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Maiuolo J, Nucera S, Serra M, Caminiti R, Oppedisano F, Macrì R, Scarano F, Ragusa S, Muscoli C, Palma E, Mollace V. Cladodes of Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill. Possess Important Beneficial Properties Dependent on Their Different Stages of Maturity. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 13:1365. [PMID: 38794436 PMCID: PMC11124804 DOI: 10.3390/plants13101365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2024] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill. belongs to the Cactaceae family and the genus Opuntia; it is a succulent plant that adapts to extreme climatic conditions. The aerial part of the plant consists of the cladodes, morphological changes of branches that appear green, are covered with thorns, and are essential to reduce excessive perspiration of water. The composition of cladodes is very varied, and the main constituents are water, fibers, polysaccharides, proteins, fatty acids, vitamins, sterols, minerals, and polyphenols. Polyphenols are responsible for many beneficial activities for human health, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and nutritional properties. The purpose of this manuscript was to compare the properties of cladodes belonging to the same plant but with different stages of maturity. Relative extracts were tested both in vitro and on a cell line and antioxidant and anti-apoptotic properties were found. The antioxidant activity was tested by the Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) test, the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazil (DPPH) test, and the measurement of cellular accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Anti-apoptotic activity was evaluated by the annexin/PI assay and measurement of caspases 9 and 3 expression. The results obtained showed that the extracts considered possess antioxidant and anti-apoptotic properties. However, the different stages of maturity of cladodes are essential for the performance of both functions. In addition, important variations were made in the dissolution of the extracts that brought greater safety in their use. In conclusion, this manuscript provides further information on cladodes of Opuntia ficus-indica, which can be used as adjuvants in many human pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Maiuolo
- IRC-FSH Center, Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, Germaneto, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (S.N.); (M.S.); (R.C.); (F.O.); (R.M.); (F.S.); (C.M.); (E.P.); (V.M.)
| | - Saverio Nucera
- IRC-FSH Center, Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, Germaneto, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (S.N.); (M.S.); (R.C.); (F.O.); (R.M.); (F.S.); (C.M.); (E.P.); (V.M.)
| | - Maria Serra
- IRC-FSH Center, Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, Germaneto, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (S.N.); (M.S.); (R.C.); (F.O.); (R.M.); (F.S.); (C.M.); (E.P.); (V.M.)
| | - Rosamaria Caminiti
- IRC-FSH Center, Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, Germaneto, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (S.N.); (M.S.); (R.C.); (F.O.); (R.M.); (F.S.); (C.M.); (E.P.); (V.M.)
| | - Francesca Oppedisano
- IRC-FSH Center, Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, Germaneto, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (S.N.); (M.S.); (R.C.); (F.O.); (R.M.); (F.S.); (C.M.); (E.P.); (V.M.)
| | - Roberta Macrì
- IRC-FSH Center, Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, Germaneto, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (S.N.); (M.S.); (R.C.); (F.O.); (R.M.); (F.S.); (C.M.); (E.P.); (V.M.)
| | - Federica Scarano
- IRC-FSH Center, Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, Germaneto, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (S.N.); (M.S.); (R.C.); (F.O.); (R.M.); (F.S.); (C.M.); (E.P.); (V.M.)
| | - Salvatore Ragusa
- PLANTA/Research, Documentation and Training Center, Via Serraglio Vecchio 28, 90123 Palermo, Italy;
| | - Carolina Muscoli
- IRC-FSH Center, Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, Germaneto, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (S.N.); (M.S.); (R.C.); (F.O.); (R.M.); (F.S.); (C.M.); (E.P.); (V.M.)
| | - Ernesto Palma
- IRC-FSH Center, Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, Germaneto, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (S.N.); (M.S.); (R.C.); (F.O.); (R.M.); (F.S.); (C.M.); (E.P.); (V.M.)
| | - Vincenzo Mollace
- IRC-FSH Center, Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, Germaneto, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (S.N.); (M.S.); (R.C.); (F.O.); (R.M.); (F.S.); (C.M.); (E.P.); (V.M.)
- Fondazione R. Dulbecco, 88046 Lamezia Terme, Italy
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Tzanova MT, Yaneva Z, Ivanova D, Toneva M, Grozeva N, Memdueva N. Green Solvents for Extraction of Natural Food Colorants from Plants: Selectivity and Stability Issues. Foods 2024; 13:605. [PMID: 38397582 PMCID: PMC10887973 DOI: 10.3390/foods13040605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Consumers associate the color of food with its freshness and quality. More and more attention is being paid to natural colorants that bring additional health benefits to humans. Such natural substances are the carotenoids (yellow to orange), the anthocyanins (red to blue), and the betalains (red and yellow), which are very sensitive to exposure to light, air, high temperatures, and chemicals. Stability and diversity in terms of color can be optimized by using environmentally friendly and selective extraction processes that provide a balance between efficacy, safety, and stability of the resulting extracts. Green solvents like water, supercritical fluids, natural deep eutectic solvents, and ionic liquids are the most proper green solvents when combined with different extraction techniques like maceration, supercritical extraction, and ultrasound-assisted or microwave-assisted extraction. The choice of the right extracting agent is crucial for the selectivity of the extraction method and the stability of the prepared colorant. The present work reviews the green solvents used for the extraction of natural food colorants from plants and focuses on the issues related to the selectivity and stability of the products extracted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milena Tankova Tzanova
- Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Biological Sciences, Trakia University, 6000 Stara Zagora, Bulgaria; (N.G.); (N.M.)
| | - Zvezdelina Yaneva
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Animal Physiology and Physiological Chemistry, Trakia University, 6000 Stara Zagora, Bulgaria; (Z.Y.); (D.I.); (M.T.)
| | - Donika Ivanova
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Animal Physiology and Physiological Chemistry, Trakia University, 6000 Stara Zagora, Bulgaria; (Z.Y.); (D.I.); (M.T.)
- Medical Faculty, Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Biochemistry, Trakia University, 6000 Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
| | - Monika Toneva
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Animal Physiology and Physiological Chemistry, Trakia University, 6000 Stara Zagora, Bulgaria; (Z.Y.); (D.I.); (M.T.)
| | - Neli Grozeva
- Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Biological Sciences, Trakia University, 6000 Stara Zagora, Bulgaria; (N.G.); (N.M.)
| | - Neli Memdueva
- Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Biological Sciences, Trakia University, 6000 Stara Zagora, Bulgaria; (N.G.); (N.M.)
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Feng Y, Yan X, Guo F, Wang S, Liu Z, Long W. Identification, expression analysis of quinoa betalain biosynthesis genes and their role in seed germination and cold stress. PLANT SIGNALING & BEHAVIOR 2023; 18:2250891. [PMID: 37616475 PMCID: PMC10453985 DOI: 10.1080/15592324.2023.2250891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 08/05/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
Betalains provide Chenopodium quinoa bright color, and the key enzyme genes for betalain biosynthesis include CYP76AD, DODA, and GTs. In this study, 59 CqCYP76AD, CqDODA and CqGTs genes in quinoa were identified and characterized by gene structural characteristics, phylogenetic relationships and gene expression patterns. The CqCYP76AD genes were divided into ɑ, β and γ types, CqDODA into ɑ and β types, and CqGTs into CqcDOPA5GT, CqB5GT and CqB6GT types according to phylogenetic relationships. The analysis of co-linearity identified eight pairs of duplicated genes which were subjected to purifying selection during evolution. CqCYP76AD and CqDODA, as well as CqcDOPA5GT and CqB5GT may have been evolutionarily linked in genetic inheritance, based on gene location and gene structure study. The tissue expression specificity of CqCYP76AD, CqDODA, and CqGTs genes in response to seed germination and cold stress was studied by RNA-Seq data. The genes CqCYP76AD, CqDODA, and CqGTs were involved in betalain biosynthesis and cold stress. CqCYP76AD, CqDODA, CqcDOPA5GT and CqB5GT gene sequences were consistent in the eight quinoa samples and showed significant variations in expression. In contrast, the inconsistency between changes in gene expression and betalain accumulation indicates that other factors may influence betalain biosynthesis in quinoa. This study offers the theoretical basis for the roles of the CqCYP76AD, CqDODA, and CqGTs genes in betalain biosynthesis and cold stress in quinoa, as well as a guide for the full utilization of betalains in quinoa plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Feng
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
| | - Xingzhu Yan
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
| | - Fenggen Guo
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
| | - Shiyi Wang
- College of Horticulture and Landscape, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
| | - Zhengjie Liu
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
| | - Wenhong Long
- College of Horticulture and Landscape, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
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Zareiyan F, Khajehsharifi H. Study of Opuntia humifusa: phytochemical analysis of aqueous fruit extract and green synthesis of Ag 2O nanoparticles. Nat Prod Res 2023:1-8. [PMID: 37938107 DOI: 10.1080/14786419.2023.2272031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023]
Abstract
Ag2O nanoparticle synthesis was carried out via co-precipitation technique based on using AgNO3 and secondary metabolites present in the aqueous extract of Opuntia humifusa fruit for the first time. The amount of measured total phenol, flavonoid content, flavone, and flavonol content, and anthocyanin were 38.46 μg eq gallic acid mg-1 extract, 8.34 μg eq quercetin mg-1 extract, 0.614 μg eq quercetin mg-1 DW, and 3.1 mmol L-1, respectively. Moreover, the predominant phenolic compound was gallic acid. Catechin and chlorogenic acid were found in both fruit juice and fruit aqueous extract. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of Ag2O-NPs showed the average particle size was 10.58 nm. Scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction Spectroscopy, and UV/visible spectrometry also confirmed the synthesis. This study then focuses on IC50 and NO amount differences before and after the synthesis of Ag2O-NPs which were 448.29 and 101.38 μg mL-1 for IC50 and 35.7% and 62.6% for NO, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faraneh Zareiyan
- Department of Natural Resources, Fars Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Centre, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Shiraz, Iran
- Department of Chemistry, Yasouj University, Yasouj, Iran
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