DPPH Radical Scavenging Capacity Research Articles

Preliminary Phytochemical Profile, in vitro Antioxidant and Sun Protective Activities of Alhagi pseudalhagi and Elaeagnus angustifolia L.

Background and Objectives: Alhagi pseudalhagi and Elaeagnus angustifolia are among the medicinal plants used traditionally in Afghanistan. The aim of present work was to study A. pseudalhagi herbs and E. angustifolia leaves for their preliminary phytochemical profile, total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), in vitro antioxidant activity and sun protective factor (SPF).
 Methods: Alhagi pseudalhagi herb crude extract (APCE) and E. angustifolia leaves crude extract (EACE) were prepared using Soxhlet apparatus. Standard qualitative phytochemical tests were performed to detect various phytochemicals in the crude drugs. Both of APCE and EACE were purified as per previously described method to obtain A. pseudalhagi herb purified extract (APPE) and E. angustifolia leaves purified extract (EAPE). The TPC, TFC, and SPF of the extracts were determined, Following prescribed methods. To evaluate in vitro antioxidative potential of the extracts, DPPH radical scavenging assay method was performed. The experiments were performed in three replications.
 Results: Carbohydrates, phenolics, flavonoids, sterols, tannins, and saponins were present in all tested extracts. The TPC of tested extracts ranged from 71.14 ± 2.10 to 203.76±2.07 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE) / g dried extract, as recorded for APCE and EAPE, respectively. TFC values of 33.24±3.23 and 135.85 ±3.83 mg rutin equivalent (RUE) / g dried extract were found for EACE and EAPE, respectively. TFC values of 59.61±3.40 and 121.06±3.37 were recorded for APCE and APPE, respectively. DPPH radicals scavenging capacity and SPF of the tested extracts were positively correlated with their TPC and TFC. The EAPE and APPE produced IC50 value of 4.5 and 14.31, respectively. The higher SPF of 29.73 ± 0.31 was produced by EAPE, while APPE exhibited SPF of 17.83 ± 0.88, as calculated for 2mg/ml methanol solution of the extracts.
 Conclusion: Based on present study, EAPE revealed higher TPC and TFC values and hence, showed potent in vitro antioxidant potential and higher SPF value, as compared with A. pseudalhagi herb extracts. Therefore, EAPE could be highly recommended to be used in development of herbal sunscreen formulations.

Functionalised Triazoloquinolones as a Potentially Novel Class of Antidiabesity and Antiproliferative compounds: Synthesis and Pharmacological Appraisal

Nine newly prepared triazoloquinolones (TQs) and their precursor’s fluoroquinolones (FQs) are investigated for pancreatic lipase (PL) inhibitory activity utilizing in vitro spectrophotometric method. Registered antiobesity orlistat was the reference agent for potency and efficacy determinations. In comparison to the antiproliferative agent cisplatin; the assessment of antineoplastic activities of these novel TQs/ FQs in a panel of colorectal carcinoma (CRC) cell lines (HT29, HCT116, SW620, CACO2, SW480) and normal periodontal ligament fibroblasts for safety examination was performed. DPPH radical scavenging capacity of TQs/ FQs as antiproliferative action mechanism was analyzed in comparison to ascorbic acid as reference agent. Unlike orlistat (0.2 μM) antilipolytic properties, TQs/ FQs compounds 3a and 5a manifested moderate PL inhibition (IC50 value (μM): 39.15 and 34.19 respectively). The nitro-groups of compounds revealed higher potency vs. triazolo- and reduced groups. The ortho substituted compounds were more potent vs. meta- and para-substituted TQs/ FQs. On cell line HT29; TQ 5a, revealed significantly higher antiproliferative efficacy (IC50 value 4.09 μM) with appreciable safety vs. cisplatin (6.9 μM). Compounds 4a, 4b and 4c exerted excellent antiproliferative activities on SW620, CACO2 and SW480 with high safety index. The most active compound, 4b, exhibited significant potency against SW620, CACO2 and SW480 with IC50 0.42 μM, 1.12 μM and 1.69 μM respectively. Novel FQs (4a, 4b and 4c) also showed strong radical scavenging activity with IC50 values (μM) (90.5, 22.4, and 31 respectively). In effect the proven antilipolytic activity coupled to the antioxidative-chemopreventive efficacies of these novel TQs/ FQs are delineated.

Antioxidant, Xanthine Oxidase, α-Amylase and α-Glucosidase Inhibitory Activities of Bioactive Compounds from Rumex crispus L. Root.

The root of Rumex crispus L. has been shown to possess anti-gout and anti-diabetic properties, but the compounds responsible for these pharmaceutical effects have not yet been reported. In this study, we aimed to isolate and purify active components from the root of R. crispus, and to evaluate their anti-radical, anti-gout and anti-diabetic capacities. From the ethyl acetate (EtOAc) extract, two compounds, chrysophanol (1) and physcion (2), were isolated by column chromatography with an elution of hexane and EtOAc at a 9:1 ratio. Their structures were identified by spectrometric techniques including gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), X-ray diffraction analyses and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The results of bioassays indicated that (1) showed stronger activities than (2). For antioxidant activity, (1) and (2) exhibited remarkable DPPH radical scavenging capacity (IC50 = 9.8 and 12.1 µg/mL), which was about two times stronger than BHT (IC50 = 19.4 µg/mL). The anti-gout property of (1) and (2) were comparable to the positive control allopurinol, these compounds exerted strong inhibition against the activity of xanthine oxidase (IC50 = 36.4 and 45.0 µg/mL, respectively). In the anti-diabetic assay, (1) and (2) displayed considerable inhibitory ability on α-glucosidase, their IC50 values (IC50 = 20.1 and 18.9 µg/mL, respectively) were higher than that of standard acarbose (IC50 = 143.4 µg/mL). Findings of this study highlight that (1) and (2) may be promising agents to treat gout and diabetes, which may greatly contribute to the medicinal properties of Rumex crispus root.

Optimization of microwave‐assisted extraction of soluble dietary fiber from potato pulp and its properties

In this study, the microwave-assisted sodium hexametaphosphate (SHMP) method was applied for soluble dietary fiber (SDF) extraction from potato pulp; the extraction conditions were optimized by response surface methodology (RSM). The water holding capacity (WHC), swelling capacity (SC), oil binding capacity (OBC), adsorption capacity for cholesterol (ACC), and DPPH and ABTS free radical scavenging capacities of potato pulp SDF were then evaluated. The optimal extraction conditions were 1.0% SHMP, liquid to solid (L:S) ratio; 40:1, and microwave time; 1.26 min. The WHC and SC were 2.66 g/g and 4.47 ml/g, respectively. Adsorption capacities for unsaturated fatty acid (UFA) and saturated fatty acid (SFA) were 1.405 and 1.302 g/g, respectively. At pH 2 and 7, the ACC was 1.87 and 1.33 mg/g, respectively. The free radical scavenging assays show that potato pulp SDF has moderate antioxidative activity. This study serves as a reference for the full processing of potatoes and the comprehensive utilization of potato pulp. Practical applications Potato pulp is often thrown away in starch manufacture, which not only causes waste of resources but also environmental pollution. Extracting functional components such as SDF is one direction for the comprehensive utilization of potato pulp. Compared to traditional methods, microwave-assisted technology is more efficient and environment-friendly. In this study, the optimal microwave-assisted extraction conditions were obtained by single-factor experiments and RSM, which provides a reference for the application of microwave-assisted technology in the potato-processing industry. Moreover, compared with other sources of SDF, the property assays reveal that SDF from potato pulp has good SC, as well as moderate WHC, OBC, and antioxidative activity, which suggest that it has potential for applications in the functional food industry.

Simultaneous Optimization of Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction for Flavonoids and Antioxidant Activity of Angelica keiskei Using Response Surface Methodology (RSM).

Angelica keiskei Koidzumi (A. keiskei), as a Japanese edible herbal plant, enjoys a variety of biological activities due to the presence of numerous active compounds, especially flavonoids. This study aims for the optimization of ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) for flavonoids in A. keiskei and their antioxidant activity by using the response surface methodology (RSM). Single-factor experiments and a four-factor three-level Box–Behnken design (BBD) were performed to explore the effects of the following parameters on flavonoid extraction and antioxidant activity evaluation: ultrasonic temperature (X1), ultrasonic time (X2), ethanol concentration (X3) and liquid–solid ratio (X4). The optimum conditions of the combination of total flavonoid content (TFC), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging capacity (DPPH-RSC) and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) were as follows: X1 = 80 °C, X2 = 4 min, X3 = 78%, X4 = 35 mL/g, respectively. The experimental results provide a theoretical basis for the extensive utilization of A. keiskei and flavonoids extraction from A. keiskei as a potential source of antioxidants.

Preliminary investigation of Nauclea latifolia ripe fruits for antioxidant and antidiabetic activities

Fruits of Nauclea latifolia (Family Rubiaceae) have been used as food and medicinal plants. The ethnomedicinal reports indicated that it can be traditionally used for the treatment of dysentery, diarrhea, diabetes, malaria etc. The aim of this work was to evaluate the antioxidant, ?–amylase and ?–glucosidase activities of methanol extract of N. latifolia fruits at varying concentrations (20-100 µg/ml) using standard methods. The results of the DPPH and nitric oxide free radical scavenging capacity showed IC50 values 92.0µg/ml and 30.0µg/ml respectively indicating a good inhibitory capacity but lesser when compared to the standard, ascorbic acid which are < 10.0µg/ml and < 20.0µg/ml respectively. The analysis shows total phenolic contents of 147.9±3.35mg/g and ferric reducing antioxidant potential of 1604.1±9.20mg/g supporting the fact that phenolics are highly potent antioxidants. Based on the results obtained from ?–amylase and ?–glucosidase inhibition, the IC50 > 100µg/ml showing a lesser inhibitory activity when compared to the standard Acarbose with IC50 values of 50.1µg/ml and 44.0µg/ml respectively. The results clearly indicate that the methanol extract of N. latifolia has a moderate free radical scavenging activity resulting from various interaction between different components of the plant. It can be concluded that the fruits may provide natural source of bioactive compounds which is beneficial to human health and can be used as basis of folkloric remedies for diabetes.

Extraction, derivatization and antioxidant activity of bitter gourd polysaccharide

The effect of derivatization on the antioxidant activity of bitter gourd polysaccharide was investigated. Bitter gourd polysaccharide (P) was prepared with hot water. Carboxymethylated bitter gourd polysaccharide (CM-P) and acetylated bitter gourd polysaccharide (AcP) were successfully prepared, which were identified by IR and NMR spectra. On this basis, the antioxidant activities of three polysaccharides were tested, including hydroxyl radical scavenging capacity, DPPH radical scavenging capacity, and anti-lipid peroxidation capacity. The results showed that different chemical modifications had different enhancement on the antioxidant activities of bitter gourd polysaccharide. So, bitter gourd polysaccharide could be used to develop potential antioxidants.

Effects of superfine grinding on the properties and qualities of Cordyceps militaris and its spent substrate

The main purpose of this study is to study the effect of superfine grinding (SG) technology on the physicochemical properties of Cordyceps militaris (CM) and its spent substrate (SS). The results showed that the particle size of the sample powder decreased significantly under the SG treatment and reached below 15 mu m finally. With the decrease in particle size, the surface tension of materials decreased and water-holding capacity (WHC) of aqueous solution of CM and its SS powder decreased by 58.72% and 48.36%, while the water soluble index (WSI) increased to 0.73 and 0.44 g/g, respectively, also the hygroscopic property, L* value and DPPH radical scavenging capacity increased significantly. In addition, the cordycepin yield of two materials increased by 9.49% and 14.61% for 4 hr SG treatment, respectively. The results showed that the SG technology could effectively improve the physicochemical properties of CM powder and the extraction of its effective components, in addition, a new idea was opened up for the effective utilization of waste materials such as edible and medicinal fungi culture medium. This study investigated the effect of superfine grinding treatments on the physicochemical properties of the powder of Cordyceps militaris (CM) and its spent substrate (SS). The results shows the advances of superfine grinding on the particle size, surface tension, water hydration capacity, color, antioxidant capacity, and the yield of active component. And it could realize the maximum utilization of resources like medical plants and the reutilization of the waste during herb culturing, when treatments like superfine grinding was applied. Practical applications

Effect of different drying methods on the quality of restructured rose flower (Rosa rugosa) chips

Rose flower chips were produced by freeze drying (FD), pulse spouted vacuum-microwave freeze drying (PSVMFD), vacuum-microwave freeze drying (VMFD), and microwave-assisted vacuum drying (MVD). Drying time, color attributes (L*, a*, b* and h), flavor, texture, Vitamin C, flavonoids content, shrinkage value, DPPH radical scavenging capacity, and microstructure were compared. Results showed that MVD was the fastest (120 min) method of drying and FD was the slowest (560 min) method to achieve the target moisture content (under 5%). Considering product quality, FD samples exhibited the highest vitamin C (2.40 ± 0.14 mg/100 g) and flavonoids content (88.33 ± 0.22 mg/100 g), with the strongest DPPH radical scavenging capacity, followed by PSVMFD samples. Additionally, FD samples showed the lowest shrinkage (3.89 ± 0.01%) followed by PSVMFD samples (15.02 ± 0.02%) whereas the MVD chips had the highest shrinkage (50.12 ± 0.12%). FD and PSVMFD samples exhibited loose porous structure, while VMFD and MVD samples showed more compact structure. Considering the drying time and product quality comprehensively, PSVMFD was a novel and promising drying method to produce high quality rose flower chips.

Antioxidant activity and total phenolic content of essential oils and extracts of sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) plants

The present study was conducted to evaluate the chemical composition and antioxidant activity of the essential oils and ethanol extracts of Ocimum basilicum L. obtained from Assiut, Minia and BeniSuef of Egypt. The major constituents of sweet basil essential oils from three locations were linalool, estragole, methyl cinnamate, bicyclosesquiphellandrene, eucalyptol, α-bergamotene, eugenol, γ-cadinene and germacrene D by the method of GC–MS. The relative concentration of these compounds varies. The basil extracts contained appreciable levels of total phenolic contents and exhibited good DPPH radical scavenging capacity higher than that of essential oils. The highest TPC (82.45 mg PE/g) and maximum radical scavenging activity with IC50 value (1.29 mg/mL) was obtained from Minia basil extract. High correlation between antioxidant activity and total phenolic contents of basil extracts was observed. High variation in free radical scavenging activity of essential oils was found. The essential oil from Minia basil showed high activity in DPPH radical scavenging with IC50 (11.23 mg/mL) and contained the highest content of phenolic (41.3 mg PE/g). On contrary, low correlation between antioxidant activity and total phenolic contents of basil essential oils from different locations. The results of the present investigation demonstrated significant variations in the antioxidant activities of sweet basil essential oils and extracts from Egypt.

Comparative study on the monosaccharide compositions, antioxidant and hypoglycemic activities in vitro of intracellular and extracellular polysaccharides of liquid fermented Coprinus comatus

Polysaccharides were one of the important active ingredients of medical fungi, on account of its unique role caused the widespread concern of researchers at home and abroad. Currently, the structure and antioxidant activity of Coprinus comatus (C. comatus) fruit bodies polysaccharides have been reported. However, there is no article on the simultaneous study of intracellular and extracellular polysaccharides of liquid fermented C. comatus (IPs, EPs) so far. Hence, this paper innovatively investigated the monosaccharide compositions, antioxidative activities and inhibition of α-amylase activity in vitro of IPs and EPs. In this study, we adopted the PMP pre-column derivatization combined with HPLC method to determine the monosaccharide compositions of the IPs and EPs. Besides, the total antioxidant capacity, DPPH radical scavenging capacity, ·OH radical scavenging ability and inhibition effect on α-amylase in vitro of crude polysaccharides (ICPs, ECPs) and deproteinized polysaccharides (IDPs, EDPs) were severally compared. Only three kinds of monosaccharides were detected in IPs. Among the monosaccharides tested, the EPs contained five kinds, of which galactose and xylose accounted for a large proportion. ICPs showed better antioxidant activity and inhibition of α-amylase activity. This article innovatively studied the IPs and EPs, which could lay the foundation for the deep development of C. comatus.

Effects of ripening stage on the content and antioxidant capacities of phenolic compounds of arils, seeds and husks of ackee fruit Blighia sapida Köenig

The aim of this study were to reveal the profile and the antioxidant capacities of total phenolic compounds (TPC) of arils, seeds and husks of ackee fruit of different ripening stages. Fruits were harvest at not open, mid open and fully open pods stages. Phenolic compounds profiled using UHPLC-MS/MS revealed a total of seventeen different phenolics. The highest level (15 mg/g DW) noted was vanillic acid in the seeds of not open pods, while the lowest level (0.1 mg/g DW) noted were gallic acid and ferulic acid in the arils and the husks of not open pods. During ripening, TPC decreased in the arils, but increased in the seeds and husk. TPC ranged from lowest value of 244.29 μg/g DW in the arils of fully open pods to the highest value of 652.72 μg/g DW in the husks of fully open pods. The husks of fully open pods exhibited the highest DPPH-radical scavenging capacity, H2O2 scavenging capacity and the reducing power capacity, while the seeds exhibited the lowest values. On the other hand, high correlation was found between TPC and antioxidant capacities. Conclusively, the results of this study provide important information on the phenolic compounds profile and their antioxidant properties of different of ackee fruit harvested at different ripening stages, and this information is very useful for determining the nutritional quality of this fruit for better use either in human, animal or industry.

Modification of wheat bran insoluble dietary fiber with carboxymethylation, complex enzymatic hydrolysis and ultrafine comminution

To improve the industrial application of wheat bran insoluble dietary fiber (W-IDF), three modification methods (carboxymethylation, complex enzymatic hydrolysis, and ultrafine comminution) were compared on the basis of structural, physicochemical, functional, and antioxidant properties of W-IDF. FT-IR, DSC and SEM analysis showed that modifications contributed to alteration in morphology and arrangement of chemical bonds in W-IDF. Carboxymethylation effectively improved the water retention (WRC), water swelling (WSC), and glucose adsorption capacities (GAC); complex enzymatic hydrolysis greatly improved the oil retention (ORC), GAC, and nitrite ion adsorption capacities (NIAC). Although ultrafine comminution reduced the WRC and ORC, while positively influenced the GAC and NIAC. Moreover, total phenol content, total antioxidant capacity, DPPH radical scavenging capacity, Fe2+ chelating capacity and total reducing power were improved in modified W-IDF. Our results confirmed that carboxymethylation can improve the nutritive quality and sensory properties of W-IDF (nutritive ingredient) in food products.

Comparison of Radical Scavenging Capacities of Eleven Sargassum Species Grown off the Korean Coast (P06-082-19)

ObjectivesSargassum (S) species, a marine brown alga consumed in Asian countries, have various health benefits, such as improving the conditions of cardiovascular disease, osteoarthritis, and hypopigmentation. And these benefits are associated with their strong antioxidant capacities. However, antioxidant capacities of S. species have not been thoroughly explored and compared. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare the antioxidant capacities of eleven S. species grown off the Korean coast. MethodsEthanol extracts of eleven S. Species (S. hemiphyllum, S. coreanum, S. horneri, S. Confusum, S. siliquastrum, S. miyabei, S. Serratifolium, S. filicinum, S. Micracanthum, S. macrocarpum, and S. yendoi) provided by National Marine Biodiversity Institute of Korea were evaporated. The powdered samples were dissolved in 80% methanol as 100 mg/L to measure ABTS, DPPH, and superoxide radical scavenging activities. For the ABTS and DPPH radical scavenging capacities, the antioxidant capacities were expressed as mg vitamin C equivalent antioxidant capacity (VCEAC)/100 mg. For the superoxide radical scavenging capacity, inhibition rate of superoxide radical generation (%) was calculated. ResultsAmong eleven species, four showed notable radical scavenging capacities including S. miyabei, S. hemiphyllum, S. filicinum, and S. serratifolium. For DPPH radical scavenging capacity, S. miyabei showed the greatest antioxidant capacity (193.6 mg VCEAC/100 mg) followed by S. hemiphyllum, (137.9), S. filicinum (78.2), and S. serratifolium (75.4). For ABTS radical scavenging capacity, S. hemiphyllum showed the greatest capacity as 205.7 mg VCEAC/100 mg followed by S. miyabei (186.2), S. filicinum (140.1), and S. serratifolium (99.5). S. hemiphyllum inhibited about 52% of superoxide radical generation followed by S. miyabei (43.7%), S. filicinum (40.4%) and S. serratifolium (34.8%). Vitamin C as positive control inhibited 34.7% of superoxide radical generation. ConclusionsOur results exhibited that various S. species showed different antioxidant capacities, indicating the different compositions and proportions of antioxidant compounds in the species. Therefore, further study is warranted to investigate bioactive compounds of the S. species based on our screening. Funding SourcesThis research was supported by the Pukyong National University Research Fund (2018).

Analysis of Total Antioxidant Capacities of Various Seaweeds Grown off the Korean Coast (P06-110-19)

ObjectivesIt has been a long time since seaweeds have been used for food ingredients in Asian countries. Recently, a body of research has revealed the health benefits of bioactive compounds in seaweeds, especially their antioxidant capacities. Although numerous seaweeds inhabit in the ocean, only a small percentage has been explored for functional food. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to analyze the antioxidant capacities of various seaweeds grown off the Korean coast to screen for the potential functional food sources. MethodsTen ethanol extracts of Korean seaweeds were provided by the National Marine Biodiversity Institute of Korea, which included Scytosiphon gracilis, Scytosiphon lomentaria, Sargassum muticum, Sargassum confusum, Petrospongium rugosum, Sargassum fusiforme, Petalonia fascia, Sargassum nigrifolium, Ishige foliacea, and Myelophycus simplex. Hundred mg/L of samples in 80% methanol was used to measure their ABTS, DPPH, and superoxide radical scavenging activities. Mg vitamin C equivalent antioxidant capacity (VCEAC)/100 mg was used to express the ABTS and DPPH radical scavenging capacities. For the superoxide radical scavenging capacity, inhibition rate of superoxide radical generation (%) was calculated. ResultsAmong the ten seaweeds, S. nigrifolium and I. foliacea exhibited the most significant radical scavenging capacities. DPPH radical scavenging capacities of I. foliacea and S. nigrifolium were 122.4 mg VCEAC/100 mg and 95.8 mg VCEAC/100 mg, respectively. For ABTS radical scavenging capacity, I. foliacea exhibited 178.5 mg VCEAC/100 mg, followed by S. nigrifolium as 80.9 mg VCEAC/100 mg. I. foliacea inhibited about 68% of superoxide radical generation followed by S. nigrifolium (40.6%) while vitamin C as positive control inhibited about 28.9% of superoxide radical generation. The antioxidant capacities measured by the three assays were positively correlated with each other. ConclusionsThe current study explored total antioxidant capacities of various Korean seaweeds and found I. foliacea and S. nigrifolium as the most potential antioxidant-rich food resources. Further research would be warranted to investigate bioactive compounds from S. nigrifolium and I. foliacea. Funding SourcesThis work was supported by the Pukyong National University Research Fund in 2018.

Inhibition of autophagy by hydroxychloroquine enhances antioxidant nutrients and delays postharvest fruit senescence of Ziziphus jujuba

Autophagy, a mechanism of recycling intracellular constituents, favors plant growth, especially under nutrient starvation. However, autophagy’s role in regulating postharvest fruit senescence is unclear. Here, effects of the autophagy inhibitor hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and activator LiCl on postharvest jujube fruit senescence were investigated. HCQ significantly reduced weight loss and decay incidence, and enhanced firmness compared with those of the control. LiCl had the opposite effects. Protein oxidation and H2O2 increased significantly in LiCl-treated compared with HCQ-treated fruit. The contents of vitamin C, total thiol, and phenolics, and total antioxidant capacity and DPPH-radical scavenging capacity, followed the order: HCQ > control > LiCl. The HCQ-mediated reduction in fruit respiration was significantly enhanced by ATP and partly reversed by 2,4-dinitrophenol, a mitochondrial uncoupler. Thus, jujube fruit senescence may be regulated by autophagy and the antioxidant capacity. A mechanism of autophagy-mediated postharvest fruit senescence involving mitochondrial biogenesis and respiration was proposed.

Phytochemical characterization and antioxidant activities of the fruit extracts of several Crataegus taxa

ABSTRACT This study was designed to comparatively evaluate the phytochemical composition and antioxidant potentials of fruit extracts from five Crataegus taxa (C. monogyna, C. orientalis, C. pontica, C. rhipidophylla and C. turcicus) growing wild in the flora of Turkey. Antioxidant activities of the samples were investigated using DPPH radical scavenging, FRAP, CUPRAC and total antioxidant capacity tests. Total phenol, phenolic acid, flavonoid, and proanthocyanidin contents were measured spectrophotometrically. Additionally, the presence of some phenolic compounds in the extracts was investigated by LC–MS/MS. Furthermore, the extracts used for the antioxidant activity studies were standardized for chlorogenic acid and hyperoside by HPTLC densitometry. Among the tested extracts, C. turcicus contained the highest phenolic (398.48 ± 0.98 GAE/g extract) and total flavonoid contents (23.87 ± 2.74 QE/g extract) content while C. monogyna contained by far the highest total proanthocyanidin (175.65 ± 10.59 EGCG-E/g extract), hyperoside (0.42%) and chlorogenic acid (0.90%) contents. Crataegus monogyna exhibited the highest antioxidant activity in FRAP, CUPRAC, and TOAC tests. Good correlation was found between the phenolic content and antioxidant parameters. This is the first report related with comparison of these five species in respect to phenolic profile and antioxidant activity.

Intracellular antioxidant activity and apoptosis inhibition capacity of PEF-treated KDHCH in HepG2 cells.

The effect of pulsed electric field (PEF) treatment on the intracellular antioxidant and apoptotic activity of the peptide Lys-Asp-His-Cys-His (KDHCH) was examined using model HepG2 cells. First, PEF treatment conditions specific for the antioxidant peptide were optimized, and it was found that PEF treatment could enhance DPPH, ABTS and hydroxyl radical scavenging capacity of KDHCH. Second, KDHCH subjected to PEF treatment at 1800 Hz and 15 kV/cm was investigated using various intracellular antioxidant assays. PEF treatment decreased the EC50 value and increased the protective ability of oxidative stress inhibition and reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging activity of KDHCH. Furthermore, catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) and glutathione reductase (GR) activities of KDHCH-pre-treated HepG2 cells increased significantly compared with those of the H2O2 damaged group, whereas lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and malonaldehyde (MDA) content were decreased. PEF-treated KDHCH exhibited an increased capacity to maintain the stability of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and reduced the level of caspase-3. These results indicate that PEF treatment can enhance the intracellular antioxidant activity of KDHCH, which can inhibit the effect of H2O2 oxidation on HepG2 cells by inhibiting the accumulation of intracellular ROS, regulating antioxidant related enzymes, and blocking the apoptotic mitochondrial pathways activated by ROS.

Effect of probiotification with Lactobacillus plantarum MCC 2974 on quality of Sohiong juice

Dairy-based probiotic drinks are widely available for consumers. However, these drinks are often attributed to lactose and casein intolerance, and associated cholesterol risks. This calls for the development of non-dairy based probiotic drinks. Fruit based products can be a potential alternative option. In the present work, Sohiong (Prunus nepalensis) juice has been used for the development of a possible probiotic product. The fruit is widely available in North-eastern part of India. It is rich in vitamins, minerals, polyphenols, and anthocyanin. However, due to lack of proper value addition techniques, the fruit remains unutilized. Sohiong juice was extracted using ultrasound assisted enzymatic extraction and then fermented with different initial loads of 4, 6 and 8 log colony-forming unit (CFU)/ml of Lactobacillus plantarum MCC 2974 at 37 °C for 72 h. During fermentation, the number of viable probiotic cells increased up to 10 log CFU/ml. The concentration of fructose and glucose decreased significantly, whereas total phenolic content, anthocyanin, and DPPH radical scavenging capacity increased. The probiotic microbe population was higher than 6 log CFU/ml even after four weeks of storage at 4 ± 1 °C. The results affirm the suitability and feasibility of developing a non-dairy based probiotic drink from Sohiong juice.

Effect of Fermentation on Enhancing the Nutraceutical Properties of Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina)

Arthrospira platensis (spirulina), a filamentous fresh-water planktonic cyanobacterium, possesses diverse biological activities and a unique nutritional profile, due to its high content of valuable nutrients. This study aimed to further improve the bioactive profile of spirulina, by fermenting it with the lactic acid bacterium Lactobacillus plantarum. In vitro comparison of the total phenolic content (TPC), C-phycocyanin, free methionine, DPPH radical scavenging capacity, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) and protein fragmentation via SDS-PAGE in untreated versus 12 to 72 h fermented spirulina is reported here. After 36 h fermentation, TPC was enhanced by 112%, FRAP by 85% and ORAC by 36%. After 24 h, the DPPH radical scavenging capacity increased 60%, while the free methionine content increased by 94%, after 72 h. Past 36 h of fermentation, the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) diminished, possibly due to deterioration of the heat-sensitive antioxidants. However, protein fragmentation and free methionine content increased, linearly, with the fermentation time. Cyanobacterial peptides and other bioactive compounds trapped within the spirulina cell wall are released during fermentation and have a significant potential as a functional ingredient in nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals, in addition to their nutritive value.