scholarly journals Antioxidant Activity and Nutraceutical Potential of Selected Nepalese Wild Edible Fruits

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 8-13
Author(s):  
Santoshi Bhusal ◽  
Deepak Raj Pant ◽  
Giri Prasad Joshi ◽  
Minu Adhikari ◽  
Jay Kant Raut ◽  
...  

Wild edible fruits play an important role in the nutrition of rural people especially in the hilly and mountainous region, where the wild fruits could be the only source to consume. Though wild edible fruits are widely utilized throughout the country, little works have been done in Nepal on their nutritional and phytochemical analysis. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant activity and nutraceutical potential of the selected wild edible fruits. The fruit samples were extracted in appropriate solvents and all the analyses were done in triplicates using 96 well ELISA plate reader. Nutritionally, Rubus acuminatus was found to be rich in Vitamin C (0.78 ± 0.01 mg/g) over other fruits. Protein content was found to be high in Berberis napaulensis (2.26 ± 0.71 %) and R. ellipticus showed greater lipid (0.15 ± 0.01 %) and β-carotene content (1.08 ± 0.01 mg/100mg). R. acuminatus was found to have high flavonoid content (9.26 ± 0.40 mg QE/g) and exhibited higher antioxidant activity while B. angulosa (29.67 ± 2.28 mg GAE/g) had the highest phenolic content.

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luiz C. Corrêa-Filho ◽  
Maria M. Lourenço ◽  
Margarida Moldão-Martins ◽  
Vítor D. Alves

Carotenoids are a class of natural pigments found mainly in fruits and vegetables. Among them,β-carotene is regarded the most potent precursor of vitamin A. However, it is susceptible to oxidation upon exposure to oxygen, light, and heat, which can result in loss of colour, antioxidant activity, and vitamin activity. Thus, the objective of this work was to study the microencapsulation process ofβ-carotene by spray drying, using arabic gum as wall material, to protect it against adverse environmental conditions. This was carried out using the response surface methodology coupled to a central composite rotatable design, evaluating simultaneously the effect of drying air inlet temperature (110-200°C) and the wall material concentration (5-35%) on the drying yield, encapsulation efficiency, loading capacity, and antioxidant activity. In addition, morphology and particles size distribution were evaluated. Scanning electron microscopy images have shown that the particles were microcapsules with a smooth surface when produced at the higher drying temperatures tested, most of them having a diameter lower than 10μm. The conditions that enabled obtaining simultaneously arabic gum microparticles with higherβ-carotene content, higher encapsulation efficiency, and higher drying yield were a wall material concentration of 11.9% and a drying inlet temperature of 173°C. The systematic approach used for the study ofβ-carotene microencapsulation process by spray drying using arabic gum may be easily applied for other core and wall materials.


Antioxidants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 1081
Author(s):  
Matilda Rădulescu ◽  
Călin Jianu ◽  
Alexandra Teodora Lukinich-Gruia ◽  
Marius Mioc ◽  
Alexandra Mioc ◽  
...  

The investigation aimed to study the in vitro and in silico antioxidant properties of Melissa officinalis subsp. officinalis essential oil (MOEO). The chemical composition of MOEO was determined using GC–MS analysis. Among 36 compounds identified in MOEO, the main were beta-cubebene (27.66%), beta-caryophyllene (27.41%), alpha-cadinene (4.72%), caryophyllene oxide (4.09%), and alpha-cadinol (4.07%), respectively. In vitro antioxidant properties of MOEO have been studied in 2,2’-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free-radical scavenging, and inhibition of β-carotene bleaching assays. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) for the radical scavenging abilities of ABTS and DPPH were 1.225 ± 0.011 μg/mL and 14.015 ± 0.027 μg/mL, respectively, demonstrating good antioxidant activity. Moreover, MOEO exhibited a strong inhibitory effect (94.031 ± 0.082%) in the β-carotene bleaching assay by neutralizing hydroperoxides, responsible for the oxidation of highly unsaturated β-carotene. Furthermore, molecular docking showed that the MOEO components could exert an in vitro antioxidant activity through xanthine oxidoreductase inhibition. The most active structures are minor MOEO components (approximately 6%), among which the highest affinity for the target protein belongs to carvacrol.


Genetics ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 158 (2) ◽  
pp. 635-641
Author(s):  
Bina J Mehta ◽  
Enrique Cerdá-Olmedo

Abstract Sexual interaction between strains of opposite sex in many fungi of the order Mucorales modifies hyphal morphology and increases the carotene content. The progeny of crosses of Phycomyces blakesleeanus usually include a small proportion of anomalous segregants that show these signs of sexual stimulation without a partner. We have analyzed the genetic constitution of such segregants from crosses that involved a carF mutation for overaccumulation of β-carotene and other markers. The new strains were diploids or partial diploids heterozygous for the sex markers. Diploidy was unknown in this fungus and in the Zygomycetes. Random chromosome losses during the vegetative growth of the diploid led to heterokaryosis in the coenocytic mycelia and eventually to sectors of various tints and mating behavior. The changes in the nuclear composition of the mycelia could be followed by selecting for individual nuclei. The results impose a reinterpretation of the sexual cycle of Phycomyces. Some of the intersexual strains that carried the carF mutation contained 25 mg β-carotene per gram of dry mass and were sufficiently stable for practical use in carotene production.


F1000Research ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 1839
Author(s):  
Harlinda Kuspradini ◽  
Indah Wulandari ◽  
Agmi Sinta Putri ◽  
Sabeti Yulis Tiya ◽  
Irawan Wijaya Kusuma

Background: Litsea angulata is a plant species belonging to Lauraceae family that is distributed throughout Indonesia, Malaysia, and New Guinea. The seeds have been traditionally used by local people in Kalimantan, Indonesia for the treatment of boils; however, there is no information about the potency of its branch, bark and leaves yet. This study aimed to determine the antioxidant, antimicrobial activity as well as the phytochemical constituent of Litsea angulata branch, bark, and leaves. Methods: Extraction was performed by successive maceration method using n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and ethanol solvent. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by DPPH radical scavenging assay. The antimicrobial activity using the 96 well-plate microdilution broth method against Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus mutans. Results: Based on the phytochemical analysis, it showed that extract of L. angulata contains alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids, and coumarin. The results showed that all extracts of plant samples displayed the ability to inhibit DPPH free radical formation and all tested microorganisms. Conclusions: L. angulata contains secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids, carotenoids, and coumarin. The antioxidant activity on different plant extracts was a range as very strong to weak capacity. All extracts in this study could inhibit the growth of S. aureus and S. mutans.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andra-Diana Andreicut ◽  
Alina Elena Pârvu ◽  
Augustin Cătălin Mot ◽  
Marcel Pârvu ◽  
Eva Fischer Fodor ◽  
...  

Oxidative stress and inflammation are interlinked processes. The aim of the study was to perform a phytochemical analysis and to evaluate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of ethanolic Mahonia aquifolium flower (MF), green fruit (MGF), and ripe fruit (MRF) extracts. Plant extract chemical composition was evaluated by HLPC. A DPPH test was used for the in vitro antioxidant activity. The in vivo antioxidant effects and the anti-inflammatory potential were tested on a rat turpentine oil-induced inflammation, by measuring serum nitric oxide (NOx) and TNF-alpha, total oxidative status (TOS), total antioxidant reactivity (TAR), oxidative stress index (OSI), 3-nitrothyrosine (3NT), malondialdehyde (MDA), and total thiols (SH). Extracts were administrated orally in three dilutions (100%, 50%, and 25%) for seven days prior to inflammation. The effects were compared to diclofenac. The HPLC polyphenol and alkaloid analysis revealed chlorogenic acid as the most abundant compound. All extracts had a good in vitro antioxidant activity, decreased NOx, TOS, and 3NT, and increased SH. TNF-alpha was reduced, and TAR increased only by MF and MGF. MDA was not influenced. Our findings suggest that M. aquifolium has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects that support the use in primary prevention of the inflammatory processes.


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