Coumaran (2,3-dihydrobenzofuran), a secondary metabolite of Cyperus nipponicus, inhibits the feeding of polyphagous insects. This secondary metabolite is regarded as one of the defensive systems of the Cyperaceae. A number of naturally occurring benzofurans that differ in their substitution pattern and oxidation state have been investigated for their ability to inhibit insect feeding by a bioassay with the common cutworm (Spodoptera litura F. Noctuidae) that applies the leaf disk method. The evaluation of the antifeedant activity of each test compound used the ED50 value based on the dose-response curve that was calculated with the probit method. The 2,3-dihydrobenzofuran derivative, 7-acetyl-4,6-dimethoxy-2-isopropenyl-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran, had an ED50 value of 1.3 μg (5.4×10(-9) mol)/cm(2) against the common cutworm. The introduction of methoxy and acetyl groups increased the insect antifeedant activity. Furthermore, the insect antifeedant activity increased with decreasing lipophilicity of the test compounds.
The essential oils of hinoki (Chamaecyparis obtusa) leaves have anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and relaxation properties that are likely associated with the major components such as sabinene, α-terpinyl acetate, limonene, elemol, myrcene, and hibaene. The present study describes the use of a cellulose-dissolving ionic liquid (IL) [C2mim][(MeO)(H)PO2] and low-toxicity solvents called betaine-based deep eutectic solvents (DESs) for the efficient extraction of hinoki essential oils. As a control method, organic solvent extraction was performed using either hexane, ethyl acetate (EtOAc), or acetone at 30 °C for 1 h. Both the experimental and control methods were conducted under the same conditions, which relied on partial dissolution of the leaves using the IL and DESs before partitioning the hinoki oils into the organic solvent for analysis. Quantitative analysis was performed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) in selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode. The results indicated that extraction using the [C2mim][(MeO)(H)PO2]/acetone bilayer system improved the yields of limonene and hibaene, 1.5- and 1.9-fold, respectively, when compared with the control method. In addition, extraction using betaine/l-lactic acid (molar ratio 1:1) gave the greatest yields for both limonene and hibaene, 1.3-fold and 1.5-fold greater, respectively, than when using an organic solvent. These results demonstrate the effective extraction of essential oils from plant leaves under conditions milder than those needed for the conventional method. The less toxic and environmentally begin DESs for the extraction are also applicable to the food and cosmetic industries.
Oatmeal is the food product resulting from the grinding or rolling of oat grain Avena sativa L. which is thus crushed into thin flakes after dehulling. Further, the finely milled product is referred to as colloidal oatmeal COM . Oat grain has natural phytochemicals such as phenolic compounds, tocols, and polysaccharides. They lead to anti-irritancy, redness reduction and moisturization effects for humans. For that reason, COM was traditionally used as a bath treatment or skincare ingredient in Europe and the United States. In this research, we compared extruded colloidal oatmeal ExtCOM which added a hydrothermal process before fine milling and ordinary COM in terms of particle size distribution, b -glucan content and DPPH radical quenching activity. As a result, ExtCOM has a smaller particle size and enhanced content of both b -glucan and antioxidant elucidated in water. We concluded that the difference is due to the extrusion process, which affects mainly the physiological structure of oat grain. This result is expected to strongly improve the bioavailability of COM as a healthcare ingredient.
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