DPPH Free Radical Research Articles

Phytochemical Profiling and Bioactive Potential of Moroccan Pulicaria Mauritanica Essential Oils: In-Silico and In Vitro Antibacterial and Antioxidant Assessment.

A study was conducted to analyze the essential oil of Pulicaria mauritanica (PMEO) and investigate its antibacterial and antioxidant properties using in-vitro and in-silico methods. The essential oil was extracted using the hydrodistillation technique, and its chemical composition was identified via GC/MS analysis. The chemical composition of the oil shows that the major components of PMEO are carvotanacetone (67.92 %) followed by 2,5-dimethoxy-p-cymene (3.62 %), eucalyptol (1.76 %) and tetrahydrocarvone (1.32 %). The antibacterial and antioxidant effects against DPPH free radicals and ferric-reducing power were tested using in-vitro microdilution method. The antibacterial activity showed a strong sensitivity against Bacillus subtilis and Proteus mirabilis with an inhibition zone of (22.33±1.78 mm and 19.3±0.68 mm, respectively; the lowest MIC and MBC values were (MIC=MBC=1.56 mg/mL). However, computational studies were carried out using molecular docking studies. The analysis of the interaction nature between (PMEO) essential oil and tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase from Staphylococcus aureus aids in understanding the antibacterial properties of essential oil molecules and their mechanism of action. The in-silico toxicity and pharmacokinetics results show that 4-candidate molecules have potential antibacterial properties and suggest that PMEO could be a source of natural antioxidants and antibacterial agents.

In Vitro Screening of Bacterial Isolates From Dairy Products for Probiotic Properties and Other Health‐Promoting Attributes

ABSTRACTThe present research was aimed to isolate potential probiotic organisms from dairy products locally made in and around the Saurashtra region of Gujarat. A total of 224 colonies were screened for primary attributes. Based on the results, 70 isolates were carried further for secondary screening. Out of these, only 23 isolates were further tested for antioxidant activities. Only 6 potential probiotic strains were found to have all the probiotic attributes. These isolates demonstrated survivability up to 4 h at pH ≤ 3, bile concentration ≥ 1.5%, autoaggregation ability ≥ 81.08%, and cell surface hydrophobicity more than 70% while using toluene as the test hydrocarbon. The promising six isolates were subjected to 16S rRNA sequencing for species‐level identification and found to be belonging to the genus Bacillus, Enterococcus, and Lactobacillus. The isolates demonstrated higher antioxidant potential as determined by ABTS, DPPH, and FRAP methods. For all three methods, L. rhamnosus was taken as a positive control that showed 85.61%, 39.56%, and 78.18% reduction of free radicals as determined by the ABTS, DPPH, and FRAP methods, respectively. Compared to this, Limosilactobacillus fermentum BAB 7912 demonstrated the highest reduction of ABTS radicals (83.45%), while Bacillus subtilis BAB 7918 reduced 29.95% DPPH free radicals and Bacillus spizizenii BAB 7915 reduced 80.93% ferric ions as determined by the FRAP method. Isolates were subjected to 16S rRNA sequencing for species‐level identification and found to be belonging to genus Bacillus, Enterococcus, and Lactobacillus.

Synergistic Bioactivity of Aegiceras corniculatum (L.) Blanco and Its Endophytic Fungus Aspergillus: Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, and Cytotoxic Effects.

The mangrove fungi provide a vast and unexplored source of diverse and unique chemicals and biological properties. The plant Aegiceras corniculatum (L.) Blanco and its endophytic fungus aspergillus species were collected from different sites of the Baleswar river region in Sundarban. Hence, we compared the antioxidant properties of the associated fungus ACSF-1 and the methanolic bark extract of Aegiceras corniculatum (MBAC) by measuring the total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and DPPH free radical assay. Subsequently, antimicrobial activity was measured using the disc diffusion method, and cytotoxic activity was measured using the brine shrimp lethality bioassay. The results showed that MBAC has even more DPPH scavenging activity (IC50 = 44.036 μg/mL), TPC (310.275 mg GAE/g), and TFC (66.275 mg QE/g) in comparison with DPPH scavenging activity (IC50 = 92.542 μg/mL), TPC (234.832 mg GAE/g), and TFC (134.887 mg QE/g) in ACSF-1. The median lethal concentration value (LC50) of MBAC and ACSF-1 was found to be 43.93 μg/mL and 336.84 μg/mL, respectively. Moreover, MBAC showed a dose-dependent antimicrobial response to Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, whereas ACSF-1 was found to have activity against Bacillus subtilis and S. aureus. These results emphasize the unique pharmacological characteristics of both the plant and fungus, indicating their potential usefulness in various therapeutic fields.

Enhancement of Digestive Enzyme Activity in Enterococcus faecalis Using ARTP Mutagenesis

Enterococcus faecalis is used as a probiotic in animal and human food supplements. Atmospheric and room temperature plasma (ARTP) systems have frequently been used to screen for effective mutant probiotics. In this study, E. faecalis was treated with ARTP, and high-yielding digestive enzyme mutant strains were obtained by measuring the activities of α-amylase, lipase, and neutral protease. A total of 833 mutant strains were obtained after 40–60 s of ARTP treatment, and after screening for digestive enzyme activity, EF-448, EF-798, and EF-804 were obtained. The three strains demonstrated an 180% increase in α-amylase activity, a 30% increase in lipase activity, and a more than 40% increase in neutral protease activity. Furthermore, the enzyme activities remained stable after nine generations. In addition, the strains exhibited high auto-aggregation capacity (over 91%) and high cell hydrophobicity (over 93%). After exposure to simulated intestinal fluid for 6 h, the survival rates of EF-448 and EF-798 were 85.71% and 82.32%, respectively. Moreover, the three mutant strains retained antioxidant capacity and DPPH free radical scavenging ability, and there was no hemolysis. A safety experiment has shown that there is no mortality of Macrobrachium rosenbergii within 14 days after receiving injections of mutant strains at different concentrations. In conclusion, this study obtained three mutant strains with high production of digestive enzymes and stable inheritance through ARTP mutagenesis of E. faecalis, providing an efficient microbial resource.

Comparative Study on the Nutritional Quality of Peanut in Saline and Non-Saline Land

Saline soils, as a special class of soil types, have unique physicochemical properties that have far-reaching effects on crop growth and quality characteristics. In order to better develop saline soils as a reserve resource, it is particularly important to exploit the potential of saline crops. Peanut, as one of the important crops in saline soils, can have different quality characteristics depending on the differences in soil salinity and alkalinity, as well as growing conditions. In this study, we compared the nutritional quality and functional composition of five peanut varieties grown in coastal saline soils, with the same varieties grown in non-saline soils in similar areas. The results showed significant differences (p<0.05) between saline and non-saline peanuts in the contents of ash, zinc, phosphorus, β-VE, Cis-11-eicosatetraenoic acid, palmitoleic acid, linolenic acid, and total antioxidant removal capacity, whereby the former was higher than the latter by 0.12 g/100 g, 4.1 mg/kg, 321 mg/kg, 8.98 μg/g, 0.36%, 0.01%, and 0.01%, respectively, and the total antioxidant capacity was lower than that of the latter by 9.18 μg Trolxo/g of fresh weight. Sodium element and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity contents were extremely significantly (p<0.01) different in peanuts grown in both land types, where the former was higher than the latter by 261.9 mg/kg and 285 U/g, respectively. Water, fat, protein, calcium, copper, iron, potassium, magnesium, manganese, Vc, α-VE, total VE, VB3, 5-methyl-tetrahydrofolate, 5-formyl-tetrahydrofolate, total phenols, total flavonoids, ABTS free radical scavenging capacity, DPPH free radical scavenging capacity, fatty acids (except for Cis-11-eicosapentaenoic acid, palmitoleic acid, and linolenic acid), phytosterols, and guanines showed no significant differences (p<0.01). To sum up, the origin and soil environment have an effect on the quality of peanuts. These results also provide a scientific basis for the quality assessment of peanuts in saline soil.

Discovering the inhibition of YAP/TEAD Hippo signaling pathway via new pyrazolone derivatives: synthesis, molecular docking and biological investigations

Heterocyclic compounds play a crucial role in the drug discovery process and development due to their significant presence and importance. Here, we report a comprehensive analysis of new pyrazolone derivatives, prepared according to a clear-cut, uncomplicated procedure. The pyrazolone derivatives were thoroughly characterized using various methods, such as elemental analysis, NMR, and FT-IR. The molecular docking interactions between the new pyrazolone derivatives and YAP/TEAD target protein observed that compound 4 had the top-ranked binding energy towards YAP/TEAD with a value equal to − 9.670 kcal/mol and this theoretically proves its inhibitory efficacy against YAP/TEAD Hippo signaling pathway. Besides, compound 4 showed the best IC50 against HCT-116, HepG-2, and MCF-7 (in-vitro) with IC50 7.67 ± 0.5, 5.85 ± 0.4, and 6.97 ± 0.5 μM, respectively which confirmed our results towards suppressing YAP/TEAD protein (in-silico) compared with the IC50 of Sorafenib (SOR) reference chemotherapeutic drug 5.47 ± 0.3, 9.18 ± 0.6 and 7.26 ± 0.3 μM, respectively. Also, compound 4 showed no cytotoxic effects against human lung fibroblast normal cell line (WI-38) and its pharmacokinetics were elucidated theoretically using ADMET compared with SOR which observed highly toxic effects on normal cells with IC50 equal to 20.27 ± 0.45 μM. Additionally, compound 4 clarified a powerful antioxidant scavenging activity against DPPH free radicals (in-vitro). Conclusively, newly synthesized pyrazolone derivative 4 could be used as anticancer candidate via inhibiting the YAP/TEAD mediated Hippo signaling pathway.

Therapeutic and antioxidant properties of Acridocarpus monodii Arène & Jaeger, an endemic plant of Dogon Country in Mali

Acridocarpus monodii Arène & Jaeger is an endemic plant species to the ‘’Dogon Country’’ in Mali. This species is highly popular in Dogon ethnic groups, but no scientific data on its medicinal and biochemical properties are available in Mali. This work aimed to list its medicinal uses and assess its phytochemical composition and antioxidant power. An ethnobotanical investigation based on semi structured questionnaire was used to identify the traditional uses of A. monodii among the local population in three villages (Ireli, Youdiou and Yon-biré) inside ‘’Dogon country’’ in Mali. The phytochemical composition was determined using qualitative tests, while the antioxidant potency was performed using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryhydazyl (DPPH) and phosphomolybdate (TAC) tests. A total of 45 people were interviewed, the majority of whom were male (82.20%) and over 52 years of age. A. monodii is used to treat a dozen pathologies or diseases, dominated by malaria (71.10%), yellow fever (24.40%) and dysuria (20%). Although, all parts of this species are used to treat these pathologies, leaves (88.90%) were the most coveted followed by roots (37.80%). The use of these parts was significantly (p = 0.016 < 0.05) associated with the educational levels of the respondents (77.70%), who coveted primarily roots and barks, and thus constituted a threat to the species. These medicinal recipes derived from these organs were mostly prepared as decoctions, before being administered by oral (100%) or bath (82.20%) routes. Extracts of A. monodii were found to contain various biocompounds, especially a high quantity of flavonoids and polyphenols and demonstrated increased in vitro antioxidant inhibitory effects. The decoction extracts showed the highest content of phenolic compounds (109.82 ± 2.36 mg GAE/g). The strongest activity for the DPPH free radical scavenging were recorded by the decoction with IC50 = 107.41 ± 4.25 µg/mL and the hydroethanolic macerate with 107.31 ± 9.28 µg/mL. But, based on the results from of TAC test, the antioxidant capacity was higher for the hydroethanolic macerate 42.85 ± 2.59 mg EQ/g than those of the decoction 19.27 ± 0.93 mg EQ/g. This is the first scientific report on the therapeutic use of A. monodii within ‘’Dogon country’’ in Mali. This work highlights its medicinal, phytochemical and biochemical properties and therefore contributes to its improved valorization. These results demonstrated that A. monodii is a promising species for the discovery of novel medicines.

Nutrients, Phytochemicals, and Antioxidant Capacity of Red Raspberry Nectar Fermented with Lacticaseibacillus paracasei.

Fresh raspberries are highly perishable, but lactic acid bacteria fermentation offers a favourable method for developing healthy products. This study investigated the effects of Lacticaseibacillus paracasei fermentation on the nutrients and phytochemicals of red raspberry nectar using widely targeted metabolomics, as well as its antioxidant activity. The fermentation notably disrupted the raspberry tissue structure, reshaped its non-volatile composition, and increased its DPPH and hydroxyl free radical scavenging abilities. A total of 261 compounds showed significant differences, with 198 upregulated and 63 downregulated. Among these, certain flavonoid glucosides (e.g., pelargonid-in-3-O-rutinoside, delphinidin-3-O-rutinoside-7-O-glucoside, and kaempferol-3-O-glucoside) were significantly downregulated, while some bioactive phenolic acids (e.g., 3-(4-Hydroxyphenyl)-propionic acid and DL-3-phenyllactic acid), alkaloids (e.g., deoxymutaaspergillic acid and indole-3-lactic acid), amino acids (e.g., L-phenylalanine and L-glutamine), and B vitamins (e.g., VB6, VB7, and VB3) were substantially upregulated. Furthermore, the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) annotation and enrichment analysis revealed that metabolic pathways and the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites contributed significantly to the new profile of fermented red raspberry nectar. These findings provide valuable insights for developing fermented raspberry products using Lacticaseibacillus paracasei, which can help minimise fresh raspberry loss and enhance their valorisation.

Chemical constituents and biological activities of endophytic fungi from Fagopyrum dibotrys.

Fagopyrum dibotrys is an important wild food and feed germplasm resource. It has high nutritional and medicinal value and is rich in natural products, including flavonoids, phenolic acids, coumarins, and alkaloids. Endophytic fungi in F. dibotrys have emerged as valuable sources of natural products. However, studies on the biological activity and chemical composition of these endophytic fungi remain limited. In this paper, a new method to obtain natural active ingredients by fermentation of endophytic fungi from medicinal plants was proposed. Then the antioxidant and pathogenic activities of the endophytic fungi extracts were determined in vitro. In addition, secondary metabolites produced by endophytic fungi with medicinal activity were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Among the 95 endophytic fungal strains in F. dibotrys, four strains with high phenol yields were selected by reaction: Alternaria alstroemeriae (J2), Fusarium oxysporum (J15), Colletotrichum karsti (J74), and Colletotrichum boninense (J61). Compared with those of various extracts, the ethyl acetate fractions of A. alstroemeriae (J2), F. oxysporum (J15), and C. boninense (J61) exhibited superior antioxidant and antibacterial properties. The results indicated that the fungal extract was an excellent natural antioxidant and might be a potential antibacterial agent. The DPPH free radical clearance of A. alstroemeriae was 94.96 ± 0.004%. These findings indicated that A.alstroemeriae had strong antioxidant activity. In addition, the extract of A.alstroemeriae had good antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, with MICs of 0.5 and 0.05 mg/mL, respectively. The chemical constituents of the ethyl acetate extract from A. alstroemeriae were further analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). We noted that A. alstroemeriae can create a variety of medicinal substances that have high value in medicine, such as caffeic acid (884.75 ng/mL), 3-phenyllactic acid (240.72 ng/mL) and norlichexanthone (74.36ng/mL). In summary, many valuable active substances and medicinal substances can be obtained through the study of endophytic fungi of F. dibotrys.

Preparation, characterisation and evaluation of kaempferol phospholipid complex and its application in preventing the deterioration of soybean oil

This study aims to improve the solubility of kaempferol (KA) by preparing a kaempferol phospholipid complex (KA-PC), which can be applied to prevent soybean oil from spoilage. KA-PC was prepared by solvent evaporation and characterised by FTIR, DSC, and XRD. Furthermore, KA-PC was added to soybean oil and the peroxide value and acid value were determined. The results showed that KA-PC improved the solubility of KA in both water and n-octanol. Several characterisation methods identified KA-PC as an amorphous structure. The rate of scavenging DPPH free radical and ABTS free radical of KA-PC was higher than that of KA. After 15 days of storage, the peroxidation value of the soybean oil of KA-PC was about 17.35 mmol/kg, which was significantly lower than that of the KA group (about 29.70 mmol/kg) The results help to prepare insoluble compounds into phospholipid complex (PC) and expand their application in food preservation.

Synthesis of liposomal nanoparticles to load 4-farnesyloxycoumarin and investigating its anti-cancer and anti-metastatic effects

The aim of this study was to load 4-farnesyloxycoumarin (4-FLC) in nanoliposomes (4-FLC-LNPs) and evaluate its anti-cancer and anti-metastatic effects. 4-FLC-LNPs were synthesized using a combination of lecithin-cholesterol-polyethylene glycol. The physicochemical properties were evaluated using DLS, FTIR, and microscopy methods. The toxicity against breast cancer (MCF-7), prostate cancer (PS3), pancreatic cancer (PANC), gastric cancer (AGS), and normal cell lines (HUVEC) was evaluated using the MTT assay. Fluorescent staining and flow cytometry were used to assess the occurrence of apoptosis. Molecular analysis methods were used to study the apoptosis and metastasis effects of these nanoliposomes. The antioxidant power of 4-FLC-LNPs was measured using the ABTS and DPPH free radicals methods. 4-FLC-LNPs exhibit a spherical morphology, with an average size of 57.43 nm, a polydispersity index of 0.29, and a zeta potential of −31.4 mV. They demonstrate an encapsulation efficiency of 82.4% for 4-FLC. The IC50 value of 4-FLC-LNPs against the breast cancer cell line was reported as the most sensitive, at approximately 60 μg/mL. ABTS and DPPH results were reported at approximately 30 µg/mL. The inductive effects of nanoliposomes on the apoptosis process were confirmed by an increase in the number of apoptotic cells, as well as the arrest of cells in various phases of cell growth. The increased expression of BAX and decreased expression of Bcl-2, MMP-2, and MMP-9 confirmed the pro-apoptotic and anti-metastatic effects of 4-FLC-LNPs. These finding validate the therapeutic potential of 4-FLC-LNPs, which may be utilized in preclinical studies.

The antioxidant and cytotoxicity capabilities of the total methanol leaf extract of Camellia yokdonensis

Camellia yokdonensis was first described in 2006 and clarified as a Vietnamese endemic Camellia. Camellia species are often associated with strong biological activity and have high application potential. However, there is currently no research on the biological activity of C. yokdonensis. The experiment was performed using DPPH assay and PFRAP assay to investigate the antioxidant capacity of the leaf extract. Besides, a 72-hour cytotoxic assay experiment on cancer cells showed the toxicity of the extract. The results showed that C. yokdonensis leaf extract has the ability to reduce iron ions and scavenge DPPH free radicals with an EC50 of 19.37 ± 1.66 µg/mL. Anticancer activity was determined by IC50 values (µg/mL) on HCC-J5, A549, MCF-7, and K562 cells as 138.00 ± 11.60, 172.90 ± 22.31, 175.52 ± 16.70, and 48.82 ±12.59, respectively.

Comparative Analyses of Biologically Active Substances and Antioxidant Activity in Fresh and Stored Fruits of Apple Varieties from the Republic of Tajikistan

Our purpose was to carry out a comparative phytochemical analysis of fruits (both fresh and stored for 1 month) of two local apple varieties of the Republic of Tajikistan. Assays were carried out to quantify total phenolic compounds, flavonols, catechins, tannins, phenolcarboxylic acids, pectins, and protopectins by UV spectrometry and ascorbic acid by titration. The profile and levels of phenolic compounds were investigated by high-performance liquid chromatography. Antiradical activity was quantitated by means of free radical DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl). In fresh fruits, total levels of tannins (19 mg/g) and phenolcarboxylic acids (15 mg/g) (including chlorogenic acid: 451 μg/g) and of a flavonol (quercetin: 26 μg/g) and two catechins [epigallocatechin (173 μg/g) and L-epicatechin (50 µg/g)] were shown to be higher in the Surkhseb apple variety than in the Kosimsarkori variety. The antioxidant activity of water–ethanol extracts from Surkhseb apples (20 mg/mL) was also higher in comparison with Kosimsarkori apples. In the latter, concentrations of other detected biologically active substances, such as flavonols (0.78 mg/g), ascorbic acid (65 mg/100 g), and pectins (37 mg/g), were found to be higher, suggesting that the fruits of this apple variety have biological effects other than antioxidant, potentially anti-inflammatory, or antidiabetic. Further phytochemical and pharmacological studies on Kosimsarkori fruits may identify these other potential biological effects that may be useful in the prevention of disease. Fruits of the analyzed apple varieties should preferably be consumed fresh because after the apples were stored in the refrigerator for 1 month, indicators of antioxidant activity (22 mg/g in Surkhseb apples) and levels of almost all biologically active substances (tota) levels of tannins (14 mg/g), phenolcarboxylic acids (9 mg/g) (including chlorogenic acid: 250 μg/g) and catechin L-epicatechin (30 µg/g) in Surkhseb apples decreased. This study highlights the importance of conserving local, unique varieties of major worldwide crop plants because they may unearth novel combinations of compounds beneficial to humanity.

Enrichment, Antioxidant and Enzyme Inhibition Activities of Flavonoids from Artemisia Selengensis Turcz.

Macroporous resin was used to enrich flavonoids in the ethyl acetate extract of Artemisia Selengensis Turcz. Based on a single factor experiment, the enrichment process was optimized using the response surface method. The optimal parameters of the enrichment process were a sample concentration of 0.3 mg/mL, a loading rate of 1 mL/min, an elution flow rate of 2 mL/min, and a total flavonoid content of 155.38 ± 0.97 mg/g. The flavonoids enriched by AB-8 macroporous resin demonstrated significant scavenging activities against DPPH, ABTS+, and hydroxyl free radicals, and also exhibited certain inhibitory effects on α-amylase and α-glucosidase. Among them, the scavenging ability of the flavonoids enriched by AB-8 macroporous resin on hydroxyl free radical (IC50 = 30.31 ± 1.92 μg/mL) was the closest to Vc, and the inhibitory effect on α-glucosidase (IC50 = 16.19 ± 1.35 μg/mL) was the best. These findings confirmed the potential of Artemisia Selengensis Turcz. is a natural antioxidant and hypoglycemic drug.

Phytochemical Composition and Characterization of In Vitro Bioactivities from Pinus Using Green Process.

Pinus species are notable in Mediterranean regions due to their ecological and economic importance. Various parts of these species are widely used in traditional medicine, especially pinecones, which are a significant source of bioactive compounds. The current study aimed to evaluate the phytochemical composition and biological properties of the aqueous extracts obtained by maceration from three Pinus petal fractions, from P. halepensis Mill., P. brutia Ten., and P. pinea L. (APW, BPW, and PPW respectively), and the core fractions of the same species (ACW, BCW, and PCW respectively). The results showed that APW demonstrated superior performance compared to other species and fractions (p ≤ 0.05), with the highest total polyphenol content (203.51 mg GAE/g DW) and the highest antioxidant potential (IC50 = 13.51 µg/mL) against DPPH free radical. All extracts showed high anticancer activity against HeLa and HepG2 cancer cell lines, and low inhibition against HEK-293, a normal cell line (<15%), indicating that none of extracts have any toxicity effect. Furthermore, only APW exhibits a significant inhibition against α-glucosidase with 77.20% at 50 µg/mL. HPLC-DAD analysis was conducted to identify 14 compounds. GC-MS analysis was conducted to identify 28 compounds, of which 11 were detected for the first time in this species. This study offers valuable insights into phytochemistry and potential therapeutic applications of pinecones.

In vitro antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of bioactive compounds extracted from Streptomyces africanus strain E2 isolated from Moroccan soil

This study aimed to isolate Streptomyces sp. from Moroccan terrestrial ecosystems and identify bioactive compounds through GC–MS analysis. Antimicrobial activity was assessed against various pathogenic microorganisms including Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 and Candida albicans ATCC 60193, and multi-drug resistant strains comprising Listeria monocytogenes, Klebsiella pneumoniae 19K 929, Proteus sp. 19K1313, Klebsiella pneumoniae 20B1572, Proteus vulgaris 16C1737, and Klebsiella pneumoniae 20B1572. Based on the results of the gene sequencing of gene 16S rRNA and phylogenetic analysis, the E2 isolate belongs to the genus Streptomyces with the highest degree of resemblance (97.51%) to the Streptomyces africanus strain NBRC 101005 (NR_112600.1). The isolate exhibited broad-spectrum antibacterial activity, with maximum efficacy against Klebsiella pneumoniae 20B1572 indicated by an inhibition zone diameter of 22.5 ± 0.71mm and a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 0.0625 mg/mL. The in vitro antioxidant potential of E2 strain was determined through screening of its ethyl acetate extract against sets of antioxidant assays. The results were indicative of E2 strain displaying strong antioxidant activity against ABTS, DPPH free radicals, and FRAP. Furthermore, there was a high significant correlation (p < 0.0001) between the total phenolic and flavonoid content and antioxidant activities. The GC–MS analysis of the extract identified six volatile compounds, with Eugenol (96%) and Maltol (93%) being the most prominent. Additionally, the HPLC–UV/vis analysis revealed six phenolic compounds: gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, vanillic acid, trans-ferulic acid, ellagic acid, and cinnamic acid. Overall, the study highlights Streptomyces sp. strain E2 as a potential source of potent antimicrobial and antioxidant metabolites, offering promise in addressing antibiotic resistance and oxidative stress-related conditions.

Investigating the effect of fermentation byLactobacillus reuteri on biochemical properties of Ceylon Cinnamon

Abstract Introduction Fermentation is an important biotechnological process that improves the biochemical properties of natural raw materials by transforming high molecular compounds into more beneficial low molecular compounds through microbial biotransformation. Ceylon cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume), globally recognized as 'true cinnamon', contains high molecular weight, complex compounds that are responsible for its renowned antioxidant, antibacterial, and therapeutic properties, making it a vital component in medicinal applications1. Aims The present study aimed to investigate the effect of fermentation by Lactobacillus reuteri on selected phytochemical contents, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties of bark extracts of Ceylon cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume) and to determine the optimum conditions for fermentation of Cinnamon bark extract by L. reuteri. Method Authenticated Ceylon cinnamon bark (CCB) was extracted into water using the decoction method. The water extract was fermented by L. reuteri under controlled conditions (pH 6, incubation at 35 ºC) and optimized using two parameters; the inoculum density (1.5×108 cfu/ml and 7.5×108 cfu/ml) and incubation time (2 and 4 days). After fermentation, total polyphenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), DPPH free radical scavenging activity and antibacterial activity of non-fermented extracts (NFE) and fermented extracts (FE) of CCB were evaluated. Antibacterial activity was determined using the agar well diffusion method against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Ethical approval was not required since no human or animal study was done during the study. Results The extract fermented with an inoculum density of 7.5×108 cfu/ml and incubated for 4 days showed the highest TFC (19.3 ± 0.3 mg RE/g) and antioxidant activity (IC50: 97.2 ± 0.8 µg/ml) in comparison to that of NFEs (TFC:13.3 ± 0.3 mg RE/g and DPPH activity: IC50: 233.7 ± 12.8 µg/ml). Moreover, the fermented samples showed a reduction in TPC, indicating possible biotransformation of compounds. and no significant change in the antibacterial activity in comparison to the non-fermented samples. Discussion and Conclusion This study was mainly focused on investigating the effect of fermentation of Ceylon cinnamon bark aqueous extract by Lactobacillus reuteri. The increased antioxidant activity and total flavonoid content are notable and could be attributed to chemical transformations of some complex flavanols including catechin gallate and epicatechin gallate present in aqueous cinnamon to catechin and epicatechin monomers by the action of enzymes secreted by L. reuteri during the fermentation process2. Hence, this study suggests that fermentation using L. reuteri has a considerable positive impact on certain biochemical properties of cinnamon water extract. Cinnamon bark is a complex matrix containing various phytochemicals that could interact with bacterial strains in ways that are not fully understood. These interactions could lead to unexpected effects or limitations during fermentation.

Antioxidant activity and content of total phenols and flavonoids of aqueous extracts from leaves of Pistacia lentiscus L.

The Mounts of Tessala (western of Algeria) is a remarkable site of plants diversity, characterized by the presence of numerous aromatic and medicinal species used by the local population as therapeutic agents, the mastic tree (Pistacia lentiscus L.) is among the plants inhabiting this mountain; it is a perennial shrub belonging to the family Anacardiaceae. The dosage of some polyphenols (total phenols, flavonoids) varied respectively between 21.20 - 98.23 mg gallic acid equivalents/g and 39.767 - 91.288 mg catechin equivalents/g. ANOVA revealed a significant variation in the mean concentrations according to the used extract. Evaluation of the antioxidant power of aqueous extracts has revealed a remarkable biological effect. The high inhibition percentages (100%) were found in the decocted extract at 10 mg/mL, followed by the macerated extract at 10 mg/mL, and finally the infused extract with 82.99% at 20 mg/mL. The DPPH free radical scavenging test revealed that the antioxidant activity of aqueous extracts varied significantly according to extract type and its concentration. The results obtained not only confirm the richness of active principles in the studied plant but also its therapeutic effectiveness.

Synthesis, evaluation of antioxidant and antidiabetic potential of 3-ethoxy carbonyl coumarin-8-propionamides

A series of 3- ethoxycarbonyl coumarin-8-propionamide analogues were designed, synthesized and in vitro antioxidant potential was screened by DPPH and ABTS assays and examined their anti-diabetic activity against α-amylase enzyme. The 3-fluoro-2-trifluoromethyl phenyl substituted coumarin-8-propionamide (8k) showed excellent scavenging potential (IC50 - 43.1 μM) for both DPPH and ABTS free radicals compared with the standards trolox (IC50 - 43.3 μM) and ascorbic acid (IC50 - 42.1 μM). The compound dicyanophenyl substituted propionamide analogue (8m) displayed highest inhibition with IC50 value of 5.1 μM against the α-amylase enzyme which is well comparable with Metformin (IC50 4.6 μM). The docking studies of the compounds with the receptor protein α-amylase (PDB ID 4x9y) shown lower binding energy when compared with Metformin.

Determination of antioxidant capacity of glutathione encapsulated in alginate microcapsules using spectrophotometric and electrochemical methods

This paper includes the preparation and physicochemical characterization of sodium alginate microcapsules intended for the oral administration of glutathione (GSH), a vital endogenous antioxidant in combating oxidative stress. Using various methods such as optical microscopy, FTIR spectrometry, and cyclic voltammetry, the morphology, chemical structure, release mechanism, and antioxidant capacity of the released glutathione in simulated digestive fluids (gastric medium with pH=2 and intestinal medium with pH=7.4, without enzymes) were analyzed. The results showed the stability of the alginate microcapsules in digestive fluids and highlighted an increase in encapsulation efficiency with higher concentrations of encapsulated glutathione. Additionally, it was shown that sodium alginate-based microcapsules exhibit different swelling capacities depending on the pH and glutathione concentration, showing remarkable potential for controlled delivery of the active compound. The in vitro release study demonstrated more efficient release of glutathione in simulated intestinal fluid (SIF) than in simulated gastric fluid (SGF). The calculation of the electrochemical index using cyclic voltammetry demonstrated superior antioxidant activity of encapsulated glutathione compared to free glutathione. Correlating the DPPH inhibition percentage with the electrochemical index showed high Pearson coefficients both in SGF and in SIF, indicating a good correlation between DPPH or ABTS free radical species inhibition and electrochemical measurements. Therefore, sodium alginate and glutathione microcapsules show potential for developing efficient delivery systems for glutathione or other pharmaceutical compounds.