Investigation of microwave extraction of red cabbage and its neurotherapeutic potential.

In the pursuit of bioactive compounds with health benefits from food and medicinal plants, optimization of process to reduce solvent, raw material, energy and time consumption has been a valuable research objective. Sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources are of critical importance for sustainability goals. In this manner, microwave extraction of red cabbage which has been a mass cultivated plant for food purposes, was optimized for maximizing acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase, tyrosinase inhibitory activity and bioactive content. Quantitative analysis of total phenol, flavonoid and anthocyanin content were performed using spectrophotometry and UPLC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS. Optimum conditions were determined as 600 W, 100% ethanol, 12 min for butyrylcholinesterase inhibitory and 800 W, 50% ethanol, 4 min for tyrosinase inhibitory activity. Microwave extraction outperformed conventional solvent extracts (hexane, dichloromethane, 2-methyl tetrahydrofuran, ethanol, 70% ethanol and water) in terms of activity and content. The isolated fraction containing major anthocyanins as cyanidin-3-sophoroside-5-glucoside and cyanidin-3-(sinapoyl)-sophoroside-5-glucoside was identified as the responsible portion for tyrosinase inhibitory activity. The dominant anthocyanins rich fraction of the optimum microwave extract can be considered for the production of antityrosinase products, while the identification of inhibitor metabolites for acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase can be targeted for future studies considering red cabbage as a valuable source.

An Ethnobotanical Study of Medicinal Plants in Mersin (Turkey).

This comprehensive ethnobotanical study carried out in Mersin province, which is located in the southern part of Anatolia, east of the Mediterranean Sea, compiles details on plants used in folk medicine and ethnopharmacological information obtained through face-to-face interviews. The aim was to collect and identify plants used for therapeutic purposes by local people and to record information on traditional herbal medicine. Plant specimens were collected in numerous excursions. Additionally, informant consensus factor and use value (UV) were calculated for information gathered. This study identifies 93 plant taxa belonging to 43 families and records their usage in folk medicine; 83 taxa are wild and the remaining 10 are cultivated. The most commonly used plants belong to Lamiaceae, representing 15.0% of the total, while the Rosaceae, Malvaceae, Hypericaceae, Asteraceae and Cupressaceae families each represented another 5.4%. As a result of this investigation, we determine 189 medicinal usages of 93 taxa. The UV values indicate that the most important medicine plants are Hypericum perforatum (0.80), Cedrus libani (0.78), Quercus coccifera (0.77), Arum dioscoridis (0.76) and Juniperus drupaceae (0.74). We observed that most of the drugs are prepared using the infusion method (27.6%). As a conclusion, the study finds that traditional folk medicine usage is still common, especially among the rural population of Mersin.

Paeonia arietina and Paeonia kesrounansis bioactive constituents: NMR, LC-DAD-MS fingerprinting and in vitro assays.

Paeonia species have been valued for their ethnomedicinal uses in various countries and received much interest among the scientific community for their therapeutic properties, including anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, nephroprotective and hepatoprotective effects. The multiple phytotherapeutical applications of Paeonia species inspired us to establish the phytochemical fingerprint and to evaluate the biological properties of ethyl acetate, methanol, and aqueous extracts from the roots and aerial parts of two Paeonia species (P. arietina G. Anderson and P. kesrounansis Thiébaut). Phytoconstituents of P. arietina and P. kesrounansis extracts were analyzed using 1D and 2D NMR and LC-DAD-ESI-MS. The total content of phenolics (TPC) and flavonoids (TFC) in the extracts was also evaluated. The antioxidant activity was profiled using DPPH, ABTS, CUPRAC, FRAP, phosphomolybdenum, and metal chelation assays. Enzyme inhibitory properties were evaluated against acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), tyrosinase, α-amylase, and α-glucosidase. Phytochemical analysis of P. arietina and P. kesrounansis extracts showed the presence of galloyl esters of sugars, galloyl monoterpenes, and glycosylated flavonoids. The three solvent extracts presented different behavior in the bioassays. The highest antioxidant activity, tyrosinase and AChE inhibition were observed for the methanolic extract of the aerial parts of P. kesrounansis. In addition, the ethyl acetate extracts of the aerial parts of both plants were the most effective inhibitors of α-amylase. The highest BChE inhibition was observed for root methanolic extract of P. kesrounansis while the root ethyl acetate extract of P. arietina exerted the strongest inhibition of α-glucosidase. Methanol extract of P. kesrounansis aerial parts presented the highest TPC, while TFC was greatest in the corresponding extract of P. arietina. Our findings can be considered as a starting point for future studies to further validate the effectiveness and safety profiles of these plants in folk medicine.

Optimization of microwave assisted extraction of Morus nigra L. fruits maximizing tyrosinase inhibitory activity with isolation of bioactive constituents.

Morus nigra L. is a beneficial food due to rich phenolic components. While aiming higher yields for bioactive constituents, reduction in terms of raw material, solvent, time and energy gained more importance to provide a sustainable life for human and nature. Microwave assisted extraction (MAE) of Morus nigra fruits was optimized in order to elicit process parameters maximizing bioactive metabolites and tyrosinase inhibitory activity. Spectrophotometry and UPLC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS systems were utilized for quantitative analysis of total phenol, flavonoid and anthocyanin contents. Optimum conditions for MAE were determined as 500 W, 35% ethanol, 10 min yielding 12.63 mg/g cya-3-glu equiv. anthocyanin and IC50 value of 1.60 mg/ml for tyrosinase inhibitory activity. Microwave extracts prevailed better outcomes compared to conventional extraction methods (10.93 mg/g content with IC50 of 2.81 mg/ml). MAE could be considered as an advanced technique to obtain extracts from Morus nigra fruits with higher bioactive content and activity.

Bioactivities of Achillea phrygia and Bupleurum croceum based on the composition of phenolic compounds: In vitro and in silico approaches.

This study presents the effects of the Achillea phrygia Boiss. et Bal. and Bupleurum croceum Fenzl. extracts obtained by different solvents (ethyl acetate, methanol and water) on selected enzyme inhibitory effects and antioxidant ability with screening bioactive compounds. Total and individual bioactive compounds were detected by spectrophotometric and HPLC-DAD techniques. Antioxidant abilities were evaluated by different methods including free radical scavenging (ABTS and DPPH), reducing power (CUPRAC and FRAP), phosphomolybdenum and metal chelating. Enzyme inhibitory effects were tested against cholinesterases, tyrosinase, amylase, glucosidase and lipase. Total phenolic contents were ranged from 20.52 mgGAE/g extract (B. croceum methanol extract) to 41.13 mgGAE/g extract (A. phrygia methanol extract). Generally, methanol and water extracts showed the strongest antioxidant abilities, while the ethyl acetate extracts had the most promising enzyme inhibitory effects. HPLC analysis revealed the abundance of some phenolics including rutin, quercetin, sinapic acid and chlorogenic acid, respectively. These components were also assessed using molecular modelling with the aim to study their docking properties on a set of six enzymes used in this study. Overall, these species could be suggested as valuable sources of natural-bioactive agents for developing new functional, pharmacological and health-promoting ingredients.

Investigation of impact of storage conditions on Hypericum perforatum L. dried total extract.

Hypericum perforatum L. (Hypericaceae) has been widely prescribed for mild to moderate depression following the release of promising results in clinical trials. However, it is known that its constituents may be affected by milieu. The stability complexities of the constituents of H. perforatum have gained interest in recent years. The aim of the present study was to examine the impact of storage conditions on H. perforatum total extract simultaneously under different storage conditions. Temperature, humidity, and light conditions were evaluated. Comparative analyses of methanol extracts were conducted using high performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection for chlorogenic acid, rutin, hyperoside, isoquercitrin, quercitrin, quercetin, amentoflavone, pseudohypericin, hyperforin, and hypericin. Analysis and extraction were performed using a validated method. The fluctuation of the constituents of the plant extract has been demonstrated. Among these components, chlorogenic acid was the most stable. Hyperforin, hypericin, and pseudohypericin were more stable than the flavonoids at -20°C, in the 6th month. As estimated, decay was lowest at -20°C and highest at 40°C-75% relative humidity for the analyzed constituents. Except for hyperforin, light protection decreased the breakdown of components within 4 months. However, at the 6th month, equivalent changes were seen for all constituents. Degradation of the constituents at -20°C indicates the importance of stability tests in analysis studies covering time and storage conditions.

Evaluation of antidiabetic, antioxidant and vasoprotective effects of Posidonia oceanica extract.

The aim of this study is to evaluate antidiabetic, antioxidant and vasoprotective effects of Posidonia oceanica extract (POE) in alloxan diabetic rats. Posidonia oceanica (L) Delile (Posidoniaceae), is a widely allocated phanerogam in Mediterranean and Aegean Sea. Up to date, no published data relevant to use of the plant in traditional medicine are available. However, decoction of the leaves has been quoted to be used as a remedy for diabetes mellitus and hypertension by villagers living by the sea coast of Western Anatolia. Oral administration of extract for 15 days (50, 150, and 250 mg/kg b.wt.) resulted in a dose-dependent decrease in blood glucose. Relaxant responses to acetylcholine (ACh) in diabetic thoracic aorta were restored by POE treatment (50, 150, and 250 mg/kg b.wt.). POE also attenuated the augmented phenylephrine (PE) and serotonin (5-HT) contractions. At concentration levels of 150 and 250 mg/kg b.wt., POE exerted a protective effect on the significantly decreased levels of antioxidants namely, glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase and nitric oxide (NO). POE (50mg/kg b.wt.) produced no effect on alloxan-induced alterations in the antioxidant status while possessing glucose lowering and vasoprotective activities. Furthermore, liver and kidney function markers, leucocyte counts, body weight and liver glycogen content remained unchanged at dose level of 50mg/kg b.wt., when compared with diabetic control group. These results suggest that antidiabetic and vasoprotective effects of POE may be unrelated to its antioxidant properties.