H.J. Damien Dorman

Chemical and Antioxidant Evaluation of Indian Gooseberry (Emblica officinalis Gaertn., syn. Phyllanthus emblica L.) Supplements

Indian gooseberry (Emblica officinalis Gaertn.) (Euphorbiaceae) has a distinguished history in Ayurveda medicine and is ascribed a number of medicinal properties and as a dietary supplement, its use is increasing in Western countries. It is thought that its beneficial properties are a function of its antioxidant potency. The study investigated the chemistry and antioxidant properties of four commercial E. officinalis fruit extracts in order to determine if there are any qualitative–quantitative differences. All extracts produced positive responses in the total phenol, total flavonoid and total tannin assays. The presence of predominantly (poly)phenolic analytes, e.g. ellagic and gallic acids and corilagin, was confirmed by RP‐HPLC coupled with photodiode array detection. Despite ascorbic acid being a major constituent of E. officinalis fruits, the furanolactone could not be identified in one of the samples. The extracts demonstrated varying degrees of antioxidative efficacy. The extract designated IG‐3 was consistently amongst the most effective extracts in the iron(III) reduction and 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl and superoxide anion radical scavenging assays while the extract designated IG‐1 demonstrated the best hydroxyl radical scavenging activity. All extracts appeared to be incapable of chelating iron(II) at realistic concentrations. Copyright

Acetylcholinesterase inhibitory guided fractionation of Melissa officinalis L.

The plant Melissa officinalis L. has been used traditionally in the treatment of cognitive dysfunction. Based on its traditional medicinal use, it was assessed for its clinical efficacy in mild to moderate Alzheimers patients. The plant was effective in the management of the disease. Therefore, based on this result, a similar plant extract was prepared in order to be screened for bioactivities which are relevant in Alzheimers disease therapy. The extract was recently screened for antioxidant activity and it showed a wide range of antioxidant properties. Another important bioactivity is acetylcholinesterase inhibition, which the extract was screened for in the current investigation. The extract was capable of inhibiting the enzyme in a time and dose-dependent manner. Activity of the extract at 10 min was estimated as 1.72+/-0.16 microg equivalents of physostigmine/mg of the extract. Acetylcholinesterase inhibitory guided fractionation of the extract was then carried out. Most of the fractions showed inhibitory activity and were more potent than the extract. The contents of the most potent fraction were identified as cis- and trans-rosmarinic acid isomers and a rosmarinic acid derivative using LC-DAD-ESI-MS and NMR methods.

Effect of Bergenia crassifolia L. extracts on weight gain and feeding behavior of rats with high-caloric diet-induced obesity

The objective of this study was to evaluate the feeding behavior and weight gain in rats with high-calorie diet-induced obesity that are treated with Bergenia crassifolia black and fermented leaves extracts. The daily dietary intake of all treated animals was reduced to 40% compared with the control group on day 22 of the experiment. A significant improvement in glucose tolerance was noted after 7 days of treatment with the Bergenia extracts. In rats treated with an extract of black leaves for 7 days, a significant reduction in the serum triglyceride level, 45% (p<0.05), compared with the control group was observed. However, the treatment did not affect the cholesterol level. Our results provide evidence for the potential use of B. crassifolia as an appetite and energy intake suppressant.

Antioxidant and Pro-Oxidant Evaluation of a Potentilla alba L. Rhizome Extract

Using spectrophotometric methods, a H2O‐soluble Potentilla alba L. rhizome extract was evaluated phytochemically, i.e., the total phenol, flavonoid, flavonol, flavanone, and proanthocyanidin contents were determined, and its antioxidant and pro‐oxidant properties, i.e., the FeIII reductive and the FeII chelating properties, the 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH.), N,N‐dimethyl‐p‐phenylenediamine (DMPD.+), and superoxide anion radical (O

ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITIES OF EXTRACTS FROM SELECTED CULINARY HERBS AND SPICES

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Antioxidant Properties and Composition of Aqueous Extracts from Mentha Species, Hybrids, Varieties, and Cultivars

)‐scavenging activities, the capacity to inhibit hydroxyl radical (HO.)‐mediated deoxy‐D‐ribose and phospholipid degradation, and the interaction with the Cu‐catalyzed HO.‐mediated DNA degradation, were determined. The extract was found to contain a range of phenolic compounds recognized to possess strong antioxidant‐like properties. Moreover, the extract demonstrated dose‐dependent activities in all the antioxidant assays with the exception of the DNA‐degradation assay, where the components within the extract interfered with the assay components at concentrations ≥1.00 mg/ml. Potentilla species are known for their curative properties, with aerial/subterranean parts being prescribed for numerous indications. The data presented here suggests, though does not conclude, that the rhizomes contain compounds possessing a range of antioxidant‐related properties, which may underpin the therapeutic, viz., anti‐inflammatory and adaptogenic effects, ascribed to species of this genus.