Optimization of Biocatalytic Rhododendrol Production from Biogenic Rhododendrol Glycosides.

An enzyme-catalyzed synthesis of rhododendrol, an intermediate in the production of raspberry ketone, was investigated. The approach involves the enzymatic hydrolysis of rhododendrol glycosides into rhododendrol and a glycosidic residue. Rhododendrol glycosides, which are naturally derived from the inner bark of birch trees-a renewable resource-vary considerably in composition depending on the origin of the plants.

Western diet-induced cognitive and metabolic dysfunctions in aged mice are prevented by rosmarinic acid in a sex-dependent fashion.

Background & Aims: Unhealthy lifestyles, such as chronic consumption of a Western Diet (WD), have been associated with increased systemic inflammation and oxidative stress (OS), a condition that may favour cognitive dysfunctions during aging. Polyphenols, such as rosmarinic acid (RA) may buffer low-grade inflammation and OS, characterizing the aging brain that is sustained by WD, promoting healthspan. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of RA to prevent cognitive decline in a mouse model of WD-driven unhealthy aging and to gain knowledge on the specific molecular pathways modulated within the brain.

Identification of staphyloxanthin and derivates in yellow-pigmented subsp. .

Introduction: naturally colonizes the human skin but as an opportunistic pathogen, it can also cause biofilm-associated infections and bloodstream infections in newborns. Previously, we found that two strains from the subspecies subsp. produce yellow carotenoids despite the initial species description, reporting this subspecies as non-pigmented.

Rosmarinic Acid Improves Cognitive Abilities and Glucose Metabolism in Aged C57Bl/6N Mice While Disrupting Lipid Profile in Young Adults in a Sex-Dependent Fashion.

A growing body of evidence suggests that regular consumption of natural products might promote healthy aging; however, their mechanisms of action are still unclear. Rosmarinic acid (RA) is a polyphenol holding anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and neuroprotective properties. The aim of this study was to characterise the efficacy of an oral administration of RA in promoting healthspan in a mouse model of physiological aging.

Phenotypic and genomic assessment of the potential threat of human spaceflight-relevant isolates under stress conditions.

Previous studies have reported that spaceflight specific conditions such as microgravity lead to changes in bacterial physiology and resistance behavior including increased expression of virulence factors, enhanced biofilm formation and decreased susceptibility to antibiotics. To assess if spaceflight induced physiological changes can manifest in human-associated bacteria, we compared three spaceflight relevant isolates (DSM 111179, ISS; DSM 31028, clean room; DSM 113836; artificial gravity bedrest study) with the type strain (DSM 20326). We tested the three strains regarding growth, colony morphology, metabolism, fatty acid and polar lipid pattern, biofilm formation, susceptibility to antibiotics and survival in different stress conditions such as treatment with hydrogen peroxide, exposure to desiccation, and irradiation with X-rays and UV-C.

Identification of a Hydroxygallic Acid Derivative, Zingibroside R1 and a Sterol Lipid as Potential Active Ingredients of Extract That Has Neuroprotective and Antioxidant Effects in Aged .

We examined the effects of the extracts from two traditional Chinese medicine plants, and on the healthspan of the model organism . increased the short-term memory and the mechanosensory response of aged Furthermore, both extracts improved the resistance towards oxidative stress, and decreased the intracellular level of reactive oxygen species. Chemical analyses of the extracts revealed the presence of several bioactive compounds such as chlorogenic acid, cinnamic acid, and quercetin.

Ion-Pairing Chromatography and Amine Derivatization Provide Complementary Approaches for the Targeted LC-MS Analysis of the Polar Metabolome.

Liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry is a key metabolomics/metabonomics technology. Reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) is very widely used as a separation step, but typically has poor retention of highly polar metabolites. Here, we evaluated the combination of two alternative methods for improving retention of polar metabolites based on 6-aminoquinoloyl--hydroxysuccinidimyl carbamate derivatization for amine groups, and ion-pairing chromatography (IPC) using tributylamine as an ion-pairing agent to retain acids.

Spaceflight Virology: What Do We Know about Viral Threats in the Spaceflight Environment?

Viruses constitute a significant part of the human microbiome, so wherever humans go, viruses are brought with them, even on space missions. In this mini review, we focus on the International Space Station (ISS) as the only current human habitat in space that has a diverse range of viral genera that infect microorganisms from bacteria to eukaryotes. Thus, we have reviewed the literature on the physical conditions of space habitats that have an impact on both virus transmissibility and interaction with their host, which include UV radiation, ionizing radiation, humidity, and microgravity.

Novel mannosylerythritol lipid biosurfactant structures from castor oil revealed by advanced structure analysis.

Mannosylerythritol lipids (MELs) are glycolipid biosurfactants produced by fungi of the Ustilaginaceae family in the presence of hydrophobic carbon sources like plant oils. In the present study, we investigated the structural composition of MELs produced from castor oil using seven different microorganisms and compared them to MEL structures resulting from other plant oils. Castor oil is an industrially relevant plant oil that presents as an alternative to currently employed edible plant oils like rapeseed or soybean oil.

An ADH toolbox for raspberry ketone production from natural resources via a biocatalytic cascade.

Raspberry ketone is a widely used flavor compound in food and cosmetic industry. Several processes for its biocatalytic production have already been described, but either with the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) or incomplete conversion of the variety of precursors that are available in nature. Such natural precursors are rhododendrol glycosides with different proportions of (R)- and (S)-rhododendrol depending on the origin.

MARSBOx: Fungal and Bacterial Endurance From a Balloon-Flown Analog Mission in the Stratosphere.

Whether terrestrial life can withstand the martian environment is of paramount interest for planetary protection measures and space exploration. To understand microbial survival potential in Mars-like conditions, several fungal and bacterial samples were launched in September 2019 on a large NASA scientific balloon flight to the middle stratosphere (∼38 km altitude) where radiation levels resembled values at the equatorial Mars surface. Fungal spores of and bacterial cells of , subsp.

Enhanced Healthspan in Treated With Extracts From the Traditional Chinese Medicine Plants Lam. and Oliv.

To uncover potential anti-aging capacities of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the nematode was used to investigate the effects of and extracts, selected by screening seven TCM extracts, on different healthspan parameters. Nematodes exposed to and extracts, starting at the young adult stage, exhibited prolonged lifespan and increased survival after heat stress as well as upon exposure to the pathogenic bacterium , whereby the survival benefits were monitored after stress initiation at different adult stages. However, only had the ability to enhance physical fitness: the swimming behavior and the pharyngeal pumping rate of were improved at day 7 and especially at day 12 of adulthood.

Intense bitterness of molecules: Machine learning for expediting drug discovery.

Drug development is a long, expensive and multistage process geared to achieving safe drugs with high efficacy. A crucial prerequisite for completing the medication regimen for oral drugs, particularly for pediatric and geriatric populations, is achieving taste that does not hinder compliance. Currently, the aversive taste of drugs is tested in late stages of clinical trials.

Plant-Derived Molecules α-Boswellic Acid Acetate, Praeruptorin-A, and Salvianolic Acid-B Have Age-Related Differential Effects in Young and Senescent Human Fibroblasts In Vitro.

Testing and screening of plant-derived molecules on normal human cells in vitro is a widely used approach for discovering their eventual health beneficial effects for human ageing and longevity. As little is known about age-associated differential effects of such molecules, here we report that young (<25% replicative lifespan completed) and near-senescent (>90% replicative lifespan completed) human skin fibroblasts exposed for 1-15 days to a wide range of concentrations (0.1-100 μM) of the three selected phytochemicals, namely α-boswellic acid acetate (ABC), praeruptorin-A (PTA), and salvianolic acid-B (SAB) had age-related differential effects.

Phytochemicals Rosmarinic Acid, Ampelopsin, and Amorfrutin-A Can Modulate Age-Related Phenotype of Serially Passaged Human Skin Fibroblasts .

One of the aims of the EU-funded Research and Innovation Action (RIA), titled "Ageing with Elegans" (AwE) is to enhance better understanding of the factors causing health and disease in aging and develop evidence-based preventive, diagnostic, therapeutic, and other strategies. The work package-5 of this project is focused on testing the effects of phytochemicals of natural and synthetic origin on aging, longevity, and health of human cells , after the initial screening using the animal model systems of nematodes and rats and mice. Accordingly, the first series of three compounds, rosmarinic acid (ROSM), ampelopsin (AMPEL), and amorfrutin-A (AMOR), were selected to test for their short-term and long-term effects on human skin fibroblasts undergoing aging and senescence The lifelong modulatory effects of these compounds were tested individually at two doses (0.

Tonantzitlolone is a nanomolar potency activator of transient receptor potential canonical 1/4/5 channels.

Background And Purpose: The diterpene ester tonantzitlolone (TZL) is a natural product, which displays cytotoxicity towards certain types of cancer cell such as renal cell carcinoma cells. The effect is similar to that of (-)-englerin A, and so, although it is chemically distinct, we investigated whether TZL also targets transient receptor potential canonical (TRPC) channels of the 1, 4 and 5 type (TRPC1/4/5 channels).

Experimental Approach: The effects of TZL on renal cell carcinoma A498 cells natively expressing TRPC1 and TRPC4, modified HEK293 cells overexpressing TRPC4, TRPC5, TRPC4-TRPC1 or TRPC5-TRPC1 concatemer, TRPC3 or TRPM2, or CHO cells overexpressing TRPV4 were studied by determining changes in intracellular Ca , or whole-cell or excised membrane patch-clamp electrophysiology.

Natural 6-hydroxy-chromanols and -chromenols: structural diversity, biosynthetic pathways and health implications.

We present the first comprehensive and systematic review on the structurally diverse toco-chromanols and -chromenols found in photosynthetic organisms, including marine organisms, and as metabolic intermediates in animals. The focus of this work is on the structural diversity of chromanols and chromenols that result from various side chain modifications. We describe more than 230 structures that derive from a 6-hydroxy-chromanol- and 6-hydroxy-chromenol core, respectively, and comprise di-, sesqui-, mono- and hemiterpenes.

Human cell-based taste perception - a bittersweet job for industry.

Covering: 2000 to 2016On the molecular level humans sense food by a variety of specialized tissues which express sensory receptors to handle nutritive value. In general, this means the interplay of gustatory, olfactory, trigeminal and haptic sensation is translated into perception and leads, in terms of taste, to descriptions like sweet, bitter, salty, sour and umami. Further perceptions include astringent, cool, hot, prickle, lingering, kokumi and fatty to name predominant characterizations.

Effects of extracts and compounds from Tricholoma populinum Lange on degranulation and IL-2/IL-8 secretion of immune cells.

Tricholoma populinum Lange is an edible basidiomycete from the family Tricholomataceae. Extracts, fractions, and different metabolites isolated from the fruiting bodies of this mushroom were tested for degranulation-inhibiting activities on RBL-2H3 cells (rat basophils). Dichloromethane extracts decreased degranulation significantly, as did a fraction after column chromatography.

Flavonol Glycosides and Cytotoxic Steroidal Saponins from Furcraea tuberosa (Agavaceae).

Phytochemical analysis of the mature fruits of Furcraea tuberosa (Agavaceae) resulted in the isolation of a new bisdesmosidic spirostanol saponin (1), along with eight known steroidal glycosides (2-9), one known phenolic carboxylic acid ester (10) and three known flavonol glycosides (11-13). The structures of these compounds were assigned using a combination of ID and 2D NMR techniques including ¹H, ¹³C, COSY, TOCSY, HSQC and HMBC NMR, and confirmed by mass spectrometry. Thus the new saponin was elucidated as (25R)-6α-(β-D-glucopyranosyloxy)-5α-spirostane-3β-Ο-[(6-Ο-hexadecanoyl)-β-D- glucopyranoside].

Sesquiterpene Lactone Composition and Cellular Nrf2 Induction of Taraxacum officinale Leaves and Roots and Taraxinic Acid β-d-Glucopyranosyl Ester.

Taraxacum officinale, the common dandelion, is a plant of the Asteraceae family, which is used as a food and medical herb. Various secondary plant metabolites such as sesquiterpene lactones, triterpenoids, flavonoids, phenolic acids, coumarins, and steroids have been described to be present in T. officinale.

Long-Lasting WNT-TCF Response Blocking and Epigenetic Modifying Activities of Withanolide F in Human Cancer Cells.

The WNT-TCF signaling pathway participates in adult tissue homeostasis and repair, and is hyperactive in a number of human diseases including cancers of the colon. Whereas to date there are no antagonists approved for patient use, a potential problem for their sustained use is the blockade of WNT signaling in healthy tissues, thus provoking potentially serious co-lateral damage. Here we have screened a library of plant and microorganism small molecules for novel WNT signaling antagonists and describe withanolide F as a potent WNT-TCF response blocker.

Synthesis and antiproliferative activity of new tonantzitlolone-derived diterpene derivatives.

The synthesis of the diterpene (+)-tonantzitlolone A and a series of derivatives is reported. The study includes the determination of their antiproliferative activities against selected cancer cell lines.

Ageing with elegans: a research proposal to map healthspan pathways.

Human longevity continues to increase world-wide, often accompanied by decreasing birth rates. As a larger fraction of the population thus gets older, the number of people suffering from disease or disability increases dramatically, presenting a major societal challenge. Healthy ageing has therefore been selected by EU policy makers as an important priority ( http://www.