We used DPPH scavenging assays to study the antioxidant activity of three native Polish species of blackberry leaves (Rubus kuleszae Ziel., R. fabrimontanus (Sprib.) Sprib. and R. capitulatus Utsch.). All the studied extracts (methanolic, water, methanolic-water) showed high DPPH free radical scavenging activity (IC50 450.0-186.0 μg/ml). The most effective of the studied species was Rubus kuleszae. Total content of phenolic compounds (70.50-136.04 mg GAE/g) and phenolic acids (14.70-38.26 mg CAE/g) was determined spectrophotometrically. Antioxidant activity correlated positively with total content of phenolic compounds and phenolic acids.K Ke ey y w wo or rd ds s: : Rubus, blackberry, leaf extract, antioxidant activity, DPPH, phenolic compounds, phenolic acids.ACTA BIOLOGICA CRACOVIENSIA Series Botanica 54/2: 32-38, 2012 DOI: 10.2478 PL ISSN 0001-5296 © Polish Academy of Sciences and Jagiellonian University, Cracow 2012 INTRODUCTIONThe genus Rubus L. (blackberries/raspberries) comprises almost 700 species, making it the largest genus of the Rosaceae family and one of the most diverse of the plant kingdom (Alice and Campbell, 1999;Zieliński, 2004). Some species such as R. idaeus and R. fruticosus are valuable fruit plants and also used in medicine. The leaves of Rubus plants are known to contain astringent, antibacterial and antifungal agents, recommended internally in diarrhoea and inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. Leaf infusions are also used externally for skin lesions and ulcers, and as a rinse in infections of the oral cavity and throat. This use of leaves of Rubus species relies on their high content of hydrolyzing (gallo-and ellagitannins) and condensed (catechins) tannins, and numerous other polyphenols including flavonoids (quercetin and kaempferol derivatives), anthocyanins and phenolic acids, particularly gallic and ellagic acid (Thiem, 2003;Benvenuti et al., 2004;Gudej and Tomczyk, 2004;Patel et al., 2004;Byamukama et al., 2005;Mertz et al., 2007;Ali et al., 2012). Among many possible effects on biological processes in the human body, the antioxidant properties of phenolic compounds are the most important. Many data gathered in recent years indicate the participation of free radical processes in the emergence of such lifestyle diseases as atherosclerosis, heart attack, stroke, cancer, diabetes, senile cataracts and accelerated aging. The presence and distribution of numerous hydroxyl groups in the chemical structure of polyphenols make them excellent antioxidants. They are able to chelate transition metal ions, particularly those of iron and copper, which are involved in initiating free radical chain reactions. They also inhibit the activity of many enzymes participating in the formation of free radicals: for example, xanthine oxidase, responsible for the production of large amounts of reactive oxygen forms during reperfusion, and NADPH oxidase, responsible for the so-called respiratory burst (RiceEvans et al., 1996;Pietta, 2000, Villańo et al., 2007Li et al., 2008).Phytochemical studies of...
The objective of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of a hydroalcoholic extract from Galinsoga parviflora herb (GP) in some aspects of the endothelial cell function necessary for anti-inflammatory activity and wound healing and relate these to the GP phytochemical profile. This study demonstrated that the GP extract caused a dose-dependent reduction of IL-6 secretion on IL-1β-stimulated endothelial cells. The IL-6 release was decreased to 33% ± 9% while this did not influence the IL-6 secretion without stimulation. Additionally, the GP extract exhibited an anti-hyaluronidase activity (IC50 = 0.47 mg/mL), which was evidently stronger than the positive control kaempferol (IC50 = 0.78 mg/mL) as well as a moderate and concentration-dependent, antioxidant activity. The results of the scratch assay showed that exposure of the endothelial cells to GP induced complete healing of the damage after 12 h of the study. The phytochemical profile of the extract was studied by using spectrophotometric (total amount of polyphenols and flavonoids) and UPLC (phenolic acids) methods. The main compound in the GP extract was a chlorogenic acid (2.00 ± 0.01 mg/g by UPLC). The total content of polyphenols was 98.30 ± 0.14 mg of chlorogenic acid equivalent/g of the dry herb and content of flavonoids amounted to 6.15 ± 0.41 mg quercetin equivalent/g of the dry herb. Moreover, the presence of flavonoids in G. parviflora was provided after their isolation and identification by spectroscopic methods. In conclusion, it demonstrated that application of GP in the treatment of skin lesions gives possibility of wound healing based on antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hyaluronidase-inhibiting activities of G. parviflora herb extract.
Sanquisorba officinalis has been used internally for the treatment of intestinal infections and duodenal ulcers, as well as hemorrhoids, phlebitis and varicose veins and female disorders, and topically to heal wounds, burns, and ulcers. In our study, the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, as well as quantitative analysis of polyphenols (phenolic acids, flavonoids and total polyphenols) in methanol and aqueous extracts from S. officinalis herbs are presented. A correlation between the antioxidant activity and composition of tested extracts indicates that flavonoids are the major compounds causing scavenging of free radicals. Higher content of flavonoids was found in the methanol extract, while the content of total phenolics was higher in the aqueous extract. Both extracts from S. officinalis herbs showed antioxidant activity and high antimicrobial activity in a wide spectrum of test strains.
Herbal infusions are an underestimated and easy to intake a source of biologically active natural compounds (polyphenols), which, in the dissolved form, are more easily absorbed. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the potential of herbal infusions as a functional food to reduce postprandial hyperglycemia (inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase) and to reduce the effects of increased blood glucose level (antioxidant effect-DPPH, CUPRAC, and Fe2+ chelating assays, as well as anti-inflammatory activity-inhibition of collagenase). We showed that polyphenols are present in the examined aqueous herbal infusions (including chlorogenic and gallic acids). Subsequently, our research has shown that herbal infusions containing cinnamon bark, mulberry leaves, and blackberry fruits most strongly inhibit glucose release from complex carbohydrates, and that all herbal infusions can, to different degrees, reduce the effects of elevated blood sugar. In conclusion, infusions prepared from herbal blends could be recommended to prevent type II diabetes.
Licorice has been used in medicine from ancient times. Licorice preparations are applied in infectious diseases of the respiratory tract, peptic and duodenal ulcers, as well as in skin diseases and cosmetology. Sweet taste of root has appointed licorice role of corrigens. Licorice root contains active compounds with different activities: saponins, flavonoids, coumarins and essential oil. In vitro and in vivo studies have shown that extracts of licorice and its active compounds have different properties, such as expectorant, antitussive, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective.
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