DPPH Inhibition Research Articles

Optimizing prickly pear by-product valorization: formulating molasses with enhanced antioxidant capacities and sugar contents

ABSTRACT This study endeavoured to capitalize on prickly pear by-products for the optimization of molasses formulation, targeting elevated antioxidant capacities and superior sugar contents. Through robust statistical modelling, the optimal cooking parameters—temperature (70-80 °C) and duration (60–90 min)—were determined, guided by responses of antioxidant activity and Brix value. A D-Optimal mixture design further delineated the ideal proportions of molasses components (pulp, peel, and seeds). Characterization revealed that peel harboured the highest concentrations of total polyphenols (396.41 mg GAE/100g FW) and flavonoids (234.26 mg CE/100g FW), emphasizing its antioxidant potential (DPPH inhibition IC50: 12.72 µg/ml). The optimal cooking conditions were established at 78.35 °C for 79.70 min, with predictive equations guiding ingredient proportions (0.265 g pulp, 0.710 g peel, 0.025 g seed). Intriguingly, while peel inclusion enhanced total sugar content and antioxidant activity, seed incorporation exerted a contrasting effect by reducing total sugar content and limiting antioxidant activity.

Distribution of antioxidants and phenolic compounds in flour milling fractions from hard red winter wheat

Mature wheat kernels contain three main parts: endosperm, bran, and germ. Flour milling results in multiple streams that are chemically different; however, the distribution of antioxidants and phenolic compounds has not been well documented in terms of conventional milling by-product streams. In this study, multiple analytical methods were used to investigate antioxidant activity and phenolic compound compositions of hard red winter wheat (whole ground wheat), the parts of a wheat kernel (bran, flour, germ), and wheat by-product streams (mill feed, red dog, shorts) for the first time. For each mill stream, phenolic compounds (total, flavonoid, and anthocyanin contents) were determined and antioxidant activities were evaluated with 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging activity, ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP), and total antioxidant capacity assays. Significant differences (P < 0.05) were observed in phenolic concentrations among fractions of bran, flour, and germ milled from the same kernels and noted that germ accounts for the majority of antioxidant properties, whereas bran contains a substantial portion of phenolic compounds and anthocyanins. Mill feed was high in phenolic content (5.29 mg FAE/g), total antioxidant capacity (866 mg/g), and antioxidant activity (up to 75% DPPH inhibition and 20.26 μmol FeSO4/g). The comprehensive information on distribution of antioxidants and phenolic compounds provides insights for future human consumption of commonly produced co-products from flour milling, and for selecting and using different milling fractions to make foods with improved nutritional properties.

Formulation and Evaluation of Gambier (Uncaria gambir)-Chitosan Microparticle Intranasal Delivery for Alzheimer’s Diseases

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), the most common form of dementia continues to be the deadliest neuro degenerative disease in recent years. Despite significant efforts to mitigate the progression of the disease, there is no known cure and development towards a more effective treatment is still lacking. AD is marked by exceptionally low amount of acetylcholine in the brain, formation of tau protein, and amyloid beta plaque. Current drugs of choice for treating AD, namely donepezil and memantine, are acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors which focused on delaying the onset of cognitive decline by maintaining acetylcholine concentration. Gambier water extract (GWE) contains high level of polyphenols which act as an antioxidant, exhibit strong correlation with AChE inhibitor. The aim of this research is to formulate and encapsulate GWE inside a microparticle system composed of chitosan and different crosslinkers, STPP (IMGS) and CaCl2 (IMGC), which were then characterized as AChE inhibitor using Ellman’s method. Variations of the formula were designed following Box-Behnken experimental design with chitosan and crosslinker concentration, crosslinker type, and stirring speed as variables. Initial activity of GWE, IMGS and IMGC as antioxidant were confirmed with DPPH method, obtaining a strong activity of 88.01, 82.11, and 84.99% DPPH inhibition at 100 ppm respectively. Promisingly, at concentration of 100 ppm GWE demonstrated AChE inhibition of 30.36%. However, this activity reduced after encapsulation into IMGS and IMGC, with 14.63% and 18.65% AChE inhibition, which can be linked to the relatively sustained diffusion of GWE from the polymer matrix. IMGS and IMGC diffusion profile showed release of 23.24% and 21.89% after 6 hours, with significant increase in diffusion after 24 hours with 74.92% and 71.19% respectively. Despite showing sustained release behaviour, both IMGS and IMGC ex-vivo diffusion significantly improved when compared to GWE which only diffused 51.84% after 24 hours. This result indicates encapsulation of GWE into a polymeric carrier could increase gambier diffusion through the nasal mucous membrane, significantly improving the potential to penetrate into the brain systemic circulation. Combined with desirable intranasal delivery characteristics, this research was able to demonstrate the promising potential of gambier water extract polymeric system as AChE inhibitors for AD therapy.

Insights into the Pharmacognostic Elucidation of Harumanis Mango (Mangifera Indica Linn.) Leaves Extracts as Therapeutic Agent

Mangifera indica L. (mango) of the Anacardiaceae family is a fruit with many phytochemicals that are extensively used in various traditional systems of medicine to prevent and treat various diseases. In Malaysia, harumanis is a local variety of mango widely cultivated in the northern region, namely Perlis. However, the drawback of this harumanis variety of mango is that research and information on its therapeutics are scarce and limited. Therefore, localized harumanis leaves were introduced to a series of pharmacognostic studies to provide critical details explaining harumanis as a potential therapeutic agent. Initially, the harumanis leaves were introduced to quality analysis tests, unveiling that the raw material used abided by proper post-harvesting protocols. Then, the harumanis leaves were extracted using ultrasonic aided extraction (UAE) with 100% methanol (13.73±0.24 %), 50% methanol (14.47±0.19 %), 100% ethanol (10.35±0.19 %), 50% ethanol (12.61±0.26 %), and distilled water (8.09±0.21 %). Next, the initial phytochemical screening revealed the presence of flavonoids, tannins, and saponins in all extracts. Subsequently, the phenolic and flavonoid content were quantified with the 50% methanol extracts recorded the highest total phenolic content (5.76 ± 0.02 mg/g), 50% ethanol extracts had the highest total flavonoid content (4.38 ± 0.04 mg/g). Fingerprinting analysis via FTIR spectroscopy was used to identify phytochemicals confirming the presence of flavonoids and phenolics compounds in all extracts. The extracts were then introduced to a DPPH inhibition assay with the highest IC50 value obtained from 50% methanol with 75.2 ± 0.22 microgram per milliliter. Next, the antimicrobial capabilities were tested using a disc diffusion study on E. coli, B. subtilis, and Face normal flora showing that the methanolic extract has superior abilities in microbial inhibitions with the value recorded at 13mm, 22mm, and 14mm respectively. Overall, we obtained valuable pharmacognostic data on the harumanis leaves extracts as potential antioxidant and antimicrobial agents.

Phytochemicals, Mineral Elements and Antioxidants Evaluation of Some Commonly Consumed Desert Fruits

The medicinal properties of fruits are closely related to their available phytochemicals, as well as antioxidant capacity. Many of the indigenous fruits have been traditionally used as folk medicine. This study aims to evaluate the phytochemicals, mineral elements, and antioxidant properties of five (5) commonly consumed desert fruits such as Hyphaene thebaica, Detarium senegalensce, Ziziphus jujuba, Dialium guineense and Diospyros mespiliformis. The phytochemicals, mineral elements, and antioxidants were carried out using standard methods of analysis. The result revealed that phytochemicals such as alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, tannins, saponins, steroids, terpenoids, and glycosides were present in all five fruits studied with varied compositions. While the mineral elements such as Potassium (K), Magnesium (Mg), Calcium (Ca), Sodium (Na), Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn), Zinc (Zn), and Copper (Cu) were present indicated that the fruits have substantial mineral elements, however, varied according to the fruits species studied, Hyphaene thebaica exhibits the highest elemental content. The DPPH inhibition properties emphasize the diverse antioxidant capabilities of the studied fruits in which Diospyrosme spiliformis (DS) emerges as a standout in DPPH inhibition activity, exhibiting robust antioxidant activity, closely followed by Dialium guineense (DG). The nitric oxide radical scavenging reveals a concentration-dependent response in the NO radicals scavenging activity for all the fruits and ascorbic acid. The findings conclude that the five desert fruits species revealed different phyto-constituents, mineral elements, Nitric oxide radical scavenging effect, and DPPH inhibition properties suggesting potential medicinal and nutritional properties of the five desert fruits.

Application of Common Culinary Herbs for the Development of Bioactive Materials.

Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis L.) and oregano (Origanum vulgare L.), traditionally used for their antimicrobial properties, can be considered viable candidates for nanotechnology applications, in particular for the phytosynthesis of metal nanoparticles. The present work aims to evaluate the potential application of hyssop and oregano for the phytosynthesis of silver nanoparticles, as well as to evaluate the biological activities of their extracts and obtained nanoparticles (antioxidant potential, as well as cell viability, inflammation level and cytotoxicity in human fibroblasts HFIB-G cell line studies). In order to obtain natural extracts, two extraction methods were applied (classical temperature extraction and microwave-assisted extraction), with the extraction method having a major influence on their composition, as demonstrated by both the total phenolic compounds (significantly higher for the microwave-assisted extraction; the oregano extracts had consistently higher TPC values, compared with the hyssop extracts) and in terms of individual components identified via HPLC. The obtained nanoparticles ware characterized via X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), with the lowest dimension nanoparticles being recorded for the nanoparticles obtained using the oregano microwave extract (crystallite size 2.94 nm through XRD, average diameter 10 nm via TEM). The extract composition and particle size also influenced the antioxidant properties (over 60% DPPH inhibition being recorded for the NPs obtained using the oregano microwave extract). Cell viability was not affected at the lowest tested concentrations, which can be correlated with the nitric oxide level. Cell membrane integrity was not affected after exposure to classic temperature hyssop extract-NPs, while the other samples led to a significant LDH increase.

Phytochemical Characterization of Anisomeles indica (L.) Kuntze Extract Using GC-MS: Evaluation of Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Properties

indica (L.) Kuntze leaves were tested to explore their chemo profiling through gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The samples were also analyzed to evaluate antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. The antioxidant efficacy of the plant extract was evaluated using the FRAP, DPPH, and ABTS methodologies. The results revealed that extract had a high concentration of flavonoids and phenols and exhibited the highest antioxidant properties reflected by the inhibition of free radical DPPH (30.87 ± 0.001%). The plant extracts showed antimicrobial activities against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (gram-negative) and Staphylococcus aureus (gram-positive) bacteria with 10 and 9 mm inhibition zones, respectively. The GC-MS studies exhibited the presence of 25 compounds. The major constituents are desogestrel (100%), n-hexadecanoic acid (8.59%), 9, 12-octadecadienoic acid (Z, Z) (8.5%), gamma.-sitosterol (7.57%), and palmitic acid, TMS derivative (3.31%). The GC-MS analysis exhibited that leaves consist of bioactive compounds, such as alkaloids, terpenoids, phenolics, and fatty acids.

Biochemical characterization of YoAlp®: a sheep-fermented milk obtained with autochthonous starter cultures

Fermented milks are a source of bioactive peptides with different potential benefits on human health and may be considered as functional foods. Sheep milk and fermented milk have been collected and a biochemical characterization, by a proteomic approach, GC/MS and microtiter plate assay methods, have been conducted to evaluate their peptide, fatty acid and aromatic profile, and to assess potential health promoting effects. Furthermore, a comparison between sheep-fermented milk (SFM) made with commercial starter cultures and YoAlp®, a sheep-fermented milk obtained using local strains of lactic acid bacteria, has been performed. Peptide’s profile comparison shows a higher number of amino acidic frequencies using autochthonous starter cultures than commercial ones. Among these peptides, 20.78% and 29.87%, respectively, are supposed to be potentially bioactive. Furthermore, in both products, the fatty acid profile was similar to that of origin sheep milk, and concerning aromatic profile, YoAlp® shows yogurt typical aromatic assets. Considering bioactivity, ACE inhibitor activity is high for both samples. Similar values, as expected by peptide profile analysis, have been obtained. Even in the case of antioxidant capacity, peptide profile bioactivity prediction has been confirmed by the assay showing a DPPH inhibition higher for SFM than for YoAlp®, but this difference is not statistically significant. Local strains of lactic acid bacteria seem to work as well as the commercial, preserving biodiversity and typicality. However, further analyses are needed to understand microbial proteolytic activities and to investigate gastric digestion resistance of bioactive peptides.

Quality and functional properties of bread containing the addition of probiotically fermented Cicer arietinum

This study aimed to determine the impact of supplementation with probiotically fermented chickpea (Cicer arietinum L) seeds on the quality parameters and functional characteristics of wheat bread. The addition of chickpea seeds caused significant changes in the chemical composition of the control wheat bread. The legume-supplemented products exhibited higher values of a* and b* color parameters and higher hardness after 24 h of storage than the control. The application of fermented or unfermented chickpeas contributed to an increase in total polyphenol and flavonoid contents, iron chelating capacity, and antioxidant properties of the final product. The variant containing unfermented seeds had the highest riboflavin content (29.53 ± 1.11 µg/100 g d.w.), Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (227.02 ± 7.29 µmol·L−1 TX/100 g d.w.), and free radical scavenging activity (71.37 ± 1.30 % DPPH inhibition). The results of this preliminary research have practical importance in the production of innovative bakery products with potential properties of functional food.

Microencapsulation of Tecoma stans Extracts: Bioactive Properties Preservation and Physical Characterization Analysis.

Bioactive compounds from medicinal plants have applications in the development of functional foods. However, since they are unstable, encapsulation is used as a conservation alternative. This work aimed to assess the bioactive properties (antioxidant and hypoglycemic) of different extracts, including the infusion, as well as their spray-dried microencapsulates from Tecoma stans leaves. A factorial design was proposed to determine the best extraction conditions, based on ABTS and DPPH inhibition. Maltodextrin (MD), arabic gum (AG), and a 1:1 blend (MD:AG) were used as encapsulating agents. Moreover, characterization through physicochemical properties, gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of the best two powders based on the bioactive properties were analyzed. The results showed that the combination of stirring, water, and 5 min provided the highest inhibition to ABTS and DPPH (35.64 ± 1.25 mg Trolox/g d.s. and 2.77 ± 0.01 g Trolox/g d.s., respectively). Spray drying decreased the antioxidant activity of the extract while preserving it in the infusion. The encapsulated infusion with MD:AG had the highest hypoglycemic activity as it presented the lowest glycemic index (GI = 47). According to the results, the microencapsulates could potentially be added in foods to enhance nutritional quality and prevent/treat ailments.

Characterization of Langra Mango Peel Powder and Assessment of Its Prebiotic and Antioxidant Potential

The possibility of developing waste by-products of food processing into functional food additives along with probiotics is an interesting avenue to research. This study investigated the nutritional and functional attributes of dried mango peel powder (MPP) of Langra cultivar and its putative potential to act as a prebiotic in the presence of two probiotic strains Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus NCDC347 and Limosilactobacillus fermentum NCDC143 @ 2.5 &amp; 5% after 24 to 48 h fermentation. Proximate analysis revealed that the MPP contains 6.45 % moisture, 6.34 % protein, 3.88 % fat, 2.50 % ash, 32.86 % crude dietary fiber, and 47.97 % of total carbohydrate content. MP displayed substantial antioxidant potential with 54.6% DPPH inhibitory activity, 15.67 mg GAE/g TPC, 8.88 mg QuE/g TFC, OHC of 1.47 g oil/g, and a WHC of 4.7 g water/g. MPP could selectively stimulate the growth of two probiotic strains over enteric bacteria. It was revealed that a combination of MPP @5% with L. fermentum NCDC143 after 24 h fermentation had the best in vitro prebiotic activity score of 3.35 and 3.53 against Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 and Enterococcus faecalis NCDC114, respectively. The prebiotic activity score of MPP was better than commercial prebiotic malto-dextrin for all combinations of probiotic and enteric strains tested. The percentage DPPH inhibition activity of MPP increased during fermentation with L. fermentum NCDC143, highlighting its role as a source of antioxidants. These findings contribute to the formulation of synbiotic products that are able to maintain selected healthy microbiota in the human gut.

In vitro Evaluation of Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activity of Aqueous Aerial Parts Extracts of Euphorbia helioscopia L.

Antitumor, antiviral, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities were reported for Euphorbia helioscopia usage in traditional medicine. Therefore, minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations (MIC, MBC) of E. helioscopia aqueous leaf and stem extracts were evaluated by broth microdilution assay. As well as their antioxidant activity was carried out using DPPH assay. Obtained results showed that MIC values of leaf extract ranged from 0.78±0.0 mg/mL to 12.5±0.0 mg/mL and stem extract ranged from 3.125±0.0 mg/mL to 25±0.0 mg/mL. While, MBC of leaf and stem extracts had a range from 6.25±0.0 mg/mL to 50±0.0 mg/mL and 25±0.0 mg/mL to 50±0.0 mg/mL, respectively. The current study demonstrated that E. helioscopia leaf and stem extracts had antioxidant activity. One-way ANOVA test, the P values for the leaf and stem aqueous extracts were equal to 0.997 and 0.058, respectively. Consequently, both extracts showed no significant difference relative to the standard ascorbic acid (P value &gt; 0.01). In addition, statistical analyses showed no significant differences between the tested concentrations of leaf extract and tested concentrations of ascorbic acid at P value &gt; 0.01. The same thing was obtained for tested concentrations of stem aqueous extract, except at concentrations 7.81 and 3.91 µg/mL which showed DPPH inhibition percent 4.30±0.63 and 0.59±0.10, respectively. This indicates that E. helioscopia has potential to serve as a natural antioxidant, which makes it a promising candidate for therapeutic applications. Moreover, the positive antibacterial recorded data could potentially be used to develop potent drugs that improve the management and treatment of variety bacterial illnesses.

Physiochemical and Sensory Properties of a Turmeric, Ginger, and Pineapple Functional Beverage with Effects of Pulp Content.

Beverage mixtures based on pineapple juice (80-100%), with varying concentrations of turmeric (0-20%) and ginger (0-20%) juice were developed. The pineapple juice alone exhibited a total soluble solid (TSS) content of 15.90-16.03 °Brix. The total polyphenols content (TPC) varied between 0.32 and 1.79 mg GAE/mL, and the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) inhibition was between 40.56% and 86.19% and correlated with the TPC and curcumin and other curcuminoids. The formulations with a high pulp content showed a significantly higher TPC and greater DPPH inhibition than those with a low pulp content. Turmeric and ginger with a high amount of pulp had a higher abundance of volatile compounds. Significant differences were observed by the panelists in the taste and mouthfeel attributes and the low-pulp juices were associated with increased palatability due to the better mouthfeel, higher sweetness, and decreased bitterness, pepperiness, pulpiness, and spiciness. The pineapple juice mixtures with 10% turmeric juice and 10% or less ginger juice were most preferred by sensory panelists.

DNA interaction, biological, and structural identification studies of bivalent nano‐sized Nickel, Palladium, and Platinum chelates of 2‐(((Z)‐6‐chloro‐3‐((E)‐([2‐hydroxyphenyl]imino)methyl)‐4H‐chromen‐4‐ylidene)amino)phenol Schiff base ligand

New nano‐sized Ni(II), Pd(II), and Pt(II) Schiff base chelates of 2‐(((Z)‐6‐chloro‐3‐((E)‐([2‐hydroxyphenyl]imino)methyl)‐4H‐chromen‐4‐ylidene)amino)phenol were designed and manufactured. The structural characterization of these isolated compounds was accomplished through spectral measurements, thermal and elemental analyses, and magnetic moment and conductivity determinations. The nano‐sized metal(II) complexes molar conductance indicated that they exhibited non‐electrolytic behavior. The UV–Vis spectral data and magnetic moment provided evidence for producing octahedral geometries in the nano‐sized complexes of Ni(II), Pd(II), and Pt(II). Metal chelates' thermal characteristics and decomposition kinetics were examined through Coats‐Redfern technique. The kinetic aspects, including pre‐exponential factor (A), the entropy of activation (ΔS), and activation energy (E) were enumerated. The X‐ray diffraction (XRD) calculations results of the trivalent metal complexes showed that sharp and intense diffraction peaks signify their crystalline properties with nanoscale particle size, and another proof was obtained from the images of SEM, TEM, EDX, and AFM also homogeneous distribution over the complex surface was confirmed. Molecular modeling techniques were adopted to optimize the metal complexes geometry. The viscosity and UV–Vis absorption determinations were utilized to assess the calf thymus DNA (CT‐DNA) interaction with the nano‐sized metal(II) chelates. The acquired data revealed that the complexes exhibit a non‐intercalative or incomplete binding pattern when interacting with DNA. The calculated DNA‐complexes binding constants are 3.93 ± 0.02 × 10,4 1.67 ± 0.3 × 105 and 2.88 ± 0.03 × 105 M−1, for nano‐sized Ni(II), Pd(II) and Pt(II) Schiff base chelates, successively. Both Gram‐negative (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and Gram‐positive (Bacillus subtilis and Streptococcus pneumoniae) micro‐organisms were tested against H2L Schiff base ligand and its nano‐sized metal(II) complexes. Candida albicans and Aspergillus fumigatus were tested for antifungal activity, revealing that most complexes had activity lower than H2L ligand, while the complex of Ni(II) exhibited no discernible antifungal activities. Furthermore, the manufactured complexes underwent testing for their in‐vitro anticancer and antibacterial effectiveness. Furthermore, the complexes antioxidant activity was appraised through DPPH and ABTS inhibition tests, revealing distinct scavenging abilities on DPPH radicals. The complexes were ordered according to their scavenging capacity as follows: Ni(II) complex &gt; Pd(II) complex &gt; Pt(II) complex. Finally, the study of cell cycle arrest by the Ni(II), Pd(II), and Pt(II) complexes on HEPG2 has also been performed through flow cell cytometry.

Exploring the potential of a Ephedra alata leaf extract: Phytochemical analysis, antioxidant activity, antibacterial properties, and green synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles for photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue.

Ephedra alata leaf extracts have therapeutic properties and contain various natural compounds known as phytochemicals. This study assessed the phytochemical content and antioxidant effects of a Ephedra alata leaf extract, as well as zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticle production. The extract contained phenolic acids, including vanillic acid, chlorogenic acid, gallic acid, p-coumaric acid, vanillin and rutin. Its total phenolic content and total flavonoid content were 48.7 ± 0.9mg.g-1 and 1.7 ± 0.4mg.g-1, respectively. The extract displayed a DPPH inhibition rate of 70.5%, total antioxidant activity of 49.5 ± 3.4mg.g-1, and significant antimicrobial activity toward Gram-positive and negative bacteria. The synthesized ZnO nanoparticles had spherical shape, crystallite size of 25nm, particle size between 5 and 30nm, and bandgap energy of 3.3eV. In specific conditions (90min contact time, pH 7, and 25°C), these nanoparticles efficiently photodegraded 87% of methylene blue, suggesting potential applications for sustainable water treatment and pollution control.

Changes in the quality of oil extracted by hot pressing from black cumin (Nigella sativa) seeds and by solvent from the obtained cake during refining.

In this study, oil was extracted from black cumin (Nigella sativa) seed (BCS) by press, and oil was extracted from the obtained cake with a solvent. The changes in the quality of both crude oils obtained by pressing and by solvent were investigated during refining. Findings revealed that the p-anisidin value (p-AV) and fatty acid profile did not change significantly, but there were significant differences (p < .05) in the peroxide value (PV), reflective index, pigment contents, free fatty acid content (FFA%), and antioxidant activity (total phenol content (TPC), thymoquinone, and DPPH inhibition) of BCS oils obtained by the two different methods. PV and FFA decreased to less than 15 meqO2/kg and 0.3%, respectively, in the refined oil. The TPC (65%), thymoquinone (45-97%), carotenoids (86-89%), and chlorophyll (75-85%) were removed from BCS oil, but the DPPH value was raised by about 33%. The current study gives a clear picture of the changes during refining in BCS oil, which can be a useful guide in food applications.

Production of protein hydrolysate from four plant sources and its optimization with α-pinene and tea seed saponin to control olive fruit fly

Types, source of production and optimization with some attractive compounds are the main requirements to produce a commercially efficient protein hydrolysate. The current study was designed to produce protein hydrolysate for the first time from Camelia sinensis (Tea) seeds, Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (Guar) seeds, Cucurbita pepo (Summer squash) seeds, Glycine max (Soybean) seeds and Olea europaea Kernels (Olive) optimized with α-pinene and Camelia sinensis saponin (CSS) aiming to availability of the products from the sources with low economic value and more attractance. Results revealed the highest extracted protein from Guar while the highest inhibition of DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate) and hydroxyl radicals were recorded in the protein hydrolysates extracted from Summer squash, Soybean and Olive. The highest reduction potential of Fe3+ ion and radical scavenging activity were found in the protein hydrolysate extracted from Olive and Soybean, respectively. Exposure of protein hydrolysates extracted from plant sources were determined in choice and no choice assays. In choice experiment, the highest amount of ingestion was recorded on Tea, Guar and Summer squash but the adults ingested the most protein hydrolysate extracted from tea optimized with α-pinene. In no choice experiment, the highest ingestion was recorded on Guar while optimization with α-pinene caused the highest ingestion on both Tea and Guar. Bioassay of C. sinensis saponin against the adults of B. oleae demonstrated the LC50 and LT50 values of 0.35% and 1.41 days, respectively. Also, CSS decreased activities of digestive enzymes in B. oleae except for TAG-lipase and trypsin. The adults of B. oleae fed on protein hydrolysate containing CSS showed elevated activity of antioxidant enzymes including catalase, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and ascorbate peroxidase except for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. Results of the present study showed that protein hydrolysate can be extracted from plant sources that have little commercial value like tea seeds and olive kernels. In addition, their optimization with compounds that are attractive to the olive fruit fly can provide products with the higher efficiency than the products available in the market.

Physical and biological characteristics of eco‐friendly films added with Cinnamomum zeylanicum extract for packaging materials

SummaryThe effects of Cinnamomum zeylanicum extract (CZE) at different rations (0%, 1%, 3% and 5%) on gelatin (GL)–polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) blend films were evaluated in relation to the structural, tensile strength, physical, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of the films in this study. The results showed that water barriers of the film samples decreased, but the UV‐blocking property increased and became opaque at the highest GLPVA5 film. The tensile strengths of GLPVA, GLPVA1, GLPVA3 and GLPVA5 films were 1.21, 1.78, 1.62 and 1.95 MPa, respectively. The antimicrobial effect of these films was determined against Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, Salmonella typhimurium and Bacillus cereus according to the parallel stick method. Antioxidant properties of cinnamon extract were investigated using 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picryl‐hydrazil (DPPH) methods. The % inhibition of DPPH was found to be 82.00. No antibacterial effect was detected for B.cereus and E. faecalis at 0%, 1%, 3% and 5%. While no activity was observed in 0%, 1% and 3% cinnamon, 7.5 and 3.0 mm zones were detected in S. typhimirium and E. coli, respectively, in 5% cinnamon. The results suggest that the film samples could be used in a potential packaging with antioxidant and antibacterial properties.

Effects of ultrasonic power on drying kinetics and product quality of licorice extract during ultrasound-assisted vacuum drying.

Licorice extract is an important raw material for food additives and medicine. The quality of licorice extract is dictated by the drying process. The commonly used drying methods of licorice extract are not efficient in obtaining high-quality products so alternative techniques need to be developed and researched. In this study, ultrasound-assisted vacuum drying (UAVD) was first utilized to improve drying efficiency and produce a higher-quality product. The changes in water mobility of licorice extract during drying were characterized using low-field nuclear magnetic resonance. In addition, the effects of ultrasonic power on the drying dynamics, the contents of liquiritin and glycyrrhizic acid, the antioxidant capacity and the microstructure formation of licorice extract during the whole drying process were investigated. The drying times for licorice extract to reach equilibrium moisture content were reduced by 9.09-69.70% with UAVD at 40-200 W compared with that without ultrasonic treatment (0 W). Moreover, the proportions of bound water and semi-bound water in fresh concentrate were 3.75% and 96.25%. It was also found that high ultrasonic power promoted the flow of water and the formation of porous structure in licorice extract, which led to the improvement of drying efficiency. The contents of liquiritin (2.444%) and glycyrrhizic acid (6.514%) were retained to a large degree in the dried product at an ultrasonic power of 80 W. The DPPH inhibition rate of UAVD samples with different ultrasonic powers ranged from 84.07 ± 0.46% to 90.65 ± 0.22%. UAVD has the advantages of high efficiency and low energy consumption, which may be an alternative technology for vacuum drying widely used in industry. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Antioxidant and cytotoxic properties of Combretum paniculatum and Fadogia agrestis extracts on prostate and cervical cancers cell lines

The medicinal plants used in Burkina Faso are essential source of research for bioactive compounds against prostate and cervical cancer, which are major health problems in Burkina Faso and worldwide. This was done by hydro-acetic maceration of the powder of the leafy branches of Combretum paniculatum (C. paniculatum) and Fadogia agrestis (F. agrestis). These extracts were then fractionated using petroleum ether, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol. A phytochemical screening of these extracts was performed using High-Performance Thin Layer Chromatography (HPTLC). Antioxidant activity was evaluated using 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH∎) and 2'-Azino-Bis-3-Ethylbenzothiazoline-6-Sulfonic Acid (ABTS∎+). The extracts cytotoxicity was assessed by the MTT (Mitochondrial Tetrazolium Test) method on the LNCaP cell lines of prostate cancer and HeLa of cervical cancer. Phytochemical analysis of extracts and fractions revealed the presence of tannins, flavonoids, and steroids in these plants. For antioxidant activity, the ethyl acetate fraction of F. agrestis and the n-butanol fraction of C. paniculatum gave the best inhibition of DPPH∎ with IC50 values of 0.246 ± 0.045 and 0.097 ± 0.008 μg extract/mL, respectively. Using the ABTS∎+ method, the ethyl acetate fractions of C. paniculatum (1.1009 ± 0.0181 μM ET/g) and F. agrestis (0.0316 ± 0.0007 μM ET/g) showed the best activity. In addition, the fractions of dichloromethane (DCM) of F. agrestis (IC50 = 24.69 ± 9.51 μg/ml) and ethyl acetate (AE) of F. agrestis (IC50 = 129.9 ± 6.49 μg/ml) had better activity, respectively on the prostate and cervical cancer LNCaP lines. These properties could justify the use of these plants in traditional medicine.