Antiradical Activity Research Articles

Characterization of phenolics and tocopherol profile, capsaicinoid composition and bioactive properties of fruits in interspecies (Capsicum annuum X Capsicum frutescens) recombinant inbred pepper lines (RIL)

In this study, 104 RIL (Recombinant Inbred Pepper Lines: F6) populations which generated by selfing Capsicum annuum (Long pepper) × Capsicum frutescens (PI281420) F6 population were characterized in terms of detailed bioactive properties, major phenolic composition, tocopherol and capsaicinoid profile. Total phenolics, flavonoid and total anthocyanin contents of the red pepper lines were in the range of 7.06–17.15 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g dw, 1.10–5.46 mg catechin equivalent (CE)/g dw and 7.9–516.6 mg/kg dw extract, respectively. Antiradical activity and antioxidant capacity values also ranged between 18.99 and 49.73% and 6.97–16.47 mg ascorbic acid equivalent (AAE)/kg dw, respectively. Capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin levels showed a wide variance with the range of 27.9–1405.9 and 12.3–640.4 mg/100 g dw, respectively. Scoville heat unit revealed that the 95% of the peppers were highly pungent. The major tocopherol was alpha tocopherol for the pepper samples with the highest level of 1078.4 µg/g dw. The major phenolics were detected as p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, myricetin, luteolin and quercetin. Pepper genotypes showed significant differences in terms of the characterized properties and principal component analysis was applied successfully to reveal the similar genotypes.

The Chemical, Rheological, and Sensorial Characteristics of Arabic Bread Prepared from Wheat-Orange Sweet Potatoes Flour or Peel.

The current study investigates the feasibility of preparing Arabic bread from wheat flour, sweet potato flour, or peeled sweet potatoes based on the nutritional values, technological characteristics, and sensory properties of the final products. First, we analyzed the proximate, elemental, total and individual phytochemical compositions of the raw materials and bread samples. The analysis showed that potassium, calcium, and phosphorus were higher in peels than pulp, in the same manner to the total phenolics, flavonoids, and anti-radical scavenging activities. Phenolic acids and flavonols were quantified, where p-coumaric, feruloyl-D-glucose, eucomic, gallic, and ferulic acids were measured as major phenolic acids in either peels or pulp flours, and their quantities were higher in the peels. Furthermore, we evaluated the effects of wheat substitution on the properties of the dough blends and their final bakery. The results indicated that the fortified samples' nutritional and rheological properties were significantly improved, while their sensory qualities were comparable to those of the control. Thereby, the fortified dough blends presented higher dough stabilities, indicating a wider range of applications. Additionally, after the heat treatment, the fortified breads maintained significantly higher total phenolic, flavonoid, anthocyanin, and carotenoid contents, and total antioxidant activities, implying their accessibility for humans upon consumption.

Impact of Metal Accumulation on Photosynthetic Pigments, Carbon Assimilation, and Oxidative Metabolism in Mangroves Affected by the Fundāo Dam Tailings Plume

The effects of iron, manganese, zinc, copper, and lead on the chlorophyll content, carbon assimilation, and the antiradical activity of Rhizophora mangle and Laguncularia racemosa were evaluated in regions affected by the Fundão dam disruption in Brazil. The mine waste which settled and accumulated in the sediments could represent long-term contamination. It can be expected that the iron oxyhydroxides deposited in the sediments will be solubilized, leading to chronic contamination by trace metals and the accumulation of these metals in the biota. In this sense, biological indicators prove to be important tools to assess this type of damage. The different bioaccumulation of metals by the species revealed that R. mangle was more impacted by Mn and Cu and that L. racemosa showed alterations in its physiological responses in the presence of Cu, Zn, and Fe. The concentration of these metals in the leaves, with values above previous local reference limits, was associated with reductions in the chlorophyll-a and chlorophyll-b content and carbon assimilation, mainly in L. racemosa. The antiradical activity was also altered, suggesting a lower ability of both species to eliminate reactive oxygen species (ROS). A possible reason for the symptoms of oxidative stress may be due to the reduced efficiency of antioxidant defense by Cu2+ and Zn2+. In addition, the presence of Pb in the leaf tissue may be toxic to the fauna and the bioaccumulation of this metal and trace elements can be a way to transfer them into the food web by biomagnification.

Antimicrobial, antifungal and antiradical activities of the essential oils from the flower and leaf extracts of Iranian Ferulago macrocarpa plant

AimThe essential oils (EOs) extracted from the flowers and leaves of Ferulago macrocarpa (Fenzl) Boiss (F. macrocarpa) plant were traditionally used to treat bacterial and fungal infections in the people of Lorestan Province, Iran for several centuries. The present study aims to analyse the EOs of flower and leaf extracts of F. macrocarpa using Gas Chromatography/Mass-spectrometry (GC-MS) technique and investigate their antibacterial, antifungal and antiradical activities. Material and methodsFlowers and leaves of F. macrocarpa were collected from Lorestan, Iran. Oils were extracted by hydro-distillation and analysed by GC-MS. Antibacterial and antifungal activities of the oils were investigated against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Bacillus cereus (B. cereus), Escherichia coli (E. coli), Klebsiella pneumonia (K. pneumonia) and Candida albicans (C. albicans) pathogens. In addition, antiradical activity of the EOs was evaluated using in vitro DPPH assay. ResultsEOs from the flowers were found to contain fifty-three identified components, representing 95.4 % of the total oil. The major compound was bornyl acetate (38.3 %), followed by terpinolene (10.9 %), octane (5.6 %), β-pinene (4.4 %) and α-phellandrene (3.6 %). Forty-five components were identified in the leaf oil comprising 89.9 % of the total oil. Bornyl acetate (26.6 %), decane (11.4 %), dodecane (9.1 %), tetradecane (8.7 %), octane (4.5 %), germacrene D (3.9 %) and caryophyllene oxide (3.5 %) were prominent among the identified compounds. The EOs from the flowers exhibited potent activities against DPPH, S. aureus and B. cereus, while a weak inhibition was observed against C. albicans. The leaf EOs exhibited mild antiradical effects and no activity against the tested pathogens. ConclusionThese findings suggest that EOs from the flowers can be used to treat bacterial and fungal infections, and can be recommended to the traditional medicine users.

Diplacone Isolated from Paulownia tomentosa Mature Fruit Induces Ferroptosis-Mediated Cell Death through Mitochondrial Ca2+ Influx and Mitochondrial Permeability Transition.

The recently defined type of cell death ferroptosis has garnered significant attention as a potential new approach to cancer treatment owing to its more immunogenic nature when compared with apoptosis. Ferroptosis is characterized by the depletion of glutathione (GSH)/glutathione peroxidase-4 (GPx4) and iron-dependent lipid peroxidation. Diplacone (DP), a geranylated flavonoid compound found in Paulownia tomentosa fruit, has been identified to have anti-inflammatory and anti-radical activity. In this study, the potential anticancer activity of DP was explored against A549 human lung cancer cells. It was found that DP induced a form of cytotoxicity distinct from apoptosis, which was accompanied by extensive mitochondrial-derived cytoplasmic vacuoles. DP was also shown to increase mitochondrial Ca2+ influx, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT) pore-opening. These changes led to decreases in mitochondrial membrane potential and DP-induced cell death. DP also induced lipid peroxidation and ATF3 expression, which are hallmarks of ferroptosis. The ferroptosis inhibitors ferrostatin-1 and liproxstatin-1 were effective in counteracting the DP-mediated ferroptosis-related features. Our results could contribute to the use of DP as a ferroptosis-inducing agent, enabling studies focusing on the relationship between ferroptosis and the immunogenic cell death of cancer cells.

Pectin from Fruit- and Berry-Juice Production by-Products: Determination of Physicochemical, Antioxidant and Rheological Properties.

Plums (Prunus domestica); red currants (Ribes rubrum); black currants (Ribes nigrum); gooseberries (Ribes uva-crispa); sour cherries (Prunus cerasus); pumpkins (Cuccurbita spp.) are sources for valuable fruit- and berry-juice and cider production. This process leaves a large number of by-products (BP) in the form of pomace, which accounts for up to 80% of the raw material. This by-product represents a rich source of biologically active compounds, especially in the form of different pectic polysaccharides. The pectin extracted from commercial fruits such as citric fruits and apples has high medicinal properties, can be used as edible films and coatings, and is also useful in texture improvement and gel production in the food industry. However, many under-utilized fruits have received little attention regarding the extraction and characterization of their high/value pectin from their by-products. Moreover, the commercial extraction process involving strong acids and high temperature to obtain high-purity pectin leads to the loss of many bioactive components, and these lost components are often compensated for by the addition of synthetic antioxidants and colorants. The aim of the research is to extract pectin from juice production by-products with hot-water extraction using weak organic (0.1 N) citric acid, thus minimizing the impact on the environment. The yield of pectin (PY = 4.47-17.8% DM), galacturonic acid content (47.22-83.57 g 100-1), ash content (1.42-2.88 g 100 g-1), degree of esterification (DE = 45.16-64.06%), methoxyl content (ME = 4.27-8.13%), the total content of phenolic compounds (TPC = 2.076-4.668 µg mg-1, GAE) and the antiradical scavenging activity of the pectin samples (DPPH method (0.56-37.29%)) were determined. Free and total phenolic acids were quantified by saponification using high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). The pectin contained phenolic acids-benzoic (0.25-0.92 µg mg-1), gallic (0.14-0.57 µg mg-1), coumaric (0.04 µg mg-1), and caffeic (0.03 µg mg-1). The pectin extracts from by-products showed glucose and galactose (3.89-21.72 g 100 g-1) as the main neutral sugar monosaccharides. Pectin analysis was performed using FT-IR, and the rheological properties of the pectin gels were determined. The quality of the obtained pectin from the fruit and berry by-products in terms of their high biological activity and high content of glucuronic acids indicated that the products have the potential to be used as natural ingredients in various food products and in pharmaceutical products.

Enhancement of the aromatic alcohols and health properties of Chinese rice wine by using a potentially probiotic Saccharomyces cerevisiae BR14

In recent years, potential probiotic strains have been increasingly applied to food to promote consumer health or improve the nutrition of products. In current study, a potential probiotic Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain BR14 was applied for the development of functional Huangjiu. The strain significantly increased the ethanol content in final wine, as well as the total acidity, especially acetic acid and lactic acid. As an accessory starter, BR14 promoted the formation of total volatile flavor compounds, particularly in 1-propanol, 3-methyl-1-butanol and phenethyl alcohol. Meanwhile, it reduced the formation of 2-Methyl-1-propanol by 54.65%. Regarding nutrients and functionality of final Chinese rice wine, S. cerevisiae BR14 exhibited excellent capacity in the improvement of glutamic acid, ornithine and antiradical activity for wine production. Content of urea, which determined the formation of ethyl carbamate, considerably decreased by the co-fermentation of BR14. Moreover, polysaccharide of Huangjiu fermented by BR14 stimulated the proliferation of macrophages RAW264.7, and reduced anti-inflammatory response. Based on sensory evaluation, BR14 wine was highly assessed for its intensive levels in alcohol-aroma and full body. This study verified the biofunctions of BR14, indicating the possibility to apply potential probiotic yeasts in food applications.

Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities and GC/MS-based phytochemical analysis of two traditional Lichen species Trypethellium virens and Phaeographis dendritica

BackgroundLichens are complex plants living in symbiotic relationship between fungi and algae. They are used for human and animal nutrition and are used in folk medicine in many countries over a considerable period of time. In the present study, various solvent extracts of Trypethelslium virens and Phaeographis dendritica were tested for their antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. ResultsThe phytochemical analysis by GC/MS revealed phenolics (1.273%), terpene (0.963%), hydrocarbons (2.081%), benzofurans (2.081%), quinone (1.273%), alkanes (0.963%), and aliphatic aldehydes (0.963%) as the predominant compounds in Trypethellium virens SPTV02, whereas secondary alcohol (1.184%), alkaloids (1.184%), and fatty acids (4.466) were the major constituents in Phaeographis dendritica. The antioxidant property of methanolic extract of T. virens and P. dendritica revealed the presence of total phenolic and terpenoids. The methanolic extracts of both the lichens exhibited encouraging DPPH antiradical activity, with the IC50 of 62.4 ± 0.76 µg/ml for T. virens and 68.48 ± 0.45 µg/ml for P. dendritica. Similarly, ferric reducing power assay result exhibited higher reducing activity. Further, the lichen extracts (methanolic) indicated promising antimicrobial activities against pathogens showing MIC from 62.5 to 500 µg/ml. ConclusionThe study results concludes that both the lichens could be used as new natural source of antioxidants and antimicrobial agents which can be exploited for pharmaceutical applications.

Antioxidant and Antiradical Activities of Hibiscus sabdariffa L. Extracts Encapsulated in Calcium Alginate Spheres

The interest in natural sources with high antioxidant powder has recently increased in several sectors. Ionic gelation methods could be used to protect bioactive substances to control the kinetics and release of these ingredients to the food matrix. This study dealt with the evaluation of the antioxidant capacity and scavenging activity of extracts of Hibiscus Sabdariffa L. (HSL) (with 50% ethanol) encapsulated in calcium alginate spheres as a new source for preserving food against oxidative damage. Their antioxidant activity was measured in different o/w emulsions in which HSL spheres reduced the formation of hydroperoxides (~80%) and thiobarbituric-acid-reactive substance products (~20%). The scavenging activity of HSL extracts was measured in different food simulants (water, water acidified with 3% acetic acid, ethanol at 50%, and pure ethanol), and corresponded to 0.20-0.43, 0.31-0.62, and 11.13-23.82 mmol Trolox/mL extract for Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), 2,2-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assays, respectively. In general, the best antiradical activity was observed in the ethanolic and acidified mediums, in which the highest concentration of released polyphenols ranged from 0.068 to 0.079 mg GAE/mL. This work indicates the potential of alginate spheres for encapsulating antioxidant compounds as an innovative strategy for several industrial applications.

Polyphenolic Content and Radical Scavenging Activities of the Peel, Pulp and Seed of Avocado (Persea americana Mill.) Grown in Tanzania

Avocado is a healthy fruit and the consumption is continuously growing worldwide. The fruit contains polyphenolic compounds with antioxidant effects. Globally, research has been devoted to exploring the fruit quality, especially compounds with antioxidant effects, from different avocado-growing sites. However, the fruit quality of the Tanzanian avocado has so far not been investigated. In this study, the contents of polyphenols in peel, pulp and seed of avocados sampled in south-western Tanzania are described. The levels of total polyphenolic and flavonoid contents were measured, and antioxidant activity was evaluated using a 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. The total polyphenolic content was highest in the seed and lowest in the peel (424 and 200 mg GAE/100 g DW, respectively). As for the total flavonoid content, the pulp had the highest value of 36.98 mg RE/100 g DW, while the seed had the lowest value of 32.54 mg RE/100 g DW. The overall average half maximal effective concentration (EC50) values in decreasing order, corresponding to an increasing antiradical activity, were 4.90 (peel), 3.63 (seed) and 3.24 µg/mL (pulp). The seed and peel possessed high levels of total polyphenolic and flavonoid content, thus demonstrating substantial antioxidant capacity. Seed and peel can potentially be processed and included in the diet to provide inexpensive antioxidant ingredients of natural origin. Consumption of the seed will not only improve human health but also reduce the environmental pollution, as many thousand tonnes of avocado seeds are produced in Tanzania per year; a huge amount currently remains as waste.
 Keywords: Flavonoid contents; Free radicals; EC50; Polyphenolic content

Paeonia anomala (Paeoniaceae) component composition and antioxidant, antiradical and cytotoxic activity

Paeonia anomala L. is a valuable medicinal plant in the world. The aim of this study was the study of composition of the plant P. anomalaand its antioxidant, antiradical and cytotoxic activities. The underground part of P.anomalawas extracted with ethanol and the composition was determined using gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection (Agilent 7890A/5975C). Methyl salicylate (32.07%), sucrose (11.23%), benzoic acid (9.12%), cyclopropyl carbine (7.7 %), 2,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxy-3(2H)-furanone (4.77%), ben-zoic acid, 2,4-dihydroxy-3,5,6-trimethyl-, methyl ester (4.48%), are the main components. The ethyl acetate extract of the underground part (root) of P. anomalaat concentrations of 0.25 and 0.5 mg/ml has a low content, and at concentrations of 0.75 and 1 mg/ml, an average antioxidant activity compared to the antioxidant activity ofascorbic and gallic acids. The ethanol extract of the underground part of P. anomalaat concentrations of 0.25 and 0.5 mg/ml has an average, and at concentrations of 0.75 and 1 mg/ml the highest antioxidant activity compared to the antioxidant activity comparators. Also, the ethanol extract of the underground part P.anomalahas the highest antiradical activity in all concentrations compared to the antiradical activity of gallic acid. Ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts of the underground part of P. anomalain all concentrations do not show cytotoxicity.

ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF ETHANOL EXTRACTS OF $RIBES~NIGRUM$ AND $RIBES~RUBRUM$ LEAVES

Antimicrobial activity of Ribes nigrum L. and Ribes rubrum L. leaf extracts was determined by disk-diffusion method as well as specific growth rate and generation succeeding factor determination. Different Gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis WT-A, Staphylococcus aureus MDC 5233, Enterococcus hirae ATCC 9790) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Salmonella typhimurium MDC1754, ampicillin resistant E. coli dhpα-pUC18 and kanamycin resistant E. coli pARG25) bacteria and yeasts (Saccharomyces cerevisiae ATCC 9804 and S. cerevisiae ATCC 13007) were used as test-microorganisms. 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay was applied to measure the radical scavenging capacity of extracts obtained from Ribes spp. R. rubrum and R. nigrum extracts antiradical activity expressed with IC50 value of 91.2±1.69 µg‧mL–1 and 66.01±1.65 µg‧mL–1, respectively. The total flavonoid content in plant extracts was determined employing AlCl3 colorimetric assay, and the values were 34.71±0.63 and 49.99±0.86 μg QE‧mg–1 for R. rubrum and R. nigrum extracts, respectively. Total phenolic content of studied extracts was investigated by Folin–Ciocalteu assay. The contents for R. rubrum and R. nigrum extracts were 133.12±6.65 and 167.15±7.29 μg GAE‧mg–1, respectively. Thus, these plants can be considered as potential sources of biologically active substances.

New Data for Endemic Phlomis cypria Post from North Cyprus: Biological Activities and LC MS/MS Analysis

Abstract: Background: The genus Phlomis includes up to 100 species which are distributed throughout Eurasia. Of these species, Phlomis cypria Post (Lamiaceae) is an endemic plant from North Cyprus. P. cypria is commonly used in North Cyprus as medicinal herbal tea for the winter cold and flu. Phlomis species have antioxidant, antimicrobial and anticancer effects. Materials and Methods: In this study, herbal part of P. cypria from North Cyprus was sequentially extracted using hexane, dichloromethane and 70% aqueous methanol and using maceration at room temperature. All extracts were investigated for antiradical (DPPH● and ABTS+●), anticholinesterase, antibacterial and the cytotoxic activities and additionally, chemical compositions of the extracts were evaluated by LC MS/MS method. Results: Aqueous methanol extract showed antiradical activities (IC50 0.29 mg/mL in DPPH●; TEAC 1.22, 1.36 in ABTS+●) and cytotoxic activities (IC50 1264 μg/mL on SK-HEP 1 cells). Dichloromethane extract only showed activity in anticholinesterase assay (inhibitions were 37.68% for AChE; 21.73% for BChE). Forsytoside B was found as the main phenolic compound in the active extract with caffeic acid bound to other compounds. Conclusion: According to the results, P. cypria could be a potential candidate as cytotoxic and cholineasterase inhibitor agent. Keywords: Phlomis cypria, Lamiaceae, Antioxidant, Cytotoxicity, Antibacterial, Anticholinesterase.

Crude Polysaccharides from Wild-Growing Armillaria mellea—Chemical Composition and Antidiabetic, Anti-Inflammatory, Antioxidant, and Antiproliferative Potential

Armillaria mellea is a commonly harvested and consumed mushroom in Poland. Several activities of polysaccharides from this species have already been reported. However, polysaccharides from A. mellea growing in the wild in Poland have not yet been investigated. This study was conducted to obtain a crude polysaccharide fraction (AmPS) and investigate its chemical composition and biological properties. Our research suggests that A. mellea is a valuable source of polysaccharides, including β-glucans. 1H NMR and high-performance capillary electrophoresis analysis of AmPS revealed the occurrence of polysaccharides consisted of myo-inositol, mannitol, fucose, galactose, glucose, and mannose. Proteins, uronic acids, and phenolics were present only in trace amounts in the AmPS. The AmPS fraction was found to exhibit strong α-glucosidase inhibitory activity; however, no activity in relation to α-amylase was detected. The fraction was also able to inhibit pro-inflammatory enzymes, i.e., lipoxygenase, cyclooxygenase, and hyaluronidase. Moderate antioxidant and antiradical activity of AmPS was revealed by the ORAC and ABTS assay, respectively. The AmPS fraction was found to have antiproliferative potential against gastric and colorectal cancer cell lines (AGS, HT-29). These findings suggest that AmPS may be considered a health-beneficial food ingredient. Since A. mellea is a commonly known edible mushroom with a long tradition of use, its polysaccharides may be considered safe components for direct consumption or production of nutraceuticals.

Physicochemical and Nutritional Potential of Fifteen Sorghum Cultivars from Burkina Faso

(1) Background: Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) is a staple food cereal for most of the rural populations in sub-Saharan Africa. In Burkina Faso, a great diversity of sorghum cultivar is cultivated, but its nutritional potential still needs to be assessed. This study aims to characterize the physicochemical and nutritional profile of grains from 15 sorghum cultivars grown in Burkina Faso in order to identify the best ones for selection and breeding programs. (2) Methods: The physicochemical, nutritional, and antioxidant-activity characterizations of the grains were performed according to standard methods. (3) Results: The study shows significant differences between cultivars according to the physicochemical traits of the grains, such as 1000-grain weight, moisture, and germination rate. For nutritional parameters, the best contents of carbohydrates (79.36%), proteins (9.21%), and fats (4.40%) were recorded with cultivars V12, V8, and V11, respectively. The heavy grains are flouriest with high contents of carbohydrates with high ABTS antiradical activity. However, these grains have low contents of proteins and flavonoids. Those with high ash contents are the richest in amylose and phenolic compounds. Principal component analysis based on physicochemical and nutritional characteristics of sorghum grains identified four groups of varieties with specific characteristics. Group 1 (G1), which includes cultivars V1, V12, V13, V14, and V15, is characterized by a high weight of 1000 grains and mealy cultivars with relatively high total carbohydrate content and ABTS.+ antiradical activity. Group 2 (G2) includes cultivars V7, V9, and V11 and is characterized by cultivars with low 1000-grain weight, less floury but good germination rate, high protein, flavonoids, and relatively high antioxidant activity. Group 3 (G3) includes cultivars V3, V4, and V8 with relatively high ash, amylose, and polyphenol contents, while group 4 (G4), which includes cultivars V2 and V6, has high antioxidant activity and high fatty acid content. Conclusions: The study recorded a variation of physicochemical and nutritional characteristics of sorghum grain according to cultivars. The cultivars were divided into four groups. Among them, the group 1 cultivars have the best nutritional traits and could therefore be used in breeding and selection programs to improve the nutritional potential of sorghum.

Antioxidant polysaccharide/gelatin blend films loaded with curcumin — A comparative study

Curcumin (CUR; 0, 0.005, 0.01, 0.02 %) was loaded into binary 75/25 blend films based on polysaccharides (carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), gum Arabic (GAR), octenyl succinic anhydride modified starch (OSA), water-soluble soy polysaccharides (WSSP)) and gelatin (GEL). The GAR-based system was the least rough and, consequently, the most transparent of the films. An opposite result was found for the WSSP-based film. Despite the phase separation, the CMC75/GEL25 film exhibited excellent mechanical strength and stiffness. CUR improved the UV/VIS light-barrier characteristics of the films, but did not affect most of other physiochemical properties. X-ray diffractograms revealed that CUR provoked the rearrangement of the triple helical structure of GEL. As highly erodible, the CMC75/GEL25 carrier ensured the fastest and the most complete release of CUR. The OSA75/GEL25 system exhibited an opposite behavior. The kinetic profiles of the antiradical activity of the films did not reflect CUR release. A comparison of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH*) scavenging on the plateau revealed that the CUR-supplemented films had quite comparable antiradical potential. The CMC75/GEL25 system exhibited the highest colorimetric stability, likely as a result of complete encapsulation of CUR in the GEL-rich microspheres. Weak symptoms of physical aging (enthalpy relaxation) were found in the films.

Chemical Diversity of Artemisia rutifolia Essential Oil, Antimicrobial and Antiradical Activity

This paper presents the results of the study of the composition of the essential oil (EO) of Artemisia rutifolia by the GC/MS method as well as its antimicrobial and antiradical activities. According to the PCA-analysis, these EOs can be conditionally divided into "Tajik" and "Buryat-Mongol" chemotypes. The first chemotype is characterized by the prevalence of α- and β-thujone, and the second chemotype by the prevalence of 4-phenyl-2-butanone, camphor. The greatest antimicrobial activity of A. rutifolia EO was observed against Gram-positive bacteria and fungi. The EO showed high antiradical activity with an IC50 value of 17.55 μL/mL. The presented first data on the composition and activity of the EO of A. rutifolia of the Russian flora indicate the prospects of the species as a raw material for the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry.

STUDY OF THE CONTENT OF POLYPHENOLS AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF THE EXTRACT OF GREEN MARINE ALGAE ULVA LACTUCA L.

It was studied the impact of a water-alcohol extract (70%) from the marine green algae Ulva lactuca L., enriched with a polyphenol fraction, and a herbal preparation – extract of Eleutherococcus senticosus (Rupr. & Maxim.) Maxim. (Araliaceae) on the indicators of antioxidant protection of the liver and blood plasma of rats under acute stress (vertical fixation by the dorsal neck fold). The total polyphenols and flavonoids content in the extract of U. lactuca made 16.2±1.8 µg GAE/g and 9.10±1.87 g QE/g, respectively, which was 2 times higher than its amount in the Eleutherococcus extract – 7.6±0.25 µg GAE/g and 4.8±0.3 µg QE/g respectively. The antiradical activity against ABTS+ and alkyl-peroxyl radicals of the U. lactuca extract was also almost 2 times higher in compere with Eleutherococcus. The pharmacological effect of the phenolic complex of U. lactuca in Wistar rats under stress was manifested in the stabilization of the antioxidant defense system. It was noted a decrease of the malondialdehyde content, an increase of the antiradical activity level, reduced glutathione content and the activity of enzymes of glutathione cycle in the liver and blood plasma of rats. In terms of efficiency, the extract of U. lactuca was not inferior to the reference preparation Eleutherococcus, and in terms of the ability to restore the activity of antioxidant enzymes and indicators of the glutathione system, it was superior to that. The pharmacological effect of the phenolic complex of U. lactuca, to our opinion, is provided by the action of its constituent flavonoids, phenolic terpenoids, phenolic acids (hydroxybenzoic, hydroxycinnamic, coumaric, synapic), etc., which have pronounced antioxidant properties, which prevents the development of lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress. Thus, the marine green algae U. lactuca is a promising raw material for the development of preparations that can increase the potential of the endogenous antioxidant defense system of the body at stress-induced disorders.

Phytochemical Screening, In Vitro Antidiabetic and Antioxidant Activity of Rabdosia rugosa (Wall. ex Benth.) H. Hara Extract from Kinnaur District, Himachal Pradesh

Rabdosia rugosa (Wall. ex Benth.) H. Hara. (Syn. Plectranthusrugosus Wall.) belongs to the Lamiaceae family and is used by local communities of the Kinnaur district to cure diabetes. The selection of the plant material is based upon data that aerial parts of the plant (leaves along with flowers) are used in folklore to manage the postprandial hike in blood sugar levels. Therefore, in the present investigation, antiradical and antidiabetic activities of the ethanolic extract of the plant were checked. Preliminary tests for phytochemicals, total phenols, and flavenoids were also determined. Our results manifested that R. rugosa (Rabdosia rugosa) extract exhibited superior antioxidant activity (p˂0.05) by DPPH and H2O2 assays with IC50 = 9.62 ± 2.70 μg/ml and IC50 = 28.22 ± 2.94 μg/ml. This plant also exhibited preeminent repression action against the enzyme, i.e., alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase (p˂0.05) with IC50 = 10.49 ± 6.17 μg/ml (Porcine α – amylase), IC50 = 1.87 ± 1.79 μg/ml (Yeast α - glucosidase), ( IC50 = 16.89 ± 0. 06 μg/ml(Intestinal rat α - glucosidase) Hence, we concluded that present plant possessed excellent antiradical and antidiabetic activity. The antidiabetic activity was estimated higher than the standard Acarbose. As per our information, this may be the first time to report on the extract of R. rugosa for its antioxidant and antidiabetic capacity. The current findings divulge that this plant can further be studied to verify its therapeutic activities.

Comparison of the Effect of Solid and Liquid Digestate on the Growth of Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) Plants

As a consequence of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Europe is facing a shortage of chemical fertilizers for agriculture. Therefore, the use of byproducts of biomass anaerobic digestion, e.g., solid (SD) and liquid (LD) digestate, could be a key solution to cope with this problem. In this framework, the present study aimed to evaluate the effect of both SD and LD, derived from the same feedstock, on the biometric, physiological, and biochemical parameters of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) plants. Compared to the controls, the plants treated with 3% (w/w) SD showed a reduction in leaf fresh biomass, chlorophyll content, performance index, fractal dimension, and antiradical activity, while vitamin C increased by 18.8%. An opposite response was observed for the lettuce plants treated with 3% (v/w) LD, which showed an increase in all the above-mentioned parameters, except for vitamin C, which decreased by 39.8%. Interestingly, the content of malondialdehyde, which is correlated with cell membrane lipid peroxidation, increased in the SD-treated plants (+39.7%) and decreased (−42.1%) in the LD-treated plants. These results strongly support the use of LD in agriculture as a valuable product to improve the productivity and nutritional quality of crop plants.