Plants and their products are nature's gift to humans and animals. They help them lead a healthy, disease free life. Date palm counts for more than 3000 different cultivars around the world. The therapeutic value of the date plant is due to the presence of various phytochemical and bioactive compounds in almost every part of it. In addition to being a good source of dietary fiber, dates are free from sodium, fat, and cholesterol, which makes them a suitable dietary supplement for reducing the risk of heart diseases and cancer. Traditional systems of medicine use dates to treat a variety of ailments due to their antioxidant, antimicrobial, antimutagenic, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, gastroprotective, hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, and immunostimulant activities as revealed by preclinical studies. Owing to its nutritious and medicinal properties, the fruit of the date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) has been referred to as a "super food" multiple times in the Quran. Interestingly, date palms have been honored by Jews, Christians, and Muslims as a symbol of honesty and righteousness. This review provides an overview of the nutritional and phytochemical composition of the fruit of the P. dactylifera plant, summarizing the history, symbolism, systematic and botanical distribution, and outlines their potential for medical applications, and health benefits.
Objective: The main objective of this study was to determine the enhancement of in vitro antioxidant potential of fruits of Terminalia chebula (TC) when used in combination with fruit extracts of Phyllanthus emblica, Ananas comosus, and Punica granatum. Hydroxyl (OH) radical scavenging and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assays were used to analyze the antioxidant potential. Method:Formulations of different combinatorial concentrations of fruits to prepare a mixture were achieved with central composite design through response surface methodology. Screening of 300 different combinations of various concentrations was done through hydroxyl radical scavenging assay followed by statistical analysis of data. Further validation of results was done by measuring the antioxidant potential of most bioactive extracts by DPPH method.Results: Screening of 300 samples of different combinations for antioxidant potential revealed the samples with highest percentage inhibition in aqueous (85.2%), ethanolic (92.9%), and aqueous-ethanolic (84.21%) extracts. Data were subjected to analysis of variance and generated a threedimensional response surface plot for highest activity. Further subjecting these extracts to DPPH assay revealed a significant enhancement in the antioxidant potential of ethanolic extract of TC when used in mixture with other plants.Conclusion: Antioxidant activity of TC was enhanced when used in combination with other fruits extracts. These synergistic studies generating valuable interactions between various phytochemicals could lead to a momentous increase in other associated activities to fight against diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disorders. Further research on isolation of bioactive compounds in the mixture and their potential to fight various types of cancer could lead to a significant augmentation in the activity of natural compounds.
Objective: The objective of the present investigation was to determine the presence of various phytochemicals in an ethanolic herbal fruit extract (HFE) made up by a blend of fruits of Phyllanthus emblica (PE), Ananas comosus (AC), Punica granatum (PG), and Terminalia chebula (TC). Followed by a qualitative high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis for standardization of the extract using ascorbic acid and gallic acid as standards, this study was also aimed at the determination of ex vivo antioxidant potential and calculation of inhibitory concentration (IC50) value of HFE. Methods: The analysis of phytochemicals present in HFE was done qualitatively by methods as described by various researchers. Reversed-phase HPLC was carried out on a C-18 column on gradient mode, using methanol and acetic acid as mobile phase. Ex vivo antioxidant potential was evaluated by inhibition of lipid peroxidation (LPO) method by the preparation of packed cell volume. Results: The results revealed the presence of multiple phytoconstituents in the HFE, and through the chromatographic analysis, the presence of gallic and ascorbic acid as marker compounds was achieved. IC50 values calculated after LPO inhibition method was found to be 21.87 μg/ml and 25.63 μg/ml for ascorbic acid (as standard) and ethanolic HFE, respectively. Conclusion: The use of herbal antioxidants can provide protection to the human body by fighting against multiple diseases caused as a result of the accumulation of free radicals, generated in the normal metabolic processes going on inside the body. Nowadays, researchers are amused to see the long-term positive effects of using a combination of antioxidants, for example, a polyherbal formulation, rather than single entities.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.