DPPH Radical Scavenging Capacity Research Articles

Formulation and characterization of herbal tea from hibiscus (hibiscus sabdariffa L.) and lemon verbena (aloysia citrodora)

ABSTRACT This study aimed to produce herbal tea using an infusion of Hibiscus with Lemon verbena. Dried Hibiscus calyces and lemon verbena leaves were combined in a percentage of: 90:5 (HL1), 90:10 (HL2), 85:15 (HL3), 80:20 (HL4), 75:25 (HL5), 70:30 (HL6), 65:35 (HL7), 60:40 (HL8), 55:45 (HL9), 50:50 (HL10), respectively, and commercial tea and 100% Hibiscus were used for comparison. The formulated tea was evaluated for pH, total soluble solids (TSS), color density, hue tint, total phenolics, total flavonoids, DPPH radical scavenging capacity and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), sensory acceptance (7-hedonic scale) and their correlation were determined. No significant differences (p > .05) were found for total soluble solids (TSS). The pH, total flavonoids, total phenolics and antioxidant capacities of blended tea were significantly decreased with the concentrations of calyces. The blended tea had sensory acceptance with incorporation of 10–45% dried lemon verbena leaves, and potential phytochemical and antioxidant capacities.

The synergistic effect of dielectric barrier discharge plasma and phycocyanin on shelf life of Oncorhynchus mykiss rainbow fillets

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of dielectric barrier discharge treatment (DBD) combined with phycocyanin pigment (PC) in extending the shelf life of Oncorhynchus mykiss rainbow fillets stored at 4 ± 0.1 °C. Microbiological, physicochemical, sensory and antioxidant properties were assessed over an 18-day storage period. The combined DBD and PC treatment significantly inhibited total viable counts and Psychrotrophic bacteria counts compared to the rest of the samples throughout storage. While Total Volatile Nitrogen concentrations remained below international standard until day 18, they exceeded this threshold in control sample by day 9. DBD treatment notably reduced Trimethylamine levels compared to controls (p < 0.05). PC and DBD combined inhibited DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging capacities by 80% and 85%, respectively, while demonstrating heightened iron-reducing antioxidant activity compared to controls. Analysis of 24 fatty acids indicated that PC mitigated DBD’s adverse effects, yielding superior outcomes compared to controls. The ratio of n-3 to n-6 fatty acids in all samples met or fell below international standard. Thus, the combined use of DBD and PC shows promise in extending fillet shelf life by over 15 days at 4 °C.

Exploring the multifaceted bioactivities of Lavandula pinnata L. essential oil: promising pharmacological activities.

Introduction: This study investigates the biological activities of Lavandula pinnata essential oil (LPEO), an endemic lavender species from the Canary Islands, traditionally used in treating various ailments. Methods: LPEO was extracted by hydrodistillation and analyzed using GC-MS. Antioxidant activity was assessed by DPPH radical scavenging and total antioxidant capacity assays. Antimicrobial activity was evaluated by disc diffusion, MIC, MBC, and MFC determination against bacterial (Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus luteus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and fungal (Candida glabrata, Rhodotorula glutinis, Aspergillus niger, Penicillium digitatum) strains. Antidiabetic and anti-gout potential were investigated through α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and xanthine oxidase inhibition assays. Antityrosinase activity was determined using a modified dopachrome method. Cytotoxicity was assessed by MTT assay against breast (MCF-7, MDA-MB-468), liver (HepG2), colon (HCT-15) cancer cells, and normal cells (PBMCs). Results and discussion: LPEO exhibits potent antiradical activity (IC50 = 148.33 ± 2.48μg/mL) and significant antioxidant capacity (TAC = 171.56 ± 2.34μg AA/mg of EO). It demonstrates notable antibacterial activity against four strains (Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus luteus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) with inhibition zones ranging from 18.70 ± 0.30mm to 29.20 ± 0.30mm, along with relatively low MIC and MBC values. LPEO displays significant antifungal activity against four strains (Candida glabrata, Rhodotorula glutinis, Aspergillus niger, and Penicillium digitatum) with a fungicidal effect at 1mg/mL, surpassing the positive control (cycloheximide), and MIC and MFC values indicating a fungicidal effect. It exhibits substantial inhibition of xanthine oxidase enzyme (IC50 = 26.48 ± 0.90μg/mL), comparable to allopurinol, and marked inhibitory effects on α-amylase (IC50 = 31.56 ± 0.46μg/mL) and α-glucosidase (IC50 = 58.47 ± 2.35μg/mL) enzymes.The enzyme tyrosinase is inhibited by LPEO (IC50 = 29.11 ± 0.08mg/mL). LPEO displays moderate cytotoxic activity against breast, liver, and colon cancer cells, with low toxicity towards normal cells (PBMC). LPEO exhibits greater selectivity than cisplatin for breast (MCF-7) and colon (HCT-15) cancer cells but lower selectivity for liver (HepG2) and metastatic breast (MDA-MB-468) cancer cells. These findings suggest the potential of LPEO as an antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-gout, antidiabetic, and anticancer agent.

Phytochemical analysis and biological investigation of Cheilanthes tenuifolia (Burm.f.) Swartz.

Introduction: Cheilanthes tenuifolia is an evergreen ornamental small fern, belonging to the family Pteridaceae, that grows in warm and rocky regions worldwide. Many species of Cheilanthes genus are evidently endowed with important phytochemicals and bioactivities. This study aimed to perform a preliminary phytochemical analysis of Cheilanthes tenuifolia leaves alongside an evaluation of free radical scavenging, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and clot lysis activities of extract fractions. Materials and methods: A preliminary phytochemical analysis was done after fractionation of ethanolic extract (ECT) with n-hexane (HCT) and chloroform (CCT). Then, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, egg albumin and RBC membrane stabilization tests, disc diffusion, and human blood clot lysis assays were performed. Results: Phytochemical investigations suggested that the plant is rich in alkaloids, glycosides, tannins, and flavonoids. All obtained fractions exhibited concentration-dependent radical scavenging, inhibition of egg protein denaturation and RBC membrane lysis capacities. Except for antifungal tests, ECT exhibited better DPPH radical scavenging, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and clot lysis capacities than HCT and CCT fractions. However, all fractions exhibited a mild anti-inflammatory activity. Conclusion: C. tenuifolia might be a good source of antioxidant, anti-microbial, and anti-atherothrombotic agents. Further studies are required to isolate and characterize the active principles liable for each bioactivity, along with possible molecular interactions.

Polyvinyl alcohol/kappa-carrageenan-based package film with simultaneous incorporation of ferric ion and polyphenols from Capsicum annuum leaves for fruit shelf-life extension

Bio-based food packaging materials have elicited growing interests due to their great degradability, high safety and active biofunctions. In this work, by simultaneously introducing the polyphenolic extracts from Capsicum annuum leaves and ferric ion (Fe3+) into the Polyvinyl alcohol/kappa-carrageenan (PVA/κ-carrageenan)-based film-forming matrix, an active package film was developed, with the purpose to improve the food shelf life. The experimental results indicated that the existence of Fe3+ can not only improve the mechanical properties owing to the multiple dynamic coordinated interactions, but also endow the composite films with excellent fire-retardancy. Moreover, the composite films could display excellent UV resistant performance, water vapor/oxygen gas barrier properties and antioxidant activities with the corporation of polyphenols. In particular, the highest DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging capacities for composite film (PC-PLP7 sample) were evaluated to be 82.5 % and 91.1 %, respectively. Higher polyphenol concentration is favorable to the bio-functions of the materials. Benefitting from these features, this novel kind of films with a dense and steady micro-structure could be further applicated in fruit preservations, where the ripening bananas were ensured with the high storage quality. This integration as a prospective food packaging material provides an economic and eco-friendly approach to excavate the high added-values of biomass.

Ion presence during thermal processing modulates the performance of rice albumin/anthocyanin binary system

Thermal processing with salt ions is widely used for the production of food products (such as whole grain food) containing protein and anthocyanin. To date, it is largely unexplored how salt ion presence during thermal processing regulates the practical performance of protein/anthocyanin binary system. Here, rice albumin (RA) and black rice anthocyanins (BRA) were used to prepare RA/BRA composite systems as a function of temperature (60–100 °C) and NaCl concentration (10–40 mM) or CaCl2 concentration (20 mM). It was revealed that the spontaneous complexing reaction between RA and BRA was driven by hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonds and becomes easier and more favorable at a higher temperature (≤90 °C), excessive temperature (100 °C), however, may result in the degradation of BRA. Moreover, the salt ion presence during thermal processing may bind with RA and BRA, respectively, which could restrict the interaction between BRA and RA. Additionally, the inclusion of Na+ or Ca2+ at 20 mM endowed the binary system with strengthened DPPH radical scavenging capacity (0.95 for Na+ and 0.99 for Ca2+). Notably, Ca2+ performed a greater impact on the stability of the system than Na+.

Effects of different fermentation methods on chemical composition, antioxidant activity, and enzymatic inhibition of fermented fig juice

ABSTRACT In order to develop nutritious and healthy fermented fig juice, foure samples fermented were made using natural fermentation and fermentation by lactobacillus. Then the total acidity, total sugar, reducing sugar, total phenols, total flavones and characteristic organic acids, antioxidant activity, and inhibition of enzyme activity in fermented fig juice were compared. The results showed that natural fermentation could produce more reducing sugar, lactic acid, flavonoids, and exhibit stronger DPPH radical scavenging capacity and total reducing power. Inhibition of tyrosinase and pancreatic lipase was detected in fermented fig juice, of which the inhibition rate of tyrosinase by natural fermentation was 81.80%, and the inhibition rate of pancreatic lipase by mixed cultures was 38.72%, which was higher than that of other groups. The results indicated the functional activity of fermented fig juice could be improved by fermentation, and the natural fermentation method was found superior.

Antidiabetic activity of Siraitia grosvenorii, Dimocarpus longan Lour. and Orthosiphon stamineus Benth. Extracts combinations in vitro and in silico

Due to the economic burden created by diabetes, it is imperative to explore the potential of common dietary sources as complementary remedies for diabetic sufferers. The present study aims to evaluate the synergistic antidiabetic activity of combined extracts from Siraitia grosvenorii, Dimocarpus longan, and Orthosiphon stamineus in silico and in vitro, which include DPPH radical scavenging capacity, α-amylase inhibition, α-glucosidase inhibition, DPP-4 inhibition, cytotoxicity, and glucose uptake kinetics. The combination of S. grosvenorii + Dimocarpus longan + O. stamineus (SG + DL + OS) showed potential in inhibiting DPPH with an IC50 value of 7.21 ± 0.72 mg/ml, which also exhibited inhibitory effects on α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and DPP-4, with IC50 values of 8.63 ± 0.35 mg/ml, 5.41 ± 0.67 mg/ml, and 2.89 ± 0.09 mg/ml, respectively. Furthermore, it has been observed that the glucose uptake of L6 myoblasts can be significantly enhanced (P < 0.05) by treating different combinations. According to the results of XP docking and MM-GBSA analysis in silico, 26 and 32 compounds in the combination have significant interaction and stable binding ability with α-amylase and DPP-4 proteins, which can be used as α-amylase and DPP-4 inhibitors. Hence, it can be concluded that combinations of S. grosvenorii, D. longan, and O. stamineus have presented a viable therapeutic option for managing diabetes.

Biotransformation of free-range chicken feather into functional protein hydrolysates using microwave alkaline pretreatment

Chicken feathers has great potential to produce functional peptides. However, due to the highly rigid structure of keratin, the biotransformation of feathers is hindered. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the influence of microwave-alkaline pretreatment (MAP) on enzymatic hydrolysis of free-range chicken feathers using two distinct enzymes in functional and technological terms. Four protein hydrolysates were prepared from the feathers treated in microwaves using the enzyme Flavourzyme® (PHFW) and Alcalase® (PHAW) and from untreated feathers using Flavourzyme® (PHF) and Alcalase® (PHA). A two-way ANOVA revealed a significant interaction effect between MAP and enzyme type on the antioxidant activity of the hydrolysates. The DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging capacities were higher in PHFW. Our findings suggest that the MAP enhances the action of the enzyme in hydrolytic cleavage, with Flavourzyme® demonstrating a superior ability to produce hydrolysates with high antioxidant capacity. For emulsifying capacity and emulsifier stability, only MAP had a significant effect, with higher values observed in hydrolysates obtained from treated feathers regardless of enzyme type. It can be concluded that the hydrolysates obtained from MAP feathers underwent conformational modification of proteins, promoting better enzyme action during hydrolysis, resulting in higher antioxidant activity and technological properties.

Effects of steam explosion on raspberry leaf structure and the release of water-soluble nutrients and phenolics

Raspberry leaves were subjected to steam explosion at 0.5 and 1.0 MPa for 60–120 s, aiming to disrupt their physical and chemical structure and, consequently, promote the release of phenolic compounds into the leaf aqueous infusion. Under optimal condition of 1.0 MPa for 60 s, steam explosion led to a notable 23 % increase in total phenolic content, a 29 % elevation in ABTS radical scavenging capacity, and a 13 % rise in DPPH radical scavenging capacity of the aqueous infusion. Utilizing UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS and UHPLC-QE-MS/MS techniques, respectively, a total of 39 phenolic compounds were identified from raspberry leaves, and the changes in the contents of the most important 11 species were analyzed following steam explosion. Through correlation analysis and considering the content of each phenolic compound, it was inferred that the heightened antioxidant capacity of the aqueous infusion primarily stemmed from a substantial increase in the release of ellagic acid after steam explosion.

Phenolic Content and Antioxidant Activity of Hydroethanolic and Aqueous Extracts of the Inflorescences of Allium sphaerocephalon L.

The objective of this effort is to quantify the amounts of phenolics and the in vitro antioxidant capacities of Allium sphaerocephalon L. flowers’ hydroethanolic (EOH) and aqueous (AQE) extracts. The two extracts' total phenolic (TPC) and flavonoid content (TFC) were determined spectrophotometrically. Results showed the extraction yield obtained by EOH and AQE were 18.30% and 11.80%, respectively. The EOH gave higher amounts of TPC (12.73±0.91µg GAE/mg DW) and TFC (7.67±0.24µg QE/mg DW) than AQE (TPC = 9.71±0.53µg GAE/mg DW and TFC= 5.68±0.90µg QE/ mg DW). Five techniques were used to train antioxidant activity. The EOH extract had high activity in DPPH radical scavenging capacities and β-carotene bleaching assay, while the AQE extract had high activity in metal chelating ions and reducing power assay. However, both extracts had no different significance in cupric-reducing capacity. A moderate quantity of flavonoids and polyphenols, as well as a satisfactory level of antioxidant activity, were observed in both preparations derived from the flowers of A. sphaerocephalon L., where this activity is not all fully related to the amount of phenolic compounds.

Preparation and identification of antioxidant peptides from Quasipaa spinosa skin through two-step enzymatic hydrolysis and molecular simulation

Frog skin, a by-product of Quasipaa Spinosa farming, is rich in protein and potentially a valuable raw material for obtaining antioxidant peptides. This study used papain combined with acid protease to digest frog skin in a two-step enzymatic hydrolysis method. Based on a single factor and response surface experiments, experimental conditions were optimized, and the degree of hydrolysis was 30 %. A frog skin hydrolysate (QSPH-Ⅰ-3) was obtained following ultrafiltration and gel filtration chromatography. IC50 for DPPH, ABTS, and hydroxyl radical scavenging capacities were 1.68 ± 0.05, 1.20 ± 0.14 and 1.55 ± 0.11 mg/mL, respectively. Peptide sequences (17) were analyzed and, through molecular docking, peptides with low binding energies for KEAP1 were identified, which might affect the NRF2-KEAP1 pathway. These findings suggest protein hydrolysates and antioxidant peptide derivatives might be used in functional foods.

In vitro Screening of Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Activities of Plant Extract Adenanthera pavonina

Adenanthera pavonina (AP) is a medicinal herb used in traditional systems of medicine in Sri Lanka. It is considered a rich source of bioactive compounds as they are able to produce a great variety of secondary metabolites with great anticancer and antioxidant properties. In the present study, the bark of the plant was used and water extract was prepared in order to screen Total Phenolic Content (TPC), Total Flavonoid Content (TFC), Ferric ion reducing power, DPPH radical scavenging capacity, inhibition of lipid peroxidation, inhibition of protein oxidation and inhibition deoxyribose oxidation. Anti-inflammatory activity was screened in vitro using Human Red Blood cell Membrane stability assay (HRBM) and inhibition of protein denaturation assay. All methods were carried out according to the standard protocol. The TPC and TFC were 80.3±0.1 mg GA/g (Gallic Acid/g) and 46.1±0.1 mg EGCG/g (epigallocatechin gallate /g) respectively. The DPPH radical scavenging capacity, inhibition of lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation and deoxyribose oxidation were IC50, 15.8±0.5 (Gallic acid, 4.5±0.3 μg/ml), 46.1±0.5 μg/ml (Ascorbic acid , 58.4±2.2 μg/ml), 72.6±3.1 μg/ml (Ascorbic acid, 51.2±0.1 μg/ml) and 7.4±0.7 μg/ml (Ascorbic acid, 8.7±0.6 μg/ml) respectively. Reducing power of the AO extract increased with the concentration. HRBM and inhibition of BSA denaturation of AO extract were IC50 that 49.7±1.4 μg/ml (Diclofenac sodium, 47.8±2.1 μg/ml) and 29.1±1.5 (Diclofenac sodium 23.8±3.6 μg/ml) respectively. The results of the study suggest that the bioactive molecules present in the AP water extract can be used as a prototype for the development of new drugs or as a source of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory pharmaceutical raw material.&#x0D; Keywords: Adenanthera pavonina, Inhibition of lipid peroxidation, Inhibition of protein oxidation, Inhibition deoxyribose oxidation.

B-phycoerythrin of Porphyridium cruentum UTEX 161: A multifunctional active molecule for the development of biodegradable films

In this study, films were developed combining gelatin-sodium alginate with an aqueous extract of B-phycoerythrin (B-PE) derived from Porphyridium cruentum (45, 67.5, and 90 µg/mL). Firstly, the production conditions of B-PE by the red microalgae were optimized using response surface methodology applied to culture medium composition prior to examining its antioxidant activities. The optimized process yielded a maximum amount of B-PE equal to 4.16 ± 0.24 % of dry matter using an F/2 culture medium supplemented with NaCl = 17 g/L; MgCl2·6H2O = 2.6 g/L and KH2PO4 = 0 g/L. B-PE extracts demonstrated in vitro antioxidant properties, as evidenced by its DPPH radical scavenging capacity, ABTS radical inhibition, and substantial reducing power. B-PE incorporation in gelatin-sodium alginate films resulted in a notable increase in the swelling index and water solubility, and a significant decrease in the moisture content. In addition, when added to gelatin-sodium alginate films, B-PE extracts enhanced ΔE* values and have positive influence on the crystallinity of the developed films as revealed by X‑ray diffraction analysis. Regarding microstructure, films incorporating B-PE extracts exhibited a homogenous structure with a slightly rough surface. Furthermore, these films demonstrated complete biodegradability after 10 days of burial in soil. The current investigation suggested that gelatin-sodium alginate films incorporating B-phycoerythrin obtained from Porphyridium cruentum UTEX 161 could be used as a promising colored functional packaging for food products.

Ultrasound-assisted enzymatic extraction of polysaccharides from Paulownia flowers: process optimization, structural characterization, antioxidant and hypoglycemic activities

This study aimed to optimize the ultrasound-assisted enzymatic extraction (UAEE) process of Paulownia flowers polysaccharides (PFP) and investigate its antioxidant and hypoglycemic activities. The optimal extraction conditions were cellulase dosage 1.6 mg/g, liquid-solid ratio 27:1mL/g, ultrasonic power 230 W, temperature 51 °C, the PFP yield reached 5.50 % which was close to the predicted value of 5.59 %. Furthermore, the PFP was isolated and purified by DEAE-52 cellulose column and sephadex G-200 column to obtain two polysaccharide fractions, PFP1-1 and PFP2-1. The characteristics, antioxidant activity and hypoglycemic activity of PFP1-1 and PFP2-1 were analyzed. PFP1-1 with a molecular weight of 52.8 kDa was mainly composed of mannose and glucose (molar ratio1.00:5.05), and PFP2-1 with a molecular weight of 8.768 kDa was consisted of mannose, rhamnose, glucuronic acid, glucose (molar ratio 1.00:7.41:8.09:11.30). Compared to PFP1-1, the antioxidant activity assays showed that PFP2-1 exhibited stronger DPPH radical, hydroxyl radical and superoxide radical scavenging capacity and the inhibitory activities revealed that PFP2-1 could more effectively inhibit α-amylase and α-glucosidase, which might be attributed to the uronic acid and low molecular weight in PFP2-1. This work will provide a foundation for the efficient extraction of PFP and utilization for antioxidant agent and digestive enzymes inhibitor of diabetes.

Sodium alginate/carboxymethyl cellulose films embedded with liposomes encapsulated green tea extract: characterization, controlled release, application.

To maintain the freshness of the fruit during storage, sodium alginate/carboxymethyl cellulose films embedded with pH-senstive liposomes encapsulated green tea extract were developed (SA/CMC/TP-Lip). An orthogonal design was used to optimise the preparation of TP-Lip and SA/CMC/TP-Lip was prepared through response surface. The stability of TP-Lip structure was measured. The morphology of SA/CMC/TP-Lip was characterised by SEM, and the mechanical properties and oxidation resistance of films were measured. Special attention was paid to the pH sensitivity of TP-Lip and the improvement of film properties. The zeta potential and encapsulation rate of TP-Lip were -45.85 ± 2.13 mV and 61.45 ± 0.23%. The average release rate of TP encapsulated into TP-Lip at pH 3 was 41.08%, an increase of 23.07% over pH 6 during 12 h. SEM and FTIR showed that TP-Lip was structurally stable and had good compatibility with SA/CMC. Tensile strength was increased by 30.55% and DPPH radical scavenging capacity was increased by 7.16% with the addition of TP-Lip. SA/CMC/TP-Lip is applied to blueberries to reduce their weight loss and improve the loss of freshness of blueberries during storage. Thus, SA/CMC/TP-Lip could provide a new way to extend active packaging materials and maintain fruit freshness during storage.

Dragon Fruit Jelly Drink (Hylocereus polyrhizus) Low Calories with Addition of Jamblang Leaves Extract (Syzygium cumini)

Dragon fruit and jamblang leaf extract was added into the formulation to reducing sugar intake and increasing antioxidant-rich food products. This paper is to study for a causal relationship between two factors that are intentionally generated to determine the effect of adding an element to jelly characteristics. In this study, the product was formulated by seeking the optimum combination of the ingredients: dragon fruit juice, jamblang leaf extract, carrageenan, and stevia. The stevia was selected as the sweetener for its low-calory property. The parameters observed were DPPH radical scavenging capacity, total flavonoids, sensory preference analysis, pH, syneresis level, and proximate analysis. The most critical parameter for determining the optimum formulation was panelist acceptance. Our data suggested that panelists mostly preferred jelly drinks with a ratio of dragon fruit juice to jamblang leaf extract of 80:20. The formulation exhibited 46.4% inhibition of DPPH (1,1-Diphenyl-2-Picrylhydrazyl) radicals and total flavonoids of 1.35 mg quercetin equivalent/g. The proximate analysis demonstrated that the formulation comprises 96% water, 1.1% lipid, 0% protein, 37.1% total sugars, and 0.18% ash. This finding should support this formulation's development into a functional food rich in antioxidants and offers less calory than its counterparts.

Liposomes as a carrier for 4–hydroxycoumarin: characterisation, stability and antioxidant potential

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The aims of the present research were to develop and characterize 4-hydroxycoumarin-loaded liposomes &amp;lt;em&amp;gt;via &amp;lt;/em&amp;gt;the determination of encapsulation efficiency, antioxidant capacity, vesicle size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, conductivity, mobility, density, surface tension, viscosity, and 60-day storage stability. The encapsulation efficiency of 4-hydroxycoumarin in liposomal particles was 96.7 &amp;amp;plusmn; 1.2%. The ABTS and DPPH radical scavenging capacity of the prepared liposomes was 89.76 &amp;amp;plusmn; 0.56% and 93.18 &amp;amp;plusmn; 0.23%, respectively, whereas cupric ion-reducing antioxidant capacity amounted to 0.367 &amp;amp;plusmn; 0.003 mmol Trolox equivalent (TE)/L. The density of liposomes with 4-hydroxycoumarin was 1.007 &amp;amp;plusmn; 0.002 g/cm&amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;3&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt;, surface tension was 22.7 &amp;amp;plusmn; 0.2 mN/m, and viscosity was 14.3 &amp;amp;plusmn; 0.2 mPa&amp;amp;middot;s. Vesicle size and PDI of 4-hydroxycoumarin-loaded liposomes were changed from 1286.3 &amp;amp;plusmn; 73.8 nm to 2077.3 &amp;amp;plusmn; 63.2 nm and from 0.409 &amp;amp;plusmn; 0.050 to 0.676 &amp;amp;plusmn; 0.064, respectively, during the 60-day stability study. The zeta potential of the obtained liposomes was changed from -16.73 &amp;amp;plusmn; 0.47 mV to -10.31 &amp;amp;plusmn; 0.42 mV, while mobility varied from -1.311 &amp;amp;plusmn; 0.036 &amp;amp;micro;mcm/Vs to -0.806 &amp;amp;plusmn; 0.031 &amp;amp;micro;mcm/Vs. The conductivity did not change during 60 days and amounted to approximately 0.020 mS/cm. Overall, due to the high encapsulation efficiency and antioxidant capacity, the obtained results qualify liposomes to be used as 4-hydroxycoumarin carriers for future examination of its biological activities and potential application in medicine and pharmaceutical products. However, future experiments should include the optimization of the liposomal composition with the aim of improving 4-hydroxycoumarin-loaded liposome stability.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

Spearmint (Mentha spicata L.) leaves essential oil: Comparative compositional and biological attributes as a function of different agroclimatic regions

In the current work, the biological potential of spearmint leaves essential oil (EO), including its antioxidant, antibacterial, and hemolytic properties, are described together with its chemical composition. The spearmint leaves were gathered in Punjab, Pakistan's hilly, dry, irrigated, and drought-stricken agroclimatic zones. From examined leaves from various locales, the hydro-distillation process produced an EO yield that ranged from 0.41% to 0.76%. In recovered EOs, GCMS compositional analysis identified 31 components, with carvone (27.4%–47.2%), menthone (1.0%–23.9%), menthol (3.0%–14.5%), limonene (2.4%–93%), and 1,8-cineol (0.6–8.5%) being the predominant constituents. The investigated oils displayed high levels of total phenolics (30.9–34.3 g GAE/100g), flavonoids (4.6–10.1 g CE/100g), and DPPH radical scavenging capacity (12.5–17.1 g mL−1) as well as linoleic acid peroxidation inhibition (57.1–62.6%). Against particular types of bacteria and fungus, the studied EO demonstrated considerable antibacterial activity (AMA). EO extracted from a sample of a location under drought stress (Layyah) shown greater AMA, while EO from hilly regions (Murree) displayed higher antioxidant potential, total phenolics (TP), flavonoids (TF), and hemolytic activity (HA). This study recommends the use of spearmint leaves as an effective natural antioxidant and antibacterial ingredient in the development of nutra-pharmaceutical products and dietary supplements.

Helosciadium crassipes Koch (Apiaceae) extracts as natural sunscreen and preservative additives

Recently, ingredients derived from natural sources have gained increasing interest in the cosmetic field due to their low toxicity. Therefore, this study was designed to explore the cosmetic potential of Helosciadium crassipes Koch (Apiaceae) species growing in Algeria as a promising natural preservative and broad-spectrum UV protection additive. In our study, the in-vitro antioxidant effect was assessed via DPPH radical scavenging and total antioxidant capacity by phosphomolybdenum method (TAC), while the protection against UVB radiation was evaluated according to the sun protection factor (SPF) by using UV spectroscopic technic at wavelengths ranging from 290 to 320 nm and Mansur’s equation, for the photoprotective effect against long-wavelength UVA, UVA/UVB and critical wavelength (λc) parameters were evaluated. The outcomes showed that among the tested extracts, the methanolic extract (MeOH) contains high levels of phenolics and flavonoids, and possesses a significant antioxidant effect, particularly in DPPH radical scavenging assay. Similarly, this last one exhibited high photoprotective activity in UVB and UVA ranges. The gathered results reveal the possibility of using this extract as a good natural additive to be incorporated into cosmetic formulations as a broad-spectrum UV protection candidate and as a preservative agent.