Tannin Fractions Research Articles

Modulation of NF-κB and MAPK signalling pathways by hydrolysable tannin fraction from Terminalia chebula fruits contributes to its anti-inflammatory action in RAW 264.7 cells.

Hydrolysable tannin fraction (HTF) derived from Terminalia chebula fruit pericarps was assessed for its anti-inflammatory potential in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Its molecular mechanism was also established and compared with individual tannins - chebulagic acid (CH) and corilagin (CO). The effect of HTF on LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells was studied by estimating the release of NO, ROS, cytokines and changes in nuclear morphology by DAPI staining. Furthermore, the effect of HTF, CO and CH was compared with the expression of p65, p38 and pERK proteins by immunoblotting and the mRNA transcript level of COX-2, iNOS and TNF-α by quantitative PCR. The in-silico interactions of various hydrolysable tannins present in HTF with molecular targets of inflammation were studied using Maestro software. HTF at the dose levels of 25, 50 and 100 µg/ml was able to decrease the release of NO, ROS and cytokines from LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells without disturbing the cell nuclear morphology. Investigation of molecular mechanism revealed that inhibition of NF-κB and MAPK signalling pathways was responsible for its anti-inflammatory action. The effect of HTF was higher than the individual tannins CH and CO. HTF can be developed as an effective anti-inflammatory agent.

Heather (Calluna vulgaris) supplementation does not reduce trapping ability of Duddingtonia flagrans in faeces of Haemonchus contortus infected lambs

Infection with gastro-intestinal nematodes (GIN) seriously impairs productivity and health of grazing animals. Due to the considerable rise in anthelmintic resistance and the increasing popularity of organic farming, alternative control strategies will replace or complement traditional anthelmintics. The efficacy of two potential alternatives (i) feeding the tanniferous forage heather (Calluna vulgaris) and (ii) the nematophagous fungus Duddingtonia flagrans (isolate FiBL-DF-P14), was tested in a feeding experiment with lambs artificially infected with Haemonchus contortus. Animals received hay supplemented with heather or with a late cut hay (ecohay) as a control feed ad libitum for three weeks. Two doses (1 × 105 and 5 × 104 chlsp/kg LW) of D. flagrans chlamydospores (chlsp) were administered to animals of each roughage treatment and H. contortus larval recovery from faecal cultures was compared with an untreated control (6 animals per D. flagrans-heather combination). Protein, crude fiber and energy contents of ecohay and heather were similar but heather contained approximately twice more fat, four times more lignin and ten times more of all condensed tannin fractions. Heather contained 17.3 mg Proanthocyanidin per g dry matter (DM) while contents of ecohay were 1.7 mg/g DM. Daily average feed intake across both treatments was 1.5 kg DM/animal/day, of which heather/ecohay intake accounted for 0.17/0.19 kg. Overall, there was no significant effect of heather on faecal egg counts (FEC). There was a tendency for a significant interaction between feed supplement and time and a significantly (p = 0.030) lower FEC of nominally 1799 EPG in the heather treatment at the end of the heather feeding period compared with the ecohay treatment. Lambs in this study consumed less heather than grazing sheep in other studies, even though condensed tannin contents were comparably low. Heather supplementation did not affect larval recovery in faecal cultures and trapping ability of D. flagrans. As compared with the untreated control, both doses of D. flagrans reduced larval recovery by 96.2 % and 95.5 %, respectively (p < 0.001), with no significant difference between the doses. The isolate FiBL-DF-P14 was at least as effective as isolates tested in other studies and achieved over 95 % reduction at a low dosage of 5 × 104 chlsp/kg LW. In conclusion, our results confirm the potential of and indicate no negative interactions between both alternative GIN control methods.

Impact of the variety on the adsorption of anthocyanins and tannins on grape flesh cell walls.

During winemaking, after extraction from the skins, anthocyanins and tannins adsorb onto the pulp flesh cell walls. The present study aimed to quantify the amounts adsorbed and their impact on wine composition, the impact of variety and ethanol on adsorption, and whether the presence of anthocyanins plays a role and impacts tannin adsorption. Anthocyanin and tannin fractions obtained by mimicking winemaking conditions were mixed with fresh flesh cell walls of two varieties: Carignan and Grenache. Adsorption isotherms were measured. Adsorption of tannins was higher with Carignan than with Grenache and decreased when the ethanol content increased. In comparison, anthocyanins were adsorbed in small amounts, and their mixing with tannins had no impact on their adsorption. The differences were related to differences in pulp cell wall composition, particularly in terms of extensins and arabinans. Adsorption of tannins, which can reach 50% of the initial amount, depends on the pulp cell wall composition. This needs to be investigated further. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Ameliorative potential of Operculina turpethum against streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats: biochemical and histopathological studies.

The study aimed to investigate the acute toxicity, antidiabetic potential (in-vitro and in-vivo) of the Operculina turpethum (L.) Silva Manso at fraction level. The plant was fractionated into different fractions, i.e., flavonoid fraction (OTFF), tannin fraction (OTTF), saponin fraction (OTSF). In-vitro alpha-amylase inhibition assay revealed that OTFF was found to be more potent than standard Acarbose. The plant fractions were evaluated by MTT assay at different concentrations ranging from 100 to 1000µg/ml. All the fractions were further evaluated for their safety profile, and the biochemical, hematology and histopathology result exhibits that the OTFF fraction produces mild toxicity at organ level at a concentration of 2000mg/kg in albino mice. The in-vivo antidiabetic study was carried out on Sprague-Dawley rats using high-fat diet (HFD) feeding streptozotocin (STZ) diabetic model, and the biochemical, histopathology research findings represent that OTFF at a concentration of 500mg/kg, p.o. was found to be highly significant among all the fractions and found to be more potent than the standard Acarbose. LC-MS characterization of the bioactive fraction OTFF showed the presence of rutin with m/z 610.52 in 50.50% and Apigenin 7-O-6'' acetyl-glucoside with m/z 475.42 in 24.10%; from molecular docking study, it is predicted that the fraction primarily acts as an alpha-amylase inhibitor and PPAR gamma agonist. In conclusion, the plant's OTFF fraction acts as a potential therapeutic agent for Type II diabetes mellitus.

Dynamics of Germination Behaviour, Protein Secondary Structure, Technofunctional Properties, Antinutrients, Antioxidant Capacity and Mineral Elements in Germinated Dhaincha.

SUMMARYResearch backgroundDhaincha (Sesbania aculeata) is a forage legume primarily used for green manuring and animal feed. Good nutritional profile of dhaincha makes it a potential alternative legume in human nutrition. However, the presence of high amount of antinutrients poses a problem in its utilisation for food applications. The present investigation intends to germinate dhaincha seeds at different time-temperature regimes and to evaluate the process of germination to ascertain optimal conditions and improve its potential for utilisation.Experimental approachDhaincha seeds were germinated at 24, 28 and 32 °C for 24, 48 and 72 h. Germination characteristics and germination loss, spectral characteristics, technofunctionality, antinutrients, bioactive constituents, antioxidant capacity and mineral element content of germinated dhaincha were evaluated. Optimal balance of technobiofunctionality of germinated dhaincha seeds was validated by principal component analysis.Results and conclusionsSprout length and germination loss increased with the higher germination temperature and prolonged germination time. Seeds showed similar germination rate at 28 and 32 °C and it was markedly higher than at 24 °C. Germination for 24 h resulted in mild conformational changes in the secondary structure of proteins, whereas germination for 48 and 72 h exhibited major conformational changes in the β-sheets, resulting in the improvement in the hydration and foaming properties. Progression of germination (72 h) caused the decrease of tannin (24.47%), phytic acid (16.38%) and saponin (24.58%) mass fractions, and of trypsin inhibitor (40.33%) and lectin activity (62.50%). Slight decrease of DPPH˙ (3.7%) and ABTS˙+ (18.5%) values was also observed, whereas total flavonoid content (36.14%) and metal chelating activity (26.76%) increased. Total phenolics, FRAP, and reducing power decreased after 24 h, followed by a gradual increase. Zinc extractability increased drastically with germination. Germination at 28 °C for 72 h resulted in higher reduction of antinutrients with optimal retention of antioxidant activity and better functional characteristics, as validated by principal component analysis.Novelty and scientific contributionDhaincha is an unknown crop in Europe, and even in Asia it is predominantly used as green manure and animal feed. This research demonstrated that the intervention in germination can transform dhaincha into a promising crop for food industry. Germinated dhaincha exhibited enhanced technobiofunctionality for utilisation in various food formulations.

Precipitation of Tannin-Anthocyanin Derivatives in Wine is Influenced by Acetaldehyde Concentration and Tannin Molecular Mass with Implications for the Development of Nonbleachable Pigments.

This study aimed to assess the effect of tannin molecular mass on nonbleachable pigment formation and subsequent stability under wine-like conditions. Tannin fractions of a defined molecular mass range were prepared from grape skins and seeds and reacted with malvidin-3-glucoside for 120 days in three media types: chemically defined wine media with or without acetaldehyde addition or model wine without acetaldehyde. Precipitation was observed after the reaction period and increased in response to both higher tannin molecular mass and acetaldehyde concentration. To confirm whether acetaldehyde-mediated condensation of tannin and anthocyanin modified the solubility of the nonbleachable pigments formed, HPLC-MS was used for the semiquantitative identification of vinyl derivatives and ethyl-linked adducts in soluble and precipitated materials. It was found that the proportion of vinyl derivatives and ethyl-linked anthocyanin was elevated in tannin precipitates relative to soluble pigmented material. Despite substantial losses of tannin due to precipitation, the resulting nonbleachable pigment concentration and color intensity were higher in wine media containing elevated acetaldehyde, when each tannin size category was considered independently. The results of this study indicated that the development of nonbleachable pigments from larger tannins may be limited when acetaldehyde-mediated condensation with anthocyanin predominates in wine, concomitant with precipitation.

Phytochemical Analysis Using UPLC-MSn Combined with Network Pharmacology Approaches to Explore the Biomarkers for the Quality Control of the Anticancer Tannin Fraction of Phyllanthus emblica L. Habitat in Nepal.

Phyllanthus emblica L. is widely used in traditional Tibetan medicine for its therapeutic effects on treating liver, kidney, and bladder problems. We have reported that the tannin fraction has a good anti-hepatocellular carcinoma effect, but its active ingredients are not clear. This study was to find the active ingredients of the tannin fraction using UPLC-MSn and network pharmacology. First of all, the UPLC-MSn method was employed to obtain high-resolution mass spectra of different components, and 110 compounds were obtained. Then a network pharmacology method was used to find biomarkers for quality control. Network pharmacology results showed that gallic acid, punicalagin A, punicalagin B, methyl gallate, geraniin, corilagin, chebulinic acid, chebulagic acid, and ellagic acid should be the biomarkers of the tannin fraction. Furthermore, 9 components were detected in the serum, which also proved that they could be biomarkers, because we generally believe that the ingredients which are absorbed into the blood are effective. In the end, a simple method for simultaneously determining the contents of the 9 compounds was constructed by HPLC-DAD. This research established a new method to find biomarkers of traditional Chinese medicine. This is of great significance to improving the quality standards of Tibetan medicine.

Rhythm-Modulating Activity of Fractions of Aqueous Extract of Agrimonia pilosa

Individual fractions containing significant quantities of lithium were obtained from an aqueous extract of Agrimonia pilosa; tannin fractions showed marked rhythm-modulating activity.

Effect of ensiling persimmon peel and grape pomace as tannin-rich byproduct feeds on their chemical composition and in vitro rumen fermentation.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of ensiling fruit byproducts on their chemical composition and in vitro ruminal fermentation. Persimmon peel (PP), white grape pomace (WGP), and red grape pomace (RGP) were ensiled for 1, 2, 4, and 8weeks. Fresh and ensiled PP, WGP, and RGP were used for in vitro rumen fermentation with or without polyethylene glycol (PEG). The non-fiber carbohydrate (NFC) content of the byproducts decreased after ensiling, especially for PP. The total tannin content was not changed after ensiling for up to 4weeks for all byproducts. However, the soluble tannin content in PP decreased but that in grape pomaces was unaffected by ensiling. Gas production, total volatile fatty acid concentration, and methane production by in vitro rumen fermentation for PP and WGP were reduced by ensiling, and increased by adding PEG, except for gas production from the PP silage. These results indicated that changes in the fractions of carbohydrate and tannins during the ensiling process were different between PP and grape pomace. Even though the insolubilization of tannins in PP during ensiling reduced its inhibitory effect on ruminal fermentability, the ensiling PP seemed to remain the ability to mitigate methanogenesis in the rumen.

Tannins in Terminalia bellirica inhibit hepatocellular carcinoma growth by regulating EGFR-signaling and tumor immunity.

The fruits of Terminalia bellirica (Gaertn.) Roxb. (TB) are used as a multi-use therapeutic herbal product in the Tibetan medicinal system and are prescribed as a general health tonic in the traditional Ayurvedic medicinal system. It has been demonstrated that these fruits have a variety of pharmacological activities, including anti-tumor, anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective and immunoregulatory effects, etc. However, the therapeutic effects of tannins in TB on HCC and the underlying mechanisms remain uncharacterized. In the current study, we aimed to identify the anti-tumor effect of tannins in TB by employing a H22 xenograft mouse model and by performing cell-based in vitro studies with the assistance of the network pharmacology analysis. The crude extract of TB was purified to yield total tannin fraction (TB-TF), and our results found that TB-TF significantly inhibited the tumor growth of H22 xenografts in mice by inducing apoptosis and reducing angiogenesis. A total of 90 compounds were then identified in TB-TF by UPLC-MS/MS, and 27 were found in serum after oral administration of TB-TF in mice. The network pharmacology analysis based on these absorbed components was performed and, along with experimental evidence, it revealed that the ERBB, PI3K-Akt, and MAPK signaling pathways may be involved in the anti-tumor effect of TB-TF on HCC. Furthermore, we suggested that TB-TF effectively modulated the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment in H22 xenograft mice. In summary, our study demonstrated that TB-TF could be developed as a functional food, which is not only a promising anti-cancer reagent but also a potential candidate with bright prospects for the emerging trends of immunotherapy for HCC.

Antidiabetic activity of tannin fraction of Bridelia ferruginea (Benth) leaf extract on fructose-induced diabetic mice

Introduction: Bridelia ferruginea is a plant known for its antidiabetic properties. However, few studies on leaf extracts have induced anti-hyperglycemic activity on normal mice subjected to carbohydrate overload. The current study was designed to assess the effect of the leaf extracts’ fraction on fructose-induced diabetic mice. Methods: The in vitro ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay were carried out and the condensed tannins quantified. The vanillin-HCl method was used to characterize the condensed tannins. The antidiabetic effect on fructose-induced diabetic mice was evaluated for 28 days using a fructose-enriched fat diet approach. Results: The fraction confirmed the antioxidant activity with a reducing power of 800 μg/mL comparable to ascorbic acid at 200 μg/mL. The condensed tannins were estimated at 79.6 ± 3.4 mg catechin equivalent per gram of sample. Significant decreases in blood sugar levels of 6.25% at the 7th day, 11.04% at the 14th day, 12.61% at the 21th day, and 11.35% at the 28th day were obtained in mice treated with the extract dose of 200 mg/kg of body weight, compared to the positive control group. The decreases of 37.11% of triglycerides and 40.16% of total cholesterol were also obtained. Conclusion: The investigated fraction showed notable antidiabetic activity and might be a good candidate in the treatment of diabetes.

Fractionation and characterization of polyphenolic compounds and macromolecules in red wine by asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation.

Red wine is a complex matrix containing macromolecules such as condensed tannins and polysaccharides. Wine macromolecular components and their interactions have been reported to impact taste properties such as astringency but the colloidal systems formed in wine are not well known. A key prerequisite to characterize these systems is the ability to work under analytical conditions as close as possible to the colloid environment, preserving the sample structure and limiting the denaturation of macromolecular complexes. A method of Asymmetric Flow Field-Flow Fractionation (AF4) coupled with UV detection, multi-angle light scattering (MALS), and differential refractometer index (dRI) (AF4-UV-MALS-dRI) has been developed to analyse macromolecules, including tannins and polysaccharides, and macromolecular complexes, in red wine. This method separates objects according to their hydrodynamic radius and does not require calibration to determine molecular weight (Mw). AF4 can provide native separation of wine colloidal matter while working with simulated wine as mobile phase. The channel was equipped with a 350-µm spacer and the membrane made in regenerated cellulose had a cut-off of 5kDa. Different parameters of crossflow rate were investigated using a generic red wine to optimize separation conditions. Then, purified fractions of polysaccharides and tannins were analysed using the selected AF4 parameters. The comparison of the peaks obtained for these fractions and for the wine sample allowed us to determine the retention time associated with these macromolecules. The AF4 fractogram of wine was divided into four fractions. The first three were assigned to higher Mw tannins coeluted with lower Mw polysaccharides such as rhamnogalacturonan II (F1), to intermediate Mw polysaccharides (F2), and to higher Mw mannoproteins (F3) whereas the last fraction (F4) was not identified. Furthermore, our results have shown that AF4-UV-MALS-dRI could be an efficient technique to separate large size tannins as well as polysaccharides and macromolecular complexes.

Sterols possess immunomodulatory property: Activity guided isolation and in vitro screening of phytoconstituents of Pongamia glabra and Ficus glomerata

ObjectiveTo isolate the phytoconstituents from the methanolic extracts of the stem bark of Pongamia glabra and Ficus glomerata, characterize spectroscopically and screen for in vitro immunomodulatory activity on human neurophils. MethodsA flavonoid (PGF) and an alkaloidal compound (PGA) from the extract of P. glabra and a steroidal compound (FGS) and tannin fraction (FGT) from the extract of F. glomerata were isolated using column chromatography technique and were subjected for the spectroscopic (FT-IR, 1HNMR and LC-MS) and TLC studies to identify the compounds. The isolated compounds were screened for in vitro immunomodulatory activity on human neutrophils using nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) dye test, phagocytosis of Candida albicans and neutrophil locomotion and chemotaxis assay at the concentration range of 100, 50, 25, 12.50 and 5.00 µg/mL. ResultsFrom the spectroscopic and TLC studies data, the isolated compounds were identified as glabrin (PGA), karanjin (PGF), β-sitosterol (FGS), and tannin fraction (FGT). The isolated compounds PGA, PGF, FGS, and FGT exhibited significant (P < 0.05) in vitro immunomodulatory activity in all the parameters studied. ConclusionThe steroidal compound, i.e. FGS was found to be more immunopotent than all constituents alkaloid, flavonoid and tannins. Hence, these constituents could be attributed to the immunomodulatory property of the plants.

Bactericidal and Anti-biofilm Activity of Tannin Fractions Derived from Azadirachta against Streptococcus mutans

Bactericidal and Anti-biofilm Activity of Tannin Fractions Derived from Azadirachta against Streptococcus mutans

IDENTIFICATION OF WATER-SOLUBLE COMPOUNDS CONTAINED IN AQUEOUS EXTRACTS AND FRACTIONS OBTAINED FROM LEAVES OF Ugni Molinae TO DETERMINE THEIR EFFECT ON THE VIABILITY OF HUMAN GASTRIC CANCER CELLS

Ugni molinae Turcz. Myrtaceae (Murtilla) is a plant native to Chile. There is evidence about the antiproliferative compounds present in fruits, but there is no evidence on the antiproliferative activity of the compounds in the leaves. These compounds have importance because they predominate in the popular form of ingestion of leaves. In the present study, the identification of water-soluble components of leaves of U. molinae and a fractionation were carried out to determine the effect on viability of gastric adenocarcinoma cells (AGS). A decoct of leaves was performed at 1%. For the separation of fractions, a countercurrent system (CPC) was used. Leaves were collected and identified by thinlayer chromatography and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC MS/MS). Samples were evaluated to determine the viability of AGS cells by 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromidefor (MTT) assays. Three large fractions were identified. In the first one, the phenolic compounds of medium polarity and low molecular weight (phenolic acids) are found. In The second fraction shows low concentrations of phenolic compounds with greater molecular weight (glycosylated and gallolylated flavonoids); and the third, has a predominance of hydrolysable tannins, procianidins and other highly hydrophilic compounds. About cell viability, it was found that, the 1% extract is the one that presented the best effects on cell viability inhibition, in comparation to tannin and flavonoid fractions. In conclusion, there is synergy in the compounds present in the aqueous extract, which causes greater inhibition of cell viability, unlike the separated fractions.

Sensory variability associated with anthocyanic and tannic fractions isolated from red wines

Tannins and anthocyanins are important modulators of the intrinsic quality of red wines, playing a major role in consumer preference and appreciation. Tannins are chiefly responsible for the astringency in wines although their role in eliciting different astringent subqualities is still relatively unknown. On the other hand, the sensory contribution of anthocyanic fractions is even less clear. The main aim of the present study was to assess whether anthocyanic fractions from red wine elicit specific mouthfeel and taste attributes that differ from their tannin counterparts, and to evaluate the contribution of anthocyanic and tannic fractions to taste and mouthfeel of red wines. Isolation of tannin (Ftannin) and anthocyanin (Fantho) fractions from 20 wines involved reversed-phase semipreparative liquid chromatography followed by solid phase extraction. The 40 derived fractions subsequently underwent sensory characterisation using a labelled sorting task and a rate-K attributes method. Bitterness and dryness were the salient attributes differing among the sensory spaces of both Fantho and Ftannin. Likewise, other independent and non-correlated mouthfeel dimensions differed for both Fantho (“grainy” and mouthcoating”) and Ftannin (“gummy”). A significant linear model predicting wine dryness from the “dry” intensity of Fantho and Ftannin was obtained, with tannic fractions presenting a higher contribution than anthocyanic fractions. These results not only confirmed that tannins have a major implication in red wine dryness but also unequivocally demonstrated a relevant implication of certain anthocyanins in this attribute. In contrast, bitterness of the original wines could not be directly related to the bitterness perceived in any of the two groups of fractions. The addition of an extremely bitter anthocyanic fraction to wines only increased bitterness in certain wines, suggesting that bitterness in wines may result from perceptual interactions and that some wines contain strong bitterness suppressors.

Vascular activity of infusion and fractions of Cymbopogon citratus (DC) Stapf. in human arteries

Ethnopharmacological relevanceCymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf has been traditionally used mainly for inflammatory diseases and hypertension. However, the mechanisms underlying its vascular activity remain to be fully characterized and the fractions responsible for its cardiovascular activity are still unknown. Aim of the studyIn this study, we aimed to assess the vascular activity of Cymbopogon citratus in human arteries and to study the role of cyclooxygenase in its vasorelaxant effects. Materials and methodsVascular effects of leaves infusion and three fractions (phenolic acids, flavonoids and tannins) were studied using distal segments of human internal thoracic arteries harvested from patients undergoing coronary revascularization, which were mounted as rings in tissue organ baths and maintained at 37 °C in Krebs Henseleit buffer. The effect on basal vascular tone, the effect on the noradrenaline-induced contraction and the vasorelaxant effects were assessed. The role of cyclooxygenase was evaluated with indomethacin. ResultsOur results showed a mild effect on the basal vessel tone of the infusion. A significant inhibition on the adrenergic-mediated vasoconstriction was observed for the infusion (0.0002 mg/mL) and the flavonoid fraction (0.2 mg/mL), despite a potentiation was observed in some conditions. A vasorelaxant effect was observed for both the infusion (6.46% of maximal relaxation) and the tannin fraction (26.91% of maximal relaxation, P < 0.05 vs. infusion). Incubation with indomethacin (10 μM) elicited a decrease in the vasorelaxation to the infusion (P < 0.05). ConclusionsThese results suggest that cyclooxygenase may be involved in the vasorelaxation to the infusion of Cymbopogon citratus and that tannins are the compound fraction mainly responsible for this vasorelaxation.

Tannin fraction of pistachio green hull extract with pancreatic lipase inhibitory and antioxidant activity

Polyphenolic compounds (present in different parts of the plant) have beneficial properties such as antioxidant and inhibition of key enzymes. In this research, antioxidant and anti-lipase activity of pistachio green hull (PGH) extract was investigated. Fractionation of PGH on Sephadex LH-20 furnished a tannin enriched fraction with higher antioxidant activity respect to that of the extract and of the non-tannin fraction. UHPL/MS2 analyses showed the presence of phenolic compounds including galloyl-O-hexoside, galloyl-shikimic acid, galloylquinic acid, and gallic acid in tannin fraction. PGH-extract was an un-competitive inhibitor against porcine pancreatic lipase so that its IC50 value was 2.26mg/ml. In the same phenol amount (490µg), anti-lipase activity of the tannin fraction was also more than non-tannin fraction and crude PGH-extract. This is probably due to the presence of some active polyphenolic compounds such as gallic acid. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Pistachio is native to the arid regions of Central and West Asia including Iran. The green hull is main by-product of pistachio industry that has numerous phenolic compounds. Our results showed that the pistachio green hull extract has antioxidant and anti-lipase activity and these activities in its tannin fraction were higher than non-tannin fraction. Therefore, the PGH extract and its tannin fraction can be used as potential substitutes of anti-obesity drugs. This allows the use of pistachio processing waste and reduces the amount of waste.

Chemical composition and antibacterial activity of red murta (Ugni molinae Turcz.) seeds: an undervalued Chilean resource

Murta (Ugni molinae Turcz) is an endemic Chilean specie mostly used in medical, cosmetic, and food industries. However, during the industrial processing of murta fruits, the biomass containing the seeds is discarded as an industrial byproduct that does not find significant uses yet. This work is a first approach to valorize murta biomass through the identification and quantification of principal chemical constituents and exploring their antibacterial properties. The proximal analysis revealed that murta seeds exhibited significant content of raw fiber (64%), crude fat (14%), crude protein (12%), and low levels of ashes (1.5%) and minerals (0.04–0.23%). Dietary fiber was mainly composed of lignin, cellulose, pectin, and hemicellulose. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (89.0%), monounsaturated fatty acids (7.7%), and saturated fatty acids (3.3%) were the main constituents of seed oils. The arginine, asparagine, glutamic acid, and glycine were the primary protein constituent amino acids. Tannin fractions, total polyphenolic content, and oxygen radical absorbance capacity as antioxidant activity were measured. The chromatographic and mass spectrometric analysis (HPLC–MS/MS) confirmed the presence of several phenolic compounds like phenolic acids, flavonols, flavones, proanthocyanidins, and high molecular weight polyphenols. The murta seed extract showed high antibacterial activity against both Gram positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, and Streptococcus pyogenes) and Gram negative (Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) bacterial strains. Murta seeds could be considered as a new source of nutritional components and bioactive compounds for different nutraceutical and food applications.

Structural characterization and antioxidant activity of condensed tannins fractionated from sorghum grain

The consumption of sorghum grain could prevent some chronic diseases, mainly due to the abundant levels of polyphenol. In this study, condensed tannins from sorghum grain were separated into six fractions (F1, F2, F3, F4, P1 and P2). The mean degree of polymerization (mDP) and structural composition of each fraction isolated by thiolysis were analyzed by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC), ultra-performance liquid chromatography with quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). The total polyphenol content of these fractions was determined, and their antioxidant capacity was measured with chemical-based and cellular-based assays. The results showed that the mDP could significantly influence the total phenolic content (p < 0.05), and the F1 fraction had the highest values. In addition, the lower mDP fractions exhibited the higher antioxidant activities than other fractions, measured by both the chemical and cellular-based assays. Well-controlled animal or human clinical studies will be required to more accurately evaluate the potential health effects of condensed tannins fractions.