Shaik Abdul Hussain

Potential Herbs and Herbal Nutraceuticals: Food Applications and Their Interactions with Food Components

Since ancient times, herbs have been used as natural remedies for curing many physiological disorders. Traditional medicinal literature appreciated their value as natures gift to mankind for the healing of illnesses. Some of the herbs have also been used for culinary purposes, and few of them have been used in cheese manufacture both as coagulating agents and flavor ingredients. Scientific investigations regarding biological activity and toxicity of chemical moieties present in many herbs have been carried out over a period of time. Consequently, literature related to the use of herbs or their functional ingredients in foods and their interaction with food constituents has been appearing in recent times. This article presents the information regarding some biologically active constituents occurring in commonly used herbs, viz., alkaloids, anthraquinones, bitters, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, and essential oils, their physiological functionalities, and also the description of few herbs of importance, viz., Asparagus racemosus, Withania somnifera, Bacopa monniera, Pueraria tuberose, Emblica officinalis, Terminalia chebula, Terminalia belerica, Terminalia arjuna, and Aloe vera, in terms of their chemical composition, biological functionality, and toxicity. This article also reviews the use of herbs and their active ingredients in foods and their interactions with different food constituents.

Hypoglycemic and Hypolipidemic Effects of Aloe vera Extract Preparations: A Review

Obesity is considered to be an epidemic disease, and it is associated with several metabolic disorders. Pharmacological treatments currently available are not effective for prolonged treatment duration. So, people are looking toward new therapeutic approach such as herbal ingredients. Since ancient periods, different herbs have been used for remedy purposes such as anti‐obesity, antidiabetes, and antiinflammatory. Among the several herbal ingredients, Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis Miller) is widely used to curb the metabolic complications. Till date, reports are not available for the side effects of A. vera. Several researchers are used to different solvents such as aqueous solution, alcohol, ethanol, and chloroform for the A. vera extract preparations and studied their hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects in animal and human studies. Furthermore, little information was recorded with the active compounds extracted from the A. vera and their anti‐obesity and antidiabetic effects in clinical studies. In this review, we made an attempt to compile all the available literature by using different search engines (PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar) on the A. vera extract preparations and the possible mechanism of action involved in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. Copyright

Hypolipidaemic and anti-oxidative potential of encapsulated herb (Terminalia arjuna) added vanilla chocolate milk in high cholesterol fed rats

BACKGROUND Atherosclerosis is associated with coronary artery disease and occurs in developing as well as developed countries. In the present investigation, hypolipidaemic and anti-oxidative properties of encapsulated herb (Terminalia arjuna, 1.8%) added vanilla chocolate dairy drink was evaluated in high cholesterol fed Wistar rats for 60 days. RESULTS At the end of the experimental period, a significant decrease in the body weight gain by rats receiving the encapsulated herb extract was noted as compared to high cholesterol fed rats. Administration of microencapsulated herb showed a statistically significant decrease in organ weights (epididymal fat and liver). Moreover, a significant decrease in serum lipids such as triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and atherogenic index was observed with encapsulated Terminalia arjuna extract in high cholesterol fed group. Increases in reduced glutathione and decreases in TBARS levels were also reported in both liver and red blood cell lysates with encapsulated herb supplementation. CONCLUSION The results demonstrated that the bioactive components (phytosterols, flavanoids, saponins and tannins etc.) which are present in the encapsulated T. arjuna not only withstand the processing conditions but also are effectively released in the intestine and show their effects, such as hypolipidaemic and antioxidant activities, for better treating cardiovascular disease.

Release characteristics of polyphenols from microencapsulated Terminalia arjuna extract: Effects of simulated gastric fluid

ABSTRACT Terminalia arjuna (TA) encapsulated microcapsules were prepared using two different wall materials consisting of a combination of maltodextrin + gelatine (MDG) and maltodextrin + gum acacia (MDGA). Total phenolic, tannin, and flavonoids content of TA ethanolic extract were found to be 19.6 ± 0.7 g/100 g extract, 7.5 ± 0.7 g/100 g extract, and 2.7 ± 0.2 g/100 g extract, respectively. In vitro release of polyphenols increased with the time of stirring in simulated intestinal fluid (SIF; pH 6.8). The encapsulation efficiency (EE) and release of polyphenols (after 60 min) were observed to be 42 ± 4.g/100 g; 77.0 g/100 g; and 31.0 ± 0.5 g/100 g; 72.0 g/100 g, respectively for MDGA and MDG microcapsules. This study concluded that MDGA provided higher EE and stability than MDG for TA extract.

Chapter 29 – Fermented Milk in Protection Against Inflammatory Mechanisms in Obesity

Abstract Recent studies indicate that obesity is linked with several metabolic complications. The cluster of metabolic diseases contributes towards low grade inflammation which leads to metabolic endotoxemia. Metabolic disorders in animals and humans that follow high fat/cholesterol supplementation are associated with alteration of gut microbiota (dysbiosis). Thus diet plays an important role in the management of obesity via maintenance of proper gut microflora. Fermented milks are considered to be functional foods in which lactobacilli drive the fermentation process. The various health benefits of fermented milks are due to the presence of bioactive peptides, branched-chain amino acids and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. Here we discuss the health promoting effects of fermented milk by different lactobacilli species with a focus on adiposity and inflammatory mechanisms involved in obesity. Further, we discuss the antiobesity effect of milk-fermented dairy products (kefir and yogurt) in animal and clinical studies.