Search

There is a growing environmental concern in the world for replacing the traditional petroleum-based products. The aim of this work was to evaluate the structure - property relationship of banana peel lignins (BPLs) as antioxidant and antimicrobial agents by controlling the parameters of organosolv process. The milled banana peel was hydrolyzed using an aqueous acetic acid solution (70, 80 and 90% v/v) and 2.0% v/v HCl at 110 °C for 1, 2 and 3 h. BPLs were characterized by FTIR, 1 H NMR, 1 H 13 C HSQC, 31 P NMR, GPC and TGA. The antioxidant capacity of BPLs was evaluated by DPPH, ABTS and H 2 O 2 assays, comparing their performance with that of ascorbic and gallic acid. The antimicrobial activity of BPLs was evaluated against E. coli. The reaction time and acetic acid/water ratio had significant effects on the yield and purity of BPLs. The composition of organosolv solution also affected their total amount of hydroxyls (0.71-0.82 mmol g -1 ), M w (2759-3954 g mol -1 ), T onset (232-254 °C), antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. It can be concluded that the control of organosolv parameters can be a useful tool for tuning the structural features of lignins and to maximize their performance., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Spice plants have a great influence on world history. For centuries, different civilizations have used them to condiment the foods of kings and nobles and applied them as embalming preservatives, perfumes, cosmetics, and medicines in different regions of the world. In general, these plants have formed the basis of traditional medicine and some of their derived substances have been utilized to treat different human diseases. Essential oils (EOs) obtained from these plants have been also used as therapeutic agents and have shown supportive uses in remedial practices. The discovery and development of bioactive compounds from these natural products, based on their traditional uses, play an important role in developing the scientific evidence of their potential pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food applications. In the present review, using recent studies, we exhibit a general overview of the main aspects related to the importance of spice plants widely used in traditional medicine: Cinnamomum zeylanicum (true cinnamon), Mentha piperita (peppermint), Ocimum basilicum (basil), Origanum vulgare (oregano), Piper nigrum (black pepper), Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary), and Thymus vulgaris (thyme); and we discuss new findings of the bioactive compounds obtained from their EOs, their potential applications, as well as their molecular mechanisms of action, focusing on their antioxidant activity. We also exhibit the main in vitro methods applied to determine the antioxidant activities of these natural products., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.

M. floribunda fruit was studied to characterize its chemical composition. The chemical composition, bioactive compounds, antioxidant activity and volatiles of the fruit were determined. The chemical composition was determined according to AOAC and AOCS, the bioactive compounds by HPLC, the volatiles by GCMS and the antioxidant activity by ABTS + and DPPH methods. The chemical composition of the freeze-dried fruit was 1.89 g·100 g -1 , 2.43 g·100 g -1 , 4.78 g·100 g -1 and 90.89 g·100 g -1 of ashes, lipids, proteins and total carbohydrates on a dry base, respectively. The concentration of the carotenoids was 52.22 mg·100 g -1 and for the flavonoid rutin was 78.56 mg·100 g -1 . The gallic and ellagic acid contents were 5.45 mg·g -1 and 2.21 mg·g -1 , respectively. The cis-β-ocimene corresponded to 50.90% of the volatiles. The antioxidant activity by ABTS + method was 550.14 µmol Trolox·g -1 and by the DPPH method the EC 50 was 85.68 g·g -1 . The fruits presented relevant antioxidant activity, a high concentration of carotenoids and of rutin., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Plants endue a key role against illnesses caused by oxidative stress. These attributes are frequently associated with polyphenolic compounds. However, presence and concentration of secondary metabolites are affected by abiotic factors. The in vitro culture techniques can solve these drawbacks. Peppers can be a suitable alternative to obtain polyphenols. Aiming to optimise the callus culture stage from Capsicum baccatum to produce polyphenols, this work evaluated systemically the effects of the explant's origin (root, hypocotyl and cotyledon), growth hormone type (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), benzylaminopurine (BAP) and a combination of 2,4-D/BAP at five-to-one ratio) and concentration (0.023-10.000 mg L -1 ) on callus culture efficiency parameters using a multilevel factorial design. The root explant in combination with BAP at 1.138 mg L - 1 ensured the optimal values of the assessed responses; ​callus mass (225.03 mg), antioxidant activity (35.95%), total phenols (11.48 mg of GAE/g DE) and flavonoids (15.92 mg of RU/g DE) production.

Protein restriction during prenatal, postnatal, or in both periods has a close relationship with subsequent development of cardiovascular disease in adulthood. Elevated brain levels of serotonin and its metabolites have been found in malnourished states. The aim in the present study was to investigate whether treatment with fluoxetine (Fx), a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, mimics the detrimental effect of low-protein diet during the perinatal period on the male rat heart. Our hypothesis is that increased circulating serotonin as a result of pharmacologic treatment with Fx leads to cardiac dysfunction similar to that observed in protein-restricted rats. Male Wistar rat pups received daily subcutaneous injection of Fx or vehicle from postnatal day 1 to postnatal day 21. Male rats were euthanized at 60 days of age and the following parameters were evaluated in the cardiac tissue: mitochondrial respiratory capacity, respiratory control ratio, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, mitochondrial membrane potential, and biomarkers of oxidative stress and antioxidant defense. We found that Fx treatment increased mitochondrial respiratory capacity (123%) and membrane potential (212%) and decreased ROS production (55%). In addition we observed an increase in the antioxidant capacity (elevation in catalase activity (5-fold) and glutathione peroxidase (4.6-fold)). Taken together, our results suggest that Fx treatment in the developmental period positively affects the mitochondrial bioenergetics and antioxidant defense in the cardiac tissue.

Noni (Morinda citrifolia L.) is a kind of fruit introduced in Brazil, with a strong commercial appeal that is consumed in several Brazilian regions, due to functional benefits. This work aimed to evaluate the chemical composition and nutritional properties of noni's pulp and seeds cultivated in Maranhão. Food composition of pulp and seeds differed from fruit cultivated in other regions of Brazil. In pulp, the ascorbic acid content was the most significant (117.33 mg. 100. g-1 ). In the seeds, the total fibers were the higher nutrient found (36. 97 g. 100 g-1 ). In relation to nutritional aspects, the pulp showed an important nutritional profile, with high vitamin C, manganese, magnesium, calcium and iron contents in 30 g of sample, exceeding 30% of daily recommended intake (DRI), according to ANVISA. Seeds presented high total fibers contents (5 g) for portion. Fibers and manganese may be considered constituents sources, where manganese provides, at least, 24% of DRI for this mineral. Results showed that seeds presented higher percentage of free radical scavenging (FRS) and pulp possesses higher total phenolic contents (TPC) and antioxidant capacity by DPPH method. On the other hand, skins presented higher antioxidant capacity by FRAP method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crepis japonica (L.) D.C. (Asteraceae), a weed with antioxidant, antiallergenic, antiviral and antitumor properties displays both medicinal properties and nutritional value. This study aims to assess the effects of a supplementation of blue light and UV-A radiation on the growth, leaf anatomical structure and phenolic profile of the aerial parts of Crepis japonica. Plants were grown under two light treatments: W (control – white light), W + B (white light supplemented with blue light) and W + UV-A (white light supplemented with UV-A radiation). We recorded the length, width, and weight of fresh and dry leaves, the thickness of the epidermis and mesophyll, and stomata density. The phenolic profiles of the aqueous extracts of the aerial parts were analyzed by HPLC-DAD. There was an increase in the leaf size, stomatal density, and phenolic production, and a thickening of the mesophyll and epidermis. UV-A radiation increased the phenolic production more than blue light. Blue light and UV-A radiation both improved the production of caffeic acid by about 6 and 3 times, respectively, in comparison to control. This compound was first reported as a constituent of the extract from the aerial parts together with caftaric acid. UV-A also promoted the production of chlorogenic acid (about 1.5 times in comparison to the control). We observed that the morphological and chemical parameters of C. japonica are modified in response to blue light and UV-A radiation, which can be used as tools in the cultivation of this species in order to improve its medicinal properties and nutritional value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]