DAD Analysis Research Articles

Kinetic study of the simultaneous removal of ibuprofen, carbamazepine, sulfamethoxazole, and diclofenac from water using biochar and activated carbon adsorption, and TiO2 photocatalysis

The growing number of pharmaceuticals released into the environment poses a threat not only to the aquatic environment but also to human health. This work introduces a novel approach for the simultaneous analysis of four pharmaceuticals—ibuprofen, carbamazepine, sulfamethoxazole, and diclofenac—each with distinct chemical structures. The study explores the kinetic behavior of these compounds during their removal from water, employing biochar and activated carbon as adsorbents, as well as titanium dioxide (TiO2) for photocatalytic degradation. This utilizes two distinct approaches incorporating adsorption mechanisms. The concentrations of pharmaceuticals were simultaneously measured using High Performance Liquid Chromatography with Diode Array Detection (HPLC-DAD). In addition to adsorption, photocatalysis with varying dosages of TiO2 was investigated as an alternative method for pharmaceutical removal. The HPLC- DAD analysis enabled the simultaneous monitoring of all four pharmaceuticals in a single analysis. The Langmuir-Hinshelwood model was applied to the photocatalysis data to assess reaction kinetics. The results demonstrate the efficacy of both adsorption methods in removing pharmaceutical contaminants from water. Integrating both adsorption and photocatalysis experiments in one manuscript allows for a comprehensive evaluation of these methods' individual strengths in water treatment applications, providing insights into their combined potential for addressing pharmaceutical contamination in water resources. The calculated removal efficiencies, Langmuir-Hinshelwood kinetics, half-life values, and equilibrium adsorption capacities provide a comprehensive understanding of the efficiency and mechanisms involved in the removal processes, emphasizing the importance of addressing pharmaceutical contamination in water treatment strategies.

The Production of Useful Phenol Compounds with Antioxidant Potential in Gametophytes and Sporophytes from In Vitro Cultures in Four Ornamental Ferns Species

Ferns are vascular plants with significant ornamental value, and in recent years, they have also been considered for the potential application in different economic sectors like nutrition, medicine and cosmetics. This study aimed to obtain in vitro fern gametophytes and sporophytes and evaluate their potential as secondary metabolites sources. For this study four fern species were used: Polypodium vulgare L. (PV), Asplenium trichomanes L. (AT), Athyrium filix-femina L. Roth (AF), and Osmunda regalis L. (OR). The polyphenols, flavonoids, tannins and terpenoids content and antioxidant activity were estimated by different colorimetric methods. For metabolite identification and their antioxidant activity, HP-TLC separations were used. Also, quantitative HPLC–DAD analysis was performed to estimate the content of certain metabolites. The results showed that in vitro generation of gametophytes registered higher growth rates in OR, PV, and AF, while the regeneration of sporophytes was better for PV, AT, and AF. The OR gametophyte produced the highest quantities in all analyzed metabolite classes and also had the highest antioxidant values. We report for the first time the presence of metabolites such as catechin, caffeic acid, gallic acid, ferulic acid, cinnamic acid, or rutin in OR. In this study, we demonstrated the possibility of producing potent antioxidant metabolites by in vitro cultures in ferns.

Antioxidant and anti-glycation activity of eight Moroccan honeys from different botanical origins

Eight monofloral honey samples from different botanical and geographical origins in the central and eastern parts of Morocco were examined for their phenolic composition, capacity to scavenge free radicals, and ability to inhibit advanced glycation end–products. According to the melissopalynological analysis, the examined honey samples were considered to be natural honeys, and were classified as monofloral with very frequent pollen grains characteristic of each types of the selected Moroccan honey samples: Zantaz (Bupleurum sp.), fennel, thistle, eucalyptus, spurge, thyme, jujube, and carob. Our results showed that the average moisture content varied from 16.3 ± 0.1% to 19.9 ± 0.1%, and the mean color intensity ranged from 30.94 ± 7.42 to 166.9 ± 6.43 mm Pfund. The highest total phenolic content recorded was 163.83 ± 1.84 mg of gallic acid equivalent per kg, while the highest flavonoid content was 84.44 ± 1.20 mg of catechin equivalent per kg. Zantaz honey exhibited potent antioxidant capacity, as demonstrated by ABTS, DPPH, β-carotene bleaching, FRAP, and ORAC assays. The most significant results were obtained for the ORAC test, with the highest ORAC value of 4.65 mM Trolox equivalent per gram was recorded for Zantaz honey extract. HPLC–DAD analysis revealed different polyphenolic profiles, which can be attributed to differences in floral origin. Furthermore, our study revealed that the extracts of thistle honey, fennel honey, and Zantaz honey were the most effective glycation inhibitors, with the highest inhibition percentage of 96% obtained for the thistle honey extract.

Comparative assessment of phenolic composition profile and biological activities of green extract and conventional extracts of Salvia sclarea

In recent years, there have been an attempt to develop safe and environmental friendly solvents to replace conventional solvents, and use for extraction bioactive compounds from natural sources. A current investigation involved the preparation of green, methanolic, and ultrasonic extracts of S. sclarea, and compared their phenolic profiling using HPLC–DAD, antibacterial, antioxidant, and enzyme inhibition activities. The HPLC–DAD analysis revealed that Rosmarinic acid was the main content in all extracts, with Ellagic acid only present in the green extract. The green extract exhibited superior anti-biofilm activity against S. Aureus and E. Faecalis compared to the other extracts at MIC concentration. Furthermore, the green extract also displayed the highest inhibition of swarming motility in P. Aeruginosa with inhibition range 68.0 ± 2.1 (MIC) to 19.5 ± 0.6 (MIC/4). and better enzyme inhibitory activity against BChE (with IC50 = 131.6 ± 0.98 µg/mL) and AChE (with inhibition 47.00 ± 1.50%) compared to the other extracts; while, the ultrasonic extract showed strong inhibition of violacein production by C. Violaceum with a inhibition range 05.5 ± 0.1 (MIC/32) to 100 ± 0.00 (MIC), followed by the green extract with a inhibition range 15.0 ± 0.5 (MIC/8) to 100 ± 0.00 (MIC), additionally, the ultrasonic and methanoic extracts showed significant activity against urease enzyme with (IC50 = 171.6 ± 0.95 µg/mL and IC5 0 = 187.5 ± 1.32 µg/mL) respectively. Both the green and methanolic extracts showed considerable antioxidant activities, as β-carotene-linoleic acid (IC50 = 5.61 ± 0.47 µg/mL and 5.37 ± 0.27 µg/mL), DPPH· (IC50 = 19.20 ± 0.70 µg/mL and 16.31 ± 0.23 µg/mL), ABTS·+(IC50 = 8.64 ± 0.63 µg/mL and 6.50 ± 0.45 µg/mL) and CUPRAC (A0.5 = 17.22 ± 0.36 µg/mL and 12.28 ± 0.12 µg/mL) respectively, likewise the green extract performing better in metal chelating compared to the other extracts. The green extraction is reported as a cost effective and solvent free method for extracting natural products that produces compounds free of toxic chemicals. This could be the method to be used in the industries as a renewable method.

The synergistic effect between Golden root and Cannabis Sativa L. Determination of the antioxidant activity of the extracts

The study aimed to compare the chemical composition and in vitro antioxidant activity of an extract obtained from Cannabis sativa L and golden root (Rhodiola rosea L), which are both used as natural anxiolytics. The phytochemical profile (HPLC - DAD analysis), total polyphenol content (TPC), and antioxidant capacity (AOC) of the combination of Rhodiola rosea extract and Cannabis sativa oil were investigated to study their effects. To determine the DPPH radicalscavenging activity, an electron paramagnetic radical spectrometer (EPR-X-band) was used as a promising technique. The results indicated that the new extract derived from the combination of Rhodiola rosea and Cannabis sativa was richer in phenolic compounds and exhibited higher antioxidant activity. These findings provide valuable insights for potential in vivo studies that involve the simultaneous use of the two plants.

HPLC–DAD Analysis, SFE-CO2 Extraction, and Antibacterial Activity on Bioactive Compounds from Mosla chinensis Maxim

HPLC–DAD Analysis, SFE-CO2 Extraction, and Antibacterial Activity on Bioactive Compounds from Mosla chinensis Maxim

Development of Phyto-cosmetic Herbal Sindoor from Rosa indica L. and Its Characterization

Aim: The objective of this research study was to develop a liquid herbal sindoor containing flower petal extract of Rosa indica L., and to evaluate the stability, antioxidant and antibacterial activities of the developed formulation.
 Place and Duration of Study: The formulation was prepared in the Phytochemistry Division of CSIR- National Botanical Research Institute. The duration of the study period was 90 days.
 Methodology: The crude ethanolic extract of R. indica flowers was incorporated into a base for the preparation of liquid herbal sindoor. The antioxidant activity of this herbal product was evaluated according to the DPPH radical scavenging method, and the stability study of the formulation was evaluated for 90 days. The antibacterial activity was performed on those strains of bacteria, which are responsible for several skin infections using Disc Diffusion Assay.The HPLC- DAD analysis identified the anthocyanins cyanidin 3,5-diglucoside and pelargonidin 3,5-diglucoside in R. indica, flower extract.
 Results and Discussion: The formulation showed antioxidant activity and its stability was assessed in terms of pH values and color stability of the flower extract. It was observed that both these properties did not show any significant changes.
 Conclusion: The prepared herbal liquid sindoor was found safe to use having a potential to substitute the toxic lead tetraoxide (Pb3O4) containing sindoor available in the market.

Valorization of soybean oil residue through advanced technology of graphene oxide modified membranes for tocopherol recovery

AbstractSoybean oil deodourization distillate (SODD) is a source of tocopherols used to produce vitamin E, in which α‐tocopherol is the isomer with higher biological activity and value‐added for the food industry. Hence, the aim of the present study was to modify the membrane surface with sulphonic groups, polyethyleneimine, and graphene oxide nanoparticles functionalized with tannic acid to recover SODD α‐tocopherol. First, the SODD saponification step was conducted followed by a liquid–liquid separation, which performed a pre‐concentration of α‐tocopherol approximately 28 times. The unsaponifiable material was dried and diluted in hexane, obtaining the feed solution for the membrane filtration processes. HPLC‐UV/DAD analysis showed that the modified membrane containing 1.12 mg of graphene oxide and 4.50 mg of tannic acid (M3) allowed to recover 82.00% of α‐tocopherol in the concentrate (14.16 wt.% of α‐tocopherol). From the characterizations of the modified membrane, it was observed that M3 presented hydrophobic properties and was able to be reused in two filtration cycles with a 64.39% flow recovery rate and a 71.96% recovery of α‐tocopherol. The results showed that the membrane modification with graphene oxide is a compelling methodology with low energy consumption and is eco‐friendly for the recovery and purification of α‐tocopherol from SODD.

HPLC -DAD analysis, anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic potentials of Coronopus didymus (L.) Sm. extracts: effects on pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, COX-2, I-κβ, NF-κβ and oxidative stress biomarkers.

Coronopus didymus (L.) Sm. (CD) has been traditionally used to treat pain, rheumatism, and inflammation. This study was planned to appraise the anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic potentials of CD (whole plant) aqueous ethanolic (CDAEE) and aqueous extracts (CDAE) and chemical characterization by high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector. In vivo anti-inflammatory (Carrageenan induced paw edema, and Xylene induced ear edema assays) and anti-arthritic potentials were evaluated in Wistar rats. Both extracts showed significant (p < 0.0001) in vitro free radical scavenging and in vitro anti-arthritic potentials by inhibition of protein denaturation and stabilization of the HRBC membrane and anti-oedematogenic potential, whereas more activity was expressed by CDAEE. In complete Freund's adjuvant-induced arthritic model, the CDAEE at 200, 400, and 800 mg kg-1 and methotrexate (1 mg kg-1) profoundly (p < 0.05) reduced the arthritic score and paw edema, restored body and immune organ weight, and altered blood parameters and oxidative stress biomarkers. The qRT-PCR analysis revealed that CDAEE at 400 mg kg-1 significantly (p < 0.0001) downregulated TNF-α (2.22 ± 0.16 fold), IL-6 (2.29 ± 0.05 fold), IL-1β (2.10 ± 0.01 fold), COX-2 (2.45 ± 0.02 fold), and NF-ĸβ (2.72 ± 0.06 fold) and considerably upregulated IL-10 (58.84 ± 0.67%), IL-4 (76.16 ± 2.79%) and I-kβ (75.45 ± 0.17%) in arthritic rats in contrast to disease control and methotrexate as evidenced from the joint histology. These findings suggested the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic activities of C. didymus, which might be due to the presence of quercetin, ferulic acid, dihydromyricetin, apigenin, vitexin, and kaempferol in CDAEE.

Phytochemical Characterization for Quality Control of Phyllostachys pubescens Leaves Using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography Coupled with Diode Array Detector and Tandem Mass Detector.

Phyllostachys pubescens leaves are cultivated in a number of Asian countries and have been used for antipyretic and diuretic effects since ancient times, especially in Korea. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate of analytical method for quality control of P. pubescens leaves using high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detector (HPLC–DAD) and liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) detection. HPLC–DAD analysis was conducted with a Gemini C18 column, and distilled water–acetonitrile (both with 0.1% (v/v) formic acid) mobile-phase system. For the LC–MS/MS analysis, all markers were separated with a Waters ACQUITY UPLC BEH C18 column and gradient flow system of distilled water containing 0.1% (v/v) formic acid and 5 mM ammonium formate–acetonitrile. In both method, major components were detected at 2.13–11.63 mg/g (HPLC–DAD) and 0.12–19.20 mg/g (LC–MS/MS). These methods were validated with respect to linearity (coefficient of determination >0.99), recovery (95.22–118.81%), accuracy (90.52–116.96), and precision (<4.0%), and were successfully applied for the quantitative analysis of P. pubescens leaves.

Comparative profiling and natural variation of polymethoxylated flavones in various citrus germplasms

Citrus fruits are the main dietary source of polymethoxylated flavones (PMFs) with significant effects on consumer health. In this study, eleven main PMFs were evaluated in the fruit flavedo or leaves of 116 citrus accessions via UPLC–DAD–ESI-QTOF-MS/MS combined with HPLC–DAD analysis, which revealed significant species-specific and spatiotemporal characteristics. All Citrus reticulata and their natural or artificial hybrids were found to have detectable PMFs, especially in the fruit flavedo of the wild or early-cultivated mandarins at early fruit development stages. However, PMFs were not detected in citrons, pummelos, kumquats, trifoliata oranges, papedas, Chinese box oranges and ‘Mangshanyegan’. The results enlightened that PMF accumulation only in mandarins and mandarin hybrids is a phenotype inherited from mandarin ancestors. This study provides a comprehensive PMF profile in various citrus germplasms and will benefit future functional citrus breeding practices aimed at designing plants rich in total or specific PMFs for health benefits.

Bioactive compounds, antioxidant properties and phenolic profile of pulp and seed of Syzygium cumini

The present study was conducted to explore major bioactive compounds, antioxidant properties, along with individual phenolic compounds of Syzygium cumini fruit pulp (edible part, pulp with peel) and seed. The in vitro antioxidant properties of S. cumini fruit pulp and seed were analyzed using 2,2-diphenil-1-pycrilhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2´-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazolin)-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) free radical scavenging assay methods. Phenolic profiles were explored using high performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector (HPLC–DAD). Total phenolics, flavonoids, and tannin content were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in seed extract and displayed better antioxidant properties than that of pulp extract. The antioxidant activities of S. cumini seed extract was comparable with other potent antioxidants like ascorbic acid. S. cumini seed extract demonstrated significantly higher antioxidant activity than ascorbic acid in ABTS free radical scavenging assay. Regression analysis showed a strong positive correlation between the concentration of bioactive compounds and free radical scavenging activity of the samples. Additionally, ten individual phenolic compounds among the nineteen standards were identified using HPLC–DAD analysis. Contents of gallic acid, epicatechin, and catechin hydrate were predominant among the identified phenolic compounds. This study showed that the seed of S. cumini has immense potential as a source of natural bioactive compounds with excellent antioxidant properties. The findings of the present study are pioneering to move to advanced research on the utilization of S. cumini seed as an alternative to artificial antioxidants in food products.

In Vitro Antifungal Activity of Peltophorum dubium (Spreng.) Taub. extracts against Aspergillus flavus.

Aspergillus flavus is a filamentous, saprophytic fungus, whose colonization occurs mainly in cereal grains and oilseeds once harvested. Under certain conditions, it could produce mycotoxins called aflatoxins, known as powerful human liver carcinogens. The aim of the present study was to describe the antifungal activity of extracts of Peltophorum dubium, a species from northern Argentina (Oriental Chaco), against A. flavus. The antifungal activities of different collection sites are reported. The extracts exhibited a minimum inhibitory concentration of 125 µg/mL, and the differences between the treatments and the inoculum control were 11 mm of P. dubium A and 10 mm of P. dubium F in colony growth. Moreover, hyphae treated with the extracts stained blue with Evans blue showed alterations in the membrane and/or cell wall, allowing the dye income. Bio-guided fractionation, High Performance Liquid Chromatography diode array ultraviolet/visible (HPLC UV/VIS DAD), and Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry (UPLC ESI-MS) analyses were conducted to characterize the extracts and their active fractions. The HPLC UV/VIS DAD analysis allowed the determination of the presence of flavonoids (flavonols and flavones), coumarins, terpenes, and steroids. UPLC ESI/MS analysis of active fractions revealed the presence of Kaempferol, Apigenin, Naringenin, Chrysin and Daidzein.

Evaluation of Antioxidant Capacities and Phenols Composition of Wild and Cultivated Berries

The study presents original results concerning analytical characterization of alcoholic extracts of four wild berries (blueberries, blackberries, red currants and raspberries) and two cultivated berries (black cherries and strawberries). Total and some individual phenols concentrations were determined using molecular absorption spectrometry (modified Folin Ciocalteu method) and HPLC-DAD technique. The measurement of lipid-soluble antioxidant capacity (ACL) was done by photochemiluminescence method using trolox as standard.The highest total phenolic content was registered in blueberries (543.5 mg/100g f.w.), while the lowest was found in raspberries (344.5 mg/100g f.w.).HPLC � DAD analysis indicated the presence of six individual polyphenolic compounds in different concentrations: gallic acid (62.664 - 178.821 mg/100 g f.w); chlorogenic acid (30.152 - 243.923 mg/100g f.w.); 3-O-methyl-gallic acid (2.035 - 4.907 mg/100 g f.w.); caffeic acid (0.401 - 5.664 mg/100 g f.w.); p-coumaric acid (4.252 - 10.806 mg/100 g f.w.) and cinnamic acid (0.665-0.958 mg/100 g f.w.). ACL results showed values between 54.00 and 1152 �mols trolox/100 g f.w.

Cetyl-alcohol-reinforced hollow fiber solid/liquid-phase microextraction and HPLC-DAD analysis of ezetimibe and simvastatin in human plasma and urine.

A new cetyl-alcohol-reinforced hollow fiber solid/liquid-phase microextraction (CA-HF-SLPME) followed by high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection (HPLC-DAD) method was developed for simultaneous determination of ezetimibe and simvastatin in human plasma and urine samples. To prepare the CA-HF-SLPME device, the cetyl-alcohol was immobilized into the pores of a 2.5 cm hollow fiber micro-tube and the lumen of the micro-tube was filled with 1-octanol with the two ends sealed. Afterwards, the prepared device was introduced into 10 mL of the sample solution containing the analytes with agitation. Under optimized conditions, calibration curves plotted in spiked plasma and urine samples were linear in the ranges of 0.363-25/0.49-25 μg L-1 for ezetimibe/simvastatin and 0.193-25/0.312-25 μg L-1 for ezetimibe/simvastatin in plasma and urine samples, respectively. The limit of detection was 0.109/0.174 μg L-1 for ezetimibe/simvastatin in plasma and 0.058/0.093 μg L-1 for ezetimibe/simvastatin in urine. As a potential application, the proposed method was applied to determine the concentration of selected analytes in patient plasma and urine samples after medication and satisfactory results were achieved. In comparison with reference methods, the CA-HF-SLPME-HPLC-DAD method demonstrates considerable potential in the biopharmaceutical analysis of selected drugs.

Sea Salts Flavored with Mediterranean Herbs and Fruits Prevent Cholesterol and Phospholipid Membrane Oxidation and Cell Free Radical Generation

The authors evaluated and compared, with respect to normal salt, the antioxidant activity of commercial sea salts flavored with Mediterranean herbs and fruits in chemical models of lipid peroxidation and in cell cultures. Salts flavored with myrtle, rosemary, and a mixture of herbs/plants preserves liposomes from Cu2+‐induced oxidation. Methanol extracts obtained from all flavored sea salts significantly reduces the reactive oxygen species generation in Caco‐2 cells, while extracts obtained from myrtle, rosemary, and mixed herbs/plants salts prevents cholesterol oxidative degradation (140 °C). 1H NMR spectroscopy led to the identification of carbohydrates, organic acids, and amino acids in salt extracts. The phenol content of flavored salts is estimated by the Folin–Ciocalteu procedure and HPLC–DAD analyses. The results of this work assess the potential antioxidant role and health benefits of the use of flavored sea salts in foods instead of normal salt.Practical Applications: This preliminary study evidences that the addition of sea salts flavored with Mediterranean herbs and fruits to food products could represents a strategy to preserve salt‐induced lipid oxidation and a source of antioxidants with potential health benefits.Four sea salts flavored with Mediterranean herbs/plants and fruits inhibit cholesterol/liposomes oxidation and reduce cell ROS generation.

Fatty acid composition and antioxidant activity of Pistacia lentiscus L. fruit fatty oil from Algeria

The current study was carried out to investigate the chemical composition of Pistacia lentiscus fruit fatty oil by HPLC–DAD and GC analysis. The quantification of phenolic content and DPPH radical scavenging capacity of this oil were furthermore evaluated. The results showed that the oil has the highest phenolic content (810 mg GAE/kg oil). The capacity to scavenge DPPH radical was admissible (EC50 = 20.619 ± 0.312 mg/mL), compared to the butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) (0.012 ± 0.0001 mg/mL). The main fatty acids where oleic, palmitic, linoleic, palmitoleic and stearic acids which have specific carbon number and their values in percentage are C18:1 n-9 (50.02 ± 0.55%), C16:0 (24.83 ± 1.25%), C18:2 n-6 (17.24 ± 0.10%), C16:1 n-7(1.55 ± 0.09%) and C18:0 (1.08 ± 0.02%), respectively. The analyses showed concentrations of approximately 26% of saturated fatty acids, 52% of monounsaturated and 18% of polyunsaturated.

Evaluation of chlorpyrifos toxicity through a 28-day study: Cholinesterase activity, oxidative stress responses, parent compound/metabolite levels, and primary DNA damage in blood and brain tissue of adult male Wistar rats

In this 28 day-study, we evaluated the effects of the insecticide chlorpyrifos orally administered to Wistar rats at doses 0.160, 0.015, and 0.010 mg/kg b. w./day. Following treatment, total cholinesterase activity and activities of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) were measured. Oxidative stress responses were evaluated using a battery of endpoints to establish lipid peroxidation, changes in total antioxidant capacity, level of reactive oxygen species (ROS), glutathione (GSH) level and activities of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase. Using HPLC-UV DAD analysis, levels of the parent compound and its main metabolite 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol in plasma and brain tissue were measured. The genotoxic effect was estimated using alkaline comet assay in leukocytes and brain tissue. The exposure did not result in significant effects on total cholinesterase, AChE and BChE activity in plasma and brain tissue. Lipid peroxidation slightly increased both in plasma and brain tissue. Total antioxidant capacity, ROS and GSH levels were marginally influenced by the exposure. Treatment led to significant increases of GSH-Px activity in blood, SOD activity in erythrocytes and a slight increase of catalase activity in plasma. HPLC-UV DAD analysis revealed the presence of both the parent compound and its main metabolite in the plasma of all of the experimental animals and brain tissue of the animals treated at the two higher doses. All of the tested doses of chlorpyrifos were slightly genotoxic, both to leukocytes and brain tissue. Our results call for further research using other sensitive biomarkers of effect, along with different exposure scenarios.

Antioxidant activities and phenolic profile of Baccharis trimera, a commonly used medicinal plant from Brazil

The infusions of Baccharis trimera (Asteraceae) are traditionally used in Brazil as a tea to treat liver disorders. It is one of the major constituents in herbal formulations used for the treatment of liver disorders and other diseases. The present study was therefore, aimed to evaluate the potential in vitro and in vivo antioxidant activities and phenolic profile of Baccharis trimera. High performance liquid chromatography coupled with DAD analysis indicated that the gallic acid, rutin and quercetin were the main phenolic compounds present in aqueous extract. The aqueous extract showed inhibition against thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS), induced by different prooxidants (10μM FeSO4 and 5μM sodium nitroprusside) in rat liver, brain and phospholipid homogenates from egg yolk. Moreover, the free radical scavenging activities of the extract was determined by the quenching of DPPH (IC50, 415.2±15.2μg/ml) and hydroxyl radicals in deoxyribose assays. The administration of extract at 100mg/kg and 250mg/kg dose significantly reduced the lipid peroxidation, increased the catalase activity and enhanced the levels of ascorbic acid and reduced glutathione in the liver of mice. Thus, oxidative stress in brain and liver could be managed/prevented by dietary intake of Baccharis trimera.

Novel perspectives on two Digitalis species: Phenolic profile, bioactivity, enzyme inhibition, and toxicological evaluation

The present study outlines the phenolic composition of methanolic extracts of Digitalis ferruginea and Digitalis lamarckii aerial parts and evaluates their biological activities. The quantification of phenolic compounds was carried out by HPLC–DAD analysis. Antioxidant properties were assessed using different assays. Enzyme inhibition was tested on AChE, BChE, α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and tyrosinase. The antimicrobial properties of the extracts were determined using the microdilution method. Genotoxicity of the extracts was assessed on Drosophila melanogaster by comet assay. D. lamarcki extract was richer in phenolic compounds than D. ferruginea, with chlorogenic acid as dominant compound in both D. lamarckii and D. ferruginea extracts (2.99 and 1.30mg/g, respectively). Both extracts showed similar values in terms of antioxidant activity. The extracts showed enzyme inhibitory activity on above-mentioned enzymes and moderate antimicrobial activity (MIC range 0.625–10mg/mL). D. ferruginea extract (20mg/mL) indicated the absence of genotoxicity, while all concentrations of D. lamarckii extract showed significant DNA damage. Antigenotoxic effect was more evident in the group treated with D. lamarckii extract, 80mg/mL (%R=80.3). The results emphasized the biological potential of examined plants and encourage further studies for their potential use as phytopharmaceuticals.