Total Phenolic Content Assays Research Articles

Arginase Inhibitory, Antioxidant Activity, Total Phenolic Content and Total Flavonoid Content of Ethyl Acetate Extract of Caesalpiniaturtuosa Roxb Stem Bark

Objective: The purpose of this study is to investigate arginase inhibition, antioxidant activity, total phenolic content and total flavonoid content of ethyl acetate extract of Caesalpiniaturtuosa Roxb. Material and method: stem bark of Caesalpiniaturtuosa Roxb was extracted using hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol subsequently. The ethyl acetate extract was fractioned. Then, the fractions were subjected to arginase inhibition, antioxidant activity, total phenolic content and total flavonoid assay. Correlation was considered by statistical analysis. Result: Out of eight fractions, two fractions have no activity. Two fractions (3 and 6) have strong activity in arginase with inhibition 90.72 % and 91.41% respectively. Fraction 3 and 6 have strong antioxidant activity with IC50 25.98 μg/mL and 48.01 μg/mL respectively. Statistical analysis shows arginase inhibitor activity was not related with antioxidant activity, total phenolic content and total flavonoid content in this plant. Conclusion: Activity in arginase inhibition of fraction from ethyl acetate extract of Caesalpiniaturtuosa Roxb are not related to antioxidant, total phenolic and flavonoid content.

Evaluation of protein content and antioxidant activity of edible bird’s nest by various methods

The aim of this study was to evaluate the protein content and antioxidant activity of instant and raw Edible bird’s nest (EBN). This study was conducted using two types of EBNs, which are instant and raw samples. All EBN samples were extracted via three types of extraction method, namely, salt, alkaline, and hot extractions. Lowry’s method was used to analyze protein content and the antioxidant activities were analyzed via free radical scavenging assay 1,1-diphenyl-2-pycrylhydrazyl (DPPH), total phenolic content (TPC) assay and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). This study showed that the highest protein was 2165.90 µg/mL obtained from raw EBN extracted via alkaline solution. In addition, it was also found that the protein concentration of raw EBN was higher compared to instant EBN for all types of extraction procedures. Results from antioxidant assay showed that there was no significant difference between DPPH and FRAP of both EBN. Moreover, TPC results showed that the there was no phenolic compounds detected via all extraction procedures.

Antioxidant and Anti-Proliferative Properties of Hagenia abyssinica Roots and Their Potentially Active Components.

Hagenia abyssinica (Bruce) J. F. Gmel. is a multipurpose dioecious tree that has been used to treat various ailments, for example, the flowers of H. abyssinica have been widely used as a tea to treat intestinal parasites by local residents and the roots of H. abyssinica could also be used for anticancer purposes. Antioxidant activity could be one of the most important pathways to suppress cancer and there is hardly any information available on the specific chemical components corresponding to the bioactivities of H. abyssinica to date. The present study intended to screen and evaluate the antioxidant and anti-proliferative properties of five different fractions from H. abyssinica along with their corresponding total flavonoid and phenolic contents and then further identify those compounds with the most potent antioxidant and anti-proliferative activities using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to mass spectrometry (MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The total flavonoid and phenolic content assays showed that the ethyl acetate (EA) fraction of H. abyssinica had higher flavonoid and phenolic levels than the other four fractions. Furthermore, the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) superoxide radical scavenging abilities, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) assay with 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS), and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) were measured to evaluate the antioxidant activities of the five fractions and some pure compounds isolated from the EA fraction, which displayed higher antioxidant properties than that of the other fractions. Caffeic acid from the EA fraction showed even stronger DPPH scavenging ability (IC50 7.858 ± 0.31 µg/mL) than that of Vc (IC50 8.27 ± 0.11 µg/mL) as the positive control. The anti-proliferative properties of four fractions and the ethanol extract were evaluated by the 3-(4,5)-dimethylthiahiazo (-z-y1)-3,5-di-phenytetrazoliumromide (MTT) assay and the EA fraction exhibited higher anti-proliferative activities against three cancer cell lines than that of the other fractions. Additionally, the compounds with good antioxidant activity from the EA fraction of H. abyssinica were screened and identified using LC-MS and NMR and were also found to possess good anti-proliferative activity. In the MTT assay, the quercetin showed the strongest dose-dependent anti-proliferative activities to colon cancer cells (HT-29) and liver cancer cells (HepG2) among all of the compounds isolated. This study provided valuable information on the synergistic antioxidant and anti-proliferative properties of H. abyssinica.

Antioxidant and antibacterial activity of red seaweed Kappaphycus alvarezii against pathogenic bacteria

Seaweeds can produce variety of bioactive components for the benefits of humans. Malaysia is one of the countries to produce red seaweeds, which are popular secondary metabolites. Kappaphycus species, largest tropical red algae exhibit the high growth rate. It was reported that its biomass can grow double in just 15 to 30 days. Therefore, this investigation emphasized on two extraction methods such as hot water and ethanolic Soxhlet extraction to extract the bioactive compounds from Kappaphycus alvarezii. Both of theseextractions were screened to produce antimicrobial and antioxidants compounds. Total phenolic content and ferric reducing assays were employed to quantify antioxidant properties. Whereas, the disc diffusion assays were used to study antibacterial activity. The results reported the highest phenolic content for ethanolic extract (20.25 ± 0.03 mg gallic acid equivalents per gram of extract). On the other hand, the value of phenolic content was slightly decreased 19.1 ± 0.81 mg gallic acid equivalents per gram of extract for the hot water extract. It was also found that both the extracts were potentially capable of balancing reactive oxygen species. Disc diffusion assay results indicated that the extract of red alga K. alvarezi were more efficient against B. cereus. Among the fatty acids determined levoglucosenone and 4-Pyridinemethanol were present in high percentages in hot water extract whereas Hexamethyl- cyclotrisiloxane followed by 1, 2, 5- Thiadiazole-3-carboxamide, 4-[(2-chloroethyl) amino]-N-(2-hydroxyethyl) were present in ethanolic extract of K. alvarezi. The present study concluded that, hot water extracts of K. alvarezii can be used for large scale production of bioactive compounds utilizing an easily available potential seaweed. Future research of red seaweed will be highly important for pharmaceutical and medicinal field as well as a homogenizer in milk products, toothpaste and jellies in other industrial applications.

The effect of elderly simulated gastrointestinal in vitro digestion (SGID) on the antioxidant properties of different cheese matrices

AbstractThe world's population is getting older. By 2050 it is projected that 22% of the global population will be over 60 years of age. Aging is characterized by a decline in physiological functions and an increase in malnutrition and associated disease. Oxidative stress is associated with several age-related conditions, including cardiovascular disease, obesity, neurodegenerative disease and cancer. The negative effects of reactive oxygen species (ROS) are neutralized by antioxidants, which can be endogenously synthesised or consumed through the diet. Cheese is a nutritious dairy food and previous research has highlighted the antioxidant potential of some cheese types. Physiological changes associated with age can impact digestion processes, thus the ability to efficiently release bioactive compounds, including antioxidants, may be impaired with age. Cheese products varying by milk source, texture and fat content were subjected to simulated gastrointestinal in vitro digestion (SGID) using a modified model to account for physiological changes associated with aging. The antioxidant potential of undigested and digested cheese (n = 11) was determined in vitro using DPPH radical scavenging, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and total phenolic content (TPC) assays. Cellular antioxidant potential was also investigated using the reduced glutathione assay (GSH) in the human macrophage cell line (U937). Experiments were carried out in triplicate. Statistical analysis by T-test demonstrated that digestion significantly increased (P < 0.05) FRAP and TPC of all cheese products analysed. Of the eleven cheese products investigated, goats’ cheese displayed a significant increase (P < 0.05) in radical scavenging properties (89.8% inhibition). Low fat white cheddar had significantly higher (P < 0.05) GSH levels compared to full fat white cheddar (0.16 ± 0.01, 0.11 ± 0.01 μmol GSH/mg protein, respectively). Findings from this study suggest that despite physiological changes associated with age, cheese digestates retain, and in some cases, possess higher antioxidant potential than undigested samples. Cheese demonstrates potential as a functional food for the elderly by neutralizing the negative effects associated with age-related oxidative stress.

Application of the Folin-Ciocalteu method to the evaluation of Salvia sclarea extracts

Polyphenols are valuable group of phytoconstituents due to their high antioxidant activity and healing properties. Antioxidant properties of sages are attributed mainly to a high level of phenolic compounds. The aim of the present study was to elaborate an analytical procedure for the evaluation of the content of secondary metabolites of the polyphenol nature in the herb of Clary Sage (Salvia sclarea L.). Four crude extracts of Salvia sclarea herb obtained with different technologies were used to develop an analytical procedure for the total phenolic content (TPC) assay by spectrophotometric method. The optimum conditions for the analysis (time of the reaction, wavelength, and reference substances) were chosen and experimentally justified (60–80 min, 760 nm, gallic acid and rutin, respectively). Under these conditions, the developed analytical procedure is robust in the indicated time and easy for performing in phytochemical or technological laboratories. The yield of TPC from the herb of Salvia sclarea was the highest in the extracts prepared by heating at a temperature of 36–46 °C and with using the ultrasonic bath. TPC was the highest in the extract in which solvent-to-herb ratio was the least (10:1) and particle size was in the range of 2–5 mm. As a result of the studies, the analytical procedure of the determination of TPC was developed and its parameters were justified. This methodology complies with the requirements for pharmaceutical analysis to ensure the reliability of results during pharmaceutical development and routine control of Salvia sclarea extracts.

Effect of extraction conditions on phenolic compounds and antioxidant properties of koreeb (Dactyloctenium aegyptium) seeds flour

The objective of the present study is to investigate the effect of solvent type (methanol, acetone, ethanol, n-propanol, and water), solvent-to-solid ratio (20–100 mL/g), solvent acidity (0–1.25% HCl), extraction time (60–300 min) and extraction temperature (30–70 °C) on total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC) and the free radical-scavenging capacity (2,2′-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ABTS radical scavenging assay) of koreeb (Dactyloctenium aegyptium) seeds using single-factor experiments. On the basis of TPC and antioxidant activity assays, the best extraction conditions were 80 mL methanol/g, 1.00% HCl, 180 min and 60 °C, as well as the results of TPC, TFC and DPPH were 32.38 mg GAE/g, 20.88 mg QE/g and 82.22%, respectively. The TPC was positively observed to be correlated with TFC, DPPH and ATBS (r = 0.89, 70 and 0.66, respectively) of koreeb seeds flour (KSF) extracts, under influence of solvent type extraction, whereas TPC and TFC were significantly correlated with DPPH (0.97 ≥ r ≥ 0.94) and ABTS (0.95 ≥ r ≥ 0.94) under the effect of extraction temperature. In general, KSF can be applied in functional foods and medicine related products for its health benefits.

Antioxidant, Anticancer Activity and Phytochemical Analysis of Green Algae, Chaetomorpha Collected from the Arabian Gulf

Seaweeds are a group of marine multicellular algae; the presence of antioxidant phytochemical constituents in Seaweed Chaetomorpha sp. extracts has received attention for their role in the prevention of human diseases. This study explores the phytochemical constituents, antioxidant, and anticancer properties of the Cladophoraceae, Chaetomorpha sp. Energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) were performed to study the chemical structure and chemical formula. Different concentrations of ethanol and aqueous extracts of Chaetomorpha were used to estimate antioxidant activity by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity and total flavonoid, phenolic, and tannins content assays. Anti-tumor activity against breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231) was assessed by 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-cyl)-2,5-Diphenyltetrazolium Bromide (MTT) assay. The EDX analysis indicated the presence of oxygen, silicon, and calcium as dominant elements. Antioxidant assays indicated that the ethanol extracts of Chaetomorpha consisted of a total of 189.14 ± 0.99 mg QE/g flavonoid content, 21.92 ± 0.43 mg GAE/g phenolic content and 21.81 ± 0.04 mg GAE/g tannins content. The DPPH radical scavenging assay exhibited higher antioxidant activity IC50 (9.41 ± 0.54 mg/mL) in the ethanol extract. Moreover, it showed high anticancer activity by growth inhibition in the MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line and low IC50 (225.18 ± 0.61 µg/mL). GC/MS analysis revealed the presence of Dichloracetic acid (DCA) as the active antitumor constituent of Chaetomorpha sp.; other anticancer compounds identified were Oximes and L-α-Terpinol. The results revealed that the type of Chaetomorpha sp. studied here possesses very unique and novel constituents and active potent antitumor chemical constituents and it can act as a promising antioxidant and anticancer agent for future applications in pharmaceutical industries.

In-depth spectral characterization of antioxidative (1,3)-β-D-glucan from the mycelium of an identified tiger milk mushroom Lignosus rhinocerus strain ABI in a stirred-tank bioreactor

Abstract A rare Malaysian tiger milk mushroom Lignosus rhinocerus strain ABI (LRSA) was morphologically identified based on its pileus, stipe, and sclerotium. LRSA (515 bp) was sequenced and found to have 99% similar to L. rhinocerus strains CH31 and CH2. Phylogenetically, evolutionary distance (Knuc) and plasmid-matching software (ApE) for sequences of matching fungal species were used to verify that the isolate belonged to the L. rhinocerus species. The strain was cultured in a stirred-tank bioreactor and a mycelial β-glucan (G) was extracted for compound characterization. The structure of exopolysaccharide extract from mycelium of LRSA was studied using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR). FT-IR spectroscopy showed that G exhibited a similar β-glycosidic structure to the standard (laminarin), and the presence of characteristic bands at 3277, 2919, 1638, 1545, 1400, 1078, and 896 cm−1 confirmed the similarities. 1H and 13C NMR, as well as 2D NMR: homonuclear correlation spectroscopy (COSY), total correlation spectroscopy (TOCSY), heteronuclear multiple quantum coherence (HMQC), and heteronuclear multiple bond coherence (HMBC) spectra, were used for structural elucidation of the β-glucan and confirmed the extracted material as (1,3)-β-D-glucan. In addition, the G compound exhibited antioxidant activities through total phenolic content (4.47 mg gallic acid equivalents/g), 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (11.48 mg/mL), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (0.56 mg/mL) assays. These findings may facilitate the development of rare G production in a high-scale bioreactor using LRSA.

Comparison of Anti-oxidant Activity of Five Elected Wild Commercial Mushrooms in Four Different Solvents as an Alternative Oxidative Stress Reliever

Mushroom also known as a lit source of nutritional and therapeutical component so in order toevaluate the usefulness of the Pakistani wild mushroom strains as the possible nutracueticals, adetailedstudy entailing several tests for the determination of anti-oxidant potential was carried out on the electedmushrooms in four different solvents. Strains of Lentinus edodes, Pleurotus ostreatus, Volvariella volvacea,Pleurotus eryngii and Ganoderma lucidum were extracted for this particular purpose in the water, n- butanol,n-hexane and choloroform solvents. Test models including Total Phenolic Content assay, Total FlavonoidContent assay, 2,2-diphenyl-1,1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) Scavenging Activity assay and Reducing Powerassay were utilized for carrying out the comparative analysis among the selected mushrooms. The acquiredresults indicated that the extract of Volvariella volvacea and Pleurotus eryngii possess copacetic anti-oxidantpotential and can be utilized as oxidative stress reliever in humans. Furthermore, extraction studies alsoindicated that water is the most suitable solvent for anti-oxidants extraction for these mushrooms. Finding ofthe anti-oxidant potential for elected wild mushrooms contra indicate that these mushrooms can be safelyexploited as a amended natural anti-oxidant in comparison to its synthetic counterpart.

High selective purification of Quercetin from Peanut hull using protic deep eutectic mixture based liquid–liquid microextraction

A benign and environmentally viable method for extraction of quercetin from peanut peel was accomplished with acid-based protic deep eutectic solvents (pDESs) by microwave-assisted liquid–liquid microextraction. Extraction efficiency for all pDESs was evaluated with analytical standards (Rutin and Quercetin) by total phenolic content assay with highest partition coefficient observed for 4.8 for rutin and 12.7 for quercetin respectively. Treatment of peanut hull by microwave-assisted liquid–liquid microextraction was performed. Central composite design-based response surface methodology was executed for optimizing the recovery of polyphenols providing maximum recovery of 430 µg QE/ g of husk powder at optimal conditions of 8 minutes irradiation for 323 K with powder sample of 35 mg suspended in 650 µl of pDES. The concentrated samples were analyzed for antioxidant content by total flavonoid content assay. The crude fractions collected were subjected to HPLC and the amount of Quercetin recovered was evaluated. Pure fraction thus obtained was confirmed with H1 NMR analysis. The present method which is eco-friendly and highly economic is viable to be scaled up to be industrially.

The ramification of fermentation time on antioxidant properties of Napier grass herbal tea by black tea processing method

Tea fermentation relates to the enzymatic oxidation of the leaves of the tea and the formation of dark pigments. This method is usually conducted in a setting where temperature and humidity can be regulated. However, the impact of fermentation time on the antioxidant characteristics of Napier grass herbal tea is still unanswered. This study aimed to determine the effect of fermentation time on antioxidant properties of Napier grass black tea. Napier grass was subjected to fermentation for 3, 6, 9, 12 and 24 hrs. Fresh and dried samples were extracted in water (95°C, 30 mins) and the extracts were then analysed by total phenolic content (TPC) assay, total flavonoid content (TFC) assay, diphenyl-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) assay, Ferric reducing antioxidant potential (FRAP) assay, ferric thiocyanate (FTC) method and thiobarbituric acid (TBA) method. Sample fermented for 9 hrs showed the highest results in TPC (18.32±0.38) and FRAP assay (91.00±2.78). Whereas, the highest flavonoids and antioxidant activity were found in dried sample without fermentation (control) in TFC (97.82±13.00) and DPPH (90.02±1.11). However, samples fermented for 3 to 9 hrs showed no significant difference with that of the fresh sample in TFC and DPPH indicating 3 to 9 hrs fermentation time did not affect the antioxidant properties of Napier grass. In FTC and TBA, all the fermented samples showed lower antioxidant activity than that of fresh samples and control. The results suggested that 9 h of fermentation time is suitable for the preparation of Napier grass black tea as it exhibited high antioxidant properties in TPC, TFC, DPPH and FRAP assays.

Converting industrial organic waste from the cold-pressed avocado oil production line into a potential food preservative

The production of commercial cold pressed avocado oil (CPAO) generates large quantity of organic wastes such as pomace, seeds, peels and wastewater. During the early harvest season, for every 1000 kg of avocado fruits processed, roughly 80 kg of oil is produced and wastewater accounted for the highest proportion (500 kg). Therefore, it is important to find an alternative application for this wastewater rather than its direct disposal into landfills. Proximate analysis, total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant assays were conducted on the avocado wastes. Avocado wastewater (AWW) was spray dried into powder at different temperatures from 110 °C to 160 °C, which concomitantly increased the TPC and antioxidant capacities of the AWW powder. The powder was further applied as a preservative in pork sausages and was found to be effective in preventing lipid oxidation.

Effect of steaming time on antioxidant properties of Napier grass herbal tea by green tea processing method

This study aimed to determine the effect of steaming time on antioxidant properties of Napier grass green tea. Napier grass was subjected to steaming for 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8 and 10 mins. Fresh and dried samples were extracted in water (95°C, 30 mins) and the extracts were then analysed by total phenolic content (TPC) assay, total flavonoid content (TFC) assay, diphenyl-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) assay, Ferric reducing antioxidant potential (FRAP) assay, ferric thiocyanate (FTC) method and thiobarbituric acid (TBA) method. Sample steamed for 8 mins showed the highest TPC (18.32±0.26), TFC (152.71±5.74) and 109.88±5.44 in FRAP assay. High antioxidant activity was found in sample steamed for 3 to 10 min (81.63±1.19 to 83.50±1.10) in DPPH which were not significantly different with the fresh sample indicating steaming can retain the phytochemical compounds. Samples undergone 6 to 10 mins steaming time were found to have high lipid peroxidation in ferric thiocyanate (75.02±2.96 to 81.01±6.68) and thiobarbituric acid (85.99±1.56 to 86.21±1.44) assays. The results suggested that 8 mins of steaming time is suitable for Napier grass green tea as it exhibited the greatest antioxidant properties

Anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive and antioxidant activities of the hydromethanolic fraction from Annona nutans leaves

Annona nutans (Annonaceae) is a plant species found in Bolivia, Paraguay, Argentina, and the Brazilian Cerrado, specifically in the states of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul (Brazil). Its common names are Araticû-Mi and Araticû-Ñu. The research contributions regarding the chemical composition and biological activities of extracts from A. nutans are rare, with only four articles being found in the literature. Therefore, the present study evaluated the anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities of the hydromethanolic fraction (FHMeOH) using carrageenan-induced paw edema and hot-plate tests. In addition, the antioxidant activity was evaluated by DPPH radical scavenging, total phenolic, flavonoid and tannin content assays and quantification of the major metabolites by LC-MS were performed. Oral treatment with the FHMeOH (at a dose of 300 mg.kg-1) significantly reduced paw edema 2 h and 4 h after the inflammatory stimulus. The intraperitoneal (i.p.) treatment with the FHMeOH (50 and 100 mg.kg-1) proved to be most effective, and the inhibition of acute inflammation was still visible 6 h after carrageenan injection. At doses of 50 and 100 mg.kg-1 (i.p.), FHMeOH exhibits central antinociceptive effects by increasing the latency of the reaction in the hot-plate model. The FHMeOH showed antioxidant potential, and the metabolites quercetin-3-O-galactoside, quercetin-3-O-glucoside, isorhamnetin-3-O-galactoside, quercetin-3-O-β-D-apiofuranosyl-(1→2)-galactopyranoside, and chlorogenic acid were identified and quantified by LC-MS. Our results indicate, for the first time, that FHMeOH has anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive and antioxidant potential, and it is a promising source of studies for new herbal medicines

Antinociceptive activities of Artocarpus lacucha Buch-ham (Moraceae) and its isolated phenolic compound, catechin, in mice

BackgroundThe present study evaluated the antinociceptive effect of the bark of Artocarpus lacucha, which is used for the treatment of stomachache, headache and boils in the traditional system of medicine.MethodsThe antinociceptive activity was investigated by the tail immersion, hot plate, acetic acid- & formalin-induced nociception and carrageenan-induced paw edema tests using a hydro-methanolic extract of A. lacucha bark. The plant extract was found to contain a substantial amount of phenolic compounds according to the total phenolic and flavonoid content assay. A phenolic metabolite, (+)-catechin, has been isolated using different chromatographic techniques. The compound was characterized with 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data. (+)-catechin, isolated from A. lacucha was assessed for antinociceptive effects swiss albino mice. Furthermore, the possible involvement of opioid receptors and ATP-sensitive K+ channel for the effect of the plant extract and (+)-catechin has been justified using naloxone and glibenclamide, respectively.ResultsOral administration (p.o) of the plant extract (50–200 mg/Kg b.w.) resulted in significant thermal pain protection in the hot plate and tail immersion tests. The action of the plant extract was significantly antagonized by naloxone, a non-selective opioid antagonist, in the hot plate and tail immersion tests, which supports the involvement of opioid receptors. Both the plant extract and (+)-catechin, (50–200 mg/Kg b.w., p.o.) significantly diminished the acetic acid- & formalin-induced nociception, and carrageenan-induced paw edema. Glibenclamide, an ATP-sensitive K+ channel blocker, significantly reversed their effect in the acetic acid-induced writhing test which indicates the participation of ATP-sensitive K+ channel system.ConclusionsThe investigation revealed potential central and peripheral antinociceptive effects of A. lacucha bark supports its applications in the traditional system of medicine.

New herbal bitter liqueur with high antioxidant activity and lower sugar content: innovative approach to liqueurs formulations.

Herbal liqueurs are spirits with numerous functional properties, due to the presence of bioactive extractable compounds deriving from herbs. The aim of this study was to obtain new herbal bitter liqueur (HBL) on the basis of twelve selected bitter and aromatic plants extracts, with an optimal sensory profile for consumer acceptance. Also, the determination of optimal sugar content in HBL was done. Furthermore, antioxidant (AO) capacity and total phenolic content (TPC) of HBL was evaluated and compared to similar commercial herbal spirits. Among five tested formulations, assessed by 9-point hedonic scale, HBL with the ratio of bitter and aromatic plants 1:4 was the most acceptable. Ideal concentration of sugar in HBL, determined using a just-about-right scale, was found to be 80.32g/l of sucrose, which is approximately 20% less than the minimum stipulated by European Union Regulation and several times lower than in the majority of commercial liqueurs. Obtained result indicates the possibility of sugar reduction in liqueurs, and suggests the need to carry out sensory analysis before production of these high-calorie beverages. Radical scavenging ability against DPPH and ABTS radicals, as well as ferric reducing antioxidant power and TPC of HBL were convincingly superior in comparison to similar commercial herbal alcoholic beverages. High correlation coefficients between TPC and other assays applied strongly support the significant role of the polyphenols in the total AO capacity of the HBL and other tested commercial herbal spirits. Headspace GC/MS revealed that the most abundant terpenes were menthone (3.75%), eucalyptol (3.42%) and menthol (3.10%), whereas methanol was present in a small amount (4.97mg/l).

Essential Oil Composition, Bioactive Compounds, and Antioxidant Activities in Iberis amara L.

This research was carried out to assess essential oils (EOs), total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoids (TFD), total flavonols (TFL), total chlorophyll, total carotenoids, total anthocyanins, and different antioxidant activity assays in two plant samples (leaf and bud) of Iberis amara L. The gas chromatography mass spectrophotometry (GC-MS) of the EOs and the head space (HS)-GC-MS of the methanolic leaf extracts identified 34 and 6 different compounds, respectively. The major components of the leaf EOs were carvacrol (9.4%), camphene (6.2%), р-cymene (4.3%), and eugenol (3.8%) respectively, whereas cumin aldehyde (10.4%) was the main component in the bud sample. 1-Butene, 4-isothiocyanate (50%) was identified as the main component in the HS-GC-MS analysis of leaves extract. The highest content of TPC (32.8 ± 0.7 mg GAE/gDW), TFD (28.4 ± 0.7 mg QE/gDW), TFL (11.8 ± 0.06 mg QE/gFW), and anthocyanin (0.4 ±0.02 µmol/g FW) was found in the methanolic extract of leaves. The highest antioxidant activity in the phosphomolibdate assay (628.3 ± 10 µg AAE/gFW) and the least activity in the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay (IC50 = 415 ± 3.1 µg/mL) was found in leaf samples. The high ratio of monoterpene hydrocarbons and oxygenated monoterpenes of the EOs along with the high antioxidant activity propose the application of this medicinal plant for general or specific applications in food industries as a herbal plant.

Antioxidant activities of tea prepared from kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L. KR9) leaves at different maturity stages

Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) is a fast-growing herbaceous plant that received great attention in Malaysia as a valuable fibre crop. Yet, different maturity of plants’ leaves could affect the antioxidant capacities of the tea prepared. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the physical properties of KR9 kenaf leaves and antioxidant activities of tea prepared from KR9 kenaf leaves at four different maturity stages, which were 60, 90, 120 and 150 days after sowing (DAS). The analysis that carried out were DPPH (2-2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging assay, ABTS (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) radical scavenging assay, ferric reducing antioxidant power assay, total phenolic content assay, total flavonoid content assay, and chromatographic analysis of phenolic compounds. Results demonstrated that the kenaf leaves at 150 DAS were able to retain the most colour after drying. It also revealed that the tea prepared from kenaf leaves at 120 DAS showed the highest antioxidant activity in all antioxidant analysis tested. Kenaf leaves tea contained mainly kaempferol, tannic acid, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid and catechin hydrate. Hence, it was deduced that the antioxidant activity in kenaf leaves increased until 120 DAS and dropped at 150 DAS. There was a strong positive correlation relationship among all the antioxidant analysis and the phenolic compounds presented in the kenaf leaves tea. Thus, the phenolic compounds detected contributed significantly to the antioxidant activities of the kenaf leaves tea. The 120 DAS kenaf leaves was recommended for tea preparation since it possessed high antioxidant activities.

In Vitro Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Properties of Flower, Leaf, and Stem Extracts of Korean Mint.

Traditionally, Agastache rugosa (Korean mint) has been widely used to treat various infectious diseases. The aims of this study were to: (i) determine the phenylpropanoid content of the plant using high-performance liquid chromatography; (ii) undertake total anthocyanin, flavonoid, and phenolic assays; (iii) and evaluate the antioxidant and antibacterial properties of the methanol extracts from the stem, leaves, and flowers of Korean mint. The total anthocyanin, flavonoid, and phenolic content assays showed that the flowers had higher phenolic levels than the stem and leaves. The reducing power, the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl superoxide radical scavenging abilities, and the hydrogen peroxide radical scavenging activities were also evaluated so that the antioxidant activities of the extracts from the different plant parts could be evaluated. The flower extracts revealed higher antioxidant properties than the other parts. The antibacterial properties of the methanol extracts from A. rugosa were analyzed by the disc diffusion method, and the flower extracts had higher antibacterial activities against the six bacterial strains used in the study than the other parts. This study provides information on the synergistic antioxidant and antibacterial properties of phenolics derived from the different parts of Korean mint.