A Compiled Update on Nutrition, Phytochemicals, Processing Effects, Analytical Testing and Health Effects of Chenopodium album: A Non-Conventional Edible Plant (NCEP).

Bathua (Chenopodium album) is a rich source of extensive-ranging nutrients, including bio-active carbohydrates, flavonoids and phenolics, minerals, and vitamins that translate to countless health benefits such as anticancer, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant activity. Ascaridole, an important phytoconstituent present in aerial parts of the plant, contributes to its anthelmintic property. Even with vast historical use and significant health benefits, its renown has not spread, and utilization has significantly decreased in recent decades. Gradually, the plant has become known under the name of Non-conventional edible plant (NCEP). This compilation is prepared to bring out the plant under the spotlight for further research by foregrounding previous studies on the plant. Scientific research databases, including PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, SpringerLink, ScienceDirect, and Wiley Online, were used to fetch data on C. album. This review offers over up-to-date knowledge on nutritious values, phytochemical composition, volatile compounds, as well as health benefits of C. album. The ethnobotanical and ethnomedicinal uses of the plant in India and other parts of the world are deliberately discussed. Scrutinizing the reported literature on C. album reveals its powerful nutrient composition advantageous in the development of food products. The impact of various cooking and processing methods on the nutritional profile and bioavailability are discussed. The future perspectives with regards to the potential for food and nutraceutical products are critically addressed. This review proves the necessity of breakthrough research to investigate the pharmacology and safety of phytochemicals and nutraceutical development studies on the C. album.

Tropolone derivatives with hepatoprotective and antiproliferative activities from the aerial parts of Chenopodium album Linn.

Chenopodium album Linn is used as the traditional Chinese medicine for treating cough, anorexia, piles, dysentery, diarrhea, and kills small worms in China. Nine new tropolones (1-9), and fourteen known tropolone derivatives (10-23) were elucidated by comprehensive spectroscopic data analysis and references from C. album Linn for the first time. Compounds (1-4) and compounds (13-14) displayed notably hepatoprotective activities in intro for lowering AST levels (19.63 ± 2.34 to 29.87 ± 1.27 U•L-1) and ALT levels (15.21 ± 1.18 to 20.29 ± 2.11 U•L-1) in HepG2 cells treated with H2O2. Compounds (8-9) and compounds (15-17) exhibited moderate antiproliferative activities in vitro against the human tumor cell lines with IC50 values ranging from 0.5 ± 0.2 to 15.5 ± 2.7 µM. A preliminary structure activity relationship was summarized and discussed scientifically, which provided new clues to design novel hepatoprotective and antiproliferative drugs based on the tropolone derivatives.

Chenopodium album Linn. leaves prevent ethylene glycol-induced urolithiasis in rats.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The leaves of Chenopodium album Linn. are traditionally used for correction of kidney diseases and urinary stones. The present work investigated the effect of methanolic and aqueous extracts of leaves of Chenopodium album on experimentally-induced urolithiasis in rats to substantiate its traditional use as antilithiatic agent. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The leaf extract was standardized by HPLC. Urolithiasis was induced in rats by administration of 0.75% v/v of ethylene glycol (EG) in distilled water and in addition, vehicle or methanol (CAME) or aqueous (CAAE) extract of the leaves of Chenopodium album each in the dose 100, 200 and 400mg/kg or Cystone (750mg/kg) were administered daily orally for 28 days. Urolithiasis was assessed by estimating the calcium, phosphorus, urea, uric acid, and creatinine in both urine and plasma. The volume, pH and oxalate levels were also estimated in urine. The renal oxalate content was estimated in kidney while calcium oxalate deposits were observed histologically. RESULTS: The treatment with CAME or CAAE for 28 days significantly attenuated the EG-induced elevations in the urine and plasma levels of calcium, phosphorus, urea, uric acid and creatinine along with decrease in urine volume, pH and oxalates. The treatments also decreased renal tissue oxalate and deposition of oxalate crystals in kidney due to EG treatment. The effects of CAME and CAAE were comparable to standard antilithiatic agent, cystone. The findings indicate the preventive effect of CAME and CAAE which can be due to inhibitory effect on crystallization and stone dissolution. The effect was attributed to the presence of phytochemicals like flavonoids and saponins. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, Chenopodium album leaves exhibited antilithiatic effect and validates its ethnomedicinal use in urinary disorders and kidney stones.

Antioxidant activity and nutritional assessment of under-utilized medicinal plants.

The present study investigates the nutritive and anti-nutritive composition of six species (Allium porrum, Amaranthus spinosis, Apium graveolens, Caralluma edulis, Chenopodium album, Urtica dioica). The studied species contained considerable amount of crude protein (4.53-11.41%), crude fat (1.25-3.74%), vitamin C (7.85-28.09mg 100-1 g) and ß-Carotene (18.29-169.33mg 100-1g). The mineral profile of Chenopodium album is considered as potential source of Zn (14.51±1.14mg 100-1g), Mn (67.71±0.85mg 100-1g), Se (8.45±0.49mg 100-1g) and Fe (182.08±1.52mg 100-1g) and Caralluma edulis as potential source of Fe (7.28± 0.03mg 100-1g). Ca and P content ranged 63-306mg 100-1 g and 12-392mg 100-1 g in all studied plants with exceptionally high level was found in Chenopodium album (1084mg 100-1g) and (3924mg 100-1g), respectively. Similarly, total phenol, tannin and phytic acid were found in the range of 105-354, 5-90 and 10-85mg 100-1g, respectively. Total oxalates and soluble oxalates contents were below 200mg 100-1g in five examined plants with the exception of Chenopodium album (413mg 100-1g). Antioxidant activity of Caralluma edulis was found maximum while the rest of the examined plants had moderate levels.

Cysteine-2 and Cys30 are essential for chlorophyll-binding activity of the water-soluble chlorophyll-binding protein (WSCP) of Chenopodium album.

Chenopodium album has a non-photosynthetic chlorophyll protein known as the water-soluble chlorophyll (Chl)-binding protein (WSCP). The C. album WSCP (CaWSCP) is able to photoconvert the chlorin skeleton of Chl a into a bacteriochlorin-like skeleton. Reducing reagents such as ß-mercaptoethanol or dithiothreitol inhibit photoconversion, indicating that S-S bridge(s) in CaWSCP are quite important for it. Recently, we found that the mature region of CaWSCP contains five cysteine residues; Cys2, Cys30, Cys48, Cys63, and Cys144. To identify which cysteine residues are involved in the photoconversion, we generated five mutants (C2S, C30S, C48S, C63S, and C144S) by site-directed mutagenesis. Interestingly, C48S, C63S, and C144S mutants showed the same Chl-binding activity and photoconvertibility as those of the recombinant wild-type CaWSCP-His, while the C2S and C30S mutants completely lost Chl-binding activity. Our findings indicated that the S-S bridge between Cys2 and Cys30 in each CaWSCP subunit is essential for Chl-binding activity.

Involvement of NFκB in the antirheumatic potential of Chenopodium album L., aerial parts extracts.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Chenopodium album L. (C. album) is commonly known as Bathua in Hindi (Family: Chenopodiaceae). Traditionally, the plant is used as a laxative, diuretic, sedative and the infusion of the plant is used for the treatment of rheumatism. However, no scientific validation is available on the antirheumatic potential of the plant. In the present investigation, role of NF kappa B (NFκB) in the antiarthritic potential of extracts of aerial parts of Chenopodium album was explored and evaluated. METHODS: The defatted aerial parts of Chenopodium album were successively extracted with ethylacetate, acetone, methanol and 50% methanol to study their antioxidant capacity followed by antiarthritic potential using Complete Freund׳s adjuvant (CFA) induced arthritis model in rats. The polyphenol, flavonoid and flavanone contents of different extracts were quantified and correlated with their antioxidant capacity, antiarthritic activity and NFκB inhibition potential. RESULTS: The experimental data indicated that the acetone extract of Chenopodium album (ACCA) has shown significant reduction in rat paw edema (80.13%) at dose level of 200 mg/kg per oral in 21 days of this study. On 22nd day, hematological and biochemical parameters were estimated and it was observed that the altered hematological parameters (Hb, RBC, WBC and ESR), biochemical parameters (Serum creatinine, total proteins and acute phase proteins) and loss in body weight in the arthritic rats were significantly brought back to near normal level by the ACCA extract. ACCA extract significantly decreased the NFκB expression in paraventricular nucleus of hypothalamus and this effect is comparable with standard indomethacine in CFA treated rats. The polyphenolic and flavonoid content of different extracts were in the range of 14.56±0.21-42.00±0.2 mg (gallic acid equivalent/g extract) and 2.20±0.003-7.33±0.5 mg (rutin equivalent/g extract) respectively. CONCLUSION: The antiarthritic activity possessed by ACCA extract can be correlated directly to its antioxidant potential, high flavonoidal content achieved by successive extraction and its capacity to inhibit the NFκB protein, as proven by immunohistochemistry study.

Nutritional quality of some wild leafy vegetables in South Africa.

Wild vegetables play an important role in the diet of inhabitants of different parts of the world. Among the wild vegetables of South Africa are Chenopodium album, Sonchus asper, Solanumnigrum and Urtica urens. The leaves of these plants were analysed for their nutritive value, anti-nutritive components and polyphenolic contents. The protein contents of their leaves ranged between 13.25% and 26.44%, while the fibre and mineral (ash) contents were 16.08-23.08% and 13.0-27.75%, respectively. U. urens contained the highest concentrations of calcium, potassium, phosphorus and zinc. A high level of iron was observed in S. asper. These values were found to be comparable with or higher than those of commonly used vegetables such as spinach, lettuce and cabbage. The total phenolic contents ranged between 4.58 and 10.53 mg/g. In terms of anti-nutritional principles, all the vegetables had comparatively lower concentrations of phytate, alkaloids and saponins. Considering the amount of available mineral elements in the vegetables, these plants could be valuable and important contributors to the diets of the people in South Africa.

Chenopodium album prevents progression of cell growth and enhances cell toxicity in human breast cancer cell lines.

The present study is aimed to investigate the effects of Chenopodium album (leaves) on the growth of estrogen dependent (MCF-7) and estrogen independent (MDA-MB-468) human breast cancer cell lines. The different solvent extracts (petroleum ether, ethyl acetate and methanol) were assessed for their cytotoxicity using TBE (Trypan blue exclusion) and MTT [3-(4, 5-dimethyl thiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium] bioassay. These cells were cultured in MEM (minimum essential medium) medium and incubated with the dilution series of extracts (10-100 mg/ml) in CO(2) incubator at 37 degrees C for 24 h. Among the various extracts studied for two cell lines, methanolic extract of C. album (leaves) exhibited maximum antibreast cancer activity having IC(50) (the concentration of an individual compound leading to 50% inhibition) value 27.31 mg/ml against MCF-7 cell line. Significant percent inhibition (94.06%) in the MeOH extract of C. album (leaves) at 48 h of exposure and concentration 100 mg/ml (p < 0.05) against MCF-7 breast cancer cell line, indicates the presence of some structural moiety responsible for this observed antiproliferative effect. In vivo study and structural elucidation of its bioactive principle are in progress. Our findings highlight the potential of this plant for its possible clinical use to counteract malignancy development as antibreast cancer bioagent.

Soil quality effects on Chenopodium album flavonoid content and antioxidant potential.

Antioxidant capacity, total phenolic content and flavonoid glycosides profile were compared in C.album samples grown in intensively cultivated (IC) and nondisturbed (ND) soils to evaluate differences in their nutraceutical potential. Petroleum ether, methanol, and aqueous extracts were sequentially obtained from C. album dried samples. Methanol crude extract exhibited the highest antioxidant potential and phenolic content, which were significantly enhanced by soil deterioration. This feature was enhanced in its ethyl acetate/n-buthanol subextract that also yielded higher amounts of the fraction containing flavonoid glycosides in samples grown in IC soils. Compounds were isolated by activity guided fractionation, and chemical structure-antioxidant activity relationships were established. Chemical structures were elucidated by chemical and spectroscopic methods. Six known flavonoid glycosides were isolated, and their antioxidant activity was determined by DPPH assay. 1, quercetin-3-O-(2",6"-di-O-R-L-rhamnopyranosyl)-beta-D-glucopyranoside; 2, kaempferol-3-O-(2",6"-di-O-R-L-rhamnopyranosyl)-beta-D-glucopyranoside; 3, quercetin-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1'''-->6")-beta-D-glucopyranoside; 4, rutin; 5, quercetin-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside; and 6, kaempferol-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside. Triosides 1 and 2 were identified for the first time in C. album. Our results suggest that this edible weed, ubiquitously present in cultivated fields, should be considered as a nutraceutical food and an alternative source for nutrients and free radical scavenging compounds, particularly when collected from cultivated fields that seem to increase some of its advantages.

Identification and characterization of Che a 1 allergen from Chenopodium album pollen.

BACKGROUND: Pollinosis to Chenopodium album has been reported, but no data are available on its allergenic proteins. METHODS: An allergen from C. album pollen has been isolated by means of gel permeation and reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Molecular characterization was achieved by concanavalin A reaction, mass spectrometry, Edman degradation and cDNA sequence. Antigenic analyses were performed by immunoblotting, ELISA, and ELISA inhibition, using sera from allergic patients, two Ole e 1-specific monoclonal antibodies and an Ole e 1-specific polyclonal antiserum. RESULTS: The isolated allergen, Che a 1, is a glycoprotein of molecular mass 17.088 kD and 143 amino acid residues, whose sequence exhibits 27-45% identity with known members of the Ole e 1-like protein family. 77% of sera from patients allergic to chenopod pollen were reactive to Che a 1. No correlation was found between the IgE reactivities to Che a 1 and Ole e 1, the major allergens from olive pollen, and both allergens display low, although detectable, IgE and IgG cross-reactivities. CONCLUSIONS: Che a 1, a relevant allergen from chenopod pollen, is structurally related to the Ole e 1-like protein family, but exhibits significant differences on its polypeptide sequence that could explain its different antigenic behavior and limited cross-reactivity.