Abstract
With everyday advances in the field of pharmaceuticals, medicinal plants have high priority regarding the introduction of novel synthetic compounds by the usage of environmentally friendly extraction technologies. Herein, a supercritical CO2 extraction method was implemented in the analysis of four plants (chamomile, St. John’s wort, yarrow, and curry plant) after which the non-targeted analysis of the chemical composition, phenolic content, and antioxidant activity was evaluated. The extraction yield was the highest for the chamomile (5%), while moderate yields were obtained for the other three plants. The chemical composition analyzed by gas chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry (GC-HRMS) and liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) demonstrated extraction of diverse compounds including terpenes and terpenoids, fatty acids, flavonoids and coumarins, functionalized phytosterols, and polyphenols. Voltammetry of microfilm immobilized on a glassy carbon electrode using square-wave voltammetry (SWV) was applied in the analysis of extracts. It was found that antioxidant activity obtained by SWV correlates well to 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhidrazine (DPPH) radical assay (R2 = 0.818) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay (R2 = 0.640), but not to the total phenolic content (R2 = 0.092). Effective results were obtained in terms of activity showing the potential usage of supercritical CO2 extraction to acquire bioactive compounds of interest.
Highlights
Polyphenols are a chemically diverse group of plant secondary metabolites that have various protective and defensive roles
The chemical composition analyzed by gas chromatographyhigh-resolution mass spectrometry (GC-HRMS) and liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) demonstrated extraction of diverse compounds including terpenes and terpenoids, fatty acids, flavonoids and coumarins, functionalized phytosterols, and polyphenols
Within the PPAP family according to literature data we have identified colupulone, furohyperforin, 33-hydroperoxyfurohyperforin, colupone, adlupone, 8-hydroxyhyperforin 8,1-hemiacetal, furoadhyperforin, hyperforin, adhyperforin, and their various isomers and derivatives
Summary
Polyphenols are a chemically diverse group of plant secondary metabolites that have various protective and defensive roles. These versatile molecules are characterized by many positive effects, associated with the prevention of inflammatory, cardiovascular and other diseases Since they are well known for their antioxidant, antiviral and antimicrobial activity, it is no wonder that large amounts of herbal remedies and pharmaceutical supplements rich in polyphenolic compounds have been developed and are consumed daily [2,3]. Considering their putative beneficial biological effects, the focus in further investigations should be towards the development of new candidates for future pharmaceuticals and not so much on the replacement of existing synthetic drugs [4]. The optimization of extraction procedures regarding higher yield with respect to environmental safety (green technologies), and confirmation of their activities are still challenges that need to be overcome
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