Antioxidant activity of some phenolic constituents from green pepper (Piper nigrum L.) and fresh nutmeg mace (Myristica fragrans)

Therapeutic, and pharmacological prospects of nutmeg seed: A comprehensive review for novel drug potential insights

Background and objectives

For centuries, plant seed extracts have been widely used and valued for their benefits. They have been used in food, perfumes, aromatherapy, and traditional medicine. These natural products are renowned for their therapeutic properties and are commonly used in medicinal treatments. Their significant pharmacological profiles provide an excellent hallmark for the prevention or treatment of various diseases. In this study, we comprehensively evaluated the biological and pharmacological properties of nutmeg seeds and explored their efficacy in treating various illnesses.

Method

Published articles in databases including Google Scholar, PubMed, Elsevier, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Wiley, were analyzed using keywords related to nutmeg seed. The searched keywords were chemical compounds, antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antidiabetic, anticancer properties, and their protective mechanisms in cardiovascular and Alzheimer's diseases.

Results & discussion

Nutmeg seeds have been reported to have potent antimicrobial properties against a wide range of various bacteria and fungi, thus showing potential for combating microbial infections and promoting overall health. Furthermore, nutmeg extract effectively reduces oxidative stress and inflammation by improving the body's natural antioxidant defense mechanism. Nutmeg affected lipid peroxidation, reduced lipid oxidation, reduced low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and increased phospholipid and cholesterol excretion. In addition, nutmeg extract improves the modulation of cardiac metabolism, accelerates cardiac conductivity and ventricular contractility, and prevents cell apoptosis. This study elucidated the psychotropic, narcotic, antidepressant, and anxiogenic effects of nutmeg seeds and their potential as a pharmaceutical medicine. Notably, despite its sedative and toxic properties, nutmeg ingestion alone did not cause death or life-threatening effects within the dosage range of 20-80 g powder. However, chemical analysis of nutmeg extracts identified over 50 compounds, including flavonoids, alkaloids, and polyphenolic compounds, which exhibit antioxidant properties and can be used as phytomedicines. Moreover, the exceptional pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of nutmeg have been found different for different administration routes, yet, more clinical trials are still needed.

Conclusion

Understanding the chemical composition and pharmacological properties of nutmeg holds promise for novel drug discovery and therapeutic advancements. Nutmeg seed offers therapeutic and novel drug prospects that can revolutionize medicine. By delving into their pharmacological properties, we can uncover the vast potential possibilities of this natural wonder.

Influence of green pepper extract on the physicochemical, antioxidant, and sensory properties of stirred yogurt

The green pepper has garnered interest in different societies as a functional food and food additive. Numerous studies have indicated that the phytochemicals found in pepper possess antioxidant, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-obesity, and anti-arteriosclerotic properties. In this study, green pepper extract was used in yogurt to increase the acceptability of consumption and improve its health properties. For this purpose, green pepper extract was added in concentrations 100, 200, and 300 ppm in the preparation of yogurt. And pH, acidity, total content of phenolic compounds, DPPH inhibition percentage, viscosity, syneresis, and sensory properties were evaluated in 1, 7, 14, and 21 days after production. The results showed that by increasing the amount of extract, the percentage of antioxidant activity and phenolic compounds increased significantly. The effect of storage time on these indicators was also significant (p < 0.05). in such a way that over time, there was a decrease in antioxidant activity. But, there was a slight increase in antioxidant activity on the 14th day of storage. Also, the effect of treatment type on some physicochemical characteristics of yogurt containing green pepper extract including pH, acidity, viscosity, and syneresis was significant (p < 0.05). During storage, acidity, syneresis, and viscosity increased and pH decreased significantly in all yogurt samples. Regarding the tested sensory attributes, the 200 ppm sample received the highest score among the evaluators, and in terms of overall acceptance, the samples containing the extract were more favorable than the control sample.

Black Pepper (Piper nigrum) Alleviates Oxidative Stress, Exerts Potential Anti-Glycation and Anti-AChE Activity: A Multitargeting Neuroprotective Agent against Neurodegenerative Diseases

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are a family of disorders that cause progressive structural and functional degeneration of neurons. Among all the organs in the body, the brain is the one that is the most affected by the production and accumulation of ROS. Various studies have shown that an increase in oxidative stress is a common pathophysiology for almost all NDs, which further affects various other pathways. The available drugs lack the wide spectrum necessary to confront these complexities altogether. Hence, a safe therapeutic approach to target multiple pathways is highly desirable. In the present study, the hexane and ethyl acetate extracts of Piper nigrum (black pepper), an important spice, were evaluated for their neuroprotective potential in hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress in human neuroblastoma cells (SH-SY5Y). The extracts were also subjected to GC/MS to identify the important bioactives present. The extracts exhibited neuroprotection by significantly decreasing the oxidative stress and restoring the mitochondrial membrane potential in the cells. Additionally, the extracts displayed potent anti-glycation and significant anti-Aβ fibrilization activities. The extracts were competitive inhibitors of AChE. The multitarget neuroprotective mechanism displayed by Piper nigrum indicates it as a potential candidate in the treatment of NDs.

Phenolic compounds as Nrf2 inhibitors: potential applications in cancer therapy

Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide and involves an oxidative stress mechanism. The transcription factor Nrf2 has a crucial role in cytoprotective response against oxidative stress, including cancer growth and progression and therapy resistance. For this reason, inhibitors of Nrf2 are new targets to be studied. Traditional plant-based remedies rich in phytochemicals have been used against human cancers and phenolic compounds are known for their chemopreventive properties. This comprehensive review offers an updated review of the role of phenolic compounds as anticancer agents due to their action on Nrf2 inhibition. In addition, the role of naturally-occurring bioactive anticancer agents are covered in the clinical applications of polyphenols as Nrf2 inhibitors. Video Abstract.

Nanoscale surface dynamics of spatial patterns of polymeric bilayered particles loaded with essential oil

Gelatin/PCL bilayered particles loaded with Piper nigrum essential oil was synthesized aiming to access their morphological and surface dynamic patterns. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was applied to investigate the 3D morphology and multifractal aspects of the particles surface. The AFM maps revealed spherical surfaces and well dispersed particles, besides a rougher surface on the loaded system. Minkowski functionals showed that shape of the rough peaks was similar in the unloaded and loaded systems; however, the presence of deep valleys on the loaded particles revealed their rougher pattern. Multifractal analysis revealed that unloaded and loaded particles presented multifractal behavior with different surface dynamics. The loaded surface presented a greater width of the multifractal spectrum and smaller difference of fractal dimensions, confirming their more vertically growing. These results can be useful in the development of novel polymeric-based particles loaded with essential oil. Their unique surface dynamics can provide enhanced physical properties and performance in emerging biotechnological applications.

Low Piperine Fractional Piper nigrum Extract Enhanced the Antitumor Immunity via Regulating the Th1/Th2/Treg Cell Subsets on NMU-Induced Tumorigenesis Rats

Cancer is one of the major causes of death worldwide. In addition to standard regimens, tumor suppression ability has been demonstrated in many types of natural products, including Piper nigrum, or black pepper. In previous reports, we demonstrated the antitumor effect of low piperine fractional Piper nigrum extract in vitro and in vivo. However, the effects of low piperine fractional P. nigrum extract in the aspect of antitumor immunity has not yet been investigated. In this study, tumor-bearing rats were fed with 100 mg/kg BW or 200 mg/kg BW of low piperine fractional P. nigrum extract 3 times per week for 4 weeks. Tumor burden and hematological data were then evaluated. Immunological data was investigated using a cytokine array and flow cytometry. The results showed that both doses of low piperine fractional P. nigrum extract significantly suppressed tumor progression in N-nitrosomethylurea-induced mammary tumor rats. There were no significant changes observed in the total white blood cells, red blood cells, and hemoglobin. Low piperine fractional P. nigrum extract suppressed some cytokine and chemokine levels including CXCL7, sICAM-1, and L-selectin 0.2- to 0.6-fold. Interestingly, 200 mg/kg BW of low piperine fractional P. nigrum extract significantly promoted type 1 T helper cell, and suppressed neutrophil, basophil, type 2 T helper cell, and regulatory T cell compared to the control group. In summary, these results indicate that low piperine fractional P. nigrum extract had a high efficacy in supporting antitumor activity at immunological levels via regulating Th1/Th2/Treg cells.

Insights into the Phytochemical and Multifunctional Biological Profile of Spices from the Genus Piper

Piper spices represent an inexhaustible reservoir of bioactive compounds that may act as drug leads in natural product research. The aim of this study was to investigate a series of methanolic fruit extracts obtained from P. nigrum (black, green, white and red), P. longum and P. retrofractum in comparative phytochemical and multi-directional biological (antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-enzymatic and anti-melanogenic) assays. The metabolite profiling revealed the presence of 17 piperamides, with a total content of 247.75-591.42 mg piperine equivalents/g. Among the 22 tested microorganism strains, Piper spices were significantly active (MIC < 0.1 mg/mL) against the anaerobes Actinomyces israelii and Fusobacterium nucleatum. The antioxidant and anti-enzymatic activities were evidenced in DPPH (10.64-82.44 mg TE/g) and ABTS (14.20-77.60 mg TE/g) radical scavenging, CUPRAC (39.94-140.52 mg TE/g), FRAP (16.05-77.00 mg TE/g), chelating (0-34.80 mg EDTAE/g), anti-acetylcholinesterase (0-2.27 mg GALAE/g), anti-butyrylcholinesterase (0.60-3.11 mg GALAE/g), anti-amylase (0.62-1.11 mmol ACAE/g) and anti-glucosidase (0-1.22 mmol ACAE/g) assays. Several Piper extracts (10 μg/mL) inhibited both melanin synthesis (to 32.05-60.65% of αMSH+ cells) and release (38.06-45.78% of αMSH+ cells) in αMSH-stimulated B16F10 cells, partly explained by their tyrosinase inhibitory properties. Our study uncovers differences between Piper spices and sheds light on their potential use as nutraceuticals or cosmeceuticals for the management of different diseases linked to bacterial infections, Alzheimer's dementia, type 2 diabetes mellitus or hyperpigmentation.

Microscopy-based infrared spectroscopy as a tool to evaluate the influence of essential oil on the surface of loaded bilayered-nanoparticles

Increasing interest in nanoparticles of technological application has been improving their fabrication processes. The encapsulation of essential oils as bioactive compounds has proved to be an excellent alternative to the use of less environment friendly compounds. However, the difficulty of identifying their constitution and interaction with carrier agents have aroused scientific interest and a problem to overcome. Bilayer-based nanoparticles were developed using gelatin and poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL) aiming the encapsulation ofPiper nigrumessential oil. based on atomic force microscopy images and dynamic light scattering analysis, the size of the unloaded and loaded nanoparticles was found around (194 ± 40) and (296 ± 54) nm, respectively. The spatial patterns revealed that the surface of nanoparticles presented different surface roughness, similar shapes and height distribution asymmetry, lower dominant spatial frequencies, and different spatial complexity. Traditional infrared spectroscopy allowed the identification of the nanoparticle outermost layer formed by the gelatin carrier, but microscopy-based infrared spectroscopy revealed a band at 1742 cm^-1related to the carbonyl stretching mode of PCL, as well as a band at 1557 cm^-1due to the amide II group from gelatin. The combination of microscopy and spectroscopy techniques proved to be an efficient alternative to quickly identify differences in chemical composition by evaluating different functional groups in bilayer PLC/gelatin nanoparticles of technological application.

Beneficial Medicinal Plants for Memory and Cognitive Functions Based on Traditional Persian Medicine

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most important causes of dementia, especially in the elderlies. Due to the failures of recent clinical trials in finding effective medications, it appears the use of complementary therapies such as Traditional Persian Medicine (TPM) and the rich sources of effective herbs as well as their constituents for improving memory function could be beneficial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the recommended natural remedies in the TPM and examine their pharmacological properties. For this purpose, the data were collected by searching the recommended prescriptions of the seminal TPM textbooks. Then, the names of the most freuqently mentioned plants were extracted from the natural remedies and evaluated for their pharmacological properties. The sources included recently published articles cited in the major scientific databases. A total of 262 plants were identified in 96 evaluated prescriptions; 20 plants were identified with the most frequency of report (i.e. more than 10 times). Their neuroprotective effects, antioxidant features, and anti-AD properties were discussed. Based on our results, TPM has introduced many effective treatments for AD. Hence, more clinical studies are warranted to verify their efficacy and safety.

Green synthesis of zinc ferrite nanoparticles for photocatalysis of methylene blue

In this study, zinc ferrite nanoparticles (ZF-NPs) were synthesized using aqueous seed extract of Piper nigrum as a bio-reducing and stabilizing agent. FTIR, SEM, FE-SEM, XRD, and TGA have been used for characterizing ZF-NPs. The results showed that Piper nigrum stabilized ZF-NPs have high purity and size range of 60-80 nm. The performance of the ZF-NPs has been investigated by photocatalytic reduction of methylene blue (MB) in the presence of sunlight. The factors responsible for affecting the degradation values of the reaction were also explored for developing a better understanding of the phenomenon.

Anti-Helicobacter pylori, Anti-Inflammatory, Cytotoxic, and Antioxidant Activities of Mace Extracts from Myristica fragrans

The aril (mace) of Myristica fragrans, known as Dok-Chan, is a spice that has long been used for treating stomach discomfort, peptic ulcer, and nausea. It is an ingredient in many remedies in Thai traditional medicine, e.g., Ya-Hom-Thep-Bha-Jit, Ya-Hom-Nao-Wa-Kot, and Ya-That-Bun-Job, which are used to treat dyspepsia and other gastrointestinal tract symptoms. The aqueous and ethanolic extracts of mace were used for all tests. Anti-H. pylori activities were determined by the disc diffusion method and agar dilution. Anti-inflammatory activity was determined by the LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO) inhibition in a RAW264.7 cell line, and cytotoxicity was determined against gastric cancer cell lines (Kato III) using the sulphorhodamine B (SRB) assay. The DPPH radical scavenging and ABTS radical cation decolorization assays were used to determine the antioxidant activities. The result found that the ethanolic extract of mace exhibited antimicrobial activity against H. pylori ATCC 43504 and six clinical strains with MIC values of 125–250 μg/ml. The aqueous extract MICs against H. pylori ATCC reference strain and six clinical strains were 500 μg/ml compared with 0.5 μg/ml for the positive control, clarithromycin. The inhibitory effect of LPS-induced NO release and cytotoxic activity of the ethanolic extract had IC₅₀ values of 82.19 μg/ml and 26.06 μg/ml, respectively, and the EC₅₀ values for the DPPH and ABTS antioxidant assays were 13.41 μg/ml and 12.44 μg/ml, respectively. The mace extract also had anticancer properties. In conclusion, the ethanolic mace extract had anti-H. pylori, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer activities. These data support further preclinical and clinical investigation to see if the mace extract could have a role in treating patients with dyspepsia, peptic ulcers, and possibly gastric cancer.

Novel and Stable Dual-Color IL-6 and IL-10 Reporters Derived from RAW 264.7 for Anti-Inflammation Screening of Natural Products

Our previous study suggested that the interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10 could serve as good biomarkers for chronic inflammatory disease. We previously established an IL-6 and IL-10 reporters assay that could examine reporter activity along with the reference gene in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. In this study, we described new and stable RAW 264.7 derived dual-color IL-6/gapdh and IL-10/gapdh reporters. This assay allowed us to easily determine relative IL-6 and IL-10 levels with 96-well plate within one step. We evaluated the relative IL-6 and IL-10 levels in the LPS-induced stable cells testing 52 natural products by real-time bioluminescence monitoring and time-point determination using a microplate luminometer. The relative IL-6 and IL-6/IL-10 values decreased by the crude ethanol extracts from nutmeg and by 1′S-1′-acetoxychavicol from greater galangal using real-time bioluminescence monitoring. At the same time, the relative IL-10 was induced. The relative IL-6 and IL-6/IL-10 decreased by crude ethanol extracts from nutmeg and 1′S-1′-acetoxychavicol acetate at 6 h. Only crude ethanol extract from nutmeg induced IL-10 at 6 h. We suggested that the use of these stable cells by real-time monitoring could serve as a screening assay for anti-inflammatory activity and may be used to discover new drugs against chronic inflammatory disease.

Natural antidotes and management of metal toxicity

The global burden of heavy metal especially mercury, arsenic, lead, and cadmium toxicities remains a significant public health challenge. Developing nations are particularly at high risk and carry the highest burden of this hazard. Chelation therapy has been the mainstay for treatment of heavy metal poisoning where the chelating agent binds metal ions to form complex ring-like structures called "chelates" to enhance their elimination from the body. Metal chelators have some drawbacks such as redistribution of some heavy metals from other tissues to the brain thereby increasing its neurotoxicity, causing loss of essential metals such as copper and zinc as well as some serious adverse effects, e.g., hepatotoxicity. The use of natural antidotes, which are easily available, affordable, and with little or no side effects compared to the classic metal chelators, is the focus of this review and suggested as cheaper options for developing nations in the treatment of heavy metal poisoning.

A systematic review on black pepper (Piper nigrum L.): from folk uses to pharmacological applications

Considered as the "King of spices", black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) is a widely used spice which adds flavor of its own to dishes, and also enhances the taste of other ingredients. Piper nigrum has also been extensively explored for its biological properties and its bioactive phyto-compounds. There is, however, no updated compilation of these available data to provide a complete profile of the medicinal aspects of P. nigrum. This study endeavors to systematically review scientific data on the traditional uses, phytochemical composition, and pharmacological properties of P. nigrum. Information was obtained using a combination of keywords via recognized electronic databases (e.g., Science Direct and Google Scholar). Google search was also used. Books and online materials were also considered, and the literature search was restricted to the English language. The country with the highest number of traditional reports of P. nigrum for both human and veterinary medicine was India, mostly for menstrual and ear-nose-throat disorders in human and gastrointestinal disorders in livestock. The seeds and fruits were mostly used, and the preferred mode of preparation was in powdered form, pills or tablets, and paste. Piper nigrum and its bioactive compounds were also found to possess important pharmacological properties. Antimicrobial activity was recorded against a wide range of pathogens via inhibition of biofilm, bacterial efflux pumps, bacterial swarming, and swimming motilities. Studies also reported its antioxidant effects against a series of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species including the scavenging of superoxide anion, hydrogen peroxide, nitric oxide, DPPH, ABTS, and reducing effect against ferric and molybdenum (VI). Improvement of antioxidant enzymes in vivo has also been reported. Piper nigrum also exhibited anticancer effect against a number of cell lines from breast, colon, cervical, and prostate through different mechanisms including cytotoxicity, apoptosis, autophagy, and interference with signaling pathways. Its antidiabetic property has also been confirmed in vivo as well as hypolipidemic activity as evidenced by decrease in the level of cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein and increase in high-density lipoprotein. Piper nigrum also has anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anticonvulsant, and neuroprotective effects. The major bioactive compound identified in P. nigrum is piperine although other compounds are also present including piperic acid, piperlonguminine, pellitorine, piperolein B, piperamide, piperettine, and (-)-kusunokinin, which also showed biological potency. Most pharmacological studies were conducted in vitro (n = 60) while only 21 in vivo and 1 clinical trial were performed. Hence, more in vivo experiments using a pharmacokinetic and pharmacokinetic approach would be beneficial. As a conclusive remark, P. nigrum should not only be regarded as "King of spices" but can also be considered as part of the kingdom of medicinal agents, comprising a panoply of bioactive compounds with potential nutraceutical and pharmaceutical applications.

Contribution of Polyphenol Oxidation, Chlorophyll and Vitamin C Degradation to the Blackening of Piper nigrum L

Black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) is the most widely used spice in the world. Blackening is considered to be beneficial and important in the processing of black pepper because it contributes to its color and flavor. The purpose of this paper is to investigate polyphenol oxidation as well as the chlorophyll and vitamin C (VC) degradation in the blackening of Piper nigrum L. Black pepper was produced by four methods, and changes in polyphenols, chlorophyll and VC were studied by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and ultraviolet-visible and visible (UV-Vis) spectrophotometry. The results show that polyphenol oxidase activity significantly decreased during the preparation of black pepper, and the concentrations of phenolic compounds, VC, and chlorophyll a and b also significantly decreased. Polyphenol oxidation and chlorophyll and VC degradation contribute to the blackening. A crude extract of phenolic compounds from black pepper was prepared by the system solvent method. The greater the polarity of the extraction solvent, the higher the extraction rates of the phenolic compounds and the total phenol content. Pepper phenolic compounds were analyzed by HPLC analysis.

Polyphenols content and antioxidant activity of paprika and pepper spices

Paprika spices (Capsicium annuum) and black pepper spices (Piper nigrum) are very popular seasonings for culinary and industrial utilization due to the change of sensory quality (taste, aroma, color) of foods and meals with their addition; their health promoting properties; and also, relevant antioxidant activity. Polyphenols are often responsible for the antioxidant capacity of plant products therefore in our study the content of polyphenols (TP) and antioxidant activity (TAA) were assessed in two common culinary spices - paprika spices (12, ground powder spices) and pepper spices (20, unground and ground, black, green, white and colored spices) of Czech, Austrian, and Slovak producers. These parameters were determined using spectrometric method, for total polyphenols method with Folin-Ciocaulteu reagent; the antioxidant activity (TAA) of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of spices was measured by DPPH method with IC50 evaluation. For paprika the total polyphenol content ranged from 14.67 to 28.78 mg GAE.g-1. However, there is only weak connection between the pungency of the spices and the polyphenolic amount, the hotter samples of paprika spices have slightly higher values of TP than sweet types. Also, more pungent paprika products showed a higher potency in scavenging of DPPH free radical than sweeter ones; and ethanolic extracts had slightly higher TAA values (8.73 to 16.17 mg AAE.g-1) than aqueous spice extracts (4.45 to 16.24 mg AAE.g-1). Phenolic amount for pepper spices was assessed in the range of 12.03 to 22.88 mg GAE.g-1. Generally, paprika spices contained more polyphenols than pepper spices. The values of TAA of pepper spices were in the range from 7.07 to 15.81 mg AAE.g-1 for aqueous extracts and from 8.25 to 15.93 mg AAE.g-1 for ethanolic extracts respectively. The highest TAA values were observed for white ground pepper and unground black pepper spices. Unground black pepper samples had higher TAA than ground black pepper. The extent of antioxidant activity of paprika and pepper spices was quite similar. The total phenolics contents in spices were correlated to antioxidant activity only slightly.

Metabolic profiling of myrislignan by UPLC-ESI-QTOFMS-based metabolomics

The metabolic map of myrislignan was determined by UPLC-ESI-QTOFMS-based metabolomics in vivo and in vitro.

A DFT analysis on the radical scavenging activity of oxygenated terpenoids present in the extract of the buds of Cleistocalyx operculatus

The antioxidant capacity of twenty-one oxygenated monoterpene and oxygenated desquiterpene compounds in the extract from Cleistocalyx operculatus has been computationally evaluated.

A Comparative Pharmacokinetic Study of Myrislignan by UHPLC-MS After Oral Administration of a Monomer and Myristica fragrans Extract to Rats

An ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS) method was developed and validated to quantify myrislignan in rat plasma using podophyllotoxin as an internal standard (IS). The chromatographic separation of myrislignan and IS was performed on a 3.0 µm Hypersil C18 column (50 mm × 4.6 mm) with methanol and water containing 0.1% acetic acid (80:20, v/v) as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.3 mL/min. An electrospray ionization was used in the positive selective-ion monitoring mode for the target ions at m/z 397 and m/z 437 for the quantification of myrislignan and IS. The total run time was 3.6 min for each run. The calibration curve was linear over the range of 0.75-300 ng/mL (r> 0.995) with the lower limit of quantitation at 0.75 ng/mL. Intra- and interday precision was below 11.49%, and the mean accuracy ranged from -9.75 to 7.45%. The proposed method was successfully applied to evaluate the pharmacokinetic properties of myrislignan after oral administration of the myrislignan monomer and Myristica fragrans extract in rats. Statistical analyses indicate that the pharmacokinetic properties of myrislignan in rats have significant differences between two groups.

Liposome containing nutmeg oil as the targeted preservative against Listeria monocytogenes in dumplings

In this study, the antibacterial activities of nutmeg oil and nutmeg oil encapsulated in liposome were evaluated.

Antioxidant activity of Piper nigrum L. essential oil extracted by supercritical CO₂ extraction and hydro-distillation

The aim of this study was to optimize the antioxidant activity of Piper nigrum L. essential oil extracted using the supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO₂) technique. Response surface methodology was applied using a three-factor central composite design to evaluate the effects of three independent extraction variables: pressure of 15-30 MPa, temperature of 40-50 °C and dynamic extraction time of 40-80 min. The DPPH radical scavenging method was used to evaluate the antioxidant activity of the extracts. The results showed that the best antioxidant activity was achieved at 30 MPa, 40 °C and 40 min. The extracts were analyzed by GC-FID and GC-MS. The main components extracted using SC-CO₂ extraction in optimum conditions were β-caryophyllene (25.38 ± 0.62%), limonene (15.64 ± 0.15%), sabinene (13.63 ± 0.21%), 3-carene (9.34 ± 0.04%), β-pinene (7.27 ± 0.05%), and α-pinene (4.25 ± 0.06%). The essential oil obtained through this technique was compared with the essential oil obtained using hydro-distillation. For the essential oil obtained by hydro-distillation, the most abundant compounds were β-caryophyllene (18.64 ± 0.84%), limonene (14.95 ± 0.13%), sabinene (13.19 ± 0.17%), 3-carene (8.56 ± 0.11%), β-pinene (9.71 ± 0.12%), and α-pinene (7.96 ± 0.14%). Radical scavenging activity of the extracts obtained by SC-CO₂ and hydro-distillation showed an EC₅₀ of 103.28 and 316.27 µg mL(-1) respectively.

Scientific evaluation of edible fruits and spices used for the treatment of peptic ulcer in traditional Iranian medicine

In traditional Iranian medicine (TIM), several edible fruits and spices are thought to have protective and healing effects on peptic ulcer (PU). The present study was conducted to verify anti-PU activity of these remedies. For this purpose, edible fruits and spices proposed for the management of PU in TIM were collected from TIM sources, and they were searched in modern medical databases to find studies that confirmed their efficacy. Findings from modern investigations support the claims of TIM about the efficacy of many fruits and spices in PU. The fruit of Phyllanthus emblica as a beneficial remedy for PU in TIM has been demonstrated to have antioxidant, wound healing, angiogenic, anti-H. pylori, cytoprotective, antisecretory, and anti-inflammatory properties. The fruit of Vitis vinifera has been found to be anti-H. pylori, anti-inflammatory, wound healing, angiogenic, cytoprotective, and antioxidant. The fruit and aril of seed from Myristica fragrans exert their beneficial effects in PU by increasing prostaglandin, modulation of nitric oxide and inflammatory mediators, wound healing, antisecretory, antacid, antioxidant, and anti-H. pylori activities, and improving angiogenesis. Pharmacological and clinical studies for evaluation of efficacy of all TIM fruits and spices in PU and their possible mechanisms of action are recommended.

Multiple biological properties of macelignan and its pharmacological implications

Macelignan found in the nutmeg mace of Myristica fragrans obtains increasing attention as a new avenue in treating various diseases. Macelignan has been shown to possess a spectrum of pharmacological activities, including anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-diabetes, and hepatoprotective activities; recently, it has also been shown to have neuroprotective activities. This review summarizes the current research on the biological effects of macelignan derived from M. fragrans, with emphasis on the importance in understanding and treating complex diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer's disease.

Antiradical and Cytotoxic Activities of Varying Polarity Extracts of the Aerial Part ofEuphorbia hirtaL

Euphorbia hirtais a well-known ethnomedicinal plant with diverse biological activities. The aim of the present study is to investigate the antiradical activities of various solvent extracts of the aerial part ofE. hirtaas well as to determine the possible cytotoxicity of these extracts. The aerial part ofE. hirtawas extracted with different solvent systems in order to increase polarity. The solvents used were hexane, dichloromethane (DCM), ethyl acetate (EA), ethanol (EtOH), and methanol (MeOH). The contents of total phenols and total flavonoids were analyzed by UV spectrophotometry, whereas the potential free radical-scavenging activities of the extracts were evaluated using the stable free radical 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), theβ-carotene-linoleic acid bleaching system, and reducing power. The EtOH extract exhibited the highest total phenolic content (237.9±2.26 mg GAE/g), and DCM extract scored the highest total flavonoid content (121±0.15 mg CE/g). The MeOH extract showed a potent free radical-scavenging activity as evidenced by low EC50at 42.81 µg/mL. Interestingly, the EtOH extract demonstrated the highest reducing power activity with EC50value of 6.18 µg/mL. Inβ-carotene-linoleic acid assay, oxidation of linoleic acid was effectively inhibited by DCM extract with96.15±0.78%. All the extracts showed no cytotoxic activity against Vero cells.