Source Of Antioxidants Research Articles

The potential of Mitragyna speciosa leaves as a natural source of antioxidants for disease prevention.

Mitragyna speciosa is famous for its addictive effect. On the other hand, this plant has good potential as an antioxidant agent, and so far, it was not explicitly explained what the most contributing compound in the leaves to that activity is. This study has been conducted using several computational methods to determine which compounds are the most active in interacting with cytochrome P450, myeloperoxidase, and NADPH oxidase proteins. First, virtual screening was carried out based on molecular docking, followed by profiling the properties of adsorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET); the second one is the molecular dynamics (MD) simulations for 100 ns. The virtual screening results showed that three compounds acted as inhibitors for each protein: (-)-epicatechin, sitogluside, and corynoxeine. The ADMET profiles of the three compounds exhibit good drug ability and toxicity. The trajectories study from MD simulations predicts that the complexes of these three compounds with their respective target proteins are stable. Furthermore, these compounds identified in this computational study can be a potential guide for future experiments aimed at assessing the antioxidant properties through in vitro testing.

Innovative of cascara as potential in beverage, food and their functional impact: a review

SummaryCascara's beverage and food innovation has sparked interest due to its unique flavour profile and potential health benefits. Cascara drink, which comes from dried coffee pulp husks, offers a distinctive aroma reminiscent of cherry, mango and tamarind. Research has highlighted cascara's high antioxidant content, making it a functional and healthy drink choice. Sensory analysis has shown that cascara drinks exhibit dominant citric acid and black tea flavours with a strong sour aroma, appealing to consumers who enjoy coffee and tea. Furthermore, post‐harvest processing significantly influences the chemical composition of cascara beverages, with different processing methods resulting in varying levels of caffeine, total phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity. This innovation not only offers a refreshing drink but also shows the potential of cascara to be a valuable source of antioxidants with diverse flavour profiles and contributing to the global market.

Enhancement of xylooligosaccharides production as a novel antioxidant source through autoclave-assisted oxalic acid pretreatment of sugarcane trash

Enhancement of xylooligosaccharides production as a novel antioxidant source through autoclave-assisted oxalic acid pretreatment of sugarcane trash

Rapid discovery of natural antioxidants in Hypericum japonicum: Dual roles of the liquid phase mobile phase as extraction and separation solvent

Hypericum japonicum is a traditional folk medicine with various bioactivities such as hepatoprotective, antioxidant, and anti-tumorous. The antioxidant effect of H. japonicum is one of the most prominent effects due to its responsibility for many of its activities. To clarify active natural substance, the antioxidant properties of H. japonicum were preliminarily assessed by ferric reducing–antioxidant power (FRAP), 2,2-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) and Oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), as well as superoxide dismutase (SOD). Then, a straightforward and effective method named online liquid extraction-high performance liquid chromatography combined with ABTS antioxidant assay and mass spectrometry (OLE-HPLC-ABTS/Q-TOF-MS) was developed to swiftly and directly discover the antioxidants in H. japonicum. Using mobile phase as extraction and separation reagent, coupled with online activity analysis and compounds identification by high-resolution MS, the online system enables rapid screening of natural antioxidant bioactives from complex mixture. By using it, a total of 9 compounds including flavonoids and phenolic acids characterized by retention time, precise mass, and fragmentation ions in MS/MS spectra showed antioxidant action. Finally, the antioxidant and SOD activity of main found active compounds were validated by in vitro experiment assay and molecular docking. In summary, these results suggested that H. japonicum could be considered as a potential source of natural antioxidants, and the online integrated system might become a promising candidate for the natural antioxidants discovery in the future.

Evaluation of Agronomic Traits, Total Phenolic Content, and Antioxidant Properties of Sesame Seeds of Different Colors and Origin.

Rising health concerns regarding chronic diseases call for exploring natural sources of antioxidants and factors that influence their activity. This study evaluated the diversity of 112 sesame germplasms from Africa and Asia based on ten agronomic traits (seven quantitative and three qualitative), two antioxidant activities (ABTS and DPPH radical scavenging activities), and the content of one metabolite (TPC). TPC, DPPH, and ABTS were in the ranges of 4.98-87.88 µg GAE/mg DE, 3.97-46.23 µg AAE/mg DE, and 3.42-176.01 µg TE/mg DE, respectively. Statistical analyses revealed significant variations in agronomic traits, TPC, and antioxidant activities among the sesame germplasms (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the individual and interaction effects of seed color and the continent of origin on the levels of the quantitative traits, TPC, ABTS, and DPPH were analyzed, and the correlation among the traits was further evaluated. Diversity in TPC, ABTS, and DPPH was significantly associated with seed color and most of the quantitative agronomic traits (p < 0.05) but not with continent of origin. Principal component analysis revealed TPC, ABTS, DPPH, and five quantitative traits as the most discriminant traits. In general, six sesame accessions with high TPC and antioxidant activities (IT194356, IT170094, IT29971, IT185998, IT104246, and IT169623) as well as important agronomic traits were identified and, hence, could be used for developing improved sesame varieties.

Potential of Liquid Smoke from Corn Cobs as an Antioxidant Source in Mackerel Preservation

This study aims to determine the antioxidant potential contained in liquid smoke using the DPPH method, as well as the effects of the concentration and soaking duration of liquid smoke from corn cobs on phenol content, moisture content, and organoleptic testing. The study first tested the antioxidant activity of liquid smoke from corn cobs by measuring the 50% Inhibition Concentration (IC50) value. Subsequently, liquid smoke was used at various concentrations (0%, 5%, 7%, and 10%) with a 60-minute soaking time, and a 7-day storage period was followed by testing for phenol content, moisture content, and organoleptic properties. Data analysis was performed using SPSS.26 with ANOVA testing. The results showed an IC50 value of 11.642 ppm in the antioxidant test of liquid smoke, indicating its effectiveness in neutralizing free radicals. The addition of liquid smoke to mackerel with different concentration variations affected phenol content, moisture content, and organoleptic properties. The optimal concentration of liquid smoke for use as a fish preservative is 10%

Fermented Fish Collagen Attenuates Melanogenesis via Decreasing UV-Induced Oxidative Stress.

Excessive melanogenesis leads to hyperpigmentation-related cosmetic problems. UV exposure increases oxidative stress, which promotes melanogenesis-related signal pathways such as the PKA, microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), tyrosinase (TYR), tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP1), and tyrosinase-related protein-2 (TRP2) pathways. Glycine is a source of endogenous antioxidants, including glutathione. Fermented fish collagen (FC) contains glycine; thus, we evaluated the effect of FC on decreasing melanogenesis via decreasing oxidative stress. The glycine receptor (GlyR) and glycine transporter-1 (GlyT1) levels were decreased in UV-irradiated keratinocytes; however, the expression levels of these proteins increased upon treatment with FC. The FC decreased oxidative stress, as indicated by the decreasing expression of NOX1/2/4, increased expression of GSH/GSSG, increased SOD activity, and decreased 8-OHdG expression in UV-irradiated keratinocytes. Administration of conditioned media from FC-treated keratinocytes to melanocytes led to decreased p38, PKC, MITF, TRP1, and TRP2 expression. These changes induced by the FC were also observed in UV-irradiated animal skin. FC treatment increased the expression of GlyR and GlyT, which was accompanied by decreased oxidative stress in the UV-irradiated skin. Moreover, the FC negatively regulated the melanogenesis signaling pathways, leading to decreased melanin content in the UV-irradiated skin. In conclusion, FC decreased UV-induced oxidative stress and melanogenesis in melanocytes and animal skin. FC could be used in the treatment of UV-induced hyperpigmentation problems.

Atlantic Canadians' Sensory Perception of Couscous Made with Sugar Kelp (Saccharina latissma).

Sugar kelp (Saccharina latissma) has many nutritional benefits and has been identified as a rich source of fibre, vitamins, and antioxidants. However, it is not regularly consumed in the Western world, and the sensory perception of foods containing sugar kelp must be investigated to increase acceptance in North America. This study evaluated consumers' (n = 99) sensory perception of couscous with increasing amounts of sugar kelp (0% (control), 4%, 6%, 8%, and 10% wt/wt). Furthermore, consumers' purchase intent, liking, and emotional response to couscous with added sugar kelp was evaluated with and without nutritional information. Sugar kelp at 6% incorporation did not impact the consumers' liking scores ("Like Slightly" on the hedonic scale), but at 8% the consumers' liking significantly decreased ("Neither Like nor Dislike"). The 8% and 10% levels of sugar kelp addition led to astringency, bitter, hard, brackish, fishy, and chewy attributes being perceived by the consumers. The consumers identified they preferred samples that had soft, savoury, salty, and bland flavours and disliked samples that were brackish and gritty. The nutritional information did not increase overall liking scores, purchase intent, or emotional response. However, the inclusion of sugar kelp in the couscous did lead to an increased selection of positive emotions like happy, joyful, pleasant, and enthusiastic. Overall, the consumers were interested in foods containing seaweed and believed they were nutritious. The results indicated that sugar kelp could be added to couscous up to 6% wt/wt without impacting overall liking.

Colombian cyanobacteria with cytotoxic activity in cancer cell lines

In the last decade, cyanobacteria have emerged as significant reservoirs of bioactive molecule for the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and alimentary industries, given the wide spectrum of new possibilities of different organic pigments, proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and powerful antioxidant sources for specific and stronger cancer treatments, autoimmune syndromes, obesity, and inflammatory diseases. A bioactivity screening was executed for 12 strains of Colombian cyanobacteria (10 marine and 2 freshwater) representative of the orders present in the LAUN culture collection, performing methanol extracts per sample, which was fractionated by reverse phase HPLC protocol, obtaining 8 fractions for each crude extract. All these crude extracts were tested for antimicrobial activities through disk diffusion methodology, and fractions were tested for cytotoxic activity against cancer cell lines by cell viability detection with MTT. Cyanobacteria's extracts showed considerable cytotoxic activity for osteosarcoma (MG063) and colon cancer (HCT116) cell lines (61 and 66 % of reduced viability compared to untreated controls, respectively) and a surprising cell growth promotion for the control group fibroblast (3T3L1) and brain endothelial (HCMEC) cell lines (121 and 127 % growth, respectively), no bioactivity was observed in the antimicrobial tests. These findings underscore the expansive cytotoxic potential of Colombian cyanobacteria against cancer cell lines and, notably, their growth-promoting effects on healthy cell lines. This positions them as promising sources of bioactive compounds for future pharmaceutical developments.

Comparing the nutritional, phytochemical, and anti-microbial potential of wild and cultivated Tetragonia decumbens mill.: A promising leafy vegetable for bio-saline agriculture in South Africa

Tetragonia decumbens is a neglected edible halophyte that grows naturally in coastal areas of South Africa. Its underutilisation is due to the limited literature on its nutraceutical potential. So, this research was designed to assess the nutritional value, secondary metabolites, and anti-microbial potential of wild and greenhouse cultivated T. decumbens to further support its consumption and potential medicinal use. Samples of T. decumbens were collected from three coastal areas (Strand beach, Muizenberg beach and Blouberg beach) during the dry and wet seasons in Cape Town, and the greenhouse cultivated were subjected to varying salinity doses (0, 50, 100, 150, 200 and 250 mM). Results revealed a considerable increase in minerals (N, P and Mg) and proximate composition (Ash, moisture, and carbohydrates) in greenhouse cultivated plants subjected to 50 mM of salinity while the highest crude fat and neutral detergent fibre were recorded in wild samples. Moreover, heavy metal accumulation (Zn and Fe), phytochemicals, anti-nutrients and anti-microbial activities were more pronounced in wild plants than in cultivated samples. Wild plants collected at Blouberg beach had more heavy metals, anti-nutrients, phytochemicals, and anti-microbial activity. These findings validate for the first time, the relevance of nutritional quality of T. decumbens in assessing its suitability as a source of nutrients and antioxidants with possible medicinal value as shown by the inhibition of harmful bacteria and fungal strains.

Unveiling the therapeutic potential of Haloxylon articulatum extract: a comprehensive study on its phytochemical composition, antioxidant, antifungal, and antibacterial activities

ABSTRACT Haloxylon articulatum, commonly known as the salt tree have diverse medicinal benefits. The phytochemical content, antioxidant, antibacterial, and antifungal properties of the methanolic extract were assessed. The extract demonstrated a high concentration of flavonoids and phenolic components, with a Total Flavonoid Content (TFC) of 186 ± 3 µg QE/mg extract and a Total Phenolic Content (TPC) of 188.1 ± 0.4 µg GAE/mg extract. Bioactive substances with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant qualities, such as quercetin, rutin, chrysin, and caffeic acid, were detected by LC-MS analysis. Through IC50 values of 28.88, 14.13, and 23.03 µg/mL for DPPH, β-carotene, and ABTS tests, respectively, the extract demonstrated considerable antioxidant activity. Antibacterial activity was reported against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, with bactericidal effects indicated by MIC and MBC values. The extract also exhibited potent antifungal activity against Thielaviopsis paradoxa and Alternaria sp. These results suggest that H. articulatum extract is a promising source of natural antioxidants and antimicrobial agents with potential therapeutic applications.

Characterising the Metabolomic Diversity and Biological Potentials of Extracts from Different Parts of Two Cistus Species Using UHPLC-MS/MS and In Vitro Techniques.

This study investigates the biochemical composition and biological properties of different parts (leaves, roots, and twigs) of two Cistus species (Cistus monspeliasis and Cistus parviflorus). The extracts were analysed using UHPLC-MS/MS to determine their chemical profiling. A range of antioxidant assays were performed to evaluate the extract's antioxidant capabilities. The enzyme inhibition studies focused on acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), α-amylase, and α-glucosidase and tyrosinase. In addition, the study examined the antimicrobial effects on different bacteria and yeasts and evaluated the toxicity using the MTT assay. Quinic acid, citric acid, gallic acid, catechin, quercetin derivatives, kaempferol, myricetin, ellagic acid, prodelphinidins, procyanidins, scopoletin, and flavogallonic acid dilactone are the main bioactive compounds found in both species. In enzyme inhibition assays, C. monspeliasis roots exhibited significant activity against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), with the values of 2.58 ± 0.02 mg GALAE/g and 11.37 ± 1.93 mg GALAE/g, respectively. Cytotoxicity studies showed mostly weak toxicity, with some samples moderately reducing viability in RAW and HepG2 cells. These findings underscore the diverse biochemical profiles and bioactive potential of Cistus species, suggesting their utility as natural sources of antioxidants and enzyme inhibitors for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical development.

Viola stocksii: A rich source of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory flavonoid glycosides with converged therapeutic potential against SARS-CoV-2 MPro, spike trimer, and surface glycoproteins

This research presents the first comprehensive investigation into the phytochemical and nutraceutical properties of Viola stocksii. The study aimed to identify the therapeutic efficacy and bioactive constituents of this medicinal herb, traditionally used as an herbal tea for managing respiratory and abdominal issues in remote areas of Pakistan. The therapeutic efficacy of the plant was assessed as an anti-oxidant-rich health tonic coupled with anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activities against COVID-19 and its evolving variants. The study involved sequential extraction, bio-assay guided fractionation, isolation, characterization, and biological evaluation. Preliminary in vitro studies have demonstrated that polar fractions of the plant possess significant antioxidant and antiinflammatory potential. A diverse combination of chromatographic techniques (Diaion resin HP-20, Sephadex LH-20, ODS-C18, and RP-HPLC) facilitated the purification of active constituents of the plant. Comprehensive analysis of NMR (1H, 13C, and 2D NMR) and mass (EIMS, HR-EIMS, and FAB-HRMS) spectral data lead to characterize the isolated compounds (1–4) as flavonoid glycosides. Results from in vitro and in-silico evaluations revealed that the isolated glycosides exhibit high antioxidant, antiinflammatory, and immunomodulatory activities, which synergistically show promising potential in combating SARS-CoV-2 variants. Besides MPro, therapeutic potential against two unexplored proteins i.e. the spike trimer (7WZ1) and surface glycoproteins (7QTJ) was studied for the first time. Kaempferol (KamGluαRh) and quercetin (QurGluαRh) carrying rutinoside, were identified as the most active constituents of the plant, with the highest binding affinities in the range of −10 to −13 kcal/mol. Ten distinct active regions were explored on the spike trimer, including strong binding affinity with the essential RBD region, spike head, and tail of the protein. MD simulation validated the stability of Mpro-KamGluαRh and Mpro-QurGluαRh complexes evidenced by an average RMSD of 0.2 nm led to the mechanistic understanding of Mpro inhibition. ADMET and pharmacokinetic studies authenticated the therapeutic ability and drug-likeness profiling of all extracted compounds. Results revealed the beneficial role of glycosides in boosting the medicinal effectiveness of flavonoids and the potential of Viola stocksii as an immunity booster against respiratory infections like COVID-19.

260 Industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa) supplementation improved plasma antioxidant enzymes and stress hormones in beef cattle

Abstract Industrial hemp is a rich source of antioxidants due to its high CBD but there is little information known about its impact on plasma antioxidant enzyme activity and stress hormone in beef cattle. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of industrial hemp supplementation on plasma antioxidant enzymes and stress hormone of Angus cattle. Black Angus heifers (n = 20) were completely randomized into either control (CON: n = 10, receiving 0 g of hemp) or hemp (HEMP: n = 10, receiving 30 g of hemp in 200 g of commercial concentrate) in a trial that lasted for 6 wk. Each group was replicated twice. Hay and water were offered ad libitum, experimental diets were offered o700 h daily. Blood samples were collected on d 0, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 of the experiment for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to determine enzyme activity using standard kits. Data were analyzed using GLIMMIX procedure for repeated measure in SAS 9.4 with Compound symmetry as covariance structure while means were separated with Tukey at 5% alpha. There was significant (P &amp;lt; 0.05) difference in cortisol with HEMP group having 97.54 ng/mL and 122.23 ng/mL for CON. There was treatment x time interaction in total antioxidant capacity (TAOC) and malondialdehyde, TAOC range was 7.26 to 13.95 U/mL in HEMP group and 7.56 to 11.80 U/mL in CON. In conclusion, industrial hemp improved plasma antioxidant status, reduced lipid peroxidation and decreased stress level thereby improving the performance and welfare of beef cattle

Hydroxyl-Amide Alkaloids from Pepper Roots: Potential Sources of Natural Antioxidants and Tyrosinase Inhibitors.

Pepper (Piper nigrum L.) is a widely used spice plant known for its fruits and roots, which serve as flavor enhancers in culinary applications and hold significant economic value. Despite the popularity of pepper fruits, their roots remain relatively understudied, with limited research conducted on their bioactive components. This study focused on discovering and separating the primary bioactive amide alkaloids found in pepper roots. The process involved using the antioxidant activity of crude fractions and the Global Natural Products Social Molecular Networking analysis platform. The process led to the discovery of 23 previously unknown hydroxyl-amide alkaloids. Notably, compounds 11, 12, and 14 showed excellent antioxidant activity, while compound 11 exhibited significant inhibitory effects on mushroom tyrosinase. Theoretical exploration of enzyme-ligand interactions was conducted through molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation. The findings of this study highlight the potential of hydroxyl-amide alkaloids as antioxidant products and natural food preservatives in the pharmaceutical and food cosmetic industries.

Physicochemical and sensory quality of high antioxidant fruit leather of red dragon fruit and watermelon rind enriched with seaweed

Fruit, as a source of antioxidants and phenolic compounds, is perishable. It also has an underutilized component. Fruit leather has a long shelf life in the form of thin sheets with a distinctive texture. This study aimed to investigate the effect of seaweed (Eucheuma cottonii) addition on the physicochemical and sensory quality of fruit leather made from the combination of red dragon fruit and watermelon rind. The physicochemical quality was characterized by measuring the critical quality parameters of fruit leathers, including proximate analysis, water activity, total phenol, antioxidant activity, texture, and organoleptic analysis. The statistical analysis of phenolic compound activity, antioxidant activity, vitamin C, moisture content, carbohydrates, and water activity (aw) was conducted using a one-way ANOVA test, while the analysis of ash content, protein, fat, tensile strength, elongation, and organoleptic properties was performed using the Kruskal–Wallis test. Increasing seaweed concentration significantly increased moisture, ash, protein, vitamin C, total phenol, water activity, and elongation but decreased fat content. Furthermore, the increase in seaweed concentration reduced liking toward taste and color significantly but increased texture liking. The best product was the F2 product with 10% seaweed. F2 has the following attributes: 11.07% of moisture content, 2.34% of ash, 1.53% of protein, 0.19% of fat, 84.86% of carbohydrate, 8.17 mg/100 g of vitamin C, 0.41 of water activity, 0.54 N/m2 of tensile strength, 22.22% of elongation, 107.39 ppm of IC50, 1.66 mg/GAE g of total phenolics.

New Utilization of Fraxinus mandshurica Leaves: As a Safe and Promising Natural Antioxidant.

In this paper, an in-depth study on Fraxinus mandshurica (FM) was conducted, focusing on the chemical constituents, in vitro and in vivo antioxidant activities of flavonoids, acute oral toxicity testing, network pharmacology, and molecular docking in the leaves of FM. The in vitro antioxidant results revealed that the total flavonoid extract (TFE), kaempferol, quercetin, and rutin exhibited similar antioxidant activities, with TFE demonstrating significantly better scavenging ability against hydroxyl radical compared to the other flavonoids. Moreover, in vivo antioxidant findings indicated that TFE led to a significant increase in glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activities along with a decrease in malondialdehyde levels in the liver tissues of mice in an ethanol-induced oxidative stress model, outperforming quercetin. The acute oral toxicity test established 5000 mg/kg of bw as the LD50 for TFE in rats. Through network pharmacological analysis, it was observed that all seven flavonoids in FM exhibited spontaneous binding to their respective key targets, reinforcing their potential antioxidant properties. Consequently, based on the experimental outcomes, TFE appears to be a safe and promising antioxidant source, indicating its potential as a new natural antioxidant resource.

Establishing a link between the chemical composition and biological activities of Gladiolus italicus Mill. from the Turkish flora utilizing in vitro, in silico and network pharmacological methodologies

Objectives Five solvent extracts (n-hexane, ethyl acetate, ethanol, ethanol/water (70%), and water) of Gladiolus italicus Mill. from Turkey were evaluated for chemical and biological properties. Methods Antioxidant activities, inhibitory properties against key enzymes involved in the etiology of chronic diseases were tested, as well as cytotoxic effects on different cell lines. Chemical characterization was also carried out to determine the most abundant compounds of each extract. Results The highest total phenolic content (TPC) was observed in the water extract while highest TFC in ethanol/water extract. The most abundant compounds in the extracts were hyperoside (69041.06 mg kg−1), isoquercitrin (46239.49 mg kg−1), delphindin-3,5-diglucoside (42043.81 mg kg−1), myricetin (21486.61 mg kg−1), and kaempferol-3-glucoside (21199.76 mg kg−1). Molecular dynamic (MD) simulations confirmed the structural stability and dynamic conformational integrity of these complexes over a period of 100 ns. In network pharmacology, A total of 657 unique target genes were screened: 52 associated with programmed cell death-1 (PD-1), 85 with vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR2), and 130 with fibroblast growth factor receptor-2 (FGFR2), identifying crucial gene interactions for these proteins. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses were conducted, revealing significant interactions and pathways such as the advanced glycation end products (AGE) and their receptors (RAGE) signaling pathway in diabetic complications and T- helper 17 (Th17) cell differentiation, among others. This elucidation of complex networks involving key genes like AKT Serine/Threonine Kinase 1 (AKT1), MYC proto-oncogene (MYC), tumor protein 53 (TP53), Interleukin 6 (IL6), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) provides a promising foundation for the development of targeted therapies in the treatment of non-communicable diseases. Conclusion These results show that G. italicus could be a natural source of potent antioxidants and enzyme inhibitors which need to be further explored for the development of biopharmaceuticals.

Traditionally used edible medicinal plants protect against rotenone induced toxicity in SH-SY5Y cells-a prospect for the development of herbal nutraceuticals

Plants are good sources of pharmacologically active compounds. The present study aimed to examine the neuroprotective potentials of the methanol extracts of Salix tetrasperma Roxb. leaf (STME) and Plantago asiatica L. (PAME), two edibles medicinal plants of Manipur, India against neurotoxicity induced by rotenone in SH-SY5Y cells. Free radical quenching activities were evaluated by ABTS and DPPH assays. The cytotoxicity of rotenone and the neuronal survival were assessed by MTT assay and MAP2 expression analysis. DCF-DA, Rhodamine 123 (Rh-123), and DAPI measured the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and apoptotic nuclei, respectively. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and catalase (CAT) activities were also assessed. LC-QTOF-MS analysis was performed for the identification of the compounds present in STME and PAME. The study showed that both the plant extracts (STME and PAME) showed antioxidant and neuroprotective capabilities in rotenone-induced neurotoxicity by preventing oxidative stress through the reduction of intracellular ROS levels and reversing the activities of GPx, SOD, and CAT caused by rotenone. Further, both plants prevented apoptotic cell death by normalizing the steady state of MMP and protecting nuclear DNA condensation. LC-QTOF-MS analysis shows the presence of known neuroprotective compounds like uridine and gabapentin in STME and PAME respectively. The two plants might be an important source of natural antioxidants and nutraceuticals with neuroprotective abilities. This could be investigated further to formulate herbal nutraceuticals for the treatment of neurodegenerative disease like Parkinson's disease.

Characterization of Freeze-dried Pumpkin Powders: Powder Quality and Nutrient Stability

Being a good source of nutrients, viz., ascorbic acid, β-carotene, phenols, and antioxidants, pumpkin pulp (Cucurbita moschata) can be utilised as a functional ingredient in many food products by converting them into a more stable product like pumpkin powder. Hence the present study is focused on the production of freeze-dried pumpkin powder by two different methods (drying in petri plates with 5mm sample thickness and in 250 ml flask). The moisture content and water activity were reduced by 92.50% and 74.73%, respectively, compared to the fresh pumpkin pulp, indicating safe storage limits. Freeze-dried pumpkin powders exhibited a decrease of 25% ascorbic acid, 21.58% β-carotene, 39.39% reduction in total polyphenols and 72.98% in antioxidant content. The powder properties of the developed freeze-dried powders exhibited water activity of 0.4aw to 0.35aw bulk density of 0.15 to 0.12 g cm-3, and flow ability of 18.39° to 22.74°.