A possible glycosidic benzophenone with full substitution on B-ring from <i>Psidium guajava</i> leaves

<p>Bidimensional NMR analysis may be a useful tool to resolve the structure of chemical compounds also in mixture. This letter would demonstrate how these techniques could be applied e.g. to the reported case on identification of benzophenone glycoside from <i>Psidium guajava</i>. A tentative structure for the secondary component, not yet described, was possibly proposed on the basis of observation and critic review of available 1D and 2D NMR spectra.</p

A possible glycosidic benzophenone with full substitution on B-ring from <i>Psidium guajava</i> leaves

<p>Bidimensional NMR analysis may be a useful tool to resolve the structure of chemical compounds also in mixture. This letter would demonstrate how these techniques could be applied e.g. to the reported case on identification of benzophenone glycoside from <i>Psidium guajava</i>. A tentative structure for the secondary component, not yet described, was possibly proposed on the basis of observation and critic review of available 1D and 2D NMR spectra.</p

Clinical evaluation of Moro (<i>Citrus sinensis</i> (L.) Osbeck) orange juice supplementation for the weight management

<div><p>In the last years, several studies have recently evaluated the beneficial effects of red orange juice (<i>Citrus sinensis</i> (L.) Osbeck) and its active components in weight management and obesity. Moro orange is a cultivar of red orange, particularly rich in active compounds such as anthocyanins, hydroxycinnamic acids, flavone glycosides and ascorbic acid, which displays anti-obesity effects in <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i> studies. In this clinical study, the effect of a Moro juice extract (Morosil^®, 400 mg/die) supplementation was evaluated in overweight healthy human volunteers for 12 weeks. Results showed that Moro juice extract intake was able to induce a significant reduction in body mass index (BMI) after 4 weeks of treatment (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Moreover, in subjects treated with Moro extract, body weight, BMI, waist and hip circumference were significantly different from the placebo group (<i>p</i> < 0.05). In conclusion, it could be suggested that the active compounds contained in Moro juice have a synergistic effect on fat accumulation in humans and Moro juice extract can be used in weight management and in the prevention of human obesity.</p></div

HPTLC determination of chemical composition variability in raw materials used in botanicals

<div><p>Besides the chemotaxonomic value, nowadays determination of biodiversity and chemical variability has a commercial impact. The exact identity of raw material and constituents of botanical products, such as food supplements or herbal remedies, is a very important argument, being the real prerequisite for quality control and traceability, followed by the determination of active components. However, the analytical approach must consider the natural great variability in secondary metabolites and product form, such as in extracts. Against the reductive approach, on the basis of single chemical standards, so far dominant in Pharmacopoeias monographs, we report applications and utility of the high-performance thin-layer chromatography fingerprint in determination of species of the same genus, of populations of the same species and of different drugs of the same plant.</p></div

Iridoids and phenylethanoid from <i>Pedicularis kerneri</i> Dalla Torre growing in Dolomites, Italy

<div><p>In this study, we report the first phytochemical analysis of polar fraction of <i>Pedicularis kerneri</i> Dalla Torre growing in Dolomites, Italy. Several iridoid glucosides were isolated, namely aucubin (<b>1</b>), monomelittoside (<b>2</b>), plantarenaloside (<b>3</b>), euphroside (<b>4</b>), mussaenosidic acid (<b>5</b>) and 8-epiloganic acid (<b>6</b>), showing a composition in accordance with previous study on this genus. The studied samples, collected from Dolomites, presented a chemotype already recognised in species from North America, characterised by euphroside (<b>4</b>) and aucubin (<b>1</b>) as main components, but the main character was the presence of monomelittoside (<b>2</b>) never reported in this genus. The identification of verbascoside (<b>7</b>), leucosceptoside A (<b>9</b>) and echinacoside (<b>10</b>) complete the systematic framing of this species since is ascertained the co-occurrence of phenylethanoid glycosides with iridoids in Lamiales species.</p></div

Selenium nanoparticles improved biochemical and physiological properties and antioxidant systems of savoury under drought stress

To investigate the effectiveness of selenium (Se) and Se nanoparticles (Se-NPs) in improving biochemical and physiological characteristics of savoury in drought stress conditions, a factorial experiment based on the completely randomised design with three replications was used. Results demonstrate that Se-NPs considerably enhanced several biochemical parameters, such as relative water content (RWC), antioxidant enzymes activity, and total soluble protein in drought and normal conditions. At the stress level from 100 to 40% of field capacity, a gradual decrease in chlorophyll and CARs contents was observed and under stress and normal conditions, the application of Se-NPs (10 mg L−1) led to an increase in the content of pigments. Total soluble protein, total phenolic and flavonoid contents showed significant increases in plants treated with Se-NPs under drought stress. Generally, the use of Se-NPs in drought stress conditions can be effective in improving the growth, biochemical, and physiological characteristics of savoury.</p

Polar compounds from <i>Parentucellia viscosa</i> (L.) Caruel from Sardinia

<div><p>In this work, we examined a sample of <i>Parentucellia viscosa</i> from Sardinia island, showing similarities and differences of the secondary metabolite content with respect to previous study conducted on an accession of continental origin, and also with <i>Bellardia trixago</i>, a species very close to <i>Parentucellia</i>. In this aspect, the proximity between these species, previously stated by a phylogenetic study, was confirmed by a phytochemical approach. Within the non-iridoidic fraction a chiral polyol (mannitol) and two aromatic acids (benzoic acid and gallic acid) were evidenced. These two acids are not common in Scropulariaceae since they have been reported only from a few species, and it is worth to note that gallic acid was never reported from the Orobanchaceae family.</p></div

A new problem. Contamination of botanicals by phthalates. Rapid detection tests

<div><p>The purity of solvents used in medical, herbal and food products is an essential prerequisite. This communication is focused on the possible occurrence of phthalates contaminant derived from the utilisation of plastic containers for solvents instead of glass containers. The contamination must be detected also in the derived marketed extracts, like botanical food supplements.</p></div

Antioxidant activity and chemical composition of three Tunisian <i>Cistus</i>: <i>Cistus monspeliensis</i><i>Cistus villosus</i> and <i>Cistus libanotis</i>^☆

<div><p>The chemical composition of three rockrose <i>Cistus</i> species, <i>Cistus monspeliensis</i>, <i>Cistus libanotis</i> and <i>Cistus villosus</i>, collected in Tunisia, was studied by HPTLC, focusing on the terpenes and phenols constituents. Diterpenes of <i>Cistus</i> are important as the main constituents of the leaf sticky aromatic resin, known as labdanum, which are highly appreciated in perfumery. Polyphenols in the methanolic extracts of each species were identified, quantified as total and as flavonoids and tannins, and tested for antioxidant activity. Diterpenes were evident in <i>C. libanotis</i> and <i>C. monspeliensis</i>, whereas they were practically absent in <i>C. villosus</i>; <i>C. libanotis</i> had higher phenolic amount, whereas antioxidant activities were important, but different according to the following tests: DPPH radical scavenging, conversion of the Fe^3+/ferricyanide complex and inhibition of β-carotene bleaching. The reported data confirm the validity of utilisation of <i>Cistus</i> sp. in marketed herbal products, as well as the relevant presence of diterpenes in species actually not used for labdanum production.</p></div

Phytochemical study of <i>Cistus libanotis</i> L.

<div><p>n continuation of our ongoing study on Mediterranean Flora, we focused the attention on <i>Cistus</i> genus. These plants possess interesting secondary metabolites and are used in many fields, principally in perfumery and more recently as raw material for food supplements (botanicals). n this article, we report the phytochemical analysis of <i>Cistus libanotis</i> L. from Tunisia. Among the diterpenes, labdane compounds resulted absent, in favour of two clerodanes, one of that never reported in <i>Cistus</i> sp. The main representative compounds were found to be several flavonoids with various grades of <i>O</i>-methylation. Other interesting components were two cinnamic esters of borneol, reported here for the first time in <i>Cistus</i>. The identified compounds confirm in part the reported biological properties and add chemotaxonomic data to this complicated genus.</p></div