Differences in antioxidant properties of ginkgo leaves collected from male and female trees

Total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity (FRAP method) of Ginkgo biloba L. leaves collected from male and female trees were determined and compared. Different water and aqueous ethanolic (water/ethanol 80/20, V/V) extracts were prepared by varying the time of infusing, boiling and steeping in order to determine the effect of the extraction method on the above parameters. Antioxidant activity and phenolic content of ginkgo leaf extracts correlated well with significant correlation coefficients. Slopes of linear regression lines were not statistically different for either sex

Changes in Total Polyphenol Content and Antioxidant Capacity of Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica L.) from Spring to Autumn

Total polyphenol content and antioxidant/reducing capacity of stinging nettle (Urtica dioica L.) leaves and roots collected from wild-grown plants were investigated during the vegetation period. From both fresh and dried samples of leaves and roots, water extracts were prepared by brewing at 60, 80 and 100 °C for 3 hours, and ethanolic extracts of 20 % (v/v) and 70 % (v/v) by extracting at room temperature for 72 hours. The total polyphenol content was determined spectrophotometrically with Folin-Cioceltau reagent and the antioxidant capacity was measured by ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) assay. Our results showed that the optimal harvest time is in the spring (April). Water extracts had the highest total polyphenol content and antioxidant capacity in this period. The amount of valuable compounds released increased by higher extraction temperature in both plant parts. In water extracts of nettle leaves, two times higher polyphenol content was obtained than in that of roots. Both kind of ethanolic extractions resulted in a higher polyphenol content in the leaves harvested in the spring period. For the roots, it was higher for samples collected in the autumn, which is also reflected in the values of antioxidant capacity. Water extracts of fresh leaves harvested in April had more than twice higher total polyphenol content than in October. For dried samples, raising the temperature did not cause a significant change in the total polyphenol content, however, it has resulted in increased antioxidant capacity both for the dried leaf and root samples

A környezetszennyezés által okozott károsodások kivédésének lehetősége különböző mikroelemekkel = Environmental pollution and the effect of different microelements

A kadmium nehézfém okozta stresszélettani hatások föltérképezését az Mv 20-as és két eltérő szárazságtűrésű búzafajtával [Triticum aestivum L. cv. Chinese Spring (CS; mérsékelten toleráns) és Cappelle Desprez (CD; érzékeny)végeztük. A növekvő kadmium koncentráció kedvezőtlen változásokat idézett elő nem csak a morfológiai tulajdonságokban, hanem a stressenzimek (POD, APX, GR), aminosavak és bioaminok vonatkozásában is. Annak ellenére hogy a kadmium nem generál szabad gyököket mégis a szabadgyökök eliminálásában résztvevő stressenzimek aktivitásának változását okozza. Kísérleteink azt igazolták, hogy a kadmium által okozott stresszhatások csökkenthetők a pótlólagosan adagolt titán (5 mg/ml) és az újonnan felfedezett cirkónium aszkorbáttal (10 and 33mM) is. Eltérő érzékenységű bab növények esetében az aluminium kezelés okozta kedvezőtlen hatások néhány kevésbé érzékeny fajtánál kedvező eredményekre vezettek. | Triticum aestivum L. cv. Chinese Spring and Cappelle Desprez cultivars differing in drought tolerance were chosen for the model experiment. On the basis of the results of growth parameters, it was established that cadmium caused stunting and chlorosis in wheat seedlings. Cadmium treatment reduced the biomass, which was confirmed by the changes of fresh and dry weight. Dry matter content of both cultivars significantly increased at the 10-3 M Cd-concentration. Beside total free amino acid (TFAA) content, the well-known stress marker proline (Pro) also proved to be suitable for distinguishing the two wheat cultivars differing in drought tolerance. Concerning the cadmium content of wheat seedlings, it was stated that roots had one order of magnitude higher cadmium level than the shoots. Cadmium does not generate active oxygen species directly, but modifying some of the enzymes? activity it induced oxidative stress. Cd treatment induced considereable increases in all enzymes activities, POD, APX, GR, both in roots and leaves, which indicates that plants suffered oxidative stress. Titanium (5 mg/ml) and zirconium ascorbate (10 and 33mM) significantly lowered Cd induced stress effects. We have similar results in case of magnesium, when we treated different sensitivity bean plants with aluminium

Pharmakobotanische Untersuchungen von Lavendelsorten auf dem Plattensee- Plateau

Auf dem Hof Dörgicsei Levendula Major GmbH wurden 9 Lavendelsorten (6 Sorten von Lavandula angustifolia und 3 Sorten von Lavandula x intermedia) untersucht. Neben den morphologischen und Wachstumseigenschaften wurden auch Frisch- und Trockengewichte bewertet. Quantitative und qualitative Untersuchungen von den Blüten- und Ätherischöldrogen wurden auch durchgeführt. Die statistische Analyse zeigte signifikant höhere Erträge bei den Sorten L. angustifolia ’Essence Purple’ und L. x intermedia ’Edelweiss’. Gehalt und Zusammensetzung von ätherischem Öl war eindeutig bei der Sorte L. angustifolia ’Ellagance Purple’ am günstigsten. Stichwörter: Lavandula angustifolia, Lavandula x intermedia, Lavendel, ätherisches Öl Pharmacobotanical investigations on lavender cultivars in the Balaton highland regionNine lavender cultivars (6 Lavandula angustifolia and 3 Lavandula x intermedia) were investigated in the plantation of the Dörgicsei Levendula Major Ltd., situated in the Balaton highland region. Beside morphological and growing parameters, fresh weight and dry weight of the drugs were also measured. Quantitative and qualitative analyses of the flower and essential oil drugs were carried out as well. L.angustifolia ’Essence Purple’ and L. x intermedia ’Edelweiss’ had significantly the highest drug production.Essential oil content and composition were the most favourable for L. angustifolia ’Ellagance Purple’.Keywords: Lavandula angustifolia, Lavandula x intermedia, lavender, essential oi

Determination of antioxidant capacity in some fruit concentrates and powders by different methods

There is a great demand on consumption of natural and healthy foods, which includes also fresh fruits and food products made by different technological processes. In our experiment, fruit concentrates and powders of elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.) and blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum L.) were studied. For evaluating their health protective effect, the antioxidant/ reducing properties of both fruits were obtained. The total phenolic content (TPC) and the antioxidant capacity determined by the FRAP, TEAC, and DPPH methods were analysed. Results are expressed on a dry matter basis for better comparison. TPC and antioxidant activity detected by different methods were higher in elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.) for both concentrates and powders than in blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum L.). Dry powders made from fruit concentrates showed in almost all cases a lower antioxidant activity than the concentrates. The results clearly show that it is recommended to characterize the antioxidant properties in as many ways as possible in order to evaluate the beneficial effects of fruits and their processed goods on the human organism

Total Polyphenol Content and Antioxidant Capacity of Rosehips of Some Rosa Species

Background: Rosehips, the fruits of Rosa species, are well known for their various health benefits like strengthening the immune system and treating digestive disorders. Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cell regenerative effects are also among their health enhancing impacts. Rosehips are rich in compounds having antioxidant properties, like vitamin C, carotenoids, and phenolics. Methods: Total polyphenol content (Folin-Ciocalteu’s method), and in vitro total antioxidant capacity (ferric-reducing ability of plasma, FRAP) in rosehips of four Rosa species (R. canina, R. gallica, R. rugosa, R. spinosissima) were determined and compared. Ripe fruits were harvested at two locations. Water and ethanolic extracts of dried fruit flesh were analyzed. Results:R. spinosissima had the highest total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity, significantly higher than the other investigated Rosa species. Both parameters were reported in decreasing order for R. spinosissima > R. canina > R. rugosa > R. gallica. Ethanolic extracts of rosehips showed higher phenolic content and antioxidant activity than water extracts. Antioxidant properties were influenced by the growing site of Rosa species. Conclusions: This study indicates that R. spinosissima exhibited the greatest phenolic and antioxidant content, and therefore can be used as a reliable source of natural antioxidants, and serve as a suitable species for further plant breeding activities. Furthermore, investigations of various Rosa species for their antioxidant properties may draw more attention to their potential as functional foods

Differences in antioxidant properties of ginkgo leaves collected from male and female trees

Total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity (FRAP method) of Ginkgo biloba L. leaves collected from male and female trees were determined and compared. Different water and aqueous ethanolic (water/ethanol 80/20, V/V) extracts were prepared by varying the time of infusing, boiling and steeping in order to determine the effect of the extraction method on the above parameters. Antioxidant activity and phenolic content of ginkgo leaf extracts correlated well with significant correlation coefficients. Slopes of linear regression lines were not statistically different for either se