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In this study, the Nelumbo nucifera leaf polysaccharide (NNLP) was isolated by hot water extraction and ethanol precipitation. DEAE anion exchange chromatography and gel filtration were further performed to obtained the purified fraction NNLP-I-I, the molecular weight of which was 16.4 kDa. The monosaccharide composition analysis and linkage units determination showed that the fraction NNLP-I-I was a pectic polysaccharide. In addition, the NMR spectra analysis revealed that NNLP-I-I mainly consisted of a homogalacturonan backbone and rhamnogalacturonan I, containing a long HG region and short RG-I region, with AG-II and 1-3 linked rhamnose as side chains. The biological studies demonstrated that NNLP-I-I displayed antioxidant properties through mediating the Nrf2-regulated intestinal cellular antioxidant defense, which could protect cultured intestinal cells from oxidative stress and improve the intestinal function of aged mice.

In this study, two pectic polysaccharides from stems of Codonopsis pilosula (CPSP-1) and C. tangshen (CTSP-1) were obtained by ion exchange chromatography and gel filtration. The molecular weight of CPSP-1 and CTSP-1 were 13.1 and 23.0 kDa, respectively. The results of structure elucidation indicated that both CPSP-1 and CTSP-1 are pectic polysaccharides with long homogalacturonan regions (HG) (some of galacturonic acid units were methyl esterified) and rhamnogalacturonan I (RG-I) regions. Side chains for CTSP-1 are both arabinogalactan type I (AG-I) and type II (AG-II), while CPSP-1 only has AG-II. The biological test demonstrated that CPSP-1 and CTSP-1 displayed an antioxidant property through mediating the intestinal cellular antioxidant defense system, which could protect cultured intestinal cells from oxidative stress induced oxidative damages and cell viability suppression. CPSP-1 and CTSP-I showed different bioactivities and mechanisms, which may be due to the difference in their structures., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: The root bark, stem bark and leaves of Terminalia macroptera have been traditionally used against a variety of ailments such as wounds, hepatitis, malaria, fever, cough, and diarrhea as well as tuberculosis and skin diseases in African folk medicine. Boiling water extracts of Terminalia macroptera, administered orally, are the most common preparations of this plant used by the traditional healers in Mali. This study aimed to investigate the inhibition of the activities of α-glucosidase, 15-lipoxygenase and xanthine oxidase, DPPH scavenging activity, complement fixation activity and brine shrimp toxicity of different extracts obtained by boiling water extraction (BWE) and by ASE (accelerated solvent extraction) with ethanol, ethanol-water and water as extractants from different plant parts of Terminalia macroptera., Materials and Methods: 27 different crude extracts were obtained by BWE and ASE from root bark, stem bark and leaves of Terminalia macroptera. The total phenolic and carbohydrate contents, enzyme inhibition activities (α-glucosidase, 15-lipoxygenase and xanthine oxidase), DPPH scavenging activity, complement fixation activity and brine shrimp toxicity of these extracts were evaluated. Principal component analysis (PCA) was applied for total biological activities evaluation., Results: Several of the extracts from root bark, stem bark and leaves of Terminalia macroptera obtained by BWE and ASE showed potent enzyme inhibition activities, radical-scavenging properties and complement fixation activities. None of the extracts are toxic against brine shrimp larvae in the test concentration. Based on the results from PCA, the ASE ethanol extracts of root bark and stem bark and the low molecular weight fraction of the 50% ethanol-water extract of leaves showed the highest total biological activities. The boiling water extracts were less active, but the bark extracts showed activity as α-glucosidase inhibitors and radical scavengers, the leaf extract being less active., Conclusion: The observed enzyme inhibition activities, radical scavenging properties and complement fixation activities may explain some of the traditional uses of this medicinal tree, such as in wound healing and against diabetes., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Unlabelled: In Malian traditional medicine, aerial parts of Glinus oppositifolius are used in the treatment of many disorders, particularly inflammations and joint pains., Aim: The present study was initiated to investigate the antioxidant potential of Glinus oppositifolius., Material and Methods: Aqueous and ethanol extracts were prepared from the dried aerial parts. Both extracts were examined for the phenolic content and antioxidant activity. Total phenolic content was quantified by Folin-Ciocalteu method. Antioxidant activity was studied in vitro by evaluating the ability to scavenge different free radicals (ABTS, superoxide and hydroxyl radicals, nitric oxide) and to chelate ferrous ions., Results: Aqueous extract was found to contain a higher level of total phenols than ethanol extract (1.27 +/- 0.04 vs. 0.94 +/- 0.05 g GAE/100 g extract). Both extracts lacked the ability to scavenge superoxide anion radical but scavenged ABTS and hydroxyl radicals, nitric oxide and chelated ferrous ions in a concentration-dependent manner. According to the EC50 values, aqueous extract showed stronger antioxidant effects than ethanol extract (174.32 +/- 1.49 vs. 276.76 +/- 1.52 microg/mL in ABTS radical cation scavenging assay, 119.91 +/- 1.70 vs. 240.57 +/- 0.97 microg/mL in nitric oxide scavenging assay, 1.99 +/- 0.01 vs. 6.54 +/- 0.08 mg/mL in ferrous ion chelating assay). In hydroxyl radical scavenging assay, aqueous extract had an EC50 value of 0.86 +/- 0.00 mg/mL while the EC50 value of ethanol extract was higher than the highest concentration that was tested (3.75 mg/mL)., Conclusions: Our results clearly indicate the antioxidant potential of Glinus oppositifolius aerial parts and suggest that the antiinflammatory activity might be partly related to the antioxidant potential.

Wheat bran is a rich source of bioactive substances ascribed to its arabinoxylan component. Two water-soluble arabinoxylans were sequentially extracted from wheat bran. WB1, released during enzymatic digestion of starch and protein, contained medium-branched arabinoxylan (A/X=0.88) consisting of 3-O-substituted (22%), di-substituted (19.8%) and 58% unsubstituted Xylp residues. It was slightly contaminated with (1→3,1→4)-β-glucan and arabinogalactan, and free of protein. WB2 extracted with 0.5% NaOH contained ∼95% arabinoxylan (A/X=1.09). WB2 and two 5% NaOH-extracted arabinoxylans were rich in protein and phenolic compounds. All radical-scavenging assays indicated a relation with the protein and total phenolics contents. The protein-free WB1 displayed the highest hydroxyl radical scavenging effect indicating the distinct role of phenolic acids. The immunomodulatory activity of WB1 was somewhat lower, whereas, that of WB2 higher in comparison to the immunogenic polysaccharide PMII. The arabinoxylans have the potential as immuno-enhancing and antioxidant additives in functional foods., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The African flora contains numerous medicinal plants whose biological and chemical properties are incompletely known. Antioxidant and radical scavenging properties of plants are subject to intensive research. In the work described here, we have investigated the antioxidant activity of the plants Diospyros abyssinica (root bark), Lannea velutina (root bark and stem bark) and Crossopteryx febrifuga (seeds). Extracts of different polarity were assayed for radical scavenging activity, using the stable free radical diphenylpicrylhydrazyl, and for inhibition of enzymatic lipid peroxidation mediated by soybean 15-lipoxygenase. All plants investigated showed activity, but there were large differences between plants and between extracts. In general, Diospyros abyssinica and Lannea velutina were richer in antioxidants than Crossopteryx febrifuga. Lipophilic extracts were not active as radical scavengers, but did inhibit 15-lipoxygenase. Semipolar extracts (80% aqueous ethanol and methanol) of Diospyros abyssinica and Lannea velutina showed the highest activity both as radical scavengers and lipoxygenase inhibitors, and also gave the highest extract yields. These plants therefore appear to be excellent sources of antioxidants.

Ethnopharmacological relevance Mali is one of the countries in West Africa where the health system rely the most on traditional medicine. The healers are mainly using medicinal plants for their treatments. The studies performed being the basis for this review is of importance as they will contribute to sustaining the traditional knowledge. They contribute to evaluate and improve locally produced herbal remedies, and the review gives also an overview of the plant preparations that will have the most potential to be evaluated for new Improved Traditional Medicines. Aim of the review The aim of this review is to give an overview of the studies performed related to medicinal plants from Mali in the period 1995–2015. These studies include ethnopharmacology, chemistry and biological studies of the plants that were chosen based on our interviews with the healers in different regions of Mali, and contribute to sustainable knowledge on the medicinal plants. The Department of Traditional Medicine, Bamako, Mali, is responsible for registering the knowledge of the traditional healers on their use of medicinal plants and also identifying compounds in the plants responsible for the bioactivities claimed. The studies reported aimed at getting information from the healers on the use of medicinal plants, and study the biology and chemistry of selected plants for the purpose of verifying the traditional use of the plants. These studies should form the basis for necessary knowledge for the development of registered Improved Traditional Medicines in Mali. Materials and methods The healers were the ethnopharmacological informants. Questions asked initially were related to wound healing. This was because the immune system is involved when wounds are healed, and additionally the immune system is involved in the majority of the illnesses common in Mali. Based on the results of the interviews the plant material for studies was selected. Studies were performed on the plant parts the healers were using when treating their patients. Conventional chromatographic and spectroscopic methods were used for the isolation and structural elucidation of compounds. The compounds to study were selected based on the bioassays performed concomitant with the fractionation. Results Our results show that plants traditionally used as wound healing agents contain polysaccharides basically of pectin nature with immunomodulating activities. These pectins all have different and new structures. Several of the plants also contain compounds with effects related to antioxidant properties. These compounds are mainly of polyphenolic nature. Three of these are new compounds from Nature, while 32 was for the first time described from the plant they were isolated from. This review gives an overview of the most important results obtained during the 20 year long collaboration between Department of Traditional Medicine, Bamako, Mali, and Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, Norway. Conclusion Our studies showed that ethnopharmacological information is important for the determination of screening and chemical methods to be used for studies of plants used in traditional medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Platycodonis Radix is widely used as homology of medicine and food in China; polysaccharides are thought to be one of its functional constituents. In this study, a pectic polysaccharide, PGP-I-I, was obtained from the root of the traditional medicine plant Platycodon grandiflorus through ion exchange chromatography and gel filtration. This was characterized being mainly composed of 1,5-α-L-arabinan and both arabinogalactan type I (AG-I) and II chains linked to rhamnogalacturonan I (RG-I) backbone linked to longer galacturonan chains. In vitro bioactivity study showed that PGP-I-I could restore the intestinal cellular antioxidant defense under the condition of hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2) treatment through promoting the expressions of cellular antioxidant genes and protect against oxidative damages. • A pectic polysaccharide PGP-I-I was purified from Platycodon grandiflorus. • PGP-I-I contains long HG regions and AG side chains, with Mw of 27.9 kDa. • PGP-I-I promotes antioxidant defense of the intestinal porcine epithelial cells in vitro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacological relevance Syzygium guineense has been traditionally used in Mali in West Africa for the treatment of different diseases such as stomach problems, wounds, inflammations and various female disorders. Aims of the study (1) To perform an ethnopharmacological survey on the traditional use of S. guineense among Malian healers. (2) To isolate and identify chemical constituents from S. guineense leaves and to study their radical scavenging and enzyme inhibitory effects. Materials and methods In four different districts in Mali, 44 healers were interviewed about their medicinal use of S. guineense . A methanol extract of the leaves of this tree was prepared and further fractionated using different chromatographic methods. Isolated compounds were identified by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy. Extracts and isolated compounds were investigated as DPPH radical scavengers and as inhibitors of xanthine oxidase and 15-lipoxygenase, and the methanol extract was tested for toxicity towards Artemia salina nauplii. Results Major uses by Malian healers were against dermatosis, pain, malaria/fever and for wound healing. There was little consensus about the use in the different districts. Leaves were most commonly used. From the methanol leaf extract, the flavonoids gallocatechin ( 1 ), myricetin ( 2 ), myricetin-3- O -glucoside ( 3 ), myricetin-3- O -rhamnoside ( 4 ), myricetin-3- O -glucuronide ( 5 ) and myricetin-3- O -β-D-(6″-galloyl)galactoside ( 6 ), the gallotannins 1,2,3,6-tetra- O -galloyl-β-D-glucose ( 7 ) and 1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-galloyl-β-D-glucose ( 8 ), and the ellagitannins casuarictin ( 9 ) and casuarinin ( 10 ) were isolated. These ten polyphenols are all new for the species. The crude methanol extract was active as a radical scavenger and as an inhibitor of xanthine oxidase and 15-lipoxygenase. Among the isolated compounds, pentagalloylglucose was the best enzyme inhibitor (IC 50 25±4 μM for 15-lipoxygenase, 8±1 μM for xanthine oxidase), while casuarictin (IC 50 3.9±0.1 μM), casuarinin (IC 50 4.5±0.3 μM) and pentagalloylglucose (IC 50 5±1 μM) showed the highest radical scavenging activity. The methanol extract was non-toxic to Artemia salina nauplii. Conclusion S. guineense leaves are commonly used among Malian healers, however the traditional practice varies a lot between different regions. The leaves of S. guineense are rich in polyphenols; several are galloylated, either as galloylated flavonoids, gallotannins or ellagitannins. The high content of biologically active polyphenols might be important for medicinal effects of this plant and might give a rationale for the widespread usage of S. guineense in Mali. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Pectic polysaccharides have attracted great attention due to their health-promoting potential. From the Styrian oil-pumpkin biomass representing an alternative pectin source, two series of acidic polysaccharide fractions were isolated using in succession hot water, EDTA and dilute HCl. Chemical and spectroscopic (FTIR, NMR) analyses of the fractions revealed the predominance of partially methylesterified and acetylated pectins containing homogalacturonan and ramified rhamnogalacturonan elements, and a minority of phenolic compounds, protein and hemicelluloses. The pectins exhibited moderate antioxidant activities tested by colorimetric DPPH and FRAP assays and EPR method. The activities correlated with the total phenolic content. In the complement-fixing test, most of the pectin fractions exhibited potent effects comparable to the positive control – a pectin from Plantago major. The oil-pumpkin pectins represent potential antioxidant and immunoenhancing additives applicable in food and nutraceuticals. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]