Rapid extraction method followed by a d-SPE clean-up step for determination of phenolic composition and antioxidant and antiproliferative activities from berry fruits.

Despite the numerous studies that have shown a wide range of biological activities to berry fruits, scientific data focusing on modern, rapid and simple extraction methods followed by a clean-up step is still lacking. Therefore, the present work was aimed at investigating the use of a fast one-step solid-liquid extraction procedure followed by a dispersive solid-phase extraction (d-SPE) clean-up step to evaluate the phenolic composition, antioxidant and antiproliferative activities from three of the principal berries found in Brazil, pomegranate (Punica granatum L.), blackberry (Rubus ulmifolius Schott.), and strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.). Under the optimized extraction conditions, sixteen phenolic compounds were determined by UHPLC-MS/MS analysis and all berry extracts showed antioxidant activity and antiproliferative effects on cervical (HeLa) and colon (HT-29) cancer cells. Overall, these results highlight the importance of the clean-up step for more reliable data in studies of health-promoting proprieties from berry fruits.

Antileishmanial and antioxidant potential of fractions and isolated compounds from Nectandra cuspidata.

The effects on the viability of promastigote and amastigote forms of Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis and citotoxicity in J774.A1 macrophages of ethanolic extract, fractions and isolated compounds that were obtained from the leaves of Nectandra cuspidata were determined. The total phenolics content (TP) and antioxidant activity were assessed using different assays. The ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) had the best antiproliferative activity (amastigote IC50: 4.42 ± 0.60 µg/mL, promastigote IC50: 33.33 ± 0.78) and presented no cytotoxicity at the highest concentration tested (1000 µg/mL). The EAF also had the greatest antioxidant capacity, which was comparable to butylated hydroxytoluene and quercetin (DPPH IC50 6.54 ± 0.10 µg/mL, ABTS 4.75 ± 0.11 mmol ET/g; FRAP 2.37 ± 0.03 mmol ET/g; ORAC = 33.52 ± 1.99 mmol ET/g; TP 387.11 ± 0.25 mg GAE/g). Vitexin, epicatechin and isovitexin isolated from EAF contribute to both activities.

Chemical characterization and protective effect of the Bactris setosa Mart. fruit against oxidative/nitrosative stress.

Bactris setosa Mart. is a Brazilian tree from the palm family (Arecaceae), whose fruits are scientifically underexploited. Here, we report, for the first time, the identification and quantification of phenolic compounds and carotenoids in the pulp, seed, and peel extracts of B. setosa fruits and their in vitro biological activity. The anthocyanins cyanidin deoxyhexose hexoside and cyanidin hexoside and other phenolic compounds were detected mainly in the peel but also in the pulp extracts. All-trans-lutein was the unique carotenoid identified and quantified, and only in the peel extract. All extracts were able to scavenge reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS and RNS, respectively), to modulate human neutrophils' oxidative burst and to protect Caco-2 cells against oxidative damage, the peel extract being the most efficient. This study indicates that extracts from B. setosa fruits, especially the peel extract, are a source of bioactive compounds with promising antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Evaluation of solvent effect on the extraction of phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacities from the berries: application of principal component analysis.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the effect of the solvent on the extraction of antioxidant compounds from black mulberry (Morus nigra), blackberry (Rubus ulmifolius) and strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa). Different extracts of each berry were evaluated from the determination of total phenolic content, anthocyanin content and antioxidant capacity, and data were applied to the principal component analysis (PCA) to gain an overview of the effect of the solvent in extraction method. RESULTS: For all the berries analyzed, acetone/water (70/30, v/v) solvent mixture was more efficient solvent in the extracting of phenolic compounds, and methanol/water/acetic acid (70/29.5/0.5, v/v/v) showed the best values for anthocyanin content. Mixtures of ethanol/water (50/50, v/v), acetone water/acetic acid (70/29.5/0.5, v/v/v) and acetone/water (50/50, v/v) presented the highest antioxidant capacities for black mulberries, blackberries and strawberries, respectively. CONCLUSION: Antioxidants extractions are extremely affected by the solvent combination used. In addition, the obtained extracts with the organic solvent-water mixtures were distinguished from the extracts obtained with pure organic solvents, through the PCA analysis.