Tomasz Baj

Phenolic acids content, antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of Ligusticum mutellina L.

A simple HPLC method has been used for separation and quantitative analysis of the phenolic acids in the methanolic extracts of Ligusticum mutellina aerial parts. Chlorogenic acid was the predominant phenolic acid. Additionally, gallic, p-OH-benzoic, caffeic, p-coumaric and ferulic acids were identified. Moderate antibacterial and antifungal activity (MIC = 1.25–2.5 mg mL−1) was observed for the methanol extract of L. mutellina herb received from plants in flowering stage against a broad spectrum of bacteria. Micrococcus luteus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida spp. were the most sensitive to this plant material. Total phenolic content for the methanol extract of L. mutellina herb received from plants in flowering stage was 1.56 g of chlorogenic acid equivalents/100 g dry weight. The methanol extract of L. mutellina herb received from plants in flowering stage showed antioxidant activity with DPPH (IC50 value of 0.40 mg mL−1) and with ABTS (IC50 value of 8.65 mg mL−1).

Protective effect of Mutellina purpurea polyphenolic compounds in doxorubicin-induced toxicity in H9c2 cardiomyocytes

Abstract The delayed cardiomyopathy caused by doxorubicin – an chemotherapeutic drug with broad spectrum of anticancer activity – is mainly triggered by oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to assess an effect of Mutellina purpurea methanolic extract fraction and other antioxidants of plant origin: rutin, quercetin and chlorogenic acid (all 1 mg% w/v) on oxidative stress and morphological changes induced by doxorubicin in cardiomyocytes H9c2. Mitochondrial oxidative stress in cardiomyocytes induced by 1 µM doxorubicin was evidenced by MitoTracker and RedoxSensor Red CC-1 dyes. Moreover, cardiomyocytes morphological changes and cell viability were evaluated. The tested fraction slightly reduced mitochondrial ROS fluorescence, similar to quercetin. Chlorogenic acid revealed concentration dependent prooxidative and antioxidative properties in the applied H9c2 model. The evaluation of the protective effect of tested compounds on doxorubicin-induced cytotoxicity was based on the examination of induced oxidative stress and morphology changes. The protective effect was described in the following order: rutin > chlorogenic acid (0.5 µM) > LH8 and quercetin. According to the MTT test, rutin seems to be the most promising compound that should be tested in a future studies.

Dietary intake of specific phenolic compounds and their effect on the antioxidant activity of daily food rations

Abstract The determination of phenolic acids’ and flavonoids’ content in daily food rations (DFRs) of a selected group of male and female students and the development of chromatographic conditions is the primary goal of the study. The presence of 7 phenolic components were confirmed in the prepared extracts from all diets reconstructed within a period of 3 years. The highest concentrations were determined for hesperidin (124 and 55.6 mg for women and men, respectively), naringin (47.6 mg in female and 37 mg in male diets) and chlorogenic acid (19.7 and 19.8 mg for women and men). The antioxidant potential of the daily food rations, measured with a DPPH test, was higher for women (range 47.1‒78.8%) than for men (range 34.5‒78.0%) and was found to strongly correlate with the total phenolics content of the samples (Folin-Ciocalteu test) (correlation coefficient 0.90). Graphical Abstract

LC-QTOF-MS Analysis and Activity Profiles of Popular Antioxidant Dietary Supplements in Terms of Quality Control

The dietary supplements with claimed antioxidant activity constitute a substantial part of the dietary supplement market. In this study, we performed the LC-QTOF-MS analysis and investigated the activity profiles of popular antioxidant dietary supplements from different chemical groups in terms of quality control. The commonly used antioxidant tests and statistical analysis revealed that substantial part of the results was comparable if 1 g sample was considered, but while comparing single and daily doses, significant differences in antioxidant values were noticed in all assays. The best antioxidant activity was obtained in ORAC assay (from 142 to 13814 μM of Trolox equivalents per 1 g of sample), and the strongest correlation occurred between TPC and ORAC. The LC-QTOF-MS analysis revealed that catechins were present in samples having the best antioxidant activity and that dietary supplements showing the weakest activity contained very small amount of any chemical constituents.

Rare Coumarins Induce Apoptosis, G1 Cell Block and Reduce RNA Content in HL60 Cells

Abstract The rare coumarins stenocarpin, stenocarpin isobutyrate, oficinalin, oficinalin isobutyrate, 8-methoxypeucedanin and the known xanthotoxin, isoimperatorin, bergapten, peucedanin and 8–methoxyisoimperatorin were isolated from Peucedanum luxurians Tamamsch. (Apiaceae) and identified by means of spectral data (1D and 2D NMR). Their immunomodulating activity was evaluated by flow cytometry and their influence on HL60 cells as well as on PHA-stimulated PBLs was tested. All tested coumarins induce apoptosis (maximal in the 48 h culture) and decrease cell proliferation in a time- and dose-dependent manner, especially in HL60 cells. They also induce partial G1 block, but only in HL60 cells (at 100 µM concentrations). Dose-dependent reduction of RNA content was also found in G1 cells treated by the coumarins. All of the tested coumarins also possessed immunomodulatory activities. Bergapten and xanthotoxin were found to be the best candidates for further evaluation as anti-cancer drugs.

Estimation of Potential Availability of Essential Oil in Some Brands of Herbal Teas and Herbal Dietary Supplements

Introduction The aim of the study was to estimate potential availability of essential oil in some brands of herbal products. Methods A comparison was performed on the basis of the essential oil yield in the unprocessed raw materials such as leaves of peppermint and lemon balm and inflorescence of chamomile as well as herbal tea bags and in dietary supplements. The yield of essential oil was determined by distillation. Essential oil was analyzed by GC-FID and GC-MS. Results It was found that the average potential availability of essential oils in the products such as dietary supplements for the doses recommended by the producers is lower than in the corresponding tea infusions: for peppermint formulations approximately 6-fold lower, for the formulations with lemon balm about 4-fold lower, and for the chamomile preparations about 3-fold lower. It was found that essential oils extracted from herbal teas have a similar chemical profile with characteristic deviations in the amount of individual components, which arise from the origin of the raw material. Discussion In contrast to homogenous pharmaceutical herbal mixtures consistent with, the Pharmacopoeia requirements, herbal teas (available in grocery stores) and dietary supplements are often out of control in terms of the yield and composition of the essential oil, which is primarily responsible for the health benefits and aromatic qualities of these products. Analysis of the composition of the dietary supplements showed that they contain on average significantly lower amounts of plant material compared to the herbal teas.

Eudragit FS 30D as a potential polymer for use in the technology of preparing matrix tablets contain metronidazole – an experimental and mathematical modeling study

Abstract The aim of this study was to examine the usefulness of a pH-dependent copolymer - Eudragit FS - for employment in the technology of preparing modified release metronidazole matrix tablets. In addition, in our work, Eudragit RL and Eudragit RS were included in the composition of some formulations, as well as sodium lauryl sulfate and polysorbate 80. As part of the study of the dissolution test, the similarity coefficient (f2) for the obtained profiles was calculated, and mathematic models were used to estimate the kinetics and mechanism of active substance release. In our work, it was observed that the inclusion of polymer Eudragit FS alone in the tablet composition ensured a modified release of the active substance for 10 h. After this time period, the amount of metronidazole determined in the acceptor fluid was 71% - 81% of the declared dose. Modification of the composition by the addition of surfactants resulted in an increased release of the active substance of up to 98%. This effect was dependent on the type of surfactant and its quantitative ratio to the Eudragit FS. Similar release profiles were obtained for tablets containing Eudragit RS and sodium lauryl sulfate, as well as Eudragit RS and polysorbate 80. Depending on the composition of tablets, metronidazole release proceeded in accordance with either first or second-order kinetics. We calculated as well, that the differing masses of Eudragit FS in the studied formulations correlates with the order of release kinetics (p < 0.002). Such an effect was validated using the Weibull model, wherein, in all the studied formulations, the release rate was seen as a decreasing function of time. An analysis of data according to the Ritger-Peppas model and the Peppas-Sahlin model for some formulations, indicated that the mechanism of active substance release from matrix tablets is diffusion.

Thin-layer chromatography—fingerprint, antioxidant activity, and gas chromatography—mass spectrometry profiling of several Origanum L. species

Essential oils obtained from Origanum species are characterized by high diversity in composition. In this work, thin-layer chromatography (TLC)—fingerprinting of Origanum species was performed for the first time and enabled the discrimination of three chemotypes (carvacrol, caryophyllene oxide, and terpineol/ sabinyl). Gas chromatography—mass spectrometry and statistical analyses confirmed the presence of the mentioned chemotypes and deepened the characterization of the studied essential oils. TLC—bioautography showed that thymol and carvacrol are the main antioxidant compounds in Origanum sp. essential oils (EOs).

Anti-Helicobacter pylori activity in vitro of chamomile flowers, coneflower herbs, peppermint leaves and thyme herbs – a preliminary report

Abstract Recently, several studies have been undertaken so as to develop more effective therapeutic approaches towards eradicating Helicobacter pylori. Among these is phytotherapy. The aim of this study was to investigate the activity in vitro of the plant extracts obtained from common herbs cultivated in the Lubelszczyzna region against the reference strain H. pylori ATCC 43504. Among these are thyme herbs, chamomile flowers, peppermint leaves and coneflower herbs. Herein, it was found that the MIC values of the assayed extracts were as follows: the extracts from coneflower herbs showed anti-H. pylori activity with MIC = 31.3-125 μg/ml; the extracts from chamomile flowers demonstrated MIC = 31.3-62.5 μg/ ml; the extracts from peppermint leaves had MIC = 15.6-250 μg/ml; and the extracts from thyme herbs revealed MIC = 15.6-62.5 μg/ml, depending on the solvent used. The most active were the extracts obtained with ethyl acetate or ethanol alcohol absolute 99.8%. These showing MIC within the range of 15.6-62.5 μg/ml, while the lowest activity was observed in case of the extract obtained with 70% aqueous ethanol. This last showing MIC within the range of 62.5-250 μg/ml. The MIC values of essential oil components were 15.6 μg/ml for bisabolol and menthol or 31.3 μg/ml for thymol. The obtained data indicate that the assayed herbs possessed promising anti-H. pylori bioactivity.

Phenolic composition and antioxidant potential of different organs of Kazakh Crataegus almaatensis Pojark: A comparison with the European Crataegus oxyacantha L. flowers

Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate polyphenolic composition of different parts (leaves, flowers and fruits) of Crataegus almaatensis Pojark, an endemic plant of Kazakhstan, and compare it to a well known European Crataegus oxyacantha L. flowers. A Qual-Quant analysis was performed based on HR-MS measurements on 22 secondary metabolites: flavonoids and phenolic acids. Another goal was to evaluate the antioxidant potency of hawthorn extracts which was expressed in the total phenolic content and DPPH scavenging potency tests. Leaf extracts from C. almaatensis were found to be the most rich in metabolites and the most active in antiradical tests (IC50 value of 48 μg/ml and TPC of 218 mg/g). The weakest potential was determined for the fruit extract of this species. According to the performed principal component analysis (PCA), the fruit extracts were not correlated with other organs of the plant, and the metabolites responsible for the extracts’ differentiation were cyanidin 3-glucoside and quetcetin 3-galactoside. Based on a high correlation factor, the flowers of the Kazakh species was found to be as rich in polyphenols as the European hawthorn. The results of this study indicate that C. almaatensis is a promising source of natural antioxidants. Graphical Abstract