Essential oils are concentrated liquids of complex mixtures of volatile compounds and can be extracted from several plant organs. Essential oils are a good source of several bioactive compounds, which possess antioxidative and antimicrobial properties. In addition, some essential oils have been used as medicine. Furthermore, the uses of essential oils have received increasing attention as the natural additives for the shelf-life extension of food products, due to the risk in using synthetic preservatives. Essential oils can be incorporated into packaging, in which they can provide multifunctions termed "active or smart packaging." Those essential oils are able to modify the matrix of packaging materials, thereby rendering the improved properties. This review covers up-to-date literatures on essential oils including sources, chemical composition, extraction methods, bioactivities, and their applications, particularly with the emphasis on preservation and the shelf-life extension of food products.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/1750-3841.12492

Essential oils: extraction, bioactivities, and their uses for food preservation.

Targeting specific cell signaling transduction pathways by dietary and medicinal phytochemicals in cancer chemoprevention.

In this present study, a comparative evaluation of the antioxidant capacities, phenol and polyphenol composition, membrane stabilization, and cytotoxicity to brine shrimps (Arthemia salina) of the leaf and stem extracts of Cissus multistriata were carried out. 2,2- Diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging effect of the extracts was determined spectrophotometrically. The highest radical scavenging effect was observed in the stem extract with IC50 of 29.25 ig/ml. The potency of radical scavenging effect of the stem extract was close to the synthetic antioxidant quercetin with IC50 of 21.05 ig/ml. The antioxidant activities of each extract increased with increasing concentration of extracts. The phenol and polyphenol content of the stem varied between 0.564 ± 0.000 to 6.200 ± 0.557% and that of the leaf content is lower (0.523 ± 0.000 to 3.400 ± 0.355%). The higher amount of phenolic compound in the stem could be contributory to the greater radical scavenging effects observed. The methanolic extracts exhibited minimum and maximum percentage membrane stability of 51.364 ± 11.241 and 56.098 ± 14.654% on human erythrocyte. The highest membrane stabilizing activity was observed in the stem extract with percentage stability of 56.098 ± 14.654%. The activity of the extracts was comparable to the standard anti-inflammatory drug (Indomethacin) used. The extracts are less toxic to the cell (Arthenia salina) with their LC/EC50 higher than that of standard potassium dichromate used. The results obtained in this present study indicate that C. multistriata can be a potential source of natural antioxidant and is relatively safe.

/pdf/comparative-antioxidant-capacity-membrane-stabilization-3iqn5exrgt.pdf

Comparative antioxidant capacity, membrane stabilization, polyphenol composition and cytotoxicity of the leaf and stem of Cissus multistriata

http://if-pan.krakow.pl/pjp/pdf/2010/1_185.pdf

Scavenging and antioxidant potential of physiological taurine concentrations against different reactive oxygen/nitrogen species

Plants of the genus Bauhinia (Fabaceae, Leguminosae), commonly known as cow's-paw or cow's hoof, are widely distributed in most tropical countries and have been used frequently in folk medicine to treat different kinds of pathologies, particularly diabetes, infections, as well as pain and inflammation. In recent years, interest in these plants has increased considerably throughout the world. The biological properties of different phytopreparations and pure metabolites have been investigated in numerous experimental in vivo and in vitro models. Although some contradicting evidence has been documented, in general, the results support the reported therapeutic properties, indicating that they are mainly due to the presence of flavonoids. This review summarizes the recent chemical and biological knowledge of plants of the genus Bauhinia.

Chemical composition and biological potential of plants from the genus Bauhinia

The present study was carried out to evaluate the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of a methanol extract of Bauhinia racemosa (MEBR) (Caesalpiniaceae) stem bark in various systems. 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) radical, superoxide anion radical, nitric oxide radical, and hydroxyl radical scavenging assays were carried out to evaluate the antioxidant potential of the extract. The antioxidant activity of the methanol extract increased in a concentration-dependent manner. About 50, 100, 250, and 500 µg MEBR inhibited the peroxidation of a linoleic acid emulsion by 62.43, 67.21, 71.04, and 76.83%, respectively. Similarly, the effect of MEBR on reducing power increased in a concentration-dependent manner. In DPPH radical scavenging assays the IC50 value of the extract was 152.29 µg/ml. MEBR inhibited the nitric oxide radicals generated from sodium nitroprusside with an IC50 of 78.34 µg/ml, as opposed to 20.4 µg/ml for curcumin. Moreover, MEBR scavenged the superoxide generated by the PMS/NADH-NBT system. MEBR also inhibited the hydroxyl radical generated by Fenton's reaction, with an IC50 value of more than 1000 µg/ml, as compared to 5 µg/ml for catechin. The amounts of total phenolic compounds were also determined and 64.7 µg pyrocatechol phenol equivalents were detected in MEBR (1 mg). The antimicrobial activities of MEBR were determined by disc diffusion with five Gram-positive, four Gram-negative and four fungal species. MEBR showed broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against all tested microorganisms. The results obtained in the present study indicate that MEBR can be a potential source of natural antioxidant and antimicrobial agents.

/pdf/antioxidant-and-antimicrobial-activities-of-bauhinia-4cr0mjitlc.pdf

Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of Bauhinia racemosa L. stem bark

The aim of the present study is to investigate central nervous system (CNS) activity of the methanol extract of barks of  Careya arborea  (Myrtaceae) in Swiss albino mice and Wistar albino rats. General behavior, exploratory behavior, muscle relaxant activity and phenobarbitone sodium–induced sleeping time were studied. The results revealed that the methanol extract of barks of  Careya arborea  at 100 and 200 mg/kg caused a significant reduction in the spontaneous activity (general behavioral profile), remarkable decrease in exploratory behavioral pattern (Y–maze and head dip test), a reduction in muscle relaxant activity (rotarod and traction tests), and also significantly potentiated phenobarbitone sodium–induced sleeping time. The results suggest that methanol extract of  Careya arborea exhibit CNS depressant activity in tested animal models.

/pdf/cns-activity-of-the-methanol-extracts-of-careya-arborea-in-4336fc6422.pdf

CNS activity of the methanol extracts of Careya arborea in experimental animal model

The aim of this study is to investigate the antioxidant defense system induced by the methanol extract of Bauhinia racemosa L.(MEBR) against N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA)-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in Wister albino rats. The effects of MEBR on surface visible macroscopic (Morphometry) liver lesions (neoplastic nodules) and the levels of serum enzymes, lipid peroxidation and antioxidants were evaluated in NDEA-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in rats.In rats treated, with NDEA, significantly elevated levels of serum enzymes (SGOT, SGPT and ALP), bilirubin and decreased levels of protein and uric acid were observed. Significantly elevated amount of malondialdehyde (MDA), the end product of lipidperoxidation, indicated higher levels of lipid peroxidation, which was accompanied by significantly decreased levels of antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin E, reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT). Administration of MEBR was able to suppress nodule development/hepatocellular lesion fo...

Effect of Bauhinia racemosa stem bark on N-nitrosodiethylamine-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in rats.

The activity of cytarabine was decreased by its rapid deamination to the biologically inactive metabolite uracil arabinoside. This rapid deamination is the reason for the ongoing research for effective formulation of cytarabine that can not be deaminated and exhibit better pharmacokinetic parameters. Protection of cytarabine from fast degradation and elimination was investigated by encapsulating the drug into chitosan nanoparticles. Cytarabine loaded nanoparticles prepared by ionotropic gelation were characterized by SEM and was found to in the range of 200 nm.The mechanism by which drug is being released is non-Fickian(anomalous) solute diffusion mechanism. It is evident from the result that initial burst release was retarded or delayed due to adsorption of coating material. The in vivo biodistribution study results showed that the nanoparticles were having better distribution of drug compared to free drug in different organs like spleen, lungs, kidney etc.

http://ijpsnonline.com/Issues/957_full.pdf

Studies on the Preparation and Evaluation of Chitosan Nanoparticles containing Cytarabine

The purpose of this study was investigating experimentally the possible antitumor effect and antioxidant role of methanol extract of Triumfetta rhomboidea (METR) leaves against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) bearing Swiss albino mice. The METR administered at the doses of 100, 200 mg/kg, in mice for 14 days after 24 hours of tumor inoculation. The effects of METR on the growth of murine tumor, life span of EAC bearing mice were studied. Hematological profile and liver biochemical parameters (lipid peroxidation, antioxidant enzymes) were also estimated. Treatment with METR decreased the tumor volume and viable cell count there by increasing the life span of EAC bearing mice. METR brought back the hematological parameter more or less normal level. The effect of METR also decreases the levels of lipid peroxidation and increased the levels of glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT). The present work indicates that the methanol extract of

R. S. Kumar

Papers

Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of Bauhinia racemosa L. stem bark

CNS activity of the methanol extracts of Careya arborea in experimental animal model

Effect of Bauhinia racemosa stem bark on N-nitrosodiethylamine-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in rats.

Studies on the Preparation and Evaluation of Chitosan Nanoparticles containing Cytarabine

Antitumor and Antioxidant Activities of Triumfetta rhomboidea against Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma bearing Swiss Albino mice