Antioxidant activity of the medicinal plant Coleus forskohlii Briq.

Antioxidant status of different parts of Coleus forskohlii including roots, stem, leaves and tubers was analyzed. For the enzymatic antioxidant properties, the activities of superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase and catalase were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in tubers than in the leaves, roots and stem. Among the non-enzymatic antioxidants, except for the chlorophyll and lycopene content, the reducing power and chelating abilities on Fe2+, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging activity, total phenol, flavonoids and β-carotene were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in tubers than in the leaves, roots and stem, respectively. The tubers possessed significantly rich sources of both enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants besides their medicinal properties.Key words: Coleus forskohlii, roots, stem, leaves, tubers, enzymatic antioxidants, non enzymatic antioxidants

Survey of wild food plants for human consumption in Elaziğ (Turkey)

This study aims to record accumulation of knowledge on plants which are used as food by local people of Elazig that has a rich culture and a very natural environment. Field study was carried out over a period of approximately two years (2010-2011). During this period, 92 vascular plant specimens were collected. The plants were pressed in the field and prepared for identification. A total of 62 food plants belonging to 28 families were identified in the region. There is no detailed information in the literature with regard to the use of brevipes for human nutrition. It is certained that wild plants being used for nutritional purposes by human beings are also used for medicinal purposes. Highlighting the importance of flora and ethnobotanical inventory studies in terms of the protection and use of plant sources, what is required is the cultivation of endangered plant species, establishment of seedbanks for these plants, recording of their natural habitat as well as conducting studies in order to raise public awareness. © 2015, National Institute of Science Communication and Information Resources (NISCAIR). All rights reserved

Which Extraction Solvents and Methods Are More Effective in Terms of Chemical Composition and Biological Activity of Alcea fasciculiflora from Turkey?

The bioactive content, antioxidant properties, and enzyme inhibition properties of extracts of Alcea fasciculiflora from Turkey prepared with different solvents (water, methanol, ethyl acetate) and extraction methods (maceration, soxhlet, homogenizer assisted extraction, and ultrasound assisted extraction) were examined in this study. UHPLC-HRMS analysis detected or annotated a total of 50 compounds in A. fasciculiflora extracts, including 18 hydroxybenzoic and hydroxycinnamic acids, 7 Hexaric acids, 7 Coumarins, 15 Flavonoids, and 3 hydroxycinnamic acid amides. The extracts had phenolic and flavonoid levels ranging from 14.25 to 24.87 mg GAE/g and 1.68 to 25.26 mg RE/g, respectively, in the analysis. Both DPPH and ABTS tests revealed radical scavenging capabilities (between 2.63 and 35.33 mg TE/g and between 13.46 and 76.27 mg TE/g, respectively). The extracts had reducing properties (CUPRAC: 40.38–78 TE/g and FRAP: 17.51–42.58 TE/g). The extracts showed metal chelating activity (18.28–46.71 mg EDTAE/g) as well as total antioxidant capacity (phosphomolybdenum test) (0.90–2.12 mmol TE/g). DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, and metal chelating tests indicated the water extracts to be the best antioxidants, while the ethyl acetate extracts had the highest overall antioxidant capacity regardless of the extraction technique. Furthermore, anti-acetylcholinesterase activity was identified in all extracts (0.17–2.80 mg GALAE/g). The water extracts and the ultrasound-assisted ethyl acetate extract were inert against butyrylcholinesterase, but the other extracts showed anti-butyrylcholinesterase activity (1.17–5.80 mg GALAE/g). Tyrosine inhibitory action was identified in all extracts (1.79–58.93 mg KAE/g), with the most effective methanolic extracts. Only the ethyl acetate and methanolic extracts produced by maceration and homogenizer aided extraction showed glucosidase inhibition (0.11–1.11 mmol ACAE/g). These findings showed the overall bioactivity of the different extracts of A. fasciculiflora and provided an overview of the combination of solvent type and extraction method that could yield bioactive profile and pharmacological properties of interest and hence, could be a useful reference for future studies on this species

Detailed Chemical Characterization and Biological Propensities of Malabaila lasiocarpa Extracts: An Endemic Plant to Turkey

This study focused on the biological evaluation and chemical characterization of Malabaila lasiocarpa Boiss. (M. lasiocarpa) (Family: Apiaceae). The phytochemical profile, antioxidant, enzyme inhibitory of the methanolic, aqueous, dichloromethane, hexane extracts were investigated. Based on UHPLC-HRMS analyses, a total of 101 peaks were annotated or identified for the first time in M. lasiocarpa extracts. They include hydroxybenzoic, hydroxycinnamic, acylquinic acids and their glycosides, C- and O-glycosyl and O-diglycosyl flavonoids. In addition, 10 simple mono- and disubstituted coumarins together with 10 furanocoumarins were tentatively annotated. The methanolic extract possessing the highest phenolic (24.36±0.60 mg gallic acid equivalent/g extract) and flavonoid (69.15±0.37 mg rutin equivalent/g extract) content also exhibited the strongest radical scavenging potential against 2,2-diphenyl-1 picrylhydrazyl (21.73±0.42 mg Trolox equivalent/g extract, respectively), and highest reducing capacity (57.81±0.97 and 28.00±0.40 mg Trolox equivalent/g extract, for cupric reducing antioxidant capacity and ferric reducing antioxidant power, respectively). The dichloromethane extract substantially depressed the tyrosinase (73.92±5.37 mg kojic acid equivalent/g extract), α-amylase (0.63±0.01 mmol acarbose equivalent/g extract) and α-glucosidase (0.69±0.02 mmol acarbose equivalent/g extract) enzymes. This study has produced critical scientific data on M. lasiocarpa which are potential contenders for the development of novel phyto-pharmaceuticals