Red wines attenuate TNFα production in human histiocytic lymphoma cell line: An NMR spectroscopy and chemometrics based study

Phytochemical composition, β-glucuronidase inhibition, and antioxidant properties of two fractions of Piper betle leaf aqueous extract

RATIONALE

Piper betle leaf, used as masticatory in South Asia, is also medicinally important.

OBJECTIVE

This work was done to analyze phytochemical composition of two solvent fractions (chloroform and ethyl acetate) of the aqueous extracts obtained from eight varieties of P. betle leaves and to identify the active components against β-glucuronidase by chemometric analysis.

RESULTS

Twenty-four phenolic compounds, in addition to different organic acids, fatty acids, amino acids, sugars, and polyols, were identified from the solvent fractions. The extracts inhibited the enzyme β-glucuronidase. Piceatannol was the most active constituent against the enzyme (activity 12 times higher than that of silymarin), Chlorogenic acid also inhibited β-glucuronidase (activity 4.4 times higher when compared to silymarin). 2,2'-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and superoxide free radical scavenging activities of both the fractions of eight varieties of P. betle leaf extracts showed very strong antioxidant potentiality.

CONCLUSION

The findings validated some medicinal properties of the said leaves.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Edible leaves of Piper betle are medicinally and economically important. Leaves of different local varieties are reported to be used for the treatment of different diseases. The leaves have many biological properties, hepatoprotection being one of them. A large number of rural population is economically dependent on the cultivation of betel vine. But with a rapid change in lifestyle, the chewing habit of P. betle is decreasing ultimately affecting the livelihood of farmers dependent on betel cultivation. Knowledge on β-glucuronidase inhibitory activity and the mechanism for hepatoprotection of different P. betle varieties may validate the medicinal properties of betel, which would increase consumption of these leaves.

Metabolite Profiling of Diverse Rice Germplasm and Identification of Conserved Metabolic Markers of Rice Roots in Response to Long-Term Mild Salinity Stress

The sensitivity of rice to salt stress greatly depends on growth stages, organ types and cultivars. Especially, the roots of young rice seedlings are highly salt-sensitive organs that limit plant growth, even under mild soil salinity conditions. In an attempt to identify metabolic markers of rice roots responding to salt stress, metabolite profiling was performed by ¹H-NMR spectroscopy in 38 rice genotypes that varied in biomass accumulation under long-term mild salinity condition. Multivariate statistical analysis showed separation of the control and salt-treated rice roots and rice genotypes with differential growth potential. By quantitative analyses of ¹H-NMR data, five conserved salt-responsive metabolic markers of rice roots were identified. Sucrose, allantoin and glutamate accumulated by salt stress, whereas the levels of glutamine and alanine decreased. A positive correlation of metabolite changes with growth potential and salt tolerance of rice genotypes was observed for allantoin and glutamine. Adjustment of nitrogen metabolism in rice roots is likely to be closely related to maintain the growth potential and increase the stress tolerance of rice.

Effects of provinol and its combinations with clinically used antiasthmatics on airway defense mechanisms in experimental allergic asthma

Our previous studies show that provinol, a polyphenolic compound, has anti-inflammatory activity during allergic inflammation. In the present study we investigated the effects of provinol and its combinations with clinically used antiasthmatics: budesonide or theophylline on airway defense mechanisms during experimental allergic asthma. Separate groups of guinea pigs were treated during the course of 21-day ovalbumin sensitization with provinol (20 mg/kg/day, p.o.), or budesonide (1 mM by inhalation), or theophylline (10 mg/kg/day, i.p.), and with a half-dose combination of provinol+budesonide or provinol+theophylline. Airways defense mechanisms: cough reflex and specific airway resistance (sRaw) were evaluated in vivo. Tracheal smooth muscle reactivity and mucociliary clearance were examined in vitro. The findings were that provinol caused significant decreases in sRaw and in tracheal smooth muscle contractility, a suppression of cough reflex, and positively modulated ciliary beat frequency. The bronchodilatory and antitussive effects of provinol were comparable with those of budesonide and theophylline. Provinol given as add-on treatment significantly potentiated the effects of budesonide or theophylline, although the doses of each were halved. We conclude that provinol not only has bronchodilatory and antitussive effects, but also potentiates similar effects exerted by budesonide and theophylline.