Polyphenolic compounds and anthocyanin content of Prosopis nigra and Prosopis alba pods flour and their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacities.

The aim of this study was to determine the content of total free and bound phenolics, free and bound flavonoids, anthocyanins, and alkaloids and the profile of polyphenols of edible ripe pods of Prosopis alba and Prosopis nigra. P. alba flour showed significantly higher total (sum of Free- and Bound) phenolic content and total flavonoid compounds than P.

Analytical methodology optimization to estimate the content of non-flavonoid phenolic compounds in Argentine propolis extracts.

Context: Traditionally, the content of total phenolics (flavonoid phenolics (FP) and non-flavonoid phenolics (NFP)) and flavonoids (flavone/flavonol and flavonone/dihydroflavonol) in propolis has been determined by different methodologies. Until now, the percentage of total phenolic (TP) compounds that corresponds to FP and NFP, expressed in the same units by a spectrophotometric method, has not been determined.

Objective: The current study proposes a quick and simple methodology that separates FP and NFP in propolis samples and determines TP, FP, and NFP by the same method.

Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities, functional properties and mutagenicity studies of protein and protein hydrolysate obtained from Prosopis alba seed flour.

Prosopis species are considered multipurpose trees and shrubs by FAO and their fruit constitute a food source for humans and animals. According to the "Código Alimentario Argentino", "algarrobo flour" is produced by grinding the whole mature pod, but in the traditional process most of the seeds are discarded. In this paper, the flour from seed was obtained.

Nutritional and functional properties of aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts from Argentinean propolis.

Bee propolis is a natural product extensively used as an ingredient in functional foods in amounts that may confer health benefits. The aim of this study was to investigate the nutritional and functional properties (antioxidant activity) of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of propolis samples from Santiago del Estero province, northern Argentina. All propolis extracts contained macronutrients (glucose, fructose, sucrose and proteins), micronutrients (Na, K, Ca, P and Mg) and trace elements (Fe).

Effect of seasonality on chemical composition and antibacterial and anticandida activities of Argentine propolis. Design of a topical formulation.

The effect of seasonality on Argentine propolis collected during one year on its phenolic and flavonoid content and on the growth of Gram-positive and Gram-negative antibiotic resistant bacteria and Candida species was evaluated. Extracts of propolis samples collected in the summer and spring showed higher phenolic and flavonoid contents than the samples collected in other seasons (5.86 to 6.

Chalcones in bioactive Argentine propolis collected in arid environments.

The aim of this study was to assess the chemical and biological profile of propolis samples collected in arid environments of north-western Argentina. The samples were from two phytogeographical regions (Prepuna and Monte de Catamarca Province). Propolis ethanolic extracts (PEE) and chloroform (CHL), hexane (HEX) and aqueous (AQ) sub-extracts of samples from three regions (CAT-I; CAT-II and CAT-III) were obtained.

Antioxidant/antibacterial activities of a topical phytopharmaceutical formulation containing a standardized extract of Baccharis incarum, an extremophile plant species from Argentine Puna.

The antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of standardized extracts of Baccharis incarum in 60° and 80° ethanol and of a phytopharmaceutical formulation obtained from them were measured. Baccharis tinctures showed antimicrobial activity against clinically isolated antibiotic resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis, with MIC values of 40-80 µg GAE/mL. Both tinctures exhibited ABTS(●+) scavenging activity with SC(50) values between 1.

A colorimetric method to quantify endo-polygalacturonase activity.

We report a new colorimetric assay to quantify endo-polygalacturonase activity, which hydrolyzes polygalacturonic acid to produce smaller chains of galacturonate. Some of the reported polygalacturonase assays measure the activity by detecting the appearance of reducing ends such as the Somogyi-Nelson method. As a result of being general towards reducing groups, the Somogyi-Nelson method is not appropriate when studying polygalacturonase and polygalacturonase inhibitors in plant crude extracts, which often have a strong reducing power.

Bioactivities of Chuquiraga straminea sandwith.

Methanolic extracts of Chuquiraga straminea Sandwith, subfamily Barnadesioideae (Asteraceae) showed the presence of quercetin-3-O-glucoside, quercetin-3-O-rutinoside, kaempferol, kaempferol-3-O-glucoside and kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside. Antioxidant and antimicrobial activity was determined. The total extracts showed antioxidant activity by DPPH and ABTS method (SC50 14.

Chemical composition of Argentinean propolis collected in extreme regions and its relation with antimicrobial and antioxidant activities.

This paper reveals, for the first time, the functional properties of propolis from an extreme region of Argentine (El Rincón, Province of Catamarca, Argentina), as well as the isolation and identification of bioactive compounds. The antioxidant activity was determined by the ABTS method and beta-carotene bleaching. The antibacterial activity was determined on methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) by the microdilution method and bioautographic assays.

Radical scavenging capacity and antimutagenic properties of purified proteins from Solanum betaceum fruits and Solanum tuberosum tubers.

In this study, antioxidant activities in free-radical-mediated oxidative systems and the genotoxic/antigenotoxic effects of two proteins with molecular mass around 17 kDa, purified from Solanum betaceum fruits (cyphomine) and Solanum tuberosum tubers (solamarine), were investigated. Both proteins inhibited uric acid formation with IC(50) values between 55 and 60 μg/mL, and both proteins were able to reduce oxidative damage by scavenging hydroxyl radicals and superoxide anion in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, the DPPH• reduction assay showed SC(50) values of 55-73 μg/mL.

Autographic assay for the rapid detection of antioxidant capacity of liquid and semi-solid pharmaceutical formulations using ABTS•+ immobilized by gel entrapment.

An autographic assay suitable for the detection of antioxidant compounds in a complex matrix (liquid and semi-solid pharmaceutical formulations) or in isolated compounds was described. The pre-formed radical monocation of 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS(•+)) was generated by oxidation of ABTS with potassium persulfate and reduced in the presence of hydrogen-donating antioxidants. For a further comparative estimation of its applicability and sensitivity, different medicinal plant extracts, hydrogels and antioxidant compounds were dot seeded or chromatographed on silica gel (TLC) and revealed with ABTS(•+) solution (System I) or ABTS(•+) immobilized by gel entrapment (System II).

Insecticidal, mutagenic and genotoxic evaluation of annonaceous acetogenins.

Annonaceous acetogenins represent a class of bioactive compounds whose primary mode of action is the inhibition of NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase (Mitochondrial Complex I). Given the potential pesticidal use of these compounds, we evaluated the effects of seven acetogenins: squamocin (1), molvizarin (2), itrabin (3), almuñequin (4), cherimolin-1 (5), cherimolin-2 (6), and tucumanin (7) isolated from Annona cherimolia Mill. against Ceratitis capitata Wiedemann (Tephritidae).

Effect of seasonal variations and collection form on antioxidant activity of propolis from San Juan, Argentina.

Propolis was included in the Argentine Food Code as a functional food. The chemical parameters and antioxidant properties of propolis samples from the same colonies of Apis mellifera in San Juan (Cuyo region, Western Argentine) were compared every month for 1 year using two collection methods. Chemical parameters were analyzed by the spectrophotometric method and fingerprinting using high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection.

Evaluation of antioxidant activity and genotoxicity of alcoholic and aqueous beverages and pomace derived from ripe fruits of Cyphomandra betacea Sendt.

Cyphomandra betacea ripe fruits can be a source of value-added byproducts and products such as antioxidant supplements, ingredients for food processing or alternative medical products. The aims of the present study were to obtain different preparations of C. betacea fruits, such as juice, decoction, and maceration and to characterize them in terms of microbiological stability, sensorial and chemical parameters, antioxidant potential (DPPH and ABTS*+ radical scavenging, beta-carotene bleaching, nitrite scavenging activities), capacity to prevent oxidative stress-induced cell death, and genotoxicity.

Design and quality control of a pharmaceutical formulation containing natural products with antibacterial, antifungal and antioxidant properties.

The aims of the present study were to determine the antibacterial and antifungal activity as well as mutagenicity of Sechium edule fluid extract and to obtain a pharmaceutical formulation with them. The extract exhibited antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, Enterobacter cloacae, Serratia marcescens, Morganella morganii, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Candida spp. and Aspergillus spp.

Singlet oxygen quenching and radical scavenging capacities of structurally-related flavonoids present in Zuccagnia punctata Cav.

The singlet oxygen (1O2) quenching and free radical (DPPH(*), ABTS(* +) and O2(* -)) scavenging ability of three structurally-related flavonoids (7-hydroxyflavanone HF, 2',4'-dihydroxychalcone DHC and 3,7-dihydroxyflavone DHF) present in the Argentinean native shrub Zuccagnia punctata Cav. were studied in solution by combining electrochemical and kinetic measurements, mass spectroscopy, end-point antioxidant assays and computational calculations. The results showed that the antioxidant properties of these flavonoids depend on several factors, such as their electron- and hydrogen atom donor capacity, the ionization degree of the more acidic group, solvatation effects and electrostatic interactions with the oxidant species.

Industrial effluents and surface waters genotoxicity and mutagenicity evaluation of a river of Tucuman, Argentina.

Assessment of water pollution and its effect upon river biotic communities and human health is indispensable to develop control and management strategies. The aim of this work was to ascertain the biotoxicity of water pollution in samples from industrial effluent discharge areas of Tucumán, Argentina by means of biological tests. Chemical characterization of the water pollution was verified by measuring dissolved oxygen concentration or levels of suspended matter and salts.

Antimicrobial activity of glycosidase inhibitory protein isolated from Cyphomandra betacea Sendt. fruit.

Broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity of an invertase inhibitory protein (IIP) isolated from Cyphomandra betacea ripe fruits is documented. Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values were determined by agar macrodilution and broth microdilution assays. This IIP inhibited the growth of xylophagous and phytopatogenic fungi (Ganoderma applanatum, Schizophyllum commune, Lenzites elegans, Pycnoporus sanguineous, Penicillium notatum, Aspergillus niger, Phomopsis sojae and Fusarium mango) and phytopathogenic bacteria (Xanthomonas campestris pvar vesicatoria CECT 792, Pseudomonas solanacearum CECT 125, Pseudomonas corrugata CECT 124, Pseudomonas syringae pv.

Evaluation of the cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, mutagenicity, and antimutagenicity of propolis from Tucuman, Argentina.

This study evaluates the toxic, genotoxic/mutagenic, and antimutagenic effects of propolis extract from Amaicha del Valle, Tucumán, Argentina. The cytotoxicity assays carried out with the lethality test of Artemia salina revealed that the LD50 was around 100 microg/mL. Propolis extracts showed no toxicity to Salmonella typhimurium TA98 and TA100 strains and Allium cepa at concentrations that have antibiotic and antioxidant activities.

Inhibition of hydrolytic enzyme activities and plant pathogen growth by invertase inhibitors.

The invertase inhibitory protein isolated from Cyphomandra betacea Sendt and Solanum tuberosum inhibited the invertase activity from different species, genera and even plant family. Furthermore, proteinaceous inhibitors are not invertase specific; fungal, bacterial and higher plant enzymes including polygalacturonase, pectinase, pectin lyase, alpha-L-arabinofuranosidase and beta-glucosidase are also shown to be inhibited. Both inhibitors exhibited an in vitro antibacterial action against phytopathogenics strains of Xanthomonas campestris pvar vesicatoria CECT 792, Pseudomonas solanacearum CECT 125, Pseudomonas corrugata CECT 124, Pseudomonas syringae and Erwinia carotovora var carotovora.