EFFECT OF DROUGHT ON SAFFLOWER NATURAL DYES AND THEIR BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES

ABSTRACT Drought is the main abiotic constraint that affects crop species behaviour regarding biochemical responses. The current study was conducted to examine the effect of water deficit on growth, phenolic and carotenoid contents as well as the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of two Carthamus tinctorius varieties (Jawhara and 104) flowers. Hence, plants were treated with different levels of water deficit: control (100 %), moderate water deficit (50 %) and severe water deficit (25 %). Obtained results showed that plant growth was significantly (p < 0.05) reduced under 50 %. Drought increased flower phenolic acids contents especially gallic acid where they increased significantly (p < 0.05) by 2.73 fold (104) and by 2.87 fold (Jawhara) with respect to controls under 50 %. However, the amounts of this major compound were reduced at 25 % by 9.66 % (104) and 3.83 % (Jawhara). Similar to phenolic compounds, total carotenoid content was at its highest level especially for Jawhara with an increase by 35.19 % at 50 %. On the other hands, C. tinctorius flowers extracts exhibited high antiradical activity as compared to BHT. A gradual increase by 35.29 % (Jawhara) and 33.33 % (104) especially under 25 % was observed. Moreover, under 50 %, the antimicrobial activity increased significantly (p < 0.05) by 30 % and 10.05 % against Aspergillus carbonarus and Pseudomonas aerogenosa, respectively. Taken together, our findings suggest that C. tinctorius could be a raw material for production of natural dyes under moderate salinity conditions

Variations in composition and antioxidant activity of Tunisian Pistacia lentiscusL. leaf essential oil

In this study, the composition and antioxidant activity of Pistacia lentiscus L. leaf essential oil (EO) from four Tunisian localities were investigated. The EO yields (%, w/w) of P. lentiscus leaf were 0.009% in Oued El Bir, 0.02% in Jebel Mansour, 0.007% in Siliana and 0.01% in Tabarka. The main compounds of Oued El Bir EO were terpinene-4-ol (41.24%) and α-terpineol (7.31%), whereas those of Jebel Mansour were α-pinene (9.48%), limonene (19.11%) and α-phellandrene (3.20%). In Siliana samples, terpinene-4-ol (23.32%), β-caryophyllene (22.62%) and α-terpineol (7.12%) were the main compounds. For P. lentiscus L. from Tabarka, α-terpineol (9.79%) and β-caryophyllene (38.33%) were the major constituents. Three chemotypes of P. lentiscus EO were identified for the first time in Tunisia. P. lentiscus EOs were also screened for their antioxidant activities. The 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl assay gives an IC50 range value of 60–110 μg/mL for all the samples studied. EOs from different Tunisian localities showed lower β-carotene bleaching activity than butylated hydroxytoluene and butylated hydroxyanisol. P. lentiscus EO presents a very low capacity to chelate ferrous irons (IC50 = 80.8–104 μg/mL) and no metal chelating activity was recorded

Effect of drought on safflower natural dyes and their biological activities

Drought is the main abiotic constraint that affects crop species behaviour regarding biochemical responses. The current study was conducted to examine the effect of water deficit on growth, phenolic and carotenoid contents as well as the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of two Carthamus tinctorius varieties (Jawhara and 104) flowers. Hence, plants were treated with different levels of water deficit: control (100 %), moderate water deficit (50 %) and severe water deficit (25 %). Obtained results showed that plant growth was significantly (p < 0.05) reduced under 50 %. Drought increased flower phenolic acids contents especially gallic acid where they increased significantly (p < 0.05) by 2.73 fold (104) and by 2.87 fold (Jawhara) with respect to controls under 50 %. However, the amounts of this major compound were reduced at 25 % by 9.66 % (104) and 3.83 % (Jawhara). Similar to phenolic compounds, total carotenoid content was at its highest level especially for Jawhar a with an increase by 35.19 % at 50 %. On the other hands, C. tinctorius flowers extracts exhibited high antiradical activity as compared to BHT. A gradual increase by 35.29 % (Jawhara) and 33.33 % (104) especially under 25 % was observed. Moreover, under 50 %, the antimicrobial activity increased significantly (p < 0.05) by 30 % and 10.05 % against Aspergillus carbonarus and Pseudomonas aerogenosa, respectively. Taken together, our findings suggest that C. tinctorius could be a raw material for production of natural dyes under moderate salinity conditions

Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities of the medicinal halophyte Reaumuria vermiculata

Reaumuria vermiculata is a xero-halophytic specie widely distributed in the south of Tunisia. In the current study, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities of Reaumuria vermiculata shoot extracts as well as its phenolic compounds were investigated in different solvent extracts (hexane, dichloromethane, methanol and water). Results showed a strong antioxidant activity, using the ORAC method and a cell based-assay, in methanol extract as well as an important phenolic composition (117.12 mg GAE/g). Hexane and dichloromethane proved an interesting anticancer activity against A-549 lung carcinoma cells, with IC50 values of 17 and 23 μg/ml, respectively. Besides, dichloromethane extract displayed the utmost anti-inflammatory activity, inhibiting NO release over 100 % at 80 μg /ml in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7. Taken together, these finding suggest that R. vermiculata exhibited an interesting biological activities which may be related to the phenolic composition of this plant. Moreover, the identification of phenolic compounds in R. vermiculata dichloromethane extract using RP-HPLC revealed that myricetin was the major molecule. These results allow us to propose R. vermiculata as a valuable source for bioactive and natural compounds exhibiting interesting biological capacities

Green Solvent to Substitute Hexane for Bioactive Lipids Extraction from Black Cumin and Basil Seeds

A comparative study of bioactive lipids extraction from black cumin (Nigella sativa L.) and basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) seeds using conventional petroleum-based solvent and green solvent 2-methyltetrahydrofuran (MeTHF) was performed. MeTHF extraction allowed obtaining the highest oil yield in black cumin (34%). Regarding fatty acids composition, linoleic acid (61%) and α-linolenic (78%) were relevant in black cumin and basil green and conventionally extracted oils, respectively. Besides, MeTHF allowed obtaining higher tocopherols and total phenolics contents in black cumin (400 mg/kg of oil and 12 mg EGA/g oil) and basil (317 mg/kg oil and 5 mg EGA/g oil) compared to hexane-extracted ones. The content of major phenolic compounds in the two seed oils, trans-hydroxycinnamic acid, rosmarinic acid, and thymol was enhanced by MeTHF extraction. Furthermore, MeTHF-extracted oils possess stronger antioxidant activities (radical scavenging, total antioxidant, and β-carotene bleaching activities) and high and similar anti-inflammatory capacity to hexane-extracted oils. In conclusion, the results revealed that MeTHF is efficient to replace hazardous solvents to extract oil from black cumin and basil seeds rich in compounds relevant to the human diet, including essential polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-6 and n-3), tocopherols, and phenolic compounds with improved biological activities.Peer reviewe

Phenolic compounds and aroma-impact odorants in herb liqueurs elaborated by maceration of aromatic and medicinal plants in grape marc distillates

Twenty-eight commercial herb liqueurs, elaborated by maceration of aromatic and medicinal plants in grape marc distillate, were analysed. Thirty-two volatile compounds were identified and quantified by gas chromatographymass spectrometry, whereas seven phenols were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography with UV detection. All compounds showed significant differences among the samples analysed as consequence of the initial composition of the distillate and the plants and spices used in the liqueur elaboration. Of the 32 volatile compounds identified, 18 were considered to be impact odorants (odour activity value ?1) and these were classified into six odorant series. Spice, fruity and floral were the series that contributed the most to the aroma profile of the evaluated liqueurs. A first principal components analysis (PCA) was performed on the concentration of the seven phenols and these accounted for 75.37% of the total variance and a second PCA was performed on the concentration of the 18 impact odorants and these accounted for 60.96% of the total variance; allowing for the classification of the liqueur samples into three different groups.We are grateful to the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness for the financial support of this work (project CTQ201571436-C2-1-R), which has partial financial support from the FEDER funds of the European Union. José Manuel Salgado was supported by the grant SFRH/BPD/84440/2012 from Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia - FCT, Portugal

Utjecaj uvjeta uzgoja i dodatka soli na sastav eteričnog ulja slatkog mažurana (Origanum majorana) iz Tunisa

O. majorana shoots were investigated for their essential oil (EO) composition. Two experiments were carried out; the first on hydroponic medium in a culture chamber and the second on inert sand in a greenhouse for 20 days. Plants were cultivated for 17 days in hydroponic medium supplemented with NaCl 100 mmol L1. The results showed that the O. majorana hydroponic medium offered higher essential oil yield than that from the greenhouse. The latter increased significantly in yield (by 50 %) under saline constraint while it did not change in the culture chamber. Under greenhouse conditions and in the absence of salt treatment, the major constituents were terpinene-4-ol and trans-sabinene hydrate. However, in the culture chamber, the major volatile components were cis-sabinene hydrate and terpinene-4-ol. In the presence of NaCl, new compounds appeared, such as eicosane, spathulenol, eugenol, and phenol. In addition, in the greenhouse, with or without salt, a very important change of trans-sabinene hydrate concentration in EO occurred, whereas in the culture chamber change appeared in cis-sabinene hydrate content.U radu je opisano ispitivanje sastava eteričnog ulja izdanaka biljke O. majorana. Provedena su dva eksperimenta: prvi na hidroponom mediju u komorama za uzgoj, a drugi na inertnom pijesku u stakleniku tijekom 20 dana. Biljke su uzgajane 17 dana u hidroponom mediju u koji je dodan NaCl 100 mmol L1. Rezultati ukazuju na to da hidroponi medij O. majorana osigurava veće prinose eteričnog ulja nego staklenik. U stakleniku se prinos ulja značajno povećao dodavanjem 50 % soli dok u uzgoju u uzgojnoj komori nije bilo promjene. U uvjetima u stakleniku i u odsutnosti soli, najvažniji sastojci ulja bili su terpinen-4-ol i trans-sabinen hidrat, dok su u uvjetima uzgojne komore najvažnije hlapljive komponente bile cis-sabinen hidrat i terpinen-4-ol. U prisutnosti NaCl-a, pojavili su se novi sastojci, kao što su eikozan, spatulenol, eugenol i fenol. Dodatno je uz stakleničke uvjete, sa i bez soli, došlo do važne promjene u količini trans-sabinen hidrata u eteričnom ulju, dok se u komorama promijenio sadržaj cis-sabinen hidrata

Salinity impact on seed yield, polyphenols composition and antioxidant activity of Fennel (Foeniculum vulgarae Mill) extracts

Recently, medicinal and aromatic plants have received much attention in several fields such agroalimentary, perfumes, pharmaceutical industries and natural cosmetic products. The consumption of herbal medicines is widespread and is continuously increasing worldwide. Although, secondary metabolites in the medicinal and aromatic plants were fundamentally produced by genetic processing but, their biosynthesis is strongly influenced by environmental factors. Salinity is one of the major factors that affect essential oil biosynthesis and secretion (Heuer et al. 2002). In Tunisia, salt-affected soils cover about 10% of the total area of the country. Salinity led to biochemical disorders and can change plant behaviour regarding the biosynthesis of primary and secondary metabolites. Among all the secondary metabolites synthesized by plants, phenolic compounds are some of the most widespread. In this context, this research evaluated the effect of salinity on total and individual polyphenols contents as well as the antioxidant activities of fennel (Foeniculum vulgarae Mill.) seeds of two geographic origins, Tunisia (TFS) and Egypt (EFS). This plant is one of the most common aromatics in the Mediterranean kitchen. Plants were treated with different concentrations of NaCl treatment: 0, 50, and 75 mmoL. Plant growth was significantly reduced with the severity of saline treatment. This also caused important reductions in the seed yield and yield components. Besides, total polyphenol content was higher in treated seeds, and salinity improved the amount of individual phenolic compounds. Moreover, antioxidant activities of the extracts were determined by four different test systems, namely 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, β-carotene/linoleic acid chelating, and reducing power assays. The highest antioxidant activities were reveled in severe stressed plants for both TFS and EFS. In this case, fennel seeds produced under saline conditions may function as a potential source of antioxidant compounds, which could support the utilization of this plant in a large field of applications such as food industry