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Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Apr 2024Myrtle ( L.) is a coastal Mediterranean aromatic medicinal plant rich in essential oil components, flavonoids, and phenolic acids. Studies highlight the potential health...
BACKGROUND
Myrtle ( L.) is a coastal Mediterranean aromatic medicinal plant rich in essential oil components, flavonoids, and phenolic acids. Studies highlight the potential health benefits of myrtle bioactive compounds with antioxidant and antiproliferative properties. Since limited research exists on myrtle fruit's lipid fraction, the aim of this study was to apply supercritical CO extraction to obtain bioactive compounds from myrtle berries focusing on the fatty acids, sterols, and essential oils.
METHODS
The optimization of the supercritical CO extraction of myrtle fruit using CO as solvent was carried out using the response surface methodology with Box-Behnken experimental design. The following conditions were tested: temperature (40, 50, and 60 °C), pressure (200, 300, and 400 bar), and flow rate (20, 30, and 40 g min) on the yield of lipid extract as well as on the yield of fatty acids, phytosterols, and volatiles present in the extract and constituting its bioactive potential.
RESULTS
In the extracts examined, 36 fatty acids, 7 phytosterols, and 13 volatiles were identified. The average yield of the extract was 5.20%, the most abundant identified fatty acid was essential cis-linolenic acid (76.83%), almost 90% of the total phytosterols were β-sitosterol (12,465 mg kg), while myrtenyl acetate (4297 mg kg) was the most represented volatile compound. The optimal process conditions obtained allow the formulation of extracts with specific compositions.
Topics: Phytosterols; Myrtus; Carbon Dioxide; Fatty Acids; Fruit; Plant Extracts; Oils, Volatile; Chromatography, Supercritical Fluid; Volatile Organic Compounds
PubMed: 38675575
DOI: 10.3390/molecules29081755 -
Foods (Basel, Switzerland) Apr 2024Sesame seeds ( L.) have been cultivated for thousands of years and have long been celebrated for their culinary versatility. Beyond their delightful nutty flavor and... (Review)
Review
Sesame seeds ( L.) have been cultivated for thousands of years and have long been celebrated for their culinary versatility. Beyond their delightful nutty flavor and crunchy texture, sesame seeds have also gained recognition for their remarkable health benefits. This article provides an in-depth exploration of the numerous ways in which sesame seeds contribute to overall well-being. Sesame seeds are a powerhouse of phytochemicals, including lignans derivatives, tocopherol isomers, phytosterols, and phytates, which have been associated with various health benefits, including the preservation of cardiovascular health and the prevention of cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, and brain dysfunction. These compounds have also been substantiated for their efficacy in cholesterol management. Their potential as a natural source of beneficial plant compounds is presented in detail. The article further explores the positive impact of sesame seeds on reducing the risk of chronic diseases thanks to their rich polyunsaturated fatty acids content. Nevertheless, it is crucial to remember the significance of maintaining a well-rounded diet to achieve the proper balance of n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, a balance lacking in sesame seed oil. The significance of bioactive polypeptides derived from sesame seeds is also discussed, shedding light on their applications as nutritional supplements, nutraceuticals, and functional ingredients. Recognizing the pivotal role of processing methods on sesame seeds, this review discusses how these methods can influence bioactive compounds. While roasting the seeds enhances the antioxidant properties of the oil extract, certain processing techniques may reduce phenolic compounds.
PubMed: 38672826
DOI: 10.3390/foods13081153 -
Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland) Apr 2024Amaranth is a nutritionally valuable crop, as it contains phenolic acids and flavonoids, yielding diverse plant secondary metabolites (PSMs) like phytosterol,...
Amaranth is a nutritionally valuable crop, as it contains phenolic acids and flavonoids, yielding diverse plant secondary metabolites (PSMs) like phytosterol, tocopherols, and carotenoids. This study explored the variations in the contents of seventeen polyphenolic compounds within the leaves of one hundred twenty accessions representing nine species. The investigation entailed the analysis of phenolic content across nine species, specifically , , , , , , , , and , utilizing ultra performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection (UPLC-PDA). The results revealed significant differences in polyphenolic compounds among accessions in which rutin content was predominant in all species in both 2018 and 2019. Among the nine species, the rutin content ranged from 95.72 ± 199.17 μg g () to 1485.09 ± 679.51 μg g () in 2018 and from 821.59 ± 709.95 μg g () to 3166.52 ± 1317.38 μg g () in 2019. Correlation analysis revealed, significant positive correlations between rutin and kaempferol-3-O-β-rutinoside (r = 0.93), benzoic acid and ferulic acid (r = 0.76), and benzoic acid and kaempferol-3-O-β-rutinoside (r = 0.76), whereas gallic acid showed consistently negative correlations with each of the 16 phenolic compounds. Wide variations were identified among accessions and between plants grown in the two years. The nine species and one hundred twenty accessions were clustered into six groups based on their seventeen phenolic compounds in each year. These findings contribute to expanding our understanding of the phytochemical traits of accessions within nine species, which serve as valuable resources for component breeding and functional material development.
PubMed: 38671947
DOI: 10.3390/antiox13040501 -
Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland) Apr 2024The aim of this experiment was to investigate the effects of dietary Phytosterol Ester (PSE) supplementation on egg characteristics, eggshell ultrastructure, antioxidant...
Effects of Phytosterol Ester Supplementation on Egg Characteristics, Eggshell Ultrastructure, Antioxidant Capacity, Liver Function and Hepatic Metabolites of Laying Hens during Peak Laying Period.
The aim of this experiment was to investigate the effects of dietary Phytosterol Ester (PSE) supplementation on egg characteristics, eggshell ultrastructure, antioxidant capacity, liver function, hepatic metabolites, and its mechanism of action in Hy-Line Brown laying hens during peak laying period. A total of 256 healthy Hy-Line Brown laying hens were randomly allocated into four groups. The hens in the control group were fed a basal diet, while those in the experimental groups were fed a basal diet further supplemented with 10, 20, and 40 mg/kg PSE, respectively. It was found that the addition of 20 mg/kg and 40 mg/kg PSE to the diets increased egg weight, but decreased egg breaking strength ( < 0.05). The addition of PSEs to the diets increased albumen height and Haugh unit in all experimental groups ( < 0.05). Electron microscopic observation revealed that the mammillary thickness increased significantly at doses of 20 and 40 mg/kg, but the total thickness decreased, and the effective thickness also thinned ( < 0.05). The mammillary width narrowed in all experimental groups ( < 0.001). Dietary supplementation with 40 mg/kg PSE significantly increased egg yolk Phenylalanine, Leucine, and Isoleucine levels ( < 0.05). In untargeted liver metabolomic analyses, L-Phenylalanine increased significantly in all experimental groups. Leucyl-Lysine, Glutamyl-Leucyl-Arginine, and L-Tryptophan increased significantly at doses of 10 and 20 mg/kg ( < 0.05), and L-Tyrosine increased significantly at doses of 10 and 40 mg/kg ( = 0.033). Aspartyl-Isoleucine also increased significantly at a dose of 10 mg/kg ( = 0.044). The concentration of total protein in the liver was significantly higher at doses of 20 and 40 mg/kg than that of the control group, and the concentrations of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were significantly reduced ( < 0.05). The concentration of triglyceride and alkaline phosphatase were significantly reduced in all experimental groups ( < 0.05). Steatosis and hemorrhage in the liver were also improved by observing the H&E-stained sections of the liver. Concerning the antioxidant capacity in the liver, malondialdehyde concentration was significantly reduced ( < 0.05) at a dose of 40 mg/kg. In the ovary, malondialdehyde and nitric oxide concentrations were significantly reduced ( < 0.001). In all the experimental groups, plasma nitric oxide concentration was significantly decreased while superoxide dismutase was significantly increased, and total antioxidant capacity concentration was significantly increased ( < 0.05) in the 10 mg/kg and 40 mg/kg doses. Metabolomics analyses revealed that PSEs play a role in promoting protein synthesis by promoting Aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis and amino acid metabolism, among other pathways. This study showed that the dietary addition of PSEs improved egg characteristics, antioxidant capacity, liver function, and symptoms of fatty liver hemorrhagic syndrome in Hy-Line Brown laying hens at peak laying stage. The changes in liver metabolism suggest that the mechanism of action may be related to pathways such as Aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis and amino acid metabolism. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that PSEs are safe and effective dietary additives as an alternative to antibiotics.
PubMed: 38671906
DOI: 10.3390/antiox13040458 -
JACS Au Apr 2024Steroidal pharmaceuticals with a 10α-methyl group or without the methyl group at C10-position are important medicines, but their synthesis is quite challenging, due to...
Steroidal pharmaceuticals with a 10α-methyl group or without the methyl group at C10-position are important medicines, but their synthesis is quite challenging, due to that the natural steroidal starting materials usually have a 10β-methyl group which is difficult to be inverted to 10α-methyl group. In this study, 3-((1,3a,4,7a)-1-(()-1-hydroxypropan-2-yl)-7a-methyl-5-oxooctahydro-1-inden-4-yl) propanoic acid (HIP-IPA, ) was demonstrated as a valuable intermediate for the synthesis of this kind of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) with a side chain at C17-position. Knockout of a β-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase gene and introduction of a sterol aldolase gene into the genetically modified strains of (ATCC 6841) resulted in strains N13ΔΩ and N33ΔΩ, respectively. Both strains transformed phytosterols into . Compound was produced in 62% isolated yield (25 g) using strain N13ΔΩ, and further converted to (3S,3aS,9aS,9bS)-3-acetyl-3a,6-dimethyl-1,2,3,3a,4,5,8,9,9a,9b-decahydro-7H-cyclopenta[a]naphthalen-7-one, which is the key intermediate for the synthesis of dydrogesterone. This study not only overcomes a challenging synthetic problem by enabling an efficient synthesis of dydrogesterone-like steroidal APIs from phytosterols, the well-recognized cheap and readily available biobased raw materials, but also provides insights for redesigning the metabolic pathway of phytosterols to produce other new compounds of relevance to the steroidal pharmaceutical industry.
PubMed: 38665665
DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.3c00688 -
Animal Bioscience Apr 2024Previous research reported that dietary addition with phytosterols improved the energy utilisation of the rumen microbiome, suggesting its potential to alleviate the...
OBJECTIVE
Previous research reported that dietary addition with phytosterols improved the energy utilisation of the rumen microbiome, suggesting its potential to alleviate the negative energy balance of perinatal cows. This experiment aimed to explore the effects of feeding phytosterols on the metabolic status of perinatal cows through plasma metabolomics and faecal bacteria metabolism.
METHODS
Ten perinatal Holstein cows (multiparous, 2 parities) with a similar calving date were selected four weeks before calving. After 7 days for adaptation, cows were allocated to two groups (n=5), which respectively received the basal rations supplementing commercial phytosterols at 0 and 200 mg/d during a 42-day experiment. The milk yield of each cow was recorded daily after calving. On days 1 and 42, blood and faeces samples were all collected from perinatal cows before morning feeding for analysing plasma biochemicals and metabolome, and faecal bacteria metabolism.
RESULTS
Dietary addition with phytosterols at 200 mg/d had no effects on plasma cholesterol and numerically increased milk yield by 1.82 kg/d (p>0.10) but attenuated their negative energy balance in perinatal cows as observed from the significantly decreased plasma level of β-hydroxybutyric acid (p=0.002). Dietary addition with phytosterols significantly altered 12 and 15 metabolites (p<0.05) within the plasma and faeces of perinatal cows, respectively. Of these metabolites, 5 upregulated plasma fatty acids indicated an improved energy status (i.e., C18:1T, C14:0, C17:0, C18:0, and C16:0). Milk yield negatively correlated with plasma concentrations of ketone bodies (p=0.035) and 5-methoxytryptamine (p=0.039). Furthermore, dietary addition with phytosterols at 200 mg/d had no effects on fermentation characteristics and bacterial diversity of cow faeces (p>0.10) but improved potentially beneficial bacteria such as Christensenellaceae family (p<0.05) that positively correlated with feed efficiency.
CONCLUSION
Dietary addition with phytosterols at 200 mg/d could effectively improve the energy status in perinatal cows by attenuating their negative energy balance.
PubMed: 38665074
DOI: 10.5713/ab.23.0422 -
Scientifica 2024, a widely utilized medicinal plant in various African ethnic communities, continues to hold significant importance in traditional healing practices. Research has... (Review)
Review
, a widely utilized medicinal plant in various African ethnic communities, continues to hold significant importance in traditional healing practices. Research has identified phytochemical compounds in this plant, exhibiting diverse pharmacological activities that offer potential for pharmaceutical development. Notably, is employed in treating various ailments such as wounds, diabetes mellitus, malaria, benign prostatic hyperplasia, chest pain, and prostate cancer. Its pharmacological properties are attributed to a spectrum of bioactive compounds, including tannins, saponins, alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, phytosterols, and fatty acids. Multiple studies have documented the anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiandrogenic, antiangiogenic, antioxidant, antidipeptidyl peptidase-4 activity, analgesic, and astringent properties of extracts. This review offers a comprehensive compilation of ethnomedicinal applications, phytochemical composition, pharmacological effects, and toxicity assessments of , serving as a foundation for future preclinical and clinical investigations. By understanding its traditional uses and chemical constituents, researchers can target specific medical conditions with greater precision, potentially expediting the development of safe and effective pharmaceuticals. Moreover, toxicity assessments provide crucial insights into the safety profile of extracts, ensuring the development of safe pharmaceuticals to treat various diseases.
PubMed: 38654751
DOI: 10.1155/2024/8862996 -
Heliyon Apr 2024Groff, commonly referred to as the Wood apple, is a tropical fruit belonging to Rutaceae family. Indigenous to Sri Lanka, India, and Myanmar, it is extensively... (Review)
Review
Groff, commonly referred to as the Wood apple, is a tropical fruit belonging to Rutaceae family. Indigenous to Sri Lanka, India, and Myanmar, it is extensively cultivated throughout Southeast Asia. This fruit holds a profound historical significance in traditional medicine due to its exceptional nutritional and therapeutic attributes. Wood apple pulp is significantly abundant in β-carotene, a precursor to vitamin A, and contains a substantial amount of vitamin B, including riboflavin and thiamine, as well as trace amounts of ascorbic acid (vitamin C). Moreover health-benefitting properties associated with , such as, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, antimicrobial, neuroprotective, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-spermatogenic, analgesic, antiulcer, and antihyperlipidemic properties, are attributed to a diverse range of phytochemicals. These encompass polyphenolic compounds, saponins, phytosterols, tannins, triterpenoids, coumarins, amino acids, tyramine derivatives, and vitamins. From the findings of the various studies, it was observed that wood apple fruit shows significant anticancer activity by inhibiting the proliferation of cancer. Furthermore, wood apple finds wide-ranging commercial applications in the formulation of ready-to-serve beverages, syrups, jellies, chutneys, and various other food products. In summary, this review highlights the nutritional and phytochemical constituents of wood apple, depicts its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-diabetic capabilities, and explores its potential in value-added product development. Nevertheless, it is crucial to acknowledge that the molecular mechanisms supporting these properties remain an underexplored domain. To ensure the safe integration of wood apple fruit into the realms of the food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical sectors, rigorous clinical trials, including toxicity assessments, are required. These endeavors hold the potential to promote innovation and contribute significantly to both research and industrial sectors.
PubMed: 38623209
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e29202 -
The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and... Jul 2024Phytosterols are lipophilic compounds found in plants with structural similarity to mammalian cholesterol. They cannot be endogenously produced by mammals and therefore...
Phytosterols are lipophilic compounds found in plants with structural similarity to mammalian cholesterol. They cannot be endogenously produced by mammals and therefore always originate from diet. There has been increased interest in dietary phytosterols over the last few decades due to their association with a variety of beneficial health effects including low-density lipoprotein cholesterol lowering, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancerous effects. They are proposed as potential moderators for diseases associated with the central nervous system where cholesterol homeostasis is found to be imperative (multiple sclerosis, dementia, etc.) due to their ability to reach the brain. Here we utilised an enzyme-assisted derivatisation for sterol analysis (EADSA) in combination with a liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS) to characterise phytosterol content in human serum. As little as 100 fg of plant sterol was injected on a reversed phase LC column. The method allows semi-quantitative measurements of phytosterols and their derivatives simultaneously with measurement of cholesterol metabolites. The identification of phytosterols in human serum was based on comparison of their LC retention times and MS, MS spectra with a library of authentic standards. Free campesterol serum concentration was in the range from 0.30-4.10 µg/mL, β-sitosterol 0.16-3.37 µg/mL and fucosterol was at lowest concentration range from 0.05-0.38 µg/mL in ten individuals. This analytical methodology could be applied to the analysis of other biological fluids and tissues.
Topics: Humans; Phytosterols; Tandem Mass Spectrometry; Chromatography, Liquid; Cholesterol
PubMed: 38614432
DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2024.106519 -
Nutrients Apr 2024The main objective of this study was to determine plasma levels of PS and to study SNVs rs41360247, rs4245791, rs4148217, and rs11887534 of and the r657152 SNV at the...
The main objective of this study was to determine plasma levels of PS and to study SNVs rs41360247, rs4245791, rs4148217, and rs11887534 of and the r657152 SNV at the ABO blood group locus in a sample of a population treated at our hospital, and to determine whether these SNVs are related to plasma PS concentrations. The secondary objective was to establish the variables associated with plasma PS concentrations in adults. Participants completed a dietary habit questionnaire and a blood sample was collected to obtain the following variables: campesterol, sitosterol, sitostanol, lanosterol, stigmasterol, biochemical parameters, and the SNVs. In addition, biometric and demographic variables were also recorded. In the generalized linear model, cholesterol and age were positively associated with total PS levels, while BMI was negatively related. For rs4245791, homozygous T allele individuals showed a significantly lower campesterol concentration compared with C homozygotes, and the GG alleles of rs657152 had the lowest levels of campesterol compared with the other alleles of the SNV. Conclusions: The screening of certain SNVs could help prevent the increase in plasma PS and maybe PNALD in some patients. However, further studies on the determinants of plasma phytosterol concentrations are needed.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Phytosterols; Lanosterol; Stigmasterol; ABO Blood-Group System; Alleles
PubMed: 38613098
DOI: 10.3390/nu16071067