Comprehensive Analysis of Antioxidant and Hepatoprotective Properties of Morus nigra L.

The framework of this study was a comprehensive investigation of Morus nigra L. extracts, with the aim to establish the correlation between chemical composition and antioxidant/hepatoprotective activity of a series of black mulberry extracts obtained from aerial parts of the plant. Black mulberry leaf (MLEE), bark (MBEE), juice (MJ) and fresh fruit (MFEE) extracts were obtained using the conventional Soxhlet extraction, while the supercritical CO2 extraction procedure was employed for preparation of the seed oil (MSO). Analysis of the chemical composition was performed using spectrophotometric, HPLC and GC methods. For the evaluation of antioxidant activity, in vitro FRAP and DPPH assays were applied. In Haan strain NMRI mice with streptozotocin-induced oxidative stress, in vivo antioxidant activity and liver tissue integrity were examined. The content of polyphenolic compounds was the highest in MBEE (68.3 ± 0.7 mgGAE/g) with the most abundant compounds being polyphenolic acids, followed by MLEE (23.4 ± 0.5 mgGAE/g) with the flavonoids isoquercetin and rutin being present in a significant amount. An analysis of MSO revealed a high content of γ-linoleic acid. The highest antioxidant activity in vitro (FRAP and DPPH) was observed for MLEE, MBEE and MSO. Beneficial effects were confirmed in vivo, with lower values of hepatosomatic index, potentiation of the activity of the enzymes superoxide dismutase and catalase, a lower rate of lipid peroxidation and reduced positivity for the P450 enzyme in animals treated with MLEE, MBEE and MSO. Black mulberry leaf and bark extracts as well as seed oil exhibited significant antioxidant activity. Apart from the confirmed biological properties of the fruit and leaf extracts, the observed activities of black mulberry seed oil and bark extract imply its importance as a sustainable source of phytochemicals.

Supercritical carbon-oxide extracts from cultivated and wild-grown Ganoderma lucidum mushroom: differences in ergosterol and ganoderic acids content, antioxidative and enzyme inhibitory properties.

In the present study, we investigated the effect of supercritical carbon-oxide (scCO2) extraction on antioxidant capacity, enzyme inhibitory potential, and levels of ergosterol and ganoderic acid in both cultivated and wild-grown G. lucidum. Extraction yields were slightly higher for wild samples (1.29%) than for cultivated ones (1.13%). The levels of ganoderic acid and ergosterol were higher in cultivated in comparison to wild samples. In addition, the total phenolic content in cultivated samples (13.42 mg GAE g-1) was higher than in wild samples (10.38 mg GAE g-1). In general, cultivated samples exhibited stronger antioxidant potential when compared with wild ones. Regarding enzyme inhibitory properties, it was validated that the wild samples (14.01 mg OE g-1) possessed greater lipase activity in comparison to cultivated samples (5.36 mg OE g-1). Based on our findings, cultivated G. lucidum might be considered a valuable source of natural bioactive agents in the preparation of health-promoting products.

Towards a modern approach to traditional use of Helichrysum italicum in dermatological conditions: In vivo testing supercritical extract on artificially irritated skin.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Helichrysum italicum has been widely used in traditional medicine to treat allergies, colds, cough, skin, liver and gallbladder disorders, inflammation, infections, and sleeplessness. Furthermore, it possesses considerable wound healing and skin protective properties, documented by several in vivo studies performed on animals. However, there is a lack of experimental evidence supporting its potential as a topical agent tested by human clinical trials. AIM OF THE STUDY: The study aimed to investigate the skin protective activity of cotton gauze and polypropylene non-woven fabric, impregnated with H. italicum extract by the integrated supercritical CO2 extraction-supercritical solvent impregnation process. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The integrated process of supercritical CO2 extraction of H. italicum and the impregnation of cotton gauze and polypropylene non-woven fabric was performed under 350 bar and 40 °C with and without the addition of ethanol as a cosolvent. Impregnated textile materials were tested in vivo for their bioactivity on irritated human skin. Randomized in vivo studies performed involved assays of both safety and efficacy of the impregnated textiles. The effects were evaluated using the in vivo non-invasive biophysical measurements of the following skin parameters: electrical capacitance, transepidermal water loss, melanin index, erythema index, and skin pH. RESULTS: Both cotton gauze and polypropylene non-woven fabric were impregnated with H. italicum extracts under supercritical conditions with considerable values of the impregnation yield (1.97%-4.25%). The addition of ethanol as a cosolvent during the process caused significant changes in the incorporated extracts' impregnation yield and chemical profile. Both impregnated textile materials were safe, evaluated by their testing on the human skin with no cause of any irritation and redness. However, efficacy studies revealed that polypropylene non-woven fabric impregnated with H. italicum extract with ethanol as a cosolvent, possessed significantly greater potential for skin protection than the other investigated samples. CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrated the feasibility of the combined supercritical extraction and impregnation process in developing materials for topical application based on H. italicum extract. The results of in vivo studies performed on human volunteers confirmed the suitability of H. italicum active components to be a part of human skin protective preparations because of their ability to maintain the skin unimpaired. Traditionally claimed applications as a medicinal plant capable of regenerating skin have been scientifically proven, in addition to employing green technology in obtaining the impregnated materials with a broad spectrum of utilization.

Enhanced Skin Performance of Emulgel vs. Cream as Systems for Topical Delivery of Herbal Actives (Immortelle Extract and Hemp Oil).

Immortelle, as rich source of chlorogenic acid and the phloroglucinol alpha-pyrone compound arzanol, possesses anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, affects cell regeneration, and has positive effect on many skin conditions. Hemp oil, characterized by a favorable omega-6 to omega-3 ratio, as well as an abundance of essential fatty acids and vitamin E, participates in immunoregulation and also act as an anti-inflammatory. In the present study, we examined the effect on the skin of creams and emulgels with immortelle extract and hemp oil, by comparing them to placebo samples and a non-treated control. A long-term in vivo study of biophysical skin characteristics, which lasted for 30 days, was conducted on 25 healthy human volunteers. Measured parameters were electrical capacitance of the stratum corneum, trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL), and skin pH and erythema index. Further, a sensory study was carried out in which the panelists had to choose descriptive terms for sensory attributes in questionnaire. The results showed that application of all preparations led to increase of skin hydration and TEWL reduction, while the skin was not irritated, and its normal pH was not disrupted. This study also showed importance of the carrier. Not only were emulgels described by panelists as preparations with better sensory properties, there was a significant difference between the skin hydration effect of emulgel with immortelle extract and hemp oil compared to the placebo emulgel, which was not the case with creams. Such findings indicated enhanced delivery of herbal active substances from emulgel compared to the cream.

Old Plant, New Possibilities: Wild Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L., Ericaceae) in Topical Skin Preparation.

Bilberry represents a valuable source of antioxidant substances responsible for its application for the treatment of different conditions (such as inflammation, cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and different age-related diseases) associated with increased oxidative stress. As oxidative stress might cause skin impairments, we aim to evaluate a topical preparation containing bilberry leaves extract and bilberry seeds oil, obtained as a byproduct of the food industry. To obtain the extracts, the conventional maceration technique for leaves, and supercritical carbon dioxide extraction for seeds were employed. The chemical profile of both actives was achieved by HPLC and GC methods, revealing the presence of phenolic acids (chlorogenic being the most abundant), flavonoids (isoquercetin in the highest amount), and resveratrol in leaves extract, while in seeds oil the essential ω-3 and ω-6 fatty acids were determined in favorable ratio, almost being 1. Antioxidant potential of the wild bilberry extract and seed oil was evaluated using in vitro DPPH and FRAP assays. Finally, effects of the oil-in-water creams with mentioned wild bilberry isolates on the skin were investigated in an in vivo study conducted on healthy human volunteers, revealing the significant beneficial effects when topically applied.

Supercritical and ultrasound-assisted extracts from Pleurotus pulmonarius mushroom: chemical profiles, antioxidative, and enzyme-inhibitory properties.

BACKGROUND: This study provides an insight into the impact of ultrasound-assisted extraction with water as solvent (UAEW) and extraction by supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2 ) with 5% EtOH on antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory activity in regard to the chemical profile of the edible and medicinal mushroom, Pleurotus pulmonarius. RESULTS: Extraction efficiency was between 0.36% and 63.32%, depending on the extraction technique. The main compounds in the extracts were fatty acids. Supercritical CO2 extraction with co-solvent was the most suitable method for obtaining extracts that were rich in ergosterol content, reaching a value of 40.1 mg g-1 . The UAEW of crude mushroom powder ensured the highest yield, as well as the extracts with best antioxidative activity. The measurements of enzyme inhibitory activity revealed that all types of investigated extracts exhibited only tyrosinase and amylase inhibition at a significant level. CONCLUSION: Based on our results, the extraction methods significantly affected the chemical profile and bioactivity of P. pulmonarius. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Plant growth-promoting bacteria elevate the nutritional and functional properties of black cumin and flaxseed fixed oil.

BACKGROUND: In order to study the influence of plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) belonging to Streptomyces sp., Paenibacillus sp., and Hymenobacter sp. on fixed oil content of flaxseed and black cumin, 2-year field experiments were conducted. PGPB was applied during seedtime of plants. The extraction of oil from seeds was performed using supercritical CO2 . RESULTS: The addition of PGPB significantly increases the content of C18:1 (from 16.06 ± 0.03% to 16.97 ± 0.03%) and C18:3 (from 42.97 ± 0.2% to 45.42 ± 0.5%) in flaxseed oil and C18:2 (from 52.68 ± 0.50% to 57.11 ± 0.40%) and C20:2 (from 4.34 ± 0.02% to 4.54 ± 0.03%) in black cumin seed oil. The contents of total polyphenols, flavonoids, and carotenoids, as well as antioxidant activity measured by ferric-reducing ability of plasma assay, were found to be greater in the oil from the seeds of plants treated with the PGPB, compared with the respective non-treated samples. CONCLUSION: The use of PGPB enhances plant nutritive properties; these represent a great source for obtaining valuable functional food ingredients. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

Separation of phytochemicals from Helichrysum italicum: An analysis of different isolation techniques and biological activity of prepared extracts.

Helichrysum italicum presents a valuable source of natural bioactive compounds. In this work, a literature review of terpenes, phenolic compounds, and other less common phytochemicals from H. italicum with regard to application of different separation methods is presented. Data including extraction/separation methods and experimental conditions applied, obtained yields, number of identified compounds, content of different compound groups, and analytical techniques applied are shown as corresponding tables. Numerous biological activities of both isolates and individual compounds are emphasized. In addition, the data reported are discussed, and the directions for further investigations are proposed.