Maydis stigma is an important medicine herb used in many parts of the world for treatment of diabetes mellitus, which main bioactive ingredients are flavonoids. This paper describes for the first time a study on the comparative pharmacokinetics of six active flavonoid ingredients of Maydis stigma in normal and diabetic rats orally administrated with the decoction. Therefore, an efficient and sensitive ultra high performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method for the simultaneous determination of six anti-diabetic ingredients (cynaroside, quercetin, luteolin, isorhamnetin, rutin and formononetin) of Maydis stigma in rat plasma has been developed and validated in plasma samples, which showed good linearity over a wide concentration range (r² > 0.99), and gave a lower limit of quantification of 1.0 ng·mL⁻¹ for the analytes. The intra- and interday assay variability was less than 15% for all analytes. The mean extraction recoveries and matrix effect of analytes and IS from rats plasma were all more than 85.0%. The stability results showed the measured concentration for six analytes at three QC levels deviated within 15.0%. The results indicated that significant differences in the pharmacokinetic parameters of the analytes were observed between the two groups of animals, whereby the absorptions of these analytes in the diabetic group were all significantly higher than those in the normal group, which provides an experimental basis for the role of Maydis stigma in anti-diabetic treatment.

Postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMOP) is the predominant form of primary osteoporosis. Its etiology remains incompletely elucidated, and the senescence of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) is potentially a contributing factor. Kaempferol (Ka), a common flavonoid with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, is a prospective candidate for therapeutic intervention in osteoporosis. However, its impact on BMSC senescence and the underlying mechanisms remains to be elucidated. This study sought to elucidate the impact of Ka on BMSCs and to ascertain its potential targets and regulatory mechanisms. BMSCs were extracted from ovariectomized (OVX) rats to observe the impact of Ka on cellular senescence, mitochondrial function, and mitophagy. Proteomics was utilized to investigate the potential mechanisms. Molecular docking, cellular thermal shift assay, small molecule pull-down assay, and surface plasmon resonance were employed to evaluate the relationship between Ka and its direct target Sp1. Dual-luciferase reporter gene assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) were used to investigate the transcriptional regulatory relationship between Sp1 and FUNDC1. Moreover, we performed detailed imaging and histological observations using micro-CT, hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, Masson staining, immunofluorescence, and immunohistochemistry to assess the role of Ka in rat model of PMOP. Our results indicated that Ka counteracts senescent BMSCs and osteogenic differentiation deficit caused by postmenopausal, which may be achieved by restoring the basal mitophagy level of OVX-BMSCs, mitochondrial function and reducing reactive oxygen species. Furthermore, Ka treatment enhanced bone density and strength, upregulated Sp1 and FUNDC1 expression in the distal femoral region, and the number of γH2AX positive BMSCs decreased. In terms of mechanism, Ka directly binds to Sp1, promoting its transcriptional activation of FUNDC1-mediated mitophagy. Inhibiting mitophagy or Sp1, or FUNDC1 eliminated the therapeutic effect of Ka. Our findings suggest that Ka ameliorates the senescence of OVX-BMSCs by activating the Sp1/FUNDC1 signaling pathway, promoting mitophagy, and providing a new therapeutic strategy and molecular basis for PMOP.

There are differences in flavor, efficacy, and price between the cardamom varieties Alpinia galanga (H) and Myristica fragrans (R). It is crucial to distinguish their bioactivities and metabolites, given their high economic value and dietary frequency. This study determined total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and in vitro/cellular antioxidant activities of R and H. Their volatile/non-volatile metabolites were analyzed via electronic sensing (E-nose, HS-GC–MS/MS) and untargeted metabolomics (UPLC-ESI-QTOF/MS^E). Results demonstrated that R exhibited superior antioxidant capacity to H, with both correlating positively with TPC and TFC. A total of 195 non-volatile metabolites were identified and Malabaricone C, alkyl-DHAP, and (R)-Shinanolone were the key components for distinguishing them. E-nose showed W1C, W2W and W5S sensors were more sensitive. Furthermore, 219 kinds of volatile metabolites were identified, among which 14 key differential volatile components were screened out. The study established a theoretical basis for differentiating and characterizing both cardamoms.

Cherry kernels are a by-product of cherries that are usually discarded, leading to waste and pollution. In this study, the chemical composition of 21 batches of cherry kernels from two different cherry species was analyzed using untargeted metabolomics. The in vitro antioxidant activity, cellular antioxidant activity, and antiproliferative activity of these kernel extracts were also determined, and a correlation analysis was conducted between differential compounds and biological activity. A total of 49 differential compounds were screened. The kernels of Prunus tomentosa were found to have significantly higher total phenol, total flavonoid content, and biological activity than those of Prunus pseudocerasus (P < 0.05). Correlation analysis showed that flavonoids had the greatest contribution to biological activity. The study suggests that both species of cherry kernel, particularly Prunus tomentosa, could be a potential source of bioactive compounds that could be used in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food industries.

Drying is fundamental to Scytosiphon lomentarius processing. This study systematically evaluated how vacuum freeze-dried, microwave-dried, and hot-air dried affect its bioactivity and quality. We found that freeze-dried sample demonstrated superior rehydration capacity, notably enhanced antioxidant activity, and elevated bioactive compounds such as total phenols and flavonoids. This anti-inflammatory advantage was further validated in an LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cell model. Untargeted UPLC-ESI-QTOF/MS^E identified 135 non-volatile metabolites, with 18 differential metabolites as key to antioxidant activity variation. Molecular docking targeting iNOS revealed a marked increase in potential iNOS inhibitors in freeze-dried samples. Electronic nose analysis distinguished the three drying groups, while HS-GC–MS/MS tentatively identified 125 volatile compounds. Freeze-dried samples better retained Ionone, yielding caramel and creamy baked notes, while hot-air dried generated unpleasant dimethyl trisulfide. Collectively, freeze-dried proves optimal for S. lomentarius processing by best enhancing antioxidant capacity, anti-inflammatory activity, and characteristic volatile metabolites, providing a theoretical foundation for its high-quality production.