DPPH Radical Scavenging Capacity Research Articles

Alleviating salinity stress in Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L. seedlings through foliar application of silicon or melatonin in arid and semi-desert environments

Salinity stress can be deemed as an important challenge extremely affecting crop growth as well as development. Therefore, it is important to improve its tolerance to salinity stress, in arid as well as semiarid regions. Thus, this experiment explored the influence of foliar usage of plant growth-stimulating substances with different concentrations (C: control, melatonin (M1: 100, M2: 200 and M3:400 µM) and silicon (Si1: 5.4, Si2: 10.8 and Si3: 16.2 mM)) on some physiological as well as biochemical attributes of Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L. (guar) seedlings under five salinity levels (S1: no-salt treatment, S2: 5, S3: 10, S4: 15 and S5: 20 dS m−1). With increasing salinity, shoot dry weight, Fv/Fm, F′v/F′m, ΦPSII, qp, qL, Rfd, ETR, photosynthetic pigments, membrane stability index, as well as relative water content were gradually reduced in salt-stressed guar, as comparison is made to the non-saline conditions. However, foliar usage of plant growth-stimulating substances was effective in improving guar tolerance to salinity by elevating the DPPH radical scavenging capacity and anthocyanin, thus enhancing membrane stability index, improving the electron's transport rate, reducing electrolyte leakage and decreasing the damage affecting the reaction center of PSII, as comparison is made with control. Such positive effects were exhibited in elevating growth under salinity stress. Si3 treatment demonstrated the best response under salinity stress, as compared with the other treatments. Consequently, foliar usage of silicon or melatonin in salt-stressed guar seedlings can serve an efficient method to improve salt tolerance under salinity stress in arid and semiarid regions.

Optimization of the Process of Extracting Polysaccharides from Agrocybe aegerita and In Vitro Antioxidant and Anti-Aging Tests.

The extraction process of crude polysaccharides from Agrocybe aegerita was optimized, and the antioxidant and anti-aging effects of the crude polysaccharides were evaluated. The optimal extraction parameters for the polysaccharide were identified using the response surface methodology. The DPPH, hydroxy radical, and superoxide anion radical scavenging capacities were evaluated to determine the antioxidant properties of the AAPs. The effects of the AAPs on the lifespan, head-swing frequency, swallowing frequency, body-bending frequency, and stress resistance of Caenorhabditis elegans were determined. The optimal extraction conditions included a solid-to-liquid ratio that resulted in an extraction solution concentration of 0.034 g/mL, an extraction temperature of 92.64 °C, and an extraction time of 2.82 h. Under these conditions, the yield of the AAPs was 11.325% ± 0.996%. The IC50 of the AAPs for superoxide anion radical scavenging was 4.693 mg/mL. The AAPs reached their maximum activity at concentrations of about 2 mg/mL for DPPH and 5 mg/mL for the hydroxyl radical. The AAPs could prolong the lifespan and improve locomotion and the stress resistance of C. elegans. Our findings illustrate the potential of AAPs as an anti-aging and antioxidant agent, highlighting the use of this natural compound in the fields of food and pharmacology.

Evaluation of Quinoline-Related Carboxylic Acid Derivatives as Prospective Differentially Antiproliferative, Antioxidative, and Anti-Inflammatory Agents.

The higher prevalence of cancer and the unmet need for antioxidant/anti-inflammatory chemotherapeutic compounds with little side effect are of utmost importance. In addition, the increased likelihood of failure in clinical trials along with increasing development costs may have diminished the range of choices among newer drugs for clinical use. This has dictated the necessity to seek out novel medications by repurposing as it needs less time, effort, and resources to explore new uses of a current or unsuccessful medication. In this study, we examined the biological activity of 10 potential quinoline derivatives. Given the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50 value) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced inflammation of RAW264.7 mouse macrophages, all commercial FQs and selected quinolines (quinoline-4-carboxlic and quinoline-3-carboxylic acids) exerted impressively appreciable anti-inflammation affinities versus classical NSAID indomethacin without related cytotoxicities in inflamed macrophages. Conversely, all 14 tested compounds lacked antioxidative DPPH radical scavenging capacities as compared to ascorbic acid. Gemifloxacin, considerably unlike markets FQs, indomethacin and quinoline derivatives, exerted exceptional and differential antiproliferation propensities in colorectum SW480, HCT116, and CACO2, pancreatic PANC1, prostate PC3, mammary T47D, lung A375, and melanoma A549 adherent monolayers using the sulforhodamine B colorimetric method versus antineoplastic cisplatin. All quinoline derivatives and gemifloxacin alike, but not levofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, or indomethacin, displayed substantially selective viability reduction affinities in prolonged tumor incubations of cervical HELA and mammary MCF7 cells. Specifically kynurenic acid (hydrate), quinoline-2-carboxylic acid, quinoline-4-carboxylic acid, quinoline-3-carboxylic acid, and 1,2-dihydro-2-oxo-4-quinoline carboxylic acids possessed the most remarkable growth inhibition capacities against mammary MCF7 cell line, while quinoline-2-carboxylic acid was the only quinoline derivative with significant cytotoxicity on cervical HELA cancer cells. It is highly speculated that chelation with divalent metals via co-planarity with close proximity of the COOH and the N atom could have the potential molecular mechanism for optimally promising repurposed pharmacologies. Conclusively, this study revealed the considerably profound repurposed duality of cytotoxicity and anti-inflammation pharmacologies of quinoline derivatives. Activity-guided structural modifications of the present nuclear scaffolds can be inherently linked to the betterment and enhancement of their repurposed pharmacologies.

Methyl jasmonate and salicylic acid treatment changes the nutritional quality, antioxidant profile and gene expression of postharvest blackberry fruit

Blackberry fruit is rich in various nutrients and has strong antioxidant activity. However, these fruit are soft, juicy, prone to decay and spoilage, and not suitable for storage. To ensure the quality of blackberry fruit and extend its shelf life, this study used methyl jasmonate (MJ), salicylic acid (SA), or MJ+SA to treat mature blackberry fruit after harvesting. And measure the fruit appearance indicators, antioxidant contents, antioxidant enzyme activities, and related gene expression levels stored at 4 °C for different durations. The results showed that the MJ, SA, and the combination of MJ+SA treatments could slow fruit softening by increasing antioxidant contents and antioxidant enzyme activities, with MJ+SA having the greatest effect on the postharvest treatment of blackberry. Compared with those in the control, the DPPH radical scavenging capacity, total phenol and flavonoid contents, and antioxidant enzyme (POD, GSH, and SOD) activities were increased in three hormone treatment groups. Moreover, the expression levels of key genes involved in flavonoid and phenol compound synthesis were upregulated in all the postharvest treatment groups. There was a positive correlation between the contents of total phenol and flavonoid and between their related structural enzyme-encoding genes and transcription factors. This study lays the foundation for further exploration of hormone application for prolonging the shelf life and changing in the antioxidant activity of blackberry fruit.

Tailoring highland barley bran arabinoxylans: Insights into composition, structure, and functional properties

Highland barley bran (HBB) stands as an underutilized source of arabinoxylans (AXs), presenting promising prospects for various applications. This study focuses on the isolation of four different AXs (S20, S40, S60, S80) from HBB using alkali extraction and gradient alcohol precipitation. These AXs exhibited diverse purity (56.47%–80.92%), monosaccharide compositions (A/X:0.47–0.96), and molecular weights (Mw) (173.5–498.2 kDa) of different AXs, along with different microstructural variations, amorphous qualities, and thermal stability. Rheological analyses demonstrated their shear-thinning behavior and distinctive gel-forming capacities, with S20 exhibiting superior viscosity and gel-forming ability. Notably, all four AXs demonstrate notable DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging capacities, with S80 demonstrating the highest antioxidant potency. Correlation analyses highlighted connections between molecular weight, branching degree, and rheological and antioxidant properties of AXs. Among different AXs, S20, with its low branching degree (0.47) and high molecular weight (390.4 kDa), exhibited significant viscosity, suggesting its suitability as a natural thickener in food processing. Conversely, S80, characterized by its low molecular weight (173.5 kDa), high branching degree (0.96), and potent antioxidant activity, holds promise as a natural antioxidant in functional foods. This study provides crucial insights for tailoring AX applications, unlocking the potential for the valorization of HBB in diverse scenarios.

Investigation of Cytotoxic Effects of Tragopogon reticulatus Against HepG2 and MCF-7 Cell Lines and Antioxidant, Antimicrobial Effects Against Some Microorganisms

Plants have been used for various purposes throughout history. This subject has received increasing attention in the field of traditional medicine in recent years. Tragopogon reticulatus, as a forage grass plant in turkey, is a species that stands out with rich vitamin and mineral content. The aim of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial, antioxidant, and cytotoxic activities of T. reticulatus. Two separate extracts were prepared at different concentrations using hexane and methanol solvents obtained from the T. reticulatus plant, and cytotoxic activity was evaluated by the MTT Assay (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) method on human liver cancer (HepG2) and human breast cancer (MCF7) cell lines. The antioxidant activity of the extracts obtained from methanol and hexane was determined by the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl 1-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging capacity method. Antimicrobial activity was evaluated by the disk diffusion method, and bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Bacillus megaterium, and Candida albicans fungus were used in the study. The hexane extract obtained from the T. reticulatus plant showed a high cytotoxic activity of 44% in the MCF7 cell line, while it showed a 51% dead cell count in the HepG2 cell line. When the antioxidant results were evaluated, it was determined that the DPPH radical scavenging effect of the hexane extract exhibited the most effective activity at 19%. When the antimicrobial results were evaluated, it was determined that the concentrations prepared with hexane exhibited the most effective activity with a zone diameter of 16 mm against B. megaterium. These findings suggest that T. reticulatus plant extracts can be considered as a potential source. These results may shed light on future research into the biological effects of the plant and contribute to the development of new treatment methods.

Exogenous nitric oxide treatment delays the senescence of postharvest mung bean sprouts by regulating ascorbic acid metabolism.

This study evaluated the effects of nitric oxide (NO) treatment on ascorbic acid (AsA) metabolism and mung bean sprout quality. It examined changes in the AsA content, enzyme activity associated with AsA metabolism, antioxidant capacity, cell membrane composition, and cellular structure to clarify the effects of NO on mung bean sprouts. Nitric oxide treatment preserved mung bean sprout quality by enhancing significantly the activity of enzymes involved in the l-galactose pathway (including guanosine diphosphate (GDP)glutathione (-d-mannose pyrophosphorylase, GDP-mannose-3',5'-epimerase, GDP-l-galactose phosphorylase, l-galactose-1-phosphate phosphatase, l-galactose dehydrogenase, and l-galactose-1,4-lactone dehydrogenase) and the AsA-glutathione (GSH)(Beijing Solarbio Science and Technology Co.,Ltd., Beijing, China) cycle (including ascorbate peroxidase, ascorbic acid oxidase, glutathione reductase, dehydroascorbate reductase, and monodehydroascorbate reductase) during the germination and storage stage. Increased enzyme activity led to an increase in AsA content and enhanced antioxidant capacity, and reduced the membrane lipid damage in mung bean sprouts. This was demonstrated by higher levels of DPPH radical scavenging capacity, unsaturated fatty acids and phospholipids, along with lower levels of hydrogen peroxide, superoxide anions, and malondiadehyde, in NO-treated mung bean sprouts. Scanning electron microscopy also revealed that NO treatment maintained the integrity of the cellular structure of the mung bean sprouts. Nitric oxide accelerates AsA metabolism effectively by regulating the biosynthesis and regeneration of AsA in mung bean sprouts. These changes increased AsA levels, alleviated membrane lipid damage, delayed senescence, and maintained the quality of mung bean sprouts during storage. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Poly(vinyl chloride) Films Incorporated with Antioxidant ZnO-Flavonoid Nanoparticles: A Strategy for Food Preservation.

Antioxidant films were prepared using poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) incorporated with 0.5% or 1.0% zinc oxide (ZnO)-flavonoid (quercetin or morin) nanoparticles (NPZnO-Q% or NPZnO-M%) via the casting method. NP incorporation within the polymer matrix influenced the structural, morphological, optical, and thermal properties of the PVC-based films, as well as their antioxidant activity as assessed using the DPPH radical scavenging method. Our results indicated that increasing ZnO-flavonoid NP concentration increased films thickness, while reducing ultraviolet light (UV) transmittance but conserving transparency. The presence of NPZnO-Q% or NPZnO-M% improved the surface uniformity and thermal stability of the active films. In terms of antioxidant activity, there was an enhancement in the DPPH radical scavenging capacity (PVC/ZnO-Q1.0% > PVC/ZnO-Q0.5% > PVC/ZnO-M0.5% > PVC/ZnO-M1.0% > PVC), suggesting that the packaging can help protect food from oxidative processes. Therefore, these antioxidant films represent an innovative strategy for using as active food packaging material, especially intended for aiding in quality preservation and extending the shelf life of fatty foods.

Carbon Dots-Mediated Photodynamic Treatment Reduces Postharvest Senescence and Decay of Grapes by Regulating the Antioxidant System.

Grapes are susceptible to mold and decay during postharvest storage, and developing new technologies to extend their storage period has important application value. Photodynamic technology (PDT) in concurrence with carbon dots (CDs) proposes an innovative and eco-friendly preservation strategy. We examined the effects of carbon dots combined with photodynamic treatment on postharvest senescence and antioxidant system of table grape. The compounding of photodynamic technology with a 0.06 g L-1 CDs solution could possibly extend the postharvest storage period of grape berries. Through this strategy, we achieved a decreased rate of fruit rotting and weight loss alongside the delayed deterioration of fruit firmness, soluble solids, and titratable acid. As paired with photodynamic technology, CDs considerably decreased the postharvest storage loss of phenols, flavonoids, and reducing sugars as compared to the control group. Concurrently, it remarkably postponed the build-up of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), superoxide anion (O2∙-), and malondialdehyde (MDA); elevated the levels of reduced ascorbic acid (AsA) and reduced glutathione (GSH); lowered the levels of dehydroascorbic acid (DHA) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG); raised the ratios of AsA/DHA and GSSH/GSSG; encouraged the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL); and inhibited the activities of polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and lipoxygenase (LOX). Furthermore, it enhanced the iron reduction antioxidant capacity (FRAP) and DPPH radical scavenging capacity of grape berries. CDs combined with photodynamic treatment could efficiently lessen postharvest senescence and decay of grape berry while extending the storage time.

Enhancement of mechanical, barrier, and functional properties of chitosan film reinforced with glycerol, COS, and gallic acid for active food packaging

The demand for eco-friendly and natural food packaging materials has sparked considerable interest in the research and development of sustainable active packaging materials. In this study, a chitosan-based film was developed using glycerol as a plasticiser, chitooligosaccharide (COS) as an additive, and gallic acid as a cross-linking agent. The physical, barrier, mechanical, morphological, thermal, and functional properties of fabricated films were measured. The bio-composite film showed significantly lower moisture content (from 24.28 to 17.01%), water solubility (from 41.56% to 31.03%), water vapour permeability (14.63 to 9.79 × 10−9 gm−1s−1Pa−1), and light transmittance (from 63.67% to 21.71%) compared to neat chitosan film. Furthermore, the bio-composite film exhibited higher tensile strength (57.66 MPa) and elongation at break (88.76%), smooth microstructure, strong DPPH and ABTS radicals scavenging capacity, and good antimicrobial activity towards E. coli, L. innocua, and S. cerevisiae, and non-toxic to HaCaT cells indicating promising potential for use in sustainable active food packaging.

Deer Skin Collagen Peptides Bound to Calcium: In Vitro Gastrointestinal Simulation of Digestion, Cellular Uptake and Analysis of Antioxidant Activity.

The by-product of deer skin, which has mostly been used as a decorative material, is rich in collagen and amino acids that could bind to Ca2+. Therefore, the preparation process, stability, antioxidant activity and calcium transport capacity of deer skin collagen peptide calcium chelate (Ca-DSCP) were investigated. In addition, the structure of the new chelate was characterized. The preparation process of Ca-DSCP was optimized using one-way experiments and response surface methodology. The ideal conditions were pH 9, 48 °C, and a peptide-to-calcium mass ratio of 5:1. The chelation rate was (60.73 ± 1.54)%. Zeta potential, XRD, UV-vis and FTIR analyses yielded that deer skin collagen peptides (DSCP) underwent a chelating reaction with calcium ions to form new structures. The stability of Ca-DSCP and the fraction of bioavailability of calcium ions were determined using in vitro gastrointestinal digestion and a Caco-2 cell monolayer model. The results showed that fraction of bioavailability and stability of DSCP were improved by influencing the structural characterization. The antioxidant activities of DSCP and Ca-DSCP were evaluated by measuring relevant oxidative stress indicators, DPPH radical scavenging capacity and hydroxyl radical scavenging capacity. Finally, bioinformatics and molecular docking techniques were utilized to screen and study the antioxidant mechanism of DSCP.

3-mercaptocoumarins as potential bioactive candidates: From novel synthesis to comparative analysis

In the literature, only two papers describe the synthesis of 3-mercaptocoumarins (3-MCMs) without exploring their bioactivity. So, the novelty of this work is driven by the fact that it employs an original synthetic route to produce new 3-MCMs, assesses their biomedical activities, and compares them to those of similar 3-mercapto-free coumarins. By treating it with concentrated H2SO4, 1‑chloro-2-hydroxypropane-1,2,3-tricarboxylic acid was transformed into 2‑chloro-3-oxopentanedioic acid. The latter acid was sonicated separately with two derivatives of 2-naphthol to produce the precursors P-MCM1 and P-MCM8. These were in turn nucleophilically attacked by KSH at electrophilic carbon attached to chloride. The resulting two compounds, MCM1 and MCM8, were esterified individually with various parafunctionalized phenols, affording two series of 3-MCMs, which are coded MCM2-MCM7 and MCM9-MCM14. The structural frameworks of the synthesized MCM1-MCM14 were confirmed by examining their FTIR, 1HNMR , 13CNMR , and HRMS electromagnetic spectra. The biomedicine-related activities of the synthesized 3-MCMs were evaluated and compared with those acquired from their corresponding 3-mercapto-free coumarins (CM1-CM14). These activities include antitumor, cytotoxicity, antioxidant, antidiabetic, anti-aerobic bacteria, anti-anaerobic bacteria, antifungal, and microbiome biosafety. The MTT-probing methodology was used to assess the antitumor and cytotoxicity against six tumor cell lines and one healthy cell line, respectively. The hydroxyl‑ and DPPH radical-scavenging capacity of the synthesized 3-MCMs was assessed for their antioxidant activity. To quantify the antidiabetic activity, the inhibitory properties against two carbohydrate-metabolizing enzymes were followed. On the other hand, the broth microdilution methodology was employed to investigate the antimicrobial features against six pathogenic aerobes, four pathogenic anaerobes, and two pathogenic fungi. The microbiome biosafety was also inspected using the same methodology for one non-pathogenic aerobic bacterial strain. The results acquired from the above-mentioned activities regarding the synthesized 3-MCMs were analyzed and compared with those related to CMs. Collectively, the findings indicated that the synthesized 3-MCMs can demonstrate better biomedicine-related activities than those of CMs, with the exception of the anti-anaerobic one.

Co-encapsulation of vitamin E and quercetin by soybean lipophilic proteins based on pH-shifting and ultrasonication: Focus on interaction mechanisms, structural and physicochemical properties

This study explored the mechanism of interaction of pH-shifting combined ultrasonication and its effect on soybean lipophilic proteins (SLP) and the potential of modified SLP as the carrier for vitamin E (VE) and quercetin (QU). The spectroscopy results revealed that both VE and QU changed the SLP conformation and exposed hydrophobic groups. The loading rates of VE and QU by SLP with alkaline pH-shifting combined with ultrasonication (300 w,20 min) were 86.91% and 75.99%, respectively. According to the antioxidant analysis, with an increase in the ultrasonication power, the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging capacity of the samples increased, where the DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging capacity of sample SQV-6 were 70.90% and 63.43%, respectively. The physicochemical properties, microstructure, and stability of the SLP–VE–QU complex improved significantly. Overall, the present findings broadened the application of simple structural carriers for co-encapsulating functional factors.

Phytochemical profile and antioxidant activity of torch ginger (Etlingera elatior) inflorescence extract after in vitro simulated digestion

Background: Torch ginger (Etlingera elatior) is an edible flower whose inflorescence is utlized for culinary purposes to enchance the taste of traditional dishes containing polyphenols and antioxidant compounds. However, investigation on the phytochemical profile and antioxidant activity of torch ginger inflorescence extract following simulated gastrointesinal digestion is still limited. Objective: This study aims to determine the phytochemical profile and evaluate the antioxidant activity of the inflorescence extract after in vitro simulated digestion. Methods: Torch ginger inflorescence (TGI) was extracted by ultrasound-assisted extraction with different solvents (water,50%, and 80% aqueous ethanol). Total phenolics content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and antioxidant activity were determined by ORAC, DPPH, FRAP, and metal ion (Fe2+) chelating activity. The solvent extraction that gave the highest value of TPC, TFC, and antioxidant activities was used for an in vitro digestion and identification of phytochemicals profile by LC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS. Furthermore, the TPC, TFC, and antioxidant capacities of digested TGI extract were compared to those of undigested extract. Results: TGI contained 90.24% moisture. The 80% aqueous ethanol extract exhibited the highest antioxidant capacity, with an ORAC value of 1,156.61 ± 11.55 mM TE/g extract, DPPH radical scavenging capacity of 1,087.68 ± 14.37 mM TE/g extract, FRAP value of 799.30 ± 1.45 mM TE/g extract, and Fe2+ chelating capacity of 42.32 ± 3.48% /mg extract. The 39 phytochemicals were identified for 9 flavonoids and 5 phenolic acids. The putative bioactive compounds for antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and anticholesterol were detected in TGIE, such as catechin, 2-hydroxycinnamic acid, astragalin, chlorogenic acid, coumarin, and procyanidin B2. After passing through an in vitro simulated mouth, gastric, and intestinal digestion, the TGI extract exhibited higher values of TPC, TFC, and antioxidative capacities than the undigested extract. Conclusion: This study reviewed the phytochemical components presented in the 80% aqueous ethanol TGIE. The expressed antioxidant capacity was increased when the TGIE passed through the in vitro simulated digestion, which could potentially represent a promising source of endogenous antioxidants in food and nutraceutical applications. Keywords: Antioxidant, edible flower, gastrointestinal digestion, phytochemicals, Torch ginger inflorescence

Ruthenium(II) Complex-Based Tetradentate Schiff Bases: Synthesis, Spectroscopic, Antioxidant, and Antibacterial Investigations.

In this work, we describe the synthesis of novel Ruthenium (II) complex-based salen Schiff bases. The obtained Ruthenium (II) complexes are characterized using usual spectroscopic and spectrometric techniques, viz., IR, UV-Vis, NMR (1H and 13C), powder X-ray diffraction, and HRMS. Further techniques, such as DTA-TGA and elemental analysis, are used to well establish the structure of the obtained complexes. Octahedral geometries are tentatively proposed for the new Ru(II) complexes. The measured molar conductance for the Ruthenium (II) complexes shows their electrolytic nature (4.24-4.44 S/m). The new Ru(II) complexes are evaluated for their antioxidant and antibacterial activities. The DPPH radical scavenging, FRAP, and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) assays show that the obtained complexes are more potent than the used positive control. They also exhibit promising antibacterial responses against pathogen bacteria: [RuH2L3Cl2] exhibits an important inhibition against Bacillus subtilis DSM 6633, with an inhibition zone of 21 ± 1.41 mm with an MIC value of 0.39 mg/mL, and Proteus mirabilis INH, with 16.50 ± 0.70 mm and an MIC value of 0.78 mg/mL, while [RuH2L2Cl2] exerts interesting antibacterial effects versus Bacillus subtilis DSM 6633 (21 ± 1.41 mm) and Proteus mirabilis INH (25.5 ± 0.70 mm) with equal MIC values of 0.97 mg/mL.

Comparative analysis of nutrient composition and antioxidant activity in three dragon fruit cultivars.

Dragon fruit has significant economic value in many countries due to has excellent nutritional content, health advantages, and adaptability to different climates, making it an important crop in the global fruit industry. This study aimed to gather comprehensive nutritional data on three dragon fruit cultivars by analysing the levels of micronutrients, fibre, carbohydrates, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals in their pulps. Uniform dragon fruit samples underwent thorough analysis for proximate composition, mineral content, pigments, antioxidants, and vitamin C, with statistical methods used to assess significant differences among the parameters studied. The proximate composition analysis revealed significant differences among the three dragon fruit cultivars. Among the proximate components, protein (0.40±0.02g/100 g), moisture (91.33±0.88%), crude fibre (0.32±0.07 g/100 g), and ash (1.27±0.09 g/100 g) were more abundant in Hylocereus costaricensis than in Hylocereus undatus and Hylocereus megalanthus. On the other hand, Hylocereus undatus had higher carbohydrate (17.02±0.63 g/100 g) and energy (69.74±2.44 kcal/100 g) contents. K (7.23±0.35 mg/100 g), Ca (1.61±0.13 mg/100 g), Fe (1.84±0.05 mg/100 g), and Zn (0.37±0.034 mg/100 g) are highly abundant in H. costaricensis. Additionally, Hylocereus costaricensis had the highest anthocyanin content (120.15±3.29 mg/g FW) and total carotenoid content (72.51±1.62 mg/g FW), along with the highest vitamin C content (8.92±0.13 mg/g FW) and total soluble phenolic content (572.48±20.77 mg/100 g). Its remarkable antioxidant activity was further highlighted by the lowest SC50 value (13.50±0.4 mg/mL) for its DPPH radical scavenging capacity. The total soluble sugar content was highest in Hylocereus megalanthus (8.72±0.30 g/100 g FW). Hierarchical clustering analysis revealed distinct trait and genotype associations; among the studied cultivars, Hylocereus costaricensis demonstrated superior performance across multiple traits. Correlation analysis indicated significant positive correlations among several traits, while principal component analysis highlighted the contribution of each trait to overall variance, with PC1 explaining 73.95% of the total variance. This study highlights the nutritional variations among dragon fruit cultivars, with Hylocereus costaricensis showing superior performance, guiding dietary planning and functional food development.

Bio-based films from quince by-products: A sustainable alternative for biodegradable food packaging

Quince (Cydonia oblonga Miller) is a seasonal fruit that is commonly processed by the food industry to produce marmalades, jellies and wines, resulting in a large amount of by-products. The filmogenic capacity of quince seeds has been well studied in the literature, but not that of the entire by-product generated in the industry. This work addresses the study of the filmogenic capacity of these by-products, at two formulation levels (QW1 and QW2), and compares them with that of only seeds (QS) in terms of physicochemical, optical, mechanical, morphological, antioxidant and thermal properties. The yield of mucilage obtained from both by-product formulations doubled the obtained from isolated seed (22–27 % vs. 10.9 %) and showed higher tensile strength (106–107 % vs. 85.3 %) and elongation at break values (2–3 vs. 1.9 MPa). The three types of films showed excellent protection properties against UV radiation, attractive optical properties and good DPPH radical scavenging capacity (34–37 %). Microstructural changes over time in the morphology of the three films were also observed by scanning electron microscopy between 24 and 48 h.

Bioactive Phenylpropanoid Glycosides, Dimers, and Heterodimers from the Bark of Cinnamomum cassia (L.) J.Presl.

Six new phenylpropanoid glycosides (1-6), two new phenylethanol glycosides (7 and 8), one new phenylmethanol glycoside (9), three new phenylpropanoid dimers (10-12), two new phenylpropanoid-flavan-3-ol heterodimers (13 and 14), and six known relevant compounds (15-20) were isolated and identified from the well-liked edible and medicinal substance (the bark of Cinnamomum cassia (L.) J.Presl). The structures of these isolates were determined by using spectroscopic analyses, chemical methods, and quantum chemical calculations. Notably, compounds 4-9 were rare apiuronyl-containing glycosides, and compounds 13 and 14 were heterodimers of phenylpropanoids and flavan-3-ols linked through C-9″-C-8 bonds. The antioxidant and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities of all isolates were evaluated. Compounds 10 and 12 exhibited DPPH radical scavenging capacities with IC50 values of 20.1 and 13.0 μM, respectively (vitamin C IC50 value of 14.3 μM). In the ORAC experiment, all these compounds exhibited different levels of capacity for scavenging free radicals, and compound 10 displayed extraordinary free radical scavenging capacity with the ORAC value of 6.42 ± 0.01 μM TE/μM (EGCG ORAC value of 1.54 ± 0.02 μM TE/μM). Compound 12 also showed significant α-glucosidase inhibitory activity with an IC50 of 56.3 μM (acarbose IC50 of 519.4 μM).

Analysis of gauze pad made from coconut tree fiber infused with guava derived phenolic compounds

Abstract Gauze pad wound dressing plays a crucial role in protecting the wound and preventing it from factors that can prolong the healing process. However, due to the porous nature of gauze pads, it cannot completely block microbes from getting into the wound. This study analyzes coconut tree fiber as a gauze pad infused with guava derived phenolic compounds, known for its antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. The research assesses the extract’s effectiveness, focusing on phenolic compounds, antioxidant properties, and antimicrobial effects. By employing the disk diffusion method against Staphylococcus aureus, the study reveals that both 50% and 30% extracts exhibit inhibitory activity, with mean zones of inhibition at 8.5 mm and 8.33 mm, respectively, showing the antimicrobial property for both 50% and 30% extracts. The samples also demonstrated notable DPPH radical scavenging capacities for concentrations ranging from 0.006 to 1.27 (%w/v) for the 50% extract sample and from 0.006 to 1.25 for the 30% extract sample, ranging from 1.98% to 68.5% and 7.94% to 69.5%, respectively, indicating antioxidant property for both samples. The researchers have determined that there is no significant difference (p-value = 0.9187, α = 0.05) between the scavenging activity of both 50% and 30% extract. Furthermore, a minimal disparity in total phenolics was observed, with the former containing 1.25 and the latter 1.24 weight percent gallic acid. To determine if there is any negative skin reaction, a patch test was conducted in collaboration with a dermatologist using Stanford Health Care Medicine Standard. The test revealed no adverse skin reactions after three days of no removal usage of the coconut tree fiber gauze pad infused with phenolic compounds, as compared to a commercially available gauze pad. This study underscores the promise of guava extract and its antibacterial properties, particularly against skin pathogens, and its safe application when integrated with coconut fiber. This combination holds potential as a natural antimicrobial agent with diverse applications.

Human Health Benefits and Microbial Consortium of Stevia Fermented with Barley Nuruk

In this study, the microbial community present during the barley yeast fermentation of stevia leaves and its correlation with antioxidant, anti-obesity, and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as metabolites, were investigated using UPLC-Q-TOF-MS. Stevia was fermented using commercial TSB media (TSB 1, TSB 3, and TSB 5) and sucrose (Sucrose 1, Sucrose 3, and Sucrose 5) for 1, 3, and 5 days, respectively. Stevia ferments showed higher DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging capacity compared to samples incubated with sucrose for 5 days, and all six ferments inhibited nitric oxide production in a concentration-dependent manner in LPS-induced mouse macrophages. Furthermore, UPLC-QTOF-MS analysis identified 23 related substances, including 10 terpenoids (including rubusoside, steviolbioside, and rebadioside derivatives), dulcoside A, and phlomisoside II, which are indicators of stevia, as well as five flavonoids, four phenolic acids, and four fatty acids. We also identified the microbial community during fermentation via the next-generation sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene for bacteria and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) gene for fungi. The results showed that TSB 1 and Sucrose 1 ferments were dominated by the pathogens Enterococcus hirae (58.93%) and Cronobacter sakazakii (80.92%), while samples fermented for more than 3 days were pathogen-free and dominated by lactic acid bacteria such as Pediococcus stilesii (73.37%). Microbial community analysis using the ITS region showed that Saccharomycopsis fibuligera, classified as a yeast rather than a mold, dominated the stevia fermentation regardless of the fermentation duration. In particular, the microbial community of the fermentation with a sucrose solution was dominated by S. fibuligera by more than 99% throughout the fermentation periods of 1, 3, and 5 days. Finally, to apply the stevia ferments topically to human skin, skin irritation tests were performed on 30 volunteers. The results showed that the highly concentrated extracts (1 mg/mL) of all six stevia ferments were hypoallergenic. Taken together, these findings suggest that barley nuruk fermented from stevia leaves with a sucrose solution offers promise as a natural ingredient for use in functional foods and cosmetics.