Basic & Applied Sciences

Potential of a Herbal Preparation Used in Indigenous Medicine to Neutralize Nba nojo Venom: Example from Wet Zone, Sri Lanka

Thu, 01 Jan 2015 00:00:00 GMT

Potential of a Herbal Preparation Used in Indigenous Medicine to Neutralize Nba nojo Venom: Example from Wet Zone, Sri Lanka Silva, MM; Senevirathne, SS; Weerakoon, DK; Goonasekara, CL The venom neutralizing ability of a herbal preparation used in traditional medicine was characterized. The preparation is known for successful treatment of Naj a naj a and Daboia russelii envenomation, particularly in the wet zone of the country, according to indigenous knowledge. The venom toxicity of Naja naja was evaluated using a 5-day-old chicken embryo model (n=3). Preliminary venom neutralizing ability of the herbal preparation was investigated with application of Naja naja venom preincubated with the herbal preparation on the vitellinevein of the chick, for a period of 6 hours. Pre-incubation of venom with the herbal preparation prevented the appearance of pathophysiological symptoms in the embryo and the death within the 6 hours as compared to the control, where the venom was pre-incubated with saline water. The results indicated the ability of the herbal preparation to neutralize Naja naja venom toxin. The venom Phospholipase Az (PLA2) activity, a common toxin known to exist in snake venoms, was also evaluated by measuring the amount of sodium hydroxide required to neutralize fatty acids liberated from egg yolk lecithin within 30 min. In the presence of the herbal preparation, PLAz activity of Naja naja venom was significantly reduced from 0.029mMmin ' to 0.018mMmin '. The herbal preparation was also shown to facilitate the blood coagulating toxicity of Naja naja venom. In the SDS gel electrophoresis analysis of the Naja naja venom, the herbal preparation and the mixture indicated proteolysis of some venom proteins by the herbal preparation. This appeared to be specific for venom proteins in the molecular weight range 28kD-98kD, which is possibly representing Phosphodiesterase, Acetylcholinesterase and Metalloproteases in the venom. The Naja naj a venom neutralizing property of the herbal preparation is therefore suggestive to be caused through PLAz inhibition and /or through the digestion of certoin protein families in the venoms Article Full Text

Quality and Shelf Life of Minimally Processed Shredded Carrots in Modified Atmosphere Packaging

Thu, 01 Jan 2015 00:00:00 GMT

Quality and Shelf Life of Minimally Processed Shredded Carrots in Modified Atmosphere Packaging Mahendran, T Modified atmosphere packaged Ready-to-eat shredded carrots (Daucus carota L., cv. Nantes) are an increasingly popular product, yet sales are restricted due to rapid deterioration during storage. Objective of this study was to investigate the effects of different gas composition on quality and shelf life of minimally processed shredded carrots. A range of physic-chemical and sensory qualities responsible for deterioration of carrot quality was monitored. Shredded carrots of 250 g were packaged in 30cm x 20cmbags, prepared from 20 µ polyethylene(PE), 20 µ polyvinylchloride (PVC), 10 µ micro-porous MY-15 (MY) and 10 µ oriented polypropylene (OPP)films. Packaged shredded carrots were stored at 4 or 10˚Cand quality characteristics were evaluated during storage. An equilibrium modified atmosphere was reached in most packs by 2-3 days of storage. The CO2 levels ranged from 10-12% in microperforated MY-15packs to 35-40% in the OPP bags at 4˚C during state of equilibrium. Levels of CO2 in other packs were dependent on film permeability and high permeability resulted in low CO2levels. The in-pack O2 and CO2 levels were also affected by storage temperature and levels were lower at 4˚C compared with 10˚C.Ascorbic acid content remained relatively constant in carrots during storage under all treatment conditions, whereas a highly significant decrease (P<0.01) was observed in PVC packs at 10˚C. β-carotene content decreased from 8943 µg/100g during storage in shredded carrots in MA packs with 73% of initial content after 14 days in OPP packs. Carrots packed in MY-15 films of which the ˚Brix increased from 6.45 to 6.74 during storage at 4°C indicated an increase in total soluble solids. Based on results, Micro-porous MY-15 films with high permeability of oxygen and carbon dioxide at storage temperature of4°C, should be considered together in order to maintain quality and to extend shelf life of shredded carrots for 14 days. Article Full Text

Antioxidant Potential of Selected Underutilized Fruit Species Grown in Sri Lanka

Thu, 01 Jan 2015 00:00:00 GMT

Antioxidant Potential of Selected Underutilized Fruit Species Grown in Sri Lanka Mallawaarachchi, MALN; Dissanayake, KSV; Madhujith, T The aim of this study was to assess the potential of aqueous extracts of three underutilized fruit species namely Dialium guineense, Solanum nigrum and Carissa carandas grown in Sri Lanka. Aqueous extracts of fruits were obtained by extracting accurately measured and finely ground fresh fruit samples with distilled water for 90 min followed by centrifuging at 4500rpm. The supernatants were collected separately and the extraction was repeated twice with residues. The collected supernatants were combined and lyophilized. Total phenolic contents (TPC) were determined using a spectrophotometric technique, based on the FolinCiocalteau reagent, calculated as gallic acid equivalents GAE/g fresh weight. Antioxidant potential was determined using DPPH˙ and ABTS˙+ scavenging assays. The DPPH radical scavenging activity of the extracts was expressed as IC50 values that denote the concentration of the sample required to scavenge 50% of radicals. The radical scavenging activity (RSA) was calculated as percentage of ABTS˙+ discoloration over six minutes. The TPC varied among species from 1.16mg ± 0.049 GAE/g of fresh fruit of D. guineense to 3.12 mg ± 0.43 GAE/ g of fresh fruit of S. nigrum. The highest antioxidant potential was possessed S. nigrum as it showed about 66% ABTS˙+discoloration over six minutes and 12.23mg ± 0.11 of fresh fruit needed for IC50. Therefore these results suggested that wild fruit species could be exploited as an ingredient in developing a potential antioxidant supplement. Article Full Text

Comparative Study of Tragia involucrata L. and Tragia Spp. by Using Preliminary Standardization Techniques

Thu, 01 Jan 2015 00:00:00 GMT

Comparative Study of Tragia involucrata L. and Tragia Spp. by Using Preliminary Standardization Techniques Pallie, MS; Perera, PK; Goonasekera, CL; Kumarasinghe, KMN; Arawwawala, LDAM Since ancient times humans have been using plants as medicine in different formulations to treat various ailments. Tragiainvolucrata L. [TI] commonly known as Welkahambiliya (Sinhala) andIndian stinging nettle (English) is a widely used indigenous medicinal plant. Experimentally, it shows analgesic, wound healing, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, psychopharmacological, anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, hypolipidaemic, diuretic and antioxidant activities. In industry another Tragia spp. is used as substitute for TI. Morphologically, both plants consist of stinging hair which irritates skin. Difference between the two plants is stem type. TI is a vine and Tragia spp. starts to grow as a shrub and twines around a support after it grows to about 1 meter in height. Present study aimed to investigate physic-chemical and preliminary phytochemical screening of powdered whole plant of both Tragia species as aninitial study to compare the plants and investigate whether Tragia spp. can be used as substitute for TI. Hot and cold extractions of both species were prepared using solvents with different polarities dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, ethanol, methanol and water. Physico-chemical parameters such as moisture content, total ash content, acid soluble and water insoluble ash content were determined. Both plant materials examined showed many physico-chemical and phytochemical similarities. Extractive values were determined in hot and cold extractions of each solvent. In phytochemical screening presence of alkaloid, coumarins, flavonoids, glycosides, cardiac glycosides, steroid glycosides saponins, tannins and terpenoids were investigated. TLC was performed to hot and cold dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, methanol, and water extracts of both species using different solvent systems. They were visualized under UV 254 nm 366 nm. It was observed that most Rf values were similar in both plant materials. These preliminary studies provide referential information regarding plant identification and also reveal that both plant materials have similarities in phytochemical compounds and TLC fingerprinting. Further in vivo biochemical studies should be performed to investigate efficacy of the two plant materials for their pharmacological activities Article Full Text