Optimization of Ultrasonic Enhanced Salt-Containing Hydrodistillation by Response Surface Methodology

Chemical Compounds, Antioxidant Activities, and Inhibitory Activities Against Xanthine Oxidase of the Essential Oils From the Three Varieties of Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) Receptacles

Background/Aim: Essential oils of sunflower receptacles (SEOs) have antibacterial and antioxidant potential. However, the differences of biological activities from the different varieties of sunflowers have not been studied till now. The purpose of this study was to compare the differences of chemical compounds, antioxidant activities, and inhibitory activities against xanthine oxidase (XO) of SEOs from the three varieties of sunflowers including LD5009, SH363, and S606.

Methods: SEOs were extracted by using the optimal extraction conditions selected by response surface methodology (RSM). Chemical compounds of SEOs were identified from the three varieties of sunflowers by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Antioxidant activities of SEOs were detected by 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and iron ion reduction ability. Inhibitory activities of SEOs against XO were measured by using UV spectrophotometer. XO inhibitors were selected from the main chemical compounds of SEOs by the high-throughput selections and molecular simulation docking.

Results: The extraction yields of SEOs from LD5009, SH363, and S606 were 0.176, 0.319, and 0.580%, respectively. A total of 101 chemical compounds of SEOs were identified from the three varieties of sunflowers. In addition, the results of inhibitory activities against XO showed that SEOs can reduce uric acid significantly. Eupatoriochromene may be the most important chemical compounds of SEOs for reducing uric acid. The results of antioxidant activities and inhibitory activities against XO showed that SEOs of LD5009 had the strongest antioxidant and XO inhibitory activities. The Pearson correlation coefficient (r > 0.95) showed that γ-terpinene, (E)-citral, and L-Bornyl acetate were highly correlated with the antioxidant activities and XO inhibitory ability.

Conclusion: SEOs had antioxidant activities and XO inhibitory ability. It would provide more scientific information for utilization and selection of varieties of sunflowers, which would increase the food quality of sunflowers and incomes of farmers.

Extraction of 'Gannanzao' Orange Peel Essential Oil by Response Surface Methodology and its Effect on Cancer Cell Proliferation and Migration

The essential oil of ‘Gannanzao’ orange peel was extracted by hydrodistillation, and the extraction conditions were optimized by Box–Behnken response surface methodology. The components of essential oil were analyzed by GC-MS. Thirty-nine different components were detected, accounting for 99.59% of the total oil. Limonene (88.07%) was the prominent component. The optimal extraction conditions were as follows: liquid material ratio of 8.4:1 (mL/g), sodium chloride concentration of 5.3%, and distillation time of 3.5 h. The Cell Counting Kit-8 assay showed that ‘Gannanzao’ orange peel essential oil had good dose-dependent inhibition effect on the proliferation of HepG2 hepatoma cells and HCT116 colorectal cancer cells. When the concentration of the essential oil was 0.6 μL/mL or higher, the viability rate of both cancer cells became lower than 13.0%. The transwell assay indicated the essential oil can inhibit migration of both cancer cells at the concentration of 0.3 μL/mL.