Effect of precipitation solvent on some biological activities of polysaccharides from Pinus halepensis Mill. seeds.

This study was designed to evaluate, for the first time, the effect of the precipitation solvent (Acetone, Ethanol, and Propanol) on the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticoagulant activities of the polysaccharides extract from Aleppo pine seeds. The antioxidant activity was evaluated with different tests (ABTS, DPPH, metal chelation, ferric reducing power, antiperoxidation and ORAC tests), the anti-inflammatory activity was assessed with three tests (denaturation protein inhibition, antiproteinase and anti-hemolytic tests). Finally, the anticoagulant activity was tested by endogenous and exogenous ways. The three extracts (AP: acetone polysaccharides extract, EP: ethanol polysaccharides extract and PP: propanol polysaccharides extract) have exhibited a very interesting activities but with different degrees. The AP extract was most effective in almost all antioxidant activities (antiradical ABTS and DPPH, metal chelation, reducing power and ORAC), in two in vitro anti-inflammatory and the anticoagulant activities. However, for the lipid antiperoxidation activity, it was the PP extract that gave better activity. The best antiproteinase activity was expressed by the EP extract. These results indicate that polysaccharides of Aleppo pine seed may be considered as a source of bioactive polysaccharides and the precipitation solvent of the polysaccharides has a major effect on the intensity of the bioactivity of these polysaccharides.

Extraction of carotenoids from cantaloupe waste and determination of its mineral composition.

The carotenoid and mineral levels as well as the in vitro antioxidant capacity, using the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay, of waste from cantaloupe was assessed. Then the matrix was subjected to ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) and response surface methodology (RSM) was used for the optimization of the extraction of carotenoids. The effect of the extraction procedure on the microstructure of the powder was assessed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. The major carotenoids identified were lutein (63.24 ±â€¯0.73 µg ßCE/g dw) and ß-carotene (56.43 ±â€¯0.11 µg ßCE/g dw). Several mineral elements (K, Na, P, Mg, Ca, Fe, Cu, Mn and Zn) were identified, potassium being the major one.The extract exhibited in vitro antioxidant activity (IC50 = 7.33 ±â€¯0.22 µg/mL). The RSM results showed that an amplitude of 100%, extraction time of 10 min, hexane percentage of 80% in hexane/acetone solvent, and solvent-to-solid ratio of 55 mL/g were the optimal conditions for the extraction of carotenoids. Under these conditions, the carotenoid content of the extract was 124.61 ±â€¯3.82 µg/g.The microscopic analysis revealed the effectiveness of the ultrasound treatment that results in noticeable physical changes, like microscopic perforations and breakages.

Antioxidant effects of extra virgin olive oil enriched by myrtle phenolic extracts on iron-mediated lipid peroxidation under intestinal conditions model.

Chelating and free radicals scavenging activities of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) enriched by Myrtus communis phenolic compounds (McPCs), α-tocopherol and Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) were evaluated using chemical assays, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and Oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), and biological model as 2,2'-azobis (2-aminopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH) or Fe+3/Ascorbic acid (Fe+3/AsA) system mediated peroxidation of l-α-phosphatidylcholine aqueous dispersions stabilized by bile salts (BS) under simulated intestinal conditions (pH 7.4). McPC-EEVOO increased significantly the neutralization of DPPH radical and AAPH-derived radicals in ORAC assay more than α-tocopherol and BHT. The phospholipid stability increased by a factor of 33.6%, 34.8%, 19.3% and 10.7% for myrtle microwave assisted extraction (MAE) and conventional extraction (CE) extracts, α-tocopherol and BHT, respectively, as compared to the control (EVOO without enrichment) in Fe+3/AsA system. But a slightly additive effect was observed when AAPH system was used. Our observation showed that McPCs may interact positively with EVOO to inhibit phospholipid peroxidation, and thus, McPC-EEVOO could be a potential functional food.

Phytochemical analysis of Myrtus communis plant: Conventional versus microwave assisted-extraction procedures.

Background Myrtle (Myrtus communis L) may constitute an interesting dietary source of health protective compounds. Microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) of total phenolic compounds (TPC) from myrtle leaf, stems, pericarp, and seeds was studied and the results were compared with those of the conventional method extraction (CME) in terms of extraction time. Methods Extraction yield/efficiency and antioxidant activity were measured using radical scavenging assay (DPPH•) and reducing power. Results The results show that the MAE was higher in terms of saving energy, extraction time (62 s) and extraction efficiency of bioactive compound compared to CME (2 h). Leaf presented the optimum content of total phenols (250 mg GAE.g-1 DW) and flavonoids (13.65 mg GAE.g-1 DW). However, the anthocyanin content was most important in pericarp extract (176.50±2.17 mg Cyd-3-glu g-1 DW). The antioxidant activity was important in all parts, mainly in leaves. The results indicated that appropriate microwave treatment could be an efficient process to phenolic compounds recovery and thus, better the antioxidant activity of myrtle extract. Conclusions Principal component analysis (PCA) applied to the experimental data shows that the distribution of the myrtle phenolic compounds depended on their plant part localization as well as the extraction method.

Antioxidant capacity and phenolic content of two Algerian Mentha species M. rotundifolia (L.) Huds, M. pulegium L., extracted with different solvents.

Background It is important to consider the optimum conditions and processing factors (like solvent type) influencing activity of plant antioxidants for utilization in food and biological systems. Methods The antioxidant capacity and phenolic content of two Mentha species, namely, Mentha pulegium L. (MP) and Mentha rotundifolia (L.) Huds (MR), were studied and six solvent systems were used. The total antioxidant capacity of the mint species extracts was evaluated using phosphomolybdenum method and the free radical-scavenging capacity by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical-scavenging assay. Results The efficiency of the used solvents to extract phenols from the two species varied considerably. The highest total phenolic content was obtained from methanol extract of MP (25.3±1.3 mg GAE/gdw) and total flavonoid content from methanol extract of MR (10.1±0.1 mg QE/gdw). High phenol content was significantly correlated with high antioxidant capacity. The methanol extracts showed the highest radical scavenging activity. All the extracts showed variable antioxidant capacity by the formation of phosphomolybdenum complex. Acetone extract of MP and methanol extract of MR exhibited marked reducing power in this method. Conclusions Our findings identified the appropriate solvent for extracting MP and MR phenolics which might provide a rich source of natural antioxidants.

Microwave optimization of mucilage extraction from Opuntia ficus indica Cladodes.

In this study, microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) of polysaccharides from Opuntia ficus indica Cladodes were investigated using response surface methodology (RSM). The effects of three extraction factors on the yield of mucilage were examined. The results indicated that the optimum extraction conditions were determined as follows: microwave power X1, 700 W; extraction time X2, 5.15 minand ratio water/raw material X3, 4.83 mL/g at fixed pH 11. Under these optimal extraction conditions, mucilage yield was found to be Y, 25.6%. A comparison between the model results and experimental data gave a high correlation coefficient (R(2)=0.88), adjusted coefficient (Radj=0.83) and low root mean square error (RMSE=2.45) and showed that the two models were able to predict a mucilage yield by green extraction microwave process.

Comparison of microwave, ultrasound and accelerated-assisted solvent extraction for recovery of polyphenols from Citrus sinensis peels.

Peel of Citrus sinensis contains significant amounts of bioactive polyphenols that could be used as ingredients for a number of value-added products with health benefits. Extraction of polyphenols from the peels was performed using a microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) technique. The effects of aqueous acetone concentration, microwave power, extraction time and solvent-to-solid ratio on the total phenolic content (TPC), total antioxidant activity (TAA) (using DPPH and ORAC-values) and individual phenolic acids (IPA) were investigated using a response surface method. The TPC, TAA and IPA of peel extracts using MAE was compared with conventional, ultrasound-assisted and accelerated solvent extraction. The maximum predicted TPC under the optimal MAE conditions (51% acetone concentration in water (v/v), 500 W microwave power, 122 s extraction time and 25 mL g(-1) solvent to solid ratio), was 12.20 mg GAE g(-1) DW. The TPC and TAA in MAE extracts were higher than the other three extracts.

Optimization of microwave-assisted extraction of polyphenols from Myrtus communis L. leaves.

Phytochemicals, such as phenolic compounds, are of great interest due to their health-benefitting antioxidant properties and possible protection against inflammation, cardiovascular diseases and certain types of cancer. Maximum retention of these phytochemicals during extraction requires optimised process parameter conditions. A microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) method was investigated for extraction of total phenolics from Myrtus communis leaves. The total phenolic capacity (TPC) of leaf extracts at optimised MAE conditions was compared with ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) and conventional solvent extraction (CSE). The influence of extraction parameters including ethanol concentration, microwave power, irradiation time and solvent-to-solid ratio on the extraction of TPC was modeled by using a second-order regression equation. The optimal MAE conditions were 42% ethanol concentration, 500 W microwave power, 62 s irradiation time and 32 mL/g solvent to material ratio. Ethanol concentration and liquid-to-solid ratio were the significant parameters for the extraction process (p<0.01). Under the MAE optimised conditions, the recovery of TPC was 162.49 ± 16.95 mg gallic acidequivalent/gdry weight(DW), approximating the predicted content (166.13 mg GAE/g DW). When bioactive phytochemicals extracted from Myrtus leaves using MAE compared with UAE and CSE, it was also observed that tannins (32.65 ± 0.01 mg/g), total flavonoids (5.02 ± 0.05 mg QE/g) and antioxidant activities (38.20 ± 1.08 µg GAE/mL) in MAE extracts were higher than the other two extracts. These findings further illustrate that extraction of bioactive phytochemicals from plant materials using MAE method consumes less extraction solvent and saves time.

Degradation kinetic modelling of ascorbic acid and colour intensity in pasteurised blood orange juice during storage.

The stability of ascorbic acid and colour intensity in pasteurised blood orange juice (Citrus sinensis [L.] Osbeck) during one month of storage was investigated at 4-37 °C. The effects of ascorbic acid fortification (at 100, 200 mg L(-1)) and deaeration, temperature/time storage on the kinetic behaviour were determined. Ascorbic acid was monitored by HPLC-DAD and colour intensity by spectrophotometric measurements. Degradation kinetics were best fitted by first-order reaction models for both ascorbic acid and colour intensity. Three models (Arrhenius, Eyring and Ball) were used to assess the temperature-dependent degradation. Following the Arrhenius model, activation energies were ranged from 51 to 135 kJ mol(-1) for ascorbic acid and from 49 to 99 kJ mol(-1) for colour intensity. The effect of storage temperature and deaeration are the most influent factors on kinetics degradation, while the fortification revealed no significant effect on ascorbic acid content and colour intensity.