Mol Trolox Research Articles

Sonication of smoke tree extract-loaded liposomes: the antioxidant potential of particles

<p>With the aim to examine the radical scavenging activity of smoke tree extract-loaded liposomal particles before and after ultrasound exposure (45 or 70% amplitude and 15 or 30 min), ABTS and DPPH tests were employed. The antioxidant activity of the pure extract was 11.37±0.52 µmol Trolox equivalent (TE)/mL and 79.7±0.5%. Multilamellar liposomes with extract showed significantly higher antioxidant activity in both assays (12.02±0.54 µmol TE/mL and 81.9±0.4%) compared to sonicated liposomes (10.75-11.00 µmol TE/mL and 79.3-80.9%) and pure extract. There was no significant difference between the ABTS radical scavenging activity of the liposomes treated by different amplitudes and times, while prolonged sonication and a higher amplitude caused a significant drop in the anti-DPPH capacity of extract-loaded liposomal vesicles. The presented results and the differences between the obtained data provide a good insight into the overall antioxidant capacity of smoke tree extract-loaded multilamellar and sonicated unilamellar liposomal vesicles.</p>

Recovery of Phenolic Compounds by Deep Eutectic Solvents in Orange By-Products and Spent Coffee Grounds

Orange and coffee grounds by-products, rich in phenolic bioactive compounds, can be used in the food industry as antioxidants, colorants, flavorings and additives, mainly because they are solvents that are easy to prepare, have a lower cost, are thermally stable, biodegradable, renewable, and are considered GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe). Deep eutectic solvents, which are sustainable and have lower melting points, are effective for extracting these compounds. This study aimed to evaluate the use of deep eutectic solvents (DES) in extracting Total Phenolic Compounds (TPC), from orange by-products and spent coffee grounds. DES formed by citric acid: mannitol (CM-DES), and lactic acid: glucose (LG-DES), were evaluated by varying the following parameters: water content (10–50%), solid–liquid ratio (1:5–1:50 w/w) and temperature (40–50 °C). DES citric acid: mannitol presented the best efficiency in the extraction of TPC under the conditions of 10% water, 80 °C, and solid–liquid ratio 1:10 (w/w) for the orange by-products (1782.92 ± 4.50 mg GAE/L) and 1:15 (w/w) for spent coffee grounds (1620.71 ± 3.72 mg GAE/L). The highest antioxidant activity was observed in the extraction with CM-DES for both by-products in the three methods evaluated: Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) (1.087 ± 0.004 and 1.071 ± 0.006 mol ascorbic acid/L), DPPH radical scavenging activity (2,2-difenil-1-picrilhidrazil—DPPH) (0.233 ± 0.003 and 0.234 ± 0.001 mol Trolox equivalent/L), and radical cation scavenging activity ABTS (2,2-azino-bis (3-ethyl-benzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid—ABTS) (0.284 ± 7.16 and 0.319 ± 0.002 mol Trolox equivalent/L). Therefore, DES with citric acid: mannitol is a promising alternative to conventional solvents to recover phenolic compounds in agro-industrial by-products, such as orange by-products and SCG.

Capsaicin toxicity to the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is not due to oxidative stress but to disruption of membrane structure

Capsaicin (CAP) is a common food constituent, conferring a pungent taste to red peppers of the genus Capsicum. It has bactericidal and fungicidal activity. The study was aimed to test the hypothesis of whether oxidative stress mediates the toxicity of CAP to the baker's yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model yeast. CAP showed good antioxidant properties (1.30 and 1.10 mol Trolox equivalents/mol in the 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate (ABTS) radical scavenging assay and the Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power assay, respectively). However, its autoxidation generated hydrogen peroxide. CAP inhibited the growth of S. cerevisiae at concentrations ≥100 μM. Yeast mutants deficient in superoxide dismutase 1 or catalase T were more sensitive to CAP than wild-type yeast. CAP did not augment the ROS level in yeast cells. Standard antioxidants (N-acetylcysteine and ascorbate) did not protect significantly against CAP-induced yeast growth inhibition. Thus, oxidative stress does not mediate the CAP's inhibition of yeast growth. CAP did not decrease mitochondrial membrane potential of the yeast but induced a concentration-dependent decrease in membrane fluidity. These results indicate that the disturbance of membrane properties is the apparent cause of CAP toxicity to the yeast.

In Vitro Antidiabetic, Antioxidant, and Prebiotic Activities of the Chemical Compounds Isolated from Guizotia abyssinica.

India and Ethiopia employ Guizotia abyssinica (niger plant) as a source of edible vegetable oil. Previous studies have documented the niger plant's antioxidant properties and dietary benefits. Here, G. abyssinica extract was obtained and ten known bioactive components (1-10) were isolated. The antioxidant, antidiabetic, and prebiotic properties of whole extract and isolated components of niger and the plant's ability to cooperate symbiotically with probiotic strains were examined. Compound 10, myricetin-3-O-L-rhamnoside, had the highest antioxidant capacity measured in the 2,2-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH, 4629.76 ± 6.02 µmol Trolox equivalent/g compound) and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP, 2667.62 ± 7.5 mol Trolox equivalent/g compound) assays. The lowest α-amylase and glycogen phosphorylase activities and glucose diffusion were obtained with whole G. abyssinica extracts, whereas compounds 8-10 had moderate inhibitory effects. G. abyssinica extract also induced the highest glucose absorption by yeast cells in the presence of 5 mM of glucose. Moreover, Lactobacillus plantarum and L. rhamnosus incubated with β-sitosterol 3-O-D-glucoside (compound 7) showed the highest prebiotic activity score. The levels of L-(+)-lactic acid isomer in the probiotic strains were the highest in presence of the whole extract and decreased progressively in the presence of flavonoid glycosides (compounds 8-10) and β-sitosterol 3-O-D-glucoside. The enzymatic profile of the probiotic strains was unaffected by the niger extract and compounds 7-10. The findings revealed that the biological activities of G. abyssinica extract are mediated by the compounds 1-10, and it may be considered as a promising plant for the treatment of diabetes mellitus.

Influence of seasonal variation on phenolic composition and antioxidant capacity of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) hybrids

This study presents an assessment of seasonal variation of biochemical traits for twenty one eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) hybrids. Data of five traits, ascorbic acid, total sugar, total anthocyanin, total phenolics content and total antioxidant capacity were recorded in kharif (August 2017– February 2018) and summer (February 2018 – June 2018) season and analyzed using univariate (ANOVA) and multivariate (PCA) analysis . Seasonal variations influenced expression of all traits, but the ranking of hybrids for total phenolics and anthocyanin content was very consistent between seasons. The highest phenolic compounds, ascorbic acid and antioxidant capacity was observed during summer months, when monthly average temperature was highest of the year. Total antioxidant capacity of the hybrids varied from 3.42 to 9.77 μ mol trolox equivalent/g in summer season, which is a 2.9 fold difference and total phenolic contents ranging from 18.63 to 40.38 mg/100 g, a 2.2 fold difference. Overall results indicate that in future breeding program of H8 (Muktakeshi × Swarna Mani), all the five traits are important for primary selection under high temperature stress. H16 (BRBL-02 × BRBL-04) has potential for improvement of traits like, total phenolics content and total antioxidant capacity under high and low temperature conditions.

Biological activities and chemical composition of Xanthoria lichens from Turkey

This study presents the biopharmaceutical potential and bioactive composition of Xanthoria lichens (X. candelaria, X. elegans, X. parietina) that wildly grown and traditionally utilized as medicine in North Eastern Anatolia, Turkey, which has specific microclimatic and ecological zones. Chromatographic findings revealed significant levels of parietin compound (35 to 49 mg/g extract), low levels of various fatty acids and a volatile compound; α-terpinene in the extracts. The extracts exhibited pronounced antioxidant potential through reducing and scavenging mechanisms; FCR: 33-38 mg gallic acid equivalent, FRAP: 511-815 µ mol Fe2+, ORAC: 1032-1355 µ mol Trolox equivalent per gram extract, respectively and DPPH: IC50: 1.1-2.7, ABTS: IC50: 2-2.3, CUPRAC: IC50: 0.7-1.2, phosphomolybdenum: IC50: 2-2.9, metal chelation: IC50: 1.3-2.3 mg extract/ml, respectively. Concerning enzyme inhibitory activities, the extracts effectively suppressed the activity of acetylcholinesterase (IC50: 0.5-0.75 mg/ml), butyrylcholinesterase (IC50: 0.7-1.1 mg/ml), tyrosinase (IC50: 0.6-0.7 mg/ml), amylase (IC50: 1.7-2 mg/ml), glucosidase (IC50: 0.6-3 mg/ml) and lipase (IC50: 55-79 µg/ml) enzymes. These findings showed that Xanthoria lichens are dominated by parietin as the major key compound and high-tolerated lichen taxa towards to different ecological and climatic conditions. These lichens might be promising sources of novel antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory activities such as Xanthoria candelaria as antioxidant and antilipase, Xanthoria elegans as anticholinesterase, and Xanthoria parietina as antiamylase and antiglucosidase.

Optimisation of the extraction process of antioxidant capacity compounds from beet (Beta vulgaris L.) stalk

Beet is a traditional root consumed worldwide and is considered a potential source of several bioactive compounds, yet during production and commercialisation activities, its leaves and stalks are discarded. The beet residue has notable quantities of diverse phenolic compounds that are not taken advantage of it. The beet stalks (sample) were obtained from a local producer at the municipality of Marechal Cândido Rondon, Paraná state, Brazil. The optimisation of the extraction process of antioxidant capacity compounds from beet stalk was done by response surface methodology (RSM), with three independent variables (time, from 5 to 85 min; temperature, from 20 to 80 °C and solvent, from 0 to 100% of ethanol/water ratio). Extracts were evaluated for their reducing capacity, measured by the Folin–Ciocalteu method, and antioxidant capacity by the ability to scavenge DPPH and ABTS free radicals. The optimal global extraction conditions determined were 5 min, 80 °C and 50% ethanol, yielding 13.157 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE) g–1, 21.539 mol Trolox equivalents g-1 (TE; DPPH) and 250.190 ?mol TE g–1 (ABTS). Beet stalk demonstrated to be an alternative and rich source of recovering of natural antioxidant compounds, showing higher contents when compared to other agro-industrial residues.

De residuo industrial a ingrediente funcional: el potencial de la cáscara de granada

During the industrial production of pomegranate juice, its peel is generated as a by-product. The aims of this work was to revalue these bu-product by green extraction of soluble antioxidants and recovery of insoluble Pomegranate by-product, once dried and ground was subjected to a water extraction process (65 ° C for 30 min), obtaining two fractions: one soluble and one insoluble. The insoluble fraction had a high fiber content (52.28 ± 2.99 g / 100 g) and the soluble fraction had a high total polyphenol content of 1049.98 ± 3.98 mg gallic acid / 100 g and an antioxidant capacity against ABTS radicals of 1486.57 ± 0.05 mol trolox / g. A jelly and a drink were formulated with the soluble fraction, while cookies and muffins were formulated with the insoluble fraction. All producto were formulated without sugar, and cookies and muffins so that they comply with the claim source of fiber. Acceptability was evaluated by consumers (n = 100), with cookies and muffins being the most accepted (7.0 and 6.3 respectively). Pomegranate by-product were revalued sustainably and at a low cost, obtaining new functional ingredients, representing this an opportunity for the industry.

Antioxidant capacity, bioactive compounds in coffee pulp and implementation in the production of infusions.

The main by-product of the coffee production chain is pulp; if it is not properly disposed of, it represents a serious environmental problem. Some studies suggest that this pulp can be used as a source of important compounds. The aim of this study was to evaluate the content of bioactive compounds present in coffee pulps and also to prepare a functional drink-type infusion to propose an alternative use of this by-product. In coffee pulps (Coffea arabica, var. Colombia and Caturra), the effect of the tem- perature and the extraction type over the content of total polyphenols, total flavonoids, condensed tannins and phenolic acids were determined. Moreover, the antioxidant activity by ABTS, ORAC and FRAP methodolo- gies. With the best pulp, an infusion-type hot drink was prepared at 80°C. Finally, sensory assessment was performed. The best conditions to perform the metabolite extraction were room temperature and HCl 1%. The highest trapping capacity of the cationic radical ABTS+* was 24 782.93 μmol Trolox Equivalent per 100 g of pulp, ORAC 57 087.82 μmol Trolox Equivalent per 100 g of pulp and FRAP 806.93 mg of ascorbic acid equivalent per 100 g of pulp. For the infusion preparation, two drying methods were used – stove and lyophi- lization, and overall the best results correspond to the infusions prepared with the lyophilized plant material. This material also had good overall scores in the sensory test (3.51 to 4.04 on a scale of 1 to 5) been the taste most appreciated by the panelists. The bioactive compound concentration and the antioxidant activity of the coffee pulp suggest that waste can be used as a raw material for the preparation of functional foods, because the values found are similar or greater than those found in other drinks and fruits consumed commercially.

Effects of Maturity at Harvest and Fermentation Conditions on Bioactive Compounds of Cocoa Beans.

Cocoa beans and cocoa products contain considerable amounts of bioactive compounds. Harvesting cocoa fruit too early or too late may have effects on the phenolic and alkaloid concentrations of the cocoa powder. Fermentation, a primary processing used to transform cocoa beans to cocoa powder, may also influence the contents of bioactive compounds. In this study, proanthocyanidins, the major compounds in cocoa polyphenols, caffeine and theobromine of cocoa beans, were evaluated at different maturities at harvest, and with different fermentation durations, with and without the addition of a commercial enzyme, Pectinex® Ultra SP-L. The amounts of proanthocyanidins, caffeine and theobromine, and the antioxidant capacities of the unfermented cocoa beans increased as the fruits matured. The values ranged from 16.12-27.28g catechin equivalents (CE)/100g dry weight (DW); 99.66-173.61mg/100g DW; 556.39-948.84mg/100g DW; 23.23-26.32mol Trolox equivalents (TE)/100g DW, respectively. Prolonged fermentation with or without the addition of pectinase, from three to seven days, significantly reduced the amounts of these compounds present. Fermentation using the enzyme significantly reduced the proanthocyanidin content and antioxidant capacity of the cocoa powder, with the overall means decreasing from 8.93-4.93gCE/100g DW and from 15.81-12.95gmol TE/100g DW, respectively. Two-way ANOVA analyses showed that the proanthocyanidins, caffeine, theobromine contents and the antioxidant capacity of cocoa beans were strongly dependet to their stages of maturity, fermentation methods and fermentation duration.

Phenolic Profiling and Antioxidant Capacity of Eugenia uniflora L. (Pitanga) Samples Collected in Different Uruguayan Locations.

The use of nutrient-rich foods to enhance the wellness, health and lifestyle habits of consumers is globally encouraged. Native fruits are of great interest as they are grown and consumed locally and take part of the ethnobotanic knowledge of the population. Pitanga is an example of a native fruit from Uruguay, consumed as a jelly or an alcoholic beverage. Pitanga has a red-violet pigmentation, which is a common trait for foods that are a good source of antioxidants. Hence, fruits from different Uruguayan regions were analyzed via miniaturized sample preparation method, HPLC-DAD-ESI/MSn and RP-HPLC-DAD techniques to identify and quantify phenolic compounds, respectively. The antioxidant capacity was evaluated via DPPH and ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) assays. A multivariate linear regression was applied to correlate the observed antioxidant capacity with the phenolic content. Furthermore, Principal Components Analysis was performed to highlight characteristics between the various samples studied. The main results indicated differences between northern and southern Uruguayan samples. Delphinidin-3-hexoside was present in southern samples (mean of 293.16 µmol/100 g dry weight (DW)) and absent in the sample collected in the north (sample 3). All the samples contain high levels of cyanidin-3-hexoside, but a noticeable difference was found between the northern sample (150.45 µmol/100 g DW) and the southern sample (1121.98 µmol/100 g DW). The antioxidant capacity (mean ORAC of 56370 µmol Trolox®/100 g DW) were high in all the samples compared to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) database of similar berry-fruits. The results of this study highlight the nutraceutical value of a native fruit that has not been exploited until now.

Lignin valorization: lignin nanoparticles as high-value bio-additive for multifunctional nanocomposites

BackgroundAlthough conversion of low value but high-volume lignin by-product to its usable form is one of the determinant factors for building an economically feasible integrated lignocellulose biorefinery, it has been challenged by its structural complexity and inhomogeneity. We and others have shown that uniform lignin nanoparticles can be produced from a wide range of technical lignins, despite the varied lignocellulosic biomass and the pretreatment methods/conditions applied. This value-added nanostructure lignin enriched with multifunctional groups can be a promising versatile material platform for various downstream utilizations especially in the emerging nanocomposite fields.ResultsInspired by the story of successful production and application of nanocellulose biopolymer, two types of uniform lignin nanoparticles (LNPs) were prepared through self-assembling of deep eutectic solvent (DES) and ethanol-organosolv extracted technical lignins derived from a two-stage fractionation pretreatment approach, respectively. Both LPNs exhibited sphere morphology with unique core–shell nanostructure, where the DES–LNPs showed a more uniform particle size distribution. When incorporated into the traditional polymeric matrix such as poly(vinyl alcohol), these LPN products displayed great potential to formulate a transparent nanocomposite film with additional UV-shielding efficacy (reached ~80% at 400 nm with 4 wt% of LNPs) and antioxidant functionalities (reached ~160 μm mol Trolox g−1 with 4 wt% of LNPs). At the same time, the abundant phenolic hydroxyl groups on the shell of LNPs also provided good interfacial adhesion with PVA matrix through the formation of hydrogen bonding network, which further improved the mechanical and thermal performances of the fabricated LNPs/PVA nanocomposite films.ConclusionsBoth LNPs are excellent candidates for producing multifunctional polymer nanocomposites using facile technical route. The prepared transparent and flexible LNPs/PVA composite films with high UV-shielding efficacy, antioxidant activity, and biocompatibility are promising in the advanced packaging field, which potentially provides an additional high-value lignin product stream to the lignocellulose biorefinery. This study could open the door for the production and application of novel LNPs in the nascent bioeconomy.Graphical abstractLignin nanoparticle for transparent nanocomposite film with UV-shielding efficacy

Antioxidant activities and inhibitory effects of free and bound polyphenols from date (Phoenix dactylifera L.) seeds on starch digestive enzymes

<p>Date (Phoenix dactylifera L.) seeds have gained interest as a valuable by-product of the date fruit industry and have been identified as a rich source of functional and bioactive ingredients. In this study, date seeds from five varieties (Medjool, Deglet Nour, Barhee, Bou Sthammi and Dayrie) cultivated in Australia were analysed for their total phenolic and flavonoid contents, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), and in-vitro inhibition against α-amylase and α-glucosidase. The date seed powders (DSP) were extracted with acetone-methanol-water (2:2:1, v:v:v) to obtain free polyphenols. The bound polyphenols were extracted from the residual solids with butanolHCl (97.5:2.5; v/v) treatment at 100 °C. The greatest quantities of total phenols (4166±227 mg Gallic Acid Equivalents 100g−1 DSP), total flavonoids (52.1±9.6 mg Quercetin Equivalents 100g−1 DSP), FRAP (1589±47 µmol Iron (II) Equivalents g−1 DSP) and TEAC (45.2±1.4 µmol Trolox Equivalents g −1 DSP) were detected in seeds from Deglet Nour variety. Both free and bound polyphenol fractions showed significant (p<0.05) inhibition against rat intestinal α-glucosidase with little or no inhibition against pancreatic α-amylase. Bound polyphenols showed stronger α-glucosidase inhibition compared with free polyphenols. The IC50 for α-glucosidase were reported as mg GAE mL−1 ranged from 0.39±0.02 (Deglet Nour ) to 0.68±0.02 (Medjool) for bound polyphenols, and from 0.907±0.08 (Medjool) to 1.75±0.15 (Barhee-khalal) for free polyphenols. Bound polyphenol fraction, with strong α-glucosidase inhibition and weak α-amylase inhibition, was suggested as a significant source of functional food ingredients with anti-hyperglycaemic properties.</p>

Alpha-amylase, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities of Eucheuma denticulatum (N.L. Burman) F.S. Collins and Hervey

Eucheuma denticulatum is a red edible seaweed that grows in the East Malaysia coastal region. The objective of this study was to investigate the α-amylase, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of E. denticulatum ethanol extract and its three fractions (n-hexane, ethyl acetate and acetone). α-Amylase activity was assessed by dinitrosalicylic acid (DNS) assay, while the antioxidant property was determined by oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) analysis. The anti-inflammatory effects of the seaweed samples were evaluated by nitric oxide (NO), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1 (IL-1), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) activities on the interferon-gamma/lipopolysaccharide (IFN-γ/LPS)-stimulated murine macrophage cell line (RAW 264.7) using Griess reaction and immunoassays, respectively. At 10 mg mL−1, E. denticulatum ethanol extract and three fractions inhibited α-amylase activities at variable levels. The highest (67 %) inhibition of α-amylase enzyme was by the ethanol crude extract. The three fractions showed inhibition with a mean of 42 %. Crude ethanol extracts also exhibited higher antioxidant capacity (36,400 ± 23.5 mol Trolox equivalent (TE) (100 g)−1) when compared to the fractions. Crude extract and fractions (1–100 μg mL−1), also exhibited anti-inflammatory activity without showing any cytotoxic effect to RAW 264.7 cells. The present study suggests that E. denticulatum has the potential to be a promising source of effective functional metabolite. An extensive research on the edible varieties would contribute to a better understanding of their importance as functional food.

Conjugation of Ovotransferrin with Catechin Shows Improved Antioxidant Activity

Ovotransferrin (OTF), representing 12-13% of the total egg white, is a member of transferrin family with antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. Catechin is a polyphenolic antioxidant found in green tea. The objective of the study was to conjugate ovotransferrin with catechin to improve the antioxidant activity of OTF. Conjugates were prepared either by the free radical method using hydrogen peroxide-ascorbic acid as the initiator or by the alkaline method at pH of 9.0. The oxygen-radical-scavenging effect was increased from 3.95 mol trolox equivalent (TE)/mol of ovotransferrin to 22.80 and 17.14 mol TE/mol sample, respectively, in radical and alkaline prepared conjugates, which indicated that conjugation with catechin is an effective way to improve antioxidant activity of the protein. Conjugation between ovotransferrin and catechin was analyzed by fluorescence analyses, ultra performance liquid chromatography, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography coupled online to a tandem mass spectrometer. Catechin was covalently bound to lysine (residues 327) and glutamic acid (residues 186) in ovotransferrin. The ovotransferrin-catechin conjugate may have a potential application as a functional food and nutraceutical ingredient.

Flaxseed Soluble Dietary Fibre Enhances Lactic Acid Bacterial Survival and Growth in Kefir and Possesses High Antioxidant Capacity

<p>This study investigated the capability and efficiency of flaxseed soluble dietary fibre /mucilage to enhance bacterial survival and growth in kefir as well as the antioxidant activity of the mucilage. Crude flaxseed mucilage was extracted using a microwave method, followed by enzymatic and dialysis treatments to obtain pure mucilage. The antioxidant activities of the pure and crude mucilage were measured using different assays. Microbial analyses, pH and total titratable acidity (TTA) were measured in kefir samples, supplemented with probiotic bacteria (<em>Lactobacillus acidophilus </em>and <em>Bifidobacterium</em><em> </em><em>lactis</em>) and pure or crude flaxseed mucilage during 28 cold storage periodat 4 ºC. The results showed that for all kefir samples, the total bacteria counts were above7.9 log cfu/mL at the end of cold storage period. However, kefir samples supplemented with pure flaxseed mucilage enhanced significantly (P < 0.05) higher viability of bacteria (9.5 log cfu/mL) and acidity (0.78% TTA). An overall pH decline of 0.2 was observed during cold storage period. The total phenolic content (TPC) in crude mucilage was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than pure mucilage (10.5 ± 0.2 and 5.7 ± 0.1 mg Gallic acid equivalent /g flaxseed, respectively). The mucilage from crude flaxseed exhibited strong antioxidant activity; Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) value of 51.2 ± 3.3 ?mol Trolox equivalent /g, 53.7 ± 2.8% discoloration for 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and 68.3 ± 9.2% Beta-Carotene bleaching which was well in agreement with high TPC. This study demonstrated that flaxseed mucilage acts as a good source of prebiotic, enhancing lactic acid bacteria growth in kefir model in addition of their high antioxidant beneficiary.</p>

Dietary intake of antioxidants in the Czech RepublicDietary

The intake of extractable antioxidants in theCzech Republicwas studied using the FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant potential) method applied to water-methanol extracts. The daily intake of these antioxidants was 16.6 mmol generated Fe(II) for men and 15.0 mmol for women (i.e. 8300 and 7500 μmol Trolox equivalents). The largest sources of antioxidants were coffee (43.1% of overall intake for men and 54.6% for women) and beer (15% for men vs. 1.8% for women). Other significant sources of antioxidants were tea, vegetables and vegetable products (including potatoes and potato products), fruit and fruit products, cereal products, wine, sugars and sweets, spices and meat and meat products. Small amounts of antioxidants (less than 1.0% of overall intake) were supplied by nuts and seeds, milk and milk products and fats, while pulses, eggs and egg products, convenience foods and cheese were insignificant sources of antioxidants. Within the fruit and fruit products category, apples were the most significant source of extractable antioxidants, and in the vegetable and vegetable products category, peppers were the largest source of antioxidants.  

Composition and Functional Properties of Apogee and Perigee Compared to Common Terrestrial Wheat Cultivars

Long duration space missions may include dwarf wheat cultivars to meet closed-loop food system constraints. Composition and functional properties of dwarf wheats (Apogee, Perigee) were characterized and compared to terrestrial cultivars (Parshall, Yecora Rojo, Yavaros 79). Proximate composition was determined using standard methods, and functional attributes were evaluated by mixograph and pasting profiles. Additional analyses measured antioxidant capacity, protein profiles, non-protein nitrogen, lipid oxidation, and starch damage. Apogee and Perigee were compositionally and functionally different from traditional cultivars, having higher protein (18–20%), ash (2–2.4%), and antioxidant (Perigee had 23.7 mol Trolox equivalent/g), and lipid oxidation levels but lower protein quality indicators. There was significant correlation (R2 = 0.84) between ash content and lipid oxidation. Apogee is a better candidate crop than Perigee for a self sustaining environment, but both dwarf varieties could be used for tailored food applications.

Improvement in Botanical Standardization of Commercial Freeze-Dried Herbal Extracts by Using the Combination of Antioxidant Capacity and Constituent Marker Concentrations

Botanical extracts are standardized to > or = 1 marker compounds (MCs). This standardization provides a certain level of quality control, but not complete quality assurance. Thus, industries are looking for other satisfactory systems to improve standardization. This study focuses on the standardization of herbal medicines by combining 2 parameters: the concentration of the MC and antioxidant capacity. Antioxidant capacity was determined with the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) method and the concentrations of the MCs, by high-performance liquid chromatography. Total phenols were also determined by the Folin-Ciocolteau method. The ORAC values, expressed as micromol Trolox equivalents/100 g (ORAC %), of 12 commercial herbal extracts were related to the ORAC values of the respective pure MCs at the concentrations at which the MCs occur in products (ORAC-MC %). The ORAC % values of 11 extracts were higher than those of the respective MCs and the ratios ORAC-MC %/ORAC % ranged from 0.007 to 0.7, whereas in the case of Olea europaea leaves, the same ratio was 1.36. The ORAC parameters and their ratios, as well as the linear relationship between ORAC-MC % and ORAC %, are described and discussed as tools for improving the standardization of herbal products and detecting modifications due to herb processing and storage.

Effects and potential mechanisms of Danzhi Xiaoyao Pill (丹栀逍遥丸) on proliferation of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells in vitro

To investigate the effects of 50% ethyl alcohol (EtOH) extracts from Danzhi Xiaoyao Pill (, DXP) on the proliferation of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells and potential mechanisms. ATP-Lite assay was performed to test the proliferation of the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line; and antioxidant activity was measured by the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC). The effects of DXP on nitric oxide (NO) production were tested by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 murine macrophages using the Griess reaction. The 50% EtOH DXP extracts displayed a cytotoxic response on MCF-7 cells at 0.10, 0.25 and 0.50 mg/mL dose-dependently with the proliferation inhibited by more than 85%. The ORAC value of the DXP was 820 micro moL Trolox equivalent/g, about 40% of the vitamin C value. DXP extracts had significant inhibitory effect on NO production at the concentration from 0.0625 mg/mL to 0.5 mg/mL (P<0.05, P<0.01). The extracts of DXP could significantly inhibit the proliferation of MCF-7 cells, with the effect possibly related to its antioxidant activity and the inhibition of NO production.