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Antioxidant and anti-quorum sensing activities of green pod of Acacia nilotica L
Abstract
The antioxidant and anti-quorum sensing activities of eight extracts were studied in green pods of Acacia nilotica. The specific phenolic compositions and their quantifications were performed by HPLC and MS/MS, which showed that the HEF (pH 4) was higher in gallic acid, ellagic acid, epicatechin, rutin, and GTs. In order to find antioxidant potential of various extracts, their activities were studied for TPC, AOA, FRSA, RP, inhibition of LPO, FIC activity, HO* and O(2)(-) scavenging activities. Among them HEF (pH 4) has shown potent antioxidant activity. HEF (pH 4) was also found effective in protecting plasmid DNA and HAS protein oxidation induced by HO*. Pre-treatment of HEF (pH 4) at 75 and 150 mg/kg body weight for 6 days caused a significant increase in the levels of CAT and SOD and decrease in the level of MDA content in liver, lungs, kidneys and blood when compared to CCl(4)-intoxicated rats. Eventually, the extracts were also screened for anti-QS activity. Of these extracts two showed QS inhibition: HEF (pH 4) and HCE. The results obtained strongly indicate that green pod of A. nilotica are important source of natural antioxidants.
... Kalaivani and Methew (2010) also demonstrated the maximum activity of A. arabica against Candida albicans and anaerobic bacteria [9]. Pharmacologically, this medicinal plant is proven for astringent, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antioxidant, and diuretic properties [10][11][12][13][14]. Although a few studies have been carried out on complementary and alternative medicines for abnormal vaginal discharge, bacterial vaginosis and cervicitis are available [3,5,[15][16][17][18][19][20]. ...
... Routine investigations at baseline were performed to exclude general diseases and sexually transmitted diseases. Wet mount and pap's smears were done at visit 1 (Day 0) and postintervention (days [11][12][13] for the assessment of the efficacy of the test drug. Pelvic ultrasonography was performed to exclude genital malignancies and other pathologies, respectively, at baseline. ...
... Acacia pod extract was efficacious in the syndromic management of AVD, its associated symptoms, and improved HRQoL as it has anti-inflammatory (Muhallil al-Waram), astringent (Qabiz), and antiseptic (Daf'-i-Taffun) properties [6,7]. Furthermore, in vitro and in vivo pharmacological studies have also proven anti-inflammatory [10,11,14], analgesic [10,11], antimicrobial [23,24], antispasmodic [25], diuretics [11], antioxidant properties [9,13,26], and antiseptic properties [10][11][12][13][14] of the pods. e aforementioned pharmacological properties are credited to the presence of phytoconstituents such as tannins, alkaloids, organic acids, flavonoids, polyphenolic compounds, volatile oils, glycosides, and coumarins [8,9,11,13]. ...
Objectives:
Abnormal vaginal discharge (Sayalan al-Rahim) is a common public health problem that significantly disrupts the health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Syndromic management infers the concurrent treatment of two or more infections. Hence, a comparative, single-blind study was planned to determine the efficacy of Acacia (Acacia nilotica Linn.) pod's sitz bath (Abzan) plus vaginal pessary (Farzaja) vs. placebo in abnormal vaginal discharge syndromic management, its associated symptoms, and women's HRQoL.
Methods:
Diagnosed patients (n = 66) were randomly divided into Acacia (n = 33) and placebo (n = 33) group. Acacia group received Sitz bath with Acacia pod powder (30g) solution followed by vaginal cotton pessary (5 ml of the same solution) once daily for 10 days. The placebo group received palm sugar powder (30g) solution for Sitz bath plus vaginal cotton pessary same as the Acacia group. Primary outcomes included clinical cure assessed with VAS for symptoms and Modified McCormack Pain Scale (McPS) for pelvic tenderness. The secondary outcomes included were the EQ-5D-5 L questionnaire, TSQM questionnaire, sachet count, and microbiological cure. Overall, therapeutic cure included clinical and microbiological cure after treatment.
Results:
The overall therapeutic cure for bacterial vaginosis, cervicitis, and uncomplicated pelvic inflammatory disease was 100% (n = 7/7), 45.45% (n = 10/22), and 71.42% (n = 5/7), respectively, in the Acacia group, while in the placebo group none of the patients had responded. The VAS score for symptoms was significantly reduced in Acacia than in the placebo group. At each follow-up, the improvement in the EQ-5D-5 L level of HRQoL was significantly higher in the Acacia group than in the placebo group.
Conclusion:
Acacia would be an effective and safe alternative in syndromic management of abnormal vaginal discharge, associated symptoms, and improved women's HRQoL. Trial registration. This trial was registered in the Clinical Trials Registry of Indian Trials Website and given the identification no. CTRI/2018/02/012175 (dated: 27/02/2018).
... During the last few years, it has been found that plant extracts can act as inhibitors of QS pathways. Such active metabolites can be extracted from different parts of plant tissues such as roots, stems, leaves, bark, fruits, flowers, seeds, and green pod (70)(71)(72)(73). Major groups of these compounds can be identified as QSIs including cyclic compounds, phenolic derivatives, nitrogen cyclics, furanones, lactones, cinnamaldehydes, alkaloids, phenolics, saponins, tannins, and terpenoids (74,75). ...
... Eight fractions, including phenolic (gallic acid, ellagic acid, epicatechin, rutin) from green pods of Acacia nilotica have been studied for their capacity to inhibit pigment production in C. violaceum 12472, as two of them can be classified as QSIs with the potential to regulate violacein production, without influencing bacterial growth. Other phenolic plant extracts of Rubus rosaefolius also have shown a similar effect on pigmentation and biofilm formation (72,97). Polyphenolic extracts from Rosa rugosa have been the focus of Zhang et. ...
In the new antibiotic era, the exponential increase of multiresistant bacterial strains become the main global health problem. Many researchers focused their efforts to explore novel or combined strategies for combating bacterial resistance. The good knowledge of molecular mechanisms of resistance and bacterial virulence factors as key targets gives us a good scenario to resolve the problem. One particularly attractive and promising way is to attack the main regulatory “network” of bacterial virulence determinants known as Quorum sensing (QS). The inhibition of QS signals will be a novel way for screening more effective Quorum sensing inhibitors (QSIs) and will put a key role in next-generation antimicrobials in the resistance battle. This determined the aim of the present review: comprehensive clarification of the regulatory mechanisms of quorum-sensing signaling pathways in Chromobacterium violaceum and discovery of potential plant quorum sensing inhibitors.
... Over the last few years, it has been found that plant extracts can act as inhibitors of QS pathways. These active metabolites can be extracted from different parts of plant tissues such as the roots, stems, leaves, bark, fruits, flowers, seeds, and green pods [78][79][80][81]. The major groups of these compounds can be identified as QSIs, including cyclic compounds, phenolic derivatives, nitrogen cyclics, furanones, lactones, cinnamaldehydes, alkaloids, phenolics, saponins, tannins, and terpenoids [46,82]. ...
... Eight fractions, including phenolic (gallic acid, ellagic acid, epicatechin, and rutin), from the green pods of Acacia nilotica have been studied for their capacity to inhibit pigment production in C. violaceum 12472 as two of them can be classified as QSIs with the potential to regulate violacein production without influencing bacterial growth. Other phenolic plant extracts from Rubus rosaefolius also have shown similar effects on pigmentation and biofilm formation [80,106]. Polyphenolic extracts from Rosa rugosa have been the focus of Zhang et al.'s research [110] due totheir anti-biofilm and QS inhibitory potentials as inhibitors of violacein synthesis and swarming motility, as well as biofilm formation in E. coli K-12 and P. aeruginosa PA01. The authors proved high reductions in pigment without changes in microbial growth. ...
In the new antibiotic era, the exponential increase in multiresistant bacterial strains has become the main global health problem. Many researchers have focused their efforts on exploring novel or combined strategies for combating bacterial resistance. Good knowledge of the molecular mechanisms of resistance and bacterial virulence factors as key targets provides us with a good basis for resolving the problem. One particularly attractive and promising strategy is to attack the main regulatory “network” of bacterial virulence determinants known as quorum sensing (QS). The inhibition of QS signals will be a novel means of screening more effective quorum-sensing inhibitors (QSIs) and will play a key role in the use of next-generation antimicrobials in the battle against resistance. This motivated the present review to provide a comprehensive clarification of the regulatory mechanisms of quorum-sensing signaling pathways in Chromobacterium violaceum and the discovery of potential plant quorum-sensing inhibitors.
... Acacia, also known as Racosperma, belongs to the subfamily Mimosoideae and stands as the second most extensive genus within the Fabaceae family, with over 1200 species (Rice, 1985;Brummitt, 2004). It is a diverse genus known for harboring various bioactive substances, including a wide array of secondary metabolites such as alkaloids (Clement et al., 1997), terpenoids (Haridas et al., 2001), flavonoids (Seigler, 2003), phenolic compounds, and tannins (Readel et al., 2001;Singh et al., 2009). These chemical compounds showcase potent biological activities, rendering Acacia a promising resource for pharmaceutical and biotechnological applications. ...
The aim of this study was to analyze the phytochemical profile of Acacia cyclops trunk bark ethyl acetate extract using LC–tandem mass spectrometry for the first time, along with evaluating its antioxidant and anti‐tyrosinase properties. Consequently, we determined the total phenolic and flavonoid contents of the extract under investigation and identified and quantified 19 compounds, including phenolic acids and flavonoids. In addition to assessing their antioxidant potential against DPPH (2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl) and ABTS (2,2′‐azino‐bis‐[3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonic] acid) assays, in vitro and in silico studies were conducted to evaluate the tyrosinase inhibitory properties of the A. cyclops extract. The ethyl acetate trunk bark extract exhibited a substantial total phenolic content and demonstrated significant antioxidant activity in terms of free radical scavenging, as well as notable tyrosinase inhibitory action (half‐maximal inhibitory concentration [IC 50 ] = 14.08 ± 1.10 μg/mL). The substantial anti‐tyrosinase activity of the examined extract was revealed through molecular docking analysis and druglikeness prediction of the main selected compounds. The findings suggest that A. cyclops extract holds promise as a potential treatment for skin hyperpigmentation disorders.
... For the anti-quorum sensing activity of the selected isolates, the agar well diffusion method [21] was performed using Chromobacterium violaceum MTCC 2656. An overnight culture of C. violaceum was spread over the Luria Bertani (LB) agar (Hi Media, India) with the help of a sterile cotton swab and the wells were punctured. ...
Fermented foods have been recognized as a source of probiotic bacteria which can have a positive effect when administered to humans and animals. Discovering new probiotics in fermented food products poses a global economic and health importance. In this study, we investigated the antimicrobial and probiotic potential of lactobacilli isolated from fermented beverages produced traditionally by ethnic groups in Northeast India. Out of thirty Lactobacilli, fifteen exhibited strong antimicrobial activity against Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter aerogenes with significant anti-biofilm and anti-quorum sensing activity. These isolates also showed characteristics associated with probiotic properties, such as tolerance to low pH and bile salts, survival in the gastric tract, auto-aggregation, and hydrophobicity without exhibiting hemolysis formation or resistance to certain antibiotics. The isolates were identified using gram staining, biochemical tests, and 16S rDNA sequencing. They exhibited probiotic potential, broad-spectrum of antibacterial activity, promising anti-biofilm, anti-quorum sensing activity, non-hemolytic, and tolerance to acidic pH and bile salts. Overall, four specific Lactobacillus isolates, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum BRD3A and Lacticaseibacillus paracasei RB10OW from fermented rice-based beverage, and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum RB30Y and Lacticaseibacillus paracasei MP11A from traditional local curd demonstrated potent antimicrobial and probiotic properties. These findings suggest that these lactobacilli isolates from fermented beverages have the potential to be used as probiotics with therapeutic benefits, highlighting the importance of traditional fermented foods for promoting gut health and infectious disease management.
... According to Samreen et al. (2022), the methanolic extract of V. nilotica at sub-inhibitory concentrations (125, 62.5, and 31.25 mg/ml) showed a 14 mm zone inhibition of violaceum production against C. violaceum ATCC 12472. In addition, the green pods of V. nilotica extracts (unhydrolyzed and hydrolysed) and fractions (unhydrolyzed and hydrolysed ethyl acetate) had anti-QS potential using the disk diffusion assay, and also showed a high presence of polar compounds, i.e., gallic acid, ellagic acid, epicatechin and rutin (Singh et al., 2009). Likewise, the methanolic pod extract of V. nilotica in the current study showed MQSIC and IC 50 values of 0.31 and 0.18 mg/ml, respectively. ...
Diarrhoeagenic Escherichia coli is a serious threat to human and animal health, with antimicrobial drug resistance contributing to the problem. Alternative mechanisms of prevention and treatment of E. coli-induced diarrhoea include those targeting biofilm production and quorum sensing, properties that have been associated with some investigated plant extracts. Plants were selected from various genera, including Vachellia, Senegalia, Morus, Leucaena, Salix, Grewia, Ziziphus, Searsia, Dichrostachys and Ceratonia, based on their known antimicrobial activity. The antibacterial effects of leaf extracts against multidrug-resistant E. coli O157:H7 were investigated using a broth microdilution method, and cytotoxicity to normal mammalian cell lines was studied using a tetrazolium colorimetric assay. Subsequently, antibiofilm activity and inhibition of extracellu-lar polymeric substance (EPS) production by plant extracts against E. coli O157:H7 was investigated using crystal violet as a staining dye after 0 and 24 h incubation and carbohydrate estimation 5 % phenol-sulfuric assay. The biosensor strain Chromobacterium violaceum ATCC 12472 was used to study the anti-quorum sensing potential of the selected plant extracts. Cell motility, cell surface hydrophobicity (CSH), and aggregation were also investigated. All plant extracts had weak antibacterial activity (MIC > 0.62 mg/ml) with relatively low cytotoxicity. The acetone extracts of Salix babylonica and Leucaena leucocephala prevented bacterial cell attachment (0 h) by 81.21 % and 89.36 %, respectively. Approximately 28 % of plant extracts eradicated established biofilms by more than 50 %, however, they were unable to inhibit EPS production above 30 %. The half-maximal concentration of extracts generally inhibited violacein production (ranging from 0.01 to 0.02 mg/ ml), with V. erioloba acetone extract being the most effective at quorum quenching. Some plant extracts exhibited a significant difference (p<0.05) in motility, aggregation and hydrophobicity compared to untreated cells. This study highlights the potential of selected plant extracts to act via different mechanisms of action to decrease virulence of enteric E. coli, motivating further investigation of the bioactive compounds in the leaves.
... Yadav et al. [36] reported TPC and TFC of A. nilotica extract prepared in different solvents between 7.40 and 166.33 mg/g GAE and 10.34 and 75.11 mg/g QE, respectively. Furthermore, FRSA was measured using DPPH which is a stable lipophilic free radical widely used to evaluate antioxidant potential in a short time [37]. We found 76.32% FRSA of aqueous A. nilotica LE, whereas Yadav et al. [36] reported 92.4% FRSA of methanol extract of A. nilotica. ...
Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) are enormously popular semi-conductor metal oxides with diverse applications in every field of science. Many physical and chemical methods applied for the synthesis of ZnONPs are being rejected due to their environmental hazards. Therefore, ZnONPs synthesized from plant extracts are steered as eco-friendly showing more biocompatibility and biodegradability. Additionally, various synthesis conditions such as the type of precursor salt also play a role in influencing the physicochemical and biological properties of ZnONPs. In this study, green synthesis of ZnONPs from Acacia nilotica was carried out using zinc acetate (ZA-AN-ZNPs), zinc nitrate (ZN-AN-ZNPs), and zinc sulfate (ZS-AN-ZNPs) precursor salts. Surprisingly, characterization of ZnONPs using UV–visible spectroscopy, TEM, XRD, and EDX revealed the important role precursor salts played in influencing the size and shape of ZnONPs, i.e., 20–23 nm spherical (ZA-AN-ZNPs), 55–59 nm triangular (ZN-AN-ZNPs), and 94–97 nm nano-flowers (ZS-AN-ZNPs). FTIR analysis showed the involvement of alkaloids, alcohols, carboxylic acid, and phenolic compounds present in Acacia nilotica extract during the synthesis process. Since different precursor salts showed different morphology of ZnONPs, their biological activities were also variable. ZN-AN-ZNPs showed the highest cytotoxicity towards HepG2 cells with the lowest cell viability (28.92 ± 0.99%), highest ROS/RNS production (3425.3 ± 184.58 relative DHR123 fluorescence), and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (1645.2 ± 32.12 relative fluorescence unit) as well as induced significant caspase-3 gene expression. In addition to this, studying the zone of inhibitions and minimum bactericidal and inhibitory concentrations of ZnONPs showed their exceptional potential as antibacterial agents. At MIC as low as 8 µg/mL, ZA-AN-ZNPs and ZN-AN-ZNPs exhibited significant bactericidal activities against human pathogens Klebsiella pneumoniae and Listeria monocytogenes, respectively. Furthermore, alkaline phosphatase, DNA/RNA leakage, and phosphate ion leakage studies revealed that a damage to the bacterial cell membrane and cell wall is involved in mediating the antibacterial effects of ZnONPs.
Graphical Abstract
... For HPLC analysis, 1 gm of fresh tissue (leaves) was harvested at 24, 48, 72, and 96 h after pathogen inoculation (hapi) according to the protocol described by Singh et al. [67]. The leaf samples were homogenised in 10 ml of 50 % methanol comprising 5 N HCl. ...
The present study was carried out in a pot experiment to examine the bioefficacy of three biocontrol agents, viz., Trichoderma viride, Bacillus subtilis, and Pseudomonas fluorescens, either alone or in consortium, on plant growth promotion and activation of defense responses in potato against the early blight pathogen Alternaria solani. The results demonstrate significant enhancement in growth parameters in plants bioprimed with the triple-microbe consortium compared to other treatments. In potato, the disease incidence percentage was significantly reduced in plants treated with the triple-microbe consortium compared to untreated control plants challenged with A. solani. Potato tubers treated with the consortium and challenged with pathogen showed significant activation of defense-related enzymes such as peroxidase (PO) at 96 h after pathogen inoculation (hapi) while, both polyphenol oxidase (PPO), and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) at 72 hapi, compared to the individual and dual microbial consortia-treated plants. The expression of antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) and the accumulation of pathogenesis-related proteins such as chitinase and β-1,3-glucanase were observed to be highest at 72 hapi in the triple microbe consortium as compared to other treatments. HPLC analysis revealed significant induction in polyphenolic compounds in triple-consortium bioprimed plants compared to the control at 72 hapi. Histochemical analysis of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) clearly showed maximum accumulation of H2O2 in pathogen-inoculated control plants, while the lowest was observed in triple-microbe consortium at 72 hapi. The findings of this study suggest that biopriming with a microbial consortium improved plant growth and triggered defense responses against A. solani through the induction of systemic resistance via modulation of the phenylpropanoid pathway and antioxidative network.
... It was reported that the main phenolic compound in the black locust tree was gallic acid derivatives and the majority of the phenolic acids was detected in the pods of the trees. Singh et al. [20] and Ee et al. [21] reported the gallic acid presence in the pods and seeds only, respectively and the levels of the gallic acids in the pods of the black locust tree were several times higher than that of the seeds of black locust. As is well known, the mistletoe is a hemiparasite on several species of trees, from which it draws water and nutrients. ...
Mistletoe is a hemi-parasitic shrub and grows on different host trees and used as a remedy for some disease therapies. In this study, mistletoe fruits and leaves growing on different host tree genera were compared in terms bioactivity and antibacterial efficiency. For this purpose, mistletoe samples were collected from seven different tree genera (black locust, wild pear, pine, hawthorn, willow, apricot and almond) and removed their fruits and leaves. At the beginning, the most suitable solvent for the extraction was determined using optimization procedure of simplex lattice mixture design. The most effective solvent showing the highest total phenolic content (TPC) and antiradical activity (ARA) was determined as ethanol:water (92.5:7.5) for the fruit and ethanol:water (30:70) for the leaf extraction. TPC values of the leaf and fruit samples ranged between 7 and 21.2 and 3.2–6.9 mg GAE/g, respectively. The results showed significant differences based on the tree genus and the highest antioxidant and antiradical activities were monitored for the black locust tree while the lowest values were in willow tree. For antibacterial activity, the highest inhibition zone was obtained from wild pear leaf extract for Salmonella Typhimurium. Mistletoe leave extracts showed a remarkable superiority bioactive performance than those of the mistletoe fruits for all tree genus.
Graphical Abstract
Experimental design showing the workflow for the bioactive performance of mistletoe fruit and leaf collected from different tree genus.
... Measurement of synthesis of VIO by C. violaceum has been considered as a marker for QS activity (Singh et al. 2009). In this study, VIO production by C. violaceum MTCC2656 in the presence and absence of the pigments was assessed according to an earlier described method with suitable modifications (Blosser and Gray 2000). ...
Bacterial pigments represent a diverse group of secondary metabolites, which confer fitness advantages to the producers while residing in communities. The bioactive potential of such metabolites, including antimicrobial, anticancer, and immunomodulation, are being explored. Reckoning that a majority of such pigments are produced in response to quorum sensing (QS) mediated expression of biosynthetic gene clusters and, in turn, influence cell–cell communication, systemic profiling of the pigments for possible impact on QS appears crucial. A systemic screening of bacterial pigments for QS-inhibition combined with exploration of antibiofilm and antimicrobial action against Acinetobacter baumannii might offer viable alternatives to combat the priority pathogen. Major bacterial pigments are classified (clustered) based on their physicochemical properties, and representatives of the clusters are screened for QS inhibition. The screen highlighted prodigiosin as a potent quorum quencher, although its production from Serratia marcescens appeared to be QS-independent. In silico analysis indicated potential interactions between AbaI and AbaR, two major QS regulators in A. baumannii, and prodigiosin, which impaired biofilm formation, a major QS-dependent process in the bacteria. Prodigiosin augmented antibiotic action of ciprofloxacin against A. baumannii biofilms. Cell viability analysis revealed prodigiosin to be modestly cytotoxic against HEK293, a non-cancer human cell line. While developing dual-species biofilm, prodigiosin producer S. marcescens significantly impaired the fitness of A. baumannii. Enhanced susceptibility of A. baumannii toward colistin was also noted while growing in co-culture with S. marcescens. Antibiotic resistant isolates demonstrated varied responsiveness against prodigiosin, with two resistant strains demonstrating possible collateral sensitivity. Collectively, the results underpin the prospect of a prodigiosin-based therapeutic strategy in combating A. baumannii infection.
... The Acacia pod extracts showed to be poor antioxidants when compared to BHT. Our results contrast with previous studies suggesting that the green pods of A. nilotica are an important source of natural antioxidants [22]. ...
This study intended to evaluate the potential industrial applications of various Acacia species (Acacia melanoxylon, Acacia longifolia, Acacia cyclops, Acacia retinodes, Acacia pycnantha, Acacia mearnsii, and Acacia dealbata) by examining their chemical composition, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties. Using high-resolution mass spectrometry, a comprehensive analysis successfully identified targeted compounds, including flavonoids (flavonols/flavones) and phenolic acids, such as 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, p-coumaric acid, and ellagic acid. Additionally, p-coumaric acid was specifically identified and quantified within the hydroxycinnamic aldehydes. This comprehensive characterization provides valuable insights into the chemical profiles of the studied species. Among the studied species, A. pycnantha exhibited a higher concentration of total phenolic compounds, including catechin, myricetin, quercetin, and coniferaldehyde. Furthermore, A. pycnantha displayed notable antibacterial activity against K. pneumoniae, E. coli, S. Typhimurium, and B. cereus. The identified compounds in Acacia pods and their shown antibacterial activities exhibit promising potential for future applications. Moreover, vibrational spectroscopy was a reliable method for distinguishing between species. These significant findings enhance our understanding of Acacia species and their potential for various industrial applications.
... Various secondary metabolites for e.g., phenol, flavonoids, and amino acids, are the main compounds that act as natural antioxidants [6]. Acacianilotica has been previously reported as a potential source of antioxidant polyphenols like tannin, gallic acid, ellagic acid, and catechin [7]. ...
In the present study fruit of Acacia nilotica was chosen to evaluate its antioxidant, larvicidal and antibacterial properties. Phytochemical screening of aqueous and alcohol extracts of the plant fruits affirmed the presence of carbohydrates, reducing sugar, phenol, flavonoid, terpenoid, saponin and steroid. The antioxidant properties of the aqueous and alcohol fruit extracts were noted as 10.11±0.035 and 9.75±0.023 mM of FeSO4 for Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) assay respectively. The potency of antimicrobial activity of the aqueous and alcohol extract of A. nilotica fruit were tested against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillussubtilis, and Escherichiacoli. The alcohol extract against E. coli, exhibited the highest antimicrobial activity. Aqueous extracts of A. nilotica fruit showed potential toxicity against Aedes albopictus larvae with LC50 value of 142.074 mg L-1. Present findings clearly indicated that A. nilotica fruit extracts could be most effectively used as a natural antioxidant, antibacterial and larvicidal agent.
... And due to the presence of various phytochemicals anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive potential of plant is confirmed (Venkatesh et al. 2003;Ali 1986). Acacia nilotica is found pharmacologically active for different ailments in various studies reported to contain different phytochemicals and antioxidants (Ayoub 1982;El-Tahir et al. 1999;Singh et al. 2009;Omara et al. 2012;Fatima et al. 2005). ...
Background: This comprehensive ethnobotanical study was undertaken for the first time to explore and document the medicinal plants used by the indigenous ethnic communities of Surghar Range, Pakistan. The study area is situated adjacent to Salt Range, which lies on the most southern part of Himalayan Ranges in Pakistan. Despite occurrence of so many medicinal plants, culture history and herbal medicines used among the indigenous communities, no explicit ethnobotanical studies are available from this unique region because the field of ethnobotany is still getting mature day by day in Pakistan. Methods: Semi-structured questionnaires, open interviews and field surveys were used to collect data on medicinal plants and demography from March 2017 to September 2020 from 500 informants by using different quantitative indices viz. relative frequency citation (RFC), use value (UV), informant census factor (ICF), Jaccard Index (JI) and family use value (FUV) to analyze the data. Results: A total of 417 plants belonging to 89 families were documented that are ethnobotanically used by ethnic communities. Most herbal remedies were used in the form of decoction (33%). ICF values indicate that cardio-vascular complaints ranked (0.7) followed by ENT diseases (0.6). Species like Berberis lyceum, Forsskaolea tenacissima, Kickxia ramosissima, Momordica balsamina, Monotheca buxifolia, Pseudogaillonia hymenostephana, Rumex vesicarius, Ocimum americanum, Schweinfurthia papilionacea and Viola cinerea would be interesting targets for drug discovery and are suggested for further investigations. Conclusions: Current study revealed that the study area has sufficient indigenous knowledge on medicinal plants used by the aboriginal people. Their traditional knowledge about medicinal plants must be validated with phytochemical and pharmacological screening to determine bioactive compounds and needs to be preserved. Keywords: Medicinal plants; Jaccard Index; Surghar Range; Cardio-vascular; Menyanthaceae
... QS assay with C. violaceum Measurement of synthesis of VIO by Cv has been considered as a marker for QS activity (Singh et al. 2009). In this study, VIO production by Cv MTCC2656 in the presence and absence of the pigments was assessed according an earlier described method with suitable modi cations (Blosser and Gray 2000). ...
Bacterial pigments represent a diverse group of secondary metabolites offering advantages to the producers in terms of survival and replication in communities. The bioactive potential of such metabolites including antimicrobial, anticancer and immune-suppressive properties are being explored. Reckoning that several of such pigments are produced in response to quorum sensing mediated expression of biosynthetic gene clusters and do influence cell-cell communication while residing in communities, systemic profiling of the pigments for possible impact on quorum sensing appears crucial; particularly in the quest of novel alternatives to confront drug nonresponsive pathogens. In this context, a series of bacterial pigments are clustered based on their physicochemical properties and representatives of the clusters are screened for quorum sensing inhibition. The screen highlighted prodigiosin as a potent quorum quencher although its production from Serratia marcescens apparently is QS-independent. In silico analysis indicated potential interaction with AbaI and AbaR, two major QS regulator in Acinetobacter baumannii . While developing multi-bacterial biofilm, prodigiosin producer S. marcescens significantly impaired fitness of A. baumannii and accentuated responsiveness against colistin under co-culture. Prodigiosin impaired a major QS dependent process, biofilm formation, in A. baumannii and also enhanced antibiotic action against A. baumannii biofilms. Collectively, the results underpin the prospect of prodigiosin-based therapeutic strategy in combating A. baumanii infection.
... Acacia gum has been reported to contain potential amount of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antidiabetic, hypoglycemic and antiulcer compounds that possess numerous health benefits (Elmi et al., 2020;Hammiche and Maiza, 2006). The high percentage of polyphenolics (tannins), terpenoids, lignans, alkaloids, quinones, coumarins and flavonoid components raises the biological activity of the gum in human body (Sadiq et al., 2015;Singh et al., 2009;Cowan, 1999;Capitata, 2018). The aqueous extracts of gum acacia were found to prevent the bleeding and stops the blood coagulation. ...
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to review phytochemical potential of acacia and its associated health advantages. Acacia a moderate-sized, deciduous tree and recognised as health-promoting species because of availability of essential bioactive components. The bioactive compounds such as tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids, fatty acids and polysaccharides (gums) present in the plant parts of acacia, namely, bark, leaves, flowers, fruits, twigs and seeds, have medicinal value and thus are used to overlay the formulations of plant-based drugs and value-added foods.
Design/methodology/approach
Major well-known bibliometric information sources such as Web of Science, Scopus, Mendeley and Google Scholar were searched with keywords such as “nutrition value of acacia”, “bioactive compounds”, “health benefits”, “processing and safety” were chosen to obtain a database of 1,428 papers. The search considered papers in the English language from the past 18 years of publication in journals (2004–2022). The article selection process consisted of the screening of titles and abstracts, based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Articles that did not have acacia components as a study objective were taken into consideration for exclusion. A final database of 87 scientific sources was made after sorting and classifying them according to different criteria based on topic relevance, country of origin and year of publication. Articles with other random descriptors were also searched to complement the discussion of the results obtained.
Findings
The literature reflected that acacia contains all necessary phytochemicals like polyphenols, flavonoids, terpenoids, glucosinolates, alkaloids and carotenoids along with essential macro, micro-nutrients. Furthermore, processing methods such as soaking, cooking, roasting and dehusking significantly reduced the anti-nutritional factors present in acacia seeds of different species. This review also focused on the processing methods that are used to eliminate or lower down the anti-nutritional factors from the seeds. Previous findings related to acacia plant parts with respect to food development are explored and mentioned.
Originality/value
This review emphasised mainly on recent studies that had been reported on ethnomedical acacia plants therapeutically, commercially and exponentially for further studies to increase the utilisation in food processing.
... The diverse genus Acacia contains several bioactive substances, including alkaloids (phenethylamine, amphetamine, candicine, mescaline, trichocereine, and hordenine) [19]; cyanogenic glycosides (linamarin, procacipetalin, heterodendrin, prunasin, sambunigrin, and lotaustralin); flavonoids (epicatechin, robinetinidol, fasciculiferin, melacacidin, galangin, myricetin, chrysin, and apigenin) [20]; terpenoids (acaciaside A&B and acacigenin) [21], phenolic compounds (ellagic acid, ferulic acid, and gallic acid) and tannins (gallotannin) [22,23]. Over the past seven decades, 152 active ingredients have been found in the Acacia genus and the medicinal compounds are mainly present in the pods, root, bark, and leaves of the Acacia shrubs. ...
More than 1300 species of the vast genus Acacia are found in tropical habitats. They are crucial economic plants since they produce traditional medicines, timber, and gum. The pharmacological uses of the Acacia genus include anti-diarrheal, anti-malarial, chronic pain relief, wound healing, anti-cancer, anti-rheumatism, and anti-diabetes activities. It is also used for treating various illnesses such as gastroenteritis, allergies, Alzheimer′s disease, cough, and cardiovascular disease. The present review aims to summarize the antimicrobial activities including the antibacterial and antifungal activity of the Acacia genus. The literature was searched in books and online databases including SciFinder, Google Scholar, Scopus, PubMed, and scientific journals using the most relevant keywords: Acacia+antimicrobial, Acacia+antibacterial, and Acacia+antifungal.
... Phenolic compounds have the potential to function as antioxidants by scavenging the superoxide anion, hydroxyl radical, peroxy radical or quenching singlet oxygen and by inhibiting lipid peroxidation in biological systems (Izunya et al., 2010). Oxidative stress, which results due to imbalance between the antioxidant defense system and the formation of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), may induce damage to cellular biomolecules such as DNA, RNA, proteins, enzymes, carbohydrates, and lipids through oxidative modification and contributing to the pathogenesis of human diseases (Singh et al., 2009b). Boerhaavia diffusa Linn. ...
Boerhaavia diffusa L. (Family: Nyctaginaceae) commonly known as Punarnava is an herbaceous, spreading vine widely distributed in the tropical and subtropical regions in the world. The plants are a rich source of vitamins, minerals, protein and carbohydrate. The present study was carried out to determine the concentration of some bioactive phytochemicals (ascorbic acid,carotenoids, total phenolics, protein and carbohydrate) and their antioxidant activity in punarnava. Results showed the values for ascorbic acid (16.75±1.72 and 18.86±1.12 mg/100g of Fresh Weight), carotenoids (1.36±0.10 and 1.98±0.11 ìg/g of Fresh Weight), protein (122.975±6.27 and 134.45±6.23 mg/g of dry weight) and carbohydrate (56.67±5.77 and 60.11±5.23 mg/g of dry weight) for aqueous and methanolic of root extracts of B.diffusa respectively. Methanolic root extracts showed greater antioxidant activity than the aqueous extracts using DPPH method.
... QS is an intercellular communication system that plays an essential role in biofilm formation and virulence-factor production in several bacterial species [17]. Thus, this communication mechanism is used by these microbes to express various survival or virulence traits leading to increased resistance of bacteria [40]. ...
Rosmarinus officinalis and Myrtus communis essential oils (EOs) are well-known for their ethno-pharmaceutical properties. In the present study, we have analyzed the chemical composition of both EOs by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Then we assessed their antibacterial, antibiofilm, and anti-virulence actions against the opportunistic pathogen Staphylococcus aureus. The cytotoxic effect of agents tested against this bacterium was investigated by monitoring reactive oxygen-species (ROS) generation and antioxidant-enzyme (catalase) production. Regarding the antistaphylococcal effects, our results showed antibacterial efficacy of both Eos and their combination, where the minimum inhibitory concentrations ranged between 0.7 and 11.25 mg/mL. A combination of tested agents showed the highest anti-hemolytic and anti-protease effects. Additionally, association between EOs displayed more potency against the development of biofilm performed by S. aureus, with percentage of removal reaching 74%. The inhibitory impacts of EOs on S. aureus virulence factors were discovered to be concentration-dependent. Furthermore, our results provide insight on the abilities of R. officinalis and M. communis EOs, as well as their potential in combination, to generate ROS and affect oxidative stress enzyme catalase in S. aureus, leading to their antagonistic effect against this pathogen.
... Acacia is a varied genus including a variety of bioactive components such as alkaloids [33], flavonoids [8], terpenoids [34], phenolic compounds, and tannins [35,36], which are accountable for various pharmacological and biological properties such as antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antihypertensive, antiplatelet, hypoglycaemic, anti-atherosclerotic, analgesic, and anticancer, owing to their higher free radical scavenging and antioxidant properties [37]. The phytochemical analysis of the A. nilotica leaf extracts revealed that it contains volatile oil, saponins, hydrolysable tannin, flavonoids, tannins, triterpenoid, phenol, alkaloids which are actual important compounds when regarding the pharmacologically bioactive phytochemicals in the plant [38]. ...
Plants are a promising source of bioactive compounds that can be used to tackle many emerging diseases both infectious and non-infectious. Among different plants, Acacia is a very large genus and exhibits a diverse array of bioactive agents with remarkable pharmacological properties against different diseases. Acacia, a herb found all over the world, contains approximately more than 1200 species of the Fabaceae family. In the present review, we have collected detailed information on biochemical as well as pharmacological properties. The data were retrieved using different databases, such as Elsevier, PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, and Scopus, and an extensive literature survey was carried out. Studies have shown that Acacia possesses several secondary metabolites, including amines, cyanogenic glycosides, flavonoids, alkaloids, seed oils, cyclitols, fluoroacetate, gums, non-protein amino acids, diterpenes, fatty acids, terpenes, hydrolyzable tannins, and condensed tannins. These compounds exhibit a wide range of pharmaceutical applications such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antidiarrheal, antidiabetic, anticancer, antiviral, liver protective effects, and so on. Thus, the literature shows the tremendous phytochemical impact of the genus Acacia in medicine. Overall, we recommend that more research should be conducted on the medicinal value and isolation and purification of the effective therapeutic agents from Acacia species for the treatment of various ailments.
... Acacia nilotica (common name: Gum Arabic tree) is an important traditional plant for the treatment of several diseases in several countries around the world [22]. Many components were isolated and identified from the extracts of the different organs of this plant comprising the terpenes, tannins, phenolic acids, and flavonoids [21,22,28,29]. Several reports described the interesting biological potentialities of the different extracts of this plant, such as the treatment of inflammation, free radicals, leishmanial, diabetes, cancers, plasmodial, and other infections, along with molluscicidal activity [30][31][32]. ...
Acacia nilotica (synonym: Vachellia nilotica (L.) P.J.H.Hurter and Mabb.) is considered an important plant of the family Fabaceae that is used in traditional medicine in many countries all over the world. In this work, the antiviral potentialities of the chemically characterized essential oils (EOs) obtained from the bark and fruits of A. nilotica were assessed in vitro against HAV, HSV1, and HSV2. Additionally, the in silico evaluation of the main compounds in both EOs was carried out against the two proteins, 3C protease of HAV and thymidine kinase (TK) of HSV. The chemical profiling of the bark EOs revealed the identification of 32 compounds with an abundance of di- (54.60%) and sesquiterpenes (39.81%). Stachene (48.34%), caryophyllene oxide (19.11%), and spathulenol (4.74%) represented the main identified constituents of bark EO. However, 26 components from fruit EO were assigned, with the majority of mono- (63.32%) and sesquiterpenes (34.91%), where trans-caryophyllene (36.95%), Z-anethole (22.87%), and γ-terpinene (7.35%) represented the majors. The maximum non-toxic concentration (MNTC) of the bark and fruits EOs was found at 500 and 1000 µg/mL, respectively. Using the MTT assay, the bark EO exhibited moderate antiviral activity with effects of 47.26% and 35.98% and a selectivity index (SI) of 2.3 and 1.6 against HAV and HSV1, respectively. However, weak activity was observed via the fruits EO with respective SI values of 3.8, 5.7, and 1.6 against HAV, HSV1, and HSV2. The in silico results exhibited that caryophyllene oxide and spathulenol (the main bark EO constituents) showed the best affinities (ΔG = −5.62, −5.33, −6.90, and −6.76 kcal/mol) for 3C protease and TK, respectively. While caryophyllene (the major fruit EO component) revealed promising binding capabilities against both proteins (ΔG = −5.31, −6.58 kcal/mol, respectively). The molecular dynamics simulation results revealed that caryophyllene oxide has the most positive van der Waals energy interaction with 3C protease and TK with significant binding free energies. Although these findings supported the antiviral potentialities of the EOs, especially bark EO, the in vivo assessment should be tested in the intraoral examination for these EOs and/or their main constituents.
... "Acacia species contain polyphenolic compounds, which have potent antioxidant properties and aid in the prevention and treatment of many oxidative stress-related diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, and neurodegenerative disease. The antioxidant activity of the plant, which is present in the methanolic extract of the plant, is due to kaempferol" [13]. ...
This review article aims to provide details on the primary phytochemicals found in Acacia and its numerous pharmacological activities. For those working on the creation of new pharmaceutical products, this review is helpful.
... Catechin, anthocyanins, quercetin, kaempherol, resvasterol, curcuminoids, genistein, apigenin, carotenoids, carnosic acid, caffeic acid, and ferulic acid are known to have antioxidant proper-ties and a sun-protective impact against UV light-induced damage. Catechin, has potent biological ac-tivity in cancer prevention, and has antioxidant, cardiovascular protection and hepato-protective proper-ties [11]. Lycopene, ellagic acid, quercetin, and hesperidin are found in red fruits, whereas β-carotene, zeaxanthin, flavonoids, and vitamin C are found in orange and yellow fruits [46]. ...
Fruit contain various beneficial compounds that have biological activities and can be used as a source of pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products. Most fruit included in this review contain polyphenolic components that can promote antioxidant effects on human health. Additionally, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anti-fungal and chemo preventive effects are associated with these fruit. Other chemicals such as anthocyanins, xanthones, carotenoids, and saponins, in addition to polyphenolics, have health benefits and can be used as nutraceutical and pharmaceutical components. In this review, information on different fruits is presented and discussed with regard to their biological activity of the major com-pounds existing in them. It can be concluded that although fruits are useful sources of nutraceutical and other pharmaceutical components. Fruit consumption is primarily intended to meet certain nutri-tional and catalytic requirements, whilst other dietary categories are intended to meet energetic re-quirements.
... Scientific evidence shown that the plant contains high level of phenolics, flavonoids such as gallic acid, ellagic acid, epicatechin, rutin, kaempferol and apigenin [64] as well as triterpenoids e.g. β-amyrin and betulin [65]. ...
Introduction: natural products are known to be a continuous source of potential anti-cancer agents due to their chemical and biological diversity. This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro cytotoxic properties of medicinal plants and their mechanisms of action in human malignant melanoma cells. Methodology: The study investigated the effect of the cytotoxic extracts on cell cycle, caspase-3/7, apoptosis induction using Annexin V-FITC/PI staining, morphological changes and lactate dehydrogenase activity and 2D cell migration studies. Results: There were 9 extracts considered to be promising (GI50 < 30µg/mL); Haplophyllum tuberculatum (0.45µg/mL), Plicosepalus curviflorus (4µg/mL), Capparis decidua (10µg/mL), Acacia nilotica (11µg/mL), Aizoon canariense (14µg/mL), Carissa edulis (15µg/mL), Pulicaria schimperi (19µg/mL) Cyperus rotundus (20µg/mL), Osteospermum vaillantii (21µg/mL). Cell cycle arrest at S phase was detected in cells treated with C. decidua, C. edulis, H. tuberculatum, P. curviflorus and P. schimperi. Cellular exposure to A. canariense resulted in G2/M arrest whereas A. nilotica, C. rotundus and O. vaillantii elevated the sub-G1 population. Caspase-3/7 was activated by C. decidua, C. edulis, C. rotundus, H. tuberculatum, P. schimperi and O. vaillantii. Most of the cytotoxic effects were accompanied by externalization of phosphatidylserine and morphological abnormalities like cell shrinkage and chromatin condensation. Lupeol was isolated from C. decidua, justicidin A, B, tuberculatin and tuberculatin acetate from H. tuberculatum and ursolic acid and its acetate from C. edulis as the anti-melanoma principles. Conclusion: The bio-guided isolation of plants extracts led to the identifications of anti-melanoma constituents belonging to different classes including lignans, lignan glycosides, triterpenes and flavonoids.
... technique for qualitative analysis of the phytochemicals in the extract. To identify the polyphenolic compounds that are contributing to the bioactivity, the EAF-PP was analyzed by LC-MS and the compounds' profile has been shown in Table 3 [24,[43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53]. Thirty-six compounds were tentatively assigned on the basis of m/z comprising of phenolic acids, flavonoids, and proanthocyanidins. ...
Mistletoes are considered to be the potential medicinal herbs due to their rich traditional uses. Loranthus globosus is a Bangladeshi mango mistletoe that has been reported as folk medicine for various ailments and diseases. In an attempt to explore its effectiveness in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), we investigated the antioxidant and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity of L. globosus. We report that the crude methanol extract (CME) of the plant contains a good amount of polyphenolics and possesses antioxidant and cholinesterase inhibitory activity. Fractionation of CME with solvents of varying polarity revealed the highest activity and polyphenolic content in the ethylacetate fraction (EAF). Correlation analysis revealed a significant (P<0.05) association of polyphenolics with the antioxidant and cholinesterase inhibitory properties. Using column chromatography with diaion resin, the polyphenolics (EAF-PP) were isolated from the EAF that displayed the potent antioxidant and cholinesterase inhibitory activities. Kinetic analysis showed that EAF-PP exhibited a competitive type of inhibition. A total of thirty-six compounds including catechin and its different derivatives were identified in the EAF-PP by LC/MS analysis. Bioactivity-guided separation approach afforded the isolation of the two major active compounds catechin and catechin dimer from the EAF-PP. Hence, EAF-PP represents a potential source of antioxidants and cholinesterase inhibitors, which can be used in the management of AD.
... ASG provides a rich source of antioxidant and is reported to have many biological activities including anticancer, anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic, antidiabetic, antioxidant, and antiulcer activity [3,4]. The biological activity of ASG is associated with its high flavonoid and polyphenolic components [5,6]. Furthermore, it is reported to have abundant terpenoids, tannins, lignans, alkaloids, coumarins, and quinones [7,8]. ...
Abstract: Acacia Seyal gum (ASG), also known as gum Arabic, is an antioxidant-rich soluble fiber. ASG
has been reported to have many biological activities, including anticancer, antidiabetic, antiulcer, and
immunomodulatory activity. Extraction of bioactive compounds from ASG is commonly performed
using conventional extraction methods. However, these techniques have certain limitation in terms
of extraction time, energy, and solvent requirements. Ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) could be
used as an alternative technique to extract bioactive compounds in less time, at low temperature,
and with less energy and solvent requirements. In this study, the UAE extraction of ASG was
optimized using response surface methodology (RSM). A face-centered central composite design
(FCCCD) was used to monitor the effect of different independent factors of ultrasound operation
(sonication time, temperature, and solvent ratio) on ASG extraction yield. In addition, screening
and characterization of phytochemicals in 60% ethanol ASG extract was carried out using Raman
microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and gas chromatography time-of-flight
mass spectroscopy (GC-TOFMS) analysis. The results indicated that, under optimal conditions
(extraction time 45 min, extraction temperature 40 ◦C, and solid–liquid ratio of 1:25 g/mL), the
yield of ASG was 75.87% ± 0.10. This yield was reasonably close to the predicted yield of 75.39%
suggested by the design of experiment. The ANOVA revealed that the model was highly significant
due to the low probability value (p < 0.0001). Raman spectrum fingerprint detected polysaccharides,
such as galactose and glucose, and protein like lysine and proline, while FTIR spectrum revealed the
presence of functional groups peaks value of alkanes, aldehydes, aliphatic amines, and phenol. GC�TOFMS spectroscopic detected the presence of strong D-galactopyranose, carotenoid, and lycopene
antioxidant compounds. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that the UAE technique is an efficient
method to achieve a high yield of ASG extracts. The selected model is adequate to optimize the
extraction of several chemical compounds reported in this study
... Saponins, so-called because like soap they have foaming properties when mixed with water, derive their name from the Latin word 'sapo', which means soap. Saponaria officinalis L., also known as soapwort, is one of the best-known soap plants native to Europe and still in use as a soap up to date [8]. In the past, this plant was grown near wool mills to wash wool using soapy extracts from the roots and leaves [9]. ...
In southern Africa, several plants are used ethnobotanically as soap substitutes, however, this information resides in different literature sources. The foaming and cleansing properties of such plants are attributed mainly to the presence of saponins, but other compounds such as alkaloids and terpenoids are also implicated. This study aimed to compile a comprehensive list of plants used traditionally as soap substitutes in southern Africa and to assess the chemical properties of selected species. Qualitative phytochemical analysis was done using five solvents (ethanol, methanol, water, chloroform, and acetone) to determine the presence of saponins, alkaloids, and terpenoids in selected soap plants. Quantitative analysis of the saponin content was done employing spectrophotometric tests of methanol extracts. There are thirty-seven (37) known southern African soap plants from twenty-four (24) different families, with the Fabaceae having the highest number of species (eight). Saponin concentrations of nine previously unstudied selected soap plants are reported for the first time in this study, whereby Calodendrum capense had the highest saponin concentrations are at 107.89 ± 4.89 mg/g, followed by Noltea africana (52.65 ± 6.81 mg/g), Crinum bulbispermum (35.43 ± 4.25 mg/g), and Merwilla plumbea (25.59 ± 0.83 mg/g). The knowledge of plant composition gives a better understanding of plant chemistry and possible use of plants medicinally, industrially and as soap substitutes. Furthermore, this allows the verification and the justification of traditional plant use. Soap plants have been used traditionally for many years, the potential to commercialise the use of these plants has been realised with the increase in the use of organic products by conscious consumers hence, the purpose of this investigation can have bearing on future projects and products.
Aromatherapy is a medical practice that uses aromatic compounds or essential oils to influence mood and health. Essential oils used in aromatherapy are created from a wide variety of medicinal plants, flowers, herbs, roots, and trees that are found all over the world and have significant, well-documented benefits on enhancing physical, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing.
This book is a comprehensive reference on aromatic compounds present in essential oils and their therapeutic use. Starting from fundamentals of essential oil biosynthesis the book guides the reader through their basic biochemistry, toxicology, profiling, blending and clinical applications. The concluding chapters also present focused information about the therapeutic effects of essential oils on specific physiological systems, plant sources, skin treatment and cancer therapeutics.
The combination of basic and applied knowledge will provide readers with all the necessary information for understanding how to develop preclinical formulations and standard clinical therapies with essential oils. This is an essential reference for anyone interested in aromatherapy and the science of essential oils.
The characteristics of Algerian Nigella sativa (Ns) seeds were investigated after extraction with three aqueous ethanol concentrations (40, 60 and 80%) at three seed concentrations (2.5, 5 and 7.5%) referred as T, F and S, respectively. Aqueous ethanol extraction (40%) at 2.5 and 5% Ns seed concentration [T40% and F40%] had the highest total phenolic and total flavonoid contents. Higher seed (7.5%) and aqueous ethanol concentrations (60 and 80%) extracts [S60% and S80%] exhibited the maximum antioxidant activity. T80% and S40% extract exerted high antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, respectively. Four stirred yogurts formulated with 0, 0.5, 1 and 2% of S60% extract were evaluated for physicochemical and sensory properties; two of these formulated yogurts were further investigated for stability under refrigerated storage (4 °C for 21 days). Yogurt formulated with 0.5% of S60% extract exhibited the highest antioxidant activity, high titratable acidity, low pH and increasing syneresis during storage. However, the control yogurt had higher syneresis than the fortified yogurt (60 vs 46% at 21 days storage).
Background and Objective: One of the most important issues currently challenged by public health organizations worldwide is Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). The current study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial effects of Acacia nilotica extracts and Copper Sulphate (CuSO4) on different clinical bacterial and fungal isolates. Materials and Methods: Using standard microbial methods, four bacterial species (Staphylococcus aureus, vancomycin-resistant staphylococci, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and E. coli ) and fungus species were obtained from clinical samples of various infections. By using colonial morphology, Gram’s stain and metabolic assays in accordance with accepted microbial practices, the strains were identified. The strains were subcultured onto Sabouraud dextrose agar, MacConkey agar and nutrient agar blood agar before being kept at 37°C for roughly 18 to 24 hrs to determine purity. The antibacterial activity was screened using the paper disc diffusion technique. Results: The Acacia nilotica extracts have shown the maximum antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas species followed by vancomycin sensitive S. aureus, vancomycin resistant S. aureus while, the least activity was observed against Bacillus subtilis at the concentration of 750 μg mL–1. Candida albicans and Rhizopus have shown sensitivity against tested drugs. The antimicrobial activity of CuSO4 against tested bacterial species revealed the highest sensitivity as well as for fungal species. Penicillium species were completely resistant against both studied extracts. Conclusion: Results of the present study have reported a recommended use of Acacia nilotica extracts compared with CuSO4 for their potential antimicrobial effects as significant antibacterial as well as antifungal agents.
Antibiotic resistance is a global health concern. Strains of pathogenic microorganisms that have developed resistance to multiple antibiotics, such as MRSA, are extremely difficult to treat, and alternative methods for tackling pathogenic microorganisms are in demand. One potential target for new therapeutics is inhibition of quorum sensing: how microorganisms communicate and form biofilms in a density-dependent manner. Inhibiting this system via ‘quorum quenching’ (QQ) is a promising route to new pharmaceuticals and for controlling biofilm formation and growth. Quorum sensing also provides interesting possibilities in synthetic biology for producing novel products, biosensors, bioactive molecules, and so on.
This book covers the biology of quorum sensing and quenching, and potential sources of QQ enzymes and other inhibitors, as well as an overview of their mechanism and potential biotech applications. The book also covers the potential for new drug development from QQ, covering a range of related topics including protein engineering, imaging and computational studies, and integrated systems. This book is an ideal companion to researchers in chemical biology and medicinal chemistry, particularly those interested in biofilm formation, quorum sensing, novel antimicrobial development, synthetic biology and enzymology.
The purpose of this paper was to evaluate the phytochemical profile of Acacia cyclops trunk bark methanol extract using LC-MS/MS, as well as to assess its antioxidant and anti-tyrosinase activities. Thus, total phenolic and flavonoid contents of the studied extract were established and 19 compounds were detected and quantified. In addition of their antioxidant potential against DPPH and ABTS assays, in vitro and in silico studies were adopted to evaluate tyrosinase inhibitory property of A. cyclops extract. Methanol trunk bark extract showed significant total phenolic content, antioxidant potential in terms of free radical scavenging, as well as an interesting tyrosinase inhibitory action (IC50= 05.12 ± 0.41 μg/mL). The molecular docking analysis and the drug-likeness prediction of the major selected compounds supported the significant anti-tyrosinase activity of the studied extract. The obtained results suggest that A. cyclops extract could be a promising candidate in the treatment of skin hyperpigmentation disorders.
Mistletoe is a hemi-parasitic shrub and grows on different host trees and used as a remedy for some disease therapies. In this study, mistletoe fruits and leaves growing on different host tree genera were compared in terms bioactivity and antibacterial efficiency. For this purpose, mistletoe samples were collected from seven different tree genera (black locust, wild pear, pine, hawthorn, willow, apricot and almond) and removed their fruits and leaves. At the beginning, the most suitable solvent for the extraction was determined using optimization procedure of simplex lattice mixture design. The most effective solvent showing the highest total phenolic content (TPC) and antiradical activity (ARA) was determined as ethanol:water (92.5:7.5) for the fruit and ethanol:water (30:70) for the leaf extraction. TPC values of the leaf and fruit samples ranged between 7-21.2 and 3.2–6.9 mgGAE/g, respectively. The results showed significant differences based on the tree genus and the highest antioxidant and antiradical activities were monitored for the black locust tree while the lowest values were in willow tree. For antibacterial activity, the highest inhibition zone was obtained from wild pear leaf extract for Salmonella tyhpimurium . Mistletoe leave extracts showed a remarkable superiority bioactive performance than those of the mistletoe fruits for all tree genus.
The Ayurvedic drug Babool, botanically identified as Acacia arabica Willd., is a synonym of Acacia nilotica (L.) Delile and Mimosa arabica Lam. Babool (Acacia arabica Willd.) belongs to the family Mimosaceae. Its Habitat is in dry and sandy localities. In Ayurveda, it contains sthambana (refrigeration), shoshana and sangrahi properties and it is applied in sweta Pradara (leucorrhoea), Atisara (diarrhoea), Prameha (diabetes) and many other diseases. It shows astringent, cooling, styptic, expectorant, demulcent, antimicrobial, antibacterial, anthelmintic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-diabetics, and a wide range of useful properties for the welfare of mankind. The current study attempts to provide an up-to-date snapshot with full exploitation of all plant parts along with the literature survey of ethnobotany, phytochemistry and pharmacological uses of Babool (Acacia arabica Willd.).
Acacia nilotica is a popular medicinal plant that grows all throughout Africa, the Middle East, and the Indian subcontinent. This is because the plant, from its roots to its leaves, contains a wide variety of compounds that have been utilized for ages in traditional medicine. To glean useful information, online databases like Science Direct, PubMed, Wiley, Springer, Sage, Google Scholar, and Hindawi combed through actual scientific research papers. requisites for inclusion We used terms like "A. nilotica," "A. nilotica antioxidant," "conventional medicine," "antidiabetic," "antibacterial," "medicine," "toxicity," "antiviral," and "antimicrobial," as well as any other relevant terms as our search criteria. Exclusion standards: No information from dubious online sources was used in our investigation. Thesis papers, review articles, and articles written in languages other than English were also not included. Unquestionably, the results of this study will be helpful in evaluating the efficacy of the crude extracts of A. nilotica components as potential sources of natural antioxidants, antimicrobials, antiparasites, antidiabetic, and anticancer agents. However, more study is needed to identify the precise chemical responsible for the biological activity and advance to clinical trials before application in the pharmaceutical industry. Despite all promising research that has been done so far, there is still a lack of data, particularly from clinical investigations, that supports the adjunct use of A. nilotica. This promotes more preclinical and clinical investigations into A. nilotica.
Microbial biofilm formation on implantable devices causes chronic infections that cannot be treated with existing antimicrobials. Quorum sensing inhibitors (QSIs) have recently emerged as novel antimicrobials for the prevention of biofilm formation. But blocking QS alone is insufficient to inhibit biofilm‐associated chronic infections. Herein, chitosan hollow nanospheres are capped by bacteria‐responsive β‐casein to form a synergistic antifouling nanosystem consisting of a QSI and bactericide. β‐casein is degraded by protease in a bacteria‐colonized microenvironment in situ thus, QSI and bactericide are released sequentially. The release of QSI sensitises bacteria effectively through reduction of surface hydrophobicity, eDNA content, and lipopolysaccharide production in biofilms, amplifying the chemotherapeutic action of the bactericide. Compared to the uncoated surface, the coated surface inhibits biofilm formation and removes preformed biofilms of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 and methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus by 1.8 logs and 1.9 logs of biomass inhibition, respectively. The coated catheters are found to stay clean for 30 days under artificial urine flow, while the uncoated catheters are clogged by bacterial biofilms within 5 days. Finally, the long term antifouling activity in vivo is confirmed. Overall, the nanosystem is devoted to making urinary catheters resistant to bacterial biofilm formation for the long term.
Gum arabica is a local commercial nutraceutical and food preservative collected mostly from acacia plants. HPLC-DAD analysis identified gallic acid, syringic acid, ferulic acid, coumarin, rutin and rosmarinic acid in hydroethanol extracts of all three acacia species with ferulic acid being the most abundant component in Acacia ataxacantha (45.25 ± 0.33 mg/g) Acacia sieberiana (130.3 ± 0.65 mg/g) and Acacia nilotica (125.50 ± 0.51 mg/g). Extracts displayed good antioxidant capacities in β-carotene-linoleic acid, DPPH•, ABTS•+, CUPRAC and metal chelating assays and extracts were more active than the standards used in the DPPH•, ABTS•+ and CUPRAC assays. Extracts inhibited violacein production in Chromobacterium violaceum CV12472 at MIC and sub-MIC concentrations as well as quorum sensing in C. violaceum CV026 under externally supplied acylhomoserine lactone. The extracts showed antimicrobial activity with MIC values ranging from 0.1562 mg/mL to 2.5 mg/mL on Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella Typhi, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans with excellent biofilm inhibition at MIC and sub-MIC concentrations especially against E. coli. Extracts showed inhibitions on some enzymes with A. Sieberiana and A. Nilotica having very good anticholinesterase, antidiabetic (α-glucosidase and α-amylase) and antiurease activities. The results indicate the relevance of acacia in food applications.
Phenolic acids (PAs) are one of the utmost prevalent classes of plant-derived bioactive chemicals. They have a specific taste and odor, and are found in numerous medicinal and food plants, such as Cynomorium coccineum L., Prunus domestica (L.), and Vitis vinifera L. Their biosynthesis, physical and chemical characteristics and structure–activity relationship are well understood. These phytochemicals and their derivatives exert several bioactivities including but not limited to anticancer, cardioprotective, anti-inflammatory, immune-regulatory and anti-obesity properties. They are strong antioxidants because of hydroxyl groups which play pivotal role in their anticancer, anti-inflammatory and cardioprotective potential. They may play significant role in improving human health owing to anticarcinogenic, anti-arthritis, antihypertensive, anti-stroke, and anti-atherosclerosis activities, as several PAs have demonstrated biological activities against these disease during in vitro and in vivo studies. These PAs exhibited anticancer action by promoting apoptosis, targeting angiogenesis, and reducing abnormal cell growth, while anti-inflammatory activity was attributed to reducing proinflammatory cytokines. Pas exhibited anti-atherosclerotic activity via inhibition of platelets. Moreover, they also reduced cardiovascular complications such as myocardial infarction and stroke by activating Paraoxonase 1. The present review focuses on the plant sources, structure activity relationship, anticancer, anti-inflammatory and cardioprotective actions of PAs that is attributed to modulation of oxidative stress and signal transduction pathways, along with highlighting their mechanism of actions in disease conditions. Further, preclinical and clinical studies must be carried out to evaluate the mechanism of action and drug targets of PAs to understand their therapeutic actions and disease therapy in humans, respectively.
Multidrug resistance (MDR) in pathogenic bacteria have become a major clinical issue. Quorum sensing regulated bacterial virulence is a promising key drug target for MDR infections. Therefore, the aim of the present work was to assess the anti-quorum sensing properties of selected medicinal plants against bacterial pathogens as well in silico interaction of selected bioactive phytocompounds with QS and biofilm-associated proteins. Based on the ethnopharmacological usage, 18 plants were selected using methanolic extract against Chromobacterium violaceum 12472. The most active extract (Acacia nilotica) was fractionated in increasing polarity solvents (n-hexane, chloroform and ethyl acetate) and tested for anti-QS activity. The most active fraction i.e. ethyl acetate fraction was evaluated for their activity at sub-MICs against QS-associated virulence factors of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 and Serretia marcescens MTCC 97. Microtiter plate assay and light microscopy was used to determine inhibition of biofilm. Phytochemicals of the ethyl acetate fraction were analysed by GC/MS and LC/MS. Phytocompounds were docked with QS (LasI, LasR, CviR, and rhlR) and biofilm proteins (PilY1 and PilT) using Auto dock vina. The MIC of ethyl acetate fraction determined was 250, 500, and 1000 μg/ml against C. violaceum 12472, P. aeruginosa PAO1, and S. marcescens MTCC97 respectively. At sub-MICs QS regulated virulence factors production and inhibited biofilms broadly (more than 50 percent). GC/MS detected the major bioactive compound benzoic acid, 3,4,5-trihydroxy-, methyl ester (61.24 %) and LC-MS detected Retronecine for the first time in A. nilotica pods. In silico, dehydroabietic acid occupied the same cavity as its antagonist in the CviR ligand binding domain. Also, betulin and epicatechin gallate interact with biofilm proteins PilY1 and PilT, preventing biofilm formation. The findings suggest that the phytochemicals of A. nilotica pod could be exploited as an anti-QS agent against Gram-negative pathogens. To discover therapeutic efficacy of standardised bioactive extract/phytochemicals must be tested under in vivo condition.
Trees species are very crucial parts of the ecosystem and they provide quantifiable and unquantifiable benefits. This study assesses the tree species with medicinal properties within Sudano-Sahelian region of Nigeria. The data was collected through field survey of the tree species; structured surveys questionnaires which were administered randomly to the traditional herbal healers within the study area; key informant interview guides and focus group discussions with the traditional herbal healers. The data were subjected to descriptive statistical analysis. The result revealed that total number of Twenty (20) tree species, Thirteen (13) families, Eleven (11) orders, and Two (2) life forms were encountered in this Study. The results revealed that 92% of the tree species are used for the treatment of skin conditions; 89% treats fever of different kind; 81% treats stomach ache, worms, dysentery, cholera, and diarrhoea; 64% treats sore throat, Cough, and tuberculosis; 57% treats pains, rheumatism, toothache, and headache; 48% treats asthma, catarrh, sneezing, and chronic bronchitis; 33% treats sexually transmitted diseases; 17% treats leprosy; 15% are used for Insecticides and Insect repellants; and 11% treats epilepsy. This study has shown that all the tree species encountered on the field has medicinal properties. Traditional knowledge about the medicinal properties of various tree species within the study area has been passed down from one generation to another without proper study and documentation. Therefore unravelling this information and document it for both the present and future generation cannot be overemphasized.
A pair of novel trimeric indole alkaloid enantiomers [(±)-8], five new bisindole alkaloids [4–7 and (±)-9], and three pairs of new monomeric indole alkaloid enantiomers [(±)-1–(±)-3], together with seven known alkaloids (10–16), were isolated from the bark of Acacia confusa. Their structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic methods, especially by NMR data analyses combined with single-crystal X-ray diffraction and electronic circular dichroism analyses. Compounds 4 and 11–16 exhibited significant antinociceptive activities in an acetic acid-induced writhing test. Compounds (+)-9 and (−)-9 displayed anti-inflammatory activities through the inhibition of the NF-κB pathway, with inhibitory rates of 68.9% and 59.5%, respectively, at a concentration of 10 µM.
CareVid, is a multi-herbal product that is used in southwestern parts of Kenya as an immune booster and health tonic for the treatment and management of infections. Its use has been anecdotally claimed to improve the condition of HIV-positive patients. The product is made up of 14 plants comprising the of roots of Adenia gummifera (Harv.) Harms., Asparagus africanus Lam., Clematis hirsuta Guill. & Perr., Clutia robusta Pax (accepted as Clutia kilimandscharica Engl.), Dovyalis abyssinica (A.Rich.) Warb., Periploca linearifolia Quart.-Dill. & A.Rich., and Rhamnus prinoides L'Her, the stem bark of Acacia nilotica (L.) Willd. ex Delile (currently, Vachelia nilotica (L.) P.J.HHurter & Mabb.), Anthocleista grandiflora Gilg., Bersama abyssinica Fresen., Croton macrostachyus Hochst. ex Delile, Ekebergia capensis Sparm., and Prunus africana Hook.f. Kalkman, and whole plant of Plantago palmata Hook.f. To ensure a comprehensive understanding of the constituents of CareVid, a detailed review of the botany, phytochemistry and pharmacological activities of the plants used was carried out. Review of current literature revealed that an extract of B. abyssinica inhibited replication of HIV-1 at EC50 of 3.1 with a selectivity index of 3.8, whereas extracts from A. nilotica demonstrated inhibition activity against HIV-1 replication in HIV-infected MT-4 cells, and with considerable antiprotease enzyme activity. The extracts of P. africana also demonstrated HIV-1 reverse transcriptase enzyme inhibition activity at inhibitory concentrations of 50 and 100 µg/ml. In addition, individual plants have been reported to produce compounds that have been tested and showed to demonstrate modest anti-HIV activities. The compounds include epicatechin gallate, ellagic acid, gallic acid, procyanidin B, epicatechin, caffeic acid, oleanolic acid, ursolic acid, betulinic acid, lupeol, mascalinic acid, mangiferin, betulin, tremulacin, cucurmin, kaempferol and ferulic acid.
Quorum sensing (QS)-regulated bacterial biofilm formation is a crucial issue in causing resistance against existing antibiotics. There is a considerable necessity to disrupt the interrelationship between bacterial QS, virulence, and biofilm formation. Disabling QS could be a novel tactic of great clinical importance. Here, we biosynthesized silver nanoparticles (Ka-AgNPs) using the aqueous leaf extract of Koelreuteria paniculata as a reducing and capping agents. The UV–Vis spectroscopy confirmed the synthesis of Ka-AgNPs as a characterization peak observed at 420 nm. TEM image revealed the spherical shape distribution of Ka-AgNPs with average particle size of 30.0 ± 5 nm. The anti-QS activity of Ka-AgNPs was tested against a bio-indicator bacterium Chromobacterium violaceum 12472 and a multi-drug resistant model strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PAO1). The results demonstrated that the Ka-AgNPs superiorly inhibited QS-regulated virulence factors in PAO1 without affecting cell viability compared to chemically synthesized AgNPs (Cs-AgNPs). The Ka-AgNPs effectively suppressed the formation of biofilm of PAO1. RT-PCR results revealed that the Ka-AgNPs inhibited the expression of QS-regulated virulence genes of PAO1. These results suggest that the phyto-synthesized AgNPs could be used as promising anti-infective agents for treating drug-resistant P. aeruginosa.
Ethnopharmacological relevance: This is the first study of the indigenous knowledge in regard to the use of medicinal plants for the treatment of oral diseases in the Central Punjab, Pakistan region. The study aimed to document indigenous knowledge about the treatments of oral diseases using quantitative ethnobotanical indices, as well as highlighting important medicinal plant species by comparing the data obtained with previously published ethnobotanical and pharmacological data. Methods: The ethnomedicinal data was collected from local informants and Traditional Health Practitioners (THPs). The Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC) and Diseases Consensus Index (DCI) were calculated to analyse the documented data. The results were compared with those of the nine ethnobotanical studies highlighted in our literature review relating to oral disease, as well as many pharmacological studies evaluating the reported plants. Results: In total, 72 medicinal plants belonging to 38 families were reported by the 180 local informants and 17 THPs interviewed. The most commonly used family, life form and plant part used was Asteraceae (6 species), herbs (30 reports) and leaves (22 reports) respectively. The RFC ranged from 7.61% (Berberis lycium, Dodonea viscosa) to 51.78% (Abutilon indicum, Accacia nilotica, Cuscuta reflex and Solanum nigrum), while the DCI varied from 0.062 to 0.78 with the highest value of DCI for Zizyphus oxyphylla and the lowest for Abutilon indicum. The most prominent species based on quantitative indices in the present study and comparison with previous published data were Zizyphus oxyphylla, Pongamia pinnata, Launea nudicaulis, Acacia nilotica, Abutilon indicum, Salvadora persica and S. oleoides. Conclusion: This study has identified a range of medicinal plants traditionally used in Central Punjab, Pakistan for the treatment of oral diseases. This data can usefully inform the direction of future research and it is suggested that further detailed phyto-pharmacological, toxicological and clinical studies be conducted on the plant species documented in the study, especially those with the highest RFC and, DCI values.
Gardenia latifolia was extracted with ethanol and aqueous using cold-extraction. To evaluate the antiradical and antioxidant abilities of the extracts, four in vitro test systems were employed, i.e., dpph (1,1,diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl), nitric oxide, hydrogen peroxide and reducing power assay. The extracts exhibited outstanding antioxidant activities that were superior to that of standard. The ethanol extract exhibited the most significant antioxidant activities, and cold-extraction under stirring seemed to be the more efficacious method for acquiring the predominant antioxidants. Furthermore, the antioxidant activities and total phenol & flavonoids content of the extracts followed the same order, i.e., there is a good correlation between antioxidant activities and phenolic compounds. The results showed that these extracts, especially the ethanol extract, could be considered as natural antioxidants and may be useful for curing diseases arising from oxidative deterioration. Copyright©2017, Tamilselvi et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Context
Obesity-associated chronic metabolic disease is a leading contributor to mortality globally. Plants belonging to the genera Acacia are routinely used for the treatment of diverse metabolic diseases under different ethnomedicinal practices around the globe.
Objective
The current review centres around the pharmacological evidence of intestinal-level mechanisms for metabolic health benefits by Acacia spp.
Results
Acacia spp. increase the proportions of gut commensals (Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus) and reduces the population of opportunistic pathobionts (Escherichia coli and Clostridium). Acacia gum that is rich in fibre, can also be a source of prebiotics to improve gut health. The intestinal-level anti-inflammatory activities of Acacia are likely to contribute to improvements in gut barrier function that would prevent gut-to-systemic endotoxin translocation and limit “low-grade” inflammation associated with metabolic diseases.
Conclusion
This comprehensive review for the first time has emphasised the intestinal-level benefits of Acacia spp. which could be instrumental in limiting the burden of metabolic disease.
Cereal Chem. 76(6):902-906 Research was initiated to measure antioxidant activity of extracts from oat (Avena sativa L.) groats and hulls and the concentrations of phenolic substances that may contribute to antioxidant activity. Antioxidant activity of ethanolic extracts of four cultivars was evaluated by an in vitro assay that measures the inhibition of coupled autoxidation of linoleic acid and β-carotene. Total phenolic content was determined using Folin and Ciocalteau's phenol reagent and was expressed as gallic acid equivalents. Phenolic compounds were separated by reversed-phase HPLC and detected at 290 nm. Peaks were identified by comparing retention times and spectra with known standards and verified with internal standards. Groats had significantly higher antioxidant activity than hulls. For two cultivars, total phenolic content was similar in groats and hulls, whereas one cultivar had higher and another lower total phenolic content in groats than hulls. Ten phenolic compounds were separated and identified in extracts, and one flavan-3-ol and three avenanthramides were tentatively identified. The con- centrations of many of these compounds differed among cultivars and between fractions. In general, caffeic acid and the avenanthramides were predominantly found in groats, whereas many of the other phenolics were present in greater concentrations in hulls.
Four (red, violet, white and green) varieties of Allium cepa were studied for their total phenolic contents (TPC), antioxidant (AOA) and free radical scavenging activities (FRSA). The TPC varied from 4.6 to 74.1 mg/g GAE, AOA varied from 13.6% to 84.1% and FRSA showed wide range in terms of IC50 (inhibitory concentration) from 0.1 to 15.2 mg/ml, EC50 (efficient concentration) from 4.3 to 660.8 mg/mg and ARP (antiradical power) from 0.15 to 23.2. The outer dry layers of red and violet varieties showed better inhibition of lipid peroxidation assayed by ammonium thiocyanate than α-tocopherol. The non-site-specific inhibition of hydroxyl radical induced deoxyribose degradation was also higher in the outer dry layers of red and violet varieties than in their middle and inner layers. The outer layers were also potential inhibitors of nitroblue tetrazolium chloride (NBT) reduction caused by superoxide anions. On the other hand the ferrous ion chelating capacity of the red and violet varieties was highest in the inner layers. Specific phenolic composition performed through HPLC and LC–MS/MS showed the presence of gallic acid, ferulic acid, protocatechuic acid, quercetin, and kaempferol. The unutilised outer layers of the red variety were a rich source of quercetin (5110 μg/g) with high AOA, FRSA and also showed significant protection of DNA damage caused by free radicals.
The action of the phenolic compounds acetaminophen, salicylate, and 5-aminosalicylate (5-ASA) as inhibitors of lipid peroxidation was studied under conditions suitable for establishing their antioxidant potencies. These phenolic compounds react differently with diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and protect differently sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes against lipid peroxidation induced by Fe2+/ascorbate, as evaluated by the formation of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) and by the loss of the polyunsaturated fatty acyl chains. 5-Aminosalicylate reacts promptly with DPPH, suggesting a potent radical scavenger activity and was found to be the most active in inhibiting Fe2+/ascorbate-induced lipid peroxidation. These compounds also exhibit peroxyl radical scavenging activity generated by the water-soluble 2,2'-azobis-(2-amidinopropane hydrochloride) azoinitiator of peroxyl radicals, as evidenced by the inhibition of cis-parinaric acid fluorescence decay or oxygen consumption. 5-ASA rapidly scavenges peroxyl radicals in the aqueous phase, producing a concentration-dependent inhibition period similar to Trolox or cysteine, suggesting an antioxidant activity of chain-breaking type. By comparison, the reactivities of acetaminophen and salicylate are significantly weaker, acting essentially as oxidation retardants. Although closely related in structure, the antioxidant efficiencies of the three phenolic compounds are significantly different. The higher antioxidant activity of 5-ASA is putatively related with the p-amine relative to the hydroxyl group, potentially increasing the stability of the phenoxyl radical. Such a stabilization is not possible with salicylate and is decreased in acetaminophen by an electron withdrawing effect of the p-acetyl.
Dietary supplementation with nutrients rich in antioxidants is associated with inhibition of atherogenic modifications to LDL, macrophage foam cell formation, and atherosclerosis. Pomegranates are a source of polyphenols and other antioxidants.
We analyzed, in healthy male volunteers and in atherosclerotic apolipoprotein E-deficient (E(0)) mice, the effect of pomegranate juice consumption on lipoprotein oxidation, aggregation, and retention; macrophage atherogenicity; platelet aggregation; and atherosclerosis.
Potent antioxidative effects of pomegranate juice against lipid peroxidation in whole plasma and in isolated lipoproteins (HDL and LDL) were assessed in humans and in E(0) mice after pomegranate juice consumption for </=2 and 14 wk, respectively.
In humans, pomegranate juice consumption decreased LDL susceptibility to aggregation and retention and increased the activity of serum paraoxonase (an HDL-associated esterase that can protect against lipid peroxidation) by 20%. In E(0) mice, oxidation of LDL by peritoneal macrophages was reduced by up to 90% after pomegranate juice consumption and this effect was associated with reduced cellular lipid peroxidation and superoxide release. The uptake of oxidized LDL and native LDL by mouse peritoneal macrophages obtained after pomegranate juice administration was reduced by 20%. Finally, pomegranate juice supplementation of E(0) mice reduced the size of their atherosclerotic lesions by 44% and also the number of foam cells compared with control E(0) mice supplemented with water.
Pomegranate juice had potent antiatherogenic effects in healthy humans and in atherosclerotic mice that may be attributable to its antioxidative properties.
Free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been associated with the etiology and/or progression of a number of diseases and in aging. Many of the proteins oxidatively modified by free radicals contain side-chain carbonyl derivatives, which can be used as markers for protein oxidation. The protein carbonyl content has been quantitated as a function of age for human cultured dermal fibroblasts, lens, and brain tissue. These data were analyzed using a simple autocatalytic model with the assumption that free radicals randomly oxidize proteins or peptides to form carbonyl derivatives and lead to their inactivation. The carbonylated proteins and peptides are highly susceptible to proteolytic degradation. Implication of free radicals in aging and in age-dependent susceptibility to neurodegenerative diseases will be discussed in light of this simplified kinetic model.
N-acyl-L-homoserine lactones (AHLs) are co-regulatory ligands required for control of the expression of genes encoding virulence traits in many Gram-negative bacterial species. Recent studies have indicated that AHLs modulate the cellular concentrations of LuxR-type regulatory proteins by binding and fortifying these proteins against proteolytic degradation (Zhu & Winans, 2001 ). Halogenated furanones produced by the macroalga Delisea pulchra inhibit AHL-dependent gene expression. This study assayed for an in vivo interaction between a tritiated halogenated furanone and the LuxR protein of Vibrio fischeri overproduced in Escherichia coli. Whilst a stable interaction between the algal metabolite and the bacterial protein was not found, it was noted by Western analysis that the half-life of the protein is reduced up to 100-fold in the presence of halogenated furanones. This suggests that halogenated furanones modulate LuxR activity but act to destabilize, rather than protect, the AHL-dependent transcriptional activator. The furanone-dependent reduction in the cellular concentration of the LuxR protein was associated with a reduction in expression of a plasmid encoded P(luxI)-gfp(ASV) fusion suggesting that the reduction in LuxR concentration is the mechanism by which furanones control expression of AHL-dependent phenotypes. The mode of action by which halogenated furanones reduce cellular concentrations of the LuxR protein remains to be characterized.
Curcumin removed turmeric oleoresin (CRTO) was extracted with hexane concentrated to get turmeric oil, and that was fractionated using silica gel column chromatography to obtain three fractions. These fractions were analyzed by GC and GC-MS. Turmeric oil contained aromatic turmerone (31.32%), turmerone (15.08%) and curlone (9.7%), whereas fractions III has aromatic turmerone (44.5%), curlone (19.22%) and turmerone (10.88%) as major compounds Also, oxygenated compounds (5,6,8-10) were enriched in fraction III. Turmeric oil and its fractions were tested for antioxidant activity using the beta-carotene-linoleate model system and the phosphomolybdenum method. The fraction III showed maximum antioxidant capacity. These fractions were also used to determine their protective effect against the mutagenicity of sodium azide by means of the Ames test. All the fractions and turmeric oil exhibited a markedly antimutagenicity but fraction III was the most effective. The antioxidant effects of turmeric oil and its fractions may provide an explanation for their antimutagenic action.
Flavonoids can exert beneficial health effects through multiple mechanisms. In this paper, we address the important, although not fully understood, capacity of flavonoids to interact with cell membranes. The interactions of polyphenols with bilayers include: (a) the partition of the more non-polar compounds in the hydrophobic interior of the membrane, and (b) the formation of hydrogen bonds between the polar head groups of lipids and the more hydrophilic flavonoids at the membrane interface. The consequences of these interactions are discussed. The induction of changes in membrane physical properties can affect the rates of membrane lipid and protein oxidation. The partition of certain flavonoids in the hydrophobic core can result in a chain breaking antioxidant activity. We suggest that interactions of polyphenols at the surface of bilayers through hydrogen bonding, can act to reduce the access of deleterious molecules (i.e. oxidants), thus protecting the structure and function of membranes.
With the widespread appearance of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, there is an increasing demand for novel strategies to control
infectious diseases. Furthermore, it has become apparent that the bacterial life style also contributes significantly to this
problem. Bacteria living in the biofilm mode of growth tolerate conventional antimicrobial treatments. The discovery that
many bacteria use quorum-sensing (QS) systems to coordinate virulence and biofilm development has pointed out a new, promising
target for antimicrobial drugs. We constructed a collection of screening systems, QS inhibitor (QSI) selectors, which enabled
us to identify a number of novel QSIs among natural and synthetic compound libraries. The two most active were garlic extract
and 4-nitro-pyridine-N-oxide (4-NPO). GeneChip-based transcriptome analysis revealed that garlic extract and 4-NPO had specificity for QS-controlled
virulence genes in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. These two QSIs also significantly reduced P. aeruginosa biofilm tolerance to tobramycin treatment as well as virulence in a Caenorhabditis elegans pathogenesis model.
Polyphenols have been shown to induce apoptosis in a variety of tumor cells including leukemia both in vitro and in vivo. However, their action on normal human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) during oxidative stress remains to be explored. In this study, we have evaluated the anti-apoptotic and radical scavenging activities of dietary phenolics, namely caffeic acid (CA), ellagic acid (EA) and ferulic acid (FA). H2O2-induced apoptosis in normal human PBMCs was assayed by phosphotidylserine externalization, nucleosomal damage and DNA fragmentation. Incubation of PBMCs with 5 mM H2O2 led to increased Annexin-V binding to externalized phosphatidyl serine (PS), an event of pre-apoptotic stage of the cell. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells pretreated with phenolics could resist H2O2-induced apoptotic damage. Caffeic acid (60 and 120 microM) and EA (100 and 200 microM) caused no change in externalization of PS, whereas FA (100 and 200 microM) increased externalization of PS in PBMCs treated with H2O2. The effects of phenolics were abolished to a large extent by culturing the PBMCs for 24 h after washing the phenolics from the medium. Inhibitory activities of these phenolics on lipid peroxidation were in the order of EA<CA<FA. DPPH-scavenging activities of EA, CA and FA were found to be 31.2+/-1.36, 50+/-1.86 and 73.0+/-1.58 microM respectively. Although, the phenolics significantly inhibited DNA damage and lipid peroxidation, they could not alter the Bcl-2 expression in PBMCs. In conclusion, the anti-apoptotic effect of EA, CA and FA in PBMCs seems to be through the Bcl-2 independent mechanism.
Seven flavonoids and three non-flavonoid antioxidants, i.e. butylated hydroxyanisole, chlorpromazine and BW 755 C, were studied as potential scavengers of oxygen free radicals. Superoxide anions were generated enzymatically in a xanthine-xanthine oxidase system and non-enzymatically in a phenazine methosulphate-NADH system, and assayed by reduction of nitro blue tetrazolium. The generation of malonaldehyde (MDA) by the ascorbate-stimulated air-oxidised boiled rat liver microsomes was considered as an index of the non-enzymatic formation of hydroxyl radicals. Flavonoids but not non-flavonoid antioxidants lowered the concentration of detectable superoxide anions in both enzymic and non-enzymic systems which generated these SOD-sensitive radicals. The most effective inhibitors of superoxide anions were quercetin, myricetin and rutin. Four out of seven investigated flavonoids seemed also to suppress the activity of xanthine oxidase as measured by a decrease in uric acid biosynthesis. All ten investigated compounds inhibited the MDA formation by rat liver microsomes. Non-flavonoid antioxidants were more potent MDA inhibitors than flavonoids. It is concluded that antioxidant properties of flavonoids are effected mainly via scavenging of superoxide anions whereas non-flavonoid antioxidants act on further links of free radical chain reactions, most likely by scavenging of hydroxyl radicals.
The antioxidative activities of hydroalcoholic extract of Achillea santolina were investigated employing various established in vitro systems including total antioxidant activity in linoleic acid emulsion system, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), superoxide and hydroxyl radicals scavenging, reducing power, and inhibitory effect on protein oxidation as well as the inhibition of Fe2+/ascorbate induced lipid peroxidation in rat liver homogenate. Total phenolic and flavonoid content of A. santolina extract (ASE) was also determined by a colorimetric method. The results revealed that ASE has notable inhibitory activity on peroxides formation in linoleic acid emulsion system along with concentration-dependent quenching of DPPH and superoxide radicals. Furthermore, the extract showed both nonsite-specific (Fe2++H2O2+EDTA) and site-specific (Fe2++H2O2) hydroxyl radical scavenging suggesting potent hydroxyl radical scavenging and chelating ability for iron ions in deoxyribose degradation model. A linear correlation between ASE and the reducing power was also observed (r2=0.9981). ASE prevents thiobarbituric acid reactive substances formation in Fe2+/ascorbate induced lipid peroxidation in rat liver tissue in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, free radical induced protein oxidation was suppressed significantly by the addition of ASE over a range of concentration. These results clearly demonstrated that A. santolina extract possess a marked antioxidant activity.
Four derivatives of (+)-catechin-5-gallate present in very low concentrations in the bark of Acacia nilotica were isolated and characterized from the acetone extract. An attempt was made to synthesize some of the (+)-catechin galloyl esters found to date.
Neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) is perhaps the most useful traditional medicinal plant in India. Each part of the neem tree has some medicinal property and is thus commercially exploitable. During the last five decades, apart from the chemistry of the neem compounds, considerable progress has been achieved regarding the biological activity and medicinal applications of neem. It is now considered as a valuable source of unique natural products for development of medicines against various diseases and also for the development of industrial products. This review gives a bird's eye view mainly on the biological activities of some of the neem compounds isolated, pharmacological actions of the neem extracts, clinical studies and plausible medicinal applications of neem along with their safety evaluation.
textlessptextgreatertextlessbr/textgreaterThis paper presents the in vivo antioxidant activity of soy isoflavones in human subjects determined by the urinary excretion of secondary lipid peroxidation products. Ten healthy women 18-35 years of age consumed a self-selected diet and avoided legumes, whole grains, and isoflavone containing foods. A powdered soy protein isolate was added daily to their diet that provided 3 levels of isoflavones: control 0.15, low 1.01, and high 2.01 mg/kg body weight. Subjects were randomized to consume all three diets for 13 weeks each, with each subject serving as her own control. Urine samples were analyzed from 24-hr collections at the end of each diet period for lipophilic aldehydes and related carbonyl compounds by HPLC. Results show that six of the individual urinary nonpolar compounds (NPC) levels were significantly lower due to consumption of the high isoflavone diet and one was also significantly lower due to consumption of the low isoflavone diet. The total of the individually measured urinary NPC was significantly lower with consumption of both the low and high isoflavone diets when compared with the control diet.textless/ptextgreater
The antioxidant effect of extracts from leaves, raw cortex, and roasted cortex of Du-zhong was evaluated using various lipid peroxidation models. The inhibitory activity of extracts of Du-zhong (200 μg/mL) on the peroxidation of linoleic acid measured by thiocyanate method followed the order leaves (99.9%) > roasted cortex (95.9%) > raw cortex (77.2%) at 60 h of incubation. The IC20 for leaves, roasted cortex, and raw cortex on the peroxidation of liposome, induced by Fe3+/H2O2/ascorbic acid, was <0.06, 0.24, and 0.81 mg/mL, respectively. The thiobarbituric acid reactive substances values for leaves, roasted cortex, and raw cortex were 0.12, 1.54, and 1.81 μmol of malondialdehyde/mg of protein in enzyme-mediated microsomal peroxidation and 0.08, 0.69, and 0.88 μmol of malondialdehyde/mg of protein in the nonenzyme-mediated microsomal peroxidation, respectively. The antioxidant activity of extracts of Du-zhong correlates to their polyphenol content. The results presented herein indicate that extracts of Du-zhong leaves may be useful in inhibiting membrane lipid peroxidation and preventing free radical-linked disease. Keywords: Du-zhong tea; water extracts; antioxidant activity; lipid peroxidation; free radical
Iron was released from ferritin by both cysteine and ascorbate at the pH found in muscle foods (5.5-6.9). The rate of iron release from ferritin was influenced by temperature and ferritin and reducing agent concentrations. Storing beef muscle at 4°C for 11 days resulted in a decrease in the concentration of ferritin antibody precipitatable iron, suggesting that iron is released from ferritin in situ. Physiological concentrations of ferritin catalyzed lipid oxidation in vitro, and heating ferritin increased the rate of lipid oxidation. These data suggest that ferritin could be involved in the development of off-flavors in both cooked and uncooked muscle foods.
The scavenging effect of methanolic extracts of peanut hulls (MEPH) on free-radical and active-oxygen species was investigated. MEPH showed marked activity as a radical scavenger in the experiment using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical, indicating that MEPH has effective activities as a hydrogen donor and as a primary antioxidant to react with lipid radicals. MEPH also possessed antioxidative activity toward hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and superoxide (O2 radical anion), indicating that MEPH has a scavenging activity on H2O2 and O2 radical anion. The scavenging effect of MEPH on hydroxyl radical was investigated by means of electron paramagnetic resonance spectrometry. MEPH exhibited a marked scavenging effect on hydroxyl radical, and the scavenging activity of MEPH depended on its concentrations. These results indicate that MEPH is also active as an oxygen scavenger and as a secondary antioxidant. The overall antioxidant effect of MEPH on lipid peroxidation might be attributed to its properties of scavenging free-radical and active-oxygen species.
Red clover is a rich source of isoflavones which are reported to have beneficial estrogenic effects and, moreover, contains significant amounts of polyphenolic substances which are known for their potential bio-active antioxidant properties and radical scavenging capacity. The concentration of total polyphenols was remarkably high in the red clover extract (153 mgyg) and in a red clover based food supplement (114 mgyg), above all in comparison to soy extract (18 mgyg). In correlation with the respective total content of polyphenols, the DPPH radical scavenging capacity was found to be most pronounced in the red clover extract (EC : 0.32 mgyml; ARP: 7) and the red clover preparation (EC : 0.50 mgyml; ARP: 5) whereas the soy preparation 50 50 showed only minor radical scavenging capacity (EC : 1.09 mgyml; ARP: 2). In consideration of the beneficial nutritional-50 physiological and health promoting effects of isoflavones and polyphenols red clover extract could be regarded as a potent antioxidant and radical scavenging active and functional food ingredient or dietary food supplement.
In order to find antioxidant potential, seeds of 30 varieties of Glycine max were studied for their total phenolic contents (TPC), flavonoids and antioxidant activity (AOA). The seed extracts showed wide variation of TPC from 6.4 to 81.7 mg GAE/g, flavonoids 3.5 to 44.6 mg QE/g and AOA 7.5% to 74.7%. Free radical-scavenging activity (FRSA), assayed by DPPH in terms of IC50 (inhibitory concentration), ranged from 0.14 to 0.80 mg/ml, EC50 (efficiency concentration) from 6.1 to 34.8 mg/mg DPPH, ARP (anti-radical power) 2.9 to 16.4 and reducing power from 1.9 to 4.7 ASE/ml. Variety Kalitur showed highest the FRSA followed by Alankar and Hara soya, as evident from their low IC50, EC50 and high ARP values. Alankar, Kalitur NRC-37, PK-472, VLS-47, Hara soya varieties were with comparatively higher TPC (52.7–81.7 mg GAE/g), AOA (50.5–74.7%) and showed better inhibition of peroxide formation assayed through ammonium thiocyanate and egg yolk, non-site-specific and site-specific inhibition of hydroxyl radical induced deoxyribose degradation and ferrous ion-chelating capacity than did the other varieties. Seed extracts of these varieties and leaves of Kalitur showed significant protection against DNA damage caused by free radicals. The agri-wastes of some promising varieties, e.g. Alankar, Kalitur, NRC-37 and PK-472, showed TPC ranging from 27.4 to 167 mg GAE/g, total flavanoids from 10.4 to 63.8 mg QE/g and AOA from 26.5% to 84.7% and their values were highest in the leaves, followed by pod pericarp and twigs. Out of all the varieties studied, leaves of Alankar and Kalitur varieties were more potent free radical-scavengers than were seeds, pod pericarp or twigs. The specific phenolic compositions and their quantifications were performed by HPLC and MS/MS, which showed that the seeds of Kalitur were higher in genistin (127 μg/g), seeds and leaves of Alankar in diadzin (113 μg/g) and gallic acid (87.2 μg/g), respectively. The present studies may be of importance in varietal improvement, nutraceuticals, bio-pharmaceuticals and utilization of agri-wastes as possible cost-effective natural antioxidants.
Complex I (NADH-ubiquinone reductase) and Complex III (ubiquinol-cytochrome c reductase) supplemented with NADH generated O2− at maximum rates of 9.8 and 6.5 nmol/min/mg of protein, respectively, while, in the presence of superoxide dismutase, the same systems generated H2O2 at maximum rates of 5.1 and 4.2 nmol/min/mg of protein, respectively. H2O2 was essentially produced by disproportionation of O2−, which constitutes the precursor of H2O2. The effectiveness of the generation of oxygen intermediates by Complex I in the absence of other specific electron acceptors was 0.95 mol of O2− and 0.63 mol of H2O2/mol of NADH. A reduced form of ubiquinone appeared to be responsible for the reduction of O2 to O2−, since (a) ubiquinone constituted the sole common major component of Complexes I and III, (b) H2O2 generation by Complex I was inhibited by rotenone, and (c) supplementation of Complex I with exogenous ubiquinones increased the rate of H2O2 generation. The efficiency of added quinones as peroxide generators decreased in the order Q1 > Q0 > Q2 > Q6 = Q10, in agreement with the quinone capacity of acting as electron acceptor for Complex I. In the supplemented systems, the exogenous quinone was reduced by Complex I and oxidized nonenzymatically by molecular oxygen. Additional evidence for the role of ubiquinone as peroxide generator is provided by the generation of O2− and H2O2 during autoxidation of quinols. In oxygenated buffers, ubiquinol (Q0H2), benzoquinol, duroquinol and menadiol generated O2− with k3 values of 0.1 to 1.4 m− · s−1 and H2O2 with k4 values of 0.009 to 4.3 m−1 · s−1.
This paper reports the first approach to the antioxidant potential evaluation of traditional stoned table olives “alcaparras”. This kind of olives are largely produced and consumed in Trás-os-Montes region (Northeast of Portugal). Different solvents and temperature extraction conditions were employed in order to achieve the best method to obtain phenolic compounds and a higher antioxidant activity. The optimum method (water at boiling temperature) was applied on 10 samples from the traditional market. The total phenol content ranged between 5.58 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g and 29.88 mg GAE/g and effective concentration (EC50) values were in the range 0.36–1.64 and 0.34–1.72 mg/mL for reducing power and radical scavenging effect, respectively. A significantly negative linear regression was observed between the total phenol content found in the samples and its antioxidant activity.
The antioxidant activities of the methanolic extract of Cinnamomum verum barks (CBE) were evaluated with reference to antioxidant compounds like butylated hydroxyl anisole, trolox and ascorbic acid. By virtue of their hydrogen donating ability, all of the tested compounds and CBE exhibited reducing power. They were found to be potent in free radical scavenging activity especially against DPPH radicals and ABTS radical cations. The hydroxyl (OH) and superoxide radicals were also scavenged by the tested compounds. CBE also exhibited metal chelating activity. The peroxidation inhibiting activity of CBE recorded using a linoleic acid emulsion system, showed very good antioxidant activity.
The antioxidant activity of grape juices, wines made from the same lot as juices and their major polyphenolic constituents was measured by the inhibition of lipid oxidation (ferric-thiocyanate) and free radical scavenging (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) methods. dl-α-Tocopherol and 3-tertiary-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole (BHA) were used as references. The inhibition of lipid oxidation of the standards followed the order: rutin = ferulic acid > tannic acid = gallic acid = resveratrol > BHA = quercetin > dl-α-tocopherol > caffeic acid. Meanwhile, the free radical scavenging activity of gallic acid was the highest, tannic acid, caffeic acid, quercetin, BHA and rutin activities were intermediate and that for ferulic acid, dl-α-tocopherol and resveratrol were the lowest. Wines had higher activity than the corresponding grape juices and red wine showed the strongest activity among the grape products tested. The antioxidant activity of the samples seems to be based on their free radical scavenging capacity.
The reaction of lipid peroxides in animal tissues with thiobarbituric acid was dependent on pH of the reaction mixture as was the case for linoleic acid hydroperoxide. The optimum pH was found to be 3.5. Taking this fact into consideration, a standard procedure for the assay of lipid peroxide level in animal tissues by their reaction with thiobarbituric acid was developed as follows. Ten percent ( tissue homogenate was mixed with sodium dodecyl sulfate, acetate buffer (pH 3.5), and aqueous solution of thiobarbituric acid. After heating at 95°C for 60 min, the red pigment produced was extracted with n-butanol-pyridine mixture and estimated by the absorbance at 532nm. As an external standard, tetramethoxy-propane was used, and lipid peroxide level was expressed in terms of nmol malondialdehyde. Using this method, the liped peroxide level in the liver of rats suffering from carbon tetrachloride intoxication was investigated. The results were in good agreement with previously reported data obtained by measuring diene content.
Lipid peroxidation and loss of enzymes located predominantly in either periportal or centrilobular hepatocytes were investigated in precision-cut liver slices from male Sprague-Dawley rats. Pretreatment of animals with 80 mg/kg phenobarbital for the site-specific enzyme studies enhanced and accelerated CCl4 toxicity in slices resulting from increased radical formation. Liver slices were exposed to 0.57 mM CCl4 by vaporization using a roller incubation system at 37 degrees C for a total of 9 hr. Conjugated diene formation, an index of lipid peroxidation, was detected 15 min following CCl4 administration and increased over time. Loss of cytochrome P450 occurred in a time-dependent manner relative to controls where levels in treated slices were 42% of controls at 9 hr. A 48-hr fast prior to termination increased intracellular K+ leakage relative to that present in slices from fed animals. Significant leakage of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and beta-glucuronidase from centrilobular hepatocytes occurred 9 hr following CCl4 administration. The content of the periportal enzymes (lactate dehydrogenase and sorbitol dehydrogenase) was unchanged in the same slices over the duration of the experiment. Reduction of 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5- diphenyltetrazolium bromide, a mitochondrial selective dye and indicator of viability, was significantly lower in treated slices from phenobarbital-treated animals at 9 hr relative to controls. These studies demonstrate that precision-cut slices are an ideal in vitro system for mechanistic studies and the investigation of site-specific toxicants since the integral architecture of the liver and cellular identity are maintained.
It has been suggested that antioxidant administration to rats would reduce the physiological response to stress. In the present experiment adult male rats were given diets supplemented with vitamin E for one or seven days before they were subjected to immobilization stress. Vitamin E administration reduced hepatic and gastric lipid peroxidation in unstressed rats but did not modify the pituitary-adrenal, glucose and lactose responses to 1 or 18 h immobilization. Similarly, gastric ulceration caused by 18 h immobilization was unaffected by the diets. These results indicate that the inhibition of lipid peroxidation does not modify the response of several, well-known, stress-markers in the rat.
Seven flavonoids and three non-flavonoid antioxidants, i.e. butylated hydroxyanisole, chlorpromazine and BW 755 C, were studied as potential scavengers of oxygen free radicals. Superoxide anions were generated enzymatically in a xanthine-xanthine oxidase system and non-enzymatically in a phenazine methosulphate-NADH system, and assayed by reduction of nitro blue tetrazolium. The generation of malonaldehyde (MDA) by the ascorbate-stimulated air-oxidised boiled rat liver microsomes was considered as an index of the non-enzymatic formation of hydroxyl radicals. Flavonoids but not non-flavonoid antioxidants lowered the concentration of detectable superoxide anions in both enzymic and non-enzymic systems which generated these SOD-sensitive radicals. The most effective inhibitors of superoxide anions were quercetin, myricetin and rutin. Four out of seven investigated flavonoids seemed also to suppress the activity of xanthine oxidase as measured by a decrease in uric acid biosynthesis. All ten investigated compounds inhibited the MDA formation by rat liver microsomes. Non-flavonoid antioxidants were more potent MDA inhibitors than flavonoids. It is concluded that antioxidant properties of flavonoids are effected mainly via scavenging of superoxide anions whereas non-flavonoid antioxidants act on further links of free radical chain reactions, most likely by scavenging of hydroxyl radicals.
Hydroxyl radicals, generated by reaction of an iron-EDTA complex with H2O2 in the presence of ascorbic acid, attack deoxyribose to form products that, upon heating with thiobarbituric acid at low pH, yield a pink chromogen. Added hydroxyl radical "scavengers" compete with deoxyribose for the hydroxyl radicals produced and diminish chromogen formation. A rate constant for reaction of the scavenger with hydroxyl radical can be deduced from the inhibition of color formation. For a wide range of compounds, rate constants obtained in this way are similar to those determined by pulse radiolysis. It is suggested that the deoxyribose assay is a simple and cheap alternative to pulse radiolysis for determination of rate constants for reaction of most biological molecules with hydroxyl radicals. Rate constants for reactions of ATP, ADP, and Good's buffers with hydroxyl radicals have been determined by this method.
A method has been developed for the quantitative analysis of phenolic substances having non-substituted phenolic groups after their separation by thin-layer chromatography on silica gel or cellulose. After the clear detection of the phenolic substance on the chromatoplate by means of Folin-Ciocalteu reagent, the quantitative spectrophotometric determination of the substance is carried out by transferring the sorbent area containing the spot into a test-tube and using the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent, without the necessity for carrying out a prior elution for the recovery of the substance.The method appears to have good accuracy and to be suitable for general application.
The reduction of nitro blue tetrazolium (NitroBT) with NADH mediated by phenazine methosulfate (PMS) under aerobic conditions was inhibited upon addition of superoxide dismutase. This observation indicated the involvement of superoxide aninon radical (O2−) in the reduction of NitroBT, the radical being generated in the reoxidation of reduced PMS. Similarly, the reduction of NitroBT coupled to D-amino acid oxidase-PMS system under aerobic conditions was also inhibited by superoxide dismutase. A simple method for detecting superoxide dismutase is described.
The purpose of this article is to explain what oxygen radicals are, how transition metals are involved in their formation and reactivity, and the role played by radicals and metals in some disease states.
The polyphenolic antioxidants, consumed as an integral part of vegetables, fruits and beverages, are suggested as possessing anticarcinogenic properties. In the present study we have looked into the anticarcinogenic potential of plant polyphenols ellagic acid (EA) and quercetin against N-nitrosodiethylamine-induced lung tumorigenesis in mice. Ellagic acid was able to significantly reduce tumour incidence to 20% from the control value of 72.2%. Similarly, tumour burden was also decreased, although not significantly, from 3.15 to 2.5. Quercetin (QR) caused the tumour incidence to decrease from 76.4% to 44.4% when fed until the third dose of carcinogen. Both of the polyphenols suppressed the tumour incidence mainly by acting at the initiation phase of the carcinogenesis, since continuing the feeding of polyphenols until the termination of the experiment did not cause any apparent change in tumour incidence or tumour burden. Besides this, ellagic acid was found to be a better chemopreventor than quercetin. In order to search for their mechanism of action, the effect of feeding of these compounds on reduced glutathione (GSH), an important endogenous antioxidant, and on lipid peroxidation was investigated. Both ellagic acid and QR caused a significant increase in GSH and decrease in NADPH- and ascorbate-dependent lipid peroxidation. Ellagic acid was found to be more effective in decreasing the lipid peroxidation and increasing the GSH. This may be one of the reasons for its observed better anticarcinogenic property as compared to quercetin.
Fatty acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs) are used as extracellular quorum sensing signals by a variety of gram-negative bacteria. By activating proteins belonging to the LuxR family of transcriptional regulators, these signal metabolites allow population density-dependent gene regulation within a species, as well as interspecies communication among different bacteria. The experimental detection of AHLs is important in the identification of quorum sensing capabilities in bacteria. Chromobacterium violaceum is a gram-negative bacterium that produces the purple pigment violacein in response to the presence of the AHL N-hexanoyl homoserine lactone (C6HSL). The mini-Tn5 mutant strain C. violaceum CV0blu is deficient in the production of this signal molecule but retains the ability to synthesize violacein in response to the presence of C6HSL and a variety of other short-chain AHLs. We have developed a quantitative bioassay that measures the amount of violacein produced by this strain in response to the presence of different concentrations of various AHL molecules. This new assay provides a means of quantifying the amount of a given AHL present in a bacterial culture and can be used to measure differences in AHL production among different strains or different batch cultures of a given species.
An ethanol extract of the stem of Opuntia ficus-indica var. saboten (OFS) was assessed to determine the mechanism(s) of its antioxidant activity. The ethanol extract exhibited a concentration-dependent inhibition of linoleic acid oxidation in a thiocyanate assay system. In addition, the OFS extract showed dose-dependent free-radical scavenging activity, including DPPH radicals, superoxide anions (O(2)(*-)), and hydroxyl radicals (*OH), using different assay systems. The OFS ethanol extract was also found to be effective in protecting plasmid DNA against the strand breakage induced by hydroxyl radicals in a Fenton's reaction mixture. Furthermore, the extract showed significant (p < 0.01) dose-dependent protection of mouse splenocytes against glucose oxidase-mediated cytotoxicity. Finally, the OFS extract was characterized as containing a high amount of phenolics (180.3 mg/g), which might be the active compounds responsible for the antioxidant properties of the OFS extract.
Liquid chromatography coupled with ionspray mass spectrometry in the tandem mode (LC/MS/MS) with negative ion detection was used for the identification of a variety of phenolic compounds in a cocoa sample. Gradient elution with water and acetonitrile, both containing 0.1% HCOOH, was used. Standard solutions of 31 phenolic compounds, including benzoic and cinnamic acids and flavonoid compounds, were studied in the negative ion mode using MS/MS product ion scans. At low collisional activation, the deprotonated molecule [M - H](-) was observed for all the compounds studied. For cinnamic and benzoic acids, losses of CO(2) or formation of [M - CH(3)](-*) in the case of methoxylated compounds were observed. However, for flavonol and flavone glycosides, the spectra present both the deprotonated molecule [M - H](-) of the glycoside and the ion corresponding to the deprotonated aglycone [A - H](-). The latter ion is formed by loss of the rhamnose, glucose, galactose or arabinose residue from the glycosides. Different fragmentation patterns were observed in MS/MS experiments for flavone-C-glycosides which showed fragmentation in the sugar part. Fragmentation of aglycones provided characteristic ions for each family of flavonoids. The optimum LC/MS/MS conditions were applied to the characterization of a cocoa sample that had been subjected to an extraction/clean-up procedure which involved chromatography on Sephadex LH20 and thin-layer chromatographic monitoring. In addition to compounds described in the literature, such as epicatechin and catechin, quercetin, isoquercitrin (quercetin-3-O-glucoside) and quercetin-3-O-arabinose, other compounds were identified for the first time in cocoa samples, such as hyperoside (quercetin-3-O-galactoside), naringenin, luteolin, apigenin and some O-glucosides and C-glucosides of these compounds.
In this study the correlation of phytochemical characteristics and antioxidative properties of classical herbal tea extracts-Infusum solidaginis, Decoctum solidaginis, Maceratum solidaginis-and tinctures prepared by various concentration of ethanol (40, 70, 96% v/v) have been examined for the release of flavonoids and their antioxidant activity. Quantitative and composition determination of flavonoids were carried out by spectrophotometry, high-performance liquid chromatography and capillary electrophoresis, respectively. Hydrogen-donating ability and reducing power properties were used to define in vitro radical scavenging activity of Solidago extracts, but integral antioxidative capacity was determined by luminometry (Photochem), calculating the ascorbic acid equivalents. Chlorogenic acid, quercetin-3-O-beta-D-rutinoside, quercetin-3-O-beta-D-galactoside, quercetin-3-O-beta-D-glucoside, quercetin-3-O-beta-D-rhamnoside, kaempferol-3-O-alpha-L-rhamnoside and quercetin were confirmed by retention times and UV spectra. Based on the dissolution rate, variance of flavonoid release and ascorbic acid equivalents it was concluded, that Tinctura solidaginis (70% v/v ethanol) and Infusum solidaginis are the most appropriate preparations.
Since 1922 when Wu proposed the use of the Folin phenol reagent for
the measurement of proteins (l), a number of modified analytical pro-
cedures ut.ilizing this reagent have been reported for the determination
of proteins in serum (2-G), in antigen-antibody precipitates (7-9), and
in insulin (10).
Although the reagent would seem to be recommended by its great sen-
sitivity and the simplicity of procedure possible with its use, it has not
found great favor for general biochemical purposes.
In the belief that this reagent, nevertheless, has considerable merit for
certain application, but that its peculiarities and limitations need to be
understood for its fullest exploitation, it has been studied with regard t.o
effects of variations in pH, time of reaction, and concentration of react-
ants, permissible levels of reagents commonly used in handling proteins,
and interfering subst.ances. Procedures are described for measuring pro-
tein in solution or after precipitation wit,h acids or other agents, and for
the determination of as little as 0.2 y of protein.
To study the antioxidant activity of quince fruit (pulp, peel, and seed) and jam, methanolic extracts were prepared. Each extract was fractionated into a phenolic fraction and an organic acid fraction and was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)/diode array detection and HPLC/UV, respectively. Antiradical activities of the extracts and fractions were evaluated by a microassay using 1,1'-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl. The phenolic fraction always exhibited a stronger antioxidant activity than the whole methanolic extract. Organic acid extracts were always the weakest in terms of antiradical activity, which seems to indicate that the phenolic fraction gives a higher contribution for the antioxidant potential of quince fruit and jam. The evaluation of the antioxidant activity of methanolic extracts showed that peel extract was the one presenting the highest antioxidant capacity. The IC50 values of quince pulp, peel, and jam extracts were correlated with the caffeoylquinic acids total content. Among the phenolic fractions, the seed extract was the one that exhibited the strongest antioxidant activity. The IC50 values of quince pulp, peel, and jam phenolic extracts were strongly correlated with caffeoylquinic acids and phenolics total contents. For organic acid fractions, the peel extract was the one that had the strongest antiradical activity. The IC50 values of quince pulp, peel, and jam organic acid fractions were correlated with the ascorbic acid and citric acid contents.
Four successive and two crude extracts of Aporosa lindleyana Baill. root were tested for antioxidant activity using standard in vitro and in vivo models. The successive methanol and ethyl acetate and crude 50% methanol extracts showed antioxidant activity with IC50 values 3.51+/-0.27, 6.09+/-1.00 and 7.34+/-0.46 microg/ml, respectively, in DPPH method. In the nitric oxide radical inhibition method, the successive ethyl acetate, petroleum ether and methanol extracts showed antioxidant activity. The successive methanol extract at 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight administered for 5 days prior to CCl4 treatment caused a significant increase in the levels of catalase and SOD and a significant decrease in the level of TBARS in liver, kidney and blood, when compared to CCl4 treated control. These results indicate strong antioxidant nature of Aporosa lindleyana root. The in vitro cytotoxicity studies against normal Vero cell lines indicate non-toxic nature of the root extracts. The study provides a proof for the ethnomedical and reported biological activities.
Bacterial intercellular communication, or quorum sensing (QS), controls the pathogenesis of many medically important organisms. Anti-QS compounds are known to exist in marine algae and have the ability to attenuate bacterial pathogenicity. We hypothesized that terrestrial plants traditionally used as medicines may also produce anti-QS compounds. To test this hypothesis, 50 medicinal plants from southern Florida were screened for anti-QS activity using two biomonitor strains, Chromobacterium violaceum and Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Of these plants, six showed QS inhibition: Conocarpus erectus L. (Combretaceae), Chamaecyce hypericifolia (L.) Millsp. (Euphorbiaceae), Callistemon viminalis (Sol. ex Gaertn.) G. Don (Myrtaceae), Bucida burceras L. (Combretaceae), Tetrazygia bicolor (Mill.) Cogn. (Melastomataceae), and Quercus virginiana Mill. (Fagaceae). This study introduces not only a new mode of action and possible validation for traditional plant use, but also a potentially new therapeutic direction for the treatment of bacterial infections.
Leontice smirnowii is a member of the Berberidaceae family. In the current study we investigated the possible antiradical and antioxidant activity of the monodesmosides (MLS) and crude extract (CELS) of Leontice smirnowii using different antioxidant tests: 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging, scavenging of superoxide anion radical-generated non-enzymatic system, ferric thiocyanate (FTC) method, reducing power, hydrogen peroxide scavenging and metal chelating activities. Experiment revealed that MLS and CELS have an antioxidant effect concentration-dependently. Total antioxidant activity was performed according to FTC method. At the 30mug/ml concentration, the inhibition effects of MLS and CELS on peroxidation of linoleic acid emulsion were found to be 95.3% and 95.6%, respectively. On the other hand, percentage inhibition of butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), alpha-tocopherol and trolox were found to be 98.2%, 98.5%, 84.0% and 87.9% inhibition of peroxidation of linoleic acid emulsion, respectively, at the same concentration. In addition, MLS and CELS had effective DPPH radical scavenging, superoxide anion radical scavenging, hydrogen peroxide scavenging, reducing power and metal chelating activities. Also, these various antioxidant activities were compared with BHA, BHT, alpha-tocopherol and trolox which were accepted as references antioxidants.