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In the present investigation, extracts of Erigeron floribundus leaves obtained by four isolation procedures, including homogenizer-assisted extraction, maceration, sonication and Soxhlet extraction, were compared for their qualitative and quantitative phytochemical composition as well as for their antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory activities. The total phenolic, phenolic acid and flavanol contents were highest in homogenizer-assisted extraction, while maceration contained slightly higher total flavanol content. High-performance liquid chromatography – mass spectrometry (HPLC-DAD-MSn) analysis revealed that the hydroxycinnamic esters of quinic acids were the most abundant constituents in the isolates. The results showed that the extracts are promising sources of antioxidants with the homogenizer-assisted approach the most suitable. The extracts displayed notable enzyme inhibitory effects against acetylcholinesterases (7.98 ± 0.12 to 8.40 ± 0.09 mg galatamine equivalents (GALAE)/g extract) and tyrosinase (122.73 ± 0.43 to 111.36 ± 1.65 mg kojic acid equivalents (KAE)/g extract). In conclusion, the results demonstrate promising biological activities of E. floribundus isolates obtained via innovative extraction techniques, thereby offering preliminary information for the validation of the traditional medicinal uses of this plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we attempted for the first time to determine the phytochemical compositions and biopharmaceutical properties of the methanolic and aqueous extracts of Morinda morindoides fruits and seeds. Antioxidant propensities of the extracts were determined via free radical‐scavenging, phosphomolybdenum, metal chelating, and reducing power assays. Inhibitory activities against cholinesterases (acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE)), tyrosinase, α‐amylase, and α‐glucosidase were assessed. Moreover, the total phenolic and flavonoid contents were determined. High Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled to Electrospray Ionization Quadrupole Time‐of‐Flight Mass Spectrometry (HPLC‐ESI‐Q‐TOF‐MS) analysis was performed to establish the chemical profile of the investigated extracts. The tested extracts showed remarkable antioxidant abilities with aqueous fruit extract being most potent in all assays, except for ferrous ion chelating assay. Overall, the methanolic extracts were potent inhibitors of the tested enzymes. In conclusion, M. morindoides may be endorsed as promising sources of bioactive compounds and used for designing functional foods. Practical applications: In recent years, new compounds from plant sources have attracted great interest to design functional foods. Thus, we aimed to detect biological and chemical properties of Morinda morindoides fruits and seeds, a widely used as food with medicinal properties in Africa. Based on our findings, fruits extracts exhibited stronger activity when compared to seed extracts. Also, chemical identification was performed for each extracts. The presented findings could provide valuable information into the pool of scientific knowledge and may be basis for the design of novel functional applications from M. morindoides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In the quest for new sources of biologically‐active compounds, the chemical, and biological profiles of two Globularia species (G. trichosantha Fisch. & C. A. Mey and G. orientalis L.) were investigated. Methodology: Chemical profiles were evaluated by high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionisation and quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (HPLC‐ESI‐QTOF‐MS), as well as by their total phenolic, flavonoids, and phenolic acids contents. The antioxidant abilities of the investigated extracts were done using different assays including free radical scavenging [1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picryl‐hydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′‐azino‐bis(3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulphonic acid (ABTS)], reducing power (cupric reducing antioxidant capacity and ferric reducing antioxidant power), phosphomolybdenum, and metal chelating. Inhibitory potential against key enzymes involved in neurodegenerative diseases (cholinesterases; AChE, and BChE), diabetes (α‐glucosidase and α‐amylase), hyperpigmentation (tyrosinase) and obesity (pancreatic lipase) were evaluated. Results: Globularia trichosantha and G. orientalis extracts showed remarkable antioxidant properties, with the water extracts being a better source of antioxidant compounds. Both species showed remarkable inhibitory effects against the target enzymes. However, for both species, only the acetyl acetate and methanolic extracts were potent against cholinesterases and lipase. Conclusion: HPLC‐ESI‐QTOF‐MS analysis revealed the presence of 107 compounds from G. trichosantha and G. orientalis, among which, 43 compounds have been preliminarily characterised for the first time from the Globulariaceae family. To date, this study can be considered as the most comprehensive research focused on the characterisation of G. trichosantha and G. orientalis. Results amassed from this study tend to show that these plants represent a rich source of biologically active compounds which can be further explored and validated for their therapeutic potential. The presence of 107 compounds from methanolic extracts of Globularia trichosantha and Globularia orientalis, among which, 43 compounds have been preliminarily characterized by HPLC‐ESI‐QTOF‐MS analysis for the first time from this family. Biological activities have also shown that G. trichosantha and G. orientalis possess notable antioxidant properties and enzyme inhibitory potential against key enzymes involved in neurodegenerative diseases (cholinesterases; AChE, and BChE), diabetes (α‐glucosidase and α‐amylase), hyperpigmentation (tyrosinase) and obesity (pancreatic lipase). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The ethyl acetate, methanolic, and water extracts of Fibigia eriocarpa were assessed for a panoply of bioactivities. Total phenolic and flavonoid content were quantified as well as individual phenolic compounds by HPLC‐DAD. The in vitro antioxidant and enzyme (acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), tyrosinase, α‐amylase, and α‐glucosidase) inhibitory potential of the extracts were evaluated. In silico molecular docking was used to investigate possible interaction between dominant compounds and selected enzymes. Vanillin (303 μg/g extract), apigenin (270 μg/g extract), and kaempferol (180 μg/g extract) were the main compounds in the ethyl acetate extract, while the methanolic extract was characterized by the presence of vanillin, rutin, and apigenin (616, 616 and 252 μg/g extract, respectively). (+)‐catechin (1422 μg/g extract) was the main compound in the water extracts. The ethyl acetate extract was found to be a superior source of antioxidant compounds and enzyme inhibitors against above‐mentioned enzymes. Docking studies revealed that p‐hydroxybenzoic and (+)‐catechin have the best scores for tyrosinase, while kaempferol and apigenin showed the best binding pose for α‐glucosidase, AChE, and BChE. Results amassed herein are the first report on the phytochemical and biological attributes of F. eriocarpa, which tend to validate the pharmacological uses of this plant as an alternative medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Members of the Hypericum genus are spread throughout the world and have a long history of use in traditional systems of medicines. In this present investigation, the methanolic extracts of aerial parts of three Hypericum species (H. olympicum (HO), H. pruinatum (HP), and H. scabrum (HS)) growing in Turkey were investigated for their key enzyme inhibitory potential. The chemical profiles were evaluated using HPLC-ESI-MSn, and their total phenolic and flavonoid contents were established. Also, relevant bioactive compounds observed in the extracts were subjected to molecular docking experiments to provide insights into their interactions with the tested enzymes. HPLC-ESI-MSn analysis revealed that the extract of HO, followed by the HS extract, has the highest total phenolic content (38 ± 1.0 mg g−1 DE), with flavonoids as major components. The extracts showed remarkable enzyme inhibitory effects against cholinesterases (AChE and BChE – 0.56–2.03 mgGALAE per g extract), tyrosinase, and α-glucosidase. Only HO (61.32 ± 3.27 mgQE per g) and HP (39.88 ± 2.51 mgQE per g) extracts showed notable inhibitory potency against lipase, while all the tested extracts exhibited modest activity against α-amylase. The phytochemicals with the most favourable interactions in the enzymatic cavity of α-glucosidase were found to be hyperoside, myricetin, and neo-chlorogenic acid, each with a docking score of −7.7. From these results, the three Hypericum species can be classified as potent sources of biologically active secondary metabolites, which warrant further investigations as novel medicinal products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Croton hirtus L'Hér methanol extract was studied by NMR and two different LC-DAD-MSn using electrospray (ESI) and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) sources to obtain a quali-quantitative fingerprint. Forty different phytochemicals were identified, and twenty of them were quantified, whereas the main constituents were dihydro α ionol-O-[arabinosil(1-6) glucoside] (133 mg/g), dihydro β ionol-O-[arabinosil(1-6) glucoside] (80 mg/g), β-sitosterol (49 mg/g), and isorhamnetin-3-O-rutinoside (26 mg/g). C. hirtus was extracted with different solvents—namely, water, methanol, dichloromethane, and ethyl acetate—and the extracts were assayed using different in vitro tests. The methanolic extracts presented the highest 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline)-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) values. All the tested extracts exhibited inhibitory effects on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), with a higher activity observed for dichloromethane (AChE: 5.03 and BChE: 16.41 mgGALAE/g), while the methanolic extract showed highest impact against tyrosinase (49.83 mgKAE/g). Taken together, these findings suggest C. hirtus as a novel source of bioactive phytochemicals with potential for commercial development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]