Valorization of Fig (Ficus carica L.) Waste Leaves: HPLC-QTOF-MS/MS-DPPH System for Online Screening and Identification of Antioxidant Compounds

Bioactive compound composition and cellular antioxidant activity of fig (Ficus carica L.)

BACKGROUND

Fig (Ficus carica L.) fruit is consumed worldwide as a functional food. It contains phytochemicals that have been related to health benefits. However, the characteristic chemicals remain unclear. In this work, phytochemicals were prepared from figus by ultrasound-assisted extraction under optimized conditions. The chemical composition of fig fruit and leaves was characterized by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS).

RESULTS

One hundred and fifty-seven compounds were identified, including 58 flavonoids, 29 coumarins, 19 acids, 15 terpenoids, 11 alkaloids, and 25 other compounds. The mass spectrum (MS) fragmentation pathways of representative chemicals were elucidated. Flavonoid glycosides and prenylated flavonoids were mainly present in fig fruit, whereas coumarins were abundant in leaves. Both fig fruit and leaf extracts showed good cellular antioxidant activity.

CONCLUSION

The full phytochemical profile of fig was revealed by UPLC-MS/MS. Prenylated flavonoids and prenylated coumarins were the characteristic phytochemicals. These data provided useful information for the extensive utilization of fig fruit in functional food. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

In vitro callus induction and evaluation of antioxidant activity of Rhinacanthus nasutus (L.) Kurz

Rhinacanthus nasutus (L.) Kurz is used in Thai traditional medicine for the treatment of skin diseases, ringworm, and eczema. This research studied the effects of cytokinin and auxins on callus induction and evaluated antioxidant activity of R. nasutus. Nodes, young, and mature leaf explants were cultured on MS medium containing 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 mg/l kinetin (6-furfurylaminopurine) and 0, 1 mg/l 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) for 6 weeks to induce callus. Calli derived from nodes, young and mature leaves, and other plant parts were ultrasonically extracted with methanol to determine total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and antioxidant activity by ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhtdrazyl (DPPH), and 2,2'-Azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assays. Nodal explants on MS medium containing 1 mg/l kinetin combined with 1 mg/l 2,4-D were most efficient in callus production with the average fresh and dry weight per explant of 2.29 ± 0.14 and 0.18 ± 0.01 g, respectively. Addition of kinetin combined with NAA or 2,4-D had a positive effect on callus induction from young and mature leaf explants. The leaf extract showed the highest TPC, TFC, FRAP, and IC50 of DPPH and ABTS assays (ca 113 mg GAE/g extract, 45 mg QE/g extract, 121 mg TE/g extract, 53 µg/ml and 14 µg/ml, respectively), followed by callus derived from nodes. Overall, phenolic content was higher than flavonoid content. A strong positive correlation was found between FRAP assay, TPC (r = 0.973), and TFC (r = 0.798), indicating that phenolic and flavonoid compounds are responsible for antioxidant activity of R. nasutus.

Radioprotective countermeasures for radiation injury (Review)

A series of physiological and pathological changes occur after radiotherapy and accidental exposure to ionizing radiation (IR). These changes cause serious damage to human tissues and can lead to death. Radioprotective countermeasures are radioprotective agents that prevent and reduce IR injury or have therapeutic effects. Based on a good understanding of radiobiology, a number of protective agents have achieved positive results in early clinical trials. The present review grouped known radioprotective agents according to biochemical categories and potential clinical use, and reviewed radiation countermeasures, i.e., radioprotectors, radiation mitigators and radiotherapeutic agents, with an emphasis on their current status and research progress. The aim of the present review is to facilitate the selection and application of suitable radioprotectors for clinicians and researchers, to prevent or reduce IR injury.