Determination of Fruit Cracking Rates in Some Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) Genotypes Growed Non-Irrigated Conditions

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is a tropical and subtropical climate plant with high economic value and nutritional content. Having valuable phytochemicals in terms of health caused an increase in demand for pomegranate consumption and this situation accelerated pomegranate production. However, global warming and climate changes are among the factors limiting the production of pomegranate. Especially abiotic stress factors caused by adverse ecological conditions cause significant economic losses in pomegranate production. Drought stress, which is one of these negativities, causes fruit cracking problem, which is one of the important problems in pomegranate production. Minimizing the fruit cracking problem, which causes economic losses, is possible by breeding varieties that are resistant to under non-irrigated conditions. Determining the resistance of the cultivars to be used in breeding programs against fruit cracking will allow the development of elite cultivars. For this purpose, it was aimed to determine the fruit cracking rates of 30 different pomegranate genotypes in the Pomegranate Genetic Collection of Çukurova University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Horticulture, under non-irrigated conditions. A correlation was made between the cracking rates of the genotypes and the amount of soluble solids content (SSC). According to the correlation analysis between the cultivars, there is no statistically significant difference between the SSC and the cracking rate. However, a weak negative correlation was determined between SSC-cracking rate (-0,1132). In the light of the pomological data obtained, it was determined that 8 pomegranate genotypes grown under non-irrigated conditions had a fruit cracking rate of 40 % - 85 %, cracking rates were below 10 % in 8 pomegranate genotypes and no fruit cracking was observed in 6 genotypes. As a result of the analysis, it was observed that drought stress was effective on the fruit cracking rate or the exacerbation of the fruit cracking rate, but the resistance level of some genotypes against the fruit cracking problem was high.

Recent Advances of the Medicinal Plant Compound for Combating Pneumonia Disease: A Review

Bacteria, influenza, parasites and fungi are pathogenic microorganisms that cause infectious diseases. Diseases can spread from one individual to another, either directly or indirectly. Infectious diseases are world’s second most common cause of death. Rainforest plants provide about quarter of drugs we need. Scientific research has been carried out on few medicinal plants, but only to small degree. Bacterial susceptibility to currently active antibiotics has necessitated discovery of new antibacterial agents. Several plants are widely used as herbal medicine for treatment of infectious diseases in rural and backward areas of India. This chapter looks over the publications on medicinal plants that are used to cure diseases like malaria, pneumonia. Traditional medicine is preferred primary health care system in many rural areas for variety of reasons, including its affordability and efficacy. The current study focused on existing medicinal plant literature, with ethnobotany, phytochemistry and pharmacology details being highlighted. All of examined plants showed potent action, supporting their conventional uses as well as their ability to cure common diseases. Curcuma longa L., Punica granatum L. and Justicia adhatoda L. were most widely used plant families for pneumonia therapy in research area (each with seven plants); of these, Curcuma longa L., Punica granatum L. and Justicia adhatoda L. had most inhibiting ability against Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae. Ascorbic acid, curcumin, vasicine, piperine, quercetin, myricetin and gallic acid have all been derived from these plants and are said to have antibacterial properties. Although Himalayan region has wide range of ethnomedicinal plants used to treat pneumonia, research on in-vivo activity, toxicology, and mechanism of action is minimal. As result, in order to produce novel antibacterial drugs from studied plant species, thorough study of these aspects is needed.

Analisis Aktivitas Antioksidan Pada Sediaan Masker Wajah Kulit Buah Delima Merah (Punica Granatum L.) Melalui Reaksi Antara Ekstraknya Dengan 1,1-Difenil-2-Pikrilhidrazil (DPPH) Dan Tinjauannya Menurut Pandangan Islam

Latar Belakang: Senyawa radikal bebas sering kita jumpai pada kehidupan sehari-hari yang dapat berdampak buruk terhadap kulit. Antioksidan dibutuhkan untuk meredam senyawa radikal bebas terhadap kulit. Buah delima merah merupakan buah yang terdapat dalam Al-Qur’an dengan antoksidan berupa flavonoida, asam fenolat dan tanin. Penuaan kulit dapat dicegah dengan menggunakan masker wajah yang mengandung antioksidan. Tujuan: Mengetahui aktivitas antioksidan pada kulit delima merah dalam bentuk masker wajah bubuk melalui reaksi antara ekstraknya dan mengetahui tinjauannya menurut pandangan Islam terhadap kulit buah delima merah yang diolah menjadi masker wajah dan diuji aktivitas antioksidannya dengan metode DPPH. Metode: Kulit delima merah dikeringkan, kemudian digerus dengan blender agar mendapatkan bubuk kulit delima merah. Bubuk kulit delima merah yang telah diperoleh direndam dengan etanol 70%, lalu disaring dan filtratnya dipekatkan menggunakan vacuum rotary evaporator sehingga didapatkan ekstrak kental yang selanjutnya dikeringkan dengan menggunakan oven sehingga didapatkan ekstrak bubuk kulit delima merah. Penetapan aktivitas antioksidan ini dilakukan melalui pendekatan pengukurannya terhadap ekstraknya karena masker wajah yang merupakan bubuk kulit delima merah tidak dapat ditetapkan dengan metode DPPH. Hasil: Aktivitas antioksidan dinyatakan dengan nilai IC50 pada kulit delima merah yang dijadikan masker wajah bubuk mempunyai nilai IC­­50 sebesar 8,33 ppm sedangkan asam askorbat sebagai kontrol positif memiliki nilai IC­­50 sebesar 2,98 ppm. Kesimpulan: Ekstrak kulit delima merah mempunyai aktivitas antioksidan dan termasuk kategori antioksidan yang sangat kuat dan penelitian ini sejalan dengan perintah Allah SWT yang menyarankan umatnya untuk menjaga kesehatan dan kecantikan diri.

Purification and Characterization of Superoxide Dismutase Enzyme from Punica granatum L.

Superoxide dismutase (SOD) constitutes a very important antioxidant defense against oxidative stress in the body. SOD is found aplenty in many organisms, from microorganisms to plants and animals. Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) peels and fruits have been used in traditional medicine. In this study, SOD (E.C 1.15.1.1) was purified from Punica granatum L. For this purpose, Punica granatum L. was homogenized centrifuged, fractioned with ammonium sulfate to precipitate, and then DEAE chromatography separation was applied. Punica granatum L. was purified 16.60-fold. SOD enzyme-specific activity was found as 166 U/mg protein.

In Vitro Evaluation of Biological Activities and Phytochemical Analysis of Different Solvent Extracts of Punica granatum L. (Pomegranate) Peels

Antimicrobial resistance is a public health concern resulting in high rates of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Furthermore, a high incidence of food poisoning diseases besides harmful implications of applying synthetic food additives in food preservation necessitates fabrication of safe food preservatives. Additionally, damaging effects of free radicals on human health has been reported to be involved in the incidence of serious diseases, including cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases; hence, finding safe sources of antioxidants is vital. Therefore, the present study was carried out to assess the antibacterial, antiradical and carcinopreventive efficacy of different solvent extracts of pomegranate peels. Agar disk diffusion assay revealed that Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA, E. coli and S. typhimurium were highly susceptible to methanolic fraction of Punica granatum L. peels recording inhibition zones of 23.7, 21.8, 15.6 and 14.7 mm respectively. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the methanolic fraction of Punica granatum L. peels against S. aureus were 0.125 and 0.250 mg/mL, respectively. In addition, the pomegranate acetonic and methanolic fractions revealed an impressive antiradical efficiency against DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radical recording radical scavenging activity percentages of 86.9 and 79.4%, respectively. In this regard, the acetonic fraction of pomegranate peels revealed the highest anti-proliferative efficiency after 48 h incubation against MCF7 cancer cells recording IC50 of 8.15 µg/mL, while the methanolic extract was highly selective against transformed cancer cells compared to normal cell line recording selectivity index of 5.93. GC–MS results demonstrated that 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural was the main active component of methanolic and acetonic extracts of pomegranate peels recording relative percentages of 37.55 and 28.84% respectively. The study recommends application of pomegranate peel extracts in the biofabrication of safe food preservatives, antioxidants and carcinopreventive agents.

DECOCTION OF POMEGRANATE (PUNICA GRANATUM L.) PEEL AS AN ANTHELMINTIC AGAINST TAENIA SAGINATA

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the anthelmintic activity of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) peel decoction against Taenia saginata. Methods: The in vitro assay was conducted by observing the motility of T. saginata, which is isolated from cattle’s gastrointestinal tract, in various concentrations of pomegranate peel decoction with albendazole as a positive control. Results: The results showed that the anthelmintic activity was dependent on decoction concentration and the duration of contact between decoction and nematode. Decoction at moderate concentration causes paralysis, while high concentration causes death. The 75% and 100% pomegranate peel decoction started to cause death at 240 min and 150 min after contact with T. saginata. Conclusion: It was concluded that pomegranate peel decoction has anthelmintic activity.

ANTIDIARRHEAL ACTIVITY TEST OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF WHITE POMEGRANATE PEEL (PUNICA GRANATUM L.) IN MALE WHITE MICE (MUS MUSCULUS), SWISS WEBSTER LINE USING THE INTESTINAL TRANSIT METHOD

Objective: Diarrheal disease and its complications remain a major cause of morbidity and mortality in children, especially in developing countries. It is usually a symptom of an infection in the intestinal tract, which can be caused by a variety of bacterial, viral, parasitic or organisms. The purpose of this study was to determine the activity and dose of white pomegranate peel (Punica granatum L.) ethanol extract as an antidiarrheal in white male mice using the intestinal transit method. Methods: Mice were grouped into 5 groups: negative control (Na CMC 1 %), positive control (loperamide HCl 0.0104 mg/20 g mice BW), and pomegranate peel ethanol extract test group 1, 2, and 3 (dose of 16, 32, and 64 mg/20 g mice BW). The length of the intestine that the ink marker traversed from the pylorus to the end (which is black) was measured using a ruler. Results: Based on statistical analysis, there were significant differences between all groups (<0.05). The highest antidiarrheal activity was in the ethanolic extract of pomegranate peel at a dose of 64 mg/20 g mice BW with an inhibition percentage of 36.44% and higher than the positive control (29.81%). The inhibition percentage was also resulted by dose 1 and 2 (12.46% and 29.53%, respectively). Conclusion: From these results show a correlation that the higher the extract dose, the higher the antidiarrheal potential.