Comparative Analysis of Roots from Vicatia thibetica de Boiss and Angelica sinensis Based on Chemical Composition, Antioxidant, Nitrite-Scavenging and Enzyme Inhibition Activities.

Radix Vicatia thibetica de Boiss (RVT) is locally known as "Xigui" or "Dujiao-danggui" in Tibetan medicine and is often used as a substitute for Radix Angelica sinensis (RAS) in daily nourishing diets and clinical applications. In this study, we determined and compared the contents of polysaccharides, total coumarins, ferulic acid, total phenols, total flavonoids, chlorogenic acid, protein, and amino acids, and the composition of volatile oil in RVT and RAS. Biological activities, including antioxidants, scavenging of nitrite, inhibition of tyrosinase, thrombin, and coagulation FXa, were comparatively evaluated. Results showed that RVT contains more polysaccharides, phenols, flavonoids, proteins, glutamic acid, and lysine as compared to RAS. Among volatile compounds, 14 species are similar, and 20 species are different in RVT and RAS. Overall, among volatile compounds, the content of 3-N-Butylphthalide was higher, whereas the content of ligustilide was lower in RVT volatile oil. A significant difference was reported in the bioactivity of RVT and RAS. The biological activity of RVT had higher antioxidant, nitrite scavenging, and tyrosinase inhibitory activities, whereas it showed much lower thrombin and FXa inhibitory activities. Correlation analysis showed that the antioxidant, nitrite scavenging, and tyrosinase inhibitory activities were related to the phenol and flavonoid content, whereas the thrombin and FXa inhibitory activities were related to ferulic acid and volatile oil content. This study presents a comparative analysis of RAS and RVT's chemical compositions of antioxidant, nitrite-scavenging, inhibition of tyrosinase, thrombin, and coagulation FXa activities. It was found that both RVT and RAS have their unique advantages, and RVT has the potential to be utilized as functional foods, cosmetics, and medical products.

Nitrite scavenging impact of fermented soy sauce in vitro and in a pork sausage model.

The objective of this study was to determine nitrite scavenging activity of fermented soy sauce in vitro and in a pork sausage model. In vitro nitrite scavenging activity (pH 6.0) of fermented soy sauce (10 mg/mL) was 13.2%. Within selected concentrations (10-100 mg/mL), in vitro nitrite scavenging activity and total phenol content of fermented soy sauce were highly dose-dependent (P < 0.001). In pork sausage model containing 120 mg/kg of NaNO2, fermented soy sauce resulted in significantly lower residual nitrite content (35.28 mg/kg) compared to only NaNO2 addition (40.12 mg/kg) at initial storage. During 4 weeks of cold storage, however, fermented soy sauce showed little effect on the residual nitrite content. This study indicates that fermented soy sauce could initially contribute to reduce residual nitrite content, and the nitrite scavenging impact of fermented soy sauce was less effective in the pork sausage model than in vitro evaluation.

Novel Method of Preparation and Activity Research on Arctigenin from Fructus Arctii.

BACKGROUND: Arctigenin has many pharmacological activities with clinical significance and is derived from Arctium lappa L. However, the present extraction method is inefficient and does not have meaningful industrial production. OBJECTIVE: A new method to directly prepare arctigenin was established by combining enzyme-assisted extraction and central composite design. Arctigenin's further pharmacological activity was also surveyed in vitro. MATERIALS AND METHODS: ß-D-Glucosidase, a food-grade enzyme, was added directly to the fruits of A. lappa L. to hydrolyze the arctiin to arctigenin, and the obtained samples were subsequently subjected to ethanol (30%, v/v) extraction. The pharmacological activity of the extraction and arctigenin was determined by inhibiting acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and scavenging nitrite. RESULTS: The factors investigated include the enzyme concentration (0.5%-2.5%), ultrasound time (10 min-3 0 min), and extraction temperature (30°C-50°C). From the analysis of the results by Design-Expert (V8.0.6), the optimal extraction conditions were obtained: enzyme concentration (1.4%), ultrasound time (25 min), and extraction temperature (45°C). The highest yield of arctigenin, obtained under the optimal conditions was 6.39%, representing an increase of 28.15% compared to the reference extraction without enzyme processing. The IC50 values of the extraction and arctigenin, respectively, for inhibiting AChE were 0.572 mg/ml and 0.462 mg/ml, and those for nitrite-scavenging were 34.571 mg/ml and 17.49 mg/ml. CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrate that using an enzyme directly in the production is an effective means for extracting arctigenin from Fructus arctii. The extraction has the activities of inhibiting AChE and scavenging nitrite, probably because there has arctigenin in it. It is implied that the extraction and arctigenin could contribute to human health in clinical applications. SUMMARY: The new method of adding enzyme directly to the preparation of arctigenin was carried out instead of preparing arctigenin by two-step methodThree factors affecting the efficiency of preparation were analyzed and discussed include the enzyme concentration, ultrasound time, and extraction temperature by central composite designThis new method of preparing arctigenin improved the yield significantly than other methodsArctigenin has remarkable pharmacological activities of inhibiting acetylcholinesterase and scavenging nitrite. Abbreviations used: AChE: Acetylcholinesterase, CCD: Central composite design, TCM: Traditional Chinese medicines, AD.

Evaluation of the Nitric Oxide and Nitrite Scavenging Capability, N-Nitrosamine Formation Inhibitory Activity, and Optimization of Ultrasound-Assisted Aqueous Two-Phase System Extraction of Total Saponins from Coreopsis tinctoria Flowering Tops by Response Surface Methodology.

Coreopsis tinctoria flowering tops (CTFs) is a popular health product as herbal tea or as a traditional medicinal herb that is rich in saponins and exerts substantial biological activity. In this study, an ultrasound-assisted aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) was utilized to extract total saponins from CTFs and optimize the extraction process by response surface methodology. Moreover, the nitric oxide and nitrite scavenging capability, and N-nitrosamine formation inhibitory activity of total saponins were evaluated. Results showed that the optimal conditions for total saponins were 37.76% (w/w) ammonium sulfate and 35.62% (w/w) ethanol in ATPS coupled with ultrasonic-assisted extraction. Under the optimal conditions, the maximum yield of total saponins of 33.4 g/kg can be obtained from the CTFs raw material. The nitric oxide radical scavenging, nitrite scavenging, and N-nitrosamine inhibitory activities (SC50) were 287.92 ± 7.42, 191.63 ± 7.69, and 1787.4 ± 51.26 µg/mL, respectively. The total saponins has a certain nitric oxide and nitrite scavenging capability, and N-nitrosamine formation inhibitory activity in vitro. Given these activities, research on saponins from CTFs provides profound and lasting implications for the novel applications of C. tinctoria.

Assessment and comparison of the antioxidant activities and nitrite scavenging activity of commonly consumed beverages in Korea.

In this study, the antioxidant potential of commercial beverages against a variety of radicals was determined using various antioxidant activity analytical methods. The physicochemical properties (pH value and °Brix), total phenolic content and antioxidant activities were assessed. Our results showed that the pH value and sugar content (°Brix) of commonly consumed beverages ranged from 2.4 to 3.9 and from 3.8 to 18.5, respectively. The DPPH radical scavenging activity and nitrite scavenging ability were highest in No. 45 vitamin beverage (87.5% and 86.0%, respectively). However, no clear correlation appeared between the total phenolic content and the DPPH radical scavenging activity (R=0.2565). The total phenolic content and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) values were highest in No. 55 pomegranate beverage (183.3 mg GAE/100 mL and 1824.4 µM TE/mL, respectively). In particular, a high correlation was shown between the total phenolic content and the ORAC value (R=0.7954). Based on the results of various antioxidant activity methods, the greatest preventative antioxidant capacity of consumed beverages in Korea was found in No. 55 pomegranate. These results will enable further research on the daily phenolic compound intake as well as on the development of healthy beverages.

The antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of Sonchus oleraceus L. extracts.

This study investigated in vitro antioxidant activity of Sonchus oleraceus L. by extraction solvent, which were examined by reducing power, hydroxyl radical-scavenging activity(HRSA) and 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assays. 70% MeOH extract had the greatest reducing power while EtOH extract had the greatest HRSA. The antioxidant activity of S. oleraceus extracts was concentration dependent and its IC(50) values ranged from 47.1 to 210.5 microg/ml and IC(50) of 70% MeOH, boiling water and 70% EtOH extracts were 47.1, 52.7 and 56.5 microg/ml, respectively. 70% MeOH extract of S. oleraceus contained the greatest amount of both phenolic and flavonoid contents. The extracts tested had greater nitrite scavenging effects at lower pH conditions. The cytotoxic activity showed that EtOH extract had the best activity against the growth of stomach cancer cell. These results suggest that S. oleraceus extract could be used as a potential source of natural antioxidants.

The antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of Sonchus oleraceus L. extracts

This study investigated in vitro antioxidant activity of Sonchus oleraceus L. by extraction solvent, which were examined by reducing power, hydroxyl radical-scavenging activity(HRSA) and 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assays. 70% MeOH extract had the greatest reducing power while EtOH extract had the greatest HRSA. The antioxidant activity of S. oleraceus extracts was concentration dependent and its IC50 values ranged from 47.1 to 210.5 microgram/ml and IC50 of 70% MeOH, boiling water and 70% EtOH extracts were 47.1, 52.7 and 56.5 microgram/ml, respectively. 70% MeOH extract of S. oleraceus contained the greatest amount of both phenolic and flavonoid contents. The extracts tested had greater nitrite scavenging effects at lower pH conditions. The cytotoxic activity showed that EtOH extract had the best activity against the growth of stomach cancer cell. These results suggest that S. oleraceus extract could be used as a potential source of natural antioxidants.