Microwave extraction is becoming a popular option in many fields, especially for bioactive compounds from medicinal plants. This paper addresses the application of microwaves in the process of extracting bioactive compounds (phenols, flavonoids, chlorophyll) from peppermint with antioxidant capacity in order to highlight the influence of the microwave field on the quality of the final product in comparison with the control samples. The Mentha piperita L. is a rich source of phenols. The total phenol content after applying the MW treatments significant increased and varied between 25.000 ± 1.992 and 391.687 ± 20.537 mg GAE/100 g dw compared to the untreated sample (8.089 ± 2.745 mg GAE/100 g dw). The same trend was also recorded in the case of the flavonoid and pigment content in peppermint leaves following the application of microwave treatments. The obtained results were investigated using chemometric multivariate analysis. The main purpose of our research was to compare the possibilities of total or partial substitution of conventional extraction technologies with the microwave extraction technology, and also to highlight the existing differences in the amount of total phenols and flavonoids extracted from peppermint plants in different processing conditions. Through microwave processing, a significant increase in polyphenolic compounds is obtained.

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The Influence of Microwave Treatments on Bioactive Compounds and Antioxidant Capacity of Mentha piperita L.

Viscum is one of the most famous and appreciated medicinal plants in Europe and beyond. The symbiotic relationship with the host tree and various endogenous and ecological aspects are the main factors on which the viscum metabolites’ profiles depend. In addition, European traditional medicine mentions that only in two periods of the year (summer solstice and winter solstice) the therapeutic potential of the plant is at its maximum. Many studies have investigated the phytotherapeutic properties of viscum grown on different species of trees. However, studies on Romanian viscum are relatively few and refer mainly to the antioxidant and antiproliferative activity of mistletoe grown on Acer campestre, Fraxinus excelsior, Populus nigra, Malus domestica, or Robinia pseudoacacia. This study reports the first complete low-molecular-weight metabolite profile of Romanian wild-grown European viscum. A total of 140 metabolites were identified under mass spectra (MS) positive mode from 15 secondary metabolite categories: flavonoids, amino acids and peptides, terpenoids, phenolic acids, fatty acids, organic acids, nucleosides, alcohols and esters, amines, coumarins, alkaloids, lignans, steroids, aldehydes, and miscellaneous. In addition, the biological activity of each class of metabolite is discussed. The development of a simple and selective phyto-engineered AuNPs carrier assembly is reported and an evaluation of the nanocarrier system’s morpho-structure is performed, to capitalize on the beneficial properties of viscum and AuNPs.

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Romanian Viscum album L.—Untargeted Low-Molecular Metabolomic Approach to Engineered Viscum–AuNPs Carrier Assembly

Recent studies from the literature show more and more the interdependence between diet and intestinal microbiome and the health of the human body and the health of the intestinal microbiome. It has been shown so far that the intestinal microbiome is itself an &ldquo;organ&rdquo; that has its metabolic activity influencing the entire metabolism of the body host. In this paper, the main roles of the intestinal microbiome, its composition, and implications in maintaining the health of the organism 

https://pharmacophorejournal.com/storage/files/article/eb177926-f28d-404e-a410-42f7f8ffcc6e-Y43wTaPgDA96mYWF/pharma-2022-vol13-iss2-mar-apr-1-6-7099.pdf

The Interdependence Between Diet, Microbiome, And Human Body Health - A Systemic Review

Commercial berry production is an attractive industry worldwide, including in Romania because berries are a rich source of bioactive compounds with antioxidant capacity, thus becoming the most important functional and nutraceutical foods in our diet. The aim of our work was to characterize two different species, Saskatoon berry (Amelanchier alnifolia Nutt., Rosaceae) and blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L., Ericaceae), from the point of view of total phenols and anthocyanin as well as of antioxidant capacity depending on their harvesting time. The analyzed cultivars ‘Ruben’ and ‘Duke’ were cultivated in the North-West of Romania, the first cultivar has been officially introduced in Romania in 2018.  The results show that ‘Ruben’ cultivar is richer in bioactive compounds compared with ‘Duke’ cultivars. The level of total phenols of ‘Ruben’ cultivar was 297.937 ± 4.30 and 347.412 ± 14.13 mg GAE/100 g fw (fresh weight) at early and full ripening time, respectively. The highest anthocyanins content was found in ‘Ruben’ cultivar (410.659 ± 52.88 mg/100 g fw) at full ripening time. Also, the high values of antioxidant capacity determined by four different methods (DPPH, FRAP, ABTS, CUPRAC) was recorded in the case of cultivar ‘Ruben’. Both blueberry cultivars ‘Duke’ and ‘Ruben’ are rich sources in bioactive compounds such as phenolics, especially anthocyanins. The blueberries harvested at full ripening period provided the highest level of total phenols and anthocyanins compounds. These compounds act as powerful antioxidants and thus they could improve the health status of the human body, or can be used by food and nutraceutical manufacturers.

Phytochemical screening and antioxidant capacity of two berry cultivars, ‘Ruben’ and ‘Duke’, depending on their harvesting time

Viscum album L. subsp. album is a hemiparasitic plant that is recognized as a medicinal plant due to its beneficial effects, including anti-tumor activity, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-hepatotoxic, hypoglycemic, and antimicrobial properties as well as for lowering blood pressure. On the other hand, mistletoe is a biotic stressor for both deciduous trees and conifers. Our main aim was to evidence the influence of mistletoe on the content of chlorophylls, proline, total phenols, flavonoids, and antioxidant capacity of leaves from tree host trees (Malus domestica, Prunus domestica, and Populus alba) that grow on the northwest of Romania. In addition, HPLC-DAD-MS-ESI+ was used to analyze the phenolic acid and flavonoid profiles of V. album L. subsp. album leaves according to their parasitized hosts. A significant decrease in chlorophyll a level of approximately 32% was detected in poplars infested with mistletoe, followed by infested apples and plums with pigment reductions of 29.25% and 9.65%, respectively. The content of total phenols and flavonoids in the parasitized trees was higher compared to the non-parasitized ones. In the case of poplar, which presented the highest incidence of mistletoe infestation (70.37%), the content of total phenols in the leaves was two times higher compared to non-infested leaves. Based on HPLC chromatographic analysis, leaves of mistletoe growing on apple (VAM) had the highest content of phenolic acids (7.833 mg/g dw), followed by mistletoe leaves on poplar (VAO) and plum (VAP) (7.033 mg/g dw and, respectively, 5.559 mg/g dw). Among the flavonols, the predominant component was Rhamnazin glucosides in the amount of 1.025 ± 0.08 mg/g dw in VAO, followed by VAP and VAM (0.514 ± 0.04 and 0.478 ± 0.04 mg/g dw, respectively). Although our results show that mistletoe negatively influences the host trees, it is still a valuable plant that must be exploited to bring benefits to human health.

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Phytochemical Profile and Antioxidant Capacity of Viscum album L. Subsp. album and Effects on Its Host Trees

In recent years, mulberry has acquired a special importance due to its phytochemical composition and its beneficial effects on human health, including antioxidant, anticancer, antidiabetic and immunomodulatory effects. Botanical parts of Morus sp. (fruits, leaves, twigs, roots) are considered a rich source of secondary metabolites. The aim of our study was to highlight the phytochemical profile of each of the botanical parts of Morus tree, their health benefits and applications in food industry with an updated review of literature. Black and white mulberries are characterized in terms of predominant phenolic compounds in correlation with their medical applications. In addition to anthocyanins (mainly cyanidin-3-O-glucoside), black mulberry fruits also contain flavonols and phenolic acids. The leaves are a rich source of flavonols, including quercetin and kaempferol in the glycosylated forms and chlorogenic acid as predominant phenolic acids. Mulberry bark roots and twigs are a source of prenylated flavonoids, predominantly morusin. In this context, the exploitation of mulberry in food industry is reviewed in this paper, in terms of developing novel, functional food with multiple health-promoting effects.

/pdf/phytochemical-composition-of-different-botanical-parts-of-n4tnw97k.pdf

Phytochemical Composition of Different Botanical Parts of Morus Species, Health Benefits and Application in Food Industry

The genus Viscum includes many species that are mainly distributed in Europe, Africa, Asia, America, and Australia. Viscum extracts or their various preparations are widely used as complementary and alternative medicines in the treatment of various ailments. In the present review, articles related to the phytochemical composition of mistletoe were selected, depending on the host tree on which it grows, as well as articles in which its beneficial effects were highlighted. Viscum contains differen 

https://pharmacophorejournal.com/storage/files/article/d86435c0-3578-4e06-87af-655a20df1e51-CfmAvakyJwR4X6a2/pharma-2021-vol13-iss6-nov-dec-10-26-7082.pdf

On Overview Of Bioactive Compounds, Biological And Pharmacological Effects Of Mistletoe (Viscum Album L)

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of edible coatings based on gelatine, oils (sunflower and coconut) and beeswax on the physicochemical properties, bioactive compounds (total phenols and monomeric anthocyanin content), antioxidant capacity (DPPH and FRAP assays were used) and sensorial attributes of mulberry fruits during a period of storage (0, 2, 5 and 8 days) at 4 °C. The results showed that, in all samples treated with edible films, the degree of firmness was higher and the deterioration weaker compared to the control at day 8 of storage. Edible coatings significantly reduced the rate of deterioration, in terms of total phenolics and anthocyanins, in mulberry fruits over time, and the gelatine-coated mulberry samples (G_Mn) exhibited the best results. In terms of the antioxidant capacity of the coated mulberry, after 5 and 8 days of storage, only the G_Mn samples maintained significantly high DPPH radical scavenging and FRAP values compared to control. Coating improved the sensorial attributes of the mulberry during storage, and gelatine-coated fruits recorded the highest score, followed by layer-by-layer samples (O+W_G_Mn). All edible coatings used to cover black mulberry in this study extended the shelf life of the fruits, while maintaining high levels of bioactive compounds and, consequently, high antioxidant capacity, along with improved sensory qualities, during cold storage.

/pdf/effects-of-different-edible-coatings-on-the-shelf-life-of-mv4wn4ol.pdf

Adriana Ramona Memete

Papers

Phytochemical Composition of Different Botanical Parts of Morus Species, Health Benefits and Application in Food Industry

On Overview Of Bioactive Compounds, Biological And Pharmacological Effects Of Mistletoe (Viscum Album L)

Phytochemical screening and antioxidant capacity of two berry cultivars, ‘Ruben’ and ‘Duke’, depending on their harvesting time

Phytochemical Profile and Antioxidant Capacity of Viscum album L. Subsp. album and Effects on Its Host Trees

Effects of Different Edible Coatings on the Shelf Life of Fresh Black Mulberry Fruits (Morus nigra L.)