Radical Scavenging Potential Research Articles

Investigation of Phytochemical Composition, Radical Scavenging Potential, Anti-Obesogenic Effects, and Anti-Diabetic Activities of Kaempferia parviflora Rhizomes.

Kaempferia parviflora or commonly known as "Kunyit hitam" by locals, is an edible plant, native to tropical regions, has been extensively utilized for culinary and medicinal applications. The present study aimed to investigate the phytochemical composition and biological activities of the rhizomes of K. parviflora. The ethanol crude and fractionated extracts (hexane and chloroform) of the rhizomes were evaluated for their total phenolic content, total steroidal content, as well as antioxidant, anti-obesogenic, and anti-diabetic activities. The chloroform extract demonstrated the highest concentration of plant sterols (432±0.23 mg BSE/g extract) and a substantial amount of phenolic compounds (1.19×103±0.41 mg GAE/g extract). Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis revealed that the chloroform extract of the rhizomes is predominantly composed of bioactive flavonoids including tectochrysin (1), 5,7-dimethoxyflavone (2), 3,5,7-trimethoxyflavone (3), 3,4',5,7-tetramethoxyflavone (4), and 4',5,7-trimethoxyflavone (5). Furthermore, the chloroform extract exhibited the highest overall radical scavenging and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities, which can be attributed to the presence of compounds 1-5 in the extract. Collectively, these findings suggest that the chloroform extract of the rhizomes of K. parviflora is a potentially valuable source of bioactive compounds with antioxidant, anti-obesogenic, and anti-diabetic properties, with potential application in therapeutics and functional foods.

Plantago boissieri : Phytochemical Assessment, Antioxidant, Anti-inflammatoryand Wound Healing Potential.

Plantago is a large genus under family Plantaginaceae. Plantago species were noted for potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and wound healing activities. The current research investigated the potential bioactivities as the metabolic content of Plantagoboisserei extract. Results highlighted the rich content of phenolics (450.93 ± 7.4 mg GAE/g extract) and flavonoids (144.2 ± 3.6 mg RE/g extract). HPLC analysis enabled the detection of 17 phenolic constituents among which ellagic acid was found in highest concentration followed by rutin. P. boisserei exhibited a potent antioxidant activity evidenced by the IC50 values in ABTS and H2O2 assays (10.95 and 10.87 µg/mL, respectively) as well as in TAC assay (67.94 mg AAE/g). The anti-microbial activities revealed a moderate activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Proteus vulgaris. In vitro anti-inflammatory potential indicated a characteristic inhibition against COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes with IC50 62.8 and 14.23 µg/mL, respectively, compared to ibuprofen (IC50 8.07 and 6.58, respectively). Additionally, P. boisserei extract achieved a potent wound healing activity using in vivo rat model, this might be attributed to its high content of flavonoids together with other polyphenolic compounds that have a great free radical scavenging potential. P. boisserei is a promising candidate for more extensive phytochemical and biological exploration.

Luteolin Suppresses Endothelial Permeability and Nitric Oxide Scavenging Effects

BACKGROUND: Numerous inflammatory diseases are linked to increased endothelial permeability through the nitric oxide (NO) flux in endothelial cells. Luteolin has in vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory properties and has been reported to reduce endothelial permeability. However, the exact mechanism/s are yet to be determined. Thus, the present study was conducted to investigate the effects of luteolin in reducing endothelial permeability in vitro using bradykinin (BK) or sodium nitroprusside (SNP) through the NO pathway and the NO radical scavenging property of luteolin.METHODS: Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in the treatment groups were dosed with luteolin at 5, 10, and 25 µM concentrations and allowed to incubate for one hour prior to induction. The L-NAME or HOE 140 were administered prior to the induction of BK or SNP in HUVECs. The NO radical scavenging test, the nitrite determination assay using L-NAME as antagonist, and the in vitro vascular permeability testing using HOE 140 as antagonist were performed.RESULTS: Endothelial permeability was decreased dose-dependently by 5, 10, and 25 µM luteolin in vitro via lowering NO generation. In comparison to HOE 140, luteolin suppressed the enhanced endothelial permeability more effectively. The suppression was 98.02% by 25 µM luteolin compared to HOE 140 94.05%. It was also discovered that luteolin, when incubated with SNP in a dose-dependent manner, possessed potent NO radical scavenging activities.CONCLUSION: The current data demonstrated luteolin's ability to scavenge NO radicals and significantly decrease endothelial permeability through the NO route. Thus, in complementary medicine, luteolin might be potential to improve endothelial permeability suppressor in reducing inflammation.KEYWORDS: luteolin, endothelial permeability, NO, scavenging property, HUVECs

Streptomyces sp. from desert soil as a biofactory for antioxidants with radical scavenging and iron chelating potential

Iron homeostasis is vital for normal physiology, but in the majority of circumstances, like iron overload, this equilibrium is upset leading to free iron in the plasma. This condition with excess iron is known as hemochromatosis, which has been linked to many side effects, including cancer and liver cirrhosis. The current research aimed to investigate active molecules from Streptomyces sp. isolated from the extreme environment of Bahawalpur deserts. The strain was characterized using 16 S rRNA sequencing. Chemical analysis of the ethyl acetate cure extract revealed the presence of phenols, flavonoids, alkaloids, and tannins. Multiple ultraviolet (UV) active metabolites that were essential for the stated pharmacological activities were also demonstrated by thin layer chromatography (TLC) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Additionally, Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis revealed the primary constituents of the extract to compose of phenol and ester compounds. The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay was used to assess the extract’s antioxidant capacity, and the results showed a good half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) value of 0.034 µg/mL in comparison to the positive control ascorbic acid’s 0.12 µg/mL. In addition, iron chelation activity of extract showed significant chelation potential at 250 and 125 µg/mL, while 62.5 µg/mL showed only mild chelation of the ferrous ion using ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid (EDTA) as a positive control. Likewise, the extract’s cytotoxicity was analyzed through 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay using varying concentrations of the extract and showed 51% cytotoxicity at 350 µg/mL and 65% inhibition of cell growth at 700 µg/mL, respectively. The bioactive compounds from Streptomyces sp. demonstrated strong antioxidant and iron chelating potentials and can prolong the cell survival in extreme environment.

Effects of light quality on agronomic traits, antioxidant capacity and nutritional composition of Sarcomyxa Edulis

Sarcomyxa edulis, a notable edible and medicinal mushroom indigenous to northeast China, is celebrated for its high nutritional value and delightful taste. In this study, white light as a control and examined the effects of red, green, and blue light on the agronomic traits, antioxidant capabilities, and nutritional composition of S. edulis. The results showed that different monochromatic light qualities affected the color of S. edulis pileus, with blue light demonstrating particular efficacy. Furthermore, blue light also regulated pileus length, whereas red light was instrumental in significantly increasing stalk length. Regarding antioxidant capacity, compared with red and green light, the activities of POD, SOD, and CAT were significantly improved by blue light irradiation, decreased MDA levels, and improved free radical scavenging potential. Additionally, blue light exposure led to an increase in the contents of 15 amino acids. Green light treatment reduced the crude fat content. For the first time, we found that light quality is a key factor in controlling the color of S. edulis. Blue light is an effective way to regulate the color and pileus size of S. edulis, and improve the antioxidant properties. The photobiological characteristics and the response of nutritional quality to light environment of S. edulis were clarified.

HPLC Profile of Bioactives and Antioxidant Potential in Acalypha indica Extract

Acalypha indica is a plant found in many parts of Africa and Asia. The plant is used for the treatment of many respiratory diseases, management of cancers, diabetes and other diseases. The leaves of Acalypha indica were harvested, washed and shade dried. They were later extracted with methanol. The methanolic extract of Acalypha indica was subjected to DPPH radical scavenging assay, total antioxidant and HPLC quantification of phenols and flavonoids. The result showed a percentage yield of 5.72 %. Also the antioxidant capacity of Acalypha indicia based on the phosphomolybdenum method showed 13.60 ± 0.21 mg AAE/g extract. The DPPH radical scavenging potential of Acalypha indica showed that at 100 – 1000 µg/ml, the extract of Acalypha indica inhibited 7.2 ± 0.35 – 65.13 ± 1.53 % of DPPH radical as compared with standard gallic acid. The phenolics and flavonoids detected through HPLC are shown in Table 3. The phenolics and polyphenols with higher quantity in Extract of Acalypha indica are naringenin (169.91 mg/100 g), gallic acid (131.51 mg/100 g), rutin (76.72 mg/100 g), syringic acid (35.75 mg/100 g), ferulic acid (30.10 mg/100 g) and quercetin (11.36 mg/100 g). The results showed that Acalypha indica possesses antiradical, total antioxidant properties including a wide range of phenols and polyphenols. Therefore the extract can be a source of dietary supplement. This plant extract is a source of medicine if further research is applied.

In vitro and in vivo evaluation of the antimalarial, anti-inflammatory and free radical scavenging potentials of the hydro-alcoholic leaf extract of Microdesmis puberula Hook. F. ex Planch (Pandaceae)

In vitro and in vivo evaluation of the antimalarial, anti-inflammatory and free radical scavenging potentials of the hydro-alcoholic leaf extract of Microdesmis puberula Hook. F. ex Planch (Pandaceae)

In vitro antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of essential oil extracts from underutilized Zanthoxylum ovalifolium tutcher fruits: Prospective applications in the food industry

Zanthoxylum ovalifolium fruits and its oils are being used in traditional foods as flavoring agent. So, the present investigation was taken to evaluate the potential of essential oils extracted from fruits activity against food borne spoilage microbes. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of flavonoids and phytosterols. GC-MS results showed the presence of a total of 20 compounds, including Oleoyl chloride in the oil extracted from young fruit and Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate in both oils. The LC-MS results revealed a total of 48 compounds, highlighting variations in composition between ZEY and ZEM, likely due to the fruit's maturity stage. DPPH free radical scavenging potential of young fruit essential oils extract showed highest percentage of scavenging activity and IC50 values. The antimicrobial activities of the essential oils were evaluated against bacterial and fungal strains by well diffusion method. S. aureus showed highest zone of inhibition and all fungal strains showed excellent inhibition compared to standard. These essential oils have appreciated capability of suppressing growth of wide variety of food borne microbes in turn scavenging the free radicals released by them. Derived from natural sources, this essential oil offers a promising alternative for extending the shelf life of food products.

Exploring the active components and potential mechanisms of Rhodiola heterodonta for alleviating T2DM based on network pharmacology

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), a metabolic disease that poses a serious threat to human health, is characterized by sustained hyperglycemia due to dysregulated insulin secretion. Rhodiola heterodonta (R. heterodonta) is an edible plant, and its root is a popular herbal tea for lowering blood sugar in Tajikistan's folk remedy. However, R. heterodonta has not received much attention outside of the former Soviet Union. Furthermore, the hypoglycemic components of R. heterodonta and their underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. In this study, we extracted R. heterodonta roots and obtained R. heterodonta root extract (RHRE) through preliminary purification. RHRE significantly inhibited the activities of α-glucosidase (α-GAA) and protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B), thus highlighting its powerful hypoglycemic effect. Twenty-six compounds were identified in RHRE by LC-MS/MS analysis, with flavonoids and phenolic acids existing as the predominant components. Network pharmacology further predicted that the PI3K/AKT pathway is crucial for the anti-T2DM effects of RHRE, and molecular docking suggested the significant binding affinities between the key components of RHRE and PTP1B. Importantly, RHRE exerted its hypoglycemic effect by modulating the PTP1B/PI3K/AKT/GSK3β pathway in insulin-resistance L6 and L02 cells. Additionally, RHRE exhibited antioxidant activity and potent DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging abilities. Ferroptosis, an emerging modality of cell death driven by ROS-induced lipid peroxidation, is considerably linked to the progression of T2DM. RHRE alleviated oxidative stress and inhibited ferroptosis through the activation of the Nrf2/HO-1/SLC7A11/GPX4 axis and the downregulation of ACSL4 expression. In conclusion, our study indicates that RHRE is a potential source of antioxidant and hypoglycemic bioactive compounds and can be used for the development of health products and functional foods for the prevention of T2DM.

Neuroprotective effect against amyloidogenic transthyretin aggregates - Induced cytotoxicity on human neuroblastoma cell by phenolic-rich Centella asiatica extract

Transthyretin (ATTR) amyloidosis is a progressive and life-threatening neurodegenerative disease caused by aggregation of the plasma transport protein, transthyretin, for which treatment is rare and cure unavailable. Centella asiatica is a small edible herb with a long history of neurological application in ethnomedicine. This work investigated whether hydrophilic extract of C. asiatica (CAB) could suppress the toxic effects of transthyretin amyloid aggregate (TTRa) in cell model derived from the same in vivo target. TTRa was prepared via thermal-induced aggregation. Chemical cross-linking and Tricine-SDS-PAGE, Thioflavin-T fluorescence, and TEM analyses confirmed that TTRa matched the profile of TTRL55P nonfibrillar amyloid aggregates. PrestoBlue cell viability assay revealed that exposure of IMR-32 human neuroblastoma cells to TTRa (2–8 μM) resulted in significant cytotoxicity. Conversely, exposure of IMR-32 cells to CAB did not adversely affect their viability. In addition, when IMR-32 cells were co-treated with TTRa and varied concentrations of CAB, the toxic effect of TTRa was significantly (p < 0.01) inhibited dose-dependently. The extract was found to possess potent radical scavenging effects, and quantitative RP-HPLC analysis showed that asiaticoside and phenolics were its main components. The cytoprotective effect against TTRa, antioxidant property, and good safety profile collectively suggest that CAB could be applied in the development of nutraceuticals or therapeutics against transthyretin amyloidosis.

Exploring the DPPH Radical Scavenging Potential in 5-Arylidene-N,N-diethylthiobarbiturates

Exploring the DPPH Radical Scavenging Potential in 5-Arylidene-N,N-diethylthiobarbiturates

Antioxidant and antimalarial properties of hot aqueous leaf extracts of Setaria megaphylla, Ageratum conyzoides and Chromolaena odorata

This study investigated the antioxidant and antimalarial properties of leaf extracts of Setaria megaphylla, Ageratum conyzoides Linn, and Chromolaena odorata Linn, plants used in folkloric treatment of malaria. The plants were assessed for phenolic profile, antioxidant capacity and radical scavenging activities using standard methods. Single, binary and ternary combinations of the processed leaves were subjected to hot aqueous extraction, and evaluated for in vivo antiplasmodial efficacy against Plasmodium berghei NK 65 using Swiss albino mice. The plants’ total phenolic profile varied as S. megaphylla (Sm; 118.06 µg/ml) &gt; C. odorata (Co; 116.58 µg/ml) &gt; A. conyzoides (Ac; 73.01 µg/ml), with catechin, dihydrocytisine and tannin being the most abundant phenolics. Total antioxidant capacities (TAC) and reducing power potentials (RPP) of the plants increased with increase in extract concentrations with Sm showing highest TAC (1.49 ± 0.02 mgAAE/g) and RPP (0.47 ± 0.01 mgAAE/g) values. A similar trend was observed for the hydroxyl, nitric oxide and DPPH radicals scavenging potentials, showing dose-dependent increases in scavenging potentials but with no observed significant (p&lt;0.05) differences in activities at the highest extract dose of 400 µg/ml. The in vivo antimalarial study demonstrated that the combination of A. conyzoides and S. megaphylla was the most effective, significantly reducing parasitemia without causing mortality in the mice. This research highlights the potential of S. megaphylla, A. conyzoides, and C. odorata, especially the combination of their extracts as source of effective anti-malarial agents, and further confirms the folkloric use of hot aqueous extracts of the plants in malaria treatment.

Differential Biochemical Content and Free Radical Scavenging Potency of Three Solvent Extracts of Porodaedalea pini

Porodaedalea pini, a non-edible mushroom, is a notable source of bioactive compounds with traditional medicinal uses. Solvent selection is crucial in research and development of natural products. This study examined how solvent polarity affects the biochemical composition and antioxidant properties of P. pini. Crude extracts were prepared from whole mushrooms using chloroform, methanol, and ethyl acetate through cold extraction. Total carbohydrate, flavonoid, and phenolic contents were measured, and free-radical scavenging activities against DPPH and superoxide anion were assessed by employing standard protocols. Methanolic extracts yielded significantly more than ethyl acetate (p&lt;0.05) and chloroform (p&lt;0.001) extracts, showing higher levels of carbohydrates, proteins, flavonoids, and phenolics (p&lt;0.001). All extracts displayed notable free-radical scavenging activity, with methanol being the most potent, followed by ethyl acetate and chloroform. Thus, solvent polarity greatly affects the biochemical constituents and antioxidant activity of P. pini extracts, highlighting the importance of solvent choice in optimising their bioactive potential.

The anticancer potential of tetrahydrocurcumin-phytosomes against oral carcinoma progression

BackgroundHerbal medicine combined with nanotechnology offers an alternative to the increasing burden of surgery and/or chemotherapy, the main therapeutics of oral carcinoma. Phytosomes are nano-vesicular systems formed by the interaction between phospholipids and phyto-active components via hydrogen bonding, exhibiting superior efficacy over pure phytocomponents in drug delivery.MethodsTetrahydrocurcumin (THC)-phytosomes were prepared by thin film hydration method. After characterization, in vitro cytotoxicity, antiproliferative capacity, antioxidant potential and full apoptotic workup were paneled on oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC4) in comparison with native THC-solution and cisplatin (3.58 µg/mL intravenous injection), as positive controls. In addition, we tested the three medications on normal oral keratinocytes and gingival fibroblasts to attest to their tissue-selectivity.ResultsSuccessful preparation of THC-phytosomes using 1:1 molar ratio of THC to phospholipid exhibited significantly increased aqueous solubility, good colloidal properties, and complete drug release after one hour. On SCC4 cells, THC-phytosomes, at their dose-/time-dependency at ~ 60.06 µg/mL escalated cell percentages in the S-phase with 32.5 ± 6.22% increase, as well as a startling 29.69 ± 2.3% increase in apoptotic population. Depletion of the cell colonies survival to 0.29 ± 0.1% together with restraining the migratory rate by -6.4 ± 6.8% validated THC-phytosomes’ antiproliferative capacity. Comparatively, the corresponding results of THC-solution and cisplatin revealed 12.9 ± 0.9% and 25.8 ± 1.1% for apoptosis and 0.9 ± 0.1% and 0.7 ± 0.08% for colony survival fraction, respectively. Furthermore, the nanoformulation exhibited the strongest immuno-positivity to caspase-3, which positively correlated with intense mitochondrial fluorescence by Mitotracker Red, suggesting its implication in the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis, a finding further explained by the enormously high Bax and caspase-8 expression by RT-qPCR. Finally, the THC groups showed the lowest oxidative stress index, marking their highest free radical-scavenging potential among the test groups.ConclusionsTHC-phytosomes are depicted to be an efficient nanoformulation that enhanced the anticancer efficacy over the free drug counterpart and the conventional chemotherapeutic. Additionally, being selective to cancer cells and less cytotoxic to normal cells makes THC-phytosomes a potential candidate for tissue-targeted therapy.

Comparative Evaluation of Chemical Compositions and Antioxidant Activity in Fruiting Bodies and Mycelia of Volvariella volvacea and Pleurotus sajor-caju Extracts.

Mushrooms, recognized for their rich medicinal and nutritional content, have garnered significant interest due to their potent antioxidant properties. This study investigates the fruiting bodies and mycelia of straw mushrooms (Volvariella volvacea) and grey oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus sajor-caju). The mushrooms were extracted using distilled water at ratios of 1:25, 1:30, and 1:35 g/mL by soaking in a temperature-regulated shaking bath set at 50°C. The aqueous extracts were analyzed for their bioactive components, including polysaccharides, proteins, GABA, total phenolic content (TPC), and total flavonoid content (TFC), along with their antioxidant capacities using DPPH and ABTS assays. The results indicated that the straw mushroom exhibited higher levels of polysaccharides, GABA, TPC, and TFC compared to the grey oyster mushroom, which contained higher protein levels. Specifically, the fruiting bodies extract of the straw mushroom demonstrated the highest levels of polysaccharides (416.94 mg/g extract), GABA (12.86 mg/g extract), TPC (33.27 mg GAE/g extract), and TFC (9.39 mg CE/g extract). Furthermore, the fruiting bodies extract showed a greater capacity to scavenge free radicals than the mycelia extract of both straw mushroom and grey oyster mushroom, with DPPH assay values of 0.65 and 0.47 mg TE/g extract and ABTS assay values of 2.26 and 1.74 mg TE/g extract, respectively. These results suggest that the fruiting bodies possess higher free radical scavenging potential as an outcome of their high levels of bioactive compounds. Consequently, these extracts indicate promise as natural antioxidative agents and could be effectively utilized as ingredients in the culinary industry.

Physiochemical Analysis, Antioxidant Activity, Antimicrobial Activity and Phenolic Profile of Ipomoea eriocarpa R. Br. Leaves.

Many active substances found in plants are essential in the treatment of transmissible and non-transmissible ailments. To enhance their well-being and capabilities, most people around the globe use medicines from plants and herbal origin. The goal of the current study was an assessment of physiochemical properties as well as measuring the effect of various solvents (ethanol, chloroform, and water) on the phenolic profile and on free radical scavenging potential. The standard procedures were used for the preliminary phytochemical, physiochemical and fluorescence analysis. Folin-Ciocalteu and colorimetric methods were used to determine the quantitative phytochemical analysis, respectively. The free radical scavenging potential was determined through 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′′-casino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic) acid (ABTS) assays. The antimicrobial activity was assessed using the disk diffusion method on a range of bacterial and fungal strains. The finding showed that ethanol was the best solvent for extracting polyphenols. The presence of alkaloids, carbohydrates, flavonoids, glycosides, phenolic compounds, and tannins was observed in the plant. Additionally, fluorescence characteristics and physiochemical parameters provided valuable data that can be used to establish standards for this plant. Results of quantitative phytochemical estimation revealed that the ethanol extract had a higher phenolic content (71.82 mg/g GAE) and flavonoid content (82.7 mg/g QE), while the aqueous extract had the lowest phenolic content (27.05 mg/g GAE) and flavonoid content (18.93 mg/g QE). The I. eriocarpa ethanolic extract had the maximum scavenging potential against DPPH (32.36 µg/mL) and ABTS (55.54 µg/mL). The results of the antimicrobial activity assessment also indicate that the ethanol extract exhibited a greater inhibition zone when tested against both bacterial strains. Results of thecurrent study suggested that the ethanolic extract has significant antioxidant potential and has the capability of being a notable source of organic antioxidants for the formulation of functional foods.

Assessment of the Antioxidant Potential of Blackthorns and Hawthorns: Comparative Analysis and Potential Use in Ruminants’ Nutrition

The food industry is intensifying its effort to enrich food composition in various nutrients through animal feeding, but these challenges can be limited by the costly feed resources, water scarcity, and pesticide pollution, making it crucial to explore alternative feedstuffs with fewer requirements. Blackthorns and hawthorns are characterized by their rich phytochemical and antioxidant profiles, suggesting their potential to enhance the performance of ruminants though the supply of bioactive substances. Our study revealed their rich composition of micronutrients; hawthorns showed a remarkable amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids (57.23 g FAME/100 g total FAME), particularly omega-3 and omega-6, while blackthorn presented higher concentration of monounsaturated fatty acids, specifically oleic acid (56.99 g FAME/100 g total FAME). In terms of lipo-soluble antioxidants, blackthorn exhibited higher levels of xanthophyll and vitamin E (123.83 mg/kg DM), including its isomers (alpha, gamma, and delta). Concerning the water-soluble antioxidants, hawthorns showed elevated composition of the total content of flavonoids and polyphenols, comparing with blackthorn. Moreover, hawthorns showed a high antioxidant capacity, as assessed through DPPH, ABTS, and TAC analyses. In terms of the scavenging capacity of blackthorn and hawthorn against superoxide radicals, blackthorn had higher radical scavenging potential against superoxide radicals, compared to hawthorn.

Qualitative Profiling, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities of Polar and Nonpolar Basil Extracts.

Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) is a widely used culinary herb. In this study, ethanol, dichloromethane, and sunflower oil were used separately as solvents with distinct polarities for the extraction of basil aerial parts to simulate the different polarity conditions in domestic food processing. The oil extract (OE) was re-extracted with acetonitrile, and the chemical composition, antioxidant potential, and antimicrobial activities of the ethanol (EE), dichloromethane (DCME), and acetonitrile (ACNE) extracts were determined. A total of 109 compounds were tentatively identified in EE, DCME, and ACNE by HPLC-DAD/ESI-ToF-MS. Fatty acids were present in all extracts. Phenolic acids and flavonoids dominated in EE. DCME was characterised by triterpenoid acids, while diterpenoids were mainly found in ACNE. The extracts were analysed for their antioxidant capacity using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) assay. EE and DCME showed significant radical scavenging potential. Antimicrobial activity was explored in eight bacterial, two yeast, and one fungal species. All extracts exhibited high antifungal activity, comparable to or better than that of the commercial drug nistatin. Antibacterial activities were notable for EE and ACNE, while DCME showed no activity against bacteria in the applied concentration ranges. The different polarities of the solvents led to distinctive phytochemical compositions and bioactivities in the extracts.

Color, proximate composition, bioactive compounds and antinutrient profiling of rose

Rose (Rosa sp.) is one of the most important ornamentals which is commercialize for its aesthetic values, essential oils, cosmetic, perfume, pharmaceuticals and food industries in the world. It has wide range of variations that is mostly distinguished by petal color differences which is interlinked with the phytochemicals, secondary metabolites and antinutrient properties. Here, we explored the color, bioactive compounds and antinutritional profiling and their association to sort out the most promising rose genotypes. For this purpose, we employed both quantitative and qualitative evaluation by colorimetric, spectrophotometric and visual analyses following standard protocols. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications where ten rose genotypes labelled R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9 and R10 were used as plant materials. Results revealed in quantitative assessment, the maximum value of lightness, and the luminosity indicating a brightening of rose petals close to a yellow color from rose accessions R4, and R10, respectively which is further confirmed with the visually observed color of the respective rose petals. Proximate composition analyses showed that the highest amount of carotenoid and β-carotene was found in R10 rose genotype, anthocyanin and betacyanin in R7. Among the bioactive compounds, maximum tocopherol, phenolic and flavonoid content was recorded in R8, R6 and R3 while R1 showed the highest free radical scavenging potentiality with the lowest IC50 (82.60 µg/mL FW) compared to the others. Meanwhile, the enormous variation was observed among the studied rose genotypes regarding the antinutrient contents of tannin, alkaloid, saponin and phytate whereas some other antinutrient like steroids, coumarines, quinones, anthraquinone and phlobatanin were also figured out with their presence or absence following qualitative visualization strategies. Furthermore, according to the Principal Component Analysis (PCA), correlation matrix and cluster analysis, the ten rose genotypes were grouped into three clusters where, cluster-I composed of R3, R4, R5, R8, cluster-II: R9, R10 and cluster-III: R1, R2, R6, R7 where the rose genotypes under cluster III and cluster II were mostly contributed in the total variations by the studied variables. Therefore, the rose genotypes R9, R10 and R1, R2, R6, R7 might be potential valuable resources of bioactive compounds for utilization in cosmetics, food coloration, and drugs synthesis which have considerable health impact.

Phyto-assisted synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles using Bauhinia variegata buds extract and evaluation of their multi-faceted biological potentials

Zinc oxide nanoparticles have wide range biological, biomedical and environmental applications. However, traditional nanofabrication of ZnONPs uses various toxic chemicals and organic solvents which limit their bio-applications. To overcome this hurdle, Bauhinia variegata derived buds extract was utilized to fabricate ZnONPs. The greenly generated ZnONPs were successfully prepared and extensively characterized using different analytical tools and the average crystalline size was calculated as 25.47 nm. Further, bioengineered ZnONPs were explored for multiple biological activities that revealed excellent therapeutic potentials. The antibacterial potential was determined using different bacterial strains. Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MIC: 137.5 µg/mL) was reported to be the most resistant variant while Bacillus subtilis (MIC: 34.38 µg/mL) was observed to be most susceptible bacterial strain. DPPH radical scavenging potential was measured to determine the antioxidant capacity of ZnONPs and the highest scavenging potential was observed as 82% at highest of 300 µg/mL. The fungicidal effect of green ZnONPs in comparison with Amphotericin B was assessed against five selected pathogenic fungal strains. The results revealed, Fusarium solani (MIC: 46.875 µg/mL) was least resistant and Aspergillus flavus (MIC: 187.5 µg/mL) was most resistant in fungicidal examination. Cytotoxicity potential of B.V@ZnONPs was analyzed against newly hatched nauplii of brine shrimps. The results for greenly produced ZnONPs was recorded as 39.78 µg/mL while 3.006 µg/mL was reported for positive control vincristine sulphate. The results confirmed the category of general cytotoxic for greenly synthesized nano sized B.V@ZnONPs.