Evaluation of antioxidant activity and total phenolics of selected Czech honeys

Honey serves as a good source of natural antioxidants, which are effective in reducing the risk occurrence of heart disease, cancer, cataracts, different inflammatory processes and immune-system decline. In the fresh selected Czech honey samples originated mainly from the region North Moravia antioxidant activity and total polyphenol content were determined. A total of 40 honey samples (multifloral, lime, rape, raspberry, mixture and honeydew honeys) native to different stations gained in the period from May by August year 2006 were analysed. Total phenolics (TP) content was determined by the modified Folin-Ciocalteau method [TP was expressed as mg of gallic acid equivalent (GA eq.) per kg of honey]. For evaluation of the antioxidant activity (AOA) three different methods were used, the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay, the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay and the 2,2′-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazolin)-6-sulfphonate (ABTS) assay. AOA was expressed in mg ascorbic acid equivalent (AA eq.) per kg of honey. The results indicated that TP and AOA in Czech honey varied greatly between the honey kinds, location and time of the harvest. Average TP ranged from 89.9 mg GA eq. kg^-1 in lime honey to 215.2 mg GA eq. kg⁻¹ in honeydew honey. Antioxidant activity determined by the DPPH, ABTS and FRAP methods was lowest in floral honeys. The highest values were obtained for honeydew and mixture honeys. ABTS and FRAP assays have been shown to be the optimal methods for AOA determination in honey. A positive linear correlation between AOA and TP was observed (in FRAP assay R² = 0.852). It indicates that phenolics are one of the main components responsible for antioxidant behaviour of honey. The obtained results support and extend complete knowledge about the content of bioactive phenolics and antioxidant activity in the Czech honeys.     

提取溶剂对青稞提取物总酚、黄酮含量及其抗氧化活性的影响

以3种不同的青稞为原料,采用不同的提取溶剂(水、60%乙醇、60%甲醇、60%丙酮、95%乙醇、100%甲醇、100%丙酮)对青稞进行提取。对各提取物的总酚、总黄酮进行测定,同时采用3种抗氧化方法:二苯代苦味酰自由基(DPPH)、2,2’-联氨-双(3-乙基苯并噻唑啉-6-磺酸)二胺盐自由基(ABTS)和总抗氧化能力(FARP)评价青稞提取物的抗氧化活性。结果表明,95%乙醇和60%丙酮更有利于青稞多酚的提取。藏青2000的各溶剂提取物的总酚、总黄酮及抗氧化活性普遍高于相应溶剂的循化蓝青稞和香格里拉绿青稞。藏青2000的60%丙酮提取物含有最高的总酚含量,达到211.92mg GAE/100g DW;在60%乙醇提取时具有最高的总黄酮含量,达到60.11mg RT/100g DW;在60%乙醇提取时具有最强的DPPH清除能力,达到80.08%;而用60%丙酮提取时,具有最强的ABTS清除能力和总抗氧化能力,分别达到了1.85,9.28 mmol TEAC/100g DW。总酚含量与抗氧化活性均具有显著的相关性,FRAP法与DPPH、ABTS法具有极显著的相关性。综上表明,青稞富含总酚成分,是一种潜在的天然抗氧化剂资源。     

Study on antioxidant activity of certain plants in Thailand: Mechanism of antioxidant action of guava leaf extract

The ethanol extracts from 24 samples plant species commonly found in Thailand were investigated and compared on their antioxidant activity by ABTS assay. The ethanol extract from the leaves of guava (Psidium guajava) showed the highest antioxidant capacity with the TEAC value of 4.908 ± 0.050 mM/mg, followed by the fruit peels of rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum) and mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana) with the TEAC values of 3.074 ± 0.003 and 3.001 ± 0.016 mM/mg, respectively. The further investigation of guava leaf extracts from different solvents; n-hexane, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, and methanol, was examined using ABTS and FRAP assays. The total phenolic content was done by Folin–Ciocalteu reaction. The results indicated that the methanol fraction possessed the highest antioxidant activity, followed by the butanol and ethyl acetate fractions, respectively. The hexane fraction showed the lowest antioxidant activity. The results demonstrated that the mechanism of antioxidant action of guava leaf extracts was free radical scavenging and reducing of oxidized intermediates. The phenolic content in guava leaf fraction played a significant role on the antioxidant activity via reducing mechanisms.     

Identification and quantification of phenolic compounds and their effects on antioxidant activity in pomegranate juices of eight Iranian cultivars

Important health-promoting compounds, including six types of anthocyanins, phytoestrogenic flavonoids and ellagic acid were determined individually in pomegranate juices (Punica granatum L.) of eight Iranian cultivars by high performance liquid chromatography coupled to UV–vis detector (HPLC–UV) using individual calculation from the peak area based on standard curves of each component. Total phenolics and antioxidant activities were determined by Folin–Ciocalteu and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) methods, respectively, and compared among the cultivars. The predominant anthocyanins were delphinidin 3,5-diglucoside (372–5301 mg/l) followed by cyanidin 3,5-diglucoside (242–2361 mg/l), delphinidin 3-glucoside (49–1042 mg/l) and pelargonidin 3,5-diglucoside (7–90 mg/l), respectively. The highest level of total tannins was found in Sweet Alak cultivar (3 mg/l). Saveh Black Leather showed the highest level of ellagic acid (160 mg/l). Antioxidant activity varied among the cultivars (18–42 Trolox equivalents antioxidant capacity) and was directly related to the total phenolics in each type of juice.     

Composition of anthocyanins in pomegranate flowers and their antioxidant activity

Anthocyanins in the flowers of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) were extracted and separated by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography and Sephadex LH-20 chromatography. Two anthocyanins were identified to be pelargonidin 3,5-diglucoside and pelargonidin 3-glucoside by spectral methods, ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, mass spectroscopy and comparisons with the literature. These two anthocyanins were identified from pomegranate flowers for the first time. Furthermore, the antioxidant activities of purified anthocyanins were screened for their antioxidative potential using 2,2′-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) and 3-ethyl-benzo-thiazoline-6-sulphonate (ABTS) systems. The purified anthocyanins showed strong radical scavenging activities. Pelargonidin 3-glucoside showed higher antioxidant activity (50% inhibition values of 19.56 μg/ml for DPPH and Trolox equivalents antioxidant activity of 2.39 μg/μg for ABTS) than pelargonidin 3,5-diglucoside.     

Major anthocyanins and antioxidant activity of Nasturtium flowers (Tropaeolum majus)

Major anthocyanins, ascorbic acid content, total phenolic content, and the radical scavenging activity against ABTS and DPPH radicals in petals of orange Nasturtium flowers (Tropaeolum majus), were investigated. Anthocyanin (ACN) content in the petals was 72 mg/100 g FW and pelargonidin 3-sophoroside represented 91% of the total ACN content. The ascorbic acid content was 71.5 mg/100 g and the total phenolic content as determined by the Folin–Ciocalteau method was 406 mg GAE/100 g FW. The radical scavenging activities against ABTS and DPPH radicals were 458 and 91.87 μm trolox eq/g FW, respectively. The excellent free radical scavenging activities along with high phenolic and ascorbic acid content of Nasturtium flowers suggest that they could be source of natural pigments and antioxidants for applications in functional foods.     

Evaluation of the phenolic content,antioxidant activity and colour of Slovenian honey

Honey samples from the seven most common honey types in Slovenia were screened for total phenolic content by the modified Folin–Ciocalteu method, for potential antioxidant activity using the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay and by the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method for antiradical activity. In addition the colour characteristics of honey samples were analysed. The results of the study showed that total phenolic content, antioxidant activity and colour parameters differ widely among different honey types. Phenolic content expressed as gallic acid equivalent ranged from 44.8 mg/kg in acacia honey to 241.4 mg/kg in fir honey. Antioxidant activity was the lowest in the brightest acacia and lime honeys and the highest in darker honeys, namely fir, spruce and forest. The colour of the Slovenian honeys, analysed in this study was very variable and ranged from pale yellow to dark brown. Correlations between the parameters analysed were found to be statistically significant (p < 0.05).     

Application of a radical scavenging activity test to measure the total antioxidant activity of poultry meat

The antioxidant activity of the hydrophilic and lipophilic fraction of poultry meat was determined in terms of ‘radical scavenging activity’ (RSA) using a modified ABTS radical cation decolorization method.The method uses the extraction of hydrophilic and lipophilic fractions in water and methanol–chloroform, respectively. The determination of the RSA of the lipophilic fraction was conducted using a chloroform extract and maintaining a constant chloroform:ethanol ratio in the solution of analysis. The method was tested on nine samples of poultry breasts and thigh meats and permitted to quantify the RSA in terms of μmol Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) with a mean relative standard deviation of less than 5%.The contribution of the hydrophilic fraction to the total RSA was much higher than that of the lipid soluble fraction. Breast showed a higher RSA than thigh meat due to its lower total lipids content. The total RSA value (TEAC = 2.4 μmol g⁻¹) suggests that poultry meat could significantly contribute to the antioxidant activity of the diet.     

Polyphenolic profile and antioxidant activity of five apple cultivars grown under organic and conventional agricultural practices

The polyphenols and total antioxidant activities of five apple cultivars, grown by organic and conventional agricultural methods in neighbouring farms, were determined and compared. Total polyphenols in the whole fruit and in the peel were determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu method, and the total antioxidant activity was determined by three established methods, diphenyl picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), azinobis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) and ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP). Polyphenolic content for the whole fruit was in the range of 80–196 and for the peel 165–400 (mg Gallic Acid Equivalent (GAE)/100 g fresh weight) for both types of agricultural practices. Antioxidant activities of fruit extracts were also relatively similar and well correlated to their polyphenolic content. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of the most important polyphenolics (chlorogenic acid, catechin, epicatechin, procyanidin B1 and B2, cyaniding 3-galactoside, phloridzin, quercetin 3-galactoside and quercetin 3-arabinoside) also showed that concentrations do not differentiate significantly between the organic and conventional apples. Statistical significance of differences in antioxidant activities among the same cultivars was relatively small (flesh + peel or peel only) for both types of apples. These results indicate that organic apples do not present higher antioxidant or nutritional value compared with conventionally grown ones, as far as polyphenolic content and total antioxidant activities are concerned.     

Bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity of fresh exotic fruits from northeastern Brazil

Foods rich in antioxidants play an essential role in the prevention of diseases. The present study compared contents of phenolics, vitamin C, anthocyanin and antioxidant activity of 11 fresh exotic fruits, cultivated in the northeastern part of Brazil. The antioxidant activities were evaluated using two antioxidant systems 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), expressed as TEAC (Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity) and VCEAC (Vitamin C Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity) values. The results indicated that the above fruits, such as murici and mangaba, were good sources of antioxidants. The phenolic contents showed positive correlations with total antioxidant by ABTS (R = 0.94, P ≤ 0.001) and DPPH (R = 0.88, P ≤ 0.001) assays. However, this correlation was not noticed when examining vitamin C and anthocyanins contents. The 11 fruits studied had comparable antioxidant activity in both, ABTS and DPPH assays. These methods are recommended as useful tools for the evaluation of the total activity antioxidant in fruits. Our results indicated promising perspectives for the development and usage of fruits species studied with considerable levels of antioxidant activity.     

精炼糖厂离交洗脱液色素黄酮总酚含量的测定及抗氧化物活性的研究

以抗坏血酸和茶多酚为阳性对照,测定离交洗脱液色素的总黄酮及总多酚含量,并采用1,1-二苯基。2．三硝基苯肼（DPPH·）、（2,2’-连氨-（3-乙基苯并噻唑林-6-磺酸）二氨盐）自由基（ABTS＋·）、铁离子还原／抗氧化能力（FRAP）测定法,评价离交洗脱液色素在质量浓度为0．005～1mg／mL范围内的DPPH-自由基清除能力、ABTS＋·自由基清除能力、铁离子的还原／抗氧化能力,考察抗氧化物总黄酮及总多酚含量与抗氧化能力的相关性。     

Preparation and antioxidant activity of tyrosyl and homovanillyl ethers

Preparation of tyrosyl and homovanillyl lipophilic derivatives was carried out as a response to the food industry’s increasing demand for new synthetic lipophilic antioxidants. Tyrosyl and homovanillyl ethers were synthesized in high yields by a three-step procedure starting from tyrosol (Ty) and homovanillic alcohol (HMV). The antioxidant activity of these new series of alkyl tyrosyl and homovanillyl ethers was evaluated by the Rancimat test in a lipophilic food matrix and by the FRAP, ABTS and ORAC assays and compared to free Ty and HMV as well as two antioxidants widely used in the food industry, butylhydroxytoluene (BHT) and α-tocopherol. The results pointed out the higher activity of homovanillyl series in comparison with tyrosyl series with all the assayed methods. However, while both synthetic series were less antioxidant than BHT and α-tocopherol in a lipophilic matrix after their Rancimat test evaluation, homovanillyl alkyl ethers showed the best reducing power and radical scavenging activity of all evaluated compounds. This batch of synthetic lipophilic compounds, derived from biologically active compounds such as Ty and HMV, provide interesting and potentially bioactive compounds.     

Phenol content,antioxidant activity and metal composition of Croatian wines deriving from organically and conventionally grown grapes

The present study was performed to evaluate the antioxidant capacity, the polyphenol and metal content of conventionally and organically produced wines, which underwent similar winemaking processes. The wine grapes were grown under well-defined organic and conventional conditions from the two different wine-growing sub-regions of Croatia, Prigorje and Southern Dalmatia. The values of antioxidant activity, as evaluated by two free radical methods, ABTS and DPPH, was found systematically higher in organic wines compared to conventional ones. In a reversed phase HPLC analysis, used in order to characterise the phenol fraction of wines, higher concentrations of chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid, catechin, trans-resveratrol, all studied hydroxybenzoic acids and flavonols were found in the organically produced wines. No apparent trend was found in the metal contents of the wines, but ICP-MS analysis confirmed that both wine productions, organic and conventional, were well within the toxicological safety limits.     

Anthocyanins profile,total phenolics and antioxidant activity of black currant ethanolic extracts as influenced by genotype and ethanol concentration

Ethanolic extracts prepared from the fruits of three cultivars of black currant (‘Record’, ‘Blackdown’ and ‘Ronix’) macerated in three concentrations (40%, 60% and 96%) of aqueous ethanol were investigated for their anthocyanins profile, total phenolics and antioxidant activity.     

新疆药桑叶中黄酮类化合物的分离及其抗氧化活性评价

以自由基清除率为评价指标,利用制备液相从药桑叶醇提物的乙酸乙酯萃取部分中分离黄酮单体化合物,并采用1,1-二苯基- 2-硝基苯肼（DPPH）自由基和2,2-联氮基-双-（3-乙基苯并噻唑啉-6-磺酸）二氨盐（ABTS）自由基清除法对单体化合物进行抗氧化活性评价。结果表明,从乙酸乙酯萃取部分分离得到4个单体化合物,分别为化合物Ⅰ、化合物Ⅱ、化合物Ⅲ、化合物Ⅳ,对DPPH自由基清除率的半数抑制浓度（IC50）分别为0.004 4 mg/mL、0.003 7 mg/mL、0.003 0 mg/mL、0.078 0 mg/mL,对ABTS自由基清除率IC50分别为0.021 mg/mL、0.014 mg/mL、0.012 mg/mL、0.087 mg/mL。4个单体化合物均具有很强的抗氧化活性,且抗氧化活性顺序化合物Ⅲ＞化合物Ⅱ＞化合物Ⅰ＞化合物Ⅳ。     

Assessment of some Australian red wines for price, phenolic content, antioxidant activity, and vintage in relation to functional food prospects

Twenty-three Cabernet Sauvignon wines from the Mudgee region and thirty-two Shiraz wines from the Hunter Valley region were analyzed for phenolic content and antioxidant activity. Concentrations of (+)-catechin, quercetin, and transresveratrol, total phenolic content, and DPPH antioxidant activity varied considerably, both within and between varieties. Individual phenols, total phenols, and antioxidant activity were correlated with price and vintage. Shiraz wines showed positive and significant correlations for catechin and quercetin concentrations with total phenols, antioxidant activity, and vintage; and for total phenols and antioxidant activity with vintage. Cabernet Sauvignon wines showed positive and significant correlations for quercetin concentration with total phenols and antioxidant activity. There was a negative and significant correlation found between price and antioxidant activity for Cabernet Sauvignon wines. Results are discussed in terms of the potential for wine to be considered a functional food. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: We report on potential health benefits (antioxidant activity) of 55 wines typical of 2 geographically close, but distinct, wine regions of Australia. Our results highlight the variability in functional components as an issue that needs further research and consideration in relation to wine as a functional food. The price of studied wines is not reflective of their health functionality, based on antioxidant activities.     

Stability of the total antioxidant capacity and total polyphenol content of 23 commercially available vegetable juices before and after in vitro digestion measured by FRAP, DPPH, ABTS and Folin-Ciocalteu methods

Vegetables are known to contain a wide variety of antioxidants which may provide protection against the development of a number of disease states. Recently there has been a large increase in the number of vegetable juices which have become commercially available. The objective of the present study was to analyse the total antioxidant capacity of 23 commercially available vegetable juices [via Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP), 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2, 2-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS⁺) and Folin-Ciocalteu Reagent (FCR) for total polyphenols] and to determine the stability of the antioxidant capacity following an in vitro digestion procedure using the same methods. All 23 juices were significant sources of antioxidants both in terms of total antioxidant capacity and total polyphenols, although results varied considerably between the juices [1369-9500 ??mol/L (FRAP), 57.8-100% inhibition of DPPH, 10.9-90.7% inhibition of ABTS⁺ and 449-3025 ??g ferulic acid equivalents/mL for FCR]. Beetroot juice displayed the highest level of total antioxidants and total polyphenols compared to the other juices which were analysed (tomato, carrot, mixed vegetable, mixed fruit and vegetable). The antioxidant capacity of the juices remained high throughout the in vitro digestion.     

Compositions of anthocyanins in blackberry juice and their thermal degradation in relation to antioxidant activity

This study investigated the compositions of anthocyanins in blackberry juice and the effect of heating (70, 80, and 90?°C) on individual anthocyanins, as well as its impact on antioxidant activity. The results showed that five anthocyanins were identified, including cyanidin (Cy)-3-O-glucoside (1), Cy-3-O-arabinoside (2), Cy-3-O-malonyl-glucoside (3), Cy-3-O-dioxalyl-glucoside (4), and the Cy derivative (5). The degradation rates of individual anthocyanins (1–4) followed the first-order reaction kinetics. Unexpectedly, the amount of the Cy derivative (5) was observed to slightly increase in temperature. At the same temperature, the half-lives (T _1/2) values of each anthocyanin (1–4) significantly differed (P?<?0.05). Maximum of the T _1/2 values were observed with Cy-3-O-dioxalyl-glucoside (T _1/2 values ranged 9.48–3.54?h) and exhibited relatively resistant stability. Moreover, the T _1/2 values of Cy-3-O-glucoside were higher than Cy-3-O-arabinoside and Cy-3-O-malonyl-glucoside. The antioxidant activity of blackberry juice reduced with the decreasing of total anthocyanins. These results demonstrated that the time dependency of anthocyanins degradation and antioxidant capacity were strongly correlated in blackberry juice.     

Hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity of anthocyanins in black rice bran on carbon tetrachloride-induced liver injury in mice

The benefits of anthocyanin-rich black rice bran extract (ARBE) on the liver of carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-intoxicated mice was investigated. Based on the in vivo experiment, the effect of cyanidin-3-glucoside (Cy-3-G) and peonidin-3-glucoside (Pn-3-G), the predominant anthocyanins in ARBE, on CCl₄ insulted hepatocytes L-02 was further evaluated. Mice treated with ARBE for 7 weeks by oral administration showed reduced aminotransferase activities in serum, accompanied by enhanced superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity, while tiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) levels were significantly decreased compared to CCl₄-intoxicated model group. Histopathological observation showed ARBE administration alleviated the pathological changes in livers of CCl₄-intoxicated mice. Similarly, preincubation of L-02 cells with Cy-3-G or Pn-3-G significantly alleviated CCl₄-induced injury dose-dependently, exhibited higher cell viability, decreased aminotransferase activity and enhanced cellular antioxidant status. Furthermore, Cy-3-G showed much stronger hepatoprotective activity than Pn-3-G at the same concentration. HPLC analysis showed that Cy-3-G accounted for more than 88% of total anthocyanins in ARBE. These results indicate that ARBE is significantly beneficial to liver health, and that Cy-3-G is the predominant anthocyanin in ARBE exerting this effect. The antioxidant activity of anthocyanins is an important mechanism by which ARBE exerts hepatic health benefit.