Abstract
(1) Carthamus Tinctorius L. (safflower) is extensively used in traditional herbal medicine. (2) The aim of this study was to investigate the bioactive properties of polyphenol extracts from flowers of Carthamus Tinctorius (CT) cultivated in Italy. We also evaluated the properties of two bioactive water-soluble flavonoid compounds, hydroxy safflor yellow A (HSYA) and safflor yellow A (SYA), contained in Carthamus Tinctorius petals. (3) The total polyphenol content was 3.5 ± 0.2 g gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/100 g, flavonoids content was 330 ± 23 mg catechin equivalent (CE)/100 g in the flowers. The extract showed a high antioxidant activity evaluated by oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) and 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging assays. In addition, flower extract, SYA, and HSYA were able to reduce the susceptibility of low-density lipoprotein to copper-induced lipid peroxidation. In order to investigate the bioactive properties of flower extract, SYA, and HSYA we also studied their modulatory effect of oxidative stress on human dermal fibroblasts (HuDe) oxidized by tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BOOH). The CT extract at concentrations ranging from 0.01–20 μg GAE/mL of polyphenols, exerted a protective effect against t-BOOH triggered oxidative stress. At higher concentration the extract exerted a pro-oxidant effect. Similar results have been obtained using HSYA and SYA. (4) These results demonstrate a biphasic effect exerted by HSYA, SYA, and flower extracts on oxidative stress.
Highlights
Previous studies have demonstrated healthy promoting properties of seed of Carthamus tinctoriusL., a traditional herbal medicine used across Asia [1,2,3,4]
Quinochalcone C-glycosides have been described in safflower, the most representative are the water soluble compounds hydroxy safflor yellow A (HSYA), safflor yellow A (SYA), and hydroxy safflor yellow B [4,5,6]
The total antioxidant activity of Carthamus Tinctorius evaluated by an oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assay was 130.2 ± 12.3 mmol TE/100 g
Summary
Previous studies have demonstrated healthy promoting properties of seed of Carthamus tinctoriusL. (safflower), a traditional herbal medicine used across Asia [1,2,3,4]. Previous studies have demonstrated healthy promoting properties of seed of Carthamus tinctorius. The flowers of safflower have been used historically as a colorant in food and as dye in the clothing industry. Bioactive compounds such as polyphenols account for the colour and taste of safflower [2]. The phenolic composition and antioxidant activity of safflower seeds and petals has been previously studied [4,5]. The bioactive properties of HSYA, used in Chinese medicine for treatment of cerebrovascular and cardiovascular disease, have been previously studied [7,8,9,10]. Anti-inflammatory properties [8] and neuroprotective effects have
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