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Antioxidant properties of Plumbago zeylanica, an Indian medicinal plant and its active ingredient, plumbagin

Taylor & Francis
Redox Report
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Abstract

Plumbago zeylanica (known as "Chitrak") is a useful Indian medicinal plant. The root of the plant and its constituents are credited with potential therapeutic properties including anti-atherogenic, cardiotonic, hepatoprotective and neuroprotective properties. To examine possible mechanisms of action of P. zeylanica (Chitrak), in relation to its reported beneficial properties, antioxidant effects of the aqueous/alcoholic extracts of root, corresponding to medicinal preparations, and the active ingredient, plumbagin, were studied. Methods used included: ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP), radical scavenging of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azobis-3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS), lipid peroxidation in rat liver mitochondria induced by different agents, and estimating phenolic and flavonoid content. In FRAP/DPPH assays, boiled ethanolic extracts were the most effective, while in the ABTS assay boiled aqueous extracts were the most efficient. These extracts also significantly inhibited lipid peroxidation induced by cumene hydroperoxide, ascorbate-Fe(2+) and peroxynitrite and contained high amounts of polyphenols and flavonoids. To examine the mechanisms of action in detail, antioxidant and pulse radiolysis studies with plumbagin were conducted. The hydroxyl (.OH), alkyl peroxyl (CCl(3)OO.), linoleic acid peroxyl (LOO.), and glutathiyl (GS.) radicals generate a phenoxyl radical upon reaction with plumbagin. The bimolecular rate constants were: .OH, 2.03 x 10(9) dm(3)mol(-1)s(-1); CCl(3)OO., 1.1 x 10(9) dm(3)mol(-1)s(-1); LOO., 6.7 x 10(7) dm(3)mol(-1)s(-1); and GS., 8.8 x 10(8) dm(3)mol(-1)s(-1). In conclusion, our studies reveal that extracts of P. zeylanica and its active ingredient plumbagin have significant antioxidant abilities that may possibly explain some of the reported therapeutic effects.

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... [12] Natural Antioxidants can work at different steps, they can bind with iron, so can prevent radical formation and by inhibiting damage caused by ROS. [13] Herbal matters are considered as the leading source of antioxidants because of high reducing power of secondary metabolites. [14] These significance of herbal products to treat many illness and for a healthy lifestyle has increased in past years. ...
... Root extract of the plant inhibit lipid peroxidation in mitochondria of rat liver. [13] Terminalia chebula Commonly known as -Black or chebulic myrobalan‖, is native to South Asia from India, Nepal east to Southwest China, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Vietnam, Its phytoconstituents are tannins (Punicalagin, Terflavin, terchebulin, punicalin, gallic acid, casuarinin, ellagic acid, methyl gallate), phenols, terpenoids, saponins, sterols, flavonoids etc, acetone extract of bark showed excellent ferrous reducing power, high inhibition of lipid peroxidation because of their hydrophilic polyphenolic compounds and also able to scavenge hydroxyl radicals. EA and water extracts have antiradical potential. ...
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ABSTRACT Exposure to several chemical and environmental pollutants has risen due to the increased influence of western diets and modern lifestyle among peoples. It is playing a key role in chances of developing a neurodegenerative disorders and depression in this 21st century. Neurodegeneration, it is death of neurons in Central Nervous System and it is becoming the most growing cause of mortality. Depression, a mood disorder, leading to severe mental illness due to decrease in brain monoamines, becoming 2nd most devastating cause of death in a very early age. Despite of having plenty of standard drugs, limitations of pharmacotherapy make it urgent to shift towards an herbal source. Drugs from herbal matter can be more effective, as it has been used from ancient time, are cheaper, show less adverse effects and work for a longer time in body. These are rich source of several phytocompounds as flavonoids, polyphenols, terpenoids, saponins and many essential oils, which provide a source of antioxidants that work also as neuroprotective agents and some other which may raise the brain monoamines, thus can work as antidepressant too. This review compiles the list of medicinal plants exhibiting neuroprotective, antioxidative and antidepressant activities with their botanical name, common name and basic phytochemical constituents. KEYWORDS: Medicinal plants, neuroprotection, antidepressant, antioxidant, radicals.
... Plumbagin (Fig. 1), is a natural phenolic compound (a naphthoquinone), is present in plants of Plumbaginaceae e.g. Plumbago zeylanica, Plumbago indica and Plumbago europea (Tilak et al., 2004;Kapadia et al., 2005). Plumbagin shows many pharmacological actions and possesses anti-cancer (Checker et al., 2018), hypolipidemic, anti-atherosclerotic (Mbaveng et al., 2014;Sharma et al., 1991), anti-oxidant (Tilak et al., 2004), anti-diabetic (Sunil et al., 2012), anti-inflammatory (Rajalakshmi et al., 2018) and cardioprotective properties (Li et al., 2020;Wang et al., 2016). ...
... Plumbago zeylanica, Plumbago indica and Plumbago europea (Tilak et al., 2004;Kapadia et al., 2005). Plumbagin shows many pharmacological actions and possesses anti-cancer (Checker et al., 2018), hypolipidemic, anti-atherosclerotic (Mbaveng et al., 2014;Sharma et al., 1991), anti-oxidant (Tilak et al., 2004), anti-diabetic (Sunil et al., 2012), anti-inflammatory (Rajalakshmi et al., 2018) and cardioprotective properties (Li et al., 2020;Wang et al., 2016). Plumbagin is suggested to be beneficial against experimental pulmonary arterial hypertension (Courboulin et al., 2012). ...
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Background Plumbagin, a natural phenolic compound is investigated for response against blood pressure and vascular reactivity. Methodology Blood pressure lowering effects were observed by in-vivo invasive evaluation in normotensive rats, and in-vitro experimentation to measure changes of tension in isolated rat aorta and contractility in atria. Results The percentage decrease in mean arterial pressure (MAP) observed with plumbagin intravenously at doses of 0.1, 0.5, 1, 5, 10 μg/kg in normotensive rats was 7.16 ± 2.35, 15.5 ± 5.62, 19.5 ± 5.27, 26 ± 6.67, 34.33 ± 8.80, respectively. Plumbagin exerted vasorelaxant effects in rat aorta, unaffected by the removal of vascular endothelium, and L-NAME and methylene blue pretreatment. Plumbagin completely inhibited phenylephrine (1 μM) and High K⁺ (80 mM) induced contractions. Similar to a Ca⁺² channel antagonist, plumbagin caused a rightward shift in the Ca⁺² concentration-response-curves (CRCs), resembling nifedipine. Pre-incubation with plumbagin, significantly suppressed contractions induced by phenylephrine in Ca⁺²-free medium via disrupting Ca⁺² release from intracellular stores. No change in vasorelaxant response was observed with the addition of potassium channel blockers, TEA and BaCl2. In rat atrial strips, plumbagin exerted significant negative inotropic and chronotropic effects. No significant change was observed with atropine and atenolol pretreatment, so the effect appeared independent of muscarinic and beta-adrenergic receptors. Conclusion This study suggests the blood pressure lowering effects of plumbagin. That could be contributed by a decrease in vascular resistance via calcium antagonism, interferences in calcium efflux, and depressive effects on the rate and force of cardiac contraction. Further studies would be necessary to probe deeper into the underlying mechanisms.
... Plumbago zeylanica L. (PZ) of the Plumbaginaceae family is a wellcultivated and pharmaceutically important Indian medicinal plant with a broad range of pharmacological activities, including hepatoprotective, anti-diarrhoeal, anti-leprotic, antimicrobial and antihelminthic potential (Shukla et al., 2021;Tilak et al., 2004). Recent research has shown that PZ root ethanolic extract inhibited cervical cancer cell growth in HeLa cells and decreased epidermal growth factor receptor expression (Mohapatra et al., 2022). ...
Article
Medicinal plants and derived products are alternative sources of lead compounds for the management of different ailments, including cancer and allied diseases. Plumbago zeylanica L. of the Plumbaginaceae family is a potent Ayurvedic herb used to treat tumourous growths and other diseases. The present investigation aimed to explore the antitumour potential of P. zeylanica and elucidate the mechanism of action against multiple carcinomas through metabolite profiling based network pharmacology analysis paired with in-vivo solid tumour and ex-vivo cell lines against breast, liver, and prostate cancer. Metabolite profiling-based network pharmacology analysis was performed on the hydroalcoholic extract to determine the phytomolecule-target-disease relationship involved in the anticarcinogenic potential. An in-vivo solid tumour assay evaluated the antitumour potential by assessing tumour volume reduction and biochemical parameters. Based on the in-vivo antitumour potential and network pharmacology approach, the ex-vivo studies with MCF-7, HepG2 and PC-3 cell lines were also performed to ensure cell viability. Metabolite profiling of P. zeylanica showed 12 phytocompounds. The network pharmacology study revealed that the identified seven compounds follow a multimolecule-multitarget approach to act through biological pathways like pathways in cancer, cell cycle, and MAPK signaling pathways to manage hepatocellular carcinoma, breast cancer and prostate cancer. Investigation of the antitumour potential in solid tumour-induced mice models demonstrated tumour inhibition and blood parameter restoration that was equivalent to that of the normal control group. The IC 50 of the plant extract for PC-3 cell, MCF-7 cells and HepG2 cells line was found 56.86 ± 0.75 µg/mL, 74.85 ± 0.55 µg/mL and 101 ± 0.26 µg/mL, respectively. P. zeylanica root extract demonstrated strong apoptotic potential against prostate cancer cell lines, followed by breast and liver cancer cell lines. This investigation brings together in-vivo and ex-vivo studies integrated with a metabolomics-driven network pharmacology approach to elucidate multiple antitumour mechanisms of P. zeylanica extract for the development of value-added alternative products.
... Moreover, plumbagin, a key compound in PZ, has strong antioxidant effects that combat oxidative stress and influence angiogenesis pathways. This helps in preventing abnormal blood vessel formation, a hallmark of DR [7]. Plumbagin from PZ has been found to reduce oxidative stress and interfere with the angiogenesis pathways mediated by vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 [8]. ...
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(1) Background: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a major complication of diabetes, marked by abnormal angiogenesis, microaneurysms, and retinal hemorrhages. Traditional Ayurvedic medicine advocates multi-target strategies for DR management. However, the mechanisms by which Solanum xanthocarpum (SX) and Plumbago zeylanica (PZ) exert therapeutic effects are not well understood; (2) Methods: To investigate these mechanisms, we employed network pharmacology and molecular docking techniques. Phytochemicals from SX and PZ were identified using the IMPPAT database and Swiss Target Prediction tool. DR-related protein targets were sourced from the GeneCards database, and common targets were identified through Venn diagram analysis. STRING and Cytoscape were used to construct and analyze protein–protein interaction networks. Pathway enrichment was performed with Gene Ontology and KEGG databases; (3) Results: We identified 28 active phytoconstituents, targeting proteins such as EGFR, SRC, STAT3, AKT1, and HSP90AA1. Molecular docking and dynamics simulations confirmed the strong binding affinities of these compounds to their targets; (4) Conclusions: The study highlights the multi-target activity of SX and PZ, particularly in pathways related to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance and PI3K–AKT signaling. These findings provide valuable insights into their therapeutic potential for DR, suggesting the effective modulation of key molecular pathways involved in the disease.
... The study puts forth that Plumbago zeylanica could be useful in preventing androgenic alopecia as it enhances the growth of Dermal Papillae cells, thereby downregulating SRD5A2 expression. 18 ...
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The present review explores the possible Rasayana properties of Chitraka, the dried mature root of Plumbago zeylanica Linn., within the framework of Ayurveda. Rasayana chikitsa, an integral component of Ayurvedic medicine, focuses on rejuvenation to achieve optimal physical, mental, and spiritual health. Chitraka, identified as both Kamya Rasayana and Naimittika Rasayana in classical Ayurveda, has been traditionally lauded for its potential in prolonging life and treating specific ailments. The classical appraisal of Chitraka's Rasayana effect, as per Ashtanga Hridaya, aligns with its historical association with enhancing life span and managing haemorrhoids (Arsas), neurodegenerative diseases (vata vyadhi) and skin diseases (Kushta and switra). Recent research delves into the diverse therapeutic potentials of Chitraka, revealing its anti-hemorrhoidal, anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic, anti-microbial, wound-healing, anti-androgenic alopecia, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, and anti-tumor effects. This exploration of Chitraka's multifaceted therapeutic potential bridges ancient wisdom with modern scientific scrutiny, showcasing its relevance in addressing a spectrum of health challenges. The review emphasizes the need for continued research to unlock Chitraka's full potential, contributing to the evolving landscape of holistic health practices and fostering the integration of Ayurvedic principles into mainstream healthcare.
... Previous studies reported that the root extracts exhibited central nervous system (CNS) stimulatory and hypolipidemic activities [10,11]. For example, Tilak and colleagues [12] explored mechanistically the antioxidant properties of P. zeylanica, along with one of its active phytoconstituent, plumbagin. Thanigavelan et al. [13] reported the anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties of the root bark of P. zeylanica, whereas Rajakrishnan et al. [14] reported the nephroprotective properties of P. zeylanica. ...
Article
Background: The roots of Plumbago zeylanica (P. zeylanica) are widely utilized in the traditional medicine system, i.e., Ayurveda for the treatment of piles, inflammatory diseases, intestinal disorders, abdominal pain, and inflammation of the rectum. Previous experimental studies revealed the anti-inflammatory and antiarthritic activities of P. zeylanica. Because of the experimental and clinical effectiveness of the roots of P. zeylanica root in painful inflammatory conditions and rheumatic diseases, this study aimed to evaluate the network pharmacology to predict the phytoconstituents and signaling pathways of the antiarthritic effect of P. zeylanica. Methods: As per the first step in the network pharmacology analysis, the phytoconstituents were retrieved from the relevant database, and the drug targets as well as the disease targets were downloaded, from the relevant databases. From there, the common targets were obtained, and then, Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI), Gene Ontology (GO), and Kyoto Encyclopaedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis to predict the pathways/processes by which these targets are involved in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Further, Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion, and Toxicity (ADME/T), molecular docking, and dynamics studies of the resultant bioactive compounds of P. zeylanica with the regulated proteins were evaluated. Results: At first, using the network pharmacology analysis, the key target proteins in RA were predicted, then the key pathways were predicted using PPI, GO, and KEGG enrichment analysis in the treatment effects of P. zeylanica on RA. These key pathways used to be the responses to oxygen-containing compounds, organic response, and cellular response to a chemical stimulus which are synchronized by cancer, Phosphoinositide 3-kinases/Ak strain transforming (PI3K/AKT) signaling, lipid and atherosclerosis, microRNAs in cancer, calcium signaling and fluid shear stress and atherosclerosis pathways which indicates the involvement of abnormal proliferation of the immune cells and inflammation which are the characteristic features of rheumatoid arthritis. Further , the molecular docking, dynamics, Induced Fit Docking (IFD), and ADME/T studies revealed that the bioactive ingredients of P. zeylanica strongly bind with the essential target proteins in the ambience of rheumatoid arthritis. Conclusion: Hence, this study revealed computationally predicted the key targets of P. zeylanica phytoconstituents specific to its anti-inflammatory action in alleviating rheumatoid arthritis.
... Vacha have Antidepressant [15] Neuroprotective, [16] Brahmi possess Improves motor learning, acquisition [17] Psycho-neurological deficits, [18] There is evidence that Ashwagandha has Calm down anxiety, Control inattention, Hyperactivity, impulsivity and distractibility. [19] Mentosoothe compound B contains, Jatamansi which has Antioxidant, Sedative, Tranquilizing, Antidepressant-activity, Anticonvulsant-activity, [20] Shankhpushpi posses' Neuroprotective activity, Intellect promoting activity, Antioxidant activity, enhances memory function, [21] Guduchi known to have Learning and memory enhancing activity, [22] Neuroprotective activity Antioxidant activity, Anti-stress activity, [23] Chitrak is evident to have Antioxidant, [24] memory enhancing effect, CNS stimulation, [25] Trikatu known to have Bioavailability enhancement activity, Immunomodulatory, Antioxidant, [26] properties. Trikatu is a combination of three herbs -ginger, black pepper, and long pepper -that is commonly used in Ayurvedic medicine to improve digestion and reduce inflammation. ...
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Introduction: DSM-5 defines Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder as having a persistent pattern of hyperactivity or inattention. This affects social, emotional, cognitive, and academic performance, behavioural skills in children and adolescents. The suffering child should have more than 6 symptoms of a particular type. Due to aetiology of Dhee Dhriti and Smriti, which results in imbalance of Kala and Karma and leads to incorrect interaction of the senses with their aims (Asatmyendriyartha Samyoga), gives rise to inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. Considering the nature of symptomatologic manifestation, it can be correlated with Unmada, more specifically Vata-Pittaja Unmada. Ayurveda addresses ADHD with both internal medicines and external therapies. Mentosoothe compound is such a polyherbal compound it contains Medhya, Balya, Deepana and Rasayana drugs in extract form. Aim of the present study to evaluate the efficacy of mentosoothe compound in the management of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Objective of the study is to promote cognitive performance with improvement in the quality of life by providing an effective and safe treatment option. Materials and Methods: The present study will be conducted as a randomized clinical study including minimum 40 patients, divided into two groups. Mentosoothe compound A and Mentosoothe compound B will be given to groups with fixed dosages. Assessment will be done on every 15th day during 2 months of clinical trial and final follow up will be done one month after completion of clinical trial. Result: The results will give the data on comparative effectiveness of the Mentosoothe compounds on ADHD. Discussion and Conclusion: The outcome of this trial will render a way forward to effective management of ADHD in children.
... The study puts forth that Plumbago zeylanica could be useful in preventing androgenic alopecia as it enhances the growth of Dermal Papillae cells, thereby downregulating SRD5A2 expression. 18 ...
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CC License CC-BY-NC-SA 4.0 Abstra ct The present review explores the possible Rasayana properties of Chitraka, the dried mature root of Plumbago zeylanica Linn., within the framework of Ayurveda. Rasayana chikitsa, an integral component of Ayurvedic medicine, focuses on rejuvenation to achieve optimal physical, mental, and spiritual health. Chitraka, identified as both Kamya Rasayana and Naimittika Rasayana in classical Ayurveda, has been traditionally lauded for its potential in prolonging life and treating specific ailments. The classical appraisal of Chitraka's Rasayana effect, as per Ashtanga Hridaya, aligns with its historical association with enhancing life span and managing haemorrhoids (Arsas), neurodegenerative diseases (vata vyadhi) and skin diseases (Kushta and switra). Recent research delves into the diverse therapeutic potentials of Chitraka, revealing its anti-hemorrhoidal, anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic, anti-microbial, wound-healing, anti-androgenic alopecia, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, and anti-tumor effects. This exploration of Chitraka's multifaceted therapeutic potential bridges ancient wisdom with modern scientific scrutiny, showcasing its relevance in addressing a spectrum of health challenges. The review emphasizes the need for continued research to unlock Chitraka's full potential, contributing to the evolving landscape of holistic health practices and fostering the integration of Ayurvedic principles into mainstream healthcare.
... The varied concentration of antioxidant molecules in different plant tissues could be responsible for this difference. Furthermore, the findings focus on the crucial role of Plumbagin, a component found in Plumbago zeylanica, in contributing to its antioxidant effects [23] . More research is needed to isolate and characterise specific antioxidant chemicals found in these extracts, as well as to investigate their potential applications in functional foods, medicines, and natural health products. ...
... Vacha have Antidepressant [15] Neuroprotective, [16] Brahmi possess Improves motor learning, acquisition [17] Psycho-neurological deficits, [18] There is evidence that Ashwagandha has Calm down anxiety, Control inattention, Hyperactivity, impulsivity and distractibility. [19] Mentosoothe compound B contains, Jatamansi which has Antioxidant, Sedative, Tranquilizing, Antidepressant-activity, Anticonvulsant-activity, [20] Shankhpushpi posses' Neuroprotective activity, Intellect promoting activity, Antioxidant activity, enhances memory function, [21] Guduchi known to have Learning and memory enhancing activity, [22] Neuroprotective activity Antioxidant activity, Anti-stress activity, [23] Chitrak is evident to have Antioxidant, [24] memory enhancing effect, CNS stimulation, [25] Trikatu known to have Bioavailability enhancement activity, Immunomodulatory, Antioxidant, [26] properties. Trikatu is a combination of three herbs -ginger, black pepper, and long pepper -that is commonly used in Ayurvedic medicine to improve digestion and reduce inflammation. ...
Article
Full-text available
Introduction: DSM-5 defines Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder as having a persistent pattern of hyperactivity or inattention. This affects social, emotional, cognitive, and academic performance, behavioural skills in children and adolescents. The suffering child should have more than 6 symptoms of a particular type. Due to aetiology of Dhee Dhriti and Smriti, which results in imbalance of Kala and Karma and leads to incorrect interaction of the senses with their aims (Asatmyendriyartha Samyoga), gives rise to inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. Considering the nature of symptomatologic manifestation, it can be correlated with Unmada, more specifically Vata-Pittaja Unmada. Ayurveda addresses ADHD with both internal medicines and external therapies. Mentosoothe compound is such a polyherbal compound it contains Medhya, Balya, Deepana and Rasayana drugs in extract form. Aim of the present study to evaluate the efficacy of mentosoothe compound in the management of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Objective of the study is to promote cognitive performance with improvement in the quality of life by providing an effective and safe treatment option. Materials and Methods: The present study will be conducted as a randomized clinical study including minimum 40 patients, divided into two groups. Mentosoothe compound A and Mentosoothe compound B will be given to groups with fixed dosages. Assessment will be done on every 15th day during 2 months of clinical trial and final follow up will be done one month after completion of clinical trial. Result: The results will give the data on comparative effectiveness of the Mentosoothe compounds on ADHD. Discussion and Conclusion: The outcome of this trial will render a way forward to effective management of ADHD in children.
... These extracts contained a greater level of polyphenols and flavonoids, and they also prevented lipid peroxidation. Investigations into antioxidants and pulse radiolysis were done to determine the exact mechanisms of action [65] . In order to test the free radical scavenging abilities of methanolic root extract (ME) and ethylacetate extract (EA), Gabriel and colleagues utilised 1, 1-diphenyl2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). ...
... Mechanistic studies reveal plumbagin to be an unusual antioxidant. [11] A study reveals that the levels of pancreatic superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione in streptozotocin (at a dose of 40 mg/kg, intrave-nously as a single dose) induced diabetic rats were significantly reduced by an aqueous extract of Vayavidang (Embelia ribes) administered orally at doses of 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg body weight. In streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats, its antioxidant activity protects the pancreatic -cells from loss. ...
Article
Rasayana is one of the panoramic realms of Ayurveda, which comprises specialized use of herbs, herbo-mineral formulations, diet and lifestyle along with behavioral code of conduct to achieve the optimum state of tissues and systems of the body so that there is least effect of external disease causing factors on the In other words, it can be stated that Rasayana is a way to achieve homeostasis and thus retard the process of tissue degeneration leading to prevention of diseases. In healthful condition, Rasayana may be understood as dietary dynamics for rejuvenation of frame and psyche. Among various types of Rasayana classification, Naimittika Rasayana is a disease-oriented therapy. A vast number of Naimittik Rasayana drugs and other poly herbal formulations have proven their efficacies in managing various diseases. One Such drug is Yogaraj Rasayana. It has many pharma-co - therapeutical applications. It is formulated with broad spectrum activity and is indicated in various diseases pertaining to Sarvadhatukshaya. Despite great technological advancement in medical science, the management of immunological infections is still a great challenge. At this juncture, it becomes essential to explore and adopt different Naimittik Rasayana therapies hidden in classical texts of Ayurveda for their proper utilization. Thus, here is an attempt to highlight the immune-modulative and rejuvenating effects of Yogaraj Rasayana in accord-ance with the classical and current literatures.
... Plumbago zeylanica is widely distributed in India and used in various medicinal purposes. The root of the plant and its constituents has potential therapeutic values including anti-atherogenic, cardiotonic, hepatoprotective and neuroprotective properties (Tilak et al., 2004). This plant is used by various tribes of North East India, for example in preparation of "Jou" by Boro tribe of Assam (Basumatary et al., 2014). ...
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Tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, according to WHO in 2019, around 10.0 million people were infected with TB and it is second leading cause of death among all infectious diseases after HIV. Numerous anti-TB synthetic drugs have been developed time to time for treating the disease but due to emergence of drug resistant strains most of them become ineffective after short time use. Moreover, the use of these drugs have various side effects. Therefore, to combat with deadly tuberculosis, it is urgent to search for more effective and less toxic medicines. Since pre-historic time plants have been being used in medicinal purposes and still about 80% of the world population depend on plant based traditional medicines for their health care needs. Plants are very rich source of secondary metabolites, which can be used as an alternative to synthetic drugs. Northeast India being a biodiversity hotspot rich in many indigenous floras having medicinal property most of which are yet to be explored and this region is occupied mostly by different indigenous tribes and they uses plants in medicinal and cultural purposes. In this mini-review we studied a few plant spcies of NE India having potential anti-tubercular activity.
... Plumbagin (5-hydroxy-2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone) is a plantderived naphthoquinone, extracted from the roots of the Chitrak plant (Plumbago zeylanica L.) and has been use in Indian medicine (Ayurveda) for more than 2500 years [5]. Plumbagin (PLB) has shown a broad range of pharmacological activities such as anticancer [6][7][8][9], anti-inflammatory [10,11], anti-oxidant [12], antimicrobial [13,14], antidiabetic [15], hypolipidaemic [16], neuroprotective [17][18][19] and hepatoprotective [20,21] properties. Many studies have been performed to demonstrate the anticancer properties of PLB [22][23][24]. ...
Article
Plumbagin (5-hydroxy-2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone) is a naturally occurring phytochemical, mainly found in the roots of the Plumbago zeylanica L. Plumbagin (PLB) exhibits a number of pharmaceutical activities but its hydrophobic nature and presence of quinone moiety limits its biomedical applications. In the present study, we have synthesized Plumbagin loaded Bovine Serum Albumin nanoparticles to enhance the bioavailability and decrease the toxicity. Albumin is a promising nanocarrier endowed with biodegradable, biocompatible, non-toxic, and non-immunogenic properties. PLB encapsulated BSA nanoparticles (BSA@PLB-NPs) were prepared by the desolvation method and characterized by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), dynamic light scattering (DLS), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Physicochemical characterization suggested that BSA@PLB-NPs possess the desirable size (186.60 ± 1.20) for drug delivery with a good polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.166 ± 0.041, spherical-shaped and amorphous in nature. Molecular docking studies revealed the binding interactions of PLB with BSA through hydrogen bonds, van der Waals forces, and hydrophobic interactions with 94% steric stability. BSA@PLB-NPs showed potential cytotoxicity against breast cancer cells evaluated by MTT assay, AO/EtBr staining, colony formation assay and cellular uptake studies. Therefore, this study provides a potential strategy for improving the therapeutic efficacy of the hydrophobic drug PLB using biocompatible albumin.
... [78] Plants such as Maricha (Piper nigrum), Pippali (Piper longum), Chitraka (Plumbago zeylanica), Bala (Sida cordifolia), Vishnukraanti (Evolvulus alsinoides), and Durva (Cynodon dactylon) also showed radical scavenging and LPO inhibitory activities in animal models. [79][80][81] CONCLUSION Available reports suggests that Ayurvedic herbs possess a rich array of a diverse spectrum of bio-active compounds (viz. flavonoids, phenolics, carotenoids etc.) with multiple pharmacological effects, which may help to reduce the oxidative milieu, enhance antioxidant defences and promote rejuvenation. ...
Article
In recent times, holistic and herbal solutions from Ayurveda are being searched that prevent oxidative stress-linked tissue damage and provide significant antioxidant defenses to promote longevity and rejuvenation. Understanding of pharmacokinetic-dynamic of botanicals is very intricate, though essential in the field of biomedicine and drug development. Researchers have identified some of the molecular targets of commonly used herbal antioxidants and rejuvenators, used as Rasayana. Present report attempts to share insights on the concepts behind the application of herbal antioxidants to promote longevity, in light of scientific underlying molecular mechanisms.
... [13][14][15] The ingredients of M. Vaj already showed neuroprotective, anti-neuroinflammatory, antioxidant, anticonvulsant, central nervous system (CNS) stimulant, and memory-enhancing properties. [16][17][18][19][20][21] The development of herbal nootropics as a substitute for chemical nootropics will significantly improve the healthcare system. ...
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Majoon (M) Vaj is a polyherbal Unani formulation possessing multiple neuropharmacological activities. It is used to treat Nisyān (dementia) for centuries. It has been reported as improving memory and overall mental faculties. The current study was carried out to assess the nootropic and anti-amnesic activity of M. Vaj in mice to validate its use in Unani medicine. The exteroceptive behavior model elevated plus maze (EPM) and morris water maze (MWM) and interoceptive behavior model (scopolamine and diazepam) were used to evaluate nootropic activity in mice. Pre-treatment with M. Vaj extract (220 and 440 mg/kg, p.o.) for 15 days showed a significant decrease transfer latency (TL) in EPM and decrease escape latency (EL) during training and increase time spent in the target quadrant (TSTQ) during retrieval in the MWM test, indicating nootropic activity. M. Vaj also significantly reversed scopolamine and diazepam-induced amnesia, as observed by decreased TL in EPM and increased TSQT in MWM, indicating anti-amnesic activity. Also, both doses of the test drug showed a similar response, which was almost equal to that of the standard drug piracetam. Reversal of scopolamine and diazepam-induced amnesia by M. Vaj indicated the possible facilitation of cholinergic transmission or GABA benzodiazepine pathway. GC-MS of M. Vaj led to the identification of 141 compounds. α-asarone (72.12%) and β-asarone (72.12%) were found in the highest amount as compared to other compounds.
... potential free radical scavenging of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazy (DPPH) and 2,2′-azobis-3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS), if we DPPH assays, ethanolic extracts were shown to be more effective, whereas in the ABTS assay aqueous extracts were reported to be the highly effective. [19] In recent study result shows that with an increase in the conc. of extract as well as fractions, percentage inhibition also increases which shows that it is a concentration-dependent pattern. Strength of this research work is that researchers has shown the antioxidant and antidiabetic potentials of herbal tablets and found significant results. ...
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The plant processed herbal formulation have significant role in drug discovery, same time phytoconstituents have high pharmacological potential to treat the various ailments such as diabetes or chronic hyperglycemia. The present research aims to explore and investigate the antidiabetic potential of roots of hyperglycemia Linn. During the study pharmacognosy and formulation of herbal tablet has been done. Fresh roots of plant were collected, two enzymes named as alpha-Amylase and alpha-Glucosidase were obtained from Sigma Aldric. Extraction and fractionation along with phytochemical screening was performed Herbal tablets were made using the direct compression method. The n-butanol fraction of plant extract was mixed with the excipients and compressed into tablets. Different batches of formulations were prepared by dry granulation technique. The maximum in vitro dissolution was found to be with formulation F2 that exhibit the extreme proportion of accumulative release of drug (93.96%) due to the optimized concentration of PVP and Chitosan and the formulations F2 has potent Antidiabetic Activity and also have antioxidant potential that was performed in this study. Plant extract has been used to formulate herbal tablets. From all five batches of tablets one batch (F2) was found to be best formulation and this was used to investigate the Antidiabetic activity as well as antioxidant activity also. The plants have potential to treat hormonal disorders also hence it can be used to treat the endocrine metabolic disorders.
... Plumbago zeylanica (Family Plumbagenaceae), commonly known as Ceylon leadwort is a commercially vital medicinal plant native to South-East Asia. It acts as an acknowledged natural source of a napthoquinone compound called plumbagin which has been demonstrated to have wide medicinal properties including antitumor, antimicrobial, anti-filaricidal, hepatoprotective and neuroprotective properties 25 . Besides plumbagin, P. zeylanica also secretes a wide range of phenolic compounds albeit at a very small concentration. ...
... In the FRAP/DPPH assays, boiling ethanolic extracts performed best, while the ABTS assay performed best with boiling aqueous extracts. These extracts also inhibited lipid peroxidation caused by cumene hydroperoxide, ascorbate-Fe2+, and peroxynitrite, and contained a high concentration of polyphenols and flavonoids [45]. ...
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Plumbago zeylanica also known as Sheetraj or Chitraka belongs to the family Plumbaginaceae. It is one of the important medicinal plants which is used worldwide due to its therapeutic value. Therefore, this work carried out on Sheetraj has been, gathered, analyzed and reviewed using references from different sources like classical text and indexed journals. The aim of this review is to provide data or comprehensive information related to the chemical composition, pharmacological activities and therapeutic uses of P. zeylanica Linn. To explore its therapeutic potential and future research opportunities. In Unani system of medicine (USM), the roots of Sheetraj are widely used for internal administration and external application to treat many diseases. It contains the most important chemical constituents like Napthoquinones, Coumarins, Terpenes, Sterols, Plumbagic acid glucosides, Vitamin, Sugars etc. Plumbagin is this plant's main chemical component and is what gives it its diverse medicinal effects. It is present in the plant's stem, leaves, and roots. It carries out the actions
... Plumbagin (5-hydroxy-2-methylnaphthalene-1,4-dione) is the most important secondary metabolite found in P. zeylanica. It is pharmacologically categorized as an antioxidant (Tilak et al. 2004), anti-diabetic (Sunil et al. 2012), anti-inflammatory (Zheng et al. 2017), anti-tumor , anti-microbial (Dissanayake et al. 2020), antifungal (Adebanjo and Victoria 2021), anti-carcinogenic (Zhang et al. 2021). Most of the recent studies focused on the therapeutic role of plumbagin against human cancer cell lines such as cervical (Jaiswal et al. 2018), esophagus (Cao et al. 2018), breast , lung , bladder (Zhang et al. 2020), pancreatic , endometrial (Zhang et al. 2021) via apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, autophagy, growth inhibition, etc. ...
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Plumbagin is the major secondary metabolite found in Plumbago species, it exhibit a wide variety of pharmaceutical activities. The initial focus of this study was to establish a suitable protocol for direct shoot regeneration from nodal explants on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium fortified with 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and α-naphthalene-acetic acid (NAA). Single shoot regenerated from the nodal explants when cultured on BAP alone, whereas multiple shoots regenerated with BAP and NAA. The maximum number of shoots were obtained on medium fortified with 5.5 µM BAP and 3.0 µM NAA. Furthermore, the shoot cultures were treated with biotic elicitors (lysates of Agrobacterium rhizogenes and Trichoderma viride and yeast extract). The application of elicitors was optimized by the Response Surface Methodology coupled with Box-Behnken design (RSM-BBD). The experimental and predicted values were analyzed and the elicitors were found to be stastically significant. Plumbagin was quantified by liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem. The highest plumbagin yield was found to be 18-fold higher as compared to the control when treated with 1.5% A. rhizogenes lysate, 2.25% T. viride lysate and 2% yeast extract. The best model for optimum production of plumbagin was experimentally verified and the correlation between the predicted (1.751%) and actual values (1.732%) was found to be 98.7% for plumbagin production. The present study suggest that the elicitors used enhance the production of plumbagin considerably. It is the first ever study to report the successful utilization of lysates enhancing plumbagin production in the shoot cultures.
... This observed reduction in the treated group may probably means that the fractions of P. zeylanica possess high quantities of bioactive compounds with free radical scavenging activity which scavenge free radicals produced in the mitochondria. Although, the antioxidant properties of the fractions of P. zeylanica used is not determined in this study; however, previous studies have reported the high antioxidant activities of P. zeylanica [23]. In respiring mitochondria, generation of ATP by the ATP synthase enzyme leads to concomitant release of superoxide radicals which are capable of causing oxidative stress, if not scavenged [24]. ...
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Mitochondrial membrane permeability pore opening is recognized as a molecular mechanism involved in programmed cell death. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of certain fractions crude aqueous extract of the root bark of Plumbago zeylanica (PZ) on the opening of the mitochondrial membrane permeability transition pore in rat liver. Pore opening, mitochondrial ATPase activity, lipid peroxidation and liver function markers were assessed spectrophotometrically while caspase 9 activity and liver morphology were monitored by immunohistochemistry and histology respectively. All fractions of PZ induced pore opening and enhanced the activity of caspase-9. Significant increases were observed in the mitochondrial ATPase activity while the level of malondialdehyde was significantly reduced. Sinusoidal dilation and hypertrophy were observed in liver sections of treated rats. These results suggest that aqueous fractions of PZ have bioactive agents capable of altering mitochondrial bioenergetics and inducing the opening of MMPT pore with mild hepatotoxicity.
... Eldhose et al. 29 has also described the curative effect of P. indica roots using its methanolic extracts at different doses, 100 and 200 mg/ kg bw, on TAA-induced liver damage in Wistar albino rats. Moreover, P. auriculata was proven to have an antioxidant capacity verified by several assessments such as oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and the nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) 44 . The results of current study suggested that both Plumbago species furnished marked www.nature.com/scientificreports/ ...
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This study aimed at investigating the chemical composition and the hepatoprotective activities of Plumbago indica L. and P. auriculata Lam. LC–MS/MS analyses for the hydroalcoholic extracts of the aerial parts of the two Plumbago species allowed the tentative identification of thirty and twenty-five compounds from P. indica and P. auriculata, respectively. The biochemical and histopathological alterations associated with thioacetamide (TAA)-induced liver fibrosis in rats were evaluated in vivo where rats received the two extracts at three different dose levels (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg p.o, daily) for 15 consecutive days with induction of hepatotoxicity by TAA (200 mg/kg/day, i.p.) at 14th and 15th days. Results of the present study showed a significant restoration in liver function biomarkers viz. alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), gamma glutamyl transferase and total bilirubin. The liver homogenates exhibited increased levels of antioxidant biomarkers: reduced glutathione (GSH) and catalase (CAT), accompanied with decline in malondialdehyde (MDA). Furthermore, treated groups exhibited a significant suppression in liver inflammatory cytokines: tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interlukin-6 (IL-6), and fibrotic biomarker: alpha smooth muscle relaxant. Histopathological examination of the liver showed normality of hepatocytes. Noteworthy, P. indica extract showed better hepatoprotective activity than P. auriculata, particularly at 200 mg/kg. To sum up, all these results indicated the hepatoprotective properties of both extracts, as well as their antifibrotic effect was evidenced by reduction in hepatic collagen deposition. However, additional experiments are required to isolate their individual secondary metabolites, assess the toxicity of the extracts and explore the involved mechanism of action.
... Plumbago Zeylanica is helpful to cure dysentery, diarrhoea and liver issues. 'Plumbagin' is the active ingredient present in the root of plumbago zeylanica which is soluble in ethanol and [15]. Heteropogon contortus has diuretic and stimulant properties which are added as a component of medicine against irritability. ...
Article
Focussing on the need of sustainable diet, this research aimed to understand the nutritional feature of a traditional fermented beverage named as ‘Pendam’. As it is widely consumed in study region, participant observation method applied to understand the complete preparation process. In order to understand the quality of Pendam, the nutritional compositions were analysed using standard methods. With pH value of 3.6, this beverage reflects a protein and carbohydrate content of 1.614 mg/ml and 3.01 mg/ml respectively. Fat and yeast are absent in the beverage. The energy value stands at 1.8496 Cal/100 ml. Having cultural importance within the community, Pendam is considered sacred and play strong role in rituals and festivals. The nutritional features ensure it as a sustainable beverage.
... Grahani (diseases due to malfunctioning of Grahaṇi), skin diseases, edema, Krimi (worms or micro-organisms infection), cough, anemia Cardiotonic, anticoagulant, antimutagenic, antifungal, antibacterial properties [62] 8. ...
... Grahani (diseases due to malfunctioning of Grahaṇi), skin diseases, edema, Krimi (worms or micro-organisms infection), cough, anemia Cardiotonic, anticoagulant, antimutagenic, antifungal, antibacterial properties [62] 8. ...
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BACKGROUND Viral pandemics/epidemics are emerging as one of the biggest challenge for medical fraternity and health-care policy makers. This is high time to explore traditional medicine systems such as Ayurveda, wherein measures such as Dincharya (daily regimen), Ritucharya (seasonal regimen), Sadvritta (good conduct/behavior), and Rasayana (rejuvenation measures) which are said to influence the homoeostatic mechanism of the host defense system along with interventions that may have a promising role in managing such diseases. OBJECTIVES This review attempts to provide an informative analysis of the daily regimen, seasonal regimen, moral conduct, and interventions recommended in Ayurveda scriptures which can be helpful for the prevention and treatment of viral pandemics. METHODS A narrative review was conducted and comprehensive search of Ayurveda classical texts, including Bhrihatrayi, Laghutrayi, Dhanwantari Nighantu, Raj Nighantu, Kaiyadev Nighantu , and texts related to Dravyaguna was done. Electronic databases such as PubMed, AYUSH Research Portal, DHARA, and Google Scholar were also searched for relevant literature, pertaining to Ayurveda prophylactic and therapeutic measures in viral pandemics from 2001 to 2020. RESULTS Prophylactic and therapeutic measures, including daily and seasonal regimen, good conduct/behavior, rejuvenation measures, Dhoopana Karma (medicated fumigation), and medicinal herbs, explained in Ayurveda may be utilized during viral pandemics. Critical analysis of the available scientific evidence suggests potential of Ayurveda interventions in context of immunomodulatory and antiviral activities. CONCLUSION Unique preventive dietary and lifestyle practices recommended by Ayurveda can play an important role in maintaining the health status and improving the disease resistance capacity. Evidence from preclinical/clinical studies indicates that several herbs used in Ayurveda exhibit immunomodulatory, antiviral properties. The preventive and therapeutic measures narrated in Ayurveda can contribute significantly towards the management of viral pandemics. Generation of more scientific evidence through quality research studies is needed to evaluate the role of Ayurveda approaches for management of viral diseases.
... Ayurveda and other systems of medicine have vast record of medicinal plants being used for the treatment of various types of ailments. A vast number of plants have been screened for antimicrobial activity (Cowan, 1999;Nair et al., 2005;Tilak et al., 2004;Steenkamp et al., 2004;Vinayaka et al., 2009;Duraipandiyan et al., 2006;Conforti et al., 2008;Hemaiswarya et al., 2008;Davies and Davies, 2010). In the present study, we have determined antimicrobial activity of extract of S. pauciflorus against a panel of microorganisms that included four bacteria and two fungi. ...
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Sarcanthus pauciflorus is a pendulous epiphytic orchid belonging to the family Orchidaceae. The present study was conducted to determine antimicrobial, antioxidant, anthelmintic and insecticidal efficacy of methanol extract of S. pauciflorus. Antimicrobial activity of methanol extract was determined against four bacteria and two fungi by Agar well diffusion method. Antioxidant activity was performed by DPPH free radical scavenging and Ferric reducing assay. Anthelmintic activity was studied on the basis of time taken for paralysis and death of adult Indian earthworms by the extract. Insecticidal activity, in terms of larvicidal effect, was evaluated using II instar larvae of Aedes aegypti. Total phenolic content of extract was estimated by Folin-Ciocalteau reagent assay. Phytoconstituents viz., tannins, saponins and glycosides were detected in methanol extract. Content of total phenolics was found to be 258.65 mg GAE/g of extract. All test bacteria and fungi were susceptible to extract of orchid. Bacillus subtilis and Cryptococcus neoformans were susceptible to high extent among bacteria and fungi respectively. Gram positive bacteria have shown greater susceptibility than Gram negative bacteria to extract. The extract exhibited marked dose dependent scavenging of DPPH free radicals. An increase in absorbance at 700nm revealed reducing power of the extract. The extract caused paralysis and death of adult Indian earthworms in a dose dependent manner. The lethal effect of extract on II instar larvae of Aedes aegypti was found to be dose dependent. The results of the present study shows that the methanol extract of S. pauciflorus is found to possess antimicrobial, antioxidant, anthelmintic and insecticidal activities which might be attributed to the presence of secondary metabolites. Further experimentations concerned with isolation of the bioactive components present in the orchid and determination of their biological activities are under progress.
... Anti-Helicobacter pylori, [50] antiinflammatory, [51] antimicrobial, [52] antioxidant, [53] cyclophosphamide-induced genotoxicity and oxidative stress, [54] antibacterial [55] Shunthi (Zingiber officinale Roscoe.) ...
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Acid peptic disorders are common conditions reported in daily clinical practice in India. Epidemiological study of 30,216 patients inferred 7.8% prevalence of peptic ulcer in India, while prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux is reported to be around 28% in South West India. Repeated gastric ulcers, perforation, or hemorrhage can cause intestinal fibrosis or cancer which can lead to death. As the disease occurs mostly in Madhyama vayas (16-70 yrs of age) and if this age is affected, longevity also be affected. Based on the clinical features, such manifestations can be compared with Amlapitta and Parinama shula. These diseases are preventable and, if not addressed at the right time, may burden the scenario hampering the quality of life of the individuals. the objective is to screen the activities of individual ingredients of Indukanta ghritam and to propose possible mode of action in APDs and longevity. The classical text books were reviewed manually and review was also done by referring various scientific journals and other databases. The formulation is a combination of several drugs, i.e., Dashamoola and Panchakola etc. They are referred to be useful in Amlapitta, Parinama shula etc. conditions and latest researches have established activities like gastroprotective, antioxidant, immuno-modulation etc. inferring the use of the formulation the therapeutics of APDs, as well as a rejuvenating drug. Indukanta ghritam can prevent as well as cure the disease and can improve the quality of life. The herbal formulation can minimize the disease burden and possibly can play an important role as a classical rejuvenating drug.
... The roots of this plant have been used for therapeutic treatments of dyspepsia, piles, diarrhea and skin diseases in Ayurvedic medicine (Chopra RN, 1956, KM, 1954, UC, 1877. Plumbagin is known to exhibit antioxidant (Tilak et al., 2004), anti-inflammatory (Checker et al., 2009, Ahmad et al., 2008, and antibacterial activities (Wang et al., 1998). The anticancer activity of Plumbagin against different cancers has attracted attention of researchers (Ahmad et In our lab we have synthesized Plumbagin analogs with different aryl and heterocyclic hydrazones involving C-4 quinone carbonyl group (Dandawate et al., 2014a). ...
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Human serum albumin is the most abundant drug carrier protein in the human body. It plays a vital role in pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of the drug. Plumbagin, isolated from Plumbago zeylanica is reported to show anticancer activity. Plumabgin Isonaizid is a synthetic analog of plumbagin having better properties than parent compound. The interaction of Plumbagin isoniazid with human serum albumin reveils dynamic quenching mechanism along with spontaneous binding. The binding site of PLINH is sudlow's site I located in subdomain IIA.
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Vitiligo, also known as baras in Unani medicine, causes patches of depigmented skin due to the loss of melanocytes. According to ancient Unani scholars, factors like excessive phlegm in the blood and weakened color-controlling power were believed to be the cause. This study dives into the historical insights of luminaries like Majūsī and Hakim Akbar Arzānī, alongside modern medical understanding. It explores the pathophysiology, epidemiology, and clinical features of vitiligo, while also addressing confusing definitions, dietary influences, and demographic patterns. We take a close look at the classification, prognosis, and investigative methods. The aim of this research is to bring together traditional and modern perspectives to fully understand vitiligo, covering its cultural, historical, and scientific aspects. By incorporating epidemiological data, dietary considerations, and insights into the underlying mechanisms, we enhance diagnostic and treatment approaches. In conclusion, this study establishes a cohesive connection between the historical wisdom of Unani medicine and the current scientific discourse on vitiligo. By merging these perspectives, we gain a comprehensive understanding of the condition, enabling a more holistic approach to diagnosis and management. As dermatological research continues to evolve, the integration of traditional and modern insights becomes crucial in effectively addressing complex skin disorders like vitiligo.
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Ayurveda describes purification process of certain herbal drugs to reduce the toxicity and make them suitable for therapeutic purpose. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of detoxification process on plumbagin (PG) from the Plumbago zeylanica L. roots in marketed samples. It involved procurement of market samples from five states of India viz. Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Punjab. The roots were purified in lime water (LW) as mentioned in Ayurveda. Reverse Phase Ultra-Flow Liquid Chromatography method was validated for identification of PG in unprocessed and processed roots and in the media (LW) used for purification after processing. The data was statistically analyzed by Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and tested for significance by the Dunnett multiple comparison test. Results were expressed as mean ± SD mg/g dry weight of extract. The study indicated that the PG was reduced quantitatively after processing, while the amount of PG found in the LW was observed to be increased, indicating the leaching of PG during the purification process. In conclusion, the detoxification process eliminates PG from its roots and discloses the leaching effect in the media for the first time.
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A complicated biological reaction of vascular tissues to damaging stimuli like infections, harmed cells, or irritants is called inflammation. Symptoms include redness, inflamed joints, stiffness, discomfort in the joints, and loss of joint function. NSAIDs are frequently used to treat inflammation. Sadly, these drugs raise the possibility of blood clots, which can result in heart attacks and strokes. Consequently, there is ongoing research focusing on developing potent anti-inflammatory drugs using natural ingredients. Natural products, due to their diverse chemical composition, offer a rich source for the development of novel medications. The treatment of various inflammation- related disorders heavily relies on a natural substance derived from medicinal plants. The objective of the present study is to assemble information on potential parts of the plants or phytochemicals derived from medicinal plants used on inflammatory models, employing state-ofthe- art scientific methodologies. In this study, state-of-the-art scientific methodologies are utilized to investigate the effects of phytochemicals derived from medicinal plants. Relevant data is collected, focusing on the examination of these phytochemicals in experimental models of inflammation. The study aims to collect thorough data on potential plant parts or promising phytochemicals derived from medicinal plants that have been evaluated using advanced scientific techniques in the realm of inflammation models. This compilation will offer valuable insights into their potential as anti-inflammatory agents. The findings have the potential to contribute to the development of new and improved anti-inflammatory medications with fewer or no adverse effects compared to current treatments. While many of these studies hold academic interest only a few are accepted into clinical trials. Numerous phytoconstituents have been identified for exhibiting diverse pharmacological actions.
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Mental health of children is becoming prime concern, as mental disorders are increasing very haste. Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one such complex neuro-behavioural disorder that affect not only the life of child, it potentially affects the harmony, social setup and even economical responsibilities of the family. ADHD is estimated to affect 2-17% i in India and in Jaipur 9.7% ii aged 12 and under when diagnosed with DSM-5 criteria. According to DSM-5, Attention-Deficit /Hyperactivity Disorder is characterized by persistent pattern of inattention or hyperactivity/impulsivity. Academic, cognitive, behavioural, emotional, and social functioning of the child are also affected. In contemporary science some FDA approved drugs used to minimise the symptoms of ADHD but its long-term use has side effects to deal with. In Ayurveda it can be correlated with Unmada vyadhi. For mental disorders ayurveda has multidimensional approach so in this scientific paper authors have critically analysed and compiled various research papers available on Google scholar, Pubmed and other web of science databases. So, this paper would be helpful in understanding pathophysiology and the management of ADHD in Ayurveda way.
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Among the eight branches of Ayurveda, Rasayana chikitsa is an important branch. The term Rasayana means the proper ayana (path), the footstep of nutritional requirements, which is the basis for a younger and healthy life. Ayurvedic classics explain Rasayana's effect as attaining longevity, memory, intellect, freedom from diseases, youth, excellence of lustre, complexion, voice, etc. Among the various Rasayana yogas mentioned in Ayurveda, Narasimha Rasayana (NR) is a unique formulation mentioned in Ashtanga Hridaya containing ingredients like Khadira, Chitraka, Shimshapa, Vijayasara, Haritaki, Vidanga, Vibhitaki, Bhallataka, Lohashakala, go-dugdha, Bhringaraja, Shatavari which are processed in navaneeta. The indications of the formulation include a strong, swift and steady physique with shining black hair, good complexion, good intellect, digestive power, etc. In the present review, an attempt has been made to analyse the formulation, highlighting the properties of individual ingredients from a classical and modern perspective. The study revealed that the ingredients of Narasimha Rasayana possess antioxidant, immunomodulatory, anti-mutagenic and hemopoietic effects, among other qualities, which point towards a possible rejuvenating impact on the human body.
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A novel Ti-PLB compound, a complex of titanium (Ti) and plumbagin (PLB) in acidic medium, has been sythesized for the first time and investigated via fluorescence spectroscopy. This complex’s fluorescence demonstrated that it emits and excites light at wavelengths of 605 nm and 500 nm, respectively. It has a stable fluorescence intensity after 3 min, a stable mol ratio of Ti to PLB of 1:2, a pH range of 4–6, binding constants of K = 3.98 × 10+4 and is extremely selective for Ti. It has also been properly stabilized in ethanol. Fluorescence spectroscopy, UV–vis, FT-IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, HSQC, HMBC, HR-MS, X-rays, XPS, TGA, SEM-EDX, and TEM have all pointed to a complex structure, Ti (PLB)2. This article invented it to determine the optimal conditions, and the sand sample analysis has also been applied in this project, with conclusions that are compatible with the results of the ICP-OES methodology and the DFT calculation explains the fluorescence mechanism of Ti(PLB)2 complex. Fluorescence spectroscopy has been established as a novel method to analyze Ti that is based on the complex of Ti (PLB)2 in EtOH: H2O = V:V = 7:3 and it has demonstrated advantages such as simplicity, selectivity, high sensitivity, and appropriate solvent. The values of the LOD and LOQ of Ti (IV) at pH of 5.0 are 2 ×10− 7 M and 7 × 10− 7 M. The intermediate precision (relative standard deviation (RSD), %) was 4.09%. The proposed method has the advantages of being very selective, high sensitivity, fluorescence complexes forming instantaneously, and simpler analytical equipment and the results give the same accuracy
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Five undescribed guanidine alkaloids, plumbagines HK (1-4) and plumbagoside E (5), as well as five known analogues (6-10) were isolated from the roots of Plumbago zeylanica. Their structures were established by extensive spectroscopic analyses and chemical methods. In addition, 1-10 were accessed their anti-inflammatory activities by measuring nitric oxide (NO) concentrations in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. However, all compounds especially 1 and 3-5 could not inhibit the secretion of NO but significant increase the secretion of NO. The result reminded us that 1-10 may become potential novel immune potentiators.
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Bioactive Phytochemicals from Himalayas: A Phytotherapeutic Approach covers herbal medicines from the Himalayan mountains. Chapters in this book detail molecular mechanisms and experimental tools and techniques for research on plants in this region. Phytochemical experts guide the readers through the role of Himalayan plants in therapy for metabolic diseases like cancer and diabetes, hepatic diseases, inflammatory diseases, and neurodegenerative diseases. Some chapters focus on diseases and how various plants from Himalayan origin are beneficial in these diseases. This compilation,with professional contributors, aims to inform a wide scientific community from various research fields about basic research on medicinal plants with a focus on Himalayan herbs. The book also serves as a handbook for pharmacologists working on the broad therapeutic aspects of these plants.
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The present review summarizes the studies regarding the isolation and characterization of phytoconstituents and the biological activity of Plumbago zeylanica. Biological activity like: cytotoxic activity, antifertility, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antioxidant, anticancer and CNS activity of this plant have been reviewed in this paper.
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Plumbagin, a hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone, confers neuroprotection via antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The present study aimed to assess the effect of plumbagin on behavioral and memory deficits induced by intrahippocampal administration of Quinolinic acid (QA) in male Wistar rats and reveal the associated mechanisms. QA (300 nM/4 μL in Normal saline) was administered i.c.v. in the hippocampus. QA administration caused depression-like behavior (forced swim test and tail suspension tests), anxiety-like behavior (open field test and elevated plus maze), and elevated anhedonia behavior (sucrose preference test). Furthermore, oxidative–nitrosative stress (increased nitrite content and lipid peroxidation with reduction of GSH), inflammation (increased IL-1β), cholinergic dysfunction, and mitochondrial complex (I, II, and IV) dysfunction were observed in the hippocampus region of QA-treated rats as compared to normal controls. Plumbagin (10 and 20 mg/kg; p.o.) treatment for 21 days significantly ameliorated behavioral and memory deficits in QA-administered rats. Moreover, plumbagin treatment restored the GSH level and reduced the MDA and nitrite level in the hippocampus. Furthermore, QA-induced cholinergic dysfunction and mitochondrial impairment were found to be ameliorated by plumbagin treatment. In conclusion, our results suggested that plumbagin offers a neuroprotective potential that could serve as a promising pharmacological approach to mitigate neurobehavioral changes associated with neurodegeneration.
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Plumbago zeylanica has been used in the traditional system of medicine from thousands of years owing to its potential therapeutic properties, however the anticancer and anti-metastatic effects are largely unknown against cervical cancer cells. In this study we demonstrated the cytotoxicity activity, inhibition of cell migration, induction of S-phase cell cycle arrest and the down regulation of expression level of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) by ethanol extract of the root of P. zeylanica (ERPZ). The cytotoxicity effects were analyzed by MTT assay the IC50 was determined to be 10.49μg/ml after 72h of incubation. Besides, strong wound healing activity was observed at 20μg/ml concentration, where the wound size was reduced to 33%. The ethanol root extract of P. zeylanica also showed significant S-phase cell cycle arrest of 68.9% at 20μg/ml concentration in HeLa cells which was accompanied by the down regulation of EGFR. Ethanol extracts of the root of P. zeylanica (ERPZ) treatment inhibited the growth of cervical cancer cells. The ERPZ arrested cells at the S-phase of the cell cycle. Besides the HRLC-MS analysis of ERPZ identified 15 compounds and among which the five major compounds such as 7,8-dihydroxy-4-methylcoumarin, neodiosmin, diosmetin, hispidulin, and formononetin were reported to possess antioxidant and anticancer activities, could plausibly induce cell death in HeLa cells.
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Plumbago zeylanica is a perennial herb or straggling shrub and is greatly valued in ayurvedic treatment of cough, asthma and gastrointestinal disorders. Propagation of the species through seed is unreliable due to poor seed quality, erratic germination and seedling mortality under natural field conditions. Hence, it’s Propagation through tissue culture was sought. The nodal explants were taken as the starting material for the establishment of cultures. After washing the explants were surface sterilized by different sterilants viz. HgCl2, NaOCl and H2O2 with different concentrations and time duration where 0.1% of HgCl2 for 5 minutes was found the best. After sterilization nodal segments were inoculated on MS medium with different hormonal concentrations under aseptic conditions. Bud break was observed after two weeks of culture in 1.0 mg/l of BAP. These axillary shoots were excised and transferred to MS medium supplemented with different hormonal concentrations. A very high rate of multiplication occurred on MS + BAP (1.0 mg/l) + KIN (0.4 mg/l) and NAA (0.2 mg/l). In vitro grown shoots were rooted in ½ strength MS medium supplemented with different concentration of IBA (0.5, 1.0, 1.5 mg/l), IAA (0.5, 1.0, 1.5 mg/l). Maximum rooting was recorded in 0.5 mg/l IBA. After one month on rooting medium healthy roots were developed and there after plantlets were transferred to mist chamber for acclimatization.
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A previous study of the aerotolerant bacterium Lactobacillus plantarum, which lacks superoxide dismutase (SOD), demonstrated that it possesses a novel substitute for this defensive enzyme. Thus, L. plantarum contains 20 to 25 mM Mn(II),m in a dialyzable form, which is able to scavenge O2- apparently as effectively as do the micromolar levels of SOD present in most other organisms. This report describes a survey of the lactic acid bacteria. The substitution of millimolar levels of Mn(II) for micromolar levels of SOD is a common occurrence in this group of microorganisms, which contained either SOD or high levels of Mn(II), but not both. Two strains were found which had neither high levels of Mn(II) nor SOD, and they were, as was expected, very oxygen intolerant. Lactic acid bacteria containing SOD grew better aerobically than anaerobically, whereas the organisms containing Mn(II) in place of SOD showed aerobic growth which was best, at best, equal to anaerobic growth. Plumbagin (5-hydroxy-2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone) increases the rate of O2- production in these organisms. Lactobacillus strains containing high intracellular Mn(II) were more resistant to the oxygen-dependent toxicity of plumbagin than were strains containing lower levels of Mn(II). The results support the conclusion that a high internal level of Mn(II) provides these organisms with an important defence against endogenous O2-.
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Streptococcus sanguis, whose growth appears to be independent of the availability of iron, makes no hemes, contains neither catalase nor peroxidase, and can accumulate millimolar concentration levels of H2O2 during aerobic growth. It possesses a single manganese-containing superoxide dismutase whose concentration can be varied over a 50-100-fold range by manipulating the availability of oxygen during growth. Cell extracts contain a soluble NADH-plumbagin diaphorase which mediates O2- production in vitro and presumably also in vivo. Plumbagin increased oxygen consumption by S. sanguis and imposed an oxygen-dependent toxicity. Cells grown aerobically and containing elevated levels of superoxide dismutase were resistant to this toxicity. Dimethyl sulfoxide, which was shown to permeate S. sanguis freely, was used as an indicating scavenger of OH. An in vitro enzymic source of O2- plus H2O2 generated formaldehyde from dimethyl sulfoxide, an indication of OH. production. Either superoxide dismutase or catalase inhibited this OH. production and iron salts augmented it. Intact, aerobic cells of S. sanguis also gave evidence of OH. production, in the presence of plumbagin, but all of it appeared to be generated outside the cells. In addition, 0.5 M dimethyl sulfoxide did not diminish the oxygen-dependent toxicity of plumbagin. We conclude that, in S. sanguis, O2- can exert a toxic effect independent of the production of OH..
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The antioxidant activity of pomegranate juices was evaluated by four different methods (ABTS, DPPH, DMPD, and FRAP) and compared to those of red wine and a green tea infusion. Commercial pomegranate juices showed an antioxidant activity (18-20 TEAC) three times higher than those of red wine and green tea (6-8 TEAC). The activity was higher in commercial juices extracted from whole pomegranates than in experimental juices obtained from the arils only (12-14 TEAC). HPLC-DAD and HPLC-MS analyses of the juices revealed that commercial juices contained the pomegranate tannin punicalagin (1500-1900 mg/L) while only traces of this compound were detected in the experimental juice obtained from arils in the laboratory. This shows that pomegranate industrial processing extracts some of the hydrolyzable tannins present in the fruit rind. This could account for the higher antioxidant activity of commercial juices compared to the experimental ones. In addition, anthocyanins, ellagic acid derivatives, and hydrolyzable tannins were detected and quantified in the pomegranate juices.
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The antioxidant activity, expressed in mM Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), of some edible Yemeni plants belonging to different families was evaluated using the ferrylmyoglobin/ABTS.+ method. Methanolic (80%) extracts of tested plants exhibited higher (p<0.05) TEAC than extracts of other solvents. Extracts of coffee beans (Coffea arabica), sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum), wild thyme (Thymus serpyllum) and sorrel (Rumex acetosa) had antioxidant activities equivalent to 8.7-47.1 mM Trolox or 7.9-42.8 mM BHA per g dry weight of plant. The TEAC of methanolic extracts for sorrel was not significantly different (p>0.05) from extracts of Leucaena leucocephala (Thailand) and Japanese green tea (Camellia sinensis). A good correlation (R2=0.937) was observed between TEAC and total phenol contents in 80% methanol extracts of tested plants.
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A simple and rapid normal-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of a pharmacologically important 1,4-naphthoquinone, plumbagin, and a chromene, 2,2-dimethyl-5-hydroxy-6-acetylchromene, in plant extracts was developed. Both compounds were well resolved with maximum recovery (97%) on a μSpherogel column using n-hexane-chloroform-2-propanol (30:70:2) as the mobile phase.
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The antioxidant activity of pomegranate juices was evaluated by four different methods (ABTS, DPPH, DMPD, and FRAP) and compared to those of red wine and a green tea infusion. Commercial pomegranate juices showed an antioxidant activity (18−20 TEAC) three times higher than those of red wine and green tea (6−8 TEAC). The activity was higher in commercial juices extracted from whole pomegranates than in experimental juices obtained from the arils only (12−14 TEAC). HPLC-DAD and HPLC-MS analyses of the juices revealed that commercial juices contained the pomegranate tannin punicalagin (1500−1900 mg/L) while only traces of this compound were detected in the experimental juice obtained from arils in the laboratory. This shows that pomegranate industrial processing extracts some of the hydrolyzable tannins present in the fruit rind. This could account for the higher antioxidant activity of commercial juices compared to the experimental ones. In addition, anthocyanins, ellagic acid derivatives, and hydrolyzable tannins were detected and quantified in the pomegranate juices. Keywords: Pomegranate; Punica granatum; Punicaceae; juice; phenolics; anthocyanins; ellagic acid; punicalagin; tannins; antioxidant activity; ABTS; DPPH; DMPD; FRAP
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Thiyl radical-induced isomerization of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have been studied in homogeneous solution and in liposomes. Four one-trans isomers of arachidonic acid have been assigned with the help of 13C NMR spectroscopy. At a dose of 132 Gy, the trans fraction amounts to 9.2 1.2% in each of the four isomers. Therefore, all the four double bonds are equally susceptible to isomerization, which can be achieved by means of gamma radiolysis or chemolysis (AAPH) using both lipophilic and hydrophilic thiols. The equilibrium is characterised by a cis/trans ratio of 19 : 81, far away from the composition of the natural fatty acids (cis fraction 100%). However, compared to the linoleate isomerization in the homogeneous solution, we observed a preferential formation of trans-trans isomers if linoleate is incorporated in the bilayer of liposomes. This difference might be explained by the better fitting of the all-trans isomer into the parallel-aligned acyl chains. The isomerization step takes place within an adduct of the thiyl radical to an olefinic bond. Using a competition method, the numerical value of the equilibrium constant for the adduct formation was determined by pulse radiolysis to be (15 5) dm3 mol-1. This value does not depend on the number of double bonds and holds for all fatty acids under investigation.
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Despite previous detection of hydroxyl radical formation during iron deposition into ferritin, no reports exist in the literature concerning how it might affect ferritin function. In the present study, hydroxyl radical formation during Fe(II) oxidation by apoferritin was found to be contingent on the “ferroxidase” activity (i.e., H subunit composition) exhibited by apoferritin. Hydroxyl radical formation was found to affect both the stoichiometry and kinetics of Fe(II) oxidation by apoferritin. The stoichiometry of Fe(II) oxidation by apoferritin in an unbuffered solution of 50 mM NaCl, pH 7.0, was approximately 3.1 Fe(II)/O2 at all iron-to-protein ratios tested. The addition of HEPES as an alternate reactant for the hydroxyl radical resulted in a stoichiometry of about 2 Fe(II)/O2 at all iron-to-protein ratios. HEPES functioned to protect apoferritin from oxidative modification, for its omission from reaction mixtures containing Fe(II) and apoferritin resulted in alterations to the ferritin consistent with oxidative damage. The kinetic parameters for the reaction of recombinant human H apoferritin with Fe(II) in HEPES buffer (100 mM) were: Km = 60 μM, kcat = 10 s−1, and kcat/Km = 1.7 × 105 M−1 · s−1. Collectively, these results contradict the “crystal growth model” for iron deposition into ferritin and, while our data would seem to imply that the ferroxidase activity of ferritin is adequate in facilitating Fe(II) oxidation at all stages of iron deposition into ferritin, it is important to note that these data were obtained in vitro using nonphysiologic conditions. The possibility that these findings may have physiological significance is discussed.
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Peroxynitrite is a powerful oxidising and nitrating agent generated in vivo by the combination of nitric oxide and superoxide. Previous studies have shown that on exposure to peroxynitrite, low density lipoprotein (LDL) is modified resulting in both a time- and concentration-dependent change to lipid and protein components. The present investigation highlights the reaction between carotenoids and tocopherols, present within the lipophilic phase of LDL, and peroxynitrite at varying concentrations. It was observed that the carotenoids were consumed by a significantly greater proportion than that of the tocopherols with lycopene (87.2 +/- 11%) being more reactive than beta-carotene (68.2 +/- 5.8%) when exposed to peroxynitrite (50 microM) for 1 min. Among the tocopherols, alpha-tocopherol (54.9 +/- 20.2%) was more extensively depleted than gamma-tocopherol (14.7 +/- 1.09%) at peroxynitrite concentration of 500 microM. It was also observed that peroxynitrite, unlike copper ions, does not lead to significant peroxidation of LDL as determined by the formation of conjugated dienes and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances.
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Linoleic acid peroxyl radicals (LOO.) can be viewed as model intermediates occurring during lipid peroxidation processes. Formation and reactions of these species were investigated in aqueous alkaline solution using the technique of pulse radiolysis combined with kinetic spectroscopy. Irradiation of linoleic acid in N2O/O2-saturated solutions leads to a mixture of peroxyl radical isomers, whereas reaction of 13-hydroperoxylinoleic acid (13-LOOH) with azide radicals in N2O-saturated solution produces 13-LOO. radicals specifically. These peroxyl radicals cannot be observed directly, but their reactions with the two flavonols, kaempferol and quercetin, acting as radical-scavenging antioxidants, produced strongly absorbing aroxyl radicals (ArO.). The same aroxyl radicals were generated by .OH and N3. with rate constants exceeding 10(9) dm3 mol-1 s-1. Applying a reaction scheme that includes competing generation and decay reactions of both LOO. and ArO. radicals, we derived individual rate constants for LOO. reactions with the phenols (greater than 10(7) dm3 mol-1 s-1), with the aroxyl radicals to form covalent adducts (greater than 10(8) dm3 mol-1 s-1), as well as for their bimilecular decay (3.0 X 10(8) dm3 mol-1 s-1). These results demonstrate the high reactivity of both fatty acid peroxyl radicals and the flavone antioxidants in aqueous solution.
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VITAMIN E (α-tocopherol) and vitamin C (ascorbic acid) react rapidly with organic free radicals, and it is widely accepted that the antioxidant properties of these compounds are responsible in part for their biological activity1-5. Tissue vitamin C levels are often considerably greater than those of vitamin E, for example in liver the values are approximately 2 mM and 0.02 mM, respectively. Nevertheless, vitamin E is considerably more lipophilic than vitamin C, and in biomembranes has been found to be the more potent antioxidant, particularly with respect to lipid peroxidation; penetration to a precise site in the membrane may be an important feature of the protection against highly reactive radicals6. Tappel has suggested that the two vitamins act synergistically, vitamin E acting as the primary antioxidant and the resulting vitamin E radical then reacting with vitamin C to regenerate vitamin E7. We now report direct observation of this interaction, which we feel may be an important feature in the maintenance of vitamin E levels in tissues.
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Thiyl free radicals have been shown to react with polyunsaturated fatty acids via abstraction of bisallylic hydrogen, forming pentadienyl radicals, and via addition to the double bonds. In the absence of oxygen, the latter pathway leads to regeneration of thiyl radicals through beta-elimination or "repair" of the adduct radicals by thiols. In the presence of oxygen, fixation of thiyl-induced damage occurs through reaction of O2 with the pentadienyl radical (yielding conjugated dienyl peroxyl radicals) and also with the thiyl-to-double bond adduct radical. A quantitative reaction scheme evaluated from these data considers abstraction, addition, rearrangement, and repair reactions, and the evaluation of rate constants for the individual steps. Absolute rate constants have been measured, in particular, for reactions of thiyl free radicals from glutathione, cysteine, homocysteine, N-acetylcysteine, cysteine ethyl ester, penicillamine, captopril, mercaptoethanol, and dithiothreitol with polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) ranging from 18:2 to 22:6, and the lipids trilinolein and trilinolenin. The rate constants for hydrogen abstraction were found to be typically of the order of 10(7) mol-1 dm3 s-1 and to increase with increasing lipophilicity of the attacking thiyl radical. Thioperoxyl radicals, RSOO., were found to be rather unreactive toward PUFAs, in contrast to the isomer sulfonyl radicals, RSO2., which not only abstract hydrogen from the bisallylic methylene groups of the PUFAs (although only at relatively small yield) but also readily add to the PUFA double bonds (major pathway). Specific information was obtained on the optical properties of the thiyl radical derived from the ACE inhibitor captopril, CpS. (lambda max = 340 nm, epsilon = 460 +/- 50 mol-1 dm3 cm-1), and its conjugate disulfide radical anion (CpS:.SCp) (lambda max = 420 nm).
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Plumbagin, an active principle from Plumbaginaceous plants, produced a triphasic inotropic response (first positive, second negative, and third positive phases) in guinea-pig papillary muscle. The inotropic potency of plumbagin at the first positive phase was pD2 6.40, and the methylation of 5-hydroxy group of plumbagin reduced the potency. The triphasic pattern of inotropism of plumbagin was unaffected by reserpine or propranolol treatments. Plumbagin did not produce the positive inotropic effects under anoxic conditions or in the presence of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation inhibitors such as 2,4-dinitrophenol and dicumarol.
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Plumbagin (2-methyl-5-hydroxy, 1:4 naphthoquinone) isolated from the roots of Plumbago zeylanica when administered to hyperlipidaemic rabbits, reduced serum cholesterol and LDL-Chol. by 53 to 86 percent and 61 to 91 percent respectively. It lowered cholesterol/phospholipid ratio by 45.8 percent and elevates the decreased HDL-Chol significantly. Further, Plumbagin treatment prevented the accumulation of cholesterol and triglycerides in liver and aorta and regressed atheromatous plaques of thoracic and abdominal aorta. Plumbagin treated hyperlipidaemic subjects excreted more fecal cholesterol and phospholipids. In conclusion-Plumbagin feeding brings about a definite regression of atheroma and prevents the accumulation of cholesterol and triglycerides in liver and aorta.
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Possible reactions of thiyl free radicals in biological environment are reviewed. In particular hydrogen transfer processes from model C-H compounds like alcohols and ethers as well as from polyunsaturated fatty acids to thiyl radicals are described to proceed with reasonably high rate constants (10(3)-10(4) and 10(6)-10(7) M-1 s-1, respectively). Thiyl radicals have thus to be considered as potentially hazardous species especially with respect to DNA damage and lipid peroxidation.
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Rough and smooth microsomes of brain in senescent rats showed less sensitivity to ascorbate-, NADPH- and cumene hydroperoxide-induced peroxidative damage compared with those of young adults. The observed decrease in peroxidative potential in senescent rats seemed to be due to decrease in the substrate for peroxidation in the form of phospholipids and increase in the level of antioxidants such as reduced glutathione and superoxide dismutase.
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In female Wistar rats, sensitivity to ascorbate-induced lipid peroxidation in rough and smooth microsomes increases with age, reaching a maximum in 1-year-old rats and decreases during ageing. Time course of lipid peroxidation, and lipid peroxidation with optimum concentrations of ascorbic acid, Fe2+ and protein in rough microsomes show that 1-year-old rats are the most susceptible followed by 75-day-old, 15-day-old, 2-year-old and 1-day-old rats. However, smooth microsomes show a slightly different trend with maximum sensitivity in 1-year-old rats followed by 15-day-old, 75-day-old, 2-year-old and 1-day-old rats. Smooth microsomes are more susceptible to lipid peroxidation than the rough in all age groups except 75-day-old rats. Smooth microsomes are also more sensitive to inhibitors of lipid peroxidation. Microsomal content of phospholipid increases during postnatal development and decreases during ageing, whereas that of ascorbic acid and alpha-tocopherol do not show any particular trend.
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Publisher Summary A thiyl radical (RS) is produced when a thiol (RSH) loses the hydrogen atom from the S–H group, or loses an electron from sulfur, followed by a proton. The two processes are stoichiometrically equivalent and may be difficult to distinguish experimentally, because proton transfer reactions to solvent water are usually fast. Because the S–H bond strength is lower than that of many C–H bonds, numerous carbon-centered radicals are repaired by thiols by hydrogen (or electron/proton) donation. Thiols can also act as cellular antioxidants by electron transfer to oxidizing species, producing thiyl radicals. Radicals derived from DNA bases—such as those produced on reaction of guanine moieties with OH—are repaired (but not restituted) by thiols. Xenobiotic radicals produced by one-electron oxidation of drugs are often reactive toward thiols. The fate of thiyl radicals in cells reflects the kinetics of reactions that produce and remove them. The main experimental technique for measuring the kinetics of thiyl radical reactions is pulse radiolysis. This chapter discusses the kinetic factors controlling the reaction pathways of thiyl radicals in cells and the experimental problems in quantitation.
Article
The effect of palm oil, a widely used vegetable oil, rich in tocotrienols, on peroxidation potential of rat liver was examined. Long-term feeding of rats with palm oil as one of the dietary components significantly reduced the peroxidation potential of hepatic mitochondria and microsomes. As compared to hepatic mitochondria isolated from rats fed control or corn oil-rich diet, those from palm oil-fed group showed significantly less susceptibility to peroxidation induced by ascorbate and NADPH. However, in microsomes, only NADPH-induced lipid peroxidation was significantly reduced in rats fed palm oil rich-diet. Though the accumulation of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances during ascorbate-induced lipid peroxidation in mitochondria from rats fed corn oil-rich diet supplemented with tocotrienol-rich fraction (TRF) of palm oil was similar to that of control rats, the initial rate of peroxidation was much slower than those from control or corn oil fed diets. Our in vitro studies as well as analyses of co-factors related to peroxidation potential indicated that the observed decrease in palm oil-fed rats may be due to increased amount of antioxidants in terms of tocotrienol as well as decrease in the availability of substrates for peroxidation.
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Free radicals vary widely in their thermodynamic properties, ranging from very oxidizing to very reducing. These thermodynamic properties can be used to predict a pecking order, or hierarchy, for free radical reactions. Using one-electron reduction potentials, the predicted pecking order is in agreement with experimentally observed free radical electron (hydrogen atom) transfer reactions. These potentials are also in agreement with experimental data that suggest that vitamin E, the primary lipid soluble small molecule antioxidant, and vitamin C, the terminal water soluble small molecule antioxidant, cooperate to protect lipids and lipid structures against peroxidation. Although vitamin E is located in membranes and vitamin C is located in aqueous phases, vitamin C is able to recycle vitamin E; i.e., vitamin C repairs the tocopheroxyl (chromanoxyl) radical of vitamin E, thereby permitting vitamin E to function again as a free radical chain-breaking antioxidant. This review discusses: (i) the thermodynamics of free radical reactions that are of interest to the health sciences; (ii) the fundamental thermodynamic and kinetic properties that are associated with chain-breaking antioxidants; (iii) the unique interfacial nature of the apparent reaction of the tocopherol free radical (vitamin E radical) and vitamin C; and (iv) presents a hierarchy, or pecking order, for free radical electron (hydrogen atom) transfer reactions.
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1. A new method has been developed for measuring the total antioxidant capacity of body fluids and drug solutions, based on the absorbance of the ABTS*+ radical cation. 2. An automated method for use on a centrifugal analyser, as well as a manual method, is described. 3. The procedure has been applied to physiological antioxidant compounds and radical-scavenging drugs, and an antioxidant ranking was established based on their reactivity relative to a 1.0 mmol/l Trolox standard. 4. The Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity of plasma from an adult reference population has been measured, and the method optimized and validated. 5. The method has been applied to investigate the total plasma antioxidant capacity of neonates and how this may be compromised in prematurity.
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The modulatory ability of plumbagin, a natural product from Plumbago zeylanica, was studied on peritoneal macrophages of BALB/c mice. The macrophage functions evaluated were bactericidal activity, hydrogen peroxide and superoxide anion release. The bactericidal capacity of in vivo plumbagin-treated mouse macrophages was estimated against Staphylococcus aureus. In low doses plumbagin exerted a constant increase in bactericidal activity throughout the study period whereas with a high dose a higher response was observed up to six weeks. But in the next two weeks a considerable decline in the bactericidal activity was noticed compared to low dose. Plumbagin was also seen to exert a similar response on oxygen radical release by macrophages in vivo showing a clear correlation between oxygen radical release and the bactericidal activity. The data indicate that plumbagin augments the macrophage bactericidal activity by potentiating the oxyradical release at low concentration whereas at the higher concentration it has inhibitory activity.
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High-density lipoprotein (HDL) has been proposed as the principal carrier of hydroperoxides in plasma, based upon data gathered with an HPLC-chemiluminescence technique. To test this hypothesis we have measured total lipid hydroperoxides in native plasma using the ferrous oxidation in Xylenol Orange (FOX) assay and then fractionated plasma into very-low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and HDL fractions. Hydroperoxides were found to accumulate principally (more than 65%) in LDL, as judged by hydroperoxide content per amount of protein or cholesterol, or expressed as a proportion of total hydroperoxide in plasma. Plasma was also incubated at 37 degrees C in the presence and absence of 2,2'-azo-bis-(2-amidinopropane) hydrochloride (AAPH), an azo-initiator of lipid peroxidation. The majority of hydroperoxides generated in plasma were recovered in the LDL fraction. Furthermore, when isolated lipoproteins were subject to oxidation initiated by AAPH, very-low-density lipoprotein and LDL showed the greatest propensity for hydroperoxide accumulation, whereas HDL seemed relatively resistant. Estimates for plasma and LDL peroxidation based upon techniques which measure total lipid hydroperoxides suggest that levels of hydroperoxides in plasma and LDL are far higher than that those estimates generated by ostensibly more selective techniques. Higher levels of hydroperoxides in LDL than those reported by HPLC-chemiluminescence also seem in greater accordance with other available data concerning LDL oxidation.
Article
A simple, automated test measuring the ferric reducing ability of plasma, the FRAP assay, is presented as a novel method for assessing "antioxidant power." Ferric to ferrous ion reduction at low pH causes a colored ferrous-tripyridyltriazine complex to form. FRAP values are obtained by comparing the absorbance change at 593 nm in test reaction mixtures with those containing ferrous ions in known concentration. Absorbance changes are linear over a wide concentration range with antioxidant mixtures, including plasma, and with solutions containing one antioxidant in purified form. There is no apparent interaction between antioxidants. Measured stoichiometric factors of Trolox, alpha-tocopherol, ascorbic acid, and uric acid are all 2.0; that of bilirubin is 4.0. Activity of albumin is very low. Within- and between-run CVs are <1.0 and <3.0%, respectively, at 100-1000 micromol/liter. FRAP values of fresh plasma of healthy Chinese adults: 612-1634 micromol/liter (mean, 1017; SD, 206; n = 141). The FRAP assay is inexpensive, reagents are simple to prepare, results are highly reproducible, and the procedure is straightforward and speedy. The FRAP assay offers a putative index of antioxidant, or reducing, potential of biological fluids within the technological reach of every laboratory and researcher interested in oxidative stress and its effects.
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Caffeine (1,3,7-trimethyl xanthine), an ingredient of coffee, has been investigated for its potential antioxidant activity against oxidative damage to rat liver microsomes. Such damage was induced by three reactive oxygen species of cardinal importance in causing membrane damage in vivo namely hydroxyl radical (.OH), peroxyl radical (ROO.) and singlet oxygen (1O2). The results obtained showed that caffeine was an effective inhibitor of lipid peroxidation, at millimolar concentrations, against all the three reactive species. The extent of inhibition was high against peroxidation induced by .OH, medium against 1O2 and low against ROO. In general, the antioxidant ability of caffeine was similar to that of the established biological antioxidant glutathione and significantly higher than ascorbic acid. Investigations into the possible mechanisms involved in the observed antioxidant effect reveal that the quenching of these reactive species by caffeine may be one of the possible factor responsible. The rate constant of caffeine with .OH was 7.3 x 10(9) M-1 s-1 and with 1O2 it was 2.9 x 10(7) M-1 s-1. Considering their potential for damage, half-life estimates and generation in biological systems, the ability of caffeine to inhibit oxidative damage induced by these reactive species in membranes suggest one more positive attribute of caffeine, whose daily intake as coffee may be considerable in most populations.
Article
The effects of two naphthoquinones, juglone and plumbagin, and an isocoumarin, hydrangenol, on intestinal carcinogenesis in rats were examined by dietary exposure during the initiation phase. Starting at 5 weeks of age, male F344 rats were fed the diets containing either of the test chemicals at a concentration of 200 ppm or the control diet without the compounds. At 6 weeks of age, all animals were treated with s.c. injections of azoxymethane (AOM) (15 mg/kg body weight, once weekly for 3 weeks) or saline alone. Animals fed experimental diets were changed to the control diet 1 week after the last carcinogen treatment. Animals given plumbagin together with the carcinogen had a lower incidence (41%) and smaller multiplicity (0.48 +/- 0.62) of tumors in the entire intestine compared with those exposed to carcinogen alone (68% and 1.04 +/- 0.62) (P < 0.05 and < 0.01, respectively). The incidence and multiplicity of tumors in the small intestine (7% and 0.07 +/- 0.25) and the multiplicity of tumors in the entire intestine (0.60 +/- 0.76) of animals treated with juglone and the carcinogen were significantly less than those of animals treated with carcinogen alone (P < 0.05 in each). Hydrangenol tended to decrease the incidence and the multiplicity of tumors in the entire intestine induced by AOM, but the effect was not statistically significant. The present data suggest that the naphthoquinones, juglone and plumbagin, could be promising chemopreventive agents for human intestinal neoplasia.
Article
2,7-Dichlorodihydrofluorescein (DCDHF), commonly known as dichlorofluorescin, and dihydrorhodamine 123 (DHR) are often used to detect the production of reactive nitrogen and oxygen species in cells via oxidation to their respective fluorescent products. To determine which biological oxidants might be involved, DCDHF and DHR were exposed to a number of oxidants in vitro to determine which are capable of oxidizing these compounds. Formation of dichlorofluorescein (DCF) and rhodamine is typically monitored by measuring their intrinsic fluorescence, however, absorbance can also be utilized (epsilon500 nm = 59,500 and 78,800 M(-1) cm(-1) for DCF and rhodamine, respectively). Peroxynitrite (ONOO-) readily oxidized both compounds with an efficiency equal to 38% of added ONOO- for DCDHF and 44% for DHR. Addition of nitric oxide (NO) to a superoxide-generating system resulted in DCDHF and DHR oxidation which was inhibitable by superoxide dismutase (SOD). SIN-1-mediated oxidation of DCDHF and DHR was also SOD-inhibitable, suggesting that peroxynitrite is the primary oxidant formed from SIN-1 decomposition. Aerobic addition of NO resulted in DCDHF oxidation in a manner consistent with nitrogen dioxide (.NO2) formation. NO did not oxidize DHR and actually inhibited UV-light-induced DHR oxidation. Simultaneous addition of NO and ONOO- resulted in an apparent inhibition of indicator oxidation; however, subsequent addition of ONOO- alone 20 s later produced a higher than average amount of oxidized indicator. Addition of indicator after NO + ONOO- followed by subsequent ONOO- addition gave similar results, suggesting the formation of a relatively stable, oxidant-activated NO/ONOO- adduct. At pH 7.4, hypochlorous acid was 66% efficient at oxidizing DHR but only 9% with DCDHF. Neither H2O2 (1 mM) nor superoxide flux alone produced significant indicator oxidation. Oxidation of DCDHF by horseradish peroxidase (HRP) plus H2O2 was considerably less efficient than oxidation of DHR. At 20-fold higher concentrations, HRP alone oxidized DHR but the rate was much lower than when H2O2 was present. Catalase largely inhibited HRP-mediated oxidation of DHR but not DCDHF, suggesting a direct effect of the peroxidase on DCDHF. These results reveal that peroxynitrite, hypochlorous acid, and H2O2 plus peroxidase all oxidize DCDHF and DHR to varying degrees but that neither superoxide, H2O2 alone, nor physiological levels of nitric oxide are capable of indicator oxidation. Thus, DCDHF or DHR oxidation in any given cell type may involve more than one oxidant. In cell systems where nitric oxide production occurs, oxidation of either DCDHF or DHR is likely to include a peroxynitrite component. Identification of relevant oxidants will best be achieved with a combined experimental approach which exploits the differential reactivities of DCDHF and DHR and the judicious use of inhibitors and oxidant scavengers.
Article
Nicotinamide (vitamin B3) an endogenous metabolite, showed significant inhibition of oxidative damage induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by ascorbate-Fe2+ and photosensitization systems in rat brain mitochondria. It protected against both protein oxidation and lipid peroxidation, at millimolar concentrations. Inhibition was more pronounced against oxidation of proteins than peroxidation of lipids. Chemically related endogenous compounds, tryptophan and isonicotinic acid, showed comparable inhibitory properties. The protective effect observed, at biologically relevant concentrations, with nicotinamide was more than that of the endogenous antioxidants ascorbic acid and alpha-tocopherol. Hence our studies suggest that nicotinamide (vitamin B3) can be considered as a potent antioxidant capable of protecting the cellular membranes in brain, which is highly susceptible to prooxidants, against oxidative damage induced by ROS.
Article
Most nonenzymatic antioxidant activity (scavenging of free radicals, inhibition of lipid peroxidation, etc.) is mediated by redox reactions. The antioxidant (AO) activity of polyphenols (PPs), as ferric-reducing power, was determined for the first time using a modified FRAP (ferric reducing/antioxidant power) assay. Reaction was followed for 30 min, and both Fe(II) standards and samples were dissolved in the same solvent to allow comparison. Selected representative PPs included flavonoids (quercetin, rutin, and catechin), resveratrol, tannic acid, and phenolic acids (gallic, caffeic, and ferulic). Carotenoids (beta-carotene and zeaxanthine), ascorbic acid, Trolox, and BHA were included for comparison. Equivalent concentration 1 (EC(1)), as the concentration of AO with a reducing effect equivalent to 1 mmol/L Fe(II), was used to compare AO efficiency. PPs had lower EC(1) values, and therefore higher reducing power, than ascorbic acid and Trolox. Tannic acid and quercetin had the highest AO capacity followed by gallic and caffeic acids. Resveratrol showed the lowest reducing effect. Carotenoids had no ferric reducing ability. Polyphenol's AO efficiency seemed to depend on the extent of hydroxylation and conjugation.
Article
Fractionation of a methanolic extract of the leaves of Anthurium versicolor has resulted in the isolation of two main fractions, I and II. Both the extract and the fractions were assayed for their radical-scavenging activity by means of an in vitro test (bleaching of the stable 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical) and showed a significant radical-scavenging effect. Subsequent chromatographic fractionation of the most active fraction, II, has led to the isolation and characterization, as major constituents, of four new flavone glycosides, acacetin 6-C-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->3)-beta-D-glucopyranoside] (1), acacetin 6-C-[beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside] (2), acacetin 6-C-[beta-D-apiofuranosyl-(1-->3)-beta-D-glucopyranoside] (3), and acacetin 8-C-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->3)-beta-D-glucopyranoside] (4), as well as vitexin (apigenin-8-C-beta-D-glucopyranoside) and rosmarinic acid. The structures of 1-4 were determined using spectroscopic methods.
Article
Processed fruits and vegetables have been long considered to have lower nutritional value than their fresh commodities due to the loss of vitamin C during processing. This research group found vitamin C in apples contributed < 0.4% of total antioxidant activity, indicating most of the activity comes from the natural combination of phytochemicals. This suggests that processed fruits and vegetables may retain their antioxidant activity despite the loss of vitamin C. Here it is shown that thermal processing elevated total antioxidant activity and bioaccessible lycopene content in tomatoes and produced no significant changes in the total phenolics and total flavonoids content, although loss of vitamin C was observed. The raw tomato had 0.76 +/- 0.03 micromol of vitamin C/g of tomato. After 2, 15, and 30 min of heating at 88 degrees C, the vitamin C content significantly dropped to 0.68 +/- 0.02, 0.64 +/- 0.01, and 0.54 +/- 0.02 micromol of vitamin C/g of tomato, respectively (p < 0.01). The raw tomato had 2.01 +/- 0.04 mg of trans-lycopene/g of tomato. After 2, 15, and 30 min of heating at 88 degrees C, the trans-lycopene content had increased to 3.11+/- 0.04, 5.45 +/- 0.02, and 5.32 +/- 0.05 mg of trans-lycopene/g of tomato (p < 0.01). The antioxidant activity of raw tomatoes was 4.13 +/- 0.36 micromol of vitamin C equiv/g of tomato. With heat treatment at 88 degrees C for 2, 15, and 30 min, the total antioxidant activity significantly increased to 5.29 +/- 0.26, 5.53 +/- 0.24, and 6.70 +/- 0.25 micromol of vitamin C equiv/g of tomato, respectively (p < 0.01). There were no significant changes in either total phenolics or total flavonoids. These findings indicate thermal processing enhanced the nutritional value of tomatoes by increasing the bioaccessible lycopene content and total antioxidant activity and are against the notion that processed fruits and vegetables have lower nutritional value than fresh produce. This information may have a significant impact on consumers' food selection by increasing their consumption of fruits and vegetables to reduce the risks of chronic diseases.
Article
In the dog, monkey, a nd human we have shown that 5 ml/kg of red wine or 5-10 ml/kg of purple grape juice but not orange or grapefruit juice inhibits platelet activity, and protects against epinephrine activation of platelets. Red wine and purple grape juice enhances platelet and endothelial production of nitric oxide (Fitzpatrick et al., 1993, Parker et al., 2000). This is thought to be one of the mechanisms whereby purple grape juice significantly improved endothelial function in 15 patients with coronary artery disease. The consumption of purple grape juice by the patients also offered increased protection against LDL cholesterol oxidation, even though all the patients were also taking another antioxidant vitamin E, 400 IU/day. The number of people and animals in these studies was small; however, each one acted as their own control as measurements were made in each before, and then after consumption of red wine or purple grape juice. Thus these studies are thought to be significant. We feel that the results of these studies are encouraging and justify further research on larger numbers of subjects. This suggests that the flavonoids in purple grape juice and red wine may inhibit the initiation of atherosclerosis by one or more of the mechanisms described above. It will take years to fully characterize the potential benefits of daily consumption of red wine or purple grape juice for maintaining a healthy heart. Based on the existing evidence of antiplatelet and antioxidant benefits and improved endothelial function from red wine and purple grape juice, it seems reasonable to suggest that moderate amounts of red wine or purple grape juice be included among the 5-7 daily servings of fruits and vegetables per day as recommended by the American Heart Association to help reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
Article
Polyphenols are the most abundant antioxidants in our diets. The main classes of polyphenols are phenolic acids (mainly caffeic acid) and flavonoids (the most abundant in the diet are flavanols (catechins plus proanthocyanidins), anthocyanins and their oxidation products), which account for one- and two-thirds, respectively. Polyphenols are reducing agents, and together with other dietary reducing agents, such as vitamin C, vitamin E and carotenoids, referred to as antioxidants, protect the body's tissues against oxidative stress and associated pathologies such as cancers, coronary heart disease and inflammation. The biological properties, bioavailability, antioxidant activity, specific interactions with cell receptors and enzymes, are related to the chemical structure of polyphenols. It is, therefore, essential to know the nature of the main polyphenols ingested, their dietary origin, the amounts consumed in different diets, their bioavailability and the factors controlling their bioavailability.
Article
Green tea polyphenols exert a wide range of biochemical and pharmacological effects, and have been shown to possess antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic properties. Oxidative stress is involved in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease. However, although green tea polyphenols may be expected to inhibit the progression of Parkinson's disease on the basis of their known antioxidant activity, this has not previously been established. In the present study, we evaluated the neuroprotective effects of green tea polyphenols in the Parkinson's disease pathological cell model. The results show that the natural antioxidants have significant inhibitory effects against apoptosis induced by oxidative stress. 6-Hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced apoptosis in catecholaminergic PC12 cells was chosen as the in vitro model of Parkinson's disease in our study. Apoptotic characteristics of PC12 cells were assessed by MTT assay, flow cytometry, fluorescence microscopy and DNA fragmentation. Green tea polyphenols and their major component, EGCG at a concentration of 200 microM, exert significant protective effects against 6-OHDA-induced PC12 cell apoptosis. EGCG is more effective than the mixture of green tea polyphenols. The antioxidant function of green tea polyphenols may account for this neuroprotective effect. The present study supports the notion that green tea polyphenols have the potential to be effective as neuropreventive agents for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
Article
Cassia fistula L., a semi-wild Indian Labernum, is widely cultivated in Mauritius as an ornamental tree for its beautiful bunches of yellow flowers and also used in traditional medicine for several indications. The total phenolic, proanthocyanidin, and flavonoid contents, and the antioxidant activities, of fresh vegetative and reproductive organs of Cassia fistula harvested at different stages of growth were determined using the Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. The antioxidant activities were strongly correlated with total phenols (TEAC r = 0.989; FRAP r = 0.951) in all organs studied, and with proanthocyanidins (TEAC r = 0.980; FRAP r = 0.899) in reproductive organs including fruits. The antioxidant activities of reproductive parts were higher than those of the vegetative organs, with the pods having highest total phenolic, proanthocyanidin, and flavonoid contents and antioxidant potentials (TEAC = 992 +/- 0.4 micromol/g dry weight; FRAP = 811 +/- 23 micromol/g dry weight).
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