Exploring the Potential of Supercritical Fluid Extraction of Matricaria chamomilla White Ray Florets as a Source of Bioactive (Cosmetic) Ingredients

Funding Information: This research was funded by the European Regional Development Fund project “Biorefinery approach for the development of bioactive cosmetic ingredients from byproducts of medicinal plant processing and plant cell cultivation” (No. 1.1.1.1/19/A/075). Publisher Copyright: © 2023 by the authors.Aromatic and medicinal plants are a great source of useful bioactive compounds for use in cosmetics, drugs, and dietary supplements. This study investigated the potential of using supercritical fluid extracts obtained from Matricaria chamomilla white ray florets, a kind of industrial herbal byproduct, as a source of bioactive cosmetic ingredients. Response surface methodology to optimize the supercritical fluid extraction process by analyzing the impact of pressure and temperature on yield and the main bioactive compound groups were used. High-throughput 96-well plate spectrophotometric methods were used to analyze the extracts for total phenols, flavonoids, tannins, and sugars, as well as their antioxidant capacity. Gas chromatography and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to determine the phytochemical composition of the extracts. The extracts were also analyzed for antimicrobial activity, cytotoxicity, phototoxicity, and melanin content. Statistical analysis was performed to establish correlations between the extracts and develop models to predict the targeted phytochemical recovery and chemical and biological activities. The results show that the extracts contained a diverse range of phytochemical classes and had cytotoxic, proliferation-reducing, and antimicrobial activities, making them potentially useful in cosmetic formulations. This study provides valuable insights for further research on the uses and mechanisms of action of these extracts.publishersversionPeer reviewe

Sea Buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) Waste Biomass after Harvesting as a Source of Valuable Biologically Active Compounds with Nutraceutical and Antibacterial Potential

Funding Information: Funding: This research was funded by ERDF project nr. Nr.1.1.1.1/19/A/146 “Biorefinery processing of sea buckthorn non-fruit biomass using innovative techniques and comprehensive analytical investigation, for obtaining prospective for Latvian bioeconomy high value-added products, including serotonin”. Publisher Copyright: © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.For sustainable sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) berry production, the task at hand is to find an application for the large amount of biomass waste arising at harvesting. Sea buckthorn (SBT) vegetation is currently poorly studied. The purpose of this research was to assess the composition and potential of SBT twigs as a source of valuable biologically active substances. Water and 50% EtOH extracts of twigs of three Latvian SBT cultivars with a high berry yield and quality, popular for cultivation in many countries (H. rhamnoides ‘Maria Bruvele', ‘Tatiana', ‘Botanicheskaya Lubitelskaya'), were investigated for the first time. The phytochemical composition (UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS analysis) and biological activity of the obtained hydrophilic extracts were determined. The highest yield of polyphenolic compounds and serotonin was observed for ‘Maria Bruvele'. Hydrophilic extracts were investigated for radical scavenging activity (DPPH' test), antibacterial/antifungal activity against five pathogenic bacteria/yeast, cytotoxicity, and the enzymatic activity of alpha-amylase (via in vitro testing), which is extremely important for the treatment of people with underweight, wasting, and malabsorption. The results showed a high potential of sea buckthorn biomass as a source of valuable biologically active compounds for the creation of preparations for the food industry, nutraceuticals, and cosmetics.publishersversionPeer reviewe

Application of a Posttreatment to Improve the Viability and Antifungal Activity of Trichoderma asperellum Biomass Obtained in a Bioreactor during Submerged Cultivation

T. asperellum MSCL 309 was used in the study. T. asperellum was grown in the stirred bioreactor under submerged cultivation. The resulting biomass was filtered to obtain a thick biomass. The viability and antifungal activity of T. asperellum biomass samples were determined simultaneously by studying the colonization of the malt extract agar medium surface and its competitiveness with the plant pathogenic fungus Fusarium graminearum using in vitro dual culture experiments. Treatment with starch, alone or in combination with copper (II) sulphate and/or hydrochloric acid did not significantly affect fungal viability compared to control. An important factor in maintaining viability was the addition of hydrochloric acid, which significantly increased the storage life of biomass. In all post-treatments, F. graminearum was overgrown with T. asperellum in seven days, and accordingly, the larger the area occupied by T. asperellum, the smaller the area of F. graminearum colonization. Viability and antifungal activity of T. asperellum persisted throughout the experiment, at least for eight weeks. All the post-treatment methods we studied improved the viability and antifungal activity of Trichoderma, at least in terms of the area of the colonized surface. For the development of long-term viable and active T. asperellum preparations, we recommend the use of acidification of T. asperellum biomass obtained by submerged fermentation

Valorization of Bioactive Compounds from By-Products of <i>Matricaria recutita</i> White Ray Florets

In this research, we have reported the valorization possibilities of Matricaria recutita white ray florets using supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) with CO2. Experiments were conducted at temperatures of 35–55 °C and separation pressures of 5–9 MPa to evaluate their impact on the chemical composition and biological activity of the extracts. The total obtained extraction yields varied from 9.76 to 18.21 g 100 g−1 DW input. The greatest extraction yield obtained was at 9 MPa separation pressure and 55 °C in the separation tank. In all obtained extracts, the contents of total phenols, flavonoids, tannins, and sugars were determined. The influence of the supercritical CO2 extraction conditions on the extract antioxidant capacity was evaluated using the quenching activity of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). The chemical composition of the extracts was identified using both gas and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry methods, whereas analyses of major and minor elements as well as heavy metals by microwave plasma atomic emission spectrometer were provided. Moreover, extracts were compared with respect to their antimicrobial activity, as well as the cytotoxicity and phototoxicity of the extracts. The results revealed a considerable diversity in the phytochemical classes among all extracts investigated in the present study and showed that the Matricaria recutita white ray floret by-product possesses cytotoxic and proliferation-reducing activity in immortalized cell lines, as well as antimicrobial activity. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first paper presenting such comprehensive data on the chemical profile, antioxidant properties, and biological properties of SFE derived from Matricaria recutita white ray florets. For the first time, these effects have been studied in processing by-products, and the results generated in this study provide valuable preconditions for further studies in specific test systems to fully elucidate the mechanisms of action and potential applications, such as potential use in cosmetic formulations