ANTIOXIDANT POTENTIAL OF EEL (ANGUILLA JAPONICA AND CONGER MYRIASTER) FLESH AND SKIN

Optimization for the extraction of polyphenols from Inonotus obliquus and its antioxidation activity

In order to study the extraction process and antioxidative activity of Inonotus obliquus polyphenols (IOP), the optimal extraction process was determined by orthogonal experiment optimization. The clearance rate of DPPH and hydroxyl radicals were used as indicators to evaluate the antioxidant activity of IOP. The results showed that the optimum extraction conditions were as follows: ethanol concentration of 50%, solid-liquid ratio of 1:20, temperature of 60 °C, and 90 min. Under these conditions, the extraction yield of IOP was 2.84%. The antioxidant capacity of extracts appeared to be IOP dose-dependent, while it also presented stronger ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC-MS) analysis indicated that the major identified polyphenol compounds extracted at the optimal conditions were ten compounds (procyanidin, caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid, isorhamnetin-3-O-glucoside, astilbin, tangeretin, gallic acid, kaempferol, quercetin, and catechin 7-xyloside). These findings indicate that I. obliquus polyphenols have the potential to be developed as a natural antioxidant and have a good application prospect.

Ethnozoological practices in Rodrigues island of the Mascarene archipelago

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Rodrigues, is an autonomous island that forms part of the Republic of Mauritius. It is a component of the Mascarene archipelago alongside Mauritius and Reunion island. Despite their relative geographical proximity, each island has its own unique biodiversity and indigenous knowledge. Nonetheless, there is no documentation of the use of animal-based remedies (ABR) in Rodrigues. This study was therefore designed to gather and compare primary traditional knowledge on the different ABR used by Rodriguans.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To collect, analyse, document, compare, and disseminate the use of ABR against common human ailments in Rodrigues island.

METHODS

Data was collected following interviews from key informants (n = 150). Primary data collected in the present study was compared with those reported from the nearest island, Mauritius. Three quantitative indices including (i) the frequency of citation, (ii) the similarity ratio and the percentage of shared uses among the two islands and (iii) new uses and percentage of new uses recorded in Rodrigues for each animal species mentioned were calculated.

RESULTS

A total of 32 animal species belonging to 13 taxonomic groups among which 55% were vertebrates and 45% invertebrates were reported to treat 38 different ailment conditions. Altogether, 73 distinct medicinal preparations employing 22 different animal parts and by-products were concocted from the different animal species reported. Most used animal parts were meat (21%) followed by the whole body (14%). The preparations were either administered orally (78%) or topically (22%). Interestingly, resources such as the Rodriguan bat (Pteropus rodricensis) and honey are unique to the island and have never been studied before. Pteropus rodricensis is an endangered species while Carcharodon carcharias is a vulnerable one. The shared medicinal uses of the species among the 2 islands ranged from 0 to 50% with the most similar uses (50%) being for Columba livia and Donax Spp. respectively. The proportion of new uses of animal species recorded in Rodrigues was higher (NUR ≥ 30%) for Panulirus penicillatus, Ovis aries, Gallus gallus domesticus, Scutigera coleoptrata, Apis mellifera, Bos taurus and Capra aegagrus hircus.

CONCLUSION

Rodriguans were found to possess valuable knowledge on a plethora of ABR. It is believed that the present documentation will serve to record and present this vanishing knowledge to the scientific community before it is further eroded from the island. Given the dearth of primary published information on zootherapeutic practices in Rodrigues, this study opens new avenues for biomedicine development in an attempt to develop alternative therapies or complement existing ones.

Alkaline extractive crude polysaccharide from Russula senecis possesses antioxidant potential and stimulates innate immunity response

Objectives

Over past decades, investigation on bioactive polysaccharides extracted from mushroom by heated water reflux has been an emerging field of biomedicine especially in the area of immune stimulation. While studies with macromolecules isolated from remainder residue of aqueous extraction are scarce. In this context, crude polysaccharide from a traditionally edible macrofungus, Russula senecis, was prepared (RuseCap) by alkaline solvent using leftover residue of that conventional process and its structural along with therapeutic properties were evaluated.

Key findings

Investigation by FT-IR, HPTLC, GC-MS and spectrophotometry showed that the fraction was mainly consisted of carbohydrate with backbone of xylose, rhamnose, mannose and glucose (mostly β-glucan). Besides, RuseCap exhibited strong antioxidant activity evident by radical scavenging (superoxide, hydroxyl, DPPH, ABTS), chelating ability and reduction power where EC50 values ranged from 257 to 4068 μg/ml concentration. In addition, it also exhibited immune-boosting potentiality as the treatment effectively induced proliferation, phagocytosis, nitric oxide production, intracellular reactive oxygen species generation, morphological changes and increased transcription level of iNOS, COX-2, TNF-α, IL-6 genes in macrophage cells.

Conclusions

Overall, the study provided blueprint for extended utilization of R. senecis basidiocarps beyond hot water process and defined use of RuseCap as potent therapeutic agent against free radicals as well as deprived immunity.

Introducing a novel mushroom from mycophagy community with emphasis on biomedical potency

Mushrooms have been prized by humankind as medicine and culinary wonder since antiquity. Though several species are ethnically valued; many prospective species are still being discovered. One such wild macrofungus has recently been discovered during subsequent field surveys in West Bengal, India which in turn exposed as a traditionally consumed popular myco-food. The collected taxon was found to be unique with regard to its morphological as well as genetical features. After detailed characterizations, the fungus was identified as a novel taxon belonging to the genus Russula (Russulaceae, Basidiomycota). Besides, the investigation was further extended in search of new functional ingredients and in this context, a water soluble crude polysaccharide rich extract (Rusalan) was isolated from dried basidiocarps. Accumulating evidences from GC-MS, HPTLC, FT-IR along with several spectrophotometric methods postulated that the fraction consisted mainly of carbohydrate in triple helical conformation, where glucose was the major monosaccharide mostly with β-type glycosidic linkage. Conversely, Rusalan showed pronounced antioxidant activity in six in vitro assay systems with EC₅₀ value ranging from 190–1328 μg/ml concentration. The crude polysaccharide was also evaluated against six bacterial strains using microdilution method and the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis were found to be inhibited effectively. In addition, immune-stimulatory assays demonstrated that Rusalan could evidently promote proliferation, induce phagocytosis, release NO, produce intracellular ROS and upregulate mRNA expression of iNOS, TNF-α, COX-2, as well as IL-6 genes in in mouse macrophage cells. Therefore, aim of the present study was not only to describe a new taxon to the world mycoflora but also to introduce a potent therapeutic agent that could be explored for food and pharmaceutical purposes. However, isolation of active component and in vivo studies need to be designed further.

Isolation and Purification of an Anticoagulant from Schizymenia dubyi by Fermentation

Natural fermentation is a method of extracting anticoagulant compounds from red algae Schizymenia dubyi. Preliminary screening was carried out on the basis of the activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), prothrombin time (PT), and thrombin time (TT) assays. The optimal fermentation time period for the highest APTT, PT, and TT values was found to be 8 weeks. Purification of the fermented sample by DEAE-anion exchange chromatography followed by Sepharose-4B chromatography resulted in a single polysaccharide, which was reconfirmed by a single spot on agarose gel electrophoresis. The purified sample had >1000s APTT activity at 130 μg/mL. The molecular weight estimated by polyaccrylamide gel electrophoresis was >500,000 Da. This is the first report indicating the presence of the anticoagulant compound in S. dubyi.

Antioxidant activity of water extracts from fruit body of Lentinus edodes enriched with selenium

Shiitake (Lentinus edodes) belongs to medically important and delicious fungi. It is recognizable for its healing properties, excellent taste and rich aroma. According to the traditional Japanese and Chinese medicine, shiitake mushroom significantly increases the strength and vitality of the body. Shiitake contains immunostimulants, compounds that lower cholesterol, prevents clogging of blood vessels, regulates the pressure, balances blood sugar levels, regulates digestion, and improves the performance of respiratory organs by its antirheumatic and antiallergic activities. Shiitake is recommended to use as food, prevention and cure, usually in a form of a spice (dried and ground) or tea. It can be consumed fresh, too. The objective of this study was to test the effect of enrichment in selenium on antioxidant, reducing and free radical scavenging activity of water extracts from fruit body of Lentinus edodes. The fungus was enhanced by adding organic selenium, zinc (II) complex with the ligand 2.6-bis diacetylpyridine (selenosemicarbazon) and inorganic compounds (Na2SeO3) of selenium in nutritional substrate where the fungus was grown. The total selenium content in fruit body was around 50 ppm for the sample enriched with selenium originating from organic sources, and 80 ppm for the sample enriched with selenium from inorganic sources. Samples were prepared by extraction of fruiting bodies in heated water. The results indicated that water extracts of whole fruit bodies, from both control and mushrooms supplemented with selenium, had quite good antioxidant activity. However, there was no significant difference between the samples supplemented with selenium content and those that were not.

Antioxidant potential of commercially available cumin (Cuminum cyminuml inn) in Pakistan

Owing to increased safety concerns about synthetic antioxidants, exploitation of safer antioxidants based on natural origin is the focus of research nowadays. Cumin is a common spice and is used as a routine supportive cooking agent. Extracts of cumin were prepared in methanol, ethanol, dichloromethane and hexane by employing Soxhlet extraction apparatus. Determination of the total phenolic content, chelating activity, reducing power and free radical scavenging activity were taken as parameters for the assessment of antioxidant properties. The findings of this study suggest cumin to be a potent source of antioxidants. Results from the different parameters were in agreement with one another.