Augustine Amalraj

Biological activities of curcuminoids, other biomolecules from turmeric and their derivatives – A review

In recent years, several drugs have been developed deriving from traditional products and current drug research is actively investigating the possible therapeutic roles of many Ayruvedic and Traditional Indian medicinal therapies. Among those being investigated is Turmeric. Its most important active ingredient is curcuminoids. Curcuminoids are phenolic compounds commonly used as a spice, pigment and additive also utilized as a therapeutic agent used in several foods. Comprehensive research over the last century has revealed several important functions of curcuminoids. Various preclinical cell culture and animals studies suggest that curcuminoids have extensive biological activity as an antioxidant, neuroprotective, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, anti-acidogenic, radioprotective and arthritis. Different clinical trials also suggest a potential therapeutic role for curcuminoids in numerous chronic diseases such as colon cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, inflammatory bowel diseases. The aim of this review is to summarize the chemistry, analog, metal complex, formulations of curcuminoids and their biological activities.

Bioavailability of calcium and its absorption inhibitors in raw and cooked green leafy vegetables commonly consumed in India--an in vitro study.

The objectives of this research were to assess the bioavailability of calcium using equilibrium dialysis after simulated gastric digestion method in 20 commonly consumed green leafy vegetables (GLVs) from the typical Indian diet, provide data on the content of calcium absorption inhibitors, like oxalate, phytate, tannin and dietary fibres, and evaluate the inhibitory effect of these compounds on calcium bioavailability in raw and cooked GLVs. Cooking did not affect significantly calcium bioavailability in any GLVs. Sesbania grandiflora had a very high content of total oxalates, tannins and dietary fibers, which reduced calcium bioavailability. Calcium content was determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy, oxalate by titrimetry, phytate and tannin by colorimetric and dietary fibres by an enzymatic gravimetric method. Chenopodium album, Alternanthera philoxeroides and Centella asiatica, with lower total calcium content, had nearly twice as much bioavailable calcium than other GLVs, because of low fibres, oxalate, phytate and tannin content.

Medicinal properties of Terminalia arjuna (Roxb.) Wight & Arn.: A review

Medicinal plants have been a main source of therapeutic agents from ancient time to cure diseases. Terminalia arjuna (Roxb.) Wight & Arn. (T. arjuna) is one of the most accepted and beneficial medicinal plants in indigenous system of medicine for the treatment of various critical diseases. This comprehensive review provides various aspects of its ethnomedical, phytochemical, pharmacognostical, pharmacological and clinical significance to different diseases particularly in cardiovascular conditions. This plant has a good safety outline when used in combination with other conventional drugs. This review highlights various medicinal properties of T. arjuna through different studies such as antioxidant, hypotensive, anti-atherogenic, anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic, anti-mutagenic and gastro-productive effect.

Effective Drug Delivery System of Biopolymers Based On Nanomaterialsand Hydrogels - A Review

Design and synthesis of well-ordered drug delivery systems are very important for medicinal and pharmaceutical and health care. Innovations of materials through nanotechnology and hydrogels have synergistically energized the growth of drug delivery. Uniqueness in material chemistry permits the creation of environmentally approachable, biocompatible, biodegradable and targeted drug delivery system. Large numbers of biopolymers have been examined for the design of drug delivery systems. Structure, size, shape and multi-functionality of drug delivery system can be controlled by the nanotechnology combined with biopolymer. Hydrogels have also been investigated as smart delivery systems capable to release, at the appropriate time and site of action, entrapped drugs in response to specific physiological triggers. This review mainly focuses on drug delivery applications of nanoparticles modified biopolymers and effective drug delivery system of biopolymer network based on hydrogels.

Preparation, characterization and anti-colitis activity of curcumin-asafoetida complex encapsulated in turmeric nanofiber

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a main form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Asafoetida (ASF) and turmeric have traditionally been used for the treatment of various inflammatory diseases, including UC, because ASF is rich in sulfur compounds and turmeric contains curcumin (CUR). Turmeric nanofiber (TNF), the modified cell wall component of turmeric is considered to play important role in the human diet, health and can be used as a carrier agent to encapsulate bioactive components. A novel gut health product (GHP) was formulated by encapsulation of ASF and CUR complex onto TNF. The GHP was characterized by UPLC, GC-MS, FTIR, XRD, SEM with EDS and DSC studies. GHP was evaluated for anti-colitis activity in a rat model of 5% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) induced UC. Treatment with GHP significantly attenuated the disease activity index, colitis score, histopathological changes and myeloperoxidase activity. GHP has significant protective effects against DSS induced colitis.

Preparation of a novel bioavailable curcuminoid formulation (Cureit™) using Polar-Nonpolar-Sandwich (PNS) technology and its characterization and applications

Health benefits of curcuminoid are highly limited due to their poor aqueous solubility, very low systemic bioavailability, fast metabolic alterations and rapid elimination. In this study, a novel bioavailable curcuminoid formulation Cureit™ was prepared by using Polar-Nonpolar-Sandwich (PNS) technology with complete natural turmeric matrix (CNTM). The synthesized bioavailable curcuminoid formulation Cureit™ was characterizations by Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infra-red (IR), current-voltage (I-V) study, Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (Q-TOF), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). NMR study showed the presence of hydrogen bonding interactions with curcuminoids, polar and non-polar compounds in the PNS technology. SEM images indicated that Cureit™ was almost spherical and well dispersed with rough morphology, and separated with three layers of PNS formulation. The chemical profile of Cureit™ was analyzed by Q-TOF confirmed the presence of curcuminoids (curcumin, demethoxycurcumin and bismethoxycurcumin), lactones, sesquiterpenes and their derivatives derived from polar layer, aromatic turmerone, dihydroturmerone, turmeronol, curdione and bisacurone derived from non-polar layer. IR, XRD, DSC and TGA also confirmed the presence of curcuminoids with high stability in the PNS formulation. Various biological activities of Cureit™ were also discussed.

Biological activities and medicinal properties of Asafoetida: A review

Ferula asafoetida Linn. is a main source of asafoetida, a strong, tenacious and sulfurous odor, and oleo-gum resin of medicinal and nutritional importance. Asafoetida has been consumed as a spice and a folk medicine for centuries. Recent studies have shown several promising activities particularly relaxant, neuroprotective, memory enhancing, digestive enzyme, antioxidant, antispasmodic, hypotensive, hepatoprotective, antimicrobial, anticarcinogenic, anticancer, anticytotoxicity, antiobesity, anthelmintic and antagonistic effect. This review effectively deals with phytochemistry and various pharmacological and clinical studies of asafoetida.

Removal of Selected Basic Dyes using Activated Carbon from Tannery Wastes

Activated carbon prepared from tannery leather waste (TLW-AC) has been studied for its efficiency of removal of basic dyes, namely rhodamine B (RB), methylene blue (MB), and malachite green (MG) from aqueous solutions. Factors influencing dye adsorption such as the concentration of dye, pH, contact time, and temperature were investigated. The adsorption was found to be strongly dependent on the pH and temperature. The maximum sorption capacity of RB was obtained at pH 3 and for MB and MG was obtained at pH 11. Various thermodynamic parameters such as ΔG°, ΔH°, and ΔS° were calculated. The kinetic studies reveal that the adsorption process follows the pseudo second-order kinetic model. The equilibrium data have been well-described by the Langmuir and Freundlich models, and the data fitted well in both model equations. The study revealed that wastes from leather industry is an economically viable option for dye removal.

Turmeric nanofiber-encapsulated natural product formulation act as a phytogenic feed additive—A study in broilers on growth performance, biochemical indices of blood, and E. coli in cecum

ABSTRACT A phytogenic feed additive (PFA) formulation was prepared with bioactive molecules—curcuminoids, gingerol, and carvacrol by encapsulating in nanofiber isolated from turmeric spent (turmeric nanofiber, TNF). This formulation was completely characterized by scanning electron microscope, ultra performance liquid chromatography, and gas chromatography and evaluated for its efficacy. PFA-encapsulated TNF (PFA@TNF) considerably increased mean body weight, decreased cholesterol level, mortality rate, and reduced Escherichia coli content of broilers than antibiotic growth promoter (AGP). The depth of crypts in the ileum of broilers was considerably reduced by the inclusion of PFA@TNF in diets compared with the AGP. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Preparation, characterization and in vitro study of liposomal curcumin powder by cost effective nanofiber weaving technology

Liposomes can facilitate the incorporation of both hydrophilic and hydrophobic molecules into nutraceutical products through a constructive impact on their stability, drug delivery and bioavailability. Liposomal products are mostly available in a liquid/suspension form, because phospholipids are stabilized by a water-in-oil emulsion as a vehicle-like compartment for encapsulation. Although, they have low stability due to the randomness of bilayer folding of phospholipids in the presence of water typically leading to non-uniform formation in both shape and size. In this study, a powder form of the phospholipid vehicle was formulated with a nanofiber fabrication via nanofiber weaving (NFW) technology by high pressure homogenization and removal of water through a spray drying process. We designed and developed a liposomal curcumin powder (LCP) based on NFW technology to enhance the bioavailability of curcumin and improve the stability of LCP. The encapsulation efficiency, loading capacity, in vitro release and DPPH activity revealed that LCP could be a promising drug delivery system for curcumin due to the use of NFW technology.