Value Added Kohila (Lasia spinosa) Based Food Products and Its Therapeutic And Nutritional Properties: A Review

The goal of the current study was to gather the traditional, phytochemical, and nutritional advantages of the essential medicinal plant kohila (Lasia spinosa), an indigenous vegetable with great potential in Sri Lanka but little commercial acceptance because of its high fiber content. The plant has alkaloids, and its leaves in particular include tannins and phenolic chemicals. Fresh shoots, leaves, corms, and rhizomes are often grown and used as eatable food since they are regarded as financial assets as well. People use leaf extract as the least expensive source of multivitamins to increase their nutritional value. The kohila plant offers a wide range of therapeutic benefits, including anti-helminthic, anti-bacterial, antiinflammatory, anti-hyperlipidemic, anti-oxidant, antidiabetic, and anti-tumor activity. This study covers the prospective application of kohila in the nutritional concern due to its various therapeutic and nutritional properties

Alternative Medicine from Edible Bitter Plants of Besut, Malaysia

In Besut, there were elders who believed the bitter tasted vegetables may provide medicinal benefits. However, discontinuity of their knowledge to young generations leads to its deterioration. Since there still no documentation done on the consumption of edible bitter plants of Besut, this research conducted to reveal their knowledge of consuming edible, bitter and native plants for medicinal purposes. From the field visit and conversation, a list of accessions was made, continued by analysis for frequencies it has been used and dendrogram of linkage between purposes of the studied plants as alternative medicine by using IBM SPSS Statistics 20 software and bar chart plotted by using Microsoft Excel. There were 15 native families comprised of 17 plants species consumed for treating 31 types of diseases. The highest percentage of diseases treated represented by digestion problems, 64.7 %. The species of Syzygium polyanthum (serai kayu) and Nypa fruticans (nipah) found as highest uses among all the studied plants. The value of Pearson correlation, r =0.633, showed positive correlation between the purposes of treating diabetes and digestion problems at the significant level, p =0.01. Based on the dendrogram, there was nearest linkage at the distance of 3/25 in a cluster of 3; Crateva religiosa (dala), Oroxylum indicum (beka) and Tylopilus felleus (kulat gelam) which were used for treating hypertension, diabetes and poor food appetite. Bitter taste from the plants was stimulating positive perception of people to eat them as alternative medicine. Beside the leafy vegetables, mushroom also had been consumed as healing food

Antioxidant properties and cytotoxic effects of Alternanthera sissoo and Alternanthera bettzickiana extracts against cancer cells

This work aimed to evaluate the antioxidant capacities and cytotoxic attributes of Alternanthera sissoo (AS) and Alternanthera bettzickiana Green (AB) which are commonly grown in Thailand, yet not extensively-studied. Dried leaves were extracted by maceration using ethanol for 48 h and ethanolic extract solution was used. Cytotoxic, anti-proliferative, anti-migratory capacities and apoptosis-related gene expressions of AS and AB extracts on MCF-7, HepG2, and HeLa cell lines were investigated using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2, 5-diphenyltetra zolium bromide (MTT) assay, anti-colony formation and wound healing test, respectively. The antioxidant activities by DPPH assay and FRAP assay of AS (130.62±1.61 µg TE/g extract and 24.76 ± 0.54 mg Fe(II)/g extract, respectively) were significantly higher than those of AB (104.34±3.68 µg TE/g extract and 23.13± 0.90 mg Fe(II)/g extract, respectively). Likewise, total phenolic content and the total flavonoid content of AS (7.43±0.39 mg GAE/g and 184.22±3.20 mg RE/g extract, respectively) were significantly higher than AB (6.10±0.29 mg GAE/g extract and 168.07±7.90 mg RE/g extract, respectively). HPLC analysis showed the predominance of myricetin, rutin and ferulic acid. For MCF-7, HepG2 and HeLa, the lowest IC50 values of 48.53 µg/mL, 69.94 µg/mL and 43.98 µg/mL, respectively were found in AS extract at 72 h exposure using MTT assay. Apoptotic bodies, gene expression and protein expressions related to apoptosis were more pronounced in AS treatment. Both AS and AB can be served as local foods with chemopreventive effects against breast, liver and cervical cancers. This work provided a foundation for future pharmacological research on Alternanthera plant extracts

INFLUENCE OF PROCESSING ON PHYSIOCHEMICAL, NUTRITIONAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF CARISSA SPINARUM (KARONDA) FRUIT

Objective: In this study, the effects of three different processing methods, sun drying, freezing, microwave drying, and fresh fruits of Carissa spinarumin terms of physical, nutritional and phytochemical composition have been studied.Methods: These local variety of fruits were selected from Himachal (India). These fruits were obtained fresh, cleaned, and washed prior to selectedtechniques.Results: As we see from, the results in Tables showed that drying techniques improved the protein, carbohydrates, ash content, dietary fiber (neutraldetergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, cellulose, hemicelluloses, and lignin), total phenol, antioxidant activities, and mineral content. Drying destroyedtotal flavonoids, tannin, alkaloid, and anthocyanin content.Conclusions: The findings of the research is clearly indicated that some processing methods are proved good for more nutrient retension as comparedto others. This study aim to make consumers aware about the effects of processing methods on nutritional value of fruits and study will help people togenerate awareness for the intake of these underutilized fruits in their daily diet increase nutritional status in a better way.Keywords: Sun drying, Freezing, Microwave drying, Carissa spinarum

Nutritional Value of Amaranth

Pseudocereals, belonging to the genus Amaranthus, have been cultivated for their grains for 8,000 years or more. The grain was a staple food of the Aztecs and was also considered an integral part of Aztec religious ceremonies. The book primarily focuses on the nutrient properties of amaranth and expresses its viewpoint in considering this crop as a remedy for many nutrient deficiencies and curbing food insecurity. The functional properties of the grain are immense and it is clear that the crop would be a valuable agricultural product around the world

Heavy Metals Concentrations in Leafy Vegetables in Jenin and Bethlehem Districts

Leafy vegetables are an edible plant leaves. This kind of vegetables are rich in vitamins and nutrients. However, leafy vegetables should not contain heavy metals over a range of concentrations which could pose potential health risk to the consumers. Contamination with heavy metals is considered to be an environmental issue as these metals are toxic even at low concentrations. This study was conducted to determine heavy metals concentration in leafy vegetables in two regions in the West Bank which are Bethlehem and Jenin districts. Thus, vegetable samples, particularly spinach, arugula, and parsley, had been collected from different farms from both regions, and analysed for different heavy metals (Fe, Pb, Cr, Co, Cu, Mn, Cd, and Zn) by using ICP-MS. For some samples, the results were found to be exceeding WHO/FAO permissible limit for human consumption, while other samples were found to be within the safe allowable limit. Fe was found to be the highest in concentration while Mn and Co were the lowest. Pb and Zn concentrations varied between high and low, then comes Cr, Cu, and Cd. Soil samples in addition to irrigation water samples had been also analysed for their content of heavy metals in order to correlate the environmental factors to heavy metal contamination. However, all concentrations were below the limit set by WHO/FAO. Thus it was concluded that the contamination found in leafy vegetables samples was not related to either irrigation water or soil. Furthermore, some pesticides samples were analysed as well, where in fact the contamination with heavy metals was found. Thus, it was concluded that contamination of leafy vegetables with heavy metals was directly related to usage of pesticides. As a result, the elevated levels of metals in vegetables in the two regions was attributed to utilization of pesticide

Cultivation, nutritional and pharmacological evaluation of Celosia argentea (L) Kuntze: an endangered wild vegetable in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa

Green leafy vegetables are important in human nutrition, but their cultivation is limited to a few staple ones. These vegetables possess high nutritious and therapeutic properties that could help in achieving nutritional security and alleviating the burden of some diseases. A typical example is Celosia argentea, which in South Africa, is little known and grossly under-utilized despite its numerous nutritional and pharmacological values. The present study investigated the cultivation, nutritional and pharmacological potentials of C. argentea at three stages of maturity of two trials. Evaluation of cultivation in the greenhouse towards possible domestication of C. argentea included seed viability test, seed germination under varying temperatures (5, 10, 15, 20 25 30, 35, 40°C), light conditions (continuous light, continuous darkness, alternating light and dark (12h light/12 dark photoperiod) and sowing depths (0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5cm). The nutritional evaluation assessed the proximal, mineral, vitamins and antinutrient content of the plant; while pharmacological potentials of C. argentea were evaluated by investigating the ultramorphology, phytochemical content, anti-oxidant, antimicrobial, toxicity and cell-based anti-inflammatory properties of the plant at different stages of growth. Germination experiment revealed that optimum seed germination requirements for C. argentea were 25°C, alternating light and dark regime and a sowing depth of 1cm. Microrphological assessment of C. argentea revealed that the leaves were amphistomatic; with the abaxial surface having higher stomata density. Characteristic, distinguishing protuberances were observed at the polar ends of the stomata on the adaxial surface of the plant epidermis, and the major elements on the foliar epidermis were beryllium, carbon, oxygen and potassium; while pigmentation and colouration, showing localization of bioactive compounds were mostly at the site where trichomes were abundant. Growth parameters and yield potential (plant height, stem girth, leaf area, number of leaves, number of branches, number of days to flowering, number of flowers as well as dry and fresh weight) of C. argentea showed that for agricultural practices on the field, increase in growth parameters should be expected around 4-5 weeks after transplanting while higher yield should be expected around 7-9 weeks after transplanting. The results encouraged cultivation during summer or late spring for best farm management. Proximal, mineral, vitamins and anti-nutrients content of C. argentea at three different maturity stages of two trials were performed using AOAC, ALASA and inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometer techniques. Results revealed that the pre-flowering stage of growth had the highest ash (28.15± 0.10 percent) and crude protein (25.80 ± 0.20 percent) contents. While post-flowering stage had the highest carbohydrate (28.51± 0.20 percent and 36.16± 0.22 percent), crude fibre (33.41± 0.87 percent) and energy (435.28± 27.6 percent) with low fat and moisture (8.43± 0.15 percent and 6.35±0.09 percent) contents respectively; while no marked demarcation in most mineral contents in all the growth stages was observed. Zinc was highest at the flowering stage of growth, while vitamin contents decreased as the plant approached maturation. Antinutrients content of the plant was not dependent on growth stage. Total phenols, flavonoids and proanthocyanidin content of C. argentea were evaluated colourimetrically, while the antioxidant potency of the aqueous, acetone and methanolic extracts was measured using 2,2 diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) models. All the solvent extracts of the flowering stage had the highest total phenolic (80.75±4.21GAE/g), flavonoids (946.19±7.87QE/mg) and proanthocyanidin contents (100.90±1.29 CE/g); with the acetone extracts showing significantly higher phytochemical content. The flowering stage exhibited the best radical inhibitory activity, with the methanol extract having the highest scavenging power for ABTS and DPPH radicals, while acetone extract showed the highest inhibition against FRAP and highest total antioxidant capacity. The antimicrobial potential of the aqueous acetone and methanolic extracts of C. argentea evaluated using agar dilution method against six bacteria (Klebsiella pneumonia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus cereus) and four fungal strains (Candida glabarata, Candida albicans and Penicillium aurantiogriseum and Penicillium chrysogenum) showed that Streptococcus pyrogenes and P. aeruginosa were susceptible to the methanol extracts of all the growing phases of both trials at 10 mg/mL; while Klebsiella pneumoniae was susceptible at 10 mg/mL to only the methanol post-flowering extracts of both trials. C. albicans and P. aurantiogriseum were highly susceptible to all the extracts. Possible toxicity evaluated using brine shrimp lethality assay and calculation of LC50 against brine shrimp nauplii revealed that C. argentea was not toxic at any stage of maturity at all concentrations evaluated. Anti-inflammatory activities and cytotoxicity of C. argentea extracts evaluated using RAW 264.7 macrophages and 3T3-L1 cell lines revealed that the acetone extract of the flowering stage had moderate anti-inflammatory activity with no significant toxicity against activated macrophages. Findings from this study indicate that C. argentea is a safe functional leafy vegetable of high nutritional and pharmacological importance which can easily be cultivated and domesticated in South Africa. This could significantly alleviate the burden of micronutrient deficiencies among pre-school children in rural communities.Thesis (PhD) (Botany) -- University of Fort Hare, 201

Antioxidant Activity of Polyphenolic Plant Extracts

“Antioxidant Activity of Polyphenolic Plant Extracts” is a collection of scientific articles regarding polyphenols, that is, substances occurring naturally in plants and exhibiting many beneficial effects on human health. Among polyphenols’ interesting biological properties, their antioxidant activity is considered the most important. This book brings together experts from different research fields on topics related to polyphenols, such as their isolation and purification, assessment of their antioxidant activity, prevention from oxidative stress-induced diseases and use as food additives. The polyphenols used in the present studies are derived from a great variety of plants, ranging from well-known species to rare ones that are only found in specific regions. Moreover, some of the studies provide evidence that polyphenols may be used for the prevention and treatment of common diseases such as diabetes mellitus, Alzheimers’ disease, cardiovascular and intestinal diseases. Importantly, in several of the studies “green extraction methods” for the isolation of polyphenols were developed using modern technologies, where few or no organic solvents were used, in order to minimize environmental and health impacts

Health Effects of Neonicotinoids on an Agricultural Community

Mead, Nebraska, a small United States agricultural community consisting of approximately 600 people, was accidentally exposed to high amounts of neonicotinoids when AltEn, an ethanol plant that used neonicotinoid coated corn and soybean seeds for biofuel, was discovered not disposing of the toxic byproduct safely. Coincidentally, there was also a leak in their wastewater system that also contaminated the nearby areas. Although neonicotinoids are not considered highly dangerous with low dose exposures, large dose exposures can cause symptoms similarly to nicotine poisonings, such as difficulty breathing, vomiting, nausea, hypertension, tachycardia, and lethargy (Imamura, T. et al., 2010). Neonicotinoid poisoning can be fatal as it impacts multiple organ systems, and there is no standard practice of care to treat such poisonings as symptoms amongst cases are variable (Lin, P. et al., 2013). Current research suggests that neonicotinoids are linked to several toxicities such neurotoxicity, reproductive toxicity, renal toxicity, genotoxicity, and cardiotoxicity. The main goal of this review was to compile current research from the last 10-15 years on each of the neonicotinoids and display the human health effects that each of the compounds may cause. The minor goal was to analyze data collected from an environmental health risk perception survey given to the Mead community to see any association between what people reported experiencing from the AltEn event and different neonicotinoid health effects that can occur from acute and chronic exposure