BackgroundThe consumption of berry fruits, including strawberries, has been suggested to have beneficial effects against oxidative stress mediated diseases. Berries contain multiple phenolic compounds and secondary metabolites that contribute to their biological properties.Methodology/Principal FindingsCurrent study investigates the anticancer activity of the methanolic extract of strawberry (MESB) fruits in leukaemia (CEM) and breast cancer (T47D) cell lines ex vivo, and its cancer therapeutic and chemopreventive potential in mice models. Results of MTT, trypan blue and LDH assays suggested that MESB can induce cytotoxicity in cancer cells, irrespective of origin, in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Treatment of mice bearing breast adenocarcinoma with MESB blocked the proliferation of tumor cells in a time-dependent manner and resulted in extended life span. Histological and immunohistochemical studies suggest that MESB treatment affected tumor cell proliferation by activating apoptosis and did not result in any side effects. Finally, we show that MESB can induce intrinsic pathway of apoptosis by activating p73 in breast cancer cells, when tumor suppressor gene p53 is mutated.Conclusions/SignificanceThe present study reveals that strawberry fruits possess both cancer preventive and therapeutic values and we discuss the mechanism by which it is achieved.

Salacia oblonga Wall belonging to family Celastraceae contains vital phytoconstituents and has been used since long for the treatment of diabetes, inflammation and burn wounds. S. oblonga ethyl acetate root extract was evaluated for antibacterial activity towards drug resistant pathogens Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Further 260 nm absorbing material was estimated in the control and treated cells. Interestingly 260 nm absorbance material is higher in the Staphylococcus aureus. Further the effect of the plant extract on drug resistant pathogen S. aureus was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). SEM results have shown that treated bacterial cells have changed in morphology, size and reduced in number. Based on these results it can be concluded that S. oblonga extract acts on membrane of the drug resistant pathogen S. aureus.

Salacia oblonga, an inhabitant of tropical regions has been used in traditional Indian medicinal systems. Phytochemicals were extracted in methanol from the plant and analyzed for various biological activities. The results of biochemical tests for total phenolics (297 ± 0.005 and 275 ± 0.006) and flavonoids (95 ± 0.004 and 61.6 ± 0.004) in the aerial and root parts were indicated as Gallic acid and quercetin equivalents respectively. The Aerial and root extracts showed strong reducing ability based on reducing power and FRAP assays. The extracts exhibited significant IC50 values in DPPH, super oxide and nitric oxide radical scavenging assays. The extracts displayed low IC50 values (<50 μg/ml) when assessed for antiproliferative activity against breast cancer cell lines using the MTT assay. GC-MS analysis of methanolic extracts have revealed the presence of compounds viz. n-Hexadecanoic acid, N-Methoxy-N-methylacetamide, Ursa-9(11), 12-dien-3-ol, Gamma-sitosterol etc., that might be potential candidates for the biological activity exhibited by the extract.

Salacia oblonga Wall containing vital phytoconstituents viz. mangiferin, salacinol, kotanolol etc has been in use since long in the treatment of cancer, diabetes, inflammation and burn wounds. The antimicrobial activity of S. oblonga aerial and root parts has been studied by using ethyl acetate (EtOAc) and methanol (MeOH) solvents. Broad spectrum activity of extracts was prominent against both gram positive and gram negative human pathogens. The lowest minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) value of 0.04 and 0.08 mg/ml were observed with EtOAc root acidic extract. EtOAc extracts was analyzed by Gas chromatography and mass spectrum (GC-MS) revealing the presence of 79 compounds. The EtOAc extract was further subjected to column chromatography using silica gel and the active fraction showing the highest antibacterial activity were analyzed by liquid chromatography and mass spectrum (LC-MS). The active principles were identified as γ-sitosterol, β-Amyrin and Ursa-9(11),12-dien-3-yl acetate. Our study aims at highlighting the potential of S. oblonga extracts against various pathogen.

No abstract

Objective: Salacia oblonga Wall. is an important medicinal plant belonging to the family Celastraceae. The study reports the effect of S. oblonga root extracts against clinical isolate Staphylococcus aureus Methods: Antibacterial activity was evaluated by agar diffusion method and assay for minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of extract. Further, the effect of S. oblonga extract determined by DNA fragmentation and respiratory dehydrogenase enzyme activity assays. Results: S. oblonga ethyl acetate root extract was evaluated for antibacterial activity towards clinical isolate S. aureus. Bacterial growth was determined in treated and control cells. Extract displayed good growth inhibition and MIC of the extract was 80 μg/ml. DNA fragmentation assay was carried out, this result has shown that treated bacterial cell has DNA damage compared to the control cell. Further, respiratory dehydrogenase enzyme activity was determined. In the treated cells, enzyme activity was low compared to the control cells. Conclusion: Salacia oblonga root extract inhibiting the growth of S. aureus by different modes of action.

L-arginine is an essential amino acid, widely used in pharmaceutical, feed and food industry. It is the precursor molecule in citrulline and nitric oxide synthesis, which in turn plays significant role in a wide variety of patho -physiological functions in the cardiovascular, central and peripheral nervous systems. In the present study, mutagenesis experiments were carried out for isolation of analogue resistant mutants against Corynebacterium glutamicum. Initially, MIC (Minimum inhibitory concentration) was identified for arginine analogues by tube dilution method. MIC values found to be Arginine hydroximate -680 µg/ml. Further, mutagenesis of C. glutamicum was carried out with NTG (300µg/ml) and amino acid analogue resistant mutants were isolated in minimal media. Fermentation was carried out by resistant colonies and estimated the Arginine levels. Production level was found to be 5.2 mg /ml where as in control cells it was 1.4 mg /ml. This study highlighted the C. glutamicum mutant of L-arginine amino acid production.

Salacia Oblonga shrub belonging to the family 'Celestraceae'. It is found in India and Srilanka. We have collected the plant extract from Western Ghats, India. In traditional medicines it is used for the treatment of diabetes and can be exploited to treat many chronic and infectious diseases. The plant extracts of S.oblonga has been used on the treatment of diabetes, polyuria, gonorrhea, rheumatism, asthma and fever. We have undertaken present study to evaluate the antifungal activity of S.oblonga aerial and root extracts against human pathogen Candida albicans. Antifungal activity of methanol extract (1 mg/ml) and ethyl acetate extracts were tested. Extracts have shown good growth inhibition against Candida albicans. Identified the minimum inhibitory concentration of the plant extract 40µg/ml comparison with synthetic drug Clotrimazole 60µg/ml. Separation of the phytochemical from the crude extracts by thin layer chromatography and identified the active fraction. Our study highlighted the antifungal activity of Salacia Oblonga extracts.