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Tropaeolum majus L. is an annual herbaceous plant and a member of the Tropaeolaceae family, which belongs to the Brassicales order. It is an excellent source of flavonoids, carotenoids, phenolic acids, vitamin C, and it is a plant that contains the glucosinolate glucotropaeolin. The major degradation product of glucotropaeolin is benzyl isothiocyanate which is known for its various biological activities. In this study, an essential oil was isolated from the seeds of the Tropaeolum majus L. altum plant by microwave-assisted distillation and analysed using the GC-MS technique. Two compounds were identified, benzyl isothiocyanate as the major one (97.81%), and 2-phenylacetonitrile as a minor one (0.80%). Tropaeolum majus L. altum essential oil and pure benzyl isothiocyanate were then submitted to the two-phase in vitro and ex vivo digestion simulations. The analysis performed by the GC-MS/MS technique showed greater stability of benzyl isothiocyanate from essential oil after in vitro (97.57%), and ex vivo (73.47%) gastric phases of the simulated digestion methods, compared to its stability after in vitro (71.17%) and ex vivo (54.90%) intestinal phases. A similar trend was shown for pure benzyl isothiocyanate.

Mustard seeds are used as a food, and spice due to their nutritive value, the presence of biologically active compounds, and specific taste. Its morphology was investigated by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy before and after isolation by hydrodistillation and microwave assisted distillation. The chemical composition of volatile compounds in different mustard seeds (Brassica juncea L. and Brassica nigra L.) was determined using GC– MS, after applying various techniques (Clevenger hydrodistillation, microwave assisted distillation —MAD, and microwave hydrodiffusion and gravity— MHG). Allyl isothiocyanate, degradation product of allyl glucosinolate, was the main volatile compound in B. juncea essential oils and extract after all applied extraction techniques (91.07– 99.01%). Gastrointestinal stability of allyl isothiocyanate was determined employing two-phase digestion model (gastric and duodenal) by two methods (in vitro digestion method using commercial and ex vivo digestion method using human digestive enzymes). The stability rate of allyl isothiocyanate was higher after the gastric digestion phase by both methods. In B. nigra seeds but- 3-enyl and allyl isothiocyanate were the main compounds after Clevenger hydrodistillation (80.58% and 15.39%, respectively). After MAD, and MHG the main compounds were 4, 5- epithiopentanenitrile (50.70% and 59.93%, respectively), and 3, 4-epithiobutanenitrile (7.61% and 25.97%, respectively), originating from the same glucosinolates, i.e. but-3-enyl and allyl glucosinolate, respectively. Antiproliferative activity of mustard seed EOs and extracts was evaluated against human cancer cell lines (MDA-MB- 231 and TCCSUP). The best antiproliferative activity was shown for B. nigra MHG extract against MDA-MB-231 cell line with IC50 value of 9.1 µg/mL.

The aim of the present research was to study the chemical profile of volatile and non-volatile compounds in freeze- and spray-dried oregano, thyme, sage, and rosemary as well as to study the gastrointestinal stability and the biological activity of the samples after encapsulation using two proteins (soy and whey). Chemical analysis was performed by HS-SPME/GC-MS and HPLC-PDA techniques. The antioxidant activity (FRAP, DPPH and ORAC assays) and HPLC-PDA analyses were performed before and after simulated two-phase digestion process (gastric and duodenal) using human gastrointestinal enzymes. The effect of protein carriers was depended on the plant matrix and the class of compound. Soy protein is useful for the protection of thymol and carvacrol content in thyme and the increase of the antioxidant activity of sage. Whey protein is useful for flavanols stability in all studied herbs before and after the duodenal digestive phase.

Blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum, L.) are a valuable source of health-promoting bioactive compounds, particularly polyphenols. The beneficial effects of polyphenols on health depend not only on food sources but also on their stability, which can vary depending on the post-harvest processing methods, the matrix in which they are incorporated, and endogenous factors such as microbiota and digestive enzymes. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of high-intensity ultrasound treatment on in vitro gastrointestinal stability of the total polyphenol content and antioxidant capacity of blueberries. Blueberry puree was treated with high-intensity ultrasound using different amplitudes (30, 45 and 60μm) and treatment times (3, 6 and 9 min), and a part of sample was used as a control (untreated sample). Total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant capacity (by DPPH and FRAP methods) were determined prior to and after two-phase in vitro digestion process (gastric and duodenal) using human gastrointestinal enzymes. The results showed a high stability of total blueberry polyphenols and antioxidant activity during simulated gastric digestion step, both in untreated and ultrasound treated samples. The use of high-intensity ultrasound had a significant effect on the stability of polyphenols and their antioxidant activity after simulated digestion in duodenum. Significant increase in polyphenol content after duodenal digestion step was determined in three ultrasound treated samples with longer treatment time (6 and 9 minutes), and only sample with significant reduction of TPC was untreated sample. Modification of the food matrix as a result of cavitation from ultrasound treatment may be the reason for higher stability of polyphenol during in vitro digestion. After in vitro digestion blueberry polyphenols still possessed antioxidant activity that may be directly related to their beneficial effects on health. The highest antioxidant activity measured with DPPH and FRAP method was determined for sample treated with maximum amplitude (60μm) and longest time (9 minutes). Determination of the stability of phenolic compounds is important as it affects their bioavailability for uptake as well as their possible beneficial effects on intestinal epithelial tissue such as reduction of oxidative stress and cancer prevention. Our results showed that ultrasound treatment can preserve the blueberry phenolics and their antioxidant characteristics after in vitro digestion.

Spectrophotometric and chromatographic analysis of phenolics in water and ethanolic extracts of wild asparagus, butcher’s broom and black bryony from Croatia was conducted. Their antioxidant capacity (ABTS, DPPH and FRAP assay) and energy content were determined. The gastrointestinal stability of detected phenolics was determined using a two-phase in vitro digestion method with human enzymes. The highest phenolics yield, radical scavenging activity and ferric reducing antioxidant potential were recorded in 40 % ethanolic extract of black bryony, with glycosylated forms of kaempferol as dominant components. Quercetin-3-O-rutinoside and isorhamnetin-3- Orutinoside were dominant phenolics in all wild asparagus extracts, and salicylic acid was predominant in butcher’s broom 40 % ethanolic extract. Phenolic acids of the three species were not stable during gastric and duodenal phases of simulated digestion. Two main black bryony kaempferol glycosides were best preserved after digestion (50 % of each). Black bryony contains more energy than wild asparagus and butcher’s broom. Accordingly, we propose black bryony as a valuable source of antioxidant kaempferol glycosides with relevant gastrointestinal stability and higher energy content than so far more conventional vegetable wild asparagus.

Here we report a comparative study of the pyhtochemical profile and a biological activity of the two onion extracts, namely A. cepa L. and A.× cornutum (Clementi ex Visiani 1842). Identification of flavonoids and anthocyanins and their individual quantities were determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The potency of both extracts to scavenge free radicals was determined by DPPH (2,2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radical-scavenging activity and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) methods. DNA protective role was further tested by single-cell gel electrophoresis (COMET) assay and by Fenton’s reagent causing double strand brakes on pUC19 plasmid. In the presence of both extracts, a significant decrease in the DNA damage was observed, which indicates a protective role of A. cepa and A.× cornutum on the DNA strand brakes. Additionally, cytotoxicity was tested on glioblastoma and breast cancer cell lines. The results showed that both extracts had antiproliferative effect, but the most prominent decrease in cellular growth was observed with glioblastoma cells

The use of micro- and nanoencapsulation technology represents promising field for the delivery of nutrients, their bioavailability increases and oxidative stability prolongation. The objective of this study was to prepare phenolics extracts from cultivated blueberry (raw, freeze-dried, pasteurized and treated with high intensity ultrasound) and to determine the rate of the putative prolongation of the oxidative stability of the olive oil by phenolics extracts in microemulsions and in liposomes. The droplet size of microemuslions was evaluated using photon correlation spectroscopy (PCS) and it was

In contrast to the strawberry fruits, strawberry leaves as a source of bioactive compounds with potentially beneficial biological effects have been largely overlooked. In this study we examined direct, dose dependent effects of wild strawberry (Fragaria vesca, L.) leaves aqueous extract, in two experimental models and animal species, the isolated guinea pig hearts and rat aortic rings. Vasodilatory potential of the wild strawberry leaves extract was compared with vasodilatory activity of aqueous extract of hawthorn (Crataegus oxycantha, L) leaves with flowers, which can be regarded as a reference plant extract with a marked vasodilatory activity. The extracts were analysed by their “ phenolic fingerprint” , total phenolic content and antioxidative capacity. Their vasodilatory activity was determined and compared in the intact, isolated aortic rings from 24 rats, that were exposed to the extracts doses of 0.06, 0.6, 6, and 60 mg/100 ml. Both extracts induced similar, dose dependent vasodilation. Maximal relaxation was 72.2 ± ; ; ; ; 4.4 % and 81.3 ± ; ; ; ; 4.5 %, induced by the strawberry and hawthorn extract, respectively. To determine vasodilatory mechanisms of the wild strawberry leaves extract, endothelium– denuded and intact rings exposed to NO synthase inhibitor L-NAME or cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin were used. Removal of the endothelium prevented and exposure to L-NAME or indomethacin strongly diminished the vasodilatatory response to the extract. In the isolated hearts (n=12), the wild strawberry extract was applied at concentrations of 0.06, 0.18, 0.6, and 1.8 mg/100 ml. Each dose was perfused for 3.5 minutes with 15 minutes of washout periods. Heart contractility, electrophysiological activity, coronary flow and oxygen consumption were continuously monitored. The extract did not significantly affect heart rate and contractility, main parameters of the cardiac action that determine oxygen demands, while coronary flow increased up to 45 % over control value with a simultaneous decrease of oxygen extraction by 34 %. The results indicate that the aqueous extract of wild strawberry leaves is an effective direct, endothelium dependent vasodilator, action of which is mediated by NO and cyclooxygenase products and which potency is similar to that of the hawthorn aqueous extract.

In the present study, the chemical composition and biological activity (acetylcholinesterase inhibition and antioxidant activity) of essential oil from endemic species Pinus nigra Arnold ssp. dalmatica (Vis.) Franco was investigated. α-Pinene, β-pinene, germacrene D and s-caryophyllene were identified by GC-FID and GC-MS as dominant components of the oil. P. nigra ssp. dalmatica essential oil showed relatively high inhibitory activity on acetylcholinesterase (AChE), which can be in relation with good AChE inhibitory activity of pure main monoterpene components of the oil (S-a-pinene) and their mixtures (S‑a-pinene:S-s-pinene and R-a-pinene:S-s-pinene, in ratio 3:2). Essential oil from P. nigra ssp. dalmaticadid not show significant antioxidant activity tested by three methods: DPPH radical scavenging method, Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Potential (FRAP) and Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Species (TBARS) assays. Key words: Acetylcholinesterase inhibition, antioxidant activity, essential oil, Pinus nigrassp. dalmatica, endemic species.