Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activities of Senna tora Roxb

Formulation of nutritious and functional meal-based biscuits from mixture of soybean, papaya fruit pulp, and baobab fruit pulp flours

Background and objective

The current trend in the formulation of convenience foods like biscuits is directed towards using local ingredients endowed with health benefits effects. The present study aimed at valorizing local crops and fruits as substitutes for wheat flour (WF) and sugar in the formulation of healthy, nutritious and functional meal-based biscuits.

Methods

Soybean (Glycine max L.), papaya fruit pulp (Carica papaya L.) and baobab fruit pulp (Adansonia digitata L.) flours were produced, characterized, and used to formulate biscuits following a simplex centroid mixing design. The physicochemical, microbiological, sensory and antioxidant properties of the biscuits were assessed.

Results

The results showed that protein and lipid contents of the biscuits increased significantly (p < 0.05) with the proportion of soybean flour (SF) in the formulation. The significant increase (p < 0.05) in the mineral content of the biscuits was proportional to the incorporation of papaya fruit pulp (PFPF) and baobab fruit pulp (BFPF) flours in the formulation. The energetic value of the formulated biscuits was higher than those made with 100 % WF. The incorporation of SF and BFPF contributed to a significant increase (p < 0.05) in the crude fibres' content of biscuits. Biscuits made with SF, PFPF and BFPF were safe for human consumption. They were accepted by the panelists; rich in bioactive compounds (total phenolic, flavonoids), and displayed high antioxidant activities. The optimization procedure revealed that the optimum formulation (with the highest desirability of 0.81) was WF 25 g, SF 51.86 g, PFPF 8.06 g and BFPF 15.06 g.

Conclusion

This study indicates that baobab fruit pulp, papaya fruit pulp and soybean flours can be used as a substitute for WF in the formulation of functional biscuits.

Significance of the research

This study suggests that the formulated meal-based biscuits might have the potential to be used to fight/prevent malnutrition and cardiometabolic diseases, and to boost the immune system while reducing the dependence on wheat.

Novel schiff base as Fe3+ sensor as well as an antioxidant and its theoretical studies

A novel Schiff base derivative L (N1-(thiophene-2-ylmethylene)benzene-1,2-diamine) was synthesized via condensation reaction of 3-thiophene carboxaldehyde and 1,2-diamino benzene. The synthesized compound was authenticated using 1 H NMR, 13 C NMR, HRMS, and IR spectroscopy. The compound L was found to be a Fe3+ sensor with the complexation ratio of 1 : 3 as revealed by Job’s plot with maximum absorption at 318 nm. The photophysical properties were studied using absorption and emission spectra. DFT and TD-DFT studies were carried out in order to support the photophysical outcomes of compound L. An antioxidant behaviour of compound L was studied using TAC, FRAP, and DPPH assays and it was found to be showing better TAC activity than the used standard i.e. gallic acid.

Bioactive phytosteroids from Araucaria columnaris (G. Forst.) Hook.: RP-HPLC-DAD analysis, in-vitro antioxidant potential, in-silico computational study and molecular docking against 3MNG and 1N3U

Genus Araucaria is globally known for its medicinal, economic, and ornamental values. Most of its species have not been extensively studied yet for their chemical composition and biological activities. Therefore, the phytochemical investigation and antioxidant potential of Araucaria columnaris (G. Forst.) Hook. has been analyzed. This work aims to investigate the isolation, characterization, and antioxidant potential of bioactive compounds from the bark extract of the exemplar plant. Their structures were elucidated by virtue of physicochemical properties and spectroscopic methods. The antioxidant potential was further discussed through various assays including DFT and molecular docking. The isolation of pure compounds from bioactive extract has been carried out chromatographically. Their structures were elucidated by 1D, 2D NMR, FT-IR, UV, MS, and RP-HPLC-DAD data analysis. In vitro, the antioxidant potential was evaluated by the DRSC, FRAP, and TAC assays and in-silico studies by DFT and molecular docking. For the first time, pure compounds such as stigmasterol (IC1) and diosgenin (IC2) were isolated from the bark extract of Araucaria columnaris. In vitro antioxidant activity has been demonstrated that IC2 has higher values of DRSC, FRAP, and TAC than IC1, due to higher reactivity of IC2 than IC1 as represented by quantum reactivity parameters like lower energy gap, higher dipole moment, and higher electron-donor power. Further, antioxidant potential was also confirmed by molecular docking against two stress proteins such as 3MNG (IC2: -7.70 Kcal/mol > IC1: -7.32 Kcal/mol > ascorbic acid: -5.56 Kcal/mol) and 1N3U (heme: -12.42 Kcal/mol > IC2: -11.15 Kcal/mol > IC1: -9.45 Kcal/mol). In conclusion, the phytosteroids exhibited excellent antioxidant potential, which could enlighten their ethnomedical use. The exemplar plant offered powerful and available antioxidant besides significantly active phytoconstituents.

Development of Fermented Sweet Potato Flour (Ipomoea batatas L.) Supplemented with Mackerel (Scomber scombrus) Meal-Based Biscuits

The fermentation of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) with a strain of Lactobacillus plantarum leads to an increase in its exopolysaccharides (EPS) content which is useful for enhancing the functional properties of flour. The objective of this study was to develop healthy and nutritious meal-based biscuits from fermented sweet potato (FSP) flour supplemented with mackerel flour. Eleven formulations containing wheat flour, FSP flour, nonfermented sweet potato (NFSP) flour, and mackerel flour at different proportions defined following a mixture design were used to prepare biscuits. Physicochemical, microbiological, and sensory analyses of the different biscuits were performed. Biscuits prepared with FSP at 100% scored the lowest lipid ( $10.83\pm 0.97\text{g}/100\text{g}\text{DM}$ ) and the highest sugar ( $67.43\pm 0.64\text{g}/100\text{g}\text{DM}$ ) contents. The incorporation of mackerel flour in the formulation led to a significant ( $p<0.05$ ) increase in the protein and mineral contents of biscuits thus conferring an immune-boosting property to these latters. All the biscuits were of good microbiological quality independent of the formulation. The highest DPPH free radicals scavenging activity (IC50 of 1.90 and 3.41 μg/mL for ethanolic and methanolic extracts, respectively) were observed with biscuits prepared with FSP flour at 100%. The sensorial characteristics of biscuits prepared with equal proportions of wheat and FSP flours were highly appreciated by the panelists with scores close to the ones prepared with wheat flour at 100%. The results of this study demonstrate the potential of FSP flour as a substitute for wheat flour in biscuits preparation. It also suggests biscuits prepared with FSP flour supplemented with mackerel flour as a functional and immune-boosting food.

Antioxidant, antimicrobial, and molecular docking studies of novel chalcones and Schiff bases bearing 1, 4-naphthoquinone moiety

Background:

The 1,4-naphthoquinone ring has attracted prominent interest in the field of medicinal chemistry due to its potent pharmacological activity as antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, and anticancer.

Objective:

Herein, a series of new Schiff bases (4-6) and chalcones (8a-c & 9a-d) bearing 1,4-naphthoquinone moiety were synthesized in good yields and were subjected to in-vitro antimicrobial, antioxidant, and molecular docking testing.

Methods:

A facile protocol has been described in this study for the synthesis of new derivatives (4-7, 8a-c, and 9a-d) bearing 1,4-naphthoquinone moiety. The chemical structures of all the synthesized compounds were identified by 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, MS, and elemental analyses. Moreover, these derivatives were assessed for their in-vitro antimicrobial activity against gram-positive, gram-negative bacteria, and fungal strains. Further studies were conducted to test their antioxidant activity using DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) scavenging assay. Molecular docking studies were realized to identify the most likely interactions of the novel compounds within the protein receptor.

Results:

The antimicrobial results showed that most of the compounds displayed good efficacy against both bacterial and fungal strains. The antioxidant study revealed that compounds 9d, 9a, 9b, 8c, and 6 exhibited the highest radical scavenging activity. Docking studies of the most active antimicrobial compounds within GLN- 6-P, recorded good scores with several binding interactions with the active sites.

Conclusion:

Based on the obtained results, it was found that compounds 8b, 9b, and 9c displayed the highest activity against both bacterial and fungal strains. The obtained findings from the DPPH radical scavenging method revealed that compounds 9d and 9a exhibited the strongest scavenging potential. The molecular docking studies proved that the most active antimicrobial compounds 8b, 9b and 9c displayed the highest energy binding scores within the glucosamine-6-phosphate synthase (GlcN-6-P) active site.

Sensory acceptability of value added cookies incorporated with Tinospora cordifolia (TC) stem powder; improvement in nutritional properties and antioxidant potential

Tinospora cordifolia (TC) is regarded nature's treasure as it is salutary in various ways to the human health in ayurvedic and vedic scriptures. The TC stem creeping on neem tree (Azadirachta indica) are considered best for medicinal use. Present study was carried out to develop functional food as cookies by incorporating the TC stem powder. Functional cookies were prepared by incorporating 2%, 4%, 8%, 10% and 12% of TC stem powder and admissibility was decided on the basis of sensory evaluation to get the optimized cookies (TCC). Further physical parameters (L*, a* and b* color value and spread ratio) were analyzed. TC, TCC and control cookies without TC were evaluated for nutritional composition and antioxidant potential [antioxidant assays: 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), ferric reducing power (FRAP) and nitric oxide (NO), total polyphenolic content and total flavonoid content]. Results showed that with increase in TC addition from 0 to 12% in cookies there was decreases in the sensory parameters and maximum admissible concentration was up to 8% of TC, hence optimized at this level. Incorporation of TC in cookies resulted in increase in b^* value, protein, moisture, total ash, iron, copper, zinc and antioxidant potential, whereas the fat content decreases. Developed cookies proved to be better than standard control cookies with respect to functional properties.

Antioxidant properties, antimicrobial and anti-adhesive activities of DCS1 lipopeptides from Bacillus methylotrophicus DCS1

BACKGROUND

The present work aims to investigate the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities as well as the potential of DCS1 lipopeptides produced by Bacillus methylotrophicus DCS1 strain at inhibition and disruption of biofilm formation.

RESULTS

The produced biosurfactants were characterized as lipopeptides molecules by using thin layer chromatography (TLC) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The DCS1 lipopeptides were assayed for their antioxidant activity through five different tests. The scavenging effect on DPPH radicals at a concentration of 1 mg mL^-1 was 80.6%. The reducing power reached a maximum value of 3.0 (OD_{700 nm}) at 2 mg mL^-1. Moreover, the DCS1 lipopeptides exhibited a strong inhibition of β-carotene bleaching by linoleic acid assay with 80.8% at 1 mg mL^-1 and showed good chelating ability and lipid peroxidation inhibition. The in vitro antimicrobial activity of DCS1 lipopeptides showed that they display significant antibacterial and antifungal activities. The anti-adhesive activity of DCS1 lipopeptides was evaluated against several pathogenic microorganisms. The lipopeptides showed excellent anti-adhesive activity, even at low concentrations, in a polystyrene surface pre-treatment against all the microorganisms tested. Further, they can disrupt performed biofilms.

CONCLUSION

This study shows the potentiality of DCS1 lipopeptides as natural antioxidants, antimicrobial and/or anti-adhesive agent for several biomedical and industrial applications.

Effect of extraction solvents/techniques on polyphenolic contents and antioxidant potential of the aerial parts of Nepeta leucophylla and the analysis of their phytoconstituents using RP-HPLC-DAD and GC-MS

In the present study, evaluation of antioxidant potential, percentage yield, phytochemical and polyphenolic composition of different extracts obtained from the aerial parts ofNepeta leucophyllausing different extraction techniques/solvents was carried out.

Ethnomedicinal plants used by traditional healers in Phatthalung Province, Peninsular Thailand

BACKGROUND

In rural communities of Thailand, traditional healers still play an important role in local health care systems even though modern medicine is easily accessible. Meanwhile, natural forests in Thailand which are important sources of materia medica are being greatly destroyed. This has led to an erosion of traditional Thai medicine. Furthermore, the concept of medicinal plant selection as medicine based on their tastes is still an important component of traditional Thai medicine, but no or little publications have been reported. Thus the aim of the present study is to collect ethnomedicinal data, medicinal plant tastes and relevant information from experienced traditional healers before they are lost.

METHODS

An ethnobotanical survey was carried out to collect information from nine experienced traditional healers on the utilization of medicinal plants in Phatthalung Province, Peninsular Thailand. Data were obtained using semi-structured interviews and participant observations. Plant specimens were also collected and identified according to the plant taxonomic method.

RESULTS

A total of 151 medicinal plants were documented and 98 of these are reported in the study. Local names, medicinal uses, parts used, modes of preparation, and the relationship between ailments and tastes of medicinal plant species are presented.

CONCLUSIONS

This research suggests that traditional healers are still considered important for public health among Thai communities and that many people trust the healing properties of medicinal plants. In the future, it is hoped that traditional Thai medicine will be promoted and therefore will help reduce national public health expense.