Amazonian Eryngium foetidum leaves exhibited very high contents of bioactive compounds and high singlet oxygen quenching capacity

Anticancer, antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of CuO-ZnO bimetallic nanoparticles: green synthesised from Eryngium foetidum leaf extract

In the present study, green synthetic pathway was adapted to synthesize CuO-ZnO bimetallic nanoparticles (BNPs) using Eryngium foetidum leaf extract and their anti-cancer activity against MCF7 breast cancer cell lines, anti-microbial activity and in vitro anti-oxidant activity were evaluated. Various bio-active compounds present in leaf extract were responsible for the reduction of CuO-ZnO NPs from respective Cu2+ and Zn2+ metal precursors. In the present study, the involvement of bio-active compounds present in E. foetidum extract before and after green synthesis of BNPs were evaluated for the first time. Rod-shaped and spherical structural morphology of synthesized BNPs were revealed by using FESEM, TEM, and XRD analysis with particle size ranged from 7 to 23 nm with an average size of 16.49 nm. The distribution of Cu and Zn were confirmed by elemental mapping. The green synthesized CuO-ZnO NPs showed significant cytotoxic effect with the inhibition rate 89.20 ± 0.03% at concentration of 500 μg/mL. Again, good antioxidant activity with IC50; 0.253 mg/mL and antimicrobial activity of BNPs were also evaluated with the increasing order of MIC; E. coli (7.81 μg/mL) < B. subtilis (62.5 μg/mL) < S. aureus (31.25 μg/mL).

Neuroprotective potential of traditionally used medicinal plants of Manipur against rotenone-induced neurotoxicity in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Alternanthera sessilis (L.) R. Br. ex DC., Eryngium foetidum L., and Stephania japonica (Thunb.) Miers plants are traditionally used to treat various central nervous system disorders like paralysis, epilepsy, seizure, convulsion, chronic pain, headache, sleep disturbances, sprain, and mental disorders. However, their possible neuroprotective effects have not been evaluated experimentally so far.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The study aims to examine the neuroprotective potential of the three plants against cytotoxicity induced by rotenone in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells and assess its plausible mechanisms of neuroprotection.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The antioxidant properties of the plant extracts were determined chemically by DPPH and ABTS assay methods. The cytotoxicity of rotenone and the cytoprotective activities of the extracts were evaluated using MTT assays. Microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2) expression studies in cells were performed to assess neuronal survival after rotenone and extract treatments. Mitochondrial membrane potential and intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species were evaluated using Rhodamine 123 and DCF-DA dye, respectively. Catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase activities were also measured. Apoptotic nuclei were examined using DAPI staining. Liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (LC-QTOF-MS) analysis of the plant extracts was also performed.

RESULTS

The methanol extracts of A. sessilis, S. japonica, and E. foetidum showed excellent free radical scavenging activities. MAP2 expression studies show that A. sessilis and S. japonica have higher neuroprotective effects against rotenone-induced neurotoxicity in SH-SY5Y cells than E. foetidum. Pre-treating cells with the plant extracts reverses the rotenone-induced increase in intracellular ROS. The plant extracts could also restore the reduced mitochondrial membrane potential induced by rotenone treatment and reinstate rotenone-induced increases in catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase activities. All the extracts inhibited rotenone-induced changes in nuclear morphology and DNA condensation, an early event of cellular apoptosis. LC-QTOF-MS analysis of the plant extracts shows the presence of neuroprotective compounds.

CONCLUSIONS

The plant extracts showed neuroprotective activities against rotenone-treated SH-SY5Y cells through antioxidant and anti-apoptotic mechanisms. These findings support the ethnopharmacological uses of these plants in treating neurological disorders. They probably are a good source of neuroprotective compounds that could be further explored to develop treatment strategies for neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's disease.

Extracts of Eryngium foetidum Leaves from the Amazonia Were Efficient Scavengers of ROS and RNS

Eryngium foetidum L. is an edible plant widespread in Amazonian cuisine and its leaves have high levels of promising phenolic compounds for the production of extracts to be used as natural antioxidant additives. In this study, the in vitro scavenging capacity of three freeze-dried extracts of E. foetidum leaves, obtained by ultrasound-assisted extraction using green solvents [water (H₂O), ethanol (EtOH), and ethanol/water (EtOH/H₂O)], was investigated against the most common reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) generated in both physiological and food systems. Six phenolic compounds were identified, chlorogenic acid (2198, 1816 and 506 μg/g) being the major compound for EtOH/H₂O, H₂O, and EtOH extracts, respectively. All E. foetidum extracts were efficient in scavenging all the ROS and RNS (IC₅₀ = 45-1000 µg/mL), especially ROS. The EtOH/H₂O extract showed the highest contents of phenolic compounds (5781 μg/g) and showed the highest efficiency in scavenging all the reactive species, with high efficiency for O₂^•- (IC₅₀ = 45 μg/mL), except for ROO^•, for which EtOH extract was the most efficient. Therefore, E. foetidum leaf extracts, especially EtOH/H₂O, showed high antioxidant potential to be used as natural antioxidants in food formulations and are promising for nutraceuticals products.

Thermal Degradation of Carotenoids from Jambu Leaves (Acmella oleracea) during Convective Drying

Jambu (Acmella oleracea) is a vegetable used in human food. Drying is an alternative to increase the shelf life of the product. High temperatures can induce the degradation of carotenoids and reduce the health benefits of these compounds. This study investigated the effect of the Jambu leaves' drying temperature on the carotenoid composition. It was performed previously by screening 16 plants from different localities based on the total carotenoid content. The process of drying by convection was carried out at temperatures of 35, 40, 50, and 60 °C in an air circulation oven, at an air velocity of 1.4 m/s^-1 and a processing time of ~20 h. The drying data were fitted to six mathematical models and the quantification of the carotenoid retention was determined by HPLC-DAD. The study demonstrates that the carotenoid content among the samples collected from the 16 producers varied by 72% (lower-175 ± 16 μg/g, higher-618 ± 46 μg/g). Among the models, the Page model was found to be the most suitable model to explain the variation of the experimental data. The drying process at 40 °C reduces the Jambu leaves' carotenoid content significantly (p < 0.05) (All-trans-β-carotene-86 ± 2 μg/g, All-trans-lutein-141 ± 0.2 μg/g) but does not alter the carotenoid profile. The occurrence of similar reduction behavior was observed for the different carotenoids at all the temperatures studied. The drying process at 35 °C was the condition that ensured the highest retention of carotenoids, and also a product classified as a very high source of carotenoids (total carotenoids-748 ± 27 μg/g, vitamin A-17 ± 1 μg RAE/g). Thus, this study concludes that a temperature of 35 °C for 14 h (air velocity-1.4 m/s^-1) is the best drying condition for Jambu leaves using a low-cost dryer and as a possibility for the preservation and marketing of this Amazonian raw material.

Convective Drying of Purple Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) Leaves and Stability of Chlorophyll and Phenolic Compounds during the Process

This study evaluated the effect of convective drying on the degradation of color and phenolic compounds of purple basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) leaves, and the hygroscopic behavior of dried leaves. The fresh leaves underwent drying at 40 °C, 50 °C, 60 °C, and 70 °C. Degradation of chlorophyll, flavonoids, and phenolic compounds were evaluated during drying and the hygroscopicity was evaluated through the moisture sorption isotherms. The drying mathematical modeling and the moisture sorption data were performed. The effective diffusivity for the drying increased from 4.93 × 10−10 m2/s at 40 °C to 18.96 × 10−10 m2/s at 70 °C, and the activation energy value (39.30 kJ/mol) showed that the leaves present temperature sensibility. The leaves dried at 40 °C had less degradation of phenolic compounds and color variation, but the drying process was too slow for practical purposes. Modified Page, Diffusion Approximation, and Verna models had excellent accuracy in drying kinetics. The isotherms showed that, in environments with relative humidity above 50%, the purple basil leaves are more susceptible to water gain, and at 8.83 g H2O/100 g db moisture, it guarantees the microbiological stability of the dried leaves. The Oswin model was the most suitable for estimating the moisture sorption isotherms of the dried leaves.

Scavenging Capacity of Extracts of Arrabidaea chica Leaves from the Amazonia against ROS and RNS of Physiological and Food Relevance

Arrabidaea chica, a medicinal plant found in the Amazon rainforest, is a promising source of bioactive compounds which can be used to inhibit oxidative damage in both food and biological systems. In this study, the in vitro scavenging capacity of characterized extracts of A. chica leaves, obtained with green solvents of different polarities [water, ethanol, and ethanol/water (1:1, v/v)] through ultrasound-assisted extraction, was investigated against reactive oxygen (ROS) and nitrogen (RNS) species, namely superoxide anion radicals (O2•-), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), hypochlorous acid (HOCl), and peroxynitrite anion (ONOO-). The extract obtained with ethanol-water presented about three times more phenolic compound contents (11.8 mg/g) than ethanol and water extracts (3.8 and 3.6 mg/g, respectively), with scutellarein being the major compound (6.76 mg/g). All extracts showed high scavenging efficiency against the tested ROS and RNS, in a concentration-dependent manner with low IC50 values, and the ethanol-water extract was the most effective one. In addition, all the extracts were five times more efficient against ROO• than Trolox. Therefore, the extracts from A. chica leaves exhibited high promising antioxidant potential to be used against oxidative damage in food and physiological systems.

Eryngium foetidum L. (Apiaceae): A Literature Review of Traditional Uses, Chemical Composition, and Pharmacological Activities

Eryngiumfoetidum L. is popularly known as chicória-do-Pará, is native to the Amazon region, and is widely distributed in Northern Brazil. It is considered a versatile species due to its diversified uses in ethnomedicine, gastronomy, and pharmaceutical industry. The objective of this study was to review the literature on the traditional uses, chemical composition, and pharmacological activities of E. foetidum based on information published in national and international scientific articles between the years 2011 and 2021. Literature searches were performed with the combination of the expressions “Eryngium foetidum L.,” “chicória-do-Pará,” “traditional uses,” “ethnobotany,” “volatile compounds,” and “essential oil.” The species is widely used as a flavoring condiment in beans, meat, duck, and fish, and in the preparation of tucupi (cassava sap), showing to have great importance for the Amazonian food culture. In traditional medicine, it has analgesic, antibacterial, antiflu, and antipyretic applications. The chemical profile is characterized by the presence of aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes, mainly (2E)-2-dodecenal in leaves and 2,3,4-trimethylbenzaldehyde in roots, in addition to fixed compounds such as carotenoids, flavonoids, and phenols. These compounds have shown diverse biological activities and potential antibacterial, anthelmintic, and antioxidant applications, confirming their potential for use in folk medicine. Therefore, it is inferred that this aromatic plant has vast potential uses and is an important alternative as a natural resource for the food and pharmaceutical industries in view of its antioxidant capacity and bioactive compounds.

Pharmacological screening of Eryngium foetidum Linn – A Review

Eryngium foetidum L. (Family Apiaceae) is a biennial herb, and it is used as a culinary herb and spice across the different countries of the world, including Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Singapore, etc. due to its high aroma quality. Also, it is used to treat several ailments, such as respiratory diseases, gastrointestinal ailments, and skin diseases among different indigenous populations for its medicinal properties. Based on ethnomedical evidence, many studies have been conducted to identify the phytoconstituents, underlying mechanisms, and related pharmacological effects of different parts of this plant. This study reviewed the current state of findings related to the Pharmacological activities of E. foetidum. Based on this review, this plant is widely used for ethnomedical and culinary purposes. Pharmacological screening of the plant revealed that it had different activities such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anthelminthic, anticonvulsant, anticancer, antidiabetic, antimalarial, larvicidal, and hepatoprotective activities. This review further promised that potential new chemical entities could be elicited from the phytoconstituents of E. foetidum.

Antrocaryon amazonicum: An unexploited Amazonian fruit with high potential of scavenging reactive oxygen and nitrogen species

Antrocaryon amazonicum fruits are unexploited sources of bioactive compounds found in the Amazonia region of Brazil. In this study, for the first time, the carotenoid and phenolic compound profiles of the pulp and peel of A. amazonicum fruits, from two varieties at two harvest periods, were determined by LC-MS. Additionally, the potential of the peel and pulp extracts to scavenge physiologically relevant reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) was assessed. The major carotenoids in both parts of the fruits were lutein, accounting for ≈42% of the identified carotenoids in the peel and ≈25% in the pulp, whereas catechin and hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives were the major phenolics in both parts. The peel extract, which presented the highest bioactive compound contents, was more efficient to scavenge ROS than the pulp. The peel extract showed high scavenging efficiency (IC₅₀ ) for singlet oxygen (¹ O₂ ; 16 µg/ml), hypochlorous acid (HOCl; 20 µg/ml), peroxynitrite (ONOO^- ; 38 µg/ml), and superoxide radical (O₂ ^•- ; 47 µg/ml), whereas the pulp extract exhibited high efficiency for ONOO^- (13 µg/ml), followed by HOCl (30 µg/ml), ¹O₂ (76 µg/ml), and less efficient for O₂ ^•- (44 µg/ml). Therefore, A. amazonicum fruits can be seen as an expressive source of bioactive compounds with high antioxidant potential to be further investigated to inhibit or delay oxidative processes both in food and physiological systems triggered by ROS and RNS. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Bioactive compound extracts of Antrocaryon amazonicum fruits have high potential to be exploited for inhibiting or delaying oxidative processes and increase food stability.