Phytochemical screening, total phenolic and flavonoid contents and antioxidant activity of Anabasis setifera and Salsola tomentosa extracted with different extraction methods and solvents

The Genus Anabasis: A Review on Pharmacological and Phytochemical Properties

The genus Anabasis has long been used in phytomedicine. The studied parts of Anabasis species are used as antirheumatic, diuretic, antidotes against poison, anti-erosion, anti-ulcer, and antidiabetic agents, as well as against headache and skin diseases. The objective of the present review was to summarize the phytochemical and pharmacological aspects related to the genus Anabasis. The results of this literature analysis show that among all the species of the Anabasis (A) family, A. aphylla, A. Iranica, A. aretioides, and A. articulata showed antibacterial activity; A. aretioides and A. articulata have antioxidant activity, A. aretioides and A. articulata have antidiabetic activity, A. articulata has cytotoxic activity and A. setifera, A. aretioides, and A. articulata exhibit anti-inflammatory activity. The Anabasis genus contains saponins, and alkaloids, such as anabasine, anabasamine, lupinine, jaxartinine, and triterpenic sapogenins. The study of 15 Anabasis plants has identified 70 compounds with an array of pharmacological activities especially antibacterial, antioxidant, antidiabetic, cytotoxic, and anti-inflammatory activities. However, there is a need for further studies on Anabasis plants before they can be fully used clinically as a potential drug.

Phytochemical profiling of Salsola tetragona Delile by LC-HR/MS and investigation of the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic, antibacterial and anti-SARS-CoV-2 activities

This study aimed to investigate the phytochemical composition and biological activity of Salsola tetragona Delile. (Amaranthaceae), a medicinal plant. The study evaluated the antioxidant potential of the crude extract and five fractions of S. tetragona using DPPH•, ABTS•+, CUPRAC, and metal chelating assays. The anti-inflammatory activity was determined using a protein denaturation assay, and the antibacterial activity was determined by the Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for the growth of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus strains. The MTT test and an in vitro scratch assay evaluated the effects on cell viability and cell migration. The potential anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity was assessed by analyzing the effects on the interaction between ACE2 and Spike protein. The bioactive compounds present in the plant were identified using LC-HR/MS analysis. The crude hydromethanolic extract (STM) and five fractions of S. tetragona, n-hexane (STH), dichloromethane (STD), ethyl acetate (STE), n-butanol (STB), and aqueous (STW) showed significant antioxidant activity in four different tests. In the anti-inflammatory assay, the ethyl acetate fraction exhibited significantly higher activity than Aspirin® (IC50 = 13 ± 5 µg/mL). The crude extract and its fractions showed positive antibacterial activity with similar MICs. In the cytotoxicity assay against the breast cancer cell line MCF7, the dichloromethane fractions (STD) were very effective and demonstrated superiority over the other fractions (IC50 = 98 µg/mL). Moreover, the potential of the extract and fractions as anti-SARS-CoV-2, the ethyl acetate, and dichloromethane fractions demonstrated important activity in this test. LC-HR/MS analysis identified 16 different phenolic compounds, Eleven of which had not been previously reported in the genus Salsola. The results suggest that the extracts of S. tetragona have the potential to become new sources for developing plant-based therapies for managing a range of diseases.

Extracted saponin from Anabasis setifera plant as a biosurfactant for stabilization of oil in water (O/W) nano-emulsion based on date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) kernel oil

Saponin was extracted from the Anabasis setifera plant and used to stabilize an oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion based on date palm kernel oil. Different amounts of the extracted saponin were used with a constant oil concentration (1.5% w/w). The droplet size distribution, emulsion droplet size value (d-ave), polydispersity index (PDI) and zeta potential of the emulsions were determined using dynamic light scattering (DLS). These parameters were measured and compared after seven days of emulsion preparation. The best results (d-ave = 41.7 nm, PDI = 0.1 and zeta potential = −29.8 mV) were obtained for the CMC of saponin. Both the oil and the surfactant were specifically extracted and used from the nature of Saravan in the Baluchestan region of Iran. This research presents a green and cost-effective aspect for potential formulations of nano-emulsions that can be used in the food and cosmetic industries.

Genus Salsola: Chemistry, Biological Activities and Future Prospective-A Review

The genus Salsola L. (Russian thistle, Saltwort) includes halophyte plants and is considered one of the largest genera in the family Amaranthaceae. The genus involves annual semi-dwarf to dwarf shrubs and woody tree. The genus Salsola is frequently overlooked, and few people are aware of its significance. The majority of studies focus on pollen morphology and species identification. Salsola has had little research on its phytochemical makeup or biological effects. Therefore, we present this review to cover all aspects of genus Salsola, including taxonomy, distribution, differences in the chemical constituents and representative examples of isolated compounds produced by various species of genus Salsola and in relation to their several reported biological activities for use in folk medicine worldwide.

Processing of Distillery Stillage to Recover Phenolic Compounds with Ultrasound-Assisted and Microwave-Assisted Extractions

This study investigated the effect of ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) and microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) conditions (extraction time, acetone concentration, solid-to-solvent ratio) on the efficiency of polyphenol recovery from distillery stillage and antioxidant activity of the extracts. The highest total polyphenol content, flavonoid content, and phenolic acid content were obtained with 10-min UAE and 5-min MAE at a solid-to-acetone ratio of 1:15 (w:v). Recovery yield was the highest with an aqueous solution of 60% acetone, confirming the results of Hansen Solubility Parameter analysis. Although UAE resulted in approximately 1.2 times higher extraction yield, MAE showed a better balance between extraction yield and energy consumption exhibited by its 3-fold higher extraction rate than that of UAE. Content of total polyphenols and phenolic acids strongly correlated with antioxidant activity, indicating that these compounds provide a substantial contribution to the bioactive properties of the extracts. Six phenolic acids were extracted, predominately ferulic and p-coumaric acids, and free forms of these acids constituted 91% of their total content, which opens various possibilities for their application in the food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries.

Environmentally Friendly Methods for Flavonoid Extraction from Plant Material: Impact of Their Operating Conditions on Yield and Antioxidant Properties

The flavonoids are compounds synthesized by plants, and they have properties such as antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial, among others. One of the most important bioactive properties of flavonoids is their antioxidant effect. Synthetic antioxidants have side toxic effects whilst natural antioxidants, such as flavonoids from natural sources, have relatively low toxicity. Therefore, it is important to incorporate flavonoids derived from natural sources in several products such as foods, cosmetics, and drugs. For this reason, there is currently a need to extract flavonoids from plant resources. In this review are described the most important parameters involved in the extraction of flavonoids by unconventional methods such as ultrasound, pressurized liquid extraction, mechanochemical, high hydrostatic pressure, supercritical fluid, negative pressure cavitation, intensification of vaporization by decompression to the vacuum, microwave, infrared, pulsed electric field, high-voltage electrical discharges, and enzyme-assisted extraction. There are no unified operation conditions to achieve high yields and purity. Notwithstanding, progress has been achieved in the development of more advanced and environmentally friendly methods of extraction. Although in literature are found important advances, a complete understanding of the extraction process in each of the unconventional techniques is needed to determine the thermodynamic and kinetic mechanisms that govern each of the techniques.

Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Activities of Medicinal Plants Used by Traditional Healers for Antiulcer Treatment

For centuries, many kinds of native plants and their products have been used for the treatment of gastric ulcers by traditional healers in Phayao province. The current study aimed to investigate the polyphenol content in some of these medicinal plants and to point out the relationship between their antioxidant capacity and anti-inflammatory activities. Six species were selected based on ethnopharmacologic considerations: Punica granatum L., Psidium guajava L., Careya arborea Roxb., Gochnatia decora (Kurz) Cabr., Shorea obtusa Wall. ex Blume, and Ficus hispida L.f. The leaves or bark of these plants were extracted with 70% ethanol and water. Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of the extracts were analyzed based on nitric oxide (NO) and proinflammatory cytokine production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages and through the determination of scavenging activity. The results demonstrated that the ethanol extract from P. granatum and P. guajava leaves significantly inhibited NO production by suppressing nitric oxide synthase. The extracts also inhibited tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1, and interleukin-6 in terms of both mRNA and protein levels and possessed high antioxidants. These extracts were shown to contain the highest amount of polyphenols. Our study concluded that among the plants studied, P. granatum and P. guajava have the most significant anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities and polyphenols. These plants may have the potential for use in gastric ulcer therapy due to their indicated properties. Future research should focus on the isolation of their active compounds and their in vivo biological activities. Their beneficial applications need to be warranted by such evidence.

Effects of flavonoids from Allium mongolicum Regel as a dietary additive on meat quality and composition of fatty acids related to flavor in lambs

Sixty male Small-tailed Han sheep (initial body weight: 42.5 ± 4.1 kg) were assigned randomly and averagely into four groups to evaluate effects of flavonoids extracted from Allium mongolicum Regel (AMR) on meat quality and composition of fatty acids related to flavor in longissimus dorsi muscle of lambs. Lambs of four groups were fed a basal control diet (C), and basal diet + three different amounts of flavonoids extracted from the AMR; those were 11 mg kg−1 (Flav 11), 22 mg kg−1 (Flav 22), or 33 mg kg−1 (Flav 33), respectively. Dressing percentage, loin eye area, cooking loss, and pressing loss were affected by treatments (P < 0.05). Percentage of intramuscular fat, the concentrations of eicosapentaenoic acid, C18:0, total saturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acid, and 4-methyloctanoic acid in longissimus dorsi muscle were changed by treatments (P < 0.05). Addition of AMR to diet improved the meat quality and had favorable effects on fatty acid composition related to meat flavor in longissimus dorsi muscle.