Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of Polyphenols in Lamiaceae Plants—A Review

Abstract

Lamiaceae species are promising potential sources of natural antioxidants, owing to their high polyphenol content. In addition, increasing scientific and epidemiological evidence have associated consumption of foods rich in polyphenols with health benefits such as decreased risk of cardiovascular diseases mediated through anti-inflammatory effects. The complex and diverse nature of polyphenols and the huge variation in their levels in commonly consumed herbs make their analysis challenging. Innovative robust analytical tools are constantly developing to meet these challenges. In this review, we present advances in the state of the art for the identification and quantification of polyphenols in Lamiaceae species. Novel chromatographic techniques that have been employed in the past decades are discussed, ranging from ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography to hyphenated spectroscopic methods, whereas performance characteristics such as selectivity and specificity are also summarized.

Polyphenols and Athletic Performance: A Review on Human Data

“…In the study, subjects perform a 60-min cycle ergometer exercise at 50% VO 2 max intensity and reported increased levels of expired pentane, an index of lipid peroxidation [10]. Subsequently, in 1987, a study was carried out on six young men who performed an incremental load exercise on a cycle ergometer until it was exhausted, and it was discovered that the blood levels of reactive substances to thiobarbituric acid (TBARS), another marker of lipid peroxidation, increased [24]. In another study, in 1988, in which eight highly trained young men performed cycle ergometer exercise for 90 min at 65% VO 2 peak intensity, the levels of GSH, a nonenzymatic antioxidant, decreased, whereas the GSSG levels conversely increased [10].…”

“…• anthocyanidins or anthocyanins (delphinidin, pelargonidin, cyanidin, malvidin, and petunidin), whose sources include red wine, berries, blackcurrant, and cherry [22][23][24][25].…”

“…Lignans (secoisolariciresinol, matairesinol, medioresinol, pinoresinol, and lariciresinol) are found in high concentration in linseed and in minor concentration in algae, leguminous plants, cereals, vegetables, and fruits [22][23][24].…”

“…As of today, many studies on polyphenols and physical exercise concerned in supplementation with antioxidants like the green tea extract (GTE) from Camellia sinensis. GTE extract is rich in polyphenols, with flavonoid structure, including epigallocatechin gallate, epicatechin, epigallocatechin, and epicatechin gallate, which result in a powerful antioxidant activity [22][23][24][25]. Green tea supplementation has been advocated as a strategy to improve exercise recovery due to the activity of its catechins with high antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential [46][47][48].…”

Evaluation of the Chemical Profiling, Total Phenolic Composition, the Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Properties of the Essential Oils of Mentha piperita L., Salvia officinalis L., and Thymus vulgaris L.

“…Some of the products derived from this family are also beneficial when used for the relief of some intestinal disorders and some clinical conditions of bronchitis. Mentha piperita L., Salvia officinalis L. and Thymus capitatus L. are some of the popular examples of these types of plants from Lamiaceae family [7,8]. The family Lamiaceae includes 252 genera and more than 6,700 species approximately [9].…”