Diabetic nephropathy is a major complication of diabetes mellitus, primarily driven by hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress and renal tubular cell injury. Beetroot (Beta vulgaris L.) is rich in antioxidant phytochemicals, and its industrial processing generates large amounts of spent material that may retain significant bioactive compounds. This study evaluated the phytochemical profile, antioxidant capacity, and renoprotective potential of beetroot spent extracts under hyperglycemic conditions. Beetroot spent material was extracted using hot water and 70% ethanol. Total phenolic, flavonoid, and betalain contents were quantified, and antioxidant activity was assessed using the 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging assay. Phytochemical characterization was performed by ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization–quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS). Cytotoxicity was evaluated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, SH-SY5Y, HEK-293, and MDA-MB-231 cells using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Renoprotective effects were investigated in HEK-293 renal tubular cells cultured under normal (5.5 mM) and high-glucose (200 mM) conditions. UHPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS was used to identify over 80 phenolic and flavonoid compounds including quercetin, epicatechin, and epigallocatechin gallate. The hot water extract exhibited superior antioxidant activity, achieving approximately 90% ABTS radical inhibition. Beetroot spent extract showed no cytotoxicity at concentrations below 1 mg/mL and significantly restored HEK-293 cell viability (>90%) under high-glucose conditions at concentrations ≥31.25 µg/mL. In conclusion, beetroot spent water extract possesses strong antioxidant and renoprotective activities against hyperglycemia-induced renal cell damage, supporting its valorization as a sustainable functional food ingredient for diabetes-related health applications.

Mango (Mangifera indica L.) pulp contains bioactive compounds with potential therapeutic effects against metabolic and immune-related disorders. However, the integrated effects of mango pulp extract on metabolic, cardiovascular, and immunomodulatory functions remain insufficiently characterized. Therefore, this study aimed to characterize the phytochemical composition and evaluate the activity of M. indica (Mahajanaka) pulp ethanolic extract (MPEE) in rat models. Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats and N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (L-NAME)-induced hypertensive rats were used to assess metabolic and cardiovascular effects, while immune function was examined through neutrophil phagocytosis, splenocyte proliferation, lymphocyte subpopulation analysis, and cytokine secretion. MPEE exhibited a rich phytochemical profile, particularly phenolic compounds, along with strong antioxidant activity (339 ± 8.9 mg gallic acid equivalent/g extract). In STZ-induced diabetic rats, MPEE at 300 mg/kg significantly reduced plasma triglyceride (36.7%) and total cholesterol (45.3%) levels compared with untreated diabetic controls, although its antihyperglycemic effect was modest (6.8%). In L-NAME-induced hypertensive rats, MPEE at 400 mg/kg produced the greatest reduction in blood pressure (42.7%) and heart rate (53.5%). Furthermore, MPEE enhanced neutrophil phagocytic activity (43%), with significant increases observed at doses of 100–400 mg/kg. These findings indicate that MPEE exerts antioxidant, hypolipidemic, antihypertensive, and innate immunostimulatory activities.

Perilla frutescens is commonly used as an n-3-fatty acid source for people living in Northern Thailand. However, cultivated areas are limited because it apparently requires specific growth conditions. Our results suggested that perilla seeds grown in higher altitude in Maehongson province contained more ALA contents than seeds collected from Chiangrai and Nan province. Furthermore, mass spectrometry (MS) proteomic and gene expression analysis revealed that the increase of KASII and FAD3 proteins associated with the mRNA expression and the ALA production. Predictive bioinformatics analysis demonstrated two important transcription factor binding sites, AP2 and B3, which responsible for KASII and FAD3 genes, respectively. The AP2 and B3 transcription factor families were known to be responsible for abiotic stress such as drought and temperature changes. In conclusion, high production of ALA by perilla apparently relies on the altitudes. Moreover, plant responses to abiotic stress environments contribute to the increase of KASII and FAD3 gene and protein expression. However, responsive transcription factors will be further studied for a proof of concept and additionally improving the growing methods in order to increase perilla productivity.

Breast cancer remains one of the most prevalent and lethal malignancies affecting women worldwide, underscoring the need for safer and more effective therapeutic strategies. This study investigated the phytochemical composition, antioxidant activity, and antiproliferative potential of POW9™, a proprietary botanical blend formulated from nine medicinal plant extracts. Comprehensive phytochemical profiling was performed using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS) in both positive and negative ionization modes. A total of 34 compounds were identified in negative mode and 27 compounds in positive mode, comprising flavonoids, terpenoids, steroids, organic acids, peptides, glycosides, and lipids. POW9™ exhibited high total phenolic content (190.3 ± 3.5 mg gallic acid equivalents/g) and total flavonoid content (115.2 ± 1.5 mg quercetin equivalents/g), along with strong antioxidant activity, demonstrated by a 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) of 1.66 mg/mL (33.73 mg Trolox equivalents/g). Cytotoxicity assessment revealed minimal toxicity toward normal Vero cells. In contrast, POW9™ significantly inhibited the proliferation of human breast cancer cell lines in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. The IC₅₀ values were 6.75 mg/mL for MCF-7 cells and 18.08 mg/mL for MDA-MB-231 cells after 72 h of treatment, while prolonged exposure (96 h) further enhanced antiproliferative efficacy, reducing the IC₅₀ to 2.34 mg/mL. These findings demonstrate that POW9™ is a chemically diverse herbal formulation with potent antioxidant and selective anti-breast cancer activities, supporting its potential development as a complementary therapeutic or nutraceutical agent for breast cancer management.

This study investigated the effects of thermal processing and extraction solvents on the phytochemical composition, antioxidant potential, and cytotoxic activity of Sukhothai fragrant rice (Oryza sativa L.). Rice subjected to three processing methods, unprocessed (raw), popped/puffed and steam-cooked, was extracted using hot water or 70% (v/v) ethanol, yielding six extracts. Trans-ferulic acid, γ-oryzanol and anthocyanins were quantified using HPLC-DAD and HPLC-ESI-MS, while total phenolic and flavonoid contents, and antioxidant activities were evaluated using Folin–Ciocalteu, aluminium chloride, DPPH and ABTS assays. Cytotoxicity was assessed in Huh7 hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Water extracts consistently produced higher yields and contained greater total phenolic, flavonoid and anthocyanin contents, resulting in stronger antioxidant activity. Unprocessed rice water extract exhibited the highest trans-ferulic acid recovery and antioxidant capacity. Thermal processing, particularly steamed cooking, markedly reduced phytochemical contents, likely due to heat-induced degradation. In contrast, ethanolic extracts yielded lower quantities but higher concentrations of less polar bioactive compounds and exhibited greater cytotoxic effects. Overall, minimal thermal processing combined with aqueous extraction best preserved antioxidant compounds, while ethanolic extraction enhanced biological potency. These findings highlight the importance of processing intensity and solvent polarity in optimizing the nutraceutical and functional potential of black rice.