Moringa oleifera leaves: LC-ESI-MS analysis of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activities

Research on bioactive compounds derived from medicinal plants is still topical and their applications are of interest to food industry, phytopharmacy and cosmetics. The present study deals with the phenolic compounds profile and antioxidant activities of Moringa oleifera Lam. leaves. Therefore, this work is a contribution to study the potential of M. oleifera as a new crop in Tunisia. Composition of phenolic compounds was realized using LC-ESI-MS analysis. Antioxidant activities were assessed using many complementary methods. Extracts from Moringa leaves contained interesting amounts of total phenolics (33–99 mg GAE/g extract) and flavonoids (7–18 mg QE/g extract), with appreciable antioxidant activities in Fe3+ reducing (EC0.5: 0.5–1.1 mg/ml), DPPH• radical-scavenging (IC50: 0.6–1.9 mg/ml), β-carotene/linoleic acid bleaching (IC50: 66–120 µg/ml) and Fe2+ chelating (IC50: 0.5–0.8 mg/ml) assays. Quinic acid, gallic acid, quercetin-3-O-galactoside and quercetin-3-O-rhamnoside were the major compounds measured in the different extracts (5.5–13.5 mg/g extract). M. oleifera grown in oasis of Chenini-Gabes, southeastern Tunisia, can be a source of potent antioxidants for various food, nutraceutical or cosmeceutical applications

Assessment of the physio-biochemical performance of Tunisian barley landraces under deficit saline-irrigation during grain filling stage

Salinity is one of the main and important abiotic stresses that adversely affects crop growth, development and production. In this study, two barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) landraces were subjected to three treatments of deficit saline-irrigation (12 dS/cm) (T0 = 100%ETc, T1 = 75%ETc, and T2 = 50%ETc) during grain filling stage. Carbon isotope discrimination (Δ13C) was associated with some physio-biochemical parameters to evaluate barley response to saline conditions. Results of this study showed that deficit saline-irrigation significantly (p < 0.05) decreases Δ13C in both barley landraces. Moreover, photosynthetic rate (A), transpiration (E), stomatal conductance (gs), and instantaneous water use efficiency (iWUE) were significantly affected by treatments. Relative water content (RWC), chlorophyll a, and chlorophyll (SPAD) value were significantly (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001) were affected by deficit saline-irrigation. In addition, phenolic compounds were affected by treatments and landraces (except syringic and p-coumaric acids), and their interactions (except syringic acid). Moreover, high correlations were noticed between Δ13C and physio-biochemical parameters. Results suggested that both barley landraces make a higher iWUE, and a weak variation in phenolic compounds. Moreover, Δ13C associated with physio-biochemical traits can also be good criteria for screening of salt-tolerance of barley during grain filling stage. Taken together, our study suggests that the response to deficit saline-irrigation in barley landraces involves an interplay between various physiological and biochemical mechanisms mainly related to Δ13C

Moringa oleifera leaves: LC-ESI-MS analysis of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activities

Research on bioactive compounds derived from medicinal plants is still topical and their applications are of interest to food industry, phytopharmacy and cosmetics. The present study deals with the phenolic compounds profile and antioxidant activities of Moringa oleifera Lam. leaves. Therefore, this work is a contribution to study the potential of M. oleifera as a new crop in Tunisia. Composition of phenolic compounds was realized using LC-ESI-MS analysis. Antioxidant activities were assessed using many complementary methods. Extracts from Moringa leaves contained interesting amounts of total phenolics (33–99 mg GAE/g extract) and flavonoids (7–18 mg QE/g extract), with appreciable antioxidant activities in Fe3+ reducing (EC0.5: 0.5–1.1 mg/ml), DPPH• radical-scavenging (IC50: 0.6–1.9 mg/ml), β-carotene/linoleic acid bleaching (IC50: 66–120 µg/ml) and Fe2+ chelating (IC50: 0.5–0.8 mg/ml) assays. Quinic acid, gallic acid, quercetin-3-O-galactoside and quercetin-3-O-rhamnoside were the major compounds measured in the different extracts (5.5–13.5 mg/g extract). M. oleifera grown in oasis of Chenini-Gabes, southeastern Tunisia, can be a source of potent antioxidants for various food, nutraceutical or cosmeceutical applications

Protective effects of Mentha spicata against nicotine-induced toxicity in liver and erythrocytes of wistar rats

The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of Mentha spicata supplementation against nicotine-induced oxidative damage in the liver and erythrocytes of wistar rats. Bioactive substances were determined by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry analysis. Animals were divided into four groups of six rats each: a normal control group, a nicotine-treated group (1 mg/kg), a group receiving M. spicata extract (100 mg/kg), and a group receiving both M. spicata extract (100 mg/kg) and nicotine (1 mg/kg). Many phenolic acids were identified in the M. spicata aqueous extract. After 2 months treatment, nicotine induced an increase in the level of white blood cells and a marked decrease in erythrocytes, hemoglobin and haematocrit. Aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, alkaline phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase activities were also found to be higher in nicotine-treated group than those of the control one. Furthermore, nicotine-treated rats exhibited oxidative stress, as evidenced by a decrease in antioxidant enzymes activities and an increase in lipid peroxidation level in liver and erythrocytes. Interestingly, the oral administration of M. spicata extract by nicotine-treated rats alleviated such disturbances. M. spicata contained bioactive compounds that possess important antioxidant potential and protected liver and erythrocytes against nicotine-induced damage.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author

Assessment of the physio-biochemical performance of Tunisian barley landraces under deficit saline-irrigation during grain filling stage

Salinity is one of the main and important abiotic stresses that adversely affects crop growth, development and production. In this study, two barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) landraces were subjected to three treatments of deficit saline-irrigation (12 dS/cm) (T0 = 100%ETc, T1 = 75%ETc, and T2 = 50%ETc) during grain filling stage. Carbon isotope discrimination (Δ13C) was associated with some physio-biochemical parameters to evaluate barley response to saline conditions. Results of this study showed that deficit saline-irrigation significantly (p < 0.05) decreases Δ13C in both barley landraces. Moreover, photosynthetic rate (A), transpiration (E), stomatal conductance (gs), and instantaneous water use efficiency (iWUE) were significantly affected by treatments. Relative water content (RWC), chlorophyll a, and chlorophyll (SPAD) value were significantly (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001) were affected by deficit saline-irrigation. In addition, phenolic compounds were affected by treatments and landraces (except syringic and p-coumaric acids), and their interactions (except syringic acid). Moreover, high correlations were noticed between Δ13C and physio-biochemical parameters. Results suggested that both barley landraces make a higher iWUE, and a weak variation in phenolic compounds. Moreover, Δ13C associated with physio-biochemical traits can also be good criteria for screening of salt-tolerance of barley during grain filling stage. Taken together, our study suggests that the response to deficit saline-irrigation in barley landraces involves an interplay between various physiological and biochemical mechanisms mainly related to Δ13C

Assessment of antioxidant activities of an endemic species from Tunisia: Rhanterium sueaveolens Desf related to its phenolic composition

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