Bratati De

Pharmacognostic Evaluation of Phyllanthus amarus

AbstractPhyllanthus amarus (Euphorbiaceae), an Ayurvedic plant is used in many problems of stomach, genito-urinary system, liver and kidney. The plant is often admixed with different small herbs and also with medicinally less important related species. An attempt has been made to distinguish the plant from other herbs on the basis of macromorphology, micromorphology, histochemical study and physical pharmacognostic study.

Effect of Acacia catechu (L.f.) Willd. on Oxidative Stress with Possible Implications in Alleviating Selected Cognitive Disorders

In human body, several categories of degenerative processes are largely determined by free radicals originating in cell. Free radicals are also known to have correlated with a variety of cognitive disorders (CDs) resulting in neuronal injury and eventually to death. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinsons disease (PD) are such kind of killer CDs that occur due to dysfunction of cholinergic and dopaminergic neurons. Plant parts of Ginkgo biloba, Bacopa monnieri etc. are being used for the treatment of cognitive disorders in several countries. The present study was aimed to explore the detailed antioxidant and anti-cholinesterase activity of Acaciacatechu leaf (ACL) over CDs. Gas chromatography-Mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) analysis and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) were employed to identify the bioactive components present in ACL. Furthermore, the extract was evaluated to check the cytotoxic effects of ACL on normal cells. Amongst several antioxidant assays, DPPH assay, hydroxyl radical, nitric oxide radical and hypochlorous acid inhibitory activities were found to be greater in ACL than that of the respective standards while other assays exhibited a moderate or at per inhibitory activity with standards. Total phenolic and flavonoid content were also found to be present in decent amount. In addition, we found, a greater acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity of ACL when compared to other medicinally important plants, indicating its positive effect over CDs. Forty one bioactive components were explored through GC-MS. Of these, gallic acid, epicatechin, catechin, isoquercitrin etc. were found, which are potent antioxidant and a few of them have anti-neurodegenerative properties. Eventually, ACL was found to be nontoxic and safer to consume. Further studies with animal or human model however, would determine its efficacy as a potential anti-schizophrenic drug.

In Vitro Inhibition of Key Enzymes Related to Diabetes by the Aqueous Extracts of Some Fruits of West Bengal, India

Aqueous extracts of different seasonal as well as less popular but edible indigenous fruits of West Bengal, India were studied for their α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibitory properties. Of the 22 different species of fruits, sixteen fruits inhibited both the carbohydrate digesting enzymes. Concentrations of the extracts are presented as fresh weight of fruit used to make extract / ml. Very high α-amylase (IC50 value = 5.0 μg/ml) and α-glucosidase (IC50 value = 9.0 μg/ml) inhibitory activity was shown by extracts of Phoenix sylvestris. Achras sapota also showed high α-amylase (IC50 value = 53.0 μg/ml) and α-glucosidase (IC50 value = 56.0 μg/ml) inhibitory activities. During the present study, no correlation could be established between total phenol / flavonoid content and α-amylase / α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. Unweighted pair-group average (UPGA) dendrogram showing interrelationships between the investigated species shows that the fruits can be grouped into two high level clusters. The cluster I brought together Borassus flabellifer and Physalis peruviana having very low α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. The cluster II included fruits with moderate to high α- glucosidase inhibitory activity.

Sansevieria roxburghiana Schult. & Schult. F. (Family: Asparagaceae) Attenuates Type 2 Diabetes and Its Associated Cardiomyopathy

Background Sansevieria roxburghiana Schult. & Schult. F. (Family: Asparagaceae) rhizome has been claimed to possess antidiabetic activity in the ethno-medicinal literature in India. Therefore, present experiments were carried out to explore the protective role of edible (aqueous) extract of S. roxburghiana rhizome (SR) against experimentally induced type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and its associated cardiomyopathy in Wistar rats. Methods SR was chemically characterized by GC-MS analysis. Antidiabetic activity of SR (50 and 100 mg/kg, orally) was measured in high fat diets (ad libitum) + low-single dose of streptozotocin (35 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) induced type 2 diabetic (T2D) rat. Fasting blood glucose level was measured at specific intermissions. Serum biochemical and inflammatory markers were estimated after sacrificing the animals. Besides, myocardial redox status, expressions of signal proteins (NF-κB and PKCs), histological and ultrastructural studies of heart were performed in the controls and SR treated T2D rats. Results Phytochemical screening of the crude extract revealed the presence of phenolic compounds, sugar alcohols, sterols, amino acids, saturated fatty acids within SR. T2D rats exhibited significantly (p < 0.01) higher fasting blood glucose level with respect to control. Alteration in serum lipid profile (p < 0.01) and increased levels of lactate dehydrogenase (p < 0.01) and creatine kinase (p < 0.01) in the sera revealed the occurrence of hyperlipidemia and cell destruction in T2D rats. T2DM caused significant (p < 0.05–0.01) alteration in the biochemical markers in the sera. T2DM altered the redox status (p < 0.05–0.01), decreased (p < 0.01) the intracellular NAD and ATP concentrations in the myocardial tissues of experimental rats. While investigating the molecular mechanism, activation PKC isoforms was observed in the selected tissues. T2D rats also exhibited an up-regulation in nuclear NF-κB (p65) in the cardiac tissues. So, oral administration of SR (50 and 500 mg/kg) could reduce hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, membrane disintegration, oxidative stress, vascular inflammation and prevented the activation of oxidative stress induced signaling cascades leading to cell death. Histological and ultra-structural studies of cardiac tissues supported the protective characteristics of SR. Conclusions From the present findings it can be concluded that, SR could offer protection against T2DM and its associated cardio-toxicity via multiple mechanisms viz. hypoglycemic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions.

Metabolomic and chemometric study of Achras sapota L. fruit extracts for identification of metabolites contributing to the inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase

Achras sapota L. fruit extracts have previously been reported to have activities against the carbohydrate-digesting enzymes α-amylase and α-glucosidase. The present work was aimed to identify the inhibitors of α-amylase and α-glucosidase using metabolomics and chemometric approaches. Metabolite profile of Achras sapota fruit extracts at different stages of post-harvest ripening was analyzed using GC–MS-based metabolomics approach. The extracts were also assayed for their properties to inhibit the carbohydrate-digesting enzymes α-amylase and α-glucosidase in vitro. The fruit extracts just after harvesting showed maximum activities against the enzymes α-amylase and α-glucosidase. The activities declined with post-harvest ripening. It was observed from the chemometric analysis that gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, benzene-1,2,4-triol, and d-malic acid are responsible for high α-amylase inhibitory activity. Gallic acid and chlorogenic acid are positively correlated with high α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. Inhibition of the two enzymes by gallic acid, benzene-1,2,4-triol, chlorogenic acid, and α-amylase by d-malic acid supported the findings. The present experiment reports the importance of both primary and secondary metabolites for the bioactivity of plant extracts.

Phenolic constituents and antioxidant properties of some varieties of Indian rice

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to determine the antioxidant properties and phenol content of methanolic extracts of six white varieties and six purple/brown varieties of Indian rice and to find some relationship between the antioxidant properties, phenolic content in the varieties analyzed.Design/methodology/approach – Methanolic extracts of different rice varieties were analyzed for their superoxide radical scavenging activity, 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, total antioxidant capacity, reducing power and ferrous ion chelating properties. The extracts were analyzed for determination of total phenol content, anthocyanin content, oryzanol content. Phenolic acids were determined by HPLC.Findings – All the rice varieties (white and purple/brown) showed activity in a dose‐dependent manner. Free phenolic acids, e.g. protocatechuic acid, caffeic acid, vanillic acid, p‐coumaric acid (PCA), ferulic acid and sinapic acid and the phenolic aldehyde vanillin could be detected...

Separation of Strychnos nux-vomica alkaloids by high-performance liquid chromatography

Abstract The common alkaloids present in Strychnos nux-vomica L. were separated using normal-phase high-performance liquid chromatography.

Comparative Study of Antioxidant Activity of the Food Flowers of West Bengal, India

In India, many flowers are consumed as food. During the present study, 37 flowers have been analyzed for their 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity and total antioxidant capacity. The flowers were found to have different levels of antioxidant properties in the systems tested. On the basis of the activity and availability, a few flowers were further studied for hydroxyl radical scavenging activity, superoxide radical scavenging activity, lipid peroxidation prevention, and DNA damage prevention properties. The correlations suggest that the total phenol contents of the flowers were responsible for the antioxidant properties of the aqueous extracts. The unweighted-pair group average dendrogram showing interrelationships between the investigated species grouped them into two high level clusters based on activity.

Effect of ethephon on antioxidant enzymes and diosgenin production in seedlings of Trigonella foenum-graecum

Abstract To study the effect of ethylene on growth, diosgenin production and activities of the two antioxidant enzymes catalase and peroxidase, the seedlings of Trigonella foenum-graecum were treated with different concentrations of ethephon (as ethylene generating agent). The fresh weight and the length of seedlings decreased significantly and the dry weight of seedlings increased with increase in concentration of ethephon. At 100 mg/l concentration of ethephon, enzyme activities and diosgenin content decreased significantly. Subsequently, enzyme activities and diosgenin content increased with increase in concentration of ethephon. But diosgenin content did not increase over that of the control. The results suggest that although there is a relation between ethephon concentration, ethephon-induced catalase and peroxidase activities and diosgenin content, ethylene is not required for induction of diosgenin content in T. foenum-graecum seedlings.

Steroidal compounds from in vitro regenerated shoots of Datura metel

Regeneration of adventitious shoots from young leaves of Datura metel is described. Shoot buds developed on MS medium with 2 mg/l and elongated on hormone-free solid basal medium. The microshoots failed to produce alkaloids, but a number of steroidal compounds were detected. The C(28) sterol 3beta,24xi-dihydroxy-ergosta-5,25-dienolide, regarded as the precursor of withanolides and related steroidal lactones, was identified. The withanolide 12-deoxywithastramonolide was also detected.