Clerodendrum Glandulosum Lindl.: A Review of Ethnopharmacology, Pharmacological Potentials, and their Mechanism of Action.

Clerodendrum glandulosum Lindl. is popularly known for its traditional herbal remedies and therapeutic properties among the people of Northeast Indian communities, as well as Chinese traditional medicine. For the myriad pharmacological properties, viz., anti-hypertensive, hypolipidemic, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective, planting this species in kitchen gardens is a common practice to treat various ailments, especially hypertension, diabetes, and other metabolic complications. Different phytochemicals, representing the diverse classes of secondary metabolites comprising physiological and phytopharmaceutical significance, have been reported from C. glandulosum. Compounds with terpenoids, steroids, and phenolics are in demand in the pharmaceutical industry. An overview of the mechanism of action of the prominent compounds has also been collated for future research on C. glandulosum-based therapeutics. Current information focuses on this important medicinal plant's ethnomedicinal use, phytochemistry, pharmacology, associated mechanisms, and toxicology. This review will help explore this potential medicinal plant, which can pave the path for its application in the pharmaceutical industry.

Nutritional Composition and Pharmacological Activity of Musa balbisiana Colla Seed: An Insight into Phytochemical and Cellular Bioenergetic Profiling.

Musa balbisiana Colla belongs to the family Musaceae which is well-known for its nutritional and pharmacological properties. Here, we have analysed the phytochemical content and evaluated the nutritional, antioxidant, anti-glycation, α-amylase, and α-glucosidase inhibition potential. Moreover, for the first time, we have studied the bioenergetic profiles of the bioactive fractions of M. balbisiana seeds extract against oxidative stress-related mitochondrial and cellular dysfunction using XFe24 extracellular flux analyzer. M. balbisiana seeds have high nutritional values with significant levels of carbohydrates, starch, protein, and minerals (Ca, Na, Mg, Cu, Fe, and Zn). Bioactivity-guided fractionation of the methanolic extract of M. balbisiana seeds revealed that the ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) showed the highest antioxidant, anti-glycation, and phytochemical content as compared to other fractions. Moreover, the EAF showed a lower α-amylase inhibition and a higher α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. Most importantly, our GC-MS analyses of EAF revealed the presence of unique and previously unreported 14 phytochemical compounds. A strong correlation between the biological activities and total phenolic/tannin content was observed. In addition, the bioactive fraction of M. balbisiana seeds (EAF) improved the bioenergetic profiles of free fatty acid-induced oxidative stress with a concomitant increase in ATP production, and respiratory and glycolytic capacity. Altogether, our findings suggest that M. balbisiana seeds can be used as a natural supplement to boost antioxidant levels and combat oxidative stress and non-enzymatic glycation.

Dietary Flavonoids: Cardioprotective Potential with Antioxidant Effects and Their Pharmacokinetic, Toxicological and Therapeutic Concerns.

Flavonoids comprise a large group of structurally diverse polyphenolic compounds of plant origin and are abundantly found in human diet such as fruits, vegetables, grains, tea, dairy products, red wine, etc. Major classes of flavonoids include flavonols, flavones, flavanones, flavanols, anthocyanidins, isoflavones, and chalcones. Owing to their potential health benefits and medicinal significance, flavonoids are now considered as an indispensable component in a variety of medicinal, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and cosmetic preparations. Moreover, flavonoids play a significant role in preventing cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), which could be mainly due to their antioxidant, antiatherogenic, and antithrombotic effects. Epidemiological and in vitro/in vivo evidence of antioxidant effects supports the cardioprotective function of dietary flavonoids. Further, the inhibition of LDL oxidation and platelet aggregation following regular consumption of food containing flavonoids and moderate consumption of red wine might protect against atherosclerosis and thrombosis. One study suggests that daily intake of 100 mg of flavonoids through the diet may reduce the risk of developing morbidity and mortality due to coronary heart disease (CHD) by approximately 10%. This review summarizes dietary flavonoids with their sources and potential health implications in CVDs including various redox-active cardioprotective (molecular) mechanisms with antioxidant effects. Pharmacokinetic (oral bioavailability, drug metabolism), toxicological, and therapeutic aspects of dietary flavonoids are also addressed herein with future directions for the discovery and development of useful drug candidates/therapeutic molecules.

Mahanine, A dietary phytochemical, represses mammary tumor burden in rat and inhibits subtype regardless breast cancer progression through suppressing self-renewal of breast cancer stem cells.

Mahanine (MH), a carbazole alkaloid isolated from an edible plant (Murraya koenigii), potentially inhibits the growth of altered subtypes of breast cancer cells in vitro and significantly reduced the mammary tumor burden in N-Methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) induced rat. The experimental results showed that 20-25 µM of MH for 24 h of treatment was very potent to reduce the cell proliferation through apoptosis with arresting the cells in G0/G1 in both ER+/p53WT MCF-7 and triple negative/p53Mut MDA-MB-231 cells. On the other hand, 10-15 µM of MH exposure to those two cell lines, caused inhibition of mammosphere formation and reduction of CD44high/CD24low/epithelial-specific antigen-positive (ESA+) population, which ultimately led to loss of self-renewal ability of breast cancer stem cells. Further, in vivo observation indicated that intraperitoneal injection of MH for four weeks with a dose of 50 mg/kg body weight thrice in a week, significantly (P =  0.03) reduced the mammary tumor weight in MNU induced rat. In conclusion, this study provides the novel insight into the mechanism of MH mediated growth arrest in subtype irrespective breast cancer progression.

Phytochemical portfolio and anticancer activity of Murraya koenigii and its primary active component, mahanine.

Murraya koenigii, a plant belonging to the Rutaceae family is widely distributed in Eastern-Asia and its medicinal properties are well documented in Ayurveda, the traditional Indian system of medicine. Through systematic research and pharmacological evaluation of different parts of the plant extracts has been shown to possess antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antidiabetic, antidiarrhoeal, antileishmanial, and antitumor activity. In the plant extracts, carbazole alkaloid, mahanine has been identified as the principle bioactive component among several other chemical constituents. Scientific evidence derived not only from in vitro cellular experiments but also from in vivo studies in various cancer models is accumulating for the pronounced anticancer effects of mahanine. The primary objective of this review is to summarize research data on cytotoxic chemical constituents present in different parts of Murraya koenigii and the anticancer activity of mahanine along with the recent understanding on the mechanism of its action in diverse cancer models. The information on its bioavailability and the toxicity generated from the recent studies have also been incorporated in the review.

Hypolipidemic activity of crude polyphenols from the leaves of Clerodendron colebrookianum Walp in cholesterol fed rats.

This study evaluated the hypolipidemic effect of crude polyphenol fraction from Clerodenrdon colebrookianum (CPCC) leaves in cholesterol fed rats. Crude polyphenol fraction was obtained from the ethyl acetate extract of Clerodenrdon colebrookianum (CC). Investigation was conducted by administering graded oral doses (0.25 g, 0.5 g and 1 g/kg b. w. /day) of the CPCC for a period of 28 days. Significant (p < 0.01) rise in plasma total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), phospholipids (PL), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) and decrease in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were observed in cholesterol fed rats. Increased lipid profile has been depleted and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) has been increased after chronic feeding of CPCC. In addition, CPCC extract enhanced the excretion of fecal cholesterol (FC) but could not arrest the 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG CoA) reductase activities. Histopathological observations showed loss of normal liver architecture in cholesterol fed rats which were retained in CPCC treated groups. Moreover, the analysis of CC extract demonstrated the presence of substantial amount of total polyphenols, flavonoids and tannins content, further HPLC analysis led to the identification and quantification of two most important biologically active secondary metabolites i.e. (+) Catechin (432 ppm) and Quarcetin (105 ppm). The findings of this study suggested that CPCC had a strong hypolipidemic function and could be used as a supplement in healthcare foods and drugs.

Phenolic enriched fraction of Clerodendrum glandulosum Lindl. leaf extract ameliorates hyperglycemia and oxidative stress in streptozotocin-nicotinamide induced diabetic rats.

BACKGROUND: Clerodendrum glandulosum Lindl. is an important ethnomedicinal shrub of Northeast India, used by traditional healers to control various ailments like diabetes, hypertension, arthritis, etc. OBJECTIVES: The present study was conducted to explore the anti-hyperglycemic and antioxidative effects of the polyphenol-rich fraction (PRF) of C. glandulosum leaf extract and identification of its major bioactive compounds. Further, an in-silico molecular docking study was also performed to understand the molecular interactions of the identified major compounds with some target proteins associated with diabetic complications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: PRF was purified from the hydromethanolic (80% MeOH) extract of leaves and subjected to assessment of in-vitro antioxidant and anti-diabetic properties. It was also subjected to evaluate the ameliorative effect during streptozotocin-nicotinamide-induced hyperglycemia in Wistar albino rats. An in-silico molecular docking study was also performed to complement the in-vitro/in-vivo studies. RESULTS: Chemical analysis of PRF showed the presence of phenolics like caffeic acid, verbascoside, isoverbascoside, and apigenin, of which verbascoside (598.14 ± 1.24 mg/g) was found to be the principal compound. In-vitro studies showed potent antioxidant (IC50 of DPPH:32.45 ± 2.16 µg/mL; ABTS:39.08 ± 0.53 µg/mL) properties and excellent aldose reductase inhibition potential (IC50 2.18 ± 0.10 µg/mL). Treatment with PRF showed reduced blood glucose levels and increased plasma insulin levels. The results also indicate an improvement of endogenous antioxidants and suppression of inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-α) comparable to the standard. Molecular docking studies predicted promising interactions between the identified molecules and the crucial amino acid residues of the enzymes involved in the development of hyperglycemia. CONCLUSION: This study revealed the antihyperglycemic and antioxidant potential of partially purified fraction PRF of C. glandulosum leaves.

Banana fibre-chitosan-guar gum composite as an alternative wound healing material.

Bio-composites, which can be obtained from the renewable natural resources, are fascinating material for use as sustainable biomaterials with essential properties like biodegradable, bio-compatibility as well cyto-compatibility etc. These properties are useful for bio-medical including wound healing applications. In this study, fibre obtained banana pseudo stem of banana plant, which is otherwise wasted, was used as a material along with chitosan and guar gum to fabricate a banana fibre-biopolymer composite patch. The physiochemical properties of the patches were examined using Fourier Transformed Infra-red spectrophotometer (FT-IR), tensile tester, Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), contact angle tester, swelling and degradation studies. We further demonstrated that a herbal drug, Nirgundi could be loaded to the patch showed controlled its release at different pHs. The patch had good antibacterial property and supported proliferation of mouse fibroblast cells. The study thus indicates that banana fibre-chitosan-guar gum composite can be developed into an alternative wound healing material.

Acute toxicity study of onion peel-derived gold nano-bioconjugate.

The acute anti-inflammatory activity of onion peel-derived gold nano-bioconjugate was already established earlier. The current study was aimed to investigate the acute oral toxicity of onion peel-derived gold nano-bioconjugate (GNBC) for safe therapeutic utilization in vivo. The acute toxicity study was carried out in female mice for 15 days and showed no mortality and any abnormal complications. The lethal dose (LD50) was evaluated and found to be higher than 2000 mg/kg. After 15 days, animals were euthanized and hematological, and biochemical analyses were performed. In all hematological and biochemical assays, treated animals did not show significant toxicity when compared to the control group. The body weight, behavior, and histopathological studies showed that GNBC is nontoxic. Thereby, the results suggest that onion peel-derived gold nano-bioconjugate GNBC can be utilized for therapeutic applications in vivo.

Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction of Verbascoside from Clerodendrum glandulosum Leaves for Analysis of Antioxidant and Antidiabetic Activities.

Verbascoside (VER) is a phenylethanoid glycoside compound found in Clerodendrum species and is an important part of traditional medicine. It is found in the leaves of Clerodendrum glandulosum, which is taken as a soup or vegetable and also utilized in traditional medicine by the people of Northeast India, especially against hypertension and diabetes. In the present study, VER was extracted from C. glandulosum leaves using ultrasound-assisted extraction through the solvent extraction method (ethanol-water, ethanol, and water). The ethanol extract had the highest phenolic and flavonoid contents, viz., 110.55 mg GAE/g and 87.60 mg QE/g, respectively. HPLC and LC-MS were used to identify the active phenolic compound, and VER was found to be the main component present in the extraction with a molecular weight of 624.59 g/mol. NMR (1H, 2D-COSY) analysis showed the presence of hydroxytyrosol, caffeic acid, glucose, and rhamnose in the VER backbone. Further, different antioxidant activities and antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemia enzyme markers' inhibition against VER-enriched ethanol extract were evaluated. The results showed that ultrasound extraction of polyphenols using ethanol from C. glandulosum could be a promising technique for the extraction of bioactive compounds.

Insights into Anti-Inflammatory Activity and Internalization Pathway of Onion Peel-Derived Gold Nano Bioconjugates in RAW 264.7 Macrophages.

Green synthesis of nanoparticles plays an important role in their efficient therapeutic effects in various biomedical applications. Here, we prepared gold nano bioconjugates (GNBCs) from the ethyl acetate fraction of onion peels and investigated their anti-inflammatory activity in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. The GNBCs were characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, and transmission electron microscopy. Comparative studies have been conducted among GNBCs, fractionate alone [onion peel drug (OPD)], and the standard drug dexamethasone in various anti-inflammatory assays. It was observed that GNBCs showed comparatively good therapeutic efficacy than the fractionate alone. At the lowest 10 µg/mL concentration, the GNBC and OPD exhibited 70.86 and 91.98% of reactive oxygen species production, 10.88 and 20.97 ng/µL of nitrite production, 337 and 378 pg/mL of TNF-α production, 27.1 and 30.64 pg/mL of IL-6 production, respectively, by maintaining a satisfactory cell viability. Moreover, to understand the mechanistic pathway of GNBCs in their entry into the macrophages, their localization, and duration, uptake studies have been performed where a caveolar-mediated endocytosis pathway is found to be prominent. Hence, this study will lead to the development of cheap, green synthesis of nano bioconjugates and their role in inflammation.

Cardioprotective potential of the antioxidant-rich bioactive fraction of Garcinia pedunculata Roxb. ex Buch.-Ham. against isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction in Wistar rats.

This Study aimed to characterise the phenolic compounds in Garcinia pedunculata extract and assess their potential antioxidant activity as well as its cardioprotective potential in isoproterenol-induced cardiac hypertrophy in an experimental animal model. In vitro antioxidant properties were determined using DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, PMD assays. In vitro lipid peroxidation experiment was also performed with heart tissues. Cardioprotective and cardiotoxicity effects were determined using the cell line studies. The cardioprotective effect of GP was assessed in a rat model of isoproterenol-(ISO-) induced cardiac hypertrophy by subcutaneous administration. Heart weight/tail length ratio and cardiac hypertrophy indicators were reduced after oral administration of GP. Additionally, GP reduced oxidative stress and heart inflammation brought on by ISO. In H9c2 cells, the antihypertrophic and anti-inflammatory effects of the extract of GP were seen in the presence of ISO, which were further supported by the in vivo observations. This study makes a compelling case for the possibility that supplementing with dried GP fruit can prevent heart hypertrophy by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation.

Chemical composite of indigenous whole grain scented joha rice varietal prevents type 2 diabetes in rats through ameliorating insulin sensitization by the IRS-1/AKT/PI3K signalling cascade.

Preventive measures to lower the prevalence of type-2 diabetes development using dietary phytochemicals are most realistic. A phytochemical composite derived from whole grain scented joha rice (PCKJ), which is indigenous to the North-eastern Region, India, was investigated to understand its preventive efficacy in rats in which type 2 diabetes was induced using a high-fat high-fructose (HFHF) diet and a low dose of streptozotocin, and the findings were correlated with those in L6-myotubes. Studies on cultured L6 myotubes revealed that treatment with PCKJ facilitated glucose uptake and GLUT-4 translocation to the plasma membrane, as evidenced by confocal microscopy and/or cell fractionation studies. Furthermore, the FFA-induced L6 myotubes were identified as having elevated levels of PI3K, p-AKT (Ser473) and GLUT-4, which returned to the basal level upon exposure to PCKJ. The administration of PCKJ (100 mg per kg body weight, oral gavage, 24 weeks) to rats significantly reduced their blood glucose levels along with common lipid and liver biomarkers (LDL, triglycerides, cholesterol, ALT, and AST) compared to the control group. Moreover, immunoblotting analysis showed that upon PCKJ treatment, PI3K, p-AKT and GLUT-4 levels are upregulated in the skeletal tissue of HFHF-fed rats, similar to the in vitro model. The alteration in the levels of inflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-10 and IFN-γ in diabetic rats returned to normal levels upon exposure to PCKJ. Histological analysis of vital tissues further strengthens the findings of the preventive value of PCKJ against the development of insulin resistance. In conclusion, this study showed the prophylactic effect of PCKJ as a potent chemical composite, which can be used to develop functional foods (nutraceuticals) for ameliorating type-2 diabetes by improving insulin sensitization and thereby glucose metabolism.

Dietary phytochemicals/nutrients as promising protector of breast cancer development: a comprehensive analysis.

Genetic change, particularly epigenetic alteration, is one of the imperative factors for sporadic breast cancer development in the worldwide population of women. The DNA methylation process is essential and natural for human cellular renewal and tissue homeostasis, but its dysregulation contributes to many pathological changes, including breast tumorigenesis. Chemopreventive agents mainly protect the abnormal DNA methylation either by hindering the division of pre-malignant cells or looming the DNA damage, which leads to malignancy. The present review article is about understanding the potential role of dietary phytochemicals in breast cancer prevention. Accordingly, a literature search of the published article until August 2021 has been performed. Further, we have investigated the binding affinity of different phytochemicals isolated from diverse dietary sources against the various oncogenic proteins related to breast cancer initiation to understand the common target(s) in breast cancer prevention mechanisms. Various small phytochemicals, especially dietary phytochemicals including sulforaphane, mahanine, resveratrol, linolenic acid, diallyl sulfide, benzyl/phenethyl isothiocyanate, etc. are being investigated as the chemopreventive agent to manage breast cancer development, and some of them have shown promising outcomes in the cited research. In this present review, we discuss the recent advancement in acceptance of such types of potential dietary phytochemicals as a chemopreventive agent against breast cancer development and their inner lining mechanism. The critical clinical trials and cohort studies have also been considered to understand the progress in contemporary perspectives.

Pharmacologically active chemical composite of Musa balbisiana ameliorates oxidative stress, mitochondrial cellular respiration, and thereby metabolic dysfunction.

The ripe fruit pulp of different Musa species is known for its excellent source of nutrient contents. Musa balbisiana (MB) is one such variety of Musa species, mainly found in the southern part of Asia, especially in the North-eastern part of India, remains unexplored despite its continuous use by the local traditional healers. The present study focuses on identifying and quantifying the active chemicals present in the ripe fruit pulp of Musa balbisiana (RFPMB) to understand its combined efficacy and nutritional benefit to control human metabolic complications specially related to diabetes and cardiovascular disorder. Characterization and confirmation through targeted LC-MS and HPLC-PDA based assays followed by quantitative analysis led us to identify the major bioactive compounds in RFPMB as shikimic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, vanillic acid, ferulic acid, sinapic acid, caffeic acid, syringic acid, chlorogenic acid, trans-cinnamic acid, and two essential fatty acids; linolenic acid and linoleic acid. The ripe fruit pulp is further analyzed to understand the nutritional and mineral content and found a substantial presence of calcium and potassium (15.74 ± 0.43 and 395.20 ± 9.5 mg/100 g of raw pulp, respectively) compared to other reported varieties. The active portion of RFPMB reduces the production of ROS, the expression of inflammatory marker genes TNF-α and TGF-ß, and accelerates the mitochondrial oxygen consumption rate (OCR) by enhancing the basal respiration, maximal respiration, and ATP production capacity of the targeted cells. The present study concluded that, a particular phytopharmaceutical composition of RFPMB with 11-biomarker compounds might be an efficacious formulation for developing a value-added nutraceutical product in managing metabolic complications and its related oxidative stress. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: This study has provided the prior information regarding the potential nutraceutical and phytochemical advantages of Musa balbisiana (MB) fruit pulp over other reported banana varieties. The HPLC-based quantification will give a clear understanding of the food values in comparison of bioactive compounds present in the active fraction of RFPMB, which can be an effective phytopharmaceutical in combating metabolic disorders and oxidative stress. Overall this study will help to commercialize a value-added product from this variety of banana with proper scientific validation.

Dietary Polyphenols and Their Role in Oxidative Stress-Induced Human Diseases: Insights Into Protective Effects, Antioxidant Potentials and Mechanism(s) of Action.

Dietary polyphenols including phenolic acids, flavonoids, catechins, tannins, lignans, stilbenes, and anthocyanidins are widely found in grains, cereals, pulses, vegetables, spices, fruits, chocolates, and beverages like fruit juices, tea, coffee and wine. In recent years, dietary polyphenols have gained significant interest among researchers due to their potential chemopreventive/protective functions in the maintenance of human health and diseases. It is believed that dietary polyphenols/flavonoids exert powerful antioxidant action for protection against reactive oxygen species (ROS)/cellular oxidative stress (OS) towards the prevention of OS-related pathological conditions or diseases. Pre-clinical and clinical evidence strongly suggest that long term consumption of diets rich in polyphenols offer protection against the development of various chronic diseases such as neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), cancer, diabetes, inflammatory disorders and infectious illness. Increased intake of foods containing polyphenols (for example, quercetin, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, resveratrol, cyanidin etc.) has been claimed to reduce the extent of a majority of chronic oxidative cellular damage, DNA damage, tissue inflammations, viral/bacterial infections, and neurodegenerative diseases. It has been suggested that the antioxidant activity of dietary polyphenols plays a pivotal role in the prevention of OS-induced human diseases. In this narrative review, the biological/pharmacological significance of dietary polyphenols in the prevention of and/or protection against OS-induced major human diseases such as cancers, neurodegenerative diseases, CVDs, diabetes mellitus, cancer, inflammatory disorders and infectious diseases have been delineated. This review specifically focuses a current understanding on the dietary sources of polyphenols and their protective effects including mechanisms of action against various major human diseases.

A Comprehensive Review of Garcinia pedunculata Roxb. and its Therapeutic Potential.

Garcinia pedunculata Roxb.(GP) belongs to the family of Clusiaceae and is an evergreen tree that grows in semi-wild conditions and is widely distributed throughout the Northeastern part of India. Traditionally, this plant is believed to be of immense medicinal importance and is used for the treatment of various ailments. In Assam, the acidic fruit of GP is effectively used in folklore medicine to treat gastrointestinal disorders and is an integral part of ethnic Assamese cuisine. The ripe fruit, seldom consumed fresh or raw, is cut into thin slices, sun-dried for preservation as it is believed that the medicinal property of the fruit increases as it ages. With much traditional claims and beliefs regarding the medicinal properties of this plant, many therapeutic potentials of GP have been explored through research till now, including its antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, anthelmintic, hypolipidemic, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, and nephroprotective properties. Moreover, the presence of polyphenols, flavonoids along with bioactive components like hydroxycitric acid, garcinol, and cambogin have also been reported from this plant, thereby increasing its research avenues. Even with the available knowledge, there is a huge lacking in the understanding of its underlying molecular mechanism responsible for the therapeutic properties, pharmacological mode of action, and its effect in different pathological conditions, along with detailed information about its chemical composition. This review mainly aims to summarise the potentially beneficial properties of GP that have already been reported, along with identifying the new avenues that still need to be addressed, thereby increasing the future prospect for in-depth research on this plant, along with its distribution and conservation status.

Green Synthesis of Gold Nano-bioconjugates from Onion Peel Extract and Evaluation of Their Antioxidant, Anti-inflammatory, and Cytotoxic Studies.

Plant secondary metabolites such as flavonoids demonstrate high degrees of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities. Among flavonoids, quercetin plays an important role in inflammation by downregulating the level of various cytokines. Thereby, in this work, onion (Allium cepa) peel was successfully utilized for the synthesis of gold nano-bioconjugates acting as a natural therapeutic drug. In this process, crude onion peel extract was first divided into different fractionates, namely, ethyl acetate, butanol, methanol, and water, and they were subjected to various preliminary studies of antioxidant activities. The ethyl acetate fractionate shows high antioxidant activities in all the assays. The bioactive components were identified and found to contain a high amount of quercetin as confirmed by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry and high-performance liquid chromatogrpahy. Three gold nano-bioconjugates were prepared with different concentrations of the ethyl acetate fractionate. Various biochemical anti-inflammatory assays were carried out and compared with the active ethyl acetate fraction of the onion peel drug (OPD). The cytotoxicity of the nano-bioconjugate system and the OPD was checked in the myoblast L6 cell line from skeletal muscle tissues to evaluate the toxicity. All the three nano-bioconjugates A, B, and E demonstrated high percentages of cell viability, viz., 73.07, 72.3, and 69.15%, respectively, at their highest concentration of 200 µg/mL. The OPD also showed 88.56% cell viability with no toxic effects in the myoblast L6 cell line from skeletal muscle tissues. The reactive oxygen species reduction of nano-bioconjugate B showed a marked reduction of 76.77% at a maximum concentration of 200 µg/mL, whereas the OPD showed 68.17%. Hence, through this work, a cheap source of nano-bioconjugates is developed, which can act as a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent and are more active in comparison to the OPD alone.

Carbon dot based nucleus targeted fluorescence imaging and detection of nuclear hydrogen peroxide in living cells.

Investigation of the intracellular generation of H2O2, one of the most important reactive oxygen species (ROS), is crucial for preventing various diseases since it is closely linked with different physiological and complex cell signaling pathways. Despite the development of various fluorescent probes, the majority of the fluorescent probes cannot move across the nuclear membrane. However, detection of the nuclear level of H2O2 is very important since it can directly cause oxidative DNA damage which ultimately leads to various diseases. Therefore, in this study, p-phenylenediamine based carbon quantum dots (B-PPD CDs) have been synthesized and integrated with 4-formylbenzeneboronic acid as a doping agent for the detection of H2O2. The detection mechanism showed that, upon exposure to H2O2, the fluorescence of the B-PPD CDs was immediately quenched. Further investigation has been done in the in vitro RAW 264.7 cell line by both exogenous and endogenous exposure of H2O2 to demonstrate the feasibility of the method. It is shown successfully that the exogenous presence and endogenous generation of H2O2 in RAW 264.7 cells can be detected using B-PPD CDs. The limit of detection (LOD) was determined to be 0.242 µM. The development of such imaging probes using carbon quantum dots will lead to live-cell imaging as well as ROS detection.

A pharmacological perspective of banana: implications relating to therapeutic benefits and molecular docking.

Banana is one of the most nutritious fruits, as it is rich in carbohydrates, proteins, fatty acids, and minerals. Banana has been used in traditional medicines for managing coughs and colds, ulcers, burns, and diarrhea. Banana contains various bioactive compounds, such as alkaloids, phenols, flavonoids, tannins, and saponins, with reported therapeutic benefits, including antioxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and anti-microbial activities. The present review focuses on a comprehensive overview of the nutritional and biological properties and phytochemicals of different species of banana and its different parts. Although detailed characterization of the compounds that are present in many parts of the plant has been carried out, chemical profiling of the seed, pseudostem, and leaves of banana is lacking and requires further exploration. Moreover, the functions of the reported compounds were elucidated using computational tools, supporting their potential role in managing life-threatening diseases and physiological complications.