Inhibition of intestinal α-amylase and α-glucosidase is an important strategy to regulate diabetes mellitus (DM). Antioxidants from plants are widely regarded in the prevention of diabetes. Fruits of Elettaria cardamomum (L.) Maton (Zingiberaceae) and Piper cubeba L. f. (Piperaceae) and flowers of Plumeria rubra L. (Apocynaceae) are traditionally used to cure DM in different countries. However, the role of these plants has been grossly under reported and is yet to receive proper scientific evaluation with respect to understand their traditional role in the management of diabetes especially as digestive enzymes inhibitors. Hence, methanol and aqueous extracts of the aforementioned plants were evaluated for their in vitro α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibition at 1 mg/mL and quantification of their antioxidant properties (DPPH, FRAP tests, total phenolic and total flavonoids contents). In vitro optimization studies for the extracts were also performed to enhance in vitro biological activities. The % inhibition of α-glucosidase by the aqueous extracts of the fruits of E. cardamomum, P. cubeba and flowers of P. rubra were 10.41 (0.03), 95.19 (0.01), and -2.92 (0.03), while the methanol extracts exhibited % inhibition 13.73 (0.02), 92.77 (0.01), and -0.98 (0.01), respectively. The % inhibition of α-amylase by the aqueous extracts were 82.99 (0.01), 64.35 (0.01), and 20.28 (0.02), while the methanol extracts displayed % inhibition 39.93 (0.01), 31.06 (0.02), and 39.40 (0.01), respectively. Aqueous extracts displayed good in vitro antidiabetic and antioxidant activities. Moreover, in vitro optimization experiments helped to increase the α-glucosidase inhibitory activity of E. cardamomum. Our findings further justify the traditional claims of these plants as folk medicines to manage diabetes, however, through digestive enzymes inhibition effect.
Microwave assisted acid hydrolysis (H2SO4 and HCl with >0.5 mol/L) to produce bioethanol from sago pith waste (SPW) was studied. The energy consumption for microwave hydrolysis at different energy inputs and acid concentration were calculated. The overall energy consumption for bioethanol fuel production from SPW was assessed. A maximum of 88% glucose yield and 80% ethanol yield (3.1 g ethanol per 10 g SPW) were obtained using 1.0 mol/L H2SO4. Microwave hydrolysis using 1.0 mol/L H2SO4 consumed the minimum energy of 8.1 kJ to produce 1 g glucose from SPW when energy input was fixed at 54 kJ (900 W for 1 min). In general, 1 g glucose can produce 16 kJ. The overall energy consumption for fuel grade bioethanol production from SPW was 31.77 kJ per g ethanol, which was slightly higher than the lower heating values of ethanol (26.74 kJ/g ethanol).
The development of hydrogel films as wound healing dressings is of a great interest owing to their biological tissue-like nature. Polyvinyl alcohol/polyethylene glycol (PVA/PEG) hydrogels loaded with asiaticoside, a standardized rich fraction of Centella asiatica, were successfully developed using the freeze-thaw method. Response surface methodology with Box-Behnken experimental design was employed to optimize the hydrogels. The hydrogels were characterized and optimized by gel fraction, swelling behavior, water vapor transmission rate and mechanical strength. The formulation with 8% PVA, 5% PEG 400 and five consecutive freeze-thaw cycles was selected as the optimized formulation and was further characterized by its drug release, rheological study, morphology, cytotoxicity and microbial studies. The optimized formulation showed more than 90% drug release at 12 hours. The rheological properties exhibited that the formulation has viscoelastic behavior and remains stable upon storage. Cell culture studies confirmed the biocompatible nature of the optimized hydrogel formulation. In the microbial limit tests, the optimized hydrogel showed no microbial growth. The developed optimized PVA/PEG hydrogel using freeze-thaw method was swellable, elastic, safe, and it can be considered as a promising new wound dressing formulation.
The study was conducted to evaluate the root, shoot and leaf callus cell regeneration and its biochemical properties like antioxidant, carbohydrate, pigment and mineral content from broccoli root, shoot and leaf cutting in vitro. An in vitro factorial experiment was carried out based on a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with 5 replicates in tissue culture applying different IBA (0.25, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0 and 3.5 mg/l) and BAP (1 mg/l) concentrations using broccoli root tip and leaf cutting. The results showed that a higher callus weight was found in the cultured leaf cutting than in root tip cutting in the concentration of 1.0, 1.5 & 2.0 mg/l IBA + 1.0 mg/l BAP combination. The highest callus weight was found in the cultured leaf cutting than root tips cutting at the concentration of 1.5mg/l IBA+1.0 mg/l BAP. Furthermore, the highest inverted sugar and glucose, chlorophyll and nutrient content (K+, NO3- & Ca++), total phenol, flavonoid and total antioxidant were found in the concentration of 1.5mg/l IBA+1.0 mg/l BAP combination in both broccoli leaf and root cutting. The results seemed that it was best to use the combination of the IBA and BAP in the concentration of 1.0-2.0 mg/l and 1mg/l to regenerate root, leaf and callus cell proliferation of broccoli from the root tip and leaf cutting.
Obesity is a multifaceted disease encompassing deposition of an unnecessary amount of fat which upsurges the possibility of other complications, viz., hypertension and certain type of cancers. Although obesity results from combination of genetic factors, improper diet and inadequate physical exercise also play a major role in its onset. The present study aims at exploring the anti-obesity activity of Crinum latifolia leaf extract in obese rats. The leaves were extracted using hydroalcoholic extraction which was later diluted with water and given to obese rats. The dosing was started from the 4th week (by oral administration of extract of Crinum latifolia (100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg) and combination of Crinum latifolia leaf extract 200 mg/kg and orlistat 30 mg/kg) till the 10th week. Various angiogenic, antioxidant, biochemical, and inflammatory biomarkers were assessed at the end of the study. The obese symptoms were progressively reduced in treatment groups when compared to disease control groups. The angiogenic parameters and inflammatory parameters were consequently reduced in treatment groups. The oxidative parameters superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase were gradually increased, while levels of TBARS were reduced in treatment groups showing antioxidant nature of leaf hydroalcoholic extract. The Crinum latifolia leaf extract possesses anti-obesity properties and therefore can be used as a therapeutic option in the management of obesity.