Studies on phytochemical, mineral content, in vitro anti-urolithiatic and anti-diabetic activities of horse gram flour extracts and its biosynthesized Ag nanoparticles.

The current study aims to examine the use of horse gram flour and its extracts as a low-cost source of mineral content with anti-urolithiatic, anti-diabetic properties and to compare the biological activities with its biosynthesized AgNPs. The secondary metabolites and the macro and micronutrients present in the selected herbal product, reinforces the utility of the horse gram as a promising herbal. Present investigation reveals that the biomass chosen for the study as a cheap natural source with valuable mineral content of calcium (43.06 mg/L), followed by potassium (13.78 mg/L) and sodium (6.94 mg/L). The grain's water extracts found to contain carbohydrate as dominating component with the value of (65.10 ± 0.95 mg g-1 equivalent). Whereas both water and ethanol extract contain TPC (phenol) viz; 60.13 ± 2.45 mg g-1, 68.24 ± 1.33 mg g-1, TTC (terpenoids)53.21 ± 1.4 mg g-1,51.27 ± 2.65 mg g-1, followed by TSC (sterol)as 45.58 ± 1.7 mg g-1, 57.27 ± 1.65 mg g-1 in moderate amounts respectively. The aqueous extract of Horse gram was used for the synthesis the AgNPs through a straightforward green approach and characterized by FESEM, TEM, zeta potential, X-ray diffraction, UV spectroscopy and particle size measurement. These studies demonstrate the production of AgNPs with an average particle size of 30 nm-60 nm. Investigation on anti-urolithiatic property with aqueous extract, (HGW), ethanol extract (HGE) and its biosynthesized Ag nanoparticles (HG-Ag) reveal that, among the three samples chosen, the biosynthesized Ag nanoparticles possess the best inhibiting activity. The disintegration of crystals in gel medium further validated the extracts and Ag nanoparticles crystal growth inhibitory activity, at concentrations of 2% for extracts and 200 µg/ml for AgNPs. Further, it is also found that the HG-Ag nanoparticle exhibit good anti-diabetic activity (75.36%) than the other two extracts (HGW Extract-67.18% & HGE Extract-44.29%). Thus, the seed flour extracts and its AgNps demonstrated to be a promising natural herbal product with potential mineral content, antidiabetic and anti-urolithiatic activities which could be a used as a value-added product in the dietary formulations.

Nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite prepared under various pH conditions.

Hydroxyapatite (HAP) has sovereign biomedical application due to its excellent biocompatibility, chemical and crystallographic similitude with natural human bone. In this present work, we discussed about the role of pH in the synthesis of calcium phosphate compound using calcium nitrate tetrahydrate and di-ammonium hydrogen phosphate as starting materials by chemical precipitation method assisted with ultrasonic irradiation technique. 5% polyethylene glycol (PEG600) is added along with the precursors under various pH condition of 7, 9 and 11 respectively. The functional group analysis, crystallized size and fraction of crystallized size are confirmed using Fourier Transformation Infra-Red spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction pattern. Morphological observations are done by scanning electron microscope. The results revealed the presence of nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite at pH above 9.

Free radical scavenging and reducing power of Lawsonia inermis L. seeds.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the antioxidant activity, total phenolic and flavonoid content of Petroleum ether extract (PE), Dichloromethane extract (DCM), Ethanol extract (ET) and aqueous extract (AQ) of henna seeds. METHODS: Total antioxidant assay (phosphomolybenum method), DPPH radical scavenging assay, reducing power assay and lipid peroxidation inhibition assay were used to ascertain the potential of seeds as an antioxidant. RESULTS: In all the assays carried out ET showed a greater potential to scavenge DPPH radical, reduce MO (VI) to MO (V) complex and Fe (III) to Fe (II) and to inhibit lipid peroxidation. The IC(50) of ET was far greater than that of the standard, ascorbic acid (AS) in the lipid peroxidation assay. The activity of AQ was lesser when compared with that of ET but greater than PE and DCM. The amount of phenolics and flavonoids were present in higher amounts in ET followed by AQ. Trace amounts of phenolics were detected in PE and DCM, but the amount of flavonoids were below the detection level. The study showed that the antioxidant activity and the concentrations of phenolics and flavonoids are proportionate to each other. CONCLUSIONS: Ethanolic extract of henna seeds are efficient antioxidants, which can be utilized for further isolation of active compounds and pharmaceutical applications.

Evaluation of the analgesic activity of ethyl acetate, methanol and aqueous extracts of Pleurotus eous mushroom.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the analgesic activity of the ethyl acetate, methanol and aqueous extracts of Pleurotus eous (P. eous) mushroom. METHODS: The dried fruiting bodies were extracted with ethyl acetate, methanol and water. The analgesic effect of extracts of P. eous were investigated at doses 250,500 and 1,000 mg/kg body weight, using acetic-acid induced writhing, hot-plate, tail immersion and tail-clip tests. RESULTS: P. eous extracts produced significant reduction in number of writhes induced by intraperitoneal injection of acetic-acid (P<0.05). Moreover, in hot-plate and tail immersion test, all the three extracts significantly raised the pain threshold at different time of observation (0-60 min) in comparison with control (P<0.05). In tail-clip test the extracts also caused a significant inhibition of pain at both the doses used (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results of present study suggest that extracts of P. eous possess potent analgesic property and could serve as a base for future drugs.