Polyphenol contents and antioxidant activity of Maydis stigma extracts

The antioxidant activity and contents of various polyphenol classes in the silks of fifteen maize hybrids with economic importance in Serbia were evaluated. Total polyphenols, tannins and proanthocyanidins were determined spectrophotometrically, after extraction of plant material with 70% aqueous acetone under sonication at room temperature. In addition, flavonoid content was determined. Antioxidant activity of aqueous acetone extracts was evaluated by FRAP assay. A positive linear correlation between antioxidant activity and contents of all investigated polyphenol classes was established. The highest antioxidant activity was observed in the extract of NS 640 hybrid, which had high levels of all polyphenol classes examined. Results suggested strongly that polyphenol content should be considered as an important feature of the herbal drug Maydis stigma. For that reason, the biological source of this herbal drug needs to be more precisely defined, as observed activities and polyphenol contents were greatly dependent on plant material source.     

Extraction of condensed tannins from Mexican plant sources

Contents of total polyphenols, condensed tannins and proanthocyanidins, and their stability to various pH values and temperatures were studied in Mexican blueberry, cuautecomate fruit, garambullo fruit, aubergine, coffee pulp and residues of black grapes. Several aqueous extracts, obtained through a one-pass-extraction process, were analyzed using liquid chromatography in order to quantify the condensed tannin (proanthocyanidin) content responsible for their antioxidant activity and colour. All tested samples included high proanthocyanidin contents demonstrating that these Mexican fruits and vegetables are good sources of natural antioxidants, and they all could be considered as excellent functional foods due to their bioactivity measured as the condensed tannin level.     

八种水果中的多酚含量及其抗氧化性

测定了苹果、石榴、橄榄、芒果、香蕉、菠萝、葡萄和龙眼的壳、肉及核中的多酚含量及其抗氧化性。以70%丙酮(v/v)为提取溶剂,室温下超声波辅助浸提样品后得到提取液。采用普鲁士兰(Prussian blue)法测定了提取液中多酚和单宁的含量,利用FRAP法测定其抗氧化性。结果表明:提取液中多酚和单宁的含量均与其抗氧化性成正相关关系;石榴、橄榄、芒果、葡萄和龙眼等水果的壳与核有望成为天然抗氧化剂的新来源。     

Enhanced in vitro and in vivo antioxidant activity and mobilization of free phenolic compounds of soybean flour fermented with different β-glucosidase-producing fungi

Aims:  To evaluate the soybean polyphenol glucosides bioconversion to aglycone forms by different β-glucosidases-producing filamentous fungi to enhance their antioxidant activity.
Methods and Results:  Soybean defatted flour was submitted to solid-state fermentation with Aspergillus niger , Aspergillus niveus and Aspergillus awamori . The fungi studied produced approximately the same β-glucosidase activity units amount when p- nitrophenyl-β- d -glucopyranoside was used as substrate for the assay. However, electrophoretic analysis, using 4-methylumbellipheryl-β- d -glucopyranoside as substrate, showed that β-glucosidase produced by A.   niveus was more active. Fermented methanolic extracts showed an increase in polyphenol and genistein contents and antioxidant activities. The highest genistein content was found in soybean fermented by A. niveus . Methanolic extracts of the soybean fermented by the different fungi showed a similar capacity of scavenging H₂O₂ generated in vivo by the tumour promoter 12- O- tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate.
Conclusions:  A.   niveus synthesized a β-glucosidase with higher specificity to hydrolyse genistin β-glycosidic bond than those produced by A .  awamori and A. niger .
Significance and Impact of the Study:  The utilization of these β-glucosidases-producing fungi in soybean fermentation processes resulted in the obtaining of methanolic extracts with different antioxidant potentials that could be used either therapeutically or as an antioxidant in nonphysiological oxidative stress conditions, as the one induced in skin by UV radiation.     

Phenolic composition of Cynara cardunculus L. organs, and their biological activities

Polyphenols are bioactive molecules exhibiting a lot of scientific attention due to their multiple biological activities. This study compared phenolic contents and antioxidant activity in Cynara cardunculus L. organs and focus on leaf phenolic compounds identification by RP-HPLC and their antibacterial activity. The analyzed organs exhibited different total polyphenol contents (7-14.8 mg GAE g(-1) DW). Leaf and seed phenolic contents were similar and two times higher than those in flowers. The same tendency was observed for the amount of flavonoids and tannins. However, seed extracts displayed the highest DPPH. scavenging ability with the lowest IC50 value (23 microg ml(-1)), followed by leaves and flowers (over 50 microg ml(-1)). In contrast, leaves showed the highest capacity to quench superoxide (IC50: 1 microg ml(-1)) as compared to seeds (6 microg ml(-1)). In addition, cardoon leaves were efficient to inhibit growth of pathogenic bacteria mainly against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The identification of phenolic compounds from leaves revealed that syringic and trans-cinnamic acids were the major molecules.     

Evaluation of the medicinal potentials of the methanol extracts of the leaves and stems of Halleria lucida

The medicinal potentials of the methanol extracts of the leaves and stems of Halleria lucida (Scrophulariaceae) were evaluated by assessing their antibacterial and antioxidant properties in vitro using standard procedures. The antioxidant activities of methanol extract of the leaves as determined by the ABTS, DPPH, proanthocyanidins and total flavonoids were higher than that of the stem. On the other hand, the total phenols, the flavonoids and the FRAP contents of the stem were higher than that of the leaves. The extracts however showed poor activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The methanol extract of the stem showed activities against Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus epidermidis at MIC of 1.0 mg/ml. The methanol extract of the leaves did not show activity against any of the organisms used in this study. This study has to some extent validated the medicinal potential of the leaves and stems of H. lucida.     

Changes in composition of phenolic compounds and antioxidant properties of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Vitis amurensis</Emphasis> seeds germinated under osmotic stress

The research focused on the changes of phenolic compounds as well as their antiradical activity and reducing power isolated from Amur grape (Vitis amurensis) seeds during germination under optimal conditions and under osmotic stress. The seeds were found to contain tannins, (+) catechin, (−) epicatechin, and gallic acid (in free, ester- and glycoside-bound forms). Extracts from the seeds were also shown to contain two other phenolic acids: caffeic and p-coumaric acids, in very low levels. During a 3-day seed germination test under osmotic stress (−0.5 MPa), the content of total phenolics, tannins and phenolic acids declined as compared to the control. However, seed germination under stress conditions led to a significant increase in the amount of catechins. Because catechin is the one of the units in condensed tannins, its dynamic increase during seed germination may be involved in metabolism of tannins under osmotic stress. It is also likely that the synthesis of catechins is greater under stress conditions and these compounds may be engaged in the process of acclimatization of grapevines to stress conditions. The content of total phenolic compounds in seed extracts is positively correlated with their antioxidant properties. The extracts from seeds germinated under optimal conditions exhibited strong antiradical properties against the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radical as well as reducing power. As regards the extracts from grape seeds germinated under osmotic stress, this capability was much weaker. The research demonstrated that antioxidants could interfere with the oxidation process induced by various stresses by acting as oxygen scavengers, therefore the tolerance to drought stress might be correlated with an increase in the antioxidant potential.     

野生地木耳中次生代谢产物含量测定与分析

测定了野生地木耳（Nostoc commune Vauch.）中次生代谢产物含量,并与4种常见食用菌藻黑木耳（Auricularia auricular-judae）、银耳（Tremella fuciformis）、紫菜（Porphyra）、海带（Laminaria japonica）进行比较分析,总酚、总黄酮和缩合单宁含量测定采用分光光度法,总生物碱含量测定采用高效液相色谱法（HPLC）。结果显示,野生地木耳中总酚含量为24.255 mg/g±1.631 mg/g,总黄酮含量为5.741 mg/g±0.239 mg/g,总生物碱含量为0.768 mg/g±0.073 mg/g,缩合单宁含量为0.069 mg/g±0.009 mg/g。4种食用菌藻中次生代谢产物含量范围为：总酚（5.520～62.326 mg/g）、总黄酮（0.847～7.010 mg/g）、总生物碱（0.408～4.132 mg/g）、缩合单宁（0.063～0.233 mg/g）;比较分析结果显示,野生地木耳次生代谢产物中的总酚和总黄酮物质含量较高,且总酚是主要次生代谢产物,缩合单宁与总生物碱含量较低;总酚含量约为黑木耳和银耳的2倍、紫菜的6倍;总黄酮含量约为黑木耳的7倍,银耳的3倍。     

Recovery of antioxidant phenolics from white vinification solid by-products employing water/ethanol mixtures

Solid wastes from white vinification, including grape peels, seeds and stems, were used as raw material for the recovery of antioxidant polyphenols. Extractions were performed using non-toxic media composed of water/ethanol mixtures and hydrochloric, acetic or tartaric acid. Recovery efficiency was assessed by monitoring the antioxidant potency of extracts and several indices related to their polyphenolic composition, including total polyphenol, total flavonoid, total flavanol and condensed tannin (proanthocyanidin) content. Among the by-products tested, seeds were shown to contain exceptional amounts of total polyphenols (13.76 g per 100g dry weight), followed by stems (7.47 g per 100g dry weight) and peels (0.97 g per 100g dry weight). Extracts with the highest antioxidant activity from all by-products were obtained with 57% ethanol. Acidification of this medium with 0.1% HCl improved polyphenol recovery and antiradical activity for stem extracts, but it was unfavourable for seed extraction.     

Evaluation of spectrophotometric methods for screening of green rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) and green honeybush (Cyclopia genistoides) extracts for high levels of Bio-active compounds

The potential of UV spectrophotometry and an aluminium chloride (AlCl(3)) colorimetric method to determine the dihydrochalcone (DHC) and mangiferin contents of green rooibos and honeybush (C. genistoides) extracts, respectively, was investigated. The DHC content of rooibos water extracts, determined using UV spectroscopy, correlated with the sum of the aspalathin and nothofagin contents as quantified using HPLC (r = 0.98). A correlation coefficient of 0.91 was obtained when correlating the mangiferin content of C. genistoides methanol extracts, determined by the AlCl(3) colorimetric method, with the results obtained by HPLC. Using the linear equations from the correlations it was possible to predict the DHC and mangiferin contents of extracts from the respective spectrophotometric measurements to a reasonable accuracy as an alternative to HPLC. The total polyphenol (TP) content of rooibos water extracts can also be determined using UV spectrophotometry and aspalathin as a standard (r = 0.99) as an alternative to the Folin-Ciocalteau method. The TP content of rooibos extracts correlated (r = 0.99) with its total antioxidant activity (TAA) as determined with the ABTS radical cation scavenging assay, but the TP content of C. genistoides water extracts is not a good indication of their TAA (r = 0.27). The aspalathin content of rooibos extracts correlated with their TAA (r = 0.96), but the mangiferin content of honeybush water extracts only gave a moderate correlation with their TAA (r = 0.75).     

Antioxidant activity and protective effects of Uncaria rhynchophylla extracts on t-BHP-induced oxidative stress in Chang cells

Uncaria rhynchophylla (UR) is widely used as a traditional Chinese herbal medicine. However, there are few studies on antioxidant activity of UR extracts. The study was aimed at determining the antioxidant activity, the contents of polyphenol and flavonoid of UR extracts. Various assays were employed to evaluate the antioxidant property of water and ethanol extracts from the UR, compared to those of the other natural and synthetic antioxidants. UR extracts had high total phenolic contents in both the water (160 ± 2.32 mg GAE/g extracts) and ethanol extracts (190.2 ± 3.16 mg GAE/g extracts). In addition, total flavonoid contents were high in both the water extracts (154 ± 1.47 mg CE/g extracts) and ethanol extracts (184.2 ± 2.41 CE/g extracts). Specially, DPPH radical scavenging activity of ethanol extracts from UR were similar with vitamin C as a positive control. In addition, antioxidant capacity in ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) were higher than that for BHT, which was used as a positive control. The antioxidant activity of extracts from UR showed stronger activity than those of vitamin C and α-tocopherol in ferric thiocyanate (FTC) and thiobarbituric acid (TBA) methods. The ethanol extracts of UR protected on H₂O₂-induced DNA damage. In addition, cytoprotective and anti-apoptotic effect of ethanol extracts from UR was also investigated in t-BHP-induced hepatotoxicity. Therefore, these results indicate that UR extracts have antioxidant properties through its ability to enhance the cell viability, mediation of production of ROS. The UR extracts could be suitable as an antioxidant in the food industry.     

Chemical composition and vasodilatation induced by Cuphea carthagenensis preparations

The aerial parts of Cuphea carthagenensis (Jacq.) J.F. Macbride (Lythraceae) are traditionally employed in Brazil to treat cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to compare preparations of C. carthagenensis aerial parts (aqueous and ethanol extracts, together with derived fractions) with regard to their total phenolic contents and in vitro vasodilating activity. The main flavonoids found in the extracts were isolated and identified as quercetin derivatives. The extracts and fractions showed similar HPLC profiles with the presence of quercetin-5-O-β-glucopyranoside, quercetin-3-O-α-arabinofuranoside and quercetin-3-sulfate in all of them, but marked differences in the contents of flavonoids, proanthocyanidins, tannis and total phenolics. Excepting the aqueous extract, all assayed preparations elicited vasodilatation on pre-contracted rat aortic rings in the range of pIC(50) 4.53±0.03 to 4.98±0.06. Polynomial regression analysis demonstrated the relationship between vasodilating activity and the contents of flavonoids (r(2)=0.5190), proanthocyanidins (r(2)=0.8016), tannins (r(2)=0.8041) and total phenolics (r(2)=0.6226), suggesting the participation of these compounds in the pharmacological effect and their potential use as chemical markers for the species.     

铺地锦竹草水提取物主要成分及抗氧化活性研究

以市售铺地锦竹草为材料制备其水提取物,采用分光光度法测定总黄酮、总花色苷、总糖等主要活性成分含量,采用ICP-MS质谱仪法测定提取物中18种金属元素的组成和含量,最后采用分光光度法研究提取物的体外抗氧化活性。结果显示,铺地锦竹草提取物中黄酮含量为2.04%,总蛋白含量1.83%,总糖含量55%,总花色苷含量7.2%,Ca、Mn、Mg等有益微量元素含量较高,Pb、Hg、Ag、Co、Ge等有害重金属微量检出或未检出。提取物清除DPPH·的IC50达0.265mg·mL^-1,清除·OH自由基IC50为1.16mg·mL^-1,1mg提取物的总还原力与39μgVc相当,对亚铁离子未表现出有规律的螯合力。以上说明铺地锦竹草提取物中天然活性成分含量较高,有害重金属极微,具有良好的抗氧化能力,其抗氧化活性是由多种活性因子通过协同作用机制起作用的,具有开发为功能性食品的良好潜力。     

Protective effects of Cornus walteri W. extracts on t-BHP-induced cell damage through antioxidant activity

This study evaluated the antioxidant potential of extracts from Cornus walteri W. (CW) using various assays for natural antioxidants. We determined the polyphenol and flavonoid contents, as well as the antioxidant properties of water and ethanol extracts from the CW compared with those of other natural and synthetic antioxidants. CW extracts had high total phenolic and flavonoid contents in both the water and ethanol extracts. Various radical (DPPH, hydroxyl, and alkyl) scavenging activities of extracts from CW were higher than that of vitamin C. In addition, the antioxidant capacity measured as ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) as diammonium salt (ABTS) radical scavenging were higher than that of 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol (BHT), used as a positive control. The cytoprotective effect of CW extracts was also observed in tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP)-induced oxidative damage in Chang cells. These results showed that CW extracts have antioxidant properties through their ability to enhance cell viability, prevent reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and inhibit mitochondrial membrane depolarization. The antioxidant potency of the CW extracts could be exploited for their health promoting potential.     

益智的抗氧化作用

本文探讨了益智(Alpinia oxyphylla Miquel)超临界CO2提取物及其渣的水提物、正丙醇提取物和乙酸乙酯提取物的抗氧化作用,测定了总酚含量、黄酮含量、抗氧化力、还原能力、DPPH清除率.结果表明,益智超临界CO2提取物和正丙醇提取物的总酚含量最高,均为5.53%,乙酸乙酯提取物的总酚含量为4.04%,水提物总酚含量最低,为O.89%.抗氧化力与酚含量相关(R2=0.703).四种提取物中黄酮含量顺序为:乙酸乙酯提取物(6.29%)＞丙醇提取物(5.81%)＞水提取物(4.85%)＞超临界CO2提取物(4.70%).在还原能力、清除DPPH自由基和羟自由基方面,乙酸乙酯提取物表现出了很强的抗氧化能力,呈现剂量依赖关系.     

Accumulation and within-seed distribution of iron in common bean and soybean

The influence of times of applying FeEDDHA on seed yield and Fe accumulation by four common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and two soybean (Glycine max L.) genotypes grown on a calcareous soil was studied under greenhouse conditions. The soybean genotypes, unlike the common bean genotypes, developed Fe-deficiency chlorosis and responded to application of the chelate. A preplant application of FeEDDHA was more efficacious than a flowering application in increasing seed yield of soybean. In contrast, the flowering application was much more effective than the preplant application for increasing seed Fe concentration [Fe] of both species. Percentage of seed Fe located in the seed coat of the common bean genotypes ranged from approximately 5 to 40% and was little affected by FeEDDHA. This within-seed distribution of Fe was correlated with methanol-extractable seed-coat pigments absorbing at 500 nm, presumably anthocyanins, but not with condensed tannins (proanthocyanidins). The soybean genotypes did not accumulate anthocyanins or tannins in the seed coat. Seed of Fe-deficient soybean plants without FeEDDHA had appreciably lower [Fe] and had a lower percentage of seed Fe in the seed coat than treated plants. Within-seed distribution of Fe should be considered in plant breeding because of concerns about both human nutrition and early seedling growth. Abbreviations: DTPA – diethylenetrinitrilopentaacetic acid; EDDHA – ethylenediamine di(o-hydroxyphenylacetic acid) acid; SPAD – single photon avalanche diode     

Antioxidant activity of wheat extracts as affected by in vitro digestion

Phenolic compounds from soft wheat and its milling fractions were extracted and their in vitro antioxidant activity evaluated. Non-hydrolyzed extracts were prepared by extracting phenolics into distilled deionized water. To make hydrolyzed extracts samples were first subjected to pH adjustments in order to simulate gastrointestinal pH conditions. Total phenolic content (TPC) was determined using Folin-Ciocalteu's procedure. Total antioxidant activity (TAA) was determined using Trolox equivalents antioxidant capacity (TEAC) assay and expressed as Trolox equivalents (TE). Antioxidant activity of wheat extracts was determined using the procedures of inhibition of beta-carotene bleaching, scavenging of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical and inhibition of oxidation of human low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. The TPC and TAA of wheat extracts tested were significantly increased following hydrolysis. Similarly, the antioxidant activity, as determined by different procedures, was considerably increased when the samples were subjected to simulated digestion conditions.     

Increasing the oxidative stress response allows Escherichia coli to overcome inhibitory effects of condensed tannins

Tannins are plant-derived polyphenols with antimicrobial effects. The mechanism of tannin toxicity towards Escherichia coli was determined by using an extract from Acacia mearnsii (Black wattle) as a source of condensed tannins (proanthocyanidins). E. coli growth was inhibited by tannins only when tannins were exposed to oxygen. Tannins auto-oxidize, and substantial hydrogen peroxide was generated when they were added to aerobic media. The addition of exogenous catalase permitted growth in tannin medium. E. coli mutants that lacked HPI, the major catalase, were especially sensitive to tannins, while oxyR mutants that constitutively overexpress antioxidant enzymes were resistant. A tannin-resistant mutant was isolated in which a promoter-region point mutation increased the level of HPI by 10-fold. Our results indicate that wattle condensed tannins are toxic to E. coli in aerobic medium primarily because they generate H(2)O(2). The oxidative stress response helps E. coli strains to overcome their inhibitory effect.     

Phenolic compounds and antioxidants from Eucalyptus camaldulensis as affected by some extraction conditions,a preparative optimization for GC-MS analysis

Abstract

Four organic solvents along with water were applied for the conventional extraction of Eucalyptus camaldulensis (Myrtaceae), phenolic contents and antioxidant activities were investigated through variable protocols and correlation coefficients were considered, the phenolic composition was also characterized by Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Using solvents with dissimilar polarities affected the phenolic yields extracted from E. camaldulensis and their related antioxidant activities varied significantly among the four investigated plant organs. The leaf extract of acetone 70% contained the highest amount of phenolic compounds (46.56?mg/g dry weight); while the bud-water boiled extract maintained the maximum value of tannins (45.68?mg/g dry weight). Correlation coefficients indicated that phenolic compounds were mostly accountable for the phosphomolybednum antioxidant potentials (0.520), followed by tannins (0.460). Also, both the reducing power activities and hydrogen peroxide scavenging of E. camaldulensis extracts positively correlated with tannins, but at different significance degrees. However, the GC-MS analysis revealed that most of the detected phenolic constituents were more abundant in the plant seed. So, the existence of some other compounds such as organic acids, along with phenolics, may have increased the antioxidant potentials of leaf and bud. Undeniably, the optimization of extraction conditions could stimulate the antioxidant capabilities of the plant extracts of E. camaldulensis.     

Antioxidant effect and polyphenol content of Syringodium filiforme (Cymodoceaceae)

The marine phanerogam Syringodium filiforme, known as "manatee grass", is a common species that grows in coastal areas associated to Thalassia testudinum. With the aim to describe some of its possible chemical characteristics, this study was performed with a sample of 1.2 kg, collected in March 2009, in Guanabo beach, Havana, Cuba. The sample was dried (less than 12% humidity) and a total extract prepared; other three extracts were prepared with the use of solvents of increasing polarity. The phytochemical screening and analytical determinations of each fraction were undertaken Total polyphenol content was determined using pyrogallol as reference's standard; chlorophyll a and b and anthocyanin content were also quantified. Total extract and fractions antioxidant activity were evaluated by using the free radical scavenging activity assay with 1,1-Diphenyl-2-Picrylhydrazyl reactive (knowing as DPPH's method). The phytochemical screening of the different extracts detected the presence of high concentrations of flavonoids, phenols, terpenes, antocyanins, reducing sugars and alkaloids. The total extract and methanol fraction showed significant free radical scavenging properties, while the petroleum ether fraction showed moderate activity, and the chloroform fraction and the aqueous soluble precipitate (residual salt) obtained didn't show antioxidant properties against free radicals. The results of this work confirmed the potentialities of this species for biological purposes.