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Editor’s Choice : Assessment of Anti-Oxidant Potency of Small Chain Glycopeptides Using DPPH Free Radical Scavenging Assay
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Abstract: 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) in-vitro assay was employed to determine the antioxidant potency of test compounds I to VII [Arg-Thr-Starch (RTStr); Ser-Arg-Lac (SRLac); Asn-Arg-Mannose (NRMs); Arg-Asn-Lac (RNLac); Arg-Thr-Lac (RTLac); His-Asn-Mannose (HNMs); Asn-His-Lac (NHLac)] using ascorbic acid as the standard drug. The percentage scavenging activity of the test drugs were determined at different concentrations and the IC50 value of the test compounds were subsequently compared with that of ascorbic acid. Among the compounds tested, compound II (SRLac) showed highest antioxidant activity with an IC50 value of 14.2 mg/ml whereas compounds I (RTS), VII (NHLac) and IV (RNLac) revealed the IC50 value of 14.3 mg/ml, 14.5 mg/ml and 15.7 mg/ml, respectively when compared with ascorbic acid (IC50 = 15.8 mg/ml). All the synthesized glycopeptides were further characterized by TLC, Melting point, IR, NMR and Mass spectral datas. Based on the above results, Ser-Arg-Lac could be considered as a lead compound for the development of new antioxidant drug for prevention of human diseases. Keywords: 1.1-Diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl, Antioxidant, Glycopeptides, Ascorbic acid, Potency.Download Full Article |
Editor’s Choice : Red Dry Wine Modulates Plasma Cholesterol Levels and Cardiac Enzymes in Humans
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Abstract: Several studies has pointed that red wine diet, rich in polyphenols, has several effects like vasodilation, possible antioxidant effect, decrease of cellular events of atherosclerosis, decrease of blood pressure, and reduction of cardiovascular risks. This paper proposes an investigation of the effects of a 21 days diet of 200 ml dialy of red dry wine for markers of muscle injury such as CK and CK-MB, besides cholesterol and its fractions, LDL and HDL, and triglycerides, in normal subjects.The results showed decreased levels of plasma total cholesterol and LDL, and a tendency to increased levels of HDL, what suggests red dry wine has effects on decrease cardiovascular risks. However, significant increase of cardiac CK-MB isoenzyme was observed what could point to increase the oxidation of muscle tissues. It can be concluded that, despite the CK-MB increase, red dry wine can be considered as a tool to decrease cardiovascular diseases risks. Keywords: Red Wine, Polyphenols, Cholesterol, CK-MB enzyme, Cardiovascular risks.Download Full Article |
Editor’s Choice : Comparative Study of the Nutritional Value of Four Types of Egyptian Palm Pollens
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Abstract: Pollen grains are good sources of vitamins, minerals and amino acids with a high nutritional value that can be used as human food supplement. Date palm pollens are used in the Middle East especially Egypt in herbal mixtures as a folk medicine remedy for curing male infertility and promoting fertility in women .The raw materials purchased from the market are found to be a mixture of several palm pollens. The main objective of this study was to determine the nutritional value of four local Egyptian date pollen grains {Amhat(A), Hiani(H), Sewy(S)& Zaghlol(Z)} by microscopical and chemical means. These differences could determine the quality of separate pollen grains and show to what extent they affect the quality of the natural products manufactured from them? Each of the pollen samples were treated identically: collected from locations of similar clay loamy soils, in March 2011 at an early time of the day, subjected to electron microscope examination and chemical analysis of trace elements, amino acids & vitamins. The results showed that there are clear differences in the quality of the four Egyptian palm pollens which could be distinguished microscopically and chemically by the percentage of the trace elements, amino acids & vitamins. Keywords: Egyptian date palm pollen grains, nutritional value, microscopic and chemical analysis.Download Full Article |
Editor’s Choice : Phytochemical Screening and In-Vitro Evaluation of Antioxidant Activities of Various Extracts of Leaves and Stems of Kalanchoe crenata
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Abstract: Many diseases are associated with oxidative stress caused by free radicals. Current research is directed towards finding naturally occurring antioxidants of plant origin. Kalanchoe crenata Andr. (Crassulaceae), commonly known as "never die" or "Dog's liver," has been traditionally used for the treatment of ailments, such as, earache, smallpox, headache, inflammation, pain, asthma, palpitations, convulsion, and general debility. The aim of present research deals with phytochemical screening and in-vitro evaluation of antioxidant activities of the leaves & stems of K.crenata. Method: Successive extracts of leaves & stems was subjected for phytochemical screening. The preliminary screening reports the presence of saponins, phytosterols, flavanoids, phenols and alkaloids in the extracts. Various extracts of K.crenata leaves & stems was studied in-vitro for total antioxidant activity, for scavenging of nitric oxide, hydrogen peroxide, the antioxidant capacity by phosphomolybdenum, reducing power determination and determination of phenolic and flavonoid content in the extracts. 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydryzyl (DPPH) scavenging activity or the hydrogen donating capacity was quantified in presence of stable DPPH radical on the basis of Blois method. Nitric Oxide (NO) radical scavenging method was performed in the presence of nitric oxide generated from sodium nitroprusside using ascorbic acid as standard in both methods. The phenolic content was determined by using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent and flavonoid content was determined by aluminum chloride. Result: The radical scavenging activity was found to dose dependent. Thus extract has been established as an antioxidant. The reducing capacity serves as significant indicator of antioxidant activity. The reducing power was found to increase with the increasing concentration of extract. The 100mg plant powder yielded 0.34, 0.49, 0.72, 0.98%w/wand 0.15, 0.23, 0.39, 0.56%w/w phenolic content in the benzene, chloroform, acetone, ethanol extracts of leaves and stems respectively using gallic acid as standard. Plant contains about 0.19, 0.29, 0.48, 0.64%w/w and 0.11, 0.17, 0.32, 0.47 %w/w of flavonoid content in the benzene, chloroform, acetone, ethanol extracts of leaves and stems respectively using quercetin as standard. Conclusion: The present study provides evidence that different extracts of K.crenata leaves and stems is potential source of antioxidant activity. The extracts were found to contain phenolic compounds which could be responsible for the antioxidant properties. So K. crenata traditional use is justified in the present research work. Keywords: Kalanchoe crenata, DPPH scavenging activity, NO scavenging activity, phytochemical screening.Download Full Article |
