scholarly journals An investigation of the antioxidant properties of some culinary herbs and their potential application in a cosmetic preparation

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Nareshini Naidoo

Several herbs are well known for their nutritional applications. The reported study tested some herbs for their efficacy as antioxidants. The herbs and combinations thereof were analyzed for antioxidant activity using two comparative methods: the beta-carotene bleaching method and through measurement by the Rancimat apparatus. The efficacy of the antioxidants was also tested in a cosmetic base cream. The concentration of the natural antioxidant vitamins, such as vitamin C, vitamin E and beta-carotene was determined by analytical methods. The methods used for analysis provided adequate results for interpretation. All herbs exhibited antioxidant activity, at comparable levels. The two methods used for analysis showed variable results, as previous researchers have shown. In terms of antioxidant potency, the herbs were ranked as follows: fenugreek > coriander > oregano > sage (beta-carotene bleaching method), oregano > sage > coriander > fenugreek (Rancimat method). Oregano and sage were good synergists, when combinations of herbs were used. Fenugreek, unlike the other herbs under investigation, is a prooxidant when used at higher concentrations. A direct relationship was observed between the concentration of herbs and antioxidant potency for sage, oregano and coriander. Fenugreek which is prooxidant at higher concentrations, should be used as an antioxidant independently rather than a synergist. This was the most important finding in the reported study. Similar antioxidant activities of the herbs were observed in the base cosmetic formulation. The reported study has provided an adequate base for further quantitative research into the innovative topic of antioxidants.

2010 ◽  
Vol 28 (No. 4) ◽  
pp. 275-279 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Merkl ◽  
I. Hrádková ◽  
V. Filip ◽  
J. Šmidrkal

Some phenolic acids alkyl esters (methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl and hexyl) and determine their antioxidant and antimicrobial activities were prepared. The antimicrobial activity against the tested microorganisms Escherichia coli DMF 7503, Bacillus cereus DMF 2001, Listeria monocytogenes DMF 5776, Fusarium culmorum DMF 0103, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae DMF 1017 was investigated and expressed by minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) in the range of 1.2–20mM. The inhibitory activity of phenolic acids butyl esters was found to be higher than that of methyl esters (MIC below 1.25mM). The antioxidant activity of the selected phenolic acids alkyl esters was investigated by Rancimat method. The esters of 3,4-dihydroxyphenolic acids (protocatechuic and caffeic acids) exhibited higher antioxidant activities in comparison with the respective phenolic acids. The highest antioxidant activity was found in the case of caffeic alkyl esters.  


2011 ◽  
pp. 151-157 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marijana B. Saka ◽  
Julianna F. Gyura ◽  
Aleksandra Mišan ◽  
Zita I. Šereš ◽  
Biljana S. Pajin ◽  
...  

The antioxidant activity of cookies prepared by the addition of sugarbeet dietary fibers was investigated in order to estimate their influence on functional characteristics and shelf-life of cookies. Treated fiber (TF) was obtained from sugarbeet by extraction with sulfurous acid (75 °C at pH = 5.7during 60 min) and treatment with hydrogen peroxide (20 g/LH2O2 at pH = 11 during 24 h). The fiber obtained was dried (80 °C), ground and sieved. TF was investigated in comparison with commercially available Fibrex®. The cookies were prepared by the addition of 0, 7, 9 and 11% of sugarbeet dietary fiber as a substitute for wheat flour in the formulation of cookies. The antioxidant properties of cookies were tested every 7 days using a DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging activity test during 6 weeks of storage at room temperature (23 ± 1 ºC). The obtained results indicated that substitution of wheat flour with Fibrex® in the formulation of cookies upgraded the antioxidant activity, i.e. the functional characteristics of Fibrex®-enriched cookies and could prolong their shelf-life. In contrast, TF did not increase the antioxidant activity of TF-enriched cookies. The better antioxidant activities of Fibrex®-enriched cookies could be attributed to the presence of ferulic acid.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
E. S. Prasedya ◽  
A. Frediansyah ◽  
N. W. R. Martyasari ◽  
B. K. Ilhami ◽  
A. S. Abidin ◽  
...  

AbstractSample particle size is an important parameter in the solid–liquid extraction system of natural products for obtaining their bioactive compounds. This study evaluates the effect of sample particle size on the phytochemical composition and antioxidant activity of brown macroalgae Sargassum cristaefolium. The crude ethanol extract was extracted from dried powders of S.cristeafolium with various particle sizes (> 4000 µm, > 250 µm, > 125 µm, > 45 µm, and < 45 µm). The ethanolic extracts of S.cristaefolium were analysed for Total Phenolic Content (TPC), Total Flavonoid Content (TFC), phenolic compound concentration and antioxidant activities. The extract yield and phytochemical composition were more abundant in smaller particle sizes. Furthermore, the TPC (14.19 ± 2.08 mg GAE/g extract to 43.27 ± 2.56 mg GAE/g extract) and TFC (9.6 ± 1.8 mg QE/g extract to 70.27 ± 3.59 mg QE/g extract) values also significantly increased as particle sizes decreased. In addition, phenolic compounds epicatechin (EC), epicatechin gallate (ECG), epigallocatechin (EGC), and Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) concentration were frequently increased in samples of smaller particle sizes based on two-way ANOVA and Tukey’s multiple comparison analysis. These results correlate with the significantly stronger antioxidant activity in samples with smaller particle sizes. The smallest particle size (< 45 µm) demonstrated the strongest antioxidant activity based on DPPH, ABTS, hydroxyl assay and FRAP. In addition, ramp function graph evaluates the desired particle size for maximum phytochemical composition and antioxidant activity is 44 µm. In conclusion, current results show the importance of particle size reduction of macroalgae samples to increase the effectivity of its biological activity.


Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 1127 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beatriz Chamorro ◽  
David García-Vieira ◽  
Daniel Diez-Iriepa ◽  
Estíbaliz Garagarza ◽  
Mourad Chioua ◽  
...  

Herein, we report the neuroprotective and antioxidant activity of 1,1′-biphenyl nitrones (BPNs) 1–5 as α-phenyl-N-tert-butylnitrone analogues prepared from commercially available [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carbaldehyde and [1,1′-biphenyl]-4,4′-dicarbaldehyde. The neuroprotection of BPNs1-5 has been measured against oligomycin A/rotenone and in an oxygen–glucose deprivation in vitro ischemia model in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. Our results indicate that BPNs 1–5 have better neuroprotective and antioxidant properties than α-phenyl-N-tert-butylnitrone (PBN), and they are quite similar to N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), which is a well-known antioxidant agent. Among the nitrones studied, homo-bis-nitrone BPHBN5, bearing two N-tert-Bu radicals at the nitrone motif, has the best neuroprotective capacity (EC50 = 13.16 ± 1.65 and 25.5 ± 3.93 μM, against the reduction in metabolic activity induced by respiratory chain blockers and oxygen–glucose deprivation in an in vitro ischemia model, respectively) as well as anti-necrotic, anti-apoptotic, and antioxidant activities (EC50 = 11.2 ± 3.94 μM), which were measured by its capacity to reduce superoxide production in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cell cultures, followed by mononitrone BPMN3, with one N-Bn radical, and BPMN2, with only one N-tert-Bu substituent. The antioxidant activity of BPNs1-5 has also been analyzed for their capacity to scavenge hydroxyl free radicals (82% at 100 μM), lipoxygenase inhibition, and the inhibition of lipid peroxidation (68% at 100 μM). Results showed that although the number of nitrone groups improves the neuroprotection profile of these BPNs, the final effect is also dependent on the substitutent that is being incorporated. Thus, BPNs bearing N-tert-Bu and N-Bn groups show better neuroprotective and antioxidant properties than those substituted with Me. All these results led us to propose homo-bis-nitrone BPHBN5 as the most balanced and interesting nitrone based on its neuroprotective capacity in different neuronal models of oxidative stress and in vitro ischemia as well as its antioxidant activity.


Author(s):  
M. Suleman Stephen ◽  
E. A. Adelakun ◽  
J. H. Kanus ◽  
Meshack M. Gideon

The presence of natural antioxidant in plants is well known. Plant phenolics constitute one of the major groups of components that act as antioxidant and free radical terminator. Hence, this study focused on investigating the antioxidant activity of Celery plant (Apium graveolens L). The fresh leaves were collected, crushed and extracted with ethanol and acetone by maceration. The radical scavenging properties of the extracts were determined by measuring changes in absorbance of DPPH radical at a wave lenght of 517 nm by UV and ascorbic acid is used as the standard. It showed that the crude ethanolic extract has higher antioxidant activity compared to ascorbic acid and acetone extract with less scavenging activity. The values were (IC50 114.6 µg/mL) for ascorbic acid, (IC50 112 µg/mL) for the crude ethanolic extract and (IC50172 µg/mL) for crude acetone extract. The result shows that Celery plant grown in Jos possess good antioxidant properties which may be linked to the presence of phenolics and flavonoids in the plant, which justifies its use as a medicinal plant. This can be further investigated for the isolation and identification of active compounds of medicinal utilities.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 028-033
Author(s):  
Hugues Calixte Eyi Ndong ◽  
André Ledoux Njouonkou

Macrolepiota africana is a fungus used as food in Gabon for its culinary properties. However, its nutritional value, mycochemical contents, antioxidant properties and health potential still unknown. The present study investigated the phytochemicals and antioxidant properties of this mushroom species. This chemical screening was followed by a study of the antioxidant activity and a prediction of additional pharmacological activities of M. africana. Using standard methodology, the mycochemical analyses were carried out on aqueous, hydro-ethanolic and ethanolic fungi extracts. The antioxidant activity of the mushroom extracts was determined using DPPH radical scavenging assay. Apart from Digitoxigenine, flavonol and gitoxigenine that were not found in any of the extracts, all other tested mycochemical were found in atleast one of the extracts. Alkaloids, flavonoids, polyphenols, oses and holosides, proanthocyanidins and coumarins were found in all extracts at different intensity. Saponosids, sterols and triterpenes, tannins gallics, reducing sugar, anthracenosides and digitoxine were found in two extracts while tannins catechics, flavone and gitoxine were detected only in one extract. The dosage of phenolic compounds confirmed the richness of this fungus in total polyphenols, its moderate richness in proanthocyanidins, the lack of flavonoids in the aqueous extract and the moderate richness of the hydro-ethanolic and ethanolic extracts in flavonoids. Regarding the antioxidant activities, the results obtained for the DPPH trapping test showed that the different extracts had low to moderate antioxidant activity with antioxidant activity index (IAA) ranged 0.29 to 0.97 respectively in aqueous and ethanolic extracts. The presence of these mycochemical compounds along with the identified antioxidant activities shows that this M. africana have some pharmacological potential.


Molecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (16) ◽  
pp. 3648
Author(s):  
Lucia Godočiková ◽  
Eva Ivanišová ◽  
Grzegorz Zaguła ◽  
Luis Noguera-Artiaga ◽  
Ángel A. Carbonell-Barrachina ◽  
...  

The biological activity of chocolates gains more and more attention of consumers. Its antioxidant properties depend, among other factors, mainly on the origin of cocoa and the characteristics that this origin gives to the final product. Therefore, the aim of the study was to measure and compare the total content of polyphenols, antioxidant activity, and key odorants of commercial chocolates made from blend cocoa with single-origin ones. The highest content of polyphenols was found in 90% blend cocoa chocolate and single-origin samples, while the lowest content was exhibited by 100% chocolate from blend cocoa mass. The highest antioxidant activity measured by 2,2′-Azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays was observed in the sample of chocolate with 90% cocoa solids from blend mass, followed by single-origin chocolates. A high positive correlation between ABTS assay and the total polyphenol and phenolic acids’ content, as well as among the total content of polyphenols, flavonoids, and phenolic acids was found. Mineral composition analysis showed that dark chocolate is a valuable source of some elements, especially Mg, Fe, and Zn. Potentially toxic elements were not detected or below permitted limits. Moreover, it was noticed that the main volatile compound in all tested samples was acetic acid, but pyrazines were considered the most important group of chocolate odorants.


2013 ◽  
Vol 19 (No. 4) ◽  
pp. 139-142 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Amarowicz ◽  
M. Karamać ◽  
S. Weidner

An extract of seeds of pea was prepared using 80% (v/v) acetone. Six fractions (I&ndash;VI) were separated from the crude extract on a Sephadex LH-20 column using methanol as the mobile phase. The antioxidant activity of fractions was investigated in a &beta;-carotene-linoleate model system. For individual fractions, UV spectra were recorded and the content of total phenolics was determined. Results of the &beta;-carotene-linoleate model system indicated that antioxidant activities of separated fractions correlated with their content of total phenolic compounds and they decreased in the order of IV&nbsp;= VI &gt; V &gt; III &gt; I &gt; II. The antioxidant activity of fractions IV and VI was very strong as compared with that of butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA). Absorption maxima from UV spectra showed that flavonoids, and not phenolic acids, were the main phenolic compounds in separated fractions.


Author(s):  
SURIYAN SUKATI ◽  
KHEMJIRA JARMKOM ◽  
SURACHAI TECHAOEI ◽  
NAKUNTWALAI WISIDSRI ◽  
WARACHATE KHOBJAI

Objective: This present study aimed to evaluate the anticoagulant activity and antioxidant properties of Prasaplai recipe (PPR), a Thai traditionalmedicine, and its major ingredient, Zingiber cassumunar (ZC) Roxb. extracts, seeking new therapeutic purposes for the recipe.Methods: Aqueous extracts of PPR and ZC Roxb. were prepared by hot water decoction technique. The anticoagulant activity of the extracts wasevaluated by prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) tests. In addition to anticoagulant activity, total phenolcontent and antioxidant activity were investigated. Total phenol content was determined using the Folin–Ciocalteu assay. The antioxidant activity wasestimated by DPPH radical scavenging activity and ferric reducing antioxidant power assay.Results: The APTT of plasma samples mixed with the PPR and ZC Roxb. extracts was significantly prolonged (p<0.05) at the concentration of1.0 mg/ml and above comparing to the control (normal saline solution) but was no significantly different for the PT. These results suggested thatPPR and ZC Roxb. extracts showed anticoagulant activity affecting the function of coagulation factor in the intrinsic pathway. All aqueous extractspossessed considerable antioxidant activity and were rich in total polyphenol.Conclusion: This finding indicates that the aqueous extracts possess significant anticoagulant and antioxidant activities, thus showing the potentialPPR and ZC Roxb. as a new source of bioactive compounds for therapeutic purposes, with particular emphasis on the prevention and treatment ofthrombosis.


Biologia ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tibor Maliar ◽  
Jarmila Drobná ◽  
Ján Kraic ◽  
Mária Maliarová ◽  
Jana Jurovatá

AbstractThe hypothesis of the possible therapeutic potential of selected species of forage crops is discussed. Extracts from genotypes of Anthyllis sp., Astragalus sp., Coronilla sp., Lotus sp., Medicago sp., Melilotus sp., Onobrychis sp. and Trifolium sp. were prepared and tested for proteinase inhibition and antioxidant activities. We found that Trifolium pratense accession POLKIE99-3 expressed the highest relative trypsin inhibition activity (80.0%) compared to standards. The highest thrombin inhibition activity (81.4%) was detected in the Medicago sativa old cultivar Hodoninka, whereas the highest relative urokinase inhibition activity (62.5%) was expressed by the local population Nitranka. Relatively high antioxidant properties of Trifolium sp. accessions, Trifolium pratense genetic resources SVKZAH98-40, were of interest. Results of this study confirmed that there are significant differences in proteinase inhibition and antioxidant activity among important selected agricultural crops. The present paper may also be the starting point of the research aimed for development of new functional food and nutraceuticals, and/or of the research focused on new secondary metabolites with potential as bioactive compounds.


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