Fermentation of soybeans with Pleurotus cornucopiae and Pleurotus ostreatus increases isoflavone aglycones, total polyphenol content and antioxidant activity.

Edible basidiomycetes are highly active in the oxidative decomposition and polymerisation of polyphenols, and soybeans contain large amounts of isoflavones, which are polyphenol glycosides. Isoflavone aglycones exhibit weak estrogenic activities. In this study, we investigated the isoflavone content, polyphenol production, antioxidant activity and ergothioneine (EGT) content of soybeans fermented by Pleurotus cornucopiae and Pleurotus ostreatus. Isoflavone glycosides, which were abundant in unfermented soybeans, decreased, and aglycones increased on day 10 of culture in both edible basidiomycete-fermented soybeans. The total maximum polyphenol content in soybeans fermented by both mushrooms were approximately 4 times higher on day 30 to 40 of culture, than that of unfermented soybeans. P. cornucopiae-fermented soybeans showed maximum antioxidant activity on day 20 of culture, and this was approximately 6.1 times higher than that of unfermented soybeans. EGT was not detected in unfermented soybeans, whereas both fermented soybeans showed a maximum EGT content on day 20 of culture, which was especially high in P. cornucopiae-fermented soybeans. The antioxidant activity and EGT of P. cornucopiae-fermented soybeans were higher than those of P. ostreatus, suggesting that EGT was responsible for the increase in the antioxidant activity of P. cornucopiae-fermented soybeans.

Dihydroquercetin and biochaga reduce H2O2 induced DNA damage in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of obese women in vitro-a pilot study.

Systemic oxidative stress stemming from increased free radical production and reduced antioxidant capacity are common characteristics of obese individuals. Using hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to induce DNA damage in vitro, in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from obese subjects and controls, the DNA protective ability of dihidroqercetin (DHQ) and biochaga (B) alone or in combination, were evaluated. The effects of DHQ and B were estimated under two experimental conditions: pre-treatment, where cells were pre-incubated with the substances prior to H2O2 exposure; and post-treatment when cells were first exposed to H2 H2O2, and further treated with the compounds. DNA damage was evaluated using the comet assay. The results of pre- and post-treatment showed a significant decrease in DNA damage produced by H2O2 in the obese group. This decrease was not significant in control group probably due to a small number of subjects in this pilot study. More prominent attenuation was noted in the pre-treatment with DHQ (250 µg/mL). Analysis of antioxidant properties revealed that DHQ's remarkable reducing power, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activity, and potent ∙OH scavenging properties may contribute to strong attenuation of H2O2 induced DNA damage. Also, B showed strong reducing power, DPPH, and ∙OH scavenging ability, while reducing power and DPPH scavenger effects were increased in the presence of DHQ. Conclusively, DHQ and B may reduce H2O2-induced DNA damage in PBMCs from obese subjects when challenged in vitro, and could be valuable tools in future research against oxidative damage-related conditions.

A Physicochemical Study of the Antioxidant Activity of Corn Silk Extracts.

Corn silk (CS) extracts are reported to contain flavonoids (appx. 59.65 mg quercetin/g), polysaccharides (appx. 58.75 w.%), steroids (appx. 38.3 × 10-3 to 368.9 × 10-3 mg/mL), polyphenols (appx. 77.89 mg/GAE/g) and other functional biological substances. This study investigated the antioxidant activity of corn silk extracts related to their functional compounds. The radical scavenging effect of corn silk extracts was evaluated by the spin-trapping electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) technique, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzo-thiazoline-6-sulfonate) (ABTS•+) free radical measurement, ferric ion-reducing antioxidant power, and copper ion reductive capacity. It was found that the maturity stage of CS plant materials and the applied extraction procedure of their bioactive compounds have a profound effect on the radical scavenging capacity. Differences in the antioxidant activity of the studied corn silk samples based on their maturity were also confirmed. The strongest DPPH radical scavenging effect was observed for the corn silk mature stage (CS-M)stage (CS-MS) (65.20 ± 0.90)%, followed by the silky stage (CS-S) (59.33 ± 0.61)% and the milky stage (CS-M) (59.20 ± 0.92)%, respectively. In general, the final maturity stage (CS-MS) provided the most potent antioxidant effect, followed by the earliest maturity stage (CS-S) and the second maturity stage (CS-M).

An Integrated Strategy for Investigating Antioxidants from Ribes himalense Royle ex Decne and Their Potential Target Proteins.

Natural products have been used extensively around the world for many years as therapeutic, prophylactic, and health-promotive agents. Ribes himalense Royle ex Decne, a plant used in traditional Tibetan medicine, has been demonstrated to have significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the material basis of its medicinal effects has not been sufficiently explored. In this study, we established an integrated strategy by online HPLC-1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, medium-pressure liquid chromatography, and HPLC to achieve online detection and separation of antioxidants in Ribes himalense extracts. Finally, four antioxidants with quercetin as the parent nucleus were obtained, namely, Quercetin-3-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside-7-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside, Quercetin-3-O-ß-D-xylopyranosyl(1-2)-ß-D-glucopyranoside, Quercetin-3-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside, and Quercetin-3-O-ß-D-galactoside. Until now, the four antioxidants in Ribes himalense have not been reported in other literatures. Meanwhile, the free-radical-scavenging ability of them was evaluated by DPPH assay, and potential antioxidant target proteins were explored using molecular docking. In conclusion, this research provides insights into the active compounds in Ribes himalense which will facilitate the advancement of deeper studies on it. Moreover, such an integrated chromatographic strategy could be a strong driver for more efficient and scientific use of other natural products in the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Ziziphus abyssinica root bark extract ameliorates paracetamol-induced liver toxicity in rats possibly via the attenuation of oxidative stress.

Ziziphus abyssinica root bark is widely used in folk medicine to manage liver diseases, particularly, jaundice but its effect on paracetamol-induced liver toxicity (PILT) has not yet been validated. This study explored the ameliorative effect of ethanolic root bark extract of Ziziphus abyssinica (ZAE) against PILT in rats. The flavonoid and phenolic content of ZAE was evaluated using Folin-Ciocalteau and aluminium trichloride colorimetric methods, respectively. Antioxidant activity of ZAE was determined in vitro by evaluating its ferrous reducing antioxidant capacity (FRAC) as well as DPPH and nitic oxide (NO) radicals scavenging activities. Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to six groups (n = 6) and administered with normal saline (10 mL/kg, p.o.), N-acetylcysteine (50 mg/kg, i.p.) and ZAE (30, 100, and 300 mg/kg, p.o.) respectively for seven days after which they received paracetamol (PCM, 3000 mg/kg, p.o.). Animals were sacrificed 48 h after paracetamol administration under light anaesthesia and assessed for liver toxicity and oxidative stress. Total flavonoid and phenolic contents of ZAE were 1313.425 µg/mL quercetin equivalence and 268.31 µg/mL gallic acid equivalence respectively. ZAE exhibited marked FRAC as well as DPPH and NO radical scavenging activities with IC50s of 80.41 ± 1.56, 67.56 ± 1.11 and 7.11 ± 1.48 µg/mL respectively. ZAE and N-acetylcysteine significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the paracetamol-mediated elevation of serum total bilirubin, proteins and activity of liver enzymes (AST, ALP, and ALT). Similarly, ZAE increased hepatic glutathione, total thiols and catalase activity of the paracetamol intoxicated rats. Morphological changes associated with the paracetamol hepatotoxicity were also ameliorated by ZAE. Overall, the hepatoprotective effect of ZAE may be related to its antioxidant property.

Ethnopharmacological Effects of Urtica dioica, Matricaria chamomilla, and Murraya koenigii on Rotenone-Exposed D. melanogaster: An Attenuation of Cellular, Biochemical, and Organismal Markers.

Natural antioxidants derived from plants have been proven to have significant inhibitory effects on the free radicals of living organisms during actively metabolization. Excessive production of free radicals increases the risk of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and motor sclerosis. This study aimed to compare the ethnopharmacological effects of Urtica dioica (UD), Matricaria chamomilla (MC), and Murraya koenigii (MK) on the amelioration of rotenone-induced toxicity in wild-type Drosophila melanogaster (Oregon R+) at biochemical, cellular, and behavioral levels. Phytoextracts were prepared from all three plants, i.e., UD, MC, and MK (aqueous and ethanolic fractions), and their bioactive compounds were evaluated using in vitro biochemical parameters (DPPH, ABTS, TPC, and TFC), UV-Vis, followed by FT-IR and HPLC. Third instar larvae and freshly eclosed flies were treated with 500 µM rotenone alone or in combination with UD, MC, and MK for 24 to 120 h. Following exposure, cytotoxicity (dye exclusion test), biochemical (protein estimation and acetylcholinesterase inhibition assays), and behavioral assays (climbing and jumping assays) were performed. Among all three plant extracts, MK exhibited the highest antioxidant properties due to the highest TPC, TFC, DPPH, and ABTS, followed by UD, then MC. The overall trend was MK > UD > MC. In this context, ethnopharmacological properties mimic the same effect in Drosophila, exhibiting significantly (p < 0.05) reduced cytotoxicity (trypan blue), improved biochemical parameters (proteotoxicity and AChE activity), and better behavioral parameters in the organisms cotreated with phyto extracts compared with rotenone. Conclusively, UV-Vis, FTIR, and HPLC analyses differentiated the plant extracts. The findings of this research may be beneficial in the use of select herbs as viable sources of phyto-ingredients that could be of interest in nutraceutical development and various clinical applications.

Application of High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with Diode Array Detection to Simultaneous Analysis of Reference Antioxidants and 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) in Free Radical Scavenging Test.

Antioxidant activity can be analyzed by various methods, both in vitro and in vivo. The widely used colorimetric method using the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging reaction has many limitations, such as interference from photosynthetic pigments naturally found in plant extracts. The DPPH-HPLC eliminates these troubles by enabling the separation of the DPPH free radical (DPPH-R) peak and its reduced form (DPPH-H) from other extract components. However, simultaneous analysis of antioxidants and evaluation of their activity is more complicated. To date, a post-column reaction with DPPH has been used for this purpose. The aim of the current study was the elaboration on a DPPH-RP-HPLC in gradient elution mode for simultaneous evaluation of the antioxidant activity of standards on the basis of DPPH-R peak inhibition, together with the identification of standards, as well as the products of redox reactions. The following antioxidants (AOs) were used as standards: quercetin, resveratrol, Trolox, chlorogenic acid, hesperetin, and coumarin. Flavone was used as the control chemical without antioxidant activity. The separation of the DPPH-R/DPPH-H pair, together with standards and reaction products, was studied on a C18 column using a gradient of acetonitrile from 5 to 60% within 20 min. The stability of DPPH was evaluated with different gradient profiles. The influence of the addition of acetic acid in concentrations of 0.05 to 1%, the duration of the analysis, and the radiation emitted by the UV lamp of a diode array detector on the induction of DPPH decomposition processes were investigated. The most significant parameter affecting DPPH stability appeared to be the acidic environment and water content in the mobile phase. An increase in the water content from 70 to 95% worsened the LOD of DPPH-R from 31.64 nM to 107.31 nM, as measured at 517 nm, and from 189.41 to 1677.05 nM at 330 nm. Each gradient profile provided good linearity (R2 = 0.9790-0.9977) of the relationship between the DPPH-R as well as DPPH-H peak areas, and a wide concentration range from 0.5 to 2.5 mM for UV-vis detection. Free radical scavenging activity was expressed by the percentage of DPPH-R peak inhibition at 517 nm. This simple method is suitable for monitoring DPPH radical scavenging by AO standards.

DNP and ATP regulate the pulp breakdown development in Phomopsis longanae Chi-infected longan fruit through modulating the ROS metabolism.

Compared with the P. longanae-infected longan, the DNP-treated P. longanae-infected fruit represented a higher pulp breakdown index, a higher O2 -. production rate, and a higher MDA content, but the lower activities of APX, SOD and CAT, the lower transcript levels of DlAPX6, DlSOD1, DlSOD2, DlSOD3 and DlCAT1, the lower values of AsA, GSH, flavonoid and total phenolics, a lower scavenging ability of DPPH radical, and a lower value of reducing power. Whereas, the ATP-treated P. longanae-infected samples showed the contrary results. The above findings indicated that the DNP-promoted the pulp breakdown in P. longanae-infected longan was because DNP weakened the capacity of scavenging ROS, raised the O2 -. level, and accelerated the membrane lipids peroxidation. However, the ATP-suppressed the pulp breakdown in P. longanae-infected longan was because ATP improved the capacity of scavenging ROS, reduced the O2 -. level, and reduced the membrane lipids peroxidation.

Targeted isolation of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl inhibitors from Saxifraga atrata and their antioxidant activities.

Saxifraga atrata is an important traditional Tibetan medicine used to treat cough and pneumonia, and has tremendous medicinal potential. In this study, we devised a technique to separate 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl inhibitors from a methanol extract of S. atrata. The material was first processed using MCI GEL CHP20P medium-pressure liquid chromatography, yielding 1.1 g of the target fraction Fr2. Subsequently, online hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography-1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl assay was used to identify prospective 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl inhibitors, and two 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl inhibitor fractions (Fr24 and Fr25) were identified from Fr2. Then, medium-pressure preparation was continued using an XIon column to separate two 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl inhibitor fractions (Fr24 and Fr25). The target compound was concentrated in fractions Fr24 and Fr25 using reverse-phase liquid chromatography during further separation procedures. Finally, the purity, structure, and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl inhibitory activity of the isolated 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl inhibitors were determined. Two 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl inhibitors (adenosine with the half maximal inhibitory concentration of 66.87 ± 14.33 µM and (-)-4-O-(E)-caffeoyl-l-threonic acid with the half maximal inhibitory concentration of 59.06 ± 5.02 µM) were isolated with purities exceeding 95%. The results showed that this technology is effective in the targeted separation of antioxidants from natural products.

Phomopsis longanae Chi causing the pulp breakdown of fresh longan fruit through affecting reactive oxygen species metabolism.

Phomopsis longanae Chi is a crucial pathogen causing fruit spoilage in postharvest fresh longan. The influence of P. longanae invasion with a suspension containing 1 × 104 P. longanae spores per mL on the breakdown occurrence and ROS metabolism in pulp of longan cv. Fuyan during storage at 28 °C was explicated. Compared to control group, more severe development of pulp breakdown (PB), higher PB index, O2 -. generation rate, H2O2 and MDA content, but lower SOD, APX and CAT activities, GSH, AsA, flavonoid and total phenolics amounts, ability of scavenging DPPH radical, and reducing power were displayed in the pulp of P. longanae-infected fruit during days 0-5. In this context, P. longanae induced breakdown of longan pulp by reducing the scavenging ability of ROS and increasing the cumulation of ROS, thereby enhancing the structural collapse and lipid peroxidation of cell membrane, which were responsible for the PB of harvested longans.

Ameliorating effects of water bamboo shoot (Zizania latifolia) on acute alcoholism in a mice model and its chemical composition.

In this study, the ameliorative effect of water bamboo shoot (WBS) on acute alcoholism mice was investigated and potential biological compounds were explored. Results showed that extraction methods significantly affected the active substances contents and bioactivities of WBS. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that alkali extract (NE) obtained the highest score, therefore, it was selected for further analysis. Animal experiments showed that NE demonstrated ameliorative effects on acute alcoholism mice as evident by significantly elevated activities of dehydrogenase (alcohol dehydrogenase, acetaldehyde dehydrogenase) and antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase), whereas significantly reduced the levels of aminotransferase (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase) in serum. The potential bioactive activity compounds of NE were explored by UPLC-MS/MS and bioinformatics analysis. Butyl isobutyl phthalate vanillin, ferulic acid methyl ester might be the major compounds in NE on alleviating acute alcoholism. These results indicated that WBS possesses potential ameliorating effect on acute alcoholism.

Three new dihydroflavonols with free radical scavenging activity from Ribes himalense Royle ex Decne.

Ribes himalense Royle ex Decne, a small shrub, is widely used as a Tibetan medicine in Chinese folk. In this study, three novel 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl inhibitors named Rihimaside A, Rihimaside B, and Rihimaside C, as well as one known 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl inhibitor, dihydromyricetin, were isolated from the leaves and stems of Ribes himalense Royle ex Decne using online high performance liquid chromatography-1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl activity screening system combined with medium and high-pressure liquid chromatography. All four 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl inhibitors are dihydroflavonols. The 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl scavenging activity and IC50 values of three novel 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl inhibitors were determined using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl methods. Rihimaside A, Rihimaside B, and Rihimaside C exhibited IC50 values of 9.58 µg/mL, 12.57 µg/mL and 387 µg/mL, respectively.

Phytochemical Screening, Toxicity Activity and Antioxidant Capacity of Ethanolic Extract of Etlingera alba Rhizome.

<b>Background and Objective:</b> <i>Etlingera alba </i>(Blume) A.D. Poulsen is one of the plants of the genus <i>Etlingera</i> which is commonly found in Southeast Sulawesi. The research is still lacking, thus, we assumed other species related to <i>E. alba,</i> specifically from the genus<i> Etlingera</i> that provides antioxidant and radical scavenging activity, namely <i>Etlingera elatior</i> (Jack) R.M. Smith. Thus, this study aimed to assess the antioxidant and toxicity activity as well as its secondary metabolites. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> <i>Etlingera alba</i> rhizome was extracted with 96% ethanol. The radical scavenging activity was assayed with 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and antioxidant activity was assayed with 2,2'-azino-bis-[3-ethylbenzothiazoline sulphonate (ABTS) assay for radical cation decolourization<i> in vitro</i>. Both Ascorbic Acid (AA) and Trolox were used as positive control. The secondary metabolites were identified by Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) and LSMS/MS analyzed the difference between compounds. According to results performed with TLC and LCMS/MS. <b>Results:</b> The extract exhibited antioxidant properties using both DPPH and ABTS method. The LC₅₀ of the extract was 608.42±18.31 mg L¹.<i> Etlingera alba </i>rhizome extract contains alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids and steroids. The compounds detected in the extract were E-p-Coumaric acid aschantin, 2-Methoxyanofinic acid, Chavicol-ß-D-glucoside, Myristicanol B, ent-16α,17-Hydroxy-19-kaurenoic acid, 5-Hydroxy-7,8,2'-trimethoxyflavone, Methyl ursolate and Spinasterol. <b>Conclusion:</b> <i>Etlingera alba</i> rhizome contains several compounds that might be responsible for antioxidant activity and the extract itself classified as medium toxic.

Preparative isolation of antioxidative gallic acid derivatives from Saxifraga tangutica using a class separation method based on medium-pressure liquid chromatography and reversed-phase liquid chromatography.

Saxifraga tangutica is widely used as a medicinal herb to treat hepatic diseases. Here, we developed a class separation method to separate gallic acid derivatives 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl inhibitors from the methanol extract of Saxifraga tangutica. Firstly, an MCI GEL CHP20P medium-pressure liquid chromatography was used to pretreat the crude extract from Saxifraga tangutica (500 g) and the target sample (fraction Fr1, 1.7 g) was obtained. Then, an online reversed-phase liquid chromatography-1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl assay was employed for recognizing potential 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl inhibitors and six 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl inhibitors fractions were recognized from fraction Fr1. Subsequently, the six 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl inhibitors fractions were isolated via a ReproSil-Pur C18 AQ preparative column. During the separation process, the hydrophilic liquid chromatography was used to enrich the target compounds (Fr1-3-1-1 and Fr1-3-1-2) from the fraction Fr1-3, which were hardly isolated only by one step reversed-phase liquid chromatography. Finally, six gallic acid derivatives were obtained and identified as gallic acid (Fr1-1-1), gallic acid 3-O-ß-D-glucoside (Fr1-1-2), protocatechuic acid (Fr1-2), 4-O-galloyl-(-)-shikimic acid (Fr1-3-1-1), 5-O-galloyl-(-)-shikimic acid (Fr1-3-1-2), and 3-O-galloyl-shikimic acid (Fr1-4), respectively. Thus, the present study indicated that this method was highly efficient for the preparative separation of gallic acid derivatives 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl inhibitors from natural products.

Preparation of astaxanthin micelles self-assembled by a mechanochemical method from hydroxypropyl ß-cyclodextrin and glyceryl monostearate with enhanced antioxidant activity.

This research aimed to overcome the current challenges in the application of natural carotenoid antioxidants, such as their complex preparation processes, low bioavailability and poor drug stability. Herein, a mechanochemical method was used to prepare an inclusion complex (IC) that self-assembles into micelles in aqueous solution and achieves solid-phase loading of astaxanthin (AST). The NMR analysis, thermodynamics study, particle size analysis and electron microscopy image results showed that AST, hydroxypropyl ß-cyclodextrin (HPß-CD) and glyceryl monostearate (GMS) formed self-assembled micelles and maintained good stability in aqueous solution. The antioxidant performance experiments showed that the formation of IC increases free radical scavenging activity. The pharmacokinetic studies showed that the bioavailability of the astaxanthin inclusion complex increased 4-fold. The tissue distribution experiments showed that the astaxanthin inclusion complex targets the liver to exert its antioxidant effects. The proposed method uses an innovative preparation technology to produce an efficient drug delivery system without solvents, and it exerts powerful antioxidant activity against astaxanthin.

Optimizing Conditions for Microwave-Assisted Extraction of Polyphenolic Content and Antioxidant Activity of Barleria lupulina Lindl.

Barleria lupulina Lindl. (Acanthaceae) as an ornamental plant has been widely used in folklore medicine due to its abundancy in polyphenolic compounds. The present study examined conditions for optimal extraction of antioxidants from B. lupulina leaf extracts by using the microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) method. The effects of ethanol concentrations, microwave power, and extraction time on total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and 2,20-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothizoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) were investigated by single-factor experiments. Response surface methodology (RSM) was applied to observe interactions of three independent variables (ethanol concentrations, microwave power, and extraction time) on the dependent variables (TPC, TFC, DPPH, and ABTS) to establish optimal extraction conditions. Quadratic polynomial equations in all experimental models yielded favorably with fitted models with R2 and R2adj of more than 0.90 and a non-significant lack of fit at p > 0.05. The optimal conditions for the extraction of antioxidant activity were established at 80% (v/v) ethanol, 400 W, and 30 s with TPC (238.71 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g sample), TFC (58.09 mg QE/g sample), DPPH (87.95%), and ABTS (89.56%). Analysis by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOF/MS) successfully identified four new phenylethanoid glycoside compounds in the species.

Optimization of growing conditions for pigments production from microalga Navicula incerta using response surface methodology and its antioxidant capacity.

Navicula incerta is a marine microalga distributed in Baja California, México, commonly used in aquaculture nutrition, and has been extended to human food, biomedical, and pharmaceutical industries due to its high biological activity. Therefore, the study aimed to optimize culture conditions to produce antioxidant pigments. A central composite experimental design and response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to analyze the best culture conditions. The medium (nitrogen-deficient concentrations), salinity (PSU = Practical Salinity Unity [g/kg]), age of culture (days), and solvent extraction (ethanol, methanol, and acetone) were the factors used for the experiment. Chlorophyll a (Chl a) and total carotenoids (T-Car), determined spectroscopically, were used as the response variables. The antioxidant capacity was evaluated by DPPH• and ABTS•+ radical inhibition, FRAP, and anti-hemolytic activity. According to the overlay plots, the optimum growth conditions for Chl a and T-Car production were the following conditions: medium = 0.44 mol·L-1 of NaNO3, salinity = 40 PSU, age of culture: 3.5 days, and solvent = methanol. The pigment extracts obtained in these optimized conditions had high antioxidant activity in ABTS•+ (86.2-92.1% of inhibition) and anti-hemolytic activity (81.8-96.7% of hemolysis inhibition). Low inhibition (33-35%) was observed in DPPH•. The highest value of FRAP (766.03 ± 16.62 µmol TE/g) was observed in the acetonic extract. The results demonstrated that RSM could obtain an extract with high antioxidant capacity with potential applications in the biomedical and pharmaceutical industry, which encourages the use of natural resources for chemoprevention of chronic-degenerative pathologies.

Toxicity profiling and antioxidant activity of ethyl acetate extract of leaves of Premna integrifolia L. for its application as protective agent against xenobiotics.

Premna integrifoliaL. (Lamiaceae) is widely used in herbal formulation "Dashmoolarishta" which is useful in postnatal care. Ethyl acetate extract obtained from the leaves was evaluated for phenolic content and its antioxidant activity. Acute and subacute toxicity of the extract was studied in mice of both sexes to get an idea about LD50 value and assessed its safety profile before its application as a protective agent against different toxicities induced by xenobiotics. Phenol enriched extract (phenol content is 63.10 ± 1.26 mg/g of gallic acid equivalent and flavonoid content 75.33 ± 0.23 mg/g of rutin equivalent) showed good antioxidant activity. In acute toxicity studies it was observed that single different doses (300-5000 mg/kg b.wt.) of extract did not show any mortality of mice. Thus the LD50 of the extract was determined, and it was higher than 5000 mg/kg. There was no major change in behavioral and general appearance of mice. External morphology of liver, kidneys, lungs, spleen and heart did not show any effect of treatment. In subacute toxicity no statistically significant change in body weight, relative organ weight, food intake and water uptake, hematological, biochemical parameters were reported after comparison with control. Extract did not show significant effect in the level of antioxidant enzymes in the liver of mice of treated groups. No histopathological changes were observed in liver and kidney tissues. Thus, extract did not show any sign of toxic effects, when administered orally to male and female mice at dose level up to 1000 mg/kg. So, it can be utilized as protective agent against toxicity produced by different xenobiotics.

Nephroprotective effect of Artemisia herba alba aqueous extract in alloxan-induced diabetic rats.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: In the present study, we investigate the phytochemical composition and the nephroprotective effects as well as the antioxidant properties of Artemisia herba alba aqueous extract in alloxan-induced experimental diabetes in rats. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE: Wistar rats were divided into four groups of seven rats each: Group I: Normal control (NC) received saline solution at 9‰ given by intraperitoneal way; Group II: Diabetic control (DC) received alloxan (150 mg/kg b.w) intraperitoneally; Group III: Normal control (NC + AHA) received saline solution at 9‰ and treated orally by AHA aqueous extract (400 mg/kg/b.w); Group IV: Diabetic control (DC + AHA) received alloxan solution (150 mg/kg b.w) intraperitoneally and treated by aqueous extract of AHA (400 mg/kg/b.w/day) orally after one week of alloxan administration. After 30 days, blood and tissue samples were collected for biochemical and histopathological analysis, respectively. Glomerular damage markers, including creatinine, serum urea, urine creatinine and urine urea levels were estimated. Creatinine clearance was also assessed. Oxidative stress parameters were assessed in the kidney homogenate. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Alloxan-exposure resulted in significant increase in blood glucose and serum level of glomerular damage markers. The antioxidant enzyme activities were significantly downregulated associated with an increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) level over the baseline values. Artemisia herba alba aqueous extract supplementation significantly improved the studied parameters. In concluding, the results obtained suggests that Artemisia herbs-alba aqueous extract supplementation reduces alloxan-induced free radical generation, potentiates the antioxidant defense system and alleviates renal sensitivity to oxidative stress.

Physicochemical properties, antioxidant activities, and binding behavior of 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid with beta-lactoglobulin colloidal particles.

Milk proteins and polyphenols are increasingly being studied as functional ingredients due to the epidemiologically-proved health benefits. In this study, composite ß-lactoglobulin (ß-lg) or ß-lactoglobulin nanoparticles (ß-lgNPs)-3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid (3,5diCQA) with superior physicochemical and antioxidant activity (AA) were produced using ß-lg and 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid. The main interactions between ß-lg or ß-lgNPs with 3,5diCQA were hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic effects. The 3,5diCQA caused a decrease in α-helix and ß-sheet structure with a corresponding increase in unordered structure. Compared to ß-lg alone, composite ß-lg or ß-lgNPs-3,5diCQA slightly decreased the particle size but increased their negative surface potentials especially for ß-lg or ß-lgNPs at a molar ratio of 5:1. The addition of 3,5diCQA appreciably improved the AA in a dose-dependent manner. These results shed light on the structural, physicochemical, and AA of composite ß-lg or ß-lgNPs-3,5diCQA non-covalent complexes, important for application as functional ingredients in food solutions as well as in the pharmaceutical industry.