Abstract
Medicago lupulina is an ancient edible plant from the Fabaceae family. In this work, two eco-friendly methods for extraction of bioactive phenolics from M. lupulina were developed using mixtures of water with two non-toxic, skin- and environmentally-friendly polyol solvents: glycerol and polypropylene glycol. Ultrasound-assisted extractions were optimized using a Box–Behnken design. The independent variables were the concentration of organic solvent in water (X1), extraction temperature (X2) and time (X3), while the response was phenolic content. The optimum conditions for extraction of polyphenols were (X1, X2, X3): (45%, 70 °C, 60 min) and (10%, 80 °C, 60 min) for glycerol and polypropylene glycol extraction, respectively. The extracts prepared at optimum conditions were rich in phenolic compounds, mainly derivatives of apigenin, kaempferol, luteolin, quercetin, caffeic and ferulic acid, as well as coumestrol. Their cosmeceutical and antidiabetic activity was tested. Both extracts demonstrated notable antioxidant, anti-lipoxygenase and anti-α-amylase activity. In addition to those activities, the glycerol extract efficiently inhibited protein coagulation, elastase and α-glucosidase activity. Glycerol present in the extract displayed enzyme-inhibiting activity in several assays and supported the action of the bioactive constituents. Thus, the optimized glycerol extract is a desirable candidate for direct incorporation in antidiabetic food supplements and cosmeceutical products.
Highlights
The discovery, development and marketing of dietary supplements, the products containing dietary ingredients or their components and intended to supplement regular diet, are currently the fastest growing segments of the food industry [1]
Type-2 diabetes mellitus is a growing public health concern related mostly to sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy eating habits. It is closely accompanied by states of oxidative stress and inflammation which further progress to secondary complications of diabetes such as cardiovascular disease, neuropathy, nephropathy and retinopathy
Concentration of the extract, which inhibits 50% of elastase activity (ElInh IC50 ), was calculated and expressed as μL of extract/mL of solution
Summary
The discovery, development and marketing of dietary supplements, the products containing dietary ingredients or their components and intended to supplement regular diet, are currently the fastest growing segments of the food industry [1] Such supplements often include a wide range of plant-based products designed to display added nutrient value and presumed health benefits for numerous contemporary ailments. In addition to inclusion into dietary supplements, bioactive phytochemicals are increasingly being incorporated into cosmetics, and claims that a given product contains natural components are being especially appreciated by the consumers [3]. In such products they act as antiinflammatory [4], anti-aging, as well as skin-whitening agents, to name a few [3]
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