Investigation of Bioactive Compounds of Capsicum Frutescence and Annona Muricata by Chromatographic Techniques

Botanicals and herbal preparations for medicinal usage contain various types of bioactive compounds. The focus of this paper is on the analytical methodologies, which include the extraction, characterization of active ingredients in Capsicum frutescens fruits and Annona muricata L. leaves. Capsicum frutescens used for various problems with digestion including upset for conditions of the heart and blood vessels including poor circulation, excessive blood clotting, high cholesterol, and preventing heart disease. Whereas Annona muricata L. leaves are traditionally used to treat diabetes. People have been consuming raw leaves of Annona muricata L. to control blood glucose levels. The present investigation was designed to study the phytochemical profiling and bioactive component principles of Capsicum frutescens and Annona muricata by Thin layer Chromatography. Bio autography agar overlay test was done to detect the antimicrobial activity of the extracts. The results of this study confirmed the presence of various bioactive compounds in the acetone and methanol extracts of both the plants. The chromatographic analysis revealed that Capsicum frutescens fruit extract and Annona muricata leaf extract are composed of various Alkaloids, Terpenoids, Saponins, and Phenolics which are accountable for many biological activities. Bio autography assays shows that Capsicum frutescens shows growth inhibition against bacteria, but Annona muricata does not shown any significant activity. The findings of present study implies that both extracts are potent source for some medicinally important phytochemicals with antioxidant and antibacterial activities. Keywords: Phytochemicals; Thin Layer Chromatography; Bio autography

Evaluation of antioxidant potential of Capsicum frutescens

Capsicum frutescens has been known to contain a high level of antioxidant components. We investigated antioxidant activities in various solvent extracts from C. frutescens. The aim of this study is to evaluate invitro antioxidant activity of acetone, carbinol, hot water and hexane extracts of Capsicum frutescens.  Preliminary analysis revealed that all the four extracts responded positively for all the phytoconstituents. Acetone extract showed the strongest phenolic and tannin content; showed highest activity for FRAP, ABTS, Superoxide Radical and Hydroxyl Radical Scavenging Activity.  The present study explored that Capsicum frutescens has efficient antioxidant activity and could act as safe and cost-effective with potential biological applications. Keywords: Capsicum frutescens, Antioxidant, Free radical scavengers, ABTS, FRA

Evaluation of anti-microbial and anti-haemolytic activity of edible basidiomycetes mushroom fungi

Mushrooms are used for a variety of biotechnological applications, particularly for the production of food, enzymes, dietary supplements, pharmaceutical compounds, feed supplements. Basidiomycetes mushroom fungi have been known for their nutritional values they can be considered as functional foods which can provide health benefits beyond the traditional nutrients. Mushroom represents a major and untapped source of potent new pharmaceutical products. A wide range of activities including antitumour, cardiovascular and antimicrobial are reported in mushrooms. In developing countries like India mushroom progress is a boon in the field of food, medicine, and in generating employment. The alternative systems of medicine utilize the curative properties of mushrooms. They are also known to possess promising antioxidative, cardiovascular, hypercholesterolemia, antimicrobial, hepato-protective and anticancer effects. The present study aimed to evaluate antimicrobial and antihaemolytic activities of various extracts of Basidiomycetes mushroom fungi. Different Basidiomycetes mushroom fungi extracts (Hot water, Acetone and Hexane) were tested for antimicrobial and antihaemolytic activities. Among these different extracts of Basidiomycetes mushroom fungi the hexane extract of Pleurotus pulmonarius showed potential antimicrobial and antihaemolytic activity. The results of this study suggest the possibility of using Basidiomycetes mushroom fungi as natural sources for the pharmaceutical industry and could act as safe and cost-effective with potential biological activities. These findings encourage studying these fungal strains further for their potential biological applications

VIWITHAN: A STANDARDIZED ASHWAGANDHA EXTRACT AMELIORATES OVALBUMININDUCED AIRWAY-INFLAMMATION AND OXIDATIVE STRESS IN MOUSE MODEL

Objective: Withania somnifera, commonly known as Ashwagandha, Indian ginseng, has been used in Ayurvedic and indigenous medicinal preparations for various disease conditions since long time. In the present study, we investigated the protective effects of Viwithan, a standardized proprietary extract from Ashwagandha roots, against airway-inflammation and oxidative stress modulation in an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced murine model of inflammation. Methods: Allergic asthma was initiated in BALB/c mice by sensitizing with OVA on days 1 and 14, followed by intranasal challenge with OVA on days 27, 28, and 29. Mice were administered Viwithan (200 and 400 mg/kg) by oral gavage before challenge. Then, mice were evaluated for the presence of airway inflammation, production of allergen-specific cytokine response, lung pathology, and oxidative stress modulation. Results: The results showed that treatment with Viwithan attenuated OVA-induced lung inflammation in mice. Viwithan significantly attenuated inflammatory cell infiltration into the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and markedly reduced the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, interleukin-10, and transforming growth factor-β1 in lung tissues. Viwithan treatment considerably reduced the lung weight in OVA-sensitized mice. Viwithan markedly attenuated the OVA-induced generation of reactive oxygen species in lung tissues. Conclusion: Together, these results suggested that Viwithan alleviates OVA-induced airway-inflammation and oxidative stress, highlighting the potential of standardized Ashwagandha extract as a useful therapeutic agent for pulmonary fibrosis management

A standardized extract of Echinacea purpurea containing higher chicoric acid content enhances immune function in murine macrophages and cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression mice

AbstractContext Preparations of Echinacea have been used by herbalists to boost the immune system.Objective In this study, Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench (Asteraceae) extract with enriched chicoric acid content was investigated for immunomodulation.Materials and methods The standardized hydroalcoholic extract (4% chicoric acid) was prepared from the aerial parts of E. purpurea (SEP). The extract was screened for in vitro antioxidant activities, and immunomodulation in RAW 264.7 cells, at 200 and 400 µg/mL. Further, the male BALB/c mice (20-25 g) were divided into 4 groups (n = 6 per group). All the groups except control, were intraperitoneally injected with 70 mg/kg/day of cyclophosphamide (CTX) for 4 consecutive days. The treatment groups received SEP extract (100 and 200 mg/kg body weight) p.o. from day 5 to 14.Results The SEP extract inhibited DPPH (IC50 = 106.7 µg/mL), ABTS+ (IC50 = 19.88 µg/mL) and nitric oxide (IC50 = 120.1 µg/mL). The SEP extract’s ORAC (oxygen radical absorbance capacity) value was 1931.63 µM TE/g. In RAW 264.7 cells, SEP extract increased the nitric oxide production by 30.76- and 39.07-fold at 200 and 400 µg/mL, respectively, compared to the untreated cells. SEP extract significantly increased phagocytosis and cytokine release (TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β) in the cells. Further, the extract improved immune organ indices, lymphocyte proliferation and serum cytokine levels in CTX-induced mice. The extract at 200 mg/kg significantly increased the natural killer cell activity (24.6%) and phagocytic index (28.03%) of CTX mice.Conclusion Our results strongly support SEP extract with 4% chicoric acid as a functional ingredient for immunomodulation

Is Andrographis paniculata extract and andrographolide anaphylactic?

Andrographis paniculata, âKing of bittersâ is a popularly known medicinal plant extensively used in many parts of the world for treatment of various diseases. Since recent past, anaphylactic/allergic type adverse events were reported upon A. paniculata usage, the study aimed to evaluate the anaphylactic and anaphylactoid potential of A. paniculata extract and andrographolide (a major phytoactive of A. paniculata). The anaphylactic potential was evaluated using active systemic anaphylaxis (ASA) assay in guinea pigs. Further, the release of allergic mediators was measured in immunoglobulin E (IgE) sensitized and non-IgE sensitized Rat Basophilic Leukemia (RBL-2H3) cell lines in-vitro. A. paniculata extract or andrographolide sensitized guinea pigs following the challenge antigen administration orally and intravenously did not demonstrate any clinical signs of anaphylaxis. IgE sensitized and non- IgE sensitized RBL-2H3 cells treated with A. paniculata extract did not induce release of allergic mediators. Whereas IgE sensitized and non- IgE sensitized RBL-2H3 cells treated with andrographolide demonstrated mild to moderate release of allergic mediators. A. paniculata extract has no anaphylactic and anaphylactoid potential in in-vivo and in-vitro studies. Whereas, andrographolide effects on allergic mediators in in-vitro studies needs to be scrutinized if they are of biologically important. Keywords: Andrographis paniculata extract, Andrographolide, Active systemic anaphylaxis, Anaphylactoid, &beta, &minus, Hexosaminidase, Leukotriene C