Capillary electrophoretic analysis of flavonoids in single-styled hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna Jacq.) ethanolic extracts

Analysis of cassine and spectaline in the Senna spectabilis ethanolic extracts by capillary zone electrophoresis with indirect UV detection

INTRODUCTION

2,6-Disubstituted piperidin-3-ols are an important group of piperidine alkaloids found in species such as Senna spectabilis, whose main constituents include cassine and spectaline, compounds with relevant pharmacological activity. The analysis of these compounds is challenging due to the complexity of plant extracts and the absence of chromophores capable of absorbing ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

OBJECTIVE

This paper presents a new analytical method to separate and quantify the non-UV-absorbing alkaloids present in ethanol extracts from S. spectabilis flowers using capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) with indirect UV detection.

METHODOLOGY

The optimized CZE method employs a background electrolyte containing 60 mM histidine (His), 15 mM α-cyclodextrin, 20% acetonitrile (ACN), and pH-adjusted to 4.7 with acetic acid (AcOH).

RESULTS

The limit of detection (LOD) values was 10.2 and 13.9 mg L-1 for cassine and spectaline, respectively. For both analytes, the precision data were better than 2% of relative standard deviation (RSD) for migration times and peak areas. To evaluate the applicability of the developed method, ethanolic extracts from S. spectabilis flowers were prepared and analyzed.

CONCLUSIONS

Thereby, the method proved to be efficient and complementary to conventional techniques, offering a cost-effective alternative in the quantification of the non-UV-absorbing piperidine alkaloids present in plant extracts.

Crataegus pentagyna willd. Fruits, leaves and roots: phytochemicals, antioxidant and antimicrobial potentials

BACKGROUND

The hawthorn has recently been used as a popular herbal medicine in food applications and phytotherapy, especially for the cardiovascular system.

METHODS

In this study, phytochemicals were evaluated by LC-ESI-MS, GC-MS, and biological activity, including antioxidant (DPPH test) and antibacterial (broth dilution assay), in different extracts of Crataegus pentagyna fruit, leaf, and root.

RESULTS

Globally, 49 phenolics were tentatively identified using HPLC-ESI-MS/MS in the hydro-methanolic extract of the fruit (major apigenin, caffeoylquinic acid derivative, and 4-O-(3'-O-glucopyranosyl)-caffeoyl quinic acid), 42 in the leaf (major salicylic acid, naringenin-6-C-glucoside, and naringin), and 33 in the root (major naringenin-7-O-neohesperidoside, isovitexin-2″-O-rhamnoside, and 4-O-(3'-O-glucopyranosyl)-caffeoyl quinic acid). The major group compounds analyzed by GC-MS in petroleum ether extracts were hydrocarbons (63.80%) and fatty acids and their derivatives (11.77%) in fruit, hydrocarbons (49.20%) and fatty acids and their derivatives (13.85%) in leaf, and hydrocarbons (53.96%) and terpenes (13.06%) in root. All samples exhibited promising phytochemical profile (total phenol, flavonoid, phenolic acid, and anthocyanin), antioxidant and antibacterial capacities, especially in hydro-methanolic extract of fruit (210.22 ± 0.44 mg GAE/g DE; 79.93 ± 0.54 mg QE/g DE; 194.64 ± 0.32 mg CAE/g DE; 85.37 ± 0.13 mg cyanidin 3-glucoside/100 g FW; DPPH: 15.43 ± 0.65 µg/mL; MIC: 0.15-0.62 µg/mL; and MBC: 0.62-1.25 mg/mL), followed by the leaf and root extracts, respectively. The PCA and heatmap analysis results distinguished metabolite profile differences for samples.

CONCLUSION

The results of the present work provide scientific support for C. pentagyna as antimicrobial agents and natural antioxidants in human health and food preservation.

Quality control, phytochemical profile, and biological activities of Crataegus monogyna Jacq. and Crataegus laciniata Ucria fruits aqueous extracts

The current study aimed to evaluate the phytochemical composition, quality control, and antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, antihyperglycemic activities, and toxicity assessment of Crataegus monogyna Jacq (C. monogyna) and Crataegus laciniata Ucria (C. laciniata) fruits aqueous extracts. The quality control of the plant material revealed that it is free of heavy metals and the acidity and ash parameters comply with international standards. HPLC-DAD analysis revealed the presence of eight phenolic compounds in the C. monogyna extract and nine compounds in the C. laciniata extract, with coumaric acid present only in the C. laciniata extract. According to the findings, both extracts are high in total polyphenols, total flavonoids, and condensed tannins. The results of the antioxidant activity revealed that our extracts have significant effects against 2, 2-diphényl 1-picrylhydrazyle (DPPH), and Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP). The antibacterial test revealed that the two extracts tested were effective against four bacterial strains, including Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter cloacae, and Shigella dysenteria, but were ineffective against Salmonella typhi, and Acinetobacter baumanii. In addition, extracts from both plants showed remarkable antihyperglycemic activity with no acute toxicity. In conclusion, the extracts studied could be a good source of bioactive molecules with antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-diabetic activity for pharmaceutical applications.

Evaluation of biochemical, physiological traits and percentage of essential oil of sickleweed (Falcaria vulgaris) population in different geographical and climatic regions

Sickleweed (Falcaria vulgaris) is the name of a species of annual, and perennial herbaceous plants of the genus Falcaria. Climate change could negatively influnces the performance of various plant species in plant kingdom. In this study, 15 different sickleweed populations from seven provinces of the country were collected based on an unbalanced nest design with 10 replications and the percentage of essential oil, types of chlorophyll, phenol, proline, protein, and carotenoids were measured on them. The results showed that there was a significant difference between populations at the level of one percent for the studied traits. The results of the mean comparison showed that populations Ard-Shaban and Qaz-Ilan in terms of the evaluated traits and especially the percentage of essential oil were at the upper of the studied samples and selected as suitable populations. In addition, populations Gilan-Deylaman and Kur-Gerger-e Sofla were also identified as superior populations in terms of studied traits by cluster analysis and principle component analysis (PCA). Since the high level of proline and biochemical and physiological traits in plants can play a role in plants' tolerance to stresses, therefore, populations with high values of these traits can be used in stress tolerance breeding programs. Therefore, in this study, populations Gilan-Deylaman and Kur-Gerger-e Sofla can be suitable populations for this purpose. In addition, the essential oil of this plant is used in the treatment of diseases, and therefore populations Ard-Shaban and Qaz-Ilan, which showed a high percentage of essential oil, can be used in breeding programs to increase the performance of this trait.

Variability of Reproduction Pathways in the Central-European Populations of Hawthorns with Emphasis on Triploids

The role of apomeiosis, parthenogenesis, and pseudogamy in the asexual reproduction of some plant groups has not been fully elucidated in relation to species diversification. Quantitative analyses of seed origin may help in gaining better understanding of intercytotypic interactions. Asexual reproduction associated with polyploidy and frequent hybridization plays a crucial role in the evolutionary history of the genus Crataegus in North America. In Europe, the genus represents a taxonomically complex and very difficult species group not often studied using a modern biosystematic approach. We investigated the reproduction pathways in mixed-cytotype populations of selected taxa of Crataegus in eastern Slovakia, Central Europe. The investigated accessions were characterized by seed production data and the ploidy level of mature plants as well as the embryo and endosperm tissues of their seeds determined via flow cytometry. Diploid and polyploid hawthorns reproduce successfully; they also produce high numbers of seeds. An exception is represented by an almost sterile triploid. Diploids reproduce sexually. Polyploids shift to asexual reproduction, but pseudogamy seems to be essential for regular seed development. In rare cases, fertilization of unreduced gametes occurs, which offers opportunity for the establishment of new polyploid cytotypes between diploid sexuals and polyploid asexuals. Opposite to sexual diploids, triploids are obligate, and tetraploids almost obligate apomicts. Apomixis is considered to help stabilize individual weakly differentiated polyploid microspecies. Pseudogamy is a common feature and usually leads to unbalanced maternal to paternal contribution in the endosperm of triploid accessions. Parental contribution to endosperm gene dosage is somehow relaxed in triploids. Our Crataegus plant system resembles reproduction in the diploids and polyploids of North American hawthorns. Our data provide support for the hypothesis that polyploidization, shifts in reproduction modes, and hybridization shape the genus diversity also in Central Europe.

Phenolic Content and Antioxidant Activity in Fruit of the Genus Rosa L

Throughout history, people of different cultures have acknowledged the relationship between food properties and health. The pseudo-fruits of different Rosa species contain high levels of vitamin C and other beneficial biological active agents such as phenolics, and others. The purpose of the research was to determine the variability of the phenolic compound profiles in the fruit of different species of Rosa L. and to evaluate the antioxidant activity of fruit extracts in vitro. The total contents of phenolics, flavonoids, procyanidins, and hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives were performed using the spectrophotometric method. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of individual phenolics in rosehip samples was carried out by applying the HPLC method. The largest amounts of phenolic compounds 26.49 ± 1.32 mg GRE/g were found in rosehip samples of the Rosa pisocarpa species. (+)-Catechin was the predominant phenolic compound in rosehip fruit samples, and the highest content 522.48 ± 26.12 µg/g was found in rosehip samples of the Rosa subcanina species. A strong correlation was found between the total amount of phenolic compounds determined in rosehip extracts and the radical scavenging and reducing the activity of their extracts in vitro (r = 0.759 and 0.761, accordingly, p < 0.001).

Eucalyptus globulus and Salvia officinalis Extracts Mediated Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles and Their Application as an Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Agent

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) biosynthesized using plant extracts as reducing and capping agents show multiple possibilities for solving various biological problems. The aim of this study was to expand the boundaries of AgNPs using a novel low toxicity and production cost phytochemical method for the biosynthesis of nanoparticles from Eucalyptus globulus and Salvia officinalis aqueous leaf extracts. Biosynthesized AgNPs were characterized by various methods (ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-vis), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy with horizontal attenuated total reflectance (HART), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS)). The determined antioxidative and antimicrobial activity of plant extracts was compared with the activity of the AgNPs. The UV-vis spectral analysis demonstrated the absorption peaks at 408 and 438 nm, which confirmed the synthesis of stable AgNPs from E. globulus and S. officinalis, respectively. FTIR-HART results suggested strong capping of phytochemicals on AgNPs. TEM results show mainly spherical-shaped AgNPs, whose size distribution depends on the plant leaf extract type; the smaller AgNPs were obtained with E. globulus extract (with size range of 17.5 ± 5.89 nm compared to 34.3 ± 7.76 nm from S. officinalis AgNPs). The in vitro antioxidant activity evaluated by radical scavenging assays and the reduction activity method clearly demonstrated that both the plant extracts and AgNPs showed prominent antioxidant properties. In addition, AgNPs show much stronger antimicrobial activity against broad spectrum of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria strains than the plant extracts used for their synthesis.

The Effect of Traditional and Cyclodextrin-Assisted Extraction Methods on Trifolium pratense L. (Red Clover) Extracts Antioxidant Potential

Red clover is the subject of numerous studies because of its antioxidant properties, the positive influence of isoflavones on the health, and its potential use in the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases. The right excipients, such as cyclodextrins, can increase the profile of valuable phenolic compounds in extraction media to obtain rich in antioxidants, extracts that can be used in nutraceuticals production. The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the total phenolic content, flavonoid content, and antioxidant activity of red clover aerial parts, aqueous and ethanolic extracts prepared using traditional and cyclodextrins-assisted methods. The antioxidant activity of the extracts was established using ABTS, DPPH, FRAP, and ABTS-post column methods. It was determined that cyclodextrins significantly increased total phenolic content (compared with control)-using β-cyclodextrin 20.29% (in aqueous samples); γ-cyclodextrin 22.26% (in ethanolic samples). All the samples prepared with excipients demonstrated a strong relationship between total phenolic content and DPPH assay. Study showed that for extraction with water, the highest amounts of phenolic compounds, flavonoids and antioxidant activity will be achieved with β-cyclodextrin, but extractions with ethanol will give the best results with γ-cyclodextrin. Therefore, cyclodextrins are a great and safe tool for obtaining rich, red clover flower extracts that are high in antioxidant activity, which can be used in the pharmaceutical industry for nutraceuticals production.

Potential and applications of capillary electrophoresis for analyzing traditional Chinese medicine: a critical review

Capillary electrophoresis (CE) presents a promising possibility for analyzing traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) due to its low reagent consumption, high analysis speed, and enhanced efficiency. Herein we review the employment of CE for analyzing the effective components in TCM and identifying TCM via a fingerprint. Furthermore, we discuss the application of state-of-the-art capillary electrophoresis modes for screening enzyme inhibitors and investigating the interactions between TCM and plasma proteins. The review concludes with recommendations for future studies and improvements in this field of research. The general development trend identified in this review indicates that the application of CE has significantly improved TCM assay performance.

Protective effects of Crataegus azarolus L. berries aqueous extract against castor oil-induced diarrhea, oxidative stress, and inflammation in rat

BACKGROUND

Diarrhea is a multifactorial gastrointestinal disorder responsible for about 5 million deaths annually. The chemical composition, the antioxidant activity of Crataegus azarolus berries aqueous extract (CABAE) as well as its protective effects against castor oil-induced diarrhea, oxidative stress, and inflammation in rat were studied.

METHODS

Sixty male rats were used and divided into six groups of ten animals in each: Control (C), castor oil (CO), CO+various doses of CABAE (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg b.w., p.o.), and CO+loperamide (LOP, 10 mg/kg b.w., p.o.).

KEY RESULTS

The CABAE showed relatively high levels of total polyphenols, flavonoids, and tannins. The LC-HRESIMS technique allowed the identification of 5 phenolic compounds and the major component is quinic acid. In vivo studies showed that CABAE protected against castor oil-induced diarrhea and intestinal fluid accumulation. The CABAE counteracted castor oil-induced lipoperoxidation, preserved GSH and thiol groups levels, and prevented the depletion of antioxidant enzyme activities, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). The CABAE administration also protected against castor oil-induced inflammatory markers (ALP and CRP) increase. More importantly, castor oil induced an increase of intracellular mediators, such as hydrogen peroxide, free iron, and calcium, while CABAE pretreatment significantly reversed them to near control levels.

CONCLUSION

The Crataegus azarolus berries aqueous extract significantly protected against diarrhea due in part to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Application of Capillary Electrophoresis to the Analysis of Bioactive Compounds in Herbal Raw Materials

The article is a summary of scientific reports from the last 16 years (2005-2021) on the use of capillary electrophoresis to analyze polyphenolic compounds, coumarins, amino acids, and alkaloids in teas or different parts of plants used to prepare aqueous infusions, commonly known as "tea" or decoctions. This literature review is based on PRISMA guidelines and articles selected in base of criteria carried out using PICOS (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, Study type). The analysis showed that over 60% of articles included in this manuscript comes from China. The literature review shows that for the selective electrophoretic separation of polyphenolic and flavonoid compounds, the most frequently used capillary electromigration technique is capillary electrophoresis with ultraviolet detection. Nevertheless, the use of capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry allows for the sensitive determination of analytes with a lower limit of detection and gives hope for routine use in the analysis of functional foods. Moreover, using the modifications in electrochemical techniques allows methods sensitivity reduction along with the reduction of analysis time.

Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Phenolic Compounds in Fruit of the Genus Rosa L

We investigated the qualitative and quantitative composition of phenolic compounds in the fruit of Rosa L. cultivars grown in Lithuania. The highest total content of phenolic compounds (50.13 ± 4.17 mg GAE/g, p < 0.05) was determined in fruit samples of Rosa pimpinellifolia L. cultivar “Single Cherry”. The highest levels of hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives were determined in fruit samples of Rosa rugosa Thunb. cultivars “Dart’s Defender” and “Adam Chodun”. The highest flavonoid content was determined in fruit samples of Rosa multiflora Thunb. cultivar “Nana” and R. multiflora species. The strongest antioxidant activity evaluated by applying DPPH and FRAP assays was determined in fruit extracts of R. pimpinellifolia cultivar “Single Cherry” and R. rugosa cultivar “Adam Chodun”. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of phenolic compounds in Rosa L. fruit was performed by applying UHPLC. The following phenolic compounds were identified in fruit samples: caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, quercetin, quercitrin, (+)-catechin, (−)-epicatechin, (−)-epicatechin gallate, rutin, phloridzin, and kaempferol-3-O-glycoside. A strong correlation was determined between the total amount of phenolic compounds determined in extracts of the fruit samples of Rosa L. cultivars and the radical scavenging and reducing activity of their extracts in vitro (R = 0.767 and 0.727, respectively, p < 0.05).

Variability in the Qualitative and Quantitative Composition and Content of Phenolic Compounds in the Fruit of Introduced American Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Aiton)

The aim of this study was to determine the composition and content of phenolic compounds in ethanol extracts of eight different cultivars of American cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Aiton) fruit using spectrophotometric and UPLC-ESI-MS/MS analysis and to evaluate the antioxidant activity in vitro of these extracts. The highest total amount of phenolic compounds evaluated via Folin–Ciocalteu spectrophotometry was detected in American cranberry fruit samples of the ‘Bain’ clone, and the highest total amount of flavonoids was found in samples of the ‘Drever’ and ‘Baiwfay’ cultivars. The highest total amount of the individual phenolic compounds (519.53 ± 25.12 mg/g DW) identified and quantitatively evaluated via chromatography was detected in samples of the ‘Searles’ cranberry cultivar. In the studied cranberry samples, the predominant phenolic compounds were hyperoside, quercetin, and procyanidin A2, while the amounts of other compounds were significantly lower. HCA and PCA revealed that ‘Woolman’, ‘Holliston’, ‘Pilgrim, and ‘Searles’ fruit samples had different quantitative content of phenolic compounds from other cranberry cultivars. Meanwhile, fruit of ‘Baiwfay’, ‘Drever’, ‘Bain’, and ‘Bergman’ were similar in their phytochemical profile.

Optimizing Water-Based Extraction of Bioactive Principles of Hawthorn: From Experimental Laboratory Research to Homemade Preparations

Hawthorn (Crataegus) is used for its cardiotonic, hypotensive, vasodilative, sedative, antiatherosclerotic, and antihyperlipidemic properties. One of the main goals of this work was to find a well-defined optimized extraction protocol usable by each of us that would lead to repeatable, controlled, and quantified daily uptake of active components from hawthorn at a drinkable temperature (below 60 °C). A thorough investigation of the extraction mode in water (infusion, maceration, percolation, ultrasounds, microwaves) on the yield of extraction and the amount of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and proanthocyanidin oligomers as well as on the Ultra High Performance Liquid Chromatography (UHPLC) profiles of the extracted compounds was carried out. High-resolution Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry was also implemented to discriminate the different samples and conditions of extraction. The quantitative and qualitative aspects of the extraction as well as the kinetics of extraction were studied, not only according to the part (flowers or leaves), the state (fresh or dried), and the granulometry of the dry plant, but also the stirring speed, the temperature, the extraction time, the volume of the container (cup, mug or bowl) and the use of infusion bags.

Ecofriendly microwave-assisted reaction and extraction of bioactive compounds from hawthorn leaf

INTRODUCTION

The main active components in hawthorn leaves possess various biological activities such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and hypolipidemic effects. Therefore, it is necessary to develop an effective and reliable extraction method to extract these active compounds from hawthorn leaves.

OBJECTIVE

To establish a simple, rapid, and sensitive method for extraction and determination of polyphenolic compounds from hawthorn leaves.

METHODS

In this study, a microwave-assisted reaction and extraction (MARE) combined with ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detector method was established to extract and determine the polyphenolic compounds in hawthorn leaves. The solid reagent aqueous solutions were applied as extraction solvents, preventing the use of organic solvents. The target analytes were identified by quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry. Several experimental parameters that can significantly affect the extraction efficiency were evaluated and optimised.

RESULTS

The optimal conditions were as follows: 0.1 g of sodium carbonate was used as solid reagent, the amount of sodium borate was set at 0.01 g, extraction time was 10 min, extraction temperature was set at 50°C, pH value was adjusted to 7. The validation experiments demonstrated that the method had high sensitivity with the limits of detection in the range 26.5-37.7 ng/mL. The average recoveries ranged from 80.22% to 93.27%.

CONCLUSION

In this work, the proposed MARE method was successfully applied to extract and determine polyphenolic compounds in hawthorn leaf samples. Compared with other reported methods, the present method was faster, greener, and more sensitive.

Comparative study of the influence of hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) berry ethanolic extract and butylated hydroxylanisole (BHA) on lipid peroxidation, myoglobin oxidation, consistency and firmness of minced pork during refrigeration

BACKGROUND

Following public concern on the use of synthetic food antioxidants, there is an increasing demand for the application of mixed or purified natural antioxidants to maintain quality of meat products quality during storage. The aim of this research was to investigate the effect of ethanolic extract of hawthorn berry, compared to butylated hydroxylanisole (BHA), on lipid peroxidation, myoglobin oxidation, protein electrophoresis pattern, consistency and firmness of minced pork during refrigeration at 4 °C, and to identify the relationship between chemical modifications and consistency variation.

RESULTS

After 6 days of refrigeration it was found that the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances value of minced pork containing 200 mg GAE kg^-1 total phenolics in minced meat (200 HP) was significantly lower (0.1543 ± 0.006 mg) compared to BHA-treated meat. The ratio of oxymyoglobin to metmyoglobin in treated minced pork was respectively 0.845 for 200 HP and 0.473 for BHA-treated minced meat. Concentrations of 100 HP or 300 HP will generate statistically higher firmness than BHA in minced pork.

CONCLUSION

Hawthorn berry ethanolic extract was more effective than BHA in reducing lipid oxidation and protein degradation, for maintaining firmness and consistency of minced pork during 6 days of refrigeration at 4 °C. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

Antibacterial, antioxidant and anti-proliferative properties and zinc content of five south Portugal herbs

CONTEXT

Crataegus monogyna L. (Rosaceae) (CM), Equisetum telmateia L. (Equisataceae) (ET), Geranium purpureum Vil. (Geraniaceae) (GP), Mentha suaveolens Ehrh. (Lamiaceae) (MS), and Lavandula stoechas L. spp. luisieri (Lamiaceae) (LS) are all medicinal.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the antioxidant, antiproliferative and antimicrobial activities of plant extracts and quantify individual phenolics and zinc.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Aerial part extracts were prepared with water (W), ethanol (E) and an 80% mixture (80EW). Antioxidant activity was measured with TAA, FRAP and RP methods. Phenolics were quantified with a HPLC. Zinc was quantified using voltammetry. Antibacterial activity (after 48 h) was tested using Enterococcus faecalis, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Listeria monocytogenes. Antiproliferative activity (after 24 h) was tested using HEP G2 cells and fibroblasts.

RESULTS

Solvents influenced results; the best were E and 80EW. GP had the highest antioxidant activity (TAA and FRAP of 536.90 mg AAE/g dw and 783.48 mg TE/g dw, respectively). CM had the highest zinc concentration (37.21 mg/kg) and phenolic variety, with neochlorogenic acid as the most abundant (92.91 mg/100 g dw). LS was rich in rosmarinic acid (301.71 mg/100 g dw). GP and LS inhibited the most microorganisms: B. cereus, E. coli and S. aureus. GP also inhibited E. faecalis. CM had the lowest MIC: 5830 μg/mL. The antibacterial activity is explained by the phenolics present. LS and CM showed the most significant anti-proliferative activity, which is explained by their zinc content.

CONCLUSION

The most promising plants for further studies are CM, LS and GP.

Effects of Plants on Osteogenic Differentiation and Mineralization of Periodontal Ligament Cells: A Systematic Review

This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effects of plants on osteogenic differentiation and mineralization of human periodontal ligament cells. The included studies were selected using five different electronic databases. The reference list of the included studies was crosschecked, and a partial gray literature search was undertaken using Google Scholar and ProQuest. The methodology of the selected studies was evaluated using GRADE. After a two-step selection process, eight studies were identified. Six different types of plants were reported in the selected studies, which were Morinda citrifolia, Aloe vera, Fructus cnidii, Zanthoxylum schinifolium, Centella asiatica, and Epimedium species. They included five types of isolated plant components: acemannan, osthole, hesperetin, asiaticoside, and icariin. In addition, some active substances of these components were identified as polysaccharides, coumarins, flavonoids, and triterpenes. The studies demonstrated the potential effects of plants on osteogenic differentiation, cell proliferation, mineral deposition, and gene and protein expression. Four studies showed that periodontal ligament cells induce mineral deposition after plant treatment. Although there are few studies on the subject, current evidence suggests that plants are potentially useful for the treatment of periodontal diseases. However, further investigations are required to confirm the promising effect of these plants in regenerative treatments.

Vitexin reduces neutrophil migration to inflammatory focus by down-regulating pro-inflammatory mediators via inhibition of p38, ERK1/2 and JNK pathway

BACKGROUND

Vitexin is a flavonoid found in plants of different genus such as Vitex spp. and Crataegus spp. Despite being an important molecule present in phytomedicines and nutraceuticals, the mechanisms supporting its use as anti-inflammatory remains unclear.

PURPOSE

To investigate the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in acute anti-inflammatory effect of vitexin with regard to neutrophil recruitment and macrophages activation.

METHODS

Anti-inflammatory properties of vitexin were evaluated in four models of neutrophil recruitment. The regulation of inflammatory mediators release was assessed in vivo and in vitro. Vitexin (5, 15 and 30 mg/kg p.o) effects on leukocytes migration to peritoneal cavity induced by zymosan (ZY), carrageenan (CG), n-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were evaluated in Swiss-Webster mice and the effects on the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-10 cytokines, and NO concentration were in the LPS-peritonitis. RAW 264.7 macrophages viability were determined by Alamar Blue assay as well as the capacity of vitexin in directly reducing the concentrations of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-10, NO and PGE2. Additionally, vitexin effects upon the transcriptional factors p-p38, p-ERK1/2 and p-JNK were evaluated by western blotting in cells activated with LPS.

RESULTS

Vitexin was not cytotoxic (IC50 > 200 µg/ml) in RAW 264.7 and at all doses tested it effectively reduced leukocyte migration in vivo, particularly neutrophils in the peritoneal lavage, independently of the inflammatory stimulus used. It also reduced TNF-α, IL-1β and NO releases in the peritoneal cavity of LPS-challenged mice. Vitexin had low cytotoxicity and was able to reduce the releases of TNF-α, IL-1β, NO, PGE2 and increase in IL-10 release by LPS activated RAW 264.7 cells. Vitexin was also able to regulate transcriptional factors for pro-inflammatory mediators, reducing the expression of p-p38, p-ERK1/2 and p-JNK in LPS-elicited cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Vitexin presented no in vitro cytotoxicity. Inhibition of neutrophil migration and pro-inflammatory mediators release contributes to the anti-inflammatory activity of vitexin. These effects are associated with the inactivation of important signaling pathways such as p38, ERK1/2 and JNK, which act on transcription factors for eliciting induction of inflammatory response.

Polyphenolic Composition of Crataegus monogyna Jacq.: From Chemistry to Medical Applications

The abundance of scientific evidence has shown that many synthetic drugs can cause serious adverse effects in patients. Recently, the search of natural therapeutic agents with low adverse effects has attracted much attention. In particular, considerable interest has focused on edible and medicinal plants, which play an important role in human diet, and have been used for disease treatment since ancient times. Crataegus monogyna Jacq. (hawthorn) is one of the most important edible plants of the Rosaceae family and is also used in traditional medicine. Growing evidence has shown that this plant has various interesting physiological and pharmacological activities due to the presence of different bioactive natural compounds. In addition, scientific evidence suggests that the toxicity of hawthorn is negligible. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to provide a critical review of the available scientific literature about pharmacological activities as well as botanical aspects, phytochemistry and clinical impacts of C. monogyna.

Phenolic composition and antioxidant activity of Malus domestica leaves

The aim of this study was to determine the composition and content of phenolic compounds in the ethanol extracts of apple leaves and to evaluate the antioxidant activity of these extracts. The total phenolic content was determined spectrophotometrically, as well as the total flavonoid content in the ethanol extracts of apple leaves and the antioxidant activity of these extracts, by the ABTS, DPPH, and FRAP assays. The highest amount of phenolic compounds and flavonoids as well as the highest antioxidant activity was determined in the ethanol extracts obtained from the apple leaves of the cv. Aldas. The analysis by the HPLC method revealed that phloridzin was a predominant component in the ethanol extracts of the apple leaves of all cultivars investigated. The following quercetin glycosides were identified and quantified in the ethanol extracts of apple leaves: hyperoside, isoquercitrin, avicularin, rutin, and quercitrin. Quercitrin was the major compound among quercetin glycosides.

Ionic liquid-based one-step micellar extraction of multiclass polar compounds from hawthorn fruits by ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry

An ionic liquid (IL)-based one-step micellar extraction procedure was developed for the extraction of multiclass polar analytes (protocatechuic acid, chlorogenic acid, epicatechin, hyperoside, isoquercitrin, quercetin) from hawthorn fruits and their determination using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-TOF/MS). Compared to conventional organic solvent extractions, this newly proposed method was much easier, more sensitive, environmentally friendly, and effective as well. Several important parameters influencing the micellar extraction efficiency are discussed, such as selection of ILs, surfactant concentration, and extraction time. Under the optimal conditions, good linearity was achieved for each analyte with correlation coefficients (r(2)) ranging from 0.9934 to 0.9999, and the recovery values ranged from 89.3 to 106% with relative standard deviations lower than 5.5%. Results suggest that the IL-based one-step micellar extraction could be an alternative and promising means in future food analysis.

Phenolic Composition and Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities of Extracts Obtained from Crataegus azarolus L. var. aronia (Willd.) Batt. Ovaries Calli

Objective. Plant cell culture is an innovative technology to produce a variety of substances. Numerous plants synthesize among their secondary metabolites phenolic compounds which possess antioxidant and antimicrobial effects. Hawthorn (Crataegus) is one of these plants which has long been used in folk medicine and is widely utilized in pharmaceutical preparations mainly in neuro- and cardiosedative actions. Methods and Results. The production of polyphenol by fifty-two-week-old Crataegus azarolus var. aronia calli was studied in relation to growth variation and antioxidant and antimicrobial capacity within a subcultured period. The DPPH and ABTS+ assays were used to characterize the antioxidant actions of the callus cultures. Antimicrobial activity was tested by using disc diffusion and dilution assays for the determination of the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) values of each active extract. High TEACDPPH, TEACABTS, and antimicrobial activity was observed when maximal growth was reached. An optimum of total phenol, proanthocyanidins, flavonoid, (−)-epicatechin, procyanidin B2, chlorogenic acid, and hyperoside was produced during this period. Conclusion. Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities were strongly correlated with total phenols and total flavonoids. Crataegus azarolus var. aronia cells culture represents an important alternative source of natural antioxidants and antimicrobials.

Application of an Optimized HPLC Method for the Detection of Various Phenolic Compounds in Apples from Lithuanian Cultivars

A specific analytical procedure including sample preparation and HPLC analysis was developed and validated for the detection of phenolic compounds in the samples of different apples from popular Lithuanian cultivars “Aldas,” “Auksis,” “Ligol,” and “Šampion.” The conditions for phenol extraction were optimized: the solvent of the extraction was 70% (v/v) ethanol, and the extraction was performed in an ultrasound bath for 20 min at the temperature of 40°C. The HPLC mobile phase consisted of 2% (v/v) acetic acid in water and 100% (v/v) acetonitrile. Using the HPLC technique, 11 analytes were identified, and their specificity was confirmed: procyanidin B1, (+)-catechin, chlorogenic acid, procyanidin B2, (−)-epicatechin, rutin, hyperoside, isoquercitrin, avicularin, quercitrin, and phloridzin. Chlorogenic acid was the major component in “Aldas,” “Auksis,” and “Ligol” and procyanidin B2 in “Šampion.” Hyperoside and avicularin were the dominant compounds of all the identified quercetin derivatives in “Aldas” and “Auksis;” hyperoside in “Šampion;” and quercitrin in “Ligol.” The total content of phenolic compounds varied from 1641.0 ± 47.9 μg/g (cv. “Ligol”) to 4291.3 ± 154.2 μg/g (cv. “Aldas”).

Comparative analysis of Tunisian wild Crataegus azarolus (yellow azarole) and Crataegus monogyna (red azarole) leaf, fruit, and traditionally derived syrup: phenolic profiles and antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of the aqueous-acetone extracts

Quantitative and qualitative analyses of the yellow and red azarole phenolic extracts prepared from leaf, fruit peel/pulp, and syrup were comparatively investigated. The yellow azarole was found significantly richer in polyphenols than the red-fruit species. Hyperoside was the main phenolic in both yellow and red azarole leaves and only in yellow fruits, whereas procyanidin B2 was the major compound in red fruits. Yellow azarole leaf and fruit peel extracts exhibited the strongest antioxidant activities using DPPH (≈168 and 79 μmol TEAC/g fw, respectively) and FRAP (≈378 and 161 μmol Fe(2+)/g fw, respectively) assays. The highest antibacterial activities were recorded for the yellow azarole leaf and fruit peel extracts, especially against Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus faecalis . The low phenolic content of the syrups contrasted with their significant antioxidant and antimicrobial potentials, which were correlated to their hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) (furan derivative amounts) content.

Polyphenolic profile and biological activity of Chinese hawthorn (Crataegus pinnatifida BUNGE) fruits

Chinese hawthorn (Crataegus pinnatifida Bge.) fruits are rich in polyphenols (e.g., epicatechin, procyanidin B2, procyanidin B5, procyanidin C1, hyperoside, isoquercitrin and chlorogenic acid)—active compounds that exert beneficial effects. This review summarizes all information available on polyphenolic content and methods for their quantification in Chinese hawthorn berries and the relationships between individual polyphenolic compounds as well. The influence of species or cultivars, the locality of cultivation, the stage of maturity, and extract preparation conditions on the polyphenolic content were discussed as well. Currently, only fruits of C. pinnatifida and C. pinnatifida var. major are included in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Recent trials have demonstrated the efficacy of Chinese hawthorn fruit in lowering blood cholesterol and the risk of cardiovascular diseases. The fruit has also demonstrated anti-inflammatory and anti-tumour activities. This review deals mainly with the biological activity of the fruit related to its antioxidant properties.

A review of the chemistry of the genus Crataegus

Since the 1800s, natural health products that contain hawthorn (Crataegus spp.) have been used in North America for the treatment of heart problems such as hypertension, angina, arrhythmia, and congestive heart failure. Traditionally, Native American tribes used hawthorn (Crataegus spp.) to treat gastrointestinal ailments and heart problems, and consumed the fruit as food. Hawthorn also has a long history of use in Europe and China for food, and in traditional medicine. Investigations of Crataegus spp. typically focus on the identification and quantification of flavonoids and anthocyanins, which have been shown to have pharmacological activity. The main flavonoids found in Crataegus spp. are hyperoside, vitexin, and additional glycosylated derivatives of these compounds. Reviewed herein are the botany, ethnobotany, and traditional use of hawthorn while focusing on the phytochemicals that have been reported in Crataegus species, and the variation in the described chemistry between individual species.

Composition and health effects of phenolic compounds in hawthorn (Crataegus spp.) of different origins

Epicatechin, aglycons and glycosides of B-type oligomeric procyanidins and flavonols, phenolic acids and C-glycosyl flavones are the major groups of phenolic compounds in hawthorn (Crataegus spp). The total content of phenolic compounds is higher in the leaves and flowers than in the fruits. Procyanidins dominate in the fruits, whereas flavonol glycosides and C-glycosyl flavones are most abundant in the leaves. Genotype and developmental/ripening stage have strong impacts. Procyanidin glycosides and C-glycosyl flavones may be chemotaxonomic markers differentiating species and varieties of hawthorn. Future research shall improve the separation, identification and quantification of procyanidins with degree of polymerisation (DP) ≥ 6, procyanidin glycosides, C-glycosyl flavones and some flavonol glycosides. In vitro and animal studies have shown cardioprotective, hypolipidaemic, hypotensive, antioxidant, radical-scavenging and anti-inflammatory potentials of hawthorn extracts, suggesting different phenolic compounds as the major bioactive components. However, the varying and insufficiently defined composition of the extracts investigated, as a result of different raw materials and extraction methods, makes comparison of the studies very difficult. Clinical evidence indicates that some hawthorn extracts may increase the exercise tolerance of patients with congestive heart failure. More clinical studies are needed to establish the effects of hawthorn, especially in healthy humans.

Phenolic compounds in hawthorn (Crataegus grayana) fruits and leaves and changes during fruit ripening

Phenolics in the fruits and leaves of Crataegus grayana were identified by HPLC-UV-ESI-MS. The contents of these compounds and their changes during autumn were also analyzed. Epicatechin [1-7 mg/g dry mass (DM) in fruits and 1-10 mg/g DM in leaves), procyanidins B2 (2-4 and 1-8 mg/g DM) and C1 (2-4 and 1-8 mg/g DM), hyperoside (0.5-1 and 2-11 mg/g DM), and a quercetin-pentoside (0.3-0.5 and 2-6 mg/g DM) were the major phenolics in both fruits and leaves. C-Glycosyl flavones were present in leaves (2-5 mg/g DM), whereas only trace levels were found in fruits. Ideain and 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid were found only in fruits. An additional 11 phenolics were identified/tentatively identified. Total phenolic contents reached highest levels by the end of August in fruits and by the end of September in leaves. The compositional profiles of phenolics in fruits and leaves of C. grayana were different from those of other Crataegus species.

Validation and application by HPLC for simultaneous determination of vitexin-2″-O-glucoside, vitexin-2″-O-rhamnoside, rutin, vitexin, and hyperoside

A simple, precise, and rapid high-performance liquid chromatographic method was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of vitexin-2″-O-glucoside, vitexin-2″-O-rhamnoside, rutin, vitexin, and hyperoside. The HPLC separation was performed using a Shim-pack VP-ODS C₁₈ column (250 mm×4.6 mm i.d., 5 μm) with the isocratic mobile phase consisting of tetrahydrofuran/ acetonitrile/0.05% phosphoric acid solution (20:3:77, v/v/v), and the flow rate was set at 1.0 mL/min. UV detection was carried out at a wavelength of 360 nm and the whole analysis took 25 min. The method was linear in the range of 4.12–206.00 μg/mL for vitexin-2″-O-glucoside, 4.05–202.50 μg/mL for vitexin-2″-O-rhamnoside, 1.64–82.00 μg/mL for rutin, 1.74–87.00 μg/mL for vitexin, and 1.41–70.60 μg/mL for hyperoside with the correlation coefficient for each analyte more than 0.998. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantitation (LOQ) were 0.6 and 2 ng for vitexin-2″-O-glucoside, 0.6 and 2 ng for vitexin-2″-O-rhamnoside, 0.3 and 1 ng for rutin, 1 and 3 ng for vitexin, and 0.5 and 2 ng for hyperoside, respectively. Intra- and inter-day precision and accuracy (RSD) were less than 3%. The developed HPLC method was successfully applied to the analysis of five flavonoids in hawthorn leaves, hawthorn fruits, and the preparations containing hawthorn leaves or fruits.

Separation/determination of flavonoids and ascorbic acid in rat serum and excrement by capillary electrophoresis with electrochemical detection

A capillary electrophoresis with electrochemical detection was developed for the simultaneous determination of three flavonoids (naringenin, rutin, quercetin) and ascorbic acid. It was found that naringenin, rutin, quercetin and ascorbic acid were well separated within 5 min in borate buffer solution (pH 8.6, 24 mM). The detection limit was 1.0 microM for naringenin, 8.0 microM for rutin, 2.0 microM for ascorbic acid and 0.5 microM for quercetin. The protocol was successfully applied for the determination of the analytes in rat serum and excrement. Recovery results ranged from 90.9 to 108.6%.

Comparative analysis of radical scavenging and antioxidant activity of phenolic compounds present in everyday use spice plants by means of spectrophotometric and chromatographic methods

Comparative analysis of radical scavenging and antioxidant activities of phenolic compounds present in everyday use spice plants was carried out by means of spectrophotometric and chromatographic methods. Six spice plant samples, namely onion (Allium cepa), parsley (Petroselinum crispum) roots and leaves, celery (Apium graveolens) roots and leaves and leaves of dill (Anethum graveolens) were analyzed. Total amount of phenolic compounds and radical scavenging activity (RSA) was the highest in celery leaves and dill extracts and was the lowest in celery roots. Comparing commonly used spectrophotometric analysis of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) RSA of extracts with the results obtained using reversed-phase chromatographic separation with on-line post-column radical scavenging reaction detection, good correlation was obtained (R(2)=0.848). Studies using HPLC system with electrochemical detector showed that bioactive phytochemicals can be separated and antioxidant activities of individual compounds evaluated without the need of a complex HPLC system with reaction detector. The results obtained using electrochemical detection correlate with the RSA assayed using spectrophotometric method (R(2)=0.893).

Polyphenol contents and antioxidant activities of extracts from flowers of two Crataegus azarolus L. varieties

Phenolic contents of the ethyl acetate extracts prepared from floral buds and opened flowers harvested on Crataegus azarolus trees native in two localities were performed. The antioxidant activity was measured by DPPH' (2,2-diphenyl-picrylhydrazyl), ABTS+ (2,2'-Azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radicals scavenging using spectrophotometric method. The C. azarolus var. aronia (Willd.) Batt., producing yellow fruits, was richer in total phenols (1638.7 +/- 89.9 mg acid gallic/100 g dry weight) according to C. azarolus var. eu-azarolus Maire (1415.5 +/- 23.8 mg acid gallic/100 g dry weight), producing red ones. Ethyl acetate extract from opened flowers has less content in total phenols, proanthocyanidins and flavonoids compared to this from floral buds. Floral buds from the two C. azarolus varieties occurring in Siliana-Djebel Serdj showed the highest radical scavenging activities (2431.8 +/- 32.7 and 2267.7 +/- 22.7 micromol Trolox/100 g dry weight). Hawthorn from Tunisia contains eight antioxidants of phenolic type (chlorogenic acid, hyperoside, rutin, spiraeoside, isoquercitrin, quercetin, (-)-epicatechin and the dimer procyanidin B2). These compounds identified specially in floral bud extracts presented a strong radical-scavenging activity.