DPPH Free Radical Scavenging Activity Research Articles

Optimization of microwave parameters to enhance phytochemicals, antioxidants and metabolite profile of de-oiled rice bran

The current study explores the effects of microwave treatment at varying wattage and durations on the phytoconstituents, antioxidant status, anti-nutritional factors (ANFs), and metabolite profiles of de-oiled rice bran. The total phenolics and flavonoids showed both increases and decreases depending on specific microwave parameters, while flavonol content consistently increased across all treated groups compared to the control. The DPPH and ABTS free radical scavenging activity, total antioxidant capacity, FRAP, CUPRAC, metal chelating activity, and ascorbic acid content were enhanced in most of the microwaved samples; however, longer microwave exposure at higher wattage led to their reduction. A treatment-specific decrease in ANFs, including condensed tannins, oxalates, and phytates, was observed. HRMS-based untargeted metabolomics identified a diverse range of primary and secondary metabolites, which clustered in a group-specific manner, indicating notable group-wise metabolite variations. Analysis of discriminating metabolites revealed no significant differences in the overall levels of phenolics, flavonoids, vitamins and cofactors, sugars, amino acids, terpenoids, fatty acids, and their derivatives among the treated groups compared to the control; however, several individual metabolites within these metabolite classes differed significantly. These findings suggest that optimized microwaving of de-oiled rice bran can enhance phytochemicals and antioxidants while improving the metabolite profile.

Investigating seasonal variation in the phytochemical and antioxidant capacities of different Sphagnum taxa

This study investigated the phytochemical content and antioxidant activities of four Sphagnum taxa (S. centrale, S. palustre, S. teres and, S. auriculatum) collected from the Black Sea region of Turkey during two different seasons. The phytochemical groups in the methanol extracts of Sphagnum taxa were identified using qualitative screening methods. The total phenol content of these taxa was quantitatively determined using Folin-ciocalteu reagent with gallic acid equivalents as the standard their antioxidant activities were evaluated by 1,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging ability (DPPH), the CUPRAC test, and phosphomolybdenum assay. Qualitative phytochemical screening of the methanol extracts showed that phenols, tannins, and saponins were present in the extracts, whereas alkaloids and flavonoids were absent. The highest DPPH free radical scavenging activity was observed in 100 µgmL-1 S. teres methanol extract (74.47±0.001% in the first season, September 2021 and 75.37±0.002% in the second season, May 2022). The highest total antioxidant capacity was found in 100 µgmL-1 S. palustre extract (81.00±0.027% in the first season and 84.87±0.002% in the second season). The results of our experiment showed that Sphagnum taxa collected in spring had higher antioxidant activity than those collected in autumn.

Discovering the DPPH Free Radical Scavenging Activity of Azine Derivatives Bearing Ethyl Phenyl Ketone Moiety

Discovering the DPPH Free Radical Scavenging Activity of Azine Derivatives Bearing Ethyl Phenyl Ketone Moiety

Comparison of piperine content, antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of Piper chaba root and stem

Piper chaba (locally known as “Choi Jhal”) is used traditionally as spices and folk medicine in different parts of Bangladesh. One of the most important bioactive compounds in this plant is piperine. In this study, the amount of piperine in P. chaba root and stem was investigated and the optimal solvent for piperine extraction at room temperature was also studied. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was operated using a reverse phase column where methanol and water (70:30) were used as mobile phase. The detection was performed using photo diode array (PID) detector at a wavelength of 345 nm. The standard piperine showed linearity between 0.005 % and 0.04 % and the correlation co-efficient found for the linearity was 0.9933. The percentage of relative standard deviation (RSD) for both retention time and peak area were less than 2.0 %. The theoretical plate number (N) > 3000 and a tailing factor (T) < 1.5 were found in the acceptable range. The recovery percentage (%) of standard piperine was 99.16 %. Low value of co-efficient of variation and standard deviation are recognized for high precision of the method. The highest amount of piperine was found in root extracted with methanol (MR) amounting to 1.75 % in the root powder. The maximum amount of piperine in the stem was 1.59 % when extracted with methanol (MS). The piperine quantification in other extract like n-hexane root (HR), ethyl acetate root (ER), n-hexane stem (HS), ethyl acetate stem (ES) were 0.76 %, 1.69 %, 0.33 % and 1.46 % respectively. Methanol has given the highest yield of piperine compared to ethyl acetate and n-hexane for both root and stem. The developed method was simple, rapid, economic and validated in terms precision, accuracy and recovery. This selective method is found to be repeatable, accurate and successfully utilized for the Piper extract in marketed and pharmaceutical samples with well chromatographic conditions. The ethyl acetate extract of root and stem showed promising DPPH (1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) free radical scavenging activity with an IC50 value of 39.62 ± 0.95 μg/mL and 43.85 ± 1.50 μg/mL respectively. The study reports potential antibacterial activity and antifungal activity of P. chaba root and stem extracts. These outcomes revealed that different extracts of P. chaba may be used as natural preservatives.

Evaluation of Anti-oxidant Activity of Different Extracts of Plumbago zeylanica Linn. &amp; Development of Chromatographic Fingerprint of Chloroform Extracts.

The aim of the present investigation is to Evaluation of Anti-oxidant Activity of Different Extracts of Plumbago zeylanica Linn. &amp; Development of Chromatographic Fingerprint of Chloroform Extracts. The roots of Plumbago zeylanica Linn. were purchased from the local market. The roots were taxonomically identified by Senior Scientist at KNK college of Horticulture. Accurately weighed quantity of roots of Plumbago zeylanica Linn. were extracted using petroleum ether (only for removal of fats and lipids), chloroform, methanol, butanol and finally water by soxhlet apparatus for 72 h. Qualitative chemical tests of chloroform, methanol, butanol and water extracts were subjected to various chemical tests to detect various phytoconstituents. β-carotene oxidative bleaching in β-caroten/linoleic acid mixture with and without the addition of different extract of plant. DPPH free radical scavenging activity of the test solutions was determined using DPPH photometric method. Anisaldehyde sulphuric acid and vanillin sulphuric acid and heated at 1150 C for 5 minutes. Solvent systems; n-hexane: ethyl acetate, 7:3 were found to be most satisfactory solvent system for chloroform extracts for root respectively. Vitamin E as standard was utilized in this measure and 84% hindrance was viewed as at 30 minutes. Chloroform separate likewise showed 70% restraint at 30 minutes which was decreased to 45% at the hour of 120 minutes. Hydroxyl revolutionary ability to rummage determined as IC50 from the trial information and it uncovers that chloroform, methanol, butanol and water removes have IC50 upsides of 46 μg/mL, 100μg/mL, 200 μg/mL and 150μg/mL, individually. DPPH scavenging capacity determined as IC50 and it shows that chloroform separate has IC50 of 36 μg/mL followed by ascorbic corrosive (3.1μg/mL), gallic corrosive (3.4μg/mL), methanol (41μg/mL), butanolic (46μg/mL) and water (44μg/mL) extricates. The present findings are momentous for the development of alternative, inexpensive and perhaps safer strategies for the handling of diseases.

In-vitro enzyme inhibition, kinetics, molecular docking and dynamics simulation approaches to decoding the mechanism of Ficus virens in cholinesterase inhibition

In the current study, we investigate the bioactive potentials and mode of action of Ficus virens bark (FVB) extract against cholinesterase enzymes, via in-vitro cell-free cholinesterase inhibition kinetics, molecular docking, ADMET and dynamic simulation. Our results illustrated that FVBM extract showed better DPPH-free radical scavenging activity (IC50 = 17.8 ± 0.46 µg/ml) and AChE inhibitory ability (IC50 = 37.2 ± 0.43 µg/ml). Kinetics study explored the mixed inhibition of AChE enzyme by FVBM extract. Furthermore, molecular docking demonstrates that compounds Diethyl Phthalate and Dinopol NOP present in FVBM extract have good ΔG: −8.6 kcal/mol and Ki; 2.01 × 106 M−1 for AChE enzyme than BuChE enzyme (ΔG: −7.6 and Ki: 3.72 × 105 M−1). A simulation study of 200 ns of best two hits and Tacrine confirms that these compounds remained inside the binding pocket of proteins and formed a stable protein-ligand complex via interacting with key residue. Further studies could provide a better understanding of the therapeutic potential of these promising compounds.

Green synthesis of platinum nanoparticles using aqueous bark extract of Quercus sp. for potential antioxidant and antimicrobial applications

Oak bark, which is commonly used in the wood industry, has by-products often repurposed as fuel. Its extracts are rich in compounds with anticancer, antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties. This study synthesized platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs) using aqueous extracts from Quercus dalechampii (QD), Q. frainetto (QF), and Q. petraea (QP). Key factors during nanoparticle formation included reaction time, metal ion concentration, pH, extract-to-metal ion ratio, and temperature. The PtNPs were characterized by dynamic light scattering, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The average diameters were 58.5 ± 7.6 nm for QD-PtNPs, 41.6 ± 5.4 nm for QF-PtNPs, and 41 ± 5.3 nm for QP-PtNPs. Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities were also analyzed. The QP-PtNPs had the highest DPPH (2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl), FRAP (Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power), and CUPRAC (Cupric Reducing Antioxidant Capacity) free radical scavenging activities, while QD-PtNPs excelled in ABTS (2,2′-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)) scavenging. All PtNPs showed strong antimicrobial properties, particularly against Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Candida krusei, and Candida auris. These findings suggest that Quercus-mediated PtNPs have significant potential for developing treatments against bacterial and fungal infections, with promising applications in medicine.

Synthesis of fluorometric carbon nano dots(CNDs) for selective sensing of biologically important Fe3+ and Cu2+ metal ions and evaluating their antioxidant capacity.

In this research, CNDs were prepared by a green and cost effective method using Cinnamomum Tamala (bay leaf) as carbon sources. TEM, UV, FTIR, ZETA Potential, PL and Fluorescence methods were used to characterize the produced CNDs and the average particle size is 3.42nm. This research was conducted on the development of fluorescent sensors for various metal ions, including Fe3+, Cu2+, Zn2+, Ni2+, Pb2+, Cr3+, Mg2+, Na+ 1 and Cd2+. The CNDs demonstrated selective sensing of biologically important Fe+ 3 and Cu+ 2 metal ions. The CNDs antioxidant assay was tasked with DPPH• radical scavenging properties. CNDs made from Cinnamomum Tamala had the highest DPPH free radical scavenging activity at 100mg/L (42.06%) with the IC50 of 130.68mg/L. The outcome implies that Indian spices are among the best materials for optical metal ion detection and sensing, and they also have therapeutic benefits.

Analysis of the nutritional composition, biological activities, and phenolic metabolic bioactive module of cherry tomatoes

This study analyzed the overall nutritional composition of 87 cherry tomato varieties and evaluated the antioxidant, hypoglycemic, and hypolipidemic activities of the top 30 varieties with excellent overall quality. In addition, the phenolic metabolic characteristics of cherry tomatoes were determined via phenolic metabolomics, and the bioactive module “phenolic-DPPH” was identified. There was extensive interspecies variation in total soluble solids, titratable acid, lycopene, chlorophyll, γ-aminobutyric acid, total phenolics, total flavonoids and multivitamins, and different color groups presented unique nutritional compositions. The comprehensive nutritional value of the 56 varieties is greater than that of the Millennium variety. Phenolic substances are closely related to DPPH free radical scavenging activity. A total of 484 phenolic substances were identified, among which 5′-methoxymatairesinoside and 6-hydroxykaempferol-7,6-O-diglucoside are key antioxidant components. Our research provides valuable resources and insights for the selection of functional cherry tomato varieties and the identification of phenolics with important biological activities.

Evaluation of antioxidant potential of clove extracts

The antioxidant activity of steam distilled clove extract and clove oleoresin was assessed using β-carotene–linoleic acid model system, and was found to be 85.51±0.19% and 77.88±0.15%, respectively. DPPH free radical-scavenging activity of steam distilled extract and oleoresin of clove were 88.93±0.23% and 80.84±0.36%, respectively. Eugenol content in steam distilled extract of clove (0.518±0.005mg/ml) was significantly higher than that of clove oleoresin (0.433±0.007mg/ml). Eugenol content was also affected by time period of refluxing. Highest recovery of steam distilled clove extract was obtained by refluxing with 90 % ethanol for 4 hr (0.763±0.007). The steam distilled clove extract was found to possess higher antioxidant activity than the oleoresin.

Phytotherapeutic Hierarchical PCL-Based Scaffolds as a Multifunctional Wound Dressing: Combining 3D Printing and Electrospinning.

This study focuses on developing hybrid scaffolds incorporating phytotherapeutic agents via a combination of three-dimensional (3D) printing and electrospinning to enhance mechanical properties and provide antibacterial activity, in order to address the limitations of traditional antibiotics. In this regard, 3D-printed polycaprolactone (PCL) struts are first fabricated using fused deposition modeling (FDM). Then, alkaline surface treatment is applied to improve the adhesion of electrospun nanofibers. Finally, peppermint oil (PEP) or clove oil (CLV)-incorporated PCL-gelatin (GEL) electrospun nanofibers are collected on top of the 3D-printed PCL scaffolds by electrospinning. Incorporating PEP or CLV into PCL-GEL electrospun nanofibers enhances the scaffold's layer detachment and adhesion force. In addition, the DPPH free radical scavenging activity assay indicates that incorporating PEP or CLV improves the antioxidant properties of the scaffolds. Further, antibacterial activity results reveal that PEP or CLV incorporated scaffolds exhibit inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli bacteria. Moreover, anti-inflammatory assays show that scaffolds reduce the concentration of nitric oxide (NO) released from Raw 264.7 macrophage-like cells. On the other hand, the phytotherapeutic hierarchical scaffolds have no toxic effect on normal human dermal fibroblast (NHDF) cells, and PEP or CLV enhance cell attachment and proliferation. Overall, incorporating natural phytotherapeutic agents into hierarchical scaffolds shows promise for advancing wound healing applications.

Phytochemical content, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities of Morrocan Cynara cardunculus L. var. ferocissima leaf methanolic extract.

Cyanra cardunclus L. var. ferocissima is widely used in Morocco as a food and in traditional medicine. Therefore, this study aimed to determine, for the first time, the phytochemical content and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of this variety. Qualitative tests were used to screen for the phytochemical compounds present in the extract, and spectrophotometric methods were used for quantification. The sugar profiles were determined using HPLC. Antioxidant activity was determined in vitro using DPPH, FRAP, and total antioxidant activity assays, and anti-inflammatory activity was assessed using serum albumin denaturation and membrane stabilization assays. The extract contained a high amount of total polyphenols, hydrocinnamic acids, anthocyanins, chlorophyll, ortho-diphenols, terpenoids, and triterpenoids. In addition, five sugars were identified with high amounts of raffinose and sucrose. The extract exerted considerable antioxidant activity by scavenging radicals and reducing power. It exerts anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting protein denaturation and heat-inducing hemolysis. From the correlation results, anthocyanin, polyphenol, and triterpenoid contents were strongly correlated with DPPH free radical scavenging activity. Orthodiphenols, flavonols, and chlorophyll α were strongly correlated with FRAP, whereas orthodiphenols, hydrocinnamic acids, and triterpenoids were strongly correlated with total antioxidant activity. In terms of anti-inflammatory activity, orthodiphenols, hydrocinnamic acids, and triterpenoids correlated strongly with inhibition of bovine serum albumin denaturation activity, whereas terpenoids, flavonols, and chlorophyll correlated strongly with red cell membrane-stabilizing activity. In conclusion, the Moroccan Cynara cardunclus var. ferocissima leaf methanolic extract constitutes a promising source of phytochemicals with considerable antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity.

Physicochemical Properties, Functionalities, and Antioxidant Activity of Protein Extracts from New Zealand Wild Sea Cucumbers (Australostichopus mollis).

This study investigated the physicochemical properties, functionalities, and antioxidant capacities of protein extracts from wild sea cucumber Australostichopus mollis collected from four distinct locations in New Zealand. Protein was extracted from sea cucumber body walls using trypsin enzymatic extraction, followed by cold acetone precipitation. The amino acid analysis revealed high glycine (189.08 mg/g), glutamic acid (119.45 mg/g), and aspartic acid (91.91 mg/g) concentrations in all samples. The essential amino acid indexes of the protein extracts (62.96, average) were higher than the WHO/FAO standard references, indicating the excellent protein quality of A. mollis. Furthermore, protein extracts from A. mollis demonstrated superior emulsifying activity (202.3-349.5 m2/g average) compared to commercial soy and whey protein isolates under all tested pH conditions, and enhanced foaming capacity (109.9-126.4%) and stability (52.7-72%) in neutral and acidic conditions. The extracts also exhibited good solubility, exceeding 70% across pH 3-11. Antioxidant capacities (ABTS and DPPH free radical scavenging activity and ferric reducing antioxidant power) were identified in A. mollis protein extracts for the first time, with clear variations observed among different locations. These findings elucidate the advantageous functional properties of protein extracts from wild New Zealand A. mollis and highlight their potential application as high-quality antioxidant food ingredients.

Identification and characterization of phytochemicals in methanolic extract of roots of Datura fastuosa using various techniques

BackgroundPlant extracts have attracted significant interest among researchers due to their potential bioactivity and crucial contribution to the production of pharmaceutical compounds. In this study, the primary objective was to extract, analyze and characterize the bioactive compounds found in the methanol root extract of Datura fastuosa (D. fastuosa). This was achieved using various analytical techniques such as gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC–MS), ultra-violet visible spectrophotometry, Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR), nuclear magnetic radiation spectrometry (NMR) and DPPH free radical scavenging activity assay.ResultsGC–MS analysis of the methanol root crude extract identified 49 compounds. Three compounds were isolated via column chromatography; one was pure, with a sharp melting point and clean IR spectrum, while the other two showed broad melting points and IR interferences. Comprehensive investigation of the pure extract revealed a UV profile with two distinct bands (300–800 nm) and confirmed functional groups (alcohol, alkanes, alkenes, carbonyl, methylene, and methyl) through FT-IR analysis. The 1HNMR (proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy) signal confirmed the presence of forty-nine non-equivalent protons, 13CNMR (Carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy) signal confirmed the presence of 32 non-equivalent carbons and DEPT-135 (distortionless enhancement by polarization transfer-135) signal confirmed the presence of 24 carbons (17 for odd and 7 for even) which are protons containing carbons in the compound. Combining the above mentioned analyses with data obtained from the GC/MS analysis of National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) library, the isolated pure compound exhibited a structural similarity to 1-(7-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-1,1,4a,5,6,9,10a,10b-octamethyl-1,2,3,4,4a,4b,6a,7,8,9,10,10a,10b,11,12,12a-hexadecahydrochrysen-2-yl)propan-1-one, with a chemical formula of C35H50O2.ConclusionsThe presence of various notable compounds, including phenolics, flavonoids, alkaloids, steroids etc., within the methanol root extract of D. fastuosa signifies its pharmacological potential. The methanol crude extract demonstrated antioxidant potential compared to standard ascorbic acid, exhibiting DPPH scavenging activity. Previous research has demonstrated the bioactivity of some of these compounds, further elucidating the plant’s medicinal properties. These findings not only suggest opportunities for developing synthetic drugs but also underscore its direct therapeutic potential in addressing diverse ailments.

Evaluation of Proximate, Phytochemicals, Antioxidant Capacity, Enzymatic Inhibition, and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Avocado Seed Meal as Potential Feed Additive

This study examined the proximate composition, phytochemical profile, antioxidant capacity, enzymatic inhibition, and anti-inflammatory properties of avocado seed meal. The proximate analysis revealed that avocado seed meal is rich in protein (17.32%), fat (15.33%), and carbohydrates (48.73%), with moderate levels of moisture (10.26%), ash (2.39%), and crude fiber (5.97%). Phytochemical analysis indicated high contents of phenols (111.56 mg/g), saponins (96.94 mg/g) and flavonoids (66.66 mg/g), but lower levels of alkaloids (14.60 mg/g), tannins (1.17 mg/g), and steroids (0.89 mg/g). The antioxidant properties assessed showed significant DPPH (50.05%) and FRAP (63.04%) free radical scavenging activities, though lower inhibition of lipid peroxidation (34.88%) and vitamin C content (0.03 mg/g). Enzymatic inhibition assays demonstrated alpha-lipase, alpha-glucosidase, and alpha-amylase inhibition rates of 31.46%, 27.56%, and 50.88%, respectively. Anti-inflammatory properties were also notable, with 24.02% albumin denaturation inhibition and 37.99% antiprotease activity. These findings suggest that avocado seed meal holds considerable potential for nutritional and therapeutic applications as natural feed supplement for livestock and humans.

Evaluation of in vitro antidiabetic and anti-microbial activity of edible red seaweed Pyropia vietnamensis

IntroductionDiabetes is one of the top ten leading causes of mortality in the world with an incidence rate of 422 million. The current study aimed to investigate the antidiabetic activity of edible red seaweed Pyropia vietnamensis.Materials and methodsCrude extract was subjected to UV–visible light spectroscopy, phytochemical screening, quantification of total tannin content, DPPH free radical scavenging, alpha amylase inhibition assay, antimicrobial activity, and glucose uptake potential by yeast cell assay.ResultsThe phytochemicals study revealed the presence of alkaloids, glycosides, phenols, lignins, saponins, and further, total tannin content was estimated to be 3.86 ± 0.00378 mg/g. The methanolic extract of Pyropia vietnamensis displayed the highest DPPH free radical scavenging activity of 35.19% at 100 µg/mL. The alpha-amylase inhibition potential of the extract showed 11.5% at 400 and 13.5% at 500 µg/mL. Glucose utilization of yeast cells treated with extract with different (5, 15, and 25 mM) glucose concentrations showed a linear increase in the glucose uptake percent. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of Pyropia vietnamensis extract against E. coli MTCC-443 and S. aureus MTCC-96 was found to be 250 mg/mL and 125 mg/mL respectively. The uptake percent was 31.7, 29.5, and 38.27% for 5, 15, and 25 mM glucose concentrations respectively, exhibiting its ability to transport glucose across the yeast cell membrane. The toxicity study resulted in a more than 60% cell survival rate in all the concentrations, proving its safety for human consumption.ConclusionThe result of the study concludes that Pyropia vietnamensis could be utilized as a functional food due to its dietary source for treating diabetic conditions naturally. Further research can be done to evaluate the potential of diabetic mouse (in vivo) conditions.

Utilization of Germinated Seeds as Functional Food Ingredients: Optimization of Nutrient Composition and Antioxidant Activity Evolution Based on the Germination Characteristics of Chinese Chestnut (Castanea mollissima).

The current study investigated the impact of germination duration on the functional components (vitamin C, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), polyphenols, flavonoids) and antioxidant activity of germs and cotyledons of the germinated Chinese chestnut (Castanea mollissima). We utilized seeds of the "Zaofeng" Chinese chestnut to germinate, and sowed the seeds in wet sand at 22 °C and 85% relative humidity. The germination rate, length, diameter, and fresh weight of the sprouts were investigated at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 days after sowing, and the kinetic changes of amylose, amylopectin, sugar components, soluble protein, vitamin C, GABA, total phenols, flavonoids, and the DPPH and ABTS free radical scavenging activity in the germs and cotyledons were monitored, respectively. The findings revealed that the germination rate and germ biomass increased continuously during germination. The germination rate reached 90% on the 8th day after sowing. Germination reduced amylose in cotyledons from 42.3% to 34.2%, amylopectin from 42.9% to 25.8%, total sugar from 12.6% to 11.4%, and vitamin C from 1.45 mg/g to 0.77 mg/g. Meanwhile, soluble protein in the embryos rose from 0.31% to 0.60%, vitamin C from 21.1 to 29.4 mg/g, GABA from 0.49 to 1.68 mg/g, total flavonoids from 53.6 to 129.7 mg/g, and ABTS antioxidant activity from 1.52 to 3.27 μmol TE/g. The average contents of D-fructose, inositol, vitamin C, GABA, polyphenols, and flavonoids and the DPPH and ABTS antioxidant activity in germs were as high as 22.5, 6, 35, 7.5, 10, 20, and 10 and 20-fold those of cotyledons, respectively. Especially, the average content of glucose in germ was as high as 80-fold that of cotyledon. D-xylulose, D-galacturonic acid, and D-ribose were only found in germs, but not in cotyledons. Considering the germ biomass and functional components content, germs of Chinese chestnuts germinated at 22 °C for 8 days are considered the most suitable raw material for functional food products. In conclusion, controlled germination not only enhances the physicochemical and functional properties of Chinese chestnut germs but also reduces the caloric content and improves the nutritional composition of the cotyledons appropriately. Moreover, the comprehensive evaluation of compositional changes and functionality in the embryo and cotyledon of Chinese chestnuts will provide a solid foundation for subsequent functional food processing utilizing germinated Chinese chestnuts.

Insights into free radicals scavenging, α-Amylase inhibition, cytotoxic and antifibrotic activities unveiled by Peganum harmala extracts

BackgroundPeganum harmala L. is used in traditional medicine to treat several health ailments. Hence, the present work aimed to investigate the DPPH free radical scavenging, α-amylase, cytotoxic, and antifibrotic effects of the hydrophilic extract and fixed oil obtained from P. harmala seeds.MethodsThe hydrophilic extract and fixed oil of P. harmala were assessed for their abilities to scavenge DPPH free radicals and inhibit α-amylase using reference bioassays. The cytotoxicity was assessed on several cancer and normal cell lines, including B16F1, Caco-2, COLO205, HeLa, Hep 3B and Hep G2, MCF-7, and HEK-293 T cells. The MTS assay was used to evaluate the antifibrotic capabilities utilizing the human hepatic stellate (LX-2) cell line.ResultsP. harmala plant fixed oil has potent DPPH free radical scavenging activity with an IC50 dose of 79.43 ± 0.08 µg/ml. Besides, the hydrophilic extract has a poor anti-α-amylase effect compared with the antidiabetic drug Acarbose, with IC50 doses of 398 ± 0.59 and 25.11 ± 1.22 µg/ml, respectively. In addition, the growth of MCF-7, Hep3B, HepG2, HeLa, COLO205, CaCo2, B16F1, and HeK293t was inhibited by P. harmala hydrophilic extract with IC50 doses of 121.34 ± 1.71, 268.3 ± 0.75, 297.20 ± 1.00, 155.60 ± 1.14, 150.01 ± 0.51, 308.35 ± 0.53, 597.93 ± 1.36, and 5.38 ± 0.99 µg/ml, respectively. In addition, at 1000 µg/ml, 5-Fluorouracil reduced fibrosis cells by 0.089%, while the hydrophilic extract decreased the number of LX-2 cells by 5.81%.ConclusionP. harmala plant-fixed oil exhibits potential antioxidant properties. While the hydrophilic extract showed limited effectiveness as an anti-α-amylase agent and demonstrated notable cytotoxic effects against various tested cancer cell lines. Furthermore, this extract significantly reduces the number of LX-2 fibrotic cells. These findings emphasize the therapeutic potential of these products in managing various health disorders and warrant further investigation into their mechanisms of action and clinical applications.

Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Yataprasen Thai Traditional Formulary and Its Active Compounds, Beta-Amyrin and Stigmasterol, in RAW264.7 and THP-1 Cells.

Yataprasen (YTPS) remedy formulary, a national Thai traditional medicine formulary, comprises 13 herbal plants. It has been extensively prescribed to relieve osteoarthritis and musculoskeletal pain in the Thai traditional medicine healthcare system. The aim of this study was to investigate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of the bioactive compounds (β-amyrin and stigmasterol) of YTPS remedy formulary ethanolic extract, along with its composition. The YTPS formulary extract contains 70.30 nM of β-amyrin and 605.76 nM of stigmasterol. The YTPS formulary extract exhibited ABTS and DPPH free radical scavenging activity, with IC50 values of 144.50 ± 2.82 and 31.85 ± 0.18 µg/mL, respectively. The ethanolic extract of YTPS at a concentration of 1000 µg/mL showed a significant (p < 0.01) anti-inflammatory effect, mainly by reducing IL-6 and TNF-α release in response to LPS. NO production was prominently lowered by 50% at 24.76 ± 1.48 µg/mL, 55.52 ± 24.40 µM, and more than 570 µM of YTPS formulary extract, β-amyrin, and stigmasterol, respectively. Major components of YTPS, β-amyrin, and stigmasterol exerted significant anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting LPS-induced IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α secretion in THP-1 cells. Our findings suggest that the ethanolic extract from YTPS holds promise as an alternative topical treatment for osteoarthritis and inflammatory disorders, potentially with fewer side effects than non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs).

Optimising ultrasound-assisted extraction conditions for maximising phenolic, flavonoid content and antioxidant activity in hog plum peel and seed: A response surface methodology approach

This study optimised ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) temperature, time, and ethanol concentration to investigate total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and antioxidant activity (DPPH free radical scavenging activity assay) from hog plum peel and seed. Optimisation used Response Surface Methodology (RSM) with a Box-Behnken design (BBD) of three factors at three levels. The variables for both peel and seed were temperature (40–60 °C), time (30–60 min), and ethanol concentrations (40–80 %). Fifteen experimental runs were conducted, using a second-order polynomial model (quadratic) and analysis of variance (ANOVA) to predict the responses and validate the model. The results revealed that the moisture, protein, fat, crude fibre, ash, and carbohydrate content of hog plum seed and peel differences in their nutrient content. Additionally, peel contains a TPC of 95–104 mg GAE/100 g DM, DPPH activity of 68–92 %, and TFC of 1.622–2.312 mg QE/g DM, while TPC varies between 97 and 110 mg GAE/100 g DM, DPPH activity ranges from 71 to 95 %, and TFC of 1–22 mg QE/g DM for seed. The R2 value of both peel and seed for TPC, TFC, and DPPH activity was 0.99, indicating that the quadratic model is satisfactory for analysing interactions between response and independent variables. Furthermore, RSM analysis identified the optimal extraction conditions of both peel and seed for maximising TPC, TFC, and DPPH activity at a temperature of 59.82 °C, a time of 41.08 min, and 76.64 % ethanol concentration. Under the optimal settings, the observed values were 108.34 ± 7.23 (peel) and 101.45 ± 3.65 mg GAE/100 g DM (seed) for TPC, 2.98 ± 2.10 (peel), and 3.98 ± 1.34 mg QE/g DM (seed) for TFC, and 85.13 ± 5.43 (peel), and 84.35 ± 4.10 % (seed) for DPPH activity. This study establishes a framework for further investigation into UAE parameters and extraction solvents to enhance the extraction efficiency of hog plum seed and peel.