Subramanian Babu

Bio: Subramanian Babu is an academic researcher from VIT University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Stigmasterol & Homology (biology). The author has an hindex of 5, co-authored 10 publications receiving 95 citations.

Bioactive compounds and medicinal properties of Aloe vera L.: An update

Abstract: The practice of using Aloe vera extract as a herbal medicine basically depend on folklore and by experiences of people over a long period of time. Extensive research, especially in the area of basic biochemical characterization and elucidation of bioactivities has been conducted in a systematic manner. This has resulted in the characterization of many biochemical compounds from Aloe vera, predominantly using the techniques of spectroscopy and chromatography. Many biochemical compounds have been characterized from the Aloe vera using spectroscopy and chromatography techniques. Today, In addition to the well documented wound healing properties of Aloe vera extracts in burns, the antioxidant, antimicrobial and antidiabetic activities were tapped and hence formed the central core of bioactivity research on this plant in recent years. There have been preliminary reports on immune modulatory and other functions. The biochemical compounds and their bioactivity mechanisms from Aloe extracts, compounded by the bottlenecks in large scale cultivation represents a fascinating challenge to near complete exploitation and improvements in this pharmacologically important medicinal plant. This review is an effort to update our current knowledge on this plant based on many recent findings and to review the status for further exploration in pharmacology.

Evaluation of bioactive potential of an Aloe vera sterol extract.

Abstract: We prepared a crude gel material from Aloe vera succulent leaf tissues. The ethanolic extract of lyophilized A. vera gel was used for the GC-MS analysis. Hexadecanoic acid (22.22%) was identified as major compound. Sitosterol and stigmasterol were found to be 2.89% and 2.1% in the extract. HPLC analysis was carried out to confirm the presence of stigmasterol. The concentration of sterol extract needed to scavenge DPPH free radical by 50% was calculated as 5.2 mg mL(-1). In the FRAP assay, the sterol extract showed significant hydroxyl radical scavenging in a dose-dependent manner (IC50 value 1.17 µg mL(-1)). Concentration of the sample required to reduce lipid peroxidation was found to be 4.18 µg mL(-1), and the extract also possessed acetylcholinesterase activity (IC50 - 5.26 µg mL(-1)). Catalase activity was 0.196 μM H2 O2 decomposed min(-1) µg(-1) protein, whereas the peroxidase activity was 17.01 μM of pyragallol oxidized min(-1) µg(-1) protein. The extract recorded higher activity against growth of S. greseus and C. albicans in the experiments carried out to determine antibacterial and antifungal activity, respectively.

Current status on biological activities of acorus calamus - a review

Abstract: The review emphasis on the current status of the researches in Acorus calamus highlighting their number of useful biological activities. The Acorus calamus most extensively investigated phytochemically and pharmacologically. Number of bioactive constituents was identified and characterized from the leaves and rhizomes and their essential oils. Major chemical constituents identified are alpha and beta asarones which is responsible for therapeutic and medicinal properties of Acorus species. Several, recently published reports have revealed many newer useful bioactivities of leaves and rhizome extracts, essential oils and isolated chemical constituents such as anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressive, anti-adipogenic, antimicrobial, fungicidal, insulin sensitizing/antidiabetic, neuroprotective, wound healing, mitogenic, insecticidal, anthelmintic, allelopathic, antiepileptic, antispasmodic activities and inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase. This article highlights the various biological activities studied in A. calamus.

Purification and partial characterization of a phytotoxin produced by sarocladium oryzae, the rice sheath rot pathogen: Reinigung und partielle charakterisierung eines vom reisblattscheidenfäule-pathogen sarocladium oryzae erzeugten phytotoxins

Abstract: An extracellular, hydrophilic, thermostable phytotoxin was purified to homogeneity from culture fluids of Sarocladium oryzae and sheath rot infected rice plants. The phytotoxin was purified by solvent extraction, gel filtration on Sephadex G-75 and HPLC. Toxicity was evaluated with detached leaf sheath and electrolyte leakage bioassays. Purified phytotoxin induced visible symptoms of the disease, when applied to rice sheath even at a low concentration of 5 μg. The toxin is a glycoprotein with carbohydrate as major component. The importances of the carbohydrate moiety for toxic activity was indicated by inactivation of toxic compound after periodate oxidation. The toxin caused lesions on a number of other monocots and dicots and proved to be non-host specific. This is the first report of the purification and characterization of S. oryzae toxin from in vitro and in vivo and we propose its name SO-toxin.

Aloe vera: Ancient knowledge with new frontiers

Abstract: Background There are many plants with interesting pharmaceutical activities but Aloe vera is probably the most applied medicinal plant worldwide. Since biblical times, aloe has been used for its purgative effect, skin disorders healing and beauty treatments. Scope and approach For this study, an extensive review on Aloe vera was carried out, including its main uses, components (both nutrients and bioactives), biological activities, and applications. Future trends were also assessed. Key findings and conclusions Aloe possesses numerous activities including, anticancer, antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiallergic, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, hepatoprotective, antiulcer and antidiabetic. Some of these activities are due to the presence of polysaccharides (acemamman; glucomannan). A wide variety of commercial products based on Aloe vera are available on the market. However, the knowledge of the relationship between biological and therapeutic properties and its components has to be clearly defined in order to know the exact mechanism of action to develop effective new products, namely pharmaceuticals. The knowledge of the factors that affect Aloe vera variability, such as processing conditions, is also of great importance to be able to standardize the final products.

Aloe vera (L.) Webb.: Natural Sources of Antioxidants – A Review

Abstract: Many studies have proved that bioactive components of Aloe vera have an anti-inflammatory effect and support lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, helping to maintain normal sugar and cholesterol levels in blood and normal body weight. When aloe is applied externally, it accelerates the regeneration of the damaged skin. Aloe contains antioxidants, which may increase the shelf-life and nutritional value of food; therefore, it is widely used in cosmetic, pharmaceutical and food industry. An antioxidant activity was shown for leaf’s skin, flowers and gel of aloe. In this work the future of A. vera as effective antioxidants is primarily discussed and expected trends are summarised. Furthermore, the bioactive components and the health-promoting effects of A. vera are investigated.

A comparative analysis of insertional effects in genetically engineered plants: considerations for pre-market assessments.

Abstract: During genetic engineering, DNA is inserted into a plant’s genome, and such insertions are often accompanied by the insertion of additional DNA, deletions and/or rearrangements. These genetic changes are collectively known as insertional effects, and they have the potential to give rise to unintended traits in plants. In addition, there are many other genetic changes that occur in plants both spontaneously and as a result of conventional breeding practices. Genetic changes similar to insertional effects occur in plants, namely as a result of the movement of transposable elements, the repair of double-strand breaks by non-homologous end-joining, and the intracellular transfer of organelle DNA. Based on this similarity, insertional effects should present a similar level of risk as these other genetic changes in plants, and it is within the context of these genetic changes that insertional effects must be considered. Increased familiarity with genetic engineering techniques and advances in molecular analysis techniques have provided us with a greater understanding of the nature and impact of genetic changes in plants, and this can be used to refine pre-market assessments of genetically engineered plants and food and feeds derived from genetically engineered plants.

Aloe Genus Plants: From Farm to Food Applications and Phytopharmacotherapy

Abstract: Aloe genus plants, distributed in Old World, are widely known and have been used for centuries as topical and oral therapeutic agents due to their health, beauty, medicinal, and skin care properties Among the well-investigated Aloe species are A arborescens, A barbadensis, A ferox, and A vera Today, they account among the most economically important medicinal plants and are commonly used in primary health treatment, where they play a pivotal role in the treatment of various types of diseases via the modulation of biochemical and molecular pathways, besides being a rich source of valuable phytochemicals In the present review, we summarized the recent advances in botany, phytochemical composition, ethnobotanical uses, food preservation, and the preclinical and clinical efficacy of Aloe plants These data will be helpful to provide future directions for the industrial and medicinal use of Aloe plants

Plant-Derived Bioactives in Oral Mucosal Lesions: A Key Emphasis to Curcumin, Lycopene, Chamomile, Aloe vera, Green Tea and Coffee Properties

Abstract: Oral mucosal lesions have many etiologies, including viral or bacterial infections, local trauma or irritation, systemic disorders, and even excessive alcohol and tobacco consumption. Folk knowledge on medicinal plants and phytochemicals in the treatment of oral mucosal lesions has gained special attention among the scientific community. Thus, this review aims to provide a brief overview on the traditional knowledge of plants in the treatment of oral mucosal lesions. This review was carried out consulting reports between 2008 and 2018 of PubMed (Medline), Web of Science, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane Database, Science Direct, and Google Scholar. The chosen keywords were plant, phytochemical, oral mucosa, leukoplakia, oral lichen planus and oral health. A special emphasis was given to certain plants (e.g., chamomile, Aloe vera, green tea, and coffea) and plant-derived bioactives (e.g., curcumin, lycopene) with anti-oral mucosal lesion activity. Finally, preclinical (in vitro and in vivo) and clinical studies examining both the safety and efficacy of medicinal plants and their derived phytochemicals were also carefully addressed.