Phytochemical screening and evaluation of antioxidant, total phenolic and flavonoid contents in various weed plants associated with wheat crops

Abstract This study explores the antioxidant activity, phytochemical screening, total phenolic and flavonoids contents in the extracts of four locally available weeds plants namely Convolvulus arvensis, Chenopodium murale, Avena fatua and Phalaris minor with different solvents. The antioxidant activities of these extracts were determined via various in-vitro methods such as total antioxidant activity (TAA), reducing power (RP), DPPH (2,2-Diphenyl-1-Picrylhydrazyl) free radical scavenging and hydrogen peroxide scavenging assays. Phytochemical screening was performed both qualitatively as well as quantitatively. Total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) were determined through Folin- Ciocalteu reagent and aluminium chloride methods respectively. Methanol-chloroform solvent showed the presence of a high amount of TPC in milligram of gallic acid equivalent per gram of dry weight (mg of GAE/g of DW) in the extracts of all weeds. Their descending sequence was Avena fatua (74.09) Phalaris minor (65.66) Chenopodium murale (64.04) Convolvulus arvensis (61.905), while, chloroform solvent found to be best solvent for the extraction of TFC. Methanol-chloroform solvent was also found to be best solvent for TAA (Total antioxidant activity assay) which showed values in milligram of ascorbic acid equivalent per gram of dry weight (mg of AAE /g of DW), for DPPH scavenging activity, reducing power (antioxidant activity) and hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity. Phytochemical screening indicated the presence of polyphenols, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, alkaloids and glycosides in these weeds.

Resumo Este estudo investiga a atividade antioxidante, a triagem fitoquímica, os teores de fenólicos totais e de flavonoides nos extratos de quatro plantas daninhas disponíveis localmente, quais sejam, Convolvulus arvensis, Chenopodium murale, Avena fatua e Phalaris minor com diferentes solventes. As atividades antioxidantes desses extratos foram determinadas por meio de vários métodos in vitro, tais como atividade antioxidante total (TAA), poder redutor (RP), sequestro de radicais livres DPPH (2,2-Difenil-1-Picril-hidrazil) e ensaios de sequestro de peróxido de hidrogênio. A triagem fitoquímica foi realizada tanto qualitativamente quanto quantitativamente. O teor de fenólicos totais (TPC) e o teor de flavonoides totais (TFC) foram determinados pelos métodos do reagente de Folin-Ciocalteu e do cloreto de alumínio, respectivamente. O solvente metanol-clorofórmio mostrou a presença de elevada quantidade de TPC em miligramas de ácido gálico equivalente por grama de peso seco (mg de GAE/g de DW) nos extratos de todas as plantas daninhas. Sua sequência descendente foi Avena fatua (74,09) Phalaris minor (65,66) Chenopodium murale (64,04) Convolvulus arvensis (61,905), enquanto o solvente clorofórmio foi o melhor solvente para a extração de TFC. O solvente metanol-clorofórmio também foi considerado o melhor solvente para AAT (ensaio de atividade antioxidante total), que apresentou valores em miligramas de equivalente de ácido ascórbico por grama de peso seco (mg de AAE/g de DW), para atividade sequestrante de DPPH, RP (atividade antioxidante) e atividade de sequestro de peróxido de hidrogênio. A triagem fitoquímica indicou a presença de polifenóis, flavonoides, taninos, saponinas, alcaloides e glicosídeos nessas plantas daninhas.

Phytochemical screening and evaluation of antioxidant, total phenolic and flavonoid contents in various weed plants associated with wheat crops.

This study explores the antioxidant activity, phytochemical screening, total phenolic and flavonoids contents in the extracts of four locally available weeds plants namely Convolvulus arvensis, Chenopodium murale, Avena fatua and Phalaris minor with different solvents. The antioxidant activities of these extracts were determined via various in-vitro methods such as total antioxidant activity (TAA), reducing power (RP), DPPH (2,2-Diphenyl-1-Picrylhydrazyl) free radical scavenging and hydrogen peroxide scavenging assays. Phytochemical screening was performed both qualitatively as well as quantitatively. Total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) were determined through Folin- Ciocalteu reagent and aluminium chloride methods respectively. Methanol-chloroform solvent showed the presence of a high amount of TPC in milligram of gallic acid equivalent per gram of dry weight (mg of GAE/g of DW) in the extracts of all weeds. Their descending sequence was Avena fatua (74.09) ˃ Phalaris minor (65.66) ˃ Chenopodium murale (64.04) ˃ Convolvulus arvensis (61.905), while, chloroform solvent found to be best solvent for the extraction of TFC. Methanol-chloroform solvent was also found to be best solvent for TAA (Total antioxidant activity assay) which showed values in milligram of ascorbic acid equivalent per gram of dry weight (mg of AAE /g of DW), for DPPH scavenging activity, reducing power (antioxidant activity) and hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity. Phytochemical screening indicated the presence of polyphenols, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, alkaloids and glycosides in these weeds.

Formulation and evaluation on human skin of a water-in-oil emulsion containing Muscat hamburg black grape seed extract.

BACKGROUND: Vitis vinifera 'muscat hamburg' (Vitaceae) is a blue-black grape variety commonly found in Pakistan. It has been consumed and used in traditional medicine for centuries. Compared to other grapes, M. hamburg records one of the greatest amount of polyphenols and displays potent antioxidant activities, which make it a great candidate for its exploitation in the development of stable cream emulsions destined to improve the skin appearance. OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the effects of stable water-in-oil (W/O) emulsion containing 2% M. hamburg grape seed extract ('formulation') on human cheek skin in comparison with the placebo ('base'). METHODS: An occlusive patch test, containing either the formulation or the base, was topically tested for 8 weeks during a winter period in young adult and healthy Pakistani male volunteers. The subjects were instructed to use twice a day the base and the formulation on their right and left cheek skin, respectively. Non-invasive measurements on these skin areas were carried out every week to assess any effects produced on melanin, elasticity and sebum. Skin compatibility assay (Burchard test) was used to report any potential skin reactivity. ANOVA, paired sample t-test and LSD test were applied to determine the statistical data significance. RESULTS: Significant differences (P ≤ 0.05) were found between the placebo and the formulation in terms of their respective skin effects elicited on melanin, elasticity and sebum content. Nevertheless, placebo and formulation exerted similar effects on skin erythema and moisture contents. Importantly, no skin hypersensitivity cases were reported during the whole course of the study. CONCLUSION: The developed grape-based cream could be efficiently and safely applied to improve a number of skin conditions (e.g. hyper-pigmentation, premature ageing, acne).

Detection of hydatid-specific antibodies in the serum and urine for the diagnosis of cystic echinococcosis in patients from the Kashmir Valley, India.

Serological diagnosis of cystic echinococcosis (CE) is usually made by detecting specific antibodies in serum samples. However, collection of blood samples is difficult and may be hazardous and unsafe. Thus, it is important to assess alternative simple methods of sampling body fluids that give similar results. Saliva and urine have been suggested as possible alternatives to detect specific antibodies for the diagnosis of various diseases. To the best of our knowledge, there has been no previously published study regarding the detection of CE-specific immunoglobulin (Ig) G subclass antibodies (IgG1-4) in urine. Therefore, the present study was designed to assess the value of hydatid-specific antibodies of IgG, IgM, IgE and IgG subclass in urine and serum samples for the diagnosis of CE. Serum and urine samples of 41 surgically confirmed patients of CE, 40 patients with other diseases and 16 healthy subjects were included in the study. CE-specific total IgG, IgE and IgG4 in sera and total IgG, IgG4 and IgG1 in the urine of CE patients were the most important specific antibodies for the diagnosis of CE. However, total IgG usually persists for an extended period and has a very high cross-reactivity. The diagnostic sensitivity of hydatid-specific IgM in serum and urine samples was very low and therefore cannot be used as a diagnostic marker. There was no significant difference between IgG1 and IgG4 in serum and urine and both showed the best correlation for the diagnosis of CE. These considerations suggest that detection of antibodies in urine could provide a new approach in the diagnosis of CE.

The human metapneumovirus: a case series and review of the literature.

Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is an emerging human pulmonary pathogen that is genetically related to respiratory syncytial virus. It has been increasingly associated with respiratory illnesses over the last few decades. Immunocompromised patients are particularly susceptible with resultant morbidity and mortality. We describe our experience with 9 immunocompromised patients diagnosed with pneumonia secondary to hMPV, 2 of whom were successfully treated with aerosolized and oral ribavirin along with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG). We suggest that hMPV should be considered in the differential diagnosis of immunocompromised patients with acute respiratory illness. Ribavirin (oral and aerosolized) with IVIG is potentially an effective treatment option for those with severe disease.

Pericardial effusion following esophageal variceal sclerotherapy.

We report a 37-year-old man with portal cavernoma who developed pericardial effusion two weeks following sclerotherapy for esophageal varices. It responded to conservative management.

Omeprazole as adjuvant therapy to endoscopic combination injection sclerotherapy for treating bleeding peptic ulcer.

BACKGROUND: Therapeutic endoscopy has provided a new means of treating bleeding peptic ulcers. Additional medical therapy may enhance the therapeutic benefit. Hemostasis is highly pH dependent and is severely impaired at low pH. Proton pump inhibitors, by achieving a significantly higher inhibition of gastric acidity, may improve the therapeutic outcomes after endoscopic treatment of ulcers. PATIENT AND METHODS: We enrolled 166 patients with hemorrhage from duodenal, gastric, or stomal ulcers and signs of recent hemorrhage, as confirmed by endoscopy. Twenty-six patients had ulcers with an arterial spurt, 41 patients had active ooze, 37 had a visible vessel, and 62 patients had an adherent clot. All patients received endoscopic injection sclerotherapy using 1:10,000 adrenaline and 1% polidocanol and were randomly assigned to receive omeprazole (40 mg orally) every 12 hours for 5 days or an identical-looking placebo. The outcome measures used were recurrent bleeding, surgery, blood transfusion, and hospital stay. RESULTS: Six (7%) of 82 patients in the omeprazole group had recurrent bleeding, as compared with 18 (21%) in the placebo group (P = 0.02). Two patients in the omeprazole group and 7 patients in the placebo group needed surgery to control their bleeding (P = 0.17). One patient in the omeprazole group and 2 patients in the placebo group died (P = 0.98). Twenty-nine patients (35%) in the omeprazole group and 61 patients (73%) in the placebo group received blood transfusions (P <0.001). The average hospital stay was 4.6 +/- 1.1 days in the omeprazole group and 6.0 +/- 0.7 days in the placebo group (P <0.001). CONCLUSION: The addition of oral omeprazole to combination injection sclerotherapy decreases the rate of recurrent bleeding, reduces the need for surgery and transfusion, and shortens the hospital stay for patients with stigmata of recent hemorrhage.

Ascaris-induced liver abscess.

The prevalence, symptomatology, and outcome of Ascaris-induced liver abscess was studied prospectively in Kashmir, India, which is an endemic area of ascariasis, from December 1987 to December 1997. Of 510 patients with liver abscess admitted during this period, 74 had biliary ascariasis as the cause (14.51%). Of these 74 patients, 11 had intact ascaridae (live or dead) within the abscess. Six patients had a single abscess, and five had multiple abscesses. Seven patients had associated worms in the bile ducts. Ultrasonography was the main diagnostic procedure used. Ten patients were diagnosed based on clinical and ultrasound findings, and one was diagnosed during laparotomy. Most of the patients were young (age range 3-40 years) with a mean age of 17.20 years. Seven were females, and four were males. Ten patients underwent surgery; nine recovered completely, and one died postoperatively due to septicemia. Another patient died as well: a young child who presented late, was in refractory septic shock following suppurative cholangitis and liver abscess, and could not be taken for surgery. The mortality thus was 9.9%. Liver abscess following invasion of intrahepatic biliary radicles by ascaridae through the ampulla is an unusual complication of an otherwise common disease in Kashmir Valley, affecting children and young adults. The outcome depends on early diagnosis and surgical drainage of the abscess with extraction of worms from the ducts.

Cellular radiosensitivity of patients with papillary thyroid cancer.

Cultured skin fibroblasts from patients with papillary (differentiated) thyroid carcinomas were compared to those from healthy subjects, ataxia telangiectasia (AT) homozygotes and AT heterozygotes for colony-forming ability after low dose-rate irradiation, and post-irradiation DNA synthesis as indicated by uptake of [3H]-thymidine. The cells from the cancer patients exhibited enhanced radiosensitivity (intermediate between normal and AT) and less than normal level of radioinduced inhibition of DNA synthesis.

Percutaneous drainage compared with surgery for hepatic hydatid cysts.

BACKGROUND: In recent years percutaneous drainage has been used successfully to treat the hepatic hydatid cysts of echinococcal disease. We performed a controlled trial to compare the safety and efficacy of percutaneous drainage with those of surgical cystectomy, the traditional treatment. METHODS: In a prospective study, we randomly assigned 50 patients with hepatic hydatidosis to treatment with percutaneous drainage (25 patients) or cystectomy (25). Albendazole (10 mg per kilogram of body weight per day for eight weeks) was administered to the patients who underwent percutaneous drainage. Serial assessments included clinical and biochemical examinations, ultrasonography, and serologic tests of echinococcal-antibody titers. RESULTS: The mean (+/-SD) hospital stay was 4.2+/-1.5 days in the drainage group and 12.7+/-6.5 days in the surgery group (P<0.001). Over a mean follow-up period of 17 months, the mean cyst diameter decreased from 8.0+/-3.0 to 1.4+/-3.5 cm (P<0.001) after percutaneous drainage and from 9.1+/-3.0 to 0.9+/-1.8 cm (P<0.001) after surgery. The final cyst diameter did not differ significantly between the two groups (P=0.20). The cysts disappeared in 22 patients (88 percent) in the drainage group and in 18 (72 percent) in the surgery group (P=0.29). After an initial rise, the echinococcal-antibody titers fell progressively and at the last follow-up were negative (<1:160) in 19 patients (76 percent) in the drainage group and 17 (68 percent) in the surgery group (P=0.74). There were procedure-related complications in 8 patients (32 percent) in the drainage group and 21 (84 percent) in the surgery group, 17 of whom had fever postoperatively (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous drainage, combined with albendazole therapy, is an effective and safe alternative to surgery for the treatment of uncomplicated hydatid cysts of the liver and requires a shorter hospital stay.

A prospective study of VEC-POB and POCE chemotherapy in aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

The optimal combination and scheduling of chemotherapy for aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is unclear, and the elderly have a poor tolerance to treatment. A Phase II prospective study was undertaken using outpatient weekly combination chemotherapy: the VEC-POB (etoposide, epirubicin, cyclophosphamide, cisplatin, Oncovin, bleomycin, and prednisone) regimen in patients < 60 years and less intensive POCE (etoposide, Oncovin, cyclophosphamide, and epirubicin) in patients > or = 60 years. All patients with intermediate and high-grade lymphoma (International Working Formulation) with bulky disease and/or advanced stages (III, IV) seen between January 1991 and June 1992 were entered. Of 29 patients treated with VEC-POB, 23 patients (79%) achieved complete remission (CR), with one (3%) toxic death. Overall survival at 29 months is 67%, and disease-free survival at 60 months is 60%. Of 29 patients treated with POCE, 14 achieved CR, with three (10%) toxic deaths. Overall survival is 58% at 18 months, and disease-free survival at 10 months is 50%. Adverse prognostic factors were analyzed. The results are comparable to the best results achieved with other regimens, and toxicity is acceptable.

A comparison of omeprazole and placebo for bleeding peptic ulcer.

BACKGROUND: The role of medical treatment for patients with bleeding peptic ulcers is uncertain. METHODS: We conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 220 patients with duodenal, gastric, or stomal ulcers and signs of recent bleeding, as confirmed by endoscopy. In 26 patients the ulcers showed arterial spurting, in 34 there was active oozing, in 35 there were nonbleeding, visible vessels, and in 125 there were adherent clots. The patients were randomly assigned to receive omeprazole (40 mg given orally every 12 hours for five days) or placebo. The outcome measures studied were further bleeding, surgery, and death. RESULTS: Twelve of the 110 patients treated with omeprazole (10.9 percent) had continued bleeding or further bleeding, as compared with 40 of the 110 patients who received placebo (36.4 percent) (P<0.001). Eight patients in the omeprazole group and 26 in the placebo group required surgery to control their bleeding (P<0.001). Two patients in the omeprazole group and six in the placebo group died. Thirty-two patients in the omeprazole group (29.1 percent) and 78 in the placebo group (70.9 percent) received transfusions (P<0.001). A subgroup analysis showed that omeprazole was associated with significant reductions in recurrent bleeding and surgery in patients with nonbleeding, visible vessels or adherent clots, but not in those with arterial spurting or oozing. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with bleeding peptic ulcers and signs of recent bleeding, treatment with omeprazole decreases the rate of further bleeding and the need for surgery.

Murraya koenigii and Brassica juncea--alterations on lipid profile in 1-2 dimethyl hydrazine induced colon carcinogenesis.

The influence of the two commonly used spices Murraya koenigii (curry leaf) leaf and Brassica juncea (mustard) seeds on the levels of lipids, fecal bile acids and neutral sterols was studied in rats administered 1,2-dimethyl hydrazine (1,2 DMH). The levels of cholesterol and phospholipids decreased in the experimental groups when compared with the control. The cholesterol phospholipid ratio showed an elevated level in the DMH treated control compared with the species group. Bile acids and neutral sterols showed a sharp increase in the spices treated groups in liver and feces when compared with the control. Morphological and histological studies revealed that the mean number of neoplasms in the colon and intestine were significantly low in the spices fed groups.

Elevated serum creatinine level in thyroid cancer patients undergoing withdrawal of thyroxine therapy for radioiodine scan/treatment.

Chronic hypothyroidism is known to cause a significant reversible decrease in glomerular filtration rate (GFR). However, the effect on GFR of acute hypothyroidism, routinely induced in thyroid cancer patients in preparation for radioiodine scan/treatment, is not known. We studied the prevalence of abnormal serum creatinine level and the degree of its increase in hypothyroid patients with thyroid cancer four weeks after the withdrawal of thyroxine therapy. Creatinine level was measured in 116 patients on 191 hypothyroid episodes and in 56/116 and 18/116 patients while euthyroid or mildly hyperthyroid respectively. Abnormal creatinine level was significantly more prevalent in the hypothyroid state (34.5% vs 4% in the euthyroid or mildly hyperthyroid states) and significantly more common in males (50% vs 29% in females), in patients 150 mU/L (55% vs 30% with TSH 150 mU/L, 29.8 vs 41.4 years; in females, 28.3 vs 42.5 years) and there was a significant negative association between the presence of abnormal creatinine levels and different age groups. Compared to levels obtained in the euthyroid or mild hyperthyroid states, creatinine levels increased in the hypothyroid state on average 32% (23microM/L, P=0.0001) with 24% of patients having >/=50% increase. Elevated serum creatinine levels are rather common in thyroid cancer patients undergoing temporary withdrawal of thyroxine treatment and more so in males, younger patients or in association with higher TSH levels. Since the clearance of iodine is linearly related to GFR, our study suggests that in the setting of hypothyroidism, the bioavailability of a given dose of radioiodine may have significant individual variation.

Post-irradiation DNA synthesis inhibition and G2 phase delay in radiosensitive body cells from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma patients: an indication of cell cycle defects.

In the present study, both post-irradiation DNA synthesis and G2 phase accumulation were analyzed in lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) and fibroblast cell strains derived from (Saudi) patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), ataxia telangiectasia (AT), AT heterozygotes and normal subjects. A comparison of the percent DNA synthesis inhibition (assayed by 3H-thymidine uptake 30 min after irradiation), and a 24 h post-irradiation G2 phase accumulation determined by flow cytometry placed the AT heterozygotes and the NHL patients in an intermediate position between the normal subjects (with maximum DNA synthesis inhibition and minimum G2 phase accumulation) and the AT homozygotes (with minimum DNA synthesis inhibition and maximum G2 accumulation). The similarity between AT heterozygotes and the NHL patients with respect to the two parameters studied after irradiation was statistically significant. The data indicating a moderate abnormality in the control of cell cycle progression after irradiation in the LCLs and fibroblasts from NHL patients may explain the enhanced cellular and chromosomal radiosensitivity in these patients reported by us earlier. In addition to demonstrating a link between cell cycle abnormality and radiosensitivity as a possible basis for cancer susceptibility, particularly in the NHL patients, the present studies emphasized the usefulness of the assay for 24 h post-irradiation G2 phase accumulation developed by Lavin et al. (1992) in characterizing AT heterozygote-like cell cycle anomaly in cancer patients irrespective of whether they carried the AT gene or any other affecting the cell cycle.

Increased radiosensitivity and radioresistant DNA synthesis in cultured fibroblasts from patients with coronary atherosclerosis.

Cultured skin fibroblasts from five patients with atherosclerosis who underwent coronary artery bypass graft surgery were compared with those from one ataxia telangiectasia (AT) homozygote, three AT heterozygotes, and five healthy subjects to determine their sensitivity to gamma radiation as determined by a colony survival assay. Fibroblasts from four of these patients were also compared with those from two AT homozygotes, two AT heterozygotes, and three healthy subjects to determine postirradiation [3H]thymidine incorporation, indicating the levels of radioresistant DNA synthesis (RDS). On the basis of colony survival assay, after long-term irradiation (at low dose rate, ie, 0.007 Gy/min), fibroblasts from all five patients with atherosclerosis exhibited radiosensitivity that was intermediate between that of the healthy subjects and that of patients with the known radiosensitive syndrome AT. However, there was a considerable interstrain difference in the radiosensitivity of fibroblasts from patients with atherosclerosis, with their mean D10 values (radiation dose resulting in 10% cell survival) varying between 2.3 and 6.2 Gy, whereas the mean D10 values for the cells from the AT homozygote, AT heterozygotes, and healthy subjects were 2.0, 3.8, and 9.0 Gy, respectively. One of the patients with atherosclerosis showed cellular radiosensitivity quite similar to that of the AT homozygote, up to 2% to 10% of survival levels after short- (at a dose rate of 8 Gy/min) and long-term irradiation, respectively. The results of [3H]thymidine incorporation showed an AT heterozygote-like RDS in fibroblasts from patients with atherosclerosis that appeared to be intermediate between that of AT homozygotes and that of healthy subjects, suggesting a partial deregulation of cell cycle in the patients with atherosclerosis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)