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Editor’s Choice : Phytochemical Screening and In-Vitro Evaluation of Antioxidant Activities of Various Extracts of Leaves and Stems of Kalanchoe crenata
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Abstract: Many diseases are associated with oxidative stress caused by free radicals. Current research is directed towards finding naturally occurring antioxidants of plant origin. Kalanchoe crenata Andr. (Crassulaceae), commonly known as "never die" or "Dog's liver," has been traditionally used for the treatment of ailments, such as, earache, smallpox, headache, inflammation, pain, asthma, palpitations, convulsion, and general debility. The aim of present research deals with phytochemical screening and in-vitro evaluation of antioxidant activities of the leaves & stems of K.crenata. Method: Successive extracts of leaves & stems was subjected for phytochemical screening. The preliminary screening reports the presence of saponins, phytosterols, flavanoids, phenols and alkaloids in the extracts. Various extracts of K.crenata leaves & stems was studied in-vitro for total antioxidant activity, for scavenging of nitric oxide, hydrogen peroxide, the antioxidant capacity by phosphomolybdenum, reducing power determination and determination of phenolic and flavonoid content in the extracts. 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydryzyl (DPPH) scavenging activity or the hydrogen donating capacity was quantified in presence of stable DPPH radical on the basis of Blois method. Nitric Oxide (NO) radical scavenging method was performed in the presence of nitric oxide generated from sodium nitroprusside using ascorbic acid as standard in both methods. The phenolic content was determined by using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent and flavonoid content was determined by aluminum chloride. Result: The radical scavenging activity was found to dose dependent. Thus extract has been established as an antioxidant. The reducing capacity serves as significant indicator of antioxidant activity. The reducing power was found to increase with the increasing concentration of extract. The 100mg plant powder yielded 0.34, 0.49, 0.72, 0.98%w/wand 0.15, 0.23, 0.39, 0.56%w/w phenolic content in the benzene, chloroform, acetone, ethanol extracts of leaves and stems respectively using gallic acid as standard. Plant contains about 0.19, 0.29, 0.48, 0.64%w/w and 0.11, 0.17, 0.32, 0.47 %w/w of flavonoid content in the benzene, chloroform, acetone, ethanol extracts of leaves and stems respectively using quercetin as standard. Conclusion: The present study provides evidence that different extracts of K.crenata leaves and stems is potential source of antioxidant activity. The extracts were found to contain phenolic compounds which could be responsible for the antioxidant properties. So K. crenata traditional use is justified in the present research work. Keywords: Kalanchoe crenata, DPPH scavenging activity, NO scavenging activity, phytochemical screening.Download Full Article |
Editor’s Choice : Quercetin Enhances Endurance Capacity via Antioxidant Activity and Size of Muscle Fibre Type 1
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Abstract: This study aimed to examine effects of quercetin on 1) endurance capacity 2) malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in skeletal muscle and 3) muscle fibre density and size in mice after an intense exercise. There were 5 groups: control, vitamin C (250 mg/kg body weight), quercetin 150, 300, and 450 mg/kg body weight respectively once a day for 28 days. Endurance capacity was measured by exhaustive swimming exercise test which was done 24-h after swimming at high intensity. Then muscles were analyzed for MDA, SOD activity, and muscle fibre density and size. After the 28-day treatment, endurance time in vitamin C and quercetin treated groups at dose of 150 mg/kg body weight were longer than the vehicle group (p<0.05). MDA concentration in extensor digitorum longus muscle was lower than vehicle group in vitamin C, Q150 and Q450 groups and in soleus muscle the highest was in Q300 group. SOD activity in soleus muscle in Q150 group was higher than vitamin C and Q450 groups. Significant increase in cell diameter of soleus muscle was found (p<0.05). Current findings suggest that ingestion of quercetin can improve endurance capacity, due probably to increased antioxidant activity and size of muscle fibre type 1. Keywords: Quercetin, oxidative stress, time to exhaustion, slow twitch muscle fibre.Download Full Article |
Editor’s Choice : Rose, a Potential Nutraceutical: An Assessment of the Total Phenolic Content and Antioxidant Activity
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Abstract: Rosa hybrida L. was reported to contain high total phenolic content and antioxidant activity. The scarce information on antioxidant properties of Malaysian cultivated R. hybrid L. had lead to the present study, which aimed to determine the effect of different solvent extraction on the total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of roses of different colours. All the 23 R. hybrida L. cultivars’ petals extracted with 70% ethanol had significantly higher 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity compared to the water extraction. The five cultivars (03, 203, 205, 402 and M203) that comprise the highest DPPH scavenging activity were subjected to various antioxidant assays. Cultivar M203 showed highest total phenolic content (TPC) at all concentration. Cultivar M203 and 402 gave higher DPPH radical scavenging ability (EC50=107.08 µg/ml) and 2,2-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzo-thiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical cation scavenging ability (EC50=258.13 µg/ml). In ferric reducing antioxidant power assay, cultivar M203 has the highest trolox equivalent value at 200, 300 and 500 µg/ml concentrations while in b-carotene bleaching assay, cultivars 03, 205, and M203 (at the concentration of 500 µg/ml) showed higher antioxidant activity than synthetic antioxidant (BHA). Strong positive correlations were found between TPC and antioxidant activities, hence, suggesting that the high antioxidant activity of selected R. hybrida L. petals might be mainly contributed by the phenolic compounds. In general, cultivar M203 showed the best antioxidant activity with nutraceutical potential. Keywords: Scavenging ability, solvent extraction, reducing power, Rosa hybrida L., total phenolic.Download Full Article |
Editor’s Choice : Red Dry Wine Modulates Plasma Cholesterol Levels and Cardiac Enzymes in Humans
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Abstract: Several studies has pointed that red wine diet, rich in polyphenols, has several effects like vasodilation, possible antioxidant effect, decrease of cellular events of atherosclerosis, decrease of blood pressure, and reduction of cardiovascular risks. This paper proposes an investigation of the effects of a 21 days diet of 200 ml dialy of red dry wine for markers of muscle injury such as CK and CK-MB, besides cholesterol and its fractions, LDL and HDL, and triglycerides, in normal subjects.The results showed decreased levels of plasma total cholesterol and LDL, and a tendency to increased levels of HDL, what suggests red dry wine has effects on decrease cardiovascular risks. However, significant increase of cardiac CK-MB isoenzyme was observed what could point to increase the oxidation of muscle tissues. It can be concluded that, despite the CK-MB increase, red dry wine can be considered as a tool to decrease cardiovascular diseases risks. Keywords: Red Wine, Polyphenols, Cholesterol, CK-MB enzyme, Cardiovascular risks.Download Full Article |
Editor’s Choice : Single Dose of Dietary Supplement Nutrex Lipo-6 Black® Limits the Post Exercise Hypotension Induced by Aerobic Exercise in Young Adults
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Abstract: Objective: to evaluate the blood pressure (BP) behavior and sympathetic activity in response to an aerobic exercise session after taking a dose of Nutrex Lipo-6 Black®. Methods: This randomized, placebo-controlled study utilized seventeen subjects, divided in supplementation (n=10, 26.5±5.3 years) and placebo groups (n=7, 22.4±2.8 years). They ingested a dose of Nutrex Lipo-6 Black® (containing synephrine, caffeine, yohimbine and diiodine)or placebo and underwent a session of 40min of aerobic exercise of moderate intensity. Heart rate (HR), BP and cardiac autonomic balance (measured by heart rate variability) (CANA) were monitored at baseline, 30min after supplementation, at the end of the exercise and every 10min during a recovery period of 30min. Results: After 30min of intake, Nutrex Lipo-6 Black® and placebo groups exhibited HR, BP and CANA similar to each other and in relation to the pre-supplementation moment. At the end of the exercise all variables showed a rise in relation to rest, but without statistical difference between groups (p>0,05). Moreover, at 30min of recovery, the Nutrex Lipo-6 Black® group presented with diastolic hypertensive response (increase of 4.2 mmHg) and a discrete post-exercise hypotension only to systolic pressure (-0.2 mmHg) relative to the pre-supplementation, while the placebo group showed evident both systolic and diastolic hypotension (-6.3 and -0.5 mmHg, respectively). HR and CANA were similar to pre-supplementation at this time. Conclusion: single dose of Nutrex Lipo-6 Black® is able to limit the benefits of an exercise session in reducing BP, even without affecting the resting conditions of BP and CANA. Keywords: Dietary Supplements, Sympathetic Nervous System, Exercise, Blood Pressure, Heart Rate, Post-Exercise Hypotension.Download Full Article |