Much work has been carried out in recent years on the beneficial effect of phenolic compounds which act as natural antioxidants and help to neutralize free radicals. We analysed the antioxidant activity of the rutin (quercetin-3-rhamnosyl glucoside) using different assays including: total antioxidant activity and reducing power, hydroxyl radical scavenging assay, superoxide radical scavenging assay, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay and lipid peroxidation assay which uses egg yolk as the lipid-rich source. Total antioxidant capacity was determined by the assay based on the decrease in absorbance of β-carotene by the sample. Rutin exhibited strong DPPH radical scavenging activity. At the concentration of 0.05 mg/ml, ascorbic acid (Vc), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and rutin showed 92.8%, 58.8%, and 90.4% inhibition, respectively. In addition, rutin had effective inhibition of lipid peroxidation. Those various antioxidant activities were compared to standard antioxidants such as BHT and Vc.

In vitro antioxidant properties of rutin

Saponins are widely distributed plant natural products with vast structural and functional diversity. They are typically composed of a hydrophobic aglycone, which is extensively decorated with functional groups prior to the addition of hydrophilic sugar moieties, to result in surface-active amphipathic compounds. The saponins are broadly classified as triterpenoids, steroids or steroidal glycoalkaloids, based on the aglycone structure from which they are derived. The saponins and their biosynthetic intermediates display a variety of biological activities of interest to the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food sectors. Although their relevance in industrial applications has long been recognized, their role in plants is underexplored. Recent research on modulating native pathway flux in saponin biosynthesis has demonstrated the roles of saponins and their biosynthetic intermediates in plant growth and development. Here, we review the literature on the effects of these molecules on plant physiology, which collectively implicate them in plant primary processes. The industrial uses and potential of saponins are discussed with respect to structure and activity, highlighting the undoubted value of these molecules as therapeutics.

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.3109/10409238.2014.953628

Metabolic and functional diversity of saponins, biosynthetic intermediates and semi-synthetic derivatives.

Nanomedicine utilizes biocompatible nanomaterials for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. The present study reports the use of Helicteres isora root extract for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The synthesized AgNPs were initially noticed through visual color change from yellow to reddish brown and further confirmed by surface plasmonic resonance (SPR) band at 450 nm using UV–visible spectroscopy. Morphology and size of AgNPs were determined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis. X-ray diffraction (XRD) study revealed crystalline nature of AgNPs. The prolonged stability of AgNPs was due to capping of oxidized polyphenols and carboxyl protein which was established by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) study. In addition, the synthesized AgNPs were tested for antioxidant and antibacterial activities. It showed good antioxidant activity as compared to butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and ascorbic acid as standard antioxidant. It could be concluded that H. isora root extract can be used efficiently in the production of potential antioxidant and antibacterial AgNPs for commercial application.

https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007%2Fs13204-015-0473-z.pdf

Biogenic synthesis of silver nanoparticles and their antioxidant and antibacterial activity

Anthraquinones (9,10-dioxoanthracenes) constitute an important class of natural and synthetic compounds with a wide range of applications. Besides their utilization as colorants, anthraquinone derivatives have been used since centuries for medical applications, for example, as laxatives and antimicrobial and antiinflammatory agents. Current therapeutic indications include constipation, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and cancer. Moreover, biologically active anthraquinones derived from Reactive Blue 2 have been utilized as valuable tool compounds for biochemical and pharmacological studies. They may serve as lead structures for the development of future drugs. However, the presence of the quinone moiety in the structure of anthraquinones raises safety concerns, and anthraquinone laxatives have therefore been under critical reassessment. This review article provides an overview of the chemistry, biology, and toxicology of anthraquinones focusing on their application as drugs.

Anthraquinones As Pharmacological Tools and Drugs

Diosgenin, a steroidal sapogenin, occurs abundantly in plants such as Dioscorea alata, Smilax China, and Trigonella foenum graecum. This bioactive phytochemical not only is used as an important starting material for the preparation of several steroidal drugs in the pharmaceutical industry, but has revealed also high potential and interest in the treatment of various types of disorders such as cancer, hypercholesterolemia, inflammation, and several types of infections. Due to its pharmacological and industrial importance, several extraction and analytical procedures have been developed and applied over the years to isolate, detect, and quantify diosgenin, not only in its natural sources and pharmaceutical compositions, but also in animal matrices for pharmacodynamic, pharmacokinetic, and toxicological studies. Within these, HPLC technique coupled to different detectors is the most commonly analytical procedure described for this compound. However, other alternative methods were also published. Thus, the present review aims to provide collective information on the most recent pharmacological data on diosgenin and on the most relevant analytical techniques used to isolate, detect, and quantify this compound as well.

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Diosgenin: Recent Highlights on Pharmacology and Analytical Methodology.

Plants have been used as a source for food material and natural remedies for the treatment of vast range of diseases. Nature provides us remedies for the treatment of various types of disorders ranging from simple ailments to complicated diseases. Plants are known to possess different pharmacological activities due to the presence of various phytoconstituents. Flavonoids are one of the main active phytoconstituents found in fruits, vegetables, wines, tea and cocoa. Flavonoids exhibit various pharmacological activities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, antibacterial, oestrogenic, cytotoxic antitumoural, hepatoprotective, antithrombotic and antiviral activity. Diosmetin (3′, 5, 7-trihydroxy-4′-methoxyflavone), the aglycone part of the flavonoid glycosides diosmin occurs naturally in citrus fruit. Although it is found in herbal medicines and plays an important role in the treatment of various ailments, only limited scientific researches have been conducted. The aim of this review is to collect all available scientific literature published on diosmetin and combine it into this paper. This review contains an overview of pharmacological activities, isolation techniques and analytical techniques for diosmetin. Thus, valuable information provided in the present review will help researchers in developing alternative methods for the treatment of diseases from diosmetin.

A review on pharmacological and analytical aspects of diosmetin: A concise report

Diosgenin is a steroidal sapogenin found in plants such as Dioscorea nipponoca, Solanum incanum, Solanum xanthocarpum and Trigonella foenum graecum. Diosgenin, biologically active phytochemicals have been used for the treatment of various types of disorder such as leukemia, inflammation, hypercholesterolemia and cancer. It is also able to prevent bone loss to the same extent as that of oestrogen. It is a typical initial intermediate for synthesis of steroidal compounds, oral contraceptives and sex hormones. Dioscorea, Costus and Trigonella are mainly used for the production of diosgenin. On the basis of literature survey it divulges that diosgenin has very impressive pharmacological profile and could be used as a medicine for the treatment of different types of disorders in the future. Thus, the present work aims to provide collective information in concern with its pharmacological activity and phytoanalytical techniques. This review will be beneficial to researches for the development of an alternative method for the treatment of innumerable diseases from diosgenin.

/pdf/a-review-on-pharmacological-and-analytical-aspects-of-eoudkj58pg.pdf

A review on pharmacological and analytical aspects of diosgenin: a concise report

Pharmacological and analytical aspects of bergenin: a concise report

Barbaloin is C-glucoside of aloe emodin anthrone which is found in the plant name as Aloe vera is a perennial succulent (Liliaceal), also called the healing plant. Barbaloin have variety of pharmacological activity such as strong inhibitory effect on histamine release, anti-inflammatory, cathartic, antiviral, antimicrobial, anticancer, antioxidant activity and alternative for pharmaceutical or cosmetic applications. The peak amount of barbaloin was reached about 3 h after oral administration. Concentration of barbaloin in Aloe vera leaves was shown to depend on the leaf part, age, and position of the leaf. Young leaves contain more barbaloin compared to old one. Various researches have been done on barbaloin but still the relationship between the barbaloin and its overall effect has not been clarified. A more specific perceptive of the pharmacological activities of barbaloin is required to develop for pharmaceutical purpose. Many attempts have been made regarding its isolation, biological activity to examine their effects, and clarify their functional mechanism. This review gives a brief idea about its uses, ethnomedicinally and commercially important analytical techniques and their pharmacological activities.

Barbaloin: a concise report of its pharmacological and analytical aspects.

Flavonoids are low molecular weight plant phytoconstituents, widely distributed in the leaves, seeds, bark and flowers of plants. It has various pharmacological activities and protects plants against ultraviolet radiation, pathogens, and herbivores. Most of the beneficial health effects of flavonoids are mainly due to its antioxidant properties. Galangin is a flavonol found in honey, Alpinia officinarum, Helichrysum aureonitens and in propolis. It showed anti-mutagenic, anti-clastogenic, anti-oxidative, radical scavenging, metabolic enzyme modulating activity and effective against certain types of cancers. The present review described the pharmacological activity and bioanalytical aspects of galangin, which may be benificial to the researchers who wants to explore the hidden potential of galangin.

V Tahilyani

Papers

A review on pharmacological and analytical aspects of diosmetin: A concise report

A review on pharmacological and analytical aspects of diosgenin: a concise report

Pharmacological and analytical aspects of bergenin: a concise report

Barbaloin: a concise report of its pharmacological and analytical aspects.

Pharmacological and bioanalytical aspects of galangin-a concise report