Geographical origin is a key driver of bioactivity variability in plant-derived functional ingredients, hindering raw material standardization. Indocalamus latifolius (Zongye), traditionally used to wrap Chinese zongzi, is an underexplored food-related resource with uncharacterized glucose-modulation potential. Here, we investigated regional variation in phytochemical composition and glucose-modulating activities of I. latifolius. Total flavonoid and phenolic contents were quantified and correlated with α-amylase/α-glucosidase inhibition and antioxidant capacity, with samples from Zhejiang showing the strongest activity. Untargeted metabolomics revealed clear chemotype divergence among origins, with differential metabolites enriched in phenylalanine metabolism and phenylpropanoid-related pathways. A function-structure strategy integrating bioactivity correlation with docking-derived binding plausibility filtered 420 differential metabolites to 17 high-confidence candidates, highlighting hyperoside. Interpretable machine learning with SHAP analysis identified seven core targets, with SLC2A2 (GLUT2) emerging as a key node. Molecular docking and dynamics simulations suggested stable hyperoside-SLC2A2 binding. In a high-glucose-induced MIN6 insulin resistance model, hyperoside restored glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, improved glucose utilization, alleviated oxidative stress, increased ATP levels, and upregulated PDX1 and Nrf2 while restoring SLC2A2 expression. Collectively, this study provides mechanistic insights supporting the potential of I. latifolius as a functional ingredient for glycemic regulation and offers a scientific basis for its high-value utilization.

Koelreuteria species serve as valuable sources of bioactive phytochemicals. This study explored the potential of chemical constituents derived from Koelreuteria bipinnata leaves as multifunctional natural ingredients for cosmetic applications. Through bioassay-guided fractionation targeting β-ketoacyl-acyl carrier protein reductase (FabG), 12 compounds were isolated and identified. Notably, five galloylated flavonoid glycosides were discovered as previously unreported FabG inhibitors. Among them, quercetin-3-O-(2″-O-galloyl)-rhamnoside (QGR) displayed the most potent FabG inhibitory activity (IC50 = 44.16 μM), acting as a competitive and uncompetitive inhibitor with respect to the substrate and cofactor, respectively. Molecular docking revealed that QGR interacts with the Lys155, Leu58, and Gly12 residues of FabG via hydrogen bonds. Furthermore, QGR exhibited notable synergism with methylparaben against Staphylococcus aureus (fractional inhibitory concentration index, FICI = 0.375), thereby formulating a novel synergistic combination of a natural product and a paraben preservative. Additionally, QGR demonstrated robust antioxidant capacity, with an IC50 of 13.0 μM for ABTS radical scavenging, and significantly protected normal human immortalized keratinocytes (HaCaT) cells against H2O2-induced oxidative damage, increasing cell viability from 71.25% to 92.56%. These findings highlight that galloylated flavonoid glycosides from K. bipinnata leaves are promising natural candidates for developing safe and multifunctional cosmetic ingredients.

As a globally significant agroforestry species, moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) requires enhanced stress resilience for sustainable production. Flavonoids are critical mediators of stress responses, yet the genetic architecture governing their biosynthesis in moso bamboo remains poorly characterized. Here, we identified and systematically analyzed 111 genes from 15 flavonoid biosynthesis-related families in P. edulis. Genomic analysis revealed extensive gene family expansion and structural diversity compared to Arabidopsis thaliana, with evolutionary processes driven primarily by tandem duplication and purifying selection. Through transcriptomic profiling and co-expression network analysis, PeFNSI1 was identified as a key stress-responsive hub gene due to its strong upregulation under multiple stresses and high network connectivity. Functional characterization revealed that PeFNSI1 localizes to the cytoplasm and catalyzes the conversion of naringenin and eriodictyol into apigenin and luteolin, respectively. Heterologous overexpression of PeFNSI1 in Nicotiana benthamiana profoundly reprogrammed salicylic acid (SA) metabolic flux by inducing the PAL-derived SA biosynthetic pathway while concurrently suppressing SA glucosylation. This metabolic redirection prioritized the accumulation of active free SA, thereby conferring enhanced resistance to Pst DC3000. These results suggest a potential feed-forward amplification loop between flavonoids and SA signaling, establishing PeFNSI1 as a key regulatory node in stress adaptation. This study provides a foundational genetic framework for flavonoid biosynthesis in moso bamboo and identifies critical targets for precision breeding to improve stress tolerance and secondary metabolite production.

Polygonatum sibiricum (P. sibiricum) is a significantly health-promoting plant unique in medicine and food. Currently, research on the bioactive components of P. sibiricum primarily focuses on polysaccharides. According to the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, the polysaccharide content in P. sibiricum must be at least 7.0%, which is the only criterion used for determining its content. In contrast, this study aims to thoroughly investigate and clarify the various components that contribute to the therapeutic and functional properties of P. sibiricum. We seek to broaden the focus beyond polysaccharides to identify other potentially significant bioactive substances. We established High-Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC) fingerprints for wine-processed P. sibiricum from various regions and identified 17 common peaks. The antioxidant activities of these components were assessed using ABTS and DPPH methods. The spectrum–effect relationship was elucidated through partial least squares regression and grey relational analysis. The results revealed that the antioxidant active components in wine-processed P. sibiricum include 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, p-hydroxycinnamic acid, myricetin, caffeic acid, vanillic acid, and adenosine. This research not only clarifies the antioxidant material basis of wine-processed P. sibiricum but also establishes a scientific foundation for enhanced quality control in future applications.

Phyllostachys glauca McClure leaves (PML), as economical natural product material, contain abundant phenols, particularly flavonoids, with significant biological activities that contribute to their widespread applications in food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. To study the significant phenols in PML, an ultrasound-assisted deep eutectic solvent extraction method with high efficiency and low toxicity was established for extracting the phenols from PML and the bamboo leaves of 17 other bamboo species. Using the Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC) method, the content of phenols in the leaves of the 18 bamboo species was determined. PML were found to contain neochlorogenic acid, chlorogenic acid, cryptochlorogenic acid, isoorientin, and orientin at contents of 0.793 ± 00.17 mg/g, 0.491 ± 0.0081 mg/g, 0.485 ± 0.0043 mg/g, 0.465 ± 0.0021 mg/g, and 0.044 ± 0.0005 mg/g, respectively, with a total content of 2.278 mg/g. These contents were significantly higher than those found in the leaves of 17 other bamboo species. Additionally, the significant phenols, neochlorogenic acid, chlorogenic acid, and cryptochlorogenic acid were found simultaneously in the leaves of 15 bamboo species, especially in PML. Therefore, PML can be viewed as the natural product material with considerable application values, owing to its abundant phenols, and can exhibit its importance in utilizing neochlorogenic acid, chlorogenic acid, and cryptochlorogenic acid as resources.

The utilization of natural products in food preservation represents a promising strategy for the dual benefits of controlling foodborne pathogens and enhancing the nutritional properties of foods. Among the phytonutrients, flavonoids have been shown to exert antibacterial effects by disrupting bacterial cell membrane functionality; however, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain elusive. In this study, we investigated the effect of quercetin on the cell membrane permeability of Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 27217. A combined metabolomic and transcriptomic approach was adopted to examine the regulatory mechanism of quercetin with respect to the fatty acid composition and associated genes. Kinetic analysis and molecular docking simulations were conducted to assess quercetin’s inhibition of β-ketoacyl-acyl carrier protein reductase (FabG), a potential target in the bacterial fatty acid biosynthesis pathway. Metabolomic and transcriptomic results showed that quercetin increased the ratio of unsaturated to saturated fatty acids and the levels of membrane phospholipids. The bacteria reacted to quercetin-induced stress by attempting to enhance fatty acid biosynthesis; however, quercetin directly inhibited FabG activity, thereby disrupting bacterial fatty acid biosynthesis. These findings provide new insights into the mechanism of quercetin’s effects on bacterial cell membranes and suggest potential applications for quercetin in bacterial inhibition.

Bamboo leaf extract (BLE) is a pale brown powder extracted from bamboo leaves, and it is listed in the Chinese Standard GB-2760 as a legal and safe food additive. The present study aims to identify and characterize the major flavonoids in BLE. The identification of major flavonoids was carried out using ultra performance liquid chromatography combined with electrospray ionization quadruple time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC/ESI-QTOF-MS/MS). A total of 31 flavonoid compounds were identified and tentatively characterized base on reference standards and MS dissociation mechanisms. HPLC/ESI-QTOF-MS can serve as an important analytical platform to identification structure of bamboo leaf flavonoids (BLF).

Five new glycosides, namely methyl 3-methoxybenzoate-4,5-di-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (1), (1aS,3aS,3R)-3-(4'-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-3'-methoxyphenyl)-5,6-dioxa-bicyclo[3.3.0]octane-1-one (2), quinolin-4(1H)-one-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (3), 3-methoxy-propiophenone 4-O-(6'-β-D-xylopyranosyl)-β-D-glucopyranoside (4), methyl 3-methoxybenzoate 4-O-(6'-β-D-xylopyranosyl)-β-D-glucopyranoside (5), and one known compound, bambulignan B (6) were isolated from the culms of Phyllostachys nigra var. henonis. Their structures were determined using spectroscopic analysis. All compounds were evaluated for their DPPH radical scavenging activity. Compound 6 exhibited antioxidant activity with IC50 value of 59.5 μM (positive control, L-ascorbic acid, IC50 = 12.4 μM; 2,6-ditertbutyl-4-methyl phenol, IC50 = 11.8 μM).

以低共熔溶剂为提取溶剂,用球磨法从毛竹叶中提取黄酮碳苷类化合物,采用高效液相色谱-飞行时间质谱(LC-Q-TOF-MS)测定竹叶中 4 种黄酮碳苷(异荭草苷、荭草苷、异牡荆苷和牡荆苷)的含量,通过单因素试验和正交试验,对低共熔溶剂的含水量、提取时间、液料比等因素进行考察.结果表明,从竹叶中提取黄酮碳苷的最佳工艺为:低共熔溶剂(氯化胆碱和乙二醇构成)含水量50%、提取时间150 s、液料比6∶1(mL∶g).在该条件下,从竹叶中提取 4 种黄酮碳苷的总提取得率为 1.55 mg/g,其中,异荭草苷0.99 mg/g、荭草苷0.23 mg/g、牡荆苷0.04 mg/g、异牡荆苷0.29 mg/g.该方法提取得率比浸渍提取法提高了7.6%,且节约了时间和有机溶剂.利用该优化工艺,结合LC-Q-TOF-MS检测,成功应用于以毛竹叶为原料制成竹茶样品的黄酮碳苷提取与测定.

Amphetamine-type drugs are synthetic compounds with an amphetamine parent structure. These compounds cause addiction, central nervous system excitation, and hallucinations. The number of drug users worldwide has gradually increased because amphetamine-type drugs can be synthesized in a simple and artificial manner. The current methods for anti-drug screening and toxicant identification are limited by the large quantity and variety of the drug analytes and long detection times. Thus, the development of broad-spectrum, rapid, and high-throughput detection methods is an urgent necessity. In addition, conventional amphetamine-type drug test samples, such as blood and urine, are only suitable for short-term drug identification. Hair has the advantages of easy preservation, stability, and a long detection window, which can compensate for the deficiencies of body-fluid-based test materials. Hair samples can reflect long-term drug use, which is beneficial for tracing drug sources, and has become an important means of providing evidence in court. Because most laboratory instruments are unable to perform the rapid on-site detection of amphetamine-type drugs in hair, establishing a high-throughput, qualitative and quantitative rapid on-site detection method is necessary. In this study, pulsed direct current electrospray ionization (Pulsed-DC-ESI) coupled with mass spectrometry was used for the rapid detection of four amphetamine-type drugs (amphetamine, methamphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine, and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) in hair. Methanol was used as the extraction solvent, and the grinding method was used for extraction. The pretreatment process included cutting, grinding, and centrifugation. The pretreatment time for each sample was about 10 min. Multiple samples could be processed in batches, greatly improving the efficiency of analysis. Pulsed-DC-ESI is an ambient ionization technology that can be conducted via direct injection without chromatographic separation. The tip of the spray capillary tube was immersed 1 cm below the surface of the sample solution to allow absorption via the capillary effect. When the spray capillary tube contained 1 μL of the sample solution, detection was performed. Pulsed-DC-ESI generates an electrospray at the same frequency as the mass spectrum, thereby avoiding the problem of sample wastage, which often occurs in traditional ESI. The portable mass spectrometer used for analysis is a linear ion trap mass spectrometer. The parameters of Pulsed-DC-ESI, such as the inner diameter of spray capillary tip, spray voltage, and distance between electrode and solution, were optimized based on the mass spectral responses of the amphetamine-type drugs. The optimized ion source conditions included a inner diameter of spray capillary tip of 25 μm, spray voltage of 2 kV, and the distance between electrode and solution of 20 mm. The optimal sample solvent was methanol. The optimized method can achieve simultaneous detection of the four amphetamine-type drugs within 20 s. The linear ranges of amphetamine, methamphetamine, and the two other drugs were 1-25, 1-100, and 1-50 ng/mg, respectively. The limits of detection and quantification of the four drugs in hair were 0.1-0.2 and 1 ng/mg, respectively. All linear correlation coefficients were greater than 0.99, and the average spiked recoveries were 86.6%-114.7%. The intra-day precisions were 4.14%-7.34%, and the inter-day precisions were 3.71%-8.43%. The proposed method was used to screen 2000 samples provided by various testing institutions. A total of five samples were positive for methamphetamine, which is consistent with the results of conventional forensic identification methods. Thus, the developed method can be used for the rapid detection of amphetamine-type drugs.

Background Linalool is a monoterpenoid, also a vital silvichemical with commercial applications in cosmetics, flavoring ingredients, and medicines. Regulation of mevalonate (MVA) pathway metabolic flux is a common strategy to engineer Saccharomyces cerevisiae for efficient linalool production. However, metabolic regulation of the MVA pathway is complex and involves competition for central carbon metabolism, resulting in limited contents of target metabolites. Results In this study, first, a truncated linalool synthase (t26AaLS1) from Actinidia arguta was selected for the production of linalool in S. cerevisiae . To simplify the complexity of the metabolic regulation of the MVA pathway and increase the flux of isopentenyl pyrophosphate (IPP) and dimethylallyl pyrophosphate (DMAPP), we introduced the two-step isopentenyl utilization pathway (IUP) into S. cerevisiae , which could produce large amounts of IPP/DMAPP. Further, the S. cerevisiae IDI1 (ecoding isopentenyl diphosphate delta-isomerase) and ERG20 F96W−N127W (encoding farnesyl diphosphate synthase) genes were integrated into the yeast genome, combined with the strategies of copy number variation of the t26AaLS1 and ERG20 F96W−N127W genes to increase the metabolic flux of the downstream IPP, as well as optimization of isoprenol and prenol concentrations, resulting in a 4.8-fold increase in the linalool titer. Eventually, under the optimization of carbon sources and Mg 2+ addition, a maximum linalool titer of 142.88 mg/L was obtained in the two-phase extractive shake flask fermentation. Conclusions The results show that the efficient synthesis of linalool in S. cerevisiae could be achieved through a two-step pathway, gene expression adjustment, and optimization of culture conditions. The study may provide a valuable reference for the other monoterpenoid production in S. cerevisiae .

A large amount of waste from Bambusa chungii culms is generated from the bamboo pulping industry, causing disposal problems. Nevertheless, bamboo culms are a suitable source of functional ingredients, such as antioxidant compounds. However, because of the high compactness and tightness in their material structure, obtaining phytochemicals from bamboo culms using conventional organic solvent extraction methods can be inefficient. In this research, we developed a pressurized hot water extraction (PHWE) method to recover 19 target phenolic compounds from Bambusa chungii culms. The extracted compounds were determined by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography–quadrupole time-of-flight–mass spectrometry (UPLC–QTOF–MS). The antioxidant potential of the extracts was evaluated by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2′-Azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. We investigated the effects of temperature, extraction time, and the material-to-liquid ratio on PHWE, and these parameters were optimized with a Box–Behnken design experiment and response surface tool. The optimal extraction condition was found at 170 °C, with a 1:30 g/mL material-to-liquid ratio and a 14 min extraction time. Following these optimal parameters, the total yield of target phenolic compounds (TYPC) reached 3.85 mg/g of raw material, and the half-maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC50) for the DPPH and ABTS tests were 94.7 mg/L and 21.88 mg/L, respectively. The FRAP value was 1.23 μmol FSE/mg of dried extract. A strong correlation between TYPC and the antioxidant activity of the extract was confirmed. The TYPC and antioxidant capacity of the optimal PHWE extract of the Bambusa chungii culms were both considerably higher than those of extracts obtained from conventional solvent extractions. These results indicated that PHWE is an excellent green technique for recovering phenolic compounds from bamboo culms, and the PHWE extracts of Bambusa chungii culms may be a good source of natural antioxidants.

An analytical method for the simultaneous determination of ten major functional flavonoids (isoorientin, orientin, vitexin, isovitexin, apigenin, luteolin, tricin, quercetin, rutin, and kaempferol) in different bamboo species was developed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Chromatographic separation was carried out on a reversed-phase C-18 column with acetonitrile and water as the mobile phases. Detection was performed in negative ion electrospray ionization mode using multiple reaction monitoring mode. The correlation coefficients for the calibration curves ranged from 0.9955 to 0.9997. The limit of detection ranged from 1 to 45 ng/ml. The applicability of this analytical approach was confirmed by the successful analysis of real leaf samples of four bamboo species, family Poaceae: Pleioblastus amarus (Keng) Keng f., Phyllostachys glauca McClure, Phyllostachys edullis (Carrière) J.Houz, and Indocalamus latifolius (Keng) McClure. The total flavonoid contents were 3321.09, 3095.96, 4037.33, and 2808.42 mg/kg for P. amarus , P. glauca , P. edullis , and I. latifolius , respectively. Graphical abstract

Bamboo leaves extract (BLE) has a variety of physiological functions such as antitumour, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and blood fat reduction activities and the flavonoids of bamboo leaves are the major active constituents. To profile the flavonoids in the complex BLE, a rapid and sensitive analytical method based on ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS/MS) was developed for the structural identification of the flavonoids in Bambusa chungii leaves extract using accurate mass measurements and characteristic fragmentation patterns. After separation on an Agilent SB-C18 Rapid Resolution High Definition (RRHD) column (2.1 mm x 150 mm, 1.8 mu m) by gradient elution with 0.1% formic acid aqueous solution and acetonitrile as the mobile phase, the sample was analysed by ESI-QTOF-MS/MS in the negative mode. A total of 22 flavonoids were detected, and eight of these were identified by comparison with reference standards, while the other fourteen were tentatively identified according to their MS/MS data. The main fragmentation pathways of flavonoid C-glycosides (compounds 1, 5 and 10), flavonoid di-C,O-glycosides (compound 4), flavonoid di-C-glycosides (compound 7) and flavonoid C,O-di-glycosides (compounds 2 and 14) are shown in this article. This is the first report on the analysis of the flavonoids in the extract of B. chungii leaves. The present work demonstrates that UPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS/MS is an efficient technique for identifying multiple flavonoids of BLE.

Interest in finding plant-based herbicides to supplement synthesized herbicides is increasing. Although the extract of Sapindus mukorossi Gaertn has been reported to have herbicidal activity, little is known about phytotoxic substances and their efficacy of weed control in the field. To identify phytotoxic substances, the bioassay-guided fractionation by column chromatography and high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) was carried out. The phytotoxic activity assay, performed by the agar medium method, showed that the 70% ethanol fraction exhibited strong root growth inhibition against Trifolium pratense with an 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) value of 35.13 mg/L. An active compound was isolated from the 70% ethanol fraction and identified as hederagenin 3-o-β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→3)-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-α-l-arabinopyranoside (Compound A). Compound A had an IC50 value of 16.64 mg/L. Finally, a new formulation was prepared based on the 70% ethanol fraction, which exhibited good efficacy against broadleaf weeds in a carrot field. The fresh weight control efficacy was 78.7% by 45 days after treatment at the dose of 1500 g a. i./ha. Hence, the extract of S. mukorossi pulp could be a promising supplement to the synthesized herbicides. Furthermore, compound A from S. mukorossi may be responsible for its phytotoxic activity.

本研究通过克隆香樟植物的1-脱氧-D-木酮糖-5-磷酸合酶(DXS)基因,进行生物信息学分析,为香樟DXS基因的功能及其表达调控提供基础.根据香樟转录组数据中注释为DXS的核苷酸拼接序列,设计特异性引物,进行香樟DXS基因的克隆,应用荧光定量PCR方法分析DXS基因在香樟根、茎和叶中的表达量.克隆获得香樟DXS基因,其cDNA序列长度为2 333 bp,开放读码阅读框(ORE)为2 187 bp,编码728个氨基酸,含有转酮醇酶等3个保守结构域.香樟DXS蛋白定位于叶绿体,是一个不含信号肽、无跨膜结构域的亲水性稳定蛋白,且蛋白二级结构主要为α-螺旋和无规则卷曲.通过氨基酸序列同源性分析发现,香樟DXS氨基酸序列与黄兰和鱼腥草的DXS氨基酸序列相似性较高,均为85％.分子进化树结果表明,香樟DXS蛋白与黄兰DXS蛋白亲缘关系较近.组织特异性表达分析结果显示,DXS在香樟叶与茎中的表达量高于根.成功克隆获得香樟DXS基因,研究结果为进一步探讨香樟DXS基因在萜类物质生物合成途径中的作用提供理论依据.

Linalool, a valuable monoterpene alcohol, is widely used in cosmetics and flavoring ingredients. However, its scalable production by microbial fermentation is not yet achieved. In this work, considerable increase in linalool production was obtained in Saccharomyces cerevisiae by dual metabolic engineering of the mevalonic acid (MVA) pathway in both mitochondria and cytoplasm. A farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase mutant ERG20(F96W/N127W) and a linalool synthase from Cinnamomum osmophloeum (CoLIS) were introduced and meanwhile the endogenous ERG20 was down-regulated to prevent the competitive loss of precursor. In addition, overexpression of the proteins of CoLIS and ERG20(F96W/N127W) and another copy of the same enzymes CoLIS/ERG20(F96W/N127W) with mitochondrial localization signal (MLS) were carried out to further pull the flux to linalool. Finally, a maximum linalool titer of 23.45 mg/L was obtained in a batch fermentation with sucrose as carbon source. This combinatorial engineering strategy may provide hints for biosynthesis of other monoterpenes.

Vacuum extraction method was selected to improve the extraction efficiency of total saponins from Sapindus mukorossi Gaertn with water as extraction solvent. The contents of total saponins were determined by spectrophotometry and ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) . Based on single factor experiments, orthogonal design was used to optimize the process parameters. The optimized extraction process was extraction temperature 60 ℃, extraction time 1 h and the solid-to-liquid ratio 1:14 (g:mL) . Under these conditions, the extraction rate of total saponins in S. mukorossi fruits was 15.34％ by using spectrophotometry. The herbicidal activity of the extract was evaluated by water agar medium method. The fruit extract exhibited obvious root-growth inhibition activity against Trifolium pratense L. with EC50 value of 0.116 g/L. The herbicidal active compounds were tentative identified as triterpenoid saponins by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) .