Antioxidant properties, phenolic and mineral composition of germinated chia, golden flax, evening primrose, phacelia and fenugreek.

Seeds and sprouts are of considerable interest due to their numerous pro-health benefits. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of germination on the mineral composition (performed by flame absorption atomic spectroscopy), total phenolic content, antioxidant activity, as well as phenolic profiles (before and after alkaline hydrolysis by high-performance liquid chromatography) of chia, golden flax, evening primrose, phacelia and fenugreek seeds. Generally, significant (p < 0.05) changes in the individual minerals composition of the seeds, improvement of their antioxidant properties, as well as increase in levels of individual phenolic compounds was found after seeds germination. Alkaline hydrolysis allowed to release free forms of phenolics and to confirm (chromatographically) their significantly higher amounts when compared to the nonhydrolyzed fraction. Gallic, protocatechuic, caffeic, p-coumaric, ferulic and sinapic acids, as well as quercetin and kaempferol were identified in analyzed seeds and sprouts. Sprouts exhibited better nutritional values than their un-germinated forms.

Structure of anthocyanin from the blue petals of Phacelia campanularia and its blue flower color development.

The dicaffeoyl anthocyanin, phacelianin, was isolated from blue petals of Phacelia campanularia. Its structure was determined to be 3-O-(6-O-(4'-O-(6-O-(4'-O-beta-d-glucopyranosyl-(E)-caffeoyl)-beta-d-glucopyranosyl)-(E)-caffeoyl)-beta-d-glucopyranosyl)-5-O-(6-O-malonyl-beta-d-glucopyranosyl)delphinidin. The CD of the blue petals of the phacelia showed a strong negative Cotton effect and that of the suspension of the colored protoplasts was the same, indicating that the chromophores of phacelianin may stack intermolecularly in an anti-clockwise stacking manner in the blue-colored vacuoles. In a weakly acidic aqueous solution, phacelianin displayed the same blue color and negative Cotton effect in CD as those of the petals. However, blue-black colored precipitates gradually formed without metal ions. A very small amount of Al(3+) or Fe(3+) may be required to stabilize the blue solution. Phacelianin may take both an inter- and intramolecular stacking form and shows the blue petal color by molecular association and the co-existence of a small amount of metal ions. We also isolated a major anthocyanin from the blue petals of Evolvulus pilosus and revised the structure identical to phacelianin.

Phenolic derivatives from Wigandia urens with weak activity against the chemokine receptor CCR5.

Three compounds, 2,3-dihydroxy-4-methoxy-6,6,9-trimethyl-6H-dibenzo[b,d]pyran (1), 8-methoxy-2-methyl-2-(4-methyl-3-pentenyl)-2H-1-benzopyran-6-ol (2) and 4-methoxy-3-(3-methyl-2-butenyl)-benzoic acid (3), have been isolated from Wigandia urens. The structures of compounds 1, 2 and 3 were determined from spectroscopic data and showed activity in a CCR5 assay with IC(50) values of 33, 46 and 26 muM respectively.

Isolation and structural identification of a germination inhibitor in fire-recruiters from the California chaparral.

A role for inhibitors as regulators of seed dormancy in fire-dependent annuals and their nondormant (fire-independent) congeners was examined in the family Hydrophyllaceae. From seeds of the fire-dependent species, Emmenanthe penduliflora, Phacelia minor, P. brachyloba, and P. grandiflora, extracts were obtained that were found to be largely self-inhibitory and potent inhibitors of seed germination in nondormant congeners. Lower activity was detected in the fire-independent species, P. tanacetifolia and P. campanularia. The inhibitory activity was associated with the new sucrose ester, 6-O-linoleyl-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-beta-D-fructofuranoside.