Molecular physicochemical parameters predicting antioxidant activity of Brazilian natural products

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Iron chelating-mediated antioxidant activity of Plectranthus barbatus extract on mitochondria

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Relative antioxidant activity of Brazilian medicinal plants for gastrointestinal diseases

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Relation between antioxidant activity and electronic structure of Phenols

We describe a new physicochemical descriptor of the antioxidant activity of phenols, the energy difference between the two highest occupied molecular orbitals, which we believe will improve quantitative structure-activity relationship studies about these compounds. (C) 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The use of classification methods for modeling the antioxidant activity of flavonoid compounds

A study using two classification methods (SDA and SIMCA) was carried out in this work with the aim of investigating the relationship between the structure of flavonoid compounds and their free-radical-scavenging ability. In this work, we report the use of chemometric methods (SDA and SIMCA) able to select the most relevant variables (steric, electronic, and topological) responsible for this ability. The results obtained with the SDA and SIMCA methods agree perfectly with our previous model, in which we used other chemometric methods (PCA, HCA and KNN) and are also corroborated with experimental results from the literature. This is a strong indication of how reliable the selection of variables is.

Antioxidant activity of the melanin pigment extracted from Aspergillus nidulans

Melanins are pigments of high molecular weight formed by oxidative polymerization of phenolic or indolic compounds. A number of fungi, including Aspergillus nidulans, produce pigments related or identical to melanin, which are located on cell walls or exist as extracellular polymers. The aim of the present study was to assess the antioxidant activity of synthetic melanin and of the pigment extracted from the mycelium and culture medium after growth of the highly melanized strain (MEL1) from A. nidulans. The ability of the melanin pigment to scavenge the oxidants HOCl and H2O2 was evaluated by inhibition of the oxidation of 5-thio-2-nitrobenzoic acid (TNB) using several melanin concentrations. The results showed that the pigment of the MEL1 strain competes with TNB for H2O2 and HOCl, inhibiting TNB oxidation in a concentration-dependent manner. For the HOCl oxidant, this inhibition was comparable to that of synthetic melanin, whose IC50 values were quite close for both pigments. Thus, our results suggest that the melanin from A. nidulans is a potential HOCl scavenger and may be considered a promising material for the cosmetic industry for the formulation of creams that protect the skin against possible oxidative damage.

Quercetin-PVP K25 solid dispersions: Preparation, thermal characterization and antioxidant activity

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Influence of the cultivation system in the aroma of the volatile compounds and total antioxidant activity of passion fruit

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Isolation and evaluation of the antioxidant activity of phenolic constituents of the Garcinia brasiliensis epicarp

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Quick preparative separation of natural naphthopyranones with antioxidant activity by high-speed counter-current chromatography

The natural naphthopyranones paepalantine (1), paepalantine-9O-β-D-glucopyranoside (2) and paepalantine-9-O-β-D-allopyranosyl-(1→6)-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (3) were separated in a preparative scale from the ethanolic extract of the capitula of Paepalanthus bromelioides by high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC). The solvent system used was composed of water-ethanol-ethyl acetate-hexane (10:4:10:4, v/v/v/v). This technique led to the separation of the three different naphthopyranone glycosides in pure form in approximately 7 hours. Paepalantine showed a good antioxidant activity when assayed by the DPPH radical spectrophotometric assay.

Antioxidant activity of flavonols

In this work we use a single new electronic index to describe the antioxidant activity of the flavonols, a special class of flavonoids. We also try to predict theoretically the antioxidant activity of some yet nonisolated flavonols. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Study of antioxidant activity of non-conventional Brazilian fruits

This study aimed to analyze the proximate composition of seeds from some non-conventional Brazilian fruits, as well as to evaluate the antioxidant activity through DPPH • free radical and to quantify the total phenolic compounds. To obtain the extracts, dried and crushed seeds were extracted with ethanol for 30 min, in a ratio of 1:3 (seeds:ethyl alcohol), under continuous agitation, at room temperature. Then, the mixtures were filtered and the supernatants were subjected to rotary evaporator under pressure reduced to 40 °C. The results report that the seeds of non-conventional fruits are remarkable sources of lipids, and the extraction of oil from these seeds could be an alternative for the commercial utilization of waste. They also presented significant percentages of protein and carbohydrates. Ethanol extracts of seeds from non-conventional Brazilian fruits showed relevant antioxidant activity and high amount of phenolic compounds. Therefore Brazilian non-conventional fruits can be used as functional food products or feed. © 2011 Association of Food Scientists & Technologists (India).

Baccharis dracunculifolia, the main source of green propolis, exhibits potent antioxidant activity and prevents oxidative mitochondrial damage

Baccharis dracunculifolia DC (Asteraceae) is the main botanical source used by honeybees to produce Brazilian green propolis whose hepatoprotective properties have been already described. In this work we investigated the protective effects of the glycolic extract of B. dracunculifolia (GEBd) against oxidative stress in isolated rat liver mitochondria (RLM). The GEBd was prepared by fractionated percolation using propylene glycol as solvent. The total phenols and flavonoids, which are substances with recognized antioxidant action, were quantified in GEBd and the phytochemical analysis was carried out by HPLC. GEBd exhibited significant scavenger activity towards DPPH radicals and superoxide anions in a concentration-dependent manner, and also a Fe 2+ chelating activity. GEBd decreased the basal H 2O 2 generation and the Fe 2+- or t-BuOOH-induced ROS production in isolated mitochondria. Lipid oxidation of mitochondrial membranes, protein thiol groups and GSH oxidation were also prevented by GEBd. This shows that B. dracunculifolia exhibit potent antioxidant activity protecting liver mitochondria against oxidative damage and such action probably contribute to the antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects of green propolis. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd.

ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF ROSEMARY EXTRACT IN SOYBEAN OIL UNDER THERMOXIDATION

This study examined the antioxidant activity of lyophilized rosemary extract added to soybean oil, subjected to thermoxidation conditions and also its synergistic effect with the synthetic antioxidant tertiary butylhydroquinone (TBHQ). Soybean oil samples with no antioxidant added (SO), 3,000mg/kg rosemary extract (RE), 50mg/kg TBHQ (TBHQ), and a mixture of those two antioxidants (RE+TBHQ) were heated to 180C for 20h. After 0, 10 and 20h, the oxidative stability, total polar compounds, tocopherol content and fatty acid profile were determined. The addition of rosemary extract increased oxidative stability and resulted in a lower formation of total polar compounds and a higher retention of tocopherols. The RE treatment showed the highest amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids after 20h. There was not any synergy between TBHQ and rosemary extract in preventing oxidation of soybean oil. Rosemary extract showed a higher antioxidant potential when compared with TBHQ. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Antioxidants are important ingredients in food processing because they have the capacity to protect foods, containing oils and fats, from damage caused by free radicals and reactive oxygen species. Synthetic antioxidants are widely used in the food industry; however, their utilization has been questioned because of toxicity. Therefore, there is a growing interest in the use of natural antioxidants to reduce or replace the synthetic antioxidants. Several species are used in cooking, medicine and by the pharmaceutical industry, standing out the rosemary. Being rich in compounds with high antioxidant activity, the rosemary extract can be used to replace synthetic antioxidants used in vegetable oils. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Soursop (Annona muricata L.) and sugar apple (Annona squamosa L.): Antioxidant activity, fatty acids profile and determination of tocopherols

Purpose: This study aims to analyze the soursop and sugar apple seeds as to its composition, to evaluate the antioxidant potential of seeds extract and characterize the oil extracted from them, regarding the fatty acids profile and content of tocopherols. Design/methodology/approach: To obtain the extracts, dried and crushed seeds were extracted with ethanol for 30 minutes, at a ratio of 1:3 (m/m, seed: ethyl alcohol) under continuous stirring at room temperature. Then, the mixture was filtered and the supernatants subjected to rotoevaporator at 40°C aiming to determine, by direct weighing, the yields of dry extracts. Findings: According to the results, the soursop and sugar apple seeds constituted significant sources of lipids, proteins and carbohydrates and can therefore be used in food and feed, and offer relevant antioxidant activity of phenolic compounds. The oil seeds are a good source of unsaturated fatty acids, especially oleic and linoleic acids and they have significant amounts of total tocopherol. Research limitations/implications: Implications are the identification of bioactive compounds extracted from seeds of tropical and subtropical fruits, and to prevent certain types of diseases. Practical implications: The information presented might be directly used for developing of functional foods such as fruits. Originality/value: The article tries to identify new source of compounds extracted from fruits. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited.