Advanced Oxidation Process: Applications and Prospects

The generation of waste has increased significantly over the last 50 years [...

BAP (6-Benzylaminopurine) Seed-Priming Enhanced Growth, Antioxidant Accumulation and Anthocyanin Metabolism in Olive Sprouts

Given the importance of olive sprouts, it is crucial to explore their potential as an innovative source of bioactive and nutritive compounds through research. Here, we aimed at investigating the potential role of benzylaminopurine (BAP) in improving the tissue chemical composition and bioactivity of olive sprouts. To this end, seeds of two olive varieties (Olea europaea L. vr. Kroniaki and Coratina) were primed with BAP at 25 µM. A substantial enhancement was observed in biomass accumulation by 35% and 30% in Kroniaki and Coratina varieties, respectively. Likewise, the photosynthetic pigments (total chlorophyll, α- and β-carotene, lutein and β-cryptoxanthin) in both varieties were increased, mainly in Coratina. At primary metabolic level, BAP priming improved sprout lipid composition, particularly in Coratina variety. At antioxidant level, BAP priming improved lipid antioxidants (α-, β- and γ-tocopherols) and water-soluble antioxidants (phenols, flavonoids, ascorbate, glutathione and anthocyanins) in both olive varieties. At the anthocyanins level, their precursors (phenylalanine, cinnamic acid, coumaric acid and naringenin) and key biosynthetic enzyme activity (phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), chalcone synthase (CHS), coenzyme A ligase (4CL) and cinnamate 4-hydroxylase (C4H)) were improved in olive varieties, but to a greater extent in Coratina variety. Overall, the sprouts of BAP-primed olive seeds could potentially enhance their nutritional value, suggesting that the sprouts of BAP-primed olive seeds can be used as a food ingredient and additives

Positive Interaction of Selenium Nanoparticles and Olive Solid Waste on Vanadium-Stressed Soybean Plant

The purpose of the current study was to determine the possible improvement in soybean plants’ tolerance against vanadium-induced stress in response to the application of olive solid waste (OSW) and selenium nanoparticles (Se-NPs), by assessing metabolites and plant defense systems. Drawing upon this aim, a pot experiment was performed where the soybean plants were grown with a fertilization treatment (including, control, OSW, Se-NPs, and Se-NPs + OSW) under vanadium stress (including non-stress and 350 mg sodium orthovanadate per kg of soil). Enhancement of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation in vanadium-stressed plants confirmed the oxidative damage in unfertilized plants. Results indicated the positive effects of the combined treatment (Se-NPs + OSW) in improving the plant stress tolerance by causing a balance in the produced ROS and detoxified ROS in the plant. It was mainly stimulated through the improvement of the photosynthetic parameters, anthocyanin metabolism pathway, phenylpropanoid pathway, non-enzymatic antioxidant metabolites (tocopherols, malondialdehyde, polyphenols, and flavonoids), antioxidant enzymes, and biochemical components involved in the ASC/GSH cycle (ascorbate, ascorbate peroxidase, dehydroascorbate reductase, monodehydroascorbate reductase, glutathione, glutathione reductase, and glutathione peroxidase), and antioxidant direct scavenging enzymes (peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase), which finally resulted in higher plant biomass. In conclusion, the simultaneous application of OSW and Se-NPs treatments provided a reliable protection for soybean plants in vanadium-contaminated soils through the activation of antioxidant and non-antioxidant defense mechanisms

Bioactive Phytochemicals of Citrus reticulata Seeds—An Example of Waste Product Rich in Healthy Skin Promoting Agents

Phytochemical investigation of Egyptian mandarin orange (Citrus reticulata Blanco, F. Rutaceae) seeds afforded thirteen known compounds, 1–13. The structures of isolated compounds were assigned using 1D and 2D NMR and HRESIMS analyses. To characterize the pharmacological activity of these compounds, several integrated virtual screening-based and molecular dynamics simulation-based experiments were applied. As a result, compounds 2, 3 and 5 were putatively identified as hyaluronidase, xanthine oxidase and tyrosinase inhibitors. The subsequent in vitro testing was done to validate the in silico-based experiments to highlight the potential of these flavonoids as promising hyaluronidase, xanthine oxidase and tyrosinase inhibitors with IC50 values ranging from 6.39 ± 0.36 to 73.7 ± 2.33 µM. The present study shed light on the potential of Egyptian mandarin orange’s waste product (i.e., its seeds) as a skin health-promoting natural agent. Additionally, it revealed the applicability of integrated inverse docking-based virtual screening and MDS-based experiments in efficiently predicting the biological potential of natural products

Antiviral activities of olive oil apigenin and taxifolin against SARS-CoV-2 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP): In silico, pharmacokinetic, ADMET, and in-vitro approaches

AbstractA novel coronavirus strain called SARS-CoV-2 first appeared in China in December 2019. Natural products are significant sources of prospective and new antiviral medications, and new antiviral drug research has advanced significantly in recent years. The current study allows us to select specific components of olive oil that are thought to be anti-SARS-CoV-2 and assess their impact on SARS-CoV-2 in vitro. The 26 compounds of olive oil were obtained from the PubChem database and docked against the RdRP of SARS-CoV-2 (pdb id: 6XQB) by autodock vina 1 1 2 linux x86 software. Cytotoxicity and antiviral activity were measured by the MTT assay protocol (the crystal violet method). The findings revealed that the range of the olive oil compound’s molecular docking binding affinity score against the RdRP SARS-CoV-2 target was 5.9–18.2 kcal/mol. The best compound is apigenin since it has a low energy value of −18.2 kcal/mol, followed by taxifolin, which has an energy value of −14.2 kcal/mol. On the other hand, the molecule with the lowest energy is believed to be the good one. Additionally, Lipinski’s criteria and AD-MET analysis supported the created apigenin and taxifolin’s status as a secure pharmaceutical substance. Also, apigenin and taxifolin showed moderate antiviral effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2 in vitro, with SI values of 9.7 and 8.79, respectively, compared with olive oil’s crude SI value of 9.57. According to our results, we think that olive oil is an essential source of cutting-edge SARS-CoV-2 antiviral drugs, especially apigenin and taxifolin compounds

An in vitro and in silico study of the enhanced antiproliferative and pro-oxidant potential of Olea europaea L. cv. Arbosana leaf extract via elastic nanovesicles (spanlastics)

The olive tree is a venerable Mediterranean plant and often used in traditional medicine. The main aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of Olea europaea L. cv. Arbosana leaf extract (OLE) and its encapsulation within a spanlastic dosage form on the improvement of its pro-oxidant and antiproliferative activity against HepG-2, MCF-7, and Caco-2 human cancer cell lines. The LC-HRESIMS-assisted metabolomic profile of OLE putatively annotated 20 major metabolites and showed considerable in vitro antiproliferative activity against HepG-2, MCF-7, and Caco-2 cell lines with IC$_{50}$ values of 9.2 ± 0.8, 7.1 ± 0.9, and 6.5 ± 0.7 µg/mL, respectively. The encapsulation of OLE within a (spanlastic) nanocarrier system, using a spraying method and Span 40 and Tween 80 (4:1 molar ratio), was successfully carried out (size 41 ± 2.4 nm, zeta potential 13.6 ± 2.5, and EE 61.43 ± 2.03%). OLE showed enhanced thermal stability, and an improved in vitro antiproliferative effect against HepG-2, MCF-7, and Caco-2 (IC$_{50}$ 3.6 ± 0.2, 2.3 ± 0.1, and 1.8 ± 0.1 µg/mL, respectively) in comparison to the unprocessed extract. Both preparations were found to exhibit pro-oxidant potential inside the cancer cells, through the potential inhibitory activity of OLE against glutathione reductase and superoxide dismutase (IC$_{50}$ 1.18 ± 0.12 and 2.33 ± 0.19 µg/mL, respectively). These inhibitory activities were proposed via a comprehensive in silico study to be linked to the presence of certain compounds in OLE. Consequently, we assume that formulating such a herbal extract within a suitable nanocarrier would be a promising improvement of its therapeutic potential

The wound-healing potential of Olea europaea L. Cv. Arbequina leaves extract: an integrated in vitro, in silico, and in vivo investigation

Olea europaea L. Cv. Arbequina (OEA) (Oleaceae) is an olive variety species that has received little attention. Besides our previous work for the chemical profiling of OEA leaves using LC–HRESIMS, an additional 23 compounds are identified. An excision wound model is used to measure wound healing action. Wounds are provided with OEA (2% w/v) or MEBO^® cream (marketed treatment). The wound closure rate related to vehicle-treated wounds is significantly increased by OEA. Comparing to vehicle wound tissues, significant levels of TGF-β in OEA and MEBO^® (p < 0.05) are displayed by gene expression patterns, with the most significant levels in OEA-treated wounds. Proinflammatory TNF-α and IL-1β levels are substantially reduced in OEA-treated wounds. The capability of several lignan-related compounds to interact with MMP-1 is revealed by extensive in silico investigation of the major OEA compounds (i.e., inverse docking, molecular dynamics simulation, and ΔG calculation), and their role in the wound-healing process is also characterized. The potential of OEA as a potent MMP-1 inhibitor is shown in subsequent in vitro testing (IC$_{50}$ = 88.0 ± 0.1 nM). In conclusion, OEA is introduced as an interesting therapeutic candidate that can effectively manage wound healing because of its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties