Dietary Plant Polyphenols as the Potential Drugs in Neurodegenerative Diseases: Current Evidence, Advances, and Opportunities.

Neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and Huntington's disease (HD), are characterized by the progressive degeneration of neurons. Although the etiology and pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases have been studied intensively, the mechanism is still in its infancy. In general, most neurodegenerative diseases share common molecular mechanisms, and multiple risks interact and promote the pathologic process of neurogenerative diseases. At present, most of the approved drugs only alleviate the clinical symptoms but fail to cure neurodegenerative diseases. Numerous studies indicate that dietary plant polyphenols are safe and exhibit potent neuroprotective effects in various neurodegenerative diseases. However, low bioavailability is the biggest obstacle for polyphenol that largely limits its adoption from evidence into clinical practice. In this review, we summarized the widely recognized mechanisms associated with neurodegenerative diseases, such as misfolded proteins, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative damage, and neuroinflammatory responses. In addition, we summarized the research advances about the neuroprotective effect of the most widely reported dietary plant polyphenols. Moreover, we discussed the current clinical study and application of polyphenols and the factors that result in low bioavailability, such as poor stability and low permeability across the blood-brain barrier (BBB). In the future, the improvement of absorption and stability, modification of structure and formulation, and the combination therapy will provide more opportunities from the laboratory into the clinic for polyphenols. Lastly, we hope that the present review will encourage further researches on natural dietary polyphenols in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

Efficacy of an herbal compound in decreasing steatosis and transaminase activities in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A randomized clinical trial

Abstract Hepatoprotective effects of many herbal agents have been reported in animal studies and clinical trials. In this study, five hepatoprotective plants with potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hypolipidemic effects were chosen to prepare a polyherbal compound for managing NAFLD. Sixty patients with NAFLD were randomly divided into treatment and control groups (2:1 ratio). Both group were advised to take healthy diet and exercise. The treatment group also received herbal capsules containing 400 mg of the mixture of Anethum graveolens, Citrus aurantium, Cynara scolymus, Portulaca oleracea, and Silybum marianum (2 capsules, thrice daily, for two months). The liver ultrasound and biochemical markers including the serum lipids, liver enzymes, and glucose were evaluated before starting the study and at the end of the treatment. Thirty patients in the treatment group and sixteen patients in the control group completed the study. The herbal compound significantly decreased the serum level of alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), and total cholesterol. Treatment with the herbal compound significantly improved the grade of the fatty liver, but no significant change was found in the control group. In conclusion, the formulated herbal compound appeared to be effective in biochemical improvement and decreasing the grade of the fatty liver in the patients with NAFLD.

Synthesis and characterization of Sophora alopecuroides L. green synthesized of Ag nanoparticles for the antioxidant, antimicrobial and DNA damage prevention activity

Abstract In this study, it was aimed to investigate the amount of antioxidant, protective properties against DNA damage and antibacterial properties against various pathogens after the interaction of Ag metal (Ag NPs/Sa) of Sophora alopecuroides L. (S. alopecuroides L) plant seed, which is grown in Igdir and used in the treatment of many diseases. The DPPH radical quenching activity of Ag NPs/Sa was performed by using Blois method, DNA damage prevention activity by gel electrophoresis and antibacterial property by disk diffusion method. With the green synthesis method, AgNPs obtained as a result of the reaction of the plant and Ag metal are UV visible spectrophotometer (UV-vis), fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). DPPH radical quenching activity of Ag NPs/Sa was investigated in the concentration range of 25-250 µg/ml. The radical quenching activity at a concentration of 250 µg/ml was 85,215 ± 0,101%, while this value was 93,018% for the positive control BHA. It has been observed that the protective property of pBR322 plasmid DNA damage against OH radicals originating from H2O2 increases with concentration. It has been observed that Ag NPs/Sa has significant antimicrobial properties against some pathogens (B. subtilis ATCC 6633 E. coli ATCC 25952, B. cereus ATCC 10876, P. aeruginosa ATCC 27853, E. faecalis ATCC 29212, S. aureus ATTC 29213 and C. albicans ATTC 90028) that cause disease and even some pathogens are more effective than antibiotics

The effect of lithium tetraborate as a novel cardioprotective agent after renal ischemia-reperfusion injury

Abstract Epidemiological studies suggest that acute kidney injury has certain effect on myocardial function. In this study, for the first time, we tested a boron compound namely lithium tetraborate an act as an anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory agent in ischemia-reperfusion injury. For this, we employed an in vivo rat model with kidney ischemia reperfusion injury to evaluate cardiac injury to clarify the mechanisms of lithium tetraborate. The evaluation of cardiac injury through kidney artery occlusion and reperfusion rat model indicated that lithium tetraborate could (1) reduce oxidative stress-induced endothelial dysfunction; (2) attenuate the inflammatory response of cardiac cells; and (3) alleviate the apoptosis and necrosis of myocytes. In summary, lithium tetraborate demonstrates significant therapeutic properties that contribute to the amelioration of cardiac damage, and it could be a promising candidate for future applications in myocardial dysfunction.

Composition, Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory activities of Hexane and Methanol extracts of Acmella uliginosa from Terai region of Uttarakhand

Abstract Acmella uliginosa, an edible herb belonging to Asteraceae family, was collected from the Terai region of Uttarakhand, India. Methanol and hexane extracts of the whole plant were prepared using soxhlet apparatus. The GC-MS analysis of plant extracts identifies 22 and 35 major compounds of methanol and hexane extracts which comprises of 74.21% and 73.20% of the total composition of extracts, respectively. The major compound in hexane was 2, 4-heptadienal (7.99%) whereas trans, trans-9, 12-octadecadienoic acid propyl ester (16.96%) was major compound in methanol extract. The extracts were evaluated for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Methanol extract showed higher free radical scavenging and reducing power activities with IC50 value 153.82±1.69 µg/mL and RP50 value of 152.28±0.41 µg/mL, respectively. The metal chelating activity was higher in hexane extract as compared to methanol extract i.e., 62.08±0.25 µg/mL. The anti-inflammatory activity assessed by its ability to inhibit denaturation was higher in methanol having IB50 value 87.33±0.15 µg/mL. The total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC) and ortho-dihydric phenol content (ODP) of methanol and hexane extracts were also evaluated. TPC, TFC and ODP was higher in methanol extract having value of 122.23±0.22, 35.01±0.29 and 8±0.86 mg/mL, respectively. Acmella uliginosa, might be considered as a natural source for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties

Curcuma longa extract protects against 5-fluorouracil-induced oral mucositis in hamsters

Abstract Curcumin, contained at Turmeric (Curcumalonga), can exert many beneficial pleiotropic activities in the gastrointestinal tract. This study evaluated the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of C. longa on 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-induced oral mucositis (OM) in hamsters. Phytochemical analysis of crude C. longa extract (CLE) was performed to detect the presence of curcumin by TLC and HPLC. Golden Syrian hamsters were orally pre-treated with CLE (5, 50, or 100mg/kg). Cheek pouch samples were subjected to macroscopic and histopathological evaluation. ELISA was performed to quantify the inflammatory cytokines IL-1ß and TNF-α. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were assessed by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy analysis. Behavior analysis was conducted by the open field test. Curcumin content in the CLE was 0.55%m/m ± 0.0161 (2.84%). The group treated with 5mg/kg CLE showed healing evidence with macroscopic absence of ulceration (p<0.05) and microscopic aspect of re-epithelialization, discrete inflammatory infiltrate and absence of edema. Treatment with 5mg/kg CLE significantly increased GSH levels, and reduced MDA levels and SOD activity (p˂0.05), and decreased IL-1ß (p˂0.05) and TNF-α (p˂0.01) levels. A significant reduction in walking distance, ambulation, speed, and rearing was observed for motor activity. Curcumin reduced oxidative stress, inflammation, and motor activity in hamsters with 5-FU-induced OM.

Nanoformulations of quercetin: a potential phytochemical for the treatment of uv radiation induced skin damages

Abstract The continuous prolonged exposures of sun light especially the ultra violet (UV) radiation present in it, cause not only the risk of skin cancer but also it may cause premature skin aging, photodermatoses and actinic keratoses. Flavonoids (including Flavane, Flavanone, Flavone, Flavonol, Isoflavone, Neoflavone etc.) having potent antioxidant activity, used as topical applications for protection against UV induced skin damages as well as for skin care. Most commonly used flavonoid is quercetin (Flavonol), which is present in fruits, vegetables, and herbs. We aim to review the research focused on development of different novel formulations to treat UV radiations induced skin diseases. In this review, several formulations of flavonoid quercetin were discussed and their outcomes were compiled and compared in context to solubility, stability and efficiency of application. On the basis this comparative analysis we have concluded that three formulations, namely glycerosomes, nanostructured lipid carriers and deformable liposomes hold good applications for future aspects for topical delivery of quercetin. These formulations showed enhanced stability, increased quercetin accumulation in different skin layers, facilitated drug permeation in skin and long-lasting drug release.

Phytochemical Profile and Antioxidant Activity of Nigella sativa L Growing in Morocco.

BACKGROUND: Nigella sativa L (NS) is a powerful antioxidant and medicinal plant with many therapeutic applications particularly in traditional medicine for respiratory, gastrointestinal, rheumatic, and inflammatory disorders, as well as cancer. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to extract the active ingredients from the Moroccan Nigella sativa L and determine its antioxidant properties. We hypothesize that the separation of the compounds from Nigella sativa L has either a positive or negative effect on antioxidants. To study this, we explored different methods to simultaneously extract and separate compounds from Nigella sativa L and performed antioxidant tests (ß-carotene and DPPH) for all collected fractions. METHODS: Nigella sativa L was hot-extracted by Soxhlet and mother extracts and was separated using silica column chromatography with adequate eluents. Qualitative phytochemical tests to determine the chemical families in Nigella sativa L seeds were performed on the fractions. They were also identified and characterized by GC-MS and HPLC-DAD. Then, antioxidant activity was examined by ß-carotene bleaching and DPPH radical scavenger tests. Results and Conclusion. The mother extract hexane FH generated eight different fractions (SH1-8) and the acetone extract FA generated 11 fractions (SA1-11). The FH fractions had a high percentage of fatty acids, and the FA fractions had some interesting polyphenols derivative compounds. Phytochemical screening revealed secondary metabolites such as polyphenols flavonoids, alkaloids, steroids, terpenes coumarins, tannins, and saponins. We found that only two solvents (hexane, acetone) of different polarities could easily extract and simultaneously separate the components of Nigella sativa L. The antioxidant fractions that we collected had close activity to reference compounds but were more active than the corresponding mother extracts. Moreover, several IC50 values of fractions from acetone extract were better than those from hexane. Therefore, the antioxidant activity of Nigella sativa L is more attributed to flavonoids and polyphenols than fatty acids. In summary, the separation of hexane extract presents a more pronounced positive effect for antioxidant tests than acetone extract.

Butylated hydroxyanisole: Carcinogenic food additive to be avoided or harmless antioxidant important to protect food supply?

Tumor data from rodent bioassays are used for cancer hazard classification with wide-ranging consequences. This paper presents a case study of the synthetic antioxidant butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), which IARC classified as Group 2B ("possibly carcinogenic to humans") on the basis of forestomach tumors in rodents following chronic dietary exposure to high levels. IARC later determined that the mechanism by which BHA induces forestomach tumors is not relevant to humans; however, the classification has not been revoked. BHA was listed on California Proposition 65 as a direct consequence of the IARC classification, and there is widespread concern among consumers regarding the safety of BHA driven by the perception that it is a carcinogen. While many regulatory agencies have established safe exposure limits for BHA, the IARC classification and Proposition 65 listing resulted in the addition of BHA to lists of substances banned from children's products and products seeking credentials such as EPA's Safer Choice program, as well as mandatory product labeling. Classifications have consequences that many times pre-empt the ability to conduct an exposure-based risk-based assessment., It is imperative to consider human relevance of both the endpoint and exposure conditions as fundamental to hazard identification.

Comparison of Bioactive Phenolic Compounds and Antioxidant Activities of Different Parts of Taraxacum mongolicum.

Herbs derived from Taraxacum genus have been used as traditional medicines and food supplements in China for hundreds of years. Taraxacum mongolicum is a famous traditional Chinese medicine derived from Taraxacum genus for the treatment of inflammatory disorders and viral infectious diseases. In the present study, the bioactive phenolic chemical profiles and antioxidant activities of flowers, leaves, and roots of Taraxacum mongolicum were investigated. Firstly, a high performance liquid chromatography method combined with segmental monitoring strategy was employed to simultaneously determine six bioactive phenolic compounds in Taraxacum mongolicum samples. Moreover, multivariate statistical analysis, including hierarchical clustering analysis, principal component analysis, and partial least squares discriminant analysis were performed to compare and discriminate different parts of Taraxacum mongolicum based on the quantitative data. The results showed that three phenolic compounds, caftaric acid, caffeic acid, and luteolin, could be regarded as chemical markers for the differences of flowers, leaves, and roots of Taraxacum mongolicum. In parallel, total phenolic contents, total flavonoid contents and antioxidant activities of different parts of Taraxacum mongolicum were also evaluated and compared. It is clear that Taraxacum mongolicum had antioxidant properties, and the antioxidant capacities of different parts of Taraxacum mongolicum in three antioxidant assays showed a similar tendency: Flowers ≈ leaves > roots, which revealed a positive relationship with their total phenolic and flavonoid contents. Furthermore, to find the potential antioxidant components of Taraxacum mongolicum, the latent relationships of the six bioactive phenolic compounds and antioxidant activities of Taraxacum mongolicum were investigated by Pearson correlation analysis. The results indicated caftaric acid and caffeic acid could be the potential antioxidant ingredients of Taraxacum mongolicum. The present work may facilitate better understanding of differences of bioactive phenolic constituents and antioxidant activities of different parts of Taraxacum mongolicum and provide useful information for utilization of this herbal medicine.

Potential Application of Hippophae Rhamnoides in Wheat Bread Production.

Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) berries are well known for their content in bioactive compounds, high acidity, bright yellow color, pleasant taste and odor, thus their addition in a basic food such as bread could be an opportunity for modern food producers. The aim of the present research was to investigate the characteristics and the effects of the berry' flour added in wheat bread (in concentration of 1%, 3% and 5%) on sensory, physicochemical and antioxidant properties, and also bread shelf life. Berry flour contained total polyphenols-1467 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/100 g, of which flavonoids-555 mg GAE/100 g, cinnamic acids-425 mg caffeic acid equivalents (CAE)/100 g, flavonols-668 mg quercetin equivalents (QE)/100 g. The main identified phenolics were catechin, hyperoside, chlorogenic acid, cis- and trans-resveratrol, ferulic and protocatechuic acids, procyanidins B1 and B2, epicatechin, gallic acid, quercetin, p- and m-hydroxybenzoic acids. The antioxidant activity was 7.64 mmol TE/100 g, and carotenoids content 34.93 ± 1.3 mg/100 g. The addition of berry flour increased the antioxidant activity of bread and the shelf life up to 120 h by inhibiting the development of rope spoilage. The obtained results recommend the addition of 1% Hippophae rhamnoides berry flour in wheat bread, in order to obtain a product enriched in health-promoting biomolecules, with better sensorial and antioxidant properties and longer shelf life.

Effect of Different Durations of Solid-Phase Fermentation for Fireweed (Chamerion angustifolium (L.) Holub) Leaves on the Content of Polyphenols and Antioxidant Activity In Vitro.

Fireweed has recently been recognized as a plant with high antioxidant potential and phenolic content. Its leaves can be fermented to prepare an infusion with ideal antioxidant activity. The aim of this study was to investigate and to determine the influence of solid-phase fermentation of different durations on the variation of polyphenols in the leaves of fireweed. Laboratory experiments were conducted in 2017-2018. The leaves of fireweed, naturally growing, were fermented for different periods of time: not fermented (control) and fermented for 24 and 48 h. The evaluation of polyphenols and antioxidant activity in leaves was performed using high- performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Additionally, principal component analysis was used to characterize differences in bioactive compounds between fireweed samples fermented at different durations. Solid-phase fermented leaves were characterized by higher contents of oenothein B, quercetin and benzoic acid but had lower contents of quercetin-3-O-rutinoside, luteolin and chlorogenic and gallic acids. Antioxidant activity in short- (24 h) and long-term (48 h) fermentation (compared to control) gave the highest level of regression in 2017, but in 2018 the effect was observed only with short-term fermentation and control. In conclusion, solid-phase fermentation can be used to modulate biologically active compounds in fireweed leaves.

Marine Algae of the Genus Gracilaria as Multi Products Source for Different Biotechnological and Medical Applications.

BACKGROUND: Gracilaria has been shown to be an important source of marine bioactive natural biomaterials and compounds. Although there are no enough patents used Gracilaria worldwide, the current study tries to put the Gracilaria on the spot for further important patents in the future. OBJECTIVE: The current study investigates the pharmaceuticals and biochemical activity of Gracilaria because no previous studies have been carried out to examine the biochemical and pharmaceutical activates of Gracilaria from the Suez Canal of Egypt as an excellent source for bioactive compounds. METHODS: Different advanced experimental models and analytical techniques, such as cytotoxicity, total antioxidant capacity, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory profiling were applied. The phytochemical analysis of different constituents was also carried out. RESULTS: The mineral analysis revealed the presence of copper (188.3 ppm) and iron (10.07 ppm) in addition to a remarkable wealth of selenium and sulfur contents giving up to 36% of its dry mass. The elemental analysis showed high contents of sulfur and nitrogen compounds. The GCMS profiling showed varieties of different bioactive compounds, such as fatty acids, different types of carotenoids in addition to pigments, alkaloids, steroids. Many other compounds, such as carbohydrates and amino acids having antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral activities, etc. were identified. The cytotoxicity activity of Gracilaria marine extract was very effective against cancerous cell lines and showed high ability as a potent antitumor due to their bioactive constituents. Specialized screening assays using two anticancer experimental models, i.e., PTK and SKH1 revealed 77.88% and 84.50% inhibition anticancer activity; respectively. The anti-inflammatory activities investigated using four different experimental models, i.e., COX1, COX2, IL6, and TNF resulted in 68%, 81.76%, 56.02% and 78.43% inhibition; respectively. Moreover, Gracilaria extracts showed potent anti-Alzheimer with all concentrations. CONCLUSION: Gracilaria proved to be a multi-product source of marine natural products for different biotechnological applications. Our recommendation is to investigate the Gracilaria bioactive secondary metabolites in order to create and innovate in more patents from current important seaweeds (Gracilaria).

Evaluation of antiarthritic activity of ginkgolic acid against Freund's adjuvant induced arthritic rat model

This study aimed to analyze the antiarthritic activity of ginkgolic acid against the Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA)-induced arthritis in rats. Arthritis was induced through an intradermal injection of CFA (0.1 mL) at the right hind footpad of adult Wistar Albino rats. Ginkgolic acid was administered orally at doses of 25 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg, respectively, once daily via gavage for 25 days upon inducing arthritis. Indomethacin was administered orally at a dose of 3 mg/kg twice in a week which served as positive control group. The animals were sacrificed and subjected to biochemical and histopathological analysis upon completion of treatment. Ginkgolic acid was able to reverse the arthritic effect (p < 0.01) induced by CFA in a dose dependent manner. Swelling of paw, thymus and spleen index, serum biomarker levels, and pro-inflammatory cytokines were significantly reduced (p < 0.01) by the acid whereas the antioxidant enzyme activities were remarkably restored. The histopathological findings were in agreement with the biochemical results. The results indicate that the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of ginkgolic acid can be credited to the antiarthritic effects, and it can be promoted as a potential agent for therapeutic use against osteoarthritis

Biochemical changes in cultivars of sweet oranges infected with citrus tristeza virus / Mudanças bioquímicas em vários cultivares de laranjas doces infectadas com o vírus citrus tristeza

Abstract Citrus fruit production occupies a place of considerable importance in the economy of the world including Pakistan. Tristeza disease caused by Citrus Tristeza Virus (CTV) exists in various forms that may or may not cause symptoms in the plants. The bioactive compounds and antioxidants are naturally present in plants and provide a defense mechanism that is generally accelerated in response to a stress. The objective of the present study was to target and analyze the citrus plants that were CTV positive to observe the changes in the enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants of citrus (Sweet Oranges only). It was observed that in response to CTV infection, both the non-enzymatic antioxidants (total flavonoid, ascorbic acid, phenolic acid) and enzymatic antioxidants (catalase, superoxide dismutase and peroxidase) activities showed an increasing trend overall. The profiling of antioxidants in response to a viral infection may help in the discovery of new biomarkers that can be used as a monitoring tool in disease management.

Resumo As frutas cítricas ocupam um lugar de considerável importância na economia do Paquistão, assim como o resto do mundo. A doença da tristeza causada pelo Vírus da Tristeza dos Citros (CTV) existe em várias formas que podem ou não apresentar sintomas nas plantas. Os compostos bioativos e antioxidantes estão naturalmente presentes nas plantas e fornecem um mecanismo de defesa que é geralmente acelerado em resposta a um estresse. O objetivo do presente estudo foi analisar as alterações causadas pelo CTV nos antioxidantes enzimáticos e não enzimáticos de laranjas doces. Foi observado que, em resposta ao ataque de CTV, os antioxidantes não enzimáticos como flavonoides totais, ácido ascórbico, ácido fenólico e antioxidantes enzimáticos, como as atividades de catalase, superóxido dismutase e peroxidase, geralmente mostram uma tendência crescente. O perfil de antioxidantes em resposta a um ataque viral pode ajudar na descoberta de novos biomarcadores que podem ser usados ​​como uma ferramenta de monitoramento no gerenciamento de doenças.

Comparison of two different antioxidants in a nano lecithin-based extender for bull sperm cryopreservation.

The objective of the present study was to assess the effect of two different antioxidants, enzymatic compared with non-enzymatic, in a nano lecithin-based extender on post-thaw bull sperm quality. Semen samples (n = 36) were collected from six bulls. In the first experiment, 11 different extenders were prepared by adding five quantities of vitamin E (α-tocopherol) as a non-enzymatic antioxidant (VE: 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6 and 1.0 mM), or four quantities of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) as an enzymatic antioxidant (GPx: 0.5, 1, 2 and 3 mM) to the extender. Other extenders were a Control 1 (C1: Extender with ethanol) and Control 2 (C2: Extender without ethanol). Sperm motility (CASA), plasma membrane functionality test (HOST) and lipid peroxidation (MDA) were assessed to determine the optimal treatment in the first experiment. In the second experiment, the optimally supplemented group from the first experiment (GPx-1) was compared to C2 group. Apoptotic-like changes (Annexin staining), mitochondrial activity (Rhodamine-123 staining), acrosome integrity (PSA staining), DNA fragmentation (SCSA test) and in vitro embryo production capacity were evaluated. In the first experiment, there were the greatest percentages of plasma membrane functionality and least MDA (P ≤ 0.05) in sperm diluted GPx-1 group. In the second experiment, percentage of live sperm, blastocyst formation and hatching rate were greater (P ≤ 0.05) in the GPx-1 group compared with C2 group. In conclusion, data indicate adding 1.0 mM GPx as an enzymatic antioxidant to the nano lecithin-based extender can improve post-thaw quality and in vitro fertility of bull sperm.

Solidago graminifolia L. Salisb. (Asteraceae) as a Valuable Source of Bioactive Polyphenols: HPLC Profile, In Vitro Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Potential.

Solidago species are often used in traditional medicine as anti-inflammatory, diuretic, wound-healing and antimicrobial agents. Still, the bioactive compounds and biological activities of some species have not been studied. The present work aimed to investigate the polyphenolic profile and the biological properties of Solidago graminifolia L. Salisb., a poorly explored medicinal plant. The hydroalcoholic extracts from aerial parts were evaluated for total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC) and the polyphenolic compounds were investigated by HPLC-MS. The antioxidant potential in vitro was determined using DPPH and FRAP assays. Antibacterial and antifungal effects were evaluated by dilution assays and MIC, MBC and MFC were calculated. The results showed that Solidago graminifolia aerial parts contain an important amount of total phenolics (192.69 mg GAE/g) and flavonoids (151.41 mg RE/g), with chlorogenic acid and quercitrin as major constituents. The hydroalcoholic extracts showed promising antioxidant and antimicrobial potential, with potent antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and important antifungal effect against Candida albicans and C. parapsilosis. The obtained results indicated that the aerial parts of Solidago graminifolia could be used as novel resource of phytochemicals in herbal preparations with antioxidant and antimicrobial activities.

[Polyphenolic compounds of the stilbenoid class: classification, representatives, content in plant raw materials, structural features, use in the food industry and pharmacy].

Nowadays, more than 300 representatives of stilbenoids are known - a group of natural, synthetic and semi-synthetic biologic active substances, according to the chemical structure belonging to the group of polyphenolic compounds - phenylpropanoids. Representatives of this group of compounds can be detected in such classes of plants as gymnosperms, angiosperms, bryophytes and pteridophyte. The main food sources are the fruits of grapes, blueberries, blueberries, peanuts, cocoa. The history of their detection is associated with the discovery of the protective functions of plants in response to the action of external stimuli. Further study revealed pronounced antioxidant properties. The mechanism of development of many diseases is associated with the processes of oxidation of free radicals, which can be interrupted by the effect of antioxidants. Possible mechanisms of antioxidant action of stilbenoids and their effect on diseases caused by excessive amounts of free radicals have been studied. Stilbenoids increase the tone and stability of the body to stress factors of the environment, improve the adaptive capacity of the nervous and immune systems, show antitumor, cardio-protective and lipid-lowering activities, inhibit lipid peroxidation. In this regard specialized products, food supplements and drugs containing stilbenoids have been developed. However, representatives of this group of compounds have low consumer properties, are sensitive to environmental factors and have low solubility and absorption. Therefore, solutions of these problems are important when developing new foods and drugs. Nowadays, auxiliary substances (solubilizers) are used, as well as such technological methods as microencapsulation, coacervation, polymerization, and others that can cope with problems of instability, poor solubility, low bioavailability, and unsatisfactory consumer qualities, which improve the effect of stilbenoids on the organism.

Mesilato de desferroxamina como candidato a adjuvante farmacêutico e cosmético / Desferroxamine mesylate as a candidate for pharmaceutical and cosmetic adjuvant

Este trabalho propôs o uso do fármaco quelante mesilato de desferroxamina (DFO) como agente adjuvante para estabilização química e microbiológica de formulações. Soluções de ácido ascórbico (AA) 5,0% (p/v) foram preparadas com sistemas antioxidantes constituídos por diferentes combinações de DFO, ácido etilenodiamino tetra-acético (EDTA) e metabissulfito de sódio, cada adjuvante na concentração máxima de 0,1% (p/v). Os sistemas foram testados previamente quanto à atividade antioxidante, mediante adição de um complexo de ferro (III) redox-ativo e ensaio baseado em fluorescência. Os sistemas também foram associados ao metilparabeno e avaliados quanto à atividade antimicrobiana pelo método turbidimétrico, utilizando-se a técnica de microdiluição em meios líquidos e cepas padrão de bactérias e fungos, incluindo S. aureus (ATCC 6538), E. coli (ATCC 8739), P. aeruginosa (ATCC 9027), C. albicans (ATCC 10231) e A. brasiliensis (ATCC 16404). As soluções de AA foram expostas a condições de teste de estabilidade acelerada e avaliadas quanto à estabilidade química, empregando-se método volumétrico validado para quantificar AA. Verificou-se que o EDTA foi o agente quelante que melhor contribuiu na estabilidade química da solução de AA, entretanto, o DFO apresentou desempenho muito superior ao EDTA para bloquear a atividade pró-oxidante do ferro. Além disso, o DFO foi fator relevante na inibição do crescimento microbiano e demonstrou sinergia com o metilparabeno. A otimização estatística dos resultados indicou que o uso do DFO nos sistemas antioxidante e conservante pode reduzir consideravelmente a concentração dos adjuvantes convencionais, EDTA, metabissulfito e metilparabeno, os quais são muitas vezes associados a reações de hipersensibilidade ou a danos ao meio ambiente

In this work it was proposed the use of the chelating drug desferroxamine mesylate (DFO) as adjuvant for chemical and microbiological stabilization of formulations. Ascorbic acid (AA) solutions 5.0% (w/v) were prepared with antioxidant systems containing different combinations of DFO, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and sodium metabisulphite, using a maximum concentration of 0.1% (w/v) for each adjuvant. Previously, the systems were spiked with a redox-active iron (III) complex and tested for antioxidant activity by fluorescence-based assay. The systems also were associated with methylparaben and evaluated for antimicrobial activity by turbidimetric method, using the microdilution technique and standard strains of bacteria and fungi, including S. aureus (ATCC 6538), E. coli (ATCC 8739), P. aeruginosa (ATCC 9027), C. albicans (ATCC 10231) and A. brasiliensis (ATCC 16404). The AA solutions were exposed to accelerated stability test conditions and evaluated for chemical stability, using a volumetric method that was validated to quantify AA. It was found that EDTA was the chelating agent that most contributed to the chemical stability of AA solution, however, DFO demonstrated a much higher performance to EDTA to block the pro-oxidant activity of iron. In addition, DFO was a relevant factor in the inhibition of microbial growth and showed synergy with methylparaben. The statistical optimization of the results indicated that the use of DFO in the antioxidant and preservative systems might considerably reduce the concentration of the conventional adjuvants, EDTA, metabisulphite and methylparaben, which are often associated with hypersensitivity reactions or environmental damage

Environmental conditions influence the biochemical properties of the fruiting bodies of Tuber magnatum Pico.

The influences of various factors, including the symbiosis established with the roots of specific tree species, on the production of volatiles in the fruiting bodies of Tuber magnatum have not been investigated yet. Volatiles in T. magnatum fruiting bodies were quantitatively and qualitatively determined by both PTR-MS and GC-MS in order to compare the accuracy of the two methods. An electronic nose was also used to characterize truffle samples. The influence of environmental changes on the antioxidant capabilities of fruiting bodies was also determined. Statistically significant differences were found between fruiting bodies with different origins. The relationship between the quality of white truffle fruiting bodies and their specific host plant is described along with an analysis of metabolites other than VOCs that have ecological roles. Our results indicate that the geographical origin (Italy and Istria) of the fruiting bodies is correlated with the quantity and quality of volatiles and various antioxidant metabolites. This is the first report characterizing antioxidant compounds other than VOCs in white truffles. The correlation between geographical origin and antioxidant contents suggests that these compounds may be useful for certifying the geographical origin of truffles.