The Influence of Locality on Phenolic Profile and Antioxidant Capacity of Bud Extracts

Abstract

Gemmotherapy represents the most recent therapeutic technique that uses the properties of extracts from fresh meristematic plant tissues, mainly buds and sprouts, by macerating them in ethanol and glycerol. The harvesting time and the location can significantly affect the chemical composition of the buds. Therefore, this work aimed to point out the possible variability in the phenolic content and the antioxidant potential of extracts prepared from commonly grown trees in the Czech Republic. Extracts from buds collected during autumn and spring in three different localities were analysed using UHPLC-MS (ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography) for the phenols profile. Five tests assays were used for the evaluation of the extract antioxidant potential. The sampling time positively affected the content of total phenols, flavonoids, and phenolic acids. The increased levels of total phenols and flavonoids in localities with high and medium pollution may be the result of the higher levels of NO and SO2, the main air pollutants. However, surprisingly, the content of phenolic acid showed the highest values in the area with the lowest pollution. The results of antioxidant tests did not completely correlate with the levels of phenolic metabolites, which may be due to the involvement of other active molecules (e.g., ascorbate, tocopherol, or proline) in the antioxidant machinery.

In the Beginning Was the Bud: Phytochemicals from Olive (Olea europaea L.) Vegetative Buds and Their Biological Properties

“…There was a popular concept in France in the middle of the 20th century named gemmotherapy, with the belief that using extracts derived from meristematic tissues would be more beneficial for human therapy than adult plant parts, since they contain specific bioactive compounds that are later subjected to metabolic transformations [ 22 ]. Although some studies on the health benefits of bud extracts have been conducted [ 23 , 24 , 25 ], the entire area is largely unexplored. Olive trees and olive derivatives are the subjects of the research area of many laboratories and scientists around the world; however, research on phytochemicals from olive buds as well as their biological properties is rare.…”

The Phenolic Content, Antioxidative Properties and Extractable Substances in Silver Fir (Abies alba Mill.) Branches Decrease with Distance from the Trunk

“…Although silver fir extract is already on the market, it is beneficial to research the extract further in order to help the industry to additionally optimize it. This is especially true since the composition of extracts can vary drastically depending on the plant location [22], time of year [23,24], the stage of the plant (young plant, plant at the time of flowering etc.) [25][26][27] and the plant part that is extracted [28,29].…”

Betula alba Bark Extract and Empetrum nigrum Fruit Juice, a Natural Alternative to Niacinamide for Skin Barrier Benefits

“…To find a new natural product for topical application with skin barrier benefits, six plants were chosen, as seen in Table 1 , to undergo a series of testing. These six plants are native Scandinavian flora and have historically been used in traditional medicine [ 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 ].…”

“…The six chosen plant species are known to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity [ 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 ]. The study therefore started by screening for kallikrein 5 (KLK5) inhibition, followed by hyaluronidase inhibition.…”

“…The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of these two extracts has been extensively studied in the literature [ 14 , 15 ]. The extracts antioxidant activity was evaluated by measuring their capacity to scavenge the radical 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH).…”