The Optimization of Extraction Process, Antioxidant, Whitening and Antibacterial Effects of Fengdan Peony Flavonoids

Flavonoids have important biological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antioxidant and whitening, which is a potential functional food raw material. However, the biological activity of Fengdan peony flavonoid is not particularly clear. Therefore, in this study, the peony flavonoid was extracted from Fengdan peony seed meal, and the antioxidant, antibacterial and whitening activities of the peony flavonoid were explored. The optimal extraction conditions were methanol concentration of 90%, solid-to-liquid ratio of 1:35 g:mL, temperature of 55 °C and time of 80 min; under these conditions, the yield of Fengdan peony flavonoid could reach 1.205 ± 0.019% (the ratio of the dry mass of rutin to the dry mass of peony seed meal). The clearance of Fengdan peony total flavonoids to 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical, hydroxyl radical and 2,2’-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) free radical could reach 75%, 70% and 97%, respectively. Fengdan peony flavonoid could inhibit the growth of the Gram-positive bacteria. The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of Fengdan peony flavonoid on S. aureus, B. anthracis, B. subtilis and C. perfringens were 0.0293 mg/mL, 0.1172 mg/mL, 0.2344 mg/mL and 7.500 mg/mL, respectively. The inhibition rate of Fengdan peony flavonoid on tyrosinase was 8.53–81.08%. This study intensely illustrated that the antioxidant, whitening and antibacterial activity of Fengdan peony total flavonoids were significant. Fengdan peony total flavonoids have a great possibility of being used as functional food materials.

Antioxidative, phytochemical and antimicrobial analysis of juices of eight citrus cultivars grown in Pakistan

Comparative nutritional analysis of citrus varieties cultivated in Pakistan has not been reported. Citrus is consumed all over the world due to its taste and also has pharmacological components. The present investigation evaluated the antioxidant, reducing power, total flavonoids and phenolics, DPPH free radical scavenging, protein kinase inhibition, and the antimicrobial activities of eight Pakistani citrus varieties. Grapefruit showed maximum total antioxidant potential (77 µg AAE/100 mg), followed by Kinnow and Shakri. Khatai showed maximum reducing power potential (69.6 µg AAE/100 mg) while Shakri and Grapefruit trailed it. All the varieties showed significant DPPH free radical scavenging activity. Maximum total phenolics in citrus juice were found in Shakri and Kinnow; 26.2 and 25.9 µg GAE/100mg, respectively. Variation in total flavonoids content was observed as Kinnow>Grapefruit>Shakri>Khatai. All the citrus juices showed mild to moderate antibacterial activity, while Mosambi and Malta contained potent antifungal components. HPLC analysis of citrus juices revealed that catechin was present in all citrus genotypes except Kinnow. The study concludes that citrus juices contain strong antioxidative potential, bear protein kinase inhibitors and can be used as cancer chemoprevention and supportive nutrition.

Development and validation of analytical method by spectrophotometry UV-Vis for quantification of flavonoids in leaves of Senna occidentalis Link

Senna occidentalis Link (Fabaceae), known as “fedegoso”, is used in folk medicine due to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, muscle relaxant and inhibiting lipid peroxidation imputed to flavonoids contained in its composition. The species is also a constituent of processed products are commercialized in various parts of the world including Brazil, although there are few reports in the literature about the development of an analytical method for quantification of flavonoids in it. The main purpose of this research was the evaluation of an analytical methodology to determinate the content of total flavonoids in leaves of S. occidentalis, for quality control. The parameters evaluated were: drug: solvent ratio, concentration of aluminum chloride and reaction time. The quantification of total flavonoids was obtained after reaction with aluminum chloride by UV/Vis spectrophotometry. The results revealed a maximum absorption peak (λ = 392 nm) was the amount of 0.5 g of a plant raw in 100 mL of solvent and there were no significant influences between the concentrations of aluminum chloride or hydroalcoholic solutions analyzed. The evaluation of reaction time allowed to characterize the kinetics as slow, stabilizing from 60 min, choosing this as reading time. The method was specific, linear, precise, accurate and robust, according to the specifications set in RDC n. 166/2017. Finally, the results of the study showed that the measured methodology is simple and accurate and can be applied for quality assessment of the species S. occidentalis.

Flavonoids containing Vitex negundo extract displayed calcium channels blocking property underlying its anti-diarrheal and anti-spasmodic activities

Diarrhea is a major health problem and despite of interventions, it remains a substantial cause of mortality and morbidity. In this study, a flavonoids-rich Vitex negundo extract was mechanistically evaluated for its effectiveness in diarrheal diseases. The Vitex negundo ethanolic extract was subjected to extraction for isolation of total flavonoids and qualitative phytochemical analysis. The acute toxicity of flavonoids-extract was done in mice to assess its safety and tolerability. The anti-diarrhoeal activity was determined using the castor oil induced diarrhea mouse model at doses of 10, 30 and 100 mg/kg in relation to loperamide (10 mg/kg, oral). The antispasmodic profile was determined by using cut pieces of rabbit’s jejunum in Tyrode’s solutions, employing acetylcholine (0.03μM) as a tissue stabilizer and verapamil, as a calcium channel blocker. The preliminary qualitative analysis of extract revealed different phytochemicals, in addition to flavonoids. The acute toxicity profile showed that the flavonoids-extract is safe and tolerable (LD50 = 1678 mg/kg). In the tissue experiments, the total flavonoids exhibited an EC50 of 1.52 mg/mL and showed maximum relaxation of spontaneous contractions at 5.0 mg/mL and against high-K + induced contractions at 3 mg/mL (EC50 = 0.43 mg/mL). The spasmolytic activity of total flavonoids was comparable to verapamil which suggests that the activity might be due to the blockade of calcium channels. The flavonoids extract (0.1, 0.3 and 1.0 mg/mL) produced an adequate right shift in the calcium concentration response curve as compared to the control (EC50 value = –2.67 mg/mL), which confirmed that the extract has calcium channel blocking activity.

Analisis Potensi Fermentasi Tepung Daun Binahong Anredera Cordifolia Dengan Metode Trial End Error Sebagai Pakan Tambahan Pada Ayam Petelur

Ayam petelur merupakan ternak yang mudah stress dan rentan terhadap penyakit. Guna mengatasi keadaan tersebut perlu dicari alternatif bahan herbal yang tidak menimbulkan residu pada telur ayam yaitu dengan memberikan pakan tambahan fermentasi tepung daun binahong. Binahong merupakan salah satu tanaman yang dapat meningkatkan vitalitas dan daya tahan tubuh. Kandungan fitobiotik pada tepung daun binahong (fenol 85,30 mg/kg, total flafonoid 47,40 mg/kg, saponin 66,00 mg/kg, dan alkaloid 2,60 mg/kg). Unggas yang memiliki sistem pencernaan tunggal kurang baik dalam mencerna pakan berserat kasar tinggi. Kebutuhan serat kasar pada ayam petelur maksimal 7% maka, dilakukan analisis manfaat fermentasi menggunakan EM4. Dalam penelitian terdahulu menyebutkan bahwa EM4 menghasilkan sejumlah besar enzim mencerna serat kasar seperti selulase dan mannase. Keuntungan Lactobacillus dalam EM4 dalam mencerna serat kasar adalah karena bakteri tidak menghasilkan serat kasar dalam aktivitasnya, sehingga mereka lebih efektif dalam menurunkan serat kasar. Fermentasi dapat meningkatkan nilai gizi dan juga palatabilitas. Pemberian pakan tambahan fermentasi tepung daun binahong sebagai feed adiktif memiliki potensi terhadap peningkatkan sistem imun sehingga ayam sehat, maka produksi telur akan meningkat dan stabil. Laying hens are animals that are easily stressed and susceptible to disease. In order to overcome this situation, it is necessary to find alternative herbal ingredients that do not cause residues in chicken eggs, namely by providing additional feed with fermented binahong leaf flour. Binahong is one of the plants that can increase vitality and endurance. Phytobiotic content in binahong leaf flour (phenol 85.30 mg/kg, total flavonoids 47.40 mg/kg, saponins 66.00 mg/kg, and alkaloids 2.60 mg/kg). Poultry that has a single digestive system is not good at digesting high crude fiber feed. The need for crude fiber in laying hens is a maximum of 7%, so an analysis of the benefits of fermentation using EM4 was carried out. In previous studies, it was stated that EM4 produces a large number of enzymes digesting crude fiber such as cellulase and mannase. The advantage of Lactobacillus in EM4 in digesting crude fiber is that bacteria do not produce crude fiber in their activity, so they are more effective in reducing crude fiber. Fermentation can increase nutritional value and also palatability. The addition of fermented binahong leaf flour feed as an addictive feed has the potential to increase the immune system so that chickens are healthy, so egg production will increase and be stable.

Antioxidant Potential, Phenolics Content and Antimicrobial Attributes of Selected Medicinal Plant

The bioactive extracts recovered from Curcuma longa (stem), Mentha aquatica (stem and leaves), Emblica officinalis (fruits), Nigella sativa (seeds), and Glycyrrhiza glabra (stem) using methanol and ethanol, were appraised for antioxidant (total flavonoid contents, total phenolic contents, DPPH free radical scavenging ability, inhibition of linoleic acid peroxidation and reducing power) and antimicrobial attributes. Total phenolics (16.89 ± 0.18 - 25.06 ± 0.31g GAE/100g) and total flavonoids (1.96 ± 0.07 - 13.54 ± 0.18 CE g/100g) contents of aqueous methanol extracts of tested plant materials were significantly (p < 0.05) lower than that of aqueous ethanol extracts (13.87 ± 0.12 - 28.63 ± 0.34 g GAE/100g) and (2.20 ± 0.10 - 8.71 ± 0.24 CE /100g), respectively. The percent inhibition of linoleic acid per oxidation by crude ethanol extracts of plants was in the range of 48.72 ± 1.24 - 70.79 ± 1.57 and crude methanol extract 35.90 ± 1.28 - 61.54 ± 2.14, while the range of DPPH free radical scavenging activity of ethanol extracts was (58.36 ± 1.98 - 80.55 ± 3.07) and methanol extracts (39.55 ± 1.52 - 79.64± 2.33). The reducing power of the tested extracts obtained by ethanol (at the concentration of 10 mg/mL) ranged 1.11 ± 0.12 – 1.53 ± 0.18 while for methanol extracts 0.98 ± 0.11 – 1.39 ± 0.12. Among the attributes analyzed, total phenolics, total flavonoids, and DPPH free scavenging activity were found to be varied significantly in all the tested medicinal plants. The extracts from all plants showed good antimicrobial potential against a penal of bacteria, including E. coli, P. multocida and S. aureus, and fungi including A. niger, A. flavus, A. alternate, and G. lucidium. Overall, the tested samples were found to be a good source of natural antioxidant and antimicrobial agents and thus can be explored for potential functional food and nutra-pharmaceutical applications.

Optimal Design Approach Applied to Headspace GC for the Monitoring of Diacetyl Concentration, Spectrophotometric Assessment of Phenolic Compounds and Antioxidant Potential in Different Fermentation Processes of Barley

The present study aimed to validate a control method on the gas chromatography system (GC) based on the experimental design strategy, to examine the changes and correlation between the fermentation process and the quality of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beer product, especially the formation of diacetyl. On the other hand, spectrophotometric methods were applied to the determination of polyphenols content and the potential antioxidant activity of beer during different fermentation processes. with this aim, three modes of barley fermentation were used, specifically classical fermentation, stopped fermentation and thermal process. The results showed that the different fermentation modes had a major impact on diacetyl production. The highest concentration was obtained using stopped fermentation 0.36 mg/L, the lowest concentration value 0.07 mg/L was detected using the thermal process. Monitoring the increase of oxygen concentration between fermentation, filtration, and filling of the final product (32, 107, 130 ppm, respectively) has a significant impact on the concentration of diacetyl. The obtained results of spectrophotometric analysis showed that the total antioxidant activity changed during beer fermentation process and demonstrate that the extend of the antioxidant activity was very much dependent on the total polyphenolic content with a higher value in Hopped wort (13.41%, 65 mg GAE 100 mL−1, 28 mg CE 100 mL−1) for antioxidant potential, total phenolic content, and total flavonoids content, respectively, whereas the lowest values was detected in Non-alcoholic beer using thermal process (7.24%, 35 mg GAE 100 mL−1, 10 mg CE 100 mL−1) for antioxidant potential, total phenolic contents, and total flavonoids contents, respectively. Based on the results achieved, we reveal the impact of the fermentation process on the nutritional value of the final product.

Elicitation of Submerged Adventitious Root Cultures of Stevia rebaudiana with Cuscuta reflexa for Production of Biomass and Secondary Metabolites

Stevia rebaudiana is an important medicinal plant that belongs to the Asteraceae family. The leaves of Stevia rebaudiana are a rich source of many health-promoting agents such as polyphenols, flavonoids, and steviol glycoside, which play a key role in controlling obesity and diabetes. New strategies such as the elicitation of culture media are needed to enhance the productivity of active components. Herein, the Cuscuta reflexa extracts were exploited as elicitors to enhance the productivity of active components. Cuscuta reflexa is one of the parasitic plants that has the ability to elongate very fast and cover the host plant. Consequently, it may be possible that the addition of Cuscuta reflexa extracts to adventitious root cultures (ADR) of Stevia rebaudiana may elongate the root more than control cultures to produce higher quantities of the desired secondary metabolites. Therefore, the main objective of the current study was to investigate the effect of Cuscuta reflexa extract as a biotic elicitor on the biomass accumulation and production of antioxidant secondary metabolite in submerged adventitious root cultures of Stevia rebaudiana. Ten different concentrations of Cuscuta reflexa were added to liquid media containing 0.5 mg/L naphthalene acetic acid (NAA). The growth kinetics of adventitious roots was investigated for a period of 49 days with an interval of 7 days. The maximum biomass accumulation (7.83 g/3 flasks) was observed on medium containing 10 mg/L extract of Cuscuta reflexa on day 49. As the concentration of extract increases in the culture media, the biomass gradually decreases after 49 days of inoculation. In this study, the higher total phenolics content (0.31 mg GAE/g-DW), total flavonoids content (0.22 mg QE/g-DW), and antioxidant activity (85.54%) were observed in 100 mg/L treated cultures. The higher concentration (100 mg/L) of Cuscuta reflexa extract considerably increased the total phenolics content (TPC), total phenolics production (TPP), total flavonoids content (TFC), total flavonoids production (TFP), total polyphenolics content (TPPC), and total polyphenolics production (TPPP). It was concluded that the extract of Cuscuta reflexa moderately improved biomass accumulation but enhanced the synthesis of phenolics, flavonoids, and antioxidant activities. Here, biomass’s independent production of secondary metabolites was observed with the addition of extract. The present study will be helpful to scale up adventitious roots culture into a bioreactor for the production of secondary metabolites rather than biomass accumulation in medicinally important Stevia rebaudiana.

Metabolomics Study of Flavonoids of Taxilluschinensis on Different Hosts Using UPLC-ESI-MS/MS

The goal of this study was to identify and compare the main biomarkers of Taxillus chinensis from different hosts. A metabolomics approach utilizing ultra-pressure liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS), including cluster analysis, sample correlation analysis and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis, was used to explore the flavonoid metabolites of Taxillus chinensis growing on different hosts. Results: The total flavonoids content (up to 30.08 mg/g) in Taxillus chinensis from Morus alba (CSG) was significantly higher than that from growth on Liquidambar formosana (CFG) or Clausena lansium (CHG) (p < 0.01). There were 23 different metabolites between CSG and CHG, 23 different metabolites between CSG and CFG, and 19 different metabolites between CHG and CFG. The results demonstrated that different hosts exerted a large influence on the metabolites of Taxillus chinensis; it was found that CSG differed from CFG and CHG in eleven metabolic compounds, ten of which were upregulated and one of which was downregulated. Most of these metabolites derive from compounds contained in the host plant, white mulberry (Morus alba); many feature potent anti-cancer effects. Differences in host can influence the type and abundance of flavonoids in parasitic plants such as Taxillus chinensis, which is of great significance to researchers seeking to understand the formation mechanism of Taxillus chinensis metabolites. Therefore, attention should be paid to the species of host plant when studying the Taxillus chinensis metabolome. Plants grown on Morus alba offer the greatest potential for the development of new anti-cancer drugs.