Phytochemical Content Research Articles

Exploitation of red beet peel powder as a natural food ingredient in whey-fruit based beverage

ABSTRACT Scientists and food producers are studying the potential of utilizing different by-products as highly nutritious food components to meet consumers’ growing demand for healthier and natural goods. Beetroot belongs to the Amaranthaceae family and is highly rich in antioxidants, specifically phenolics and betalains with excellent health properties. The peel of red beetroot, which is generally discarded, has a high concentration of bioactive phytochemicals (betalains, dietary fibers). These compounds are well-known for their strong antioxidant effects, improving cardiovascular health, reducing oxidative stress, and enhancing immunological function. Incorporating red beetroot peel (RBP) powder into whey-fruit-based beverages is a promising method to improve nutritional content and sensory attractiveness. This study investigated the influence of adding RBP to whey-fruit-based beverages, specifically examining its effects on physicochemical and phytochemical characteristics, antioxidant capacity, color, microbiological, and rheological attributes, and consumer preference. The RBP extract exhibited high amounts of total polyphenols (1239.35 ± 0.51 mg GAE/100 g dw) and antioxidant activity (90.02 ± 0.22%). The findings indicated that RBP had a notable impact on the antioxidant capacity (16.38 ± 0.37 μmol TE/g dw for BRBP1, 26.69 ± 0.10 μmol TE/g dw for BRBP3, 36.75 ± 0.31 μmol TE/g dw for BRBP6) of the beverages and enhanced their color without negatively impacting their sensory characteristics. The dynamic oscillatory rheological measurements revealed that beverage supplementation with increasing amounts of RBP obtained stronger networks with solid-like viscoelastic behavior. Using RBP powder as a natural food ingredient in whey-fruit-based beverages enhances their nutritional value and promotes sustainable food processing by making use of by-products from the food industry into innovative food options.

Preparation of Powder from Butterfly Pea Plant (Clitoria Ternatea) for Pharmaceutical Applications

The butterfly pea plant, scientifically known as Clitoria ternatea, is valuable medicinal herb with long history of traditional use in various cultures. This research focuses on the preparation of powder from the butterfly pea plant, exploring the optimal methods for drying, grinding, and storing the plant material. The study also evaluates the phytochemical content, physical properties, and potential pharmaceutical applications of the resulting powder. The findings suggest that standardized preparation techniques can enhance the medicinal value of the butterfly pea plant, making it a viable option for use in various pharmaceutical formulations

Effects of Nitrogen Concentration in Nutrient Solution on Growth, Yield and Phytochemical and Aromatic Compounds of Persicaria minor Cultivated Using Hydroponics System

Persicaria minor, locally known as kesum and belonging to the family Polygonaceae, is a widely used aromatic herb in Malaysia. Cultivating kesum hydroponically using a deep-water culture (DWC) system presents an alternative method for growers to enhance crop yields. This system delivers a liquid fertilizer solution directly to the plant roots, eliminating the need for a growth medium or water flow. Kesum contains phytochemical compounds such as quercetin-3-glucuronide and quercitrin, which have medicinal properties. The primary objective of this study was to assess the effects of nitrogen concentration on the growth, yield, phytochemical (quercetin-3-glucuronide and quercitrin) and aromatic (aldehyde and caryophyllene) content of kesum cultivated in a hydroponic system. Plants were grown under four nitrogen concentration regimes: 200 mg/L, 100 mg/L, 50 mg/L, and 0 mg/L. The experiment was conducted under a side-netted rain shelter and arranged in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four replications. The plants were harvested eight weeks after planting. The result indicted those supplemented with 100 mg/L of nitrogen exhibited the best growth performance and biomass yield, along with the highest levels of aromatic compounds (aldehyde C-10: 5.80% and aldehyde C-12: 12.23%). Plants treated with 50 mg/L of nitrogen produced the highest amounts of quercetin-3-glucuronide (98.261 µg/mL) and quercitrin (61.367 µg/mL) compared to other treatments. Additionally, plants receiving 200 mg/L of nitrogen had the highest caryophyllene content (12.53%). In conclusion, the deep-water culture system in hydroponics can effectively cultivate kesum, allowing for adjustments in nitrogen concentration to achieve optimal yields, phytochemical levels, or aromatic compound production based on specific objectives.

Night Interruption with Red and Far-Red Light Optimizes the Phytochemical Composition, Enhances Photosynthetic Efficiency, and Increases Biomass Partitioning in Italian Basil

Controlled environment agriculture is a promising solution to address climate change and resource limitations. Light, the primary energy source driving photosynthesis and regulating plant growth, is critical in optimizing produce quality. However, the impact of specific light spectra during night interruption on improving phytochemical content and produce quality remains underexplored. This study investigated the effects of red (peak wavelength at 660 nm) and far-red night interruption (peak wavelength at 730 nm) on photosynthetic efficiency, biomass distribution, and phytochemical production in Italian basil (Ocimum basilicum L.). Treatments included red light, far-red light, a combination of both, and a control without night interruption. Red light significantly increased chlorophyll a by 16.8%, chlorophyll b by 20.6%, and carotenoids by 11%, improving photosynthetic efficiency and nutritional quality. Red light also elevated anthocyanin levels by 15.5%, while far-red light promoted flavonoid production by 43.56%. Although red light enhanced biomass, the primary benefit was improved leaf quality, with more biomass directed to leaves over roots. Far-red light reduced transpiration, enhancing post-harvest water retention and shelf life. These findings demonstrate that red and far-red night interruption can optimize phytochemical content, produce quality, and post-harvest durability, offering valuable insights for controlled environment agriculture. Future research should focus on refining night interruption light strategies across a broader range of crops to enhance produce quality and shelf life in controlled environment agriculture.

Investigating the effect of fermentation byLactobacillus reuteri on biochemical properties of Ceylon Cinnamon

Abstract Introduction Fermentation is an important biotechnological process that improves the biochemical properties of natural raw materials by transforming high molecular compounds into more beneficial low molecular compounds through microbial biotransformation. Ceylon cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume), globally recognized as 'true cinnamon', contains high molecular weight, complex compounds that are responsible for its renowned antioxidant, antibacterial, and therapeutic properties, making it a vital component in medicinal applications1. Aims The present study aimed to investigate the effect of fermentation by Lactobacillus reuteri on selected phytochemical contents, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties of bark extracts of Ceylon cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume) and to determine the optimum conditions for fermentation of Cinnamon bark extract by L. reuteri. Method Authenticated Ceylon cinnamon bark (CCB) was extracted into water using the decoction method. The water extract was fermented by L. reuteri under controlled conditions (pH 6, incubation at 35 ºC) and optimized using two parameters; the inoculum density (1.5×108 cfu/ml and 7.5×108 cfu/ml) and incubation time (2 and 4 days). After fermentation, total polyphenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), DPPH free radical scavenging activity and antibacterial activity of non-fermented extracts (NFE) and fermented extracts (FE) of CCB were evaluated. Antibacterial activity was determined using the agar well diffusion method against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Ethical approval was not required since no human or animal study was done during the study. Results The extract fermented with an inoculum density of 7.5×108 cfu/ml and incubated for 4 days showed the highest TFC (19.3 ± 0.3 mg RE/g) and antioxidant activity (IC50: 97.2 ± 0.8 µg/ml) in comparison to that of NFEs (TFC:13.3 ± 0.3 mg RE/g and DPPH activity: IC50: 233.7 ± 12.8 µg/ml). Moreover, the fermented samples showed a reduction in TPC, indicating possible biotransformation of compounds. and no significant change in the antibacterial activity in comparison to the non-fermented samples. Discussion and Conclusion This study was mainly focused on investigating the effect of fermentation of Ceylon cinnamon bark aqueous extract by Lactobacillus reuteri. The increased antioxidant activity and total flavonoid content are notable and could be attributed to chemical transformations of some complex flavanols including catechin gallate and epicatechin gallate present in aqueous cinnamon to catechin and epicatechin monomers by the action of enzymes secreted by L. reuteri during the fermentation process2. Hence, this study suggests that fermentation using L. reuteri has a considerable positive impact on certain biochemical properties of cinnamon water extract. Cinnamon bark is a complex matrix containing various phytochemicals that could interact with bacterial strains in ways that are not fully understood. These interactions could lead to unexpected effects or limitations during fermentation.

A phytochemical content analysis, and antioxidant activity evaluation using a novel method on Melilotus officinalis flower

Conducting content analysis is very important to elucidate and expand the different usage areas of plant components. Today's content analysis methods provide very reliable results. However, the high cost of these methods and the need for trained personnel bring other challenges. Therefore, simple, fast, and low-cost content analysis methods are a great need. In this study, the phenolic content of Melilotus officinalis flower extracts was investigated using LC-MS/MS analysis, and its antioxidant activity was determined with a novel method employing a PVC membrane sensor. In the method, for the first time, the antioxidant activities of M. officinalis flowers were determined in an economical, sensitive, fast, and stable manner using a PVC potentiometric sensor. Sensor measurements were performed using DPPH and FCR molecules, resulting in 25.71 mg.g-1 activity values and 117.524 mg.g-1, respectively. LC-MS/MS analysis was conducted to investigate the presence of 45 standard phenolic compounds in M. officinalis. The results revealed that coumarin and isoquercitrin were the major phenolic compounds in the M. officinalis flower extract. The findings of LC-MS/MS analyses of the extracts show moderate phenolic content presence in the M. officinalis flower extracts. The total phenolic content determined by LC-MS/MS analysis was consistent with the PVC membrane sensor analysis results. The studies of molecular docking aimed to identify the most effective active sites, and the Moldock scores (-57.13, -105.93) and binding energies (4.5 kcal.mol-1, -7.9 kcal.mol-1) of coumarin and isoquercitrin molecules. The results of molecular docking studies suggest that isoquercitrin exhibits a stronger inhibitory effect on DD-peptidase enzymes compared to coumarin.

Phytochemical Content towards Weak Antioxidants Activity of Traditional Fermented VCO as the Basic Ingredient for Ear Drops

Chronic Suppurative Media Otitis is caused by pathogenic bacteria, which, if the growth is not controlled, will cause meningitis and can lead to death. Virgin Coconut Oil is an oil made through the traditional fermentation process of coconut milk and can inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria that cause Chronic Suppurative Media Otitis. So far, pathogenic bacteria can be controlled using ear drops made from artificial chemicals, which can cause resistance. Only a few have studied the manufacture of natural-based ear drops from VCO. The purpose of this study is to study the potential of VCO as a natural essential ingredient for ear drops for patients with OMSK by analyzing its antioxidant content using the DPPH method and its phytochemical content using Ultraviolet-Visible Spectroscopy (UV-Vis) and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Its antioxidants in the IC50 (ppm) region are 583.92mg/L. The types of fatty acids contained in VCO consist of Medium-Chain Fatty Acid (MCFA), Long-Chain Fatty Acid (LCFA) and Very Long Chain Fatty Acid (VLCFA), the most of which is lauric acid (MCFA), as much as 49.28%. Conventional analysis of secondary metabolites showed the presence of Alkaloids, Terpenoids, Ascorbic Acid, and Saponins. It can be concluded that the chemical content of Virgin Coconut Oil made from fermentation can be used in the health field as a primary ingredient for making ear drops for CSOM patients.

Improving the Productivity and Physiological Characteristics of Lettuce Plants Using Spraying Calcium as a Nanofertilizer

Implementing nanofertilizers in cultivation to enhance food security is important and gaining great significance, as they have good properties to improve plant production, phytochemicals, and nutrient efficiency and thereby meet the demands of the increasing world population for food. This work demonstrated the impact of calcium carbonate nanoparticles (Ca-NPs) and Ca bulk at three concentrations (0, 100, and 200 mg L−1) on growth, productivity, photosynthetic pigments, phytochemical content, antioxidant activity enzymes, minerals, toxicity, and genomic DNA of lettuce plants. In this regard, Ca-NPs at a concentration of 200 mg L−1 reinforced the vegetative growth characteristics of lettuce plants, increasing head length by 15.7 and 19.2%, head diameter by 20.3 and 19.9%, head fresh weight by 54.4 and 52.9%, and production per hectare by 54.7 and 52.8% as compared to the control during the two growing seasons. Furthermore, the percentages of total chlorophyll (62.6 and 59.5%), carotenoids (48.4 and 56.5%), total phenolics (63.6 and 65.7%), total indoles (39.4 and 36.4%), vitamin C (39.7 and 39.6%), antioxidant activity (57.8 and 53.7%), nitrogen (70.5 and 67.5%), phosphorus (120 and 110.5%), potassium (33.0 and 33.2%), and calcium (67.14 and 63.2%) were also increased compared with the control during two consecutive growing seasons. Additionally, Ca-NPs and Ca bulk had an impact on the plants’ genomic DNA compared to the control. In addition, lettuce plants treated with Ca-NPs were proven to be nontoxic and safe for humans by using the Microtox 500 analyzer.

Unveiling the influences of P fertilization on bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity in grains of four sorghum cultivars.

Phosphorus is a critical nutrient in agriculture, influencing plant growth and nutritional quality. This study, uniquely designed to investigate the effects of phosphorus (P) fertilization levels, sorghum cultivars, and growing locations on phytochemical content and antioxidant activity in sorghum grains, employed four sorghum cultivars (Hakeka, P954063, Tabat, and Tetron) grown under three P levels (0P, 1P, 2P) in two locations (Gezira and White Nile) in Sudan. In this study, four sorghum cultivars were grown in two distinct locations in Sudan, employing a split-plot design with three (P) fertilization levels. P was applied as triple super phosphate directly with the seeds, and additional fertilization included urea applied in two split doses. At physiological maturity, representative sorghum panicles were harvested, processed, and analyzed for bioactive compounds and antioxidant activities using standard extraction and quantification techniques such as Folin-Ciocalteu for phenolics and colorimetric flavonoid assays. Antioxidant activities were assessed through various assays, including DPPH and FRAP. Statistical analyses were performed using a three-way ANOVA to examine the effects of cultivar, P level, and location on the measured parameters, supplemented by multivariate analysis to further elucidate the interactions between these factors. Significant interactions (p<0.001) were observed among cultivars, P levels, and locations for total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), carotenoids, tannins, and various antioxidant activity measures (DPPH, FRAP, ABTS, TRP, H2O2). P fertilization significantly increased all measured phytochemicals and antioxidant activities compared to non-treated cultivars, except for H2O2, which decreased with P application. Among cultivars, Hakeka consistently exhibited the highest TFC, carotenoid content, and antioxidant activities (DPPH, FRAP, TRP, ABTS), particularly at the 2P level. P954063 showed the highest TPC and tannin concentrations. Tetron generally had the lowest phytochemical and antioxidant levels. White Nile showed higher TPC, carotenoids, DPPH, FRAP, TRP, and ABTS levels, while Gezira had higher TFC, tannins, and H2O2 concentrations. The impact of phosphorus fertilization often varies between locations. Strong positive correlations were found between TPC and all antioxidant assays (r = 0.68-0.90) and total carotenoids and antioxidant activities (r = 0.73-0.93). This study recommended cultivating the Tabat variety with 2P doses in Gezira. In addition, the Hakeka cultivar showed the highest increases in total flavonoid content, carotenoids, and antioxidant activities, particularly under the highest P level (2P). The findings highlight that P plays a critical role in enhancing sorghum's nutritional and health-promoting qualities, which are essential for leveraging this staple crop for food and nutrition security strategies in semi-arid regions.

Phytochemical Profile and Antibacterial-AntiQuorum Sensing Properties of Citrus medica L.

Introduction: Natural resources are becoming more and more important as the need to find solutions to the antibiotic resistance growing crisis. The assessment of medicinal plants' antibacterial and antiquorum-sensing properties is gaining popularity in this field of research every day. The study reported here aimed to investigate the inhibitory activity of the methanolic extract of Citrus medica L. on the inhibition of violacein pigment production in Chromobacterium violaceum ATCC 12472 and some virulence factors in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1. Additionally, the phenolic content of the extract was also determined by HPLC analysis.Methods: The phytochemical content of the plant extract was determined and its antibacterial activity on some bacteria was tested. Also, antibiofilm effect on PAO1 was determined, and violasin pigment inhibition on C. violaceum was investigated.Results: It was observed that the methanolic extract had an inhibition effect of 32% on violacein pigment production and a strong inhibition effect of 88% on biofilm formation caused by PAO1. According to the results of the phytochemical content analysis, benzoic acid was determined as the major component of the extract with a concentration value of 41.9 μg/mL.Conclusion: Citrus medica L, like many plants, has antibacterial and antiquorum sensing activity and may be a potential agent in the fight against infectious diseases.

Hays of Novel-Improved Legume Cultivars: Phytochemical Content and Nutritional Value.

The imperative need to produce safe foodstuffs using environmentally sustainable practices has highlighted the incorporation of legumes in human and animal diets as an emerging nutritional staple. Since legumes comprise a family of plants known to display an extensive agricultural diversity with significant bioactivities, we report herein the exploitation outcome of the nutritional and bio-functional content of hay, derived from the post-harvest aerial parts of eight novel-improved Greek cultivars belonging to the following six taxa: Larthyrus sativus L., Medicago sativa L., Cicer arietinum L., Pisum sativum L., Vicia faba L., and Phaseolus vulgaris L. In specific, the phytochemical content of their hay extracts was screened against the presence of 37 fatty acids and 67 polyphenols using, respectively, GC-FID and LC-MS/MS instruments, while the determination of their total phenolic and tannin contents was achieved with spectrophotometric methods. In this respect, the presence of 26 different fatty acids was detected of which the acids linoleic, linolenic and palmitic were traced in all extracts in concentrations exceeding the 10 mg/g, while the oleic acid was determined as the major component of C. arietinum (77.58 mg/g), V. faba (36.11 mg/g), and L. sativus (12.89 mg/g) extracts. In addition, 30 different phenolics were traced as extracts' components with the most abundant the molecule of isoquercetin, which was present in six extracts and isoliquiritigenin, calycosin, and chlorogenic acid which were detected in five extracts. Finally, the antioxidant properties of the extracts were evaluated by performing both DPPH• and FRAP assays, which highlighted the V. faba extract as the most potent in both tests, followed by the extracts of P. sativum and P. vulgaris. Results herein are indicative of the significant advances achieved, for the improvement of investigated plant cultivars with respect to their utilization as nutritional crops, since these novel cultivars hays have been found to contain significant amounts of essential nutrients in the form of fatty acids along with bioactive ingredients in the form of polyphenols, while simultaneously they were determined as deprived of tannins that constitute essential anti-nutritional factors.

Fruits, Spices and Honey Phenolic Compounds: A Comprehensive Review on Their Origin, Methods of Extraction and Beneficial Health Properties

Numerous health benefits have been attributed in the last decades to the regular consumption of fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices, along with honey, in a balanced diet. In this context, the aim of the present review was to provide the literature with the most relevant studies focusing on the determination protocols of these polyphenols and other reducing agents in selected fruits (orange, lemon, grapefruit, prunus, apricot, peach, plum, sweet cherry), spices (oregano, cinnamon, clove, saffron, turmeric) and honey of different botanical origin (nectar or honeydew). In addition, the content and the extraction methods of these compounds, along with their metabolic pathway, have been critically evaluated and discussed. Results showed that all fruits, spices and honey exhibit a considerably high antioxidant activity, which is mainly owed to their phytochemical content. Therefore, a balanced diet consisting of the combination of the foods studied herein may comprise a shield against chronic and other pathophysiological disorders and may be achieved through consecutive educational programs for consumers at an international level.

Aframomum Melegueta: Evaluation of Chronic Toxicity, HPLC Profiling, and In Vitro/In Vivo Antioxidant Assessment of Seeds Extracts.

Aframomum melegueta, commonly known as grains of paradise, is a medicinal plant celebrated for its rich phytochemical content and therapeutic properties. This study evaluated the antioxidant and cytotoxic potentials of its ethanolic and methanolic extracts, both in vitro and in vivo, while also analyzing their chemical profiles. HPLC analysis identified key compounds, including gallic acid, caffeic acid, caffeine, coumarin, rutin, catechin, ferulic acid, and quercetin. Chronic toxicity assessments confirmed the safety of the extracts, with no adverse effects on animal health, particularly in liver histopathology. Cytotoxicity results indicated reduced splenocyte viability at the highest concentrations. The extracts exhibited significant antioxidant activity in DPPH•, FRP, and phosphomolybdate assays, demonstrating their effectiveness as antiradical agents. In vivo antioxidant results showed a reduction in lipid peroxidation levels in serum and liver, highlighting the extracts' ability to mitigate oxidative stress. Additionally, the extracts provided protection against H2O2-induced erythrocyte hemolysis and modulated NO production in peritoneal macrophages. These findings underscore the therapeutic potential of A. melegueta extracts, suggesting their promise in developing preventive strategies for oxidative stress-related chronic diseases.

PHYTOCHEMICAL CONTENTS, GC-MS PROFILE AND ALPHA-AMYLASE INHIBITORY POTENTIAL OF Rauwolfia vomitoria n-HEXANE ROOT EXTRACT

Rauwolfia vomitoria is a tropical medicinal plant that has been used traditionally in the management of several diseases. In this study, the phytocontents and the preliminary alpha-amylase inhibitory activity of the n-hexane extracts of R. vomitoria was investigated. The dried plant material, R. vomitoria root was extracted by macerating in n-hexane for 72 h. The phytochemical screening and quantity of the alkaloids, flavonoid, and saponins in the extract and plant materials was determined using standard methods. The Preliminary alpha amylase inhibitory activity of the extract was carried out using starch iodide reagent assay. The phytochemical contents of the root extract were determined out using Gas Chromatography and Mass spectrophotometry (GC-MS). The extraction of R. vomitoria yielded 2.30% n-Hexane extract. The phytochemical screening of the extract shows the presence of alkaloid, flavonoid, saponins, reducing sugar, de-oxy sugars and steroids while quantitative phytochemical analysis showed the root contain alkaloids: 11.2±0.06, flavonoids: 16.6 ±0.12 and saponins: 14.8 ±0.18. The extract gave a positive alpha-amylase inhibitory activity. The GC-MS indicated the presence of twelve compounds, which are basically long chain fatty acids and esters and the most abundant compound is n-Hexadecanoic acid. Most of the compounds detected have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic and enzyme inhibitory activities which may explain the various traditional uses of this plant and the observed alpha-amylase inhibitory activity

Spectral lights influence growth and metabolic efficiency leading to enhanced phytochemical contents of Coriandrum sativum L.

Coriandrum sativum. L (coriander) is an aromatic herb containing valuable bioactive compounds. The current study aimed to understand the role of light quality influence on the metabolic performance of C. sativum. The study was conducted by integrating LED lights viz. red (100 R:0B), red: blue (50 R:50B); blue (0 R:100B), and warm white (WW, served as control). The fresh and dry biomass was highest under 0 R:100B spectral LED lights, whereas the photosynthetic performance was maximum under 50 R:50B LED lights. Among the major vitamins studied, ascorbic acid content was maximized under 50 R:50B spectral LED lights, while α-tocopherol content was highest under 0 R:100B light conditions. Luteolin and umbelliferone, the detected coumarins, exhibited their highest levels under 50 R:50B light spectral composition, however, chlorogenic acid demonstrated its maximum level under 0 R:100B spectral LED lights. C. sativum plants grown under 50 R:50B light displayed a relatively higher content of volatile compounds including, decanal, 2-decenal, 2,6,11-trimethyldodecane, 2-dodecenal, and (E)-tetradec-2-enal. Glucose, fructose, and sucrose identified as the major primary metabolites, were highest under 50 R:50B light. Moreover, the stem and leaf anatomy exhibited the greatest vascularization when influenced by 50 R:50B and 0 R:100B spectral LED lights. Histochemical studies further revealed an intense accumulation of metabolites under the 50 R:50B spectral light conditions. The study also demonstrated the influence of light quality on chloroplast ultrastructure, influencing starch accumulation and providing insights into plant cell metabolic activity through the observed association of chloroplasts with mitochondria. Taken together, the study suggests that 50 R:50B spectral combination could play an important role in augmenting the metabolic performance and phytonutrient outcomes of C. sativum.

In-Depth Phytochemical Profile by LC-MS/MS, Mineral Content by ICP-MS, and In-Vitro Antioxidant, Antidiabetic, Antiepilepsy, Anticholinergic, and Antiglaucoma Properties of Bitlis Propolis

Propolis is very significant in terms of its phytochemical content and biological activity among bee products. In this study, the antioxidant activities (total phenolic and flavonoid, Fe3+, Cu2+ (CUPRAC), Fe3+-TPTZ (FRAP) reducing, and DPPH•, ABTS•+ scavenging assays) of propolis collected from the Bitlis province of Türkiye were determined. In addition, the carbonic anhydrase I and II isoenzymes (hCA I and hCA II), α-glycosidase, acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) inhibition activity and phytochemical profile of propolis and mineral content were determined by LC-MS/MS and ICP-MS, respectively. In propolis, 31 phytochemicals were found, and the highest concentration of acacetin (23.604 mg/g) was detected. It is seen that the phytochemicals in propolis provide antioxidant properties. The mineral content was screened for 18 elements and determined to be rich in the elements that make up the salt content. Total phenolic content was 215.14 mg GAE/g, and total flavonoid content was 79.11 mg QE/g. The Fe3+ reduction result was 0.940 (µg/mL), CUPRAC 1.183 (µg/mL), FRAP 0.963 (µg/mL), DPPH• scavenging IC50: 16.7 (µg/mL), and ABTS IC50: 8.01 (µg/mL). hCA I enzyme inhibition results in IC50: 7.19 (µg/mL), hCA II 8.15, AChE 5.17, BChE 7.50, and α-Glycosidase 5.72. As a result of this study, it was determined that Bitlis propolis has high antioxidant properties and a rich phytochemical content. It was also observed that it is an effective enzyme inhibitor against epilepsy, glaucoma, Alzheimer’s, and diabetes, which are important diseases, and it can be evaluated in the treatment of these diseases and drug production.

Dietary oyster mushroom fermented Vachellia erioloba pods enhance Boschveld chicken meat healthiness without altering its physicochemical quality, growth performance and physiology

The high content of fibre and antinutritional phytochemicals limit the utilization of Vachellia erioloba tree pods as nutraceutical feed additive for indigenous chicken diets. The pods can however be solid-state fermented using oyster mushrooms to enhance the nutritional utility of their spent substrate for the nutrition of the native birds. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of dietary incorporation of V. erioloba pods oyster mushroom spent substrate (OMSS) on growth performance, carcass traits, visceral organs, haemato-biochemistry, and meat quality including its fatty acid composition in Boschveld chickens. In a completely randomized design, 250 4-week old mixed gender Boschveld chicks were randomly allotted to 25 pens in which they were offered treatment diets (0, 1.25, 2.5, 5 and 10% OMSS) each with 5 replicates of 10 for 12 weeks and then slaughtered. While there were neither linear nor quadratic effects of diet on overall feed intake (FI) (P > 0.05) and body weight gain (BWG) (P > 0.05), dietary incorporation of OMSS decreased overall feed conversion efficiency (FCE) (quadratic: P < 0.05) particularly in weeks 5 (linear: P < 0.05), 6 (quadratic: P < 0.01) and 11 (quadratic: P < 0.05) with no effects in subsequent weeks (P > 0.05). Also, OMSS induced no effects on all carcass characteristics, visceral organs, haemato-biochemistry and meat physico-chemical quality (P > 0.05) except for the increase in serum albumin (quadratic: P < 0.05) and bilirubin (quadratic: P < 0.05) as well as 24 h post-slaughter meat lightness (linear: P < 0.01), redness (quadratic: P < 0.05), yellowness (linear: P < 0.05), hue angle (quadratic: P < 0.05), and drip loss (quadratic: P < 0.05). Further, the spent substrate decreased meat myristic (linear: P < 0.01), palmitic (linear: P < 0.05), palmitoleic (linear: P < 0.01), and oleic (linear: P < 0.01) acids, as well as its total polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) (linear: P < 0.05), monounsaturated FAs (MUFAs) (quadratic: P < 0.01), and n-6 PUFAs (linear: P < 0.05). Furthermore, it decreased the meat n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio (quadratic: P < 0.01), with meat from birds fed diets incorporated with 2.5% OMSS eliciting the lowest ratio of 3.63. In contrast, dietary OMSS increased meat stearic (linear: P < 0.001), docosahexaenoic (quadratic: P < 0.01), and tricosanoic (linear: P < 0.001) acid concentrations as well as its total saturated FAs (SFAs) (linear: P < 0.01) and n-3 PUFAs (quadratic: P < 0.01). In conclusion, dietary feeding of V. erioloba pods-derived OMSS enhanced meat nutritional healthiness without majorly altering its physico-chemical quality as well as growth performance, carcass traits, and haemato-biochemistry in Boschveld indigenous chickens. It is recommended for inclusion in indigenous chicken diets at 2.5% level.

Effect of fruit pulp and sugar concentration on the physicochemical, phytochemical and sensory characteristics of star fruit (Averrhoa carambola) leather

Starfruit is an underutilized fruit and is rich in vitamin C. Fruit leather from starfruit was prepared in this study and analyses of its physicochemical, phytochemical, and sensory characteristics were performed. Five samples named A, B, C, D and E were prepared with different proportions of fruit pulp:sugar of 70:30, 75:25, 80:20, 85:15 and 90:10, respectively. All the prepared samples were subjected to analyses. Phytochemical contents were found to increase with increasing fruit pulp proportion, thus sample E (90:10) was found to be the best in terms of phytochemical content. Similarly, product sample C (80:20) was scored the highest by the panelist in terms of sensory aspect. The best product sample C had total soluble solids (TSS) of 31 ± 2 °Bx, total ash content of 2.482 ± 0.001 %, acid insoluble ash of 1.0013 ± 0.002 %, crude protein of 0.5902 ± 0.004 %, crude fat of 0.3514 ± 0.003 %, crude fiber of 0.8991 ± 0.003 %, carbohydrate of 95.67 ± 0.04 %, vitamin C of 24.24 ± 0.1 mg/100g, total energy of 338.11 ± 0.04 Kcal/100 g, total phenolic content (TPC) of 6.105 ± 0.001 mg GAE/g of dry extract, total flavonoid content (TFC) of 1.125 ± 0.002 mg QE/g of dry extract and DPPH scavenging activity of 27.268 ± 0.001 %. Panelists responded favorably to the prepared product samples.

Investigation of antibacterial and anticancer activities of biosynthesized metal-doped and undoped zinc oxide nanoparticles.

Over the past 10 years, nanotechnology has emerged as a very promising technique for a wide range of biomedical applications. Green synthesized metal and metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs) are cheap, easy to produce in large quantities, and safe for the environment. Currently, efforts are being made to dope ZnO in order to improve its optical, electrical, and ferromagnetic qualities as well as its crystallographic quality. Actually, doping is one of the simplest methods for enhancing an NP's physicochemical characteristics because it involves introducing impure ions into the crystal lattice of the particle. In this study, the biosynthesis of zinc oxide NPs (ZnONPs) and metal-doped (Mg2+ and Ag+) ZnONPs was carried out by using aqueous and water-alcoholic extracts of Cynara scolymus L. leaves, Carthamus tinctorius L. flowers, and Rheum ribes L. (RrL) plant, which are rich in phytochemical content. Plant extracts act as a natural reducing, capping, and stabilizing agent in the production. The produced NPs were characterized using a variety of methods, such as ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The produced metal-doped and undoped ZnONPs exhibited characteristic absorption peaks between 365 and 383nm due to their surface plasmon resonance bands. SEM analysis revealed that the NPs were oval, nearly spherical, and spherical. In the FTIR spectra, the Zn-O bonding peak ranges from 400 to 700cm-1. The peaks obtained in the range of 407-562cm-1 clearly represent the Zn-O bond. In addition, the FTIR results showed that there were notable amounts of phenol and flavonoid compounds in both the prepared extract and ZnONPs. According to DLS analysis results, the size distribution of produced NPs is between 120 and 786nm. The antibacterial properties of green produced NPs on Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus RN4220) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli DH10B) bacterial strains were investigated by agar well diffusion method. In studies investigating the anticancer activities of biosynthesized NPs, mouse fibroblast cells (L929) were used as healthy cells and human cervical cancer cells (HeLa) were used as cancer cells. Only the produced Ag-ZnONPs showed potent dose-dependent antibacterial activity (at concentrations higher than 100µg/mL) against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. RrL-ZnONP-600 and RrL-ZnONP-800 NPs produced with water-ethanol extract of RrL plant and calcined at 600 and 800°C were effective at high concentrations in healthy cells and at low concentrations in HeLa cancer cells, showing that they have the potential to be anticancer agents. The study's findings highlight the potential of green synthesis techniques in the production of medicinal nanomaterials for the treatment of cancer and other biological uses.

Bio-inhibitive corrosion effect of carica papaya leaf extract on cold-rolled mild steel in 0.1 M HCl solution

Plant extracts are prone to microbial growth that can lead to microbial-induced corrosion (MIC), a major setback for their performance and stability as corrosion inhibitors. Hence, this work aims to identify the microbes that may cause the ineffectiveness of carica papaya leaf extract (CPLE) as a bio-corrosion inhibitor of cold-rolled mild steel in 0.1 M HCl solution for 48 days at 28℃. Cold-rolled mild steel coupons were immersed in 100 ml of 0.1 M hydrochloric (HCl) acid solution containing 1 g, 2 g, 3 g, 4 g, and 5 g of carica papaya leaf extract (CPLE) for 48 days at 28℃. The gravimetric method was used to determine the coupons' corrosion rate (CR), surface coverage, and inhibition efficiency (IE%) of the CPLE. The functional groups in the CPLE were identified using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and the surface appearance of the coupons after immersion was examined using an atomic force microscope (AFM). Gravimetric data showed the coupons dipped in a 0.1 M HCl solution containing 3 g/100 ml of the inhibitor exhibited the highest inhibition efficiency of 87.73%, surface coverage of 0.88, and lowest corrosion rate of 0.00255 mm/day or 0.93 mm/yr, after 48 days at 28℃. In FTIR, transmittance peaks occurred at 1558 cm−1 for amines (-NH) in alkaloid scissoring, 1452 cm−1 for aromatic -C = C in flavonoids, 2932 cm−1 for aliphatic methylene (-CH2) and aldehyde (RCOH) stretching, 1035 and 1077 cm−1 for aromatic-OR in tannin, and 3280 cm−1 for out-of-plane bending of hydroxyl (-OH) in phenolics. Vitamin C (522,940 μg/g), flavonoids (860 μg/g), saponins (637.9 μg/g), terpenoid (48.4 μg/g), phenol (120%μg/g), alkaloid (4.18 μg/g), tannin (59.84%), and glycosides (9.04%) make up the extract's average phytochemical content. AFM presents pits and ridges on the mild steel coupons immersed in 0.1 M HCl solution without the extract. Those immersed in the solutions with varying concentrations of the extract had a passive layer of the CPLE adhering to the surfaces of the coupons thereby preventing the coupon’s direct contact with the acid solution and weight loss. However, over time, microbial growth decreased the efficiency of CPLE due to metabolites. Microbial tests show creamy, irregular and raised bacterial total colony-forming units per gram (Tcfu/g) as 4.6 × 105 Tcfu/g and 1.9 × 107 Tcfu/g in 2 runs. Also, a mixture of white and fluffy appearance and spore formation of fungi population of 4.8 × 105 Tcfu/g and 3.2 × 107 Tcfu/g in 2 Runs made up of Penicillium spp, Coccidioides immitis, Aspergillus flavus, and Fusarium spp, with hyphae, were seen in the solutions containing CPLE.