α-Glucosidase, α-amylase inhibition kinetics,in vitro gastro-intestinal digestion,and apoptosis inducing abilities of Ficus microcarpa L. f. and Ficus racemosa L. fruit polysaccharides

Food Science and Biotechnology - A rich source of nutrients, figs have a number of clinically validated benefits. This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro simulated gastrointestinal digestion, and...     

Evaluation of nutraceutical properties of Laportea interrupta (L.) chew

In the present study Laportea interrupta was analysed for nutritional, antioxidant, and antipyretic properties. Leaves contained significant amount of carbohydrates (19.80 g/100 g), proteins (31.30 g/100 g), starch (15.40 g/100 g), essential amino acids, and minerals. Ethanol extracts of flowers and roots revealed high total phenolic (46.35 mg gallic acid equivalents/g of extract) and flavonoid contents (96.67mg rutin equivalents/g of extract) respectively. Antioxidant assays showed that ethanol root extract possessed a strong 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging capacity (IC₅₀: 32.34 μg/mL), a 2,2′-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) radical cation scavenging activity (1,072.57 μM trolox equivalents/g of extract), and a ferric reducing ability (9,456.01 mM Fe(II)/g of extract). Antipyretic studies revealed that ethanol root and leaf extracts at a dosage of 400 mg/kg in rats reduced the pyrexia induced by Brewer’s yeast by 68.0 and 57.4%, respectively. Thus, nutraceutical potential of L. interrupta and ethnobotanical information about its use as an antipyretic was confirmed.     

Evaluation of antioxidant and pharmacological properties of Psychotria nilgiriensis Deb & gang

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the antioxidant and pharmacological properties of fruit, stem, and leaf extract of Psychotria nilgiriensis. Acetone extract of P. nilgiriensis fruit was found to have highest total phenolics (505.74 mg GAE/g extract), tannin (460.78 mg GAE/g extract), and flavonoid (67.78 mg RE/g extract) content. In vitro antioxidant studies revealed that the acetone extract of fruit posses significant antioxidant activity in DPPH radical scavenging, ABTS^·+, and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. In vivo studies revealed that P. nilgiriensis fruit (400 mg/kg) showed good analgesic activity in hot plate method (72%), acetic acid induced writhing test (53%) and also showed significant in carrageenan induced inflammation (73.54%). GC/MS analysis of fruit showed the presence of sesquiterpenes. The study highlights the significant medicinal value of the plant.     

Nutritional analysis and antioxidant activity of palmyrah (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Borassus flabellifer</Emphasis> L.) seed embryo for potential use as food source

The present study was carried out with ungerminated seed embryos of palmryah to evaluate nutritional quality with respect to minerals and fiber components, total phenols, and antioxidant properties. It is found to be good source of carbohydrate, fiber, fat, amino acids, and protein. Analysis of macro and micronutrient composition showed potent source of sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, zinc, and iron. In vitro antioxidant activity was evaluated by different assays, including 2,2-diphenylpicryl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, 2,2′azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiozoline-6-sulfonic acid) disodium salt (ABTS^·+) assay, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay, phospomolybdenum reduction assay, metal chelating activity, and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity. The results indicate that this plant seed embryo possesses micro, macro nutrients and antioxidant properties and has nutraceuticals potential for the treatment of malnutrition.     

Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory activity, and phytochemical constituents of ficus (Ficus amplissima Smith) bark

In the present investigation, phenolics (36.6 g gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/100 g extract), tannin (21.6 g GAE/100 g extract), and flavonoid content (67.5 g rutin equivalents/100 g extract) were found to be highest in acetone extract. Ficus (Ficus amplissima) acetone extract showed maximum antioxidant activity in phosphomolybdenum (958.8 mg ascorbic acid equivalents/g extract), DPPH (1.6 μg/mL), ferric reducing antioxidant power (2,993 mmol Fe (II)/g extract), and metal chelating (39.7 mg EDTA equivalents/g extract) assays. In anti-inflammatory study, 400 mg/kg acetone extract showed maximum reduction in the paw volume compare to indomethacin. GC-MS analysis indicated that bark contain rich source of non-polar compounds like Lup-20(29)-en-3-yl acetate (33.04%). Hence, Ficus can be valuable source for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory and seemed to be applicable in medicine.     

Rapid Removal of Toxic Remazol Brilliant Blue-R Dye from Aqueous Solutions Using Juglans nigra Shell Biomass Activated Carbon as Potential Adsorbent: Optimization,Isotherm, Kinetic,and Thermodynamic Investigation

Recently, the treatment of effluent by agricultural waste biomass has significantly attracted wide interest among researchers due to its availability, efficacy, and low cost. The removal of toxic Remazol Brilliant Blue-R (RBBR) from aqueous solutions using HNO₃-treated Juglans nigra (walnut) shell biomass carbon as an adsorbent has been examined under various experimental conditions, such as initial pH, adsorbate concentration, adsorbent dosage, particle size, agitation speed, and type of electrolyte. The experiments are designed to achieve the maximum dye removal efficiency using the response surface methodology (RSM). The optimum pH, adsorbent dosage, and particle size were found to be 1.5, 7 g L⁻¹, and 64 μm, respectively for maximum decolorization efficiency (98.24%). The prepared adsorbent was characterized by particle size, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area, pore volume, zero-point charge (pH_zpc), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), field emission scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (FE-SEM/EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Based on fitting the experimental data with various models, the isotherm and kinetic mechanism are found to be more appropriate with Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetics. The adsorption mechanism can be described by the intra-particle diffusion model, Bangham, and Boyd plots. The overall rate of adsorption is controlled by the external film diffusion of dye molecules. The maximum monolayer adsorption capacity, (q_max) 54.38 mg g⁻¹ for RBBR dye, was obtained at a temperature of 301 K. From a thermodynamic standpoint, the process is endothermic, spontaneous, and the chemisorption process is favored at high temperatures. Desorption studies were conducted with various desorbing reagents in various runs and the maximum desorption efficiency (61.78% in the third run) was obtained using the solvent methanol. Reusability studies demonstrated that the prepared adsorbent was effective for up to three runs of operation. The investigation outcomes concluded that walnut shell biomass activated carbon (WSBAC) is a cost-effective, eco-friendly, and bio-sustainable material that can be used for synthetic dye decolorization in aqueous media.