Biological Activities and Chemical Constituents of Essential Oils from Piper cubeba Bojer and Piper nigrum L

Chemical Composition of Piper nigrum L. Cultivar Guajarina Essential Oils and Their Biological Activity

The essential oils and aroma derived from the leaves (L), stems (St), and spikes (s) of Piper nigrum L. cv. Guajarina were extracted; the essential oils were extracted using hydrodistillation (HD), and steam distillation (SD), and the aroma was obtained by simultaneous distillation and extraction (SDE). Chemical constituents were identified and quantified using GC/MS and GC-FID. Preliminary biological activity was assessed by determining the toxicity against Artemia salina Leach larvae, calculating mortality rates, and determining lethal concentration values (LC50). The predominant compounds in essential oil samples included α-pinene (0-5.6%), β-pinene (0-22.7%), limonene (0-19.3%), 35 linalool (0-5.3%), δ-elemene (0-10.1%), β-caryophyllene (0.5-21.9%), γ-elemene (7.5-33.9%), and curzerene (6.9-31.7%). Multivariate analysis, employing principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), revealed three groups among the identified classes and two groups among individual compounds. The highest antioxidant activity was found for essential oils derived from the leaves (167.9 41 mg TE mL-1). Larvicidal potential against A. salina was observed in essential oils obtained from the leaves (LC50 6.40 μg mL-1) and spikes (LC50 6.44 μg mL-1). The in silico studies demonstrated that the main compounds can interact with acetylcholinesterase, thus showing the potential molecular interaction responsible for the toxicity of the essential oil in A. salina.

Chemical Composition of Essential Oils and Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Extracts from Amomum kravanh, Citrus hystrix and Piper nigrum 'Kampot'

The fruits of Amomum kravanh, Citrus hystrix and Piper nigrum 'Kampot' are traditionally used as spices in Cambodian cuisine. In this study, the chemical composition of essential oils (EOs) and supercritical CO2 extracts from all three species was determined using GC-MS, with two columns of different polarity (HP-5/DB-HeavyWAX). Differences between the chemical profile of the EOs and CO2 extracts were observed for all species. The greatest difference was detected in A. kravanh EO containing mainly eucalyptol (78.8/72.6%), while the CO2 extract was rich in fatty acids (13/55.92%) and long-chain alkanes (25.55/9.54%). Furthermore, the results for the CO2 extract of this species differed, where tricosane (14.74%) and oleic acid (29.26%) were the main compounds identified when utilizing the HP-5 or DB-HeavyWAX columns, respectively. Moreover, the EO and CO2 extract from P. nigrum 'Kampot' fruits and the CO2 extract from C. hystrix fruit peel, containing respective amounts 34.84/39.55% (for EO) and 54.21/55.86% (for CO2 extract) of β-caryophyllene and 30.2/28.9% of β-pinene, were isolated and analyzed for the first time. Generally, these findings suggest that supercritical CO2 could potentially be used for the extraction of all three spices. Nevertheless, further research determining the most efficient extraction parameters is required before its commercial application.

Herbicide and Cytogenotoxic Activity of Inclusion Complexes of Psidium gaudichaudianum Leaf Essential Oil and β-Caryophyllene on 2-Hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin

The present investigation aimed to develop inclusion complexes (ICs) from Psidium gaudichaudianum (GAU) essential oil (EO) and its major compound β-caryophyllene (β-CAR), and to evaluate their herbicidal (against Lolium multiflorum and Bidens pilosa) and cytogenotoxic (on Lactuca sativa) activities. The ICs were obtained using 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPβCD) and they were prepared to avoid or reduce the volatility and degradation of GAU EO and β-CAR. The ICs obtained showed a complexation efficiency of 91.5 and 83.9% for GAU EO and β-CAR, respectively. The IC of GAU EO at a concentration of 3000 µg mL-1 displayed a significant effect against weed species B. pilosa and L. multiflorum. However, the β-CAR IC at a concentration of 3000 µg mL-1 was effective only on L. multiflorum. In addition, the cytogenotoxic activity evaluation revealed that there was a reduction in the mitotic index and an increase in chromosomal abnormalities. The produced ICs were able to protect the EO and β-CAR from volatility and degradation, with a high thermal stability, and they also enabled the solubilization of the EO and β-CAR in water without the addition of an organic solvent. Therefore, it is possible to indicate the obtained products as potential candidates for commercial exploration since the ICs allow the complexed EO to exhibit a more stable chemical constitution than pure EO under storage conditions.

Supercritical CO2 extraction of spices: A systematic study with focus on terpenes and piperamides from black pepper (Piper nigrum L.)

Black pepper (P. nigrum L.) is considered one of the most valuable spices and a promising candidate in natural product research. In this study, the influence of different combinations of pressures (100-300 bar) and temperatures (40-60 °C) on the supercritical CO₂ (SC-CO₂) recovery of several key compounds from black pepper was evaluated systematically. The extraction curves showed that terpenes were recovered in a short time under all studied conditions. In contrast, higher pressure values were required to extract piperamides efficiently. Furthermore, the differences in the extraction kinetics of piperine, piperettine, pellitorine, guineensine, and N-isobutyl-2,4,14-eicosatrienamide were linked with several structural features, such as the nature of the amine group or the terminal part of the fatty acid. The data from the isocratic experiments represented the starting point for designing a two-step pressure gradient SC-CO₂ process in which one terpene-rich and one piperamide-rich product were successively obtained.

Neuroprotective potential of lignan-rich fraction of Piper cubeba L. by improving antioxidant capacity in the rat's brain

Piper cubeba contains various types of lignans. These compounds have been found to have potential pharmacological activities, one being a neuroprotector through an antioxidant mechanism, especially in the brain. This study examined the antioxidant activity of the lignan-rich fraction of P. cubeba (LF) in rat brains. The rats were given LF (200 and 400 mg/kg), Vitamin C (200 mg/kg), and a carrier as the control group for one-week p.o. The following day, rat brains were collected for antioxidant tests, including examining lipid peroxide inhibition, superoxide dismutase and catalase activity, and determination of nitric oxide (NO) concentration. The phytochemical compounds were analyzed with thin-layer chromatography (TLC), ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS), and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Test results show that the LF of both doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg could significantly increase antioxidant activity in the brain by inhibiting lipid peroxidation. LF could also increase catalase, despite the decrease in superoxide dismutase activity. Reduction in NO only occurred in the LF-200 group, while LF-400 showed insignificant results compared to the control group. In conclusion, LF showed potential as an antioxidant in the brain and could be beneficial for treating neurological diseases.

Effects of dichloromethane extraction from Piper nigrum L. and P. longum L. on the expression of autophagy-related proteins in ischemic stroke

Piper nigrum L. and P. longum L. are widely used in various medicinal formulations. The dichloromethane fraction of Piper nigrum L. and P. longum L. (DF) can prevent cerebral ischemic injury although the underlying mechanisms are obscure. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential neuroprotective effects of DF on a rat model of permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO) and assess the molecular mechanisms. Animals were administered with DF (50, 100, and 150 mg/kg) or nimodipine (12 mg/kg) 6 h after pMCAO for 14 consecutive days via intragastric gavage. In the vitro this study identified that DF reduced neurological severity scores and improved survival rate. Results showed that DF markedly inhibited the percentage of apoptotic cells as well as neuronal autophagy and mitigated the overall neuronal and vascular damage in the ischemic region. Western blot testing showed that at the molecular level, DF significantly suppressed ischemia-induced activated expression of LC3, Beclin1, Atg12, and Atg5. Overall, our study indicated that DF attenuated neuronal autophagy by suppressing the expression of autophagy-related proteins to generate neuroprotection effect for ischemic stroke.

Evaluation of Antimicrobial Activity and Cytotoxicity Effects of Extracts of Piper nigrum L. and Piperine

P. nigrum L. extracts and the piperine alkaloid have important antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. Therefore, in this study, we evaluated the antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity of P. nigrum L. extracts and piperine, a compound isolated from the extracts of P. nigrum L. Extracts obtained via maceration, soxhlet, and purification steps, in addition to isolated piperine, were used in this study. Spectroscopic methods, such as nuclear magnetic resonance, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetry, and differential scanning calorimetry, were used to characterize piperine. In the microbiological analyses, the extract obtained via maceration-derived sample showed high efficiency in inhibiting Salmonella spp. (MIC < 100 μg/mL). The extract obtained via a soxhlet-derived sample showed promising inhibitory activity against almost all microorganisms, with negligible inhibition of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Favorable inhibition coefficients were also observed against Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella spp. (MIC < 100 μg/mL) for the extract obtained via purification of the steps-derived sample. Piperine showed an excellent inhibition coefficient against most microorganisms, with inactivity only observed against P. aeruginosa. Cytotoxicity evaluation assays in cancer cell lines revealed that piperine exhibited inhibitory potential on all tested tumor cell lines, causing a decrease in cell viability and achieving an IC50 of less than 30 μg/mL. The analyzed extracts from P. nigrum L. seeds showed cytotoxic activity against tumor and non-tumor cell lines.

Chitosan and Essential Oils Combined for Beef Meat Protection against the Oviposition of Calliphora vomitoria, Water Loss, Lipid Peroxidation, and Colour Changes

Meat production has a higher economic and ecological impact than other commodities. The reduction in meat loss and waste throughout the whole supply chain is a demanding challenge. In recent years, the interest in the food-grade polysaccharide chitosan (CH) and essential oils (EOs) employed as allies in meat protection has increased. In this work, we selected five EOs obtained from plants traditionally used as spices, and after their chemical characterisation, a trained panel of expert sensorial analysts determined that, among them, Laurus nobilis (Lauraceae) and Piper nigrum (Piperaceae) EOs were the most suitable to season meat. Therefore, the effect of CH, the L. nobilis and P. nigrum EOs, and EOs-enriched CH solutions on meat was tested to assess how they deter the oviposition behaviour of the blowfly Calliphora vomitoria (Diptera: Calliphoridae) and against water loss, lipid peroxidation, and colour changes. All the applied treatments, compared to the control, did not accelerate meat dehydration but increased colour lightness, an attractive feature for consumers, and discouraged the blowfly's oviposition. In particular, the P. nigrum EO-enriched CH was the most active in repelling C. vomitoria without negatively affecting the organoleptic qualities and shelf-life of meat.

Cubeb (Piper cubeba L.f.): A comprehensive review of its botany, phytochemistry, traditional uses, and pharmacological properties

Piper cubeba L.f. (Piperaceae), known as cubeb, is a popular traditional herbal medicine used for the treatment of many diseases, especially digestive and respiratory disorders. The plant is rich in essential oil, found mainly in fruits, and this makes it economically important. Many traditional utilizations have been also validated from the plant and its isolated compounds owing to their antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects. These biological activities are attributed to the phytochemicals (phenolic compounds, lignans and alkaloids) and the essential oil of the plant. The present work aims to provide an up-to-date review on the traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology of the plant and discusses the future perspectives to promote its valorization for nutritional- and health-promoting effects.

Phytochemical Classification of Medicinal Plants Used in the Treatment of Kidney Disease Based on Traditional Persian Medicine

Methods

This review was focused on studying the various secondary metabolites in model plants of Iranian herbal medicine known as treatment of kidney diseases in traditional Persian medicine textbooks including Makhzan-ol-Advieh, The Canon of Medicine, and Taghvim al-Abdan fi Tadbir al-Ensan.

Results

Secondary metabolites of 94 medical plants belonging to 42 families were reported with their scientific and family name.

Conclusion

Although herbal medicines are gaining rapid popularity among people and the pharmaceutical industry, the understandings of the phytochemical and therapeutic properties of medicinal plant are important for developing effective nephroprotective medicines. Therefore, the relationship between traditional uses and biological properties should be clearly verified through further studies.

Antifungal and Herbicidal Potential of Piper Essential Oils from the Peruvian Amazonia

The chemical composition of essential oils (EOs) from ten Peruvian Piper species (Piper coruscans, Pc; P. tuberculatum, Pt; P. casapiense, Pcs; P. obliquum, Po; P. dumosum, Pd; P. anonifolium, Pa; P. reticulatum, Pr; P. soledadense, Ps; P. sancti-felicis, Psf and P. mituense, Pm) has been studied, along with their antifungal and phytotoxic activities. These EOs contained β-bisabolene/nerolidol (Pc), β-bisabolene/δ-cadinene/caryophyllene (Pt), caryophyllene oxide (Pcs), bicyclogermacrene/10-epi-Elemol (Po), bicyclogermacrene/germacrene-D/apiol (Pd), caryophyllene/germacrene-D (Pa), germacrene-D (Pr), limonene/apiol (Ps), apiol (Psf), and apiol/bicyclogermacrene (Pm) as major components, and some are described here for the first time (Ps, Pcs, Pm). A composition-based dendrogram of these Piper species showed four major groups (G1: Pc and Pt, G2: Pcs, Po, Pd, Pa, and Pr, G3: Ps, and G4: Psf and Pm). The spore germination effects (Aspergillus niger, Botrytis cinerea, and Alternaria alternate) and phytotoxicity (Lolium perenne and Lactuca sativa) of these EOs were studied. Most of these Piper essential oils showed important activity against phytopathogenic fungi (except G1), especially against B. cinerea. Similarly, most of the essential oils were phytotoxic against L. perenne (except G1), with P. sancti-felicis (G4), P. casapiense (G2), and P. reticulatum (G2) being the most effective. Caryophyllene oxide, β-caryophyllene, β-pinene, limonene, α-humulene, and apiol were evaluated against B. cinerea, with the most effective compounds being β-pinene, apiol, and limonene. This work demonstrates the species-dependent potential of essential oils from Peruvian Piper species as fungicidal and herbicidal agents.

Determination of Some Chemical Elements of Common Spices Used by Algerians and Possible Health Risk Assessment

Spices in general owned a very important reputation in the herbal plantae Kingdom; they have been used for food flavoring, preservation, aroma, and coloring for more than 2000 years. Moreover, spices are classified as all natural, and for this reason, they attracted a large scale of consumers worldwide; however, since most of spices are consumed in their natural form (without grounded them), it is necessary to monitor their consumed quantities. Hence, the aim of this work was to quantify major and trace elements contained in some Algerian kitchen frequently used spices (Piper nigrum L., Nigella sativa L., and Pimpinella anisum L.). Spice materials were washed well then pass through an instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). Results revealed the existence of twenty-six elements among them: K, Ca, Fe, and Na which showed significant concentrations, consecutively, while Ce, Eu, Lu, Sm, and Tb were presented at low concentrations. Furthermore, these spices consumption assessment results were found to be well below the tolerance limits compared with the recommended values (RDA) suggested by the FAO association.

Untargeted Metabolomics in Piper betle Leaf Extracts to Discriminate the Cultivars of Coastal Odisha, India

Betel leaf is consumed as a mouth freshener due to its characteristic flavor, aromaticity, and medicinal values. Abundance of phytochemicals in betel leaf contributes towards unique qualitative features. Screening of metabolites is quintessential for identifying flavoring betel leaves and their origin. Metabolomics presently lays emphasis on the cumulative application of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic approaches. Here we adopted different protocols based on the above-mentioned analytical metabolomics platform for untargeted plant metabolite profiling followed by multivariate analysis methods and a phytochemical characterization of Piper betel leaf cultivars endemic to coastal Odisha, India. Based on variation in the solvent composition, concentration of solvent, extraction temperature, and incubation periods, five extraction methods were followed in GC-MS and NMR spectroscopy of betel leaf extracts. Phytochemical similarities and differences among the species were characterized through multivariate analysis approaches. Principal component analysis, based on the relative abundance of phytochemicals, indicated that the betel cultivars could be grouped into three groups. Our results of FTIR-, GC-MS-, and NMR-based profiling combined with multivariate analyses suggest that untargeted metabolomics can play a crucial role in documenting metabolic signatures of endemic betel leaf varieties.

Medicine-Food Herbs against Alzheimer’s Disease: A Review of Their Traditional Functional Features, Substance Basis, Clinical Practices and Mechanisms of Action

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive, neurodegenerative disorder that currently has reached epidemic proportions among elderly populations around the world. In China, available traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) that organically combine functional foods with medicinal values are named “Medicine Food Homology (MFH)”. In this review, we focused on MFH varieties for their traditional functional features, substance bases, clinical uses, and mechanisms of action (MOAs) for AD prevention and treatment. We consider the antiAD active constituents from MFH species, their effects on in vitro/in vivo AD models, and their drug targets and signal pathways by summing up the literature via a systematic electronic search (SciFinder, PubMed, and Web of Science). In this paper, several MFH plant sources are discussed in detail from in vitro/in vivo models and methods, to MOAs. We found that most of the MFH varieties exert neuroprotective effects and ameliorate cognitive impairments by inhibiting neuropathological signs (Aβ-induced toxicity, amyloid precursor protein, and phosphorylated Tau immunoreactivity), including anti-inflammation, antioxidative stress, antiautophagy, and antiapoptosis, etc. Indeed, some MFH substances and their related phytochemicals have a broad spectrum of activities, so they are superior to simple single-target drugs in treating chronic diseases. This review can provide significant guidance for people’s healthy lifestyles and drug development for AD prevention and treatment.

Biocontrol Potential of Essential Oils in Organic Horticulture Systems: From Farm to Fork

In recent decades, increasing attention has been paid to food safety and organic horticulture. Thus, people are looking for natural products to manage plant diseases, pests, and weeds. Essential oils (EOs) or EO-based products are potentially promising candidates for biocontrol agents due to their safe, bioactive, biodegradable, ecologically, and economically viable properties. Born of necessity or commercial interest to satisfy market demand for natural products, this emerging technology is highly anticipated, but its application has been limited without the benefit of a thorough analysis of the scientific evidence on efficacy, scope, and mechanism of action. This review covers the uses of EOs as broad-spectrum biocontrol agents in both preharvest and postharvest systems. The known functions of EOs in suppressing fungi, bacteria, viruses, pests, and weeds are briefly summarized. Related results and possible modes of action from recent research are listed. The weaknesses of applying EOs are also discussed, such as high volatility and low stability, low water solubility, strong influence on organoleptic properties, and phytotoxic effects. Therefore, EO formulations and methods of incorporation to enhance the strengths and compensate for the shortages are outlined. This review also concludes with research directions needed to better understand and fully evaluate EOs and provides an outlook on the prospects for future applications of EOs in organic horticulture production.

Traditional ancient Egyptian medicine: A review

The ancient Egyptians practiced medicine with highly professional methods. They had advanced knowledge of anatomy and surgery. Also, they treated a lot of diseases including dental, gynecological, gastrointestinal, and urinary disorders. They could diagnose diabetes and cancer. The used therapeutics extended from different plants to include several animal products and minerals. Some of these plants are still used in the present day. Fortunately, they documented their life details by carving on stone, clay, or papyri. Although a lot of these records have been lost or destroyed, the surviving documents represent a huge source of knowledge in different scientific aspects including medicine. This review article is an attempt to understand some information about traditional medicine in ancient Egypt, we will look closely at some basics, sources of information of Egyptian medicine in addition to common treated diseases and therapeutics in this great civilization.

Remedia Sternutatoria over the Centuries: TRP Mediation

Sneezing (sternutatio) is a poorly understood polysynaptic physiologic reflex phenomenon. Sneezing has exerted a strange fascination on humans throughout history, and induced sneezing was widely used by physicians for therapeutic purposes, on the assumption that sneezing eliminates noxious factors from the body, mainly from the head. The present contribution examines the various mixtures used for inducing sneezes (remedia sternutatoria) over the centuries. The majority of the constituents of the sneeze-inducing remedies are modulators of transient receptor potential (TRP) channels. The TRP channel superfamily consists of large heterogeneous groups of channels that play numerous physiological roles such as thermosensation, chemosensation, osmosensation and mechanosensation. Sneezing is associated with the activation of the wasabi receptor, (TRPA1), typical ligand is allyl isothiocyanate and the hot chili pepper receptor, (TRPV1), typical agonist is capsaicin, in the vagal sensory nerve terminals, activated by noxious stimulants.

Identification of the stable and reactive metabolites of tetrahydropiperine using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography combined with diode-array detection and high-resolution mass spectrometry

RATIONALE

Tetrahydropiperine is one of the natural arylpentanamide compounds isolated from Piper nigrum L., which has been demonstrated to have insecticidal activity. The aim of this study was to investigate the metabolic profiles of tetrahydropiperine in mouse, rat, dog, monkey and human hepatocytes.

METHODS

The in vitro metabolism of tetrahydropiperine was elucidated via incubation with hepatocytes for 2 h at 37°C. The samples were analyzed using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography combined with diode-array detection and high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry operated in positive electrospray ionization mode. The structures of the metabolites were characterized using their retention times and their tandem mass spectrometric product ions.

RESULTS

A total of 20 metabolites were detected and their structures were proposed. These metabolites were formed mainly through the following pathways: (1) 1,3-benzodioxole ring opening to form a catechol derivative (M12), which was prone to glucuronidation (M6 and M8), methylation (M17) and glutathione (GSH)-derived conjugation through an ortho-quinone intermediate (M4) or via an aldehyde intermediate (M7); (2) dehydrogenation to form a piperanine (M15), which was subsequently subject to hydroxylation (M2 and M5) and GSH conjugation (M10 and M11) via Michael addition; (3) hydroxylation (M13, M14, M16, M18 and M19); and (4) direct GSH conjugation through an aldehyde intermediate (M3).

CONCLUSIONS

The major metabolic pathways of tetrahydropiperine were hydroxylation, dehydrogenation, methylation, GSH conjugation and glucuronidation. Tetrahydropiperine was bioactivated through ortho-quinone, Michael receptor and aldehyde intermediates.

Comparison of Chemical Compositions of the Pepper EOs From Different Cultivars and Their AChE Inhibitory Activity

Pepper is one of the most popular spices over the world and is called the King of Spices. Its essential oils (EOs) could alleviate neuronal ailments due to the inhibitory effect against acetylcholinesterase (AChE). In this study, the chemical compositions of 26 EOs prepared from white and black pepper collecting from 6 different cultivars were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). A total of 133 compounds were identified in the white and black pepper EOs. Monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes were found to be riched in these EOs, of which α-pinene, β-pinene, sabinene, 3-carene, limonene, and ( E)- β-caryophyllene were the major constituents. Most of pepper EOs showed potential AChE inhibitory activity with half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values in the range of 0.5-182.5 µg/mL. Comparison of chemical constitutes of pepper EOs from different cultivars suggested that α-pinene, β-pinene, and 3-carene with an IC50 value of 3.2, 53.3, and 2.9 µg/mL, respectively, might be used as Quality-marker (Q-marker) of pepper oil in inhibiting AChE.

Antioxidant Activities of a New Chemotype of Piper cubeba L. Fruit Essential Oil (Methyleugenol/Eugenol): In Silico Molecular Docking and ADMET Studies

Piper cubeba L. fruit is an important species used in folk medicine for different types of pains such as rheumatism, chills, flu, colds, muscular aches, and fever. This study examines the chemical constituents, antioxidant activity, and potential inhibitory effect against human peroxiredoxin 5, a key enzyme of P. cubeba essential oil from fruits. Using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS), the principal components were methyleugenol (41.31%) and eugenol (33.95%), followed by (E)-caryophyllene (5.65%), p-cymene-8-ol (3.50%), 1,8-cineole (2.94%), and α-terpinolene (1.41%). Results showed similar scavenging activity via 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl DPPH radical scavenging activity (IC₅₀ = 110.00 ± 0.08 μg/mL), as well as very potent antioxidant activity against both ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP) (106.00 ± 0.11 μg/mL) and β-carotene bleaching (IC₅₀ = 315.00 ± 2.08 μg/mL) assays when compared to positive butylated hydroxytoluene and ascorbic acid. The molecular docking approach has also been performed to screen the antioxidant activities of the major and potent compounds against human protein target peroxiredoxin 5. Results showed good binding profiles and attributed the strongest inhibitory activity to β-caryophyllene oxide (-5.8 kcal/mol), followed respectively by isocembrol and α-selinene (-5.4 kcal/mol), and viridiflorol (-5.1 kcal/mol). Furthermore, ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion)-related physicochemical and pharmacokinetic properties have been assessed and support our in vitro findings. This work demonstrates the powerful antioxidant potency of cubeba pepper and paves the way for the discovery and development of antioxidant agent with high potency.

Platycodon grandiflorum roots: A comprehensive study on odor/aroma and chemical properties during roasting

Platycodon is a ubiquitous plant widely grown in Asia. This study investigated changes in odor/aroma associated sensory attributes and chemical properties in Platycodon grandiflorum roots upon roasting. Amino acid analysis, electronic tongue analysis, chemical property analysis, volatile compound analysis, GC-olfactometry-assisted sensory attributes, and electronic nose analysis were performed. In results, amino acid profiles showed diverse patterns. Electronic tongue analysis somewhat corresponded to the free amino acid profiles. Total phenolic content, antioxidant capacity, and browning intensity significantly increased up to 4 min and slightly decreased afterward. Various pyrazines relevant to roasted odor such as 3-ethyl-2, 5-dimethyl-pyrazine, and 2, 6-dimethyl-pyrazine were generated by roasting. In electronic nose analysis, positive odor parameter significantly increased and potential unpleasant odorants significantly decreased over time. This is believed to be the first study demonstrating overall insight on odor/aroma and chemical characteristics and utilizing objective sensory measures on roasted Platycodon grandiflorum roots for food applications. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: This study will be utilized (a) to researchers and food companies who are interested in medicinal foods (b) to individuals and food industry that search for changes in sensory characteristics and chemical changes of foods induced by roasting, and (c) to farmers and crop producers who look for utilization and applications of Platycodon grandiflorum roots as food sources and ingredients.

Bioactive Natural Compounds and Antioxidant Activity of Essential Oils from Spice Plants: New Findings and Potential Applications

Spice plants have a great influence on world history. For centuries, different civilizations have used them to condiment the foods of kings and nobles and applied them as embalming preservatives, perfumes, cosmetics, and medicines in different regions of the world. In general, these plants have formed the basis of traditional medicine and some of their derived substances have been utilized to treat different human diseases. Essential oils (EOs) obtained from these plants have been also used as therapeutic agents and have shown supportive uses in remedial practices. The discovery and development of bioactive compounds from these natural products, based on their traditional uses, play an important role in developing the scientific evidence of their potential pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food applications. In the present review, using recent studies, we exhibit a general overview of the main aspects related to the importance of spice plants widely used in traditional medicine: Cinnamomum zeylanicum (true cinnamon), Mentha piperita (peppermint), Ocimum basilicum (basil), Origanum vulgare (oregano), Piper nigrum (black pepper), Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary), and Thymus vulgaris (thyme); and we discuss new findings of the bioactive compounds obtained from their EOs, their potential applications, as well as their molecular mechanisms of action, focusing on their antioxidant activity. We also exhibit the main in vitro methods applied to determine the antioxidant activities of these natural products.

Encapsulation of black pepper seed oil using maltodextrin and pea protein

The goal of this research was to determine the physicochemical and emulsifying properties of pea protein, gum arabic, and maltodextrin and to investigate their potential for stabilizing black pepper seed oil emulsions and acting as carrier materials for spray dried microcapsules. The moisture content and water activity of pea protein and maltodextrin (∼5.5 g/100 g and ∼0.22) were found to be significantly lower than that of gum arabic (11.5 g/100 g and 0.46) whereas the glass transition temperatures of pea protein and maltodextrin (∼99.4 ℃) was significantly higher than that of gum arabic (72 ℃). Pea protein showed the highest viscosity (53.8 mPa s), the lowest surface tension (42.5 mN/m), and interfacial tension (10.5 mN/m) among the biopolymer materials studied. A mixture design was employed to investigate the effect of biopolymer formulation on droplet size and creaming stability of black pepper seed oil emulsions. Stable emulsions with relatively smaller droplet size were spray dried to produce microcapsules. Spray dried black pepper seed oil microcapsules produced with 1% pea protein and 39% maltodextrin had low surface oil (∼0.8%) and high encapsulation efficiency (95%). The results of this study suggest that pea protein in combination with maltodextrin can be used as carrier materials in encapsulation of black pepper seed oil.

Antitumor, Antiviral, and Anti-Inflammatory Efficacy of Essential Oils from Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz. Produced with Different Processing Methods

Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz. has been used as an invigorating spleen drug for eliminating dampness and phlegm in China. According to recent researches, different processing methods may affect the drug efficacy, so we collected A. macrocephala from the Zhejiang Province, produced with different processing methods, crude A. macrocephala (CA) and bran-processed A. macrocephala (BA), then analyzed its essential oils (EOs) by GC/MS. The results showed 34 components representing 98.44% of the total EOs of CA were identified, and 46 components representing 98.02% of the total EOs of BA were identified. Atractylone is the main component in A. macrocephala. Compared with CA, BA has 46 detected compounds, 28 of which were identical, and 6 undetected compounds. Pharmacodynamic results revealed that the EOs of CA and atractylone exhibited more effective anticancer activity in HepG2, MCG803, and HCT-116 cells than the EOs of BA; while the EOs of BA exhibited simple antiviral effect on viruses H3N2, both the EOs and atractylone show anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in ANA-1 cells.