Antioxidant, Cytotoxic, and Rheological Properties of Canola Oil Extract of <i>Usnea barbata</i> (L.) Weber ex F.H. Wigg from Călimani Mountains, Romania

oleh: 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

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2022-03-01

Deskripsi

<i>Usnea</i> genus (<i>Parmeliaceae</i>, lichenized <i>Ascomycetes</i>) 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 <i>Usnea barbata</i> (L.) Weber ex F.H. Wigg (<i>U. barbata</i>) 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 <i>Artemia salina</i> (<i>A. salina</i>) 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 (IC<sub>50</sub> = 0.942 ± 0.004 mg/mL) had a higher 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity than CNO (IC<sub>50</sub> = 1.361 ± 0.008 mg/mL). Both UBO and CNO emulsions induced different and progressive morphological changes to <i>A. salina</i> 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.