Mary H Grace

• PhD in Pharmacognosy
• North Carolina State University

Blueberry is promoted as a super food with several health properties derived from chlorogenic acid and anthocyanin. Previous studies indicated that anthocyanin acylation and the content of chlorogenic acid could affect their level of absorption and biological activity. In this study, a genome-wide association study was performed to identify loci as...

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder involving motor symptoms caused by a loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra region of the brain. Epidemiological evidence suggests that anthocyanin (ANC) intake is associated with a low risk of PD. Previously, we reported that extracts enriched with ANC and proanthocyanidins (PA...

Spray drying (SD) microencapsulation of phytochemicals from berry pomaces with Spirulina protein (SP) was incorporated into a cosmeceutical topical formulation to mitigate pollution skin damage. Initially, microparticles produced with SP and polyphenols recovered from fruit pomaces (elderberry SP-EB and muscadine grape SP-MG) were characterized reg...

The performance of buckwheat protein (BK) and chia seed protein (CP) as drying carriers for the microencapsulation of polyphenols extracted from blackcurrant pomace and cocoa powder was investigated. Four experimental groups were evaluated (BK–BC: blackcurrant pomace extract with buckwheat protein; CP–BC: blackcurrant pomace extract with chia:pea p...

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder involving motor symptoms caused by a loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra region of the brain. Epidemiological evidence suggests that anthocyanin (ANC) intake is associated with a low risk of PD. Previously, we reported that extracts enriched with ANC and proanthocyanidins (PA...

Blueberry is well-recognized as a healthy fruit with functionality derived largely from anthocyanin and chlorogenic acid. Despite their importance, no study to date has evaluated the genetic basis of these bioactives in blueberries and their relationship with fruit quality traits. Hence, to fill this gap, a mapping population including 196 F1 indiv...

The effects of protein carrier and drying technique on the concentration and bioaccessibility of lipophilic compounds (lutein, β-carotene, chlorophylls a and b) and hydrophilic flavonoids in freeze-dried (FD) or spray-dried (SD) spinach juice and protein-spinach particles were investigated. Carotenoid and chlorophyll contents were highest in FD spi...

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by nigrostriatal degeneration and the spreading of aggregated forms of the presynaptic protein α-synuclein (aSyn) throughout the brain. PD patients are currently only treated with symptomatic therapies, and strategies to slow or stop the progressive neurodegeneration underlying...

A straightforward protocol was developed to produce rosemary particles using whey and soy protein carriers. The post-processing retention of carnosic acid (CA), carnosol (CR) and rosmarinic acid (RA), their bioaccessibility, in vitro antioxidant activity, and storage stability were investigated in protein-rosemary particles compared to rosemary ext...

Skeletal muscle mass and strength are lost with aging. Phytoecdysteroids, in particular 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E), increase protein synthesis in C2C12 skeletal muscle cells and muscle strength in young rats. The objective of this study was to determine whether an extract from Ajuga turkestanica (ATE), enriched in phytoecdysteroids, and 20E affect sk...

This study evaluated the anti-diabetic and hepatic protective effect of the aqueous extract of the Aloe perryi (AP) in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Rat were divided into control, diabetic, diabetic + glimepiride, diabetic + AP (150 or 300 mg/Kg) groups. AP (300 mg/Kg) alone lowered fasting serum glucose levels but increased insulin levels...

Over 500 unique anthocyanins have been described to date, which vary in color, antioxidant, light-attenuating, and antimicrobial properties. Identification of anthocyanin chemical structure may therefore serve as an important clue to their in situ function in plants. We characterized the histological and chemical structures anthocyanins associated...

Stability of polyphenol-protein aggregate particles, created by complexing polyphenols from blueberry and muscadine grape pomaces with a rice-pea protein isolate blend, was evaluated in an in vitro gastrointestinal model. Recovery index (RI; % total phenolics present post-digestion) was 69% and 62% from blueberry and muscadine grape protein-polyphe...

Acai fruit is recognized for its health promoting properties. However, there is still a need to address the effects of industrial processing on this fruit. In this study, phenolic content, anti-inflammatory and dermal wound repair properties of 20 acai samples, before and after industrial processing, from various Amazon regions were investigated. A...

Bilirubin is a natural cytoprotective agent and physiologic doses have proven to be beneficial in various models of organ and cellular transplantation. Recently, we showed that bilirubin has protective effects in models of pancreatic islet transplantation, preventing cell death associated with islet stress and suppressing the release of damage-asso...

Blueberry is well recognized as a rich source of health promoting phytochemicals such as flavonoids and phenolic acids. Multiple studies in blueberry and other crops indicated that flavonoids and phenolic acids function as bioactive compounds in the human body promoting multiple health effects. Despite their importance, information is limited about...

Two Yemeni Aloe(s) have been investigated; the resin from A. perry Baker (APR, Socotran Aloe), and the gel from A. vera (AVG, Saber Yamaniis). LC-MS for APR identified aloin B, aloinoside B/A, homonataloin B and microdontin B/A as the major components, constituting 67.7% w/w of the extract. AVG showed the same pattern of anthrones (19.5% w/w), in a...

Three morphotypes of Tipularia discolor (Cranefly Orchid) occur sympatrically in the piedmont of North Carolina, producing leaves with upper (adaxial) surfaces that are either green, purple, or green with purple spots; all leaves exhibit bright purple lower (ab-axial) surfaces. The basis for differences in coloration between individuals in this spe...

Various wild berry species endemic to Alaska and the circumpolar North that exhibit unique medicinal properties have long been appreciated by indigenous Arctic communities. Traditional use of Alaskan berry preparations in the treatment of skin wounds is recorded but has not been scientifically evaluated. Alaskan wild berries feature diverse phytoch...

The changes in the antioxidant capacity, anti‐inflammatory, and wound healing properties of strawberry fruits as a consequence of the storage in atmospheres enriched in oxygen and carbon dioxide were investigated. Berries were exposed to two different gas compositions: 70% O2 + 20% CO2 and 90% O2 + 10% CO2, and stored for up to 20 days at 5°C. The...

The polyphenolic profiles by HPLC-TOF-MS of strawberry 'san Andreas’ and blackberry ‘Black Satin’ crude extracts (CE) were analyzed. Anthocyanin-enriched fractions (AEFs) and proanthocyanidin-enriched fractions (PEFs) were prepared, and all samples were probed for in vitro anti-inflammatory and wound healing effects in a LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 ma...

Using a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, parallel group design, this investigation determined if the combination of 2-weeks flavonoid supplementation (329 mg/day, quercetin, anthocyanins, flavan-3-ols mixture) and a 45-minute walking bout (62.2±0.9% VO2max) enhanced the translocation of gut-derived phenolics into circulation in a gro...

A variety of polyphenol‐rich supplements (juices, extracts, purified flavonoids) have been tested at low to high doses for varying lengths of time, typically with study participants at high disease risk. Results have been mixed, perhaps because of short dosing periods, low subject numbers, and the lack of focus on whole body metabolic responses. Th...

Following publication of the original article [1], the author reported a formatting error and an error in the figure caption. The original article has been corrected. The details of the errors are as follows.

Background: Turmeric is a rich source of bioactive compounds useful in both medicine and cuisine. Mineral concentrations effects (PO43-, Ca2+, Mg2+, and KNO3) were tested during in vitro rhizome development on the ex vitro content of volatile constituents in rhizomes after 6 months in the greenhouse. A response surface method (D-optimal criteria) w...

The present study was designed to characterize the polyphenols isolated from Acacia mearnsii bark crude extract (B) and fractions (B1-B7) obtained by high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) and evaluate their anti-inflammatory and carbolytic enzymes (α-glucosidase and α-amylase) inhibitory activities. Fractions B4, B5, B6, B7 (total pheno...

There are many different ways to organize a summary of African ethnobotany. Special consideration could be given to West Africa, as this was the center of domestication for many economic plants. This chapter separates this continent into north and south, roughly along the Sahara desert. North African recorded history begins with Ancient Egypt, Nubi...

Particulate colloidal aggregate food ingredients were prepared by complexing wheat flour, chickpea flour, coconut flour and soy protein isolate with aqueous wild blueberry pomace extracts, then spray drying, freeze drying, or vacuum oven drying to prepare dry, flour-like matrices. Physico-chemical attributes, phytochemical content and stability dur...

This study evaluated the inhibitory effects of different extracts and fractions from Eucalyptus. grandis × urophylla bark (EB) against α -glucosidase and α -amylase enzyme activities. The ethyl acetate extract (EB-E) showed the highest activity among others. Seven fractions were derived from EB-E; among them EB-E-7 showed the highest significant in...

Anthocyanin content in six blueberry genotypes was evaluated across two harvest seasons. Three southern highbush (hybrids of Vaccinium corymbosum) genotypes (Legacy, Sampson, SHF2B1-21:3) showed a dramatic and almost linear increase in total anthocyanin content across each harvest season, with an increase of up to 20 mg/g dry weight (DW). The three...

Carnosic acid and carnosol are the main bioactive components responsible for the significant antioxidant activity of Rosmarinus officinalis. Nevertheless, they are known for their instability in solutions. Separation of both compounds from crude rosemary extract was successfully achieved by one-step centrifugal partition chromatography without any...

A comprehensive phytochemical analysis was conducted on pistachios to identify the differential contributions of skin and kernel phytochemicals to in vitro bioactivity. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of skin and kernel non-polar extracts (SNP and KNP, respectively) indicated that the major components are fatty acids (696.36 and 879.70 mg g(-...

The retentions of fresh strawberry individual phenolic compounds after fogging using an environmentally friendly sanitizer based on peracetic acid (PAA) (mixture of 5% peracetic acid and 20% hydrogen peroxide) were studied and modeled as a function of the concentration (3.4, 20.0, 60.0, 100.0 and 116.6 μL PAA L−1 air chamber) and the treatment time...

This review considers the bioavailability of health-protective anthocyanin pigments from foods, in light of the multiple molecular structures and complicated traffic patterns taken by anthocyanins both as flavonoid metabolites and as phenolic acid metabolites within the body. Anthocyanins have generally been considered to have notoriously poor bioa...

The present study was designed to identify the natural bioactives present in pistachio kernel and skin responsible for adipocyte differentiation, antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory activities and effect on expression of proinflammatory marker cytokines, as well as to study the underlying mechanism involved, through measurement of mitochondrial bioenerg...

Blueberries accumulate up to 18 different types of anthocyanins unlike most other berries, such as blackberries and blackcurrant that tpically contain only 5–8, with different genotypes varying in their anthocyanin profile. Individual anthocyanin moietes vary in health‐relevant biological activity due to differences in their chemical structures, ab...

The phytochemical profile by HPLC-TOF-MS of three blackberry cultivars (‘Jumbo’, ‘Black Satin’ and ‘Dirksen’), adapted to the central-east of Argentina, was determined. The antioxidant capacity by DPPH and FRAP assays, and the effect of the blackberry extracts on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production, reactive oxygen species...

Plant polyphenols are reported to have bioactive properties, which may be used for protection against diseases. Therefore, the aim of this research was to investigate the antioxidant activities of a pomegranate tannin polyphenol compound, punicalagin and pomegranate juice. The presence of punicalagin in pomegranate husk (US) and pomegranate juice (...

Extracts of Styrax ramirezii Greenm, a fruit traditionally valued for health and wellness in Mexico, were analyzed phytochemically and evaluated for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. Six norneolignans were identified by HPLC-TOF-MS, and the two major compounds were isolated for further evaluation. The effects of the isolated norneolignans...

Blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum L) is a rich source of anthocyanins, however the relationship between their apparently limited bioavailability and significant protection against metabolic pathologies is poorly understood. In this study, we examined gastrointestinal distribution of blackcurrant anthocyanins and their phenolic acid metabolites in lean and...

Blackcurrant, blueberry, and muscadine grape juices were efficiently sorbed, concentrated, and stabilized into dry granular ingredient matrices which combined anti-inflammatory and antioxidant fruit polyphenols with sweet potato functional constituents (carotenoids, vitamins, polyphenols, fibers). Total phenolics were highest in blackcurrant-orange...

Anti‐inflammatory, antioxidant, and lipolytic properties of pistachio hull, skin, and kernel extracts were evaluated here. All pistachio fractions reduced nitric oxide (NO) levels in Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced RAW 264.7 mouse macrophage cell line, at 50 µg/mL. Hulls polar fraction inhibited the LPS‐induced intracellular reactive oxygen specie...

Abstract Cost-effective methods for concentration and stabilization of otherwise perishable mango fruit phytoactives into shelf stable high protein ingredients were developed to combat stunting (malnutrition) in rural Africa. Mango juices complexed with sunflower oil and protein-rich legume flours yielded carotenoid-enriched oils and pelleted polyp...

Well-known health-protective phytochemicals from muscadine grape and kale were stably complexed with food grade protein (soy or hemp protein isolates) to create biofortified food ingredients for use in a variety of convenient, portable food formulations. The bioactive (anti-inflammatory) potential, sensory attributes and proximates of the prepared...

Co-delivery of edible proteins with health-protective fruit (muscadine grape) and vegetable (kale) phytoactive compounds was accomplished in a biofortified ingredient for use in convenient, portable food formulations. Polyphenolics were concentrated (10-42 mg/g range) in dry muscadine-protein matrices. Kale-fortified protein matrices also captured...

Global incidence of type 2 diabetes has escalated over the past few decades, necessitating a continued search for natural sources of enzyme inhibitors to offset postprandial hyperglycemia. The objective of this study was to evaluate coastal Alaskan seaweed inhibition of α-glucosidase and α-amylase, two carbolytic enzymes involved in serum glucose r...

Maqui (Aristotelia chilensis) is a Chilean species which produces small berries that are collected from the wild. Anthocyanins, due to their health benefits, are the major focus of interest in maqui fruit. For this study, we examined anthocyanin and phenolic content of maqui fruits from individuals that belonged to four geographical areas in Chile,...

Walnuts contain many bioactive components that may slow cancer growth. A previous report showed that a diet supplemented with walnuts decreased the tumor size formed by MDA-MB-231 human cancer cells injected into nude mice. However, the mechanism of action was never determined. We characterized the effects of a methanol extract prepared from walnut...

Background: The declining myogenic potential of aged skeletal muscle is multifactorial. Insufficient satellite cell activity is one factor in this process. Notch and Wnt signaling are involved in various biological processes including orchestrating satellite cell activity within skeletal muscle. These pathways become dysfunctional during the aging...

An infusion of Orthosiphon aristatus has long been used for diabetes therapy; however, the active principles remained unknown. Herein, we report the identification of the putative agents responsible for this antidiabetic activity using an a-glucosidase-guided isolation. Four flavonoids named sinensetin (1), salvigenin (2), tetramethylscutellarein (...

Peanut allergy is an IgE-mediated hypersensitivity. Upon peanut consumption by an allergic individual, epitopes on peanut proteins bind and cross-link peanut-specific IgE on mast cell and basophil surfaces triggering the cells to release inflammatory mediators responsible for allergic reactions. Polyphenolic phytochemicals have high affinity to bin...

Neuropathological evidence indicates that dopaminergic cell death in Parkinson's disease (PD) involves impairment of mitochondrial complex I, oxidative stress, microglial activation, and the formation of Lewy bodies. Epidemiological findings suggest that the consumption of berries rich in anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins may reduce PD risk. In th...

Sweetpotato phytochemical content was evaluated in four genotypes (NCPUR06-020, Covington, Yellow Covington, and NC07-847) at harvest and after curing/storage for 4 or 8months. Curing and storage for up to 8months did not significantly affect total phenolic content in Covington, Yellow Covington, and NC07-847, however for NCPUR06-020, a purple-fles...

In the harsh, unprotected wilds, environmental or climatic stressors (elicitors) provoke the deposition of health-protective secondary phytochemicals in plants that will help them adapt and thrive. For berries endemic to the wind-battered open plains of the Dakotas, the arctic tundra of Alaska, exposed elevations in the Andean Mountains or the nutr...

Wild lowbush blueberries (Vaccinium angustifolium Ait) are a rich source of anthocyanins and other flavonoids with anti-inflammatory activities, however their individual effects on cellular signaling remain to be elucidated. In this study we determined the capacity of blueberry bioactives to protect murine RAW 264.7 macrophages from lipopolysacchar...

Wild Alaskan Vaccinium berries, V. vitis-idaea (lowbush cranberry) and V. uliginosum (bog blueberry), were investigated in parallel to their commercial berry counterparts; V. macrocarpon (cranberry) and V. angustifolium (lowbush blueberry). Lowbush cranberry accumulated about twice the total phenolics (624.4 mg/100 g FW) and proanthocyanidins (278....

Context: Eryngium foetidum L. (Apiaceae) is a traditional herb that has been used for numerous medicinal applications, including as a treatment for parasitic infections, especially in the Neotropics from where it originates. Objective: This study evaluates the in vitro leishmanicidal and cytotoxicity activities of isolated compounds based on a b...

Defatted soy flour (DSF), soy protein isolate (SPI), hemp protein isolate (HPI), medium roast peanut flour (MPF) and pea protein isolate (PPI) stably bind and concentrate cranberry (CB) polyphenols, creating protein/polyphenol-enriched matrices. Proanthocyanidins (PAC) in the enriched matrices ranged from 20.75 mg/g (CB-HPI) to 10.68 mg/g (CB-SPI)....

Anthocyanins and phenolic acids are major secondary metabolites in blueberry with important implications for human health maintenance. An improved protocol was developed for accurate, efficient and rapid comparative screening for large blueberry sample sets. Triplicates of 6 commercial cultivars and 4 breeding selections were analyzed using the new...

Objectives: Natural botanical agents that are antimicrobial, or that modulate skin hyperpigmentation via tyrosinase inhibition, are increasingly sought in the cosmetic industry. Methods: In this study, an efficient tactic is demonstrated for concentrating and stabilizing skin-beneficial bioactive compounds from muscadine grape and blackcurrant j...

Activation of the PI3k‐Akt pathway leading to protein synthesis is diminished in aged skeletal muscle. Phytoecdysteroids, in particular 20‐hydroxyecdysone (20E), from the plant Ajuga turkestanica increases protein synthesis in C2C12 muscle cells. We previously reported that 21 mo old mice fed phytoecdysteroids for 28 d display larger fiber cross‐se...

In order to characterize the structures, biological activity, and mechanisms of action for walnut constituents, the key phytochemicals must be isolated in sufficient quantities. The objective of this research was to establish a method for rapid separation of walnut polyphenols which preserves structural integrity and yields high quantities and puri...

Stunting, the result of chronic nutritional deficiencies, afflicts an estimated 180 million children under the age of 5. It is exacerbated when local diets rely on easily preserved dietary staples largely devoid of protein and phytoactive compounds from fruits and vegetables. Simple cost‐effective methods are presented for concentrating nutritional...

In our ongoing investigation of new compounds with activity against malaria parasites, we tested the in vitro antiplasmodial activity of fractions and purified compounds from Cassia fistula L., a plant traditionally used by native populations of Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Brazil to treat malaria or symptoms associated with this disease. Cru...

Unlabelled: The human health benefits from consumption of cranberry products have been associated with the fruits' unique flavonoid composition, including a complex profile of anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins. However, when processed by techniques such as pressing, canning, concentrating, or drying, a number of these natural components may be co...

Blackcurrant is considered as a natural high-value food raw material and possesses a variety of therapeutic properties. The health benefits of blackcurrant have generally been credited to its high anthocyanin content; however, the therapeutic properties of other minor flavonoids constituents have not yet been investigated due the difficulties relat...

The traditionally used antimalarial plant, Datisca glomerata (C. Presl) Baill, was subjected to antiplasmo-dial assay guided fractionation. This led to the isolation of seven cucurbitacin glycosides, datiscosides I–O, along with two known compounds, datiscoside and datiscoside B, from the aerial parts of D. glomerata. Their structures and relative...

Two different strategies for investigating the likely fate, after ingestion, of natural, bioactive berry constituents (anthocyanins and other non-nutritive flavonoids) are compared. A model of the human gastrointestinal tract (TIM-1) that mimicked the biological environment from the point of swallowing and ingestion through the duodenum, jejunum, a...

The objective of this study was to identify the antiplasmodial constituents from the bark of Cornus florida L., a plant traditionally used in North America for the treatment of malaria. Dried and powdered bark was extracted with 95% ethanol. The resultant extract was subjected to in vitro antiplasmodial-guided fractionation against Plasmodium falci...

The present study demonstrated that defatted soybean flour (DSF) can sorb polyphenols from blueberry and cranberry juices while separating them from sugars. Depending on DSF concentration and juice dilution, the concentration of blueberry anthocyanins and total polyphenols sorbed to DSF ranged from 2 - 22 mg/g and 10 - 95 mg/g, respectively while t...

Dysfunctional Notch and Wnt signaling contributes to poor muscle regeneration and increased fibrosis in aged skeletal muscle. 20‐ hydroxyecdysone (20E), a phytoecdysteroid produced by the plant Ajuga turkestanica, increases muscle strength in young rats. The objective of this study was to determine if an extract from A. turkestanica (ATE), enriched...

Protein synthesis through the PI3k‐Akt pathway is reduced in aged skeletal muscle, leading to a decrease in fiber size and number. Phytoecdysteroids, in particular 20‐hydroxyecdysone (20E), from the plant Ajuga turkestanica increases protein synthesis in C2C12 skeletal muscle cells and muscle strength in young rats. The objective of this study was...

We used a murine model of type II diabetes, which reproduces the major features of the human disease, and a number of cellular models to study the antidiabetic effect of ANC, a standardised anthocyanin-rich formulation from Maqui Berry (Aristotelia chilensis). We also isolated delphinidin 3-sambubioside-5-glucoside (D3S5G), a characteristic anthocy...

Alkaloids from the stem bark of Geissospermum vellosii possess a variety of therapeutic properties including antimalarial activities, activity as a sexual stimulant and inhibition of the proliferation of HIV and herpes viruses. Methods currently used to isolate the active components from G. vellosii are time-consuming, labor intensive, and result i...