Neil Patrick Uy

Acalypha australis has not been thoroughly investigated for its α-amylase inhibitory activity, particularly in studies that integrate bioactivity with quantitative phytochemical profiling. To address this gap, the present study simultaneously evaluated the radical scavenging activity and α-amylase inhibitory activity of A. australis extract (AAE) and contextualized its bioactivity through LC–MS/MS profiling and HPLC-based quantification. AAE exhibited concentration-dependent inhibitory effects, with IC ₅₀ values of 948 µg/mL (ABTS), 708 µg/mL (DPPH), and 23.77 µg/mL (α-amylase). LC-MS/MS analysis tentatively identified 27 compounds, predominantly phenolic acids, flavonoids, and ellagitannins. Six phenolic compounds were quantified through HPLC, with corilagin ( 2 ) as the major constituent, while comparatively lower levels of myricetin ( 6 ) were detected. Subsequent assays of the isolated constituents revealed that their bioactivities were not uniform, exhibiting distinct response patterns in both ABTS and DPPH radical scavenging systems, as well as in α-amylase inhibition. Although the crude extract exhibited stronger inhibitory activity than the individually tested compounds, this observation may reflect the contribution of multiple constituents, including unidentified components, rather than definitive synergistic interactions. These findings provide a biologically oriented chemical characterization of AAE and support its potential as a moderate in vitro α-amylase inhibitor.

The transition from cotyledons to true leaves involves substantial metabolic changes. However, the stage-specific bioactive properties of native ornamental plants have not been thoroughly investigated. This study compared total phenolic and flavonoid contents together with preliminary biological activities of the cotyledon and true leaf stages in Lespedeza cyrtobotrya, Amorpha fruticosa, Flueggea suffruticosa, Ulmus parvifolia, Tripora divaricata, and Paulownia coreana seedlings to optimize their potential for horticultural applications. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents (TPC and TFC) of ethanol extracts were evaluated, and radical scavenging capacities were assessed using ABTS and DPPH assays. Preliminary antibacterial activities were also investigated against Staphylococcus aureus, Acinetobacter baumannii, while potential quorum sensing (QS) inhibition was tested against Chromobacterium violaceum. The transition to the true leaf stage was consistently associated with increased TPC and TFC levels, suggesting increased antioxidant potential in L. cyrtobotrya, A. fruticosa, F. suffruticosa, and U. parvifolia. In contrast, cotyledons of T. divaricata and P. coreana exhibited preliminary antibacterial and antioxidant potential that surpassed those of the true leaves. As the true leaves matured, pigment-suppression activity was observed in selected extracts, suggesting that the true leaf stage may possess potential QS inhibitory activity. These stage-dependent bioactivities provide essential baseline data for optimizing harvest timing and highlight the potential of specific seedling stages for applications in urban horticulture.

Allium longistylum is a relatively understudied species whose phytochemical composition and biological activities remain largely unexplored. In this study, the first true leaf (FTL) and the second true leaf (STL) of A. longistylum were compared with respect to phenolic composition, antioxidant capacity, antimicrobial activity, and quorum-sensing (QS) inhibition. Total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) were determined spectrophotometrically, while antioxidant activity was evaluated using ABTS and DPPH radical scavenging assays. Antimicrobial and anti-QS activities were assessed against Staphylococcus aureus, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Chromobacterium violaceum. STL exhibited significantly higher TPC and TFC than FTL, consistent with its stronger radical scavenging activity. Both extracts showed moderate antimicrobial activity and reduced violacein production in C. violaceum, indicating interference with QS. UPLC-Q-Orbitrap-ESI-MS/MS profiling tentatively identified several phenolic acids and flavonoid derivatives. HPLC analysis confirmed the presence of selected phenolic compounds, although several prominent peaks in the chromatograms remained unidentified. Many of the compounds detected by UPLC-Q-Orbitrap-ESI-MS/MS and HPLC have previously been reported to exhibit antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-QS activities; their presence may therefore contribute to the bioactivities observed in both extracts. However, their contribution to the observed effects remains speculative and requires further validation through targeted isolation and bioactivity testing. The results suggest that A. longistylum is a promising source of phenolic compounds with antioxidant and antimicrobial properties.

Intrinsic aging and external stimuli such as UV exposure contribute to heightened MMP-1 expression, leading to collagen deterioration and weakening of the skin’s structural framework, hallmarks of aging tissue. Peucedanum japonicum, a plant consumed in East Asia, contains antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds, but its effects on skin aging remain unclear. This study profiled six major bioactive compounds in P. japonicum leaves and roots and evaluated their protective effects in TNF-α-stimulated human dermal fibroblasts (NHDFs). Phytochemical profiles were determined, and biological activity was evaluated by measuring intracellular ROS, MMP-1 secretion, and COL1A1 expression. Both leaf and root extracts exhibited antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, with leaves generally showing stronger effects. Among the six compounds, chlorogenic acid (1) demonstrated the most potent activity. It markedly decreased intracellular ROS, suppressed MMP-1 secretion, and enhanced COL1A1 expression in TNF-α-stimulated NHDFs, indicating protection against inflammation-induced collagen degradation. These findings suggest that P. japonicum, particularly its chlorogenic acid (1) content, may be a promising natural resource for anti-aging skincare and therapies targeting inflammation-associated skin damage.

This study examined the phytochemical compositions of ten Sapindus mukorossi samples from two regions in Korea: Suwon and Daegu. The Folin–Ciocalteu method was used to calculate the total polyphenol content (TPC). Among all extracts tested, leaf samples from Suwon and Daegu (SLE and DLE) exhibited the highest TPC at 2.70 and 2.90 mg tannic acid equivalent/g extract. Similarly, a modified aluminum chloride colorimetric test was used to determine the total flavonoid content (TFC). Similar results were obtained, with SLE and DLE having TFC values of 40.71 and 41.07 mg quercetin equivalent/g extract, respectively. Liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry was used to detect 13 compounds, whereas high-performance liquid chromatography was used to quantify the prominent compounds: rutin, nicotiflorin, and narcissin. Among these, rutin was the most abundant, especially in SLE and DLE (54.37 and 70.21 mg/g, respectively). Furthermore, rutin significantly contributed to the total content of these samples at 78.31 and 85.44 mg/g, respectively. There were significant variations in the distribution of these compounds across different parts of the plant. These findings highlight the importance of S. mukorossi as a source of natural bioactive chemicals and pave the way for further research into its potential applications in healthcare products.