Evaluation of the Antioxidant and Anti-Lipoxygenase Activity of Berberis vulgaris L. Leaves, Fruits, and Stem and Their LC MS/MS Polyphenolic Profile.

Berberis vulgaris L. is currently widely studied for its antioxidant and chemopreventive properties, especially with regard to the beneficial properties of its fruits. Although the bark and roots have been well known and used in traditional medicine since ancient times, little is known about the other parts of this plant. The aim of the research was to determine the antioxidant and LOX inhibitory activity effects of extracts obtained from the leaves, fruits, and stems. Another aim of the work was to carry out the quantitative and qualitative analysis of phenolic acids, flavonoid aglycones, and flavonoid glycosides. The extracts were obtained with the use of ASE (accelerated solvent extraction). The total content of polyphenols was determined and was found to vary depending on the organ, with the highest amount of polyphenols found in the leaf extracts. The free radical scavenging activity of the extracts was determined spectrophotometrically in relation to the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radical, with results ranging from 63.9 mgTE/g for the leaves to 65.2 mgTE/g for the stem. Antioxidant activity was also assessed using the ABTS test. The lowest value was recorded for the barberry fruit (117.9 mg TE/g), and the highest level was found for the barberry leaves (140.5 mgTE/g). The oxygen radical absorbance capacity test (ORAC) showed the lowest value for the stem (167.7 mgTE/g) and the highest level for the leaves (267.8 mgTE/g). The range of the percentage inhibition of LOX was determined as well. The percentage inhibition of the enzyme was positively correlated with the sum of the flavonoids, TPC, TFC, and the content of selected flavonoids. Phenolic acids, flavonoid aglycones, and flavonoid glycosides were determined qualitatively and quantitatively in individual parts of Berberis vulgaris L. The content of phenolic acids, flavonoid aglycones, and flavonoid glycosides was determined with the LC-MS/MS method. The following phenolic acids were quantitatively and qualitatively identified in individual parts of Berberis vulgaris L.: gallic acid, 3-caffeoylquinic acid, protocatechuic acid, 5-caffeoylquinic acid, 4-caffeoylquinic acid, and caffeic acid. The flavonoid glycosides determined were: eleutheroside E, Eriodictyol-7-glucopyranoside, rutin, hyperoside, isoquercitin, luteoloside, narcissoside, naringenin-7-glucoside, isorhamnetin-3-glucoside, afzeline, and quercitrin. Flavonoid aglycones such as catechin, luteolin, quercetin, and eriodictyol were also determined qualitatively and quantitatively.

Herbicide resistance status impacts the profile of non-anthocyanin polyphenolics and some phytomedical properties of edible cornflower (Centaurea cyanus L.) flowers.

To ensure sufficient food supply worldwide, plants are treated with pesticides to provide protection against pathogens and pests. Herbicides are the most commonly utilised pesticides, used to reduce the growth of weeds. However, their long-term use has resulted in the emergence of herbicide-resistant biotypes in many weed species. Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus L., Asteraceae) is one of these plants, whose biotypes resistant to herbicides from the group of acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitors have begun to emerge in recent years. Some plants, although undesirable in crops and considered as weeds, are of great importance in phytomedicine and food production, and characterised by a high content of health-promoting substances, including antioxidants. Our study aimed to investigate how the acquisition of herbicide resistance affects the health-promoting properties of plants on the example of cornflower, as well as how they are affected by herbicide treatment. To this end, we analysed non-anthocyanin polyphenols and antioxidant capacity in flowers of C. cyanus from herbicide-resistant and susceptible biotypes. Our results indicated significant compositional changes associated with an increase in the content of substances and activities that have health-promoting properties. High antioxidant activity and higher total phenolic and flavonoid compounds as well as reducing power were observed in resistant biotypes. The latter one increased additionally after herbicide treatment which might also suggest their role in the resistance acquisition mechanism. Overall, these results show that the herbicide resistance development, although unfavourable to crop production, may paradoxically have very positive effects for medicinal plants such as cornflower.

Identification of sunflower, rapeseed, flaxseed and sesame seed oil metabolomic markers as a potential tool for oil authentication and detecting adulterations.

Testing the composition, quality and authenticity of edible oils is crucial to safeguard the consumers' rights and health. The aim of our study was to identify oil-specific markers to enable the differentiation and authentication of sunflower, sesame, flaxseed and rapeseed oils, and to evaluate their antioxidant activity, total phenolic and carotenoid content. A metabolomic approach based on liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry was employed for marker discovery. Spectrophotometric method was used for determination of antioxidant activity, total phenolic and carotenoid content. 76 oil samples from the four different manufacturers were examined. We identified 13 oil-specific markers for sunflower seed oil, 8 for rapeseed oil, 5 for sesame seed oil and 3 for flaxseed oil, their retention times, accurate masses, and characteristic fragment ions are reported. The abundances of the markers for each plant species were found to vary depending on the oil producer and the product batch. Significant differences in antioxidant activity, total phenolic and carotenoid content were also observed both between oils and within oil type. The highest total phenolic content (84.03 ± 4.19 to 103.79 ± 3.67 mg of gallic acid/kg) and antioxidant activity (245.67 ± 7.59 to 297.22 ± 2.32 mg Trolox/kg) were found in sesame seed and flaxseed oils, respectively. Identified metabolic markers can be used as qualitative markers to confirm the authenticity or to detect adulterations of oils. Composition, properties and authenticity testing should be more rigorous for food products marketed as health-promoting.

Antihyaluronidase and Antioxidant Potential of Atriplex sagittata Borkh. in Relation to Phenolic Compounds and Triterpene Saponins.

The genus Atriplex provides species that are used as food and natural remedies. In this work, the levels of soluble phenolic acids (free and conjugated) and flavonoids in extracts from roots, stems, leaves and flowers of the unexplored Atriplex sagittata Borkh were investigated by LC-ESI-MS/MS, together with their antioxidant and antihyaluronidase activity. Phenolic acids were present in all parts of A. sagittata; and were most abundant in the leaves (225.24 µg/g dw.), whereas the highest content of flavonoids were found in the flowers (242.71 µg/g dw.). The most common phenolics were 4-hydroxybenzoic and salicylic acids, kaempferol-3-glucoside-7-rhamnoside, kaempferol-3-rutinoside and the rare narcissoside, which was present in almost all morphotic parts. The stem extract had the highest antioxidant activity and total phenolic content (611.86 mg/100 g dw.), whereas flower extract exerted the most potent antihyaluronidase effect (IC50 = 84.67 µg/mL; control-quercetin: IC50 = 514.28 µg/mL). Phytochemical analysis of the flower extract led to the isolation of two triterpene saponins that were shown to be strong hyaluronidase inhibitors (IC50 = 33.77 and 168.15 µg/mL; control-escin: IC50 = 307.38 µg/mL). This is the first report on the presence of phenolics and saponins in A. sagittata. The results suggest that both groups of metabolites may contribute to the overall activity of this plant species.

Polyphenolic Characterization, Antioxidant, Antihyaluronidase and Antimicrobial Activity of Young Leaves and Stem Extracts from Rubus caesius L.

Fruits are the main food part of the European dewberry (Rubus caesius L.), known as a source of polyphenols and antioxidants, while very little attention is paid to leaves and stems, especially young first-year stems. The purpose of this work was to analyze for the first time water and ethanol extracts obtained from young, freshly developed, leaves and stems of the European dewberry to determine their antioxidant and biological activity, whereas most of the papers describe biological properties of leaves collected during summer or autumn. As the phytochemical profile changes during the growing season, the quantitative and qualitative content of flavonoid glycosides and flavonoid aglycones was analyzed using reversed phase liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) with multiple reaction monitoring (MRM). The ability to inhibit hyaluronidase as well as antioxidant activity (2,2 diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl: DPPH and ferric antioxidant power: FRAP) were estimated. Extracts were also analyzed against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The results of the qualitative phytochemical analysis indicated the presence of flavonoid aglycones and flavonoid glycosides, with the highest amount of tiliroside, hyperoside, isoquercetin, astragalin, rutin and catechin in ethanol extracts. DPPH and FRAP tests proved the high antioxidant activity of the extracts from leaves or stems and the antihyaluronidase assay revealed for the first time that water and ethanol extracts obtained from the stems exhibited the ability to inhibit hyaluronidase activity resulting in an IC50 of 55.24 ± 3.21 and 68.7 ± 1.61 µg/mL, respectively. The antimicrobial activity has never been analyzed for European dewberry and was the highest for Clostridium bifermentans and Clostridium sporogenes-anaerobic sporulation rods as well as Enterococcus faecalis for both water and ethanol extracts.

LC-ESI-MS/MS Polyphenolic Profile and In Vitro Study of Cosmetic Potential of Aerva lanata (L.) Juss. Herb Extracts.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the phenolic composition and the biological properties of different Aerva lanata (L). Juss. herb extracts obtained with the use of accelerated solvent extraction (ASE), i.e., a green, ecological method, for cosmetic purposes. All samples exhibited high DPPH• (9.17-119.85 mg TE/g) and ABTS•+ (9.90-107.58 mg TE/g) scavenging activity. The extracts exhibited considerable anti-lipoxygenase (EC50 between 1.14 mg/mL and 3.73 mg/mL) and anti-xanthine oxidase (EC50 between 1.28 mg/mL and 3.72 mg/mL) activities, moderate chelating activity (EC50 between 1.58 mg/mL and 5.30 mg/mL), and high antioxidant potential in the ORAC assay (0.36-3.84 mM TE/g). Changes in the polyphenol profile of the analysed samples depending on the solvent and temperature used for the extraction were determined with the liquid chromatography/electrospray mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) method. Twenty-one phenolic compounds, including flavonoids and phenolic acids, were detected and quantified. It was shown that tiliroside was one of the main phenolic metabolites in the A. lanata (L.) Juss. herb., which may suggest that this compound may be largely responsible for the observed anti-inflammatory activity of the extracts. In addition, the studied extracts exhibited promising skin-related (anti-tyrosinase, anti-elastase, anti-collagenase, and anti-hyaluronidase) activity. This study showed that Aerva lanata (L.) Juss. contains high amounts of phenolic compounds, including tiliroside, and has good skin-related activities. Therefore, the plant may be interesting as a novel source of bioactive agents for cosmetic industries.

Berberine, a Herbal Metabolite in the Metabolic Syndrome: The Risk Factors, Course, and Consequences of the Disease.

In recent years, the health of patients exposed to the consequences of the metabolic syndrome still requires the search for new solutions, and plant nutraceuticals are currently being intensively investigated. Berberine is a plant alkaloid possessing scientifically determined mechanisms of the prevention of the development of atherosclerosis, type 2 diabetes, and obesity, as well as cardiovascular complications and cancer. It positively contributes to elevated levels of fasting, postprandial blood glucose, and glycosylated hemoglobin, while decreasing insulin resistance. It stimulates glycolysis, improving insulin secretion, and inhibits gluconeogenesis and adipogenesis in the liver; by reducing insulin resistance, berberine also improves ovulation. The anti-obesity action of berberine has been also well-documented. Berberine acts as an anti-sclerotic, lowering the LDL and testosterone levels. The alkaloid exhibits an anti-inflammatory property by stalling the expression of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) and prostaglandin E2. Berberine is neuroprotective and acts as an antidepressive. However, the outcomes in psychiatric patients are nonspecific, as it has been shown that berberine improves metabolic parameters in schizophrenic patients, acting as an adjuvant during antipsychotic treatment. Berberine acts as an anticancer option by inducing apoptosis, the cell cycle arrest, influencing MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase), and influencing transcription regulation. The inhibition of carcinogenesis is also combined with lipid metabolism.

LC-ESI-MS/MS Characterization of Concentrated Polyphenolic Fractions from Rhododendron luteum and Their Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Activities.

The high biological potential of polyphenols encourages the search for new natural sources of and biomedical applications for these compounds. Rhododendron luteum Sweet was previously reported to contain pharmaceutically active polyphenols. The present research investigates the polyphenolic fractions in R. luteum leaves, including a determination of the free and bound phenolic acid and flavonoid contents and their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. LC-ESI-MS/MS (liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization triple quadrupole mass spectrometry) analysis revealed a great abundance of free (e.g., 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid, ferulic acid, protocatechuic acid, catechin, and dihydromyricetin) and bound (e.g., caffeic acid, p-coumaric, protocatechuic acid, myricetin, quercetin) phenolics. The R. luteum samples exhibited high anti-inflammatory potential in lipoxygenase (IC50: 0.33 ± 0.01-2.96 ± 0.06 mg dry extract (DE)/mL) and hyaluronidase (IC50: 78.76 ± 2.09 - 429.07 ± 31.08 µg DE/mL) inhibition capacity assays. Some samples also had the ability to inhibit cyclooxygenase 1 (IC50: 311.8 ± 10.95 µg DE/mL) and cyclooxygenase 2 (IC50: 53.40 ± 5.07; 608.09 ± 14.78 µg DE/mL). All fractions showed excellent antioxidant activity in the Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) assay (5.76-221.81 g Trolox/g DE), ABTS•+ radical scavenging ability (0.62 ± 0.03 - 5.09 ± 0.23 g Trolox/g DE), and moderate ion (Fe2+) chelating power. This paper expands our knowledge of the phytochemistry and pharmacological activity of R. luteum polyphenols. It reveals, for the first time, the presence of dihydromyricetin, afzelin, and laricitrin in the plant material. It indicates biologically active polyphenolic fractions that should be further investigated or which could be efficiently used in pharmaceutical, cosmetic, or nutraceutical applications.

Junipers of Various Origins as Potential Sources of the Anticancer Drug Precursor Podophyllotoxin.

Juniper representatives are natural sources of plenty of bioactive metabolites and have been used since ancient times as folk remedies against tapeworms, warts, cancer, etc. The antiproliferative activities of junipers are attributed to podophyllotoxin (PPT), which is a precursor for the synthesis of efficient anticancer drugs. However, the natural sources of PPT, Sinopodophyllum hexandrum (Royle) T. S. Ying and Podophyllum peltatum L., are already endangered species because of their intensive industrial exploitation. Therefore, identification of other sources of PPT is necessary. This study is a broad comparative investigation of junipers, for which original sources have been accessed from different continents of the world. The present research is aimed at the identification of species, producing PPT and other lignans at concentrations that are sufficient for the high antiproliferative activity of the corresponding extracts. Cytotoxic juniper leaf extracts demonstrated a broad spectrum of activity on a panel of cancer cell lines. The antiproliferative properties of junipers were attributed to the combined activity of great diversity of lignans (podophyllotoxin, deoxypodophyllotoxin, ß-peltatin, yatein, matairesinol, anhydropodorhizol, etc.), detected by UHPLC-HRMS and LC-ESI-MS/MS in the corresponding extracts. Several species of the genus Juniperus L. were outlined as perspective sources of drug precursors with potential pharmaceutical applications.

Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, and Anti-Diabetic Activity of Phenolic Acids Fractions Obtained from Aerva lanata (L.) Juss.

Many plants that are commonly used in folk medicine have multidirectional biological properties confirmed by scientific research. One of them is Aerva lanata (L.) Juss. (F. Amaranthaceae). It is widely used, but there are very few scientific data about its chemical composition and pharmacological activity. The aim of the present study was to investigate the chemical composition of phenolic acid (PA)-rich fractions isolated from methanolic extracts of A. lanata (L.) Juss. herb using the liquid/liquid extraction method and their potential antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-diabetic properties. The free PA fraction (FA), the PA fraction (FB) released after acid hydrolysis, and the PA fraction (FC) obtained after alkaline hydrolysis were analysed using liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS). The phenolic profile of each sample showed a high concentration of PAs and their presence in A. lanata (L.) Juss. herb mainly in bound states. Thirteen compounds were detected and quantified in all samples, including some PAs that had not been previously detected in this plant species. Bioactivity assays of all fractions revealed high 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH•) (2.85 mM Trolox equivalents (TE)/g) and 2,2-azino-bis-3(ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS•+) (2.88 mM TE/g) scavenging activity. Fraction FB definitely exhibited not only the highest antiradical activity but also the strongest xanthine oxidase (XO) (EC50 = 1.77 mg/mL) and lipoxygenase (LOX)(EC50 = 1.88 mg/mL) inhibitory potential. The fraction had the best anti-diabetic properties, i.e., mild inhibition of α-amylase (EC50 = 7.46 mg/mL) and strong inhibition of α-glucosidase (EC50 = 0.30 mg/mL). The activities of all analysed samples were strongly related to the presence of PA compounds and the total PA content.

Impact of Harvest Conditions and Host Tree Species on Chemical Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Extracts from Viscum album L.

The content of plant secondary metabolites is not stable, and factors such as the region/location effect and seasonal variations have an impact on their chemical composition, especially in parasitic plants. Research in this area is an important step in the development of quality parameter standards of medicinal plants and their finished products. The effects of the time and place of harvest and the host tree species on the chemical composition and antioxidant activity of mistletoe extracts were investigated. Statistical tools were used to evaluate the results of the spectrophotometric and LC-ESI-MS/MS studies of the phenolic composition and antioxidant activity. The investigations indicate that the qualitative and quantitative composition, influencing the biological activity of mistletoe extracts, largely depends on the origin of the plant. The mistletoe extracts exhibited a rich phenol profile and high antioxidant activity. The chemometric analysis indicated that mistletoe collected from conifers (Viscum abietis and Viscum austriacum) had the most advantageous chemical composition and antioxidant activity. Moreover, the chemical profile and biological activity of the plant material were closely related to the climatic conditions and location of the harvested plant. Higher levels of phenolic compounds and high antioxidant activity were found in extracts obtained from plant material collected in cold weather with the presence of snow and less sunshine (autumn-winter period).

The Impact of Formulation on the Content of Phenolic Compounds in Snacks Enriched with Dracocephalum moldavica L. Seeds: Introduction to Receiving a New Functional Food Product.

A new type of multigrain snack has been designed containing varied additions of Moldavian dragonhead (Dracocephalum moldavica L.) seeds. The antioxidant properties and the general health benefits of this plant material have already been widely acknowledged. The research discussed herein aimed to investigate the influence of the formulation and expansion method (frying) on the content of polyphenolic compounds, individual phenolic acids, and antiradical properties of innovative snacks enriched with dragonhead seeds. The highest content of polyphenols (0.685 mg GAE/mL), free phenolic acids (47.052 µg/g of dry matter), and highest radical scavenging activity (96.23% towards DPPH) were found in the fried snacks enriched with 22% of seeds. In these samples, 11 phenolic acids were detected. Strong positive correlations were seen between the addition of dragonhead and the polyphenol content (r = 0.989) and between the quantity of the enriching additive and the content of free phenolic acids (r = 0.953). The research has shown that such innovative snacks have the potential to supply health-benefiting free phenolic acids, e.g., salicylic, isoferulic, ferulic, p-coumaric, vanillic. Our studies provide an introduction to the development of a new range of functional foods.

Biological Activity of Berberine-A Summary Update.

Berberine is a plant metabolite belonging to the group of isoquinoline alkaloids with strong biological and pharmacological activity. Currently, berberine is receiving considerable interest due to its anticancer activity based on many biochemical pathways, especially its proapoptotic and anti-inflammatory activity. Therefore, the growing number of papers on berberine demands summarizing the knowledge and research trends. The efficacy of berberine in breast and colon cancers seems to be the most promising aspect. Many papers focus on novel therapeutic strategies based on new formulations or search for new active derivatives. The activity of berberine is very important as regards sensitization and support of anticancer therapy in combination with well-known but in some cases inefficient therapeutics. Currently, the compound is being assessed in many important clinical trials and is one of the most promising and intensively examined natural agents.

Polyphenol Composition and Antioxidant Potential of Instant Gruels Enriched with Lycium barbarum L. Fruit.

Goji fruit (Lycium barbarum L.) has been identified as a polyphenolic compound plant source of noted richness. It also contains polysaccharides, carotenoids, vitamins and minerals, fatty and organic acids. The purpose of the presented research was to produce innovative instant corn gruels with various dry goji berry contents (1, 3 and 5%), to determine the level of included polyphenolic compounds (including individual free phenolic acids) and to assess the antioxidant properties of these functional-food products. A further objective was to identify the optimum value of one of the most important production parameter, the rotational speed of the extruder's screw during gruel processing. The undertaken chromatographic analysis (LC-ESI-MS/MS) showed a wide variety of available phenolic acids. In the samples with 5% addition of fruit, eight phenolic acids were detected, whereas in the corn gruel without additives, only five were noted. The antioxidant activity, the content of free phenolic acids and the sum of polyphenols increased with increase of the functional additive. For all goji content, screw speeds of 100 and 120 rpm rather than 80 rpm resulted in higher polyphenol amounts and greater Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity, as well as higher ability to scavenge DPPH.

Characterization of Free and Bound Phenolic Acids and Flavonoid Aglycones in Rosa rugosa Thunb. Leaves and Achenes Using LC-ESI-MS/MS-MRM Methods.

Fast and reliable determination of polyphenols is a quite common goal during investigation of new plant materials and herbal products, their standardization, quality control, or chemo-taxonomical studies. The aim of this study was to develop and validate methods based on the application of reversed phase liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) using multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) for comprehensive quantitative and qualitative analysis of phenolic acids and flavonoid aglycones. LC-MS/MS-MRM protocols were applied for the determination of free and bound phenolics in a series of plant samples prepared from leaves and achenes (true fruits) of Japanese rose (Rosa rugosa Thunb.). The presence of large amount of phenolic compounds was detected in rose leaves (786.44 µg/g and 14.46 µg/g of phenolic acids and flavonoid aglycones, respectively). Isoferulic acid and five aglycones were revealed for the first time in this plant material. Moreover, 15 phenolic acids and six aglycones were found in the rose achenes, including eight phenolic acids and four aglycones that had not been previously reported in this rose organ. It was shown that leaves and achenes may constitute an industrially relevant source of phenolic compounds for potential commercial use in pharmaceutical, food, or cosmetic industry.

Polysaccharide-Rich Fractions from Rosa rugosa Thunb.-Composition and Chemopreventive Potential.

The huge health-beneficial potential of polysaccharides encourages the search for novel sources and applications of these compounds. One poorly explored source of polysaccharides is the rose. The content and biological activity of polysaccharides in rose organs is an almost completely unaddressed topic, therefore, polysaccharide-rich extracts (crude polysaccharides, CPLs) from petals, leaves, hips, and achenes of Rosa rugosa Thunb. were studied for their composition and the influence on various cellular processes involved in the development of cancer and other civilization diseases. The study revealed the presence of water-soluble and -insoluble polysaccharides (including ß-glucans) and protein-polysaccharide conjugates in rose organs. Rose hips were found to be the most abundant source of polysaccharides. Different polysaccharide-rich extracts showed the ability to inhibit pro-inflammatory enzymes (COX-1, COX-2, hyaluronidase), a radical scavenging effect (against DPPH• and ABTS•+), and antiproliferative activity (in the A549 lung and SW480 colon cancer cell lines) in in vitro assays. Therefore, rose crude polysaccharides are very promising and can potentially be used as natural chemopreventive agents.

Eleutherococcus Species Cultivated in Europe: A New Source of Compounds with Antiacetylcholinesterase, Antihyaluronidase, Anti-DPPH, and Cytotoxic Activities.

Secondary metabolites of the roots of Eleutherococcus spp. cultivated in Poland, or the bioactivity, are not fully known. The 75% methanol extracts of five Eleutherococcus spp. (E. senticosus, E. divaricatus, E. sessiliflorus, E. gracilistylus, and E. henryi) were examined for the content of polyphenols and phenolic acids as well as for antiacetylcholinesterase, antihyaluronidase, anti-DPPH∗, and cytotoxic activities. The richest in polyphenols were the roots of E. henryi (10.4 mg/g DW), while in flavonoids the roots of E. divaricatus (6.5 mg/g DW). The richest in phenolic acids occurred the roots of E. henryi [protocatechuic acid (1865 µg/g DE), caffeic acid (244 µg/g DE), and p-coumaric and ferulic acids (55 µg/g DE)]. The highest inhibition of AChE was observed for E. gracilistylus and E. sessiliflorus (32%), at the concentration of 100 µg/0.19 mL of the reaction mixture, while that of Hyal for the roots of E. henryi (40.7%), at the concentration of 100 µg/0.16 mL of the reaction mixture. Among five species tested, the E. henryi extract exhibited the strongest HL-60 cell line growth's inhibition (IC50 270 µg/mL). The extracts reduced DPPH∗ in a time-dependent mode, at the concentration of 0.8 mg/mL. After 90 min from 14.7 to 26.2%, DPPH∗was reduced. A phytochemical composition and activity of the Eleutherococcus species, cultivated in Poland, are still under research; however, on the basis of the results obtained, it may be concluded that they may become a source of phytochemicals and be useful for Europe's citizens.

LC-ESI-MS/MS profiling of phenolics in the leaves of Eleutherococcus senticosus cultivated in the West Europe and anti-hyaluronidase and anti-acetylcholinestarase activities.

Neither secondary metabolites of the spring leaves nor the autumn leaves of Eleutherococcus senticosus species cultivated in Poland, or the bioactivity are known. The richest in polyphenols was the autumn leaves (171.1 mg/g DE), while in flavonoids the spring leaves (107.9 mg/g DE). Using LC-ESI-MS/MS, protocatechuic acid has been identified as the most abundant compound in the spring and autumn leaves (200 and 70 µg/g DE, respectively). Amongst flavonoids, naringenin 7-O-glucoside occurred in the largest amount (20 and 10 mg/g DE in the spring and autumn leaves, respectively). The autumn leaves inhibited Hyal the strongest (74.3%), comparing to the spring leaves (33%). A weak inhibition was found towards AChE (0.64 and 5.8% for the autumn and spring leaves, respectively). To our best knowledge, no information was available on the phytochemical composition and activity of the leaves of E. senticosus cultivated in Poland.

Puffed cereals with added chamomile - quantitative analysis of polyphenols and optimization of their extraction method.

[b]Abstract Introduction[/b]. Functional food plays an important role in the prevention, management and treatment of chronic diseases. One of the most interesting techniques of functional food production is extrusion-cooking. Functional foods may include such items as puffed cereals, breads and beverages that are fortified with vitamins, some nutraceuticals and herbs. Due to its pharmacological activity, chamomile flowers are the most popular components added to functional food. OBJECTIVE: Quantitative analysis of polyphenolic antioxidants, as well as comparison of various methods for the extraction of phenolic compounds from corn puffed cereals, puffed cereals with an addition of chamomile (3, 5, 10 and 20%) and from [i]Chamomillae anthodium. [/i] [b]Materials and Methods[/b]. Two modern extraction methods - ultrasound assisted extraction (UAE) at 40 °C and 60 °C, as well as accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) at 100 °C and 120 °C were used for the isolation of polyphenols from functional food. Analysis of flavonoids and phenolic acids was carried out using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS). [b]Results and Conclusions[/b]. For most of the analyzed compounds, the highest yields were obtained by ultrasound assisted extraction. The highest temperature during the ultrasonification process (60 °C) increased the efficiency of extraction, without degradation of polyphenols. UAE easily arrives at extraction equilibrium and therefore permits shorter periods of time, reducing the energy input. Furthermore, UAE meets the requirements of 'Green Chemistry'.

Uncaria tomentosa Leaves Decoction Modulates Differently ROS Production in Cancer and Normal Cells, and Effects Cisplatin Cytotoxicity.

Uncaria tomentosa is a woody vine with a long history of use in traditional Peruvian medicine and nowadays supplements containing this vine as ingredient are available. Immunomodulating, anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties of Uncaria tomentosa have been suggested and attributed mainly to the presence of tetracyclic or pentacyclic oxindole alkaloids. However, the synergic action of different compounds occurring in extracts and modulation of redox processes may significantly influence the anticancer activity of Uncaria tomentosa. The aim of the present study was to investigate for the first time the cytotoxic effects of the tetracyclic alkaloids free aqueous extract (decoction) of dried Uncaria tomentosa leaf blades in normal and cancer cells, and to assess the effect of the tested extract on cisplatin (CDDP) cytotoxicity. Tested Uncaria tomentosa extract was not cytotoxic for NHDF cells, but demonstrated cytotoxic effect against HepG2 cells. The extract increased ROS production in HepG2 cells, which resulted in decreased GSH level, leading to apoptosis of these cells through activation of caspase-3 and caspase-7. A reduction of NF-κB active form was observed in cancer cells. In normal cells the extract did not affect ROS production, GSH level and NF-κB activity, and maintained cell viability. HepG2 cells incubation with Uncaria tomentosa decoction and simultaneously with CDDP resulted in an increase in CDPP cytotoxic activity against HepG2, while under the same conditions Uncaria tomentosa prevents NHDF cell viability reduction due to CDDP. The results indicate that Uncaria tomentosa leaves decoction modulates differently cancer and normal cells oxidative metabolism and, enhanced cytotoxicity of CDDP against cancer cells and at the same time increased normal healthy cells resistance to cisplatin. Further studies are needed to confirm our observations and to describe underlying molecular mechanism, and the potential usefulness of Uncaria tomentosa decoction in adjuvant therapy for cancer.