Physicochemical, rheological and structural characterisation of Bene gum exudates from Pistacia eurycarpa Yalt

Bene gum was investigated for its physicochemical and structural properties in comparison to gum arabic and gum tragacanth. Elemental analysis of the Bene gum sample revealed sodium and potassium content to be 57.21 and 0.95 ppm, respectively. According to the rheological properties, all gum solutions exhibited non-Newtonian, shear-thinning in the concentration of 1% (w/w). Both storage modulus G' and loss modulus G″ of all gums demonstrated elastic properties. The GC-MS analysis of dichloromethane extract confirmed the presence of eight constituents and α-pinene is the predominant constituent. The NMR spectra of the gum sample showed resemblance in individual sugar ingredients and the specific patterns of gum were observed. FTIR spectra of the studied gums displayed the presence of the same functional groups in the three gums. XRD studies revealed the amorphous nature of Bene gum. DSC and TGA thermograms were characteristic for each gum. Major thermal transitions were determined.

A Review of Auraptene as an Anticancer Agent

Auraptene is a bioactive monoterpene coumarin isolated from Citrus aurantium and Aegle marmelos that belong to the Rutaceae family. Auraptene can modulate intracellular signaling pathways that control cell growth, inflammation and apoptosis and can exert pharmacological properties such as anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, antileishmania and anti-oxidant activity. Auraptene had inhibitory and chemo-preventive effects on the proliferation, tumorigenesis and growth of several cancer cell lines through increase in the activity of glutathione S-transferase, formation of DNA adducts and reduction of the number of aberrant crypt foci. Auraptene exhibits anticancer effects via targeting different cell signaling pathways such as cytokines, genes modulating cellular proliferation, growth factors, transcription factors and apoptosis. The present review is a detailed survey of scientific researches on the cytotoxicity and anticancer activity of Auraptene on cancer cells and tumor bearing animals.