Antioxidant, Cytotoxic, and Rheological Properties of Canola Oil Extract of <i>Usnea barbata</i> (L.) Weber ex F.H. Wigg from Călimani Mountains, Romania
Violeta Popovici,
Laura Bucur,
Cerasela Elena Gîrd,
Dan Rambu,
Suzana Ioana Calcan,
Elena Iulia Cucolea,
Teodor Costache,
Mădălina Ungureanu-Iuga,
Mircea Oroian,
Silvia Mironeasa,
Verginica Schröder,
Emma-Adriana Ozon,
Dumitru Lupuliasa,
Aureliana Caraiane,
Victoria Badea
Affiliations
Violeta Popovici
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Ovidius University of Constanta, 7 Ilarie Voronca Street, 900684 Constanta, Romania
Laura Bucur
Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ovidius University of Constanta, 6 Capitan Al. Serbanescu Street, 900001 Constanta, Romania
Cerasela Elena Gîrd
Department of Pharmacognosy, Phytochemistry and Phytotherapy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 6 Traian Vuia Street, 020956 Bucharest, Romania
Dan Rambu
Research Center for Instrumental Analysis SCIENT, 1E Petre Ispirescu Street, 077167 Tâncăbești, Romania
Suzana Ioana Calcan
Research Center for Instrumental Analysis SCIENT, 1E Petre Ispirescu Street, 077167 Tâncăbești, Romania
Elena Iulia Cucolea
Research Center for Instrumental Analysis SCIENT, 1E Petre Ispirescu Street, 077167 Tâncăbești, Romania
Teodor Costache
Research Center for Instrumental Analysis SCIENT, 1E Petre Ispirescu Street, 077167 Tâncăbești, Romania
Mădălina Ungureanu-Iuga
Faculty of Food Engineering, Stefan cel Mare University of Suceava, 13th University Street, 720229 Suceava, Romania
Mircea Oroian
Faculty of Food Engineering, Stefan cel Mare University of Suceava, 13th University Street, 720229 Suceava, Romania
Silvia Mironeasa
Faculty of Food Engineering, Stefan cel Mare University of Suceava, 13th University Street, 720229 Suceava, Romania
Verginica Schröder
Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ovidius University of Constanta, 6 Capitan Al. Serbanescu Street, 900001 Constanta, Romania
Emma-Adriana Ozon
Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 6 Traian Vuia Street, 020956 Bucharest, Romania
Dumitru Lupuliasa
Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 6 Traian Vuia Street, 020956 Bucharest, Romania
Aureliana Caraiane
Department of Oral Rehabilitation, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Ovidius University of Constanta, 7 Ilarie Voronca Street, 900684 Constanta, Romania
Victoria Badea
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Ovidius University of Constanta, 7 Ilarie Voronca Street, 900684 Constanta, Romania
Usnea genus (Parmeliaceae, lichenized Ascomycetes) is a potent phytomedicine, due to phenolic secondary metabolites, with various pharmacological effects. Therefore, our study aimed to explore the antioxidant, cytotoxic, and rheological properties of Usnea barbata (L.) Weber ex F.H. Wigg (U. barbata) extract in canola oil (UBO) compared to cold-pressed canola seed oil (CNO), as a green solvent used for lichen extraction, which has phytoconstituents. The antiradical activity (AA) of UBO and CNO was investigated using UV-Vis spectrophotometry. Their cytotoxicity was examined in vivo through a brine shrimp lethality (BSL) test after Artemia salina (A. salina) larvae exposure for 6 h to previously emulsified UBO and CNO. The rheological properties of both oil samples (flow behavior, thixotropy, and temperature-dependent viscosity variation) were comparatively analyzed. The obtained results showed that UBO (IC50 = 0.942 ± 0.004 mg/mL) had a higher 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity than CNO (IC50 = 1.361 ± 0.008 mg/mL). Both UBO and CNO emulsions induced different and progressive morphological changes to A. salina larvae, incompatible with their survival; UBO cytotoxicity was higher than that of CNO. Finally, in the temperature range of 32–37 °C, the UBO and CNO viscosity and viscoelastic behavior indicated a clear weakening of the intermolecular bond when temperature increases, leading to a more liquid state, appropriate for possible pharmaceutical formulations. All quantified parameters were highly intercorrelated. Moreover, their significant correlation with trace/heavy minerals and phenolic compounds can be observed. All data obtained also suggest a possible synergism between lichen secondary metabolites, minerals, and canola oil phytoconstituents.
