Valorization of Natural Antioxidants for Nutritional and Health Applications

Abstract

The significant increase in the world population age, 47 years in 1950 to 73 years in 2020, resulted in an increase in aging related diseases as well as in degenerative diseases. In consequence, researchers have been focusing in the development of new therapies, with a particular emphasis on the use of compounds with antioxidant properties, namely phytochemicals, such as polyphenols and carotenoids. Several in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated the phytochemicals antioxidant capacity. Their use is broad, as they can be part of food supplements, medicine and cosmetics. The health benefit of antioxidant phytochemicals is an indisputable question. Phytochemical properties are highly influenced by the natural matrix as well as by extraction process, which have a key role. There are several extraction methods that can be applied depending on the chemical properties of the bioactive compounds. There is a wide range of solvents with different polarities, which allows a selective extraction of the desired target family of compounds. Greener technologies have the advantage to reduce extraction time and solvent quantity in comparison to the most traditional methods. This chapter will focus on the different green extraction strategies related to the recovery of antioxidant bioactive compounds from natural sources, their nutritional and health potential.

Unraveling the chemical composition, antioxidant, α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition of Moroccan propolis

“…Antioxidant activity should not be concluded based on a single antioxidant test model (Alam, Bristi, & Rafiquzzaman, 2013;Ferreira-Santos, Genisheva, Botelho, Rocha, & Teixeira, 2021;Singh & Singh, 2008). And in practice several in vitro test procedures should be performed to assess antioxidant activities with the samples of interest.…”

“…cell assays for ROS determination), and in vivo studies (e.g. lipid peroxidation and the levels of endogenous antioxidant enzymes) (Ferreira-Santos et al, 2021).…”

“…Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP assay) consists in the ability of extracts to reduce ferric ions (Fe 3+ to Fe 2+ ), in the form of ferric TPTZ at a low pH. This reduction will result in a color change (Ferreira-Santos et al, 2021).…”

New Insights into Potential Beneficial Effects of Bioactive Compounds of Bee Products in Boosting Immunity to Fight COVID-19 Pandemic: Focus on Zinc and Polyphenols

“…The NCT04551339 trial focused on the association of vitamin E, vitamin C, copper, and beta-carotene in boosting the immune health to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. Beta-carotene, vitamin E, and vitamin C are known as antioxidant components with beneficial immunomodulatory actions [ 164 , 165 ]. In addition to zinc, these micronutrients modulate the immune response and prevent COVID-19 complications through one or multiple mechanisms of action.…”

Antioxidant and Antibacterial Effects of Pollen Extracts on Human Multidrug-Resistant Pathogenic Bacteria

“…Regarding antioxidant ability, it is recommended to be concluded based on multiple antioxidant test models [29][30][31]. In the present study, the examined extracts were evaluated by four different and complementary methods (TAC, DPPH, ABTS, and RP).…”