Phenolic-rich Extracts Research Articles

Formulation and Evaluation of Cream Using Moringa oleifera L. Leaf Extract

There are an increasing number of studies on the cosmeceutical properties of medicinal plants growing in various climatic zones. The formulation of phenolic rich plant extracts into cosmetic cream products can maximize the commercial value of such products. Most of the herbs used in Nepal for cosmetic purposes are locally available Ayurvedic herbs. The antioxidant property of the ethanolic extracts of Moringa oleifera L. leaves collected from Rupandehi and Makawanpur districts respectively were determined by 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activity. Total phenolic and total tannin content was determined by Foline Ciocalteu reagent. Total phenolic content was found from 35.51 and 42.89 mg/100 g gallic acid in the Makawanpur and Rupandehi districts. Overall, findings revealed that there were slight differences in antioxidant properties between the two samples. The cream formulated from the Makawanpur plant sample had considerable physiochemical parameters within the range of acceptance. These findings provide strong evidence for further development of commercial creams with antioxidant properties

Antioxidant poly (lactic acid) films with rice straw extract for food packaging applications

Antioxidant PLA films incorporating 2%, 4% and 6% of phenol-rich extract from rice straw (RS) were obtained by melt blending and compression-moulding. Aqueous RS extract was obtained by a combined ultrasound-reflux heating method and characterised as to its total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant capacity. The effect of the extract ratio on the functional properties of the films was analysed, as well as the release kinetics of antioxidants in food simulants (ethanol 10% and 50%). Extract incorporation slightly reduced the strength of the polymer matrix, stretchability, resistance to break, barrier capacity and thermostability, while films became brownish and gained antioxidant capacity. Phenolic compounds from the extract were effectively released into food simulants, depending on the extract concentration, the food simulant and contact time. The radical scavenging capacity of the films reached asymptotic values from about 150 h contact time, and films with 6% of the extract exhibited similar values for both simulants. So, PLA films with approximately 6% of extract could be used as biodegradable active packaging material with antioxidant capacity in both aqueous foods (simulant A) and more fatty products (simulant D1). Further studies are required to verify the antioxidant efficiency of the films in real foods.

Underexploited Brazilian Cerrado fruits as sources of phenolic compounds for diseases management: A review

The Brazilian Cerrado is home to a large number of native and endemic species of enormous potential, among which we can highlight the cagaita, gabiroba, jatobá-do-cerrado, lobeira, and mangaba. In this review, we report the nutritional and phenolic composition, as well as bioactivities of these five Brazilian Cerrado fruits. The compiled data indicated that these fruits have high nutritional, functional, and economic potential and contribute to the daily intake of macro- and micronutrients, energy, and phenolic compounds by inhabitants of the Cerrado region. Phenolic-rich extracts obtained from these fruits have shown several bioactivities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidyslipidemic, antidiabetic, analgesic, anticarcinogenic, hepatoprotective, gastrointestinal protective, and antimicrobial properties. Therefore, these fruits can be explored by the food industry as a raw material to develop food products of high value-added, such as functional foods, and can also be employed as plant sources to obtain bioactive compounds for food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical purposes.

Microencapsulated phenolic-rich extract from juice processing grape pomace (Vitis labrusca. Isabella Var): Effects on oxidative stability of raw and pre-cooked bovine burger

Grape processing generates residues rich in bioactive compounds with potential application in the meat industry. However, these substances are unstable and needs to be treated to allow their action during the processing and storage of meat products. In this sense, a phenolic-rich extract from grape pomace was microencapsulated and evaluated for its potential to inhibit the oxidative process in raw and precooked beef burgers during cold storage. Three hamburger formulations containing lyophilized extract (LEB), microencapsulated extract (MEB) and synthetic antioxidant sodium erythorbate (SEB) were prepared, pre-cooked, and evaluated for lipid and protein oxidation. The microencapsulation, with 95.0% efficiency, provided a material with a crystalline structure, rich in phenolics and with high antioxidant potential, showing 377.4 ± 0.01, 1768.1 ± 0.07 and 1185.0 ± 0.20 μmol TEAC.100 g−1 for DPPH, ABTS and FRAP, respectively. Lower values of malonaldehyde were found in LEB and MEB (2.9 ± 0.3 and 1.4 ± 0.5 mg MDA.kg−1, respectively) at the end of storage, with emphasis on for the hamburgers that received the microencapsulated extract. Similar behavior was observed for the analysis of carbonyl compounds, with values of 11.1 ± 1.1, 8.7 ± 1.4 and 6.8 ± 1.0 nM carbonyl.mg−1 in SEB, LEB and MEB, respectively. Thus, the freeze-dried and microencapsulated grape extracts showed superior results when compared to the synthetic antioxidant, increasing the oxidative stability of hamburgers, and avoiding significant color changes during the cold storage. The results indicate the high potential of the microencapsulated material to be used as a natural antioxidant in the meat industry.

Extraction Systems and Analytical Techniques for Food Phenolic Compounds: A Review.

Phenolic compounds are highly valuable food components due to their potential utilisation as natural bioactive and antioxidant molecules for the food, cosmetic, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries. For this purpose, the development and optimisation of efficient extraction methods is crucial to obtain phenolic-rich extracts and, for some applications, free of interfering compounds. It should be accompanied with robust analytical tools that enable the standardisation of phenolic-rich extracts for industrial applications. New methodologies based on both novel extraction and/or analysis are also implemented to characterise and elucidate novel chemical structures and to face safety, pharmacology, and toxicity issues related to phenolic compounds at the molecular level. Moreover, in combination with multivariate analysis, the extraction and analysis of phenolic compounds offer tools for plant chemotyping, food traceability and marker selection in omics studies. Therefore, this study reviews extraction techniques applied to recover phenolic compounds from foods and agri-food by-products, including liquid-liquid extraction, solid-liquid extraction assisted by intensification technologies, solid-phase extraction, and combined methods. It also provides an overview of the characterisation techniques, including UV-Vis, infra-red, nuclear magnetic resonance, mass spectrometry and others used in minor applications such as Raman spectroscopy and ion mobility spectrometry, coupled or not to chromatography. Overall, a wide range of methodologies are now available, which can be applied individually and combined to provide complementary results in the roadmap around the study of phenolic compounds.

Liposomal system based on lyophilization of a monophase solution for stabilization of bioactives from red onion skin

Encapsulation of obtained polyphenolic extract from red onion skin was performed in phosphatidylcholine-based liposomes based on freeze-drying of the single-phase solution using tert-butyl alcohol-water cosolvent system. The highest amounts of anthocyanins and polyphenols extraction were obtained at 60% ethanolic media without acetic acid. Two batches of nanoliposomes, loaded with obtained bioactives, yielded the nanoliposome particle size of 159.4–177.3 nm, PDI of 0.65–0.7, and zeta potential of −38 to −28.6 mV. The encapsulation efficiency of the prepared nanoliposomes was reported to be higher than 68.42%. The samples exhibited higher stability at 4 °C than 25 °C during 21 days of storage. The spherical and uniform shape of the nanoliposomes and the interactions between the anthocyanins and the nanoliposomes were confirmed by TEM and FTIR tests, respectively. As for the anthocyanin release in the two hydrophilic and lipophilic food simulants, the results indicated the higher release of the anthocyanins in the hydrophilic solution. In general, the liposomal system used for encapsulating poly phenol rich extract from red onion skin can be applied for control release in food products.

Antibacterial activity of bioactive compounds extracted from red kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) seeds against multidrug-resistant Enterobacterales.

In the present study, biologically active compounds such as phenolic-rich extract (PRE), 7S globulin (vicilin), and 11S globulin (legumin) from red kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) seeds were extracted and evaluated as antibacterial agents against multidrug-resistant (MDR) Enterobacterales isolated from both animal and human sources. The overall occurrence rate of Enterobacterales was 43.6%, which significantly differed between animal (38.75%) and human (56.67%) sources. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed that Enterobacterales isolates exhibited full resistance (100%) to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, followed by ampicillin (75.44%), erythromycin (71.93%), cefoxitin (70.18%), amoxicillin (66.66%), ceftriaxone (64.91%), and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (56.14%). Worthy of note, 97.92% of Enterobacterales isolates were MDR. The total phenolic contents (TPC; 53 ± 2 mg GAE g-1) and total flavonoid contents (TFC; 26 ± 1 mg QE g-1) were recorded. The major phenolic and flavonoid components were catechol (17.63 μg/mL) and hesperidin (11.37 μg/mL), respectively. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) was performed to detect the 7S and 11S globulin's molecular mass. The data revealed that red kidney bean protein isolate (KPI) includes two major portions: 7S and 11S globulins. The bioactive compounds of Phaseolus vulgaris were investigated for their antibacterial activities against Enterobacterales for the first time. The protein component (MIC = 0.125 - 2 μg/mL; 53.85%) and its 7S and 11S globulin subunits (MIC = 0.5 - 2 μg/mL; 30.77% each) were the most potent extracts, whereas the methanolic extract was the least effective one (MIC = 2 μg/mL; 15.38%). The results displayed the potential of protein bioactive compounds as a hopeful candidate for enhancing future medication plans for the treatment of Enterobacterales originating from animal and human sources.

Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Activity of Apricot (Mimusopsis comersonii) Phenolic-Rich Extract and Its Application as an Edible Coating for Fresh-Cut Vegetable Preservation.

Edible coatings have several advantages in preserving foods, such as avoiding water loss, controlling microbial growth, and reducing the need for preservatives added directly to the product. Antimicrobial action can be obtained by adding antimicrobial substances including phenolic compounds commonly found in plant extracts. This study evaluated the phenolic compounds content, antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of pulp, and seed extracts of Mimusopsis comersonii (popularly known in Brazil as abrico), besides the phenolic compounds were identified and quantified in the pulp extract. Edible coatings were incorporated with pulp extract in order to evaluate the preservation of minimally processed apples and baroa potatoes against foodborne bacteria, and enzymatic browning was also determined. Myricetin-3-glucoside, quercetin-3-glucoside, and kaempferol-3-glucoside were identified as major flavonoids in the apricot pulp extract. The seed and pulp extracts inhibited all tested microorganisms, especially Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella Typhimurium. Edible coatings added with 9% of phenolic extract showed in vitro antimicrobial activity, in addition to being effective in preventing enzymatic browning in minimally processed apples and baroa potatoes for up to 15 days of storage. They were also effective in reducing up to 2 log CFU/g of aerobic mesophiles after 15 days of storage for apples, even though no microbial inhibition in baroa potatoes was observed under the same conditions. The addition of pulp phenolic extract in edible coatings proved to be an alternative in the preservation of apples and in the antibrowning activity of minimally processed baroa potatoes.

LC–MS/MS analysis, antioxidant and anticancer effects of phenolic-rich extracts from Algerian propolis: a comparative study

LC–MS/MS analysis, antioxidant and anticancer effects of phenolic-rich extracts from Algerian propolis: a comparative study

The Disposition of Bioactive Compounds from Fruit Waste, Their Extraction, and Analysis Using Novel Technologies: A Review

Fruit waste contains several bioactive components such as polyphenols, polysaccharides, and numerous other phytochemicals, including pigments. Furthermore, new financial opportunities are created by using fruit ‘leftovers’ as a basis for bioactivities that may serve as new foods or food ingredients, strengthening the circular economy’s properties. From a technical standpoint, organic phenolic substances have become more appealing to industry, in addition to their application as nutritional supplements or functional meals. Several extraction methods for recovering phenolic compounds from fruit waste have already been published, most of which involve using different organic solvents. However, there is a growing demand for eco-friendly and sustainable techniques that result in phenolic-rich extracts with little ecological impact. Utilizing these new and advanced green extraction techniques will reduce the global crisis caused by fruit waste management. Using modern techniques, fruit residue is degraded to sub-zero scales, yielding bio-based commodities such as bioactive elements. This review highlights the most favorable and creative methods of separating bioactive materials from fruit residue. Extraction techniques based on environmentally friendly technologies such as bioreactors, enzyme-assisted extraction, ultrasound-assisted extraction, and their combination are specifically covered.

Neuroprotective Effect of Artichoke-Based Nanoformulation in Sporadic Alzheimer's Disease Mouse Model: Focus on Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, and Amyloidogenic Pathways.

The vast socio-economic impact of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has prompted the search for new neuroprotective agents with good tolerability and safety profile. With its outstanding role as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, alongside its anti-acetylcholinesterase activity, the artichoke can be implemented in a multi-targeted approach in AD therapy. Moreover, artichoke agricultural wastes can represent according to the current United Nations Sustainable Development goals an opportunity to produce medicinally valuable phenolic-rich extracts. In this context, the UPLC-ESI-MS/MS phytochemical characterization of artichoke bracts extract revealed the presence of mono- and di-caffeoylquinic acids and apigenin, luteolin, and kaempferol O-glycosides with remarkable total phenolics and flavonoids contents. A broad antioxidant spectrum was established in vitro. Artichoke-loaded, chitosan-coated, solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) were prepared and characterized for their size, zeta potential, morphology, entrapment efficiency, release, and ex vivo permeation and showed suitable colloidal characteristics, a controlled release profile, and promising ex vivo permeation, indicating possibly better physicochemical and biopharmaceutical parameters than free artichoke extract. The anti-Alzheimer potential of the extract and prepared SLNs was assessed in vivo in streptozotocin-induced sporadic Alzheimer mice. A great improvement in cognitive functions and spatial memory recovery, in addition to a marked reduction of the inflammatory biomarker TNF-α, β-amyloid, and tau protein levels, were observed. Significant neuroprotective efficacy in dentate Gyrus sub-regions was achieved in mice treated with free artichoke extract and to a significantly higher extent with artichoke-loaded SLNs. The results clarify the strong potential of artichoke bracts extract as a botanical anti-AD drug and will contribute to altering the future medicinal outlook of artichoke bracts previously regarded as agro-industrial waste.

Garden cress gum and maltodextrin as microencapsulation coats for entrapment of garden cress phenolic-rich extract: improved thermal stability, storage stability, antioxidant and antibacterial activities

The obtained garden cress 6-day sprouts phenolic-rich extract (GCSP) contained efficient health-promoting antioxidant-phenolic compounds. To improve the stability, bioavailability, and functional properties of these valuable phenolic compounds, GCSP was encapsulated by freeze-drying technique using different ratios of garden cress gum (GG) and maltodextrin (M) in the absence and presence of sonication (S). The prepared S/GG-microcapsule retained the highest phenolic content (95%), antioxidant activity (141.6%), and encapsulation efficiency (98.2%). It displayed the highest bio-accessibility of GCSP-phenolic compounds in simulated intestine fluid (87%) and demonstrated the greatest storage-stability at 40 °C for 60 days. S/GG-microcapsule possessed better physical properties including moisture, solubility, swelling, and morphological structures using SEM. The main spectral features, crosslinking, and improved thermal stability were demonstrated for S/GG-microcapsule using FTIR and thermogravimetric analyses. S/GG-microcapsule demonstrated much greater antibacterial activity than GCSP against pathogenic bacteria. S/GG-microcapsule can be added to different food products to improve their antioxidant and antibacterial properties.

Screening the extraction process of phenolic compounds from pressed grape seed residue: Towards an integrated and sustainable management of viticultural waste

The integrated valorisation of waste from the food chain to obtain value-added compounds with biological functionality will facilitate the transition to the era of a sustainable bioeconomy. To this end, an efficient matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD) extraction method was developed and optimized, using experimental factorial design and response surface methodology, for polyphenols recovery from pressed grape seeds obtained after the extraction of essential oils by cold pressing. Gallic, dihydroxybenzoic, p-coumaric and trans-ferulic acid, naringin, resveratrol, quercetin and kaempferol were quantified at 2.1–295 μg g−1 by capillary liquid chromatography coupled to a diode array detector and a mass analyser (cLC-DAD-MS). Furthermore, total antioxidant activity, free radical scavenging and lipid peroxidation suppression, together with the inhibition of beta-amyloid (Αβ42) protein aggregation, considered one of the main pathological effects of Alzheimer's disease, were evaluated. Potent lipid peroxidation inhibition (IC50 0.238 ± 0.003 ng g−1) was observed, along with the reduction of Αβ42 fibril width (9.4–54.8%) and aggregation. The results presented proved that the MSPD extraction method could be considered as an efficient and sustainable methodology to produce phenolic-rich extracts that may serve as an alternative antioxidant and neuroprotective ingredient for the food or pharmaceutical formulations, leading to the cascade valorisation of winery by-products.

Pressurized natural deep eutectic solvents: An alternative approach to agro-soy by-products.

Soybeans are mainly used for food and biodiesel production. It is estimated that soy crops worldwide will leave about 651 million metric tons of branches, leaves, pods, and roots on the ground post-harvesting in 2022/23. These by-products might serve as largely available and cheap source of high added-value metabolites, such as flavonoids, isoflavonoids, and other phenolic compounds. This work aimed to explore green approaches based on the use of pressurized and gas expanded-liquid extraction combined with natural deep eutectic solvents (NADESs) to achieve phenolic-rich extracts from soy by-products. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents of the generated extracts were quantified and compared with conventional solvents and techniques. Pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) with choline chloride/citric acid/water (1:1:11 – molar ratio) at 120°C, 100 bar, and 20 min, resulted in an optimized condition to generate phenolic and flavonoid-rich fractions of soy by-products. The individual parts of soy were extracted under these conditions, with their metabolic profile obtained by UHPLC-ESI-QToF-MS/MS and potential antioxidant properties by ROS scavenging capacity. Extracts of soy roots presented the highest antioxidant capacity (207.48 ± 40.23 mg AA/g), three times higher than soybean extracts (68.96 ± 12.30). Furthermore, Hansen solubility parameters (HSPs) were applied to select natural hydrophobic deep eutectic solvents (NaHDES) as substituents for n-heptane to defat soybeans. Extractions applying NaHDES candidates achieved a similar yield and chromatography profile (GC-QToF-MS) to n-heptane extracts.

Oxidative stability of green weakfish (Cynoscion virescens) by-product surimi and surimi gel enhanced with a Spondias mombin L. waste phenolic-rich extract during cold storage

The aim of this investigation was to assess the effect of yellow mombin bagasse extract (YMBE), alone or combined with commercial cryoprotectants, on the quality changes during cold storage of surimi and surimi gel prepared with the cutting by-product of green weakfish (Cynoscion virescens). Four treatments were elaborated: SC (surimi control), SE (surimi with addition of 1% extract), SCP (surimi with the addition of 4% sorbitol + 4% sucrose) and SECP (surimi with addition of 1% extract + 4% sorbitol +4% sucrose). The addition of the extract was effective in maintaining the whiteness of the surimi and its gel throughout storage. At the end of 12 days of cold storage, the surimi gel prepared with SE treatment presented high whiteness compared to the control samples. The inclusion of 1% YMBE in isolation or combined with commercial cryoprotectants showed a positive effect on the inhibition of lipid and protein oxidation of surimi. In conclusion, YMBE extract is a promising alternative to be used as a natural food preservative in surimi and surimi gel.

Phenolic-rich extracts from acerola, cashew apple and mango by-products cause diverse inhibitory effects and cell damages on enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli

This study aimed to evaluate the inhibitory effects of phenolic‐rich extracts from acerola (Malpighia emarginata D.C., PEA), cashew apple (Anacardium occidentale L., PEC) and mango (Mangifera indica L., PEM) by‐products on distinct enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) strains. The capability of PEA and PEC of impairing various physiological functions of ETEC strains was investigated with multiparametric flow cytometry. Procyanidin B2, myricetin and p‐coumaric acid were the major phenolic compounds in PEA, PEC and PEM, respectively. PEA and PEC had lower minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) (MIC: 31·25 mg ml−1; MBC: 62·5 mg ml−1) on ETEC strains than PEM (MIC and MIC: >1000 mg ml−1). PEA and PEC (15·6, 31·2, 62·5 mg ml−1) caused viable count reductions (P < 0·05) on ETEC strains after 24 h of exposure, notably the ≥3 log reductions caused by 62·5 mg ml−1. The 24 h exposure of ETEC strains to PEA and PEC (31·2, 62·5 mg ml−1) led to high sizes of cell subpopulations with concomitant impairments in cell membrane polarization and permeability, as well as in enzymatic, respiratory and efflux activities. PEA and PEC are effective in inhibiting ETEC through a multi‐target action mode with disturbance in different physiological functions.

Phenol-Rich Botanicals Modulate Oxidative Stress and Epithelial Integrity in Intestinal Epithelial Cells.

Simple SummaryPhenolic compounds are one of the largest groups of botanical components able to provide advantageous effects. Phenol-rich botanicals are widely investigated for their numerous characteristics, mainly antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. Despite the increasing use of these substances in food and feed, their effect on intestinal mucosa is still marginally known. The aim of this study was to screen the activity of different sources of phenol compounds on intestinal oxidation and barrier integrity in vitro. Human intestinal cells were treated with increasing doses of phenol-rich botanicals, then, an evaluation of oxidative stress and mucosal integrity markers was performed. Different sources of phenolic compounds elicit different responses from an organism, although all the tested botanicals showed a positive effect on treated cells. The results suggest that the potential use of these botanicals as dietary supplements could improve intestinal barrier function.Botanicals are mainly known for their role as antimicrobials and anti-inflammatories. Thus, the dual purpose of the study was to verify the antioxidant potential of the tested botanicals and to evaluate their possible modulation of intestinal barrier integrity. As the effects of various phenol-rich extracts were screened, the human Caco-2 cell line was determined to be most suitable for use as the in vitro model for the intestinal epithelium. The tested botanicals, all approved as feed additives, are ginger essential oil, tea tree oil, grape seed extract, green tea extract, olive extract, chestnut extract, pomegranate extract, thyme essential oil, and capsicum oleoresin. The cells were treated with incremental doses of each botanical, followed by measurements of transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER), gene expression of tight junctions (TJs), and reactive oxygen species (ROS). The results showed how different phenol-rich botanicals could modulate barrier functions and oxidative stress in different ways. Interestingly, all the botanicals tested exerted an antioxidant potential by dropping the cytoplasmatic ROS, while the beneficial effect was exerted at different concentrations for each botanical. Our data support the role of plant extracts and essential oils in controlling gut barrier function and in reducing the negative effects of oxidative stress in intestinal epithelial cells, thereby supporting gut barrier functionality.

Moroccan pomegranate (sefri variety) polyphenols prevent hyperlipidemia, oxidative stress and enhance cholesterol efflux processes

Background and Aims : The present study aimed to investigate the effect of phenolic-rich extract from pomegranate peels (PEPP) and arils (PEPA) on lipid profile in high fat-high fructose diet (HFFD) induced hyperlipidemia in Wistar rats and to provide a molecular explanation for their effects.

Valorization of Spent Sugarcane Fermentation Broth as a Source of Phenolic Compounds

A methodology based on a solid phase extraction (SPE) was optimized for the recovery of phenolic compounds from the spent fermentation broth generated from Biofene® (trans-β-farnesene) production. For this purpose, two resins (XAD-2 and HP-20) and three desorption solutions (water, 50/50 ethanol/water, and ethanol) were tested. The most efficient resin revealed to be the HP-20, using ethanol as desorption solution, reaching an overall total phenolic compound recovery of ca. 80% when 6 BV (bed volume) of both feed and ethanol were applied. The optimization of the resin’s process cycle pointed to 15 BV feed to be treated per cycle and using the same volume of ethanol in the desorption step, with no need for an extra resin regeneration step, stably yielding 48% total phenolic compound recovery from the spent broth for at least 4 cycles, translating into 60 BV of feed being treated per BV of resin, and with the resin being still perfectly active. The extract was characterized using LC−ESI−UHR−QqTOF−MS, and a total of 82 and 15 compounds were identified, in negative and positive ionization modes, respectively. Organic acids were the main class of compounds identified in the phenolic-rich extract, followed by phenolic compounds, saccharides, peptides or amino acids and vitamins. Additionally, the extract revealed a significant antioxidant capacity (914.1 ± 51.6 and 2764.5 ± 142.8 µmol Trolox equivalents/g-dw, respectively, with ABTS and ORAC methodologies), which might be interesting for a wide variety of applications.

Antiproliferative and Pro-Apoptotic Effects of a Phenolic-Rich Extract from Lycium barbarum Fruits on Human Papillomavirus (HPV) 16-Positive Head Cancer Cell Lines.

The in vitro antiproliferative activity of a phenolic-rich extract from Lycium barbarum fruits against head and neck HPV16 squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) has been demonstrated, indicating for the first time that L. barbarum extract inhibits human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16 cell lines. Ethanol extract of L. barbarum was used for cell viability evaluation on SCC090, CAL27, and HGnF cell lines. After 24 and 48 h, the cell cycle effect of L. barbarum extract (at 1.0, 10, and 100 µg/mL) was measured via flow cytometry. In addition, the mRNA expression on E6/E7 and p53 via RT-PCR and the expression of p16, p53, Ki-67, and Bcl-2 via immunohistochemistry were also determined. Untreated cells, 20 µM cisplatin, and a Camellia sinensis-derived extract were used as negative and positive controls, respectively. We demonstrated that the studied L. barbarum extract resulted in G0/G1 arrest and S phase accumulation in SCC090 at 1.0 and 10 μg/mL. A reduction in mRNA levels of E6/E7 oncogenes (p < 0.05) with p53 overexpression was also observed through PCR, while immunohistochemical analyses indicated p16 overexpression (p > 0.05) and a decrease in p53 overexpression. The observed effects were associated with anticancer and immunomodulatory phenolics, such as flavonols/flavan-3-ols and tyramine-conjugated hydroxycinnamic acid amides, identified in the studied extract. These findings revealed that the phenolic-rich extract of L. barbarum fruits has promising properties to be considered further for developing new therapies against oral and oropharyngeal HPV lesions.