Spice antioxidants isolation and their antiradical activity: a review

Associations between spice or pepper (Capsicum annuum) consumption and diabetes or metabolic syndrome incidence

BACKGROUND

Spice and pepper are recognized as sources of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds. This study investigated the association between spice or pepper intake and metabolic syndrome (MetS), related risk factors, or type 2 diabetes (T2D) incidences.

METHODS

The qualified Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study (TLGS) participants were included. In all examinations, dietary, anthropometrical, and biochemical variables were measured. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models were exploited to determine the relationship between spice or pepper consumption and the hazard ratios for Type 2 Diabetes (T2D), Metabolic Syndrome (MetS), or its components.

RESULTS

The analysis was performed on 5340 individuals, with a mean age of 39.9±13.4 and 406 incident cases of T2D. Also, 4353 participants were included for MetS analysis with 1211 incident cases and a median follow-up of 5.8 years. After adjusting for confounding factors, spice and pepper intakes were not associated with T2D or MetS incidence. Further, in the upper quartile of spice intake, the HRs of high triglyceride (TG) [HR Q4: 1.19 (CI: 1.05-1.35)] and high blood pressure (BP) [HR Q4: 1.16 (CI: 1.04-1.30), P-trend = 0.007] increased. The risk of HDL-C appeared to decrease in the third quartile of pepper consumption (HR: 1, 0.97, 0.87, 1.03, P-trend = 0.008).

CONCLUSION

The findings showed that spice and pepper consumption had no association with the incidence of T2D and MetS. The risk of high TG and high BP incidence was elevated in the upper quartiles of spice intake. Also, greater consumption of pepper decreased the incidence of low HDL-C.

Evaluation of the Multidimensional Enhanced Lateral Flow Immunoassay in Point-of-Care Nanosensors

Point-of-care (POC) nanosensors with high screening efficiency show promise for user-friendly manipulation in the ever-increasing on-site analysis demand for illness diagnosis, environmental monitoring, and food safety. Currently, inspired by the merits of integrating advanced nanomaterials, molecular biology, machine learning, and artificial intelligence, lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA)-based POC nanosensors have been devoted to satisfying the commercial demands in terms of sensitivity, specificity, and practicality. Herein, we examine the use of multidimensional enhanced LFIA in various fields over the past two decades, focusing on introducing advanced nanomaterials to improve the acquisition capability of small order of magnitude targets through engineering transformations and emphasizing interdomain fusion to collaboratively address the inherent challenges in current commercial applications, such as multiplexing, development of detectors for quantitative analysis, more practical on-site monitoring, and sensitivity enhancement. Specifically, this comprehensive review encompasses the latest advances in comprehending LFIA with an alternative signal transduction pattern, aiming to achieve rapid, ultrasensitive, and "sample-to-answer" available options with progressive applications for POC nanosensors. In summary, through the cross-collaboration development of disciplines, LFIA has the potential to break the barriers toward commercialization and achieve laboratory-level POC nanosensors, thus leading to the emergence of the next generation of LFIA.

A review of antioxidant strategies to improve reproduction in aging male broiler breeders

As only 10% of the broiler breeder flock is roosters, their fertility is very important. The rooster sperm plasma membrane has high concentrations of polyunsaturated fatty acids that are sensitive to oxidative stress. Lipid peroxidation can change membrane structure, permeability, and fluidity, adversely affecting the acrosome reaction and fertility. Aging roosters have decreases in sexual behavior, serum androgen concentrations, sperm quantity and quality, and fertility. Low fertility in aging roosters is attributed to an imbalanced testicular oxidant-antioxidant system, with increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) damaging spermatogenic epithelium. However, antioxidant components can enhance antioxidant defenses in aging broiler breeder roosters. Protection against oxidative damage, particularly in the testes, improves reproductive hormone concentrations, testicular histology, sperm membrane function, and mitochondrial activity and thereby improves semen volume, sperm concentration, viability, motility, and sperm polyunsaturated fatty acid content, sperm-egg penetration, fertility, and reproductive performance. This review summarizes antioxidants that could improve fertility and reproductive performance and delay or prevent age-related declines in broiler breeder roosters, with benefits for poultry production.

Methods of Analysis of Phytoestrogenic Compounds: An Up-to-Date of the Present State

Phytoestrogens, natural compounds with structural similarity to 17-β-estradiol, are known to have potential health benefits, including in hormone-dependent malignancies. The therapeutic interest and some safety concerns observed triggered the need to develop accurate methods to assess their level in different matrices. This narrative review examines the existing analytical methods used to isolate, quantify, and characterize phytoestrogens and their metabolites in plants, foods, and biological samples. Different conventional and modern extraction techniques, such as ultrasonication-assisted extraction, supercritical fluid extraction, or enzyme-assisted extraction, were presented and compared. The advantages and limitations of the existing analytical methods, such as high-performance liquid chromatography using different sensitive detectors, gas chromatography often coupled with mass spectrometry, and immunoassay methods, are highlighted, along with the need for ongoing research to improve the sensitivity and selectivity of the analysis.

Comparative study of the chemical composition, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activity of the essential oils extracted from Lavandula abrialis and Lavandula stoechas: in vitro and in silico analysis

This work aims to add value to the Lavandula genus by identifying the chemical composition, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities of two species lavender from Oulmès in Morocco; Lavandula abrialis and Lavandula stoechas. The uniqueness lies in the integrated approach that combines in vitro and in silico analyses to assess the biological properties of the essential oils (EO). The objective of this study is to enhance the significance of the Lavandula genus by analyzing the chemical composition, antioxidant properties, and antimicrobial effects of two lavender species found in Oulmès, Morocco: Lavandula abrialis and Lavandula stoechas. The distinctiveness is in the comprehensive methodology that merges in vitro and in silico investigations to evaluate the biological characteristics of the essential oils (EO). The extraction of essential oils (EO) by hydrodistillation from the aerial parts of Lavandula abrialis gave a high yield of essential oils (2.9%) compared to Lavandula stoechas (2.3%). A GC-MS analysis of the chemical composition revealed 56 chemical compounds, with some variation in the predominant components, representing between 99.98% and 100% of the EOs of the studied lavenders. Their antioxidant activity was assessed using the DPPH test. This method revealed that L. stoechas EO has a higher percentage of free radical inhibition than L. abrialis. The IC50 values demonstrate that the antioxidant activity of ascorbic acid is higher (1.62 g/mL) than the EOs of tested plants. Noteworthy, the EO of L. stoechas is more potent (12.94 g/mL) than that of Lavandula tibialis (34.71 g/mL). Regrading, the antibacterial tests, the EO of L. abrialis was particularly active against Staphylococcus aureus BLACT, which is inhibited at a concentration of 6.25 g/mL, while L. stoechas EO has a strong effect on Escherichia coli, with a MIC of 1.56 g/mL. Concerning the antifungal activity of the EOs, yeasts showed sensitivity toward EOs extracted from both L. tibialis and L. stoechas. Moreover, an in silico study was conducted targeting sarA protein of S. aureus (PDB ID: 2fnp) and NADPH oxidase from Lavandula sanfranciscensis (PDB: 2CDU) and results showed that Ishwarone and Selina-3,7 (11)-diene exhibited highest binding energy with -9.8 and -10.8 kcal/mol respectively. Therefore, these two compounds could be used as an antibacterial and antioxidant agents however more experimental and molecular study should be required.

Effects of dietary basil (Ocimum basilicum) supplementation on reproductive hormones, semen parameters, and testicular development in Zandi male lambs

This study investigated the potential impact of feeding whole plant basil on sperm quality and the concentration of certain reproductive hormones in male lambs. A total of 18 Zandi male lambs with an initial weight of 28.8 ± 2.03 kg were included in a completely randomized design with three treatments and six repetitions. The experimental treatments included: 1) control (basal diet without basil), 2) diet containing 12.5 % basil, and 3) diet containing 25 % basil. The results showed that feeding basil to male lambs significantly increased testosterone concentration and decreased blood cortisol levels (P < 0.05). Additionally, feeding high levels of basil significantly improved sperm concentration, motility, and viability in the experimental samples, while reducing the level of complete abnormalities and malondialdehyde concentration (P < 0.05). The findings suggest that dietary supplementation of 25 % whole plant basil could be a useful strategy to improve sperm quality and increase testosterone secretion while reducing cortisol levels in male lambs.

Rosmarinic Acid and Flavonoids of the Seagrass Zostera noltei: New Aspects on Their Quantification and Their Correlation with Sunlight Exposure

Seagrasses are plants adapted to the marine environment that inhabit shallow coastal waters, where they may be exposed to direct sunlight during low tides. These plants have photoprotection mechanisms, which could include the use of phenolic secondary metabolites. In this study, rosmarinic acid (RA) and the flavonoids of Zostera noltei from the Bay of Cadiz (Spain) have been analyzed, first to define suitable conditions of leaves (i.e., fresh, dried, or frozen) for quantitative analysis, and then to explore the potential correlation between the phenolic profile of the leaves and sunlight exposure using an in situ experimental approach. Compared with fresh leaves, the contents of RA and flavonoids were significantly lower in air-dried and freeze-dried leaves. Freezing caused highly variable effects on RA and did not affect to flavonoid levels. On the other hand, the content of RA was significantly higher in plants that emerged during low tides than in plants permanently submerged, while plants underneath an artificial UV filter experienced a progressive reduction in RA content. However, the major flavonoids did not show a clear response to sunlight exposure and were unresponsive to diminished UV incidence. The results showed a positive correlation of RA with direct sunlight and UV exposure of leaves, suggesting that this compound contributes to the photoprotection of Z. noltei.

Enhancement of Oxidative Stability of Deep-Fried Sunflower Oil by Addition of Essential Oil of Amomum villosum Lour

In this study, the essential oil of the fruits of Amomum villosum Lour. (AVEO) was extracted through steam distillation and the components of the AVEO were analyzed using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Additionally, the antioxidant capacity in vitro of the AVEO was gauged using radical scavenging activity (DPPH, ABTS, superoxide anion) and ferric ion reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays; the antioxidant effect of a certain concentration of AVEO is even comparable to 0.08 mg/mL of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). Moreover, AVEO was applied to sunflower oil in a 30 h successive deep-frying experiment. Throughout the frying procedure, the sunflower oil-added antioxidant showed different degrees of benign changes in the physical and chemical parameters compared to the blank group, with 1 g/kg of AVEO being more consistent with 0.01 g/kg of tert-butyl hydroquinone (TBHQ), while 1.5 g/kg of essential oil revealed a stronger antioxidative capability. Meanwhile, the organoleptic characteristics of Chinese Maye, including its appearance, taste, flavor, and overall acceptability, were ameliorated when AVEO was added at 1.5 g/kg. Consequently, AVEO can be applied to substitute synthetic antioxidants as a natural antioxidant and flavoring agent during the deep-frying course of food.

Assessment of Antimicrobial Properties of Phenolic Acid Extracts from Grain Infected with Fungi from the Genus Fusarium

Problems related with biological contamination of plant origin raw materials have a considerable effect on prevention systems at each stage of food production. Concerning the antimicrobial action of phenolic acids, studies were undertaken to investigate antibacterial properties against bacterial strains of Escherichia coli (EC), Pseudomonas fluorescence (PF), Micrococcus luteus (ML) and Proteus mirabilis (PM), as well as antifungal properties targeting microscopic fungi Fusarium spp., extracts of phenolic compounds coming from inoculated grain from various genotypes of cereals. This study evaluated the antimicrobial action of phenolic acids extracts obtained from both naturally infested and inoculated with microorganisms. For this purpose a total of 24 cereal cultivars were selected, including 9 winter and 15 spring cultivars. The analyses showed a bactericidal effect in the case of 4 extracts against Micrococcus luteus (ML), 14 extracts against Pseudomonas fluorescence (PF), 17 extracts against Escherichia coli (EC) as well as 16 extracts against Proteus mirabilis (PM). It was found that 3 out of the 24 extracts showed no antibacterial activity. In turn, fungicidal action was observed in the case of 17 extracts against Fusarium culmorum (FC) (NIV), 16 extracts against FC (3AcDON), 12 extracts against Fusarium graminearum (FG) (3AcDON), while 12 other extracts showed antifungal action against FG (NIV) and 19 extracts against Fusarium langsethiae (FL). Based on the conducted analyses it was found that grain of small-grained cereals exposed to fungal infection is a source of bioactive compounds exhibiting antimicrobial properties. It was observed that the qualitative and quantitative profiles of polyphenols vary depending on the cereal cultivar. This extracts may be used to develop an antimicrobial preparation applicable in organic farming.

Glycoalkaloids of Plants in the Family Solanaceae (Nightshade) as Potential Drugs

Worldwide interest in medicinal plants and related drugs is growing because of the increased spectrum of new synthetic drugs. In this context, secondary plant metabolites are most significant. This review analyzes data on the structures and biosyntheses of metabolites such as glycoalkaloids; methods for their extraction from plants of the family Solanaceae, particularly potato S. tuberosum; their qualitative and quantitative analysis; biological activity; and toxicity. This information could be useful in the selection of methods for sample preparation and extraction of glycoalkaloids during the search for new plant sources with prospects of creating effective and safe pharmacological agents.

Antispasmodic Potential of Medicinal Plants: A Comprehensive Review

Numerous medicinal plants have been utilized for the treatment of different types of diseases and disorders including gastrointestinal (GI) diseases. GI diseases are the most common complaints that normally affects the largest proportion of children and adolescents with overlapping clinical manifestation in diagnosis and medical needs. Drugs with antispasmodic effects are normally applied for the symptomatic treatment of contraction and cramping of smooth muscles in gastrointestinal diseases as well as in other critical clinical situations. In alternative system of medicines, the antispasmodic herbs played a significant role in the cure of GI diseases. These medicinal plants and their herbal products are used from generation to generation because of multiple nutritional and therapeutic benefits. The multiple uses might be attributed to the presence on biologically active chemical constitutes. The main aim of this review is to focus on the medicinal potential of plants possessing antispasmodic activities with their proposed mechanism of action. Several databases such as Google Scholar, Cochrane database, Scopus, and PubMed were used to search the relevant literature regarding "plants with antispasmodic activities." This present study highlights the updated and quantified information on several medicinal plants with antispasmodic activity like Zanthoxylum armatum, Matricaria chamomilla, Foeniculum vulgare, Pycnocycla spinosa, Atropa belladonna, Lavandula angustifolia, Mentha pulegium, Glycyrrhiza ularensis, Anethum graveolens, and Origanum majorana. Moreover, recent studies on other medicinal plant species also have been included in this review article. Additionally, the study also revealed that the active compounds of all these plants possess significant spasmolytic effect which is safest, efficacious, and cost effective as compared to the available synthetic drugs.

Determination of ROS Scavenging, Antibacterial and Antifungal Potential of Methanolic Extract of Otostegia limbata (Benth.) Boiss

Wide spectrum medicinal significance augments plant utilization as the primary source of significant pharmaceutical agents. In vitro investigation of antioxidant and antimicrobial activity highlights the therapeutic potential of Otostegia limbata. Methanol extract of the plant (MEP) shows considerable dose dependent antioxidant ability at six concentrations (7.81 µg/mL to 250 µg/mL) in 2.2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, phosphomolybdate assay (PMA) and reducing power assay (RPA). The plant capability to scavenge free radicals in the mixture ranged from 37.89% to 63.50% in a concentration-dependent manner. MEP was active against five tested bacterial strains in the agar-well diffusion method. Staphylococcus aureus, gram-positive bacteria was found to be most susceptible followed by S. epidermidis with 18.80 mm and 17.47 mm mean zone of inhibition. The mean inhibition zone against gram-negative strains Klebsiella pneumonia, Pseudomonas spp. and Escherichia coli were 15.07 mm, 14.73 mm, and 12.17 mm. MEP revealed potential against Alternaria spp. and Aspergillus terreus fungal strains evaluated through agar-tube dilution assay. Aspergillus terreus was more sensitive than Alternaria spp. with an average 78.45% and 68.0% inhibition. These findings can serve as a benchmark for forthcoming scrutiny such as bioactive components discovery and drug development.

Influence of mixture of spices on phospholipid molecules during water-boiled salted duck processing based on shotgun lipidomics

This study aimed to evaluate the influence of spices on individual phospholipid molecules of water-boiled salted duck (WSD) processing. Shotgun lipidomics was used to determine the structure of individual phospholipid molecules in raw duck meat and changes of phospholipids in processed-WSD with or without spices. A total of 118 phospholipid molecules were determined during the whole processing. Spices had a significant effect on the changes of most individual phospholipid molecules during the processing, but the overall effect on the phospholipid profile was not obvious. Nine phospholipid molecule markers were screened by partial least squares discriminant analysis, which can be used to distinguish with or without spice treatment. The effect of spices on most phospholipid molecules began on the first day of dry-ripening, and gradually became more obvious in the subsequent processing. Spice's main function was to delay the degradation of individual phospholipid molecules.

The new rapid and accurate analytical HPLC-ECD method for the determination of rosmarinic acid in meat products

A new rapid method has been developed for the determination of low levels of rosmarinic acid extracted from rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) and has been used as an antioxidant in meat and meat products after cold storage at 4°C. The method is a high performance liquid chromatography using a coulometric electrochemical detector. It provides a significant improvement on the limit of detection, which was 0.33 ppb, while the limit of quantification was 1 ppb of rosmarinic acid. The advantage of the method also lies in the simpler and faster sample preparation, which can quantify a very low concentration of rosmarinic acid (60 ppb), and is more than 40 ppb below the limits of previously existing methods. A coulometric method is well suited for determining low analyte concentrations and is one of the most sensitive analytical approaches available today, in addition to being time efficient and cost effective. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: A new method for determining low concentrations (60 ppb) of rosmarinic acid in meat and meat products is presented. The method is user-friendly, as it does not require complex sample preparation. It is a selective, precise, and accurate method that makes it useful for routine applications in the meat and other food industries.

Protection of Halophytes and Their Uses for Cultivation of Saline-Alkali Soil in China

Over 800 million hectares of arable lands are affected by salinity in the world. In China, saline-alkali soils account for 25% of farmland and are underutilized. One sustainable strategy to make better use of saline land is to plant halophytes, salt-tolerant plants that can survive and complete their life cycle in media containing more than 200 mM NaCl. Halophytes have potential economic value as grain, vegetable, fruit, medicine, animal feed, and biofuel feedstocks, and in greening and coastal protection. Therefore, the cultivation and protection of halophytes is very important. In the past few decades, a lot of work has been done on the protection and utilization of halophytes in saline soil improvement and development worldwide. This article focuses on the distribution of saline-alkali conditions and current measures to protect halophytes, as well as the application of halophytes in the sustainable development of saline-alkali land. This information is helpful for protection and utilization of halophytes in the sustainable development of saline land worldwide.

Phytochemical Profile and Antioxidant Activity of Nigella sativa L Growing in Morocco

Background

Nigella sativa L (NS) is a powerful antioxidant and medicinal plant with many therapeutic applications particularly in traditional medicine for respiratory, gastrointestinal, rheumatic, and inflammatory disorders, as well as cancer.

Objective

The aim of this study is to extract the active ingredients from the Moroccan Nigella sativa L and determine its antioxidant properties. We hypothesize that the separation of the compounds from Nigella sativa L has either a positive or negative effect on antioxidants. To study this, we explored different methods to simultaneously extract and separate compounds from Nigella sativa L and performed antioxidant tests (β-carotene and DPPH) for all collected fractions.

Methods

Nigella sativa L was hot-extracted by Soxhlet and mother extracts and was separated using silica column chromatography with adequate eluents. Qualitative phytochemical tests to determine the chemical families in Nigella sativa L seeds were performed on the fractions. They were also identified and characterized by GC-MS and HPLC-DAD. Then, antioxidant activity was examined by β-carotene bleaching and DPPH radical scavenger tests. Results and Conclusion. The mother extract hexane FH generated eight different fractions (SH1-8) and the acetone extract FA generated 11 fractions (SA1-11). The FH fractions had a high percentage of fatty acids, and the FA fractions had some interesting polyphenols derivative compounds. Phytochemical screening revealed secondary metabolites such as polyphenols flavonoids, alkaloids, steroids, terpenes coumarins, tannins, and saponins. We found that only two solvents (hexane, acetone) of different polarities could easily extract and simultaneously separate the components of Nigella sativa L. The antioxidant fractions that we collected had close activity to reference compounds but were more active than the corresponding mother extracts. Moreover, several IC₅₀ values of fractions from acetone extract were better than those from hexane. Therefore, the antioxidant activity of Nigella sativa L is more attributed to flavonoids and polyphenols than fatty acids. In summary, the separation of hexane extract presents a more pronounced positive effect for antioxidant tests than acetone extract.

Phytochemical characterization of some sumac (Rhus coriaria L.) genotypes from southern part of turkey

The present research aimed to study the total phenolics, total anthocyanins, total antioxidants, aroma profile, organic acids, and carbohydrate contents of 15 sumac genotypes selected from Kahramanmaras province of Turkey. Total phenols and anthocyanins were spectrophotometrically assessed. The DPPH method was used to determine the antioxidant capacity of the genotypes. Volatile component profiles were identified by HS-SPME/GC-MS while organic acids and carbohydrates were assessed by HPLC techniques. Total phenolic content of the genotypes varied from 36.38 (46SMC02) to 58.66 mg/g dw (46SMC10). Total anthocyanin content ranged from 10.87 (46SMC12) to 119.74 mg/L (46SMC05). The total antioxidant capacity was in the range of 73.37 (46SMC07) and 77.00% (46SMC06). A total of 26 volatile compounds were distinctly detected from the genotypes: 11 volatile compounds were classified as alcohols, 7 as terpenes, 6 as aldehydes and 2 as ketones. l-ascorbic acid, oxalic acid, citric acid and malic acid volumes were detected in the genotypes and their quantity ranged from 2.13 to 40.3, 1.3 to 2.9, 49.8 to 95.1 and 1360 to 2800 respectively. Sucrose quantity was found to vary between 1.41 (46SMC14) and 5.85% (46SMC01), glucose between the detection limit (46SMC01, 46SMC13 and 46SMC15) and 0.73% (46SMC09), xylose between 8.53 (46SMC14) and 30.17% (46SMC09) and fructose between an undetected value (46SMC09, 46SMC10 and 46SMC11) and 1.93% (46SMC13). The results presented here indicate that sumac fruit is a good source of nutritious compounds that may be used directly as a food source or food additives.

Antioxidant, Antihypertensive and Antimicrobial Properties of Phenolic Compounds Obtained from Native Plants by Different Extraction Methods

This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of two methods (agitation and ultra-sound) for extracting phenolic compounds from 15 native plants. Plant species collected in the Dehesa of Extremadura were used. The antioxidant, antihypertensive and antimicrobial activity of the phenolic extracts was investigated. Significantly different results were obtained when comparing the two extraction methods, with the highest concentrations of phenolic compounds found for ultrasound extraction. In addition, the extracts obtained for Cistus albidus, Cistus salviifolius, Rubus ulmifolius and Quercus ilex showed the highest concentrations of phenolic compounds. The antioxidant activity was higher in the extracts of Cistus and Q. ilex obtained by ultrasound, as was the antihypertensive activity. Antimicrobial activity was also higher in the extracts obtained by ultrasound from C. salviifolius and Q. ilex plants against bacteria and from Cistus ladanifer against yeasts. Therefore, it can be concluded that, with the ultrasound extraction of phenolic compounds from C. ladanifer, C. albidus and Q. ilex plants, it is possible to obtain extracts with important functional properties, so they could be studied for their use in food with the aim of obtaining healthy and safe products, favouring the sustainability of the environment of the Dehesa Extremeña.

LC-ESI-QTOF/MS characterization of bioactive compounds from black spices and their potential antioxidant activities

Black pepper (Piper nigrum L.), black cumin (Nigella sativa L.) and black cardamom (Amomum subulatum) are considered as important spices, seasoning and folk medicines. They have a diverse range of bioactive compounds, especially for polyphenolic compounds. These polyphenolic compounds contribute to the putative health benefits of these black spices. The purpose of this study was to identify, characterize and quantify the phenolic profile of these black spices using LC-ESI-QTOF/MS and HPLC-PDA and to access their antioxidant potential. The LC-ESI-QTOF/MS analysis led to the identification of 138 phenolic compounds in three black spices. In HPLC-PDA, the p-hydroxybenzoic acid was the most predominant phenolic acid in black pepper and black cumin while diosmin was the most abundant flavonoid in black cardamom (> 20 mg/g). Furthermore, black spices were systematically measured for their TPC, TFC and TTC followed by measurement of their antioxidant activities using DPPH, FRAP and ABTS assays. Black pepper showed the highest TPC, TFC, TTC, DPPH and ABTS activities as compared to other black spices while black cardamom exhibited the highest FRAP activity. The obtained results highlight the importance of these black spices as promising sources of phenolic compounds and they could be potentially utilized in food, feed and nutraceutical industries.

Effects of Ozone Treatment on Microbial Status and the Contents of Selected Bioactive Compounds in Origanum majorana L. Plants

This study presents the effects of ozone treatment on microbial status and contents of selected bioactive compounds in marjoram plants. Origanum majorana L. is a widely used plant which in the course of production is affected by microbial infections. One of the ways to reduce microbial load involves application of a strong oxidant, such as ozone. In order to determine the effects of ozonation, a number of analyses were carried out including microbiological tests (aerobic colony count, yeast and mould count, and mesophilic lactic acid bacteria count) and chemical tests assessing total antioxidant potential, total polyphenols, and volatile fraction composition. Ultimately, the findings showed considerable (6-log) reduction in microbial load, with unchanged composition of headspace volatile compounds. Furthermore, the raw material obtained presented elevated the contents of the selected bioactive compounds. It was shown that the most beneficial effects are achieved when ozone treatment is applied at a rate of 1 ppm for a duration of 10 min.

Extraction Techniques and Analytical Methods for Characterization of Active Compounds in Origanum Species

Phytochemical research based on ethnopharmacology is gaining interest in industries such as functional food, nutraceuticals, cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries. Plants and plant extracts are a rich source of bioactive secondary metabolites. These compounds are often involved in plant protection against biotic or abiotic stresses. The exploitation of available technologies should be oriented and intensified to extend and enhance the continued usefulness of the plants as renewable sources of chemicals, especially medicinal compounds. This current contribution is focused on extraction and analytical techniques for their isolation from the oregano species, their characterization and their potential antioxidative, as well as their antimicrobial, antifungal and anticarcinogenic properties. The work is structured rendering to the different steps involved in the research; starting with extraction and sample preparation, followed by discussing the analytical techniques employed for the isolation and identification of compound/s responsible for the biological activity and methods and techniques for biological activity assessment.

Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activities of the Essential Oil of Moroccan Tetraclinis articulata (Vahl) Masters

The purpose of this study is to evaluate and compare the antioxidant and antibacterial activities of essential oil isolated from Tetraclinis articulata (Vahl) leaves, Masters originating in Morocco (Benslimane Region, Atlantic-influenced plain). The analysis of the major compounds of essential oil was performed by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry, and this oil is dominated by bornyl acetate (35.05%), camphor (11.17%), and α-pinene (10.84%). The antioxidant properties were evaluated by the test of the radical trap 2,2-diphényl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and the antimicrobial activity of T. articulata essential oil was tested against clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli which have been inhibited from the 25 μg/mL.

Effect of drying methods on chemical composition and antioxidant activity of underutilized stinging nettle leaves

Stinging nettles provide low-cost quality nutrition for alleviating malnutrition. Previous research on stinging nettles focused mainly on the nutritional quality of fresh leaves. In this study, the effect of drying method on macronutrients, mineral content, ascorbic acid, β-carotene content and total phenols content and antioxidant activity were investigated. The contribution of fresh, oven dried or freeze dried stinging nettle leaves to the required daily value for the nutrients were also determined. Oven drying of nettle leaves resulted in a higher loss of β-carotene and ascorbic acid content compared to freeze drying. In contrast, the total phenols content and total antioxidant activity were higher in oven dried stinging nettle leaves compared to freeze dried leaves. Overall, freeze dried and oven dried nettle leaves can be considered as a rich source of Ca, Mg and vitamin A; a good source of vitamin C, Fe, and Mn; and a source for Mg and K. Stinging nettle leaves could potentially be used as a cheap natural source of antioxidants and for addressing micronutrient malnutrition.

Effect of cultivars, pretreatment and drying on physicochemical properties of Amla (Emblica officinalis) gratings

Effect of four different cultivars and salt pretreatment on drying of Amla (Emblica officinalis) gratings were studied. Quality attributes namely, ascorbic acid, total phenolic content, antioxidant activity and colour were evaluated for dried (using Cabinet tray dryer at 55 ± 2 °C for 8 h) and stored (refrigerated, ambient and accelerated condition) samples of four cultivars (Krishna, Kanchan, NA-7 and Chakaiya). Salt pretreated dried samples showed better retention of nutrients and colour as compared to untreated. Retention of ascorbic acid, total phenolic content and antioxidant activity (IC₅₀ value) in pretreated dried samples were in the range of 79.51-84.89%, 176.5-220.3 mg GAE/g db and 9.48 to 17.74 mg/µl, respectively. Colour retention was also found to be better in salt pretreated samples. Ambient storage condition resulted in higher retention of ascorbic acid and colour compared to accelerated condition. Taking into consideration, the nutritional value of the fresh Amla, ability to retain nutritional value and color during drying and storage, NA-7 cultivar Amla (pretreated with 1% salt, tray dried at 55 °C for 8 h) is the most suitable for preparation of Amla powder. The method developed in the present work is devoid of blanching step and found to be effective in retaining the nutrients during drying and storage and can be employed also for drying of similar fruits and vegetables.

Effects of thymol and carvacrol on sperm quality and oxidant/antioxidant balance in rats

In this study, we have investigated the effects of different doses of thymol (T) and carvacrol (C) on sperm quality oxidative stress and antioxidant system. For this purpose, 49 rats were divided into seven groups (7 rats in each group): 1st Group (control); 2nd Group T-10 (thymol 10 mg/kg), 3rd Group T-20 (thymol 20 mg/kg), 4th Group C-10 (carvacrol 10 mg/kg), 5th Group C-20 (carvacrol 20 mg/kg), 6th Group T + C-10 (thymol 10 mg/kg + carvacrol 10 mg/kg) and 7th Group T + C-20 (thymol 20 mg/kg + carvacrol 20 mg/kg). The duration of the experiment was 10 weeks for all animals. During the study, sperm quality parameters (motility, concentration, abnormal spermatozoa and live-dead sperm ratio), biochemical parameters [malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione(GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT), AST, ALT, GGT, urea and creatinine] were analysed, and histopathological examination was performed. The study results showed that monotherapies of thymol and carvacrol significantly decreased MDA levels in testicles, liver and kidney tissues compared to the control group (p < .001). GSH levels increased only with the thymol administration and GSH-Px and catalase activity increased only with the carvacrol administration compared to the control group (p < .05). The combined administration of these two agents did not cause any significant change in any parameter. Regarding the sperm quality parameters, only the spermatozoa concentration and motility increased significantly in the thymol and carvacrol groups compared to the control group (p < .01). However, these parameters decreased in the 7th Group (T + C-20) compared to the control group (p < .001). Considering the dead sperm ratio decreased significantly in the 2nd (T-10), 3rd (T-20), 4th (C-10), 5th (C-20) and 6th Group (T + C-10) compared to the control group (p < .001). In respect of spermatozoon anomaly, there was a significant decrease in thymol and carvacrol monotherapy groups. The histopathological analysis of the testicle, liver and kidney tissues of the animals showed no difference between the groups. In conclusion, we have determined that thymol and carvacrol administration decreased the oxidative damage and increased the antioxidant levels and improved the sperm quality parameters. However, the combined use of these two active ingredients had a limited therapeutic effect on the mentioned parameters.

Improvement of phytochemical production by plant cells and organ culture and by genetic engineering

Plants display an amazing ability to synthesize a vast array of secondary metabolites that are an inexhaustible source of phytochemicals, bioactive molecules some of which impact the human health. Phytochemicals present in medicinal herbs and spices have long been used as natural remedies against illness. Plant tissue culture represents an alternative to whole plants as a source of phytochemicals. This approach spares agricultural land that can be used for producing food and other raw materials, thus favoring standardized phytochemical production regardless of climatic adversities and political events. Over the past 20 years, different strategies have been developed to increase the synthesis and the extraction of phytochemicals from tissue culture often obtaining remarkable results. Moreover, the availability of genomics and metabolomics tools, along with improved recombinant methods related to the ability to overexpress, silence or disrupt one or more genes of the pathway of interest promise to open new exciting possibilities of metabolic engineering. This review provides a general framework of the cellular and molecular tools developed so far to enhance the yield of phytochemicals. Additionally, some emerging topics such as the culture of cambial meristemoid cells, the selection of plant cell following the expression of genes encoding human target proteins, and the bioextraction of phytochemicals from plant material have been addressed. Altogether, the herein described techniques and results are expected to improve metabolic engineering tools aiming at improving the production of phytochemicals of pharmaceutical and nutraceutical interest.

Antioxidant Effects of Green Tea Leaf Extract on Chemical properties of Corn Refined Oil of Microwave Fried Potatoes

Introduction: Oxygen, light, heat, metal ions, and enzymes are among the agents that oxidize oils, fats, and high-fat food products which result in oxidative spoilage. Due to the toxicity and cancer risk of oxidative agents, the use of synthetic antioxidants is important for delaying the oxidation processes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of natural antioxidants including green tea leaf extract and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) on the oxidation of the corn refined oil of microwave-heated fried potatoes. Methods: To this end, corn refined oil and corn oil were treated with green tea leaf extracts (i.e., 200, 400, 600, and 800 ppm), followed by treating the oils with a combination of green tea leaf extract (600 ppm) and BHT (200 ppm). The samples with no anti-oxidant treatments were used as the controls. Eventually, several parameters related to the corn oils were determined, including peroxide content, acidity, polar compounds, and ionic bond conjugates. Results: Based on the results, significant increases were observed in peroxide, acidity, polar compounds, and ionic bond conjugates in the corn refined oil of microwave fried potatoes (P<0.05). On the other hand, the results showed that the heating process reduced peroxide content (P<0.05). However, acidity increased significantly during the heating process (P>0.05) and the lowest acid value was observed in the mixture of 600 ppm of the green tea leaf with 200 ppm of the BHT. There was no significant difference between the control group and the samples treated with 200 ppm of the green leaf extract (P<0.05) in terms of polar components. In addition, a significant decrease was found in the conjugated dienes by increasing the green tea leaf extract concentration (P<0.05). Finally, the highest protection was achieved in the oils that were treated with a combination of green tea leaf extract and BHT. Conclusion: In general, the green tea leaf extract and BHT have antioxidant activities that make them suitable agents for use in food protection industries.

Review on nutritional composition of orange-fleshed sweet potato and its role in management of vitamin A deficiency

A wide variety of the roots and tubers plays a major role in human diet, animal feed, and industrial raw materials. Sweet potatoes (SPs) play an immense role in human diet and considered as second staple food in developed and underdeveloped countries. Moreover, SP production and management need low inputs compared to the other staple crops. The color of SP flesh varied from white, yellow, purple, and orange. Scientific studies reported the diversity in SP flesh color and connection with nutritional and sensory acceptability. Among all, orange-fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) has been attracting food technologists and nutritionists due to its high content of carotenoids and pleasant sensory characteristics with color. Researchers reported the encouraging health effects of OFSP intervention into the staple food currently practicing in countries such as Uganda, Mozambique, Kenya, and Nigeria. Scientific reviews on the OFSP nutritional composition and role in vitamin A management (VAM) are hardly available in the published literature. So, this review is conducted to address the detailed nutritional composition (proximate, mineral, carotenoids, vitamins, phenolic acids, and antioxidant properties), role in vitamin A deficiency (VAD) management, and different food products that can be made from OFSP.

Biocompatible Materials Based on Plasticized Poly(lactic acid), Chitosan and Rosemary Ethanolic Extract I. Effect of Chitosan on the Properties of Plasticized Poly(lactic acid) Materials

The purpose of the present study is to develop new multifunctional environmentally friendly materials having applications both in medical and food packaging fields. New poly(lactic acid) (PLA)-based multifunctional materials containing additives derived from natural resources like chitosan (CS) and rosemary extract (R) were obtained by melt mixing. Each of the selected components has its own specific properties such as: PLA is a biodegradable thermoplastic aliphatic polyester derived from renewable biomass, heat-resistant, with mechanical properties close to those of polystyrene and polyethylene terephthalate, and CS offers good antimicrobial activity and biological functions, while R significantly improves antioxidative action necessary in all applications. A synergy of their combination, an optimum choice of their ratio, and processing parameters led to high performance antimicrobial/antioxidant/biocompatible/environmentally degradable materials. The polyethylene glycol (PEG)-plasticized PLA/chitosan/powdered rosemary extract biocomposites of various compositions were characterized in respect to their mechanical and rheological properties, structure by spectroscopy, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, and in vitro and in vivo biocompatibility. Scanning electron microscopy images evidence the morphology features added by rosemary powder presence in polymeric materials. Incorporation of additives improved elongation at break, antibacterial and antioxidant activity and also biocompatibility. Migration of bioactive components into D1 simulant is slower for PEG-plasticized PLA containing 6 wt % chitosan and 0.5 wt % rosemary extract (PLA/PEG/6CS/0.5 R) biocomposite and it occurred by a diffusion-controlled mechanism. The biocomposites show high hydrophilicity and good in vitro and in vivo biocompatibility. No hematological, biochemical and immunological modifications are induced by subcutaneous implantation of biocomposites. All characteristics of the PEG-plasticized PLA-based biocomposites recommend them as valuable materials for biomedical implants, and as well as for the design of innovative drug delivery systems. Also, the developed biocomposites could be a potential nature-derived active packaging with controlled release of antimicrobial/antioxidant compounds.

Effect of decontamination treatment on the quality of dehydrated thyme, coriander, and mustard

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of different decontamination treatments on the quality of dehydrated thyme, coriander, and mustard. Treatments applied were: (i) ultraviolet radiation treatment irradiation; (ii) steam, (iii) steam-ultraviolet radiation treatment; (iv) humidification-ultraviolet radiation treatment, and (v) steam-humidification-ultraviolet radiation treatment. Their effectiveness to control indigenous aerobic mesophiles and yeasts and molds population was assessed by plate count. The effect of proposed treatments on total polyphenol contents and antioxidant activity was also evaluated. Furthermore, the effect of treatments on spices performance to prevent canola oil oxidation was also analyzed. The use of steam-ultraviolet radiation treatment in aqueous medium was the most effective for decontamination, reducing the aerobic mesophiles and yeasts and molds counts between 1.0 and 2.2 log CFU/g dry spice. This treatment decreased significantly the polyphenol content and the antioxidant capacity of the three spices analyzed. However, in the case of mustard, the residual antioxidant compounds were able to control canola oil oxidation more efficiently than butylated hydroxytoluene. Results suggest that the use of steam-ultraviolet radiation treatment in aqueous medium can be useful in food preservation processes.

Chemical composition, antioxidant activity and antimicrobial activity of essential oil from Citrus aurantium L zest against some pathogenic microorganisms

This study aims to investigate the chemical composition, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activity of Citrus aurantium L zest essential oil. The identification of the chemical compounds was done using chromatography analysis. The antioxidant activity was studied by the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay. Results showed that the main components of the essential oil were limonene (85.22%), β-myrcene (4.3%), and α-pinene (1.29%). Regarding the DPPH radical scavenging ability, the zest essential oil showed higher activity than limonene. The antimicrobial activity of the essential oil against pathogenic [Staphylococcus aureus NBIMCC 3703, Salmonella sp. (clinical isolate), Pseudomonas aeruginosa NBIMCC 1390, Bacillus subtilis NBIMCC 1208, Escherichia coli NBIMCC 3702] microorganisms by disc-diffusion method was examined. Gram-positive bacteria were more sensitive to the oil (inhibition zones being between 9 and 12.5 mm) and the minimum inhibitory concentration was more than 600 ppm; Gram-negative bacteria were less sensitive. The obtained essential oil displayed promising results for its application as a biopreservative agent.

Halide-free neodymium phosphate based catalyst for highly cis-1,4 selective polymerization of dienes

Neodymium-based Ziegler–Natta type catalytic systems are known to produce polydienes with high cis-1,4 content. It is generally believed that in Ziegler–Natta catalytic systems, a halide or pseudohalide, whether in the catalyst itself or a separate source, is required for the success of the polymerization. In this work, we have synthesized an unusual halide-free neodymium diethyl phosphate catalyst for diene polymerization. This neodymium complex combined with triisobutylaluminum (TIBA), formed a binary catalytic system and was used to polymerize β-myrcene. The catalytic system displays high stereospecificity and produces poly(β-myrcene) with 96% cis-1,4 content and a relatively narrow molecular weight distribution (M_w/M_n = 1.80). Also, kinetic studies indicated the catalytic system gives a pseudo-living polymerization. The block copolymer poly(β-myrcene)-b-poly(isoprene) was successfully synthesized by sequential monomer addition, further demonstrating the pseudo-living nature of polymerization with the neodymium diethyl phosphate catalyst.

[Nd(μ-DEP)₃]_x/TIBA stereospecifically polymerizes myrcene in a pseudo-living Ziegler–Natta like catalytic system despite the absence of a halide.

Caraway as Important Medicinal Plants in Management of Diseases

Carum carvi or caraway is traditionally used for treatment of indigestion, pneumonia, and as appetizer, galactagogue, and carminative. Essential oil, fixed oil and many other valuable extractive compounds with industrial applications are prepared from caraway. This review article has new deep research on caraway as medicinal plant. For preparing the manuscript, the information was extracted from accessible international databases (Google scholar, PubMed, Science direct, Springer, and Wiley), electronic resources and traditional books by key word of caraway or Carum carvi. The results of traditional studies exhibited that the galactagogue and carminative effects of caraway fruits are superior to other effects. Although, the traditional scholars used it as appetizer, while caraway was the main ingredient of anti-obesity drugs in traditional medicine, which has been confirmed in two modern clinical trials of human studies. Caraway oil in combination with peppermint oil or menthol is used for treatment of functional dyspepsia in clinical studies. Caraway oil topically on abdomen relieves the IBS symptoms in patient. Although, the use of caraway oil is not recommended in adults under 18 years due to insufficient data, but it can topically use as anti-colic and carminative agent in children or infants. The anti-aflatoxigenic, antioxidant and antimicrobial effects of caraway oil along with its reputation as spice help the industries to use it as natural preservatives and antioxidant agents.

Effects of different drying methods on the bioactive compounds and antioxidant properties of edible Centaurea (Centaurea cyanus) petals

Abstract The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of hot-air convective drying, shade drying and freeze-drying on the bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity of Centaurea ( Centaurea cyanus L.) petals, as well as on several of their physicochemical properties. All the dried samples showed different appearances as compared to fresh petals, with lower titratable acidity, lower carotenoids and hydrolysable tannins contents, and greater antioxidant activity. Of the drying methods, shade drying presented the highest values for monomeric anthocyanins, flavonoids, hydrolysable tannins, total reducing capacity and antioxidant activity. By contrast, greater losses were observed as a result of hot-air convective drying. Thus shade drying is a highly promising process that should be considered as a suitable drying method for Centaurea petals.

Isolation of Bioactive Compounds from Calicotome villosa Stems

A phenylethanoid, two steroids, a flavone glucoside and a chalcone have been isolated for the first time from the stems of Calicotome villosa together with a previously isolated flavone glucoside. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic analyses (NMR, HRMS) as basalethanoïd B (1), β-sitosterol and stigmasterol (2), chrysine-7-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (3), chrysine 7-((6′′-O-acetyl)-O-β-d-glucopyranoside) (4) and calythropsin (5). The crude extracts and the isolated compounds (except 4), were evaluated for their antioxidant, antimicrobial (against two Gram-positive bacterial strains: Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, four Gram-negative bacterial strains: Staphylococcus epidermidis, Klebsiella pneumonia, Acinetobacter baumanii, and three yeasts: Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, and Candida glabrata), hemolytic, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic activity. The crude extracts showed good ability to scavenge the free radical DPPH. Methanol stem extract followed by the dichloromethane stem extract showed moderate antimicrobial potency; furthermore, at 1 mg/mL the methanol extract showed an inhibition of C. albicans growth comparable to nystatin. Dichloromethane, methanol, and aqueous extracts inhibited 98%, 90%, and 80% of HeLa cell proliferation at 2 mg/mL respectively. Weak hypoglycemic and hemolytic effects were exhibited by the crude extracts. Among all the tested compounds, compound 3 showed remarkable hypoglycemic potential (93% at 0.1 mg/mL) followed by compound 5 (90% at 0.3 mg/mL). Compound 5 was the most effective in the DPPH^. scavenging assay (100% at 0.1 mg/mL) and cytotoxic assay on HeLa cells (99% and 90% after 24 and 48 h of treatment at 0.1 mg/mL, respectively). No anti-inflammatory effects were displayed by any of the crude extracts or the isolated compounds at any of the tested concentrations.