Chemical Composition and Biological Activities of the Essential Oil from Citrus reticulata Blanco Peels Collected from Agrowastes.

Citrus fruits have a thick outer coat which is often discarded due to its low economic value and usually contributes to the waste. So this work focused on exploring the potential pharmacological properties of the discarded citrus peels. In the present study, we extracted the essential oil from peel wastes of Citrus reticulata Blanco (CREO) from the local market. The antioxidant, antibacterial, and anticancer properties of essential oil were evaluated. The CREO exhibited a strong antioxidant property with DPPH radical scavenging, ABTS radical scavenging, H2 O2 radical scavenging, Ferric reducing antioxidant power and for Lipid peroxidation inhibition respectively. Antibacterial properties of CREO was indicated against different pathogenic microbial strains like E. coli, P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, and S. enterica in terms of disc diffusion method and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Further, anticancer properties studied on breast cancer cell lines MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 showed dose-dependent cytotoxicity with IC50 of 56.67±3.12 µg/mL and 76.44±2.53 µg/mL respectively. The GC-MS analysis of CREO revealed the presence of major compounds like S-limonene, α-pinene, α-myrcene, and cis-terpinene which might have played a significant role in strong antioxidant, antibacterial and anticancer properties. The study thus identified the potential health benefits of Citrus reticulata peel waste.

Morin hydrate downregulates inflammation-mediated nitric oxide overproduction and potentiates antioxidant mechanism against anticancer drug doxorubicin oxidative hepatorenal toxicity in rats.

Objective: Doxorubicin (DOX) is a frontline antineoplastic drug that kills cancer cells through genotoxic mechanism; however, it induces organ toxicities. This study assayed whether morin hydrate (MOH) could abrogate DOX hepatorenal toxicity in rats. Materials and Methods: There were 4 groups of rats: Control, MOH, DOX and MOH + DOX. Rats were administered MOH (orally, 100 mg/kg bw) for 7 consecutive days, while DOX was injected (40 mg/kg, ip) on the 5th day only. Hepatorenal function markers, and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) activities were estimated in both organs. Hepatorenal glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), and nitric oxide (NO) levels were estimated with histopathology. Results: DOX significantly (p<0.05) reduced antioxidant enzyme activities and GSH level, while NO and MDA levels increased (p<0.05) compared to the control. DOX prominently altered hepatorenal indices and induced histopathological alterations. MOH abrogated the DOX hepatorenal toxicity and alleviated the histological lesions in the liver and kidney. Conclusion: MOH restored the indices via antioxidant mechanism and downregulation of NO overproduction in rats.

Phytochemical Composition and Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Humboldtia sanjappae Sasidh. & Sujanapal, an Endemic Medicinal Plant to the Western Ghats.

Ethnomedicinal plants are important sources of drug candidates, and many of these plants, especially in the Western Ghats, are underexplored. Humboldtia, a genus within the Fabaceae family, thrives in the biodiversity of the Western Ghats, Kerala, India, and holds significant ethnobotanical importance. However, many Humboldtia species remain understudied in terms of their biological efficacy, while some lack scientific validation for their traditional uses. However, Humboldtia sanjappae, an underexplored plant, was investigated for the phytochemical composition of the plant, and its antioxidant, enzyme-inhibitory, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial activities were assessed. The LC-MS analysis indicated the presence of several bioactive substances, such as Naringenin, Luteolin, and Pomiferin. The results revealed that the ethanol extract of H. sanjappae exhibited significant in vitro DPPH scavenging activity (6.53 ± 1.49 µg/mL). Additionally, it demonstrated noteworthy FRAP (Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power) activity (8.46 ± 1.38 µg/mL). Moreover, the ethanol extract of H. sanjappae exhibited notable efficacy in inhibiting the activities of α-amylase (47.60 ± 0.19µg/mL) and ß-glucosidase (32.09 ± 0.54 µg/mL). The pre-treatment with the extract decreased the LPS-stimulated release of cytokines in the Raw 264.7 macrophages, demonstrating the anti-inflammatory potential. Further, the antibacterial properties were also evident in both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The observed high zone of inhibition in the disc diffusion assay and MIC values were also promising. H. sanjappae displays significant anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antidiabetic, and antibacterial properties, likely attributable to its rich composition of various biological compounds such as Naringenin, Luteolin, Epicatechin, Maritemin, and Pomiferin. Serving as a promising reservoir of these beneficial molecules, the potential of H. sanjappae as a valuable source for bioactive ingredients within the realms of nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industries is underscored, showcasing its potential for diverse applications.

Synthesis of Bis-Chalcones and Evaluation of Its Effect on Peroxide-Induced Cell Death and Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Cytokine Production.

Plant secondary metabolites are important sources of biologically active compounds with wide pharmacological potentials. Among the different classes, the chalcones form integral pharmacologically active agents. Natural chalcones and bis-chalcones exhibit high antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties in various experiments. Studies are also underway to explore more biologically active bis-chalcones by chemical synthesis of these compounds. In this study, the effects of six synthetic bis-chalcones were evaluated in intestinal epithelial cells (IEC-6); further, the anti-inflammatory potentials were studied in lipopolysaccharide-induced cytokine production in macrophages. The synthesized bis-chalcones differ from each other first of all by the nature of the aromatic cores (functional group substitution, and their position) and by the size of a central alicycle. The exposure of IEC-6 cells to peroxide radicals reduced the cell viability; however, pre-treatment with the bis-chalcones improved the cell viability in these cells. The mechanism of action was observed to be the increased levels of glutathione and antioxidant enzyme activities. Further, these bis-chalcones also inhibited the LPS-stimulation-induced inflammatory cytokine production in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Overall, the present study indicated the cytoprotective and anti-inflammatory abilities of synthetic bis-chalcones.

Chemical Composition of the Cinnamomum malabatrum Leaf Essential Oil and Analysis of Its Antioxidant, Enzyme Inhibitory and Antibacterial Activities.

Cinnamomum species are a group of plants belonging to the Lauraceae family. These plants are predominantly used as spices in various food preparations and other culinary purposes. Furthermore, these plants are attributed to having cosmetic and pharmacological potential. Cinnamomum malabatrum (Burm. f.) J. Presl is an underexplored plant in the Cinnamomum genus. The present study evaluated the chemical composition by a GC-MS analysis and antioxidant properties of the essential oil from C. malabatrum (CMEO). Further, the pharmacological effects were determined as radical quenching, enzyme inhibition and antibacterial activity. The results of the GC-MS analysis indicated the presence of 38.26 % of linalool and 12.43% of caryophyllene in the essential oil. Furthermore, the benzyl benzoate (9.60%), eugenol (8.75%), cinnamaldehyde (7.01%) and humulene (5.32%) were also present in the essential oil. The antioxidant activity was indicated by radical quenching properties, ferric-reducing potential and lipid peroxidation inhibition ex vivo. Further, the enzyme-inhibitory potential was confirmed against the enzymes involved in diabetes and diabetic complications. The results also indicated the antibacterial activity of these essential oils against different Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The disc diffusion method and minimum inhibitory concentration analysis revealed a higher antibacterial potential for C. malabatrum essential oil. Overall, the results identified the predominant chemical compounds of C. malabatrum essential oil and its biological and pharmacological effects.

Phytochemicals and Nanoparticles in the Modulation of PI3K/Akt/mTOR Kinases and its Implications in the Development and Progression of Gastrointestinal Cancers: A Review of Preclinical and Clinical Evidence.

BACKGROUND: Gastrointestinal cancer are the major form of cancer in developing countries, which comprises gastric cancer (GC), hepatic cancer (HCC), colorectal cancers (CRC), etc.; they account for a large number of cancer-related deaths globally. Gastrointestinal cancers generally have a multifactorial origin, where both genetic and dietary factors play prominent roles. PI3K/Akt signaling is the prime signaling pathway associated with the Phosphoinositide-3 kinase/protein kinase B signaling pathway. OBJECTIVES: The present review aims to summarize the role of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway on the different events of gastrointestinal cancers, such as proliferation, survival, metastasis, angiogenesis, drug resistance and stem cell properties. METHODS: Literature collection has been done using the appropriate keywords from Pub- Med/Medline, Scopus, Web of science, or Eurekaselect. The details of individual types of cancers were selected by giving respective keywords. RESULTS: PI3K signaling pathway is important in various gastrointestinal carcinogenesis and progression events; the pathway is involved in proliferation, survival, metastasis, and drug resistance. Several natural phytochemicals and their derivatives have been shown to inhibit PI3K signaling and its downstream regulatory elements, subsequently resulting in anticancer and anti-metastatic activity. Although numerous preclinical evidences are available, conclusive clinical reports are lacking on the anticancer aspects of PI3K inhibitors in gastric cancer. CONCLUSION: Phytochemicals are promising drug candidates for targeting the PI3K/mTOR pathway in various gastrointestinal cancer treatments. However, there is a need for extensive clinical studies to ascertain the commercial value of anticancer therapeutic compounds against cancers of the stomach, liver, and intestine.

Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, Cytotoxicity, and Larvicidal Activities of Selected Synthetic Bis-Chalcones.

Plants are known to have numerous phytochemicals and other secondary metabolites with numerous pharmacological and biological properties. Among the various compounds, polyphenols, flavonoids, anthocyanins, alkaloids, and terpenoids are the predominant ones that have been explored for their biological potential. Among these, chalcones and bis-chalcones are less explored for their biological potential under in vitro experiments, cell culture models, and animal studies. In the present study, we evaluated six synthetic bis-chalcones that were different in terms of their aromatic cores, functional group substitution, and position of substitutions. The results indicated a strong antioxidant property in terms of DPPH and ABTS radical-scavenging potentials and ferric-reducing properties. In addition, compounds 1, 2, and 4 exhibited strong antibacterial activities against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella enteritidis. The disc diffusion assay values were indicative of the antibacterial properties of these compounds. Overall, the study indicated the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of the compounds. Our preliminary studies point to the potential of this class of compounds for further in vivo investigation.

Chemical Composition, Antioxidant, Anti-Bacterial, and Anti-Cancer Activities of Essential Oils Extracted from Citrus limetta Risso Peel Waste Remains after Commercial Use.

Citrus plants are widely utilized for edible purposes and medicinal utility throughout the world. However, because of the higher abundance of the antimicrobial compound D-Limonene, the peel waste cannot be disposed of by biogas production. Therefore, after the extraction of D-Limonene from the peel wastes, it can be easily disposed of. The D-Limonene rich essential oil from the Citrus limetta risso (CLEO) was extracted and evaluated its radical quenching, bactericidal, and cytotoxic properties. The radical quenching properties were DPPH radical scavenging (11.35 ± 0.51 µg/mL) and ABTS scavenging (10.36 ± 0.55 µg/mL). There, we observed a dose-dependent antibacterial potential for the essential oil against pathogenic bacteria. Apart from that, the essential oil also inhibited the biofilm-forming properties of E. coli, P. aeruginosa, S. enterica, and S. aureus. Further, cytotoxicity was also exhibited against estrogen receptor-positive (MCF7) cells (IC50: 47.31 ± 3.11 µg/mL) and a triple-negative (MDA-MB-237) cell (IC50: 55.11 ± 4.62 µg/mL). Upon evaluation of the mechanism of action, the toxicity was mediated through an increased level of reactive radicals of oxygen and the subsequent release of cytochrome C, indicative of mitotoxicity. Hence, the D-Limonene rich essential oil of C. limetta is useful as a strong antibacterial and cytotoxic agent; the antioxidant properties exhibited also increase its utility value.

Root Bark Extract of Oroxylum indicum Vent. Inhibits Solid and Ascites Tumors and Prevents the Development of DMBA-Induced Skin Papilloma Formation.

Oroxylum indicum is a traditionally used plant in Ayurvedic and folk medicines. The plant is useful for the management of gastrointestinal diseases as well as skin diseases. In the present study, we analyzed the antitumor potential of O. indicum in Dalton's lymphoma ascites tumor cells (DLA) and Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC)-induced solid and ascites tumors. Further, the potential of O. indicum extract (OIM) on skin papilloma induction by dimethyl benz(a) anthracene (DMBA) and croton oil was evaluated. The chemical composition of the extract was analyzed using UPLC-Q-TOF-MS. The predominant compounds present in the extract were demethoxycentaureidin 7-O-rutinoside, isorhamnetin-3-O-rutinoside, baicalein-7-O-glucuronide, 5,6,7-trihydroxyflavone, 3-Hydroxy-3',4',5'-trimethoxyflavone, 5,7-dihydroxy-3-(4-methoxyphenyl) chromen-4-one, and 4'-Hydroxy-5,7-dimethoxyflavanone. Treatment with high-dose OIM enhanced the percentage of survival in ascites tumor-bearing mice by 34.97%. Likewise, high and low doses of OIM reduced the tumor volume in mice by 61.84% and 54.21%, respectively. Further, the skin papilloma formation was brought down by the administration of low- and high-dose groups of OIM (by 67.51% and 75.63%). Overall, the study concludes that the Oroxylum indicum root bark extract is a potentially active antitumor and anticancer agent.

Chemical Composition and Biological Activities of the Leaf Essential Oils of Curcuma longa, Curcuma aromatica and Curcuma angustifolia.

Curcuma species are widely used as a food additive and also in various medicinal purposes. The plant is a rich source of essential oil and is predominantly extracted from the rhizomes. On the other hand, the leaves of the plants are usually considered as an agrowaste. The valorization of these Curcuma leaf wastes into essential oils is becoming accepted globally. In the present study, we aim to extract essential oils from the leaves of Curcuma longa (LEO), C. aromatica (REO), and C. anguistifolia (NEO). The chemical composition of these essential oils was analyzed by GC-MS. Free radical scavenging properties were evaluated against the radical sources, including DPPH, ABTS, and hydrogen peroxide. The antibacterial activity was assessed by the disc diffusion method and Minimum inhibitory concentration analysis against Gram positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram negative (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella enterica) bacteria. Results identified the compounds α-phellandrene, 2-carene, and eucalyptol as predominant in LEO. The REO was predominated by camphor, 2-bornanone, and curdione. The main components detected in NEO were eucalyptol, curzerenone, α-lemenone, longiverbenone, and α-curcumene. Antioxidant properties were higher in the LEO with IC50 values of 8.62 ± 0.18, 9.21 ± 0.29, and 4.35 ± 0.16 µg/mL, against DPPH, ABTS, and hydrogen peroxide radicals. The cytotoxic activity was also evident against breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells; the LEO was found to be the most active against these two cell lines (IC50 values of 40.74 ± 2.19 and 45.17 ± 2.36 µg/mL). Likewise, the results indicated a higher antibacterial activity for Curcuma longa essential oil with respective IC50 values (20.6 ± 0.3, 22.2 ± 0.3, 20.4 ± 0.2, and 17.6 ± 0.2 mm). Hence, the present study confirms the possible utility of leaf agrowastes of different Curcuma spp. as a possible source of essential oils with pharmacological potential.

Phytochemical Composition and In Vitro Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, Anticancer, and Enzyme-Inhibitory Activities of Artemisia nilagirica (C.B. Clarke) Pamp.

Plants have been employed in therapeutic applications against various infectious and chronic diseases from ancient times. Various traditional medicines and folk systems have utilized numerous plants and plant products, which act as sources of drug candidates for modern medicine. Artemisia is a genus of the Asteraceae family with more than 500 species; however, many of these species are less explored for their biological efficacy, and several others are lacking scientific explanations for their uses. Artemisia nilagirica is a plant that is widely found in the Western Ghats, Kerala, India and is a prominent member of the genus. In the current study, the phytochemical composition and the antioxidant, enzyme-inhibitory, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities were examined. The results indicated that the ethanol extract of A. nilagirica indicated in vitro DPPH scavenging (23.12 ± 1.28 µg/mL), ABTS scavenging (27.44 ± 1.88 µg/mL), H2O2 scavenging (12.92 ± 1.05 µg/mL), and FRAP (5.42 ± 0.19 µg/mL). The anti-inflammatory effect was also noticed in the Raw 264.7 macrophages, where pretreatment with the extract reduced the LPS-stimulated production of cytokines (p < 0.05). A. nilagirica was also efficient in inhibiting the activities of α-amylase (38.42 ± 2.71 µg/mL), α-glucosidase (55.31 ± 2.16 µg/mL), aldose reductase (17.42 ± 0.87 µg/mL), and sorbitol dehydrogenase (29.57 ± 1.46 µg/mL). It also induced significant inhibition of proliferation in breast (MCF7 IC50 = 41.79 ± 1.07, MDAMB231 IC50 = 55.37 ± 2.11µg/mL) and colon (49.57 ± 1.46 µg/mL) cancer cells. The results of the phytochemical screening indicated a higher level of polyphenols and flavonoids in the extract and the LCMS analysis revealed the presence of various bioactive constituents including artemisinin.

Trends and Technological Advancements in the Possible Food Applications of Spirulina and Their Health Benefits: A Review.

Spirulina is a kind of blue-green algae (BGA) that is multicellular, filamentous, and prokaryotic. It is also known as a cyanobacterium. It is classified within the phylum known as blue-green algae. Despite the fact that it includes a high concentration of nutrients, such as proteins, vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids-in particular, the necessary omega-3 fatty acids and omega-6 fatty acids-the percentage of total fat and cholesterol that can be found in these algae is substantially lower when compared to other food sources. This is the case even if the percentage of total fat that can be found in these algae is also significantly lower. In addition to this, spirulina has a high concentration of bioactive compounds, such as phenols, phycocyanin pigment, and polysaccharides, which all take part in a number of biological activities, such as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. As a result of this, spirulina has found its way into the formulation of a great number of medicinal foods, functional foods, and nutritional supplements. Therefore, this article makes an effort to shed light on spirulina, its nutritional value as a result of its chemical composition, and its applications to some food product formulations, such as dairy products, snacks, cookies, and pasta, that are necessary at an industrial level in the food industry all over the world. In addition, this article supports the idea of incorporating it into the food sector, both from a nutritional and health perspective, as it offers numerous advantages.

Utilization of Pomelo (Citrus maxima) Peel Waste into Bioactive Essential Oils: Chemical Composition and Insecticidal Properties.

The wastes generated during the post-harvest handling of various agricultural commodities is rather under-utlilized. The peels of citrus fruits are often discarded as waste. Citrus peels are rich in essential oils and exhibit toxicity towards various insect species. The essential oils are also an eco-friendly option for insect pest management. The Citrus maxima peel essential oil (CMEO), a waste product, characterized it, and evaluated its potential for insect pest management. The major terpenoids present in CMEO are Limonene and α-Pinene. The CMEO displayed potentials in controlling the insect pests via contact and fumigant toxicity. Moreover, CMEO showed significant larvicidal activities against Culex tritaeniorhynchus and Aedes aegypti species of mosquitoes; however, Armigeres subalbatus was more resistant. The biological safety of the essential oil was also tested against the stored seeds, where no significant inhibition of seed germination was noticed compared to the control. Utilizing a waste product such as citrus peel for pest management can achieve the dual objective of waste utilization and eco-friendly pest management. Overall, the CMEO is therefore found to be a bioactive essential oil extracted from the wastes of pomelo (C. maxima).

Antimicrobial and Larvicidal Activities of Different Ocimum Essential Oils Extracted by Ultrasound-Assisted Hydrodistillation.

Infectious diseases and their vectors have remained a concern for human population from their historical origin. Microbial pathogens have also emerged as a potent threat to the healthcare systems even in developed countries. Essential oils remain a less explored method for infectious disease control; besides, the ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) of essential oil production has emerged as promising source of bioactive volatiles over conventional methods. This study analyzed the possible use of UAE- Essential oils (EOs) from different species of Ocimum plants (Ocimum basilicum (OB), O. gratissimum (OG), O. tenuiflorum (OT), and O. canum (OC)) in the management of microbial pathogens and mosquito larval control. The antibacterial activity was estimated in terms of a disc diffusion assay and minimum inhibitory concentrations against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Salmonella enteritidis. The larvicidal property was found using three important mosquito vectors and the LC50 value was determined. Furthermore, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties were estimated in terms of radical scavenging activities and the inhibition of lipoxygenase enzyme activity. The EOs exhibited significant DPPH radical scavenging (high in OG), hydrogen-peroxide scavenging (OB) and lipoxygenase inhibition (OB). The antibacterial activity was high in OB and OG (p < 0.05) and the larvicidal activity was of higher sensitivity against Aedis and Culex, whereas Armigeres was more resistant. However, no sign of toxicity in the Allium cepa model or non-targeted organism Guppy fishes was observed. Overall, the UAE extracted Ocimum essential oils were found to be effective against various human pathogenic microbial organisms, with OB and OG being highly active. Likewise, the EOs was also able to induce mortality in the larval forms of various mosquito vectors.

Pharmacological Potentials and Nutritional Values of Tropical and Subtropical Fruits of India: Emphasis on their Anticancer Bioactive Components.

BACKGROUND: Fruits are an important dietary component, which supply vitamins, minerals, as well as dietary fiber. In addition, they are rich sources of various biological and pharmacologically active compounds. Among these, temperate fruits are well studied for their pharmacological potentials, whereas tropical/subtropical fruits are less explored for their health impacts. In India, most of the consumed fruits are either tropical or subtropical. OBJECTIVES: This mini review aims to provide a health impact of major tropical and sub-tropical fruits of India, emphasizing their anticancer efficacy. In addition, the identified bioactive components from these fruits exhibiting anticancer efficacy are also discussed along with the patent literature published. METHODS: The literature was collected from various repositories, including NCBI, ScienceDirect, Eurekaselect, and Web of Science; literature from predatory journals was omitted during the process. Patent literature was collected from google patents and similar patent databases. RESULTS: Tropical fruits are rich sources of various nutrients and bioactive components including polyphenols, flavonoids, anthocyanin, etc. By virtue of these biomolecules, tropical fruits have been shown to interfere with various steps in carcinogenesis, metastasis, and drug resistance. Their mode of action is either by activation of apoptosis, regulation of cell cycle, inhibition of cell survival and proliferation pathways, increased lipid trafficking or inhibiting inflammatory pathways. Several molecules and combinations have been patented for their anticancer and chemoprotective properties. CONCLUSION: Overall, the present concludes that Indian tropical/ subtropical fruits are nutritionally and pharmacologically active and may serve as a source of novel anticancer agents in the future.

A High-Fructose Diet Formulated with Thermally Oxidized Monounsaturated Fat Aggravates Metabolic Dysregulation in Colon Epithelial Tissues of Rats.

BACKGROUND: Various epidemiological and clinical studies have indicated a positive association of colon cancer with high sugar and thermally oxidized fats consumption. The present study evaluated the effects of fresh and thermally oxidized coconut (CO) and mustard oils (MO) along with a high-sugar diet in the rat colon mucosa. METHODS: The animals were fed with a modified diet containing high-fructose and different edible oils as fatty acids sources over a period of 30 weeks. Further, the development of insulin resistance and hyperglycemia were estimated biochemically. The changes in the redox status were estimated in terms of reduced glutathione (GSH), antioxidant enzymes and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). Changes in the expression of genes associated with inflammation and cell proliferation were evaluated by qPCR. RESULTS: The animals fed with high-fructose developed hyperglycemia and insulin resistance over 30 weeks. These animals had diminished GSH level, SOD activity and a concomitant increase in the TBARS level in the colon epithelial tissues. In addition, the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-α) was elevated while P53 and PPARγ were down-regulated. This heightened body metabolic dysregulation and associated oxidative damage and inflammation in the colon were exacerbated by thermally oxidized edible oils incorporated in the diet, with a more prominent effect was observed with TMO. CONCLUSION: Feeding high-fructose diet with TMO increases the oxidative and inflammatory damages in the colon epithelium of Wistar rats. Therefore, the study cautions the prolonged consumption of thermally oxidized monounsaturated fat-rich edible oils, especially by individuals with type 2 diabetes.

Hot-processed virgin coconut oil abrogates cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity by restoring redox balance in rats compared to fermentation-processed virgin coconut oil.

Virgin coconut oil (VCO) is a functional food oil prepared from fresh coconut kernel either by hot-processed (HPVCO) or fermentation-processed (FPVCO). The FPVCO has been widely explored for its pharmacological efficacy; while HPVCO, which has traditional uses, is less explored. The present study compared the phenolic content and nephroprotective effect of both these oils in male Wistar rats. In vitro antioxidant activity was estimated in terms of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, ferric reducing antioxidant power and ex vivo lipid peroxidation inhibition. In in vivo models, the rats were pretreated orally with of FPVCO or HPVCO (doses 2 and 4 mL/kg) for seven days and nephrotoxicity was induced by the single intraperitoneal injection of cisplatin (10 mg/kg). The results indicated significantly higher polyphenol content in HPVCO (400.3 ± 5.8 µg/mL) than that of FPVCO (255.5 ± 5.8 µg/mL). Corroborating with the increased levels of polyphenols, the in vitro antioxidant potential was significantly higher in the HPVCO. Further, pretreatment with these VCO preparations protected the rats against the cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity, with higher extent by HPVCO. The renal function markers like urea, creatinine and total bilirubin were significantly reduced (p < 0.05) with HPVCO pretreatment. Apart from the nephroprotective effects, HPVCO also abrogated the cisplatin-induced myelosuppression and hepatotoxicity. The restoration of hepato-renal function by the pretreatment of HPVCO was well corroborated with the improvement in functional antioxidants and subsequent reduction in renal lipid peroxidation. Supporting these observations, renal histology revealed reduced glomerular/tubular congestion and necrosis. Thus, the study concludes that HPVCO may be better functional food than FPVCO.

Borassus flabellifer haustorium extract prevents pro-oxidant mediated cell death and LPS-induced inflammation.

Borassus flabellifer L., belonging to the Arecaceae family, is less explored for its nutritional and biological properties. The plant parts such as the tender kernel, tender water, Borassus flabellifer sap, and haustorium are consumed by various communities in India. The present study first time analyzed the cytoprotective and anti-inflammatory properties of Borassus flabellifer haustorium extract (BHE). The protective effect of BHE was estimated in the normal intestinal epithelial cell (IEC-6) against the pro-oxidant insults induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and malondialdehyde (MDA). Further, the change in redox status was estimated in terms of antioxidant enzyme activities or the oxidative stress markers. The anti-inflammatory potential of BHE was analyzed in macrophage cells (Raw 264.7) stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). BHE had a total polyphenols and flavonoids content of 37.92 ± 4.03 mg GAE and 7.02 ± 0.61 mg QE. The pretreatment with BHE has significantly reduced the cytotoxic effect of H2O2 and MDA (p < 0.01) in IEC-6 cells; restoration of cellular glutathione levels and catalase activity (p < 0.05), with a concomitant reduction in the thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances and conjugated dienes (p < 0.05) maybe the plausible mode of action. Further, H2O2 and MDA induced expression of apoptotic genes caspase 3/7 and apaf-1 was significantly reduced by BHE pretreatment (p < 0.05). Similarly, BHE dose-dependently reduced the LPS (1 µg/mL) induced release of pro-inflammatory cytokines including IL-1ß, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in Raw 264.7 cells. The study concludes that Borassus flabellifer haustorium can be an efficient antioxidant and anti-inflammatory functional food.

Borassus flabellifer Linn haustorium methanol extract mitigates fluoride-induced apoptosis by enhancing Nrf2/Haeme oxygenase 1 -dependent glutathione metabolism in intestinal epithelial cells.

Fluoride is the most common cause of drinking water-associated toxicity and is known to induce various metabolic imbalances and dental/skeletal fluorosis. The present study analyzed the protective effect of Borassus flabellifer Linn. haustorium extract (BHE) against fluoride-induced intestinal redox metabolism and apoptosis. The total polyphenols and total flavonoids present in BHE were estimated to be 39.67 ± 5.14 mg gallic acid equivalent/g extract and 8.59 ± 0.74 mg quercetin equivalent. In cultured intestinal epithelial cells (IEC-6), sodium fluoride exposure-induced apoptosis mediated through antioxidant enzyme inhibition and subsequent oxidative damages. Further, there observed an increased expression of caspase-3, caspase-7, and apoptotic protease activating factor-1 (apaf-1) genes, increased cytochrome C release, and caspase 3/7 activity indicating the apoptosis- mediated cell death (p < 0.05). Upon pretreatment with BHE, the cytotoxic effect of fluoride was reduced by decreasing the expression of apoptotic genes and increased the cytochrome release as well as caspase 3/7 activity (p < 0.01). Providing the mechanistic basis, the expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor-2 (Nrf2)/haeme oxygenase-1 (HO1) gene was increased in the BHE pretreated cells; corroborating to these, there observed increased activity of glutathione biosynthetic enzymes (p < 0.05) and glutathione reductase. Hence, the protective effect of BHE may be mediated through Nrf2-mediated glutathione biosynthesis, the subsequent establishment of redox balance, and inhibition of apoptosis in intestinal epithelial cells.