Flavonoid

Context: Flavonoids are natural polyphenolic compounds that are ubiquitous in plants. Numerous prospective epidemiological studies have found beneficial effects of flavonoid consumption on overall cardiovascular mortality. These effects have been attributed to nonspecific antioxidant, anti-atherosclerotic and antithrombotic properties of flavonoids. However, little is known about direct actions of flavonoids on cardiac and vascular smooth muscles.

Aims: To evaluate the effects of three flavonoids (naringenin, quercetin and genistein) on electrical and contractile activities of isolated rat hearts and on contraction of rat abdominal aortic rings.

Methods: Surface electrogram (ECG) and force of contraction (FC) were recorded in isolated rat hearts. The ventricular fibrillation threshold was evaluated with the flavonoids. The effects on aortic contraction were assessed in rat abdominal aortic rings pre-contracted with 60 mM of KCl.

Results: Genistein tended to prolong the QT interval while naringenin tended to decrease it. The effects of all flavonoids on QRS and RR interval were mild and not statistically significant. Genistein and naringenin produced a negative inotropic effect in isolated rat hearts with an IC50 of 13.8 μM and 33.8 μM, respectively. Quercetin at low concentrations had a positive inotropic effect; at high concentrations, it exerted a negative inotropic effect. Naringenin and quercetin increased the threshold for ventricular fibrillation, whereas genistein decreased it. Naringenin, quercetin, and genistein induced concentration-dependent relaxation in endothelium-denuded rat aortic rings.

Conclusions: These flavonoids have direct actions on rat cardiac and vascular smooth muscles.

A. Pengertian Flavonoid
Senyawa flavonoid adalah senyawa polifenol yang mempunyai 15 atom karbon yang tersusun dalam konfigurasi C 6 -C 3 -C 6 , yaitu dua cincin aromatik yang dihubungkan oleh 3 atom karbon yang dapat atau tidak dapat membentuk cincin ketiga. Flavonoid terdapat dalam semua tumbuhan hijau sehingga dapat ditemukan pada setiap ekstrak tumbuhan (Markham, 1988). Golongan flavonoid dapat digambarkan sebagai deretan senyawa C 6 -C 3 -C 6 , artinya kerangka karbonnya terdiri atas dua gugus C 6 (cincin benzena tersubstitusi) disambungkan oleh rantai alifatik tiga karbon (Robinson, 1995). Kelas-kelas yang berlainan dalam golongan ini dibedakan berdasarkan cincin hetero siklik-oksigen tambahan dan gugus hidroksil yang tersebar menurut pola yang berlainan. Flavonoid sering terdapat sebagai glikosida.

Telah dilakukan penelitian kajian awal spektrum serapan senyawa ekstrak daun belimbing wuluh
asal Tarus kabupaten Kupang. Tujuan dari penelitian ini untuk menentukan besarnya koefisien
serapan dan celah energi hasil ekstraksi daun belimbing wuluh. Daun belimbin g wuluh diambil,
dikeringkan dan dihaluskan. Serbuk daun belimbing wuluhsebanyak 1 kg selanjutnya diekstrasi
secara maserasi dengan pelarut etanol 70%. Hasil ekstrasi maserasi, kemudian dievaporasi, lalu
diencerkan kembali dengan menggunakan pelarut etanolkonsentrasi 100ppm, 200ppm dan 300ppm
untuk selanjutnya dikarakteristikan menggunakan Spektrofotometer UV-Vis T60. Berdasarkan
hasil spektrum serapannya, jangkauan serapan senyawa ekstrak daun belimbing wuluh berada
antara panjang gelombang 200 nm sampai dengan 546 nm yang merupakan daerah cahaya
tampak. Dengan nilai koefisien serapan 23,0 cm-1dan nilai celah energi sebesar 2,88 eV. Nilai
celah energi 2,88 eV menunjukkan bahwa senyawa ekstrak daun belimbing wuluh termasuk
material semikonduktor. Dari jangkauan serapan pada cahaya tampak dan sifat semikonduktor,
ekstrak daun belimbing wuluh mempunyai peluang besar sebagai bahan alternatif material sel
surya atau piranti elektronik aktif lainnya.

Kata Kunci : Daun Belimbing Wuluh,Jangkauan Serapan, Koefisien Serapan, Celah Energi,
Spektrometer, sel surya

Context: Magnolia champaca (L.) Baill. ex Pierre has traditionally been used by the culture to prevent and cure the inflammatory disease.

Aims: To determine the benefit of M. champaca in the local community, especially in the treatment of tuberculosis, and investigate the potency of the flavonoid content of M. champaca as an anti-inflammatory agent through in silico analysis.

Methods: An ethnobotanical survey was conducted by structured interviews and responses in the Pamekasan district. The identification of flavonoid in selected plant was carried out from literature. Then, quercetin, (-)-epicatechin, and kaempferol were docked with protein targets including cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), mitogen-activated protein kinases (p38 MAPK), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), and phosphoinositide 3 kinases (PI3k). The ability of complex compounds was considered dependent on energy binding and the ability to bind native ligand to proteins.

Results: M. champaca exhibited the highest RFI value, indicated that this plant mainly used to treat tuberculosis symptoms in the local community. The compounds of quercetin and (-)-epicatechin can only be bound to a native ligand COX-2, NAG. The compounds quercetin, rutin, kaempferol, and (-)-epicatechin can then be bound to both the native proteins NF-κB and PI3K. Nevertheless, native ligand-protein p38 MAP-kinases cannot be bound by complex compounds like quercetin, rutin, kaempferol, and (-)-epicatechin.

Conclusions: The research offers proof for considering the flavonoid compound in M. champaca as a beneficial ligand complex throughout the treatment and prevention of inflammatory diseases. Further in vitro and in vivo studies could prove its therapeutic potential.

Context: Some flavonoids have been described as neuroprotectors. Gossypitrin (Gos) is a natural occurring flavonoid and the main bioactive substance from the flowers of Talipariti elatum Sw. (Majagua azul), traditionally used in Cuba as expectorant and antiasthmatic. Only few reports have documented its antioxidant properties.

Aims: To evaluate the antioxidant and cytoprotective effects of Gos against cyanide-induced oxidative stress and cell death in PC12 cells.

Methods: Gos effects on DPPH/ ABTS radical scavenging, ferric reducing power and lipid peroxidation were examined. The ischemia/reperfusion neuronal damage was produced by exposing PC12 cells to KCN in glucose-free medium. Gos was added to the incubation medium 30 min before chemical hypoxia induction. The neuroprotective potential of Gos was assessed by measuring cell viability by the MTT assay, the antioxidant enzymes SOD and CAT, and GSH and lipid peroxidation levels. Rutin (Rut), the well-known antioxidant, was used as a reference compound.

Results: Gos showed a potent intrinsic antioxidant capacity evidenced by low IC50 and EC50 values for DPPH/ABTS/malondialdehyde and ferric reducing power, respectively. Pre-treatment of PC12 cells with Gos, significantly increased their survival against KCN, restored the levels of GSH and the SOD and CAT enzymes activities, as well as reduced the level of lipid peroxidation. Its antioxidant effects were higher than those elicited by Rut.

Conclusions: The results show for the first time the neuroprotective potential of Gos against hypoxic cell damage, probably associated to its antioxidant effects.

Sono riportati in letteratura risultati di irraggiamenti di specie vegetali con radiazione ‘ultravioletta C’ (UV-C), che evidenziano una drastica riduzione della presenza di patogeni e di malattie pre- e post-raccolta delle colture. Si tratta di una promettente tecnologia alternativa ai pesticidi, l’uso dei quali deve essere ridotto perché contribuisce all’inquinamento di suolo, acqua,  aria, e rappresenta un rischio per la salute di operatori e consumatori. I migliori effetti germicidi UV-C sono stati ottenuti usando lampade a mercurio a bassa pressione, che emettono radiazione alla lunghezza d’onda di 254 nm. Viceversa, i tentativi di ottenere effetti di ormesi usando lo stesso tipo di lampade hanno prodotto risultati incerti. Per ormesi intendiamo la stimolazione -tramite radiazione UV-C- di metaboliti in grado di aumentare le difese immunitarie naturali delle piante e quindi la resistenza ai patogeni.
In questo Rapporto si descrive l'efficacia dei raggi UV-C alla lunghezza d’onda di 277 nm, emessi da matrici di Light Emitting Diodes (LED), per generare una risposta ormetica in piante di basilico, frutti di mele, fragole e limoni dopo irraggiamento ed esposizione ai patogeni fungini Botrytis cinerea e Pennicillium digitatum. I LED sono sorgenti di radiazione a stato solido che offrono diversi vantaggi rispetto alle lampade: sono più compatti, hanno maggiore resistenza agli urti, tempo di accensione immediato, possibilità di scegliere la lunghezza d’onda della radiazione UV-C tale da accordarsi sullo spettro di assorbimento dei patogeni senza
generare ozono, ed un’alimentazione elettrica più semplice, a basso voltaggio.

Abstract
Excellent results have been reported on ultraviolet C (UV-C) radiation to limit pre- and post-harvest diseases of fruit and vegetable crops. UV-C radiation appears a promising and sustainable technological substitute for pesticides, the use of which must be reduced because it damages the environment, and the health of operators and consumers. The best germicidal effects have been obtained using lowpressure mercury lamps, which emit radiation at a wavelength of 254 nm. Conversely, attempts to obtain hormesis effects using mercury lamps have produced uncertain results. Here for hormesis we mean a stimulation -through UV-C electromagnetic radiation- designed to increase the natural immune defenses, and therefore, resistance to pathogens. We have explored the effectiveness of a different UV-C wavelength (277 nm) emitted by Light Emitting Diodes (LED) to stimulate hormesis in basil plants, apples, strawberries, and lemons, after irradiation and exposure to the fungal pathogen Botrytis cinerea and Pennicillium digitatum. The LED are solid-state UV-C radiation sources that offer several advantages vs. the lamps: LED are much more compact, have greater resistance to shocks, shorter ignition time, a simpler electrical circuitry with a lower working voltage.

Cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) black pod rot, caused by oomycetes Chromista Phytophthora megakarya is the major constraint to cocoa production in Cameroon, causing substantial yield losses (up to 100%). As mean to alter the yield shortage, priority is given to chemical fungicides, though Arbuscular Mycorrhizals Fungi (AMF) have been pointed out to offer a friendly alternative. Moreover, exudation of flavonoids in the mycorrhizosphere could modulate the symbiotic efficiency of these symbionts. Thus, the single and associative effects of two AMF strains (Gigaspora margarita and Glomus intraradices) and a natural flavonoid (3,5,7,3',4',5'-hexahydroxy flavanone) were evaluated for their ability to induce tolerance in two cocoa (T. cacao) clones (SNK 10 and ICS 84) against P. megakarya under greenhouse conditions. Also, as biochemical resistance marquers, qualitative (TLC) and quantitative changes in total phenol and flavonoid were assessed Twenty Weeks After Sowing (WAS). The results indicated that, by adding the flavonoid, the AMF significantly improved the growth, total phenol and flavonoid contents as well as the susceptibility of both clones towards P. megakarya. The TLC revealed an enhanced biosynthesis of flavones and anthocyanidins in fresh leaves from the ICS 84 clone which was found to be the least sensitive to P. megakarya. Our results reveal that the dual application of AMF and flavonoid significantly suppresses the black pod disease on cocoa (T. cacao) seedlings, thereby supporting their used to improve the tolerance of cocoa plant against P. megakarya.

The antioxidant activity, contents of total phenolics and flavonoids were quantified in the methanolic extracts of four Ulva species (Ulva clathrata (Roth) C.Agardh, Ulva linza Linnaeus, Ulva flexuosa Wulfen and Ulva intestinalis Linnaeus) grown at different parts of northern coasts of the Persian Gulf in south of Iran. The seaweeds were collected from Dayyer, Taheri and Northern Ouli coasts in April 2011. Methanolic extracts of the seaweeds were assessed for their antioxidant activity using DPPH radical scavenging assay and was performed in a microplate reader. All species exhibited a DPPH radical scavenging activity, and among the species, Ulva clathrata demonstrated greater antioxidant potential with a low IC50 (0.881 mg mL(-1)) in comparison with those of the other species. Also the highest phenolic content (5.080 mg GAE g(-1)) and flavonoid content (33.094 mg RE g(-1)) were observed in U.clathrata. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents showed positive correlations with the DPPH...

In addition to their pleasing taste, blueberries are a significant source of flavonoid
polyphenols, especially anthocyanins. This review summarizes findings regarding anthocyanin
content and bioavailability from blueberries. Blueberries possess a remarkable variety of anthocyanins. Of this array the major ones are reviewed in terms of their chemical structures. In
vitro and in vivo studies are presented that indicate blueberry anthocyanins have the potential to
improve the balance between bone-forming osteoblasts and bone-resorbing osteoclasts.

Viscum orientale Willd. (Loranthaceae) has long been used in traditional medicine to treat pain, neuropharmacological disorders and various forms of tumor but not yet been reported. The aim of this study is to rationalize the traditional medicinal use of this plant by evaluating the methanol extract of V. orientale leaves (MEVOL) for anti-nociceptive, CNS depressant and antioxidant activities and to quantify the bioactive polyphenols present in this plant. Five polyphenolic compounds namely gallic acid, vanillic acid, caffeic acid, ellagic acid and quercetin (17.54, 8.99, 99.61, 4523.31 and 100.15 mg/100 g of dry weight, respectively) have been identified in MEVOL using Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography. Qualitative antioxidant activity determined by Thin Layer Chromatography indicated the presence of antioxidants. In quantitative antioxidant test using 2,2-diphenyl 1-picrylhydrazyl, MEVOL exhibited strong free antioxidant activity in a dose dependant manner (IC50= 6.63 µg/ml)...

Due to the spreading and increasing drug resistance of pathogens, the search for novel antibiotics is becoming ever more
important. Plant-derived polyphenols are a vast and promising class of compounds with a potential to fight infectious diseases.
Still, they are not routinely used in clinical practice. No reports on the in vivo studies of these compounds have been presented.
The aim of our work was to compare the antimicrobial activity of resveratrol (stilbene), dihydroquercetin and dihydromyricetin
(flavonols) extracted from the bark and wood of conifers against the dermatophytes Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas
aeruginosa  and  Candida  albicans.  Using  the  radial  diffusion  assay,  we  established  that  dihydroquercetin,  resveratrol  and
dihydromyricetin exhibit high activity against S. aureus even at the smallest possible concentrations of 0.22, 0.15, and 0.15 mM,
respectively. In contrast, the highest achievable concentrations of these compounds in the solutions (21.5, 15.5 and 15.0 mM
for  dihydroquercetin,  resveratrol  and  dihydromyricetin,  respectively)  have  no  effect  on  the  growth  of  P.  aeruginosa  and
C. albicans. These findings suggest that polyphenols derived from conifers could have a potential to be used as a medicine for
topical application to treat bacterial infections of the skin caused by S. aureus.
Keywords: polyphenols, flavonoid, stilbene, antimicrobial agents, resveratrol, antimicrobial activity, antioxidants, wood

Spinach is an important dietary vegetable associated with beneficial health effects. Flavonoids have various biological activities such as antioxidant, antibacterial, and anticancer effect Flavonoid including anthocyanin provides brilliant and colored pigments in different plant tissues. Anthocyanidin synthase and dihydroflavonol 4-reductase are responsible for anthocyanin biosynthesis. They contributed in plant protection against UV-B radiation, microbial and herbivore pathogens. A 3D structures of anthocyanidin synthase and dihydroflavonol 4-reductase from spinach are constructed in this study through homology modeling. The homology modeling is done by using the MODELLER 9v7 software. The energy of models was minimized by applying molecular mechanics method. The root mean square deviation (RMSD) for C atoms between the template and the homology-modeled structures was estimated by CE program. The final models were assessed by PROCHECK and WHATCHECK which showed that the final refin...

Flavour compounds have proved to be useful markers to outline the botanical origin of honey. Honeydew honeys are well appreciated by the consumers because of the fact that they are strongly flavoured, among other reasons. The purpose of this work has been to study the flavours’ profiles of both floral and blends of honeydew and floral honeys, trying to find particular markers that could be distinctive of each group of honeys.

Flavonols and flavones are antioxidants of plant origin with a beneficial role in the prevention of different diseases. Therefore it is important for their content in various foods to be measured in order to be able to judge on their potential for disease prevention.
The aim of the study is to present precise and representative data for flavonols and flavones content of Bulgarian foods from Malvaceae and Umbiliferae plant families, based on a validated analytical HPLC procedure.
The content of flavonols and flavones was determined in one representative belonging to Malvaceae plant family used as food – okra, and four representatives of Umbiliferae plant family – dill, parsley, celery, and carrots. An HPLC method for simultaneous determination of flavonols myricetin, quercetin, kaempferol and flavones luteolin and apigenin was applied and validated.
The results showed that dill was particularly rich in the flavonol quercetin (403.0 mg/kg) followed by okra (200.3 mg/kg). The other analysed samples contained only flavones with the highest amount noted for luteolin in celery leaves (228.9 mg/kg) and for apigenin in parsley (747.9 mg/kg). Those data outlined the ranking of green leaf herbs among the greatest sources of flavonols and flavones among Bulgarian foods. They could be used to characterise various biological species and, what is more, they could be successfully applied in practice to formulate preventive antioxidant diets to be administered in case of various contemporary diseases.

The effect of the polyphenol content of the human diet on mortality risk is not yet fully understood. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of a polyphenol-rich diet with mortality rate and a possible mediation effect by inflammation, in what we believe to be a novel, holistic approach. We analyzed 21 302 participants (10 980 women and 10 322 men, aged ≥35 y) from the Moli-sani cohort. The participants were followed up for a median of 8.3 y. The European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was used for dietary assessment. Flavonol, flavone, flavanone, flavanol, anthocyanin, isoflavone, and lignan intakes were calculated using European Food Information Resource-Bioactive Substances in Food Information Systems and the polyphenol antioxidant content (PAC)-score was constructed to assess the total content of these nutrients in the diet. Participants included in the highest quintile of intake of various polyphenol classes...

Colchicum speciosum is a medicinal plant rich in colchicine and phenolic compounds. In this study, the effect of different concentrations of nitrogen and nano-nitrogen fertilizers were investigated on phenols and colchicine accumulation in the corm of C.speciosum from three regions in Mazandaran province (Philband, Kelerd and Sangdarka). Five fertilizer treatments were performed. The results showed that all nitrogen and nano-nitrogen treatments caused a significant increase in corm phenol in the plants of the Philband region. Comparison of the mean flavonoids of plants in three regions in different treatments showed that the use of nitrogen and nano-nitrogen fertilizers has significantly reduced flavonoids in plant corms of all studied plants. The results showed that nitrogen fertilizer (1.1 mg / l) caused a significant increase in corm anthocyanin in all three populations. Nitrogen fertilizer with higher concentration also increased anthocyanin to some extent, while nano-nitrogen at different concentrations did not have a significant effect on the amount of anthocyanin in corm. Comparison of corm colchicine in nitrogen and nano-nitrogen treatments with control showed that nitrogen fertilizers in both concentrations decreased and nano-nitrogen fertilizers increased the amount of corm colchicine. The present results showed that the response of plants collected from the three regions to the different fertilizers was not the same.

Following previous investigations on different species of  Tanacetum,  as a
novel  survey,  this study  was  conducted  with  the  aim to  evaluation  of the
antibacterial  effect  of  the  total  methanol  extract  Tanacetum  frutoculosum
Lebeb  and  its  Sub-fractions  against  6  bacterial  strains  including:
Staphylococcus  aureus  ATCC  6538,  Staphylococcus  epidermidis  ATCC
12228,  Methicillin  resistant  Staphylococcus  aureus  ATCC  33591,
Salmonella  typhimurium  ATCC  14028,  Pseudomonas  aeruginosa  ATCC
9027 andEscherichia Coli ATCC 8739. Primarily antibacterial effects were
investigated  by  the  Agar  well  diffusion  method  and  then  Minimum
inhibitory  concentration  (MIC)  and  Minimum  bactericidal  concentration
(MBC)  were  determined  using  broth  Macro  dilution  method.  The  total
phenolic  and  flavonoid  contents  of  the  extract  and  its  fractions  were
measured  based  on  gallic  acid  and  rutin  equivalents (GAE  and  RE)
respectively.
The  total  methanol  extract  showed  the  highest  phenolic  and  flavonoid
contents (1.858mg GEA/g and 21mg RE/g respectively)and had the highest
antibacterial effect against S. epidermidis(MIC 15.62 mg/ml).
The  petroleum  ether  fraction  showed  the  lowest  phenolic  and  flavonoid
contents  (0.760mg  GAE/g  and  11.6  mg  RE/g  respectively)  and  had  the
lowest  antibacterial  activity  against  P.  aueroginosa (MIC  250  mg/ml).
These findings demonstrated the plant potential antibacterial effect against
various human pathogenic bacteria.

Abstract:

Context: Naringin (NRG) is the major flavonoid (flavanone glycoside) in grapefruit juice. Its biological activity has been only partially characterized and little is known about the mechanism of the negative inotropic action of this flavonoid.

Aims: To evaluate the effects of NRG on the surface electrogram (ECG) and the force of contraction (FC) of mice hearts as well as on the sodium (INa), calcium (ICaL) and Na+ – Ca2+ exchange (INaCaX) currents of enzymatically isolated mouse ventricular cardiomyocytes.

Methods: ECG and FC were recorded on mouse hearts perfused in a Langendorff column. Ventricular cardiomyocytes were enzimatically dissociated and ionic currents recorded with the patch-clamp technique.

Results: NRG increased RR interval and shortened corrected QT only at high concentrations (30-100 µM). However, at a fixed heart rate, it decreased FC with an IC50 of 0.4 µM. NRG reduced INa with an IC50 of 0.07 µM but with a maximal inhibition of 60 %. NRG also depressed ICaL with an IC50 of 0.013 µM and increased its fast inactivation time constant. The effects on ICaL were not voltage-dependent. INaCaX was not affected by NRG.

Conclusions: Our results indicate that NRG exerts a negative inotropic effect in mice hearts that could be explained by a decrease in INa and ICaL. These actions should be taken into account when considering this molecule either as a dietetic supplement or as a template to develop therapeutic agents for human diseases.

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Resumen:

Contexto: La naringina (NRG) es el principal flavonoide (glicósido de flavanona) en el jugo de toronja. Su actividad biológica ha sido solo parcialmente caracterizada y poco se conoce acerca del mecanismo de la acción inotrópica negativa de este flavonoide.

Objetivos: Evaluar los efectos de la NRG sobre el electrograma de superficie (ECG) y la fuerza de contracción (FC) de corazones de ratón, así como sobre las corrientes de sodio (INa), calcio (ICaL) y del intercambiador Na+ – Ca2+ (INaCaX) en cardiomiocitos ventriculares de ratón, aislados enzimáticamente.

Métodos: El ECG y la FC se registraron en corazones de ratón perfundidos en una columna de Langendorff. Los cardiomiocitos ventriculares se disociaron enzimáticamente y las corrientes iónicas se registraron con la técnica de patch-clamp.

Resultados: La NRG incrementó el intervalo RR intervalo y acortó el QT solo a altas concentraciones (30-100 µM). No obstante, a frecuencia cardíaca fija, disminuyó la FC con un IC50 de 0.4 µM. La NRG redujo INa con un IC50 de 0.07 µM pero con una máxima inhibición de 60 %. La NRG también redujo ICaL con un IC50 de 0.013 µM e incrementó su constante de inactivación rápida. Los efectos sobre ICaL no fueron dependientes del potencial. La INaCaX no fue afectada por la NRG.

Conclusiones: Nuestros resultados indican que la NRG ejerce un efecto inotrópico negativo en corazones de ratón que puede ser explicado por una reducción en INa e ICaL. Esas acciones deben ser tomadas en cuenta al considerar a esta molécula como suplemento dietético o como plantilla para desarrollar nuevos agentes terapéuticos para tratar las enfermedades en humanos.

Cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) black pod rot, caused by oomycetes Chromista Phytophthora megakarya is the major constraint to cocoa production in Cameroon, causing substantial yield losses (up to 100%). As mean to alter the yield shortage, priority is given to chemical fungicides, though Arbuscular Mycorrhizals Fungi (AMF) have been pointed out to offer a friendly alternative. Moreover, exudation of flavonoids in the mycorrhizosphere could modulate the symbiotic efficiency of these symbionts. Thus, the single and associative effects of two AMF strains (Gigaspora margarita and Glomus intraradices) and a natural flavonoid (3,5,7,3’,4’,5’-hexahydroxy flavanone) were evaluated for their ability to induce tolerance in two cocoa (T. cacao) clones (SNK 10 and ICS 84) against P. megakarya under greenhouse conditions. Also, as biochemical resistance marquers, qualitative (TLC) and quantitative changes in total phenol and flavonoid were assessed Twenty Weeks After Sowing (WAS). The results indica...

This study determined the antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of chloroform, ethyl acetate, methanol, and water extracts of the Viburnum opulus (V. opulus) plant. V. opulus (Gilaburu) was collected from Ahırdağı northern slope, Kırka Town, Afyonkarahisar region, and its leaves, branches, and fruit parts were dried and powdered at room temperature. The total phenolic content was compared with the gallic acid standard, the total flavonoid content with the quercetin standard, and the iron chelating effect with the EDTA standard. All extracts were evaluated for antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli, Staphyllococcus aureus, and Candida glabrata strains by the agar well diffusion method. Gilaburu is widely used in Turkey, especially in alternative medicine. It has been determined that the fruit part of the plant has better antimicrobial properties, and the amount of phenolic compounds increases in more polar solvents. In conclusion, the use of Gilaburu as a medicinal drug c...

The flavonoid biosynthesis is a well characterised model system for specialised metabolism and transcriptional regulation in plants. Flavonoids have numerous biological functions like UV protection and pollinator attraction, but also biotechnological potential. Here, we present Knowledge-based Identification of Pathway Enzymes (KIPEs) as an automatic approach for the identification of players in the flavonoid biosynthesis. KIPEs combines comprehensive sequence similarity analyses with the inspection of functionally relevant amino acid residues and domains in subjected peptide sequences. Comprehensive sequence sets of flavonoid biosynthesis enzymes and knowledge about functionally relevant amino acids were collected. As a proof of concept, KIPEs was applied to investigate the flavonoid biosynthesis of the medicinal plant Croton tiglium based on a transcriptome assembly. Enzyme candidates for all steps in the biosynthesis network were identified and matched to previous reports of corr...

Spearmint (Mentha spicata L.) and Horsemint (Mentha longifolia L.) have abundant use in food expenses and Iranian Traditional Medicine. Tha aerial parts of both plants were collected and essential oil was isolated by hydrodistillation method (Clevenger). The extraction was conducted by maceration method (aqueous, hydroalcoholic and ethanolic solvents) and soxhlet method (ethanolic solvent). Total phenolic compounds content, Total flavonoid content, antioxidant capacity and free radical inhibition were measured. The results showed that total phenolic compounds and flavonoid content, total antioxidant capacity and percentage of free radical inhibition in applied extraction methods was different (p < 0.05). The highest total phenolic compounds and flavonoid was obtained by soxhlet method in spearmint. The highest total antioxidant capacity were belong to hydroalcoholic extract in spearmint. Soxhlet extraction method is recommended because of its low processing cost, simplicity of operation, consume lesser time and solvent compared to other traditional methods such as soaking or percolation to extract phenolic compounds using other solvents. The use of a two-solvent system in the soaking process with other solvents requires further research to achieve high antioxidant properties.