This study aimed to extract and purify polyphenols from Acanthopanax senticosus. A new green method was developed, in which ionic liquids (ILs) were used as aqueous two-phase (ATP) adjuvants to ...extract the polyphenols from A. senticosus. An ionic liquid-assisted aqueous two-phase system (IL-ATPS) was established. The purification of the polyphenols from the extraction fluid by AB-8 macroporous resin was conducted, and the kinetic mechanisms were studied. The reuse of ionic liquids was executed. The results showed that an OMIMBr-assisted ethanol/NaHsub.2POsub.4 system (IL-ATPS) was the best extraction solvent. In this study, the following optimal extraction conditions were determined: 32 wt.% ethanol, 25 wt.% NaHsub.2POsub.4, 9 wt.% additional ionic liquid, a solid–liquid ratio of 1:40 g/mL, an extraction temperature of 50 °C, a pH of 4.0, an extraction time of 50 min, and an extraction rate of the polyphenols at 15.90 mg/g. The optimum adsorption parameters of the macroporous resin AB-8 were as follows: a flow rate of 3.5 BV·hsup.−1, a sample volume of 40 mL, an elution flow rate of 3.5 BV·hsup.−1, an eluent volume of 80 mL, and an eluant that was constituted by an 85% volume fraction of ethanol. The decolorization effect of 4% activated carbon was better than the other amounts; in addition, a decolorization rate of 76.81% and an ionic liquid recovery rate of 81.12% were found to be the most optimal. Compared with the traditional extraction methods, IL-ATPS has the advantages of requiring simple operation, saving time, and high efficiency. In addition, it can be used for the extraction of the polyphenolic compounds.
In the present work, we have investigated the polyphenolic composition of Chenopodium botrys from Bulgaria. The polyphenols were fractionated with solvents of varying polarity (n-hexane, chloroform, ...ethyl acetate, and n-butanol). The fractions were analyzed by HPLC-PDA and UHPLC-MS. The ethyl acetate fraction contained mono- and di-glycosides of quercetin, di-glycosides of kaempferol, and isorhamnetin and monoglycosides of hispidulin and jaceosidine. We found quercetin triglycosides in the butanol fraction. The ethyl acetate and butanol fractions contained 168.82 mg/g Extr and 67.21 mg/g Extr of quercetin glycosides, respectively. The main components of the polyphenolic complex in C. botrys were 6-methoxyflavones (355.47 mg/g Extr), which were found in the chloroform fraction. The flavonoids pectolinarigenin, demethylnobiletin, and isosinensetin, and the glycosides of quercetin (triglycosides, acylglycosides), kaempferol, isorhamnetin, hispidiulin, and jaceosidine, were discovered and reported in Chenopodium botrys for the first time. We used in vitro methods to assess the biological activity against oxidative stress (hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity (HPSA) and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity (HRSA)), nitrosative stress (nitric oxide scavenging activity (NOSA)), anti-inflammatory activity (IAD inhibition), and anti-tryptic activity (ATA). Quercetin mono- and di-glycosides exhibited greater HPSA and HRSA (ICsub.50 = 39.18, 105.03 µg/mL), while 6-methoxyflavones had a greater NOSA (ICsub.50 = 146.59 µg/mL). The same components showed the highest ATA (ICsub.50 ranging from 116.23 to 202.44 µg/mL).
Several studies have reported stingless Meliponini bees gathering hairs from the labella of Maxillaria spp., including M. ochroleuca, a member of the M. splendens alliance. Such hairs usually contain ...food materials and are thought to have nutritional value. The papillose labella of representatives of the Maxillaria splendens alliance, however, bear scattered, simple 1-5-celled uniseriate trichomes (hairs) that lack food materials. By contrast, here, as well as polyphenolic compounds, typical labellar papillae usually contain small quantities of starch, protein, and minute droplets of lipid, the last probably involved in the production of fragrance. Towards the labellum apex occur elevated groups of papillae that lack food materials, but contain volatile compounds, probably fragrance precursors. In the past, the terms 'trichomes' or 'hairs' and 'papillae' have been used interchangeably, causing some confusion. Since the trichomes, however, unlike the papillae, are easily detachable and can fragment, it is most likely they, not the papillae, that have previously been observed being collected by bees, but their poor food content indicates that they do not function as food-hairs. Even so, our field observations of M. ochroleuca reveal that stingless bees scrape polyphenol-rich labellar tissue and possibly use this material to produce a resinous, complex, heterogeneous substance commonly referred to as 'bee glue', used for nest construction and repair.
Having scarce information about ultrasound assisted extraction (UAE) and microwave assisted extraction (MAE) of white horehound (Marrubium vulgare L.), the idea has emerged to determine the optimal ...process parameters for the maximization of polyphenols and to compare the efficiency of these green extraction technologies. The optimal UAE parameters are temperature of 73.6 °C, extraction time of 40 min and ultrasound power of 30.3 W/L, while the optimal MAE parameters are 63.8% ethanol, extraction time of 15 min and microwave power of 422 W. Extract obtained at optimal UAE parameters shows the highest antihyperglycemic activity (α-amylase inhibition: 50.63% and α-glucosidase inhibition: 48.67%), which can potentially be explained by the presence of chlorogenic acid and quercetin, which were not identified in the macerates. The most sensitive bacterial strain to optimal ultrasonic extract is Bacillus cereus, whereas the most sensitive fungal strain is Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
A polyphenol-rich diet protects against chronic pathologies by modulating numerous physiological processes, such as cellular redox potential, enzymatic activity, cell proliferation and signaling ...transduction pathways. However, polyphenols have a low oral bioavailability mainly due to an extensive biotransformation mediated by phase I and phase II reactions in enterocytes and liver but also by gut microbiota. Despite low oral bioavailability, most polyphenols proved significant biological effects which brought into attention the low bioavailability/high bioactivity paradox. In recent years, polyphenol metabolites have attracted great interest as many of them showed similar or higher intrinsic biological effects in comparison to the parent compounds. There is a huge body of literature reporting on the biological functions of polyphenol metabolites generated by phase I and phase II metabolic reactions and gut microbiota-mediated biotransformation. In this respect, the review highlights the pharmacokinetic fate of the major dietary polyphenols (resveratrol, curcumin, quercetin, rutin, genistein, daidzein, ellagitannins, proanthocyanidins) in order to further address the efficacy of biometabolites as compared to parent molecules. The present work strongly supports the contribution of metabolites to the health benefits of polyphenols, thus offering a better perspective in understanding the role played by dietary polyphenols in human health.
Being secondary plant metabolites, polyphenols represent a large and diverse group of substances abundantly present in a majority of fruits, herbs and vegetables. The current contribution is focused ...on their bioavailability, antioxidative and anticarcinogenic properties. An overview of extraction methods is also given, with supercritical fluid extraction highlighted as a promising eco-friendly alternative providing exceptional separation and protection from degradation of unstable polyphenols. The protective role of polyphenols against reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, UV light, plant pathogens, parasites and predators results in several beneficial biological activities giving rise to prophylaxis or possibly even to a cure for several prevailing human diseases, especially various cancer types. Omnipresence, specificity of the response and the absence of or low toxicity are crucial advantages of polyphenols as anticancer agents. The main problem represents their low bioavailability and rapid metabolism. One of the promising solutions lies in nanoformulation of polyphenols that prevents their degradation and thus enables significantly higher concentrations to reach the target cells. Another, more practiced, solution is the use of mixtures of various polyphenols that bring synergistic effects, resulting in lowering of the required therapeutic dose and in multitargeted action. The combination of polyphenols with existing drugs and therapies also shows promising results and significantly reduces their toxicity.
The biological properties of dietary polyphenols are greatly dependent on their bioavailability that, in turn, is largely influenced by their degree of polymerization. The gut microbiota play a key ...role in modulating the production, bioavailability and, thus, the biological activities of phenolic metabolites, particularly after the intake of food containing high-molecular-weight polyphenols. In addition, evidence is emerging on the activity of dietary polyphenols on the modulation of the colonic microbial population composition or activity. However, although the great range of health-promoting activities of dietary polyphenols has been widely investigated, their effect on the modulation of the gut ecology and the two-way relationship “polyphenols ↔ microbiota” are still poorly understood. Only a few studies have examined the impact of dietary polyphenols on the human gut microbiota, and most were focused on single polyphenol molecules and selected bacterial populations. This review focuses on the reciprocal interactions between the gut microbiota and polyphenols, the mechanisms of action and the consequences of these interactions on human health.