Anti-Inflammatory Activity and Changes in Antioxidant Properties of Leaf and Stem Extracts from Vitex mollis

Vitex mollis is used in traditional Mexican medicine for the treatment of some ailments. However, there are no studies on what happens to the anti-inflammatory activity or antioxidant properties and total phenolic content of leaves and stem extracts of Vitex mollis during the digestion process; hence, this is the aim of this work. Methanolic, acetonic, and hexanic extracts were obtained from both parts of the plant. Extract yields and anti-inflammatory activity (elastase inhibition) were measured. Additionally, changes in antioxidant activity (DPPH and ABTS) and total phenols content of plant extracts before and after in vitro digestion were determined. The highest elastase inhibition to prevent inflammation was presented by hexanic extracts (leaf = 94.63% and stem = 98.30%). On the other hand, the major extract yield (16.14%), antioxidant properties (ABTS = 98.51% and DPPH = 94.47% of inhibition), and total phenols (33.70 mg GAE/g of dried sample) were showed by leaf methanolic extract. Finally, leaf and stem methanolic extracts presented an antioxidant activity increase of 35.25% and 27.22%, respectively, in comparison to their initial values after in vitro digestion process. All samples showed a decrease in total phenols at the end of the digestion. These results could be the basis to search for new therapeutic agents from Vitex mollis

Antioxidant activity of hydrolysates and peptide fractions of glutelin from cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) seed

La fracción de glutelina de la almendra de cacao se hidrolizó con alcalasa para la producción de hidrolizados, los cuales se fraccionaron por ultrafiltración para obtener péptidos con un peso molecular (MW) menor a 3000 Da. La actividad antioxidante (AOX) de los hidrolizados y péptidos se evaluó mediante los ensayos de 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH•), 2,2´-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS•+) y capacidad de absorción del radical oxígeno (ORAC). La fracción peptídica obtenida por ultrafiltración con la mayor AOX se purificó por cromatografía de exclusión molecular, mediante la cual se identificaron cuatro principales picos con un MW entre 535 y 2959 Da. La fracción peptídica P1 (MW = 2959 Da) mostró la mayor actividad reductora de radicales DPPH• y ABTS•+ con valores EC50 de 237.48 y 19.29 µg/mL, respectivamente, los cuales fueron similares a los obtenidos con glutatión. Estos resultados muestran que el tratamiento enzimático de glutelina de cacao es un bioproceso atractivo para la producción de fracciones peptídicas con AOX, que podrían incluirse en el diseño de alimentos funcionales. Además, proporcionaría un uso alternativo del cacao.Glutelin fraction from cocoa almond was hydrolyzed with alcalase for the production of hydrolysates. These were then fractionated by ultrafiltration to obtain peptides with a molecular weight (MW) lower than 3000 Da. The antioxidant activity (AOX) of the hydrolysates and peptides was assessed using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH•), 2,2´-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS•+), and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assays. Ultrafiltered peptide fraction with the highest AOX was purified by size exclusion chromatography, by which four main peaks were identified with a MW between 535 and 2959 Da. The peptide fraction P1 (MW = 2959 Da) showed the highest capacity to scavenge DPPH• and ABTS•+ radicals with radical scavenging activity DPPH• and ABTS•+ with EC50 values of 237.48 and 19.29 µg/mL, respectively, which were similar to those obtained with glutathione. These results show that enzymatic treatment of cocoa glutelin comprises an attractive bioprocess for the production of peptide fractions with AOX, which could be included in the design of functional foods; moreover, they show an alternative use of cocoa

Chemical composition and current distribution of ‘‘Azafrán de bolita’’ (ditaxis heterantha zucc; euphorbiaceae): a food pigment producing plant

COMPOSICIÓN QUIMICA Y DISTRIBUCIÓN ACTUAL DEL AZAFRÁN DE BOLITA (DITAXIS HETERANTHA: EUPHORBIACEAE): UNA PLANTA PRODUCTORA DE COLORANTES USADOS EN ALIMENTOS. Ditaxis heterantha Zucc. (azafra´n de bolita) es una planta que pertenece a la familia de las Euphorbiáceas, se encuentra en las regiones semiáridas de México en forma silvestre. Sus semillas son utilizadas por los habitantes de las regiones donde crece, para dar color y sabor en la preparación de sus alimentos. Recientemente se ha iniciado su cultivo en forma local, sin embargo, la planta no ha sido cultivada extensivamente pero puede ser un cultivo económicamente potencial. El objetivo de este trabajo es validar la distribución geográfica de la planta y determinar su composición química. El endospermo de las semillas es de color amarillo intenso indicando la presencia de pigmentos de la familia de los carotenoides. La extraccio´n del pigmento se llevo´ a cabo con hexano, y se lograron identificar 7 fracciones por HPLC. El espectro de estas fracciones presento´ un espectro con 3 absorbancias máximas, lo cual es característico de los carotenoides. Los análisis de la composición química de la semilla, mostraron que el contenido de grasa en promedio es del 39.4%, mientras que de proteína es del 18.8%. El contenido de grasa y proteı´na es semejante a las semillas de algodo´n y girasol respectivamente. Su composición puede permitir la utilización de la semilla como fuente pigmentos naturales, aceite vegetal y proteína. La semilla alcanza precios competitivos en los mercados locales y tienen una promisoria rentabilidad económica debido a que su cultivo requiere pocos cuidados específicamente baja demanda de agua

Black Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Polyphenolic Extract Exerts Antioxidant and Antiaging Potential

Phenolic compounds present in common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) have been reported to possess antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and ultraviolet radiation (UVR) protective properties. UVR from sunlight, which consists of UV-B and UV-A radiations, induces reactive oxygen species (ROS) and free radical formation, consequently activating proteinases and enzymes such as elastase and tyrosinase, leading to premature skin aging. The objective of this work was to extract, characterize and evaluate the antioxidant and antiaging potential of polyphenols from a black bean endemic variety. The polyphenolic extract was obtained from black beans by supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) using CO2 with a mixture of water–ethanol as a cosolvent and conventional leaching with a mixture of water–ethanol as solvent. The polyphenolic extracts were purified and characterized, and antioxidant potential, tyrosinase and elastase inhibitory potentials were measured. The extract obtained using the SFE method using CO2 and H2O–Ethanol (50:50 v/v) as a cosolvent showed the highest total phenolic compounds yield, with 66.60 ± 7.41 mg GAE/g coat (p > 0.05) and 7.30 ± 0.64 mg C3GE/g coat (p < 0.05) of anthocyanins compared to conventional leaching. Nineteen tentative phenolic compounds were identified in leaching crude extract using ESI-QTOF. Quercetin-3-D-galactoside was identified in crude and purified extracts. The purified SFC extract showed IC50 0.05 ± 0.002 and IC50 0.21 ± 0.008 mg/mL for DPPH and ABTS, respectively. The lowest IC50 value of tyrosinase inhibition was 0.143 ± 0.02 mg/mL and 0.005 ± 0.003 mg/mL of elastase inhibition for leaching purified extract. Phenolic compounds presented theoretical free energy values ranging from −5.3 to −7.8 kcal/mol for tyrosinase and −2.5 to −6.8 kcal/mol for elastase in molecular docking (in silico) studies. The results suggest that the purified extracts obtained by SFE or conventional leaching extraction could act as antioxidant and antiaging ingredients for cosmeceutical applications

Apoptosis Induction of <i>Agave lechuguilla</i> Torrey Extract on Human Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells (SK-LU-1)

In this study, an ethanol extract of Agave lechuguilla was evaluated against six carcinogenic cell lines (HCT-15, MCF-7, PC-3, U-251, SK-LU-1 and K-562) with an inhibition of 75.7 &#177; 2.3% against the SK-LU-1 line. Based on the previous result, the extract was hydrolyzed and fractionated, to which the IC50 was determined; the cell line was more sensitive to the fractionated extract with an IC50 6.96 &#177; 0.15 &#181;g/mL. Characterization by mass spectrometry showed the presence of kaempferol, quercetin and a flavonoid dimer formed by afzelechin-4&#946;-8-quercetin, according to the generated fragmentation pattern. The fractionated extract presented cell death by apoptosis with 39.8% at 24 h. Molecular docking was performed with the molecules found to try to describe cell death by apoptosis through death receptors such as FasCD95, TNF-R1, DR4/5 and blocking signaling on the EGFR and K-Ras MAPK/ERK pathway, as well as through the intrinsic pathway activating tBID, which promotes the amplification of the apoptotic signal due to the activation of caspase-3, and consequently caspase-7. In addition to the activation of the IIb complex associated with cell death due to necroptosis

Mexican Native Black Bean Anthocyanin-Rich Extracts Modulate Biological Markers Associated with Inflammation

This work aimed to obtain and characterize anthocyanin-rich extracts (ARE) from native black beans and evaluate their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential. The initial extract was obtained by supercritical fluids (RE) and purified using Amberlite® XAD-7 resin (PE). RE and PE were fractionated using countercurrent chromatography, and four fractions were obtained (REF1 and REF2 from RE, PEF1, and PEF2 from PE). ARE and fractions were characterized, and the biological potential was evaluated. ABTS IC50 values ranged from 7.9 to 139.2 (mg C3GE/L), DPPH IC50 ranged from 9.2 to 117.2 (mg C3GE/L), and NO IC50 ranged from 0.6 to143.8 (mg C3GE/L) (p 50 ranged from 0.1 to 0.9 (mg C3GE/L), COX-2 IC50 ranged from 0.01 to 0.7 (mg C3GE/L), and iNOS IC50 ranged from 0.9 to 5.6 (mg C3GE/L) (p < 0.05). The theoretical binding energy for phenolic compounds ranged from −8.45 to −1.4 kcal/mol for COX-1, from −8.5 to −1.8 kcal/mol for COX-2, and from −7.2 to −1.6 kcal/mol for iNOS. RE and REF2 presented the highest antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential. Countercurrent chromatography effectively isolates and purifies bioactive compounds while maintaining their biological potential. Native black beans present an attractive phytochemical profile and could be used as ingredients in nutraceuticals and functional foods

Extracción y cuantificación de los polisacáridos de la pared celular de las levaduras.

Los polisacáridos de la pared celular de las levaduras, se dividen en: 1,3 b-glucanos, 1,6 b-glucanos, manoproteínas y quitina. Estos componentes representan una fuente potencial de aplicaciones en la industria alimentaria y farmacéutica. Por lo tanto, para su extracción existen diferentes protocolos, en donde la mayoría emplean diferenciación de sus componentes basados en su solubilidad en soluciones alcalinas y/o en ácidos inorgánicos, y en donde el contenido de los carbohidratos en la pared celular es usualmente determinado por reactivos de fenol-ácido sulfúrico y/o por el reactivo de antrona. Sin embargo, la mayoría de estas extracciones sólo se obtiene una fracción total de los componentes de la pared celular. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue proponer un metodología de extracción de la pared celular de dos cepas de levadura (Saccharomyces cerevisiae y Kluyveromyces marxianus) a través de una extracción alcalina, dividiendo en tres fracciones los componentes de la pared celular para su posterior cuantificación a partir de cromatografía de líquidos. Se encontró que las cepas de levadura empleadas presentan diferencias estadísticas significativas en la concentración de 1,3 b-glucanos, y que los rendimientos obtenidos en la extracción de la pared celular de ambas cepas de levadura son similares a los reportados en estudios previos. Por lo tanto, podemos concluir que la extracción de la pared celular empleando esta metodología es confiable