Immunostimulant activity of dry fruits and plant materials used in indian traditional medical system for mothers after child birth and invalids

Euryale ferox, a prominent superfood: Nutritional, pharmaceutical, and its economical importance

Euryale ferox (also known as foxnut), belongs to the family Nymphaeaceae. It is mainly grown in India, China, Japan, and Korea. It is a highly nutritious food, abundant in nutritional and bioactive compounds such as carbohydrates, protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals, and polyphenols. It is considered a functional food owing to its various health benefits such as antidiabetic, antihyperlipidemic, antifatigue, hepatoprotective, cardioprotective, antimelanogenic, etc. E. ferox has immense potential in both food and non-food industries. Regardless of being recognized as a superfood packed with nutritional as well as medicinal properties, it is still neglected, and there has not been much attention given to its cultivation. Therefore, in this review, the potential of E. ferox as a superfood has been explored to enhance its utilization in the development of different foods and make it available outside its growing area. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Euryale ferox is abundant in several macronutrients and micronutrients; and considered as a superfood in terms of various health benefits. E. ferox has the ability to be used in the development of different health, functional, and nutraceutical foods, which will open a new door for the food industry to combat with numerous diseases.

Effect of Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera) Phytochemicals on Aβ1-40 Amyloid Formation: An in-silico Analysis

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease and the most prevalent form of dementia. The generation of oxygen free radicals and oxidative damage is believed to be involved in the pathogenesis of AD. It has been suggested that date palm, a plant rich in phenolic compounds and flavonoids, can provide an alternative treatment to fight memory loss and cognitive dysfunction due to its potent antioxidant activity. Thus, we studied the effect of flavonoids present in date palm on Aβ1-40 amyloid formation using molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation. AutoDock. Myricetin was used as a positive control drug. The flavonoids Diosmetin, Luteolin, and Rutin were found to be potent inhibitors of aggregation (docking energies ≤ -8.05 kcal mol-1) targeting Aβ1-40 fibrils (both 2LMO and 6TI5), simultaneously. Further screening by physicochemical properties and drug-likeness analysis suggested that all flavonoids except Rutin followed Lipinski's rule of five. Rutin was, thus, taken as a negative control (due to its violation of Lipinski's rule) to compare its dynamics with Diosmetin. Diosmetin exhibited the highest positive scores for drug likeness. Since Luteolin exhibited moderate drug-likeness and better absorption properties, it was also included in molecular dynamics simulation. Molecular dynamics of shortlisted compounds (Rutin, Diosmetin, and Luteolin) were performed for 200 ns, and the results were analyzed by monitoring root mean square deviations (RMSD), root mean square fluctuation (RMSF) analysis, the radius of gyration (Rg), and solvent accessible surface area (SASA). The results proved the formation of a stable protein-compound complex. Based on binding energies and non-bonded interactions, Rutin and Luteolin emerged as better lead molecules than Diosmetin. However, high MW (610.5), lowest absorption rate (16.04%), and more than one violation of Lipinski's rule make Rutin a less likely candidate as an anti-amyloidogenic agent. Moreover, among non-violators of Lipinski's rule, Diosmetin exhibited a greater absorption rate than Luteolin as well as the highest positive scores for drug-likeness. Thus, we can conclude that Diosmetin and Luteolin may serve as a scaffold for the design of better inhibitors with higher affinities toward the target proteins. However, these results warrant in-vitro and in-vivo validation before practical use.

Date Palm as Source of Nutraceuticals for Health Promotion: a Review

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Chronic diseases are problematic to health professional specially when using drugs throughout the course of life with un-tolerated side effects. Returning to nature through using nutraceuticals might have both protective and therapeutic effects. Date palm was claimed to be a good source of such nutraceuticals or functional food ingredients. The purpose of the present review was to spot light on the different phytochemicals, phytonutrients, and remedial effects of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) in a goal to be utilized in form of nutraceuticals. The possible mechanisms of action of the remedial effects were among the aim of the study.

RECENT FINDINGS

A protein hydrolyzate prepared from date seed could prevent DNA mutation and susceptibility to cancer. In addition to cancer prevention, date palm fruit improved the treatment outcome of cancer pediatric patients and possesses anti-angiogenic activity as one of the important anticancer mechanisms of action. On the other hand, date seed extracts was recently reported to protect from ulcerative colitis. It seems that all the aforementioned remedial effect might be ascribed to immunoregulatory effect of date palm. These findings proposed that date palm is beneficial for health. Date palm fruit is a rich source of vitamins, minerals, dietary fibers, energy, and easily digestible and absorbable sugars that instantaneously replenish and revitalize the body specially after fasting condition. Mineral contents in date fruits include potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, and calcium. Diverse health claims were reported to belong to various parts of the tree including the edible part of fruits, the seeds, the leaves, spathe (an envelope-like structure that encloses male and female date palm flowers), and pollen grains due to the presence of different bioactive constituents. The main phytochemicals and phytonutrients reported in date palms are phenolic compounds, carotenoids, sterols, anthocyanins, and others. In folk medicine, date palm fruits are used for enhancing immunity and treating gastrointestinal tract disorders, edema, bronchitis, wound, cancer, as well as infectious diseases. However, the exact health benefits and remedial effects of date palm were not fully and deeply investigated. The present review focused on the bioactive constituents and the reported health benefits of date palm and proposed mechanism of action.

Scientific rationale of Indian AYUSH Ministry advisory for COVID-19 prevention, prophylaxis, and immunomodulation

The current outbreak of COVID-19 is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus that has affected > 210 countries. Various steps are taken by different countries to tackle the current war-like health situation. In India, the Ministry of AYUSH released a self-care advisory for immunomodulation measures during the COVID-19 and this review article discusses the detailed scientific rationale associated with this advisory. Authors have spotted and presented in-depth insight of advisory in terms of immunomodulatory, antiviral, antibacterial, co-morbidity associated actions, and their probable mechanism of action. Immunomodulatory actions of advised herbs with no significant adverse drug reaction/toxicity strongly support the extension of advisory for COVID-19 prevention, prophylaxis, mitigations, and rehabilitation capacities. This advisory also emphasized Dhyana (meditation) and Yogasanas as a holistic approach in enhancing immunity, mental health, and quality of life. The present review may open-up new meadows for research and can provide better conceptual leads for future researches in immunomodulation, antiviral-development, psychoneuroimmunology, especially for COVID-19.

Antioxidant properties and phenolic profiling by UPLC-QTOF-MS of Ajwah, Safawy and Sukkari cultivars of date palm

Date palm (P. dactylifera) plays a vital role in ethnomedicinal practices in several parts of the world. There are over 2000 cultivars of date palm that differ in chemical composition and extent of bioactivity. The present study was undertaken to comparatively evaluate the antioxidant potential of three cultivars of date palm (Ajwah, Safawy and Sukkari) from Saudi Arabia and analyze their phenolic constituents in order to draw a rationale for their activity. Antioxidant activities of the date cultivars were evaluated by different quantitative methods including 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and hydroxyl radical scavenging assay, total antioxidant capacity, reducing power, total phenolic (TPC), flavonoid (TFC) and tannin content (TTC), while qualitative phenolic composition was determined using ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled to quadropole time of flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MS). All the three date extracts showed good DPPH radical scavenging (IC₅₀ 103–177 μg/mL) and hydroxyl radical scavenging (IC₅₀ 1.1–1.55 mg/mL) activity and total antioxidant capacity (IC₅₀ 87–192 μg/mL). The reducing power was also comparable to that of ascorbic acid, used as standard in above experiments. All the three samples contain significant amount of major antioxidant components (phenolic, flavonoid and tannin) that successfully correlates with the results of radical scavenging assays. UPLC-QTOF-MS revealed a total of 22 compounds in these date cultivars classified into common phenolics, flavonoids, sterols and phytoestrogens. Significant variation in the degree of antioxidant activity of these three date cultivars can be attributed to the difference in the content and composition of phenolic compounds.

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Ajwah, Safawy and Sukkari date palm possess significant amount of natural antioxidant components.

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Dietary intake of Ajwah, Safawy and Sukkari date palm can prevent a number of oxidative damage mediated diseases.

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The common phenolics, flavonoids, sterols and phytoestrogens of date palm might contributed in the prevention of diseases.

Functional food and nutra-pharmaceutical perspectives of date (Phoenix dactylifera L.) fruit

Date palm counts among the oldest fruit crops of the world and is mainly cultivated for its highly nutritious fruits consumed as a staple food in many countries, especially in the Gulf region. Dates are enriched with numerous therapeutic bioactives and functional compounds such as phenolics, flavonols, carotenoids, minerals, and vitamins that not only provide an appreciable amount of energy required for the human body but also act as an effective therapeutic agent against several diseases. This review aimed to provide a deep insight into the nutritional as well as phytochemicals profile of date fruit and its seeds in order to explore their biological (anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, cardio-protective, anti-inflammatory properties), functional food, and nutra-pharmaceutical attributes. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: This review provides updated information regarding the date fruits and seeds phytochemicals composition together with highlighting dates potential as a natural therapeutic agent against several diseases. The study also urges the importance of consuming dates as a great package to live a healthy life due to the functional food and nutraceutical properties of this valuable fruit. The study also provides information first time as recommending dates to cope with the hidden hunger or micronutrient deficiency faced by the third world inhabitants. Hence, the review may further help the industry and researchers to explore the potential of dates for future medicinal and nutra-pharmaceutical applications.

Characterization and cryopreservation of chironji (Buchanania lanzan)

Buchanania lanzan Sperg. (Chironji) is an important underutilized fruit species of north, west and central India. Seventy-four diverse accessions were collected from the diversity rich areas of India. Among the collected accessions, 52 have been characterized for fruit and seed characters. Successful cryopreservation of seed kernel and embryonic axes have been achieved using desiccation followed by fast freezing and air desiccation-freezing method respectively, with high viability up to 85% after cryopreservation. Comprehensive base collection of diverse accessions has been successfully established in the Cryogenebank. Morphological characterization with 20 variables representing 9 qualitative and 11 quantitative characters has been undertaken. All the accessions of B. lanzan were grouped into eight clusters, showing high level of genetic variability within the species. Two-D plot derived from PCA based on first two components showed four major groups, which was found less similar to the clustering pattern of dendrogram. Morphological characters, viz. fruit shape, length, width, colour, pulp colour, stone shape, stone colour; kernel weight and kernel colour represent maximum variability revealed by first three components identified for developing minimal descriptors. Five accessions, viz. IC-552921, IC-552924, IC-546107, IC-546109 and IC-553215 were identified as superior genotypes, which may be further evaluated and utilized as promising accessions for crop improvement.

Phytotherapeutic potential and pharmaceutical impact of Phoenix dactylifera (date palm): current research and future prospects

Phoenix dactylifera (date palm) is a member of the genus Phoenix belonging to family Arecaceae. It is widely cultivated for its edible fruits and kernels. Dates have been used for both dietary purposes as well as for their phytomedicinal impacts against the variety of diseases. Date fruits are rich in alkaloids, protein, carbohydrate, fatty acid (linoleic, lauric, palmitic, and stearic acid), carotenoids, vitamins, polyphenolic compounds, flavonoids, and tannins along with different types of nutrients like potassium, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus. Due to the presence of the variety of phytochemicals, they have greater impact on human health. They have strong antioxidant potential. It has been proposed now as a potential source of several unique medical and industrial products. In literature, much information is available on botanical descriptions, agriculture technology, and utilization in therapeutic intervention, but a little description is accessible on phytochemical relevance, formulation strategies, nutritional impact, and bioprocess technology. Therefore, the present review provides comprehensive information on the phytochemical relevance, pharmacology/bioactivity, pharmaceutical impact, their scope in bioprocess technology and nutraceutical values of date palm. According to all collected information, every portion of the plant has some beneficial properties that can serve as a source of medicine and nutraceutical.

Effects of consuming date fruits (Phoenix dactylifera Linn) on gestation, labor, and delivery: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials

BACKGROUND

Recent studies have shown that consumption of date fruits during pregnancy and also postpartum period might affect some pregnancy outcomes. We performed an updated systematic review and meta-analysis about the effects of consuming date fruits on gestation, labor, and delivery.

METHODS

Two researchers independently searched the online databases of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, Google Scholar, and EBSCO up to January 2019 for clinical trials examining the effects of date fruits consumption on any types of gestation, labor, and delivery outcomes. A fixed-effects model or random-effects models were applied to pool data, where appropriate. Quality assessment was done by Jadad scale.

RESULTS

In total, 11 and 8 studies were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. Meta-analysis revealed that date fruit consumption significantly reduced gestation duration (pooled effect size: -0.30, 95% CI: -0.45, -0.15; P < 0.001), increased cervical dilation on admission (pooled effect size: 0.94, 95% CI: 0.88, 1.00; P < 0.001), and shorten duration of first stage of labor (pooled effect size: -50.09, 95% CI: -72.25, -27.93; P < 0.001). Also, it was revealed that date fruit consumption significantly reduced duration of second stage of labor in fixed-effects model (pooled effect size: -9.85, 95% CI: -14.00, -5.70; P < 0.001); however, this effect was not significant in random-effects analysis (pooled effect size: -11.27, 95% CI: -28.23, -5.68; P = 0.193).

CONCLUSIONS

Date fruits intake seems to reduce gestation duration and duration of the first stage of labor, and also increase cervical dilation on admission.

Dietary supplementation of Phoenix dactylifera L. seeds decreases pro-inflammatory mediators in CCl4-induced rats

Introduction: Low immunity causes the body to become more easily infected, resulting in inflammation. If the immune system is functioning properly, this inflammation will end in healing. The immune system has a protective role in the body, and its anti-inflammatory role is vital. During trauma, the initial immune response is marked by inflammation. The use of date-seed extract, although not steeped date seeds, has been studied as an anti-inflammatory agent. This study is aimed at demonstrating the anti-inflammatory effect of steeped date seeds (Phoenix dactylifera L.) in rats with CCl4-induced inflammation.Methods: This experiment included a pre- and post-test with control group design. Male Wistar rats (approximately 2–3 months of age, ranging in weight from 150 to 200 g) were assigned to the following groups: negative control (NC), positive control (PC), T1 treatment dose 1 g/kg, T3 treatment dose 3 g/kg, T5 treatment dose 5 g/kg, and healthy control (HC). Groups 1–5 were subjected to CCl4 induction at a single dose of 2 mL/kg before treatment. The levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), glutathione (GSH), and gamma interferon (IFN-γ) were compared in groups using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by a least significant difference (LSD) post hoc test for comparisons between means.Results: Levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), GSH, and IFN-γ were significantly different among the HC and treatment groups after CCl4 induction. After 14 days of steeped date-seed treatment, TNF-α decreased, but GSH and IFN-γ levels increased significantly (P = 0.001).Conclusion: Administration of steeped date seeds at a dose of 5 g/kg can increase GSH and IFN-γ, and decrease TNF-α, the strongest inflammatory marker in CCl4-induced rats. The findings of this study indicate that date-seed supplementation can support body immunity by regulating pro-inflammatory mediators.

Allergenicity assessment of Buchanania lanzan protein extract in Balb/c mice

Tree nuts are among "Big Eight" and have been reported globally for causing allergy. Buchanania lanzan (Bl) is one of the major tree nuts consumed by Indian population. However, very little is known about B. lanzan's induced allergic manifestation. Therefore, evaluation of it's allergenic potential was undertaken. Bl-crude protein extract sensitized BALB/c mice sera were used to identify the allergic proteins by it's IgE binding capability. The major IgE binding proteins found with molecular weight of 11, 20, 23, 25, 48, 54, and 65 kDa. Specific IgE, specific IgG1, MCPT-1, PGD₂ and histamine were assessed in mice sera. Enormous amount of mast cell infiltration was noted in different organs. The levels of Th1/Th2 transcription factors GATA-3, SOCS3 and STAT-6 were found upregulated, whereas T-bet was downregulated. Furthermore, elevated Th1/Th2 cytokine responses were observed in mice sera. All together, these reactions developed systemic anaphylaxis upon Bl-CPE challenge in sensitized BALB/c mice. In order to confirm the evidences obtained from the studies carried out in BALB/c, the investigation was extended to human subjects as well. Control subjects and allergic patients were subjected to skin prick test (SPT). Later sera collected from those positive to SPT along with controls were used for IgE immunoblotting. The study evaluated the allergic manifestation associated with Bl, and identified it's proteins attributing Bl-mediated allergy. This work may help in managing tree nuts mediated allergies especially due to Buchanania lanzan sensitization.

Almonds and Cardiovascular Health: A Review

Several preventive strategies to reduce dyslipidemia have been suggested, of which dietary modification features as an important one. Dyslipidemia is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease and strategies to manage dyslipidemia have been shown to reduce the incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Although there are proven pharmacological therapies to help manage this condition, nutritional interventions are a safer option to help prevent and manage dyslipidemia. Addition of almonds in the daily diet has been proposed to beneficially impact the lipid profile. This review critically examines the available evidence assessing the effect of almonds on dyslipidemia in the South Asian (particularly Indian) context. An extensive review comprised of epidemiological studies, clinical trials, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews was conducted from published literature from across the world. Studies examining the effect of almonds on different aspects of dyslipidemia viz. high low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), low high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), triglyceridaemia, and high total cholesterol levels have been included. In several studies, almonds have been shown to reduce LDL-C-which is a known risk factor for CHD-and the effect of almonds has been well documented in systematic reviews and meta-analysis of clinical trials. Addition of almonds in the diet has been shown to not only to reduce LDL-C levels, but also to maintain HDL-C levels. This review provides information about the use of this simple nutritional strategy which may help manage known major risk factors for heart disease, such as high LDL-C and low HDL-C levels especially in the context of South Asians.

Metabolite characterization of different palm date varieties and the correlation with their NO inhibitory activity, texture and sweetness

The aim of this study was to examine the variation in metabolite constituents of five commercial varieties of date fruits; Ajwa, Safawi and Ambar which originated from Madinah, the Iranian Bam and Tunisian Deglet Noor. The differences of metabolome were investigated using proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy combined with multivariate data analysis (MVDA). Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed clear separation between the date varieties. The Tunisian Deglet Noor demonstrated distinct cluster from the rest of the palm date samples based on the metabolite composition as shown by the pattern observed in Hierarchical Clustering Analysis (HCA) and PCA. Deglet Noor exhibited a significant higher level of sucrose (δ 5.40) and fructose (δ 4.16) in comparison with the other four varieties which can be associated with the distinctive sweet taste of this variety. Dates originated from Madinah and Tunisia exhibited a contrast manner in the amount of xylose and moisture content. These two aspects may contribute towards the soft texture of Tunisian dates. All Madinah dates were found to contain phenolic compounds which were well established as great antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. Ajwa dates exerted greater effect in inhibiting the generation of nitric oxide (NO) from the stimulated RAW264.7 cells at 95.37% inhibition. Succinic acid was suggested to have the most significant correlation with the trend of NO inhibitory shown by the selected date palm varieties.

Effect of Almond Supplementation on Glycemia and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Asian Indians in North India with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A 24-Week Study

Background: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) statistics have reached menacing proportions in India. Appropriate dietary intervention, as part of healthy lifestyle, is imperative to curb further spread of this disease.

Objectives: This pre–post intervention study was conducted in New Delhi, India, to investigate the effects of daily consumption of almonds for 24 weeks in T2D subjects, specifically on measures of glycemia and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors.

Methods and Study Design: In this study, the 24-week intervention period was preceded by a control diet and exercise run-in period of 3 weeks. Raw almonds (20% of energy intake) were provided to the patients for consumption along with diet and physical activity counseling. Patients were assessed for anthropometry, blood pressure, measures of glycemia (fasting blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin), lipids [total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, lipoprotein(a)], surrogate marker of atherosclerosis (Pulse wave velocity), and marker of inflammation (high sensitivity C-reactive protein [hs-CRP]) at baseline and after the intervention period.

Results: Statistically significant improvement in mean values for various parameters post intervention was as follows: waist circumference (P < 0.03), waist-to-height ratio (P < 0.005), TC (P < 0.002), serum triglycerides (P < 0.004), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P < 0.01), glycosylated hemoglobin (P < 0.04), and hs-CRP (P < 0.01). A trend toward improvement in pulse wave velocity (P < 0.06) was also observed.

Conclusion: The study findings illustrate that incorporation of almonds in a well-balanced healthy diet leads to multiple beneficial effects on glycemic and CVDs risk factors in Asian Indian patients with T2D.

Chemical characterisation and the anti-inflammatory, anti-angiogenic and antibacterial properties of date fruit (Phoenix dactylifera L.)

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Date fruit, Phoenix dactylifera L. has traditionally been used as a medicine in many cultures for the treatment of a range of ailments such as stomach and intestinal disorders, fever, oedema, bronchitis and wound healing.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

The present review aims to summarise the traditional use and application of P. dactylifera date fruit in different ethnomedical systems, additionally the botany and phytochemistry are identified. Critical evaluation of in vitro and in vitro studies examining date fruit in relation to anti-inflammatory, anti-angiogenic and antimicrobial activities are outlined.

KEY FINDINGS

The ethnomedical use of P. dactylifera in the treatment of inflammatory disease has been previously identified and reported. Furthermore, date fruit and date fruit co-products such as date syrup are rich sources of polyphenols, anthocyanins, sterols and carotenoids. In vitro studies have demonstrated that date fruit exhibits antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-angiogenic activity. The recent interest in the identification of the numerous health benefits of dates using in vitro and in vivo studies have confirmed that date fruit and date syrup have beneficial health effects that can be attributed to the presence of natural bioactive compounds.

CONCLUSIONS

Date fruit and date syrup have therapeutic properties, which have the potential to be beneficial to health. However, more investigations are needed to quantify and validate these effects.

Discrimination and Nitric Oxide Inhibitory Activity Correlation of Ajwa Dates from Different Grades and Origin

This study was aimed at examining the variations in the metabolite constituents of the different Ajwa grades and farm origins. It is also targeted at establishing the correlations between the metabolite contents and the grades and further to the nitric oxide (NO) inhibitory activity. Identification of the metabolites was generated using ¹H-NMR spectroscopy metabolomics analyses utilizing multivariate methods. The NO inhibitory activity was determined using a Griess assay. Multivariate data analysis, for both supervised and unsupervised approaches, showed clusters among different grades of Ajwa dates obtained from different farms. The compounds that contribute towards the observed separation between Ajwa samples were suggested to be phenolic compounds, ascorbic acid and phenylalanine. Ajwa dates were shown to have different metabolite compositions and exhibited a wide range of NO inhibitory activity. It is also revealed that Ajwa Grade 1 from the al-Aliah farm exhibited more than 90% NO inhibitory activity compared to the other grades and origins. Phenolic compounds were among the compounds that played a role towards the greater capacity of NO inhibitory activity shown by Ajwa Grade 1 from the al-Aliah farm.

Comparative study of neuropharmacological, analgesic properties and phenolic profile of Ajwah, Safawy and Sukkari cultivars of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera)

In addition to the rich nutritional value, date palm is also used in various ethnobotanical practices for the treatment of various disease conditions. Present investigation was undertaken to examine the neuropharmacological and antinociceptive effect of the ethanol extract of three date cultivars growing in Saudi Arabia, namely Ajwah, Safawy and Sukkari. Neuropharmacological effect was observed by pentobarbitone induced sleeping time, open field, and hole board test. Antinociceptive activity was tested by acetic acid induced writhing and hot plate test. The date extracts were also subjected to HPLC analysis to detect the presence of common bioactive polyphenols. All the three date extracts extended the pentobarbitone induced sleeping time, reduced locomotor activity in open field test and reduced exploratory behaviour in hole board test in mice. The extracts also reduced acetic acid induced writhing and delayed response time in hot plate test. The activities were stronger for Ajwah than the other two date cultivars. HPLC analysis indicated the presence of trans-ferulic acid in all three cultivars, while (+)-catechin and (−)-epicatechin only in Ajwah and Safawy. The observed neuropharmacological and analgesic activity could be partly due to the presence of (+)-catechin, (−)-epicatechin and trans-ferulic acid, three important plant polyphenols well known for their neuroprotective activity and their ability to exert antioxidant activity on brain cells. Present investigation also supports the ethnobotanical use of date palm to provide ameliorating effects in pain and CNS disorders.

Antileishmanial Activity of Date (Phoenix dactylifera L) Fruit and Pit Extracts In Vitro

Leishmaniasis is considered as a major public health problem worldwide. Current drugs in treatment of leishmaniasis have some limitations; thus, the current study was aimed to assess the methanolic extracts of pit and fruit of Phoenix dactylifera against Leishmania major promastigotes. L major promastigotes were cultured in RPMI 1640 and incubated at 25°C ± 1°C for 24, 48, and 72 hours. For obtaining the IC50 (half maximal inhibitory concentration) value, MTT assay was employed. Furthermore, promastigotes were examined in terms of morphology under light microscope. About 48 hours after treatment, IC50s were estimated 23 μg/mL and 500 mg/mL for methanolic extracts of pit and fruit of P dactylifera, respectively. Both extracts exhibited a dose and time-dependent antileishmanial activity against L major parasites. Also, some visible morphological changes were seen. This finding revealed both date fruit and pit, are effective against L major promastigotes. Further studies should be designed in future based on apoptosis induction in vitro and in vivo.

Qualitative and quantitative spectro-chemical analysis of dates using UV-pulsed laser induced breakdown spectroscopy and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) is demonstrated for the spectral analysis of nutritional and toxic elements present in several varieties of date fruit samples available in the Saudi Arabia market. The method analyzes the optical emission of a test sample when subjected to pulsed laser ablation. In this demonstration, our primary focus is on calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg), as nutritional elements, and on chromium (Cr), as a toxic element. The local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) condition was confirmed prior to the elemental characterization of date samples to ensure accuracy of the LIBS analysis. This was achieved by measuring parameters associated with the plasma, such as the electron temperature and the electron number density. These plasma parameters aid interpretation of processes such as ionization, dissociation, and excitation occurring in the plasma plume formed by ablating the date palm sample. The minimum detection limit was established from calibration curves that involved plotting the LIBS signal intensity as a function of standard date samples with known concentrations. The concentration of Ca and Mg detected in different varieties of date samples was between 187 and 515 and 35-196mgL(-1) respectively, while Cr concentration measured between 1.72 and 7.76mgL(-1). In order to optimize our LIBS system, we have studied how the LIBS signal intensity depends on the incident laser energy and the delay time. In order to validate our LIBS analysis results, standard techniques such as inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) were also applied on an identical (duplicate) date samples as those used for the LIBS analysis. The LIBS results exhibit remarkable agreement with those obtained from the ICP-MS analysis. In addition, the finger print wavelengths of other elements present in date samples were also identified and are reported here, which has not been previously reported, to the best of our knowledge.

Diet rich in date palm fruits improves memory, learning and reduces beta amyloid in transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease

Background:

At present, the treatment options available to delay the onset or slow down the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD) are not effective. Recent studies have suggested that diet and lifestyle factors may represent protective strategies to minimize the risk of developing AD. Date palm fruits are a good source of dietary fiber and are rich in total phenolics and natural antioxidants, such as anthocyanins, ferulic acid, protocatechuic acid and caffeic acid. These polyphenolic compounds have been shown to be neuroprotective in different model systems.

Objective:

We investigated whether dietary supplementation with 2% and 4% date palm fruits (grown in Oman) could reduce cognitive and behavioral deficits in a transgenic mouse model for AD (amyloid precursor protein [APPsw]/Tg2576).

Materials and Methods:

The experimental groups of APP-transgenic mice from the age of 4 months were fed custom-mix diets (pellets) containing 2% and 4% date fruits. We assessed spatial memory and learning ability, psychomotor coordination, and anxiety-related behavior in all the animals at the age of 4 months and after 14 months of treatment using the Morris water maze test, rota-rod test, elevated plus maze test, and open-field test. We have also analyzed the levels of amyloid beta (Aβ) protein (1–40 and 1–42) in plasma of control and experimental animals.

Results:

Standard diet-fed Tg mice showed significant memory deficits, increased anxiety-related behavior, and severe impairment in spatial learning ability, position discrimination learning ability and motor coordination when compared to wild-type on the same diet and Tg mice fed 2% and 4% date supplementation at the age of 18 months. The levels of both Aβ proteins were significantly lowered in date fruits supplemented groups than the Tg mice without the diet supplement. The neuroprotective effect offered by 4% date fruits diet to AD mice is higher than 2% date fruits diet.

Conclusions:

Our results suggest that date fruits dietary supplementation may have beneficial effects in lowering the risk, delaying the onset or slowing down the progression of AD.

Cellular Anti-Melanogenic Effects of a Euryale ferox Seed Extract Ethyl Acetate Fraction via the Lysosomal Degradation Machinery

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ethyl acetate fraction of Euryale ferox seed extracts (Efse-EA) on melanogenesis in immortalized mouse melanocyte cell line, melan-a. Efse-EA showed strong dose-dependent mushroom tyrosinase inhibitory activity. Treatment of melan-a cells with 30 μg/mL Efse-EA produced strong inhibition of cellular tyrosinase and melanin synthesis. Efse-EA significantly reduced the levels of melanogenesis-related proteins, such as tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related proteins 1 and 2, and microphthalmia-associated transcription factor. Because Efse-EA treatment reduced tyrosinase protein levels without changing its mRNA expression, we investigated whether this decrease was related to proteasomal or lysosomal degradation of tyrosinase. We found that chloroquine, a lysosomal proteolysis inhibitor, almost completely abolished both the down-regulation of tyrosinase and the inhibition of melanin synthesis induced by Efse-EA. These results suggested that Efse-EA may contribute to the inhibition of melanogenesis by altering lysosomal degradation of tyrosinase, and that this extract may provide a new cosmetic skin-whitening agent.

Antioxidant and antiatherogenic properties of phenolic acid and flavonol fractions of fruits of 'Amari' and 'Hallawi' date (Phoenix dactylifera L.) varieties

Date (Phoenix dactylifera L.) fruit phenolic-acid or flavonol fractions were examined in vitro for antioxidant and antiatherogenic properties. Two fractions of each subgroup were prepared from two date varieties, 'Amari' and 'Hallawi', by solid phase extraction on C18. The fractions were analyzed for phenolics composition by RP-HPLC and tested for ferric-reducing antioxidant power, free radical scavenging capacity, inhibition of Cu(2+)-induced LDL oxidation, and enhancement of HDL-mediated cholesterol efflux from macrophages. All four fractions exhibited variable capacities to reduce ferric ions, scavenge radicals, and inhibit LDL oxidation. Flavonol fractions were considerably better inhibitors of LDL oxidation compared to phenolic acid fractions, with IC50's of 9-31 nmol GAE mL(-1) compared to 85-116 nmol GAE mL(-1), respectively. Only the flavonol fractions stimulated cholesterol removal from macrophages. Within each subgroup, the levels of all the activities varied with fraction composition. The results demonstrated strong structure-activity relationships for date phenolics and identified date flavonols as potential antiatherogenic bioactives.

Attenuation of reactive oxygen/nitrogen species with suppression of inducible nitric oxide synthase expression in RAW 264.7 macrophages by bark extract of Buchanania lanzan

Background:

Oxidative stress is one of the most critical factors implicated in disease conditions. Buchanania lanzan Spr. (Anacardiaceae) bark powder preparation has been reported for treating an inflammatory condition in the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India.

Objective:

In the present study, we investigate the effect of the bark methanol extract (BLM) on reactive oxygen/nitrogen species (ROS/RNS), the expression of protein and mRNA of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in RAW 264.7 macrophages stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) to provide scientific validation of the above said medicinal property.

Materials and Methods:

The capacity to quench ROS and RNS was evaluated by 5-(and-6) chloromethyl-20,70-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate acetyl ester fluorescence and nitrite estimations in LPS/SNP-stimulated macrophages respectively. The protein and transcript expression of iNOS was evaluated through Western Blot and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis respectively.

Results:

Macrophages pretreated with BLM (>100 μg/mL) for 24 h, stimulated with LPS for the last 18 h of experimental duration recorded a significantly (P < 0.05) reduced levels of ROS (3.45-fold) against LPS-stimulated conditions (5.7-fold). SNP-stimulation resulted in increased NO accumulation (17-fold) which was neutralized by BLM at >100 μg/ml (1.6-fold) credited to a reduced protein and mRNA expression of iNOS as recorded by Western blots and RT-PCR results respectively. The reversed-phase liquid chromatography-diode array detection analysis identified the presence of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, quercetin and p-coumaric acid (Rt values 5.444, 5.569 and 9.580 respectively).

Conclusions:

The potential of BLM inhibiting ROS/RNS production validates the medical use of bark, could find beneficial application under conditions of immune stimulation and/or bacterial infection.

Long-term dietary supplementation of pomegranates, figs and dates alleviate neuroinflammation in a transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a devastating age-related neurodegenerative disease with no specific treatment at present. The APPsw/Tg2576 mice exhibit age-related deterioration in memory and learning as well as amyloid-beta (Aβ) accumulation, and this mouse strain is considered an effective model for studying the mechanism of accelerated brain aging and senescence. The present study was aimed to investigate the beneficial effects of dietary supplements pomegranate, figs, or the dates on suppressing inflammatory cytokines in APPsw/Tg2576 mice. Changes in the plasma cytokines and Aβ, ATP, and inflammatory cytokines were investigated in the brain of transgenic mice. Significantly enhanced levels of inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-9, IL-10, TNF-α and Eotaxin activity were decreased by administration of the diet supplements containing pomegranates, figs, or dates. In addition, putative delays in the formation of senile plaques, as indicated by a decreasing tendency of brain Aβ1-40 and Aβ1-42 contents, were observed. Thus, novel results mediated by reducing inflammatory cytokines during aging may represent one mechanism by which these supplements exert their beneficial effects against neurodegenerative diseases such as AD.

2β-hydroxybetulinic acid 3β-caprylate: an active principle from Euryale Ferox Salisb. seeds with antidiabetic, antioxidant, pancreas & hepatoprotective potential in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the glycemic control, antioxidant, pancreas and liver protective effect of 2β-hydroxybetulinic acid 3β-caprylate (HBAC) from Euryale ferox Salisb. seeds on streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. The active principle was isolated from Euryale ferox Salisb. seeds extract by utilizing chromatographic techniques. The rats were divided into seven experimental groups: Gp 1-normal; Gp2- normal + HBAC (60 mg/kg p.o.); Gp3- diabetic control; Gp 4- Diabetic + HBAC (20 mg/kg p.o.); Gp5- Diabetic + HBAC (40 mg/kg p.o.); Gp6- Diabetic + HBAC (60 mg/kg p.o.) and Gp 7- Diabetic + Glibenclamide (10 mg/kg p.o.). Biochemical estimation, free radical scavenging examination and histopathological study was performed at the end of experimentation i.e. on 28th day. The active principle isolated and identified with spectral data as 2β-hydroxybetulinic acid 3β-caprylate (HBAC). It was detected for the first time that HBAC has improvised the glycemic control in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Furthermore, it is remarkable to note that it exhibited excellent free radical scavenging property and pancreas and hepatoprotective property as well, supported by histopathological examination. One of the mechanisms of action of HBAC appears to be stimulating the release of insulin from pancreatic β-cells. HBAC improved the glycemic control, reduced the free radical activity along with corrected glycemic control, lipid profile, and enhanced level of insulin alongh with improvement in pancreas and hepatoprotective architecture. Considering the above results, HBAC shows potential to develop a medicine for diabetes as combinatorial or mono-therapy.

Development of bacoside enriched date syrup juice and its evaluation for physical endurance

Bacoside rich juice (BRJ) was developed using date syrup as base. BRJ was evaluated for physicochemical, sensory attributes and its effect on physical endurance. Overall acceptability of BRJ and date syrup juice (DSJ) was good according to hedonic scale/ratings. Twenty four adult male Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups (n = 6). Sedentary (Group I) and control (Group II) group rats were allowed to drink water whereas DSJ and BRJ group rats were provided free access to drink DSJ (Group III) and BRJ (Group IV) for 14 days and were subjected to weight-loaded forced swim test (WFST) for every alternate day in order to evaluate the physical endurance. Both BRJ and DSJ group rats swimming efficiency was improved by 3 and 2 folds respectively in comparison with control group on day- 15. Improved physical endurance in BRJ group is due to reduced malondialdehyde levels in brain, liver and muscle tissues by 16.50 %, 17.88 % and 30.20 %, respectively, compared to DSJ group (p < 0.01). In addition, administration of BRJ significantly protected the hepatic and muscle glycogen levels and reduced the levels of lactic acid in comparison to DSJ group. Hence, the present study clearly indicates that BRJ is an effective anti-fatigue drink ameliorates the various impairments associated with physical endurance.

Effect of dietary supplementation of dates in Alzheimer's disease APPsw/2576 transgenic mice on oxidative stress and antioxidant status

Oxidative stress may play a key role in Alzheimer's disease (AD) neuropathology. Changes in the oxidative stress, antioxidants, and membrane-bound enzymes were investigated in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of AD transgenic mice model after long-term dietary supplementation of date palm fruits from Oman. The 4-month-old mice with double Swedish APP mutation (APPsw/Tg2576) were purchased from Taconic Farm, NY, USA; mice were fed two different doses of dates (such as 4 and 2%) or control diet for 15 months and then assessed for the influence of diet on oxidative stress. Significant increase in oxidative stress in terms of enhanced levels of lipid peroxidation (LPO) and protein carbonyls and parallel decrease in the activity of antioxidant enzymes were observed in control diet-treated Tg2576 AD mice. Dates (4 and 2%) treated APPsw/Tg2576 AD mice exhibited significantly attenuated oxidative damage, evidenced by decreased LPO and protein carbonyl levels and restoration in the activities of the antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione, and glutathione reductase). The activities of membrane-bound enzymes (Na(+), K(+)-ATPase and acetyl cholinesterase) were altered in control diet-treated APPsw/Tg2576 AD mice brain regions. Meanwhile, both the percentages of date supplementation were able to restore the activity of enzymes to comparable values observed in controls. In summary, we have shown that chronic dietary supplementation of date palm fruits grown in Oman showed possible beneficial effects concomitant with oxidative stress reduction and increased antioxidant enzymes in AD transgenic mice model. These results warrant further exploration of how anti-reactive oxygen species properties of dates offer such beneficial effects on the AD-like brain.

Pharmacological studies on Buchanania lanzan Spreng.- a focus on wound healing with particular reference to anti-biofilm properties

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the wound healing activity of the methanolic root extract of Buchanania lanzan Spreng. (B. lanzan), with a focus on antimicrobial and anti-biofilm properties.

METHODS

The extract was evaluated for its wound healing properties (excision and incision models) as evident from the analysis of tensile strength and wound contraction. The extract was also screened for antibacterial properties against different Gram positive and Gram negative bacterial strains. B. lanzan was also studied for its effect on biofilm formation and disruption of preformed biofilms. The synergistic effect of B. lanzan was determined in combination with gentamicin.

RESULTS

Topical application of B. lanzan (10% w/w ointment) significantly increased (40.84%) the tensile strength in the incision wound model. B. lanzan also showed significant wound healing activity in excision model and such significant activity was observed from the 9th day. Whereas Soframycin displayed significant wound healing activity from the 6th day. It was found that root extracts of B. lanzan revealed significant inhibition against all tested pathogens. B. lanzan displayed antimicrobial activity against Gram positive (MIC 0.625 mg/mL) and Gram negative (MIC 0.625-1.25 mg/mL). B. lanzan was able to reduce biofilm formation and also caused disruption of preformed biofilms in a manner similar to ciprofloxacin. However, gentamicin was found to be ineffective against biofilms formed by Gram negative organism. According to the fractional inhibitory concentration index, B. lanzan displayed synergistic activity when it was combined with gentamicin.

CONCLUSIONS

From this study it may be concluded that the root extract of B. lanzan revealed significant wound healing potential, which was supported and well correlated with pronounced antibacterial activity of the tested plant parts.

Date fruit: chemical composition, nutritional and medicinal values, products

Date fruit has served as a staple food in the Arab world for centuries. Worldwide production of date fruit has increased almost threefold over the last 40 years, reaching 7.68 million tons in 2010. Date fruit can provide many essential nutrients and potential health benefits to the consumer. Date fruit goes through four ripening stages named kimri, khalal, rutab and tamer. The main chemical components of date fruit include carbohydrates, dietary fibre, enzymes, protein, fat, minerals, vitamins, phenolic acids and carotenoids. The chemical composition of date fruit varies according to ripening stage, cultivar, growing environment, postharvest conditions, etc. The nutritional and medicinal activities of date fruit are related to its chemical composition. Many studies have shown that date fruit has antioxidant, antimutagenic, anti-inflammatory, gastroprotective, hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, anticancer and immunostimulant activities. Various date fruit-based products such as date syrup, date paste, date juice and their derived products are available. Date by-products can be used as raw materials for the production of value-added products such as organic acids, exopolysaccharides, antibiotics, date-flavoured probiotic-fermented dairy produce, bakery yeasts, etc. In this paper the chemical composition and nutritional and medicinal values of date fruit as well as date fruit-based products are reviewed.

Date (Phoenix dactylifera L.) fruit soluble phenolics composition and anti-atherogenic properties in nine Israeli varieties

Date (Phoenix dactylifera L.) fruit soluble phenolics composition and anti-atherogenic properties were examined in nine diverse Israeli grown varieties. Ethanol and acetone extracts of 'Amari', 'Barhi', 'Deglet Noor', 'Deri', 'Hadrawi', 'Hallawi', 'Hayani', 'Medjool', and 'Zahidi' fruit were analyzed for phenolics composition by RP-HPLC and tested for anti-atherogenicity by measuring their effects on LDL susceptibility to copper ion- and free radical-induced oxidation, and on serum-mediated cholesterol efflux from macrophages. The most frequently detected phenolics were hydroxybenzoates, hydroxycinnamates, and flavonols. Significant differences in phenolics composition were established between varieties as well as extraction solvents. All extracts inhibited LDL oxidation, and most extracts also stimulated cholesterol removal from macrophages. Considerable varietal differences were measured in the levels of the bioactivities. Also, acetone extracts exhibited a significantly higher anti-atherogenic potency for most varieties. The presence of soluble ingredients with anti-atherogenic capacities in dates and the possible involvement of phenolics are discussed.

Development, characterization, and optimization of protein level in date bars using response surface methodology

This project was designed to produce a nourishing date bar with commercial value especially for school going children to meet their body development requirements. Protein level of date bars was optimized using response surface methodology (RSM). Economical and underutilized sources, that is, whey protein concentrate and vetch protein isolates, were explored for protein supplementation. Fourteen date bar treatments were produced using a central composite design (CCD) with 2 variables and 3 levels for each variable. Date bars were then analyzed for nutritional profile. Proximate composition revealed that addition of whey protein concentrate and vetch protein isolates improved the nutritional profile of date bars. Protein level, texture, and taste were considerably improved by incorporating 6.05% whey protein concentrate and 4.35% vetch protein isolates in date bar without affecting any sensory characteristics during storage. Response surface methodology was observed as an economical and effective tool to optimize the ingredient level and to discriminate the interactive effects of independent variables.

Two new tocopherol polymers from the seeds of Euryale ferox

Two new tocopherol polymers, chroman-type dimer named ferotocodimer A (1) and spiro-type trimer named ferotocotrimer E (2), were isolated from the seeds of Euryale ferox. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic methods including HR-ESI-MS and 1D and 2D NMR. The absolute configurations of 1 and 2 were determined by CD and ROESY experiments.

Date fruits (Phoenix dactylifera Linn): an emerging medicinal food

Date palm is one of the oldest trees cultivated by man. In the folk-lore, date fruits have been ascribed to have many medicinal properties when consumed either alone or in combination with other herbs. Although, fruit of the date palm served as the staple food for millions of people around the world for several centuries, studies on the health benefits are inadequate and hardly recognized as a healthy food by the health professionals and the public. In recent years, an explosion of interest in the numerous health benefits of dates had led to many in vitro and animal studies as well as the identification and quantification of various classes of phytochemicals. On the basis of available documentation in the literature on the nutritional and phytochemical composition, it is apparent that the date fruits are highly nutritious and may have several potential health benefits. Although dates are sugar-packed, many date varieties are low GI diet and refutes the dogma that dates are similar to candies and regular consumption would develop chronic diseases. More investigations in these areas would validate its beneficial effects, mechanisms of actions, and fully appreciate as a potential medicinal food for humans all around the world. Therefore, in this review we summarize the phytochemical composition, nutritional significance, and potential health benefits of date fruit consumption and discuss its great potential as a medicinal food for a number of diseases inflicting human beings.