Abstract
Hippophae rhamnoides L. and Cassia fistula L. extracts have great potential as food, medicinal, or cosmetic ingredients. The aim of our study was to assess their relative antioxidant activities and key enzymatic activities. Thereby, H. rhamnoides’ fruit and C. fistula’s pod extracts were evaluated by spectrophotometry, based on their respective total phenolic content (TPC), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) ferric-reducing power, capacity in nitric oxide, hydroxyl and superoxide radicals scavenging, as well as on their β-glucuronidase, α-glucosidase and α-tyrosinase inhibition activities. H. rhamnoides and C. fistula extracts exhibited similarly high TPC levels, hydroxyl ion [OH•] quenching activity, and α-glucosidase and α-tyrosinase IC50 values (p > 0.05). However, their respective DPPH radical, nitric oxide radical [NO•], and superoxide anion [O2−•] scavenging activities, as well as their IC50 values for β-glucuronidase, significantly differed (p ≤ 0.05), with results showcasing the highest values in C. fistula extracts. In sum, our in vitro data explicitly suggest that the pod extracts of C. fistula exert better antioxidant and enzymatic properties than those exhibited by the fruit extract of H. rhamnoides. They also implicitly encourage performing multiple in vitro assays in order to thoroughly select a plant extract destined to a given medicinal, dietetic, or esthetic application.
Highlights
Antioxidants prevent oxidative damages (e.g., 8-hydroxyguanine, cell membrane lipid peroxidation) and subsequent diseases, by effectively quenching or inhibiting free radicals
Β-glucuronidase, an acid hydrolase, plays a crucial role in catalyzing the hydrolysis of glucuronide into glycones and free glucuronic acid [6,7]. This catalysis releases the terminal glucuronide unit linked through the β-configuration by Carbon 1 (C1) [8]. β-glucuronidase was first discovered in the rumen of sheep, this enzyme has been recorded as present in all plants, animals, and bacteria so far studied [9]
We have recently shown the beneficial effects of H. rhamnoides extracts in the prevention of premature aging of human skin and melasma [5,37]
Summary
Antioxidants prevent oxidative damages (e.g., 8-hydroxyguanine, cell membrane lipid peroxidation) and subsequent diseases (e.g., inflammatory state-diseases such as cancers, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and strokes), by effectively quenching or inhibiting free radicals (e.g., hydroxyl and superoxide radicals). Plant extracts that can inhibit specific enzymes (e.g., β-glucuronidase, α-glycosidase, and α-tyrosinase), involved in the alteration of skin during aging, are appreciated for their potential use in original cosmetic formulations. Β-glucuronidase, an acid hydrolase, plays a crucial role in catalyzing the hydrolysis of glucuronide into glycones (i.e., alkyl, acyl, aryl groups) and free glucuronic acid [6,7]. This catalysis releases the terminal glucuronide unit linked through the β-configuration by Carbon 1 (C1) [8]. The research and development (R&D) of specific β-glucuronidase inhibitors (e.g., baicalin) is growing [10], most notably in the fields of drug detoxification [11] and cancer therapy [12], as well as in its ability to overcome glycosaminoglycan (GAG) impaired metabolism during skin aging [13], treat skin conditions such as psoriasis [14] and formulate cosmetics [15]
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