Assessment of flavonoid-rich extracts from dark peels of Ficus carica L.fruits for cosmeceutical and antimicrobial applications

Background:Exploring natural sources to identify new active ingredients for cosmeceutical and pharmaceutical applications is of interest to many researchers.Methods:Flavonoid-rich extracts from dark Ficus carica peels were investigated in the present study.Extracts were prepared from the peels of four dark cultivars(Bakor Noir,Bouankik,Azenjer and Tazegaght)using acidified methanol.The antimicrobial activity of the extracts was evaluated by the agar well diffusion assay followed by the minimal inhibitory concentration determination using the microdilution method against Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria and two fungi.Cosmeceutical properties were evaluated by measuring antioxidant activity,ultraviolet absorption characteristics and sun protection factor values.The antioxidant activity of the extracts was measured using aβ-carotene-linoleic acid system.The toxicity of the extracts was assessed using a brine shrimp lethality assay.Results:The extracts contained high amounts of phenolic compounds(3.85–8.63 g/100 g),mainly flavonoids(up to 5 g/100 g).Multiple antibacterial activities were recorded against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria,with the best actions against Bacillus subtilis(minimal inhibitory concentration=156.25µg/mL),Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa(minimal inhibitory concentration=312.5µg/mL),but no antifungal activity was recorded.Azenjer extract showed high inhibition of lipid oxidation evaluated by theβ-carotene bleaching assay with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration of 88.84µg/mL.All extracts showed absorption peaks in the ultraviolet range and Azenjer and Tazegaght extracts at 25 mg/mL presented sun protection factor values>15.The brine shrimp toxicity assay results revealed lethal concentration of 50%values greater than 2,000µg/mL,indicating the safety of the extracts.Conclusion:Therefore,Ficus carica peel extracts could be considered original ingredients with potential applications in the formulation of antibacterial drugs and skincare products.

Antibacterial and antioxidant effects from seaweed,Sargassum wightii(Greville,1848)against marine ornamental fish pathogens

Objective:To screen seaweed Sargassum wightii(S.wightii)for bioactive natural substance against marine ornamental fish bacterial pathogens,and also study the antioxidant properties,brine shrimp toxicity effect.Methods:Crude extract was made using three solvents(acetone,ethanol and methanol)and screened for antibacterial activity and purified by column chromatography,purified fractions obtained were tested for the activity.The 1st fraction of acetone extract showed maximum activity,this was again subjected for purification and obtained three sub-fractions also tested for the activity.Total phenols and flavonoid contents,reducing power,free radical scavenging activities(DPPH and H_(2)O_(2))and brine shrimp toxicity were also studied using purified acetone extract followed by standard methods.Results:The purified acetone extract showed maximum activity against eight pathogens among ten.GC-MS results revealed two major compounds such as 24-methylene cholesterol(79.9%)and methyl oleate(30.3%)which presented in higher percentage in purified extract and had highest phenols and flavonoid contents,reducing power,free radical scavenging activities,and also showed less toxicity effect.In he present study,the purified extract of S.wightii had potential antibacterial activity against Aeromonas hydrophila[(22.25±0.35)mm]and minimum activity against Streptococcus sp.[(10.00±0.00)mm].The purified extract of S.wightii also had potential total antioxidant activity of(3.87±0.04)μg at 100μg/mL concentration and the lowest activity was exhibited(1.52±0.01)μg at 25μg/mL.Conclusions:The present study concluded that the brown seaweed,S.wightii has potential antimicrobial and antioxidant activities,which can be used in aquaculture industry for treated bacterial diseases in infected fishes.