Acid Equivalents Research Articles

Effect of solid‐state fermentation on select antinutrients and protein digestibility of cold‐pressed and hexane‐extracted canola meals

AbstractIn this study, the effects of solid‐state fermentation (SSF), including strain (Aspergillus niger NRRL 334 and A. oryzae NRRL 5590) and fermentation time (24, 48, and 72 h) on the nutritional value of cold‐pressed (CP) and hexane‐extracted (HE) canola meals were examined. SSF increased the protein content of both types of meals (from ~36% to ~40%) while reducing the oil content of CP meals (from ~12% to 9%). There was a significant reduction (~80%) in the phytic acid content of both types of meals after fermentation using either fungi. Overall, fermented samples showed a decrease in the total phenolic content from 2.7–3.1 to ~1.0 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g dry meal (DM) (a ~65% reduction), of which specifically the HE meal fermented with A. niger sample had the greatest decrease from 3.1 to 0.6 mg GAE/g DM (~81% reduction). Seventy‐two hours of fermentation decreased the in vitro protein digestibility (IVPD) of A. oryzae fermented meals. In contrast, a shorter fermentation time (24 h) increased the IVPD for most samples as compared to the controls (from ~72%–73% to 77%–81%), with the exception of the CP meal fermented with A. niger which had similar IVPD at all fermentation times. Overall, the changes indicate that SSF using A. niger or A. oryzae can be useful to positively modify the composition of different canola meals and improve their nutritional value by significantly increasing the protein content, decreasing the levels of antinutrients, while only slightly reducing IVPD.

Study of the Physicochemical Characteristics of Different Strawberries Consumed in Morocco

In Morocco, dietary habits are associated with excessive consumption of red meat and fatty foods, as well as foods that are high in sugar such as bread and cakes, while vegetables and fruits are consumed in insufficient quantities. However, fruits and vegetables are of great nutritional importance, as they are rich in vitamins, minerals, fiber, antioxidants, and help prevent several diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and tumors. Strawberries, known for their sweet and tangy taste, are consumed with a variety of products from different origins in Morocco. This present work consists of the study of the organoleptic, physicochemical characteristics, total phenolic, and total flavonoid, Magnesium, Calcium, Chloride, Glucose, Polyphenols, and Flavonoids of nine samples of strawberries cultivated in different regions of Gharb (East of Morocco). The contents of magnesium, calcium, chloride, and fluoride vary from 19.4 to 34 mg/100 g, from 13.5 to 48.1 mg/100 g, from 82 to 1609 mg/100 g, and from 0.03 to 0.04 mg/l, respectively. The amounts of sucrose, glucose ranged from 0.6 to 1.3 g/100g and from 1.35 to 2.45 g/100 g, respectively. The total phenolic contents (TPC) and flavonoid contents (TFC) range from 61 to 151 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/100 g of fresh weight and from 56 to 236 mg Quercetin equivalents (QE) /100 g of fresh weight, respectively. The strawberry sample grown in the Moulay Bousselham region has Ca, Cl, Mg, F, glucose, sucrose, and polyphenols superior to those of the samples cultivated in the regions of Larache and Benslimane. The results of the different samples of strawberries reveal the characteristics of acid nature, rich in polyphenols, flavonoids, minerals, citric acid and low in sugars. The variation of the different physicochemical parameters in strawberries varieties allows to classify strawberry samples according to their nutritional qualities, dietary interest and bring selection criteria for the consumer. These works aim to improve dietary habits by introducing new foods into meals, with the aim of improving the nutritional quality of the population.

Chemical and biological analysis of extracts of Acorus calamus L.

The powdered plant materials of Acorus calamus were subjected to successive extraction using the cold percolation method with methanol, hexane, and chloroform solvent. Qualitative phytochemical analysis of methanol, hexane, and chloroform extracts showed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, glycosides, sterols, triterpenoids, and carbohydrates. Five different major compounds were identified by GC-MS analysis of the chloroform extract, with isoprothiolane (83.11%) being the most prevalent. The total phenolic content in the chloroform extract was calculated at 17.39 mg Gallic acid equivalent /g and the total flavonoid content was 3.37 mg quercetin equivalent/g of dry extract. The IC50 value of chloroform extract was found to be 576.19 μg/mL, and the LC50 value was found to be 66.21 μg/mL. Antibacterial activity was shown in Staphylococcus aureus in chloroform extract with a ZOI of 7 mm.

Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Obesity Potential of Extracts Containing Phenols, Chlorophyll and Carotenoids from Mexican Wild Populations of Bacopa monnieri (L.) Wettst.

Some of the species of the genus Bacopa have been used in Pharmacopoeia worldwide. However, in Mexico, Bacopa monnieri has neither been extensively cultivated nor studied, nor has their use in traditional medicine been reported. The aim of this work was to assess the taxonomic verification of the four wild populations of B. monnieri, the chemical content of their pigments and phenols and to provide an analysis of their potential bioactivity. B. monnieri wild populations from Mexico were validated using molecular markers. Chromatographic profiling using HPLC-PDA revealed 21 compounds comprising 12 chlorophylls and nine carotenoids; of the latter, the major ones were lutein (0.921 ± 0.031 μg/mg of dry extract) and β-carotene (0.095 ± 0.003 μg/mg of dry extract). The total phenolic content, determined using the Folin-Ciocalteu assay, ranged from 54.8 ± 5.8 to 70.3 ± 2.2 µg of gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/mg. Plant extracts scavenged from the free radical DPPH in IC50 ranged from 130.6 ± 3.0 to 249.9 ± 12.1 µg dry extract/mL. In terms of the anti-inflammatory potential, the most effective extract was from a soil-based plant from Jalisco (BS), reduced from nitric oxide in a RAW 264.7 culture medium, with an IC50 value of 134 µg of dry extract/mL. The BS extract showed a significant neutral lipid-reducing activity in the zebrafish model, ranging from 3.13 μg/mL p < 0.05 to 100 μg/mL p < 0.0001. Overall, the extracts analyzed here for the first time seem promising for future use because of their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-obesity potential.

Lipid Peroxidation Inhibitory and Cytotoxic Activities of Two Camellia Species Growing Wild in Vietnam

Background Leaves, flowers and young shoots of yellow Camellia species are often used as a substitute for green tea in Vietnam. Yellow Camellia species contain high levels of polyphenol compounds, and have shown activities such as antioxidant, anticancer, and cytotoxic. Objectives We qualitatively screened phytochemicals, quantified total polyphenols of 70% ethanol (EtOH) extracts of leaves, young shoots, and flowers of Camellia vuquangensis and Camellia hatinhensis in Ha Tinh Province, Vietnam. Furthermore, these extracts have been evaluated for lipid peroxidation inhibitory activities at the in vivo level in the BALB/c mouse model, and in vitro cytotoxic activities. Materials and Methods Chemical methods and thin-layer chromatographic (TLC) analysis were used for the qualitative screening of phytochemicals. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to determine total polyphenols. Cell survival was determined through optical density (OD) measured when the protein composition of the cells was stained with sulforhodamine B (SRB). Inhibition of lipid peroxidation was evaluated by determining the content of malondialdehyde (MDA), which is a product of membrane lipid peroxidation. Results The total polyphenol contents of all parts of the two species were comparable to that of green tea with values between 319.3 and 342.6 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE/g) dry weight. Extracts of leaves, flowers of C. vuquangensis and C. hatinhensis showed strong lipid peroxidation inhibitory activities (IC50: 7.92–17.45 µg/mL) and moderate cytotoxic activities against cell lines HepG2, A549, MCF7, SK-Mel-2, HT-29, and AGS (IC50: 34.73–80.58 µg/mL). Conclusion These two tea species may be considered as herbal teas with various health benefits.

Effect of Altitude and Location on Compositions and Antioxidant Activity of Laurel Cherry (Prunus Laurocerasus L.)

The compositional and antioxidant properties of cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus L.) fruit, which grow in two different locations (Trabzon and Rize) and altitudes, were investigated. The results were subjected to principal component analysis to better describe the relations between investigated properties and growing conditions. The results indicated that antioxidant activity, total phenolic content, citric acid, sugars and phenolic compounds were affected by location and altitude. While fruits of Trabzon province have higher composition content than those of Rize province, fruits collected at low altitudes in both regions were found to have superior properties. Total phenolic content in fruits from Trabzon and Rize provinces increased from 21.90 to 23.32 and from 16.84 to 18.91 mg gallic acid equivalent / 100 g dry weight (DW), β-carotene increased from 5.19 to 6.75 and from 4.16 to 5.61 mg / kg DW, and total sugar increased from 81.68 to 131.99 and from 86.44 to 99.58 mg / g DW when altitude decrease from 351 to 49 m and 316 to 14 m, respectively. Chlorogenic acid (1404.46-7358.63 mg / kg DW) and rutin hydrate (1491.05-2712.91 mg / kg DW) were major phenolic compounds in all samples.

Continuous glyphosate applications affect plant development of mangrove species from coastal wetlands: Rhizophora mangle and Pachira aquatica

Glyphosate based herbicides not only affect unwanted plants in agricultural and urban areas, but also impact non-target vegetation, including its associated biome. The effect of the repeated application of these products on growth remains undetermined for many ecologically important trees. Coastal wetlands accumulate pollutants and therefore are exposed to different compounds at varying concentrations. This exposure may interfere with wetlands' ability to maintain essential ecosystem functions. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of different concentrations of a commonly used glyphosate-based herbicide on mesocosms planted with juvenile Rhizophora mangle and Pachira aquatica. We assessed the impact of herbicide treatment on plant growth as well as the subsurface CO2 efflux. Plants were transplanted to containers filled with fine gravel (substrate) and maintained under flooded conditions. Four different glyphosate treatments were investigated over a period of 124 days: in three treatments, glyphosate was added in two applications of either 25, 50, or 100 mg glyphosate acid equivalent (ae)/L, whereas in the fourth treatment, glyphosate was added in eight applications of 25 mg ae/L. Plant growth was measured (plant height, stem diameter, number of green leaves or leaflets) and subsurface CO2 efflux from the substrate was quantified. Different glyphosate concentrations resulted in different effects on plant growth for both species. Mesocosms that received continuous glyphosate applications exhibited reduced plant growth in the long term. Carbon dioxide efflux was reduced by different glyphosate concentrations. Our results contribute to further understanding the adverse impact that glyphosate-based products may have on ecologically important trees and their ecosystem services in coastal areas in the tropics.

Functional biscuits enriched with potato peel powder: Physical, chemical, rheological, and antioxidants properties

This research aimed to replace wheat flour with potato peel powder (PPP) at different levels (3, 5, 7, 10, 30, and 50%). An effect of PPP on physical, chemical, rheological, and antioxidant properties of biscuit samples was investigated. The results show that the PPP sample had a significantly higher content of total sugar, protein and ash, and a lower content of moisture (15.68g/100g dry weight, 15.32 g/100g dry weight, 9.11%, 8.35%, respectively) compared with the wheat flour sample. Also, a higher total phenolic content and antioxidant activity (71.12 mg Gallic acid equivalent / 100g dry weight and 68.39%, respectively) was observed in the PPP sample. The highest percentage of PPP addition (50%) exerted the greatest significant effect on the content of total sugar, protein, moisture, ash, total phenols, and antioxidant activity compared with the control sample and other biscuit samples leading to their increase to 50.90 g/100g dry weight, 12.74 g/100g dry weight, 5.56%, 2.39%, 41.71 mg Gallic acid equivalent / 100g dry weight, 59.72%, respectively. A decrease in the L*, a*, b*, C*, h and BI values, and an increase in ∆E values were observed with replacing wheat flour with PPP. The 3% and 5% replacement rates contributed to improving most organoleptic characteristics (general acceptability, color, taste) compared to the samples with the highest studied percentages (30% and 50%). Although the highest percentages of PPP addition led to lower scores for sensory characteristics, all studied samples were acceptable from the sensory point of view, except the samples with the 50% replacement rate in terms of their taste and color.

Chemical Characterization and Several Bioactivities of Cladanthus mixtus from Morocco

The purpose of this work was to investigate, for the first time to our knowledge, the chemical composition and bioactivity of methanolic extracts (roots, stems, leaves, and flowers) from Cladanthus mixtus (L.) Chevall. that grows wild in northern Morocco (the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region). The phenolic and flavonoid contents were determined by spectrophotometer methods, and the composition of derivatized methanolic extracts from C. mixtus using N-O-bis(trimethylsilyl) trifluoroacetamide (BSTFA) was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The antioxidant activity was carried out by applying the 2,2'-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) and DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) tests. The micro-dilution technique was chosen to investigate the antimicrobial activity of methanolic extracts against two bacterial strains and three fungal species. The results showed that the values of total phenolic and flavonoid contents were found to be higher in flower extracts (30.55 ± 0.85 mg of gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g of dried weight (DW) and 26.00 ±1.34 mg of quercetin equivalents (QE)/g DW, respectively). Other groups of chemical compounds were revealed by GC-MS, such as carbohydrates (27.25-64.87%), fatty acids (1.58-9.08%), organic acids (11.81-18.82%), and amino acids (1.26-7.10%). Root and flower methanolic extracts showed the highest antioxidant activity using ABTS (39.49 mg of Trolox equivalents (TE)/g DW) and DPPH (36.23 mg TE/g DW), respectively. A positive correlation between antioxidant activity and polyphenol and flavonoid amounts was found. Antibacterial tests showed that the best activity was presented by the leaf extract against Staphylococcus aureus (minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) = minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) = 20 mg/mL) and Escherichia coli (MIC of 30 mg/mL and MBC of 35 mg/mL). S. aureus was more sensitive to the extracts compared to E. coli. All extracts showed antifungal activity against Trichophyton rubrum, with the best efficacy reported by the flower and leaf extracts (MIC = 1.25 mg/mL and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) = 2.5 mg/mL). In general, extracts of C. mixtus appeared less effective against Candida albicans and Aspergillus fumigatus.

Single-step extraction of bioactive compounds from cruciferous vegetable (kale) waste using natural deep eutectic solvents

Cruciferous vegetables such as kale contain various health-promoting phytochemicals, and leaves rejected from harvesting could be a valuable source of phytochemicals. Conventional organic solvents used for the recovery of these bioactive metabolites are hazardous, and therefore more benign equivalents are sought. This work explores the use of natural deep eutectic solvents (NADESs) with different hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity to recover polyphenols, carotenoids and chlorophylls from kale waste. Enhanced extraction of polyphenols was achieved by the aqueous solutions of hydrophilic glycerol-based NADESs, with yields of up to 2.2-fold higher than just using methanol. The antioxidant capacity of the aqueous extracts showed a strong correlation with their total phenolic contents. The best solvent in extracting polyphenols (glycerol:betaine at a molar ratio of 3:1) was further investigated to optimise its process conditions. The optimised extract provided the greatest stability of the bioactive polyphenols by retaining 91.7 and 88.6% of the original contents after 30 days of storage at 4 and 25 °C, respectively. Furthermore, this extraction approach was integrated with ethyl acetate, a bio-based solvent, to promote the simultaneous recovery of polyphenols (16.83 mg GAE (gallic acid equivalents) g−1 DW (dry weight)), carotenoids (0.91 mg g−1 DW) and chlorophylls (7.86 mg g−1 DW) from kale waste. After extraction, the immiscible aqueous NADES- and ethyl acetate-phases rich in polyphenols and carotenoids/chlorophylls, respectively, can be easily separated for different applications.

Extraction, Fractionation, Phytochemical Profile, Antioxidant, and Antimicrobial Activities of Cassia absus L. and Citrus medica L.

Background: Cassia absus L. and Citrus medica L. plants are sources of different phytochemicals with pharmaceutical significance. They are biochemically distinctive and used in producing various herbal products with exclusive bioactivity. Also, the extraction of these phytonutrients with medicinal characteristics has recently increased. Objectives: We determined to evaluate the plant-derived compounds such as polyphenols and antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of the methanolic extract of Cassia absus L. and Citrus medica L. Methods: Antioxidant activity was calculated through linoleic acid inhibition, determination of reducing power, and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging assay. The disk diffusion method was used for assessing antimicrobial activity. Various solvents such as acetic acid, ethanol, acetone, n-hexane, and ethyl acetate were used to perform partition fractionation of the methanolic extract of plants. Results: Three major components were analyzed through high-performance liquid chromatography in C. absus and C. medica. Total phenolic contents varied from 5.58-17.1 to 2.66-7.41 per 100 g examined through Folin-Ciocalteu reagent, pointed as gallic acid equivalents (GAE), and total flavonoid contents lined from 11.50-32.4 to 24.91-36.36 per 100 g specified as catechin equivalents. Inhibition rate and reducing potential were greater in C. medica fractions of 49.6% and 1.14, respectively. The C. medica solvent fractions exhibited greater radical scavenging activity in the DPPH assay at 80%. C. absus and C. medica extract significantly inhibit different gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Pasteurella multocida, and Fusarium) and gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, and Fusarium Solani) bacteria. Conclusion: Both leaf extracts of C. absus and C. medica could have potential applications in agriculture, pharmaceutics, and medicine.

TOTAL PHENOLIC, FLAVONOID AND MINERAL CONTENTS OF THE METHANOLIC LEAF EXTRACT OF PARINARI CURATELLIFOLIA PLANCH. EX BENTH

Objective: Parinari curatellifolia is a medicinal plant that possesses multifunctional properties. The aim of this research was to evaluate the mineral, total phenolic and flavonoids contents and some biological parameters of the methanolic leaf extract. Methods: The leaves were extracted with methanol to obtain the crude extract. Phytochemical screening was carried out using the method described by Harborne, 1999. The extract was subjected to GC-MS analysis, Aluminum colorimetric assay was used to determine the total flavonoid content while Folin-Ciocalteau reagent was used to evaluate the total phenolic content. The antioxidant activity was determined using the DPPH radical scavenging assay. The mineral content was determined via atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Disc diffusion method was used for the antibacterial assay. Results: The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of tannins, saponins, flavonoids, terpenoids, alkaloids and cardiac glycosides, while steroids, anthraquinones and cyano glycosides were absent. The GC-MS profile showed catechol as the most abundant phytochemical and the identified phytocomponents were mainly polyphenolics, carbonyls, fatty acids and fatty acid esters. The extract possesses total flavonoid and phenolic contents of 13.46±0.02 mg/g quercetin equivalent and 58.43±0.15 mg/g Gallic acid equivalent, respectively. The extract exhibited a significant antioxidant of 84%. Concentration of the macro and micro elements were quite high in some cases. Na had the highest concentration of 42522.70±2146.50 µg/g, while Cu has the lowest value of 4.18±0.03µg/g. The antibacterial activity of the extract was comparable to that of the standard antibiotic. Bacillus subtilis exhibited the highest zone of inhibition of 29±0.10 mm while Salmonella typii and Kliebsiella pneumoniae gave the lowest value of 14±0.12 mm. Conclusion: Parinari curatellifolia leaves possess tannins, saponins, flavonoids, terpenoids, alkaloids and cardiac glycosides. It has high antioxidant and antibacterial capabilities.

Determination of the Antibacterial and Antioxidant Activity of Crude Extract of Bruceaantidysenterica Leaves

Bruceaantidysenterica (abalo in Amharic) is a medicinal plant widely used in traditional medicine for treatment of several diseases and ailments. This study aimed to investigate the classes of the phytochemical constituents of the leaves of Bruceaantidysenterica extracted with the solvents of petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, and methanol. The crud extract evaluated their antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Qualitative phytochemical screening of the leaves of this plant indicated the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, quinones, steroids, terpenoids, saponins, tannins and cumaroins. Quantitative analysis of the leaves of Bruceaantidysenterica revealed that the total phenolic content, expressed as gallic acid equivalent, ranged from 28.5 to 120.06 mg/g of dry weight of extracts. Likewise, the total flavonoid content of the extract, expressed as quercetin equivalent, varied from 26.05 to 83.663 mg/g of dry weight of extracts. All extracts showed antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. As seen from ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay, methanol and ethyl acetate extracts of the leaves of Bruceaantidysenterica showed the highest total reducing power while petroleum ether extract exhibited the lowest total reducing power. Furthermore, all the extracts were tested against two gram positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogene) and two gram negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, k. pneumonia) bacteria by Kirby-Bauer standard disc diffusion method. Antibacterial effects of leaves extracts of bruceaantidysenterica showed different degrees of inhibition against both Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria. The methanol and ethyl acetate extracts showed higher antibacterial activity than petroleum ether extracts.

Antioxidant activity and the estimation of total phenolic content of Citrullus colocynthis stem

To examine the antioxidant and free radical scavenging activity of Citrullus colocynthis stem, five different extracts were investigated. Various in vitro antioxidant assay including DPPH (2,2-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl) radical, superoxide radical, hydroxyl radical scavenging activity along with reducing power and metal chelating activity were done and compared with standard antioxidants such as ascorbic acid, BHT (Butylated hydroxytoluene) and EDTA (Ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid). Total phenolic content was determined as mg/g Gallic acid equivalent and was correlated with antioxidant assays. All the five extracts showed significant antioxidant activity in dose dependent manner. Methanolic extract possesses the highest scavenging ability for all the assays and total phenolic content in it was 40.12 mg/g gallic acid equivalent. In case of methanolic extract significant correlation was observed between total phenolic content and various antioxidant assays suggesting its role as a source of valuable antioxidants against free radicals associated oxidative stress.

Characterization analysis of date fruit pomace: An underutilized waste bioresource rich in dietary fiber and phenolic antioxidants

Date fruit pomace (DFP), an abundant byproduct of the date syrup industry, is currently underutilized. It is either fed to animals or landfilled where it ferments, causing serious environmental issues. Proper waste management through valorization strategies is required to reduce the environmental impact of date waste and foster the transition of the date processing industry towards sustainability. The implementation of valorization strategies requires characterizing the DFP composition. Herein, four DFP samples of Emirati varieties were characterized in terms of compositional and functional properties. The fresh DFPs contained moisture (∼60.0 g/100 g). On a dry matter basis, DFPs contained total dietary fiber (∼45.5 g/100 g), residual sugars (∼35.3 g/100 g), protein (∼10.6 g/100 g), ash (∼4.1 g/100 g), and fat (∼1.3 g/100 g). They were also rich in nutritionally important elements such as potassium (∼145.7 ppm), calcium (∼46 ppm), phosphorus (∼28.7 ppm), and magnesium (∼26.7 ppm). The total phenolic content varied from 170 to 260 mg gallic acid equivalents GAE/100 g, making DFP a good source of antioxidants. Scanning electron microscopy measurements revealed the presence of fibrous bundle-like structures, whose thermal stability was confirmed by thermogravimetric analysis, showing the dominance of insoluble over soluble fiber. Higher water- and oil-holding capacities were found for dried desugared pomace. The high fiber, phenolic, and elemental content highlight the high nutritional value of DFP, which can be used as dietary supplement, while its sugar content can be used to produce value-added biochemicals via fermentation. Thus, DFP may represent a valuable bioresource for food and non-food applications.

Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-Quadrupole Time-of-Flight tandem mass spectrometry based Metabolite profiling, Quality evaluation and marker analysis of Trachyspermum ammi (L.) Sprague by High performance thin layer chromatography.

Trachyspermum ammi (L.) Sprague (Apiaceae), commonly known as 'Ajwain' is distributed throughout India. Ajwain fruits contain fibre, carbohydrates, phenolic acids, flavonoids and tannins. The fruits also yield a small amount of essential oil, with Thymol as the principal constituent. Ajwain has various pharmacological activities like anti-leishmanial, antimicrobial, cytotoxic, antispasmodic, nematocidal and anthelmintic. The fruits are of high therapeutic value; thus, it becomes quite essential to evaluate the quality of Trachyspermum ammi (L.) Sprague to authenticate and ensure its therapeutic and nutritional properties. The ethyl acetate fraction of T. ammi fruits exhibited the highest total phenolic and flavonoid content values of 149.55±1.19 mg rutin equivalent and 682.85±3.68 mg gallic acid equivalent, respectively. Metabolite profiling of the ethyl acetate fraction using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry analysis resulted in identifying 19 phytomolecules. A validated high performance thin-layer chromatography method was developed to quantify standard phytomolecules in the ethyl acetate fraction. The highest and lowest percentages of phytomarker were found to be Caffeic acid (5.51 ± 0.16 %w/w) and Gallic acid (1.29 ± 0.09 %w/w), respectively. This validated rapid, accurate, precise method for standardisation of T. ammi will be beneficial for its quality evaluation as well as the derived products. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of methanol extracts from Adonis paryadrica (Ranunculaceae) – a critically endangered endemic species growing in the Turkish flora

This study was conducted to determine the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of methanol extract obtained from flower, leaf and root sections of endemic Adonis paryadrica (Boiss.) Kandemir &amp;amp; Aytaç stat. nova. naturally growing in the Turkish flora. The most efficient total phenolic compounds and flavonoid contents were obtained from leaf extract at 21.24 mg GAEs (gallic acid equivalent)/g dw and 54.97 mg REs (rutin equivalent)/g dw, respectively. Among the three different sections of this plant, leaf extracts showed the highest Cupric Reducing Antioxidant Power (CUPRAC) effect with 80.28 µmol TEs (trolox equivalent)/g dw. From the three different sections, the methanol extract of the leaf parts demonstrated strong antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis with a 16.1 mm zone diameter. These valuable and current findings from these precious plants, which constitute natural resources in terms of biodiversity, contribute innovative information to the literature on endemic plant species.

Unrivalled insight into potential biopharmaceutical application of Allardia tridactylites (Kar. & Kir.) Sch. Bip.: Chemodiversity, in vitro bioactivities and computational analysis

This research work offers unrivalled insight into the chemodiversity, antioxidant and enzyme inhibition activities of Allardia tridactylites substantiated by computational analysis. Flowers and leaves of A. tridactylites were extracted separately with hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and ethanol to prepare four extracts of each part. Highest antioxidant potential for the ATFA and ATFLA fractions was observed in the CUPRAC (cupric ion reducing antioxidant capacity) assay as 115.57 ± 1.16 and 112.79 ± 1.8 mg of trolox equivalents per gram of the extract (mg TE/g extract) respectively, followed by chloroform and ethyl acetate extracts of the leaves and the flowers. In tyrosinase inhibition assay, the ATFE was found most active (28.92 ± 1.42 mg of Kojic acid equivalents per gram of the extract (mg KAE/g extract), while against α-amylase and α-glucosidase, the ATLC (0.63 ± 0.02 mmol of acarbose equivalents per gram of the extract (mmol ACAE/g extract) and ATFH (1.10 ± 0.01 mmol ACAE/g) were the most active respectively. Overall, ATLA and ATFA were rich in phenolics and flavonoids and also exhibited higher antioxidant activities, while in enzyme inhibition assay, the low polar extracts were more active. UHPLC-MS analysis of crude ethanolic extract result in identification of 125 secondary metabolites of various classes. The findings from various multidirectional investigations indicated that this plant held significant importance for the biopharmaceutical industries, as it served as a valuable source for the development of multiple formulations that were effective in targeting major biological enzymes.

Phytochemical characterization, antioxidant activity and antihypertensive evaluation of Ocimum basilicum L. in l-NAME induced hypertensive rats and its correlation analysis

Ocimum basilicum Linn. (basil) is an aromatic culinary herb that has shown a great potential in therapeutic world. It has many promising pharmacological activities that make it centre for investigations for many researchers. Current study has been planned to determine chemical constituents of basil leaves extracts and their in-vitro and ex-vivo antioxidant and in-vivo antihypertensive potential. GC-MS studies of non-polar extracts showed presence of 75 compounds including monoterpenes, hydrocarbons, sesquiterpenes, triterpenes, phyto-sterols and phthalates. Higher percentages of fatty acids were also identified. The major compounds include linalool (7.65%), terpineol (1.42%), tau-cadinol (13.55%), methyl palmitate (14.24%), palmitic acid (14.31%), linolenic acid (1.30%) and methyl linolenate (17.72%). Electron spray ionization mass spectrometry ESI-HRMS/MS of the polar extracts revealed the presence of alkaloids, phenolic acid, amino acid, coumarin, lignin, flavanoid and terpene derivative. Total phenolic content and total flavonoid content were determined using spectrophotometric technique and calculated as gallic acid equivalents GAE/g dry weight and rutin equivalent RE/g of dry weight respectively. The highest phenolic content and flavonoid content were found in ethyl acetate extract 9.40 mg GAE/g and 15.9 mg RE/g of dry weight. All the extracts showed significant antioxidant activity in DPPH and ABTS cation decolorization assays. Dichloromethane extract possess the highest DPPH scavenging activity, i.e., 64.12% ± 0.23 at concentration of 4 mg/ml. Moreover in ex-vivo studies all the extracts showed prominent effect by inhibiting AAPS induce oxidation in Human erythrocytes being 69.24% ± 0.18 in dichloromethane extract, 64.44% ± 0.04 in ethyl acetate and 53.33% ± 0.09 in acetone extract. The methanol extract of O. basilicum exhibited significant decrease in systolic blood pressure in l-Name induced hypertensive rats at the dose of 50 mg/kg for 28 days. Total phenolic content had a higher linear correlation (r = 0.678) with antihypertensive activity, with a level of significance 95% showing that phenolic compounds in the leaves of the plant has important role in inhibiting l –NAME induced hypertension while flavonoid compounds may play a key role in the antioxidant activities of the plant, through synergism. Conclusively, O. basilicum leaves with bioactive metabolites are a potential source for the development of antihypertensive drugs.

Characterization of California olive pomace fractions and their in vitro antioxidant and antimicrobial activities

Olive oil production yields a massive amount of byproduct, olive pomace (OP). Hexane-defatted Arbequina olive pomace from California, United States, was extracted with water and loaded to a preparative C18 chromatography. Phenolic desorption was applied by acidified methanolic-water gradients. Phenolic compound profiles and antioxidant/antimicrobial activities were determined. Results showed that the total phenolic contents of the fractions increased with the increase of the percentage of methanol in water gradients; however, the polar phenolic compound profiles generally decreased, while less-polar phenolic compound profiles increased. Oleuropein-aglycone-di-aldehyde (3,4-DHPEA-EDA) detected in water extract was not found in the acidified 35 mL/100 mL and acidified 70 mL/100 mL methanol fractions, but there was a new peak tentatively assigned as 3,4-DHPEA-EDA dimer. The invitro antioxidant activities of water fractions were higher than that of higher methanolic fractions when they were compared at the same level of gallic acid equivalents; the same trend was observed for the antimicrobial activities evaluated using non-Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Listeria innocua. This study provides knowledge as data foundations for the practical valorization and industrial food applications of olive pomace extracts.