The Mucilage From the Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill. Cladodes Plays an Anti-Inflammatory Role in the LPS-Stimulated HepG2 Cells: A Combined In Vitro and In Silico Approach.

The effect of a mucilage extracted from Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill (OFI) cladodes was tested in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-challenged HepG2 hepatocarcinoma cells, through a combined in vitro-in silico approach. The OFI mucilage was characterized by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry.

Analysis of glycoalkaloid distribution in the tissues of mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor).

Solanine (SOL) and chaconine (CHA) are glycoalkaloids (GAs) produced mainly by Solanum plants. These plant secondary metabolites affect insect metabolism; thus, they have the potential to be applied as natural plant protection products. However, it is not known which GA concentration induces physiological changes in animals.

Innovative Multilayer Electrospun Patches for the Slow Release of Natural Oily Extracts as Dressings to Boost Wound Healing.

Electrospinning is an advanced manufacturing strategy used to create innovative medical devices from continuous nanoscale fibers that is endowed with tunable biological, chemical, and physical properties. Innovative medical patches manufactured entirely by electrospinning are discussed in this paper, using a specific plant-derived formulation "1 Primary Wound Dressing©" (1-PWD) as an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API). 1-PWD is composed of neem oil (Azadirachta indica A.

Glycosaminoglycan dermatan sulfate supplementation decreases diet-induced obesity and metabolic dysfunction in mice.

Glycosaminoglycans are complex carbohydrates used as nutraceuticals for diverse applications. We studied the potential of the glycosaminoglycan dermatan sulfate (DS) to counteract the development of diet-induced obesity (DIO) using obesity-prone mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD) as a model. Oral DS supplementation protected the animals against HFD-induced increases in whole-body adiposity, visceral fat mass, adipocyte size, blood glucose levels, insulin resistance, and pro-inflammatory lipids levels in brown adipose tissue (BAT) and the liver, where it largely counteracted the HFD-induced changes in the nonpolar metabolome.

Generation and physiological characterization of genome-edited Nicotiana benthamiana plants containing zeaxanthin as the only leaf xanthophyll.

Simultaneous genome editing of the two homeologous LCYe and ZEP genes of Nicotiana benthamiana results in plants in which all xanthophylls are replaced by zeaxanthin. Plant carotenoids act both as photoreceptors and photoprotectants in photosynthesis and as precursors of apocarotenoids, which include signaling molecules such as abscisic acid (ABA). As dietary components, the xanthophylls lutein and zeaxanthin have photoprotective functions in the human macula.

A multi-omic Nicotiana benthamiana resource for fundamental research and biotechnology.

Nicotiana benthamiana is an invaluable model plant and biotechnology platform with a ~3 Gb allotetraploid genome. To further improve its usefulness and versatility, we have produced high-quality chromosome-level genome assemblies, coupled with transcriptome, epigenome, microRNA and transposable element datasets, for the ubiquitously used LAB strain and a related wild accession, QLD. In addition, single nucleotide polymorphism maps have been produced for a further two laboratory strains and four wild accessions.

Production of Saffron Apocarotenoids in Plants Genome-Edited to Accumulate Zeaxanthin Precursor.

Crocins are glycosylated apocarotenoids with strong coloring power and anti-oxidant, anticancer, and neuro-protective properties. We previously dissected the saffron crocin biosynthesis pathway, and demonstrated that the CsCCD2 enzyme, catalyzing the carotenoid cleavage step, shows a strong preference for the xanthophyll zeaxanthin in vitro and in bacterio. In order to investigate substrate specificity in planta and to establish a plant-based bio-factory system for crocin production, we compared wild-type plants, accumulating various xanthophylls together with α- and β-carotene, with genome-edited lines, in which all the xanthophylls normally accumulated in leaves were replaced by a single xanthophyll, zeaxanthin.

Aglianico Grape Seed Semi-Polar Extract Exerts Anticancer Effects by Modulating MDM2 Expression and Metabolic Pathways.

Grapevine ( L.) seeds are rich in polyphenols including proanthocyanidins, molecules with a variety of biological effects including anticancer action. We have previously reported that the grape seed semi-polar extract of Aglianico cultivar (AGS) was able to induce apoptosis and decrease cancer properties in different mesothelioma cell lines.

Atlas of phenotypic, genotypic and geographical diversity present in the European traditional tomato.

The Mediterranean basin countries are considered secondary centres of tomato diversification. However, information on phenotypic and allelic variation of local tomato materials is still limited. Here we report on the evaluation of the largest traditional tomato collection, which includes 1499 accessions from Southern Europe.

European traditional tomatoes galore: a result of farmers' selection of a few diversity-rich loci.

A comprehensive collection of 1254 tomato accessions, corresponding to European traditional and modern varieties, early domesticated varieties, and wild relatives, was analyzed by genotyping by sequencing. A continuous genetic gradient between the traditional and modern varieties was observed. European traditional tomatoes displayed very low genetic diversity, with only 298 polymorphic loci (95% threshold) out of 64 943 total variants.

Improvement of Antioxidant Properties in Fruit from Two Blood and Blond Orange Cultivars by Postharvest Storage at Low Temperature.

Numerous studies have revealed the remarkable health-promoting activities of citrus fruits, all of them related to the accumulation of bioactive compounds, including vitamins and phytonutrients. Anthocyanins are characteristic flavonoids present in blood orange, which require low-temperature for their production. Storage at low-temperature of blood oranges has been proven to be a feasible postharvest strategy to increase anthocyanins in those countries with warm climates.

Heterologous expression of Bixa orellana cleavage dioxygenase 4-3 drives crocin but not bixin biosynthesis.

Annatto (Bixa orellana) is a perennial shrub native to the Americas, and bixin, derived from its seeds, is a methoxylated apocarotenoid used as a food and cosmetic colorant. Two previous reports claimed to have isolated the carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase (CCD) responsible for the production of the putative precursor of bixin, the C24 apocarotenal bixin dialdehyde. We re-assessed the activity of six Bixa CCDs and found that none of them produced substantial amounts of bixin dialdehyde in Escherichia coli.

An Eggplant Recombinant Inbred Population Allows the Discovery of Metabolic QTLs Controlling Fruit Nutritional Quality.

Eggplant ( L.) represents the third most important crop of the Solanaceae family and is an important component of our daily diet. A population of 164 F6 recombinant inbred lines (RILs), derived from two eggplant lines differing with respect to several key agronomic traits, "305E40" and "67/3," was grown to the commercial maturation stage, and fruits were harvested, separated into peel and flesh, and subjected to liquid chromatography Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (LC/MS) analysis.

Pivotal Roles of Cryptochromes 1a and 2 in Tomato Development and Physiology.

Cryptochromes are flavin-containing blue/UVA light photoreceptors that regulate various plant light-induced physiological processes. In Arabidopsis (), cryptochromes mediate de-etiolation, photoperiodic control of flowering, entrainment of the circadian clock, cotyledon opening and expansion, anthocyanin accumulation, and root growth. In tomato (), cryptochromes are encoded by a multigene family, comprising , , , and We have previously reported the phenotypes of tomato mutants and overexpressing plants.

The role of phytochromes in regulating biosynthesis of sterol glycoalkaloid in eggplant leaves.

Glycoalkaloids are toxic compounds that are synthesized by many Solanum species. Glycoalkaloid biosynthesis is influenced by plant genetic and environmental conditions. Although many studies have shown that light is an important factor affecting glycoalkaloid biosynthesis, the specific mechanism is currently unknown.

Molecular and biochemical characterization of a potato collection with contrasting tuber carotenoid content.

After wheat and rice, potato is the third most important staple food worldwide. A collection of ten tetraploid (Solanum tuberosum) and diploid (S. phureja and S.

Teaching self-care as a junior faculty member: perspectives and lessons learned.

Self-care is an important component of the doctor of pharmacy curriculum due to the expanding nonprescription medication market and the high percentage of pharmacists practicing in community pharmacy. It can be incorporated as a freestanding course or integrated throughout the curriculum. This article presents the experiences of 2 junior faculty members at 2 different pharmacy schools who were charged with coordinating self-care instruction at their institutions.