First 13C‐NMR Assignments of Betaxanthins

Due to their inherent liability towards highly acidic conditions previously considered to be a prerequisite for data acquisition, betaxanthin structure dereplication by NMR spectroscopy has been scarcely reported and was, hitherto, exclusively based on ¹H‐NMR data interpretation. Applying only slightly acidic conditions, we herein report the first ¹³C‐NMR data of two betaxanthins, i.e., indicaxanthin ( 1 ), isolated from yellow‐orange cactus pear fruits (Opuntia ficus‐indica [L.] Mill . cv. ‘Gialla’), and of miraxanthin V ( 2 ) from yellow Swiss chard petioles (Beta vulgaris L. ssp. cicla [L.] Alef . cv. ‘Bright Lights’), as derived by gHSQC‐ and gHMQC‐NMR experiments and inverse detection.     

Biosynthesis and characterization of Dillenia indica-mediated silver nanoparticles and their biological activity

Dillenia indica L. is a traditional medicinal plant well known for its ability to cure various human diseases. In the current study, silver nanoparticles have been synthesized by simple and eco-friendly method using Dillenia indica extract. The green synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), UV–visible spectroscopy, Atomic force microscopy (AFM), High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), Zeta Potential and Size Distribution. UV–visible and FTIR spectra, AFM, HR-TEM and Zeta Potential readings and size distribution conformed that the synthesized silver particles were in the size of nano. The green synthesized silver nanoparticles were subjected for antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria Enterococcus faecalis and Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli by agar well diffusion method. The synthesized AgNPs exhibited significant inhibition of 27 and 16 mm against the test bacteria at 0.25 mg/ml. Further the antibacterial activity was confirmed by live and dead cell assay by fluorescence microscopy and morphological changes of bacteria were studied by Scanning electron microscope (SEM). The study recommends that the synthesized silver nanoparticles using Dillenia indica extract have potential application in inhibition of bacteria owing to their potent antibacterial activity.     

Isolation and Structure Characterization of a (4‐O‐Methyl‐d‐glucurono)‐d‐xylan from the Skin of Opuntia ficus‐indica Prickly Pear Fruits

A slightly water soluble (4‐O‐methyl‐d‐glucurono)‐d‐xylan was isolated from the skin of Opuntia ficus‐indica (OFI) fruits by alkaline extraction, followed by ethanol precipitation and ion‐exchange chromatography. The structure of this xylan was determined by sugar determination coupled with a ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy analysis. The xylan consisted of a linear (1→4)‐β‐d‐xylopyranosyl backbone decorated with 4‐O‐methyl‐α‐d‐glucopyranosyluronic acid groups linked to the C‐2 of the xylopyranosyl residues, in the ratio of one uronic acid for six neutral sugar units.     

The Wound-Healing Effect of Mango Peel Extract on Incision Wounds in a Murine Model

Mangifera indica can generate up to 60% of polluting by-products, including peels. However, it has been shown that flavonoids and mangiferin are mainly responsible for the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial activities closely related to the wound-healing process. The chemical composition of MEMI (methanolic extract of M. indica) was analyzed by HPLC-DAD, as well as concentrations of total phenol (TPC) and flavonoids (TFC) and antioxidant activity (SA₅₀). Wound-healing efficacy was determined by measurements of wound contraction, histological analysis, and tensiometric method; moreover, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and acute dermal toxicity (OECD 402) were also evaluated. Phenol, resorcinol, conjugated resorcinol, and mangiferin were detected. TPC, TFC, and SA₅₀ were 136 mg GAE/g, 101.66 mg QE/g, and 36.33 µg/mL, respectively. Tensile strength and wound contraction closure did not show significant differences between MEMI and dexpanthenol groups. Histological analysis (after 14 days) shows a similar architecture between MEMI treatment and normal skin. MEMI exhibits a reduction in edema. Staphylococcus epidermidis had an MIC of 2 mg/mL, while Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli reached 4 mg/mL. The MEMI showed no signs of toxicity. Therefore, this study demonstrates multiple targets that flavonoids and mangiferin of MEMI may present during the healing process.     

The Alleviating Effect of Lagerstroemia indica Flower Extract on Stretch Marks through Regulation of Mast Cells

Striae distensae (SD) or stretch marks are common linear scars of atrophic skin with disintegrating extracellular matrix (ECM) structures. Although fibroblasts contribute to the construction of ECM structure in SD, some studies have reported that mast cell degranulation causes the disruption of ECM in early SD lesions. Lagerstroemia indica flower (LIF) has traditionally been used in India as a diuretic. However, little is known about the effect and molecular action of Lagerstroemia indica flower extract (LIFE) on alleviating SD. This study evaluated the effects of LIFE on mast cell degranulation and the synthesis of ECM components in fibroblasts. LIFE inhibits the adhesion of rat basophilic leukemia (RBL) cells, RBL-2H3 on fibronectin (FN) and the expression of integrin, a receptor for FN, thereby reducing focal adhesion kinase (FAK) phosphorylation. In addition, LIFE attenuated the allergen-induced granules and cytokine interleukin 3 (IL-3) through the adhesion with FN. Moreover, the conditioned medium (CM) of activated mast cells decreases the synthesis of ECM components, and LIFE restores the abnormal expressions induced by activated mast cells. These results demonstrate that LIFE suppresses FN-induced mast cell activation and promotes the synthesis of ECM components in fibroblast, which indicates that LIFE may be a useful cosmetic agent for SD treatment.     

Multi‐constituent determination and fingerprint analysis of Scutellaria indica L. using ultra high performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry

An ultra‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry method integrating multi‐constituent determination and fingerprint analysis has been established for quality assessment and control of Scutellaria indica L. The optimized method possesses the advantages of speediness, efficiency, and allows multi‐constituents determination and fingerprint analysis in one chromatographic run within 11 min. 36 compounds were detected, and 23 of them were unequivocally identified or tentatively assigned. The established fingerprint method was applied to the analysis of ten S. indica samples from different geographic locations. The quality assessment was achieved by using principal component analysis. The proposed method is useful and reliable for the characterization of multi‐constituents in a complex chemical system and the overall quality assessment of S. indica.     

UPLC fingerprint analysis and identification of flavonoids in Scutellaria indica by UFLC-triple-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry

The aim of this study was to raise the quality control level of Scutellaria indica. A quick and stable ultra performance liquid chromatography method was established for the fingerprint analysis of S. indica. A total of 32 common peaks were marked with 10 batches S. indica detected in 30?min using similarity evaluation system for chromatographic fingerprint of traditional Chinese medicine (2004A version). Besides, a high-resolution mass spectrometer was used to identify flavonoids in S. indica. A total of 27 flavonoids in S. indica were identified. And a series of fragmentation regularities were obtained, which could be used for the identification of other flavonoids. Therefore, the established liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometer method could be successfully utilized for the quality control of S. indica.     

Tannins and Related Compounds from Quisqualis Indica

Continuous exploration of the chemical constituents of Combretaceous plants has led to the discovery of two novel ellagitannins, quisqualin A ( 1 ) and quisqualin B ( 2 ), from the fruits of Quisqualis indica. A total of twenty-one other tannins were also isolated from either the fruits or leaves of Q. indica. including [I] eleven ellagitannins: 2,3-(S)-HHDP-D-glucose ( 3 ), 2,3-(S)-HHDP-4-O-galloyl-D-glucose ( 4 ), 2,3-(S)-HHDP-6-O-galloyl-D-glucose ( 5 ), 2,3-(S)-HHDPA6-di-O-galloyl-D-glucose ( 6 ). pedunculagin ( 7 ), punicalagin ( 8 ), eugeniin ( 9 ), 1-desgalloyleugeniin ( 10 ), casuariin ( 11 ), 5-desgalloylstachyurin ( 12 ), castalagin ( 13 ); [II] five gallotannins-. 6-O-galloyl-D-glucose ( 14 ), 1,6-di-O-galloyl-β-D-glucose ( 15 ), 2,3-di-O-galloyl-D-glucose ( 16 ), 3,4-di-O-galloyl-D-glucose ( 17 ), 4,6-di-O-galloyl-D-glucose ( 18 ); [III] four phenol-carboxylic acids: gallic acid ( 19 ), ellagic acid ( 20 ), flavogallonic acid ( 21 ), brevifolin carboxylic acid ( 22 ) and [IV] one other hydrolyzable tannin: punicalin ( 23 ).     

Thermoluminescence characterization of the irradiated minerals extracted from nopal

The mineral fraction from dehydrated nopal leaves (Opuntia ficus indica) belonging to the Cactaceae family was extracted and selected by sizes of 10 and 74 μm and exposed to ⁶⁰Co gamma radiation at different doses in the range 70 Gy–20 kGy. The glow-curves from these polyminerals show a thermoluminescence (TL) band with one very intense peak at a temperature around 150 °C and a second one emerging in the high temperature region, moving in a large zone of temperature values according to the preparation used and the level of irradiation. The XRD analysis shows a composition of both biominerals as whewellite and weddellite and a mineral fraction as anorthoclase and quartz. The main TL characteristics of the polymineral content of the nopal was analyzed, i.e. the TL response at different doses and fading during storage at room temperature. The activation energy of the traps responsible for the TL emission was also investigated and a possible continuous distribution of traps is discussed. A review of the scientific literature shows that this is the first time that a TL study on nopal ionized by irradiation has been carried out.     

The chemical profile of active fraction of Kalimeris indica and its quantitative analysis

Kalimeris indica (L) Sch-Bip is a medicinal plant used by the Miao ethnic group in the Guizhou province of China. It is widely used as a fresh vegetable to treat colds, diarrhea and gastric ulcers. However, few studies have been conducted on the mechanism of its effect on colds, and its quality control. The anticomplement and antitussive activities of different polar extracts of K. indica were evaluated. Fifty-nine compounds, mainly including phenols and flavonoids, were identified in K. indica extract by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry. A method was established through ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography with a photodiode array to simultaneously determine the anticomplement and antitussive activity of five compounds in K. indica combining chemical identification with chemometrics for discrimination and quality assessment. Also, 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid and 4,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid exhibited significantly higher anticomplementary activity than the other three compounds. The quantitative data were further analyzed by principal component analysis and orthogonal partial least-squares discriminant analysis. Heatmap visualization was conducted to clarify the distribution of the major compounds in different geographical origins. Screening pharmacological activities by a combination of chemometrics and chemical identification might be an effective method for the quality control of K. indica.