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Nigella damascena L. is an annual herbaceous valuable medicinal and aromatic plant in the Ranunculaceae family. For the first time with this study, the effects of different fertilizer treatments on the total phenolic-flavonoid content and phenolic compound profile in N. damascena seeds were investigated. Also, cytotoxic activities of n-hexane and methanol extracts (0–300 μg/mL) from fertilized seeds against breast (MCF-7) and pancreatic (MIA PaCa-2) cancer and embryonic kidney (HEK 293) cell lines were determined. The highest total phenolic and flavonoid contents in the methanol extract of seeds were obtained from chemical-3 L/da (0.196 ± 0.03 mg GAE/g) and organic- 1200 mL/da (3.85 ± 0.04 mg QE/g) fertilizer treatments, respectively. Phenolic compounds identified qualitatively by HPLC-PDA in the seeds were epicatechin, p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, rutin hydrate, apigenin and naringenin. Fertilized seed n-hexane extracts caused greater cell inhibition compared to control and showed remarkable selective cytotoxicity against the two cancer cell lines investigated in vitro. However, even at the highest concentration (300 μg/mL) of all seed methanol extracts, 50% cell inhibition did not occur in both cancer and healthy cell lines. Results show that N. damascena seed extracts can be studied further in terms of having an anticancer agent potential. [Display omitted] • TPC, TFC, phenolic compound profile (HPLC-PDA) and cytotoxicity analyzes of the extracts were performed. • Fertilized samples were found to be rich in phenolic compounds by HPLC-PDA analysis. • N. damascena seed n-hexane extract was more toxic in cancer cell lines. • Extracts were more cytotoxic to the MIA PaCa-2 (human pancreatic cancer) cell line. • Fertilizer treatments of appropriate types and amounts can increase the phytochemical and pharmacological properties of N. damascena and other medicinal plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The seaweed extract (Ascophyllum nodosum) are used to reduce the negative effects of the seed aging. • Ellagic acid improve the effects of the seed aging in soybean. • The seed yield of soybean increased with the application of seaweed extract and ellagic acid. Loss of quality, viability and irreversible seed vigor over time due to seed aging is one of the main causes of reduction of quality and quantity of agricultural production. A wide range of secondary metabolites such as vitamins, growth regulators and antioxidant compounds were used to reduce the harmful effects of a variety of environmental stresses such as seed aging. These can be applied as seed pretreatment or foliar spraying of plants. To investigate the effect of seaweed extract (Ascophyllum nodosum) and ellagic acid on quality improvement of soybean, an experiment was designed and implemented in the field during 2019 and 2020. A factorial experiment was conducted based on a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Two sets of seeds (un-aged and aged seeds), seed pretreatments and foliar spray treatments with ellagic acid and the seaweed extract to plants produced from aged seeds were conducted at three levels (control (zero), 50 mg/L of ellagic acid and 0.3% seaweed extract). The foliar spraying is done to improve the vigor of plants produced from aged seeds. Seed aging reduced the final emergence percentage under the field conditions. Seed pretreatments with the seaweed extract and ellagic acid increased the emergence. The amount of malondialdehyde, the activity of lipoxygenase, flavonoids and anthocyanins content also increased in the leaves of plants grown from the aged seeds in the field conditions. Seed aging reduced glutathione content, protein yield and seed yield. However, seed pretreatments with ellagic acid and the seaweed extract increased protein yield by 27.2% and 53.4%, respectively. Seed yield in plants grown from seeds treated with ellagic acid increased by 28.2%. Seed yield increased by 53.6% with application of seaweed extract as seed pretreatment. Foliar spray of ellagic acid and the seaweed extract to plants increased protein yield by 20.6% and 21.5%, respectively. Thus seed pretreatments and foliar spray of ellagic acid and the seaweed extract countered the effects of accelerated aging of soybean seed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The need to reduce the use of chemical pesticides currently fosters great interest in eco-friendly biological control agents. In addition, the isolation of plant allelopathic substances and the evaluation of their phytotoxic effects can lead to the discovery of new natural herbicides. In this context, our study aimed to assess the herbicidal activity of ten crude extracts obtained from aerial parts of Tunisian spontaneous plants against Trifolium incarnatum, Silybum marianum and Phalaris minor. It confirmed that the Cynara cardunculus methanolic extract best inhibited weed germination and seedling growth, and caused necrosis or chlorosis. Following a bioassay-guided fractionation, five main phenolic compounds, (1) syringic acid, (2) p -coumaric acid, (3) myricitrin, (4) quercetin and (5) naringenin were identified in the most active crude methanolic extract. Then, only 3 of the flavonoids contained in the most active fraction were tested on Trifolium incarnatum. The 3 compounds had a significant phytotoxic effect and therefore could be employed in a new composition of botanical herbicides to control crop weeds. Besides, a novel herbicide composition was designed to improve the post-emergence activity of the methanolic extract. The formulation containing the C. cardunculus crude methanolic extract showed the same herbicidal activity as the standard industrial bioherbicide containing pelargonic acid. These results make C. cardunculus a suitable source of natural compounds potentially usable as natural herbicides. Image, graphical abstract • C. cardunculus extract had the best herbicidal activity among 10 plant extracts. • Five phenolic compounds were identified in C. cardunculus. • Myricitrin, naringenin and quercetin were the main active compounds in C. cardunculus. • Fraction 2 of C. cardunculus had the same herbicidal effect as biological herbicide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dates are known to have a wide range of biological properties due to their bioactive compounds and antioxidant activities. The majority of Moroccan varieties and clones are not characterised for their bioactive compounds and their contribution to the total antioxidant activity. The aim of this research was to investigate the biochemical properties and antioxidant activities of 17 dates varieties and clones from Drâa oasis (southern Morocco) which have not been characterised yet. The results indicated that the total phenolic content was found between 101.06 and 478.37 mg of gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/100 g of dry matter (DM), the total flavonoids levels are between 1.79 and 216.12 mg of quercetin equivalent (QE)/100 g of dry matter (DM), and condensed tannins values range is between 5.29 and 152.15 mg of catechin equivalent (CE)/100 g dry matter (DM), and the antioxidant activity ranged between 0.219 and 2.028 mg/ml for FRAP IC50, 2.411 and 9.738 mg/ml for DPPH IC50. This study showed that date fruit is a veritable source of functional nutrients and natural antioxidants. Therefore, Moroccan dates can be used as a food or functional ingredient in food products. • The Moroccan varieties and clones dates are rich in bioactive compounds. • The gallic acid is the most abundant phenolic acid in the studied dates. • The cultivars are characterised by an important antioxidant activity related to their phenolics compounds. • The antioxidant activity is correlated especially with caffeic acid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Mushrooms are excellent sources of nutraceuticals and have attracted much interest as functional foods. In this work the inhibitory capacity of six macrofungus (Coprinus comatus , Macrolepiota mastoidea , Agaricus campestris , Lycoperdon utriforme , Macrolepiota procera , and Leucoagaricus leucothites) against key enzymes related to diabetes type II (α-amylase, α-glucosidase), Alzheimer's disease [acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE)] was assessed for the first time. The antioxidant properties (total antioxidant capacity, metal chelating, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging assays) and phenolic contents of the selected mushroom species were also evaluated. We found that L. utriforme had the highest enzyme inhibitory activity (0.97 mg galantamine equivalents (GALAE)/g extract, 1.33 mg GALAE/g extract, 0.22 mmol acarbose equivalents (ACAE)/g extract, and 2.97 mmol ACAE/g extract against AChE, BChE, α-amylase, and α-glucosidase, respectively). A widely consumed mushroom species namely A. campestris possessed the highest phenolic content (15.63 mg GAE/g extract) and the maximum antioxidant potential against DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, and CUPRAC. Experimental data collected in the present study support the use of these mushrooms specially L. utriforme and A. campestris as functional foods for the management and/or prevention of diabetes type II, Alzheimer's disease, and oxidative stress related complications. Highlights • Mushrooms are excellent sources of nutraceuticals • Assess the inhibitory capacity of six macrofungus against enzymes involved in diabetes and Alzheimer's disease • Leucoperdon utriforme showed highest enzyme inhibitory • A. campestris showed highest phenolic content and antioxidant potential • These mushrooms could be exploited for the management human diseases [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Aloe barbadensis , A. vera var. chinensis , A. ferox and A. arborescens are the most widely cultivated and used aloe species due to their potential and potent bioactivity. In this study, clot lysis and fibrin plate model were used to assess the in vitro thrombolytic and fibrinolysis activity of protein and phenolic extracts, as well as three pure compounds (aloin A, Aloin B and aloe emodin) from aloe. Meanwhile, the phenolic compounds in aloe were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and LC–mass spectrometry (LC–MS). The in vitro thrombolytic and fibrinolytic activity assay results indicated that the protein and phenolic extracts of four aloe species had good clot lysis, fibrinolytic activity and enzyme activity, and aloin A and aloin B may be the main active ingredients. In addition, the chromatographic analysis shows obviously differences in components, such as aloenin A, isoaloeresin D and aloesin. Highlights • The differences in bioactivity of four species of functional aloe were comparative assessed for the first time. • Clot lysis and fibrin plate model were used for in vitro thrombolysis and fibrinolytic activity tests respectively. • The active ingredients of against cardiovascular diseases in four aloe medicinal species were investigated. • A simple method to simultaneous qualitative and quantitative analysis of the phenolic compounds in aloe was developed. • The differences of component of phenolic compounds in four aloe species were compared. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fatty acid composition, antioxidant capacity of phenolics and oil in cypselas of 10 Centaurea and two related taxa collected from various natural habitats in Turkey were investigated. Total oil (1.88–19.13%) and concentration of the major fatty acids which are palmitic acid: C16:0 (5.22–12.06%), oleic acid: C18:1n9 (8.57–30.29%) and linoleic acid: C18:2n6 (49.15–79.15%) varied significantly (P < 0.05) among the taxa. Polyunsaturated (PUFA, 49.15–79.15%), saturated (SFA, 7.24–19.06%) and monounsaturated (MUFA, 9.02–31.52%) fatty acids also differed significantly (P < 0.05). Concentrations (mg/100 g dw) of total phenolic compounds (TPC; 761.25–352.71 and total flavonoids (TF; 291.90–117.74) were strongly associated and correlated with antioxidant capacity (μmol/g dw) tested by using DPPH (55.52–144.61), FRAP (27.44–86.32) and CUPRAC (27.02–94.38). A higher content of TPC or TF reflected a higher antioxidant capacity, and a reduction in TPC indicated low antioxidant capacity. Relative proportions and quantities of fatty acids can be used as additional biochemical markers in the taxonomy of Centaurea . The current study also revealed that the consumption of these species that is rich in total phenolics and antioxidants would have several beneficial effects in terms of prevention of diseases caused by oxidative stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Australia is home to over 800 different species of Eucalyptus and traditionally, many Eucalyptus species have been utilised to heal wounds and treat fungal infections by the Indigenous people of Australia. In view of this, our study was designed to investigate the phytochemical, antibacterial and antifungal properties of crude aqueous extract of E . microcorys leaves. The freeze-dried powdered extract was prepared and the phytochemical profile was studied by analysing the total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), proanthocyanidins, antioxidants and saponins. The TPC, TFC and proanthocyanidin values found were: 501.76 ± 14.47 mg of gallic acid equivalents per g, 61.53 ± 0.83 mg of rutin equivalents per g and 10.76 ± 0.89 mg of catechin equivalents per g, respectively. The antioxidant values expressed in mg trolox equivalents per g of extract (mg TE/g) were: ABTS = 1073.13 ± 10.73 mg TE/g, DPPH = 1035.44 ± 65.54 mg TE/g and CUPRAC = 1524.30 ± 66.43 mg TE/g. The powdered extract was also evaluated for activity against three pathogenic bacterial strains ( Escherichia coli , Enterobacter aerogenes , Staphylococcus lugdunensis ); and three fungal strains ( Geotrichum candidum , Aspergillus brasiliensis and Candida albicans ) using the disc diffusion method and 96 well plate-based method with resazurin dye. The extract exhibited clear zones of inhibition against the tested bacteria and fungi. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values were demonstrated to be: A . brasiliensis = 2.44 μg/mL, G . candidum = 4.88 μg/mL, S . lugdunensis = 78 μg/mL, E . coli = 156.25 μg/mL, E . aerogenes = 312.5 μg/mL and C . albicans = 1250 μg/mL. These results reveal the significant potential of E . microcorys as a source of phenolics, antioxidants and antimicrobial agents and also highlight the necessity of further purification and characterisation of solitary bioactive compounds for their prospective applications in food, nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The leaves of Dilobeia thouarsii (Roemer and Schulte), a tree that is endemic to Madagascar (Proteaceae), are used in traditional Malagasy medicine to treat bacterial skin infections and wounds. This study investigated the in vitro antibacterial activities of D. thouarsii leaf extracts and identified the bioactive compounds with the aim of providing a scientific basis for its use against skin diseases. Using broth microdilution method for leaf crude extract and its compounds, we investigated inhibition of the growth of Bacillus cereus, Bacillus megaterium, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Vibrio harveyi, Vibrio fisheri, Salmonella Typhimurium, Salmonella antarctica, Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. The two purified phenolic compounds from leaf ethyl acetate extracts (1, 2) were found to be more active than the crude extract itself. The structure of the two compounds was elucidated by NMR and mass spectrometry: compound 1 was identified as 4-aminophenol and compound 2 as 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde. A marked inhibitory effect (MIC<0.1mg/ml) was found against S. aureus, which is a major agent in skin infections. We observed moderate activities (MIC values of between 0.1 and 0.5mg/ml) for E. faecalis, Vibrio spp., and Bacillus spp. Neither compound was active against Salmonella spp., E. coli and K. pneumoniae (MICs>1mg/ml). To conclude, the high antimicrobial activity of D. thouarsii leaf extracts against S. aureus supports its traditional use to treat skin infections. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]