Pine Bark and Green Tea Concentrated Extracts: Antioxidant Activity and Comprehensive Characterization of Bioactive Compounds by HPLC–ESI-QTOF-MS

The consumption of polyphenols has frequently been associated with low incidence of degenerative diseases. Most of these natural antioxidants come from fruits, vegetables, spices, grains and herbs. For this reason, there has been increasing interest in identifying plant extract compounds. Polymeric tannins and monomeric flavonoids, such as catechin and epicatechin, in pine bark and green tea extracts could be responsible for the higher antioxidant activities of these extracts. The aim of the present study was to characterize the phenolic compounds in pine bark and green tea concentrated extracts using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HPLC–ESI-QTOF-MS). A total of 37 and 35 compounds from pine bark and green tea extracts, respectively, were identified as belonging to various structural classes, mainly flavan-3-ol and its derivatives (including procyanidins). The antioxidant capacity of both extracts was evaluated by three complementary antioxidant activity methods: Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC). Higher antioxidant activity values by each method were obtained. In addition, total polyphenol and flavan-3-ol contents, which were determined by Folin–Ciocalteu and vanillin assays, respectively, exhibited higher amounts of gallic acid and (+)-catechin equivalents.     

Antioxidative activity of green tea catechin extract compared with that of rosemary extract

This study compared the antioxidative activity of green tea catechin (GTC) extract with that of rosemary extract in canola oil, pork lard, and chicken fat. The GTC extract was obtained from jasmine and longjing green teas and mainly consisted of four epicatechin isomers including (−)epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), (−)epigallocatechin (EGC), (−)epicatechin (EC), and (−)epicatechin gallate (ECG). The oxidation was conducted at 100 ± 2°C by monitoring oxygen uptake. The oxygen consumption test demonstrated that GTC extract was much more effective than the rosemary extract against lipid oxidation in canola oil, pork lard, and chicken fat under the conditions of the present study. Together with our previous study which showed that GTC extract was more protective than butylated hydroxytoluene as an antioxidant, these results suggest that GTC as a mixture of EGCG, EGC, EC, and ECG may serve as an antioxidant in processed foods.     

Antioxidative activity of green tea catechin extract compared with that of rosemary extract

This study compared the antioxidative activity of green tea catechin (GTC) extract with that of rosemary extract in canola oil, pork lard, and chicken fat. The GTC extract was obtained from jasmine and longjing green teas and mainly consisted of four epicatechin isomers including (−)epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), (−)epigallocatechin (EGC), (−)epicatechin (EC), and (−)epicatechin gallate (ECG). The oxidation was conducted at 100 ± 2°C by monitoring oxygen uptake. The oxygen consumption test demonstrated that GTC extract was much more effective than the rosemary extract against lipid oxidation in canola oil, pork lard, and chicken fat under the conditions of the present study. Together with our previous study which showed that GTC extract was more protective than butylated hydroxytoluene as an antioxidant, these results suggest that GTC as a mixture of EGCG, EGC, EC, and ECG may serve as an antioxidant in processed foods.     

Phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity of extracts of Ginkgo leaves

The aim of the present study was to determine the flavonol contents of crude extracts from Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba L.) leaves, their antioxidant properties in model system studies, and their inhibitory action of linoleic acid oxidation in an emulsion system and of triacylglycerols (TAG) in rapeseed oil. Extracts were prepared from both green and yellow leaves of Ginkgo trees using water, aqueous acetone, and ethanol. Extracts were analyzed by HPLC for their presence and content of selected flavonols; these included myricetin, quercetin, kaempferol, isorhamnetin, and morin. The highest level of flavonols, especially quercetin, myricetin and kaempferol, were found in the aqueous acetonic extracts. Crude extracts from yellow Ginkgo leaves contained greater amounts of flavonols. The best DPPH radical‐scavenging activity amongst the Ginkgo extracts examined was determined for aqueous acetonic extracts, while the lowest was noted for the ethanolic extract of green leaves. Water infusion extracts exhibited the highest iron(II) chelating activity. The reducing power of extracts from yellow leaves was 2 higher than that of crude extracts from green leaves. Nevertheless, extracts from green Ginkgo leaves imparted a greater protection factor against TAG oxidation, as assessed by the Rancimat method. Crude extracts from yellow Ginkgo leaves were more efficacious than green ones at inhibiting oxidation of the linoleic acid emulsion.     

Natural extracts as potential source of antioxidants to stabilize polyolefins

Several natural matrices were investigated as potential sources of antioxidants to be used as plastic additives. Extracts of four matrices obtained under the same experimental conditions were initially considered: green tea, black tea, Lippia citriodora and Hypericum androsaemum. Both, the antioxidant activity of the extracts and their content in flavanols and quercetin, were compared. The antioxidant activity was determined by DPPH analysis and the phenolic composition by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) using ultraviolet (UV) diode array and fluorescence (FL) detectors. Concentration of the flavanols reduced in the same way as their antioxidant activity starting with green tea, through black tea, Hypericum androsaemum, and Lippia citriodora. The performance of polypropylene samples stabilized with green tea extract, or its individual components catechin and epicatechin, was compared with samples stabilized with a mixture of the synthetic antioxidants Irganox 1076 and Irgafos 168. Each sample was extruded and consecutively reextruded up to four times. The melt flow index (MFI) and the oxidation induction time (OIT) of the samples were measured after each step. The obtained results showed the interest of this natural matrix as a potential source of antioxidants for plastics. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Oxidative Stability of Feed Fats

Antioxidant activity of ethanolic extracts of the dried unripe fruit of osage orange (Maclura aurantiaca Nutt.) was studied using raw sunflower oil as substrate. Antioxidant activity of both the ethanolic extract and powder of the same plant was also assessed on the basis of measurements on the Rancimat apparatus with lard as the substrate and by determination of the peroxide number. It was established that the antioxidant activity in the case of powder increased with a decrease in the particle size. The antioxidative power of the powder of the osage orange fruit was compared with that of powders of following plants: Asclepias syriaca L., Astragalus onobrychis L., Thymus marschallianus Willd., and Oenothera biennis L., using the Rancimat apparatus. Citric acid exhibited a strong synergistic effect in the combination with both the ethanolic extract and powder obtained from the fruit of Maclura aurantiaca Nutt.     

Antioxidative Wirkung von Pflanzenextrakten auf Futterfette

Antioxidative Activity of Extracts of Plants on Feed Fats The antioxidative activity of ethanol extract from unripe Madura-fruits (Madura aurantiaca) Nutt./Osage orange) as well as extracts from overground plant parts was investigated. Tallow and lard (prepared by wet procedure) at 60° C and in Rancimat apparatus were used as substrates. The comparison was made with BHA as synthetic antioxidant. The plant extracts from Asclepias syriaca L. (sample A), Chenopodium ambrosiodes L. (sample B). Thymus marschallianus Willd, (sample C) showed only a moderate antioxidative activity with substrates tempered to 60^OC. which was not confirmed by the results obtained with Rancimat apparatus. The extract of unripe Maclura-fruits shows a very strong antioxidative activity, which is comparable with pure BHA and extends inductive period at applied substrates many times. The addition of citric and malic acid shows synergetic effect. Additionally, the experiments were made with application of pulver of unripe Maclura-fruits. The use of 0.1 -0.2% of this pulver at applied substrates (tallow, lard, heated to 60⁰Cj induces a very high prolongation of induction period, similar as by 0.01 % BHA. The measurements with Rancimat apparatus showed the same relations of prolongation of induction period of substrates for application of extract or pulver of Maclura-fruits.     

Antioxidant activity of extracts from six different Sudanese plant materials

Methanolic extracts obtained by manual solvent extraction (MSE) and accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) of different Sudanese plant materials (Sclerocarya birrea leaves, Salvadora persica bark and leaves, Combretum hartmannianum leaves, Guiera senegalensis leaves and roots) were investigated for their antioxidant activity. There was no significant difference between the two extraction methods (p < 0.01) regarding the total amount of phenolic compounds expressed as gallic acid equivalents (GAE) (52.6–166.7 mg GAE/g total extractable compounds for MSE and 53.1–169.3 mg GAE/g for ASE). In comparison to a control without extract, the extracts were remarkably effective in the β‐carotene bleaching method, whereas the effectiveness was half or less in comparison to Trolox as standard antioxidant. Also using the 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method antioxidant activity could be shown in comparison to a control, however, the extracts were less effective than Trolox. No significant difference was found between the two extraction methods. The increase of the peroxide value of sunflower oil during storage at 70°C was markedly lower after addition of the extracts in comparison to the control, but in the Rancimat test (120°C) the extracts showed only a small stabilization factor (F = 0.9–1.4) especially in comparison to Trolox (F = 5.8).     

Antioxidant Activities of Free and Liposome-Encapsulated Green tea extracts on canola oil oxidation stability

In the present study, green tea extract was encapsulated in liposomes based on the Mozafari method (with no organic solvents) and characterized for its physicochemical properties (encapsulation efficiency, particle size, and Z-potential). Encapsulation efficiency, particles size, and Z-potential were determined to be 51.34, 419 nm, and -57 mV, respectively. Total polyphenol content of the green tea by Folin-Ciocalteu's phenol reagent was measured as 164.2 mg gallic acid/g extract. Free radical scavenging activities of free and liposomal extracts were 90.6 and 93.4%, respectively, using the DPPH method. Antioxidant activity of the ethanolic extract of green tea in free and liposomal forms with concentrations of 200, 600, and 1000 mg L⁻¹ were assessed on oxidative stability of the canola oil at 60 °C for 0, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, and 32 days. Results were compared to results of synthetic antioxidant butylated hydroxytoluene at 200 mg L⁻¹. To assess antioxidant activity on canola oil stability, peroxide, thiobarbitoric acid, and anisidine values were assessed as well as the total oxidation value and rancimat test. Results showed that the liposomal green tea extract was more effective than the free extract. Furthermore, a 600 mg L⁻¹ concentration of the green tea extract showed a significant antioxidant activity, compared to other extract concentrations. Increasing storage time and various concentrations of the ethanolic green tea extracts included significant effects on canola oil stability (P ≤ 0.05). Results demonstrated that the green tea extract could be used as an effective antioxidant. Free and liposomal extract (at 600 mg L⁻¹) resulted in stronger functionality than the synthetic antioxidant butylated hydroxytoluene.     

Antioxidant activity of various teas against free radicals and LDL oxidation

Tea is a widely consumed beverage throughout the world. We assessed the antioxidant activity of six teas, including the aqueous extracts of green tea and oolong tea (Camellia sinensis), tochu (Eucommia ulmoides), Gymnema sylvestre, Japanese mugwort (Artemisia princeps), and barley (Hordeum vulgare), against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals and LDL oxidation, and examined the association of LDL oxidizability with the plasma catechin levels in 10 healthy volunteers with a single dose of 5 g green tea powder. In vitro, the inhibitory effects of DPPH radicals and LDL oxidation were found to be strongest in the extract of green tea and weakest in that of barley. After the ingestion of green tea powder, the lag time increased from basal 52.2±4.1 to 60.3±4.2 min at 1 h and 59.5±4.1 min at 2 h, and then returned to the baseline lag time (51.9±1.4 at 4 h and 52.1±4.7 min at 6 h). Regarding the plasma catechin levels, epigallocatechingallate and epicatechingallate significantly increased from basal 3.7±1.3 and 0.8±0.8 ng/mL to 65.7±11.6 and 54.6±12.6 ng/mL at 1 h, and 74.4±18.6 and 49.4±7.1 ng/mL at 2 h, respectively. Green tea therefore showed the strongest antioxidant activity among the six different teas, and the inhibitory effects of green tea on LDL oxidation depended on the plasma catechin levels.     

Antioxidant effects of flavonoids ofAnthriscus sylvestris in lard

Ethanol/water (7∶3) extracts of the plant speciesAnthriscus sylvestris possess antioxidant activity. Separation and identification of antioxidant components by thin-layer and column chromatography and spectral analysis demonstrated that quercetin and apigenin appeared to be the main flavonoid species inAnthriscus sylvestris. Rutin was one of the major quercetin glycosides. Structures of the isolated compounds were determined by infrared and¹H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopies. Ethanolic extract (70%) ofA. sylvestris showed concentration-dependent, strong antioxidant activity as determined by the Schaal Oven test of lard at 60°C. Rancimat analysis at 100°C showed that the antioxidant activity of 70% ethanolic extract ofA. sylvestris was superior to quercetin, apigenin, or a tocopherol mixture.     

Effect of evening primrose extracts on oxidative stability of sunflower and rapeseed oils

Antioxidative activities of evening primrose seed meal extracts in sunflower and rapeseed oils were compared with that of commercially used antioxidants, namely butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), ascorbylpalmitate as well as Grindox‐118. The study was carried out under Schaal oven conditions at 60 °C and the weight gain was followed up by p‐anisidine value measurement following the oxidation. An Oxidograph apparatus monitored the oxidation of oils at 110 °C. Among the examined extracts, the ethyl acetate extract (0.2%), containing only 87 mg/g of total phenolics, exhibited a stronger antioxidant activity than BHT (0.01%) and effectively stabilised both oils. A strong antioxidative effect was also noted for the ethanol‐ethyl acetate extract (168 mg/g of total phenolics). The study showed that addition of ethyl acetate and ethanol‐ethyl acetate extracts could extend the sunflower and rapeseed oils shelf‐life by protecting oils from further decomposition that naturally occurs during thermal treatments.     

海滩植物厚藤（Ipomoea Pes-caprae）抗氧化活性研究

采用加速溶剂萃取技术(ASE)快速制备厚藤活性提取物,并以DPPH法对厚藤茎叶不同溶剂提取物抗氧化活性进行评价。抗坏血酸抗氧化能力乙酸乙酯提取物抗氧化能力乙醇提取物抗氧化能力甲醇提取物抗氧化能力石油醚提取物抗氧化能力,其IC50值分别为0.203 4、0.836 2、0.868 8、1.867 5、6.628 3 g/L。结果显示,厚藤茎叶提取物具有一定的抗氧化活性,且以乙酸乙酯为提取溶剂时,效果最佳。     

Green Tea Catechins: Nature’s Way of Preventing and Treating Cancer

Green tea’s (Camellia sinensis) anticancer and anti-inflammatory effects are well-known. Catechins are the most effective antioxidants among the physiologically active compounds found in Camellia sinesis. Recent research demonstrates that the number of hydroxyl groups and the presence of specific structural groups have a substantial impact on the antioxidant activity of catechins. Unfermented green tea is the finest source of these chemicals. Catechins have the ability to effectively neutralize reactive oxygen species. The catechin derivatives of green tea include epicatechin (EC), epigallocatechin (EGC), epicatechin gallate (ECG) and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). EGCG has the greatest anti-inflammatory and anticancer potential. Notably, catechins in green tea have been explored for their ability to prevent a variety of cancers. Literature evidence, based on epidemiological and laboratory studies, indicates that green tea catechins have certain properties that can serve as the basis for their consideration as lead molecules in the synthesis of novel anticancer drugs and for further exploration of their role as pharmacologically active natural adjuvants to standard chemotherapeutics. The various sections of the article will focus on how catechins affect the survival, proliferation, invasion, angiogenesis, and metastasis of tumors by modulating cellular pathways.     

Evaluation of the Phenolic Content and Antioxidant Activity of Different Seed and Nut Cakes from the Edible Oil Industry

The objective of this work was to extract water‐soluble compounds from different seed and nut cakes under the same conditions and compare the phenolic content and antioxidant activity of the cake extracts. Seed cakes of sunflower, pumpkin, flaxseed and defatted sesame, and nut cakes of almond, pecan, macadamia and hazelnut were used in the experiments. Extracts were obtained by solid–liquid extraction with a water/ethanol solution (20:80, v/v). Total phenolic content, flavonoids, flavan‐3‐ols and condensed tannins in the extracts were determined using spectrophotometric analysis. Antioxidant properties of the extracts were determined by the DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging methods, and by determination of the reducing power and chelating activity. The extract from pecan nut cake presented the highest amounts of all compounds analyzed, followed by sunflower seed and hazelnut cake extracts. These samples also had the highest effects on the ABTS and DPPH radicals, as well as the uppermost reducing powers. The extracts from pecan nut and sunflower and sesame seeds were analyzed using HPLC and individual phenolics were further characterized.     

桑叶乙醇提取物的体外抗氧化与抑菌活性

采用索氏提取法对干桑叶进行提取,得到乙醇提取物,并对提取物的组分以及体外抗氧化活性和抑菌活性进行了测定。研究结果表明：桑叶乙醇提取物中含有多种有机物,主要包括酯类(82.85%)、烷烃类(6.31%)、芳烃类(1.62%)和醇类(0.21%)。桑叶乙醇提取物总还原力与浓度有显著的线性关系;对DPPH自由基和OH自由基都有良好的清除能力,半数抑制浓度(IC₅₀)分别为73.07和104.52 mg/L。桑叶乙醇提取物对枯草芽孢杆菌、金黄色葡萄球菌和大肠杆菌均具有一定的抑制作用,抑制效果为枯草芽孢杆菌＞金黄色葡萄球菌＞大肠杆菌,IC₅₀分别为4.824、6.806和14.382 g/L。桑叶乙醇提取物的抗氧化活性和抑菌活性随样品浓度的增大而增大。     

Antioxidant Properties of Three Aromatic Herbs (Rosemary, Thyme and Lavender) in Oil-in-Water Emulsions

Lipid oxidation is the major form of deterioration in foods because it decreases food quality and nutritional value, and may have negative health implications. Selected aromatic plant extracts from leaves, flowers and stems of rosemary, thyme and lavender were investigated for their antioxidant activity. The total polyphenol content was determined by the Folin–Ciocalteu assay and the antioxidant capacity was determined by the Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, oxygen radical absorbance capacity and ferric-reducing antioxidant power assays. For all four antioxidant assays, the extracts from thyme flowers, lavender leaves and thyme leaves had the highest antioxidant activity, followed by rosemary stems, rosemary leaves, and lavender stems, and the lavender flowers and thyme stems had the lowest antioxidant activity. The antioxidant activity was correlated with the polyphenol content, although minor deviations were observed. In oil-in-water emulsion, extracts from rosemary leaves and thyme leaves were most effective at retarding oxidation followed by the rosemary stems and thyme flowers. Extracts from thyme flowers and lavender leaves were less effective in the emulsion than predicted by the homogeneous antioxidant assays. This study demonstrated the potential use of plants extract as substitutes for synthetic antioxidants.     

Lipid oxidation inhibitory effects and phenolic composition of aqueous extracts from medicinal plants of colombian amazonia

Diverse plants of ethnobotanic interest in Amazonia are commonly used in traditional medicine. We determined the antioxidant potential against lipid peroxidation, the antimicrobial activity, and the polyphenol composition of several Amazonian plants (Brownea rosademonte, Piper glandulosissimum, Piper krukoffii, Piper putumayoense, Solanum grandiflorum, and Vismia baccifera). Extracts from the plant leaf, bark, and stem were prepared as aqueous infusions, as used in folk medicine, and added to rat liver microsomes exposed to iron. The polyphenolic composition was detected by reverse-phase HPLC coupled to diode-array detector and MS/MS analysis. The antimicrobial activity was tested by the spot-on-a-lawn method against several indicator microorganisms. All the extracts inhibited lipid oxidation, except the P. glandulosissimum stem. The plant extracts exhibiting high antioxidant potential (V. baccifera and B. rosademonte) contained high levels of flavanols (particularly, catechin and epicatechin). By contrast, S. grandiflorum leaf, which exhibited very low antioxidant activity, was rich in hydroxycinnamic acids. None of the extracts showed antimicrobial activity. This study demonstrates for the first time the presence of bioactive polyphenolic compounds in several Amazonian plants, and highlights the importance of flavanols as major phenolic contributors to antioxidant activity.     

Antioxidant activity of evening primrose phenolics in sunflower and rapeseed oils

Crude ethanol/ethyl acetate extracts of industrial evening primrose (Oenothera biennis L.) seed meal were separated into six fractions using the Sephadex LH‐20 column chromatography and 96% aqueous ethanol as a mobile phase. Their antioxidant activities were tested in sunflower and rapeseed oils by using an Oxidograph apparatus at a temperature of 110 °C. Only the fractions III and IV displayed a pronounced antioxidant activity while the other fractions were either inactive or even pro‐oxidative. The active fractions contained phenolic acids and their esters; gallic acid, methyl and ethyl gallates, protocatechuic acid and its methyl ester were identified by GC/MS. Catechin was present, too, but exhibited only moderate antioxidant activity in sunflower oil.