@article {1197, title = {The Potential of Bitter Melon Residues Concerning its Physico-chemical Characterization, Bioactive Compounds, and Antioxidant Effects}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Research}, volume = {16}, year = {2023}, month = {December 2023}, pages = {26-33}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {26}, abstract = {

Background: Bioactive compounds from vegetables have played a substantial role as therapeutic agents in drug discovery since it contains nutraceutical and nutraceutical properties. Cucurbitaceae family encompasses several edible plants that contain valuable natural compounds. Objectives: To evaluate the physicochemical and mineral composition on Momordica charantia fruit residues. Materials and Methods: The physiochemical composition and mineral composition were characterized by FTIR and optical emission spectrophotometer, respectively. The phenolics, flavonoids and total antioxidant activity were employed by spectrophotometrically. The green ultrasound assisted extraction was used for aqueous and 12\% ethanolic extraction for evaluation of phenolic compounds by UPLC/MS. Results: The results revealed the minerals such as K, P, Ca, Na, Mg, Fe, Zn, Sr, Cu and Mn found in bitter melon. High contents of total phenolics content (683.820 to 1753.345 galic acid: quercetin (2:1)/100 g of sample) and total flavonoids (106.206 to 311.423 mg of quercetin/100 g of sample) were observed in peel aqueous extract. The aqueous extract of peel exhibited maximum inhibitory potential against DPPH radical (93\% of inhibition) than ethanolic extract. This aqueous extract of peel also contains naringenin, catechin, epicatechin, p-coumaric, ferulic and chlorogenic acids which were reveled from UPLC/MS analysis. Conclusion: This study suggests that M. charantia residues are good sources of functional proteins, lipids, fibers and minerals, resulting in greater nutritional value. In addition, M. charantia is of great interest in its promising benefits for human health, due to its antioxidant capacity and bioactive compounds.

}, keywords = {Antioxidant activity, Green extraction, Minerals, Momordica charantia, Phenolic compounds, UPLC/MS.}, doi = {10.5530/pres.16.1.4}, author = {Julianna Karla Santana Andrade and Romy Gleyse Chagas Barros and Juliete Pedreira Nogueira and Christean Santos de Oliveira and George Ricardo Santana Andrade and Silv{\^a}nio Silv{\'e}rio Lopes da Costa and Narendra Narain and Murugan Rajan} } @article {630, title = {The Heavy Metal Contents of Some Selected Medicinal Plants Sampled from Different Geographical Locations}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Research}, volume = {5}, year = {2013}, month = {April 2013}, pages = { 103-108}, type = {Original Article }, chapter = {103}, abstract = {

Background:\ The levels of 5 minerals namely; lead, arsenic, mercury, cadmium, and aluminum were assessed in 10 medicinal plants sampled from 5 different geographical locations to determine the effect of location on the plants{\textquoteright} mineral content.\ Materials and Methods:\ Atomic absorption spectrophotometry (wet digestion) was used for the analyzes, and content of the minerals per sample was expressed as μg/g. The levels of minerals were compared to their limit specification for herbs and daily total intake of these minerals. A two-way analysis of variance, which tends to look at the effect of the location and the medicinal plant itself on the plants mineral content, was used in the statistical analysis.\ Results:\ Lead (Pb) was present in all plant species examined, except\ Ocimum gratissimum. One plant exceeded the maximum safety limit for lead. Cadmium was also detected in some of the medicinal plant species (44\%) whilst majority were below the detection limit (0.002) representing 56\%. 40\% of the plant species exceeded the limit for cadmium. Mercury and arsenic in all the plant species were below the detection limit (0.001). Significant variation existed in mineral content for the various locations (\ P\ <= 0.05).\ Conclusion:\ The findings generally suggest the variation in mineral levels for the various locations. Thus, our study has shown that same species of medicinal plants, growing in different environments, accumulates different levels of heavy metals.

}, keywords = {Geographical Locations, Heavy metals, Medicinal plants, Minerals}, doi = {10.4103/0974-8490.110539 }, author = {Kofi Annan and Rita A Dickson and Isaac K Amponsah and Isaac K Nooni} }