Activity of Hawthorn Leaf and Bark Extracts in Relation to Biological Membrane

Abstract

The aim of the study was to identify and determine the percent content of polyphenols in extracts from leaves and hawthorn bark, to examine the effect of the extracts on the properties of the biological membrane as well as to determine their antioxidant activity toward membrane lipids. In particular, a biophysical investigation was conducted on the effect of hawthorn extracts on the osmotic resistance and morphology of erythrocyte cells and on the packing of the heads of membrane lipids. Analysis of the polyphenol content of extracts used the HPLC method. Analysis of the polyphenol composition has shown a dominant share of procyanidins and epicatechin in both extracts. The research showed that the polyphenolic compounds contained in hawthorn extracts are incorporated mainly into the hydrophilic part of the erythrocyte membrane, inducing echinocyte shapes. They also diminish the packing order of the lipid polar heads of the membrane, as evidenced by the lowered generalized polarization values of Laurdan. The substances used induced increased osmotic pressure of erythrocytes, making them less sensitive to changes in osmotic pressure. The presence of the extract compounds in the outer hydrophilic part of the erythrocyte membrane, evidenced by examination of the shapes and packing in the hydrophilic part of membrane, indicates that the substances constitute a kind of barrier that protects the erythrocyte membrane against free radicals, while the membrane-bound extracts do not disturb the membrane structure and, thus, do not cause any side effects.

Physico-chemical, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties and stability of hawthorn (Crataegus monogynaJacq.) procyanidins microcapsules with inulin and maltodextrin

“…Oszmiański and Bourzeix detected 450 mg of procyanidin per 100 g fresh bark . Włoch et al reported 561.59 mg g −1 DW in the bark extract . According to Wu et al , the content of procyanidins in the skin, pulp and seed of monogyna hawthorn were 2.93 mg g −1 FW, 0.65 mg g −1 FW and 3.25 mg g −1 FW, respectively .…”

“…The antioxidant activity as well as the procyanidin content was significantly higher in the extract from hawthorn bark [1069 µmol L −1 TE g −1 (DPPH); 6110 µmol L −1 TE g −1 (ABTS); 2639 µmol L −1 TE g −1 (FRAP)) than in methanolic extract of fruits (195 µmol L −1 TE g −1 (DPPH); 218 µmol L −1 TE g −1 (ABTS); 232 µmol L −1 TE g −1 (FRAP)]. Włoch et al measured two times higher activity in bark extract (12 900 µmol L −1 TE g −1 DW) against ABTS radical, than in this study . In the hawthorn bark they identified additional compounds, from the group of flavonols, phenolic acids and vitexin derivatives, which could have an impact on higher antioxidant activity of the extract.…”

“…The structural characteristics of hawthorn compounds were based on retention times, UV–visible spectra and mass spectra, and ion fragmentation. The results were compared to available authentic standards and by comparison with literature data . On the mass chromatograms, flavan‐3‐ols monomers, dimers, trimers and tetramers were identified.…”

An In Vitro Study of the Effect of Cytotoxic Triorganotin Dimethylaminophenylazobenzoate Complexes on Red Blood Cells

“…This method determines the location of compounds in the membrane based on the shape of blood cells, described earlier by Włoch et al (2013). The optical instrument (Nikon Eclipse E200) equipped with a digital camera and scanning electron microscope (EVO LS15 ZEISS) were used in the experiments.…”

Interaction of skullcap (Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi) and buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) extracts with lipid bilayers

“…Therefore, alteration of lipid bilayer properties may result not only in antioxidant action of flavonoids but also in affecting the activity of integral proteins and hence influence transport and other membrane-related processes [28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41]. The ability of polyphenols to penetrate into lipid bilayers is undoubtedly crucial to the protection against oxidation [42].…”