Fig Extract Research Articles

Comparison the effect of fruits extract with fungal protease on waffle quality.

The purpose of this study was investigated the effect of kiwifruit and fig extracts contain of protease enzyme as a natural additives in comparison with fungal protease enzyme on the sensory and quality properties of waffle. It was done by use of the one- way ANOVA design for three independent variables including: kiwifruit extract and fig extract (0.03 and 0.05%) and fungal protease enzyme (0.003 and 0.005%). These results suggest that pH, moisture, firmness, dough consistency, density, color and texture of waffles were improved by the addition of fungal protease enzyme and kiwifruit extract in comparison with fig extract. The dough Consistency (cm) was reduced by using protease enzyme from 8.95 ± 0.92 to 19.75 ± 1.03. The moisture content and dough density was reduced by using protease enzyme and the minim moisture and dough density was at waffle with 0.05% kiwifruit. The color index, SEM, hardness and extensibility were improved by using 0.005% protease enzyme and 0.05% kiwi fruit extract. The highest sensory properties were at sample with 0.05% kiwi fruit extract. The result demonstrated that the addition of 0.05% kiwifruit extract improved the quality of the waffle, and could replace by fungal protease enzyme for reduce cost in production.

Antimicrobial Activities of Green Biosynthesized Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Using F. Carica Fruit Extract

In the current study, iron oxide nanoparticles (IO NPs) were synthesized via modified green synthesis technique using F. carica fig extract as reducing agent. Furthermore, the microstructural properties of the synthesized IO NPs have been thoroughly elucidated. In details, the acquired NPs diameter was found to be in the range of 11-29 nm and of root mean square (RMS) of 0.64 nm using TEM and AFM techniques, respectively. Consequently, the antifungal and antibacterial activities of the synthesized IO NPs were screened against Candida and Aspergillus species as well as Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative Acinetobacter species, respectively. The presented IO NPs play an active role in the antimicrobial activities evidencing the well-organized materials system for biomedical applications.

Synergistic effects of Ficus Carica extract and extra virgin olive oil against oxidative injury, cytokine liberation, and inflammation mediated by 5-Fluorouracil in cardiac and renal tissues of male albino rats.

5-Fluorouracil (5-FU), a chemotherapeutic drug, has adverse effects on heart and kidney functions. Ficus Carica (fig) and extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) are natural sources which have antioxidant effects. This study investigated the synergistic effects of fig extract and EVOO against cardiac and renal damage induced by 5-FU. Forty rats were equally divided into five groups and treated with physiological saline (control), five intravenous injections of 5-FU (40 mg/kg b.w) (5-FU), fig (1 g/kg b.w/day, orally) with 5-FU (Fig/5-FU), EVOO (7 g/kg b.w/day, orally) with 5-FU (EVOO/5-FU), combined treatment of fig and EVOO with five 5-FU injections (Fig/EVOO/5-FU). After 30 days, blood and tissue samples (Heart and kidney) were collected to be used in the examinations. 5-FU significantly increased serum creatine kinase activity, renal biomarkers, cholesterol, triglycerides, C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-1β as well as cardiac and renal lipid peroxides (malondialdehyde). Meanwhile, serum levels of immunoglobulins, interleukins (IL-10, IL-12), and antioxidants of heart and kidney tissues were significantly decreased in 5-FU group. It also downregulated cardiac and renal Bcl2, and upregulated cardiac troponin and renin gene expressions. As well, histological alterations clarified that 5-FU induced cardiac cell damage, distorted renal corpuscles and tubules, inflammatory cell infiltrations, and severe congestion and hemorrhage in the blood vessels. The treatment with fig and olive oil, especially the combined treatment, modulated the toxic effect of 5-FU on the heart and kidney. Our results revealed that fig extract and EVOO have a powerful antioxidant and many protective effects against cardiac and renal toxicity induced by 5-FU, especially when using fig and EVOO together as a combined treatment.

Invitro Antioxidant and Cytotoxic Potential of Ficus carica L. and Olea europeae L. Against Cervical Cancer

INTRODUCTION:Cervical cancer is a malignant infectious disease caused by Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) in the cervix. Fig and olive oil containing flavonoid has been shown to have antioxidant and anticancer activity.OBJECTIVE:This study aimed to evaluate antioxidant and cytotoxic activity of combined Ficus carica L. and Olea europeae L. against HeLa cervical cancer cells.METHODS: This is an experimental study with a post-test only control group design. The HeLa cells were divided into 5 groups: fig extract, olive oil, combined fig extract and olive oil (at the ratio of 1:3, 1:1, 3:1), positive control (doxorubicin). The cytotoxic and antioxidant activity were evaluated by using MTT Assay and DPPH, respectively. The cytotoxic results were analyzed using probit and antioxidant activity was analyzed by using linear regression to obtain IC50 values.RESULTS:The IC50 cytotoxic of fig extract, olive oil, combined fig extract and olive oil (at the ratio of 1:3, 1:1, 3:1) with positive control (doxorubicin) were 13063,915 �g/mL, 679,593 �g/mL, 1562,356 �g/mL, 746,923�g/mL, 563,626 �g/mL and 13,707 �g/mL respectively. The IC50 antioxidant of fig extract, olive oil, and combination of fig extract and olive oil (3:1) was 105.9272 ppm, 23.1276 ppm, and 21,0689 ppm respectively.CONCLUSION:The combination of fig extract and olive oil (3:1) was shown to have the highest antioxidant and cytotoxic activity against HeLa cervical cancer cells.

Abscisic acid enriched fig extract promotes insulin sensitivity by decreasing systemic inflammation and activating LANCL2 in skeletal muscle

Abscisic acid is a phytohormone found in fruits and vegetables and is endogenously produced in mammals. In humans and mice, lanthionine synthetase C-like 2 (LANCL2) has been characterized as the natural receptor for ABA. Herein, we characterize the efficacy of a fig fruit extract of ABA in promoting glycemic control. This ABA-enriched extract, at 0.125 µg ABA/kg body weight, improves glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity and fasting blood glucose in diet-induced obesity (DIO) and db/db mouse models. In addition to decreasing systemic inflammation and providing glycemic control without increasing insulin, ABA extract modulates the metabolic activity of muscle. ABA increases expression of important glycogen synthase, glucose, fatty acid and mitochondrial metabolism genes and increases direct measures of fatty acid oxidation, glucose oxidation and metabolic flexibility in soleus muscle cells from ABA-treated mice with DIO. Glycolytic and mitochondrial ATP production were increased in ABA-treated human myotubes. Further, ABA synergized with insulin to dramatically increase the rate of glycogen synthesis. The loss of LANCL2 in skeletal muscle abrogated the effect of ABA extract in the DIO model and increased fasting blood glucose levels. This data further supports the clinical development of ABA in the treatment of pre-diabetes, type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome.

Antimicrobial Activities of Green Biosynthesized Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Using F. Carica Fruit Extract

In the current study, iron oxide nanoparticles (IO NPs) were synthesized via modified green synthesis technique using F. carica fig extract as reducing agent. Furthermore, the microstructural properties of the synthesized IO NPs have been thoroughly elucidated. In details, the acquired NPs diameter was found to be in the range of 11-29 nm and of root mean square (RMS) of 0.64 nm using TEM and AFM techniques, respectively. Consequently, the antifungal and antibacterial activities of the synthesized IO NPs were screened against Candida and Aspergillus species as well as Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative Acinetobacter species, respectively. The presented IO NPs play an active role in the antimicrobial activities evidencing the well-organized materials system for biomedical applications.

Protective Effect of some plant Extracts on Hyperuricemia in Experimental Animals

ABSTRACT Hyperuricemia (elevated serum levels of uric acid) is a asigin to make gout,and it refer to disease of newel and heart disease and high suger in blood.. Hyperuricemia was induced by oxonic acid (uricase inhibitor) in experimental rats to evaluate the protective effect of alcoholic extracts from parsley shoots, celery seeds and fig leaves. The rats were divided into 6 groups, and the first one served as a normal control group. Three groups of rats were given various plant extracts (celery, parsley and fig) by oral administration using a stomach tube at a dose of 250 mg/kg. A positive control group of rats was administered orally the hypouricemic drug, allopurinol (xanthine oxidase inhibitor) at a dose of 100 mg/kg. A negative control group did not receive any plant extracts or drugs. The various plant extracts and the drug were administered for the rats every day for 9 days. On the 10th day, all groups except the normal control received a single dose of oxonic acid (250 mg/kg) by intraperitoneal injection to induce hyperuricemia. After two hours of hyperuricemia induction by oxonic acid injection, blood samples were collected from all rat groups. The protective effects of various plant extracts were monitored through measurement of uric acid and other blood biochemical analyses for the rats as well as assay of xanthine oxidase enzyme in liver tissues. The data indicated elevation of uric acid, urea, creatinine and potassium, and lower in the amount of total calcium in serum of hyperuricemic rats (negative control) compared to the normal control group. These results indicated that oxonic acid caused hyperuricemia and renal dysfunction in the negative control group. The protective effects of various plant extracts were established by appearance the levels of uric acid and other kidney function tests near to their normal values which appeared in the normal control group. The different plant extracts exhibited protective effects against hyperuricemia in variant efficacies compared to allopurinol. These efficacies were in the following order: fig > allopurinol > celery ≈ parsley. Comparatively, the different plant extracts exhibited inhibitory effects on the activity of liver xanthine oxidase enzyme in variant efficacies compared to allopurinol. These efficacies were in the following order: allopurinol > fig > celery ≈ parsley. It can be noticed that fig extract was the most effective treatment against hyperuricemia while allopurinol was the strongest inhibitor against xanthine oxidase activity. This may be due to that fig extract possessed a dual action as hypouricemic agent (inhibition of xanthine oxidase which led to decreasing of uric acid synthesis in liver, and inhibition of uric acid reabsorption in kidney which led to increasing of uric acid excretion in urine) while allopurinol possessed the first action only as hypouricemic agent. The hypouricemic activity of fig extract may be ascribed to the presence of flavonoids such as morin while the hypouricemic activity of parsley and celery is related to flavonoids namely apigenin, luteolin, quercetin, myricetin and kaempferol.

Effect of Ficus carica L. leaves extract loaded gold nanoparticles against cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury

BackgroundCisplatin (CisPt) is one of the most widely used and highly effective drugs for the treatment of various solid tumors, unfortunately acute kidney injury (AKI) is considered one of its side effects through several mechanisms including production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic cytokines. Due to the poor effect of AKI therapy, the use of nanoparticles loaded with natural extracts for delivering to the kidney molecules are desirable. AimThis study aims to investigate the effectiveness of different concentrations of gold nanoparticles (Au-NPs) as a carrier for Ficus carica L. (Fig) leaves extract against CisPt induced AKI. MethodsSeventy male albino rats were used and divided into seven groups. After the experimental period, blood was withdrawn, serum was separated for determination of urea, creatinine, homocystein (Hcy) and folic acid while reduced glutathione (GSH), nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and hydroxyproline content (Hyp) were evaluated in kidney tissue homogenate. ResultsCisPt induced AKI in rats and results in a significant increase in the levels of serum urea, creatinine, Hcy and kidney Hyp, lipid peroxidation along with a significant reduction of kidney GSH, NO and TAC compared to the control rats. Treatment with Au-NPs and Fig extract particularly in a ratio of (3:2) respectively was shown to improve renal functions with efficient capacity in scavenging ROS and reduced AKI severity. ConclusionAu-NPs enhanced the anti-oxidative properties of the Fig extract in targeting kidney damaged tissue and reduced oxidative toxicity induced by CisPt.

Green synthesis, characterization and investigation of the electrochemical hydrogen storage properties of Dy2Ce2O7 nanostructures with fig extract

Nanostructured Dy2Ce2O7 with good electrochemical hydrogen storage properties has been produced utilizing a novel and green method in the presence of fig extract, for the first time. Fig extract has been employed as novel kind of fuel in the production of pure Dy2Ce2O7. By varying the notable factor, temperature for production, Dy2Ce2O7 structures can be created that are different in morphological features and Coulombic efficiency as well as electrochemical hydrogen storage properties. Diverse techniques have been adopted to examine and characterize the formed Dy2Ce2O7 with the aid of fig extract. Electrochemical hydrogen storage features of the diverse Dy2Ce2O7 samples (formed with the aid of fig extract) have been compared with chronopotentiometry technique at potash solution. Our findings reveal that the nanostructured Dy2Ce2O7 fabricated with the aid of fig extract at 400 °C can possess the best efficiency for store hydrogen. Usage of fig extract, the new and eco-friendly fuel, for synthesis of the nanostructured Dy2Ce2O7 that is efficiently capable to store hydrogen (renewable type of energy carrier), can be helpful to decline and stop the environmental pollution.

İncir ve Biberiye Ekstraktlarının Gökkuşağı Alabalığı (Oncorhynchus mykiss)’nda Gelişim Performansı ve Kan Prametreleri Üzerine Etkileri

In this study the effects of dietary fig and rosemary extract supplementation on growth performance, feed utilization, biometric indexes and some blood parameters in rainbow trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss ) were investigate d. Two experimental diets were supplemented with medicinal herb extracts at 0,5,1,2 g/kg. The fish were fed 60 days of trial diet. T he addition of fig extract and rosemary extract did not have a positive effect on development and feed intake. In addition, the addition of fig extract and rosemary extract did not cause a change in the number of red blood cell count, hematocrit, hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (P>0.05). However, the addition of fig extract and rosemary extract to the feed increased the spleen somatic index, while decreasing viscerosomatic index and hepatosomatic index (P<0.05).

Effect of a Novel Ficus Carica (Fig) Fruit Extract Standardized in Abscisic Acid on the Glycemic and Insulinemic Responses in Healthy Human Subjects

Abscisic acid (ABA) is a phyto-hormone present in different fruits and has important implications for human health, such as glucose homeostasis, increase of glucose tolerance, insulinemia attenuation, immune and anti-inflammatory functions. Fig extracts represent an important source of ABA and have therefore the potential to provide a natural balance for sugar and insulin control. The objective of this study was to determine the acute postprandial metabolic response on glycemia and insulinemia of standardized fig extracts (ABAlifeTM). Healthy subjects (n=10) consumed a glucose solution and a fig extract at two different concentrations Reference food: Glucose solution (50 g) in 250 mL of water. Test food 1: Glucose solution + 200 mg ABAlife (80 µg ABA) in 250 mL of water. Test food 2: Glucose solution + 100 mg ABAlife (40 µg ABA) in 250 mL of water. The results showed that the addition of ABAlife extracts to a glucose solution was able to reduce considerably both the glycemic index (GI) and insulinemic index (II) values. Fig Extract (100-200 mg) produced lower peak and overall glycemic and insulinemic responses, between 30-120 minutes, compared with reference food of glucose. The supplementation of Fig Extract (200 mg) to a glucose solution was able to produce considerable reductions of the GI and II values (25%, p&amp;lt;0.001 and 24%, p&amp;lt;0.05, respectively). Moreover, a dose response reduction of II was observed with both ABAlife extracts. Therefore, small amounts of ABA from ABAlife extracts could be proposed as an interesting strategy to reduce postprandial glucose and insulin responses and ABA potential to manage glucose metabolism disorders should be investigated in further chronic clinical trials. Disclosure A. Zangara: Employee; Self; Euromed.

Fig extract drying: The relationship between the main operating parameters of a pilot-scale spray dryer and product specifications.

This study aims to optimize extraction and drying conditions of fig syrup. Drying was done in a pilot scale two‐fluid nozzle spray dryer. A total of 27 experiments were conducted with varying inlet air temperatures, air flow rates, and also a maltodextrin (MD)‐ low methoxyl pectin (LMP) ratios. While feed rate, feed temperature, and compressed air flow rate of the atomizer were kept constant. The results of differential scanning calorimetry revealed that high levels of glucose and fructose in the extract resulted in a low glass transition temperature of fig syrup. By an increase in the inlet air temperature, the powder bulk density decreased. However, the MD:LMP ratio and the air flow rate were not significantly effective (p < 0/05) in changing the bulk density. SEM micrographs of spray‐dried particles and particle size distribution analysis showed that particles were largely in a range of 5 to 50 μm. The best powders were obtained at an inlet air temperature of 170°C.

The effects of the fig (Ficus carica) extract and onion (Allium capa) extract addition to Cyprinus carpio feeds in different amount on the growth performance

The study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary fig extract and onion extract supplementation in diet on growth performance, feed utilization, biometric indexes in common carp ( Cyprinus carpio ). For this purpose, fig and onion extract were added to experimental diets at the rate of 1,3,5 g / kg respectively. Fishes were fed with trial feed for 90 days. At the end of the trial period, weight increase and specific growth rate of the fishes fed with the feed containing 1.3 g/kg fig extract and 1.3 g/kg onion extract were found to be higher than the control group; food conversion ratio was found to be lower than the control group (p<0.05). Hepatosomatic index and viscerosomatic index amounts of the fishes fed with fig extract and onion extract feeds were found to be lower than the control group; and spleen somatic index was found to be higher than the control group (p<0.05). The amount of visceral organ fat index was found to be lower among the fishes fed with the feed containing fig and onion extracts compared to the control group (p>0.05). These results indicate that dietary supplementation of 1.3 g/kg fig extract in the commercial diets could improve some biometric indexes.

Hypoglycemic, Hypolipidemic and Antibacterial Activity of Ficus racemosa Fruit Extract

Background: Ficus racemosa, popularly known as the fig or cluster fig, is a traditional plant in the Moraceae family with various ethnomedical uses. However, the information of medicinal values of Bangladeshi grown Ficus racemosa fruit extracts using different solvent systems is still lacking in the literature. Therefore, the present study was carried out to enrich the information of the medicinal property of Ficus racemosa fruit extract in terms of hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic and antibacterial activity. Methods: Methanol, ethanol, chloroform, n-hexane and petroleum ether solvents were used to obtain five different types of mature Ficus racemosa fruit extract by Soxhlet extraction process. Antibacterial activity of each extract was determined by disc diffusion method whereas ethanol extract was tested to evaluate its hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic activity by using alloxan-induced diabetic mice model. Results: At the end of 21 days of treatment, ethanol extract decreased the blood glucose level of diabetic mice by approximately 41% and 50% at doses 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight, respectively, whereas at the same doses total cholesterol levels were decreased by approximately 16% and 17%, LDL reduced by 28% and 29%, HDL increased by 41% and 67% compared to the diabetic control group. The levels of SGPT, SGOT and CRP were also significantly (P<0.05 to P<0.001) reduced by administration of same doses of ethanol extract. At a concentration of 600 µg/disc, strong antibacterial activity was displayed by methanol, ethanol and petroleum ether extract against most of the tested bacteria with the zone of inhibition of 13 to 17 mm. Conclusion: The present study revealed strong anti-diabetic and antibacterial activity of the fig extract and therefore suggested that this fruit may play a potential role in the treatment of diabetes mellitus and various bacterial infections.

Evaluation of Antioxidant Activity of Fig (Ficus carica) Pulp and Skin Extract and Its Application in Enhancing Oxidative Stability of Canola Oil

This study was carried out to determine the antioxidant activity of pulp (P) and skin (S) extract of two fig varieties of figs (Sabz(G) and Siyah(B)) by subcritical water extraction. The antioxidant activity of the extracts was evaluated by using 2,2′-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl radical, reducing power and rancimat tests. The Siyah variety contained higher levels of polyphenols and flavonoids in comparison with Sabz variety. Generally, Siyah variety revealed higher levels of phenolic compounds and flavonoids. Moreover, the lowest IC50 in DPPH tests and reducing power was related to Siyah fig skin extract, and rancimat test showed no significant difference between antioxidant activity of fig extracts. The efficiency of Siyah fig skin extract for oxidative stability was assessed using peroxide, thiobarbituric acid, conjugate dien, acid value and color indicator in canola oil, compared with synthetic antioxidants of tert-Butylhydroquinone (TBHQ). The results showed that Siyah skin extract had the highest antioxidant activity and were comparable with TBHQ. Furthermore, skin of Siyah fig variety can be considered as a good source of phenolic compounds. Practical Applications Several novel techniques, notably subcritical water extraction, have been developed for the extraction of natural antioxidants from plants in order to shorten the extraction time, decrease the organic solvent consumption and increase the quality of extracts. One of the most important applications of natural antioxidants is retardation or inhibition of oil oxidation. This paper reveals that the natural extracts have antioxidant activity comparable to that of synthetic antioxidants used in oil industry. Therefore, skin of Siyah fig extract can be used to replace synthetic antioxidants.

미숙 무화과 추출물을 이용한 분무건조 분말의 품질특성

In this study, the quality characteristics of spray dried powders from unripe fig extract were investigated. The protease activities of unripe fig and peeled unripe fig extract were 0.11 unit/mL and 0.28 unit/mL, respectively. The spray dried powder of unripe fig extracts was analzed using different maltodextrin ratios (F-MD 5, 5% maltodextrin; F-MD 10, 10% maltodextrin; and F-MD 20, 20% maltodextrin). The spray-dried powder showed the highest protease activity with F-MD 10 (0.84 unit/g). The moisture content and L value of the spray-dried powder were higher than those of the freeze-dried powder. The particle diameter of the freeze-dried powder (209.67 μm) was higher than that of the spray-dried powders (22.18~37.33 μm). The water absorption index ranged from 0.18 to 0.40, while the water solubility index ranged from 94.40% to 98.80%. In the in vitro digestion study, spray-dried powders of the unripe fig showed a protease survival range of 16.47%~24.80%. In conclusion, it is considered appropriate to use the spray-dried powder (F-MD 10) of unripe fig as a meat tenderizer for processing food.

Synergetic Hepatoprotective Effect of Phenolic Fractions Obtained from Ficus Carica Dried Fruit and Extra Virgin Olive Oil on CCL4 -Induced Oxidative Stress and Hepatotoxicity in Rats

This study aimed to investigate the possible hepatoprotective effect of the Ficus carica dried fruits, extra virgin olive oil and their phenolic fractions on CCl4-induced oxidative stress and hepatotoxicity in rats. Administration of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) (3.0 g/kg/day) per oral (p.o.) and their methanol extract (MEEVOO) (2.1 mg/kg/day) intravenously (i.v.) for 7 days significantly prevented CCl4-induced elevation of levels of serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT), glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). The methanol dried fig extract (MEDF) (38.07 mg/kg/day, i.v.) was found to be more hepatoprotective than the dried figs (DF) (4 g/kg/day, p.o.). Administration of MEEVOO with the MEDF significantly prevented CCl4-induced elevation of levels of serum GPT, GOT and ALP. Treatment of rats with CCl4 led to a marked increase in lipid peroxidation as measured by malondialdehyde (MDA). Hepatic antioxidant enzyme, Catalase (CAT) was significantly decreased in all treated animals. Practical Applications Dried fig (Ficus carica L.) fruit is an important part of traditional Mediterranean Algerian diet since antiquity and widely consumed with extra virgin olive oil because of their nutritional importance along with their medicinal value. Obtained results suggest a synergistic functionality of dried figs and extra virgin olive oil extracts. The observed hepatoprotective effect is believed to occur due to antioxidant properties of the contents of extra virgin olive oil and dried figs extract, which may provide a new drug to be used for prophylaxis against liver diseases and it validates its folkloric use by Algerian people.

Ficus religiosa L. figs — A potential herbal adjuvant to phenytoin for improved management of epilepsy and associated behavioral comorbidities

Oxidative stress, together with mitochondrial dysfunction, has been reported to be involved in the pathogenesis of epileptogenesis and its associated comorbidities. Phytoflavonoids have shown numerous beneficial ameliorative effects on different neurological disorders by virtue of their antioxidant effect. The present study investigated the effect of flavonoid-rich ethyl acetate fraction of the crude fig extract of Ficus religiosa in combination with phenytoin on seizure severity, depressive behavior, and cognitive deficit in pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-kindled mice. The flavonoid-rich ethyl acetate fraction of the crude fig extract was found to show significant antioxidant potential in various in vitro free radical scavenging assays. Combined treatment of this fraction (2.5, 5, and 10mg/kg; i.p.) along with a subeffective dose of phenytoin (15mg/kg; i.p.) in postkindled animals once daily for fifteen days showed a dose-dependent decrease in the seizure severity score, a decreased number of mistakes, increased step-down latency in passive shock avoidance paradigm, and decreased immobility time in the tail suspension test in comparison with the phenytoin only-treated group. Biochemical investigations of the brain tissue showed amelioration of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), reduced glutathione (GSH) levels, and reduced catalase and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activities, thereby indicating suppression of oxidative stress. In conclusion, the results of the present study showed the protective effect of the flavonoid-rich fraction of F. religiosa along with a subeffective dose of phenytoin in PTZ-kindling-associated cognitive deficit and depressive behavior with complete suppression of seizures through reduction of oxidative stress, supporting the the need for clinical evaluation of the supplementation of phytoflavonoids along with antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) for management of epilepsy and its psychiatric and cognitive comorbidities.

Role of irradiation in the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles mediated by fig (Ficus carica) leaf extract

Biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles in an aqueous mixture of fig (Ficus carica) leaf extract and AgNO3 solution exposed to a set of irradiances at different wavelengths are studied. Nanoparticle formation for irradiances between 6.5mW/cm2 and 13.3mW/cm2 in the 330–550nm wavelength range is investigated and the results are compared to those of the nanoparticles synthesized in the dark and under direct sunlight. Ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, along with particle size analysis and transmission electron microscopy are employed for the characterization of samples and extracts. Irradiance is found to have profound influence on the reduction rates. However, size and spherical shape of the nanoparticles are persistent, irrespective of irradiance and wavelength. Irradiance is discussed to influence the particle formation and aggregation rates through the formation of free radicals in the fig extract.

Phytochemical Analysis and Antifungal Activity of Fruit Leaves Extracts on the Mycelial Growth of Fungal Plant Pathogens

Methanolic extracts of leaves of thompson seedless grape, flame seedless grape, zizyphus, pomegranate and fig were screened for their phytochemical constituents and also investigated for their antifungal activity in vitro against phytopathogenic fungi, Alternaria solani, Botrytis cinerea, Botrytis fabae, Fusarium oxysporum and Fusarium solani. Phytochemical screening of crude methanolic extracts revealed the presence of terpenes, tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids, carbohydrate or glycosides, phenolic glycosides and resins in all extracts, while saponins were not detected from any extracts except zizyphus and fig. Zizyphus leaves had the highest concentration of total polyphenols and total flavonoids content which were 147.47 mgGAE/g and 16.35 mgQE/g, respectively. HPLC analysis identified twelve polyphenolic compounds; pyrogallic acid, gallic acid, protocatechuic, catechin, p-hydroxy benzoic acid, p-coumaric acid, phenol, o-coumaric acid, salicylic acid, coumarin, quercetin and cinnamic acid. All extracts contained protocatechuic, catechin, p-hydroxy benzoic acid, p-coumaric acid, o-coumaric acid and coumarin with different concentrations. The methanolic extract of zizyphus leaves had the greatest inhibitory effect on mycelial growth of B. fabae by 95.56% at 4 mg/ml. Also, extract of pomegranate caused remarkable reduction on the fungal growth (94.44%) of B. fabae at 4 mg/ml, while fig extract caused 91.11% inhibition against the same fungus at the same concentration. F. oxysporum and F. solani were the most resistant fungi against all methanolic extracts tested.