Optimization of 6-Gingerol Extraction Assisted by Microwave From Fresh Ginger Using Response Surface Methodology

The present study investigates optimum conditions for Microwave assisted extraction (MAE) of 6-gingerol. Ginger was dried using a cross flow dryer at 55 ± 2 0C for eight hours. Ginger powder was extracted at three different watts (400 W, 500 W, and 600 W), temperatures (50 0C, 60 0C, 70 0C) and time (10, 20, 30 min) for optimum yield.  6-gingerol content was found to be 21.15 ± 0.13 and 18.81 ± 0.15 mg/g in fresh ginger and dried ginger, respectively.  Optimized condition obtained by RSM for 6-gingerol was 400 W, 70 0C at 10 min extraction time.  The results of MAE are expressed by 2-D contour plot and response surface curve by keeping one variable constant which showed highest yield at 600 W, 70 0C for 30 min extraction time.  Microwave assisted extracts exhibited higher antioxidant activity in comparison with conventional extracts

Influence of ginger cultivars and maturity stages on oleoresin, 6-gingerol, polyphenol contents and antioxidant property

373-378Zingiber officinale Rosc, commonly called Ginger, is an underground rhizome widely used as a spice in the food and beverage industries. The prominent bioactive component of ginger is [6]-gingerol. The present study focuses on influence of the variety and maturity stage of ginger on [6]-gingerol content. Ten authentic cultivars of ginger were collected from ICAR-Indian Institute of Spice Research, Calicut, Kerala, India and analyzed for oleoresin, [6]-gingerol, polyphenol and antioxidant activity. Among these varieties, ING 5 variety gave the maximum oleoresin yield (11.05%) followed by ING 6 (10.5%). The [6]-gingerol content (7.59%) and the total polyphenol content (TPC) and antioxidant activity (85±0.5% at 200 ppm) were maximum in ING 6. Among these varieties, ING 6 was cultivated in Mysore for maturity studies. From 150 to 270 days of planting fresh ginger rhizomes showed oleoresin in the 6-10% range and [6]-gingerol was 2.26- 7.28%. Volatile oil (1.03± 0.2%) content did not show much change. With an increase in maturity, TPC and antioxidant activity also increased proportionally from 60 to 90% when compared to butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA)

Efficacy of botanicals on soybean seed-borne Fusarium equiseti.

Soybean is one of the most important oilseed crops cultivated in India. A large number of fungi have been reported to be associated with soybean seeds and few of them are pathogenic. These pathogenic fungi are known to cause seed and seedling diseases at early plant growth stages and many other diseases. The objective of this work was to study the efficacy of the solvent extract of botanicals on seed-borne Fusarium equiseti isolated form soybean seed variety (JS-335). F. equiseti are associated with soybean seed-borne diseases such as seed rot, root rot, wilting, blight pod, collar rot and sudden death syndrome. Out of the eight botanicals screened few of the botanicals showed promising activity, among them Emblica officinalis fruit extract showed the most effective activity against F. equiseti. These natural products may be alternatives to chemicals fungicides and provide an easy method to store soybean seed for long period

Cytotoxic and pro-apoptotic effects of Abrus precatorius L. on human metastatic breast cancer cell line, MDA-MB-231

Abrus precatorius is highly regarded as a universal panacea in the herbal medicine with diverse pharmacological activity spectra. This experimental study on the mechanism of the anticancer activity of A. precatorius leaf extracts, may offer new evidence for A. precatorius in the treatment of breast cancer in clinical practice. Cell death was determined by using MTT assay. Further analyses were carried out by doing DNA laddering, PARP cleavage, FACS, semi-quantitative RT-PCR and detection of cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) by DCFDA assay. A. precatorius showed very striking inhibition on MDA-MB-231 cells. MTT assay showed more than 75 inhibition of the cells and treated cells indicated visible laddering pattern with thick compact band. PARP cleavage produced 89 kDa cleavage product which was associated with apoptosis. Flow cytometer exhibited a sub-G0/G1 peak as an indicative of apoptosis. mRNA expression level of apoptosis-related genes p21 and p53 was markedly increased in cells treated with the extract as compared to control. The up-regulation of p21 and p53 may be the molecular mechanisms by which A. precatorius extract which induces apoptosis. An increase in the concentration of A. precatorius extract does not generate ROS, instead it reduces ROS formation in MDA-MB-231 cells, as evident from the shift in fluorescence below untreated control. This is the first report showing that A. precatorius leaf extract exhibits a growth inhibitory effect by induction of apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 cells. Our results contribute towards validation of the A. precatorius extract as a potentially effective chemopreventive or therapeutic agent against breast cancer. © 2012 Springer Science+Business Media B.V

Role of Genetic Markers in Deformation of Lip Prints: A Review

Cheiloscopy is an application of lip phenotypes (sub-clinical cleft phenotype/lip whorls) to establish the identity of an individual. Any kind of change in lips can be caused by facial expression/ facial movement and allow an accurate clinical assessment. All along an orthodontic estimation of lip protrusion, lip competence and lip lines are examined by visual inspection and are recorded in the medical notes. It has been shown in molecular studies that initiation and growth of facial primordia are restrained by an interaction between fibroblast growth factors, sonic hedgehog, bone morphogenetic proteins, homeobox genes Barx1 and Msx1, the distal-less homeobox (Dlx) genes, and local retinoic acid gradients. While mesoderm proliferation during facial development may cause inadequate growth of the maxillary, medial and lateral nasal processes. This review study is mainly focused on the determination of the responsible genetic markers for the deformation of lip prints. This summarized study can be helpful in the identification of an individual especially wherever lip prints are recovered from the scene of the crime