Current Bioactive Compounds - Volume 11, Issue 4, 2015

Background: Plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) is thought to play a vital role in the pathogenesis of vascular disease in the general population. Homocysteine (Hcy) is a non-essential, non-protein sulfur containing amino acid that constitutes an additional risk factor for CHD. In Pakistan rates of CAD are higher and have become a major health problem of the country. This study is an attempt to assess the risk factors, including tHcy levels in various conditions associated with CVD and its comparison with the normal population. Methods: 800 cases with CVD problems were enrolled for the estimation of tHCY. For comparison, 200normal subjects were included. tHcy was estimated by IMMULITE 1000 systems. Analysis of variance and descriptive statistics were worked out. Results & Conclusion: A significant difference (P < 0.05) was observed in plasma tHcy level in patients with angina, angina with co-existent DM and hypertension, whereas, a non-significant difference was observed in plasma tHcy level in patients with MI or the control group. It was concluded that Elevated tHcy levels have been associated with gender (higher levels in males), post menopausal women and advancing age. Significantly higher tHcy levels were observed in patients with angina in both genders, and in CVD patients with diabetes and in hypertensive and MI patients respectively. It can be inferred that homocysteine was significantly higher (P<0.05) in all categories of CVD, when compared with the control. Homocysteine can be used as the indicator for predicting the future possibility of the onset of cardiovascular disorders and may be averted by adopting appropriate nutritional intervention.

In the recent few years, the organic compounds containing Schiff bases as integral part of their structures have gained much attention because of unique biological properties exhibited by such compounds. Among different types of pharmacologically active Schiff bases, the anti-cancer agents are one of the hottest topics of research worldwide. In this review, we highlight the recent advances in Schiff bases based compounds displaying anticancer activities from 2000 to present.

The current study was designed to explore the phytotoxic potential of extracts/fractions of various parts of Pistacia integerrima and isolated flavonoids (1-3) against Lemna aequinoctialis. The results demonstrated marked phytotoxic activity of extracts/fractions of different parts of the plant when studied at different concentrations (10, 100 and 1000 μg/mL). The overall results showed that roots of the plant were most phytotoxic as compared to other parts while chloroform and ethyl acetate fractions were most phytotoxic fractions. The isolated flavonoids (1-3) strongly supported the phytotoxic activities of extracts in a dose-dependent manner. POM analyzes complemented the use of these compounds as potential safe herbicides in multiple pharmaceutical applications. In short, it is concluded that the different parts of the plant and isolated flavonoids possessed significant phytotoxic activity and thus could be a potentially safe new source as herbicidal.

Cyclohexenone derivatives have been found to play pivotal role in the field of medicinal chemistry. They are embedded in several bioactive natural products like carvotacetones, phorbasins, antheminones and gabosines which are well known anchor for their biological activity like antitumor, antiplasmodial, antileishmanial and other activities. Therefore, the reported biological activity of cyclohexenone derivatives is coupled up with explanation. This mini review article summarizes the biological potential of bioactive cyclohexenone derivatives and their mechanism of action reported over the past few decades.

The grapes used in the wine and juice agribusinesses generate large amounts of solid wastes rich in bioactive compounds, which include its seeds. From this, solid waste can be extracted from an oil, and this process yields a residual material. Numerous studies have suggested that the cultivation method can influence the content of secondary metabolites in food. This study aimed to investigate the carotenoids content and the antioxidant activity of grape seeds cultivated by conventional and organic farming (Vitis labrusca) and their residues after oil processing. Color was measured by a colorimeter; carotenoide content by HPLC-UV and antioxidant activity by tow different methods. Organic residue and Organic Seed presented more saturated and lighter color parameters with a greater tendency toward yellow and brown colors (lower h*). Organic residue and Conventional Residue showed higher levels of total carotenoids, provitamin A, and antioxidant activity by one method. Conventional Residue exhibited higher antioxidant activity, as determined quantitatively and qualitatively by another method, and higher levels of carotenoids in the extract. The results from this study suggest that food produced by organic farming is not different and can present even lower levels of carotenoids than that produced through conventional methods.

Diabetic mellitus is a metabolic disease primarily defined by the level of hyperglycemia that gives rise to complications such as retinopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and impaired antioxidant defense systems have been implicated in the development of diabetes mellitus. Palmatine is a protoberberine alkaloid has shown potential for the treatment of hypertension, inflammation, and liver-related diseases. Our study aimed at evaluating the blood plasma glucose lowering, in vivo antioxidant, liver and profile activity of palmatine in an STZ-induced diabetic rat model. Streptozotocin (STZ) was administered by intraperitoneal injection to induce diabetes in Sprague dawley rats. A week later rats with plasma glucose level of 11mmol/L or 200mg/dL and above were orally administered with palmatine (2mg/kg) for 90 days. The blood glucose level and body weight of the rats were measured weekly. After 90 days of treatment, the rat blood was withdrawn via cardiac puncture and liver and pancreas were harvested after they were sacrificed by cervical dislocation. Palmatine significantly decreased the blood plasma glucose and lipid peroxidation compared to the positive control Tolbutamide. While the activity of the antioxidant defense system and blood parameters were normalised. Palmatine significantly (P<0.0001) reduced the blood plasma glucose level, increased the weight of the rats in palmatine treated group, plasma glucose parameters and in vivo antioxidant activity In conclusion plamatine improved blood glucose levels and reduced the oxidative stress. Therefore it may be considered in the treatment of diabetes.

The effect of ten chitosan products, obtained from shrimp shells, with a viscosity-average molecular weight ranged from 22 to 387 kDa on antimicrobial activity against different plant pathogenic bacteria and fungi, was investigated in vitro and compared with standard high molecular weight chitosan (846 kDa). The antibacterial activity was estimated by broth microdilution and agar dilution techniques as a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against Agrobacterium tumefaciens, Erwinia carotovora, Corynebacterium fascians, and Pseudomonas solanacearum. The MIC was dependent on the bioassay test and the bacterial reduction rate increased with the decreasing of the molecular weight (MW). The antifungal activity against Alternaria alternata, Fusarium graminearum, F. oxysporum, F. solani, Phytophthora infestans, and Rhizoctonia solani was evaluated by mycelia radial growth technique. The effective concentration producing 50% mycelia growth inhibition (EC50) of the chitosans ranged from 480 to 3037 mg/L depending on the fungus tested and the MW of the chitosan products. F. graminearum, F. oxysporum, and R. solani were relatively less susceptible, while A. alternata, F. solani, and P. infestans were relatively more sensitive to the chitosan compounds.