STUDY THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ANTIOXIDANT POTENTIAL AND PHENOLIC CONTENTS OF JUNIPERUS EXCELSA FRUIT

Objective: Today's attentions are focused on the finding new natural antioxidant compounds because of their fewer side effects than synthetic antioxidants. The aim of this study was to determine the antioxidant potentials of Juniperus excelsa fruit and its fractions by different methods. Methods: For evaluation antioxidant potentials, DPPH radical scavenging, determination of reducing power and phenolics were used. Gallic acid and quercetin were used as antioxidant standards. Results: The highest DPPH radical scavenging was observed in n-butanol fraction (IC 50= 135.9±2.5 µg/ml) of Juniperus excelsa fruit. Also, this fraction possesses the highest reducing power (in 61.4±2.6 µg/ml with absorbance 0.5) and phenolic contents (82. 9±1.1 mg/g). Conclusion: n-butanol fraction of Juniperus excelsa fruit had the highest radical scavenging, reducing power and phenolic compounds. In other words, a relationship between antioxidant potentials and phenolic compounds was found. Anyway, this fraction is a strong source of antioxidant compounds and can be used as a natural antioxidant

Different methods evaluation of antioxidant properties of Myrtus communis extract and its fractions

Myrtus communis L. is a plant traditionally used as an antiseptic and disinfectant drug. In this research, the antioxidant activity of Myrtus communis was assayed by evaluating radical scavenging activity, reducing power, FRAP method and determination of phenolic compounds. The methanolic extract of leaves of Myrtus communis was fractionated by using petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate and buthanol. In reducing power, different concentrations of samples were mixed with phosphate buffer, ferrocyanate, TCA and ferric chloride. Different concentrations of samples were mixed with DPPH and after 30 min the absorbances were measured. For determination of phenolic content, 500 µl of sample was mixed with Folin-Ciocalteu and sodium carbonate. For determination of flavonoids, 500 µl of sample was mixed with 2 ml of distilled water, NaNO2 and NaOH. In reducing power method, chloroform fraction showed the highest reducing capacity. In the DPPH radical scavenging method, the highest antioxidant capacity was found in buthanol fraction (IC50=84.42±1.8 µg/ml). In FRAP method, the highest antioxidant capacity was found in crude extract (5.4±0.3 mg/ml) and buthanol fractions (5.51±0.4 mg/ml), respectively. The highest amount of phenolic compounds was detected in ethyl acetate fraction of Myrtus communis (17.5±0.001 µg/g). The highest amount of flavonoids was found in crude extract of Myrtus communis (171.9±7.3 µg/ml). Overall, we can suggest that the leaves of Myrtus communis can be used as antioxidant and as a food additives to avoid oxidative degradation of foods.</p

Antioxidant Activities and Phenolic Content of Juniperus excelsa Extract: Antioxidant activities, Juniperus excelsa

Butyl-hydroxytoluene (BHT) is one of the major synthetic antioxidants with a wide range usage. Replacement of artificial antioxidants with natural antioxidants is highly considered. In this research, the antioxidant activity of Juniperus excelsa was investigated by using reducing power, DPPH radical scavenging and inhibition of lipid peroxidation. Also, the amounts of phenolic and flavonoid compoundswere determined. Ethanol extract of Juniperus excelsa was fractionated based on increasing the polarity. The reducing power of ethyl acetate fraction was more than butanol fraction. The IC50 of ethyl acetate fraction (204.3±12.8 μg/ml) was less than that of butanolic (&gt;400 μg/ml) fraction (p&lt;0.0001). The IC50 of standard antioxidants such as BHT and gallic acid were 63.17±0.9 μg/ml and 2.49±0.06 μg/ml, respectively.In inhibition of b-carotene oxidation, ethyl acetate fraction had a remarkable effect (antioxidant activity coefficient, ACC= 960±20) which was more than the butanolic (ACC=550.7±15.3) fraction (p&lt;0.01). The greastest amount of phenolic compounds (44.5±4.2 mg/g) and flavonoids (0.169±0.005 mg/g) were in ethyl acetate fraction. The results show that, the polar fractions of Juniperus excelsa, especially ethyl acetate,had more antioxidant activity

New Usage of a Fluorometric Method to Assay Antioxidant Activity in Plant Extracts: Fluorometric assay for antioxidant activity assessment

In the present study, an oxidative conversion of non-fluorescent dichlorofluoroscein (LDCF) to fluorescent dichlorofluoroscein (DCF) was used for detection of antioxidant properties of plant extracts. The rate of the reaction was followed by monitoring the formation of DCF as a function of time. The antioxidant assay was carried out for different concentrations of gallic acid, Salvia mirzayanii, Rech. f &amp; Esfand Phlomis persica Boiss crude extracts and their fractions obtained by thin layer chromatography (TLC). The results showed that the fluorometric method could be used to detect lower concentrations of antioxidants. Thus, we were able to identify the antioxidant activity of five fractions obtained by TLC of Salvia mirzayanii extract and four fractions in TLC of Phlomis persica extract. This method is a good candidate to be used in high throughput screening

Free radical scavenging activity and lipid peroxidation inhibition of Hypericum helianthemoides (spach) Boiss

Antioxidants are compounds that obstruct the oxidation of macromolecules in the body. In general, there are two categories of antioxidants, natural and synthetic. Recently, interest has been increased considerably for obtaining new natural antioxidants. In this study, the scavenging of free radicals such as DPPH, NO and OH by Hypericum helianthemoides extract was evaluated. Also, the antioxidant properties of this extract were evaluated by FRAP, FTC methods and determination phenolic compounds. The plant was collected from north of Fars Province and plant extraction was obtained using ethanol. In DPPH radical scavenging, different concentrations of the Hypericum extract were added to DPPH radical. In hydroxyl radical scavenging, Fenton reaction mixture, TCA and TBA were mixed with Hypericum extract. In nitric radical scavenging, nitropruside was mixed with Hypericum extract and then sulphanilic acid, naphthylene diamine were added. In determination of phenolic compounds, Folin-ciocalteu and sodium carbonate were added to Hypericum extract. In DPPH radical scavenging, the IC50 of Hypericum extract (309.35±6.5μg/ml) was higher than the antioxidant standards, BHT (IC50=81.9±2.6 μg/ml) and quercetin (IC50=60.04±6.48 μg/ml). The highest scavenging of hydroxyl radicals was observed in Hypericum extract (70.3±0.8%, 125 μg/ml). In gallic acid it was (73.8±3.3%). In 200 μg/ml of Hypericum extract scavenged NO radical (85.2±2.7%). In FRAP method, the IC50 of this extract was 109.7±10.5 μg/ml. In FTC method, the inhibition of lipid peroxidation by Hypericum extract, BHT and ascorbic acid were 59.2±2.2, 66.9±0.15, 64.06±0.02 respectively. Total phenol of the plant extract was 3±0.4 mg/g

Different methods evaluation of antioxidant properties of Myrtus communis extract and its fractions

Myrtus communis L. is a plant traditionally used as an antiseptic and disinfectant drug. In this research, the antioxidant activity of Myrtus communis was assayed by evaluating radical scavenging activity, reducing power, FRAP method and determination of phenolic compounds. The methanolic extract of leaves of Myrtus communis was fractionated by using petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate and buthanol. In reducing power, different concentrations of samples were mixed with phosphate buffer, ferrocyanate, TCA and ferric chloride. Different concentrations of samples were mixed with DPPH and after 30 min the absorbances were measured. For determination of phenolic content, 500 μl of sample was mixed with Folin-Ciocalteu and sodium carbonate. For determination of flavonoids, 500 μl of sample was mixed with 2 ml of distilled water, NaNO2 and NaOH. In reducing power method, chloroform fraction showed the highest reducing capacity. In the DPPH radical scavenging method, the highest antioxidant capacity was found in buthanol fraction (IC50=84.42±1.8 μg/ml). In FRAP method, the highest antioxidant capacity was found in crude extract (5.4±0.3 mg/ml) and buthanol fractions (5.51±0.4 mg/ml), respectively. The highest amount of phenolic compounds was detected in ethyl acetate fraction of Myrtus communis (17.5±0.001 μg/g). The highest amount of flavonoids was found in crude extract of Myrtus communis (171.9±7.3 μg/ml). Overall, we can suggest that the leaves of Myrtus communis can be used as antioxidant and as a food additives to avoid oxidative degradation of foods

Evaluation of alpha- amylase inhibition by Urtica dioica and Juglans regia extracts

Objective(s):One strategy for the treatment of diabetes is inhibition of pancreatic α- amylase. Plants contains different chemical constituents with potential for inhibition of α-amylase and hence maybe used as therapeutic. Materials and Methods: Urtica dioica and Juglans regia Linn were tested for α-amylase inhibition. Different concentrations of leaf aqueous extracts were incubated with enzyme substrate solution and the activity of enzyme was measured. For determination of the type of inhibition, Dixon plot was depicted. Acarbose was used as the standard inhibitor. Results: Both plant extracts showed time and concentration dependent inhibition of α-amylase. 60% inhibition was seen with 2 mg/ml of U. dioica and0.4 mg/ml of J. regia aqueous extract. Dixon plots revealed the type of α-amylase inhibition by these two extracts as competitive inhibition. Conclusion: Determination of the type of α-amylase inhibition by these plant extracts could provide by successful use of plant chemicals as drug targets

Kinetics of α-glucosidase inhibition by different fractions of three species of Labiatae extracts: a new diabetes treatment model

Context: Glucosidases are a group of enzymes playing crucial roles in digestion of carbohydrates. Glucosidase inhibitors can reduce carbohydrate digestion rate and have the potential to prevent development of type 2 diabetes. The Labiatae is one of the largest plant families grown globally and many studies that have isolated new pharmaceutical compounds. In folk medicine, some of Labiatae plants such as Zataria multiflora Boiss, Salvia mirzayanii Rech. F. & Esfand, and Otostegia persica Boiss are consumed for the treatment of diabetes. Objectives: This study investigates the inhibitory effects of different fractions of three mentioned species extracts on α-glucosidase. Materials and methods: Ethanol extracts of these plants leaves were fractionated using petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol solutions. The duration of this study was 12 months. To measure enzyme inhibition, 5 μL of the enzyme, 20 μL of substrate and samples were used and for evaluation mode of inhibition, constant amounts of α-glucosidase were incubated with rising concentrations of substrate (PNPG). Results: The results revealed that the ethyl acetate fraction of Zataria multiflora (IC50 = 0.35 ± 0.01 mg/mL) and petroleum ether fraction of Salvia mirzayanii (IC50 = 0.4 ± 0.11 mg/mL) were the most potent inhibitors of α-glucosidase in comparison with the other samples and acarbose as the standard (IC50 = 7 ± 0.19 mg/mL). All of the samples exhibited noncompetitive-uncompetitive inhibition. Discussion and conclusion: It can be inferred from this study that α-glucosidase inhibitory potential of the studied extracts may be a marker of antidiabetic potential of these extracts

Evaluation of sperm retrieval rate with bilateral testicular sperm extraction in infertile patients with azoospermia

Background: About 10% to 15% of infertile men have azoospermia, which could be obstructive or non-obstructive. Diagnostic biopsy from the testis and recently testicular sperm extraction (TESE) are the most precise investigations in these patients. Testicular biopsy can be done unilaterally or bilaterally. The worth of unilateral or bilateral testicular biopsy in men with azoospermia is controversial. Objective: To evaluate the necessity of bilateral diagnostic biopsy from the testis in new era of diagnosis and treatment of male infertility. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective study, we reviewed the results of testis biopsy in 419 azoospermic men, referred to Yazd Research and Clinical Center for Infertility from 2009-2013. Patients with known obstructive azoospermia were excluded from the study. Results: In totally, 254 infertile men (60.6%) were underwent unilateral TESE, which in 175 patients (88.4%) sperm were extracted from their testes successfully. Bilateral testis biopsy was done in 165 patients (39.4%) which in 37 patients (22.4%), sperm were found in their testes tissues. Conclusion: Due to the low probability of positive bilateral TESE results especially when we can’t found sperm in the first side, we recommend that physicians re-evaluate the risk and benefit of this procedure in era of newer and more precise technique of sperm retrieval like micro TES

Hypoglycemic effects of aqueous extract of Salvia mirzayanii Rech. F& Esfand in diabetic patients; a randomized controlled trial study

Introduction: Medicinal plants are used in diabetes treatment. Salvia mirzayanii Rech. F& Esfand was used for diabetes treatment in Iranian traditional medicine. Objectives: The main objective of this study is to investigate the antidiabetic effects of aqueous extract of S. mirzayanii in diabetic patients. Patients and Methods: In the present randomized controlled trial study, the patients were divided into trial (n=27) and control (n=25) groups. The trial group received daily one capsule containing 450 mg of aqueous extract of Salvia mirzayanii; the control group received daily one capsule containing 450 mg of caramelized flour and 5% aqueous extract of S. mirzayanii. Fasting blood samples were collected at the beginning of the study and after 3 months, fasting blood sugar (FBS), HbA1 C, insulin, HOMAIR index, alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), and lipid profile were evaluated. Results: Types of used drugs, gender, age, and body mass index (BMI) were not significantly different between trial and control groups before treatment. Additionally, after treatment, BMI did not significantly change between these two mentioned groups. The results showed that FBS and HbA1 C levels did not change significantly in the trial group after treatment; however, in this group, insulin secretion was increased significantly (P=0.015). Nevertheless; after treatment, HOMA-IR index did not significantly change between the two mentioned groups. In the trial group, after treatment, liver enzymes (ALT and AST) levels did not change significantly. After the treatment, LDL-C was changed in the trial group. Conclusion: The herbal drug used in the present study enhanced insulin secretion, and improved LDL-C level in diabetic patients