菜籽蛋白加工废液中多酚和多糖同步提取工艺优化

为开发利用菜籽蛋白加工废液中的生理活性物质,该研究在单因素试验基础上,采用Box-Behnken响应面试验设计法,对菜籽蛋白加工废液中多酚和多糖提取工艺条件进行优化,同时探究两种物质的体外抗氧化活性。结果表明,影响菜籽蛋白加工废液中多酚和多糖得率的因素大小顺序为:乙醇体积分数浸提温度浸提时间,最佳提取工艺为:浸提温度60℃、乙醇体积分数65%、浸提时间31 min,在此条件下多酚得率为2.19%,多糖得率为8.14%;多酚提取物对DPPH·具有较强清除能力,其半抑制质量浓度为0.20 mg/mL,多糖提取物对DPPH·和·OH均具有较强的清除能力,其半抑制质量浓度分别为1.45、2.38 mg/mL;高效液相色谱法初步检测表明,菜籽蛋白加工废液中含有香豆酸、丁香酸、对香豆酸、芥子酸和苯甲酸。研究结果为菜籽蛋白加工废液的再利用提供参考。     

Anthocyanin composition and antioxidant activity of the Crowberry (Empetrum nigrum) and other berries

The anthocyanin composition and antioxidant activity of the crowberry ( Empetrum nigrum) were studied. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) combined with a diode array detector and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry were used for identification and quantification of individual anthocyanins. Freeze-dried crowberry powder was extracted with 80% methanol containing 0.5% acetic acid and subjected to HPLC. Thirteen kinds of anthocyanins were identified. The major anthocyanins were cyanidin-3-galactoside and delphinidin-3-galactoside, at 8.04 and 8.62 mg/g extract, respectively. The HPLC profile of crowberry extract was similar to bilberry and blueberry. The total content of anthocyanins in crowberry was 41.8 mg/g extract, higher than the other nine major berry species (2.5-38.8 mg/g extract). The antioxidant activity was also evaluated using the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethybenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical quenching assays and the ferric reducing activity power assy. Crowberry extract exerted the strongest antioxidant activity. In conclusion, individual anthocyanins in crowberry were identified and then quantified in this study. Additionally, crowberry is suggested to be associated with a reduction in the risk of developing chronic diseases because of its strong antioxidant activity.     

Chemical composition and antioxidant activity of yerba-mate (Ilex paraguariensis A.St.-Hil., Aquifoliaceae) extract as obtained by spray drying

Yerba-mate or mate? (Ilex paraguariensis A.St.-Hil., Aquifoliaceae) leaves are typically used for their stimulant, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and diuretic activity, presenting as principal components polyphenolic compounds. In this study, the objective was to develop a yerba-mate dry extract by using spray drying technology and to evaluate the dry extract antioxidant activity and chemical composition. The results obtained by means of the DPPH assay show that the extract presents an IC(50) of 2.52 mg/mL. The yerba-mate spray-dried extract presents high catalase-like activity, suggesting that it is a strong free-radical scavenger. The antioxidant activity as expressed as catalase-like activity was related to total polyphenol content. In addition, the results show that the spray-dried extract presents high polyphenol content, namely, high concentrations of caffeic acid (1.54 mg/g), 5-caffeoylquinic acid (91.40 mg/g), rutin (5.38 mg/g), and total phenolics (178.32 mg/g), which justifies its high antioxidant activity.     

Maple syrup phytochemicals include lignans, coumarins, a stilbene, and other previously unreported antioxidant phenolic compounds

Twenty-three phenolic compounds were isolated from a butanol extract of Canadian maple syrup (MS-BuOH) using chromatographic methods. The compounds were identified from their nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectral data as 7 lignans [lyoniresinol (1), secoisolariciresinol (2), dehydroconiferyl alcohol (3), 5'-methoxy-dehydroconiferyl alcohol (4), erythro-guaiacylglycerol-β-O-4'-coniferyl alcohol (5), erythro-guaiacylglycerol-β-O-4'-dihydroconiferyl alcohol (6), and [3-[4-[(6-deoxy-α-l-mannopyranosyl)oxy]-3-methoxyphenyl]methyl]-5-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)dihydro-3-hydroxy-4-(hydroxymethyl)-2(3H)-furanone (7)], 2 coumarins [scopoletin (8) and fraxetin (9)], a stilbene [(E)-3,3'-dimethoxy-4,4'-dihydroxystilbene (10)], and 13 phenolic derivatives [2-hydroxy-3',4'-dihydroxyacetophenone (11), 1-(2,3,4-trihydroxy-5-methylphenyl)ethanone (12), 2,4,5-trihydroxyacetophenone (13), catechaldehyde (14), vanillin (15), syringaldehyde (16), gallic acid (17), trimethyl gallic acid methyl ester (18), syringic acid (19), syringenin (20), (E)-coniferol (21), C-veratroylglycol (22), and catechol (23)]. The antioxidant activities of MS-BuOH (IC50>1000 μg/mL), pure compounds, vitamin C (IC50=58 μM), and a synthetic commercial antioxidant, butylated hydroxytoluene (IC50=2651 μM), were evaluated in the diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay. Among the isolates, the phenolic derivatives and coumarins showed superior antioxidant activity (IC50<100 μM) compared to the lignans and stilbene (IC50>100 μM). Also, this is the first report of 16 of these 23 phenolics, that is, compounds 1, 2, 4-14, 18, 20, and 22, in maple syrup.     

Carotenoid, tocopherol, phenolic acid, and antioxidant properties of Maryland-grown soft wheat

Consumers' desires to either reduce the risk of or manage a specific health condition through improved diet have stimulated the research of agricultural products for their potential health beneficial components such as tocopherols and natural antioxidants. Soft wheat is one of the major crops in Maryland, with little information available about its potentially beneficial components. This study examined eight selected Maryland-grown soft wheat varieties or experimental lines for their potential beneficial components including tocopherols, carotenoids, total phenolics and phenolic acids and their antioxidant properties, including Fe(2+) chelating capacity and free radical scavenging activities against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH(*) ), radical cation ABTS(*)(+), and oxygen radical (ORAC). The results showed that all tested soft wheat grain samples contained alpha-tocopherol, with a range of 3.4-10.1 microg/g. Lutein was the primary carotenoid present in the grain samples at a level of 0.82-1.14 microg/g, along with significant amounts of zeaxanthin and beta-carotene. Vanillic, syringic, p-coumaric, and ferulic acids were found in soluble free, soluble conjugated, and insoluble bound forms in the grain extracts, with ferulic acid as the predominant phenolic acid. The eight soft wheat varieties differed in their antioxidant properties. The tested wheat grain samples exhibited ED(50) values against DPPH(*) of 23-27 mg of grain equiv/mL, ORAC of 32.9-48 micromol of Trolox equiv (TE)/g, and ABTS(*)(+) scavenging capacity of 14.3-17.6 micromol of TE/g. These data suggest the possibility of producing soft wheat varieties rich in selected health beneficial factors for optimum human nutrition though breeding programs.     

Chemical composition and antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of the essential oil and methanol extract of Hippomarathrum microcarpum (Bieb.) from Turkey

Hippomarathrum microcarpum grows wild in eastern Anatolia, Turkey, and is a plant utilized as food by people. In this study, the in vitro antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of the essential oil and methanol extract from H. microcarpum and its essential oil composition were investigated. The essential oil, which has bornyl acetate, caryophyllene oxide, and beta-caryophyllene as its main components, exhibited activity against eight bacteria, nine fungi, and a yeast, Candida albicans, with minimum inhibitory concentration values ranging from 62.50 to 125 muL/mL; the methanol extract showed weak activity. The antioxidant activity of these extracts was assessed by the beta-carotene bleaching test and the 1,1'-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging test. The inhibition of linoleic acid oxidation was very weak for both extracts tested. The inhibition percentages were found to be 22.9 and 33.5% for methanol and essential oil, respectively, at the concentration of 2 g/L. The oil scavenged DPPH at higher concentrations (IC50 = 10.69 +/- 0.05 mg/mL), but the methanol extract exhibited no activity. The total phenolic content of the methanol extract was found to be 4.7 +/- 0.1%.     

Free radical scavenging properties of wheat extracts

Three hard winter wheat varieties (Akron, Trego, and Platte) were examined and compared for their free radical scavenging properties and total phenolic contents (TPC). Free radical scavenging properties of wheat grain extracts were evaluated by spectrophotometric and electron spin resonance (ESR) spectrometry methods against stable 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryhydrazyl radical (DPPH*) and radical cation ABTS*+ (2,2'-azino-di[3-ethylbenzthiazoline sulfonate]). The results showed that the three wheat extracts differed in their capacities to quench or inhibit DPPH* and ABTS*+. Akron showed the greatest activity to quench DPPH radicals, while Platte had the highest capacity against ABTS*+. The ED50 values of wheat extracts against DPPH radicals were 0.60 mg/mL for Akron, 7.1 mg/mL for Trego, and 0.95 mg/mL for Platte under the experimental conditions. The trolox equivalents against ABTS*+ were 1.31 +/- 0.44, 1.08 +/- 0.05, and 1.91 +/- 0.06 micromol/g of grain for Akron, Trego, and Platte wheat, respectively. ESR results confirmed that wheat extracts directly reacted with and quenched free radicals. The TPC were 487.9 +/- 927.8 microg gallic acid equivalents/g of grain. No correlation was observed between TPC and radical scavenging capacities for DPPH* and ABTS*+ (p = 0.15 and p > 0.5, respectively).     

Phytochemicals and antioxidant properties in wheat bran

Bran samples of seven wheat varieties from four different countries were examined and compared for their phytochemical compositions and antioxidant activities. Phenolic acid composition, tocopherol content, carotenoid profile, and total phenolic content were examined for the phytochemical composition of wheat bran, whereas the measured antioxidant activities were free radical scavenging properties against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical, radical cation 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt, peroxide radical anion O(2)(.-), and oxygen radical and chelating capacities. The results showed that the tested wheat bran samples differed in their phytochemical compositions and antioxidant properties. Ferulic acid, with a concentration range of 99-231 microg/g, was the predominant phenolic acid in all of the tested bran samples and accounted for about 46-67% of total phenolic acids on a weight basis. The concentrations for alpha-, delta-, and gamma- tocopherols were 1.28-21.29, 0.23-7.0, and 0.92-6.90 microg/g, respectively. In addition, lutein and cryptoxanthin were detected in all of the tested bran samples with levels of 0.50-1.80 and 0.18-0.64 microg/g, respectively. Zeaxanthin was detected in the six bran samples, and the greatest zeaxanthin concentration of 2.19 microg/g was observed in the Australian general purpose wheat bran. Beta-carotene was detected in four of the tested bran samples at a range of 0.09-0.40 microg/g. These data suggest that wheat and wheat bran from different countries may differ in their potentials for serving as dietary sources of natural antioxidants.     

Antioxidant activity of indigenous edible mushrooms

The current study was undertaken to measure the antioxidant potential from water and methanolic extracts of fruiting bodies of 23 species of mushrooms naturally grown in different geographic locations of India. The antioxidant ability of each species was analyzed for the total antioxidative status, employing multimechanistic antioxidative assays such as inhibition of lipid peroxidation, determination of reducing power, and free radical scavenging ability, in addition to determination of total phenolics and identification of phenolic acids by HPLC analysis, because the phenolics are known to contribute largely to antioxidant potential. The antioxidant potential of these varieties of mushrooms was determined by summing the antioxidative activity (AOA) of each variety by varied antioxidant assays followed by determining the relative percent of AOA defined as the "antioxidant index" (AI). On the basis of the AI, the mushroom species were graded as very high, high, moderate, and low. Termitomyces heimii was identified as the best variety, which showed 100% AI with 37 mg of phenolics/g of sample, 418 units of reducing power ability (RPA)/g, and an IC50 of approximately 1.1 mg (dry weight)/mL, free radical scavenging activity (FRS) in the water extract followed by 11.2 mg of phenolics/g, 275 units of RPA/g, and an IC50 of approximately 2.7 mg (dry weight)/mL of FRS in the methanolic extract. Following T. heimii, Termitomyces mummiformis exhibited an AI of 86% within the "very high" group. Potent inhibitions of lipid peroxidation of approximately 100 and 69% was also observed in T. heimii and T. mummiformis, respectively. Water extracts ranged from 34 to 49% and methanolic extracts varied from 20 to 32% on dry weight of mushroom fruiting body. Total phenolic compounds were higher in the water extracts (2-37 mg/g) than in methanolic extract (0.7-11.2 mg/g). The AOA measured in the water extract was better than that from the methanolic extract. HPLC analysis of phenolic acids in the two mushroom species, namely, T. heimii and T. mummiformis, displaying maximum AOA potential indicated a preponderance of tannic acid, gallic acid, protocatacheuic acid, and gentisic acid. Studies thus provide the precise antioxidant status of 23 indigenous species of mushrooms, which can serve as a useful database for the selection of mushrooms for the function of preparation of mushroom-based nutraceutics.     

Antioxidant property of an ethanol extract of the stem of Opuntia ficus-indica var. saboten

An ethanol extract of the stem of Opuntia ficus-indica var. saboten (OFS) was assessed to determine the mechanism(s) of its antioxidant activity. The ethanol extract exhibited a concentration-dependent inhibition of linoleic acid oxidation in a thiocyanate assay system. In addition, the OFS extract showed dose-dependent free-radical scavenging activity, including DPPH radicals, superoxide anions (O(2)(*-)), and hydroxyl radicals (*OH), using different assay systems. The OFS ethanol extract was also found to be effective in protecting plasmid DNA against the strand breakage induced by hydroxyl radicals in a Fenton's reaction mixture. Furthermore, the extract showed significant (p < 0.01) dose-dependent protection of mouse splenocytes against glucose oxidase-mediated cytotoxicity. Finally, the OFS extract was characterized as containing a high amount of phenolics (180.3 mg/g), which might be the active compounds responsible for the antioxidant properties of the OFS extract.     

Antioxidant and antimutagenic properties of aqueous extract of date fruit (Phoenix dactylifera L. Arecaceae).

Fruits of the date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L. Arecaceae) are very commonly consumed in many parts of the world and are a vital component of the diet in most of the Arabian countries. This preliminary study documents for the first time its antioxidant and antimutagenic properties in vitro. There was a dose-dependent inhibition of superoxide and hydroxyl radicals by an aqueous extract of date fruit. The amount of fresh extract required to scavenge 50% of superoxide radicals was equivalent to 0.8 mg/mL of date fruit in the riboflavin photoreduction method. An extract of 2.2 mg/mL of date fruit was needed for 50% hydroxyl-radical-scavenging activity in the deoxyribose degradation method. Concentrations of 1.5 and 4.0 mg/mL completely inhibited superoxide and hydroxyl radicals, respectively. Aqueous date extract was also found to inhibit significantly the lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation in a dose-dependent manner. In an Fe(2+)/ascorbate system, an extract of 1.9 mg/mL of date fruit was needed for 50% inhibition of lipid peroxides. In a time course inhibition study of lipid peroxide, at a 2.0 mg/mL concentration of date extract, there was a complete inhibition of TBARS formation in the early stages of the incubation period that increased during later stages of the incubation. Similarly, in the high Fe(2+)/ascorbate induction system a concentration of 2.3 mg/mL inhibited carbonyl formation measured by DNPH reaction by 50%. Moreover, a concentration of 4.0 mg/mL completely inhibited lipid peroxide and protein carbonyl formation. Date fruit extract also produced a dose-dependent inhibition of benzo(a)pyrene-induced mutagenecity on Salmonella tester strains TA-98 and TA-100 with metabolic activation. Extract from 3.6 mg/plate and 4.3 mg/plate was found required for 50% inhibition of His+ revertant formation in TA-98 and TA-100, respectively. These results indicate that antioxidant and antimutagenic activity in date fruit is quite potent and implicates the presence of compounds with potent free-radical-scavenging activity.     

Antioxidant and antiradical activities in extracts of hazelnut kernel (Corylus avellana L.) and hazelnut green leafy cover

Phenolic compounds in the aqueous systems were extracted, from hazelnut kernel (HK) and hazelnut green leafy cover (HGLC), with 80% (v/v) ethanol (HKe and HGLCe) or 80% (v/v) acetone (HKa and HGLCa). The extracts were examined for their phenolic and condensed tannin contents and phenolic acid profiles (free and esterified fractions) as well as antioxidant and antiradical activities by total antioxidant activity (TAA), antioxidant activity in a beta-carotene-linoleate model system, scavenging of DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radical, and reducing power. Significant differences (p < 0.05) in the contents of total phenolics, condensed tannins, and TAA existed among the extracts that were examined. HGLCa extract had the highest content of total phenolics (201 mg of catechin equivalents/g of extract), condensed tannins (542 mg of catechin equivalents/g of extract), and TAA (1.29 mmol of Trolox equivalents/g of extract) followed by HGLCe, HKa, and HKe extracts, respectively. Five phenolic acids (gallic acid, caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, and sinapic acid) were tentatively identified and quantified, among which gallic acid was the most abundant in both free and esterified forms. The order of antioxidant activity in a beta-carotene-linoleate model system, the scavenging effect on DPPH radical, and the reducing power in all extracts were in the following order: HGLCa > HGLCe > HKa > HKe. These results suggest that both 80% ethanol and acetone are capable of extracting phenolics, but 80% acetone was a more effective solvent for the extraction process. HGLC exhibited stronger antioxidant and antiradical activities than HK itself in both extracts and could potentially be considered as an inexpensive source of natural antioxidants.     

RP-HPLC analysis of the phenolic compounds of plant extracts. investigation of their antioxidant capacity and antimicrobial activity

Extracts of aromatic plants of Greek origin were examined as potential sources of phenolic compounds. RP-HPLC with UV detection was employed for the identification and quantification of the phenolic antioxidants, present in methanolic extracts. The most abundant phenolic acids were ferulic acid (1.1-280 mg/100 g of dry sample) and caffeic acid (1.2-60 mg/100 g of dry sample). (+)-Catechin and quercetin were the most abundant flavonoids. Apigenin and luteolin were detected in high amounts in Menta pulegium and Thymus vulgaris, respectively. The antioxidant capacity was determined, in dried ground plants and in their methanol extracts, with the Rancimat test using sunflower oil as substrate. Both pulverized plants and extracts showed antioxidant capacity. Total phenolic content in the extracts was determined spectrometrically according to the Folin-Ciocalteu assay and ranged from 1 to 21 mg of gallic acid/100 g of dry sample. Antimicrobial activity of the extracts against selected microbes was also conducted in this study.     

Phenolic constituents and antioxidant properties of Xanthosoma violaceum leaves

An extract of Xanthosoma violaceum leaves was subjected to a polyphenol profile determination, including total polyphenols, and antioxidant activity evaluation. Analysis of the extract resulted in the isolation of a new flavone C-glycoside, apigenin 6-C-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-8-C-beta-D-apiofuranoside (1), as well as known flavone C-glycosides, including vitexin (2), isovitexin (3), isovitexin 4'-O-rhamnopyranoside (4), apigenin 6-C-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside] (5), and apigenin 6,8-diC-beta-D-glucopyranoside (6). The antioxidant activity of the extract was assessed by means of two different in vitro tests: bleaching of the stable 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH test) and peroxidation induced by the water-soluble radical initiator 2,2'-azobis(2-amidinopropane) hydrochloride, on mixed dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine/linoleic acid unilamellar vesicles (LP-LUV test). In both tests used, the extract and a fraction II showed a significant antioxidant/free-radical scavenging effect (fraction II, EC(50) = 11.6 microg/mL) in comparison to alpha-tocopherol (EC(50) = 10.1 microg/mL).     

Microwave-assisted efficient extraction of different parts of Hippophae rhamnoides for the comparative evaluation of antioxidant activity and quantification of its phenolic constituents by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC)

The outcome of different extraction procedures (microwave, ultrasound, Soxhlet, and maceration) on the antioxidant activity of seeds, leaves, pulp, and fruits of Hippophae rhamnoides (sea buckthorn or SBT) was investigated by two different bioassays: 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) and 2,2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assays. The SBT extracts were found to possess strong antioxidant activity measured in terms of TEAC (2.03-182.13 and 6.97-282.75 mg/g) with ABTS and DPPH assays, respectively. In general, the antioxidant capacity of microwave-assisted extracts was found to be significantly higher than those obtained by ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) and maceration while being slightly higher than Soxhlet extracts. Further, microwave extracts of seeds were found to possess maximum antioxidant capacity followed by leaves, fruits, and pulp. Also, the chemical composition of extracts, studied in terms of the total phenolic content, was found to be in the range of 1.9-23.5 mg/g Gallic acid equivalent (GAE), which indicates a strong correlation between antioxidant activity and phenolic content present in the SBT. In addition, some of its bioactive phenolic constituents, such as rutin ( 1), quercetin-3- O-galactoside ( 2), quercetin ( 3), myricetin ( 4), kaempferol ( 5), and isorhamnetin ( 6), were also quantified in different extracts by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC).     

Stoichiometric and kinetic studies of phenolic antioxidants from Andean purple corn and red-fleshed sweetpotato

Stoichiometric and kinetic values of phenolics against DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) were determined for Andean purple corn (Zea mays L.) and red sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas). Both crops had higher antioxidant capacity and antiradical kinetics than blueberries and higher or similar anthocyanin and phenolic contents. The second-order rate constant (k(2)) was 1.56, 1.12, 0.57, and 0.26 (mg antiradical/mL)(-1) s(-1) for red sweetpotato, Trolox, purple corn, and blueberry, respectively. On the molar basis of active hydroxyl groups, k(2)' showed the same order as for k(2). Corn cob and sweetpotato endodermis contributed the most in phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity. Both crops studied can be considered as excellent novel sources of natural antioxidants for the functional food and dietary supplement markets.     

Antioxidant potential of two red seaweeds from the Brazilian coasts

In this work, in vitro antioxidant activity of two Brazilian red seaweeds, Gracilaria birdiae and Gracilaria cornea, was characterized. The total phenolic content, the radical-scavenging activity and the antioxidant activity were determined in two solvent extracts of the algae. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) allowed identification of important antioxidant compounds. The ethanol extract of G. birdiae was found to have the highest value of total phenolic content: 1.13 mg of gallic acid equiv (GAE)/g of extract. The radical-scavenging activity of G. birdiae and G. cornea extracts has been evaluated at different extract concentrations; the IC(50) values of ethanolic extracts of G. cornea and G. birdiae were 0.77 and 0.76 mg mL(-1), respectively, while for methanolic extracts, the IC(50) values of G. cornea and G. birdiae were 0.86 and 0.76 mg mL(-1), respectively. The antioxidant activities of these two seaweeds' extracts as assessed by the β-carotene-linoleic acid assay were equally high, achieving values of β-carotene oxidation inhibition of up to 40%. Finally, in the methanolic extracts, LC-MS/MS allowed identification in both algae of two important antioxidants: apigenin and gallic acid.     

Nonenzymatic antioxidative and antiglycative effects of oleanolic acid and ursolic acid

Oleanolic acid and ursolic acid are two triterpenes presented in several herbs. This study analyzed the content of oleanolic acid and ursolic acid in eight locally available fresh herbs, also examined several nonenzymatic antioxidant activities of these two triterpenes, and used a liposome system to evaluate the influence of temperature and pH upon the antioxidant property of these two triterpenes. The impact of these two triterpenes on the production of nonenzymatic glycative products, pentosidine and carboxymethyllysine (CML), was also evaluated. alpha-Tocopherol was used for comparison. Results showed that the content of oleanolic acid and ursolic acid in glossy privet fruit and hawthorn fruit varied from season to season and was in the range of 200-650 microg/g of fresh weight. Both oleanolic acid and ursolic acid possessed greater antioxidant activity against 2,2'-azobis-(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride and less antioxidant activity against 2,2'-azobis(2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile) when compared with alpha-tocopherol at equal concentration (P <0.05). At 75 and 100 degrees C, oleanolic acid exhibited greater antioxidant activity than alpha-tocopherol and ursolic acid (P <0.05). At pH 2 and pH 4, oleanolic acid and ursolic acid showed greater antioxidant activity than alpha-tocopherol (P <0.05). These two triterpenes also exhibited a dose-dependent effect in superoxide anion scavenging activity, chelating effect, xanthine oxidase inhibition activity, and reducing power (P <0.05). Oleanolic acid significantly and dose-dependently inhibited pentosidine and CML formation (P <0.05). Ursolic acid also significantly suppressed CML formation (P <0.05). These data support that these two triterpenes possessed nonenzymatic antioxidative and antiglycative properties.     

Phenolic acid, tocopherol and carotenoid compositions, and antioxidant functions of hard red winter wheat bran

An electron spin resonance (ESR) spectrometry study was conducted to examine the free radical scavenging properties of bran extracts of Alliance and Wichita wheat using hydroxyl radical (HO*), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryhydrazyl radical (DPPH*), and superoxide radical anion (O2*-) and their chelating capacities against Cu2+. Also reported is the radical cation 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS*+) scavenging activity, oxygen radical absorbing capacity (ORAC), and chelating property against Fe2+ of the bran extracts measured by the spectrophotometric methods. Significant radical scavenging and chelating capacities were detected in the bran extracts, along with significant levels of phenolic acids, tocopherols, and carotenoids. Ferulic acid, with a concentration range of 130.60-146.38 microg/g, was the predominant phenolic acid in all of the tested bran samples and accounted for approximately 53-67% of total phenolic acids on a weight basis. Total tocopherol concentration ranged from 1.87 to 2.95 micromol/100 g of bran, whereas total carotenoid level was 0.20-0.33 micromol/100 g of bran. In addition, both wheat variety and growing conditions might significantly alter antioxidant properties and concentrations of beneficial components in wheat bran.     

Comparison of antioxidant activity, anthocyanins, carotenoids, and phenolics of three native fresh and sun-dried date (Phoenix dactylifera L.) varieties grown in Oman

Fresh and sun-dried dates of three native varieties from Oman, namely, Fard, Khasab, and Khalas, were examined for their antioxidant activity and total contents of anthocyanins, carotenoids, and phenolics, as well as free and bound phenolic acids. All results are expressed as mean value +/- standard deviation (n = 3) on a fresh weight basis. Fresh date varieties were found to be a good source of antioxidants (11687-20604 micromol of Trolox equiv/g), total contents of anthocyanins (0.24-1.52 mg of cyanidin 3-glucoside equiv/100 g), carotenoids (1.31-3.03 mg/100 g), phenolics (134-280 mg of ferulic acid equiv/100 g), free phenolic acids (2.61-12.27 mg/100 g), and bound phenolic acids (6.84-30.25 mg/100 g). A significant (p < 0.05) amount of antioxidants and carotenoids was lost after sun-drying of dates, whereas the total content of phenolics and free and bound phenolic acids increased significantly (p < 0.05). Anthocyanins were detected only in fresh dates. Date varieties had different levels and patterns of phenolic acids. Four free phenolic acids (protocatechuic acid, vanillic acid, syringic acid, and ferulic acid) and nine bound phenolic acids (gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, vanillic acid, caffeic acid, syringic acid, p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, and o-coumaric acid) were tentatively identified. Of the date varieties studied, Khalas, which is considered to be premium quality, had higher antioxidant activity, total carotenoids, and bound phenolic acids than other varieties. These results suggest that all date varieties serve as a good source of natural antioxidants and could potentially be considered as a functional food or functional food ingredient, although some of their antioxidant constituents are lost during sun-drying.