Morchella esculenta (L.) Pers. Wild of the Province of Taza, Morocco: Toxicity Assessment in In Vitro and In Vivo Models, Antioxidant Activities and Correlation With the Chemical Composition of Aqueous and Organic Extracts

Mineral composition, content of phenolic compounds and in vitro antioxidant and antibacterial activities of aqueous and organic extracts of the seeds of Peganum harmala L.

Introduction The present study is carried out for the first time on Chamaerops humilis L. var. argentea Andre from the region of Taza using an ethnopharmacological survey, an experimental study of the mineralogical and chemical compositions, and evaluations of the antioxidant and antibacterial activities. Methods After conducting the ethnopharmacological survey, a mineralogical and phytochemical study involving the preparation of aqueous and organic extracts was done. Essential oils were also extracted by hydrodistillation. Subsequently, qualitative and quantitative chemical analyses were performed. In vitro evaluation of antioxidant activities was performed by five tests (H2O2, DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, and RP) and antibacterial activities by the disc method and determination of MIC and MBC. A principal component analysis (PCA) was performed to visualize the different correlations. Results The different parts of the plant are used for the treatment of digestive disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes. In addition, the leaves are rich in mineral compounds, catechic tannins, flavonoids, and sterols. However, they have some traces of essential oils. The quantitative analysis revealed that the ethanolic macerated had a higher content of total polyphenols (100.27 ± 1.95 mg EAG/g E) and catechic tannins (52.11 ± 1.02 mg EC/g E). This extract had a strong antioxidant capacity (H2O2 (37.34 ± 0.55%), DPPH (IC50 = 31.18 ± 0.66 μg/ml), ABTS (108.28 ± 1.29 mg E AA/g E), FRAP (148.85 ± 0.43 mg E T/g E), and RP (10.86 ± 0.01 mg E AA/g E). The same extract had a bactericidal effect against Staphylococcus aureus. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that antioxidant activity was highly correlated with the chemical composition of C. humilis leaves; a high correlation was recorded between the total polyphenol content and ABTS (r = 0.9779), FRAP (r = 0.9644), DPPH (r = 0.9418), and PR (r = 0.9271) tests. In addition, cathectic tannins were highly correlated with the tests of DPPH (r = 0.9753) and ABTS (r = 0.8843). Flavonoids were similarly correlated with DPPH (r = 0.8897) and ABTS (r = 0.7599) tests. Conclusion These results could justify the traditional use of the leaves of Chamaerops humilis in the region of Taza for the treatment of some diseases.

In this study, the antioxidant properties and phytochemical analyses of essential oil from aerial parts of Eryngium kotschyi and anatomical studies of the plant material were carried out. The antioxidant activity was tested with DPPH●, ABTS●+ and FRAP tests, and the phytochemical composition analysis was carried out by GC/MS and GC-FID. According to the results, the highest ABTS+● activity was found in essential oil (at a concentration of 0.5 mg/mL equivalent to 0.614±0.002 μM Trolox). However, the highest antioxidant activity on DPPH (IC50=0.506±0.003 mg/mL) and FRAP (at a 1 mg/mL concentration equivalent to 1522.233±2.082 mmol Fe2+) tests were observed. In this study, the results of GC/MS analyses of essential oil revealed the presence of β-selinene (53.0%) and β-sesquiphellandrene (15.6%) as major compounds.

A comparative investigation on the in vitro anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antimicrobial potentials of subextracts from the aerial parts of Daphne oleoides Schreb. subsp. oleoides

One of the powerful antioxidants used clinically is Edaravone (EDA). We synthesized a series of new EDA analogs, 4-aminopyrazol-5-ol hydrochlorides, including polyfluoroalkyl derivatives, via the reduction of 4-hydroxyiminopyrazol-5-ones. The primary antioxidant activity of the compounds in comparison with EDA was investigated in vitro using ABTS, FRAP, and ORAC tests. In all tests, 4-Amino-3-pyrazol-5-ols were effective. The lead compound, 4-amino-3-methyl-1-phenylpyrazol-5-ol hydrochloride (APH), showed the following activities: ABTS, 0.93 TEAC; FRAP, 0.98 TE; and ORAC, 4.39 TE. APH and its NH-analog were not cytotoxic against cultured normal human fibroblasts even at 100 μM, in contrast to EDA. According to QM calculations, 4-aminopyrazolols were characterized by lower gaps, IP, and η compared to 4-hydroxyiminopyrazol-5-ones, consistent with their higher antioxidant activities in ABTS and FRAP tests, realized by the SET mechanism. The radical-scavenging action evaluated in the ORAC test occurred by the HAT mechanism through OH bond breaking in all compounds, directly dependent on the dissociation energy of the OH bond. All the studied compounds demonstrated the absence of anticholinesterase activity and moderate inhibition of CES by some 4-aminopyrazolols. Thus, the lead compound APH was found to be a good antioxidant with the potential to be developed as a novel therapeutic drug candidate in the treatment of diseases associated with oxidative stress.

Essential oils (EOs) and hydrosol extract from plants always show a wide range of interesting biological activities. The present study was performed to assess for the first time, the chemical composition and some bioactivities of EO and hydrosol extract from Daphne gnidium L. growing in Algeria. The chemical characterization of EO and hydrosol extract was carried out by GC/FID and GC/MS analysis. The antioxidant activities were evaluated by DPPH radical scavenging and by FRAP tests. Also, antimicrobial screening of these extracts were performed using the agar disc diffusion test. Ninety-nine components in EO and thirty-two components in hydrosol extract accounting for 95.5 % and 81.4 % of the total extract composition were identified. The main constituents were carvone (12.7 %) followed by spathulenol (11.2 %) in EO, while the major compounds present in the hydrosol extract were carvone (10.9 %) and carvacrol (10.9 %). The results of antioxidant activity of hydrosol extract could be considered more interesting than EO. The data of the antimicrobial assays showed that all strains were sensitive to these extracts where EO displayed a very strong antibacterial activity mainly for E. coli, P. aeruginosa and S. aureus bacteria. Up to date, the current study is the first scientific report of antioxidant and antimicrobial activities as well as the chemical composition of the EO and hydrosol extract of Algerian D. gnidium. The obtained results could promote the potential of D. gnidium as a promising source of bioactive compounds with a possible application as new natural antioxidant and antimicrobial agents.

In the present study, the effect of the addition of quince and collagen type I and III to dessert chocolate on its functional properties was determined. The study evaluated the antioxidant potential of the tested formulations using the FRAP method and the linoleic acid oxidation test and beta-carotene bleaching test. The tested samples were also evaluated for inhibitory activity against enzymes important in preventive health (inflammation and neurodegenerative disorders) namely: AChE, BChE, GR, GPx, COX, and SOD. The addition of quince and collagen to the chocolate samples resulted in higher activity compared to the control sample, as indicated by the FRAP test. The experiment highlighted the impact of including quince fruit on the antioxidant activity of the chocolate samples. Interestingly, merely increasing the quince fruit amount did not consistently enhance antioxidant potential. Specifically, chocolate samples with a lower proportion of quince fruit (2 g/100 g) exhibited greater antioxidant activity when supplemented with collagen I. Conversely, in samples with higher quince percentages (3 g and 4 g), those enriched with collagen III showed higher antioxidant activity. Similar correlations were observed in the linoleic acid oxidation test. Notably, samples containing 3 g and 4 g of quince and type III collagen demonstrated statistically similar highest antioxidant properties. Regardless of the collagen type used, there was no observed increase in activity towards the tested enzymes for samples with the lowest percentage of quince fruit. Both collagen types exhibited the highest activity in the inhibition assay against acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase when combined with 3 g and 4 g of quince. Overall, the experimental incorporation of both fruit and collagen enhanced the chocolates' activity. Similarly to the antioxidant activity findings, chocolates with lower quince fruit quantities showed increased activity when supplemented with collagen III, while those with higher quince content (3 g and 4 g) displayed higher activity with collagen I. Bitter chocolate by itself is an attractive food product, rich in many bioactive compounds. However, enriching it with other attractive raw materials can make its properties and taste even more attractive.

Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using food supplement from Avena sativa L., and their antioxidant, antiglycation, and anti-aging activities: In vitro and in silico studies

The ethanol extracts of selected Acinos Miller species were investigated in terms of chemical composition, antimicrobial and antioxidative activities. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of the extracts were performed using GC and GC-MS. Eighty-six constituents, accounting for 93.70-99.99% of the total composition of the extracts, were identified. The ethanol extracts of A. majoranifolius, A. suaveolens and A. alpinus were characterized by domination of monoterpenes, representing 85.03%, 57.39% and 28.02% of the total extracts, respectively. Fatty acids and their esters in the A. arvensis and A. graveolens extracts reached 28.97% and 30.75%. Also, n-alkanes were the major compounds found in A. hungaricus ethanol extract (30.98%). The extracts were characterized by determination of total polyphenols, flavonoids and tannins. Besides, the antioxidant activity of the investigated extracts was estimated by two assays: DPPH and FRAP test. The highest antioxidant activity was observed in the extract of A. alpinus which had high levels of all examined polyphenol classes. A disk diffusion method was employed for the determination of the antimicrobial activities of the ethanol extracts. Gram-positive: Bacillus subtilis, Sarcina lutea, Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridium pyogenes, Enterococcus sp., Micrococcus flavus; Gram-negative: Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aerugionsa, Salmonella enteritidis, Proteus vulgaris, Escherichia coli and fungal organisms: Aspergillus niger, Candida albicans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae were used as test microorganisms. The results of preliminary bioassay demonstrated that the A. alpinus ethanol extract could be a possible source of compounds with antioxidant and antimicrobial activity.

Partial characterization of indigo (Polygonum tinctorium Ait.) plant seeds and leaves

This study investigates the phytochemical composition, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antiproliferative activities of A. absinthium and A. annua flowers and leaf ethanol extracts in acute rat inflammation model. Polyphenolic compounds were analyzed quantitatively (total phenolic (TPC) and total flavonoids (TFCs)) and qualitatively by HPLC-ESI MS analysis. The antioxidant activity was evaluated in vitro (by DPPH, FRAP, H2O2, and NO scavenging tests), and in vivo (by total oxidative status (TOS), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), oxidative stress index (OSI), and key oxidative damage markers). Inflammation was evaluated via nuclear factor-kB-p65 (NfkB-p65), and canonical NLRP3 inflammasome activation (with IL-1β, IL-18, caspase-1, and gasdermin D). The antiproliferative activity against human ovarian tumor cells (A2780cis, OVCAR-3, and OAW-42) was evaluated by the MTT assay, focusing on the modulation of multidrug resistance (MDR) pumps and the PARP-1 enzyme. Liver and renal toxicity were tested by measuring transaminases (ALT and AST), creatinine, and urea. The study results indicated that A. absinthium and A. annua flowers and leaf ethanol extracts have rich polyphenol content and moderate in vitro antioxidant activity. Tested extracts display an important antiproliferative activity against the ovarian tumor cell lines A2780cis, OVCAR-3, and OAW-42 based on chemoresistance countering and apoptotic mechanisms. There were differences related to the cell type and plant extract type. The tested plant extracts had significant and dose-dependent in vivo anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity, with the A. annua flowers extract having the lowest efficiency. The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity biomarkers correlated with the extracts' chemical composition. There was no inflammation-induced hepatotoxicity, but renal dysfunction was associated. Only AANL improved the renal function. These results can be used to design and develop remedies with combined anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-proliferative activities.

Bioactive compounds derived from Brazilian Myrtaceae species: Chemical composition and antioxidant, antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities

Nineteen different mushroom species (Agaricus arvensis, Agaricus bisporus, Agaricusromagnesii, Agaricus silvaticus, Agaricus silvicola, Cantharellus cibarius, Hypholomafasciculare, Lactarius deliciosus, Lactarius piperatus, Lepista nuda, Leucopaxillusgiganteus, Lycoperdon molle, Lycoperdon perlatum, Macrolepiota mastoidea,Macrolepiota procera, Ramaria botrytis, Sarcodon imbricatus, Tricholoma acerbum and Tricholoma portentosum) from Northeast of Portugal, one of the European regions with higher wild edible mushrooms diversity, were evaluated for their chemical composition, nutritional value and bioactive properties (antioxidant and antimicrobial activities), in order to valorise mushrooms as a source of nutrients and nutraceuticals.The analysis of nutrients included determination of proteins, fats, ash, and carbohydrates, particularly sugars by HPLC-RI. The analysis of nutraceuticals included determination of fatty acids by GC-FID, and other phytochemicals such as tocopherols, by HPLC-fluorescence, phenolic compounds by HPLC-DAD-ESI/MS, carotenoids and ascorbic acid, by spectrophotometric techniques. The antioxidant activity was screened through chemical and biochemical assays. The chemical assays allowed an evaluation of their reducing power, radical scavenging activity and inhibition of -carotene bleaching, while biochemical assays evaluated the lipid peroxidation inhibition capacity, using erythrocytes and brain cells as models. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated using clinical isolates or collection microorganisms (Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria and fungi).The macronutrient profile in general revealed that the wild mushrooms were rich sources of protein and carbohydrates and had low amounts of fat. The analysis of fatty acid composition allowed the quantification of twenty three fatty acids. Unsaturated fatty acids and, in particular, oleic and linoleic acids, were predominant. Mannitol and trehalose were the most abundant sugars. The analysed mushrooms also contain very useful phytochemicals such as phenolic compounds, tocopherols, ascorbic acid, and carotenoids. Particularly, four phenolic acids (protocatechuic, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, pcoumaric and cinnamic acid) and two vanillic acid isomers were detected, identified and quantified, as also three of the tocopherols vitamers (F-, G-, H- tocopherol); no tocotrienols were detected. All the species proved to have antioxidant properties,namely radical scavenging activity and lipid peroxidation inhibition capacity. Ramaria botrytis was the most efficient species presenting the lowest EC50 values in the chemical and biochemical assays, which can be related to their higher content in bioactive compounds. The majority of the species revealed antimicrobial activity selectively against Gram + bacteria, in some cases, with lower minimum inhibitory concentration than the standards.Processing and cooking practices had a determining influence on chemical compositionand antioxidant properties. Cooked samples showed lower nutrients concentrations andlower…

Olive mill wastewater (OMW) is one of the most environmentally concerning food processing effluents due to its phytotoxicity. Recently, several bioactive compounds with potential applications in food, pharmaceutical, and agricultural industries have been identified in OMW. This study aimed to compare, for the first time, the physico-chemical characteristics and biological activity of OMW obtained by two different types of three-phase decanters: a traditional one and a water-saving ARA decanter. DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, and β-carotene bleaching tests were used to investigate the antioxidant effects. The inhibition of key enzymes involved in hyperglycemia and hypolipidemia were also assessed. A high concentration of phenolic compounds was found in OMW obtained by the ARA-controlled system. Hydroxytyrosol resulted as the dominant compound, with a content of 502.3 mg/kg. OMW extract obtained by ARA decanter resulted as the most active in the FRAP test, with value of 67.23 µMFe (II)/g. A moderate inhibitory activity was found against α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and lipase enzymes. Data obtained by this study evidenced that the use of the ARA decanter allows for obtaining OMW extract characterized by a higher content of phytochemicals in comparison to those obtained by the traditional phase decanter, and a consequent higher biological activity. At the same time, the use of this equipment allows for the reduction of environment impact.

Phytochemical investigation, in vitro and in vivo antioxidant properties of aqueous and organic extracts of toxic plant: Atractylis gummifera L.