Phytochemical, bactericidal, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of various extracts from Pongamia pinnata and functional groups characterization by FTIR and HPLC analyses.

The present research looked into possible biomedical applications of Pongamia pinnata leaf extract. The first screening of the phytochemical profile showed that the acetone extract had more phytochemicals than the other solvent extracts. These included more saponins, proteins, phenolic compounds, tannins, glycosides, flavonoids, steroids, and sugar. The P. pinnata acetone extract exhibited highest antibacterial activity against C. diphtheriae. The bactericidal activity was found in the following order: C. diphtheria (14 mm) > P. aeruginosa (10 mm) > S. flexneri (9 mm) > S. marcescens (7 mm) > S. typhi (7 mm) > S. epidermidis (7 mm) > S. boydii (6 mm) > S. aureus (3 mm) at 10 mg mL-1 concentration. MIC value of 240 mg mL-1 and MBC is 300 mg mL-1 of concentration with 7 colonies against C. diphtheriae was noticed in acetone extract. Acetone extract of P. pinnata was showed highest percentage of inhibition (87.5 %) at 625 mg mL-1 concentrations by DPPH method. Furthermore, the anti-inflammatory activity showed the fine albumin denaturation as 76% as well as anti-lipoxygenase was found as 61% at 900 mg mL-1 concentrations correspondingly. FT-IR analysis was used to determine the functional groups of compounds with bioactive properties. The qualitative examination of selected plants through HPLC yielded significant peak values determined by intervals through the peak value. In an acetone extract of P. pinnata, 9 functional groups were identified. These findings concluded that the acetone extract has high pharmaceutical value, but more in-vivo research is needed to assess its potential.

Pro-fluorescent probe with morpholine moiety and its reactivity towards selected biological oxidants.

Biological oxidants participate in many processes in the human body. Their excessive production causes organelle damage, which may result in the accumulation of cytotoxic mediators and cell degradation and may manifest itself in various diseases. Peroxynitrite (ONOO- ), hypochlorous acid (HOCl), hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2 ), and peroxymonocarbonate (HOOCO2 - ) are important oxidants in biology, toxicology, and various pathologies. Derivatives of coumarin, containing an oxidant-sensitive boronate group, have been recently developed for the fluorescent detection of inflammatory oxidants. Here, we report the synthesis and characterization of 4-[2-(morpholin-4-yl)-2-oxoethyl]-2-oxo-2H-chromen-7-yl boronic acid (MpC-BA) as a fluorescent probe for the detection of oxidants, with better solubility in water, high stability and fast response time toward peroxynitrite and hypochlorous acid. The effectiveness of the MpC-BA probe for the detection of peroxynitrite was measured by adding bolus ONOO- or using the co-generating superoxide and nitrogen oxide system. MpC-BA is oxidized by ONOO- to 7-hydroxy-4-[2-(morpholin-4-yl)-2-oxoethyl]-2H-chromen-2-one (MpC-OH). However, peroxynitrite-specific product (MpC-H) is formed in the minor reaction pathway. MpC-OH is also yielded in the reaction of MpC-BA with HOCl, and the subsequent formation of a chlorinated MpC-OH gives a specific product for HOCl (MpC-OHCl). H2 O2 slowly oxidizes MpC-BA. However, the addition of NaHCO3 increased the MpC-OH formation rate. We conclude that MpC-BA is potentially an improved fluorescent probe detecting peroxynitrite and hypochlorite in biological settings. Complementation of the fluorescence measurements by HPLC-based identification of chlorinated and reduced coumarin(s) will help identify the oxidants detected.

Spectral and HPLC Analyses of Synthesized Butin and Butein.

Butin and butein are significant bioactive flavanones derived from plants, existing as tautomers of each other. However, their physicochemical attributes, such as their spectral profiles under varying experimental conditions in aqueous solutions and established chromatographic methods for distinguishing between them, remain undetermined. In this study, we determined the basic properties of butin and butein using conventional spectroscopic, reversed-phase, and chiral HPLC analyses. The spectra of the synthesized butin and butein were analyzed using a UV-Vis spectrophotometer in several solvents with different polarities as well as in aqueous solutions at various pH values. Furthermore, the behavior of the measured spectra was reproduced by calculations to reveal the effects of the solvent and pH on the spectra of butin and butein in organic and aqueous solutions. Subsequently, we assessed the structural stability of butin and butein using reversed-phase HPLC, which revealed that butein is unstable compared with butin in a general culture medium. The synthesized butin was effectively separated into R- and S-isomers with positive and negative Cotton effects, respectively, via HPLC using a chiral column. These findings will aid in uncovering the individual properties of both butin and butein that may have been concealed by their tautomerism and enable the synthesis of S-butin, which is typically challenging and time-consuming to isolate.

Polyether sulfone flat-sheet membrane impregnated with Mn-Al layered double hydroxide nanoparticles for green microfiltration of acrylamide in cocoa products.

A new polyether sulfone (PES) membrane modified with manganese-aluminum layered double hydroxide (Mn-Al LDH) was prepared and utilized in the membrane micro-solid phase extraction (M-µSPE) of acrylamide for the first time. The analyses were conducted using HPLC-UV. The extraction efficiency of the PES membrane was enhanced two-fold with the addition of LDH. The fabricated LDH@PES was characterized using ATR-FTIR, SEM, XRD, and nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherms. The specific surface area, average pore diameter, thickness, cross-sectional channels, and LDH particle size of the LDH@PES membrane were determined. The extraction key factors including membrane composition, desorption conditions, sample pH, and salt concentration were studied. The method was validated by determining the limit of detection, the limit of quantification, linear range, r2, matrix effect, enrichment factor, and precision. Extraction recoveries ranged from 87.4 to 103.5% with RSD < 5.9%. Finally, the method's green features were assessed with the AGREE protocol. This is the first report on the application of LDH@PES for microfiltration/extraction of acrylamide in various chocolate and cocoa products.

[Use of strongly acting sustained-release opioids in pediatrics : Pitfalls and solutions for morphine and hydromorphone]. / Anwendung stark wirksamer retardierter Opioide in der Pädiatrie : Fallstricke und Lösungen für Morphin und Hydromorphon.

BACKGROUND: In pediatrics, adequate treatment with potent opioids requires the administration of sustained-release preparations for many patients; however, the dosing and administration of sustained-release morphine and hydromorphone preparations via gastrointestinal tubes confronts providers with a major hurdle, especially as the company Mundipharma GmbH has discontinued the production and distribution of the preparation MST retard granules in 2019, which has been proven for these purposes in pediatrics. The aim of this study was to establish a production technique for available sustained-release opioid preparations, which are particularly suitable for use in the low-dose range required in pediatrics and which can also be administered via gastrointestinal tubes. METHOD: Low-dose preparations were produced by opening of morphine and hydromorphone capsules and weighing of the sustained-release pellets. To evaluate the partition, an analysis of the drug content via high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was conducted. Moreover, the administration via gastrointestinal tubes (charrière, Ch 8-Ch 10) was examined by an ex vivo experiment. RESULTS: The examination showed a practicable method to produce low dosages of sustained-release morphine and hydromorphone. The preparations are in accordance with the test for content uniformity of the European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur.). Furthermore, the pellets were administered to gastrointestinal tubes Ch 8 (morphine) and Ch 10 (hydromorphone) by a syringe application technique and passed the tubes completely. CONCLUSION: The production technique can be considered as safe and enables the off-label oral application or application via gastrointestinal tubes of sustained-release opioids in pediatrics.

Valorization of Olive Pomace Using Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction for Application in Active Packaging Films.

Bioactive compounds that can be recovered by the solid wastes of the olive oil sector, such as polyphenols, are known for their significant antioxidant and antimicrobial activities with potential application in nutraceutical, cosmetic, and food industries. Given that industrial demands are growing, and the polyphenol market value is ever increasing, a systematic study on the recovery of natural antioxidant compounds from olive pomace using ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) was conducted. Single-factor parameters, i.e., the extraction solvent, time, and solid-to-liquid ratio, were investigated evaluating the total phenolic content (TPC) recovery and the antioxidant activity of the final extract. The acetone-water system (50% v/v, 20 min, 1:20 g mL-1) exhibited the highest total phenolic content recovery (168.8 ± 5.5 mg GAE per g of dry extract). The olive pomace extract (OPE) was further assessed for its antioxidant and antibacterial activities. In DPPH, ABTS, and CUPRAC, OPE exhibited an antioxidant capacity of 413.6 ± 1.9, 162.72 ± 3.36 and 384.9 ± 7.86 mg TE per g of dry extract, respectively. The antibacterial study showed that OPE attained a minimum inhibitory activity (MIC) of 2.5 mg mL-1 against E. coli and 10 mg mL-1 against B. subtilis. Hydroxytyrosol and tyrosol were identified as the major phenolic compounds of OPE. Furthermore, active chitosan-polyvinyl alcohol (CHT/PVA) films were prepared using different OPE loadings (0.01-0.1%, w/v). OPE-enriched films showed a dose-dependent antiradical scavenging activity reaching 85.7 ± 4.6% (ABTS) and inhibition growth up to 81% against B. subtilis compared to the control film. Increased UV light barrier ability was also observed for the films containing OPE. These results indicate that OPE is a valuable source of phenolic compounds with promising biological activities that can be exploited for developing multifunctional food packaging materials.

Biochemical Profiling and Physicochemical and Biological Valorization of Iraqi Honey: A Comprehensive Analysis.

Our study aimed to analyze five monovarietal honeys from the Salah Eddine region in Iraq, focusing on physicochemical, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties and polyphenolic compounds. Our objective was to evaluate the strengths and qualities of Iraqi honeys, ensuring compliance with the Codex Alimentarius standard for honey. The spectrophotometric analysis included assessments of reduced sugar (75.8-77.7%), fructose-to-glucose ratio (0.7-0.9%), sucrose (2.2-2.9%), HMF (17.23-18.87 mg/kg), and melanoidin content (0.25-0.44), which were all determined. The electrical conductivity (0.39-0.46 mS/cm) using a conductivity meter, pH (4.02-4.31), and mineral composition were determined in all samples using atomic absorption spectrometry. Antioxidant activities were spectrophotometrically determined, through DPPH free radical scavenging (7.87-95.62 mg/mL), as was the total antioxidant activity (14.26-22.15 mg AAE/g), with correlations established with biochemical constituents such as the total phenol content, highlighting the significant presence of Coumaric acid (0.38-2.34 µg/mL), Catechin (1.80-2.68 µg/mL), and Quercetin (0.30 µg/mL) using HPLC. The study also observed notable antimicrobial activities using Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans on Mueller-Hinton agar as well as through diffusion technique. In conclusion, our findings, including the antioxidant and antimicrobial strengths, underscore the substantial potential of Iraqi honeys in mitigating damage and preventing the onset of various diseases, affirming their good quality and adherence to international honey standards.

Comparison of Phytochemical Composition, Antibacterial, and Antifungal Activities of Extracts from Three Organs of Pistacia lentiscus from Saudi Arabia.

This in vitro study focused on the antimicrobial activity of methanolic and aqueous extracts of three organs (stems, roots, and leaves) of Pistacia lentiscus against nine bacterial species, two fungal, and one yeast strain. A comparative study of the yield, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) composition, and polyphenol content of the different extracts was conducted. The obtained data showed that the yield of the methanolic extracts (between 13% and 33.3%) was greater than that of the aqueous extracts (between 10% and 18%). The highest yield recorded was in the presence of the methanolic leaf extract, followed by the stem and root extracts. Methanolic extracts are richer in polyphenols than aqueous extracts. Indeed, the highest content was observed in the leaf methanolic extract (28.4 mg GAE/g), followed by the stem (2.96 mg GAE/g), and then the root (2.62 mg GAE/g). HPLC revealed variability in the chemical compositions of the different methanolic extracts. The leaf extract was richer in phenolic acids and flavonoids than the stem and root extracts. Regarding antimicrobial activity, it was concluded that the different methanolic extracts of lentisk were more active than the aqueous extracts. In addition, the different methanolic extracts exhibited antimicrobial activity against all tested strains, despite their morphology and Gram-staining. Indeed, the maximum inhibition zones and the minimum inhibitory concentrations for the bacterial strains sensitive to the different methanolic extracts of the mastic tree were in the range of 7 to 11 mm and 12.5 to 25 µg/mL, respectively. In addition, these extracts showed greater inhibitory activity against the tested fungal strains (A. niger and A. flavus) and yeast (C. albicans) than against the bacterial strains. These extracts can be used to treat antimicrobial infections and as food preservatives.

Development and Comparative Evaluation of Two Different Label-Free and Sensitive Fluorescence Platforms for Analysis of Olaparib: A Recently FDA-Approved Drug for the Treatment of Ovarian and Breast Cancer.

Olaparib (OLA) is a PARP inhibitor drug which has been recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of ovarian and breast cancer. A convenient analytical tool for the quantitation of OLA in its dosage form and plasma samples was urgently needed. This study describes, for the first time, the development of two different label-free and sensitive fluorescence-based platforms for the pharmaceutical and bioanalysis of OLA. These platforms were microwell-assisted with a fluorescence microplate reader (MW-FLR) and high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (HPLC-FD). Both MW-FLR and HPLC-FD employed the native fluorescence of OLA as an analytical signal. The MW-FLR involved measuring the fluorescence signals in 96-well white-opaque plates. The HPLC-FD involved chromatographic separation of OLA and duvelisib (DUV), as an internal standard on a Nucleosil-CN HPLC column (250 mm length × 4.6 mm i.d., 5 µm particle diameter) with a mobile phase composed of acetonitrile: water (25:75, v/v) pumped at a flow rate of 1.7 mL/min. Elution of OLA and DUV was detected using a fluorescence detector. The optimal conditions of both MW-FLR and HPLC-FD were established, and they were validated according to the guidelines of the International Council for Harmonization for the validation of analytical procedures. The linear ranges of MW-FLR and HPLC-FD were 25-1000 and 5-200 ng/mL, respectively, with limits of detection of 15 and 1.7 ng/mL, respectively. The accuracy and precision of both platforms were confirmed as the recovery values were ≥98.2% and the relative standard deviations (RSD) were ≤2.89%. Both methodologies were satisfactorily applied to the quantitation of OLA in its commercial dosage form (Lynparza® tablets) and plasma samples with high accuracy and precision. The greenness of both MW-FLR and HPLC-FD was assessed using two different multiple parameter-based metric tools, and the results proved their greenness and adherence to the requirements of green analytical approaches. Both platforms have simple procedures and acceptable levels of analytical throughput. In conclusion, the proposed MW-FLR and HPLC-FD are valuable tools for routine use in quality control and clinical laboratories for the quantitation of OLA for the purposes of pharmaceutical quality control, pharmacokinetic studies, and bioequivalence testing.

Release of Monomers from Dental Composite Materials into Saliva and the Possibility of Reducing the Toxic Risk for the Patient.

Background and Objectives: The objective of this study was (1) to measure the amount of monomers released into the saliva depending on the time elapsed after the hardening of the composite and on the type of monomer used; and (2) with the prolongation of the light-curing procedure, to publish information on whether it would be possible to influence the level of leached monomers. Materials and Methods: HPLC technique was used to monitor the levels of the unpolymerized monomers Bis-GMA, Bis/EMA, TEGDMA, and UDMA from the four commonly used composite materials, released into the saliva of a volunteer with intact dentition. The levels were monitored in 3 time periods during 24 h after composite hardening. From every composite material, 4 samples were formed and cured with an LED lamp for 10 s, 20 s, 40 s, and 60 s. After the light curing, the same polishing procedure was used and the samples were leached in blank saliva samples. Results: We observed that every monitored composite material eluted monomers into the saliva after its application. The amount of monomers depended on the time elapsed after the curing of the composite and on the type of composite used. A 40 s LED curing procedure can reduce the amount of leached monomers in comparison with the standard 20 s procedure, especially for monomers of higher molecular weight. Conclusions: Our study confirmed the hypothesis that the release of monomers gradually decreases with increasing time after the hardening of the composite filling.

Enantiomeric composition of natural pericosine A derived from Periconia byssoides and α-glycosidase inhibitory activity of (-)-enantiomer.

Chiral high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of natural pericosine A, which appeared in literature first in 1977, from Periconia byssoides was conducted using a column CHIRALPAK® AD-H to determine the enantiomeric composition of the original mixture which was found to be 68: 32 mixtures of (+)- and (-)-enantiomer, respectively. Furthermore, two independently isolated samples of pericosine A from the same fungus were also analyzed to show the two peaks in the HPLC charts at approximate 1:1 ratio. These results concluded that pericosine A derived from Periconia byssoides was indeed an enantiomeric mixture. Synthesized enantiomers were subjected to evaluation of antitumor activity against three kinds of tumor cells (p388, L1210, HL-60), indicating moderate cytotoxicity against all three kinds of tumor cell lines, but significant difference in potency between the enantiomers was not observed. In contrast, when both the enantiomers of pericosine A were evaluated against five kinds of glycosidases-inhibitory activities (α- and ß-glucosidases, α- and ß-galactosidases, and α-mannosidase), an apparent difference on anti-glycosidase assay was found between the enantiomers: (-)-pericosine A inhibited α-glucosidase at IC50 : 2.25 mM, and ß-galactosidase at IC50 : 5.38 mM, albeit the (+)-enantiomer showed inactivity against these five enzymes.

An improved one-pot preparation of [18 F]FMISO based on solid phase extraction purification: Pitfalls on the analytical method reported in the Ph.Eur.'s monograph.

By adapting previously reported reaction conditions, [18 F]FMISO was synthesized using a TracerLab FX-FDG module in 31 min from no carrier added [18 F]fluoride in 56% radiochemical yield. A novel and simple purification setup based on disposable cartridges was developed allowing the radiopharmaceutical to be obtained in high radiochemical purity (>99.5%) and with chemical impurities far below the Ph.Eur.'s thresholds. Moreover, the study pinpointed some shortcomings of the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method reported in the dedicated Ph.Eur's monograph.

Sulfated Phenolic Substances: Preparation and Optimized HPLC Analysis.

Sulfation is an important reaction in nature, and sulfated phenolic compounds are of interest as standards of mammalian phase II metabolites or pro-drugs. Such standards can be prepared using chemoenzymatic methods with aryl sulfotransferases. The aim of the present work was to obtain a large library of sulfated phenols, phenolic acids, flavonoids, and flavonolignans and optimize their HPLC (high performance liquid chromatography) analysis. Four new sulfates of 2,3,4-trihydroxybenzoic acid, catechol, 4-methylcatechol, and phloroglucinol were prepared and fully characterized using MS (mass spectrometry), 1H, and 13C NMR. The separation was investigated using HPLC with PDA (photodiode-array) detection and a total of 38 standards of phenolics and their sulfates. Different stationary (monolithic C18, C18 Polar, pentafluorophenyl, ZICpHILIC) and mobile phases with or without ammonium acetate buffer were compared. The separation results were strongly dependent on the pH and buffer capacity of the mobile phase. The developed robust HPLC method is suitable for the separation of enzymatic sulfation reaction mixtures of flavonoids, flavonolignans, 2,3-dehydroflavonolignans, phenolic acids, and phenols with PDA detection. Moreover, the method is directly applicable in conjunction with mass detection due to the low flow rate and the absence of phosphate buffer and/or ion-pairing reagents in the mobile phase.

The Effect of Vibratory Grinding Time on Moisture Sorption, Particle Size Distribution, and Phenolic Bioaccessibility of Carob Powder.

Carob pod powder, an excellent source of health-promoting substances, has found its use in a wide range of food products. Grinding conditions affect the physical and chemical properties of the powder, but their influence on the bioaccessibility of phenolic compounds in carob pod powder has not yet been determined. The carob pods were ground for 30-180 s in a vibratory grinder. The median values (D50) of particle size decreased after 60 s of grinding (87.9 µm), then increased to 135.1 µm. Lightness showed a negative correlation with D50 and aw, while the values of redness and yellowness decreased with the reduction in particle size and water activity. The smaller the value of D50, the higher the equilibrium moisture content of carob powder. Phenolic acids (vanillic, ferulic, cinnamic) and flavonoids (luteolin, naringenin, apigenin) were found in all samples of carob powder. The grinding time influenced their content in carob powder, with maximum values at 180 s. Similar observations were made when assessing antioxidant capacity. The in vitro digestion process only improved the bioaccessibility of catechin content in all samples. However, the bioaccessibility of the phenolic compounds and the total phenolic and flavonoid contents decreased with the increase in grinding time. Our findings revealed that the grinding of carob pods for 180 s improved the extractability of phenolics; however, their bioaccessibility was reduced. It is sufficient to ground the carob pod for 30 s, ensuring good availability of nutraceuticals and lower energy cost for grinding.

Phytochemical Composition, Antibacterial, Antioxidant and Antidiabetic Potentials of Cydonia oblonga Bark.

Cydonia oblonga is a medicinal plant that is used to treat a number of health complications in traditional medication systems. The objective of this study was to evaluate the phytochemical composition, and antibacterial, antioxidant, and ant-diabetic potentials of methanolic extracts of Cydonia oblonga bark. The Cydonia oblonga bark extraction was fractionated through HPLC and seven purified fractions labeled as F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, F6, and F7 were obtained. The HPLC-UV analysis of methanolic extract showed the presence of a number of possible compounds. The GC-MS and HPLC analysis confirmed the presence of the following bioactive compounds in the crude extract and purified fractions: malic acid, mandelic acid, quercetin, caffeic acid, catechin hydrate, as morin (HPLC analysis), BIS-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate and diisooctyl phthalate (F1), carbamide (F2, used as fertilizer), octasiloxane and dimethylsiloxanecyclictrimer (F3), silicic acid and cyclotrisiloxane (F4), 6-AH-cAMP, 4H-cyclopropa[5',6']benz[1',2',7,8]azule, and 4-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-morpholinepyrol-2-yl)-butenedioic acid (F5), isopropyamine (F6), and 1-propylhydrazine (F7). The extract and purified fractions were then tested for biological activities. All the purified fractions and methanolic extract showed effective antibacterial activity; however, the highest activity was recorded for methanolic extract against Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumonia. Antioxidant evaluation of methanolic extract and purified fractions against DPPH showed strong % inhibition of the synthetic free radical. The methanolic extract exhibited 87.41 ± 0.54% inhibition whereas fractions showed: F1, 85.45 ± 0.85; F2, 65.78 ± 0.68; F3, 58.61 ± 0.58; F4, 80.76 ± 0.59; F5, 571.29 ± 0.49; F6, 85.28 ± 0.94; and F7, 48.45 ± 0.62% inhibition. Ascorbic acid (standard) was used as a control with 94.88 ± 0.56% inhibition at a maximum concentration of 1000 µg/mL. The α-glucosidase inhibition assay of methanolic extract and purified fractions at a maximum concentration of 1000 µg/mL showed activities as: methanolic extract, 78.21 ± 0.67; F1, 55.01 ± 0.29; F2, 56.10 ± 0.24; F3, 62.44 ± 1.03; F4, 70.52 ± 0.15; F5, 62.18 ± 0.92; F6, 72.68 ± 0.2; and F7, 57.33 ± 0.05% inhibition. α-Amylase % inhibition of methanolic extract and purified fractions were noted as: methanolic extract, 77.98 ± 0.57; F1, 79.72 ± 0.02; F2, 79.72 ± 0.02; F3, 82.16 ± 0.48; F4, 77.37 ± 0.28; F5, 72.14 ± 0.30; F6, 74.24 ± 0.29; and F7, 56.58 ± 0.10 at the highest concentration of 1000 µg/mL. Acarbose (standard) showed 87.65 ± 0.71% inhibition of α-glucosidase and 85.99 ± 0.44% inhibition of α-amylase at the highest concentration of 1000 µg/mL. It was found that all biological activities of methanolic extract and purified fractions might be attributed to the fact that they are rich sources of phenolic and flavonoids along with other bioactive compounds. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents of methanolic extract were recorded higher as compared to purified fractions (TPC = 70% and TFC = 69%). Amongst the purified fractions, fraction 6 exhibited the highest TPC value (64%), and purified fraction 1 exhibited the highest value of TFC (58%). Recent research demonstrated that Cydonia oblonga may be considered an antibacterial medicinal plant. The result of the present study revealed that it might be utilized for the isolation of bioactive phytochemicals that can lead to new opportunities in the discovery of new antibiotics.

HPLC Analysis and the Antioxidant and Preventive Actions of Opuntia stricta Juice Extract against Hepato-Nephrotoxicity and Testicular Injury Induced by Cadmium Exposure.

Opuntia stricta is a rich source of phenolic compounds. This species generally has strong antioxidant activities in vitro and in vivo. This study aimed to analyze the antioxidant properties of phenolic compounds isolated from Opuntia stricta, including its radical scavenging activities and preventive action against Cd-induced oxidative stress in rats. To assess the protection of prickly pear juice extract (PPJE) against Cd-induced hepato-nephrotoxicity and testicular damage, male albino rats received PPJE (250 mg kg−1) and/or Cd (1 mg kg−1) by oral administration and injection, respectively, for five consecutive weeks. The preventive action of PPJE was estimated using biochemical markers of kidney and liver tissues, antioxidant status, and histological examinations. In the present study, the lipid peroxidation, protein carbonyls, antioxidant status, and metallothionein levels were determined in different tissues. The chromatographic analysis indicated that PPJE extract is very rich in phenolic compounds such as verbascoside, catechin hydrate, and oleuropein. Our results showed that PPJE-treated rats had significantly (p < 0.05) decreased Cd levels in liver and kidney tissues. In addition, the administration of PPJE induced a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in lipid peroxidation of 30.5, 54.54, and 40.8 in the liver, kidney, and testicle, respectively, and an increase in antioxidant status in these tissues. Additionally, PPJE showed a strong ability to protect renal, hepatic, and testicular architectures against Cd exposure. This study revealed that PPJE protects against the toxic effects of Cd, possibly through its free radical scavenging and antioxidant activities.

Nutritional Profiling and Antioxidant Property of Three Wild Edible Mushrooms from North East India.

The mushroom is an important food for the rural tribal populations in Manipur, because of its high nutritional contents. In this study, we report on the nutritional profile of three wild edible mushrooms consumed by the tribal populations of Manipur viz.: Macrocybe gigantea J124; Lactifluus leptomerus J201 and Ramaria thindii J470. The studied mushrooms possess a high protein content of 37.6%, 20.8% and 16.4%, respectively. They have a high vitamin C content with low vitamin B1, B2 and folic acid. Among the three mushrooms, M. gigantea J124 possesses the highest mineral content, followed by R. thindii J470 and L. leptomerus J201. The total phenolic content of L. leptomerus J201, M. gigantea J124 and R. thindii J470 were 26.206, 29.23 and 30.99 mg GAE/g, with flavonoid content of 6.646, 6.854 and 9.187 mg quercetin/g, respectively. R. thindii J470 has the highest TPC and TFC content, which correlates with its DPPH radical scavenging activity. The IC50 values for R. thindii J470, M. gigantea J124 and L. leptomerus J201 are 242.0 µg/mL, 550.4 µg/mL and 689.0 µg/mL, respectively, which suggest that the higher content of phenolic compounds in R. thindii J470 contributes to its radical scavenging properties.

Response Surface Methodology (RSM)-Based Optimization of Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction of Sennoside A, Sennoside B, Aloe-Emodin, Emodin, and Chrysophanol from Senna alexandrina (Aerial Parts): HPLC-UV and Antioxidant Analysis.

In this study, ultrasound-assisted extraction conditions were optimized to maximize the yields of sennoside A, sennoside B, aloe-emodin, emodin, and chrysophanol from S. alexandrina (aerial parts). The three UAE factors, extraction temperature (S1), extraction time (S2), and liquid to solid ratio (S3), were optimized using response surface methodology (RSM). A Box-Behnken design was used for experimental design and phytoconstituent analysis was performed using high-performance liquid chromatography-UV. The optimal extraction conditions were found to be a 64.2 °C extraction temperature, 52.1 min extraction time, and 25.2 mL/g liquid to solid ratio. The experimental values of sennoside A, sennoside B, aloe-emodin, emodin, and chrysophanol (2.237, 12.792, 2.457, 0.261, and 1.529%, respectively) agreed with those predicted (2.152, 12.031, 2.331, 0.214, and 1.411%, respectively) by RSM models, thus demonstrating the appropriateness of the model used and the accomplishment of RSM in optimizing the extraction conditions. Excellent antioxidant properties were exhibited by S. alexandrina methanol extract obtained using the optimized extraction conditions with a DPPH assay (IC50 = 59.7 ± 1.93, µg/mL) and ABTS method (47.2 ± 1.40, µg/mL) compared to standard ascorbic acid.

Comparative study of sugar extraction procedures for HPLC analysis and proposal of an ethanolic extraction method for plant-based high-protein ingredients.

BACKGROUND: The increasing importance of plant-based proteins in the food sector makes a reliable compositional analysis of plant-based high-protein ingredients a necessity. Specifically, the quantification of short-chain carbohydrates is relevant for multiple areas, including food product development, food labelling and fundamental food chemistry and food technology research. Commonly used extraction procedures for subsequent high-performance liquid chromatographic separation and quantification of short-chain carbohydrates have been discussed controversially regarding a range of complications that can potentially lead to inaccurate sugar determination. The present study compares the sugar levels in wheat flour and wholemeal wheat flour determined with different aqueous and ethanolic extraction procedures. These procedures included measures to prevent enzyme activity and microbial growth, which represent two of the most relevant challenges in sugar extraction from food samples. RESULTS: Differences in sugar levels (sum of sucrose/maltose, glucose and fructose) as high as 1.8% dry matter (wheat flour) were observed between the employed extraction procedures. Ethanolic extraction (80% ethanol in ultrapure water) with the use of the antimicrobial agent sodium azide but without Carrez clarification was identified as most promising for sugar determination in plant-based high-protein ingredients. CONCLUSION: A screening of high-protein ingredients derived from cereals (wheat gluten), pseudocereals (quinoa, amaranth, buckwheat) and legumes (soy, pea, lupin, lentil, carob, chickpea, faba bean) concerning their levels of sucrose, maltose, glucose and fructose confirmed the applicability of the chosen extraction procedure. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY AND MOLECULAR DOCKING ANALYSIS OF LEUCAS VESTITA Wall. Ex. Benth. EXTRACT AGAINST CYCLO-OXYGENASE-2.

Leucas vestita Wall. ex. Benth., is an endemic species restricted to Western Ghats, India. In this study, the carrageenan-induced anti-inflammatory model was used to evaluate the influence of L. vestita ethanol extract on inflammation. The Ethanol extract was tested for its anti-inflammatory property at a dose of 200mg/kg po. and 400mg/kg po. The paw volume was reduced gradually, three hours after administration of the extract. The extract showed a dosage dependant activity. The compounds present in the ethanol extract were identified by using HPLC and the binding affinity of these compounds against Cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2, the enzyme involved in the perception of pain) was analyzed by using FlexX molecular docking suite.