Relative Antioxidant Capacity Index Research Articles

Berries Pomace Valorization: From Waste to Potent Antioxidants and Emerging Skin Prebiotics

ABSTRACT Fruit pomaces are agro-industrial by-products obtained in large quantities by the juice production industry, hence their reutilization is a suitable way to minimize environmental impact by transforming them into different value-added products. Considering the wide abundance and bioactive potential of berries pomaces, raspberry, strawberry, blackcurrant, and chokeberry pomace were chosen to examine and compare polyphenol content, antioxidant activity, and skin prebiotic capacity of their extracts. Extracts of 5.28 to 13.39 mg GAE ⋅ g−1 DM total polyphenol content were obtained, with significant differences in polyphenol abundance between classes. Relative antioxidant capacity index and global antioxidant score revealed that the blackcurrant pomace extract exhibited the highest antioxidant capacity. Staphylococcus epidermidis growth was promoted by lower extract concentrations, while higher concentrations showed inhibitory effects. On the other hand, Staphylococcus aureus was inhibited more strongly and no stimulation was detected in the tested concentration range (.025–.1 mg GAE ⋅ mL−1). In co-cultured experiments, a S. aureus/S. epidermidis rebalancing effect was proven for all tested extracts, whereas the best prebiotic capacity of 2.84 was achieved at .05 mg GAE⋅ mL−1 of raspberry pomace extract. In conclusion, berry pomace extracts could be valorized by extraction of their phytochemicals which are potent antioxidants and emerging prebiotics for topical application.

From Fresh to Dried Lavender Flower: Changes in Phytochemical Profile According to Drying Method

Lavandula angustifolia Mill. is a part of the Lamiaceae family, which includes aromatic plants used in perfumery, manufactory, food, ornamental, and medicinal sectors. Both fresh and dried lavender flowers can be exploited in different ways; however, post-harvest treatments such as drying processes can help maintain the flowers’ properties for a longer period. This study analyzed fresh (F) and dried lavender flower ultrasound-assisted extracts, comparing two different drying methods, i.e., heat-pump drying (HP) and hot-air drying (HA), to assess potential differences in their effect on the phytochemical composition (total phenolic content, total anthocyanin content, and phenolic profile) and antioxidant activity (FRAP, DPPH, and ABTS assays) of flowers, focusing on three lavender selections from north-western Alps (i.e., Susa, Stura, and Tanaro). Results showed that HP-dried flowers are to be preferred over HA-dried flowers, as they contain +66.73% of phenolics and +62.2% of anthocyanins, and they have higher antioxidant activity (from 60.32% to 284.3% more according to the assay). HP-dried flowers, particularly those from the Tanaro selection, showed also higher values in the relative antioxidant capacity index (RACI) and the global antioxidant score (GAS), ranking together with the fresh flowers. Nine bioactive compounds out of thirteen were detected by means of HPLC, seven in F (caffeic acid, hyperoside, quercetin, ellagic acid, catechin, epicatechin, and dehydroascorbic acid), four in HA (ferulic acid, hyperoside, quercitrin, and epicatechin), and two in HP (caffeic acid and hyperoside). The higher temperatures used in HA probably promoted oxidative and biochemical reactions that led to the presence and increase in these compounds. However, many other phenolic compounds may contribute to the antioxidant power of lavender extracts. Overall, HP resulted in an effective and sustainable method for drying lavender flowers and may have interesting applications to obtain final products richer in bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity to be used in the functional food industry.

Analysis of antioxidant potential of fruit and vegetable juices available in Serbian markets.

Antioxidants in fruit and vegetable juices have become increasingly popular because of their potential health benefits. Nowadays, juice mixes made from berries present frequent consumer choices, due to their nutritive value and high content of bioactive compounds. Commercial fruit and vegetable juices available in Serbian markets (n = 32) were analyzed for the physicochemical properties, chemical composition, and antioxidant activity. Relative antioxidant capacity index was used for the ranking of the juices according to antioxidant capacity, while antioxidant effectiveness of phenolic compounds contained in juice samples was investigated depending on phenolic antioxidant coefficients. Principal component analysis was applied to study the data structure. In addition, a multi-layer perceptron model was used for modeling an artificial neural network model (ANN) for prediction antioxidant activity (DPPH, reducing power, and ABTS) based on total phenolic, total pigments, and vitamin C content. The obtained ANN showed good prediction capabilities (the r2 values during training cycle for output variables were 0.942). Phenolic, pigments, and vitamin C contents showed a positive correlation with the investigated antioxidant activity. The consumption of commercial berry fruit juices available in Serbian markets may deliver great health benefits through the supply of natural antioxidants.

Antioxidant and Cytoprotective Capacities of Various Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Cultivars in Korea.

Whole wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a rich source of bioactive compounds with health benefits such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-proliferative activities. In this study, we evaluated the antioxidant and cytoprotective capacities of 41 wheat cultivars. The antioxidant capacities of whole wheat grain extracts (WWE) from various wheat cultivars were evaluated using total phenolic content and ABTS and DPPH radical-scavenging activities. The relative antioxidant capacity index (RACI) was calculated to integrate different chemical methods of antioxidant capacity. The cytoprotective capacity of the WWE was investigated using hepatocytes (HepG2), myoblasts (C2C12), and endothelial (EA.hy926) cells. The RACI was the highest and lowest for Dajoong (1.71) and Topdong (−1.96), respectively. Pearson correlation tests were conducted to determine the correlation between the antioxidant and cytoprotective activities. However, no significant correlations between RACI and the cytoprotective capacities were ascertained. Principal component analysis revealed that the first two components represented 68.93% of the total variability. Hierarchical cluster analysis classified WWE into three groups based on measured parameters. The results of this study highlight the variation in the antioxidant and cytoprotective capacities of 41 different wheat cultivars. This study provides basic information that can guide decisions in wheat breeding programs for the development of functional food crops and new dietary ingredients.

Byproducts (Flour, Meals, and Groats) from the Vegetable Oil Industry as a Potential Source of Antioxidants.

The present study presents the use of photochemiluminescence assay (PCL) and 2,2 diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2′-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS), the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and cupric ion reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC) methods for the measurement of lipid-soluble antioxidant capacity (ACL) of 14 different byproducts obtained from the vegetable oil industry (flour, meals, and groats). The research showed that the analyzed samples contain significant amounts of phenolic compounds between 1.54 and 74.85 mg gallic acid per gram of byproduct. Grape seed flour extract had the highest content of total phenolic compounds, 74.85 mg GAE/g, while the lowest level was obtained for the sunflower groats, 1.54 mg GAE/g. DPPH values varied between 7.58 and 7182.53 mg Trolox/g of byproduct, and the highest antioxidant capacity corresponded to the grape seed flour (7182.53 mg Trolox/g), followed by walnut flour (1257.49 mg Trolox/g) and rapeseed meals (647.29 mg Trolox/g). Values of ABTS assay of analyzed samples were between 0 and 3500.52 mg Trolox/g of byproduct. Grape seed flour had the highest value of ABTS (3500.52 mg Trolox/g), followed by walnut flower (1423.98) and sea buckthorn flour (419.46). The highest values for FRAP method were represented by grape seed flour (4716.75 mg Trolox/g), followed by sunflower meals (1350.86 mg Trolox/g) and rapeseed flour (1034.92 mg Trolox/g). For CUPRAC assay, grape seed flour (5936.76 mg Trolox/g) and walnut flour (1202.75 mg Trolox/g) showed the highest antioxidant activity. To assess which method of determining antioxidant activity is most appropriate for the byproducts analyzed, relative antioxidant capacity index (RACI) was calculated. Depending on the RACI value of the analyzed byproducts, the rank of antioxidant capacity ranged from −209.46 (walnut flour) to 184.20 (grape seed flour). The most sensitive methods in developing RACI were FRAP (r = 0.5795) and DPPH (r = 0.5766), followed by CUPRAC (r = 0.5578) and ABTS (r = 0.4449), respectively. Strong positive correlations between the antioxidant capacity of lipid-soluble compounds measured by PCL and other methods used for determining antioxidant activity were found (r > 0.9). Analyses have shown that the different types of byproducts obtained from the vegetable oil industry have a high antioxidant activity rich in phenolic compounds, and thus their use in bakery products can improve their nutritional quality.

Chemical compositions and antioxidant activities of four different mushroom species collected from Turkey

Many researchers agree that edible mushrooms have beneficial effects on human health. The aim of this study is to investigate the chemical composition and antioxidant activities of methanol extracts obtained from Coprinus comatus, Hydnum repandum, Agaricus impudicus ve Sarcodon imbricatus collected from Yuvacık-İzmit, Kastamonu, and Uzungöl-Trabzon. Spectrophotometric analysis showed that the total phenolic (64.69 mg GAEs/g) and flavonoid (1.73 mg QEs/g) content of S. imbricatus was higher than that of the others. In line with its superiority in phytochemical composition analyzes, S. imbricatus extract showed the highest activity in -carotene bleaching, DPPH free radical scavenging and reducing power assays (836.0, 89.0 and 267.0 mg TEs/g extract, respectively). Metal chelating test resulted in the superiority of A. impudicus (1282.0 mg TEs/g). Relative antioxidant capacity index (RACI) value of S. imbricatus was quite high compared to other extracts (0.90). Apart from the metal chelating assay, there was a high correlation between the antioxidant activities of the extracts and their RACI values. Pearson correlation analysis showed that the correlation between the phenolic/flavonoid contents of the extracts and their antioxidant activities was over 0.9. The antioxidant activity of A. impudicus was brought to the literature for the first time with this study. When the data obtained from the current study were evaluated as a whole, it was concluded that S. imbricatus could be a rich source for new and alternative antioxidant compounds.

Muscari comosum L. Bulb Extracts Modulate Oxidative Stress and Redox Signaling in HepG2 Cells.

Muscari comosum L. bulbs are commonly used as food in South Italy and also in folk medicine. By evaluating in vitro antioxidant activity and biological activities of their aqueous and methanol extracts, we shed light on the potential role, including both the nutraceutical and health benefits, of this plant. Total polyphenol content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) were evaluated by the Folin–Ciocalteu method and by the aluminum chloride method, respectively. Antioxidant activity was investigated by three in vitro assays and relative antioxidant capacity index (RACI) was calculated to compare results obtained by different tests. The extracts were tested to evaluate their possible involvement in redox homeostasis, using the human hepatoma (HepG2) cell line used as model. The extracts exhibited concentration/solvent dependent radical scavenging activity, as well as dysregulation of some genes involved in redox pathways by promoting Nrf2, SOD-2, GPX1, ABCC6 and ABCG2 expression. NMR metabolomics analysis suggests that HepG2 cells treated with Muscari comosum extracts experience changes in some metabolites involved in various metabolic pathways.

Wheat and Oat Brans as Sources of Polyphenol Compounds for Development of Antioxidant Nutraceutical Ingredients.

Bran, a byproduct still mainly used for animal feed, is receiving increased attention as potential ingredient for a healthier diet. The aim of this study was to characterize and evaluate the nutritional and antioxidant properties of wheat and oat bran in order to promote their use as nutraceutical ingredients in flour and/or other products. The effects of grain (wheat vs. oat) and milling fraction (whole grain vs. bran) on the phenolic profile (free vs. bound phenolics), antioxidant and nutrient profiles, and glycemic index were evaluated. Differences in antioxidant capacity through different methodologies between grain and bran were observed, supporting a higher in vitro antioxidant capacity of the whole grain than that of the refined flours, which lack the bran fraction. The highest RACI (Relative Antioxidant Capacity Index) corresponded to wheat bran bound fraction, which showed the highest concentration of ferulic acid and correlation with antioxidant parameters tested. The in vitro glycemic index of the bran fractions was reduced, as compared with grain, with lower values found for wheat. The results support the important benefits of the polyphenols linked to fiber and the importance to develop methods to increase bioavailability of these compounds, which would promote WB use as nutraceutical ingredient.

A comprehensive study of parameters correlated with honey health benefits.

One hundred honey samples of different floral origin (acacia, sunflower, meadow, and forest) collected from nine European countries (Serbia, Albania, Croatia, Montenegro, Romania, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia and Hungary) were analysed for various physicochemical, sensory, antioxidant and antibacterial parameters. The relative antioxidant capacity index and relative antibacterial index were calculated, integrated and expressed as a new property – Power of Honey, intended to be used to predict the health potential of a honey based on its antioxidant and antibacterial activities. Free acidity and colour coordinates L* and a* were chosen for building an artificial neural network model for the prediction of honey health potential. These were chosen based on the obtained correlations between the investigated parameters and in light of the simplicity of the analysis. This model successfully predicted the Power of Honey with a gained coefficient of determination of 0.856. Forest honey samples exhibited the highest Power of Honey. This novel approach should make it possible for honey producers to predict the honey health potential of a particular honey based on a quick and simple analysis.

Salvia officinalis L. from Italy: A Comparative Chemical and Biological Study of Its Essential Oil in the Mediterranean Context.

Salvia officinalis L. (sage) is one of the most appreciated plants for its plethora of biologically active compounds. The objective of our research was a comparative study, in the Mediterranean context, of chemical composition, anticholinesterases, and antioxidant properties of essential oils (EOs) from sage collected in three areas (S1–S3) of Southern Italy. EOs were extracted by hydrodistillation and analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) inhibitory properties were investigated by employing Ellman’s method. Four in vitro assays, namely, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), ferric-reducing ability power (FRAP), and β-carotene bleaching tests, were used to study the antioxidant effects. Camphor (16.16–18.92%), 1,8-cineole (8.80–9.86%), β-pinene (3.08–9.14%), camphene (6.27–8.08%), and α-thujone (1.17–9.26%) are identified as the most abundant constituents. However, the content of these constituents varied depending on environmental factors and pedoclimatic conditions. Principal component analysis (PCA) was performed. Based on Relative Antioxidant Capacity Index (RACI), S2 essential oil exhibited the highest radical potential with an IC50 value of 20.64 μg/mL in ABTS test and presented the highest protection of lipid peroxidation with IC50 values of 38.06 and 46.32 μg/mL after 30 and 60 min of incubation, respectively. The most promising inhibitory activity against BChE was found for S3 sample (IC50 of 33.13 μg/mL).

Stachys germanica subsp. heldreichii (Boiss.) Hayek: Phytochemical analysis, antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory activities

Stachys species have traditionally been used by the people for thousands of years to treat various diseases. In this study, the chemical composition and enzyme inhibitory activities of the various extracts of Stachys germanica subsp. heldreichii (Boiss.) Hayek (Lamiaceae), which were isolated using solvents with different polarities, were investigated. Antioxidant activities of the extracts were analyzed by phosphomolybdenum, radical scavenging [on DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and ABTS (2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)], reducing power [CUPRAC (cupric-reducing antioxidant capacity) and FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power)] and ferrous ion chelating tests, while tyrosinase and α-amylase were used for enzyme inhibitory activity assays. RACI (relative antioxidant capacity index) analysis showed that the ranking of the extracts was MeOH (methanol) > Water > EtOAc (ethyl acetate). In ABTS radical scavenging (2.26 mg/mL), phosphomolybdenum (1.68 mg/mL), CUPRAC (1.35 mg/mL) and FRAP tests (0.75 mg/mL), the MeOH extract showed the highest activity. However, the water extract exhibited the highest activity in DPPH radical scavenging and ferrous ion chelating tests. Tyrosinase inhibition potential of the MeOH extract was significant (IC50: 2.90 mg/mL). On the other hand, in α-amylase inhibition assay, EtOAc extract showed the highest activity (2.24 mg/mL). Amount of phenolics was higher in all extracts than flavonoids. MeOH extract was the richest one in phenolics and flavonoids. The major compounds of the extracts were chlorogenic acid and verbascoside. Pearson correlation analysis showed that these compounds were responsible especially for radical scavenging activity. Correlation between chemical composition and activity findings showed that verbascoside and apigenin contributed to tyrosinase and α-amylase inhibition, respectively.

Recovering and Characterizing Phenolic Compounds From Citrus By-Product: A Way Towards Agriculture of Subsistence and Sustainable Bioeconomy

The valorization of citrus processing waste has a great potential for transition toward a bioeconomy. Hence, the objective of this study was to characterize the phenolic composition profile recovered from the citrus solid waste and its related in vitro antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Solid waste residues remaining after the juice extraction process of three citrus species, C. aurantium, C. sinensis and C. reticulata were extracted with maceration with hydroethanol mix. Our findings showed that the highest levels of polymethoxyflavones were found in C. sinensis waste extracts, while O-glycosylpolymethoxylated flavonoids were highly accumulated in C. aurantium residue extracts. Luteolin 7-O glucoside, rutin, and myricetin were identified as dominant metabolites of the residue extracts from C. aurantium, C. reticulata and C. sinensis, respectively. Based on relative antioxidant capacity index (RACI) and global antioxidant score (GAS) measurements, the solid waste extracts of C. aurantium exhibited the strongest antioxidant potential. C. aurantium waste extracts were the most active against Gram-positive bacteria and F. oxysporum fungus, while, C. reticulata waste extracts were the most effective against Gram-negative bacteria and the three pathogenesis fungi: B. subtilis, C. albicans and A. flavus. C. sinensis exhibited the highest antifungal activity against A. niger. Correlation analysis highlighted a positive correlation between Gram-positive bacteria and the content in glycosylated metabolites in one hand, and between Gram-negative bacteria and flavonoids in another hand.

Influence of thermal modification and extraction techniques on yield, antioxidant capacity and phytochemical profile of chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) wood

Abstract Numerous investigations on the antioxidant properties of different plant tissue extracts are available in literature, but few studies on the effect of thermally modified wood on secondary metabolites were carried out up to now. This study highlights the influence of the thermal modification of Castanea sativa Mill. wood on total content of antioxidant compounds and consequently on its antioxidant activity. In addition, a chemical profile by Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS) of the extractives was carried out. Wood of chestnut, thermally modified at 180 °C for 3 h, was used to obtain wood meal which was subjected to different extraction techniques, as maceration extraction (ME), ultrasound assisted extraction (UAE) and accelerated solvent extraction (ASE). The total content of principal antioxidant compounds, such as polyphenols, flavonoids and tannins, as well as the evaluation of antioxidant capacity by using different in vitro assays were determined. Relative Antioxidant Capacity Index (RACI), which is used to compare all antioxidant parameters, has also been applied. The study demonstrated a positive influence on chemical compounds present in C. sativa Mill wood originating from the thermal modification process. Thus, is possible to consider thermal modification as a promising strategy to improve the antioxidant activity of chestnut wood extractives.

New Insights into the Exploitation of Vitis vinifera L. cv. Aglianico Leaf Extracts for Nutraceutical Purposes.

The leaves of Vitis vinifera L. have been used for a long time in traditional medicine for the treatment of many ailments. Grape polyphenols, indeed, have been demonstrated to be able to defend against oxidative stress, responsible for various disorders such as cancer, diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases. The effects of different extraction techniques, Soxhlet (SOX), Accelerated Solvent (ASE 40, ASE 50) and Ultrasound Assisted Extraction (UAE) were studied in this work to evaluate their impact on the chemical profile and bioactive potential of Vitis vinifera L. (cv. Aglianico) leaf extracts. The phytochemical profile was investigated by HPLC-DAD and 9 phenolic compounds were identified and quantified in the extract. Moreover, the antioxidant, anticholinesterase and antityrosinase activities were evaluated. In detail, the total polyphenol content and antioxidant activity (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacities and β-Carotene Bleaching assays) were evaluated and compared to assess the Relative Antioxidant Capacity Index (RACI). To test the inhibitory activity of extracts towards cholinesterases, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) inhibition assays were performed. SOX and ASE 50 have shown the highest value of RACI, 0.76 and 0.65, respectively. Regarding enzymatic inhibitory activity, ASE 50 (IC50 = 107.16 ± 8.12 μg/mL) and SOX (IC50 = 171.34 ± 12.12 μg/mL) extracts exhibited the highest AChE and BChE inhibitory activity, respectively, while UAE (IC50 = 293.2 ± 25.6 μg/mL, followed by SOX (IC50 = 302.5 ± 38.3 μg/mL) showed the highest tyrosinase inhibition value. Our results demonstrated for the first time that Aglianico leaves are important sources of phenols that could be used to prevent oxidative stress and be potentially helpful in diseases treatable with tyrosinase and cholinesterase inhibitors, like myasthenia gravis or Alzheimer’s.

The Essential Oil of Salvia rosmarinus Spenn. from Italy as a Source of Health-Promoting Compounds: Chemical Profile and Antioxidant and Cholinesterase Inhibitory Activity.

The chemical composition of the essential oil from Salvia rosmarinus Spenn. collected in Calabrian Ionian (R1) and Tyrrhenian (R2) coast (Southern Italy) was examined by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Essential oils are mainly characterized by monoterpene hydrocarbons (39.32–40.70%) and oxygenated monoterpenes (36.08-39.47%). The 1,8-cineole, α-pinene, camphor, and trans-caryophyllene are the most representative compounds. S. rosmarinus essential oils were investigated for their antioxidant activity by using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), ferric reducing ability power (FRAP), and β-carotene bleaching tests. Additionally, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) inhibitory activity assays were used to screen the neuroprotective effects of S. rosmarinus. R2 showed the highest antioxidant potential as confirmed by relative antioxidant capacity index (RACI) and exhibited a selective activity against AChE (half maximal inhibitory concentration, IC50, value of 41.86 μg/mL). These results suggest S. rosmarinus essential oil as a potential source of bioactive compounds.

The effects of solution type temperature and time on antioxidant capacity of osmotically dried celery leaves

Osmotic drying of celery leaves was studied in two osmotic solutions (ternary aqueous solution and sugar beet molasses), at three temperatures (20, 35, and 50?C), and diverse immersion periods (1, 3, and 5 hours). The aim was to examine the influence of the used hypertonic agent, temperature and immersion time on antioxidant capacity (AOC) and color characteristics of the samples. The AOC of celery leaves was assessed by the spectrophotometric assays (ABTS, FRAP, and DPPH), as well as two direct current polarographic assays, hydroxo perhydroxo mercury (II) complex assay based on the decrease of anodic current of hydroxo perhydroxo mercury (II) complex and mercury reduction antioxidant power assay based on the decrease of a cathodic current of Hg (II) reduction. Total phenolic content was determined by Folin-Ciocalteu assay. The relative antioxidant capacity index, calculated by assigning equal weight to all applied assays was used to achieve a more comprehensive comparison between analyzed samples, as well as applied assays.The obtained results indicated decreases in the AOC of celery leaves during the osmotic treatment in ternary solution, while the AOC was increased in sugar beet molasses solution. According to relative antioxidant capacity index evaluation the most convenient process parameters were temperature of 35 ?C and immersion time of 5 hours.

Anthemis chia: Biological capacity and phytochemistry

Anthemis species are also of great importance in the cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries. In this study, phytochemical compositions, antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory activities of ethyl acetate (EtOAc), methanol (MeOH) and water extracts obtained from Anthemis chia L. flowers were investigated. The total phenolic and flavonoid compound analysis revealed that the richest one in terms of these compounds was the MeOH extract [65.22 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAEs)/g extract and 73.32 mg quercetin equivalents (QEs)/g extract, respectively]. As a result of liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC–ESI–MS/MS) analysis, it was determined that the main components of the extracts were chlorogenic acid, protocatechuic acid, hyperoside, caffeic acid, apigenin 7-glucoside and luteolin 7-glucoside. Except for the ferrous ion chelating assay, all other antioxidant activity tests resulted in the superiority of the MeOH extract. As a result of the relative antioxidant capacity index (RACI) analysis (including total phenolic and flavonoid compound contents) performed in order to compare the data obtained from antioxidant activity tests, it was confirmed that the antioxidant activity potential of MeOH extract was higher than other extracts. The activity values of this extract in the phosphomolybdenum, cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assays were determined to be 350.36, 655.18, 435.78, 265.33 and 325.25 mg trolox equivalents (TEs)/g extract, respectively. In addition to the total phenolic and flavonoid contents of the extracts, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, hyperoside and apigenin 7-glucoside are also thought to contribute to antioxidant activity. MeOH extract also exhibited the highest activity in α-amylase and tyrosinase inhibitory activity tests. α-Amylase and tyrosinase inhibitor activity of the MeOH extract was measured as 413.66 mg acarbose equivalents (ACEs)/g extract and 290.22 mg kojic acid equivalents (KAEs)/g extract, respectively. Flavonoids seem to contribute more to enzyme inhibitory activity than phenolics. However, caffeic acid is also thought to contribute significantly to the tyrosinase inhibitory activity. As a result, it was concluded that A. chia flowers could be used as an alternative antioxidant, skin whitening and anti-diabetic agent in the food, cosmetic and medical industries.

Coumaroyl Flavonol Glycosides and More in Marketed Green Teas: An Intrinsic Value beyond Much-Lauded Catechins.

Marketed green teas (GTs) can highly vary in their chemical composition, due to different origins, processing methods, and a lack of standardization of GT-based products. Consequently, biological activities become difficult to correlate to the presence/content of certain constituents. Herein, ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) combined with high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry (HR MS/MS) was successfully applied to six commercial GT products, extracted by ethanol sonication, to disclose their polyphenol profile beyond the well-known catechins. The relative abundance of each class of metabolites was correlated to antiradical and antilipoperoxidant data through hierarchical clustering analysis, since it reasonably affects the beneficial properties of the product that reaches the consumer. The thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) assay demonstrated that GT extracts effectively counteracted the UV-induced lipoperoxidation of hemp oil, which is highly rich in Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFAs), and therefore highly unstable. The Relative Antioxidant Capacity Index (RACI) comprehensively emphasized that gunpower and blend in filter GTs appeared to be the less active matrices, and except for a GT-based supplement, the Sencha GT, which was particularly rich in flavonol glycosides, was the most active, followed by Bancha GT.

Chemical analysis and antioxidant properties of orange‐tree (Citrus sinensis L.) biomass extracts obtained via different extraction techniques

AbstractOrange orchards are typical Mediterranean crops and a major feature of the heritage of the Mediterranean basin, where they play an important environmental and economic role. Their high availability, low price, and potential industrial application make the development of new and valuable uses of the orange's biomass of high interest. This research was focused: (i) on recognition and mapping of orange cultivation in the Basilicata region; (ii) on the evaluation of the antioxidant capacity of extracts; (iii) on identification of extractives' traits. To achieve these objectives, the anti‐oxidative properties and chemical compounds of the extracts from orange orchard biomass were analyzed. Different extraction techniques were applied, including maceration, ultrasound‐assisted extraction, accelerated solvent extraction, and autoclaving. Results demonstrated the potential antioxidant activity of the bark and wood of orange‐tree biomass, which has not been investigated before. The relative antioxidant capacity index showed that bark extracts were more effective than wood ones, and accelerated solvent extraction was the most effective process for recovering antioxidants. Chemical characterization by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) showed the presence of different natural compounds, including caffeic acid, alkaloids, and flavonoids. The development of innovative applications that use biomass derivatives could lead to their possible use in the market as a commodity for the chemical or cosmetic industries, giving new added value to the current use of biomass from agricultural practices. Through multi‐criteria analysis it was possible to recognize the sustainability of these cropping models and their ecological function, using them for the preservation of environmental resources, environmental quality, and quality of life. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

Phytochemicals of Minthostachys diffusa Epling and Their Health-Promoting Bioactivities.

The genus Minthostachys belonging to the Lamiaceae family, and is an important South American mint genus used commonly in folk medicine as an aroma in cooking. The phytochemical-rich samples of the aerial parts of Minthostachys diffusa Epling. were tested for pharmacological and health-promoting bioactivities using in vitro chemical and enzymatic assays. A range of radical scavenging activities of the samples against biological radicals such as nitric oxide and superoxide anion and against synthetic 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radicals, the ferric reducing antioxidant power and the lipid peroxidation inhibition were determined and ranked using the ‘relative antioxidant capacity index’ (RACI). The ethyl acetate fraction showed the highest RACI of +1.12. Analysis of the various fractions’ inhibitory ability against enzymes involved in diabetes (α-amylase and α-glucosidase), and against enzymes associated with Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s diseases (acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase) also suggested that the ethyl acetate fraction was the most active. Liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry analysis of the ethyl acetate fraction showed more than 30 polyphenolic compounds, including triterpenes. The inhibitory cholinesterase effects of the triterpenes identified from M. diffusa were further analysed by in silico docking of these compounds into 3D-structures of acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase. This is the first study on pharmacological activities and phytochemical profiling of the aerial parts of M. diffusa, showing that this plant, normally used as food in South America, is also rich in health-promoting phytochemicals.