The structures of two polysaccharides from Lepidium meyenii and their immunomodulatory effects via activating NF-κB signaling pathway.

Lepidium meyenii Walp., also known as the "Peruvian national treasure", is a popular functional food in the daily lives of Peruvian people due to its bioactive with main polysaccharides. However, studies on polysaccharides isolated from Lepidium meyenii were few. Two new highly heterogeneous polysaccharides, MCP-1a and MCP-2b, were isolated and purified from the tuber of Lepidium meyenii. The structure characterization revealed that MCP-1a primarily consisted of D-Glc and had a molecular weight of 6.6 kDa. Its backbone was composed of 1,4,6-α-D-Glc, while branches feature T-α-L-Ara, 1,5-α-L-Ara, and T-α-D-Glc attached to the O-6 positions. MCP-2b was a rare arabinogalactan with a molecular weight of 49.4 kDa. Interestingly, the backbone of MCP-2b was composed of 1,6-ß-D-Gal, 1,3,6-ß-D-Gal with a few 1,3-ß-D-GlcpA-4-OMe units inserted. Side chains of MCP-2b were mainly composed of 1,3-ß-D-Gal, T-ß-D-Gal, T-α-L-Ara, 1,5-α-L-Ara, with trace amounts of 1,4-ß-D-Glc and T-ß-D-Glc. The bioactivity assay results revealed that MCP-1a and MCP-2b increased the release of NO, IL-1ß, TNF-α, and IL-6 from RAW 264.7 cells at concentrations ranging from 50 µg/mL to 400 µg/mL. Furthermore, MCP-1a and MCP-2b could promote the expression of key transcription factors (IκB-α, p-IκB-α, p65, and p-p65) in the NF-κB pathway, indicating that MCP-1a and MCP-2b had potential immunomodulatory activities.

Generation, degradation mechanism, and toxicity evaluation of pigmented compounds in Leucosceptrum canum nectar.

Leucosceptrum canum nectar (LCN) emerges as a novel food resource, distinguished by its unique dark brown hue. This study delves into the composition and toxicity assessment of novel pigments within LCN. Through liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and chemical synthesis, seventeen 2,5-di-(N-(-)-prolyl)-para-benzoquinone (DPBQ) analogs in LCN were identified. These compounds are synthesized in LCN via the Michael addition reaction, utilizing p-benzoquinone (BQ), derived from phenol metabolism, and amino acids as substrates in an alkaline environment (pH = 8.47 ± 0.06) facilitated by dissolved ammonia and the presence of alkaloids. Analytical techniques, including principal component analysis (PCA), orthogonal partial least squares discrimination analysis (OPLS-DA), and volcano plot analysis, were employed to investigate DPBQ analog degradation within the nectar and honey's unique environments. Toxicity assays revealed that DPBQ analogs exhibited no toxicity, displaying a significant difference in toxicity compared to the precursor compound BQ at concentrations exceeding 25 µM.

Identification of New Diterpenoids from the Pulp of Coffea arabica and Their α-Glucosidase Inhibition Activity.

Six new (1, 2, 3, 5, 6, and 8) and seven known (4, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13) diterpenoids have been identified in the pulp of Coffea arabica. The structures of new diterpenoids were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis, including 1D, 2D NMR (HSQC, HMBC, 1H-1H COSY, and ROESY), HRESIMS, IR, DP4+, electronic circular dichroism, and X-ray crystallography analysis. Compound 1 is ent-labdane-type diterpenoid, whereas compounds (2-13) are ent-kaurane diterpenoids. The result of α-glucosidase inhibitory assay demonstrated that compounds (1, 3, 5, 7, and 10) have moderate inhibitory activity with IC50 values of 55.23 ± 0.84, 74.02 ± 0.89, 66.46 ± 1.05, 49.70 ± 1.02, and 76.34 ± 0.46 µM, respectively, compared to the positive control (acarbose, 51.62 ± 0.21 µM). Furthermore, molecular docking analysis has been conducted to investigate the interaction between the compounds and the receptors of α-glucosidase to interpret their mechanism of activity. This study is the first investigation that successfully discovered the presence of diterpenoids within the coffee pulp.

Discovery of ACE Inhibitory Peptides Derived from Green Coffee Using In Silico and In Vitro Methods.

Inhibition of angiotensin-I converting enzyme (ACE) is an important means of treating hypertension since it plays an important regulatory function in the renin-angiotensin system. The aim of this study was to investigate the ACE inhibitory effect of bioactive peptides from green coffee beans using in silico and in vitro methods. Alcalase and thermolysin were employed to hydrolyze protein extract from coffee beans. Bioactive peptides were identified by LC-MS/MS analysis coupled with database searching. The potential bioactivities of peptides were predicted by in silico screening, among which five novel peptides may have ACE inhibitory activity. In vitro assay was carried out to determine the ACE inhibitory degree. Two peptides (IIPNEVY, ITPPVMLPP) were obtained with IC50 values of 57.54 and 40.37 µM, respectively. Furthermore, it was found that two inhibitors bound to the receptor protein on similar sites near the S1 active pocket of ACE to form stable enzyme-peptide complexes through molecular docking, and the Lineweaver-Burk plot showed that IIPNEVY was a noncompetitive inhibitor, and ITPPVMLPP was suggested to be a mixed-type inhibitor. Our study demonstrated that two peptides isolated from coffee have potential applications as antihypertensive agents.

Structural characterizations and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities of four Lepidium meyenii polysaccharides with different molecular weights.

Four polysaccharides (MCPa, MCPb, MCPc, MCPd) were obtained from Lepidium meyenii Walp. Their structures were characterized by chemical and instrumental methods including total sugar, uronic acid and protein content determination, UV, IR and NMR spectroscopy, as well as monosaccharide composition determination and methylation analyses. Four polysaccharides were a group of glucans with different molecular weights ranging from 3.12 to 14.4 kDa, and shared a similar backbone chain consisting of (1→4)-glucose linkages with branches attached to C-3 and C-6. Furthermore, bioactivity assay showed that MCPs had concentration-dependent inhibitory activity on α-glucosidase. MCPb (Mw = 10.1 kDa) and MCPc (Mw = 5.62 kDa) with moderate molecular weights exhibited higher inhibitory activity compared with MCPa and MCPd.

Comparative studies of fermented coffee fruits post-treatments on chemical and sensory properties of roasted beans in Yunnan, China.

In this study, medium roasted coffee with four different fermented coffee fruits post-treatments (dry, wet, semi-dry and hot air dry) was used as the material. Chemical profile and sensorial analysis were used to comprehensively analyze the effects of post-treatments on coffee flavor characteristics from multiple dimensions. A total of 31 water-soluble chemical components and 39 volatile compounds were identified in roasted coffee, and distinct post-treatments based on chemical orientation make coffee highly differentiated. In addition, the principal component analysis (PCA) of the chemical composition integrated data set showed that the first two principal components could explain 54.9% of the sample variability. All four post-treatments can be classified as "specialty coffees" according to the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) protocol, with various organoleptic characteristics and flavor attributes. As a result, the fermented coffee fruits post-treatment method further determines the quality characteristics of coffee, thus meeting the needs of different niche markets.

Identification and screening of novel diterpenoids from roasted arabica coffee in the regulation of lipid content in white adipocytes.

Previous studies have shown that coffee has a role in regulating lipid metabolism. However, the active compounds and pharmacological mechanism(s) are still unclear. Here, four new coffee diterpenoids (1-4) were identified from roasted arabica coffee (Coffea arabica L.) beans, and together with 31 known coffee diterpenoids (5-35), their bioactivities in the regulation of lipid content in white adipocytes were evaluated. Based on their structures and correlated bioactivities, we proposed that the α,ß-unsaturated-γ-lactone moiety and hydroxyl group at C-3 are required for the bioactivity. Furthermore, the pharmacological approaches revealed that the active new diterpenoid, dehydrocaffarolide B, inhibited the Akt/mTOR/GSK3ß pathway and arrested cells in the G0/G1 phase of the mitotic clonal expansion process during the adipocyte differentiation and maturation, eventually resulting in the blunting of lipid accumulation in the adipocytes. Collectively, our findings identified four new diterpenoids of arabica coffee and elucidated a mechanism of an active lactone-type diterpenoid in the regulation of lipid content in white adipocytes.

NMR-tracking for 15,16-seco-cycloartane triterpenes from Cimicifuga acerina.

Twelve undescribed 15,16-seco-cycloartane triterpenoids, 15,16-seco-cimiterpenes C-N, as well as five previously reported analogs were isolated by NMR-tracking methods from the rhizomes of Cimicifuga acerina (Sieb. et Zucc.) Tanaka. Among them, 15,16-seco-cimiterpenes C-N were the first 15,16-seco-cycloartane triterpenoids featuring acetal or hemiacetal structures at C-15. The chemical structures of 15,16-seco-cimiterpenes C-N were determined based on comprehensive spectroscopic analysis, chemical method, and comparison with the previous literature data. After that, all these compounds were evaluated for their lipid-lowering effects on 3T3-L1 adipocytes.15,16-seco-cimiterpene D was found to exhibit a comparable reducing lipid effect at the concentration of 50 µM, with an inhibition rate at 35.96%.

Anaerobic germination of green coffee beans: A novel strategy to improve the quality of commercial Arabica coffee.

This study aimed to improve the brewing quality of commercial Arabica coffee through anaerobic germination. Changes in important compounds and cupping scores of germination roasting coffee with different germination degrees were investigated by 1H NMR, HS-SPME-GC-MS and sensory analysis. Statistical analysis of multivariate analysis results indicated that 6 water-soluble chemical components and 8 volatile chemical components have the potential to be markers of germinated roasting coffee. In addition, germination significantly reduced caffeine content and acrylamide formation in roasted coffee. Sensory analysis according to the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) cupping protocol demonstrated that anaerobic germination modified flavor attributes, improved the quality, and increased sensory scores. Furthermore, anaerobic sprouting increased fruity descriptors, but over-sprouting did not improve overall attributes while producing both fermentative and vegetable descriptors. Therefore, suitable anaerobic germination of green coffee beans can be used as a new strategy to improve the flavor of commercial Arabica coffee.

Topical Application of Chinese Formula Yeliangen Promotes Wound Healing in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats.

Diabetic wound is one of the most severe complications of diabetes mellitus (DM). Despite the associated risks of wound healing impairment in diabetes, treatment strategies remain limited. Yeliangen (YLG) is a Chinese formulation mainly composed of the rhizome of Coptis chinensis, the root of Isatis tinctoria, and the leaf of Isatis indigotica. We investigated the wound healing effects of YLG in type 2 diabetic (T2DM) rats, which were induced by intraperitoneal administration of streptozotocin after a high-fat diet for four weeks. 3 × 3 cm2 full-thickness excisional wounds were created on the dorsal surface of rats and then divided to control (DC), negative (DPJ), positive (DPC), and YLG-treated (DYLG) groups. Rat's wounds were treated twice daily for 21 days. Wound area and wound contraction were detected on days 0, 3, 7, 14, and 21. Histopathological examinations were performed by H&E staining and immunohistochemistry (IHC). The biochemical parameters, mRNAs, and protein expressions were analyzed through enzyme-linked immunoassays (ELISA), qPCR, and western blot, respectively. Compared with other groups, the histological changes of wound tissue in the DYLG group were improved, and the expressions of CD31, eNOS, and PCNA were significantly upregulated. Besides, YLG significantly reduced the inflammatory factors' expressions of TNF-α, NF-κB, MMP-9, and IL-1B on days 7, 14, and 21 postwounding. Moreover, YLG induced angiogenesis and neovascularization by significantly increasing the levels of VEGF, TGF-ß1, EGF, PDGF, and SDF-1α on days 3, 7, and 14. In conclusion, YLG improved wound healing by reducing inflammation and increasing angiogenesis which may provide an alternative and effective approach for diabetic wound therapy.

Unusual ent-Kaurane Diterpenes from the Coffea Cultivar S288 Coffee Beans and Molecular Docking to α-Glucosidase.

A total of 11 new (1-11) and 2 known (12 and 13) ent-kaurane diterpene derivatives were identified from the roasted beans of Coffea cultivar S288. Their structures were established by extensive spectroscopic analysis, including one- and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (heteronuclear single-quantum correlation, heteronuclear multiple-bond correlation, correlation spectroscopy, and rotating-frame Overhauser enhancement spectroscopy), high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, and X-ray analyses. Cafespirone acid A (1) represents the first example of diterpene featuring a spirocyclic skeleton constructed from a 6/6/5 tricyclic system. Cafeane acid A (2) possesses a 6/6/6/5 tetracyclic system as a result of the C/D ring rearrangement. Furthermore, compounds 1-12 were evaluated for their α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. The results showed that compounds 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, and 11 had a moderate inhibitory effect on α-glucosidase, and half-maximal inhibitory concentration values of compounds 4, 6, 7, and 10 were 18.76 ± 1.46, 4.88 ± 0.03, 12.35 ± 0.91, and 12.64 ± 0.59 µM, respectively, compared to the positive control acarbose (60.71 ± 16.45 µM). Additionally, the molecular docking experiments showed that the carbonyl group at C-19 of compounds 4, 6, and 7 formed strong hydrogen bonds with ARG315, which may make them have moderate inhibitory activity.

Advances in the treatment of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) with Western medicine and traditional Chinese medicine: a narrative review.

In December 2019, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was discovered. Since its emergence, COVID-19 has been outbreaking rapidly worldwide, where the virus has so far caused the death of hundreds of thousands and infected more than a million, what has been called a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). According to the WHO-Coronavirus disease 2019 Situation Report-142, by June 10, 2020, there are 7,145,539 confirmed cases and 408,025 deaths. There is an urgent need to develop a suitable specific medicine against this novel coronavirus; therefore, scientists and researchers around the world are making great efforts endeavoring to discover an efficient specific medication for COVID-19 treatment. Given the similarity of the novel coronavirus with previous epidemic viruses, namely, the acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), previously tested drugs could potentially work against the novel coronavirus. In this narrative review, we aim to summarize and discuss the effectiveness of current Western medicine and traditional Chinese medicine options for COVID-19 treatment based on the overview of the scientific literature. Some Western medicines including remdesivir, chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, favipiravir, lopinavir/ritonavir, and arbidol, as well as some traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) such as Qingfei Paidu decoction, Yupingfeng, Lianhua Qingwen, and TCM injections have revealed a relative activity against SARS-CoV-2 in vitro, in observational studies, and in clinical trials. However, further extensive studies and clinical trials including double-blind and randomized clinical trials, with a higher number of patients, are necessary to confirm the activity of these medicines. There are several ongoing trials conducted on the drugs of COVID-19, and the results are urgently needed to make a suitable treatment recommendation.