Energetic Bio-Activation of Some Organic Molecules and Their Antioxidant Activity in the Pulp of the Moroccan Argan Tree «Argania spinosa L.»

Argania spinosa L. Skeels is an emblematic tree in Morocco, known worldwide for its medicinal and nutritional value. Its fruits contain kernels used to prepare an edible oil, the leaves are used to feed livestock, and its wood is used as fuel. If the oil acquires high importance, the other components of the fruit of the argan are undervalued. Our objective is to invest the waste of the argan industry. Particularly, our study aimed to assess the effect of thermal activation of argan pulp on its therapeutic value, its phenolic profile and its functional and physicochemical properties. After heat treatment, the HPLC analysis for the average total phenolic content varied from 2% to 37%, depending on temperature. The antioxidant activity was increased with heat treatment. Higher values of antioxidant activity, polyphenol and pigment content were recorded at 70 °C. Functional properties analysis indicated that water solubility index and water absorption capacity were significantly affected by heat stress. Physicochemical analysis showed that moisture content, titratable acidity and soluble solids were affected.     

Cornelian Cherry (Cornus mas L.) Extracts Exert Cytotoxicity in Two Selected Melanoma Cell Lines—A Factorial Analysis of Time-Dependent Alterations in Values Obtained with SRB and MTT Assays

Despite the fact that phytochemicals of Cornaceae species have long been discussed as possible auxiliary agents in contemporary treatment, the insights on their properties remain relatively scarce. This study focuses on Cornus mas L. (Cornelian cherry), the extracts of which are reported to exert a pleiotropic effect shown in both in vivo and in vitro studies. This study aimed to explore the cytotoxic effect of extracts from fruits of red (Cornus mas L. ‘Podolski’) and yellow (Cornus mas L. ‘Yantarnyi’ and ‘Flava’) Cornelian cherries on two melanoma cell lines (A375 and MeWo). The extracts were characterized in the context of the concentration of bioactive compounds of antioxidative properties. Cytotoxicity was investigated with the use of the following two assays: SRB and MTT. An additional, alternative protocol for the SRB assay was used in this study so as to account for possible bias. Cytotoxicity was assessed as a difference in the whole time series of cell viability, instead of analyzing differences in raw values (often found in the literature). Both extracts from Cornus mas L. induced cytotoxicity in both A375 and MeWo cell lines, although the response of these cells was different. Moreover, based on this study, there is no evidence for claiming a different magnitude of cytotoxicity between these two extracts.     

Umbelliferose Isolated from Cuminum cyminum L. Seeds Inhibits Antigen-Induced Degranulation in Rat Basophilic Leukemia RBL-2H3 Cells

Cuminum cyminum L. (cumin) is an annual plant of the Umbelliferae family native to Egypt. We previously showed that the aqueous extract of cumin seeds suppresses degranulation by downregulating the activation of antigen-induced intracellular signaling molecules in rat basophilic leukemia RBL-2H3 cells. However, the active substances in the extract have not yet been identified. Accordingly, herein, we aimed to ascertain the water-soluble substances present in cumin seeds that inhibit degranulation, which led to the identification of umbelliferose, a characteristic trisaccharide present in plants of the Umbelliferae family. Our study is the first to reveal the degranulation-suppressing activity of umbelliferose, and quantification studies suggest that cumin seed powder contains 1.6% umbelliferose. Raffinose, an isomer of umbelliferose, was also found to significantly suppress antigen-induced degranulation, but less so than umbelliferose. Both umbelliferose and raffinose contain sucrose subunits in their structures, with galactose moieties bound at different sites. These differences in structure suggest that the binding of galactose to the sucrose subunit at the α1-2 bond contributes to its strong degranulation-inhibiting properties.     

反相高效液相色谱法测定罗布麻叶中槲皮素和山萘酚

采用反相高效液相色谱法(RP-HQLC)测定了罗布麻叶中槲皮素和山萘酚。色谱柱为Nova-pak C18(15cm×4.6mm i.d.),流动相为A.甲醇、B.1%乙酸,流速为0.6mL/min,检测波长为360nm。槲皮素在0.0137~0.136μg、山萘酚在0.0053~0.0265μg范围内与峰面积呈良好的线性关系,相关系数分别为0.9998和0.9980。槲皮素的回收率为99.6%,RSD为0.97%;山萘酚的回收率为98.2%,RSD为2.0%。方法可用于罗布麻叶中槲皮素和山萘酚的测定。     

Chemical Constituents from the Flowers of Carthamus tinctorius L. and Their Lung Protective Activity

A new flavonoid, saffloflavanside (1), a new sesquiterpene, safflomegastigside (2), and a new amide, saffloamide (3), together with twenty-two known compounds (4–25), were isolated from the flowers of Carthamus tinctorius L. Their structures were determined based on interpretation of their spectroscopic data and comparison with those reported in the literature. The protective effects against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated damage on human normal lung epithelial (BEAS-2B) cells of the compounds were evaluated using MTT assay and cellular immunofluorescence assay. The results showed that compounds 2–3, 8–11, and 15–19 exhibited protective effects against LPS-induced damage to BEAS-2B cells. Moreover, compounds 2–3, 8–11, and 15–19 can significantly downregulate the level of nuclear translocation of NF-κB p-p65. In summary, this study revealed chemical constituents with lung protective activity from C. tinctorius, which may be developed as a drug for the treatment of lung injury.     

Jatrolignans C and D: New Neolignan Epimers from Jatropha curcas

Two new neolignans jatrolignans, C (1) and D (2), a pair of epimers, were isolated from the whole plants of Jatropha curcas L. (Euphorbiaceae). Their structures were determined with HRESIMS, IR, and NMR data analysis, and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) experiments via a comparison of the experimental and the calculated ECD spectra. Their antichlamydial activity was evaluated in Chlamydia abortus. They both showed dose-dependent antichlamydial effects. Significant growth inhibitory effects were observed at a minimum concentration of 40 μM.     

Epilobium angustifolium L. as a Potential Herbal Component of Topical Products for Skin Care and Treatment—A Review

Epilobium angustifolium L. (EA) has been used as a topical agent since ancient times. There has been an increasing interest in applying EA as a raw material used topically in recent years. However, in the literature, there are not many reports on the comprehensive application of this plant to skin care and treatment. EA contains many valuable secondary metabolites, which determine antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, and antiproliferative activity effects. One of the most important active compounds found in EA is oenothein B (OeB), which increases the level of ROS and protects cells from oxidative damage. OeB also influences wound healing and reduces inflammation by strongly inhibiting hyaluronidase enzymes and inhibiting COX-1 and COX-2 cyclooxygenases. Other compounds that play a key role in the context of application to the skin are flavonoids, which inhibit collagenase and hyaluronidase enzymes, showing anti-aging and anti-inflammatory properties. While terpenes in EA play an important role in fighting bacterial skin infections, causing, among other things cell membrane, permeability increase as well as the modification of the lipid profiles and the alteration of the adhesion of the pathogen to the animal cells. The available scientific information on the biological potential of natural compounds can be the basis for the wider use of EA in skin care and treatment. The aim of the article is to review the existing literature on the dermocosmetic use of E. angustifolium.     

稀土改性L沸石在烃类催化裂化催化剂中的应用

采用离子交换的方法制备了一系列复合稀土（含La及Ce）质量分数不同的稀土改性超稳L沸石（RE-USL）,以RE USL沸石替代质量分数为5%的REUSY作为催化裂化催化剂的活性组分,用标准轻油微反活性试验（MAT）评价了其催化性能,并同单一稀土元素改性USL沸石进行了对比。结果表明,一定量的复合稀土改性USL沸石的催化性能优于单一稀土（La或Ce）改性的USL沸石,在催化裂化催化剂中加入稀土改性USL沸石,可以降低汽油产品的烯烃质量分数;可以提高汽油的辛烷值。当复合稀土在RE USL沸石中的质量分数为0.4%左右时, 与不加稀土改性USL沸石催化剂相比较,催化剂的活性指数MAT提高3.6个单位,烯烃质量分数降低1.57个单位,研究法辛烷值（RON）提高2.08个单位,产品分布更合理。     

Effect of Biodegradable Coatings on the Growth of Aspergillus flavus In Vitro,on Maize Grains,and on the Quality of Tortillas during Storage

The fungus Aspergillus flavus causes serious damage to maize grains and its by-products, such as tortilla. Currently, animal and plant derivatives, such as chitosan and propolis, and plant extract residues, respectively, are employed as alternatives of synthetic fungicides. The objective of this research was to evaluate the efficacy of several formulations based on propolis-chitosan-pine resin extract on the in vitro growth of A. flavus, the growth of maize grain plantlets and the quality of stored tortillas at 4 and 28 °C. The most outstanding formulation was that based on 59.7% chitosan + 20% propolis nanoparticles + 20% pine resin extract nanoparticles; since the in vitro conidia germination of A. flavus did not occur, disease incidence on grains was 25–30% and in tortillas, 0% infection was recorded, along with low aflatoxin production (1.0 ppb). The grain germination and seedling growth were markedly reduced by the nanocoating application. The percentage weight loss and color of tortillas were more affected by this coating compared to the control, and the rollability fell within the scale of non-ruptured at 4 °C and partially ruptured at 28 °C. The next step is to evaluate the toxicity of this formulation.     

太空育种射干的X射线荧光及X射线衍射分析和表征

联用X射线荧光光谱(XRF)和粉末X射线衍射(PXRD)方法,对我国独创的第4代太空诱变育种射干中多种元素种类和含量及晶态物质进行了研究。结果表明:太空组射干K元素含量比地面组、对照品分别提高了1.03和0.31倍,Mg元素分别提高了1.44和0.06倍,Ca,Mn和Fe元素含量比地面组分别提高了0.95,0.30和0.29倍,Al元素比地面组、对照组分别降低了38.5%和85.5%,并在射干中鉴别出一水草酸钙(CaC2O4.H2O)晶体,晶体含量是地面组<太空组<对照品。从而可得出结论:太空射干中人体必需的矿质元素比地面组都更接近或优于对照品。文章研究结果和方法对筛选品质优良的太空药材籽种和推广种植太空药材以及建立中药材质量评价标准,有积极的作用和重要意义。