Phenolic profile, bioactivity and cytotoxicity of plant extracts from thyme, ginger, garlic, ground roasted coffee and coffee silverskin

Author(s):Show less -

Pena, Fabiola de Lima ; de Souza, Mariana Correa ; Sanches, Vitor Lacerda ; Vigano, Juliane ; Mancini, Mariana Camargo Silva ; Brito-Oliveira, Thais Carvalho ; dos Santos, Barbara Geciana Tomaz ; de Queiroz, Guilherme Henrique Aguiar ; Tamborlin, Leticia ; Simabuco, Fernando Moreira ; Luchessi, Augusto Ducati ; Rostagno, Mauricio Ariel ; Antunes, Adriane Elisabete Costa

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOOD PROPERTIES; v. 28, n. 1, p. 18-pg., 2025-12-31.

Abstract

We evaluated selected biological properties of extracts from thyme (THY) (Thymus vulgaris L.), ginger (GNG) (Zingiber officinale Roscoe), garlic (GLC) (Allium sativum L.), ground roasted coffee (GRC), and coffee silverskin (CS) (Coffea sp. L.). The extraction was carried out sequentially with water and ethanol, ultrasonic bath, and solvent evaporation. The phenolic composition was evaluated by modified Folin Ciocalteu, Ultra-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection (UPLC-PDA) and Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS). The antioxidant activity was assessed using FRAP, DDPH, ABTS and ORAC assays, while the potential toxicity was investigated by Tetrazolium dye assays MTT and supercoiled DNA. Several important phenolic compounds were identified, including ellagic acid (23.28 mu g EAG/mL in garlic), rutin (25.88 mu g EAG/mL in thyme) and caffeine (660-203.3 mu g/mL in coffee extracts). The MTT results showed that the highest concentrations of THY and GLC exhibited cytotoxic activity in colon carcinoma cells (Caco-2), reducing cell viability to below 50%. All extracts showed a protective effect on DNA and prevented damage caused by the oxidant AAPH (2,2-Azobis(2-methylpropionitrile)) in the supercoil test. These results demonstrate the bioactive composition of the plant extracts, while also indicating that their toxic potential should be evaluated at higher concentrations. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 23/03439-5 - Extraction, separation and two-dimensional analysis of phenolic compounds from agro-industry residues with antimicrobial potential against Staphylococcus aureus for application in curatives.
• Grantee: Thais Carvalho Brito Oliveira
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 18/14818-9 - Study of molecular targets important for the control of cancer metabolism: the mTOR/S6K pathway as a central role
• Grantee: Fernando Moreira Simabuco
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants - Phase 2
• FAPESP's process: 19/13496-0 - Multi user equipment approved in grant 2018/14582-5: ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography system (UHPLC), composed by a quaternary pump, autoinjector, oven with selection valve and detector (PDA)
• Grantee: Maurício Ariel Rostagno
• Support Opportunities: Multi-user Equipment Program