Extraction of Bioactive Compounds from Two Grape Varieties Using Pulsed Electric Field

In this paper, our objective was to investigate extraction efficiency of polyphenols with antioxidant capacity from two varieties of grapes (white-Muscat Ottonel (MO) and red-Pinot Noir (PN)) using pulsed electric field (PEF). Grapes were harvested in the Crisana Santimreu vineyard in 2015. The grapes were declustered and crushed, and have been divided into three parts. A part was treated in PEF, the second one was homogenized, and then was treated in PEF and the last part remained untreated, representing the control samples. The bioactive compounds, like total polyphenol content and total flavonoid content, were determined by the spectrophotometric method. The antioxidant capacity of the samples was determined by three methods (DPPH, FRAPand TEAC). Our results show that the application of PEF to the crushed grapes increases the total polyphenol content 2.28 and 3.15 times and the total flavonoid content 7.17 and 5.29 times for MO and PN, respectively. Also, the antioxidant capacity was significantly increased when it was compared with the control sample. When the treatment in PEF was applied on homogenized grapes both bioactive compounds and antioxidant capacity were significantly increased compared to the samples treated in PEF for crushed grapes. In the present research work, we demonstrated that the application of PEF to two different grape varieties significantly increased the level of total polyphenols and flavonoids and also the antioxidant capacity. The application of PEF to homogenized grapes was more efficient

New Insight and Future Perspectives on Nutraceuticals for Improving Sports Performance of Combat Players: Focus on Natural Supplements, Importance and Advantages over Synthetic Ones

Advanced nutritional interventions are one of the key components of elite sports performance in general. Combat sports require a high percentage of muscle mass with minimum body weight to generate the maximum power possible. An adequate level of nutrition knowledge, particularly with respect to identifying energy needs while avoiding confusion over dietary supplements and false perceptions of steroid requirement, which may compromise the health condition, is of crucial importance. In this context, the aim of our work is to highlight nutritional requirements/nutritional assessment, the importance of daily dietary intake in combat players, which increasingly includes a broad range of sports nutrition supplements, and the roles of vitamins, minerals and proteins, combined with antioxidants and strength training, in muscular performance. The main nutrients required in the daily diet of combat players, the mechanisms of action, the main outcomes and possible side effects are summarized. Special attention is paid to natural supplements and their importance and advantages over synthetic ones, along with future trends of development

CHLOROPHYLL AND CAROTENOIDS PIGMENTS FROM MISTLETOE (Viscum album) LEAVES USING DIFFERENT SOLVENTS

Abstract. European mistletoe (Viscum album L., family Santalaceae) is native from Europe and is an evergreen, perennial, hemiparasitic shrub that lives on a wide range of woody plants species. In the first part of this study we present the area, length and width of the leaves of five varieties of Viscum album subsp. album that are growing on five different host trees (Acer campestre, Mallus domestica, Fraxinus excelsior, Populus nigra and Robinia pseudoacacia), in order to observe if there are vegetative morphology changes within the same specie (V. album) due to host plant. In the second part, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and the total amounts of carotenoids in mistletoe extracts, that was harvesting on February were determined. The buffered aqueous 80% acetone, DMF and methanol were used as solvents. The contribution of these solvents to the extraction of assimilatory pigments and the time of extraction (24, 48 and 72 hours) was examined comparatively. We find, also, the difference between the mistletoe that are growing on different host trees. The highest level of total chlorophyll (a + b), after 48 hours of extraction, were observed in the case of VaM extract, in all the solvents used (21.92 mg/g fresh leaves, in the case of methanol; 20.45 mg/g fresh leaves, in the case of acetone and 16.00 mg/g fresh leaves in the case of DMF). The low concentration of pigments were recorded in the case of VaP extract (15.23 mg/g fresh leaves in methanol extract). It was observed that methanol is the best solvent for chlorophyll, while acetone is a better solvent for the carotenoids

An In Vitro Study of the Healing Potential of Black Mulberry (<i>Morus nigra</i> L.) Extract in a Liposomal Formulation

Natural compounds are used in modern dermal treatments to avoid side effects commonly associated with conventional treatments. The aim of our study was to develop a liposomal formulation including black mulberry extract and to highlight its potential on the healing of normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDF) in vitro using the scratch test. Mulberry-loaded liposomes (MnL) were prepared using a thin-film hydration method based on cholesterol (C) and phosphatidylcholine (PC) in a 1:3 (w/w) ratio. The liposomal formulation was characterized by analyzing its size, electric surface potential, morphology, entrapment efficiency, and in vitro healing effects. Also, the black mulberry fruits (Morus nigra L.) were characterized from point of view of polyphenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity by Ferric-Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) assay. HPLC-DAD-MS (ESI+) (high performance liquid chromatography-photodiode array detection-mass spectrometry (electrospray ionization)) analysis indicated the presence of phenolic compounds namely from hydroxybenzoic and hydroxycinnamic acids and flavonols. Among flavonols, quercetin-glucoside represented 50.56%, and chlorogenic acid was the predominant compound among hydroxycinnamic acids (37.06%). In vitro fibroblast wound closure was more effective with mulberry-loaded liposomes (MnL) than extracts of mulberries. According to our study, mulberry-loaded liposomes have been shown to be effective in wound healing and can be used as a natural treatment

The Effect of Pasteurization Time on Phytochemical Composition and Antioxidant Capacity of Two Apple Cultivars Juices

The objective of this study was to characterize two varieties of apple (Florina and Liberty) grown in the North-West of Romania, with a focus on their volatile compounds, bioactive compounds and their antioxidant capacity. The content of bioactive compounds and antioxidant capacity was also tracked during pasteurization at different times (15, 20 and 25 minutes). Among bioactive compounds, the total phenol content was determined, as well as the total flavonoid and vitamin C content. The antioxidant capacity of fruits and pasteurized juice was evaluated by three different methods (DPPH, FRAP and ABTS). Of the 2 apple cultivars, Florina showed a remarkably higher content of total phenolic compounds (657.97 mg GAE/kg fw), flavonoids (122.07 mg QE/kg fw) and vitamin C (94.62 mg/kg), compared to the Liberty cultivar. Following pasteurization, the vitamin C contents decreased significantly relative to pasteurization time. However, in the case of total phenols content, only insignificant decreases were registered, compared to unpasteurized juice. The content of total flavonoids increased significantly after 15 minutes of pasteurization in apple cultivars juices. The apple varieties investigated are rich in bioactive compounds, and pasteurization treatment does not lead to drastic decreases in these compounds and in the antioxidant capacity of apple juices

Preparation and Characterization of Two Different Liposomal Formulations with Bioactive Natural Extract for Multiple Applications

Liposomes continue to attract great interest due to their increased bioavailability in the body and because the substances encapsulated are protected while maintaining their effectiveness. The aim of this study is to obtain “giant” liposomes by lipid film hydration using a preparation formula with two different phospholipids, phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylserine (PS). Firstly, the macro- and microscopic characterization, total phenols content and antioxidant capacity of the plant Stellaria media (L.) Vill. were assessed. Then, Stellaria media (L.) Vill. extract was encapsulated in both formulations (PCE and PSE) and the liposomes were characterized according to their morphology, size distribution and Zeta potential using optical microscopy and dynamic light scattering. The encapsulation efficiency (EE%) was determined using the Folin–Ciocalteu method and the values of both formulations were compared. PC and PCE liposomes with a diameter between 712 and 1000 nm and PS and PSE liposomes with a diameter between 58 and 1000 nm were obtained. The values EE% of Stellaria media (L.) Vill. extract for PCE and PSE were 92.09% and 84.25%, respectively

Antigenotoxic and Antimutagenic Potentials of Proline in <i>Allium cepa</i> Exposed to the Toxicity of Cadmium

This study was conducted to evaluate whether the application of proline as a potential osmoprotectant at different doses could improve the genotoxic and mutagenic effects caused by plant exposure to cadmium salts. For this purpose, the Comet assay was used, which allows the rapid detection of DNA damage shortly after its occurrence, before the DNA is repaired, as well as the discrimination of the DNA damage limited to specific cells in a heterogeneous population. After treatment of Allium cepa roots with 75µM CdSO4·H2O (Cd sample), a DNA percentage of 35.24% was recorded in the tail. In the samples treated first with proline and then with cadmium (pre-treatment group), the percentage DNA in the tail was reduced by 24.8% compared with the Cd sample. Instead, in the post-treatment group (samples treated first with cadmium and then with proline), the percentage DNA in the tail was reduced by 69.04% compared with the Cd sample. All cadmium treatments induced chromosomal aberrations (CAs). Compared with the CAs values obtained after Cd treatment, the reduction was 75.6% in the pre-treatment group and 55.39% in the post-treatment group. The results of this study highlighted that exogenous application of proline alleviated the genotoxic effect of cadmium