@article {120, title = {In vitro Antidiabetic and Antioxidant Properties of Dioecious Morus alba (Moraceae) Extracts}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Research,}, volume = {13}, year = {2021}, month = {April 2021}, pages = {13-21}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {13}, abstract = {

Background:\ Diabetes mellitus, characterized by elevated blood glucose levels, is a serious metabolic disorder affecting large populations worldwide. Mulberry food and supplement products known for their antidiabetic and antioxidant properties are commonly used in Asian and other countries.\ Objectives:\ The present study investigated for the first time the antidiabetic and antioxidant activities of dioecious (male and female) mulberry (Morus alba, Moraceae) extracts from leaf and stem tissues collected in two different seasons.\ Materials and Methods:In vitro\ α-amylase, α-glucosidase, polyphenol content analyses, and free radical scavenging activities were performed.\ Results:\ All extracts showed higher inhibition of α-glucosidase than α-amylase in a dose-dependent manner. Fall female stem, fall male stem, and fall female leaf extracts exhibited the highest α-glucosidase inhibitory activities. Fall male and fall female leaf extracts showed the highest ferric reducing activity. 2,2{\textquoteright}-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging activities were more potent for all extracts compared to 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and nitric oxide (NO) scavenging activities. The highest DPPH and NO radical scavenging activities were induced by fall male leaf extracts. Spring extracts contained more phenolics and fall extracts more proanthocyanidins. Correlations between IC50\ values of extracts used\ in vitro\ antidiabetic and antioxidant activities and polyphenol chemical classes were both positive and negative. In general, male extracts were more potent in their antidiabetic and antioxidant activities than female extracts.\ Conclusion:\ Overall, results showed that growing season, sex and organ of mulberry trees influence antidiabetic and antioxidant properties of extracts, knowledge that could be used in formulating effective dietary supplements for treating diabetes, and oxidative stress-related diseases.

}, keywords = {Antidiabetic, Antioxidant, Dioecious, Flavonoids, Mulberry, Phenolics}, doi = {10.4103/pr.pr_103_20}, author = {Paramita Basu and Charitha Thallapareddy and Camelia Maier} } @article {271, title = {Detection of Estrogenic, Antiestrogenic, and Drug Synergistic Activities of Seven Commercially Available Fruits by In Vitro Reporter Assays}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Research}, volume = {10}, year = {2018}, month = {April 2018}, pages = {137-142}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {137}, abstract = {

Background: Fruits are known to possess antiosteoporotic and anticancer properties in part due to their estrogenic and antiestrogenic activities. Objective: In this study, estrogenic, antiestrogenic, and drug synergistic activities of seven commercially available fruits were evaluated. Materials and Methods: A steroid-regulated transcription system in Saccharomyces cerevisiae containing a human estrogen receptor alpha expression plasmid, and a β-galactosidase gene reporter plasmid was employed for the estrogenic, antiestrogenic, and drug agonistic studies. Results: California table grape extract showed the highest estrogenic activity. The estrogenic activities of other extracts ranked as follows: blackberry, red raspberry, strawberry \> blueberry \> jackfruit, black raspberry. The transcriptional activities of the combination estradiol-fruit extracts (FEs) (400E equivalents) ranked as follows: blueberry (95.9\%), blackberry (86.2\%), black raspberry (88.9\%), and California table grape (81.5\%) \> jackfruit (72.2\%), and red raspberry (73.2\%) \> strawberry (60.7\%). Black and red raspberry extracts showed the highest synergistic activities with 4-hydroxytamoxifen (4-OHT). Black and red raspberry extracts in combination with 4-OHT lowered the estradiol activity by 74.9\% and 73.9\%, respectively. The highest synergistic activity with nafoxidine (NAF) was displayed by red raspberry extract. Together, NAF and red raspberry extract lowered estradiol activity by 77.9\%. Fold changes were calculated for drug synergistic activities of FEs, and they ranged from 1.3 to 15.3 for 4-OHT and 1.5{\textendash}17.4 for NAF, respectively. Conclusions: The active compounds in the FEs studied may be useful in enhancing the antiestrogen activities of chemotherapy drugs and be used as chemopreventive agents for patients at high risk of estrogen-induced cancers.

}, keywords = {4-hydroxytamoxifen, Antiestrogenic, Drug synergism, Estrogenic, Nafoxidine, Steroid-regulated yeast system}, doi = {10.4103/pr.pr_111_17}, author = {Paramita Basu and Dinu Dixon and Sherin Varghese and Camelia Maier} } @article {514, title = {In vitro Antioxidant Activities and Polyphenol Contents of Seven Commercially Available Fruits}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Research}, volume = {8}, year = {2016}, month = {August 2016}, pages = {258-264}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {258}, abstract = {

Background: Fruits are considered one of the richest sources of natural antioxidants. Their consumption has been linked to the prevention of oxidative stress-induced diseases. Objective: In this study, in vitro antioxidant activities of blueberry, jackfruit, blackberry, black raspberry, red raspberry, strawberry, and California table grape extracts were evaluated. Materials and Methods: Antioxidant activities were determined by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), ferric reducing antioxidant potential (FRAP), 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS), nitric oxide (NO), superoxide anion (O2 -) scavenging assays, and ferric reducing power. Results: Black raspberry extract had the highest phenolic (965.6 {\textpm} 2.9 mg gallic acid equivalents [GAE]/g), flavonoid (186.4 {\textpm} 1.7 mg quercetin equivalents/g), and proanthocyanidin (2677 {\textpm} 71.1 mg GAE/g) contents. All fruit extracts exhibited increasing radical scavenging activities with increased concentrations. At 100 μg/ml, red raspberry extract showed the highest ferric reducing power (A700 = 0.3 {\textpm} 0.0052) and FRAP activity (A593 = 11.43 mM Fe2+/g). Black raspberry extract (100 μg/ml) exhibited the highest DPPH activity (A517 = 89.03 {\textpm} 0.0471). Jackfruit extract (100 μg/ml) had the highest ABTS (A734 = 35.6 {\textpm} 0.613), NO (A540 = 81.7 {\textpm} 0.2), and O2 - radical scavenging (A230 = 55.5 {\textpm} 0.2) activities. Positive correlations were observed between IC50 values for different radical scavenging activities and different polyphenolics. Red raspberry extract had the highest Pearson{\textquoteright}s coefficient values (0.952{\textendash}1) between total phenolics, flavonoids, and proanthocyanidins and DPPH and superoxide radical scavenging activities. Conclusions: The antioxidant rich fruits in this study are good source of functional food and nutraceuticals that have the potential to improve human health.

}, keywords = {Antioxidant activity, Flavonoids, IC50, Phenols, Proanthocyanidins, radical scavenging}, doi = {10.4103/0974-8490.188875}, author = {Paramita Basu and Camelia Maier} }