Quality Characteristics of Senior-Friendly Gelatin Gels Formulated with Hot Water Extract from Red Maple Leaf as a Novel Anthocyanin Source

The objectives of this study were to evaluate antioxidant capacity of hot water extract from red maple leaf with different extraction times (experiment I) and to determine their impacts on color, free anthocyanin content, and hardness of gelatin gels (experiment II). In experiment I, hot water extraction time (30, 60, 120, 180, and 360 min at 60 °C) was fixed as a main effect. The different extraction times had no impacts on total polyphenol content and DPPH radical scavenging activity (p > 0.05). However, extraction time for 360 min could decrease anthocyanin content as well as ferric reducing antioxidant power (p < 0.05). In experiment II, 6%, 18%, and 30% gelatin gels were prepared without/with red maple leaf extract (1000 mg/L). The red maple leaf extract significantly increased redness, yellowness, and hardness, but decreased free anthocyanin content. Such impacts were obviously observed at high gelatin concentration. Thus, red maple leaf extract could be a novel anthocyanin source for improving antioxidant capacity and reddish color of gelatin gels. However, the addition amount of red maple leaf extract may be limited in the development of senior-friendly jelly food for soft texture in that it could increase the hardness of the gelatin gel.

Vaccinium virgatum Aiton Leaves Extract Suppressed Lipid Accumulation and Uric Acid Production in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes

Blueberry (Vaccinium virgatum Aiton; Kinisato 35 Gou) leaves have recently attracted increasing attention as a useful material for the prevention of lifestyle diseases. Here, we examined the effects of the hot water extract of blueberry leaves (BLEx) on lipogenesis and uric acid production in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. The results showed that BLEx suppressed lipid accumulation and the mRNA expression of differentiation markers in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. A fractionation study showed that the highly polymerized proanthocyanidin-rich fraction was responsible for this effect. Upon maturation to adipocytes, 3T3-L1 cells produced uric acid and tumor necrosis factor-α, and hypoxia stimulated the production of uric acid and xanthine oxidoreductase activity. BLEx suppressed the production of uric acid under these conditions. Although BLEx inhibited the enzymatic activity of xanthine oxidase, this activity was observed in several fractions containing catechin, epicatechin, chlorogenic acid, rutin, and low molecular weight proanthocyanidins. Taken together, these results indicate that BLEx contains various compounds with the ability to suppress lipid accumulation and uric acid production in adipocytes.

Study of The Effect of Hot Water Extract of Garlic and Pepper Plants, With Different Concentrations Saline Solution on The Mortalityon Parlatoria Blanchardi (Targioni-Tozzetti) on Date Palms

The scale insect Parlatoria blanchardi (Homoptera : Diaspdidae) is one of the important pests, that cause damage to all parts of the date palm in the central and southern governorates of Iraq, In order to reduce the negative effects of pesticides on the environment. Two types of hot water extracts, of Capsicum annuam and Alliu sativum, were used in the field at three concentrations of 5, 10 and 15 g/liter of water, in addition to the use of the saline solution in three concentrations of 15, 20 and 25 g/liter of water, to reduce the population density of P. blanchardi. The results showed that the plant extracts and the saline solution, had high efficiency in reducing the population density of P. blanchardi after one week of spraying, as the saline solution registered the best mortality of 100% at the three concentrations used and with a significant difference from A. sativum extract, which recorded the highest mortality of 80% for the insect at the concentration of 15 g/L and the lowest mortality was 56% over the concentration of 10 g/L, while the C. annuam extract recorded the highest mortality of 80% at a concentration of 15 g/L, and the lowest mortality at a concentration of 5 g/L was 55%.

Study of The Effect of Hot Water Extract of Some Plants on The Alfalfa Weevil Hypera Postica (Gyllenhal, 1813) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

The research was conducted in the laboratory of insects in the Faculty of Agriculture/the University of Muthanna about studying the effect of Hot water extract of the pomegranate peels, eucalyptus leaves and basil leaves in different stages (egg, larva, pupa and adult) for Alfalfa Weevil Hypera postica. The results showed that the pomegranate peel extract superiority the percentage of mortality in all the stages used in the experiment over the other plant extracts mentioned above, followed by eucalyptus leaf extract and then basil leaf extract, The results showed that the pomegranate peel extract was effective in controlling the larval stage of the insect, especially st and 2nd larvae instars in addition to the adult stage, the highest percentage of mortality in the larval stage of the insect at the first larval age was (60.0, 46.6 and 26.7%) For all extracts respectively at 1.5 mg/ml after 5 days of treatment. In the pupae stage the highest percentage of mortality was (16.7, 10.0 and 03.3%) at the concentration of 1.5 mg/ml For all extracts respectively. while the effectiveness was very weak in controlling of the eggs and pupa of insect and all extracts. where the highest percentage of mortality in the eggs was at 1.5 mg/ml. It was (20.0, 10.0 and 03.3%) respectively after 7 days of treatment. While The highest mortality rate in adult was (53.3, 40.0 and 16.7%) At 1.5mg/ml for all extracts respectively compared with control treatment (00.0%) for all the insect stages. The plant extracts used in the experiment at a concentration of 0.5 mg/ml did not show any effect on the rates of insect death after a day of treatment and for all stages that reaching (00.0%).

Anti-Obesity Effect of Hot Water Extract of Barley Sprout through the Inhibition of Adipocyte Differentiation and Growth

Barley sprouts are known to have several effective physiological activities. In this study, the anti-obesity effect of a barley sprout hot water extract (BSE) was confirmed. Saponarin was quantitatively analyzed in BSE using HPLC, and the inhibitory effect on 3T3-L1 pre-adipocyte differentiation into adipocytes was confirmed by Oil Red O staining, TG assay, and Western blotting. In addition, the inhibitory effect of BSE on adipocyte growth was confirmed through glucose uptake and lipolysis of adipocytes. C57/BL/6N mice were induced to obesity with a high-fat diet, and BSE was administered to confirm the effect on an animal model. Weight gain, morphological changes in adipose tissue, changes in the food efficiency ratio, and blood biochemical changes were observed, and an improvement effect on fatty liver was confirmed. As a result, the anti-obesity effect of BSE was confirmed in vitro, and it was confirmed that this effect was also effective in vivo and that it could be helpful in the treatment of obesity-related diseases.

Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. Hot Water Extract Reverses High-Fat Diet-Induced Lipid Metabolism of White and Brown Adipose Tissues in Obese Mice

The purpose of the present study was to determine whether an anti-obesity effect of a Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. hot water extract (PW) was involved in the lipid metabolism of white adipose tissue (WAT) and brown adipose tissue (BAT) in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced C57BL/6N obese mice. Mice freely received a normal diet (NCD) or an HFD for 12 weeks; HFD-fed mice were orally given PW (100 or 300 mg/kg) or garcinia cambogia (GC, 200 mg/kg) once a day. After 12 weeks, PW (300 mg/kg) or GC significantly alleviated adiposity by reducing body weight, WAT weights, and food efficiency ratio. PW (300 mg/kg) improved hyperinsulinemia and enhanced insulin sensitivity. In addition, PW (300 mg/kg) significantly down-regulated expression of carbohydrate-responsive element-binding protein (ChREBP) and diacylglycerol O-acyltransferase 2 (DGAT2) genes in WAT compared with the untreated HFD group. HFD increased BAT gene levels such as adrenoceptor beta 3 (ADRB3), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL), cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36), fatty acid-binding protein 4 (FABP4), PPARγ coactivator 1-α (PGC-1α), PPARα, and carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1B (CPT1B) compared with the NCD group; however, PW or GC effectively reversed those levels. These findings suggest that the anti-obesity activity of PW was mediated via suppression of lipogenesis in WAT, leading to the normalization of lipid metabolism in BAT.

Skin Antiaging Effects of the Fermented Outer Layers of Leaf Skin of Aloe barbadensis Miller Associated with the Enhancement of Mitochondrial Activities of UVb-Irradiated Human Skin Fibroblasts

This study is the first to show that increased mitochondrial activities improved the antiaging effects of Aloe vera leaf skin fermented by Lactobacillus plantarum on UVb-irradiated skin fibroblasts. The fermented extract (AF) increased the activities of mitochondrial reductase and the complex II and significantly reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, even under UVb stress conditions, and also increased DPPH free radical scavenging activities compared with the hot water extract of outer layers of aloe leaf (AW) and quercetin itself. AF exerted a synergistic effect with quercetin and bioactive substances derived from the fermentation process. Moreover, mitochondrial activation of UVb-irradiated human skin fibroblasts by 0.3% (w/v) of the AF plays important roles in increasing collagen production up to 125 ± 5.45% and decreasing MMP-1 secretion down to 69.41 ± 2.63% of the control levels. The AF enhanced the upregulation of collagen gene expression, and this change was also greater than those induced by the AW and quercetin. Therefore, this study concludes that fermentation of the skin of aloe leaves increases the activation of mitochondria and inhibits the photo-aging of UVb-irradiated skin fibroblasts.

Giloy (Tinospora Cordifolia): In Vitro Evaluation of Antibacterial Properties

Antibiotic resistance has become a global concern and hence, the search for other source of antimicrobials initiated to find a way to control infections in future. The main objective of this paper is to screen Giloy (Tinospora cordifolia) for its antibacterial activity. The stem of Tinospora cordifolia is used to prepare extract for determining it’s in vitro antibacterial activity as per the agar well diffusion method. In the agar well diffusion method 100μl of 24 hr broth culture of bacteria was aseptically and evenly swabbed on Mueller Hinton agar plates. Wells of about 8 mm diameter were aseptically cut using sterile cork-borer. 100 μl of plant extracts of different concentrations were then placed into the separate wells. The plates were incubated at 37 oC for 24hr. Antimicrobial activity of the giloy was determined by measuring the diameter of zone of inhibition. The methanolic extract of Tinospora cordifolia showed 13, 11, 9 and 5 mm zone of inhibition in S. aureus cultures by using 100, 75, 50 and 25 mg/ml concentration, respectively while hot water extract of Tinospora cordifolia showed 14, 12, 10 and 8 mm zone of inhibition for S. aureus by using 100, 75, 50 and 25 mg/ml concentration, respectively and the cold extract of Tinospora cordifolia showed 10, 8, 5 and 0 mm zone of inhibition for S. aureus by using 100, 75, 50 and 25mg/ml concentration, respectively. The methanolic extract of Tinospora cordifolia indicated 12, 10, 6 and 4 mm zone of inhibition in cultures of E.coli by using 100, 75, 50 and 25 mg/ml concentration, respectively and the hot water extract of Tinospora cordifolia showed 16, 14, 12 and 10 mm zone of inhibition in cultures of E.coli by using 100, 75, 50 and 25mg/ml concentration, respectively. The cold water extract of Tinospora cordifolia showed 13, 10, 8, and 5 mm zone of inhibition in cultures of E.coli by using 100, 75, 50 and 25 mg/ml concentration, respectively. It has been observed that Tinospora cordifolia showed very promising results as indicated by the zone of inhibition of bacterial culture through agar well diffusion method that varies from few mm to few cm. This study indicates the in-vitro antibacterial effect of Giloy which needs further validation through in-vivo studies.