Percorrer por autor "Mocan, Andrei"
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- Association of enzymatic and optimized ultrasound-assisted aqueous extraction of flavonoid glycosides from dried Hippophae rhamnoides L. (Sea Buckthorn) berriesPublication . Nicolescu, Alexandru; Babotă, Mihai; Aranda Cañada, Eduardo; Dias, Maria Inês; Añibarro-Ortega, Mikel; Cornea-Cipcigan, Mihaiela; Tanase, Corneliu; Radu Sisea, Cristian; Mocan, Andrei; Barros, Lillian; Crişan, GianinaThe main purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of associating an optimized ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) protocol with enzyme-assisted extraction (EAE) in aqueous media, using the dried berries of Hippophae rhamnoides L. (sea buckthorn) as plant material. A specialized software was used for the determination of potential optimal extraction parameters, leading to the development of four optimized extracts with different characteristics (UAE ± EAE). For these extracts, buffered or non-buffered solutions have been used, with the aim to determine the influence of adjustable pH on extractability. As enzymatic solution, a pectinase, cellulase, and hemicellulase mix (2:1:1) has been applied, acting as pre-treatment for the optimized protocol. The highest extractive yields have been identified for non-buffered extracts, and the E-UAE combination obtained extracts with the highest overall in vitro antioxidant activity. The HPLC-MSn analysis demonstrated a rich composition in different types of isorhamnetin-O-glycosides, as well as some quercetin-O-glycosides, showing a high recovery of specific flavonol-type polyphenolic species. Moreover, we have tentatively identified two flavanols (i.e., catechin and epigallocatechin) and one flavone derivative (i.e., luteolin).
- Bioaccessibility and bioactive potential of different phytochemical classes from nutraceuticals and functional foodsPublication . Nicolescu, Alexandru; Babotă, Mihai; Barros, Lillian; Lucini, Luigi; Tanase, Corneliu; Mocan, Andrei; Bunea, Claudiu I.; Crisan, GianinaNutraceuticals and functional foods are composed of especially complex matrices, with polyphenols, carotenoids, minerals, and vitamins, among others, being the main classes of phytochemicals involved in their bioactivities. Despite their wide use, further investigations are needed to certify the proper release of these phytochemicals into the gastrointestinal medium, where the bioaccessibility assay is one of the most frequently used method. The aim of this review was to gather and describe different methods that can be used to assess the bioaccessibility of nutraceuticals and functional foods, along with the most important factors that can impact this process. The link between simulated digestion testing of phytochemicals and their in vitro bioactivity is also discussed, with a special focus on the potential of developing nutraceuticals and functional foods from simple plant materials. The bioactive potential of certain classes of phytochemicals from nutraceuticals and functional foods is susceptible to different variations during the bioaccessibility assessment, with different factors contributing to this variability, namely the chemical composition and the nature of the matrix. Regardless of the high number of studies, the current methodology fails to assume correlations between bioaccessibility and bioactivity, and the findings of this review indicate a necessity for updated and standardized protocols.
- Bioactive compounds and functional properties of herbal preparations of Cystus creticus L. collected from Rhodes IslandPublication . Mocan, Andrei; Fernandes, Ângela; Calhelha, Ricardo C.; Gavrilas, Laura; Ferreira, Isabel C.F.R.; Ivanov, Marija; Barros, Lillian; Babotă, MihaiThe members of Cystus genus are perenial shrubs with a well-established use in traditional medicine. Among these, C. creticus is the most popular, herbal preparations obtained from its aerial parts being recognized as antimicrobial, antitumor and anti-inflammatory agents. The present study aimed to evaluate phytochemical profile and bioactive potential of aqueous and hydroethanolic extracts of C. creticus aerial parts harvested from two different areas of Rhodes island. LC-DAD-ESI/MSn analysis revealed the presence of myricetin and quercetin glycosides as main compounds, especially in aqueous extracts, being probably responsible for their enhanced antioxidant and antimicrobial potential. On the other side, hydroethanolic preparations exerted a strong anti-inflammatory and anti-biofilm activity. Our findings suggest that the use of solvents with intermediate polarity can assure the best recovery of bioactive compounds from C. creticus, increasing the extraction yield for other non-phenolic compounds which can enhance therapeutic potential of the extract through a synergistic action.
- Chemical composition and bioactive properties of the wild mushroom: Polyporus squamosus (Huds.) Fr: a study with samples from RomaniaPublication . Mocan, Andrei; Fernandes, Ângela; Barros, Lillian; Crişan, Gianina; Smiljković, Marija; Soković, Marina; Ferreira, Isabel C.F.R.In Eastern Europe, wild mushrooms are widely collected in mountain areas and used for their medicinal properties or as healthy foods. This study aimed at determining the chemical composition (nutritional value, free sugars, organic acids, phenolic compounds, fatty acids and tocopherols) and bioactive properties (antioxidant, antimicrobial and antiquorum sensing) of wild Polyporus squamosus (Huds.) Fr from Romania. The results indicate that the fruiting bodies of P. squamosus are rich in carbohydrates (74.22 g per 100 g dw) and proteins (18.7 g per 100 g dw). Trehalose was the main free sugar, while malic acid was the organic acid detected in the highest amount (2.21 g per 100 g dw), and p-hydroxybenzoic acid was the main phenolic compound. Among tocopherols, β-tocopherol was the most abundant form (114.7 μg per 100 g dw). Additionally, regarding the fatty acids' pattern, polyunsaturated acids represent more than 57% of all fatty acids, followed by monounsaturated fatty acids (24.96%). The highest measured antioxidant effect of P. squamosus extract was found using the TBARS inhibition assay (EC50 = 0.22 mg mL-1), followed by the β-carotene/linoleate assay (EC50 = 1.41 mg mL-1). A minimal inhibitory concentration of the tested extracts was obtained between 0.61-20.4 mg mL-1, while the bactericidal effect was achieved between 1.2-40.8 mg mL-1. Antibiofilm potential was obtained at all tested concentrations, and subinhibitory concentrations of the extract exhibited an antiquorum effect and reduced the formation of P. aeruginosa pili, which all together influenced the virulence of this bacterium. Due to the investigated bioactivities and compounds of P. squamosus and its well-balanced nutritional profile, this mushroom can be further used as a medicinal ingredient based on its antioxidative and antimicrobial potential.
- Chemical composition, diuretic, and antityrosinase activity of traditionally used romanian cerasorum stipitesPublication . Babotă, Mihai; Voştinaru, Oliviu; Păltinean, Ramona; Mihali, Cosmin; Dias, Maria Inês; Barros, Lillian; Ferreira, Isabel C.F.R.; Mocan, Andrei; Crişan, Ovidiu; Nicula, Cristina; Crişan, GianinaCherry stems (CS) represent a by-product intensively used in Eastern European countries as a traditional remedy for urinary tract disorders. Ethnopharmacological evidences sustain the use of CS as aqueous preparations (infusion and decoction), but few data were previously reported about phytochemical profile and pharmacological potential of CS hydroalcoholic extracts. In this regard, we aimed to evaluate the phenolic profile, in vitro antioxidant and tyrosinase inhibitory potential, and in vivo diuretic activity of 70% hydroethanolic cherry stems extract and cherry stems decoction (CSD). LC-DAD-ESI/MSn analysis revealed the presence of flavonoid-type compounds as main constituents for both preparations, especially flavanones (naringenin glycosides). Antioxidant activity evaluated through DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP methods was superior for cherry stems extract, probably due to the presence of phenolic-derived compounds in higher amounts than CSD. On the other hand, tyrosinase inhibitory potential and diuretic effect exerted by CSD were stronger, highlighting that other types of hydrophilic secondary metabolites are responsible for this bioactivity. Overall, our findings indicate that CS preparations could be used as promising mild diuretic agents and encourage further investigations regarding the correlation between their chemical composition and bioactive potential.
- Compositional features and bioactive properties of aloe vera leaf (Fillet, mucilage, and rind) and flowerPublication . Añibarro Ortega, Mikel; Pinela, José; Barros, Lillian; Ćirić, Ana; Silva, Soraia P.; Coelho, Elisabete; Mocan, Andrei; Calhelha, Ricardo C.; Soković, Marina; Coimbra, Manuel A.; Ferreira, Isabel C.F.R.This work aimed to characterize compositional and bioactive features of Aloe vera leaf (fillet, mucilage, and rind) and flower. The edible fillet was analysed for its nutritional value, and all samples were studied for phenolic composition and antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, tyrosinase inhibition, and cytotoxic activities. Dietary fibre (mainly mannan) and available carbohydrates (mainly free glucose and fructose) were abundant macronutrients in fillet, which also contained high amounts of malic acid (5.75 g/100 g dw) and -tocopherol (4.8 mg/100 g dw). The leaf samples presented similar phenolic profiles, with predominance of chromones and anthrones, and the highest contents were found in mucilage (131 mg/g) and rind (105 mg/g) extracts, which also revealed interesting antioxidant properties. On the other hand, the flower extract was rich in apigenin glycoside derivatives (4.48 mg/g), effective against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MIC = 0.025 mg/mL and MBC = 0.05 mg/mL) and capable of inhibiting the tyrosinase activity (IC50 = 4.85 mg/mL). The fillet, rind, and flower extracts also showed a powerful antifungal activity against Aspergillus flavus, A. niger, Penicillium funiculosum, and Candida albicans, higher than that of ketoconazole. Thus, the studied Aloe vera samples displayed high potential to be exploited by the food or cosmetic industries, among others.
- Cytinus hypocistis (L.) L. extract as a source of anti-aging cosmeceutical ingredientsPublication . Silva, Ana Rita; Taofiq, Oludemi; Pinela, José; Dias, Maria Inês; Calhelha, Ricardo C.; Alves, Maria José; Mocan, Andrei; García, Pablo A.; Barros, Lillian; Ferreira, Isabel C.F.R.Plant-derived compounds have been extensively used for cosmeceutical applications, especially because humans have once again turned to Nature to mitigate the relative void of combinatorial chemistry, to find new molecules and the toxicological effects associated with the synthetic ones [1]. Cytinus hypocistis (L.) L. is a wild edible parasitic plant on various members of the Cistaceae family. Although its biological properties were potentially attributed to its hydrolysable tannins content, to the author's best knowledge, its chemical composition is largely unknown, and active biomolecules are not yet identified [2]. According to a semi-quantitative study, where 100 extracts obtained from plants collected in India, Africa, and the Mediterranean area, C. hypocistis figures on the top 10 group of plants that potently inhibited both elastase and tyrosinase, two main enzymes involved in skin aging [3]. Thus, studying the bioative properties and chemical composition of C. hypocistis plant will give comprehensive clues on its potential cosmeceutical applications. Plant specimens of C. hypocistis were collected in June 2018 in Castro Daire, Portugal. After lyophilisation, the phenolic compounds were analysed in the hydroethanolic extracts of four different parts of C. hypocistis (whole plant, nectar chamber of the flower, petals, and stalks) using a HPLC-DAD-ESI/MSn system. The antioxidant activity of the four extracts were evaluated using OxHLIA and TBARS methodology. Anti-tyrosinase enzyme inhibitory assay was performed using L-DOPA as substract and kojic acid as standard. C. hypocistis extracts were also tested for their antibacterial activity based on minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations and the anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated through NO inhibition, in LPS-activated murine macrophage (RAW 264.7). A total of 17 phenolic compounds were identified, being galloyl-bis-HHDP-glucose, digalloyl-bis-HHDP-glucopyranose, and pedunculagin the most abundant. UV radiation generates oxidative stress, being mainly responsible for cell membrane oxidation and, although through different mechanisms, OxHLIA and TBARS are equally a consequence of lipid peroxidation. All the tested extracts showed high antioxidant capacity, with the petals exhibiting the most promising results for both OxHLIA (IC50 = 279 ± 5 ng/mL) and TBARS (IC50 = 342 ± 2 ng/mL) assays. Considering the anti-tyrosinase inhibitory assay, the main enzyme involved in skin pigmentation, the stalks presented the lowest IC50 values, 0.09 ± 0.02 mg/mL. All tested extracts displayed a broad-spectrum microbial inhibition against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Moreover, being chronic inflammation one of the molecular mechanisms behind skin aging, the petals result for NO inhibition (IC50: 127 ± 8 μg/mL) is an important evidence on the versatile profile of this plant. Although for the four studied samples the 17 identified phenolic compounds were the same, its concentration was higher in the petals extract, followed by the stalks, being these two plant parts of C. hypocistis unveiling the strongest bioactive potential. These results point a potential correlation between the phenolic profile of C. hypocistis and its properties. For its bioactivity validation and mechanism investigation, further studies on fractionation, isolation and characterization of compounds of the extracts of C. hypocistis are currently ongoing.
- Development of an optimized drying process for the recovery of bioactive compounds from the Autumn Fruits of Berberis vulgaris L. and Crataegus monogyna JacqPublication . Moldovan, Cadmiel; Frumuzachi, Oleg; Babotă, Mihai; Menghini, Luigi; Cesa, Stefania; Gavan, Alexandru; Sisea, Cristian R.; Tanase, Corneliu; Dias, Maria Inês; Pereira, Carla; Ferreira, Isabel C.F.R.; Crişan, Gianina; Mocan, Andrei; Barros, LillianHot air drying has proven to be an efficient method to preserve specific edible plant materials with medicinal properties. This is a process involving chemical, physical, and biological changes in plant matrices. Understanding these processes will lead to an improvement in the yields of bioactive compounds. This study aims to optimize the drying process of two species’ fruits used in folk medicine, Berberis vulgaris and Crataegus monogyna. The optimized extracts’ antioxidant capacity was assessed using various assays, with the barberry extract showing very good activity (50.85, 30.98, and 302.45 mg TE/g dw for DPPH, TEAC, and FRAP assays, respectively). Both species exerted good fungal α-glucosidase inhibitory activity (IC50 = 0.34 and 0.56 mg/mL, respectively) but no activity on mammalian α-glucosidase. Additionally, this study identified and quantified the main bioactive compounds. The results presented herein are a breakthrough in industrializing this drying process. Additional studies are necessary to mechanistically understand the drying process involved in these plant materials.
- Exploring the phytochemical profile of Cytinus hypocistis (L.) L. as a source of health-promoting biomolecules behind its in vitro bioactive and enzyme inhibitory propertiesPublication . Silva, Ana Rita; Pinela, José; Dias, Maria Inês; Calhelha, Ricardo C.; Alves, Maria José; Mocan, Andrei; García, Pablo A.; Barros, Lillian; Ferreira, Isabel C.F.R.Cytinus hypocistis whole plant and its three different parts (petals, stalks, and nectar) were chemically characterised and their biological properties evaluated. A total of 17 phenolic compounds were identified, being galloyl-bis-HHDP-glucose the most abundant. All the tested extracts showed high antioxidant capacity, with the petals exhibiting the most promising results both in the OxHLIA (IC50 = 0.279 ng/mL) and TBARS (IC50=0.342 ng/mL) assays. For the antidiabetic and anti-tyrosinase enzyme inhibitory assays, the stalk extract presented the lowest IC50 values, 0.039 mg/mL and 0.09 mg/mL, respectively. Regarding antibacterial activity, all tested extracts displayed broad-spectrum microbial inhibition against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Similarly, all extracts displayed effective anti-proliferation activity against four tested tumour cell lines (NCI–H460, HeLa, HepG2, and MCF-7), with no toxicity observed for a non-tumour cell line. Considering the anti-inflammatory activity, the petals showed the highest nitric oxide inhibition (IC50 = 127 μg/mL). These results point C. hypocistis as a promising source of health-promoting biomolecules.
- Flor de Aloe vera como fonte de compostos bioativos para a indústria cosméticaPublication . Añibarro-Ortega, Mikel; Pinela, José; Ćirić, Ana; Mocan, Andrei; Ferreira, Olga; Barros, Lillian; Soković, Marina; Ferreira, Isabel C.F.R.A folha de Aloe vera tem sido alvo de vários estudos científicos que pretendem caracterizar aspeto composicionais e propriedades biológicas [1-3]. No entanto, a flor (Fig. 1) desta planta medicina permanece uma parte ainda pouco explorada. Visando a prospecção de fotoquímicos bioativos nesta matriz vegetal, este estudo teve como objetivo a análise de compostos fenólicos e a avaliação in vitro da atividade antioxidante e antimicrobiana e da capacidade de inibir a atividade da enzima tirosinase.
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