Extract of Syzygium aromaticum suppress eEF1A protein expression and fungal growth

Recent advances in nutritional composition, phytochemistry, bioactive, and potential applications of Syzygium aromaticum L. (Myrtaceae)

Syzygium aromaticum is an aromatic plant native to Indonesia, and introduced to tropical regions worldwide. As an ingredient in perfumes, lotions, and food preservation, it is widely used in the food and cosmetic industries. Also, it is used to treat toothache, ulcers, type 2 diabetes, etc. A variety of nutrients such as amino acids, proteins, fatty acids, and vitamins are found in S. aromaticum. In addition to eugenol, isoeugenol, eugenol acetate, β-caryophyllene and α-humulene are the main chemical constituents. The chemical constituents of S. aromaticum exhibit a wide range of bioactivities, such as antioxidant, antitumor, hypoglycemic, immunomodulatory, analgesic, neuroprotective, anti-obesity, antiulcer, etc. This review aims to comprehend the information on its taxonomy and botany, nutritional composition, chemical composition, bioactivities and their mechanisms, toxicity, and potential applications. This review will be a comprehensive scientific resource for those interested in pursuing further research to explore its value in food.

Synergistic Effect of Eugenol and Probiotic Lactobacillus Plantarum Zs2058 Against Salmonella Infection in C57bl/6 Mice

Previously, we showed the preventive effects of Lactobacillus plantarum ZS2058 (ZS2058) on Salmonella infection in murine models. In this work, we found that eugenol has a selective antibacterial effect, which inhibited Salmonella more than probiotics ZS2058 in vitro. It suggested a synergistic effect of them beyond their individual anti-Salmonella activity. We verified the conjecture in murine models. The results showed that the combination of ZS2058 and eugenol (CLPZE) significantly increased (p = 0.026) the survival rate of Salmonella-infected mice from 60% to 80% and the effect of CLPZE on preventing Salmonella-infection was 2-fold that of ZS2058 alone and 6-fold that of eugenol alone. CLPZE had a synergistic effect on inhibiting ST growth (the coefficient drug interaction ((CDI) = 0.829), reducing its invasiveness (CDI = 0.373) and downregulating virulence genes’ expression in vitro. CLPZE helped the host form a healthier gut ecosystem. CLPZE also elicited a stronger and earlier immune response to systemic infection. In conclusion, these obtained results suggest that ZS2058 and eugenol have a synergistic effect on preventing Salmonella infection and open new perspectives in the strategies of controlling the prevalence of Salmonella by combination of probiotics and functional food components.

Comparative Proteomics Analyses of Pollination Response in Endangered Orchid Species Dendrobium Chrysanthum

Pollination is a crucial stage in plant reproductive process. The self-compatibility (SC) and self-incompatibility (SI) mechanisms determined the plant genetic diversity and species survival. D. chrysanthum is a highly valued ornamental and traditional herbal orchid in Asia but has been declared endangered. The sexual reproduction in D. chrysanthum relies on the compatibility of pollination. To provide a better understanding of the mechanism of pollination, the differentially expressed proteins (DEP) between the self-pollination (SP) and cross-pollination (CP) pistil of D. chrysanthum were investigated using proteomic approaches—two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) coupled with tandem mass spectrometry technique. A total of 54 DEP spots were identified in the two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) maps between the SP and CP. Gene ontology analysis revealed an array of proteins belonging to following different functional categories: metabolic process (8.94%), response to stimulus (5.69%), biosynthetic process (4.07%), protein folding (3.25%) and transport (3.25%). Identification of these DEPs at the early response stage of pollination will hopefully provide new insights in the mechanism of pollination response and help for the conservation of the orchid species.