Mmol Fe2 Research Articles

Research of the technology of production of black and green tea extracts with antioxidant activity: determination of the effect of the extraction temperature

Many factors can influence the efficiency of the extraction of antioxidants from plants. The most important parameters that affect extraction efficiency in terms of yield and quality include temperature, extraction time, and particle size. The aim of our study was to select the optimal extraction temperature for two types of tea, to obtain extracts with high values of total phenols, flavonoids, antiradical activity according to the DPPH method, restoring strength according to the FRAP method and tannins. The objects of the study were extracts of two types of tea, obtained using one type of solvent - water, a grinding degree of 0.5 mm and three extraction temperatures of 20-25 °C, 40-50 °C and the boiling point of the solvent. A large amount of phenols is extracted from black tea extracts (493 mg (HA) / 100 g) with a temperature equal to the boiling point of the solvent, green tea (936 mg (HA) / 100 g) shows high values of phenol content at an extraction temperature of 40-50 (С. High values of the total content of flavonoids were observed at a temperature equal to the boiling point of the solvent in both black (456 mg (K) / 100 g) and green (502 mg (K) / 100 g) tea. The most tannins were found in extracts of black (98.3 mg catechin / 100 g) and green (224.9 mg catechin / 100 g) tea at a temperature of 40-50 °C. The lowest antiradical activity was found in extracts of black (Ec50 = 1.6 mg / cm3) and green (Ec50 = 4.0 mg / cm3) tea with an extraction temperature of 40-50 °C. The highest index of restorative power was in extracts of black (14.04 mmol Fe2+ / kg) tea with an extraction temperature equal to the boiling point of the solvent, and in green (12.15 mmol Fe2+ / kg) tea at a temperature of 40-50 (С.

Nutraceutical profile of goji (Lycium barbarum L.) berries in relation to environmental conditions and harvesting period

Goji (Lycium barbarum L.) berries are well known for their biological activities and health-promoting antioxidant properties. Environmental and climatic factors can greatly affect accumulation of secondary metabolites, carotenoids and other antioxidants in plants. We determined the content and composition of main functional constituents of goji berries produced in central Italy in relation to the time of harvesting during two ripening seasons by analyzing the main environmental variables involved. The highest flavonoids content (0,19 ± 0,006 mg QE/g) and antioxidant power (0,03 ± 0,001 mmol Fe2+eq/g) were found at the beginning of the fruiting season. In September, berries show the highest total polyphenols (3,22 ± 0,09 mg GAE/g) and zeaxanthin contents (339,79 ± 14,12 μg/g). Our study focused on some important aspects related to the production of goji fruits with high nutraceutical characteristics in a non-experimental cultivation. Our results could provide reliable information on Goji performance in the European climate to be used for the exploitation of the species suggesting the best harvesting timing in terms of antioxidant power and nutraceutical features of berries. This information could be particularly useful for farmers eager to improve the quality of their products.

Native and Oxidized Starch for Adsorption of Nickel, Iron, and Manganese Ions from Water

The adsorption of heavy metal ions from surface water with ecologically safe and biodegradable biopolymers is increasingly becoming an appealing research challenge. Starch as a biopolymer is exceptionally attractive to solve this problem for its low cost and abundant availability in nature. To expel Ni2+, Fe2+/3+, and Mn2+ from water, we analyzed two native and two oxidized starches, namely potato and corn starch, as bio-adsorbers. The morphology and the surface property of the different starches were studied using SEM. To assess the effectiveness of adsorption onto the starches, we tested three realistic concentrations based on German drinking water ordinance values that were 10-fold, 100-fold, and 1000-fold the limits for Mn2+, Fe2+, and Ni2+, respectively. The concentration of the different ions was measured using the ICP-OES. Furthermore, from subsequent investigations of the adsorption isotherms, we evaluated the adsorption capacities and mechanisms. The adsorption isotherms were fitted using the Langmuir, Sips, and Dubinin–Radushkevich models, whereby Sips showed the highest correlation. Oxidized potato starch achieved viable adsorption capacities of 77 µmol Fe2+/g, 84 µmol Mn2+/g, and 118 µmol Ni2+/g. Investigating the influence of initial swelling in water on the adsorption performance, we found that especially the percentage removal with oxidized starches decreased significantly due to the formation of hydrogen bonds with water molecules at their binding sites with prior swelling.

Spectroscopic and tensiometric considerations on anionic surfactants (SDS) and ascorbic acid/ascorbates interactions

The cosmetics and personal care products market is developing dynamically and the formulations of products are subject to numerous modifications due to consumer expectations and market trends. An increase in demand for products containing ascorbic acid or its more stable forms has been observed for several years. In this study, the correlation between SDS and ascorbic acid or its derivatives in aqueous solutions was assessed using spectroscopic and tensiometric methods. The influence of SDS interactions on the total antioxidant capacity of ascorbic acid/ascorbic acid derivatives was analyzed. The highest FRAP values of SDS-AA2G and SDS-EAC systems (0.17 and 2.71 mmol Fe2+/g, respectively) were at SDS concentration of 0.40 mM and were much higher than the ones of pure ascorbic acid derivatives. Based on the surface tension isotherms and Szyszkowski's equation, it was found that for the tested SDS/ascorbic acid, ascorbyl glucoside and 3-O-ethyl ascorbic acid systems, the CMC values were: 3.85, 2.54 and 3.31 mmol/dm3. There was also an influence on the values of the adsorption parameters, i.e. the surface excess at the saturated interface, the minimum molecular area in the adsorption layer at the saturated interface and the Gibbs free energy of adsorption. Moreover, in most of the analyzed cases, the tested systems had better wetting properties, which resulted in lower values of the contact angle than in the case of pure SDS solution.

Phytochemical Composition, Antioxidant, Antibacterial, and Enzyme Inhibitory Activities of Various Organic Extracts from Apocynum hendersonii (Hook.f.) Woodson.

Apocynum hendersonii is a traditional medicinal plant used primarily as tea. It has a potential health benefit from its rich bioactive substances. This study investigated the reactivity of solvents of different polarities (ethanol, ethyl acetate, n-hexane, methanol, and water) extracts of the A. hendersonii leaf. The phytochemical composition of the extracts was evaluated using a Fourier Transform Infrared spectrophotometer (FT-IR), Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), UHPLC-MS, and Higher Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). The result revealed the presence of medicinally important bioactive constituents, including phenols, flavonoids, and polysaccharides. Methanol extracts exhibited the highest flavonoid contents (20.11 ± 0.85 mg QE/g DW) and the second-highest in terms of phenolic (9.25 ± 0.03 mg GAE/g DW) and polysaccharide (119.66 ± 2.65 mg GE/g DW). It also had the highest antioxidant capacity with 60.30 ± 0.52% and 4.60 ± 0.02 µmol Fe2+ per g DW based on a 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), respectively. Ethanol extract displayed the maximum antibacterial action against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and the highest inhibition activity against the enzymes tyrosinase and acetylcholinesterase, followed by methanol extract. The principal component analysis revealed a positive correlation between the constituents, bioactivities, and extracts. The overall result showed A. hendersonii as a rich natural source of antimicrobial and antioxidant bioactive compounds and may be used for future applications in pharmaceuticals and food industries.

Cytotoxic activity of strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo L.) honey, its extract, and homogentisic acid on CAL 27, HepG2, and Caco-2 cell lines.

Strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo L.) honey (STH), also known as “bitter honey”, is a traditional medicine widely used in the Mediterranean area. Regardless of geographical origin, it usually has a very high content of phenolic compounds and strong antioxidant capacity. Yet, little is still known about the effects of STH, its phenolic extract (STHE), and its main bioactive compound – homogentisic acid (HGA) – at the cell level. The aim of this study was to estimate total phenolic content, DPPH radical scavenging activity, and ferric reducing antioxidant power of STH made in Croatia and investigate cytotoxic and pro-oxidative effects of STH, STHE and HGA on three human cell lines: tongue squamous cell carcinoma (CAL 27), hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2), and epithelial colorectal adenocarcinoma cells (Caco-2) cells. These substances were tested at four concentrations (0.5–5× average human daily intake of STH) and over 30 min and 1 and 2 h. Croatian STH had a total phenolic content of 1.67 g gallic acid equivalents (GAE) per kg of honey, DPPH radical scavenging activity of 2.96 mmol Trolox equivalents (TE) per kg of honey, and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) of 13.5 mmol Fe2+ per kg of honey. Our results show no clear and consistent time- or concentration-dependent cytotoxicity in any of the cell lines. ROS levels in all the three cell types at almost all exposure times were not significantly higher than control. The most important observation is that the tested substances have low cytotoxicity and high biocompatibility, regardless of concentration, which is a good starting point for further research of their biological effects in other models.

Green Extraction Methods for Recovery of Antioxidant Compounds from Epicarp, Seed, and Seed Tegument of Avocado var. Hass (Persea americana Mill.).

The present study compared the extracts obtained from the epicarp, seed, and seed tegument of avocado var. Hass with pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) and ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE). The extracts were quantified in terms of total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant capacity (AC). The PLE extracts had a global yield (X0) like that obtained with UAE using ethanol (Et) as the solvent. For the TPC, the extracts obtained with both techniques showed no significant differences (p > 0.05). On the other hand, the epicarp extracts obtained with PLE had higher values for AC: 829.8 μmol TE/gDe (ABTS) and 3,215.1 μmol Fe2+/g De (FRAP), recorded for UAE/Et. The AC in the avocado residue extracted with PLE suggested a high potential for applications in food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetology products.

Valorisation of bioactive compounds from Bentong ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe var. Bentong) using ultrasound-assisted extraction

The present work demonstrated the bioactive compound recovery from Bentong ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe var. Bentong) using ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) in terms of crude yield (CY), as well as total phenolic content (TPC), 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and ferric reducing-antioxidant power (FRAP), which reflected the antioxidant properties. These response variables were evaluated as functions of the independent variables; temperature (30 - 60°C), time (10 - 30 min), and ultrasonic intensity (1768 - 5304.10 W/cm2), using response surface methodology (RSM). The variables were optimised using quadratic polynomial through the correlations calculated from the regression models fitted to the experimental data. The predicted values of CY, TPC, FRAP, and DPPH under the optimal conditions (40°C, 3536.78 W/cm2, and 25 min) were 23.42%, 778.08 mg GAE/g, 636.08 µmol Fe2+/g, and 150.01%, respectively. These experimental values were well fitted with the predicted values, except for DPPH. With UAE set at the optimal conditions, a pre-leaching step (PLS) was added to the process to investigate its effect on the extraction. It was found that PLS-UAE produced higher extraction yields (30.15%); however, the antioxidant activity of the extracts was significantly (p < 0.05) higher at the optimised condition for UAE only treatment. The PLS application led to structural cell damage which increased CY, and this was validated through scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

Content of Phenolic Acids as a Marker of Polish Honey Varieties and Relationship with Selected Honey-Quality-Influencing Variables.

Phenolic acids are an important component of honey. Literature data indicate their pro-health properties and diversified content in different varieties. Therefore, the aim of our study was to evaluate the content of phenolic acids in bee honey. The material for the research was 49 samples of honey obtained from beekeepers from Poland. Selected phenolic acids were determined by HPLC with PDA detection. Additionally, total phenolic content (TPC), color intensity, color on the Pfund scale, water content, electrical conductivity, and FRAP were assessed. A higher trans-ferulic acid content is accompanied by a stronger free radical scavenging ability. It was shown that buckwheat honeys are characterized by a high TPC value (196.59 mg GAE/100 g), color intensity (2109.2 mAU), color on the Pfund scale (159.8 mm Pfund), and high activity in the FRAP assay (0.403 equivalent of µmol Fe2+/mL). The median obtained in the DPPH test for this honey variety was 41.1%. Moreover, the highest median of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (3.129 mg/100 g) in buckwheat honey was shown. Buckwheat honeys have promising antioxidant properties and should be included in diets low in antioxidants.

Antioxidant Activities of Aqueous Extracts and Protein Hydrolysates from Marine Worm Hechong (Tylorrhynchus heterochaeta).

Hechong (Tylorrhynchus heterochaeta) is an edible marine worm widely distributed in the estuary area. The objective of this study is to determine the antioxidant activities of extracts and protein hydrolysates from Hechong. Results showed that the aqueous extracts of steamed Hechong had the highest antioxidant values using the methods of DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP testing (76.29 μmol TE/g, 181.04 μmol TE/g, and 10.40 mmol Fe2+/100 g, respectively). Furthermore, protein hydrolysates of Hechong were observed significant antioxidant activities when compared to crude Hechong. The purification was carried out by DEAE-52 cellulose and Sephadex G-100 column chromatography. The microspatial structure of glycoprotein showed fibrous shapes and cracks with uniform distribution. The study has concluded that the extract and protein hydrolysates of Hechong have significant antioxidant activities, which is merited to be further investigated in the food and pharmaceutical fields.

The pharmaceutical applications of total flavonoids extract from Isatis tinctoria L. leaves

Isatis tinctoria L. leaves (Folium isatidis), as dried leave of the isatis indigotica in the cruciferous family, has a variety of pharmacological effects, including regulation of immune function, anti-inflammatory, bacteriostasis, antipyretic effect. In this study, total flavonoids extract from Folium isatidis was systematically studied about extractive process, main components, antibacterial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The total flavonoids extract yield was (7.65±0.07)% under the optimal extraction parameters of ethanol concentration 54.37%, ratio of solvent volume to material weight 40:1 ml/g, and ultrasonic extraction time 20 min. Nineteen chemical components were inferred and identified by UPLC-QTOF-MS method. Although the extract showed mild antibacterial and antioxidant effects with MIC values 31.25, 62.5, 125 and 125 mg/ml against Streptococcus, Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, and IC50 DPPH 12.64 µg/ml, IC50 ABTS 16.72 µg/ml and FRAP value at 0.11 mmol Fe2+/100 µg/ml compared with the positive control butylated hydroxytoluene with IC50 DPPH 8.13 µg/ml, IC50 ABTS 2.22 µg/ml and FRAP value at 0.16 mmol Fe2+/100 µg/ml. It exhibited better anti-inflammatory effects in LPS induced RAW 264.7 cell (50, 100 and 200 µg/ml of TFE) and ALI mice (100, 250, or 500 mg/kg•b•w of TFE), which was demonstrated by reducing cell phagocytic activity, decreasing the content of pro-inflammatory cytokine and inflammatory mediator, and improving lung tissue injury. Furthermore, the mechanism of anti-inflammatory action was further revealed to be related to the regulation of TLR4-TRIF-NF-κB signaling pathway. These studies revealed that total flavonoids extract could be used as a natural and green candidate for anti-inflammatory drugs and enrich the variety of clinical anti-inflammatory drugs.

Quality and Pro-Healthy Properties of Belgian Witbier-Style Beers Relative to the Cultivar of Winter Wheat and Raw Materials Used.

Unmalted wheat grain and barley malt are the basic materials used in the production of Belgian wheat beers known as Witbier. A change in the ingredients defined in the recipe, by which part of the unmalted wheat is replaced with wheat malt, can positively affect the quality of the beverage produced. The purpose of the study was to brew Witbier-style beers made from four cultivars of winter wheat, with a 50% share of unmalted wheat and barley malt as well as Witbier-style beers made from four wheat cultivars, where 25% of unmalted wheat was replaced with wheat malt. Physicochemical and sensory analyzes showed mild differences in the quality of the beer products, more specifically higher alcohol content (by 11.33%) were found in beers made without the addition of wheat malt, while higher sensory attractiveness and 17.13% higher total polyphenol content were identified in beers enhanced with wheat malt. Phenolic compounds were identified using UPLC-PDA-MS/MS. The highest flavanol content, including kaempferol 3-O-rhamnoside-7-O-pentoside, was found in beers produced using wheat grains of the ‘Elixer’ cultivar, whether or not wheat malt was added; the values were 1.31 mg/L in E50 beer, and 1.39 mg/L in E25 beer. The same beer samples with the highest antioxidant and antiradical activity were found (in E25 beer, 2.35 mmol TE/L, and in E50 beer, 2.12 mmol Fe2+/L). The present findings show that the investigated wheat cultivars may be used in beer production, whereas replacing part of unmalted wheat with wheat malt can improve the sensory profile of the beer produced.

Spasmolytic, Gastroprotective and Antioxidant Activities of Dry Methanol Extract of Ferula heuffelii Underground Parts

AbstractDry MeOH extract of Ferula heuffelii (Apiaceae) underground parts was tested for spasmolytic, gastroprotective and antioxidant activities. HPLC analysis revealed that chlorogenic acid (CGA; 34.6 mg/g) was its main constituent. Extract in vitro exhibited notable total antioxidant activity (FRAP value=1.0 μmol Fe2+/mg), and scavenging of DPPH (SC50=62.5 μg/ml) and •OH radicals (49.5 % at 20 μg/ml in 2‐deoxyribose assay). In vitro on isolated rat ileum, extract exhibited significant spasmolytic activity, i. e., it showed 124.6 % of maximal atropine effect on spontaneous contractions (at 100 μg/ml), and reduced spasmogenic effect of KCl (80 mm) to 44.4 % (at 60 μg/ml) and of highest applied concentration of ACh to 26.3 % (at 120 μg/ml). In parallel experiments, spasmolytic effect of CGA was also demonstrated. In acute EtOH‐induced gastric ulceration model in rats, extract (100 mg/kg p.o.) showed significant gastroprotective effect (gastric damage score 0.50), similar to ranitidine (20 mg/kg p.o.). Obtained results showed that tested F. heuffelii polar extract represents new herbal preparation with potential use against some gastrointestinal complaints.

The effects of different extraction solvents on the yield and antioxidant properties of Nigella sativa oil from Saudi Arabia

Nigella sativa L. is a fragrant plant that belongs to the Ranunculaceae family. It is commonly used as a form of traditional medicine in Middle-Eastern countries. In this study, Nigella seed oil from Saudi Arabia was extracted using the cold press and Soxhlet methods to investigate the effects of solvents polarities on yield and antioxidant properties. The analysis revealed that the highest yield (40%) of oil was obtained with ethanol solvent. The aqueous methanol extract the highest level of total phenolic compounds (239 mg GAE/g). Moreover, the methanol extract showed the most elevated 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical rummaging assay, at 59%. The ferric reducing and antioxidant power activities of the oils extracted with ethanol and tetrahydrofuran were 13,199 and 13,326 mmol Fe2+/100 g dry weight, respectively. Thus, the findings show that a high level of natural antioxidants can be derived from Nigella sativa oil extracted by ethanol solvent.

First phytochemical study of six tree and shrub species with high health-promoting potential from Madagascar: Innovative uses for food and medicinal applications

Traditional food and medicine play an important role in the daily lives of the local people of Madagascar for various reasons, including poor nutrition and access to health care, limited markets, and traditional values.This research aimed to investigate the potential properties of leaf infusions of six plant species used as traditional beverages by the local population of the Maromizaha protected forest through a phytochemical characterization of the composition of these plants and a preliminary assessment of their antioxidant capacity. Infusion of Euphorbia tetraptera presented the highest content of total polyphenols (9893.3 ± 401.6 mgGAE/100 gDW) and the highest antioxidant capacity (831.46 ± 44.08 mmol Fe2+/Kg DW), together with important values of benzoic acids, catechins, flavonols, cinnamic acids and organic acids. The Tina striata species also showed interesting levels of bioactive compounds in infusions, with high levels of polyphenols (420.17 ± 22.32 mgGAE/100 gDW), and antioxidant capacity (534.96 ± 5.78 mmol Fe2+/Kg DW), and organic acids (444.96 ± 43.43 mg/100 g DW). The comparison between leaf extracts and infusions confirmed that the intake of infusions by the local population may be, in general, a source of nutrients and bioactive molecules with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. Finally, this study may help to improve the health of the local population, proposing these plants also for food purposes and adding new information on the Malagasy flora.

HR-LC-ESI-Orbitrap-MS-Based Metabolic Profiling Coupled with Chemometrics for the Discrimination of Different Echinops spinosus Organs and Evaluation of Their Antioxidant Activity.

This study aimed to assess and correlate the phenolic content and the antioxidant activity of the methanol extracts of the stems, roots, flowers, and leaves of Echinops spinosus L. from north-eastern Algeria. Qualitative analysis was performed by high-resolution mass spectrometry (HR) LC-ESI-Orbitrap-MS and (HR) LC-ESI-Orbitrap-MS/MS). Forty-five compounds were identified in the methanol extracts; some are described for the first time in E. spinosus. Targeted phenolic compounds were quantified by HPLC-DAD and it was shown that caffeoyl quinic derivatives were the most abundant compounds. Chemometric analysis was performed using principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) based on the qualitative and quantitative LC data. The score plot discriminates different Echinopsis spinosus organs into three distinct clusters, with the stems and flowers allocated in the same cluster, reflecting their resemblance in their secondary metabolites. The antioxidant activities of the methanol extracts were assessed using cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC), ferric reducing antioxidant assay (FRAP), diphenyl picryl hydrazyl radical-scavenging capacity assay (DPPH●), and 2,2′-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS●+). The root extract exhibited the highest antioxidant activity, evidenced by 3.26 and 1.61 mmol Fe2+/g dried residue for CUPRAC and FRAP, respectively, and great free radical-scavenging activities estimated by 0.53 and 0.82 mmol TEAC/g dried residue for DPPH● and ABTS●+, respectively. The methanol extract of the roots demonstrated a significant level of total phenolics (TP: 125.16 mg GAE/g dried residue) and flavonoids (TFI: 25.40 QE/g dried residue TFII: 140 CE/g dried residue). Molecular docking revealed that tricaffeoyl-altraric acid and dicaffeoyl-altraric acid exhibited the best fit within the active sites of NADPH oxidase (NO) and myeloperoxidase (MP). From ADME/TOPAKT analyses, it can be concluded that tricaffeoyl-altraric acid and dicaffeoyl-altraric acid also revealed reasonable pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characteristics with a significant safety profile.

Non-starch polysaccharides derived from sorghum grains, bran, spent grain and evaluation of their antioxidant properties with respect to their bound phenolic acids

Sorghum bran (SB) and sorghum spent grain (SSG), the main by-products of sorghum grains (SG) processing, are important sources of dietary fibre (DF). In this research communication, the proximate composition of materials and the antioxidant activities of non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) derived from SB, SSG and SG were evaluated by the reducing power and the scavenging capacities by the DPPH and ABTS radical methods. SSG contained higher amount of proteins (23.85 g/100g), lipids (8.24 g/100g), ash (6.80 g/100g) and total dietary fibre (56.25 g/100g); SB and SSG contained respectively two and three-times more fibres than the SG. Among isolated NSP, the calcium hydroxide extractable polysaccharides (CHEP) were found to be richer in total phenolic contents (580.40–1183.17 Ferulic acid equivalents/g sample) and exhibited the highest antioxidant activities (210.25–249.35 μmol Fe2+E/g sample, 311.35–381.10 μmol TE/g sample and 0.29–0.34 mg/mL for the FRAP, ABTS and DPPH IC50 values, respectively). The study revealed that NSP from sorghum by-products especially the CHEP fractions have significant antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities. These non-starch polysaccharide–phenolic acid complexes from bran and spent grain can be used in various fibre depleted foods while contribute preventing their oxidation. The high antioxidant activity exhibited by NSP isolated from sorghum by-products is mainly due to their high bound phenolic acid contents. This is an added advantage in using these DF as food additives.

Evaluation of Phenolic Content, Antioxidant Activity and Cytotoxic Effects of Ulva lactuca and Hypnea Musiformis Marine Algae on MDA-MB-468 Cell Line

Background & Objective: Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of death among women around the world. Attempts to find alternative therapies continue due to therapeutic resistance, side effects, and the high cost of conventional treatments. Materials & Methods: Hydro-methanolic extract of Ulva lactuca and Hypnea musiformis marine algae was prepared by maceration method. The phenolic content of these extracts was compared using the standard Folin-Ciocateu method and the antioxidant capacity was evaluated by the FRAP method. The cytotoxic effects of algae were compared using MTT assay and morphological changes were evaluated by an inverted microscope. Results: The phenolic content of Hypnea musiformis extract (12.46 ± 1.19 µg GAE/mg, P<0.0001), and its antioxidant activity (203.03 ± 27.87 µmol Fe2+/g, P= 0.007), was significantly higher than that of the alga Ulva lactuca. The cytotoxic effects of Hypnea musiformis extract were concentration and time dependent and had severe morphological changes on the cells. Algae extract of Hypnea musiformis (1000 µg/ml) inhibited 84.79 ± 4.66 of % cell proliferation after 72 hours of treatment. The IC50 value of cytotoxic effect of Hypnea musiformis and Ulva lactuca on MDA-MB-468 was respectively 701.2 and >1000 µg/ml after 72h incubation. Conclusions: Hypnea musiformis had higher cytotoxic effects than Ulva lactuca on MDA-MB-468 cells, probably due to its higher phenolic content and antioxidant capacity. Therefore, it appears that a Hypnea musiformis alga is a better option to continue research on drug discovery of anticancer compounds.

Simultaneous Optimization of Extraction Yield, Phenolic Compounds and Antioxidant Activity of Moroccan Propolis Extracts: Improvement of Ultrasound-Assisted Technique Using Response Surface Methodology

Propolis has given rise to refreshing interest in recent years in the field of conventional medicine. Its extraction represents an important process that requires optimal conditions, which strongly affect the yield of extraction, total polyphenols, flavonoid content, and radical scavenging capacity markers. The objective of the present study was to optimize the ultrasound-assisted extraction conditions of Moroccan propolis. The studied responses were the extraction yield, total polyphenols, flavonoid contents (TPC, TFC), and antioxidant activity of the extract evaluated by DPPH-IC50 and FRAP-EC50 assays. The response surface methodology (RSM) and specifically the Box–Behnken design (BBD) were used, taking into account three variables: sonication time (min), solvent/propolis ratio (mL/g), and ethanol concentration (%). After the realization of experiments and data analysis, optimal response values were 15.39%, 192 mg GAE/g of propolis,45.15 mg QEq/g, 29.8 µg/mL, and 128.3 µmol Fe2+/g for extraction yield, TPC, TFC, DPPH-IC50, and FRAP-EC50, respectively. Besides, optimal ultrasound extraction conditions were 15 min for sonication time, 30 mL/g for solvent/propolis ratio, and 40% for ethanol concentration. All obtained experimental values were in good agreement with the predicted values, suggesting that using an experimental design in the ultrasound-assisted extraction process and optimization was prudently chosen.

Exploration of microwaves for biorefining of phenolic antioxidants from Citrus reticulata peels: Spectrophotometric and spectroscopic analyses

Citrus industries discard an enormous waste as a by-product during juice processing, which is attracting researchers due to its functional/nutraceutical properties. To utilize the functional potential of kinnow peels, bioactives have been extracted using several green extraction techniques. In the present research, the microwave-assisted technique has been used to extract bioactive phytochemicals (phenolic and total antioxidants) from kinnow peels. Process variables, such as microwave power, solvent concentration, liquid to solid ratio (LSR), and time, were studied to maximize the extract yield of phenolic and antioxidant compounds from kinnow peels. Maximum phenolic content (2.48 mg GAE/g peels) with antioxidant activity of 63.20% and 6.38 mmol Fe2+/100 g peels for DPPH and FRAP assays, respectively, was observed at 300 W, 80% ethanol, and LSR of 50 ml/g after 6 min extraction time. The presence of phenolic and antioxidant compounds was confirmed by FT-IR and GC-EI MS techniques. Novelty impact statement Microwave-assisted extraction has emerged as an efficient non-contact heating extraction technique. But there is inadequate data on the valorization of kinnow processing by-products using microwave-assisted extraction. The present research has been conducted to investigate the effect of process parameters of microwave-assisted technique on the extraction of phenolic and antioxidant compounds from kinnow peels. This study could encourage the scale-up process for the value addition of agro-industrial waste by efficient extraction of bioactive compounds from citrus processing by-products.