Phenolics and polyphenolics in foods, beverages and spices: Antioxidant activity and health effects – A review

https://cyberleninka.org/article/n/132565.pdf

Discovery and resupply of pharmacologically active plant-derived natural products: A review.

Turmeric, derived from the plant Curcuma longa, is a gold-colored spice commonly used in the Indian subcontinent, not only for health care but also for the preservation of food and as a yellow dye for textiles. Curcumin, which gives the yellow color to turmeric, was first isolated almost two centuries ago, and its structure as diferuloylmethane was determined in 1910. Since the time of Ayurveda (1900 Bc) numerous therapeutic activities have been assigned to turmeric for a wide variety of diseases and conditions, including those of the skin, pulmonary, and gastrointestinal systems, aches, pains, wounds, sprains, and liver disorders. Extensive research within the last half century has proven that most of these activities, once associated with turmeric, are due to curcumin. Curcumin has been shown to exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, and anticancer activities and thus has a potential against various malignant diseases, diabetes, allergies, arthritis, Alzheimer's disease, and other chronic illnesses. These effects are mediated through the regulation of various transcription factors, growth factors, inflammatory cytokines, protein kinases, and other enzymes. Curcumin exhibits activities similar to recently discovered tumor necrosis factor blockers (e.g., HUMIRA, REMICADE, and ENBREL), a vascular endothelial cell growth factor blocker (e.g., AVASTIN), human epidermal growth factor receptor blockers (e.g., ERBITUX, ERLOTINIB, and GEFTINIB), and a HER2 blocker (e.g., HERCEPTIN). Considering the recent scientific bandwagon that multitargeted therapy is better than monotargeted therapy for most diseases, curcumin can be considered an ideal "Spice for Life".

Curcumin: The Indian solid gold

The tail suspension test as a model for assessing antidepressant activity: review of pharmacological and genetic studies in mice.

Synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Acalypha indica leaf extracts and its antibacterial activity against water borne pathogens.

It has been shown recently that a flavonoid fraction (fraction II) obtained from a crude extract of Hypericum perforatum (St John's Wort) was remarkably active in the forced swimming test (FST) Fraction II was further separated using MLCCC to give fractions IIa and IIb Both fractions proved to be active in the FST at different dosages Further separation of fraction IIa by preparative HPLC yielded fraction IIa1 which mainly was composed of hyperoside, isoquercitrin, miquelianin and quercitrin, and fraction IIa2 which contained small amounts of hyperoside and astilbin, while most compounds were not known Both fractions were active after acute treatment in the FST Isolates obtained from these fractions including hyperoside, isoquercitrin, quercitrin, miquelianin, the aglycone quercetin and astilbin, were tested for activity in the FST Except for quercetin, quercitrin and astilbin all compounds were active To exclude false positive results in the FST the validity was checked in open field experiments and in the FST after 12 days of daily treatment

Flavonoids from Hypericum perforatum show antidepressant activity in the forced swimming test.

It has been shown recently that the fraction Ilk of acrude extract of Hypericum per foratum, (St. Johns wort) thatcontained both hypericin (1) and pseudohypericin (2), was re-markably active in the rats forced swimming test (FST) afterPorsolt. However, neither of the naphthodianthrones isolatedfrom this fraction were sufficiently effective when administeredsuspended in water. The solubility of 1 and 2 is remarkably in-creased in the presence of a fraction containing procyanidins, especially procyanidin B2, which is present also in the active Hy- pericum fraction Ilic. The cooperative effect of procyanidins sig-nificantly increased the in vivo effects of 1 and 2, which exhib-ited inverted U-shaped dose response curves, in the FST. Theanti-immobility effect of solubilized 1 and 2 was antagonizedby the dopamine antagonist sulpiride. These data indicate thatnaphthodianthrones are antidepressant constituents of H. per-foratum and suggest that the dopaminergic system is involvedin their action.Phytomedicines based on extracts from the herb of Hypericum

Solubilized hypericin and pseudohypericin from Hypericum perforatum exert antidepressant activity in the forced swimming test.

Cyanogenic allosides and glucosides from Passiflora edulis and Carica papaya

The three major curcuminoids, curcumin, demethoxycurcumin and bis-demethoxycurcumin, from Curcuma domestica Val. (Curcuma longa L.) and Curcuma xanthorrhiza Roxb. (Zingiberaceae) were fully separated and quantified in less than 5 min using a capillary zone electrophoresis method with standard fused-silica capillaries and photodiode array detection. An electrolyte solution of 20 mM phosphate, 50 mM sodium hydroxide and 14 mM beta-cyclodextrin was found to be appropriate. Quantification was performed with 3,4-dimethoxy-trans-cinnamic acid as internal standard, and the limit of detection was 0.01 mg/mL. Extraction, stabilisation during sample storage and quantification procedures were optimised and carried out with drugs and commercial curry powder from different provenances. The results were compared with the photometric method of the monograph Curcumae xanthorrhizae rhizoma of the European Pharmacopoeia.

Quantitative determination of curcuminoids in Curcuma rhizomes and rapid differentiation of Curcuma domestica Val. and Curcuma xanthorrhiza Roxb. by capillary electrophoresis.

The proton nuclear magnetic resonances (NMR) of seven naturally occurring hydroxycinnamoylquinic acids were analysed in order to obtain full sets of shift values and spin–spin coupling constants, as well as information about solution conformation. Based on this study, specific rules for proton substituent chemical shifts are derived, allowing the distinction of position isomers and single caffeoyl subunits in oligosubstituted quinic acids. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Adolf Nahrstedt

Papers

Flavonoids from Hypericum perforatum show antidepressant activity in the forced swimming test.

Solubilized hypericin and pseudohypericin from Hypericum perforatum exert antidepressant activity in the forced swimming test.

Cyanogenic allosides and glucosides from Passiflora edulis and Carica papaya

Quantitative determination of curcuminoids in Curcuma rhizomes and rapid differentiation of Curcuma domestica Val. and Curcuma xanthorrhiza Roxb. by capillary electrophoresis.

Structure Assignment of Natural Quinic Acid Derivatives using Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Techniques