Assessment of zinc inadequacy among tribal adolescent population of central India - A cross-sectional study

Background & objectives: Zinc is a crucial micronutrient in adolescence, required for promoting growth and sexual maturation. Adolescents of some tribes may be at high risk of zinc deficiency due to dietary inadequacy and poor bioavailability of zinc from plant-based diets. This study aimed to evaluate the risk of zinc deficiency by estimating prevalence of inadequate zinc intake, prevalence of low serum zinc and stunting among tribal adolescents. Methods: A cross-sectional community-based survey was conducted among adolescents (10-19 yr) in three purposively selected districts where Bhil, Korku and Gond tribes were in majority. Structured data collection instrument comprising information about sociodemographic characteristics and dietary recall data was used. Anthropometric assessment was conducted by standardized weighing scales and anthropometry tapes, and blood sample was collected from antecubital vein into trace element-free vacutainers. Serum zinc was estimated using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Results: A total of 2310 households were approached for participation in the study, of which 2224 households having 5151 adolescents participated. Out of these enlisted adolescents, 4673 responded to dietary recall (90.7% response rate). Anthropometry of 2437 participants was carried out, and serum zinc was analyzed in 844 adolescents. The overall prevalence of dietary zinc inadequacy was 42.6 per cent [95% confidence interval (CI) 41.2 to 44.1] with reference to the estimated average requirement suggested by International Zinc Nutrition Consultative Group (IZiNCG) and 64.8 per cent (95% CI 63.4 to 66.2) with Indian Council of Medical Research-recommended requirements. Stunting was observed in 29 per cent (95% CI 27.2 to 30.8) participants. According to IZiNCG cut-offs, low serum zinc was detected in 57.5 per cent (95% CI 54.1 to 60.8) of adolescents, whereas it was 34.4 per cent (95% CI: 31.2-37.5) according to the national level cut-off. Interpretation & conclusions: Risk of dietary zinc inadequacy and low serum zinc concentration amongst adolescents of the Gond, Bhil and Korku tribes is a public health concern.

Phytochemical Analysis, Antioxidant and Antifungal Activity of Essential oil and Extracts of Alpinia malaccensis (Burm. f. ) Roscoe flowers

Abstract The present study describes chemical composition, phytochemicals, antifungal activities, antioxidant assays and total phenolic content of essential oil and varied polarity solvent extract from flowers of Alpinia malaccensis (Burm.f.). Total 27 components were identified in essential oil by GC-MS with terpinen-4-ol (28.6%) and α- terpineol (12.8%) as the main constituent. The essential oil was found to have maximal levels of phenolic content (64.60 µg/mL) as compared to the other extracts. The antioxidant assay evaluated in extracts and essential oil by different methods revealed good-to-moderate antioxidant potential with different IC50 values viz. (188.02 -250.25 µg/mL) in Fe3+ reducing power, (153.15-201.59 µg/mL) in Fe2+ metal-chelating ability, (130.39-181.12 µg/mL) in DPPH, (88.29-187.32 µg/mL) in OH radical, (79.04-156.79 µg/mL), in NO radical and (138.72-233.00 µg/mL) in superoxide anion scavenging activities, respectively. The methanolic extract display remarkable fungicidal activity against the tested pathogens followed by dichloromethane extract, essential oil, hexane extract and petroleum ether extract respectively, with MIC values ranging from 31.25 to 500 µg/mL. Based on results, it can be inferred that the flower of A. malaccensis if explored further for its medicinal properties, might be a good source to develop a safe and sustainable natural food preservative

Composition, Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory activities of Hexane and Methanol extracts of Acmella uliginosa from Terai region of Uttarakhand

Abstract Acmella uliginosa, an edible herb belonging to Asteraceae family, was collected from the Terai region of Uttarakhand, India. Methanol and hexane extracts of the whole plant were prepared using soxhlet apparatus. The GC-MS analysis of plant extracts identifies 22 and 35 major compounds of methanol and hexane extracts which comprises of 74.21% and 73.20% of the total composition of extracts, respectively. The major compound in hexane was 2, 4-heptadienal (7.99%) whereas trans, trans-9, 12-octadecadienoic acid propyl ester (16.96%) was major compound in methanol extract. The extracts were evaluated for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Methanol extract showed higher free radical scavenging and reducing power activities with IC50 value 153.82±1.69 µg/mL and RP50 value of 152.28±0.41 µg/mL, respectively. The metal chelating activity was higher in hexane extract as compared to methanol extract i.e., 62.08±0.25 µg/mL. The anti-inflammatory activity assessed by its ability to inhibit denaturation was higher in methanol having IB50 value 87.33±0.15 µg/mL. The total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC) and ortho-dihydric phenol content (ODP) of methanol and hexane extracts were also evaluated. TPC, TFC and ODP was higher in methanol extract having value of 122.23±0.22, 35.01±0.29 and 8±0.86 mg/mL, respectively. Acmella uliginosa, might be considered as a natural source for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties