Steaming of green timber, a common industrial process for various hardwood species, significantly influences wood properties, including coloration and drying characteristics. However, the ...environmental implications of substantial volumes of condensate generated during wood steaming underscore the urgency for its sustainable management. This study explores the chemical composition of the condensate obtained during the 90-hour indirect steaming of walnut timber (WTSC), aiming to identify potential applications for this wastewater while addressing environmental risks. Chemical characterization of WTSC included qualitative LC-MS/MS analysis, determination of the total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC) and the content of selected phenolics. WTSC exhibited high TPC (188 mg gallic acid equivalents per L) and TFC (9.74 mg quercetin equivalents per L) values. Additionally, WTSC showed significant antioxidant activity (IC
50
(DPPH) = 61.4 µg/mL and 103 µg ascorbic acid equivalents per mL in FRAP assay). Specific phenolic compounds detected in the WTSC distinguish it from other wood industry effluents and are a consequence of the unique characteristics of walnut wood and conditions during steaming process. A variety of acids (
p-
hydroxybenzoic, protocatechuic, syringic, gallic, cinnamic, cinnamic, p-coumaric, o-coumaric, vanillic) and flavonoids (apigenin, genistein, naringenin, luteolin, kaempferol, chrysoeriol, isorhamnetin, apigenin 7-O-glucoside, vitexin, kaempferol 3-O-glucoside, catechin, epicatechin, and quercitrin) were identified and quantified. The condensate exhibited higher TPC value and antioxidant activity than other wood industry effluents, positioning it as a promising natural antioxidant with potential applications in pharmaceutical and food industries. However, our short-term goal is to explore the potential use of WTSC as received – without isolating individual compounds – in studies focused on plant protection, textile dyeing, and wood-based panel production.
Ferroptosis is a recently discovered type of programmed cell death that is mechanistically different from other types of programmed cell death such as apoptosis, necroptosis, and autophagy. It is ...characterized by the accumulation of intracellular iron, overproduction of reactive oxygen species, depletion of glutathione, and extensive lipid peroxidation of lipids in the cell membrane. It was discovered that ferroptosis is interconnected with many diseases, such as neurodegenerative diseases, ischemia/reperfusion injury, cancer, and chronic kidney disease. Polyphenols, plant secondary metabolites known for many bioactivities, are being extensively researched in the context of their influence on ferroptosis which resulted in a great number of publications showing the need for a systematic review. In this review, an extensive literature search was performed. Databases (Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Springer) were searched in the time span from 2017 to November 2023, using the keyword "ferroptosis" alone and in combination with "flavonoid", "phenolic acid", "stilbene", "coumarin", "anthraquinone", and "chalcone"; after the selection of studies, we had 311 papers and 143 phenolic compounds. In total, 53 compounds showed the ability to induce ferroptosis, and 110 compounds were able to inhibit ferroptosis, and out of those compounds, 20 showed both abilities depending on the model system. The most researched compounds are shikonin, curcumin, quercetin, resveratrol, and baicalin. The most common modes of action are in the modulation of the Nrf2/GPX4 and Nrf2/HO-1 axis and the modulation of iron metabolism.
Modern roses (Rosa × hybrida) are among the most important and economically profitable horticultural plants. Besides their beauty and remarkable fragrance, they are also rich sources of biologically ...active compounds with potential health benefits. The aim of this study was to valorize the prospective of six new genotypes of edible roses to be utilized as functional foods. Rose flowers were subjected to detailed characterization of morphological traits, fragrance analysis, GC-MS analysis of aroma carriers, determination of phenolic profile and vitamin C content, and evaluation of biological activities. The results showed that all the investigated cultivars have a favorable aroma for human consumption (pear-like, strawberry-like or fruity), high contents of phenolics and vitamin C, strong antioxidant content and moderate neuroprotective activity. They are characterized by large amounts of quercetin 3-O-glycosydes and quinic acid. The genotype ‘Marija Frayla’ stands out from others due to facilitated flower morphology, the highest level of total phenolics (217 mg of galic acid equivalents/g of dry extract) and the strongest antioxidant activity (in the DPPH assay, IC50 = 9.24 µg/mL; and antioxidant potential in the FRAP assay was 220 mg ascorbic acid equivalents/g of dry extract), thus represents the most valuable amendment to the development of novel functional food products. The ‘Eveline Wild’ genotype has the highest neuroprotective activity (68.5 ng of eserine equivalents/g of dry extract), thus might be applied in the prevention of dementia. The ‘Pear’ cultivar with the lowest phenolics content and biological activity has a mild, fruity aroma, thus can be used in everyday eating.
Garden roses, known as
×
, hold a prominent position as one of the most important and economically valuable plants in horticulture. Additionally, their products-essential oil, rose water, concrete, ...and concentrate-find extensive use in the cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and food industries, due to their specific fragrances and potential health benefits. Rose flowers are rich in biologically active compounds, such as phenolics, flavonoids, anthocyanins, and carotenoids. This study aims to investigate the potential of five new garden rose genotypes with intensely colored flowers to serve as sources of biologically active compounds. Phenolic profile was evaluated by determination of total phenolic (TPC), flavonoid (TFC), and monomeric anthocyanins (TAC) contents and LC-MS/MS analysis of selected compounds. Antioxidant activity was evaluated via DPPH and FRAP assays, neuroprotective potential via acethylcholinesterase inhibition assay, and antidiabetic activity viaα-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition assays. The flowers of investigated genotypes were rich in phenolics (TPC varied from 148 to 260 mg galic acid eq/g de, TFC from 19.9 to 59.7 mg quercetin eq/g de, and TAC from 2.21 to 13.1 mg cyanidin 3-
-glucoside eq/g de). Four out of five genotypes had higher TPC than extract of
, the most famous rose cultivar. The dominant flavonoids in all investigated genotypes were glycosides of quercetin and kaempferol. The extracts showed high antioxidant activity comparable to synthetic antioxidant BHT, very high α-glucosidase inhibitory potential, moderate neuroprotective activity, and low potential to inhibit α-amylase.
Crataegus species (hawthorn) have been commonly used in traditional medicine, especially for the treatment of congestive heart failure. Many studies confirmed that they are rich in polyphenols, thus ...exhibiting strong antioxidant activity, which contribute to the beneficial effects of hawthorn on the cardiovascular system. In the market, there are many herbal medicinal products based on hawthorn, which consumption as adjuvant therapy in heart-related issues is supported by European Medicines Agency. Since there is a global trend of making homemade herbal preparations, this study aimed to compare whether there is a difference in polyphenol profile and antioxidant potential between homemade and commercial ethanol extracts of hawthorn. Polyphenol profile was evaluated by determination of total phenolic and flavonoid contents, and by quantitative analysis of selected polyphenols by liquid chromatography? mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry. Antioxidant potential was examined by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, ferric ion reducing antioxidant power and lipid peroxidation inhibition assays. The results of this study suggest that homemade ethanol extracts of hawthorn flowers, leaves and fruits are just as good source of polyphenols and antioxidants as commercial ones, and their utilization should be supported. Furthermore, hawthorn extracts made of leaves and flowers are better source of bioactive polyphenols and have higher antioxidant activity compared with the same of fruits, regardless of the method of preparation.
Rosehips are processed and consumed in numerous forms, such as juice, wine, herbal tea, yogurt, preserved fruit, and canned products. The seeds share in fruit is 30–35% and they have recently been ...recognized as an important source of oil rich in unsaturated fatty acids. However, after defatting, seed waste may still contain some polar polyphenolic compounds, which have been scarcely investigated. The aim of this study was to examine the potential of the defatted seed waste as a source of polyphenols. For the defatting process, supercritical carbon dioxide extraction at 300 bar and 40 °C was applied. The capacity of eight different natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) for the recovery of phenolics from defatted rosehip seed powder (dRSP) was examined. In the extracts obtained with ultrasound-assisted NADES extraction, twenty-one phenolic compounds were identified with LC-MS/MS, among which the most abundant were quinic acid (22.43 × 103 µg/g dRSP) and catechin (571.93 µg/g dRSP). Ternary NADES formulations based on lactic acid proved to be superior. Potential correlations between identified chemical compounds, solvent polarity and viscosity, as well as the compound distributions across studied solvent combinations in PCA hyperspace, were also investigated. PCA demonstrated that more polar NADES mixtures showed improved extraction potential. The established environmentally friendly process represents an approach of transforming rosehip seed waste into value-added products with the potential to be applied in the food industry and to contribute to sustainable production.
River and mountain regions in Eastern and South-Eastern Serbia are geographically interesting and, historically they represent an important resource of plants used as food, spices and as remedies for ...treating many diseases. Different cultures have lived in these regions for ages. They have used wild plants and the methods of their preparation and application, which has remained throughout the history and now is passed on from generation to generation. The aim of the study is a survey of herbal drug uses for the specific ailment categories and their comparison between the two research regions.
Semi-structured anonymous ethnobotanical interviews were conducted. The interviews took place in the River Timok region and Mountain Svrljig region as they make two of the most interesting centers of plant biodiversity. Volunteers in the Timok region were 64 median age and in the Svrljig region - 73 median age. People were interviewed about the local names of plants, the preparation process and about which disease the plants were used for.
161 Respondents from 10 Timok and 10 Svrljig municipality villages were interviewed and 2199 use-reports were recorded. The results of the ethnobotanical research showed 195 plant taxa from the Timok and Svrljig regions. In the Timok region, the recorded species were classified into 47 families and in the Svrljig region they were classified into 64 families. Out of 195 taxa used for medicinal purposes, only 52 species are also included in the European Pharmacopoeia 9.0. The most commonly used plants in Timok region were Hypericum spp., Matricaria chamomilla, Mentha x piperita, Urtica dioica, Juglans regia, while the residents of Svrljig region most frequently used Satureja montana, Sambucus nigra, Polygonum aviculare, Marrubium vulgare and Teucrium chamaedrys. Different statistical analyzes showed that Vlachs used more medical specimens per person than Serbs in the Timok region. The study demonstrated that female informants treated more body organs with medical species per person than male informants. There was a significant difference between the male and female respondents of the Svrljig region in terms of organ systems for which they used certain plant species.
The ethnopharmacological study showed a great importance of medicinal plants in the daily life of local communities. According to the analysis, it can be concluded that the village population of the Timok and Svrljig regions use medicinal plants to treat digestive tract problems rather than seeking professional medical attention in health facilities. The aerial part and rhizome of Elymus repens are used for digestive problems in both the Timok and Svrljig regions, and the use of this plant in for the treatment of digestive tract problems is not mentioned in the similar studies conducted in the Balkan region. Also, it can be observed that the population of the two different regions mainly use different herbal drugs to treat the same systems. The reason for that is the availability of certain plants that grow in the two different areas - river and mountain area.
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•Importance of medicinal plants.•Preparation form.•Insight into the most common diseases.
Wine represents a complex matrix of polyphenolic compounds. Polyphenols alter the sensory qualities of the wine, represent chemotaxonomic markers and are responsible for many of its health benefits. ...It is critical to accurately quantify these compounds, which are the subject of extensive current research. Quantification usually requires HPLC analysis, where the main step in sample preparation involves filtration. With the assumption that sample compounds remain on the syringe filter, this study investigated whether diluting the sample before filtration would enable a better recovery of polyphenols, yielding more accurate results. For this purpose, a red, rosé and white wine were diluted with 4 different solvents (water, methanol, ethanol and a 1:1 methanol-ethanol mixture) prior to filtration, and their polyphenolic composition was analyzed. Only 7 polyphenols present in low concentrations were not affected by dilution, while 38 compounds were all detected in higher concentrations when applying certain solvents, compared to undiluted wine. The methanol-ethanol mixture enabled the best flow of polyphenolics through the filter, while the water dilution showed that 30–40% of the sum of anthocyanins remained on the filter if a dilution step was not included in the sample preparation procedure. This study confirmed the need to incorporate a preliminary evaluation of the filtration step during sample preparation to improve the accuracy of subsequent HPLC analyses.
•30–40% of the sum of anthocyanins is lost on PTFE and RC filters during sample prep.•Concentration of most wine phenolics doubled when diluting samples prior to filtration.•Wine dilution with water enabled the best recovery of anthocyanins from the filter.•Methanol-ethanol mixture enabled the best recovery of polyphenolics through the filter.•Incorporation of a dilution step is necessary in sample prep for wine HPLC analysis..
The use of medicinal plant species and their products is widespread in the field of gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases. This study aimed to evaluate the traditional use of
L., clary sage, ...finding the possible mechanisms of its spasmolytic and bronchodilator actions in in vitro conditions supported by molecular docking analysis, along with the antimicrobial effects. Four dry extracts were prepared from the aerial parts of
, using absolute or 80% (
/
) methanol by the method of a single-stage maceration or an ultrasound-assisted extraction. Characterization of the bioactive compounds by high-performance liquid chromatography indicated the presence of significant amounts of polyphenolics, with rosmarinic acid as the prevalent one. The spontaneous ileal contractions were best inhibited by the extract prepared with 80% methanol and maceration. The same extract was superior in the carbachol- and KCl-induced tracheal smooth muscle contractions, being the strongest bronchodilator agent. The most powerful relaxation of KCl-induced ileal contractions was achieved with the extract made of absolute methanol by maceration, while the 80% methanolic extract made with the ultrasound method generated the best spasmolytic effects in the acetylcholine-induced ileal contractions. Docking analysis suggested that apigenin-7-
-glucoside and luteolin-7-
-glucoside exhibited the highest binding affinity to voltage-gated calcium channels. Gram (+) bacteria were more susceptible to the effects of the extracts, particularly
, in contrast to Gram (-) bacteria and
. This is the first study to point out the influence of
methanolic extracts on the gastrointestinal and respiratory spasm reduction, paving the way for their potential place in complementary medicine.
Previous studies suggest that engagement in any type of physical activity can be protective against mental health issues, whereas elite-level athletes can endure various mental health challenges. The ...aim of this study was to determine variations in the prevalence of psychological distress among elite sambo athletes and their recreational counterparts.
A sample consisting of 245 athletes (127 males and 118 females) was chosen. Out of the total sample, 105 were elite-level athletes while 140 were recreational athletes. Participants were accessed via the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 to determine their stress in various domains at a given time.
Data indicated that all tested differences between elite sambo athletes and recreational athletes were statistically significant; recreational athletes had a higher score on the depression scale, anxiety and stress, and a general distress score than sambo athletes. Although there are no gender differences in psychological distress in the total sample of athletes, elite sambo athletes achieve significantly lower scores in all tested variants than recreational ones. Women who engage in recreational activities have stood out as a vulnerable subsample in psychological stress.
Future epidemiological and interventional studies should explore optimal strategies to identify mental health needs based on specific sport activity, especially in terms of gender. There is a need to place special emphasis on psychological distress in the context of combat sports.
