Isolation and Identification of Anthocyanin Component in the Fruits of Acanthopanax Sessiliflorus (Rupr. & Maxim.) Seem. by Means of High Speed Counter Current Chromatography and Evaluation of Its Antioxidant Activity

Triterpenoids from the leaves of Eleutherococcus sessiliflorus, and their antiproliferative activities in TNF-α induced HFLS-RA cells

Five undescribed elesesterpenes L-U, along with nine known 3,4-seco-lupane-type triterpenoids were isolated from the leaves of Eleutherococcus sessiliflorus (Rupr. & Maxim.) S. Y. Hu. Elesesterpene L-S, and U were lupane-type triterpenoids, whereas elesesterpene T was an oleanane-type triterpenoid, probably artifact, as suggested by LC-MS analysis. Out of the nine known compounds, five were initially identified in E. sessiliflorus. Moreover, their structures were definitively determined using spectroscopic analyses, and the absolute configurations of elesesterpenes L-M and sachunogenin 3-O-glucoside were clarified using X-ray crystallographic techniques. The absolute configuration of elesesterpene T was determined by measuring and calculating its ECD. In addition, all compounds were tested to examine their ability to inhibit the proliferation of HFLS-RA cells induced by TNF-α in vitro. Elesesterpene M, chiisanogenin, chiisanoside, and 3-methylisochiisanoside significantly inhibited HFLS-RA proliferation.

Isolation and purification of Eleutherococcus sessiliflorus (Rupr. & Maxim.) S. Y. Hu peptides and study of their antioxidant effects and mechanisms

Oxidative stress is a state of imbalance between oxidant and antioxidant effects in the body, which is closely associated with aging and many diseases. Therefore, the development of antioxidants has become urgent. In this study, we isolated three polypeptides, G-6-Y, P-8-R, and F-10-W, from Eleutherococcus sessiliflorus (Rupr. & Maxim.) S. Y. Hu (E. sessiliflorus), based on the antioxidant and anti-aging properties of Eleutherococcus, and screened the most powerful free radical scavenging peptide P-8-R. Ultraviolet B (UVB)-induced oxidative stress damage in the skin was established to test the efficacy of P-8-R. In cellular experiments, P-8-R not only prevented oxidative stress damage in HaCaT cells, reduced intracellular reactive oxygen species levels, and inhibited the overexpression of matrix metalloproteinases but also inhibited apoptosis via the mitochondria-dependent apoptotic pathway; in animal experiments, P-8-R was able to prevent oxidative stress damage in the skin and reduce skin collagen loss by inhibiting the overexpression of MMPs to prevent mouse skin aging. In conclusion, the present study contributes to an in-depth understanding of the active compounds of Eleutherococcus, which is of great significance for the pharmacodynamic mechanism and industrial development of Eleutherococcus, and P-8-R is likely to become a potential antioxidant and anti-aging drug or skin care cosmetic in the future.

Phytochemistry and Pharmacology of Eleutherococcus sessiliflorus (Rupr. & Maxim.) S.Y.Hu: A Review

Eleutherococcus sessiliflorus (Rupr. & Maxim.) S.Y.Hu (E. sessiliflorus), a member of the Araliaceae family, is a valuable plant widely used for medicinal and dietary purposes. The tender shoots of E. sessiliflorus are commonly consumed as a staple wild vegetable. The fruits of E. sessiliflorus, known for their rich flavor, play a crucial role in the production of beverages and fruit wines. The root barks of E. sessiliflorus are renowned for their therapeutic effects, including dispelling wind and dampness, strengthening tendons and bones, promoting blood circulation, and removing stasis. To compile a comprehensive collection of information on E. sessiliflorus, extensive searches were conducted in databases such as Web of Science, PubMed, ProQuest, and CNKI. This review aims to provide a detailed exposition of E. sessiliflorus from various perspectives, including phytochemistry and pharmacological effects, to lay a solid foundation for further investigations into its potential uses. Moreover, this review aims to introduce innovative ideas for the rational utilization of E. sessiliflorus resources and the efficient development of related products. To date, a total of 314 compounds have been isolated and identified from E. sessiliflorus, encompassing terpenoids, phenylpropanoids, flavonoids, volatile oils, organic acids and their esters, nitrogenous compounds, quinones, phenolics, and carbohydrates. Among these, triterpenoids and phenylpropanoids are the primary bioactive components, with E. sessiliflorus containing unique 3,4-seco-lupane triterpenoids. These compounds have demonstrated promising properties such as anti-oxidative stress, anti-aging, antiplatelet aggregation, and antitumor effects. Additionally, they show potential in improving glucose metabolism, cardiovascular systems, and immune systems. Despite some existing basic research on E. sessiliflorus, further investigations are required to enhance our understanding of its mechanisms of action, quality assessment, and formulation studies. A more comprehensive investigation into E. sessiliflorus is warranted to delve deeper into its mechanisms of action and potentially expand its pharmaceutical resources, thus facilitating its development and utilization.

Mexican Native Black Bean Anthocyanin-Rich Extracts Modulate Biological Markers Associated with Inflammation

This work aimed to obtain and characterize anthocyanin-rich extracts (ARE) from native black beans and evaluate their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential. The initial extract was obtained by supercritical fluids (RE) and purified using Amberlite^® XAD-7 resin (PE). RE and PE were fractionated using countercurrent chromatography, and four fractions were obtained (REF1 and REF2 from RE, PEF1, and PEF2 from PE). ARE and fractions were characterized, and the biological potential was evaluated. ABTS IC₅₀ values ranged from 7.9 to 139.2 (mg C3GE/L), DPPH IC₅₀ ranged from 9.2 to 117.2 (mg C3GE/L), and NO IC₅₀ ranged from 0.6 to143.8 (mg C3GE/L) (p < 0.05). COX-1 IC₅₀ ranged from 0.1 to 0.9 (mg C3GE/L), COX-2 IC₅₀ ranged from 0.01 to 0.7 (mg C3GE/L), and iNOS IC₅₀ ranged from 0.9 to 5.6 (mg C3GE/L) (p < 0.05). The theoretical binding energy for phenolic compounds ranged from -8.45 to -1.4 kcal/mol for COX-1, from -8.5 to -1.8 kcal/mol for COX-2, and from -7.2 to -1.6 kcal/mol for iNOS. RE and REF2 presented the highest antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential. Countercurrent chromatography effectively isolates and purifies bioactive compounds while maintaining their biological potential. Native black beans present an attractive phytochemical profile and could be used as ingredients in nutraceuticals and functional foods.

Aralia cordata Thunb. as a Source of Bioactive Compounds: Phytochemical Composition and Antioxidant Activity

Plant primary and secondary metabolites are a significant source for many applications, including extractions of functional components, green synthesis development, and producing higher-added value products. However, in the variety of botanicals, Aralia cordata Thunb. plant is getting attention for its similarity to ginseng. This study comprehensively examines the biochemical and phytochemical profiles of different A. cordata morphological parts: root, stem, leaf, inflorescence, berry, and seed. Additionally, the establishment of total phenolic content and quantitative analysis of powerful antioxidants such as chlorophyll, carotenoids (zeaxanthin, lutein, and β-carotene), proanthocyanidins, and anthocyanins content were evaluated. The results indicated that A. cordata stem and berries are an excellent source of anthocyanins in the range from 18.27 to 78.54 mg/100 g DW. Meanwhile, the antioxidant activity was evaluated using three different methods based on the capacity to scavenge: DPPH^• scavenging capacity, ABTS^•+ radical cation assay, and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and ranged from 27 to 168 µmol TE/g DW, 8 to 117 µmol TE/g DW, and 18 to 157 µmol TE/g DW, respectively. This study proposes a novel competitive plant for many health-promoting applications in the nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, material, and food industries.

Natural Sources, Pharmacological Properties, and Health Benefits of Daucosterol: Versatility of Actions

Daucosterol is a saponin present in various natural sources, including medicinal plant families. This secondary metabolite is produced at different contents depending on species, extraction techniques, and plant parts used. Currently, daucosterol has been tested and explored for its various biological activities. The results reveal potential pharmacological properties such as antioxidant, antidiabetic, hypolipidemic, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, neuroprotective, and anticancer. Indeed, daucosterol possesses important anticancer effects in many signaling pathways, such as an increase in pro-apoptotic proteins Bax and Bcl2, a decrease in the Bcl-2/Bax ratio, upregulation of the phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) gene, inhibition of the PI3K/Akt pathway, and distortion of cell-cycle progression and tumor cell evolution. Its neuroprotective effect is via decreased caspase-3 activation in neurons and during simulated reperfusion (OGD/R), increased IGF1 protein expression (decreasing the downregulation of p-AKT3 and p-GSK-3b4), and activation of the AKT5 signaling pathway. At the same time, daucosterol inhibits key glucose metabolism enzymes to keep blood sugar levels within normal ranges. Therefore, this review describes the principal research on the pharmacological activities of daucosterol and the mechanisms of action underlying some of these effects. Moreover, further investigation of pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, and toxicology are suggested.

Analytical, Preparative, and Industrial-Scale Separation of Substances by Methods of Countercurrent Liquid-Liquid Chromatography

Countercurrent liquid-liquid chromatographic techniques (CCC), similar to solvent extraction, are based on the different distribution of compounds between two immiscible liquids and have been most widely used in natural product separations. Due to its high load capacity, low solvent consumption, the diversity of separation methods, and easy scale-up, CCC provides an attractive tool to obtain pure compounds in the analytical, preparative, and industrial-scale separations. This review focuses on the steady-state and non-steady-state CCC separations ranging from conventional CCC to more novel methods such as different modifications of dual mode, closed-loop recycling, and closed-loop recycling dual modes. The design and modeling of various embodiments of CCC separation processes have been described.

Comparison of Bioactive Phenolic Compounds and Antioxidant Activities of Different Parts of Taraxacum mongolicum

Herbs derived from Taraxacum genus have been used as traditional medicines and food supplements in China for hundreds of years. Taraxacum mongolicum is a famous traditional Chinese medicine derived from Taraxacum genus for the treatment of inflammatory disorders and viral infectious diseases. In the present study, the bioactive phenolic chemical profiles and antioxidant activities of flowers, leaves, and roots of Taraxacum mongolicum were investigated. Firstly, a high performance liquid chromatography method combined with segmental monitoring strategy was employed to simultaneously determine six bioactive phenolic compounds in Taraxacum mongolicum samples. Moreover, multivariate statistical analysis, including hierarchical clustering analysis, principal component analysis, and partial least squares discriminant analysis were performed to compare and discriminate different parts of Taraxacum mongolicum based on the quantitative data. The results showed that three phenolic compounds, caftaric acid, caffeic acid, and luteolin, could be regarded as chemical markers for the differences of flowers, leaves, and roots of Taraxacum mongolicum. In parallel, total phenolic contents, total flavonoid contents and antioxidant activities of different parts of Taraxacum mongolicum were also evaluated and compared. It is clear that Taraxacum mongolicum had antioxidant properties, and the antioxidant capacities of different parts of Taraxacum mongolicum in three antioxidant assays showed a similar tendency: Flowers ≈ leaves > roots, which revealed a positive relationship with their total phenolic and flavonoid contents. Furthermore, to find the potential antioxidant components of Taraxacum mongolicum, the latent relationships of the six bioactive phenolic compounds and antioxidant activities of Taraxacum mongolicum were investigated by Pearson correlation analysis. The results indicated caftaric acid and caffeic acid could be the potential antioxidant ingredients of Taraxacum mongolicum. The present work may facilitate better understanding of differences of bioactive phenolic constituents and antioxidant activities of different parts of Taraxacum mongolicum and provide useful information for utilization of this herbal medicine.