Secondary metabolites of Tilia tomentosa Moench inflorescences collected in Central Italy: chemotaxonomy relevance and phytochemical rationale of traditional use

Phytochemical analysis and biological activities of the aerial parts of Odontites vulgaris Moench

In this work, the first specific phytochemical analysis on Odontites vulgaris Moench collected in Central Italy was performed. The aerial parts ethanolic extract was studied and eight compounds were identified: pheophytin a (1), aucubin (2), catalpol (3), shanzhiside methyl ester (4), melampyroside (5), 8-epi-loganin (6), caryoptoside (7) and quinic acid (8). To the best of our knowledge, in this study, compounds (7-8) resulted to be isolated from the genus for the first time. The chemophenetic markers of the family and order were evidenced and several important ecological conclusions could be drawn. The ethanolic extract was also tested for several biological activities showing high effects in the antioxidant, cytoprotective and aflatoxin B1 production inhibitory assays. A brief explanation on these activities under the phytochemical standpoint was also included.

Chemical constituents from Cordia myxa L. (Boraginaceae) and their antibacterial activity

Chemical investigation of Cordia myxa L. (Boraginaceae) resulted in the isolation of the following ten known compounds: 1-naphthaleneacetic-5-carboxy-1,2,3,4,4a,7,8,8a-octahydro-1,2,4a-trimethyl-[1S-(1α,2β, 4a,8aα)]-acid (1), hexacosanoate-1-glyceryl (2), 3β-urs-12,20(30)-diene-27,28-dioic acid (3), 3β-D-glucopyranosylurs-12,20(30)-diene-27,28-dioic acid (4), stigmasterol (5), stigmasterol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (6), oleanolic-acid (7), 3-O-acetyl-oleanolic acid (8), betulin (9) and spinasterol-3β-O-D-glucopyranoside (10). The isolated compounds were characterised by using spectroscopic methods, 1D and 2D NMR, mass spectroscopy (ESI-MS) and by comparison with the literature data. To the best of our knowledge, compounds 1, 3, 4, 8 and 10 were isolated for the first time from the Cordia genus. This result improves the chemotaxonomy knowledge of the Cordia genus. The antibacterial activities were performed by the Muller-Hinton agar diffusion method. The antibacterial activities were studied on Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus, Vibrio cholerae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli ATCC 25922. Compounds 8 and 9, at 20.0 mg/mL resulted to be effective antimicrobial against E. coli, V. cholerae and P. aeruginosa.

Anthropological significance of Tilia trees in Japan

Tilia (Malvaceae) is a genus of deciduous trees widespread in the northern hemisphere. Tilia species native to Japan include three endemic species, T. japonica, T. maximowicziana, and T. kiusiana, as well as the more widespread T. mandshurica. Other species were also introduced, the most important being T. miqueliana, brought to Japan with the arrival of Buddhism and planted on temple grounds as Bodaiju. Both historically and at present, Tilia trees are valuable to the people in Japan. Some Tilia trees are considered sacred in both Buddhism and Shinto. They are also prominent ornamental and park trees, albeit less popular in Japan than in Europe. Japanese Tilia spp. are used in the manufacturing of honey, cosmetics, lumber (especially plywood and veneers), and traditional bast cloth. Many Tilia trees are significant hubs in pollinator and mycorrhizal networks, but research on Japanese Tilia ecology is scarce. Despite their importance, Japanese Tilia trees have received less scientific attention in comparison with European Tilia species. The most striking example is T. kiusiana, with virtually no scientific literature regarding the species (save for a series of publications studying its secondary metabolites and potential medical uses). Furthermore, most published resources concerning Tilia in Japan are available only in Japanese, restricting their accessibility. This review seeks to translate, collect, and organize the information available on Japanese Tilia species. By doing so, areas are highlighted where new studies are necessary. A better understanding of these important trees would also be instrumental in their conservation.

An Ethnobotanical Study in Ceylanlı Village (Kırıkhan/Hatay-Türkiye)

This study was carried out to determine the ethnobotanical characteristics of some plants distributed in Ceylanlı village (Kırıkhan/Hatay) on the slopes of Amanos Mountain. As a result of the field studies carried out between 2019 and 2021 and the interviews with the local people, it was determined that 75 taxa belonging to 41 families were used by the local people in the research area. The local names of the plants, the harvest season, the parts used, the usage purposes, and forms were determined by face-to-face interviews with different local people in their houses, farms, gardens or natural areas. The families having the highest number of using taxa in the area were determined to be Asteraceae and Lamiaceae (8 taxa each), Rosaceae (6 taxa), Amaryllidaceae, Brassicaceae, and Fabaceae (4 taxa each). In total 116 different uses belonging to the plants in the study area were determined, including uses for medical purposes such as wounds, respiratory tract, and stomachic diseases (47 taxa), food (20 taxa), daily items (6 taxa), spice (4 taxa), firewood (3 taxa), and for other different purposes (14 taxa). The obtained results were discussed by comparing them with the relevant literature. Our results show that most of the plants identified were collected by local people from their natural habitats. The local community in our study area was informed to reduce the collection of natural medicinal plants unconsciously and about the importance of cultivating medicinal and aromatic plants. It is believed that this study will contribute to all relevant studies at national and international scales.

Spray-drying Microencapsulation of an Extract from Tilia tomentosa Moench Flowers: Physicochemical Characterization and in Vitro Intestinal Activity

Silver linden (Tilia tomentosa Moench, TtM) flowers possess several health-promoting properties, especially at the neurological level, such as intestinal relaxation activity associated with specific flavonols, particularly quercetin and kaempferol derivatives. However, such molecules are susceptible to degradation upon different triggers like heat, light and extreme pH values. To overcome the scarce stability of TtM flowers bioactive molecules and make them suitable for developing functional food and supplements, we applied microencapsulation. Spray-drying microencapsulation of TtM flowers extract was performed using three starch-derived wall materials: maltodextrin 12 DE (MD12) and 19 DE (MD19), and OSA-modified starch (OSA-S). The stability of total phenols, flavanols, and antioxidant capacity was monitored for 70 days under accelerated stress conditions (40 °C/70% RH) by HPLC and spectrophotometric methods, and the intestinal contractile activity was tested in a murine model. In comparison to MD12 and MD19, OSA-S stood out for the higher encapsulation efficiency of quercetin and kaempferol glycosides (+ 36-47% compared to MD12 and + 18-24% compared to MD19) and stability thereof (half-life on average + 30% compared to MD12 and + 51% compared to MD19). The intestinal contractile activity of OAS-S powders resulted comparable to the original extract, indicating that flavonols were biologically active and accessible. Our results underly the potential advantages of OSA-S encapsulated formulation as a functional ingredient for the development of nutraceutical products.

Influence of Tilia tomentosa Moench Extract on Mouse Small Intestine Neuromuscular Contractility

Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) are characterized by abdominal pain, bloating and bowel disturbances. FGID therapy is primarily symptomatic, including treatment with herbal remedies. Flower extract of Tilia tomentosa Moench (TtM) is occasionally used as an anti-spasmodic in popular medicine. Since its effect on intestinal response is unknown, we evaluated the influence of TtM extract on small intestine contractility. Ileal preparations from C57BL/6J mice were mounted in organ baths to assess changes in muscle tension, following addition of TtM extract (0.5–36 μg/mL) or a vehicle (ethanol). Changes in contractile response to receptor- and non-receptor-mediated stimuli were assessed in ileal preparations pretreated with 12 μg/mL TtM. Alterations in the enteric nervous system neuroglial network were analyzed by confocal immunofluorescence. Increasing addition of TtM induced a marked relaxation in ileal specimens compared to the vehicle. Pretreatment with TtM affected cholinergic and tachykininergic neuromuscular contractions as well as K⁺-induced smooth muscle depolarization. Following incubation with TtM, a significant reduction in non-adrenergic non-cholinergic-mediated relaxation sensitive to Nω-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (pan-nitric oxide synthase inhibitor) was found. In vitro incubation of intestinal specimens with TtM did not affect the myenteric plexus neuroglial network. Our findings show that TtM-induced intestinal relaxation is mediated by nitric oxide pathways, providing a pharmacological basis for the use of TtM in FGIDs.

Lignin and Quercetin Synthesis Underlies Berry Russeting in 'Sunshine Muscat' Grape

In order to further explore the mechanism of 'sunshine muscat' grape russet formation, transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses were performed on 'sunshine muscat' grape peels with and without russet. A total of 1491 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were discovered based on these analyses. The phenylpropane synthesis pathway was the key metabolic pathway identified, and 28 DEGs related to phenylpropane synthesis pathway were screened, of which 16 were related to lignin synthesis. In addition, 60 differential metabolites were screened. There were 29 phenolic substances among the differential metabolites, which were all up-regulated and 10 were quercetin-related glycosides. Our results indicate that phenols likely play a dominant role in the formation of 'sunshine muscat' grape russet, and the synthesis of lignin and quercetin may be the key factors underlying russet formation.