Nutraceutical perspectives and value addition of phalsa (Grewia asiatica L.): A review

Optimizing extraction conditions for isolation of antioxidant compounds from black rice bran using ultrasonic-assisted extraction and response surface methodology

Black rice bran (BRB), a valuable byproduct from the rice milling process, possesses numerous pharmacological activities, including antioxidant potential, but information regarding highly efficient extraction methods is scarce. To enhance the extraction efficiency, ultrasonic-assisted extraction coupled with Box-Behnken design (BBD) was used in this study to maximize the total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), total anthocyanin content (TAC), and antioxidant capacity of BRB extract. The BBD results showed that 57% ethanol at 50°C and pH 3.1 were best for TPC (136.2 mg GAE/g dry weight), TAC (2.3 mg cyanidin-3-O-glucoside equivalents/g dry weight), and TFC (38.6 mg quercetin equivalents/g dry weight). In vitro antioxidant capacities of BRB extract determined by 2,2-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS+) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assays revealed free radical scavenging potentials with EC50 values of 67.62 and 1149 µg/mL, respectively. The cytotoxic effect of BRB extract on human skin HaCaT keratinocytes was determined by a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, which revealed no significant cytotoxicity and a significant increase in cell viability at a concentration of 500 µg/mL. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) analysis identified syringic acid, gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, vanillic acid, p-coumaric acid, and ferulic acid in BRB extract. This study provides the optimal conditions to extract antioxidant bioactive compounds from BRB and supports the use of BRB as a source of antioxidants. Due to BRB showing no significant cytotoxicity to human skin cells, it could potentially be further developed for topical applications.

Phytochemical and pharmacological characteristics of phalsa (Grewia asiatica L.): A comprehensive review

Phalsa is a tropical and subtropical fruit that is high in nutritional value and is primarily cultivated for its fruit. As, Phalsa fruit contain high number of vitamins (A and C), minerals (calcium, phosphorus, and iron), and fibre while being low in calories and fat. The fruit and seed of Phalsa contain 18 amino acids, the majority of which are aspartic acid, glutamic acid, and leucine. Based on in vivo and in vitro studies phalsa plant possess high antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antimicrobial, antidiabetic properties. However, antioxidant properties are found in the form of vitamin C, total phenolic, anthocyanin, flavonoid, and tannin. The phalsa plant's fruits and leaves have substantial anticancer action against cancer cell lines. Because of the presence of a broad range of physiologically active chemicals, investigations on phalsa plants revealed that some plant parts have radioprotective qualities. The anti-glycosidase and anti-amylase activity of aqueous fresh fruit extract was shown to be substantial. The phalsa plant contains an abundance of biologically active chemicals, allowing it to control microorganisms through a variety of processes. Phalsa methanolic leaf extract was revealed to have antimalarial and antiemetic effects. The hot and cold polysaccharide fractions extracted from the phalsa plant have potent hepatoprotective and therapeutic properties. Therefore, this review is based on the nutritional, bioactive, phytochemicals, and potential pharmacological uses of phalsa. The potential health benefits and economic potential of the phalsa berry's phytochemicals are promising areas for further study.

Indian Indigenous Fruits as Radioprotective Agents: Past, Present and Future

Ionising radiation has been an important modality in cancer treatment and its value is immense when surgical intervention is risky or might debilitate/adversely affect the patient. However, the beneficial effect of radiation modality is negated by the damage to the adjacent healthy tissue in the field of radiation. Under these situations, the use of radioprotective compounds that can selectively protect normal tissues against radiation injury is considered very useful. However, research spanning over half a century has shown that there are no ideal radioprotectors available. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA or USFDA) approved amifostine or WR-2721 (Walter Reed-2721) [chemically S-2-(3-aminopropyl-amino) ethyl phosphorothioic acid] is toxic at their optimal concentrations. This has necessitated the need for agents that are safe and easily acceptable to humans.

BACKGROUND

Dietary agents with beneficial effects like free radical scavenging, antioxidant and immunomodulatory effects are recognized as applicable and have been investigated for their radioprotective properties. Studies in these lines have shown that the fruits of Aegle marmelos (stone apple or bael), Emblica officinalis or Phyllanthus emblica(Indian gooseberry/amla), Eugenia jambolana or Syzygium jambolana (black plum / jamun), Mangifera indica (mango) and Grewia asiatica (phalsa or falsa) that are originally reported to be indigenous to India have been investigated for their usefulness as a radioprotective agent.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this review is to summarize beneficial effects of the Indian indigenous fruits stone apple, mango, Indian gooseberry, black plum, and phalsa in mitigating radiation-induced side effects, emphasize the underlying mechanism of action for the beneficial effects and address aspects that merit detail investigations for these fruits to move towards clinical application in the near future.

METHODS

The authors data mined in Google Scholar, PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library for publications in the field from 1981 up to July 2020. The focus was on the radioprotection and the mechanism responsible for the beneficial effects, and accordingly, the articles were collated and analyzed.

RESULTS

This article emphasizes the usefulness of stone apple, mango, Indian gooseberry, black plum, and phalsa as radioprotective agents. From a mechanistic view, reports are suggestive that the beneficial effects are mediated by triggering free radical scavenging, antioxidant, anti-mutagenic and anti-inflammatory effects.

CONCLUSION

For the first time, this review addresses the beneficial effects of mango, Indian gooseberry, black plum, stone apple and phalsa as radioprotective agents. The authors suggest that future studies should be directed at understanding the selective radioprotective effects with tumor-bearing laboratory animals to understand their usefulness as radioprotective drug/s during radiotherapy and as a food supplement to protect people getting exposed to low doses of radiation in occupational settings. Phase I clinical trial studies are also required to ascertain the optimal dose and the schedule to be followed with the standardized extract of these fruits. The most important aspect is that these fruits are a part of the diet, have been consumed since the beginning of mankind, are non-toxic, possess diverse medicinal properties, have easy acceptability all of which will help take research forward and be of benefit to patients, occupational workers, agribased sectors and pharma industries.

Phagocytosis, Degranulation and Extracellular Traps Release by Neutrophils-The Current Knowledge, Pharmacological Modulation and Future Prospects

Neutrophils are crucial elements of innate immune system, which assure host defense via a range of effector functions, such as phagocytosis, degranulation, and NET formation. The latest literature clearly indicates that modulation of effector functions of neutrophils may affect the treatment efficacy. Pharmacological modulation may affect molecular mechanisms activating or suppressing phagocytosis, degranulation or NET formation. In this review, we describe the role of neutrophils in physiology and in the course of bacterial and viral infections, illustrating the versatility and plasticity of those cells. This review also focus on the action of plant extracts, plant-derived compounds and synthetic drugs on effector functions of neutrophils. These recent advances in the knowledge can help to devise novel therapeutic approaches via pharmacological modulation of the described processes.