Natural Products Journal, The - Volume 4, Issue 3, 2014

The objective of this work was to evaluate the acceptability and shelf life of an acerola (Malpigia emarginata DC) jelly prepared in different ways. The jellies were prepared using sugar and either acerola juice or pulp and 1% pectin in aluminum, copper and stainless steel pans. They were submitted for sensorial and physical-chemical analyses to determine the most acceptable product and to establish its shelf life. To determine the shelf life, physical-chemical, nutritional, microbiological and sensorial properties were evaluated, along with color. The most acceptable high-quality jelly was prepared with equal amounts of pulp and sugar, in an aluminum pan. It had good acceptability, so it can be commercialized and stored for 180 days.

Brassinin and cyclobrassinin are phytoalexins produced by plants of the family Brassicaceae. An overview of the chemistry of these phytoalexins, metabolism, biological activity and applications of current knowledge that could contribute to the sustainability of crucifer crop production is provided.

Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), epigallocatechin (EGC), epicatechin gallate (ECG) and epicatechin (EC) are major polyphenolic compounds isolated form tea (Camellia sinensis).The present study was carried to determine through an in silico approach the modulatory effects of catechins EC, ECG, EGC and EGCG on ouabain sensitive Na+/K+-ATPase enzyme in erythrocyte membrane of healthy human. In vitro incubation of catechins (ECG, EGCG, EGC and EC) with membrane inhibited Na+/K+-ATPase activity in the following order ECG≅EGCG>EGC≅EC at 10-5-10-6M. AutoDock3 docking simulation shows that catalytic unit α of Na+/K+-ATPase is actively involved in hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interaction with ECG, EGC, EC and EGCG. The binding affinity at the active site has been found in the order of ECG>EGCG>EGC>EC with docking energy -9.91, -9.11, -8.40 and -7.19 kcal/mol respectively in comparison with ATP (-11.13kcal/mol). These observations corroborate the in vitro findings. The in vitro result validation using AutoDock3 simulation strongly support the interaction and modulation effects of catechins with Na+/K+-ATPase.

The effect of UV-C radiation on the preservation of refrigerated ‘Bengal’ litches (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) was determined. Fruits were submitted to UV-C light for 10, 20 and 30 minutes, while being stored at 5±0.5°C and 90±5% relative humidity for 15 days. The concentration of total phenolics was highest in the fruits that were exposed to UV-C for 10 and 20 minutes. The activities of the enzymes polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and polyphenol peroxidase (PPP) were only affected by the days of storage, with minimum activity on day 6 for PPO and day 15 for PPP. The visual appearance also changed during storage, with the fruits being brighter after 20 and 30 minutes of exposure to UVC light. Moreover, the fruits had a higher color index due to their red color after being exposed to UV-C light for 30 minutes.

The cotton plant (Gossypium) produces protective terpenoid aldehydes in lysigenous pigment glands. These terpenoids include hemigossypolone, hemigossypolone-6-methyl ether, gossypol, gossypol-6-methyl ether, gossypol-6,6'- dimethyl ether, heliocides H1, H2, H3 and H4, and heliocides B1, B2, B3 and B4. Quantitation of these compounds is important to understand host-pest interactions. The column used in our previous HPLC/DAD method is no longer manufactured. Thus, three new methods were developed that use a Scientific Glass Engineering ProteCol-GP-C18 column maintained at 30 °C with gradients of acetonitrile:ethanol:isopropanol:N,N-dimethylformamide:methanol:ethyl acetate as the organic solvent and 0.1% H3PO4 as the aqueous solvent. Method one separates hemigossypolone, hemigossypolone-6- methyl ether, gossypol, gossypol-6-methyl ether, gossypol-6,6'-dimethyl ether and heliocides H1, H2, H3 and H4; method two separates these compounds as well as heliocides B1 and B4; method three allows resolution of heliocides B1, B2, B3 and B4 as well as the other terpenoids. The new methods provide superior separation of the methylated gossypol derivatives as well as the heliocides H1 to H4 and the heliocides B1, B2 and B3. The chromatogram is monitored at 272 nm, and spectra are stored over 240-600 nm. These methods allow cotton breeders to track the terpenoid aldehyde composition in plant tissues as they develop new cotton germplasm. The method has been used to establish for the first time the introgression from the wild cotton G. sturtianum into commercial Upland cotton G. hirsutum.

A new, simple, accurate and precise HPLC-DAD method has been developed and validated for quantitative determination of solasodine in aerial parts of Solanum nigrum Linn. The column used was C18 (150 mm X 4.6 mm I.D., 5 μm) and mobile phase used was acetonitrile: 10 mM ammonium acetate buffer pH 7.7(65:35,v/v).The flow rate of mobile phase and detection wavelength were kept at 2.0 ml/ min and at 205 nm, respectively. The column oven temperature was set at 40 °C. The linearity of the method was found over a range of 300-1500 µg/ml with LOD and LOQ of 100 µg/ml and 300 µg/ml, respectively. The method has shown recoveries of solasodine in the range from 100.12 % -106.67 %, with low intra and inter-day % R.S.D. (0.89% and 1.25%, respectively). The method was successfully applied for quantitative evaluation of three extracts and different Ayurvedic formulations for the content of solasodine.

Pressurized liquid extraction using an accelerated solvent extractor (ASE) and dry methanol at 100 °C and 10 MPa pressure (1500 psi) can solubilize more solids than extractions done at ambient temperature and pressure. The percentages of soluble solids that were extracted from lyophilized acai (Euterpe oleracea), black olives (Olea europaea), elderberries (Sambucus nigra subsp. canadensis), noni (Morinda citrifolia), soursop (Annona muricata), atemoya (A. squamosa x A. cherimola), sugar apple (A. squamosa), biribá (A. mucosa) and pawpaw (Asimina triloba) fruit pulps were 22.3, 0.90, 52.7, 32.0, 93.6, 84.7, 92.5, 92.3 and 59.3%, respectively. About 26.2% of lyophilized atemoya seeds were solubilized. The percentages of soluble solids that were extracted from lyophilized mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana) mesocarps and peels were 53.1 and 34.2%, respectively. The percentages of soluble solids that were extracted from lyophilized mango (Mangifera indica) and Spanish plum (Spondias purpúrea) peels were 85.7 and 65.1%, respectively. NMR analysis of the extracts indicated that not just fructose, but also glycoside fatty acid esters were present. So, the nutrient and caloric contents of these fruits and peels may be underestimated in the existing literature. On the other hand, almost none of the triglycerides present in acai and black olives were solubilized by methanol, making the extracts suitable for LC-MS analysis.

Several undesirable side effects as well as tolerance and physical dependence associated with use of benzodiazepine (BZD) derivatives for the management of anxiety are important challenges which motivate the search for safer and better tolerated anxiolytic compounds devoid of dependence. This study isolated the potential active constituents from methanol underground parts of Ajuga remota (Lamiaceae) with anxiolytic-like effects. In vivo anxiolytic activity in mice of the samples and diazepam (positive control) was assessed using the hole board and elevated plus maze (EPM) experiments. Chromatographic procedures led to the isolation of harpagide (1), 8-O-acetylharpagide (2), 2,3- diacetylharpagide (3), 6,8-acetylharpagide-O-2,3-diacetylglycoside (4), 6-rhamnosylharpagide (5), 6-galloyl-7,8- dehydroharpagide (6), cyasterone (7) and ergosterone-5,8-endoperoxide (8) from the methanol extracts. Oral administration of cyasterone (7) and ergosterone-5,8-endoperoxide (8) (5 mg/kg) increased the duration of open arm exploration and number of head-dips in EPM and hole-board tests, respectively (P≤0.05) compared to negative control. However, compound 1, 2, 3, and 4 elicited negative responses in open arm in EPM. Compounds 7 and 8 (25 and 50 mg/kg) showed dose dependent (P≤0.01) rise in number and duration of head-dips comparable to the anxiolytic effect of diazepam which suggests their potential use for management of anxiety disorder.

In the present study, the methanolic extract of roots of B. diffusa was standardized for the isolated phenolic aglycone (BD1) through HPTLC analysis and the content of BDE1 in the extract was found to be 5.755% w/w. The extract was studied for its nephroprotective and nephrocurative effects in cisplatin (10 mg/kg b.w.i.p.) induced nephrotoxicity in albino rats. Nephrocurative and nephroprotective potential of BDE was evaluated by monitoring the parameters serum urea, createnin, blood urea nitrogen and antioxidant parameters like lipid peroxidation, super oxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and NO scavenging activities. Treatment with single dose of Cisplatin led to significant (P<0.001) increase in the values of blood urea, serum createnine and blood urea nitrogen. These elevated values were found to be significantly (P<0.001) reduced and the levels of antioxidant parameters viz. superoxide dismutase, Catalase, Lipid peroxidation and nitric oxide levels, were found to be equivalent to healthy animals due to treatment with 300 mg/kg b.w.p.o of the BDE. The results are also supported with the histopathological studies on kidneys.

The fruit of the acai palm tree Euterpe oleracea Mart. is widely appreciated due to its flavor and health benefits, especially to undernourished natives where it grows spontaneously in the Brazilian states of Para, Amapa, Maranhao and the eastern part of the Amazons. It is one of the few fruits that is well-known outside of Brazil, due to its nutritional value and high caloric content. However, each acai fruit contains one light brown seed that accounts for about 90% of the fruit’s diameter (1-2 cm) and up to 90% of its weight (0.7-1.9 g). Even though the seeds are often discarded and become agricultural waste, they do contain some nutritional value, so they may be able to be used as primary materials or food products. The objective of this study was to prepare and characterize a type of flour for human consumption that was made from acai seeds and characterize its chemical and microbiological properties. The results show that it is sanitary and contains a high level of dietary fiber and minerals, as well as an ability to emulsify and absorb fat.

Essential oil of Zanthoxylum armatum leaves was analyzed by GC and GC/MS technique. Analgesic and anti inflammatory activities were studied by hot plate and carrageenan induced paw edema in rats. Twenty six components were identified accounting for 92.18% of the total oil. 2-undecanone (44.58%), linalool (14.53%), 2-tridecanene (7.98%) and 1,8-cineole (6.92%) were found as the major components. Significant anti-inflammatory and analgesic (P<0.05) activities were observed in the oil.

'Hass' avocados were submitted to post-harvest treatment with 0.060, 0.089 and 0.119 g 1-methylcyclopropene, (1-MCP) in 25 mL water, placed in 186 L boxes and refrigerated at 10 °C±1 and 90±5% relative humidity. They were analyzed after 0, 3, 6, 9, 12 and 15 days of storage for weight loss, respiratory activity, titratable acidity (TA), soluble solids (S), index of maturation, pH, total phenols, antioxidant activity by the DPPH method and enzyme activities (polygalacturonase, PG, pectin methyl esterase, PME, and polyphenol oxidase, PPO). Also, on the 15th day, the fruits were removed from the refrigerator and stored for three more days at room temperature, to simulate commercial conditions and analyzed on the 18th day. Application of 1-MCP blocked the respiratory activity of the fruits. Doses of 0.089 and 0.119 g of 1-MCP did the best job of maintaining firmness, while minimizing soluble solids, indicating that the ripening process was slowed down.