Supercritical CO2 extraction, chemical characterisation and antioxidant potential of Brassica oleracea var capitata against HO·, O2(·-) and ROO·

Comparison of Volatile Compositions among Four Related Ligusticum chuanxiong Herbs by HS-SPME-GC-MS

Chuanxiong (CX, Ligusticum chuanxiong), Japanese Chuanxiong (JCX, Cnidium officinale), Fuxiong (FX, Ligusticum sinense ‘Fuxiong’), and Jinxiong (JX, Ligusticum sinense ‘Jinxiong’) are aromatic herbs used in China, Japan, and other regions. Their morphology and aromatic odor are similar, resulting in confused and mixed uses. This study compares the volatile compositions of these herbs for defining their medical uses. Headspace solid-phase microextraction–gas chromatography–triple quadrupole–mass spectrometry was employed to separate, identify, and quantify the compounds in the volatile gas of the four herbs. A total of 128 volatile compounds were identified and quantified in 23 these herbal samples. The sums of 106, 115, 116, and 120 compounds were detected in the volatile gas of CX, JCX, FX, and JX, with the mean contents of 4.80, 7.12, 7.67, and 12.0 μg/g, respectively. Types and contents of the main compounds were found to be different in the volatile gas of these herbs. The orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis and hierarchical clustering analysis showed the four herbs located in different confined areas or clusters. It is concluded that the volatile compositions in the four herbs are generally similar, but the contents of main volatile compounds are different. These herbs should be clearly differentiated in medical use.

Red and white cabbages: An updated comparative review of bioactives, extraction methods, processing practices, and health benefits

Red and white cabbages (Brassica oleracea var. capitata f. alba and rubra, respectively) are two of the most commercially valued vegetables in crucifers, well-recognized for their unique sensory and nutritive attributes in addition to a myriad of health-promoting benefits. The current review addressed the differential qualitative/quantitative phytochemical make-ups for the first time for better utilization as nutraceuticals and to identify potential uses based on the chemical makeup of both cultivars (cvs.). In addition, extraction methods are compared highlighting their advantages and/or limitations with regards to improving yield and stability of cabbage bioactives, especially glucosinolates. Besides, the review recapitulated detailed action mechanism and safety of cabbage bioactives, as well as processing technologies to further improve their effects are posed as future perspectives. White and red cabbage cvs. revealed different GLSs profile which affected by food processing, including enzymatic hydrolysis, thermal breakdown, and leaching. In addition, the red cultivar provides high quality pigment for industrial applications. Moreover, non-conventional modern extraction techniques showed promising techniques for the recovery of their bioactive constituents compared to solvent extraction. All these findings pose white and red cabbages as potential candidates for inclusion in nutraceuticals and/or to be commercialized as functional foods prepared in different culinary forms.

Chemical study, antioxidant activity, and genotoxicity and cytotoxicity evaluation of Ruellia angustiflora

Ruellia angustiflora (Acanthaceae) is known as flower-of-fire, and its leaves are traditionally employed to promote wound healing. This study was aimed at extracting and characterizing the chemical constituents of the extracts of R. angustiflora obtained by ultrasound-assisted and supercritical fluid extractions, and subsequently investigate their antioxidant potential and cyto-genotoxicity. The extract obtained by ultrasound (UAE-EtOH) was characterized by ultraperformance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometer (UPLC-MS), and the extract obtained via supercritical fluid (SFE-CO₂) by gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC-MS). The antioxidant potential was verified by the antiradical activity against the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH), and the cyto-genotoxicity evaluation to test cell viability and DNA damage was performed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) cultures. The SFE-CO₂ extract presented some fatty acids, triterpenes, tetraterpenes, tocopherols and phytosterols. The UAE-EtOH extract contained phenolic acids and flavonoids, and showed the highest antioxidant capacity. Neither extract was genotoxic or cytotoxic at the tested concentrations.

Solvent Supercritical Fluid Technologies to Extract Bioactive Compounds from Natural Sources: A Review

Supercritical fluid technologies offer a propitious method for drug discovery from natural sources. Such methods require relatively short processing times, produce extracts with little or no organic co-solvent, and are able to extract bioactive molecules whilst minimising degradation. Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) provides a range of benefits, as well as offering routes to overcome some of the limitations that exist with the conventional methods of extraction. Unfortunately, SFE-based methods are not without their own shortcomings; two major ones being: (1) the high establishment cost; and (2) the selective solvent nature of CO₂, i.e., that CO₂ only dissolves small non-polar molecules, although this can be viewed as a positive outcome provided bioactive molecules are extracted during solvent-based SFE. This review provides an update of SFE methods for natural products and outlines the main operating parameters for extract recovery. Selected processing considerations are presented regarding supercritical fluids and the development and application of ultrasonic-assisted SFE methods, as well as providing some of the key aspects of SFE scalability.

Ultrasound-assisted extraction of bioactive compounds from palm pressed fiber with high antioxidant and photoprotective activities

This work is focused on the optimization of the ultrasound-assisted extraction of antioxidant compounds with photoprotective effect from palm pressed fiber. The influence of ultrasound intensity and pulse cycle was investigated by means of a central composite rotational design. The optimized condition was ultrasound intensity of 120W.cm^-2 and pulse factor of 0.4, yielding 3.24wt%. Compounds such as fatty acids, β-sitosterol, α-tocopherol, squalene, total phenolics and carotene were identified. The extract presented antioxidant activity towards synthetic (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl - DPPH, 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) - ABTS) and biological radicals (Hydroxyl - OH), besides a sun protection factor of 15.01. Polar extracts from palm pressed fiber are promising candidates for use in cosmetic and pharmaceutical formulation since they present high antioxidant activity towards different radicals, combined with the high sun protection factor.

Recovery of antioxidant and antiproliferative compounds from watercress using pressurized fluid extraction

The potential of pressurized fluid technology to isolate bioactive antioxidant and antiproliferative compounds from watercress was studied.