Total antioxidant capacity and phenolic content of the Brazilian diet: a real scenario

The present study aimed to estimate the total dietary antioxidant capacity (TDAC) taken in by the Brazilian population. For analysis, the 36 most consumed foods in Brazil were evaluated. The foods were prepared according to their usual form of consumption and submitted to in vitro digestion. The daily intake of phenolics and flavonoids was estimated to be 2.31?±?0.12?g and 374.12?±?18.17?mg, respectively. The TDAC, evaluated as the ferric-reducing antioxidant power and as the trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity, was 10.3 and 9.4?mmol/d, respectively. The beverages, especially coffee, followed by beans, rice and salt bread were the most important sources of antioxidants. The average intake of phenolics and flavonoids of the Brazilian diet was comparatively higher than that estimated for several other countries. However, the contribution of fruits and vegetables to the phenolic intake and TDAC was minimal (4–6%).     

Coffee components and cardiovascular risk: beneficial and detrimental effects

Coffee consists of several biological active compounds, such as caffeine, diterpenes, chlorogenic acids, and melanoidins, which may affect human health. The intake of each compound depends on the variety of coffee species, roasting degree, type of brewing method and serving size. The bioavailability and the distribution of each compound and its metabolites also contribute to coffee mechanisms of action. The health benefits of coffee consumption regarding cardiovascular system and metabolism mostly depend on its antioxidant compounds. In contrast, diterpenes and caffeine may produce harmful effects by raising lipid fraction and affecting endothelial function, respectively. Studying the mechanism of action of coffee components may help understanding weather coffee’s impact on health is beneficial or hazardous. In this article, we reviewed the available information about coffee compounds and their mechanism of action. Furthermore, benefits and risks for cardiovascular system associated with coffee consumption will be discussed.     

Phytochemical and pharmacological study of Ficus palmata growing in Saudi Arabia

Phytochemical study of the aerial parts of Ficus palmata utilizing liquid–liquid fractionation and different chromatographic techniques resulted in the isolation of a new isomer of psoralenoside namely, trans-psoralenoside (5) in addition to, one triterpene: germanicol acetate (1), two furanocoumarins: psoralene (2), bergapten (3), one aromatic acid vanillic acid (4) and the flavone glycoside rutin (6). Structures of the isolated compounds were established through physical, 1D- and 2D-NMR and MS data. The total extract and fractions of the plant were examined in vivo for its possible effects as hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, antiulcer and anticoagulant activities in comparison with standard drugs. Hepatoprotective activity was assessed via serum biochemical parameters including aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and total bilirubin. Tissue parameters such as non-protein sulfhydryl groups (NP-SH), malonaldehyde (MDA) and total protein (TP) were also measured. In addition to tissue parameters, nephroprotective effect was evaluated by measuring the serum levels of sodium, potassium, creatinine and urea. Histopathological study for both liver and kidney cells was also conducted. Antiulcer activity was explored by observing stomach lesions after treatment with ethanol. Whole blood clotting time (CT) was taken as a measure for the anticoagulant activity of the extract. Antioxidant activity of the total extract and fractions of the plant was measured using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method and ascorbic acid as standard.     

Chromone–lipoic acid conjugate: Neuroprotective agent having acceptable butyrylcholinesterase inhibition,antioxidant and copper-chelation activities

PurposeAlzheimer’s disease (AD) is a multifaceted neurodegenerative disease. To target simultaneously multiple pathological processes involved in AD, natural-origin compounds with unique characteristics are promising scaffolds to develop novel multi-target compounds in the treatment of different neurodegenerative disease, especially AD. In this study, novel chromone-lipoic acid hybrids were prepared to find a new multifunctional lead structure for the treatment of AD.MethodsChromone-lipoic acid hybrids were prepared through click reaction and their neuroprotection and anticholinesterase activity were fully evaluated. The anti-amyloid aggregation, antioxidant and metal-chelation activities of the best compound were also investigated by standard methods to find a new multi-functional agent against AD.ResultsThe primary biological screening demonstrated that all compounds had significant neuroprotection activity against H2O2-induced cell damage in PC12 cells. Compound 19 as the most potent butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) inhibitor (IC50 = 7.55 μM) having significant neuroprotection activity as level as reference drug was selected for further biological evaluations. Docking and kinetic studies revealed non-competitive mixed-type inhibition of BuChE by compound 19. It could significantly reduce formation of the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and showed excellent reducing power (85.57 mM Fe+2), comparable with quercetin and lipoic acid. It could also moderately inhibit Aβ aggregation and selectively chelate with copper ions in 2:1 M ratio.ConclusionCompound 19 could be considered as a hopeful multifunctional agent for the further development gainst AD owing to the acceptable neuroprotective and anti-BuChE activity, moderate anti-Aβ aggregation activity, outstanding antioxidant activity as well as selective copper chelation ability.Graphical abstractOpen in a separate windowA new chromone–lipoic acid hybrid was synthesized as anti-Alzheimer agent with BuChE inhibitory activity, anti-Aβ aggregation, metal-chelation and antioxidant properties.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40199-020-00378-1.     

Comparison of total phenols content and antioxidant potential of peel extracts of local and imported lemons samples

The design of this study was to investigate and compare the total phenols content and antioxidant activity of various crude extracts of lemon peels collected from local farmers and imported one from the local supermarket. Investigation of the total phenol content and antioxidant activity of various polarity peel extracts were performed by modifying Folin-Ciocalteu reagent (FCR) and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) bioassay. The maximum total phenol content in locally grown lemon was found in methanol extract and the minimum was obtained in butanol extract. However, the maximum concentration of total phenol content in imported lemon was also found in the methanol crude extract and the minimum was found in chloroform extract. The high antioxidant activity among the six prepared extracts of local lemon peels was found in the ethyl acetate extract and the lowest was found in chloroform extract. Similar antioxidant activity result was found in the imported lemon collected from the supermarket. Our results show that both lemon peels have the considerable concentration of total phenols content and antioxidant activity, respectively. The lemon peels are cheap and available globally and may find extensive use in medicine, food and perfume industries as vital sources of natural antioxidants.     

纳洛酮对急性酒精中毒患者抗氧化能力状态影响的研究

目的探讨纳洛酮对急性酒精中毒患者抗氧化能力状态的影响。方法将本院2012年2月～2014年1月收治的60例急性酒精中毒患者随机分为治疗组和对照组，每组各30例。对照组给予常规治疗，治疗组在对照组的基础上给予纳洛酮治疗，比较两组患者治疗前后的抗氧化能力。结果两组治疗24h后，TAC、CAT均上升，但治疗组的上升幅度明显高于对照组；MDA、LPO均降低，但是治疗组的降低幅度明显大于对照组（P〈0．05）。两组的不良反应发生率比较．差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。结论纳洛酮对急性酒精中毒患者的抗氧化能力状态影响较大。可改善患者的预后。     

Healing potential of zerumbone ointment on experimental full-thickness excision cutaneous wounds in rat

Zerumbone is a monocyclic sesquiterpene compound. Based on report, it is the predominant bioactive compound from the rhizomes of Zingiber zerumbet. The study was undertaken to evaluate the therapeutic effects of topical zerumbone on excision wounds in rats. A 1% (w/w) simple ointment containing zerumbone was applied topically (100 mg ointment per rat) once a day on full-thickness excision wounds created on rats. The wound tissue was removed and used for estimation of antioxidant activity and to observe histopathological changes. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to study the expression pattern of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 and collagen IV. Zerumbone exhibited antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli, Candida albicans and Candida tropicali. Zerumbone ointment has potent wound healing capacity as evident from the wound contraction on 15th post wounding day. The histopathological examinations of healed wound sections showed greater tissue regeneration, more fibroblasts and angiogenesis in zerumbone ointment-treated group. VEGF, TGF-β1 and collagen IV expression were also correlative with the healing pattern observed. Zerumbone possesses potent antioxidant activity by increasing superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione and decreased lipid peroxidation. The synergistic effects of both antimicrobial and antioxidant activities in zerumbone are deduced to have accelerated the wound repair. The results demonstrate that zerumbone possessed strong wound healing potential and can be exploited to accelerate excision wound healing.     

Chemical compounds as well as antioxidant and litholytic activities of Arbutus unedo L. leaves against calcium oxalate stones

ObjectiveThe present study aimed to quantify and identify the bioactive compounds of the Arbutus unedo L. leaves in order to evaluate both their antioxidant properties and litholytic activities against calcium oxalate stones.MethodsThis survey was carried out using hydroalcoholic extract (E.FA) and infusion (I.FA) of A. unedo leaves. The quantification of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, flavonols and anthocyanins was done by spectrophotometric methods and identification of chemical components was performed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array and electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. Antioxidant activity was measured using the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method and by the ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. Litholytic activity of E.FA and I.FA was studied using a special model that resembles circuitry of the urinary system.ResultsE.FA showed greater antioxidant efficacy than I.FA (P < 0.05). Its higher efficiency was shown via the values of median inhibitory concentration, which was close to (76.14 ± 0.91) µg/mL for E.FA versus (202.64 ± 5.77) μg/mL for I.FA using the DPPH method, and (53.77 ± 0.81) μg/mL for E.FA versus (236.86 ± 31.90) μg/mL for I.FA, using FRAP method. I.FA exhibited significantly higher litholytic activity compared to E.FA (P < 0.05), with dissolution values of 31.03% ± 0.63% versus 14.55% ± 0.65%, respectively.ConclusionOverall, the results suggest that the A. unedo is rich in bioactive compounds, and possesses antioxidant and litholitic abilities that are worthy of further study.