Optimization of extraction yield and chemical characterization of optimal extract from Juglans nigra L. leaves

Chemical Composition and Protective Possibilities of Juglans Nigra Leaves and Green Husks Extracts: DNA Binding and Micronucleus Assay in Human Lymphocytes

To better understand the mechanism of action of the compounds in the ethanolic extracts of J. nigra leaves and green husks, their binding to CT-DNA was investigated. This study was conducted to elucidate the in vitro protective effect of extracts against chromosomal damage in mitogen-induced human lymphocytes and investigate the possible application of selec+ted extracts as a natural source of polyphenolic compounds. Using HPLC-MS analysis, 103 different compounds were identified as having a higher number of active species, which is consistent with their activity. The frequency of micronuclei (MN) was scored in binucleated cells, and the nuclear proliferation index was calculated. Cyclic voltammetry experiments demonstrate that the nature of the interaction between extracts and CT-DNA is a synergy of electrostatic and intercalative modes, where leaves extracts showed a higher ability to bind to DNA. Extracts showed excellent antioxidant activity. At a concentration of only 4 µg/mL, extract of J. nigra leaves and the green husks reduced the incidence of MN by 58.2% and 64.5%, respectively, compared to control cell cultures.

Optimization of radioprotective dose of Juglans nigra leaf extract using response surface methodology

J. nigra leaf contains mixture of various pharmacologically active compounds and it is assumed that they may have the potential radioprotective effect. The purpose of this work was to predict radioprotective doses by correlating changes in organ distribution of radiopharmaceuticals with extract dose levels and rat body weight using response surface methodology (RSM) based on a second-order polynomial equation. The extract was administered daily by oral gavage to rats at dose of 6.9, 10.3, or 13.7 mg kg-1 body weight (bw) day-1 for 10 days. On the eleventh day, 0.1 ml of the one radiopharmaceutical (Na99mTcO4, 99mTc-dimercaptosuccinic acid and 99mTc-tin colloid) was injected into the tail vein. The statistical parameters: the coefficient of determination (0.81-0.95), the coefficient of variation (3.05-11.1), the adequate precision (8.82-19.12) and the mean relative percentage deviation (± 2.3-8.2) were indicated the precision and reliability of RSM. Using RSM, the predicted daily dose of leaf extract ranging from 11.19 to 11.99 mg kg-1 bw may be considered as an optimal daily radiopotective dose for protection of organs from radiation in cases of planned radiation exposures.

Extraction of anthocyanins from haskap using cold plasma-assisted enzyme

BACKGROUND

Haskap berries (Lonicera caerulea L.) are rich in anthocyanins. Cold plasma-assisted enzyme method (CPEM) is an innovative method for green extraction of anthocyanins, which was optimized by an artificial neural network-genetic algorithm (ANN-GA) to maximize the yield. In this study, seven factors were screened using by Plackett-Burman design based on single-factor experiments and optimized by ANN-GA.

RESULTS

The results showed that the maximum total anthocyanin content (TAC, 42.45 ± 0.25 g cyanidin-3-glucoside equivalent (C3G) kg^-1 dry weight, DW) was obtained under optimal pretreatment power of 192 W, pretreatment time of 29 s and liquid-to-solid ratio of 39 mL g^-1 . Cleavage and porosity appeared on the surface of the treated sample. The active ingredients and antioxidant capacity of the CPEM extracts were identified by ultra-performance liquid chromatography with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS). Compared with other extraction technologies, CPEM presents the advantages of shortening the extraction time, reducing the solvent volume, and significantly increasing active ingredients and antioxidant activity.

CONCLUSION

The ANN-GA has better predictive and higher accuracy than the response surface methodology (RSM) model and is more suitable for optimizing the CPEM by greatly improving the process yield and the utilization of biomass, thus contributing to the sustainability of the agri-food chain. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Investigation of the Antinociceptive Activity of the Hydroethanolic Extract of Junglas nigra Leaf by the Tail-Immersion and Formalin Pain Tests in Rats

Background

Juglans (J.) nigra leaf is obtained from a plant that is used in traditional medicine in some countries to alleviate inflammatory diseases.

Aim

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of J. nigra extract on acute nociceptive and inflammatory pain in rats.

Methods

Antinociceptive activity was examined in Wistar rats by the tail-immersion and formalin tests. Motor function was assessed using the rotarod test. Plant extract was administered intraperitoneally.

Results

In the tail-immersion test, the maximal antinociceptive effect of the plant extract (100–330 mg/kg) was about 24–30% and is the result of the effect of a high concentration of ethanol. In the formalin test, the plant extract (41.3–330 mg/kg) significantly and dose-dependently inhibited nociception in both phases of the test with similar maximal effects of about 76% and 85%. Only the plant extract at the dose of 330 mg/kg caused a significant time-dependent reduction in time spent on the rotarod.

Conclusions

In rats, the preventive systemic administration of the hydroethanolic extract of J. nigra leaf reduced chemically but not thermally induced pain. Higher efficacy was obtained in pain associated with inflammation and tissue injury. The antinociceptive effect is dose-dependent and may be limited by motor impairment.

Enhancing recovery of bioactive compounds from Cosmos caudatus leaves via ultrasonic extraction

Cosmos caudatus (C. caudatus) is a medicinal plant that is high in bioactive compounds such as phenolics. In this study, an ultrasound extraction method was used to optimise the extraction of bioactive compounds from C. caudatus leaves. Response surface methodology (RSM) based on a Box-Behnken design (BBD) was applied to obtain the optimum extraction parameters which is solid–liquid ratio (10–30 g/mL), particle size (180–850 µm) and extraction time (20–30 min) for maximal quercitrin and total phenolic content (TPC) yields. Analysis of antimicrobial activity was performed against two human pathogenic microbes: Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) by the agar well diffusion method. The optimal ultrasonic extraction condition was as follow: solvent-liquid ratio of 1:28 (g/mL), particle size of 485 µm, and duration of 30 min, respectively. Remarkably, extraction using ultrasonic method had recovered more bioactive content and antioxidant activity than the Soxhlet method. The extract also exhibited good antimicrobial activities. Due to the above findings, the ultrasonic extraction was found to be suitable to improve recovery extraction of quercitrin and TPC from C. caudatus leaves. It also opens the possibility that the plant extract can be used for functional food and antimicrobial agents in various applications.