Suchergebnisse

The genus Thymus, belonging to Lamiaceae family, is rich in medicinal and aromatic species and well-known by several health promoting activities [1,2]. Despite this genus has been extensively studied, some species remain unexploited. In this study, Thymus herba-barona, Thymus pseudolanuginosus and Thymus caespititius decoctions were screened for their phenolic constituents by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to diode array detector and an electrospray mass spectrometer (UHPLC-DAD-ESI-MSn) operating in negative mode. The three aqueous extracts were rich in caffeic acid derivatives, mainly rosmarinic acid (MW 359) and its structural isomers, that accounted for 55.8 ± 2.8 mg/g in T. herba-barona and 40.2 ± 0.9 and 43.2 ± 3.2 mg/g in T. pseudolanuginosus and T. caespititius, respectively. In turn, other depsides were differently distributed in the three Thyme extracts: while dihydro-salvianolic acid B (MW 716 Da) and caffeoyl rosmarinic acid were particularly representative in T. herba-barona, salvianolic acids K ([M-H]− at m/z 555 493 359) and B ( [M-H]− at m/z 717 519 475) were found in moderate amounts in T. caespititius extract. On the other hand, T. pseudolanuginosus was clearly distinguished by its richness in the flavone luteolin-O-glucuronide ([M − H]− at m/z 461→285). Overall, this work is an important contribution for the phytochemical characterization of these three Thymus species, which are poorly explored. ; The authors acknowledge FCT the European Union, QREN, FEDER, COMPETE, for funding the Organic Chemistry Research Unit (QOPNA) (project PEst-C/QUI/UI0062/2013; FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-037296) ; info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Thymus plants are marketed for diverse usages because of their pleasant odor, as well as high nutritional value and wealth of health-promoting phytochemicals. In this study, Thymuszygis, Thymuspulegioides, and Thymusfragrantissimus grown under organic cultivation regime were characterized regarding nutrients and phenolic compounds. In addition, the antioxidant and antibacterial properties of these species were screened. The plants were particularly notable for their high K/Na ratio, polyunsaturated fatty acids content and low omega-6/omega-3 fatty acids ratios, which are valuable features of a healthy diet. Caffeic acid and/or its derivatives, mainly rosmarinic acid and caffeoyl rosmarinic acid, represented the majority of the phenolic constituents of these plants, although they were less representative in T. pulegioides, which in turn was the richest in flavones. The latter species also exhibited the highest antioxidant capacity (DPPH● EC50 of 9.50 ± 1.98 μg/mL and reducing power EC50 of 30.73 ± 1.48 μg/mL), while T. zygis was the most active towards Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Overall, the results suggest that the three thyme plants grown in organic farming are endowed with valuable metabolites that give them high commercial value for applications in different industries. ; The authors wish to acknowledge the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), the European Union, the National Strategic Reference Framework (QREN), the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER), and Operational Programme Competitiveness Factors (COMPETE), for funding the Organic Chemistry Research Unit (QOPNA) (FCT UID/QUI/00062/2013) and Mountain Research Center (CIMO) (UID/AGR/00690/2013), through national funds and where applicable co-financed by FEDER, within the PT2020 Partnership Agreement. Susana Cardoso wishes to thank the research contract under the project AgroForWealth: Biorefining of agricultural and forest by-products and wastes: integrated strategic for valorisation of resources towards society wealth and sustainability (CENTRO-01-0145-FEDER-000001), funded by Centro2020, through FEDER and PT2020. ; info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Thymus herba-barona, Thymus pseudolanuginosus, and Thymus caespititius decoctions were screened for their phenolic constituents, along with their potential antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial activities. The total phenolic compounds in the extracts of the three plants ranged from 236.0 ± 26.6 mgGAE/g (T. caespititus) to 293.0 ± 30.5 mgGAE/g of extract (T. pseudolanuginosus), being particularly rich in caffeic acid derivatives, namely rosmarinic acid and its structural isomers, as well as flavones, such as luteolin-O-glucuronide. The T. pseudolanuginosus extract presented the best DPPH radical scavenging ability (EC 50 = 10.9 ± 0.7 µg/mL), a high reducing power (EC 50 = 32.2 ± 8.2 µg/mL), and effectively inhibited the oxidation of β-carotene (EC 50 = 2.4 ± 0.2 µg/mL). The extracts also showed NO· scavenging activity close to that of ascorbic acid, and thus might be useful as anti-inflammatory agents. In addition, they exhibited antibacterial activity against gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. Staphylococcus aureus strains were the most sensitive bacteria to thyme extracts, with minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration values in the range of 0.6–3.5 mg/mL. Overall, this work is an important contribution for the phytochemical characterization and the potential antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities of these three Thymus species, which have been poorly explored. ; The authors acknowledge to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), the European Union, the National Strategic Reference Framework (QREN), the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER), and Operational Programme Competitiveness Factors (COMPETE), for funding the Organic Chemistry Research Unit (QOPNA) (project PEst-C/QUI/UI0062/2013; FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-037296). ; info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

In the present study, aqueous extracts of Salvia africana, Salvia o cinalis 'Icterina' and Savia mexicana origin were screened for their phenolic composition and for antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic properties. The three aqueous extracts contained distinct phenolic compounds, with S. africana presenting the highest total levels (231.6 7.5 g/mg). Rosmarinic acid was the dominant phenolic compound in all extracts, yet that of S. africana origin was characterized by the present of yunnaneic acid isomers, which overall accounted for about 40% of total phenolics. In turn, S. o cinalis 'Icterina' extract presented glycosidic forms of apigenin, luteolin and scuttelarein, and the one obtained from S. mexicana contained several simple ca eic acid derivatives. S. africana aqueous extract exhibited high antioxidant potential in four methods, namely the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) scavenging ability, iron-reducing power, inhibition of -carotene bleaching and of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), for which EC50 values were equal or only 1.3–3.1 higher than those of the standard compounds. Moreover, this extract was able to lower the levels of nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated RAW 264.7 macrophages (EC50 = 47.8 2.1 g/mL). In addition, the three sage aqueous extracts showed promising cytotoxic e ect towards hepatocellular HepG2, cervical HeLa, and breast carcinoma cells MCF-7. Overall this study highlights the potential of three little-exploited Salvia species, with commercial value for applications in food or pharmaceutical industries. ; Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), the European Union, the National Strategic Reference Framework (QREN), the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER), and Operational Programme Competitiveness Factors (COMPETE), for funding the Organic Chemistry Research Unit (QOPNA) (FCT UID/QUI/00062/2019) and Mountain Research Center (CIMO) (UID/AGR/00690/2019), through national funds and where applicable co-financed by the FEDER, within the PT2020 Partnership Agreement. A. Fernandes and R. Calhelha thank the national funding by FCT, P.I., through the institutional scientific employment program-contract. Project AgroForWealth (CENTRO-01–0145-FEDER-000001), funded by Centro2020, through FEDER and PT2020, financed the research contract of Susana M. Cardoso. APC was sponsored by MDPI. ; info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Salvia apiana and Salvia farinacea var. Victoria Blue decoctions were screened for diverse bioactivities, including the ability to counteract oxidative and inflammatory events, as well as to act as cytotoxic and antimicrobial agents. Both extracts showed good activities and that of S. apiana origin was particularly effective regarding the ability to prevent lipid peroxidation and to prevent nitric oxide (NO ) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cell line (EC50 = 50 µg/mL). Moreover, it displayed high cytotoxic capacity against hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2, cervical carcinoma HeLa, and breast carcinoma cells MCF-7, but comparatively low effects in porcine liver primary cells, which highlights its selectivity (GI50 = 41–60 µg/mL vs. 362 µg/mL, respectively). Further, it exhibited inhibitory and lethal potential against a panel of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. It is possible that the bioactive properties of the two Salvia extracts are associated to their phenolic components and, in the particular case of S. apiana, to its richness in phenolic terpenes, namely in rosmanol, hydroxycarnosic acid and a derivative of sageone, which were found in the extract. ; Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), the European Union, the National Strategic Reference Framework (QREN), the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER), and Operational Programme Competitiveness Factors (COMPETE), for funding the Organic Chemistry Research Unit (QOPNA) (FCT UID/QUI/00062/2019) and Mountain Research Center (CIMO) (UID/AGR/00690/2019), through national funds and where applicable co-financed by the FEDER, within the PT2020 Partnership Agreement. A. Fernandes and R. Calhelha thank the national funding by FCT, P.I., through the institutional scientific employment program-contract. Project AgroForWealth (CENTRO-01-0145-FEDER-000001), funded by Centro2020, through FEDER and PT2020, financed the research contract of Susana M. Cardoso. ; info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion