Phenolic compound content of fresh and dried figs (Ficus carica L.)
Eighteen fig cultivars commonly grown in the south-eastern Spain were collected in two crops (spring and summer) and their polyphenolic profile was determined. Fruit from the first crop generally showed higher phenolic values than those from the second. Higher concentrations of total phenolics were found in skin than in flesh. LC-UV-DAD/ESI-MSn analysis of the figs pointed to a high anthocyanin content; mainly cyanidin-3-rutinoside; flavonols such as quercetin-rutinoside; phenolic acids such as chlorogenic acid and flavones like luteolin 6C-hexose-8C-pentose and apigenin-rutinoside. The C-glycosides have not been previously described in figs. Moreover; to compare intact proanthocyanidins and proanthocyanin cleavage products; an acid-catalysis was made in the presence of phloroglucinol (phloroglucinolysis) and the mean degree of polymerization was calculated. Finally; three cultivars of dried figs were also studied. Highlights: Phenolic compounds are present in fresh and dried figs in a considerable amount. Harvest time and cultivar could have an influence on final phenolics concentration. We compared 3 different analytical techniques. Dried figs have shown to be a great source of bioactive compounds.
Hepatoprotective effect and antioxidant role of sun; sulphited-dried apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) and its kernel against ethanol-induced oxidative stress in rats
The present study was carried to evaluate the hepatoprotective effect and antioxidant role of sun; sulphited-dried apricot and its kernel against ethanol-induced oxidative stress. The hepatopreventive and antioxidant potential of the plant's supplementations were evaluated by measuring level of serum liver damage marker enzymes (AST; ALT; GGT and LDH); antioxidant defense systems (GSH; GR; SOD; GST and GPX) and MDA content in various tissues of rats. Eight experimental groups: I (control); II (20% ethanol); III (ethanol+15% sun-dried apricot); IV (ethanol+30% sun dried). V (ethanol+15% sulphited-dried); VI(ethanol+30% sulphited-dried); VII (ethanol+15% kernel) and VIII (ethanol+30% kernel). According to the results; the levels of serum enzymes increased significantly in the II group as compared to those of I group; but they decreased in the III; IV; V and VI groups as compared to those of II group. Also; administration of sun and sulphited-dried apricot supplementation restored the ethanol-induced imbalance between MDA and antioxidant system towards near normal particularly in tissues but not its kernel. It is concluded that apricot has a hepatoprotective effect in rats with ethanol; probably acting by promoting the antioxidative defense systems.
Commercial Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) Cultivars in the United States: Phytosterol Composition
Phytosterols in commercially grown Runner; Virginia; and Spanish peanuts (n = 221) from 2005 and 2006 were quantified by a combination of acid hydrolysis and alkaline saponification steps followed by gas chromatography-flame ionization detection and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of the trimethylsilyl derivatives. Delta(5)-Avenasterol; which partially degrades during acid hydrolysis; was quantified after alkaline saponification plus direct analysis of the steryl glucosides isolated by solid-phase extraction. beta-Sitosterol; Delta(5)-avenasterol; campesterol; and stigmasterol were identified in peanut lipid extracts as the dominant sterols by retention time mapping and mass spectra with recoveries approximately 99%. Clerosterol; Delta(5;24(25))-stigmastadienol; Delta(7)-sitosterol + cycloartenol; and one unidentified sterol were also present but at low levels. Free and esterified phytosterols accounted for approximately 80% of the total sterols determined; the remainder was attributed to steryl glucosides. The total sterol level in Spanish market type peanuts (144.1 +/- 5.3 mg/100 g) was significantly greater than both Runners (127.5 +/- 6.3 mg/100 g) and Virginias (129.3 +/- 6.9 mg/100 g) (P < 0.05). Tamspan 90 (146.9 mg/100 g) followed by OLIN (138.5 mg/100 g) showed the highest total sterol content among the cultivars examined. Cultivar effects were strongly significant (P < 0.001) for all phytosterols; whereas production year effects were strongly significant (P < 0.001) for Delta(5)-avenasterol; Delta(5;24(25))-stigmastadienol; and the combined quantities of Delta(7)-sitosterol + cycloartenol; which coeluted. Cultivar x year interactions were strongly significant (P < 0.001) in all sterols except for Delta(7)-sitosterol + cycloartenol (P < 0.01). Total phytosterol contents were markedly higher than those reported in the existing literature for Runner and Virginia type peanuts; partially attributed to the inclusion of steryl glucosides in the analysis.
The influence of roasting; pasteurization; and storage on the polyphenol content and antioxidant capacity of California almond skins
Polyphenols and antioxidant activity of skins from California almonds subjected to roasting; pasteurization; and storage were determined by LC-MS quantification; total phenols (TP); and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). Pasteurization did not significantly change TP; FRAP; or flavonoids and phenolic acids (FP). Roasted almonds had 26% less TP and 34% less FRAP than raw; but equivalent FP (n = 12). Storing almonds at 4 and 23°C for 15 mo resulted in gradual increases in FP; up to 177 and 200%; respectively (n = 13). At 4°C and 15 mo; polyphenols increased 18-fold for p-hydroxybenzoic acid; while others were 45 to 200% higher compared to baseline values. Isorhamnetin-3-O-rutinoside accounted for 48% of the increase in FP. After 15 mo; FRAP and TP increased to 200 and 190% of initial values. Accelerated aging of whole almonds increased FP content by 10% after 3 days; but TP and FRAP values were not significantly different from baseline to day 10. Thus; in almond skins; roasting decreases TP and FRAP but not FP; while storage for up to 15 mo doubles FP.
Phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity of Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa)
Brazil nuts were shelled and separated as kernel and brown skin; whole nuts were also used. Soluble phenolics from each portion as well as the whole nut were extracted using 70% acetone under reflux conditions. Insoluble-bound phenolics were subsequently extracted into diethyl etherÂethyl acetate mixture (1:1; v/v) after alkaline hydrolysis. Both soluble and insoluble-bound phenolic extracts were separately examined for their total phenolics content; antioxidant activities were evaluated by trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC); 1;1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical and hydroxyl radical scavenging activities using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR); reducing power; and oxygen radical scavenging capacity (ORAC). Soluble phenolics in brown skin was 1236.07 as compared to 406.83 in kernel and 519.11 mg/100 g in whole nut. Bound phenolics content of brown skin was also 86- and 19-folds higher than kernel and whole nut; respectively. Similarly extracts from the brown skin exhibited the highest antioxidant activity. Free- and bound phenolics were identified and quantified; these included nine phenolic acids and flavonoids and their derivatives (gallic acid; gallocatechin. protocatechuic acid; catechin; vanillic acid; taxifolin; myricetin; ellagic acid; and quercetin). However; some phenolics were present only in the bound form. Furthermore; the phenolics were dominant in the brown skin.
Walnut Polyphenols Prevent Liver Damage Induced by Carbon Tetrachloride and d-Galactosamine: Hepatoprotective Hydrolyzable Tannins in the Kernel Pellicles of Walnut
The polyphenol-rich fraction (WP; 45% polyphenol) prepared from the kernel pellicles of walnuts was assessed for its hepatoprotective effect in mice. A single oral administration of WP (200 mg/kg) significantly suppressed serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) elevation in liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4); while it did not suppress d-galactosamine (GalN)-induced liver injury. In order to identify the active principles in WP; we examined individual constituents for the protective effect on cell damage induced by CCl 4 and d-GalN in primary cultured rat hepatocytes. WP was effective against both CCl 4- and d-GalN-induced hepatocyte damages. Among the constituents; only ellagitannins with a galloylated glucopyranose core; such as tellimagrandins I; II; and rugosin C; suppressed CCl 4-induced hepatocyte damage significantly. Most of the ellagitannins including tellimagrandin I and 2;3- O-hexahydroxydiphenoylglucose exhibited remarkable inhibitory effect against d-GalN-induced damage. Telliamgrandin I especially completely suppressed both CCl 4- and d-GalN-induced cell damage; and thus is likely the principal constituent for the hepatoprotective effect of WP.
Antiradical activity of extracts of almond and its by-products
Antioxidant activities of ethanolic extracts of whole almond seed, brown skin, and green shell cover were evaluated using different free radical trapping assays. Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity assay revealed that the total antioxidant capacities of brown skin and green shell cover extracts were 13 and 10 times greater than that of the whole seed extract at the same extract concentration. The free radical-scavenging activity of extracts of brown skin and green shell cover also exceeded that of the whole seed. The scavenging activity of superoxide radical by different almond extracts ranged from 76 to 97% at 100 ppm and 85 to 99% at 200 ppm. The corresponding reduction of hydrogen peroxide concentration was 59–66% (100 ppm) and 86–91% (200 ppm). The hydroxyl radical-scavenging capacities at 100 and 200 ppm were 16 and 42% for whole seed, 57 and 100% for brown skin, and 40 and 56% for green shell extracts, respectively. A 100% scavenging activity of the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical was observed for brown skin and green shell extracts at 100 and 200 ppm concentrations, respectively, and whole seed extracts scavenged 21 (at 100 ppm) and 73% (at 200 ppm) of the DPPH radical.