High Content Of Phytochemicals Research Articles

The phytochemical, proximate, pharmacological, GC-MS analysis of Cyperus esculentus (Tiger nut): A fully validated approach in health, food and nutrition

Cyperus esculentus (Tiger nut) has been grossly underutilized and unexploited despite its nutritional and medicinal potentials. This research aimed to evaluate the phytochemical, proximate, GC-MS and pharmacological properties such as antioxidant, anticancer, anti-elastase, anti-melanogenic and anti-tyrosinase activity in ethanol and n-hexane extracts of tiger nut. The pharmacological activities were measured using spectrophotometry, agar well diffusion, MCF-7 and HeLa cell methods. The tiger nut extracts (ethanol and n-hexane) in the phytochemical and proximate analysis showed the existence of bioactive compounds such as alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids, crude fibres, tannins, proteins, carbohydrates, oxalates, phytates and fats content. The ethanol extract showed superior pharmacological (anticancer, antibacterial, anti-melanogenic and antioxidant) activities, especially against the MCF-7 cell line. The results for scavenging activity of ethanol extract (IC50 = 535.57 μg/mL) showed significant differences (p < 0.05) when compared with n-hexane extract (IC50 = 645.5 μg/mL). The GC- MS assessment of both extracts showed the existence of bioactive compounds. Different concentrations (100, 200 and 350 mg/mL) of tiger nut extracts against Shigella sp., Salmonella sp., Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli demonstrated the highest level of inhibitions at 350 mg/mL. The findings of the current research showed that tiger nut has a high content of nutrients and bioactive phytochemicals.

Effect of nixtamalization extrusion conditions in purple creole corn (Zea mays L.) from the state of Guerrero on nutraceutical and functional properties of the optimized corn flour

In Mexico, pigmented creole corn varieties are used for its consumption in a great diversity of foods. Purple corn has a high content of phytochemicals (health promoters). The extrusion process improved the accessibility of these phytochemicals. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of extrusion factors on the nutraceutical and functional properties of nixtamalized purple corn flour, and determine the optimal process conditions that allows obtaining a flour with the best characteristics to be used in the preparation of a beverage. The processing factors were temperature (T = 50-170 °C) and screw speed (SS = 50-240 rpm). The properties evaluated were total phenolic compounds (TPC), total anthocyanins (TA) antioxidant activity (AOX), and water solubility index (WSI). The optimization was carried out using the response surface methodology. The optimization yielded the following values: AOX: 676.34 µmol ET/100 g, TPC: 299.61 mg EGA/100 g, TA: 29.9 mg EC3G/100 g and WSI: 6.31%, under process conditions T = 50 °C and SS = 50 rpm. It was demonstrated that it is possible to generate a flour with the use of pigmented corn native to the state of Guerrero, with suitable properties for developed new corn based products.

Phytochemistry, nutritional composition and pharmacological potential of Moringa oleifera: A comprehensive review

Moringa oleifera is a medicinally important plant of the family Moringaceae, which is highly valued because of its enormous nutritional and therapeutic potential. Each part of M. oleifera is said to contain medicinal properties, which contributes to its diversity and value as a medicinal herb. Literature has revealed that the plant possesses anticancer, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antifertility, hepatoprotective, cardiovascular, and other important pharmacological attributes. Most of these biological activities of the plant are due to its high content of phytochemicals, including flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, terpenes, glucosides, glucosinolates, anthocyanins, and steroids. Aside from the plant’s exceptional phytochemicals and therapeutic potentials, it is also rich in essential nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, proteins, beta-carotene, fiber, and fatty acids. This systematic review aims at providing updated and categorized scientific data on phytochemicals, nutritional composition, and pharmacological potentials of M. oleifera. The information compiled in this present review would be crucial for developing novel therapeutic medicines and pharmaceutical formulations, which are more effective with great curative actions.

Phytochemicals and antioxidant activities of twelve edible wild plants from Eastern Anatolia, Turkey

Wild edible plants are important nutrient contributors in the diet of populations both in rural and urban areas. Eastern Anatolia has high plant diversity, and many plants are widely used as traditional food and medicine. In this study, approximate compositions, bioactive compounds and antioxidant capacities of twelve edible wild plants in Eastern Anatolia were investigated. L-ascorbic acid, total chlorophyll, total carotenoid and total phenolic contents of analyzed edible wild plants ranged from 1.03 to 10589.71 mg/kg dw, 88.70 to 1740.02 mg/kg dw, 25.00 to 700.20 mg β-car. eq./kg dw, and 444.14 to 2071.96 mg GA eq./kg dw, respectively. Chlorogenic and gallic acids were the most abundant phenolic acids in the plant samples. Rutin, quarcetin, kaempferol and luteolin were identified and quantified in the samples. Luteolin (15.98- 832.82 mg/kg dw) was identified in almost all tested plants (except Coriandrum sativum). The results showed that Arum conophalloides, Rumex tuberosus, Rheum ribes, Plantago lanceolata, Tragopogon longirostris, and Chenopodium album had high contents of different phytochemicals, and antioxidant activities. These plants are available for a short time of the year and in small quantities. Future studies should be focused on biological, functional and toxicological assays and finally for commercial production of these promising plants.

Neglected Potential of Wild Garlic (Allium ursinum L.)—Specialized Metabolites Content and Antioxidant Capacity of Wild Populations in Relation to Location and Plant Phenophase

Wild garlic (Allium ursinum L.) is one of the species widely distributed in Europe and Asia and is often nutritionally neglected, characterized by a high content of various phytochemicals with high therapeutic potential and a range of biological activities. The aim of this study was to determine the content of bioactive compounds in the leaves of wild garlic populations collected from different micro-locations, and to determine the differences in the content of phytochemicals in the vegetative and generative phases. A significant content of different specialized metabolites was detected in all analyzed leaves of wild garlic populations regardless of the different factors (location and phenophase): vitamin C content with the highest determined value of 63.31 mg/100 g fw; total phenolic content with the highest determined value of 186.18 mg GAE/100 g fw (according to gallic acid in fresh sample); and antioxidant capacity with the highest determined value of 2230.66 µmol TE/L (according to Trolox). Significant differences in all the phytochemicals analyzed were observed depending on both the location and phenophase of the plants, with the most pronounced differences depending on the phenophase. Thus, lower levels of polyphenolic compounds and vitamin C were generally observed before the flowering phase, while the trend toward higher levels of pigment compounds was observed during the flowering phase of the plants. The results suggest that the leaves of wild garlic can be considered a valuable source of a variety of specialized metabolites with high antioxidant capacity, and thus have high production potential for various functional products and food supplements of natural origin, which are important for the promotion of human health.

Variations in phenolic composition and antioxidant activities of Scabiosa maritima (Scabiosa atropurpurea sub. maritima L.) crude extracts and fractions according to growth stage and plant part

This study aimed to assess for the first time how growing stage and plant part affect the phytochemical contents and antioxidant capacities of extracts and fractions of Scabiosa Atropurpurea sub. Maritima L. (S.maritima).An experiment was conducted on the different parts (leaves, stem, roots, inflorescences, and fruits) of plants collected from the Zaghouan region, Tunisia, at different growing stages: vegetative stage (March), early budding stage (April), late flowering stage (May) and late maturing stage (June). The various plant parts were subjected to hydro-methanolic extraction and sequential solvent fractionation (Chloroform and Acetate). For each extract or fraction, content of total phenolics (TPC), flavonol, tannin (CTC) and total flavonoids (TFC) were quantified. The antioxidant activity of different extracts was assessed using total antioxidant capacity (TAC), ferric reducing power (FRAP), 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) and 3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) radical scavenging activities. A Multiple Factor Analysis (MFA) and hierarchical clustering were done on the data set obtained from the various measurements. Additionally, the chemical composition of five selected crude extracts was determined by high performance liquid chromatography coupled with a diode array (HPLC-DAD).Phytochemical compounds (phenolic, flavonoids, flavonol and tannin) and antioxidant activities (TAC, FRAP, ABTS and DPPH) of S.maritima extracts and fractions differ among plant parts and change throughout the growing stages.The highest phytochemical content and antioxidant activities of plant parts during the different growing stages were mainly recorded in acetate fractions. Leaves generally exhibited higher phytochemical content and antioxidant activity compared to other plant parts. Their highest values were reached during flowering season (plants collected in May). Unlike leaves and stem, roots exhibited their highest phytochemical content and antioxidant activity in June.The MFA results distinguished leaf samples from the other plant parts and highlighted a strong correlation between phytochemical content and antioxidant capacity.High levels of catechin hydrate (ranging from 1951.86 to 6748.97 mg/100 g of extract) were recorded in all samples. Leaf samples were found to contain high amounts of luteolin-7-O glucoside and kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside while particularly high contents of resorcinol and catechol (226.00 and 57.71 mg/100 g of extract, respectively) were observed in the stem sample.

Phytochemical Content and Antioxidant Activity of Malus domestica Borkh Peel Extracts.

Apple is an important dietary source of carotenoids and phenolic compounds, and its regular consumption is associated with several health benefits. The aim of this study was to evaluate the phytochemical composition of fresh peels of four red-skinned (“Champion”, “Generos”, “Idared”, “Florina”) and two yellow-skinned (“Golden Delicious”, “Reinette Simirenko”) apple varieties. Antioxidant activity of apple peel extracts was determined by ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and ABTS radical scavenging capacity assays. Total carotenoid and polyphenolic contents were determined spectrophotometrically, while the profile of individual carotenoids and anthocyanins (in red-skinned varieties) was analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to a photodiode array detector (HPLC-PDA). Carotenoid composition was specific for each variety, and total carotenoid content was slightly higher in yellow-skinned apple peels compared to red-skinned varieties. In contrast, total phenolic content was higher in the peels of red-skinned cultivars. Anthocyanin profile was predominated by cyanidin-3-O-galactoside. Antioxidant potential followed the trend of the total polyphenolic content, being highest in “Florina”, as measured by both FRAP and ABTS assays. Our results demonstrated apple peels have high phytochemical content with diverse compositions, and their regular consumption can be an excellent source of antioxidants.

Dual beneficial effects of naked barley “Betaone” extract on high-fat diet/streptozotocin-induced hyperglycemia and hepatosteatosis in mice

This study examined the beneficial effects of a newly developed naked barley “Betaone” extract in high-fat diet (HFD) and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice. Betaone has a higher β-glucan content than conventional barley “Waxy”. Although the anti-diabetic property of barley β-glucan is well known, its phytochemical role is unclear. In this study, the anti-diabetic effects of a Betaone prethanol extract (BE) with a high phytochemical content were analyzed. The diabetic mice were divided into four groups: diabetic control (DC), two doses of BE (200 or 500 mg/kg/day), and positive control Psidium guajava L. leaves extract (GV, 200 mg/kg/day). After six weeks, BE significantly lowered the fasting blood glucose level and improved the insulin tolerance compared to the DC. Immunohistochemistry staining showed that the BE increased the insulin expression compared to the DC. BE up-regulated the levels of glycogen synthesis (GYS2 and UGP2) and glycolysis-related mRNA (GK, PFK1, and PK), whereas it down-regulated those of gluconeogenesis-related mRNA (G6Pase, FBP1, and PEPCK) in the liver. The changes in the GV group were similar. BE decreased the serum free fatty acid levels and hepatic lipid accumulation (triglyceride, cholesterol, and lipid droplet) significantly compared to the DC. These changes of BE were attributed to the suppression of lipogenesis and the stimulation of fatty acid oxidation in the gene expression. These results suggest that BE has dual beneficial effects on hyperglycemia and hepatosteatosis in HFD/STZ-induced T2DM mice by modifying the hepatic glucose and lipid metabolism.

Physicochemical Characteristics and Functional Properties of Seed Oil from Four Different Cultivars of S. Wilsoniana

AbstractA study is conducted to explore the under‐utilized resources of Swida wilsoniana seed oil (SWSO). Physicochemical properties of four cultivars of SWSO and their fatty acid composition, phytochemicals, oxidation stabilities, and antioxidant capacities are evaluated. The results indicate that SWSO is abundant in unsaturated fatty acids (76.02–82.43%) and contained a high phytochemical content. Gamma‐tocotrienol (206.03 ± 0.21–215.84 ± 0.17 mg kg−1), β‐amyrin (107.12 ± 0.27–192.30 ± 1.17 mg kg−1), and betulin (32.82 ± 0.59–88.20 ± 0.37 mg kg−1) are major components of SWSO compared to familiar oils. The induction period (5.08–5.80 h) is negatively correlated with unsaturated fatty acid content (r = −0.948**, P &lt; 0.01), particularly linoleic acid (r = −0.938**, P &lt; 0.01). A high antioxidant capacity is observed in SWSO which is primarily attributed to tocopherol/tocotrienol content (0.832*–0.963**). SWSO can be regarded as a new resource and a high‐quality ingredient for dietary foods and other applications.Practical applications: The favorable physicochemical characteristics and functional properties of SWSO indicate that it may be used as a novel and daily edible oil through moderate refining. It also exhibits promise to protect the artery and liver as a special oil for use as shortening and frying because of its ideal FAC and antioxidant capacity. In addition, SWSO may be suitable for the cosmetics industry. Furthermore, more varieties should be obtained to verify and refine the correlations between chemical composition and antioxidant properties. In addition, the specific phenolics in SWSO should be identified to better characterize the relationship between polyphenol content and antioxidant capacity.

Ethnomedicinal and nutraceutical potentialities of Moringa oleifera: A Review

Moringa oleifera is a perennial plant popularly known as ‘Miracle plant’ with great ethnomedicinal, nutritional and economical importance due to high content of nutrients, essential phytochemicals and antioxidants etc. The different parts of these plants such as leaves, flowers, fruits (pods), stem bark, roots, seeds and gum etc are used traditionally as alternative medicines for socially neglected people in addition to uses as good source of food nutrients. This plant contains a high profile of essential minerals, vitamins, proteins, carbohydrates, fats, fibre, carotenoids, amino acids and antioxidants like flavonoids, polyphenols, ascorbic acid, glycosides and glucosinolates etc. Various parts of this plant possess medicinal properties and act as cardiac stimulant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-tumor, antipyretic, anti-ulcer, anti-diabetic, anti-microbial and anti-fungal agent, anti-asthmatic due to its potential antioxidants and some other phytochemicals. In this background, this review compiles information on the multidimensional uses of Moringa oleifera in respect to its ethnomedicinal and nutraceutical potentialities in order to explore and evaluate for future research opportunities.

Preliminary Study on the Effect of Nitrogen and Potassium Fertilization on Phytochemical Content Quality of Gynura procumbens

Gynura procumbens is an herbaceous plant. Despite the progressive reports on the pharmacological properties, many are overlooking at the importance of agronomic requirements, such as fertilization, to produce high phytochemical content which have not been conclusively concluded.

Assessment of the phytochemical profile and antioxidant activities of eight kiwi berry (Actinidia arguta (Siebold & Zuccarini) Miquel) varieties in China.

The kiwi berry (Actinidia arguta) is a new product on the market that expanding worldwide acceptance and consumption. This widespread interest has created an increasing demand to identify the nutritional and health benefits of kiwi berry. Many studies are being actively conducted to investigate the composition and health‐promoting effects of kiwi berry. In this study, the phytochemical content of free and bound fractions of eight kiwi berry varieties were systematically investigated in order to better understand the potential of this superfood crop. Nine phenolic monomers were identified and quantified by ultrahigh‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry and ultrahigh‐performance liquid chromatography‐PAD. Antioxidant activity was further determined via peroxyl radical scavenging capacity and cellular antioxidant activity assays. The free extracts had higher phytochemical contents and antioxidant activities than the corresponding bound extracts among the eight kiwi berry varieties. Bivariate Pearson's and multivariate correlation analyses showed that antioxidant activities were most related to the total phenolic, flavonoid, vitamin C, and phenolic acids contents. The results provide a theoretical basis for the selection of kiwi berry varieties and the utilization of functional foods.

Utilization of Vaccinium meridionale S. pomace as an eco-friendly and functional colorant in Greek-style yogurt.

Greek-style yogurt (GSY) has gained reputation as a healthy food because of its high protein content. Vaccinium meridionale S. is a bilberry with a high content of bioactive phytochemicals, whose vaccinium meridionale pomace (VMP) represents about 20% of the fruit weight. However, this byproduct is normally discarded as waste. In this study, VMP was used as a natural colorant in GSY. Coloring before or after the fermentation process resulted in significant increase in anthocyanins, total phenolics content, antioxidant activity, conjugated linoleic acid, and sensory acceptance. These results indicate that VMP is a potential natural, eco-friendly, and functional colorant to improve the nutritional value of GSY. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Vaccinium meridionale pomace is a waste product with potential to be utilized as a natural, eco-friendly, and functional colorant to obtain value-added Greek-style yogurt. Besides providing bioactive compounds and natural color, this pomace improves the nutritional value, sensory acceptance, and functional properties of Greek yogurt.

Antioxidative Potential and Phytochemical Content of Detox Water

Detox water is a fusion of different fruits immersed in water. It has been shown to possess many health benefits including toxin removal, increased immune function, weight loss and hydration. The following research aimed to extend previous investigation into the beneficial properties of detox water by determining the antioxidant potential and phytochemical content of water infused with a combination of Valencia orange (Citrus sinensis) and Fuji apple (Malus domestica) in different ratios. The three trails studied were 25:75 (T1), 50:50 (T2) and 75:25 (T3) Apple: Orange ratios. The antioxidant activity, total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) were assayed using the 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl- DPPH assay, the Folin Ciocalteu assay and the aluminum chloride colorimetric assay respectively. The assays were carried out on water samples taken at 0.5, 1,2,4,6 and 8 hours after infusion, and on the fruit residue. Vitamin C concentration of the water and fruit residue were determined by titration against potassium iodide at the eight- hour of infusion. The antioxidant, TPC and TFC values of water samples increased with infusion time. At the eight-hour, the antioxidant potential of the water samples ranged from 74.45% (T1) - 68.16% (T3). The TPC, TFC and Vitamin C values for all three trails were found to be significantly different (p&lt;0.05), with TPC values of 189.01 µg GAE/ml sample (T1), 172.10 µg GAE/ml sample (T2) and 144.82 µg GAE/ml sample (T3); TFC values were 32.11 µg QE/ml sample (T1), 25.24 µg QE/ml sample (T2) and 17.62 µg QE/ml sample (T3). Vitamin C values were 237.76 µg vitamin C/ml sample (T1), 161.44 µg vitamin C/ml sample (T2) and 114.48 µg vitamin C/ml sample (T3). The fruit residues possessed very low antioxidant potential and phytochemical content. The study has proven that detox water possesses beneficial properties due to its high phytochemical content.

Phytochemical content and antioxidant potential of leaf extracts of Citrus limon (L.) Osbeck collected in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

This study was designed to investigate the phytochemical and the antioxidant activities of the extracts of Citrus limon L Osbeck leaf using ethanol, acetone and distilled water as extraction solvents. The total alkaloids, saponin, phenolic acid and flavonoids were determined spectrophotometrically while antioxidant potentials were evaluated with 2,2’-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), Ferric-reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP) and 2,2’-azino-bis(3ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) protocols. The phytochemical evaluation of the leaf of C. limon, reveals high contents of alkaloids, (12.23%) and saponin (5.53%). In addition, the aqueous extract shows the highest phenolic acid content of 289.4 ± 5.73 mg/GAE/g followed by ethanol 209.72 ± 6.38 mg/GAE/g and the least was the acetone extracts 207.56 ± 7.03mg/GAE/g. Flavonoids content was also highest in the ethanol extract (1052.58 ± 39.44mg/QE/g) and the aqueous extract (447.41 ± 4.56mg/QE/g). All the extracts showed significant antioxidant activities with ABTS, FRAP and DPPH along a concentration gradient. The high phytochemical content and the antioxidant activity of C. limon leaf extracts observed in this study supports and justifies its use in folk medicine.

Polyherbal combination for wound healing: Matricaria chamomilla L. and Punica granatum L.

Punica granatum L. (pomegranate) with astringent activities and Matricaria chamomilla L. (chamomile) with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties are natural remedies used for various skin disorders, including wound healing. This study was conducted to evaluate the individual and combined wound healing activity of the methanol extracts of pomegranate and chamomile flowers. After preparing the menthol fraction of pomegranate and chamomile flowers, the content of total phenols, total tannins, and total flavonoids of fractions was measured. For standardization of pomegranate and chamomile fractions, Gallic acid and apigenin-7-O-glucoside contents of them were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Moreover, their antioxidant activities were examined using DPPH and FRAP tests. The antimicrobial assay was performed against Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Three different concentrations of methanol fraction of each plant and one combination dose of fractions were investigated for their wound healing activities in an excision wound model on the rats' dorsum. Finally, histopathological studies were done at the end of the experiment. Phytochemical examinations showed high amounts of phenolic compounds in pomegranate flowers, while chamomile flower fractions contained a high amount of total flavonoids. Both fractions, especially pomegranate, had potent antioxidant activity. The best results for wound closure were observed 7 days after wound induction. All treated groups exhibited superior wound contraction compared to their placebo at all measurement times. The combined form of pomegranate and chamomile had better wound healing properties compared to a single therapy, especially on time earlier to wound induction. This study represented high antioxidant and wound healing activities for methanol fraction of pomegranate and chamomile flowers, which could be related to their high content of phytochemicals. In comparison with single herb treatment, the combined form of these two fractions in lower concentrations accelerated wound closure.

A plant-based medicinal food inhibits the growth of human gastric carcinoma by reversing epithelial\u2013mesenchymal transition via the canonical Wnt/\u03b2-catenin signaling pathway

BackgroundNatural products, especially those with high contents of phytochemicals, are promising alternative medicines owing to their antitumor properties and few side effects. In this study, the effects of a plant-based medicinal food (PBMF) composed of six medicinal and edible plants, namely, Coix seed, Lentinula edodes, Asparagus officinalis L., Houttuynia cordata, Dandelion, and Grifola frondosa, on gastric cancer and the underlying molecular mechanisms were investigated in vivo.MethodsA subcutaneous xenograft model of gastric cancer was successfully established in nude mice inoculated with SGC-7901 cells. The tumor-bearing mice were separately underwent with particular diets supplemented with three doses of PBMF (43.22, 86.44, and 172.88 g/kg diet) for 30 days. Tumor volumes were recorded. Histopathological changes in and apoptosis of the xenografts were evaluated by hematoxylin and eosin staining and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling staining, respectively. Serum levels of TNF-α, MMP-2, and MMP-9 were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The mRNA expression levels of β-catenin, GSK-3β, E-cadherin, N-cadherin, MMP-2/9, Snail, Bax, Bcl-2, Caspase-3/9, and Cyclin D1 were evaluated via real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The protein expression levels of GSK-3β, E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and Ki-67 were determined by immunohistochemistry staining.ResultsPBMF treatment efficiently suppressed neoplastic growth, induced apoptosis, and aggravated necrosis in the xenografts of SGC-7901 cells. PBMF treatment significantly decreased the serum levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 and significantly increased that of TNF-α. Furthermore, PBMF treatment notably upregulated the mRNA expression levels of GSK-3β, E-cadherin, Bax, Caspase-3, and Caspase-9 but substantially downregulated those of β-catenin, N-cadherin, MMP-2, MMP-9, Snail, and Cyclin D1 in tumor tissues. The Bax/Bcl-2 ratio was upregulated at the mRNA level. Moreover, PBMF treatment remarkably increased the protein expression levels of GSK-3β and E-cadherin but notably reduced those of Ki-67 and N-cadherin in tumor tissues.ConclusionsThe PBMF concocted herein exerts anti-gastric cancer activities via epithelial–mesenchymal transition reversal, apoptosis induction, and proliferation inhibition. The underlying molecular mechanisms likely rely on suppressing the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

Evidence-Based Medicinal Potential and Possible Role of Selaginella in the Prevention of Modern Chronic Diseases: Ethnopharmacological and Ethnobotanical Perspective

Different species of the genus Selaginella are exploited for various ethnomedicinal purposes around the globe; mainly to cure fever, jaundice, hepatic disorders, cardiac diseases, cirrhosis, diarrhea, cholecystitis, sore throat, cough of lungs, promotes blood circulation, removes blood stasis and stops external bleeding after trauma and separation of the umbilical cord. Though, high content of various phytochemicals has been isolated from Selaginella species, flavonoids have been recognized as the most active component in the genus. Crude extract and different bioactive compounds of this plant have revealed various in vitro bioactivities such as, antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-diabetic, anti-mutagenic, anti-inflammatory, anti-nociceptive, anti-spasmodic, anticancer and anti-Alzheimer. However, more studies into the pharmacological activities are needed, since none of the professed bioactivity of this plant have ever been fully evaluated. Therefore, this review aims to discuss the evidence-based ethnomedicinal and ethnopharmacological uses, phytochemicals and bioactive potential of Selaginella species. It will provide an updated knowledge for ethnobotanists, ethnopharmacologists and other scientific communities to rethink over the possible usage of Selaginella in medicine. Moreover, further explorations are needed to formulate a novel medicinal product from Selaginella extracts for the improvement of human health, together with toxicity evaluations, necessary to ensure about the safety of these medicinal lycophytes.

CORRELATION BETWEEN TPC AND TFC WITH ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF Piper sarmentosum EXTRACT AND ITS FORMULATION FOR COSMETIC PURPOSES

This study investigates the characteristics of an antioxidant cream made from the methanol extract of Piper sarmentosum leaves, which is locally known as the wild betel or pokok kadok in Malay. The secondary metabolites of the leaves were subjected to phytochemical tests to detect the presence of natural compounds. Antioxidant activity was described by its total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC), which was assessed by 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. A phase diagram was constructed to find a possible region to formulate an antioxidant cream. In phytochemical screening, the methanolic extract showed positive presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, steroids, terpenoids and tannins. In quantitative analysis of antioxidative components, besides having significantly higher TFC content compared with quercetin (P&lt;0.0001), the extract of P. sarmentosum leaves also displayed high phytochemical content and was proven to be an efficient free radical scavenger and reducing agent compared with ascorbic acid (p=0.0121). It was observed that the phytochemical compounds in the leaf extract like alkaloids, terpenoids, flavonoids and tannins were the major contributors of antioxidant activity. The leaf extract was also a suitable ingredient to produce a cream with good spreadability, homogeneity, consistency, appearance and pH.

Comparative examination of bioactive phytochemicals in quince (Chaenomeles) fruits and their in vitro antioxidant activity

Chaenomeles fruits are being applied more frequently, mainly due to its high content of bioactive compounds and their positive effect on health condition. Currently, they are raw materials in pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food industries. The aim of work was to characterize cultivar Cido of Chaenomeles japonica and two varietal hybrids: Chaenomeles x californica Gold Kalif and Chaenomeles x californica Maksim under their content of mineral, vitamins, antiradical capacity, organic acids, phenolic acids and flavonols. The content of individual macroelements varied between tested cultivars. Cido was the cultivar with the highest mineral content. In that cultivar Fe was comprised two-fold higher than in cv. Maksim, and Cu level (1.1 mg/100g) doubled the content of that element in cv. Gold Kalif. FRAP test results ranged between 379 µM FeSO4/g DM for cv. Cido and 403 µM FeSO4/g DM for cv. Maksim. Low content of amygdalin was also confirmed in all studied fruits. The highest amygdalin content was found in Cido (39.49 μg/100g), and Gold Kalif contained the fewest amygdalin (18.42 μg/100 g). All the cultivars tested were characterized by the highest content of malic acid (9.22-11.44 mg / g DM), while the main phenolic acid in quince fruits was chlorogenic acid 6953.9 - 8185.5 μg / g DM. The content of organic and phenolic acids depends on the variety of the quince. Due to the high content of phytochemicals in quince fruit and the low content of amygdalin, it seems reasonable to develop new directions of fruit application in food technology and functional food design.