Chlorophyll and total phenolic contents, antioxidant activities and consumer acceptance test of processed grass drinks

Investigation of in vitro biological activity of young Hordeum vulgare leaf in correlation with its bioactive compounds

Young shoots of cereals are widely regarded as superfoods with health benefits attributed to their potential antioxidant activity and antioxidant-related effects (e.g. anticancer). The current study aimed to examine the chemical characteristics of Hordeum vulgare methanolic and aqueous extracts and assess their antioxidant activity using the DDPH and ORAC. Furthermore, the inhibitory effect of xanthine oxidase was screened. TLC bioautography was employed to determine the polarity of the compounds present in the extracts that exhibited the most potent free radical scavenging activity. Total flavonoid content of the methanolic and aqueous extracts was 0.14 mg QE/g and 0.012 mg QE/g, respectively. The antioxidant activity of the methanolic extract was found to be more potent, with a value of 0.97 ± 0.13 mmol TE/g than the aqueous extract which had no activity. This study presents novel findings on the xanthine inhibitory activity of H. vulgare. The methanolic extract demonstrated moderate inhibition of xanthine oxidase with a value of 23.24%. The results of our study were compared with the phytochemical and pharmacological analysis of Triticum aestivum, and further comparison was made with the data reported in the literature. Inconsistencies were observed in the chemical and pharmacological properties of H. vulgare, which could be a result of using herbal material harvested in different vegetative phases and various methods used for extraction. The findings of our study indicate that the timing of the harvest and extraction method may play crucial role in attaining the optimal phytochemical composition of H. vulgare, hence enhancing its pharmacological activity.

Beyond Chemical Preservatives: Enhancing the Shelf-Life and Sensory Quality of Ready-to-Eat (RTE) Hummus with Vinegar and Other Natural Antimicrobials

Hummus is a traditional and very popular Mediterranean ready-to-eat (RTE) food, with growing popularity worldwide. However, it has a high water activity and is susceptible to microbial growth and post-process contamination that limit its quality and shelf-life. For this purpose, the present study compared the use of several antimicrobials, alone or in combination, for hummus preservation during storage (4 °C), for up to 45 days. The chemical preservative potassium sorbate 0.09% (S) was evaluated, along with three natural antimicrobials: garlic 1.25% (G); vinegar 5% (V); natamycin 0.002% (N); or their combination: garlic 1.25%-vinegar 5% (GV); vinegar 5%-natamycin 0.002% (VN); garlic 1.25%-natamycin 0.002% (GN); and garlic 1.25%-vinegar 5%-natamycin 0.002% (GVN) to increase the shelf-life of hummus. A thymol and carvacrol mixture 0.2% (O) was also assessed to preserve and develop a new oregano-flavored hummus. All treatments that included vinegar used alone or in combination had significantly higher antimicrobial effectiveness than the other treatments. They achieved 2.2-3.2, 1.8-3.1, and 1.4-2.1 log reductions in total aerobic counts (TAC), Pseudomonas spp., and lactic acid bacteria (LAB), respectively, as compared to the control samples © at day 21. Therefore, the shelf-life of C, S, N, G, GN, and O was around (ca.) 19 days, compared to an extended one of ca. 25 days for V and VN, and ca. 30 days for GV and GVN. Sensory analysis showed the highest acceptability for C, N, S, V, and VN, followed by GV and GVN, and the lowest was for G, GN, and finally O. The findings provide potential alternatives to chemical preservatives, which could be used for natural hummus preservation and shelf-life extension.

Biochemical and antioxidant activity of wild edible fruits of the eastern Himalaya, India

The eastern Himalayas, one of the important hotspots of global biodiversity, have a rich diversity of wild edible fruit trees. The fruits of these tree species have been consumed by the tribal people since time immemorial. However, there is limited information available on the biochemical and antioxidant properties of the fruits. Therefore, the present investigation was undertaken to study the physico-chemical and antioxidant properties of the nine most important wild fruit trees. Among the species, Pyrus pashia had the maximum fruit weight (37.83 g), while the highest juice (43.72%) and pulp content (84.67%) were noted in Haematocarpus validus and Myrica esculenta, respectively. Maximum total soluble solids (18.27%), total sugar (11.27%), moisture content (88.39%), ascorbic acid content (63.82 mg/100 g), total carotenoids (18.47 mg/100 g), and total monomeric anthocyanin (354.04 mg/100 g) were recorded in H. validus. Docynia indica had the highest total phenolic content (19.37 mg GAE/g), while H. validus recorded the highest total flavonoids and flavanol content. The antioxidant activities of the different fruits ranged from 0.17 to 0.67 IC50 for DPPH activity and 3.59-13.82 mg AAE/g for FRAP. These fruits had attractive pigmentation of both pulp and juice and were a good potential source for the extraction of natural edible color in the food industry. The fruits also possess high market prices; Prunus nepalensis fetched $ 34.10-$ 141.5 per tree. Therefore, these fruits are rich sources of antioxidants, pigments and have a high market value for livelihood and nutritional security.

Identifying Chemical Composition, Safety and Bioactivity of Thai Rice Grass Extract Drink in Cells and Animals

Rice grass has been reported to contain bioactive compounds that possess antioxidant and free-radical scavenging activities. We aimed to assess rice grass extract (RGE) drink by determining catechin content, free-radical scavenging and iron-binding properties, as well as toxicity in cells and animals. Young rice grass (Sukhothai-1 strain) was dried, extracted with hot water and lyophilized in a vacuum chamber. The resulting extract was reconstituted with deionized water (260 mg/40 mL) and served as Sukhothai-1 rice grass extract drink (ST1-RGE). HPLC results revealed at least eight phenolic compounds, for which the major catechins were catechin, epicatechin and epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) (2.71-3.57, 0.98-1.85 and 25.47-27.55 mg/40 mL serving, respectively). Elements (As, Cu, Pb, Sn and Zn) and aflatoxin (B1, B2, G1 and G2) contents did not exceed the relevant limits when compared with WHO guideline values. Importantly, ST1-RGE drink exerted radical-scavenging, iron-chelating and anti-lipid peroxidation properties in aqueous and biological environments in a concentration-dependent manner. The drink was not toxic to cells and animals. Thus, Sukhothai-1 rice grass product is an edible drink that is rich in catechins, particularly EGCG, and exhibited antioxidant, free radical scavenging and iron-binding/chelating properties. The product represents a functional drink that is capable of alleviating conditions of oxidative stress and iron overload.

Tailoring Alginate/Chitosan Microparticles Loaded with Chemical and Biological Agents for Agricultural Application and Production of Value-Added Foods

This work reviews the recent development of biopolymer-based delivery systems for agricultural application. Encapsulation into biopolymer microparticles ensures the protection and targeted delivery of active agents while offering controlled release with higher efficiency and environmental safety for ecological and sustainable plant production. Encapsulation of biological agents provides protection and increases its survivability while providing an environment safe for growth. The application of microparticles loaded with chemical and biological agents presents an innovative way to stimulate plant metabolites synthesis. This enhances plants’ defense against pests and pathogens and results in the production of higher quality food (i.e., higher plant metabolites share). Ionic gelation was presented as a sustainable method in developing biopolymeric microparticles based on the next-generation biopolymers alginate and chitosan. Furthermore, this review highlights the advantages and disadvantages of advanced formulations against conventional ones. The significance of plant metabolites stimulation and their importance in functional food production is also pointed out. This review offers guidelines in developing biopolymeric microparticles loaded with chemical and biological agents and guidelines for the application in plant production, underlining its effect on the plant metabolites synthesis.

Differential Antioxidant Compounds and Activities in Seedlings of Two Rice Cultivars Under Chilling Treatment

Variations in antioxidant compounds were examined in seedlings of two rice cultivars (Qiutianxiaoting and 93-11) exposed to low temperature (4°C) for 0, 12, 36, and 48 h. Antioxidant activity was identified by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. The concentrations of total phenols, flavonoids, chlorophyll, and anthocyanins (ACNs) were determined by spectrophotometry. In addition, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to reveal the changes in phenolic compound concentrations in rice seedlings under chilling treatment. Results showed that antioxidant concentrations and antioxidant activity after chilling treatment were higher in 93-11 compared to Qiutianxiaoting, reaching the highest level at 36 h chilling treatment in 93-11. Phenolic compounds in Qiutianxiaoting decreased between 12 and 36 h but then increased at 48 h, whereas the corresponding levels in 93-11 increased as chilling time increased. Moreover, 10 phenolic compounds were detected and quantified by HPLC, of which gallic acid and caffeic acid tended to only exist in 93-11, whereas rutin was observed only in Qiutianxiaoting. The results of this study could be leveraged to optimize the antioxidant potential of rice in the context of healthy food choices.

Comprehensive Evaluation of the Effect of Ultraviolet Stress on Functional Phytochemicals of Hulless Barley (Qingke) Grass in Different Growth Times at Vegetative Stage

The present study was executed to analyze the functional phytochemicals of hulless barley grass grown under different intensities of ultraviolet stress. The wheat seedlings were imposed to 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, and 2.5 h ultraviolet radiation and harvested in different times at vegetative stage. Specifically, the contents of total polyphenols, total flavonoids, total triterpenes, total polysaccharides, proanthocyanidins, and chlorophyll were determined and antioxidants capacity was evaluated by OH^• and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) scavenging ability. A mathematical model (Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution, TOPSIS) was also employed for the comprehensive evaluation of functional components of hulless barley grass at different growth stages. The results showed that the UV stress could efficiently improve/preserve the contents of total polyphenols, total flavonoids, total triterpenes, total polysaccharides, proanthocyanidins, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and total chlorophyll, as well as the OH^• and ABTS scavenging capacity. TOPSIS evaluation revealed that the highest phytochemical contents were yield on the 15th day under 1.0 h ultraviolet treatment.

Bioactivity evaluations of leaf extract fractions from young barley grass and correlation with their phytochemical profiles

BACKGROUND

The pressed juice of Barley Grass (BG) has become very popular among people for various assumed benefits along with many testimonies of people who have been healed from various ailments such as anemia, cancer, GI problems by consuming BG. The aim of our research was to validate the claims of its medicinal values such as chemo-protective action, high anti-oxidants, RBC membrane stabilization activity, and toxicity level.

METHODS

Extracts of hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol were quantitatively estimated for total phenolic contents (TPC) and total flavonoid contents (TFC). The same extracts were assessed for their antioxidative potentials with the use of DPPH free radical scavenging assay followed by determination of HRBC membrane stabilization method, Brine Shrimp Lethality Assay (BSLA) and GC-MS analysis.

RESULTS

All the extracts showed high TPC and TFC along with the stronger correlation with the antioxidant activity of the extracts suggesting phenolics and flavonoids contents of the extract might be attributed to showing antioxidant activity. The methanolic and ethyl acetate extracts of the plant also showed remarkable anti-inflammatory activity where methanolic extracts had the lowest EC50. During Brine Shrimp Lethality Assay, all extracts of BG were found to be bioactive and the degree of lethality was found to be concentration dependent. The GC-MS analysis of the methanolic extract of BG revealed 23 compounds which are reported to possess different biological activities.

CONCLUSION

The study reveals the strong antioxidant and RBC membrane stabilization activity of BG. The Brine Shrimp Lethality Assay found extracts to be bioactive suggesting extracts as a promising candidate for plant-derived anti-tumor compounds. Further, studies are needed to validate the data on cancer cell lines.

Phytochemical Profile and Antioxidant Capacity of Coffee Plant Organs Compared to Green and Roasted Coffee Beans

The current study investigates the phytochemical composition of coffee plant organs and their corresponding antioxidant capacities compared to green and roasted coffee beans. HPLC analysis indicated that the investigated compounds were present in all organs except mangiferin, which was absent in roots, stems and seeds, and caffeine, which was absent in stems and roots. Total phytochemicals were highest in the green beans (GB) at 9.70 mg g⁻¹ dry weight (DW), while roasting caused a 66% decline in the roasted beans (RB). This decline resulted more from 5–CQA and sucrose decomposition by 68% and 97%, respectively, while caffeine and trigonelline were not significantly thermally affected. Roasting increased the total phenolic content (TPC) by 20.8% which was associated with an increase of 68.8%, 47.5% and 13.4% in the antioxidant capacity (TEAC) determined by 2,2–diphenyl–1–picryl hydrazyl radical (DPPH), 2,2–azino bis (3–ethyl benzothiazoline–6–sulphonic acid) radical (ABTS) and Ferric ion reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays, respectively. Amongst the leaves, the youngest (L1) contained the highest content at 8.23 mg g⁻¹ DW, which gradually reduced with leaf age to 5.57 mg g⁻¹ DW in the oldest (L6). Leaves also contained the highest TPC (over 60 mg g⁻¹ GAE) and exhibited high TEAC, the latter being highest in L1 at 328.0, 345.7 and 1097.4, and least in L6 at 304.6, 294.5 and 755.1 µmol Trolox g⁻¹ sample for the respective assays. Phytochemical accumulation, TPC and TEAC were least in woody stem (WS) at 1.42 mg g⁻¹ DW; 8.7 mg g⁻¹ GAE; 21.9, 24.9 and 110.0 µmol Trolox g⁻¹ sample; while herbaceous stem (HS) contained up to 4.37 mg g⁻¹ DW; 27.8 mg g⁻¹ GAE; 110.9, 124.8 and 469.7 µmol Trolox g⁻¹ sample, respectively. Roots contained up to 1.85 mg g⁻¹ DW, 15.8 mg⁻¹ GAE and TEAC of 36.8, 41.5 and 156.7 µmol Trolox g⁻¹ sample. Amongst the organs, therefore, coffee leaves possessed higher values than roasted beans on the basis of phytochemicals, TPC and TEAC. Leaves also contain carotenoids and chlorophylls pigments with potent health benefits. With appropriate processing methods, a beverage prepared from leaves (coffee leaf tea) could be a rich source of phytochemicals and antioxidants with therapeutic and pharmacological values for human health.

Harvest Age Effect on Phytochemical Content of White and Black Glutinous Rice Cultivars

Many studies have been conducted on the bioactive compounds of rice seeds, however, there is limited information on the bioactive compounds of rice sprouts. This study focused on the age effect on the phytochemical content of white and black glutinous rice sprouts harvested between 5 and 25 days old. We assessed yield, total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, total anthocyanin content, total chlorophyll content, and proximate analysis. HPLC results identified protocatechuic acid, vanillic acid, and rutin in the sprouts of both cultivars, ranging between 0.56–1.58, 0.65–7.69, and 0.47–1.68 mg/g extract, respectively. The amount of bioactive compounds and proximate compositions in black glutinous rice were generally higher than white glutinous rice in an age-dependent manner (p < 0.05). At 5–7 days, black glutinous rice contained the highest total anthocyanin content, while white glutinous rice contained the highest total phenolic content and total flavonoid content (p < 0.05). High total chlorophyll content was initially detected in white glutinous rice at a younger age than black glutinous rice (p < 0.05), while total chlorophyll content in both cultivars was not significantly different. Our study confirms the presence of phytoconstituents in the rice sprouts of white and black glutinous rice and their potential as functional foods and for being further development as natural health products.

Effect of Ocimum basilicum, Ocimum selloi, and Rosmarinic Acid on Cerebral Vascular Damage in a Chronic Hypertension Model

The main objective of treatment against hypertension is not only to reduce blood pressure levels, but also to reduce vascular risk in general. In the present work, administering angiotensin II (AGII; 0.2 µg/kg intraperitoneally (i.p.) for 12 weeks) activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which caused an increase in corticosterone levels, as well as in proinflammatory cytokines (interleukin 1β (IL-1β), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α)) and macrophage chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1), and decreased anti-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin 10 (IL-10) and interleukin 4 (IL-4)). On observing the behavior in the different models, an anxiogenic effect (elevated plus maze (EPM)) and cognitive impairment (water Morris maze (WMM)) was observed in animals with AGII. By administering organic extracts from Ocimum basilicum (Oba-EtOAc) and Ocimum selloi (Ose-EtOAc), and some doses of rosmarinic acid (RA) (6 weeks per os (p.o.)), the damage caused by AGII was stopped by re-establishing corticosterone serum levels and by decreasing the proinflammatory cytokines and MCP-1.