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Phytochemical Profile and Biological Evaluation of Plant Extracts

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A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Natural Products Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2024) | Viewed by 12615

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Dr. Linards Klavins

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The Natural Resource Research Centre, University of Latvia, House of Nature, LV 1004 Riga, Latvia
Interests: vaccinium; berries; chemical composition; polyphenolics; antioxidants; lipids; extracts; biorefinery; bioeconomy; valorization

Prof. Dr. Maris Klavins

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The Natural Resource Research Centre of the University of Latvia, House of Nature, LV 1004 Riga, Latvia
Interests: plant biomass; bioeconomy; phytochemical screening; biological relevance; natural products
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Prof. Dr. Arturs Viksna

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Faculty of chemistry, University of Latvia, Jelgavas street 1, LV-1004 Riga, Latvia
Interests: analytical chemistry; phytochemistry; food science; plant science
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Dear Colleagues,

Plants contain a wide variety of chemical compounds, such as polyphenolics, alkaloids, and terpenes, which can have biological activity, including medicinal properties. The phytochemical profile of a plant refers to the chemical compounds present in the plant that can be determined using a variety of analytical methods. The biological evaluation of plant extracts involves testing the extracts for their biological activity, such as their ability to kill or inhibit the growth of cells or microorganisms, their ability to produce a desired pharmacological effect in an animal model, or in vitro assays. The information obtained from the phytochemical profile and biological evaluation of plant extracts can be useful for understanding the potential medicinal properties of the plant or individual phytochemicals for developing natural-product-based functional ingredients for use in healthcare.

Dr. Linards Klavins
Prof. Dr. Maris Klavins
Prof. Dr. Arturs Viksna
Guest Editors

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Keywords

phytochemicals
biological activity
plant extracts
chemical characterization
biological relevance
natural products

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Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 3678 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Optimization of the Cold Water Extraction Method for High-Value Bioactive Compounds from Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) Flower Heads Through Chemometrics

by Martina Foschi, Lorenzo Marsili, Ilaria Luciani, Giulia Gornati, Claudia Scappaticci, Fabrizio Ruggieri, Angelo Antonio D’Archivio and Alessandra Biancolillo

Molecules 2024, 29(20), 4925; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29204925 - 17 Oct 2024

Viewed by 618

Abstract

This study focused on optimizing a cold water extraction method to obtain bioactive compounds from chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.), addressing increasing consumer demand for natural products and nutraceuticals. A full-factorial design was employed to evaluate the effects of temperature, time, and chamomile amount on the polyphenolic profile of extracts. The samples were characterized by HPLC-DAD and UV-Vis coupled with chemometrics; the analysis showed that extraction time negatively affected extract quality, as did the interaction between time and temperature. In addition, a significant positive quadratic effect for temperature and a positive coefficient for chamomile amount was found. ASCA was used to assess the UV-Vis profile, offering an alternative untargeted method for understanding the variable effects. The optimal extraction conditions (25 °C, 32 min, and 2.5 g of chamomile) produced samples high in hydroxybenzoic and hydroxycinnamic acids and flavanol derivatives. Using A face-centered design, this study also monitored antioxidant activity via a DPPH scavenging assay, confirming that the optimal conditions yielded samples within the range of maximum antioxidant activity in the studied experimental domain. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytochemical Profile and Biological Evaluation of Plant Extracts)

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18 pages, 3202 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Antioxidant Activity of Atomized Extracts of the Leaves and Stems of Cnidoscolus diacanthus (Pax & K. Hoffm.) J.F. Macbr. from Peru and Their Effect on Sex Hormone Levels in Rats

by Johnny Aldo Tinco-Jayo, León Fernando Pérez-Chauca, Nancy Victoria Castilla-Torres, Edwin Carlos Enciso-Roca, Diana Taboada-Huaman, Litman Nuñez-Soto, Luis Uriel Moscoso-García, Jorge Luis Arroyo-Acevedo, Enrique Javier Aguilar-Felices and Oscar Herrera-Calderon

Molecules 2024, 29(19), 4554; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29194554 - 25 Sep 2024

Viewed by 885

Abstract

In this research, we aimed to determine the antioxidant activity of an atomized extract of Cnidoscolus diacanthus (Pax & K. Hoffm.) J.F. Macbr., known in Peru as “huanarpo hembra”, and its effect on sex hormone levels. Its phytochemical profile was determined using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS), while its total phenol content (TPC) and total flavonoids (TFs) were determined using the Folin–Ciocalteu method and the aluminum chloride method. Its antioxidant activity was determined using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), the radical 2,2-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzthiazolin-6 sulfonic acid (ABTS), and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). The biological activity of C. diacanthus and its effect on sexual hormones were determined in Holtzman rats of both sexes. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of flavonoids and phenolic compounds in its leaves and stems, mainly rutin, quercetin, chlorogenic acid, and genistein. However, the stem extract contained higher total phenol (464.38 ± 4.40 GAE/g) and flavonoid (369.17 ± 3.16 mg QE/g of extract) contents than the leaf extract (212.38 ± 3.19 mg GAE/g and 121.49 ± 2.69 mg QE/g). For DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP, the Trolox-equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) was 597.20 ± 5.40 µmol/g, 452.67 ± 5.76 µmol/g, and 535.91 ± 1.56 µmol/g, respectively, for the stems, while for the leaves, it was 462.39 ± 3.99 µmol/g, 202.32 ± 5.20 µmol/g, and 198.13 ± 1.44 µmol/g, respectively. In terms of the values for hormonal levels, at a dose of 100 mg/kg of the extract, testosterone levels of 1.430 ng/mL (with the leaf extract) and 1.433 ng/mL (with the stem extract), respectively, were found in the male rats. Regarding estradiol levels, in the female rats, these were 10.425 ng/mL (leaf extract) and 8.775 ng/mL (stem extract), while their levels of luteinizing hormone were 0.320 mIU/mL (leaf extract) and 0.273 mIU/mL (stem extract). For the follicle-stimulating hormone, levels of 0.858 mIU/mL (leaf extract) and 0.840 mIU/mL (stem extract) were found in the female rats, and levels of 0.220 mIU/mL (leaf extract) and 0.200 mIU/mL (stem extract) were found in the male rats. It is concluded that the C. diacanthus stem extract had a greater antioxidant capacity than the leaf extract, while both extracts had a superior effect on the sex hormone levels in the female rats compared to the male rats. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytochemical Profile and Biological Evaluation of Plant Extracts)

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14 pages, 1290 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ellagitannin Content in Extracts of the Chestnut Wood Aesculus

by Taja Žitek Makoter, Maša Knez Marevci and Željko Knez

Molecules 2024, 29(17), 4015; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29174015 - 25 Aug 2024

Viewed by 718

Abstract

The chestnut tree (Castanea sativa Mill.) is a widespread plant in Europe, rich in high-value compounds, which can be divided mainly into monomeric polyphenols and tannins. These compounds exhibit various biological activities, such as antioxidant, as well as anticarcinogenic and antimicrobial properties. Chestnut wood (CW) extracts were prepared using different extraction techniques, process conditions, solvents, and their mixtures. This work aimed to test various extraction techniques and determine the optimal solvent for isolating enriched fractions of vescalagin, castalagin, vescalin, and castalin from CW residues. Supercritical CO₂ extraction with a more polar cosolvent was applied at different pressures, which influenced solvent density. According to the results, the proportions of the components strongly depended on the solvent system used for the extraction. In addition, HPLC-DAD was used for semiqualitative purposes to detect vescalagin, castalagin, vescalin, and castalin. The developed valorization protocol allows efficient fractionation and recovery of the polyphenolic components of CW through a sustainable approach that also evaluates pre-industrial scaling-up. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytochemical Profile and Biological Evaluation of Plant Extracts)

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22 pages, 3958 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Box–Behnken Design-Based Optimization of Phytochemical Extraction from Diplazium esculentum (Retz.) Sw. Associated with Its Antioxidant and Anti-Alzheimer’s Properties

by Sirawit Kongsung, Woorawee Inthachat, Boonrat Chantong, Uthaiwan Suttisansanee, Nattira On-Nom, Chaowanee Chupeerach, Sirinapa Thangsiri, Pornsiri Pitchakarn and Piya Temviriyanukul

Molecules 2024, 29(10), 2204; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29102204 - 8 May 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1722

Abstract

A previous study reported that the ethanolic extract of the edible fern, Diplazium esculentum (Retz.) Sw. (DE), obtained from a non-optimized extraction condition exhibited anti-Alzheimer’s disease (AD) properties through the inhibition of a rate-limiting enzyme in amyloid peptide formation, β-secretase-1 (BACE-1). Nevertheless, a non-optimized or suboptimal extraction may lead to several issues, such as a reduction in extraction efficiency and increased time and plant materials. In this study, extraction of the DE was optimized to obtain appropriate BACE-1 inhibition using a Box–Behnken design (BBD) and response surface methodology (RSM). Data revealed that the optimal extraction condition was 70% (v/v) aqueous ethanol, 50 min extraction time, 30 °C extraction temperature, and 1:30 g/mL solid/liquid ratio, giving BACE-1 inhibition at 56.33%. In addition, the extract also exhibited significant antioxidant activities compared to the non-optimized extraction. Metabolomic phytochemical profiles and targeted phytochemical analyses showed that kaempferol, quercetin, and their derivatives as well as rosmarinic acid were abundant in the extract. The optimized DE extract also acted synergistically with donepezil, an AD drug suppressing BACE-1 activities. Data received from Drosophila-expressing human amyloid precursor proteins (APPs) and BACE-1, representing the amyloid hypothesis, showed that the optimized DE extract penetrated the fly brains, suppressed BACE-1 activities, and improved locomotor functions. The extract quenched the expression of glutathione S transferase D1 (GSTD1), inositol-requiring enzyme (IRE-1), and molecular chaperone-binding immunoglobulin (Bip), while donepezil suppressed these genes and other genes involved in antioxidant and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response, including superoxide dismutase type 1 (SOD1), activating transcription factor 6 (ATF-6), and protein kinase R-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK). To sum up, the optimized extraction condition reduced extraction time while resulting in higher phytochemicals, antioxidants, and BACE-1 inhibitors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytochemical Profile and Biological Evaluation of Plant Extracts)

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18 pages, 1475 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effect of Salvia tomentosa Miller Extracts, Rich in Rosmarinic, Salvianolic and Lithospermic Acids, on Bacteria Causing Opportunistic Infections

by Ewelina Piątczak, Joanna Kolniak-Ostek, Weronika Gonciarz, Paweł Lisiecki, Urszula Kalinowska-Lis, Magdalena Szemraj, Magdalena Chmiela and Sylwia Zielińska

Molecules 2024, 29(3), 590; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29030590 - 25 Jan 2024

Viewed by 1493

Abstract

Methanolic-aqueous extracts of Salvia tomentosa Miller roots, aerial parts, and inflorescences were examined for their content of polyphenolic derivatives and the antimicrobial and cytotoxic effect. In the polyphenolic-rich profile, rosmarinic, salvianolic, and lithospermic acids along with various derivatives were predominant. A total of twenty phenolic compounds were identified using the UPLC/DAD/qTOF-MS technique. These were caffeic acid, rosmarinic acid derivatives, lithospermic acid derivatives, salvianolic acids B, F, and K derivatives, as well as sagerinic acid, although rosmarinic acid (426–525 mg/100 g of dry weight—D.W.) and salvianolic acid B (83–346.5 mg/100 g D.W.) were significantly predominant in the metabolic profile. Strong antibacterial activity of S. tomentosa extracts was observed against Staphylococcus epidermidis (MIC/MBC = 0.625 mg/mL) and Bacillus cereus (MIC = 0.312–1.25 mg/mL). The extracts showed low cytotoxicity towards the reference murine fibroblasts L929 and strong cytotoxicity to human AGS gastric adenocarcinoma epithelial cells in the MTT reduction assay. The observed cytotoxic effect in cancer cells was strongest for the roots of 2-year-old plant extracts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytochemical Profile and Biological Evaluation of Plant Extracts)

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18 pages, 4149 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Probing Antibacterial and Anticancer Potential of Selenicereus undatus, Pistacia vera L. and Olea europaea L. against Uropathogens, MCF-7 and A2780 Cancer Cells

by Sahar Safdar, Saba Shamim, Maryam Khan, Ali Imran, Mudassar Ali Khan, Qurban Ali and Shiming Han

Molecules 2023, 28(24), 8148; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28248148 - 18 Dec 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1835

Abstract

Urinary tract infection is an infectious disease that requires immediate treatment. It can occur in any age group and involves both genders equally. The present study was to check the resistance of some antibiotics and to assess the antibacterial potential of three extracts of three plants against notorious bacteria involved in urinary tract infections. Along with assessing the antibacterial activity of plant extracts, we checked for the anticancer potential of these extracts against the cancer cell lines MCF-7 and A2780. Cancer is the leading cause of mortality in developed countries. Determinations of total flavonoid content, total phenolic content, total alkaloid content, total tannin content, total carotenoid content, and total steroid content were performed. The disk diffusion method was used to analyze the antibacterial activity of plant extracts. Ethanolic extract of Selenicereus undatus showed sensitivity (25–28 mm) against bacteria, whereas chloroform and hexane extracts showed resistance against all bacteria except Staphylococcus (25 mm). Ethanolic extract of Pistacia vera L. showed sensitivity (22–25 mm) against bacteria, whereas chloroform and hexane extracts showed resistance. Ethanolic extract of Olea europaea L. showed sensitivity (8–16 mm) against all bacteria except Staphylococcus, whereas chloroform and hexane extracts showed resistance. Positive controls showed variable zones of inhibition (2–60 mm), and negative control showed 0–1 mm. The antibiotic resistance was much more prominent in the case of hexane and chloroform extracts of all plants, whereas ethanolic extract showed a sensitivity of bacteria against extracts. Both cell lines, MCF-7 and A2780, displayed decreased live cells when treated with plant extracts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytochemical Profile and Biological Evaluation of Plant Extracts)

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23 pages, 3466 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Phytochemical Diversity Comparison in Leaves and Roots of Wild and Micropropagated Latvian Sea Holly (Eryngium maritimum L.)

by Ilva Nakurte, Marta Berga and Ieva Mežaka

Molecules 2023, 28(9), 3924; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28093924 - 6 May 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2231

Abstract

The goal of the current study was to compare the chemical composition of the roots, shoots, and leaves of wild-growing Eryngium maritimum L., and of in vitro and in field-cultivated plants in Latvia. The essential oil yield obtained by hydrodistillation ranged from 0.14% to 0.54%, while analysis of the chemical composition using GC-MS revealed a total of 44 different volatiles, with differences in the types and amounts of volatiles between the leaves and roots. Using 96-well plate techniques, the concentration of total phenolic compounds, saponins, and sugars in the aqueous ethanolic extracts of E. maritimum were assessed, along with their capacity to scavenge stable DPPH radicals. Extracts from roots had a lower concentration of total phenolic compounds compared to those from the leaves of wild grown and cultivated plants but did not differ from in vitro shoots. Root, leaf, and shoot samples of the same genotype from different growth conditions had approximately the same concentration of total saponins, while total sugar concentrations were higher in the roots. The growth conditions had a significant effect on the concentration of total phenolic compounds and antiradical activity, with differences that were significant observed between plant aboveground and belowground parts. Analysis using UHPLC-ESI-q-TOF-MS revealed 63 compounds, with amino acids and hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives (such as chlorogenic and rosmarinic acid) being the major compound groups that significantly differed between plant growth conditions. We also demonstrated that rapid screening of volatile compounds in in vitro plants using headspace gas chromatography mass spectrometry analyses can predict the formation of marker compounds in the same mericlones grown in field conditions. These findings provide valuable insights into the chemical composition of E. maritimum and its potential for use in various applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytochemical Profile and Biological Evaluation of Plant Extracts)

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Review

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25 pages, 6209 KiB

Open AccessReview

Strategy of Coniferous Needle Biorefinery into Value-Added Products to Implement Circular Bioeconomy Concepts in Forestry Side Stream Utilization

by Linards Klavins, Karolina Almonaitytė, Alvija Šalaševičienė, Alise Zommere, Kaspars Spalvis, Zane Vincevica-Gaile, Risto Korpinen and Maris Klavins

Molecules 2023, 28(20), 7085; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28207085 - 14 Oct 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2153

Abstract

Sustainable development goals require a reduction in the existing heavy reliance on fossil resources. Forestry can be considered a key resource for the bioeconomy, providing timber, energy, chemicals (including fine chemicals), and various other products. Besides the main product, timber, forestry generates significant amounts of different biomass side streams. Considering the unique and highly complex chemical composition of coniferous needle/greenery biomass, biorefinery strategies can be considered as prospective possibilities to address top segments of the bio-based value pyramid, addressing coniferous biomass side streams as a source of diverse chemical substances with applications as the replacement of fossil material-based chemicals, building blocks, food, and feed and applications as fine chemicals. This study reviews biorefinery methods for coniferous tree forestry biomass side streams, exploring the production of value-added products. Additionally, it discusses the potential for developing further biorefinery strategies to obtain products with enhanced value. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytochemical Profile and Biological Evaluation of Plant Extracts)

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