Gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometric characterization of Curcuma longa: protection against pathogenic microbes and lipid peroxidation in rat's tissue homogenate

The present study was designed to investigate the mineral content and antimicrobial activity of Curcuma Longa extracts and its essential oil. We also determined the lipid peroxidation inhibition activity of the ethanolic extract against sodium nitroprusside [SNP] induced thiobarbituric acid reactive species [TBARS] formation in rat's brain, kidney and liver homogenates. Major constituents of essential oil identified by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry [GCMS] were beta-sesquiphellandrene [38.69%], alpha-curcumene [18.44%] and p-mentha-1,4 [8]-diene [16.29%]. Atomic absorption spectroscopy [AAS] was used for the quantitative estimation of Calcium [Ca], Magnesium [Mg], Iron [Fe], Copper [Cu], Zinc [Zn], Chromium [Cr], Nickel [Ni] and Manganese [Mn]. The extract showed highest Mg [49.4mg/l] concentration followed by Ca [35.42mg/l] and Fe [1.27mg/l]. Our data revealed that the ethanolic extract of Curcuma Longa at 1-10 mg/kg significantly inhibited TBARS production in all tested homogenates. Crude extracts and essential oil were tested against three gram positive bacteria i.e. Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus atrophoeus, Staphylococcus aureus, six gram negative bacteria i.e. Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonias, Salmonella typhi, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Erwinia carotovora, Agrobacterium tumefaciens and one fungal strain namely Candida albicans by disc diffusion assay. Essential oil showed highest anti-microbial activity as compared to the crude extracts. The present study confirms the significant antimicrobial and antioxidant potential of the studied plant, which can be considered as a diet supplement for a variety of oxidative stress induced or infectious diseases

Ethanolic extract of Nigella sativa protects Fe[II] induced lipid peroxidation in rat's brain, kidney and liver homogenates

The study describes the effect of ethanolic extract of Nigella sativa against Fe[II] induced lipid peroxidation. Basal and Fe[II] induced thiobarbituric acid reactive species [TBARS] production was significantly inhibited by the ethanolic extract of Nigella sativa at 25-200micro g/ml. Our data revealed that the extract has high DPPH radical scavenging activity at highest tested concentrations. The extract significantly chelated Fe[II] and scavenged hydroxyl [OH[black circle]] radical at 25-200micro g/ml concentration. The nutritional analysis was performed and carbohydrate, fats, fiber, protein, moisture and ash content were measured in the studied extract. The phytochemical analysis confirmed the presence of alkaloid, carbohydrate and sugar, glycosides, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, protein and amino acid, phytosterols, tannins, gum and mucilage. The extract also showed significant antimicrobial activities against 10 bacterial strains i.e. Salmonella typhi, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus cereus, Klebsiella pneumonia, Escheria coli, Xanthomonas, Salmonella heidelberg, Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridium and Escheria coli [human] and 5 fungal strains i.e. Aspergillus niger, Entomola, Aspergillus flavus, Alternaria alternata and Penicillium. This study confirms the potential antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of ethanolic extract of Nigella sativa which can be considered not only as a diet supplement but can be used against a variety of free radical induced damage diseases

Development of HPLC method by UV-VIS detection for the quantification of phenolic acids in different Ocimum sanctum Linn. Extracts

A simple and rapid chromatographic method has been developed for the simultaneous determination of five phenolic acids including Gallic acid, Chloroganic acid, Syringic acid, Benzoic acid and Vanillic acid by HPLC with UV-VIS detector

These Phenolic acids were separated by analytical column Intersil ODS-3 CIS, a gradient elution system of ACN and acidified water solution with Iml/min flow rate and quantified in a total run of 30 minutes at 2lOnm wavelength. In the quantitative analysis of these compounds showed good regression [0.995-0.999]

The limit of detection [LOD] and limit of quantification [LOQ] of these compounds were in the range of 0.15-0.46 and 0.42-2.47 Hg/ml. The average recoveries were between 95.8-103.1% and their RSD values were less than 3.34%. By the proposed method Gallic acid, Chloroganic acid and Syringic acid were found and quantified in Methanolic, Ethanolic and Acetonic extract of Ocimum sanctum Linn, leaves. While the two other phenolic acids benzoic acid and vanillic acid was not found in the extracts of Ocimum sanctum Linn, leaves