LC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS Analysis, Cytotoxic, Antiviral, Antioxidant, and Enzyme Inhibitory Properties of Four Extracts of Geranium pyrenaicum Burm. f.: A Good Gift from the Natural Treasure.

This study focused on the biological evaluation and chemical characterization of Geranium pyrenaicum Burm. f. Different solvent extracts (hexane, ethyl acetate, methanol, and water extracts) were prepared. The phytochemical profile, antioxidant, and enzyme inhibitory activity were investigated. Cytotoxicity was assessed using VERO, FaDu, HeLa and RKO cells. The antiviral activity was carried out against HSV-1 (Herpes simplex virus 1) propagated in VERO cell line. The aqueous extract, possessing high phenolic content (170.50 mg gallic acid equivalent/g extract), showed the highest reducing capacity (613.27 and 364.10 mg Trolox equivalent/g extract, for cupric reducing antioxidant capacity and ferric reducing antioxidant power, respectively), radical scavenging potential (469.82 mg Trolox equivalent/g extract, against 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)), metal chelating ability (52.39 mg ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid equivalent/g extract) and total antioxidant capacity (3.15 mmol Trolox equivalent/g extract). Liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-quadrupole time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS) alloved to tentatively identify a total of 56 compounds in the extracts, including ellagitannins, gallic acid and galloyl derivatives amongst others. The ethyl acetate extracts substantially depressed cholinesterase enzymes (4.49 and 12.26 mg galantamine equivalent/g extract against AChE and BChE, respectively) and α-amylase enzyme (1.04 mmol acarbose equivalent/g extract). On the other hand, the methanolic extract inhibited tyrosinase (121.42 mg kojic acid equivalent/g extract) and α-glucosidase (2.39 mmol acarbose equivalent/g extract) activities. The highest selectivity towards all cancer cell lines (SI 4.5-10.8) was observed with aqueous extract with the FaDu cells being the most sensitive (CC50 40.22 µg/mL). It can be concluded that the presence of certain bioactive antiviral molecules may be related to the high anti HSV-1 activity of the methanolic extract. This work has generated vital scientific data on this medicinal plant, which is a prospective candidate for the creation of innovative phyto-pharmaceuticals.

HPLC-DAD profiles and pharmacological insights of Onobrychis argyrea subsp isaurica extracts.

Onobrychis argyrea Boiss. subsp. Isaurica (Fabaceae), endemic to the eastern Mediterranean region, is a poorly studied medicinal plant. This study sets out to investigate into antioxidant and inhibitory activities of O. argyrea extracts (ethyl acetate, methanol, and water) against key enzymes linked to diabetes (α-amylase, α-glucosidase), Alzheimer's disease (acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase), and skin hyperpigmentation (tyrosinase). Phytochemical composition was determined by HPLC-DAD and in silico approach used to provide additional insight of the possible interaction of the identified phenolic compounds with the studied enzymes. The methanol extract showed potent inhibitory action against acetylcholinesterase (1.55 mg GALAE/g extract), tyrosinase (61.61 mg KAE/g extract), and glucosidase (20.17 mmol ACAE/g extract). The methanol extract of O. argyrea exhibited potent radical scavenging potential (126.51 mg TE/g extract for DPPH scavenging assay) and reducing capacities (311.36 and 200.70 mg TE/g extract, for CUPRAC and FRAP assays, respectively). Quercetin, apigenin, and benzoic acid were identified in significant amounts in the methanol extract of O. argyrea. Quercetin interacted with the catalytic pocket of glucosidase by establishing hydrogen bonds with Ser157, Ser241, Asp307, and π-π interactions with His280 and Tyr158. The observed inhibitory effects of O. argyrea extracts on the studied enzyme suggest that this plant could be a promising source of naturally occurring chemical compounds for the management of diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, skin hyperpigmentation disorders, as well as, oxidative stress-related complications.

Shedding light on the biological and chemical fingerprints of three Achillea species (A. biebersteinii, A. millefolium and A. teretifolia).

Representatives of the Achillea genus are widely used as foods or nutraceuticals. Considering the increasing demand for herbal dietary supplements with health promoting effects, the objective of this research was to evaluate the biological and chemical profiles of different extracts (ethyl acetate, methanol and water) obtained from three Achillea species (A. biebersteinii, A. millefolium and A. teretifolia). The antioxidant (free radical scavenging (DPPH and ABTS), reducing power (CUPRAC and FRAP), metal chelating and phosphomolybdenum), enzyme inhibitory (anti-cholinesterase, anti-tyrosinase, anti-amylase and anti-glucosidase) and antimicrobial (antibacterial and antifungal) effects were assessed to investigate their biological profiles. Moreover, the total phenolic and flavonoid contents were determined and LC-MS analysis was performed for the chemical profile of the investigated extracts. The LC-MS analysis revealed the presence of several caffeoylquinic acids in these extracts. Generally, the methanol and water extracts exhibited stronger antioxidant abilities, which correlated with the higher levels of phenolic compounds when compared to the ethyl acetate extracts. In addition, the best antimicrobial activities were obtained for the ethyl acetate and methanolic extracts. However, the ethyl acetate extract had remarkable enzyme inhibitory potential. On the basis of our results, Achillea species may be promoted as promising sources of natural agents and used for the development of nutraceuticals or functional food ingredients.

Enzyme Inhibitory Properties, Antioxidant Activities, and Phytochemical Profile of Three Medicinal Plants from Turkey.

We aimed to investigate the inhibitory potential of three medicinal plants (Hedysarum varium, Onobrychis hypargyrea, and Vicia truncatula) from Turkey against key enzymes involved in human pathologies, namely, diabetes (α-amylase and α-glucosidase), neurodegenerative disorders (tyrosinase, acetylcholinesterase, and butyrylcholinesterase), and hyperpigmentation (tyrosinase). The antioxidant potential, phenolic and flavonoid content of ethyl acetate, and methanolic and aqueous extracts were investigated using in vitro assays. The total antioxidant capacity (TAC), ß-carotene/linoleic acid bleaching activity, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free radical (DPPH(•)), 2,2-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS(•+)), cupric ion reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and metal chelating activity on ferrous ions were used to evaluate the antioxidant capabilities of the extracts. The half-maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC50) of the extracts on cholinesterase, tyrosinase, and α-amylase were significantly higher than the references, galantamine, kojic acid, and acarbose, respectively. The half-maximal effective concentrations (EC50) of the extracts on TAC, CUPRAC, and FRAP were significantly higher than trolox. The phenol and flavonoid contents of the plant extracts were in the range 20.90 ± 0.190-83.25 ± 0.914 mg gallic acid equivalent/g extract and 1.45 ± 0.200-39.71 ± 0.092 mg rutin equivalent/g extract, respectively. The plants were found to possess moderate antioxidant capacities and interesting inhibitory action against key enzymes.

Assessment of the antioxidant potential and fatty acid composition of four Centaurea L. taxa from Turkey.

This paper focused on the assessment of antioxidant property and fatty acid composition of four Centaurea species. The antioxidant activity of its methanol extract was evaluated by several in vitro experiments including phosphomolybedum assay, DPPH assay, ß-carotene/linoleic acid, ferric and cupric reducing power. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were also evaluated. The methanol extract of Centaurea pulcherrima var. pulcherrima showed the superior free radical scavenging activity, linoleic acid inhibition capacity, reducing power and also had the highest total phenolic content. A significant relationship between antioxidant capacity and total phenolic components was found. The oils of Centaurea taxa were also analysed for fatty acid concentration by gas chromatography. The principal fatty acids in the species were palmitic acid (23.38-30.49%) and linoleic acid (20.19-29.93%). These findings suggest that the Centaurea species could be used as a potential source of new natural antioxidants and unsaturated fatty acids in food industry, cosmetics and pharmaceutical preparations.

Antioxidant potentials and anticholinesterase activities of methanolic and aqueous extracts of three endemic Centaurea L. species.

The methanol and aqueous extracts of three endemic Centaurea species (C. polypodiifolia var. pseudobehen, C. pyrrhoblephara and C. antalyense) were investigated for their antioxidant and cholinesterase inhibitory activities. The antioxidant activities of these extracts were evaluated by in vitro models including, phosphomolybdenum assay, free radical scavenging assays (DPPH and ABTS), ß-carotene/linoleic acid test system, metal chelating assay, FRAP assay, ferric and cupric reducing power. Cholinesterase inhibitory activities were examined using Ellman's colorimetric method. Total phenol, flavonoid, and saponin contents were also measured. Among the six Centaurea extracts evaluated, the highest antioxidant abilities were obtained from C. polypodiifolia var. pseudobehen. Methanolic extracts from C. polypodiifolia var. pseudobehen and C. antalyense had a noticeable inhibition towards AChE and BChE. These findings suggest that Centaurea species could be an anticholinesterase agent and antioxidant resource in some industries, such as food, pharmacology, and cosmetics.

Nutritional quality of protein in the leaves of eleven Asphodeline species (Liliaceae) from Turkey.

The nutritional quality of the protein in the leaves of 11 Asphodeline (Liliaceae) species was investigated by the determination of the amino acid composition and calculation of several nutritional parameters. The average protein content was 4.7% and ranged from 2.5% in Asphodeline damascena ssp. rugosa to 8.2% in A. turcica. The most abundant essential amino acids were Thr (5.7%), Val (6.0%), Ile (4.7%), and Trp (2.1%). The amino acid composition of Asphodeline peshmeniana was well equilibrated according to Food and Agriculture Organisation standards, but Lys and sulphur amino acids were at limiting concentrations in all the other taxa. Determination of the protein efficiency ratio and biological value revealed that the protein in the leaves of Asphodeline species is of high nutritional quality. Hence, the Asphodeline leaves that are typically used in Turkey for the preparation of salads, represent a good source of protein with high levels of several essential amino acids and a good nutritional value. Analysis of the similarity based on the amino acid composition indicated the existence of different clusters that are consistent with the taxonomical classification, area of distribution, and morphological similarities of the Asphodeline species.

Composition of essential oil and antioxidant capacity of Centaurea drabifolia Sm. subsp. detonsa (Bornm.) Wagenitz, endemic to Turkey.

In this study, composition of essential oil and antioxidant capacity of Centaurea drabifolia subsp. detonsa were investigated. The antioxidant capacity of the methanolic extract was evaluated by various methods including measuring the total phenolic content, total antioxidant capacity, free radical scavenging activity (DPPH assay), ß-carotene/linoleic acid bleaching assay and ferric and cupric ion reducing power assay. The composition of essential oil was identified by using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Totally, 41 compounds were described in the essential oil. Germacrene D (44.829%) was determined as the major compound of the essential oil. The total phenolic content, total antioxidant capacity, inhibition rate of oxidation of linoleic acid, IC(50) (in DPPH assay) and EC(50) (in reducing power) value were found to be 40.454 mg GAE/g, 100.840 mg AAE/g, 65.639%, 39.584 µg mL(-1) and 0.603 mg mL(-1), respectively. The results indicated that the extract of C. drabifolia subsp. detonsa has strong antioxidant properties and this species can be used as a natural antioxidant in food processing and pharmaceutical industries.

Screening for in vitro antioxidant properties and fatty acid profiles of five Centaurea L. species from Turkey flora.

Centaurea species are used for the treatment of various ailments in the popular medicine in some countries. This study was designed to examine antioxidant potentials and fatty acid profiles of five Centaurea species from Turkey flora. Antioxidant properties of methanolic extracts from these species were evaluated by six different methods: phosphomolybdenum assay, free radical scavenging assay, ß-carotene/linoleic acid test system, metal chelating activity, ferric and cupric reducing power. Total phenolic and flavonoid concentrations of each extract were also determined using the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent and aluminum chloride. The results of these assay showed a significant antioxidant capacity in all researched extracts. Centaurea cheirolopha extract, with the highest amount of total phenolic and flavonoids, showed the highest antioxidant activities in all assay, except for metal chelating. Fatty acid profiles of these species were examined by GC-FID and 30 fatty acids were identified. Palmitic, linoleic, oleic, and linolenic acid were detected as the main components. The results of the study indicated that the Centaurea species can be considered as a source of new natural antioxidants and unsaturated fatty acids for food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries.

In vitro antioxidant capacities and fatty acid compositions of three Centaurea species collected from Central Anatolia region of Turkey.

Antioxidant capacities of methanolic extract and fatty acid composition of three Centaurea species were investigated. The antioxidant capacity of the extracts was evaluated by different assays, including total phenolic content, phosphomolybdenum assay, free radical scavenging activity (DPPH assay), beta-carotene/linoleic acid bleaching assay, iron (III) and cupric reduction assay. The findings showed that the methanolic extract of Centaurea pulchella has the strongest antioxidant capacity compared to other two Centaurea species. The order of the antioxidant properties of Centaurea species were C. pulchella>C. patula>C. tchihatcheffii. Thirty fatty acids were identified in the oils of three Centaurea species. The major fatty acids of these species were found to be linoleic acid from C. pulchella and C. tchihatcheffii, and alpha-linolenic acid from C. patula. The study concluded that the Centaurea species can be used as a source of natural antioxidants and essential fatty acids.