Nutraceutical Potential and Antipsychotic Activity of Local Dry Fruit Waste – Juglans regia

Aim: To identify the biologically active components in shells of Juglans regia and study its nutraceutical potential and antipsychotic activity for effective waste management. Study Design: Biochemical and in vivo analyses of plant extract using established protocols. Place and Duration of Study: Sample extraction at Department of Food Science and technology, School of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, DY Patil deemed to be University, Navi Mumbai, India; sample components identification at Sophisticated Analytical Instrument facility (SAIF), Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Mumbai, India; and in vivo studies for antipsychotic activity using Caenorhabditis elegans at Department of Life Science and Biochemistry, St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai, India between November 2018 and May 2019. Methodology: The shells of Juglans regia were milled and the extract was prepared using Soxhlet extraction at 60oC using methanol as solvent. The GCMS analysis of the extract was carried out using a GC JEOL – The Accu TOF. Antipsychotic activity was studied using pharyngeal pumping assay in Caenorhabditis elegans. Results: GC-MS analysis of methanolic extract of shells of Juglans regia revealed the presence of Tridecanoic acid, Acetoxyacetic acid, nonyl ester, 2-hexenal, 2-ethyl, Eicosanoic acid, phenylmethyl ester, Undecane, Benzeneacetic acid decyl ester, (1-pentyl-allyoxymethoxy-methyl)-benzene), 9,12-octadecadienoic acid(Z,Z), phenylmethyl ester, Benzyl oxytridecanoic acid, 6,9,12- octadecatrienoic acid, phenylmethyl ester (Z,Z), 9- octadecanoic acid (Z), phenylmethyl ester, 9,12,15- octadecatrienoic acid, Z [(trimethyl (sil)oxy, 1 – trimethyl (sily)oxy] ethyl ester (Z,Z,Z). Furthermore, behavioural assay done using Caenorhabditis elegans as a model organism showed that the sample exerted antipsychotic activity at lowest concentration. Conclusion: The shells of Juglans regia being a natural source, can be used as an alternative to the synthetic antipsychotic drugs that have side effects. Our current work suggests that the walnut shells that end up into trash bins are an excellent source of effective natural biologically active compounds.

Immune response to Leishmania infection.

Antileishmanial immune response is shown to be host genotype dependent so that some inbred strains of mouse are susceptible while others are resistant. The resistance is conferred by T-helper type-1 (Th1) cells while the susceptibility is conferred by Th2 cells. Th1 cells secrete IL-2 and IFN-gamma but Th2 cells secrete IL-4, IL-5 and IL-10. It has been shown that IFN-gamma activates macrophages to express iNOS2, the enzyme catalyzing the formation of nitric oxide. Nitric oxide kills the intracellular amastigotes. In contrast, Th2 immune response limits the action of Th1 functions via IL-10 and IL-4, which deactivate macrophages helping intracellular parasite growth and disease progression. Being a parasite, Leishmania ensures its own survival by modulating host immune system either by inducing immunosuppression or by promoting pro-parasitic host functions. A detailed knowledge of this host-parasite interaction would help in designing prophylactic and therapeutic strategies against this infection.