This study was aimed the extraction of total flavonoids, anthocyanins and phenolics, as well as the antioxidant activity of black rice (Oryza sativa) and to study the stability in relation to pH, light and copigmentation. Variations in temperature (10-50°C), time (20-80min), and solid-solvent ratio (1:15-1:45) were studied using a Box-Behnken design. The regression models were significant (P<0.001) and determination coefficients ⩾0.900. Extraction at 34.7°C for 80min using a solid:solvent ratio of 1:30 rendered an extract with 51.26mg 100g(-1) of flavonoids, 116.58mg 100g(-1) of anthocyanins, 520.17mg 100g(-1) of phenolics and 46.50% inhibition of the DPPH radical. A decrease in the color intensity was observed when pH values were changed while anthocyanins were reversible in the process of protonation/deprotonation. The addition of glucose, phytic and gallic acids in the optimized extract exposed to light displayed an intermolecular copigmentation. The main anthocyanin identified in black rice was cyanidin-3-glucoside.

Prussian Blue assay (PB) has been used as an alternative to Folin-Ciocalteu assay (FC) to estimate the total content of phenolic compounds in herbs and some natural products. In our study we showed that the advantages of PB assay over FC are its simplicity, low time consumption (15 min reaction as compared to 60 min reaction for the FC assay), lower usage of reagents (solutions are prepared in a mM base) and higher selectivity as compared to FC assay. Additionally, PB assay was proven to be reproducible and repeatable and, therefore, may be used as an alternative to FC assay.

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Hibiscus sabdariffa calyx is a rich source of anthocyanins and other bioactive compounds but no study reported the effects of experimental conditions on the extraction of these chemical compounds. Therefore, the effects of time and extraction temperature on the bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity of Hibiscus sabdariffa calyx were evaluated. In addition, the effects of copigmentation and pH on the stability of anthocyanins were assessed and the cytotoxic effects (LC, IC, and GC) of the extracts were determined in relation to tumor cell lines - Caco-2, HepG-2, HCT8, and A549. The temperature significantly influenced the total anthocyanins and flavonoids contents. The interaction between time/temperature influenced the total phenolic content and ascorbic acid. The t and the percentage of colour retention decreased markedly at temperatures above 80 °C. Variations in pH conserved the antioxidant activity of the anthocyanins, and the protonation-deprotonation process of the extract was reversible. The treatment of cells with purified anthocyanin extract or crude extracts at 5-800 μg mL did not show significant cytotoxic effects on the cell lines, corroborating the chemical antioxidant effect of the extracts (DPPH assay). Cyanidin-3-glucoside, delphinidin-3-sambubioside, delphinidin-3-glucoside, and cyanidin-3-sambubioside were identified in the extracts by LC-ESI-MS.

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Estudos potenciométricos foram realizados para determinar o grau de ligação do ácido fítico com os íons Co(II) e o Mn(II), na ausência de dioxigênio. As constantes de equilíbrio para as principais espécies formadas são relatadas, e os resultados são representados na forma de diagramas de distribuição mostrando a concentração individual dos complexos como uma função do pH. Os valores das constantes de formação dos complexos foram elevados para as espécies em que o ligante encontra-se mais desprotonado. Os dados potenciométricos indicam que a espécie [MH 4 L] 6-, encontra-se totalmente formada em pH 7,0 e a partir destes dados os complexos de Mn(II) e Co(II) com o ácido fítico foram sintetizados no estado sólido. Análises de infravermelho, termogravimetria e calorimetria exploratória diferencial foram utilizadas para caracterizar e investigar o comportamento térmico destes compostos. Os resultados conduziram a informações sobre composição, desidratação, estabilidade e decomposição térmica dos complexos. Potentiometric studies were carried out to determine the binding degree of phytic acid with Co(II) and Mn(II) ions, in the absence of dioxygen. Equilibrium constants for all major complexes formed are reported, and the results are presented in the form of distribution diagrams showing the concentrations of individual complexes as a function of pH. The formation constants of the complexes show higher values for the species in which the ligand was more deprotonated. Potentiometric data indicates that the species [MH 4 L] 6-, was totally formed at pH 7.0 and the complexes were synthesized from this data. A solid state complex of Mn(II) and Co(II) with phytic acid was synthesized. Thermogravimetry, differential scanning calorimetry, and infrared spectroscopy were used to investigate and characterize the thermal behavior of these compounds. The results led to information on the composition, dehydration, thermal stability and thermal decomposition of the isolated complexes.