Vernonia amygdalina (VA) has been reported to have antioxidant potential; however, its DNA protection and anti-inflammatory properties remain unclear. We aimed to investigate whether aqueous (WEVAL) and alcoholic (EEVAL) VA extracts exert similar antioxidant, DNA protection and anti-inflammatory effects and attempted to explore the mechanism underlying the anti-inflammatory effects. These results demonstrated that WEVAL had greater polyphenolic and flavonoid contents, as well as a stronger reducing power, DPPH radical scavenging and DNA protective activity. Moreover, both extracts reduced lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced expression of COX-II, iNOS, pro-inflammatory factors, including NO, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-10. Compared with WEVAL, EEVAL was a more potent inflammatory inhibitor. Both extracts similarly inhibited LPS-induced MAPK (p38) and NF-κB expression. Our findings indicate that WEVAL and EEVAL have diverse antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. WEVAL had a stronger antioxidant and DNA protection activity; contrastingly, EEVAL had a stronger anti-inflammatory ability. The anti-inflammatory activity involves reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines through NF-κB down-regulation and MAPK inhibition. These results demonstrated that production of WEVAL and EEVAL from VA leaves may provide a safe and efficacious source of pharmaceutical applications, with antioxidant, DNA protective and anti-inflammation activities.

Cinnamomoum osmophloeum Kanehira (COK) is an indigenous tree species in Taiwan. Chemical compositions, antioxidant activity, mushroom tyrosinase inhibition, melanin synthesis repression, and protection against DNA damage of hydrosol from the COK leaves by steam distillation were examined. We performed 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging, metal ion chelating, reducing power, and Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) assays and determined the correlations between total phenolic contents and antioxidant activities. The findings showed that the anti-oxidative properties of COK hydrosol are closely correlated with their phenol contents. Additionally, the major constituents of hydrosol, i.e., cinnamaldehyde and benzaldehyde, had dose-dependent anti-tyrosinase effects against both monophenolase and diphenolase activities. GC-MS analysis revealed that the major bioactive components of hydrosol were trans-cinnamaldehyde (87.7%), benzaldehyde (7.0%), and cinnamyl acetate (5.3%). Moreover, we found that the hydrosol with the presence of benzaldehyde is more potent than pure cinnamaldehyde, and enhances the tyrosinase inhibitory activity of hydrosol. In kinetic analyses, Lineweaver–Burk plots and replots showed that COK hydrosol is a mixed-type inhibitor. Additionally, we found that very low doses of COK hydrosol repressed α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone-induced synthesis of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor, leading to decreased melanin synthesis in B16-F10 melanoma cells. These results demonstrated that production of hydrosol from COK leaves using steam distillation may provide a safe and efficacious source of skin-whitening agents for cosmetic and pharmaceutical applications, with antioxidant, anti-tyrosinase, anti-melanogenesis, and DNA protective activities.

Mixotrophic microalgal cultivation can utilize CO₂ and organic carbon sources. This study optimized the cultivation nitrogen source (peptone, urea, yeast extract, NH₄Cl, (NH₄)₂SO₄, NH₄NO₃, NaNO₃ and KNO₃), carbon combination (glucose, glycerol, sucrose), (NH₄)₂SO₄ nitrogen source and pH (6–11) in a local microalgae species with three characteristics (high pH-resistant, high growth rate and high lipid content). Chlorella sp. G3H3-1-2 biomass production and lipid accumulation were estimated using the fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) concentration. The Chlorella sp. G3H3-1-2 FAME content was strongly influenced by the carbon, nitrogen sources and pH variations. The pH ranged from 6.0 to 8.0, which produced the highest specific growth rate of 1.22 day⁻¹ for Chlorella sp. G3H3-1-2 while using glucose as the single carbon source. However, the highest total FAMEs content of 59% in the Chlorella sp. G3H3-1-2 biomass of 1.75 g/L was obtained while using the combination of 1 g-glucose/L as the carbon source and 0.2 g-(NH₄)₂SO₄/L as the nitrogen source at the high pH value of 10.

In this study, polyethylene oxide (PEO) and curdlan solutions were used to prepare PEO/curdlan nanofiber films by electrospinning using deionized water as the solvent. In the electrospinning process, PEO was used as the base material, and its concentration was fixed at 6.0 wt.%. Moreover, the concentration of curdlan gum varied from 1.0 to 5.0 wt.%. For the electrospinning conditions, various operating voltages (12–24 kV), working distances (12–20 cm) and feeding rates of polymer solution (5–50 μL/min) were also modified. Based on the experimental results, the optimum concentration for the curdlan gum was 2.0 wt.%. Additionally, the most suitable operating voltage, working distance and feeding rate for the electrospinning process were 19 kV, 20 cm and 9 μL/min, respectively, which can help to prepare relatively thinner PEO/curdlan nanofibers with higher mesh porosity and without the formation of beaded nanofibers. Finally, the PEO/curdlan nanofiber instant films containing 5.0 wt.% quercetin inclusion complex were used to perform wetting and disintegration processes. It was found that the instant film can be dissolved significantly on the low-moisture wet wipe. On the other hand, when the instant film touched water, it can be disintegrated very quickly within 5 s, and the quercetin inclusion complex was dissolved in water efficiently. Furthermore, when the instant film encountered the water vapor at 50 °C, it almost completely disintegrated after immersion for 30 min. The results indicate that the electrospun PEO/curdlan nanofiber film is highly feasible for biomedical applications consisting of instant masks and quick-release wound dressings, even in the water vapor environment.

Symphytum officinale (comfrey) is a perennial herb native to West Asia and Europe. Its root extracts are commonly used as a natural remedy to treat muscle, joint, skin, and bone disorders, especially in Europe. However, more information is needed on the biomedical functions of comfrey leaves. This study’s sequencing results of internal transcribed spacer and trnL–trnF genes showed that plants purchased from the local market were comfrey and named S. officinale WL (WL). The suitable extraction conditions of the WL leaves with the highest extract yield and total phenols and flavonoid contents by microwave-assisted extraction were identified. The antioxidative and anti-inflammatory activities and possible molecular mechanism(s) of the WL leaf extract (WLE) were evaluated. Furthermore, the major component of WLE was identified as rosmarinic acid by HPLC. Results showed that the optimal extract condition was obtained with 750 W microwave power, 50 °C, 75% methanol, the solid-to-solvent ratio of 1:10, and 15 min. Results of all DPPH, ABTS, and superoxide radical scavenging activities, reducing power, ferrous ion chelating activity, and ferric reducing antioxidant power showed high antioxidative capacities of WLE. Furthermore, WLE showed prominent DNA-protecting activity. WLE attenuated lipopolysaccharide-stimulated inflammation by suppressing iNOS, COX-2, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α expressions in the RAW264.7 macrophages. These attenuations are involved in the inactivation of lipopolysaccharide-stimulated NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways. Therefore, the comfrey leaf extract obtained via a time- and energy-saving microwave-assisted extraction may be a potential antioxidative and anti-inflammatory biomedicinal agent.