Layer by layer application of chitosan and carboxymethyl cellulose coatings delays ripening of mango fruit by suppressing cell wall polysaccharides disassembly.

Mango is a climacteric fruit that ripens quickly after harvest due to its climacteric nature. Edible coatings have been reported to delay the ripening of various harvested fruit. The efficacy of the applied edible coatings could be improved by using in combination as a layer-by-layer (LBL) approach. So, the influence of LBL application of chitosan (CH) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) was studied on mangoes during postharvest storage at 15 °C for 20 days. Mangoes were coated with monolayers of CH (1 % w/v) and CMC (1 % w/v) as well as LBL application of CH and CMC and were compared with control. The treatment of mangoes with CH and CMC-based LBL treatment resulted in lower decay percentage and weight loss along with higher total chlorophyll pigments and suppressed total carotenoid accumulation. The LBL application of CH and CMC showed lower activity of chlorophyll degrading such as chlorophyllase (CPS), pheophytinase (Phe), Mg-dechalatase (MGD) and chlorophyll degrading peroxidase (Chl-POD) enzymes as well as reduced changes in b*, a* and L* along with a suppressed increase in ethylene (EP) and CO2 production (CPR) rates having higher antioxidant such as catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), peroxidase (POD) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzymes activity. In addition, mangoes coated with LBL treatment of CH and CMC exhibited lower water-soluble pectin (WSP) and higher protopectin (PP) having higher concentrations of chelate soluble (CSP) and sodium carbonate-soluble pectin (SCP). Similarly, LBL-coated mangoes showed significantly higher hemicellulose (HCLS) and cellulose (CLS) contents in contrast with control. It was observed that mangoes coated with CH and CMC-based LBL coating exhibited higher flesh firmness and showed suppressed cellulase (CS), pectin methylesterase (PME), polygalacturonase (PG) and ß-galactosidase (ß-Gal) enzymes activity. The concentrations of total soluble solids and ripening index were markedly lower and titratable acidity was higher in the LBL-based coating treatment in comparison with control. In conclusion, LBL treatment based on CH and CMC coatings could be used for the delay of ripening and softening of harvested mangoes.

Simultaneous Study of Analysis of Anti-inflammatory Potential of Dryopteris ramosa (C. Hope) C. Chr. using GC-Mass and Computational Modeling on the Xylene-induced Ear Oedema in Mouse Model.

INTRODUCTION: In the present study, we aimed to investigate the extraction and identification of the potential phytochemicals from the Methanolic Extract of Dryopteris ramosa (MEDR) using GC-MS profiling for validating the traditional uses of MEDR its efficacy in inflammations by using in-vitro, in-vivo and in silico approaches in anti-inflammatory models. METHODS: GC-MS analysis confirmed the presence of a total of 59 phytochemical compounds. The human red blood cells (HRBC) membrane stabilization assay and heat-induced hemolysis method were used as in-vitro anti-inflammatory activity of the extract. The in-vivo analysis was carried out through the Xylene-induced mice ear oedema method. It was found that MEDR at a concentration of 20 µg, 30 µg, and 40 µg showed 35.45%, 36.01%, and 36.33% protection to HRBC in a hypotonic solution, respectively. At the same time, standard Diclofenac at 30 µg showed 45.31% protection of HRBC in a hypotonic solution. RESULTS: The extract showed inhibition of 25.32%, 26.53%, and 33.31% cell membrane lysis at heating at 20 µg, 30 µg, and 40 µg, respectively. In comparison, standard Diclofenac at 30 µg showed 50.49% inhibition of denaturation to heat. Methanolic extract of the plant exhibited momentous inhibition in xylene-induced ear oedema in mice treated with 30 µg extract were 47.2%, 63.4%, and 78.8%, while inhibition in mice ear oedema treated with 60 µg extract was 34.7%, 43.05%, 63.21% and reduction in ear thickness of standard drug were 57.3%, 59.54%, 60.42% recorded at the duration of 1, 4 and 24 hours of inflammation. Molecular docking and simulations were performed to validate the anti-inflammatory role of the phytochemicals that revealed five potential phytochemicals i.e. Stigmasterol,22,23dihydro, Heptadecane,8methyl, Pimaricacid, Germacrene and 1,3Cyclohexadiene,_5(1,5dimethyl4hexenyl)-2methyl which revealed potential or significant inhibitory effects on cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), tumour necrosis factor (TNF-α), and interleukin (IL-6) in the docking analysis. CONCLUSION: The outcome of the study signifies that MEDR can offer a new prospect in the discovery of a harmonizing and alternative therapy for inflammatory disease conditions.

Combined application of hot water treatment and eucalyptus leaf extract postpones senescence in harvested green chilies by conserving their antioxidants: a sustainable approach.

BACKGROUND: Green chili is the predominant vegetable in tropical and subtropical regions with high economic value. However, after harvest, it exhibits vigorous metabolic activities due to the high moisture level, leading to a reduction in bioactive compounds and hence reduced shelf life and nutritional quality. Low temperature storage results in the onset of chilling injury symptoms. Therefore, developing techniques to increase the shelf life of green chilies and safeguard their nutritional value has become a serious concern for researchers. In this regard, an experiment was conducted to evaluate the impact of the alone or combined application of hot water treatment (HWT) (45 °C for 15 min) and eucalyptus leaf extract (ELE) (30%) on 'Golden Hot' chilies in comparison to the control. After treatment, chilies were stored at 20 ± 1.5 °C for 20 days. RESULTS: HWT + ELE-treated chilies had a significant reduction in fruit weight loss (14.6%), fungal decay index (35%), red chili percentage (41.2%), soluble solid content (42.9%), ripening index (48.9%), and reactive oxygen species production like H2O2 (55.1%) and O-2 (46.5%) during shelf in comparison to control, followed by the alone application of HWT and ELE. Furthermore, the combined use of HWT and ELE effectively improved the antioxidative properties of stored chilies including DPPH radical scavenging activities (54.6%), ascorbic acid content (28.4%), phenolic content (31.8%), as well as the enzyme activities of POD (103%), CAT (128%), SOD (26.5%), and APX (43.8%) in comparison to the control. Additionally, the green chilies underwent HWT + ELE treatment also exhibited higher chlorophyll levels (100%) and general appearance (79.6%) with reduced anthocyanin content (40.8%) and wrinkling (43%), leading to a higher marketable fruit (41.3%) than the control. CONCLUSION: The pre-storage application of HWT and ELE could be used as an antimicrobial, non-chemical, non-toxic, and eco-friendly treatment for preserving the postharvest quality of green chilies at ambient temperature (20 ± 1.5 °C).

Biosynthesized Silver Nanoparticles Using Alnus nitida Leaf Extract as a Potential Antioxidant and Anticancer Agent.

Biogenic synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using plant extracts is gaining attention as a substitute to the conventional physical and chemical synthesis methods. This study reports a facile, cost-effective, and ecofriendly synthesis of AgNPs using leaf extract of Alnus nitida (A. nitida) and their antioxidant and antiproliferative activities. The biosynthesized AgNPs were characterized using various analytical techniques including UV-visible spectroscopy, energy-dispersive spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and dynamic light scattering. The antioxidant and cytotoxic potential of the extract and AgNPs was evaluated using different in vitro models. The UV-vis analysis revealed a surface plasmon resonance peak of 400 nm corresponding to the synthesis of AgNPs. SEM analysis confirmed the formation of heterogeneously dispersed particles of nano size, while the XRD and FTIR spectra confirmed the crystallinity and existence of different functional groups that helped in capping and stability of AgNPs. The antioxidant activity of AgNPs and extract, studied by 1,1-diphenyl 2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH), fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP), 2, 2'-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS), and H2O2 scavenging assays, showed a dose-dependent effect. The AgNPs at 1000 µg/mL significantly scavenged DPPH, FRAP, ABTS, and H2O2 by 66.45, 74.65, 78.81, and 72.56% with an average IC50 value of 33.31, 18.50, 16.46, and 15.65 µg/mL, respectively. The cytotoxic potential investigated by MTT assay revealed promising antiproliferative effects against different cancer cell lines. The IC50 values of AgNPs on MDA-MB-231, A549, and Hep-G2 cells were 14.88, 3.6, and 5.38 µg/mL, respectively. The results showed that AgNPs were more effective against lung and hepatocellular carcinoma. The selectivity index showed that AgNPs remained highly selective in retarding the growth of A549 and Hep-G2 cells as compared to normal cell lines HPAEpiC and HRPTEpiC. Overall, this study showed that biosynthesized AgNPs were associated with considerable antioxidant and cytotoxic effects. Our work suggests that A. nitida-mediated AgNPs should be evaluated further in order to develop safe and effective formulations for the treatment of different degenerative diseases.

Biosynthesis and Characterization of Silver Nanoparticles Using Tribulus terrestris Seeds: Revealed Promising Antidiabetic Potentials.

Green synthesis is the most effective and environmentally friendly way to produce nanoparticles. The present research aimed at the biosynthesizing of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using Tribulus terrestris seed extract as the reducing and stabilizing agent and investigating their anti-diabetic properties. Fourier transformation infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and UV-Vis spectroscopy were used to analyze the synthesized silver nanoparticles from Tribulus terrestris (TT-AgNPs). The spectroscopic characterization revealed a surface Plasmon resonance band at 380 nm, which verified the development of TT-AgNPs. The transmittance peaks were observed at 596, 1450, 1631, 2856, 2921, and 3422 cm-1 through the FTIR spectrophotometer. The XRD spectrum showed four distinct diffraction peaks in the 2θ range at 20° to 60°. Intense peaks were at 26.32°, 30.70°, 44.70°, 56.07°, 53.75°, 66.28°, and 75.32°. The SEM analysis revealed that the prepared TT-AgNPs were clustered loosely with a smooth and spherical structure and were of relatively uniform size. The in vitro antidiabetic potential of TT-AgNPs was assessed by using glucose yeast uptake, glucose adsorption, and alpha-amylase assays. TT-AgNPs showed the highest activity (78.45 ± 0.84%) of glucose uptake by yeast at 80 µg/mL. In the glucose adsorption assay, the highest activity of TT-AgNPs was 10.40 ± 0.52% at 30 mM, while in the alpha-amylase assay, TT-AgNPs exhibited the maximum activity of 75.68 ± 0.11% at 100 µg/mL. The results indicate a substantial anti-diabetic effect of the TT-AgNPs. Furthermore, the in vivo antidiabetic study was performed on TT-AgNPs in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. After receiving TT-AgNPs treatment for 30 days, the mice were sacrificed for biochemical and histological analyses of pancreatic and liver samples, which demonstrated a good improvement when compared to the control group. Mice treated with TT-AgNPs showed a significant drop in blood sugar levels, showing that the biosynthesized TT-AgNPs have effective anti-diabetic properties.

Supplementation of PUFA extracted from microalgae for the development of chicken patties.

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in development of a diverse range of foods that are enriched with omega-3 fatty acids. It is widely recognized that through dietary interventions, the lipid fraction of food can be modified to enhance its nutritional content. This study is aimed to develop chicken patties enriched with poly unstaurated fatty acids (PUFAs) extracted from microalgae aurintricarboxylic acid (ATA) concentration of 0% (T0), 1% (T1), 2% (T2), and 3% (T3). All treatments were stored at -18 °C for one month and analysed at an interval of 0, 10, 20, and 30 days to assess the effect of PUFAs supplementation on physicochemical, oxidative, microbiological and organoleptic properties of chicken patties. The results revealed that moisture content was significantly increased during the storage; the maximum moisture was observed in T0 (67.25% ± 0.03) on day 0, while the minimun was found in T3 (64.69% ± 0.04) on day 30. Supplemenatation of PUFAs in chicken patties significantly enhanced the fat content of the product the highest fat content was observed for T3 (9.7% ± 0.06. An increase in PUFAs concentration led to a significant increase in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). TBARS were increased from 1.22 ± 0.43 at 0 days to 1.48 ± 0.39 at 30 days of storage. The PUFAs incorporation negatively effected sensory acceptance of the product ranging from (8.41 ± 0.17 to 7.28 ± 0.12). However, the sensory scores were in acceptable range for supplemented patties as compared to control sample. Treatment T3 depicted the highest nutritional content. The sensory and physiochemical analysis of supplemented patties suggested that PUFAs extracted from microalgae can be used as a functional ingredient in the preparation various meat products particularly chicken meta patties. However, antioxidants should be added to to prevent lipid oxidation in the product.

EDTA and IAA Ameliorates Phytoextraction Potential and Growth of Sunflower by Mitigating Cu-Induced Morphological and Biochemical Injuries.

As an essential micronutrient, copper is vital for normal growth and development of plants, however, its accumulation in soil exerts a severe negative impact on the agronomic characteristics and yield of the crop plants. Phytoextraction is a low-cost method for restoring soil fertility and avoiding losses due to heavy metal contamination. We found that using EDTA and IAA together improved sunflower hyperaccumulation capacity. Sunflowers were cultivated under various levels of Cu (0 (control), 25, 50, and 75 mg/kg of soil) and treated with EDTA alone or combined with IAA. The results revealed that the amended treatment significantly enhanced the absorption and accumulation of Cu in the sunflowers. Furthermore, the various doses of Cu significantly reduced the root and shoot growth of sunflowers in a concentration-dependent manner by impairing the chlorophyll content, hormones (indole 3-acetic acid, salicylic acid, and gibberellic acid), flavonoids, phenolics, and antioxidant response. The injurious effect of Cu was reduced by the addition of EDTA alone, and the supplementation of IAA led to a significant restoration of shoot growth (~70%) and root growth (~13%) as compared to the plant treated with Cu alone. Moreover, significantly higher levels of chlorophyll content, GA3, endogenous IAA, and flavonoids were recorded, indicating the effectiveness of the treatment in ameliorating plant health. The results also showed considerable restoration of the catalase and ascorbate peroxidase activities in plants treated with EDTA and IAA. These results are suggestive that application of EDTA and IAA enhances the Cu absorption potential of sunflower and increases its tolerance to copper, which may not only serve as a better technique for phytoextraction of Cu, but also to bring Cu contaminated soil under cultivation.

The combined application of Arabic gum coating and γ-aminobutyric acid mitigates chilling injury and maintains eating quality of 'Kinnow' mandarin fruits.

Low temperature storage of citrus generally extends the storage potential but leads to chilling injury appearance on the rind of fruits. The said physiological disorder has been found associated with changes in the metabolism of cell walls and other attributes. In this work, the influence of Arabic gum [AG (10 %)] and γ-amminobutyric acid [GABA (10 mmol L-1)] either alone or in combined form was studied on fruits of 'Kinnow' mandarin during storage at 5 ± 1 °C for 60 days. The results exhibited that the combined AG + GABA treatment significantly suppressed weight loss (5.13 %), chilling injury (CI) symptoms (2.41 score), incidence of disease (13.33 %), respiration rate [(4.81 µmol kg-1 h-1) RPR] and ethylene production [(0.86 nmol kg-1 h-1) EPR]. In addition, AG + GABA application reduced relative electrolyte (37.89 %) leakage (REL), malondialdehyde [(25.99 nmol kg-1) MDA], superoxide anion [(15.23 nmol min-1 kg-1) O2•-] and hydrogen peroxide [(27.08 nmol kg-1) H2O2] along with lower lipoxygenase [(23.81 U mg-1 protein) LOX] and phospholipase D [(14.07 U mg-1 protein) PLD] enzyme activities compared with control. The AG + GABA treated 'Kinnow' group showed higher glutamate decarboxylase [(43.18 U mg-1 protein) GAD] and lower GABA transaminase [(15.93 U mg-1 protein) GABA-T] activity having higher endogenous GABA (42.02 mg kg-1) content. The fruits treated with AG + GABA exhibited higher cell walls (CW) components such as Na2CO3-soluble pectin [(6.55 g kg-1) NCSP], chelate-soluble pectin [(7.13 g kg-1) CSP] and protopectin [(11.03 g kg-1) PRP] concentrations along with lower water-soluble pectin [(10.64 g kg-1) WSP] compared to control. In addition, 'Kinnow' fruits treated with AG + GABA showed higher firmness (8.63 N) and lower activities of CW degrading such as cellulase [(11.23 U mg-1 protein) CX], polygalacturonase [(22.59 U mg-1 protein) PG], pectin methylesterase [(15.61 U mg-1 protein) PME] and ß-galactosidase [(20.64 U mg-1 protein) ß-Gal] enzymes. The activity of catalase [(41.56 U mg-1 protein) CAT], ascorbate peroxidase [(55.57 U mg-1 protein) APX], superoxide dismutase [(52.93 U mg-1 protein) SOD] and peroxidase [(31.02 U mg-1 protein) POD] was also higher in combined treatment. In addition, AG + GABA treated fruits showed better biochemical and sensory attributes than the control. So, combined AG + GABA could be used for CI mitigation and storage life prolongation of 'Kinnow' fruits.

"Ficus johannis Boiss. leaves ethanolic extract ameliorate streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats by upregulating the expressions of GCK, GLUT4, and IGF and downregulating G6P".

The leaves of Ficus johannis Boiss (F. johannis), commonly known as Fig tree, Anjir, and Teen, are used by the folk medicinal practitioners in Iran for controlling hyperglycemia in diabetic patients. This study investigated the pharmacological basis for antidiabetic effect of the ethanolic extract of F. johannis leaves using in vitro and in vivo experimental models. Qualitative screening of phytochemicals, estimation of total phenolic and flavonoid contents, and in vitro antioxidant and α-amylase inhibition assays were performed. Moreover, the High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) quantification, acute toxicity, glucose tolerance, and in vivo antidiabetic effect along with the evaluation of gene expressions involved in diabetes mellitus were carried out. Significant quantities of phenolic (71.208 ± 2.89 mgg-1 GAE) and flavonoid (26.38 ± 3.53 mgg-1 QE) were present. Inhibitory concentration (IC50) of the plant extract exhibited an excellent in vitro antioxidant (IC50 = 33.81 µg/mL) and α-amylase (IC50 = 12.18 µg/mL) inhibitory potential. The HPLC analysis confirmed the gallic acid (257.79 mgg-1) as main constituent of the extract followed by kaempferol (22.86 mgg-1), myricetin (0.16 mgg-1), and quercetin (3.22 mgg-1). Ethanolic extract displayed glucose tolerance in normo-glycemic rats. Streptozotocin-induced hyperglycemia declined dose dependently in the extract treated rats with improvement in lipid profile and liver and renal function biomarkers. The F. johannis-treated groups showed an increase in mRNA expressions of glucose transporter 4 (GLUT-4), glucokinase, insulin growth like factor 1 and peroxisomal proliferator activating receptor gamma in pancreas. However, the Glucose-6-phosphatase was downregulated. Present study suggests that the ethanolic extract of F. johannis leaves demonstrates a good anti-diabetic profile by improving insulin sensitivity, GLUT-4 translocation, and carbohydrate metabolism while inhibiting lipogenesis.

Supplementation of banana peel powder for the development of functional broiler nuggets.

Banana peel powder is considered one of the most nutritive and effective waste product to be utilized as a functional additive in the food industry. This study aimed to determine the impact of banana peel powder at concentrations of 2%, 4%, and 6% on the nutritional composition, physicochemical parameters, antioxidant potential, cooking properties, microbial count, and organoleptic properties of functional nuggets during storage at refrigeration temperature for 21 days. Results showed a significant increase in nutritional content including ash and crude fiber ranging from 2.52 ± 0.017% to 6.45 ± 0.01% and 0.51 ± 0.01% to 2.13 ± 0.01%, respectively, whereas a significant decrease was observed in crude protein and crude fat ranging from 13.71 ± 0.02% to 8.92 ± 0.02% and 9.25 ± 0.02% to 4.51 ± 0.01%, respectively. The incorporation of banana peel powder significantly improved the Water Holding Capacity from 5.17% to 8.37%, cooking yield from 83.20 ± 0.20% to 87.73 ± 0.16% and cooking loss from 20.19 ± 0.290% to 13.98 ± 0.15%. Antioxidant potential was significantly improved as TPC of functional nuggets increased ranging from 3.73 ± 0.02 mg GAE/g to 8.53 ± 0.02 mg GAE/g while a decrease in TBARS (0.18 ± 0.02 mg malonaldehyde/kg to 0.14 ± 0.02 mg malonaldehyde/kg) was observed. Furthermore, functional broiler nuggets depicted a significantly reduced total plate count (3.06-4.20 × 105 CFU/g) than control, which is likely due to high amounts of phenolic compounds in BPP. Broiler nuggets supplemented with 2% BPP (T1) received the greatest sensory scores in terms of flavour, tenderness, and juiciness. Results of current study revealed the potential of BPP to be utilized as an effective natural source of fibre supplementation in food products along with enhanced antioxidant and anti-microbial properties.

Mentha: Nutritional and Health Attributes to Treat Various Ailments Including Cardiovascular Diseases.

A poor diet, resulting in malnutrition, is a critical challenge that leads to a variety of metabolic disorders, including obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. Mentha species are famous as therapeutic herbs and have long served as herbal medicine. Recently, the demand for its products, such as herbal drugs, medicines, and natural herbal formulations, has increased significantly. However, the available literature lacks a thorough overview of Mentha phytochemicals' effects for reducing malnutritional risks against cardiovascular diseases. In this context, we aimed to review the recent advances of Mentha phytochemicals and future challenges for reducing malnutritional risks in cardiovascular patients. Current studies indicated that Mentha species phytochemicals possess unique antimicrobial, antidiabetic, cytotoxic, and antioxidant potential, which can be used as herbal medicine directly or indirectly (such as food ingredients) and are effective in controlling and curing cardiovascular diseases. The presence of aromatic and flavor compounds of Mentha species greatly enhance the nutritional values of the food. Further interdisciplinary investigations are pivotal to explore main volatile compounds, synergistic actions of phytochemicals, organoleptic effects, and stability of Mentha sp. phytochemicals.

Aspergillus violaceofuscus alleviates cadmium and chromium stress in Okra through biochemical modulation.

Endophytic fungi from the Chilli were used to help okra plants exposed to cadmium (Cd) or chromium (Cr) stress. Initially, the strain Ch06 produced higher amounts of indole acetic acid (IAA) (230.5 µg/mL), sugar (130.7 µg/mL), proteins (128.2 µg/mL), phenolics (525.6 µg/mL) and flavonoids (98.4 µg/mL) in Czapek broth supplemented with Cd or Cr. The production of IAA and other metabolites in such a higher concentration suggested that Ch06 might improve plant growth under heavy metal stress. For this reason, an experiment was designed, in which biomass of Ch06 (at 2g/100g of sand) were applied to the okra plants exposed to Cd or Cr stress (at 100 or 500 µg/g). The results exhibited that Ch06 improved the total chlorophyll (36.4±0.2 SPAD), shoot length (22.6±0.2 cm), root length (9.1±0.6 cm), fresh weight (5±0.6 g), dry weight (1.25±0.01 g), sugars (151.6 µg/g), proteins (114.8 µg/g), proline (6.7 µg/g), flavonoids (37.9 µg/g), phenolics (70.7 µg/g), IAA (106.7 µg/g), catalase (0.75 enzyme units/g tissue) and ascorbic acid oxidaze (2.2 enzyme units/g tissue) of the associated okra plants. Similar observations have been recorded in Ch06 associated okra plants under Cd and Cr stress. Also, Ch06 association reduced translocation of Cd (35% and 45%) and Cr (47% and 53%) to the upper parts of the okra plants and thus reduced their toxicity. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region amplification of 18S rDNA (ribosomal deoxyribo nucleic acid) exhibited that the potent strain Ch06 was Aspergillus violaceofuscus. The results implied that A. violaceofuscus has the ability to promote host species growth exposed to Cd and Cr. Moreover, it helped the host plants to recover in Cd and Cr polluted soils, hence can be used as biofertilizer.

Tragacanth gum coating suppresses the disassembly of cell wall polysaccharides and delays softening of harvested mango (Mangifera indica L.) fruit.

Mango is a climacteric fruit and is prone to high perishability. The rapid softening and ripening (due to degradation and disassembly of cell wall polysaccharides) are the major limitations in extending the storability of the harvested mango fruits. Various types of gum-based edible coatings have been reported for the shelf life extension of mango fruits. Tragacanth gum (TCG) also has appropriate coating properties. Its use as an edible coating has been reported on certain fruits. However, the effect of TCG coating in the regulation of harvested mango fruits ripening and softening has not been reported yet. So, the objective of this work was to investigate the effect of TCG (control, 0.5 %, 1 % and 1.5 %) coating on postharvest softening and ripening of harvested mango fruits. TCG coating affected the ripening and softening of mango in a dose-dependent manner. Results exhibited that mango fruits coated with 1.5 % TCG showed substantially lower disease incidence and weight loss. The 1.5 % TCG-coated mangoes showed substantially lower ethylene biosynthesis and respiration rate peaks as well as superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide contents compared with the control. In the same way, 1.5 % TCG-coated mango fruits had markedly higher total chlorophyll content and lower L*, b* and a* along with substantially lower total carotenoids in peel tissues. Mango fruits coated with 1.5 % TCG exhibited markedly lower water-soluble pectin and higher chelate-soluble pectin, Na2CO3-soluble pectin, protopectin, cellulose and hemicellulose in flesh tissues compared with control. The activity of polygalacturonase (PG), cellulase (CX), pectin methylesterase (PME), ß-galactosidase (ß-Gal) and ß-glucosidase (ß-Glu) were significantly lower in flesh of 1.5 % TCG treated fruits along with substantially higher firmness in contrast with control. In addition, 1.5 % TCG coating treatment showed significantly higher activity of antioxidative enzymes and delayed the increase in soluble solids content (SSC) and ripening index (RI) along with considerably higher titratable acidity (TA) compared with the untreated control. So, pre-storage TCG based edible coating (1.5 %) could be applied to delay ripening and softening in mango fruit industry under postharvest ambient conditions.

Phosphate solubilizing microorganisms isolated from medicinal plants improve growth of mint.

The current research project involves isolation and characterization of PSM (phosphate solubilizing microorganisms) from the rhizospheric soil of certain medicinal plants and to determine their effect on plant growth. Medicinal plants, Aloe vera, Bauhinia variegata, Cannabis sativa, Lantana camara and Mentha viridis were selected for the isolation of PSMs. Soil status of the selected medicinal plants was also checked. Phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) were observed under stereomicroscope for their morphological characteristics and Gram's staining. Phosphate solubilizing fungi (PSF) were also identified microscopically. Colony diameter, halo zone diameter and solubilization index were determined on PVK agar plates. TLC results indicated that citric acid was the most common acid produced by PSM strains. All strains were found to be non-pathogenic in pathogenicity test. A positive plant growth response to PSM inoculation was observed in all studies. In study 1, individual inoculation of PSM showed a significant increased effect on plant growth parameter i.e., fresh and dry weight, plant height and root and shoot length as compared to control. In study2, composite inoculation of PSM along with different P sources revealed that rock phosphate (RP) with PSM increased growth of plants significantly. The present study suggests that PSM inoculation along with RP amendment can be used as biofertilizer.

Magnesium and Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles from Datura alba Improve Cognitive Impairment and Blood Brain Barrier Leakage.

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder involving persistent spontaneous seizures and uncontrolled neuronal excitability that leads to cognitive impairments and blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption. Currently available antiepileptic drugs present side effects and researchers are trying to discover new agents with properties to overcome these drawbacks. The aim was to synthesize magnesium oxide (MgO) and zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles from Datura alba fresh leaf extracts and evaluate their anti-epileptic potential in mice kindling or a repetitive seizures model. The phytoassisted synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using spectroscopy; FT-IR, XRD, SEM, and EDX. Analysis of the NPs confirmed the crystalline pleomorphic shape using the salts of both zinc and magnesium possibly stabilized, functionalized and reduced by bioactive molecules present in plant extract. By using several characterization techniques, NPs were confirmed. UV-Vis spectroscopy of biologically produced ZnO and MgO revealed distinctive peaks at 380 nm and 242 nm, respectively. Our findings categorically demonstrated the reductive role of biomolecules in the formation of ZnO and MgO NPs. The mice kindling model was induced using seven injections of Pentylenetetrazole (PTZ, 40 mg/kg, i.p) for 15 days alternatively. The results showed that mice post-treated with either ZnO or MgO nanoparticles (10 mg/kg, i.p) significantly improved in respect of behavior and memory as confirmed in the Morris water maze (MWM), open field (OF), novel object recognition (NOR) test compared with PTZ treated mice. Furthermore, the ZnO and MgO nanoparticle treatment also maintained the integrity of the BBB, reducing the leakage, as confirmed by Evans blue dye (EBD) compared with PTZ treated mice only. In summary, the current finding demonstrates that green synthesized ZnO and MgO nanoparticles have neuroprotective, ant-epileptic potential, molecular mechanisms, and clinical implications need to be further explored.

Therapeutic potential of Ceratonia siliqua extract for the management of asthma and hypertension.

The current work was performed to explore the pharmacological mechanisms involved in the management of asthma and hypertension along with the safety profile of the Ceratonia siliqua (C. siliqua/Carob) pods. The bronchorelaxant, vasorelaxant, and cardioselective activities of C. siliqua pods were investigated using isolated rabbit tracheal, aortic, and paired atrial fragments on the Power lab data acquisition system. Normotensive rats were used to study antihypertensive activity. The plant extract and its fractions relaxed the carbachol-induced contraction in the tracheal fragments and shifted the concentration-response curve of carbachol towards the right confirming the muscarinic receptor antagonist activity. The relaxation of phenylephrine-induced contraction in an aortic fragment by the extract showed α- adrenergic blocking activity. Furthermore, the extract produced a cardio-selective response in the paired atria and decreased the blood pressure in anesthetized normotensive rats. The plant extract proved to be non-toxic in oral acute and chronic toxicity studies and did not demonstrate any sign of histopathological lesions. These results suggested that the plant extract was non-toxic and could be used in the management of lifetime therapies of respiratory and cardiovascular disorders without any unwanted effects.

Harzianopyridone Supplementation Reduced Chromium Uptake and Enhanced Activity of Antioxidant Enzymes in Vigna radiata Seedlings Exposed to Chromium Toxicity.

This study explains the scarce information on the role of harzianopyridone (HZRP) in the alleviation of chromium (Cr) stress alleviation in Vigna radiata (L.). To this end, V. radiata seedlings primed with HZRP at 1 and 2 ppm were exposed to 50 mg kg-1 Cr for 30 days. Cr stress reduced growth, chlorophyll (Chl) content, net photosynthetic rate, gas-exchange attributes along with enhanced oxidative damages, i.e., electrolyte leakage (EL), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and malondialdehyde (MDA). Application of HZRP enhanced intercellular carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration, stomatal conductance, and net photosynthetic rate with decreased activity of the chlorophyllase (Chlase) enzyme in V. radiata seedlings exposed to Cr stressed conditions. To maintain Cr-induced oxidative damages, HZRP treatment increased the levels of antioxidant metabolites (phenolic and flavonoids) and the activity of antioxidative enzymes [superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and peroxidase (POD)] in V. radiata seedlings grown in normal and Cr-polluted potted soil. In addition to this, glycine betaine content was also increased in plants grown in Cr-contaminated soil. It is proposed the potential role of supplementation of HZRP in mitigating Cr stress. Further research should be conducted to evaluate the potential of HZRP in the mitigation of abiotic stresses in plants.

Aloe vera gel coating delays softening and maintains quality of stored persimmon (Diospyros kaki Thunb.) Fruits.

The effect of Aloe vera (AV) gel coating was studied on antioxidant enzymes activities, oxidative stress, softening and associated quality attributes of persimmon fruits. The fruits were coated with 0 and 50% AV-gel coating and stored for 20 days at 20 ± 1 ºC. AV-gel coated fruits exhibited considerably less weight loss, hydrogen peroxide level, electrolyte leakage and malondialdehyde content. AV-gel coated fruits had significantly higher ascorbate peroxidase, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase activities. In addition, AV-gel coating suppressed pectin methylesterase, polygalacturonase and cellulase activities and showed higher ascorbic acid, DPPH scavenging antioxidants and phenolics, and lower sugars and carotenoids. To the best of our knowledge, these results are the first evidence that AV-gel coating modulates the activities of cell wall degrading enzymes to delay ripening in climacteric fruits. So, AV-gel coating prohibited the onset of senescence by activating enzymatic antioxidant system, accumulating bioactive compounds and suppressing cell wall degradation. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13197-022-05412-5.

Exploring the potential of curry leaves on mercury-induced hepatorenal toxicity in an animal model.

Herbal drugs play an imperative role in healthcare programs in developing countries. Curry leaves have wide medicinal importance and are used to treat various diseases traditionally. The current study was carried out to estimate the extent of mercury toxicity and the potential effect of curry leaves against defined toxicity. The study group comprised 24 rats weighing between 130 and150 g. Group 1 was kept normal, and group 2 was exposed to mercury at 0.4 mg/kg of body weight in the form of mercuric chloride (HgCl2). The group 3 animals were treated with curry leaves with a dosage of 300 mg/kg of body weight. Group 4 was treated with curry leaves along with mercury with a dosage of 300 and 0.4 mg/kg consecutively. After 28 days, the rats were killed. Blood sample of all groups were evaluated separately to determine the results of different parameters. The results show that ALP, AST, ALT, urea, bilirubin, and creatinine increased with mercury application and decreased with curry leaf exposure. SOD, CAT, GPx, and GR of the liver as well as the kidney depleted on mercury exposure whereas they increased with curry leaf application. HDL increased with curry leaf application and decreased with mercury treatment, while LDL, triglyceride, and cholesterol decreased with curry leaves and increased with mercury exposure. Organ index in mercury along with curry leaf application got close to normal.

Soil urease inhibition by various plant extracts.

Urea is the most popular and widely used nitrogenous fertilizer. High soil urease activity rapidly hydrolyses applied urea to ammonia which contributes to soil nitrogen (N) losses and reduces N use efficiency of crop plants. The ammonia losses can be minimized by the inhibition of soil urease activity which has been explored using various potential chemical inhibitors. However, the soil urease activity inhibition potential of plant extracts is rarely explored to date. In the present study, extracts of 35 plant materials were taken and evaluated against jack bean urease. Eleven extracts, showing >50% jack bean urease inhibition, were selected and further investigated in 13 soils collected from various districts of Punjab, Pakistan. Interestingly, except Capsicum annum, Melia azedarach, Citrus reticulata and Quercus infectoria, the plant extracts showed urease inhibition activities in soils, the extent of which was lower as compared to that observed in jack bean urease though. Maximum urea hydrolysis inhibition (70%) was noted with Vachellia nilotica which was 40% more than that of hydroquinone (50%) followed by that of Eucalyptus camaldulensis (24%). The extracts of V. nilotica and E. camaldulensis were coated on urea and applied to soil in the next step. At 21st day, 239% and 116% more urea-N was recovered from soil treated with V. nilotica and E. camaldulensis extracts coated urea, respectively, as compared to uncoated urea. Conclusively, these results indicated that the coating of V. nilotica and E. camaldulensis extracts on urea prills prolonged urea persistence in soil owing to minimum urea hydrolysis, probably, the extracts of V. nilotica and E. camaldulensis showed their urease inhibition potential. The results of this study provide a base line for the identification of new soil urease inhibitor compounds from plant materials in future.