Total phenolic contents and antioxidant activity of corn tassel extracts

Ground corn tassels, a by-product of corn, were used as a source of phenolic compounds. Water, ethanol, methanol, acetone, hexane, chloroform, butanol, petroleum ether and methylene chloride were evaluated as different polarity solvents to extract these phenolic compounds. Ethanol exhibited the highest extraction ability for such phenolic compounds, followed by methanol and water, where the total phenols were 0.1575%, 0.1125% and 0.0737%, respectively. Antioxidant activity of corn tassels ranged from 83.0% to 85.2%, 69.9% to 83.7%, 69.8% to 80.4%, 22.2% to 49.1% and 14.8% to 19.3% radical scavenging activity (% RSA) for ethanol, methanol, acetone, butanol and water extracts, respectively. The ethanolic extract of the corn tassels was successfully utilised to retard the oxidation of sunflower oil and the obtained induction period values were comparable to those of tert-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ).     

Effect of pH,heat, and light treatments on the antioxidant activity of sweet potato leaf polyphenols

In the present study, the antioxidant activity of sweet potato leaf polyphenols was measured, and the effect of different pH values (3.0, 5.0, 7.0, and 8.0), temperatures (55, 65, 80, and 100°C), and light treatments on sweet potato leaf-polyphenols was investigated. Results showed that the O₂^? scavenging activity of sweet potato leaf polyphenols from cultivar Jishu No. 04150 was 5.84 and 6.20 times of that of tea polyphenols and grape seed polyphenols, respectively, at the concentration of 20 μg/mL. The oxygen radical absorbance capacity was 1.28 and 1.27 times of that of tea polyphenols and grape seed polyphenols, respectively. Sweet potato leaf polyphenols dissolved in pH 5–7 solutions showed higher retention rates of antioxidant activity. Heat treatment at 50 and 65°C and light treatment had little effects on sweet potato leaf polyphenols. In conclusion, sweet potato leaf polyphenols possessed high antioxidant activity and processing stability, having the potential to be a new type of natural antioxidant.     

Evaluation of in vitro antioxidant properties of some traditional Sardinian medicinal plants: Investigation of the high antioxidant capacity of Rubus ulmifolius

The antioxidant capacities of 11 botanical species used in the tradition of Sardinia as teas beverages or as decoction for medicinal purposes were evaluated using different in vitro methods (BR, TEAC, DPPH and FC). Among the various species, Rubus ulmifolius, resulted the more active with all the used methods. Phytochemical investigation on the extract yields in the isolation of several phenolic compounds namely caffeic acid, ferulic acid, quercetin-3-O-glucuronide, kaempferol-3-O-glucuronide, kaempferol-3-O-(6″-p-coumaroyl)-β-d-glucopyranoside, kaempferol-3-O-(6″-caffeoyl)-β-d-glucopyranoside, chlorogenic acid, 4-caffeoylquinic acid and 5-caffeoylquinic acid. The antioxidant activity of isolated compounds was also evaluated.     

Antioxidant activity and cell toxicity of pressurised liquid extracts from 20 selected plant species in Jeju,Korea

Twenty plant species were selected from Jeju, Korea, and extracts made using a pressurised liquid extraction system. Integral antioxidative capacity (IAC), inhibitory activity of nitric oxide (NO) production, and cell toxicity were evaluated to identify new dietary antioxidants of natural origin with a low degree of cell toxicity. Geranium thunbergii and Pyrrosia lingua showed high IAC values of water-soluble substances (9.76 and 9.48 mmol ascorbic acid equivalents/g), with high IAC values of lipid-soluble substances of 5.20 and 1.97 mmol trolox equivalents/g, respectively. Prunus padus and Rhus javanica did not show any cytotoxicity on RAW 264.7 macrophages or HS-68 normal skin fibroblast cells and showed inhibitory activity of NO production (IC₅₀ = 327 and 337 μg/ml) with LPS-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages. Malus sieboldii did not exhibit cytotoxicity with either cell type and showed high inhibitory activity of NO production (IC₅₀ = 219 μg/ml) and high IAC values of water-soluble substances (4.93 mmol ascorbic acid equivalents/g).     

Composition and antioxidant activity of raisin extracts obtained from various solvents

Experiments were conducted to determine if the contents of phenolics and browning reaction products and antioxidant activity of raisin extracts were closely dependent on the extraction solvent. Enhanced extraction yields were obtained from solvent containing higher water concentrations. However, total phenolic content (TPC) was highest for extracts obtained from solvent to water ratios of 60:40 (v/v), whereby the extract obtained from ethanol:water (60:40, v/v) had the highest TPC of 375 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/100 g extract. HMF content was highest in extracts obtained from 60% solvent, regardless of solvent type. The extract obtained from 60% methanol had the highest HMF content at 199 μg/g extract. Although the 60% solvents provided extract with high antioxidant components, the antioxidant activity of raisin extracts obtained from 80:20 (v/v) solvent/water was significantly higher than other raisin extracts obtained from different solvent concentrations. Phenolic acids, HMF, and low-molecular-weight flavonoids were responsible for the antioxidant activity, but not the high-molecular-weight flavonoids.     

Evaluation of the antioxidant activities and nutritional properties of ten edible plant extracts and their application to fresh ground beef

In this study, we assessed the antioxidant efficacy and nutritional value of 10 leafy edible plants and evaluated their potential as natural antioxidants for meat preservation. We measured total phenolic content, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazil (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, and vitamin C, chlorophyll, and carotenoid contents of 70% ethanol and water extracts of the edible plants. Based on these results, we investigated the effects of butterbur and broccoli extracts on lipid oxidation in ground beef patties. Plant extracts and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) were individually added to patties at both 0.1% and 0.5% (w/w) concentrations. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) values and color parameters were tested periodically during 12 days of refrigerated storage. TBARS levels were significantly lower (p ≤ 0.05) in the samples containing plant extracts or BHT than the non-treated control. In addition, the beef patties formulated with the selected plant extracts showed significantly (p ≤ 0.05) better color stability than those without antioxidants. These results indicate that edible plant extracts are promising sources of natural antioxidants and can potentially be used as functional preservatives in meat products.     

Effects of selected plant extracts on anti-oxidative enzyme activities in rats

The effects of plant extracts on the activity of anti-oxidative enzymes in rats were investigated. Sprague-Dawley rats were fed with the extracts and fractions from Rhus javanica, Malus sieboldii, and Ostrya japonica, and the activities of anti-oxidative enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were investigated. SOD activities in blood serum and liver increased following an injection of 2,2′-azobis(2-methylpropionamidine) dihydrochloride (AAPH), and these increases were not cancelled out by feeding plant extracts. CAT activities in blood serum and liver increased following the AAPH injection, but these increases were reversed by feeding the extracts of R. javanica and O. japonica. This finding was similar to the result that the CAT activity increase induced by feeding alcohol was cancelled out by feeding ascorbic acid. These results suggest that anti-oxidative polyphenolics from these plants may act through the same mechanism as that of the well-known antioxidant ascorbic acid towards hydrogen peroxide.     

Quality of wheat bread enriched with onion extract and polyphenols content and antioxidant activity changes during bread storage

We determined the effect of onion skin extract (OE) on the quality of wheat bread: contents of total polyphenols and flavonols, antioxidative activity and their changes during storage. With increasing doses of OE to bread, contents of total polyphenols and flavonols and the antioxidative activity were observed to increase. A higher total flavonol content was found in bread with 1% OE stored at 24 °C than in bread stored at 4 °C. There was no such relationship in the bread with 0.5% OE. Changes in flavonols content during storage for 72 h were insignificant. No clear trends of change in the antioxidant activity could be found at storage of breads. The addition of OE caused no changes in the yield and volume of bread and contributed to a decreasing value of L* parameter and to increasing values of ΔE, a* and b* parameters of bread crumb colour. Consumers accepted the smell and taste of bread with the addition of OE to a lesser extent than the control bread. Bread with 1% OE the taste was rated very low. Consumers rated the taste of bread with 1% OE low because it was bitter. Breads enriched with OE had a proper external appearance as well as crumb and crust features. Roasted onion aroma and taste were perceptible in the obtained breads. A bitterness was perceptible in breads baked with the addition of 1% of OE.     

Stability, antioxidant activity and phenolic composition of commercial and reverse osmosis obtained dealcoholised wines

The purpose of this work is to evaluate the phenolic profile and the antioxidant activity of commercial dealcoholised wines and monitor the stability of their composition over time. This work also aims to test the influence of reverse osmosis (RO) process on phenolic compounds and on the antioxidant activity (AA) of dealcoholised wine.AA was measured by ORAC, DPPH and FRAP assays. Phenolic compounds were determined by LC-DAD.In the commercial dealcoholised wines, AA fell by between 33% and 54% and the concentration of phenolic compounds decreased significantly after 30 days of storage. However, RO process did not significantly affect any phenolic acids, regardless of their chemical structure (benzoic acids, cinnamic acids) and alcoholic degree. The AA and phenolic compounds of these products were monitored for seven months. No significant changes were observed. RO process therefore makes it possible to obtain a healthy, low-alcohol (<2% v/v) product with bioactive compounds that are stable in the product and are similar to those found in the original wine.     

Preparation of chitosan oligomers and their antioxidant activity

Chitosan oligomers with different molecular weights were prepared by oxidative degradation method involving hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and the combined degradation method using hydrogen peroxide and microwave radiation. Viscosity determination and end group analysis were applied to measure molecular weights of chitosan oligomers. Effects of concentration of H₂O₂ and degradation time on molecular weights of chitosan oligomers were studied. Both methods were effective to prepare chitosan oligomers from the initial chitosan (8.5×10⁵ Da). The degradation process of chitosan will be accelerated with the aid of microwave and degradation time may be reduced. The antioxidant activity of chitosan oligomers was evaluated as radical scavengers against superoxide anion and hydroxyl radical by application of flow injection chemiluminescence technology. Chitosan oligomers A, B, C and D (2300, 3270, 6120, and 15,250 Da) had different antioxidant activity. Among the four chitosan oligomers, oligomer D (15,250 Da) had the lowest scavenging ability against superoxide anion and hydroxyl radicals. For superoxide anion scavenging, the 50% inhibition concentrations (IC₅₀s) of other three oligomers A, B, and C were 5.54, 8.11, and 12.15 mg/mL, respectively. And for hydroxyl radical scavenging the values were 0.4, 0.76, and 1.54 mg/mL, respectively. At the concentration range examined, the maximal inhibiting efficacy of A, B, C, and D were 89, 75, 74, and 41% for superoxide anion, and 71, 65, 51, and 7% for hydroxyl radical. These results indicated that chitosan oligomers with lower molecular weight had better antioxidant activity.     

Evaluation of the antioxidant activity of asparagus,broccoli and their juices

Antioxidant activity of asparagus, broccoli and their juices was evaluated using 2,2′-diphenyl-l-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2′-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) and β-carotene bleaching assays. Asparagus showed greater antioxidant activity than broccoli. Asparagus juice also had greater antioxidant activity than broccoli juice. Methanol and acetone extracts of asparagus and broccoli had significantly greater antioxidant activity than their water extracts. Asparagus and broccoli extracts, as well as their juices, showed no significant difference in total phenolics content. However, asparagus contained more flavonoids than broccoli. The antioxidant activity of asparagus and broccoli extracts demonstrated a linear relationship with their flavonoid content.     

Antioxidant activity of methanolic extracts from some grains consumed in Korea

The objectives of this study were to determine antioxidant activity of the methanolic extracts from some grains and to investigate relationships between antioxidant activities and antioxidant contents in the extracts. 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activities, 2,2-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) radical cation scavenging activities, inhibitory effect on lipid peroxidation, chelating activity and reducing power have been used to investigate the relative antioxidant activities of the extracts from grains. The concentrations of total polyphenolics and carotenoids in the extracts were measured by spectrophotometric methods and vitamin E analysis was carried out by HPLC. The methanolic extracts prepared from red sorghum and black rice showed significantly higher antioxidant activities and contained higher polyphenolic contents than other grains such as white rice, brown rice, mungbean, foxtail millet, prosomillet, barley, and adlay. Polyphenolic compounds were the major naturally occurring antioxidants in grains. The correlation coefficient between total polyphenolic content and ABTS radical cation scavenging activity in the extracts was >0.99. However, no relationship was found between antioxidant activities and carotenoids and vitamin E derivatives.     

Effect of far-infrared radiation and heat treatment on the antioxidant activity of water extracts from peanut hulls

The antioxidant activities of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) hull extracts were evaluated after far-infrared (FIR) radiation or heat treatment. Peanut hulls in petri dishes were FIR-irradiated or heat-treated (150 °C) for 5, 10, 15, 20, 40 or 60 min. The water extracts (300 mg/10 mL) of peanut hulls (WEPH) were prepared and their total phenol contents (TPC), radical scavenging activity (RSA), and reducing power were determined. The antioxidant activities of WEPH increased as the time of heating or FIR-radiation increased. When peanut hulls were FIR-irradiated at 150 °C for 60 min, the values of TPC, RSA, and reducing power of WEPH increased from 72.9 to 141.6 μM, 2.34% to 48.83%, and 0.473 to 0.910, respectively, compared to the untreated controls. Heat treatment of peanut hull under the same conditions (150 °C for 60 min) also increased the TPC, RSA, and reducing power of WEPH from 72.9 to 90.3 μM, 1.90% to 23.69%, and from 0.471 to 0.718, respectively. The result indicated that FIR-radiation or heat treatment on peanut hulls increased the antioxidant activities of WEPH.     

山胡椒提取物的抑菌活性及其稳定性

为了解山胡椒提取物的抑菌活性和稳定性,通过抑菌实验和稳定性实验,研究了山胡椒水提物、75%乙醇提取物和乙酸乙酯提取物对5种常见食源性污染菌的抑制作用,并探讨了热处理、pH值及紫外照射对山胡椒75%乙醇提取物及乙酸乙酯提取物抑菌稳定性的影响。结果表明,3种提取物对供试菌的抑菌效果大小顺序为:乙酸乙酯提取物>75%乙醇提取物>水提物。稳定性实验表明,山胡椒提取物的热稳定性良好;pH值和紫外照射对山胡椒提取物抑菌活性有一定影响,最适pH值为5～7;紫外照射不超过10 min时抑菌活性稳定,超过30 min后抑菌活性减弱,甚至消失。     

柑桔皮提取液的抗氧化作用研究

采用微波强化浸提法提取桔皮中的活性物质,测定提取液对羟自由基、超氧阴离子和过氧化氢的清除效果.实验结果表明：桔皮提取液对活性氧具有很高的清除作用,0.5 mL桔皮提取液对羟自由基的清除率达到100%,对超氧阴离子的清除率达到98%以上,稀释100倍的桔皮提取液0.7 mL对过氧化氢的清除率仍可达25%左右.在保藏猪油的抗氧化应用实验中,0.5%添加量的桔皮提取液的抗氧化效果与相同添加量的Vc的抗氧化效果相当.     

Screening of some Algerian medicinal plants for the phenolic compounds and their antioxidant activity

Since recent times, there is a growing interest in the food industry and in preventive health care for the development and evaluation of natural antioxidants from medicinal plant materials. In the present work we have investigated the antioxidant potency of phenolic compounds of 11 indigenous wild plant species from the Algerian Atlas commonly used in Arab folk medicine for a wide range of conditions. The antioxidant activity of each phenolic extracts has been assessed by using the Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity (TEAC) as a chemical test, and in a dynamic way by a biological assay based on whole blood resistance to free radical aggression. Of the 11 tested plants, 2 showed prominent antioxidant activity: Anthemis arvensis and Artemisia campestris. These plants had a very high level of Trolox equivalents and induced a strong delay of free radical-induced red blood cells hemolysis compared to antioxidant references. Artemisia campestris was the best inhibitor, its effect was far stronger than that of caffeic acid and was more than three times as high as ascorbic acid and two times higher than α-tocopherol efficiency. HPLC analysis showed a good correlation between the antioxidant activity and hydroxycinnamic derivatives. These preliminary results on the in vitro protection of blood against oxidative stress emphasized the benefit of the phenolic compounds of these medicinal plants. Our results enable us to proceed towards more detailed chemical and pharmacological understanding of these plant materials and show the interest of natural antioxidant in medicinal plants for the prevention of much free radical-mediated pathology.     

Cytoprotective effect of fruit extracts associated with antioxidant activity against ultraviolet rays

Antioxidant activity in the extracts of Redfield apple flesh, Pione grape berry skin, and Ishiji satsuma mandarin skin was evaluated by a superoxide dismutase (SOD) assay and hemolysis of red blood cell assay. Although SOD activity was higher in both the Redfield apple flesh and Pione grape berry skin, hemolysis of the red blood cells was delayed most in the Redfield apple flesh, followed by the Pione grape berry skin and Ishiji satsuma mandarin skin. The protective effects of extracts from these fruits against ultraviolet rays were also examined using human skin dermal fibroblasts. The Redfield flesh extract increased the percentage of cell viability against ultraviolet rays compared to the untreated control. The participation of polyphenolics in Redfield apples is discussed.     

纤维素酶提高红三叶草醇提物体外抗氧化活性的研究

红三叶草粉末经70%乙醇室温提取、43℃减压浓缩,过大孔吸附树脂柱,再先后用蒸馏水和70%乙醇洗脱,收集70%乙醇洗脱液,减压浓缩得红三叶草醇提物。为了提高红三叶草醇提物体外抗氧化活性,将红三叶草醇提物与纤维素酶在50℃恒温条件下反应30min,比较酶解前后红三叶草醇提物的清除DPPH自由基能力和还原力。结果表明:在相同的浓度下,经纤维素酶处理后的红三叶草醇提物抗氧化能力要高于未被处理的红三叶草醇提物。