Aqueous Acetone Research Articles

Ultrasonic-Assisted Water-Rich Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents for Sustainable Polyphenol Extraction from Seaweed: A Case Study on Cultivated Saccharina latissima.

This case study introduces a green, 1 h single-step method using water-rich natural deep eutectic solvent (WRNADES) for ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) of polyphenols fromSaccharina latissima, a commercially cultivated brown seaweed. The extraction efficiency was evaluated using a selective quantitative NMR method (s-qNMR) and the traditional nonselective colorimetric total phenolic content assay (TPC). Initial 6 h extractions in traditional solvents (methanol, ethanol, acetone, and ethyl acetate) showed a 40-60% increase in polyphenolic yields in 50% aqueous solutions measured by the TPC method. Six different water-rich (50%) NADES (WRNADES) combinations were tested (choline chloride/betaine with lactic acid, citric acid, and 1,3-butanediol), with betaine and 1,3-butanediol (1:1) proving most effective. Parameters for the WRNADES were optimized using Box-Behnken design response surface methodology, resulting in a 1:20 w/w biomass to solvent ratio and a 1 h extraction time at 50 °C. The WRNADES extraction process was refined into a scalable, single-step procedure and compared with traditional solvent extractions (6 h, 50% aqueous methanol and acetone). A final XAD-7 polyphenol recovery step was included in all extractions. The optimized WRNADES extraction yielded 15.97 mg GAE/g of the dry weight recovered polyphenolic extract (s-qNMR), exceeding the 6 h 50% aqueous methanol (12.4 mg GAE/g) and acetone (11.4 mg GAE/g) extractions. Thus, the UAE-WRNADES method presented in this case study provides a cost-effective, sustainable, and eco-friendly alternative for the extraction of phenolic compounds from seaweed. It promotes the development of environmentally friendly production processes within the seaweed biorefinery.

Oral toxicity of the acetone extract of Coffea arabica var. Oro Azteca leaves in CD-1 mice

The investigation of coffee leaves as a source of bioactive principles represents a relatively unexplored area of research. The study assesses the potential adverse effects of an aqueous acetone extract derived from Coffea arabica var. Oro Azteca leaves. The phenolic composition of the extract was identified and quantified by UPLC-MS/MS, and its acute and repeated-dose effects were evaluated in six-week-old CD-1 mice (n = 11 for acute evaluation and n = 20 female and n = 20 male for repeated-dose evaluation). The extract demonstrated no significant toxicity, maintaining consistent body weight and exhibiting a hepatoprotective effect by reducing ALT levels at a dose of 500 mg/kg. Some hyperactivity was observed at the highest doses, but overall, the extract enhanced the immune response and showed no histological alterations, except for mild inflammation in certain organs. The extract, which contains abundant quinic acid, chlorogenic acid, epicatechin, procyanidin B2, and mangiferin, has been deemed safe for consumption.

Wearable SERS sensor based on Bionic Sea urchin-Cavity structure for dual in-situ detection of metabolites and VOCs gas

Diagnosis of diseases by monitoring the metabolite concentration on the skin surface and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in exhaled gas is an active area of research with great potential for development and application. Therefore, the development of a sensor that can monitor in real time slight changes in metabolite concentrations on the surface of the skin in the resting state and accurately detect VOCs gases in exhaled gas is of significant practical value. To address these challenges, we designed and fabricated the wearable Bionic Sea urchin-Cavity (BSC) SERS sensor with high sensitivity and adaptability. Our testing revealed that the SERS sensor exhibited strong responsiveness to human metabolites. The subtle concentration changes in urea on the resting state skin surface also successfully detected. Furthermore, the SERS sensor successfully detected trace acetone gas volatilized from the 30 mmol/L aqueous acetone solution similar to the acetone concentration in diabetic blood. We anticipate that this SERS sensor could serve as a multi-functional wearable device for medical applications and provide a new platform for the field.

Phytochemical Analysis and Antibacterial Activity of the Stem of Barleria cuspidata Using Different Solvent Extracts

The study aims to investigate the phytochemical constituents and antibacterial activity of the stem of Barleria cuspidata, an important medicinal plant. Various solvent extracts, including Aqueous extracts, ethanol, methanol, and Acetone extracts, were prepared to assess their phytochemical profiles and antibacterial properties. The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, and other bioactive compounds. The antibacterial activity was evaluated against common bacterial pathogens such as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Salmonella typhimurium using the agar well diffusion method. The results indicated that the ethanol and methanol extracts exhibited significant antibacterial activity, suggesting that Barleria cuspidata stem possesses potential as a natural source of antibacterial agents.

The impact of thermophysical properties on eflornithine drug solute in acetone and ethyl acetate solvent interactions at varying concentrations and temperatures

The study was conducted on the impact of thermophysical properties on eflornithine drug solute–solvent interactions in aqueous ethyl acetate and acetone at different concentrations and temperatures. The aim of this study is to enhance the understanding of eflornithine’s behavior in different solvents, which is crucial for its effective use in pharmaceutical applications. The density, molar volume, viscometric, and conductometric characteristics of the eflornithine drug solutions (0.025, 0.05, 0.075, 0.1, and 0.125 mol/kg) in acetone and 25% (v/v) aqueous ethyl acetate were measured within a temperature range of 298.15 K–318.15 K. Based on the determined density parameters, the following parameters were assessed: viscosity (η), equivalent molar conductance, limiting apparent molar volume (V0φ), apparent molar volume of transfer (V0φtr), and apparent molar volume (Vφ). The Masson empirical relationship and the viscosity-to-Jones-Dole (JD) equation were used to evaluate the partial molar volume (Vφ), experimental slope (SV), viscosity, and density data. Temperature and concentration were used to determine each parameter. For each set of dilutions, conductometric studies were conducted in both study solvents. The gathered data was analyzed in order to evaluate the ion–solvent interactions. The Walden product Λomηo’s positive temperature coefficient values indicate that the drug eflornithine functions as a structural modifier in acetone and aqueous acetyl acetate systems. The structure-making and breaking characteristics of the polar solvents acetone and ethyl acetate were identified.

The component composition of the total flavonoid fractions from some <i>Ericaceae</i> family and their effect on the NO-stimulating activity of peritoneal macrophages

Introduction. Representatives of the Ericaceae family are quite common in Russia and are promising for the creation of new medicines of plant origin. At the same time, only 4 of them are official. The study of biologically active substances and pharmacological activity of Andromeda polifolia L., Chamaеdaphne calyculata (L.) Moench, Ledum palustre L., Empetrum nigrum L. with rich resource reserves is promising.Aim. Comparative study of the composition of total flavonoid fractions from A. polifolia, C. calyculata, L. palustre, E. nigrum and study of their effect on the NO-stimulating activity of peritoneal macrophagesMaterials and methods. The crushed aboveground part (leafy shoots) was previously depigmented with chloroform, treated with 70 % aqueous acetone, then acetone was removed. Flavonoids were extracted with ethyl acetate from the aqueous phase. The identification of flavonoids was carried out by HPLC (UltiMate 3000 chromatograph) according to the coincidence of retention times and spectral characteristics, the calculation of the content was carried out by simple normalization. The effect of the samples on nitric oxide production was studied on macrophages of C57BL/6 mice. Endotoxin control in the samples was carried out using a LAL test and cell incubation in the presence of polymyxin B.Results and discussion. The composition of flavonoid fractions from A. polifolia, C. calyculata, L. palustre and E. nigrum has been studied. 8 phenolic compounds were found in C. calyculata shoots, including isoquercitrin, herbacetin, naringenin and naringin – for the first time for this species. 5 compounds were detected in A. polifolia shoots, including isoquercitrin and herbacetin, for the first time for this species. 5 and 4 compounds were identified in L. palustre and E. nigrum shoots, respectively, while quercetin glycosides are predominant in all samples: isoquercitrin, hyperoside and rutin. The fraction of C. calyculata flavonoids at doses of 1, 5, 10 mcg/ml inhibits the production of nitric oxide by macrophages by 30 %, and E. nigrum flavonoids at doses of 100 and 200 mcg/ml, on the contrary, enhance the production of nitrites by macrophages by 33 and 37 %, respectively.Conclusion. A comparative study of the composition of total flavonoid fractions from A. polifolia, C. calyculata, L. palustre, and E. nigrum, which are capable of activating both M1 and M2 polarization of peritoneal macrophages in mice, has been conducted, which requires further in-depth study. The flavonoids C. calyculata and E. nigrum are promising for further study.

Research on Water-Soluble Constituents and Anti-Aging Effect of the Leaves of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn

Objective: This study aimed to isolate and elucidate the structure of water-soluble constituents from Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. leaves and evaluate their anti-aging effect. Methods: The natural products were isolated from the 60% aqueous acetone extract of the leaves of N. nucifera by column chromatography on MCI gel CHP 20P, YMC-Gel ODS-AQ-HG, and TSK gel Toyopearl HW-40F. Their structures were elucidated using high-resolution-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry, one-dimensional and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and electronic circular dichroism spectroscopy. The anti-aging activity was evaluated in the Caenorhabditis elegans model. Results/Conclusion: One novel flavonoid nuciferanoid (1), together with eleven known compounds, were isolated from the extract of the leaves of N. nucifera. Among them, compound 1 could be a starting point for further development of anti-aging drugs.

Experimental and theoretical study of the photochemical properties and acidochromism of nonconventional 2,4,6-triarylpyridine-based materials

2,4,6-Triarylpyridines (TAPs) represent a versatile class of N-heterocycles with broad applications in many fields. This study presents an investigation on photochemical properties and acidochromism behavior of novel 2,6-bis(4-(dodecyloxy)phenyl)-4-(4-substituted-phenyl)pyridine-based derivatives (1a-1g). Photochemical study in dichloromethane (DCM) and acetone (ACT) solutions showed a small solvent effect for the TAP derivatives, except for the carbazole derivative 1a, which was characterized as the most emissive material in all conditions, but especially in DCM solution for blue emission (λEM = 406 nm, ϕf = 0.36). The presence of electron-donating groups at the 4-phenyl moiety contributes to more intense and redshifted emissions in both DCM and ACT solutions, as well as in the solid state. In aqueous ACT, while TAPs bearing EDGs such as 1a presented more intense emissions depending on the water fraction, an opposite effect was verified for fluorinated derivative 1f. The acidochromism of selected TAPs 1a and 1f (fluorinated derivative) in aqueous acetone was characterized by the decreasing of the emission intensity at 436 nm and 388 nm, respectively, in the presence of aqueous HCl for both TAPs, however, the protonated 1f showed strong emission in higher wavelength (λEM = 476 nm) in acidic medium. A 1H NMR study allowed a better understanding of the structural features associated to the acidochromism. The photochemical and acidochromism results obtained for the TAP derivatives are strongly supported by computational results, and particularly noteworthy is the favoring of the resonance effect as consequence of the decreasing in the torsion angle between the 4-alkoxyaryl substituents and the pyridine core after protonation of 1f. The emissive properties and acidochromism capacity of 1a and 1f allowed the potential application of TAP-adsorbed paper strips as disposable sensors for qualitative detection of gaseous HCl.

Phytochemical Diversity and Related Bioactivity of Ethyl Acetate Fraction from Different Organs and Provenances of the Edible Halophyte Crithmum Maritimum L.

Sea fennel (Crithmum maritimum L.) is a facultative halophyte from the Apiaceae family. The variation of phenolic compounds, the antioxidant and antibacterial activities of different extracts of different organs of sea fennel were investigated. The roots, stems, leaves and seeds were collected from three bioclimatic stages of Tunisia. Solvent fractionation method (using aqueous acetone, petroleum ether and ethyl acetate) was adopted to separate the extract ingredient and to concentrate phenolics. Total phenolics, total flavonoids, and condensed tannins significantly varied between organs and localities. In leaves, the highest level of phenols was detected in the upper and sub-humid zones. However, in stems the high amounts of phenols were observed in semiarid climate. The antioxidant activity was evaluated through four different methods and the antimicrobial activity was assessed against five human pathogenic bacteria and a fungal strain. Multivariate analysis showed significant effect of organ and locality on the antioxidant properties. Results of the antibacterial activities showed significant differences among extracts and was reflected by a large spectrum of activity ranging from totally not active (Zones of inhibition (zi) < 1 mm) to very high activity (zi >16 mm). Combined statistical results allowed to select the more potent fraction to be analyzed using reversed-phase HPLC (RP-HPLC). The flavanol epigallocatechin was identified as a major phenolic compound which contributed greatly to the antioxidant capacity. The results established in this study highlighted the importance of this halophyte cash crop in the human diet as natural source of active components.

Effect of extraction solvents on polyphenol content and antioxidant activity of carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua L.) leaves

Carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua L.) is widely used in traditional medicine and food. The aim of this study was to determine the most appropriate extraction solvent to optimize the extraction of polyphenols and flavonoids from the leaves, in order to obtain the highest antioxidant activity. In this context, the effects of six different solvents (100% methanol, 100% ethanol, 100% acetone, 50% (v/v) aqueous methanol, 50% (v/v) aqueous ethanol and 50% (v/v) aqueous acetone) with different polarities on the polyphenol content and antioxidant activity of carob tree leaf extracts were investigated. The total polyphenol and total flavonoid contents, as well as the antioxidant activity determined by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging method of the extracts were evaluated. The results showed that carob tree leaves extracted with 100% methanol presented the highest values in terms of total polyphenol content (11.33± 0.08 mg EAG/g DM), total flavonoid content (8.55± 0.34 mg EC/g DM) and DPPH inhibition percentage (79.29 ± 3.75%). High positive correlations between total polyphenols, total flavonoids and antioxidant activity of carob tree leaf extracts were also observed. These results indicate that carob tree leaf extract obtained using an appropriate extraction solvent was able to enhance the protective effect against oxidative damage associated with free radicals.

Phenolic compounds in leaves of <i>Tanacetum balsamita</i> L.

Tanacetum balsamita L. is a perennial rhizomatous plant of the Asteraceae family. T. balsamita is cultivated as medicinal, aromatic plants and food plant. Extract of costmary exhibits hepatoprotective, antiseptic and anthelmintic properties. The herb of T. balsamita contains essential oils and phenolic compounds. This species included in the "Biocollection of medicinal and aromatic plants of open and protected ground", Botanical garden of the VILAR. The main aim was to study the composition of phenolic compounds in the leaves of T. balsamita with application of ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detection and mass spectrometry. The object of the study was the leaves of T. balsamita. Samples were extracted with 1 ml of 80% aqueous acetone. An ultra-performance liquid chromatographic system with a photodiode detector and a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer was used for analysis of phenolic compounds. The UV and MS data of phenolic compounds were used for their identification or tentative characterization with application of mass spectrometry databases and data published in the literature.Results. The results obtained showed the presence in the leaves of 17 phenolic compounds. Five compounds were identified as caffeoylquinic, feruloylquinic and three dicaffeolquinic acid isomers, and two compounds as ferulic acid hexoside isomers. The leaves of T. balsamita contained also five luteolin derivatives, two chrysoeriol derivatives, and spinacetin/axillarin. Four compounds were not identified.

Modulating Natural Methane Release from Rumen Fermentation through the Use of Ficus glomerata Leaf Tannins in Murrah Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)

Enteric fermentation is one of the largest contributors of methane release to the environment from the livestock sector. Plant bioactive compounds can modulate rumen fermentation for reduced methanogenesis and fatty acid biohydrogenation. The present study investigates the effects of tannin extract from Ficus glomerata (FG) leaves on the rumen fermentation, methanogenesis, feed digestibility and fatty acid biohydrogenation of a total mixed ration with the aim of developing a feed supplement for enhanced livestock production and product quality with lower methane emission. The tannin extract (70% aqueous acetone extract) of FG leaves in the total mixed ration (oat hay/concentrate mixture; 1:1) was studied at four graded dose regimens (0.0 (control), 0.25 mL (FG-0.25), 0.50 mL (FG-0.50) and 1.0 mL (FG-1.0) per 60 mL of buffered rumen fluid) in three replicates for each treatment in a radio-frequency-based automatic gas production system (ANKOM-RF) at 39 °C for 24 h following the standard in vitro gas production protocol. The total gas production (mL or mL/g incubated dry matter (DM)) was gradually reduced (p < 0.01) at dose levels of FG-0.50 and FG-1.0; however, it remained intermediary and comparable (p > 0.05) for FG-0.25 with the control and FG-0.50. Compared to the control, the methane concentration (%) in the head space gas, as well as the total methane production (mL or mL/g DM incubated, or mL/g DM digested), were found to be gradually reduced (p < 0.01) with increasing doses (0.25–1.0 mL) of FG extract. The reduced (p < 0.05) feed degradability at higher levels (0.50–1.0 mL) of FG extract supplementation and the comparative (p > 0.05) effects with the control at a lower level of supplementation (FG-0.25) are suggestive of the dose-responsive detrimental effects of tannins on fibrolytic microbes in the rumen. However, the ammonia concentration decreased (p < 0.05) in all of the incubations compared to the control. Among the volatile fatty acids, acetate remained comparable (p > 0.05) with enhanced (p < 0.05) propionate at a lower dose (FG-0.25); however, a dose-dependent reduction was evident at higher dose levels (FG-0.50 and FG-1.0). The production of stearic acid (C18:0), which is a product of the rumen biohydrogenation process, was reduced (p < 0.05), irrespective of the concentration of the FG extract. Compared to the control, the concentration of t-vaccenic acid (C18:1), which is a precursor of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) in animal products, was increased in all the FG-extract-supplemented groups. It may be concluded that Ficus glomerata leaf tannins can modulate rumen fermentation for reduced methanogenesis and fatty acid biohydrogenation in a total mixed ration. As a higher level of inclusion negatively affects feed digestibility, a lower dose (0.25 mL FG extract per 60 mL fermentation fluid or 4.17 mL FG extract per L of fermentation fluid) is suggested to achieve desirable effects on methane abatement (30%) and an improvement in fatty acid profiles in animal products.

Maceration of Waste Cork in Binary Hydrophilic Solvents for the Production of Functional Extracts

Waste-grade cork samples of Quercus cerris were subjected to maceration extraction using 7 different solvents, including pure water (I), pure acetone (II), 75% aqueous ethanol (III), 75% aqueous methanol (IV), 75% aqueous acetone (V), 50% aqueous acetone (VI), and 25% aqueous acetone (VII). The extract yields, extract compositions, as well as antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of the extracts were analyzed. The results showed that maceration extraction was highly efficient, particularly with binary solvents resulting in up to 6% extract yield and up to 488 mg GAE/g extract total phenolic content. The extracts exhibited a variable antioxidant activity determined by DPPH and FRAP methods as well as antimicrobial activity against gram-positive bacteria and fungus determined by agar diffusion test. The CIELAB color parameters of extracts were correlated with maceration time, and the correlation was highest with pure water extracts. The FT-IR spectra of acetone-extracted cork revealed six key markers of phenolic compounds with the presence of peaks at approximately 2920 cm−1, 2850 cm−1, 1609 cm−1, 1517 cm−1, 1277 cm−1, and 1114 cm−1. The overall results suggest that the maceration of waste cork in binary solvents and pure acetone are green alternatives to conventional Soxhlet extraction for the production of polar extracts.

Antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of freeze-dried banana and watermelon peel powders

The objective of this study was to determine the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of banana and watermelon peels. The freeze-dried peels were extracted using aqueous methanol, ethanol, acetone and water. The solvent: water ratios for banana and watermelon peels were 80:20 and 70:30, respectively. The total phenolic contents and DPPH radical scavenging activities of extracts were determined. The antimicrobial activities of the extracts were tested against Bacillus cereus, Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli O157:H7, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella Enteritidis and Salmonella Typhimurium. The total phenolic content extracting efficiencies of solvents were in order methanol > acetone > ethanol for banana peel, while those were acetone > methanol > ethanol > water for watermelon peel. The highest total phenolic content was in the methanolic extract of banana peel (49.21 mg GAE/g DW), while it was in the acetone extract of watermelon peel (13.48 m GAE/g DW). DPPH radical scavenging activities of banana and watermelon peel extracts were 34.78–50% and 30.33–50.89 %, respectively. Bacillus cereus was sensitive to all extracts of both fruit peels. None of the banana peel extracts inhibited Listeria monocytogenes. Salmonella serotypes were resistant to all watermelon peel extracts. The other bacterial strains were sensitive to at least one of the extracts, with inhibition zones ranging from 8 to 23 mm. From the results of the current study, it can be concluded that the freeze-dried banana and watermelon peels have the potential to be sources of bioactive compounds. However, the antioxidant and antimicrobial activity levels strongly depend on the solvent type.

Horsfielenigans A and B, Two Rearranged Lignans with Anti-inflammatory Effects from Horsfieldia kingii.

Seven lignans were isolated from 70% aqueous acetone extracts of the twigs and leaves of Horsfieldiakingii. Among these, new compounds 1-3 were identified by spectroscopic techniques, with horsfielenigans A and B (1 and 2) being particularly noteworthy for their rare β-benzylnaphthalene skeleton, where compound 1 contains an oxabicyclo[3,2,1]octane moiety. In vitro evaluation of bioactivity against nitric oxide (NO) production in LPS-activated RAW264.7 macrophages revealed inhibitory effects by 1 (IC50 = 7.3 μM) and 2 (IC50 = 9.7 μM).

Understanding the dehydration of acetone, 1-butanol, and ethanol fermentation-based biofuel

ABSTRACT Removing most of the water in the acetone + n-butanol + ethanol (ABE fermentation broth can reduce energy consumption and improve the biobutanol market competitiveness. Understanding the dehydration process of ethanol, acetone, and n-butanol can guide the fermentation process for the subsequent separation, which led to an investigation into the salting-out effects of K2CO3 on aqueous ethanol solution, aqueous acetone solution and n-butanol+water system at various temperatures. Elevating the salt concentration has the potential to decrease the water content of these solutes as well as the content of ethanol or acetone and n-butanol in the salt-free aqueous phase. The distribution and selectivity coefficients of ABE were also enhanced. As a result, the recovery and dehydration ratio of ethanol or acetone, or n-butanol, was also improved. The strong hydrophilicity of acetone and ethanol makes the recovery and dehydration ratio of n-butanol difficult. On the same basis(50% K2CO3), the dehydration ratios of ethanol, acetone, and n-butanol were 91.43%, 96.21%, and 97.52%, respectively. Thus, the dehydration capacity gave the following trend: n-butanol>acetone>ethanol. By raising the temperature，it was possible to increase the amount of ethanol，acetone，or n-butanol in the organic phase while decreasing their amounts in the aqueous phase. The ratio of n-butanol’s recovery and dehydration can be improved by raising the temperature.

In situ observation of the structure and dynamics of a polymer solution through nonsolvent-induced phase separation by x-ray photon correlation spectroscopy

Nonsolvent-induced phase separation (NIPS) is a complex but important phenomenon involved in the manufacture of fibers and other polymeric industrial products. We performed in situ x-ray photon correlation spectroscopy (XPCS) measurements on a cuprammonium cellulose solution immersed in aqueous acetone solution to reveal the structure and dynamics involved in the NIPS process on the microscopic scale. A combination of the structural information from the small angle x-ray scattering profiles and the dynamic information from the XPCS analysis revealed that NIPS occurs via two steps: dilution of the polymer solution by the solvent and desorption of the solvent from the polymer solution. This study will provide an opportunity for the fundamental understanding of NIPS, which is important from both the scientific and industrial viewpoints.

Characterization of Phenolic Compounds of Olea europaea L. and Ceratonia siliqua L. Leaf Extracts by HPLC-ESI-MS

Background: Olive (Olea europaea L.) and carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.), which contain considerable amounts of phenolic compounds, are the most important nutritional and therapeutic plants in the Mediterranean basin. Objectives: The goal of this work is to revalue carob and olive leaves as key sources of polyphenols, hence increasing the value of waste goods. Methods: In this study, aqueous acetone or ethanol (80% v/v) extracts of olive (O. europaea L. cultivar aimel) and carob (C. siliqua L.) leaves from Algeria were evaluated for phenolic content, and the extracts were characterized by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS). Discussion and Results: The total phenolic content of olive and carob leaf extracts ranged from 5.6 to 23 mg GAE/g. The use of HPLC-ESI-MS to investigate phenolics revealed that the extracts included a variety of phenolic compounds, including 23 compounds in olive leaf extracts and 17 compounds in carob leaf extracts. In olive and carob, the major phenolic components are oleuropein and myricetin rhamnoside, respectively. Conclusion: According to our findings, olea europaea and Ceratonia siliqua appear to be rich suppliers of natural chemicals. These plants have a lot of potential in terms of medications and functional foods.

Phytochemical Profiling of Extracts from Rare Potentilla Species and Evaluation of Their Anticancer Potential.

Despite the common use of Potentilla L. species (Rosaceae) as herbal medicines, a number of species still remain unexplored. Thus, the present study is a continuation of a study evaluating the phytochemical and biological profiles of aqueous acetone extracts from selected Potentilla species. Altogether, 10 aqueous acetone extracts were obtained from the aerial parts of P. aurea (PAU7), P. erecta (PER7), P. hyparctica (PHY7), P. megalantha (PME7), P. nepalensis (PNE7), P. pensylvanica (PPE7), P. pulcherrima (PPU7), P. rigoi (PRI7), and P. thuringiaca (PTH7), leaves of P. fruticosa (PFR7), as well as from the underground parts of P. alba (PAL7r) and P. erecta (PER7r). The phytochemical evaluation consisted of selected colourimetric methods, including total phenolic (TPC), tannin (TTC), proanthocyanidin (TPrC), phenolic acid (TPAC), and flavonoid (TFC) contents, as well as determination of the qualitative secondary metabolite composition by the employment of LC-HRMS (liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry) analysis. The biological assessment included an evaluation of the cytotoxicity and antiproliferative properties of the extracts against human colon epithelial cell line CCD841 CoN and human colon adenocarcinoma cell line LS180. The highest TPC, TTC, and TPAC were found in PER7r (326.28 and 269.79 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g extract and 263.54 mg caffeic acid equivalents (CAE)/g extract, respectively). The highest TPrC was found in PAL7r (72.63 mg catechin equivalents (CE)/g extract), and the highest TFC was found in PHY7 (113.29 mg rutin equivalents (RE)/g extract). The LC-HRMS analysis showed the presence of a total of 198 compounds, including agrimoniin, pedunculagin, astragalin, ellagic acid, and tiliroside. An examination of the anticancer properties revealed the highest decrease in colon cancer cell viability in response to PAL7r (IC50 = 82 µg/mL), while the strongest antiproliferative effect was observed in LS180 treated with PFR7 (IC50 = 50 µg/mL) and PAL7r (IC50 = 52 µg/mL). An LDH (lactate dehydrogenase) assay revealed that most of the extracts were not cytotoxic against colon epithelial cells. At the same time, the tested extracts for the whole range of concentrations damaged the membranes of colon cancer cells. The highest cytotoxicity was observed for PAL7r, which in concentrations from 25 to 250 µg/mL increased LDH levels by 145.7% and 479.0%, respectively. The previously and currently obtained results indicated that some aqueous acetone extracts from Potentilla species have anticancer potential and thus encourage further studies in order to develop a new efficient and safe therapeutic strategy for people who have been threatened by or suffered from colon cancer.

Self-Assembly Polymersomes Based on Sulfite Lignins with Biological Activity

A relatively simple way of obtaining polymer vesicles via self-assembly in an aqueous acetone medium is proposed on the basis of biologically active polymer sulfite lignin (lignosulfonate). The size and morphology of polymersomes are controlled according to molecular weight (46.300–60.000 Da), the concentration of lignosulfonate (CLS 0.10–1.28 g/dm3), and the content of acetone (φAc 0.6–4.0 vol %) in the suspension. The resulting polymersomes are characterized by sizes of 200–350 nm, a polydispersity index of 0.25–0.18, and a ζ potential of −26.3 to −51.0 ± 2.2 mV. Air-dried powders of polymersomes isolated from the corresponding suspensions are polydisperse, with sizes ranging from 40 to 300 nm. The morphology of polymersomes is confirmed by electron microscopy data (SEM, TEM, and AFM). In light of the biological activity of lignosulfonate, polymersomes derived from it can potentially be used in such biomedical applications as targeted drug and gene delivery, enzymatic catalysis, and optical imaging in vivo.