Natural Plant Antioxidant Research Articles

Will the antioxidant supplements impact the mitigation of oxidative stress in Parkinson's disease?

Parkinson's disease is a frequent neurodegenerative condition marked by both non-motor and motor symptoms. It is brought on by the selective depletion of dopamine neurons from the substantia nigra region of the midbrain. Numerous variables, including lifestyle, environment, age, smoking, and underlying medical disorders, affect the occurrence of Parkinson's disease. The free radicals created by oxidative stress have an impact on the morphology and function of neuronal cells and are a factor in many neurodegenerative disorders, including Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, disorder. Although the pathophysiological mechanism causing neuronal degeneration is still unknown, oxidative stress plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of idiopathic Parkinson's disease. It also has an association with numerous proteins, including α-synuclein, amyloid, DJ-1 protein and several signalling pathways like extracellular regulated protein kinases. Reactive oxygen species also contribute to complex I's mitochondrial respiratory activity. The naturally occurring antioxidants are the phenols, anthocyanins, carotenoids, flavonoids, vitamins, and lignans. These antioxidants retain the reactive oxygen species generation and plays a role in several biological effects. As a result, natural plant antioxidants may have an impact on Parkinson's disease and offer an alternative therapy that minimises oxidative stress and slows down the evolution of the disease.

Analysis Total Phenolic Content of Chamomile Flower (Matricaria chamomilla) and Green Tea (Camellia sinensis) Kombucha with Spectrophotometry UV-Vis Method

Kombucha is a probiotic drink made from fermented tea. The basic ingredients for making kombucha can come from organic ingredients, such as chamomile flowers & green tea. Chamomile flowers (Matricaria chamomilla) and green tea (Camellia sinensis) are one type of plant that has phenolic content and is beneficial for the health of the body. Phenolic compounds are compounds that are found in many plants and play a role in producing natural plant antioxidants. This study aims to determine the phenolic content contained in chamomile kombucha and green tea. The method used is a quantitative test with UV-Visible spectrophotometry to determine phenolic levels. The results showed that the total phenolic content of chamomile flower kombucha was 35.41 mg/L GAE and green tea kombucha was 162.35 mg/L GAE. It can be concluded that the phenolic content of green tea kombucha is higher than chamomile flower kombucha.

Anthocyanin Extract From Purple Sweet Potato Improving Neurotransmitter and Locomotor in Chronic Stressed-mice

Background: Prolonged stress plays an essential role in depression disorder through brain inflammation and neurotransmitter imbalances. The natural plant antioxidant is promising to resist the negative impact of stress. Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the effect of total anthocyanin (ANC) extracts from purple sweet potatoes (PSP) on brain neurotransmitters, inflammation, and locomotor behavior in the chronic-stressed mice model. Methods: Twenty male adult BALB/c mice were assigned to control, stress (STR), STR+ANC (10 mg/kg body weight [BW]), STR+ANC (20 mg/kg BW), and STR+ANC (40 mg/kg BW). Restraint stress was applied 2 h/d for 14 days. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to measure brain dopamine, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and corticosterone levels. The locomotor behavior was analyzed using an open field test before and after ANC treatment. In silico, molecular docking was carried out between ANC and monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B) enzyme. Results: Administration of ANC decreased brain corticosterone levels. The dopamine neurotransmitter decreased in the stress-induced group and increased following ANC treatment. Increased GABA levels were observed in the stressed and treated groups. Locomotor analysis showed reduced total distance movement and velocity after ANC treatment. Molecular prediction showed that ANC can inhibit the MAO-B enzymes. Conclusion: The ANC extracted from PSP relieved brain inflammation and modified the neurotransmitters of dopamine and GABA, affecting the locomotor function of chronically stressed-induced mice. Furthermore, in vivo studies are necessary to evaluate the molecular mechanism of ANC from PSP in chronic stress exposure, particularly on MAO enzyme regulation.

Review of natural antioxidant plants to overcome the neurotoxic effects of methamphetamine

Background: Methamphetamine (METH) is a psychostimulant substance known for its substantial abuse potential and neurotoxic properties. METH is a second-line drug in certain conditions such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), severe obesity, or narcolepsy. Objective: This study aims to compare natural plant antioxidants to overcome neurotoxicity caused by methamphetamine. Method: The authors used a literature review method and collected articles from "PubMed", "Google Scholar", "ScienceDirect", "Scopus" from 2010 - 2023 without excluding old works that are often cited and trusted using the terms “Methamphetamine”, “Neurotoxicity”, “Ipomoea batatas L.”, “Scutellaria baicaleinsis Georgi ”, “Cinnamomum cassia”, “Laurus nobilis L.”, “Aronia melanocarpa”, “Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. f.”, “Gingko biloba L.”, "Centella asiatica (L.)", "Curcuma longa Linn.", "Brassia oleracea L." as inclusion criteria. Result: Several reviewed natural antioxidant plants exhibit pathways and substantial evidence from both in vivo and in vitro studies addressing methamphetamine-induced neurotoxicity. However, Aronia melanocarpa demonstrates a superior LD50 profile, making it the safest choice for consumption. Conclusion: Aronia melanocarpa had the highest LD50 value at 5 g/kg of body weight. Further research is needed to investigate the efficacy of Aronia melanocarpa in addressing methamphetamine-induced neurotoxicity.

Total Phenolic and Starch Content of Arrowroot Tuber in The Agroforestry System

Indonesia's tropical forest management faces several challenges owing to the growing demand for forest resources and increasing population. The forestry sector plays a significant role in supporting food security programs by harnessing the potential of forest resources. One solution to sustainable forest management and optimal forest land use is agroforestry techniques. Arrowroot (Maranta arundinacea) is tolerant to heavy shade and is a promising functional food crop that can contribute to food security programs. Starch content in arrowroot tuber plays an important role in meeting nutritional requirements and overcoming several health problems. Arrowroot tubers also contain phenolic compounds, the largest group of compounds that act as natural antioxidants in plants. This study aimed to analyze the total phenolic and starch contents of arrowroot tubers cultivated in agroforestry systems. We used a Randomized Complete Block Design with a planting pattern as treatment for the species combinations of Falcataria moluccana + arrowroot (FA), F. moluccana + arrowroot + Amomum cardamomum (FAC), and monoculture arrowroot (MA) with three blocks/replications. The arrowroot tubers were harvested from nine-month-old plants and composite samples representing each treatment were analyzed for total phenolic and starch contents. The total phenolic content in the arrowroot tubers was determined using the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent. Starch content was measured using the Modified Somogyi method, which involves preparing reagents, followed by hydrolysis and the reducing sugar determination methods. The results revealed that the planting pattern significantly affected starch content. The highest starch content was observed in the MA pattern of 23.99%, followed by the FAC and FA planting patterns of 22.75% and 18.44%, respectively. The planting pattern did not significantly affect phenolic content. The MA, FAC, and FA patterns yielded the highest to lowest phenolic contents of 218.02, 212.62, and 210.04 µg/g, respectively. Furthermore, the planting pattern significantly affected the total phenolic of tuber yield per plant, with the highest value of 214.48 mg yielded by MA pattern. Thus, agroforestry practices can maintain the phenolic and starch content of arrowroot tubers. The development of arrowroot in agroforestry system will be prospective not only for meeting food demand, but also for supporting forestry multi-business and social forestry programs to achieve sustainable forest management.

Evaluation of the Antioxidant Activity of Aqueous and Hydro-Ethanolic Extracts of Ficus capensis, Newbouldia laevis and Carpolobia lutea

Scientific interest in the search for natural antioxidants (secondary metabolites) in medicinal plants has increased considerably in recent years, as free radicals are at the root of many diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant activity of aqueous and hydroethanol extracts from the leaves of a basic plant product consisting of equal quantities of Ficus capensis, Newbouldia laevis and Carpolobia lutea. Quantitative determination of antioxidant activity was based on the flavonoid content of the base plant product. It was assessed by DPPH (2, 2-diphenyl-l-picrylhydrazyl) reduction tests and ferric ion reducing power (FRAP). The results of this study showed that the hydro-ethanol extract of the basic plant product is richer in flavonoids than that of the aqueous extract. In addition, the ICs50 of the aqueous and hydro-ethanolic extracts of the base plant product with DPPH were 2.13 ± 0.01 µg/mL and 1.19 ± 0.03 µg/mL respectively. In the FRAP test, the reducing powers of the hydroethanolic extract were generally higher than those of the aqueous extract at all concentrations tested. Particularly at the high concentration of 10 µg/mL, the reducing powers of the aqueous and hydroethanol extracts of the base plant product are 435.86 ± 1.29 µg/mL and 453.68 ± 0.71 µg/mL respectively. The hydroethanol extract therefore has better antioxidant activity than the aqueous extract.

Penetapan Kadar Fenolik Total Ekstrak Daun Jotang (Sphagneticola Trilobata) Dengan Spektrofotometri UV-Vis

Phenolic compounds are the largest group of compounds that act as natural antioxidants in plants. One of the plants that has the potential as a natural antioxidant is Jotang (Sphagneticola trilobata). This study aims to determine whether jotang leaf extract (Sphagneticola trilobata) has phenolic content and to determine the total phenolic content in jotang leaf extract (Sphagneticola trilobata). Jotang leaves were extracted by maceration method using methanol solvent. The method of determining total phenolic content was carried out using Folin-ciocaltaeu reagent because phenolic compounds can react with Folin-Ciocalteu to form a solution that can be measured absorbance. As a standard solution, gallic acid is used which is reacted with Folin-Ciocalteau reagent to produce a yellow color indicating that it contains phenolics, after which it is added with Na₂CO₃ solution as a base atmosphere giver. The phytochemical screening of jotang leaf extract showed positive results containing flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, phenolic compounds, and triterpenoids. Determination of the wavelength of gallic acid obtained maximum 653 nm. The results showed that jotang leaf extract (Sphagneticola trilobata) has phenolic content and obtained total phenolic content of jotang leaf extract of 0.909 mg /g.

Comparison Between Natural and Synthetic Antioxidants in Beef Products: A MetaAnalysis

Synthetic antioxidants are created through artificial synthesis, whereas natural antioxidants are created through natural synthesis in plants, animals, and microbes. Although synthetic antioxidants have been used previously, there has been a growing need in recent years for natural antioxidants, largely due to the negative consequences of synthetic antioxidants. Therefore, many current studies have focused on finding natural antioxidants in diverse plants. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of natural and synthetic antioxidants in beef products using a meta-analysis approach. The method included the stages of identification, selection, and conformity check. The selection process resulted in 12 articles obtained from the electronic database of Harzing’s Publish and Perish software. The metaanalysis model used in this study was random-effect model involving a positive control group (synthetic antioxidants) and an experimental group (natural antioxidants). The effect size and confidence interval were computed using the OpenMEE software, while the summary size and Egger’s test were obtained using JASP software. Results revealed that the addition of natural antioxidants showed comparable quality to synthetic antioxidants, as indicated by similar values between the two groups for the peroxide value, carbonyl content, metmyoglobin content, cooking loss, pH, and hue angle (P>0.05). Natural antioxidants showed a higher value on b (yellowness) and chroma (P<0.05). Parameters indicating lower value (P<0.05) occurred in TBARS, a (redness), and L (lightness). In conclusion, the addition of natural antioxidants in beef products demonstrates comparable results and could be used as alternatives to synthetic antioxidants.

“ESTIMATION OF RADICAL SCAVENGING POTENTIAL OF SELECTED MEDICINAL PLANTS OF LAHORE, PAKISTAN”


 
 
 In the current research, in vitro antiradical potential of some medicinal trees of Lahore, Pakistan was investigated. Various fruits and pods of 25 medicinal plants (Prosopis juliflora, Carissa carandas, Ceiba speciosa, Heterophragma adenophyllum Cestrum diurnum Jacaranda mimosifolia, Diospyros malabarica, Terminalia bellerica, Ficus lyrata, Diospyros peregrine, Cinnamomum verum, Erysimum cheiri, Buchanania lanzan, Withania somnifera, Fagonia arabica, Berberis lycium, Strychnos potatorum, Matthiola incana, Ziziphora tenuior, Centaurea behen, Rosa indica, Punica granatum, Lodoicea maldivica, Cassia absus, Celastrus paniculatus) were extracted by ethanol. Different concentrations of fruit extracts (1, 0.5, 0.25, 0.125 mg/mL) were prepared to evaluate in vitro antioxidant activity. The DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) free radical scavenging method was performed and compared with standards like Vitamin E, BHT (Butylated hydroxytoluene) and ascorbic acid. Many plant extracts exhibited 80% of DPPH radical scavenging activity. F. Arabica, S. potatorum, M. incana, P. granatum, C. behen, W. somnifera, T. bellerica, and H. adenophyllum showed significant anti-radical potential (98.4±0.52, 96.40±0.52, 96.42±0.51, 94.58±0.52, 94.47±0.50, 94.65±0.56, 94.55±0.50, 91.42±0.51% inhibition, respectively) at 1 mg/mL equivalent to standards i.e. Vitamin E, BHT and ascorbic acid inhibition (88.25±0.2, 78.1±0.3 and 40.51±0.17%), respectively. Moreover, the dose dependent activity was observed as decline in the percentage inhibition at lower extracts concentration. The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) was also determined for the extracts that varied from 0.014± 0.001 (W. somnifera and J. mimosifolia) to 2.69±0.001 (B.lanzan) mg/mL depending on the sample extracts. The natural antioxidants in plants may be used in foods and natural products as a substitute to synthetic antioxidants, which have side effects.
 
 

Density Functional Theory Study on Antioxidant Activity of Three Polyphenols.

In recent years, research on the antioxidant activity of natural antioxidants has become more and more popular. Polyphenols are a large number of natural antioxidants in plants. This paper selected three common polyphenols to study their antioxidant activity based on quantum chemistry theory. This experiment hopes to provide a theoretical basis for the further development of polyphenol health food with strong antioxidant activity. Three polyphenols resveratrol, liquiritigenin, and isoliquiritigenin were optimized at the level of B3lyp/6-311G (d, p), and the single point energy was calculated with B3lyp/6-311 + + G (2d, 2p). The phenol hydroxyl bond dissociation enthalpy (BDE), ionization potential (IP), proton dissociation enthalpy (PDE), proton affinity (PA), and electron transfer enthalpy (ETE) were calculated in different phase states study the antioxidant mechanism. Draw the frontier molecular orbital and conduct dynamic simulation analysis scavenging · OH and · OOH to explore the most possible active sites in different phenolic hydroxyl sites. The bond length, dihedral angle, BDE, IP, PDE, PA and ETE were compared to speculate the antioxidant activity: Resveratrol > isoliquiritigenin > liquiritigenin. By analyzing the frontier molecular orbital and dynamic simulation results, it is speculated that the phenolic hydroxyl groups at C4', C4', and C4 are the most likely active sites of resveratrol, liquiritigenin, and isoliquiritigenin, respectively. In different phase states, the three compounds showed the same antioxidant activity, and the phenolic hydroxyl activities of the three compounds were different at different sites.

Protective effect of Monarda didymaL. essential oil and its main component thymol on learning and memory impairment in aging mice.

The aging process of human beings is accompanied by the decline of learning and memory ability and progressive decline of brain function, which induces Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) in serious cases and seriously affects the quality of patient’s life. In recent years, more and more studies have found that natural plant antioxidants can help to improve the learning and memory impairment, reduce oxidative stress injury and aging lesions in tissues. This study aimed to investigate the effect of Monarda didymaL. essential oil and its main component thymol on learning and memory impairment in D-galactose-induced aging mice and its molecular mechanism. The composition of Monarda didymaL. essential oil was analyzed by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS). A mouse aging model was established by the subcutaneous injection of D-galactose in mice. The behavior changes of the mice were observed by feeding the model mice with essential oil, thymol and donepezil, and the histopathological changes of the hippocampus were observed by HE staining. And the changes of acetylcholinesterase (AchE), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) activities, and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in hippocampal tissues were detected by corresponding kits. The expression of mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear factor E2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathways related proteins were detected by western blot. Animal experimental results showed that compared with model group, the above indexes in Monarda didymaL. essential oil and thymol groups improved significantly in a dose-dependent manner. Monarda didymaL. essential oil and its main active component thymol can improve the learning and memory impairment of aging mice to some extent, and Nrf2 and MAPK pathways may be involved in its action process.

Free Radical Scavenging Activity of Methanolic and Ethyl Acetate Extracts of Brassica oleracea and its Antioxidant Role in Combating Degenerative Diseases

Focus on natural antioxidants in medicinal plants are gaining momentum in present days reflecting the immense valuability of Ayurveda, Naturopathy and Siddha medicine in treatment of ailments. The role played by free radicals which are highly reactive oxygen species has become increasingly relevant in etiology of degenerative diseases. The present study will focus on the antioxidant potential of methanolic and ethyl acetate extract of Brassica oleracea (var. italica) inflorescence which contribute to the scavenging of free radicals. In vitro free radical scavenging potential of aqueous extracts of Brassica oleracea inflorescence was assessed by 2,2 azino-bis (3- ethylbenzthiazoline -6-sulfonic acid, ABTS), 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) and metal ion chelating assay (20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 μg/ml). Antioxidant potential was found more in the methanolic extracts of the florets in the present study.

Extraction, Phytochemical Screening and Antioxidant Potential of Ethanolic Extract of Drypetes roxburghii

Humans are affected by free radicals in over a hundred different ways. Synthetic antioxidants have been linked to harmful health consequences, prompting substantial investigation into naturally occurring antioxidants, particularly those found in plants. The goal of this study was to determine the phytochemical components and in vitro antioxidant activity of Drypetes roxburghii (D. roxburghii, Euphorbiaceae) leaves collected in the Bhopal district of Madhya Pradesh. The 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) test was used to measure antioxidant activity. The presence of cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, phenol, proteins, carbohydrate, and saponins in the ethanolic extracts of D. roxburghii leaves was discovered using phytochemical screening. The ethanolic and aqueous extracts of D. roxburghii leaves yielded 1.9 and 2.6 percent w/w, respectively. The ethanolic extract of D. roxburghii leaves contained 1.48 and 0.70 mg/100 mg of total phenolic and flavonoids, respectively. When comparing the DPPH scavenging activity of leaf ethanolic extract to Ascorbic acid (standard), the IC50 value was 87.80. It suggests that the plant has the ability to scavenge free radicals, and it might lead to new discoveries in the continuing hunt for natural antioxidants in medicinal plants that can be utilised to treat illnesses caused by free radical reactions.

The effects of Curcuma longa L. leaf extracts on the prevention of oxidation in soybean oil.

The use of natural plant antioxidants has been an alternative approach to synthetic antioxidants for food applications. This study investigated the antioxidant properties of the leaves of Curcuma longa L. against the oxidation of soybean oil using leaf extracts obtained from seven different types of organic solvents and compared to the action of efficient synthetic antioxidants which are widely used and low cost but with toxicity risk. The application of natural alternatives from sources still little studied is a proposal and the extraction of compounds with high antioxidant capacity may vary according to the type of solvent, its mixture, its polarity and other factors that burden or harm the health of the consumer. The leaf extracts were sanitized, dried, and obtained for solvent selection. The quantification of total phenolic compounds (TPC) and antioxidants was performed by using different combinations and proportions of solvents: water (100%), ethanol (100%), methanol (100%), ethanol/water (70%:30%), methanol/water (70%:30%), methanol/acetic acid (99.5%:0.5%), and acetone/water/acetic acid (70%:28:2%). The solvent selected was the one that extracted the highest content of phenolic and antioxidant compounds (using the free radical DPPH scavenging method and FRAP assay). It used an accelerated storage test and experimental design to assess oxidative stability (using peroxide index (PI), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), dienes (DC) and triple conjugates (TC) and statistical analysis). The ethanol/water solvent was efficient in the extraction of TPC (2422 mg GAE 100 g-1). The mixture of solvents extracted an average of 23.65% more TPC when compared to the single solvents. Regarding the antioxidant capacity, the ethanol/water solvent showed 1847 mg TE 100 g-1 using the DPPH and 217 μmol of FeSO4 100 g-1 using the FRAP assays. In addition, the oxidation of soybean oil was delayed by the accelerated storage test showing equivalent results to BHT at 0.02% for the values of PI, TBARS and DC/TC. The E/W extract showed the highest yield in the extraction of phenolic compounds and is a safe solvent for food. The addition of Curcuma longa L. leaf extract to soybean oil caused reductions in PI, TBARS, CD and CT values. The leaf extract of C. longa L. is considered to be a good alternative to synthetic antioxidants against the oxidative degradation of soybean oil.

Metabolome and Transcriptome Analyses Reveal Different Flavonoid Biosynthesis and Chlorophyll Metabolism Profiles between Red Leaf and Green Leaf of Eucommia ulmoides

Flavonoids are natural antioxidants in plants that affect the color of plant tissues. Flavonoids can be divided into eight subgroups, including flavonols, anthocyanins, and proanthocyanidins. The mechanisms of flavonoid synthesis in model plants have been widely studied. However, there are a limited number of reports on the synthesis of flavonoids in the red leaf varieties of woody plants. In this study, we combined morphological observation, pigment content determination, metabolomics, and transcriptomics to investigate the metabolites and gene regulation present in the red and green leaves of Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. The results showed that the red leaves have a lower chlorophyll content and a higher anthocyanin content. Metabonomic analysis identified that the relative content of most flavonoids is up-regulated in red leaves based on UPLC-ESI-MS/MS, which included the apigenin class, quercetin class, kaempferol class, and procyanidins. Transcriptome data suggested that the differentially up-regulated genes are enriched in flavonoid and anthocyanin synthesis pathways, ABC transport, and GST pathways. The integrative analysis of the transcriptome and metabolome showed that the up-regulation of flavonoid metabolism and a high expression of chlorophyll degradation with the down-regulation of chlorophyll biosynthesis genes are detected in E. ulmoides red leaves compared with green leaves. In addition, the co-expression networks implied that cyanidin 3-5-O-diglucoside, EuDR5, EuPAL2, EuDFR11, Eu3MaT1, and EuF3′H are likely associated with the red leaf coloration of E. ulmoides. In summary, this research provided a reference for studying the mechanism of red leaf coloration in woody plants and the use of E. ulmoides red leaves as feedstock for bioactive products.

Therapeutic effects of polyphenols in fermented soybean and black soybean products

• Soybean has a great amount of isoflavones and anthocyanins. • The major amount of isoflavones exists in glycoside form. • During Fermentation, microorganisms convert glycosides isoflavones to aglycone form. • Aglycones has more bioavailability than glycosides isoflavones in the human intestine. • Therapeutic effects of soybean increase after fermentation. Polyphenols are a group of bioactive compounds that act as natural antioxidant in plants. isoflavones and anthocyanins are two main groups of polyphenols that are found in soybean and black soybean, respectively. Fermented soybean products are consumed in eastern Asian countries for centuries. In these products, after fermentation the glycosides polyphenols are converted into aglycone form of them such as genistein and diadzein by the action of β-glucosidase enzyme of the microorganisms used in these processes. These conversions caused to enhance the bioavailability of these phenolic compound in human intestine leads to a higher beneficial and therapeutic effects such as anti-cancer, antiobesity, neuroprotective and antidiabetes. These health promoting effects arise from the antioxidant activity of these two types of polyphenols and also the estrogen like structure of isoflavones that result in their estrogenic activity in human body. This review provides an overview of the fermentation effect on the changes happened in the structure and composition of polyphenols in fermented soybean and black soybean products lead to an increase in the different therapeutic activity of them.

Characteristics of Fragaria vesca Yield Parameters and Anthocyanin Accumulation under Water Deficit Stress.

Plants exposed to drought stress conditions often increase the synthesis of anthocyanins—natural plant pigments and antioxidants. However, water deficit (WD) often causes significant yield loss. The aim of our study was to evaluate the productivity as well as the anthocyanin content and composition of berries from cultivated Fragaria vesca “Rojan” and hybrid No. 17 plants (seedlings) grown under WD. The plants were grown in an unheated greenhouse and fully irrigated (control) or irrigated at 50% and 25%. The number of berries per plant and the berry weight were evaluated every 4 days. The anthocyanin content and composition of berries were evaluated with the same periodicity using HPLC. The effect of WD on the yield parameters of two evaluated F. vesca genotypes differed depending on the harvest time. The cumulative yield of plants under WD was not less than that of the control plants for 20–24 days after the start of the experiment. Additionally, berries accumulated 36–56% (1.5–2.3 times, depending on the harvest time) more anthocyanins compared with fully irrigated plants. Our data show that slight or moderate WD at a stable air temperature of about 20 °C positively affected the biosynthesis of anthocyanins and the yield of F. vesca berries.

A Preliminary Up-To-Date Review on Pakistani Medicinal Plants with Potential Antioxidant Activity

Background: There exist natural antioxidants in plants that scavenge harmful free radicals from the body. Free radicals are species of chemical origin with an unpaired electron and play a pivotal role in combating against health-related problems like lung damage, inflammation, and cardiovascular ailments etc. Antioxidants halt the development of these free radicals called the reactive oxygen species either by chelating the trace elements or by enzymes inhibition.
 Objectives: The aim of this present review was to collect information about Pakistani medicinally important plants with the exploration of their antioxidant potential.
 Methodology: A total of 206 papers were looked over, which were obtained from numerous sources like; Google Scholar, Medline, PubMed, Research Gate, Science Direct, Scopus and Web of Science.
 Results: Overall, 95 plants representing 44 families with potential antioxidant activity reported from Pakistan have been presented in this review. Maximum number of species from Asteracea, Poaceae and Rutaceae families were scrutinized for their potential antioxidant activity from Pakistan.
 Conclusion: The present review clearly authenticates that the presence of phytochemicals and antioxidant activity of medicinal plants from Pakistan vary with the species of the plants and material/extracts used. From this review, it is recommended to perform comprehensive experimental investigations based on toxicology and ethnopharmacology on these precious plants from Pakistan. It will be advantageous in the provision of trustworthy information to patients and determine further innovative compounds for safer and new drugs development with fewer side effects.

Contemporary Separation Processes for Insulation of Plant Extract for Food and Pharmaceutical Process Engineering

We live in a time that imposes a general ecological struggle for a healthier and better life. Exhaustive lifestyles require a rapid increase in research in the food industry, in order to improve food quality and to respond to the demands of the human organism. Consumers demand from the modern chemical industry to develop new technologies that will fit with the general modern and environmentally friendly trends in the world, that produce finished products in accordance with strict ecological criteria (Lisichkov et al., 2017). The significance and prospect of natural antioxidants in the production of healthy food is indicated by a large number of scientists and nutritionists around the world. In pharmacy, a relationship was established between free oxygen radicals and their influence on the pathogenesis of arteriosclerosis, cancer, increased blood pressure and heart disease on the one hand, and antioxidants and free radicals on the other (Lisichkov and Najdenova, 2005). The problem of isolating natural plant antioxidants is quite complicated. In fact, they are particularly sensitive to elevated temperatures, oxygen from the air, light and various types of organic solvents. Hence, there is a need for finding alternative separation procedures for the isolation of bioactive components (Najdenova and Lisichkov, 2005). In contrast to classical extraction, alternative extraction methods (ultrasonic extraction, microwave extraction, supercritical fluid extraction) have a number of advantages over classical, primarily of practical and ecological character. These unconventional extraction procedures take place under favorable operational conditions (low temperatures) and with the use of safe, green solvents, whereby a large amount of energy for regenerating solvents is not used (Lisichkov and Kuvendziev, 2009). The purpose of this work is to present the application of precise process ecotechnological procedures for the isolation of bioactive compounds from selected matrices of plant origin.

Antioxidant Activity and Assessment of Total Phenolic and Flavonoid Contents of Caesalpinia pulcherrima leaf Extract and Fractions

Oxidative stress has been shown to play an important role in the development of many diseases. Indeed, the increase in total antioxidant status is imperative in the recuperation from these diseases. The antioxidant activity, total phenolic and flavonoid contents of Caesalpinia pulcherrima leaves were determined in this study. The powdered dried leaves of C. pulcherrima were screened for their effect on 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH). Total phenolic and flavonoid contents of the extract and fractions were estimated using established methods. Concentrations of the plant extracts required for 50% inhibition of DPPH radical scavenging effect (IC50) were recorded as 3.20, 48.11, 33.12, 9.15, 27.26, 17.90, 272.18 and 55.51μg/ml for Ascorbic acid, 100% n-hexane, 50% n-hexane: 50% ethyl acetate, 100% ethyl acetate, 50% ethyl acetate:50% methanol, 100% methanol, 90% methanol:10% water fractions and crude extract, respectively. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were highest for 100% ethyl acetate fraction. The leaf extract and fractions of C. pulcherrima exhibited notable radical scavenging activity and therefore corroborate its use as a natural plant antioxidant by preventing free radical damage.