REACTIVE OXYGEN SPECIES SCAVENGING ACTIVITY AND DNA PROTECTING EFFECT OF FRESH AND NATURALLY FERMENTED COCONUT SAP

Non alcoholic palm nectar from Cocos nucifera as a promising nutraceutical preparation

Nonalcoholic Palm Nectar from Cocos nucifera (NPNC), a bio-refresher obtained from the juvenile inflorescence of coconut palm; is prominent as a nutritional health drink. The aim of this study was to investigate the nutritional and medicinal properties of NPNC and its products; sugar (NPNCS) and honey (NPNCH). The collected samples were subjected to physicochemical evaluations such as pH, Titrable Acidity, Total Soluble Solids, and Ash value, using standard techniques. The analysis revealed the suitability of NPNC as a natural health drink over conventionally available beverage. The elemental compositions of the samples were determined by using Inductive Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectrometry and demonstrated that NPNCH is enriched with iron and NPNCS with calcium. Vitamin C present in the samples was determined by using 2,6-Dichlorophenol indophenol redox titration method. Hydrolysable polyphenols, tannins, and flavonoids are determined by Folin-Ciocalteu, by Folin-Denis's technique and by aluminium chloride colorimetric methods, respectively. In NPNC, the dominance of Vitamin C as antioxidant is observed. Diuretic activity of samples was determined by Lipschitz method, and the results revealed that NPNC exhibited significant diuretic activity, comparable with furosemide. Immunomodulatory activities of the samples were evaluated by using indirect hemagglutination test and by using delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) response. NPNC, NPNCS, and NPNCH exhibited stimulatory effect on humoral and cell-mediated immunity, which is comparable with that of standard immunomodulator levamizole. Subacute toxicity studies of selected samples were done in Wistar rats and the results proved the boicompatibility of the samples without systemic toxic effects. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The use of commercially available carbonated beverages and energy drinks in young adults are associated with negative health outcomes with increased incidence of diabetes, sleep disturbances, and dental problems. Even though, such complications are there, the energy drink industries have grown dramatically accounting for major percentage of market sale. Researchers are in search for natural health drinks with some medicinal value to avoid the negative impact on consumers' health. Nonalcoholic Palm Nectar from Cocos nucifera (NPNC) is considered as zero alcoholic natural health drink. The focus of this study is to reveal the potential medicinal properties of NPNC and its products; honey (NPNCH) and sugar (NPNCS). If the nutritional and medicinal values of the selected preparations from natural sources can be proved with scientific evidence, its ability to beat commercially available carbonated beverages and energy drinks with negative health consequences may get widespread acceptance.

Phytochemical evaluation and pharmacognostic standardization of Syzygium palghatense endemic to Western Ghats

Background

The plants belonging to the genus Syzygium has received much attention since ancient times due to its multidimensional uses for mankind. These plants in general, reported to contain a wide array of phytomolecules with a broad spectrum of biological activities that include antihypoglycemic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticarcinogenic, and antihypertensive properties. The pharmacological potential of S. palghatense which is endemic to Western Ghats has not yet been investigated. The present study was intended to examine the potential benefits of the leaves and bark of S. palghatense.

Results

Morpho-anatomical studies of S. palghatense provided useful details for the identification. The pharmacological characterization of the plants shows significant results in their studied parameters. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents were higher in methanolic extracts of leaves and bark of S. palghatense. Methanolic extract of the leaves and bark have superior antioxidant capacity when compared with the chloroform, ethyl acetate, and distilled water extracts. A significant result in alpha amylase and alpha glucosidase enzyme activity was exhibited when antidiabetic study was performed.

Conclusion

The current study showed that the methanolic extract of S. palghatense leaves and bark have significant pharmacognostic properties and potential antioxidant and antidiabetic compounds. Phytochemical studies portray the presence of several biologically active secondary metabolites, including essential oil, alkaloid, glycosides, carbohydrate, tannins, reducing sugar, phenolics, and saponins, which may be the reason for its biological properties. As compared to bark, leaves of S. palghatense possess significant activity toward all the biological properties tested.

Neera, a non-fermented traditional drink from coconut spadix restores the redox status in sodium fluoride intoxicated mice

OBJECTIVES

Neera, non-fermented coconut inflorescence sap (NFCIS) and its fermented form, toddy (FCIS) are the two well-known traditional drinks in South India. Both the saps show high rejuvenation effect and NFCIS is used for the curing of bronchial suffocation, anemia, tuberculosis and piles in traditional medicine. But, a few scientific studies have been reported on their health benefits so far. Presently, the antioxidant effect of both non-fermented (NFCIS) and fermented form (FCIS) of coconut inflorescence were analyzed in experimental animals.

METHODS

The free radical scavenging property of FCIS and NFCIS was analyzed in vitro. The effect of these saps on mitigating sodium fluoride (NaF) deteriorated redox status was evaluated in mice.

RESULTS

NFCIS exhibited high antioxidant activity than its fermented form. NFCIS reduces metal ions and scavenge hydroxyl and DPPH radicals with IC₅₀ values 6.5 ± 1.9 and 44 ± 3.14 µL/mL, respectively. Supplementation of NFCIS for 14 days increased SOD, CAT and GPx activities and GSH level in liver by 51.67, 52, 27.88 and 35.77%, respectively against NaF induced decline with a concomitant decrease in lipid peroxidation to 40.76%. Saps rich in minerals indicate pharmaceutical and nutritional value.

CONCLUSION

The study revealed the antioxidant efficacy of non-alcoholic natural drink, Neera and recommends an alternative for synthetic carbonated soft drinks. The regular consumption of Neera may protect the body from various chronic diseases especially where the oxidative stress played as a key role.

Ameliorative effect of Neera, nonfermented coconut inflorescence sap, on cisplatin-induced renal toxicity by abating oxidative stress

Objectives Neera, nonfermented coconut inflorescence sap (NFCIS) from unopened spadix of Cocos nucifera L., is a well-known traditional beverage. But, scientific reports on its health benefits are limited. NFCIS is reported to exhibits free radical scavenging activity, and its chemical composition is found promising. In the present study, the effect of NFCIS on alleviating cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity was analyzed in mice. Methods The renal toxicity was induced by cisplatin (16 mg/kg b.wt. ip) in Swiss albino mice. The antioxidant activity of NFCIS was evaluated by nitric oxide radical scavenging assay and phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate-induced superoxide radical generation in mice peritoneal macrophages. Total polyphenolic content of sap was determined using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent. The phytochemicals present in NFCIS was identified using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. Results NFCIS was found to scavenge nitric oxide (NO) radicals (IC50 = 32 ± 2.47 μL/mL) and shown to inhibit superoxide (SO) generation (53.5 ± 2.1%) in macrophages. High polyphenolic content (193 µg gallic acid/mL) was determined in the sap. The FT-IR spectrum of NFCIS revealed the presence of several phytochemicals indicate its pharmaceutical and nutritional value. Cisplatin-induced hike in urea, creatinine and lipid peroxidation was significantly decreased to 65.16, 87.74 and 53.41% by NFCIS, respectively. Hb (42.37%) and total count (72.81%) were also found to be increased. Additionally, the activity of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and reduced glutathione was enhanced to 53.06, 40, 52.22 and 38.49%, respectively. Conclusions Results indicate that NFCIS effectively alleviates cisplatin-mediated renal toxicity by its antioxidant activity.

Ghazali H, Chang LS, Manaf YN. Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) sap as a potential source of sugar: Antioxidant and nutritional properties

This study was carried out to compare the antioxidant and nutritional properties of coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) sap with other natural sources of sugar such as sugar palm (Borassus flabellifer) and sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.). Coconut sap and juice from sugar palm and sugarcane were analyzed for proximate composition, pH and total soluble solid (TSS), color, sugar profile, vitamin profile, antioxidant properties (total phenolic contents, DPPH, FRAP, and ABTS), and mineral content. The results indicated that coconut sap possesses high DPPH (23.42%), FRAP (2.09 mM/ml), and ABTS (21.85%) compared with the juices. Coconut sap also had high vitamin C (116.19 µg/ml) and ash (0.27%) contents, especially in potassium (960.87 mg/L) and sodium (183.21 mg/L) which also indicating high content of minerals. These properties showed that coconut sap could be served as a potential healthier sugar source compared with sugar palm and sugarcane juices.

Phytochemical Profiling, GC-MS Analysis and α-Amylase Inhibitory Potential of Ethanolic Extract of Cocos nucifera Linn. Endocarp

BACKGROUND

Drugs with post-prandial action constitute one of the main courses of treatments for diabetes.

OBJECTIVE

In the present investigation, we have explored the α-amylase inhibitory potential of ethanolic extract of Cocos nucifera endocarp.

METHODS

DNS based assay was done to assess the α-amylase inhibition potential of ethanolic extract. Phytochemical screening and GC-MS analysis were done in order to assess the chemical profiling of extract. In silico docking studies were done using VLife MDS 4.6 software and the probable molecules, predicted after GC-MS analysis, were docked with the co-crystallized (acarbose) tracked active site and rest all cavities of porcine pancreatic α-amylase (1OSE). ADMET analysis was done using StarDrop 6.4, Derek Nexus and P450 Modules from Optibrium Ltd. and LHASA Ltd.

RESULTS

DNS based α-amylase assay indicated that the IC50 value of extract lies in the range of 63- 126 µg/ml and at higher doses, i.e. above 250 µg/ml, it has better α-amylase inhibition than the standard drug, acarbose. Phytochemical screening indicated that ethanolic extract is rich in alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, saponins, triterpenes, glycosides, carbohydrates, terpenoids, quinones and lactones. Further, GC-MS analysis (where Similarity Index was > 90) predicted that the probable phytoconstituents present in the ethanolic extract are myristic acid, syringaldehyde, eugenol, vanillin, 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol, lauric acid, palmitic acid methyl ester and γ-sitosterol. γ-Sitosterol showed the strong affinity towards the active site which was tracked by a co-crystallized ligand along with cavity 1 and 2 while significant interactions were observed in case of co-crystallized tracked active site as well as cavity 4 of 1OSE. Ethanolic extract of C. nucifera has no hemolytic effect.

CONCLUSION

Its ability to effectively inhibit α-amylase may be attributed to the presence of the above probable molecules, which will be explored further.