Highest Radical Scavenging Activity Research Articles

Antioxidant and Anticancer Potential of Extracellular Polysaccharide from Porphyridium aerugineum (Rhodophyta)

Porphyridium aerugineum is a unicellular freshwater red microalga that synthesizes and secretes into the culture medium an extracellular polysaccharide (EPS). In this study, algal growth and polysaccharide production, as well as the antioxidant capacity and antitumor effect of Porphyridium aerugineum EPS (PaEPS), were investigated. Cultivation of the microalgae was carried out in a photobioreactor under controlled conditions. Algal growth and the amount of EPS were monitored daily. The accumulated polysaccharide was extracted and lyophilized. At the end of cultivation, the concentration of microalgal biomass and PaEPS reached 3.3 and 1.2 g L−1, respectively. To examine the antioxidant capacity of PaEPS, FRAP and ABTS assays were performed. The cytotoxic activity of PaEPS was evaluated on the tumor cell lines MCF-7 (breast cancer) and HeLa (cervical adenocarcinoma) and on BJ (a non-tumor human skin fibroblast cell line), using MTT assay. The results obtained indicated that P. aerugineum polysaccharide exhibited a high ABTS radical-scavenging activity reaching up to 55%. The cytotoxic effect was best expressed in MCF-7 cells treated for 72 h with 1000 µg/mL PaEPS, where tumor cell proliferation was inhibited by more than 70%. Importantly, the PaEPS treatments did not significantly affect the viability of BJ cells. These findings promote the biotechnological production of P. aerugineum extracellular polysaccharide and reveal its potential as an anticancer and antioxidant agent for future applications.

Impact of Thermal, Ultrasonication, and Thermosonication Processes on the Quality Profile of Watermelon-Beetroot Juice Blend: A Comparative Study

Fruit juices are popular beverages that provide various health benefits due to their rich nutritional profile, but they are prone to microbial spoilage and quality deterioration. Thermal pasteurization is the conventional method to preserve fruit juices, but it causes undesirable changes in the physicochemical and nutritional value of the juices. Therefore, there is a need to develop alternative methods to ensure the microbial safety and quality of fruit juices. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of thermal (95-100°C for 4 min), ultrasonication (US) (25 kHz for 5 and 10 min), and thermosonication (TS) (25 kHz at 40 and 50°C) processes on the quality profile of watermelon-beetroot juice blend, a novel juice formulation with enhanced nutritional and functional properties with 50 : 50 formulation. The samples were analysed for physicochemical (colour, pH, total soluble solids, and titratable acidity), bioactive (phenolic, flavonoid, antioxidant, and ascorbic acid contents), and microbiological (total plate count and yeast/molds) properties. The results showed that all the processed samples retained high total phenolic (756.33-842.33 μg GAE/g), total flavonoid (435.33-512.67 μg CE/g), and ascorbic acid (45.23-50.34 mg/100 mL) contents along with a high antioxidant potential (total antioxidant capacity (274.14-305.33 μg AAE/g) and DPPH radical scavenging activity (33.05-42.18%)) while preserving the normal physicochemical characteristics and decreasing the microbial counts of all the processed blend juices. In conclusion, the US treatment (10 min) produced the juice blends with the best quality. The findings of this research suggest that thermal, US, and TS processes are promising technologies for the preservation of fruit juices and that watermelon-beetroot juice blend is a novel juice formulation with high nutritional and functional value. The results of this research might be useful to the processed fruit juice industry and the consumers who are looking for healthy and safe fruit juices.

Antioxidant and antibacterial evaluation of leaf extracts of Prunus cerasoides Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don; An In Vitro and In Silico study

BackgroundMany infectious bacteria have changed throughout time and there are alarmingly large number of antibiotic resistant species that can withstand the inhibitory impact of these treatments., Plants are new sources of antibacterial agents hence there is a need to determine and evaluate the antioxidant activity, antibacterial properties of medicinal plants ObjectiveThe present study focuses on qualitative, quantitative phytochemical analysis, antioxidant, and antimicrobial evaluation of leaves’ extracts of Prunus cerasoides Buch. -Ham. ex D. Don. Materials and methodsThe Antioxidant activity of leaves extracts of Prunus cerasoides Buch. -Ham. ex D.Don was determined by DPPH method. Antibacterial activity was determined by serial dilution method. Further docking interactions were investigated using Maestro 12.7 (Schrodinger 2021) and ADME by using QikProp tool of Schrodingers 2021. ResultsThe leaves’ extracts of Prunus cerasoides Buch. -Ham. ex D.Don showed potent antioxidant and antibacterial activities. Methanol extract was found to be the most active against all the four strains of bacteria and showed MIC value (3.125 μg/mL) against both E. coli and S. aureus. Ethyl acetate and methanol extracts had the highest radical scavenging activity. Further molecular docking and ADME studies for phytoconstituents of Prunus cerasoides Buch. -Ham. ex D. Don. using different bacterial protein targets of reported phytoconstituents of Prunus cerasoides Buch. -Ham. ex D. Don. and found that emodin, amygdalin and aromadendrin were the phytoconstituents having good docking score and drug likeliness properties. ConclusionsThe leaves extracts of Prunus cerasoides Buch. -Ham. ex D.Don showed potent free radical scavenging property as well as antibacterial activity.

Molecular Structure, Antioxidant Potential, and Pharmacokinetic Properties of Plant Flavonoid Blumeatin and Investigating Its Inhibition Mechanism on Xanthine Oxidase for Hyperuricemia by Molecular Modeling.

Hyperuricemia, which usually results in metabolic syndrome symptoms, is increasing rapidly all over the world and becoming a global public health issue. Xanthine oxidase (XO) is regarded as a key drug target for the treatment of this disease. Therefore, finding natural, nontoxic, and highly active XO inhibitors is quite important. To get insights into inhibitory potential toward XO and determine antioxidant action mechanism depending on the molecular structure, plant flavonoid blumeatin was investigated for the first time by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, density functional theory (DFT), ADME/Tox (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity) analysis, and molecular docking study. Theoretical findings indicated that blumeatin has high radical scavenging activity due to its noncoplanarity and over twisted torsion angle (-94.64°) with respect to its flavanone skeleton could explain that there might be a correlation between antioxidant activity and planarity of blumeatin. Based on the ADME/Tox analysis, it is determined that blumeatin has a high absorption profile in the human intestine (81.93%), and this plant flavonoid is not carcinogenic or mutagenic. A molecular docking study showed that Thr1010, Val1011, Phe914, and Ala1078 are the main amino acid residues participating in XO's interaction with blumeatin via hydrogen bonds.

Microwave-assisted synthesis, spectral characterization, and biological activities of complexes of a Schiff base derived from S-benzyl dithiocarbazate

Co(II), Ni(II), Zn(II), and Cd(II) complexes were synthesized from a Schiff base ligand, benzyl-2-(1-(thiophen-2-yl)propylidene)hydrazine-1-carbodithioate (BTPHC), by conventional as well as microwave irradiation methods. The ligand and its metal complexes were characterized by spectroscopic techniques (FT-IR, UV-vis, mass spectrometry, and 1H NMR) and powder X-ray diffraction. Based on magnetic measurements and spectral data, octahedral environments for Co(II) and Ni(II) complexes and tetrahedral environments for Zn(II) and Cd(II) complexes are proposed. The metal(II) complexes were active toward bacterial and fungal strains. Antidiabetic studies showed that the Cd(II) complex possesses greater potential as an antidiabetic agent than the other metal complexes and the ligand. Antioxidant studies indicate that the Zn(II) and Cd(II) complexes possess high radical scavenging activities. The synthesized ligand and metal(II) complexes were screened for their anticancer properties against two human cancer cell lines MCF-7 and HeLa using an MTT cell viability assay. The Ni(II) complex excelled in halting the proliferation of HeLa and MCF-7 cancer cell lines with IC50 values of 46.63 µM and 80.90 µM, respectively, whereas it displayed insignificant cytotoxicity against the human normal embryonic kidney cell line (HEK293) with IC50 = 300.41 µM.

Comparative Phytochemical Profiling and Biological Activities in the Flowers and Stalks of Tulbaghia violacea

Tulbaghia violacea is indigenous to Southern Africa and has been used extensively in traditional medicine in this region. Extensive research has been documented on the bioactive compounds found in the leaves and roots but not in the flowers and stalks. Thus, this study assessed the phytochemical profile and biological activities in the flowers and stalks of T. violacea. Methanolic and aqueous extracts of the air and freeze-dried T. violacea were screened for phytochemicals, and then antioxidant and antibacterial assays were performed. Phytochemicals such as phenols, tannins, flavonoids, coumarins, and terpenoids are present in either of the tested plant parts. The flowers contain most of the phytochemicals being tested and a higher total phenolic, tannin, and proanthocyanidin content than the stalks. The flowers exhibit the strongest scavenging activity against 2,2-diphenylpicryhydrazyl radicals and metal oxidants. The hydrogen peroxide scavenging activities show that the aqueous flower extracts have a higher radical scavenging activity than stalks. In contrast, the methanolic stalk extracts have a higher antioxidant activity than the flowers. Antibacterial activity is only exhibited in the flowers, showing resistant and intermediate inhibition zones of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus growth, respectively. This study validates the use of T. violacea in traditional medicine, and these results are significant for conserving the species as specific plant parts can be harvested to treat specific ailments. This study suggests the potential application of T. violacea, particularly the flowers and stalks, in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic sectors.

Influential versatile potential of Entada rheedii and Myristica beddomei – an ethnobotanical approach

Aim of the study is to determine the anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic (α-amylase activity) and radical scavenging potentials of both leaf and stem ethanolic extracts of Entada rheedii and Myristica beddomei. DPPH, ABTS, H2O2, superoxide, hydroxyl and nitric oxide activity relate to inhibition ratio with different concentrations of extracts (μg/mL). Antidiabetic (α-amylase activity) and anti-inflammatory activities were also analyzed which showed high radical scavenging activity in a dose depending manner. Comparatively, leaves and stems of Entada rheedii showed higher radical scavenging activities compared to Myristica beddomei. Furthermore, both leaves and stem of Entada rheedii showed appreciable α-amylase inhibitory effects when compared with acarbose (standard drug) and also possess a strong anti-inflammatory effect (Diclofenac sodium, standard drug), compared to Myristica beddomei extracts. Overall, our results established the key evidence for Entada rheedii and Myristica beddomei extracts to be considered as a natural therapeutic aliment as the substitution for oxidative stress.

Compositions Nutrient and Antinutrients of Biscuits Prepared from Fermented and Unfermented Ternary Mixture Flours

Background: The exorbitant cost of wheat-based foods in non-wheat growing countries has necessitated looking for more enriched and sustainable alternative flour from botanicals that can be mixed and used to produce baked products including biscuits. The study aimed to make biscuits using three different fermented and unfermented mixtures of flour (sweet potato, pigeon pea, and yellow maize).
 Methods: Starch-rich tubers of yellow-fleshed cultivar of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas), yellow maize (Zea mays) grains, and pigeon peas (Cajanus cajan) seeds were purchased from food merchants in the Uchi market, located in Auchi area of Edo State, southern Nigeria in June 2022. These botanical samples were taxonomically validated. The samples were divided into two parts fermented and unfermented, prepared and produced into flour forms. The blended raw materials into flour were mixed in order of sweet potato: pigeon pea: maize (composite mix two 60.00:25.47:14.53, composite mix five 67.70:20.00:12.31 and composite mix eight 61.72:25.24:13.04) were selected to produce biscuits while 100% wheat was used as control. Biscuits were produced from the flour using a standard recipe. The obtained results were presented in mean±SD format of interpretations. Analytical significance dissimilarity between the means samples were considered based on one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) using IBM Statistical software
 Results: It revealed that fermentation increased techno-functional properties containing crude fiber (3.464±0.01-3.485±0.01) and ashes (3.688±0.11-3.711±0.11), while reducing fat (17.339±0.03) and moisture contents (3.639±0.05), the control had the highest protein (12.805±0.25) and lowest carbohydrate (55.622±0.12). The fermented biscuits had more flavonoids (23.162±0.36-23.852±0.60), saponins (14.793±0.07-23.495±0.03). Additionally, fermentation enhanced the potassium bioavailability of the products (19.803±0.00-25.264±0.05). There was high free radical scavenging activity and color for all the fermented samples than unfermented and controlled biscuits.
 Conclusion: According to the research, ternary flour mixes from the botanicals could lead to products with improved nutritional composition, functional properties, and antioxidant attributes to further improve biscuit quality.

In-vitro bactericidal and anti-oxidant efficacy of biosynthesized CuO/Cu2O-NiO nanocomposites against the pathogenic bacteria and DPPH free radical

The biosynthesis of CuO/Cu2O-NiO nanocomposites with ratios of 90:10, 80:20, and 70:30 was conducted using Ipomoea carnea leaf extract. This study investigates, for the first time, the antioxidant and antibacterial activities of these nanocomposites against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydroxyl, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus pathogens. The antibacterial effect of 90:10 nanocomposites (NCs A1) was found to be enhanced compared to 80:20 (NCs B1) and 70:30 (NCs C1) due to particle aggregation, significant reactive oxygen species production, uniform quantum size, and ideal crystalline size. However, 70:30 nanocomposites (NCs C1) exhibited high radical scavenging activity (96.40%), surpassing ascorbic acid (98.63%). The current study revealed that Ipomoea carnea plant extract-based 90:10, 80:20, and 70:30 CuO/Cu2O-NiO NCs work as a new substitute for the currently utilized antibacterial agents, which are answerable for the multi-drug resistance in common bacteria for living beings and also used for biological importance as antibacterial agents in food packaging industries.

Effects of Medium Additives on the Mycelial Growth and Polysaccharide Biosynthesis in Submerged Culture of Bjerkandera fumosa.

Medium additives have been shown to affect the synthesis of active products in fungi. This study investigated the effects of corn stalk, poplar sawdust, Tween-80, and oleic acid on mycelial biomass and physicochemical properties, as well as the bioactivity of polysaccharides, including exopolysaccharides (EPS) and intracellular polysaccharides (IPS), in the submerged culture of Bjerkandera fumosa. Results showed that the addition of corn stalk or poplar sawdust increased the production of EPS but decreased the production of IPS; Tween-80 had less effect on the production of EPS and IPS; and oleic acid stimulated polysaccharide production significantly. Polysaccharide property analysis showed that the addition of corn stalk or poplar sawdust promoted the production of high-molecular-weight components in polysaccharides and changed the monosaccharide composition of polysaccharides, as well as increased the mannose, glucuronic acid, and xylose contents of IPS. Tween-80 and oleic acid also changed the molecular weight distribution of polysaccharides but only slightly affected the composition of monosaccharides. The bioactivity assay indicated that the polysaccharides obtained by adding corn stalk possessed high hydroxyl radical scavenging and antitumor activities. The effect of poplar sawdust was slightly weaker than that of corn stalk. EPS and IPS obtained from a culture with Tween-80 and oleic acid possessed low antioxidant activity. Moreover, their antitumor activity was improved and lost, respectively. The results obtained in this work are useful for improving the understanding of the optimization and regulation of bioactive polysaccharide production in the submerged culture of B. fumosa.

Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of lignin-derived products from all steam-exploded palm oil mill lignocellulosic biomass waste

BackgroundSteam explosion pretreatment has been proven to be an effective treatment for breaking down the recalcitrant character of lignin–carbohydrate complexes (LCC) in lignocellulosic biomass. This study investigated the production of lignin-derived products from steam-exploded palm oil mill lignocellulosic biomass waste (POMLBW), that is, empty fruit bunches (EFB), kernel shells (KS), and kernel fibers (KF), also known as mesocarp fibers. Steam explosions cause lignin depolymerization, which forms various polyphenols. The low average molecular weight of the steam-exploded lignin-derived products and their antioxidant activities could potentially enhance their antimicrobial activities.MethodsPOMLBW was steam-exploded with various degrees of severity factors (R0: 4.03, 4.91, 5.12, 5.35, and 5.65). Steam-exploded POMLBW produces lignin-derived products such as low-molecular-weight lignin (LML) and water-soluble lignin (WSL). Antioxidant activity was evaluated using 0.5 mM 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay. Polyphenol content was evaluated using the Folin–Ciocalteu method. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated using an agar diffusion assay with Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, and the thermal characteristics were evaluated using differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis.ResultsWSL and LML resulted in high radical scavenging activity (RSA) of approximately 95% and 80%, with 0.25 g/L and 0.5 g/L of EC50, where the polyphenol amount was 242–448 mg/g (catechin eq.) and 20–117 mg/g (catechin eq.) under all LML and WSL conditions, respectively. The steam-exploded POMLBW had an average molecular weight of 1589–2832 Da, and this condition, including high RSA and polyphenol amounts, was responsible for the high antimicrobial activities of LML against both Gram-positive (Salmonella enterica, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli) and Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria. Additionally, the thermal properties investigations revealed that the glass transition temperature was 80–90 °C (Tg), the melting temperature (Tm) was 338–362 °C, and the start temperature was 101–128 °C at the beginning of mass loss.ConclusionsThese results show that the lignin-derived product from steam-exploded POMLBW has the potential for antioxidant (LML and WSL) and antimicrobial (LML) applications with good thermal resistance.Graphical

Increased Free Radical Scavenging Activity and Consumer Preference in Garden Cress (Lepidium sativum L.) Subjected to Water Stress

Although the Garden Cress is known to grow in a wide range of climatic conditions, there are limited studies on how water stress can affect their morphological, biochemical and sensory characteristics. In this research, these characteristics in the Garden Cress leaves were measured in response to water stress. In this study two different irrigation restrictions (50% and 25% irrigation) were applied against the control plants (100% irrigation) in four replications. As a result, the amount of proline was determined as 5.98 mg-1100g in control plants, and as 36.72 mg-1100g in 25% irrigated plants. While total phenolic compounds and total flavonoids varied from 61.26 to 68.04 mg of GA-1100gFW and 8.35 to 11.70 mg QE-1100gFW, respectively, the differences were statistically insignificant. The increase of DPPH free radical scavenging activity in line with increased water stress, however, was found to be statistically significant. In conclusion, the 50% water stress applied Garden Cress leaves were found to be most preferred by the consumers in terms of flavor and had higher radical scavenging activity than control plants. Irrigation management practices, therefore, could consider limited water use with Garden Cress production under possible negative effects of climate change on water resources.

Exploring the Phytochemical Composition and Biological Potential of Balkan Endemic Species Stachys scardica Griseb.

Stachys scardica Griseb. is a Balkan endemic species listed in The Red Data Book of Bulgaria with the conservation status "endangered". Successful micropropagation was achieved on MS medium supplemented with 1.5 mg/L benzyladenine (BA), followed by a subsequent ex vitro adaptation in an experimental field resulting in 92% regenerated plants. Using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), phenylethanoid glycosides (verbascoside, leucosceptoside A), phenolic acids (chlorogenic acid), iridoids (allobetonicoside and 8-OAc-harpagide), and alkaloids (trigonelline) were identified, characteristic of plants belonging to the genus Stachys. High antioxidant and radical scavenging activities were observed in both in situ and ex vitro acclimated S. scardica plants, correlating with the reported high concentrations of total phenols and flavonoids in these variants. Ex vitro adapted plants also exhibited a well-defined anti-inflammatory potential, demonstrating high inhibitory activity against the complement system. Employing a disk diffusion method, a 100% inhibition effect was achieved compared to positive antibiotic controls against Staphylococcus epidermidis and Propionibacterium acnes, with moderate activity against Bacillus cereus. The induced in vitro and ex vitro model systems can enable the conservation of S. scardica in nature and offer future opportunities for the targeted biosynthesis of valuable secondary metabolites, with potential applications in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.

Isolation and structure elucidation of the compounds from Teucrium hyrcanicum L. and the investigation of cytotoxicity, antioxidant activity, and protective effect on hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress

BackgroundTeucrium hyrcanicum L. (family Lamiaceae) is widely distributed in the North and Northwest of Iran. It has been used in the form of tea, tonic, and tincture for the treatment of various diseases such as cough, rheumatism, and fever.MethodsIn this study, the total phenolic and flavonoid contents, antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of methanol extract and different fractions of T. hyrcanicum were measured. Furthermore, the potential ability of T. hyrcanicum to protect against H2O2-induced oxidative stress was tested on the NIH3T3 cell line. Then, the isolation and structure elucidation of the compounds were performed on the most potent fractions. Finally, the quantification of isolated compounds in methanol extract (ME) was done by the HPLC method. Isolated phytochemicals were assessed for the cytotoxic and antioxidant activities.ResultsThe results indicated that the methanol fraction (MF) had the highest amount of phenolic and flavonoid contents (69.36 mg GAE/g extract and 68.95 mg QE/g extract). The highest radical scavenging activities were observed from MF and ME (IC50 44.32 and 61.12 μg.ml−1, respectively). The best cytotoxicity was obtained by ethyl acetate fraction (EF) against A431 and MCF7 cell lines (IC50 values of 235.4and 326.6 μg.ml−1, respectively). The pretreatment with MF exerts the highest reduction in malondialdehyde (MDA) formation (IC50 2.51 μM, p < 0.001) compared to the H2O2 group (5.77 μM). Also, MF significantly inhibited H2O2-induced Glutathione (GSH) oxidation (p < 0.001). Furthermore, two phenolic compounds, acteoside and quercetin, were isolated and identified in MF and EF, respectively. The IC50 values of acteoside and quercetin in the DPPH assay were 7.19 and 5.56 µg.ml−1, respectively. Both quercetin and acteoside significantly reduced the MDA formation and inhibited GSH oxidation, which was comparable with BHA (as a standard antioxidant) (p < 0.05). Acteoside demonstrated significant cytotoxicity against all tested cell lines (IC50 = 32 to 145 μg.ml−1). The HPLC quantification of isolated compounds revealed that the quantity of acteoside and quercetin in ME were 93.31 and 16.87 μg.mg−1, respectively.ConclusionThe isolated compounds (quercetin and acteoside) had significant antioxidant activities and revealed a protective effect on H2O2-induced oxidative stress which was comparable with BHA.

Comparative solubilization of Gliclazide in solutions of two anionic micelles with asymmetrical hydrophobic chain length: An experimental and theoretical analysis

Gliclazide (GCL) is used widely for reducing hyperglycemia in diabetic patients. It has poor solubility which leads to low oral bioavailability because of significant first-pass metabolism. In this work, we have employed two anionic micellar solutions of different hydrophobic chain lengths to solubilize GCL. They are sodiumtetradecyl sulfate (STS) and sodiumdodecyl sulfate (SDS). Our results reveal that longer hydrophobic chain was better suited for solubilizing GCL. The drug-surfactant interactions were assessed through FT-IR, conductivity, UV-Spectrophotometry, dynamic light scattering and antioxidant study. The results were compared with computational studies. There was negative free energy of micellization and positive entropy of micellization GCL + STS and GCL + SDS systems predicting spontaneity of the processes as calculated from the conductivity experiments. From the UV spectral studies, using Benesi-Hildebrand (B-H) equation, the binding constants demonstrated higher value for GCL + STS (0.286 M−1) compared to GCL + SDS (0.0231 M−1). The antioxidant properties of the above two combinations show that STS (93.14 %) has higher radical scavenging activity (RSA %) compared to SDS (77.45 %). Protein binding studies too indicated higher binding constant for STS than SDS with the drug. The docking model also supported the above findings. The longer hydrophobic chain length facilitated the solubilization of GCL with improved properties. This study offers a novel drug formulation for widely used drug GCL.

Antioxidant, Anticancer, and Neuroprotective Activities and Phytochemical Analysis of Germinated Shoots

This study evaluated the antioxidant, anticancer, and neuroprotective activities of germinated shoots (cotyledon and true leaves) of wild plants and measured their total phenol, flavonoid, quercetin, and vitamin C contents. The ethanol extract of Geum aleppicum (GA) showed high DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities. GA treatment also significantly increased cell viability against hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress in SH-SY5Y neuronal cells, indicating that GA had antioxidant and neuroprotective properties. In AGS gastric cancer cells, the cotyledon of Pinus densiflora (PD1) and the true leaves of Chamaecyparis obtusa (CHA2) significantly inhibited cell proliferation, showing that PD1 and CHA2 elicited anticancer effect. The total phenol content was the highest in the shoots of GA, and the total flavonoid content was the highest in the shoots of true leaves of P. densiflora. The quercetin and vitamin C contents were the highest in the CHA2 and the cotyledon of GA, respectively. In conclusion, this study suggested the antioxidant, anticancer, and neuroprotective activities of the germinated shoots of wild plants and their high total phenol, flavonoid, quercetin, and vitamin C contents. These findings were noteworthy in the case of the germinated shoot of GA and provided a basis for studying functional forestry income resources. Practical Applications. Our results demonstrated that GA exerts strong DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities. It also plays a neuroprotective role in oxidative stress-induced cell damage. These effects can be linked to their polyphenol and flavonoid contents in the extract. Moreover, PD1 treatment has inhibitory effect on gastric tumor cells growth and exhibited an effective ∙OH radical scavenging property. These findings indicated that germinated shoot extracts have potential for development of functional food with therapeutic applications.

Comprehensive Analysis of Phenolic Compounds, Carotenoids, and Antioxidant Activities in Lactuca sativa var. longifolia Cultivated in a Smart Farm System

Smart farming is a promising strategy for future agriculture, and the global market for smart agriculture is growing rapidly. The aim of this study was to compare the quality of agricultural products based on their cultivation method. The components and antioxidant activities of Lactuca sativa (LS) var. longifolia cultivated using conventional agriculture methods (CAMs) and smart farm agriculture methods (SAMs) were compared. ABTS+ and DPPH radical scavenging activity assays were performed to compare the antioxidant activities of LS grown using CAMs and SAMs. High-performance liquid chromatography with a reverse-phase column was employed to analyze the phenolic and carotenoid compounds. In both the SAM and the CAM, β-carotene was found to be the most abundant compound. LS grown using the CAM had high total polyphenol content and ABTS+ radical scavenging activity, while LS grown using the SAM had high individual phenolic content and DPPH radical scavenging activity. This study developed a new method of SAM and confirmed that SAM produces a higher quantity of phenolic compounds and total flavonoid contents than CAM in LS. This study also highlights the SAM’s functioning, gives crop quality inspection guidelines, and standardizes LS. The new SAM is effective for application in undeveloped urban spaces, is more convenient than the CAM, and represents a way to develop and manage LS quality.

Antimelanogenic potential of brewer's spent grain extract through modulation of the MAPK/MITF axis

Beer brewing produces >39 million tons of brewer's spent grain (BSG) per year worldwide. Although BSG is rich in protein, fiber, and phytochemicals, it is mainly used as livestock feed, and some is discarded. In this study, we attempted to assess the antimelanogenesis effects of BSG and identify the functional components. To this end, we investigated the antioxidant and antimelanin synthesis effects of a BSG extract (BSGE). The results showed that BSGE has high DPPH radical-scavenging activity and inhibited α-MSH-induced melanin synthesis in B16F10 cells cultured in both 2D and 3D environments. BSGE also reduced the expression levels of MITF, TRP-1, TRP-2, and tyrosinase in B16F10 cells by regulating the MAPK pathway. We confirmed the skin-whitening effect of BSGE in 3D reconstituted human skin and zebrafish embryo models. HPLC analysis showed that BSGE contains ferulic acid and p-coumaric acid, which are known to have whitening effects. Thus, BSGE can be used in multifunctional cosmetics as a sustainable ingredient with antioxidant and skin-whitening properties.

Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of Lespedeza cuneata in Coal fly ash-induced murine alveolar macrophage cells

Lespedeza cuneata (LC) is a perennial plant used in herbal medicine to treat numerous diseases, including prostatic hyperplasia, diabetes, early atherosclerosis, and hematuria. Reference collections of bioactive compounds of LC are crucial for the determination of their pharmacological properties. However, little is known regarding its anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects in alveolar macrophage (MH-S) cells. This study examined whether LC can inhibit reactive oxygen species and Coal fly ash (CFA) induced inflammation in MH-S cells. The anti-oxidative effects of LC were evaluated using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assays, anti-inflammatory effects were examined using nitric oxide (NO) assay, and cytotoxicity was analyzed using methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assay. The expression of inflammatory cytokine genes was assessed through a reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. Our results revealed that LC exhibited high radical scavenging activity and a dose-dependent (7.8–1,000 μg/mL) inhibition of oxidation as compared to ascorbic acid and Trolox. It also inhibited CFA-induced NO production in MH-S cells. Moreover, it suppressed the CFA exposure-mediated expression of pro-inflammatory mediators and cytokines, including inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α. These results suggest that LC is a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent that can be useful as a nutraceutical product.

Chemical profile, in vitro bioactivities, and antinociceptive effect of Red Pitaya extracts on zebrafish

Aqueous and ethanolic extracts of red pitaya (Hylocereus polyrhizus) peel, pulp, and seeds were evaluated for their chemical composition by UPLC-Q-TOF-MSE, antioxidant capacity (DPPH and ABTS assays), cytotoxicity and in vitro antiproliferative effect (MTT assay), antinociceptive activity and in vivo toxicity (Zebrafish model). A total of 25 compounds were identified in the extracts, mostly betacyanins, phenolic acids, flavonoids, and organic acids. The seeds extracts displayed both the highest radical scavenging activity and total phenol content. The pulp aqueous extract and ethanolic extracts exhibited some cytotoxicity against Vero cells, depending on the concentration and exposure time. These extracts were also able to inhibit S-180 cells proliferation, however only the peel ethanolic extract showed moderate to high selective indexes (SI: 4.06, 18.63), suggesting that its antiproliferative effect is not associated with the cytotoxic effect towards non-cancer cells, such as Vero cells. Regarding the antinociceptive activity, after adjusting the dose to exclude the sedation effect, the seeds ethanolic extract displayed antinociceptive activity at the inflammatory phase, similar to morphine. The extracts (1.0, 2.5 or 5.0 mg/mL) showed to be safe for zebrafish. In summary, these findings highlight the red pitaya as a promising natural source of bioactive, both in its edible and inedible parts, which can be better probed, for instance as anticancer and antinociceptive agents. In addition, the regular consumption of red pitaya can contribute to the health promotion, and the prevention of chronic diseases.