Effect of in vitro gastrointestinal digestion on the total phenolic contents and antioxidant activity of wild Mediterranean edible plant extracts

Effect of Alligator Weed (Alternanthera philoxeroides) Supplementation on Production Performance, Immune Response and Antioxidant Function of Improved Rural Chicken

Alligator weed (AW; Alternanthera philoxeroides) can have severe ecological and economic consequences by impacting water quality, flow and the growth of native flora and fauna. Plants, both edible and inedible, contain phenolics, compounds that can serve as antioxidants. Using this background information, the study aimed to explore the possible antioxidative nature of AW by incorporating it as a supplement on production performance, gene expression, and antioxidant levels during the summer and winter seasons in improved-variety rural chicks. A total of 400 improved-variety Vanaraja chicks (35 days old), were used in each of the two seasons (summer and winter), making a combined total of 800 birds (n = 400 for each summer and winter season). The chicks were subjected to four experimental dietary treatments over a 35-day period during both seasons. The experimental diet consisted of the following: a control diet without any supplements (C); basal diet + 1% AW (T1); basal diet + 2% AW(T2); and basal diet + 4% AW(T3). The production performance, cytokine gene expression (IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-12 and iNOS) and serum antioxidants, viz. catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), were evaluated. The results indicated that body weight, average body weight gain and weekly feed intake in the T1 group was significantly (p < 0.05) higher as compared to the other groups. The FCR in group T1 was significantly (p < 0.05) lower during winter than in summer. A significant (p < 0.001) upregulation in the expression of IL-6, IL-1β and IL-12 in T1 as compared to the other groups was reported. IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-6 and iNOS were significantly (p < 0.001) upregulated in winter. SOD and CAT activity was significantly (p < 0.001) higher in T1 compared to C, and both were significantly (p < 0.05) higher during winter than in summer. The results suggested that AW has the potential to mitigate the consequences of cold stress on growth, immune response, and antioxidant function during winter. We propose adding 1% AW, which can possibly function as an antioxidant, to the diet of chicks to enhance their production performance and immunity levels.

Antibacterial and antioxidant activities of plants consumed by western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) in Gabon

Zoopharmacognosy is the study of the self-medication behaviors of non-human animals that use plant, animal or soil items as remedies. Recent studies have shown that some of the plants employed by animals may also be used for the same therapeutic purposes in humans. The aim of this study was to determine the antioxidant and antibacterial activity of Ceiba pentandra, Myrianthus arboreus, Ficus subspecies (ssp.) and Milicia excelsa bark crude extracts (BCE), plants consumed by western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) in Moukalaba-Doudou National Park (MDNP) and used in traditional medicine, and then to characterize their phytochemical compounds. DPPH (2,2-Diphenyl-1-Picrylhydrazyl), phosphomolybdenum complex and β-carotene bleaching methods were used to assess antioxidant activity. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the diffusion method, while minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were assessed using the microdilution method. The highest level of total phenolics was found in Myrianthus arboreus aqueous extract [385.83 ± 3.99 mg [gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g]. Total flavonoid (134.46 ± 3.39) mg quercetin equivalent (QE)/100 g of extract] were highest in Milicia excelsa, tannin [(272.44 ± 3.39) mg tannic acid equivalent (TAE)/100 g of extract] in Myrianthus arboreus and proanthocyanidin [(404.33 ± 3.39) mg apple procyanidins equivalent (APE)/100 g of extract] in Ceiba pentandra. Ficus ssp. (IC50 1.34 ±3.36 μg/mL; AAI 18.57 ± 0.203) ethanolic BCE and Milicia excelsa (IC50 2.07 ± 3.37 μg/mL; AAI 12.03 ± 0.711) showed the strongest antioxidant activity. Myrianthus arboreus ethanolic BCE (73.25 ± 5.29) and Milicia excelsa aqueous BCE (38.67 ± 0.27) showed the strongest percentage of total antioxidant capacity (TAC). Ceiba pentandra ethanolic BCE (152.06 ± 19.11 mg AAE/g) and Ficus ssp aqueous BCE (124.33 ± 39.05 mg AAE/g) showed strongest relative antioxidant activity (RAA). The plant BCE showed antimicrobial activity against multidrug resistant (MDR) E. coli (DECs) isolates, with MICs varying from 1.56 to 50 mg/mL and inhibition diameters ranging from 7.34 ± 0.57 to 13.67 ± 0.57mm. Several families of compounds were found, including total phenolic compounds, flavonoids, tannins and proanthocyanidins were found in the plant BCEs. The plant BCEs showed antioxidant activities with free radical scavenging and antimicrobial activities against 10 MDR E. coli (DECs) isolates, and could be a promising novel source for new drug discovery.

Solvent Effects on the Phenolic Compounds and Antioxidant Activity Associated with Camellia polyodonta Flower Extracts

Camellia polyodonta flowers contain limited information available regarding the composition of their bioactive compounds and activity. The objective of this study was to identify phenolic compounds and investigate the effect of different solvents (ethanol and methanol) on the phenolic content and antioxidant activity in C. polyodonta flowers. The analysis using UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS revealed the presence of 105 phytochemicals and the most common compounds were flavonols, procyanidins, and ellagitannins. Interestingly, flavonol triglycosides were identified for the first time in these flowers. The study demonstrated that the concentration of the solvent had a significant impact on the total phenolic compound (TPC), total flavonoid compound (TFC), and total proanthocyanidin content (TPAC). The TPC, TFC, and TPAC showed a remarkable increase with the increasing concentration of the solvent, reaching their maximum levels (138.23 mg GAE/g DW, 421.62 mg RE/g DW, 60.77 mg PB2E/g DW) at 70% ethanol. However, the total anthocyanin content reached its maximum at low concentrations (0.49 mg CGE/g DW). Similar trends were observed in the antioxidant activity, as measured by the DPPH· assay (DPPH radical scavenging activity), ABTS·+ assay (ABTS radical cation scavenging activity), and FRAP assay (Ferric reducing antioxidant power). The maximum antioxidant activity was observed at 100% solvents and 70% methanol. Among the 14 individual phenolic compounds, 70% methanol yielded the highest content for 8 (cyanidin-3-O-glucoside, procyanidin B2, procyanidin B4, epicatechin, rutin, kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, astragaline and quercitrin) out of the 14 compounds. Additionally, it was found that epicatechin was the most abundant phenolic compound, accounting for approximately 20339.37 μg/g DW. Based on these findings, it can be concluded that 70% methanol is the most effective solvent for extracting polyphenols from C. polyodonta flowers. These results provided chemical information and potential antioxidant value for further research in C. polyodonta flowers.

Wild and Micropropagated Artemisia eriantha Infusions: In Vitro Digestion Effects on Phenolic Pattern and Antioxidant Activity

This study investigated the in vitro simulated gastrointestinal digestion (GID) effects on wild and micropropagated Apennines Genepì infusions. Wild and micropropagated infusions were compared for their antioxidant activity, phenolic contents, and polyphenolic profiles before and after GID. Before digestion, the wild infusions had higher amounts of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity than the micropropagated ones. Instead, after digestion, the differences in the total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity between wild and micropropagated infusions were less pronounced. The changes in the TPC and phenolic profiles revealed the presence of several chemical transformations and rearrangements that resulted in compounds with different reactivity and antioxidant potential. Without enzyme actions, the wild infusion digest undergoes higher modifications than those obtained from the micropropagated ones. The current study offers the first concrete proof of the impact of GID on the polyphenolic chemicals present in infusions of wild and micropropagated Apennines Genepì and their antioxidant properties. Our findings are essential for future in-depth analyses of Apennine Genepì infusions and their potential impacts on human health.

Characterization of Proteins Extracted from Ulva sp., Padina sp., and Laurencia sp. Macroalgae Using Green Technology: Effect of In Vitro Digestion on Antioxidant and ACE-I Inhibitory Activity

Macroalgal proteins were extracted from Ulva rigida (URPE) (green), Padina pavonica (PPPE) (brown), and Laurencia obtusa (LOPE) (red) using ultrasound-assisted enzymatic extraction, which is one of the green extraction technologies. Techno-functional, characteristic, and digestibility properties, and biological activities including antioxidant (AOA) and angiotensin-I converting enzyme (ACE-I) inhibitory activities were also investigated. According to the results, the extraction yield (EY) (94.74%) was detected in the extraction of L. obtusa, followed by U. rigida and P. pavonica. PPPE showed the highest ACE-I inhibitory activity before in vitro digestion. In contrast to PPPE, LOPE (20.90 ± 0.00%) and URPE (20.20 ± 0.00%) showed higher ACE-I inhibitory activity after in vitro digestion. The highest total phenolic content (TPC) (77.86 ± 1.00 mg GAE/g) was determined in LOPE. On the other hand, the highest AOACUPRAC (74.69 ± 1.78 mg TE/g) and AOAABTS (251.29 ± 5.0 mg TE/g) were detected in PPPE. After in vitro digestion, LOPE had the highest TPC (22.11 ± 2.18 mg GAE/g), AOACUPRAC (8.41 ± 0.06 mg TE/g), and AOAABTS (88.32 ± 0.65 mg TE/g) (p < 0.05). In vitro protein digestibility of three macroalgal protein extracts ranged from 84.35 ± 2.01% to 94.09 ± 0.00% (p < 0.05). Three macroalgae showed high oil holding capacity (OHC), especially PPPE (410.13 ± 16.37%) (p < 0.05), but they showed minimum foaming and emulsifying properties. The quality of the extracted macroalgal proteins was assessed using FTIR, SDS-PAGE, and DSC analyses. According to our findings, the method applied for macroalgal protein extraction could have a potential the promise of ultrasonication application as an environmentally friendly technology for food industry. Moreover, URPE, PPPE, and LOPE from sustainable sources may be attractive in terms of nourishment for people because of their digestibility, antioxidant properties, and ACE-I inhibitory activities.

Amelioration of colitis progression by ginseng-derived exosome-like nanoparticles through suppression of inflammatory cytokines

Background

Damage to the healthy intestinal epithelial layer and regulation of the intestinal immune system, closely interrelated, are considered pivotal parts of the curative treatment for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Plant-based diets and phytochemicals can support the immune microenvironment in the intestinal epithelial barrier for a balanced immune system by improving the intestinal microecological balance and may have therapeutic potential in colitis. However, there have been only a few reports on the therapeutic potential of plant-derived exosome-like nanoparticles (PENs) and the underlying mechanism in colitis. This study aimed to assess the therapeutic effect of PENs from Panax ginseng, ginseng-derived exosome-like nanoparticles (GENs), in a mouse model of IBD, with a focus on the intestinal immune microenvironment.

Method

To evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of GENs on acute colitis, we treated GENs in Caco2 and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) -induced RAW 264.7 macrophages and analyzed the gene expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and anti-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10 by real-time PCR (RT-PCR). Furthermore, we further examined bacterial DNA from feces and determined the alteration of gut microbiota composition in DSS-induced colitis mice after administration of GENs through 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis.

Result

GENs with low toxicity showed a long-lasting intestinal retention effect for 48 h, which could lead to effective suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α and IL-6 production through inhibition of NF-κB in DSS-induced colitis. As a result, it showed longer colon length and suppressed thickening of the colon wall in the mice treated with GENs. Due to the amelioration of the progression of DSS-induced colitis with GENs treatment, the prolonged survival rate was observed for 17 days compared to 9 days in the PBS-treated group. In the gut microbiota analysis, the ratio of Firmicutes/Bacteroidota was decreased, which means GENs have therapeutic effectiveness against IBD. Ingesting GENs would be expected to slow colitis progression, strengthen the gut microbiota, and maintain gut homeostasis by preventing bacterial dysbiosis.

Conclusion

GENs have a therapeutic effect on colitis through modulation of the intestinal microbiota and immune microenvironment. GENs not only ameliorate the inflammation in the damaged intestine by downregulating pro-inflammatory cytokines but also help balance the microbiota on the intestinal barrier and thereby improve the digestive system.

Determination of Caffeoylquinic Acids Content by UHPLC in Scolymus hispanicus Extracts Obtained through Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction

Scolymus hispanicus L., also known as golden thistle, Spanish oyster thistle or, more commonly, as tagarnina is a plant that belongs to the Asteraceae family. It is collected from the wild for human consumption in Mediterranean countries. It is a relevant ingredient in Andalusian culinary culture, where the midribs of young plants are harvested for consumption. Scolymus hispanicus L. contains a wide variety of phenolic compounds such as caffeoylquinic acids (CQAs), among others. In the present work, the major phenolic compounds present in tagarnina have been identified, with 5-caffeoylquinic acid (5-CQA) and 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid (3,5-diCQA) being the main ones. A method based on ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) has been developed for the extraction of these compounds, with the percentage of methanol, sample-to-solvent ratio and the pH being the most influential factors. The developed method has been validated and employed to determine the concentration of 5-CQA and 3,5-diCQA in the midribs of Scolymus hispanicus, collected in six different places in the south of Spain. The antioxidant activity of the samples has also been determined, and a direct correlation with their caffeoylquinic compounds content has been established, showing an antioxidant effect.

The Impact of In Vitro Digestion on the Polyphenol Content and Antioxidant Activity of Spanish Ciders

Various factors can influence the polyphenol content and the antioxidant capacity of ciders, such as the apple variety, its degree of maturity, apple farming and storage conditions, and the cider-fermentation method, all of which explains why ciders of different origin present different values. In addition, digestive processes could have some effects on the properties of cider. Hence, the objective of this study is to characterize Spanish ciders in terms of their polyphenol content and antioxidant capacity and to ascertain whether those same properties differ in digested ciders. In total, 19 ciders were studied from three different zones within Spain: Asturias (A) (10), the Basque Country (BC) (6), and Castile-and-Leon (CL) (3). A range of assays was used to determine the total polyphenol content and the antioxidant capacity of the ciders. In addition, a digestive process was simulated in vitro, assessing whether the use of amylase might influence the recovery of bioactive compounds after digestion. The Basque Country ciders presented higher total polyphenol contents (830 ± 179 GAE/L) and higher antioxidant capacities (DPPH: 5.4 ± 1.6 mmol TE/L; ABTS: 6.5 ± 2.0 mmol TE/L; FRAP: 6.9 ± 1.6 mmol TE/L) than the other ciders that were studied. The in vitro digestion process, regardless of the use of amylase, implied a loss of phenolic compounds (598 ± 239 mg GAE/L undigested samples; 466 ± 146 mg GAE/L digested without amylase samples; 420 ± 115 mg GAE/L digested with amylase samples), although the variation in antioxidant activity depended on the assay chosen for its determination.

Quality and Safety of Ready-to-Eat Golden Thistle (Scolymus hispanicus L.): A New Product for Traditional Italian Dishes

Golden thistle (Scolymus hispanicus L.) is a wild edible plant belonging to Asteraceae family, with a great potential for food applications. The aim of this study was to identify the best cooking procedure able to provide a high-quality, ready-to-use product. For this purpose, leaf midribs (the most used edible part of the plant) were cooked by boiling, steaming, and 'sous vide', and the cooked products were compared for their phenolic content and composition, antioxidant activity, sugar and inorganic ion content, organoleptic characteristics, and microbial safety, this latter also during storage. In general, boiling caused a decrease in the value of these parameters, despite being the best product for taste and overall acceptability. On the contrary, steaming and 'sous vide' resulted in the best treatments to preserve antioxidant activity, total phenols, and chlorogenic acid. In particular, in 'sous vide' cooked samples, a significant increase in the value of these parameters and a remarkable decrease in nitrate content were found. Moreover, 'sous vide' resulted in the best treatment also regarding microbial safety during shelf life; actually, after 15 days of storage at 8 °C, Enterobacteriaceae and mesophilic aerobic bacteria were not detectable in 'sous vide' samples. These results contributed to increase the knowledge of a wild edible plant with high nutritional properties and promoting its consumption by obtaining a ready-to-use product with good organoleptic characteristics and endowed with a long period of shelf life.

Phytochemical profile and antioxidant capacity, α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities of Oxalis pes-caprae extracts in alloxan-induced diabetic mice

Diabetes and its complications are closely correlated with chronic hyperglycemia, causing severe oxidative stress and leading to glycation reaction with formation of advanced glycation end products. However, medicinal plants are still a source of inspiration for the discovery of new treatments of several diseases, including diabetes. The present study was aimed to evaluate the antioxidant and antidiabetic properties of Oxalis pes-caprae flowers extract in alloxan-induced diabetic mice. The phytochemical and antioxidant activities of both aqueous and methanolic extracts were assessed by in-vitro testing such as free radical scavenging assays (DPPH and ABTS⁺), ferrous ions (Fe²⁺) chelating activity and reducing power assay. Additionally, the detection of Amadori products and advanced glycation end products was used to determine the antiglycation potential. α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibitory assessment was employed to determine the antidiabetic effect, while alloxan-induced diabetic mice were used to measure the in-vivo activities of antioxidants and carbohydrates enzymes. The effect of the methanolic extract on body weight and blood glucose level of extract-treated diabetic mice were also investigated. Among the tested extract, the methanolic extract was the richest in phenolic compounds which is directly related with their remarkable antioxidant, enzyme inhibitory and antiglycation activity. The oral administration of the two doses of Oxalis pes-caprae flowers (150 mg/kg and 250 mg/kg) daily for 3 weeks resulted in hypoglycemic effect compared to the reference drug, glibenclamide (10 mg/kg). Furthermore, the extract was shown to significantly increase the activities of antioxidants and glycolysis enzymes in the liver, kidney and spleen of diabetic mice, compared to diabetic control group. Therefore, Oxalis pes-caprae extract effectively exhibited hypoglycemic and antidiabetic effects as indicated by in-vitro and in-vivo studies, confirming the protective effects on hyperglycemia and oxidative damage.

Development of Dairy Products Fortified with Plant Extracts: Antioxidant and Phenolic Content Characterization

In recent decades, there has been growing interest in the fortification of dairy products with antioxidants and phenolics derived from plant byproducts and herbs. The present study focused on the analysis of dairy products, including kefir, cream cheese, yogurt, and vegan yogurt, enhanced with aqueous extracts of plant byproducts (Citrus aurantium peel, Citrus limon peel and Rosa canina seed) and herbs (Sideritis spp., Hypericum perforatum, Origanum dictamnus, Mentha pulegium L., Melissa oficinallis, Mentha spicata L. and Lavandula angustifolia) to characterize their antioxidant content, phenolic profile, and organoleptic characteristics. Antioxidant and phenolic content were determined by Folin-Ciocalteu and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays and presented values up to 46.61 ± 7.22 mmol Fe²⁺/L and 82.97 ± 4.29 mg gallic acid (GAE)/g, respectively for the aqueous extracts, as well as up to 0.68 ± 0.06 mmol Fe²⁺/L and 2.82 ± 0.36 mg GAE/g for the fortified dairy products. The bioavailability of antioxidants and phenolics in fortified foods was determined after in vitro digestion and ranged between 4 and 68%. The phytochemical profile of the aqueous extracts was determined by mass spectrometry, and 162 phytochemicals were determined, from which 128 belong to the polyphenol family including flavonoids and phenolic acids. Furthermore, most of the identified compounds have been recorded to possess enhanced antioxidant capacity in correlation to the in vitro findings. Finally, organoleptic evaluation showed an overall acceptability around 3.0 ± 1.0 on a 5-point scale. In conclusion, the studied plants and herbal extracts can be used for the fortification of a variety of dairy products with potential positive effects on human health.

Effect of Gastrointestinal Digestion on the Bioaccessibility of Phenolic Compounds and Antioxidant Activity of Fermented Aloe vera Juices

Plant-based beverages are enriched by the fermentation process. However, their biocompounds are transformed during gastrointestinal digestion, improving their bioaccessibility, which is of primary importance when considering the associated health benefits. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of in vitro gastrointestinal digestion on phenolic compound bioaccessibility and antioxidant activity of novel Aloe vera juices fermented by probiotic Enterococcus faecium and Lactococcus lactis. Aloe vera juices were digested using the standardized static INFOGEST protocol. During digestion, phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity (DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP) were accessed. The digestion process was seen to significantly increase the total phenolic content of the fermented Aloe vera juices. The fermentation of Aloe vera increased the bioaccessibility of juice biocompounds, particularly for kaempferol, ellagic acid, resveratrol, hesperidin, ferulic acid, and aloin. The phenolics released during digestion were able to reduce the oxidative radicals assessed by ABTS and FRAP tests, increasing the antioxidant action in the intestine, where they are absorbed. The fermentation of Aloe vera by probiotics is an excellent process to increase the bioavailability of beverages, resulting in natural added-value functional products.

Subchronic Toxicity Study of Alternanthera philoxeroides in Swiss Albino Mice Having Antioxidant and Anticoagulant Activities

Alternanthera philoxeroides, a tropical herb and edible vegetable, has been popular as a medicinal plant. Applying in vitro approach, we initially attempted to assess the phytochemicals, bioactive chemicals, as well as antioxidant and anticoagulant activities of this plant. Following that, the in vivo toxicological effects of methanolic extracts of A. philoxeroides using different doses on the kidney, heart, lung, liver, stomach, brain, and blood of female Swiss Albino mice were investigated. We estimated phytochemicals content as well as antioxidant activity through DPPH, NO, CUPRAC, and reducing power assays, followed by the anticoagulant activities of PT  and aPTT  and bioactive compounds using HPLC. To confirm the biocompatibility of A. philoxeroides extracts, histopathological and hematological parameters were examined in a mice model. Total phenol, flavonoid, and tannin content in A. philoxeroides was 181.75 ± 2.47 mg/g, 101.5 ± 3 .53 mg/g, and 68.58 ± 0.80 mg/g, respectively. Furthermore, the HPLC study confirmed the presence of four phenolic compounds: catechin, tannic acid, gallic acid, and vanillic acid. The methanolic extract of A. philoxeroides showed considerable antioxidant activity in all four antioxidant assay methods when compared to the standard. In comparison to ascorbic acid, A. philoxeroides also demonstrated a minor concentration-dependent ferric and cupric reduction activity. In vivo evaluation indicated that A. philoxeroides extracts (doses: 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg) had no negative effects on the relative organ or body weight, or hematological indicators. Our study concluded that A. philoxeroides had significant antioxidant and anticoagulant activities and demonstrated no negative effects on the body or relative organ weight, histopathological, and hematological indices in the mouse model.

Eucalyptus globulus and Salvia officinalis Extracts Mediated Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles and Their Application as an Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Agent

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) biosynthesized using plant extracts as reducing and capping agents show multiple possibilities for solving various biological problems. The aim of this study was to expand the boundaries of AgNPs using a novel low toxicity and production cost phytochemical method for the biosynthesis of nanoparticles from Eucalyptus globulus and Salvia officinalis aqueous leaf extracts. Biosynthesized AgNPs were characterized by various methods (ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-vis), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy with horizontal attenuated total reflectance (HART), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS)). The determined antioxidative and antimicrobial activity of plant extracts was compared with the activity of the AgNPs. The UV-vis spectral analysis demonstrated the absorption peaks at 408 and 438 nm, which confirmed the synthesis of stable AgNPs from E. globulus and S. officinalis, respectively. FTIR-HART results suggested strong capping of phytochemicals on AgNPs. TEM results show mainly spherical-shaped AgNPs, whose size distribution depends on the plant leaf extract type; the smaller AgNPs were obtained with E. globulus extract (with size range of 17.5 ± 5.89 nm compared to 34.3 ± 7.76 nm from S. officinalis AgNPs). The in vitro antioxidant activity evaluated by radical scavenging assays and the reduction activity method clearly demonstrated that both the plant extracts and AgNPs showed prominent antioxidant properties. In addition, AgNPs show much stronger antimicrobial activity against broad spectrum of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria strains than the plant extracts used for their synthesis.

Hydrothermal Processing and In Vitro Simulated Human Digestion Affects the Bioaccessibility and Bioactivity of Phenolic Compounds in African Pumpkin (Momordica balsamina) Leaves

The African pumpkin (Momordica balsamina) contains bioactive phenolic compounds that may assist in reducing oxidative stress in the human body. The leaves are mainly consumed after boiling in water for a specific time; this hydrothermal process and conditions of the gastrointestinal tract may affect the presence and bioactivity of phenolics either positively or negatively. In this study, the effects of hydrothermal processing (boiling) and in vitro simulated human digestion on the phenolic composition, bioaccessibility and bioactivity in African pumpkin were investigated in comparison with those of spinach (Spinacia oleracea). A high-resolution ultra-performance liquid chromatography, coupled with diode array detection, quadrupole time-of-flight and mass spectrometer (UPLC-DAD-QTOF-MS) was used to profile phenolic metabolites. Metabolites such as 3-caffeoylquinic acid, 5-caffeoylquinic acid, 3,4-dicaffeoylquinic acid, 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid and 4,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid were highly concentrated in the boiled vegetable extracts compared to the raw undigested and all digested samples. The majority of African pumpkin and spinach extracts (non-digested and digested) protected Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), (mouse fibroblast) L929 and human epithelial colorectal adenocarcinoma (Caco-2) cells from 2,2'-Azobis(2-methylpropionamidine) dihydrochloride (AAPH)-induced oxidative damage. From these results, the consumption of boiled African pumpkin leaves, as well as spinach, could be encouraged, as bioactive metabolites present may reduce oxidative stress in the body.

Ultrasound extraction optimization for bioactive molecules from Eucalyptus globulus leaves through antioxidant activity

Antioxidant products present a very high added value and are demanded in the market. The optimization of their extraction is a high-stakes matter for both economic and environmental points of view. Ultrasound extraction has been considered one of the most promising methods, so the relative importance of key parameters may have decisive economic significance. For this reason, different parameters that have influence on the extraction capacity such as ultrasound power, time, temperature, pH and % ethanol in water have been studied to know the relationships between the independent parameters and their influence on the extraction from Eucalyptus globulus leaves. An experimental Box-Behnken factorial design and subsequent analysis by neural networks have been used. The relative influence of each parameter varies according to the nature of the extracted compound. In this regard, the higher capacity of extraction of the selected antioxidant compounds by means of the variation of the operation conditions can be facilitated. For all the studied compounds, temperature has been the most important parameter for their extraction. The relative content (%) of bioactive compounds (terpenes) in the optimized Eucalyptus globulus extract has been performed by GC-MS analysis.

Controlling Fusarium oxysporum Tomato Fruit Rot under Tropical Condition Using Both Chitosan and Vanillin

Tomato Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. is one of the most cultivated and widely consumed vegetables in the world. However, it is very susceptible to the infection initiated by Fusariumoxysporum fruit rot, which shortens post-harvest life and thus reduces market value. This disease can be regulated appropriately by the application of synthetic fungicides. However, chemical fungicides constitute a serious health risk, and have harmful environment effects and increase disease resistance, even when microbes are dead. Hence, to overcome this problem, chitosan and vanillin, which have antimicrobial bioactive properties against the growth of microorganisms, could be an alternative to disease control, while maintaining fruit quality and prolonging shelf life. The aim of this research was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of chitosan and vanillin towards the inoculate pathogen and to investigate the effect of chitosan and vanillin coating in vivo on Fusarium oxysporum fruit rot and defense-related enzymes (PAL, PPO and POD). Chitosan and vanillin in aqueous solutions, i.e., 0.5% chitosan + 10 mM vanillin, 1% chitosan + 10 mM vanillin, 1.5% chitosan + 10 mM vanillin, 0.5% chitosan + 15 mM vanillin, 1% chitosan + 15 mM vanillin and 1.5% chitosan + 15 mM vanillin, were used as edible coatings on tomatoes stored at 26 ± 2 °C and 60 ± 5 relative humidity. The result revealed 1.5% chitosan + 15 mM vanillin was able to control disease incidence by 70.84% and severity by 70%. These combinations of coatings were also able to retain phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), peroxidase activity (POD), and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) enzyme activities as well as prolong shelf life of tomatoes up to 15 days.

Effect of in vitro digestion on phenolics and antioxidant activity of red and yellow colored pea hulls

To explore the effect of digestion on pea hull phenolics, an in vitro model consisting sequential oral, gastric, small and large intestinal digestions was applied to pea hulls. The phenolic content and antioxidant activity of the samples collected from these digestion steps were determined. The phenolics in these samples generally decreased in the order of sequential digestions in both red and yellow hull series, and no significant increase of total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC) and individual phenolics were found in most digested groups compared with the corresponding control groups. The antioxidant activity of the samples generally changed according to their TPC and strong correlations (r > 0.92, p < 0.001) existed between them in red hull series. The present study implies that phenolics are released gradually from pea hulls during in vitro digestion and their release was mainly due to the pH of the digestion.

Bioactive fractions of Eucalyptus camaldulensis inhibit important foodborne pathogens, reduce listeriolysin O-induced haemolysis, and ameliorate hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress on human embryonic colon cells

Extract of E. camaldulensis was partitioned into aqueous and ethanol fractions by a precipitation and sedimentation-based technique and profiled for phytochemical components. Antimicrobial evaluation yielded inhibitory concentrations of 16-64 and 158-316 µg/mL, and bactericidal concentrations of 32-64 and 316->2528 µg/mL for ethanol and aqueous fractions, respectively. Antioxidant activities evaluated using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic) acid assays showed IC₅₀ values of 7.07 and 65.67 µg/mL, and 17.96 and 201.3 µg/mL for aqueous and ethanol fractions. Total phenolic content of 9.04 ± 0.26 and 3.58 ± 0.04 GAE/mg fraction, and flavonoid content of 2.07 ± 0.02 and 3.37 ± 0.05 QE/mg fraction were recorded for aqueous and ethanol fractions. At subinhibitory concentrations fractions significantly reduced listeriolysin O-induced haemolysis (p < 0.05), and ameliorated H₂O₂-induced toxicity by 8-23 and 15-83%. Nitrite production reduced by 4-17 and 3-14 µM following fractions treatment. The fractions showed bioactive properties, with oxidative stress amelioratory effects, and could be a potentials source of preservatives and functional food additives.

Extraction of Antioxidants from Winemaking Byproducts: Effect of the Solvent on Phenolic Composition, Antioxidant and Anti-Cholinesterase Activities, and Electrochemical Behaviour

Extraction solvent is a very important factor in the recovery of antioxidants from natural matrices. In this study, the effect of three solvents (ethanol, ethanol/water and water) on the phenolic composition, antioxidant and anti-cholinesterase activities and electrochemical behaviour of four winemaking byproducts (seeds, skins, stems, and pomace) was evaluated. Phenolic composition was determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu method and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC), antioxidant activity by the capacity to scavenge 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and hydroxyl radicals, anti-cholinesterase activity by the Ellman's method, and electrochemical behaviour by cyclic voltammetry. Eight phenolic compounds were quantified with higher content in water/ethanol extracts (e.g., epicatechin in pomace: 17 mg/100 g vs. 7 and 6 mg/100 g in ethanol and water extracts, respectively), although there were some exceptions (e.g., gallic acid in seeds was most abundant in water extracts). Moreover, the highest total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity were found in ethanol/water extracts (between 2 and 30-fold the values of the other extracts). Overall, the most active extracts in inhibiting both acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) enzymes were ethanol/water and ethanol extracts from seeds (between 31.11 and 53.90%). The electrochemical behaviour allowed for differentiating the extracts depending on the solvent and the byproduct. Our findings indicate that winemaking byproducts represent a source of phenolic compounds with antioxidant and anti-cholinesterase activities and suggest that cyclic voltammetry is a promising technique to evaluate the phenolic extraction process from these byproducts.

Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using Aqueous Leaf Extract of Mimosa albida (Mimosoideae): Characterization and Antioxidant Activity

The search for sensitive and rapid analytical techniques for the determination of natural antioxidants is an area in constant growth due, among other aspects, to the complexity of plant matrices. In this study, silver nanoparticles prepared with the aqueous extract of Mimosa albida leaves were used to assess their polyphenolic content and antioxidant capacity. Silver nanoparticles were characterized by different techniques. As a result, nanoparticles of 6.5 ± 3.1 nm were obtained. The total phenolic content in the extract was 1320.4 ± 17.6 mg of gallic acid equivalents GAE^. 100 g^-1 and in the nanoparticles 257.3 ± 5.1 mg GAE^. 100 g^-1. From the phenolic profile analyzed by ultra high-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) with a diode-array detector (DAD), the presence of apigenin and luteolin in the plant extract is postulated. The antioxidant capacity measured by oxygen radical absorbance capacity ORAC-fluorescein assay was 86917 ± 6287 and 7563 ± 967 µmol ET g^-1 in the extract and nanoparticles respectively. Electrochemical analysis by cyclic voltammetry (CV) confirmed the effective reduction capacity of the Mimosa albida leaves extract to reduce Ag ions to AgNPs and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) suggested the presence of two main reducing agents in the extract. From this study, it was concluded that the aqueous extract of Mimosa albida contains reducing agents capable of synthesizing silver nanoparticles, which can be used in the phytochemical industry.