Physicochemical Properties, Mineral Content, Antioxidant Activities, and Microbiological Quality of Bupleurum spinosum Gouan Honey from the Middle Atlas in Morocco

Monofloral honeys (Bupleurum Spinosum) collected from different geographical locations of Moroccan Middle Atlas were evaluated for various potential attributes. For physicochemical parameters, the results showed the following values: pH (4.02–4.81); free acidity (12.16–31.85 mEq/kg); lactonic acidity (4.98–14.14 mEq/kg); total acidity (18.37–45.53 mEq/kg); moisture (15.81–19.20%); ash (0.21–0.55); electrical conductivity (427.38–682.16 mS/cm); diastasic activity (10.76–26.01); TSS (80.40–84.20%); melanoidins (0.21–1.15), and Pfund scale (30.47–175.53 mm). Potassium was the most important mineral among the tent evaluated elements, followed by sodium and calcium. All tested samples have high antioxidant activities and correlate with phenols, flavonoids, and ascorbic acid content. In regards to safety (sulfite-reducing clostridia and Salmonella spp.) and sanitary quality (faecal coliforms), all honey samples were negative. In addition, low counts of yeast and molds were detected, and the values of total aerobic mesophilic bacteria and Bacillus Sp. confirm the good quality of honey. The outcome of this study showed that all samples have good physicochemical properties, high antioxidant activities, and acceptable microbiological state, respecting the quality control criteria set by the international norms

HPLC-ESI-MS and GC-EI-MS Identification and Quantitation of Polyphenolics and Alkaloids in Moroccan Jujube Honeys

The aim of this study was to determine the phytochemical content of Moroccan Jujube Honey and to establish the principal components of this staple Moroccan food, which contributes health benefit for the local population. Total phytochemical compounds as determined by analytical HPLC-ESI-MS in the honey extracts were 29.39±5.21 mg/kg (range 16.64–42.16) wet weight. The individual phytochemical compounds definitively identified by HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS in the Jujube honeys were the alkaloids: (I) 4-hydroxyquinoline glucoside, (II) 4-hydroxyquinoline and (V) kynurenic acid (17.66±0.87 mg/kg), and the phenolic compounds: (III) p-hydroxybenzoic acid, (IV) caffeic acid and (VI) methyl syringate (11.73±0.50 mg/kg). The structures were confirmed by GC-EI-MS apart from 4-hydroxyquinoline-glucoside. The major components were methyl syringate (8.34±2.49 mg/kg), 4-hydroxyquinoline (6.61±3.23 mg/kg) and kynurenic acid (6.56±0.97 mg/kg). The mean content of polyphenolic compounds (11.73±0.50 mg/kg) of Moroccan Jujube honeys compared favorably with those described for six Chinese Jujube honeys (2.49 mg/kg), five commercial Jujube honeys from different countries (0.92 mg/kg) and twelve Jujube honeys from Yemen (25.71 mg/kg). Reference studies did not identify alkaloids as components of Jujube honey, and therefore the phytochemical profile of Moroccan Jujube honey appears to be unique

In vitro and In vivo oxidation and cleavage products of tocols: From chemical tuners to “VitaminEome” therapeutics. A narrative review

International audienceVitamin E components and vitamin E oxidation products (VEOP) define the “vitaminEome”. VEOP are produced through biological and chemical processes. They are found at low concentrations in vivo and may play particular biological functions linked with chemoprevention and inflammatory processes. Much data have been reported leading to more insight into VEOP. VEOP are generated through peroxy-radical generating systems and via reactive oxygen and nitrogen species as well as enzymatically by a variety of enzymes. In vivo, VEOP and their catabolites may reach the blood circulation and display physiological properties. This narrative review expands upon parent vitamin E chemistry as well as VEOP chemical concepts. The in vitro and in vivo routes by which they can be generated are exhaustively approached. Finally, we will discuss therapeutic and chemopreventive opportunities that VEOP offer with a special focus on their cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory functions

Organic Honey from the Middle Atlas of Morocco: Physicochemical Parameters, Antioxidant Properties, Pollen Spectra, and Sugar Profiles

This work aimed to characterize and compare the physicochemical, ascorbic acid, phenolic, and flavonoid compounds, as well as the antioxidant properties, pollen spectra, and sugar profiles of twenty-three organic honeys produced in the Middle Atlas of Morocco. As results, the pollen analysis showed 22 taxa and revealed the dominance of Ziziphus lotus pollens for all monofloral honeys. The moisture content ranged from 15.9 to 19.0%, pH values werebetween 3.9 and 4.8, electrical conductivity varied from 100 to 581 µs/cm, ash content varied from 0.1 to 2.4%, and the invertase activity ranged from 3.5 to 36 U/kg. Moreover, hydroxymethylfurfural(HMF) varied from 1.2 to 13.5 mg/kg, which confirmed the freshness of our honey samples. For the sugar profiles, there were no significant differences between the examined groups of honeys (p > 0.05) for both fructose and glucose. Additionally, our study showed good antioxidant properties (total antioxidant activity ranged from 34.18 to 131.20 mg AAE/g; DPPH IC50 values ranged from 8.14 to 45.20 mg/mL; ABTS IC50 values ranged from 8.19 to 32.76 mg/mL) and high amounts of phenolic compounds ranging between 20.92 ± 0.03 and 155.89 ± 0.03 mg GAE/100 g, respectively; flavonoid compounds ranged from 5.52 to 20.69 mg QE/100 g, and ascorbic acid ranged from 8.01 to 23.26 mg/100 g. Overall, the proximate composition and the general characterization of organic monofloral and polyfloral honeys as sustainable and health-promising functional products may increase their commercial values, promote their marketability, and might have a significant impact on the basic circular/sustainable economy as a solid lever for solidarity economic development, especially in the rural/poor Moroccan communities. The investigated features may allow and support the incorporation of Moroccan organic honeys and their biovaluable ingredients in the nutraceutical and food industries for multiple purposes

Ionomic analysis, polyphenols characterization, analgesic, antiinflammatory and antioxidant capacities of Cistus laurifolius leaves: in vitro, in vivo, and in silico investigations

Abstract This study aims to investigate the chemical and mineral composition, antioxidant, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory effects of the aqueous extract of Cistus laurifolius var. atlanticus Pit. (Cistaceae). Additionally, molecular docking interactions of various ligands with antioxidant protein target urate oxidase (1R4U) and anti-inflammatory protein target cyclooxygenase-2 (3LN1), revealing potential dual activities and highlighting specific residue interactions. The chemical characterization focused at first glance on the mineral composition which showed that C. laurifolius extract is a mineral-rich source of potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), sodium (Na), phosphorus (P), and zinc (Zn). We next performed, ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) analysis, the latter showed various polyphenols in C. laurifolius extract including Gallic acid as the predominant polyphenol. Isoquercetin, Taxifolin and Astragalin were also among the major flavonoids detected. The antioxidant capacity of C. laurifolius leaves was tested using 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), 2,2-diphenyl-1- picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and reducing power (RP) assays. In vitro analysis of the anti-inflammatory property of C. laurifolius leaves was conducted by the albumin denaturation test and the in vivo was assessed in the sequel by carrageenan-induced paw edema test. The analgesic activity was evaluated in vivo using tail flick, acetic acid-induced contortion, and plantar tests. The findings showed that the leave extract had a powerful antioxidant activity with an IC50 values of 2.92 ± 0.03 µg/mL (DPPH) and 2.59 ± 0.09 µg/mL (in RP test). The studied extract strongly abolished the induced inflammation (82%). Albumin denaturation test recorded an IC50 value of 210 µg/mL. Importantly, the oral administration of C. laurifolius extract considerably reduced the nociceptive effect of acetic acid in rats, showing a significant analgesic effect in a dose-related manner. Altogether, our results showed that C. laurifolius can be a promising source of phytochemicals for drug development potential

Mineral composition, principal polyphenolic components, and evaluation of the anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antioxidant properties of Cytisus villosus Pourr leaf extracts

Cytisus villosus Pourr. (C. villosus) is a medicinal plant belonging to the Fabaceae family, which grows in the Mediterranean area. It is used in traditional medicine against diseases related to inflammation. The objective of the present study was to identify the mineral and polyphenolic composition as well as to evaluate some biological properties including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic activities of C. villosus leaf aqueous extract. The chemical constituents were identified and quantified using ultra performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-MS/MS) methods. The antioxidant properties of C. villosus leaves were tested using reducing power (RP), 2,2-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS), and 2,2′-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assays. The anti-inflammatory potency was evaluated in vitro and in vivo using the albumin denaturation test and the carrageenan test, respectively. Furthermore, the analgesic effect was performed in vivo using tail flick, acetic acid-induced contortion, and plantar tests. Mineralogical analysis revealed that potassium and calcium were the most abundant minerals. The analysis and quantification of the phytochemical composition using UPLC-ESI-MS/MS showed that quinic acid (57.478 ± 1.72 mg/kg) was the major compound of the aqueous extract, followed by salicylic acid (17.38 ± 0.2 mg/kg), isoquercetin (16.895 ± 1.01 mg/kg), and gallic acid (15.914 ± 1.51 mg/kg). The extracts showed potent antioxidant activity for all tests used. The highest antioxidant activity was recorded for the DPPH, ABTS and RP methods, with an IC50 of 3.94 ± 0.09, 2.88 ± 0.07, and 1.94 ± 0.10 μg/mL, respectively. Additionally, using the most frequent analgesic assays, the aqueous extract at a dose of 500 mg/kg exhibited a potent analgesic activity. Notably, an interesting inhibition of albumin denaturation was recorded with an IC50 of 383.94 μg/mL, corroborating the in vivo test. Overall, the results presented here may represent a scientific basis for the traditional use of C. villosus in the treatment of inflammation-related diseases

An Update on Tamoxifen and the Chemo-Preventive Potential of Vitamin E in Breast Cancer Management

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common female cancer in terms of incidence and mortality worldwide. Tamoxifen (Nolvadex) is a widely prescribed, oral anti-estrogen drug for the hormonal treatment of estrogen-receptor-positive BC, which represents 70% of all BC subtypes. This review assesses the current knowledge on the molecular pharmacology of tamoxifen in terms of its anticancer and chemo-preventive actions. Due to the importance of vitamin E compounds, which are widely taken as a supplementary dietary component, the review focuses only on the potential importance of vitamin E in BC chemo-prevention. The chemo-preventive and onco-protective effects of tamoxifen combined with the potential effects of vitamin E can alter the anticancer actions of tamoxifen. Therefore, methods involving an individually designed, nutritional intervention for patients with BC warrant further consideration. These data are of great importance for tamoxifen chemo-prevention strategies in future epidemiological studies

Juniperus oxycedrus leaves and berries extracts: HPLC-PDA-ESI/MS2 phenolic characterization and in vitro anti-inflammatory effects

Background: Inflammation is a natural response of the body to tissue injury or infection, but chronic inflammation can contribute to the development of various diseases. Therefore, finding effective ways to reduce inflammation is of great interest to researchers and healthcare providers. The aim of the study was the elucidation of the phenolic profile from J. oxycedrus leaves and berries followed by in vitro antioxidant and anti-inflammatory assays. Despite the existence of some works on this species, most of these researchers focus their attention on cade oil and only few were interested to study leaves and berries extracts. Methods: HPLC-DAD-ESI/MS2 was used for their characterization of the phenolic profile whereas spectrophotometric microassays in non-cellular and cellular systems (RAW 264.7 macrophages cell line) was assessed for their in vitro antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potentials. Results: Up to twenty-one polyphenolic compounds were positively identified in both extracts. Both leaves and berries extracts showed strong antioxidant capacity to scavenge O2●, with IC50 values of 22.86 ± 2.40 and 122.62 ± 9.42 µg/mL. Moreover, both revealed to have potential to inhibit 5-lipoxygenase in a dose-dependent way, being leaves the most effective vegetal material. Conclusion: The results suggest that J. oxycedrus leaves and berries could be considered exquisite sources of bioactive molecules for a potential further application in the food and pharmaceutical industries