Bioactive Extracts Research Articles

Formulation and Evaluation of Electrospun Nanofiber Mats of Curcumin and Leaf Extract of Tinospora cordifolia: Designed for Accelerating Diabetic Wound Healing

Traditional herbs like Tinospora cordifolia and curcumin have many therapeutic benefits. However, curcumin’s limited bioavailability is a problem. Electrospun nanofibers are an answer because they increase the effective surface area greatly, and make drug delivery better in almost all aspects. The combination in the form of nanofibers can be greatly useful in the treatment of diabetic wound healing, where curcumin, the known antibacterial and anti-inflammatory element, plays an important role. It is observed that when combined with extract of leaves of T. cordifolia, which has known antidiabetic and wound healing actions, blended in the chitosan polymer, which is itself a weak antibacterial compound hence can be one of the solutions to the menace of bacterial resistance which is very common in diabetic wound healing. This research aims to create and test electrospun nanofiber mats of curcumin and T. cordifolia leaves extract blended in chitosan as a base polymer in the treatment of diabetic wound healing. Leaves of the plant T. cordifolia, which were collected from the institute’s botanical garden, were subjected to drying and then prone to solvent extraction using methanol and acetone, resulting in the production of bioactive extracts. The curcumin was obtained as a gift sample from Sanjay Chemicals, Mumbai. Nanofibers were electrospun from chitosan, T. cordifolia leaf extract and curcumin. Characterization included scanning electron microscope (SEM), water contact angle measurement, TGA/DSC analysis, drug release studies, fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) analysis, swelling tests and in-vitro release profiling. The nanofiber mats of curcumin and leaves extract of T. cordifolia using chitosan as a base polymer were prepared and evaluated at various parameters. The results we found are very promising. The nanofibers formed by using electrospinning techniques show good content uniformity as well as good diameter which was checked using SEM. The study confirmed no component interactions using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The good hydrophilicity of mats was found to ensure good retention time. The study concluded with the formation of a novel formulation that can fight the menace of bacterial resistance, which is very common in the diabetic wound healing process. The formulation will ensure not only countering bacterial resistance but also the faster healing of diabetic wounds, as T. cordifolia leaves extract is known to improve angiogenesis and tissue remodeling.

Red Oranges and Olive Leaf Waste-Derived Bioactive Extracts Promote Adipocyte Functionality In Vitro.

Obesity is increasingly prevalent worldwide and is linked to metabolic diseases, such as insulin resistance (IR) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), due to excessive free fatty acids (FFAs). Although lifestyle changes are effective, they often prove to be insufficient as initial treatments for obesity. Additionally, while surgical and pharmacological interventions are available, they are not entirely safe or effective. Recently, interest has grown in utilizing food waste and plant-derived phenolic compounds for their health benefits, presenting a promising avenue for managing obesity and its related disorders. Indeed, many studies have examined the potential inhibitory effects of the natural extract on adipocyte differentiation and lipid accumulation. This study focused on the evaluation of the effects of standardized extracts obtained from red oranges and olive leaf waste on 3T3-L1 murine pre-adipocyte and adipocyte functionality. Red orange extract (ROE) and olive leaf extract (OLE), alone and in combination, were tested to assess their anti-obesity and anti-inflammatory effects, as well as their potential therapeutic benefits. Three in vitro models were established to investigate the effects of the extracts on (I) adipocyte differentiation; (II) mature and hypertrophic adipocytes challenged with palmitic acid (PA) and erastin (ER), respectively; and (III) erastin-induced cytotoxicity on pre-adipocytes.

Continuous flow aqueous two-phase extraction of betalains in millifluidic channel

Aqueous Two-Phase System (ATPS) has a proven ability for the selective partitioning and purification of bioactives. This work explores the application of ATPS for the continuous flow extraction of bio-active solute (betalains) from an actual crude extract i.e. red beetroot extract. ATPS composed of Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) 6000 and ammonium sulphate is used for the differential partitioning of betalains and sugars. The continuous flow experiments were performed in millichannel (ID = 1.2 mm) with T-junction. The effect of residence time, multiphase hydrodynamics, and flow-rate ratios on the extraction performance in the continuous flow is studied. The effectiveness of the continuous flow extraction is compared with batch mode extraction of betalains. The continuous flow extraction offers 72.01 % extraction and 89.27 % equilibrium extraction efficiency for betalains with a residence time of 3.38 min. In comparison, batch extraction offered lower performance, with 60.35 % extraction and 74.81 % equilibrium extraction efficiency in 5 min. The improved performance for the continuous flow extraction is attributed to the uniform slug flow in the millichannel. Inclusively, this work develops a continuous flow process for the intensification of extraction of bioactives from the crude extracts of natural sources.

Cultivation modes affect the morphology, biochemical composition, and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of the green microalga Neochloris oleoabundans

Microalgae are considered promising sustainable sources of natural bioactive compounds to be used in biotechnological sectors. In recent years, attention is increasingly given to the search of microalgae-derived compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties for nutraceutical or pharmacological issues. In this context, attention is usually focused on the composition and bioactivity of algae or their extracts, while less interest is driven to their biological features, for example, those related to morphology and cultivation conditions. In addition, specific studies on the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of microalgae mainly concern Chlorella or Spirulina. The present work was focused on the characterization of the Chlorophyta Neochloris oleoabundans under two combinations of cultivation modes: autotrophy and glucose-induced mixotrophy, each followed by starvation. Biomass for morphological and biochemical characterization, as well as for extract preparation, was harvested at the end of each cultivation phase. Analyses indicated a different content of the most important classes of bioactive compounds with antioxidant/anti-inflammatory properties (lipids, exo-polysaccharides, pigments, total phenolics, and proteins). In particular, the most promising condition able to prompt the production of antioxidant algal biomass with anti-inflammatory properties was the mixotrophic one. Under mixotrophy, beside an elevated algal biomass production, a strong photosynthetic metabolism with high appression of thylakoid membranes and characteristics of high photo-protection from oxidative damage was observed and linked to the overproduction of exo-polysaccharides and lipids rather than pigments. Overall, mixotrophy appears a good choice to produce natural bioactive extracts, potentially well tolerated by human metabolism and environmentally sustainable.

Donkey Gelatin and Keratin Nanofibers Loaded with Antioxidant Agents for Wound Healing Dressings.

Acute and chronic wounds present a significant healthcare challenge, requiring innovative solutions for effective treatment. The exploitation of natural by-products with advanced cell regeneration potential and plant-based materials, which possess bioactive properties, is an innovative topic in wound management. This study investigates the potential of donkey gelatin and keratin for blending with natural bioactive extracts such as sumac, curcumin, and oak acorn to fabricate antioxidant and antimicrobial nanofibers with accelerated wound healing processes. The fabricated nanofibers possess good in vitro biocompatibility, except for the sumac-based donkey nanofibers, where cell viability significantly dropped to 56.25% (p < 0.05 compared to non-treated cells). The nanofiber dimensions showed structural similarities to human extracellular matrix components, providing an ideal microenvironment for tissue regeneration. The donkey nanofiber-based sumac and curcumin extracts presented a higher dissolution in the first 10 min (74% and 72%). Curcumin extract showed similar antimicrobial and antifungal performances to rivanol, while acorn and sumac extracts demonstrated similar values to each other. In vitro tests performed on murine fibroblast cells demonstrated high migration rates of 89% and 85% after 24 h in the case of acorn and curcumin nanofibers, respectively, underscoring the potential of these nanofibers as versatile platforms for advanced wound care applications.

Sustainable Extraction Protocols for the Recovery of Bioactive Compounds from By-Products of Pomegranate Fruit Processing.

This study investigates sustainable extraction protocols for the recovery of bioactive compounds from by-products of various pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) cultivars, including Acco, Hicaz, Jolly Red, Parfianka, Valenciana, and Wonderful, generated during the industrial processing of the fruits. Advanced extraction technologies, including ultrasounds, microwaves, and hydrodynamic cavitation, have been compared to conventional extraction procedures and utilized to enhance extraction efficiency while also minimizing environmental impact. Water-based extraction methods have been utilized to promote the development of sustainable and eco-friendly processes. The comparison between conventional extractions and ultrasound-assisted extractions (UAEs) and microwave-assisted extractions (MAEs) demonstrated notable improvements in extraction yields, particularly for ellagitannins (punicalins, punicalagins, and ellagic acid) and total polyphenols, with increases ranging from about 45 to 200%. However, the increases directly comparing UAEs to MAEs ranged from about 4 to 6%. This indicates that while both UAEs and MAEs offer notable improvements over conventional extractions, the differences in extraction efficiency between the two advanced methods were relatively modest. These advancements were observed across various pomegranate cultivars, highlighting the versatility and effectiveness of these methods. Notably, hydrodynamic cavitation-based extractions (HC) emerged as particularly promising, consistently yielding the highest levels of bioactive compounds (ellagitannins and total polyphenols), especially when operated at higher frequencies. Compared to conventional extractions, HC exhibited substantial increases in extraction yields for Wonderful pomegranate by-products, surpassing the efficiency of both UAEs and MAEs (approximately 45 and 57% for UAE and MAE, respectively, versus about 80% for HC). Among these advanced techniques, HC has emerged as particularly promising, yielding the most favorable results and leading to significant improvements in the yield of bioactive compounds. When directly compared to UAEs and MAEs, HC increased extraction yields by over 20%. Furthermore, HC allowed for shorter extraction times. The Wonderful cultivar consistently exhibited the highest levels of ellagitannins and the highest total polyphenol content among all types of extraction procedures used, whether conventional or advanced. This highlights the great potential of the Wonderful cultivar in terms of bioactive compound extraction and underscores its significance in research and applications related to pomegranate processing and utilization. This study suggests that the implementation of these advanced technologies into extraction processes represents a significant advancement in the field, offering a promising avenue for the development of efficient and environmentally friendly extraction methods for obtaining valuable bioactive compounds from pomegranate processing by-products.

Intensification of bio-actives extraction from pomegranate peel via microwave irradiation: Effect of factors, optimization, kinetics, and bioactive profiling

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) peel is an appealing agri-food byproduct due to its high content of health-beneficial phytochemicals. However, the extraction processes may alter their bioactivity. A microwave irradiation treatment was applied to enhance the extraction efficiency. Extraction time, microwave power, and temperature were examined and optimized numerically using polynomial model and genetic algorithm. Time and temperature were the most influential factors in intensifying bioactives extraction. The optimal variables were 620 W microwave power at 74 °C for 18 min (RSM), and 685 W power at 75 °C for 24 min (ANN-GA). The obtained yields of total polyphenols, flavonoids, punicalagin, ellagic acid, and total hydrolyzable tannins contents were 165.53 mg GAE/g, 40.78 mg QE/g, 91.05 mg/g, 4.28 mg/g, and 130.82 mg TAE/g of pomegranate peel, respectively. The extract showed significant antioxidant capacities, with 65.74 % DPPH inhibition and 71.26 % ABTS inhibition. Several kinetic models were studied to define the extraction kinetics, with Peleg's model being the best fitting with the highest R2 (0.963–0.987) and lowest RMSE (0.95–5.08). LCMS analysis confirms the presence of 15 hydrolyzable tannins, with punicalagin and ellagic acid being the most abundant. These findings demonstrated the significant potential of microwave irradiation for extracting bioactives from fruit byproducts.

Mathematical modeling of extraction kinetics from black chokeberries enhanced by cold plasma pretreatment

The application of cold plasma as a pretreatment for extraction process is a recent development. This research investigates the impact of cold plasma (CP) treatment on the extraction process of bioactive compounds from black chokeberry samples. Utilizing a 12-h maceration process, various analyses, including total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant capacity (DPPH, ABTS+, CUPRAC assays), total monomeric anthocyanin content (TMA), color parameters, and comprehensive mathematical modeling, were employed to assess the effectiveness of CP treatment. The kinetic modeling with Peleg, Power Law, Elovic's, and Two-site Kinetic Models emphasized the critical role of CP treatment duration in the extraction process. This study indicates that the power-law kinetic model provided the best fit for the experimental data from CP-treated samples, suggesting that this model most accurately describes the extraction kinetics under the conditions tested. In summary, this investigation underlines the crucial role of mathematical modeling in understanding the dynamics of bioactive compound extraction under CP treatment.

A review on current scenarios of pharmaceutical and herbal medicine and future prospects

Plants are intentionally or unwittingly making a difference the living creatures since the starting of civilization. In spite of the fact that unused and modern maladies are getting found day by day, creator had given us with most of the remedy in the frame of restorative plants. Herbal medicate Industry is experiencing a major alter with regard to household and global necessities. Nutraceuticals is the quickest developing home-grown components due to increment in day to day way of life concern among worldwide populace. A number of logical examinations have highlighted the significance and the commitment of numerous plant families i.e. Asteraceae, Liliaceae, Apocynaceae, Solanaceae, Caesalpinaceae, Rutaceae, Piperaceae, Sapotaceae used as therapeutic plants. Therapeutic plants play a crucial part for the advancement of unused drugs. The bioactive extract ought to be standardized on the premise of dynamic compound. The bioactive extricate ought to undergo safety considers. Nearly, 70% advanced solutions in India are determined from characteristic items. Medicinal plants play a central part not as it were as conventional medications but too as exchange commodities, assembly the demand of far-off markets. India has a exceptionally little share (1.6%) of this evergrowing worldwide advertise. To compete with the developing advertise, there is direness to quickly utilize and deductively approve more medicinally valuable plantsIn 1991 WHO created rules for the appraisal of herbal pharmaceutical. Recommendations for home grown pharmaceutical standardization are out lined. The situation and recognition of home-grown medication are examined. The publicís conviction that home grown and normal items are more secure than manufactured solutions can as it were be discovered by forcing administrative benchmarks on these items that ought to be made utilizing these Great Hones. Home grown drugs are fundamental components of conventional pharmaceutical in several nations counting China and India. India has a well-established system of medication known as Ayurveda. Need of the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India and the Indian Chamber of Agricultural Inquire about, request that the beat 20 restorative plants in India be imported and traded from India vis-à-vis world request. Logical approval of phar- macological action of age-old drugs utilized in Ayurveda strengthens confidence in the traditional framework, in which plants are chosen as it were on the premise of encounter. Need of the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India and the Indian Board of Agricultural Inquire about, request that the beat 20 restorative plants in India be imported and traded from India vis-à-vis world request. Logical approval of pharmacological action of age-old drugs utilized in Ayurveda fortifies confidence in the traditional framework, in which plants are chosen as it were on the premise of encounter.

Insights into the digestion of chestnut (Castanea sativa) shells bioactive extracts—ultrasound vs. microwave‐assisted extraction

SummaryIn the current study, polyphenols were extracted from chestnut (Castanea sativa) shells (CSS) by two eco‐friendly techniques, namely microwave‐assisted extraction (MAE) and ultrasound‐assisted extraction (UAE). The bioaccessibility, phenolic composition and bioactivity of CSS extracts were explored upon in vitro gastrointestinal digestion considering a future nutraceutical use. The phenolic and flavonoid concentrations, bioaccessibility and antioxidant/antiradical properties of both extracts decreased during digestion. The bioaccessibility was 25% and 26%, respectively, for UAE and MAE extracts. The phenolic profile demonstrated that gallic acid, caftaric acid and catechin were the most bioaccessible compounds for both extraction techniques. The CSS extracts unveiled notable radicals scavenging efficiency, particularly against HOCl (18.32–75.44% inhibition) and ONOO− (16.78–86.11% inhibition), as well as hypoglycaemic (6.95–17.99% α‐amylase inhibition) and neuroprotective (16.44–54.66% AChE inhibition) properties upon digestion. Considering the undigested extracts, the UAE extract revealed better results than the MAE extract. Oppositely, among digested fractions the MAE digests disclosed the most promising outcomes. The remarkable contribution of phenolic compounds to the bioactivity of CSS extracts after in vitro digestion was proved by heatmap correlations, indicating that their pro‐healthy properties were modified after gastrointestinal digestion, being ascribed to the distinct phenolic composition. This study evaluates, for the first time, the impact of in vitro gastrointestinal digestion on the bioaccessibility and bioactivity of phenolics‐rich CSS extracts prepared by UAE and MAE.

Bioactive Compounds Produced by Macromycetes for Application in the Pharmaceutical Sector: Patents and Products

It is widely known that mushrooms present several properties with applications in the medicinal and pharmaceutical sectors, including antimicrobial, immunomodulatory, antioxidant, hypotensive, neuroprotective, and anti-inflammatory activities. This article aims to review examples of the bioactive metabolites responsible for those activities, such as polysaccharides, phenols and polyphenols, terpenes, peptides, alkaloids, and steroids, which are produced by several relevant mushroom species. It also discusses their production through solid-state fermentation and submerged fermentation, as well as the processes of obtention of mushroom bioactive extracts and considerations on their stability aiming industrial applications. In addition, the article examines the patent landscape surrounding mushroom-derived bioactives, shedding light on the intellectual property history and innovations driving this field forward. Examples of recently deposited patents in the field are highlighted, as well as the main depositors. China and the United States are the major depositor countries in this field (52% and 35% of patents, respectively), and the principal compounds on the patents are polysaccharides and alkaloids. The article also provides insights into the current market landscape, showcasing mushroom-derived products in the pharmaceutical field available to consumers. From dietary supplements to skincare formulations, the market offerings reflect the growing interest in harnessing the health benefits of mushroom bioactives.

Wound Healing Activity of Topical Herbal Gels Containing Barringtonia acutangula Fruit Extract: In silico and In vivo Studies.

The current study describes the efficacy of B. acutangula fruit extract in wound healing via incorporation within topical gels. B. acutangula fruit extract was produced by solvent extraction method. The bioactive extract was incorporated within Carbopol 940-based topical gels, which were applied topically over the excision and incision wounds. The change in healing process was observed till 20 days. The percentages of closure of excision wound area were 92.89 % and 93.43 %, when treated with topical herbal gels containing B. acutangula fruit extract of 5 % and 10 %, respectively. The tensile strengths of incision area in rats treated with topical herbal gels containing 5 % and 10 % methanol extract of B. acutangula fruits were found to be 25±5.12 g and 30±4.10 g, respectively. The wound healing activity of topical herbal gels containing B. acutangula fruit extract in rats was found to be significant when compared with that of the reference standard and untreated groups. In addition, in silico studies suggested about good skin permeability and binding to the proteins responsible for delaying wound healing. It can be concluded that this topical herbal gels containing B. acutangula fruit extract could be used clinically for the treatment of wounds.

Evaluation of Physicochemical Properties and Prebiotics Function of a Bioactive Pleurotus eryngii Aqueous Extract Powder Obtained by Spray Drying.

A bioactive Pleurotus eryngii aqueous extract powder (SPAE) was obtained by spray drying and its performance in terms of physicochemical properties, in vitro digestion, inflammatory factors, and modulation of the intestinal microbiota was explored. The results indicated that the SPAE exhibited a more uniform particle size distribution than P. eryngii polysaccharide (PEP). Meanwhile, a typical absorption peak observed at 843 cm-1 in the SPAE FTIR spectra indicated the existence of α-glycosidic bonds. SPAE exhibited higher antioxidant abilities and superior resistance to digestion in vitro. In addition, SPAE supplementation to mice significantly reduced the release of factors that promote inflammation, enhanced the secretion of anti-inflammatory factors, and sustained maximum production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Additionally, it significantly enhanced the relative abundance of SCFAs-producing Akkermansia and reduced the abundance of Ruminococcus and Clostridiides in intestines of mice. These results show the potential of SPAE as a novel material with prebiotic effects for the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Apple pomace extract: photochemopreventive action against UVA radiation in a cell culture model

Apple pomace, a byproduct from juice industry, can be used as a valuable nutraceutical, hence its phenolic compounds, including rutin, are powerful antioxidants. This work evidence the extract enriched with apple polyphenols from apple pomace using ethanol: water as solvent and partitioned with ethyl acetate (1:1 w/w), where its lyophilized product was evaluated for its photochemopreventive action on MRC-5 fibroblasts against a harmful UVA radiation dose. The enriched apple pomace extract was able to promote photochemopreventive action against UVA radiation, decreasing cell death and the lipid peroxidation formation. Therefore, the optimized extraction process may make the apple pomace application viable as a source of bioactive extracts with photochemopreventive action against ultraviolet radiation to the use in dermal formulations.

Antifungal activity of bio-active cell-free culture extracts and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) synthesised by endophytic fungal isolates of Garden Nasturtium

Antimicrobial resistance in fungal pathogens (both human and plant) is increasing alarmingly, leading to massive economic crises. The existing anti-fungal agents are becoming ineffective, and the situation worsens on a logarithmic scale. Novel antifungals from unique natural sources are highly sought to cope sustainably with the situation. Metabolites from endophytic microbes are the best-fitted alternatives in this case. Endophytes are the untapped sources of ‘plants’ internal microbial population’ and are promising sources of effective bio-therapeutic agents. Fungal endophytes were isolated from Tropaeolum majus and checked for antifungal activity against selected plant and human pathogens. Bioactive metabolites were identified through chromatographic techniques. The mode of action of those metabolites was evaluated through various spectroscopic techniques. The production of antifungal metabolite was optimized also. In particular VOCs (volatile organic compounds) of TML9 were tested in vitro for their anti-phytopathogenic activity. Ethyl acetate (EA) extract of cell-free culture components of Colletotrichum aenigma TML3 exhibited broad-spectrum antifungal activity against four species of Candida and the major constituents reported were 6-pentyl-2H-pyran-2-one, 2-Nonanone, 1 propanol 2-amino. The volatile metabolites, trans-ocimene, geraniol, and 4-terpinyl acetate, produced from Curvularia lunata TML9, inhibited the growth of some selected phyto pathogens. EA extract hampered the biofilm formation, minimised the haemolytic effect, and blocked the transformation of Candida albicans (MTCC 4748) from yeast to hyphal form with a Minimum Fungicidal Concentration (MFC) of 200–600 µg mL−1. Central carbohydrate metabolism, ergosterol synthesis, and membrane permeability were adversely affected and caused the lethal leakage of necessary macromolecules of C. albicans. Volatile metabolites inhibited the growth of phytopathogens i.e., Rhizoctonia solani, Alternaria alternata, Botrytis cinerea, Cercospora beticola, Penicillium digitatum, Aspergillus fumigatus, Ceratocystis ulmi, Pythium ultimum up to 89% with an IC50 value of 21.3–69.6 µL 50 mL−1 and caused leakage of soluble proteins and other intracellular molecules. Citrusy sweet odor volatiles of TML9 cultured in wheat-husk minimised the infections of Penicillium digitatum (green mold), in VOC-exposed sweet oranges (Citrus sinensis). Volatile and non-volatile antifungal metabolites of these two T. majus endophytes hold agricultural and pharmaceutical interests. Metabolites of TML3 have strong anti-Candida activity and require further assessment for therapeutic applications. Also, volatile metabolites of TML9 can be further studied as a source of antifungals. The present investigational outcomes bio-prospects the efficacy of fungal endophytes of Garden Nasturtium.

Chemo-profiling and exploring therapeutic potential of Momordica dioica Roxb. ex Willd. for managing metabolic related disorders: In-vitro studies, and docking based approach

Ethnopharmacological relevanceMomordica dioica Roxb. ex Willd. (M. dioica Roxb.) a nutritious and therapeutic property rich crop of Cucurbitaceae plant family. In various folklore medicine including Ayurveda fruits are used to treat several metabolic related disorders i.e., hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, obesity etc. Furthermore, traditionally it is used to treat fever, inflammation, ulcer, skin diseases, haemorrhoids, hypertension and also employed as cardioprotective, hepatoprotective, analgesic, diuretic. Aim of the studyThis study focuses to explore the therapeutic potential of Momordica dioica Roxb. ex Willd. through in-vitro and in-silico approach for managing hyperlipidemia, hyperglycemia and related metabolic disorders along with its phytochemical profiling for quality evaluation and validation of traditional claim. Materials and methodsThe present study was carried out on hydroalcohol extract of dried leaf and fruit of Momordica dioica. In-vitro antioxidant potential using DPPH and Nitric oxide scavenging assay along with in-vitro enzyme inhibitory potential against α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and pancreatic lipase enzymes was studied. The bioactive metabolites were identified from the most potent bioactive extract by analysis with LC-QTOF-MS and also studied their role to lessen the metabolic related disorder through in-silico approaches. ResultsThe results confirmed that the fruit extract is more active to possess antioxidant and prominent enzyme inhibition potential compared to the leaf. Sixteen identified metabolites in M. dioica Roxb. fruits may be responsible for the therapeutic potential related to metabolic related disorder. The in-silico study of the identified phytomolecules against α-amylase, α-glucosidase and pancreatic lipase showed significant docking scores ranging from −9.8 to −5.5, −8.3 to −4.8 and −8.3 to −6 respectively. ConclusionThe current study illustrated that M. dioica Roxb., a traditionally important plant is potential against metabolic related disorders. Phytocomponents present in the fruit extract may be responsible for antioxidant as well as the enzymes’ inhibitory potential. Thus, fruits of M. dioica Roxb. will be useful as alternative therapeutics for treatment of hyperlipidemia, hyperglycemia and related metabolic disorders.

Enhancing the bioactivity of Dunaliella salina extracts through ultra-high pressure supercritical fluid extraction (UHP-SFE)

Dunaliella salina is a green microalga known for its high carotene content, especially in β-carotene isomers, which are very interesting compounds due to their biological activity. The neuroprotective effect of β-carotene has been related to the potential prevention of multifactorial neurological pathologies. The use of green extraction processes for the extraction of carotenoids present in D. salina has generated a great advance in the production of carotenoid-enriched extracts. In this work, supercritical fluid extraction at ultra-high pressure (UHP-SFE) at semi-pilot scale has been evaluated for the first time for the extraction of β-carotene isomers from D. salina. The effect of the pressure was determined by an experimental design, and results showed that both the carotenoid extraction and the neuroprotective activity of the obtained extracts were maximum at 84.9 MPa. At this ultra-high pressure, the extraction yield was improved 1.35 times, the total terpene and carotene content increased 2.02 and 1.61 times, respectively, and the neuroprotective activity was 2.44 and 1.60 (for acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase inhibition capacity, respectively) higher in comparison to the CP-SFE extract. Therefore, UHP-SFE is presented as a more selective extraction process with a higher potential to generate enriched extracts with increased bioactivity than SFE procedures under moderate pressure conditions. Moreover, it has been demonstrated that the use of the semi-pilot UHP-SFE process had a greener potential for the recovery of bioactive carotenoid-enriched extracts than the analytical scale process. Industrial relevanceThe industrial scaling-up of extraction processes is a current need. In this sense, in this work, the semi-pilot SFE process has been shown as a more automatic and safer process than the analytical scale. Additionally, the use of UHP in the SFE semi-pilot scale has allowed reducing the extraction time to half of the initial time obtaining higher extraction yields. The UHP-SFE extract provides enriched carotene products with increased neuroprotective activity with greater industrial performance. Therefore, this work becomes the starting point for achieving a high throughput β-carotene extract process at industrial scale.

Extraction of bioactive compounds from pecan nutshell: An added-value and low-cost alternative for an industrial waste

The pecan nutshell [Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh) C. Koch] (PNS) is a source of bioactives with important beneficial properties for the human health. PNS represents between 40–50 % of total mass of the nut, resulting as waste without any added value for the food industry. Even though a variety of methods were already developed for bioactive extraction from this waste, unconventional methodologies, or those which apart from green chemistry principles, were discarded considering the cost of production, the sustainable development goals of United Nations and the feasibility of real inclusion of the technology in the food chain. Then, to add-value to this waste, a low-cost, green and easy-scalable extraction methodology was developed based on the determination of seven relevant factors by means of a factorial design and a Response Surface Methodology, allowing the extraction of bioactives with antioxidant capacity. The pecan nutshell extract had a high concentration of phenolic compounds (166 mg gallic acid equivalents-GAE/g dry weight-dw), flavonoids (90 mg catechin equivalent-CE/g dw) and condensed tannins (189 mg CE/g dw) −related also to the polymeric color (74.6 %)-, with high antioxidant capacities of ABTS+. radical inhibition (3665 µmol Trolox Equivalent-TE/g dw) and of iron reduction (1305 µmol TE/g dw). Several compounds associated with these determinations were identified by HPLC-ESI-MS/MS, such as [Epi]catechin-[Epi]catechin-[Epi]gallocatechin, myricetin, dihydroquercetins, dimers A and B of protoanthocyanidins, ellagitannins and ellagic acid derivatives. Hence, through the methodology developed here, we obtained a phenolic rich extract with possible benefits for human health, and of high industrial scalability for this co-product transformation.

Cytotoxic potential of Commicarpus plumbagineus extracts against liver cancer cell lines through In-Vitro and In-Silico methods

Hepatocellular carcinoma holds the fifth position in terms of worldwide cancer prevalence. The challenges posed by drug adverse effects and resistance associated with existing anticancer therapies underscore the importance of exploring natural sources for potential solutions. This study assessed the in-vitro cytotoxicity of a range of solvent extracts (n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and methanol) against liver cancer cell lines using (3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-Diphenyltetrazolium Bromide) (MTT) assay. The bioactive extract was also examined for its impact on cell migration and subjected to in-silico predictions targeting 14 different protein targets. The results indicated that only the ethyl acetate (F2) extract was cytotoxic. The IC50 values for the F2 were 300, 320 and 318 μg/mL against HepG2, HuH7, and normal HUVECs cell lines, respectively. A significant reduction in the % relative migration of cells following treatment with 87.5 μg/mL of F2 extract was observed. The apoptotic potential of F2 was seen on HepG2 cells using the DAPI and AO/EtBr staining. The F2 extract underwent GC–MS analysis, uncovering the existence of 23 phytocompounds, which were subsequently employed in molecular docking studies. Loperamide, á-Sitosterol, and stigmasterol exhibited the highest binding affinity (−10.90 kcal/mol) for 4WEV and 4NOS. These phytochemicals from the F2 extract hold potential as promising drug candidates for liver cancer, subject to further validation.

Bioactive Compound Extraction of Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) Leaves through Response Surface Methodology Optimization

Hemp, commonly known as Cannabis sativa L., is a medicinal plant species of the Cannabaceae family. For the efficient extraction of C. sativa leaves using the conventional stirring process with water as the solvent, three crucial extraction parameters (i.e., extraction duration, liquid–solid ratio, and temperature) were investigated through the response surface methodology (RSM). The concentrations of the extracted bioactive compounds (polyphenols, ascorbic acid, and carotenoids) showed significant variations in the RSM design points, suggesting the importance of finding the optimal extraction conditions in which liquid–solid ratio and extraction temperature were found to have the highest impact. Further analysis was conducted on the optimal extract employing several assays to determine their polyphenol content, total carotenoid content, color evaluation, anti-inflammatory activity, and antioxidant capacity through FRAP, DPPH, and H2O2 assays. A low extraction time (30 min) at 50 °C and a high liquid–solid ratio (50:1) were required for the highest possible yield of polyphenols. The total polyphenol content was determined to be 9.76 mg gallic acid equivalents/g under optimum conditions, with pelargonin being the most abundant polyphenol (1.51 mg/g) in C. sativa extracts. Ascorbic acid was measured at 282.23 μg/g and total carotenoids at 356.98 μg/g. Correlation analyses revealed that anti-inflammatory activity was negatively correlated with specific polyphenols. As determined by DPPH (27.43 μmol ascorbic acid equivalents (AAE)/g), FRAP (49.79 μmol AAE/g), and H2O2 (230.95 μmol AAE/g) assays, the optimized aqueous extract showed a high antioxidant capacity. Furthermore, it demonstrated considerable anti-inflammatory activity at 17.89%, with the potential to increase to 75.12% under particular extraction conditions. Given the high added-value of the aqueous extracts, the results of this study highlight the potential utility of C. sativa leaves as a source of health-improving antioxidant compounds in the pharmaceutical and food industries.