Studies on the antioxidant activity of pomegranate (Punica granatum) peel and seed extracts using in vitro models.

Antioxidant-rich fractions were extracted from pomegranate (Punica granatum) peels and seeds using ethyl acetate, methanol, and water. The extracts were screened for their potential as antioxidants using various in vitro models, such as beta-carotene-linoleate and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) model systems. The methanol extract of peels showed 83 and 81% antioxidant activity at 50 ppm using the beta-carotene-linoleate and DPPH model systems, respectively. Similarly, the methanol extract of seeds showed 22.6 and 23.2% antioxidant activity at 100 ppm using the beta-carotene-linoleate and DPPH model systems, respectively. As the methanol extract of pomegranate peel showed the highest antioxidant activity among all of the extracts, it was selected for testing of its effect on lipid peroxidation, hydroxyl radical scavenging activity, and human low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation. The methanol extract showed 56, 58, and 93.7% inhibition using the thiobarbituric acid method, hydroxyl radical scavenging activity, and LDL oxidation, respectively, at 100 ppm. This is the first report on the antioxidant properties of the extracts from pomegranate peel and seeds. Owing to this property, the studies can be further extended to exploit them for their possible application for the preservation of food products as well as their use as health supplements and neutraceuticals.     

Antioxidant activities of grape (Vitis vinifera) pomace extracts

Antioxidant-rich fractions were extracted from grape (Vitis vinifera) pomace using ethyl acetate, methanol, and water. The extracts were screened for their potential as antioxidants in different models. The ethyl acetate, methanol, and water extracts showed 76, 87.1, and 21.7% antioxidant activities at 100 ppm, respectively, using the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl model system. As the methanol extract of grape pomace showed maximum antioxidant activity among all of the extracts, it was selected to determine its effect on lipid peroxidation, hydroxyl radical scavenging activity, and human low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation. The methanol extract showed 71.7, 73.6, and 91.2% inhibition using the thiobarbituric acid method, hydroxyl radical scavenging activity, and LDL oxidation, respectively, at 200 ppm. Treatment of albino rats of the Wistar strain with a single dose of CCl(4) at 1.25 mL/kg of body weight decreases the activities of catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and peroxidase by 81, 49, and 89%, respectively, whereas the lipid peroxidation value increased nearly 3-fold. Pretreatment of the rats with the methanolic extract of grape pomace at 50 mg/kg (in terms of catechin equivalents) followed by CCl(4) treatment causes restoration of catalase, SOD, and peroxidase by 43.6, 73.2, and 54%, respectively, as compared with control, whereas lipid peroxidation was restored to values comparable with the control. Histopathological studies of the liver of different groups also support the protective effects exhibited by the methanol extract of grape pomace by restoring the normal hepatic architecture. Owing to this property, the studies on grape pomace can be further extended to exploit its possible application for the preservation of food products as well as a health supplement and neutraceutical.     

Chemical composition, iron bioavailability, and antioxidant activity of Kappaphycus alvarezzi (Doty)

Kappaphycus alvarezzi, an edible seaweed from the west coast of India, was analyzed for its chemical composition. It was found that K. alvarezzi is rich in protein (16.24% w/w) and contains a high amount of fiber (29.40% w/w) and carbohydrates (27.4% w/w). K. alvarezzi showed vitamin A activity of 865 mug retinal equivalents/100 g of sample. It contained a higher quantity of unsaturated fatty acids (44.50% of the total), in which relative percentage of oleic acid was 11%, cis-heptadecanoic acid 13.50%, and linoleic acid 2.3% and 37.0% of saturated fatty acids (mainly heptadecanoic acid). K. alvarezziwas also found to be good source of minerals, viz 0.16% of calcium, 0.033% of iron, and 0.016% of zinc, which are essential for various vital biological activities. Bioavailability of iron by in vitro methods showed a higher efficiency in intestinal conditions than in stomach conditions. Ascorbic acid influenced higher bioavailability of iron. Successive extracts of n-hexane, acetone, ethyl acetate, ethanol, and direct extractables of chloroform/methanol (1:1 and 2:1) were screened for antioxidant activity using a beta-carotene linoleic acid model system (B-CLAMS), DPPH (alpha,alpha-diphenyl-beta-picrylhydrazyl) model system and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity. The chloroform/methanol (2:1) extract has shown 82.5% scavenging activity at 1000 ppm. Acetone fraction extracts at the 1000 ppm level showed 63.31% antioxidant activity in beta-carotene linoleic acid system. The acetone extract showed 46.04% scavenging activity at 1000 ppm concentration. In the case of hydroxyl radical scavenging activity, all the extracts showed better activity at the concentrations of 25 and 50 ppm, where at the 50 ppm level ethyl acetate extract showed 76.0%, acetone 75.12%, and hexane 71.15% activity, respectively. Results of this study suggest the utility of K. alvarezzi (Eucheuma) for various nutritional products, including antioxidant for use as health food or nutraceutical supplement.     

Effect of methyl jasmonate on phenolics, isothiocyanate, and metabolic enzymes in radish sprout (Raphanus sativus L.)

The effect of spraying exogenous plant hormone methyl jasmonate (MeJA) upon radish sprout (Raphanus sativus L.) was investigated in aspects of total phenolic content (TPC), isothiocyanate content, antioxidant activity of the radish extract, and enzymatic activities of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) and myrosinase. The MeJA treatment significantly increased the TPC that resulted in the increased DPPH* (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) free radical scavenging capacity. In addition, the PAL activity also increased by 60% at 24 h after MeJA treatment. However, the same treatment decreased the amount of 4-methylthio-3-butenylisothiocyanate (MTBITC), a major isothiocyanate in radish sprout and the activity of myrosinase, an enzyme related to produce isothiocyanates.     

Reactive oxygen scavenging effect of enzymatic extracts from Sargassum thunbergii

The free radical scavenging activity of water soluble natural antioxidants from Sargassum thunbergii, which is a brown marine alga, was evaluated by examining the radical scavenging activities of the extracts of hydrolyzates from S. thunbergii on hydroxyl, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and alkyl radicals. A spin-trapping electron spin resonance (ESR) spectrometer was employed, and the results were compared for their ESR signal intensity. S. thunbergii was enzymatically hydrolyzed to prepare water soluble extracts by five carbohydrases (AMG, Celluclast, Termamyl, Ultraflo, and Viscozyme) and proteases (Alcalase, Flavorzyme, Kojizyme, Neutrase, and Protamex). The scavenging activity of the radicals increased with increased concentrations of the extracts. The scavenging results were higher for hydroxyl and alkyl radicals and lower for DPPH radical as compared with vitamin C as a reference. The hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity of the extracts was also investigated; the Alcalase extract showed the highest scavenging activity among the extracts prepared with the five proteases and five carbohydrates. In addition, the DNA damage was determined by using the comet assay with alkaline electrophoresis and was quantified by measuring the tail length. The preventive effect of Alcalase extract from S. thunbergii against DNA damage increased with increments of concentration of the enzymatic extracts.     

Effects of extraction solvent mixtures on antioxidant activity evaluation and their extraction capacity and selectivity for free phenolic compounds in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

Four kinds of solvent extracts from three Chinese barley varieties (Ken-3, KA4B, and Gan-3) were used to examine the effects of extraction solvent mixtures on antioxidant activity evaluation and their extraction capacity and selectivity for free phenolic compounds in barley through free radical scavenging activity, reducing power and metal chelating activity, and individual and total phenolic contents. Results showed that extraction solvent mixtures had significant impacts on antioxidant activity estimation, as well as different extraction capacity and selectivity for free phenolic compounds in barley. The highest DPPH* and ABTS*+ scavenging activities and reducing power were found in 80% acetone extracts, whereas the strongest *OH scavenging activity, O2*- scavenging activity, and metal chelating activity were found in 80% ethanol, 80% methanol, and water extracts, respectively. Additionally, 80% acetone showed the highest extraction capacity for (+)-catechin and ferulic, caffeic, vanillic, and p-coumaric acids, 80% methanol for (-)-epicatechin and syringic acid, and water for protocatechuic and gallic acids. Furthermore, correlations analysis revealed that TPC, reducing power, DPPH* and ABTS*+ scavenging activities were well positively correlated with each other (p < 0.01). Thus, for routine screening of barley varieties with higher antioxidant activity, 80% acetone was recommended to extract free phenolic compounds from barley. DPPH* scavenging activity and ABTS*+ scavenging activity or reducing power could be used to assess barley antioxidant activity.     

Capabilities of Oat Extracts in Inhibiting Cholesterol and Long Chain Fatty Acid Oxidation During Heating

The antioxidant activities of oat groat extracts using different solvents were investigated. For acetone, hexane, and methanol extracts, the total phenolic compound contents were 12.83, 8.56, and 26.17 μg of catechin equivalent/g, respectively. Their corresponding free radical scavenging activities measured using the DPPH (2,2'‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl) method were 0.68, 0.35, and 0.79 μmol of Trolox equivalent/g, respectively. All oat extracts presented significantly greater capability in preventing cholesterol oxidation than the control (no extract added) during heating at the three levels of addition (1, 5, and 10 mg). The capability of the hexane or acetone extract in preventing cholesterol oxidation was not as effective as the methanol extract. In the docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6) oxidation test, all oat extracts at the level of 5 and 10 mg had greater inhibition capability on DHA oxidation than the control (DHA only). No significant inhibition was found for the hexane and acetone extract at the level of 1 mg, except for the methanol extract. The capabilities of oat extracts to inhibit oxidation of cholesterol and DHA from high to low was methanol, acetone, and hexane extract, which agreed with their free radical scavenging activities and total phenolic compound contents.     

Evaluation of antioxidant activity and inhibitory effect on nitric oxide production of some common vegetables

The objectives of this study were to study the antioxidant activities and nitric oxide (NO) scavenging effects of vegetables in vitro systems and to study the inhibitory effects of vegetables on the NO production and NO-induced DNA damage in RAW 264.7 macrophage. The results indicated that water extracts from Indian lotus, Jew's ear, shiitake, eggplant, and winter mushroom showed stronger antioxidant activity and free-radical-scavenging ability than that of other vegetable extracts. The scavenging effects of vegetable extracts on NO derived from sodium nitroprusside (SNP) were in decreasing order of water spinach > Indian lotus > eggplant and garland chrysanthemum. In the macrophage model system, the water extracts from fresh daylily flower, sponge gourd, pea sprout, and eggplant exhibited over 80% inhibition on NO generation stimulated by lipopolysaccharide. The extract from fresh daylily flower that expressed the strongest inhibition on NO production was attributed to the ability to reduce the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) induction. However, the extracts from pea sprout and eggplant suppressed the NO production by scavenging on NO and inactivating toward iNOS enzyme. In addition, the water extracts from fresh daylily flower, sponge gourd, pea sprout, and eggplant also showed over 40% inhibitory effect on DNA damage induced by SNP in RAW 264.7 macrophage. The data also indicated that eggplant and pea sprout extracts contained higher total phenolic compounds, anthocyanins, and ascorbic acids and appeared to be responsible for their antioxidant activities and scavenging effects on NO derived from SNP.     

Screening of free radical scavenging compounds in water extracts of Mentha samples using a postcolumn derivatization method

An on-line high-performance liquid chromatography-1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (HPLC-DPPH*) method has been improved for the detection of polar and nonpolar radical scavenging compounds in complex plant extracts. Nine water extracts were prepared from different Mentha species, varieties, hybrids, and cultivars. After the components within each extract had been separated by reverse phase chromatography using 10-100% methanol with 2% acetic acid as a mobile phase, analytes within the eluent capable of scavenging a citric acid-sodium citrate-buffered methanol 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl solution were detected by postcolumn derivatization at 517 nm. The HPLC-DPPH* on-line method was applied to the qualitative and quantitative analysis of Mentha extracts. There was a strong correlation between the scavenging (negative) peak area and the concentration of the radical scavenging reference substances used. The minimum detectable concentration (microg/mL) of the antioxidant compounds was determined. Caffeic acid, eriocitrin (eriodictyol-7-O-rutinoside), luteolin-7-O-glucoside, and rosmarinic acid were identified as the dominant radical scavengers in these extracts by this method.     

竹黄无性型菌株液体发酵菌丝提取物的生物活性研究

测定竹黄无性型菌株ZHLS-03发酵菌丝体中竹红菌甲素的含量,并对其菌丝提取物的清除自由基活性和抑菌活性进行了研究。按50μg/ml的浓度测定了菌丝体石油醚、乙酸乙酯和甲醇等3种提取物对水稻纹枯病菌、稻瘟病菌、棉花枯萎病菌3种植物病原菌以及白色假丝酵母、金黄色葡萄球菌2种病原细菌的抑制能力;同时测定菌丝体的石油醚、乙酸乙酯和饱和正丁醇等3种提取物对DPPH自由基的清除率。结果表明：菌株ZHLS-03液体培养至6d,菌丝体中竹红菌甲素含量最高,可达到28029mg/g;菌丝体甲醇和正丁醇提取物分别具有较强的抑菌活性和清除自由基活性,甲醇相对棉花枯萎病菌的抑制率为7478%,抗白色假丝酵母的抑菌圈直径达到2069mm,且反应15min后正丁醇提取物对DPPH自由基的清除率可达9324%。     

广东石豆兰不同溶剂提取物抗氧化及与总黄酮、总酚含量的关系

为明确广东石豆兰的抗氧化能力及抗氧化成分,以鳞茎为材料,以甲醇、乙醇、丙酮和乙酸乙酯为提取剂得到4种提取物,测定了4种提取物中总黄酮、总酚含量及其抗氧化活性,并分析了两者之间的关系。结果表明,石豆兰总酚含量高于总黄酮,乙醇为总酚和总黄酮2种物质的最佳提取溶剂;甲醇提取物对羟基自由基清除力和对Fe²⁺的螯合力最强,对DPPH自由基清除效果最差;丙酮提取物具有最强的总还原力和清除超氧阴离子的能力,而清除羟基自由基能力最弱;乙酸乙酯提取物清除DPPH自由基的能力最强,但总还原力、清除超氧阴离子的能力、Fe²⁺的螯合力最弱。此外,除了DPPH自由基外,其他4个抗氧化指标与总黄酮或总酚含量呈正相关(0.185<r<0.969),总还原力与总黄酮含量呈显著相关。本研究结果为广东石豆兰抗氧化物质的提取及进一步开发利用提供了参考依据。     

Polymeric procyanidins as radical-scavenging components in red-hulled rice

The extracts from white-, black-, and red-hulled rice were prepared by sequential extraction with six different polar solvents, and their radical-scavenging activities were measured by methods using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH*) and tert-butyl hydroperoxyl radical (t-BuOO*). The extracts prepared with highly polar solvents, methanol and deionized water, exhibited higher DPPH* and t-BuOO* scavenging activities in all three cultivars. In addition, the acetone extract from red-hulled rice exhibited a high DPPH* and t-BuOO* scavenging activity, while no such activity was detected for the acetone extracts from white- and black-hulled rice. The major components responsible for the radical scavenging in the acetone extract from red-hulled rice were identified as procyanidins by acidic hydrolysis, vanillin assay, and Sephadex LH-20 chromatography. GPC analysis of the acetylated procyanidins revealed that the average molecular weight is about 5000, in a range of about 500-18,000.     

Antioxidant activity of knotwood extractives and phenolic compounds of selected tree species

The antioxidant potency and the radical scavenging capacity of superoxide and peroxyl radicals were assessed for 13 hydrophilic knotwood extracts of commercially important wood species, or fractions thereof, as well as for five pure wood-derived lignans and the flavonoid taxifolin. The chemical composition of the knotwood extracts was determined by gas chromatography combined with mass spectrometry. Most of the investigated wood species were rich in hydrophilic extractives (10-20% of the dry wood) with one or a few compounds dominating in each extract. All extracts had a high antioxidative potency and/or radical scavenging capacity as compared to the well-known antioxidants Trolox and butylated hydroxyanisole. The pure wood-derived lignans and taxifolin also had a high antioxidative potency and/or radical scavenging capacity. However, the antioxidant potency and/or radical scavenging capacity of several of the hydrophilic knotwood extracts were higher than that of the dominating compounds in pure form.     

High-amylose corn exhibits better antioxidant activity than typical and waxy genotypes

The consumption of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains rich in antioxidative phytochemicals is associated with a reduced risk of chronic diseases such as cancer, coronary heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, cataract, and aged-related functional decline. For example, phenolic acids are among the main antioxidative phytochemicals in grains that have been shown to be beneficial to human health. Corn (Zea mays L.) is a major staple food in several parts of the world; thus, the antioxidant activity of several corn types was evaluated. The 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picryhydrazyl free radical (DPPH*) scavenging activity, total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant capacity of lipid-soluble substances (ACL), oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), and phenolic acid compositions of typical and mutant genotypes (typical-1, waxy, typical-2, and high-amylose) were investigated. The DPPH* scavenging activity at 60 min was 34.39-44.51% in methanol extracts and 60.41-67.26% in HCl/methanol (1/99, v/v) extracts of corn. The DPPH* scavenging activity of alkaline hydrolysates of corn ranged from 48.63 to 64.85%. The TPC ranged from 0.67 to 1.02 g and from 0.91 to 2.15 g of ferulic acid equiv/kg of corn in methanol and HCl/methanol extracts, respectively. The TPC of alkaline hydrolysates ranged from 2.74 to 6.27 g of ferulic acid equiv/kg of corn. The ACL values were 0.41-0.80 and 0.84-1.59 g of Trolox equiv/kg of corn in methanol and HCl/methanol extracts, respectively. The ORAC values were 10.57-12.47 and 18.76-24.92 g of Trolox equiv/kg of corn in methanol and HCl/methanol extracts, respectively. ORAC values of alkaline hydrolysates ranged from 42.85 to 68.31 g of Trolox equiv/kg of corn. The composition of phenolic acids in alkaline hydrolysates of corn was p-hydroxybenzoic acid (5.08-10.6 mg/kg), vanillic acid (3.25-14.71 mg/kg), caffeic acid (2.32-25.73 mg/kg), syringic acid (12.37-24.48 mg/kg), p-coumaric acid (97.87-211.03 mg/kg), ferulic acid (1552.48-2969.10 mg/kg), and o-coumaric acid (126.53-575.87 mg/kg). Levels of DPPH* scavenging activity, TPC, ACL, and ORAC in HCl/methanol extracts were obviously higher than those present in methanol extracts. There was no significant loss of antioxidant capacity when corn was dried at relatively high temperatures (65 and 93 degrees C) postharvest as compared to drying at ambient temperatures (27 degrees C). Alkaline hydrolysates showed very high TPC, ACL, and ORAC values when compared to methanol and HCl/methanol extracts. High-amylose corn had a better antioxidant capacity than did typical (nonmutant) corn genotypes.     

Inhibitory activities of soluble and bound millet seed phenolics on free radicals and reactive oxygen species

Oxidative stress, caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS), is responsible for modulating several pathological conditions and aging. Soluble and bound phenolic extracts of commonly consumed millets, namely, kodo, finger (Ravi), finger (local), foxtail, proso, little, and pearl, were investigated for their phenolic content and inhibition of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical and ROS, namely, hydroxyl radical, peroxyl radical, hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)), hypochlorous acid (HOCl), and singlet oxygen ((1)O(2)). Inhibition of DPPH and hydroxyl radicals was detrmined using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. The peroxyl radical inhibitory activity was measured using the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assay. The scavenging of H(2)O(2), HOCl, and (1)O(2) was evaluated using colorimetric methods. The results were expressed as micromoles of ferulic acid equivalents (FAE) per gram of grain on a dry weight basis. In addition, major hydroxycinnamic acids were identified and quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and HPLC-mass spectrometry (MS). All millet varieties displayed effective radical and ROS inhibition activities, which generally positively correlated with phenolic contents, except for hydroxyl radical. HPLC analysis revealed the presence of ferulic and p-coumaric acids as major hydroxycinnamic acids in phenolic extract and responsible for the observed effects. Bound extracts of millet contributed 38-99% to ROS scavenging, depending on the variety and the test system employed. Hence, bound phenolics must be included in the evaluation of the antioxidant activity of millets and other cereals.     

Comparison between the radical scavenging activity and antioxidant activity of six distilled and nondistilled mediterranean herbs and aromatic plants

Thirty-six different extracts of six herbs and aromatic plants (fennel, common melilot, milfoil, lavandin cv. Super, spike lavender, and tarragon) were evaluated for their radical scavenging activity by the DPPH*, NBT/hypoxanthine superoxide, and *OH/luminol chemiluminescence methods, and for their antioxidant activity by the beta-carotene blenching test. The total phenolic content was also determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu method. The plant material included cultivated plants and their wastes after being distilled for essential oils. Both remarkably high phenolic content and radical scavenging activities were found for the ethyl acetate and dichloromethane fractions among the different plant extracts. In general, the distilled plant material was found to exhibit a higher phenolic content as well as antioxidant and radical scavenging activities than the nondistilled material. Ethyl acetate and dichloromethane extracts, and even some crude extract, of both distilled and nondistilled plants exhibited activities comparable to those of commercial extracts/compounds, thus making it possible to consider some of them as a potential source of antioxidants of natural origin.     

Free radical scavenging activity of grape seed extract and antioxidants by electron spin resonance spectrometry in an H(2)O(2)/NaOH/DMSO system.

The scavenging effects of grape seed extract (GSE) on free radicals formed in an H(2)O(2)/NaOH/DMSO system were examined using a spin-trapping electron spin resonance (ESR) method and compared with other natural antioxidants, ascorbic acid, dl-alpha-tocopherol, and beta-carotene. GSE reduced greatly the ESR signal intensity of superoxide radical-5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO) adducts. GSE also exhibited weak scavenging activity on hydroxyl radical and a little scavenging activity on methyl radical. Ascorbic acid exhibited strong superoxide and hydroxyl radical scavenging activities, but it increased the amount of methyl radical at high concentration. dl-alpha-Tocopherol reduced the amount of superoxide anion, especially the amount of methyl radical. However, it slightly reduced the amount of hydroxyl radical. beta-Carotene reduced the amount of hydroxyl radical and methyl radical, but it also slightly reduced superoxide anion. In the case of combination use of beta-carotene and dl-alpha-tocopherol, all radical species were suppressed. Combination of GSE and dl-alpha-tocopherol also could reduce all radical species. beta-Carotene and dl-alpha-tocopherol could reduce the methyl radical formation induced by ascorbic acid.     

Antioxidant constituents in distillation residue of Awamori spirits

Constituents in a distillation residue of Awamori (millet spirits) and their antioxidant activity are investigated in this study. The supernatant of the distillation residue obtained by centrifugation was partitioned with n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol against water to afford the corresponding solubles. Among them, n-hexane and chloroform solubles showed higher antioxidant potency than l-ascorbic acid by the bleomycin-Fe method. In chloroform solubles, seven cyclic dipeptides were identified along with ethyl 2-pyrrolidione-5-carboxylate, tyrosol, and ethyl p-hydoroxyphenyllactate. Antioxidant activity of ethyl p-hydoroxyphenyllactate was 4.2 times that of l-ascorbic acid, whereas cyclic dipeptides showed activity 0.89-1.29 times as strong as that of l-ascorbic acid. On the other hand, scavenging effect of cyclic dipeptides against O(2)(-.) and OH(.) by using electron spin resonance was also investigated. In the results, cyclo(l-Ile-l-Pro) showed significantly strong inhibitory effect against OH(.) (95.4% at 2.5 x 10-3 M) and cyclo(l-Phe-l-Pro), cyclo(l-Pro-l-Val), and cyclo(l-Leu-l-Pro) inhibited OH(.) 64.9, 54.1, and 51.0%, respectively, whereas alpha-tocopherol showed 37.7% inhibition, though only a few cyclic dipeptides weakly inhibited O(2)(-.).     

In vitro antioxidant properties and phenolic composition of Salvia virgata Jacq. from Turkey

Antioxidant activities and phenolic compositions of the active fractions of Salvia virgata Jacq. (Lamiaceae) from Turkey were examined. The aerial part of S. virgata was extracted with different solvents in an order of increasing polarity such as hexane, ethyl acetate, methanol, and 50% aqueous methanol using a Soxhlet apparatus. Water extract was also prepared from S. virgata by reflux. All solvent fractions were investigated for their total phenolic contents, total flavonoids, flavonols, qualitative-quantitative compositions (by HPLC-PDA analysis), iron(III) reductive activities, free radical scavenging activities (using DPPH*), and effect upon linoleic acid peroxidation activities; also, the peroxidation level was determined by the TBA method. The results of activity tests given as IC50 values were estimated from nonlinear algorithm and compared with standards, viz., butylated hydroxytoluene, ascorbic acid, and gallic acid. Polar fractions were found to be more active for free radical activity whereas nonpolar fractions protected the peroxidation of linoleic acid. Rosmarinic acid was the most abundant component in the extracts, followed by caffeic acid and lutelin-7- O-glycoside.     

Antioxidant properties of various solvent extracts of total phenolic constituents from three different agroclimatic origins of drumstick tree (Moringa oleifera Lam.) leaves

Water, aqueous methanol, and aqueous ethanol extracts of freeze-dried leaves of Moringa oleifera Lam. from different agroclimatic regions were examined for radical scavenging capacities and antioxidant activities. All leaf extracts were capable of scavenging peroxyl and superoxyl radicals. Similar scavenging activities for different solvent extracts of each collection were found for the stable 1,1-diphenyl 2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH(*)) radical. Among the three different moringa samples, both methanol and ethanol extracts of Indian origins showed the highest antioxidant activities, 65.1 and 66.8%, respectively, in the beta-carotene-linoleic acid system. Nonetheless, increasing concentration of all the extracts had significantly (P < 0.05) increased reducing power, which may in part be responsible for their antioxidant activity. The major bioactive compounds of phenolics were found to be flavonoid groups such as quercetin and kaempferol. On the basis of the results obtained, moringa leaves are found to be a potential source of natural antioxidants due to their marked antioxidant activity. This is the first report on the antioxidant properties of the extracts from freeze-dried moringa leaves. Overall, both methanol (80%) and ethanol (70%) were found to be the best solvents for the extraction of antioxidant compounds from moringa leaves.