Antinociceptive and antioxidant activity of Zanthoxylum budrunga wall (Rutaceae) seeds.

Different parts of the medicinal plant Zanthoxylum budrunga Wall enjoy a variety of uses in ethnobotanical practice in Bangladesh. In the present study, a number of phytochemical and pharmacological investigations were done on the ethanol extract of Z. budrunga seeds (ZBSE) to evaluate its antinociceptive and antioxidant potential. ZBSE was also subjected to HPLC analysis to detect the presence of some common antioxidants. In acetic acid induced writhing test in mice, ZBSE showed 65.28 and 74.30% inhibition of writhing at the doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg and the results were statistically significant (P < 0.001). In hot-plate test, ZBSE raised the pain threshold significantly (P < 0.001) throughout the entire observation period. In DPPH scavenging assay, the IC50 of ZBSE was observed at 82.60 µg/mL. The phenolic content was found to be 338.77 mg GAE/100 g of dried plant material. In reducing power assay, ZBSE showed a concentration dependent reducing ability. HPLC analysis indicated the presence of caffeic acid with a concentration of 75.45 mg/100 g ZBSE. Present investigation supported the use of Zanthoxylum budrunga seed in traditional medicine for pain management. Constituents including caffeic acid and other phenolics might have some role in the observed activity.

Tea (Camellia sinensis) cultivated in three agro-ecological regions of Bangladesh: Unveiling the variability of methylxanthine, bioactive phenolic compound, and antioxidant activity.

Tea (Camellia sinensis) is a widely consumed beverage known for its numerous health benefits, largely attributed to its rich content of quality determining secondary metabolites such as methylxanthine compounds and bioactive phenolic compounds. The goal of this study was to find out variations of the levels of methylxanthines, bioactive phenolic compounds, and antioxidant activity in methanolic and hot water extracts of 129 tea samples grown in three different ecological regions of Bangladesh named Panchagar, Sylhet, and Chattogram. Methylxanthine and bioactive phenolic compounds were determined by using HPLC-DAD, and the antioxidant profile was analysed by UV-vis spectrophotometric methods for methanol and hot water extracts of tea leaves. The IC50 values showed the trend as Panchagar > Sylhet > Chattogram and Sylhet > Chattogram > Panchagar for water and methanol extract, respectively. The results revealed significant (p < 0.05) variations in the levels of methylxanthines content: Panchagar > Chattogram > Sylhet. Caffeine was significantly higher (103.02 ± 5.55 mg/g of dry extract) in the methanolic extract of tea leaves of Panchagar district and lower (53.33 ± 4.30 mg/g of dry extract) in the hot water extract of Sylhet district. Panchagar and Chattogram possessed significantly (p < 0.05) higher catechin content for methanol (57.01 ± 5.50 mg/g dry extract) and hot water (55.23 ± 4.11 mg/g dry extract) extracts, respectively. The utilization of canonical discriminant functions yielded highly favorable outcomes in the classification of tea from three distinct cultivation origins in Bangladesh, relying on their inherent features. This study demonstrated the potential effects of geographical variations on the bioactive compounds and antioxidant properties of tea, emphasizing the importance of regional differences in tea cultivation for optimizing its health benefits as well as dispersing tea cultivation across the country.

Determination of dietary exposure and extraction efficiency of nitrosamine from cooked meat.

Meat products are claimed to be a source of carcinogenic nitrosamines (NAs) exposure in food. In this study, dietary exposure of six nitrosamines: N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA), N-nitrosopyrrolidine (NPYR), N-nitrosopiperidine (NPIP), N-nitrosodipropylamine (NDPA), N-nitrosodibutylamine (NDBA) were estimated by Gas chromatography method. Four types of processed beef products were collected from different restaurants of Dhaka city, Bangladesh and analyzed by Gas chromatography-Mass spectrometry (GC-MS) after extracting under different methods. Nitrosamines were extracted by three different methods: i) Ultrasonic, ii) Autoclave for 10 min, iii) Autoclave for 20 min, and mean recoveries were 73%, 85% and 62% respectively. The LOD (limit of detection) and the LOQ (limit of quantification) for the six nitrosamines were in the range of 0.05-0.3 µg/kg and 0.85-1.5 µg/kg, respectively. The total nitrosamine content in beef products were Shik kabab (20.87 µg/kg) > Burger patty (20.44 µg/kg) > Steak (15.84 µg/kg) >Chap (14.95 µg/kg). The daily dietary exposure for commonly consumed beef products ranged from 0.029 to 0.056 µg/kg body weight which was less than the limit set by World Health Organization (WHO). Simultaneous determination of six nitrosamines by Gas chromatography can be used for monitoring the content of nitrosamines in meat products to ensure food safety.

Relative evaluation of in-vitro antioxidant potential and phenolic constituents by HPLC-DAD of Brassica vegetables extracted in different solvents.

Cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli are well-known vegetables from the Brassica family having functional effects on human health. This study was carried out to identify different antioxidant properties and to quantify phenolic compounds by HPLC-DAD in different extracts (methanol, ethanol and water: acetic acid: acetone) of these vegetables. The results showed that, the methanolic dry extract of cabbage possessed the highest antioxidant activity (549 ± 7.30 µg/g) and IC50 was 90 ± 2.52 µg/mL than others. Whereas the ethanolic dry extract of cauliflower had 348 ± 5.20 µg/g of flavonoid, which was the highest among all. The maximum levels of total tannin (414 ± 5.20 µg/g) and total phenolic content (465 ± 3.25 µg/g) was found in broccoli dry extract. Several polyphenolic compounds were identified in different extracts of the vegetables and they were Cauliflower (8) > Cabbage (10) > Broccoli (9) in total. Therefore, the use of total vegetables rather than extracts in the food industry would be more appropriate to get greater health benefit.

High-performance liquid chromatographic analysis explores the potential antioxidative agents of Argyreia argentea ARN. EX CHOISY extract.

BACKGROUND: Antioxidative properties of medicinal plants play the key role in plant defense mechanism. Argyreia argentea is an evergreen shrub which is used in the treatment of boils, gastric ulcers, tumor, marasmus, paralysis and spermatorrhea, rheumatoid arthritis, cold, painful sensation, and fever. AIMS: This research investigates the phytochemical contents and antioxidative effects of optimized crude methanol extract of A. argentea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Crude methanol extract of A. argentea prepared in an optimized procedure has been analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography to quantitatively determine the phytochemical contents. Tannin content of the extract was determined by established method. The extract was also analyzed for in vitro antioxidative actions by spectrophotometric analysis using 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzo-thiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) method, N, N-dimethyl-1,4-diaminobenzene (DMPD) free radical scavenging method, superoxide radical scavenging method, and nitric oxide scavenging method. RESULTS: The experimental results showed a high amount of catechin hydrate (348.62 mg/100 g of dry extract) and moderate amount of gallic acid, p-coumaric acid, and rutin hydrate in the methanol extract of A. argentea. Tannin content was found to be 29.66 mg/g tannic acid equivalent. Scavenging effects expressed as inhibition concentrations (IC50) for ABTS assay, DMPD assay, superoxide assay, and NO assay were 1148.3 µg/mL ± 7.32 µmol ascorbic acid/g, 1017.68 µg/mL, 1116.89 µg/mL, 1835.23 µg/mL, respectively. All the values were compared with their respective standards. No ß-carotene was detected in the extract. CONCLUSIONS: Use of A. argentea extract as a source of functional food as well as an antioxidative agent could be considered with further confirmation.

Estimation and exposure concentration of trihalomethanes (THMs) and its human carcinogenic risk in supplied pipeline water of Dhaka City, Bangladesh.

Formation of trihalomethanes (THMs) through excessive chlorination in the supplied water and its carcinogenic nature is a public health concern in many parts of the world, including a couple of neighboring countries in Asia. However, the issue was not yet addressed either in the public health policy or in academia in Bangladesh. Therefore, the objectives of this study are to determine the THM concentration in supplied water, its multiple pathways to the human body, and an estimation of resultant carcinogenic risk to urban dwellers in six different regions of Dhaka city. Thirty-one supplied water samples were collected from 31 different water points located in Purana Paltan, Naya Paltan, Kallyanpur, Shyamoli, Malibagh-Rampura, and Panthapath regions in premonsoon time. Total chlorine and chlorine dioxide (ClO2) and trihalomethane (THM) concentration were determined using UV-VIS spectrophotometer; total organic carbon (TOC), total inorganic carbon, and total carbon concentration were measured using TOC analyzer, and chloroform concentration was determined by applying gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS-MS) in the supplied water samples. Research findings indicate that THM concentration exceeded the USEPA acceptable limit (80 ppb) in all regions except Panthapath. Study results showed that carcinogenic risk via ingestion was higher than the USEPA acceptable limit of 10-6. Carcinogenic risk via dermal absorption and inhalation exposure was lower according to USPEA acceptable limit. To conclude, this study represents the current knowledge about THM concentration in supplied pipeline water and adverse health risk, which signifies that regulatory measures should be taken to reduce the THM concentration.

HPLC profiling, antioxidant and in vivo anti-inflammatory activity of the ethanol extract of Syzygium jambos available in Bangladesh.

BACKGROUND: Syzygium jambos has been used as a traditional medicine for the treatment of inflammatory diseases in Bangladesh. The study investigates the high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) profiling of phenolic compounds, and evaluates the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of ethanol extract of S. jambos available in Bangladesh. METHODS: The extract was subjected to HPLC for the identification and quantification of the major bioactive polyphenols present in S. jambos. Antioxidant activity was determined using 2, 2'-azino bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) radical scavenging, reducing power assay, total antioxidant capacity, total phenolic and flavonoid content. Furthermore, the anti-inflammatory effect of the extract in rats for two different test models: carrageenan and histamine-induced paw edema was inspected. RESULTS: High levels of catechin hydrate and rutin hydrate (99.00 and 79.20 mg/100 g extract, respectively) and moderate amounts of ellagic acid and quercetin (59.40 and 69.30 mg/100 g extract, respectively) were quantified in HPLC. Catechin hydrate from this plant extract was determined for the first time through HPLC. For ABTS scavenging assay, the median inhibition concentration (IC50) value of S. jambos was 57.80 µg/ml, which was significant to that of ascorbic acid (12.01 µg/ml). The maximum absorbance for reducing power assay was found to be 0.4934. The total antioxidant capacity, phenolic and flavonoid contents were calculated to be 628.50 mg/g of ascorbic acid, 230.82 mg/g of gallic acid and 11.84 mg/g of quercetin equivalent, respectively. At a dose of 400 mg/kg, a significant acute anti-inflammatory activity (P < 0.01) was observed in rats for both the test models with a reduction in the paw volume of 58.04 and 53.95 %, in comparison to those of indomethacin (62.94 and 65.79 %), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the phenolic and flavonoid compounds are responsible for acute anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of S. jambos.