Radical Scavenging and Antioxidant Activity of Anthyllis Vulneraria Leaves and Flowers

Green solvent-based extraction of three Fabaceae species: A potential antioxidant, anti-diabetic, and anti-leishmanial agents

The Fabaceae is renowned for its diverse range of chemical compounds with significant biological activities, making it a valuable subject for pharmacological studies. The chemical composition and biological activities of three Fabaceae species were investigated using methanol separately and in combination with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and glycerol for extraction. The results revealed the highest phenolic (49.59 ± 0.38 mg gallic acid equivalent/g), flavonoid (29.16 ± 0.39 mg rutin equivalent/g), and alkaloid (14.23 ± 0.54 mg atropine equivalent/g) contents in the Caesalpinia decapetala methanol extracts. The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activity and DNA protection activity were the highest (0.88 ± 0.43 μg/mL IC50 and 2149.26 band intensity) in Albizia julibrissin methanol extracts. The α-amylase activity was highest in all methanol extracts (<15 μg/mL IC50 values), while the α-glucosidase inhibition potential was highest (<1 μg/mL IC50 value) in the methanol-glycerol and methanol-DMSO extracts. Pearson coefficient analysis showed a strong positive correlation between the DPPH and α-amylase assays and phytochemicals. Anti-leishmanial activity was observed in decreasing order: A. julibrissin (74.75 %) > C. decapetala (70.86 %) > Indigofera atropurpurea (65.34 %). Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry revealed 33 volatile compounds and, aamong these (Z)-9-octadecenamide was detected in the highest concentration ranging from 21.85 to 38.61 %. Only the methanol extracts of the examined species could be assessed for in vivo studies for immediate applications.

VOLKSMED Database: A Source for Forgotten Wound Healing Plants in Austrian Folk Medicine

The global increase in the incidence of wounds is concerning and fuels the search for new treatment options. The use of traditional medicinal plants in wound healing represents an appreciated available therapeutic possibility. This work introduces the VOLKSMED database, which contains plants and other materials used in Austrian folk medicine, either as monographs or mixtures. This work focuses on the monographs of the database. Concerning wound healing, Hypericum sp., Arnica montana, Calendula officinalis, Plantago sp., and Malva sp. are the most commonly used plants. The focus of this paper is set on selected lesser-known plants (Abies alba, Anthyllis vulneraria, Brassica sp., Gentiana sp., Larix decidua, Picea abies, Sambucus sp., Sanicula europaea) and their status quo in literature concerning wound healing. A systematic search using the databases SciFinder, SCOPUS, and PubMed yielded substantial evidence for the wound healing potential of Brassica sp., Gentiana sp., the Pinaceae A. abies, L. decidua, and P. abies, as well as Sambucus nigra. In vivo and clinical studies substantiate their use in Austrian folk medicine. According to the literature, especially A. vulneraria, Sambucus racemosa, and S. europaea would be worth investigating in-depth since data concerning their wound healing effects - even though scarce - are convincing. In conclusion, the VOLKSMED database contains promising opportunities for further treatment options in the field of wound healing. Future research should consider the listed plants to support their traditional use in Austrian folk medicine and possibly promote the implementation of old knowledge in modern medicine.

Polysaccharide from Thymelaea hirsuta L. leaves: Structural characterization, functional properties and antioxidant evaluation

In this study, we successfully extracted a new polysaccharide from Thymelaea hirsuta L., which we named THP, with a yield of 13.94 % through aqueous extraction. The polysaccharide comprises 46.83 % neutral sugars and 7.08 % uronic acids. This heteropolysaccharide contains glucose, glucuronic acid, rhamnose, arabinose, and galactose with relative molar ratios of 29.68: 25.73: 21.31: 13.47 and 9.8, respectively. Analysis of glycosylation positions via methylation and structural features using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (ssNMR) spectroscopy revealed that THP has a repeating unit (1 → 3 and 1 → 4)-linked β-d-glucopyranosyl backbone, with the d-glucopyranosyl residue as the branch point at O-6. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) examination showed ellipsoidal granules with smooth surface. This polysaccharide also has good foaming capacity and emulsion stability, and a water holding capacity of 1.81 g/g. The THP dispersion at 1 % showed shear thinning behavior, demonstrating that it is a promising natural additive in various food formulations. The polysaccharide also demonstrated significant antioxidant properties, with a total antioxidant capacity of 315 mg α-tocopherol equivalents/g and an IC50 value of 8.01 mg/mL using the β-carotene bleaching method, surpassing those of synthetic antioxidants. Additionally, when added at a concentration of 0.13 % to an oil/water emulsion system, THP effectively delayed lipid oxidation during storage at 37 °C. The kinetic study of THP-stabilized oil/water emulsion is anticipated to provide valuable insights for its future applications in food and pharmaceutical emulsions.

Antioxidant and Antiradical Activities of Hibiscus sabdariffa L. Extracts Encapsulated in Calcium Alginate Spheres

The interest in natural sources with high antioxidant powder has recently increased in several sectors. Ionic gelation methods could be used to protect bioactive substances to control the kinetics and release of these ingredients to the food matrix. This study dealt with the evaluation of the antioxidant capacity and scavenging activity of extracts of Hibiscus Sabdariffa L. (HSL) (with 50% ethanol) encapsulated in calcium alginate spheres as a new source for preserving food against oxidative damage. Their antioxidant activity was measured in different o/w emulsions in which HSL spheres reduced the formation of hydroperoxides (~80%) and thiobarbituric-acid-reactive substance products (~20%). The scavenging activity of HSL extracts was measured in different food simulants (water, water acidified with 3% acetic acid, ethanol at 50%, and pure ethanol), and corresponded to 0.20–0.43, 0.31–0.62, and 11.13–23.82 mmol Trolox/mL extract for Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), 2,2-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assays, respectively. In general, the best antiradical activity was observed in the ethanolic and acidified mediums, in which the highest concentration of released polyphenols ranged from 0.068 to 0.079 mg GAE/mL. This work indicates the potential of alginate spheres for encapsulating antioxidant compounds as an innovative strategy for several industrial applications.

Multi-Index Comprehensive Assessment Optimized Critical Flavonoids Extraction from Semen Hoveniae and Their In Vitro Digestive Behavior Evaluation

Critical flavonoids from Semen Hoveniae have huge potential bioactivities on hypoglycemic. A multi-index comprehensive assessment based on Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method was performed to optimize the extraction process of flavonoids from Semen Hoveniae, which taking dihydromyricetin, taxifolin, myricetin and quercetin as indexes, and, then, an in vitro simulated gastrointestinal digestion model was established to investigate the changes of flavonoids contents and their antioxidant capacity before and after digestion. The results showed that three influence factors acted significantly with the order of ethanol concentration > solid-liquid ratio > ultrasound time. The optimized extraction parameters were as follows: 1:37 w/v of solid-liquid ratio, 68% of ethanol concentration and 45 min for ultrasonic time. During in vitro digestion, the order of remaining ratio of four flavonoids in the extract was dihydromyricetin > taxifolin > myricetin > quercetin in gastric digestion, and remaining ratio of taxifolin was 34.87% while others were restructured in intestinal digestion. Furthermore, the 1,1-dipheny-2-picryhydrazyl free radical (DPPH ·) scavenging ability and oxygen radical absorption capacity (ORAC) of extract were more stable in gastric digestion. After an hour's intestinal digestion, the extract had no DPPH antioxidant capacity, but amazingly, its ORAC antioxidant capacity was retained or increased, which implied that substances were transformed and more hydrogen donors were produced. This study has carried out a preliminary discussion from the perspective of extraction and put forward a new research idea, to improve the in vivo bioavailability of the critical flavonoids from Semen Hoveniae.

Cellular Antioxidant Properties of Ischnoderma Resinosum Polysaccharide

A predominant polysaccharide isolated from Ischnoderma resinosum underwent evaluation for its capacity to scavenge free radicals and its potential antioxidant properties at a cellular-oriented level. This proved that Ischnoderma resinosum polysaccharide (IRP) remarkably curtailed AAPH-induced erythrocyte hemolysis through the inhibition of the generation of ROS (p < 0.05). Rather, it caused the restoration of intracellular antioxidant enzyme (SOD, GSH-Px, and CAT) activities at an acceptable pace and the silencing of intracellular MDA formation, as well as the rescaling of LDH leakage. Furthermore, a model of oxidative stress in HepG2 cells was established by adopting 400 μM of hydrogen peroxide, which suggested that IRP manifests promising antioxidant activity. Notably, after the intervention of IRP in the H2O2-induced HepG2 cells, there was a statistical elevation in cell survivability (p < 0.05). IRP diminished the morphological alterations in the nucleus and decreased the secretion of ROS (p < 0.05), with a dose-dependent abrogation of apoptosis (p < 0.05). Consequently, IRP, which was isolated and purified, was able to scavenge free radicals and possessed favorable antioxidant activity that could dampen the occurrence of oxidative stimulation and effectively alleviate the AAPH-induced erythrocyte hemolysis and H2O2-induced oxidative damage in HepG2 cells. This provides a basis and theoretical reference for the development and utilization of IRP as a natural antioxidant, with emphasis on the exploitation of environmentally friendly and cost-effective antioxidants.

Phenolic Profile, EPR Determination, and Antiproliferative Activity against Human Cancer Cell Lines of Anthyllis vulneraria Extracts

In the current work, the leaf and flower extracts of Anthyllis vulneraria were evaluated for their chemical characterization using HPLC-MS and for their radical scavenging capacity toward methoxy radicals produced by a Fenton-type reaction using an electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy assay. The in vitro antiproliferative activity of these extracts against several human-derived cancer cells (breast: MCF-7; cervical: HeLa; hepatocellular: HepG2) was also evaluated. The results showed that the Anthyllis vulneraria leaf extract was characterized by 17 different phenolic compounds, among which phenolic acids were the most abundant, while its flower extract exhibited higher contents of flavonoids. Furthermore, Anthyllis vulneraria extracts demonstrated a potent radical scavenging activity against methoxy radicals. Both extracts also significantly reduced the viability of the different cancer cell lines. The results of the current study suggested that Anthyllis vulneraria extracts are a promising source of antioxidant compounds with health benefits and pointed to their potential use for treating cancer and developing novel therapeutic agents.

Organoselenium-chitosan derivative: Synthesis via "click" reaction, characterization and antioxidant activity

The derivatization of chitosan (CS) is widely exploited to endow this polysaccharide with enhanced physicochemical and biological properties. Beyond the synthetic route, the nature of the compounds used to functionalize the CS-derivatives exerts a pivotal role in their final properties. Making use of a simple "click" reaction, we synthesized for the first time an organoselenium-CS derivative through a 1,2,3-triazole formation. The product (CS-TSe) was characterized in detail by FTIR, NMR (¹H, ¹³C, and ⁷⁷Se) and UV-Vis techniques, and SEM microscopy. The antioxidant activity of CS-TSe was examined by ABTS⁺ and DPPH (free radical-scavenging) assays. Experimentally, it was demonstrated that CS-TSe has superior antioxidant activity compared with raw CS and "free" organoselenium compound, suggesting a benign and synergistic effect due to the derivatization. In short, the antioxidant property of CS-TSe combined with the other attractive properties of CS and selenium could be useful in the formulation of advanced materials for biomedical and packaging applications.

Comprehensive Phytochemical Characterization of Herbal Parts from Kidney Vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria L.) by LC/MSn and GC/MS

Extracts of kidney vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria L.) are becoming increasingly interesting as ingredients for the health and cosmetics industry. However, comprehensive phytochemical investigations of this plant are scant in the literature. Thus, the aim of the present work was an in-depth characterization of semi-polar constituents from A. vulneraria. To capture a broad spectrum of compounds, the aerial parts of A. vulneraria were extracted with EtOH/water and the resulting crude extracts fractionated by partition between AcOEt and BuOH. Secondary plant metabolites were analyzed by HPLC-ESI-MSⁿ and GC/MS. In a fraction obtained from the BuOH extract via Amberlite® XAD-7 purification glycosides of kaempferol, quercetin, isorhamnetin and rhamnocitrin were detected by LC/MSⁿ , besides flavonoids acylated with meglutol (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaric acid), acetic and ferulic acids. Moreover, aglycons were analyzed in extracts after 1 N HCl hydrolysis and derivatization with BSTFA. GC/MS analysis of the hydrolysates revealed the incidence of compounds like meglutol, OH/OMe-substituted benzoic acids, ferulic and fatty acids, flavonoids, sugars and the triterpenoid medicagenic acid. Furthermore, a hemolytic activity was detected in the AcOEt extract using a blood-agar assay, and this was ascribed to the occurrence of saponins. In a saponin fraction, obtained from the AcOEt extract by chromatographic purification, two main saponins were characterized by LC/MSⁿ and HR-ESI-MSⁿ . A pure sapogenin could be isolated via VLC and CC purification upon acid hydrolysis of the saponins and assigned to saikogenin D by NMR analysis.

Antioxidant, Anti-inflammatory and Cytotoxic Activities of Polyphenols Extracted from Chroogomphus rutilus

Chroogomphus rutilus is a rare fungal species that grows under pine trees and is now widely used as a functional food and pharmaceutical product. However, the chemical constituents and biological activities of Chroogomphus rutilus have been relatively limited. The present study aimed at determining the total polyphenols and flavonoids contents, biological activities and main phenolic compounds of Chroogomphus rutilus from different geographical origins at the stipe and pileus. The results suggested that Chroogomphus rutilus polyphenol extracts revealed a higher antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cytotoxic activities, and there were significant differences between samples from different locations and regions. Correlation analysis showed that the contents of total polyphenols and flavonoids were significantly correlated with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. However, only the content of total flavonoids was significantly correlated with cytotoxicity, which means that the cytotoxicity of Chroogomphus rutilus polyphenol extracts may be regulated by flavonoids or other compounds. HPLC-DAD analysis revealed that the main phenolic compound was protocatechuic acid, followed by baicalin, p-hydroxyphenylacetic acid and p-hydroxybenzoic acid, but comparing with the pileus extracts, the stipe extracts can be considered as a higher concentration of phenolic compounds. Therefore, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic activities of Chroogomphus rutilus polyphenol extracts could be due to the identified compounds. This study investigated a deep knowledge about the constituents and activities of Chroogomphus rutilus and provided the reference for its application in food and pharmaceutical.

Effect of Neem (Azadirachta indica L.) on Lipid Oxidation in Raw Chilled Beef Patties

The aim of this study was to determine the total polyphenol content, radical scavenging and antimicrobial activities of Azadirachta indica (A. indica) and to evaluate their effect on shelf-life stability of raw beef patties during refrigerated storage at 4 ± 1 °C. During 11 days of storage, the antioxidant effect of A. indica on ground beef meat was investigated by the determination of lipid oxidation, pH, anti-radical activity, color, hexanal content, and microbial growth. The results obtained showed that fresh A. indica leaves and synthetic conservative behaved in the same way and retarded the lipid oxidation of chilled beef patties while increasing their pH (5.40 and 5.45, respectively). It can also be said that A. indica limited the loss of color, reduced the metmyoglobin formation (36.70%) and had a significant effect on bacterial growth and hexanal content. In addition, the results obtained through anti-radical and antimicrobial properties showed proportional values of total polyphenol content and radical scavenging activity of leaf extracts as they showed their antimicrobial effect against some bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus and Micrococcus luteus, among others. These results support the involvement of A. indica in the food industry as a natural antioxidant that could replace synthetic ones.