The Anti-Candidal Activity of Salvia verticillata subsp. verticillata Against Several Candida Species

Onosma ambigens: Phytochemical composition, antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory activity

Uraria picta Desv. belonging to family Leguminosae: Papilionoidae is one of the important constituent of “Dashmoolarista”, a well-established Ayurvedic drug of Indian system of medicine. The objectives of the present study were to determine the free radical scavenging activity, total phenolic and flavonoid contents in leaves, stem and roots of U. picta. Powdered samples of leaves, stem and roots were subjected to successive extraction with solvents of increasing polarities i.e. Ethanol, Water: Ethanol (Aqua- alcoholic) (20: 80) and Water (aqueous) using soxhlet apparatus. Total phenol, flavonoid and antioxidant activity were determined by using Folin-Ciocalteau method, aluminum chloride colorimetric technique and DPPH free radical scavenging methods respectively. The results exhibited the maximum phenolic (1.991±0.299%) and flavonoid (2.865±0.11%) contents in ethanolic extract of leaves. For stem, the highest phenolic content (1.208±0.115%) and highest flavonoid content (22.189±2.7%) were detected in aqueous and ethanolicextracts respectively. For roots, both the maximum phenolic (3.554±0.004%) and flavonoid (0.497±0.507%) contents were found in Aqua- alcoholic extract of roots. The ethanolic extracts of leaves and stem and aqueous extract of roots were found to contain the lowest IC50 and hence, the maximum antioxidant activity. Based on the findings, it can be concluded that among the different extracts of leaves, stem and roots of U. picta, the ethanolic extracts of leaves and stem and aqueous extract of roots exhibited the more promising antioxidant activity due to the presence of phenolic and flavonoid compounds.

The present investigation deals with the evaluation of phenolic, flavonoid contents and antioxidant activity in leaves, stem and roots of Solanum indicum. Powdered samples of leaves, stem and roots were subjected to successive extraction with solvents of increasing polarities i.e. Ethanol, Water: Ethanol (Aqua- alcoholic) (20: 80) and Water (aqueous) using soxhlet apparatus. The results showed the maximum phenolic content (12.351±0.03%) in Aqua- alcoholic (80: 20) extract and maximum flavonoid content (38.658±0.05%) in ethanolic extract of leaves. For stem, both the maximum phenolic (11.750±0.02%) and flavonoid (2.040±0.03%) contents was found in Aqua- alcoholic (80: 20) extract. Similarly, the maximum phenolic (18.651±0.03%) and flavonoid (2.701±0.05%) contents was found in ethanolic extract of roots. The Aqua- alcoholic (80: 20) extracts for leaves and stem and ethanolic extract for roots was found to contain the maximum antioxidant activity.

Sample particle size is an important parameter in the solid–liquid extraction system of natural products for obtaining their bioactive compounds. This study evaluates the effect of sample particle size on the phytochemical composition and antioxidant activity of brown macroalgae Sargassum cristaefolium. The crude ethanol extract was extracted from dried powders of S.cristeafolium with various particle sizes (> 4000 µm, > 250 µm, > 125 µm, > 45 µm, and < 45 µm). The ethanolic extracts of S.cristaefolium were analysed for Total Phenolic Content (TPC), Total Flavonoid Content (TFC), phenolic compound concentration and antioxidant activities. The extract yield and phytochemical composition were more abundant in smaller particle sizes. Furthermore, the TPC (14.19 ± 2.08 mg GAE/g extract to 43.27 ± 2.56 mg GAE/g extract) and TFC (9.6 ± 1.8 mg QE/g extract to 70.27 ± 3.59 mg QE/g extract) values also significantly increased as particle sizes decreased. In addition, phenolic compounds epicatechin (EC), epicatechin gallate (ECG), epigallocatechin (EGC), and Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) concentration were frequently increased in samples of smaller particle sizes based on two-way ANOVA and Tukey’s multiple comparison analysis. These results correlate with the significantly stronger antioxidant activity in samples with smaller particle sizes. The smallest particle size (< 45 µm) demonstrated the strongest antioxidant activity based on DPPH, ABTS, hydroxyl assay and FRAP. In addition, ramp function graph evaluates the desired particle size for maximum phytochemical composition and antioxidant activity is 44 µm. In conclusion, current results show the importance of particle size reduction of macroalgae samples to increase the effectivity of its biological activity.

SummaryThe objectives of this study were to examine varying extraction conditions of Thymus vulgaris L. as related to phenolic content and profiles of the extracts and their antioxidant, antihypertensive and antidiabetic properties. Phenolics were extracted under various conditions pertaining to free and bound phenolics, solvent type and combination of extraction time and temperature, and these extracts were evaluated in terms of their antioxidant activities and inhibitory activities of angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE), α‐glucosidase and α‐amylase. The acetone–water solvent mixture (1:1; v/v) produced the extract with the greatest phenolic content, antioxidant activity and inhibitory activities of ACE and α‐glucosidase. The optimal extraction temperature for maximum phenolic content and antioxidant activity associated with methanol extraction was 60 °C, whereas a lower temperature at 40 °C was required to maximise inhibitory activities for ACE, α‐glucosidase and α‐amylase. An inverse relationship was seen between antioxidant and glucosidase inhibitory activities vs. the ACE and α‐amylase inhibitory activities, which suggests the need for extractions to be directed to specific bioactivities of thyme extracts. Generally, the results indicate major differences in phenolic profiles among the tested extraction conditions with thymol as the predominant phenolic seen in most extractions, while gallic acid, rosmarinic acid or diosmin also predominated in other extracts. Extracts with the same predominant phenolic compound and similar phenolic content showed major disparities in their ACE, glucosidase and α‐amylase inhibitory activities, indicating that the major phenolic profiles of thyme extracts may not be necessarily related to the degree of inhibition of ACE, glucosidase and α‐amylase enzymes.

Conventional techniques for phenolics extraction from pomegranate (Punica granatum) peel (PP) have several insufficiencies like longer time duration, bioactive degradation, excess use of harmful chemicals and solvents. In the present study, we established the synergistic use of two non-conventional extraction strategies i.e., enzyme-assisted extraction (EAE) using a cellulolytic enzyme preparation (Viscozyme) followed by microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) for efficient recovery of phenolics from PP. This optimized method was individually compared with EAE, MAE, and conventional solvent extraction (CSE) methods for recovering PP phenolics with maximum antioxidant activity (AOA). Extracts were analyzed for AOA using ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and cupric reducing AOA (CUPRAC) methods. Response surface methodology (RSM), was used as an optimization tool to achieve maximum yield of phenolics and with highest AOA at power 443.5W, time 131.0min, and solvent-to-solid ratio 23.6:1. The predicted values for maximum phenolics and AOA obtained through RSM were 305mg GAE/g, 1788μmol TE/g (FRAP) and 2641μmol TE/g (CUPRAC), respectively. Phenolic contents of only 94.6, 165.46, and 197.6mg GAE/g were achieved through CSE, EAE and MAE, respectively. Here we substantiate the auxiliary role of Viscozyme and microwave treatment in achieving high phenolic content and AOA from PPs. Phenolic rich extracts are known to act as multi-target ligands that inhibit various enzymes involved in diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and diabetes mellitus. The extract can be commercially exploited for the development of functional foods, supplements, and natural preservatives.

Using HPLC and multivariate analyses to investigate variations in the polyphenolic compounds as well as antioxidant and antiglycative activities of some Lamiaceae species native to Iran

Isodon rugosus (Wall. ex Benth.) Codd accumulates large amounts of phenolics and pentacyclic triterpenes. The present study deals with the in vitro callus induction from stem and leaf explants of I. rugosus under various plant growth regulators (PGRs) for the production of antioxidant and anti-ageing compounds. Among all the tested PGRs, thidiazuron (TDZ) used alone or in conjunction with α-napthalene acetic acid (NAA) induced highest callogenesis in stem-derived explants, as compared to leaf-derived explants. Stem-derived callus culture displayed maximum total phenolic content and antioxidant activity under optimum hormonal combination (3.0 mg/L TDZ + 1.0 mg/L NAA). HPLC analysis revealed the presence of plectranthoic acid (373.92 µg/g DW), oleanolic acid (287.58 µg/g DW), betulinic acid (90.51 µg/g DW), caffeic acid (91.71 µg/g DW), and rosmarinic acid (1732.61 µg/g DW). Complete antioxidant and anti-aging potential of extracts with very contrasting phytochemical profiles were investigated. Correlation analyses revealed rosmarinic acid as the main contributor for antioxidant activity and anti-aging hyaluronidase, advance glycation end-products inhibitions and SIRT1 activation, whereas, pentacyclic triterpenoids were correlated with elastase, collagenase, and tyrosinase inhibitions. Altogether, these results clearly evidenced the great valorization potential of I. rugosus calli for the production of antioxidant and anti-aging bioactive extracts for cosmetic applications.

Purpose: This study aims to determine the optimal mixing ratio of mulberry and peppermint leaves and evaluates their biological activities to identify whether the estimated ratio is suitable for use in inner beauty and cosmetic ingredients.Methods: Total polyphenol and flavonoid contents, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) radical scavenging activities, and tyrosinase and elastase inhibition activities were measured to optimize the mixing ratio of mulberry and peppermint leaves.Results: The mixture of mulberry and peppermint leaves showed a total polyphenol content of up to 46.58 mg TAE/g, a total flavonoid content of up to 45.54 mg QE/g, and DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities of up to 74.18% and 40.60%, respectively. Tyrosinase and elastase inhibition activities were up to 67.46% and 35.01%, respectively. In the interest section, the maximum antioxidant and tyrosinase inhibitory activities were obtained at a mulberry:pepperint mixing ratio of 1.49:0.75 (g:g). In the experimental section, the maximum antioxidant and tyrosinase inhibitory activities were obtained at a mulberry:pepperint mixing ratio of 1.79:0.80 (g:g). Further, the maximum antioxidant and elastase inhibitory activities were obtained at a mulberry:pepperint mixing ratio of 1.11:0.75 (g:g).Conclusion: This study determined the superiority of the antioxidant activity, tyrosinase and elastase activity inhibition efficacies, and optimal mixing ratios of mulberry and peppermint leaves. Based on our findings, we believe that mulberry and peppermint leaves at an optimal mixing ratio will have considerable use as inner beauty and cosmetic ingredients.

This study was investigated to explore the bioactive compounds and antioxidant potential and microbial biofilm inhibition of the pomegranate peel extract of two cultivars. Maximum antioxidant activity (49.07%) and total phenolic contents (132.72-mg GAE/100 g) were obtained by the peel extract of Turosha Taki cultivar of pomegranate. The highest biofilm activity, that is, 40.5% (Spin Trush), 19.12% (Turosha Taki), 18.82% (Spin Trush), and 15.65% (Spin Trush), was shown against the following four bacteria, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Pasteurella multocida, and Staphylococcus aureus, respectively. Eleven compounds were found in n-hexane peel extract, while major volatile/bioactive compounds identified through gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) of Spin Trush and Turosha Taki was found to be amino propionic acid (48.12%) and Alanine (48.12%). Fourier transformation infrared (FTIR) identified different organic compounds in pomegranate peel extract of Spin Trush and Turosha Taki with a wavelength of 616.16 and 3,317.08 cm−1. It was concluded that peel extract of both pomegranate varieties exhibited maximum antioxidant and antimicrobial activity and total phenolic contents. The results also showed that using GC–MS and IR spectroscopy was an extremely effective method for determining the presence or absence of a wide variety of phytochemicals and functional groups in both varieties. Hence, this study also helps the researchers and industry to recognize the importance of pomegranate peel extracts and their health benefits used as antacids and laxatives in the pharmaceutical industry. Practical applications Bioactive compounds present in the pomegranate peel could be utilized in different food industries.

Assessment of phytochemicals, antioxidant, antibacterial activity, and profiling of functional molecules in a freshwater fern, Salvinia cucullata Roxb.

The Lamiaceae family is widely recognized for its production of essential oils and phenolic compounds that have promising value as pharmaceutical materials. However, the impact of environmental conditions and different harvest stages on the phytochemical composition of Lamiaceae plants remains poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the effects of harvest time on the phytochemical composition, including rosmarinic acid (RA) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), of four Lamiaceae plants-Korean mint (AR), lemon balm (MO), opal basil (OBP), and sage (SO)-and was conducted under an environment-controlled system. Although all four plants had RA as the dominant compound, its distribution varied by species. The flowered plants, including AR and OBP, exhibited a rapid increase of RA during the transition from the vegetative stage to the reproductive stage. In contrast, non-flowered groups, including MO and SO, showed a steady increase in the content of total phenolics and RA. The main components of VOCs also differed depending on the plant, with characteristic fragrance compounds identified for each one (AR: estragole; MO: (Z)-neral and geranial; OBP: methyl eugenol, eugenol, and linalool; and SO: (Z)-thujone, camphor, and humulene). The total VOCs content was highest on the 60th day after transplanting regardless of the species, while the trends of total phenolics, RA content, and antioxidant activities were different depending on whether plant species flowered during the cultivation cycle. There was a steady increase in species that had not flowered, and the highest content and activity of the flowering period were confirmed in the flowering plant species.

IntroductionCoconut testa, a by-product of the coconut processing industry, is currently underutilised. This study aimed to extract a coconut testa-based food colourant using various organic solvents and physical methods, and to utilise this colourant in food product preparation.MethodsDifferent organic solvents, along with various time and temperature combinations, were employed for colourant extraction using both a laboratory-scale water bath and ultrasonication. The colour coordinate values (CIELab) of the testa-derived colourants were measured, and the colourants were screened for various phytochemicals. The in vitro antioxidant potential of the testa colourant was assessed by quantifying total phenolics, and the phytochemical composition, including monomeric anthocyanins, was evaluated.ResultsThe study determined the optimal combinations of organic solvents, temperature and time to obtain extracts with maximum antioxidant activity and total phenolic content (TPC). Acidified ethanol-based extracts of testa colourants yielded highest polyphenol content (154.39 ± 2.63 mg GAE/g) and flavonoids content (53.65 ± 0.62 mg QE/g). Similarly, ethanol-based extractants of coconut testa produced high anthocyanin content [823.02 ± 1.81 mg Cy-3-glc equivalents (C3GE)/100 g]. Acidified (0.3 M HCl) solvents at relatively high temperature and time combinations exhibited high antioxidant potential of testa colourant, as measured by CUPRAC, FRAP, and DPPH assays. Following the foam mat drying process of the colourant, a mature coconut water-based jelly was prepared by incorporating the testa colourant extracted with acidified ethanol.DiscussionThis study highlights the biochemical and antioxidant potential of the food colorant derived from coconut testa and explores its suitability for functional food applications. Therefore, coconut testa extract serves a dual purpose: it enhances the aesthetic appeal of food as a colourant and provides significant health-promoting properties due to its high anthocyanin content. Insights from this study could help in promoting the valorization of one of the beneficial by products of coconut industry.

Objective: study of the antiradical and antioxidant activity of water, water-alcohol and alcohol extracts obtained from alfalfa sickle grass. Materials and methods. As an object of research of the antiradical and antioxidant activities of water, water-alcohol and alcohol extracts of alfalfa sickle, the grass of alfalfa sickle in the flowering stage, which was harvested in the Russian Federation in the Kursk region, was considered. The antioxidant activity was evaluated using a titrimetric method based on the result of the interaction of substances of a reducing nature that are present in extracts from alfalfa sickle grass and potassium permanganate used as a titrant. Antiradical activity was studied by spectrophotometric method based on the ability of extracts to inactivate DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl). The content of phenolic compounds (direct spectrophotometry) in terms of chlorogenic acid and flavonoids (differential spectrophotometry) in terms of rutin was determined. Statistical analysis was used to process the data obtained as a result of experiments. Results. Processing of the results of data obtained during experiments to determine the level of antioxidant and antiradical activity for various concentrations of aqueous, water-alcohol and alcohol extractants from alfalfa sickle grass confirmed the presence of such effects for all types of extracts studied. Under experimental conditions with the use of 30% ethanol as an extractant, the maximum atioxidant activity was observed at the level of 58.55%. The use of 96% ethanol as an extractant showed similarly the maximum antioxidant activity, at the level of 56.63%, which is slightly less, but significantly exceeds other indicators. The content of flavonoids was fixed at the maximum level (0.51%) when using 30% ethanol. Under the same conditions, phenolic compounds were recorded with an index of 0.88%. The results obtained visualize a direct correlation between the level of antioxidant activity of the studied object of the herb Medicago falcata L. and the level of phenolic compounds in it. As for the use of 96% ethanol as an extractant, then in this extraction the content of hydroxycinnamic acids and flavonoids was less (0.14% and 0.04% respectively). Conclusion. The resulting data from a series of experiments on alfalfa sickle grass collected during the flowering phase confirm the prospects of medicinal plant raw materials Medicago falcata L. as a raw material having antioxidant activity, which makes it possible to consider it as a basis for continuing pharmacological research.

Objectives: The current research delves into ethnopharmacology, specifically focusing on the influence of extraction solvent on parameters such as total phenol, flavonoid, coumarin, tannin, antioxidant, and antibacterial activity. This investigation spans different parts of Melilotus officinalis L. within two northern provinces of Iran. It is a holistic approach, exploring both traditional applications and the scientific impact of extraction methods on the plant’s bioactive properties. Materials and Methods: In various observational studies across different fields, ethnopharmacological data were acquired by collecting various parts of the M. officinalis plant (flowers, stem, and root) at different blooming stages from Charbagh Mountain (2340 msl) and Gorgan region (200 msl) between June and July 2016. "Ethanol and water extracts" of these plant parts were obtained through the maceration method. The quantification of "total phenol" (TP), "flavonoid" (TF), coumarin (CO), and tannin (TA) content in the extracts was conducted using spectrophotometry. The in vitro "antioxidant capacity" of the extracts was assessed through the DPPH free radical scavenging assay, the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) assay, and the reducing power assay. Additionally, the antibacterial activity of the extracts was examined against nine gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria using disc diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assays. Results: Based on the results, the ethanol extract obtained from the flowers of M. officinalis collected at a high altitude (2340 meters) in Semnan province demonstrated the highest concentrations of total phenols (38.08 ± 0.13 mgGA/g), flavonoids (62.04 ± 0.01 mgQU/g), coumarins (19.32 ± 0.08 mL/g), and tannins (33.89 mg/g). Notably, coumarin and tannins were absent in the water extract. The ethanol extract from the flowers in Semnan province exhibited superior antioxidant activity, particularly in the DPPH method (IC50=10.61 ± 0.81 µg/mL), surpassing the efficacy of butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). Moreover, the ethanol extract from high-altitude flowers displayed potent antimicrobial activity against gram-positive bacteria, specifically Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermidis, and Bacillus cereus, with inhibition zone (IZ) values of 19.1 ± 0.01 mm, 15.8 ± 0.2 mm, and 14.4 ± 1.12 mm, respectively. The MIC values against these bacteria were 24.5 μg/mL, respectively. In summary, the ethanol extract exhibited greater effectiveness against gram-positive bacteria compared to gram-negative bacteria. Conclusions: Our results indicate a robust association among the extraction solvent, plant part, phytochemical composition, antibacterial efficacy, and antioxidant potential of M. officinalis L. Specifically, the ethanol extract derived from the flowers displayed the most significant antioxidant and antibacterial characteristics. This implies that the ethanol extract from the flowers of M. officinalis L. holds promise as a valuable reservoir of natural antioxidants, aligning with its traditional utilization in addressing various infections.