Antioxidant and Mitochondria-Targeted Activity of Caffeoylquinic-Acid-Rich Fractions of Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium L.) and Silver Wormwood (Artemisia ludoviciana Nutt.)

Caffeoylquinic acids are some of the chemophenetically significant specialized metabolites found in plants of the family Asteraceae Dumort., possessing a broad spectrum of biological activities. As they might be potential mitochondria-targeted antioxidants, effective preparation methods - including extraction, isolation, and purification of caffeoylquinic acids from plant sources - are in great demand. The aim of this study was to fractionate the caffeoylquinic acids from cultivated wormwood (Artemisia absinthium L.) and silver wormwood (Artemisia ludoviciana Nutt.) herb acetone extracts and evaluate their phytochemical profiles, antioxidant activity (radical scavenging and re- ducing activities), effects on kidney mitochondrial functions, and cytochrome-c-reducing properties. The main findings of our study are as follows: (1) Aqueous fractions purified from wormwood and silver wormwood herb acetone extracts are rich in monocaffeoylquinic acids (chlorogenic acid, neochlorogenic acid, 4-O-caffeoylquinic acid), while methanolic fractions purified from wormwood and silver wormwood herb acetone extracts are rich in dicaffeoylquinic acids (4,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid, 3,4-dicaffeoylquinic acid, 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid). Aqueous fractions purified from worm- wood and silver wormwood herb acetone extracts were solely composed of monocaffeoylquinic acids. Methanolic fractions purified from wormwood and silver wormwood herb acetone extracts con- tained only dicaffeoylquinic acids. (2) Fractions purified from silver wormwood herb acetone extracts stood out as having the greatest content of caffeoylquinic acids. (3) The greatest radical scavenging activity was determined in the dicaffeoylquinic-acid-rich fraction purified from silver wormwood herb acetone extract; the greatest reducing activity was determined in the dicaffeoylquinic-acid- rich fraction purified from wormwood herb acetone extract. (4) The effect of both fractions on mitochondrial functions was dose-dependent; lower concentrations of caffeoylquinic-acid-rich frac- tions had no effect on mitochondrial functions, whereas higher concentrations of caffeoylquinic- acid-rich fractions reduced the state 3 respiration rate (with the complex-I-dependent substrate glutamate/malate). (5) Both monocaffeoylquinic- and dicaffeoylquinic-acid-rich fractions possessed cytochrome-c-reducing properties; the greatest cytochrome c reduction properties were determined in the dicaffeoylquinic-acid-rich fraction purified from wormwood herb acetone extract. In sum- mary, these findings show that caffeoylquinic acids might be beneficial as promising antioxidant and cytochrome-c-reducing agents for the modulation of mitochondria and treatment of various mitochondrial-pathway-associated pathologies

Efficacy of proanthocyanidins from Pelargonium sidoides root extract in reducing P. gingivalis viability while preserving oral commensal S. salivarius

Funding Information: Funding: This research is a part of the project PELARGODONT (“Engineering and functionalization of delivery system with Pelargonium sidoides biologically active substance on inflamed periodontal surface area”) funded by a grant (No. S-M-ERA.NET-17-2) from the Research Council of Lithuania, the State Education Development Agency of Latvia, and Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research. Publisher Copyright: © 2018 by the authors.Bacterial resistance to antibiotics and the disruption of beneficial microbiota are key problems in contemporary medicine and make the search for new, more efficient infection treatment strategies among the most important tasks in medicine. Multicomponent plant-derived preparations with mild antibacterial activity created by many simultaneous mechanisms together with anti-inflammatory, innate immune and regenerative capacity-stimulating properties are good candidates for this therapy, and proanthocyanidins are among the most promising compounds of this sort. In this study, we have isolated proanthocyanidins from Pelargonium sidoides DC root extract and characterized and compared the composition, antioxidant properties and antibacterial activity of the proanthocyanidin fraction with those of the whole extract. The results revealed that proanthocyanidins had significantly stronger antioxidant capacity compared to the root extract and exhibited a unique antibacterial action profile that selectively targets Gram-negative keystone periodontal and peri-implant pathogenic strains, such as Porphyromonas gingivalis, while preserving the viability of beneficial oral commensal Streptococcus salivarius. The finding suggests that proanthocyanidins from Pelargonium sidoides root extract are good candidates for the prolonged and harmless treatment of infectious diseases.publishersversionPeer reviewe

Phytogenotypic Anthocyanin Profiles and Antioxidant Activity Variation in Fruit Samples of the American Cranberry (<i>Vaccinium macrocarpon</i> Aiton)

In this study, we conducted an analysis of the qualitative and quantitative composition of anthocyanins and anthocyanidins in different cultivars and genetic clones of American cranberries grown in Lithuanian climatic conditions. Four anthocyanin compounds predominated in fruit samples of American cranberry cultivars: cyanidin-3-galactoside, cyanidin-3-arabinoside, peonidin-3-galactoside, and peonidin-3-arabinoside. They accounted for 91.66 ± 2.79% of the total amount of the identified anthocyanins. The total anthocyanin content detected via the pH differential method was found to be by about 1.6 times lower than that detected via the UPLC method. Hierarchical cluster analysis and principal component analysis showed that the ‘Woolman’ cultivar distinguished from other cranberry cultivars in that its samples contained two times the average total amount of anthocyanins (8.13 ± 0.09 mg/g). The group of American cranberry cultivars ‘Howes’, ‘Le Munyon’, and ‘BL-8’ was found to have higher than average levels of anthocyanidin galactosides (means 3.536 ± 0.05 mg/g), anthocyanidins (means 0.319 ± 0.01 mg/g), and total anthocyanins (means 6.549 ± 0.09 mg/g). The evaluation of the antioxidant effect of cranberry fruit sample extracts showed that the greatest radical scavenging activity of the cranberry fruit extracts was determined in the fruit samples of ‘Woolman’ (849.75 ± 10.88 µmol TE/g) and the greatest reducing activity was determined in ‘Le Munyon’ (528.05 ± 12.16 µmol TE/g). The study showed a correlation between the total anthocyanin content and the antiradical and reductive activity of the extracts in vitro (respectively, R = 0.635 and R = 0.507, p < 0.05)

Phytochemical Diversity and Antioxidant Potential of Wild Heather (<i>Calluna vulgaris</i> L.) Aboveground Parts

Calluna vulgaris L. (heather) is a traditional medicinal plant with anti-inflammatory and calming activities that are determined by the notable amounts of phytochemicals. The evaluation of different populations of plants that accumulate great amounts of bioactive compounds are requisite for the quality determination of plant materials and medicinal and nutritional products. The assessment of natural resources from a phytogeographic point of view is relevant. Phytochemical analysis of heather samples was carried out using spectrophotometric methods and HPLC-PDA techniques, while antioxidant activity was determined using ABTS and FRAP assays. A significant diversification of phenolic and triterpenic compounds and antioxidant activity was determined in the heather samples collected in distinct habitats. Natural habitats, due to their characteristic chemical heterogeneity, lead to the diversity of indicators characterizing the quality of plant raw materials. Chlorogenic acid and hyperoside were found to be predominant among the phenolic compounds, while ursolic, oleanolic acids, and uvaol prevailed among the triterpenic compounds. Thus, these compounds can be suggested as phytochemical markers, characteristic of the heather raw material from central Europe

Antioxidant Activities of <i>Vaccinium vitis-idaea</i> L. Leaves within Cultivars and Their Phenolic Compounds

Lingonberry leaves are the subject of numerous studies because of antioxidant properties, positive influence on the health and potential use in the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases. In this work, the radical scavenging, reducing, chelating activities, and phenolic composition of ten lingonberry leaves cultivars, one subspecies, and one variety were investigated. Furthermore, the antioxidant activity of individual phenolic compounds, that can be found in lingonberry leaves, were analyzed, and structure-activity relationship was determined. Wide diversity for phenolic profile and antioxidant properties of lingonberry leaves has been observed in the present material. Cultivars &#8216;Kostromskaja rozovaja&#8217;, &#8216;Rubin&#8217;, and Vaccinium vitis-idaea var. leucocarpum surpassed all others tested cultivars and lower taxa by contents of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity. Leaves of lingonberry cultivars and lower taxa are rich in arbutin, flavonol glycosides, proanthocyanidins, and the latter were considered to be the major contributor to antioxidant properties of lingonberry leaves

Proanthocyanidins from Vaccinium vitis-idaea L. Leaves: Perspectives in Wound Healing and Designing for Topical Delivery

The compositions and health-beneficial properties of lingonberry leaves (Vaccinium vitis-idaea L.) are well established; however, their proanthocyanidins are still heavily underutilized. Optimizing their delivery systems is key to enabling their wider applications. The present study investigates the phytochemical and &lsquo;wound-healing&rsquo; properties of proanthocyanidin-rich fraction(s) (PRF) from lingonberry leaves as well as the development of optimal dermal film as a proanthocyanidin delivery system. The obtained PRF was subjected to HPLC-PDA and DMAC analyses to confirm the qualitative and quantitative profiles of different polymerization-degree proanthocyanidins. A &lsquo;wound healing&rsquo; in vitro assay was performed to assess the ability of PRF to modulate the wound environment for better healing. Low concentrations of lingonberry proanthocyanidins were found to accelerate &lsquo;wound&lsquo; closures, while high levels inhibited human fibroblast migration. Fifteen dermal films containing PRF were prepared and evaluated based on their polymer (MC, HEC, PEG 400) compositions, and physical, mechanical, and biopharmaceutical properties using an experimental design. The composition containing 0.30 g of MC, 0.05 g of HEC, and 3.0 g of PEG 400 was selected as a promising formulation for PRF delivery and a potentially effective functional wound dressing material, supporting the need for further investigations

Development, Validation, and Application of the UPLC-DAD Methodology for the Evaluation of the Qualitative and Quantitative Composition of Phenolic Compounds in the Fruit of American Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Aiton)

Phenolic compounds in the fruit of American cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Aiton) determine the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and other biological effects. The berries are used in the production of medicinal preparations and food supplements, which highlights the importance of qualitative and quantitative analysis of phenolic compounds in cranberry fruit raw material. The aim of our study was to develop and validate an efficient, cost-effective, reproducible, and fast UPLC-DAD methodology for the evaluation of the qualitative and quantitative composition of phenolic compounds in raw material and preparations of American cranberry fruit. During the development of the methodology, chlorogenic acid and the following flavonols were identified in cranberry fruit samples: myricetin-3-galactoside, quercetin-3-galactoside, quercetin-3-glucoside, quercetin-3-&alpha;-L-arabinopyranoside, quercetin-3-&alpha;-L-arabinofuranoside, quercetin-3-rhamnoside, myricetin, and quercetin. The developed and optimized UPLC-DAD methodology was validated according to the guidelines of the International Council for Harmonization (ICH), evaluating the following parameters: range, specificity, linearity (R2 &gt; 0.999), precision (%RSD &lt; 2%), LOD (0.38&ndash;1.01 &micro;g/mL), LOQ (0.54&ndash;3.06 &micro;g/mL), and recovery (80&ndash;110%). The developed methodology was applied to evaluate the qualitative and quantitative composition of phenolic compounds in fruit samples of cranberry cultivars &lsquo;Baifay&rsquo;, &lsquo;Bergman&rsquo;, &lsquo;Prolific&rsquo;, and &lsquo;Searles&rsquo;, as well as &lsquo;Bain-MC&rsquo; and &lsquo;BL-12&prime; clones. In the tested samples, the majority (about 70%) of the identified flavonols were quercetin derivatives. The greatest amount of quercetin-3-galactoside (1035.35 &plusmn; 4.26 &micro;g/g DW) was found in fruit samples of the &lsquo;Searles&rsquo; cultivar, and the greatest amount of myricetin-3-galactoside (940.06 &plusmn; 24.91 &micro;g/g DW) was detected in fruit samples of the &lsquo;Woolman&rsquo; cultivar

Phenolic Composition and Antioxidant Activity of <i>Tanacetum parthenium</i> Cultivated in Different Regions of Ukraine: Insights into the Flavonoids and Hydroxycinnamic Acids Profile

Tanacetum parthenium, also known as feverfew, is rich in bioactive compounds, namely sesquiterpene lactones, flavonoids, and volatile oils. Sesquiterpene lactones possess anti-migraine activity, while phenolic compounds possess anti-inflammatory and antioxidant action. Phytochemical composition determines the pharmacological activity and so profiling is essential in quality assessment. The study aimed to evaluate cultivated feverfew plants’ phenolic profiles and antioxidant activity. Eleven phenolic compounds were identified in the samples of feverfew in Ukraine. Hydroxycinnamic acids predominate in the quantitative content of all the samples, namely chlorogenic acid, 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid, 3,4-dicaffeoylquinic acid and 4,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid. The total content of flavonoids ranged from 0.8 to 2.6%; the content of hydroxycinnamic acids varied from 3.3 to 6.5%. The obtained data testify to the prospects of using Ukrainian feverfew as a raw material with a significant content of phenolic substances to develop new herbal medicines

Phytoprofiling of Sorbus L. Inflorescences: A Valuable and Promising Resource for Phenolics

The leaves and fruits of various Sorbus L. genotypes have long ethnopharmacological and food-usage histories, but inflorescences are still underutilized and neglected materials with scarce phytochemical scientific evidence. The aim of this study was to determine the phenolic profiles of inflorescence extracts of 26 Sorbus species, genotypes, and cultivars. HPLC and UPLS with MS detection were applied, and coupled data revealed unique phytochemical phenolic profiles. Neochlorogenic and chlorogenic acids were the key compounds, reaching up to 5.8 mg/g of dw. Rutin, isoquercitrin, quercetin 3-O-malonylglucoside, isorhamnetin 3-O-rutinoside, sexangularetin derivative, and kaempferol acetyl hexoside were detected in all Sorbus inflorescence samples. Overall, high quantitative heterogeneity across the various Sorbus genotypes was found by profiling. Phenolic fingerprint profiles and sexangularetin derivatives could serve as markers in authenticity studies and quality control schemes. The species S. amurensis, S. arranensis, S. commixta, and S. discolor and the cultivars &lsquo;Chamsis Louing&rsquo;, &lsquo;Coral Beauty&rsquo;, and &lsquo;Edulis&rsquo; could be used as target genotypes for production of smart and innovative inflorescence matrix-based ingredients

Development and Validation of the UPLC-DAD Methodology for the Detection of Triterpenoids and Phytosterols in Fruit Samples of Vaccinium macrocarpon Aiton and Vaccinium oxycoccos L.

Cranberries are used in the production of medicinal preparations and food supplements, which highlights the importance of triterpene compounds determination in cranberry fruit raw material. The aim of our study was to develop and validate for routine testing suitable UPLC-DAD methodology for the evaluation of triterpene acids, neutral triterpenoids, phytosterols, and squalene content in cranberry samples. The developed and optimized UPLC-DAD methodology was validated according to the guidelines of the International Council for Harmonization (ICH), evaluating the following parameters: range, specificity, linearity (R2 &gt; 0.999), precision, LOD (0.27&ndash;1.86 &micro;g/mL), LOQ (0.90&ndash;6.18 &micro;g/mL), and recovery (80&ndash;110%). The developed and validated technique was used for the evaluation of triterpenic compounds in samples of Vaccinium macrocarpon and Vaccinium oxycoccos fruits, and their peels, pulp and seeds. The studied chromatogram profiles of Vaccinium macrocarpon and Vaccinium oxycoccos were identical but differed in the areas of the analytical peaks. Ursolic acid was the dominant compound in fruit samples of Vaccinium macrocarpon and Vaccinium oxycoccos. The highest amounts of triterpenic compounds were detected in the cranberry peels samples. The developed method for the detection of triterpene compounds can be applied in further studies for routine testing on the qualitative and quantitative composition of fruit samples of Vaccinium macrocarpon and Vaccinium oxycoccos species and cultivars