High Antioxidant Potential Research Articles

A Novel Plant-Based Nutraceutical Combined with Exercise Can Revert Oxidative Status in Plasma and Liver in a Diet-Induced-Obesity Animal Model.

The prevalence of obesity increases alarmingly every year mostly due to external factors such as high-fat and high-refined sugar intake associated with a sedentary lifestyle. It triggers metabolic disorders such as insulin resistance, hyperlipemia, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and gut microbiota dysbiosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the beneficial effects of a combined intervention with caloric restriction, nutraceutical intake, and a mixed training protocol on oxidative stress, inflammation, and gut dysbiosis derived from the development of obesity in a C57BL6/J mouse experimental model of diet-induced obesity (4.6 Kcal/g diet, 45% Kcal as fat, and 20% fructose in the drinking fluid). The nutraceutical was formulated with ethanolic extracts of Argania spinosa pulp (10%) and Camelina sativa seeds (10%) and with protein hydrolysates from Psoralea corylifolia seeds (40%) and Spirodela polyrhiza whole plants (40%). The combination of nutraceutical and exercise decreased the animals' body weights and inflammatory markers (TNFα, IL-6, and resistin) in plasma, while increasing gene expression of cat, sod2, gsta2, and nqo1 in the liver. Obese animals showed lower β-diversity of microbiota and a higher Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio vs. normocaloric controls that were reversed by all interventions implemented. Dietary inclusion of a nutraceutical with high antioxidant potential combined with an exercise protocol can be beneficial for bodyweight control and improvement of metabolic status in patients undergoing obesity treatment.

An Overview on Naturally Occurring Phytoconstituent: Lithospermic Acid

Abstract: Lithospermic acid is a phenylpropanoid oligomer isolated from an aqueous extract of dried roots of various Lamiaceae and Boraginaceae plants and used as a folk medicine to treat cardiovascular disease and to improve body functions. The manuscript has been written to provide valuable insights into naturally occurring phytocomponent, Lithospermic acid, and even explore its therapeutic potential. The data have been gathered from books and web sources, including Science Direct, Publons, Web of Science, and Scopus of the latest year. Lithospermic acid is a conjugate of rosmarinic and caffeic acid with a dihydro benzofuran nucleus and possesses a high antioxidant potential and prevents the production of superoxide radicals and lipid peroxidation and protects the tissue from deleterious effects of reactive oxygen species. In addition, it also possesses a wide range of pharmacological activities, including reducing atherosclerosis, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, anti-viral, HIV-1 integrase, and hyaluronidase inhibition, aldose reductase inhibition and improvement in uremic symptoms guanidino succinic acid level. Due to its anti-HIV activity, LA has gained much attention among the scientific community. Moreover, it is widely distributed to all the peripheral tissue in rats, and its metabolites undergo enterohepatic circulation and are excreted through biliary excretion. In this review, we concluded LA with its phytochemistry, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacological activities.

Organosolv Treatment of Red Grape Pomace for Effective Recovery of Antioxidant Polyphenols and Pigments Using a Ternary Glycerol/Ethanol/Water System under Mild Acidic Conditions.

The purpose of this investigation was (i) the development of a novel, green tertiary solvent system, composed of water, ethanol and glycerol, and (ii) the implementation of an organosolv treatment of red grape pomace (RGP) for the efficient production of polyphenol-containing extracts with enhanced antioxidant properties. The treatment developed was performed under mild acidic conditions, imparted by the addition of citric acid, and it was first evaluated on the basis of severity, establishing linear models that described the correlation between treatment performance and combined severity factors. To solicit treatment optimization, response surface methodology was implemented, considering solvent acidity and residence time as the treatment variables. The optimized treatment afforded maximum total polyphenol (166 ± 6 mg GAE g-1 DM), total pigment (4.4 ± 0.2 mg MvE g-1 DM) and total flavanol (31.5 mg CtE g-1 DM) yields and extracts with particularly enhanced antioxidant activity. This might be attributed to specific constituents with high antioxidant potency, such as catechin, determined in the extract using high-performance liquid chromatography. Thus, the treatment developed is proposed as a highly efficient process to generate RGP extracts enriched in polyphenolic compounds, with enhanced antioxidant activity. Such extracts might then be valorized as food additives, to provide antioxidant protection and/or pigmentation.

Anti-Glioblastoma Potential and Phenolic Profile of Berry Juices

Glioblastoma is one of the most aggressive and lethal brain tumors. Due to the failure of conventional chemotherapies and targeted drugs pursuit of natural, less toxic agents is on the rise as well as their utilization in glioblastoma treatment. Consequently, this study explores the antiproliferative potential of selected berry juices (wild blackberry (Rubus discolor), dwarf elderberry (Sambucus ebulus), and raspberry (Rubus idaeus)) on glioblastoma cells (U87-MG and GBM43) in comparison to temozolomide. The juices were assessed for total phenolic content, proanthocyanins, polyphenol profiles, and antioxidant activity. Wild blackberry and dwarf elderberry juices exhibited higher total polyphenols, proanthocyanins, and monomeric anthocyanins compared to raspberry juice. HPLC analysis revealed distinctive anthocyanins, flavonoids, and phenolic acids in each juice. With the DPPH assay, the highest antioxidant potential had wild blackberry juice, while with other assays dwarf elderberry juice had the highest potential. Antiproliferative effects were dose-dependent, with wild blackberry juice demonstrating the highest potency, surpassing temozolomide in inhibiting GBM43 cell proliferation. In U87 cells, all juices exhibited antiproliferative effects, with wild blackberry showing the strongest impact. This study highlights the potential of wild blackberry juice as a potent natural agent against glioblastoma, suggesting its superiority over the conventional treatment.

White LED light-based photocatalysis enhances the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles by Trigonella foenum-graecum seeds’ aqueous extract

Trigonella foenum-graecum is a medicinally important plant that has abundant phytochemicals with high antioxidant and metal-chelating potential. The extract of the leaves and seeds have the potential to synthesize metal nanoparticles; however, the rate of silver nanoparticles synthesis is significantly low in case of the seeds. The objective of this study was to enhance the rate of synthesis of silver nanoparticles by photocatalysis. The extraction and characterization of the aqueous extract of the seed was followed by optimization of the silver nanoparticles synthesis. The GCMS analysis of the aqueous extract identified the presence of carbohydrates, amino acids, lipids and secondary metabolites. Photocatalytic synthesis of silver nanoparticles in the dark and under 250, 825 and 2000 lumens of white LED light at a constant temperature yielded approximately 0.1%, 3%, 4% and 5.5% nanoparticles, respectively. Likewise, the mean diameters of the nanoparticles in the dark and under 2000 lumens were approximately 21 and 52 nm respectively. The light intensity influenced the elemental composition of the nanoparticles, wherein the percentage silver with 250 and 2000 lumens was approximately 16% and 20%, respectively. However, the silver nanoparticles synthesized by the aqueous extract had limited stability. Nanoparticles synthesized under 2000 lumens decomposed in less than 72 h, whereas nanoparticles synthesized in 250 and 825 lumens were significantly stable for three days. However, the nanoparticles synthesized in the dark demonstrated the highest stability of seven days. Therefore, the aqueous extract in combination with photocatalytic activity of white LED light, significantly enhanced the silver nanoparticles yield, but with limited stability.

The Formulation of Dermato-Cosmetic Products Using Sanguisorba minor Scop. Extract with Powerful Antioxidant Capacities

There has been a significant increase in the use of botanical resources for the formulation of topical products designed for medicinal and cosmetic applications. Sanguisorba minor Scop., a botanical species, exhibits a variety of properties and has significant potential for applications in the field of cosmetics. The aim of this study was to formulate topical preparations, incorporating an extract derived from the plant S. minor Scop. comprising a combination of roots, leaves, and flowers. In the initial phase, a total of seven combinations were prepared using extracts derived from the roots, leaves, and flowers of S. minor Scop. (v/v/v). These combinations were subsequently subjected to evaluation for their antioxidant capacity using four distinct methods: 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC), and Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC). An extract of plant organs in a ratio of 1:2:1 (v/v/v), which had a strong antioxidant capacity and demonstrated synergistic effects according to the DPPH, TEAC, and CUPRAC assays (with values of 1.58 ± 0.1, 1.18 ± 0.09, and 1.07 ± 0.07, respectively), was selected for inclusion in three dermato-cosmetic products (hydrogel, emulgel, and cream). All the prepared preparations were evaluated in terms of topical formulation attributes and organoleptic characteristics. The testing of dermato-cosmetic products included assessments of their topical formulation properties and organoleptic characteristics. The hydrogel, emulgel, and cream exhibited varying degrees of stretchability. In addition, a study was carried out to assess the in vitro release of polyphenols from the cosmetic formulations using a Franz diffusion cell system. The results showed that the emulgel containing the extract of S. minor Scop. had the highest and most significant release of polyphenols, with a release rate of 84.39 ± 1.01%. This was followed by the hydrogel and cream, which had release percentages of 80.52 ± 0.89 and 75.88 ± 0.88, respectively, over an 8 h period. Thus, for the first time in the literature, a topical cosmetic product with high antioxidant potential containing S. minor Scop. extract was developed and optimized.

GC-MS and HPTLC bioautography-based phytochemical profiling and evaluation of biological activity Neptunia prostrata Linn whole plant and leaves

This work used experimental methods to evaluate the chemical composition of GC-MS, HPTLC-based bioautographaphy, antioxidant, anti-diabetic, and protein denaturation properties of the Neptunia prostrata Linn (family: Mimosaceae) whole plant and leaves. Three methods, namely DPPH, metal chelating, and reducing power assays, were used to estimate the antioxidant effects. In addition, α-amylase, a carbohydrate-hydrolyzing enzyme, was targeted to test the anti-diabetic activity. The protein denaturation assay was used to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of the plant. GC-MS, an important analytical tool, was performed to identify bioactive compounds of medicinal plants used in pharmaceutical industries. Biochemical derivatization HPTLC-based bioautography with DPPH was executed to identify antioxidant agents from N. prostrata. The validated HPTLC method was used to quantify identified antioxidant agents. The stability of compounds, preparation of calibration curves, linearity, range, precision, limit of detection, limit of quantification, robustness, and accuracy are examined to develop a robust method. Higher total phenolic content (TPC) content was observed in N. prostrata hydroalcoholic extract of the whole plant (81.12 ± 4.19 mg GAE/g) and methanolic extract of leaves (105.16 ± 3.11 mg GAE/g). Methanolic extract of N. prostrata leaves showed significantly high antioxidant potential for all DPPH (IC50:28.05 ± 1.78 µg/mL), metal chelating (IC50:1598 ± 23.51 µg/mL), and reducing power assay compared to standard ascorbic acid (DPPH assay: IC50:24.14 ± 2.34 µg/mL and metal chelating: IC50:1301.16 ± 6.14 µg/mL). N. prostrata aqueous extract of the whole plant (IC50:179.47 ± 10.59 µg/mL) and leaves (IC50:130.86 ± 3.58 µg/mL) showed significantly high α-amylase inhibitory activity as compared to standard acarbose (IC50:148.62 ± 7.84 µg/mL). Methanolic extract of whole plants (IC50:131.46 ± 11.81 µg/mL) and chloroform extract of leaves (IC50:122.61 ± 8.19 µg/mL) exhibited strong anti-inflammatory activity as compared to standard acetylsalicylic acid (IC50:117.77 ± 4.95 µg/mL). GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of several bioactive compounds, where 2-cyclopenten-1-one, 2-hydroxy showed the most abundant bioactive compounds in the plant with 17.01%. HPTLC-bioautography identified three phenolic acids (chlorogenic acid, gallic acid, and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid) and one flavonoid (naringenin), further quantified with the validated HPTLC method. These findings propose that N. prostrata has therapeutic potential for treating diseases related to oxidative damage, diabetes, and inflammation, which may be due to the presence of bioactive compounds.

Comprehensive evaluation of the chemical profile and antioxidant potential of buritirana (Mauritiella armata) an underexplored fruit from Brazilian Cerrado

Buritirana (Mauritella armata) is a fruit from a native Brazilian palm tree whose economic and industrial potential is still little explored. The nutritional composition and carbohydrates; organic acids; fatty acids; triacylglycerol; and phenolics profile of buritirana pulp, shells, and seeds were performed in this study. In addition, pH, color, ant total carotenoid, phenolic, flavonoids, flavonols, tannins, and antioxidant potential (ABTS, DPPH, ILP, FRAP, CUPRAC, and TRC) were determined in these parts of the fruit. The results indicated high lipid content and energy value for pulp (30.53 g 100 g−1, and 351.21 kcal 100 g−1, respectively) and shells (18.41 g 100 g−1, and 276.73 kcal 100 g−1, respectively). On the other hand, high fiber (63.09 g 100 g−1), starch (2.66 g 100 g−1), and carbohydrates (28.60 g 100 g−1) contents were observed for the seeds. Glucose was the main carbohydrate found in pulp and seed, while sucrose was the main sugar in shells. Tartaric acid was the predominant organic acid in pulp and shells (16.60 and 10.96 mg 100 g−1, respectively), while malic acid was the main organic acid in seeds (58.78 mg 100 g−1). Oleic and palmitic acid were the main fatty acids detected in buritirana pulp, shells, and seeds. Buritirana pulp and shells showed a high content of total phenolic and total flavonoid (918.58 and 940.63 mg GAE 100 g−1; and 679.31 and 444.94 mg CE 100 g−1, respectively). Moreover, a high antioxidant potential (DPPH•, CUPRAC, and ILP) was observed in the extracts obtained from pulp and shells. The pulp showed a significant content of carotenoids (270.23 μg g−1). Among the 28 phenolic compounds determined in buritirana pulp and seeds, and 27 in shells, 22 (pulp and seeds), and 21 (shells) were reported by first time in the literature. Ferulic acid in pulp and shells (99.39 and 111.69 μg g−1) and pinocembrin in seeds (19.21 μg g−1) were the main phenolic compounds identified in buritirana. Multivariate analysis showed high correlation of phenolic compounds on antioxidant potential. The results showed that buritirana is rich in nutrients and bioactive products and can be fully utilized. The products resulting from buritirana processing can be applied in the food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries.

Purification, chemical characterization and evaluation of the antioxidant potential of carvacrol from Thymus vulgaris

This work focuses on the purification, chemical characterization and evaluation of the antioxidant activity of carvacrol in order to determine its contribution in the high antioxidant potential of Thymus vulgaris essential oil (TEO). Firstly, 68% of carvacrol was purified from TEO using chromatography on silica gel column and then chemically characterized using spectroscopic techniques (IR, MS and 1H and 13C NMR). In vitro, the antioxidant activity has been determined using DPPH, ABTS•+ and iron chelating assays. All assays proved the strong radical scavenging and reducing power of carvacrol. In vivo, antioxidant capacity towards stressed Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells was investigated by evaluating cell viability, antioxidant enzymes’ activity, the level of lipid peroxidation (LPO) as well as the activity of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH). Using carvacrol in a dose dependent manner (6.25-25 μg/mL), cell viability was outstandingly improved by 34.5-55% compared to stressed cells. Antioxidant enzymes (CAT, SOD, GR) activities were also brought back to values comparable to control cells along with lower LPO (0.81±0.07 nmol/mg) and SDH (1.15± 0.07 μmol/min/mg of protein) at 25 μg/mL. These findings suggest that the powerful antioxidant properties of TEO found in our previous study were mainly associated to its main component (carvacrol) that showed higher antioxidant activity compared to the other components. Therefore, carvacrol can be of a great use as a pharmacological agent against damages related to oxidative stress.

THE EFFECT OF EXTRACTION METHODS ON THE DETERMINATION OF THE CONTENT OF POLYPHENOLS AND ANTI-OXIDANT ACTIVITIES OF ENRICHED EGG POWDER

Background. The utilization of phenolic compounds is limited by many factors, such as low solubility, low permeability, lability, rapid release, vulnerability towards environmental impacts and low bioavailability. To overcome these constraints, polyphenols can be closed within lipid-based and protein-based nanoparticles. In this study, nanocapsules derived from egg powder, enriched with chokeberry pomace extracts were examined. The content of antioxidant compounds (polyphenols, anthocyanins, phenylpropanoids, total phenolic compounds) and antioxidative potential (with the participation of radicals: DPPH•, ABTS•+ and FRAP assays) were determined to assess the influence of the extraction method (heat extraction, ultrasound assisted extraction, stirring extraction) and encapsulation process of the fruit extract. Results and conclusions. In the present study, the highest amounts of most examined compounds (regardless of the powder type) were achieved by heat extraction. The lowest values were obtained by stirring the solution at room temperature. The highest antioxidative potential towards radicals was assessed when ultrasounds were used as the extraction factor. Furthermore, the closure of fruit extracts in the protein shell appears to act in a protective manner on the antioxidant compounds present in the extract. The results show that the extraction method applied in the phase of preparing samples to the analysis is of great importance for determining the antioxidant compound content and antioxidant capacity.

Antioxidant and Antibacterial Properties of bio-pigment from Beta vulgaris

ABSTRACT: Plants are essential for sustaining life on our planet, providing a diverse range of species that possess therapeutic properties. With a growing awareness of health and well-being among consumers, there has been a rise in the popularity of natural colorants sourced from plant-based materials. In this context, the main objective of this research was to extract valuable natural pigments from Beta vulgaris (commonly known as beetroot), with the aim of increasing the availability of pigments from natural sources while simultaneously minimizing environmental and health risks. The crude extract of pigments was obtained using the maceration method during the extraction process. The crude extract was then purified using flash column chromatography with various solvents as the mobile phase. Preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of active compounds like phenols, carbohydrates, glycosides, phytosterols, tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, and saponins. High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) was performed to analyze the betalain profile, showing distinct bands at specific Rf values. The specific functional groups were identified in the Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrum based on the presence of characteristic bands. Antibacterial activity testing demonstrated varying degrees of inhibition against test organisms like Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The evaluated plant pigments exhibited positive results in terms of antioxidant activity, exhibiting free radical scavenging capabilities. The aqueous methanol extract showed the highest extraction yield at 36.71%. The aqueous methanol extract of Beta vulgaris showed the maximum antibacterial activity at 20 mm against Bacillus cereus. The methanol extract and aqueous ethanol extract displayed the lowest IC50 values (45.56 µg/ml and 43.23 µg/ml, respectively), indicating their high antioxidant potential. These findings highlight the promising potential of Beta vulgaris as a valuable source of natural pigments with both antibacterial and antioxidant properties.

Kapasitas Antioksidan <i>Etlingera doliiformis</i>: Jahe-jahean Endemik Sulawesi

Zingiberaceae is an aromatic plant that has the potential to produce essential oils. One of the species is Elingera doliiformis. Etlingera doliiformis A.D. Poulsen is an endemic species to Sulawesi from the Zingiberaceae family. This study is the first to examine the antioxidant potential of E. doliiformis. The aim of this research is to obtain the antioxidant capacity value of the endemic plant of Sulawesi, namely E. doliiformis. The plant materials used are leaves and flowers. Antioxidant capacity analysis was carried out using the DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) method. The vitamin C antioxidant test was carried out by dissolving 20 mg of vitamin C in 100 ml of 96% ethanol. The antioxidant activity of E. doliiformis flowers and leaves was determined using the DPPH test. The percentage of inhibition in flowers was higher than in leaves, although the difference was not significant. The results of the analysis of the antioxidant capacity of Etlingera doliiformis leaves and flowers showed high antioxidant potential. This potential can be used as a development in the pharmaceutical industry in the future.

Phenolic Compounds and Antioxidant Properties of Fermented Beetroot Juices Enriched with Different Additives.

Fermented beetroot juice is a beverage obtained from the fermentation of beetroot, most commonly red beet (Beta vulgaris L. var. conditiva). Nowadays, this product is increasingly recognised as a functional food with potentially beneficial health properties. It has been suggested to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antihypertensive, immunomodulatory, and probiotic effects, among others. Moreover, with the increasing popularity of the drink, newer variants are appearing in the food market, obtained by modifying the traditional recipe, adding other raw materials, herbs, and spices. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the antioxidant potential and phytochemical composition of the selected fermented beetroot juices in different flavour variants available in the Polish food market. The study material consisted of six fermented beetroot juices: traditional, with garlic, with horseradish, with acerola, without salt, and iodized. The obtained results showed that the addition of acerola, horseradish, garlic, salt, and iodine in the form of sodium iodide and potassium iodide influenced the composition and properties of fermented beetroot juice. The most promising product in terms of potentially beneficial health properties related to the prevention of free radical diseases was fermented beetroot juice without salt (FRAP-5663.40 µM Fe (II)/L, ABTS-96.613%, TPC-760.020 mg GAE/L, TFC-221.280 mg RE/L). Iodized fermented beetroot juice had the highest vitamin C content-51.859 mg/100 mL. However, all the products tested were characterised by a significant content of biologically active substances with antioxidant properties and showed a high antioxidant potential. Moreover, all the fermented beetroot juices were rated positively in terms of flavour intensity, sweetness, acidity, colour, and overall acceptability. They can, therefore, be a good source of antioxidants in the daily diet.

Preharvest Applications of Alginate, Salicylic Acid and Oxalic Acid Have a Synergistic Effect on Quality and Storability of Red Globe Grape Variety (Vitis vinifera L.)

This study aimed to evaluate the synergistic effect of preharvest spraying with alginate and in combination with salicylic acid (SA) and oxalic acid (OA), on the quality parameters and storage life of ‘Red Globe’ grape variety at 0-1°C with 85-90% relative humidity for 60 days. Data of physical and chemical quality parameters were taken at 15-day intervals. The results have shown that alginate coatings delayed changes in weight loss, firmness and berry color compared to control. Grapes coated alginate enriched with oxalic acid and salicylic acid proved to the most effective applications in restricting stem browning and decay incidence. Moreover, these formulations improved the content of phenolic compounds, contributing to the high antioxidant potential of coated grapes. These findings reveal that preharvest sprayed clusters with alginate combined with SA and OA applications may have high potential for improving storage quality of commercial grape.

APPLICATION OF WHEY PROTEIN HYDROLYSATES AS A FERMENTATION MEDIUM WITH STRAINS OF LACTIC ACID BACTERIA

The aim of the present study is to obtain enzymatic hydrolysates from whey protein and evaluate their potential application as a substrate for fermentation with lactic acid bacteria. For hydrolysis of whey proteins, papain is used in 3 concentrations - 0.1, 0.5 and 1.0 mg mL-1. The degree of hydrolysis (DH) was determined on the obtained whey protein hydrolysates (WPHs), the highest percentage being achieved with hydrolysate WPH3 using the papain enzyme at a concentration of 1 mg mL-1. Fermentation of the whey protein hydrolysates was carried out with the participation of the probiotic strains Lactiplantibacillus plantarum subsp. plantarum NBIMCC 3447 and Lactobacillus gasseri NBIMCC 2450. The survival of two strains of probiotic lactic acid bacteria was investigated. In the samples obtained from hydrolyzed whey medium with 0.5 mg mL-1papain, the highest values of viable probiotic bacterial cells were recorded - for Lactiplantibacillus plantarum NBIMCC 3447 2.5 х 109 CFU mL-1, and for Lactobacillus gasseri NBIMCC 2450 2.1 х 109 CFU mL-1, respectively. Antioxidant activity is reported on the fermented products. The WPH2 variant has the highest antioxidant potential - 9.14 mg TE/100 mL.

Screening and Characterization of Phenolic Compounds from Selected Unripe Fruits and Their Antioxidant Potential.

The food sector's interest in sustainability and the demand for novel bioactive compounds are increasing. Many fruits are wasted every year before ripening due to various climatic conditions and harsh weather. Unripe mangoes, grapes, and black lemons could be rich sources of phenolic compounds that need to be fully elucidated. Using fruit waste as a source of bioactive chemicals has grown increasingly appealing as it may have significant economic benefits. Polyphenols are beneficial for human health to inhibit or minimize oxidative stress and can be used to develop functional and nutraceutical food products. In this context, this study aimed to characterize and screen unripe mangoes, grapes, and black lemons for phenolic compounds using LC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS and their antioxidant activities. Unripe mangoes were quantified with higher total phenolic content (TPC, 58.01 ± 6.37 mg GAE/g) compared to black lemon (23.08 ± 2.28 mg GAE/g) and unripe grapes (19.42 ± 1.16 mg GAE/g). Furthermore, unripe mangoes were also measured with higher antioxidant potential than unripe grapes and black lemons. A total of 85 phenolic compounds (70 in black lemons, 49 in unripe grapes, and 68 in unripe mango) were identified, and 23 phenolic compounds were quantified using LC-MS/MS. Procyanidin B2, gallic acid, epicatechin, caffeic acid, quercetin, and chlorogenic acid were measured with higher concentration in these selected unripe fruits. A positive correlation was found between phenolic contents and the antioxidant activities of unripe fruits. Furthermore, chemometric analysis was conducted to validate the results. This study will explore the utilization of these unripe fruits to develop functional and therapeutic foods.

Morphophysiological features of the generative offspring of Aesculus hippocastanum L. from various ecologically unfavorable areas of an industrial city

The results of the influence of various ecological conditions of an industrial city (environmentally favorable zone, zones of motor vehicle emissions and metallurgical production, damage by the chestnut miner Cameraria ohridella Deschka & Dimič) on the functional state of the generative offspring of Aesculus hippocastanum L. were given. The average degree of the mass variability of the horse chestnut seeds was revealed, the level of which depended on the type of pollution. Higher values of the variation coefficient were established in seeds from monitoring sites ecologically unfavorable for plant growth. A decrease in the mass of ripe seeds of horse chestnut exposed to the effects of vehicle emissions, metallurgical production, and the severe attack of the chestnut moth C. ohridella was shown compared to samples from an ecologically favorable zone. It was found that the moisture loss in seeds from the ecologically favorable zone was on average 25.0 %, while from the main road zone – 15.2 %. A decrease in the content of storage proteins by an average of 14.5 % in the zones of anthropogenic pollution was observed. The largest values of this characteristics were shown by most trees from the ecologically favorable zone. In the seeds of A. hippocastanum plants, an increase in the activity of both benzidine peroxidase and catalase was established mainly under the effects of aerotechnogenic pollution. The level of enzyme activity depended on the type of phytotoxic emissions. A decrease in the activity of benzidine peroxidase was registered due to the effects of motor vehicle emissions, and an increase due to the effects of metallurgical production. A significant increase in catalase activity was found in the seeds of A. hippocastanum trees from two monitoring sites and, especially, under the influence of vehicle emissions, which can be explained by a compensatory reaction in response to reduced peroxidase activity. An individual reaction of the studied protein system (storage proteins, antioxidant enzymes) of the seeds of some trees was observed, regardless of the stress level of technogenic load and the type of pollutants. At each monitoring site, trees whose seeds had both increased and significantly decreased enzyme activity were identified. In the Botanical Garden and in the park near the metallurgical enterprise, the seeds of only one of three trees showed high activity of both peroxidase and catalase. Considering the physiological functions of the studied enzymes in the seeds and the reaction of the plant organism to biotic and abiotic stresses, the increase in the activation of catalase and peroxidase indicated their participation in antioxidant protection against active forms of oxygen to ensure a reduction in the intensity of damage processes in the generative offspring of A. hippocastanum L. The variability of the level of enzyme activity in horse chestnut seeds means adaptation to environmental conditions and, in general, reveals the adaptive ability of generative offspring to germinate due to the high antioxidant potential to counteract the development of oxidative stress under the influence of adverse environmental factors. It was concluded that the chronic influence of adverse factors of the urban environment causes the formation of individual seeds with increased antioxidant protection characteristics, which can be used as planting material when creating sustainable plantations in an industrial city.

EFFECTS OF HIBISCUS SABDARIFFA L. TEA INTAKE ON ANTIOXIDANT RESPONSE AND BIOCHEMICAL PROFILE IN HEALTHY WISTAR RATS

Introduction: Hibiscus Sabdariffa L. have therapeutic potential characteristics, rich in phytochemicals with anti-inflamatory, antibacterial and antioxidant effects. Objective: The study aims to evaluate daily consumption of hibiscus tea, in a concentration usually consumed by population, on biochemical parameters and antioxidant activity in healthy female adult Wistar rats. Methodology: The animals were divide in Control Group (CG), which received filtered water and commercial diet; and Hibiscus Group (HG), which received 15 mL/day of Hibiscus Sabdariffa L. flower tea (prepared 1g of flower/100mL of water), commercial diet and filtered water. The infusion of hibiscus flower for tea preparation was performed daily (ratio of 1.0g of dried flower to 100 mL of filtered boiled water), infused for 10 minutes, strained, and daily offered to animals (15 mL/day/animal) during 84 days. After 84 days of experimental protocol, animals were euthanized and evaluated serum biochemical parameters such urea, creatinine, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, total proteins, albumin, lipid profile and fasting glycemia. Analysis of antioxidant components was perfomed on hibiscus tea and serum antioxidant activity data were also analyzed by 2,2-difenil-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) and total antioxidant activity by iron reduction (FRAP) methods. Results: Hibiscus tea has a high antioxidant potential, and reduce fasting glucose (p < 0.05), but in concentration offered this antioxidant capacity was not observed at serum level, without changes on body mass, water intake, food consumption, lipid profile, liver and kidney biomarkers. Conclusion: Hibiscus tea daily consumption, showed higher antioxidant potential and reduce fasting blood glucose, without toxic effects.

Investigation of novel radical scavenging mechanisms in the alkaline environment: Green, sustainable and environmentally friendly antioxidative agent(s)

Pharmaceutical and industrial utilization of synthetic chemicals has an immerse impact on the environment. In that sense, novel chemicals with potential for industrial application should be investigated for their behaviour in reactions with hydroxyl radical, simulating AOPs (Advanced Oxidation Processes). AOPs are known for being highly effective in wastewater management and natural water remediation. In this paper, exhaustive research on the radical scavenging activity of a newly synthesized coumarin derivative (4HCBH), as a representative of the series of coumarin-benzohydrazides with high antioxidative potential was conducted. This study took into consideration the pH value range significant for practically all living organisms (pH = 7.0–8.5). According to the experimentally obtained results, the 4HCBH showed an increase in radical scavenging activity, following the slight increase in pH values, which suggested that the formation of anionic form of 4HCBH is responsible for its antiradical activity. Further investigations led to the postulation of a novel mechanistic approach called Sequential Proton Loss Electron Transfer – Radical-Radical Coupling (SPLET-RRC), in which, by a series of steps, a new, stable compound was formed. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that the product generated through SPLET-RRC showed lower toxicity than the parent molecule.

Role of the Solvent and Intramolecular Hydrogen Bonds in the Antioxidative Mechanism of Prenylisoflavone from Leaves of Vatairea guianensis.

This work discusses the electron structure, antioxidative properties, and solvent contribution of two new antioxidant molecules discovered, named S10 and S11, extracted from a medicinal plant called Vatairea guianensis, found in the Amazon rain-forest. To gain a better understanding, a study using density functional theory coupled with the polarizable-continuum model and the standard 6-311++G(d,p) basis set was conducted. The results indicate that S10 has a higher antioxidant potential than S11, confirming the experimental expectations. In the gas phase, the hydrogen atom transfer route dominates the hydrogen scavenging procedure. However, in the water solvents, the antioxidant mechanism prefers the sequential proton loss electron transfer mechanism. Furthermore, the solvent plays a fundamental role in the antioxidant mechanism. The formation of an intramolecular OH···OCH3 hydrogen bond is crucial for accurately describing the hydrogen scavenging phenomenon, better aligning with the experimental data. The results suggest that the two isoflavones investigated are promising for the pharmacologic and food industries.