beta-carotene and n-hexane

Mushrooms stand out as one of nature's best gifts among the natural product sources with their diversity, therapeutic values and increasing popularity. In this study, antioxidant (ABTS·+ scavenging, β-carotene-bleaching, cupric-reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC), DPPH· scavenging, and metal chelating assays), and enzyme (buty-rylcholinesterase (BChE) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE), α-amylase and α-glucosidase) inhibition activities of the extracts obtained from Coprinus comatus (O.F. Müll.) Pers., Cerrena unicolor (Bull.) Murrill, Inocutis rheades (Pers.) Fiasson & Niemela and Leptoporus mollis (Pers.) Quél. mushroom species were investigated. The presence of phenolic and organic acid compounds associated with the bioactive properties of the mushroom species was determined by HPLC-DAD. Fumaric acid was found to be prominent compound in C. comatus (43.90 µg/g dw) and C. unicolor (659.9 µg/g dw), vanillin in L. mollis (19.48 µg/g dw), and p-coumaric acid in I. rheades (21.32 µg/g dw). L. mollis methanol extract, as well as higher antioxidant activity than the standards in CUPRAC and β-carotene-bleaching assays, was noted as superior antioxidant active in all assays (except metal chelating). C. comatus possessed the highest inhibition activity on α-amylase (IC50: 0.23 mg/mL for methanol extract), AChE (IC50: 125.50 µg/mL for hexane extract), and BChE (IC50: 61.03 µg/mL for methanol extract). Also, C. comatus methanol (IC50: 0.09 mg/mL) and L. mollis hexane (IC50 : 0.11 mg/ mL) extracts were better α-glucosidase inhibition active than the acarbose (IC50: 0.37 mg/mL). Our study ascertained that the studied mushroom species are particularly sources of biochemically active compounds with therapeutic potential.

Topics: Acetylcholinesterase; Agaricales; alpha-Amylases; alpha-Glucosidases; Anti-Infective Agents; Antioxidants; beta Carotene; Hexanes; Methanol; Phenols; Plant Extracts

Phytochemical investigation of the Rhizopogon luteolus Fr. led to the isolation of one new fatty acid ester, 3-hydroxy-2,4-dimethylheptacosyl acetate (1) together with two known compounds tetracosanoic acid (2) and ergosterol (3). 1D and 2D NMR, and MS techniques were used for structural elucidation. Phenolic and fatty acid compositions were identified using HPLC-DAD and GC-MSD, respectively. Fumaric acid was the major phenolic acid, whereas linoleic, stearic and oleic acids were the most abundant fatty acids. Antioxidant and anticholinesterase activities of the extracts and compounds (1-3) were tested spectrophotometrically. Among the extracts, hexane extract showed the highest activity in all tests, particularly in β-carotene-linoleic acid assay (IC50: 16.65 ± 1.12 μg/mL). Furthermore, compound 3 exhibited higher antioxidant and anticholinesterase activities. The study indicates that R. luteolus can be used in food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries.

Topics: Acetates; Agaricales; Antioxidants; beta Carotene; Cholinesterase Inhibitors; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; Fatty Acids; Fatty Alcohols; Hexanes; Linoleic Acid; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Molecular Structure; Plant Extracts

A carotenoid purification method with dual-mode countercurrent chromatography (CCC) for β-carotene, α-carotene and lutein from a fresh carrot extract was developed. The fluorinated liquid benzotrifluoride (IUPAC name: (trifluoromethyl)benzene) was used as a novel modifier in the non-aqueous ternary solvent system n-hexane/benzotrifluoride/acetonitrile. The ternary phase diagram of the type I solvent system was used to select two-phase solvent mixtures which enabled an efficient preparative separation of α-carotene, β-carotene and lutein from concomitant pigments in crude carrot extract. By means of the modifier, high separation factors (α ≥ 1.2) were obtained, allowing baseline resolution between α-carotene and β-carotene due to specific chemical interactions such as π-π molecular interactions. After optimizing the injection step with a pseudo-ternary phase diagram, 51 mg of β-carotene, 32 mg of α-carotene and 4 mg of lutein could be isolated from 100.2mg crude carrot extract in a short time and with high purities of 95% and 99% by using dual-mode CCC, respectively. Temperatures > 22°C had a negative impact on the separation of α-carotene and β-carotene.

Topics: Acetonitriles; beta Carotene; Carotenoids; Countercurrent Distribution; Daucus carota; Fluorobenzenes; Hexanes; Lutein; Solvents; Temperature

The present study evaluates the influence of drying and cooking processes on the health properties of two bell Capsicum annuum L. cultivars Roggiano and Senise compared with fresh peppers. The content of phytochemicals decreased in the order fresh>dried>dried frying processes. HPLC analysis was applied to quantify five flavonoids from peppers. Apigenin was identified as main constituent. Its content was affected by drying and dried frying processes. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by DPPH, ABTS, β-carotene bleaching test and Fe-chelating activity assay. A comparable radical scavenging activity was observed for both cultivars. Interestingly, frying process did not influenced this property. Roggiano peppers exhibited the highest antioxidant activity using β-carotene bleaching test with IC(50) values of 38.1 and 24.9 μg/mL for total extract and n-hexane fraction, respectively. GC-MS analysis of lipophilic fraction revealed the presence of fatty acids and vitamin E as major components. In the inhibition of the carbohydrate-hydrolyzing enzymes fresh Senise peppers exerted the strongest activity against α-amylase with an IC(50) value of 55.3 μg/mL. Our results indicate that C. annuum cultivars Roggiano and Senise have an interestingly potential health benefits not influenced by processes that are used before consumption.

Topics: alpha-Amylases; alpha-Glucosidases; Antioxidants; Benzothiazoles; beta Carotene; Biphenyl Compounds; Capsicum; Chelating Agents; Flavonoids; Food Handling; Fruit; Glycoside Hydrolase Inhibitors; Hexanes; Hypoglycemic Agents; Inhibitory Concentration 50; Iron; Phenols; Picrates; Sulfonic Acids

Antioxidant activities of different extracts obtained from the aerial parts of Vitex pseudo-negundo from Kashan, central Iran, were evaluated for the first time in this study using β-carotene/linoleic acid and scavenging of free-radical (DPPH) assays. Water extract showed the highest activity in both assays. GC-MS analysis of the oil extracted by n-hexane revealed 46 compounds with trans-β-farnesene being the main component. Several new compounds, not reported in the previous literature, were identified in the essential oil of this chemo-type.

Topics: Antioxidants; beta Carotene; Free Radical Scavengers; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Hexanes; Methanol; Plant Components, Aerial; Plant Extracts; Plant Oils; Sesquiterpenes; Vitex

Different extracts were obtained from Scoparia dulcis L. (Scrophulariaceae) by successive extraction with hexane, chloroform, and methanol. These extracts exhibited significant antioxidant capacity in various antioxidant models mediated (xantine oxidase and lipoxygenase) or not mediated (2,2-diphenyl-picrylhydrazyl, ferric-reducing antioxidant power, β-carotene bleaching, lipid peroxidation) by enzymes. The antioxidant activity of the extracts was related to their phytochemical composition in terms of polyphenol and carotenoid contents. The chloroform extract was richest in phytochemicals and had the highest antioxidant activity in the different antioxidant systems. All the extracts exhibited less than 50% inhibition on xanthine oxidase but more than 50% inhibition on lipid peroxidation and lipoxygenase. The extracts strongly inhibited lipid peroxidation mediated by lipoxygenase.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Antioxidants; beta Carotene; Carotenoids; Hexanes; Lipid Peroxidation; Lipoxygenase Inhibitors; Lycopene; Plant Extracts; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Scoparia; Xanthine Oxidase

We have attempted subpicosecond time-resolved absorption spectroscopy of all-trans-beta-carotene in organic solvents in the 820-1060 nm region and found novel transient absorption features which lived in subpicosecond time scales. A first component that appeared immediately after excitation showed a lifetime of 190 +/- 10 fs in n-hexane in agreement with the 1Bu+ lifetime that had been determined by fluorescence upconversion spectroscopy (195 +/- 10 fs). (Kandori et al. [1994] J. Am. Chem. Soc. 116, 2671-2672.) Therefore, this component is assigned to a transient absorption from the 1Bu+ state.

Topics: beta Carotene; Carbon Disulfide; Chloroform; Hexanes; Spectrometry, Fluorescence; Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared