Betalains: Potential Drugs with Versatile Phytochemistry.

Currently, the demand for natural colorants is increasing instead of synthetic colorants for foodstuff, because they are harmless to human health. Betalain is group of compounds containing nitrogen and water soluble pigment. Betalain is classified into two main classes, betacyanin which is the condensation of betalamic acid with cyclo-DOPA and betaxanthin which is the conjugation of amino acid or amines with betalamic acid. They are used to color various foods and medicines. Betalain is different from anthocyanin because betalains contain nitrogen in their structures. It is interesting to hear that betalains and anthocyanins are individually significant but they have not seen together in the same plant. Their stability influenced by various factors such as, temperature, pH, water activity and light. In this review basic chemistry of betalains, classes, subclasses, their sources and biosynthesis, factors affecting their stability, health and food industry applications are discussed. Moreover, mentioned work signifies the potent anticancer, antioxidant and antimalarial activities of betalains, furthermore provides a help to do more scientific work on it.

Crocin, a dietary colorant, mitigates cyclophosphamide-induced organ toxicity by modulating antioxidant status and inflammatory cytokines.

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the protective efficacy of crocin against hepatotoxicity induced by cyclophosphamide (CP) in Wistar rats. METHODS: The experimental rats were treated with crocin orally at a dose of 10 mg/kg for 6 consecutive days after the administration of a single intraperitoneal dose of CP (150 mg/kg). The ameliorative effect of crocin on organ toxicity was studied by evaluating oxidative stress enzymes, inflammatory cytokines and histological sections. KEY FINDINGS: A single intraperitoneal CP injection significantly elevated endogenous reactive oxygen species and oxidation of lipids and proteins, which are the hallmarks of oxidative damage in liver and serum. In consequence, the primary defensive reduced glutathione, total thiol and antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione-S-transferase and glutathione peroxidase, were significantly reduced. In addition, liver and serum aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase along with acid and alkaline phosphatase were considerably increased. Oral administration of crocin significantly rejuvenated all the above altered markers to almost normal state. The protective efficacy of crocin was further supported by the histological assessment and restoration of CP-induced inflammatory cytokines and enzyme levels compared with the control drug. CONCLUSION: The results obtained suggest the protective nature of crocin against CP-induced oxidative damage/inflammation and organ toxicity.