Separations

Research

15 pages, 1029 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparison of Conventional Extraction Techniques with Superheated Steam Distillation on Chemical Characterization and Biological Activities of Syzygium aromaticum L. Essential Oil

by Muhammad Adnan Ayub, Gulden Goksen, Ambreen Fatima, Muhammad Zubair, Muhammad Amin Abid and Małgorzata Starowicz

Separations 2023, 10(1), 27; https://doi.org/10.3390/separations10010027 - 3 Jan 2023

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 5073

Abstract

Syzygium aromaticum L. is an aromatic plant with a significant amount of essential oil (EO), which is used in food, medicine, for flavoring, and in the fragrance industry. The purpose of this study was to comparatively evaluate the chemical composition, yield, and antioxidant [...] Read more.

Syzygium aromaticum L. is an aromatic plant with a significant amount of essential oil (EO), which is used in food, medicine, for flavoring, and in the fragrance industry. The purpose of this study was to comparatively evaluate the chemical composition, yield, and antioxidant and antifungal activities of Syzygium aromaticum essential oils extracted by the conventional hydro-distillation, steam distillation, and the emerging superheated steam distillation methods. It was noticed that the extraction methods significantly influenced the yield, chemical composition, and antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of essential oils. The maximum yield was obtained using superheated steam distillation, followed by hydro-distillation and steam distillation. The antioxidant potential of EO extracts was evaluated following the scavenging of 2,2-dipenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radicals, hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity and ferric reducing power assays. Results revealed that EO extracted superheated steam distillation exhibited the highest antioxidant activity. GC-MS analysis depicted eugenol (47.94–26.50%) and caryophyllene (20.24–9.25%) as the major compounds of Syzygium aromaticum EOs. The antimicrobial activity of EO extracts was evaluated, via the resazurin microtiter plate assay, microdilution broth assay, and disc diffusion methods, against normal and food pathogenic bacterial and fungal strains. After comparative evaluation, it was observed that superheated steam extracted EO exhibited the highest antimicrobial potential. Overall, methodical evaluation disclosed that superheated steam distillation is an effective method to extract EOs from plant sources, with greater yield and promising biological activities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Extraction and Analysis of Compounds in Food Samples)

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16 pages, 1306 KiB

Open AccessArticle

GC-MS-Olfactometric Characterization of Volatile and Key Odorants in Moringa (Moringa oleifera) and Kinkeliba (Combretum micranthum G. Don) Herbal Tea Infusions Prepared from Cold and Hot Brewing

by Kouame Fulbert Oussou, Gamze Guclu, Onur Sevindik, Hasim Kelebek, Małgorzata Starowicz and Serkan Selli

Separations 2023, 10(1), 10; https://doi.org/10.3390/separations10010010 - 23 Dec 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2251

Abstract

Herbal teas are a popular global drink and are widely used in many traditional medicines. Key odorants are one of the main parameters to elucidate the final herbal tea’s overall quality and consumer acceptance. In the present study, for the first time, the [...] Read more.

Herbal teas are a popular global drink and are widely used in many traditional medicines. Key odorants are one of the main parameters to elucidate the final herbal tea’s overall quality and consumer acceptance. In the present study, for the first time, the brewing effect on volatile, key odorants, total phenolic contents, and antioxidant potential of Moringa (Moringa oleifera) and Kinkeliba (Combretum micranthum G. Don) herbal teas was comprehensively investigated. Two different infusions were studied and labeled as 25 °C/24 h (room temperature) and 98 °C/10 min (hot temperature). A total of 45 and 44 aroma compounds were detected in Moringa cold and hot teas, respectively, whereas 39 volatiles were determined in both infusion techniques for Kinkeliba herbal teas. The total amount of volatile compounds in both cold-infused herbal teas was higher than those in the hot-infused ones. Based on GC-MS-Olfactometry results, 19 and 21 key odorants in total were found in Moringa and Kinkeliba teas, respectively. The principal key odorants in Moringa teas with the highest flavor dilution (FD) factors were (E)-2-hexen-1-ol (herbal/fresh aroma), 3-hexanol (green/grassy), 2-phenyl ethanol (floral/rose), while in Kinkeliba teas they were 2-hexanol (herbal/green) and 3-penten-2-ol (green/fresh). The total phenolic content and antioxidant potential in Moringa and Kinkeliba teas increased using hot infusion. Principal component analysis showed that each tea infusion was clearly discriminated in terms of its volatile profiles. Our findings demonstrated that the brewing procedures had a significant impact on the key odorants of Moringa and Kinkeliba infusions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Extraction and Analysis of Compounds in Food Samples)

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12 pages, 1509 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessment of Anti-Obesity Potential and Techno-Functional Properties of Bougainvillea spectabilis Willd. Bracts

by Mukul Kumar, Deepika Kaushik, Jasjit Kaur, Charalampos Proestos, Fatih Oz, Ashwani Kumar, Anjali Anjali, Tahra Elobeid, Murat Emre Terzioğlu and Jianbo Xiao

Separations 2022, 9(12), 399; https://doi.org/10.3390/separations9120399 - 30 Nov 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 5100

Abstract

The present research signifies the anti-obesity potential of Bougainvillea spectabilis Willd. and its techno-functional properties. Bougainvillea spectabilis Willd. is a medicinal plant that belongs to the Nyctaginaceae family. Studies have reported the various bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, phenols, alkaloids, saponins, tannins, etc., [...] Read more.

The present research signifies the anti-obesity potential of Bougainvillea spectabilis Willd. and its techno-functional properties. Bougainvillea spectabilis Willd. is a medicinal plant that belongs to the Nyctaginaceae family. Studies have reported the various bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, phenols, alkaloids, saponins, tannins, etc., in Bougainvillea spectabilis Willd., responsible for its biological properties such as antibacterial, antidiabetic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antifungal, antipyretic, and anticarcinogenic. In this article, the techno-functional properties of the plant, such as tapped density, bulk density, Hausner ratio, Carr index, angle of repose, water absorption and solubility index, swelling capacity, foaming capacity, foam stability, and oil absorption capacity were discussed. The plant’s total phenolic and flavonoid content was 2.9 mg GAE/g and 12.3 mg QE/g, respectively. The plant’s antioxidant activity (89.9%) was estimated using the DPPH assay. The components of the plant powder were confirmed by FTIR analysis. Lipase (I_C50: 68.21) and amylase inhibition assay (I_C50: 60.19) significantly confirmed the anti-obesity potential of the plant. The highest glucose retention time (2.1 mg/dL) was observed at 120 min. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Extraction and Analysis of Compounds in Food Samples)

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14 pages, 3309 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Molecular Docking Studies on Methanolic Propolis Extracts Collected from Different Regions in Saudi Arabia as a Potential Inhibitor of Topoisomerase IIβ

by Areej A. Al-Khalaf, Ibrahim Alabdelkareem, Salim S. Al-Rejaie, Mohamed Mohany and Wael N. Hozzein

Separations 2022, 9(12), 392; https://doi.org/10.3390/separations9120392 - 24 Nov 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1775

Abstract

Propolis is a sticky substance made by honeybees from various plant parts that is rich in biologically active substances such as flavonoids, phenolic acids, and phenolics and has a wide range of applications in the food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries. The current study [...] Read more.

Propolis is a sticky substance made by honeybees from various plant parts that is rich in biologically active substances such as flavonoids, phenolic acids, and phenolics and has a wide range of applications in the food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries. The current study focused on the isolation of honeybee propolis samples from three different locations in Saudi Arabia: Al Hada, Baljurashi, and Rawdat Khuraim, and the evaluation of their anti-cancer effect against human liver cancer cell lines (HeP-G2) and human breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7). Five chemical compounds present in the methanolic extract of propolis honeybee were detected by HPLC. Furthermore, molecular modeling studies were conducted to explain the mechanism of anti-cancer activity exerted by the active compounds. The propolis samples collected from the three isolation sites had anti-cancer activity against MCF-7 and HeP-G2. Samples collected from the Rawdat Khuraim site showed the highest inhibitory activity reaching 81.5% and 83.2% against MCF-7 and HeP-G2, respectively. HPLC detected four main active compounds from propolis samples: pinobanksin, pinocembrin, galangin, and xanthomicrol. The molecular docking technique showed that galangin and pinocembrin had higher anti-cancer activity than xanthomicrol and pinobanksin as the binding affinity of galangin and pinocembrin with the active sites of the topoisomerase IIβ enzyme was much greater. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Extraction and Analysis of Compounds in Food Samples)

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15 pages, 3731 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Antiproliferative Effect of Clitoria ternatea Ethanolic Extract against Colorectal, Breast, and Medullary Thyroid Cancer Cell Lines

by Salha M. ALshamrani, Fatmah A. Safhi, Maysa A. Mobasher, Rasha M. Saleem, Afaf Alharthi, Dalal Sulaiman Alshaya and Nabil S. Awad

Separations 2022, 9(11), 331; https://doi.org/10.3390/separations9110331 - 31 Oct 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 5685

Abstract

Clitoria ternatea is a native plant with medicinal and nutritive significance in Asia. The goal of this work was to examine the antiproliferative role of Clitoria ternatea against colorectal (HCT116), breast (MCF-7), and thyroid (TT) cancer cell lines at cellular and molecular levels. [...] Read more.

Clitoria ternatea is a native plant with medicinal and nutritive significance in Asia. The goal of this work was to examine the antiproliferative role of Clitoria ternatea against colorectal (HCT116), breast (MCF-7), and thyroid (TT) cancer cell lines at cellular and molecular levels. A phytochemical analysis, the cytotoxic effect, an apoptotic induction cell cycle analysis, and the expression level of GAX, DIABLO, and NAIP1 genes were assessed. The plant extract exhibited a clear cytotoxic action against the utilized cancer cell lines via a low IC50, foremost by means of cell cycle arrest at the pre-G0, G1, and S phases associated with an apoptotic induction. An apparent raise in the mRNA levels of GAX and DIABLO and a concomitant decrease in the NAIP1 mRNA level were observed in the used cancer cells treated with the IC50 of the plant extract. This study concluded that an ethanolic extract of Clitoria ternatea induced apoptotic cell death, suggesting that it could possibly be utilized as a new source of an apoptosis-inducing anticancer agent for colon, breast, and medullary thyroid cancer cell line treatments with further detailed studies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Extraction and Analysis of Compounds in Food Samples)

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11 pages, 4670 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Antiproliferative Effect of Sechium edule (Jacq.) Sw., cv. Madre Negra Extracts on Breast Cancer In Vitro

by Jorge Cadena-Iñiguez, Itzen Aguiñiga-Sánchez, María Teresa Uriostegui-Arias, Edelmiro Santiago-Osorio, Lucero del Mar Ruiz-Posadas and Marcos Soto-Hernández

Separations 2022, 9(9), 230; https://doi.org/10.3390/separations9090230 - 29 Aug 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2305

Abstract

Sechium edule shows a wide biological diversity. Hybrids and varieties of Sechium edule have been created, producing fruits of different shapes, sizes, colors, tastes, and textures. These hybrids and varieties have been used as food and in traditional medicine. In this research, the [...] Read more.

Sechium edule shows a wide biological diversity. Hybrids and varieties of Sechium edule have been created, producing fruits of different shapes, sizes, colors, tastes, and textures. These hybrids and varieties have been used as food and in traditional medicine. In this research, the antiproliferative activity of the Madre Negra™ genotype of Sechium edule var. amarus silvestrys on the MCF7 breast cancer cell line was assessed. Different extracts in hexane, methanol, and dichloromethane were obtained to perform a bio-guided study. The dichloromethane extract showed the largest significant inhibitory activity (p < 0.05). This extract was separated into 92 fractions, which were reduced to eight fractions by chromogenic identity. Of the eight fractions, two recorded significant antiproliferative activity (p < 0.05) on MCF7, an even higher activity than the total extract. The active metabolites were identified as flavonoids, tannins, and terpenes, of which cucurbitacins I, B, D, and E stood out. The present paper can be considered as preliminary results of our research work. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Extraction and Analysis of Compounds in Food Samples)

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15 pages, 469 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Laurus azorica: Valorization through Its Phytochemical Study and Biological Activities

by Mariana M. Viveiros, Maria Carmo Barreto and Ana M. L. Seca

Separations 2022, 9(8), 211; https://doi.org/10.3390/separations9080211 - 9 Aug 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2405

Abstract

Laurus azorica (Seub.) Franco is an endemic species from the Azores, traditionally used in all the islands as a seasoning in cooking. The studies carried out with this species refer mainly to its essential oils. The study that was developed here allowed, for [...] Read more.

Laurus azorica (Seub.) Franco is an endemic species from the Azores, traditionally used in all the islands as a seasoning in cooking. The studies carried out with this species refer mainly to its essential oils. The study that was developed here allowed, for the first time, to determine the chemical composition and biological activities of the ethanol extract, fractions, and pure compounds from L. azorica. The hexane fraction was analyzed by GC–MS and revealed the presence of 48 compounds, comprising mainly fatty acids, fatty alcohols and terpenes, the family of fatty alcohols identified here for the first time in the genus Laurus. Three sesquiterpene lactones—costunolide, 11,13-dehydrosantonin and reynosin—were isolated for the first time in L. azorica from the same fraction, and structurally characterized using spectroscopic techniques. The compounds identified belong to families known to have relevant medicinal and nutritional properties. Regarding antioxidant activities, the results obtained showed a moderate radical scavenging effect of extracts and fractions, while in the β-carotene bleaching assay, costunolide was shown to be the most active (IC₅₀ = 4.08 ± 0.76 μg/mL), about 3.6 times more active than the standard, gallic acid, which presented IC₅₀ = 14.56 ± 0.13 μg/mL. Although the inhibition of extracellular matrix-degrading enzymes was not detected, the ethanol extract showed good inhibitory activity of tyrosinase, with an IC₅₀ of 12.04 ± 0.23 μg/mL, only 6.6-fold lower than the control kojic acid. The results presented deepen the knowledge about a little studied species, opening new perspectives for the development of value-added applications in the food and cosmeceutical fields. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Extraction and Analysis of Compounds in Food Samples)

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6 pages, 618 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry for Detecting Myosin Light Chain 3 in Dry-Aged Beef

by Heeyoung Lee, Yoonji Heo, Jong-Chan Kim and You-Shin Shim

Separations 2021, 8(11), 219; https://doi.org/10.3390/separations8110219 - 16 Nov 2021

Viewed by 1828

Abstract

Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) is a more accurate technique for detecting proteins than electrophoresis-based methods such as western blotting. Because of its convenience, western blotting is commonly used for protein analysis in beef. We developed a method for detecting myosin light chain [...] Read more.

Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) is a more accurate technique for detecting proteins than electrophoresis-based methods such as western blotting. Because of its convenience, western blotting is commonly used for protein analysis in beef. We developed a method for detecting myosin light chain 3 (myl3) in beef samples, particularly dry-aged beef, using LC/MS/MS for quality testing. Musculus longissimus dorsi of Holstein was aged for 0, 2, 4, 5, 9, 11, 17, 20, and 24 weeks and used to measure the myl3 concentration. Because of the high molecular weight of myl3, the limitations of LC/MS/MS were overcome by implementing immunoprecipitation and digestion steps. Ultimately, a tryptic fragment of myl3 (13-mer), generated using immunoprecipitation and digestion by a biotinylated antibody, was detected using LC-MS/MS in positive ion mode through multiple reaction monitoring and analyte separation on a C18 column. Our method showed limits of detection and quantification of less than 0.3 and 0.8 μg/kg, respectively. However, differences in the myl3 concentrations according to the aging time were not significant (p > 0.05). After 12 weeks, myl3 disappeared in tested all samples, thus our analytical method can be used for accurate measurement of muscle protein in beef samples. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Extraction and Analysis of Compounds in Food Samples)

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