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Limiting and/or slowing down the starch digestion process and consequently the release of glucose can be an important strategy for the prevention of type 2 diabetes (T2D). The aim of the current in vitro study was to assess the anti-diabetic and antioxidant potential of red radish leaves of the Carmen, Jutrzenka, Saxa, and Warta cultivars. In the context of anti-diabetic activity, the effect of leaves on potato starch digestion and free glucose binding, as well as inhibitory effects of leaf extracts against α-amylase and α-glucosidase and non-enzymatic glycation (AGEs) were determined. The basic chemical composition, quantitative composition of phenolic compounds, and antioxidant activity of leaves were also estimated. This study showed that all radish leaves inhibited the breakdown of potato starch and showed their ability to bind glucose. This activity was correlated with the content of hydroxycinnamic acids, protein and dietary fiber while flavones was probably responsible for glucose binding. Leaf extracts inhibited α-glucosidase activity and formation of AGEs but were practically inactive towards α-amylase. Inhibition of α-glucosidase activity was related to the content of proanthocyanidins and inhibition of AGEs formation to flavonols. These results point to radish leaves, especially the Warta and Jutrzenka cultivars, as a potential natural remedy for treating T2D.

Abstract The question was asked “whether plant phytocenosis has an impact on the medical potential of the extracts from Pleurozium schreberi”. Moss samples were collected from four different phytocoenoses: mixed forest (oak-pine forest), a forest tract in pine forest, 5–15-year-old pine forest and 50-year-old pine forest. Chemical composition of the extracts, antioxidative capacity (FRAP and ABTS·+ assays), as well as biological activities including cytotoxicity for the mouse fibroblasts L929 line (MTT reduction assay), biostatic/biocidal effect against selected bacteria and fungi (broth microdilution method followed by culture on solid media), and regenerative properties on human fibroblasts HFF-1 line (scratch assay) were tested. The conducted research clearly proves that phytocenosis determines the quality of moss extracts. The analyses showed that in every examined aspect the IV-7 extract (obtained from a specimen collected in a Pinus sylvestris L. forest, monoculture up to 15 years old) exhibited the highest values and the strongest activity. Other extracts of the same species but growing in other phytocenoses—in a mixed forest (IV-5), a forest tract in a Pinus sylvestris monoculture forest (IV-6) and in a P. sylvestris forest of pine monoculture about 50 years old (IV-8) showed much weaker activity and lower values of the above-mentioned parameters. At the same time, none of the tested extracts exerted a pro-regenerative effect. The P. schreberi extracts were characterized by a varied total content of phenolic compounds in the range from 0.63 ± 0.02 to 14.01 ± 0.25 mg/g of plant material. UPLC/MS analysis showed a varied phenolic profile of the extracts, with caffeoylquinic acid and quercetin triglucoside predominating in all of them.

Microgreens have great potential for improving the nutritional value of human diets, as well as constituting a promising dietary option for preventing chronic disease. Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are commercially used as a light source to improve the growth of microgreens, as well as nutrient and bioactive compound accumulation. Here, we provide the first report of the phenolic compound, chlorophyll and carotenoid pigment, and dietary fiber contents of red and green kale microgreens grown in a growth chamber under white LEDs combined with red or blue light. Significant differences in the response of phytocompounds between white light and its combination with blue or red LEDs were determined. These studies showed that a combination of white and blue LEDs positively influenced the accumulation of phenolic compounds, which consequently determined high antioxidant activity. On the contrary, the white LED lights were the most suitable for the accumulation of carotenoids and chlorophylls, including chlorophyll a and b, and Klason lignin. These results suggest that the use of a combination of white light with blue or red light can increase the concentration of phenolic compounds and dietary fiber in red and green kale microgreens and thus may enhance their health-promoting potential.

Microgreens are environmentally friendly and have health benefits in addition to their basic nutritional contents. The effect of white (W), white–blue (W + B), and white–red (W + R) light on the bioactive compounds, nutrient composition, and antioxidant potential of red and white cabbage microgreens were investigated using light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The results showed that protein, fat, ash, chlorophylls, and carotenoids were the highest in microgreens under W light, while phenolic compounds were highest in microgreens under W + B light. Supplementation with white light, as well as red or blue light, resulted in higher levels of sugars and total fiber in both white and red microgreens. Twenty-six and thirty-three phenolic compounds were identified in white and red cabbage microgreens, respectively. The identified phenolics belonged to three classes, including phenolic acids, flavonols, and anthocyanins. The antioxidant potential of both cabbage microgreens was determined by four methods (ABTS, DPPH, ORAC, and FRAP). It was found that the highest antioxidant potential was observed in microgreens grown under the W + B light combination. On the other hand, the W + R light combination increased the content of β-sitosterol and campesterol. The results may be helpful in the selection of the type of LED lighting that determines the high nutritional and health-promoting potential of white and red cabbage microgreens.

The present study investigated the nutrients, biologically-active compounds, as well as antioxidant and anti-lipase activities of chokeberry fruits across four different stages of development, from the unripe green to mature black forms. The highest content of total phenolics (12.30% dry weight (DW)), including proanthocyanidins (6.83% DW), phenolic acids (6.57% DW), flavanols (0.56% DW), flavonols (0.62% DW), and flavanones (0.10% DW), was observed in unripe fruits. The unripe green fruits were also characterized by the highest content of protein (2.02% DW), ash (4.05% DW), total fiber (39.43% DW), and chlorophylls (75.48 mg/100 g DW). Ripe black fruits were the richest source of total carotenoids (8.53 mg/100 g DW), total anthocyanins (2.64 g/100 g DW), and total sugars (33.84% DW). The phenolic compounds of green fruits were dominated by phenolic acids (above 83% of the total content), the semi-mature fruits by both phenolic acids and anthocyanins (90%), while the mature berries were dominated by anthocyanins (64%). Unripe fruits were the most effective inhibitor of pancreatic lipase in triolein emulsion, scavenger of 2,2’-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazolin-6-sulfonic acid) radical cation, and reducer of ferric ion. Biological activities were mainly correlated with total proanthocyanidins and total phenolics. Considering their strong anti-lipase and antioxidant activities, unripe chokeberry fruits may have potential applications in nutraceuticals and functional foods.

One of the effective treatments for diabetes is to reduce and delay the absorption of glucose by inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase in the digestive tract. Currently, there is a great interest in natural inhibitors from various part of plants. In the present study, the phenolic compounds composition of V. opulus bark and flower, and their inhibitory effects on in vitro potato starch digestion as well as on α-amylase and α-glucosidase, have been studied. Bark and flower phenolic extracts reduced the amount of glucose released from potato starch during tree-stage simulated digestion, with IC50 value equal to 87.77 µg/mL and 148.87 µg/mL, respectively. Phenolic bark extract showed 34.9% and 38.4% more potent inhibitory activity against α-amylase and α-glucosidase, respectively, but the activity of plant extracts was lower than that of acarbose. Chlorogenic acid (27.26% of total phenolics) and (+)-catechin (30.48% of total phenolics) were the most prominent phenolics in the flower and bark extracts, respectively. Procyanidins may be responsible for the strongest V. opulus bark inhibitory activity against α-amylase, while (+)-catechin relative to α-glucosidase. This preliminary study provides the basis of further examination of the suitability of V. opulus bark compounds as components of nutraceuticals and functional foods with antidiabetic activity.

Mosses are mainly the object of ecological and taxonomic research. This group of plants are still underestimated by scientists in other aspects of research. Recent research has shown that these plants contain remarkable and unique substances with high biological activity. Five species of mosses from a large urban ecosystem were identified for present study. In order to determine their biological potential, multifaceted studies were carried out, including: total phenolics content, antioxidant activity, antimicrobial and antifungal study, cytotoxicity evaluation, and scratch assay to assess pro-regenerative effect in the context of their possible use as the ingredients of biologically active cosmetics. Additionally, determination of individual phenolic compounds in selected extracts of the tested mosses was made. Research showed that Ceratodon purpureus and Dryptodon pulvinatus extracts had the greatest potential as antioxidants and antimicrobial activity. The cytotoxicity assessment indicated that the extracts from Dryptodon pulvinatus and Rhytidiadelphus squarossus exerted the strongest negative effect on mouse fibroblast line L929 viability at higher concentrations. While, the extract from Tortulla muralis best stimulated human foreskin fibroblast line HFF-1 proliferation and wound healing. The research on individual phenolic compounds content in the extracts tested indicated over 20 peaks on UPLC chromatograms. The conducted study has shown that mosses, especially so far unexplored species of open ecosystems, and e.g. epilytic habitats, may be a valuable source of biologically active substances and thus may constitute important medical and cosmetic possibilities.

The aim of the study was to analyze the polyphenolic profile of cone extracts of Douglas fir, Scots pine and Korean fir, and to study their antioxidant activity. The mechanism of electro-oxidation of polyphenols (such as procyanidins and catechins) from cone extracts was investigated using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), as well as spectrophotometric methods—ABTS (2,2′-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate)), DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl), FRAP (Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power ) and CUPRAC (CUPric Reducing Antioxidant Capacity). The scientific novelty of the research is the comprehensive analysis of cone extracts in terms of antioxidant properties. Due to the high polyphenol content, the extracts showed significant ability to reduce oxidative reactions, as well as the ability to scavenge free radicals and transition metal ions. Douglas fir, Scots pine and Korean fir cone extracts can potentially be used as natural stabilizers, preservatives and antimicrobial substances in the food industry and in medications.

Phytochemicals of various origins are of great interest for their antidiabetic potential. In the present study, the inhibitory effects against carbohydrate digestive enzymes and non-enzymatic glycation, antioxidant capacity, and phenolic compounds composition of Viburnum opulus L. fruits have been studied. Crude extract (CE), purified extract (PE), and ethyl acetate (PEAF) and water (PEWF) fractions of PE were used in enzymatic assays to evaluate their inhibitory potential against α-amylase with potato and rice starch as substrate, α-glucosidase using maltose and sucrose as substrate, the antioxidant capacity (ABTS, ORAC and FRAP assays), antiglycation (BSA-fructose and BSA-glucose model) properties. Among four tested samples, PEAF not only had the highest content of total phenolics, but also possessed the strongest α-glucosidase inhibition, antiglycation and antioxidant activities. UPLC analysis revealed that this fraction contained mainly chlorogenic acid, proanthocyanidin oligomers and flavalignans. Contrary, the anti-amylase activity of V. opulus fruits probably occurs due to the presence of proanthocyanidin polymers and chlorogenic acids, especially dicaffeoylquinic acids present in PEWF. All V. opulus samples have an uncompetitive and mixed type inhibition against α-amylase and α-glucosidase, respectively. Considering strong anti-glucosidase, antioxidant and antiglycation activities, V. opulus fruits may find promising applications in nutraceuticals and functional foods with antidiabetic activity.

Staphylococcus aureus is still one of the leading causes of both hospital- and community-acquired infections. Due to the very high percentage of drug-resistant strains, the participation of drug-tolerant biofilms in pathological changes, and thus the limited number of effective antibiotics, there is an urgent need to search for alternative methods of prevention or treatment for S. aureus infections. In the present study, biochemically characterized (HPLC/UPLC–QTOF–MS) acetonic, ethanolic, and water extracts from fruits and bark of Viburnum opulus L. were tested in vitro as diet additives that potentially prevent staphylococcal infections. The impacts of V. opulus extracts on sortase A (SrtA) activity (Fluorimetric Assay), staphylococcal protein A (SpA) expression (FITC-labelled specific antibodies), the lipid composition of bacterial cell membranes (LC-MS/MS, GC/MS), and biofilm formation (LIVE/DEAD BacLight) were assessed. The cytotoxicity of V. opulus extracts to the human fibroblast line HFF-1 was also tested (MTT reduction). V. opulus extracts strongly inhibited SrtA activity and SpA expression, caused modifications of S. aureus cell membrane, limited biofilm formation by staphylococci, and were non-cytotoxic. Therefore, they have pro-health potential. Nevertheless, their usefulness as diet supplements that are beneficial for the prevention of staphylococcal infections should be confirmed in animal models in the future.