Searching for new sources of innovative products for the food industry within halophyte aromatic plants: In vitro antioxidant activity and phenolic and mineral contents of infusions and decoctions of Crithmum maritimum L.

Aromatic halophyte plants are an outstanding source of bioactive compounds and natural products with potential use in the food industry. This work reports the in vitro antioxidant activity, toxicity, poly phenolic profile and mineral contents of infusions and decoctions from stems, leaves and flowers of Crithmum maritimum L, an aromatic and edible maritime halophyte (sea fennel). Aspalathus linearis (Burm.f.) Dahlg. (rooibos) herbal tea was used as a reference. Sea fennel's tisanes, particularly from leaves, were rich in phenolic compounds and five of them (p-hydroxybenzoic and ferulic acids, epicatechin, pyrocatechol and 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde) were here described in C maritimum for the first time. Chlorogenic acid was the dominant phenolic determined. Na was the most abundant mineral in all tisanes followed by Ca and Mg in leaves' tisanes and K in flowers. Sea fennel's samples had a similar antioxidant activity than those from A. linearis, and had no significant toxicity towards four different mammalian cell lines. Altogether, our results suggest that sea fennel can be a source of products and/or molecules for the food industry with antioxidant properties and minerals in the form, for example, of innovative health-promoting herbal beverages.FCT Investigator Programme [IF/00049/2012

Sapwood of carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua L.) as a potential source of bioactive compounds

Methanol (ME) and hot water extracts (WE) of carob tree sapwood (Ceratonia siliqua L.) exhibited high antioxidant activity and were rich in phenolic compounds, with the main compounds identified by HPLC/DAD as gentisic acid and (-)-epicatechin. The ME displayed a high in vitro antitumor activity against human tumoural cell lines and reduced intracellular ROS production by HeLa cells after treatment with H2O2. (-)-Epicatechin was shown to contribute to the cytotoxic activity of the ME. This is the first report on the biological activity of carob tree sapwood

In vitro cytotoxic effects and apoptosis induction by a methanol leaf extract of carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua L.)

This research evaluated the in vitro apoptotic inducing properties of a methanol leaf extract of carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua L.) on a human cervical adenocarcinoma cell line (HeLa). The cell viability effect on a prostate (DU-145), breast (MDA-MB-231) and colon cell line (HCT-166) was also assessed. The effect of the extract on reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by HeLa cells was studied, and a phytochemical evaluation was made by high performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection (HPLC). Total mean yield of identified phenols was 261.1 mg/g DW, and (+)-catechin was the major compound (76.8 mg/g DW). The extract decreased cell viability in a dose-and time-dependent manner, and a more pronounced effect on HeLa line was observed. In vitro cytotoxic activity was associated with apoptosis, but not to the increase of ROS production. Among the tested compounds identified in the extract, the highest activity was detected with gallic acid (GA), (+)-catechin and quercetin, with reductions in HeLa cells viability down to 8.0, 11.9 and 27.1%, respectively. This is the first report on the apoptotic activity of a leaf extract of carob tree on a human cancer cell line, suggesting that it may be a potential source of chemopreventive compounds

Biological activities and chemical composition of methanolic extracts of selected Autochthonous microalgae strains from the Red Sea

Four lipid-rich microalgal species from the Red Sea belonging to three different genera (Nannochloris, Picochlorum and Desmochloris), previously isolated as novel biodiesel feedstocks, were bioprospected for high-value, bioactive molecules. Methanol extracts were thus prepared from freeze-dried biomass and screened for different biological activities. Nannochloris sp. SBL1 and Desmochloris sp. SBL3 had the highest radical scavenging activity against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, and the best copper and iron chelating activities. All species had potent butyrylcholinesterase inhibitory activity (>50%) and mildly inhibited tyrosinase. Picochlorum sp. SBL2 and Nannochloris sp. SBL4 extracts significantly reduced the viability of tumoral (HepG2 and HeLa) cells with lower toxicity against the non-tumoral murine stromal (S17) cells. Nannochloris sp. SBL1 significantly reduced the viability of Leishmania infantum down to 62% (250 mu g/mL). Picochlorum sp. SBL2 had the highest total phenolic content, the major phenolic compounds identified being salicylic, coumaric and gallic acids. Neoxanthin, violaxanthin, zeaxanthin, lutein and -carotene were identified in the extracts of all strains, while canthaxanthin was only identified in Picochlorum sp. SBL2. Taken together, these results strongly suggest that the microalgae included in this work could be used as sources of added-value products that could be used to upgrade the final biomass value.National Science, Technology and Innovation Program of King Abdulaziz Medical City for Science and Technology, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia [NPST, 11-ENE 1719-02]; Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), Portugal [SFRH/BD/78062/2011]; FCT [IF/00049/2012, SFRH/BPD/86071/2012, Pest-OE/QUI/UI0612/2013]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Anti-acetylcholinesterase and Antioxidant Activity of Essential Oils from Hedychium gardnerianum Sheppard ex Ker-Gawl

molecule

Extracts from Quercus sp acorns exhibit in vitro neuroprotective features through inhibition of cholinesterase and protection of the human dopaminergic cell line SH-SY5Y from hydrogen peroxide-induced cytotoxicity

In this work non polar (hexane) and polar (methanol and hot water) extracts of cork oak (Quercus suber) and holm oak (Quercus ilex) acorns were evaluated for the first time for in vitro neuroprotective properties, by determining their in vitro inhibitory activity against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) and their capacity to attenuate hydrogen peroxide-induced injury in the human dopaminergic cell line SH-SY5Y. Total content of phenolics, tannins and flavonoids, HPLC profile of the main phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity were also determined. The methanol extracts showed inhibitory activities against AChE and BChE. The best results toward AChE were obtained with cork oak extract (69.4% inhibition at the concentration of 1 mg/ml), while for BChE the highest inhibition (46% inhibition at the concentration of I mg/ml) was obtained with holm oak. Moreover, methanol extracts were able to prevent oxidative stress-induced cytotoxicity in SH-S5SY cells. The methanol extract of holm oak exhibited the highest RSA, with values of 63.8% and 49.7% on DPPH and ABTS radicals at the concentration of 1 mg/ml, respectively. In general the extracts exhibited no reducing potential. The methanol extract from cork oak acorns had the highest content in phenolic compounds (25.2 mg GAE/g, DW), while the water extracts had the maximum level of flavonoids (1.7 mg RE/g, DW). Tannins were present in higher amounts in the water extract of holm oak (91.6 CE/g, DW). The main compounds in the methanol extract from holm oak acorns were (-)-epicatechin and catechol, while gallic acid and (+)-catechin were the main constituents of the methanol extract from cork oak acorns. Our results indicate that cork and holm oak acorns provide a valuable source of biomolecules useful for alleviating symptoms associated with Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative ailments. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of carob tree fruit pulps are strongly influenced by Gender and cultivar

Extracts from fruit pulps of six female cultivars and two hermaphrodite Portuguese carob trees [(Ceratonia siliqua L., Fabaceae)] exhibited strong antioxidant activity and were rich in phenolic compounds. The extracts decreased the viability of different human cancer cell lines on a dose- and time-dependent manner. Gender and cultivar significantly influenced the chemical content and the biological activities of the extracts. Extracts from hermaphrodite trees had a higher content of phenolic compounds, and exhibited higher antioxidant and cytotoxic activities. Among. females, cv. Aida had the highest radical scavenging activity and total content of phenolics, Mulata the highest capacity to inhibit lipid oxidation and Gasparinha the strongest cytotoxic activity on HeLa cells. The decrease in cell viability was associated with apoptosis on HeLa and MDA-MB-231 lines. (+)-Catechin and gallic acid (GA) were the main compounds identified in the extracts, and GA contributed to the antioxidant activity. Our results show that the antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of carob tree fruit pulps are strongly influenced by gender and cultivar, and provide new knowledge about the advantages of hermaphrodite trees over female cultivars, namely, as a source of compounds with biological interest, which may represent an increase of their agronomic interest

Optimisation of stir bar sorptive extraction and liquid desorption combined with large volume injection-gas chromatography–quadrupole mass spectrometry for the determination of volatile compounds in wines

Stir bar sorptive extraction and liquid desorption followed by large volume injection coupled to gas chromatography–quadrupole mass spectrometry (SBSE–LD/LVI-GC–qMS) had been applied for the determination of volatiles in wines. The methodology was optimised in terms of extraction time and influence of ethanol in the matrix; LD conditions, and instrumental settings. The optimisation was carried out by using 10 standards representative of the main chemical families of wine, i.e. guaiazulene, E,E-farnesol, β-ionone, geranylacetone, ethyl decanoate, β-citronellol, 2-phenylethanol, linalool, hexyl acetate and hexanol. The methodology shows good linearity over the concentration range tested, with correlation coefficients higher than 0.9821, a good reproducibility was attained (8.9–17.8%), and low detection limits were achieved for nine volatile compounds (0.05–9.09 μg L−1), with the exception of 2-phenylethanol due to low recovery by SBSE. The analytical ability of the SBSE–LD/LVI-GC–qMS methodology was tested in real matrices, such as sparkling and table wines using analytical curves prepared by using the 10 standards where each one was applied to quantify the structurally related compounds. This methodology allowed, in a single run, the quantification of 67 wine volatiles at levels lower than their respective olfactory thresholds. The proposed methodology demonstrated to be easy to work-up, reliable, sensitive and with low sample requirement to monitor the volatile fraction of wine

<i>In vitro</i> antioxidant and inhibitory activity of water decoctions of carob tree (<i>Ceratonia siliqua</i> L.) on cholinesterases, α-amylase and α-glucosidase

<div><p>This work reports the <i>in vitro</i> inhibitory activity of water decoctions of leaves, germ flour, pulp, locust bean gum and stem bark of carob tree on α-amylase, α-glucosidase, acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase. The antioxidant activity and the chemical characterisation of the extracts made by spectrophotometric assays and by high-performance liquid chromatography are also reported. Leaves and stem bark decoctions strongly inhibited all the enzymes tested, had significant antioxidant activity and the highest total phenolics content. The major compounds were identified as gallic acid in the leaves and gentisic acid in the stem bark.</p></div

Exploring Caralluma europaea (Guss.) NEBr. as a potential source of bioactive molecules: In vitro antioxidant and antidiabetic properties, and phenolic profile of crude extracts and fractions

Caralluma europaea (Guss.) N.E.Br is a succulent medicinal species used in the Moroccan traditional medicine for its anticancer and antidiabetic properties. In this work, this species was explored for the in vitro antidiabetic and antioxidant properties of crude methanol and dichloromethane extracts, and obtained fractions, from its aerial organs. In vitro antidiabetic properties were evaluated towards baker's yeast and rat's intestinal alpha-glucosidase, and alpha-amylase. Four in vitro methods were used to appraise the antioxidant potential, namely radical scavenging activity (RSA) on 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS), and iron and copper chelating assays. Finally, the profile of the main phenolic compounds present in the samples was assessed by high-performance liquid chromatography equipped with diodearray detection (HPLC-DAD). The highest inhibition of baker's yeast alpha-glucosidase was obtained with the methanol extract (87%), and its fractions, with a maximum inhibition of 83% at the concentration of 10 mg/ml. The most significant inhibition of mammalian alpha-glucosidase was obtained with the dichloromethane crude extract (85%), and corresponding fractions at 10 mg/ml. Moderate activity was achieved with the two extracts against a-amylase (52-53%) at 10 mg/ml, but no relevant activity was detected for most fractions. Crude extracts had a significant RSA against DPPH and ABTS, with range values of 83-98% (methanol extracts) and 53-80% (dichloromethane extracts). Fractions from the methanol extract were more active against tested radicals. Crude extracts had chelating activity on both metals, and the highest copper chelation was achieved with the methanol extract, while the dichloromethane extract and the majority of fractions from both extracts presented the highest iron chelation at 10 mg/ml. A total of 21 phenolic compounds were identified and quantified by HPLC-DAD in the samples, and the main compounds detected were catechine hydrate and salicylic and caffeic acids. Our results suggest that C. europaea extracts contain compounds with in vitro antioxidant and antidiabetic properties with potential applications in the pharmaceutical and food industries.Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT)Portuguese Foundation for Science and TechnologyPortuguese National Budget [CCMAR/Multi/04326]FCT Scientific Employment Stimulus [CEECIND/00425/2017]FCTPortuguese Foundation for Science and Technology [SFRH/BD/116604/2016]FCT Investigator Programme [IF/00049/2012