Free Radical Scavenging Capacity Research Articles

Exploring the Composition and Bioactivity of Hedychium flavum Leaf and Stem Essential Oil: In Vitro Assessment of Antibacterial, Antioxidant, Cytotoxicity, and Enzyme Inhibitory Activities

Hedychium flavum is an edible, medicinal, and aromatic plant widely cultivated for its essential oil. So far, little studies have been done on its phytoconstituents and bioactivities. Hence, the research aimed to determine the chemical constituents of leaf essential oil (L-EO) and stem essential oil (S-EO) of H. flavum and first estimate their antibacterial, antioxidant, cytotoxic, and enzyme inhibitory activities. According to gas chromatography-flame ionization detector/mass spectrometer (GC-FID/MS) assay, L-EO was mainly composed of β-pinene (33.4%), α-pinene (10.4%), humulene (6.8%), β-caryophyllene (6.0%), eucalyptol (6.0%), caryophyllene oxide (5.5%), endo-borneol (3.8%), humulene epoxide II (3.7%), and D-limonene (3.2%). The predominant components of S-EO were β-pinene (17.2%), eucalyptol (9.7%), nerolidol (7.8%), α-phellandrene (6.7%), α-pinene (5.8%), β-caryophyllene (5.4%), terpinen-4-ol (4.5%), D-limonene (4.4%), p-cymene (3.7%), endo-borneol (3.5%), and α-terpineol (3.5%). For the bioactivities, L-EO and S-EO showed strong antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, and Bacillus subtilis with the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 9.77–625.00 µg/mL and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of 9.77–1250.00 µg/mL. Both L-EO and S-EO exhibited moderate antioxidant activity in the DPPH (14.52 ± 0.93 mg/mL and 4.73 ± 0.15 mg/mL, respectively) and ABTS (4.05 ± 0.75 mg/mL and 2.38 ± 0.14 mg/mL, respectively) free radical scavenging capacity. S-EO showed selective cytotoxicity on human leukemic K562 cell line (IC50 = 93.94 ± 0.91 µg/mL), which was nearly three times that of noncancer L929 cell line (IC50 = 294.49 ± 9.40 µg/mL). In enzyme inhibitory properties, L-EO exerted a potent inhibition on α-glucosidase (IC50 = 1.03 ± 0.02 mg/mL), and both essential oils had weak inhibition against cholinesterase and tyrosinase. Thus, H. flavum L-EO and S-EO possess antibacterial, antioxidant, cytotoxic, and enzyme inhibitory activities with potential for exploitation in the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries.

Chemical Composition of Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) Ethanol Extract and Its Antimicrobial Activities and Free Radical Scavenging Capacities.

Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) is a perennial tuberous plant from the genus Curcuma (Zingiberaceae) and has been widely used in foods for thousands of years. The present study examined the ethanol extract of turmeric for its chemical composition, antimicrobial activity, and free radical scavenging properties. UHPLC-MS/MS analysis tentatively identified eight compounds in the turmeric extract. Potential antimicrobial effects of 0.1, 1.0, and 10 mg turmeric equivalents (TE)/mL were evaluated in vitro against a variety of Gram-negative bacteria (i.e., Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas sp.) and Gram-positive bacteria (i.e., Enterococcus faecalis, Listeria innocua, and Staphylococcus aureus). Concentrations of 0.1 and 1.0 mg TE/mL inhibited the growth of S. aureus and significantly suppressed that of Pseudomonas sp., E. faecalis, and L. innocua. The growth of all strains, including E. coli, was inhibited by 10 mg TE/mL. Moreover, free radical scavenging capacities were determined using HO●, ABTS●+, and DPPH● (HOSC, ABTS, and RDSC, respectively) radicals. The turmeric ethanol extract had a TPC value of 27.12 mg GAE/g, together with HOSC, RDSC, and ABTS values of 1524.59, 56.38, and 1.70 μmol TE/g, respectively. Our results suggest that turmeric extract has potential applications for use in functional foods to reduce microbial burdens and oxidative stress-related health problems.

Blackcurrant (Fruits, Pomace, and Leaves) Phenolic Characterization before and after In Vitro Digestion, Free Radical Scavenger Capacity, and Antioxidant Effects on Iron-Mediated Lipid Peroxidation.

Blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum L.) is a berry bush widely cultivated in Europe for producing juices, jams, jellies, and syrups. In addition to berries, blackcurrant leaves and pomace, as byproducts, have also been shown to have health-promoting effects. Static digestion, simulating oral, gastric, and small intestinal digestion, was applied, and blackcurrant leaves, fruits, and pomace and the polyphenol bioaccessibility were evaluated in terms of recovery index. The results were related to sample type, and the recovery index presented higher values in the case of fruits, indicating this morphological part of blackcurrant as the most bioaccessible. The antioxidant potential of blackcurrant was evaluated using four different methods, with the leaves proving to be a significant and powerful antioxidant compared to fruits and pomace. The counteracting potential of inhibiting the oxidation process was evaluated using in vitro-induced lipid peroxidation and the inhibition potential of superoxide and hydroxyl anions. The antioxidant evaluation and the inhibition of biological and non-biological radicals indicate the leaf extract is the most powerful antioxidant studied. Also, the results proved that not only fruits but also the blackcurrant byproducts (pomace and leaves) are promising sources of bioaccessible antioxidants with potential benefits in animal nutrition.

Ceria Nanoparticle Systems Alleviate Degenerative Changes in Mouse Postovulatory Aging Oocytes by Reducing Oxidative Stress and Improving Mitochondrial Functions.

Postovulatory aging oocytes usually feature diminished potential for fertilization and poor embryonic development due to enhanced oxidative damage to the subcellular organelles and macromolecules, which stands as a formidable obstacle in assisted reproductive technologies (ART). Here, we developed lipoic acid (LA) and polyethylene glycol (PEG)-modified CeO2 nanoparticles (LA-PEG-CeNPs) with biocompatibility, enzyme-like autocatalytic activity, and free radical scavenging capacity. We further investigated the LA-PEG-CeNPs effect in mouse postovulatory oocytes during in vitro aging. The results showed that LA-PEG-CeNPs dramatically reduced the accumulation of ROS in aging oocytes, improving mitochondrial dysfunction; they also down-regulated the pro-apoptotic activity by rectifying cellular caspase-3, cleaved caspase-3, and Bcl-2 levels. Consistently, this nanoenzyme prominently alleviated the proportion of abnormalities in spindle structure, chromosome alignment, microtubule stability, and filamentous actin (F-actin) distribution in aging oocytes, furthermore decreased oocyte fragmentation, and improved its ability of fertilization and development to blastocyst. Taken together, our finding suggests that LA-PEG-CeNPs can alleviate oxidative stress damage on oocyte quality during postovulatory aging, implying their potential value for clinical practice in assisted reproduction.

Comparative assessment of essential oil composition and yield in Cinnamomum tamala leaves upon application of different drying practices

ABSTRACT Cinnamomum tamala or Indian bay leaf is a widely used spice in the Asian subcontinent. The aim of this study was to assess the contents and composition of essential oils and volatiles internal pool in C. tamala leaves obtained from different drying practices such as, sun drying, freeze drying, shade drying and simultaneous oven drying at 60°C and 40°C, when compared with market-available dry leaves. Out of five different practices tested, leaves when oven dried at 60°C performed best in terms of free-radical scavenging capacities, internal pool of volatile contents (257.25 ± 37.57 μg/g of dried leaf tissue) and yields of essential oils (0.25%). This was followed by freeze-dried leaves, which showed 0.2% essential oils yield. Among the natural drying, sun dried leaves exhibited high yield of essential oils (0.16%). Performance of shade dried leaves was shown to be lowest i.e. 0.11% essential oils yield but was comparable with the yield of market-available leaves.

Antioxidant Activity, Theaflavin, Total Polyphenol, and Catechin Composition of Camellia sinensis Processing Effluents from Various Factories in Kenya

Research into the antioxidant efficacy and sustainability implications of tea waste, a by-product of the rapidly growing global beverage industry, is increasingly necessary. This study scrutinized samples taken from various factories to explore their capacity for free radical scavenging and potential public health and environmental benefits. Analysis of the samples and reference antioxidant (BHT) revealed a notable dose- dependent rise in free-radical-scavenging action, implying a positive concentration-dependent antioxidant efficacy. Variations in antioxidant activity occurred from tea wastes sourced at various factories, alluding to geography having a pivotal effect on the biological contents and antioxidative capacity. Of particular interest were Boito's and Chelal's cyclone fluff samples that evinced relatively lower potency than those from other factories. Tombe factory's cyclone sample demonstrated a superior capacity for scavenging free radicals at different concentrations, suggesting that particular production or cultivation processes augmented its effectiveness. Notably, some tea waste samples even equalled the potency of BHT (a synthetic antioxidant) when augured to its highest level. Furthermore, this study revealed disparities in Theaflavin and Thearubigin content due to factors like maturation period and processing methods guiding these concentrations. We identified tea waste samples possessing remarkable polyphenol concentration, thereby providing valuable insights for consumers and industries. Further investigations on the chemical composition of tea waste phytocompounds are paramount due to their acclaimed health-promoting properties and the factors influencing their concentrations and antioxidant efficacy.

Bionic synthesis of novel monoterpenoid indole alkaloid-like analogs with tyrosinase inhibition activity based on loganetin

A series of novel monoterpenoid indole alkaloid (MIA)-like analogs (1–24) were synthesized by using a biomimetic synthetic strategy and combinatorial chemistry. The tyrosinase inhibitory activities and antioxidant properties of these compounds were assessed through tyrosinase inhibition assay, DPPH and ABTS free radicals scavenging assays, respectively. The results showed that most synthesized compounds (2, 4–8, 10–12, 14–17, 19) exhibited significant inhibitory activities against both monophenolase and diphenolase. In particular, compound 14, with an IC50 value of 0.18 ± 0.02 mM, displayed approximately 72-fold stronger monophenolase inhibitory activity than that of loganetin with an IC50 value of 12.76 ± 1.00 mM. Similarly, compound 17 exhibited the best diphenolase inhibitory activity (IC50, 0.30 ± 0.09 mM), which was approximately 47 times higher than that of loganetin (IC50, 14.05 ± 0.47 mM). Additionally, six compounds (3, 13–17) showed significant in vitro antioxidant activities. Compound 17 exhibited the most promising ABTS radical scavenging activity with an IC50 value of 2.90 ± 0.07 μM, while compound 15 exhibited the highest DPPH free radical scavenging capacity with an IC50 value of 17.59 ± 0.21 μM. The structure-activity relationships analysis revealed that the substituents at C-5 and C-11 in the tryptamine moiety might significantly impact antioxidant activity. Furthermore, the detailed interactions and binding modes of the most potent derivative toward tyrosinase were elucidated by a molecular docking study, which indicated that 14 and 17 might exert their inhibitory effects by binding to key amino acid residues (His 85 and His 263) at the tyrosinase active site.

Study on the extraction, purification, stability, free radical scavenging kinetics, polymerization degree and characterization of proanthocyanidins from Pinus koraiensis seed scales

To efficiently harness resources from Pinus koraiensis seed scales, a type of forestry waste, rigorous studies on the extraction, purification, stability, and free radical scavenging capacity of the proanthocyanidins derived from these seed scales were conducted. Kinetic models showed that under ultrasonic conditions, the proanthocyanidins content reached 2.66 mg/g within 0.5 h. The optimal storage parameters include darkness, 4 °C, and pH 4. The degrees of polymerization of the mixture and the high- and low-polymer components were 4.89, 7.42 and 3.07, respectively, with the low-polymer component exhibiting the highest radical scavenging activity. Through HPLC–QE-MS/MS, 1H NMR, and FT-IR analyses, we identified proanthocyanidin B1, proanthocyanidin B2, (−)-epicatechin, and polymeric trimer esters. The Pinus koraiensis proanthocyanidins exhibited a high molecular weight, a complex internal molecular structure, and commendable stability, with crystallization requiring elevated temperatures. Therefore, the proanthocyanidins from Pinus koraiensis seed scales have emerged as highly promising novel natural antioxidants.

Different wavelengths of LED irradiation promote secondary metabolite production in Pycnoporus sanguineus for antioxidant and immunomodulatory applications.

Pycnoporus sanguineus is a fungus of the phylum Basidiomycota that has many applications in traditional medicine, modern pharmaceuticals, and agricultural industries. Light plays an essential role in the metabolism, growth, and development of fungi. This study evaluated the mycelial growth and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities in P. sanguineus fermentation broth (PFB) cultured under different wavelengths of LED irradiation or in the dark. Compared to the dark cultures, the dry weight of mycelia in red- and yellow-light cultures decreased by 37 and 35% and the yields of pigments increased by 30.92 ± 2.18mg and 31.75 ± 3.06mg, respectively. Compared with the dark culture, the DPPH free radical scavenging ability, ABTS+ free radical scavenging capacity, and reducing power of yellow-light cultures increased significantly, and their total phenolic content peaked at 180.0 ± 8.34μg/mL. However, the reducing power in blue-light cultures was significantly reduced, though the total phenol content did not vary with that of dark cultures. In LPS- and IFN-γ-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells, nitrite release was significantly reduced in the red and yellow light-irradiated PFB compared with the dark culture. In the dark, yellow-, and green-light cultures, TNF-α production in the inflamed RAW 264.7 cells was inhibited by 62, 46, and 14%, respectively. With red-, blue-, and white-light irradiation, TNF-α production was significantly enhanced. Based on these results, we propose that by adjusting the wavelength of the light source during culture, one can effectively modulate the growth, development, and metabolism of P. sanguineus.

Two-pot optimization of nutrient sources to enhance antioxidants in Citrus reticulata peel powder through solid-state fermentation with Aspergillus niger CGMCC 3.6189

This study aimed to optimize nutrient sources for enhancing the accumulation of antioxidants in Citrus reticulata peel powder (CRPP) through solid-state fermentation (SSF) using Aspergillus niger CGMCC 3.6189. A Plackett-Burman design revealed that four medium compositions, including yeast extract, NH4Cl, CaCl2, and MgCl2, significantly affected antioxidant accumulation in fermented CRPP. The optimal concentrations of these four compositions were predicted as 13.86, 0.40, 0.06, and 0.04 mg/g of CRPP, respectively, using a Box-Behnken design (BBD) when simultaneous optimization of total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), 2,2′-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging capacities using Derringer's desirability function. Under the optimal medium compositions, TPC, TFC, ABTS, and DPPH scavenging capacities of fermented CRPP (FO-CRPP) increased by 25.2%, 26.9%, 45.8%, and 57.3%, respectively, in comparison with the unfermented CRPP (UF-CRPP). The HPLC analysis exhibited notable decreases in the levels of hesperidin, narirutin, nobiletin, and tangeretin, while enhancements in the contents of p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, narirutin, and hesperetin in FO-CRPP compared to UF-CRPP were observed. Scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analyses demonstrated changes in the surface microstructure and functional groups in FO-CRPP. Our findings suggested that yeast extract and NH4Cl significantly improve the accumulation of antioxidants in CRPP during SSF by A. niger CGMCC 3.6189.

Steam Explosion-Assisted Extraction of Polysaccharides from Pleurotus eryngii and Its Influence on Structural Characteristics and Antioxidant Activity.

Pleurotus eryngii (PE) has been sought after for its various health benefits and high content of phenolic compounds. This study explored the feasibility of steam explosion (SE)-assisted extraction of polysaccharides with high antioxidant capacities from PE. An orthogonal experimental design (OED) was used to optimize the SE-assisted extraction of PE. The influence of the optimized SE-assisted extraction on the physicochemical properties of PE polysaccharides was determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), monosaccharide compositional analysis and antioxidant capacity assays. Under optimal SE conditions, SE-assisted extraction increased the polysaccharide yield by 138% compared to extraction without SE-assistance. In addition, SEM demonstrated that SE-assisted extraction markedly altered the spatial structure of Pleurotus eryngii polysaccharides (PEP), and monosaccharide compositional analysis revealed that this pretreatment significantly increased the proportions of some monosaccharides, such as glucose, rhamnose and arabinose, in the isolated PEP. FTIR spectra indicated no change in the major chemical functional groups of PEP. PEP extracted by SE-assisted extraction had significantly increased free radical scavenging and antioxidant capacities. In conclusion, SE-assisted extraction appears to be a novel polysaccharide extraction technology, which markedly increases extraction yields and efficiency and can increase the biological activity of polysaccharide extracts.

Constructed the metabolic compound accumulation profiles of daylily at different main producing areas using multi-omics techniques

Daylily flower buds (DFB) are widely cultivated in China. The discernible disparities exist in the nutritional composition of daylilies across different primary production areas. However, limited studies about the chemical composition and biosynthetic mechanisms of the principal constituents of DFB. This study systematically investigated daylilies from seven distinct growing regions by integrated metabolomics and transcriptomic sequencing to elucidate the environmental impact on DFB quality and metabolite biosynthesis mechanisms. In DFB, flavonoids constituting the majority, followed by phenolic acids and lipids. The total flavonoid and polyphenol content exhibited the highest levels in northern China (Ningxia, Gansu), and the lowest levels in southern regions (Hunan, Fujian). Correspondingly, antioxidant enzyme activity and free radical scavenging capacity mirrored these regional disparities. Thus, northern-producing areas demonstrated a propitious environment for the accumulation of secondary metabolites, particularly flavonoids and phenolic acids. In contrast, southern production areas exhibited a less conducive environment for the accumulation of flavonoid glycosides in daylilies. Furthermore, distinctive variations in the key metabolites were observed in FJQZ, a region characterized by diverse flower colors. Key enzymes and transcription factors were identified and validated through RT-qPCR. These results contribute valuable insights into the daylily quality formation mechanisms, offering a foundation for high-quality breeding strategies.

Comparison of polysaccharides from ginkgo biloba leaves with extracellular polysaccharides from endophytic Lysinibacillus sphaericus Ya6

Ginkgo biloba leaf polysaccharide (GBLP) is a biomolecule with various activities such as anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory, but the natural production is low. Extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) was isolated and purified from endophytic Lysinibacillus sphaericus Ya6 of ginkgo biloba. Similarities in chemical structure and biological activity of two polysaccharides were investigated. Results showed that both polysaccharides are acidic polysaccharides containing pyran rings with characteristic absorption peaks for polysaccharides and carboxylates. The molecular weights varied slightly, with 13.20 kDa and 12.08 kDa for EPSYa6 and GBLP, respectively. GCMS– showed that fucose was present only in EPSYa6, and rhamnose and arabinose were higher in GBLP than in EPSYa6. These gaps above may result in higher antioxidant activity of GBLP than EPSYa6, as verified in free radical scavenging capacity. EPSYa6 and GBLP also have antibacterial effects, and EPSYa6 has a wide antibacterial spectrum. Overall, EPSYa6 has similar chemical structure and same biological activity to GBLP, which provides a theoretical basis for subsequent product development. This study can alleviate the shortage of polysaccharide resources caused by the long growth cycle of ginkgo and the complex natural polysaccharide extraction process, which is conducive to the sustainable development of the ecological environment.

Impacts of e-beam irradiation on microbial contamination and quality of Chinese medical formulas QingXuan tablets

Applying electron beam irradiation (EBI) technology to remove microbial contamination is a potential way to improve the efficiency of Chinese medical formula preservation. In this study, Qingxuan tablets (QXT) were irradiated at doses of 3, 5, 9, and 13 kGy of the electron beam, to investigate the impacts of EBI on the microbial load, physical properties, color, bioactive content, antioxidant activity, chromatograms, and spectral similarity of QXT. The results showed that EBI treatment at 13 kGy reduced the population of the total aerobic bacteria and the total molds and yeast of QXT to <200 CFU/g. Irradiation had no significant (P > 0.05) effect on the physical properties and color of QXT. However, the bioactive content of QXT was significantly lower at a dose of 13 kGy compared to unirradiated samples. The free radical scavenging capacity of QXT remained preserved after irradiation. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis) analyses showed that the difference in the chemical content between irradiated QXT and unirradiated samples gradually increased as the dose was increased from 0 kGy to 13 kGy. These results suggest that EBI can be used to sterilize and preserve Chinese medical formulas, but the irradiation dose should be controlled to prevent changes in quality.

The Browning Properties, Antioxidant Activity, and α-Glucosidase Inhibitory Improvement of Aged Oranges (Citrus sinensis).

Oranges contain many natural active chemicals, organic acids, and polysaccharides. Aging processing is commonly used to modify the color, quality, functional components, and stability of fruits. This study assesses the preparation of aging black oranges using various pre-treatments and solid fermentation. Oranges were aged for six weeks in fresh, non-blanching, blanching, and hot air-assisted aging cycle (AA) groups. The oranges' shrinkage ratio, color difference values, and soluble solids content changed significantly (p < 0.05). Principal component analysis indicated that aging fermentation treatment accelerated glycolysis and increased the ratio of reducing sugars. The enhanced browning can be associated with the oxidation of ascorbic acid (0.66-0.47 mg/g) and the formation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) (0.09 mg/g). Furthermore, the presence of free polyphenols led to an increase in the total polyphenol and total flavonoid content. It also had a synergistic effect with 5-HMF in increasing the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical-scavenging capacity and ferric ion-reducing antioxidant power (p < 0.05). AA had superior α-glucosidase inhibitory ability increasing from 67.31 to 80.48%. It also reduced the development time by 33%. Therefore, aging technology can enhance the bioactive compounds in oranges and provide a reference for future whole-fruit aging fermentation and health product creation.

Combination of pure oxygen pretreatment and near‐freezing temperature storage inhibits browning, maintains antioxidant and physicochemical quality of fresh‐cut nectarines

AbstractFresh‐cut fruits were convenient for consumers but vulnerable to quality deterioration, including browning, softening, and volatile aroma loss. In this study, the whole nectarines were pretreated with 100% O2 (pure oxygen, PO) for 2 h and stored at near‐freezing temperature (NFT, −1.5 ± 0.1°C) for 9 days after cutting. We investigated the changes of samples in browning degree, enzyme activity, cell membrane permeability, antioxidant activity, and aroma components. Specifically, PO pretreatment increased the peroxidase (POD) and phenylalanine ammonia‐lyase (PAL) activities, which endows the whole nectarines with resistance to environmental stresses before fresh‐cut. NFT storage effectively inhibited the activity of the polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and the increase of the total phenolic content (TPC). Higher antioxidant levels and anti‐browning effects were observed in fresh‐cut nectarines treated with PO + NFT, which demonstrated by higher levels of 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging capacity, ferricion reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and enzyme activity ratios (ratio 1 and ratio 2). During the storage of 9 days, the firmness and membrane permeability were preserved, malondialdehyde (MDA) content was suppressed, which delayed the softening of nectarine tissue. Furthermore, soluble solids content (SSC) and titratable acid (TA) were also well preserved by PO + NFT, which maintained the physiological and metabolic qualities. Electronic nose tests revealed that PO + NFT postponed the volatile aroma deterioration. In conclusion, PO + NFT effectively maintains the storage quality of fresh‐cut nectarines.

Nutrition and flavor analysis of Spirulina through co-fermentation with Lactobacillus acidophilus and Kluyveromyces marxianus and its effect on attenuating metabolic associated fatty liver disease

Spirulina is widely known as the “Super Nutritious Food of the Future” due to its exceptional nutritional properties. In this article, we investigated the effects of fermentation using a combination of Lactobacillus acidophilus KDB-03 and Kluyveromyces marxianus GDMCC 2.119 on Spirulina. Fermentation significantly increased the total flavonoid and phenol levels in Spirulina, and enhanced the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging capacity and ferric-reducing antioxidant power. Untargeted ultra-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry-based metabolomics and gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry analysis revealed alterations in the metabolites and flavor components of fermented Spirulina (FS). Furthermore, a mice experiment demonstrated that FS could effectively alleviate metabolism-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) by regulating liver metabolism, intestinal flora, and facilitating communication between the liver and gut. These findings suggest that fermentation could be a innovative approach to enhance the diversity of Spirulina products, and potentially be used as a strategy for the prevention and treatment of MAFLD.

Eco-Friendly Extraction: A green approach to maximizing bioactive extraction from pumpkin (Curcubita moschata L.)

The research focused on optimizing the accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) of carotenoids and polyphenols from pumpkin powder. The study optimized accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) of carotenoids and polyphenols from pumpkin powder. Using a mix of standard score (SS) and artificial neural network (ANN) methods, the extraction process was fine-tuned. The ANN model assessed extraction parameters' significance, achieving high predictability for total carotenoid content (TCC), total phenolic content (TPC), and free radical scavenging capacity (DPPH and ABTS methods). The analysis highlighted the most effective extraction at 50 % concentration, 120 °C temperature, 5 min duration, and 2 cycles, yielding high carotenoid and phenolic content (TCC 571.49 µg/g, TPC 7.85 mg GAE/g). HPLC-DAD profiles of the optimized ASE extract confirmed major carotenoids and phenolic compounds. Strong correlations were found between bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity, emphasizing potential health benefits.

Phytosynthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles for enhanced antioxidant, antibacterial, and photocatalytic properties: A greener approach to environmental sustainability

Multifunctional nanoparticles (NPs) production from phytochemicals is a sustainable process and an eco-friendly method, and this technique has a variety of uses. To accomplish this, we developed zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) using the medicinal plant Tinospora cordifolia (TC). Instruments such as UV–Vis, XRD, FTIR, FE-SEM with EDX, and high-resolution TEM were applied to characterize the biosynthesized TC-ZnONPs. According to the UV–vis spectra, the synthesized TC-ZnONPs absorb at a wavelength centered at 374 nm, which corresponds to a 3.2 eV band gap. HRTEM was used to observe the morphology of the particle surface and the actual size of the nanostructures. TC-ZnONPs mostly exhibit the shapes of rectangles and triangles with a median size of 21 nm. The XRD data of the synthesized ZnONPs exhibited a number of peaks in the 2θ range, implying their crystalline nature. TC-ZnONPs proved remarkable free radical scavenging capacity on DPPH (2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl), ABTS (2,2-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid), and NO (Nitric Oxide). TC-ZnONPs exhibited dynamic anti-bacterial activity through the formation of inhibition zones against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (18 ± 1.5 mm), Escherichia coli (18 ± 1.0 mm), Bacillus cereus (19 ± 0.5 mm), and Staphylococcus aureus (13 ± 1.1 mm). Additionally, when exposed to sunlight, TC-ZnONPs show excellent photocatalytic ability towards the degradation of methylene blue (MB) dye. These findings suggest that TC-ZnONPs are potential antioxidant, antibacterial, and photocatalytic agents.

Antioxidant capacity of an ethanolic extract of Elaeagnus x submacrophylla Servett. leaves

In this study, we investigated the ethanolic extraction of the leaves of a very common but little studied plant species, Elaeagnus x submacrophylla Servett. and the opportunity of generating an antioxidant ingredient. The phytochemical profile of an ethanolic extract is also described here using gas chromatography and ultra-performance liquid chromatography, both combined with mass spectrometry (GC-MS and UPLC-MS), highlighting the presence of flavonoids, saponins, triterpenoids and a set of volatile compounds. Through in vitro assays (DPPH, ABTS, ORAC), the free radical scavenging capacity of the ingredient was then investigated (from 0.25 to 1.75 mmol TE/g) and compared with well-known standard antioxidants (BHT, gallic acid, quercetin, Trolox and vitamin C). In addition, in cellulo antioxidant capacity was performed using mice fibroblasts, revealing an activity equivalent to 50 mg/L of quercetin when tested the ethanolic extract in the concentration range of 50–300 mg/L, suggesting a synergistic combination effect of the identified phytochemicals. These results support the use of Elaeagnus x submacrophylla as a source of antioxidant ingredients.