Hypochaeris laevigata var. hipponensis (Asteraceae) is an endemic plant from Algeria. In the current study, we analyzed for the first time its chemical composition, especially phenolic constituents of dichloromethane (DCM), ethyl acetate (EA), and n-butanol (BuOH) fractionsof the aerial parts of Hypochaeris laevigata var. hipponensis by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The number of phenolic compounds detected in DCM, EA, and BuOH fractions were found to be 9, 20, and 15, respectively. More specifically, 12 phenolic acids were detected. Among them, quinic acid, chlorogenic acid, and caffeic acid were the most abundant ones. Meanwhile, only seven flavonoids were detected. Among them, rutin, apigetrin, and isoquercitrin were the major ones. We also determined the total phenolic and flavonoid contents, and fraction EA showed the highest values, followed by BuOH, and DCM fractions. Furthermore, the antioxidant action was dictated by five methods and the tested plant fractions demonstrated a noteworthy antioxidant action.

The covalent interactions of polysaccharides and protein can improve the emulsification and stability of Pickering emulsions, which are promising systems for the delivery of active substances. Okra flowers, which commonly represent agricultural waste, have high-viscosity polysaccharides that can be used for the development of protein–polysaccharide-based emulsifiers. In this study, the Maillard reaction was performed under optimized conditions (70 °C, pH 10, and 12 h) with a 1:1 mass ratio to generate pea protein isolate (PPI)–okra flower polysaccharide (OP) conjugate with the highest grafting degree of 22.80 ± 0.26%. The covalent binding of OP facilitated variations in the secondary and tertiary structures of PPI, decreasing its particle size (from 535.70 to 212.05 nm) and zeta-potential (from −30.37 to −44.39 mV). The emulsifying stability of the emulsion stabilized by OP-PPI conjugates was significantly improved due to the formation of a stable interfacial layer, showing an 80.39% increase compared to that of free PPI. Simultaneously, the emulsions prepared with the conjugates demonstrated excellent stability across diverse environmental conditions by enhancing the interaction between the lipid and protein. Moreover, the conjugate-stabilized emulsion not only exhibited a higher encapsulation efficiency of 91.52 ± 0.75% and superior protective efficacy but also controlled the release of apigenin (API) during gastrointestinal digestion, achieving the highest API bioaccessibility (74.58 ± 1.19%). Furthermore, it also contributed to the absorption and transmembrane transport efficiency of API in Caco-2 cells, improving its bioavailability. These results confirmed that covalent conjugation with OP is a valuable strategy for enhancing the emulsifying features of PPI. The PPI–OP emulsion delivery system holds great potential for nutrient delivery.

Background: Oenanthe fistulosa L. (Apiaceae) is often associated with damp soils. Its underground parts and the young leaves are mainly cooked with other vegetables. Objective: The aim of the current work was to investigate the chemical profile of dichloromethane (DCM), Ethyl Acetate (EA) and n-butanol (BuOH) fractions of O. fistulosa through analysis of 37 phytochemicals by LC-MS/MS and to evaluate their biological activities such as antioxidant, anticholinesterase and antityrosinase for the first time. Methods: Analysis of 37 phytochemicals was performed by Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Antioxidant activity was evaluated using five in vitro assays, while anticholinesterase and anti-tyrosinase activities were performed using Ellman and Dopachrome methods, respectively. Results: The number of phenolic compounds detected in DCM, EA and BuOH fractions was found to be 9, 15, and 12; respectively. More specifically, 9 phenolic acids were detected and among them, chlorogenic, tr-ferulic and p-coumaric acids were the most abundant. While 8 flavonoids were detected and apigetrin, rutin, and quercitrin were the most abundant. In addition, 3 non-phenolic organic acids (quinic, malic and fumaric acids) were detected in large quantities. Furthermore, the tested plant fractions demonstrated a noteworthy and strong antioxidant action. The plant displayed very strong action against Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) enzymes; and BuOH fraction was the most potent one. Finally, BuOH and DCM fractions showed good tyrosinase inhibitory activity. Conclusion: According to the obtained results, O. fistulosa might be a promising candidate for the alleviation of oxidative stress, neurodegenerative (such as Alzheimer's disease) and hyperpigmentation disorders.