Biomolecules (May 2024)

Chemical Characterization, Free Radical Scavenging, and Cellular Antioxidant Properties of the Egadi Island Endemic <i>Brassica macrocarpa</i> Guss Leaf Extract

  • Adele Cicio,
  • Noemi Aloi,
  • Stefania Sut,
  • Valeria Longo,
  • Francesca Terracina,
  • Stefano Dall’Acqua,
  • Maria Grazia Zizzo,
  • Maurizio Bruno,
  • Vincenzo Ilardi,
  • Paolo Colombo,
  • Claudio Luparello,
  • Rosa Serio

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/biom14060636
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 14, no. 6
p. 636

Abstract

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The genus Brassica is an important source of food in the Mediterranean diet with documented nutritional and medicinal properties. However, few studies have investigated the phytochemical composition and the biological activity of wild Sicilian taxa. Thus, we aimed to study the chemical profile and the antioxidant potential, in vitro and in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells, of a methanolic extract of leaves of wild Brassica macrocarpa Guss (B. macrocarpa) (Egadi Islands; Sicily-Italy). B. macrocarpa methanolic extract showed a large amount of glucosinolates and different phenolic compounds. It exhibited antioxidant activity in the DPPH assay and in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells, being able to reduce NO and ROS levels and NOS2 mRNA expression. Our study demonstrated that Sicilian B. macrocarpa methanolic extract, in LPS-stimulated macrophages, efficiently counteracts oxidative stress and displays radical scavenging activity. Future studies are required to identify the contribution of the single phytocomponents, to characterize the action mechanism, and to reveal possible applications in human health.

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