This work aimed to evaluate the phenolic content and in vitro antioxidant, antimicrobial and enzyme inhibitory activities of the methanol extracts and their fractions of two edible halophytic Limonium species, L. effusum (LE) and L. sinuatum (LS). The total phenolic content resulted about two-fold higher in the ethyl acetate fraction of LE (522.82 ± 5.67 mg GAE/g extract) than in that of LS (274.87 ± 1.87 mg GAE/g extract). LC-MS/MS analysis indicated that tannic acid was the most abundant phenolic acid in both species (71,439.56 ± 3643.3 µg/g extract in LE and 105,453.5 ± 5328.1 µg/g extract in LS), whereas hyperoside was the most abundant flavonoid (14,006.90 ± 686.1 µg/g extract in LE and 1708.51 ± 83.6 µg/g extract in LS). The antioxidant capacity was evaluated by DPPH and TAC assays, and the stronger antioxidant activity in ethyl acetate fractions was highlighted. Both species were more active against Gram-positive bacteria than Gram negatives and showed considerable growth inhibitions against tested fungi. Interestingly, selective acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity was observed with LE and LS. Particularly, the water fraction of LS strongly inhibited AChE (IC₅₀ = 0.199 ± 0.009 µg/mL). The ethyl acetate fractions of LE and LS, as well as the n-hexane fraction of LE, exhibited significant antityrosinase activity (IC₅₀ = 245.56 ± 3.6, 295.18 ± 10.57 and 148.27 ± 3.33 µg/mL, respectively). The ethyl acetate fraction and methanol extract of LS also significantly inhibited pancreatic lipase (IC₅₀ = 83.76 ± 4.19 and 162.2 ± 7.29 µg/mL, respectively). Taken together, these findings warrant further investigations to assess the potential of LE and LS as a bioactive source that can be exploited in pharmaceutical, cosmetics and food industries.

In this study, the essential oil and various extracts (n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and methanol) were obtained from Seseli libanotis W.D.J. Koch aerial parts. The essential oil was obtained via hydrodistillation and subjected to GC and GC/MS analysis. 42 compounds were identified as a major component of acorenone B (43.3%), following by cis-sesquisabinene hydrate (9.3%), and trans-sesquisabinene hydrate (7.7%). The antioxidant activities of the essential oil and extracts were evaluated using DPPH• and TEAC assays. While the methanol extract exhibited the highest antioxidant activity, no significant tyrosinase inhibition was observed.

Boswellia resins are described in numerous ancient texts and have been an important trade material for the civilizations located in the Arabian Peninsula and North Africa since at least the third millennium BCE. Frankincense (olibanum) is an exudate that seeps from injured bark of Boswellia species (Burseraceae). The oleogum resin obtained from Boswellia serrata is called Indian frankincense and is used in the Ayurvedic, Siddha, and Unani systems of traditional medicine. Additionally, its extracts and essential oils are used in soaps, cosmetics, foods, beverages, and incense products. This Laboratory Guidance Document aims to review the analytical methods used to authenticate natural oleogum resin from B. serrata and differentiate it from other Boswellia species, as well as other potential adulterants. This document can be used in conjunction with the B. serrata Botanical Adulterants Prevention Bulletin published by the ABC-AHP-NCNPR Botanical Adulterants Prevention Program in 2018.1 From a historical perspective, a number of oleogum resins from Boswellia species have been used interchangeably for medicinal purposes around the world, and older “olibanum” pharmacopeial monographs consider more than one species as officially acceptable. Such interchangeable use is still observed today as several Boswellia species are offered as frankincense.2,3 However, Western botanical dietary supplements and the herbal medicine markets are dominated by products labeled to contain B. serrata, irrespective of whether a formal identification of the ingredient has been performed or not. Therefore, this laboratory guidance document has been written to help laboratory analysts to find appropriate analytical methods that allow the unambiguous identification of B. serrata oleogum resin and its extracts.

Objective: The operations involved in the process of tea production result in differences in the aroma and chemical profile of the final tea. In our work, the catechin contents in green and black tea were analyzed, and their application potential in skin care was compared. Under that framework, their tyrosinase (skin-lightening), elastase (anti-wrinkle), and antioxidative activities were studied, as well as the antimicrobial activities and synergistic interactions. Material and Method: Black tea and green tea infusions were analyzed for the contents of catechin and total phenolic/flavonoid. Their antioxidant activities (DPPH•, ABTS+•, CUPRAC), tyrosinase, and elastase inhibitions were measured using the spectrophotometric assays. Infusions and catechin were combined with erythromycin and ciprofloxacin, and the synergistic activities were measured using the Checkerboard assay. Result and Discussion: Green tea exhibited greater antioxidant and antielastase activity than black tea. Likewise, total phenol and total flavonoid contents and the amount of catechin in green tea were greater. The antityrosinase action of green tea was concluded to be lower than that in black tea. The samples displayed the greatest action against the Propionibacterium acnes strain. Although synergistic action wasn't found against the Staphylococcus aureus, it was seen that the infusions of black and green tea displayed the synergistic action with erythromycin against the Staphylococcus epidermidis.

The Boswellia genus grows naturally in India, Africa, and the Middle East. Gum resins of these species, characterized by boswellic acid derivatives such as boswellic acid (BA), acetyl boswellic acid (ABA), acetyl-11-keto-beta boswellic acid (AKBA), have long been used in the treatment of topical and systemic inflammation, arthritis, and asthma. Within the scope of the study, the chemical profiles of 12 different Boswellia oleo-gum resins were analyzed using the HPTLC, and the DPPH radical scavenging effects and pancreatic lipase inhibition were evaluated with HPTLC-effect directed analysis (HPTLC-EDA). HPTLC analysis was carried out on HPTLC Silicagel 60F254 glass plates by using the mobile phase consisting of cyclohexane: diethyl ether: chloroform: formic acid (55:30:10:5, v:v:v:v). Plates were derivatized with the dipping solution of anisaldehyde. Antioxidant activity was evaluated with the dipping solution of DPPH •. Lipase inhibition was carried out with the immersion of plates into the β-naphthyl myristate, enzyme, and Fast Blue B, respectively. Images were taken under 254 nm, 366 nm, and white light (Figure 1). Fingerprint analysis revealed the non-consisting of AKBA on B. frereana, B. neglecta, and B. rivae samples. BA and ABA were determined by anisaldehyde under white light illumination, especially on B. serrata oleogum resin samples. In DPPH•-EDA, B. rivae and B. dalzielii samples showed the scavenged-free radical zones on the lower hRf values as white zones. In lipase activity, common compounds among the samples, including AKBA and BA or distinct bands with inhibitory activity, were observed as white zones on a purple background.