Different concentrations of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Ocimum tenuiflorum L.
leaves were evaluated for their sucrase inhibition and non-enzymatic glycation inhibitory
effects. The results revealed that aqueous extracts, particularly the one from oven-dried
leaves had significant inhibition potential for all three assays. The IC50 values for sucrase
inhibition assay, BSA-glucose assay, and BSA-fructose assay were, 370.48±2.14 µg/ml,
188.19±2.52 µg/ml, and 166.16±1.99 µg/ml, respectively and the highest inhibition found
in1250 µg/ml were, 91.88±0.16%, 118.46±0.27%, and 104.15±0.21%, respectively. Other
than that, the aqueous extract of fresh leaves and 50% ethanol extract of oven dried leaves
also showed good inhibition activity. Though, the results presented the highest inhibition
activity for BSA-glucose assay. The leaves also attained 50% inhibition with the lowest
concentration for BSA-fructose assay. The overall result of O. tenuiflorum leaves
suggested that it can be used for treating diabetes mellitus and the complications
associated with this.
Two different drying methods- freeze drying and vacuum oven drying were applied to
Ocimum basilicum leaves to determine the proximate composition and antioxidant
activities. The results were compared to fresh leaves of Ocimum basilicum. Each sample
was prepared for determination in three different solvents- methanol, ethanol, and water
have been used. The total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) assays
showed almost the same values in the freeze-dried sample of methanol extract as it
exhibited the highest TPC and TFC values - 54.46±1.24 mg gallic acid/g, 950±17.32 mg
quercetin/g whereas the water extract showed only 26.23±0.63 mg gallic acid/g and
543.33±56.86 mg quercetin/g, respectively. On the contrary, fresh sample with water
extract displayed the lowest TPC and TFC. In addition, the percent inhibition of 1,1-
diphenyl-2-2picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical-scavenging assay ranged from 6.09±
0.47% in fresh sample with water extract to 92.60±0.58% in freeze-dried sample with
methanol extract. The ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay values ranged from
7.62±1.09 µmol FeII/g in fresh samples with water extract to 1,160.95±15.80 µmol FeII/g
in freeze-dried sample with methanol extract. Both assays showed the same trend of result
with the highest antioxidant activity observed in freeze-dried sample with methanol extract
and the lowest from fresh samples with water extract.
This study aimed to compare the physical and functional properties of Indian squid (Loligo
duvauceli) and cuttlefish (Sepia latimanus) ink powders. Indian squid and cuttlefish are
common major sources of seafood products available in Malaysia. However, the inks of
these cephalopods are considered waste products. Inks were removed from squids, freezedried,
and ground into powder form. The color, pH, water activity, bulk and tapped
densities, emulsifying activity and stability, viscosity, water solubility and microscopic
study were examined. The mean L* value of cuttlefish ink was 14.27±0.010. Squid ink
was slightly darker in color (12.21±0.005). The physical properties of squid and cuttlefish
ink were pH (6.48±0.01, 7.26±0.02), water activity (0.091±0.006, 0.166±0.003), and bulk
and tapped densities (24.650±0.02, 20.591±1.78 g/m3
). The functional properties of both
squid and cuttlefish were emulsion activity (15.38±2.67, 11.88±0.23), emulsion stability
(56.56±30.45, 39.09±2.91), viscosity (3.07±0.051 mPa, 2.96±0.057 mPa), and water
solubility index (17.12±0.01%, 10.51±0.01%). Cuttlefish ink powder is better than squid
ink powder because it possessed most of the properties satisfying industrial requirements
(emulsion activity, emulsion stability, viscosity, water solubility, bulk and tapped
densities). This ink can also be used as a natural emulsifier in food applications.