Optimisation of phytochemical characteristics and antioxidative properties of Foeniculum vulgare Mill. seeds and Ocimum basilicum L. leaves superfine powders using new parting process

Abstract

Introduction Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) and basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) are two aromatic medicinal plants. Recently, a new parting process which is named CDS “Comminution and to control Diffraction Sieving” is taken into consideration and its positive effect on the extraction of bioactive compounds from the plants, without any solvent, is reported. Objective Study the effect of CDS on phytochemical properties of superfine powders of fennel seeds and basil leaves. Methods Fennel seeds and basil leaves superfine powders were fractionated as follows: 100–180 μm, 180–315 μm, 315–500 μm, > 500 μm and unsieved superfine powders. Extraction of polyphenols was carried out using hydromethanolic maceration. The essential oils were extracted by maceration with dichloromethane. The antioxidant activities were evaluated by DPPH (2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl) assay. Using liquid chromatography ultraviolet electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (LC‐UV‐ESI‐MS), concentrations of characterised phenolic compounds were measured. The essential oils compositions were characterised using gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Results In fennel seeds, the 100–180 μm fraction had maximum antioxidant activity and LC‐UV‐ESI‐MS analyses proved that the best extraction of certain polyphenols was obtained in the 100–180 μm fraction. In basil leaves, the best antioxidant activity corresponded to the 315–500 μm fraction and LC‐UV‐ESI‐MS analyses showed that the polyphenols were concentrated in the < 315 μm fractions. For both plants, GC–MS presented that the essential oils were concentrated in the 315–500 μm fraction. Conclusion CDS as a new green parting process leads to improve the phytochemical properties of these two superfine plant powders in the specific granulometric classes.

Hydrodistillation and Steam Distillation of Fennel Seeds Essential Oil: Parameter Optimization and Application of Cryomilling Pretreatment

“…Cvitković et al (2022) [19] reported about a 2-fold size reduction per 3 min of CM, where a 3 min CM (d (50) = 107 µm) was sufficient compared to lower yields and higher energy consumption at 6 min and 9 min CM (47 µm and 29 µm). Additionally, Mousavi et al (2020) [38] reported increased concentrations of volatiles (D-limonene, fenchone, estragole, and anethole) in fennel seeds EO obtained from superfine powder in the fraction range 315-500 µm, while their amounts decreased when a smaller fraction (180-315 µm) or the fraction >500 µm were used. Thus, they concluded that the ideal particle size for the most efficient extraction of fennel seeds EO was between 315 and 500 µm, which is consistent with the results of this study.…”

Phytochemical and GCMS analysis on the ethanol extract of Foeniculum Vulgare and Petroselinum crispum leaves

“…Both plants have often been used as nausea, laxative and antitumor treatments for fever medications. 23, 24 Analysis of phytochemistry of both leaves showed that both plants contains rich bioactive compounds as shown in Table 1 and Table 2. However, the leaves and stems are currently used in a limited number of current uses in conventional medicine, the lack of science reports on the leaf prompted us to carry out a methodical phytochemical analysis of the plant.…”

Bcl-2 is essential for Foeniculum vulgare seed extract-induced apoptosis in lung cancer

“…The fennel compound anethole induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in human prostate cancer cells and exhibited antitumor effects [13]. The coumarin extracted from the dried fruits of fennel demonstrated antioxidant effects, promoted the production of inflammatory factors such as interleukin (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), and inhibited the growth of tumor cells [14,15]. At present, there are no reports of the anti-lung cancer activity of the ethanol extract of Foeniculum vulgare seeds (EEFS), and the underlying molecular mechanisms of its activity remain unknown.…”