Antioxidant,Anti-Skin-Aging,Anti-Inflammatory,and Anti-Acetylcholinesterase Activities of Rourea oligophlebia Extracts

The objective of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant, anti-skin-aging, anti-inflammatory, and anti-acetylcholinesterase activities of the hexane (n-hex), AcOEt, BuOH, MeOH, and aqueous extracts from R. oligophlebia roots. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents (TPC and TFC) were determined using Folin-Ciocalteu and AlCl₃ colorimetric assays. The antioxidant capacity was examined by reducing power (RP), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), ABTS⋅⁺, and DPPH⋅⁺ radical cation assays. All extracts potentially exhibited antioxidant activity with IC₅₀ values ranging from 2.93 to 5.73 μg/mL for ABTS⋅⁺ and from 5.69 to 7.65 μg/mL for DPPH⋅⁺ except the n-hex extract. The BuOH, MeOH, and aqueous extract possess promising anti-skin-aging activities, as observed by an attenuation of UV-A toxicity on human keratinocytes. We proposed that these anti-skin-aging properties are possibly due to direct scavenging activity against reactive oxygen species and upregulate cellular antioxidant machinery. Moreover, we found that the antioxidant capacity was well correlated with anti-inflammatory capacity against nitric oxide (NO) production in terms of the n-hex, AcOEt, and BuOH extracts with IC₅₀ values from 23.21 to 47.1 μg/mL. In contrast, these activities were found to be poorly correlated with AchE activity. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the antioxidant, anti-skin-aging, anti-inflammatory, and anti-acetylcholinesterase activities of the extracts of R. oligophlebia roots. These findings indicated that this species could be a potential source of natural antioxidant, anti-aging, and anti-inflammatory agents. Consequently, it may be suggested as a medicinal plant that prevents diseases related to oxidative stress and inflammatory responses.     

Antioxidant properties of a human neuropeptide and its protective effect on free radical‐induced DNA damage

Human catestatin CgA_352–372 (SL21) is an endogenous neuropeptide with multiple biological functions. The present study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant, antibacterial, cytotoxic, and DNA damage protective effects of SL21 neuropeptide. SL21 neuropeptide generated from the C‐terminus of chromogranin A (CgA) was synthesized by solid‐phase method. Synthetic peptide was subjected to various in vitro antioxidant assays including the scavenging of 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐pycryl‐hydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2‐azino‐bis(3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid) (ABTS^·+), and hydroxyl free radicals, metal ion chelation, inhibition of lipid peroxidation, and reducing power. Moreover, protective effect of SL21 on H₂O₂‐induced DNA damage was analyzed using pTZ57/RT plasmid. Methylthiazoltetrazolium assay was also performed to study the cytotoxic effect of SL21 neuropeptide on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Furthermore, antibacterial and hemolysis assays were conducted. The results demonstrated high activities of SL21 in scavenging free radicals (DPPH, ABTS^·+, and hydroxyl), chelating of Cu²⁺/Fe²⁺ metal ions, reducing power, and inhibition of lipid peroxidation in a concentration‐dependent manner. SL21 neuropeptide revealed a protective effect on DNA damage caused by hydroxyl radicals. Interestingly, the peptide exhibited no significant cytotoxicity towards peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Furthermore, SL21 peptide displayed antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa without any hemolytic activity on human red blood cells. Conclusively, the present study established SL21 (catestatin) as a novel antioxidative peptide that could further be investigated for its potential use as a pharmaceutical agent. Copyright © 2014 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Comprehensive Phytochemical Content by LC/MS/MS and Anticholinergic,Antiglaucoma, Antiepilepsy,and Antioxidant Activity of Apilarnil (Drone Larvae)

Apilarnil is 3–7 days old drone larvae. It is an organic bee product known to be rich in protein. In this study, the biological activities of Apilarnil were determined by its antioxidant and enzyme inhibition effects. Antioxidant activities were determined by Fe³⁺, Cu²⁺, Fe³⁺-TPTZ ((2,4,6-tris(2-pyridyl)-s-triazine), reducing ability and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH⋅) scavenging assays. Also, its enzyme inhibition effects were tested against carbonic anhydrase I and II isoenzymes (hCA I, hCA II), acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) enzymes. Antioxidant activity of Apilarnil was generally lower than the standard molecules in the applied methods. In DPPH⋅ radical scavenging assay, Apilarnil exhibited higher radical scavenging than some standards. Enzyme inhibition results towards hCA I (IC₅₀: 14.2 μg/mL), hCA II: (IC₅₀: 11.5 μg/mL), AChE (IC₅₀: 22.1 μg/mL), BChE (IC₅₀: 16.1 μg/mL) were calculated. In addition, the quantity of 53 different phytochemical compounds of Apilarnil was determined by a validated method by LC/MS/MS. Compounds with the highest concentrations (mg analyte/g dry extract) were determined as quinic acid (1091.045), fumaric acid (48.714), aconitic acid (47.218), kaempferol (39.946), and quercetin (27.508). As a result, it was determined that Apilarnil had effective antioxidant profile when compared to standard antioxidants.     

Q-TOF LC-MS compounds evaluation of propolis extract derived from Malaysian stingless bees,Tetrigona apicalis,and their bioactivities in breast cancer cell,MCF7

Propolis is known to exhibit various phytochemical compounds that aid in several biological activities. The current study investigates the phytochemical compounds of ethanolic extract of propolis of Tetrigona apicalis (EEP) using Q-TOF LC-MS, its antioxidant properties using DPPH and ABTS⁺ radical scavenging assays, total phenolic (TPC) and flavonoid content (TFC), using Folin-Ciocalteu and Aluminium Chloride method, respectively, as well as proapoptotic effects, based on the selected IC₅₀ of the cytotoxic study conducted for EEP using annexin V-FITC assay. Terpene and polyphenol were among of 17 identified compounds. The EC₅₀ of EEP for DPPH and ABTS⁺ was 1.78 mg/mL and 1.68 mg/mL, while the EEP exhibited TPC and TFC values of 31.99 mgGAE/g and 66.4 mgQCE/g, respectively in which the parameters were strongly correlated. The IC₅₀ of EEP effectively induces apoptosis in MCF7 cells. In conclusion, EEP possessed important phytochemical compounds that work excellently as antioxidants and anticancer agents.     

Variations in Essential Oil Composition and Antioxidant Activity in Perovskia abrotanoides Kar. Collected from Different Regions in Iran

Essential oil (EO) composition, phenolic content, and antioxidant activity were investigated in 17 P. abrotanoides populations collected from different geographical regions in Iran. The highest (3.61%) and lowest (1.25%) essential oil yields were measured in populations from Semnan Province (PSESM₂) and PISKS from Isfahan Province, respectively. GC/MS analysis identified camphor (4.05 – 35.94%), 1,8‐cineole (7.15 – 24.34%), borneol (0 – 21.75%), and α‐pinene (2.05 – 10.33%) as the main constituents of Perovskia essential oil. Cluster analysis classified the studied populations into four different groups: (I) high camphene, (II) high camphor/1,8‐cineole, (III) high borneol/δ‐3‐carene, and (IV) high α‐cadinol/trans‐caryophyllene. The highest flavonoid and phenolic contents were detected in PISAK from Isfahan Province (4.09 ± 0.05 mgQE/gDW, 58.51 ± 1.63 mgGAE/gDW) and PKRGS from Khorasan Province (3.80 ± 0.002 mgQE/gDW, 66.86 ± 0.002 mgGAE/gDW). DPPH and reducing power activity model systems identified PMASA and PKRKL as the populations with the highest antioxidant activity. Finally, the data obtained represented valuable information for introducing elite populations with EO components favorable to pharmaceutical and industrial applications.     

Relationship Between Phenolic Content Determined by LC/MS/MS and Antioxidant Capacity and Enzyme Inhibition of Cyclotrichium niveum L.

Cyclotrichium niveum (Boiss.) Manden & Scheng belonging to the Lamiaceae family, which is an endemic species in the eastern Anatolian region of Turkey, has an important place in terms of ethno-botany. The phytochemical composition of the plant, inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) (which hydrolyzes the neurotransmitter acetylcholine), inhibition of paraoxonase for antiatherosclerotic activity (hPON 1) (which detoxifies organophosphates), and antioxidant capacity were all investigated in this study. Phytochemical content was determined by LC/MS/MS, and enzyme inhibition and antioxidant capacity studies were determined by spectrophotometer. Antioxidant capacity of C. niveum extracts (methanol, hexane, and water) was determined by applying ABTS⋅⁺, DPPH⋅, FRAP, and CUPRAC methods. Both the water and the methanol extracts of the C. niveum exhibited significant inhibition on the AChE (IC₅₀ value for methanol and water extract 0.114±0.14 mg/mL (R2:0.997) and 0.178±0.12 mg/mL (R²: 0.994), respectively). In contrast, the methanol and water extracts of the C. niveum did not exhibit the inhibition effect on hPON 1. The highest activity for ABTS⋅⁺ was 66.53 % in the water extract, and DPPH⋅ was 55.03 % in the methanol extract. In the metal-reducing power assay, the absorbance was 0.168±0.04 for FRAP water extract and 0.621±0.01 for CUPRAC methanol extract. According to LC/MS/MS analyses, hydroxybenzoic acid, salicylic acid, syringic acid, acetohydroxamic acid and luteolin determined in the plant extract. As a consequence, C. niveum which has antioxidant, anti-atherogenic and anti-neurodegenerative properties has the potential to be used as a natural medication instead of synthetic drugs used in Alzheimer's patients.     

Free radical and reactive oxygen species scavenging activities of the extracts from seahorse, Hippocampus kuda Bleeler

Seahorse, Hippocampus kuda (SH) a marine teleost fish, is well known not only for its special medicinal composition and used as one of the most famous and expensive materials of traditional Chinese medicine. It was extracted with water (SHW), methanol (SHM), and ethanol (SHE), respectively and evaluated by various antioxidant assays. The including reducing power, total antioxidant, DPPH radical scavenging, hydroxyl radical scavenging, superoxide anion radical scavenging, alkyl radical scavenging, and protective effect on DNA damage caused by hydroxyl radicals generated. Further, the ROS level was detected using a fluorescence probe, 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCFH-DA), which could be converted to highly fluorescent dichlorofluorescein (DCF) with the presence of intracellular ROS on mouse macrophages, RAW264.7 cell and inhibited myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in human myeloid, HL60 cells, respectively. Those various antioxidant activities were compared to standard antioxidants such as α-tocopherol. Among SHM exhibited the highest antioxidant activity in linoleic acid system, effective reducing power, DPPH radical scavenging, hydroxyl radical scavenging, superoxide radical scavenging, alkyl radical scavenging, inhibitory intracellular ROS, and inhibited MPO activity. Furthermore, MTT assay showed no cytotoxicity on mouse macrophages cell (RAW264.7) and human cell lines (MRC-5, HL60, U937). This antioxidant property depends on concentration and increasing with increased amount of extracts. The results obtained in the present study indicated that the see horse (Hippocampus kuda Bleeker) is a potential source of natural antioxidant.     

Phenolic Profiling,Antioxidant, and Antibacterial Activities of Selected Medicinal Plants from Tunisia

Phytochemical screening of aqueous extract from six medicinal wild plants grown in South-eastern of Tunisia: Atriplex halimus, Teucrium polium, Moricandia arvensis, Deverra tortuoa, Haplophyllum tuberculatum and Polygonum equisetiforme were evaluated. Both decoction and ultrasound assisted extraction were used. Antioxidant, antibacterial proprieties, and phenolic profiling, using LC-ESI-MS method, were assessed. Total polyphenols, flavonoids, and condensed tannins contents ranged from 7.47±0.19 to 22.25±0.49 mg GAE/g Dw, 5.47±0.06 to 7.55±0.07 mg RE/g Dw, and 0.33±0.02 to 19.43±0.64 mg TAE/g Dw, respectively. Moreover, the reducing power and DPPH tests showed that P. equisetiforme (EC₅₀: 12.50±0.50 μg/ml; DPPH⋅⁺: 213.49±4.24 mg TEAC/g DW), T. polium (EC₅₀: 25.00±1.00 μg/ml; DPPH⋅⁺: 181.39±9.47 mg TEAC/g DW) as well as H. tuberculatum (EC₅₀: 56.25±0.25 μg/ml; DPPH⋅⁺: 177.83±5.85 mg TEAC/g DW) extracts were the most effective natural antioxidants. For anti-bacterial activity, the ultrasonic extract of H. tuberculatum showed the highest activity against both P. aeruginosa (13.50±0.71 mm) and S. aureus (13.00±0.00 mm) at 10 mg/ml. Furthermore 24 phenolic compounds were identified, with predominance of quinic acid, gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, syringic acid, p-coumaric acid, trans-ferulic acid, catechin (+), trans-cinnamic and silymarin. These results were further consolidated by to heatmap clustering with P. equisetiforme, H. tuberculatum, T. polium as the main antioxidant and antibacterial sources which supports their domestication and industrial use.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Thiazolo[3,2‐a]pyrimidine Derivatives and Evaluation of Antioxidant and Cytotoxic Activities

A series of novel thiazolo[3,2‐a]pyrimidines were synthesized and characterized by FT‐IR, ¹H, ¹³C‐NMR and mass techniques. Their antioxidant activities were investigated by 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay and the results showed that all the synthesized compounds exhibit good antioxidant activity. In addition, it was found that any substituent on the aromatic ring of the products plays an important role in their antioxidant activity. In vitro cytotoxicity of compounds 4a – 4j was investigated using MTT cell viability assay. Among these compounds, 6‐ethyl 2,3‐dimethyl 5‐(4‐chlorophenyl)‐7‐methyl‐2,3‐dihydro‐5H‐[1,3]thiazolo[3,2‐a]pyrimidine‐2,3,6‐tricarboxylate ( 4e ) bearing a chlorine substituent displayed the highest cytotoxic effect (IC₅₀=6.26±0.6 μm ) in comparison with doxorubicin (IC₅₀=0.68±0.1 μm ) as a standard after 72 h. Therefore, it is assumed that these compounds could be used as effective antioxidant and cytotoxic agents.     

Glassworts as Possible Anticancer Agents Against Human Colorectal Adenocarcinoma Cells with Their Nutritive,Antioxidant and Phytochemical Profiles

In this study, the possible uses of glassworts as potential food ingredients and their antiproliferative activity against colorectal adenocarcinoma cells together with their antioxidant and phytochemical profiles were investigated for the first time. MeOH extracts of five different taxa collected from different localities were screened for their antioxidant capacities by DPPH (IC₅₀ 2.91 – 5.49 mg/ml) and ABTS (24.4 – 38.5 μmol TE/g extract) assays. Salicornia freitagii exhibited the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity. LC/MS/MS analysis displayed that vanillic acid and p‐coumaric acid were two main phenolic compounds in the extract. Salicornia freitagii extracts also exhibited high antiproliferative activity against HT‐29 (IC₅₀ 1.67 mg/ml) and Caco‐2 (IC₅₀ 3.03 mg/ml) cells for 72 h. Mineral analysis indicated that all the species with different proportions of elemental components contained high amount of cations. These results indicate that investigated glassworts, with their high phenolic and mineral contents and also notable antioxidant and cytotoxic properties, may be utilized as a promising source of therapeutics.     

Flash Extraction,Characterization, and Immunoenhancement Activity of Polysaccharide from Hippophae rhamnoides Linn

Hippophae rhamnoides L. polysaccharide was optimized with flash extraction by response surface design. The optimum process conditions were: rotation rate 5000 r/min, extraction time 15 s, extraction temperature 90 °C and liquid-to-material ratio 38 mL/g, the extraction yield was 15.28±0.02 %. HRP-1 and HRP-2 obtained by 40 % and 60 % graded alcohol precipitation were characterized. The results indicated that HRP-1 and HRP-2 both composed of mannose, ribose, rhamnose, glucuronic acid, galacturonic acid, glucose, galactose, xylose, arabinose with different molar ratio and the molecular weights were 380.59 kDa and 288.24 kDa, respectively. In addition, the in vitro antioxidant and immunoenhancement activities of HRP-1 and HRP-2 were analyzed, and the two fractions showed good free radical scavenging activity against ⋅OH, ABTS⋅⁺, DPPH⋅, and extremely strong immunomodulatory activity against RAW264.7 cells. Indicating that flash extraction is suitable for extraction of HRP, the structural study of HRP provides a scientific theoretical basis for the development of Hippophae rhamnoides.     

Antioxidant and free radical scavenging properties of N-acetylcysteine amide (NACA) and comparison with N-acetylcysteine (NAC)

The antioxidant potential of N-acetylcysteine amide (NACA), also known as AD4, was assessed by employing different in vitro assays. These included reducing power, free radical scavenging capacities, peroxidation inhibiting activity through linoleic acid emulsion system and metal chelating capacity, as compared to NAC and three widely used antioxidants, α-tocopherol, ascorbic acid and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). Of the antioxidant properties that were investigated, NACA was shown to possess higher 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate (DPPH) radical scavenging ability and reducing power than NAC, at all the concentrations, whereas the scavenging ability of H₂O₂ differed with concentration. While NACA had greater H₂O₂ scavenging capacity at the highest concentration, NAC was better than NACA at lower concentrations. NAC and NACA had a 60% and 55% higher ability to prevent β-carotene bleaching, respectively, as compared to control. The chelating activity of NACA was more than 50% that of the metal chelating capacity of EDTA and four and nine times that of BHT and α-tocopherol, respectively. When compared to NACA and NAC; α-tocopherol had higher DPPH scavenging abilities and BHT and α-tocopherol had better β-carotene bleaching power. These findings provide evidence that the novel antioxidant, NACA, has indeed enhanced the antioxidant properties of NAC.     

Zingerone Protects Against Stannous Chloride-Induced and Hydrogen Peroxide-Induced Oxidative DNA Damage In Vitro

In this paper, we report the dose-dependent antioxidant activity and DNA protective effects of zingerone. At 500 μg/mL, the DPPH radical scavenging activity of zingerone and ascorbic acid as a standard was found to be 86.7 and 94.2 % respectively. At the same concentration, zingerone also showed significant reducing power (absorbance 0.471) compared to that of ascorbic acid (absorbance 0.394). The in vitro toxicity of stannous chloride (SnCl₂) was evaluated using genomic and plasmid DNA. SnCl₂-induced degradation of genomic DNA was found to occur at a concentration of 0.8 mM onwards with complete degradation at 1.02 mM and above. In the case of plasmid DNA, conversion of supercoiled DNA into the open circular form indicative of DNA nicking activity was observed at a concentration of 0.2 mM onwards; complete conversion was observed at a concentration of 1.02 mM and above. Zingerone was found to confer protection against SnCl₂-induced oxidative damage to genomic and plasmid DNA at concentrations of 500 and 750 μg/mL onwards, respectively. This protective effect was further confirmed in the presence of UV/H₂O₂-a known reactive oxygen species (ROS) generating system-wherein protection by zingerone against ROS-mediated DNA damage was observed at a concentration of 250 μg/mL onwards in a dose-dependent manner. This study clearly indicated the in vitro DNA protective property of zingerone against SnCl₂-induced, ROS-mediated DNA damage.     

The free radical scavenging and anti-inflammatory activities of gallate-chitooligosaccharides in human lung epithelial A549 cells

In this study, gallic acid-conjugated chitooligosaccharides (gallate-COS) was evaluated for its enhancing capabilities in free radical scavenging and anti-inflammatory activities in human lung epithelial A549 cells. It was found that gallate-COS possesses significantly high DPPH radical scavenging activity and protective effect against H₂O₂-induced DNA damage. Likewise, gallate-COS decreased the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species in H₂O₂-stimulated A549 cells. Moreover, the suppressive effects of gallate-COS on COX-2 expression and PGE₂ production from LPS-stimulated A549 cells were evidenced. Finally, the productions of cytokines including IL-8 and TNF-α were also inhibited by gallate-COS in a dose-dependent manner. Collectively, these results suggest that gallate-COS could be used as a functional ingredient with potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits.     

Naphthalene Derivatives and Quinones from Ventilago denticulata and Their Nitric Oxide Radical Scavenging,Antioxidant, Cytotoxic,Antibacterial, and Phosphodiesterase Inhibitory Activities

New naphthalene derivatives ( 1 and 2 ) and a new isomer ( 3 ) of ventilagolin, together with known anthraquinones, chrysophanol ( 4 ), physcion or emodin 3‐methyl ether ( 5 ), and emodin ( 6 ), were isolated from vines of Ventilago denticulata. The isolated compounds exhibited cytotoxic activity with IC₅₀ values of 1.15 – 40.54 μg/ml. Compounds 1 – 3 selectively exhibited weak antibacterial activity (MIC values of 200.0 – 400.0 μg/ml), while emodin ( 6 ) displayed moderate antibacterial activity with MIC value of 25.0 μg/ml. The isolated compounds showed nitric oxide and DPPH radical scavenging activities. Compounds 1 – 3 and 6 exhibited weak xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity, while emodin ( 6 ) acted as an aromatase inhibitor with the IC₅₀ value of 10.1 μm . Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitory activity with IC₅₀ values of 8.28 μm and 6.48 μm , respectively.     

Investigation on the Phytochemical Composition,Antioxidant and Enzyme Inhibition Potential of Polygonum Plebeium R.Br: A Comprehensive Approach to Disclose New Nutraceutical and Functional Food Ingredients

The present work describes medicinal potential and secondary metabolic picture of the methanol extract (PP-M) of Polygonum plebeium R.Br. and its fractions; hexane (PP-H), ethyl acetate (PP-E) and water (PP-W). In total bioactive component estimation, highest contents of phenolic (89.38±0.27 mgGAE/g extract) and flavonoid (51.21±0.43 mgQE/g extract) were observed in PP-E, and the same fraction exhibited the highest antioxidant potential in DPPH (324.80±4.09 mgTE/g extract), ABTS (563.18±11.39 mgTE/g extract), CUPRAC (411.33±15.49 mgTE/g extract) and FRAC (369.54±1.70 mgTE/g extract) assays. In Phosphomolybdenum activity assay, PP-H and PP-E showed nearly similar potential, however, PP-H was the most active (13.54±0.24 mgEDTAE/g extract) in metal chelating activity assay. PP-W was the stronger inhibitor (4.03±0.05 mgGALAE/g extract) of the enzyme AChE, while PP-H was potent inhibitor of BChE (5.62±0.27 mg GALAE/g extract). Interestingly, PP-E was inactive against BChE. Against tyrosinase activity, PP-E was again the most active fraction with inhibitory value of 71.89±1.44 mg KAE/g extract, followed by the activity of PP-M and PP-W. Antidiabetic potential was almost equally distributed among PP-M, PP-H and PP-E. For mapping the chemodiversity of P. plebeium, PP-M was analyzed through UHPLC/MS, which led to the identification of more than 50 compounds. Flavonoids were the main components derived from isovitexin, kaempferol and luteolin however, gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, gingerols and lyoniresinol 9′-sulfate were among important bioactive phenols. These findings prompted to conclude that Polygonum plebeium can be a significant source to offer new ingredient for nutraceuticals and functional foods.     

Synthesis and Antioxidant Properties of Psoralen Derivatives

Five psoralen derivatives were synthesized and the structures of them were characterized by ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, and IR. The antioxidant properties of the compounds were tested by inhibiting the free radical-initiated DNA oxidation and scavenging the radical reaction. The results showed that the effective stoichiometric factors (n) of the compounds V and IV could reach 2.00 and 2.11 in the system of inhibiting the DNA oxidation reaction initiated by 2,2′-Azobis(2-methylpropionamidine) dihydrochloride (AAPH). In the inhibition of ⋅OH-oxidation of the DNA system, compounds I ~ V showed antioxidant properties. The thiobarbituric acid absorbance (TBARS) percentages of compounds IV and V were 76.19 % and 78.84 %. Compounds I ~ V could also inhibit Cu²⁺/GSH-oxidation of DNA, and all compounds exhibited good antioxidant properties except compound II (94.00 %). All the five compounds were able to trap diammonium 2,2′-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) salt radical (ABTS⁺⋅), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH⋅) and 2,6-di-tert-butyl-alpha-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-oxo-2,5-cyclohexadien-p-tolylox radical (galvinoxyl⋅). The ability of compounds I ~ V to scavenge those free radicals can be measured by the k values. The k values ranged from 0.07 to 0.82 in scavenging ABTS⁺⋅, galvinoxyl, and DPPH radicals, respectively.     

Phytochemical Screening,Antioxidant Assay and Cytotoxic Profile for Different Extracts of Chrysopogon zizanioides Roots

The Chrysopogon zizanioides plant possesses multiple traditional uses, especially in therapeutics, but only a few articles have reported its biological activity. Hence, the present study was planned to explore the phytochemical constituents, cytotoxic potential, radical scavenging activity, and GC/MS (Gas chromatography & Mass spectrometry) analysis of the vetiver root extracts. The roots extracted with different solvents exhibited more significant phytochemical constituents in polar solvents in comparison to non-polar ones, favoring the extraction of a greater number of components in highly polar solvents. All the extracts were tested for their cytotoxicity using SRB (Sulforhodamine B) assay. They confirmed ethanolic extract as a potent extract with GI₅₀ 56±0.5 μg/ml in oral cancer (SCC-29B) along with no cytotoxicity in healthy cells (Vero cells), making it a safer therapeutic option in comparison to standard Adriamycin. This extract was also analyzed for its antioxidant potential by DPPH (1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) assay with IC₅₀ value 10.73 μg/ml, which was quite comparable to Ascorbic acid having IC₅₀ value 4.61 μg/ml. The quantitative analysis of ethanolic extract exhibited 107 compounds amongst which Khusenic acid, Ascorbic acid, Junipen, gamma-Himachalene, alpha-Guaiene were the majorly occurring compounds that can be explored further for their cytotoxic activity.     

Attachment of a Frog Skin-Derived Peptide to Functionalized Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles

Peptide Brevinin-2R (B2R) has derived from frog skin secretions and possesses cytotoxic effects on cancer cells. Beside, cerium oxide nanoparticle (CNP) has antioxidant properties and could be used in anticancer studies. The purpose of this study is to investigate antioxidant and cytotoxicity of cerium oxide nanoparticle conjugated with B2R. First, cerium oxide nanoparticles were amine functionalized and peptide attached to it through establishment of peptide bond. Then, (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) DPPH and 2, 2′-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) radical scavenging activities of CNP-B2R were determined. MTT assay were used in order to compare cytotoxicity of CNP- B2R on two different cell lines. HFLF-pI5 cell and A549 cell lines were selected as representative of normal and cancer cells, respectively. Also, the cytotoxic effects of CNP, B2R and CNP-B2R were investigated on A549 cell line. Results of antioxidant evaluations showed that the antioxidant activity of CNP-Peptide increased at higher concentration of CNP-B2R with IC₅₀ of 0.2 and 0.54 (mg/mL) for DPPH and ABTS assays, respectively. The results of cytotoxicity effects showed that CNP-B2R was more potent in killing tumor cell line in comparison with normal cell line. Cytotoxicity of CNP, B2R and CNP-B2R demonstrated that CNP-B2R and B2R had the lower cell viability effects compared to CNP. Our findings showed cytotoxicity of CNP-B2R against cancer cell lines in comparison with normal cells indicating the potential anticancer properties of CNP-B2R.     

Antioxidant and Neuroprotective Activities of Mogami-benibana (Safflower,Carthamus tinctorius Linne)

Free radical scavenging activity of the extracts of petals (bud, early stage, full blooming and ending stage), leaf, stem, root and seeds of Mogami-benibana (safflower, Carthamus tinctorius Linne), the contents of the major active components of carthamin and polyphenols, and neuroprotective effect of the petal extracts and carthamin in the brain of mice and rats were examined. Water extracts of Mogami-benibana petals scavenged superoxide, hydroxyl and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals and singlet oxygen. The scavenging activities of the extract of safflower petals with various colors showed the order of orange, yellow and white from high to low. This order is consistent with the contents of carthamin, which is a pigment of orange color and is found highest in orange petals and lowest in white petals. There was also a relationship between DPPH radical scavenging activity and carthamin content in the petal extracts of safflower. The neuroprotective effects were examined in cellular and animal models. Mogami-benibana petal extract inhibited glutamate-induced C6 glia cell death, significantly decreased the formation of malondialdehyde in mouse cerebrum, and inhibited the increase in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) in the cerebral cortex of rats subjected to an injection of FeCl₃ solution into the sensory motor cortex. Carthamin showed similar effects in inhibiting 8-OHdG by the petal extract in rats. These results suggest that the petal extract of Mogami-benibana has free radical scavenging activity and neuroprotective effect and carthamin is one of the major active components. Special Issue Article in Honor of Dr. Akitane Mori.