Determination of Total Flavonoids Contents and Antioxidant Activity of Ginkgo biloba Leaf by Near-Infrared Reflectance Method

Fractionating the Flavonoids in Lonicerae japonicae Flos and Lonicerae flos via Solvent Extraction Coupled with Automated Solid-Phase Extraction

Due to the structural diversity of flavonoids in functional plant foods and the inherent limitations of existing techniques, it is important to develop a simple and green (environmentally friendly) method of extracting flavonoids from plant foods. In this study, a method involving solvent extraction followed by automated solid-phase extraction was developed for extracting flavonoids from Lonicerae japonicae flos (JYH) and Lonicerae flos (SYH), both of which are widely used functional plant-based foods in Asian countries. For the optimisation of the solvent extraction method, solvent concentration (0.0, 20.0, 40.0, 60.0, 80.0 and 100.0% (v/v) of ethanol-water solution), extraction temperature (40, 60 and 80 °C) and extraction time (15.0, 30.0, 60.0, 90.0 and 120.0 min) were evaluated via design of experiment after screening. For solid-phase extraction, five cartridges (Strata-X, InertSep RP-2, InertSep RP-C18, Bond Elut-ENV, Oasis Prime HLB) were evaluated and different elution steps were optimised to obtain high recoveries (79.69-140.67%) for eight target flavonoids, including rutin, isoquercetin and luteolin. Antioxidant capacity assays revealed that JYH samples demonstrated superior antioxidant potential compared to SYH. The optimised extraction method provides a valuable tool for industrial-scale flavonoid production.

Bioactive profiling of Rumex vesicarius L. from the Hail region of Saudi Arabia: a study on its phytochemical and elemental analysis, antibiofilm, antibacterial, antioxidant properties, and molecular docking analysis

Background

Rumex vesicarius is a wild leafy plant belonging to the family Polygonaceae, renowned for its therapeutic benefits. The genus Rumex comprises approximately 150 species distributed globally.

Objective

The study aimed to investigate the biological activities of R. vesicarius using in vitro and in silico methods.

Methods

Rumex vesicarius was collected from the mountains in Hail and extracted with methanol. The phytochemical composition was qualitatively determined using colorimetric detection methods. Additional analyses included elemental analysis, in silico docking, antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-biofilm properties.

Results

The extract contained various classes of phytochemicals, including flavonoids, phenolics, tannins, terpenes, and saponins. Sixteen constituents were identified through molecular docking, revealing inhibition against the filamentous temperature-sensitive protein Z (FtsZ), a crucial factor in bacterial cell division. Six compounds exhibited low binding scores ranging from -8.3 to -5.0 kcal/mol, indicating efficient interaction at the active site. Elemental analysis identified 15 elements, with potassium being the most abundant, followed by calcium, aluminum, silicon, iron, phosphorus, sulfur, magnesium, titanium, strontium, zinc, manganese, bromine, and chromium. Antioxidant analysis revealed significant properties at lower concentrations compared to ascorbic acid, butylated hydroxytoluene, and β-carotene. Antibacterial analysis demonstrated inhibitory effects on Bacillus subtilis MTCC121 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa MTCC 741, with inhibition zones of 13.67 ± 1.0 mm and 11.50 ± 1.0 mm, respectively. The MIC and MBC values ranged from 250 to 500 μg/mL. R. vesicarius also exhibited anti-biofilm activity.

Conclusion

Wild-grown R. vesicarius from the mountains of Hail is rich in bioactive phytochemicals and essential minerals, exhibiting notable antioxidant and antibacterial properties.

Delineation of the impacts of varying 6-benzylaminopurine concentrations on physiological, biochemical and genetic traits of different olive cultivars under in vitro conditions

Abstract. The plant growth regulator 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) is an important component of plant nutrient medium with tendency to accelerate physiological, biochemical and molecular processes in woody plants such as olive. To date, limited knowledge is available on the role of BAP in mediating physiological, biochemical and genetic activities in olives under in vitro conditions. To cover this research gap, the current study was conducted with the objective of studying the role of BAP in regulating physiological traits (chlorophyll, CO2 assimilation), antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase and peroxidase), metabolic contents (starch, sucrose and flavonoids) and gene expression (OeRbcl, OePOD10, OeSOD10, OeCAT7, OeSS4, OeSuSY7, OeF3GT and OeChlH) under varying concentrations (0, 0.5, 1.5 and 2.5 mg L-1) within the provided in vitro conditions. The explants obtained from different olive cultivars ('Leccino', 'Gemlik', 'Moraiolo', 'Arbosana') were cultured on olive medium (OM) provided with different BAP concentrations using a two-factorial design, and data were analysed statistically. All traits increased significantly under in vitro conditions due to increasing concentrations of BAP; however, this increase was more dramatic at 2.5 mg L-1 and the least dramatic at 0.5 mg L-1. Moreover, correlation, principal component analysis and heatmap cluster analysis confirmed significant changes in the paired association and expression of traits with changing BAP concentration and type of olive cultivars. Likewise, the expression of all genes varied due to changes in BAP concentration in all cultivars, corresponding to variations in physiological and biochemical traits. Moreover, the spectrographs generated via scanning electron microscopy further indicated the variations in the distribution of elements in olive leaf samples due to varying BAP concentrations. Although all cultivars showed a significant response to in vitro varying concentrations of BAP, the response of Arbosana was statistically more significant. In conclusion, the current study proved the dynamic impact of the varying BAP concentrations on regulating the physiological, biochemical, and molecular attributes of olive cultivars.

Kolaviron neuroprotective effect against okadaic acid-provoked cognitive impairment

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is acknowledged as the main causative factor of dementia that affects millions of people around the world and is increasing at increasing pace. Okadaic acid (OA) is a toxic compound with ability to inhibit protein phosphatases and to induce tau protein hyperphosphorylation and Alzheimer's-like phenotype. Kolaviron (KV) is a bioflavonoid derived from Garcinia kola seeds with anti-antioxidative and anti-inflammation properties. The main goal of this study was to assess whether kolaviron can exert neuroprotective effect against okadaic acid-induced cognitive deficit. Rats had an intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of OA and pretreated with KV at 50 or 100 mg/kg and examined for cognition besides histological and biochemical factors. OA group treated with KV at 100 mg/kg had less memory deficit in passive avoidance and novel object discrimination (NOD) tasks besides lower hippocampal levels of caspases 1 and 3, tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) as inflammatory factors, reactive oxygen species (ROS), protein carbonyl, malondialdehyde (MDA), and phosphorylated tau (p-tau) and higher level of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, mitochondrial integrity index, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione (GSH). Moreover, KV pretreatment at 100 mg/kg attenuated hippocampal CA1 neuronal loss and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) reactivity as a factor of astrogliosis. In summary, KV was able to attenuate cognitive fall subsequent to ICV OA which is partly mediated through its neuroprotective potential linked to mitigation of tau hyperphosphorylation, apoptosis, pyroptosis, neuroinflammation, and oxidative stress and also improvement of mitochondrial health.

Efficient Production of High-Quality Infrared-Assisted Spouted Bed-Dried Areca taro Based on the Drying Temperature and Cutting Size Control

The purpose of this study was to apply infrared-assisted spouted bed drying (IRSBD) technology for Areca taro drying and to investigate the effects of different parameters on its drying quality. Specifically, in order to determine the suitable conditions for IRSBD, the effects of different drying temperatures (45 °C, 50 °C, 55 °C, and 60 °C) and cutting sizes (6 × 6 × 6 mm, 8 × 8 × 8 mm, 10 × 10 × 10 mm, and 12 × 12 × 12 mm) on the drying characteristics, temperature uniformity, and quality properties (including colour, rehydration ratio, total phenol content, total flavonoid content, and antioxidant activity) of Areca taro were studied. The results showed that the optimal drying condition was the sample with a cutting size of 10 × 10 × 10 mm and drying at 50 °C, which yielded the dried sample with the best colour, highest total phenol and flavonoid contents, maximum antioxidant capacity, and rehydration ratio.

Transcriptome analysis reveals important regulatory genes and pathways for tuber color variation in Pinellia ternata (Thunb.) Breit

During the growth of Pinellia ternata (Thunb.) Breit. (P. ternata), the violet-red skin was occasionally produced spontaneously under natural cultivation. However, the specific mechanism leading to the color change is still unclear. This study performed transcriptomes in violet-red and pale-yellow skin and their peeled tubers of P. ternata, and the total flavonoids and anthocyanin contents were also determined. The results showed that the majority of genes involved in anthocyanin production were considerably increased in the violet-red skin of P. ternata tuber compared to the pale-yellow skin. Especially, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) and chalcone synthase (CHS) showed a remarkable increase in gene expression levels. Notably, shikimate O-hydroxycinnamoyltransferase (HCT), naringenin 3-dioxygenase (F3H), flavanone 4-reductase (DFR), and anthocyanidin synthase (ANS) were explicitly expressed in violet-red skin of P. ternata tuber, while undetectable in pale-yellow skin. The upregulation of these genes may explain the accumulation of anthocyanins, which forms the violet-red skin of P. ternata tuber. The transcription factors, including C2H2, bZIP, ERF, GATA, bHLH, C3H, NAC, MYB-related, and MYB families, might trigger the skin color change in P. ternata. The entire anthocyanin content in the violet-red skin of P. ternata tuber was 71.10 μg/g, and pale-yellow skin was 7.74 μg/g. According to phenotypic and transcriptome results, the elevated expression levels of genes linked to the synthesis of anthocyanins considerably contributed to the violet-red skin alterations in P. ternata tuber. This study provides a new understanding of the formation of the violet-red skin, lays a theoretical foundation for the cultivation of unique varieties of P. ternata, and provides transcriptome data for further study of the differences between different colors of P. ternata.

UPLC‒ESI‒MS/MS profiling of active polyphenolics in Morinda coreia leaf extract and in vitro antioxidant and antibacterial activity

In this study, aqueous and methanol extracts of Morinda coreia (MC) leaves were tested for antioxidant and antibacterial activity under in vitro conditions. Phytochemical analysis using UPLC-ESI-MS revealed the presence of phenolics, flavonoids, alkaloids, glycosides, amino acids, proteins, saponins, and tannins. Under in vitro conditions, antioxidant test using DPPH, ABTS, and reducing power demonstrated that the plant leaves play a crucial role in antioxidant activity compared to the commercial antioxidant butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). The ABTS and DPPH free radical scavenging activities showed that the IC₅₀ values of the M. coreia methanol extract were 26.35 μg/mL and 200.23 μg/mL, respectively. The methanol extract of M. coreia contained higher levels of total phenols and flavonoids and higher free radical scavenging capacity than the aqueous extract. FTIR analysis of the methanol extract showed a substantial number of phenols in the functional groups of M. coreia leaves. The well diffusion assay using the methanolic extract of M. coreia (200 μg/mL) leaves showed antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (19 ± 0.85 mm), Proteus sp. (20 ± 0.97 mm), Streptococcus sp. (21 ± 1.29 mm), and Enterobacter sp. (17 ± 0.2 mm). Thus, the present study revealed that the antibacterial and antioxidant activity of M. coreia leaf extract was due to the presence of 18 unknown and 15 primary known polyphenols.

Unveiling Chemical, Antioxidant and Antibacterial Properties of Fagonia indica Grown in the Hail Mountains, Saudi Arabia

The Aja and Salma mountains in the Hail region are home to a variety of indigenous wild plants, some of which are used in Bedouin folk medicine to treat various ailments. The purpose of the current study was to unveil the chemical, antioxidant and antibacterial properties of Fagonia indica (Showeka) grown widely in these mountains, as data on the biological activities of this plant in this remote area are scarce. XRF spectrometry indicated the presence of some essential elements, which were in the order of Ca > S > K > AL > CL > Si > P > Fe > Mg > Na > Ti > Sr > Zn > Mn. Qualitative chemical screening revealed the presence of saponins, terpenes, flavonoids, tannins, phenols and cardiac glycosides in the methanolic extract (80% v/v). GC-MS showed the presence of 2-chloropropanoic acid 18.5%, tetrahydro-2-methylfuran 20.1%, tridecanoic acid 12-methyl-, methyl ester 2.2%, hexadecanoic acid, methyl ester 8.6%, methyl 3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) propionate 13.4%, methyl linoleate 7.0%, petroselinic acid methyl ester 15%, erucylamide 6.7% and diosgenin 8.5%. Total phenols, total tannins, flavonoids, DPPH, reducing power, -carotene and ABTS IC₅₀ (mg/mL) scavenging activity were used to measure the antioxidant capabilities of Fagonia indica, which exhibited prominent antioxidant properties at low concentrations when compared to ascorbic acid, butylate hydroxytoluene and beta-carotene. The antibacterial investigation revealed significant inhibitory effects against Bacillus subtilis MTCC121 and Pseudomona aeruginosa MTCC 741 with inhibition zones of 15.00 ± 1.5 and 12.0 ± 1.0 mm, respectively. The MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) and MBC (minimum bactericidal concentration) ranged between 125 to 500 μg/mL. The MBC/MIC ratio indicated possible bactericidal efficacy against Bacillus subtilis and bacteriostatic activity against Pseudomona aeruginosa. The study also showed that this plant has anti-biofilm formation activity.

Isolation of the Main Biologically Active Substances and Phytochemical Analysis of Ginkgo biloba Callus Culture Extracts

The work reveals the results of studying the content of biologically active substances in samples of extracts of Ginkgo biloba callus cultures. Callus cultures grown in vitro on liquid nutrient media were the objects of the study. Considering various factors affecting the yield of the target components during extraction, the volume fraction of the organic modifier in the extracting mixture, the temperature factor, and the exposure time were identified as the main ones. The maximum yield of extractive substances (target biologically active substances with a degree of extraction of at least 50%) from the samples of callus culture extracts was detected at a ratio of extragent of 70% ethanol, a temperature of 50 °C, and exposure time of 6 h. Flavonoids, such as luteolin, quercetin, isoramentin, kaempferol, and amentoflavone, were isolated in the extract samples. As a result of column chromatography, fractions of individual biologically active substances (bilobalide, ginkgolide A, B, and C) were determined. The proposed schemes are focused on preserving the nativity while ensuring maximum purification from associated (ballast) components. Sorbents (Sephadex LH-20, poly-amide, silica gel) were used in successive stages of chromatography with rechromatography. The degree of purity of individually isolated substances was at least 95%.

Foliar Spray or Soil Drench: Microalgae Application Impacts on Soil Microbiology, Morpho-Physiological and Biochemical Responses, Oil and Fatty Acid Profiles of Chia Plants under Alkaline Stress

Alkaline soil inhibits the growth and productivity of chia plants (Salvia hispanica L.). Microalgae as biofertilizers have been reported to induce alkalinity tolerance and enhance yield and quality. However, limited information is known concerning the influence of microalgae application on medical plants, including chia. Our experiments were performed to evaluate the effect of microalgae strains of Arthrospira platensis, Chlorella vulgaris, Nostoc muscorum, and Anabaena azollae with two application methods, foliar spray and soil drench, on morpho-physiological and biochemical parameters, yield, seed and oil quality, and fatty acid profiles of chia plants cultivated under alkaline soil conditions, as well as the on soil microbial activity. The results obtained reveal that both application methods positively influenced the growth and productivity of chia plants. However, the foliar application showed significant differences in the herb's fresh and dry weights and leaf pigments, whereas the drenching application caused more effect than the foliar spray application at the reproductive stage. Untreated chia plants showed a slight decline in the growth, productivity, and antioxidant level with an increase in Na content. However, microalgae applications significantly ameliorated these impacts as they induced an enhancement in the growth, leaf pigments, total protein and carbohydrate contents, nutrient content, seed and oil yields, as well as an increase in linolenic and linoleic fatty acids, with a reduction in saturated fatty acids, namely, palmitic and lauric acid. Soil drenching generated an improvement in the soil microbial activity and caused a reduction in the pH. The treatment of A. platensis with drenching application resulted in higher seed and oil yield, with an increase of 124 and 263.3% in seed and oil yield, respectively.

Phenolic root exudates enhance Avicennia marina tolerance to cadmium under the mediation of functional bacteria in mangrove sediments

This study was carried out to demonstrate the mechanism of phenolic root exudates affecting microbial-mediated cadmium (Cd) speciation transformation thus enhancing the Avicennia marina tolerance to Cd. A rhizo-box experiment was conducted including eight treatments with four Cd levels (0, 1, 2, and 4 mg Cd kg^-1) and two phenol levels (0, 15 mg kg^-1). The results showed that the addition of phenols increased the pH, reduced the number of iron-reducing bacteria (IRB) and sulfur-oxidizing bacteria (SOB) in the rhizosphere sediments, meanwhile promoted the transformation of Cd to low activity speciation. Furthermore, the sulfate accumulation and synthesis of flavonoid phenols in plants were also enhanced. The results indicated that phenolic root exudates inhibit functional bacteria-mediated Fe and S cycles and promote the immobilization of Cd in the sediments. In conclusion, the mitigation of Cd phytotoxicity induced by phenolic root exudates enhanced the Cd tolerance of A. marina.

Plant polyphenols as green sunscreen ingredients: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Excessive exposure to ultraviolet radiation has harmful effects on human skin. At present, synthetic and mineral types of sunscreens used to protect against these harmful damages have been reported to cause negative health and environmental effects. The studies involving characterization and isolation of phytoconstituents from natural botanical sources are important to discover their potential beneficial effects on sunscreen development AIM: This systematic review provides specific and compiled information on the photoprotective properties of natural botanical sources for sunscreen development. The efforts in research and innovation are essential to ensure the safety and sustainability of plant-based sunscreen products.

METHODS

In this review, a total of 35 articles were selected using the Scopus database based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria RESULT: The significant correlation between total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, antioxidant activities, and sun protection factor were shown in these studies which confirmed the potential benefits of natural plants in sunscreen development.

CONCLUSIONS

In addition, natural botanical sources also exhibit excellent anti-tyrosinase, anti-aging, and anti-inflammatory activities. However, the biological activities of plants were dependent on the solvents used for extraction.

Integrative Application of Foliar Yeast Extract and Gibberellic Acid Improves Morpho-Physiological Responses and Nutrient Uptake of Solidago virgaurea Plant in Alkaline Soil

Alkaline soils have fertility issues due to poor physical qualities, which have a negative impact on crop growth and output. Solidago is used in flower arrangements, bouquet filler, and traditional medicine. The possible biological fertilizers’ eco-friendly and cost-effective nature favours farmers because of the vital role in soil productivity and environmental sustainability. A field experiment was performed during two successive seasons to explore the effect of applying yeast extract (YE) at (0, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 g/L) and/or gibberellic acid (GA3) at (control, 100, 200, and 300 ppm) on the morpho-physiological parameters, macronutrients, and biochemical constituents of Solidago virgaurea. The results emphasize that YE (1.5 g/L) and/or GA3 (300 ppm) treatments show the highest significant increase in plant growth (i.e., plant height, no. of branches, fresh and dry weight of shoots); photosynthetic efficiency (i.e., chlorophyll (a), chlorophyll (b) and total carotenoids); macronutrient content (i.e., N, P, and K); and biochemical constituents (i.e., total soluble sugars, total phenolic, total flavonoids, and total glycosides). The study results recommend using YE and GA3 in combination at concentrations of 1.5 g/L and 300 ppm, respectively, to improve Solidago production sustainability under alkaline soil conditions.

Chemical Composition, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activity of Some Types of Honey from Banat Region, Romania

Honey is a natural product with multiple health benefits. The paper presents the chemical characterization and the antioxidant and antimicrobial potential of ten types of honey (knotweed, linden, wild cherry, acacia, honeydew, oilseed rape, sunflower, phacelia, plain polyflora and hill polyflora) from the Banat region, Romania. We studied the water content, dry matter, impurities, acidity and pH of honey. We also determined the content of reducing sugar, minerals and flavonoids and the total phenolic content. All honey samples analysed showed good nutritional characteristics according to the standard codex for honey. From the analysis of the mineral content of the honey samples, we observed a variability in the macro and microminerals, influenced by the botanical origin, ranging between 0.25% (wild cherry honey) and 0.54% (honeydew). The toxic metals’ (Cd and Pb) levels met the standard for almost all samples analysed except for knotweed. The flavonoid content of the samples ranged from 9.29 mg QE/100 g for wild cherry honey to 263.86 mg QE/100 g for linden honey, and for polyphenols between 177.6 mgGAE/100 g for acacia honey and 1159.3 mgGAE/100 g for honeydew. The best antioxidant capacity was registered in the case of linden honey (79.89%) and honeydew (79.20%) and the weakest in acacia (41.88%) and wild cherries (50.4%). All studied honey samples showed antimicrobial activity, depending on the type of honey, concentration and strain analysed. The novelty of this study is given by the complex approach of the study of honey quality, both from the perspective of chemical attributes and the evaluation of the antimicrobial potential on specific strains in correlation with the botanical and geographical origin of the analyzed area.

The effect of dietary supplementation of mucuna leaf meal on the growth performance, blood parameters, and carcass quality of broiler

Three hundred 1-day old broiler chickens were used to assess the effects of Mucuna leaf meal (MLM) dietary supplementation on the performance, haemato-biochemical indices, oxidative status and meat of broiler chickens. Five experimental supplemented diets were formulated: diets: 1 (0% supplement), 2 (1.1 % OXYT), 3 (0.5% MLM), 4 (1.0 % MLM) and 5 (1.5% MLM). The final weight gain of the birds fed diets 2 and 5 was higher (p < 0.05) than those birds fed the control and other diets. The relative weights of the lung were affected (p < 0.05) by dietary supplementation. Serum cholesterol concentration reduces (p < 0.05) with increased dietary MLM supplementation levels from 1.0% to 1.5%. Superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase levels increased (p < 0.05) in the broiler chickens fed a 1.5% MLM supplemented diet, compared to those fed the control and other diets. Meat cholesterol of the chickens fed 1.0%, and 1.5% MLM supplemented diets were lower (p < 0.05) than the experimental birds fed the rest diets. In conclusion, the 1.5 % MLM dietary supplementation improves body weight gain, reduces the serum cholesterol concentration, increases the serum superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities of the chickens and reduced the meat cholesterol.

Rapid prediction method of α-Glycosidase inhibitory activity of Coreopsis tinctoria extract from different habitats by near infrared spectroscopy

α-Glucosidase is one of the main enzymes causing elevated blood glucose, and Coreopsis tinctoria extract can be used as a natural inhibitor of α-Glucosidase. Therefore, a new method was proposed for predicting the inhibitory activity on α-Glucosidase of Coreopsis tinctoria extract based on near infrared spectroscopy. The absorbance of the inhibitory system was measured by ultraviolet spectroscopy, which was used to study the inhibitory activity on a-glucosidase of Coreopsis tinctoria extract. The near infrared spectra of the solid samples were collected. By selecting spectral preprocessing and optimizing spectral bands, a rapid prediction model of the inhibitory activity was established by partial least squares regression. The root mean square error of cross-validation (RMSECV), correlation coefficient (R) value and the ratio of prediction to deviation (RPD) value were used as indicators of the evaluation model. The near infrared spectrum model was established by combining the best spectral preprocessing of the continuous wavelet transform (CWT) and the best spectral band. The root mean square error of cross-validation (RMSECV) of this model was 0.815%, the correlation coefficient (R) value was 0.942, and the ratio of prediction to deviation (RPD) was 3.0. The root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) of the model by prediction set was 0.819%, the correlation coefficient (R) value was 0.950, and the RPD was 3.2. The model shows that the fitting relationship between the predicted inhibition value and the reference inhibition value of the near infrared spectral model is good. The results showed that there was a good correlation between near infrared spectroscopy and the inhibitory activity of Coreopsis tinctoria extract. Thus, the established model was robust and effective and could be used for rapid quantification of α-Glucosidase inhibitory activity. The prediction method is simple and rapid, and can be extended to study the inhibition of other medicinal plants.

Antioxidants in Alzheimer's Disease: Current Therapeutic Significance and Future Prospects

Alzheimer's disease (AD) rate is accelerating with the increasing aging of the world's population. The World Health Organization (WHO) stated AD as a global health priority. According to the WHO report, around 82 million people in 2030 and 152 million in 2050 will develop dementia (AD contributes 60% to 70% of cases), considering the current scenario. AD is the most common neurodegenerative disease, intensifying impairments in cognition, behavior, and memory. Histopathological AD variations include extracellular senile plaques' formation, tangling of intracellular neurofibrils, and synaptic and neuronal loss in the brain. Multiple evidence directly indicates that oxidative stress participates in an early phase of AD before cytopathology. Moreover, oxidative stress is induced by almost all misfolded protein lumps like α-synuclein, amyloid-β, and others. Oxidative stress plays a crucial role in activating and causing various cell signaling pathways that result in lesion formations of toxic substances, which foster the development of the disease. Antioxidants are widely preferred to combat oxidative stress, and those derived from natural sources, which are often incorporated into dietary habits, can play an important role in delaying the onset as well as reducing the progression of AD. However, this approach has not been extensively explored yet. Moreover, there has been growing evidence that a combination of antioxidants in conjugation with a nutrient-rich diet might be more effective in tackling AD pathogenesis. Thus, considering the above-stated fact, this comprehensive review aims to elaborate the basics of AD and antioxidants, including the vitality of antioxidants in AD. Moreover, this review may help researchers to develop effectively and potentially improved antioxidant therapeutic strategies for this disease as it also deals with the clinical trials in the stated field.

The Effect of the Use of Essential Oils in the Feed of Bee Families on Honey Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activity

Honey is a natural food with pharmacological properties. The present study was focused on the use of essential oils in the supplementary feeding of bee families for three weeks (spring). The purpose was to monitor the effect of essential oils (basil, thyme, juniper, cloves, mint, cinnamon, oregano, rosemary) on the chemical components of the resulting honey. The honey sampling period was carried out before the administration of essential oils in the supplementary feed of the bee families, after the administration of essential oils in the bee feed, respectively, after the first harvest (rapeseed). The honey samples were subjected to chemical analysis to determine humidity, impurities, ash, pH, acidity, total phenolic content (TPC) and flavonoid content (FC), reducing sugar content and antioxidant activity. In addition, the antimicrobial activity against nine strains was tested. We found out that all the essential oils used had a positive effect on the chemical composition of honey, especially the essential oil of oregano, mint, thyme, cinnamon. Experimental variants in which juniper and clove essential oil were introduced reduced the acidity of honey by 28.12% and 35.48%, respectively. Ash content varies between 0.23% and 0.46%, impurities content between 4.11% and 9.11%, while the values for pH were between 3.42 and 4.03. As for the TPC, they have increased considerably in all experimental variants to which essential oil has been added, compared to the batch fed only with sugar syrup, the highest value being recorded for the sample treated with cinnamon after the third harvest (163.94 mg/100 g). The FC values vary between 8.41–44.36 mg/100 g, depending of the treatment applied and the period of harvesting. Regarding the antimicrobial activity, the results highlighted that the essential oils present in the diet of bees produced honey with antimicrobial effect increased after two weeks after administration.

Rapid quality evaluation of Plantaginis Semen by near infrared spectroscopy combined with chemometrics

OBJECTIVE

To establish a rapid and comprehensive method for the quality evaluation of Plantaginis Semen (PS) by using near-infrared spectroscopy combined with chemometrics to determine the content of geniposidic acid (GEA), verbascoside (VE), isoverbascoside (IVE) and total flavonoids (TF) in PS, as well as the antioxidant activity (AOA).

METHODS

The content of GEA, VE and IVE in PS were determined by HPLC, the content of TF in PS was determined by UV-Vis spectrophotometry, and the AOA of PS was characterized by the DPPH, ABTS and FRAP, respectively. Then, the measured values of each item were used as reference values and were correlated with the near infrared spectra of PS. Seven quantitative models were established by the partial least squares regression. A variety of spectral preprocessing, such as standard normal variation (SNV), multiplicative scatter correction (MSC), Savitzky-Golay smoothing (SG), derivative and their combination methods, were investigated. In addition, genetic algorithm (GA), particle swarm optimization (PSO), as well as competitive adaptive reweighted sampling (CARS) were also compared. All samples were divided into a calibration set and a prediction set at the ratio of 3:1 by the descending order of reference values. The coefficients of determination (R²), root mean square error (RMSE) and residual predictive deviation (RPD) were calculated to evaluate model performance.

RESULTS

After optimization, the performance of each model was greatly improved, where the R² for calibration and prediction were both greater than 0.8, the RPD were both greater than 2. Such satisfactory results indicated that the present models had good prediction accuracy.

CONCLUSION

Quantitative models based on near infrared spectroscopy were herein established, which proved to be able to quickly and accurately determine the content of GEA, VE and IVE and TF, as well as AOA in PS, and which might provide a new method for rapid and comprehensive quality evaluation of PS.

Rapid determination of L-ascorbic acid content in vitamin C serums by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to develop and validate a rapid, simple, accurate, and precise analytical method for the quantification of L-AA in vitamin C serums. Moreover, the developed method was further applied to determine L-AA in eight different brands of vitamin C serums. A complementary study was also carried out to evaluate the stability of L-AA in the vitamin C serum samples after 15, 30, 45, and 60 days of storage at ambient temperature (15 ºC to 35 ºC).

METHODS

Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) was applied.

RESULTS

Quantitative analyses were performed with a total chromatographic run time of 1.5 min by matrix-matched calibration, and the analytical curve was linear over the range of 1-1700 μg L^-1 with a correlation coefficient of 0.9998. The limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) were 0.3 and 1.0 μg L^-1 , respectively. Intra- and inter-assay precisions, expressed in terms of relative standard deviation (RSD), ranged from 0.3% and 2.2%, respectively, and recoveries in two concentration levels (1 and 5 µg L^-1 ) were 103.9% and 101.2%, respectively. The proposed analytical method was successfully applied to determine de L-AA content of eight commercial vitamin C serum samples. The stability of the target analyte in samples stored at ambient temperature (15 ºC to 35 ºC) was evaluated throughout 60 days with a 15-day interval between analyses. At 0 days, L-AA content in samples ranged from 1.05 - 169.91 mg L^-1 , decreasing over time.

CONCLUSION

The proposed method could be powerful in routine analyses to ensure the quality of L-AA vitamin C serums since it proved a simple, reliable, fast, precise, accurate, and sensitive analytical method.

Study the Pharmacognostic Profile, Antiradical and Hepatoprotective Potential of Carissa carandas Linn. Fruit Extract

AIMS

Carissa carandas Linn. is a thorny shrub (Family: Apocynaceae), commonly called Karonda. The shrub can be grown in tropical and subtropical climate regions.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

The objective of the experimental work was to analyze the efficacy of fruit extract of C. carandas Linn. with respect to the hepatoprotective property using supportive evidence of in vitro and in vivo antiradical activity. The antioxidant activity of ethanolic fruit extract was determined by 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), hydrogen peroxide and nitric oxide free radical scavenging assay, using Ascorbic acid as a standard drug. Oral administration of C. carandas Linn. ethanolic fruit extract (200 and 400 mg/kg) revealed a considerable marked protection property against acute hepatotoxicity induced by the carbon tetrachloride, moreover, that has been evaluated in terms of biochemical parameters.

RESULTS

Administration of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induce amplified levels of serum biomarker enzymes including alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in the blood serum with attenuated in-vivo antioxidant enzymes levels such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), reduced glutathione (GSH) and catalase in hepatic tissues. The administration of fruit extract would reduce the CCl4- induced hepatic toxicity; these effects may be due to the presence of phytochemicals including carbohydrates, tannins, phenolic components and flavonoids. However, HPLC and TLC studies would ensure the presence of gallic and quercetin in the ethanolic fruit extract of the plant.

CONCLUSION

The ethanolic fruit extract of C. carandas Linn. exhibits significant hepatoprotective activity which could be partly imputed to its both in-vitro as well as in-vivo antioxidant property, together with effective total phenolic and total flavonoid content and thus concedes for further findings.

Infrared spectroscopy technique for quantification of compounds in plant-based medicine and supplement

Quality control of plant-based medicine and supplements must be carried out to ensure uniformity in quality and safety in their use, resulting in the need for effective and accurate analytical methods. Infrared spectroscopy is a method of qualitative and quantitative analysis that is fast, time-saving, cost-effective,accurate, and nondestructive. This method has been applied for quantitative analysis of compounds in complex matrices such as plant-based medicine and supplements supported by chemometrics techniques. The success of infrared spectroscopy applications for quantitative analysis of phytochemicals and adulterants content in plant-based medicine and supplement can happen by several factors. This article highlights the effect of spectral preprocessing and variable selection on quantitative analysis of phytochemical and adulterant in plant-based medicine and supplements using infrared spectroscopy. Literature search was conducted with PubMed, Google Scholar, and Science Direct by selecting quantitative analysis research on plant-based medicines and supplements that utilize spectral preprocessing techniques and variable selection in processing data analysis. The preprocessing spectra and variables selection can affect the accuracy and precision of infrared spectroscopy methods. The variable selection can be done using the wavenumber point technique, the wavenumber interval, or a combination thereof. Variable selection is more commonly used for near-infrared data than for IR data. The optimization of the preprocessing spectra and variables selection technique will be useful in increasing the ability of infrared spectroscopy in predicting compound levels.

Advances in the chemical constituents and chemical analysis of Ginkgo biloba leaf, extract, and phytopharmaceuticals

Ginkgo biloba leaf (GBL) is an important botanical drug that can be used for treating many diseases. This review summarizes the reported chemical constituents from GBL or Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) to date, as well as the recent advances in the extraction, purification, qualitative and quantitative analysis methods (from 2015 to 2020). To date, about 110 flavonoids have been reported to have unambiguous structures, including flavonol and its glycosides, flavone and its glycosides, flavanone and its glycosides, isoflavone and its glycosides, flavan-3-ols, bioflavonoids, and biginkgosides. In recent years, in addition to new flavonoids, new terpenoids and lignan have been also isolated from GBL. Further, several extraction and purification methods have been described and compared. Quantitative analysis of the constituents have been mainly carried out by high-performance liquid chromatography with different detector methods. Many studies have focused on variations of compounds contents in GBL from different regions, tree ages, or collection times, which provide references for the selection of GBL. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry coupled with activity assay methods were used to on-line screen the bioactive compounds from GBL or its phytopharmaceuticals. The application of other analytical technologies such as MS imaging, supercritical fluid chromatography, capillary electrophoresis, quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance, and spectroscopy, has also been discussed. This review of the chemical constituents and analytical methods of Ginkgo will provide a reference for the research on the quality control and discovery of effective constituents for GBL and its related phytopharmaceuticals.

Rapid determination of polysaccharides and antioxidant activity of Poria cocos using near-infrared spectroscopy combined with chemometrics

This study evaluates the feasibility of near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy combined with chemometrics as a fast and efficient technique to predict the polysaccharide content and antioxidant activity of Poria cocos. The reference values of polysaccharide content were determined by the phenol-sulfuric acid method, and the antioxidant activities were determined by the DPPH scavenge assay, FRAP scavenge assay and ABTS scavenge assay, respectively. The partial least squares regression algorithm was used to relate the spectra to the reference values. Various methods for spectra pretreatment and variable selection were optimized to improve the predictability and stability of the models. As a result, the best models yielded very satisfying results, of which the values of coefficients of determination were all >0.94, and the values of residual predictive deviation were all >4. Such results confirmed that the present method is robust and applicable, and thus has good potential for rapid quality evaluation of Poria cocos.

A nontargeted approach to determine the authenticity of Ginkgo biloba L. plant materials and dried leaf extracts by liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) and chemometrics

The lack of stringent regulations regarding raw materials for herbal supplements used for medicinal purposes has been a constant challenge in the industry. Ginkgo biloba L. leaf extracts attract consumers because of the supposed positive effect on mental performance and memory. Supplements are produced using dried leaf materials and standardized leaf extracts such as EGb 761. Adulteration of Ginkgo biloba L. plants and extracts are becoming more and more common practice due to economically driven motivation from increasing demand in the market and the high cost of raw materials and production. Reinforcement in quality control (QC) to avoid adulterations is necessary to ensure the efficacy of the supplements. In this study, liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) was used with principal component analysis (PCA) as an unsupervised exploratory method to analyze, identify, and evaluate the adulterated Ginkgo biloba L. plant materials and dried leaf extracts using the PCA scores and loadings obtained and compound identification.

Chemical composition and in vitro antioxidant properties of water-soluble extracts obtained from Bangladesh vegetables

The aim of this study was to evaluate the nutritional value and antioxidant properties of aqueous extracts of some Bangladesh vegetables using fruits of ash gourd, bitter gourd, brinjal, okra, ridge gourd, snake gourd, and leaves of Indian spinach, kangkong, and stem amaranth. Proximate composition showed that the dried extracts were composed mainly of crude protein (14.6%-46.7%) and non-fibre carbohydrates (26.4%-53.5%). With the exception of stem amaranth, all the extracts had >40% DPPH radical scavenging ability at 0.5 mg/ml. In contrast metal chelation was lower, except in Indian spinach with ~46%. The ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) was highest for the kangkong (10.9 mM Fe³⁺ reduced), which is similar to the 9.9 mM for butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). All the extracts suppressed linoleic acid oxidation better than BHT within the first 5 days of the incubation period. We conclude that the Indian spinach, kangkong, and okra could be considered as the most promising sources of antioxidant compounds. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Vegetables are commonly consumed as part of a regular diet but the high water and fiber contents usually mean that large quantities are required to provide long-term health benefits. Therefore, in this work, aqueous extracts of nine Bangladesh vegetables were prepared to provide a more concentrated form of nutrients and bioactive compounds. The extracts had strong nutritional value based on the high contents of crude protein, potassium, iron, and non-fibre carbohydrates. The high content of polyphenolic compounds in the extracts can also provide health benefits, which was demonstrated through strong free radical scavenging, metal chelation, ferric iron reduction, and inhibition of linoleic acid oxidation. These vegetable extracts have the potential to be used as sources of bioactive compounds to prevent or treat non-communicable diseases that are associated with high oxidative stress.

Laboratory-Scale Preparation and Characterization of Dried Extract of Muirapuama (Ptychopetalumolacoides Benth) by Green Analytical Techniques

This work reports on the preparation of a drying process from the ethanolic extract of Muirapuama and its characterization through green analytical techniques. The spray-drying processes were performed by using ethanolic extract in a ratio of 1:1 extract/excipient and 3² factorial design. The properties of dried powder were investigated in terms of total flavonoid content, moisture content, powder yield, and particle size distribution. An analytical eco-scale was applied to assess the greenness of the developed protocol. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC)with reduced solvent consumption in the analysis was compared to the conventional HPLC method. A Fourier transform near-infrared (FT-NIR) spectroscopic method was applied based on the principal component scores for the prediction of extract/excipient mixtures and partial least squares regression model for quantitative analysis. NIR spectroscopy is an economic, powerful, and fast methodology for the detection of excipient in muirapuama dried extracts, generating no residue in the analysis. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images showed samples with a higher concentration of excipient, presenting better morphological characteristics and a lower moisture absorption rate. An eco-scale score value of 85 was achieved for UHPLC and 100 was achieved for NIR (excellent green analysis). Above all, these methods are rapid and green for the routine analysis of herbal medicines based on dried extracts.