A study on fatty acids in seeds of Euterpe oleracea Mart seeds

Fatty acids of Euterpe oleracea Mart seeds were analyzed in hexane and diethyl ether extracts. The hexane extract contained dodecanoic acid (3), tetradecanoic acid (4), hexadecanoic acid (7), and 9-octadecenoic acid (10). The diethyl ether extract contained (10). The oil of Mart seeds was obtained firstly by methanol extract and further extracted with diethyl ether. The hexane and diethyl ether extracts were then analyzed for antioxidant effects. Both extracts demonstrated a 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical elimination effect similar to that of α-tocopherol and an active oxygen inhibition effect. Significant quantities (0.6212 mg/mL) of polyphenol, in comparison to the standard rejected gallic acid, were found in the extract oil of Mart seeds by the methanol extraction.     

Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Olive Leaf Extracts from Greek Olive Cultivars

The olive leaf phenolic composition of the Greek cultivars koroneiki, megaritiki and kalamon was determined using LC/MS. Furthermore, the antioxidant activity of olive leaf extracts from the above three cultivars, using solvents of increasing polarity (petroleum ether, dichloromethane, methanol and methanol/water: 60/40) was evaluated using the stable free radical diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) test. Furthermore the oxidative stability index (OSI) was compared to that of the synthetic antioxidant TBHQ and commercial oleoresin (rosemary extract). The ability of phenolic compounds to inhibit the lipoxygenase (LOX) activity was also investigated. The ten main components determined in the olive tree leaf extracts for the cultivars koroneiki and kalamon were: secologanoside, dimethyloleuropein, oleuropein diglucoside, luteolin-7-O-glucoside, rutin, oleuropein, oleuroside, quercetin, ligstroside and verbascoside. Respective compounds for the cultivar megaritiki were: secologanoside, dimethyloleuropein, oleuropein diglucoside, luteolin7-O-glucoside, oleuropein, oleuroside, quercetin and ligstroside. In all three cultivars, oleuropein represented the main phenolic component. The solvent polarity influenced the total amount of the phenolic compounds determined. When methanol/water (60/40) was used, as solvent, more phenolic compounds were determined. The total amounts of phenols determined in the extracts, obtained by successive extractions using the above solvents, were 6,094, 5,579 and 6,196 mg/kg (mg gallic acid/kg dried olive leaves) for the cultivars megaritiki, kalamon and koroneiki, respectively. Among all extracts, methanol/water extracts exhibited the highest antioxidant activity as shown through the application of the DPPH and OSI methods. The OSI antioxidant activity followed the sequence: synthetic antioxidant TBHQ > commercial oleoresin > olive tree leaf extracts > control. Likewise, methanol/water olive leaf extracts significantly inhibited soybean lipoxygenase, although some small differences in the activity among the olive leaf extracts of the different cultivars were observed. The solvent polarity as well as the amount of the extract influenced the inhibitory activity. A positive correlation was shown between the antioxidant activity of leaf extracts and the total phenol content.     

Antioxidant activities of selected oriental herb extracts

Antioxidant activities of methanol extracts of 180 Oriental herbs were studied by determining the peroxide values of linoleic acid during storage at 50°C. Among the herb extracts tested, 44 species showed strong antioxidant activities on the oxidation of linoleic acid. The antioxidative effects of these 44 selected herb extracts were studied further in a methyl linoleate system during storage for 35 d. Among the 44 species tested, 11 species had particularly high antioxidative effects. The effects of type of extraction solvent (methanol, petroleum ether and ethyl acetate) on the antioxidant activities of the 11 species were studied. Antioxidant activities of most herb extracts were greatly dependent on the extraction solvent used; however, some of the extracts showed strong antioxidant activities regardless of the solvents used for the extraction. Among the 11 herbs selected, based on the antioxidant activity of their methanol extracts, two (i.e.,Psoralea corylifolia L. andSorphora angustifolia Sieb. & Zucc.) were selected for further study in lard held at 75°C for 7 d. The methanol extracts ofP. corylifolia L. andS. angustifolia Sieb. & Zucc. greatly decreased the peroxide formation of lard during storage. Treatment with 0.20% methanolic extract ofP. corylifolia L. exhibited significantly stronger antioxidant effect on the oxidation of lard than treatment with 0.02% butylated hydroxyanisole (P<0.05).     

Antioxidant effect of the constituents of susabinori (Porphyra yezoensis)

The antioxidant activities of several extracts from Susabinori (Porphyra yezoensis) were measured by the ferric thiocyanate method and the thiobarbituric acid method. The methanol, acetone, ethyl acetate, and hexane extracts, and the chloroform-soluble and water-soluble fractions from the chloroform-methanol extract exhibited higher activities than α-tocopherol. The hot water extract showed little activity. Thin-layer chromatography analysis of the active extracts suggested the existence of several antioxidants. The activity of the chloroform soluble fraction was due to chlorophyll analogs. A strong antioxidant was isolated from the methanol extract, accompanied by several amino acids such as leucine and phenylalanine. This compound was identified as usujilene, a kind of mycosporine-glycine like amino acid.     

Antioxidant properties and composition of Majorana syriaca extracts

Majorana syriaca is an important food‐flavouring ingredient in the Middle Eastern culture known commonly as Za'atar. The components of the plant were extracted in a Soxhlet apparatus sequentially with solvents of increasing polarity, specifically with petroleum ether (P), diethyl ether (D), ethyl acetate (EAc), and ethanol (E). The activity of the extracts to scavenge the 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH^?) followed the order D > E > EAc > P. Moreover, the antioxidant activity in corn oil at concentrations of 200, 500 and 1000 ppm was monitored through peroxide value and conjugated hydroperoxide measurements and revealed that D and E extracts resulted in the highest protection followed by EAc and P extracts. Increasing the concentration from 200 to 500 ppm depressed peroxide formation, while a further increase had no effect. The main components of the P extract according to GS‐MS analysis were thymol (42.89%) and carvacrol (42.75%). The remaining extracts comprise flavonoids and phenolic acids that provide the antiradical and antioxidant activity.     

Antioxidant activity of flavonoids isolated from Scutellaria rehderiana

The present study examined the antioxidant activity in heated canola oil of hexane, acetone, and methanol extracts of dry roots of gansu huangqin (Scutellaria rehderiana) as well as six flavonoids isolated from the acetone and methanol extracts. The oxidation was conducted at 95°C by monitoring oxygen consumption and decreases in both linoleic and α-linolenic acids. The acetone extract was most effective in inhibiting oxidation of canola oil, followed by the methanol extract. The antioxidant activity of gansu huangqin acetone extract was dose-dependent. Among the six flavonoids, baicalein and ganhuangenin were more effective than butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) in protecting canola oil from oxidation. The present results suggest that the acetone extract of this root may be a potential source of natural antioxidants for use in processed foods.     

Pereskia aculeata Muller (Cactaceae) Leaves: Chemical Composition and Biological Activities

The aims of this work were to study the chemical composition of the essential oil from the leaves of Pereskia aculeata and to evaluate some biological activities of three leaf extracts. The phenolic content, antioxidant activity, and in vitro antimicrobial and antifungal activities were determined. The methanol extract showed antioxidant activity (EC₅₀ 7.09 mg/mL) and high polyphenols content (15.04 ± 0.31 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g). The petroleum ether extract exhibited potent antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, whereas the chloroform extract showed inhibitory activity against Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus. The petroleum ether and methanol extracts were more effective in inhibiting the growth of Aspergillus versicolor. The possible cytotoxicity of extracts on neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cancer cell line and the influence on adenylate cyclase (ADCY) expression was also studied. P. aculeata chloroform extract showed antiproliferative activity with an IC₅₀ value of 262.83 µg/mL. Treatments of SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells with 100 µg/mL of methanol extract significantly reduced ADCY1 expression.     

N-(2-methylpropyl)-(E,E)-2,4-decadienamide a mosquito larvicide fromAchillea millefolium L.

A methanol extract ofAchillea millefolium L. showed activity against 24-hr-old larvae ofAedes triseriatus. Bioassay- and TLC-monitored fractionation yielded a neutral fraction which was refined further by column chromatography to afford the antilarvalN-(2-methlpropyl)-(E,E)-2,4-decadienamide which was identified by spectral methods and through comparisons with a synthesized sample. Isolated and synthesized amides at 5 ppm resulted in 98 and 100% mortality of 24-hr-oldA. triseriatus larvae. TheN-(2-methylpropyl)-amides of decanoic and (E)-2-decenoic acids showed the same order of antilarval activity asN-(2-methylpropyl)-(E,E)-2,4-decadienamide, butN-(2-methylpropyl)sorbamide was inactive.     

Antioxidant for fats and oils from canary seed: Sterol and triterpene alcohol esters of caffeic acid

Several kinds of seeds used as bird feed were extracted successively with hexane, ether and methanol. In the antioxidant test with extracts, the ether extract from canary seeds showed the highest activity. The antioxidant fraction separated from it by thin layer chromatography showed excellent activity for lard and sardine oil. The effective components were identified by gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of the hydrolyzed products as the esters of caffeic acid with cycloartenol, gramisterol, sitosterol and campesterol with the minor amounts of 24-methylenecycloartanol, obtusifoliol, brassicasterol and Δ7-stigmastenol.     

Extracts of Flourensia cernua Reduce Consumption of Alfalfa Pellets by Sheep

Effects of three extracts (hexanes, ether, and ethanol) from tarbush (Flourensia cernua) on intake of alfalfa pellets by lambs were examined. Forty-five ewe lambs were fed one of five treatments for five days (randomized complete block, three lambs per block on each treatment). Treatments were alfalfa pellets (CON) or alfalfa pellets plus ethanol carrier (CAR), hexanes extract (HEX), ether extract (ETH), or ethanol extract (ETOH). Extracts were applied to alfalfa pellets at the same concentration as in an equivalent amount of tarbush (as fed basis) in experiment 1 and at 10-fold dilutions of that concentration in experiment 2. Treatments were isolated from tarbush leaves by using a sequential extraction with hexanes, diethyl ether, and 100% ethanol. Lambs received 640 g of alfalfa pellets (dry matter basis) each morning and intake was monitored during a 20-min interval. Lambs were maintained and fed alfalfa pellets (4.7% of body weight) as one group except during this interval. In experiment 1, mean intake by lambs during the 20-min interval was 361, 393, 204, 212, and 228 g for CON, CAR, HEX, ETH, and ETOH, respectively (SEM = 28.9). All three extracts decreased intake (P < 0.001) compared to CON or CAR. Intake did not differ among the three extracts (HEX, ETH, and ETOH) or between the two controls (CON and CAR). Mean intake did not differ among treatments in experiment 2 (468, 455, 389, 381, and 431 g for CON, CAR, HEX, ETH, and ETOH, respectively; SEM = 30.5; P = 0.187). Several compounds are probably responsible for the low palatability and differential use of tarbush typically exhibited by livestock.     

Effect of baicalein and acetone extract of Scutellaria baicalensis on canola oil oxidation

There is an increasing interest in natural antioxidants present in traditional Chinese herbal medicines. The present study examined the antioxidant activity of heane, acetone, and methanol extracts, as well as baicalein purified from the dry roots of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi (common name: Huangqin), in heated canola oil. Oxygen consumption and decreases in linoleic acid linolenic acid content were monitored in canola oil held at 90–93°C. Among the three extracts, the acetone extract was most effective against oxidation of canola oil, followed by the methanol extract of the dry roots. The antioxidant activity of these three extracts correlated well with their content of baicalein, which provided strong protection to canola oil from oxidation. The antioxidant activity of Huangqin acetone extract was dose-dependent. The acetone extract at 100 ppm or above was even more effective than butylated hydroxytoluene at 200 ppm in protecting canola oil from oxidation. The present results suggest that the acetone extract of these roots should be further explored as a potential source of natural antioxidants for use in the processed foods.     

Antitermitic activity ofLonchocarpus castilloi flavonoids and heartwood extracts

The heartwood of the tropical treeLonchocarpus castilloi Standley (Leguminosae) is highly resistant to attack by the drywood termitesCryptotermes brevis (Walker); nevertheless successive extraction with hexane, diethyl ether, acetone, methanol, and water reduced its resistance to these organisms. Antitermitic properties of the extracts were bioassayed using impregnated filter paper disks. Although the five extracts reduced both feeding and survival ofC. brevis, no significant differences among them were detected. Choice feeding tests showed that termites avoided eating the paper treated with the extracts. Two flavonoid compounds isolated from the heartwood, castillen D and castillen E, impregnated into filter paper showed concentration-dependent feeding deterrent activity, but were not toxic toC. brevis.     

Studies on cultivation and biological activities ofPleurotus nebrodensis inzenga

Environmental factors affecting mycelial growth and exo-polysaccharide production fromPleurotus nebrodensis Inzenga (PN) and biological activities of PN extractsin vitro were studied. The culture conditions for effective mycelial growth and exo-polysaccharide production were found to be 25 ‡C, 5% of inoculum size, and an initial pH from 6.5 to 7.0. When 5% of glucose was used, the maximum mycelial growth and exo-polysaccharide concentrations were 8.3 and 3.07 g/L, respectively. Among the various nitrogen sources, the mycelial growth and exo-polysaccharide production were very strong when polypeptone was used. In the case of the minerals sources, K₂HPO₄ and MgSO₄·7H₂O were found to best support for mycelial growth and exo-polysaccharide production. Under optimal conditions and methods, the maximum mycelial growth and exo-polysaccharide production were obtained after 10 days of culture, 12.84 and 4.85 g/L, respectively, in a jar fermentor. The effects of the PN extracts on the viability of three human cancer cell lines and antioxidant activity were investigatedin vitro. When cancer cells of the lung (A549), cervical region (HeLa) and colon (KM12C) were incubated at 6 mg/mL of the PN ethanol extracts, the viabilities of the HeLa and KM12C cells were slightly decreased. However, the growth of the A549 cells was remarkably inhibited when the PN ethanol extract was over 4 mg/mL. The antioxidant activity showed 46.2% at 40 μL, which was about 3.2 fold higher than that of the PN methanol extract.     

Distribution of oil or other diethyl ether extractable material in various fractions of peanuts infected with selected fungi

Percentage oil or other diethyl ether soluble material was determined in lyophilized ground whole seeds and in buffer (sodium phosphate; pH 7.9, I -0.01) soluble and insoluble extracts of high quality “Florunner” peanuts, (Arachia hypogaea L.) not inoculated or inoculated withAspergillus parasiticus, Aspergillus oryzae, Rhizopus oligosporus, orNeurospora sitophila and held for various time intervals to 18 days. During the test period, percentage ether extractable material increased in buffer soluble fractions of peanuts infected with these fungi and decreased in insoluble preparations. The trends of these quantitative changes at various test intervals were similar for seeds infected withA. parasiticus andR. oligosporus. Likewise, percentages were similar for seeds infected withN. sitophila andA. oryzae. The percentage ether soluble material in whole seeds infected with these fungi either decreased slightly or did not change during the test periods. Data suggest that techniques developed to separate oil and protein fractions from high quality peanuts using aqueous extraction processes may not be suitable for isolating these components from molded or partially decomposed seeds.     

To penetrate or not to penetrate? A behavioral choice by bean beetle first-instar larvae in response toPhaseolus vulgaris seed surface quality

Survival ofAcanthoscelides obtectus larvae depends on the ability of the first instar to pierce the seed coat ofPhaseolus vulgaris, which represents a critical sequence because of physical characteristics and toxicity. We have investigated the influence of seed surface quality on larval boring behavior by the usual method of surface washing with different solvents, or by removing the testa, or by coating the testa with a polymer spray. Observations were made on isolated larvae in no-choice and dual-choice bioassays. In the no-choice situation, larval penetration was reduced after seed coats were soaked with chloroform, whereas water, diethyl ether, or methanol had no significant effect. The ratio of boring attempts to successful penetrations was increased on seeds washed with chloroform. In the dual-choice situation, larvae avoided artificially coated seeds and preferred untreated seeds over those washed with chloroform or methanol. These results indicate that boring stimulants exist on the seed coat and that they are removed by chloroform and methanol or made inaccessible by artificial coating. The high mortality of first instars on seeds washed with these two solvents is attributed to a lack of chemicals necessary to initiate and sustain boring behavior, causing larval stress, possibly due to prolonged locomotory activity and starvation. Thus, seed coat quality may influence the population dynamics ofA. obtectus.     

Plant-Derived Semiochemicals as Contact Host Location Stimuli for a Parasitoid of Leafminers

We elucidated the source of chemical cues in a system where the host is concealed and the parasitoid has no direct contact with the host larvae or its frass. Behavioral bioassays with Pholetesor bicolor, a larval parasitoid of the apple leafminer, Phyllonorycter pomonella, showed that the herbivore-damaged leaf epidermis (mine) elicited ovipositional probing of parasitoid females. Probing on larvae or frass was seldom observed. Hexane extracts of mines elicited the same ovipositional probing behavior while no response was observed with hexane extracts of larvae or frass or with methanol and diethyl ether extracts. In addition, gas chromatographic analyses showed qualitatively and quantitatively different profiles of these three components of the host-plant complex. By far the highest quantities and also the highest number of compounds was recovered from mine extracts. Identified compounds in the mine included six alkanes (n-C ₂₇ to n-C ₃₃) and squalene (C₃₀H₅₀). A synthetic blend of the seven compounds was slightly less active in biotests than the equivalent natural blend, as shown by a time delay in female response. We conclude that this leafminer parasitoid does not rely on host-derived kairomones but instead uses plant-derived semiochemicals for host location and ovipositional probing behavior.     

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.     

Inhibition of aflatoxin production inAspergillus flavus infected cotton bolls after treatment with neem (Azadirachta indica) leaf extracts

In separate treatments, a spore suspension ofA. flavus (control), an aqueous leaf extract of the subtropical neem tree plus a spore suspension ofA. flavus, or an aqueous neem leaf extract followed by anA. flavus spore suspension were injected 48 hr later onto the surfaces of locks of developing cotton bolls (30-day post anthesis). Thirteen days after the treatments, the seeds from the locules were harvested and both fungal growth and aflatoxin production were determined. Fungal growth was unaffected by the treatments but the seeds from locules receiving both neem leaf extracts andA. flavus simultaneously exhibited 16% inhibition of aflatoxin production, while the seeds in locules receivingA. flavus spores 48 hr after neem extract was added exhibited >98% inhibition in aflatoxin production. Neem leaf extracts contain an aflatoxin inhibiting factor, however, the neem leaf extract may need to translocate from the fibrous locule surface to the seed, prior to the fungal inoculation, for maximal effect.     

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。     

Perception of Aspen and Sun/Shade Sugar Maple Leaf Soluble Extracts by Larvae of Malacosoma disstria

We investigated the behavioral feeding preference and the chemoreception of leaf polar extracts from trembling aspen, Populus tremuloides, and from sun and shade sugar maple, Acer saccharum, by larvae of the polyphagous forest tent caterpillar, Malacosoma disstria, a defoliator of deciduous forests in the Northern Hemisphere. Three polar extracts were obtained from each tree species: a total extract, a water fraction, and a methanol fraction. M. disstria larvae were allowed ad libitum access to an artificial diet from eclosion to the fifth instar. Two-choice cafeteria tests were performed comparing the mean (±SE) surface area eaten of the total extracts, and the following order of preference was obtained: aspen > sun maple < shade maple. Tests with the other fractions showed that M. disstria larvae preferred the total aspen extract to its water fraction, and the latter to its methanol fraction. The response to sun maple was similar to aspen. However, for the shade maple experiment, there was no difference between the total extract and its water fraction. Electrophysiological recordings for aspen showed that the sugar-sensitive cell elicited more spikes to the water fraction, followed by the total extract, and finally the methanol fraction. Spike activity to stimulations of sun and shade maple extracts revealed a similar trend, where methanol fraction > water fraction > total extract. Our findings are discussed in light of previously known information about this insect's performance on these host plants.