Extraction of Polyphenolic Compounds from Eucalyptus globulus Bark: Process Optimization and Screening for Biological Activity

The bark of Eucalyptus globulus is a promising source of polyphenolic compounds that could be extracted employing polar solvents. Extraction experiments were planned according to the Box–Behnken design to evaluate the effect of temperature and time of extraction and the ethanol/water ratio on the dependent variables total phenolic content (TPC; as gallic acid equivalents, GAE), antioxidant activity (AA; as millimoles of ascorbic acid equivalents, AAE), proanthocyanidins (Pac; as mimosa extract equivalents, MEE), Stiasny number (SN), and coextracted total carbohydrates (TC). Response surface models were developed, and statistical analysis of variance was performed. A maximum of TPC of 32% (w_GAE/w_extract) was achieved for 264 min, 82.5 °C, and 52% ethanol corresponding to about 2% of the bark weight. These conditions are close to those leading to maximum values of compounds with AA (2.1 mmol_AAE/g_extract) and Pac 14% (w_MEE/w_extract). TC in the extract and the SN predicted were 22.7% (w_TC/w_extract) and 37, respectively. Preliminary studies concerning the biological activity of some extracts have demonstrated their differential capacity to reduce human breast cancer cell proliferation

Lipophilic Extracts of Cynara cardunculus L. var. altilis (DC): A Source of Valuable Bioactive Terpenic Compounds

Lipophilic extracts of Cynara cardunculus L. var. altilis (DC) from the south of Portugal (Baixo Alentejo) were studied by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. One sesquiterpene lactone, four pentacyclic triterpenes, and four sterols were reported for the first time as cultivated cardoon components, namely, deacylcynaropicrin, β- and α-amyrin, lupenyl and ψ-taraxasteryl acetates, stigmasterol, 24-methylenecholesterol, campesterol, and Δ⁵-avenasterol. In addition, other new compounds were identified: ten fatty acids, eight long-chain aliphatic alcohols, and six aromatic compounds. Four triterpenyl fatty acid esters were also detected. Sesquiterpene lactones and pentacyclic triterpenes were the major lipophilic families, representing respectively 2–46% and 10–89% of the detected compounds. Cynaropicrin was the most abundant sesquiterpene lactone, while taraxasteryl acetate was the main pentacyclic triterpene. Fatty acids and sterols, mainly hexadecanoic acid and β-sitosterol, were present at lower amounts (1–20% and 1–11% of the detected compounds). Long-chain aliphatic alcohols and aromatic compounds were detected at reduced abundances (1–6% of the detected compounds)

Additional file 4: of Impact of novel SNPs identified in Cynara cardunculus genes on functionality of proteins regulating phenylpropanoid pathway and their association with biological activities

(a) Haplotypes identified for C3′H gene. Individuals selected for phenotypic trait analysis are indicated in grey. (b) Haplotypes identified for HQT gene. Individuals selected for phenotypic trait analysis are indicated in grey. (ZIP 89 kb