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A special issue of Antioxidants (ISSN 2076-3921). This special issue belongs to the section "Natural and Synthetic Antioxidants".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2024 | Viewed by 17073

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Valentina Pavic

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Guest Editor

Department of Biology, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Ulica Cara Hadrijana 8/a, 31000 Osijek, Croatia
Interests: antioxidant activity of plant extracts; phytochemicals; oxidative stress; lipid peroxidation; antibacterial activity; bioactive heterocyclic compounds
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Lidija Jakobek

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Faculty of Food and Technology Osijek, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Franje Kuhaca 18, 31000 Osijek, Croatia
Interests: the investigation of the fate of phenolic compounds in the digestive tract, their interactions with other food components especially with dietary fibers, and the influence of these interactions on the beneficial effects of phenolic compounds in the digestive tract; modeling experimental data to predict the behavior of phenolic compounds in the digestive system
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nature hides real wealth when it comes to medicinal plants. The use of medicinal plants has been known since ancient times when societies were conscious of the well-being accomplished by medicinal plants and their products. Today, the use of medicinal plants continues expanding after the recognition of phytochemicals present in them. They are also considered excellent sources of novel agents for synthetic or semisynthetic drugs due to their potent pharmacological activities, low toxicity, and economic viability. This Special Issue provides a thorough overview of the latest research regarding medicinal plants that have a wide variety of antioxidative agents ranging from alkaloids, terpenes, polyphenols (phenolic acids, flavonoids, anthocyanins, lignans, and stilbenes), carotenoids (xanthophylls and carotenes), and vitamins (vitamin E and C). Antioxidants reduce oxidative stress in cells and are, thus, practical in treating many human diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and inflammatory diseases. Besides medicinal uses, antioxidants have also been used in food and cosmetic industries. Owing to the fact that the phytochemical profile of medicinal plants is strongly affected by the plant species' chemotypes, climate and environmental conditions, collection and storage conditions, etc., the evaluation of the antioxidant properties of medicinal plants and their products is necessary.

Dr. Valentina Pavic
Prof. Dr. Lidija Jakobek
Guest Editors

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Keywords

medicinal plants
antioxidant capacity
polyphenols
terpenes
extraction/purification technologies
in vivo and in vitro methods for antioxidant activity assessment
medicinal plant-based food additives
bioavailability
pharmacological activity
supplements

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Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

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20 pages, 1849 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Determination of Biologically Active Compounds and Antioxidant Capacity In Vitro in Fruit of Small Cranberries (Vaccinium oxycoccos L.) Growing in Natural Habitats in Lithuania

by Mindaugas Liaudanskas, Rima Šedbarė and Valdimaras Janulis

Antioxidants 2024, 13(9), 1045; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox13091045 - 28 Aug 2024

Viewed by 629

Abstract

The composition of flavonols, proanthocyanidins, anthocyanins, triterpene compounds, and chlorogenic acid in small cranberry fruit samples collected in natural habitats in Lithuania and variation in the antioxidant capacity of cranberry fruit extracts was determined. This study showed that in the flavonol group, hyperoside and myricetin-3-O-galactoside predominated in cranberry fruit samples; in the anthocyanin group, the predominant compounds were cyanidin-3-O-galactoside, cyanidin-3-O-arabinoside, peonidin-3-O-galactoside, and peonidin-3-O-arabinoside, and in the group of triterpene compounds, ursolic acid was predominant. The highest total amounts of flavonols and anthocyanins were found in the samples collected in Čepkeliai State Strict Nature Reserve (2079.44 ± 102.99 μg/g and 6993.79 ± 350.22 μg/g, respectively). Cluster analysis of the chemical composition of small cranberry fruit samples revealed trends in the accumulation of bioactive compounds in cranberry fruit. Cranberry fruit samples collected in central Lithuania had higher levels of triterpene compounds. Statistical correlation analysis showed the strongest correlation between the quantitative composition of cyanidin-3-O-arabinoside and peonidin-3-O-arabinoside and the reducing capacity of the ethanolic extracts of the cranberry fruit samples assessed in vitro by the FRAP assay (r = 0.882, p < 0.01 and r = 0.805, p < 0.01, respectively). Summarizing the results, the geographical factor affects the variation of the quantitative composition of biologically active compounds in cranberry fruit samples. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antioxidant Potential in Medicinal Plants)

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26 pages, 5826 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring Chemical Composition, Antioxidant, Enzyme Inhibitory and Cytotoxic Properties of Glaucium acutidentatum Hausskn. & Bornm. from Turkey Flora: A Novel Source of Bioactive Agents to Design Functional Applications

by Sakina Yagi, Gokhan Zengin, Abdullahi Ibrahim Uba, Magdalena Maciejewska-Turska, Elwira Sieniawska, Łukasz Świątek, Barbara Rajtar, Muammer Bahşi, Osman Guler, Stefano Dall’Acqua and Małgorzata Polz-Dacewicz

Antioxidants 2024, 13(6), 643; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox13060643 - 25 May 2024

Viewed by 1976

Abstract

The present study was performed to determine the chemical constituents, cytotoxicity, antioxidant and enzyme inhibition activities of the aerial parts of Glaucium acutidentatum Hausskn. and Bornm. (family Papaveraceae). Methanolic and aqueous extracts were prepared by maceration, homogenizer-assisted extraction (HAE) and infusion. Results showed that the highest total phenolic and flavonoids contents were obtained from the methanol extracts obtained by HAE (53.22 ± 0.10 mg GAE/g) and maceration (30.28 ± 0.51 mg RE/g), respectively. The aporphine, beznyltetrahydroisoquinoline, and protopine types of Glaucium alkaloids have been tentatively identified. Among them, glaucine was identified in all extracts. Flavonoids, phenolic acids, coumarins, organic acids and fatty acids were also detected. Methanolic extract obtained using the HAE method displayed the highest anti-DPPH (41.42 ± 0.62 mg TE/g), total antioxidant (1.20 ± 0.17 mmol TE/g), Cu²⁺ (113.55 ± 6.44 mg TE/g), and Fe³⁺ (74.52 ± 4.74 mg TE/g) reducing properties. The aqueous extracts obtained by infusion and HAE methods exerted the best anti-ABTS (103.59 ± 1.49 mg TE/g) and chelating (19.81 ± 0.05 mg EDTAE/g) activities, respectively. Methanolic extract from HAE recorded the highest acetylcholinesterase (2.55 ± 0.10 mg GALAE/g) and α-amylase (0.51 ± 0.02 mmol ACAE/g) inhibition activities, while that obtained by maceration showed the best butyrylcholinesterase (3.76 ± 0.31 mg GALAE/g) inhibition activity. Both extracts revealed the best tyrosinase inhibitory activity (25.15 ± 1.00 and 26.79 ± 2.36 mg KAE/g, p ≥ 0.05). G. acutidentatum maceration-derived aqueous extract showed selective anticancer activity against cells originating from human hypopharyngeal carcinoma. In conclusion, these findings indicated that G. acutidentatum is a promising source of alkaloids and phenolic compounds for variable pharmaceutical formulations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antioxidant Potential in Medicinal Plants)

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18 pages, 2249 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Phytoconstituents of Androstachys johnsonii Prain Prevent Reactive Oxygen Species Production and Regulate the Expression of Inflammatory Mediators in LPS-Stimulated RAW 264.7 Macrophages

by Emmanuel Mfotie Njoya, Gaetan T. Tabakam, Chika I. Chukwuma, Samson S. Mashele and Tshepiso J. Makhafola

Antioxidants 2024, 13(4), 401; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox13040401 - 27 Mar 2024

Viewed by 1487

Abstract

According to a survey, the medicinal use of Androstachys johnsonii Prain is kept secret by traditional healers. Considering that inflammation and oxidative stress are major risk factors for the progression of various chronic diseases and disorders, we resolved to investigate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potentials of A. johnsonii using in vitro and cell-based assays. The antioxidant activity of A. johnsonii hydroethanolic leaf extract (AJHLE) was evaluated using the ABTS, DPPH, and FRAP assays. Its cytotoxic effect was assessed on RAW 264.7 macrophages using an MTT assay. Then, its anti-inflammatory effect was evaluated by measuring the NO production and 15-LOX inhibitory activities. Moreover, its preventive effect on ROS production and its regulatory effect on the expression of pro-inflammatory mediators such as IL-1β, IL-10, TNF-α, and COX-2 were determined using established methods. AJHLE strongly inhibited radicals such as ABTS^•+, DPPH^•, and Fe³⁺-TPTZ with IC₅₀ values of 9.07 µg/mL, 8.53 µg/mL, and 79.09 µg/mL, respectively. Additionally, AJHLE induced a significant (p < 0.05) cytotoxic effect at 100 µg/mL, and when tested at non-cytotoxic concentrations, it inhibited NO and ROS production in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, AJHLE showed that its anti-inflammatory action occurs via the inhibition of 15-LOX activity, the downregulation of COX-2, TNF-α, and IL-1β expression, and the upregulation of IL-10 expression. Finally, chemical investigation showed that AJHLE contains significant amounts of procyanidin, epicatechin, rutin, and syringic acid which support its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. These findings suggest that A. johnsonii is a potential source of therapeutic agents against oxidative stress and inflammatory-related diseases. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antioxidant Potential in Medicinal Plants)

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15 pages, 2691 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Phenolic Compounds in Berries of Winter-Resistant Actinidia arguta Miq. and Actinidia kolomikta Maxim.: Evidence of Antioxidative Activity

by Laima Česonienė, Viktorija Januškevičė, Sandra Saunoriūtė, Mindaugas Liaudanskas, Vaidotas Žvikas, Ričardas Krikštolaitis, Pranas Viškelis, Dalia Urbonavičienė, Paulina Martusevičė, Marcin Zych, Remigijus Daubaras, Aistė Balčiūnaitienė and Jonas Viškelis

Antioxidants 2024, 13(3), 372; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox13030372 - 19 Mar 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1738

Abstract

Variations between fruit cultivars can significantly impact their biochemical composition. The present research examined the variability in the qualitative and quantitative content of phenolic compounds in berry extracts of Actinidia kolomikta and Actinidia arguta cultivars. Additionally, antioxidant activities of berry extracts were evaluated. The total phenolic, flavonoid, proanthocyanidin contents and hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives were determined using the appropriate methodologies. The average amount of phenolic compounds in A. kolomikta berries (177.80 mg/g) was three times higher than that of A. arguta (54.45 mg/g). Our findings revealed that berries of A. kolomikta and A. arguta accumulated, on average, 1.58 RE/g DW (rutin equivalent/g dry weight) and 0.615 mg RE/g DW of total flavonoids, 1439.31 mg EE/g DW (epicatechin equivalent/g dry weight) and 439.97 mg EE/g DW of proanthocyanidins, and 23.51 mg CAE/g DW (chlorogenic acid equivalent/g dry weight) and 5.65 mg CAE/g DW of hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives, respectively. The cultivars of both species were characterized by higher antioxidant activity of total phenolic compounds determined using CUPRAC and FRAP methods compared to the ABTS^•+ method. The variability in phenolic compounds’ qualitative and quantitative content in tested berry extracts was evaluated by applying ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) coupled to mass spectrometry in tandem with electrospray ionization. Significant intraspecific differences in the amounts of total phenolic compounds, total flavonoid compounds, proanthocyanidins, and hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives were determined among cultivars. Four phenolic acids, eight flavonols, two flavones, and five flavon-3-ols were identified in the berry extracts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antioxidant Potential in Medicinal Plants)

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41 pages, 6786 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Boswellia Essential Oil: Natural Antioxidant as an Effective Antimicrobial and Anti-Inflammatory Agent

by Diana Obiștioiu, Anca Hulea, Ileana Cocan, Ersilia Alexa, Monica Negrea, Iuliana Popescu, Viorel Herman, Ilinca Merima Imbrea, Gabriel Heghedus-Mindru, Mukhtar Adeiza Suleiman, Isidora Radulov and Florin Imbrea

Antioxidants 2023, 12(10), 1807; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox12101807 - 27 Sep 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3301

Abstract

The research aimed to determine the chemical composition, the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity as well as the antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive, Gram-negative and two fungal Candida ATCC strains of a commercial Boswellia essential oil (BEO) containing Boswellia carteri, Boswellia sacra, Boswellia papryfera, and Boswellia frereana. Additionally, molecular docking was carried out to show the molecular dynamics of the compounds identified from the essential oil against three bacterial protein targets and one fungal protein target. The major components identified by GC-MS (Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry) were represented by α-pinene, followed by limonene. Evaluation of antioxidant activity using the DPPH (2,2-Diphenyl-1-Picrylhydrazyl) method showed high inhibition comparable to the synthetic antioxidant used as a control. Oxidative stability evaluation showed that BEO has the potential to inhibit primary and secondary oxidation products with almost the same efficacy as butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA). The use of BEO at a concentration of 500 ppm provided the best protection against secondary oxidation during 30 days of storage at room temperature, which was also evident in the peroxide value. Regarding the in vitro anti-inflammatory activity, the membrane lysis assay and the protein denaturation test revealed that even if the value of protection was lower than the value registered in the case of dexamethasone, the recommendation of using BEO as a protective agent stands, considering the lower side effects. Gram-positive bacteria proved more sensitive, while Pseudomonas aeruginosa presented different sensitivity, with higher MICs (minimal inhibitory concentration). Haemophilus influenzae demonstrated a MIC at 2% but with consecutive inhibitory values in a negative correlation with the increase in concentration, in contrast to E. coli, which demonstrated low inhibitory rates at high concentrations of BEO. The computational tools employed revealed interesting binding energies with compounds having low abundance. The interaction of these compounds and the proteins (tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase, DNA gyrase, peptide deformylase, 1,3-β-glucan synthase) predicts hydrogen bonds with amino acid residues, which are reported in the active sites of the proteins. Even so, compounds with low abundance in BEO could render the desired bioactive properties to the overall function of the oil sustained by physical factors such as storage and temperature. Interestingly, the findings from this study demonstrated the antioxidant and antimicrobial potential of Boswellia essential oil against food-related pathogens, thus making the oil a good candidate for usage in food, feed or food-safety-related products. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antioxidant Potential in Medicinal Plants)

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Review

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36 pages, 11197 KiB

Open AccessReview

An Update on Pentacyclic Triterpenoids Ursolic and Oleanolic Acids and Related Derivatives as Anticancer Candidates

by Diana Similie, Daliana Minda, Larisa Bora, Vladislavs Kroškins, Jevgeņija Lugiņina, Māris Turks, Cristina Adriana Dehelean and Corina Danciu

Antioxidants 2024, 13(8), 952; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox13080952 - 6 Aug 2024

Viewed by 1078

Abstract

Cancer is a global health problem, with the incidence rate estimated to reach 40% of the population by 2030. Although there are currently several therapeutic methods, none of them guarantee complete healing. Plant-derived natural products show high therapeutic potential in the management of various types of cancer, with some of them already being used in current practice. Among different classes of phytocompounds, pentacyclic triterpenoids have been in the spotlight of research on this topic. Ursolic acid (UA) and its structural isomer, oleanolic acid (OA), represent compounds intensively studied and tested in vitro and in vivo for their anticancer and chemopreventive properties. Since natural compounds can rarely be used in practice as such due to their characteristic physico-chemical properties, to tackle this problem, their derivatization has been attempted, obtaining compounds with improved solubility, absorption, stability, effectiveness, and reduced toxicity. This review presents various UA and OA derivatives that have been synthesized and evaluated in recent studies for their anticancer potential. It can be observed that the most frequent structural transformations were carried out at the C-3, C-28, or both positions simultaneously. It has been demonstrated that conjugation with heterocycles or cinnamic acid, derivatization as hydrazide, or transforming OH groups into esters or amides increases anticancer efficacy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antioxidant Potential in Medicinal Plants)

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35 pages, 2090 KiB

Open AccessReview

Quinces (Cydonia oblonga, Chaenomeles sp., and Pseudocydonia sinensis) as Medicinal Fruits of the Rosaceae Family: Current State of Knowledge on Properties and Use

by Anna Kostecka-Gugała

Antioxidants 2024, 13(1), 71; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox13010071 - 3 Jan 2024

Viewed by 2578

Abstract

In recent years, the evaluation of many plant-derived compounds as potential new drugs or functional foods has become an active research topic. The morphological characteristics of quinces of the genera Cydonia sp., Chaenomeles sp., and Pseuocydonia sp. are largely similar, which is why these fruits are often confused. Although they have been appreciated in Asia for centuries as a valuable component of local ethnomedicine, they are less known in Western countries, and scientific knowledge about their health benefits remains fragmentary. This literature review summarizes studies on the content of chemical compounds responsible for the health-promoting and functional properties of the quince fruit. It focuses on the content of carotenoids, vitamins, minerals, and carboxylic acids, although the main emphasis is on the content and diversity of bioactive polyphenols, which are extremely abundant in these fruits. The quince fruits are rich in antioxidants and compounds with proven anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antiallergic, and immunomodulatory effects. Their phytochemicals effectively regulate glycemia and improve the blood lipid profile, suggesting potential antidiabetic and cardioprotective benefits. Analysis of chemical characteristics showed that the Chaenomeles fruits. are underestimated as functional food ingredients. Studies on the molecular effects of their bioactive compounds and species-specific genomic analyses are sorely lacking in the scientific literature. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antioxidant Potential in Medicinal Plants)

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Other

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30 pages, 6865 KiB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Oxidative Stress in Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 3 and Its Attenuation by Herbal Remedies in Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Systematic Review

by Nur Shahirah Mohd Hisam and Kah Hui Wong

Antioxidants 2024, 13(3), 375; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox13030375 - 19 Mar 2024

Viewed by 2749

Abstract

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder that gives rise to motor incoordination and progressive functional disabilities. Although pharmacological interventions have revealed promising prospects in the management of SCA3, adverse effects may become unbearable. The use of herbal remedies in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) may serve as potential alternative medicines to delay the progression of the disease. This systematic review is intended to identify, appraise, and summarize the findings of studies pertaining to the therapeutic roles of herbal remedies in TCM targeting oxidative stress in the management of SCA3. A literature search for relevant articles published from 1 January 2013 to 30 June 2023 in three databases, namely PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus, was carried out according to the procedures of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). A total of ten preclinical studies met the inclusion criteria of the systematic review. We recognized the therapeutic potential of Brassica napus, Codonopsis pilosula, Curcuma sp., Gardenia jasminoides, Gastrodia elata, Ginkgo biloba, Glycyrrhiza inflata, Hericium erinaceus, Hyptis sp., Paeonia lactiflora, Panax ginseng, Poria cocos, Pueraria lobata, Rehmannia glutinosa, and Scrophularia ningpoensis. We identified the types of preclinical models expressing polyglutamine (polyQ) expanded mutant protein (mATXN3), inducers of oxidative stress that mimic the SCA3 pathogenesis, and effective doses of the herbal remedies. The modes of action contributing to the attenuation of oxidative stress are activation of antioxidant pathways, ubiquitin–proteasome system and autophagy, regulation of apoptosis, proinflammatory signaling pathway and chaperones, regulation of mitochondrial function and biogenesis, and restoration of neurotransmission and synaptic plasticity. In conclusion, herbal remedies in TCM may possibly delay the progression of SCA3, therefore providing justification for clinical trials. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antioxidant Potential in Medicinal Plants)

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