Banu et al.: Therapeutic analysis of Borassus flabellifer L. Seed PowderThe Borassus flabellifer fruit which is one of the summer fruits of India can be considered a promising therapeutic food as it is a good source of bioactive compounds. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial, anticancer and antidiabetic activity of the locally available aqueous freeze-dried seed powder extract of Borassus flabellifer. Antibacterial activity was evaluated using agar well diffusion assay against gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus) and gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae). Anticancer activity was studied using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide assay against HeLa and Vero cells. Antidiabetic activity of the sample was evaluated using alpha amylase and alpha glucosidase inhibition assays. Results revealed that the sample displayed maximum antibacterial activity against gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae); showed satisfactory anticancer activity against the HeLa cells and exhibited potent alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activity, thus indicating the use of the Borassus flabellifer seed powder as a potential therapeutic agent for the development of drugs and functional foods.
Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease with immense physical, biological and psychological implications which puts a person at high risk for developing cancers like lung cancer. The aim of the study was to determine the effectiveness of Nigella sativa seeds as an effective antioxidant that can prevent the proliferation of psoriatic epidermal keratinocytes and lung cancer cells. Quantitative determination of phenols, flavonoids and antioxidant activities were performed using Folin-Ciocalteu colorimetric method, aluminium chloride colorimetric method and hydroxyl radical scavenging assay respectively. In vitro antiproliferative assay against psoriatic epidermal keratinocytes and A549 human lung cancer cell lines were determined using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2yl)-2,5-biphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay. Nigella sativa seeds were found to possess good amount of phenols and flavonoids. The hydroxyl radical scavenging activity was observed to be 79.15 %±0.29 % at 120 μg/ml. The maximum cytotoxicity on psoriatic keratinocytes was found to be 71.50 %±0.74% at 250 μg/ml and half-maximal inhibitory concentration was calculated to be 31.8 µg/ml. Maximum cytotoxicity on A549 human lung cancer cell lines of 72.22 %±0.80 % was observed at 160 µg/ml and half-maximal inhibitory concentration was calculated to be 71.94 µg/ml. From these observations, it is evident that Nigella sativa seeds have excellent antioxidant, antipsoriatic and anticancer activities. This makes it a promising safe herbal based therapy in the treatment of psoriasis in comparison to commercially available drugs with adverse side effects.
Objective: The objective of this study is to determine the effect of supplementation of Withania coagulans fruit on the fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels of type 2 diabetic subjects.Methods: In the natural system of medicine, many plants have been claimed to be useful for the management of diabetes mellitus. W. coagulans (Paneer poo) is one such source in which the fruit of the plant possesses hypoglycemic properties. The study was designed to determine the effect of a 60-day supplementation of W. coagulans fruit drink on the FPG levels of Type 2 diabetic subjects. W. coagulans fruit (6 numbers -approximately 2.5 g) was soaked overnight in 100 ml of water. This was administered to the experimental group. The control group received a placebo.
Results:There was a significant decrease in the FPG levels of the experimental group on the 61 st day. There was a statistically significant increase in the FPG level of the control group on the 61 st day, showing that the placebo did not have any hypoglycemic effect.
Conclusion:A significant reduction in FPG levels in the experimental group at the end of the study period proves that W. coagulans is a good hypoglycemic agent.
Hemalatha and Vigasiniand control groups. The experimental group showed a decrease while the control group showed an increase in the FPG levels that were statistically significant.It has been reported that W. coagulans (Doda Paneer) not only lowers the blood sugar level but also minimizes the future complications of diabetes such as neuropathy, retinopathy, nephropathy, and cardiovascular pathologies by its very potent antioxidant action [11].
CONCLUSIONThe findings of this study strongly support the fact that the fruit of W. coagulans fruit (Paneer poo) may be used as a potent, natural, plantbased, non-toxic, adjunct hypoglycemic agent in the management of diabetes. The bioactive components in the fruit may be extracted and used by the pharmaceutical industry for preparing plant-based drugs for diabetes that have no side effects.
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