Polyphenol characterization in Azolla filiculoides after drying and enzymatic hydrolysis processes

Abstract

Azolla filiculoides is an aquatic fern with the potential to become a source of raw materials in a biorefinery system, e.g., a source of soluble and insoluble carbohydrates, proteins, carotenoids, and polyphenols. The fiber chemical content was determined as cellulose (19.2% dry basis) and hemicellulose (7.6% dry basis) content. Azolla has no lignin as a cell wall structure material. Cellulase treatment showed no effect in ethanolic extraction, but polyphenols were found in the enzyme solution at the end of the reaction. The phenolic acids and flavonoids contents of those with health promoting activity were determined, with gallic, syringic, rosmarinic, and p-coumaric the most abundant acids; kaempferol, apigenin, and quercetin were the most abundant flavonoids. The results show that A. filiculoides is a valuable source of bioactive components and cellulosic materials.

Agricultural and Forestry Importance of Microorganism-plant Symbioses: A Microbial Source for Biotechnological Innovations

“…Although antinutritional factors should be eliminated before consumption [55], between these apparently undesirable molecules exist some others that possess some useful biological properties. For instance, polyphenols produced by Azolla [56] may present certain chemical homogeneity [57] and have beneficial antioxidant activities based on in vivo hepatotoxicity tests [58] and anti-inflammatory, antiapoptotic activities [59], and antimicrobial properties [60]. In addition, extracts obtained from Azolla have potential effects as bioinsecticides against mosquito larvae of the Aedes genus [61,62].…”