Crude Plant Extracts Research Articles

Medicinal Plants Towards Modeling Skin Cancer.

Skin cancer remains a major cause of mortality worldwide. It can be divided into melanoma and non-melanoma cancer, which comprise mainly squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma. Although conventional therapies have ameliorated the management of skin cancer, the search for chemopreventive compounds is still the most effective and safer strategy to treat cancer. Nowadays, chemoprevention is recognized as a novel approach to prevent or inhibit carcinogenesis steps with the use of natural products. Crude extracts of plants and isolated phytocompounds are considered chemopreventive agents since they harbor anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-oncogenic properties against many types of diseases and cancers. In this review, we will discuss the therapeutic effect and preventive potential of selected medicinal plants used as crude extracts or as phytocompounds against melanoma and non-melanoma cutaneous cancers.

Protection And Bio-Prospection Of Bombax Ceiba By Revealing Their Endophytic Fungi Diversity With Phytochemical And Enzyme Analysis

The objective of the present study was to protect Bombax ceiba by revealing their endophytic fungi diversity with phytochemical and enzyme analysis. In the present study, a total of 64 fungal endophytes were enumerated and were belonging to Aspergillus niger, Alternaria alternata (A. alternata), Phomopsis Spp., Nigrospora Spp, and Fusarium Spp. with the colonization frequency of 75, 30, 22.5, 10, and 17.5% respectively. The endophytic Aspergillus niger showed the highest average linear growth rate (6.2 mm/day) and isolation frequency (80%) on tomato dextrose agar while lowest on water agar. The fungus showed white to dark brown to black or purple-brown to yellowish-green color variations with mycelial growth in between 65–90 mm on the media and 8-31 numbers of spores/ microscopic field. Further, fermentation and extraction of the same fungus revealed 2.86 g/100g of total wet biomass and 0.25 g/100g of the dried biomass of corn bran with 5.30 g/100mL of the aqueous concentrated crude extract while the simultaneous plant showed 2.96 g/100mL of aqueous crude extract. Phytochemical screening of both extracts showed alkaloids, terpenoids, steroids, tannins, saponins, flavonoids, phenols. The total phenolic content of the plant crude extract was 27.0090 ± 0.04129 mg, and flavonoids content was 20.3568 ± 0.05064 mg, while the fungus showed 29.0060 ± 0.03223 mg of phenolic and 12.2549 ± 0.02345 mg of flavonoids. Thin layer chromatography showed alkaloids [0.29], flavonoids [0.41] terpenoids [0.15] and saponins [0.91]. The fungus produced chitinase, amylase, protease, and cellulases enzymes. It is concluded that the Bombax ceiba has the potential to purify the potent fungal endophytes and their bioactive compounds that may be helpful to evaluate in vitro models against different diseases.

Production of Highly Active Antiparasitic Compounds from the Controlled Halogenation of the Arrabidaea brachypoda Crude Plant Extract

Direct halogenation of phenolic compounds present in the CH2Cl2 extract of the roots of Arrabidaea brachypoda was investigated to enhance chemodiversity. The approach is based on eco-friendly reactions using NaBr, NaI, and NaCl in aqueous media to generate multiple "unnatural" halogenated natural products from crude extracts. The halogenation reactions, monitored by UHPLC-PDA-ELSD-MS, were optimized to generate mono-, di-, or trihalogenated derivatives. To isolate these compounds, the reactions were scaled up and the halogenated analogues were isolated by semipreparative HPLC-UV and fully characterized by NMR and HR-MS data. All of the original 16 halogenated derivatives were evaluated for their antiparasitic activities against the parasites Leishmania amazonensis and Trypanosoma cruzi. Compounds presenting selective antiparasitic activities against one or both parasites with IC50 values comparable to the reference were identified.

Crude plant extract versus single compounds for vitiligo treatment: Ex vivo intestinal permeability assessment on Brosimum gaudichaudii Trécul

Roots´ bark extract of Brosimum gaudichaudii Trécul (EBGT) is traditionally used for photochemotherapy of vitiligo due to the presence of furanocoumarins psoralen (PSO) and 5-methoxypsoralen (5-MOP) as major compounds. Though plant extracts may provide additional highly permeable psoralens-like substances which may act synergically on vitiligo’s therapy. Thus, the aim of this work was to develop an LC–MS/MS method for screening new highly permeable furanocoumarins from B. gaudichaudii and to compare biomarkers permeability and solubility provided as single compounds or as crude extract, according to BCS. An optimized LC–MS/MS method showed twelve permeable and bioactive compounds, among which 9 furanocoumarins, 2 pyranocoumarins and 1 dihydrocinnamic acid derivative were detected in EBGT samples. Solubility of PSO and 5-MOP was found to be, respectively, six- and eleven-fold higher in crude extract than as pure compounds. Permeability (Papp) of PSO and 5-MOP in EBGT were higher than metoprolol, the low/high BCS permeability class boundary reference compound. Hence, both biomarkers were considered as highly permeable (BCS2) compounds. Their permeability were concentration-dependent displaying values from 30.26 ± 5.13–8.21 ± 2.16 × 10−6 cm/s and 10.72 ± 1.73–6.07 ± 1.27 × 10−6 cm/s, respectively, over a wide range (2.3–200.0 mg mL-1). Thus, a carrier-mediated absorption process is suggested as the main mechanism. Accordingly, all additional permeated coumarins, identified by LC–MS/MS, showed to be at comparable amount of biomarkers in the permeated samples inferring similar high permeability rate. Moreover, biomarkers and other highly absorbable and bioactive linear furanocoumarins from EBGT may be used for vitiligo´s photochemotherapy. Taken together, these findings bring additional evidences for using crude plant extract when aiming synergistic effects of bioactive compounds on melanogenic therapies.

Expression optimization, purification and in vitro characterization of human epidermal growth factor produced in Nicotiana benthamiana

Human epidermal growth factor (hEGF) has gained clinical importance due to its ability to promote wound healing. Due to its commercial applications and high market demand, recombinant EGF has been produced in several forms. Currently, plant expression system is considered as potential alternative for low-cost recombinant protein production. Hence, this study focused on improving the production of hEGF in plants by effective gene construct design and optimizing the Agrobacterium culture conditions for high protein production. In this context, hEGF gene was cloned into plant geminiviral expression vector pBYR2e and transformed in to N. benthamiana leaves via., agroinfiltration. The recombinant hEGF was purified from the plant crude extracts by single-step affinity chromatography. Furthermore, the plant-produced hEGF has shown to promote cell migration comparable to commercial hEGF in HaCaT cells in vitro. These results indicated the potential of plant expression system for the production of recombinant hEGF for tissue engineering applications.

Tagging and catching: rapid isolation and efficient labeling of organelles using the covalent Spy-System in planta

BackgroundUp-to-now, several biochemical methods have been developed to allow specific organelle isolation from plant tissues. These procedures are often time consuming, require substantial amounts of plant material, have low yield or do not result in pure organelle fractions. Moreover, barely a protocol allows rapid and flexible isolation of different subcellular compartments. The recently published SpySystem enables the in vitro and in vivo covalent linkage between proteins and protein complexes. Here we describe the use of this system to tag and purify plant organelles.ResultsWe developed a simple and specific method to in vivo tag and visualize, as well as isolate organelles of interest from crude plant extracts. This was achieved by expressing the covalent split-isopeptide interaction system, consisting of SpyTag and SpyCatcher, in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. The functionality of the SpySystem in planta, combined with downstream applications, was proven. Using organelle-specific membrane anchor sequences to program the sub-cellular localization of the SpyTag peptide, we could tag the outer envelope of chloroplasts and mitochondria. By co-expression of a cytosolic, soluble eGFP-SpyCatcher fusion protein, we could demonstrate intermolecular isopeptide formation in planta and proper organelle targeting of the SpyTag peptides to the respective organelles. For one-step organelle purification, recombinantly expressed SpyCatcher protein was immobilized on magnetic microbeads via covalent thiol-etherification. To isolate tagged organelles, crude plant filtrates were mixed with SpyCatcher-coated beads which allowed isolation of SpyTag-labelled chloroplasts and mitochondria. The isolated organelles were intact, showed high yield and hardly contaminants and can be subsequently used for further molecular or biochemical analysis.ConclusionThe SpySystem can be used to in planta label subcellular structures, which enables the one-step purification of organelles from crude plant extracts. The beauty of the system is that it works as a covalent toolbox. Labeling of different organelles with individual tags under control of cell-specific and/or inducible promoter sequences will allow the rapid organelle and cell-type specific purification. Simultaneous labeling of different organelles with specific Tag/Catcher combinations will enable simultaneous isolation of different organelles from one plant extract in future experiments.

Antioxidant and anti-candida activity of selected medicinal plants of Indian origin

Abstract Introduction Fungal disseases are the most common opportunistic infection. Objective The main aims of the study were to determine phenolic content and to evaluate the antioxidant and anti-candida activity of the selected Indian-origin plant extracts from the fruit pulp, stem, leaves, and seeds of three plants of Indian origin. Material and methods The extracts from Terminalia chebula, Thuja occidentalic and Syzygium jambolanum were investigated. The total phenolic content, antioxidant potential of different crude extracts was accessed using the free radical, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2’-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS). Anti-candida activity was evaluated using disk diffusion method and broth dilution assay against Candida albicans. Results Ethanol and methanol extracts of Indian traditional plants possessed high radical scavenging activity: T. chebula 29.38±0.15, T. occidentalis 6.26±0.24 and S. jambolanum 25.64±0.18 at 0.32 mg/ml. The extracts exhibited good zones of inhibition diameters ranged between: for T. chebula 6.33±0.57 mm and 19.66±1.52 mm in diameter, S. jambolanum 7.00±00 mm and 23.33±1.52 and T. occidentalis 7.66±0.57 and 17.00±1.00 mm. C. albicans were susceptible to all three tested extract at different concentrations. The lowest MIC 1.95 mg/ml was recorded with S. jambolanum while the T. chebula and T. occidentalis inhibited the growth at 3.90 mg/ml, respectively, against the C. albicans. Conclusion The study result paves an overall view on the bioactivities of three traditional Indian medicinal plants crude extracts.

A thorough evaluation of matrix-free laser desorption ionization on structurally diverse alkaloids and their direct detection in plant extracts.

Alkaloids represent a major group of natural products (NPs), derived from highly diverse organisms. These structurally varied specialized metabolites are widely used for medicinal purposes and also known as toxic contaminants in agriculture and dietary supplements. While the detection of alkaloids is generally facilitated by GC- or LC-MS, these techniques do require considerable efforts in sample preparation and method optimization. Bypassing these limitations and also reducing experimental time, matrix-free laser desorption ionization (LDI) and related methods may provide an interesting alternative. As many alkaloids show close structural similarities to matrices used in matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI), they should ionize upon simple laser irradiation without matrix support. With this in mind, the current work presents a systematic evaluation of LDI properties of a wide range of structurally diverse alkaloids. Facilitating a direct comparison between LDI and ESI-MS fragmentation, all tested compounds were further studied by electrospray ionization (ESI). Moreover, crude plant extracts of Atropa belladonna, Cinchona succirubra, and Colchicum autumnale were analyzed by LDI in order to evaluate direct alkaloid detection and dereplication from complex mixtures. Finally, dose-dependent evaluation of MALDI and LDI detection using an extract of Rosmarinus officinalis spiked with atropine, colchicine, or quinine was conducted. Overall, present results suggest that LDI provides a versatile analytical tool for analyzing structurally diverse alkaloids as single compounds and from complex mixtures. It may further serve various potential applications ranging from quality control to the screening for toxic compounds as well as the build up of MS databases. Graphical abstract.

Secondary Metabolites of Alpinia galanga Induce toxic Effects in Polyphagous Lepidopteran Pest, Spodoptera litura (Fabricius)

Crude plant extracts have been used as insecticides from ancient times. Keeping in view the environmental issues related to the excessive use of insecticides, plant derived products have been intensively investigated for their insecticidal potential. Alpinia galanga, a medicinal plant belonging to family Zingiberaceae exhibits a wide range of biologicial activities. Thus, the present study aims to evaluate the anti-insect potential of A. galanga against Spodoptera litura (Fab.), a polyphagous pest causing economic losses to many agricultural crops in India. Addition of A. galanga extracts to the larval diet adversely affected the survival and development of S. litura. Ethyl acetate extract was found to be the most effective causing 67.50% larval mortality at 2500 ppm and extending the development period by 12.73 days as compared to control. Purified compounds isolated from A. galanga viz. 1′-acetoxychavicol acetate and galangin exhibited more larvicidal activity in comparison to crude extracts. Both of the compounds also retarded the development of S. litura. The present study implies that A. galanga extracts have the potential to manage insect pests, although there is need to evaluate the field efficacy.

Facile and Green Route to Silver Nanoparticles Using Aqueous Plant Extract, and their Photocatalytic and Antibacterial Studies

Silver nanoparticles were prepared through an environmental friendly and cost-effective plant-mediated technique, using crude extracts of Welsh onion plant. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using UV-vis spectrophotometer, powdered X-ray diffractometer (p-XRD), Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) spectrophotometer, and transmission electron microscope (TEM). Silver nanoparticles of different sizes and morphologies were obtained by varying some synthesis parameters such as concentrations of AgNO3 (1, 2 and 5 mM) and ratio of the volume of the plant extract to AgNO3 (1:5 and 1:10) at constant reaction temperature of 80 °C. The difference in the reaction conditions showed significant effects on silver nanoparticles obtained. The surface plasmon resonance (SPR) varied with change in concentration of AgNO3 and the ratio of the AgNO3 to the plant extracts. The lowest SPR appeared around 412 nm (2 mM; 1:10), while the largest was achieved around 427 nm (5 mM; 1:10). FTIR results revealed the presence of different characteristic functional groups responsible for the bioreduction of silver ions in Welsh onion extract. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed that the lowest average particle size of the silver nanoparticles was 3.74 nm (2 mM; 1:10), while the highest was 15.72 nm (1 mM; 1:5). Monodispersed spherical shaped nanoparticles were obtained from the 2 mM concentration of the AgNO3, while particles with some degree of agglomeration were obtained from 1 and 5 mM concentration. The p-XRD studies revealed face centred cubic structures. The nanoparticles obtained from 1 and 5 mM (1:5) gave moderate photo-catalytic potentials in the degradation of methyl red dye. However, the photocatalytic property increased with increase in the concentration of the precursor salt (AgNO3) from 1 to 5 mM. Gram positive Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus and Gram negative Klebsiela pneumonia and Escherichia coli bacteria strains were susceptible to the silver nanoparticles (2 mM). The nanoparticles were most active against E. coli with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) below 0.05 mg/mL. The silver nanoparticles could become potential compounds in the future antibiotic research.

Phytochemical Profile and Evaluation of the Antimicrobial Activity of Echinodorus grandiflorus Crude Extract of the Leaves

Echinodorus grandiflorus has pharmacological properties due to its secondary metabolism, such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, diuretic, analgesic, anti-rheumatic, antihypertensive, and cardioprotective effects. The aim of this study was to determine the phytochemical profile and evaluate the antimicrobial activity of crude extract of E. grandiflorus form its leaves. In the analysis of the phytochemical profile, qualitative tests were performed to identify tannins, alkaloids, flavonoids, anthraquinones, steroids, triterpenes, saponins, polysaccharides, and coumarins. Antimicrobial tests were performed using the disk diffusion method and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) in 96-well microplates, using hydroalcoholic crude extract obtained by maceration in the proportions 1:5 and 1:10. The higher content of crude extract was observed by maceration 1:5 (3.26%). In phytochemical tests, the presence of tannins, alkaloids, flavonoids, and saponins was detected. The microbial strains evaluated were Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermidis, Lactobacillus casei, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans. The antimicrobial activity of crude extract has not apparent against the tested organisms. It is concluded that the crude extract present several phytochemical, however did not show antimicrobial activity, and furthermore studies should be carried out researching isolated chemical compounds and the antimicrobial activity leaves crude extract of Echinodorus grandiflorus plant.

Production of whey protein hydrolysates with angiotensin-converting enzyme-inhibitory activity using three new sources of plant proteases

Abstract Production of functional/bioactive components by whey protein hydrolysis using new plant proteases represents an innovative area in food processing and functional foods. The present study evaluated the potential use of plant crude extracts from Citrus aurantium flowers, trompillo (Solanum elaeagnifolium) berries (TE) and melon (Cucumis melo) fruit (ME) for production of whey protein hydrolysates. The hydrolytic patterns of whey proteins (i.e., β-lactoglobulin, α-lactalbumin, serum albumin, and immunoglobulins) at pH 3.5 and 6.5, at 0, 3, 6, 9, and 24 h, were monitored by HPLC and SDS-PAGE analysis. Maximum proteolytic action on the major whey proteins (i.e., β-lactoglobulin and α-lactalbumin) was obtained using ME and TE at pH 6.5. Whey hydrolysates that presented more hydrolysis of β-lactoglobulin showed the highest angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitory activities (75–90% inhibition). The use of these new plant proteases offers potential in the production of hydrolysates with bioactive properties for the development of functional foods.

Current developments in the nanomediated delivery of photoprotective phytochemicals.

Natural products have been used to protect the skin from harmful UV radiation for decades. Due to the ecotoxicological implications of synthetic sunscreen exposure in aquatic ecosystems, there is a greater need to explore alternative sources of UV filters. Recent research has focused on discovering novel UV absorbing photoprotective molecules from nature. In response to the excessive damage caused by UVB rays, plants induce the production of high concentrations of phytoprotective secondary metabolites and anti-oxidative enzymes. Despite promising UV absorbing and photoprotective properties, plant secondary metabolites have been underutilized in topical delivery due to low solubility and high instability. Numerous phytochemicals have been effectively nanosized, incorporated in formulations, and studied for their sustained effects in photoprotection. The present review outlines recent developments in nanosizing and delivering photoprotective crude plant extract and phytochemicals from a phytochemical perspective. We searched for articles using keywords: "UV damage," "skin photoprotection," "photodamage," and "nano delivery" in varied combinations. We identified and reviewed literature from 43 original research articles exploring nanosized phytochemicals and crude plant extracts with photoprotective activity. Nanosized phytochemicals retained higher amounts of bioactive compounds in the skin and acted as depots for their sustained release. Novel approaches in nanosizing considerably improved the photostability, efficacy, and water resistance of plant secondary metabolites. We further discuss the need for broad-spectrum sunscreen products, potential challenges, and future growth in this area.

Green Biosynthesis of Nanoparticles for Targeted Drug Delivery

The matter at its molecular or atomic level is engineered and manufactured through a technique called Nanotechnology. It has contributed in various fields of science, including material science, biology, chemistry, and engineering. Various research studies have suggested that crude extract of plant can enhance the activity of green synthesized nanoparticles (NPs), like gold (Au) and silver (Ag). However, one drawback of NPs is its toxicity. The altered size, shape or surface chemistry of NPs help in passive or active drug targeting. If the size, shape or surface chemistry of NPs is altered, drug targeting can be helped passively or actively. Changing the size, shape or surface chemistry of NPs can help drug targeting actively or passively. On the other hand, green synthesis is said to be environment friendly in which extract of plant is used as capping as well as a reducing agent. So, green synthesis of NPs is important when studying different pathogens. In recent years, nanotechnology has been applied in treating health-related problems, which showed promising results, mainly in the treatment of cancer. The present review discusses the historical and the latest development, drawbacks, , and the challenges faced in the field of green biosynthesis of NPs, along with its wide application.

DIA-DB: A Database and Web Server for the Prediction of Diabetes Drugs.

The DIA-DB is a web server for the prediction of diabetes drugs that uses two different and complementary approaches: (a) comparison by shape similarity against a curated database of approved antidiabetic drugs and experimental small molecules and (b) inverse virtual screening of the input molecules chosen by the users against a set of therapeutic protein targets identified as key elements in diabetes. As a proof of concept DIA-DB was successfully applied in an integral workflow for the identification of the antidiabetic chemical profile in a complex crude plant extract. To this end, we conducted the extraction and LC-MS based chemical profile analysis of Sclerocarya birrea and subsequently utilized this data as input for our server. The server is open to all users, registration is not necessary, and a detailed report with the results of the prediction is sent to the user by email once calculations are completed. This is a novel public domain database and web server specific for diabetes drugs and can be accessed online through http://bio-hpc.eu/software/dia-db/.

Preparation of Poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (PGMA) and Amine Modified PGMA Adsorbents for Purification of Glucosinolates from Cruciferous Plants.

Glucosinolates (GLs) are of great interest for their potential as antioxidant and anticancer compounds. In this study, macroporous crosslinked copolymer adsorbents of poly (glycidyl methacrylate) (PGMA) and its amine (ethylenediamine, diethylamine, triethylamine)-modified derivatives were prepared and used to purify the GLS glucoerucin in a crude extract obtained from a cruciferous plant. These four adsorbents were evaluated by comparing their adsorption/desorption and decolorization performance for the purification of glucoerucin from crude plant extracts. According to the results, the strongly basic triethylamine modified PGMA (PGMA-III) adsorbent showed the best adsorption and desorption capacity of glucoerucin, and its adsorption data was a good fit to the Freundlich isotherm model and pseudo-second-order kinetics; the PGMA adsorbent gave the optimum decolorization performance. Furthermore, dynamic adsorption/desorption experiments were carried out to optimize the purification process. Two glass columns were serially connected and respectively wet-packed with PGMA and PGMA-III adsorbents so that glucoerucin could be decolorized and isolated from crude extracts in one process. Compared with KCl solution, aqueous ammonia was a preferable desorption solvent for the purification of glucoerucin and overcame the challenges of desalination efficiency, residual methanol and high operation costs. The results showed that after desorption with 10% aqueous ammonia, the purity of isolated glucoerucin was 74.39% with a recovery of 80.63%; after decolorization with PGMA adsorbent, the appearance of glucoerucin was improved and the purity increased by 11.30%. The process of using serially connected glass columns, wet-packed with PGMA and PGMA-III, may provide a simple, low-cost, and efficient method for the purification of GLs from cruciferous plants.

Screening of achillea santolina for anti-diabetic activity and its comparison with caralluma tuberculata.

Objectives: The study was designed to investigate the hypoglycaemic effect of Achillea santolina and its comparison with Caralluma tuberculata. Study Design: Experimental study. Setting: Khyber Medical University, Peshawar. Period: July 2017 to February 2018. Material & Methods: Crude extract and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) extract of Achillea santolina were prepared and administered to normal and alloxan treated diabetic rabbits. These extracts were given in capsule form as well as in cooking oil and their effects on blood glucose levels were observed at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12 and 24 hours of administration. The results were compared with Caralluma tuberculata. Results: The crude extract 200 mg/kg body weight of Achillea santolina showed marked reduction in mean blood glucose level at 2, 4, 8 and 12 hours with significant (p<0.001) difference when compared with Caralluma tuberculata. The metformin 500 mg/kg body weight was also given to compare its effects with the plant crude extracts, which was more or less intermediate between the crude extracts of Achillea santolina and Caralluma tuberculata. The diabetic rabbits were treated with 100 mg/kg body weight CCl4 fraction of Achillea in capsule form. Blood glucose levels dropped markedly at 2 hours and further more at 4 hours as observed with Caralluma. Upon comparison with metformin, Achillea found to lower blood glucose levels but quite late than metformin. The diabetic rabbits were also treated with 100 mg/kg body weight CCl4 fraction of Achillea santolina in cooking oil and Caralluma was found to cause higher reduction in blood glucose levels than Achillea. Conclusion: Both Achillea santolina and Caralluma tuberculata lowered the blood glucose levels but the later turned out to be more significant in developing hypoglycaemia, particularly when taken with cooking oil.

Development and Optimization of Solanum Lycocarpum Polyphenol Oxidase-Based Biosensor and Application towards Paracetamol Detection.

Purpose: The development biosensing technologies capable of delivering fast and reliable analysis is a growing trend in drug quality control. Considering the emerging use of plant-based polyphenol oxidases (PPO) as biological component of electrochemical biosensors, this work reports the first Solanum lycocarpum PPO biosensor and its use in the pharmaceutical analysis of paracetamol in tablet formulations.Methods: The biosensor was optimized regarding fruit maturation (immature and mature-ripe), vegetal extract volume to be used in biosensor construction as well as optimal pH of electrochemical cell fluid.Results: Results evidenced that the extract which rendered the biosensor with best analytical performance was from immature fruits, and the biosensor produced using 100 µL of crude plant extract promoted better faradaic signal gathering. Moreover, when neutral pH media was used in the electrochemical cell, the biosensor showcased best faradaic signal output from the used redox probe (catechol), suggesting thence that the method presents high sensibility for phenolic compounds detection. Furthermore, the biosensor was able to quantify paracetamol in a linear range from 50 to 300 μM, showcasing LoD and LoQ of 3 μM and 10 μM, respectively.Conclusion: after careful evaluation, this biosensor might be a low-cost alternative for conventional pharmaceutical quality control methods.

Antibacterial activity of different fractional extracts of cerastium glomeratum

Every plant available in the universe is not produced to be the part of biodiversity, but is also produced to obtain medicinal purposes. The medicinal value of the plant is due to the availability of various chemical compounds [1]. Since prehistoric time, the crude extract of plant is used to cure various diseases, although the biologically active components of the plant were unidentified [2].
 In the present study the antibacterial activity is performed for various extracts of cerastium glomeratum. The plant cerastium glomeratum was collected from near kalpani river Mardan, Pakistan and was identified by lecturer Israr department of botany GPGC Mardan, Pakistan. The plant was dried under shade and grinded into powder form. The extraction process was done by using soxhlet apparatus, reflux condenser and maceration process using ethanol as a solvent. The extract was divided into different fractions of n-hexane, DCM, ethyl acetate and water. These four extracts were tested against gram positive (staphylococcus aureus) and gram negative (E.coli) bacteria using well diffusion technique. The water extract show a wide range inhibition zone against both gram positive and gram negative bacteria while n-hexane, DCM and ethyl acetate fractions show no zone of inhibition against bacteria. In effort to find new antibacterial compounds cerastium glomeratum seems to be a good plant for additional phytochemical studies.

Preservation of chilled Asian sea bass (Lates calcarifer) steak by whey protein isolate coating containing polyphenol extract from ginger, lemongrass, or green tea

The effects of whey protein isolate (WPI)-polyphenol coating on the microbial counts, physico-chemical properties, and sensory qualities of Asian sea bass (Lates calcarifer) steak during chilled storage were systematically investigated. Crude phenolic extracts (200 ppm) from ginger, lemongrass, and green tea were comparatively tested. WPI with crude plant extracts, especially ginger extract, can retard microbial growth by maintaining the total microbial quality below the acceptable limit of 7 log CFU/g for 15 days, whereas the shelf-life for the control was found to be 8 days. WPI-phenolic extract coating markedly retarded lipid and protein oxidation, heme protein degradation, metmyoglobin formation, discoloration, muscle softening, and drip loss of chilled sea bass steak. Lowered TVB-N, TMA, and propanal contents with a superior odor likeness score were found in the coated samples, suggesting the preventive effect against off-flavor development. Therefore, coating with WPI-phenolic extracts, particularly ginger extract, can be an effective method for the preservation of chilled Asian sea bass steak.