scholarly journals PlantCrystals—Nanosized Plant Material for Improved Bioefficacy of Medical Plants

Materials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (19) ◽  
pp. 4368
Author(s):  
Abraham M. Abraham ◽  
Reem M. Alnemari ◽  
Claus Jacob ◽  
Cornelia M. Keck

PlantCrystals are obtained by milling plant material to sizes < 10 µm. Due to the disruption of the plant cells, active compounds are easily released, rendering the PlantCrystal technology an effective and low-cost process for the production of environmentally friendly plant extracts. The extracts can be used to produce phytomedicines, nutritional supplements or cosmetic products. Previous studies could already demonstrate the use of PlantCrystals to improve the antimicrobial or antifungal activity of different plants. This study investigated whether PlantCrystal technology is suitable to produce plant derived formulations with high antioxidant capacity. The study also aimed to identify the most suitable production methods for this. Methods: Various plant materials and parts of plants, i.e., seeds, leaves and flowers, and different methods were employed for the production. PlantCrystals were characterized regarding size, physical stability and antioxidant capacity (AOC). Results: PlantCrystals with particles < 1 µm were produced from the different plant materials. Both production methods, i.e., high-pressure homogenization, bead milling or the combination of both were suitable to obtain PlantCrystals. Nano milling of the plant material greatly affected their AOC and resulted in formulations with distinctly higher AOC when compared to classical extracts. Conclusions: Rendering plant material into small sized particles is highly effective to obtain plant extracts with high biological efficacy.

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
NARENDRA SINGH ◽  
N. S. BHADAURIA ◽  
PRADYUMN SINGH

The Bio-efficacy of eleven plant extracts namely viz.Neem Kernel; Rhizome of Ginger; Leaves of Datura, Gajarghas, Harsingar, Oak and Latjeera; Bulb of Garlic and Onion; Flowers of Chrysenthemum and Fruits of Chilli in the concentration of 5 percent and imidacloprid @ 40 g ai/ha was tested against mustard aphid, Lipaphiserysimi and their effect on D. rapae and Coccinellid beetle were tested in the Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, Gwalior (M.P.). All the tested plant materials and imidacloprid @ 40 g ai/ha were effective significanty in reducing the aphid population over control.The aphid population in treated plots ranged from 7.2 to 40.0 as against 85.4 aphid/twig in untreated control. Among the plant material, three sprays of Neem Kernel were found most effective followed by three sprays of chilli fruits.All the plant extracts were found significantly safer to D. rapae and coccinellid bettle in comparision to insecticide (imidacloprid).


1993 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 351-354 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter M. Shaw

A low-cost interactive computer program was designed to assist in teaching landscape plant material classes or any other class that could benefit from the use of computer graphics. The program was written in HyperCard to be used on any Macintosh computer. To illustrate the morphology and to assist in learning the terminology required to identify plants, a dichotomous keying system incorporating computer graphics was developed to lead the student through an interactive lesson. In the process of keying out plants, the student encounters the terminology associated with the groups of plants during the lesson. The student is introduced to plant groups, the terminology, and the concept of the classification process in one interactive lesson.


2020 ◽  
pp. 16-21
Author(s):  
PHITCHAPHORN KHAMMEE ◽  
YUWALEE UNPAPROM ◽  
UBONWAN SUBHASAEN ◽  
RAMESHPRABU RAMARAJ

Recently, dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) have concerned significant attention attributable to their material preparation process, architectural and environmental compatibility, also low cost and effective photoelectric conversion efficiency. Therefore, this study aimed to use potential plant materials for DSSC. This research presents the extraction of natural pigments from yellow cotton flowers (Cochlospermum regium). In addition, the natural pigments were revealed that outstanding advantages, including a wide absorption range (visible light), easy extraction method, safe, innocuous pigments, inexpensive, complete biodegradation and ecofriendly. Methanol was used as a solvent extraction for the yellow cotton flower. The chlorophylls and carotenoid pigments extractions were estimated by a UV-visible spectrometer. The chlorophyll-a, chlorophyll-b, and carotenoid yield were 0.719±0.061 µg/ml, 1.484±0.107 µg/ml and 7.743±0.141 µg/ml, respectively. Thus, this study results suggested that yellow cotton flowers containing reasonable amounts appealable in the DSSC production.


Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 616
Author(s):  
Virginia Birlanga ◽  
José Ramón Acosta-Motos ◽  
José Manuel Pérez-Pérez

Cultivated lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) is one of the most important leafy vegetables in the world, and most of the production is concentrated in the Mediterranean Basin. Hydroponics has been successfully utilized for lettuce cultivation, which could contribute to the diversification of production methods and the reduction of water consumption and excessive fertilization. We devised a low-cost procedure for closed hydroponic cultivation and easy phenotyping of root and shoot attributes of lettuce. We studied 12 lettuce genotypes of the crisphead and oak-leaf subtypes, which differed on their tipburn resistance, for three growing seasons (Fall, Winter, and Spring). We found interesting genotype × environment (G × E) interactions for some of the studied traits during early growth. By analyzing tipburn incidence and leaf nutrient content, we were able to identify a number of nutrient traits that were highly correlated with cultivar- and genotype-dependent tipburn. Our experimental setup will allow evaluating different lettuce genotypes in defined nutrient solutions to select for tipburn-tolerant and highly productive genotypes that are suitable for hydroponics.


Antioxidants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 1187
Author(s):  
Manyou Yu ◽  
Irene Gouvinhas ◽  
Ana Barros

In recent decades, an intensive search for natural and novel types of antioxidant polyphenolics has been carried out on numerous plant materials. However, the current literature has very little information on their storage stability in the form of freshly prepared infusions. This study aims to characterize the polyphenolic composition and the antioxidant capacity of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) leaf infusions over one-day storage (analyzed at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 24 h). Spectrophotometric evaluation demonstrated that the infusion presented no significant changes in the content of total phenols (131.40–133.47 mg gallic acid g−1) and ortho-diphenols (239.91–244.25 mg gallic acid g−1). The infusion also maintained high stability (over 98% and 82%, respectively) for flavonoids (53.30–55.84 mg rutin g−1) and condensed tannins (102.15–124.20 mg epicatechin g−1), with stable (>90%) potent antioxidant capacity (1.5–2.2 mmol Trolox g−1) throughout 0–24 h storage. The main decrease was observed during 0–2 h storage of flavonoids, 8–24 h storage of tannins, and 0–4 h storage of antioxidant capacity. Chromatographic analysis further revealed that 7 decreased and 11 increased compounds were found within 0–24 h storage. The good stability of the total polyphenolics and antioxidant properties might be related to the complex conversion and activity compensation among these compounds. The findings suggest that pomegranate leaf infusion could be of great interest in the valorization of high added-value by-products and in the application of green and functional alternatives in the food-pharma and nutraceutical industries.


2014 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 858-867 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina Zălaru ◽  
Claudia Crişan ◽  
Ioan Călinescu ◽  
Zenovia Moldovan ◽  
Isabela Ţârcomnicu ◽  
...  

AbstractThe aim of this research was to investigate the chemical composition of Coreopsis tinctoria Nutt. fruits extract, to highlight the potential of ultrasound assisted extraction in the fast preparation of extracts rich in polyphenols using different solvents (55%, 78% and 96% hydrous ethanol) and to evaluate the antioxidant potential of formulated extracts. LC-MS/MS was used to characterize the ethanolic extract from Coreopsis tinctoria Nutt. dried fruits. The extract contains different flavonoids (marein, flavanomarein, quercetagetin-7-O-glucoside, okanin aurone, leptosidin, luteolin, apigenin) and phenolic acids (chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid). Several parameters that could affect extraction efficiency were evaluated. Finally, this study focused on determination of plant extracts total phenolic content and their antioxidant capacity. The experimental results allowed the selection of the optimum operating parameters leading to the highest total polyphenolic content, expressed as gallic acid equivalents, and avoiding the degradation of phenolic compounds (ethanol 55%; extraction temperature 323.15 K, extraction time 30 min, liquid/solid ratio 20/1). A good relationship between total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity was obtained.


2005 ◽  
Vol 77 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Gurib-Fakim ◽  
H. Subratty ◽  
F. Narod ◽  
J. Govinden-Soulange ◽  
F. Mahomoodally

The Mauritian population has a long tradition in the use of ethno-medicine, and the practice is still strong, especially in the treatment of minor ailments. Such interest stems from an existing culture, and many “tisanes” are still prepared from plant materials and sold in several markets around the island.This paper will focus on the various chemical/biological screening techniques currently being used to evaluate the biological properties of medicinal plant extracts. Particular emphasis will be put on extraction and various screening for biological/pharmacological properties. Due consideration will be given to the pharmacological approaches that utilize different animal models for the in vitro and in vivo screening of medicinal plant extracts.


2012 ◽  
Vol 554-556 ◽  
pp. 891-899
Author(s):  
Xu Yan Zong ◽  
Li Li ◽  
Xu Qiao Feng ◽  
Hui Bo Luo ◽  
Jian Zhou ◽  
...  

Brewer’s spent grain (BSG) protein extracted from BSG was hydrolyzed using Alcalase to produce BSG protein hydrolysate. BSG protein hydrolysate was fractionated by ultrafiltration to obtain brown color BSG peptides. Antioxidant activity of BSG peptides was analyzeded and compared with reduced glutathione (GSH). BSG peptides exhibited 50% of scavenging activities on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical, hydroxyl radical, and superoxide radical with concentrations less than 0.8 mg/mL, 0.6 mg/mL and 0.6 mg/mL, respectively. The reducing power of BSG peptides was 0.70 at the concentration of 2.00 mg/mL. 86.30% of the total amount of the BSG peptides purified by gel permeation chromatography was below 2000 Da. Because of its antioxidant activity, stability, nutritive value and low cost, BSG peptides exerts a possibility to use in food or cosmetic products.


2018 ◽  
Vol 87 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anita Agnieszka Śliwińska ◽  
Katarzyna Sykłowska-Baranek ◽  
Anita Kośmider ◽  
Sebastian Granica ◽  
Karolina Miszczak ◽  
...  

<p>In this study, an efficient method to enhance phenolic compound production in the in vitro cultured shoots of <em>Polyscias filicifolia</em> was developed. The phenolic compound content in <em>P. filicifolia</em> has not yet been reported. Shoots were treated with methyl jasmonate (JM) or salicylic acid (SA) at doses of 50, 100, or 200 µM. HPLC-UV-VIS and LC-MS techniques were used for the determination of chlorogenic, caffeic, and ferulic acids. The total phenolics and flavonoids were quantified, and the antioxidant capacity of plant extracts was determined using DPPH and ABTS methods. Finally, the cytotoxic activity of <em>P. filicifolia</em> extracts in normal (HaCaT) and cancer (A549) cells was investigated. Further, the effect of the extracts on cisplatin cytotoxicity was assessed.</p><p>The elicitors significantly enhanced phenolic production compared to that in untreated shoots and leaves of intact plants. Chlorogenic acid was the most abundant compound with the highest yield of 5.03 ±0.25 mg/g DW after treatment with 50 µM SA. The total flavonoid and phenolic content was significantly and dose-dependently influenced by JM. The highest antioxidant capacity was noted in extracts derived from shoots grown on media supplemented with 50 µM SA and 200 µM JM; these doses were used for further cytotoxic activity investigations. The extracts from JM or SA treatments reduced cancer cell viability and increased their mortality, whereas the extract from JM treatment exhibited protective effect on normal cells. Moreover, the comparison of cytotoxic properties of plant extracts and cisplatin indicated that plant phenolic compounds in combination with anticancer drugs could reduce the detrimental effect of the latter on human cells.</p>


Processes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 1406 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Modassar A. N. Ranjha ◽  
Shafeeqa Irfan ◽  
José M. Lorenzo ◽  
Bakhtawar Shafique ◽  
Rabia Kanwal ◽  
...  

Traditional extraction techniques have lost their optimum performance because of rising consumer demand and novel technologies. In this regard, several techniques were developed by humans for the extraction of plant materials from various indigenous sources, which are no longer in use. Many of the techniques are not efficient enough to extract maximum plant material. By this time, evolution in extraction has led to development of various techniques including microfiltration, pulsed electric fields, high pressure, microwave assistance, enzyme assistance, supercritical fluid, subcritical fluid and ultrasonication. These innovations in food processing/extraction are known as “Green Food Processing”. These technologies were basically developed by focusing on three universal parameters: simplicity, energy efficiency and economy. These green technologies are practical in a number of different food sectors, mostly for preservation, inhibition of microorganisms, inactivation of enzymes and extraction of plant material. Like the others, ultrasonication could also be used for the said purposes. The primary objective of this review is to confine the potential use of ultrasonication for extraction of oils, pectin and phytochemicals by reviewing the literature systematically.


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