Effect of Post-Extraction Ultrasonication on Compositional Features and Antioxidant Activities of Enzymatic/Alkaline Extracts of Palmaria palmata.

Palmaria palmata is a viable source of nutrients with bioactive properties. The present study determined the potential role of post-extraction ultrasonication on some compositional features and antioxidant properties of enzymatic/alkaline extracts of P. palmata (EAEP). No significant difference was detected in terms of protein content and recovery, as well as the amino acid composition of the extracts. The nitrogen-to-protein conversion factor of 5 was found to be too high for the seaweed and EAEP. The extracts sonicated by bath for 10 min and not sonicated showed the highest and lowest total phenolic contents (p < 0.05), respectively. The highest radical scavenging and lowest metal-chelating activities were observed for the non-sonicated sample, as evidenced by IC50 values. The extract sonicated by bath for 10 min showed the most favorable in vitro antioxidant properties since its radical scavenging was not significantly different from that of the not-sonicated sample (p > 0.05). In contrast, its metal-chelating activity was significantly higher (p < 0.05). To conclude, post-extraction ultrasonication by an ultrasonic bath for 10 min is recommended to increase phenolic content and improve the antioxidant properties of EAEP.

Extraction and Study of Hypoglycemic Constituents from Myrica rubra Pomace.

Myrica rubra pomace accounts for 20% of the fruit's weight that is not utilized when it is juiced. The pomace contains bioactive phenolic substances such as anthocyanins and flavonoids. To improve the utilization value of Myrica rubra pomace, an optimized extraction method for the residual polyphenols was developed using response surface methodology (RSM). The resulting extract was analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and the in vitro hypoglycemic activity and antioxidant activity of the polyphenolic compounds obtained were also investigated. The optimum extraction conditions (yielding 24.37 mg·g-1 total polyphenols content) were: extraction temperature 60 °C, ultrasonic power 270 W, ethanol concentration 53%, extraction time 57 min, and solid to liquid ratio 1:34. Four polyphenolic compounds were identified in the pomace extract by HPLC: myricitrin, cyanidin-O-glucoside, hyperoside, and quercitrin. DPPH and hydroxyl radical scavenging tests showed that the Myrica rubra polyphenols extract had strong antioxidant abilities. It is evident that the residual polyphenols present in Myrica rubra pomace have strong hypoglycemic activity and the juiced fruits can be further exploited for medicinal purposes.

Comparison of chemical profiles, antioxidation, inhibition of skin extracellular matrix degradation, and anti-tyrosinase activity between mycelium and fruiting body of Cordyceps militaris and Isaria tenuipes.

CONTEXT: Cordyceps militaris and Isaria tenuipes (Cordycipitaceae) are high-value fungi that are used for health-promoting food supplements. Since laboratory cultivation has begun for these fungi, increased output has been achieved. OBJECTIVE: This study compared the chemical profiles, antioxidant, anti-tyrosinase, and skin extracellular matrix degradation inhibition between mycelium and fruiting body of C. militaris and I. tenuipes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The antioxidative potential of 10% v/v aqueous infused extract from each fungus was separately investigated using 2,2-azinobis(3-ethylbenzo-thiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS), 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), ferric reducing antioxidant ability, and ferric thiocyanate methods. The inhibition against MMP-1, elastase, and hyaluronidase were determined to reveal their anti-wrinkle potential. Anti-tyrosinase activities were determined. RESULTS: C. militaris and I. tenuipes extracts were found to contain a wide range of bioactive compounds, including phenolics, flavonoids, and adenosine. A correlation was discovered between the chemical compositions and their biological activities. The extract from I. tenuipes fruiting body (IF) was highlighted as an extraordinary elastase inhibitor (IC50 = 0.006 ± 0.004 mg/mL), hyaluronidase inhibitor (IC50: 30.3 ± 3.2 mg/mL), and antioxidant via radical scavenging (ABTS IC50: 0.22 ± 0.02 mg/mL; DPPH IC50: 0.05 ± 0.02 mg/mL), thereby reducing ability (EC1: 95.3 ± 4.8 mM FeSO4/g extract) and lipid peroxidation prevention (IC50: 0.40 ± 0.11 mg/mL). IF had a three-times higher EC1 value than ascorbic acid and significantly higher elastase inhibition than epigallocatechin gallate. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: IF is proposed as a powerful natural extract with antioxidant and anti-wrinkle properties; therefore, it is suggested for further use in pharmaceutical, cosmeceutical, and nutraceutical industries.

Free radical scavenging activities of verbascoside and isoverbascoside from the leaves of Odontonema strictum (Acanthaceae).

The aqueous extract of the leaves of Odontonema strictum, a plant from tropical regions, is used by traditional physicians in Burkina Faso for its antihypertensive properties. Verbascoside and isoverbascoside, known phenylpropanoid glycosides with high solubility in water, have been isolated from the leaves. We evaluated their antioxidant properties in vitro by radical scavenging using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Verbascoside and isoverbascoside demonstrated high levels of DPPH radical scavenging activity, with IC50 values of 0.09 ± 0.03 µg/mL and 0.16 ± 0.07 µg/mL, respectively, compared to 0.05 ± 0.0 µg/mL for ascorbic acid as a control. These two phenylpropanoid glycosides were also more potent (2.6 ± 0.36 µg/mL and 3.0 ± 0.01 µg/mL) in scavenging H2O2 than the ascorbic acid control (4.1 ± 0.97 µg/mL). This is the first time that the antioxidant properties of verbascoside and isoverbascoside from O. strictum have been evaluated. These results can explain the use of this plant for hypertension in folk medicine.

Butylated hydroxyl-toluene, 2,4-Di-tert-butylphenol, and phytol of Chlorella sp. protect the PC12 cell line against H2O2-induced neurotoxicity.

Oxidative stress is considered the main cause of cellular damage in a number of neurodegenerative disorders. One suitable ways to prevent cell damage is the use of the exogenous antioxidant capacity of natural products, such as microalgae. In the present study, four microalgae extracts, isolated from the Persian Gulf, were screened to analyze their potential antioxidant activity and free radical scavenging using ABTS, DPPH, and FRAP methods. The methanolic extracts (D1M) of green microalgae derived from Chlorella sp. exhibited potent free radical scavenging activity. In order to characterize microalgae species, microscopic observations and analysis of the expression of 18S rRNA were performed. The antioxidant and neuroprotective effects of D1M on H2O2-induced toxicity in PC12 cells were investigated. The results demonstrated that D1M significantly decreased the release of nitric oxide (NO), formation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), and the level of malondialdehyde (MDA), whereas it enhanced the content of glutathione (GSH), and activity of heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1), NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1), and catalase (CAT) in PC12 cells exposed to H2O2. The pretreatment of D1M improved cell viability as measured by the MTT assay and invert microscopy, reduced cell apoptosis as examined by flow cytometry analysis, increased mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and diminished caspase-3 activity. The GC/MS analysis revealed that D1M ingredients have powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds, such as butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), 2,4-di-tert-butyl-phenol (2,4-DTBP), and phytol. These results suggested that Chlorella sp. extracts have strong potential to be applied as neuroprotective agents, for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.

Pectic polysaccharides from Biluochun Tea: A comparative study in macromolecular characteristics, fine structures and radical scavenging activities in vitro.

In this study, two acidic Biluochun Tea polysaccharides (BTP-A11 and BTP-A12) were investigated comparatively, which mainly consisted of Rha, Ara, Gal and GalA, possibly suggesting their pectic nature. Structurally, their galacturonan backbones composed of →4)-α-D-GalpA-(1→ and →2)-α-L-Rhap-(1→ were revealed similar, while Ara- and Gal-based branches attached to the O-2 of →2)-α-L-Rhap-(1→ were in distinctive types, proportions, extensibilities and branching degrees. This could lead to their different macromolecular characteristics, where BTP-A11 with higher Mw presented a more hyper-branched chain conformation and relatively higher structural flexibility/compactness, thereby resulting in a lower exclusion effect and an insufficient hydrodynamic volume. Besides, better radical scavenging activities in vitro were also determined for Gal-enriched BTP-A11, where a larger surface area containing more H-donating groups were related to its higher Mw, more hyper-branched conformation, lower DM and higher DA. Therefore, the understanding of structure-property-activity relationships was improved to some degrees for acidic Biluochun Tea polysaccharides, which could be potentially required for more applications in food, medical and cosmetic fields.

Spectral Characteristic, Storage Stability and Antioxidant Properties of Anthocyanin Extracts from Flowers of Butterfly Pea (Clitoria ternatea L.).

Anthocyanins from flowers of the butterfly pea (Clitoria ternatea L.) are promising edible blue food colorants. Food processing often faces extreme pHs and temperatures, which greatly affects the color and nutritional values of anthocyanins. This study explored the color, spectra, storage stability, and antioxidant properties of C. ternatea anthocyanin extract (CTAE) at different pHs. The color and absorption spectra of CTAEs at a pH of 0.5-13 were shown, with their underlying structures analyzed. Then, the storage stability of CTAEs were explored under a combination of pHs and temperatures. The stability of CTAE declines with the increase in temperature, and it can be stored stably for months at 4 °C. CTAEs also bear much resistance to acidic and alkaline conditions but exhibit higher thermal stability at pH 7 (blue) than at pH 0.5 (magenta) or pH 10 (blue-green), which is a great advantage in food making. Antioxidant abilities for flower extracts from the butterfly pea were high at pH 4-7, as assessed by DPPH free radical scavenging assays, and decreased sharply when the pH value exceeded 7. The above results provide a theoretical basis for the application of butterfly pea flowers and imply their great prospect in the food industry.

Polyphenol rich extracts of Geranium L. species as potential natural antioxidant and antimicrobial agents.

OBJECTIVE: Plants and plant extracts are of great scientific interest due to the chemical diversity and pharmacological properties of present bioactive molecules. The Geranium L. species are widely used in ethnomedicine. In the current study, the total phenolic and tannin content, antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of methanol extracts of eight Geranium species were investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The total phenolic and tannin content were determined by the FC method. Antioxidant capacity was evaluated in FRAP, DPPH, and biochemical assays, while antimicrobial activity was examined using the broth microdilution method. RESULTS: The high total phenolic (170.64-636.32 mg GAE/g dry extract) and tannin content (37.80-414.02 mg GAE/g DE), along with significant total antioxidant (FRAP values 1.13-8.80 mmol Fe2+/g) and DPPH radical scavenging activity (SC50 values 4.24-34.52 µg/mL) were observed. The prominent antioxidant capacity was confirmed in biochemical assays (OS values -1.47 - -13.02). The extracts exhibited significant antimicrobial activity against ATTC strains (MICs dominantly in the range of 12.5-200 µg/mL) as well as against clinical isolates of E. coli (MICs mostly 50 and 100 µg/mL). The pronounced antioxidant and antimicrobial activity can be due to the high phenolic content, particularly due to the presence of hydrolyzable tannins. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the high content of polyphenols, pronounced antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, the examined extracts are promising natural antioxidant and antimicrobial agents with the potential medicinal purpose and use as a functional food.

Antioxidant, Anti-Aging and Organ Protective Effects of Total Saponins from Aralia taibaiensis.

AIM: Aralia taibaiensis is a natural medicinal and food plant that is rich in triterpenoid saponins with hypoglycaemic, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, anti-gastric ulcer and anti-inflammatory effects. This study has significance in terms of the antioxidant, anti-aging and organ protective effects of Aralia taibaiensis total saponins (TSAT) in D-galactose-induced aging rats. METHODS: The saponin composition of TSAT was determined and quantified by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). We consolidated the antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory activities of TSAT in vitro and assessed the effects of TSAT on daily mobility, body weight, behaviour, organ indices, oxidation-related indices and pathological changes in aging rats. RESULTS: In vitro experiments showed that TSAT had a scavenging effect on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), tyrosinase, hydroxyl radicals (HO•) and superoxide radicals (•O2-) and was closely related to the dose of TSAT. In vivo experiments showed that after 8 weeks of continuous gavage administration, the rats gradually recovered their body weight, daily activity ability, learning and memory ability and organ index and effectively improved D-gal-induced organ injury. Specifically, TSAT significantly increased the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and significantly decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in the serum, brain, heart, lung, spleen and kidney of aging rats compared to the model group. In addition, TSAT significantly inhibited the D-gal-induced upregulation of hepatic alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels. The histopathological results showed that TSAT reversed D-gal-induced damage to the brain, heart, lung, kidney, liver and spleen to varying degrees. CONCLUSION: TSAT is a high-quality natural product with antioxidant and anti-aging properties that can alleviate D-gal-induced aging damage in rats.

Characterization of an exopolysaccharide (EPS-3A) produced by Streptococcus thermophilus ZJUIDS-2-01 isolated from traditional yak yogurt.

Yak yogurt, one of the naturally fermented dairy products prepared by local herdsmen in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, contains a diverse array of microorganisms. We isolated and identified a novel Streptococcus thermophilus strain, ZJUIDS-2-01, from the traditional yak yogurt. We further purified and carried out detailed structural, physiochemical, and bioactivity studies of an exopolysaccharide (EPS-3A) produced by S. thermophilus ZJUIDS-2-01. The weight-average molecular weight (Mw) of EPS-3A was estimated to be 1.38 × 106 Da by High-Performance Gel Permeation Chromatography (HPGPC). The monosaccharide analysis established its composition to be glucose, galactose, N-acetyl-D-galactosamine, and rhamnose in a ratio of 5.2:2.5:6.4:1.0. The molecular structure of EPS-3A was determined by the combination of permethylation analysis, FT-IR, and NMR spectroscopic techniques. The ζ-potential measurements indicated that EPS-3A had a pKa value of ~4.40. The DSC yielded a melting point (Tm) of 80.4 °C and enthalpy change (ΔH) of 578 J/g for EPS-3A, comparable to those of the xanthan gum (XG), a commercial EPS. EPS-3A exhibited better O/W emulsion stability and flocculating capacity than XG. Furthermore, it also demonstrated similar antioxidant activity to XG and promising in vitro antibacterial properties. This work evidenced that EPS-3A derived from S. thermophilus ZJUIDS-2-01 holds the potential for food and industrial applications.

Polyphenolic Extracts from Spent Coffee Grounds Prevent H2O2-Induced Oxidative Stress in Centropomus viridis Brain Cells.

Oxidative stress in aquatic organisms might suppress the immune system and propagate infectious diseases. This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of polyphenolic extracts from spent coffee grounds (SCG) against oxidative stress, induced by H2O2, in C. viridis brain cells, through an in vitro model. Hydrophilic extracts from SCG are rich in quinic, ferulic and caffeic acids and showed antioxidant capacity in DPPH, ORAC and FRAP assays. Furthermore, pretreatment of C. viridis brain cells with the polyphenolic extracts from SCG (230 and 460 µg/mL) for 24 h prior to 100 µM H2O2 exposure (1 h) significantly increased antioxidant enzymes activity (superoxide dismutase and catalase) and reduced lipid peroxidation (measured by MDA levels). These results suggest that polyphenols found in SCG extracts exert an antioxidative protective effect against oxidative stress in C. viridis brain cells by stimulating the activity of SOD and CAT.

In vitro and in vivo immunoregulatory activity of sulfated fucan from the sea cucumber A. leucoprocta.

The in vitro and in vivo immunoregulatory activity of a water-soluble sulfated fucan AL1-1 from the sea cucumber A. leucoprocta was elucidated. In vitro experiments showed that AL1-1 up-regulated immunostimulatory activities in RAW264.7 cells and that it could successfully promote ROS production and phagocytic activity, increase secretion levels of iNOS, and induce the production of considerable amounts of cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1ß and IL-12). We found that toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) was mainly involved in AL1-1 mediated macrophage activation. AL1-1's in vivo immunomodulatory activity on cyclophosphamide (CY)-treated mice was investigated and it was shown that it could strongly enhance Sig A levels, promote the total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), and reduce malondialdehyde (MDA) level in the intestine. It could also increase activities of superoxidase dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX). These results demonstrate that AL1-1 has a significant effect on enhancing in vivo and in vitro immune response.

Effect of thermal processing on the molecular, structural, and antioxidant characteristics of highland barley ß-glucan.

This present work evaluated the effect of heat fluidization, microwave roasting and baking treatment of highland barley (HB) on the molecular, structural, thermal and antioxidant characteristics of ß-glucan. Fluorescence microscopy results showed that heat fluidization exhibited the greatest disruption effect on endosperm cell walls, resulting in the highest extractability (3.35 ± 0.06 g/100 g flour) and purity (92.67 ± 0.73%) of ß-glucan. After HB thermal processing, the molecular weight and polydispersity index of ß-glucan were respectively reduced by 3.68%-90.35% and 26.45%-39.83%, and its microscopic molecular morphology transformed from large sphere aggregate to alveolate gel network structure. Meanwhile, the structural elucidation by X-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy revealed that thermal processing induced the scission of polymeric chain and formation of lattice-type microgels without changing the primary functional groups of ß-glucan. Furthermore, thermogravimetry and antioxidant results indicated the thermal stability and antioxidant activity of ß-glucan were enhanced by thermal processing.

Fatty Acid Analysis, Chemical Constituents, Biological Activity and Pesticide Residues Screening in Jordanian Propolis.

Propolis is a resinous natural product collected by honeybees (Apis mellifera and others) from tree exudates that has been widely used in folk medicine. The present study was carried out to investigate the fatty acid composition, chemical constituents, antioxidant, and xanthine oxidase (XO) inhibitory activity of Jordanian propolis, collected from Al-Ghour, Jordan. The hexane extract of Jordanian propolis contained different fatty acids, which are reported for the first time by using GC-FID. The HPLC was carried out to identify important chemical constituents such as fatty acids, polyphenols and α-tocopherol. The antioxidant and xanthine oxidase inhibitory activities were also monitored. The major fatty acid identified were palmitic acid (44.6%), oleic acid (18:1∆9cis, 24.6%), arachidic acid (7.4%), stearic acid (5.4%), linoleic acid (18:2∆9-12cis, 3.1%), caprylic acid (2.9%), lignoceric acid (2.6%), cis-11,14-eicosaldienoic acid (20:2∆11-14cis, 2.4%), palmitoleic acid (1.5%), cis-11-eicosenoic acid (1.2%), α-linolenic acid (18:3∆9-12-15cis, 1.1%), cis-13,16-docosadienoic acid (22:2∆13-16cis, 1.0%), along with other fatty acids. The major chemical constituents identified using gradient HPLC-PDA analysis were pinocembrin (2.82%), chrysin (1.83%), luteolin-7-O-glucoside (1.23%), caffeic acid (1.12%), caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE, 0.79%), apigenin (0.54%), galangin (0.46%), and luteolin (0.30%); while the minor constituents were hesperidin, quercetin, rutin, and vanillic acid. The percentage of α-tocopherol was 2.01 µg/g of the lipid fraction of propolis. Antioxidant properties of the extracts were determined via DPPH radical scavenging. The DPPH radical scavenging activities (IC50) of different extracts ranged from 6.13 to 60.5 µg/mL compared to ascorbic acid (1.21 µg/mL). The xanthine oxidase inhibition (IC50) ranged from 75.11 to 250.74 µg/mL compared to allopurinol (0.38 µg/mL). The results indicate that the various flavonoids, phenolic compounds, α-tocopherol, and other constituents which are present in propolis are responsible for the antioxidant and xanthine oxidation inhibition activity. To evaluate the safety studies of propolis, the pesticide residues were also monitored by LC-MS-MS 4500 Q-Trap. Trace amounts of pesticide residue (ng/mL) were detected in the samples, which are far below the permissible limit as per international guidelines.

Two amide glycosides from Portulaca oleracea L. and its bioactivities.

Two novel amide glycosides, named oleraciamide E (1) and oleraciamide F (2), were isolated from the Portulaca oleracea L. Their structures were determined by means of 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic and UHPLC-ESI-TOF-MS methods. Oleraciamide E (1) exhibited anticholinesterase activity with IC50 values of 52.43 ± 0.33 µM, and presented scavenging activity in 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical quenching assay, with the IC50 values of 24.64 ± 0.33 µM.

Maculosin, a non-toxic antioxidant compound isolated from Streptomyces sp. KTM18.

CONTEXT: Streptomyces species are prolific sources of bioactive secondary metabolites known especially for their antimicrobial and anticancer activities. OBJECTIVE: This study sought to isolate and characterize antioxidant molecules biosynthesized by Streptomyces sp. KTM18. The antioxidant potential of an isolated compound and its toxicity were accessed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The compound was purified using bioassay-guided chromatography techniques. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments were carried out for structure elucidation. The antioxidant potential of the isolated compound was determined using DPPH free radical scavenging assay. The toxicity of the isolated compound was measured using a brine shrimp lethality (BSL) assay. RESULTS: Ethyl acetate extract of Streptomyces sp. KTM18 showed more than 90% inhibition of DPPH free radical at 50 µg/mL of the test concentration. These data were the strongest among 13 Streptomyces isolates (KTM12-KTM24). The active molecule was isolated and characterized as maculosin (molecular formula, C14H16N2O3 as determined by the [M + H]+ peak at 261.1259). The DPPH free radical scavenging activity of pure maculosin was higher (IC50, 2.16 ± 0.05 µg/mL) than that of commercial butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) (IC50, 4.8 ± 0.05 µg/mL). No toxicity was observed for maculosin (LD50, <128 µg/mL) in brine shrimp lethality assay (BSLA) up to the compound's antioxidant activity (IC50) concentration range. The commercial standard, berberine chloride, showed toxicity in BSLA with an LD50 value of 8.63 ± 0.15 µg/mL. CONCLUSIONS: Maculosin may be a leading drug candidate in various cosmetic and therapeutic applications owing to its strong antioxidant and non-toxic properties.

Optimization of Extraction Process and the Antioxidant Activity of Phenolics from Sanghuangporus baumii.

Sanghuangporus baumii, is a widely used medicinal fungus. The polyphenols extracted from this fungus exert antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hypoglycemic effects. In this study, polyphenols from the fruiting bodies of S. baumii were obtained using the deep eutectic solvent (DES) extraction method. The factors affecting the extraction yield were investigated at different conditions. Based on the results from single-factor experiments, response surface methodology was used to optimize the extraction conditions. The scavenging ability of the polyphenols on •OH, DPPH, and ABTS+ was determined. The results showed that the DES system composed of choline chloride and malic acid had the best extraction yield (6.37 mg/g). The optimal extraction parameters for response surface methodology were as follows: 42 min, 58 ℃, 1:34 solid-liquid (mg/mL), and water content of 39%. Under these conditions, the yield of polyphenols was the highest (12.58 mg/g). At 0.30 mg/mL, the scavenging ability of the polyphenols on •OH, DPPH, and ABTS+ was 95.71%, 91.08%, and 85.52%, respectively. Thus, the method using DES was more effective than the conventional method of extracting phenolic compounds from the fruiting bodies of S. baumii. Moreover, the extracted polyphenols exhibited potent antioxidant activity.

Hepatoprotective Effects of Polysaccharide from Anoectochilus roxburghii (Wall.) Lindl. on Rat Liver Injury Induced by CCl4.

PURPOSE: The polysaccharide of Anoectochilus roxburghii (wall.) Lindl. (ARPS) is one of its important active ingredients. Hepatoprotective effects of ARPS on rat liver injury induced by CCl4 were studied. METHODS: ARPS was extracted using the ultrasonic method and successfully purified by high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) with a two-phase aqueous system composed of 12.5% PEG 1000-20% K2HPO4:KH2PO4 (1:1). The HSCCC conditions were optimized, and the structure of ARPS was characterized. The hepatoprotective effects of ARPS against CCl4-induced chronic hepatic injury in SD rats were evaluated. RESULTS: The results showed that ARPS was a water-soluble polysaccharide with a molecular weight of 28,518 Da. It was composed of mannose, ribose, glucose, and arabian sugar; its monosaccharide molar ratio was glucose:ribose:arabinose:mannose = 54.24:13.20:1.09:1.00. The purity of ARPS was determined by HPLC to be 96.93%. The intervention effects of ARPS on CCl4-induced hepatic damage model in rats showed that ARPS could effectively reduce the activity of alanine amino transferase and aspartate amino transferase, decrease the content of malondialdehyde and nitric oxide synthesis, and increase the content of glutathione. Pathology revealed that liver plate order, liver cell degeneration, and edema were improved; inflammatory cell infiltration was not observed after ARPS intervention. CONCLUSION: ARPS had the function of antioxidant for protecting CCl4-induced injured liver, and the mechanisms were related to anti-lipid peroxidation, which could eliminate oxygen-free radicals and protect liver cells from attacks by free radicals.

Skin-whitening mechanism of cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) extract.

Skin-whitening effect is closely linked with the melanogenesis inhibitory activity and free radical scavenging capacity. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the skin-whitening effect of cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) extract. The whitening activity was evaluated by cell-free mushroom tyrosinase assay, free radical scavenging assay, cell viability assay, cellular tyrosinase assay and melanin content assay using B16F10 murine melanoma cells. The results showed that cumin extract exhibited concentration-dependent inhibitory effect on both monophenolase and diphenolase activities of mushroom tyrosinase (IC50 values of 1.027mg/mL and 0.977mg/mL, respectively). Kinetic study on diphenolase showed that the cumin extract was a reversible mixed-type inhibitor, and the inhibition constant (KI) was determined to be 0.62mg/mL. In addition, cumin extract significantly suppressed melanin production and cellular tyrosinase activity of B16F10 melanoma cells in a concentration and time dependent manner without cytotoxicity. Moreover, cumin extract exerted strong scavenging capacity on DPPH, hydroxyl and superoxide anion radicals. Taken together, these results strongly suggest that cumin is a potential skin-whitening agent for the cosmetic industry.

A comparative study on chemical compositions and biological activities of four essential oils: Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf, Cinnamomum cassia (L.) Presl, Salvia japonica Thunb. and Rosa rugosa Thunb.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Essential oils (EOs) are important active ingredients in Chinese herbal medicine. Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf, Cinnamomum cassia (L.) Presl, Salvia japonica Thunb., and Rosa rugosa Thunb. are used in local and traditional medicine to treat inflammation-related diseases. While the constituents and bioactivities of EOs of the above four Chinese herbals have been reported previously, but their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities have not been systematically evaluated. AIM OF THE STUDY: The purpose of this study was to research the chemical constituents, anti-inflammatory activities, and antioxidant activities of EOs of four Chinese herbal medicines. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fresh plant materials were collected both in August 2018. The compositions of EOs were determined by the gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method. TPA (12-O-tetradecylphophenol-13-acetate)-induced mouse ear model was evaluated the anti-inflammatory activities of EOs. The reduction of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and RelA protein of the nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) in the signal pathway (P65) were measured. The antioxidant activities of EOs from four plants were determined by using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging method. RESULTS: A total of 217 compounds were separated and identified from four EOs, mainly including trans-cinnamylaldehyde (68.75%), citronellal (38.16%), linalool (1.02-33.73%), geraniol (19.39%) and citronellol (17.18%). All four EOs reduced the damage of the ear tissue and had certain anti-inflammatory effects, and the EOs of C. citratus (CyCEOs) and S. japonica (SJEOs) had the best anti-inflammatory activities among others, even better than ibuprofen. The four EOs exhibited different DPPH radical-scavenging activities (IC50, 0.101-1.017%), where most of them were much lower than that of EOs of C. citratus (CiCEOs) (IC50, 0.101%) and EOs of R. rugosa (RREOs) (IC50, 0.142%). CONCLUSIONS: The main components determine diverse propertise of these four EOs, our results suggested that four EOs presented anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect via reducing the expression of TNF-a, IL-6, COX-2, and NF-κB p65, which may provide a new approach for development of new anti-inflammatory drugs.