Optimizing prickly pear by-product valorization: formulating molasses with enhanced antioxidant capacities and sugar contents.

This study endeavoured to capitalize on prickly pear by-products for the optimization of molasses formulation, targeting elevated antioxidant capacities and superior sugar contents. Through robust statistical modelling, the optimal cooking parameters-temperature (70-80 °C) and duration (60-90 min)-were determined, guided by responses of antioxidant activity and Brix value. A D-Optimal mixture design further delineated the ideal proportions of molasses components (pulp, peel, and seeds). Characterization revealed that peel harboured the highest concentrations of total polyphenols (396.41 mg GAE/100g FW) and flavonoids (234.26 mg CE/100g FW), emphasizing its antioxidant potential (DPPH inhibition IC50: 12.72 µg/ml). The optimal cooking conditions were established at 78.35 °C for 79.70 min, with predictive equations guiding ingredient proportions (0.265 g pulp, 0.710 g peel, 0.025 g seed). Intriguingly, while peel inclusion enhanced total sugar content and antioxidant activity, seed incorporation exerted a contrasting effect by reducing total sugar content and limiting antioxidant activity.

Domestic cooking effects on nutritional quality and phytochemical contents of zinc biofortified Lepidium sativum L. sprouts.

The impact of the common cooking practices on the nutritional value and the antioxidant contents of Lepidium sativum zinc biofortified sprouts was assessed in the present investigation. Garden cress sprouts showed an increase of dry matter, ash, proteins, carbohydrates, sodium, iron and zinc contents according to the applied cooking process. Antinutrient and pigment contents (chlorophylls, carotenoids and anthocyans) were diminished by applying various cooking treatments. A significant drop of total phenolic (25.57 - 60.87%) and total flavonoid contents (58.04 - 71.86%), catechin hydrate (81.90 - 96.15%), sinapic acid (62.44 - 84.79%), myricitin (97.62 - 99.12%) and rutin (52.83 - 83.41%) was detected in cooked plant material. Nevertheless, cooking practices raised the caffeic acid contents by 21.97 to 29.74% and boil and steam cooking increased the chlorogenic acid amounts by 1.89% and 9.28%, respectively. Microwaving favored an improvement of the antioxidant performances. Overall, Microwaving permitted good nutrients retention along with the best antioxidant performances.

Biochemical Composition, Antioxidant Capacity and Protective Effects of Three Fermented Plants Beverages on Hepatotoxicity and Nephrotoxicity Induced by Carbon Tetrachloride in Mice.

Functional beverages play an essential role in our modern life and contribute to nutritional well-being. Current efforts to understand and develop functional beverages to promote health and wellness have been enhanced. The present study aimed to investigate the production of three fermented plants beverages (FPBs) from aromatic and medicinal plants and to evaluate the fermented product in terms of physio-biochemical composition, the aromatic compounds, antioxidant activity, and in vivo protective effects on hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). The results showed that the fermented beverage NurtBio B had the highest levels of polyphenols, flavonoids, and tannins; 242.3 ± 12.4 µg GAE/mL, 106.4 ± 7.3 µg RE/mL and 94.2 ± 5.1 µg CE/mL, respectively. The aromatic profiles of the fermented beverages showed thirty-one interesting volatile compounds detected by GC-MS headspace analyses such as benzaldehyde, Eucalyptol, Fenchone, 3-Octadecyne, Estragole, and Benzene propanoic acid 1-methylethyl ester. In addition, the fermentation process was significantly improved, indicating its great potential as a functional food with both strong antioxidant activity and good flavor. In vivo administration of CCl4 in mice induced hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity by a significant rise in the levels of serum liver and kidney biomarkers. The protective effects of the FPBs showed that they significantly restored the majority of these biological parameters to normal levels, along with increase antioxidant enzyme activities, as well as an improvement of histopathological changes, suggesting their protective effects.

Potential bio-functional properties of Citrus aurantium L. leaf: chemical composition, antiviral activity on herpes simplex virus type-1, antiproliferative effects on human lung and colon cancer cells and oxidative protection.

This study examined the antioxidant, anticancer and antiviral properties of the methanolic extracts from bigarade (Citrus aurantium L.) leaves at two development stages. Ferulic acid, naringin and naringenin were the principal phenolic components of young and old leaves. The highest total antioxidant capacity was obtained in young leaf extracts (YLE). These latter also exhibited the highest antiradical DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) and ABTS (2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)) activities, while the highest iron chelating and reducing power activities were observed in old leaf extracts (OLE). The potent anticancer activity was observed in YLE for human lung carcinoma (A-549) and in OLE for colon adenocarcinoma (DLD-1) cells. YLE showed the highest virucidal effects as compared to OLE and the positive control acyclovir against herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) propagation in Vero cells during the absorption and replication periods. The young and old leaves might be a source of natural antioxidants and protective agents against oxidative damage.

Quality of Edible Sesame Oil as Obtained by Green Solvents: In Silico versus Experimental Screening Approaches.

The present study aimed to investigate the qualitative and quantitative performance of five green solvents, namely 2-methyltetrahydrofuran (MeTHF), cyclopentyl methyl ether (CPME), p-cymene, d-limonene and ethanol to substitute n-hexane, for sesame seed oil extraction. In fact, both CPME and MeTHF gave higher crude yields than n-hexane (58.82, 54.91 and 50.84%, respectively). The fatty acid profile of the sesame seed oils remained constant across all the solvent systems, with a predominance of oleic acid (39.27-44.35%) and linoleic acid (38.88-43.99%). The total sterols gained the upmost amount with CPME (785 mg/100 g oil) and MeTHF (641 mg/100 g oil). CPME and MeTHF were also characterized by the optimum content of tocopherols (52.3 and 50.6 mg/100 g oil, respectively). The highest contents of total phenols in the sesame seed oils were extracted by CPME (23.51 mg GAE/g) and MeTHF (22.53 mg GAE/g) as compared to the other solvents, especially n-hexane (8 mg GAE/g). Additionally, sesame seed oils extracted by MeTHF and CPME also had the highest antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties as compared to the other green solvents and n-hexane, encouraging their manufacturing use for sesame seed oil extraction.

Biological control of Citrus brown spot pathogen, "Alternaria alternata" by different essential oils.

The antifungal effects of laurel, myrtle and peppermint essential oils and their combinations were investigated in vitro on two strains of Alternaria alternata mycelial growth and in vivo on detached Citrus leaf disease incidence. Myrtle essential oil was rich in α-pinene and 1,8-cineole while peppermint essential oil in menthol and menthone. 1,8-Cineole was the main component of the essential oils from laurel, laurel + myrtle and peppermint + laurel. The combined peppermint and myrtle essential oil was characterized by the predominance of menthol and 1,8-cineole. All tested essential oils, incorporated in potato-dextrose agar, inhibited A. alternata mycelial growth and had a fungistatic effect at concentration 3 mg/mL of medium. A great synergism was detected between peppermint and laurel essential oils against the two strains of A. alternata. The combined laurel and peppermint essential oil reduced mycelial growth rates of inoculated detached leaves at concentration above 1.5 mg/mL.

Phytochemical analysis, antioxidant, anticancer and anti-inflammatory activities of Lycium europaeum fruits.

Lycium europaeum is used as a medicinal herb in many countries. In this study, cyclohexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, methanol and water were used as solvents in the extraction of L. europaeum fruits. The contents of total phenolics, total flavonoids, total tannins and condensed tannins as well as the biological activities of these extracts were investigated using various in vitro and ex vivo assays. Results showed that all solvent extracts of L. europaeum had no anticancer activity against cancerous (A-549 and DLD-1) and non-cancerous (WS-1) human cells. Methanol and ethyl acetate were the most effective solvent for extraction of phenolic compounds and also exhibited the highest antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The methanol extract of L. europaeum fruits was the richest in phenolic compounds with the predominance of ferulic acid, catechin and narengin. These results supported the use of L. europaeum fruit as natural source of bioactive compound for pharmaceutical applications.

Essential-Oil-Loaded Nanoemulsion Lipidic-Phase Optimization and Modeling by Response Surface Methodology (RSM): Enhancement of Their Antimicrobial Potential and Bioavailability in Nanoscale Food Delivery System.

Nanoencapsulation is an attractive technique used for incorporating essential oils in foods. Thus, our main goal was to formulate a novel nanoemulsion (NE) with nanoscale droplet size and lowest interfacial tension in the oil-water interface, contributing positively to the stability and the enhancement of essential oil potential. Thereby, response surface methodology (RSM), with mixture design was used to optimize the composition of the NE lipid phase. The essential oil combinations were encapsulated through high-pressure homogenization (HPH) with the binary emulsifier system (Tween 80: Gum Arabic). Then, the electrophoretic and physical properties were evaluated. We also conducted a follow-up stability and antimicrobial study that examined the stabilization mechanism of optimal NE. Thereafter, the effect of nanoencapsulation on the essential oil composition was assessed. The RSM results were best fitted into polynomial models with regression coefficient values of more than 0.95. The optimal NE showed a nanometer-sized droplet (270 nm) and lower interfacial tension (~11 mN/m), favoring negative ζ-potential (-15 mV), showing good stability under different conditions-it synergistically enhances the antimicrobial potential. GC-MS analysis showed that the use of HPH affected the active compounds, consistent with the differences in linalool and 2-Caren-10-al content. Hence, the novel nanometric delivery system contributes to food industry fortification.

Gelatin-chitosan-pectin films incorporated with rosemary essential oil: Optimized formulation using mixture design and response surface methodology.

The aim of this study was to optimize the mechanical and texture properties of edible film improving its antibacterial property after adding rosemary essential oil (REO) using a Doehlert matrix. Films with the highest mechanical properties were acquired using a polymer composition of 65.2% glycerol, 24.3% gelatin, 10.0% chitosan and 0.5% pectin. This composition provided the highest elongation at break, tensile strength and texture values, which were respectively 51.60 ± 6.04%, 8.53 ± 2.36 MPa and 13.67 ± 1.43. The antibacterial activity of REO enriched films against Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus aerogenes, Enterococcus faecalis and Escherichia coli was enhanced when applying a mixture of 1.995 and 1.250 mg/g of two REO extracted from two rosemary different varieties. The structural, optical and barrier properties of the films were evaluated. To conclude, the enriched film showed potential coatings for controlling most common food borne bacteria growth during the food storage.

Green extraction of oil from Carum carvi seeds using bio-based solvent and supercritical fluid: Evaluation of its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.

INTRODUCTION: The consumption of health-promoting products such as oil seeds may improve human health and prevent certain diseases. Carvi seeds have the potential to produce oil with nutritional and functional properties rich in active compounds. OBJECTIVE: To extract bioactive lipids from Carum carvi seeds using green methodologies. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Supercritical-carbon dioxide (Sc-CO2 ) and ethanol as co-solvent and bio-based solvent 2-methyltetrahydrofuran (MeTHF) were used to extract the oil from Carum carvi. The yield, the chemical composition, as well as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of green extracted oils were investigated and compared to those obtained with conventional methods (hexane and Folch system). RESULTS: MeTHF extraction gave higher oil yield than that obtained by hexane. Fatty acids composition of the two obtained green extracted oils was similar to conventional extracted ones where petroselinic (39-43%), linoleic (29-31%) and oleic (19-21%) acids were the major compounds. Furthermore, MeTHF and Sc-CO2 green extracted oils were enriched of bioactive compounds including sterols (5.4 and 7.3 mg/g oil) and total polyphenols (9.3 and 7.6 mg GAE/g oil) which were correlated to enhanced antiradical capacity. Moreover, the green extracted oils exhibited high anti-inflammatory capacity inhibiting nitric oxide (NO) release in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages with IC50 values of 28 and 24 µg/mL. CONCLUSION: Green solvents are a good alternative to petroleum solvents to recover oil from carvi seeds with high amount of nutritionally important fatty acids, along with significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential.

Does unsaponifiable fraction of grape seed oil attenuate nitric oxide production, oxidant and cytotoxicity activities.

Triterpenoids, tocopherols, and phytosterols presented in unsaponifiable fraction of grape seed oil have several beneficial effects comprising antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor capacities. In this study, the unsaponifiable fraction of three Tunisian grape seed varieties (Vitis vinifera L.), namely Merlot, Carignan, and Syrah, was investigated. The identified compounds were two triterpenic compounds (ß-amyrin, lanosterol), six phytosterols (campesterol, ∆7 -avenasterol, stigmasterol, ß-sitosterol, ß-sitostanol, cholesterol), and three tocopherols (α, ß, and γ tocopherols). The unsaponifiable fraction had significant protection against oxidative damage by modulating NO production and antioxidant activity. Statistical analysis showed the presence of three clusters of varieties associated to specific composition patterns. These results clearly demonstrated that unsaponifiable fraction profiles of grape species could be considered as a complementary data to the existing taxonomic evidence and classification purposes. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Recently, much attention has been focused to substitute artificial antioxidant by others originating from natural products as plant matrices. The unsaponifiable fraction of grape seed oils is an interesting source of bioactive components like phytosterols, tocopherols, triterpenoids, and other various components. These components are known for their antitumor, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant capacities.

Chemical composition and antioxidant potential of essential oil and methanol extract from Tunisian and French fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) seeds.

This study was designed to examine the effect of provenance on the phytochemical and antioxidant properties of essential oil and methanolic extract from Tunisian and French fennel seeds (FFS). Analysis of the essential oil showed that although the same main compounds were found in Tunisian and FFS cultivars, some differences were present in their proportions allowing to classify them in two chemotypes. The first class was composed by trans-anethole (63.41%-78.26%) for Tunisian cultivars and the second one by estragole (44.72%-88.92%) for French cultivars. The phenolic composition of all fennel seed extracts was characterized by its richness in quinic acid, 4-O-caffeoylquinic acid, p-coumaric acid, and 4-O-caffeoylquinic acid. All fennel seed extracts showed a better antioxidant potential than their essential oils depending on the origin. Principal component analysis showed a dispersion of the cultivars on three groups depending on the chemotype diversity. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Recently, much attention has been focused on fennel due to the nutritional and health-protective value of their seeds. Several studies have highlighted the importance of fennel seed extracts and essential oils as key ingredients rich in bioactive compounds serving in formulation of new functional food products. This investigation designed to examine the effect of provenance on phytochemical and antioxidant potentials of Tunisian and French fennel seed extracts and essential oils.

1,2,4-trihydroxynaphthalene-2-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside: A new powerful antioxidant and inhibitor of Aß42 aggregation isolated from the leaves of Lawsonia inermis.

Mounting evidence indicates free radicals as toxic species causing damage to human cells leading to the pathogenesis of many diseases such as neurodegenerative disease. Plant derived antioxidants are considered as promising strategy to prevent free radical toxicity. In this study, the crude extract (CE), 50%MeOH, Petroleum Ether (PE) and Ethyl acetate (EA) fractions of Lawsonia inermis leaves were investigated for their antioxidant activity and their ability to counteract amyloid-ß42 (Aß42) aggregation. Elution of the most bioactive fraction (EA) on silica gel column chromatography led to six sub-fractions. The most active sub-fraction (1) was further resolved on silica gel column chromatography. A new compound with powerful antioxidant and anti-Aß42 aggregation properties was purified and characterised by spectroscopic methods as 1,2,4-trihydroxynaphthalene-2-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside (THNG). This finding suggests that the antioxidant and anti-Aß42 aggregation activities of L. inermis leaves are strongly correlated to this compound.

Does Lycium europaeum leaf have antihyperglycemic, antihyperlipidemic and antioxidant effects

The purpose of the present investigation is to assess, for the first time, the antidiabetic, antihyperlipidemic and antioxidant activities of Lycium europaeum extract in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced in adult male Wistar rats via a single subcutaneous alloxan injection (120 mg/kg). Lycium europaeum aqueous extract was orally administered at a dose of 20 mg/kg for 28 consecutive days. Serum concentrations of total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglycerides (TG) were assayed at the end of the experimental period in all investigated groups. Antioxidant enzymes such as glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were sought in the serum and pancreas. Lycium europaeum extract significantly increased HDL-C and reduced blood glucose, TC, LDL-C and TG as compared to the alloxan-control group. Lycium europaeum extract was also efficient in reducing oxidative stress in diabetic rats by increasing SOD, CAT and GPx activities both in the pancreas and the plasma of the animals. Moreover, Lycium europaeum extract contained considerable levels of polyphenols and flavonoids. It also exhibited an important antioxidant capacity and a remarkable ability to quench DPPH radicals and reduce irons. The obtained results highlight potentially relevant health beneficial effects of Lycium europaeum extract, reversing hyperglycemic, hyperlipidemic and oxidative stress effects in rats with alloxan-induced diabetes. Therefore, it may be considered as a promising alternative or complementary agent to diabetes treatment.

1,2,4-trihydroxynaphthalene-2-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside delays amyloid-ß42 aggregation and reduces amyloid cytotoxicity.

Presently, misfolding and aggregation of amyloid-ß42 (Aß42 ) are considered early events in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis. The use of natural products to inhibit the aggregation process and to protect cells from cytotoxicity of early aggregate grown at the onset of the aggregation path is one of the promising strategies against AD. Recently, we have purified a new powerful antioxidant and inhibitor of Aß42 aggregation from the leaves of Lawsonia inermis. The new compound was identified as a new Lawsoniaside; 1,2,4-trihydroxynaphthalene-2-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside (THNG). Herein, we show that THNG interferes with Aß42 aggregation, inhibits its conformational change to a ß-sheet-rich structure, decreases its polymerization into large fibrillar species, reduces oxidative stress, and aggregate cytotoxicity. These results indicate that THNG has great potential as a neuroprotective and therapeutic agent against AD. © 2018 BioFactors, 44(3):272-280, 2018.

A review of Tunisian medicinal plants with anticancer activity.

Cancer is a major public health problem in the world. The use of the medicinal plants in cancer prevention and management is frequent in Africa, especially in Tunisia, and it is transmitted from generation to generation within cultures. Many previous studies showed that a wide range of Tunisian medicinal plants exerted cytotoxic and anticancer activity. A comprehensive review was conducted to collect information from scientific journal articles, including indigenous knowledge researches, about Tunisian medicinal plants used for the prevention and management of cancer. The aim of this review article is to provide the reader with information concerning the importance of Tunisian medicinal plants in the prevention and management of cancer and to open the door for the health professionals and scientists working in the field of pharmacology and therapeutics to produce new drug formulations to treat different types of cancer.

Combined anti-ages and antioxidant activities of different solvent extracts of Solanum elaeagnifolium Cav (Solanacea) fruits during ripening and related to their phytochemical compositions.

Oxidative stress and advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are known as key factors for the development of diabetic complications such as retinopathy, cataract as well as atherosclerosis and neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's diseases. In this context, natural products have been previously identified as promising sources for antioxidant and anti-glycation compounds. The current study focuses on the evaluation of antioxidant and glycation inhibitory activities of different solvent extracts of Solanum elaeagnifolium Cav (Solanaceae) fruits at different ripening stages. The results showed that antioxidant and anti-AGEs activities were significantly influenced by solvents polarities and ripening stages of S. elaeagnifolium Cav. With one exception, methanolic extract of overripe S. elaeagnifolium Cav fruit showed important protective effects against cellular oxidative stress. The aqueous extract showed the highest ABTS(+) scavenging ability. Principal component analysis showed that total phenolic and flavonoid contents correlated well with observed antioxidants and anti-glycation activities. These results bring attention to the possible use of S. elaeagnifolium Cav as a valuable source of bioactive compounds exhibiting antioxidant effects and potentially alleviating diabetic complications.

Changes of peel essential oil composition of four Tunisian citrus during fruit maturation.

The present work investigates the effect of ripening stage on the chemical composition of essential oil extracted from peel of four citrus: bitter orange (Citrus aurantium), lemon (Citrus limon), orange maltaise (Citrus sinensis), and mandarin (Citrus reticulate) and on their antibacterial activity. Essential oils yields varied during ripening from 0.46 to 2.70%, where mandarin was found to be the richest. Forty volatile compounds were identified. Limonene (67.90-90.95%) and 1,8-cineole (tr-14.72%) were the most represented compounds in bitter orange oil while limonene (37.63-69.71%), ß-pinene (0.63-31.49%), γ-terpinene (0.04-9.96%), and p-cymene (0.23-9.84%) were the highest ones in lemon. In the case of mandarin, the predominant compounds were limonene (51.81-69.00%), 1,8-cineole (0.01-26.43%), and γ-terpinene (2.53-14.06%). However, results showed that orange peel oil was dominated mainly by limonene (81.52-86.43%) during ripening. The results showed that ripening stage influenced significantly the antibacterial activity of the oils against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This knowledge could help establish the optimum harvest date ensuring the maximum essential oil, limonene, as well as antibacterial compounds yields of citrus.