ABSTRACT
Cucurbitaceae is a family of health-promoting plants due to their compounds with beneficial effects. The aim of this study was to analyze, for the first time, the chemical composition, the antioxidant activity and the metal chelating properties of fruit juices obtained from four different species of the Cucurbitaceae family cultivated in Romania, namely Momordica charantia, Cucumis metuliferus, Benincasa hispida and Trichosanthes cucumerina. The samples of juice were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and all the four species displayed high levels of the two triterpenes, oleanolic and ursolic acids, and also in phenolic compounds, including catechin, (-)-epicatechin and gallic acid. The juices demonstrated significant antioxidant activity against the free radical 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (ranging from 20 to 95%,), a good iron binding ability (ranging from 7.45 ± 0.28% to 86.95 ± 0.97%) and also promising antioxidant potential against the ABTS radical (ranging from 4.97 to 32.60 µETx/mL juice). Our findings raise interesting questions for further research on Cucurbitaceae fruit juices and, consequently, their very good antioxidant potential suggests these fruits should be further explored for their protective effect against oxidative damage. This is the first time the chemical composition and antioxidant activities of fruit juices from these four Romanian Cucurbitaceae varieties have been investigated.
Subject(s)
Antioxidants/chemistry , Antioxidants/pharmacology , Cucurbitaceae/chemistry , Fruit and Vegetable Juices/analysis , Fruit/chemistry , Plant Extracts/chemistry , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Ascorbic Acid/chemistry , Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid , Flavonoids/chemistry , Free Radical Scavengers/chemistry , Free Radical Scavengers/pharmacology , Iron/chemistry , Iron/metabolism , Phytochemicals/chemistry , Phytochemicals/pharmacology , Polyphenols/chemistry , Protein Binding , RomaniaABSTRACT
A family of fifteen quaternary ammonium salts (QAs), bearing the 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethane core, were obtained using for the first time two different green methods, such as microwave (MW) and ultrasounds (US) irradiation, with very good yields and in much shorter times compared to the classical method, and an assay on their antimicrobial action against Escherichia coli (E. coli) was carried out. While 12 to 24 hours were required for complete alkylation of 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethane by reactive halogenated derivatives in anhydrous solvent under reflux conditions, MW and US irradiation reduced the reaction time and the desired products were achieved in a few min. One of the aims of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial potential of the synthesized QAs against pathogenic bacteria, along with their impact on germination activity of wheat seeds (Triticum aestivum L.). The antibacterial activity of the QAs against Escherichia coli was explored by determining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). The MIC values varied from 0.312 to 2.5 mg/mL, highlighting the lowest values attained for the derivatives containing methoxy, chlorine and benzofurane functional groups. The viability of aerobic bacteria was determined with the Tetrazolium/Formazan Test, a method that was found to be the best alternative approach with respect to the difuzimetric method. Seeds of Triticum aestivum L. were used for the evaluation of the germination indicators, such as seed germination (SG), the relative seed germination (RSG), the relative radicle growth (RRG), and the seed germination index (GI). The toxicity studies of QAs 1, 4 and 7, at two different concentrations, showed no inhibitory effect on seed germination.
