A review of traditional pharmacological uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacological activities of Tribulus terrestris

Abstract Tribulus terrestris L. (TT) is an annual plant of the family Zygophyllaceae that has been used for generations to energize, vitalize, and improve sexual function and physical performance in men. The fruits and roots of TT have been used as a folk medicine for thousands of years in China, India, Sudan, and Pakistan. Numerous bioactive phytochemicals, such as saponins and flavonoids, have been isolated and identified from TT that are responsible alone or in combination for various pharmacological activities. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the traditional applications, phytochemistry, pharmacology and overuse of TT and provides evidence for better medicinal usage of TT

Establishment of a PCA model for skin health evaluation

The aim of this study is to establish an objective skin evaluation system through testing skin data and scoring conducted by general dermatology experts. First, 18 data points including left cheek face water evaporation, and left cheek oil content are collected. Second, comprehensive skin information is obtained from volunteers by the mathematical model of principal component analysis (PCA), following scoring the status of the volunteers’ skin by dermatology experts. Then, 99 volunteers are randomly divided into two groups, namely model information and test information. Specifically, skin model information is obtained from 80 volunteers, and test information is obtained from 19 volunteers. PCA is used to extract 18 independent variables of skin test data by means of R Studio software, followed by principal component regression by expert scoring and the extracted principal components. Finally, based on the expert score and model score, skin grading classification can be conducted by MATLAB software, in order to intuitively and effectively evaluate skin status

Rapid quantitative analysis of six flavonoids in licorice by ultra-performance convergence chromatography

Abstract Objective This study was to establish a rapid quantitative method for determination of six characteristic flavonoids, including licochalcone A (1), liquiritigenin (2), glabridin (3), isoliquiritigenin (4), liquiritoside (5), and isoliquiritoside (6) in licorice by a ultra-performance convergence chromatography (UPC2) apparatus equipped with a photodiode-array detector (PDA). Methods: The flavonoids studied were separated on an ACQUITY UPC2 TM Torus 2-PIC column (2.1 × 100 mm, 1.7 μm) using gradient elution (85:15–70:30) with a mobile phase consisting of CO2 and methanol: formic acid (99.8:0.2, v/v), back pressure of 2,000 psi, flow rate of 0.8 mL/min, and detection at 254 nm. This method was further applied for the analysis of the flavonoids present in 10 batches of licorice roots samples. Results: Good linearity (R2 = 0.9990–0.9998) was achieved and limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) ranging from 0.12 to 0.49 µg/mL and 0.46 to 1.61 µg/mL, respectively. The relative standard deviations (RSD) for repeatability and reproducibility were 2.30–2.80% and 2.30–2.98%, respectively. The flavonoids distributed differently in Glycyrrhiza uralensis , Glycyrrhiza glabra, and Glycyrrhiza inflate . Conclusion: The established rapid quantitative analysis method was environment friendly and suitable to the quality control of species licorice

Increased polyphenols and antioxidant activity of rice bean (Vigna umbellata L.) sprouts induced by Methyl Jasmonate: the promotion effect of Methyl Jasmonate on rice bean sprouts

Abstract Rice bean (Vigna umbellata L.) sprouts are richer in metabolites and biological activities after germination. The total polyphenol and total flavonoid contents were analyzed during the sprouting process. The antioxidant activities of the sprouts were tested using 1,1-diphenyl-2- picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) screening assay. To determine the reason for increased activity, quantitative analysis of 8 flavonoids, in the germination process of methyl jasmonate (MeJA)-treated and control groups, was performed using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detection (HPLC/DAD) and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS/DA). The metabolites in MeJA-treated beans shows that addition of 100.0 μmol MeJA significantly increased the total flavonoid and polyphenol contents during the sprouting process. DPPH screening assay and analytical results show that MeJA has a significant influence on the production of secondary metabolites in sprouts between the 4th and 6th days, thereby inducing increased antioxidant activity. Flavonoids rutin, kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, daidzin, and genistin are further identified as the main contributors to the increased DPPH screening activity

Increased antioxidant activity and polyphenol metabolites in methyl jasmonate treated mung bean (Vigna radiata) sprouts

Abstract Mung bean sprouts are a popular health food both in China and worldwide. We determined the optimal concentration of exogenous methyl jasmonate (MeJA) for the promotion of the sprouting in mung beans (Vigna radiata). The 1,1-diphenyl-2- picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) scavenging test showed that MeJA application resulted in significantly improved antioxidant capacity in the sprouts 72 h later. Measurement of total polyphenols in MeJA-treated beans from 0 to 168 h, using Folin–Ciocalteu colorimetry, showed that the polyphenols changing was significantly correlated with antioxidant activity. The main polyphenols isovitexin, kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, daidzein, genistein, isoquercitrin, p-coumaric acid, and caffeic acid were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC/QqQ MS) and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA). MeJA promoted the production of polyphenols, metabolites, and antioxidants in the sprouts; therefore, its use may allow sprouts to be prepared more quickly or increase their nutritional value

Removal of Methylene Blue from Water by BiFeO3/Carbon Fibre Nanocomposite and Its Photocatalytic Regeneration

It is essential to prepare a highly efficient and reproducible adsorbent for purifying industrial dye wastewater. In this work, a novel and efficient BiFeO3/carbon fiber (CCT-BFO) nanocomposite adsorbent was prepared by the template method and through optimizing the preparation process. The morphology, physicochemical properties, and specific surface characteristics of the CCT-BFO were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns, Fourier-transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR), and N2 adsorption-desorption isotherm. The CCT-BFO could efficiently remove the Methylene blue (MB) from aqueous solutions, and the adsorption performance is not easily influenced by the environment. The equilibrium adsorption data were fitted to the classical models very well; the maximum capacity of adsorption MB onto the CCT-BFO was higher than many other reported adsorbents and the data of the adsorption kinetics were described by a pseudo-second-order model. Furthermore, the CCT-BFO can be recycled by photocatalytic regeneration. And the constant adsorption capacity was almost retained after recycling five times

Optimization of Ultrasonic Assisted Extraction of Antioxidants from Black Soybean (Glycine max var) Sprouts Using Response Surface Methodology

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Study of the mechanism by gentiopicroside protects against skin fibroblast glycation damage via the RAGE pathway

Abstract The occurrence of nonenzymatic glycosylation reactions in skin fibroblasts can lead to severe impairment of skin health. To investigate the protective effects of the major functional ingredient from Gentianaceae, gentiopicroside (GPS) on fibroblasts, network pharmacology was used to analyse the potential pathways and targets underlying the effects of GPS on skin. At the biochemical and cellular levels, we examined the inhibitory effect of GPS on AGEs, the regulation by GPS of key ECM proteins and vimentin, the damage caused by GPS to the mitochondrial membrane potential and the modulation by GPS of inflammatory factors such as matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2, MMP-9), reactive oxygen species (ROS), and IL-6 via the RAGE/NF-κB pathway. The results showed that GPS can inhibit AGE-induced damage to the dermis via multiple pathways. The results of biochemical and cellular experiments showed that GPS can strongly inhibit AGE production. Conversely, GPS can block AGE-induced oxidative stress and inflammatory responses in skin cells by disrupting AGE-RAGE signalling, maintain the balance of ECM synthesis and catabolism, and alleviate AGE-induced dysfunctions in cellular behaviour. This study provides a theoretical basis for the use of GPS as an AGE inhibitor to improve skin health and alleviate the damage caused by glycosylation, showing its potential application value in the field of skin care