Ethnic food beverages with heavy metal contents: Parameters for associated risk to human health, North-East India

Food beverage consumption is a worldwide age-old practice. It is also a common run-through habit among the tribes of North Eastern parts of India. The food beverage group Jou is a traditionally fermented rice-based beverage by Bodo community of Assam, the largest plain tribe. It is not only consumed by Bodos on regular basis but also widely used in their socio-cultural activities. Joubidwi (JB, fermented product), Joufinai (JF, preserved product) and Jougwran (JG, distilled) are the three varieties of Jou. Herewith, it had been reported; the concentrations of metals such as Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb and Zn in the three varieties of Jou to make people aware about the possible health benefits as well as the risks associated with the consumption of Jou. The metal contents were estimated using ICP-OES after digesting the samples with 10:1 mixture of concentrated nitric and concentrated sulfuric acid. The estimated daily intakes (EDI) of metals from consumption of JB, JF and JG were also within the recommended daily allowances (RDA). From the estimated target hazard quotient (THQ) values, it was observed no health risk associated with the consumption of Jou; whereas total target hazard quotient (TTHQ) of Joufinai were associated with more health risks. Metal concentrations of all metals in Bodo beverages was lower in comparison with barely based and wheat based beverages.

Procyanidin A2, an anti-diabetic condensed tannin extracted from Wendlandia glabrata, reduces elevated G-6-Pase and mRNA levels in diabetic mice and increases glucose uptake in CC1 hepatocytes and C1C12 myoblast cells

To reduce the global burden of diabetes in an affordable way great attention has been paid to the search for functional foods and herbal remedies. One of the most popularly used functional foods in the North Eastern region of India is tender shoots of Wendlandia glabrata DC. In the current study identification of active anti-diabetic constituent of the tender shoots of W. glabrata was guided through α-glucosidase inhibition and procyanidin A2 was identified with IC₅₀ 0.27 ± 0.01 μg mL⁻¹ making it potential source for postprandial management of DM type 2. The study has also demonstrated procyanidin A2 as a potent anti-diabetic agent that exhibits significant glucose-6-phosphatase inhibitory activities and downregulated mRNA level in diabetic mice as well as increases glucose uptake in hepatocytes and myoblast cells. This study revealed that easily available tender shoots of W. glabrata could be used to make specific dietary recommendations for consumption for affordable management of diabetes.

Wendlandia glabrata and procyanidin A2 isolated thereof are exhibited significant anti-diabetic effect.

Selective Reduction of Aromatic Nitro Groups in the Presence of Amide Functionality

Pressure mediated selective reduction of aromatic nitro groups in the presence of amide functionality has been achieved by use of hydrazine hydrate.

In vitro and in vivo anti-diabetic and hepatoprotective effects of edible pods of Parkia roxburghii and quantification of the active constituent by HPLC-PDA

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Parkia roxburghii G. Don. is a traditional medicinal plant and its pods are extensively used as food and medicine. It is believed by the traditional healers to have medicinal properties to treat diabetes, hypertension and urinary tract infections (Jamaluddin et al., 1994).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The methanolic extract of pods of P roxburghii and fractions were screened for their α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibitory activity. Anti-hyperglycemic effects were studied on streptozotocin (45mg/kg b.w.) induced diabetes in albino rats (seven groups, n=7 n=6), using different doses for 14 days. Plasma glucose concentration (HbA1c) was analysed using whole blood, while SGOT, SGPT, TG, TC and uric acid were analysed using serum, employing commercial kits. Quantitative analysis of the major active constituent was carried out by HPLC-PDA.

RESULTS

Bioactivity guided chemical investigation of the edible pods of P roxburghii identified sub-fraction EA-Fr 5 which significantly inhibited α-glucosidase (IC50 0.39±0.06 µgmL(-1)), reduced the blood glucose level to normal, and lowered the elevated levels of liver function enzymes SGOT and SGPT in STZ-induced diabetic rats. EA-Fr 5 was found to contain epigallocatechin gallate (1) and hyperin (2) which exhibited significantly higher α-glucosidase inhibitory potency with IC50 0.51±0.09 and 0.71±0.03µM respectively. EA-Fr 5 contained 379.82±2.90mg/g of EGCG, the major active constituent which manifests a broad spectrum of biological activities.

CONCLUSION

The present investigation for the first time reports the occurrence of EGCG and hyperin in P roxburghii and substantiates the traditional use of pods of P roxburghii as dietary supplement for management of diabetes with significantly promising α-glucosidase inhibitory potency and anti-hyperglycemic as well as hepatoprotective effects.

Organocatalytic domino Knöevenagel–Michael reaction in water for the regioselective synthesis of benzo[4,5]imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidines and pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidin-2-amines

An organocatalyzed aqueous media domino reaction is developed for the regioselective synthesis of benzo[4,5]imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidines and pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidin-2-amines.

Reaction of 6-aminouracils with aldehydes in water as both solvent and reactant under FeCl3·6H2O catalysis: towards 5-alkyl/arylidenebarbituric acids

5-Alkyl/arylidenebarbituric acids were efficiently synthesized through an FeCl₃·6H₂O catalyzed domino reaction of 6-aminouracils, water and aldehydes with water serving a dual role as both solvent and reactant, under benign conditions.

Fenton oxidation and combined Fenton-microbial treatment for remediation of crude oil contaminated soil in Assam - India

The study is aimed at the remediation of soil spiked with crude oil (5%) by employing Fenton oxidation, biological treatment and combined Fenton-biological treatment. A spiked concentration of 5% crude oil was selected on the basis of contamination levels of 0-5% as found in the soil of upper Assam oil fields (India). The degradation of the aliphatic fraction (C14-C28) of the crude oil was investigated by gas chromatography. Fenton oxidation was carried out at different pH (3 to 8) in a laboratory batch reactor and maximum oxidative degradation was observed at pH 3-5. At pH 3, single Fenton oxidation resulted in 36 and 57% degradation in 5 and 10 days respectively. Biological treatment (with Fusarium solani) and combined Fenton-biological treatment were carried out with a one month incubation period. Biological treatment alone brought about 61% degradation of the crude oil while the combined process could achieve as much as 75% degradation of the aliphatic fractions of the crude oil.

Isolation and identification of antimicrobial agent-producing bacterium from Taxus baccata rhizosphere antagonistic against clinically significant microbes

A bacterium identified as Pseudomonas fluorescence was isolated from Taxus baccata rhizosphere. Ethyl acetate extract from its culture filtrate yielded an active antimicrobial compound that was purified by TLC. The active metabolites were resolved by column chromatography on silica gel (60-120 mesh). The compound was further characterized on the basis of spectral data (UV, IR and (1)HNMR), which indicated the presence of an aromatic ring and phenolic functionality. The compound showed significant antimicrobial activity against two-gram positive bacteria (B. subtilis and S. aureus), four-gram negative bacteria (E. coli, K. pneumoniae, S. flexneri and P. aeruginosa), and one pathogenic fungus (Candida albicans). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the compound ranged between 75μg to 250 μg/ml.