Structural characterization of three acidic polysaccharides from Opuntia dillenii Haw.fruits and their protective effect against hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress in Huh-7 cells

Three novel acidic polysaccharide fractions(OFPP-1,OFPP-2,OFPP-3)with different m olecular weights(803.7,555.1 and 414.5 k Da)were isolated from the peeled Opuntia dillenii Haw.fruits by alkali-extraction,graded alcohol precipitation and column chromatography.Structural analysis indicated that OFPPs were pectic polysaccharides consisting of rhamnose,arabinose and galactose residues.The backbone of OFPP-1 consisted of a repeating unit→6-α-D-Galp A-(1→2)-α-L-Rhap-(1→with T-α-D-Galp A-(1→6)-α-D-Galp A-(1→4)-α-D-Glcp-(1→,T-β-D-Xylp-(1→6)-α-D-Galp A-(1→4)-α-D-Glcp-(1→or T-α-D-Galp A-(1→3)-α-L-Araf-(1→as the side chains.The backbone of OFPP-2 consisted of a disaccharide repeating unit→2)-α-L-Rhap-(1→4)-β-D-Galp A-(1→with T-β-L-Araf-(1→as the branches substituted at the O-4 position of→2,4)-α-LRhap-(1→.Whereas the backbone of OFPP-3 was→2,4)-α-L-Rhap-(1→2)-α-L-Rhap-(1→3)-β-L-Araf-(1→or→2,4)-α-L-Rhap-(1→2)-α-L-Rhap-(1→4)-β-D-Galp A-(1→,which was branched at the O-4 position of→2,4)-α-L-Rhap-(1→.Moreover,these three polysaccharide fractions could protect Huh-7 cells against H2O2-induced oxidative stress to different extents by decreasing the MDA content and increasing the SOD,CAT,GSH-Px activities and the GSH level in the Huh-7 cells.These results suggest that OFPPs have the potential to be used as natural antioxidants.

Development status and prospect of cold chain logistics of fruits,vegetables,and agricultural products based on intelligent technology

The cold chain in the production area of fruits and vegetables is the primary link to reduce product loss and improve product quality,but it is also a weak link.With the application of big data technology in cold chain logistics,intelligent devices,and technologies have become important carriers for improving the efficiency of cold chain logistics in fruit and vegetable production areas,extending the shelf life of fruits and vegetables,and reducing fruit and vegetable losses.They have many advantages in fruit and vegetable pre-cooling,sorting and packaging,testing,warehousing,transportation,and other aspects.This article summarizes the rapidly developing and widely used intelligent technologies at home and abroad in recent years,including automated guided vehicle intelligent handling based on electromagnetic or optical technology,intelligent sorting based on sensors,electronic optics,and other technologies,intelligent detection based on computer vision technology,intelligent transportation based on perspective imaging technology,etc.It analyses and studies the innovative research and achievements of various scholars in applying intelligent technology in fruit and vegetable cold chain storage,sorting,detection,transportation,and other links,and improves the efficiency of fruit and vegetable cold chain logistics.However,applying intelligent technology in fruit and vegetable cold chain logistics also faces many problems.The challenges of high cost,difficulty in technological integration,and talent shortages have limited the development of intelligent technology in the field of fruit and vegetable cold chains.To solve the current problems,it is proposed that costs be controlled through independent research and development,technological innovation,and other means to lower the entry threshold for small enterprises.Strengthen integrating intelligent technology and cold chain logistics systems to improve data security and system compatibility.At the same time,the government should introduce relevant policies,provide necessary financial support,and establish talent training mechanisms.Accelerate the development and improvement of intelligent technology standards in the field of cold chain logistics.Through technological innovation,cost control,talent cultivation,and policy guidance,we aim to promote the upgrading of the agricultural industry and provide ideas for improving the quality and efficiency of fruit and vegetable cold chain logistics.

An Artificial Intelligence-Based Framework for Fruits Disease Recognition Using Deep Learning

Fruit infections have an impact on both the yield and the quality of the crop.As a result,an automated recognition system for fruit leaf diseases is important.In artificial intelligence(AI)applications,especially in agriculture,deep learning shows promising disease detection and classification results.The recent AI-based techniques have a few challenges for fruit disease recognition,such as low-resolution images,small datasets for learning models,and irrelevant feature extraction.This work proposed a new fruit leaf leaf leaf disease recognition framework using deep learning features and improved pathfinder optimization.Three fruit types have been employed in this work for the validation process,such as apple,grape,and Citrus.In the first step,a noisy dataset is prepared by employing the original images to learn the designed framework better.The EfficientNet-B0 deep model is fine-tuned on the next step and trained separately on the original and noisy data.After that,features are fused using a serial concatenation approach that is later optimized in the next step using an improved Path Finder Algorithm(PFA).This algorithm aims to select the best features based on the fitness score and ignore redundant information.The selected features are finally classified using machine learning classifiers such as Medium Neural Network,Wide Neural Network,and Support Vector Machine.The experimental process was conducted on each fruit dataset separately and obtained an accuracy of 100%,99.7%,99.7%,and 93.4%for apple,grape,Citrus fruit,and citrus plant leaves,respectively.A detailed analysis is conducted and also compared with the recent techniques,and the proposed framework shows improved accuracy.

Deep Learning-Based Classification of Rotten Fruits and Identification of Shelf Life

The freshness of fruits is considered to be one of the essential characteristics for consumers in determining their quality,flavor and nutritional value.The primary need for identifying rotten fruits is to ensure that only fresh and high-quality fruits are sold to consumers.The impact of rotten fruits can foster harmful bacteria,molds and other microorganisms that can cause food poisoning and other illnesses to the consumers.The overall purpose of the study is to classify rotten fruits,which can affect the taste,texture,and appearance of other fresh fruits,thereby reducing their shelf life.The agriculture and food industries are increasingly adopting computer vision technology to detect rotten fruits and forecast their shelf life.Hence,this research work mainly focuses on the Convolutional Neural Network’s(CNN)deep learning model,which helps in the classification of rotten fruits.The proposed methodology involves real-time analysis of a dataset of various types of fruits,including apples,bananas,oranges,papayas and guavas.Similarly,machine learningmodels such as GaussianNaïve Bayes(GNB)and random forest are used to predict the fruit’s shelf life.The results obtained from the various pre-trained models for rotten fruit detection are analysed based on an accuracy score to determine the best model.In comparison to other pre-trained models,the visual geometry group16(VGG16)obtained a higher accuracy score of 95%.Likewise,the random forest model delivers a better accuracy score of 88% when compared with GNB in forecasting the fruit’s shelf life.By developing an accurate classification model,only fresh and safe fruits reach consumers,reducing the risks associated with contaminated produce.Thereby,the proposed approach will have a significant impact on the food industry for efficient fruit distribution and also benefit customers to purchase fresh fruits.

Regional Brand and High-quality Development of Fruits in Ethnic Areas of the Yangtze River Economic Belt under the Greater Food Approach

Establishing the Greater Food Approach and promoting the Yangtze River Economic Belt s national major regional development strategy can better support and serve the agricultural power and Chinese-style modernization.This paper introduces the characteristics of fruit industry in 16 autonomous prefectures and 47 autonomous counties under the jurisdiction of the Yangtze River Economic Belt.It studies the intellectual property resources of brand marks from the aspects of geographical indications,collective trademarks,certification trademarks,well-known trademarks in China and national design patents,and analyzes the main problems of brand and high-quality development of fruit industry in these ethnic autonomous areas.Finally,it puts forward some strategies,such as improving the protection of intellectual property rights of geographical indications,using intellectual property rights of brand signs,building modern seed industry upgrading project,drawing lessons from the experience of thousand villages demonstration project,ensuring that large-scale poverty does not occur,and building a diversified food supply system.

Nutraceutical Potentiality of Fruits of Red Variety of Pseudospondias microcarpa (A. Rich) Engl.

The red fruits of Pseudospondias microcarpa (A. Rich) Engl. are widely consumed by the populations of northern Congo for their sweet and tangy flavor as well as for their characteristic smell. The objective of this study was to show the food potential of the fruits of this plant for their valorization. Organic solvent extracts were prepared and subjected to phytochemical screening to determine the nutrients and phytonutrients of this fruit. Raw juice was extracted by trituration without adding water and subjected to physicochemical and biochemical analyses in order to determine its quality and its antiradical activity. The raw juice obtained is moderately acidic (pH 3.28), very cloudy and colored (turbidity of 1019 NTU). It has a dry matter content of 3.771% ± 0.013% reflecting the 70% dominance of water in the weight of the fruit and the presence of dissolved organic matter in its juice. Energy nutrients (sugars, amino acids), carotenoids, coumarins, tannins, flavonoids, terpenes and sterols have been highlighted as nutrients with therapeutic potential commonly called phytonutrients of this fruit. The juice presented a dominance in polyphenols (134.8500 ± 0.0023 mg gallic acid/100 g) than in carotenoids (5.100 ± 0.010 mg carotene/100 g), high levels of mineral macroelements (calcium: 3570.00 ± 2.05 mg and potassium: 4576.00 ± 9.49 mg) and trace elements (copper: 11.13 ± 0.10 mg, iron: 3.02 ± 0.03 mg and zinc: 2.57 ± 0.08 mg). These compounds exhibited good antioxidant activity. The presence of these nutrients and phytonutrients in these fruits is interesting for the proper functioning of certain organs and the prevention of certain diseases. This fruit is therefore an energizing and functional food that can compete with conventional fruits whose juices are marketed.

Rapid screening of 420 pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables using ultra high performance liquid chromatography combined with quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry

A new method for screening and identification 420 pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF/MS)were developed.The samples were extracted with acetonitrile/acetic acid(99:1,V/V),and clean-up by SinChERS-Nano(single-step,cheap,effective,rugged,safe,nano)column,determined by UPLC-Q-TOF/MS.The accurate mass database and MS/MS database which contains 420 pesticides were established,the automatic retrieval of detection results was carried on according to the accurate mass,retention time,isotope ratio,ion fragment information,and so on.Method verification was performed on leeks samples.The results showed that 420 pesticides had good linearity in the range of 0.1-100μg/L,and the correlation coeffificients(R2)was greater than 0.990.The limits of detections(LODs)and limits of quantifications(LOQs)of 420 pesticides were in range of 0.05-2.0 and 0.1-5.0μg/L,respectively.The average spike recoveries at 3 levels were 70.1%to 119.7%,and the relative standard deviations(RSD)were lower than 20%(n=6).With this method,a survey of pesticide residues was conducted for 110 samples of 10 different fruits and vegetables,which provided scientific data for ensuring pesticide residue safety of the fruits and vegetables consumed daily by the public.This method was simple,sensitive and accurate,and could be used for rapid screening of 420 pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables.

Flavonoids and Amino Acids Analysis of the Fruits of Cornus mas L. Introduced in Uzbekistan

Cornelian cherry is used in the food and pharmaceutical industry as an ornament, in traditional medicine, and in the manufacture of household items. It is widely used in medicine for the prevention and treatment of many diseases. Therefore, it is important to research the chemical composition of these species. In the article, based on our research, the analysis of the quantitative calculation of flavonoids and amino acids of the fruits of the “Elegant” and “Svetlyachok” cherry varieties was carried out. It was found that the amount of amino acids in the fruits of Cornus mas L., introduced in Uzbekistan, is higher in the variety “Svetlyachok” 2.643235 mg/g. In “Elegant” variety it was 1.794235 mg/g. The amount of 4 different flavonoids in the fruit was also determined. It has been established that the Elegant variety has a high concentration of lutein and rutin, and the svetlyachok has a high concentration of apigenin and quercetin.

Experimental Study and Modeling of a Convective Dryer for Fruits and Vegetables

The present work deals with the study of the thermal performances of a convective dryer for fruits and vegetables. This dryer, operating with energy generated from the combustion of biomass in a boiler connected to a water/air heat exchanger could be a solution to the problematic of energy related to drying. An experimental and theoretical study is carried out on the temperature profile inside the dryer. For this purpose, 10.3 kg of tomatoes were dried on the experimental setup. The operation lasted about 16 hours and reduced the moisture content from 93.8% to 12% in wet basis. The overall thermal efficiency of the convective dryer during the trial is 10.76%. For the theoretical study, the dryer components (boiler, water/air exchanger and drying chamber) are first modeled individually;the different sub-programs are then coupled to form the convective dryer program. The method of global heat balances combined with the one called “ε-NUT” is used. The set of equations is discretized using the implicit method of finite differences, then solved with the Gauss algorithm in Fortran 90. The theoretical results obtained are in good agreement with those measured.

Selected fermented indigenous vegetables and fruits from Malaysia as potential sources of natural probiotics for improving gut health

In the Peninsular Malaysia and Northern Borneo island of Malaysia, various rich indigenous leafy vegetables and fruits grow and contribute to the nutritional and dietary values of the population. They have high water contents, thus, naturally vulnerable to rapid food spoilage. Food preservation and processing play a vital role in the inhibition of food pathogens in fruits and vegetables that are prevalent in Malaysia. Lactic acid fermentation is generally a local-based bioprocess, among the oldest form and well-known for food-processing techniques among indigenous people there. The long shelf life of fermented vegetables and fruits improves their nutritional values and antioxidant potentials. Fermented leaves and vegetables can be utilized as a potential source of probiotics as they are host for several lactic acid bacteria such as Lactobacillus confusus, Weissella paramesenteroides, Enterococcus faecalis, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus buchneri, Lactobacillus paracasei, Lactobacillus pentosus, Pediococcus acidilactici, Pediococcus pentosaceus and Leuconostoc mesenteroides. These strains may be more viable in metabolic systems whereby they can contribute to a substantial increase in essential biologically active element than industrial starter cultures. This review is aimed to address some essential fermented fruits and vegetables in Malaysia and their remarkable reputations as a potential sources of natural probiotics.

Inventory and Biodiversity of the Entomofauna Associated with Shea Fruits (Vitellaria paradoxa C. F. Gaertn), an Important Non-Timber Forest Product in the Ziro Province of Burkina Faso

A few studies have highlighted the degradation of shea tree fruits mainly due to insects in Burkina Faso. The insects associated with these non-timber forest products are still poorly known, hence the interest of this study. The objective of the study is to make a qualitative inventory of the biodiversity of insect pests of shea fruits during the ripening period in two different ecosystems. It was carried out in 2021 in three locations of the Ziro province. 30 shea fruit trees distributed in 9 sites listed in agrosystems and protected areas were selected for monitoring and collecting insects infested with the fruits. The inventory identified 25 species in 13 families clustered in 5 orders. The order of Diptera, composed of 6 families with 15 species recorded, is the most dominant order in this diversity. Among the different families, 3 of them, Calliphoridae, Tephritidae and Muscidae, present at least 3 species each. 7 species are mainly associated with fruit damage with a predominance of Ceratitis silvestrii Bezzi (Diptera: Tephritidae). 91.33% of the emergences from infested fruits and 43.41% of the individuals trapped belong to this species. C. silvestrii, which presents a homogeneity in its distribution between locations and ecosystems, is therefore the main pest species of shea fruits in production in this zone. The results suggest the need to determine the economic importance of Tephritidae infesting shea fruits.

Design and Development of Web-based Expert System for the Diagnosis of Disease and Pests of Fruits and Vegetables

According to the requirements of agricultural production and usem, taking diagnosis and decision-making of prevention for common diseases and pests in fruits and vegetables in southern China as the core, with communication and sharing as principle, adopted diagnosis, inquiries and guiding prevention of diseases and pests in fruits and vegetables as purpose, expert examination system of plant disease and pests in fruits and vegetables based on Web highly integrates the knowledge and prevention techniques of common diseases and pests for main fruit and vegetable in south China. In this system, the users can browse and inquiry the information about the fruit and vegetable diseases and pests, as well as their diagnosis and control. The implementation of the system plays an active role in promo- ting plant protection knowledge and guiding farms to scientifically control diseases and pests in fruits and vegetables

Observation and Comparision on Morphological Characteristics of the Seed-like Fruits of Salvia shandongensis and Its Relatives

[Objective] This study aimed to compare and analyse the morphological characteristics of the seed-like fruits between Salvia shandongensis J. X. Li et F. Q. Zhou and its relatives. [Method] The morphological characteristics of the mature seed-like fruits of Salvia shandongensis and its three congeners, S. miltiorrhiza, S. miltiorrhiza f. alba and S. bowleyana, were comparatively observed using both optical microscope and scanning electron microscope. [Result] The results showed that there were distinct differences in the shape, size and exine sculpture of the seed-like fruits of the four Danshen congeners： the seed-like fruits of S. shandongensis that were elliptical and had areolate sculpture with subquadrangular convex meshes as well as densely filamentous transverse lines were easy to be distinguished from those of S. miltiorrhiza Bge., which were broadly elliptical and had reticulate sculpture with subquadrate concave meshes. The seed-like fruits of S. bowleyana were fusiform and their ektexine had reticulate sculpture with polygonal meshes, which were slightly convex at the center, which are obviously different from those of S. shandongensis. [Conclusion] This study first accumulates data of the seed-like fruits of S. shandongensis, which provides important bases for establishing its taxonomical status and studying its germplasm. The morphological characteristics and reticulate sculpture on ektexine of the seed-like fruits S. miltiorrhiza Bge. are consistent with the previous report. The results in this study not only provide references for uncovering the genetic relationships between S. shandongensis and S. miltiorrhiza Bge., as well as the interspecific classification and identification. In addition, this study also provides new scientific proofs for the identification of Danshen species and their introduction and cultivation, genetics and breeding.

Preliminary Identification of Red Pigment and Positive Correlation between the Contents of Red Pigment and Total Saponins of Panax notoginseng Fruits

[Objective] This study aimed to identify red pigment of Panax notoginseng fruits and explore the correlation between pigment content and total saponins of the fruits. [Method] The red pigment of Panax notoginseng fruits was preliminarily identi- fied with specific color reactions and UV-vis spectra, and the contents of the pigment and total saponins were determined via spectrophotometry. [Result] The red hues of the fruits were contributed by anthocyanins and/or the anthocyanidins. The contents of anthocyanins and total saponins of the fruits both decreased along with thinning of the red hues. The content difference of the anthocyanins in fruits with different red hues reached extremely significant level, but that of total saponins just reached significant level. [Conclusion] The red pigment of P. notoginseng fruits is anthocyanins which are of extremely significant positive correlation with total saponins in contents.

Development of Functional Synbiotic Flavored Fermented Skim Milk Drinks Supplemented with Doum (Hyphaene thebaica L.) and Carob (Ceratonia siliqua) Fruits Powder for Nutritional, Antimicrobial and High Antioxidant Activities

The present study was carried out to make new healthy synbiotic flavored fermented skim milk drinks (SFFSD) supplemented with either Doum (Hyphaene thebaica L.) or Carob (Ceratonia siliqua) fruits powder for nutritional, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. The HPLC analysis showed higher phenolic and flavonoid content in Doum extract than that of Carob. The antimicrobial activity of the methanolic extracts of both Doum and Carob against foodborne pathogens showed that the most sensitive indicators were Bacillus cereus, C. albicans and S. aureus, followed by T. mentagrophyte and E. coli wherein, the diameter of clear zones was, 29, 27, 24, 23 and 13 mm, respectively. While no effect was noticed against Aspergillus flavus. On the other hand, the methanolic extract of Carob fruit exhibited only a weak antibacterial effect against B. cereus (20 mm). Six treatments of SFFSD were made using both Doum or Carob fruit powder as prebiotic and Lactobacillus paracasei as probiotic bacteria. The added levels from Doum were 2%, 4% and 6%, while that added from Carob were 5%, 10% and 15%. Adding Doum and Carob powder increased the containing of minerals;Ca, K, Mg and iron compared with control. Both viscosity and viability of L. paracasei for the SFFSD were increased with increasing the added levels from either Doum or Carob, compared with the control. Samples of SFFSD containing Carob powder, show superior sensory for all parameters and total score points during storage period, especially at a level of 10%. It seems evident that samples supplemented with Doum powder were also acceptable.

Preliminary Study on the Major Meteorological Disasters Impacts on the Growth of Jujube Fruits

This paper aimed to explore the major meteorological disasters impacts on the growth of Jujube fruits.By analyzing statistic characters of meteorological data and historic yield data of Jujube fruits,the influence of different factors on the different growing stages of Jujube fruits was studied,in terms of temperature,precipitation,and relative humidity.The major meteorological disasters which impacted the growth of Jujube fruits were as follow:(1) Hot days when the temperature was equal to or above 30 ℃ continued over 9 days at full bloom stage;(2) The continuous rainy days lasted over 10 days at mature stage;(3) The continuous rainy days lasted over 7 days at full bloom stage;(4) Clod days when the temperature was equal to or below-22 ℃ continued over 4 days and the minimum temperature reached-24 ℃ at wintering stage.The major meteorological disasters which impact Jujube fruits were different at different stages.The most frequently occurred major meteorological disasters was the hot days when the temperature was equal to or above 30 ℃ and lasted over 9 days at full bloom stage.

SlMYB75,an MYB-type transcription factor,promotes anthocyanin accumulation and enhances volatile aroma production in tomato fruits

Genetic manipulation of genes to upregulate specific branches of metabolic pathways is a method that is commonly used to improve fruit quality.However,the use of a single gene to impact several metabolic pathways is difficult.Here,we show that overexpression of the single gene SlMYB75(SlMYB75-OE)is effective at improving multiple fruit quality traits.In these engineered fruits,the anthocyanin content reached 1.86mg g−1 fresh weight at the red-ripe stage,and these SlMYB75-OE tomatoes displayed a series of physiological changes,including delayed ripening and increased ethylene production.In addition to anthocyanin,the total contents of phenolics,flavonoids and soluble solids in SlMYB75-OE fruits were enhanced by 2.6,4,and 1.2 times,respectively,compared to those of wild-type(WT)fruits.Interestingly,a number of aroma volatiles,such as aldehyde,phenylpropanoid-derived and terpene volatiles,were significantly increased in SlMYB75-OE fruits,with some terpene volatiles showing more than 10 times higher levels than those in WT fruits.Consistent with the metabolic assessment,transcriptomic profiling indicated that the genes involved in the ethylene signaling,phenylpropanoid and isoprenoid pathways were greatly upregulated in SlMYB75-OE fruits.Yeast one-hybrid and transactivation assays revealed that SlMYB75 is able to directly bind to the MYBPLANT and MYBPZM cis-regulatory elements and to activate the promoters of the LOXC,AADC2 and TPS genes.The identification of SlMYB75 as a key regulator of fruit quality attributes through the transcriptional regulation of downstream genes involved in several metabolic pathways opens new avenues towards engineering fruits with a higher sensory and nutritional quality.

Changes of Reactive Oxygen Species and Related Enzymes in Mitochondrial Respiration During Storage of Harvested Peach Fruits

Peach fruits [Prumus persica （L.） Batsch, cv. Yuhuasanhao] were used as materials to investigate the changes of reactive oxygen species （ROS） and related enzymes in mitochondria respiration during storage and then their influence on senescence of harvested Peach fruits was studied. The results showed that low temperature （5℃） strongly inhibited the reduction of firmness and the increase in respiration rate. During storage at ambient temperature （20℃）, ROS had a cumulative process while malondialdehye （MDA） content continued to increase in associated with enhanced membrane lipid peroxidation. Lipoxygenase （LOX） activity was strongly inhibited under the low temperature condition. The activities of succinic dehydrogenase （SDH）, cytochrome C oxidase （CCO）, and Ca^2＋-ATPase declined to a certain extent at ambient temperature, while they showed higher activities at low temperature, which may be related to lower membrane lipid peroxidation at low temperature. Higher Ca^2＋ content at ambient temperature may be responsible for impairment of mitochondrial function, thus, leading to fruit senescence. The results showed that under low temperature condition, the low accumulation of ROS and the low level of membrane lipid peroxidation could maintain the function of mitochondria that would help to delay the senescence of peach fruits. These suggested a close relationship existed between ROS metabolism and mitochondrial respiration. It can be inferred that the low temperature helps to delay senescence of peach fruits via suppression of ROS and related enzymes, maintain better homeostasis of Ca^2＋ in mitochondria and thus better mitochondrial functions.

Fruits extracts of Hovenia dulcis Thunb.suppresses lipopolysaccharide—stimulated inflammatory responses through nuclear factor—kappaB pathway in Raw 264.7 cells

Objective:To investigate the anti-inflammatory effects and the action mechanism of the fruits of Horenia dulcis(H.dulcis) in lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced mouse macrophage Raw 264.7cells.Methods:The extract of H.dulcis fruits(EHDF) were extracted with 70%ethanol.Mouse macrophages were treated with different concentrations of EHDF in the presence and absence of LPS(1 μg/mL).To demonstrate the inflammatory mediators including nitric oxide,inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase(COX)-2 expression levels were analyzed by usingin vitro assay systems.COX-derived pro-inflammatory cytokines including interleukin-1 β.tumor necrosis factor- α and prostaglandin F_2 were determined using ELISA kits.Cell viability,heme oxygenase-1 expression,nuclear factor-kappaB and nuclear factor F.2-related factors 2 translocation were also investigated.Results:EHDF potently inhibited the LPS-stimulated nitric oxide,inducible nitric oxide synthase.COX-2,interleukin-1 β and tumor necrosis factor- α expression in a dose-dependent manner.EHDF suppressed the phosphorylation of inhibited kappaB-alpha and p65 nuclear translocation.Treatment of macrophage cells with EHDF alone induced the heme oxygenase-1 and nuclear translocation of nuclear factor E2-reIated factor 2.Conclusions:These results suggest that the ethanol extract of H.dulcis fruit exerts its anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting inhibited kappaBalpha phorylation and nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-kappaB.