Preparation of Readily-to-Use Stilbenoids Extract from Morus alba Callus Using a Natural Deep Eutectic Solvent

The consumer and cosmetic industries have recently placed a greater emphasis on ecofriendly solvents for botanical extraction, including natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES). In this study, NADES were prepared for Morus alba callus extraction. The efficiency of extraction from the NADES and methanol was investigated by comparison of the stilbenoids yield and anti-melanogenesis activity. Prior to testing the irritability of a suitable NADES on the reconstructed human epidermis (RhE), the effect of the selected NADES on stilbenoids stability was determined. The results showed that the highest yields of stilbenoids were obtained from choline chloride-glycerol mixtures (Ch1G2) and methanol extracts, with no significant difference in yields (5.06 ± 0.05 and 6.32 ± 0.40 mg/g callus dry weight, respectively). The NADES extracts of M. alba callus showed comparable anti-melanogenesis activity compared to methanol. In term of stability, stilbenoids in Ch1G2 remained stable after six months of storage at 4 °C except resveratrol. Furthermore, Ch1G2 had no irritation effect on RhE. Thus, based on the findings of this study, Ch1G2 is an intriguing green solvent alternative for the extraction of M. alba callus and may be advantageous for the preparation of skin-lightening cosmetics

Enhancement Mulberroside A Production in Morus alba L. Cell Cultures by Calcium Alginate Immobilization and Elicitation

Abstract Introduction: Mulberroside A is a major stilbene glycoside in root bark extract of Morus alba L. (Moraceae). This compound has been used commercially as an active ingredient in whitening cosmetics due to its anti-tyrosinase and anti-oxidant activities. To enhance mulberroside A production, this study aimed to investigate effect of immobilization and elicitation on accumulation of mulberroside A in cell cultures of M. alba. Methods: M. alba cell cultures were immobilized in calcium alginate beads and cultivated in Murashige and Skoog (MS) liquid medium containing 0.1 mg/L thidiazuron and 1 mg/L napthalene acetic acid. Then, culture beads were elicited with methyl jasmonate and yeast extract and observed mulberroside A accumulation at 24, 48 and 72 hr after elicitation. Results: Cell immobiliz ation in calcium alginate enhanced the production of mulberroside A over control (un-immobilization) by 1.4-fold in 40 days and 9.4-fold in 120 days. Addition of 50 mg/mL yeast extract and 50 μM methyl jasmonate in 40 days, M. alba cell immobilized cultures resulted in greatest mulberroside A accumul ation by yielded 32.74 mg/g DW which is 2.4-and 1.9-fold higher than control and immobilized cells, respectively. In all conditions, more than 60% of total mulberroside A production was released into culture medium. Conclusion: The results may indicate that immobilization slowed the growth rate and stimulated mulberroside A release of M. alba cell cultures. Moreover, the combination between immobilization and elicitation showed a synergistic effect to enhance the production of mulberroside A

Evaluating the <i>in Vitro</i> Efficacy of Quassinoids from <i>Eurycoma longifolia</i> and <i>Eurycoma harmandiana</i> against Common Cold Human Coronavirus OC43 and SARS-CoV‑2 Using In-Cell Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay

Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, has become a pandemic and public health crisis. SARS-CoV-2 and the seasonal common cold coronavirus (HCoV-OC43) belong to the beta genus of human coronaviruses (HCoVs). In-cell ELISA assays were performed using HCoV-OC43 and SARS-CoV-2 and evaluated the antiviral activity of herbal plants. Eurycoma longifolia (EL) and Eurycoma harmandiana (EH) roots (antipyretic properties) and their constituent quassinoids, especially chaparrinone and eurycomalactone, showed potent anti-HCoV-OC43 and SARS-CoV-2 activities, and the low IC50 values of the mentioned constituents were observed in the range of 0.32–0.51 μM. Eurycomanone and 13β,21-dihydroeurycomanone may contribute to the antiviral activity of EL, whereas chaparrinone is the major and active antiviral constituent of EH root. The content of quassinoids, β-carboline, and canthin-6-one alkaloids and the cytotoxicity profile of EL and EH extracts were varied regarding extraction solvents. The boiled water and 50% EtOH extractions of both plants were less toxic than those with 95% EtOH as the extraction solvent. Our research suggests that quassinoids, which come from EL and EH roots and are anti-coronavirus compounds, are potential treatment candidates for COVID-19 and merit further in vivo investigations