 on HeLa cells were determined by flow cytometer, transwell invasion assay, and wound-healing assay, respectively. The result suggested that 5 distinctly induced the apoptosis in HeLa cells and inhibited their invasion and migration. Further studies on anticancer mechanisms were conducted using Western blotting. As a result, 5 increased the cleavage of PARP and the expression of pro-apoptotic protein Bax. Moreover, 5 notably upregulated the phosphorylation of p38 and JNK, whereas inhibited the expression of p-ERK and p-AKT. Our results demonstrated that 5 could be a potential leading compound for further application in the treatment of cervical cancer.

Identification and quantification of compounds with Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitory activity in licorice by UPLC-MS

Licorice is a famous medicine-food herb for treating cardiovascular diseases in many compound prescriptions. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) is a key target of cardiovascular diseases. Despite its significance, there is limited scientific investigation regarding the ACE inhibitory effects of licorice. In this study, we used an activity-guided approach with an aggregation-induced emission (AIE) fluorescent probe to identify compounds with ACE-inhibitory activity in licorice. Nine components of licorice were found to have ACE inhibitory activity, in which 46 compounds were identified by using UPLC-QTOF-MS. Seven active compounds were found in this study. Among them, licochalcone B had best ACE inhibitory activity (IC50 = 0.24 μM). Finally, an UPLC-Q-MS method was established to quantify the five major active compounds in three batches of licorice. The findings of this study offer valuable insights into the potential of licorice as a source of ACE inhibitors and its relevance in the development of related products.

Aromatic compounds from the seeds of Dolichos lablab L. with anti-inflammatory activity

Twenty-four aromatic compounds including five novel ones, dolilabphenosides A (1), B1 (2), B2 (3), C1 (4), and C2 (5) were obtained from the seeds of Dolichos lablab L. Their structures were established based on spectroscopic analyses and chemical reactions. Among the known compounds, 9, 10, 14, 17, 19, and 22-24 were gained from the family Leguminosae for the first time, and 6, 8, 11-13, 15, 16, 18, 20, as well as 21 were firstly identified from Dolichos genus. Moreover, the inhibitory effect evaluation of all the isolates against LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW264.7 macrophages suggested that compounds 1-3, 6, 7, 11-15, 17, 20, 21, 23, 24 exhibited anti-inflammatory activity in a concentration-dependent manner. Moreover, the novel compounds, dolilabphenosides A (1), B1 (2), B2 (3) were found to inhibit the secretion of inflammatory cytokine IL-1β.

Simultaneous determination of twenty-nine active compounds in fuzhengjiedu granules by HPLC-QQQ-MS/MS

As an empirical medicine of traditional Chinese medicine, Fuzhengjiedu Granules have shown an effect against COVID-19 in clinical and inflammatory animal models. It is formulated with eight herbs, including Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata, Zingiberis Rhizoma, Glycyrrhizae Radix Et Rhizoma, Lonicerae Japonicae Flos, Gleditsiae Spina, Fici Radix, Pogostemonis Herba, and Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium. This study established a high-performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (HPLC-QQQ-MS/MS) method by simultaneously determining 29 active compounds in the granules with significant content differences. Separation by gradient elution using acetonitrile and water (0.1% formic acid) as mobile phases was performed on a Waters Acquilty UPLC T3 column (2.1 mm × 100 mm, 1.7 μm). A triple quadrupole mass spectrometer, operating in positive and negative ionization modes, was used for multiple reaction monitoring to detect the 29 compounds. All calibration curves showed good linear regression (r² > 0.998). RSDs of precision, reproducibility, and stability of active compounds were all lower than 5.0%. The recovery rates were 95.4-104.9%, with RSDs< 5.0%. This method was successfully used to analyze the samples, and the results showed that 26 representative active components from 8 herbs were detected in the granules. While aconitine, mesaconitine, and hypaconitine were not detected, indicating that the existing samples were safe. The granules had the maximum and minimum content of hesperidin (27.3 ± 0.375 mg/g) and benzoylaconine (38.2 ± 0.759 ng/g). To conclude, a fast, accurate, sensitive, and reliable HPLC-QQQ-MS/MS method was established, which can simultaneously detect 29 active compounds that have a considerable difference in the content of Fuzhengjiedu Granules. This study can be used to control the quality and safety of Fuzhengjiedu Granules and provide a basis and guarantee for further experimental research and clinical application.

Multi-omics analysis the differences of VOCs terpenoid synthesis pathway in maintaining obligate mutualism between Ficus hirta Vahl and its pollinators

INRODUCTION

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by the receptive syconia of Ficus species is a key trait to attract their obligate pollinating fig wasps. Ficus hirta Vahl is a dioecious shrub, which is pollinated by a highly specialized symbiotic pollinator in southern China. Terpenoids are the main components of VOCs in F. hirta and play ecological roles in pollinator attraction, allelopathy, and plant defense. However, it remains unclear that what molecular mechanism difference in terpenoid synthesis pathways between pre-receptive stage (A-phase) and receptive stage (B-phase) of F. hirta syconia.

METHODS

Transcriptome, proteome and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS) were applied here to analyze these difference.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Compared to A-phase syconia, the genes (ACAT2, HMGR3, GGPS2, HDR, GPS2, TPS2, TPS4, TPS10-4, TPS14) related to the terpenoid synthesis pathway had higher expression level in receptive syconia (B-phase) according to transcriptome sequencing. Seven differentially expressed transcription factors were screened, namely bHLH7, MYB1R1, PRE6, AIL1, RF2b, ANT, VRN1. Specifically, bHLH7 was only specifically expressed in B-phase. 235 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were mainly located in the cytoplasm and chloroplasts. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis showed that the DEPs were mainly enriched in the metabolic process. A total of 9 terpenoid synthesis proteins were identified in the proteome. Among them, 4 proteins in methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) pathway were all down-regulated. Results suggested the synthesis of terpenoids precursors in B-phase bracts were mainly accomplished through the mevalonic acid (MVA) pathway in cytoplasm. Correlation analysis between the transcriptome and proteome, we detected a total of 1082 transcripts/proteins, three of which are related to stress. From the VOCs analysis, the average percent of monoterpenoids emitted by A-phase and B-phase syconia were 8.29% and 37.08%, while those of sesquiterpenes were 88.43% and 55.02% respectively. Monoterpenes (camphene, myrcene, camphor, menthol) were only detected in VOCs of B-phase syconia. To attract pollinators, B-phase syconia of F. hirta need more monoterpenoids and less sesquiterpenes. We speculate that transcription factor bHLH7 may regulate the terpenoid synthesis pathway between A- and B-phase syconia. Our research provided the first global analysis of mechanism differences of terpenoid synthesis pathways between A and B phases in F. hirta syconia.

An UPLC-Q-TOF/MS-Based Analysis of the Differential Composition of Dendrobium officinale in Different Regions

Dendrobium officinale (D. officinale) is a valuable traditional Chinese herbal medicine with high commercial value. In Chinese Pharmacopoeia (Ch.P., 2020 edition), the quality of D. officinale is mainly evaluated by its polysaccharide content. However, varying growth and production conditions, such as cultivation environment, origin, harvesting process, or processing methods, resulting in highly variable yields, quality, and composition. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the content of secondary metabolites in D. officinale from different origins is consistent with the polysaccharide content. The results showed that the polysaccharide content and pass rate were ranked as GX > AH > GZ > YN. Based on the nontargeted metabolomics approach, we searched for differential components in 22 different regions of D. officinale, including amides, bibenzyls, disaccharide, flavonoids, organic nitrogenous compounds, and phenolic glycosides. The overall expression was opposite to the polysaccharide, and the most expressed was YN, followed by GZ, AH, and GX. These results indicated that the current quality standard for evaluating the quality of D. officinale by polysaccharide content alone is imperfect, and small molecule compounds need to be included as quality markers.

Association of human gut microbiota composition and metabolic functions with Ficus hirta Vahl dietary supplementation

Ficus hirta Vahl (FHV), a traditional herbal ingredient of the tonic diet, receives increasing popularity in southern China. However, it is largely unknown that how a FHV diet (FHVD) affects the human gut microbiome. In this exploratory study, a total of 43 healthy individuals were randomized into the FHVD (n = 25) and Control (n = 18) groups to receive diet intervention for 8 weeks. 16S rRNA gene sequencing, metagenomic sequencing and metabolic profile of participants were measured to assess the association between FHV diet and gut microbiome. A preservation effect of Faecalibacterium and enrichment of Dialister, Veillonella, Clostridium, and Lachnospiraceae were found during the FHVD. Accordingly, the pathway of amino acid synthesis, citrate cycle, coenzyme synthesis, and partial B vitamin synthesis were found to be more abundant in the FHVD. In addition, serine, glutamine, gamma-aminobutyric acid, tryptamine, and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) were higher after the FHVD. The conjoint analysis of FHV components and in-vitro fermentation confirmed that the improved SCFAs concentration was collectively contributed by the increasing abundance of key enzyme genes and available substrates. In conclusion, the muti-omics analysis showed that the FHVD optimized the structure of the gut microbial community and its metabolic profile, leading to a healthy tendency, with a small cluster of bacteria driving the variation rather than a single taxon.

Polyhydric Stigmastane-Type Steroids Derivative from Vernonia amygdalina and Their Anti-Neuroinflammatory Activity

Vernonia amygdalina Del. is a traditional medicinal plant and vegetable originating from tropical Africa. The phytochemical investigation of V. amygdalina led to eight undescribed polyhydric stigmastane-type steroids, vernonin M–T (1–8). Their gross structures and stereochemistry were elucidated by HR-ESI-MS, 1D and 2D NMR spectra, X-ray diffraction, quantum chemical computation of the ECD spectrum, and the in situ dimolybdenum CD method. The anti-neuroinflammatory activity of the isolated compounds was performed in BV-2 microglia cells. As a result, compound 1 displayed a notable anti-neuroinflammatory effect via suppressing the LPS-induced IκB degradation and restricting the activation of the PI3K/AKT and p38 MAPK pathways.

Physicochemical, Electronic Nose and Tongue, Sensory Evaluation Determination Combined with Chemometrics to Characterize Ficus hirta Vahl. (Moraceae) Beer

Ficus hirta Vahl. (FHV) is widely consumed because of its functional and aromatic compounds. The incorporation of adjuncts contributes to the functional and flavor properties of beers. This study aims to enrich FHV extractions to develop beers with satisfactory physicochemical, antioxidant, and sensory characteristics. As a result, beers with 0.1 g/mL (P1) and 0.067 g/mL (P3) FHV extraction showed the highest values of physicochemical properties including °Brix, antioxidant activity, foam, lightness, and color intensity. Electronic nose and tongue results show that the aroma of P1 and taste of P3 were quite different from those of other FHV beers, resulting in substantially high consumer preference. The liking drivers of FHV beers were color appearance, hop and malty odor, sweet and malty flavor, thickness, and carbonation mouthfeel. However, the astringency flavor attribute was the disliking factor for beers. The results of this study may provide some references and guidelines for the development of Ficus hirta Vahl. functional beer to control the physicochemical, antioxidative, and sensory properties of the beer.

Alleviation of Fufang Fanshiliu decoction on type II diabetes mellitus by reducing insulin resistance: A comprehensive network prediction and experimental validation

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Fufang Fanshiliu decoction (FFSLD) is a Chinese herbal medicine prescription that has been used in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), while the underlying mechanism remains unclear.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To validate the efficacy and explore the potential mechanisms of FFSLD in treating T2DM via integrating a network pharmacological approach and experimental evaluation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

T2DM mice model induced by high-fat diet feeding combined with streptozotocin injection was selected to investigate the alleviation of FFSLD against T2DM, via detecting the levels of glucose, insulin, glucagon (GC), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Network pharmacological analysis was used to predict the potential mechanisms, including the pharmacokinetics and drug-likeness screening, active ingredients and potential targets prediction, network analysis, and enrichment analysis. The candidate bioactive molecules of FFSLD, and targets information excavated through TCMSP, Uniprot, GeneCards, OMIM databases, were combined for comprehensive analysis by constructing "drug-compound-target-disease" and "protein-protein interaction" networks. Enrichment analysis was performed via Gene Ontology (GO) and Koto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) databases. HepG2 insulin-resistance (IR) cells model induced by high glucose was used to verify the potential mechanisms of FFSLD against T2DM which were predicted by the network pharmacology.

RESULTS

The animal study showed that FFSLD significantly decreased the blood glucose, and reversed the abnormal levels of insulin, GC, TG, TC, HDL-C, and LDL-C in T2DM mice. Network pharmacological analysis indicated that 106 active compounds of FFSLD might be correlated with 628 targets in treating T2DM, and the mechanism would probably be related to insulin resistance that harbored a high response value (P = 5.88844 E^-33) though regulating Akt1, ESR1, oxidoreductase activity, and JAK/STAT signalings. Experimental validation showed that FFSLD reduced the ROS level, up-regulated the expressions of p-AKT, Nrf-2, and ESR1, and down-regulated the expressions of JAK2, STAT3, and Keap-1 in the HepG2-IR cells model.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrated that the therapeutic effect of FFSLD on T2DM was related to IR alleviation. The underlying mechanisms were associated with the regulation of PI3K/AKT, JAK/STAT, oxidative stress, and ESR signaling pathways.

Benzophenone Glucosides and B-Type Proanthocyanidin Dimers from Zambian Cassia abbreviata and Their Trypanocidal Activities

Two benzophenone glucosides (1 and 2), five flavan-3-ol dimers (5-9), and 17 known compounds (3, 4, and 10-24) were identified from the bark extract of Cassia abbreviata. The chemical structures display two points of interest. First, as an unusual characteristic feature of the ¹H NMR spectra of 1 and 2, the signals for the protons on glucosidic carbons C-2 are shielded as compared to those generally observed for glucosyl moieties. The geometrically optimized 3D structures derived from conformational analysis and density functional theory (DFT) calculations revealed that this shielding effect originates from intramolecular hydrogen bonds in 1 and 2. Additionally, 3-15 were identified as dimeric B-type proanthocyanidins, which have 2R,3S-absolute-configured C-rings and C-4-C-8″ linkages, as evidenced by X-ray crystallography and by NMR and ECD spectroscopy. These results suggest the structure-determining procedures for some reported dimers need to be reconsidered. The trypanocidal activities of the isolated compounds against Trypanosoma brucei brucei, T. b. gambiense, T. b. rhodesiense, T. congolense, and T. evansi were evaluated, and the active compounds were identified.

Bioactive constituents from the leaves of Metapanax delavayi with anti-benign prostatic hyperplasia activities

In the course of our continuing search for biologically active compounds from medicinal sources, we further investigated the aqueous extract of Metapanax delavayi (Franch.) J. Wen & Frodin (Araliaceae) leaves. Five undescribed terpene glycosides, liangwanosides B-F referring to two megastigmane glycosides, one monoterpene glycoside, and two sesquiterpene glycosides, together with seven known compounds were isolated. Their chemical structures were elucidated by detailed spectroscopy (1D/2D NMR), HRESIMS data analysis, hydrolysis, and comparison of experimental and calculated electronic circular dichroism (ECD) data. The biological evaluation of benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) inhibition revealed that some compounds, including liangwanosides B-D, benzyl-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 6)-β-D-glucopyranoside, methyl 2-O-β-D-glucopyranosylbenzoate, and 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde, exhibited moderate inhibitory activity against BPH-1 cells with inhibition rates ranging from 13.8% to 23.8% at 100 μM. Among them, liangwanoside B showed the comparable effect to positive control (finasteride) at 100 μM, and its possible mechanism was then explored by molecular docking studies.

Ficus hirta Vahl. promotes antioxidant enzyme activity under ammonia stress by inhibiting miR-2765 expression in Penaeus vannamei

Ficus hirta Vahl. has been reported to have hepatoprotective, antitumor, antibacterial functions, and is used to treat severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Ammonia nitrogen is one of the most common environmental stress factors in aquaculture. Long-term exposure to high concentrations of ammonia nitrogen can induce oxidative stress and increase the risk of infections. However, whether Ficus hirta Vahl. has effect on ammonia nitrogen stress is unclear. In present study we report that Ficus hirta Vahl. improves the activity of total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) of shrimp and decreases shrimp mortality caused by ammonia nitrogen stress. It is demonstrated that miR-2765 is negatively regulate the antioxidant capacity. We find that SOD was a direct target gene of miR-2765. MiR-2765 can bind to 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) of SOD to inhibit its transcription. Furthermore, Ficus hirta Vahl. down-regulates miR-2765 to activate the antioxidant capacity to alleviate the damage caused by ammonia nitrogen stress. Interestingly, overexpression of miR-2765 could attenuate the protective effect of Ficus hirta Vahl. on shrimp under ammonia nitrogen stress. These data indicate that Ficus hirta Vahl. alleviates the damage of ammonia nitrogen stress in shrimp by repressing miR-2765 and activating the antioxidant enzyme system. This study will provide a theoretical basis and a new perspective for assessing the toxicity mechanism of ammonia nitrogen in the process of farming on shrimp.

Guaianolide sesquiterpenes and benzoate esters from the aerial parts of Siegesbeckia orientalis L. and their xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity

Five undescribed (four guaianolide sesquiterpenes and a benzoate ester derivative) and seven known compounds were isolated from the aerial parts of S. orientalis L. Their chemical structures were determined by extensive analysis of HR-ESI-MS and NMR spectroscopic methods. Absolute configurations were elucidated by experimental and TD-DFT calculated ECD spectra. Twelve isolated compounds exhibited potential xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity with IC₅₀ values ranging from 0.76 ± 0.17 μM to 31.80 ± 0.97 μM. Molecular docking studies predicted that the binding energies of all isolated compounds with xanthine oxidase were lower than that of the positive control allopurinol. Benzyl 2-hydroxy-6-O-β-D-glucopyranosylbenzoate and benzyl 2-methoxy-6-O-β-D-glucopyranosylbenzoate displayed not only the best docking score but also the highest in vitro xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity with IC₅₀ values of 0.76 ± 0.17 μM and 0.98 ± 0.26 μM, respectively.

The Antifungal Activity of Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.) Leaves Extract Against Penicillium digitatum

This study was performed to determine the antifungal activity of loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl) leaf extract (LLE) against the citrus postharvest pathogen Penicillium digitatum (P. digitatum). The LLE exhibited an antifungal activity against P. digitatum, with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 0.625 mg/ml and a minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) of 1.25 mg/ml. Significant inhibitory effects of LLE on mycelial growth and spore germination of P. digitatum were seen in a dose-dependent manner. Simultaneously, to investigate possible antifungal mechanisms by LLE, we analyzed their influence on morphological changes, cell membrane permeability, cell wall and cell membrane integrity, and adenosine phosphates (ATP, ADP, and AMP) levels. Alterations, such as sunken surface and malformation, occurred in the LLE-treated P. digitatum spores. Furthermore, intracellular inclusion content decreased after LLE treatment, indicating an increase in cell membrane permeability. Besides, the LLE treatment induced a significant decline in the level of adenosine monophosphate (AMP), adenosine diphosphate (ADP), and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) with a noticeable addition of extracellular ATP, ADP, and AMP during the entire treatment period. Overall, the results manifested that the antifungal activity of LLE against P. digitatum can be attributed to the derangement of cell membrane permeability and disordered energy metabolism. This is the first report on the mechanism of antifungal activity of LLE and could be useful in the development of targeted fungicides from natural origin.

Lignans and phenylpropanoids from the roots of Ficus hirta and their cytotoxic activities

One undescribed lignan, one new natural product, along with fourteen known compounds, were isolated from the roots of Ficus hirta. The structures of the isolates were elucidated by comprehensive spectroscopic technologies, including UV, IR, HRESIMS, and NMR. The absolute configuration of 1 was determined by comparison of experimental and calculated ECD data. The cytotoxicity of all the compounds against HeLa and HepG2 cell lines was evaluated and compound 7 showed considerable cytotoxic effect towards HepG2 cells. Also, the apoptotic effect of 7 on HepG2 cells and the effect of 7 on the key proteins (p-JNK and p-p38) in MAPK (Mitogen-activated protein kinases) pathways were studied by flow cytometry and western blotting experiment. As a result, compound 7 induced the apoptosis of HepG2 cells, and dose-dependently increased the phosphorylation of JNK and p38. Thus, 7 might trigger HepG2 cells apoptosis via JNK/p38 MAPK signaling pathway.

Chemical characterization of a PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitory activity fraction of the ethanol extract from Gymnadenia conopsea

Searching for PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor from medicinal plants has become a potential method to discover small molecular cancer immunotherapy drugs. Using PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitory activity assay in vitro, a bioactive fraction was obtained from the ethanol extract of Gymnadenia conopsea. A sensitive UPLC-HRMS/MS method was established for the rapid screening and identification of compositions from bioactive fraction. Based on the characteristic fragmentation patterns of standards analysis and extracted ion chromatogram (EIC) method, 46 compounds were rapidly screened and identified (including 35 succinic acid ester glycosides and 11 other compounds), among which 17 compounds were tentatively identified as new compounds.

Prenylated flavonoids from Ficus hirta induces HeLa cells apoptosis via MAPK and AKT signaling pathways

A pair of undescribed enantiomers, (±) ficusflavonid A (1a/1b), along with five known analogues, were isolated from the roots of Ficus hirta. Their structures were determined by the analysis of extensive spectroscopic data (including UV, IR, HRESIMS and NMR). Two enantiomers (1a and 1b) were successfully separated by chiral chromatographic column and their absolute configurations were assigned by the comparison of experimental and calculated ECD data. The cytotoxicity of all the isolates against HeLa, MCF-7, HepG2 and H460 cell lines were evaluated by MTT assay. Among them, 4 suppressed the proliferation of HeLa cells with the IC₅₀ value of 28.88 μM. Furthermore, the apoptotic effect of 4 on HeLa cells and the level of several crucial proteins in AKT/MAPKs signaling pathways were analyzed by flow cytometer and western blot assay. As a result, 4 induced HeLa cell apoptosis in a dose dependent manner and significantly increased the protein levels of p-JNK and p-p38, whereas distinctly reduced the expression of p-AKT, and p-ERK. Thus, compound 4 might induce HeLa cells apoptosis via MAPK and AKT signaling pathways, which could be considered as a potential leading compound for the development of anticancer drugs.