Onion Peel: Turning a Food Waste into a Resource

Food waste is a serious problem for food processing industries, especially when it represents a loss of a valuable source of nutrients and phytochemicals. Increasing consumer demand for processed food poses the problem of minimizing waste by conversion into useful products. In this regard, onion (Allium cepa) waste consisting mainly of onion skin is rich in bioactive phenolic compounds. Here, we characterized the flavonoid profiles and biological activities of onion skin wastes of two traditional varieties with protected geographical indication (PGI), the red “Rossa di Tropea” and the coppery “Ramata di Montoro”, typically cultivated in a niche area in southern Italy. The phytochemical profiles of exhaustive extracts, characterized by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with ultraviolet (UV) detection and high-resolution mass spectrometry, revealed that flavonols and anthocyanins were the characteristic metabolite classes of onion skins. Quercetin, quercetin glucosides and their dimer and trimer derivatives, and, among anthocyanins, cyanidin 3-glucoside, were the most abundant bioactive compounds. The potential of onion skins was evaluated by testing several biological activities: ABTS/oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) and in vitro alpha-glucosidase assays were performed to evaluate the antioxidant and anti-diabetic properties of the extracts and of their main compounds, respectively, and proliferative activity was evaluated by MTT assay on human fibroblasts. In the present study, by observing various biological properties of “Rossa di Tropea” and “Ramata di Montoro” onion-dried skins, we clearly indicated that this agricultural waste can provide bioactive molecules for multiple applications, from industrial to nutraceutical and cosmetical sectors.

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Phytochemical Profile and Biological Properties of Colchicum triphyllum (Meadow Saffron)

Foods ◽

10.3390/foods9040457 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (4) ◽

pp. 457 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Biancamaria Senizza ◽

Gabriele Rocchetti ◽

Murat Ali Okur ◽

Gokhan Zengin ◽

Evren Yıldıztugay ◽

...

Keyword(s):

High Performance ◽

Biological Activities ◽

Reducing Power ◽

Extraction Methods ◽

Biological Properties ◽

Leaf Extracts ◽

Antioxidant Power ◽

Phytochemical Profile ◽

First Time

In this work, the phytochemical profile and the biological properties of Colchicum triphyllum (an unexplored Turkish cultivar belonging to Colchicaceae) have been comprehensively investigated for the first time. Herein, we focused on the evaluation of the in vitro antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory effects of flower, tuber, and leaf extracts, obtained using different extraction methods, namely maceration (both aqueous and methanolic), infusion, and Soxhlet. Besides, the complete phenolic and alkaloid untargeted metabolomic profiling of the different extracts was investigated. In this regard, ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOF-MS) allowed us to putatively annotate 285 compounds when considering the different matrix extracts, including mainly alkaloids, flavonoids, lignans, phenolic acids, and tyrosol equivalents. The most abundant polyphenols were flavonoids (119 compounds), while colchicine, demecolcine, and lumicolchicine isomers were some of the most widespread alkaloids in each extract analyzed. In addition, our findings showed that C. triphyllum tuber extracts were a superior source of both total alkaloids and total polyphenols, being on average 2.89 and 10.41 mg/g, respectively. Multivariate statistics following metabolomics allowed for the detection of those compounds most affected by the different extraction methods. Overall, C. triphyllum leaf extracts showed a strong in vitro antioxidant capacity, in terms of cupric reducing antioxidant power (CUPRAC; on average 96.45 mg Trolox Equivalents (TE)/g) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) reducing power (on average 66.86 mg TE/g). Interestingly, each C. triphyllum methanolic extract analyzed (i.e., from tuber, leaf, and flower) was active against the tyrosinase in terms of inhibition, recording the higher values for methanolic macerated leaves (i.e., 125.78 mg kojic acid equivalent (KAE)/g). On the other hand, moderate inhibitory activities were observed against AChE and α-amylase. Strong correlations (p < 0.01) were also observed between the phytochemical profiles and the biological activities determined. Therefore, our findings highlighted, for the first time, the potential of C. triphhyllum extracts in food and pharmaceutical applications.

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Phenolic Isomers from Plantago Catharinea Leaves: Isolation, Identification, Quantification and in Vitro Antioxidant Activity

Natural Product Communications ◽

10.1177/1934578x1701200326 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 12 (3) ◽

pp. 1934578X1701200

Author(s):

Leonardo Mendes De Souza Mesquita ◽

Claudia Quintino Da Rocha ◽

Luiz Henrique Lima Affonso ◽

Antonietta Cerulli ◽

Sonia Piacente ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Antioxidant Activity ◽

High Performance ◽

Chemical Structure ◽

Biological Activities ◽

Bioactive Molecules ◽

Good Source ◽

Rare Sugar ◽

Polyphenolic Acids ◽

In Vitro Antioxidant Activity

In this study we isolated two polyphenolic acids of m/z 639, called catharinol A and catharinol B, from Plantago catharinea L. (Plantaginaceae) leaves. Although presenting very similar structures, catharinol A showed higher antioxidant activity when compared with gallic acid and quercetin standards. These compounds are position isomers and present in their chemical structure the rare sugar D-allose. Molecules with similar constitution are known to have important biological activities such as antitumor and immunosuppressive. These compounds were isolated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and characterized by mass spectrometry (FIA-ESI-IT-MS/MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). This work is the first study on the chemical composition of P. catharinea and encourages the production of Plantago species as a good source of bioactive molecules.

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In Vitro Bioaccessibility and Antioxidant Activity of Polyphenolic Compounds from Spent Coffee Grounds-Enriched Cookies

Foods ◽

10.3390/foods10081837 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (8) ◽

pp. 1837

Author(s):

Luigi Castaldo ◽

Sonia Lombardi ◽

Anna Gaspari ◽

Mario Rubino ◽

Luana Izzo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Antioxidant Activity ◽

High Resolution Mass Spectrometry ◽

Biological Properties ◽

Bioactive Molecules ◽

Mass Spectrometry Analysis ◽

Total Phenolic ◽

Spectrometry Analysis ◽

Spent Coffee Ground ◽

In Vitro Bioaccessibility

Spent coffee ground (SCG) is a significant by-product generated by the coffee industry. It is considered a great source of bioactive molecules well-recognized for exerting biological properties. This study aimed to implement SCG in a baked foods, such as cookies (SCGc), to increase their bioactive potential. A comprehensive study of the polyphenolic fraction of the SCG and SCGc using a high-resolution mass spectrometry analysis was performed. Moreover, the polyphenol bioaccessibility and change in antioxidant activity during simulated gastrointestinal digestion (GiD) were assessed. Data showed that SCGc provided 780 mg of melanoidins, 16.2 mg of chlorogenic acid (CGA), 6.5 mg of caffeine, and 0.08 mg of phenolic acids per 100 g of sample. Moreover, the 5-caffeoylquinic acid was the most relevant CGA found in SCG (116.4 mg/100 g) and SCGc (8.2 mg/100 g) samples. The antioxidant activity evaluated through three spectrophotometric tests, and the total phenolic compounds of SCGc samples exhibited significantly higher values than the control samples. Furthermore, during simulated GiD, the highest bioaccessibility of SCGc polyphenols was observed after the colonic stage, suggesting their potential advantages for human health. Therefore, SCG with high content in bioactive molecules could represent an innovative ingredient intended to fortify baked food formulations.

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Tamarix articulata (T. articulata) - An Important Halophytic Medicinal Plant with Potential Pharmacological Properties

Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology ◽

10.2174/1389201020666190318120103 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 20 (4) ◽

pp. 285-292 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Abdullah M. Alnuqaydan ◽

Bilal Rah

Keyword(s):

Medicinal Plant ◽

Biological Activities ◽

Wide Spectrum ◽

Biological Properties ◽

In Vivo Model ◽

Drug Candidate ◽

Phytochemical Analysis ◽

Pharmacological Properties

Background:Tamarix Articulata (T. articulata), commonly known as Tamarisk or Athal in Arabic region, belongs to the Tamaricaece species. It is an important halophytic medicinal plant and a good source of polyphenolic phytochemical(s). In traditional medicines, T. articulata extract is commonly used, either singly or in combination with other plant extracts against different ailments since ancient times.Methods:Electronic database survey via Pubmed, Google Scholar, Researchgate, Scopus and Science Direct were used to review the scientific inputs until October 2018, by searching appropriate keywords. Literature related to pharmacological activities of T. articulata, Tamarix species, phytochemical analysis of T. articulata, biological activities of T. articulata extracts. All of these terms were used to search the scientific literature associated with T. articulata; the dosage of extract, route of administration, extract type, and in-vitro and in-vivo model.Results:Numerous reports revealed that T. articulata contains a wide spectrum of phytochemical(s), which enables it to have a wide window of biological properties. Owing to the presence of high content of phytochemical compounds like polyphenolics and flavonoids, T. articulata is a potential source of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative properties. In view of these pharmacological properties, T. articulata could be a potential drug candidate to treat various clinical conditions including cancer in the near future.Conclusion:In this review, the spectrum of phytochemical(s) has been summarized for their pharmacological properties and the mechanisms of action, and the possible potential therapeutic applications of this plant against various diseases discussed.

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Phytochemical Study and In Vitro Screening Focusing on the Anti-Aging Features of Various Plants of the Greek Flora

Antioxidants ◽

10.3390/antiox10081206 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (8) ◽

pp. 1206

Author(s):

Aimilia D. Sklirou ◽

Maria T. Angelopoulou ◽

Aikaterini Argyropoulou ◽

Eliza Chaita ◽

Vasiliki Ioanna Boka ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Plant Species ◽

High Performance ◽

High Resolution Mass Spectrometry ◽

Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography ◽

Skin Aging ◽

Rosa Damascena ◽

Phytochemical Study ◽

Age Related

Skin health is heavily affected by ultraviolet irradiation from the sun. In addition, senile skin is characterized by major changes in the collagen, elastin and in the hyaluronan content. Natural products (NPs) have been shown to delay cellular senescence or in vivo aging by regulating age-related signaling pathways. Moreover, NPs are a preferable source of photoprotective agents and have been proven to be useful against the undesirable skin hyperpigmentation. Greek flora harvests great plant diversity with approximately 6000 plant species, as it has a wealth of NPs. Here, we report an extensive screening among hundreds of plant species. More than 440 plant species and subspecies were selected and evaluated. The extracts were screened for their antioxidant and anti-melanogenic properties, while the most promising were further subjected to various in vitro and cell-based assays related to skin aging. In parallel, their chemical profile was analyzed with High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) and/or Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-HRMS). A variety of extracts were identified that can be of great value for the cosmetic industry, since they combine antioxidant, photoprotective, anti-melanogenic and anti-aging properties. In particular, the methanolic extracts of Sideritis scardica and Rosa damascena could be worthy of further attention, since they showed interesting chemical profiles and promising properties against specific targets involved in skin aging.

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PTMAc-PEG-PTMAc hydrogel modified by RGDC and hyaluronic acid promotes neural stem cells' survival and differentiation in vitro

RSC Advances ◽

10.1039/c7ra06614g ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 7 (65) ◽

pp. 41098-41104 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Ruirui Yang ◽

Caixia Xu ◽

Tao Wang ◽

Yuanqi Wang ◽

Jingnan Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Stem Cells ◽

Central Nervous System ◽

Nervous System ◽

Hyaluronic Acid ◽

Neural Stem Cells ◽

Biological Properties ◽

Central Nervous System Injury ◽

Bioactive Molecules

The enhancement of the biological properties of hydrogels by surface modifying with bioactive molecules is of great significance, especially for the treatment of central nervous system injury by combining engrafted cells.

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Human Biomonitoring of T-2 Toxin, T-2 Toxin-3-Glucoside and Their Metabolites in Urine through High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry

Toxins ◽

10.3390/toxins13120869 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (12) ◽

pp. 869

Author(s):

Alfonso Narváez ◽

Luana Izzo ◽

Noelia Pallarés ◽

Luigi Castaldo ◽

Yelko Rodríguez-Carrasco ◽

...

Keyword(s):

High Performance ◽

High Resolution Mass Spectrometry ◽

Human Biomonitoring ◽

Italian Population ◽

South Italy ◽

Almost All ◽

Low Prevalence ◽

Frequent Exposure ◽

Mean Concentration

The metabolic profile of T-2 toxin (T-2) and its modified form T-2-3-glucoside (T-2-3-Glc) remain unexplored in human samples. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the presence of T-2, T-2-3-Glc and their respective major metabolites in human urine samples (n = 300) collected in South Italy through an ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) coupled to Q-Orbitrap-HRMS methodology. T-2 was quantified in 21% of samples at a mean concentration of 1.34 ng/mg Crea (range: 0.22–6.54 ng/mg Crea). Almost all the major T-2 metabolites previously characterized in vitro were tentatively found, remarking the occurrence of 3′-OH-T-2 (99.7%), T-2 triol (56%) and HT-2 (30%). Regarding T-2-3-Glc, a low prevalence of the parent mycotoxin (1%) and its metabolites were observed, with HT-2-3-Glc (17%) being the most prevalent compound, although hydroxylated products were also detected. Attending to the large number of testing positive for T-2 or its metabolites, this study found a frequent exposure in Italian population.

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Contribution of Molecular Structure to Self-Assembling and Biological Properties of Bifunctional Lipid-Like 4-(N-Alkylpyridinium)-1,4-Dihydropyridines

Pharmaceutics ◽

10.3390/pharmaceutics11030115 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. 115 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Martins Rucins ◽

Pavels Dimitrijevs ◽

Klavs Pajuste ◽

Oksana Petrichenko ◽

Ludmila Jackevica ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chain Length ◽

Alkyl Chain ◽

Hydrophobic Interactions ◽

Biological Activities ◽

Biological Properties ◽

Alkyl Chain Length ◽

Critical Aggregation Concentration ◽

Self Assembling ◽

Basal Cytotoxicity

The design of nanoparticle delivery materials possessing biological activities is an attractive strategy for the development of various therapies. In this study, 11 cationic amphiphilic 4-(N-alkylpyridinium)-1,4-dihydropyridine (1,4-DHP) derivatives differing in alkyl chain length and propargyl moiety/ties number and position were selected for the study of their self-assembling properties, evaluation of their cytotoxicity in vitro and toxicity on microorganisms, and the characterisation of their interaction with phospholipids. These lipid-like 1,4-DHPs have been earlier proposed as promising nanocarriers for DNA delivery. We have revealed that the mean diameter of freshly prepared nanoparticles varied from 58 to 513 nm, depending upon the 4-(N-alkylpyridinium)-1,4-DHP structure. Additionally, we have confirmed that only nanoparticles formed by 4-(N-dodecylpyridinium)-1,4-DHP derivatives 3 and 6, and by 4-(N-hexadecylpyridinium)-1,4-DHP derivatives 10 and 11 were stable after two weeks of storage. The nanoparticles of these compounds were found to be homogenous in size distribution, ranging from 124 to 221 nm. The polydispersity index (PDI) values of 1,4-DHPs samples 3, 6, 10, and 11 were in the range of 0.10 to 0.37. We also demonstrated that the nanoparticles formed by 4-(N-dodecylpyridinium)-1,4-DHP derivatives 3, 6, and 9, and 4-(N-hexadecylpyridinium)-1,4-DHP derivatives 10 and 11 had zeta-potentials from +26.07 mV (compound 6) to +62.80 mV (compound 11), indicating a strongly positive surface charge and confirming the relative electrostatic stability of these nanoparticle solutions. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images of nanoaggregates formed by 1,4-DHPs 3 and 11 confirmed liposome-like structures with diameters around 70 to 170 nm. The critical aggregation concentration (CAC) value interval for 4-(N-alkylpyridinium)-1,4-DHP was from 7.6 µM (compound 11) to 43.3 µM (compound 6). The tested 4-(N-alkylpyridinium)-1,4-DHP derivatives were able to quench the fluorescence of the binary 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH)—1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) system, demonstrating hydrophobic interactions of 1,4-DHPs with phospholipids. Thus, 4-(N-dodecylpyridinium)-1,4-DHP derivative 3 quenched the fluorescence of the DPH–DPPC system more efficiently than the other 4-(N-alkylpyridinium)-1,4-DHP derivatives. Likewise the compound 3, also 4-(N-dodecylpyridinium)-1,4-DHP derivative 9 interacted with the phospholipids. Moreover, we have established that increasing the length of the alkyl chain at the quaternised nitrogen of the 4-(N-alkylpyridinium)-1,4-DHP molecule or the introduction of propargyl moieties in the 1,4-DHP molecule significantly influences the cytotoxicity on HT-1080 (human fibrosarcoma) and MH-22A (mouse hepatocarcinoma) cell lines, as well as the estimated basal cytotoxicity. Additionally, it was demonstrated that the toxicity of the 4-(N-alkylpyridinium)-1,4-DHP derivatives on the Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria species and eukaryotic microorganism depended on the presence of the alkyl chain length at the N-alkyl pyridinium moiety, as well as the number of propargyl groups. These lipid-like compounds may be proposed for the further development of drug formulations to be used in cancer treatment.

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Effect of Ultraviolet-C Radiation and Melatonin Stress on Biosynthesis of Antioxidant and Antidiabetic Metabolites Produced in In Vitro Callus Cultures of Lepidium sativum L.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms20071787 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 20 (7) ◽

pp. 1787 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Muhammad Asad Ullah ◽

Duangjai Tungmunnithum ◽

Laurine Garros ◽

Samantha Drouet ◽

Christophe Hano ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Callus Culture ◽

High Performance ◽

Biological Activities ◽

Fold Increase ◽

Dry Weight ◽

Callus Cultures ◽

Lepidium Sativum ◽

Uv C ◽

Lepidium Sativum L

Lepidium sativum L. is a rich source of polyphenols that have huge medicinal and pharmaceutical applications. In the current study, an effective abiotic elicitation strategy was designed for enhanced biosynthesis of polyphenols in callus culture of L. sativum. Callus was exposed to UV-C radiations for different time intervals and various concentrations of melatonin. Secondary metabolites were quantified by using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results indicated the total secondary metabolite accumulation of nine quantified compounds was almost three fold higher (36.36 mg/g dry weight (DW)) in melatonin (20 μM) treated cultures, whereas, in response to UV-C (60 min), a 2.5 fold increase (32.33 mg/g DW) was recorded compared to control (13.94 mg/g DW). Metabolic profiling revealed the presence of three major phytochemicals, i.e., chlorogenic acid, kaemferol, and quercetin, in callus culture of L. sativum. Furthermore, antioxidant, antidiabetic, and enzymatic activities of callus cultures were significantly enhanced. Maximum antidiabetic activities (α-glucosidase: 57.84%; α-amylase: 62.66%) were recorded in melatonin (20 μM) treated callus cultures. Overall, melatonin proved to be an effect elicitor compared to UV-C and a positive correlation in these biological activities and phytochemical accumulation was observed. The present study provides a better comparison of both elicitors and their role in the initiation of physiological pathways for enhanced metabolites biosynthesis in vitro callus culture of L. sativum.

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Momilactones A, B, and Tricin in Rice Grain and By-Products are Potential Skin Aging Inhibitors

Foods ◽

10.3390/foods8120602 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 (12) ◽

pp. 602 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Nguyen Van Quan ◽

Dam Duy Thien ◽

Tran Dang Khanh ◽

Hoang-Dung Tran ◽

Tran Dang Xuan

Keyword(s):

Liquid Chromatography ◽

High Performance ◽

Biological Activities ◽

Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography ◽

Skin Aging ◽

Ionization Mass ◽

Rice Grain ◽

Synergistic Activity ◽

Ic50 Values

We previously reported the inhibitory potentials of momilactones A (MA) and B (MB) against key enzymes related to type 2 diabetes and obesity. In this study, antioxidant and anti-skin-aging activities of MA and MB were investigated and compared with tricin, a well-known antioxidant and antiaging flavonoid in rice. MA, MB, and tricin were purified from rice husk by column chromatography and their biological activities were subsequently assayed by in vitro trials. The contents of MA, MB, and tricin of different commercial rice cultivars in Japan were quantified and confirmed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-MS) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analyses. The antioxidant assays revealed a synergistic activity of the mixture MA and MB (MAB, 1:1, v/v). In addition, in 2,2’-azino-bis (ABTS) assay, IC50 values of MAB (0.3 mg/mL) and tricin (0.3 mg/mL) was 4-fold and 9-fold greater than that of individual MB (1.3 mg/mL) or MA (2.8 mg/mL), respectively. The in vitro enzymatic assays on pancreatic elastase and tyrosinase indicated that MA and MB were potential to relief skin wrinkles and freckles. In detail, MA exerted higher inhibition on both enzymatic activities (30.9 and 37.6% for elastase and tyrosinase inhibition, respectively) than MB (18.5 and 12.6%) and MAB (32.0 and 19.7%) at a concentration of 2.0 mg/mL. Notably, MA and the mixture MAB exhibited stronger inhibitions on elastase and tyrosinase in comparison with tricin and vanillin. MA, MB, and tricin in rice are potential to develop cosmetics as well as supplements for skin aging treatments.

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