Acetone effects on Buddleja scordioides polyphenol extraction process and assessment of their cellular antioxidant capacity and anti-inflammatory activity

Oral toxicity of the acetone extract of Coffea arabica var. Oro Azteca leaves in CD-1 mice

The investigation of coffee leaves as a source of bioactive principles represents a relatively unexplored area of research. The study assesses the potential adverse effects of an aqueous acetone extract derived from Coffea arabica var. Oro Azteca leaves. The phenolic composition of the extract was identified and quantified by UPLC-MS/MS, and its acute and repeated-dose effects were evaluated in six-week-old CD-1 mice (n = 11 for acute evaluation and n = 20 female and n = 20 male for repeated-dose evaluation). The extract demonstrated no significant toxicity, maintaining consistent body weight and exhibiting a hepatoprotective effect by reducing ALT levels at a dose of 500 mg/kg. Some hyperactivity was observed at the highest doses, but overall, the extract enhanced the immune response and showed no histological alterations, except for mild inflammation in certain organs. The extract, which contains abundant quinic acid, chlorogenic acid, epicatechin, procyanidin B2, and mangiferin, has been deemed safe for consumption.

Cytotoxic effect and induction of apoptosis in human cervical cancer cells by a wood extract from Prosopis laevigata

Cervical cancer ranks fourth in incidence among women worldwide. Cisplatin is currently the first-line drug of treatment for cervical cancer; however, it causes serious adverse effects. Therefore, it is crucial to explore natural products for cervical cancer treatment. Prosopis laevigata is a medicinal plant frequently used for ophthalmological and gastrointestinal infections. In this study, we used the MTT cell viability assay to evaluate the cytotoxic effect of a wood extract from Prosopis laevigata (Extract T7) in SiHa, HeLa, Ca Ski, and C-33 A cancer cell lines. Phosphatidylserine translocation and cell cycle evaluations were performed to determine the mechanism of cellular death. The extract's safety was evaluated using the Ames test with Salmonella typhimurium strains, in vivo acute toxicity assay, and repeated dose toxicity assay in mice. We also identified phenolic compounds of Extract T7 through liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. Naringin, catechin, and eriodictyol demonstrated a higher concentration in Extract T7. Additionally, Extract T7 exhibited a cytotoxic effect against cervical cancer cells, where C-33 A was the most sensitive (IC50= 22.58 ± 1.10 µg/mL and 14.26 ± 1.11 µg/mL at 24 h and 48 h respectively). Extract T7 induced death by apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in the G2 phase in C-33 A. Extract T7 was not mutagenic. No toxicological effects were observed during acute toxicity and repeated dose toxicity for 28 days. Therefore, further evaluations of Extract T7 should be conducted to identify the complete mechanism of action for potential anti-tumoral activity and safety before conducting studies in animal models.

Phenolic Acids and Flavonoids in Acetonic Extract from Quince (Cydonia oblonga Mill.): Nutraceuticals with Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Potential

Quince (Cydonia oblonga Mill.) is a potential source of polyphenolic compounds related with beneficial biological processes. In this study polyphenols from quince fruit were extracted with aqueous acetone at different ratios. A polyphenol profile was identified and quantified by LC-ESI-QqQ. The antioxidant capacity (ORAC and DPPH) and anti-inflammatory effect (inhibition of COX-2 cyclooxygenase) were evaluated in vitro. The results indicated an effect of the aqueous acetone ratio on the extraction of polyphenolic compounds. The higher extraction yields of polyphenolic compounds were attained with 60-75% aqueous acetone. However, extracts obtained with 85% aqueous acetone promoted higher antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Optimal scaling analysis indicated that hydroxycinnamic acids (quinic and chlorogenic), hydroxybenzoic acids (vanillic and syringic), flavonoids (quercetin and kaempferol), dihydrochalcones (neohesperidin) and flavones (acacetin) are related to the antioxidant activity of quince. While phenolic acids, flavonols (kaempferol-3-O-glucoside and rutin) and flavanols (epicatechin) generated the anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting 52.3% of the COX-2 enzyme. Therefore, a selective extraction of phenolic mix can reduce oxidative stress or inflammatory processes. This suggests the use of quince as a natural source with significant nutraceutical potential.

Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory polyphenols in ultrasound-assisted extracts from salvilla (Buddleja scordioides Kunth)

Salvilla is a widely distributed plant used in treatments against gastrointestinal disorders due to its phenolic antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential. Major yield and quality of bioactive polyphenols must be obtained with no degradation during suitable processes such as Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction (UAE), which allows an efficient extraction of metabolites at appropriate parameter conditions. Salvilla extractions were made using UAE and aqueous ethanolic solutions. Variables used in UAE were sonication time, wave amplitude and percentage of ethanol in solvent. Extracts were tested for total flavonoids, antioxidant activity (ABTS, FRAP and ORAC) and an identification and quantification of phenolic compounds was carried out by UPLC-PDA-ESI-MS/MS. Once elected the better extraction conditions, an anti-inflammatory test was performed for this treatment. As a result, total flavonoids content in extracts was 147 to 288 µg catechin equivalents/mg of dry salvilla extract. All extracts have shown good antioxidant activity (86 to 280 mM Trolox eq/mg dry salvilla extract). Flavonoids contents by chromatography were higher than hydroxybenzoic and hydroxycinnamic acids specially the flavone, flavanol and flavanone groups. Treatment T6 (75% ethanol, 30% amplitude and 10 min extraction time) was the best extract in terms of significant flavonols, antioxidant activity, and higher anti-inflammatory potential.