Phytochemical Profiling of the Leaf Extract of Ximenia americana var. caffra and Its Antioxidant, Antibacterial, and Antiaging Activities In Vitro and in Caenorhabditis elegans: A Cosmeceutical and Dermatological Approach.

We previously annotated the phytochemical constituents of a root extract from Ximenia americana var. caffra and highlighted its hepatoprotective and hypoglycemic properties. We here extended our study on the leaf extract and identified its phytoconstituents using HPLC-PDA-ESI-MS/MS. In addition, we explored its antioxidant, antibacterial, and antiaging activities in vitro and in an animal model, Caenorhabditis elegans. Results from HPLC-PDA-ESI-MS/MS confirmed that the leaves contain 23 secondary metabolites consisting of condensed tannins, flavonol glycosides, flavone glycosides, and flavonol diglycosides. The leaf extract demonstrated significant antioxidant activity in vitro with IC50 value of 5 µg/mL in the DPPH assay and 18.32 µg/mL in the FRAP assay. It also inhibited four enzymes (collagenase, elastase, hyaluronidase, and tyrosinase) crucially involved in skin remodeling and aging processes with comparable activities to reference drugs along with four pure secondary metabolites identified from the extract. In accordance with the in vitro result, in vivo tests using two transgenic strains of C. elegans demonstrated its ability to reverse oxidative stress. Evidence included an increased survival rate in nematodes treated with the prooxidant juglone to 68.9% compared to the 24.8% in untreated worms and a reduced accumulation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) in a dose-dependent manner to 77.8%. The leaf extract also reduced levels of the expression of HSP 16.2 in a dose-dependent manner to 86.4%. Nuclear localization of the transcription factor DAF-16 was up to 10 times higher in worms treated with the leaf extract than in the untreated worms. The extract also inhibited the biofilm formation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (a pathogen in skin infections) and reduced the swimming and swarming mobilities in a dose-dependent fashion. In conclusion, leaves of X. americana are a promising candidate for preventing oxidative stress-induced conditions, including skin aging.

Effects of Dietary Ximenia caffra Meal on Nutrient Intake, Digestibility, Nitrogen Balance and Growth Performance in Sprague Dawley Rats Modelling Monogastrics.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The sub-saharan livestock feed industry depends on imported soyabean meal (SBM) as a dietary protein source in feeds thus making livestock production costly. This calls for the search and development of local dietary protein sources. Using Sprague Dawley rats to model monogastric animals, this study evaluated the potential of Ximenia caffra kernel meal (XCKM) to substitute SBM as a dietary protein source in feeds. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five diets were formulated wherein XCKM replaced SBM on a crude protein basis at 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100%. In the digestibility trial, 20 adult male SD rats were randomly assigned to the 5 diets. After a 12-day adaptation period feed and nutrient intake, faeces and urine output were determined over a 5-day collection period. Apparent Total Tract Digestibility (ATTD) of nutrients and nitrogen absorption and retention were determined. In the growth trial, 40 weanling male SD rats were randomly assigned to the five dietary treatments and fed for 38 days. The rats were weighed twice weekly. Following euthanasia, gastrointestinal viscera were harvested and their macro-morphometry determined. Linear growth was determined from tibiae and femora indices. RESULTS: In adult rats dietary XCKM had no (p>0.05) effect on ATTD of nutrients. At 100% substitution of SBM, XCKM increased (p<0.05) faecal nitrogen loss while at 75% substitution level it increased (p<0.05) nitrogen retention. In growing SD rats, although dietary XCKM had no effect (p>0.05) on the terminal body and empty carcass mass and viscera macro-morphometry, at 100% SBM substitution, it significantly compromised (p<0.05) body mass gain and average daily gain. Femora and tibiae mass and seed or index significantly decreased (p<0.05) with increased dietary XCKM. CONCLUSION: The XCKM could replace SBM as a dietary protein source in adult SD rat feeds without compromising ATTD digestibility of nutrients and nitrogen utilization thus it could be speculated that XCKM can be utilized as a dietary protein source in feeds of mature monogastrics. Caution must be exercised in using XCKM in grower rat diets as its use at higher inclusion levels compromised growth performance and long bone health.

Bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity of Ximenia americana coming from different collection sites

The study aimed to evaluate the bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity of edible fraction (pulp and peel) in green and ripe ripening stages of the fruit and the seed of wild plum (Ximenia americana L.) from different production sites of occurrence in the semiarid region of Brazil. To characterize the edible fraction, the experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design in a factorial 3 x 2, where the first factor was the collection sites and the second factor the maturation stages, with 4 repetitions with 25 fruits each. As for seeds the experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with 4 repetitions, totaling 25 seeds per experimental plot. The fruits were collected in the communities of Mulunguzinho, Pau Branco and Mata do Meio in the county of Mossoró, RN, Brazil. The edible fraction of the fruit Ximenia americana contains high levels of vitamin C (160,26 mg/100 g), yellow flavonoids (43,12 mg/100 g), total extractable polyphenols (3066,48 mg/100 g) and antioxidant activity (365,55 g fruit/g DPPH e 251,70 μmol Trolox/g) and the seeds contain content of polyphenols (2067,56 mg/100 g) and antioxidant (373,80 g fruit/g DPPH e 279,96 251,70 μmol Trolox/g). The edible part of the green fruit contains higher content of total extractable polyphenols, total carotenoids, yellow flavonoids and total anthocyanins. The edible portion of the fruits and the seeds from the community of Pau Branco contains the lowest content of total extractable polyphenols and antioxidant activity(AU)

Compostos bioativos e atividade antioxidante de Ximenia americana oriunda de diferentes locais de coleta. O trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar os compostos bioativos e a atividade antioxidante da fração comestível (polpa e casca) nos estádios de maturação verde e maduro do fruto e da semente da ameixa silvestre (Ximenia americana L.) proveniente de diferentes locais de ocorrência de produção na região semiárida do Brasil. Para caracterização da fração comestível o experimento foi conduzido em delineamento inteiramente casualizado em esquema fatorial 3 x 2, sendo o primeiro fator os locais de coleta e o segundo fator os estádios de maturação, com 4 repetições com 25 frutos cada. Já para as sementes o experimento foi conduzido em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com 4 repetições, totalizando 25 sementes por parcela experimental. Os frutos foram coletados nas comunidades de Mulunguzinho, Pau Branco e Mata do Meio, no município de Mossoró, RN, Brasil. A fração comestível do fruto da Ximenia americana contém elevados teores de vitamina C (160,26 mg/100 g), flavonoides amarelos (43,12 mg/100 g), polifenóis extraíveis totais (3066,48 mg/100 g) e atividade antioxidante (365,55 g fruit/g DPPH e 251,70 μmol Trolox/g) e as sementes elevados teores de polifenóis (2067,56 mg/100 g) e atividade antioxidante (373,80 g fruit/g DPPH e 279,96 251,70 μmol Trolox/g). A fração comestível do fruto verde contém maior conteúdo de polifenóis extraíveis totais, carotenoides totais, flavonoides amarelos e antocianina totais. A fração comestível e as sementes dos frutos provenientes da comunidade de Pau Branco contém menor conteúdo de polifenóis extraíveis totais e atividade antioxidante(AU)

Schoepfiajasmins A-H: C-glycosyl dihydrochalcones, dihydrochalcone glycoside, C-glucosyl flavanones, flavanone glycoside and flavone glycoside from the branches of Schoepfia jasminodora.

From the branches of Schoepfia jasminodora collected in Okinawa, three new dihydrochalcone C-glycosides, one dihydrochalcone di-O-glucopyranoside, two flavanone C-glycosides, one flavanone O-glycoside and one flavone O-glycoside were isolated. Their structures were elucidated by extensive study of one- and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopic data.

Novel NGF-potentiating diterpenoids from a Brazilian medicinal plant, Ptychopetalum olacoides.

From the MeOH extract of Ptychopetalum olacoides, which is used in Brazilian folk medicine for the treatment of chronic degenerative conditions of the nervous system, four novel clerodane-type diterpenoids named 6alpha,7alpha-dihydroxyannonene (1), 7alpha,20-dihydroxyannonene (2), 7alpha-hydroxysolidagolactone I (3), and ptycho-6alpha,7alpha-diol (4) were isolated by bioassay-directed fractionation using NGF-differentiated PC12 cells. The structures of 1-4 were established by extensive NMR spectroscopic analyses and chemical conversion. Compounds 1 and 2 significantly enhanced NGF-mediated neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells at concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 50.0 microM for 1 and 0.1 to 30.0 microM for 2, whereas 3 and 4 had no morphological effect on NGF-mediated PC12 cells in the same concentration range. The structure-activity relationship of these compounds is also discussed.

Validation assay for total flavonoids, as rutin equivalents, from Trichilia catigua Adr. Juss (Meliaceae) and Ptychopetalum olacoides Bentham (Olacaceae) commercial extract.

An ultraviolet spectrophotometric method was validated for total flavonoid quantitation, as rutin equivalents, present in the Trichilia catigua Adr. Juss (Meliaceae) and Ptychopetalum olacoides Bentham (Olacaceae) commercial extract. Parameters as linearity, interval (range), specificity, estimated limit of detection (LOD, microg/mL), estimated limit of quantitation (LOQ, microg/mL), recovery (R, %), precision or relative standard deviation (RSD, %), and accuracy (E, %) were established. The analytical method was validated according to the experimental results: correlation coefficient (r = 0.9997); interval (RSD = 0.15-0.47%; E = 98.98-101.24%); specificity to total flavonoids quantitation, as rutin equivalents, at wavelength 361.0 nm; LOD = 0.09 microg/mL and LOQ = 0.27 microg/mL; R = 99.36-102.14%; adequate intra- and interrun precision (0.30-0.49% and 0.31-0.81%), and intra- and interrun accuracy (100.60-102.38% and 98.58-100.38%).