FOOD BIOSCIENCE, vol.23, pp.75-82, 2018 (SCI-Expanded)
Six wild species (S. alba, S. conoidea, S. dichotoma, S. italica, S. supina, and S. vulgaris) from the Silene genera were tested for potential anti-enzymatic (acetyl cholinesterase (AChE), butyryl cholinesterase (BChE), tyrosinase, alpha-amylase, and alpha-glucosidase), antimicrobial (16 microbial strains), and antioxidant activity. An ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry method was used for phytochemical determination. Quinic acid, malic acid, protocatechuic acid, p-coumaric acid, and hesperidin were common in the six Silene species. All extracts showed higher antibacterial effects compared to streptomycin and ampicillin (except S. dichotoma). Antifungal agents, bifonazole (MIC 0.10-0.20 mg/mL and MFC 0.20-0.30 mg/mL) and ketoconazole (MIC 0.15-2.30 mg/mL and MFC 0.20-3.50 mg/mL) showed lower activity than the investigated Silene species extracts. S. alba inhibited AChE (2.00 mg GALAE/g extract) and BChE (1.0 mg GALAE/g extract). The results showed metal chelating potential ranging from 12 to 19 mg EDTAE/g extract, with S. conoidea being the most active, and S. supina the least. S. dichotoma showed the highest reducing potential against both cupric (154 mg TE/g extract for CUPRAC) and ferric (102 mg TE/g extract for FRAP) ions. Overall, Silene species could be considered as emerging interesting functional foods and sources of nutraceuticals with applications in the management of different diseases.