Μmol Trolox Equivalents Research Articles

Improving the nutritional value of edible Caulerpa lentillifera (Chlorophyta) using high light intensities. A realistic tool for sea grape farmers

Edible sea grapes (Caulerpa lentillifera) are produced in shaded ponds (~ 50 μmol photons m−2 s−1) and are of increasing demand for direct human consumption. The controlled exposure to light-stress after harvest could increase algae's content of nutritionally valuable antioxidants, including phenols. In order to define a light-stress tool for farmers to use, we investigated the effect of five irradiances (50–600 μmol photons m−2 s−1) for an exposure time of up to 14 days. Antioxidant activity (AOA, initial of 150.93 ± 25.50 mmol Trolox equivalents 100 g−1 DW) and total phenolic content (TPC, initial of 124.45 ± 10.07 mg Gallic acid equivalents 100 g−1 DW) significantly increased to values of up to 228.8 ± 12.4 and 222.2 ± 22.7 % of initial, respectively. However, targeted increases in antioxidant parameters correlated with decreased values of Fv/Fm (p < 0.001) and the chlorophyll (Chl) a content in the edible frond was significantly lower at irradiances ≥400 μmol photons m−2 s−1 compared to the control (50 μmol photons m−2 s−1), causing bleaching. As the physiological response of the alga (Fv/Fm, AOA, TPC, Chl a) depended on exposure time and irradiance treatment, both parameters could be adjusted to define treatments according to the consumer's needs. Light irradiances measured at a sea grape farm revealed that farmers could integrate such treatments labour- and cost-effectively by removing layers of plastic-meshes off their culture or post-harvest units. The pattern of Chl a loss and red (R) colour channel values in sea grapes thallus parts implied, that a combination of degradation and chloroplast migration was responsible for bleaching at light-stress. Additionally, R channel values extracted from pictures could be used for Chl a estimation, due to strong correlation (rS = −0.786, p < 0.001). In conclusion farmers can use high light as post-harvest treatment in order to increase valuable antioxidants.

Influence of Cultivar on Nutritional Composition and Nutraceutical Potential of Pecan Growing in Uruguay.

Composition and antioxidant properties of sixteen pecan [Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh) K. Koch] cultivars grown simultaneously in a single experimental orchard in Uruguay were evaluated to characterize their nutritional properties and nutraceutical potential. The percentage of oil, moisture, ash, minerals, and proteins were determined and also the fatty acid profile. Total phenolic compounds [18–41 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAEs)/g], condensed tannin [2–12 mg catechin equivalents (CEs)/g], and tocopherols (110–163 μg/g) contents were estimated in nut kernels. Total phenolic compounds (32–117 mg GAE/g), condensed tannins (130–357 mg CE/g), and total anthocyanins (1–3 mg 3-glucoside cyanidin/g) were also determined for pecan shells. The antioxidant activity in shells [57.15–578.88 μmol Trolox equivalents (TEs)/g] was 5 times higher compared with the kernels (23.15–156.60 μmol TEs/g) measured with hydrophilic ORAC. Bioactive compounds concentrations present statistically significant genetic variability between cultivars studied (p < 0.05). The presence of phenolic compounds was related with high-antioxidant capacity in kernels and shells, and a strong correlation between content of total phenolic compounds and condensed tannins in pecan shells was found. Principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) show association between cultivars and the observed variables. The nutritional profile in the different cultivars showed the trends described in other countries, but this work shows some significant differences that could be attributed to the specific edaphoclimatic conditions of cultivation in Uruguay.

Optimization of the conditions for ultrasound-assisted extraction of phenolic compounds from Opuntia ficus-indica [L.] Mill. flowers and comparison with conventional procedures

Opuntia ficus-indica [L.] Mill. (OFI) flower has been studied less than OFI fruit and cladode for the bioactive compounds occurrence. Also, ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) technique has been applied less than conventional techniques to extract bioactive compounds, generally. In this work, UAE was developed to extract phenolic compounds from OFI flowers, collected from wild population plants in the department of Bejaia (Algeria). Single-factor experiments and response surface methodology were designed to study the effect of ethanol concentration (20–100%), extraction time (10–60 min), and extraction temperature (30–70 °C) on the total phenolic content (TPC). Optimal UAE conditions were 36% ethanol, an extraction time of 60 min, and a temperature of 53 °C, which produced an extraction of 24.4 ± 0.82 mg of total phenolics expressed as mg Gallic Acid Equivalent (GAE)/g Dry Weight (DW). The bioactive compounds extraction efficiency was statistically higher using UAE than using conventional extraction methods (maceration and Soxhlet extraction). The Liquid Chromatography Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (LC/MS–TOF) analysis of the optimized UAE extract detected mostly the occurrence of phenolic acids (piscidic and eucomic acids) and isorahmnetin derivatives. Interestingly, piscidic and eucomic acids have been identified and quantified for the first time in OFI flower extract. The antioxidant activity assessed with different assays were 13.8 ± 0.27μmol Trolox Equivalent (TE)/g DW for DPPH, 4078 ± 80.3 μmol TE/g DW for Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP), 3091 ± 139 μmol TE/g DW for total antioxidant activity (TAA) by phosphomolybdate assay, 80.8 ± 4.17μmol TE/g DW for Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity (TEAC) by ABTS assay. The UAE process deeply enhanced the yield and significantly reduced the extraction time in comparison with conventional methods (maceration and Soxhlet extraction), confirming that OFI flower is a valuable source of bioactive compounds that can be exploited in some industries.

Organik Yaban Mersini Ekstraktından Elde Edilen Biyoaktif Bileşiklerin Püskürtmeli Kurutmayla Enkapsülasyonu

In this study, the effects of spray drying parameters on organic blueberry extract were investigated. High amounts of bioactive compounds were extracted from blueberry by solvent extraction. Response surface methodology was applied for the optimization of spray drying conditions. Extract mass percentage of feed mixture (m/m in dry basis 15-50%), air inlet temperature (120-150°C) and solid content of feed (20-40°Brix) were independent variables. Operational efficiency (yield) and phenolic retention were responses. Maltodextrin was used as an encapsulating agent. The optimum extract mass percentage, temperature and solid feed content were estimated as 19.51% (m/m) extract, 120°C and 20.03°Brix, respectively. The maximum levels of responses under optimum conditions were obtained as operational efficiency of 91.20% and phenolic retention of 87.12%. It was found that the most important variable for bioactive compound retention was the extract mass percentage. Encapsulated powder had 3.19% moisture content, and contained 5.54 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE), 1.52 mg cyanidin-3-glucoside (C3G), and 46.41 μmol Trolox equivalents (TE) per gram dry powder. DPPH free radical scavenging activity value (EC50) of powder was 8.14 mg soluble solids/mL. Bioactive powder obtained could be considered as a possible functional food ingredient. In conclusion, blueberry extract powder could be efficiently produced by spray drying.

In vitro angiotensin-converting enzyme and dipeptidyl peptidase-IV inhibitory, and antioxidant activity of blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) byssus collagen hydrolysates

AbstractLarge quantities of mussel byssus are generated annually as a co-product of the mussel-processing industry. This fibrous material is a rich source of collagen, which when extracted has potential uses as an alternative source of collagen for food applications. However, due the complex structure of the material, the extraction of the collagenous components using food-friendly strategies has proved challenging to date. An enzyme-aided method, using a proline endoproteinase, was employed for the extraction of collagen from mussel byssus yielding 138.82 ± 2.25 mg collagen/g dry weight. Hydrolysates of the collagen extract were generated using five food-grade enzyme preparations with Corolase® PP giving the highest extent of hydrolysis. Reversed-phase and gel permeation high-performance liquid chromatography of the extracted collagen and its enzymatic hydrolysates showed significant hydrolysis of collagen. The hydrolysates generated with Corolase® PP showed the highest in vitro bioactivities: angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) IC50 = 0.79 ± 0.17 mg/ml, dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV) IC50 = 0.66 ± 0.17 mg/ml and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) activity = 311.23 ± 13.41 µmol trolox equivalents (TE)/g. The results presented herein indicate that in addition to acting as an alternative source of collagen for food applications, mussel byssus collagen-derived hydrolysates have potential applications as functional food ingredients for the management of metabolic diseases such as type II diabetes and hypertension.

Increased oxidative stress in adult women with iron deficiency anemia

BackgroundIron deficiency anemia (IDA), a type of anemia with an increasing global frequency, is more common in women than men in the population. In IDA, the sensitivity of erythrocytes to oxidants is increased and their lifespan is shortened. Oxidative stress is an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidant molecules which is one of the potential biochemical mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of IDA. In our study, we aimed to determine the levels of oxidant and antioxidant markers by assessing the levels of total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), oxidative stress index (OSI), paraoxonase-1 (PON-1), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) in women with IDA. MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study involving 47 women with IDA aged ³40 years and 47 women volunteers. The levels of TAS, TOS, OSI, PON-1, and MPO were determined spectrophotometrically using appropriate kits. Non-parametric Mann Whitney-U tests were used to analyze the data. ResultsThe levels of antioxidants TAS (1.42 mmol Trolox equiv./L) and MPO (54.00 U/L) in the IDA group were significantly lower than in the control group [TAS (1.67 mmol Trolox equiv./L) and MPO (89.00 U/L)] (p=0.000 and p= 0.019, respectively). However, TOS (6.25 ìmol H2O2 equiv./L) level in the IDA group was significantly higher than in the control group (4.13 ìmol H2O2 equiv./L) (p=0.000), but PON-1 was not significantly different between the two groups (p=0.375). ConclusionIn women with IDA, the oxidant-antioxidant balance is impaired, resulting in oxidative stress. Therefore, IDA in adult women must receive adequate attention in clinical practice.

OPTIMIZATION OF ULTRASOUND-ASSISTED EXTRACTION OF POLYPHENOLS FROM COFFEE (COFFEA ARABICA L.) SHELL AND PULP USING RESPONSE SURFACE METHODOLOGY

This work aimed to optimize the radiation amplitude (%), the ethanol concentration (%), and the extraction time (min) to achieve a high content of polyphenolic compounds. The Box-Wilson design optimized the extraction by applying the face-centered compound and the total phenolic compounds as response variables. As a result, an adequate quadratic model was obtained that was adequate, with R2 = 0.989. The optimal conditions were radiation amplitude of 95%, an ethanol concentration of 55%, and an extraction time of 9 min. The optimized coffee residue extract (Coffea Arabica L.) showed a total phenolic compound of 41.16 (± 0.020) mg GAE (gallic acid equivalent)/g, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl-hydrate (DPPH) antioxidant activity of 57.02 (± 0.040) mmol Trolox equivalent (TE), and Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) antioxidant capacity of 46.86 (±0.020) mmol Trolox equivalent. It was concluded that the methodology applied makes it possible to find models closely related to the expected values indicating their suitability.

Antioxidant Properties of Algae in the U.S. Virgin Islands

Compounds high in antioxidant activity counteract the formation of free radicals, which are linked to many human diseases and cancers. The objectives of this study were to quantify the hydrophilic antioxidant activity (HAA), lipophilic antioxidant activity (LAA), and the total antioxidant activity (TAA) of algae collected in the US Virgin Islands. The three algae divisions collected are Rhodophyta, Chlorophyta, and Phaeophyta. We hypothesize that the HAA will be greater than the LAA for all algae species. We also hypothesized that Phaeophyceae would have the highest TAA compared to the other classes. In this study, 28 species of algae were collected on St. Croix, USVI. The ABTS, H2O2, horseradish peroxidase decoloration method was used to determine the antioxidant activity then scanned using a UV-VIS Spectrophotometer at 730 nm. The antioxidant activities were reported as µmol Trolox Equivalent (TE)/g Dry Weight (DW). For all of the samples tested, Caulerpa prolifera had the highest TAA (97.281 ± 18.475 µmol TE/g DW) while Dictyota jamaicensis had the lowest TAA (1.999 ± 0.889 µmol TE/g DW). Chlorophyta had the highest mean (23.754 ± 29.710 µmol TE/g DW ) of antioxidant activity and Phaeophyta (12.595 ± 11.861 µmol/g DW) had the lowest mean. A one-way ANOVA test showed significant difference between the HAA and LAA (p = 0.0509). A one-way ANOVA test comparing all three groups revealed that there was no statistical difference between their TAA (p = 0.621). Based on this, we didn’t find any significant difference among the antioxidant levels between the groups tested.

Quality evaluation of wines from Kosovo and Metohija: Polyphenols content, antioxidant activity and elemental composition

Wine is a very rich source of polyphenols and essential elements which have multiple biological activities. This study evaluates the total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant activity (AA) of sixteen wine samples made from different grape varieties in the territory of Kosovo and Metohija, mostly from the area of Orahovac and Velika Hoča. The obtained results, determined by using the Folin-Ciocalteu assay, showed that wines from territory of Kosovo and Metohija are rich in polyphenols, with TPC ranges from 276±16 to 371±46 (white wines) and 1467±32 to 2823±43 mg gallic acid equivalents GAE/L (red wines). The total antioxidant activities, determined by ABTS method, range from 8.7±0.4 to 22.8±0.7 mmol trolox equivalents TE/L for red wines and from 1.3±0.1 to 3.8±0.3 mmol TE/L for white wines. Elemental content of studied wines showed certain difference between wines from nearby regions.

Effects of Curcumin on Iron Overload in Rats

Background: Iron overload, common in patients with hematological disorders, is a key target in drug development. This study investigated the effects of curcumin on iron overload in rats.&#x0D; Methods: Forty male Wistar rats weighing 139.78 ± 11.95 gm (Mean ± SD) were divided into three equal groups: (i) controls; (ii) iron overload group that received six doses of iron dextran 1000 mg/kg–1 by intraperitoneal injections (i.p.); and (iii) iron overload curcumin group that received six doses of curcumin (1000 mg/kg BW by i.p.). In addition to six doses of iron dextran 1000 mg/kg–1 by i.p., we studied the effects of curcumin on liver function enzymes (alanine aminotransferase [ALT] and aspartate aminotransferase [AST]); antioxidant enzymes (malondialdehyde [MDA], total oxidant status [TOS], total antioxidant status [TAS]); hematological parameters (hemoglobin [Hb], hematocrit [Hct], red blood cells [RBC], white blood cells [WBC], mean corpus volume [MCV], mean corpuscular hemoglobin [MCH], mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration [MCHC]); and iron parameters (serum iron profile, transferrin, total iron-binding capacity [TIBC], ferritin, and transferrin saturation [TS%]).&#x0D; Results: Curcumin caused a significant decrease in the Hct and Hb concentrations in Group III (P &lt; 0.05). It also significantly reduced the serum levels of ALT (52.45 ± 4.51 vs 89.58 ± 4.65 U/L) and AST (148.03 ± 6.47 vs 265.27 ± 13.02 U/L) at the end of the study (P &lt; 0.05). The TIBC, transferrin levels, and TS significantly decreased when the rats were administered curcumin serum iron (P &lt; 0.05). The TAS level significantly increased in Group III in comparison to Group I (the control group) (P &lt; 0.05). At the end of the study, curcumin significantly reduced the serum levels of TOS (12.03 ± 2.8 vs 16.95 ± 5.05 mmol H2O2/L) while the TAS (1.98 ± 0.42 vs 1.06 ± 0.33 mmol Trolox equiv./L) was increased.&#x0D; Conclusion: The findings of the present study suggest the therapeutic potential of curcumin against iron overload.

Comparative Study on the Phenolic Fingerprint and Antioxidant Activity of Strawberry Tree (Arbutus unedo L.) Leaves and Fruits.

The strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo L., Ericaceae family) is an evergreen Mediterranean shrub whose leaves and fruits are used in traditional medicine due to their antioxidant, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, diuretic, and antiproliferative properties. The health benefits are mainly attributed to the presence of phenolic compounds. The aim of this study was to compare the phenolic profiles, total phenolic content (TPC), and radical scavenging activity (RSA) of A. unedo leaves and fruits collected at two locations in Croatia. Phenolic profiles were identified using an ultra-high-performance liquid chromatograph (UHPLC) coupled with a hybrid mass spectrometer (LTQ Orbitrap MS). TPC was determined by Folin–Ciocalteu’s assay, while RSA was investigated using DPPH reagent. A total of 64 phenolics (60 and 42 compounds in leaves and fruits, respectively) were identified. Hyperoside and flavan-3-ols were predominant compounds in leaves, while gallocatechin and catechin were the major compounds found in fruits. To the authors’ knowledge, 16 and 5 phenolics in leaves and fruits, respectively, were reported for the first time. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that UHPLC-LTQ Orbitrap MS could be used to identify which phenolics were able to discriminate samples regarding plant tissue and geographical origin. TPC in leaves and fruits were in the ranges of 67.07–104.74 and 16.78–25.86 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g dried weight (dw), respectively. RSA for leaves and fruits were in the ranges of 408.92–430.98 and 74.30–104.04 μmol Trolox equivalents (TE)/g dw, respectively. The number of identified phenolics was lower in fruits compared to leaves. Such a large number of bioactive phenolics identified and the strong antioxidant activity pointed to A. unedo as a promising health-promoting plant and natural food preservative.

Gluten-free tarhana fortified with different ratios of edible mushroom Lactarius deliciosus

The present work aimed to develop nutritious and delicious tarhana soup for people who are especially sensitive to gluten. An edible mushroom, Lactarius deliciosus, was used in the gluten-free soup formulation instead of rice flour with different fortification ratios (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100%). Ash, protein, fat, mineral, acidity, water and oil absorptions, total phenolics, and antioxidant activities of gluten-free tarhana samples increased with the fortification of L. deliciosus in a dose-dependent manner, though the samples lost their lightness (L*), hue angle (H°), and chroma (C*) values. Total carbohydrate was calculated by subtracting the sum of crude ash, protein, and fat contents, and determined in the range of 64.31 - 78.51%. Potassium was the most abundant mineral found in samples, followed by calcium, and magnesium. Total polyphenols increased to 14,847.28 from 1,526.46 mg/kg gallic acid equivalent (GAE) for 100% fortification of L. deliciosus powder on dry weight basis (DWB). Antioxidant activity by ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay (3.01 - 10.14 mmol Trolox equivalent, TE/kg DWB) was comparably higher than that with the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay (1.09 - 8.81 mmol TE/kg DWB). Gluten-free tarhana sample fortified with 25% L. deliciosus powder (DWB) had the highest sensory scores with respect to colour, taste, mouthfeel, and overall acceptability.

Utilization of Industrial Rosa damascena Mill. By-products and Cocoa Pod Husks as Natural Preservatives in Muffins

Cocoa Pod Husks (CPH) and by-product from supercritical CO2 extracted Rosa damascena Mill. (RDCO2) were used as biopreservatives in muffins. Both by-products were rich source of polyphenols: 28.3 ± 0.6 mg/g Dry Weight (DW) and 17.9 ± 0.7 mg/g DW RDCO2 and CPH, respectively, and exhibited potent antioxidant capacity: 449.1 ± 8.5 µmol Trolox Equivalents (TE)/g DW (by ORAC method) and 58.9 ± 2.1 µmol Gallic Acid Equivalents (GAE)/g DW (by HORAC method) for the RDCO2, and 373.8 ± 9.0 µmol TE/g DW (by ORAC) and 36.8 ± 3.8 µmol GAE/g DW (by HORAC) for the CPH. RDCO2 extracts successfully inhibited development of several important pathogenic and saprophytic microorganisms causing microbial spoilage of food systems. The control muffins were good for consumption up to the 17th day, while the products supplemented with RDCO2 and CPH: until 20th day of storage at 22 ± 0.5 °C. The amount of dietary fibers in muffins supplemented with both by-products increased 3 times (8.57 ± 0.12 %) compared to control (2.91 ± 0.12 %) and the polyphenolic compounds increased 2.5 times (from 50.0 ± 0.3 for the control to 185.9 ± 0.6 mg/g DW). For the first time by-product of supercritical CO2 extraction of Rosa damascena Mill. was characterized and used as natural and cheap biopreservative.

Optimization of ultrasound-assisted extraction of polyphenols from globe artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) bracts residues using response surface methodology.

The globe artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) is a rich source of phenolic compounds which may be extracted by ultrasound technology and used as a medicinal alternative. The objective of this work was to determine the radiation amplitude (%), ethanol concentration (%), and time extraction (min) required to guarantee an elevated content of polyphenol compounds. The optimal extraction conditions were assessed through the Box-Wilson design and by applying Composite Face Centered (CCFC) and total phenolic compounds (TPC) as the response variables. A quadratic model was adequate, with R2 = 0.993. The optimal conditions were a radiation amplitude of 97%, an ethanol concentration of 53%, and an extraction time of 9.7 min. The optimized extract of artichoke bracts (Cynara scolymus L.) showed a TPC of 25.13 (±0.030) mg GAE/g, an antioxidant activity DPPH of 39.79 (±0.014) mmol Trolox equivalents (TE), and an antioxidant capacity TEAC of 33.98 (±0.03) mmol Trolox equivalents. The results showed values closely related to the expected values, indicating that the models were well-developed.

Optimization of ultrasound-assisted extraction of polyphenols from globe artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) bracts residues using response surface methodology [pdf

BACKGROUND The globe artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) is a rich source of phenolic compounds which may be extracted by ultrasound technology and used as a medicinal alternative. The objective of this work was to determine the radiation amplitude (%), ethanol concentration (%), and time extraction (min) required to guarantee an elevated content of polyphenol compounds. METHODS The optimal extraction conditions were assessed through the Box-Wilson design and by applying Composite Face Centered (CCFC) and total phenolic compounds (TPC) as the response variables. RESULTS A quadratic model was adequate, with R2 = 0.993. The optimal conditions were a radiation amplitude of 97%, an ethanol concentration of 53%, and an extraction time of 9.7 min. The optimized extract of artichoke bracts (Cynara scolymus L.) showed a TPC of 25.13 (±0.030) mg GAE/g, an antioxidant activity DPPH of 39.79 (±0.014) mmol Trolox equivalents (TE), and an antioxidant capacity TEAC of 33.98 (±0.03) mmol Trolox equivalents. CONCLUSIONS The results showed values closely related to the expected values, indicating that the models were well-developed.

Valor nutricional y degradación térmica de compuestos bioactivos en hongos comestibles silvestres

Introduction: Nutritional potential of wild edible mushrooms and loss of their nutraceutical properties during cooking have been little examined. Objective: To evaluate the nutritional content and effect of heat treatment on nutraceutical properties in the wild species Lactarius indigo (Schwein.) Fr. (blue mushroom), Ramaria flava (Schaeff.) Quél. (changle) and Hypomyces lactifluorum (Schwein.) Tul. &amp; C. Tul. (lobster mushroom), collected in temperate pine and oak forests of the Sierra Norte de Puebla. Materials and methods: The mushrooms were collected in the company of “traditional mushroom collectors”. Proximal composition was quantified according to AOAC methods. The effect of heat treatment was evaluated at 50 and 92 °C at 10 to 60 min intervals. Total phenolic content was determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu method and antioxidant capacity by ABTS and FRAP assays. Results and discussion: R. flava and L. indigo had the highest percentages of protein (24.02 %) and crude fiber (14.64 %) on dry basis, respectively. R. flava had the highest phenolic content (4.40 mg gallic acid equivalents per gram dry basis) and the highest antioxidant capacity (23.65 µmol trolox equivalents per gram dry basis). Degradation kinetics of the compounds was first order; H. lactifluorum and R. flava had the highest loss of phenols and antioxidants, respectively. Conclusion: The mushrooms studied showed high nutritional value and retained more than 50 % of their antioxidant properties after thermal processing.

Antioxidant activity of enzyme-assisted extract derived from round kumquat peel (Fortunella japonica)

This study intends to apply enzyme-assisted extraction method to determine the antioxidant activity of round kumquat peel extract. Firstly, chemical composition of the kumquat peel was determined. Then, single factor test was employed to evaluate the effects of enzyme treatment conditions (enzyme amount and extraction time, ethanol concentration, material:ethanol ratio, extraction time and extraction temperature) on total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity of the kumquat peel extract. The result showed that the content of phenolic compounds in the kumquat peel achieved 1.3%. The peel extract exhibited the maximum TPC of 335.96±16.79 milligrams of gallic acid equivalents (mg GAE)/g dry matter, 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) cation radical (ABTS●+) scavenging activity of 1993.26±99.66 μmol Trolox Equivalent (TE)/g dry matter and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) value of 3202.86±160.14 μmol TE/g dry matter. This extract was obtained under enzyme treatment condition including enzyme content of 9 U/g dry matter, enzyme-treating time of 90 min and the extraction condition comprising of kumquat peel: 96% ethanol ratio of 1:40 (w/v), extraction time of 150 min and temperature of 50°C. The results revealed that the kumquat peel extract could be used as a potential natural antioxidant in food and/or pharmaceutical products.

LC-ESI-MS profiling of Potentilla norvegica and evaluation of its biological activities

Potentilla L. species have a long history of use in folk medicine for the management of various human ailments. Despite the tremendous number of studies describing the phytochemical and pharmacological profile of a number of Potentilla species, there is a paucity of scientific data regarding the biological activity of Potentilla norvegica. Thus, the present study endeavored to assess the total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and secondary metabolite composition of this plant using LC-ESI-MS-TOF analysis and determined the biological potential of P. norvegica extracts and fractions. Assessment of the antioxidant potential was performed in vitro by using five standard assays (FRAP, CUPRAC, ABTS, DPPH, and metal chelation assays). Moreover, the inhibition of selected enzymes (α-amylase, α-glucosidase, acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), tyrosinase) was examined. During the study, the following extracts and fractions of aerial parts of P. norvegica were analyzed: water (PN1), 50% MeOH (PN2), MeOH (PN3), Et2O (PN4), EtOAc (PN5), and n-BuOH (PN6). The highest TPC and TFC were found in the PN4 fraction (486.21 ± 14.58 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g extract and 24.22 ± 0.93 mg rutin equivalents (RE)/g extract, respectively), which may be attributed to the highest ABTS, CUPRAC and metal chelation activities of this fraction (with values of 3.01 ± 0.01, 5.90 ± 0.73 mmol Trolox equivalents (TE)/g extract and 20.15 ± 0.11 mg EDTA equivalents (EDTAE)/g extract, respectively). Furthermore, the PN5 fraction was found to be the most effective in the phosphomolybdenum, DPPH and FRAP assays (5.06 ± 0.02, 1.55 ± 0.01 and 5.19 ± 0.12 mmol TE/g extract, respectively). PN2 exhibited the highest inhibitory potential against AChE and BChE (2.58 ± 0.01 and 2.31 ± 0.13 mg galantamine equivalents (GALAE)/g extract, respectively), which is probably related to the more complete fingerprint of the analyzed extract. Tyrosinase was inhibited most potently by the PN1 extract (50.33 ± 1.63 mg kojic acid equivalents (KAE)/g extract). However, all the extracts and fractions exerted mild activity against α-glucosidase and α-amylase (the highest values were 2.03 ± 0.02 and 0.30 ± 0.03 mmol acarbose equivalents (ACE)/g extract for PN4 and PN3, respectively). Furthermore, LC-ESI-MS analysis revealed the predominant presence of polyphenolics, with the presence of acacetin indicated in the Potentilla genus for the second time. These observations highlighted the potential applications of P. norvegica as a valuable source of antioxidants, with interesting activities for the development of new treatment strategies against several human diseases in the pharmaceutical sector.

Variation in Postharvest Quality Attributes of Fresh Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) Beans Harvested from Different Crop Mulching Regime

Background: Present study, aimed to assess effect of organic and inorganic crop mulching on physical, physiological and biochemical quality of fresh cowpea beans.Methods: Cowpea (cv. Kashi Kanchan bush-type) was grown during two consecutive seasons from April 2018 to July 2019 under four different mulching treatments. Mulching treatments included no mulch; wheat straw mulch (organic mulch); black mulch and silver mulch. Black and silver mulches were made of 25 microns LDPE sheet. Cowpea was grown as per standard agronomic practices and physical, biochemical and postharvest quality parameters of beans were evaluated.Result: Results indicated that bean length (28.7cm) was highest under silver mulch whereas bean thickness (9.10mm), width (9.29mm) and 100 bean weight (1094.5g) were highest under organic mulch. Likewise, protein content (28.63%), total phenolic content (17.0µg GAE/100g) and total antioxidant activity (46.84µmol trolox equiv./100g) were found highest in beans produced under organic mulch. Overall results demonstrated that crop mulching could be used for enhancing the antioxidants, phenolic content of cowpea beans.

Potential Health Benefits Associated with Lunasin Concentration in Dietary Supplements and Lunasin-Enriched Soy Extract.

Lunasin has demonstrated antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and chemopreventive properties. The objectives were to evaluate the concentration of lunasin in different lunasin-based commercial dietary supplements, to produce a lunasin-enriched soy extract (LESE) using a two-step pilot-plant-based ultrafiltration process, and to evaluate their biological potential in vitro. LESE was produced using 30 and 1 kDa membranes in a custom-made ultrafiltration skid. Lunasin was quantified in eight products and LESE. Lunasin concentrations of the lunasin-based products ranged from 9.2 ± 0.6 to 25.7 ± 1.1 mg lunasin/g protein. The LESE extract contained 58.2 mg lunasin/g protein, up to 6.3-fold higher lunasin enrichment than lunasin-based dietary supplements. Antioxidant capacity ranged from 121.5 mmol Trolox equivalents (TE)/g in Now® Kids to 354.4 mmol TE/g in LESE. Histone acetyltransferase (HAT) inhibition ranged from 5.3% on Soy Sentials® to 38.3% on synthetic lunasin. ORAC and lunasin concentrations were positively correlated, and HAT and lunasin concentrations were negatively correlated (p < 0.05). Melanoma B16-F10 and A375 cells treated with lunasin showed dose-dependent inhibitory potential (IC50 equivalent to 330 and 370 μM lunasin, respectively). Lunasin showed protein kinase B expression (57 ± 14%) compared to the control (100%) in B16-F10. Lunasin concentration found in commercial products and lunasin-enriched soy extract could exert benefits to consumers.