Chemical Composition, Diuretic, and Antityrosinase Activity of Traditionally Used Romanian Cerasorum stipites

Abstract

Cherry stems (CS) represent a by-product intensively used in Eastern European countries as a traditional remedy for urinary tract disorders. Ethnopharmacological evidences sustain the use of CS as aqueous preparations (infusion and decoction), but few data were previously reported about phytochemical profile and pharmacological potential of CS hydroalcoholic extracts. In this regard, we aimed to evaluate the phenolic profile, in vitro antioxidant and tyrosinase inhibitory potential, and in vivo diuretic activity of 70% hydroethanolic cherry stems extract and cherry stems decoction (CSD). LC-DAD-ESI/MSn analysis revealed the presence of flavonoid-type compounds as main constituents for both preparations, especially flavanones (naringenin glycosides). Antioxidant activity evaluated through DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP methods was superior for cherry stems extract, probably due to the presence of phenolic-derived compounds in higher amounts than CSD. On the other hand, tyrosinase inhibitory potential and diuretic effect exerted by CSD were stronger, highlighting that other types of hydrophilic secondary metabolites are responsible for this bioactivity. Overall, our findings indicate that CS preparations could be used as promising mild diuretic agents and encourage further investigations regarding the correlation between their chemical composition and bioactive potential.

Optimized ultrasound-assisted extraction of phenolic compounds from Thymus comosus Heuff. ex Griseb. et Schenk (wild thyme) and their bioactive potential

“…The protocol used for TPC determination was based on the Folin-Ciocalteu method adapted to the microplate reader, previously reported by Babotă et al [30] . The absorbance of samples was read at 760 nm after 30 min incubation at room temperature, results being expressed as milligrams of gallic acid equivalents per milliliter of raw extract (for the samples resulting from experimental runs of optimization process (mg GAE/mL); for the optimized extract, results were expressed per g of dried extract (mg GAE/g).…”

“…The absorbance of samples was read at 760 nm after 30 min incubation at room temperature, results being expressed as milligrams of gallic acid equivalents per milliliter of raw extract (for the samples resulting from experimental runs of optimization process (mg GAE/mL); for the optimized extract, results were expressed per g of dried extract (mg GAE/g). TFC was determined using the aluminium chloride method based on the protocol described by the same authors [30] , results being expressed as milligrams of rutin equivalents (mg RE/g extract).…”

“…Five complementary assays were used to evaluate the antioxidant potential of OpTC through different pathways: DPPH, TEAC (indicating radical scavenger activity), FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power), TBARS (evaluating lipid peroxidation through thiobarbituric acid reactive substances formation inhibition), and OxHLIA (oxidative haemolysis inhibition assay). For all assays, the detailed protocols are extensively described in our previous works [30] , [35] , [36] , [37] , [38] .…”

“…The absorbance was read at 517 nm after a 30 min incubation at room temperature in the dark. DPPH radical scavenging activity was expressed as milligrams of Trolox equivalents (mg TE/g extract) [30] , [36] .…”

“…Prior to beginning the assay, ABTS + solution was diluted with distilled water to an absorbance of 0.70 ± 0.02 at 734 nm; 200 μL of radical solution were added to 20 μL of the sample (1 mg/mL) and incubated for 30 min at room temperature. The absorbance was read after incubation at 734 nm, radical scavenging activity being expressed as milligrams of Trolox equivalents (mg TE/g extract) [30] , [36] .…”