Antioxidant Activity

Hydro-distillation of the air dried and pulverized whole plant of Euphorbia graminea yielded colourless volatile oil which was analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Isopropyl palmitate (45.81%), Oleic acid (14.09%), Palmitic acid (6.65%) and Trans-2-Pentenal (5.68%) were the major constituents in the oil. The volatile oil revealed good antimicrobial activity against ten tested strains of clinical isolates of bacteria and fungi. It was observed that the potency of the volatile oil increased with increase in concentration. High zones of inhibition were observed across all the microorganisms tested at 100µg/ml. Antioxidant activity of the volatile oil tested using 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical assay revealed a moderate activity (40%) at concentration of 1000 µg/ml. The present study confirms the traditional use of E. graminea in folk medicine for dermatological diseases and microbial infections.

Rice bran is a rich source of nutrients and nutraceuticals, which has bio-functional properties. Deoiled rice bran, a major byproduct of rice bran oil industry, is not yet efficiently utilized for human consumption due to its poor edible quality. Various physical processing methods like sieving, pin milling and air classification were applied to upgrade the quality of bran and also to investigate its effect on particle size distribution, content of ash, protein, total dietary fiber, insoluble fiber, soluble fiber and oryzanol as well as total antioxidant activity in bran fractions. Sieve separation resulted in an increase in the content of protein and bio-functional components like soluble fiber and oryzanol as well as total antioxidant activity. Pin milling and sieving resulted in smaller particle size fraction without loss in the content of protein and other bio-functional components and antioxidant activity. Air classification of this material resulted in significant decrease in ash content with moderate increase in protein content and significant increase in the contents of oryzanol and soluble fiber and the total antioxidant activity. This resulted in quality improvement of commercial de-oiled bran viz., reduction in coarse bran fraction (>250μ m size particles) from 65% to 0%, content of ash from 14.3 to 13.1 g/ 100 g, and insoluble fiber from 49.3 to 46.1 g/100 g, and increase in the content of protein from 13.7 to 17 g/100 g, soluble fiber from 2.75 to 4.35 g/100 g, oryzanol from 13.6 to 18.1 mg/100 g, and total antioxidant activity from 61 to 96 mM α-tocopherol equivalent/g. About 30% edible and nutrient rich rice bran, which can be used as an ingredient in the bakery products and health food formulations, was obtained from unutilized commercial de-oiled bran by this process.

Diffusion coefficient Lipid oxidation Whole milk powder a b s t r a c t Antioxidant active packaging is a promising technology for whole milk powder (WMP) protection. In this study, the migration of a-tocopherol from a multilayer active packaging (made of high density polyethylene, ethylene vinyl alcohol and a layer of low density polyethylene containing the antioxidant) to WMP was studied. A model based on the Fick's diffusion equation was used to calculate the diffusion coefficients (D) of a-tocopherol as 2.34 Â 10 À11 , 3.06 Â 10 À11 , and 3.14 Â 10 À11 cm 2 s À1 at 20, 30 and 40°C, respectively. The D at 20°C was different from those at 30 and 40°C (P < 0.05); but it was similar at 30 and 40°C. This low influence of temperature on the migration of a-tocopherol from 20 to 40°C assures the release at real storage and commercialization conditions in regions with warm/hot climate. The antioxidant delivering system delayed the lipid oxidation of WMP and it was more effective at 30 and 40°C since the rate of oxidative reactions was higher at these temperatures than at 20°C.

The present study optimised the accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) conditions (Dionex ASEÒ 200, USA) to maximise the antioxidant capacity of the extracts from three spices of Lamiaceae family; rosemary, oregano and marjoram. Optimised conditions with regard to extraction temperature (66-129 °C) and solvent concentration (32-88% methanol) were identified using response surface methodology (RSM). For all three spices results showed that 129 °C was the optimum temperature in order to obtain extracts with high antioxidant activity. Optimal methanol concentrations with respect to the antioxidant activity of rosemary and marjoram extracts were 56% and 57% respectively. Oregano showed a different response to the effect of methanol concentration and was optimally extracted at 33%. The antioxidant activity yields of the optimal ASE extracts were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than solid/liquid extracts. The predicted models were highly significant (p < 0.05) for both total phenol (TP) and ferric reducing antioxidant property (FRAP) values in all the spices with high regression coefficients (R2) ranging from 0.952 to 0.999.

Pineapple has several beneficial properties including antioxidant activity. The fruit of pineapple was extracted with ethyl acetate, methanol and water. The phenolic content of the extracts was determined by Folin-Ciocalteu method and antioxidant activity was assayed through some in vitro models such as antioxidant capacity by phosphomolybdenum, β-carotene-linoleate, and radical scavenging activity using α,α-diphenylβ-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method. The phenolic contents of the extracts as caffeic acid equivalents were found to be highest in methanol (51.1%) followed by ethyl acetate (13.8%) and water extract (2.6%). Antioxidant capacity of the extracts as equivalent to ascorbic acid (μmol/g of the extract) was in the order of methanol extract N ethyl acetate extract N water extract. In comparison with butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), at 100 ppm of concentration, the antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities of the extracts assayed through β-carotene-linoleate and DPPH method were also found to be highest with methanol extract followed by ethyl acetate and water extracts. The results indicated that the extent of antioxidant activity of the extract is in accordance with the amount of phenolics present in that extract and the pineapple fruit being rich in phenolics may provide a good source of antioxidant.

General objective of the present work was to assess the isolation of polyphenols from olive leaves. The effects of extraction conditions on the total phenol content and antioxidant activity of olive leaf extract (OLE) were investigated. An extract with good antioxidant activity (7.52 mmol of Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC)/g olive leaf extract), and a high content of oleuropein (13.4%) and rutin (0.18%) could be obtained using 70% ethanol as extraction solvent. There was a good correlation between the antioxidant activity and the total phenol content. Furthermore, silk fibroin was used as a novel adsorbent to recover the polyphenols from the olive leaf extracts. The adsorbed amounts of rutin and oleuropein were 15 mg rutin/g silk fibroin and 96 mg oleuropein/g silk fibroin. Fraction consisting of mainly oleuropein and fraction rich in rutin, luteolin-7-glucoside, verbascoside, apigenin-7-glucoside were obtained by using silk fibroin filled column. Silk fibroin was found to be a promising adsorbent for the purification of oleuropein and rutin from olive leaf extracts.

The antioxidant properties and phenolic composition of 27 Sideritis species were studied. Plant samples were extracted with petroleum ether using a Soxhlet apparatus. The defatted plant materials were extracted with 70% methanol. Antioxidant activities of the extracts were measured using Fe+2 induced linoleic acid peroxidation, as indicated by thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) production. Free radical scavenging activities were determined based on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH). Results were compared with standard BHT. Total phenol concentration of the extracts was estimated with Folin-Ciocalteu reagent using gallic acid as standard, and phenolic components were quantified by HPLC-DAD.

Cereals are an important part of diets for hypercholesterolemic patients. However, some of these patients are allergic to these natural products. The purpose of the current study was to compare oatmeal with equal in nutritional values two allergy-free amaranth meals to determine whether this pseudocereal can be a substitute for allergic to cereals individuals. The total phenols of the samples were determined with the Folin-Chocalteu reagent, anthocyanins, and flavonoids spectrophotometrically. The antioxidant activities were estimated with nitric oxide scavenging radical (NO) and by ␤-carotene bleaching (␤-carotene). It was found that the contents of different protein fractions, antioxidant compounds, and the antioxidant activities of oatmeal were significantly higher than those of the two amaranth samples. The results of kinetic reactions showed that samples differed in their capacities to quench these radicals, and oats have shown more antioxidant activity than amaranth. High correlation was observed between antioxidant activities and phenols (R 2 ϭ 0.99). In the in vivo part of the investigation, 60 male Wistar rats were divided into five diet groups of 12 animals each; these groups were designated as Control, Chol, Chol/Oat, Chol/AmarI, and Chol/AmarII. The rats of the Control group were fed basal diet (BD) only. To the BD of the four other groups were added the following: 1% of cholesterol (Chol), 10% of oat meal and 1% of cholesterol (Chol/Oat), 10% of amaranth I meal, and 1% of cholesterol (Chol/AmarI) and 10% of amaranth II meal and 1% of cholesterol (Chol/AmarII). After 32 days of different feeding, diets supplemented with oat meal and, to lesser degree, with amaranth I and amaranth II hindered the rise in the plasma lipids: a) TC: 3.14 vs. 4.57 mmol/L, Ϫ 31.3%; 3.31 vs. 4.57 mmol/L Ϫ 27.6%; and 3.40 vs. 4.57, Ϫ 25.6%, respectively b) LDL-C: 1.69 vs. 3.31 mmol/L, Ϫ 49.9%; 2.05 vs. 3.31 mmol/L, Ϫ 38.1%; and 2.16 vs. 3.31 mmol/L, Ϫ 34.8%, respectively; c) TG: 0.73 vs. 0.88 mmol/L, Ϫ 17.1%; 0.75 vs. 0.88 mmol/L, Ϫ 14.8%; and 0.79 vs. 0.88 mmol/L, Ϫ10.2%, respectively. The HDL-PH was increased as follows: 0.79 vs. 0.63 mmol/L, Ϫ25.3%; 0.75 vs. 0.63 mmol/L, Ϫ23.0%; and 0.71 vs. 0.63 mmol/L, Ϫ12

Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities as well as total phenols and flavonoids contents of Salvia glutinosa L. (glutinous sage) and Salvia officinalis L. (sage) extracts were studied. Methanol and aqueous ethanol (70% v/v) were used for extraction of bioactive compounds, both in the presence and the absence of ultrasound, from herb and the spent plant material remaining after the essential oil hydrodistillation. The ratio of plant material to extracting solvent was 1:10 g/mL. Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of the extracts were found to depend on the type of plant material and the extraction conditions. The plant materials from which essential oil had been recovered were proven to be valuable raw materials for making various herbal preparations.

This study was designed to examine antioxidant and moisturizing effect of purified GAGS from ascidian tunics as functional cosmetic ingredient. A skin-tonner and essence which contain 1.0% of GAG were manufactured conventionally. These product then were tested for 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, collagenase inhibitory activity, collagen-formation stimulator, and fibroblast-proliferation promoter abilities. The DPPH scavenging activity for skin-tonner and essence were 20.5% and 12.4% respectively. Collagenase inhibitory activity of skin-tonner was higher (94.6%) than the essence (80.1%). Skin-tonner and essence with GAGs showed collagen-formation stimulation ability, which were 129.9% and 120.2% respectively. These products also demonstrated significant (p<0.01) fibroblast-proliferation promoter abilities.

This research was aimed to investigate the ability of a alpha-mangostin compound derived from mangosteen pericarp to reduce plasma blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine level, and also to ameliorate the damaged renal proximal tubular of the kidneys in diabetic mice. An in-vivo antioxidant test was conducted using male BALB/c mice. The mice were divided into two groups; normal control (KN) and streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. Streptozotocin (STZ) induction was performed using multiple low-doses of 30 mg/kg injected for five consecutive days. The diabetic mice were separated again into three sub-groups; diabetic control (KD), diabetic mice treated with Metformin HCl (KM), and diabetic mice treated with alpha-mangostin. The alpha-mangostin treatment group was categorised based on the dose given; P1 (2 mg/kg body weight), P2 (4 mg/kg body weight) and P3 (8 mg/kg body weight). Before and after STZ injection, the body weight and fasting blood glucose were measured. The body weight...

Objective: To determine the acetylcholinesterase inhibitory (AChEI) and antioxidant activity of the ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of 12 traditional medicinal plants used in the treatment of neurological disorders. Methods: AChEI activity was determined spectrophotometrically using the Ellman's colorimetric method. Antioxidant activity was carried out by determining the ability of the extracts to scavenge 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2´-azinobis-3ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) radicals. The levels of total phenols, flavonoids and flavonols were determined quantitatively using spectrophotometric methods. Results: AChEI was observed to be dose-dependent. Lannea schweinfurthii (Engl.) Engl. and Scadoxus puniceus (L.) Friis & I. Nordal. root extracts showed the lowest IC 50 value of 0.0003 mg/ml for the ethyl acetate extracts while Zanthoxylum davyi (I. Verd.) P.G. Watermann had the lowest IC 50 value of 0.01 mg/ml for the methanol extracts in the AChEI assay. The roots of Piper capense L.f., Lannea schweinfurthii (Engl.) Engl., Ziziphus mucronata Willd., Zanthoxylum davyi (I. Verd.) P.G. Watermann and Crinum bulbispermum (Burm.f.) Milne-Redh. & Schweick. showed noteworthy radical scavenging activity and good AChEI activity. Conclusions: Five plants showed good antioxidant and AChEI activity. These findings support the traditional use of the plants for treating neurological disorders especially where a cholinesterase mechanism and ROS are involved.

Carotenoids are a group of phytochemicals that are recognized as playing an important role in the prevention of several degenerative diseases due to their antioxidant activity. The low water-solubility and poor photostability of β-carotene, a potentially important dietary antioxidant, prompted us to investigate β-carotene complexes able to increase its water solubility as well as its photostability in aqueous solution. In this work we have used humic acid in order to synthesize β-carotene–humic acid complexes in different ratios.Complexes were characterized by FT-IR and DSC. β-Carotene determination were performed by HPLC and antioxidant activity of β-carotene, humic acid and the complexes were determined by the TEAC method. The formulation β-carotene–humic acid 2:1 showed the highest photostability and water solubility. The antioxidant activity of the complexes was about 20 times lower than “free” β-carotene, suggesting a decreased chemical reactivity of the carotenoid in the complex. We showed that complexation of β-carotene with humic acids was able to increase its water solubility and photostability, and to affect the antioxidant activity of β-carotene after inclusion in HAs. This work provides a useful tool to avoid antioxidants photodegradation and oxidation by radicals, thus maintaining their biological activity.

The antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of Myrtus communis extract was determined before and after its encapsulation in liposomes of diVerent composition. Evaluation of the sunXower oil oxidation by the Rancimat stability test and malondialdehyde formation by HPLC were used to measure the antioxidant action in comparison with common commercial antioxidants, such as butylated hydroxytoluene andtocopherol. The thermal-oxidative decomposition of the samples, the modiWcation of the main transition temperature for the lipid mixture and the splitting of the calorimetric peak in the presence of the antioxidants were studied by diVerential scanning calorimetry. The size and the surface charge of liposomes were also studied. The extract showed antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. t concentrations up to 160 ppm, the extract showed superior activity than -tocopherol. When the extract was encapsulated in liposomes, its antioxidant as well as its antimicrobial activity proved to be superior from that of itself in pure form.

The antioxidant activity of eight coumarins and two flavonols isolated from Haplopappus multifolius was studied with the DPPH radical method. Results show that a high concentration of phenolic coumarins and the presence of quercetin and rhamnetin in the exudates could account for the protection of the plant against oxidative stress. Structures for the coumarins 6-hydroxy-7-[(E,E)-3 0 ,7 0 -dimethyl-2 0 ,4 0 ,7 0 -octatrienyloxy] coumarin and 7-[(E)-3 0 -methyl-4 0 -hydroxy-2 0 -butenyloxy] coumarin are proposed on the basis of spectroscopic evidence.

Fresh persimmons were subjected to two different processes: sun-drying during 1 month and dehydration at 60 °C during 12 h. To assess the effect of this process on nutritional and health-related properties of persimmons dietary fibers, minerals, trace elements, ...

Free-radical scavenging, reducing activity and some phytochemical content (total phenolic, anthocyanin and ferulic acid) of eighteen Mexican maize phenotypes were determined. Total phenolic contents ranged from 215.8 to 3400.1 mg gallic acid/100 g of whole grain flour and total anthocyanins ranged from 1.54 to 850.9 mg cyanidin-glucoside equivalents/100 g of whole grain flour. Most of the phenolics in grain were in the bound form (ca. 85%), while anthocyanins were the major free phenolic compounds. Among the different samples, bound phenolic extracts of corn appeared to have greater anti-radical and reducing activities than free phenolic extracts from the same grain samples when tested at a normalized phenolic concentration. The phenotypes Veracruz 42 and AREQ516540TL exhibited the greatest activities and these purple-colored strains were most enriched in anthocyanins. Extracts from a red-colored phenotype Pinto were also among the most effective at exhibiting anti-radical activities. Differences in free-radical scavenging and reducing activities appeared to be dependent on the unique profile of anthocyanins and other phenolics in each phenotype.

Dioscorin, the storage protein of yam (Dioscorea batatas Decne) tuber (which is different from dioscorine found in tubers of Dioscorea hirsuta), was purified to homogeneity after DE-52 ion exchange column according to the methods of Hou et al. (J. Agric. Food Chem. 1999, 47, 2168-2172. A single band of 32 kDa dioscorin was obtained on a sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis gel with 2-mercaptoethanol treatment. This purified dioscorin was shown by spectrophotometric method to have scavenging activity against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical in a pH-dependent manner. There is a positive correlation between scavenging effects against DPPH (8-46%) and amounts of 32 kDa dioscorin (5.97-47.80 nmol) added in Tris-HCl buffer (pH 7.9), which are comparable to those of glutathione at the same concentrations. Using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrometry for DPPH radical detection, it was found that the intensities of the EPR signal were decreased by 28.6 and 57 nmol of 32 kDa dioscorin in Tris-HCl buffer (pH 7.9) more than in distilled water compared to controls. EPR spectrometry was also used for hydroxyl radical detection. It was found that 32 kDa dioscorin could capture hydroxyl radical, and the intensities of the EPR signal were significantly decreased dose-dependently by 1.79-14.32 nmol of 32 kDa dioscorin (r ) 0.975) compared to the control. It is suggested that 32 kDa dioscorin, the storage protein of yam tuber, may play a role as antioxidant in tubers and may be beneficial for health when people take it as a food additive or consume yam tubers.

Phenolic compounds and antioxidant activities of four mango varieties cultivated in Brazil were analyzed. The profile of flavonol-Oglycosides and xanthone-C-glycosides was characterized in pulps from Haden, Tommy Atkins, Palmer, and Ubá cultivars and in the agro-industrial residues from Ubá variety by LC-ESI-MS analysis. The first three varieties were collected from conventional production, whereas Ubá was obtained from organic production. The total phenolic content of the peels and seed kernel extracts was analyzed utilizing Folin-Ciocalteu's reagent. The aqueous-methanolic extracts of pulp, peel and seed kernels were analyzed for antioxidant activity (AA) by free radical-scavenging and reducing power. A total of 12 flavonoids and xanthones were identified in the pulps, peels and seed kernels, with larger amounts of these compounds being present in the organically grown Ubá variety. The Ubá mango pulp presented higher AA and the peel and seed kernel extracts showed higher AA than did a commercial standard.

The enzymatic acylation of isoquercitrin with fatty acid esters of various carbon chain lengths was carried out in 2-methyl-2-butanol using Novozym 435 1 . The conversion yield and the initial rate decreased from 66% to 38% and from 17.7 to 10.1 mmol/h respectively, as the carbon chain of the acyl donor increased from C4 to C18. Isoquercitrin acylated derivatives showed higher xanthine oxidase inhibition activities than isoquercitrin. This property increased with the lipophilicity of the derivative esters. The scavenging activity of isoquercitrin esters against ABTS and DPPH radicals decreased with the acyl chain length. Conversely, for esters from C6 to C18, a linear growing relationship can be established between the chain length and the superoxide radical scavenging activity. Furthermore, an improved antiproliferative effect on Caco2 cancer cells was induced by addition of isoquercitrin esters comparing with isoquercitrin. ß

A new popular way of making tea, especially in Taiwan, is to steep leaves in cold water. Here we investigate whether antioxidant activity of teas may be affected by hot or cold water steeping and if this correlates with their polyphenol content and metal-chelating activity. A set of five loose tea samples, consisting of unblended and blended teas, was analysed following their infusion in either hot water (90°C, 7 min) or cold water (room temperature, 2 h). Antioxidant activity, measured as hydrogen-donating ability, using the ABTSÁ and DMPD assays, showed no significant differences among hot or cold teas, except in the case of white tea, where significantly higher values were obtained after cold water steeping, a recurrent finding in this study. The antioxidant activity of the teas correlates well with their total phenolic content and metal-chelating activity. Cold teas were, however, generally better inhibitors of in vitro LDL conjugated diene formation and of loss in tryptophan fluorescence. The results of this study contribute to gaining further knowledge on how the potential health benefits of this popular beverage may be maximised by the different methods of preparation.

Check the properties attributed to medicinal plants is of vital importance as an alternative in the medical therapy and as a source of development of new drugs. Medicinal plants offer a path with great possibilities, an encouraging alternative for the control of various diseases in man. Mangroves are a resource of great significance for Cuba and the world, mangrove vegetation is represented in this country for four tree species, where Rhizophora mangle L. also known as red mangrove, is now the dominant species. Due to the pharmacological results found in this species as healing, antiseptic, antimicrobial, anti-ulcer, treatment of open wounds, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antidiarrheal, insecticide, larvicide among others; it could be an important source of new products aimed at solving health problems of great current relevance, but using this species for drug development has been limited by the damage it can cause to the ecosystem over-exploitation of mangroves. The objective of...

A two-step autolysis process was proposed to enhance amino acid production from spent brewer's yeast. The technique was developed based on comparative study of the dynamics of production and release of proteins and amino acids during the autolysis of a concentrated suspension (22 wt.%) and a dilute yeast cell suspension (11.25 wt.%). The results suggest that, in the concentrated yeast suspension, proteins are more effectively broken down into amino acids, but the product release rate was lower due to a lower concentration gradient across the cell membrane. Thus, a two-step process, in which a high protein conversion occurred in a concentrated cell suspension during the first 13 h period, followed by a 26 h autolysis process within a dilute cell suspension, provided a higher overall yield of amino acids compared than the single-step process. The two-step process was found to result in a 25% higher amino acid yield with a weight fraction increase from 0.4 to 0.5 g=g dry wt. Other than these findings, the effect of adding NaCl to the suspension during autolysis was also investigated. It was found that, for the autolysis conditions employed in this study, the addition of NaCl did not significantly affect the production of protein but inhibited the production of amino acids.

The antioxidant activity of a methanolic extract of Bombax ceiba was evaluated using several antioxidant assays, in terms of its: (i) ability to scavenge DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl) and hydroxyl free radicals; (ii) action against lipid peroxidation (in rat liver microsomes and soy bean phosphatidylcholine liposomes), induced by ascorbyl radicals and peroxynitrite; and (iii) effect on myeloperoxidase activity. The cytotoxicity was monitored through the mitochondrial activity in the Vero cell line. The extract showed antioxidant activity in all assays, the EC 50 (µg/ml) for DPPH was 87 and for lipid peroxidation of microsomes and soy bean liposomes induced by ascorbyl radicals were 141 and 105, respectively, and by peroxynitrite were 115 and 77, respectively. The K 0.5 value for myeloperoxidase activity inhibition by the extract was 264 µg/ml. The extract showed very low toxicity toward Vero cells.

Background: In recent years consumers, due to the growing interest for functional foods, have put particularly attention on products enriched with probiotic lactic acid bacteria for their ability to give human benefit by their assumption. Microorganisms to be considered as probiotic should be able to survive to gastrointestinal juices and colonize the intestinal tract to provide benefits to human health.

The aim of the study consisted of the in vitro investigation of novel LAB strains, isolated during cheesemaking and ripening of Caciocavallo cheese, and on their probiotic potential for food application.

Methods: In order to select potential probiotic bacteria, LAB isolates were preliminarily screened for their survival to simulated gastro-intestinal transitand assayed for other activities of probiotic and functional interest. Thanks to promising attitude as potential probiotics, four strains were tested to evaluate their adhesion ability on Caco-2 cell lines used as intestinal cell model.

Microbiological data were analysed by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Comparisons of means were carried out using post-hoc Tukey’s test. For vitro adhesion experiments, statistical significance was evaluated by Kruskal-Wallis test for equal medians.

Results: Twenty-five LAB, presumptively identified as Lactobacillus spp., were isolated from cheese during 60 days of ripening and screened for their survival to simulated gastrointestinal transit. Sixteen isolates that showed a survival rate ≥85% were identifiedas 10 different profiles of Lb. paracasei subsp. paracasei. The 10 strains tolerated high concentration of bile salts by Minimal Inhibitory Concentration and growth rate assays and showed susceptibility or moderate susceptibility against antibiotics of human and veterinary importance, except for the resistanceto the class of aminoglycoside antibiotics. Eight out 10 strains showed in vitro cholesterol-lowering ability, whereas all strains showed antioxidant activity of their cell-free supernatants. Moreover, the four strains with highest survival to simulated gastrointestinal transit showed the ability to adhere to Caco-2 cells.

Conclusion: The results suggest that some strains may be effective probiotics to be use as tool to design probiotic dairy products after confirmation probiotic activities in further in vivo studies. Findings of the present study suggest that four strains showed good or strong adherent ability on Caco-2 cell monolayer, that is one of prerequisite that probiotic bacteria must have to perform their functional properties.

Keywords: adhesion, antioxidant activity, bile salts, cholesterol assimilation, dairy products, gastrointestinal resistance, probiotic lactobacilli.

The chemical composition of essential oils of six Stachys species, S. cretica L. ssp. vacillans Rech. fil., S. germanica L., S. hydrophila Boiss., S. nivea Labill., S. palustris L. and S. spinosa L., obtained by hydrodistillation, was studied by GC and GC–MS. All the oils have in common a great percentage of fatty acids and esters (24.2–58.5%) and a high

Pomegranate peel is a nutritive-rich byproduct whose amounts are extensively growing due to the exponential increase in the production of pomegranate juice and "ready to eat" arils. Pomegranate peel is a rich source for antioxidants and thus may serve in the prevention of cattle diseases and in the improvement of beef products, making it an attractive component in beef cattle diets. The present study aims to evaluate the effect of commonly used storage practices on the nutritive and antioxidative properties of pomegranate peel. In general, storage conditions preserved most antioxidant capacity. Ensiling ambivalently affected the nutritive values of the peel and promoted increased levels of antioxidative components. In addition to polyphenols, nonphenolic components, such as R-and γ-tocopherols, contributed to the total antioxidative capacity, and several minerals found in the peel added to its nutritional value. Dietary supplementation with fresh peels promoted significant increases in feed intake and R-tocopherol concentration in the plasma, with positive tendency toward increased weight gain of bull calves. All in all, the nutritive value and the antioxidant capacity of pomegranate peel turn it into a favorable health-promoting constituent of feedlot beef cattle diet.

A cell suspension culture of devil's claw (Harpagophytum procumbens), an African plant with high medicinal value, was induced from previously obtained callus cultures, cultivated in shake-flasks, and a purification scheme to isolate the main active constituents that accumulated in the biomass was developed. The antioxidant activities of total methanol extracts, collected fractions (phenylethanoids, terpenoids and sugars) and specific active constituents (b-OH-verbascoside, verbascoside and leucosceptoside A) were then evaluated in 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPHÁ) and superoxide anion ð Å O À 2 Þ radical scavenging and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC FL ) assays. The most active compounds were found to be b-OH-verbascoside (in DPPHÁ and superoxide radical scavenging assays) and leucosceptoside A (in ORAC assays). The phenylethanoid fraction may be attractive for various commercial purposes since it displayed significant antioxidant activity and it can be conveniently and economically prepared by a single-step column separation of extracts.

Trachyspermum ammi, Ajwain is a rich in vitamins and minerals, it is also concentrated in health-promoting phytonutrients such as carotenoids (beta-carotene, and lutein) and flavonoids to provide powerful antioxidant protection. The aim of this was to determine the effect on total antioxidant activity in fresh and frozen ajwain leaves. The extract of fresh and frozen ajwain leaves was subjected to in vitro free radical scavenging DPPH assay. The results obtained were analyzed. Antioxidant activity was exhibited significantly higher in frozen ajwain leaves than fresh one. Lutein content was also found higher in frozen Ajwain leaves in comparison with fresh Ajwain. Hence the antioxidant activity of ajwain is highly correlated to the concentration of polyphenols and freezing condition.

The antioxidant capacity of aqueous extracts of 20 vegetables and 16 fruits have been determined using the Briggs-Rauscher (BR) reaction method. Like other methods, the BR reaction method is also based on the generation of free radicals in the reaction mixture. Antioxidant scavengers of free radicals added to an active oscillatory BR regime cause an immediate cessation of the oscillatory regime, an inhibition time that linearly depends on the amount of the antioxidant added, and subsequent regeneration of oscillations. The BR reaction method works at pH≈2, which is similar to that of the fluids in the human stomach. It is known that a vegetarian diet can reduce the risk of stomach cancer and it is therefore interesting to determine the activity of antioxidants at low pH values.

The levels of anthocyanins and other flavonoids, as well as melatonin, in various tart cherry products (frozen and dried cherries, powders from individually quick frozen (IQF) cherry and juice concentrate) from two tart cherry cultivars, 'Montmorency' and 'Balaton' were analysed comparatively by HPLC and electrospray mass spectrometry (EMS). Our results show that the major anthocyanin compound in these two tart cherry cultivars is cyanidin 3-glucosylrutinoside, followed by cyanidin 3-rutinoside, cyanydin sophoroside, and peonidin 3-glucoside. Studies on antioxidant activities (total antioxidant status assay) of crude extracts of ten tart cherry products show that these products preserve their antioxidant capacities after processing and storage. We have also compared the antioxidant activities of several single constituents that are present in tart cherry. When TEAC (trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity) values were evaluated conceptually against the cherry phytochemical profile, cyanidin and its derivatives were found to be the significant contributors to the antioxidant systems of tart cherries. It was shown that standard compounds with common aglycon moieties show similar antioxidant activities.

Vitamin E and γ-oryzanol display a wide range of biological activities including hypocholesterolemic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. Although white rice is far more popular worldwide, consumption of brown rice is increasing, partially on account of the presence of bioactive compounds; however, the effects of parboiling, storage and cooking on them are not well-characterized. The effects of parboiling and a 6-month storage period on the contents of vitamin E and γ-oryzanol in three brown rice cultivars grown in three different locations in Brazil were investigated. Also, their levels in branded non-parboiled and parboiled brown rice were monitored before and after cooking. Vitamin E homologues and γ-oryzanol were separated by RP-HPLC equipped with PDA and fluorescence detectors. The average levels of total tocols and γ-oryzanol in the raw brown rice cultivars studied were 25 and 188 mg/kg, respectively. Of the vitamin E homologues, γ-tocotrienol contributed with 74% of total tocols, followed by α-tocopherol, α-tocotrienol and γ-tocopherol in minor quantities. The combined processes, parboiling, storage and cooking, led to an approximate 90% reduction in tocols and only γ-tocotrienol was detectable after any of the processes. Parboiling followed by storage resulted in an approximate 40% loss of γ-oryzanol. Cooking had almost no further effect over γ-oryzanol levels in parboiled rice previously stored for 6 months.