The study, which was published in Industrial Crops and Products, revealed that ramie, commonly grown as a raw material for natural textiles, can be used as an alternative source of antioxidants.
Data from earlier studies have confirmed that ramie leaves contain bioactive compounds and that these give medicinal properties to ramie plant extracts.
For the study, the scientists isolated ramie's phenolic compounds and evaluated its antioxidant capacity and alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activities.
The researchers analyzed 10 different ramie cultivars that are widely available in China. Phenolic compounds were studied using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography, electrospray ionization, and quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS). The data was then quantified via ultra-high performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detector (UPLC-DAD) analysis.
The researchers utilized rapid in vitro assays to determine the antioxidant activity and alpha-glucosidase inhibitory properties of the samples. The content of total phenolic compounds varied from 0.52 to 2.41 milligrams per gram (?mg/g) DW, and the content of total flavonoids varied from 0.40 to 2.50?mg/g DW. UPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS analysis identified 15 compounds in ten cultivars, including:
Data from the study revealed that the cultivar Luzhuqing (LZQ) had the highest content of chlorogenic acid, rutin, and p-coumaroylmalic acid at 439.49?micrograms per gram (mcg/g) DW, 339.97?mcg/g DW, and 345.93 mcg/g DW respectively.
The 10 ramie cultivars displayed various antioxidant capacities and alpha-glucosidase inhibitory abilities. (Related: Another white flour alternative: Plantain peel flour has high levels of dietary fiber.)
The result of the principal component analysis showed that out of the 10 cultivars, two had both antioxidants and antidiabetic agents: Qianjiangxianma (QJX) and LZQ.
The authors posited that based on the results of the study, certain ramie cultivars can be used as alternative sources of antioxidants and antidiabetic agents. These compounds can then be used to help fight chronic diseases such as cancer and diabetes.
Boehmeria nivea, commonly called ramie, is a plant that belongs to the Urticaceae (nettle) family.
You can read more articles about antioxidant plants like B. nivea at Research.news.
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