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17 pages, 3958 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Effect of γ-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) on the Metabolome of Two Strains of Lasiodiplodia theobromae Isolated from Grapevine

by Maria Michela Salvatore, Carina Félix, Fernanda Lima, Vanessa Ferreira, Ana Sofia Duarte, Francesco Salvatore, Artur Alves, Ana Cristina Esteves and Anna Andolfi

Molecules 2020, 25(17), 3833; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25173833 - 23 Aug 2020

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2635

Abstract

The effect of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) on the metabolome of two strains of Lasiodiplodia theobromae isolated from grapevine that hold a different degree of virulence to the host plant (LA-SOL3 (more virulent), LA-SV1 (less virulent)) was investigated. The culture filtrates and crude extracts [...] Read more.

The effect of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) on the metabolome of two strains of Lasiodiplodia theobromae isolated from grapevine that hold a different degree of virulence to the host plant (LA-SOL3 (more virulent), LA-SV1 (less virulent)) was investigated. The culture filtrates and crude extracts from the two strains grown in the presence and absence of 10 mM of GABA were tested for phytotoxicity on tomato plant cuttings and leaves, respectively. Considering the opportunistic nature of this fungus for humans, crude extracts were also tested for cytotoxicity on mammalian cell lines. We found that culture filtrates and crude extracts have a decreased toxicity in the presence of GABA. Metabolomic analysis, conducted on both strains at both growth conditions, revealed the production of several compounds, such as indole-3-carboxylic acid (ICA, which is the main compound produced by L. theobromae), 3-indolecarboxyaldehyde, (3R,4S)-botryodiplodin, (R)-mellein. Finally, data demonstrate that GABA both induces a decrease in the amount of ICA, and a diversification of the metabolites produced by L. theobromae. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Secondary Metabolites)

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15 pages, 2520 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Enhancement of β-Mannanase Production by Bacillus subtilis ATCC11774 through Optimization of Medium Composition

by Nor Amalina Binti Mahamad Norizan, Murni Halim, Joo Shun Tan, Sahar Abbasiliasi, Miskandar Mat Sahri, Firdaus Othman and Arbakariya Bin Ariff

Molecules 2020, 25(15), 3516; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25153516 - 31 Jul 2020

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3388

Abstract

Palm kernel cake (PKC) has been largely produced in Malaysia as one of the cheap and abundant agro-waste by-products from the palm oil industry and it contains high fiber (mannan) content. The present study aimed to produce β-mannanase by Bacillus subtilis ATCC11774 [...] Read more.

Palm kernel cake (PKC) has been largely produced in Malaysia as one of the cheap and abundant agro-waste by-products from the palm oil industry and it contains high fiber (mannan) content. The present study aimed to produce β-mannanase by Bacillus subtilis ATCC11774 via optimization of the medium composition using palm kernel cake as substrate in semi-solid fermentation. The fermentation nutrients such as PKC, peptone, yeast extract, sodium chloride, magnesium sulphate (MgSO₂), initial culture pH and temperature were screened using a Plackett-Burman design. The three most significant factors identified, PKC, peptone and NaCl, were further optimized using central composite design (CCD), a response surface methodology (RSM) approach, where yeast extract and MgSO₂ were fixed as a constant factor. The maximum β-mannanase activity predicted by CCD under the optimum medium composition of 16.50 g/L PKC, 19.59 g/L peptone, 3.00 g/L yeast extract, 2.72 g/L NaCl and 0.2 g/L MgSO₂ was 799 U/mL. The validated β-mannanase activity was 805.12 U/mL, which was close to the predicted β-mannanas activity. As a comparison, commercial media such as nutrient broth, M9 and Luria bertani were used for the production of β-mannanase with activities achieved at 204.16 ± 9.21 U/mL, 50.32 U/mL and 88.90 U/mL, respectively. The optimized PKC fermentation medium was four times higher than nutrient broth. Hence, it could be a potential fermentation substrate for the production of β-mannanase activity by Bacillus subtilis ATCC11774. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Secondary Metabolites)

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10 pages, 749 KiB

Open AccessArticle

New Compounds from the Roots of Corsican Calicotome Villosa (Poir.) Link.: Two Pterocarpans and a Dihydrobenzofuran

by Doreen Stacy Palu, Mathieu Paoli, Hervé Casabianca, Joseph Casanova and Ange Bighelli

Molecules 2020, 25(15), 3467; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25153467 - 30 Jul 2020

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2394

Abstract

Three new compounds, a dihydrobenzofuran (coumaran) derivative (compound 1) and two pterocarpans (compounds 2 and 3) were isolated from a root extract of Calicotome villosa growing wild in Corsica. Their structures were elucidated using 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy and MS/MS [...] Read more.

Three new compounds, a dihydrobenzofuran (coumaran) derivative (compound 1) and two pterocarpans (compounds 2 and 3) were isolated from a root extract of Calicotome villosa growing wild in Corsica. Their structures were elucidated using 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy and MS/MS as 2-(1-methylethenyl)-5-hydroxy-6-carbomethoxy-2,3-dihydro-benzofuran, 4,9-dihydroxy-3-methoxy-2-dimethylallylpterocarpan, and 4,9-dihydroxy-3′,3′-dimethyl-2,3-pyranopterocarpan. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Secondary Metabolites)

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15 pages, 3832 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Fast and Reliable UHPLC–MS/MS-Based Method for Screening Selected Pharmacologically Significant Natural Plant Indole Alkaloids

by Danuše Tarkowská

Molecules 2020, 25(14), 3274; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25143274 - 18 Jul 2020

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4205

Abstract

Many substances of secondary plant metabolism have often attracted the attention of scientists and the public because they have certain beneficial effects on human health, although the reason for their biosynthesis in the plant remains unclear. This is also the case for alkaloids. [...] Read more.

Many substances of secondary plant metabolism have often attracted the attention of scientists and the public because they have certain beneficial effects on human health, although the reason for their biosynthesis in the plant remains unclear. This is also the case for alkaloids. More than 200 years have passed since the discovery of the first alkaloid (morphine), and several thousand substances of this character have been isolated since then. Most often, alkaloid-rich plants are part of folk medicine with centuries-old traditions. What is particularly important to monitor for these herbal products is the spectrum and concentrations of the present active substances, which decide whether the product has a beneficial or toxic effect on human health. In this work, we present a fast, reliable, and robust method for the extraction, preconcentration, and determination of four selected alkaloids with an indole skeleton, i.e., harmine, harmaline, yohimbine, and ajmalicine, by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. The applicability of the method was demonstrated for tobacco and Tribulus terrestris plant tissue, the seeds of Peganum harmala, and extract from the bark of the African tree Pausinystalia johimbe. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Secondary Metabolites)

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18 pages, 6290 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ginkgo biloba Extract Protects against Methotrexate-Induced Hepatotoxicity: A Computational and Pharmacological Approach

by Lina Tariq Al Kury, Fazli Dayyan, Fawad Ali Shah, Zulkifal Malik, Atif Ali Khan Khalil, Abdullah Alattar, Reem Alshaman, Amjad Ali and Zahid Khan

Molecules 2020, 25(11), 2540; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25112540 - 29 May 2020

Cited by 28 | Viewed by 4601

Abstract

Ginkgo biloba extract possess several promising biological activities; currently, it is clinically employed in the management of several diseases. This research work aimed to extrapolate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of Ginkgo biloba (Gb) in methotrexate (MTX)-induced liver toxicity model. These effects were [...] Read more.

Ginkgo biloba extract possess several promising biological activities; currently, it is clinically employed in the management of several diseases. This research work aimed to extrapolate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of Ginkgo biloba (Gb) in methotrexate (MTX)-induced liver toxicity model. These effects were analyzed using different in vivo experimental approaches and by bioinformatics analysis. Male SD rats were grouped as follows: saline; MTX; Gb (pretreated for seven days with 60, 120, and 180 mg/kg daily dose before MTX treatment); silymarin (followed by MTX treatment); Gb 180 mg/kg daily only; and silymarin only. Histopathological results revealed that MTX induced marked hepatic injury, associated with a substantial surge in various hepatic enzymes such as alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), and serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP). Furthermore, MTX caused the triggering of oxidative distress associated with a depressed antioxidant system. All these injury markers contributed to a significant release of apoptotic (caspase-3 and c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK)) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α)-like inflammatory mediators. Treatment with Gb counteracts MTX-mediated apoptosis and inflammation dose-dependently along with modulating the innate antioxidative mechanisms such as glutathione (GSH) and glutathione S-transferase (GST). These results were further supplemented by in silico study to analyze drug-receptor interactions (for several Gb constituents and target proteins) stabilized by a low energy value and with a good number of hydrogen bonds. These findings demonstrated that Gb could ameliorate MTX-induced elevated liver reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inflammation, possibly by JNK and TNF-α modulation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Secondary Metabolites)

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11 pages, 1094 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Cornus macrophylla, the Antibacterial Activity of Organic Leaf Extracts and the Characterization of the More Lipophilic Components by GC/MS

by Muhammad Akbar, Usman Ali, Tayyaba Khalil, Muhammad Sajjad Iqbal, Awais Amin, Rehan Naeem, Abdul Nazir, Hafiz Muhammad Waqas, Zohaib Aslam, Faisal Iqbal Jafri, Nazir Aslam and Safeer Akbar Chohan

Molecules 2020, 25(10), 2395; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25102395 - 21 May 2020

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3015

Abstract

In the present study, the antibacterial activity of Cornus macrophylla was examined. Organic solvent extracts of leaves were prepared using methanol, n-hexane, chloroform, and ethyl acetate. Antibacterial activity was examined by using a 100 mg/mL extract concentration. Penicillin was kept as a [...] Read more.

In the present study, the antibacterial activity of Cornus macrophylla was examined. Organic solvent extracts of leaves were prepared using methanol, n-hexane, chloroform, and ethyl acetate. Antibacterial activity was examined by using a 100 mg/mL extract concentration. Penicillin was kept as a positive control while dimethyl sulfoxide was taken as a negative control. Methanolic extract exhibited a 21.5, 36.3, 25.3, and 23.7 mm inhibition zone diameter (IZD); n-hexane showed a 33, 40, 32.8, and 28.7 mm IZD; chloroform showed a 18.8, 29, 22.3, and 21.6 mm IZD; and ethyl acetate showed a 23.5, 30.2, 30, and 22.3 mm IZD against Erwinia carotovora, Pseudomonas syringae, Ralstonia solanacearum, and Xanthomonas axonopodis, respectively. The n-hexane extract revealed high antibacterial activity against all bacterial species as compared with methanolic, chloroform, and ethyl acetate extract. Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis of n-hexane extract depicted the presence of 55 compounds. Out of these compounds, one compound, identified as α-amyrin (Mol. wt = 426), exhibited the maximum peak area (32.64%), followed by A’-Neogammacer-22(29)-en-3-ol, acetate, (3.beta.,21.beta.)- (Mol. wt = 468) and β-amyrin (Mol. wt = 426) having peak areas of 25.97 and 6.77%, respectively. It was concluded that the antibacterial activity observed during the present investigation may be due to these compounds. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Secondary Metabolites)

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15 pages, 15464 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Bivalent Metal-Chelating Properties of Harzianic Acid Produced by Trichoderma pleuroticola Associated to the Gastropod Melarhaphe neritoides

by Gaetano De Tommaso, Maria Michela Salvatore, Rosario Nicoletti, Marina DellaGreca, Francesco Vinale, Assunta Bottiglieri, Alessia Staropoli, Francesco Salvatore, Matteo Lorito, Mauro Iuliano and Anna Andolfi

Molecules 2020, 25(9), 2147; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25092147 - 04 May 2020

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2797

Abstract

Harzianic acid is a secondary metabolite of Trichoderma, structurally belonging to the dienyltetramic acid subgroup of the tetramic acids. Biological activities of harzianic acid are of great interest for its antimicrobial and plant growth-promoting activities, which might be related to its chelating [...] Read more.

Harzianic acid is a secondary metabolite of Trichoderma, structurally belonging to the dienyltetramic acid subgroup of the tetramic acids. Biological activities of harzianic acid are of great interest for its antimicrobial and plant growth-promoting activities, which might be related to its chelating properties. In the present work harzianic acid, isolated from cultures of a strain of Trichoderma pleuroticola associated to the gastropod Melarhaphe neritoides, was studied as a complexant agent of a number of biologically relevant transition metals (i.e., Zn²⁺, Fe²⁺, Cu²⁺, and Mn²⁺), using UV-VIS, potentiometry, MS and NMR techniques. Our findings show the coordination capacity of harzianic acid toward the above cations through the formation of neutral or charged complexes in a variable ratio depending on the metal and pH conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Secondary Metabolites)

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11 pages, 899 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Phenolic Compounds of Soybean Seeds from Two European Countries and Their Antioxidant Properties

by Angelika Król-Grzymała and Ryszard Amarowicz

Molecules 2020, 25(9), 2075; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25092075 - 29 Apr 2020

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 3107

Abstract

There is only a small acreage of planted soybeans in northern Europe, as the global production of this crop is mainly dictated by the warmer temperatures needed for bountiful yields. The defense response of soybean plants to a cold climate entails the secretion [...] Read more.

There is only a small acreage of planted soybeans in northern Europe, as the global production of this crop is mainly dictated by the warmer temperatures needed for bountiful yields. The defense response of soybean plants to a cold climate entails the secretion of specific compounds which help mitigate oxidative stress, i.e., antioxidants, including phenolic compounds. The objective of this study was to examine differences in the concentrations of phenolic compounds, their antioxidant properties, and the concentration of key isoflavones (namely genistein, daidzein, malonyl daidzein, malonyl genistein, and daidzin) in the seeds of six soybean cultivars from two different regions of Europe, namely Poland and France. The total phenolic contents, isoflavone levels, and in vitro antioxidant capacities of soybean seeds from most of the investigated cultivars of northeast Europe were found to be greater than those from southwest Europe. The phenolic compounds of seed extracts are primarily responsible for the free-radical scavenging of soybeans. Factors regulating the production of phenolic compounds in the seeds have not been thoroughly elucidated. Hence, the results presented in this paper can be useful in the selection of soybean cultivars with higher levels of seed phenolics, because of their beneficial impact on human health and on the soybean’s defense mechanism against plant stresses. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Secondary Metabolites)

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11 pages, 6492 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Gentiana lutea Extract Modulates Ceramide Synthesis in Primary and Psoriasis-Like Keratinocytes

by Fabian Gendrisch, Anna Nováčková, Michaela Sochorová, Birgit Haarhaus, Kateřina Vávrová, Christoph M. Schempp and Ute Wölfle

Molecules 2020, 25(8), 1832; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25081832 - 16 Apr 2020

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4131

Abstract

Gentiana lutea is a bitter herb that is traditionally used to improve gastric disorders. Recently, we have shown that Gentiana lutea extract (GE) also modulates the lipid metabolism of human keratinocytes in vitro and in vivo. In the present study, we investigated the [...] Read more.

Gentiana lutea is a bitter herb that is traditionally used to improve gastric disorders. Recently, we have shown that Gentiana lutea extract (GE) also modulates the lipid metabolism of human keratinocytes in vitro and in vivo. In the present study, we investigated the role of GE on ceramide synthesis in human primary keratinocytes (HPKs) and psoriasis-like keratinocytes. We could demonstrate that GE increased the concentrations of glucosylceramides and the ceramide AS/AdS subclass without affecting the overall ceramide content in HPKs. The expression of ceramide synthase 3 (CERS3) and elongases (ELOVL1 and 4) was reduced in psoriasis lesions compared to healthy skin. Psoriasis-like HPKs, generated by stimulating HPKs with cytokines that are involved in the pathogenesis of psoriasis (IL-17, TNF-α, IL-22 and IFN-γ) showed increased levels of IL-6, IL-8 and increased expression of DEFB4A, as well as decreased expression of ELOVL4. The treatment with GE partly rescued the reduced expression of ELOVL4 in psoriasis-like HPKs and augmented CERS3 expression. This study has shown that GE modulates ceramide synthesis in keratinocytes. Therefore, GE might be a novel topical treatment for skin diseases with an altered lipid composition such as psoriasis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Secondary Metabolites)

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13 pages, 1708 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Hepatoprotective Effects of Standardized Extracts from an Ancient Italian Apple Variety (Mela Rosa dei Monti Sibillini) against Carbon Tetrachloride (CCl₄)-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Rats

by Hasan Yousefi-Manesh, Ahmad Reza Dehpour, Sedighe Ansari-Nasab, Sara Hemmati, Mohammad Amin Sadeghi, Reza Hashemi Shahraki, Samira Shirooie, Seyed Mohammad Nabavi, Joice G. Nkuimi Wandjou, Stefania Sut, Giovanni Caprioli, Stefano Dall’Acqua and Filippo Maggi

Molecules 2020, 25(8), 1816; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25081816 - 15 Apr 2020

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 2698

Abstract

The aim of this research was to examine the effect of the hydroalcoholic extracts from the peel (APE) and pulp (APP) of a traditional apple cultivar from central Italy (Mela Rosa dei Monti Sibillini) on CCl₄-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Phytoconstituents were [...] Read more.

The aim of this research was to examine the effect of the hydroalcoholic extracts from the peel (APE) and pulp (APP) of a traditional apple cultivar from central Italy (Mela Rosa dei Monti Sibillini) on CCl₄-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Phytoconstituents were determined by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis showing an abundance of proanthocyanidins and flavonol derivatives together with the presence of annurcoic acid in APE. Wistar rats received APE/APP (30 mg/kg oral administration) for three days before CCl₄ injection (2 mL/kg intraperitoneal once on the third day). Treatment with both APE and APP prior to CCl₄ injection significantly decreased the serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) compared to the CCl₄ group. Besides, pretreatment with APE reversed the CCl₄ effects on superoxide dismutase (SOD), myeloperoxidase (MPO), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) levels in liver tissue in rats and reduced tissue damage as shown in hematoxylin and eosin staining. These results showed that this ancient Italian apple is worthy of use in nutraceuticals and dietary supplements to prevent and/or protect against liver disorders. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Secondary Metabolites)

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15 pages, 11632 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Euryops pectinatus L. Flower Extract Inhibits P-glycoprotein and Reverses Multi-Drug Resistance in Cancer Cells: A Mechanistic Study

by Wafaa M. Elkady, Iriny M. Ayoub, Yousra Abdel-Mottaleb, Mohamed F. ElShafie and Michael Wink

Molecules 2020, 25(3), 647; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25030647 - 03 Feb 2020

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 3378

Abstract

Euryops pectinatus is a South African ornamental plant belonging to family Asteraceae. The present work evaluates the cytotoxic activity and phytochemical profile of the flower extract. Metabolite profiling was performed using HPLC-PDA-ESI-MS/MS. Total phenolics and flavonoids content were assessed. Cytotoxicity was evaluated against [...] Read more.

Euryops pectinatus is a South African ornamental plant belonging to family Asteraceae. The present work evaluates the cytotoxic activity and phytochemical profile of the flower extract. Metabolite profiling was performed using HPLC-PDA-ESI-MS/MS. Total phenolics and flavonoids content were assessed. Cytotoxicity was evaluated against 6 different cancer cell lines using MTT assay. The possible underlying mechanism was proposed. We analyzed whether the extract could overcome the resistance of multidrug-resistant cancer cells for doxorubicin. The effect of combination of E. pectinatus with doxorubicin was also studied. Additionally, the potential inhibitory activity of the identified phytochemicals to PB1 protein was analyzed using in silico molecular docking. Twenty-five compounds were tentatively identified. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents represented 49.41 ± 0.66 and 23.37 ± 0.23 µg/mg dried flower extract, respectively. The extract showed selective cytotoxicity against Caco2 cells but its main effect goes beyond mere cytotoxicity. It showed strong inhibition of P-glycoprotein, which helps to overcome multidrug resistance to classical chemotherapeutic agents. In silico molecular docking showed that dicaffeoyl quinic acid, kaempferol-O-rutinoside, rutin, and isorhamnetin-O-rutinoside exhibited the most potent inhibitory activity to PB1 involved in tumor progression. Euryops pectinatus flower heads could have promising selective cytotoxicity alone or in combination with other chemotherapeutic agents to counteract multidrug resistance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Secondary Metabolites)

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14 pages, 2429 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Widely Metabolomic Analysis Revealed Metabolic Alterations of Epimedium Pubescens Leaves at Different Growth Stages

by Zhenxian Qin, Dengqun Liao, Yalan Chen, Chenyang Zhang, Ruipeng An, Qing Zeng and Xian’en Li

Molecules 2020, 25(1), 137; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25010137 - 29 Dec 2019

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 3292

Abstract

Epimedium folium is the major medicinally-used organ of Epimedium species and its metabolic changes during the leaf growth have not been studied at the metabolomic level. E. pubescens is one of five recorded species in the Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China [...] Read more.

Epimedium folium is the major medicinally-used organ of Epimedium species and its metabolic changes during the leaf growth have not been studied at the metabolomic level. E. pubescens is one of five recorded species in the Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China and widely grows in China. A UPLC-ESI-MS/MS-based targeted metabolomic analysis was implemented to explore the metabolite composition in E. pubescens leaves under the cultivation condition and further to investigate their temporal variations among four representative growth stages. A total of 403 metabolites, including 32 hitherto known in Epimedium species, were identified in E. pubescens leaf, of which 302 metabolites showed the growth/development-dependent alterations. Flavonoid-type compounds were the major composition of the metabolites identified in this study. Most flavonoids, together with tannin-type and lignans and coumarin-type compounds, were up-regulated with E. pubescens leaf growth and maturation after the full flowering stage. Our results not only greatly enriched the existing Epimedium phytochemical composition database and also, for the first time, provided the metabolomics-wide information on metabolic changes during E. pubescens leaf growth and development, which would facilitate in the choice of an optimum harvest time to balance a higher biomass yield of Epimedium folium with its better medicinal quality. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Secondary Metabolites)

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Review

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35 pages, 5552 KiB

Open AccessReview

Streptomyces-Derived Metabolites with Potential Photoprotective Properties—A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis on the Reported Chemodiversity

by Jeysson Sánchez-Suárez, Ericsson Coy-Barrera, Luisa Villamil and Luis Díaz

Molecules 2020, 25(14), 3221; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25143221 - 15 Jul 2020

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 5224

Abstract

Sun overexposure is associated with the development of diseases that primarily affect the skin, which can lead to skin cancer. Among the main measures of photoprotection is the use of sunscreens. However, there is currently concern about the reported harmful effects to both [...] Read more.

Sun overexposure is associated with the development of diseases that primarily affect the skin, which can lead to skin cancer. Among the main measures of photoprotection is the use of sunscreens. However, there is currently concern about the reported harmful effects to both humans and the environment due to several of the sunscreen ingredients available on the market. For this reason, the search for and development of new agents with photoprotective properties is required. In searching for these metabolites, researchers have turned their attention to microbial sources, especially the microbiota in unusual hostile environments. Among the diverse microorganisms available in nature, Actinobacteria and specifically Streptomyces, have been shown to be a source of metabolites with various biological activities of interest, such as antimicrobial, antitumor and immunomodulator activities. Herein, we present the results of a systematic review of the literature in which Streptomyces isolates were studied as a source of compounds with photoprotective properties. A meta-analysis of the structure-property and structure-activity relationships of those metabolites identified in the qualitative analysis phase was also carried out. These findings indicate that Streptomyces are a source of metabolites with potential applications in the development of new, safe and more eco-friendly sunscreens. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Secondary Metabolites)

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38 pages, 8337 KiB

Open AccessReview

Bioactive Phytochemical Constituents of Wild Edible Mushrooms from Southeast Asia

by Zaw Min Thu, Ko Ko Myo, Hnin Thanda Aung, Marco Clericuzio, Chabaco Armijos and Giovanni Vidari

Molecules 2020, 25(8), 1972; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25081972 - 23 Apr 2020

Cited by 52 | Viewed by 9936

Abstract

Mushrooms have a long history of uses for their medicinal and nutritional properties. They have been consumed by people for thousands of years. Edible mushrooms are collected in the wild or cultivated worldwide. Recently, mushroom extracts and their secondary metabolites have acquired considerable [...] Read more.

Mushrooms have a long history of uses for their medicinal and nutritional properties. They have been consumed by people for thousands of years. Edible mushrooms are collected in the wild or cultivated worldwide. Recently, mushroom extracts and their secondary metabolites have acquired considerable attention due to their biological effects, which include antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-obesity, and immunomodulatory activities. Thus, in addition to phytochemists, nutritionists and consumers are now deeply interested in the phytochemical constituents of mushrooms, which provide beneficial effects to humans in terms of health promotion and reduction of disease-related risks. In recent years, scientific reports on the nutritional, phytochemical and pharmacological properties of mushroom have been overwhelming. However, the bioactive compounds and biological properties of wild edible mushrooms growing in Southeast Asian countries have been rarely described. In this review, the bioactive compounds isolated from 25 selected wild edible mushrooms growing in Southeast Asia have been reviewed, together with their biological activities. Phytoconstituents with antioxidant and antimicrobial activities have been highlighted. Several evidences indicate that mushrooms are good sources for natural antioxidants and antimicrobial agents Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Secondary Metabolites)

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18 pages, 1386 KiB

Open AccessReview

Halogenated Metabolites from the Diet of Aplysia dactylomela Rang

by Kishneth Palaniveloo, Mohammed Rizman-Idid, Thilahgavani Nagappan and Shariza Abdul Razak

Molecules 2020, 25(4), 815; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25040815 - 13 Feb 2020

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3413

Abstract

Invertebrates are an important source of structurally-diverse and biologically-active halogenated metabolites. The sea hare Aplysia dactylomela Rang has long been known to possess halogenated metabolites of dietary origin that are used as a self-defense mechanism. The compounds from Aplysia dactylomela Rang are comprised [...] Read more.

Invertebrates are an important source of structurally-diverse and biologically-active halogenated metabolites. The sea hare Aplysia dactylomela Rang has long been known to possess halogenated metabolites of dietary origin that are used as a self-defense mechanism. The compounds from Aplysia dactylomela Rang are comprised mainly of terpenoids and small percentages of C-15 acetogenins, indoles, macrolides, sterols and alkaloids with potent cytotoxic, anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties. For decades the metabolites discovered have been investigated for their medical and pharmaceutical applications, so much so that the ecological role of the metabolites has been overlooked. The interaction between Aplysia dactylomela Rang and its diet that is comprised of seaweed can provide information into the distribution and diversity of the seaweed, the application of bioaccumulated secondary metabolites as part of its defense mechanism and the potential roles of these metabolites for adaptation in the marine environment. This paper compiles the diversity of halogenated secondary metabolites documented from Aplysia dactylomela Rang. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Secondary Metabolites)

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