DOES LOW DOSE OF PIPER NIGRUM EXTRACT EXERT ANTI-OBESITY ACTIVITY?

Objective: To evaluate anti-obesity effect of aqueous P. nigrum extract in a murine model of high-fat diet (HFD) induced obesity. Methods: Male Wistar rats were fed with a high-fat diet (HFD) (20g/day/rat) for a period of 50 d to induce obesity. Aqueous P. nigrum extract (20 mg/kg) administered orally to high-fat diet (HFD) fed rats from 8th day to 50th day (total 42 d). The parameters like gain in body weight, serum lipids, insulin and leptin were measured. Results: The rats treated with extract showed a significant reduction in body weight gain, serum insulin, leptin, lipids as compared to rats fed with only a high-fat diet (HFD). In addition, the extract-treated group showed a considerable rise in high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) level (29.61±7.68 mg/dl) as compared to the control group (23.23±9.69 mg/dl). Conclusion: The results indicate that aqueous P. nigrum extract possess the potential to reduce obesity markers in a high-fat diet (HFD) fed rats

Bio-Functional Aspects of Grape Seeds-A Review

Grapes are one of the most widely consumed fruits all over the world and have considerable importance for their medicinal and nutritive value for thousand of years. Grapes are rich in polyphenols and 60-70 % of grapes polyphenols exist in grape seeds. The seeds contain lipid, proteins, carbohydrates and 5-8 % polyphenolic compounds. The phenolic compounds present in grape seeds are flavonoids including gallic acid, flavan-3-ol monomers and their oligomeric and polymeric derivatives (procyanidins). The most abundant flavan-3-ol monomers isolated from grape seeds are Catechin, epicatechin, epicatechin-3-O-gallate, and epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate. Three novel flavan oxidative derivatives named viniferones A, B and C have also been isolated from grape seeds. The grape seeds are chiefly known for their significant antioxidant properties. Scientific studies have claimed that the antioxidant potential of grape seeds proanthocyanidins is 20 times greater than vitamin E and 50 times greater than vitamin C. Grape seeds polyphenolic (Proanthocyanidin) extract have been marketed in France for decades as treatment for venous and capillary disorders (e.g., retinopathies, venous insufficiency, and vascular fragility. Recent studies have shown that procyanidins in grape seeds possess anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic, anti-allergic effects and prevent heart diseases and skin aging. The high purity grape seed extract should contain polyphenols NLT 95% and monomers NLT 10%; and the grape seed extract with ordinary quality should have a procyanidolic value NLT 95%, and monomer NLT 6%.Keywords: Grapes, Grape seeds, Polyphenols, procyanidins, viniferones

<em>Psuedomonas aeruginosa</em>-Associated Acute and Chronic Pulmonary Infections

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is highly successful in colonizing in all types of environments. P. aeruginosa colonizing in adverse environment due to the presence of its virulence factors include production of toxins, proteases hemolysins, and formation of biofilms. In man, the most common opportunist pathogen is P. aeruginosa. Metabolically P. aeruginosa is versatile. Most of the antibiotics targeted metabolically active cells and bacteria could contribute to decrease in biofilm susceptibility to the antimicrobial agents. Scientists suggested about Pseudomonas that it can be catabolized any hydrocarbon in specific time along with availability of oxygen and nitrite. If bacteria are not susceptible to one agent in three or more, it is called as multidrug-resistance strains. The antimicrobial treatments were not suitable when microorganism presented in vitro microorganism resistance to antimicrobials used for treatment of the patient which lack of treatment for 24 h after diagnosis of microbial infections. Bacteria have developed resistance against commonly used antibiotics. Treatment of Pseudomonas infections is coming harder day by day as its resistance against most of the antibiotics. Because of resistance of bacteria antibiotics, alternative methods are in consideration. These methods include use of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and most recently nano-particles. That is why they are used as antibacterial agents