Important Antioxidant Compounds Research Articles

Effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Tanacetum parthenium on gene expression and paraoxonase 1 enzyme activity: An experimental and molecular dynamic study

Background and aims: Cardiovascular diseases are among the most common causes of death worldwide. The paraoxonase 1 (PON1) enzyme is a main factor in preventing these diseases. This study investigated the effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Tanacetum parthenium plant on the activity and gene expression of PON1. Methods: Forty male rats were divided into 4 groups: a control group, a hyperlipidemic group, and two hyperlipidemic groups that were treated with 400 and 800 mg/kg of hydroalcoholic extract. Arylesterase activity of PON1 and serum triglyceride and cholesterol levels were measured. Moreover, the gene expression of PON1 in the liver tissue samples was measured using real-time PCR. Finally, molecular dynamics studies of apigenin as a main compound in the plant were performed to investigate the activity of PON1 in the simulated environment. Results: Hydroalcoholic extract of T. parthenium decreased serum triglyceride (from 105.8±10.1 to 60.5±21.5 and 50.9±11.2 mg/dL) and total cholesterol (from 97.5±16.8 to 59.6±8.5 and 52.0±9.6 mg/dL) levels, while it increased the activity of arylesterase paraoxonase1 significantly (P<0.001). It also showed a significant (P<0.001) effect on PON1 gene expression. However, the dose of 800 mg/kg was more effective. The results of simulation and molecular dynamics showed that apigenin binds to PON1 with a high affinity and induces changes in the molecular dynamics parameters. Conclusion: The 800 mg/kg of hydroalcoholic extract of T. parthenium can increase the activity of PON1 and its gene expression. It seems that apigenin as one of the most important antioxidant compounds of this plant can increase the activity of this enzyme by direct binding to PON1.

Synthesis and characterization of antioxidant-enriched Moringa oil-based edible oleogel

Abstract This study aims to formulate and optimize Moringa oleifera (Moringa) oil oleogels using pectin (PC) and chitosan (CS) as gelling agents. These include monogelator oleogels, utilizing either PC or CS as a single gelling agent, and binary gelator oleogels, incorporating a combination of both PC and CS. Among the binary gelator oleogel compositions, the most stable oleogel OPCCS2 was further studied with the addition of antioxidants. The important antioxidant compounds of gallic acid equivalents (GAEs)/Moringa antioxidant extracts (MAEs) were quantified by the use of various assays. The oil-binding capacity (OBC) of the most stable oleogel MCPC1.5% was 99.94 ± 0.05. The lower peroxide value of antioxidant-rich oleogels at 1.5% concentration of GAEs (4.34 ± 0.025) and MAEs (4.32 ± 0.03) suggested its richness of phenols to retard the lipid peroxidation of oil. The opaque appearances of the formulations were studied via polarizing light microscopy. The molecular interaction study through FTIR analysis revealed the hydrogen bond interactions between the carboxyl groups of fatty acids and hydroxyl groups of polysaccharide chains. The differential scanning calorimeter analysis further confirmed the presence of strong interactions between polysaccharide chains and the oil phase. These findings indicate that the optimized oleogel formulations have the potential for imminent advances by exhibiting improved texture, biocompatibility, enhanced OBC, and stability.

Product Development and Sensory Evaluation of Dark Chocolate Filled with Chestnut Honey

Chocolate is a food that people of all ages love to consume. The sensory quality of chocolate is determined by its appearance, taste, aroma, and flavor. Chestnut honey, on the other hand, is a honey that is rich in amino acids, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, tannins, potassium, magnesium, and bioactive substances produced by the pollen of the chestnut tree and flower nectars, it has high antibacterial activity, and it contains important antioxidant compounds. In this study, it is aimed to develop a new product, which was filled with organic chestnut honey and chocolate, and bring it to the market. Chestnut honey was added to chocolate in varying proportions and subjected to quality grading by trained panelists. In the analysis attended by 10 panelists, the quality criteria of appearance, texture, smell, taste, and general acceptance were evaluated under sub-headings. As a result of the analysis, it was determined that the trained panelists gave 4.5±0.67 points out of 5- point scale above the average in terms of general acceptance, and consequently the favorite product was dark chocolate with 7% chestnut honey. In addition, the consumer taste test was applied to a group of 82 people for the filled chocolate with the highest score in the quality rating test. In the test applied depending on the 5-point scale, it was found that the general appreciation was high with the values of 4.75±0.54. As a result of the findings, it was determined that the bitter feeling of chestnut honey in the mouth was perceived in the obtained chocolate, and this was liked by the consumer (X ̅ = 4.75). With this study, it can be said that chestnut honey and chocolate provide flavor harmony.

Development of a value added rice milk by utilizing selected traditional and improved rice varieties in Sri Lanka

The main objective of this study is to develop a ready-to-serve, value-added rice milk product using two rice varieties (Oryza sativa) namely, Suwandel and Samba by incorporating locally available spices; clove (Syzygium aromaticum), ginger (Zingiber officinale) and garlic (Allium sativum). Sensory analysis data revealed that unpolished Suwandel rice milk formula containing 25 ppm clove, 100 ppm ginger, and 400 ppm garlic extracts has the highest overall acceptability. Proximate composition of the selected formula included moisture% (87.12 ± 0.47), carbohydrate% (34.82 ± 0.15), ash% (0.36 ± 0.00), total fat% (2.93 ± 0.04), crude protein% (1.83 ± 0.16), and crude fiber% (32.28 ± 0.99). Moreover, the developed rice milk product showed significantly higher antioxidant activity with reference to Total Phenolic Content (5.335 ± 0.389 mg GAE/100 g), and percentage inhibition of DPPH (62.00 ± 0.85) and ABTS (63.83 ± 3.40) assays compared to the control sample (p value < 0.05). GC–MS analysis of the selected sample confirmed that the developed rice milk product contains important antioxidant and antimicrobial compounds derived from the incorporated spices. The Calcium, Lead, and Arsenic contents of the developed product were per Codex Standards (CXS 193–1995).

Amifostine inhibits acrylamide-induced hepatotoxicity by inhibiting oxidative stress and apoptosis.

Acrylamide (ACR) is a toxic chemical agent that can induce hepatotoxicity through different mechanisms including oxidative stress and apoptosis. Amifostine is an important hepatoprotective and anti-oxidant compound. In this research, the hepatoprotective effect of amifostine on ACR-induced hepatotoxicity in rats has been investigated. Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 7 groups, including: 1. Control group, 2. ACR (50 mg/kg, 11 days, IP), 3-5. ACR+ amifostine (25, 50, 100 mg/kg, 11 days, IP), 6. ACR+ N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) (200 mg/kg, 11 days, IP), and 7. Amifostine (100 mg/kg, 11 days, IP). At the end of the injection period, animals' liver samples were collected to determine the content of glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), and apoptotic proteins (B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl2), Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), and cleaved caspase-3. Serum samples were also collected to measure alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) levels. Administration of ACR increased MDA, Bax/Bcl2 ratio, cleaved caspase-3, ALT, and AST levels, and decreased GSH content compared with the control group. The administration of amifostine with ACR decreased MDA, Bax/Bcl2 ratio, cleaved caspase-3, ALT, and AST levels, and increased GSH content compared with the ACR group. Receiving NAC along with ACR reversed the alterations induced by ACR. This study shows that pretreatment with amifostine can reduce ACR-induced toxicity in the liver tissue of rats. Since oxidative stress is one of the most important mechanisms in ACR toxicity, amifostine probably reduces the toxicity of ACR by increasing the anti-oxidant and anti-apoptotic capacity of the hepatic cells.

Phytochemistry and Bioactivity of Nepeta racemosa Lam.

Background and objectives: The genus Nepeta is used in traditional medicine for the antiseptic and astringent properties in cutaneous eruptions and snake bites. Nepeta racemosa was investigated here due to the rich source of phytochemical compounds in the Nepeta genus and the lack of any phytochemical studies. Methods: The aerial parts were extracted successively using n-hexane, chloroform, and methanol (MeOH) by maceration method, respectively. The MeOH extract was exposed to C18 Sep-Pak fractionation by a step gradient of MeOH-H2O. Further purification of the fractions by preparative reversed-phase HPLC yielded three compounds. The chemical ingredients of essential oil were determined by GC-MS. Free-radical scavenging activity of the extracts, fractions, as well as their total flavonoid and phenolics contents, were assessed using the DPPH method, AlCl3, and Folin-Ciocalteu reagents, respectively. Results: Phytochemical study of 20% and 40% solid phase extraction fractions of MeOH extract yielded one iridoid (8,9-epi-7-deoxy-loganic acid) and two phenylethanoids (forsythoside B and verbascoside), correspondingly. The 4aα,7α,7aα-nepetalactone (31.70 %), germacrene D (7.39 %), n-hexadecanoic acid (6.47 %), were the main compounds of essentials oil. The MeOH extract demonstrated high activity in terms of antioxidant activity, total phenolics content along with total flavonoids content (0.09 ± 0.01 mg/mL, 1581.80 ± 10.28 mg/100g and 33.01 ± 0.02 mg/100g) as well as 40% SPE fraction (0.01 ± 0.00 mg/mL, 659.20 ± 40.32 mg/100g and 22.5 ± 0.37 mg/100g), respectively. Conclusion: The presence of phenylethanoid derivatives as phenolic compounds appears to be an important antioxidant compound in Nepeta racemosa.

Folic acid alleviates the blood brain barrier permeability and oxidative stress and prevents cognitive decline in sepsis-surviving rats

Sepsis is a complication of an infection which imbalance the normal regulation of several organ systems, including the central nervous system (CNS). Evidence points towards inflammation and oxidative stress as major steps associated with brain dysfunction in sepsis. Thus, we investigated the folic acid (FA) effect as an important antioxidant compound on acute brain dysfunction in rats and long term cognitive impairment and survival. Wistar rats were subjected to sepsis by cecal ligation and perforation (CLP) or sham (control) and treated orally with FA (10 mg/kg after CLP) or vehicle (veh). Animals were divided into sham + veh, sham + FA, CLP + veh and CLP + FA groups. Twenty-four hours after surgery, the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex were obtained and assayed for levels of blood brain barrier (BBB) permeability, nitrite/nitrate concentration, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS) formation and protein carbonyls. Survival was performed during 10 days after surgery and memory was evaluated. FA reduced BBB permeability, MPO activity in hippocampus and pre frontal cortex in 24 h and lipid peroxidation in hippocampus and improves the survival rate after sepsis. Long term cognitive improvement was verified with FA in septic rats compared with CLP + veh. Our data demonstrates that FA reduces the memory impairment in 10 days after sepsis and mortality in part by decreasing BBB permeability and oxidative stress parameters in the brain.

Role of Antioxidant Molecules and Polymers in Prevention of Bacterial Growth and Biofilm Formation.

Antioxidants are multifaceted molecules playing a crucial role in several cellular functions. There is by now a well-established knowledge about their involvement in numerous processes associated with aging, including vascular damage, neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. An emerging area of application has been lately identified for these compounds in relation to the recent findings indicating their ability to affect biofilm formation by some microbial pathogens, including Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus mutans, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. A structured search of bibliographic databases for peer-reviewed research literature was performed using a focused review question. The quality of retrieved papers was appraised using standard tools. One hundred sixty-five papers extracted from pubmed database and published in the last fifteen years were included in this review focused on the assessment of the antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity of antioxidant compounds, including vitamins, flavonoids, non-flavonoid polyphenols, and antioxidant polymers. Mechanisms of action of some important antioxidant compounds, especially for vitamin C and phenolic acids, were identified. The findings of this review confirm the potential benefits of the use of natural antioxidants as antimicrobial/antibiofilm compounds. Generally, gram-positive bacteria were found to be more sensitive to antioxidants than gram-negatives. Antioxidant polymeric systems have also been developed mainly derived from functionalization of polysaccharides with antioxidant molecules. The application of such systems in clinics may permit to overcome some issues related to the systemic delivery of antioxidants, such as poor absorption, loss of bioactivity, and limited half-life. However, investigations focused on the study of antibiofilm activity of antioxidant polymers are still very limited in number and therefore they are strongly encouraged in order to lay the foundations for application of antioxidant polymers in treatment of biofilm-based infections.

Application of Trichoderma harzianum, 6-pentyl-α-pyrone and Plant Biopolymer Formulations Modulate Plant Metabolism and Fruit Quality of Plum Tomatoes.

Many Trichoderma are successfully used to improve agriculture productivity due to their capacity for biocontrol and to stimulate plant growth and tolerance to abiotic stress. This research elucidates the effect of applications with Trichoderma harzianum strain T22 (T22), or biopolymer (BP) alone or in combination (BP + T22 or BP + 6-pentyl-α-pyrone (6PP); a Trichoderma secondary metabolite) on the crop performance, nutritional and functional quality of greenhouse tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L. cultivar Pixel). T22 elicited significant increases in total yield (+40.1%) compared to untreated tomato. The content of lycopene, an important antioxidant compound in tomatoes, significantly increased upon treatment with T22 (+ 49%), BP + T22 (+ 40%) and BP + 6PP (+ 52%) compared to the control. T22 treatments significantly increased the content of asparagine (+37%), GABA (+87%) and MEA (+102%) over the control; whereas BP alone strongly increased GABA (+105%) and MEA (+85%). The synthesis of these compounds implies that tomato plants are able to reuse the photorespiratory amino acids and ammonium for producing useful metabolites and reduce the pressure of photorespiration on plant metabolism, thus optimizing photosynthesis and growth. Finally, these metabolites exert many beneficial effects for human health, thus enhancing the premium quality of plum tomatoes.

EFFECT OF TRANSFERSOME ON THE STABILITY AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF GLUTATHIONE IN ANTIAGING CREAMS

Objective: Glutathione is an important antioxidant compound that is added to various cosmetic preparations. This study compared the stability,antioxidant activity, and penetration of glutathione creams formulated with and without transfersome, a commonly used carrier system.Methods: The particle size of the transfersome was 55.65 nm, with a polydispersity index of 0.398 and an entrapment efficiency of 66.22%. Duringcycling and centrifugal testing, the creams (with and without transfersome) did not change color or demonstrate phase separation. Chemical stabilityanalyses of the products were performed using high-performance liquid chromatography.Results: The remaining glutathione content in the transfersome cream was 83.44%, while that of the non-transfersome cream was 47.92%. In thepenetration test using Franz diffusion cells, the transfersome cream demonstrated a cumulative penetration of 4474.44 μg/cm2, with a cumulativeconcentration percentage of 39.60% and a flux of 510.38 μg/cm−2h−1. In contrast, the non-transfersome cream demonstrated a cumulative penetrationamount of 2793.80 μg/cm2, with a cumulative concentration percentage of 24.73% and a flux of 340.12 μg/cm−2h−1. In addition, the IC50 value of thetransfersome cream preparation was 11.89 μg/mL, while that of the non-transfersome preparation was 15.57 μg/mL.Conclusion: Our findings indicate that the use of transfersome increases the stability and penetration of glutathione in cream preparations.

Carnosic Acid Content Increased by Silver Nanoparticle Treatment in Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.).

Biosynthesis of carnosic acid (CA), one of the most industrially valuable medicinal compounds present in rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) leaves, is affected by various plant stressors. In this study, effects of silver nanoparticle (AgNP) treatment on the secondary metabolism and CA production of rosemary plants were investigated. AgNP of 0, 25, 50, 100, and 200 ppm were utilized on hydroponically grown plants using foliar spray. Efficient absorbance and translocation of AgNPs to the plant roots were confirmed by XRF (X-ray fluorescence) analysis. The fluctuations of important antioxidant compounds such as CA content, phenolics, flavonoids, and acid ascorbic were analyzed and their correlations evaluated. Results revealed that application of 200 ppm AgNPs for 12 days increased CA level more than 11%, as compared to the control plants. Furthermore, significant positive correlations were observed between total flavonoids and CA content under AgNP treatment, suggesting that AgNP acted as an elicitor and triggered the enhancement of CA accumulation effectively. These data suggest that concentration-dependent AgNP may be used to boost antioxidant activity and phytochemical contents of other medicinal plants.

Gold nanoparticles potentiates N-acetylcysteine effects on neurochemicals alterations in rats after polymicrobial sepsis

Herein, we report the effect of gold nanoparticles (AuNP) and n-acetylcysteine (NAC) isolated or in association as important anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds on brain dysfunction in septic rats. Male Wistar rats after sham operation or caecal ligation and perforation (CLP) were treated with subcutaneously injection of AuNP (50 mg/kg) and/or NAC (20 mg/kg) or saline immediately and 12 h after surgery. Twenty-four hours after CLP, hippocampus and prefrontal cortex were obtained and assayed for myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, cytokines, lipid peroxidation, protein carbonyls formation, mitochondrial respiratory chain, and CK activity. AuNP + NAC association decreased MPO activity and pro-inflammatory cytokines production, being more effective than NAC or AuNP isolated treatment. AuNP + NAC association and NAC isolated treatment decreased oxidative stress to lipids in both brain structures, while protein oxidation decreased only in the hippocampus of AuNP + NAC association-treated animals. Complex I activity was increased with AuNP + NAC association and NAC isolated in the hippocampus. Regarding CK activity, AuNP and AuNP + NAC association increased this marker in both brain structures after CLP. Our data provide the first experimental demonstration that AuNP and NAC association was able to reduce sepsis-induced brain dysfunction in rats by decreasing neuroinflammation, oxidative stress parameters, mitochondrial dysfunction and CK activity.

Effects of Triploidization of Loquat [Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl.] on Flavonoids and Phenolics and Antioxidant Activities in Leaves and Flower Buds

Triploid loquat (2n = 3x = 51) has stronger growth vigor and larger leaves, flowers, and fruit compared with its diploid parental plant (2n = 2x = 34), but the effects of triploidization on the contents of flavonoids and phenolics in leaves and flowers, which are the most important antioxidant compounds for pharmacological applications, have not been reported. In this report, 58 triploid loquat genotypes and seven corresponding diploid parental cultivars were used to evaluate the effects of triploidization on the contents of total flavonoids and phenolics and the antioxidant activities of leaves and flower buds. The results showed that the contents of total flavonoids and phenolics and their corresponding antioxidant activities were higher in most of the triploid loquat genotypes than their diploid parents. The antioxidant activities of leaves and flower buds were significantly correlated with the total flavonoids and phenolics contents in both diploid loquat and triploid loquat. It could be inferred that triploidization could increase the contents of flavonoids and phenolics in leaves and flower buds of loquat. Notably, the contents of total flavonoids and phenolics of leaves in triploid genotype ‘H3/24’ were the highest, reaching 212.00 mg rutin equivalent (RE)/g DW and 93.06 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g DW, respectively, which were significantly higher than those previously reported. Such a valuable trait may be stacked with other triploid traits that are already established, such as larger vegetative organs and better tolerance to various stresses, as a feasible strategy for breeding loquat cultivars with high pharmaceutical potency.

Chromosomes I and X Harbor Consistent Genetic Factors Associated with the Anthocyanin Variation in Potato

Potatoes are an important staple food worldwide and are the third main source of antioxidants in the human diet. One of the most important antioxidant compounds in potatoes is the anthocyanin pigments. Some reports indicate a high positive correlation between color intensity, anthocyanins content, and antioxidant level in potato tubers. The variation in anthocyanins composition and content in potato tubers among diverse germplasm sources has important nutritional and health implications and constitutes an interesting trait for potato breeding programs focused on enhancing the anthocyanin and antioxidant contents of potato materials. We identified and quantified five anthocyanidins (delphinidin, cyanidin, petunidin, pelargonidin, and peonidin) on tubers from the Colombian germplasm collection of Solanum tuberosum L. Group Phureja. The phenotypic data were merged into a genome-wide association study in order to identify genomic regions associated with the nutritional compounds’ variation in potatoes. The association was conducted using a 7520 single nucleotide polymorphisms markers matrix. Seven quantitative trait loci were identified. Chromosomes I and X harbored the most stable quantitative trait loci (QTL). Three quantitative trait loci were identified close to previously reported genes involved in the regulation of anthocyanins in potato tubers. The genomic regions of these QTL reveal presumptive candidate genes as genetic factors that are the basis for a better understanding of the genetic architecture of the regulation of nutritional compounds in potatoes.

Cytoplasmic male sterile and doubled haploid lines with desirable combining ability enhances the concentration of important antioxidant attributes in Brassica oleracea

The Brassica vegetable crops are rich source of important antioxidant compounds having anticancer and health promoting properties. Development of F1 hybrids with better nutritional traits is one of the main breeding objectives in different vegetable crops. Our study is the first report of determining heterotic combinations utilizing cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) and doubled haploid (DH) inbred lines for antioxidant compounds in snowball cauliflower. Twenty genetically diverse Ogura CMS lines of cauliflower and six DH male fertile inbred lines were crossed to develop 120 F1 hybrids in line × tester mating design. The resulting 120 test cross progenies along with 26 parents and 4 standard checks were evaluated in 10 × 15 alpha lattice design with three replications during next cropping season. The CMS lines Ogu33-1A, Ogu122-5A and Ogu119-1A were good general combiner and CMS line Ogu118-6A was poor general combiner for majority of traits. Most of the heterotic hybrids were associated with high positive SCA effects. The proportions of σ2A/D and $$\upsigma^{2}_{\text{gca}} /\upsigma^{2}_{\text{sca}}$$ ratios were less than unity in all the cases indicating preponderance of non-additive gene action in the genetic control of all the traits. Highest number of heterotic hybrids with SCA effects in desired positive direction was recorded for ascorbic acid content and phenolic content followed by total carotenoid content. The F1 hybrids with better combining ability and better per se performance could be useful in accumulation of favourable allele for higher concentration of important anti-oxidant compounds.

Analysis of Antioxidant Activities, Phenolic and Other Metabolites of Some Biomass Waste (Leaves) of India

Background: Antioxidants have important role on human health as well as in food industry. Natural antioxidants are preferred to synthetic antioxidants. Objective: In this study attempt was made to explore the leaf biomass, generally wasted and burnt, as sources of important antioxidant compounds. Methods: Extracts of leaves from five plants e.g. Artocarpus heterophyllus, Haldina cordifolia, Magnolia champaca, Mimusops elengi and Syzygium cumini were analyzed for their antioxidant properties by four different systems of assays. Identification and quantification of important components were performed using GC-MS. Results: All the extracts scavenged DPPH radical, superoxide radical, and chelated metal. S. cumini showed strongest antioxidant activities in all systems of assays. Many important phenols and other metabolites were identified. Correlation between activity and metabolite profile helped to identify important antioxidant compounds in the extracts. Important phenolic antioxidants identified were catechin, epicatechin, protocatechuic acid (from S. cumini), gallic acid, myricetin (from S. cumini, M. elengi), arbutin, 4-hydroxycinnamic acid (from M. elengi). Conclusion: Thus, the leaf biomass may be used as an alternative source of these important phytochemicals having antioxidant activity.

Ascorbic acid co-administered with rosuvastatin reduces reproductive impairment in the male offspring from male rats exposed to the statin at pre-puberty

Obesity during childhood and adolescence is closely related to dysfunctions on lipid profile in children. Rosuvastatin is a statin that decreases serum total cholesterol. Ascorbic acid is an important antioxidant compound for male reproduction. Pre-pubertal male rats were distributed into six experimental groups that received saline solution 0.9% (vehicle), 3 or 10 mg/kg/day of rosuvastatin, 150 mg/day of ascorbic acid, or 3 or 10 mg/kg/day of rosuvastatin co-administered with 150 mg/day of ascorbic acid by gavage from post-natal day (PND)23 until PND53. Rats were maintained until adulthood and mated with nulliparous females to obtain the male offspring, whose animals were evaluated at adulthood in relation to reproductive parameters. This study is a follow up of a previous paper addressing potential effects on F0 generation only (Leite et al., 2017). Male offspring from rosuvastatin-exposed groups showed increased sperm DNA fragmentation, androgen depletion and impairment on the testicular and epididymal structure. Ascorbic acid coadministered to the fathers ameliorated the reproductive damage in the offspring. In summary, paternal exposure to rosuvastatin may affect the reproduction in the male offspring; however, paternal supplementation with ascorbic acid was able to reduce the reproductive impairment in the male offspring caused by statin treatment to the fathers.

Biorefinery of olive leaves to produce dry oleuropein aglycone: Use of homemade ceramic capillary biocatalytic membranes in a multiphase system

Oleuropein aglycone is an important antioxidant compound produced during oleuropein hydrolysis, not yet commercially available. Its production from renewable material by green processes is a challenge because it permits waste re-use and low environmental impact. In this work, homemade asymmetric capillary ceramic membranes were used to develop biocatalytic membranes, which were further used to produce oleuropein aglycone from olive leaves and/or commercial oleuropein. Results indicated that the biocatalytic system (containing covalently immobilized β-glucosidase) promotes the hydrolysis of oleuropein in both monophase and multiphase processes. Furthermore, the multiphase biocatalytic system enables the extraction of the hydrophobic oleuropein aglycone in an organic phase, before its rearrangement in water. This was achieved by the production, of an unstable water-in-oil emulsion (permeate side), on the basis of membrane emulsification process. The intensified biocatalytic/extractor system allowed taking shelter the hydrophobic compound in the organic phase with good efficiency (90%), protecting it from rearrangement.

Identifying the novel natural antioxidants by coupling different feature selection methods with nonlinear regressions and gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy

There are numerous reactive compounds such as free radicals which the body is less capable of fighting off these unwanted dangerous molecules. These conditions, known as oxidative stress, reflect an imbalance between free radical generation and the ability of the body to neutralize these reactive intermediates by antioxidants. Some spices show antioxidant activities that provide an added source of antioxidants for the body to fight against free radicals. Without the necessary intake of these plants, free radicals can lead to various types of diseases. However, the contribution of each chemical composition in the antioxidant activity is unclear. To produce effective food supplements as well as pharmaceutical formulations from these herbs, the responsible components for the antioxidant activity should be identified. Nowadays, the integration of chemoinformatics methods with chromatographic techniques allows us to identify and predict the antioxidant activity of medicinal plants. This study presents a new drug discovery strategy for the quantitative chemical component-antioxidant activity relationship (QCAR) model. This strategy includes multi-objective feature selection (FS) algorithms based on artificial neural network (ANN) to identify novel antioxidants. This screening strategy leads to discovery of the new synergistic effects of non-phenolic compounds (i.e. γ-terpinene, p-cymene and caryophyllene). In order to examine the performance of the designed model, the volatile components of hydrodistilled essential oil of Mentha samples were analyzed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and their antioxidant activities were measured by a 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) scavenging test. Also, antioxidant activities of Mentha samples were predicted using QCAR model. The values predicted from the computational approaches have a reasonable agreement with the actual values obtained from DPPH assay. Finally, the designed method proves to be effective procedures for both predicting the antioxidant activity of the essential oil samples and finding the most important antioxidant compounds.

Rapid determination of flavonoids in green tea by synchronous fluorescence spectra coupled with chemometrics

ABSTRACTFlavonoids are one of the most important antioxidant compounds of tea. It is necessary to determine flavonoid concentration of tea infusions and to understand how the storage condition and tea brewing processing impact on flavonoid content. The aim of this study is to analyze flavonoids’ properties and predict flavonoid concentration using synchronous fluorescence spectra coupled with chemometrics. Different wavelength intervals were measured to develop an optimal model. Successive projection algorithms and interval partial least square regression were applied to extract informative wavelengths. The optimal interval partial least square regression model was obtained with the determination coefficient of calibration of 0.95, determination coefficient of cross-validation of 0.90.