Evaluation of antioxidant and tyrosinase inhibitory activities of the extracts of Sarcopoterium spinosum (L.) Spach fruits.

Sarcopoterium spinosum fruits have been used to get extracts of different nature; two fixed oils were obtained by means of supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) with CO2 at 250 bar and 40°C and using n-hexane in a Soxhlet extraction (SE) apparatus. Aqueous solutions: an aromatic water (AW) and a residual water (RW) were obtained by hydrodistillation (HD). In the RW, following have been identified: quercetin glucuronide, luteolin 7-O-glucuronide, isorhamnetin 3-O-glucuronide, quercetin sulfate and quercetin. Among all tested plant extracts, the RW had the highest content of polyphenol (378 mg GAE/g of weight) and of flavonoids (26 mg QE/g of weight), and the highest antioxidant activity, comparable to that of Trolox. It was also the most active extract of this series (IC50 = 0.292 mg/mL) in the tyrosinase activity assays performed with L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) as substrate.

Tyrosinase inhibition and antioxidant properties of Asphodelus microcarpus extracts.

BACKGROUND: Asphodelus microcarpus belongs to the family Liliaceae that include several medicinal plants. In the traditional medicine plants of the genus Asphodelus are used to treat skin disorders such as ectodermal parasites, psoriasis, microbial infection and for lightening freckles. In order to find novel skin depigmenting agents, the present work was carry out to evaluate antioxidant activity and tyrosinase inhibitory potential of leaves, flowers and tubers extracts of A. microcarpus. The phytochemical composition of the active extract was also evaluated. METHODS: Three different extracts (water, methanol and ethanol) from leaves, flowers and tubers of A. microcarpus were evaluated for their inhibitory effect on tyrosinase activity using L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) as substrate. Inhibition of cellular tyrosinase activity and melanin production was also investigated in melanoma B16F10 cells. Antioxidant activity, total phenolic and flavonoids contents were determined using standard in vitro methods. HPLC-DAD-MS was used to identify phenolic profile of the active extract. RESULTS: The results showed that all extracts have a direct inhibitory anti-tyrosinase activity, with ethanolic extract from flowers (FEE) exhibiting the stronger effect. Kinetic analysis revealed that FEE acts as an uncompetitive inhibitor with a Ki value of 0.19 mg/mL. The same effect was observed in murine melanoma B16F10 cells. Cellular tyrosinase activity as well as melanin content were reduced in FEE-treated cells. The results were comparable to that of the standard tyrosinase inhibitor (kojic acid). Furthermore, the same extract showed the highest antioxidant activity and an elevated levels of total phenolics and flavonoid content. Eleven phenolic components were identified as chlorogenic acid, luteolin derivates, naringenin and apigenin. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings showed that FEE from A. microcarpus inhibits tyrosinase and exerted antimelanogenesis effect in B16F10 cells. This extract also showed the highest scavenging activity, which could be mainly attributed to its high levels of total polyphenols and flavonoids. These results suggest that A. microcarpus has a great potential as sources of bioactive compounds which could be used as depigmenting agents in skin disorders.

Liquid chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis of anthocyanin composition of dark blue bee pollen from Echium plantagineum.

Dark blue bee pollen samples from pollinic type Echium plantegineum were analysed in order to identify and quantify their anthocyanin pigments. Five samples were collected from different apicultural Spanish regions and the anthocyanin composition was determined by HPLC with diode array and MS detection. Eight different pigments were identified, the principal anthocyanin being petunidin-3-O-rutinoside. The other pigments found were delphinidin, cyanidin and petunidin-3-O-glucoside; delphinidin, cyanidin, peonidin and malvidin-3-O-rutinoside and cyanidin-3-(6"-malonylglucoside). The anthocyanin content ranged from 45 to 80 mg/100 g of blue pollen, which could represent a significant source of phytochemicals. Minor variations in the anthocyanin profiles were found, which could be explained by the geographical differences between collection regions.