Chemical characterization, comprehensive antioxidant capacity, and enzyme inhibitory potential of leaves from Pistacia terebinthus L. (Anacardiaceae)

Pistacia terebinthus, Anacardiaceae, is used in traditional medicine and its fruits are consumed as coffee in Turkey. However, the research on the chemical and biological activity of P. terebinthus leaves is almost lack. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the comprehensive antioxidant capacity (DPPH, ABTS, reducing power and metal chelating activity) and enzyme inhibitory effects (against AChE, BChE, alpha-amylase, alpha-glucosidase, and tymsinase) as well as phytochemical content of the leaves extracts from P. terebinthus. The phytochemical composition in extracts were analysed using UHPLC-MS. Total phenolics and flavonoids contents of the extracts were 65.51-210.54 mg GAE/g and 54.94-169.89 mg RE/g, respectively. The highest level of total phenolic content was found in the methanol extract while the maximum total flavonoid content observed in ethyl acetate extract. The antioxidant results showed that methanol extract (ABTS: 3.29 mmol TE/g, DPPH: 2.06 mmol TE/g, CUPRAC: 2.67 mmol TE/g, FRAP: 1.62 mmol TE/g, Metal chelating activity: 65.65 mg EDTA/g) exhibited promising antioxidant capacity. The methanol extract also demonstrated important enzyme inhibitory effects. The results suggest that the extracts of P. terebinthus leaves has the potential to be used as good candidate of natural antioxidants and enzyme inhibitors

New insights into the chemical profiling, cytotoxicity and bioactivity of four Bunion species

Bunium species have been reported to be used both as food and in traditional medicines. The scientific community has attempted to probe into the pharmacological and chemical profiles of this genus. Nonetheless, many species have not been investigated fully to date. In this study, we determined the phenolic components, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and enzyme inhibitory activities of aerial parts of four Bunium species (B. sayai, B. pinnatifolium, B. brachyactis and B. macrocatpum). Results showed that B. microcarpum and B. pinnatifolium were strong antioxidants as evidenced in the DPPH, ABTS, CUPRAC, and FRAP assays. B. brachyactis was the most effective metal chelator, and displayed high enzyme inhibition against cholinesterase, tyrosinase, amylase, glucosidase, and lipase. The four species showed varied antimicrobial activity against each microorganism. Overall, they showed high activity against P. mirabilis and E. call (MIC and MBC < 1 mg(-1)). B. brachyactis was more effective against Aspergillus versicolor compared to the standard drug ketoconazole. B. brachyactis was also more effective than both ketoconazole and bifonazole against Trichoderma viride. B. sayai was more effective than ketoconazole in inhibiting A. fumigates. B. sayai was most non-toxic to HEK 293 (cellular viability = 117%) and HepG2 (cellular viability = 104%). The highest level of TPC was observed in B. pinnatifolium (35.94 mg GAE g(-1)) while B. microcarpum possessed the highest TFC (39.21 mg RE g(-1)). Seventy four compounds were detected in B. microcarpum, 70 in B. brachyactis, 66 in B. sayai, and 51 in B. pinnatifolium. Quinic acid, chlorogenic acid, pantothenic acid, esculin, isoquercitrin, rutin, apigenin, and scopoletin were present in all the four species. This study showed that the four Bunium species are good sources of biologically active compounds with pharmaceutical and nutraceutical potential

If you cannot beat them, join them: exploring the fruits of the invasive species Carpobrotus edulis (L.) NE Br as a source of bioactive products

The halophyte species Carpobrotus edulis (L.) N.E. Br, also known as Hottentot-fig, is one of the 20 most aggressive invasive species of coastal areas worldwide. It is native to South Africa, where it is used in traditional medicine for the treatment of several diseases, including tuberculosis and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Aiming at a sustainable use of its biomass as a value-added product, this work reports for the first time the in vitro antioxidant, anti-microbial, enzymatic inhibitory properties and toxicity of peel and flesh extracts of Hottentot-fig mature fruits. The extracts' chemical composition was also determined by spectrophotometric methods (total contents of phenolics: TPC; flavonoids: TFC and tannins: TTC), and by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS/MS). The peels' extracts had generally the highest TPC, TFC and TTC, especially the ethanol ones (TPC: 272.82 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g dry weight (DW), TFC: 1.58 mg quercetin equivalents (QE)/g DW and TTC: 20.3 mg catechin equivalents (CE)/g DW). The peels' extracts also had the highest diversity of compounds, mostly phenolic acids, flavonoids, and coumarins, as identified by HPLC-ESI-MS/MS. Some molecules were specific to a particular fruit part, for example, coumaric acid and uvaol in the peel, and vanillin and kaempferol-O-(rhamnosyl)hexosylhexoside in the flesh. Some compounds are here described for the first time in Hottentot-fig, such as azelaic acid and emodin. The peel's extracts had the highest anti radical activity, especially the ethanol and acetone towards 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) (half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of 0.59 and 0.88 mg/mL, respectively), and the acetone extract against 2,2'-Azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) (IC50 = 0.56 mg/mL). Samples had nil capacity to chelate iron, a low copper chelation potential, but a significant capacity to reduce iron, especially the ethanol (IC50 = 0.09 mg/mL) and the acetone extracts of peels (IC50 = 0.10 mg/mL) and flesh (IC50 = 0.11 mg/mL) and also the water peel's extracts (IC50 = 0.18 mg/mL). Samples had nil to low activity towards the enzymes acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE), alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase, but displayed a strong inhibition of tyrosinase, especially the ethanol peel's extracts (29.55 mg kojic acid equivalents (KAE)/g). Samples had nil to low in vitro toxicity towards human keratinocytes. All together our results suggests possible novel biotechnological applications of Hottentot-fig fruits as sources of innovative bioactive ingredients for the food, cosmetic, agriculture and/or pharmaceutical industries.Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT)Portuguese Foundation for Science and TechnologyEuropean CommissionPortuguese National Budget [CCMAR/Multi/04326/2019, UID/DTP/04138/2019]GreenVet project [ALG-01-0145-FEDER-028876]FCTPortuguese Foundation for Science and TechnologyEuropean Commission [SFRH/BD/116604/2016, CEECIND/00425/2017]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Phytochemical characterization and bioactivities of five Apiaceae species: Natural sources for novel ingredients

Several species of the Apiaceae family have been employed in traditional cultures for their curative virtues. The present study focused on five Apiaceae species, (Falcaria vulgaris (FV), Smyrniopsis aucher( (SA), Smyrniopsis mtutzurdagensis (SM), Smyrnium cordifolium (SC), and Actinolema macrolema (AM)). The antioxidant, enzyme inhibitory (alpha-amylase, alpha-glucosidase, acetyl- and butyrylcholinesterase, lipase, and tyrosinase), antimicrobial, phytochemical, and cytotoxicity profiles of the methanol extracts of the selected Apiaceae species were determined. SC extract (35.68 mg gallic acid equivalent/g extract) possessed the highest phenolic content while the AM extract (56.79 mg rutin equivalent/g extract) had the highest flavonoid content. HPLC-ESI-MS (High performance liquid chromatography-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry) analyses showed presence of ferulic acid in all the five species. SC extract exhibited high radical scavenging (59.28 and 94.31 mg Trolox equivalent [TE]/g extract, DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) and ABTS (2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline)-6-sulfonic acid), respectively) and reducing activity (161.44 and 113.62 mg TE/g extract, for CUPRAC (cupric reducing antioxidant capacity) and FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power), respectively). SM extract exhibited the highest cholinesterase's inhibitory action (3.82 and 4.76 mg galantamine equivalent/g extract, for acetyland butyrylcholinesterase, respectively). The extracts showed higher inhibition against alpha-glucosidase (7.32-11.99 mmol acarbose equivalent [ACAE]/g extract) compared to alpha-amylase (0.51-0.55 mmol ACAE/g extract). SC extract was the most active (137.54 mg kojic acid equivalent/g extract) tyrosinase inhibitor and FV extract (113.75 mg Orlistat equivalent/g) the best lipase inhibitor. SM extract showed potent antibacterial effect against B. cereus (MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) 0.180 mg/mL), P. mirabilis (MIC 0.180 mg/mL), M. flavus (MIC 0.560 mg/mL), P. aeruginosa (MIC 0.275 mg/mL), and S. typhimurium (MIC 1.500 mg/mL). FV extract (MIC 0.140 mg/mL) suppressed A. fumigates growth. Cytotoxicity was assessed on murine macrophage (RAW 264.7), human embryonic kidney (HEK 293), and human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cell lines. FV (60.3%) and SM (57.4%) showed the highest reduction on RAW 264.7 cellular viability, whereas SM (74.1%) showed toxicity against HepG2. This study supports that the Apiaceae species could be considered as promising candidates for the development of novel pharmacophores for the management of several human ailments

Network analysis, chemical characterization, antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory effects of foxglove (Digitalis cariensis Boiss. ex Jaub. & Spach): A novel raw material for pharmaceutical applications

The present study outlines the phenolic composition and pharmacological properties of different extracts of Digitalis cariensis Boiss. ex Jaub. & Spach root and aerial parts. The metabolic profiles of the studied extracts were characterized by UHPLC-MS. The in vitro antioxidant and enzyme (acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), tyrosinase, alpha-amylase, and alpha-glucosidase) inhibitory potential of the extracts were determined. Bioinformatics and docking investigations were also conducted to support the enzyme inhibition test and predict putative targets for potential pharmacological applications. Overall, the methanolic extract followed by the water extract of the D. cariensis root were found to be superior source of antioxidant compounds except for metal chelating ability, in which the water extract of the root (26.34 +/- 1.54 mg EDTAE/g) and aerial parts (16.47 +/- 0.88 mg EDTAE/g) have showed the highest activity. The tested extracts were potent against AChE (9.11 +/- 0.279.79 +/- 0.28 mg GEs/g extract), alpha-amylase (0.12 +/- 0.01- 0.50 +/- 0.01 mmol ACEs/g extract) and alpha-glucosidase (0.28 +/- 0.0117.29 +/- 0.24 mmol ACEs/g extract). Notable activity against tyrosinase was displayed by the methanolic extracts (Root-MeOH: 123.71 +/- 2.70 and aerial parts - MeOH: 137.96 +/- 1.07 mg KAE/g extract), while none of the extracts were potent against BChE. According to docking investigations, the observed anti-tyrosinase effect could be related, at least partially, to the presence of luteolin, rosmarinic acid and kaempferol in the extracts. Results amassed herein is the first report on the biological attributes of D. cariensis, which validate the pharmacological uses of this plant. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Chemical profile, antioxidant, antimicrobial, enzyme inhibitory, and cytotoxicity of seven Apiaceae species from Turkey: a comparative study

Several Apiaceae species, used as both food and in complementary and alternative medicine, represents a rich source of potential valuable phytopharmaceuticals which necessitates scientific contemplation. In the present study, the antioxidant, enzyme inhibitory, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic properties of methanol extracts of seven Apiaceae species, (Chaerophyllum macrospermum (Willd. ex Spreng.) Fisch. & C.A.Mey. ex Hohen, Ferula rigidula Fisch. ex DC., Ferula orientalis L., Prangos ferulacea Lindl., Prangos peucedanifolia Fenzl., Ferulago setifolia K. Koch, and Pimpinella anthriscoides Boiss.) were evaluated. Species belonging to the Prangos genus exhibited the highest total phenolic content, namely P. peucedanifolia and P. ferulacea, with values of 47.90 and 44.44 mg gallic acid equivalent/g extract, respectively. P. peucedanifolia also displayed the highest radical scavenging capacity (81.53 and 102.70 mg Trolox equivalent [TE]/g extract for 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS), respectively) and reducing power (165.87 and 100.09 mg TE/g extract for cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), respectively). C. macrospermum showed the most potent inhibition against Alzheimer's disease related enzymes, namely acetylcholinesterase (4.53 mg galantamine equivalent [GALAE]/g extract) and butyrylcholinesterase (3.22 mg GALAE/g extract). P. ferulacea (131.94 mg kojic acid (KAE) equivalent/g extract) and P. peucedanifolia (4.97 mmol acarbose equivalent (ACAE)/g extract) were potent inhibitors of tyrosinase and a-glucosidase, respectively. In general, studied species were able to reduce cellular viabilities. P. peucedanifolia possessed promising antibacterial potential against Bacillus cereus (Minimum inhibition concentration (MIC): 0.37 mg/mL), L. monocytogenes (MIC: 0.56 mg/mL), P. aeruginosa and Escherichia coli (MIC: 0.27 mg/mL), Salmonella typhimurium and Enterobacter cloacae (MIC: 0.75 mg/mL). F. rigidula showed the highest antifungal effect against Aspergillus ochraceus and Trichoderma viride (MIC: 0.10 mg/mL). The present findings could be the scientific starting point towards the pharmaceutical and/or commercial utilization of these Apiaceae species.Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Republic of Serbia [451-03-68/2020-14/200007]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio