Antioxidant, Antimicrobial Effects and Phenolic Profile of Lycium barbarum L. Flowers.
L. barbarum L. is a widely-accepted nutraceutical presenting highly advantageous nutritive and antioxidant properties. Its flowers have been previously described as a source of diosgenin, β-sitosterol and lanosterol that can be further pharmaceutically developed, but no other data regarding their composition is available. The purpose of this work was to investigate the chemical constituents, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of L. barbarum flowers, as an alternative resource of naturally-occurring antioxidant compounds. The free radical scavenging activity of the ethanolic extract was tested by TEAC, two enzymatic assays with more physiological relevance and EPR spectroscopy. The presence of several phenolic compounds, such as chlorogenic, p-coumaric and ferulic acids, but also isoquercitrin, rutin and quercitrin, was assessed by an HPLC/MS method. The antioxidant assays revealed that the extract exhibited a moderate antioxidant potential. The antimicrobial activity was mild against Gram-positive bacteria and lacking against Escherichia coli. These findings complete the scarce existing data and offer new perspectives for further pharmaceutical valorization of L. barbarum flowers.
Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 23 Ghe. Marinescu Street, Cluj-Napoca 400010, Romania. mocan.andrei@umfcluj.ro.
Andrei
A
Mocan
Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics, Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 12 I. Creangă Street, Cluj-Napoca 400010, Romania. laurian.vlase@umfcluj.ro.
Laurian
L
Vlase
Department of Food Science, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 3-5 Manăştur Street, Cluj-Napoca 400372, Romania. dan.vodnar@usamvcluj.ro.
Dan Cristian
DC
Vodnar
Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics, Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 12 I. Creangă Street, Cluj-Napoca 400010, Romania. gheldiu.ana@umfcluj.ro.
Ana-Maria
AM
Gheldiu
Department of Analytical Chemistry and Instrumental Analysis, Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 4 L. Pasteur Street, Cluj-Napoca 400010, Romania. roprean@umfcluj.ro.
Radu
R
Oprean
Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 23 Ghe. Marinescu Street, Cluj-Napoca 400010, Romania. gcrisan@umfcluj.ro.
Gianina
G
Crișan
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000187:drug effects; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D045304:Cytochromes c / Q000378:metabolism; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000032:analysis; D035264:Flowers / Q000737:chemistry*; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000494:pharmacology; D007700:Kinetics; D008081:Liposomes / Q000737:chemistry; D032305:Lycium / Q000737:chemistry*; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010636:Phenols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D059808:Polyphenols / Q000032:analysis
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D005419:Flavonoids; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D008081:Liposomes; D010636:Phenols; D059808:Polyphenols; D045304:Cytochromes c
EPR spectroscopy; Lycium barbarum L.; antimicrobial; antioxidants; flowers; polyphenols