Ophioglossum thermale Kom. was fermented with several fungi. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents (TPCs and TFCs) and antioxidant activities of fermented and non-fermented O. thermale (FOT and NFOT) were investigated. The results showed that Talaromyces purpurogenus M18-11 fermented O. thermale possessed significantly improved TPC and TFC and exhibited significantly stronger 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) (half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) = 75.7 ± 2.1 μg mL-1) and 2,2’-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) (IC50 = 20.52 ± 1.68 μg mL-1) free-radical scavenging activities, ferric reducing antioxidant power (0.585 ± 0.045 mmol g-1), and reducing power (half maximal effective concentration (EC50) = 30.52 ± 1.91 μg mL-1) than original material. The determination of the contents of representative flavonoids and their glucosides revealed that the improvements are attributed to the hydrolysis of homoisoflavonoid and flavonoid glucosides, glycometabolism, as well as fungal metabolites. This paper is the first to report the fermentation of O. thermale with pure strains and T. purpurogenus is an effective strain to process O. thermale for improving the antioxidant activity.

Radix et Rhizoma Rhei has been recognized for centuries in traditional medicine for its multiple pharmacological actions. The free anthraquinones including physcion, chrysophanol, emodin, rhein, and aloe-emodin are the main bioactive components in Radix et Rhizoma Rhei. In the present study, a fast quantitative 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (q-HNMR) method for the determination and quantitation of five free anthraquinones in Radix et Rhizoma Rhei was developed. Validation of the quantitative method was performed in terms of specificity, accuracy, precision, and stability. The results showed that the solvent acetone-d6 enabled satisfactory separation of the signals to be integrated. Five anthraquinones in Radix et Rhizoma Rhei could be quantified accurately using featured signals from 1H NMR. This work implied that q-HNMR represents a feasible alternative to high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-based methods for quantitation of anthraquinones in Radix et Rhizoma Rhei and is suitable for the quality control of Radix et Rhizoma Rhei.

Palha, espiga e estigma de milho foram extraídos com água, etanol aquoso, metanol aquoso e acetato de etila, respectivamente. O conteúdo fenólico total (TPC), conteúdo flavonóide total (TFC), conteúdo cetoesteróide total (TKC) e atividades antioxidantes [atividade de sequestro de radicais, poder redutor, e poder antioxidante-redutor férrico (FRAP) de 2,2'-difenil-1-picrilhidrazil (DPPH), 2,4,6-tri(2-piridil)-1,3,5-triazina (TPTZ) e 2,2'-azinobis(3-etilbenzotiazolina-6-ácido sulfônico) (ABTS)] dos extratos foram identificados. Os principais componentes antioxidantes foram posteriormente determinados e quantificados por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência (HPLC). Os resultados revelaram que etanol e metanol aquosos foram mais eficientes na extração de constituintes antioxidantes da espiga, palha e estigma do milho. Oito componentes antioxidantes principais foram detectados como subprodutos e os conteúdos de quatro componentes antioxidantes principais foram determinados. O trabalho presente revelou que a espiga e palha de milho mostram valores de TPC, TFC e TKC altos e similares, e atividade antioxidante com o estigma de milho que podem ser usados como potenciais candidatos na prevenção de doenças relacionadas a vários subprodutos oxidantes do metabolismo humano.

Cornhusk, corncob, and stigma maydis were extracted with water, aqueous ethanol, aqueous methanol, and ethyl acetate, respectively. The total phenolic contents (TPC), total flavonoid contents (TFC), total ketosteroid contents (TKC), and antioxidant activities [2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) and 2,2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,4,6-tri(2-pyridyl)-1,3,5-triazine (TPTZ) radical-scavenging activity, reducing power, and ferric reducing-antioxidant power (FRAP)] of the above extracts were investigated. Their main antioxidant components were further determined and quantified by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The results revealed that the aqueous ethanol and aqueous methanol were more efficient in extracting antioxidant constituents from cornhusk, corncob, and stigma maydis. Eight main antioxidant components were detected from above three by-products, and the contents of four main antioxidant components were determined. The present work revealed that the cornhusk and corncob showed similar high TPC, TFC, TKC, and antioxidant activities with stigma maydis, and could be used as potential candidates for the prevention of diseases related to various oxidant by-products of human metabolism.