Evaluation of Antioxidant Potential of Stem and Leaf Extracts of Himalayan Tinospora cordifolia Hook.f. & Thomson

Background: Medicinal plants are considered a rich source of ingredients, which can be used in drug development and synthesis. Tinospora cordifolia (Wild.) Hook.f. & Thomson, commonly known as guduchi, heart-leaved moonseed and giloya is a herbaceous vine of the family Menispermaceae, has several beneficial properties including antioxidant activity. Aim: The present study was carried out to analyze the antioxidant activity of leaf and stem extracts of Tinospora cordifolia by using DPPH (1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) and ABTS (2,2´-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)) free radical scavenging assays. Materials and Methods: Dried and powdered leaves and stem of T. cordifolia were extracted with methanol. Ascorbic acid was taken as standard. Total phenolic content was estimated by using Folin-ciocalteu's reagent while total flavonoid content by aluminium chloride reagent to find the correlation of polyphenols with antioxidant activity. ABTS assay of methanolic leaf and stem extracts showed the highest scavenging activity as compared to the DPPH assay. Results: Methanolic stem extract showed higher phenolic and flavonoid content along with antioxidant activity as compared to the methanolic leaf extract. Conclusion: The stem extract exhibited more antioxidant activity than the leaf extract with regards to the all parameters analyzed.

Drying Potential of Leaves Oil of Zanthoxylum armatum DC from North India

Background: The study on drying and its social acceptance has increased rapidly. Among different drying techniques, shade drying is one of the most feasible methods to keep intact from the decay of the main active components of the plant materials. Shade drying is an ancient drying method that increases durability, major constituents and activity of the plant material. Aims: Research was conducted to examine the drying potential of aromatic leaves oil of Zanthoxylum armatum DC. Methods: The fresh plant material was collected from Lohaghat, Champawat district of Uttarakhand and hydrodistilled before and after shade drying to assess the changes in the quality of volatile constituents by GC and GC-MS techniques. A two-tailed paired t-test was executed to assess the difference between drying treatments using MS-Excel. Results: The major components in the fresh oil were 2-undecane, linalool, (E)-β-ocimene, α-pinene and β-phellandrene. In the oil from dried material, the three predominant compounds were noted. A significant increase was observed in the percentage of β-phellandrene, undecanal and myrcene after shade drying (p<0.01). Five components absent in the fresh plant material appeared and one disappeared during the drying process. Conclusion: Shade drying significantly influenced the essential oil composition of Z. armatum.

Chemical and Antibacterial Activity Evaluation of Alpinia calcarata and Alpinia zerumbet Grown in Foothills Agroclimatic Conditions of Northern India

Background: The member of the genus Alpinia (family: Zingiberaceae) is used in traditional medicine for various formulations for the food, spices, medicines, and perfume. Objective: The present study was carried out to analyse the compositional variability in leaf and rhizome essential oils of Alpinia calcarata Roscoe and Alpinia zerumbet (Pers.) B.L. Burtt & R.M. Sm. and to evaluate their antimicrobial activity against eight pathogenic bacteria strains. Methods: The essential oils were extracted by hydrodistillation and analysed by GC and GC-MS and the antibacterial activity was evaluated by filter paper disc diffusion and micro dilution broth assay. Results: A total of 31 compounds identified, forming 89.26-94.32% composition of A. calcarata and A. zerumbet. The leaf and rhizome oil of A. calcarata and A. zerumbet were mainly characterized by 1,8-cineole (15.61-43.63%), β-pinene (5.02-23.52%), terpinen-4-ol (1.00-20.87%), camphor (1.94-11.60%), and (Z)-β-ocimene (0.16-11.86%). endo-Fenchyl acetate (13.12-24.39%) was identified as marker constituents of rhizome essential oil of both A. calcarata and A. zerumbet. The antibacterial assay showed that leaf oil of A. calcarata has good activity against S. mutans, whereas its rhizome oil possess good activity against K. pneumoniae, E. coli, S. aureus, and S. epidermidis. However, the rhizome oil of A. zerumbet showed activity against S. mutans, B. subtilisS. aureus-2940 and S. epidermidis. Conclusion: The essential oils of A. calcarata and A. zerumbet with aroma chemicals viz. 1,8-cineole, ocimenes, terpinen-4-ol, α-pinene, β-pinenes and fenchyl acetate and significant antibacterial activities could be used for perfumery and fragrance related formulation.

Cytotoxic Activity-Guided Isolation from Achillea monocephala, and Biological Activities of its Different Extracts

Background: The genus Achillea is one of the most important genus of the Asteraceae family and many species of Achillea are used in traditional medicine to treat several ailments. Aim: The aim of the current research was to evaluate in vitro cytotoxic activities of n-hexan, chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts and to isolate the active compounds from the extract showing the strongest cytotoxic activity. In addition to this, it was aimed to evaluate the biological activities (cytotoxic, antioxidant, anti-urease, anticholinesterase, antimicrobial) of different extracts and active compounds from Achillea monocephala. Methods and Materials: The in vitro antioxidant, cytotoxic, anti-urease, anticholinesterase and antimicrobial activities of different extracts from A. monocephala aerial parts were examined. The structures of the active compounds were determined by NMR techniques, UV, IR and LC-MS/MS analysis and their biological potential was examined. Results: The chloroform extract showed strong and selective cytotoxic activity on the cancer cell lines (MDA-MB-231, MCF-7). Besides, this extract exhibited stronger antimicrobial activity than other extracts. Therefore, through activity-guided procedures, luteolin, naringenin and 8-hydroxy-salvigenin compounds were isolated from this extract. The methanol extract showed stronger antioxidant (DPPH, ABTS, CUPRAC) and anticholinesterase activity than other extracts. The n-hexan extract exhibited the highest anti-urease activity. In this study, it was determined that the isolated compounds had a strong biological activity. Naringenin compound had stronger ABTS radical cation scavenging and ferric reducing/antioxidant power, cytotoxic and antimicrobial activity than other compounds. 8-hydroxy-salvigenin compound showed the highest urease and acetylcholinestease enzyme inhibition. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that the extracts and isolated compounds from the A. monocephala may be used as antioxidant, cytotoxic, anti-urease, anticholinesterase and antimicrobial agents in the future.

Phytochemicals from Citrus Limon Juice as Potential Antibacterial Agents

Background: Citrus limon (lemon) belongs to the Rutaceae family and has great therapeutic applications. The chemical ingredients of C. limon have been used in the formulation of several ethnic herbal medicines. The application of antibiotics has shown the development of drug resistance in antibacterial drugs. Due to the drug-resistant nature of microorganisms, there is an urgent need to develop a novel drug active against wildtype and MDR resistant strains of pathogens. Aim: The present study is an endeavor to characterize the juice of C. limon towards its total antioxidants potential activity (FRAP), DPPH and antibacterial efficacy. Methods and Materials: The antimicrobial activity was evaluated using different bacterial species such as Salmonella typhi, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Citrobacter species, Shigella flexneri and Staphylococcus epidermidis. Results: The results of the present study indicated the antibacterial potential of C. limon fruit juice. Among the tested bacterial species, Shigella flexneri displayed maximum inhibition followed by the other microbes such as Staphylococcus epidermidis, Citrobacter species and Salmonella typhi. Conclusion: These findings may be utilized in the development of cost effective, safe and efficient novel drugs active against several pathogenic multi drug-resistant microorganisms.

Analysis of Raspberry Ketone in Nutraceutical Formulation Using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrophotometric Method

Aims: A Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectrometric method was developed for the rapid, direct measurement of Raspberry Ketone (RK) and Caffeine (CAF) in a nutraceutical formulation. Methods: Conventional KBr-spectra and KBr+0.5 mg Microcrystalline Cellulose (MCC)-spectra were used as the basis for a better determination of active substances in the nutraceutical formulation. A calibration model was developed using caffeine and raspberry ketone standards of varying concentrations in the mid-infrared region (4000-400 cm-1). The Beer-Lambert law was used in data processing. Results: The results indicate that FT-IR spectrometry is applicable to the analytical quantification of RK and CAF in the nutraceutical formulation. Conclusion: The method proposed is simple, precise and not time-consuming compared to the chromatographic methods that are cited in the literature. Quantification is performed in about 10-15 minutes, including sample preparation and spectral acquisition.

Harpin Proteins Improve Bioactive Compounds Content in Crimson Seedless Table Grape

Background: Frequently, in warm climates such as Mediterranean areas, a red-pink table grape ‘Crimson Seedless’ does not reach a good berry skin color; and an acceptable anthocyanin bioactive compounds content, responsible for the red color of berries. Harpin proteins are biotechnologically developed bio-activators that, if applied on plants during the growing period, trigger the expression of hundreds of genes among which those associated with the biosynthesis of bioactive compounds (such as anthocyanins). Aim: This research aimed at using harpin proteins to test their suitability in improving the grape skin color. Methods and Materials: Beta-harpin protein 1% p.a. (400 g/Ha) was applied to ‘Crimson Seedless’ vines three times at the beginning of veraison. Six samplings were carried out for both the treated and control grapes until commercial harvest. In the skin extracts, total and individual anthocyanins content was determined by UV-Vis and RP-HPLC-DAD analyses, respectively. Results: The collected results confirmed that the application of harpin proteins effectively stimulated the anthocyanin biosynthesis leading to make peonidin-3O-glucoside, cyanidin-3O-glucoside, and malvidin-3O-glucoside values from 2 to almost 10 folds higher in treated grapes than in control grapes (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Actually, harpin proteins improved the color of the berry skin, leading to a significantly higher concentration of anthocyanins in treated than in control grapes.

Preparation, Characterization and Antimicrobial Activity of Schiff Base of (E) - N - (4-(Thiophen-2-ylmethyleneamino) Phenylsulfonyl) Acetamide Metal Complexes

Aim:Metal complexes of (E)-N-(4-(thiophen-2-ylmethyleneamino) phenylsulfonyl) acetamide (S.TH) Schiff bases derived from sulfacetamide (N-[4-(amino-phenyl) sulfonil] acetamide) and 2-thiophenecarboxaldehyde were synthesized and characterized.Methods and Results:The synthesized compositions have been characterized using different physico-chemical techniques. The investigation included elemental analysis, melting point measurements, proton NMR, UV spectroscopy, FT-IR, magnetic susceptibility, conductance measurements, mass spectral analysis, and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for determining the concentrations of metal ions. The measured values for molar conductance indicated that the majority of the prepared complexes were nonelectrolytes. The biological activity of the prepared compositions has been investigated.Conclusion:Spectroscopic studies suggested that most of the complexes were coordinated in a regular octahedral arrangement where S.TH ligand and the central metal atom were coordinated through two N amino azomethine groups (−HC=N−) and two sulfur atoms of S thiophene rings in 2L:1M molar ratio. Complexes have shown a promising activity upon screening for the antibacterial characteristics, and antifungal (Aspergillus fumigatesandCandida albicans)

High Value-Added Biomolecules from Beach Waste of Marine Origin-Screening for Potential Candidates among Seagrass of the Cymodoceaceae Family

Background: Detrital leaves from seagrass of the Cymodoceaceae family were assayed for biologically active molecules that have commercial as well as societal benefits. Objective: We focused on L-chiro-inositol, a very rare natural occurring cyclitol, and chicoric acid, a polyphenolic compound, in which both applications were found in the nutraceutical segment. Method: Six species of seagrass belonging to the genera Syringodium, Cymodocea and Halodule were collected from their native habitat. The L-chiro-inositol content of the crude aqueous extracts prepared from different batches of Cymodocea nodosa flotsam was measured by quantitative 1H-NMR spectroscopy. High concentrations were found with values ranging from 22.2 to 35.0 mg.g-1 plant dw. The presence of L-chiro-inositol in the tropical species C. rotundata, C. serrulata, Syringodium isoetifolium, and Halodule pinifolia was also characterized by qualitative NMR. The chicoric acid content of crude aqueous methanolic extracts prepared from C. rotundata, C. serrulata, S. isoetifolium, and Halodule pinifolia was determined by quantitative HPLC-DAD. The values found ranged from 0.39 to 6.15 mg.g-1 dry weight. Chicoric acid was unambiguously identified as the major phenolic in S. isoetifolium, and Halodule pinifolia, while it was found in mixture with flavonol derivatives in C. rotundata and C. serrulata. Flavonol derivatives are also of interest for their bioactivity. Result: Considering the demonstrated therapeutic applications of L-chiro-inositol and chicoric acid, their high value on the nutraceutical market, and their rare occurrence in the plant kingdom, their presence in Syringodium, Cymodocea and Halodule detrital leaves makes this abundant biomass of interest for dietary and pharmaceutical applications. Conclusion: These results show that there is a real potential for harvesting beachcast Cymodoceacea.