Effects of Ascorbic Acid and α-Tocopherol on Antioxidant Activity of Polyphenolic Compounds

The effects of ascorbic acid and α‐tocopherol on the antioxidant activity of 15 phenolic compounds were compared with 2 in vitro assays. Combination of ascorbic acid or α‐tocopherol plus polyphenolic compounds resulted in an additive effect as shown with DPPH–HPLC method. With the liposome oxidation method, combination of quercetin or catechins plus α‐tocopherol showed synergistic effects.     

Phenolic compounds and plant extracts protect paprika against UV-induced discoloration

The efficiency of phenolic antioxidants in protecting paprika carotenoids against discoloration was studied in a model gel system that was exposed to radiation of 274 nm at 20 °C. The fading of the colour of the gel was followed over a 6‐h period. Fifty percent of the colour faded from the control after 70 min of radiation. The ability of each antioxidant to prevent discoloration was assessed by using several different concentrations. Antioxidant compounds can be ranked according to their protective effect on colour: BHT > α‐tocopherol > epigallocatechin gallate > quercetin > rosmarinic acid ≥ caffeic acid and ferulic acid > coumaric acid > catechin. The ability of rosemary and tea extracts to prevent discoloration was comparable to pure compounds and this could be explained by their polyphenol content. Mixtures of α‐tocopherol with rosemary extract revealed strong synergistic effects.     

Effect of Overexpression of γ-Tocopherol Methyltransferase on α-Tocopherol and Fatty Acid Accumulation and Tolerance to Salt Stress during Seed Germination in Brassica napus L.

Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) is an important oil crop and a major source of tocopherols, also known as vitamin E, in human nutrition. Enhancing the quality and composition of fatty acids (FAs) and tocopherols in seeds has long been a target for rapeseed breeding. The gene γ-Tocopherol methyltransferase (γ-TMT) encodes an enzyme catalysing the conversion of γ-tocopherol to α-tocopherol, which has the highest biological activity. However, the genetic basis of γ-TMT in B. napus seeds remains unclear. In the present study, BnaC02.TMT.a, one paralogue of Brassica napus γ-TMT, was isolated from the B. napus cultivar “Zhongshuang11” by nested PCR, and two homozygous transgenic overexpression lines were further characterised. Our results demonstrated that the overexpression of BnaC02.TMT.a mediated an increase in the α- and total tocopherol content in transgenic B. napus seeds. Interestingly, the FA composition was also altered in the transgenic plants; a reduction in the levels of oleic acid and an increase in the levels of linoleic acid and linolenic acid were observed. Consistently, BnaC02.TMT.a promoted the expression of BnFAD2 and BnFAD3, which are involved in the biosynthesis of polyunsaturated fatty acids during seed development. In addition, BnaC02.TMT.a enhanced the tolerance to salt stress by scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS) during seed germination in B. napus. Our results suggest that BnaC02.TMT.a could affect the tocopherol content and FA composition and play a positive role in regulating the rapeseed response to salt stress by modulating the ROS scavenging system. This study broadens our understanding of the function of the Bnγ-TMT gene and provides a novel strategy for genetic engineering in rapeseed breeding.     

热变性牛血清白蛋白对三种活性物质的复合和保护作用

本文通过竞争实验证明热变性牛血清白蛋白(hBSA)同时结合α-生育酚、白藜芦醇和表没食子儿茶素没食子酸酯(EGCG)的可能性,通过结构稳定性和抗氧化稳定性实验表征蛋白对活性物质的保护情况。结果表明hBSA能同时结合三种物质,并且在复合物的形成过程中不存在竞争行为。储藏48 h后,游离态α-生育酚、白藜芦醇、EGCG残留率分别为48%、68%、0%,hBSA-EGCG-α-生育酚-白藜芦醇复合物中残留率分别为91%、90%、15%;储藏288 h后,游离态的α-生育酚、白藜芦醇、EGCG对ABTS自由基的清除能力分别减少了6%、10%、31%,hBSA-EGCG-α-生育酚-白藜芦醇复合物仅减少了13%。因此,hBSA是同时负载三种活性物质的良好载体。研究结果将为蛋白类共包埋载体的开发提供更多参考依据。     

9H-xanthene-2,7-diols as antioxidants for autoxidation of linoleic acid

The antioxidant activities of 9H-xanthene-2,7-diols and α-tocopherol were studied during the oxidation of linoleic acid in a homogeneous solution and in an aqueous micelle dispersion. The antioxidant activities of 9H-xanthene-2,7-diols for both systems were 1.0–2.4 times greater relative to α-tocopherol. In addition, the 1,3,4,5,6,8-hexamethylxanthene-2,7-diol showed less cytotoxicity toward human fibroblasts than did 2,6-di-t-butyl-4-methylphenol.     

Effect of the phenol antioxidant type on the kinetics and mechanism of inhibited lipid oxidation in the presence of fatty alcohols

A kinetic analysis of inhibited lipid autoxidation in the presence of a phenol antioxidant and a hydroxy compound is proposed. It is based on studies of the dependence of the W^ROH/W_inh ratio (between the inhibited oxidation rates in presence and absence of a hydroxy compound) on the hydroxy compound concentration. This analysis permits establishing the mechanism of action of the hydroxy compound in the presence of different types of phenol antioxidants during inhibited lipid oxidation. The kinetic analysis has been applied to the oxidation at 80°C of triacylglycerols of sunflower oil (TGSO) inhibited by 0.1 mM hydroquinone, butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) or α-tocopherol in the presence of different concentrations of 1-tetradecanol (1-TD) and 1-octadecanol (1-OD). A linear character of this dependence is established during hydroquinone-inhibited oxidation of triacylglycerols of sunflower oil in presence of 1-TD. In the case of α-tocopherol this dependence is linear for both 1-TD and 1-OD. The equilibrium constant of interaction between the phenol antioxidant and the fatty alcohols is determined by the angle coefficient of the linear dependence. The hydroquinone-inhibited autoxidation of TGSO in the presence of 1-OD has shown a non-linear character of the dependence under consideration. A kinetic model describing simultaneous participation of 1-OD in reaction with both the phenol antioxidant and the lipid hydroperoxides is deduced. Studying the kinetics of BHT-inhibited autoxidation of TGSO in the presence of 1-OD, it has been shown that due to steric reasons there is no interaction between 1-OD and BHT, 1-OD participating in the process only by accelerating the decomposition of the lipid hydroperoxides.     

α-Tocopherol and Ascorbate Delay Oxymyoglobin and Phospholipid Oxidation In Vitro

An oxymyoglobin liposome model was used to study the effects of α-tocopherol and/or ascorbate upon oxymyoglobin and lipid oxidation. Both oxidations were delayed (P<0.05) by increased concentrations of α-tocopherol alone and α-tocopherol/ascorbate relative to controls. The 14 μ Mα-tocopherol/140 μM ascorbate treatment resulted in greatest delay in both oxymyoglobin and lipid oxidation. Ascorbate alone delayed oxymyoglobin oxidation; effectiveness diminished as ascorbate increased. Ascorbate showed a prooxidant effect toward lipid oxidation which was unchanged in the presence of EDTA. Results support the hypothesis that α-tocopherol retards lipid oxidation directly and OxyMb oxidation indirectly.     

Dietary Pigmentation and Deposition of α-Tocopherol and Carotenoids in Rainbow Trout Muscle and Liver Tissue

Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were fed diets supplemented with canthaxanthin, oleoresin paprika and α-tocopherol. Canthaxanthin was more efficiently absorbed (3.8–7.9 mg/kg) in the flesh of rainbow trout than the paprika carotenoids (2.4–3.1 mg/kg). With increased pigmentation, decrease in lightness (L*) and hue angle, and increase in redness (a*) of the muscle were observed. Canthaxanthin produced more desirable reddish-pink color. Deposition of α-tocopherol in liver and muscle tissue increased with increase in dietary α-tocopheryl acetate. Fish receiving lower α-tocopheryl acetate reached maximum deposition levels earlier than those fed higher levels. There was no effect of α-tocopherol and carotenoid levels on muscle fatty acid composition.     

Network Pharmacology Study on Morus alba L. Leaves: Pivotal Functions of Bioactives on RAS Signaling Pathway and Its Associated Target Proteins against Gout

M. alba L. is a valuable nutraceutical plant rich in potential bioactive compounds with promising anti-gouty arthritis. Here, we have explored bioactives, signaling pathways, and key proteins underlying the anti-gout activity of M. alba L. leaves for the first-time utilizing network pharmacology. Bioactives in M. alba L. leaves were detected through GC-MS (Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrum) analysis and filtered by Lipinski’s rule. Target proteins connected to the filtered compounds and gout were selected from public databases. The overlapping target proteins between bioactives-interacted target proteins and gout-targeted proteins were identified using a Venn diagram. Bioactives-Proteins interactive networking for gout was analyzed to identify potential ligand-target and visualized the rich factor on the R package via the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway on STRING. Finally, a molecular docking test (MDT) between bioactives and target proteins was analyzed via AutoDock Vina. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) demonstrated that mechanisms of M. alba L. leaves against gout were connected to 17 signaling pathways on 26 compounds. AKT1 (AKT Serine/Threonine Kinase 1), γ-Tocopherol, and RAS signaling pathway were selected as a hub target, a key bioactive, and a hub signaling pathway, respectively. Furthermore, three main compounds (γ-Tocopherol, 4-Dehydroxy-N-(4,5-methylenedioxy-2-nitrobenzylidene) tyramine, and Lanosterol acetate) and three key target proteins—AKT1, PRKCA, and PLA2G2A associated with the RAS signaling pathway were noted for their highest affinity on MDT. The identified three key bioactives in M. alba L. leaves might contribute to recovering gouty condition by inactivating the RAS signaling pathway.     

Obtaining Butter Oil Triacylglycerols Free from β-Carotene and α-Tocopherol via Activated Carbon Adsorption and Alumina-Column Chromatography Treatments

It is difficult to remove β-carotene from oils with alumina-column chromatography, because β-carotene is even less-polar than triacylglycerols (TAGs) are. The objective of this study was to obtain butter oil TAGs free from β-carotene and antioxidants via sequential treatments with activated carbon (AC) adsorption and alumina column chromatography. The AC used was prepared from waste apricots. The effects of AC dosages, temperatures and time courses on β-carotene adsorption were studied. The Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms were used to describe the adsorption of β-carotene onto AC, and it was found to be more consistent with the Freundlich isotherm with a higher R ² value (0.9784). Adsorption kinetics of β-carotene was analyzed by pseudo-first order and pseudo-second order models. The pseudo-second order model was found to explain the kinetics of β-carotene adsorption more effectively (R ² = 0.9882). The highest β-carotene reduction was achieved (from 31.9 to 1.84 mg/kg) at an AC dosage of 10 wt%, temperature of 50 °C, and adsorption time of 240 min. A considerable amount of α-tocopherol was also adsorbed during the AC treatment. Remaining portions of α-tocopherol were completely removed with alumina adsorption chromatography. The method described may be used for purification of vegetable oil TAGs, which will be used as model compounds in model oxidation studies.