Comparative functional potential of some plant materials in India

Soluble dietary fibers are known to play an important role in maintaining health. These may have prebiotic activity and additionally their basic physico-chemical properties may contribute to their multifunctional health potential. Present study was planned with 30 plant materials grouped as fruits, vegetables, and other tuber crops using gum acacia as standard, being a known dietary fiber having prebiotic potential. The materials were studied for water holding capacity, cholesterol and bile salt binding activity, α-amylase inhibition and trypsin inhibition activity. Fifteen plant materials showed cholesterol binding capacity significantly higher than gum acacia by 0.7 to 86 %.Nineteen plant materials were found to have bile salt binding capacity (27-99 %) higher than gum acacia (24 %). Water holding capacity was observed in the range of 2.71 to 35.4 g/ g dry material for all the materials, while gum acacia had the least value of 0.82 g/ g dry weight. Sixteen materials showed α-amylase inhibition in the range of 9.99-95.0 % as compared to 9.65 % of gum acacia. Trypsin inhibition activity showed in the range of 49-98 %. This is the first report of multifunctional activities of plant materials with prebiotic potential. The results may help to develop prebiotic formulations having multifunctional potential for treatment of gastrointestinal disorders

Comparative functional potential of some plant materials in India

159-166Soluble dietary fibers are known to play an important role in maintaining health. These may have prebiotic activity and additionally their basic physico-chemical properties may contribute to their multifunctional health potential. Present study was planned with 30 plant materials grouped as fruits, vegetables, and other tuber crops using gum acacia as standard, being a known dietary fiber having prebiotic potential. The materials were studied for water holding capacity, cholesterol and bile salt binding activity, α-amylase inhibition and trypsin inhibition activity. Fifteen plant materials showed cholesterol binding capacity significantly higher than gum acacia by 0.7 to 86 %.Nineteen plant materials were found to have bile salt binding capacity (27-99 %) higher than gum acacia (24 %). Water holding capacity was observed in the range of 2.71 to 35.4 g/ g dry material for all the materials, while gum acacia had the least value of 0.82 g/ g dry weight. Sixteen materials showed α-amylase inhibition in the range of 9.99-95.0 % as compared to 9.65 % of gum acacia. Trypsin inhibition activity showed in the range of 49-98 %. This is the first report of multifunctional activities of plant materials with prebiotic potential. The results may help to develop prebiotic formulations having multifunctional potential for treatment of gastrointestinal disorders

Antioxidant and trace element potential of Chyavanpraash and some Ayurvedic preparations

215-223Importance of antioxidants such as vitamin C and zinc in treatment of diabetes mellitus and hypertension is being recognised. There is a growing interest to find naturally occurring antioxidants rather than synthetic ones for their use in medicinal material. Therefore a study was undertaken a) to assess antioxidant and trace metal potential of five brands of Chyavanpraash and eight marketed Ayurvedic preparations (AP) at their prescribed dose level along with their major nine ingredients; b) to measure bioavailable amounts of trace metals; and c) to examine toxicity of lead in these AP. Trivang, Abhrak and Loha bhasma had high levels of copper, cobalt and nickel. Manganese contents were high in Trivang and Abhrak but zero in Lohabhasma. Even though amalaki is one of the main ingredients of Chyavanpraash and Raktavardhak, their vitamin C content was quite low. Tannic acid was marginal in these two preparations. Three types of amalaki showed variable contents of iron, zinc, copper, lead, manganese and ascorbic acid. Tannic acid was highest in small amalaki. Sun drying reduced vitamin C content by seventy five percent of the fresh amalaki. Lohabhasma showed highest bioavailable iron followed by Lohachurna. The bioavailable iron was negligible in Chyavanpraash and Raktavardhaka as compared to Lohabhasma and Abhrak bhasma. Bioavailable zinc content was high in Trivang bhasma and is a promising zinc supplement. Mineral iron treated with Gomutra decreased % iron bioavailability by one third but % zinc bioavailabiliy increased twofold. Lead content was highest in Trivang bhasma. The content of lead in daily dose of Chyavanpraash and Raktavardhak was high, but within the prescribed safe limits for lead. Further the bioavailable amount of lead for all these preparations was also very low