Artificial Neural Network Modeling To Predict And Optimize Phenolic Acids Production From Callus Culture of Lactuca Undulata

The present study aims to model and optimize phenolic acids productions from Lactuca undulate root and leaf-derived callus using the feed-forward Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model. For this purpose, the effect of different concentrations (0, 0.1, 0.5, 1, and 2 mg/l) of Kin in combinations with or without 2,4-D and/or NAA was investigated on callus induction and phenolic acids production. A multi-layer perceptron ANN was applied to correlate the output parameters (cichoric acid, chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid contents) to input (Kin, 2,4-D and NAA) training parameters. A single hidden layer with 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 neurons was used to optimize ANN architecture. Sum squared error (SSE), Relative Error (RE) and correlation factor (R2) were applied to identify the performance of ANN models. According to the obtained data, the feed-forward neural network with tangent-sigmoid (3-30-1), tangent-tangent (3-15-1) and tangent-tangent (3-35-1) activation function was found as the best model to predict cichoric acid, chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid production from leaf-derived callus, respectively. Meanwhile, ANN with activation function of tangent-tangent (3-20-1), tangent-tangent (3-25-1) and sigmoid-sigmoid (3-20-1) were the most effective models to predict the amount of cichoric acid, chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid from root-derived callus, respectively. In the current study, there was a strong correlation between experimental and predicted data. These results demonstrated that the selected ANN model could predict the effects of plant growth regulators on phenolic acids production using callus culture method.

The Common Cichory (Cichorium intybus L.) as a Source of Extracts with Health-Promoting Properties—A Review

Natural products are gaining more interest recently, much of which focuses on those derived from medicinal plants. The common chicory (Cichorium intybus L.), of the Astraceae family, is a prime example of this trend. It has been proven to be a feasible source of biologically relevant elements (K, Fe, Ca), vitamins (A, B1, B2, C) as well as bioactive compounds (inulin, sesquiterpene lactones, coumarin derivatives, cichoric acid, phenolic acids), which exert potent pro-health effects on the human organism. It displays choleretic and digestion-promoting, as well as appetite-increasing, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial action, all owing to its varied phytochemical composition. Hence, chicory is used most often to treat gastrointestinal disorders. Chicory was among the plants with potential against SARS-CoV-2, too. To this and other ends, roots, herb, flowers and leaves are used. Apart from its phytochemical applications, chicory is also used in gastronomy as a coffee substitute, food or drink additive. The aim of this paper is to present, in the light of the recent literature, the chemical composition and properties of chicory.

Echinacea purpurea extract (cichoric acid) exerts an anti-inflammatory effect on yak PBMCs and regulates the TLR4 signalling pathway

Introduction Inflammation is one of the main causes of impaired health in livestock and some of its processes weaken animal productivity and impact human health. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of echinacea extract (cichoric acid – CA) on yak peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), inflammatory-related factors, and the toll-like receptor (TLR)4 signalling pathway induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in these PBMCs. Material and Methods Yak PBMCs were co-cultured with LPS and CA in vitro. The proliferative activity of cells was detected using the cell-counting kit-8 method, the optimal stimulation concentration of LPS was selected, the effect of CA on the content of inflammation-related factors was evaluated using an ELISA kit, and the mRNA expression of these factors was detected by RT-PCR. Results CA inhibited the inflammatory response of yak PBMCs induced by LPS. CA inhibited gene and protein expression of key nodes of the TLR4 signalling pathway in yak PBMCs. Conclusion It is suggested that CA has anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects on yak PBMCs via the TLR4 pathway.

Cichoric Acid Ameliorates Monosodium Urate-Induced Inflammatory Response by Reducing NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation via Inhibition of NF-kB Signaling Pathway

Gouty arthritis is characterized by the deposition of monosodium urate (MSU) within synovial joints and tissues due to increased urate concentrations. Here, we elucidated the role of the natural compound cichoric acid (CA) on the MSU crystal-stimulated inflammatory response. The THP-1-derived macrophages (THP-Ms) were pretreated with CA and then stimulated with MSU suspensions. The protein levels of p65 and IκBα, the activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway by measuring the expression of its downstream inflammatory cytokines, and the activity of NLRP3 inflammasome were measured by western blotting and ELISA. CA treatment markedly inhibited the degradation of IκBα and the activation of NF-κB signaling pathway and reduced the levels of its downstream inflammatory genes such as IL-1β, TNF-α, COX-2, and PGE2 in the MSU-stimulated THP-M cells. Therefore, we infer that CA effectively alleviated MSU-induced inflammation by suppressing the degradation of IκBα, thereby reducing the activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway and the NLRP3 inflammasome. These results suggest that CA could be a novel therapeutic strategy in averting acute episodes of gout.

Bioactivity of allelochemicals isolated from the roots of Echinacea purpurea L. Moench on Amaranthus viridis L., Portulaca oleracea L. and Microcystis aeruginosa

Based on the bioassay-guided strategy, we isolated 6-six allelochemicals [cichoric acid (I), 1,3-dicaffeoylquinic acid (II), 4,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid (III), chlorogenic acid (IV), 1-hydroxy-2-phthoic acid (V), echinacoside (VI)] from the roots of Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench. Their structures were identified by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) spectroscopic data. The bioassays studies included allelopathic and algicidal activities to test the effects of extracts and isolated fractions against the test weeds (Amaranthus viridis L., Portulaca oleracea L. and Microcystis aeruginosa Kutzing). At 100 µg/mL, compound (II) inhibited the shoot length and germination of A. viridis and P. oleracea weeds with the germination RI of -0.95±0.04 and -0.95±0.02, respectively. Furthermore, compound (III) showed the strongest inhibition of root length of P. oleracea L. We also found that compounds I-VI have algicidal activity. The compound (I) at low inoculum (5.0×102 cells mL-1) and high inoculum (1.0×104 cells mL-1), showed the highest algicidal activity of 78 % and 87.67 % 6 h after the treatment at 5 µg mL-1 respectively.

Biochemometric Analysis of Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase Inhibition by Echinacea Root Extracts

Recent research demonstrates that Echinacea possesses cannabimimetic activity with potential applications beyond common contemporary uses for relief of cold and flu symptoms. In this study, we investigated the in vitro inhibitory effect of root extracts of Echinacea purpurea and Echinacea angustifolia on fatty acid amide hydrolase, the main enzyme that degrades the endocannabinoid anandamide. The objective was to relate variation in bioactivity between commercial Echinacea genotypes to their phytochemical profiles and to identify determinants of activity using biochemometric analysis. Forty root extracts of each of species were tested for inhibition of fatty acid amide hydrolase and analyzed by HPLC-DAD/MS to identify and quantitate alkylamides and caffeic acid derivatives. Fatty acid amide hydrolase inhibition ranged from 34 – 80% among E. angustifolia genotypes and from 33 – 87% among E. purpurea genotypes. Simple linear regression revealed the caffeic acid derivatives caftaric acid and cichoric acid, and the alkylamide dodeca-2E,4Z-diene-8,10-diynioc acid 2-methylbutylamide, as the strongest determinants of inhibition in E. purpurea (r* = 0.53, 0.45, and 0.20, respectively) while in E. angustifolia, only CADs were significantly associated with activity, most notably echinacoside (r* = 0.26). Regression analysis using compound groups generated by hierarchical clustering similarly indicated that caffeic acid derivatives contributed more than alkylamides to in vitro activity. Testing pure compounds identified as determinants of activity revealed cichoric acid (IC50 = 45 ± 4 µM) and dodeca-2E,4E,8Z,10E-tetraenoic acid isobutylamide (IC50 = 54 ± 2 µM) as the most active. The results suggest that several phytochemicals may contribute to Echinaceaʼs cannabimimetic activity and that ample variation in genotypes exists for selection of high-activity germplasm in breeding programs.

Spectroscopic, Theoretical and Antioxidant Study of 3d-Transition Metals (Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II)) Complexes with Cichoric Acid

Cichoric acid (CA) is a derivative of both caffeic acid and tartaric acid. It was isolated for the first time from Cichorium intybus L. (chicory) but it also occurs in significant amounts in Echinacea, particularly E. purpurea, dandelion leaves, basil, lemon balm and in aquatic plants, including algae and sea grasses. It has a wide spectrum of biological properties, including antioxidant, antiviral, anti-inflammatory and other. The work yielded cichoric acid complexes with selected transition metals, i.e., copper(II), nickel(II), zinc(II) and cobalt(II). In this work the dependency between the molecular structure and biological activity was discussed. The molecular structure was studied by means of infrared spectroscopy (Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) Raman (FT-Raman)), electronic absorption spectroscopy (ultraviolet–visible (UV/VIS)) and theoretical calculations (density functional theory (DFT), Hartree–Fock (HF)). Understanding the mechanism of the effect of metals on the electronic system of ligands with biological importance will facilitate in the future the search for new, effective and natural antioxidants. The composition of the studied complexes in aqueous solutions was determined at a constant pH by the Job’s method. Antioxidative properties of the tested compounds were determined using the ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate free radical method), cupric-reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC) and Superoxide Dismutase Activity Assay (SOD).

Effect of Shading on Development, Yield and Quality of Bastard Balm Herb (Melittis melissophyllum L.)

The aim of the study was to assess the effects of Melittis melissophyllum shading on its development and accumulation of phenolics. Their content (verbascoside, apiin, luteolin-7-O-glucoside, coumarin, 3,4-dihydroxycoumarin, o-coumaric acid 2-O-glucoside as well as o-coumaric, p-coumaric, chlorogenic, caffeic, ferulic and cichoric acid) was determined in the herb using HPLC-DAD. The results showed that the content of abovementioned flavonoids and phenolic acids was highest in plants grown under full sunlight. On the other hand, a higher content of coumarin was observed in shaded plants, especially after the seed-setting stage. A similar tendency was noted for the amount of chlorophyll a and b. The content of hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde, the activity of polyphenol oxidase and catalase and the antioxidant capacity of plant extracts (measured using DPPH, ABTS and FRAP assays) were found to be the highest in the plants grown in full sunlight. However, the plants grown in moderate (30%) shade were found to thrive best.