Effect of Storage Temperatures on Physico-Chemicals, Phytochemicals and Antioxidant Properties of Watermelon Juice (Citrullus lanatus)

Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) consists of high moisture content and is favoured for its juice products. The popular fruit has a tempting taste, sweet aroma and attractive flesh colour. It is enriched with phytochemicals and antioxidant properties that are beneficial to human health. Due to convenience, the majority of individuals are likely to consume watermelon juice. However, little is known about the fruit juice storage and temperatures that may affect its beneficial properties. This study investigated the effect of storage temperature at room temperature, refrigerator cold, refrigerator freeze and freeze-dried, and analyzed the juice physico-chemicals (weight loss, pH, ash, moisture, total soluble solid, browning and turbidity), phytochemicals (total phenolic, total flavonoid, lycopene and β-carotene) and antioxidant scavenging activities during 9 days of storage. The results showed that watermelon juice was affected by storage temperatures and conditions with significant changes in physico-chemical appearance and decrease in total phytochemical content, thus consequently affecting their antioxidant activities during 9 days of storage. Although fresh watermelon juice can be consumed for its high nutritional values, freeze-drying is the preferable technique to retain its benefits and to delay juice degradation.

In Vitro Antibacterial Activity, Preliminary Phytochemical Screening Profile, and In Vivo Toxicity of Seven Traditional Medicinal Plants in Ethiopia

The threat of antibiotic-resistance calls for novel antibacterial agents. This study was aimed at screening medicinal plants for their antibacterial properties, phytochemical content and safety. Leaves of Allophylus abyssinicus (Hochst.) Radlk., Dicliptera laxata C.B.Clarke, Ligustrum vulgare L., Solanecio gigas (Vatke) c. Jeffrey and Gymnanthemum myrianthum (Hook.f.) H.Rob.; leaf and stem-bark of Olinia rochetiana A. Juss. and the seed of Cucurbita pepo L. were used. Chloroform and ethanol were used to extract G. myrianthum, D. laxata and O. rochetiana; ethyl acetate and methanol for the rest, and water for all. The extracts were tested against clinical/standard strains of Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi and Staphylococcus aureus by the agar-diffusion method. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBC) were determined. Acute toxicity to mice was checked and preliminary phytochemical screening was done. Thirteen extracts, out of 24, were active (inhibition zone >7 mm) at differing levels (9.67±0.33-25.66±0.57 mm) against at least one bacterial strain. The MICs and MBCs were 1.95-15.6 mg/mL and 7.8-125 mg/mL respectively. The aqueous extract of S. gigas, methanol extracts of L. vulgare and A. abyssinicus, and ethanol extract of O. rochetiana leaf were the most active (MIC 1.95mg/ml) against S. aureus. Ethyl acetate extracts of A. abyssinicus, L. vulgare and S. gigas; aqueous of C. pepo, O. rochetiana and G. myrianthum; and all D. laxata had no antibacterial activity. P. aeruginosa was the least susceptible to any extract, although the methanol and aqueous extracts of S. gigas performed better against it. Preliminary phytochemical screening of selected extracts for phenols, flavonoids, tannins, steroids, terpenoids, steroidal glycosides, alkaloids, saponins, resins and glycosides showed positivity at least for four of these phytochemicals with glycoside and terpenoids in nearly all extracts and resin in none. The plants were not toxic to mice at 2000 mg/kg. Further consideration of S. gigas, L. vulgare, A. abyssinicus and O. rochetiana is recommended in light of their promising potential and safety.

Phytochemical content and potential health applications of pecan [Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh) K. Koch] nutshell

Background: The pecan nutshell contains phytochemicals with various biological activities that are potentially useful in the prevention or treatment of diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and metabolic imbalances associated with heart diseases. Objective: To update this topic by means of a literature review and include those that contribute to the knowledge of the chemical composition and biological activities of pecan nutshell, particularly of those related to the therapeutic potential against some chronic degenerative diseases associated with oxidative stress. Method: Exhaustive and detailed review of the existing literature using electronic databases. Conclusion: The pecan nutshell is a promising natural product with pharmaceutical uses in various diseases. However, additional research related to the assessment of efficient extraction methods and characterization, particularly the evaluation of the mechanisms of action in new in vivo models, is necessary to confirm these findings and development of new drugs with therapeutic use.

Comparative Study of Abiotic Stress Factors on GC-MS-Detected Phytoconstituents of Aloe greatheadii var: davyana Using Heat Map and Hierarchical Clustering Dendrogram

Aloe greatheadii var. davyana or spotted aloe is indigenous to South Africa and widely distributed in the northern provinces. The plant has a vast ethnopharmacological application which is mostly attributed to its phytochemical content. The aim of the study was to examine the effect of abiotic stress factors on the plant’s phytochemical content. The phytochemical content of A. greatheadii hexane extracts from four different provinces (Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Gauteng, and North West), harvested from the wild at varied altitudes, rainfall patterns, and soil types, was examined using gas chromatography-mass spectra (GC-MS). The phytochemical content of hexane extracts from the four South African provinces was analysed using heat map analysis and hierarchical clustering dendrogram. The phytochemical content of A. greatheadii hexane extracts was composed of fatty acids, alkanes, benzene, carboxylic acids, ketones, phytosterols, and vitamins. Eicosane, henicosane, and [(2S)-2-[(2R)-4-hexadecanoyloxy-3-hydroxy-5-oxo-2H-furan-2-yl]-2-hydroxyethyl] hexadecanoate were the only compounds detected in all samples from the four provinces. The concentration levels of 2-(((2-ethylhexyl)oxy)carbonyl) benzoic acid, beta-sitosterol, tritetracontane, and ethyl 13-methyltetradecanoate were closely related and expressed a low clustering distance amongst the samples. Variations in soil pH, soil type, and rainfall patterns were detected and differed in the four provinces. The different abiotic stress factors affected the biochemical pathways for the different compounds, with conditions in Gauteng being less favourable for many of the compounds detected. Abiotic stress factors have shown to influence phytochemical biochemical pathways and quantity. Aloe greatheadii plants can be selected based on location seemingly due to the variations that persist in their phytochemical content.

Preliminary Chemical, Total Phenolic Content, Flavonoid Content, and Antioxidant Activity of some Plants Used in Vietnam Folk Medicine

Crinum latifolium , Eclipta prostrata , Ocimum gratissimum , Phyllanthus urinar ia and Streptocaulon juventas have been used in Vietnam traditional medicine practices for anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer effects and antioxidant activities since prehistoric times. Ethanol and aqueous extracts from five medicinal herbs were evaluated for their antioxidative, free radical scavenging activities and phytochemical screening. Research results showed that these medicinal herbs all had rich chemical composition, such as alkaloids, coumarins, flavonoids, phenols, etc. Among ten extracts, C.latifolium ethanol extract showed the significantly highest total phenolic content (66.8 ± 4.14 mgGAE/g) and total flavonoids content (99.69 ± 9.88 mgQE/g). Both ethanol extracts from O.gratissimum and P.urinaria were showed the most elevated antioxidant potentials in DPPH and ABTS assays. These findings suggest that the rich phytochemical content and the good antioxidant activity of five herbal plants may be responsible for its popular and wide traditional use.

Phytochemical Content and Antioxidant Activity of Malus domestica Borkh Peel Extracts

Apple is an important dietary source of carotenoids and phenolic compounds, and its regular consumption is associated with several health benefits. The aim of this study was to evaluate the phytochemical composition of fresh peels of four red-skinned (“Champion”, “Generos”, “Idared”, “Florina”) and two yellow-skinned (“Golden Delicious”, “Reinette Simirenko”) apple varieties. Antioxidant activity of apple peel extracts was determined by ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and ABTS radical scavenging capacity assays. Total carotenoid and polyphenolic contents were determined spectrophotometrically, while the profile of individual carotenoids and anthocyanins (in red-skinned varieties) was analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to a photodiode array detector (HPLC-PDA). Carotenoid composition was specific for each variety, and total carotenoid content was slightly higher in yellow-skinned apple peels compared to red-skinned varieties. In contrast, total phenolic content was higher in the peels of red-skinned cultivars. Anthocyanin profile was predominated by cyanidin-3-O-galactoside. Antioxidant potential followed the trend of the total polyphenolic content, being highest in “Florina”, as measured by both FRAP and ABTS assays. Our results demonstrated apple peels have high phytochemical content with diverse compositions, and their regular consumption can be an excellent source of antioxidants.

An In vitro Evaluation of Antidiabetic Activity of Alpinia galangal and Alpinia calcarata

Background: The herbs, genus Alpinia calcarata and Alpinia galanga that underneath the family Zingiberaceae are rhizomatous and extremely aromatic. The study is to investigate the anti-diabetic activity of Alpinia galanga and Alpinia calcarata in-vitro. Material and Methods: The inhibitory effect of Alpinia galanga and Alpinia calcarata on α-amylase and α-glucosidase activities were evaluated. Results: The results revealed that both Alpinia galanga and Alpinia calcarata inhibited α-amylase and α-glucosidase activities in a dose-dependent manner (200–1000 μg/mL). However, Alpinia calcarata possess better antidiabetic activity than Alpinia galangal. Conclusion: The presence of phenolic and other phytochemical content in the herbs might be the reason for their ability to inhibit α-amylase and α-glucosidase activities. Thus, the drug formulating from the herbs, Alpinia galanga and Alpinia calcarata could be part of the potential alternative for synthetic anti-diabetic drug.

Chemical and Medicinal Properties of Rauwolfia vomitoria (AFZEL) Harvested from the South Eastern Nigeria

Aim: This work was carried out to evaluate the chemical constituents of the leaf of Rauwolfia vomitoria and to determine the activities of the extract on some selected human pathogens Study Design: The study was designed to characterize the compounds in the extract and to determine their medicinal applications Place and Duration of Study: The work was done at the Department of Chemistry Federal University of Technology Owerri Methodology: Standard assay technique was used to evaluate the phytochemical content of the sample. GC-MS analysis was carried out on the chloroform extract of the sample. The anti microbial activities were determines using the well agar diffusion method Results: The analysis of the components of the leaf extract of Rauwolfia vomitoria Afzel revealed the presence of 34 compounds with their molecular masses molecular weights and structures, all elucidated. The initial phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids 1.92%, saponins 1.12% , flavonoids 1.15% and cardiac glycosides, the extract showed marked inhibition of the growth of certain human pathogens with inhibition diameters recorded against Klebsiella pnuemonia, 22 mm, Pseudomonas aeruginosa 18 mm,Aspergillis niger 24 mm and Mucor specie 9 mm but was resistant to Streptococcus specie.The extract contain anti cancer,anti-tumuor antioxidant, anti-inflammatory ,cardioprotectives compounds which inludes phytol, Vitamin E, Campestrol, sistosterol, squalene, lupeol and vaccenic acid. Conclusion: Owing to the identified properties of the sample ,Rauwofia vomitoria leaf is excellent ingredient for the treatment of diaeases related to Klebsiella pnuemonia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa Aspergillis niger and Mucor specie and also for the treatment cancer, tumuor, inflammation, arthritis,beingn prostate hyperplasia, fibromyalgia, allergies, coronary heart.

A Mini- review : Effect of Phyllantus niruri L. on Growth and Health of Fish

Phyllanthus niruri L. is one of the herbal ingredients that has been widely used to treat various diseases in humans such as intestinal infections, kidney stones, chronic liver disease, diabetes, hepatitis B, asthma, gonorrhea, bronchitis, syphilis and boost the immune system. The ability of P. niruri in overcoming various diseases is based on its phytochemical content and pharmacological properties. Based on these properties, the plant may possibly be used as a drug to treat diseases in fish. So the purpose of writing this article is to review the extent to which P. niruri can be used as an alternative medicine to treat disease and maintain fish health. Secondary metabolites and phyllanthine as specific compounds present in P. niruri have antibacterial effects for types of bacteria that usually attack fish such as Aeromonas hydrophila, Edwardsiella tarda, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In addition, it has the effect of being an antioxidant, immunostimulant and can be used for treatment and to increase fish growth. So it can be concluded that P. niruri can be used as an alternative material to maintain health and help fish growth.