Prunus domestica, Prunus persica and Prunus avium extracts: determination of radical scavenging activities and development of natural antioxidant emulsions

Background: Nowadays antioxidants from plants origin are considered as a promising source of biologically active substances; as synthetic agents are accompanied with a number of side effects.Materials and Methods: Three fruit extracts Prunus domestica (plum), Prunus persica (peach) and Prunus avium (cherry) of family Rosaceae and genus Prunus were prepared and characterized. These natural antioxidant extracts were used for the development of stable oil/water emulsions. DPPH (2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) assay was used to evaluate antioxidant activities of various fruit extracts alone and in emulsions containing these extracts. Novel o/w emulsions were developed by using a suitable combination of oil phase and aqueous phase loaded with natural fruit extracts. Physicochemical parameters i.e. organoleptic evaluation (color, liquefaction and phase separation), pH and conductivity were monitored at 8oC, 25oC, 40oC, 40oC + 75% relative humidity and 50oC for 3 months as per stability studies guidelines.Results: Various fruit extracts and emulsions containing these extracts showed good and comparable antioxidant activities. Test formulations containing fruit extracts (6%) showed good stability compared to control formulations and pH and conductivity were found as desired. Formulations were studied for patch test on 33 healthy human (female) volunteers and observed for any skin reaction. No skin irritation was observed.Conclusion: It can be concluded that the final formula was suitable for preparing new antioxidant emulsions loaded with pleasant fruity extracts which remain economical, effective and completely safe for human skin therefore, enhancing patient compliance.Key words: Prunus domestica; Prunus persica; Prunus avium; Rosaceae, antioxidant activity; novel formulations

Formulation and characterization of a multiple emulsion containing 1% L-ascorbic acid

The purpose of the study was to prepare a stable multiple emulsion containing a skin anti-aging agent and using paraffin oil. Vitamin C, was incorporated into the inner aqueous phase of water-in-oil-in-water (w/o/w) multiple emulsion at a concentration of 1%. Multiple emulsion was prepared by two step method. Stability studies were performed at different accelerated conditions, i.e. 8 oC (in refrigerator), 25 oC (in oven), 40 oC (in oven), and 40 oC at 75% RH (in stability cabin) for 28 days to predict the stability of formulations. Different parameters, namely pH, globule size, electrical conductivity and effect of centrifugation (simulating gravity) were determined during stability studies. Data obtained was evaluated statistically using ANOVA two way analyses and LSD tests. Multiple emulsion formulated was found to be stable at lower temperatures (i.e. 8 and 25 oC) for 28 days. No phase separation was observed in the samples during stability testing. It was found that there was no significant change (p > 0.05) in globule sizes in most of the samples kept at various conditions. Insignificant changes (p > 0.05) in both pH and conductivity values were determined for the samples kept at 8, 40, and 40 oC at 75% RH, throughout the study period. Further studies are needed to formulate more stable emulsions with other emulsifying agents. KEY WORDS: Multiple emulsion, Vitamin C, StabilityBull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2010, 24(1), 1-10.

PRUNUS DOMESTICA, PRUNUS PERSICA AND PRUNUS AVIUM EXTRACTS: DETERMINATION OF RADICAL SCAVENGING ACTIVITIES AND DEVELOPMENT OF NATURAL ANTIOXIDANT EMULSIONS

Background: Nowadays antioxidants from plants origin are considered as a promising source of biologically active substances; as synthetic agents are accompanied with a number of side effects. Materials and Methods: Three fruit extracts Prunus domestica (plum), Prunus persica (peach) and Prunus avium (cherry) of family Rosaceae and genus Prunus were prepared and characterized. These natural antioxidant extracts were used for the development of stable oil/water emulsions. DPPH (2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) assay was used to evaluate antioxidant activities of various fruit extracts alone and in emulsions containing these extracts. Novel o/w emulsions were developed by using a suitable combination of oil phase and aqueous phase loaded with natural fruit extracts. Physicochemical parameters i.e. organoleptic evaluation (color, liquefaction and phase separation), pH and conductivity were monitored at 8oC, 25oC, 40oC, 40oC + 75% relative humidity and 50oC for 3 months as per stability studies guidelines. Results: Various fruit extracts and emulsions containing these extracts showed good and comparable antioxidant activities. Test formulations containing fruit extracts (6%) showed good stability compared to control formulations and pH and conductivity were found as desired. Formulations were studied for patch test on 33 healthy human (female) volunteers and observed for any skin reaction. No skin irritation was observed. Conclusion: It can be concluded that the final formula was suitable for preparing new antioxidant emulsions loaded with pleasant fruity extracts which remain economical, effective and completely safe for human skin therefore, enhancing patient compliance

Genotoxic effects of 5-bromouracil on cytomorphological characters of Cichorium intybus L.

This work was done to study the effect of base analogue 5-bromouracil (5-BU) on the medicinal herb, Cichorium intybus. 5-BU induced miss pairing during the DNA replication. The seeds of C. intybus were treated with different concentrations of 5-BU. Variations in some parameters such as seed germination, seedling survival, seedling height, pollen fertility, days to flowering, days to maturity, number of leaves per plant, plant height, and chromosome behavior were studied in M1 generation. A positive correlation between increasing concentrations of mutagen and various cytomorphological characters of C. intybus was observed.Key words: Chromosomal aberrations, Cichorium intybus, morphological variations, 5-bromouracil

EFFECT OF LEAD (PB) ON PHYSICOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF ARTEMISIA ANNUA L

Abstract Artemisia annua L., often known as sweet wormwood, sweet Annie, sweet sagewort, and annual wormwood, is a widespread species of wormwood that originated in temperate Asia but has since spread naturally around the world. It is a member of the Asteraceae family. Chinese medicinal plant Artemisia annua L.is renowned for its antiplasmodial, antirheumatic, and anticancer effects. Currently, Artemisia annua L.is the source of artemisinin and semi-synthetic artemisinin derivatives, such as dihydroartemisinin, artesunate, artemether, and arteether, which are used to make combination therapies (ACTs, or artemisinin-based combination therapies) for the treatment of malaria. This study focuses on how lead (Pb) affects Artemisia annua L. physiochemical and bioactive characteristics. Effects of lead the variables that were examined—carotenoids, stomatal conductance, chlorophyll content, and photosynthesis—were all impacted by lead concentrations in various ways. For plants, animals, and humans alike, lead is an extremely dangerous environmental pollutant. The presence of Pb as an impurity in fertilizers over a long period of time is another factor in its occurrence in fields. Pb is actually present in many different environments, such as the soil, water, air, fertilizers, and so on. The results also showed that at various lead concentrations, germination percentage, shoot length, root length, leaf yield, and fresh weight decreased. In the plant treated with various doses of lead, the accumulation of CA activity, proline content, and CAT activity, among other things, was reduced

Effect of Cadmium on Physicochemical Characteristics and Bioactive Compounds of Phaseolus vulgaris L. (Variety Ankur)

The Fabaceae family includes kidney beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), which are noted for their economic and nutritional benefits. The purpose of this study was to see how different concentrations of cadmium (Cd) effects physicochemical and bioactive parameters of kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) variety Ankur such as germination rate, plant height, number of seeds per pod, pod length, root length, number of pods per plant, 100 seed weight, chlorophyll, starch content, total soluble sugars, protein content, total flavonoid content, tannins, proline content, and total phenolic content. Cadmium was applied to seedlings at concentrations of 25 mg/kg, 50 mg/kg, 75 mg/kg, and 100 mg/kg. Cadmium drastically reduced germination rate, root length, pod length, plant height, number of seeds per pod, number of pods per plant, and 100 seed weight, in kidney bean variety (Ankur). Cadmium also reduced protein content, chlorophyll content, and starch content at concentrations of 25 mg/kg, 50 mg/kg, 75 mg/kg, and 100 mg/kg; nevertheless, total soluble sugars and proline content rise dramatically as cadmium concentrations climbed. Increased Cd concentration also increases total phenolic and total flavonoid content. Tannins, on the other hand, decreased significantly as the cadmium content increased