Effect of immersion cycles on growth,phenolics content,and antioxidant properties of Castilleja tenuiflora shoots

Castilleja tenuiflora, a species highly valued for its medicinal properties, is threatened in the wild. We evaluated the effects of six different immersion cycles in a temporary immersion bioreactor on C. tenuiflora shoot growth, proliferation rate, phenolics content, flavonoid content, and antioxidant activity. We also evaluated the regeneration capacity of the shoots. The highest proliferation rate (nine shoots per explant) was obtained using an immersion cycle of 5 min every 12 h, and the longest shoots (38.8?±?1.9 mm) were obtained using an immersion cycle of 5 min every 24 h. Shoots obtained from immersion cycles of 30 min every 24 h or 5 min every 24 h showed 100% rooting efficiency. Shoots obtained from immersion cycles of 30 min every 3 h or 30 min every 12 h accumulated H₂O₂, developed abnormal stomata, and showed symptoms of hyperhydricity. These characteristics were associated with a low survival rate (16–80%) when the plants were transferred to potting mix. The shoots from an immersion cycle of 30 min every 24 h showed the highest total phenolics content, which coincided with the highest antioxidant activity in the 2,2′-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) free-radical scavenging assay (161.74?±?10.06 μmol Trolox/g dry weight (DW)). The shoots from an immersion cycle of 5 min every 24 h showed the highest activity in the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free-radical scavenging assay, and those from an immersion cycle of 5 min every 3 h showed the strongest reducing power. These results show that temporary immersion culture represents a reliable and efficient method for in vitro micropropagation of C. tenuiflora.     

In vitro antioxidant activity and phenolic contents in methanol extracts from medicinal plants

Antioxidant activities and phenolic contents of 26 species extracts from 20 botanical families grown in north-western Himalaya were investigated. Antioxidant activities were determined using DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. Total phenolic content (TPC) was determined using a Folin-Ciocalteu assay. Quantitative and qualitative analysis of phenolic compounds was also carried out by reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) using diode array detector (DAD). Major phenolics determined using RP-HPLC in analyzed species were gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, p-hydroxy benzoic acid, caffeic acid, vanillic acid, syringic acid, p-coumaric acid and ferulic acid. Antiradical efficiency (1/EC₅₀) determined using DPPH radical scavenging assay ranged from 0.13 to 5.46. FRAP values ranged from 8.66 to 380.9 μmol Fe(II)/g dw. Similarly, the total phenolic content in the analyzed species varied from 3.01 to 69.96 mg of gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g dry weight. Gallic acid was found in the majority of the samples, being most abundant compound in Syzygium cumini bark (92.64 mg/100 g dw). Vanillic acid was the predominant phenolic compound in Picrorhiza kurroa root stolen (161.2 mg/100 g dry weight). The medicinal plants with highest antioxidant activities were Taxus baccata and Syzygium cumini. A significant positive correlation, R ²?=?0.9461 and R ²?=?0.9112 was observed between TPC determined using Folin-Ciocalteu method and antiradical efficiency and FRAP values respectively, indicating that phenolic compounds are the major contributor of antioxidant activity of these medicinal plants.     

Determination of antioxidant activity and phenolic content of extracts from in vivo plants and in vitro materials of Passiflora alata Curtis

Passiflora alata Curtis, commonly known as sweet passion fruit, is one of the commercially cultivated species of the genus Passiflora, whose fruits can be consumed in natura due to their sweet taste. It is also used worldwide as an ornamental and in folk medicine. The goal of this work was the evaluation of the antioxidant potential of extracts from in vivo plants, and in vitro-derived materials of P. alata. Leaves from in vivo plants were used for the optimization of parameters that affect the efficiency of extraction of antioxidant compounds (proportions of ethanol:water, maceration period, solvent:plant tissue ratio, and number of extraction stages), by employing the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. The antioxidant activity and the extract yields were significantly influenced by the proportion of ethanol:water and maceration period. The optimized protocol was applied to obtain the extracts of in vitro-derived materials. Total phenolic content was determined using the Folin–Ciocalteu method. Higher antioxidant activities and phenolic contents were observed in extracts from leaves of in vivo-seed derived and from acclimatized plants when compared to in vitro plants, calluses and suspension cultures. Differences in the reaction kinetics of DPPH scavenging activity were also observed.     

Modulation of phenolic content and antioxidant activity of maize by solid state fermentation with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Thamnidium elegans</Emphasis> CCF 1456

Thamnidium elegans CCF 1456, a filamentous fungus, was used to enhance the total phenolic content and radical scavenging activity of maize via solid-state fermentation. Thamnidium fermented maize (TFM) and unfermented maize (UFM) grains were extracted with 65% ethanol and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). Total phenolic content (TPC), and radical scavenging capacity — determined with 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and radical cations of 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) (ABTS^·+) found for TFM — were significantly (P < 0.05) higher on the 5^th day of incubation than that of UFM extracts. A linear correlation was observed among TPC, DPPH and ABTS scavenging activities, and also among TPC and various carbohydrate-cleaving enzymes (α-amylase, β-glucosidase and xylanase), suggesting that this? strategy may help to enrich? TFM with improved phytochemical properties and antioxidant activities.     

Biochemical characteristics and antioxidant activity of crude and purified sulfated polysaccharides from Gracilaria fisheri

Sulfated polysaccharides (SPs) from Gracilaria fisheri of Thailand, which were extracted in low-temperature (25 °C) water showed the highest content of phenolic compounds compared with those extracted at high temperature (55 °C). Crude SP antioxidant activity was evaluated by measuring the DPPH free radical scavenging effect which is directly related to the level of phenolic compounds. The sulfate content, total sugar, and SPs yield were also directly related to the extraction temperature. All extracts contained galactose as a major monosaccharide. High antioxidant activity of crude SP, positively correlated with the phenolic compound contents (R² = 0.996) contributed by the existence of sulfate groups and phenolic compounds. In purified SP, F1 fraction exhibited strong radical scavenging ability, but it was not significantly different compared to crude SP extracted at 25 °C. This indicated that the appropriate density and distribution of sulfate groups in the SP extract showed the best antioxidant activity.     

Evaluation of antioxidant and anticancer activities of chemical constituents of the Saururus chinensis root extracts

Evaluation of antioxidant and anticancer activities were screened by various Saururus chinensis root extracts. Four solvents (ethyl acetate, methanol, ethanol, and water) extracts were investigated for their total flavonoids, phenol contents and their antioxidant activity of DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl), NO (nitric oxide), H₂O₂ (hydrogen peroxide), ABTS 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonicacid)diammonium assays, FRAP (ferric reducing ability of plasma) assays and anticancer activity. The total phenolic and flavonoid content of extracts were determined by using FC (Folin–Ciocalteu) and AlCl₃ colorimetric assay method. Total flavonoid content in these plants ranged from 24.7 to 72.1 mg g^?1 and amount of free phenolic compounds was between 11.2 and 67.1 mg g^?1 extract. The all extracts have significant levels of phenolics and flavonoids content. Anticancer activity was screened for MCF-7 breast cancer cell line. Ethanol extract shows significant of antioxidant activity and water extract shows significant of anticancer activity compared with standard (BHT) butylated hydroxy toluene. These ethanol and water extracts could be considered as a natural source for using antioxidant, and anticancer agents compared to commercial available synthetic drugs.     

Phenolic production and antioxidant properties of some Macedonian medicinal plants

Investigations have been made to study the production of phenolic compounds (total phenolics, flavonoids and phenylpropanoids) and total antioxidant capacity in 27 Macedonian traditional medicinal plants to improve its potential as a source of natural antioxidants. Antioxidant potential of plant extracts was analyzed by five different assays: cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC), phosphomolybdenum method (PM), reducing power (RP), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH^·) and 2,2′-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS^·+) radical scavenging activity. Origanum vulgare extract consistently exhibited the highest content of phenolic compounds and the strongest antioxidant capacity based on the tests performed, and can be proposed as a promising source of natural antioxidants. Melissa officinalis and Salvia ringens were also identified as valuable sources of antioxidant compounds. A positive linear correlation between antioxidant activity and total phenolics, flavonoids and phenylpropanoids indicates that these compounds are likely to be the main antioxidants contributing to the observed activities of evaluated plants. These findings suggest that the medicinal plants studied in this paper are good sources of bioactive compounds for the food and pharmaceutical industries.     

Phytochemical analysis,antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of wild and in vitro derived plants of Ceropegia thwaitesii Hook – An endemic species from Western Ghats,India

Ceropegia thwaitesii Hook (Asclepiadaceae), an endemic plant species, due to habitat destruction and over exploitation has a very restricted distribution in the Western Ghats of Tamil Nadu, India. The present wrok aimed to determine the chemical composition, the total phenolic (TPC), flavonoid (TFC) and tannin content (TEC), and to assess the antioxidant properties of various extracts of in vivo plants (IVP) and in vitro regenerated plants (IRP) of C. thwaitesii. Some phenolic compounds like gallic acid, cathechol, vanillin and salicylic acid were identified and quantified by HPLC. All the extracts possessed relevant radical scavenging activity on DPPH, Superoxide radical scavenging activity, and Nitric oxide radicals as well as total antioxidant ability. DPPH assay of in vitro methanol stems extracts and ethanol leaves extracts revealed the best antioxidant properties with important IC₅₀ values of 0.248?±?0.45?µg/mL and 0.397?±?0.67?µg/mL, respectively, whereas in vivo chloroform stems extracts showed a lower antioxidant activity (IC₅₀ of 10.99?±?0.24?µg/mL). The IRP methanol extracts of stem and leaves had good inhibitory activity against all tested microorganisms in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggested that in vitro raised plants of C. thwaitesii are an excellent source of antioxidant compounds to be exploited on an industrial level as food additive.     

Antioxidant potential and antimicrobial efficacy of seaweed (Himanthalia elongata) extract in model food systems

Extracts from marine sources exhibit antimicrobial and antioxidant properties in vitro and there has been great interest within the food industry to move towards natural methods of food preservation. Natural extracts from seaweeds could potentially have a multiple functionality within the food industry to increase safety and enhance the quality of food products. The present study is aimed to assess the antimicrobial activity of a hydrophilic extract from the fucoid brown alga Himanthalia elongata in model food systems. Carbohydrate and protein model food systems (CMFS and PMFS, respectively) were studied at varying concentrations (1 %, 5 % and 10 %) and bacterial inhibition of the extract was investigated against Salmonella abony and Listeria monocytogenes. The extract provided up to 100 % inhibition of the bacteria with a bactericidal effect in CMFS, while a bacteriostatic effect was seen in PMFS. In general, there was a significant difference (P?<?0.05) between the efficacies of the extract against S. abony as compared to L. monocytogenes with higher inhibition for S. abony. In terms of antioxidants; the extract had a total phenolic content of 34.0 mg GAE g^?1 of extract and a DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging activity of 139.8 mg AAE g of extract. The results of the present study are promising as it provides an insight for the inclusion of seaweed extracts into real food systems.     

Antioxidant properties and total phenolic contents of some tropical seaweeds of the Brazilian coast

Many types of macroalgae contain a wide range of bioactive compounds that have antioxidant potential. However, in contrast to terrestrial plants, only a few studies have reported the antioxidant activity of seaweeds. Therefore, extracts from 26 marine macroalgae species from the south and southeast coasts of Brazil were evaluated for their antioxidant activity, using the 2,2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl hydrate (DPPH) method and β-carotene/linoleic acid assay, and their total phenolic contents, through Folin–Ciocalteu method. Padina gymnospora, Sargassum vulgare, and Osmundaria obtusiloba presented the highest values of total phenolic content. Using β-carotene bleaching assay, Colpomenia sinuosa, Dictyota sp., Dichotomaria marginata, Ganonema farinosum, and Spyridia clavata presented up to 65 % of antioxidant activity. Some of the extracts showed more than 60 % of inhibition of DPPH in the lowest concentration (0.01 mg/mL), including Amansia sp., Bostrychia tenella, Cryptonemia seminervis, Hypnea musciformis, Plocamium brasiliense (1), and S. clavata. Both Amansia sp., and C. seminervis presented the most relevant antioxidant potential, with percentage of inhibition greater than 70 % in the three tested concentrations. These two species were then analyzed by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) and were selected for guided fractionation bioassay. They both presented lipid compounds, fatty acids, esters of fatty acids, triglycerides, and sterols as major components. The fractionation of extracts revealed that the organic fractions were responsible for the antioxidant activity. The results obtained through this work indicate that the analyzed seaweeds are a promising source of compounds with high antioxidant potential.     

Antioxidant properties and phenolic profiling by UPLC-QTOF-MS of Ajwah,Safawy and Sukkari cultivars of date palm

Date palm (P. dactylifera) plays a vital role in ethnomedicinal practices in several parts of the world. There are over 2000 cultivars of date palm that differ in chemical composition and extent of bioactivity. The present study was undertaken to comparatively evaluate the antioxidant potential of three cultivars of date palm (Ajwah, Safawy and Sukkari) from Saudi Arabia and analyze their phenolic constituents in order to draw a rationale for their activity. Antioxidant activities of the date cultivars were evaluated by different quantitative methods including 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and hydroxyl radical scavenging assay, total antioxidant capacity, reducing power, total phenolic (TPC), flavonoid (TFC) and tannin content (TTC), while qualitative phenolic composition was determined using ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled to quadropole time of flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MS). All the three date extracts showed good DPPH radical scavenging (IC₅₀ 103–177 μg/mL) and hydroxyl radical scavenging (IC₅₀ 1.1–1.55 mg/mL) activity and total antioxidant capacity (IC₅₀ 87–192 μg/mL). The reducing power was also comparable to that of ascorbic acid, used as standard in above experiments. All the three samples contain significant amount of major antioxidant components (phenolic, flavonoid and tannin) that successfully correlates with the results of radical scavenging assays. UPLC-QTOF-MS revealed a total of 22 compounds in these date cultivars classified into common phenolics, flavonoids, sterols and phytoestrogens. Significant variation in the degree of antioxidant activity of these three date cultivars can be attributed to the difference in the content and composition of phenolic compounds.     

Total phenolics, flavonoids and antioxidant activity of Saptarangi (Salacia chinensis L.) fruit pulp

Salacia chinensis L. has various beneficial properties including antidiabetic and antioxidant activity. The S. chinensis fruit pulp (SCFP) was extracted with four different solvents (Methanol, ethanol, acetone and water) and was screened for total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC) and antioxidant activity (AOA). The AOA was assessed by evaluating the 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and metal chelating assay. Methanolic SCFP extract exhibited the highest phenolic content (3.20?±?0.12 mg GAE/g FW) whereas, ethanolic extract showed highest flavonoid content (0.31?±?0.68 mg RE/g FW). The methanolic extract possesses highest antioxidant activity towards DPPH (92.44 %), FRAP (1.939 O.D) and metal chelating activity (74.16 %). AOA (DPPH and FRAP) was significantly correlated with TPC. The results indicated that SCFP is a good natural source of antioxidant compounds for use in food and pharmaceutical industry.     

Differential effects of Oroxylum indicum bark extracts: antioxidant, antimicrobial, cytotoxic and apoptotic study

Stem bark of Oroxylum indicum (L) (SBOI) is used by ethnic communities of North East India as health tonic and in treating diseases of humans and animals. The objective of this research was to carry out a detailed investigation including total phenolic and flavonoid content, antioxidant, antimicrobial, cytotoxic and apoptotic activities of different solvent extracts of SBOI and to establish correlation between some parameters. Among petroleum ether (PE), dichloromethane and methanol (MeOH) extract of SBOI, MeOH extract contained the highest amount of total phenolic (320.7 ± 34.6 mg Gallic acid equivalent/g extract) and flavonoid (346.6 ± 15.2 mg Quercetin equivalent/g extract) content. In vitro antioxidant activity (IC₅₀ 22.7 μg/ml) was highest in MeOH extract (p > 0.05) and also a significant inverse correlation was observed between phenolic (r = 0.886)/flavonoid (r = 0.764) content and corresponding DPPH IC₅₀. Only MeOH extract inhibited both bacteria and fungi. Although, individual extract showed cytotoxicity on HeLa cells with characteristic features of apoptosis, PE extract caused maximum cytotoxicity (IC₅₀ of 112.3 μg/ml, p < 0.05) and apoptotic activity (33.2 % sub-G0/G1 population) on HeLa cells. But, there was a significant non-inverse correlation of the MTT IC₅₀ with total phenolic (r = 0.812, p < 0.05)/flavonoid (r = 0.998, p < 0.05) content in the three solvent extracts. TLC analysis showed three unique compounds in PE extract which may have a role in apoptosis mediated cytotoxicity. These results called for futher chemical characterisation of MeOH and PE extract of SBOI for specific bioactivity.     

Antioxidants characterization in selected cyanobacteria

Antioxidants—molecules that have the ability to inhibit the oxidation of other molecules and have many medicinal and industrial applications—are commonly found in algae. Due to the harmful effects of common synthetic antioxidants, their replacement with natural antioxidants would be advantageous. The goal of this study was to examine the efficacy of antioxidants (including antioxidant content, antioxidant activity and antioxidant enzymes) among 11 species of freshwater blue-green algae. Antioxidant activities were evaluated by assaying radical scavenging activity, reducing power and chelating activity. The results showed that Spirulina platensis has the highest radical scavenging activity and reducing power (524 and 244 % more than the control, respectively) and Nostoc linkia has the highest chelating activity (195 %). Examination of some antioxidant contents such as chlorophyll a, carotenoids and phenolic content revealed that S. platensis has the highest contents [10.6 mg/g dry weight (DW), 2.4 mg/g DW and 9.7 mg gallic acid equivalent /g DW, respectively]. The positive correlation (P <0.01) between algal content and antioxidant activity may be attributed to the potent antioxidant activity of these contents. Variation in the activity of three antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase and peroxidase) was also reported. This study showed that the Cyanobacteria are promising sources of antioxidants.     

Hairy roots of Dracocephalum moldavica: rosmarinic acid content and antioxidant potential

Hairy roots of Dracocephalum moldavica L. were induced using Agrobacterium rhizogenes strain A4. Transformed roots were obtained from shoot explants with low transformation frequency of up to 3 %. The effects of different liquid media: Murashige and Skoog (MS), Gamborg et al. (B5) and Woody Plant (WP) with full- and half-strength (½MS, ½B5, ½WP), on biomass accumulation and rosmarinic acid (RA) content were investigated. The hairy roots were cultured in photoperiod (16 h light/8 h dark) and darkness. Biomass of D. moldavica hairy roots was the highest (7.23 g flask^?1 of fresh weight and 0.89 g flask^?1 of dry weight) in the cultures grown in WP medium under periodic light. Ultra performance liquid chromatography analysis revealed the highest RA content (78 mg g^?1 dry wt) in roots cultured in ½B5 medium under photoperiod conditions. It was about tenfold higher compared to roots of field-grown mother plants. Antioxidant activities and total phenolic contents of methanolic extracts of D. moldavica hairy roots cultured in ½B5 and WP media under photoperiod and darkness and roots of field grown plants were compared. All extracts were investigated using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging and phosphomolybdenum reduction assays. Total phenolic contents were estimated by the Folin–Ciocalteu method. The methanolic extract of D. moldavica hairy roots grown in ½B5 medium under photoperiod possessed the strongest effects on reducing Mo and DPPH radical scavenging. The activities were significantly higher (p ≤ 0.05) than those of methanolic extract of roots of intact plants grown in the field. The most active methanolic extract of hairy roots was characterized by the highest level of rosmarinic acid and total content of phenolic compounds.     

Variation in antioxidant activity and phenolic content in different organs of two Tunisian cultivars of Olea europaea L.

This paper reports a comparative study based on the antioxidant compounds, total phenol content and antioxidant activities of leaves, stems and fruits from the main Tunisian cultivars, ‘chetoui’ and ‘chemchali’, grown in two different locations, north and south of Tunisia. The repartition of olive phenolic compounds was organ dependant. Therefore, the HPLC analysis indicated that the olive organs from the northern cultivar had the highest level of hydroxybenzoic acids, hydroxycinnamic acids and flavonoid class; which were less in the southern cultivar. Principal component analysis of the phenolic compounds showed discrimination between methanol extracts of the organs olive. Significant differences (p < 0.05) in the levels of phenols, orthodiphenols and flavonoids were found between cultivars and between organs. Antioxidant activities of the methanolic extract from aerial parts of the two studied cultivars were evaluated using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) assays. In all tests, methanolic extracts of different olive parts showed higher antioxidant activity. These results can be used to discriminate and to characterize the ‘chetoui’ and ‘chemchali’ aerial parts.     

Flavonoids from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Heliotropium subulatum</Emphasis> exudate and their evaluation for antioxidant,antineoplastic and cytotoxic activities II

The flavonoids are the largest group of phenolic compounds isolated from a wide range of higher plants. These compounds work as antimicrobials, anti-insect agents and protect plants from other types of biotic and abiotic stresses. Various researchers have suggested that flavonoids possessed antioxidant, antineoplastic and cytotoxic activities. The main objective of this study was to test dichloromethane fraction of resinous exudate of Heliotropium subulatum for their antioxidant, antineoplastic and cytotoxic activities, as well as to search new antioxidant and antineoplastic agents for pharmaceutical formulations. Five flavonoids were isolated from resinous exudate of this plant species and screened for their in vitro and in vivo antioxidant models (DPPH radical scavenging, reducing power, superoxide anion scavenging, metal chelating scavenging systems, catalase and lipid peroxidation), antineoplastic (Sarcoma 180), and cytotoxic (Chinese hamster V79 cells) activities. Tricetin demonstrated maximum antioxidant activity against both in vitro and in vivo experimental systems while galangin exhibited maximum inhibition (78.35%) at a dose of 10 µg/kg/day against Sarcoma 180. Similarly, it was found that galangin also showed highest activity (21.1 ± 0.15%) at a concentration of 70 µg/ml to Chinese hamster V79 cells. The observed results suggest that tricetin has a potential to scavenge free radicals in both in vitro and in vivo models while the galangin could be considered as antitumor and cytotoxic agent.     

CuO nanoparticles significantly influence in vitro culture,steviol glycosides,and antioxidant activities of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Stevia rebaudiana</Emphasis> Bertoni

Copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles (NPs) synthesized through co-precipitation method were employed in MS media during in vitro culture of Stevia rebaudiana. Physiological characteristics, production of steviol glycosides, and antioxidative parameters were investigated in regenerated plants. CuO NPs had crystalline monoclinic cubic cuprous oxides with average size 47 nm. The NPs were applied at 0, 0.1, 1.0, 10, 100 and 1000 mg/L in MS media for direct organogenesis of S. rebaudiana from nodal segments. Shoot organogenesis was found highest (88.5%) at 10 mg/L CuO and average shoot length, mean number of shoot per explant, and fresh weight were also found significantly higher at the same concentration. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) illustrated significant rise of bioactive major steviol glycosides (rebaudioside A and stevioside) at 10 mg/L CuO NPs in MS media. The oxidative stress produced by CuO nanoparticles on S. rebaudiana was affirmed by antioxidant activities i.e. total antioxidant activity (TAC), total reducing power (TRP) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH)-free radical scavenging activity. The oxidative stress generated by NPs involved production of antioxidative molecules total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC) depending on NPs concentration. The study concludes that copper oxide nanoparticles functions as a stimulator of bioactive components productions, and can be employed in in vitro batch cultures.     

Evaluation of antioxidant capacities of green microalgae

Three strains of green microalgae, Chlorococcum sp.C53, Chlorella sp. E53, and Chlorella sp.ED53 were studied for their antioxidant activities. Crude extracts of these microalgae in hot water and in ethanol were examined for their total phenolic contents and for their antioxidant capacities. In order to determine their phenolic contents, the Folin–Ciocalteu method was used. As for the determination of their antioxidant capacities, four different assays were used: (1) total antioxidant capacity determination; (2) DPPH radical scavenging assay; (3) ferrous ion chelating ability assay; and (4) inhibition of lipid peroxidation (using thiobarbituric acid reactive substance). For all the strains we have studied, their ethanolic extract showed more antioxidant activities than their hot water extract. Categorically, the ethanolic extract of Chlorella sp.E53 exhibited both the highest total phenolic content of 35.5?±?0.14 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE) g^?1 dry weight and the highest DPPH radical scavenging of 68.18?±?0.38 % at 1.4 mg mL^?1 (IC₅₀ 0.81 mg mL^?1), whereas Chlorella sp.ED53 showed both the highest ferrous ion chelation activity of 42.78?±?1.48 % at 1 mg mL^?1 (IC₅₀ 1.23 mg mL^?1) and the highest inhibition of lipid peroxidation of 87.96?±?0.59 % at 4 mg mL^?1. This high level of inhibition is comparable to 94.42?±?1.39 % of butylated hydroxytoluene, a commercial synthetic antioxidant, at the same concentration.     

Antiglycation,comparative antioxidant potential,phenolic content and yield variation of essential oils from 19 exotic and endemic medicinal plants

The antioxidant potential, antiglycation, and total phenolic content of essential oils (EOs) extracted from 19 medicinal plants were assessed. The variation in yield of the EOs with respect to altitude and season was also studied. The antioxidant potential of Pimenta dioica (L.) Merr., Psiadia terebinthina A.J. Scott, Laurus nobilis L., Piper betle L., and Citrus hystrix DC. showed IC₅₀ values less/equivalent to the positive controls. Weak correlations were observed between the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) and xanthine oxidase (XO) assays as well as between the DPPH and nitric oxide radical scavenging (NO) assay and between the XO and 2,2 azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6 sulphonic acid (ABTS) assay. Cupressus macrocarpa Hartw., L. nobilis, Cinnamomum zeylanicum Nees, and Psidium guajava L. successfully inhibited in vitro glycated end-products (IC₅₀: 451.53 ± 3.00, 387.04 ± 1.53, 348.59 ± 3.34 and 401.48 ± 2.86 µg/mL respectively) compared to aminoguanidine (IC₅₀: 546.69 ± 3.57 µg/mL). Some of the EOs had a high content of phenolic compounds. EOs such as P. dioica, P. terebinthina, L. nobilis, P. guajava, and C. hystrix were found to be rich in eugenol and other phenolic compounds. The EOs evaluated in the present study may have applications in the nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industries.