In vitro studies reveal antiurolithic effect of Terminalia arjuna using quantitative morphological information from computerized microscopy

ABSTRACT Purpose: For most cases, urolithiasis is a condition where excessive oxalate is present in the urine. Many reports have documented free radical generation followed by hyperoxaluria as a consequence of which calcium oxalate (CaOx) deposition occurs in the kidney tissue. The present study is aimed to exam the antilithiatic potency of the aqueous extract (AE) of Terminalia arjuna (T. arjuna). Materials and Methods: The antilithiatic activity of Terminalia arjuna was investigated in vitro nucleation, aggregation and growth of the CaOx crystals as well as the morphology of CaOx crystals using the inbuilt software ‘Image-Pro Plus 7.0’ of Olympus upright microscope (BX53). Antioxidant activity of AE of Terminalia arjuna bark was also determined in vitro. Results: Terminalia arjuna extract exhibited a concentration dependent inhibition of nucleation and aggregation of CaOx crystals. The AE of Terminalia arjuna bark also inhibited the growth of CaOx crystals. At the same time, the AE also modified the morphology of CaOx crystals from hexagonal to spherical shape with increasing concentrations of AE and reduced the dimensions such as area, perimeter, length and width of CaOx crystals in a dose dependent manner. Also, the Terminalia arjuna AE scavenged the DPPH (2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radicals with an IC50 at 13.1µg/mL. Conclusions: The study suggests that Terminalia arjuna bark has the potential to scavenge DPPH radicals and inhibit CaOx crystallization in vitro. In the light of these studies, Terminalia arjuna can be regarded as a promising candidate from natural plant sources of antilithiatic and antioxidant activity with high value.

Tripanocide and antibacterial activity ofAlvaradoa subovata Cronquist extracts / Actividad tripanocida y antibacteriana de extractos de Alvaradoa subovata Cronquist

We studied antioxidant, antibacterial and tripanocide activities of Alvaradoa subovata extracts. The ethanolic extracts showed the greatest DPPH radical scavenging capacity, especially that of bark with an IC50 = 4.7 +/- 0.18 ug/mL. Wood dichloromethane extract displayed growth inhibition of the phytopathogenic bacteria Xanthomona axonopodis in the disk diffusion assay and showed a MIC value of 100 ug/ml. It also showed growth inhibition of Trypanosoma cruzi (IC50 = 0.063 +/- 0.003 mg/mL). A fraction of this extract, which has emodin as the main component, showed tripanocide activity (60 percent of growth inhibition at 100 ug/mL). The main compounds in wood dichloromethane extract were anthraquinones, identified as chrysophanol and emodin, and coumarins, of which scopoletin was identified. These three compound s could serve as analytical markers of the extract. The results of this study show that wood extract of A. subovata constitute a source of bioactive compounds such as antiparasitic and pesticides agents.

En el presente trabajo se estudió la actividad antioxidante, antibacteriana y tripanocida de extractos de Alvaradoa subovata. La mayor actividad depuradora de radicales libres se observó en el extracto etanólico de corteza (CI50 = 4.7 +/- 0.18 ug/mL). El extracto en diclorometano de madera inhibió el crecimiento de la bacteria fitopatógena Xanthomona axonopodis con una CIM = 100 ug/mL. El mismo extracto mostró inhibición del crecimiento de Trypanosoma cruzi (CI50 = 0.063 +/- 0.003 mg/mL). Una fracción de este extracto (100 ug/mL), cuyo componente mayoritario es emodina, inhibió en un 60 por ciento el crecimiento del parásito. Los compuestos mayoritarios detectados en el extracto de madera fueron antraquinonas, entre las cuales se identificaron emodina y crisofanol, y la cumarina escopoletina. Estos tres compuestos podrían servir como marcadores analíticos del extracto. Los resultados de este trabajo muestran que los extractos de A. subovata constituyen una fuente de compuestos bioactivos con potencial como antiparasitarios y plaguicidas.

In vitro antioxidant activities of four medicinal plants on the basis of DPPH free radical scavenging

The present research investigation was aimed at the evaluation of antioxidant activities of methanolic [70%] extracts of whole plant of Pentanema vestitum and fruits of Pistacia integerrima, Withiana somniferra and Withiana coagulans on scavenging of 2, 2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl [DPPH] free radical. The rank of order of free antioxidant activity of the selected plants was; P. integerrima > P. vestitum > W. somniferra > W. coagulans as compared to standard Ascorbic acid. P. integerrima showed significantly higher activity at all concentrations as compared to Ascorbic acid at P<0.05. The percent inhibition caused by P. integerrima at lowest concentration [40 ppm] was 68.16 +/- 0.5 and that of Ascorbic acid was 62.00 +/- 0.5. The IC[50] value of P. integerrima was 5.75ppm as compared to ascorbic acid having 15.09 ppm. The percent inhibition at all concentrations caused by P. vestitum was not significantly different from Ascorbic acid at P<0.05. The IC[50] value of P. vestitum was 13.00ppm and that of Ascorbic acid was 15.09 ppm. The percent inhibitions caused by W. somniferra [IC[50]=46.85 ppm] and W. coagulans [IC[50]=84.40 ppm] were most significantly lower than Ascorbic acid at P<0.05. It is inferred from the current study that the methanolic [70%] extracts of the P. integerrima and P. vestitum could be used in preparation of potent antioxidant drugs

Antioxidant activity by DPPH assay of potential solutions to be applied on bleached teeth

The aim of this study was to assess, using the DPPH assay, the antioxidant activity of several substances that could be proposed to immediately revert the problems caused by bleaching procedures. The percentage of antioxidant activity (AA percent) of 10 percent ascorbic acid solution (AAcidS), 10 percent ascorbic acid gel (AAcidG), 10 percent sodium ascorbate solution (SodAsS), 10 percent sodium ascorbate gel (SodAsG), 10 percent sodium bicarbonate (Bicarb), Neutralize® (NE), Desensibilize® (DES), catalase C-40 at 10 mg/mL (CAT), 10 percent alcohol solution of alpha-tocopherol (VitE), Listerine® (LIS), 0.12 percent chlorhexidine (CHX), Croton Lechleri (CL), 10 percent aqueous solution of Uncaria Tomentosa (UT), artificial saliva (ArtS) and 0.05 percent sodium fluoride (NaF) was assessed in triplicate by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate (DPPH) free radical assay. All substances exhibited antioxidant activity, except for CL. AAcidS, AAcidG and VitE exhibited the highest AA percent (p<0.05). On the contrary, CHX, NE, LIS and NaF showed the lowest AA percent (p<0.05). In conclusion, AAcidS, AAcidG, SodAsS, SodAsG and VitE presented the highest antioxidant activity among substances tested in this study. The DPPH assay provides an easy and rapid way to evaluate potential antioxidants.

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar, por meio do DPPH, a atividade antioxidante de substâncias que poderiam ser propostas para reverter de imediato os problemas causados pelos procedimentos de clareamento. A porcentagem de atividade antioxidante (AA por cento) da solução de acido ascórbico 10 por cento (AAcidS), gel de ácido ascórbico a 10 por cento (AAcidG), solução de ascorbato de sódio 10 por cento (SodAsS), gel de ascorbato de sódio 10 por cento (SodAsG), bicarbonato de sódio 10 por cento (Bicarb), Neutralize® (NE), Desensibilize® (DES), catalase C-40 10 mg/mL (CAT), solução alcoólica 10 por cento de alfa-tocoferol (VitE), Listerine® (LIS), clorexidina 0,12 por cento (CHX), CrotonLechleri (CL), solução aquosa 10 por cento de Uncaria Tomentosa (UT), saliva artificial (ArtS) e fluoreto de sódio 0,05 por cento (NaF) foi avaliada em triplicata pelo teste de radicais livres 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate (DPPH). Todas as substâncias apresentaram atividade antioxidante, exceto a CL. AAcidS, AAcidG e VitE mostraram os maiores valores de AA por cento (p<0,05). Por outro lado, CHX, NE, LIS e NaF mostraram os valores mais baixos de AA por cento (p<0,05). Em conclusão, AAcidS, AAcidG, SodAsS, SodAsG e VitE apresentaram os mais altos valores de atividade antioxidante entre as substâncias testadas. O teste DPPH é um método rápido e fácil para avaliar o potencial antioxidante.

Nutritional values and antioxidant potential of some edible mushrooms of Kashmir valley

Mushrooms are considered rich in proteins, carbohydrates and other nutrients. The present study was carried out to evaluate some edible mushrooms of Kashmir valley for their protein, carbohydrate and lipid contents. The highest protein content was found in Boletus edulis [2.20g] followed by Agaricus bisporus [1.80g], Pleurotus ostreatus [1.68g], Morchella esculenta [1.62g] and Pleurotus sajor caju [1.6g]. Carbohydrate content also showed variation in all the five tested edible mushroom species, the highest carbohydrate content observed in Boletus edulis [6.0g] followed by Agaricus bisporus [4.85g], Pleurotus ostreatus [4.30g], Morchella esculenta [4.25g] and Pleurotus sajor caju [3.35g] respectively. Similar results were observed for lipid content. The present study was also investigated for the antioxidant potential of aqueous extract of mushroom species by the methods of DPPH radical scavenging activity, hydroxyl radical scavenging activity and superoxide radical scavenging activity. All these in vitro antioxidant activities were concentration dependent, which were compared with standard antioxidant Catechin

A quimica e a cinética da reaçäo de Jaffé / Chemistry and Kinetics from Jaffé reaction

A reaçäo de Jaffé modificada é largamente empregada na rotina laboratorial para dosagem de creatinina. Entretanto, encontra-se dificuldades na identificaçäo do real quimismo e sua cinética. Nesta publicaçäo, propomo-nos a elucidaçäo do mecanismo com correspondente análise cinética