Displaying all 17 publications

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  1. Jimoh MO, Afolayan AJ, Lewu FB
    Trop Biomed, 2019 Dec 01;36(4):1038-1053.
    PMID: 33597473
    The use of plants as therapy is not alien to man. Among plants that could offer novel choice to the limited therapeutic alternatives is Amaranthus caudatus. It is typically rich in bioactive compounds such as phenolic acids, lycopene, polyphenols, unsaturated fatty acids, glucosinolates, proteins, soluble peptides, flavonoids, squalene and betacarotene to say the least. As widely reported in the literature, its various capacities to fight diseases when ingested as food or medicine may not be unconnected to these bioactive compounds available in high concentrations. This current review, therefore, harmonized reports from scientific investigations that validated the use of A. caudatus for the treatment of various ailments such as Diabetes mellitus, cancer, malaria, hypercholesterolemia, atherosclerosis, helminthic and bacterial infections, inflammation, hepatic diseases and cardiovascular complications. With this, we hope to put in perspective, the key therapeutic options available in the plant.
    Matched MeSH terms: Amaranthus/chemistry*
  2. Hadibarata T, Nor NM
    Bioprocess Biosyst Eng, 2014 Sep;37(9):1879-85.
    PMID: 24623464 DOI: 10.1007/s00449-014-1162-0
    Polyporus sp. S133 decolorized the Amaranth in 72 h (30 mg L(-1)) under static and shaking conditions. Liquid medium containing glucose has shown the highest decolorization of Amaranth by Polyporus sp. S133. When the effect of increasing inoculum concentration on decolorization of Amaranth was studied, maximum decolorization was observed with 15 % inoculum concentration. Significant increase in the enzyme production of laccase (102.2 U L(-1)) was observed over the period of Amaranth decolorization compared to lignin peroxidase and manganese peroxidase. Germination rate of Sorghum vulgare and Triticum aestivum was less with Amaranth treatment as compared to metabolites obtained after its decolorization. Based on the metabolites detected by GC-MS, it was proposed that Amaranth was bio-transformed into two intermediates, 1-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid and 1,4-naphthaquinone. Overall findings suggested the ability of Polyporus sp. S133 for the decolorization of azo dye and ensured the ecofriendly degradation of Amaranth.
    Matched MeSH terms: Amaranthus/metabolism*
  3. Ahmad Mahir Razali, Khairiah Jusoh, Nor Asyikin A, Siti Adyani S, Wardatun Aathirah M, Maimon Abdullah, et al.
    Kajian yang dijalankan adalah berkaitan dengan penentuan model yang sesuai serta analisis data penyerapan logam berat oleh sayuran berdaun yang terpilih iaitu kangkung (Ipomea aquatica), sawi bunga (Brassica chinensis var parachinensis), bayam (Amaranthus oleraceus L) dan sawi putih (Brassica chinensis L.). Kajian ini bertujuan untuk menentukan dan membandingkan kandungan serta corak pengambilan logam berat yang diserap oleh sayuran dan juga bahagian-bahagiannya yang meliputi daun, batang dan akar. Penentuan model yang dibuat bertujuan bagi melihat corak penyerapan logam berat oleh sayuran atau bahagian sayuran tertentu. Logam berat yang dikaji terdiri daripada kadmium , kromium, kuprum, ferum , mangan, plumbum dan zink. Plot serakan digunakan bagi menentukan corak pengambilan logam berat dalam sayuran dan bahagian-bahagiannya. Selain itu ujian Kruskal-Wallis digunakan bagi membuat perbandingan median di antara logam berat yang diserap oleh sayuran yang dikaji. Nilai khi-kuasa dua dan juga nilai-p digunakan bagi menentukan sama ada sesuatu logam berat yang diserap itu berkait rapat dengan jenis sayuran secara signifikan. Secara umum bolehlah dikatakan bahawa logam Fe, Mn dan Zn adalah dominan dalam semua bahagian sayuran yang dikaji. Selain itu, melalui ujian Kruskal-Wallis didapati penyerapan kesemua logam berat pada setiap bahagian sayuran adalah berbeza secara signifikan. Penyuaian model regresi linear, kuadratik, kubik atau eksponen telah dilakukan terhadap data ini dan didapati kebanyakan data dapat disuaikan dengan baik oleh model kuadratik dan kubik berdasarkan nilai pekali penentuan (R2).
    Matched MeSH terms: Amaranthus
  4. Chew, S.C., Nagendra Prasad, K., Yang, Bao, Amin Ismail
    MyJurnal
    Changes in nitrate and nitrite contents (leaves and stem) of Amaranthus gangeticus (AG) and Amaranthus paniculatus (AP), resulting from blanching, storage time (0-4 days), storage temperature (0 and 4ºC), and reheating were analysed. Results showed that fresh AG (1859 ± 7.07 mg/kg) had higher nitrite content than AP (1262 ± 2.12 mg/kg). Nitrites content was 506 ± 2 and 825 ± 3.5 mg/kg for AG and AP, respectively. Reheating and storage times significantly increased the conversion of nitrate to nitrite in AG and AP. Storage at 0 and 4oC exhibited a significant change (P < 0.05) in nitrate and nitrite contents for both samples. Higher nitrite content was found in AP when stored at 4oC and 0oC. The present study indicated that storage time and temperature affected the nitrite contents in blanched AG and AP when stored in low temperatures. Apart from that reheating was also found to increase the formation of nitrite.
    Matched MeSH terms: Amaranthus
  5. Chong, P.H., Yusof, Y.A., Aziz, M.G., Mohd. Nazli, N., Chin, N.L., Syed Muhammad, S.K.
    MyJurnal
    The present study was aimed at assessing the effect of solvents on the yield and the color properties of amaranth extract. Two species of amaranth namely Amaranthus gangeticus and Amaranthus blitum were extracted with water, methanol and ethanol. Seven parameters like betacyanin content, total soluble solids, lightness (L*), redness (a*), yellowness (b*), hue angle (h*) and chroma (c*) were analyzed to assess extraction efficiency. Correlation analysis was carried out to assess the linear association among the analytical variables. Principal component analysis was used to establish the relationships between the different analytical variables and to detect the most important factors of variability. Among the two varieties, Amaranthus gangeticus extract contained about two and half time more betacyanin with half of total soluble solids compared to Amaranthus blitum. Water is the best as solvent for extracting betacyanin from Amaranthus gangeticus and ethanol in case of Amaranthus blitum. Among the analytical parameters, a* and c* were perfectly correlated. Three principal components were found among the seven analytical variables accounting 88% of total variability. The first principal components mostly reflected the redness (a*), whereas the second principal components reflected the betacyanin content, total soluble solids and lightness (L* value).
    Matched MeSH terms: Amaranthus
  6. Yong YY, Dykes G, Lee SM, Choo WS
    Plant Foods Hum Nutr, 2017 Mar;72(1):41-47.
    PMID: 27917454 DOI: 10.1007/s11130-016-0586-x
    Betacyanins are reddish to violet pigments that can be found in red pitahaya (Hylocereus polyrhizus) and red spinach (Amaranthus dubius). This study investigated the impact of sub-fractionation (solvent partitioning) on betacyanin content in both plants. Characterization of betacyanins and evaluation of their antimicrobial activities were also carried out. Betanin was found in both plants. In addition, isobetanin, phyllocactin and hylocerenin were found in red pitahaya whereas amaranthine and decarboxy-amaranthine were found in red spinach. Sub-fractionated red pitahaya and red spinach had 23.5 and 121.5 % more betacyanin content, respectively, than those without sub-fractionation. Sub-fractionation increased the betanin and decarboxy-amaranthine content in red pitahaya and red spinach, respectively. The betacyanin fraction from red spinach (minimum inhibitory concentration [MIC] values: 0.78-3.13 mg/mL) demonstrated a better antimicrobial activity profile than that of red pitahaya (MIC values: 3.13-6.25 mg/mL) against nine Gram-positive bacterial strains. Similarly, the red spinach fraction (MIC values: 1.56-3.13 mg/mL) was more active than the red pitahaya fraction (MIC values: 3.13-6.25 mg/mL) against five Gram-negative bacterial strains. This could be because of a higher amount of betacyanin, particularly amaranthine in the red spinach.
    Matched MeSH terms: Amaranthus/chemistry*
  7. Cheng A
    Plant Sci, 2018 Apr;269:136-142.
    PMID: 29606211 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2018.01.018
    Genetic erosion of crops has been determined way back in the 1940s and accelerated some twenty years later by the inception of the Green Revolution. Claims that the revolution was a complete triumph remain specious, especially since the massive production boost in the global big three grain crops; wheat, maize, and rice that happened back then is unlikely to recur under current climate irregularities. Presently, one of the leading strategies for sustainable agriculture is by unlocking the genetic potential of underutilized crops. The primary focus has been on a suite of ancient cereals and pseudo-cereals which are riding on the gluten-free trend, including, among others, grain amaranth, buckwheat, quinoa, teff, and millets. Each of these crops has demonstrated tolerance to various stress factors such as drought and heat. Apart from being the centuries-old staple in their native homes, these crops have also been traditionally used as forage for livestock. This review summarizes what lies in the past and present for these underutilized cereals, particularly concerning their potential role and significance in a rapidly changing world, and provides compelling insights into how they could one day be on par with the current big three in feeding a booming population.
    Matched MeSH terms: Amaranthus/genetics
  8. SITI NABILAH MOHAMMAD SABRI, NURUL FAZIHA IBRAHIM, SITI NABILAH MOHAMMAD SABRI, SUHAIZAN LOB
    MyJurnal
    Green amaranth (Amaranthus viridis L.) is one of the most popular leafy vegetables cultivated in Malaysia. Photo-selective netting is a revolutionary agricultural-technical idea, allowing traditional nets to be improved to a sophisticated level, which can impact microclimate and solar radiation as well as protect crops from pests. This study aims to investigate the growth performance of green amaranth under different three different treatments of photo-selective nets including black, and yellow shade nets and control. The assessed physiological, pre-harvest and post-harvest parameters were air temperature and relative humidity, measurement of absorption of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), plant height, number of leaves, and dry weight. This study found that the yellow shade net showed the best performance in plant growth with the average difference in plant height (4.11 cm), average leaves number (7 leaves) and average dry weight (18.58 mg) were the highest compared to black shade net and control (without shading). In conclusion, photo-selective yellow shade net was able to enhance the growth development of green amaranth and could be applied in the large scale production to boost the growth and yield of leafy vegetables.
    Matched MeSH terms: Amaranthus
  9. Chang, S.K., Nagendra Prasad, K., Amin, I.
    MyJurnal
    Green leafy vegetables are good sources of carotenoids. Generally, food composition databases related to raw foods are available, but data on cooked foods in Malaysia are still lacking. Since carotenoids are prone to degradation during cooking processes, the present study was undertaken to evaluate the extent of nutrient loss in vegetables subjected to two conventional cooking methods, which were boiling and stir-frying with cooking durations of 4 and 8 minutes. The vegetables selected were Chinese cabbage (Brassica Pekinensis var. cephalata), swamp cabbage (Ipomoea aquatica), spinach (Spinacia oleracea), Ceylon spinach (Basella rubra), red spinach (Amaranthus gangeticus), white spinach (Amaranthus viridis) and tapioca shoots (Manihot utilissima). Percentage losses of nutrients after cooking treatment were calculated based on retention factors. Results obtained showed that stir-frying had reduced lutein content for all vegetables ranging from 8-89% while the effect of boiling for lutein varied (0-428%) with different vegetables at both cooking durations of 4 and 8 min. Boiling for 8 min increased retention of β carotene in all vegetables ranging from 18-380% except for Chinese cabbage and spinach compared with 4 min, while stir-frying generally increased the retention of β-carotene for all vegetables 2-3 times except for spinach. Cooked vegetables have variations in carotenoids composition brought by varying cooking conditions (time and temperature), type of vegetables and the interaction between cooking methods and type of vegetables.
    Matched MeSH terms: Amaranthus
  10. Kimenyu P, Oyaro N, Chacha J, Tsanuo M
    Population in urban centers in Kenya is increasing rapidly due to rural urban migration in search of better paying jobs. This migration has resulted in unauthorized settlements in the various urban centers. The income per capital of these people is less than a dollar a day. The amount of money is inadequate for survival and this has resulted into cultivating on open grounds for food crops. Unfortunately, these slums have come up along rivers, which carry, wastewater from household and industries. This wastewater is rich in heavy metals and the inhabitants of these areas use this contaminated water for irrigating their crops. The food crops from such areas have very high levels of heavy metals. The present study has screened Zea mays, Commelina bengalensis and Amaranthus hybridus for their ability to bioaccumulate these metals from contaminated soils using atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). The results obtained showed that the C. bengalensis has high potential for removal of Cu, Pb and Cd metals as compared to the Zea mays and Amaranthus hybridus even though, results showed that C. bengalensis has a low potential for the removal of Zn as compared to Zea mays and Amaranthus hybridus.
    Matched MeSH terms: Amaranthus
  11. Rahman MM, Azirun SM, Boyce AN
    PLoS One, 2013;8(5):e62941.
    PMID: 23667546 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0062941
    Soil contamination by copper (Cu) and lead (Pb) is a widespread environmental problem. For phytoextraction to be successful and viable in environmental remediation, strategies that can improve plant uptake must be identified. In the present study we investigated the use of nitrogen (N) fertilizer as an efficient way to enhance accumulation of Cu and Pb from contaminated industrial soils into amaranth, Indian mustard and sunflower.
    Matched MeSH terms: Amaranthus/metabolism*
  12. Yong YY, Ong MWK, Dykes G, Choo WS
    FEMS Microbiol Lett, 2021 01 26;368(1).
    PMID: 33338235 DOI: 10.1093/femsle/fnaa214
    Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are bacteria that cause biofilm-associated infections. The aim of this study was to determine the activity of combined betacyanin fractions from Amaranthus dubius (red spinach) and Hylocereus polyrhizus (red pitahaya) against biofilms formed by co-culture of S. aureus and P. aeruginosa on different polymer surfaces. Various formulations containing different concentrations of the betacyanin fractions were investigated for biofilm-inhibiting activity on polystyrene surfaces using crystal violet assay and scanning electron microscopy. A combination of each betacyanin fraction (0.625 mg mL-1) reduced biofilm formation of five S. aureus strains and four P. aeruginosa strains from optical density values of 1.24-3.84 and 1.25-3.52 to 0.81-2.63 and 0.80-1.71, respectively. These combined fractions also significantly inhibited dual-species biofilms by 2.30 and reduced 1.0-1.3 log CFU cm-2 bacterial attachment on polymer surfaces such as polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, polypropylene and silicone rubber. This study demonstrated an increase in biofilm-inhibiting activity against biofilms formed by two species using combined fractions than that by using single fractions. Betacyanins found in different plants could collectively be used to potentially decrease the risk of biofilm-associated infections caused by these bacteria on hydrophobic polymers.
    Matched MeSH terms: Amaranthus/chemistry*
  13. Yong YY, Dykes G, Lee SM, Choo WS
    J Appl Microbiol, 2019 Jan;126(1):68-78.
    PMID: 30153380 DOI: 10.1111/jam.14091
    AIMS: To investigate the biofilm inhibitory activity of betacyanins from red pitahaya (Hylocereus polyrhizus) and red spinach (Amaranthus dubius) against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms.

    METHODS AND RESULTS: The pulp of red pitahaya and the leaves of red spinach were extracted using methanol followed by subfractionation to obtain betacyanin fraction. The anti-biofilm activity was examined using broth microdilution assay on polystyrene surfaces and expressed as minimum biofilm inhibitory concentration (MBIC). The betacyanin fraction from red spinach showed better anti-biofilm activity (MBIC: 0·313-1·25 mg ml-1 ) against five Staph. aureus strains while the betacyanin fraction from red pitahaya showed better anti-biofilm activity (MBIC: 0·313-0·625 mg ml-1 ) against four P. aeruginosa strains. Both betacyanin fraction significantly reduced hydrophobicity of Staph. aureus and P. aeruginosa strains. Numbers of Staph. aureus and P. aeruginosa attached to polystyrene were also reduced without affecting their cell viability.

    CONCLUSION: Betacyanins can act as anti-biofilm agents against the initial step of biofilm formation, particularly on a hydrophobic surface like polystyrene.

    SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study is the first to investigate the use of betacyanin as a biofilm inhibitory agent. Betacyanin could potentially be used to reduce the risk of biofilm-associated infections.

    Matched MeSH terms: Amaranthus/chemistry*
  14. Siaw YM, Jeevanandam J, Hii YS, Chan YS
    Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol, 2020 Dec;393(12):2253-2264.
    PMID: 32632566 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-020-01934-x
    In recent times, magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoparticles are proven to be an excellent antibacterial agent which inhibits the growth of bacteria by generating reactive oxygen species (ROS). Release of ROS by nanoparticles will damage the cell membrane of bacteria and leads to the leakage of bacterial internal components and cell death. However, chemically synthesized MgO nanoparticles may possess toxic functional groups which may inhibit healthy human cells along with bacterial cells. Thus, the aim of the present study is to synthesize MgO nanoparticles using leaf extracts of Amaranthus tricolor and photo-irradiation of visible light as a catalyst, without addition of any chemicals. Optimization was performed using Box-Behnken design (BBD) to obtain the optimum condition required to synthesize smallest nanoparticles. The parameters such as time of reaction, the concentration of precursor, and light intensity have been identified to affect the size of biosynthesized nanoparticles and was optimized. The experiment performed with optimized conditions such as 0.001 M concentration of magnesium acetate as precursor, 5 cm distance of light (intensity), and 15 min of reaction time (light exposure) has led to the formation of 74.6 nm sized MgO nanoparticles. The antibacterial activities of MgO nanoparticles formed via photo-irradiation and conventional biosynthesis approach were investigated and compared. The lethal dosage of E. coli for photo-irradiated and conventional biosynthesis MgO nanoparticles was 0.6 ml and 0.4 ml, respectively. Likewise, the lethal dosage of S. aureus for both biosynthesis approaches was found to be 0.4 ml. The results revealed that the antibacterial activity of MgO nanoparticles from both biosynthesis approaches was similar. Thus, photo-irradiated MgO nanoparticles were beneficial over heat-mediated conventional method due to the reduced synthesis duration.
    Matched MeSH terms: Amaranthus*
  15. Malays J Nutr, 2003;9(1):-.
    MyJurnal
    As consumer interest in organically grown vegetables is increasing in Malaysia, there is a need to answer whether the vegetables are more nutritious than those conventionally grown. This study investigates commercially available vegetables grown organically and conventionally, purchased from retailers to analyse â-carotene, vitamin C and riboflavin contents. Five types of green vegetables were selected, namely Chinese mustard (sawi) (Brassica juncea), Chinese kale (kailan) (Brassica alboglabra), lettuce (daun salad) (Lactuca sativa), spinach (bayam putih) (Amaranthus viridis) and swamp cabbage (kangkung) (Ipomoea aquatica). For vitamin analysis, a reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography was used to identify and quantify β-carotene, vitamin C and riboflavin. The findings showed that not all of the organically grown vegetables were higher in vitamins than that conventionally grown. This study found that only swamp cabbage grown organically was highest in β-carotene , vitamin C and riboflavin contents among the entire samples studied. The various nutrients in organically grown vegetables need to be analysed for the generation of a database on nutritional value which is important for future research.
    Matched MeSH terms: Amaranthus
  16. MyJurnal
    This study was conducted to evaluate antimicrobial properties of ethanolic extracts of the leaves of Nephelium lappaceum, Curcuma longa, Cinnamomun cassia, Durio zibethinus, Vitex trifolia, Amaranthus tricolor, Syzygium samarangense and Manihot esculenta. Antibacterial properties of the extracts were studied against fifteen strains of different gram positive and gram negative pathogenic bacteria, including Bacillus cereus, Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Vibrio para, and Escherichia coli using the agar disk diffusion method. Among the tested extracts, only Amaranthus tricolor exhibited specific inhibition of one of the tested bacteria; Bacillus cereus. Using the microdilution method, its minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value was determined to be 20 mg/mL.
    Matched MeSH terms: Amaranthus
  17. Sani HA, Rahmat A, Ismail M, Rosli R, Endrini S
    Asia Pac J Clin Nutr, 2004;13(4):396-400.
    PMID: 15563447
    The objective of this study was to determine the anti cancer effects of red spinach (Amaranthus gangeticus Linn) in vitro and in vivo. For in vitro study, microtitration cytotoxic assay was done using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-il)-2,5-diphenil tetrazolium bromide (MTT) kit assay. Results showed that aqueous extract of A gangeticus inhibited the proliferation of liver cancer cell line (HepG2) and breast cancer cell line (MCF-7). The IC(50) values were 93.8 mu g/ml and 98.8 mu g/ml for HepG2 and MCF-7, respectively. The inhibitory effect was also observed in colon cancer cell line (Caco-2), but a lower percentage compared to HepG2 and MCF-7. For normal cell line (Chang Liver), there was no inhibitory effect. In the in vivo study, hepatocarcinogenesis was monitored in rats according to Solt and Farber (1976) without partial hepatectomy. Assay of tumour marker enzymes such as glutathione S-transferase (GST), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), uridyl diphosphoglucuronyl transferase (UDPGT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were carried out to determine the severity of hepatocarcinogenesis. The result found that supplementation of 5%, 7.5% and 10% of A. gangeticus aqueous extract to normal rats did not show any significant difference towards normal control (P <0.05). The exposure of the rats to chemical carcinogens diethylnitrosamine (DEN) and 2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF) showed a significant increase in specific enzyme activity of GGT, GST, UDPGT and ALP compared to normal control (P <0.05). However, it was found that the supplementation of A. gangeticus aqueous extract in 5%, 7.5% and 10% to cancer-induced rats could inhibit the activity of all tumour marker enzymes especially at 10% (P <0.05). Supplementation of anti cancer drug glycyrrhizin at suggested dose (0.005%) did not show any suppressive effect towards cancer control (P <0.05). In conclusion, A. gangeticus showed anticancer potential in in vitro and in vivo studies.
    Matched MeSH terms: Amaranthus*
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