ABSTRACT This investigation was conducted to explore the effects of Trigonella foenum‐graecum L. (fenugreek) seed extract, an anti‐inflammatory herbal extract, on reducing inflammation in patients diagnosed with myocardial infarction (MI). For this triple‐blind, randomised clinical study, patients with MI were split into two groups within the first 24 h. One group took fenugreek seed extract tablets twice daily ( N = 28), while the other took placebo tablets twice daily ( N = 26). After 4 weeks of treatment, we measured CBC‐diff, high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hs‐CRP) and lipid profiles. The tablets containing fenugreek seed extract (Glucurex B, 335 mg) were obtained from Barij Essence Company. The extract was standardised, showing luteolin at 0.02% w/w and 4‐Hydroxyisoleucine at 1.04% w/w. No remarkable differences were observed in demographic characteristics and baseline laboratory parameters between the two groups. Data analysis showed significant reductions in hs‐CRP ( p < 0.001), low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) ( p = 0.032, p = 0.02) and cholesterol ( p < 0.001, p = 0.032) in both the fenugreek and placebo groups after 4 weeks. Moreover, hs‐CRP amounts were notably lower in the fenugreek group compared to the placebo group after a four‐week treatment period ( p = 0.001). Furthermore, the differences in hs‐CRP levels before and after treatment were considerably more pronounced in the fenugreek group (0.95 [3.18]) than in the placebo group (0.6 [0.94], p = 0.02). The administration of fenugreek to MI patients provides additional anti‐inflammatory and lipid‐modifying effects beyond standard treatment. These advantages, from a natural product with a known safety profile, could open new avenues for future cardiovascular disease treatment research. However, the long‐term effects require confirmation through large‐scale, long‐term clinical studies. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: IRCT20220516054874N9
In this work, the synthesis of 4-methoxypropiophenone (MPP), a para-selective aromatic ketone, via Friedel-Crafts acylation of anisole with propionic anhydride over a heterogeneous Amberlyst-15 catalyst was studied. The catalytic performance was examined by varying key reaction parameters, including feed molar ratio, reaction temperature and catalyst loading, to identify the optimal operating conditions for maximum conversion. The negligible effect of external and internal mass transfer resistances was confirmed using the Mears' and Weisz-Prater criteria. A comprehensive kinetic study was performed using various kinetic models, namely, the pseudo-homogeneous (PH) model, the Eley-Rideal (ER) model and the Langmuir-Hinshelwood-Hougen-Watson (LHHW) model. Among the models examined, the LHHW model, assuming single-site adsorption of both the reactants and products on the catalyst, provides the best fit to the experimental data for MPP synthesis. The experimentally validated kinetic model offers mechanistic insight into developing a framework for reactor design in MPP synthesis.
Chilli peppers are widely valued for their distinctive flavour profiles, which directly influence their processing performance and commercial potential. However, the evaluation of chilli pepper flavour quality is still limited by the lack of objective and data-driven approaches. To address this gap, this study systematically investigated the volatile flavour characteristics of five representative dried chilli pepper varieties, namely mildly spicy Erjingtiao (A1), moderately spicy Erjingtiao (A2), Mogui chill pepper (M), new generation chill pepper (X) and Qixing (Q). A multi-dimensional analytical strategy was employed, integrating electronic nose (E-nose), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS). Sensory analysis revealed significant differences among samples, with M exhibiting the strongest pungency, whereas A1 displayed more pronounced nutty and fatty aroma attributes. E-nose combined with chemometric analysis effectively discriminated the five varieties. The first two principal components explained 78.4% of the total variance in principal component analysis (PCA), while the first two latent variables of the partial least squares regression (PLSR) model accounted for 74.2% of the total variation. Hierarchical cluster analysis separated 25 samples into four clusters at a Euclidean distance threshold of 0.21, with the X variety forming an independent group. GC-IMS further identified 33 volatile organic compounds, comprising 11 esters, 9 alcohols, 6 aldehydes, 5 ketones and 2 acids. Differential fingerprint analysis showed that the X variety exhibited substantially higher VOC abundance within the retention time range of 200-600 s, while (Z)-3-hexen-1-ol was exclusively detected in Q. These findings demonstrate that the integrated analytical approach enables reliable flavour discrimination and provides a scientific basis for chilli quality evaluation and utilization.
This study investigates the use of lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) essential oil (LGEO) as a vital remedy against antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a growing global health crisis driven by pathogens like multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae. LGEO's direct antibacterial efficacy against K. pneumoniae was evaluated using standard assays (MIC/MBIC), and its mechanism of action was explored by examining effects on bacterial growth kinetics, cell membrane integrity and cell permeability. A critical aspect of this research involved assessing LGEO's capacity to inhibit K. pneumoniae biofilm formation, a key contributor to persistent infections. Furthermore, a novel therapeutic application was developed by impregnating cotton gauze with LGEO using potato starch; the modified gauze was characterised with FE-SEM and tested for its antimicrobial potential. The active components of LGEO were identified via FTIR and GC/MS. To complement the in vitro findings, in silico simulations, including drug-likeness prediction and pharmacokinetics (ADMET), were employed to better understand LGEO's biological properties. The results indicated that LGEO possesses potent antibacterial effects, likely by disrupting the bacterial cell membrane, and significantly inhibits biofilm formation. This comprehensive approach, combining direct antimicrobial action, biofilm disruption, novel material development and computational insights, positions LGEO as a promising natural agent for combating K. pneumoniae infections and addressing the urgent challenges of AMR.
Dual-aroma flavour precursors provide a molecular strategy for stabilizing volatile aroma compounds and regulating their thermal release. In this study, four acetal-based precursors integrating menthol and aldehyde-derived aroma units were synthesized through epichlorohydrin-mediated diol formation followed by acetalization with benzaldehyde, anisaldehyde, furfural, or cinnamaldehyde. The structures of compounds 1a-1d were confirmed by NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that these precursors exhibited improved thermal stability compared with the corresponding free aroma compounds. Fixed-bed reactor single photoionization mass spectrometry under slow-heating conditions showed delayed and stepwise release of both menthol and aldehyde fragments, whereas Py-GC-MS under rapid-heating conditions confirmed efficient menthol generation and selective release of benzaldehyde- and anisaldehyde-derived fragments. These results demonstrate that acetal construction is an effective strategy for improving aroma stability and enabling controlled thermal release. This work provides molecular-level guidance for the design of flavour delivery systems with tunable thermal-release behaviour.
