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Background: Neolamarckia cadamba (Rubiaceae) is a well-recognized medicinal plant with recorded therapeutical attributes. However, a thorough assessment of active compounds in its fruits is lacking, limiting their use and valorization in pharmacological industries. Methods: Thus, this study investigated variations in the fruits' secondary metabolite (SM) profiles, as well as antioxidant activities in aqueous (WA) and ethanol (ET) extracts. Results: Liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry identified 541 SMs, of which 14 and 1 (di-O-glucosylquinic acid) were specifically detected in ET and WA, respectively. Phenolic acids (36.97%), flavonoids (28.10%), terpenoids (12.20%), and alkaloids (9.98%) were the dominant SMs. The SM profiles of the fruits in WA and ET were quite different. We revealed 198 differentially extracted (DE) metabolites between WA and ET, including 62 flavonoids, 57 phenolic acids, 45 terpenoids, 14 alkaloids, etc. Most DE flavones (36 out of 40), terpenoids (45 out of 45), and alkaloids (12 out of 14) had higher content in ET. Catechin and its derivatives, procyanidins, and tannins had higher content in WA. ABTS and DPPH assays showed that the antioxidant activity of ET was significantly higher than that of WA. Conclusions: Our findings will facilitate the efficient extraction and evaluation of specific active compounds in N. cadamba. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An electrochemical fingerprinting method was developed for the quality assessment and geographical origin discrimination of Kadsura coccinea fruit. The optimized conditions, using BRBS (pH 5.0) as the electrolyte, a potential range of -0.2 to 1.0 V, and a scan rate of 100 mV/s, yielded reproducible fingerprints with three main oxidation peaks corresponding to phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and lignans. Ethanol was identified as the most effective extraction solvent. The fingerprints exhibited strong correlations (0.8542 to 0.9317) with the contents of key compounds determined by HPLC. Chemometric analysis revealed clear differences among samples from different origins, with accuracies of 96.7%, 96.7%, and 95% for the discrimination of Hubei, Sichuan, and Yunnan samples, respectively. The proposed method demonstrates potential as a rapid, reliable, and cost-effective approach for the quality control and authenticity verification of K. coccinea fruit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a new method was developed for extraction and determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in biota samples. The biota samples were packed inside a porous membrane bag and subjected to ultrasonication-assisted solvent extraction. This method showed good applicability to both low and high sample weights. The effect of various parameters such as type and volume of extraction solvent, ultrasonication time, sample weight, and dimensions of extraction device on extraction performance was evaluated. The developed method showed a good linear range from 12.5 to 100 ng/g for all the selected analytes with correlation coefficients ranging from 0.9907 to 0.9999. The limits of detection ranged from 0.97 to 3.47 ng/g. The method's precision was assessed based on relative standard deviations, which were below 13.5% indicating an acceptable precision. The developed procedure used for determination of PAHs in biota samples is characterized by many positive features. The packing of dried biota samples inside the membrane bag is advantageous because it eliminates several steps such as filtration or centrifugation and further extract purification. As the samples are protected inside the membrane bag, they can be easily separated from the solvent extract after the completion of the extraction process by simply removing the membrane bag. Moreover, the membrane may hinder the transportation of macromolecules to the extract, thus resulting in a relatively cleaner extract. Due to its simplicity and excellent figures of merit, this method presents a better potential for routine analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in biota samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The present research describes the utilization of natural deep eutectic solvent in combination with ultrasound for the extraction of milk thistle polyphenols. The extracts obtained under different conditions were evaluated for their in vitro antioxidant activities and hepatoprotective activities in Albino mice (in vivo). Methods: The extraction parameters involving liquid-to-solid ratio (S/L), ethanol-to-natural deep eutectic solvent ratio (EtOH/DES), extraction time (t), and ultrasound treatment time were investigated and optimized to enhance the recovery of bioactives, their phenolic content, Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), and radical scavenging capacity (RSC). Results and discussions: The extraction of milk thistle polyphenols using glucose/citric acid (1:1)-based natural deep eutectic liquid coupled with ultrasound for 1.0min under an S/L of 6.2, EtOH/DES 9, and extraction time of 120.8min offered 35.89 ± 2.29 g/100 g of crude extracts, which were three-fold higher than that by conventional solvent extraction (CSE). Each gram of milk thistle extracts thus obtained comprised 377.93 ± 6.17mg GAE of TPC and exhibited 298.70 ± 3.06 μmol TEAC and 93.16 ± 0.58 percent inhibition of DPPH free radicals. In addition, the administration of milk thistle extracts obtained as given above at 25 mg/Kg body weight in Albino mice significantly (p ≤ 0.05) improved the liver function parameters at the end of treatment (7 days). Conclusion: Overall, it was observed that NaDES in combination with medium-level ultrasound energy (700 watt) might work as a sustainable choice to enhance the recovery of bioactive phenolics from milk thistle powder without compromising their antioxidant and hepatoprotective potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Bottle gourd is a good source of health-beneficial bioactive substances. This research aimed at evaluating the effect of different cooking methods (pressure cooking, microwaving, and frying) and extraction solvents (methanol, ethanol and butanol) on bottle gourd fruit phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity. The quantitative estimation of polyphenolic compounds, flavonoids and tannins was estimated by spectrophotometric methods. The antioxidative properties were evaluated using ferric thiocyanate (FTC), thiobarbituric acid (TBA), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) tests using the standard methods. Moreover, quantification of individual polyphenols was carried out by high-performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) technique. Frying and pressure-cooking thermal treatments were observed to be the best methods for retaining bioactive molecules. When compared to the raw counterpart, the retention level of total phenol content (TPC) in pressure cooked and fried samples was 23.8% and 13.3%, respectively. Similarly, antioxidant capacity in terms of FRAP was observed to increase by 47.26% after pressure cooking and 28.50% after microwave cooking in respect to the raw sample. The HPTLC results showed that this fruit has high antioxidant capacity and is rich in phenolic acid [gallic(17.83 mg g−1dwb), p-coumaric (6.70 mg g−1dwb)and vanillic (60.66 mg g−1dwb] and flavonoids [quercetin (24.64 mg g−1dwb) and myrecetin (20.73 mg g−1dwb].The chromatography indicated destruction and transformation of new phenolic compounds due to heat treatments. The correlation analysis revealed that flavonoids were much more responsible for their antioxidant activity. Cooking methods and extraction solvents affected the retention and recovery of polyphenolic compounds available in bottle gourd fruit. These findings offer valuable information for optimizing cooking techniques to preserve and enhance the nutritional and antioxidant properties of bottle gourd, making it a valuable fruit for a healthy diet. Pressure cooking could be the most suitable cooking treatment as far as retention of bioactive compounds like phenolic acids is concerned. Graphical Abstract

Currently, fennel bulb is becoming a highly demanded and consumed vegetable due to its licorice flavor and health benefits. Although the chemical composition of fennel essential oil has been extensively studied, the nonvolatile bioactive compounds of fennel bulbs have drawn less attention. Here, the phenolic profile and the antioxidant activity in terms of DPPH radical scavenging activity, reducing power, chelating ability of ferrous ions, and inhibition of lipid peroxidation were analyzed using four different fennel hybrid genotypes and three different extraction solvents (methanol, aqueous-methanol, and hot water). Antioxidant activity results revealed significant variation amongst fennel varieties (>3-fold difference for DPPH and reducing power and >2.7-fold for the inhibition of lipid peroxidation), with methanolic extracts exhibiting the highest antioxidant activity. Total phenol content peaked in the aqueous-methanol extracts, exhibiting a 2-fold difference across fennel genotypes. HPLC–PDA/MS analyses identified high levels of caffeic acid derivatives in hot water extracts, particularly in the commercial genotype. The therapeutic benefits associated with these compounds make it reasonable to use detailed phytochemical screening in fennel breeding programs to obtain varieties with new functionalities and thus higher added value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bottle gourd is a good source of health-beneficial bioactive substances. This research aimed at evaluating the effect of different cooking methods (pressure cooking, microwaving, and frying) and extraction solvents (methanol, ethanol and butanol) on bottle gourd fruit phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity. The quantitative estimation of polyphenolic compounds, flavonoids and tannins was estimated by spectrophotometric methods. The antioxidative properties were evaluated using ferric thiocyanate (FTC), thiobarbituric acid (TBA), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) tests using the standard methods. Moreover, quantification of individual polyphenols was carried out by high-performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) technique. Frying and pressure-cooking thermal treatments were observed to be the best methods for retaining bioactive molecules. When compared to the raw counterpart, the retention level of total phenol content (TPC) in pressure cooked and fried samples was 23.8% and 13.3%, respectively. Similarly, antioxidant capacity in terms of FRAP was observed to increase by 47.26% after pressure cooking and 28.50% after microwave cooking in respect to the raw sample. The HPTLC results showed that this fruit has high antioxidant capacity and is rich in phenolic acid [gallic(17.83 mg g−1dwb), p-coumaric (6.70 mg g−1dwb)and vanillic (60.66 mg g−1dwb] and flavonoids [quercetin (24.64 mg g−1dwb) and myrecetin (20.73 mg g−1dwb].The chromatography indicated destruction and transformation of new phenolic compounds due to heat treatments. The correlation analysis revealed that flavonoids were much more responsible for their antioxidant activity. Cooking methods and extraction solvents affected the retention and recovery of polyphenolic compounds available in bottle gourd fruit. These findings offer valuable information for optimizing cooking techniques to preserve and enhance the nutritional and antioxidant properties of bottle gourd, making it a valuable fruit for a healthy diet. Pressure cooking could be the most suitable cooking treatment as far as retention of bioactive compounds like phenolic acids is concerned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Neolamarckia cadamba (Rubiaceae) is a well-recognized medicinal plant with recorded therapeutical attributes. However, a thorough assessment of active compounds in its fruits is lacking, limiting their use and valorization in pharmacological industries. Methods: Thus, this study investigated variations in the fruits’ secondary metabolite (SM) profiles, as well as antioxidant activities in aqueous (WA) and ethanol (ET) extracts. Results: Liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry identified 541 SMs, of which 14 and 1 (di-O-glucosylquinic acid) were specifically detected in ET and WA, respectively. Phenolic acids (36.97%), flavonoids (28.10%), terpenoids (12.20%), and alkaloids (9.98%) were the dominant SMs. The SM profiles of the fruits in WA and ET were quite different. We revealed 198 differentially extracted (DE) metabolites between WA and ET, including 62 flavonoids, 57 phenolic acids, 45 terpenoids, 14 alkaloids, etc. Most DE flavones (36 out of 40), terpenoids (45 out of 45), and alkaloids (12 out of 14) had higher content in ET. Catechin and its derivatives, procyanidins, and tannins had higher content in WA. ABTS and DPPH assays showed that the antioxidant activity of ET was significantly higher than that of WA. Conclusions: Our findings will facilitate the efficient extraction and evaluation of specific active compounds in N. cadamba.

IntroductionThe present research describes the utilization of natural deep eutectic solvent in combination with ultrasound for the extraction of milk thistle polyphenols. The extracts obtained under different conditions were evaluated for their in vitro antioxidant activities and hepatoprotective activities in Albino mice (in vivo).MethodsThe extraction parameters involving liquid-to-solid ratio (S/L), ethanol-to-natural deep eutectic solvent ratio (EtOH/DES), extraction time (t), and ultrasound treatment time were investigated and optimized to enhance the recovery of bioactives, their phenolic content, Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), and radical scavenging capacity (RSC).Results and discussionsThe extraction of milk thistle polyphenols using glucose/citric acid (1:1)-based natural deep eutectic liquid coupled with ultrasound for 1.0 min under an S/L of 6.2, EtOH/DES 9, and extraction time of 120.8 min offered 35.89 ± 2.29 g/100 g of crude extracts, which were three-fold higher than that by conventional solvent extraction (CSE). Each gram of milk thistle extracts thus obtained comprised 377.93 ± 6.17 mg GAE of TPC and exhibited 298.70 ± 3.06 μmol TEAC and 93.16 ± 0.58 percent inhibition of DPPH free radicals. In addition, the administration of milk thistle extracts obtained as given above at 25 mg/Kg body weight in Albino mice significantly (p ≤ 0.05) improved the liver function parameters at the end of treatment (7 days).ConclusionOverall, it was observed that NaDES in combination with medium-level ultrasound energy (700 watt) might work as a sustainable choice to enhance the recovery of bioactive phenolics from milk thistle powder without compromising their antioxidant and hepatoprotective potential.

Featured Application: The results show that ultrasound can be successfully implemented for the efficient extraction of anthocyanins from blackcurrant pomace. From a circular economy perspective, this research is dedicated to the food and pharmaceutical industries to show that blackcurrant pomace, considered a waste, can be a very valuable raw material for obtaining anthocyanins or food coloring. The article provides information for the industry on what anthocyanin extraction parameters are best, taking into account solvent, pomace/solvent share, temperature and time. The industry is currently trying to manage the waste generated during juice pressing. Berry pomace is an especially rich source of many bioactive compounds. Blackcurrant pomace is particularly valuable because of the large amount of extractable anthocyanins remaining in the fruit skin. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) parameters on the content of anthocyanins and color parameters of blackcurrant pomace extracts. The pomace used for the study was very rich in anthocyanins—an average content of 853.2 mg/100 g fresh weight. The effect of temperature (25, 35, 45 °C), time (15, 30, 60 min) and material/solvent ratio (1:20 or 1:7) on extraction yield was analyzed. The extracts were obtained using two solvents: water–ethanol acidified with HCl and water acidified with citric acid. Either solvent type, as well as the other parameters of the extraction process, have an impact on the level of anthocyanins in the extracts. The lowest range of extraction yield (63–68%) was obtained for a 1:7 ratio with water–citric acid solvent. The highest range of extraction yield (74–93%) was obtained for a 1:7 ratio with water–ethanol solvent. The most efficient method was extraction in a water–ethanol solvent (50/50 v/v) acidified with HCl, at a 1:7 material/solvent ratio, at 35 °C, for 15 min, providing 93% process efficiency. A strong relationship (r > 0.991) was also found between anthocyanin content and color saturation (C*) or hue (h°) in the obtained extracts. Based on the E1% coloring strength results, all the extracts obtained can be considered strong colorants, especially those obtained with the water–citric acid solvent. Ultrasonic extraction can be successfully applied to extract pigments from blackcurrant pomace and obtain, for example, food coloring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Cannabis sativa L. is attracting worldwide attention due to various health‐promoting effects. Extraction solvent type is critical for the recovery of bioactive compounds from the plant, especially cannabinoids. However, the choice of solvent is varied and not adequately warranted elsewhere, causing confusion in involved fields. Objective: The present work aimed to investigate the effect of extraction solvent on C. sativa (hemp) with regard to cannabinoid recovery and phytochemical profile of the extracts, considering most of the related solvents. Methodology: The majority of solvents reported for C. sativa (n = 14) were compared using a representative hemp pool. Quantitative results for major and minor cannabinoids were rapidly and reliably obtained using ultrahigh‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with photodiode array detection (UPLC‐PDA). In parallel, high‐performance thin‐layer chromatographic (HPTLC) fingerprinting was employed, involving less toxic mobile phase than in relevant reports. Various derivatisation schemes were applied for more comprehensive comparison of extracts. Results: Differential selectivity towards cannabinoids was observed among solvents. MeOH was found particularly efficient for most cannabinoids, in addition to solvent systems such as n‐Hex/EtOH 70:30 and ACN/EtOH 80:20, while EtOH was generally inferior. For tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)‐type compounds, EtOAc and n‐Hex/EtOAc 60:40 outperformed n‐Hex, despite its use in the official EU method. Solvents that tend to extract more lipids or more polar compounds were revealed based on HPTLC results. Conclusion: Combining the observations from UPLC quantitation and HPTLC fingerprinting, this work allowed comprehensive evaluation of extraction solvents, in view of robust quality assessment and maximised utilisation of C. sativa. Extraction solvent selection is critical for the recovery of cannabinoids from Cannabis sativa L. and the phytochemical profile of the extracts. In this work, the majority of reported solvents for C. sativa extraction were compared. Combining results from UPLC‐PDA quantitative analysis with HPTLC fingerprinting, solvent efficiency towards specific cannabinoids was established, while extracts that are more comprehensive of all compound classes were revealed. Amid the sparsity of official guidelines, these results are highly relevant and may contribute to standardisation efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was aimed to evaluate the impact of extraction solvent on the phenolic content, total flavonoids content, and the antioxidant activities of acetonic, methanolic, and aqueous extracts of two lichen species: Evernia prunastri and Ramalina lacera collected from trunks of Argania spinosa using the ultrasound assistance extraction. Various in vitro antioxidant assays were utilized such as 2,2-diphenly-picryly-hydroxyl free radical (DPPH) assay, and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. All tested samples exhibited a good antioxidant activity, for the DPPH assay, the inhibition percentage ranged from 85±0.2% to 27±0.01%, the phenolic content ranged from 13.17±0.5 mgGAE/g DW to 3.31±0.3 mgGAW/g DW, and flavonoids ranged from 5.84±0.03 mgRE/g DW to 0.01±0.03 mgRE/g DW. This study demonstrates that the extraction solvent has a significant influence on lichens phenolic compounds and on their antioxidant activity, also showed that flavonoids contents are significantly correlated to antioxidant activity of studies lichens; moreover, it shows that ultrasound extraction in a good method to extract the lichens compound. This study suggests that lichens Ramalina lacera and Evernia prunastri could be utilized as natural antioxidant source. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Korean fir (Abies koreana Wilson) is traditionally used in folk medicine for its antibacterial, memory-enhancing, and anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, we evaluated the antioxidant and skin-whitening effects of the methanol and ethanol extracts of Korean fir needles. The extracts were tested for their antioxidant capacity using various assays, including radical scavenging (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, O2-, H2O2 and NO), SOD-like, ferrous ion chelating, and reducing power assays. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents were determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu method. The non-toxic doses of the extracts were determined by MTT assay using human malignant melanoma SK mel-100 cells, and the tyrosinase activity and melanin contents were measured using an enzyme-substrate assay. The results showed that the antioxidant activity of the Korean fir needle extracts increased in a dose-dependent manner, as confirmed by their radical scavenging activities in the 2,2-diphenyl-1-1-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) assays. The Korean fir needle extract significantly reduced tyrosinase activity and melanin content in a dose-dependent manner (p < 0.01), suggesting its potential use as a skin-whitening agent. The methanol extracts of the Korean fir needles exhibited significantly higher phenolic (8306 mg gallic acid equivalents/100 g) content, with higher superoxide (IC50 = 4.22 mg/mL) and nitric oxide (IC50 = 1.50 mg/mL) radical scavenging activities and inhibition of tyrosinase and melanin synthesis than those of ethanol extracts (p < 0.05). Overall, our results demonstrate the potential of Korean fir (Abies koreana Wilson) needles as a source of tyrosinase inhibitors and antioxidants for inhibiting melanin biosynthesis, which could have applications in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries.

Pectin extractable from okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) is known to have various food and non-food applications. The objective of this work was to investigate the effect of particle size of milled samples on okra pectin yield using two different extraction solvents. Phosphate buffer (PB) and citric acid solution (CAS) (at pH 6, temperature of 80°C and for 1 h) were used to extract pectin from 10 g of milled okra sample with varying particle sizes (0.5, 1 and 2 mm). Ethanol was added to the aqueous extract to precipitate the pectin. The crude pectin obtained was then freeze-dried and the % pectin yield was calculated. The average okra pectin yield when PB was used for extraction were 19.6±4.0%, 15.8±1.0% and 11.9±1.5% for 0.5 mm, 1 mm and 2 mm particle sizes, whereas that of the CAS counterparts were 32.7±8.1%, 25.6±0.8% and 35.6±5.5%, respectively. However, considering purity of the pectin extracts (PB > CAS), the present findings indicated that a higher pectin yield is achievable with 0.5 mm as the optimal particle size of okra pod powder using phosphate buffer as extraction solvent.

Oilseed cakes (OC) are natural sources of lignocellulosic biomass, produced every year in large amounts. In addition to their main applications as animal feed, plant or soil fertilizer, and compost, they present enormous potential for being used in biotechnological processes for the obtainment and extraction of valuable bioactive compounds. This work evaluated the effect of solid-state fermentation on the bioactive properties of extracts obtained from the bioprocessing of OC and evaluated the effect of solvents on the recovery of compounds with higher bioactive potential. A general decrease of EC50 values was observed for fermented extracts obtained using a mixture of water/methanol (1:1) as extraction solvent. A decrease in the minimum inhibitory concentration was observed for fermented water extracts compared to non-fermented. Additionally, growth inhibition of Listeria monocytogenes was observed when using aqueous methanolic fermented extracts. These extracts also exhibited a higher percentage of growth reduction against phytopathogenic fungi, and some extracts exhibited increased protection against genotoxic agents such as camptothecin and bisphenol A. It was demonstrated that bioprocessing of OC through SSF is an effective approach to obtaining valuable compounds with bioactive properties for use in the food, pharmaceutical or cosmetic industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Secamone afzelii (Roem. & Schult.) K. Schum (family Asclepiadaceae) is a creeping woody climber used to treat ailments in many traditional medicine systems. The present study aims to examine the antioxidant and enzyme inhibition activities of S. afzelii leaf using different compositions of methanol–water mixture as an extraction solvent. The extracts were characterized by HPLC-ESI-MSn in terms of chemical compounds. The in silico results show that compound 23 (quercitrin) has the higher docking scores among the selected substances and the MD simulation revealed that the interactions with the enzymatic pocket are stable over the simulation time and strongly involve the tyrosinase catalytic Cu atoms. All together the results showed that both 80% and 100% methanolic extracts contained significantly (p < 0.05) the highest total phenolics content while the highest content of total flavonoids was significantly (p < 0.05) extracted by 100% methanol. About 26 compounds were tentatively identified by HPLC-ESI-MSn and 6 of them were quantified using standards. Results showed that the extracts were rich in flavonoids with a relatively high abundance of two kaempferol glycosides comprising 60% of quantified compounds. The 100% and 80% methanol extracts recorded significantly (p < 0.05) the highest total antioxidant, DPPH and ABTS activity as well as tyrosinase and ⍺-amylase inhibitory activities. The best significant (p < 0.05) cholinesterase inhibitory activity and reducing capacity of Fe+++ and Cu++ was recorded from the 80% methanolic extract while 100% ethanolic extract gave the highest significant (p < 0.05) butyrylcholinesterase inhibitory activity. The best glucosidase activity was observed in the 50% and 80% methanolic extracts. Although the water extract displayed the least total phenolics and flavonoids content and consequently the lowest antioxidant and enzyme inhibition activity, it displayed significantly (p < 0.05) the highest chelating power. In conclusion, these results demonstrated the richness of S. afzelii leaf as a potential source of bioactive compounds for the food industry, for the preparation of food supplements and functional foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthocyanins are a major group of plant pigments that have antioxidant activities. Pigments play a major role in human health and have attracted a lot of attention globally. Many factors affect anthocyanin yields, such as solvent type, incubation time, solvent-to-sample ratio, sample type, and temperature. The first parameter was tested, and the rest were considered constant in this experiment. A total of nine organic and water-based solvents (methanol and chloroform: methanol, acetone, ethanol, water) and their combinations were compared to extract anthocyanins from freshly-pureed strawberries. Solvents changed anthocyanin yield, color parameters, and profile. The color parameters of a* values lower than 30, L* values higher than 85, hue angle more than 40, and chroma less than 30 indicated some color degradation in strawberry anthocyanins. Therefore, the best solvents for anthocyanin assessment were methanol and methanol: water. The second-best solvent was the pH differential buffers. Other solvents such as ethanol, chloroform: methanol, water, and water-based solvents extracted considerable amounts of anthocyanins; however, they showed some degree of color degradation, evidenced by the color parameters. Acetone did not yield a stable extract which degraded over 48 h of storage at 4 °C. The extraction solvent determined the main anthocyanin of the anthocyanins profile. Pelargonidin was the major anthocyanin in chloroform: methanol solvent, while delphinidin was dominant in all other solvents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Rumex abyssinicus is a medicinal plant widely to treat numerous diseases. • Different parts of the plant and methods have been used for the extraction and isolation of secondary metabolites. • Anthraquinones and terpenoids are the major classes of compounds mostly isolated from the plant, in addition to flavonoids, acids and ceramides. • Phytochemicals of the plant have been shown to exhibit significant pharmacological effects in vitro and in vivo. Throughout history, humans have used plants and plant-derived medicines to treat different diseases. Medicinal plants are used to manage a wide range of ailments and have played an essential role in discovering new drugs. Herbal medicines have been reported as promising due to their rich secondary metabolites profile, and many registered new drugs are derived from natural products or their derivatives. Rumex abyssinicus is a flowering plant widely spread in the highlands of tropical Africa. The plant has been used in traditional medicine to treat numerous diseases and has also found applications in textile, tanning, and allied industries. R. abyssinicus is known to produce different classes of secondary metabolites with significant pharmacological effects, including anthraquinones, acids, terpenoids, ceramides, and flavonoids. Their pharmacological potential includes anticancer, antimicrobial, anti-oxidant, antiviral, antileishmanial, anti-Alzheimer, anti-diabetic, antimalarial, anti-inflammatory, wound healing, and nephroprotective effects. This review highlights the investigation carried out on Rumex abyssinicus , focusing mostly on its phytoconstituents, extraction procedure, and their reported pharmacological activities. We also discussed different parts of the plant used to prepare extracts and isolate secondary metabolites from the plant. This investigation demonstrated that R. abyssinicus, a plant widely used in herbal medicine and of pharmacological importance, has yet to be explored enough and thus constitutes an important standpoint for future research in the isolation and identification of novel phytochemicals. In addition, isolated compounds constitute potential candidates that could be explored and developed as potent drugs used in the treatment of various ailments like cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer, infectious and inflammatory diseases. Although, this medicinal plant has to be explored; "green extraction" of its high-value phytochemicals is recommended for the safety of ecosystem and conservation of the plant species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To develop and validate HPLC and UV-visible spectroscopy methods for the determination of Thymoquinone (TMQ) content in different solvent extracts of N. sativa L. seed. The evaluation of the free radical scavenging effect of different solvent extracts of TMQ was investigated. Extraction of solvent was done by adding 20 mL of the solvent (hexane, methanol, ethanol, ethyl acetate, and water) to 1 g of blackseed and in a conical flask, respectively. The mixtures were then incubated in a water bath at 40°C for 2 and 4 h, respectively. The mixtures were then centrifuged at 4000 rpm for 10 min at 4°C. The extracts were then quantitatively analyzed using HPLC and UV-visible spectrophotometry. The free radical scavenging activity of TMQ extracts was studied using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. The results obtained from HPLC indicate that TMQ extracted using hexane at 4 h (0.075 mg/mL, P <0.05) was significantly higher compared to other extraction solvents used. The results obtained from UV-vis spectroscopy analysis indicate that the methanol extract at 4 h (0.00957 mg/mL, P <0.05) was significantly higher compared to other extraction solvents used. Methanol extracts at 2 h showed the highest free radical scavenging activity (95.8%) compared to other extraction solvents. The results obtained show that hexane extracted the most TMQ at 4 h. Methanol extract demonstrated the highest free radical scavenging activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The industry is currently trying to manage the waste generated during juice pressing. Berry pomace is an especially rich source of many bioactive compounds. Blackcurrant pomace is particularly valuable because of the large amount of extractable anthocyanins remaining in the fruit skin. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) parameters on the content of anthocyanins and color parameters of blackcurrant pomace extracts. The pomace used for the study was very rich in anthocyanins—an average content of 853.2 mg/100 g fresh weight. The effect of temperature (25, 35, 45 °C), time (15, 30, 60 min) and material/solvent ratio (1:20 or 1:7) on extraction yield was analyzed. The extracts were obtained using two solvents: water–ethanol acidified with HCl and water acidified with citric acid. Either solvent type, as well as the other parameters of the extraction process, have an impact on the level of anthocyanins in the extracts. The lowest range of extraction yield (63–68%) was obtained for a 1:7 ratio with water–citric acid solvent. The highest range of extraction yield (74–93%) was obtained for a 1:7 ratio with water–ethanol solvent. The most efficient method was extraction in a water–ethanol solvent (50/50 v/v) acidified with HCl, at a 1:7 material/solvent ratio, at 35 °C, for 15 min, providing 93% process efficiency. A strong relationship (r > 0.991) was also found between anthocyanin content and color saturation (C*) or hue (h°) in the obtained extracts. Based on the E1% coloring strength results, all the extracts obtained can be considered strong colorants, especially those obtained with the water–citric acid solvent. Ultrasonic extraction can be successfully applied to extract pigments from blackcurrant pomace and obtain, for example, food coloring.

Abstract Background Chrysophyllum albidum is a well-known medicinal plant in Africa and has many medicinal properties. This study investigated the effect of sonication, solvent polarity (acetone and ethanol), and plant matrix (bark and seeds) on the antioxidant property of C. albidum. The bark of C. albidum was subjected to sonication and soaking with acetone to evaluate the effect of sonication on the antioxidant property, and C. albidum bark and seeds were subjected to ultrasonic-assisted extraction of acetone and ethanol to evaluate the effect of solvents and plant matrix on the antioxidant property of C. albidum. The phytochemical composition, total flavonoid content, total antioxidant activity, total phenol content, lipid peroxidation (LPO) inhibition activity, nitric oxide, and 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radicals scavenging activities were evaluated in all extracts. Results Sonication increased the percentage yield of extracts compared to maceration. Flavonoids and terpenoids were present, while saponins were absent in all extracts evaluated. Ultrasound-assisted extraction increased C. albidum antioxidant property compared to maceration. Ethanol was the most suitable solvent for C. albidum bark, while acetone was the most suitable solvent for C. albidum seeds. C. albidum bark extracts were most active as free radical scavengers, while the seed extracts were most active as inhibitors of lipid peroxidation. Conclusions Extraction technique, extraction solvent, and plant matrix significantly affect the antioxidant properties of C. albidum. This study indicates that the selection of an effective extraction process for medicinal plants depends on the phytochemical compound responsible for the biological activity of interest.

Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) is a popular culinary herb used in the Eastern culture. The essential cultivar of the Zingiber genus is rich in antioxidants and is crucial in the fight against oxidative stress-related diseases. The antioxidant properties of dried ginger were evaluated and compared for their efficacy from different drying processes (sun-, oven-, vacuum- and freeze-drying) and using three extraction solvents: hot water, aqueous ethanol (80%, v/v) and ethanol. The drying process demonstrated a positive effect on the antioxidant activities of ginger. A significant difference (p < 0.05) was observed in the extracting ability of each solvent. Sun-dried ginger extracted with ethanol performed better than the fresh ginger extract in the form of increased yield (3.04-fold), TFC values (12.25-fold), reducing power (FRAP) (15.35-fold), total antioxidant activity (TAA) (6.82-fold) and inhibition of ABTS•+ radical cation (3.51-fold) and DPPH• radical (95%). Meanwhile, freeze-dried aqueous ginger extracts demonstrated significantly higher TPC (1.66-fold), TFC (3.71-fold), FRAP (3.26-fold), TAA (2.97-fold), ABTS•+ scavenging activity (1.48-fold) and DPPH• radical inhibition (77%), compared to fresh ginger extracts. In addition, it was found that ethanol was significantly superior to aqueous ethanol in phenolic content recovery, despite the lower yield. Furthermore, ethanol ginger extracts exhibited higher antioxidant activity than aqueous ethanol extracts. On the other hand, hot water was the least potent solvent for extraction. In summary, there was an excellent correlation between TPC, TFC and antioxidant activity. Sun-drying is the most desirable method for preserving and enhancing ginger quality due to its cost effectiveness and bioactive compound efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sambiloto (Andrographis paniculata) is widely used as a medicinal plant for Indonesians. The content of extracted bioactive compounds is affected by the polarity of the extraction solvent. This study aims to determine the effect of extraction solvent on the chromatographic profile of Sambiloto herb, especially terpenoid group using the TLC-Spectrophotodensitometry method. Sambiloto herb was extracted by sonication method using methanol, ethanol, ethyl acetate, and chloroform as the solvents. Chromatographic profiles were identified by stationary phase of TLC silica gel GF254 plate and a mobile phase of chloroform:methanol (10:1 v/v), observed visually, and scanned at 210 nm. The plate was sprayed with anisadehyd-sulfuric acid reagent and observed visually. The compounds that belong to terpenoid compounds, namely S2, S5, S8, S11, and S12, had a greater percentage of peak area than the total area so that they were categorized as major components. The extraction solvent for Sambiloto herb that provides the best chromatographic profiles was found in the solvent of methanol extraction.

The antioxidant capacity is the combined free radical scavenging effect of all antioxidant compounds found in the studied system. There is a growing need for accurate, numerical determination of this capacity (for easier comparison), so there are many analytical procedures, methods, and measurement systems available to researchers. Neither one is able to model the totality of real, naturally occurring reactions; therefore, conclusions about the antioxidant power of the studied sample can be drawn only after using several methods. In this work, the total phenolic content (TPC) of blackcurrant leaves and buds was determined, and the antioxidant capacity was tested using the DPPH and FRAP assays. 80% methanol was the most effective in the extraction of phenolics followed by 80% ethanol, while for the antioxidant capacity the acetone (50%)/water/acetic acid (2%) mixture proved to be the best. Significant differences were observed between cultivars and sampling dates, but the pattern of variation during the harvest period was similar for all cultivars.

Extraction methods depend mainly on the chemical nature of the extracted molecule. For these reasons, the selection of the extraction medium is a vital part of obtaining these molecules. The extraction of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) from extremophile plants is important because of its potential pharmaceutical applications. This work focused on the evaluation of several solvents for the extraction of AMPs from the following two extremophile plants: Astragalus armatus and Anthyllis sericea from southern Tunisia. In order to identify the most efficient solvents and extraction solutions, we used sulfuric acid, dichloromethane, phosphate buffer, acetic acid and sodium acetate, and we tested them on leaves and roots of both the studied plants. The extracts obtained using sulfuric acid, dichloromethane and phosphate buffer extraction did not show any antimicrobial activity, whereas the acetic acid and sodium acetate extracts led to growth inhibition of some of the tested bacterial strains. The extracts of leaves and roots of An. sericea and As. armatus obtained by acetic acid and sodium acetate were proven to be active against Gram-positive bacteria and Gram-negative bacteria. Therefore, the most appropriate solvents to use for antimicrobial peptide extraction from both plants are acetic acid and sodium acetate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maritime pine bark (Pinus pinaster Aiton subsp. atlantica) is rich in polyphenols with known bioactive properties which are beneficial for human health. However, biological activities of bark extracts depend on the type of polyphenols extracted and the characteristics of these extractives depend on several factors such as the type of solvents used. The influence of the extraction solvent on the composition and consequently on the properties of the extracts has been poorly described. Thus, in this study the in influence of the extraction solvent (water, ethanol and ethanol-water (50/50 v/v%)) on the antibacterial and anticancer properties of P. pinaster bark samples were evaluated. LC-DAD-MS profiling of the different extracts was also carried out to study their polyphenol composition. Results show that extraction solvent must be carefully chosen with respect to foreseeing use of bark extracts, since ethanolic and hydroethanolic extracts displayed the greatest antibacterial activity whereas water extracts showed increased anticancer properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids (CEP) assessed the safety of 2‐methyloxolane as an extraction solvent under the intended conditions of use and the maximum residue limits (MRLs) proposed by the applicant. 2‐Methyloxolane is intended to be used in processes currently applying hexane for oil and protein extraction from plant sources or for extraction of food additives. The proposed MRLs for the following uses are: (i) 1 mg/kg in fat, oil or butter; (ii) 10 mg/kg in defatted protein products, defatted flour and other defatted solid ingredients; (iii) 1 mg/kg in food category 13 (foods intended for particular nutritional uses as defined by Directive 2009/39/EC); and (iv) 1 mg/kg for the extraction of food additives. The Panel calculated the dietary exposure with the highest potential maximum (95th percentile) for toddlers as 0.32 mg/kg body weight (bw) per day. Based on the available toxicological data, the Panel concluded that 2‐methyloxolane was rapidly metabolised with a low bioaccumulation potential and does not raise a concern for genotoxicity. The Panel identified different no observed adverse effect levels (NOAELs) in a subchronic oral toxicity study in rats, an oral developmental toxicity study and an extended one‐generation reproductive toxicity study, and a TDI of 1 mg/kg bw per day for 2‐methyloxolane was derived based on the lowest identified NOAEL (100 mg/kg bw per day) for reproductive and developmental toxicity. This TDI was not exceeded in any of the population groups at the mean and 95th percentile exposure. The Panel concluded that the extraction solvent 2‐methyloxolane does not raise a safety concern when used according to the intended conditions and at the proposed MRLs in the extracted foods or food ingredients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chrysophyllum albidum is a well-known medicinal plant in Africa and has many medicinal properties. This study investigated the effect of sonication, solvent polarity (acetone and ethanol), and plant matrix (bark and seeds) on the antioxidant property of C. albidum. The bark of C. albidum was subjected to sonication and soaking with acetone to evaluate the effect of sonication on the antioxidant property, and C. albidum bark and seeds were subjected to ultrasonic-assisted extraction of acetone and ethanol to evaluate the effect of solvents and plant matrix on the antioxidant property of C. albidum. The phytochemical composition, total flavonoid content, total antioxidant activity, total phenol content, lipid peroxidation (LPO) inhibition activity, nitric oxide, and 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radicals scavenging activities were evaluated in all extracts. Results: Sonication increased the percentage yield of extracts compared to maceration. Flavonoids and terpenoids were present, while saponins were absent in all extracts evaluated. Ultrasound-assisted extraction increased C. albidum antioxidant property compared to maceration. Ethanol was the most suitable solvent for C. albidum bark, while acetone was the most suitable solvent for C. albidum seeds. C. albidum bark extracts were most active as free radical scavengers, while the seed extracts were most active as inhibitors of lipid peroxidation. Conclusions: Extraction technique, extraction solvent, and plant matrix significantly affect the antioxidant properties of C. albidum. This study indicates that the selection of an effective extraction process for medicinal plants depends on the phytochemical compound responsible for the biological activity of interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diazinon poisoning is an important issue in occupational, clinical, and forensic toxicology. While sensitive and specific enough to analyse diazinon in biological samples, current methods are time-consuming and too expensive for routine analysis. The aim of this study was therefore to design and validate a simple dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) for the preparation of urine samples to be analysed for diazinon with high performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detector (HPLC-DAD) to establish diazinon exposure and poisoning. To do that, we first identified critical parameters (type and volume of extraction and disperser solvents, pH, surfactant, and salt concentrations) in preliminary experiments and then used central composite design to determine the best experimental conditions for DLLME-HPLC-DAD. For DLLME they were 800 µL of methanol (disperser solvent) and 310 µL of toluene (extraction solvent) injected to the urine sample rapidly via a syringe. The sample was injected into a HPLC-DAD (C18 column, 250×4.6 mm, 5 μm), and the mobile phase was a mixture of acetonitrile and buffer (63:37 v/v, pH 3.2; flow rate: 1 mL/ min). Standard calibration curves for diazinon were linear with the concentration range of 0.5–4 µg/mL, yielding a regression equation Y=0.254X+0.006 with a correlation coefficient of 0.993. The limit of detection and limit of quantification for diazinon were 0.15 µg/mL and 0.45 µg/mL, respectively. The proposed method was accurate, precise, sensitive, and linear over a wide range of diazinon concentrations in urine samples. This method can be employed for diazinon analysis in routine clinical and forensic toxicology settings.

Maritime pine bark (Pinus pinaster Aiton subsp. atlantica) is rich in polyphenols with known bioactive properties which are beneficial for human health. However, biological activities of bark extracts depend on the type of polyphenols extracted and the characteristics of these extractives depend on several factors such as the type of solvents used. The influence of the extraction solvent on the composition and consequently on the properties of the extracts has been poorly described. Thus, in this study the influence of the extraction solvent (water, ethanol and ethanol-water (50/50 v/v%)) on the antibacterial and anticancer properties of P. pinaster bark samples were evaluated. LC-DAD-MS profiling of the different extracts was also carried out to study their polyphenol composition. Results show that extraction solvent must be carefully chosen with respect to foreseeing use of bark extracts, since ethanolic and hydroethanolic extracts displayed the greatest antibacterial activity whereas water extracts showed increased anticancer properties.

Anthocyanins are a major group of plant pigments that have antioxidant activities. Pigments play a major role in human health and have attracted a lot of attention globally. Many factors affect anthocyanin yields, such as solvent type, incubation time, solvent-to-sample ratio, sample type, and temperature. The first parameter was tested, and the rest were considered constant in this experiment. A total of nine organic and water-based solvents (methanol and chloroform: methanol, acetone, ethanol, water) and their combinations were compared to extract anthocyanins from freshly-pureed strawberries. Solvents changed anthocyanin yield, color parameters, and profile. The color parameters of a* values lower than 30, L* values higher than 85, hue angle more than 40, and chroma less than 30 indicated some color degradation in strawberry anthocyanins. Therefore, the best solvents for anthocyanin assessment were methanol and methanol: water. The second-best solvent was the pH differential buffers. Other solvents such as ethanol, chloroform: methanol, water, and water-based solvents extracted considerable amounts of anthocyanins; however, they showed some degree of color degradation, evidenced by the color parameters. Acetone did not yield a stable extract which degraded over 48 h of storage at 4 °C. The extraction solvent determined the main anthocyanin of the anthocyanins profile. Pelargonidin was the major anthocyanin in chloroform: methanol solvent, while delphinidin was dominant in all other solvents.

Phenols are widely used in industry as part of the ingredients in disinfectant, antiseptic and household cleaning products. An increased usage of phenol has caused an increase in its content in water sources and at the same time brings negative effect to the environment. This paper reported an approach consisting of dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) combined with UV-Vis spectrophotometric detection at 280 nm in order to extract phenol in water samples. Some difficulties were reported in the formation of a double layer for separation between the dispersive and extraction solvent which is important to ensure the successful DLLME application and the high percent recovery of the extracted phenol. Therefore, our research interest focused on the effect of dispersive and extraction solvents by using different solvent characteristics for phenol extraction from real water. The optimum conditions, i.e., extraction solvent (1-dodecanol) volume of 2 mL and dispersive solvent (dimethyl sulfoxide) volume of 2.5 mL, were determined using response surface methodology. DLLME-UV-Vis is a suitable method for phenol extraction because it is simple, fast, low cost and produces high percentage recovery of phenol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) is a popular culinary herb used in the Eastern culture. The essential cultivar of the Zingiber genus is rich in antioxidants and is crucial in the fight against oxidative stress-related diseases. The antioxidant properties of dried ginger were evaluated and compared for their efficacy from different drying processes (sun-, oven-, vacuum- and freeze-drying) and using three extraction solvents: hot water, aqueous ethanol (80%, v/v) and ethanol. The drying process demonstrated a positive effect on the antioxidant activities of ginger. A significant difference (p < 0.05) was observed in the extracting ability of each solvent. Sun-dried ginger extracted with ethanol performed better than the fresh ginger extract in the form of increased yield (3.04-fold), TFC values (12.25-fold), reducing power (FRAP) (15.35-fold), total antioxidant activity (TAA) (6.82-fold) and inhibition of ABTS•+ radical cation (3.51-fold) and DPPH• radical (95%). Meanwhile, freeze-dried aqueous ginger extracts demonstrated significantly higher TPC (1.66-fold), TFC (3.71-fold), FRAP (3.26-fold), TAA (2.97-fold), ABTS•+ scavenging activity (1.48-fold) and DPPH• radical inhibition (77%), compared to fresh ginger extracts. In addition, it was found that ethanol was significantly superior to aqueous ethanol in phenolic content recovery, despite the lower yield. Furthermore, ethanol ginger extracts exhibited higher antioxidant activity than aqueous ethanol extracts. On the other hand, hot water was the least potent solvent for extraction. In summary, there was an excellent correlation between TPC, TFC and antioxidant activity. Sun-drying is the most desirable method for preserving and enhancing ginger quality due to its cost effectiveness and bioactive compound efficacy.

Ceratonia siliqua L. pods have been classically used in Mediterranean folk medicine as a potential source of natural antibacterial and antioxidant agents. The in vitro antiradical, immunostimulant, antibacterial and cytotoxic properties, as well as phytochemical composition of the ethanolic and aqueous extracts obtained from carob pods harvested at three ripening stages were assessed. Fructose, glucose, and sucrose, as quantified in both extracts, showed varied yields according to the ripening stage and solvent type. Likewise, significant differences were shown in bioactive compounds content depending on extraction solvent and ripening stage. Moreover, gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata L.) leucocyte viability and functions were not altered after being incubated for 24 h with the extracts of carob pods. On the other hand, the ethanolic extracts (0.75 and 1 mg mL−1), exhibited an interesting cytotoxic effect on a tumoricidal fish cell line (PLHC-1 cell). Besides, the ethanolic extract (1 mg mL−1) displayed a moderate bactericidal activity against different examined bacteria. Photobacterium damselae was found to be the most sensitive to different carob pod extracts, except for the aqueous extract obtained from ripened pods. While Vibrio harveyi and Vibrio anguillarum exhibited a strong resistance against the aqueous extracts. Our data indicate that the carob pods are an excellent source of natural bioactive molecules that would be used to prevent and treat several marine animal diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Date palm leaves (DPL) was extracted using acetone (ACE), ethanol (ETH), aqueous (AE), butanol (BUT), methanol (METH), isopropanol (ISO), and ethyl acetate (EHY ACT). The extracts were characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy. The various solvent DPL extracts were screened for anticorrosion property against low carbon steel in 15 wt.% HCl solution at 25 °C. ACE, AE, and ETH DPL extracts are found to promote the corrosion of the low carbon steel while BUT, ISO, METH, and EHY ACT DPL extracts exhibit anticorrosion property. However, BUT DPL extract shows the best anticorrosion property with 400 ppm protecting the low carbon steel by 82%. Based on the results from the screening experiments, BUT extract was selected for a comprehensive corrosion inhibition study. Inhibition effectiveness of BUT DPL extract is found to increase with increasing concentration with 1000 ppm affording 97% protection at 25 °C. The inhibition performance increases up to 40 °C but slightly decreases as the temperature was raised to 50 °C and 60 °C. However, BUT DPL extract could afford 86% protection at 60 °C. Scanning electron microscope and atomic force spectroscopy results confirm that BUT DPL extract is indeed an effective inhibitor for X60 carbon steel in 15 wt.% HCl solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chopped pepper, a traditionally fermented condiment product in China, is widely consumed because of its good flavor. However, large amounts of by-product, namely, chopped pepper seeds (CPS) are produced annually during the manufacture of chopped pepper product, and this material is generally classified as solid waste, which causes waste of resource. In this work, the total phenolics (TPC) and capsaicinoids content, antioxidant property, and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity (GIA) of three varieties CPS (i.e., WPS, LPS, and BRPS) were assessed. The effects of solvents with different polarities, including 80% methanol, 80% acetone, and 80% ethanol, in extracting the bioactive compounds were also investigated. The results indicated that the studied CPS were rich in total phenolics and capsaicinoids with contents of 3,934–6,208 μg GAE/g dw and 1,052–3,692 μg/g dw, respectively. Three capsaicinoid compounds, namely, capsaicin, dihydrocapsaicin, and nordihydrocapsaicin, in the CPS were identified and quantified by HPLC. All CPS samples exhibited potent antioxidant property and GIA. Moreover, the different extraction solvents exhibited considerable influence on TPC, capsaicinoid content, antioxidant capacity, and GIA. Regardless of different polarities extraction solvents, BRPS had the highest level of phenolics, capsaicin, dihydrocapsaicin and nordihydrocapsaicin and exhibited the strongest antioxidant activity and GIA among the three varieties CPS studied. In practical applications, the use of 80% ethanol is recommended for the extraction of bioactive compounds from BRPS, because it is environment friendly. Positive correlations between phenolics, capsaicinoids, antioxidant activity, and GIA were observed by PCA and linear correlation analysis. Thus, CPS, especially BRPS, is abundant and can be a cheap source of natural antioxidants and anti-diabetic compounds, making it an interesting ingredient in the potential future development of nutraceuticals or functional food products and bringing great advantages for food and pharmaceutical industries, consumers, and producers. Abbreviations CPS: chopped pepper seeds; WPS: wild pepper seeds; LPS: linear pepper seeds; BRPS: bright red pepper seeds; TPC: total phenolics content; HPLC: high-performance liquid chromatography; ABTS: 2, 2-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt; FRAP: ferric reducing antioxidant power; DPPH: 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl; vitamin C: ascorbic acid; RP: reducing power; GIA: α-glucosidase inhibitory activity; PCA: principal component analysis.

Research background. Mastic tree (Pistacia lentiscus L.) of the Anacardiaceae family is an evergreen shrub from Mediterranean countries where it is used in traditional medicine. Analysis of P. lentiscus leaf, stem, fruit and root extracts showed high concentrations of principal groups of secondary metabolites (flavonoids, phenolic acids and tannins), suggesting the plant possesses great biological potential. Therefore, the aim of this research is to evaluate the impact of environmental parameters and the extraction solvent type on the concentration of phenols in mastic tree leaf extracts grown at four different locations along the Adriatic coast (Barbariga, Lun, Hvar and Vela Luka) during three phenological stages (early flowering, early fruiting and late fruiting). Experimental approach. Since mastic tree plant has phenolic compounds with different structures and chemical properties, ethanolic and methanolic leaf extracts were analysed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with UV/Vis PDA detector. Phenolic compounds were identified by comparing the retention times and spectral data with those of standards at 280 and 340 nm. Results and conclusions. In all samples, phenolic acids and flavonol glycosides were quantified, while catechin was quantified only in methanolic extracts. The 5-O-galloylquinic acid was determined as a predominant phenolic compound in all samples followed by monogalloyl glucose, 3,5-di-O-galloylquinic acid, 3,4,5-tri-O-galloylquinic acid and gallic acid, respectively. Myricetin-3-O-rhamnoside was found to be the predominant flavonol glycoside followed by myricetin-3-O-glucoside, myricetin-3-O-glucuronide, quercetin-3-O-rhamnoside and derivative of flavonol glycoside. The mass concentration of these compounds significantly varied during different phenological stages, at different growing locations and used extraction solvents. The highest phenolic mass concentration was determined in the samples harvested at Hvar growing location and extracted in 80 % methanol. The highest total phenolic acid mass concentration was obtained in the samples harvested during the flowering phenological stage and the highest total flavonoid mass concentration in the samples harvested during the early fruiting stage. Novelty and scientific contribution. The obtained data provide a better understanding of the P. lentiscus species phenolic concentration, which can lead to further investigations regarding the valorisation of mastic tree leaves as pharmaceutical products or as food products with added value.

Abstract Extremely small amounts of fatty acids detected in latent fingerprints are important for studying fingerprint visualization and age determination through changes in composition over time. However, methods for efficiently extracting or recovering fatty acids from fingerprints have not been extensively studied. If accurate and stable quantitative estimations are established, age estimates will be possible through a better understanding of the fatty acid composition. The extraction solvent and treatment method are essential factors for achieving a reliable analysis of fatty acids. There have been few previous studies that efficiently compared fatty acids. In this study, fatty acids from sebaceous fingerprint residues were quantified with various extraction solvents and treatment methods and were evaluated with gas chromatography flame ionization detection (GC-FID). All data were analyzed using a statistical method.

Extraction methods depend mainly on the chemical nature of the extracted molecule. For these reasons, the selection of the extraction medium is a vital part of obtaining these molecules. The extraction of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) from extremophile plants is important because of its potential pharmaceutical applications. This work focused on the evaluation of several solvents for the extraction of AMPs from the following two extremophile plants: Astragalus armatus and Anthyllis sericea from southern Tunisia. In order to identify the most efficient solvents and extraction solutions, we used sulfuric acid, dichloromethane, phosphate buffer, acetic acid and sodium acetate, and we tested them on leaves and roots of both the studied plants. The extracts obtained using sulfuric acid, dichloromethane and phosphate buffer extraction did not show any antimicrobial activity, whereas the acetic acid and sodium acetate extracts led to growth inhibition of some of the tested bacterial strains. The extracts of leaves and roots of An. sericea and As. armatus obtained by acetic acid and sodium acetate were proven to be active against Gram-positive bacteria and Gram-negative bacteria. Therefore, the most appropriate solvents to use for antimicrobial peptide extraction from both plants are acetic acid and sodium acetate.

In this study, hot water, 0.1 M HCl and 0.1 M NaOH and 0.1 M NaCl solution were separately used for extraction of blackberry polysaccharides (BPs: Hw, Ac, Al and Na). The physicochemical properties and biological activities were then investigated and compared. Results showed that the extraction yield, molecular weight, monosaccharide composition, particle size, triple-helical structure, surface morphology and rheological properties of BPs were greatly affected by extraction solvents. Bioactivity assays implied that the four BPs showed that the polysaccharides (Hw and Na) with higher molecular weight had stronger antioxidant and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. Moreover, anti-glycated assay indicated that BPs with higher molecular weight and higher content of galacturonic acid possessed better inhibition of AGEs formation. These results suggested that the higher molecular weight of blackberry polysaccharide could be developed as a beneficial bioactive ingredient for diabetes mellitus and complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phytochemical screening and antioxidant activities in different solvent extracts of onion was carried out. The extracts were subjected to various chemical Test for phytochemical constituents. Total phenolic contents were evaluated using Folin Ciocalteu method and their antioxidant activity was assayed through «in vitro» radical scavenging activity using DPPH· assay, FRAP and ABTS. The phytochemical screening of this study indicated the presence of steroids, flavonoids, alkaloids, saponnins, and catechic tannins. The average total polyphenol content of hydroethanolic extracts was significantly (P<0.05) higher than in the hexane, ethyl acetate and dichloromethane extracts. The order of effectiveness (IC50) of the plant extracts the potent inhibitors was hydroethanolic extract, followed by Dichloromethane, ethyl acetate while the least was the hexane extract, When using (DPPH, ABTS and FRAP). This shows that onion organic solvent extracts especially the hydroethanolic extracts may be a potent source of natural antioxidant and can be used in the management of diseases associated with oxidative stress is justified [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oils play a key role as raw materials in a variety of industries. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of Datura innoxia seed oil cultivated in Saudi Arabia for industrial purpose and to study the effects of hexane, chloroform, and isopropanol as extraction solvents on the compositions of the extracts. The results showed that the hexane and chloroform extracts were mainly neutral oils which were rich in linoleic (≉46%) and oleic (≉31%) acids. However, the isopropanol extract contained large amount of neutral oil and organic acids. Neutral oil contained mainly palmitic acid (40.2%) and some important and valuable epoxy (15.4%) and cyclopropane (13.2%) fatty acids. Analysis of the sterol and tocopherol levels of the crude and purified oil extracted revealed that they were significantly affected by the extraction solvent used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Iran and other parts of Western Asia, the oleaster (Elaeagnus angustifolia L.) fruit is processed in the dried powdery form, and in recent times, increasingly applied/sprinkled in fruit juices such as those made from oranges (Citrus sinensis L.). To our best knowledge, the effectiveness of oleaster fruit extract in fortifying the orange juice has not yet been reported and the knowledge of this will greatly benefit the consumers, particularly those around the Western Asia region. This current work, therefore, investigated the changes in physicochemical, free radical activity, total phenolic compounds, and sensory properties of orange juice fortified with different oleaster fruit extracts. The orange juice mix formulation comprised different concentrations (5, 10, 15, 20, and 25%) of oleaster (alcoholic, aqueous, and hydro-alcoholic) extracts. The control comprised orange concentrate (4% w/v), sugar (8.5% w/v), and citric acid (0.1% w/v) brought to the desirable volume with water. As the free radical activity depicted the antioxidant properties, the physicochemical aspects of this work involved the determinations of Brix, density, ash, pH, total acidity, sucrose, and total sugar, whereas the sensory aspects involved the determinations of color and taste. Whilst the aqueous oleaster 20 and 25% extracts produced notable physicochemical differences in the orange juice mix, both free radical activity, and phenolic compounds significantly increased (p < 0.05) after 30 days despite resembling (p > 0.05) those of control at day 1. More so, the increases in aqueous, alcoholic, and hydro-alcoholic oleaster extracts would decrease (p < 0.05) the sensory color and taste of the orange juice mix in this study.

Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) fruit is an important food in the Middle East. Some date palm cultivars like the Ajwa is revered for its health-promoting properties. Phytochemicals like phenolic compounds are in part responsible for such health benefits. However, detailed information on these compounds is lacking. The present work aimed to investigate phytochemical components of Ajwa cultivar using UHPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS in three different extraction solvents (aqueous, methanol–water, acetone–water) and three different extraction durations (2, 5 and 24 h). The proposed method provided tentative identification of 169 bioactive compounds out of which 44 (polyphenols and other phytochemical compounds) were successfully identified from three different extracts and three different extraction durations. Twenty-one compounds never previously reported in the Ajwa cultivar were identified. Aqueous-based extraction solvent and 24-h extraction duration yielded most phytochemical compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Edible mushroom has been described as an important source of biological compounds able to reduce the load of pathogenic bacteria's and the free radical's levels in foods. In this study, chemical proximate analysis of edible mushrooms powder (Agaricus brasiliensis, Ganoderma lucidum and Pleurotus ostreatus) was determined. Also, it was determined the effect of the solvent (water, ethanol, and a mixture of water-ethanol) on the physicochemical properties, phenolic content, antimicrobial, and antioxidant activity of edible mushrooms extracts. The results indicate that G. lucidum and P. ostreatus powders showed (p < 0.05) the lowest moisture (< 4%), lipids (< 2%), the highest carbohydrates contents (> 80%), and P. ostreatus the lowest ash and the highest proteins contents (p < 0.05). The mushroom water extracts presented the highest lightness and TSS (total soluble solids) values (p < 0.05). P. ostreatus extracts showed the highest extraction yield (> 40%), pH, redness, yellowness, phenolic and flavonoids contents (p < 0.05). Moreover, G. lucidum and P. ostreatus ethanol and water-ethanol extracts a highest antimicrobial effect against Staphylococcus aureus > Listeria innocua > Escherichia coli > Salmonella typhimurium (p < 0.05). Regard antioxidant activity, P. ostreatus extracts showed the highest reducing power and antiradical activity, while G. lucidum and P. ostreatus ethanol and water-ethanol extracts a highest lipid oxidation inhibition (p < 0.05). The extracts of edible mushrooms evaluated could be used as antimicrobials and antioxidants ingredients for food industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to determine the effect of different solvents and temperatures on the citral concentration and antioxidant properties of freeze-dried lemongrass powder extract. Freeze-dried lemongrass powder was extracted using three solvent extractions of hexane, petroleum ether, and methanol at three different temperatures of 27°C, 40°C, and 60°C. Citral concentrations of lemongrass extract were identified and quantified by gas chromatography and flame ionization detector (GC-FID) while antioxidant properties were determined using analysis of total phenolic content, DPPH radical scavenging activity, and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. Results from this study show that the methanol extract at 40°C obtained the highest total yield (37.70 ± 1.78%). Hexane was found to be the most effective solvent to extract citral compound from freeze-dried lemongrass powder with 239.08 ± 1.28 mg/mL of concentration at temperature extraction of 27°C. However, the efficiency of hexane decreasing upon heating. This study suggested that the solvent extraction using methanol at 40°C is the efficient extraction for total phenolic compound (7419.33 ± 110.78 mg GAE/L), DPPH radical scavenging activity (87.45 ± 2.70%), and FRAP assay (52.11 ± 0.07 TE/mL) of freeze-dried lemongrass powder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]