Muhammad Aslam Shad

Optimization of extraction efficiency of tannins from Cichorium intybus L.: Application of response surface methodology

2-factorial central composite design was employed by using response surface methodology to optimize the extraction conditions. The analysis of variance showed the significant effect of both variables on the extraction yield of tannins. The lower P-values (P < 0.05) indicated the positive significant effect of both variables on the extraction of tannins from different parts of C. intybus. The values of correlation coefficient (R 2 ) indicated that more than 96% of the variability in tannins content of C. intybus could be explained by response surface model. The 3D surface plots showed a quadratic effect of methanol concentration and linear effect of time on the extraction efficiency of tannins from C. intybus. The optimum tannins yield of 0.607, 0.529, 0.26, and 0.431 g/100 g dry weight from root, stem, leaves, and seeds of C. intybus, respectively was observed at 60% methanol concentration and extraction time of 80 min. Moreover, the data suggests that C. intybus is a rich source of tannins and can be preferably used to fulfil the requirements of tannins in medicinal field.

Characteristics of starch isolated from microwave heat treated lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) seed flour

The present study aimed to investigate the influence of microwave irradiation on the physical and functional properties of starch extracted from Nelumbo nucifera seed flour. The seed flour was obtained by manual grinding of seeds and irradiated at different microwave treatment time, i.e., 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5min at the low-medium intensity. The starch was extracted in distilled water and dried at room temperature using a vacuum desiccator. The morphology, crystal structure, and surface parameters of starch granules were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy and Brunauer, Emmett and Teller surface analysis techniques. The functional properties of starch were also determined in terms of water and oil holding capacity, swelling capacity, emulsifying activity and gelling ability. Evidently, crystallinity, surface area and pore volume of starch granules were found to be increased, while particle size and average pore size were decreased as a function of microwave treatment time. The microwave-induced variations in physical parameters significantly affected the functional properties of starch. A significant (p>0.05) exponential decrease in extraction yield and gelling ability, while an exponential increase in the functional properties of starch with increase in the microwave treatment time (R2=0.915-0.985) was recorded.

Optimization of extraction yield and antioxidant properties of Brassica oleracea Convar Capitata Var L. leaf extracts

Effects of extraction time and solvent polarity on antioxidant properties of Brassica oleracea leaves were optimized by response surface methodology using a central composite design. Five extraction times (12, 24, 36, 48 and 60h) and solvent polarities (dipole moment - hexane: 0.0, diethyl ether: 2.80, ethyl acetate: 4.40, methanol: 5.10 and water: 9.0D) were selected for optimization. Response surface analysis of data showed a significant increase (p<0.05) in extract yield and antioxidant potential, based on total phenolic acids, reducing abilities and free radical scavenging capacities, in response to an increase in extraction time and solvent polarity. The optimal response was obtained using relatively polar solvents (4.40-9.00D) and prolonged extraction times (50-60h). This suggests that most of the phytochemical constituents of B. oleracea leaves are polar and possess strong antioxidant potential.

Phytochemical composition and antioxidant properties of rhizomes of Nilumbo nucifera

The flour of lotus rhizomes was analysed for its phytochemical composition. The tannins, saponins, hydrogen cyanide (HCN), total phenolic acids and total phosphorus contents were found to be 0.415±0.164, 0.843±0.028, 0.07±0.02, 0.578±0.05 and 0.08±0.061 g/100 g of flour, respectively. The effect of polarity of the extracting solvent on antioxidant properties of lotus rhizome was also investigated and the data was analysed statistically by using semi-empirical model. An exponential increase in the yield of total extractable components (TEC) and total phenolic acids (TPA) content was observed in response to an increase in the polarity (in terms of dipole moment) of extracting solvent. Among the extracts, highest values of TEC and TPA were investigated in water extract. The antioxidant activity of the extracts was measured in terms of reducing power and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging capacity. The ethanolic extract was found to possess comparatively higher antioxidant properties. The present data suggests that lotus rhizomes constitute significant amounts of phytochemical compounds and are good source of antioxidants. It also suggests that the use of a mixture of solvent of varying polarity instead of a single solvent is a good option for the extraction of antioxidant compounds from lotus rhizome flour.

Detection of Carbofuran-Protein Adducts in Serum of Occupationally Exposed Pesticide Factory Workers in Pakistan

This study was conducted to investigate the protein adducts with pesticides in a cohort of 172 factory workers that were exposed to a mixture of pesticides. The 35 samples showing considerable variation in biochemical parameters, i.e., butyrylcholinestrase (BChE), serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP/ALKP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine phosphokinase (CPK) enzymes, and controls were analyzed by reversed-phase nanoscale liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (nLC-MS/MS) on an Orbitrap mass spectrometer employing a shotgun proteomics approach. Only protein adducts with carbofuran were found on serum proteins of these workers. These adducts were of carbofuran labeled lysine (Lys-142, Lys-183, Lys-287, and Lys-467), arginine (Arg-210, Arg-242, and Arg-256) from serum albumin, and serine (Ser-07, Ser-54, and Ser-150) from immunoglobulin proteins. The arginine residues (Arg-210, Arg-242, Arg-246, and Arg-434) from albumin were also found to be glycated in serum of workers showing a high level of glucose who also had glycated arginine (Arg-1120) modified with carbofuran in their tankyrase-1-binding protein. The number of tandem mass spectra of modified peptides increased with increasing time of exposure. This is the first report to demonstrate the presence of carbofuran-labeled albumin, immunoglobulin, and glycated arginine, which shows that lysine and arginine of human albumin and serine of immunoglobulin are covalently modified in the serum of workers that were occupationally exposed to carbofuran, and the modification is detectable by tandem mass spectrometry. These peptides modified with carbofuran can potentially be used as a biomarker of carbofuran exposure.

Quick Decline Disease Disturbs the Levels of Important Phytochemicals and Minerals in the Stem Bark of Mango (Mangifera indica)

Quick decline is one of the deadly diseases of mango (Mangifera indica) which causes a serious damage to the tree and its production. In the current study, we examined the levels of important phytochemicals and minerals in the stem bark of healthy and infected mango tree. Infected stem bark showed 12.5% lower levels of total sugars and 51.1% higher levels of proteins as compared to healthy parts, whereas no variation was observed in reducing sugar, free amino acid, and ascorbic acid. Among micronutrients, the levels of Zn, Na, Cr, and Cl were lowered by 25%, 54.3%, 25%, and 75.4%, respectively, whereas the level of Ni was 62.5% higher in the infected stem bark when compared with the healthy stem bark. However, other micronutrients did not show significant differences between healthy and infected parts. Among macronutrients, the quantity of N, P, and Mg showed an increase of 51.2%, 34.7%, and 27.6%, respectively, whereas the quantity of Ca and K was decreased by 25.2% and 7.66% in the infected stem barks as compared to healthy ones. The results of this study provide some basic but important information that may ultimately be helpful in managing the quick decline disease in the mango trees.

Optimization of phenylhydrazine induced hyperbilirubinemia in experimental rabbit.

Induction of hyperbilirubinemia in experimental rabbits by phenylhydrazine was optimized in terms of dose, dose interval and number of doses using response surface methodology. Central Composite Design was employed using five levels for each of the three input variables. Degree of hyperbilirubinemia was measured in terms of bilirubin level in serum of animals. A dose dependent significant elevation (P<0.05) of total serum bilirubin level was observed which was optimized by using eight factorial, six axial and six central points as suggested by experimental design. Optimum levels of phenylhydrazine dose, total number of doses and a dose interval to achieve maximum elevation (4.06 mg/dl−1) of total serum bilirubin were found to be 11.56 mg/kg−1 body weight, 8 and 24.65 h, respectively. The induction procedure was validated by performing five replicate experiments on a group of five animals which showed 3.56 ± 0.47 mg/kg−1 body weight elevation in total serum bilirubin level.

Effect of sorbic acid and some other food preservatives on human serum cholinesterase activity

The effect of some selected food preservatives on serum cholinesterase was determined. It was found that potassium metabisulphite, methyl parabene and propyl parabene caused a significant increase while sacharine, benzoic acid, salicylic acid, copper carbonate and sorbic acid caused a significant decrease in cholinesterase activity. The behavior of serum cholinesterase activity in response to a gradual change in the incubation time as well as the sorbic acid concentration was also studied. The graphical and statistical analysis of the data showed an exponential decrease in cholinesterase activity with an increase in the concentration of sorbic acid. The cholinesterase activity was also found to be decreased exponentially with an increase in the incubation time. The regression analysis showed a good agreement between the experimental and calculated values. Keywords: Sorbic acid, enzyme activity, cholinesterase, inhibition sensitivity