Cosmos caudatus has been proclaimed as a high source of bioactive compounds such as chlorogenic acid, quercetin and ascorbic acid. Reported evidence indicated that C. caudatus exhibits high antioxidant activities. This study is undertaken to study the effect of extraction time and ethanol concentration on yield and DPPH scavenging activity and to optimize the maceration extraction conditions for C. caudatus. Response surface methodology (RSM) based on central composite design (CCD) was applied to obtain significant variables and the optimum conditions. The independent variables were extraction time (h) and ethanol concentration (%, v/v). The range of the extraction time was between 6 to 24 h and ethanol concentration was 30 to 100% (v/v). The dependent variables were yield (%) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activity (%). Results show that extraction yields ranged between 11% and 25% and DPPH scavenging activity ranged between 29% and 99%. Yield was only influenced by ethanol concentration. However, both extraction time and ethanol concentration significantly affected towards DPPH scavenging activity. Maximum yield and DPPH scavenging activity are the optimal extract qualities. Thus, the optimal conditions were 24 h extraction time and 84% (v/v) ethanol concentration. The experimental values agreed with those expected by RSM models, showing the eligibility of the method used and RSM’s performance in optimizing the conditions of extraction.

Consumption of omega-3 long chain polyunsatured fatty acids (PUFAs) abundant in oily fish, krill, shrimp, and algae is critical for the physical and mental health of adults and children [1]. Called by Winkler the most hidden of all the hidden hungers [2], the populations of most world’s countries share an insufficient daily intake of both eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexenoic acid (DHA). This diet deficiency led national health authorities to recommend daily intakes of both PUFAs either by increasing consumption of fish and crustaceans or by intake of omega-3 dietary supplements. Besides a minor share of the industry using omega-3 lipids extracted from algae, the large and growing omega-3 food supplement industry uses refined fish or krill oil as raw material. Increasing demand of fish oil adds to the overfishing pressure threatening many species, including anchovies, menhaden and krill [3]. The conventional fish oil extraction involves a multi-step, energy-intensive process starting on board of the shipping vessel where once caught anchovies are cooked and pressed giving an oil in water suspension. After reaching the industrial site, the oily mixture undergoes centrifugation and subsequent chemical refinement eventually affording EPA and DHA in ethyl ester form [4]. Besides contributing to overfishing, the process removes from the refined oil important antioxidant compounds such as carotenoids and biophenols that protect chemically labile PUFAs from oxidation and autooxidation [5]. We recently introduced a circular and green method for the production of fish oil rich in omega-3 from the leftovers of anchovy fillets based on solid-liquid extraction using d-limonene as biosolvent [6]. The resulting fish oil contains both EPA and DHA in their natural (triglyceride) form, along with significant levels of vitamin D₃ [7]. The use of fishery byproducts, as raw materials for the production of fish oil omega-3 extracts is highly desirable. Renewably obtained from waste orange peel, the biosolvent limonene is nearly entirely recovered after the extraction whereas its antimicrobial, antifungal, and antioxidant properties protect the PUFAs during the extraction ensuring high recovery rate also of the natural antioxidant zeaxanthin abundant in anchovies [8]. The method closes the materials cycle and establishes a circular economy process to obtain high quality fish oil from bio-based waste available worldwide in several million t/year amount. The extraction of omega-3 lipids from anchovy discards using d-limonene as only solvent, indeed, is economically and technically feasible on large scale [8].

References

[1] F. Shahidi, P. Ambigaipalan, Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and their health benefits, Annu. Rev. Food Sci. Technol. 2018, 9, 345−381.

[2] J.T. Winkler, The most hidden of all the hidden hungers: the global deficiency in DHA and EPA and what to do about it, World Rev. Nutr. Diet. 2018, 118, 123−130.

[3] P. Greenberg, The Omega Principle, Penguin Press, New York: 2018.

[4] R. Ciriminna, F. Meneguzzo, R. Delisi, M. Pagliaro, Enhancing and improving the extraction of omega-3 from fish oil, Sustainable Chem. Pharm. 2017, 5, 54−59.

[5] M. Pagliaro, D.M. Pizzone, A. Scurria, C. Lino, E. Paone, F. Mauriello, R. Ciriminna, Sustainably sourced olive polyphenols and omega-3 marine lipids: a synergy fostering public health, ACS Food Sci. Technol. 2021, 1, 139-145.

[6] R. Ciriminna, A. Scurria, G. Avellone, M. Pagliaro, A circular economy approach to fish oil extraction, ChemistrySelect 2019, 4, 5106-5109.

[7] A. Scurria, C. Lino, R. Pitonzo, M. Pagliaro, G. Avellone, R. Ciriminna, Vitamin D₃ in fish oil extracted with limonene from anchovy leftovers, Chem. Data Collect. 2020, 25, 100311.

[8] R. Ciriminna, A. Scurria, A. S. Fabiano-Tixier, C. Lino, G. Avellone, F. Chemat, M. Pagliaro, Omega-3 extraction from anchovy fillet leftovers with limonene: chemical, economic and technical Aspects, ACS Omega 2019, 4, 15359-15363.

Microbial resistance inhibition is increasingly focused on the use of plant extracts and their phytochemicals as candidates for targeting virulence factors. Here, we report on the chemical composition and virulence inhibition potential of both polar (PF) and non-polar fractions (NPF) of the underground parts of three common Iris species (I. confusa, I. pseudacorus and I. germanica). The anti-haemolytic and biofilm inhibition potentials of the aforementioned Iris species on methicillin resistant and sensitive (MRSA and MSSA) S. aureus bacterial strains were explored. I. pseudacorus PF exhibited the most potent effect against S. aureus haemolytic activity. Intriguingly, all the tested fractions from all species, except I. pseudacorus NPF, have no significant inhibition on the biofilm formation of MRSA and MSSA. Metabolite profiling of the investigated species revealed ninety and forty-five metabolites detected in the PFs and NPFs, respectively. Nigricin-type, tectorigenin-type isoflavonids and xanthones allowed the discrimonation of I. pseudacorus underground parts PF from the other species, highlighting the importance of those metabolites in exerting its promising activity. On the other hand, triterpene acids, iridals, triacylglycerols, ceramides, and acid represented the metabolites detected in highest abundance in I. pseudacorus NPF.

Aromatic plants have been used since antiquity as great potential source of therapeutics in folk medicine, and as preservatives in foods, because they contain many biologically active compounds.

Among all, the essential oils (EOs) are an important group of secondary metabolites that, even if not essential for plant survival, are significant for their allelopathic effects, either negative or positive, on microbes and environment.

From the chemical point of view, EOs are highly complex mixtures involving from several tens to hundreds of different types of volatile compounds such as terpenoids, oxygenated terpenes, sesquiterpenes, and hydrocarbons. EOs have been widely used for their virucidal, bactericidal, fungicidal, anticancer, antioxidant, antidiabetic activities and the biological properties of EOs are strictly linked to their chemical composition.

This study was carried out on the following commercial EOs: bergamot (Citrus bergamia), bitter orange (Citrus aurantium), clove (Eugenia caryophyllata), eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus), fennel (Foeniculum vulgare dulce), helichrysum (Helicrysum italicum), lavender (Lavandula officinalis), lemon (Citrus limon), oregano (Origanum vulgare), palmarosa (Cymbopogon martini), star anise (Illicium verum), tangerine (Citrus reticulate), tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia), turmeric (Curcuma longa), yin yang chinese (mix of Eucalyptus aetheroleum, Cymbopogon citratus, Caryophylli aetheroleum, Mentha piperita, Pinus sylvestris, Salvia rosmarinus, Lavandula officinalis, Foeniculum vulgare, Salvia officinalis, Illicium verum, Mentha arvensis, Abies siberica), yin yang japanese (Mentha arvensis), ylang ylang(Cananga odorata).

The EOs were tested for determination in vitro of antioxidant activity (DPPH assay) and for sun protection factor (SPF) by means of UV-Vis spectrophotometry. These biological activities allowed us to evaluate their potential application as natural preservatives and active ingredients in foods, beverages, and cosmetics, as well as in galenic preparations.

As results, amongst the 17 EOs studied, clove showed the highest antioxidant activity with an EC₅₀ of 0.36 µL/mL, followed by yin yang chinese (5.35 µL/mL), oregano (11.58 µL/mL), and ylang ylang (12.71 µL/mL). Moreover, higher SPF values were recorded for bergamot (9.74), star anise (9.28), fennel (9.10), bitter orange (8.96), ylang ylang (8.41), and clove (8.26),

Overall, clove and ylang ylang EOs resulted the best potential candidates as natural preservatives, being showed the highest health-promoting values, because at the same time they have provided protection against oxidative stress, as well as fighting free radicals that may form after sun radiation exposure.

The health-promoting properties of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) on human chronic diseases with oxidative cellular damage and inflammatory background, like diabetes type 2 and cardiovascular diseases, are well-documented. These positive outcomes are usually linked to the EVOO polyphenols, including phenolic alcohols hydroxytyrosol and tyrosol, their secoiridoid precursors such as the glycosides oleuropein and lisgtroside, their aglicons, olecanthal and oleacein. Additionally, oleacein, the main antioxidant polyphenol in EVOO, is believed to be the main responsible for the anti-inflammatory activity. However, from the oral administration (food) to the site of action (cells of the immune system), EVOO polyphenols can undergo several biotransformation processes, and the anti-inflammatory activity of their metabolites remains essentially unclear. In this work, the anti-inflammatory potential of oleacein, hydroxytyrosol and their main known metabolites was assessed using RAW 264.7 macrophages challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Results showed that oleacein and hydroxytyrosol (0-100 µM) significantly decreased the generation of ^٠NO and L-citrulline by LPS-stimulated macrophages. Despite the lower activity, the hydroxytyrosol acetate sulfate was also able to reduce the cellular levels of ^٠NO and L-citrulline. In contrast, hydroxytyrosol sulfate and glucuronide did not show significant anti-inflammatory effect. In addition, hydroxytyrosol acetate also showed anti-inflammatory capacity, but induced some toxicity at concentrations above 50 mM. Since the parental compounds, oleacein and hydroxytyrosol, with the free catecholic moiety, shows better anti-inflammatory activity, this feature seems to be important for the observed activity. However, it has been described that conjugated metabolite may behave as carriers of bioactive compounds in plasma, which may deconjugate in situ in target tissues, releasing the more bioactive parental compound, which is the final effector. Therefore, further studies are still needed for completely understand the bioavailability and bioactivity of EVOO polyphenols in vivo and to relate this bioactivity with the polyphenolic composition of EVOO.