The genus Artemisia, with over 500 species within the Asteraceae family, is spread across the globe and exhibits varying treatment potentials for a wide range of ailments. The discovery of artemisinin, a potent anti-malarial compound based on a sesquiterpene, in Artemisia annua has subsequently led to sustained investigation into the phytochemical constituents of this plant species in recent decades. The past several years have seen an upsurge in studies of phytochemicals in diverse plant species, including Artemisia afra, in the hope of identifying novel molecules with potential pharmacological applications. The process has yielded compounds from both species, largely monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and polyphenols, each with its distinct spectrum of pharmacological effects. This review examines the core compounds of plant species that exhibit anti-malarial, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory potential, concentrating on their pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties. The toxicity of both plants, including their anti-malarial characteristics, particularly those found in other species of the Artemisia genus, is also addressed. A thorough literature search across web databases, including ResearchGate, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, PubMed, Phytochemical, and Ethnobotanical databases, yielded the collected data, all publications up to 2022 included. A categorization of compounds was achieved based on their specific effects: direct anti-plasmodial activity versus anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, or antipyretic properties. For pharmacokinetics, compounds were categorized according to their impact on bioavailability (with CYP or P-glycoprotein mechanisms) versus their impact on the stability of pharmacodynamic active components.
Feed ingredients, rooted in circular economy models and incorporating emerging proteins like insects and microbial meals, could potentially partly replace fishmeal in the diets of high-trophic fish. Growth and feed efficiency might not be negatively affected at low ingredient levels, however, the metabolic repercussions remain unknown. Juvenile turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) metabolic reactions were assessed across diets containing escalating fishmeal replacements with plant, animal, and emerging protein sources (PLANT, PAP, and MIX), while a commercial diet (CTRL) served as a benchmark. NMR spectroscopy, a 1H nuclear magnetic resonance technique, was employed to evaluate the metabolic signatures of muscle and liver tissues following 16 weeks of feeding the fish with the experimental diets. A comparative examination unveiled a drop in metabolites linked to energy shortage in the tissues of fish consuming reduced fishmeal diets in contrast to fish fed the commercial control diet (CTRL). The observed metabolic response, coupled with the maintained growth and feeding parameters, suggests that the balanced feed formulations, particularly at lower fishmeal replacement rates, possess industrial applicability.
Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based metabolomics is a common research method for comprehensively characterizing metabolites in biological systems. This approach aids in identifying biomarkers and in investigating the underlying causes of diseases in response to various perturbations. High-field superconducting NMR, notwithstanding its potential, is unfortunately limited in medical and field research due to its substantial expense and restricted availability. This study characterized the variations in metabolic profile of fecal extracts from dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis model mice, employing a benchtop NMR spectrometer (60 MHz) with a permanent magnet, and then compared these results to data obtained from a 800 MHz high-field NMR spectrometer. The 60 MHz 1H NMR spectra were correlated to nineteen metabolites. Untargeted multivariate analysis successfully categorized the DSS-induced group apart from the healthy controls, showcasing a remarkable degree of consistency with the outcomes from high-field NMR. In addition, the accurate quantification of acetate, a noteworthy metabolite, was achieved through a generalized Lorentzian curve-fitting methodology, utilizing 60 MHz NMR spectral data.
Yams, both economically and medicinally valuable, exhibit a lengthy growth cycle, lasting 9 to 11 months, a consequence of their prolonged tuber dormancy. The challenge of tuber dormancy has significantly curtailed yam production and genetic improvement. MEM modified Eagle’s medium Our study utilized gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to conduct a non-targeted comparative metabolomic profiling of Obiaoturugo and TDr1100873 yam tubers, aiming to identify metabolites and associated pathways associated with yam tuber dormancy. Starting 42 days after physiological maturity (DAPM), yam tubers were sampled continuously until they began to sprout. The 42-DAPM, 56-DAPM, 87-DAPM, 101-DAPM, 115-DAPM, and 143-DAPM sampling points are included. Annotation of 949 metabolites revealed 559 in the TDr1100873 sample and 390 in the Obiaoturugo sample. In the studied tuber dormancy stages and genotypes, a count of 39 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) was determined. The tubers of TDr1100873 exhibited 5 unique DAMs, and the tubers of Obiaoturugo contained 7 unique DAMs, with 27 DAMs being conserved between both genotypes. The differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) are spread throughout 14 distinct functional chemical groups. Amines, biogenic polyamines, amino acids and derivatives, alcohols, flavonoids, alkaloids, phenols, esters, coumarins, and phytohormones exhibited positive effects on the induction and maintenance of yam tuber dormancy. Conversely, dormancy breaking and sprouting in tubers from both yam genotypes were positively affected by fatty acids, lipids, nucleotides, carboxylic acids, sugars, terpenoids, benzoquinones, and benzene derivatives. Analysis of metabolite sets (MSEA) showed a notable increase in 12 metabolisms during the tuber dormancy stages of yam. An analysis of metabolic pathway topology further uncovered that six pathways—linoleic acid, phenylalanine, galactose, starch and sucrose, alanine-aspartate-glutamine, and purine—substantially influenced yam tuber dormancy regulation. Selleck iMDK This finding provides indispensable insights into the molecular mechanisms that manage yam tuber dormancy.
To discern biomarkers characterizing various chronic kidney diseases (CKDs), researchers implemented metabolomic analytical procedures. In urine samples collected from Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN) patients, a specific metabolomic profile was identified and characterized utilizing modern analytical approaches. The objective was to delineate a particular metabolomic profile discernible through readily identifiable molecular markers. Urine samples were acquired from subjects exhibiting chronic kidney disease (CKD) and benign entity (BEN), including healthy individuals from both endemic and non-endemic areas of Romania. A metabolomic study of urine, extracted by the liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) procedure, was performed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The statistical assessment of the outcomes was performed with a principal component analysis (PCA). Immune infiltrate Six types of metabolites served as the basis for a statistical analysis of urine samples. A central accumulation of urinary metabolites within the loading plot suggests that these compounds are not reliable BEN markers. In BEN patients, p-Cresol, a phenolic urinary metabolite, displayed high frequency and concentration, indicating a critical impairment of the renal filtration process. In the presence of p-Cresol, protein-bound uremic toxins, including those with functional groups such as indole and phenyl, were detected. Larger sample sizes, alternative sample collection strategies, and advanced chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry are recommended in future prospective studies focused on disease treatment and prevention to facilitate more extensive statistical analysis of resultant data.
Gamma-aminobutyric acid, or GABA, exhibits beneficial effects across a range of physiological processes. A future trend is the production of GABA by lactic acid bacteria. To produce a sodium-ion-free GABA fermentation process, this study targeted the Levilactobacillus brevis CD0817 strain. In this fermentation, the seed and the fermentation medium's substrate was L-glutamic acid, a different material than monosodium L-glutamate. By employing Erlenmeyer flask fermentation, we optimized the key elements impacting GABA production. The optimal values for the key factors – glucose (10 g/L), yeast extract (35 g/L), Tween 80 (15 g/L), manganese ions (0.2 mM), and fermentation temperature (30°C) – were determined. Following optimized data analysis, a 10-liter fermenter was employed in the development of a sodium-ion-free GABA fermentation process. During fermentation, the continuous dissolution of L-glutamic acid powder sustained a crucial substrate supply and maintained the acidic environment conducive to GABA synthesis. After 48 hours, the bioprocess yielded a GABA concentration of up to 331.83 grams per liter. The hourly productivity of GABA amounted to 69 grams per liter, and the substrate's molar conversion rate reached a remarkable 981 percent. The proposed method, as suggested by these findings, holds promise for the fermentative preparation of GABA by the employment of lactic acid bacteria.
The brain-based condition known as bipolar disorder (BD) is associated with varying degrees of emotional response, energy levels, and functional ability. Approximately 60 million people worldwide are afflicted by this condition, positioning it within the top 20 most burdensome illnesses globally. The understanding and diagnosis of BD face significant challenges due to the combined effect of the disease's intricate complexity, arising from various genetic, environmental, and biochemical factors, and the reliance on subjective symptom recognition for diagnosis without objective biomarker analysis. Employing 1H-NMR-based metabolomics and chemometrics on serum samples from 33 Serbian patients with BD and 39 healthy controls, 22 disease-specific metabolites were identified.