Antibacterial and antioxidant potential of the phenolic extract and its fractions isolated from Allium ascalonicum (onion) peel.

Aqueous methanolic (20:80) crude extract of the outer peel of Allium ascalonicum (onions) was fractionated into anthocyanin (II), acidic (i.e., phenolic acids, Ia), neutral A (i.e., flavanols, Ib) and neutral B (i.e., flavonols, Ic) phenols using C-18 and hydrophilic-lipophilic balanced (HLB) Co-polymer cartridges. The fractions were analysed for total phenolic, total flavonoids, antibacterial activity, antioxidant potential and lipoxygenase (LOX) inhibition. The recovery of total phenols and bio functional activity in all fractions were found to be more in HLB. All fractions showed antimicrobial activity against tested strains with phenolic acids (Ia) being most active and flavanol (Ib) least active, while the highest free radical scavenging, reducing power and LOX inhibition was exhibited by flavonol (Ic) and least by flavanols (Ib). HPLC analysis revealed the presence of vanillic acid and quercetin in non-anthocyanin I and cyanidin in anthocyanin II.

Potential nutraceutical benefits of basmati rice bran oil as analgesic, anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritis.

Numerous nutraceutical applications have been explored during the last decades. The present study is based on extraction of oil from super kernel basmati rice which has shown effective analgesic, anti- inflammatory, and anti-arthiritic activities. The feeding experiments on male Wister rats and female Sprague-dawley (SD) rats have elaborated the therapeutic value of variety of bioactive components including γ-oryzanol present in the oil.

Antibacterial and antifungal activities of the polyphenolic fractions isolated from the seed coat of Abrus precatorius and Caesalpinia crista.

Crude seed coat extracts from Abrus precatorius and Caesalpinia crista were purified into four different fractions namely phenolic acids, flavonols, flavanols and anthocyanin which were then examined for their polyphenol contents and antimicrobial potentials. The fractions derived from seed coat of A. precatorius were found more potent with high phenolic and flavonoid contents as compared to C. crista fractions. The significant antibacterial activity was observed against all strain tested by the fractions of both samples apart from anthocyanin fraction. It was interesting to note that the phenolic acid fractions of both samples was found more active against gram-negative bacteria, while gram-positive bacteria were found to be more sensitive towards flavonol fractions. The phenolic acid and flavonol fractions being potent antibacterial were selected to demonstrate the antifungal capacity of two samples. Among them, phenolic acid fraction of both samples was found active towards all the fungal strain.

Attenuation of restraint-induced behavioral deficits and serotonergic responses by stabilized rice bran in rats.

This study examined the effects of stabilized-rice bran (SRB) rich diet on responses to stress in rats. Standard rodent diet mixed with SRB in the ratio of 2:1 and 1:1 (w/w) was given for 6 weeks to test rats. Results showed that weekly cumulative food intakes smaller in SRB rich diet treated animals were normalized at the end of the treatment. Body weights decreased and exploratory activity in an open field increased in SRB rich diet treated animals. Learning and espatial memory monitored in the Morris water test was enhanced. An episode of 2 h restraint stress decreased food intake of SRB as well as normal diet treated animals. Deficits were smaller in SRB diet than normal diet treated animals. Exposure to 2 h restraint stress increased brain serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) metabolism. The increases were smaller in SRB rich than normal diet treated animals. A potential use of SRB in health and disease is discussed in the context of its antioxidant and serotonergic effect.