Their Total Phenolic Content Research Articles

Investigations of the Palestinian medicinal plant basil (Ocimum basilicum): antioxidant, antimicrobial activities, and their phase behavior

Objective: The aim of this work was to establish pseudoternary phase diagrams for Palestinian basil extracts (seeds and leaves), formulate a microemulsion, and study the antioxidant and antimicrobial effects of this medicinal plant. Methods: Pseudoternary phase diagrams were prepared by utilizing the water titration method, by using basil extracts (seeds and leaves) as an oil phase and water phase. Basil was analyzed for its phytochemical constituents after it was extracted using Soxhlet extraction device. The crude extracts of basil (seeds and leaves) were analyzed for their total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and antioxidant activity (AA) using standard methods (Folin-Ciocalteau assay, aluminum chloride assay, ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP) and spectrophotometric method), respectively. In-vitro susceptibility of basil extracts was determined by antibacterial activity using agar disc diffusion method, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) against five clinical pathogens. The potential in-vitro antimalarial activity of various Ocimum extracts was determined in different solvents using semiquantitative assay method. Results: The results showed that both the seeds and leaves of the ethanol extract had antibacterial activity on most bacterial strains, with respective zones of inhibition of 6-25 mm and MIC values of (62.5 - > 500μg/ml). The seeds extract of the plant has 74±1.4 mg/g AA, while the leaves extract has a value of 40.4±0.8 mg/g. The TPC of basil seeds was 58.2±0.9 mg/g and that of basil leaves was 51±2.4 mg/g. In addition, the TFC in the leaves was 9.0±1.5 mg/g, while in the seeds it was 34.2±3.6 mg/g. At room temperature, the pseudoternary phase diagram was determined. Combining basil leaves and seeds extract with Tween 20 as a surfactant resulted in an effective basil microemulsion. RP-HPLC Chromatography analysis showed the presence of flavonoid (quercetin) in 6.6 min. It was found that β-hematin was not prevented in any of these solvents. This result, shown for the first time in this study, rules out a mechanism that has been proposed to explain the antimalarial activity of the plant, namely inhibition of beta-hematin formation. Conclusion: Based on these results, it is concluded that basil is a natural source of potent antioxidants, antibacterial and antimalarial activities that can prevent many diseases and could potentially be used in cosmetics and pharmaceutical products.

Microwaving released more polyphenols from black quinoa grains with hypoglycemic effects compared with traditional cooking methods.

Polyphenols were reported to exhibit inhibitory effects on digestive enzymes to regulate carbohydrates and lipid digestion. However, different cooking methods might cause differences in the composition of polyphenols in cereal grains and thus further affect their activities. The present study used boiling, roasting and microwaving to cook black quinoa and extracted polyphenols from them. Their total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoids content were determined, and phenolic composition was analyzed via high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS). Compared with other cooking methods, phenolic extract from microwaved black quinoa (PEM) showed the highest TPC value (about 2.64 mg GAE g-1 ). Microwaving released more phenolic acids (ferulic acid and gallic acid) from black quinoa grains. PEM also exhibited the strongest antioxidant and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities. Lineweaver-Burk plots showed that PEM inhibited α-glucosidase in an uncompetitive mode, which was supported by circular dichroism analysis. PEM further reduced about 20.04% of digested starch in an in vitro digestion model and suppressed postprandial blood glucose increases (about 16.91% reduction) in vivo. Collectively, our data suggested that microwaving could be an ideal method to cook quinoa in regards of its polyphenols in management of postprandial blood glucose. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Advances in the Characterization of Usnea barbata (L.) Weber ex F.H. Wigg from Călimani Mountains, Romania

Usnea barbata (L.) Weber ex F.H. Wigg (U. barbata) is a medicinal representative of the lichens from the Usnea genus (Parmeliaceae, lichenized Ascomycetes), containing bioactive secondary metabolites. The aim of this study is a comparative analysis between two separated parts of the thallus layers: medulla–cortex (mcUB) and central cord (ccUB) and the whole dried U. barbata thallus (dUB). These three samples were examined regarding color differences. The U. barbata thallus morphology was examined through fluorescent microscopy (FM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The mineral content was measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) preliminarily established the differences in the metabolite content. Finally, extracts in different solvents (ethanol and acetone) were obtained from all studied samples, and their total phenolic content (TPC) and free radical scavenging activity (antiradical activity, AA) were evaluated by spectrophotometry. The ICP-MS results showed that from 23 elements analyzed, 18 minerals were quantified in mcUB, 13 in dUB, and only 12 in ccUB. The ccUB fraction recorded the lowest mineral content, color intensity (chroma), luminosity (L*), and TPC value, followed in increasing order by dUB and mcUB. FT-IR spectra displayed different peaks in ccUB and dUB samples compared to mcUB. The mcUB fraction also showed the highest TPC, significantly correlated with AA. However, dUB had the highest antiradical activity, followed by mcUB and ccUB, with noticeable differences in the acetone extract. The final correlation between all variable data obtained indicates that 99.31% of the total variance was associated with all minerals, total phenolics, and color parameters and was also related to the antiradical activity. These obtained results complete our previous studies on autochthonous U. barbata. Moreover, being a source of bioactive metabolites, extracting them from the mcUB fraction could increase this process’s yield and selectivity.

Chemical, Antioxidant, and Antimicrobial Properties of the Peel and Male Flower By-Products of Four Varieties of Punica granatum L. Cultivated in the Marche Region for Their Use in Cosmetic Products.

We are now seeing an increase in the production of agri-food waste, which is an essential resource for the recovery of bioactive compounds that may be employed as innovative natural ingredients in cosmetics. To date, the approach to cosmetics preservation has seen a significant shift in the search for biological components that give healthier alternatives for customers and help businesses operate in an environmentally friendly manner. To achieve this goal, we studied pomegranate extracts using the peel and, for the first time, extracts from the male flowers of a wide pomegranate variety cultivated in the Marche region, specifically, the Wonderful, Mollar de Elche, Parfianka, and less-studied G1 varieties. We studied the phenol compounds profile, antioxidant capacity, antimicrobial activity, and cell viability of the obtained pomegranate extracts. The identification and quantification of phenol compounds belonging to different classes, such as hydrolysable tannins, hydroxybenzoic acid, hydroxycinnamic acid, dihydroflavonol, gallocatechin, and anthocyanins, were performed using UPLC-ESI-MS/MS. Punicalagin isomers and punicalin resulted in the most abundant polyphenols found in the peel and male flower extracts. Mollar de Elche 2020 peel extract revealed a high concentration of punicalagin A and B (7206.4 mg/kg and 5812.9), while the content of gallic acid revealed high results in the G1 and Parfianka varieties. All extracts were spectrophotometrically analysed to determine their total phenol content (TPC) using the Folin–Ciocalteu method and their antioxidant capacity (AC). In terms of the total phenol obtained by the Folin–Ciocalteu colorimetric method, Mollar de Elche 2020 extracts reported the highest TPC content of 12.341 µmol GAE/g. Results revealed that the Mollar de Elche and Wonderful 2020 peel extracts demonstrated the highest TPC and AC. Furthermore, AC results indicated that the peel extracts displayed higher AC than the male flower extract due to the high punicalagin content detected by UPLC analysis. The antimicrobial activity testing revealed that the Wonderful and G1 2020 peel extracts resulted active against Escherichia coli, while all extracts exhibited promising anticandidal activity. Additionally, the cytocompatibility was evaluated in keratinocytes HaCaT cells by testing concentrations of pomegranate extracts ranging from 0.15 to 5.00 mg/mL. Extracts were non-toxic for the cells in the tested concentration range. The acquired results may help exploit pomegranate agri-food waste products provided by the Marche region’s short supply chain for their use as an antimicrobial and antioxidant booster in the formulation of cosmetic products.

Molecular Docking, Tyrosinase, Collagenase, and Elastase Inhibition Activities of Argan By-Products

The argan tree (Argania spinosa (L.) Skeels) is one of the most important floristic resources in Morocco. This Moroccan endemic tree is known for its numerous therapeutic and medicinal uses. In addition to some medicinal and cosmetic uses, argan fruit pulp and press cake are traditionally used by the Berber population for heating and feeding livestock. Molecular docking is an in silico approach that predicts the interaction between a ligand and a protein. This approach is mainly used in chemistry and pharmacology of natural products as a prediction tool with the purpose of selecting plant extracts or fractions for in vitro tests. The aim of this research is to study the evaluation of potential tyrosinase, collagenase, and elastase inhibitory activities of argan fruit press-cake and pulp extracts. Extracts were evaluated for their total phenolic content (TPC), and the major polyphenols of both press-cake and pulp extracts were submitted to molecular docking in order to determine the mechanisms of action of these compounds. Obtained results revealed that fruit pulp had the strongest dermocosmetic activities, as well as the highest TPC, with values above 55 mg gallic-acid equivalent per gram of dry matter (mgeq AG/gDM). Moreover, those results were positively correlated with the docking findings, suggesting that the pulp lead compounds have higher affinity with tyrosinase, collagenase, and elastase action sites. The results here presented are very promising and open new perspectives for the exploitation of argan-tree by-products as cosmetic agents towards the development of new anti-aging products.

Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of durian (Durio zibethinus Murr.) pulp, seed and peel flour.

The unripe pulp, inner peel and seed of durian were used in this study. These are generally not considered edible and must be disposed of as waste. However, they are good sources of bioactive compounds. Flour extracts from the unripe pulp, inner peel, and seed of two durian (Durio zibethinus Murr.) varieties, namely, Monthong and Chanee, were analyzed chemically to determine their total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory capacities. Chanee pulp (CPu) contained a higher TPC (5285.37 ± 517.65 mg GAE/g) than Monthong pulp (MPu), Monthong peel (MP), Monthong seed (MS), Chanee peel (CP) and Chanee seed (CS) (p = 0.0027, 0.0042, 0.0229, 0.0069 and 0.36), respectively. The antioxidant activity of each durian extract was determined against ABTS, nitric oxide, superoxide, hydroxyl, and metal ions. The results indicated that the pulp, inner peel and seed of these durian varieties had antioxidant capacities. Murine Raw 264.7 macrophages were used to determine the cytotoxicity of the flour extracts. The extract of CS flour had the lowest cytotoxicity followed by MP, CPu, CP, MPu and MS (p = 0.5926, 0.44, 0.3191, 0.1471 and 0.0014), respectively. The anti-inflammatory activity was tested by anti-nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated cells by co-treating the Raw 264.7 cells with each durian flour extract and LPS. The extract of MP flour had the lowest IC50 against NO production, indicating the highest anti-NO production activity followed by CS, CPu, MPu, CP and MS (p = 0.7473, 0.0104, < 0.0001, 0.0002 and < 0.0001, respectively). The information obtained in this study is useful for researchers to explore more durian varieties in Southeast Asia to find bioactive compounds that might be novel nutraceuticals for antioxidant, anti-inflammation and therapeutic functional food.

In vitro bioaccessibility, antioxidant and antibacterial activities of three different safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) genotypes

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is one of the significant medicinal and aromatic plants and used as the source of food additives, natural dyestuffs, healthy beverages and cosmetics in various countries. In this study, extracts of three safflower genotypes (Remzibey-05, Dincer 5-18-1, and Arizona SC III) were prepared and examined for the first time in terms of their total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant activities using radical scavenging capacity (DPPH) and copper reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC) assays after subjecting them to in vitro gastrointestinal digestion. Additionally, the antibacterial potential of the flower extracts was determined. There were significant differences (P<0.05) in antioxidant activities between the extracts of the different genotypes of safflower; the highest antioxidant activity was observed in Remzibey-05, while the phenolic content reached its maximum in Arizona SC III. After gastric digestion (PG), in comparison to the initial values, significantly lower recovery levels of TPC (5-8%), DPPH (11-39%) and CUPRAC (7-15%) were observed for the safflower extracts. The highest inhibition zone was observed in the Dincer 5-18-1 extract applied against Listeria monocytogenes. The results showed that the extracts of the safflower genotypes displayed potent antioxidant and antibacterial activities, and the safflower extracts were important in terms of the bioaccessibility of bioactive compounds.

Antioxidant and sensory evaluation of cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) tea formulated with cocoa bean hull of different origins

Cocoa nibs are the main ingredient for chocolate production while cocoa bean hulls are the major by-product. Uniqueness of this study is that we investigate the antioxidant content and activity of single origin cocoa bean hulls compared to nibs based on their total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), free radical scavenging activity (DPPH Assay), ferric reducing powder (FRAP), and ferrous ion chelating (FIC) ability, thus highlighting regional differences. Venezuela raw cocoa bean hull had the highest antioxidant properties and these properties can tolerate roasting up to 100 ⁰C. Roasting temperature influences both the antioxidant properties and the flavor profile of the resulting cocoa tea. Of the 105 respondents of the hedonic survey, 67.64% indicated that they would buy our cocoa tea. Cocoa tea made from Malaysia and Venezuela origin had a higher theobromine content and a much lower caffeine content compared to green tea. In all cases, cocoa tea made primarily from the cocoa bean hull is safe for consumption as the Aflatoxin (B1, B2, G1, G2), Ochratoxin A, and pesticides residues were not detected within the detection limits (0.001 mg/kg and 0.005 mg/kg). It can be concluded that regional differences give a unique flavor profile to the cocoa bean hull and there were differences in terms of antioxidant properties.

Comparison of the antioxidant activities and major constituents of three Hypericum species (H. perforatum, H. scabrum and H. origanifolium) from Turkey

Total phenolic content, antioxidant activity, and the main constituents of three Hypericum species (H. perforatum, H. scabrum, and H. origanifolium) from Turkey had been investigated in this study. The quantification of main constituents (hypericin, and pseudohypericin) was performed by HPLC. The aerial parts of the plant extracts were screened in terms of their total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity tests including DPPH (2,2 diphenyl 1- picrylhdrazyl) radical scavenging activity, trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), ferric cyanide reducing (FRAP) antioxidant power assay, and total antioxidant activity by ferricthiocyanate (FTC). The highest TPC value (148.31 ± 4.57 mg GAE/g DW) was obtained for H. scabrum (HS) while H. perforatum (HP) extract had the highest hypericin (9.57 ± 0.07 µg/mL), and pseudohypericin (7.82 ± 0.05 µg/mL) amount. All Hypericum species demonstrated stronger DPPH activities than the standard compounds butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and ascorbic acid (AA) with the values of IC50 < 3.8 µg/mL. The highest trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) value (11.28 ± 0.28) was achieved with HO. Considerable values were obtained for HS (90.25 ± 0.05), HP (90.20 ± 0.07), and HO (88.42 ± 0.02) by total antioxidant determination using ferricthiocyanate (FTC) method with 2 days incubation. This study reveals that all Hypericum species are good sources of natural antioxidants with high TPC and major constituent contents.

Antioxidant properties of extract combination of Coccinia grandis and Blumea balsamifera: An in vitro synergistic effect

Introduction: As single extracts, Coccinia grandis and Blumea balsamifera have been known to have potent antioxidant activities. However, the synergistic antioxidant effect of the combination of these plant extracts was unknown. In this study, the combination of C. grandis and B. balsamifera extracts was investigated for its antioxidant and synergistic properties. Methods: Separately, C. grandis and B. balsamifera leaves were extracted with ethanol. After evaporation, the thick extracts were assayed for their total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC). The antioxidant properties of single and combined extracts were measured using the molybdenum(VI) reducing power, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and 2,2-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) methods. The possible synergism effect was evaluated using the checkerboard method and the combination index values were also calculated. Results: The TPC and TFC of the B. balsamifera extracts were much greater than that of C. grandis extract. In the molybdenum(VI) reducing power and FRAP assay, the reducing power of the extract combination increased as B. balsamifera extract concentration increased (P &lt; 0.05). In the ABTS+ and DPPH radical scavenging assays, B. balsamifera extract demonstrated a higher antioxidant activity than C. grandis extract (P &lt; 0.05). When combined, increasing the concentration of B. balsamifera caused an increase in the radical scavenging activity (P &lt; 0.05). Synergism was observed in the combination of the extracts with low concentration ratios. Conclusion: In this study, we showed that the combination of C. grandis and B. balsamifera leaf extracts possessed synergistic antioxidant properties.

The Feasibility of Utilizing Cultured Cordyceps militaris Residues in Cosmetics: Biological Activity Assessment of Their Crude Extracts.

Solid-based residues (SBRs) left from harvesting the fruiting bodies of cultured Cordyceps mushrooms are a challenge to sustainability. Therefore, in this study, the SBRs from the cultivation of Cordyceps militaris (C. militaris) via solid-state fermentation (SSF) were employed to prepare crude extracts, with the aim of considering their possible use in cosmetics. The SBRs obtained from cultivation with solid media containing defatted rice bran mixed with barley, white rice, Riceberry rice, and wheat were named SBR-B, SBR-R, SBR-Rb, and SRB-W, respectively. They were extracted with solvents of differing polarity and then evaluated for their total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and total carbohydrate content (TCC). In addition, antioxidant and tyrosinase inhibitory activities, photoprotection, and cytotoxicity were also assessed. The results revealed that the total bioactive contents and biological capacities of crude SBR extracts were significantly influenced by the types of SBR and extraction solvent (p < 0.05). The SBR-B extracted with hot water exhibited the highest antioxidant activity (66.62 ± 2.10, 212.00 ± 3.43, and 101.62 ± 4.42 mg TEAC/g extract) when assayed by DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP methods, respectively, whereas tyrosinase inhibitory activity (51.13 ± 1.11 mg KAE/g extract) with 90.43 ± 1.96% inhibition at 1 mg/mL was excellently achieved by SBR-Rb extracted by 50% (v/v) ethanol. Correlations between bioactive contents in the crude extracts and their biological activities were mostly proven at a strong level (p < 0.01). The capability of the crude extracts to absorb UV over the range of 290–330 nm disclosed their potential roles as natural UV absorbers and boosters. Cytotoxicity analysis using fibroblast cell lines tested with hot water and 50% (v/v) ethanolic SBR extracts demonstrated safe use within a concentration range of 0.001–10 mg/mL. Interestingly, their fibroblast proliferative capacity, indicating anti-aging properties, was highly promoted. The chemical composition analyzed via LC–MS/MS techniques showed that seven phenolic acids and four flavonoids were identified in the crude SBR extracts. Furthermore, the other compounds present included nucleosides, nucleobases, amino acids, sugars, phospholipids, alkaloids, organic acids, vitamins, and peptides. Therefore, it is emphasized that SBRs from C. militaris can be a prospective source for preparing crude extracts employed in cosmetics. Lastly, they could be further utilized as multifunctional ingredients in cosmetics and cosmeceuticals.

Application of Heating on the Antioxidant and Antibacterial Properties of Malaysian and Australian Stingless Bee Honey.

In the honey industry, heat treatments are usually applied to maintain honey’s quality and shelf life. Heat treatment is used to avoid crystallisation and allow the easy use of honey, but treatment with heat might affect the antioxidant and antibacterial activities, which are the immediate health effects of honey. This study will determine the effect of heat treatment on Malaysian and Australian stingless bee honey (SBH) produced by the common bee species in both countries. Eighteen honey samples were subjected to heat at 45 °C, 55 °C and 65 °C for one hour and subsequently analysed for their total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), DPPH radical scavenging activity, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). The results show that all samples had high TPC, TFC and antioxidant activities before the treatment. The heat treatments did not affect (p < 0.05) the TPC, TFC and antioxidant activities in most samples, but did inhibit the antibacterial activities consistently in most of the samples, regardless of the bee species and country of origin. This study also confirms a strong correlation between TPC and TFC with FRAP activities for the non-heated and heated honey samples (p < 0.05). Other heat-sensitive bioactive compounds in SBH should be measured to control the antibacterial properties present.

Natural plant extracts as inhibitors of potato polyphenol oxidase: The green tea case study

Natural plant extracts have emerged as a potential alternative to sulphites in minimally processed potatoes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the inhibitory capacity of various plant extracts on potato polyphenol oxidase (pPPO) and to optimize the extraction conditions for preventing browning in fresh-cut potatoes (cv. Monalisa). Fifteen aqueous plant extracts were characterized by their total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant activity (AA) and their pPPO. Clove extract showed the highest TPC and AA among all plant extracts. Garlic, green tea and wheat bran and, clove and marjoram have a pPPO inhibition >50% at the lowest (1–25 g GAE L−1 extract) and highest (200–350 g GAE L−1 extract) range of TPC, respectively. The green tea extract was selected for further evaluation due to its high capacity to inhibit pPPO activity regardless of the solution concentration. The optimum extraction conditions and treatment concentration were 55 °C, 7 min and 50 mL L−1 of original extract solution. These conditions guaranteed the conservation of fresh-cut potato colour mainly preventing the reduction of luminosity parameter. Green tea extract controlled browning in fresh-cut potatoes (cv. Monalisa) for 14 days when stored at 4 °C.

Biological Activities of Methanolic Extract of Aegle marmelos against HN Protein of Newcastle Disease Virus

The current study explores the methanolic extracts of the leaves and fruit of Aegle marmelos (Bael) for their total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoids content (TFC), antioxidants, and antibiofilms, as well as its in ovo antiviral potential against Newcastle disease virus (NDV). The drug-likeliness thereof and the potential identification of an interaction—their molecular docking of ligands with target proteins by GOLD—was determined in silico using the Swiss ADME software. The total flavonoids content (TFC) was 135.17 ± 2.02 and 111.2 ± 3.67 mg QE/g, while the total phenolics content (TPC) was 185.02 ± 2.15 and 171.13 ± 6.73 mg GAE/g, in the fruit and leaves extracts, respectively. In a DPPH assay, the IC50 value for the methanolic extracts of leaves and fruit was 63.52 ± 1.48 and 52.06 ± 1.62. μg/mL d.w. The fruit extract of A. marmelos showed significantly higher reducing power (i.e., 59.32 ± 0.05 µmol/g d.w) than the leaves extract (p &lt; 0.05). The biofilm-inhibition activity of the fruit extract of A. marmelos was 65.78 ± 0.65 µg/mL. Both parts of the plant showed potent antiviral potential at higher concentrations. A study in silico, using the molecular docking of three compounds, showed good interaction with the HN protein, with considerable binding affinities and fulfilled docking parameters. This work shows that Aegle marmelos and its phytoconstituents can be used as a potential remedy for NDV.

Antihyperglycemic Activity of Java Tea-Based Functional Drink-Loaded Chitosan Nanoparticle in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

Functional drinks containing the leaves of Java tea has been shown to offer many health functionalities, particularly to lower blood glucose levels, due to its bioactive compounds. Nanoencapsulation technology was reported being able to protect these bioactive compounds and also enhance their bioavailability. This study examined the use of nanoencapsulation techniques to improve the bioavailability of Java tea-based functional effervescent drink and enhance its antihyperglycemic activity. Three versions were prepared in this study: ready to drink (RTD) as the control, microencapsulated, and nanoencapsulated. They were all measured for their total phenolic content (TPC) before being tested for their antihyperglycemic activity. The TPC of RTD, microencapsulated, and nanoencapsulated Java tea-based functional drinks (JTFD) were 998,425, 735,433, and 663,517 ppm, respectively. The antihyperglycemic activities were evaluated by feeding each beverage to streptozotocin-induced diabetic Sprague Dawley rats for fourteen days. Nanoencapsulated JTFD was found to be more superior than the other two formulations to decrease the blood glucose level (7.98%), maintain the feed intake, body weight, improve the viability of Langerhans and beta-cells by 49.09%, 32.50%, respectively.

An investigation on polyphenol composition and content in skin of grape (Vitis vinifera L. cv. Hutai No.8) fruit during ripening by UHPLC-MS2 technology combined with multivariate statistical analysis

Polyphenols, a class of biologically active substances related to grapes quality, differ with maturity. This study aimed to evaluate polyphenol composition, content and antioxidant capacity of skin polyphenol extracts in Hutai No. 8 grape (Vitis vinifera L.) at five key ripening stages: full-green (FG), red-appeared (RA), half-red (HR), full-red (FR) and purple-black (PB), and to identify the polyphenolic compounds that had a potential to be markers for distinguishing the ripening stages. Grape skin extract at each ripening stage was studied for their total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC) and the antioxidant capacity. Results showed a significant difference in accumulation of polyphenols at five stages. A trend towards an increase in TPC, TFC, and antioxidant capacity was observed during ripening. Then, this study profiled the polyphenolic compounds of grape skin at each ripening stage by UHPLC-ESI-qTOF-MS2 and UHPLC-QQQ-MS2. Results revealed that a total of 18 polyphenolic compounds were identified. Polyphenols were quantified according to phenolic class. And catechin was the major flavanol in skin, which was observed the highest content at the HR stage. Furthermore, quercetin-3-O-glucoside, 1-O-vanilloyl-β-D-glucose and resveratrol-3-O-glucoside were respectively considered as the representative phenolic acid and stilbene, all of which were detected the highest at the PB stage. Moreover, polyphenolic compounds that had a potential to be markers for distinguishing the ripening stages of Hutai No.8 grape were identified through orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS - DA). Results indicated that catechin, epicatechin, quercetin-3-O-glucoside, myricetin, isorhamnetin-3-O-hexose and resveratrol-3-O-glucoside were the vital markers. The study provides a reference for differentiating grapes at different ripening stages based on polyphenols.

Chemical Analysis and Antioxidant Activity of Four Propolis Samples Collected from Different Regions of Lebanon

Propolis samples were collected from four different regions of Lebanon characterized by high biodiversity and high honey production. The samples were analyzed for their total phenolic contents (TPC), total flavonoid contents (TFC), chemical profiles, and antioxidant activity. The TPC was determined using Folin-Ciocalteu method while the TFC using the AlCl3 method. The antioxidant activity of propolis was examined by two different methods, namely free radical scavenging assay and reducing ability. The chemical profiles of the samples were assessed by thin-layer chromatography (TLC), UV-Vis, and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry GC-MS analysis. Total phenolic content ranged from 53.35 ± 7.09 to 148.27 ± 15.08 mg GAE/g, total flavonoid content ranged from 45.73 ± 2.8 to 134.5 ± 8.46 mg RUE/g. GC/MS analysis revealed the presence of 9-octadecene and tetradecene as major compounds that have been previously reported to demonstrate antioxidant activity. In addition, Berqayel propolis sample showed high content of phenolic compounds and high antioxidant activity and contained mainly hydrocarbons, while samples from Wadi Faara recorded poor chromatograms with the absence of most of the compounds present in Berqayel samples. The majority of propolis samples showed relatively interesting antioxidant activity, which was also correlated with TPC and TFC. Our results provide additional evidence on the importance of the chemical composition of propolis and its usefulness in the pharmaceutical industry.

Process Design for the Extraction of Bioactive Compounds from Several Mediterranean Medicinal Plants

The objective of this study was the optimization of the extraction process of several medicinal plants of the Mediterranean flora, and their extracts’ further evaluation regarding their potential biological activity. This work aimed to design and optimize the extraction method for recovering the targeted compounds from rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) and chamomile (Matricaria recutita) towards the extraction yield and quality of the extracts.Raw materials were collected, dried, and ground in desired particle sizes (200, 500, 1000 µm). Ethanol was used as solvent; and extraction was performed using conventional extraction methods (Soxhlet), as well as novel extraction techniques (Ultrasound Assisted Extraction (UAE), Microwave Assisted Extraction (MAE) and their combination (UAE-MAE)). The optimized parameters were Ultrasound and Microwave intensity, and extraction time. All extracts were evaluated towards their total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC) and antioxidant activity. TPC was determined by Folin–Ciocalteu method, while the antioxidant activity was estimated with the DPPH assay.Optimum particle size was 500 µm for rosemary, and 1000 µm for both St. John’s wort and chamomile. In general, the increase of extraction time leads to increase of efficiency. However, the extraction time is not an independent variable, since the ultrasound and microwave intensities affect the yield. In specific, the increment of intensity in both techniques, as well as their combination, increases the efficiency of the extraction and reduces the time. Moreover, it was observed that after a certain intensity value the yield remains constant or slightly decreases, due to degradation phenomena. Thus, the optimum ultrasound intensity for rosemary and chamomile was 450 W, while for St. John’s wort was 700 W. Regarding microwave extraction parameters, for all tested plants the value of 200 W was selected as optimum, except for St. John’s wort (200 W). The optimum set of values were also selected for UAE-MAE. Results also indicate that the extracts were rich in phenolic compounds, possessing also a remarkable antioxidant activity in all the organic solvent systems tested.

Development of New Extracts of Crocus sativus L. By-Product from Two Different Italian Regions as New Potential Active Ingredient in Cosmetic Formulations

This project aimed to apply eco-friendly extraction methods to Crocus sativus L. by-product (flowers without stigmas i.e., tepals composed of petals and sepals) to recover extracts with high antioxidant capacity and polyphenol content, to be used in cosmetic products. Flowers grown in two different Italian regions (Sample 1—Alba in Piemonte, north of Italy and Sample 2—Sibillini in Marche, centre of Italy) were subjected for the first time to different eco-friendly microwave-mediated green solvents extractions (MGSE) andquali-quantitative determination in antioxidant molecules. Firstly, the extracts from Sample 1 were selected according to their total phenol content (TPC) by Folin–Ciocalteu’s assay and antioxidant capacity (AC) by spectrophotometric assays. Then, according to preliminary results, MGSE carried out in ethanol 70°, water, and glycerin were selected as the most performing methods and applied to both Samples 1 and 2. The best results were obtained using green solvents, such as water or ethanol 70°, for the samples coming from Marche. The identification and quantification of phenolic compounds, belonging to anthocyanins and flavonols classes, was performed by using UPLC-DAD-ESI-MS. Concerning flavonols content, the most abundant analyte is kaempferol 3-O-sophoroside and the extract in water from Sample 1 showed the higher amount of flavonols, reaching the concentration of 25.35 mg of kaempferol 3-O-glucoside equivalent per gram of tepals DW of raw material. Among anthocyanins, the most abundant was delphinidin 3,5-O-diglucoside and the high concentration of anthocyanin was detected in water and ethanol extract. Two new compounds, myricetin-di-glucoside and primflasine, were identified for the first time in Crocus sativus L. by-product by high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). The green batches obtained by extraction were thus characterized and evaluated for their biological potential and safety in keratinocyte HaCaT cells. The extracts were not cytotoxic up to 0.03 mg/mL. The water and ethanol 70° extracts were the most effective in counteracting oxidative stress induced by H2O2 and UVA exposure and reduced cytotoxicity induced by UVB exposure. The water extract was also able to significantly reduce cytotoxicity induced by sodium dodecyl sulphate-induced damage. Taken together, these results suggest a potential use of these waste materials as cosmeceutical preparations such as antiaging, and as anti-skin irritation formulation by-products.

Spent Grain from Malt Whisky: Assessment of the Phenolic Compounds.

In order to extract antioxidant phenolic compounds from spent grain (SG) two extraction methods were studied: the ultrasound-assisted method (US) and the Ultra-Turrax method (high stirring rate) (UT). Liquid to solid ratios, solvent concentration, time, and temperature/stirring rate were optimized. Spent grain extracts were analyzed for their total phenol content (TPC) (0.62 to 1.76 mg GAE/g SG DW for Ultra-Turrax pretreatment, and 0.57 to 2.11 mg GAE/g SG DW for ultrasound-assisted pretreatment), total flavonoid content (TFC) (0.6 to 1.67 mg QE/g SG DW for UT, and 0.5 to 1.63 mg QE/g SG DW for US), and antioxidant activity was measured using 2,2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical (25.88% to 79.58% for UT, and 27.49% to 78.30% for UT). TPC was greater at a high stirring rate and high exposure time up to a certain extent for the Ultra-Turrax method, and at a high temperature for the ultrasound-assisted method. P-coumaric acid (20.4 ± 1.72 mg/100 SG DW for UT, and 14.0 ± 1.14 mg/100 SG DW for US) accounted for the majority of the phenolic found compounds, followed by rosmarinic (6.5 ± 0.96 mg/100 SG DW for UT, and 4.0 ± 0.76 mg/100 SG DW for US), chlorogenic (5.4 ± 1.1 mg/100 SG DW for UT, and non-detectable for US), and vanillic acids (3.1 ± 0.8 mg/100 SG DW for UT, and 10.0 ± 1.03 mg/100 SG DW for US) were found in lower quantities. Protocatechuic (0.7 ± 0.05 mg/100 SG DW for UT, and non-detectable for US), 4-hydroxy benzoic (1.1 ± 0.06 mg/100 SG DW for UT, and non-detectable for US), and caffeic acids (0.7 ± 0.03 mg/100 SG DW for UT, and non-detectable for US) were present in very small amounts. Ultrasound-assisted and Ultra-Turrax pretreatments were demonstrated to be efficient methods to recover these value-added compounds.