Bio Characterization via FTIR and GCMS Analysis of Cucurbita variety (Yellow and White Pumpkin)

The current study aimed to conduct phytochemical screening, FTIR, and GCMS analysis in squash (Cucurbita pepo L.,) also known as a yellow and white selected pumpkin. It’s one of the dicotyledonous vegetables consumed in daily diets that imparts high inhibitor properties of inflammation, cancer, and diabetes. Traditionally it is used as an anti-helminthic remedy. The phytochemical characterization can facilitate seeking out the substance with a therapeutic property. The peel, flesh, and seed sample of each pumpkin variety were used as sources and extracted consecutively with ethyl acetate and acetonitrile using the maceration method. Phytochemical screening and quantification were carried out by standard analytical methods. The functional groups of the sample extracts were analyzed using FT-IR methods. Further, phytochemical profiling was carried out utilizing the GCMS technique to identify the therapeutically important chemicals contained in the sample. Phytochemical analysis of ethyl acetate and acetonitrile extracts showed the presence of major components like alkaloids, phenol, carbohydrate, and proteins. The farthest alkaloid, phenol, carbohydrate, and protein varied consequently for different parts like peel, flesh, and seed. The FT-IR analysis of each extract in the peel, flesh, and seed revealed that the ethyl acetate extract had the most functional groups. The major peak was characterized at wavelength 3004.24 to 3421.05 nm which indicates O-H functional group. Further quantification and GC-MS analysis were performed in ethyl acetate extract. Remarkably, GC-MS analysis of yellow and white pumpkin ethyl acetate extracts showed the utmost 6 - 8 compounds within the flesh part. Further, employing these compounds for anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial assays may aid in the discovery of new drugs for therapeutic applications

Leishmanicidal activity of saponins isolated from the leaves of Eclipta prostrata and Gymnema sylvestre

Objective: To evaluate the leishmanicidal activity of saponin, dasyscyphin C of Eclipta prostrata and sapogenin, gymnemagenol from Gymnema sylvestre leaves under in vitro conditions. Materials and Methods: Dasyscyphin C/Gymnemagenol were dissolved in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) and diluted with liquid medium to obtain concentrations ranging from 1000 to 15 µg /ml. The leishmanicidal activity against leishmanial parasites, Leishmania major, Leishmania aethiopica and Leishmania tropica promastigotes was studied by the MTS assay. Result: The Dasyscyphin C isolated from E. prostrata showed good leishmanicidal activity at 1000µg/ml concentration, with the IC 50 value of 450µg/ml against L. major promastigote and the percentage of parasitic death was 73; whereas, gymnemagenol of G. sylvestre showed only 52% parasitic death at 1000 µg/ml concentration. The other Leishmania species, L. aethiopica and L. tropica promastigotes, were less sensitive to the saponins of E. prostrata and G. sylvestre. Conclusion: From this study, it can be concluded that the dasyscyphin C of E. prostrata has significant leishmanicidal activity against L. major promastigote

Evaluation of Polyphenolic Compounds and Pharmacological Activities in Hairy Root Cultures of <i>Ligularia fischeri</i> Turcz. f. <i>spiciformis</i> (Nakai)

A considerable amount of bioactive compounds have been used for the biopharmaceutical engineering to help human health and nutrition. Hairy root culture (HRC) or transgenic root is a favourable alternative technique for phytochemical production. Ligularia fischeri is a significant source of pharmaceutically important active compounds with an enormous range of health care applications. HRC of L. fischeri was developed using Agrobacterium rhizogenes for the production of polyphenolic compounds with antioxidant, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, anticancer and anti-inflammatory pharmaceutical activities. Hairy roots (HRs) were selected by morphological assessment, genetic and molecular analyses. The maximum accumulation of fresh mass (94.15 g/L) and dry mass (9.45 g/L) was recorded in MS liquid medium supplemented with 30 g/L sucrose at 28 days. Furthermore, HRs successfully produced numerous polyphenolic compounds, including six hydroxycinnamic acids, seven flavonols, seven hydroxybenzoic acids, vanillin, resveratrol, pyrogallol, homogentisic, and veratric acids, which were identified by UHPLC analysis. HRs produced higher total phenolic (185.65 mg/g), and flavonoid (5.25 mg/g) contents than non-transformed roots (125.55 mg/g and 3.75 mg/g). As a result of these metabolic changes, pharmaceutical activities were found higher in HRs than non-transformed roots (NTRs). The present study indicates that HRC has the potential to increase the content of beneficial polyphenolic compounds with higher potential pharmaceutical activities. To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first report on enhancing the production of polyphenolic compounds with pharmaceutical activities from the HRCs of L. fischeri