Characterization of β-glucosidase of Lactobacillus plantarum FSO1 and Candida pelliculosa L18 isolated from traditional fermented green olive

Background Oleuropein, the main bitter phenolic glucoside responsible for green olive bitterness, may be degraded by the β-glucosidase enzyme to release glucose and phenolic compounds. Results Lactobacillus plantarum FSO1 and Candida pelliculosa L18 strains, isolated from natural fermented green olives, were tested for their β-glucosidase production and activity at different initial pH, NaCl concentrations, and temperature. The results showed that strains produced extracellular and induced β-glucosidase, with a molecular weight of 60 kD. The strains demonstrated their biodegradation capacity of oleuropein, associated with the accumulation of hydroxytyrosol and other phenolic compounds, resulting in antioxidant activity values significantly higher than that of ascorbic acid. The highest production value of β-glucosidase was 0.91 U/ml obtained at pH 5 and pH 6, respectively for L. plantarum FSO1 and C. pelliculosa L18. The increase of NaCl concentration, from 0 to 10% (w/v), inhibited the production of β-glucosidase for both strains. However, the β-glucosidase was activated with an increase of NaCl concentration, with a maximum activity obtained at 8% NaCl (w/v). The enzyme activity was optimal at pH 5 for both strains, while the optimum temperature was 45 °C for L. plantarum FSO1 and 35 °C for C. pelliculosa L18. Conclusions L. plantarum FSO1 and C. pelliculosa L18 strains showed their ability to produce an extracellular and induced β-glucosidase enzyme with promising traits for application in the biological processing of table olives.

Phytochemical Study of Aerial Parts of Leea asiatica

Leea asiatica (L.) Ridsdale (Leeaceae) is found in tropical and subtropical countries and has historically been used as a traditional medicine in local healthcare systems. Although L. asiatica extracts have been found to possess anthelmintic and antioxidant-related nephroprotective and hepatoprotective effects, little attention has been paid toward the investigation of phytochemical constituents of this plant. In the current study, phytochemical analysis of isolates from L. asiatica led to the identification of 24 compounds, including a novel phenolic glucoside, seven triterpenoids, eight flavonoids, two phenolic glycosides, four diglycosidic compounds, and two miscellaneous compounds. The phytochemical structures of the isolates from L. asiatica were elucidated using spectroscopic analyses including 1D- and 2D-NMR and ESI-Q-TOF-MS. The presence of triterpenoids and flavonoids supports the evidence for anthelmintic and antioxidative effects of L. asiatica.

Azolla pinnata R.Br.: a reliable fern species to demonstrate satisfactory in-vitro anti-oxidation under herbicidal toxicity

The paper reports the induced antioxidation property of Azolla pinnata R.Br. under elevated conditions of the herbicide 2,4-D. With respect to phenolic accumulation, the plant registered varied in-vitro antioxidation potentials. Total antioxidation through phosphomolybdenum complex, DPPH (2,2-Diphenyl, 1-picryllydrazyl), and ABTS (2,2′-azino-bis 3-ethylbenzo-thiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical scavenging activities were the most significant attributes of this plant species. A gradual fall in phosphomolybdenum complex suggested more involvement in the chelation of 2,4-D, with metal ligands. The plant was able to quench the reactive oxygen species (ROS) up to a certain level of 2,4-D but thereafter it failed. Another module with ABTS induced free radical antioxidation, the plant insignificantly responded to any changes of 2,4-D concentrations as compared to the control with reference to BHT (Butylated hydroxytoluene). The most stable phenolic glucoside as flavonoid had a significant and dose-dependent over expression under 2,4-D toxicity. In modules of enzymatic antioxidants, Azolla was quite sensitive to peroxidation of H2O2 by different isozymic proteins. A significant participation of polyphenol oxidase and catalase were more pronounced whereas peroxidases were least significant in in vitro assay. Taking altogether both enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidation indices, Azolla is an efficient quencher species for herbicide contaminated soils.

Gastrodin Protects Apoptotic Dopaminergic Neurons in a Toxin-Induced Parkinson’s Disease Model

Gastrodia elata(GE) Blume is one of the most important traditional plants in Oriental countries and has been used for centuries to improve various conditions. The phenolic glucoside gastrodin is an active constituent of GE. The aim of this study was to investigate the neuroprotective role of gastrodin in 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+)/1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine- (MPTP) induced human dopaminergic SH-SY5Y cells and mouse model of Parkinson’s disease (PD), respectively. Gastrodin significantly and dose dependently protected dopaminergic neurons against neurotoxicity through regulating free radicals, Bax/Bcl-2 mRNA, caspase-3, and cleaved poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) in SH-SY5Y cells stressed with MPP+. Gastrodin also showed neuroprotective effects in the subchronic MPTP mouse PD model by ameliorating bradykinesia and motor impairment in the pole and rotarod tests, respectively. Consistent with this finding, gastrodin prevented dopamine depletion and reduced reactive astrogliosis caused by MPTP as assessed by immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting in the substantiae nigrae and striatata of mice. Moreover, gastrodin was also effective in preventing neuronal apoptosis by attenuating antioxidant and antiapoptotic activities in these brain areas. These results strongly suggest that gastrodin has protective effects in experimental PD models and that it may be developed as a clinical candidate to ameliorate PD symptoms.