Antioxidant activity of Cassia auriculata flowers

Ethnopharmacological, Phytochemical, Pharmacological, and Toxicological Review on Senna auriculata (L.) Roxb.: A Special Insight to Antidiabetic Property

Avartaki (Senna auriculata (L.) Roxb. syn. Cassia auriculata L.; Family- Fabaceae ) is a traditional medicinal plant, widely used for the treatment of various ailments in Ayurveda and Siddha system of medicine in India. Almost all the parts of the plant, such as flowers, leaves, seeds, barks, and roots have been reported for their medicinal uses. Traditionally, it has been used in the treatment of diabetes, asthma, rheumatism, dysentery, skin disease, and metabolic disorders. The principle phytochemicals in Senna auriculata (L.) Roxb. are alkaloids, anthraquinone, flavone glycosides, sugar, saponins, phenols, terpenoids, flavonoids, tannins, steroids, palmitic acid, linoleic acid, benzoic acid 2-hydroxyl methyl ester, 1-methyl butyl ester, resorcinol, α-tocopherol-β-D-mannosidase, epicatechin, ferulic acid, quercetin-3-O-rutinoside, quercetin, proanthocyanidin B1. The extracts from its different parts and their isolated compounds possess a wide range of pharmacological activities such as antidiabetic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antihyperlipidemic, hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, cardioprotective, anti-atherosclerotic, anticancer, antimutagenic, antimicrobial, antiulcer, antipyretic, anthelmintic, immunomodulatory, antifertility, anti-venom, and anti-melanogenesis. The toxicological findings from preclinical studies ensured the safety of the plant, but comprehensive clinical studies are required for the safety and efficacy of the plant in humans. The current review article aimed to provide up-to-date information about Senna auriculata (L.) Roxb. covering its ethnomedicinal, phytochemical, pharmacological, and toxicological aspects with special emphasis on its clinical implications in diabetes.

The effect of Salaciareticulata, Syzygiumcumini, Artocarpusheterophyllus, and Cassiaauriculata on controlling the rapid formation of advanced glycation end-products

BACKGROUND

The excessive formation of Advanced Glycation End-products (AGEs) by non-enzymatic glycation mediates many health complications in the human body and the formation of AGEs largely accelerated under the hyperglycaemic condition.

OBJECTIVE

The prospect of the study to assess the strength of inhibiting the rapid AGE formations in four Ayurvedic medicinal plants, namely; Salacia reticulata (stems), Syzygium cumini (barks), Artocarpus heterophyllus (mature leaves) and, Cassia auriculata (flowers).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Herbal decoctions of four medicinal plant materials were prepared by simmering with hot water as prescribed by the Ayurvedic medicine. The effectiveness of the decoctions was analyzed in vitro based on their Anti-AGE formation activity, glycation reversing, and anti-oxidant potentials.

RESULTS

According to the results, the decoctions of S. reticulata, A. heterophyllus and C. auriculata indicated the strong Anti-AGE forming (IC₅₀: 23.01 ± 2.70, 32.01 ± 2.09, 43.66 ± 2.11 mg/mL, respectively), glycation reversing (EC₅₀: 183.15 ± 7.67, 91.85 ± 1.93, 252.35 ± 4.03 mg/mL, respectively) and antioxidant potentials in terms of total polyphenol content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), ferric ion reducing power (FRAP), ABTS and DPPH radical scavenging activities. However, the decoction of S. cumini reported the significantly high (p < 0.05) Anti-AGE forming, (IC₅₀: 9.75 ± 0.32 mg/mL), glycation reversing (EC₅₀: 66.45 ± 4.51 mg/mL), and antioxidant potentials against the decoctions of the other three plant materials.

CONCLUSION

S. cumini bark extract was identified as the best source in controlling the formation of AGEs excessively. Further, the other three plant extracts can also be effectively used as potential therapeutic agents to control the pathological conditions associated with AGEs-mediated health complications.

In Vitro Antidiabetic Effects and Antioxidant Potential of Cassia nemophila Pods

The antidiabetic and antioxidant potential of ethanolic extract of Cassia nemophila pod (EECNP) was evaluated by three in vitro assays, including yeast glucose uptake assay, glucose adsorption assay, and DPPH radical scavenging activity. The result revealed that the extracts have enhanced the uptake of glucose through the plasma membrane of yeast cells. A linear increase in glucose uptake by yeast cells was noticed with gradual increase in the concentration of the test samples. Moreover, the adsorption capacity of the EECNP was directly proportional to the molar concentration of glucose. Also, the DPPH radical scavenging capacity of the extract was increased to a maximum value of 43.3% at 80 μg/ml, which was then decreased to 41.9% at 100 μg/ml. From the results, it was concluded that EECNP possess good antidiabetic and antioxidant properties as shown by in vitro assays.

Antihyperlipidemic activity of Cassia auriculata flower extract in oleic acid induced hyperlipidemia in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The Cassia auriculata herb has been traditionally used in India for medicinal purposes to treat hyperglycemia, diabetes, rheumatism, asthma, and skin diseases. In the present study, ethanolic extract of Cassia auriculata flower (Et-CAF) depicted anti-hyperlipidemic effect in the budding yeast cells. The hyperlipidemic conditions were induced in the yeast cells with oleic acid which showed an increase in triacylglycerol (TAG) and sterol esters (SE), and was supported by the mRNA expression of LRO1 and DGA1 (involved in TAG formation); as well as ARE1 and ARE2 (involved in SE formation). The anti-hyperlipidemic effect by the Et-CAF was compared with the commercial drug Atorvastatin. The lipid droplets were increased in the hyperlipidemic yeast cell that was observed under the confocal microscope with BODIPY staining; Atorvastatin and Et-CAF reduced the lipid droplets. This study revealed that the anti-hyperlipidemic effect in Et-CAF has gained importance and might be used to fill the gap created by the allopathic drugs.

Tick repellents and acaricides of botanical origin: a green roadmap to control tick-borne diseases?

Arthropods are dangerous vectors of agents of deadly diseases, which may hit as epidemics or pandemics in the increasing world population of humans and animals. Among them, ticks transmit more pathogen species than any other group of blood-feeding arthropods worldwide. Thus, the effective and eco-friendly control of tick vectors in a constantly changing environment is a crucial challenge. A number of novel routes have been attempted to prevent and control tick-borne diseases, including the development of (i) vaccines against viruses vectored by ticks; (ii) pheromone-based control tools, with special reference to the "lure and kill" techniques; (iii) biological control programmes relying on ticks' natural enemies and pathogens; and (iv) the integrated pest management practices aimed at reducing tick interactions with livestock. However, the extensive employment of acaricides and tick repellents still remains the two most effective and ready-to-use strategies. Unfortunately, the first one is limited by the rapid development of resistance in ticks, as well as by serious environmental concerns. On the other hand, the exploitation of plants as sources of effective tick repellents is often promising. Here, we reviewed current knowledge concerning the effectiveness of plant extracts as acaricides or repellents against tick vectors of public health importance, with special reference to Ixodes ricinus, Ixodes persulcatus, Amblyomma cajennense, Haemaphysalis bispinosa, Haemaphysalis longicornis, Hyalomma anatolicum, Hyalomma marginatum rufipes, Rhipicephalus appendiculatus, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, Rhipicephalus pulchellus, Rhipicephalus sanguineus and Rhipicephalus turanicus. Eighty-three plant species from 35 botanical families were selected. The most frequent botanical families exploited as sources of acaricides and repellents against ticks were Asteraceae (15 % of the selected studies), Fabaceae (9 %), Lamiaceae (10 %), Meliaceae (5 %), Solanaceae (6 %) and Verbenaceae (5 %). Regression equation analyses showed that the literature grew by approximately 20 % per year (period: 2005-2015). Lastly, in the final section, insights for future research are discussed. We focused on some caveats for future data collection and analysis. Current critical points mainly deal with (a) not uniform methods used, which prevent proper comparison of the results; (b) inaccurate tested concentrations, frequently 100 % concentration corresponded to the gross extract, where the exact amounts of extracted substances are unknown; and (c) not homogeneous size of tested tick instars and species. Overall, the knowledge summarized in this review may be helpful for comparative screening among extensive numbers of plant-borne preparations, in order to develop newer and safer tick control tools.

Antioxidants in aqueous extract of Myristica fragrans (Houtt.) suppress mitosis and cyclophosphamide-induced chromosomal aberrations in Allium cepa L. cells

In this study, freeze-dried water extract from the leaves of Myristica fragrans (Houtt.) was tested for mutagenic and antimutagenic potentials using the Allium cepa assay. Freeze-dried water extract alone and its combination with cyclophosphamide (CP) (50 mg/kg) were separately dissolved in tap water at 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 mg/kg. Onions (A. cepa) were suspended in the solutions and controls for 48 h in the dark. Root tips were prepared for microscopic evaluation. 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radicals' scavenging power of the extract was tested using butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) as standards. Water extract of Myristica fragrans scavenged free radicals better than BHA, but worse than BHT. The extract alone, as well as in combination with CP suppressed cell division, and induced chromosomal aberrations that were insignificantly different from the negative control (P ≤ 0.05). However, cytotoxic and mutagenic actions of CP were considerably suppressed. The observed effects on cell division and chromosomes of A. cepa may be principally connected to the antioxidant properties of the extract. The obtained results suggest mitodepressive and antimutagenic potentials of water extract of the leaves of M. fragrans as desirable properties of a promising anticancer agent.

Chemical composition and antioxidant activities of Broussonetia papyrifera fruits

Fruits of Broussonetia papyrifera from South China were analyzed for their total chemical composition, and antioxidant activities in ethanol and aqueous extracts. In the fruit of this plant, the crude protein, crude fat and carbohydrates was 7.08%, 3.72% and 64.73% of dry weight, respectively. The crude protein, crude fat and carbohydrates were 15.71%, 20.51% and 36.09% of dry weight, respectively. Fatty acid and amino acid composition of the fruit were analyzed. Unsaturated fatty acid concentration was 70.6% of the total fatty acids. The percentage of the essential amino acids (EAAs) was 40.60% of the total amino acids. Furthermore, B. papyrifera fruit are rich in many mineral elements and vitamins. Total phenolic content was assessed using the Folin-Ciocalteau assay, whereas antioxidant activities were assessed by measuring the ability of the two extracts to scavenge DPPH radicals, inhibit peroxidation, and chelate ferric ions. Their reducing power was also assessed. Results indicated that the aqueous extract of B. papyrifera was a more potent reducing agent and radical-scavenger than the ethanol extract. GC-MS analysis of the ethanol extract showed the presence of some acid-containing compounds. The changes in total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity in B. papyrifera from four different regions grown under normal conditions were assessed. The antioxidant activity of different extracts was positively associated with their total phenolic content. These results suggest that the fruit of B. papyrifera could be used in dietary supplement preparations, or as a food additive, for nutritional gain, or to prevent oxidation in food products.