Chemical compounds from Phoenician juniper berries (Juniperus phoenicea)

Abstract

Natural chemical compounds are a widely researched topic worldwide because of their potential activity against cerebrovascular diseases. Chemicals from Juniperus phoenicea berries are reported in this study. Lipids (11%) from seeds are mainly unsaturated (86%). Minerals are also quantified like Na (63.8 mg per 100 g DW) or K (373.9 mg per 100 g DW). Total reduced sugars are ca 192.6 mg g(-1) DW. Polyphenols and flavonoids from berries are highly present with an average of 1764 ± 174.3 mg gallic acid per 100 g DW and 890 ± 47.6 mg rutin per 100 g DW, respectively. Mean free radical scavenging activities, determined by DPPH and ABTS, are 1337 ± 126.2 mM TEAC per 100 g DW and 1105.7 ± 95.9 mM TEAC per 100 g DW, respectively. All findings improve the possible presence of biologically active fractions in phytocomplex that could be used as such and/or extracted for the formulation of supplements and/or ingredients for the pharmaceutical industry.

Unexploited Acacia cyanophylla seeds: potential food sources of ω6 fatty acids and antioxidants?

“…The Ga ecotype displayed the highest value (0.14 g kg −1 DW). Taken together, the calcium and magnesium contents averaged 0.68 g kg −1 DW, a value lower than that found in J. phoenicea (1.59 g kg −1 DW) 12…”

“…Ash content averaged 45 g kg −1 over all ecotypes. Acacia cyanophylla contains about the same amount of protein as that found in Juniperus phoenicea seeds (84 g kg −1 )12 and some Graminaceae such as rice (75–90 g kg −1 ), wheat (70–180 g kg −1 ) and corn (70–120 g kg −1 ). However, this level is still lower than that seen in leguminous plants such as rapeseed (150–300 g kg −1 ), lentil (230–320 g kg −1 ) and lupin (300–500 g kg −1 )20 or the gymnosperm Pinus pinea (244 g kg −1 ) 21…”

“…Minerals were quantified in triplicate as described previously 12. The plant material was dried at 70 °C.…”

“…The resulting solution was used for mineral analyses. Calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium contents were determined using a Sherwood 410 flame photometer (Sherwood Scientific Ltd, Cambridge, UK) 12. Total phosphorus was determined using a Secomam S1000 spectrophotometer (Secomam, Ales, France) 13.…”

Study of Agronomical and Technological Quality Characteristics of Some Special Egyptian Rice Varieties

“…Total phenols were estimated by the FolinCiocalteu method reported in Elfalleh et al (2009).The amount of total flavonoids was measured spectrophotometrically by the method of Nasri et al (2011). The DPPH (2,2 diphenyl-1-picric hydrazyl) radical scavenging activity of methanolic extracts was determined according the method reported by Okonogi et al (2007).…”