Search Results (14,926)

Geranium glaberrimum Boiss. & Heldr. is a Turkish endemic species with previously reported phytochemical and biological properties; however, comparative phytochemical and antioxidant data across different plant organs remain scarce. In this study, ultrasonic-assisted methanolic extracts obtained from the flower, leaf, stem, and root were characterized by determining total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), antioxidant activities using six complementary assays, relative antioxidant capacity index (RACI), and LC–MS/MS phenolic profiling. A single extract was prepared from each organ, and analytical measurements were performed in technical triplicate. The leaf extract exhibited the highest TFC (53.40 ± 0.15 mg RE/g), whereas the flower extract showed the greatest TPC (252.63 ± 5.73 mg GAE/g). RACI values were highest for the leaf (0.58 ± 0.02) and flower (0.47 ± 0.08), followed by the stem (−0.29 ± 0.19) and root (−0.77 ± 0.04), reflecting their relative positions within the investigated extracts based on the integrated phytochemical parameters and chemical antioxidant assay results. LC–MS/MS profiling targeted 28 phenolic compounds, of which 27 were detected, with hesperidin, hyperoside, gallic acid, quercetin, protocatechuic acid, and kaempferol among the predominant constituents. The antioxidant assays revealed organ-dependent patterns, with flower and leaf extracts generally exhibiting higher radical-scavenging and reducing capacities than the root extract. Exploratory Pearson correlation and hierarchical clustering analyses, based on four organ-level observations, indicated associations between phenolic composition and chemical antioxidant capacity. These findings provide an initial organ-specific phytochemical and antioxidant characterization of G. glaberrimum and highlight the need for independent biological replication and further biological validation. Full article

Aronia mitschurinii, an antioxidant enriched hybrid of Aronia melanocarpa and Sorbus aucuparia, contains one of the highest known levels of bioactive compounds associated with a range of health benefits, including antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-obesity, and positive cardiovascular effects. Despite possessing one of the highest reported antioxidant contents among fruits, the bitter taste of tannins and polyphenols reduces its marketability in the nutraceutical market. Conventional approaches to reduce tannin-related bitterness rely on thermal processing, which can degrade important antioxidant compounds, such as anthocyanins. This study investigates the extraction of phenolic antioxidants from Aronia mitschurinii juice by comparing seven Mitsubishi Chemical resins with FPX66, a resin previously tested and found to be the best among Dow Chemical resins for antioxidant extraction. Each resin was assessed following activation with acetone, 50% ethanol, and 100% ethanol using gentle and rough adsorption treatments to compare the desorption concentrations of polyphenols, flavonoids, and anthocyanins. Phase-contrast microscopy was used to evaluate resin structural integrity after treatment. Adsorption kinetics were also evaluated, and column-based extraction was performed with FPX66, SP825L, and SP850. The batch adsorption kinetics approached a plateau after approximately 180 min, while FPX66, SP825L, and SP850 approached equilibrium within approximately 40–60 min under column conditions. Among the resins tested, SP825L and SP850 showed strong desorption performance while maintaining their structural integrity. During column testing, SP825L produced 30% higher polyphenol, 70% higher flavonoid, and 43% higher anthocyanin desorption concentrations than FPX66, while SP850 produced 22%, 47%, and 11% higher concentrations, respectively. Overall, SP825L provided the best balance between high antioxidant desorption concentrations and resin structural stability under the conditions tested. Full article

Natural products are important sources of redox-active phytochemicals, but meaningful interpretation of their biological effects requires accurate botanical and chemical characterization. The vernacular label “lotus” is applied to botanically distinct taxa belonging to the genera Nymphaea (Nymphaeaceae) and Nelumbo (Nelumbonaceae), despite their substantial taxonomic and phytochemical divergence. This review critically evaluates authenticated evidence on botanical identity, phenolic and alkaloid composition, antioxidant activity, redox-modulating mechanisms, translational relevance, and safety across selected species of both genera. Particular emphasis is placed on organ-specific phytochemical specialization, the contrasting distribution of flavonoids and benzylisoquinoline alkaloids, and the limitations of comparing antioxidant activity across heterogeneous extraction and assay systems. Available mechanistic studies implicate interconnected antioxidant-response, inflammatory, metabolic, autophagy, and glucose-handling pathways, but the evidence remains predominantly preclinical. Nelumbo nucifera is substantially better characterized than Nymphaea species, especially with respect to alkaloid chemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology, whereas evidence for Nymphaea remains more fragmented and species dependent. Botanical authentication, chemical standardization, pharmacokinetic characterization, and preparation-specific safety assessment are therefore essential for meaningful translation. Overall, the therapeutic potential of Nymphaea and Nelumbo is scientifically plausible, but current evidence is insufficient for broad clinical generalization or interchangeable use of materials marketed as “lotus”. Full article

Aluminum oxide nanoparticles (Al₂O₃ NPs) are frequently incorporated into fertilizers and pesticides. Nevertheless, the effects of Al₂O₃ NPs on plants growing in acidic soils with elevated aluminum toxicity remain poorly understood. In this context, we evaluated the effects of aluminum oxide nanoparticles (Al₂O₃ NPs) on photosynthetic activity, gene expression, and antioxidant defense mechanisms in the Lolium perenne genotype Halo-AR1 cultivated in nutrient solution under acidic conditions. Thus, plants were subjected to Al₂O₃ NPs, Al₂O₃ NP supernatant, and AlCl₃ treatments. Photosynthetic performance was significantly impaired in all treatments, as reflected by reduced CO₂ assimilation, stomatal conductance, effective PSII quantum yield of PSII (ΦPSII), and electron transport rate (ETR), with stronger effects in the Al₂O₃ NP supernatant and AlCl₃ treatments. Furthermore, Al₂O₃ NPs and AlCl₃ downregulated the expression of the photosynthesis-related genes psbA and rbcS after 48 h of exposure. Antioxidant activity, total phenols, and flavonoid contents increased in leaves and roots, indicating activation of antioxidant defenses, particularly under Al₂O₃ NPs and Al₂O₃ NP supernatant exposure. Overall, the Al₂O₃ NP supernatant and AlCl₃ treatments produced more pronounced effects on photosynthetic performance than the Al₂O₃ NP suspension under the tested conditions. However, the contributions of particulate and dissolved Al to these responses remain unresolved. Full article

Hepatic steatosis is the hallmark of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), the most prevalent chronic liver disease worldwide. Lipotoxicity, resulting from excessive accumulation of fatty acids and bioactive lipid intermediates, is associated with increased oxidative stress, potentially leading to cell death. Thus, antioxidant bioactive compounds are considered promising therapeutic agents. This study characterized the phytochemical composition and evaluated the effects of an aqueous extract of Hancornia speciosa leaves (EH) on HepG2 cells with fatty acid-induced lipid accumulation. HPLC-ESI-MS/MS analysis annotated 17 compounds in EH, predominantly phenolic compounds. Exposure of HepG2 cells to oleic and palmitic acids increased lipid accumulation, cytotoxicity, and antioxidant enzyme activities. Treatment with EH at 50 (EH50) and 100 µg/mL reduced lipid accumulation and reactive oxygen species and restored catalase and glutathione S-transferase activities to control levels. Notably, only EH50 showed reduced cytotoxicity. Untargeted metabolomic profiling showed an increase in intracellular abundance of the feature annotated as C16 sphinganine following fatty acid exposure and lower abundance after EH50 treatment. These findings indicate that H. speciosa leaf extract attenuates fatty acid-induced lipid accumulation, lipotoxicity, and redox imbalance in HepG2 cells, and suggest that its protective effects may be associated with sphingolipid-related metabolism, thereby strengthening evidence for the species’ therapeutic potential and supporting further studies to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Full article

Thermal processing facilitates the transformation of major ginsenosides into rare ginsenosides, thereby enhancing the bioactive molecular profile of American ginseng. This study examined the impact of 1–4 cycles of high-temperature and high-pressure steaming (HTHPS) on ginsenoside composition, total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and antioxidant activity in American ginseng. HTHPS significantly decreased major ginsenoside levels while increasing the content of rare ginsenosides. Following three cycles (HTHPS-3), the concentrations of Rg3, Rk1, Rg5, Rh1, F4, and Rg6 reached 8.68, 6.02, 20.07, 1.92, 3.72, and 2.57 mg/g, respectively, in contrast to their absence in the untreated control. TPC exhibited a 6.74-fold increase after HTHPS-2, whereas TFC showed a 4.27-fold increase following HTHPS-3. Pearson correlation analysis revealed strong positive correlations between rare ginsenosides, TPC, TFC, and antioxidant activity. In summary, HTHPS treatment significantly altered the bioactive profile of American ginseng. HTHPS-2 was more suitable for maximizing TPC and DPPH/ABTS⁺ radical-scavenging activities, whereas HTHPS-3 favored rare ginsenoside accumulation, particularly Rg3, Rk1, and Rg5, and exhibited a stronger ·OH radical-scavenging capacity. These findings indicate that the preferred number of HTHPS cycles depends on the target bioactive components and functional properties. Full article

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) on the chemical composition and biological activities of gabiroba waste oil (GWO), compared to conventional Soxhlet extraction (SE). GWO was characterized for carotenoid content and analyzed by GC-MS for fatty acids (FAs) and sesquiterpenes. Total phenolic content (TPC), flavonoid content (TFC), and antioxidant (ABTS, DPPH, FRAP), antimicrobial, and antiglycemic activities were evaluated. Both methods yielded similar carotenoid content (954–1110 μg β-carotene/g). UAE enhanced phytochemical extraction, with 33% higher TPC (281 mg GAE/100 g), 50% more TFC (193 mg QE/100 g), and superior antioxidant activity (ABTS-12 μmol TE/g for hydrophilic extract, 109 μmol TE/g for lipophilic extract). UAE produces a high-quality oil with higher yield (36.6%) and lower acidity index (12.5%) compared to SE. Oleic acid was the predominant FA, followed by palmitic and linoleic acids, with β-cadinene as the major terpene. UAE oil exhibited a 21% increase in unsaturated FA and a 36% reduction in saturated FA compared to SE. UAE oil had greater antimicrobial activity for S. aureus (MIC-3.9 mg/mL) and higher α-amylase (IC₅₀—316 μg/mL) and α-glucosidase (IC₅₀—45 μg/mL) inhibitory potential. UAE proved to be an efficient, sustainable method to obtain phytochemical-rich oil from food residues, valorizing gabiroba waste for pharmaceutical and functional food applications. Full article

Sorghum is increasingly recognized for its nutritional and functional benefits, yet its application in temperate regions remains limited. This study examined the effects of cooking at 100 °C for 30 min on total phenolic content (TPC), total anthocyanin content (TAC), and antioxidant activity across whole grain, decorticated grain, and bran fractions from four cold-adapted Dutch sorghum genotypes (Dusormil HD7, HD19, HD100, and HD101). Black-grained genotypes (HD100 and HD101) exhibited the highest TPC and TAC, with uncooked HD100 bran reaching 39.49 mg FAE/g (TPC) and 151.10 mg LUE/L (TAC). Cooking led to a 64% increase in TPC in HD19 bran, while decorticated samples showed TPC reductions up to 70%. TAC consistently decreased post-cooking, with declines up to 39% in HD100 bran and 30% in whole grain. Antioxidant capacity, as measured by ABTS, decreased in most fractions after cooking, notably by 28% in HD100 bran from 1175.49 ± 24.2 mg TE/g to 845.81 ± 44.13 mg TE/g. HPLC analysis tentatively identified luteolinidin and apigeninidin as the predominant anthocyanins, with concentrations generally decreasing after cooking and being highest in bran. Cellular antioxidant activity (CAA) assays revealed that bran and decorticated samples, particularly HD19 at 400 μg/mL (42.91 ± 2.66 Units), maintained the highest post-cooking values, while the lowest was observed in decorticated HD100 at 200 μg/mL (5.54 ± 0.50 Units). These results emphasize the critical influence of genotype and processing on sorghum phytochemical retention, supporting the development of functional foods for temperate climates. Full article

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) production is increasingly challenged by multiple environmental stresses, including salinity, drought, and parasitic plants such as Orobanche cumana. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are widely recognized as beneficial microorganisms that enhance plant stress tolerance. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying AMF-mediated adaptation to multiple stresses remain largely unclear. In this study, we investigated the effects of AMF inoculation on sunflower resistance to salinity, drought, and O. cumana parasitism through physiological, transcriptomic, metabolomic, and integrated multi-omics analyses. AMF inoculation promoted lateral root development in different sunflower varieties and induced physiological priming responses, characterized by enhanced antioxidant activity and improved regulation of reactive oxygen species homeostasis and osmotic balance under stress conditions. Transcriptomic analysis revealed a conserved AMF-responsive gene module across different stress environments, which was mainly associated with phenylpropanoid metabolism, cell wall organization, redox regulation, and lipid-related pathways. Metabolomic profiling further demonstrated that AMF extensively reshaped root metabolic networks, particularly affecting organic acids, amino acid derivatives, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, alkaloids, and lipid-associated metabolites. Integrated transcriptomic–metabolomic analysis identified key gene–metabolite associations involved in carbon metabolism, nutrient transport, hormone signaling, and membrane remodeling, providing potential molecular targets underlying AMF-mediated stress adaptation. Overall, this study reveals how AMF enhances sunflower resilience against biotic and abiotic stresses through coordinated physiological, transcriptional, and metabolic regulation. These findings highlight the potential application of AMF as a sustainable biological strategy for improving crop stress resistance and quality-related metabolic traits. Full article

Sea buckthorn pomace, generated as a by-product of juice processing, has potential for valorisation as a functional food ingredient. This study investigated whether dry fractionation by grinding and controlled sieving of seed-free sea buckthorn pomace (SBP) can generate granulometric fractions with distinct compositional, antioxidant, structural, and technofunctional characteristics. SBP was separated into six fractions (SBPF1: >2.0 mm; SBPF2: 1.0–2.0 mm; SBPF3: 0.5–1.0 mm; SBPF4: 0.25–0.5 mm; SBPF5: 0.15–0.25 mm; SBPF6: <0.15 mm) and evaluated for proximate composition, colour, water swelling capacity (WSC), water retention capacity (WRC), water solubility index (WSI), oil retention capacity (ORC), total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), DPPH radical-scavenging activity, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and structural characteristics. Granulometric fractionation resulted in significant differences among the fractions. SBPF1 showed the highest total dietary fibre content (58.46%), with insoluble dietary fibre predominating in the coarser fractions, whereas soluble dietary fibre increased towards the finer fractions. WSC was highest in SBPF3, WRC in SBPF5, WSI increased progressively towards SBPF6, and ORC was higher in the coarser fractions. SBPF4 showed the highest TPC (2984.02 mg GAE/100 g d.w.), TFC (1365.14 mg QE/100 g d.w.), DPPH (315.74 μmol TE/g d.w.), and FRAP (277.63 μmol Fe²⁺/g d.w.) values. Pearson analysis showed strong positive correlations among TPC, TFC, DPPH, and FRAP, while principal component and agglomerative hierarchical analyses differentiated the granulometric fractions according to their multivariate profiles. Attenuated total reflectance Fourier-transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy showed preservation of the main absorption regions together with fraction-specific differences in spectral parameters and peak-area ratios, whereas wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) profiles remained broadly comparable, with a diffuse feature around a scattering angle (2θ) of 20° and no newly appearing sharp reflections, although crystallite size differed among fractions and increased from SBPF3 to SBPF6. These results demonstrate that granulometric fractionation can generate SBP fractions with distinct characteristics, supporting their consideration as potential value-added ingredients for further evaluation in specific food applications. Full article

Hyperlipidemia is a widespread metabolic disease that triggers abnormal lipid accumulation. Plant polyphenols possess great potential for lipid metabolism regulation. Small-leaved kuding tea (Ligustrum robustum Roxb. Blume, SLKDT) is abundant in polyphenols with proven hypolipidemic activity, whereas its key active constituents and molecular targets remain unclear. This study aimed to identify the key active components and core targets responsible for the lipid-lowering effects of SLKDT polyphenols. Response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to optimize the extraction process of SLKDT polyphenols. In vitro cell experiments were performed to verify the lipid-lowering effect of SLKDT polyphenols, while the obtained polyphenols were further qualitatively characterized via LC-MS/MS. Furthermore, network pharmacology prediction combined with molecular docking was used to screen the key bioactive compounds and their target proteins associated with lipid metabolism regulation. Under the optimal extraction conditions (43% ethanol concentration, ultrasound time of 40 min, solid-to-liquid ratio of 1:56 g/mL, and ultrasonic temperature of 57 °C), the yield of polyphenols from SLKDT was 131.88 mg/g. In vitro experiments confirmed that SLKDT polyphenols significantly reduced intracellular lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells, increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes including GSH-PX, CAT, and T-SOD, and decreased MDA content. Furthermore, SLKDT polyphenols markedly downregulated the expression of lipid synthesis-related genes, including ACC, HMGCR, SREBP-1c, and FASN, while upregulating CYP7A1 expression. A total of 88 compounds were Preliminary identified by LC-MS/MS, mainly including glycosides, flavonoids and phenolic acids. Network pharmacology analysis revealed that chrysin, 6-demethoxytangeretin, bavachinin, isobavachin, and bavachalcone were the core components mediating the lipid-lowering activity of SLKDT polyphenols, with target proteins including TP53, STAT3, AKT1, HSP90AA1, and EGFR. This study elucidates the key components and critical targets underlying the lipid-lowering effects of SLKDT polyphenols, providing experimental evidence and theoretical support for the development of SLKDT-derived products and natural lipid-lowering agents. Full article

Although raspberries are widely valued for their health-promoting properties, comprehensive comparative studies integrating pomological quality traits, phenolic compounds, and antioxidant capacities across cultivars with distinct fruit colors remain sparse. Sixteen raspberry cultivars, including 12 red-fruited, three yellow-fruited, and one cultivar with black-purple fruits, were evaluated at a single location during one growing season. This study evaluated the physicochemical parameters, bioactive compounds, antioxidant activity, and selected phenolic acids of red-, yellow-, and black-purple-fruited raspberry cultivars grown under the same environmental conditions. Antioxidant capacity was determined using FRAP and DPPH assays. The results revealed highly significant cultivar-dependent variations in dry matter, total soluble solids, titratable acidity, TSS/TA ratio, vitamin C, tannins, total phenolics, flavonoids, anthocyanins, and overall antioxidant performance. The black purplefruited cultivar stood out with exceptionally high levels of total phenolics, flavonoids, anthocyanins, and FRAP activity. Red cultivars exhibited wide phenotypic and biochemical variability, while yellow cultivars displayed minimal anthocyanin accumulation. Correlation analysis highlighted a strong relationship between antioxidant potential (FRAP) and flavonoid content, alongside moderate correlations with anthocyanins and vitamin C. Most targeted phenolic acids were either not detected or occurred at concentrations below the limit of quantification, with only a few quantifiable detections. These findings provide insight into cultivar-dependent variation in raspberry fruit quality and bioactive composition and may support the selection of cultivars for further evaluation according to specific quality traits. Full article

Satureja montana L. (Lamiaceae) extracts have been reported to exhibit antioxidant activity due to the presence of phenolics. This study compared the efficiency of choline chloride: glycerol and choline chloride: sorbitol natural deep eutectic solvents (NADESs) with conventional solvents in the microwave-assisted extraction of S. montana by assessing the preliminary chemical composition and antioxidant potential of the obtained extracts. Higher total phenolic content was observed in both NADES extracts, whereas the highest total flavonoid content was determined in the 70% ethanol extract. The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and cupric reducing antioxidant capacity assays showed the strongest antioxidant potential for the choline chloride: glycerol NADES extract. Full article

Background/Objectives: Trachystemon orientalis (L.) D. Don has been reported to be used in folk medicine for the treatment of inflammatory wounds and for its contained rosmarinic acid, a phenolic compound known for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and wound healing properties. This study aimed to obtain a rosmarinic acid-enriched extract from the aerial parts of T. orientalis and evaluate its in vitro wound healing potential. Methods: Extraction conditions were optimized using fractional factorial design and Box–Behnken optimization. Rosmarinic acid content was quantified by RP-HPLC. A rosmarinic acid-enriched extract was compared with a maceration extract and isolated rosmarinic acid. Elastase, hyaluronidase, and collagenase inhibitory activities were determined. Cytotoxicity was evaluated on L929 fibroblasts using the MTT assay, and non-cytotoxic concentrations were assessed for their effects on in vitro wound healing by scratch assay. In addition, in silico target prediction and network pharmacology analyses were performed using rosmarinic acid. Results: Optimization successfully yielded a rosmarinic acid-enriched extract from T. orientalis. The rosmarinic acid-enriched extract inhibited wound-related enzymes and enhanced wound closure in the scratch assay. Network pharmacology analysis showed putative molecular targets and signaling pathways potentially associated with the wound healing activity of rosmarinic acid, especially those involved in inflammatory responses, extracellular matrix remodeling, and tissue regeneration. Conclusions: The rosmarinic acid-enriched extract exhibited promising in vitro wound healing-related activity through the inhibition of extracellular matrix degrading enzymes and promotion of wound closure. Furthermore, network pharmacology analysis provided preliminary mechanistic insights based on computational predictions. Full article

The species Bidens subalternans DC., belonging to the Asteraceae family, is a native plant of Brazil. The objective of this study was to perform preliminary phytochemical characterization and evaluate the antioxidant activity and acute toxicity of the ethanol extract (EE) and leaf fractions of B. subalternans. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of steroids, saponins, alkaloids, coumarins, flavonoids and tannins. Analysis of the EE and the dichloromethane fraction (DCMF) by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) suggested the presence of phytol, ethyl esters, fatty acids, terpenoid compounds, stigmasterol, untriacontane, ketones, and loliolide. The presence of chlorogenic acid, cinnamic acid derivatives, coumaric acid derivatives, caffeic acid derivatives, and flavonoids was putatively assigned using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a diode-array detector (HPLC-DAD). The ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) and DCMF showed higher levels of total phenolic compounds and flavonoids compared to the EE and hydroethanol fraction (HEF) (EAF > DCMF > EE > HEF). In antioxidant activity assays, the EAF exhibited the greatest potential, followed by the DCMF, EE, and HEF. The results showed no mortality of Artemia salina larvae, indicating an absence of acute toxicity under the tested conditions. This study contributes to the preliminary chemical characterization of B. subalternans, toxicity and antioxidant activity in vitro, highlighting it as a potential source of natural antioxidants. Full article