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The pomegranate is an emerging functional food which is nowadays becoming more and more commercially attractive. Each part of this fruit (peels, arils and seeds) has a specific phytocomplex, rich in anti-oxidant and anti-radical compounds. Among these, punicalagin and ellagic acid continue to be widely studied for their numerous beneficial effects on human health (anti-inflammatory effects, anti-diabetes activity, cardio-protection, cancer prevention). Despite their exceptionally valuable composition and high adaptability to different climatic conditions, pomegranate fruits are highly susceptible to splitting during different stages of ripening, so much so that an estimated 65% of the production may be lost. A “zero-kilometer” approach should therefore be adopted to utilize such a valuable product otherwise destined to be downgraded or even incinerated, with a very high environmental impact. The aim of this work is to highlight and compare the compositional differences between whole and split pomegranates belonging to the cultivar Dente di Cavallo, grown in Apulia (Italy), to assess a valuable role for this split fruit usually considered as waste. The arils and peels are subjected to extraction procedures and the extracts analyzed by CIEL*a*b*, HPLC-DAD and HS-SPME/GC-MS. Moreover, an assessment of the inhibitory activity against α-glucosidase, acetylcholinesterase and tyrosinase enzymes has also been applied. The data show a better chemical profile in split fruits (namely 60% more anthocyanin content than intact fruit) with very interesting results in terms of α-glucosidase inhibition. The juices obtained by squeezing are also compared to commercial juices (“Salus Melagrana” and “La Marianna”) processed from the same cultivar and subjected to the same protocol analysis.

Studies have revealed more positive effects of berries’ components over the years, representing a growing trend in their consumption. Phenolic compounds, such as anthocyanins, flavonols, and phenolic acids occur in different concentrations depending on the berry type. Significant trends to exploit the beneficial compounds were collected, with mostly novel and environmentally friendly techniques, such as ultrasound, microwave, and high-pressure technologies. Abundant phenolic compounds present in different berries (raspberry, blueberry, goji berry, blackcurrant, strawberry, cranberry, and blackberry) were summarized based on up-to-date information and their beneficial health effects. The antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antihypertensive, and antihyperglycemic activities in vitro and in vivo were comprehensively reviewed. Recent studies allied to in vivo results and positive findings to reduce oxidative stress, for example, support that berries and their functional products represent a prominent economic potential to maintain human health and function.

Background Phenolic compounds have been studied for a variety number of bioactivities using in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo protocols. Most of the studies dealing with phenolic compounds deal with in vitro antioxidant, antihypertensive, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, antihemolytic effects in human erythrocytes, hypolipidemic, and antiproliferative activities. Scope and approach Companies have used the overall understanding of the beneficial effects of polyphenols to develop “functional” foods and ingredients. However, the main question that arises is still the target of warm discussions: Is the higher ingestion of phenolic compounds the best dietary strategy? Our commentary focuses on this question and we list some examples in which phenolic compounds show deleterious effects in vivo. Key findings and conclusions Two main conclusions arise: (i) any presumption of “functional effects” based on test-tube studies should be avoided as these results do not represent the real biological effect in humans; (ii) at high concentrations and in specific populations, polyphenols may have several potential adverse health effects presumably associated to their pro-oxidative capacity. All in one, the dietary supplementation containing high doses of polyphenols should be well justified in each case until a consensus is reached supported on medical, nutritional and toxicological data.

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease with autoimmune pathogenic characteristics and is caused by chronic inflammation, which results in uncontrolled keratinocyte growth and defective differentiation. The link between the gut microbiota and immune system regulation opened a novel angle to understand the pathogenesis of many chronic multifactorial diseases, including psoriasis. Current evidence suggests that modulation of the gut microbiota, both through dietary approaches and through supplementation with probiotics and prebiotics, could represent a novel therapeutic approach. The present work aims to highlight the latest scientific evidence regarding the microbiome alterations of psoriatic patients, as well as state of the art insights in terms of microbiome-targeted therapies as promising preventive and therapeutic tools for psoriasis.

Malolactic fermentation (MLF) or biological decrease of wine acidity is defined as the enzymatic bioconversion of malic acid in lactic acid, a process performed by lactic acid bacteria (LAB). The procedures for the isolation of new indigenous LAB strains from the red wines produced in Copou Iasi wine center (NE of Romania) undergoing spontaneous malolactic fermentation, resulted in the obtaining of 67 catalase-negative and Gram-positive LAB strains. After testing in the malolactic fermentative process, application of specific screening procedures and identification (API 50 CH), two bacterial strains belonging to the species Oenococcus oeni (strain 13-7) and Lactobacillus plantarum (strain R1-1) with high yield of malolactic bioconversion, non-producing biogenic amines, and with active extracellular enzymes related to wine aroma, were retained and characterized. Tested in synthetic medium (MRS-TJ) for 10 days, the new isolated LAB strains metabolized over 98% of the malic acid at ethanol concentrations between 10 and 14 % (v/v), low pH (>3.0), total SO2 doses up to 70 mg/L and temperatures between 15 and 35 °C, showing high potential for future use in the winemaking process as bacterial starter cultures, in order to obtain high quality wines with increased typicity.

Hot air drying has proven to be an efficient method to preserve specific edible plant materials with medicinal properties. This is a process involving chemical, physical, and biological changes in plant matrices. Understanding these processes will lead to an improvement in the yields of bioactive compounds. This study aims to optimize the drying process of two species’ fruits used in folk medicine, Berberis vulgaris and Crataegus monogyna. The optimized extracts’ antioxidant capacity was assessed using various assays, with the barberry extract showing very good activity (50.85, 30.98, and 302.45 mg TE/g dw for DPPH, TEAC, and FRAP assays, respectively). Both species exerted good fungal α-glucosidase inhibitory activity (IC50 = 0.34 and 0.56 mg/mL, respectively) but no activity on mammalian α-glucosidase. Additionally, this study identified and quantified the main bioactive compounds. The results presented herein are a breakthrough in industrializing this drying process. Additional studies are necessary to mechanistically understand the drying process involved in these plant materials. This work was supported by a grant of the Romanian Ministry of Education and Research, CNCS–UEFISCDI, project number PN-III-P2-2.1-PED-2019-5360.The authors are grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT; Portugal) for financial support through national funds FCT/MCTES to CIMO (UIDB/00690/2020), the national funding for F.C.T. and P.I. and through the institutional scientific employment program contract for M.I.D., and L.B. The authors are grateful to FEDER—Interreg España—Portugal programme for financial support through the project TRANSCoLAB 0612_TRANS_CO_LAB_2_P. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Ziziphus plants are well recognized for their nutritive and medicinal value worldwide, albeit their chemical profile has yet to be fully reported. The secondary metabolites profile of three traditionally used Ziziphus leaf accessions was investigated via ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to photodiode array and electrospray ionization mass detectors (UHPLC/PDA/ESI-MS). A total of 102 metabolites were characterized revealing the first holistic approach onto Ziziphus leaf metabolome and to include the first report of several novel flavonoids and cyclopeptide alkaloids. Fragmentation pattern for cyclopeptide alkaloids was proposed via ESI-MS. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed close metabolite resemblance among Z. spina-christi and Z. mauritiana leaf specimens found enriched in saponins and distinct from that of Z. jujuba in which quercetin-3-O-(2-pentosyl)-rhamnoside was most abundant. Further, in-vitro antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic assays revealed for Z. spina-christi and Z. mauritiana strong effects compared to Z. jujuba and in correlation with their metabolites repertoire.

The present study demonstrated the hydrolysis of peony seed protein isolate (PSPI) by using alcalase and resulted in the generation of an anti-oxidative peptide. In brief, a model was used to illustrate the enzymolysis of PSPI with the determination of kinetic factors as per investigation information. The model proved suitable to explain the PSPI hydrolysis by alcalase. A novel anti-oxidative peptide was obtained successfully by ultrafiltration and a series of chromatography techniques. Subsequently, a purified fragment was identified with the amino acid sequence of SMRKPPG followed by its synthesis and evaluation of its anti-oxidative activities. After hydrolysis, the peony seed protein hydrolysate (PSPH) with the degree of hydrolysis of 18% displayed the most significant antioxidant action which was further used to isolate the anti-oxidative peptide.

Background Consumption of mulberry leaves has been associated with better metabolic health in humans due to the presence of a biologically active plant metabolite, 1-deoxynojirimycin (DNJ). Although levels of DNJ is low in mulberry leaves, easy availability of DNJ through microbial production has greatly facilitated research examining its mechanism of actions. Scope and approach The present review sheds light on the recent trends in various routes of DNJ biosynthesis, its extraction methods, and its vital role in the management of non-communicable metabolic diseases. In the light of the previous research on DNJ and its health benefits, it is apposite to bring together the updated information and re-evaluate the important aspects of this important health molecule. Key findings and conclusions This review summarizes and critically analyzes merits of various methods for DNJ extraction and purification as well as different routes of DNJ biosynthesis. Also, this review looks into its role in the management of different non-communicable metabolic diseases. Finally, the possible role of DNJ as a potential candidate for functional foods is explored.

Background Phenolic compounds present multiple health benefits due to their various biological activities such as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, while also serving as functional food ingredients as they can substitute preservatives through their antioxidant and antibacterial activities. Unfortunately, many of such compounds are not only within cytosolic spaces but are also bound within plant cellular walls. Many extraction methods to this day are not able to access such compounds and thus obtain maximum yield levels. Enzyme-assisted extraction methods are currently one of the few types of methods capable of achieving this outcome, while also implying mild reaction conditions, substrate specificity, industrial applicability and other numerous advantages. Scope and approach The following study aims to provide thorough insights regarding these extraction methods in the hope of further familiarizing readers with these innovative extraction methods as they are currently yet to earn wide usage. Thus, a review of current available data selected from studies observing enzyme-assisted extractions of polyphenols as well as studies concerning enzyme-assisted extractions combined with other innovative chemical substances and/or instrumentations (such as ionic liquids, ultrasounds, microwaves, etc.). Key findings and conclusions Given the presented information, enzyme-assisted extraction methods enabled increased polyphenolic compound accessibility, allowing nearly whole plant matrix exploitation, through easily manipulable process parameters. Despite these highly appreciated advantages and high feasibility, enzyme-assisted extraction methods were found to be scarcely industrially implemented as a result of their novelty. Scientific papers such as this review attempt to encourage their understanding and popularization.

Background In the quest for a healthier and longer life, nutrition plays a key role. Tree nuts have a complex, health-promoting phytochemical profile, including proteins, mono and polyunsaturated fatty acids, polyphenols, vitamins, minerals, and the consumption of this food group can postpone aging and inhibit many age-related diseases. Scope and approach In this review we focus on the biologically active compounds from tree nuts and the mechanisms of actions their intake have on delaying aging and prevent diseases linked with aging. Key findings and conclusions Scientific findings recommend the inclusion of tree nuts into the diet of mature adults. The consumption of tree nuts can mitigate the pro-inflammatory effects of Western diets and diminish the inflammation by decreasing the levels of reactive oxygen/nitrogen species and inflammatory molecules. Tree nuts modulate the Nrf2/EpRE and NF-κB signaling pathways, present cytoprotection, stimulate antioxidant and detox enzyme systems, and reduce inflammatory conditions. Similarly to calorie restriction, tree nuts positively affect the same specific cell signaling pathways: down-regulate PI3K/Akt/mTOR and insulin/IGF-1, prevent mitochondrial dysfunctions, promote mitochondrial biogenesis and energy homeostasis. Tree nut intake can hinder the installation of senescence-associated secretory phenotype and have a senolytic capacity. Through the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory action, they are potentially anti-tumoral. By inhibiting mTOR signaling pathways, but also via epigenetic mechanisms, such as obstructing DNA methylation or histone and microARN modulation, nuts act as carcinogenesis inhibitors. Consumption of tree nuts can positively influence many risk factors associated with chronic diseases related to aging, improve and extend healthspan and lifespan.

Strawberries belonging to cultivar Clery (Fragaria x ananassa (Duchesne ex Weston)), cultivated in central Italy were subjected to a multi-methodological experimental study. Fresh and defrosted strawberries were exposed to different processing methods, such as homogenization, thermal and microwave treatments. The homogenate samples were submitted to CIEL*a*b* color analysis and Head-Space GC/MS analysis to determine the impact of these procedures on phytochemical composition. Furthermore, the corresponding strawberry hydroalcoholic extracts were further analyzed by HPLC-DAD for secondary metabolites quantification and by means of spectrophotometric in vitro assays to evaluate their total phenolic and total flavonoid contents and antioxidant activity. These chemical investigations confirmed the richness in bioactive metabolites supporting the extraordinary healthy potential of this fruit as a food ingredient, as well as functional food, highlighting the strong influence of the processing steps which could negatively impact on the polyphenol composition. Despite a more brilliant red color and aroma preservation, non-pasteurized samples were characterized by a lower content of polyphenols and antioxidant activity with respect to pasteurized samples, as also suggested by the PCA analysis of the collected data.

Averrhoa carambola L. is a tropical tree with edible fruit that grows at different climatic conditions. Despite its nutritive value and reported health benefits, it is a controversial fruit owing to its rich oxalate content. The present study aimed at investigating aroma and nutrient primary metabolites distribution in A. carambola fruits grown in Indonesia, Malaysia (its endemic origin) versus Egypt, and at different ripening stages. Two techniques were employed to assess volatile and non-volatile metabolites including headspace solid-phase micro-extraction (HS-SPME) joined with gas chromatography coupled with mass-spectrometry (GC-MS) and GC-MS post silylation, respectively. Twenty-four volatiles were detected, with esters amounting for the major class of volatiles in Egyptian fruit at ca. 66%, with methyl caproate as the major component, distinguishing it from other origins. In contrast, aldehydes predominated tropically grown fruits with the ether myristicin found exclusively in these. Primary metabolites profiling led to the identification of 117 metabolites viz. sugars, polyols and organic acids. Fructose (38&ndash, 48%) and glucose (21&ndash, 25%) predominated sugar compositions in ripe fruits, whereas sorbitol was the major sugar alcohol (2.4&ndash, 10.5%) in ripe fruits as well. Oxalic acid, an anti-nutrient with potential health risks, was the major organic acid detected in all the studied fruits (1.7&ndash, 2.7%), except the Malaysian one (0.07%). It increases upon fruit ripening, including considerable amounts of volatile oxalate esters detected via SPME, and which must not be omitted in total oxalate determinations for safety assessments.

In the present work, fourteen cultivars of Prunus domestica were analyzed to investigate their phenolic pattern with the purpose of using the leaves as potential resources of bioactive compounds in the pharmaceutical and food industry. Microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction and sugaring-out liquid–liquid extraction techniques were optimized in order to obtain an exhaustive multi-component panel of phenolic compounds. The best phenolic-enriched recovery was achieved using MAE in water:methanol (30:70), and this procedure was further applied for quantitative analysis of phenolic compounds in real samples. In order to prove the safeness of these extracts, the biological potential of the Prunus cultivars was tested by several in vitro antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory assays. Moreover, their cytotoxicity was evaluated on human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs), and in most of the cases the treatment with different concentrations of extracts didn't show cytotoxicity up to 500 μg/mL. Only ‘Carpatin’ and ‘Minerva’ cultivars, at 250 and 500 μg/mL, reduced partially cell viability of HGFs population. Noteworthy, Centenar cultivar was the most active for the α-glucosidase inhibition (6.77 mmolACAE/g extract), whereas Ialomița cultivar showed the best antityrosinase activity (23.07 mgKAE/g extract). Overall, leaves of P. domestica represent a rich alternative source of bioactive compounds.

Goji (Lycium barbarum L.) berries are emphasized as healthy food or are used widely as dietary supplements. In the present study, the antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory activities of berries extracts from two selected Romanian cultivars (cv. Erma and cv. Biglifeberry) have been evaluated. UHPLC-QTOF-MS analysis results revealed the presence of organic acids, phenolic acids, flavonoids, fatty acids (oxylipins), and spermidine derivatives. In particular, cv. Erma showed an important tyrosinase-inhibitory effect, whereas, cv. Biglifeberry had a superior antioxidant capacity. Particularly, results provided by the CUPRAC assay showed the highest antioxidant capacity values (26.91 mg TE/g and 35.41 mg TE/g, for ‘Erma’ and ‘Biglifeberry’, respectively). Toxicological properties of the extracts were evaluated with human embryonic kidney cells (HEK-293) using the cytotoxicity analysis platform iCELLigence, real-time and label-free impedance technology. No cytotoxic effects were observed in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Overall, Goji berries are a rich source of bioactive compounds with functional properties that need further risk/benefit evaluation when used in foods or health-promoting formulations.

This study gathers information about the effects of different extracts (methanol and water) from rhizomes and aerial parts of Iris schachtii on selected enzymes (cholinesterases, alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase, tyrosinase and lipase) as well as of their antioxidant capacities and antimutagenic properties in relation with their phenolic composition. The chemical composition was assessed by determining total phenolic and flavonoid content as well as individual phenolic compounds by HPLC-DAD. Moreover, antioxidant abilities of the investigated extracts were tested by using different assays including free radical scavenging (DPPH and ABTS), reducing power (CUPRAC and FRAP), phosphomolybdenum and metal chelating, overall rhizomes being indicated as a superior source of antioxidant compounds. HPLC analysis revealed the abundance of some phenolics including apigenin (2584 μg/g extract) and luteolin (2510 μg/g extract) in aerial parts extracts while rhizomes were rich in apigenin (4734 μg/g extract) and kaempferol (4214 μg/g extract). The methanolic extracts exhibited a high anti-lipase activity while all extracts presented a relatively high inhibition on α-glucosidase. Furthermore, interactions between dominant compounds from extracts and selected enzymes were investigated by molecular modeling studies in order to explain at a molecular level the interactions between selected compounds and active sites of the enzyme/s.

Tree nuts, complete functional foods, contain macro- and micronutrients of high biological value. These bioactive compounds have a synergistic effect in preventing and delaying many age-related pathologies (e.g. cardiovascular diseases, stroke, type 2 diabetes mellitus, certain types of cancer, and several neurodegenerative diseases). Tree nuts are low in carbohydrates, but they abound in healthy fatty acids, in optimal proportion for a good plasma lipid profile, and are a good source of proteins, rich in proteinogenic amino acids. They contain significant amounts of vitamin E, minerals, polyphenols, and phytosterols. Polyphenols, which are powerful phytochemicals, act as direct and indirect antioxidants, reduce the inflammatory response, improve proteostasis and mitochondrial biogenesis, modulate many cell signaling pathways, have a major role in cytoprotection, are Nrf2/ARE activators, down-regulate the NFκB system, promote anticancer potential, and prevent cell senescence. Some of them have senolytic effects, interfere in specific cell signaling pathways modulated by caloric restriction, and protect against UV radiation and photoaging. Moreover, tree nuts are good prebiotics and improve gut microbiota. The stability of polyphenolic compounds and their antioxidant activity can be influenced by cooking techniques, temperature of storage, and post-harvest processing methods. The consumption of tree nuts has been scientifically proven to improve lifespan and healthspan and should be a part of a healthy diet in the elderly.

Background Food choices represent a highly significant approach to combat human obesity. Dietary intake of lipids, especially polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids, is gaining popularity in the effort to reduce or eliminate the occurrence of obesity. Pecan (Carya illinoinensis) nuts are an abundant source of these dietary fatty acids. Moreover, they are a rich source of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a polyphenol with a variety of health-beneficial properties. Scope and approach In this review, we summarize the literature reports examining physiological effects associated with pecan nuts consumption and described effects of their bioactive constituents. Key findings and conclusions The growing body of evidence suggests including pecan nuts into obesity management strategies. The consumption of pecan nuts can mitigate inflammation by reducing the extent of the synthesis of inflammatory mediator molecules. Pecan nuts can also counteract the pro-inflammatory effects of a diet rich in commonly overconsumed saturated fatty acids, characteristic of the Western diet. Additionally, consumption of pecans and other nuts has been linked to reduced risk of physiological parameters associated with cardiovascular disease or metabolic disorders. Diets enriched with tree nuts and peanuts can modulate the blood level of cholesterol, adiposity, and insulin resistance. Almonds and walnuts have been so far the most studied nuts, and studies with them have led to a greater understanding of the protective effects of diverse tree nuts on human physiology. In this review, we summarize the available data indicating that pecan nuts exert similar health-promoting benefits.

In Eastern Europe, wild mushrooms are widely collected in mountain areas and used for their medicinal properties or as healthy foods. This study aimed at determining the chemical composition (nutritional value, free sugars, organic acids, phenolic compounds, fatty acids and tocopherols) and bioactive properties (antioxidant, antimicrobial and antiquorum sensing) of wild Polyporus squamosus (Huds.) Fr from Romania. The results indicate that the fruiting bodies of P. squamosus are rich in carbohydrates (74.22 g per 100 g dw) and proteins (18.7 g per 100 g dw). Trehalose was the main free sugar, while malic acid was the organic acid detected in the highest amount (2.21 g per 100 g dw), and p-hydroxybenzoic acid was the main phenolic compound. Among tocopherols, β-tocopherol was the most abundant form (114.7 μg per 100 g dw). Additionally, regarding the fatty acids' pattern, polyunsaturated acids represent more than 57% of all fatty acids, followed by monounsaturated fatty acids (24.96%). The highest measured antioxidant effect of P. squamosus extract was found using the TBARS inhibition assay (EC50 = 0.22 mg mL-1), followed by the β-carotene/linoleate assay (EC50 = 1.41 mg mL-1). A minimal inhibitory concentration of the tested extracts was obtained between 0.61-20.4 mg mL-1, while the bactericidal effect was achieved between 1.2-40.8 mg mL-1. Antibiofilm potential was obtained at all tested concentrations, and subinhibitory concentrations of the extract exhibited an antiquorum effect and reduced the formation of P. aeruginosa pili, which all together influenced the virulence of this bacterium. Due to the investigated bioactivities and compounds of P. squamosus and its well-balanced nutritional profile, this mushroom can be further used as a medicinal ingredient based on its antioxidative and antimicrobial potential. The authors are grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) and FEDER under Programme PT2020 for financial support to CIMO (UID/AGR/00690/2013), L. Barros research contract and A. Feitor (SFRH/BPD/114753/ 2016) grant. The authors are also grateful to the Interreg España-Portugal for financial support through the project 0377_Iberphenol_6_E. The authors are grateful to the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development for financial support (grant number 173032). info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Citrinin (CIT) is a mycotoxin which causes contamination in the food and is associated with different toxic effects. A web search on CIT has been conducted covering the timespan since 1946. The accumulated data indicate that CIT is produced by several fungal strains belonging to Penicillium, Aspergillus and Monascus genera, and is usually found together with another nephrotoxic mycotoxin, ochratoxin A. Although, it is evident that CIT exposure can exert toxic effects on the heart, liver, kidney, as well as reproductive system, the mechanism of CIT-induced toxicity remains largely elusive. It is still controversial what are the genotoxic and mutagenic effects of CIT. Until now, its toxic effect has been linked to the CIT-mediated oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction in biological systems. However, the toxicity strongly depends on its concentration, route, frequency and time of exposure, as well as from the used test systems. Besides the toxic effects, CIT is also reported to possess a broad spectrum of bioactivities, including antibacterial, antifungal, and potential anticancer and neuro-protective effects in vitro. This systematic review presents the current state of CIT research with emphasis on its bioactivity profile.

The genus Lathyrus has great importance in terms of food and agricultural areas. In this study, the in vitro antioxidant activity (phosphomolybdenum, DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, CUPRAC and metal chelating) and enzyme inhibitory activity evaluation (acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase, alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase) of L. cicera and L. digitatus were investigated, as, well as their phytochemical profiles. The screening of the main phytochemical compounds in aerial parts of L. cicera and L. digitatus was carried out by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization mass spectrometric detection (HPLC-ESI-MSn), observing that flavonoids represent the highest percentage of identified compounds, with abundance of tri- and tetra-glycosilated flavonoids, including acylated ones, especially in L. cicera. Generally, L. digitatus exhibited stronger antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory activities in correlation with its higher level of phenolics. The high number of phenolic compounds and the results of the antioxidant and enzyme assays suggest that these plants may be further used as sources of bioactive compounds, and for the preparation of new nutraceuticals. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Monophenols are widely present in a variety of foods including dairy products, fruits, coffee, rice, cereals, wines, and beers. They are primarily originated from plant materials and they are found either in the form of monophenol or their precursor. One major source of monophenols is wood. Monophenols exhibit a number of important physiological activities such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiviral, and antiinflammatory. In addition to their biological activities, monophenols play key roles in the flavor of foods. Some monophenols (thymol, eugenol, guaiacol, vanillin, 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde, etc.) are also known as the contributors to off-flavor. However, monophenols have not received much attention yet in assessing their exact roles in terms of biological activity as well as their role as flavor in foods and beverages compared to other plant-based natural compounds.

Goji berries are undoubtedly a source of potentially bioactive compounds but their phytochemical profile can vary depending on their geographical origin, cultivar, and/or industrial processing. A rapid and cheap extraction of the polyphenolic fraction from Lycium barbarum cultivars, applied after homogenization treatments, was combined with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analyses based on two different methods. The obtained hydroalcoholic extracts, containing interesting secondary metabolites (gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, catechin, sinapinic acid, rutin, and carvacrol), were also submitted to a wide biological screening. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents, the antioxidant capacity using three antioxidant assays, tyrosinase inhibition, and anti-Candida activity were evaluated in order to correlate the impact of the homogenization treatment, geographical origin, and cultivar type on the polyphenolic and flavonoid amount, and consequently the bioactivity. The rutin amount, considered as a quality marker for goji berries according to European Pharmacopeia, varied from &asymp, 200 to &asymp, 400 &micro, g/g among the tested samples, showing important differences observed in relation to the influence of the evaluated parameters.

Tree nut by-products could contain a wide range of phytochemicals, natural antioxidants, which might be used as a natural source for dietary supplements. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the phenolic and sterolic composition, as well as the antioxidant and other biological activities, of hazelnut involucre (HI) extracts. Experimental designs were developed in order to select the optimum extraction conditions (solvent, temperature, time) using turbo-extraction by Ultra-Turrax for obtaining extracts rich in bioactive compounds. Qualitative and quantitative analyses were performed by LC-MS and LC-MS/MS and they revealed important amounts of individual polyphenols and phytosterols, molecules with antioxidant potential. The richest polyphenolic HI extract with the highest antioxidant activity by TEAC assay was further evaluated by other in vitro antioxidant tests (DPPH, FRAP) and enzyme inhibitory assays. Additionally, the cytotoxic and antioxidant effects of this extract on two cancerous cell lines and on normal cells were tested. This is the first study to analyze the composition of both hydrophilic and lipophilic bioactive compounds in HI extracts. Our findings reveal that this plant by-product presents strong biological activities, justifying further research, and it could be considered an inexpensive source of natural antioxidants for food, pharmaceutical, or cosmetic industry.

The present study aimed, on the one hand, to improve the yield of microwave assisted extraction (MAE) of polyphenols from beech bark by using a design of experiments (DoE) approach. On the other hand, beech bark extracts (BBE) were characterized in terms of their phytochemical profile and evaluated for biological potential (antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, antimutagen, anti-&alpha, glucosidase, and anti-tyrosinase). The extraction time varies with the amount of extracted total phenolic content (TPC). The microwave power favors TPC extraction but in different proportions. The optimum conditions which gave the highest TPC (76.57 mg GAE/g dry plant material) were reached when the microwave power was 300 W, extraction time was 4 min, and the solvent was an ethanol&ndash, water (50:50) mixture. The practical value of TPC after a controlled experiment was 76.49 mg GAE/g plant material. The identified compounds were vanillic acid, gallic acid, epicatechin, catechin, protocatechuic acid, chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid, and isoquercitrin. The antioxidant potential of BBEs was demonstrated by in vitro experiments. The BBEs were active against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhimurium, Escherichia coli, and Candida species. All extracts were antimutagenic and expressed an inhibition on &alpha, glucosidase and tyrosinase activity. Regarding antimutagen activity, the assayed extracts may be considered to have low or no antimutagen effects.

Dietary supplements containing natural compounds, including resveratrol, are increasingly used as health improving products. The present study had three objectives, namely: the quantification of resveratrol by HPLC-MS in nine dietary supplements, the qualitative and quantitative assessment of 18 phenolic acids and flavonoids in the same supplements, and finally the measurement of the antioxidant capacity of these products. The content of resveratrol in commercial samples ranged between 22.8 and 104.7 % of the declared amount. The highest number of polyphenols that could be quantified in a dietary supplement was nine. The values obtained for antioxidant capacity suggest that resveratrol supplements containing below 10 mg of the stilbene have, even in the presence of other components, a very low antioxidant capacity which may be insufficient for an attainment of the desired antioxidant status. To our knowledge, this is the first HPLC-analysis cumulating the quantification of resveratrol with that of eighteen other polyphenols in dietary supplements, giving an in-depth overview of their composition and health benefits from the viewpoint of antioxidant capacity.

Schisandra chinensis is a widely-consumed nutraceutical providing advantageous nutritional and bioactive properties. This study aimed at characterizing the chemical composition and antioxidant capacity of S. chinensis fruits as well as the underestimated leaves and stems. A special aim of this study was to characterize the contribution of single constituents (lignans and further phenolic compounds) to the overall antioxidant activity using an HPLC-online TEAC approach. By using LC-DAD/ESI-ToF-MS, twenty-eight lignans and twenty phenolic compounds were identified. Among the 48 characterized components, twelve phenolic compounds were identified for the first time in Schisandra. Gomisin D was the only lignan being able to scavenge ABTS+ radicals, suggesting that not its amount but rather its chemical structure is responsible. Overall, clorogenic acid isomers and quercetin glycosides contribute to over 80% of the total antioxidant activity. This study indicates that leaves and stems of S. chinensis may be used for obtaining bioactive formulations and functional foods.

Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) is an important perennial grass in the Poaceae family cultivated worldwide due to its economical and medicinal value. In this study, a combined approach using mass spectrometry (MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy was employed for the large-scale metabolite profiling of sugarcane juice and its by-product molasses. The polyphenols were analysed via UPLC-UV-ESI-MS, whereas the primary metabolites such as sugars and organic and amino acids were profiled using NMR spectroscopy and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). UPLC/MS was more effective than NMR spectroscopy or GC/MS for determining differences among the metabolite compositions of the products. Under the optimized conditions, UPLC/MS led to the identification of 42 metabolites, including nine flavonoids, nine fatty acids, and two sterols. C/O Flavone glycosides were the main subclass detected, with tricin-7-O-deoxyhexosyl glucuronide being detected in sugarcane and molasses for the first time. Based on GC/MS analysis, disaccharides were the predominant species in the sugarcane juice and molasses, with sucrose accounting for 66% and 59%, respectively, by mass of all identified metabolites. The phenolic profiles of sugarcane and molasses were further investigated in relation to their in vitro antioxidant activities using free radical scavenging assays such as 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical-scavenging ability (DPPH), Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). In view of its higher total phenolic content (TPC) (196 &plusmn, 2.1 mg GAE/100 g extract) compared to that of sugarcane juice (93 &plusmn, 2.9 mg GAE/100 g extract), molasses exhibited a substantially higher antioxidant effect. Interestingly, both extracts were also found to inhibit &alpha, glucosidase and &alpha, amylase enzymes, suggesting a possible antihyperglycaemic effect. These findings suggest molasses may be a new source of natural antioxidants for functional foods.

Plant by-products can be valuable sources of polyphenol bioactive compounds. Walnut (Juglans regia L.) is a very important tree nut rich in biologically active molecules, but its septum was scarcely researched. Experimental data indicated a hypoglycemic effect of septum extracts, with almost no details about its phytochemical composition. The main objectives of this study were: (1) to obtain walnut septum (WS) extracts with high content in bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity based on an original experimental design, (2) characterization of the phytochemical profile of the WS extracts using HPLC-MS/MS, (3) evaluation of the biological potential of the richest polyphenolic WS extract. The variables of the experimental design were: extraction method (maceration and Ultra-Turrax extraction), temperature, solvent (acetone and ethanol), and percentage of water in the solvent. The first quantifiable responses were: total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, condensed tannins, and ABTS antioxidant capacity. The phytochemical profile of lyophilized extracts obtained by Ultra-Turrax extraction (UTE), the most efficient method, was further determined by HPLC-MS/MS analysis of individual polyphenolic and phytosterols compounds. It is the first study to assay the detailed composition of WS in hydrophilic and lipophilic compounds. The biological potential of the richest polyphenolic WS extract was also evaluated by FRAP and DPPH antioxidant capacity and the inhibition of tyrosinase, an enzyme involved in the browning in fruits and vegetables, skin wrinkles and aging. Conclusion: The phytochemical profile of the analyzed extracts proves that WS can be a valuable source of biologically active compounds (polyphenols) for food and/or pharmaceutical industry and warrant the continuation of current research in further evaluating its bioactive potential.

Different wild plants commonly used in folk medicine, such as different species from the genus Lathyrus, may represent new sources of biologically active compounds. Hence, a study of the composition and (bio)chemical behaviour of extracts from these plants may provide valuable information. To evaluate the phytochemical profile, and the enzyme inhibition and antioxidant activities of the aerial parts of L. pratensis and L. aureus, extracts from both plants were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization mass spectrometric detection (HPLC-ESI-MSn). The in vitro antioxidant activity (phosphomolybdenum, beta-carotene bleaching, DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, CUPRAC and metal chelating) and enzyme inhibitory activity (acetyl cholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase, tyrosinase, alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase) were also investigated for these Lathyrus species. Flavonoids and saponins were the main groups of compounds detected in the extracts from both plants. Generally, the methanol and water extracts presented remarkable antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory effects; all the observed results are critically discussed. The content of organic compounds and the antioxidant and enzyme assays suggest that these plants may be further used in phytopharmaceutical or food industry applications.

WOS: 000380098900032, PubMed ID: 27364042, The present study outlines a chemical characterization and further effects beneficial to health of edible Rumex scutatus and Pseudosempervivum sempervivum, in addition to presenting the antioxidant, enzyme inhibitory effects and antimicrobial properties of different extracts. The phenolic compounds composition of the extracts was assessed by RP-HPLC-DAD, outlining benzoic acid and rutin as major constituents in P. sempervivum and rutin and hesperidin in R. scutatus. Moreover, further biological effects were tested on key enzymes involved in diabetes mellitus, Alzheimer's disease and skin melanogenesis revealing an important tyrosinase inhibitory effect of Pseudosempervivum water extract. Moreover, both species possessed antimicrobial properties towards bacteria and fungi relevant to public health. Accordingly, we find that R. scutatus and P. sempervivum can be considered as novel functional foods because they are rich sources of biologically active compounds that provide health benefits., Selcuk University Scientific Research Foundation (BAP); Ministry of Education, Science and Technological development of the Republic of Serbia [173032], This study was supported by Selcuk University Scientific Research Foundation (BAP) and The Ministry of Education, Science and Technological development of the Republic of Serbia (Projects no. 173032).

L. barbarum L. is a widely-accepted nutraceutical presenting highly advantageous nutritive and antioxidant properties. Its flowers have been previously described as a source of diosgenin, β-sitosterol and lanosterol that can be further pharmaceutically developed, but no other data regarding their composition is available. The purpose of this work was to investigate the chemical constituents, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of L. barbarum flowers, as an alternative resource of naturally-occurring antioxidant compounds. The free radical scavenging activity of the ethanolic extract was tested by TEAC, two enzymatic assays with more physiological relevance and EPR spectroscopy. The presence of several phenolic compounds, such as chlorogenic, p-coumaric and ferulic acids, but also isoquercitrin, rutin and quercitrin, was assessed by an HPLC/MS method. The antioxidant assays revealed that the extract exhibited a moderate antioxidant potential. The antimicrobial activity was mild against Gram-positive bacteria and lacking against Escherichia coli. These findings complete the scarce existing data and offer new perspectives for further pharmaceutical valorization of L. barbarum flowers.

The current study aimed to identify and analyze the 100 most cited papers on the topic of nutraceuticals and functional foods. Scopus database was searched to extract bibliometric data. Two-thirds of the 100 most cited papers were reviews. Papers were mostly published in food science and nutrition journals, and one-third were published in seven journals, namely: British Journal of Nutrition (6), Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition (6), Journal of Food Science (5), Trends in Food Science and Technology (5), American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (4), Food Chemistry (4) and Journal of Nutrition (4). Topics with high citation counts dealt with prebiotics, probiotics, antioxidants and phenolic content. Hot topics with over 1000 citations per paper include bifidobacterium (1147), colon (1032) and lipid metabolism (1013). The United States and Europe were major places of origin. These results can serve as a quick benchmarking reference for researchers or general public members.

The chemical composition and biological properties correlation in several medicinal and aromatic plants is still underexplored, especially in its most common form of consumption as tisane. The present study aims to characterize the organic acids and vitamin E composition of five tisanes and their extracts by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled to a diode-array detector (HPLC-DAD) and HPLC coupled to a fluorescence detector techniques, respectively, and the phenolic composition by HPLC-DAD-ESI/MS (mass spectrometry by electrospray ionization). It also focuses on their bioactive properties, namely antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic, anti-tyrosinase, and anti-diabetic activities. A Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was performed in order to understand the correlation between the chemical composition and bioactive properties of the tisanes. The tisane 5 (T5) composed by lemon thyme, tutsan, cloves, and cinnamon, was the most promising mixture, presenting the lowest values for the lipid peroxidation inhibition, anti-inflammatory, and anti-diabetic activity. It also presented the highest concentration of phenolic acids (caffeoylquinic acids derivatives), and flavan-3-ols (catechin derivatives). Only the dry plants presented tocopherols. For the antihemolytic, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic activity, T2 and T4 (with lemon thyme) were highlighted as the best herbal mixtures. The PCA proved to be a valid tool to select the most promising tisane according to the bioactivity. These results suggest that the studied tisanes can be source of high added-value bioactive compounds with health-promoting effects and potential for application in the food and nutraceutical industries, among others. The authors are grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) and FEDER under Programme PT2020 for financial support to CIMO (UID/AGR/00690/2019); the national funding by FCT, P.I., through the institutional scientific employment program-contract for L. Barros and M.I. Dias contracts, and through the individual scientific employment program-contract for J. Pinela contract (CEECIND/01011/2018); to FEDER-Interreg España-Portugal programme through the project TRANSCoLAB 0612_TRANS_CO_LAB_2_P. This work was also funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the Regional Operational Program North 2020, within the scope of Project GreenHealth—Digital strategies in biological assets to improve well-being and promote green health, Norte-01-0145-FEDER-000042; and within the scope of the project “BIOMA—Bioeconomy integrated solutions for the mobilization of the Agro-food market” (POCI-01-0247-FEDER-046112), by “BIOMA” Consortium, through the Incentive System to Research and Technological development, within the Portugal2020 Competitiveness and Internationalization Operational Program. The authors also give thanks to the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of Republic of Serbia (451-03-68/2020-14/200007). The authors are also grateful to the Cantinho das Aromáticas company for providing the tisane samples. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

This work aimed to characterize compositional and bioactive features of Aloe vera leaf (fillet, mucilage, and rind) and flower. The edible fillet was analysed for its nutritional value, and all samples were studied for phenolic composition and antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, tyrosinase inhibition, and cytotoxic activities. Dietary fibre (mainly mannan) and available carbohydrates (mainly free glucose and fructose) were abundant macronutrients in fillet, which also contained high amounts of malic acid (5.75 g/100 g dw) and &alpha, tocopherol (4.8 mg/100 g dw). The leaf samples presented similar phenolic profiles, with predominance of chromones and anthrones, and the highest contents were found in mucilage (131 mg/g) and rind (105 mg/g) extracts, which also revealed interesting antioxidant properties. On the other hand, the flower extract was rich in apigenin glycoside derivatives (4.48 mg/g), effective against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MIC = 0.025 mg/mL and MBC = 0.05 mg/mL) and capable of inhibiting the tyrosinase activity (IC50 = 4.85 mg/mL). The fillet, rind, and flower extracts also showed a powerful antifungal activity against Aspergillus flavus, A. niger, Penicillium funiculosum, and Candida albicans, higher than that of ketoconazole. Thus, the studied Aloe vera samples displayed high potential to be exploited by the food or cosmetic industries, among others.

Cytinus hypocistis whole plant and its three different parts (petals, stalks, and nectar) were chemically characterised and their biological properties evaluated. A total of 17 phenolic compounds were identified, being galloyl-bis-HHDP-glucose the most abundant. All the tested extracts showed high antioxidant capacity, with the petals exhibiting the most promising results both in the OxHLIA (IC50 = 0.279 ng/mL) and TBARS (IC50=0.342 ng/mL) assays. For the antidiabetic and anti-tyrosinase enzyme inhibitory assays, the stalk extract presented the lowest IC50 values, 0.039 mg/mL and 0.09 mg/mL, respectively. Regarding antibacterial activity, all tested extracts displayed broad-spectrum microbial inhibition against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Similarly, all extracts displayed effective anti-proliferation activity against four tested tumour cell lines (NCI–H460, HeLa, HepG2, and MCF-7), with no toxicity observed for a non-tumour cell line. Considering the anti-inflammatory activity, the petals showed the highest nitric oxide inhibition (IC50 = 127 μg/mL). These results point C. hypocistis as a promising source of health-promoting biomolecules. The authors are grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) and European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) under Programme PT2020 for financial support to CIMO (UID/AGR/00690/2019). L. Barros, J. Pinela, M.I. Dias and R.C. Calhelha thank the national funding by FCT, P.I., through the institutional scientific employment program-contract for their contracts. The authors are also grateful to FEDER-Interreg España-Portugal programme for financial support through the project 0377_Iberphenol_6_E and TRANSCoLAB 0612_TRANS_CO_LAB_2_P. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Nowadays, it is very important to identify the traditional uses of different plants and to create the context in which new cultural or economic value is given to local resources. In this study, two wild fruits traditionally harvested in autumn in Romania were selected to investigate the effects of drying conditions on the chemical compositions and bioactivities exerted by the extracts and to select the best conditions in terms of air temperature and time of drying. The extracts obtained were assessed in terms of antioxidant capacity and enzyme inhibitory activity, and their main bioactive compounds were identified and quantified. The data presented in this article represent a step forward in applying this process on an industrial-scale. This journal is This work was supported by a grant of the Romanian Ministry of Education and Research, CNCS – UEFISCDI, project number PN-III-P1-1.1-PD-2019-1245, within PNCDI III”. The authors are grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) for financial support through national funds FCT/ MCTES to CIMO (UIDB/00690/2020); the national funding by FCT, P. I., through the institutional scientific employment program-contract for L. Barros, Maria Inês Dias and C. Pereira’s contracts; to FEDER-Interreg España-Portugal programme through the project TRANSCoLAB 0612_TRANS_CO_LAB_2_P; European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the Regional Operational Program North 2020, within the scope of Project Norte-01-0145-FEDER-000042: GreenHealth. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Six wild species (S. alba, S. conoidea, S. dichotoma, S. italica, S. supina, and S. vulgaris) from the Silene genera were tested for potential anti-enzymatic (acetyl cholinesterase (AChE), butyryl cholinesterase (BChE), tyrosinase, α-amylase, and α-glucosidase), antimicrobial (16 microbial strains), and antioxidant activity. An ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry method was used for phytochemical determination. Quinic acid, malic acid, protocatechuic acid, p-coumaric acid, and hesperidin were common in the six Silene species. All extracts showed higher antibacterial effects compared to streptomycin and ampicillin (except S. dichotoma). Antifungal agents, bifonazole (MIC 0.10–0.20 mg/mL and MFC 0.20–0.30 mg/mL) and ketoconazole (MIC 0.15–2.30 mg/mL and MFC 0.20–3.50 mg/mL) showed lower activity than the investigated Silene species extracts. S. alba inhibited AChE (2.00 mg GALAE/g extract) and BChE (1.0 mg GALAE/g extract). The results showed metal chelating potential ranging from 12 to 19 mg EDTAE/g extract, with S. conoidea being the most active, and S. supina the least. S. dichotoma showed the highest reducing potential against both cupric (154 mg TE/g extract for CUPRAC) and ferric (102 mg TE/g extract for FRAP) ions. Overall, Silene species could be considered as emerging interesting functional foods and sources of nutraceuticals with applications in the management of different diseases.

This study was performed to evaluate the in vitro antimicrobial and antioxidant activities and the phenolic profile of Eucalytus globulus Labill. and Corymbia ficifolia (F. Muell.) K.D. Hill & L.A.S. Johnson leaves. Both leave extracts contain significant amounts of phenolic compounds, mainly flavonoids. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of the phenolic compounds were performed using a HPLC/MS method. The main flavonoid was hyperoside and its highest amount was found in E. globulus (666.42 ± 5.02 μg/g dw plant material). Regarding the flavonol profile, myricetin was the dominant compound and its highest amount was found in C. ficifolia leaves (124.46 ± 0.24 μg/g dw plant material). The antioxidant activity was evaluated by DPPH, TEAC, hemoglobin ascorbate peroxidase activity inhibition (HAPX) and inhibition of lipid peroxidation catalyzed by cytochrome c assays, revealing an important antioxidant potential for both species. In the antimicrobial assays, C. ficifolia extract was found to be more active than E. globulus against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains with the exception of Bacillus subtilis. The results of the present study provide new valuable data regarding the bioactivities of these medicinal species.

Kudzu, the dried root of an important edible plant (Pueraria lobata), is used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for the important nutritional value strictly related to its isoflavone derivatives. These compounds characterize the quality of kudzu contained in different preparations, as pharmaceutical ingredient as well as dietary/food supplement (e.g. starch). The optimization of the isoflavones recovery, monitored by HPLC-PDA, through different innovative and conventional extraction techniques, e.g. microwave-assisted, ultrasound-assisted and conventional extraction, represented a suitable challenge in food industry and natural products evaluation. The impact on the isoflavone extraction by using an ionic liquid-assisted procedure was also considered. Furthermore, the inhibitory activity of the most representative isoflavones, isolated from kudzu, was evaluated using four isoforms (I, II, IX and XII) of human carbonic anhydrase (hCA) due to their role in several physiopathological processes.

WOS: 000402264000002, PubMed: 28588492, In this work, the biological and chemical fingerprints of three extracts (ethyl acetate, methanol, and water) from two Potentilla species (Potentilla reptans and P. speciosa) were investigated. Antioxidant, enzyme inhibitory, and cytotoxic activities were performed for the biological fingerprint. For the chemical characterization, total bioactive components, and individual phenolic components were determined using photometric and HPLC methods, respectively. The main identified phenolic compounds in these extracts were rutin and catechin. Methanol and water extracts contained the highest total phenolic and flavonoid content. The results of antioxidant assays showed that methanol and water extracts displayed higher antioxidant activity compared to the ethyl acetate extract. Generally, methanol and water extracts exhibited higher biological activities correlated with higher levels the bioactive components. For P. speciosa, the methanol extract exhibited the highest enzyme inhibitory activity (except BChE inhibitory activity). P. reptans exhibited also high antiproliferative activity against MCF-7 cells whilst P. speciosa had weak to moderate activity against both of A549 and MCF-7 cell lines. The results suggest that Potentilla species could be potential candidates for developing new phyto-pharmaceuticals and functional ingredients.

Representatives of the Achillea genus are widely used as foods or nutraceuticals. Considering the increasing demand for herbal dietary supplements with health promoting effects, the objective of this research was to evaluate the biological and chemical profiles of different extracts (ethyl acetate, methanol and water) obtained from three Achillea species (A. biebersteinii, A. millefolium and A. teretifolia). The antioxidant (free radical scavenging (DPPH and ABTS), reducing power (CUPRAC and FRAP), metal chelating and phosphomolybdenum), enzyme inhibitory (anti-cholinesterase, anti-tyrosinase, anti-amylase and anti-glucosidase) and antimicrobial (antibacterial and antifungal) effects were assessed to investigate their biological profiles. Moreover, the total phenolic and flavonoid contents were determined and LC-MS analysis was performed for the chemical profile of the investigated extracts. The LC-MS analysis revealed the presence of several caffeoylquinic acids in these extracts. Generally, the methanol and water extracts exhibited stronger antioxidant abilities, which correlated with the higher levels of phenolic compounds when compared to the ethyl acetate extracts. In addition, the best antimicrobial activities were obtained for the ethyl acetate and methanolic extracts. However, the ethyl acetate extract had remarkable enzyme inhibitory potential. On the basis of our results, Achillea species may be promoted as promising sources of natural agents and used for the development of nutraceuticals or functional food ingredients.

WOS: 000392591100009, PubMed: 28095717, Goji (Lycium barbarum L.) leaves are emphasized as a functional tea or as dietary supplements. The phenolic compound profile, antioxidant, enzyme inhibitory, antimicrobial, and antimutagenic activities of leaf extracts from two selected cultivars in comparison with wild-growing plants have been evaluated. HPLCDAD/ ESI-ToF-MS analysis revealed the presence of phenolic acids and flavonoids with chlorogenic acid and rutin being the dominant compounds in the cultivated plants, whereas rutin and kaempeferol-3-O-rutinoside for wild growing ones. In particular, cv. Erma contained the highest amount of chlorogenic acid and showed a strong tyrosinase-inhibitory effect. Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, and Penicillium funiculosum were the most sensitive strains when exposed to extracts from cultivated plants. Antimutagenic activity was evaluated by Ames' test. The tested extracts provided high protection against mutagenicity induced by 2-anthramine (2-AA) to Salmonella typhimurium strains TA 98 and TA 100 (max. inhibition (%) 88% and 74.2%, respectively). Overall, Goji leaves are a rich source of bioactive compounds with functional properties that need further risk/benefit evaluation when used in foods or health-promoting formulations., German Federal Environmental Foundation (DBU); European Social FundEuropean Social Fund (ESF); Human Resources Development Operational Program [POSDRU/159/1.5/S/136893], Andrei Mocan was financed by a fellowship supported by the German Federal Environmental Foundation (DBU). He is currently financed by a project under the frame of European Social Fund, Human Resources Development Operational Program 2007-2013, project no. POSDRU/159/1.5/S/136893.

WOS: 000424315700055, PubMed: 29169111, The Centaurea genus has great potential in traditional systems and has attracted much interest in the design of novel drug formulations. The present study was focused on the chemical fingerprints and biological properties of Centaurea drabifolia subsp. drabifolia and Centaurea lycopifolia extracts. Spectrophotometri c and LC-MS techniques were used to establish the chemical profiles of the studied extracts. Enzyme inhibitory potential was assessed against key enzymes linked to global health problems, namely neurodegenerative diseases (acetylcholinesterase), pigmentation (tyrosinase), and diabetes (alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase). The antimicrobial propensities of the extract were evaluated against 16 bacterial and fungal strains using the microdilution method. The antioxidant abilities were assessed using DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging, ferric, and cupric reducing powers, phosphomolybdenum, and ferrous metal chelation. The total phenolic compounds varied from 18.33 to 32.84 nigGAE/gextract.Total flavonoid content of the extracts were in the range of 2.88-22.39 mgRE/g extract. Methanol and water extracts showed stronger antioxidant abilities compared to the ethyl acetate extracts. However, the latter extracts were most efficient towards the target enzymes (except for tyrosinase). The water extracts also exerted considerable antimicrobial effects. Findings from the present work tend to support the idea that C. drabifolia subsp. drabifolia and C lycopifolia may be utilized as effective bio-resources for designing novel health promoting products or ingredients. It is anticipated that results amassed from this still will open new avenues for research and contribute towards establishing primary data on these species for designing novel phytopharmaceuticals. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved., Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development [173032], The authors are grateful to Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development for financial support (grant number 173032).

WOS: 000378173900029, Several bioactive compounds originate from natural sources and their uses are generally related with traditional or folk medicine. Synthetic drugs can have adverse side effects and, for this reason, the investigation of novel, safe, and natural-occurring products can account for the development of new drugs. The genus Centaurea L. is one of the most important genera of the Asteraceae family, containing more than 200 species in the Turkish flora, about 140 of which are endemic. The aim of the present work was to determine enzyme inhibitory potentials of two extracts (chloroform and ethyl acetate) from eight Centaurea species against cholinesterase, tyrosinase, amylase, and glucosidase. The total phenolics, flavonoids and condensed tannin contents were also reported for each extract. These components in the extracts varied according to species and extraction solvents as well as enzyme inhibitory effects. The highest level of phenolics was found to be in the chloroform extract of C. pulchella (119.23 mg GAEs/g extract). Generally, chloroform extracts exhibited stronger enzyme inhibitory effects as compared to ethyl acetate. Additionally, possible correlations with total phenolics, flavonoids, and condensed tannins content were also highlighted. This paper is the first report of the inhibitory capacities of the eight Centaurea species on the selected enzymes. The present results may be a valuable starting point in the development of new bioactive formulations., Selcuk UniversitySelcuk University, The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support given for this research from the Selcuk University.

The aim of this paper was to evaluate the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities and the polyphenolic content of Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. leaves and fruits. The leaves are an important source of flavonoids (35.10 ± 1.23 mg RE/g plant material). Qualitative and quantitative analyses of the polyphenolic compounds were achieved using a HPLC-UV-MS method. The main flavonoid from the leaves was isoquercitrin (2486.18 ± 5.72 μg/g plant material), followed by quercitrin (1645.14 ± 2.12 μg/g plant material). Regarding the fruit composition, the dominant compound there was rutin (13.02 ± 0.21 μg/g plant material), but comparing with the leaves, fruits can be considered a poor source of phenolic compounds. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by DPPH, TEAC, hemoglobin ascorbate peroxidase activity inhibition (HAPX), inhibition of lipid peroxidation catalyzed by cytochrome c and EPR spectroscopic assays, revealing a better antioxidant activity for the S. chinensis leaves extract. In the antimicrobial assay, S. chinensis leaves extract showed efficient activities against the targeted bacteria, being more active than the fruits extract. The results suggest the leaves of S. chinensis as a valuable source of antioxidant compounds with significant antioxidant activity.