Current Functional Foods - Current Issue

The purpose of this study was to determine the antioxidant capacity of Abana^® (a poly-ingredient formulation with natural constituents).

Extensive ethanol extraction of polyherbal formulations was followed by fractionation into petroleum ether, chloroform, and ethyl acetate extracts. Various fractions were further analyzed using this conventional method for phytochemical composition and concentration-dependent antioxidant activity. Due to the presence of phenolic compounds in the formulation, the extracts were analyzed for total phenolic content, flavonoid content, and in-vitro antioxidant activity. Antioxidant capacity was determined using total reducing potential, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2-azinobis-ethyl-benzothiazoline-sulphonic acid diammonium salt (ABTS) and nitric oxide inhibition assays.

Primitive phytochemical screening revealed the presence of steroids, saponins, flavonoids, alkaloids, and tannins which were confirmed using thin-layer chromatography. The antioxidant activity of Abana tablet extracts decreased in the order of ethyl acetate > ethanolic > chloroform > petroleum ether comparable to that of ascorbic acid and butylated hydroxytoluene.

The current investigation suggests that the ethanolic extract and fractions of Abana polyherbal formulations exhibit significant antioxidant activity. Our results strongly imply that polyherbal compounds are a potential source of antioxidants capable of scavenging free radicals. The strong positive connection between antiradical scavenging activity and overall polyphenolic concentration in polyherbal drugs demonstrates that polyphenols are significant components capable of scavenging free radicals. Additional research is required to isolate and characterize the active moiety responsible for biological activity and treat it under various stress conditions.

Momordica charantia Linnaeus (Cucurbitaceae family), known as bitter melon is an annual climbing vine, that grows in tropical regions and its fruits are consumed as a vegetable in Asian countries. Traditionally various parts of the plant such as fruits, seeds, leaves, flowers, etc. have been used for medicinal purposes. Its fruit is used as an anti-diabetic, laxative, anthelmintic, emetic, and anti-obesity, for respiratory problems, ulcers, wounds, rheumatism, gout, toothache, and skin diseases.

To perform pharmacognostical evaluation, qualitative and quantitative phytochemical screening, safety and toxicity studies, and in vitro anti-obesity activity evaluation on bitter gourd fruits from Haryana (India).

Organoleptic studies were performed with the naked eye and microscopical studies were performed using the EVOS microscope; physicochemical evaluation, microbial, and mycotoxin studies were performed by adopting the standard procedures detailed in the WHO guidelines (2011); phytochemical screening was performed by following the standard procedures; pesticide residue determination was performed by using GCMS; and in vitro anti-obesity evaluation consisting of in vitro pancreatic lipase, α-amylase, and α-glucosidase evaluation was performed by following the standard procedures.

The pharmacognostical standards i.e. macroscopy, microscopy, and physicochemical analyses of the fruits were established and their qualitative and quantitative phytochemical contents revealed the presence of alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids, tannins, proteins, and amino acids, carbohydrates, fats, and fixed oils, sterols, and triterpenoids, etc. The fruit was found to be free from mycotoxin, microbial contamination, and harmful pesticide residues. The major pesticides found to be present in fruit extract were alpha-BHC, Aldrin, 4, 4’-DDE, Endrin, and4, 4'-DDD and they were present within permissible limits. The total phenolic content in the fruits was found to be 3.49 ± 1.3mg/g gallic acid equivalent/100g. The content of total flavonoids have been expressed as quercetin, catechin, and rutin equivalents, i.e., 1.88 ± 0.16, 122.7 ± 13.8 and 1.978 ± 0.006 mg/g dry weight of fruits respectively and they were present within permissible limits. The α-glucosidase inhibition potential of the alcoholic extract was good with an IC50 value of 173.50 ± 0.33 µg/ml, followed by aqueous extract i.e. 351.00 ± 0.56, whereas the chloroform extract showed milder inhibition with IC50 value of 448.60 ± 0.98 µg/ml. The lipase inhibition potential of aqueous extracts was good with an IC50 value of 140.31 ± 0.48µg/ml, followed by alcoholic extracts, with inhibition of 100.10 µg/ml, whereas the chloroform extracts show lesser inhibition, i.e., 499.83 µg/ml only. Whereas the alcoholic extract shows good α-amylase enzyme inhibition with IC50 value of 425.44 ± 0.63 µg/ml, followed by aqueous extract i.e., 486.12 ± 0.77 µg/ml, and chloroform extract shows lesser activity, i.e., 65. 82 ± 0.41 µg/ml.

Identification and authentication of the fruits was performed with the help of pharmacognostical and physicochemical standards, and they could be useful for the monograph preparation of the plant and in controlling the commercial adulteration of the bitter gourd fruits. Safety and toxicity studies have determined that the fruits were fit for consumption. In vitro anti-obesity evaluation findings can be further explored in vivo for testing their therapeutic efficacy in lab animals. Proper identification of the crude drug helps the researchers in reproducing the results and carrying the research forward without wasting time that usually occurs due to misidentification of the crude drug which makes lab results difficult to reproduce.

Worldwide, Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a frequently diagnosed cancer, having significant variations in its epidemiology. It ranks as the sixth prevailing neoplasm and is considered the third leading cause of mortality due to cancer. It accounts for 90% of primary liver cancers. Till date, an effective prevention or treatment is absent except for liver resection, chemotherapy and a frequently applied drug -sorafenib. Recently, various plant products and nutraceuticals are found to be effective in the treatment of HCC. ‘Nutraceuticals’ is a term that brings into light the two giants of health sciences - nutrient and pharmaceutical. Nutraceuticals provide medical or health benefits and include prevention or treatment of a disease. These are generally ‘functional foods’, which are whole, or ‘fortified, enriched and enhanced’ in nutritional value to satisfy the required amount of essential nutrients and to confer health benefits.

This study is based on the recent advancements achieved in the field of HCC treatment using a variety of emerging nutraceuticals that are effective, solely, or act as an adjuvant in its treatment. Nutraceuticals such as standardized extracts of ginger, fucoidan, curcumin, pro-anthocyanidins, epigallocatechin gallate, apigenin and other nutraceuticals are being studied extensively for their efficacy against HCC along with their proposed mechanism of action or potential targets for the treatment or prevention of HCC.

With the aid of various ulcer-induced models, the goal of this study was to assess the antiulcer ability of Quisqualis indica (Q. indica) leaf extracts in Wistar rats.

The induction of ulcers was done by different models like pylorus ligation method, ethanol-induced and stress-induced models. Group 1 (negative control), Group 2 (standard group) were treated with Sucralfate (8.6 mg/kg), Group 3 was treated with aqueous extract of Q. indica (AEQI,200 mg/kg), Group 4 was treated with aqueous extract of Q. indica (AEQI,400 mg/kg), Group 5 was treated with ethanolic extract of Q. indica (EEQI, 200 mg/kg) and Group 6 was treated with ethanol extract of Q. indica (EEQI, 400 mg/kg). All therapies were given orally twice every day. After the course of treatment was complete, blood and gastrointestinal contents were taken, and biochemical tests were run. The acetylcholine and histamine drug response curves were used to develop the mechanism of the extracts.

The groups treated with extracts experienced a significant decrease in ulcer index. The antiulcer potential of the AEQI and EEQI is dose-dependent. Hematological, hepatic, and cardiac parameters were not significantly affected by the extracts, although high-density lipoprotein production was. Acetylcholine and histamine are blocked by AEQI and EEQI, according to the DRC analysis. The obtained scientific facts are amply supported by histopathological analysis.

AEQI and EEQI have antiulcer potential in a dose-dependent manner, but further research must be needed.

Given the lack of options for treating infectious diseases, it is urgent to explore new antimicrobials. Plant food historically represents relevant sources of antimicrobial molecules.

Here, we show that green tea can eradicate biofilms and planktonic cells of clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

We conducted in vitro antimicrobial activity tests (MIC, MBC, MBEC). Cytotoxicity tests were conducted using BGM cells. We used UPLC and GC-MS to detect flavonoids and other relevant phytomolecules. The antioxidant potential was assessed using the ®-carotene bleaching test. The extract was combined to clinically relevant antimicrobial drugs in vitro to investigate possible synergism or antagonism.

To the best of our knowledge, MIC values are among the lowest ever described for the alcoholic extract (8 μg/mL). The extract presented elevated antioxidant potential and was not toxic to BGM cells. When the extract was combined to clinically relevant antimicrobial drugs, statistically significant antagonism was frequent for the drugs used against S. aureus isolates, whilst significant synergism was observed for some drugs used against P. aeruginosa isolates.

Our data open doors for exploring isolated molecules from green tea extract against bacterial biofilms, and for developing formulations for clinical treatments.