Phytochemical Properties and In Vitro Biological Activities of Phenolic Compounds from Flower of Clitoria ternatea L

Evaluation of chemical compositions and biological activities of Dendrobium species

Dendrobium spp. were investigated for their chemical compositions with HPTLC/CMS, and biological properties, including antioxidant activities (DPPH and ABTS.+ assay), and anti-acetylcholinesterase (AChE). The ethanolic extracts of Dendrobium orchid pseudobulbs (D. chrysotoxum; DC, D. fimbriatum; DF, D. lindleyi; DL, and D. pulchellum; DP) were found to contain caffeic acid, gallic acid, quercetin, rutin hydrate and vanillin. While luteolin was shown in D. fimbriatum and D. lindleyi extracts. D. lindleyi, and D. pulchellum extracts presented the high value of total phenolic and flavonoid contents, resulting in a strong antioxidant property. Moreover, D. chrysotoxum extract expressed AChE inhibitory potential. This research indicated that chemical compounds in Dendrobium would be involved with their biological properties, i.e. antioxidant and anti-AChE. This information can be used to support further in-depth research and product development in health, food, and pharmaceutical.

Revitalizing Muscle Regeneration: Cocoa Polyphenols Shield Mitochondrial Integrity and Boost Myogenesis Under Oxidative Stress

In this study, we describe the effect of cocoa polyphenol extract (CPE, from flavanols-rich cocoa) on myogenic differentiation in murine myoblasts (C2C12 cells) exposed to H2O2. The myogenic program was monitored using morphological, ultrastructural, and molecular approaches. Treatment with 100 μM of H2O2 for 1 h decreased cell viability. C2C12 (D1) exposed to H2O2 shows more apoptotic and necrotic cells, and mitochondria appear emptied, with cristae heavily damaged. To evaluate the effect of CPE on myoblast viability and myotube formation, 10 μg/mL of CPE were added 24 h prior to H2O2 treatment and cells were supplemented with fresh CPE every 24 h during differentiation. Supplementation with CPE protected C2C12 myoblasts from H2O2-induced oxidative damage both at early (D1) and late (D6) phases of differentiation, preventing cell death and mitochondrial damage. The number of mitochondria (per area of cell surface) increased 2-fold in both control and in CPE-supplemented and mitochondria in myotubes D6 showed a greater extension of mitochondrial cristae than mitochondria in D1. At D1 and D6 the monolayers showed surface and inner cell features relatively comparable to the untreated control suggesting that CPE supplementation significantly mitigated the effect of H2O2. Preliminary data obtained by the myogenic index (Giemsa staining) suggested that CPE-supplemented cells were partially protected from H2O2-induced myogenesis inhibition. The CPE supplementation seems to preserve the mitochondrial integrity and the myogenic differentiation ability of oxidatively injured C2C12 ensuing further nutraceutical perspectives.

An evaluation study on screening, partial purification, and characterization of proteins and antioxidant peptides from two varieties of Clitoria Ternatea

This study focused on the unexplored bioactive proteins derived from the flower of Clitoria ternatea. The profiling of blue and white C. ternatea flowers was compared. After extraction, the samples underwent ultrafiltration and the isolation of the protein peptides was done by using four different buffers. The highest yield was found in the case of phosphate buffered-based extracts in blue C. ternatea flower. The single HPLC peak at 220 nm with a high area percentage confirmed the presence of peptides in all the 3 kDa filtrates of C. ternatea. These 3 kDa filtrates were concentrated by using a C-18 zip tip method, with alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid as a substrate for MALDI-TOF-MS-based peptide mass analysis. To determine the antioxidant activity of the peptides, four different assays including DPPH, ABTS, FRAP and NOS were used and it was observed that the blue C. ternatea flower exhibited the potential activity when compared to the white C. ternatea flower. Among all, the phosphate buffer filtrate exhibited the highest antioxidant activity. The binding affinity of the identified protein peptides APCPNR, LGLFR, LIPQE and SISWSS from blue and white flower were evaluated against amyloid beta (Aβ) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) targets of Alzheimer's disease by in silico analysis.

Extraction of Bioactive Phenolics from Various Anthocyanin-Rich Plant Materials and Comparison of Their Heat Stability

Butterfly pea flower (BPF), roselle calyx (RC), and grape skin (GS) are rich in bioactive phenolics with health benefits. Due to its simplicity, safety, and environmental friendliness, this study used water as a solvent to explore different extraction conditions in these plant materials and compared the heat stability of anthocyanins in the aqueous extracts. To maximize the total anthocyanins and polyphenols in the aqueous extracts, the powders of BPF, GS, and RC should be extracted for 30 min at 90 °C; 30 min and 120 min at 90 °C; and 30 min and 60 min at 60 °C, respectively. Among the tested plant materials, the content of total anthocyanins was RC > GS > BPF, while the total phenolic content was GS > BPF > RC. Anthocyanins of the aqueous extracts underwent rapid thermal degradation at high temperatures and high pH values. The thermal stability of anthocyanins in the materials was in the order: BPF > GS > RC. This is likely related to the types and structures of the anthocyanins such as the degree of acylation and glycosylation. The study demonstrates that hot water extraction is efficient and practical for these materials, yielding extracts suitable for food and nutraceutical applications.

UHPLC-ESI-ms/ms-based characterisation of phenolics and flavonoids in hydroalcoholic extract of Clitoria ternatea seeds and their cytotoxic potential against breast and pancreatic cancer

Fourteen known phenolics (1-14) and ten known flavonoids (15-24) were identified in the hydroalcoholic extract of Clitoria ternatea seeds. Phenolics such as gentisic acid (3), protocatechuic acid (5), o-coumaric acid (12) and p-coumaric acid (13) and among flavonoids, myricetin (16) were detected as the major compounds. The compounds were determined simultaneously in a multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode using the Acquity UPLC-H class coupled with TQD-MS/MS with an ESI source. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents were also determined. The hydroalcoholic extract evaluated for its cytotoxic effect against breast (MDA-MB-231) and pancreatic (PANC-1) cancer cells showed significant (p < 0.05) cytotoxicity with IC50 values of 45.4 and 96.5 µg/mL respectively. In addition, the cancer cells treated with the crude extract also showed elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS), upregulated caspase -8/-9/-3 activities and apoptosis of cells treated with C. ternatea extracts compared to control suggesting the pharmacological importance of this herb.

Phytochemical-Rich Colored Noodles Fortified with an Aqueous Extract of Clitoria ternatea Flowers

Clitoria ternatea (CT) flowers are rich in phytochemicals. An innovative approach was taken to utilize CT flower extract (CTFE) as a functional ingredient with natural pigment by incorporating it into noodles. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of the CTFE amount (0-30%) on the color, texture, phytochemicals, and sensory quality of both dried and cooked noodles. Dried noodles with 30% CTFE had the highest total anthocyanins (9.48 μg/g), polyphenols (612 μg/g), DPPH radical scavenging capacity (165 μg TE/g), and reducing power (2203 μg TE/g). Cooking resulted in a significant decrease in the anthocyanin levels and blue color, while also increasing the greenness of the noodle. Both dried and cooked noodles with 20-30% CTFE showed a significantly higher color preference compared to the control sample. Despite a significant reduction in the cutting force, tensile strength, and extensibility of cooked noodles with 20-30% CTFE, the sensory attributes such as flavor, texture, and overall preferences were similar to those of noodles with 0-30% CTFE. Blue noodles with high phytochemicals, antioxidant activities, and desirable sensory qualities can be produced by the incorporation of 20-30% CTFE.