Methanol extracts of stem, leaf, and seed obtained from
Pistacia terebinthus
which are rich in phenolic compounds were used for the first time to produce chitosan-based antioxidative and ...antimicrobial films. All the produced films were characterized by FT-IR, TGA, DSC, SEM, contact angle measurements, and UV-Vis spectroscopy and mechanically. As was expected, incorporation of the plant extracts into chitosan films enhanced the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities effectively. Also, the elasticity of chitosan-seed and chitosan-stem films was improved. The eco-friendly nature of the produced blend films was determined through soil and water degradation analyses. All these findings lead to the conclusion that the produced blend films with
Pistacia terebinthus
extracts can be applied as alternative food packaging material.
Chitosan films blended with stem, leaf and seed extracts of
Pistacia terebinthus
for active food packaging.
► We reported antioxidant and anticholinesterase properties of three Centaurea species. ► Aqueous and methanolic extracts of the Centaurea species were tested. ► The studied Centaurea extracts ...exhibited strong antioxidant activity. ► Anticholinesterase activities of the species were assessed for the first time. ► The species under study are a valuable source of antioxidants and AChE inhibitors.
The methanol and aqueous extracts of three endemic Centaurea species (C. polypodiifolia var. pseudobehen, C. pyrrhoblephara and C. antalyense) were investigated for their antioxidant and cholinesterase inhibitory activities. The antioxidant activities of these extracts were evaluated by in vitro models including, phosphomolybdenum assay, free radical scavenging assays (DPPH and ABTS), β-carotene/linoleic acid test system, metal chelating assay, FRAP assay, ferric and cupric reducing power. Cholinesterase inhibitory activities were examined using Ellman’s colorimetric method. Total phenol, flavonoid, and saponin contents were also measured. Among the six Centaurea extracts evaluated, the highest antioxidant abilities were obtained from C. polypodiifolia var. pseudobehen. Methanolic extracts from C. polypodiifolia var. pseudobehen and C. antalyense had a noticeable inhibition towards AChE and BChE. These findings suggest that Centaurea species could be an anticholinesterase agent and antioxidant resource in some industries, such as food, pharmacology, and cosmetics.
The paper describes the isolation and characterization of chitin and chitosan from Daphnia longispina resting eggs harvested from a reservoir. Resting eggs are fertilized eggs that are encased in ...chitinous shells called ‘ephippia’ and which ensure the survival of the Daphnia population in adverse conditions. The chitin-content of D. longispina resting eggs was found to be 23 ∼ 25% and the chitosan (having a 70 ∼ 75% deacetylation degree) yield of the chitin was 76 ∼ 77%. This high chitin-content indicates that D. longispina resting eggs can be exploited as a chitin source. The structure and thermal properties of chitin, extracted from D. longispina resting eggs, were characterized by employing Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The crystallinity of the chitin was found to be very low (48%). Physicochemicallycharacterized chitosan and the produced O-carboxymethyl chitosan were tested for their antimicrobial and antioxidant activity. It has been observed that chitosan displays antimicrobial activity against all pathogenic bacteria, whereas O-carboxymethyl chitosan only exhibits inhibition activity against L. garvieae, L. Monocytogenes ATCC 7644, Y. enterocolitica NCTC 11175 and S. aureus ATCC 25923. In a free radical scavenging activity assay, the IC₅₀ values of chitosan, O-carboxymethyl chitosan and butylated hydroxytoluene were found to be 23.01, 56.43 and 0.05, respectively. The ferric-reducing power of O-carboxymethyl chitosan (EC₅₀ = 8.30) indicated higher activity than chitosan (EC₅₀ = 10.12).
Centaurea is one of most important genera of Turkey flora. Some members of the genus have been used in Anatolian folk medicine. This study was undertaken in order to examine the in vitro antioxidant ...activities and fatty acid composition of Centaurea urvillei subsp. hayekiana. Antioxidative properties of the methanolic extract was assessed by different in vitro experiments including total phenolic and flavonoid content, phosphomolybdenum assay (total antioxidant capacity), free radical scavenging assay, β-caroten/linoleic acid bleaching test system, ferric and cupric ion reducing power. According to the results of antioxidant capacity assays, C. urvillei subsp. hayekiana showed moderately antioxidant activity in test methods. Fatty acid analysis was performed by GC and thirty-two fatty acids were identified. The oil of C. urvillei subsp. hayekiana was characterized by higher amounts of C 18:2 ω6 (linoleic acid) and C 18:1 ω9 (oleic acid). The results suggested that C. urvillei subsp. hayekiana may be utilized as a source of both natural antioxidant and linoleic acid in healthy medicine and food industry.
In this study, the phenolic composition, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of Zizyphus lotus and Ruta chalepensis collected from Mascara-Western Algeria were investigated. The total phenolic, ...flavonoid and tannin contents in the methanolic (Me.E) and aqueous (Aq.E) extracts were measured using colorimetric methods. Polyphenolic profiles were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), while the antioxidant effect was determined by DPPH* radical scavenging assays. The antimicrobial activity was estimated using agar disc diffusion and microdilution methods. The results showed that total phenolic compounds, flavonoids and tannins were significantly higher (p <0.05) in Z. lotus extracts when compared with R. chalepensis. The major phenolic compound detected in Z. lotus was benzoic acid (1333.59 µg/g DE), while the hydroxybenzoic acid (56.60 µg/g DE), chlorogenic acid (44.60 µg/g DE), epicatechin (38.80 µg/g DE), catechin (26.30 µg/g DE) and gallic acid (13.22 µg/g DE) were the major compounds in R. chalepensis. Both plants were determined to be effective antioxidants regarding their lower IC50 values of 0.146 mg/mL for Z. lotus Me.E and 0.206 mg/mL for R. chalepensis Aq.E. Results demonstrated that Me.E of Z. lotus and R. chalepensis were more active against S. enterica ssp arizonae, while the lowest minimum inhibitory concentration was recorded against H. alvei using Z. lotus aqueous extract (25 mg/mL). An important anti-Candida activity was also determined. These results suggest the most efficiency of both plants, in the treatment of various human infections, regarding their potential on bioactive molecules with antioxidant and antimicrobial activities.
► Asphodeline leaves have proteins with high levels of several essential amino acids. ► Protein in the leaves of Asphodeline species is of high nutritional quality. ► Amino acid composition of ...Asphodeline peshmeniana was equilibrated according to FAO standards.
The nutritional quality of the protein in the leaves of 11 Asphodeline (Liliaceae) species was investigated by the determination of the amino acid composition and calculation of several nutritional parameters. The average protein content was 4.7% and ranged from 2.5% in Asphodeline damascena ssp. rugosa to 8.2% in A. turcica. The most abundant essential amino acids were Thr (5.7%), Val (6.0%), Ile (4.7%), and Trp (2.1%). The amino acid composition of Asphodeline peshmeniana was well equilibrated according to Food and Agriculture Organisation standards, but Lys and sulphur amino acids were at limiting concentrations in all the other taxa. Determination of the protein efficiency ratio and biological value revealed that the protein in the leaves of Asphodeline species is of high nutritional quality. Hence, the Asphodeline leaves that are typically used in Turkey for the preparation of salads, represent a good source of protein with high levels of several essential amino acids and a good nutritional value. Analysis of the similarity based on the amino acid composition indicated the existence of different clusters that are consistent with the taxonomical classification, area of distribution, and morphological similarities of the Asphodeline species.
Background and Aims: Most of the Medicago species are considered good quality forage crops due to their rich protein content. This study reports antioxidant properties, total phenolic and flavonoid ...content, enzyme (acetylcholinesterase (AChE), tyrosinase, a-amylase and a-glucosidase) inhibition activities of methanol (MeOH), ethyl acetate (EA) and, aqueous (AQ) extracts of Medicago murex (M. murex). Methods: The antioxidant activity of the different extracts of M. murex were evaluated using FRAP and CUPRAC assays. The contents of total phenolic and flavonoid were determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu and the Aluminium chloride (AlCl.sub.3) colorimetric methods. Also, the enzyme inhibition activities were shown spectrophotometrically for AChE, a-amylase, alpha-glucosidase and tyrosinase enzymes. Results: Total phenolic and flavonoid contents of different extracts were determined between 83.70-163.93 mg GAE/g extract and 24.48-26.05 microg QE/g extract, respectively. AQ extracts were the most active extracts in FRAP while being the best inhibitor of the AChE enzyme. On the other hand, EA extracts were the most active extracts in CUPRAC methods and the best inhibitors for other enzymes. Conclusion: Considering the findings, M. murex appears to be an important source of natural antioxidants and enzyme inhibitors, and it provides important baseline data for the food and pharmaceutical industries. Keywords: M. murex, bioactive substances content, antioxidant potential, enzyme inhibition
Chitins and chitosans obtained from larva and adult Colorado potato beetles (Leptinotarsa decemlineata) were physico-chemically characterized and differences between adults and larvae were ...identified. The dry weight chitin contents of the adult Colorado potato beetles and larvae were determined as 20% and 7%, respectively. The chitin produced chitosan yields of 72% from the adult Colorado potato beetles and 67% from the larvae. FTIR analysis showed that the isolated chitins were in the alpha form. Crystalline index values, determined by XRD, were 72% for larvae and 76% for adults. The degradation temperatures of the isolated chitin structures were measured by TGA, and this showed that the chitin from adult Colorado potato beetles had a more stable structure than that from the larvae. The surface morphologies of the isolated chitin and chitosan structures were analysed with SEM and it was revealed that these structures consisted of nanofibres. According to elemental analysis, the purity of chitin and chitosan from adults was greater than that from the larvae. The results of molecular analysis showed that the chitosans from adults (2.722kDa) and larvae (2.676kDa) of the Colorado potato beetle have low molecular weights. Antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of both adult and larval chitosans were determined. The adult potato beetle is more appropriate than the larvae as an alternative chitin source because of the fact that its dry weight chitin content, chitosan yield and purity of chitin are higher than those from the larvae, and its antimicrobial and antioxidant activities are also higher than those from the larvae.
•Comparison of chitin contents of adult and larvae of the Colorado potato beetle•Physicochemical comparison of chitins and chitosans obtained from adults and larvae•Conversion of invasive Colorado potato beetle into a biotechnological product•Antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of chitosans isolated from adults and larvae of the potato beetle
The essential oil compound, fatty acid composition and the in vitro antioxidant activity of the root and aerial of Glycyrrhiza echinata L., a medicinal plant growing in Turkey, have been studied. The ...antioxidant capacity tests were designed to evaluate the antioxidant activities of methanol extracts. Total phenolic and flavonoid concentrations of each extract were also determined by using both Folin-Ciocalteu reagent and aluminum chloride. The aerial part was found to possess the highest total phenolic content (146.30 ± 4.58 mg GAE/g) and total antioxidant capacity (175.33 ± 3.98 mg AE/g). The essential oil from root and aerial parts was analyzed by gas chromatography mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) systems. The major components identified were n-hexadecanoic acid, hexahydro farnesyl acetone, α-caryophyllen, hexanal and phytol. In fatty acid profiles of plant, palmitic, stearic, oleic and linoleic acid were detected as the main components. The results of this study have shown that the extracts G. echinata are suitable as a natural antioxidant and food supplement source for pharmacological and food industries due to their beneficial chemical composition and antioxidant capacity.