Phytochemical Composition and Antioxidant Potential of Brassica

The edible parts of Brassica plants are a rich source of phytochemical compounds which possess strong antioxidant potential. These plants contain a variety of phytochemical compound including phenolics, polyphenols, phenolic acids, flavonoids, carotenoids (zeaxanthin, lutein, β-carotene), alkaloids, phytosterols chlorophyll, glucosinolates, terpenoids, and glycosides. These plants possess strong antioxidant potential in terms of metal reducing, metal chelating, lipid reducing and free radical scavenging activities. These also have a positive effect on the activity of antioxidant enzymes such as glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and ascorbate peroxidase. Among various species of genus Brassica studied for their phytochemical composition and antioxidant activity, Brassica oleracea leaves, florets and seeds have better phytochemical and antioxidant profile. Brassica juncea, Brassica napus, Brassica rapa and Brassica nigra are also the phytochemical and antioxidant rich species of genus Brassica. The phytochemical profile and antioxidant potential of Brassica plants make them the preferable candidates for nutritional and pharmaceutical applications

Influence of high-dose gamma radiation and particle size on antioxidant properties of Maize ( Zea mays L.) flour

Influence of high-dose gamma radiation and particle size on antioxidant properties of maize (Zea mays L.) flour was studied using response surface methodology. A central composite design based on three levels of each of particle size, in terms of mesh number (40, 60 and 80 meshes), and gamma radiation dose (25, 50 and 75 kGy) was constructed. A statistically significant dose-dependent decrease (

Effect of sorbic acid and some other food preservatives on human serum cholinesterase activity

The effect of some selected food preservatives on serum cholinesterase was determined. It was found that potassium metabisulphite, methyl parabene and propyl parabene caused a significant increase while sacharine, benzoic acid, salicylic acid, copper carbonate and sorbic acid caused a significant decrease in cholinesterase activity. The behavior of serum cholinesterase activity in response to a gradual change in the incubation time as well as the sorbic acid concentration was also studied. The graphical and statistical analysis of the data showed an exponential decrease in cholinesterase activity with an increase in the concentration of sorbic acid. The cholinesterase activity was also found to be decreased exponentially with an increase in the incubation time. The regression analysis showed a good agreement between the experimental and calculated values.Keywords: Sorbic acid, enzyme activity, cholinesterase, inhibition sensitivit

Action threshold development in cabbage pest management using synthetic and botanical insecticides

As synthetic insecticides can have environmentally detrimental side effects, it is desirable to limit their use while still achieving good marketable yield. One approach is to apply pesticides only when needed, as determined by an action threshold (AT), defined as the number of pests per crop plant or damage intensity at which application is recommended. Another approach is to adopt alternative pesticides, such as botanical biopesticides, which can also be applied according to ATs. Here, ATs are developed in cabbage pest management using both approaches against the moths Plutella xylostella (L.), Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) and Spodoptera litura (F.) and the aphid Brevicoryne brassicae (L.). Action thresholds were derived using fixed spraying regimes for the synthetic insecticides (imidacloprid and Voliam Flexi) and for azadirachtin, a neem-derived botanical. For synthetics, derived ATs are 40 individuals per plant for B. brassicae, 0.3 larvae for P. xylostella and 0.2 medium-sized larvae for H. armigera and for S. litura. For H. armigera and S. litura, negative relationships between marketable yield and pest were found when larvae were medium or large sized, but not when larvae were small. Compared to synthetics, benefits of using neem formulations include higher action thresholds against P. xylostella (0.6/plant) and H. armigera (0.4/plant) and an oviposition deterrent effect against S. litura. Overall, botanical insecticides were effective alternatives to synthetic pesticides. Although regional limits may apply to the accuracy of any ATs derived, the approach used towards their establishment is simple and transferable to other agricultural regions and crops

EVALUATION OF BIOCHEMICAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF SOME GROUNDNUT VARIETIES GROWN IN ARID ZONE OF PAKISTAN

Abstract The biochemical composition and some phytochemicals in the seeds of 4 groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) varieties viz., Golden, Barri 2000, Mongphalla and Mongphalli 334 cultivated in arid zones of Pakistan, were determined. The biochemical analysis included ash, crude fat, total nitrogen, proteins and sugar contents. A statistically significant difference (p<0.05) was observed among the varieties regarding the ash, crude fat, water soluble proteins, salt soluble proteins and sugar contents. The four groundnut varieties were also found to be significantly different (p<0.05) on the basis of phytochemicals analysed including tannins (822±3.78 to 903±4.45 mg/100g), saponins (438±2.12 to 480±2.30 mg/100g), non-protein nitrogen (1.33±0.03 to 1.56±0.02 mg/100g), hydrogen cyanide (40.80±0.32 to 42.82±0.75 mg/100g), total phenolic acids (218±2.11 to 256±2.02 mg/100g), total phosphorus (700±3.62 to 889±3.84 mg/100g) and phytic acid (572±4.37 to 714±3.74 mg/100g). The results obtained from the present studies could be a source of valuable information and a guideline for the food scientists, researchers and even the nut consumers not only in Pakistan but all over the world

Quick Decline Disease Disturbs the Levels of Important Phytochemicals and Minerals in the Stem Bark of Mango ( Mangifera indica

Quick decline is one of the deadly diseases of mango (Mangifera indica) which causes a serious damage to the tree and its production. In the current study, we examined the levels of important phytochemicals and minerals in the stem bark of healthy and infected mango tree. Infected stem bark showed 12.5% lower levels of total sugars and 51.1% higher levels of proteins as compared to healthy parts, whereas no variation was observed in reducing sugar, free amino acid, and ascorbic acid. Among micronutrients, the levels of Zn, Na, Cr, and Cl were lowered by 25%, 54.3%, 25%, and 75.4%, respectively, whereas the level of Ni was 62.5% higher in the infected stem bark when compared with the healthy stem bark. However, other micronutrients did not show significant differences between healthy and infected parts. Among macronutrients, the quantity of N, P, and Mg showed an increase of 51.2%, 34.7%, and 27.6%, respectively, whereas the quantity of Ca and K was decreased by 25.2% and 7.66% in the infected stem barks as compared to healthy ones. The results of this study provide some basic but important information that may ultimately be helpful in managing the quick decline disease in the mango trees

Effect of solvent polarity on extraction yield and antioxidant properties of phytochemicals from bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) seeds

The effect of solvent polarity on extraction yield and antioxidant properties of phytochemical compounds in bean seeds was studied. Seed flour of three varieties of bean was extracted in a series of organic solvents with increasing polarity (n-hexane, petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, ethanol, acetone and water). Preliminary screening of phytochemicals showed the presence of tannins, flavonoids, cardiac glycosides, anthocyanins, terpenoids, carotenoids, ascorbic acid and reducing compounds in all extracts. One way analysis of variance (ANOVA) of results showed that extraction yield, phytochemical content and antioxidant properties were significantly influenced (p<0.05) by the polarity of extracting solvents. The regression analysis of data showed polarity-dependent second order polynomial variations in the extraction yield, phytochemical contents, antioxidant activity, reducing properties and free radical scavenging activity of each variety. Extraction in highly polar solvents resulted in high extract yield but low phenolic and flavonoid content as compared to non-polar ones. The polarity-dependent increase in total antioxidant activity and reducing properties indicates the extraction of strong antioxidant compounds in polar solvents. The study suggests the use of a combination of polar and nonpolar solvents to increase the extraction efficiency of phytochemicals with good antioxidant quality from the bean and other legume seeds