Natural Antioxidants in Foods and Medicinal Plants: Extraction, Assessment and Resources

Assessment of Methodological Pipelines for the Determination of Isothiocyanates Derived from Natural Sources

Isothiocyanates are biologically active secondary metabolites liberated via enzymatic hydrolysis of their sulfur enriched precursors, glucosinolates, upon tissue plant disruption. The importance of this class of compounds lies in their capacity to induce anti-cancer, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and other bioactive properties. As such, their isolation from natural sources is of utmost importance. In this review article, an extensive examination of the various parameters (hydrolysis, extraction, and quantification) affecting the isolation of isothiocyanates from naturally-derived sources is presented. Overall, the effective isolation/extraction and quantification of isothiocyanate is strongly associated with their chemical and physicochemical properties, such as polarity-solubility as well as thermal and acidic stability. Furthermore, the successful activation of myrosinase appears to be a major factor affecting the conversion of glucosinolates into active isothiocyanates.

Antiradical Potential of Food Products as a Comprehensive Measure of Their Quality

Antiradical potential (ARP) is an important measure of food safety. In addition, it directly or indirectly affects the rate of occurrence of a number of human pathologies. Using a photocolorimetric analysis of DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) solutions, we estimated the antiradical potential of food raw materials, food concentrates, biologically active substances, and wild plants. We conducted approximately 1500 analyses of almost 100 food products selected from 11 food groups: vegetables, milk, meat, fish, cereals and bread, drinks (including tea and coffee), etc. With a confidence interval (CI) of 95%, the average values for animal products range from 15.87 to 18.70 ascorbic acid equivalents per gram of dry matter. For plant materials, the range is 474.54-501.50 equivalents when wild herbs are included and 385.02-408.83 equivalents without taking herbs into account. The antiradical potential of the biologically active substances we studied ranged from 706.84 to 847.77 equivalents per gram of dry matter, which makes it possible to use some of the components to repair products with low ARP values, for example, bread and baked goods, confectionery, milk and dairy products, carbonated drinks, and juice. In this study, a low ARP value is associated with a reduction in the shelf life of products and a deterioration in their organoleptic properties; therefore, we propose using ARP as an important reference for describing the quality of food products and raw food materials.

Improvement of Phytopharmaceutical and Alkaloid Production in Periwinkle Plants by Endophyte and Abiotic Elicitors

Periwinkle plant represents a major source of immensely vital terpenoid indole alkaloids and natural antioxidants which are widely used in cancer chemotherapy. A pot experiment was done to evaluate the role of two periwinkle endophytes (Streptomyces sp. and Bacillus sp.) with or without abiotic elicitors (aluminum chloride, tryptophan, and chitosan) on plant biomass, physio-biochemical attributes, phytopharmaceutical constituents, and alkaloid production. Inoculation with endophyte microbes significantly increased plant growth, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, carotenoids, ascorbic acid, and alkaloid yield. It also decreased oxidative biomarkers (hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde) and had no significant effects on flavonoids and anthocyanin. In this regard, Streptomyces sp. was more effective than Bacillus sp. Foliar spraying with chitosan significantly increased plant growth, chlorophyll, ions, antioxidant capacity, phytopharmaceutical constituents (total soluble phenols, flavonoids, and anthocyanin), and alkaloid yield, associated with a decline in oxidative biomarkers. Conversely, aluminum chloride application generally increased oxidative biomarkers, which was associated with a decreasing effect on plant growth, chlorophyll, and ions. Application of either tryptophan or chitosan with endophyte microbes increased plant growth, chlorophyll, ions, antioxidants, and alkaloid; meanwhile, it decreased oxidative biomarkers. On the contrary, aluminum chloride with endophytes evoked oxidative damage that was associated with a reduction in plant growth, chlorophyll, ions, and phytopharmaceutical constituents. The current study provides a proof-of-concept of the use of the endophyte Streptomyces sp. with chitosan for enhancing periwinkle plant biomass, phytopharmaceuticals accumulation, and alkaloid production.

Phenolic Characterization and Bioactivity of Fennel Seed (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) Extracts Isolated by Microwave-Assisted and Conventional Extraction

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) as an environmentally friendly approach compared to conventional heat-reflux extraction (CE) for the isolation of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) seed polyphenols and to assess the bioactivity of the obtained extracts. Water, ethanol (30%, v/v) and acetone (30%, v/v) were used as extraction solvents, and the extraction was carried out varying the temperature (40, 60 and 80 °C), irradiation time (5 and 10 min) and microwave power (300 and 600 W). According to the total phenolic content (TPC), 30% acetone at 80 °C after 5 min of irradiation at 300 W proved to be the optimal MAE conditions for obtaining the highest yield of polyphenols. The phenolic profile of both extracts comprised 21 compounds, with cinnamic acids and flavonols being the most abundant. When compared to CE, the MAE extract showed a lower amount of TPC as well as the sum of all identified individual phenols, although both extracts showed similar antioxidant capacity. The antimicrobial activity of the extract with the highest phenolic content was weak, showing inhibitory activity only against Pseudomonas fragi, Shewanella putrefaciens and Campylobacter jejuni strains, while Gram-positive bacteria and yeasts were not sensitive to the extract.

Physicochemical and Storage Characteristics of Pork Tteokgalbi Treated with Boesenbergia pandurata (Roxb.) Powder

This study investigates the physicochemical and storage characteristics of Tteokgalbi treated with various concentrations of Boesenbergia pandurata (Roxb.) powder (BP). BP is constituted mainly of carbohydrates (77.9%), possesses free-radical scavenging activity due to the presence of polyphenol and flavonoids, and is slightly acidic (pH 5.99). Five Tteokgalbi samples were treated with 0 (CON), 0.5% (B1), 1.0% (B2), or 2.0% (B3) of BP or 0.05% of ascorbic acid (REF). Compared to CON, BP-treated Tteokgalbi demonstrated significantly higher carbohydrate content and water-holding capacity and decreased cooking loss (%). BP-treated Tteokgalbi had significantly altered Hunter color properties, with decreased L* and increased b* values. Additionally, BP treatment significantly changed the textural properties by increasing the hardness (B3) and chewiness (B2 and B3) and decreasing the springiness (B3) of Tteokgalbi. Owing to the increased total polyphenol and flavonoid content, BP addition significantly enhanced the DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities of Tteokgalbi during vacuum-packed cold storage (0–14 days) at 5 °C. BP-treated Tteokgalbi maintained a higher pH compared to CON, and BP-treatment significantly suppressed 2-thiobarbituric acid, volatile basic nitrogen, and total microbial count during the cold storage period (7 and 14 days). Therefore, BP is a natural, edible antioxidant that may be applied to Tteokgalbi.

Protective Effect of Minocycline Hydrochloride on the Mouse Embryonic Development Against Suboptimal Environment

Numerous studies have reported how inner cell mass (ICM) and trophectoderm (TE) was determined during the process of early mouse embryonic development from zygotes into organized blastocysts, however, multiple mysteries still remain. It is noteworthy that pluripotent stem cells (PSCs), which are derived from embryos at different developmental stages, have identical developmental potential and molecular characteristics to their counterpart embryos. Advances of PSCs research may provide us a distinctive perspective of deciphering embryonic development mechanism. Minocycline hydrochloride (MiH), a critical component for maintaining medium of novel type of extended pluripotent stem cells, which possesses developmental potential similar to both ICM and TE, can be substituted with genetic disruption of Parp1 in our previous study. Though Parp1-deficient mouse ESCs are more susceptible to differentiate into trophoblast derivatives, what role of MiH plays in mouse preimplantation embryonic development is still a subject of concern. Here, by incubating mouse zygotes in a medium containing MiH till 100 h after fertilization, we found that MiH could slow down embryonic developmental kinetics during cleavage stage without impairing blastocyst formation potential. Olaparib and Talazoparib, two FDA approved PARP1 inhibitors, exhibited similar effects on mouse embryos, indicating the aforementioned effects of MiH were through inhibiting of PARP1. Besides, we showed an embryonic protective role of MiH against suboptimal environment including long term exposure to external environment and H2O2 treatment, which could mimic inevitable manipulation during embryo culture procedures in clinical IVF laboratory. To our knowledge, it is not only for the first time to study MiH in the field of embryo development, but also for the first time to propose MiH as a protective supplement for embryo culture, giving the way to more studies on exploring the multiple molecular mechanisms on embryonic development that might be useful in assisted reproductive technology.

Chemical Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Ammi visnaga L. Essential Oil

The present study evaluated the chemical composition and the in vitro and in vivo antioxidant potential of Ammi visnaga L. essential oil to provide a scientific basis for the use of this plant in the traditional pharmacopoeia. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to identify the volatile constituents present of the oil. The in vitro antioxidant capacity was evaluated by the DPPH and the reducing power assays. For the in vivo tests, oral administration of Ammi visnaga L. oil (600 and 1200 mg/kg body weight) was performed in Swiss albino mice treated with acetaminophen (400 mg/kg). The toxic effect of acetaminophen and the action of the essential oil were measured by determining the levels of lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzymes in liver and kidneys homogenates. The major components identified were butanoic acid, 2-methyl-, pentyl ester, (Z)-β-ocimene, D-limonene, linalool, pulegone and lavandulyl-butyrate. The in vitro DPPH and reducing power assays showed moderate to low free radical scavenging activity and the antioxidant power was positively correlated with the polyphenols’ concentration. In vivo, the Ammi visnaga L. essential oil showed a high antioxidant capacity at both concentrations (600 and 1200 mg/kg), effectively increasing the levels of reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and catalase and significantly reducing the lipid peroxidation. The results obtained from this study suggest that Ammi visnaga L. could represent a source of molecules with antioxidant potential in the prevention of free radical-related diseases.

Anticancer Effects of Taraxacum via Cell Cycle Arrest, Necrosis, Apoptosis, and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress

Dandelion (Taraxacum species) is a wild plant with over 2500 species. Flavonoids, phenolic compounds, saponins, sesquiterpenes, and sugars have been detected in the organs of Taraxacum, and for centuries it has been used in traditional medicine for the relief and treatment of various diseases. However, details of its working mechanism remain unclear. Bioactive compounds in herbal extracts generally have low yields, which makes their isolation and purification intensive in terms of time and cost. Here, to assess their versatility and safety, we applied aqueous extracts of two species of Taraxacum, T. mongolicum and T. formosanum, including extracts of both fresh and dried T. formosanum, to compare their potential antitumor effects on HeLa human cervical cancer cells, three liver cancer cell lines, and one normal liver cell line. After being treated with a lower dose of Taraxacum, the upregulation of subG1 and S populations, as well as increased levels of p-eIF2[Formula: see text]-to-eIF2[Formula: see text] ratio, were observed in HeLa cells, whereas the downregulation of S population and the absence of mRNA expressions were detected in HeLa cells when being treated with a higher dose of Taraxacum. These results indicated that Taraxacumcould induce apoptosis and endoplasmic reticulum stress while suppressing proliferation, transcription, colony formation, migration, and invasion. What's more, we also found that the effects of fresh T. formosanum were much stronger than that of T. mongolicumin HeLa cells. Based on these results, we suggest that T. formosanum may contain specific compound(s) that are potentially useful for cancer therapy. However, much work remains to identify these effective compounds for the future application of Taraxacumto cancer therapy.

Moringa oleifera Hot Water Extract Protects Vero Cells from Hydrogen Peroxide-Induced Oxidative Stress by Regulating Mitochondria-Mediated Apoptotic Pathway and Nrf2/HO-1 Signaling

The present study discloses the identification of phenolic compounds in Moringa oleifera hot water extract (MOH) and the evaluation of its antioxidant activity on H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress in Vero cells. Upon analysis, MOH was found to contain phenolic compounds and indicated 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS⁺) radical scavenging with IC₅₀ values of 102.52 and 122.55 µg/mL, respectively. The ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) of MOH indicated a dose-dependent increase with a maximum absorbance at 125 μg/mL and the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) of MOH was 1004.95 µmol TE/mg. Results showed that MOH dose-dependently reduced intracellular ROS generation in H₂O₂-stimulated Vero cells while increasing the cell viability. Fluorescence microscopy and flowcytometric analyses have supported the above findings. MOH markedly suppressed the H₂O₂-induced mitochondrial depolarization and apoptosis through suppression of the mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis pathway and activated the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway by possibly involving H₂O₂ generation in cell media. Findings of western blot were supported by immunocytochemistry of Nrf2 nuclear translocation. Thus, MOH bioactivity would potentiate its applications in manufacturing functional food.

Solubility and physicochemical properties of resveratrol in peanut oil

The solubility and physicochemical properties of resveratrol in peanut oil were systematically studied following ultrasonic and magnetic stirring-assisted dissolution. The highest resveratrol solubility in peanut oil observed was 95.91%. The optimal dissolution process was determined to be the addition of 183.00 mg/kg resveratrol, a magnetic temperature of 40.00℃, and a magnetic duration of 3.50 h, which yielded a resveratrol content of 175.51 mg/kg oil. Under this standardized process, the oil composition remained unchanged. Resveratrol promoted the conversion of saturated triglycerides into unsaturated triglycerides, increased the linolenic acid content, and did not facilitate the formation of trans fatty acids. In addition, resveratrol preservedthe lightcolor, decreased the peroxide and acid values by 30%, prolonged the shelf life by more than 2 folds, and improved the thermal stability. In this sense, peanut oil with resveratrol can serve as anti-isomerism and antioxidant additive.

Up-To-Date Analysis of the Extraction Methods for Anthocyanins: Principles of the Techniques, Optimization, Technical Progress, and Industrial Application

Nowadays, food industries are concerned about satisfying legal requirements related to waste policy and environmental protection. In addition, they take steps to ensure food safety and quality products that have high nutritional properties. Anthocyanins are considered high added-value compounds due to their sensory qualities, colors, and nutritional properties; they are considered bioactive ingredients. They are found in high concentrations in many by-products across the food industry. Thus, the non-conventional extraction techniques presented here are useful in satisfying the current food industry requirements. However, selecting more convenient extraction techniques is not easy. Multiple factors are implicated in the decision. In this review, we compile the most recent applications (since 2015) used to extract anthocyanins from different natural matrices, via conventional and non-conventional extraction techniques. We analyze the main advantages and disadvantages of anthocyanin extraction techniques from different natural matrices and discuss the selection criteria for sustainability of the processes. We present an up-to-date analysis of the principles of the techniques and an optimization of the extraction conditions, technical progress, and industrial applications. Finally, we provide a critical comparison between these techniques and some recommendations, to select and optimize the techniques for industrial applications.

Allium cepa: A Treasure of Bioactive Phytochemicals with Prospective Health Benefits

As Allium cepa is one of the most important condiment plants grown and consumed all over the world, various therapeutic and pharmacological effects of A. cepa were reviewed. Onion (Allium cepa) is a high dietary fiber-rich perennial herb that is placed under the family Amaryllidaceae. It contains high concentration of folic acid, vitamin B6, magnesium, calcium, potassium, and phosphorus as well as vitamins and minerals. It is widely used as an antimicrobial agent, but it showed anticancer, antidiabetic, antioxidant, antiplatelet, antihypertensive, and antidepressant effects and neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, and antiparasitic effects and so on. It is said to have beneficial effects on the digestive, circulatory, and respiratory systems, as well as on the immune system. This review article was devoted to discussing many health benefits and traditional uses of onions in pharmacological perspectives, as well as the safety/toxicological profile. If more detailed research on this perennial herb is conducted, it will open the door to an infinite number of possibilities.

Polyphenols and ω-3 PUFAs: Beneficial Outcomes to Obesity and Its Related Metabolic Diseases

Obesity is associated with the leading causes of death in the worldwide. On the other hand, the intake of vegetables, fruits and fish is related to the reduction of obesity and other metabolic syndromes. This review aims to highlight the role of ingestion of polyphenols and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFAs) in reducing obesity and related metabolic diseases (RMDs). The consumption of vegetables, fish and by-products rich in polyphenols and α-linolenic acid (ALA), as well as oils rich in eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are associated with a decrease in obesity and its RMDs in consumers. Furthermore, we discussed the adequate amount of extracts, powder, polyphenols, ω-3 PUFAs administrated in animal models and human subjects, and the relevant outcomes obtained. Thus, we appeal to the research institutions and departments of the Ministries of Health in each country to develop a food education joint project to help schools, businesses and families with the aim of reducing obesity and other metabolic diseases.

Comparative Study of the Characterisation and Extraction Techniques of Polyphenolic Compounds from Acacia seyal gum

Abstract

Acacia seyal gum is an abundant source of natural polyphenolic compounds (NPPCs) and antioxidant activity with numerous benefits and is often used in cancer treatment. The type of extraction technique can significantly impact the yield and isolation of NPPCs from Acacia seyal gum (ASG). The traditional use of maceration extraction reportedly yields fewer NPPCs.

Objectives

This study investigates five extraction techniques for NPPCs and ASG antioxidant activity, namely: homogenisation, shaking, ultrasonication, magnetic stirring, and maceration.

Materials and Methods

The evaluation of the antioxidant activity (AoA) of the extracted NPPCs from ASG used five assays, namely: Total Flavonoids Content (TFC), Folin-Ciocalteu index (FCI), 2,2-Diphenyl-1-Picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity (DPPH), Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP), and Cupric Reducing Antioxidant Capacity (CUPRAC).

Results

To minimise the dataset dimensionality requires Principal Component Analysis. The ultrasonic and maceration techniques were the best techniques to extract NPPCs and examine the AoA of ASG, with a high correlation between the NPPCs and AoA. However, the maceration process was slow (12 h) compared to ultrasonication (1 h). Slow extraction can result in a decline of the NPPCs due to polyphenol oxidase-enzyme and impact productivity.

Conclusions

These findings provide an essential guide for the choice of extraction techniques for the effective extraction of NPPCs from ASG and other plant materials.

P2Y12 antagonists: Approved drugs, potential naturally isolated and synthesised compounds, and related in-silico studies

P2Y₁₂ is a platelet surface protein which is responsible for the amplification of P2Y₁ response. It plays a crucial role in platelet aggregation and thrombus formation through an ADP-induced platelet activation mechanism. Despite that P2Y₁₂ platelets' receptor is an excellent target for developing antiplatelet agents, only five approved medications are currently in clinical use which are classified into thienopyridines and nucleoside-nucleotide derivatives. In the past years, many attempts for developing new candidates as P2Y₁₂ inhibitors have been made. This review highlights the importance and the role of P2Y₁₂ receptor as part of the coagulation cascade, its reported congenital defects, and the type of assays which are used to verify and measure its activity. Furthermore, an overview is given of the clinically approved medications, the potential naturally isolated inhibitors, and the synthesised candidates which were tested either in-vitro, in-vivo and/or clinically. Finally, we outline the in-silico attempts which were carried out using virtual screening, molecular docking and dynamics simulations in efforts of designing novel P2Y₁₂ antagonists. Various phytochemical classes might be considered as a corner stone for the discovery of novel P2Y₁₂ inhibitors, whereas a wide range of ring systems can be deliberated as leading scaffolds in that area synthetically and theoretically.

Piperine, an active ingredient of white pepper suppresses growth of multidrug resistant toxigenic Vibrio cholerae and other pathogenic bacteria

Emergence and rapid spread of multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacteria including Vibrio cholerae are a global public health issue. Much attention has been paid to natural compounds, such as spices and herbs to find novel antimicrobial compounds as they are considered to be cheaper alternatives to develop as a drug. Here, we show that methanol extract of white pepper could inhibit growth of V. cholerae O1 El Tor variant, responsible for the recent outbreaks/epidemics. Furthermore, we demonstrate for the first time that piperine, the major component of white pepper showed a dose-dependent bactericidal effect on V. cholerae growth irrespective of their biotypes and serogroups in presence of 200 and 300 µg ml^-1 of piperine, respectively. Piperine also inhibited growth of MDR strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli isolated from poultry and enterohemorrhagic/enteroaggregative E. coli O104 in presence of 200 µg ml^-1 . Interestingly, we did not observe any significant inhibitory effect of piperine on E. coli strains isolated from healthy person even up to 200 µg ml^-1 . Our data suggest that piperine could be a novel antimicrobial agent in therapeutic and preventive applications against infections caused by pathogenic bacteria including MDR strains.

Curcumin reduces oxidative stress and fat deposition in longissimus dorsi muscle of intrauterine growth-retarded finishing pigs

Dietary curcumin possessing multiple biological activities may be an effective way to alleviate oxidative damage and fat deposition in intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) finishing pigs. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate effects of dietary curcumin on meat quality, antioxidant capacity, and fat deposition of longissimus dorsi muscle in IUGR finishing pigs. Twelve normal birth weight (NBW) and 24 IUGR female piglets at 26 days of age were divided into 3 dietary groups: NBW (basal diet), IUGR (basal diet), and IUGR + Cur (basal diet supplemented with 200 mg/kg curcumin). The trial lasted for 169 days. Results showed that IUGR increased concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA) and protein carbonyls (PC) and fat deposition in longissimus dorsi muscle. However, curcumin decreased the intramuscular fat content and the levels of MDA and PC and improved meat quality in IUGR pigs. Furthermore, curcumin inhibited the decrease of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) protein expression and decreased peroxisome pro liferator-activated receptors γ (PPARγ) expression in IUGR pigs. These findings suggested that dietary addition of 200 mg/kg curcumin could improve meat quality, alleviate oxidative stress through activating Nrf2 signaling pathway, and reduce fat deposition via inhibiting PPARγ expression in longissimus dorsi muscle of IUGR finishing pigs.

Recent advances and trends in extraction techniques to recover polyphenols compounds from apple by-products

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Apple by-products are a source of phenolic compounds associated with bioactivities.

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Apple processing industries generate by-products that could be better used.

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This work provides an up-to-date literature overview on extraction techniques.

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Gaps and future trends related to apple by-products are critically presented.

Apple is one of the most consumed fruits worldwide and has recognized nutritional properties. Besides being consumed fresh, it is the raw material for several food products, whose production chain generates a considerable amount of by-products that currently have an underestimated use. These by-products are a rich source of chemical compounds with several potential applications. Therefore, new ambitious platforms focused on reusing are needed, targeting a process chain that achieves well-defined products and mitigates waste generation. This review covers an essential part of the apple by-products reuse chain. The apple composition regarding phenolic compounds subclasses is addressed and related to biological activities. The extraction processes to recover apple biocompounds have been revised, and an up-to-date overview of the scientific literature on conventional and emerging extraction techniques adopted over the past decade is reported. Finally, gaps and future trends related to the management of apple by-products are critically presented.

Antioxidative Effect of Sage (Salvia officinalis L.) Macerate as “Green Extract” in Inhibiting the Oxidation of Fish Oil

The aim of the study was to assess the antioxidant effect of concentrated oil macerate of sage (M) as a “green extract” in inhibiting the oxidation of Fish Oil (FO). In the homogenization-assisted maceration process, FO was used as a solvent for the sage active substances to produce M, which was then added to FO (25% w/w) and evaluated for its effect by monitoring the level of oxidation during refrigerated and room temperature storage. The macerate also examined polyphenols, plant pigments, DPPH antioxidant potential, oxidation level and sensory quality. It was shown that the maceration process made it possible to obtain aromatized M, containing polyphenols (carnosic acid, carnosol) and pigments, but with an increased level of peroxides, free fatty acids, compared to the control oil. M showed antioxidant properties and inhibited FO oxidation. It showed the best efficiency in FO during refrigerated storage, in the third month it reduced the level of peroxides by about 9 times, compared to the control. M retains unchanged quality at refrigerated temperature for up to 3 months. Sage macerates are “green extracts” that can be used as effective natural antioxidant additives, following preparation improvements to reduce the amount of peroxide formed.

Analyses of Antioxidative Properties of Selected Cyclitols and Their Mixtures with Flavanones and Glutathione

The conditions for determining the antioxidant properties of cyclitols (d-pinitol, l-quebrachitol, myo-, l-chiro-, and d-chiro-inositol), selected flavanones (hesperetin, naringenin, eriodictyol, and liquiritigenin) and glutathione by spectrophotometric methods—CUPRAC and with DPPH radical, and by a chromatographic method DPPH-UHPLC-UV, have been identified. Interactions of the tested compounds and their impact on the ox-red properties were investigated. The RSA (%) of the compounds tested was determined. Very low antioxidative properties of cyclitols, compared with flavanones and glutathione alone, were revealed. However, a significant increase in the determined antioxidative properties of glutathione by methyl-ether derivatives of cyclitols (d-pinitol and l-quebrachitol) was demonstrated for the first time. Thus, cyclitols seem to be a good candidate for creating drugs for the treatment of many diseases associated with reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation.

Comparative Study of Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) and Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas L.): Evaluation of Proximate Composition, Polyphenol Content, Mineral and Antioxidant Activities

The objective of the present study was to differentiate and compare the proximate composition, minerals, flesh colour, phenolic composition, and antioxidant activities of varieties of white-fleshed sweet potato (WFSP) and potato (WFP) locally grown in Pakistan. The results showed that WFP presented higher moisture and crude fat content, while WFSP offered better ash, crude protein, and crude fibre contents. Colour analysis revealed that WFSP and WFP showed the highest L* (lightness) values and exhibited the maximum total phenolic content and total flavonoids content of 9.27 ± 0.88 mg GAE/g and 19.01 ± 0.66 mg QE/g. In vitro, results demonstrated that WFSP possessed better antioxidant activity with the highest ferric reducing antioxidant power of 58.67 ± 0.22 mM Fe2+/g and DPPH scavenging activity of 39.12 ± 0.33% compared to WFP. It is concluded that WFSP possesses a better proximate and mineral profile followed by higher antioxidant activity.

Antioxidant Potential of Flower Extracts from Centaurea spp. Depends on Their Content of Phenolics, Flavonoids and Free Amino Acids

Scientists intensely search for new sources of antioxidants, perceived as important health-promoting agents. Some species of the large genus Centaurea provide raw materials for the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries, as well as produce edible flowers. This is the first study that determines the content of total polyphenols, flavonoids, reducing sugars, free amino acids and the antioxidant potential in the flower extracts of C. nigra L., C. orientalis L. and C. phrygia L. The total polyphenol and flavonoid content is the highest in the extract of C. orientalis, and the lowest in that of C. phrygia. Similarly, C. orientalis shows the greatest scavenging activity on DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl), ABTS [2,2′-azobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate)] and Fe³⁺ reducing power assays, whereas the lowest activity is found for C. phrygia. The highest content of reducing sugars is found in C. nigra, while C. orientalis has the highest levels of free amino acids. We find a strong positive correlation between total phenolics and flavonoids and the antioxidant capacity of all three Centaurea species. Moreover, the content of free amino acids strongly and positively correlates with the levels of total phenolics and flavonoids, antioxidant activity assessed by DPPH and ABTS assays and Fe³⁺ reducing power. Summing up, C. orientalis exhibits the strongest antioxidant potential of the investigated Centaurea species. This species could potentially be a natural source of antioxidant substances for the pharmacy, cosmetics and food industries. The content of free amino acids may be used as a marker of the antioxidant status of Centaurea species.

Apiaceae as an Important Source of Antioxidants and Their Applications

The excess level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) disturbs the oxidative balance leading to oxidative stress, which, in turn, causes diabetes mellites, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases. These effects of ROS and oxidative stress can be balanced by dietary antioxidants. In recent years, there has been an increasing trend in the use of herbal products for personal and beauty care. The Apiaceae (previously Umbelliferae) family is a good source of antioxidants, predominantly phenolic compounds, therefore, widely used in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, cosmeceutical, flavor, and perfumery industries. These natural antioxidants include polyphenolic acids, flavonoids, carotenoids, tocopherols, and ascorbic acids, and exhibit a wide range of biological effects, including anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, anti-atherosclerosis, and anticancer. This review discusses the Apiaceae family plants as an important source of antioxidants their therapeutic value and the use in cosmetics.

Influence of Freeze-Dried Phenolic-Rich Plant Powders on the Bioactive Compounds Profile, Antioxidant Activity and Aroma of Different Types of Chocolates

In this study, the blueberries (BLUB), raspberries (RASB), blackberries (BLCB), pomegranates pomace (POME) and beetroots (BEET) freeze-dried powders were used as the sources of phenolic compounds to enrich different types of chocolates, substituting a part of the sweetener. It was found that 1% addition of fruit or vegetable powders to chocolates increased the content of total phenolic compounds (flavan-3-ols, phenolic acids and anthocyanins) of enriched dark and milk chocolates compared to the control ones dependent on the powder used. Among the enriched chocolates, the chocolates with the addition of BLUB powder were characterized by the highest total polyphenol content. The highest percentage increase (approximately 80%) in the total polyphenol content was observed in MCH chocolate enriched with BLUB powder. Chocolates incorporated with BLUB, RASB, BLCB and POME powders presented a richer phenolic compound profile than control counterparts. The highest DPPH radical-scavenging capacity was exhibited by the DCH98S chocolate enriched with BEET powder. However, the DCH98ESt chocolates enriched with POME and BEET powders demonstrated the highest FRAP values. An electronic nose analysis confirmed the existence of differences between the profiles of volatile compounds of various types of chocolates enriched with fruit or vegetable powders. Thus, the enrichment of dark and milk chocolates with BLUB, RASB, BLCB, POME and BEET powders seemed to be an interesting approach to enhance bioactivity and to enrich the sensory features of various chocolate types.

Natural Antioxidants from Plant Extracts in Skincare Cosmetics: Recent Applications, Challenges and Perspectives

In recent years, interest in the health effects of natural antioxidants has increased due to their safety and applicability in cosmetic formulation. Nevertheless, efficacy of natural antioxidants in vivo is less documented than their prooxidant properties in vivo. Plant extracts rich in vitamins, flavonoids, and phenolic compounds can induce oxidative damage by reacting with various biomolecules while also providing antioxidant properties. Because the biological activities of natural antioxidants differ, their effectiveness for slowing the aging process remains unclear. This review article focuses on the use of natural antioxidants in skincare and the possible mechanisms underlying their desired effect, along with recent applications in skincare formulation and their limitations.

Antioxidant and Anticancer Activities of Heart Components Extracted from Iraqi Phoneix Dactylifera Chick

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer is one of the most frequent malignancies in women, and it is a major cause of cancer death worldwide, as well as one of the leading causes of cancer mortality. Traditional herbal therapy has been widely used in some developing countries as a complementary and alternative technique. Because of their low toxicity, medicinal edible plants have been allowed to minimize the risk of breast cancer and other diseases. The heart of Phoenix dactylifera is a well-known, safe, and common edible part of the P. dactylifera plant (Hilawi variety). The biological properties of heart of P. dactylifera are unclear, and the appeal warrants further investigation. The aim of this study is to look into the chemical compositions, antioxidant and anticancer properties of heart of P. dactylifera extract obtained via microwave-assisted extraction.

METHODS

Microwave-assisted extraction, ethanol solvent, gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) analysis, DPPH assay, MTT assay, acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining, cell cycle, reactive oxygen species, and apoptosis were all used to evaluate the activity of heart of P. dactylifera.

RESULTS

GC-MS was used to identify the chemical compositions of heart of P. dactylifera extract, which revealed about 15 bioactive compounds. The antioxidant activity of heart of P. dactylifera extract was determined to have an IC50 value of 114.2 µg/ml. The cytotoxicity was measured using MCF-7 cells, and the IC50 was reported to be 620.1 µg/ml. The cell cycle was arrested at the G1 gate, resulting in the formation of reactive oxygen species and apoptosis.

CONCLUSION

The findings suggested that regular consumption of P. dactylifera heart components is important for nutrition and immune system support in the prevention of breast cancer, and that more research into molecular apoptotic pathways is needed.

Screening for Innovative Sources of Carotenoids and Phenolic Antioxidants among Flowers

Flowers have been used for centuries in decoration and traditional medicine, and as components of dishes. In this study, carotenoids and phenolics from 125 flowers were determined by liquid chromatography (RRLC and UHPLC). After comparing four different extractants, the carotenoids were extracted with acetone: methanol (2:1), which led to a recovery of 83%. The phenolic compounds were extracted with 0.1% acidified methanol. The petals of the edible flowers Renealmia alpinia and Lantana camara showed the highest values of theoretical vitamin A activity expressed as retinol activity equivalents (RAE), i.e., 19.1 and 4.1 RAE/g fresh weight, respectively. The sample with the highest total phenolic contents was Punica granatum orange (146.7 mg/g dry weight). It was concluded that in most cases, flowers with high carotenoid contents did not contain high phenolic content and vice versa. The results of this study can help to develop innovative concepts and products for the industry.

Antibacterial activity and characteristics of silver nanoparticles biosynthesized from Carduus crispus

In recent years’ synthesis of metal nanoparticle using plants has been extensively studied and recognized as a non-toxic and efficient method applicable in biomedical field. The aim of this study is to investigate the role of different parts of medical plant Carduus crispus on synthesizing silver nanoparticles and characterize the produced nanoparticle. Our study showed that silver nanoparticles (AgNP) synthesized via whole plant extract exhibited a blue shift in absorption spectra with increased optical density, which correlates to a high yield and small size. Also, the results of zeta potential, X-ray diffraction, photon cross-correlation spectroscopy analysis showed the surface charge of − 54.29 ± 4.96 mV (AgNP-S), − 42.64 ± 3.762 mV (AgNP-F), − 46.02 ± 4.17 mV (AgNP-W), the crystallite size of 36 nm (AgNP-S), 13 nm (AgNP-F), 14 nm (AgNP-W) with face-centered cubic structure and average grain sizes of 145.1 nm, 22.5 nm and 99.6 nm. Another important characteristic, such as elemental composition and constituent capping agent has been determined by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared. The silver nanoparticles were composed of ~ 80% Ag, ~ 15% K, and ~ 7.5% Ca (or ~ 2.8% P) elements. Moreover, the results of the FTIR measurement suggested that the distinct functional groups present in both AgNP-S and AgNP-F were found in AgNP-W. The atomic force microscopy analysis revealed that AgNP-S, AgNP-F and AgNP-W had sizes of 131 nm, 33 nm and 70 nm respectively. In addition, the biosynthesized silver nanoparticles were evaluated for their cytotoxicity and antibacterial activity. At 17 µg/ml concentration, AgNP-S, AgNP-F and AgNP-W showed very low toxicity on HepG2 cell line but also high antibacterial activity. The silver nanoparticles showed antibacterial activity on both gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli (5.5 ± 0.2 mm to 6.5 ± 0.3 mm) and gram-positive bacterium Micrococcus luteus (7 ± 0.4 mm to 7.7 ± 0.5 mm). Our study is meaningful as a first observation indicating the possibility of using special plant organs to control the characteristics of nanoparticles.

The Fading Wild Plant Food-Medicines in Upper Chitral, NW Pakistan

The subject of food-medicines (foods ingested in order to obtain a therapeutic activity or to prevent diseases) is garnering increasing attention from both ethnobiologists and ethnopharmacologists as diet-related chronic diseases are one of the major problems resulting in a large proportion of deaths globally, which calls for interest from the scientific community to make sensible decisions in the field of food and medicine. In this regard, the current study is an important attempt at providing baseline data for developing healthy and curative food ingredients. This study aimed at recording the culinary and medicinal uses of wild food plants (WFPs) in the remote Mastuj Valley, located at the extreme north of Chitral District, Pakistan. An ethnobotanical survey was completed via 30 in-depth semi-structured interviews with local knowledge holders to record the food and medicinal uses of WFPs in the study area. A total of 43 WFPs were recorded, most of which were used as cooked vegetables and raw snacks. Leaves were the most frequently used plant part. A remarkable proportion (81%) of use reports for the recorded wild plant taxa were quoted as food-medicines or medicinal foods, while very few were reported as either food or medicines, without any relationship between uses in these two domains. Previous ethnomedicinal studies from nearby regions have shown that most of the recorded wild plants have been used as medicines, thus supporting the findings of the current study. A literature survey revealed that many of the reported medicinal uses (33%) for the quoted WFPs were not verifiable on PubMed as they have not been studied for their respective medicinal actions. We observed that most of the plants quoted here have disappeared from the traditional food and medicinal system, which may be attributed to the invasion of the food market and the prevalence of allopathic medicine. However, knowledge of these wild plants is still alive in memory, and women are the main holders of cultural knowledge as they use it to manage the cooking and processing of WFPs. Therefore, in this context, we strongly recommend the preservation of local biocultural heritage, promoted through future development and educational programs, which could represent a timely response to the loss of cultural and traditional knowledge.

Metabolomic Profiling of Antioxidant Compounds in Five Vachellia Species

The genus Vachellia, previously known as Acacia, belongs to the family Fabaceae, subfamily Leguminosae, which are flowering plants, commonly known as thorn trees. They are traditionally used medicinally in various countries including South Africa for the treatment of ailments such as fever, sore throat, Tuberculosis, convulsions and as sedatives. The aim of this study was to determine biochemical variations in five Vachellia species and correlate their metabolite profiles to antioxidant activity using a chemometric approach. The antioxidant activity of five Vachellia aqueous-methanolic extracts were analyzed using three methods: 2,2-di-phenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay, 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS⁺) analysis and the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay by means of serial dilution and bioautography with the thin-layer chromatography (TLC) method. Amongst the Vachellia extracts tested, V. karroo, V. kosiensis and V. xanthophloea demonstrated the highest DPPH, ABTS⁺ and FRAP inhibitory activity. The antioxidant activities of DPPH were higher than those obtained by ABTS⁺, although these values varied among the Vachellia species. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR), coupled with multivariate statistical modeling tools such as principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA), were performed to profile metabolites responsible for the observed activity. The OPLS-DA categorized the five Vachellia species, separating them into two groups, with V. karroo, V. kosiensis and V. xanthophloea demonstrating significantly higher radical scavenging activity than V. tortilis and V. sieberiana, which clustered together to form another group with lower radical scavenging activity. Annotation of metabolites was carried out using the ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography–quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-qTOF-MS), and it tentatively identified 23 metabolites of significance, including epigallocatechin (m/z = 305.0659), methyl gallate (m/z = 183.0294) and quercetin (m/z = 301.0358), amongst others. These results elucidated the metabolites that separated the Vachellia species from each other and demonstrated their possible free radical scavenging activities.

Identifying Potential Antioxidant Properties from the Viscera of Sea Snails (Turbo cornutus)

Turbo cornutus, the horned turban sea snail, is found along the intertidal and basaltic shorelines of Jeju Island, Korea. T. cornutus feeds on seaweeds (e.g., Undaria sp., and Ecklonia sp.) composed of diverse antioxidants. This study identified potential antioxidant properties from T. cornutus viscera tissues. Diverse extracts were evaluated for their hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) scavenging activities. T. cornutus viscera protamex-assisted extracts (TVP) were purified by gel filtration chromatography (GFC), and potential antioxidant properties were analyzed for their amino acid sequences and its peroxidase inhibition effects by in silico molecular docking and in vitro analysis. According to the results, T. cornutus viscera tissues are composed of many protein contents with each over 50%. Among the extracts, TVP possessed the highest H₂O₂ scavenging activity. In addition, TVP-GFC-3 significantly decreased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and increased cell viability in H₂O₂-treated HepG2 cells without cytotoxicity. TVP-GFC-3 comprises nine low molecular bioactive peptides (ELR, VGPQ, TDY, ALPHA, PAH, VDY, WSDK, VFSP, and FAPQY). Notably, the peptides dock to the active site of the myeloperoxidase (MPO), especially TDY and FAPQY showed the MPO inhibition effects with IC₅₀ values of 646.0 ± 45.0 µM and 57.1 ± 17.7 µM, respectively. Altogether, our findings demonstrated that T. cornutus viscera have potential antioxidant properties that can be used as high value-added ingredients.

Neuroprotective effects of auraptene following traumatic brain injury in male rats: The role of oxidative stress

AIM

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is widely acknowledged as a significant risk factor for death and disability. Our goal in this experiment was to see if Auraptene (AUR) could help rats recover from TBI-induced disability by measuring of oxidative stress parameters.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Adult male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to one of six groups: sham, TBI, Vehicle (DMSO), TBI+ AUR (4 mg/kg), TBI + AUR (8 mg/kg), TBI + AUR (25 mg/kg). The animals were anesthetized. After that, diffuse TBI was done by Marmarou model in male rats. Then, the brain tissues were harvested. Some of oxidative stress parameters, and TNFα levels were evaluated.

RESULTS

TBI-induced brain damage was significantly inhibited by AUR (25 mg/kg), as evidenced by decreased Malondialdehyde (MDA) and Nitric Oxide (NO) levels, oxidative stress inhibition and reduced levels of pro-inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) in the brain.

CONCLUSION

This study showed that probably the AUR prevents complications of TBI through decreases in brain edema, modulating oxidative stress, and reductions in the levels of inflammatory cytokines.