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Bioactive Natural Molecules from Functional Foods
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Bioactive Natural Molecules from Functional Foods

A topical collection in Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This collection belongs to the section "Food Chemistry".

Viewed by 12788

Editors

Prof. Dr. Eun Kyoung Seo

E-Mail Website
Collection Editor
College of Pharmacy, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea
Interests: natural products; isolation and structure determination of natural compounds; standardization of traditional medine; analysis of compounds; pharmacognosy; traditional medicine; dietary supplement; food ingredients
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Joo-Won Nam

E-Mail Website
Collection Editor
Associate Professor, College of Pharmacy, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan 38541, Republic of Korea
Interests: isolation and structure determination of natural compounds; standardization of natural products

Topical Collection Information

Dear Colleagues,

Medicinal plants have been used to treat various diseases for a long time, not only as a traditional medicine but also as functional foods. Today, functional foods from natural resources are attracting people commercially and for disease treatment together with medicine. Thus, research on bioactive constituents of functional foods is highly important. Isolation and structure determination work of bioactive molecules will provide strong scientific evidence for those functional foods as well as traditional medicine. As functional food markets continue to expand worldwide, their study is becoming increasingly important.

In the present collection, bioactive natural molecules from functional foods are the main topics which will include the following.

  1. Isolation and structure identifications of compounds from functional foods or traditional medicine;
  2. Bioactivity study with natural molecules from functional foods or traditional medicine;
  3. Analysis of bioactive compound(s) from functional foods or traditional medicines using QNMR or MS-MS study including metabolomic study with strong scientific evidence;
  4. Standardization method development of functional foods or traditional medicines.

Prof. Dr. Eun Kyoung Seo
Dr. Joo-Won Nam
Collection Editors

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Keywords

  • bioactivity
  • natural product
  • molecule
  • functional food
  • traditional medicine
  • isolation
  • structure
  • medicinal plant
  • standardization

Published Papers (6 papers)

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2023

Jump to: 2022

9 pages, 1518 KiB  
Article
Tsaokoic Acid: A New Bicyclic Nonene from the Fruits of Amomum tsao-ko with Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitory Activity
by Hyunyoung Kim, Hwaryeong Lee, Hee Jin Jung, Sang Gyun Noh, Isoo Youn, Hyunkyung Kwak, Yeju Lee, Sang-Jip Nam, Soosung Kang, Hae Young Chung and Eun Kyoung Seo
Molecules 2023, 28(6), 2602; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28062602 - 13 Mar 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1208
Abstract
A new bicyclic nonene, tsaokoic acid (1), was isolated from the fruits of Amomum tsao-ko, together with three known compounds (2–4). The structure of 1 was elucidated by analyzing spectroscopic data including 1D and 2D NMR [...] Read more.
A new bicyclic nonene, tsaokoic acid (1), was isolated from the fruits of Amomum tsao-ko, together with three known compounds (2–4). The structure of 1 was elucidated by analyzing spectroscopic data including 1D and 2D NMR spectra and compounds 2–4 were identified as tsaokoin, vanillin, and tsaokoarylone, respectively, by comparing their NMR spectra with previously reported data. Compounds 1–4 showed possible inhibitory activity against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in silico molecular docking simulations. They were submitted to in vitro assay system and exhibited moderate inhibitory activity with IC50 values of 32.78, 41.70, 39.25, and 31.13 μM, respectively. Full article
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11 pages, 2090 KiB  
Article
Anti-Amyloidogenic Effects of Metasequoia glyptostroboides Fruits and Its Active Constituents
by Ji-Yun Yeo, Seul Lee, Min Sung Ko, Chung Hyun Lee, Jee Yeon Choi, Kwang Woo Hwang and So-Young Park
Molecules 2023, 28(3), 1017; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28031017 - 19 Jan 2023
Viewed by 1423
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a serious neurodegenerative brain disease that interferes with daily life. The accumulation of beta-amyloid (Aβ), along with oxidative stress-inducing neurocellular apoptosis, has been considered one of the causes of AD. Thus, the purpose of this study is to find [...] Read more.
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a serious neurodegenerative brain disease that interferes with daily life. The accumulation of beta-amyloid (Aβ), along with oxidative stress-inducing neurocellular apoptosis, has been considered one of the causes of AD. Thus, the purpose of this study is to find natural products that can reduce Aβ accumulation. The ethanol extract of Metasequoia glyptostroboides Hu & Cheng fruits (Cupressaceae) significantly reduced the aggregation of Aβ into oligomers and fibrils determined by Thioflavin T (ThT) assay. The solvent-partitioned ethyl acetate layer was further separated based on the bioassay-guided isolation method combined with the ThT assay. As a result, five compounds were isolated and elucidated as taxoquinone (1), sugiol (2), suginal (3), sandaracopimarinol (4), and sandaracopimaradien-19-ol (5) by comparing NMR data with references. All the compounds significantly reduced the aggregation of Aβ and enhanced the disaggregation of pre-formed Aβ aggregates in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, the inhibition of Aβ aggregation by the compounds protected PC12 cells from Aβ aggregate-induced toxicity. Among the five compounds, sandaracopimarinol (4) and sandaracopimaradien-19-ol (5) were the most effective. These results suggest that M. glyptostroboides and isolated five compounds have a potential for further study to be developed as anti-AD agents. Full article
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2022

Jump to: 2023

18 pages, 1850 KiB  
Review
Potential Benefits of Black Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) Fruits and Their Constituents in Improving Human Health
by Yulin Ren, Tyler Frank, Gunnar Meyer, Jizhou Lei, Jessica R. Grebenc, Ryan Slaughter, Yu G. Gao and A. Douglas Kinghorn
Molecules 2022, 27(22), 7823; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27227823 - 13 Nov 2022
Cited by 22 | Viewed by 4853
Abstract
Aronia berry (black chokeberry) is a shrub native to North America, of which the fresh fruits are used in the food industry to produce different types of dietary products. The fruits of Aronia melanocarpa (Aronia berries) have been found to show multiple bioactivities [...] Read more.
Aronia berry (black chokeberry) is a shrub native to North America, of which the fresh fruits are used in the food industry to produce different types of dietary products. The fruits of Aronia melanocarpa (Aronia berries) have been found to show multiple bioactivities potentially beneficial to human health, including antidiabetic, anti-infective, antineoplastic, antiobesity, and antioxidant activities, as well as heart-, liver-, and neuroprotective effects. Thus far, phenolic compounds, such as anthocyanins, cyanidins, phenolic acids, proanthocyanidins, triterpenoids, and their analogues have been identified as the major active components of Aronia berries. These natural products possess potent antioxidant activity, which contributes to the majority of the other bioactivities observed for Aronia berries. The chemical components and the potential pharmaceutical or health-promoting effects of Aronia berries have been summarized previously. The present review article focuses on the molecular targets of extracts of Aronia berries and the examples of promising lead compounds isolated from these berries, including cyanidin-3-O-galactoside, chlorogenic acid, quercetin, and ursolic acid. In addition, presented herein are clinical trial investigations for Aronia berries and their major components, including cancer clinical trials for chlorogenic acid and COVID-19 trial studies for quercetin. Additionally, the possible development of Aronia berries and their secondary metabolites as potential therapeutic agents is discussed. It is hoped that this contribution will help stimulate future investigations on Aronia berries for the continual improvement of human health. Full article
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18 pages, 2363 KiB  
Article
Comparative Analysis of Coumarin Profiles in Different Parts of Peucedanum japonicum and Their Aldo–Keto Reductase Inhibitory Activities
by Jisu Park, Sunil Babu Paudel, Chang Hyun Jin, Gileung Lee, Hong-Il Choi, Ga-Hee Ryoo, Yun-Seo Kil, Joo-Won Nam, Chan-Hun Jung, Bo-Ram Kim, Min Kyun Na and Ah-Reum Han
Molecules 2022, 27(21), 7391; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27217391 - 31 Oct 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1521
Abstract
Peucedanum japonicum (Umbelliferae) is widely distributed throughout Southeast Asian countries. The root of this plant is used in traditional medicine to treat colds and pain, whereas the young leaves are considered an edible vegetable. In this study, the differences in coumarin profiles for [...] Read more.
Peucedanum japonicum (Umbelliferae) is widely distributed throughout Southeast Asian countries. The root of this plant is used in traditional medicine to treat colds and pain, whereas the young leaves are considered an edible vegetable. In this study, the differences in coumarin profiles for different parts of P. japonicum including the flowers, roots, leaves, and stems were compared using ultra-performance liquid chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Twenty-eight compounds were tentatively identified, including three compounds found in the genus Peucedanum for the first time. Principal component analysis using the data set of the measured mass values and intensities of the compounds exhibited distinct clustering of the flower, leaf, stem, and root samples. In addition, their anticancer activities were screened using an Aldo–keto reductase (AKR)1C1 assay on A549 human non-small-cell lung cancer cells and the flower extract inhibited AKR1C1 activity. Based on these results, seven compounds were selected as potential markers to distinguish between the flower part versus the root, stem, and leaf parts using an orthogonal partial least-squares discriminant analysis. This study is the first to provide information on the comparison of coumarin profiles from different parts of P. japonicum as well as their AKR1C1 inhibitory activities. Taken together, the flowers of P. japonicum offer a new use related to the efficacy of overcoming anticancer drug resistance, and may be a promising source for the isolation of active lead compounds. Full article
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13 pages, 2556 KiB  
Article
Cytotoxic Properties of C17 Polyacetylenes from the Fresh Roots of Panax ginseng on Human Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Cells
by Ranhee Kim, So-Ri Son, Na-Kyung Lee, Ji-Young Kim, Gami An, Jung-Hye Choi and Dae Sik Jang
Molecules 2022, 27(20), 7027; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27207027 - 18 Oct 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1615
Abstract
Although C17 polyacetylenes from Panax ginseng exhibit cytotoxic properties against various tumor cells, there have been few experiments on epithelial ovarian carcinoma cells. This study aimed to investigate the cytotoxic effects of C17 polyacetylenes from P. ginseng against ovarian cancer cell [...] Read more.
Although C17 polyacetylenes from Panax ginseng exhibit cytotoxic properties against various tumor cells, there have been few experiments on epithelial ovarian carcinoma cells. This study aimed to investigate the cytotoxic effects of C17 polyacetylenes from P. ginseng against ovarian cancer cell lines. Four unreported (1–4) and fifteen known (5–19) C17 polyacetylenes were obtained from the roots of P. ginseng using repeated chromatography (open column, MPLC, and preparative HPLC). The chemical structures of all the compounds were determined by analyzing their spectroscopic data (NMR, IR, and optical rotation) and HR-MS. The structures of new polyacetylenes were elucidated as (3S,8S,9R,10R)-(-)-heptadeca-9,10-epoxy-4,6-diyne-3,8-diyl diacetate (1), (3S,8S,9R,10R)-(−)-heptadeca-1-en-9,10-epoxy-4,6-diyne-3,8-diyl diacetate (2), (−)-haptadeca-9,10-epoxy-8-methoxy-4,6-diyne-3,11-diol (3), and (3R,9R,10R)-(+)-3-acetoxy-9,10-dihydroxyheptadeca-1-en-4,6-diyne (4), named ginsenoynes O, P, and Q, and 3-acetyl panaxytriol, respectively. Subsequently, in vitro experiments on A2780 and SKOV3 human epithelial ovarian carcinoma cells were performed to assess the cytotoxic properties of the isolates. Among the isolates, panaquinquecol 4 (15) exhibited the most remarkable cytotoxic effects on both human ovarian cancer cells A2780 (IC50 value of 7.60 μM) and SKOV3 (IC50 value of 27.53 μM). Therefore, C17 polyacetylenes derived from P. ginseng may warrant further investigation for their therapeutic potential in epithelial ovarian cancer. Full article
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12 pages, 1843 KiB  
Article
Variation in the Content of Bioactive Compounds in Infusions Prepared from Different Parts of Wild Polish Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica L.)
by Magdalena Jeszka-Skowron, Agnieszka Zgoła-Grześkowiak, Robert Frankowski, Tomasz Grześkowiak and Anna Maria Jeszka
Molecules 2022, 27(13), 4242; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27134242 - 30 Jun 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1510
Abstract
Nettle is a common plant that offers many health benefits and is grown all over the world. The content of active compounds in roots, stems, and leaves was determined based on the extraction procedure optimized using the Central Composite Design. Flavonols, phenolic acids, [...] Read more.
Nettle is a common plant that offers many health benefits and is grown all over the world. The content of active compounds in roots, stems, and leaves was determined based on the extraction procedure optimized using the Central Composite Design. Flavonols, phenolic acids, trigonelline, nicotinamide, nicotinic acids, and short-chain organic acids were determined with the use of LC–MS/MS and capillary isotachophoresis. Trigonelline, which was not previously reported in the roots and stems of nettle, was found in all parts of the plant and considerable variations in its content were observed (2.8–108 µg g−1). Furthermore, the Principal Component Analysis taking into account more variables demonstrated differences in the content of bioactive components between roots and aerial parts of nettle. Full article
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