Wild edible Ficus fruits of Uttarakhand, India: a natural remedy towards malnutrition and human health enrichment.

Wild fruits play a vital role in the diets and economic well-being of tribal communities of Uttarakhand, India. Despite their significance, there is limited information on some of the wild Ficus species such as Ficus drupacea, Ficus rumphii, Ficus semicordata, Ficus subincisa and Ficus hispida. This research aimed to analyse the nutritional potential, anti-nutritional compositions, mineral composition, antioxidant and finally the phytochemical properties of Ficus fruits to ascertain their medicinal and nutritional significance. The proximate analysis results of all the five wild Ficus species displayed varying percentages of protein, moisture, fat, ash, crude fibre, carbohydrates. Ficus species exhibited superior nutritional and mineral parameters along with a significant amount of vitamin C. Additionally, these fruits significantly showed lower levels of anti-nutritional and good amount of antioxidant parameters. Thus, adequate consumption of these wild Ficus fruits could potentially contribute to human nutritional needs and may serve as sources for dietary enhancements.

Karanjin, A Promising Bioactive Compound Possessing Anti-cancer Activity against Experimental Model of Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Cells.

AIMS: The aim of this study is to isolate the Millettia pinnata (Karanj) leaf extract for pure compound with anticancer properties and to study the molecular target of the isolates in non-small cell lung cancer cell lines. BACKGROUND: In our earlier research Millettia pinnata leaf extract has demonstrated potential anticancer activities. Thus, in pursuit of the bioactive compounds, the most potential active extract from our previous study was purified. Furthermore, the anticancer properties of the isolated compound karanjin was studied and aimed for apoptosis and restraining growth. METHODS: A novel method was developed through column chromatography for isolation and purification of the compound karanjin from leaf chloroform extract. The purified component was then characterised using FTIR, mass spectrometry, and NMR. An MTT-based cytotoxicity assay was used to analyse cell cytotoxicity, whereas fluorescence staining was used for apoptosis and reactive oxygen species inhibition quantification. Furthermore, the real-time PCR assay was used to determine the molecular mechanism of action in cells causing cytotoxicity induced by karanjin dosing. RESULTS: The anticancer activity of karanjin in A549 cell line exhibited prominent activity revealing IC50 value of 4.85 µM. Conferring the predicted molecular pathway study, karanjin restrains the proliferation of cancer cells through apoptosis, which is controlled by extrinsic pathway proteins FAS/FADD/Caspases 8/3/9. Downregulation of KRAS and dependent gene expression also stopped cell proliferation. CONCLUSION: Karanjin has been identified as a compound with potential effect in non-small cell lung cancer cells. Molecular mechanism for apoptosis and inhibition of reactive oxygen species induced through H2O2 were observed, concluding karanjin have medicinal and antioxidant properties.

Metabolomic Profile by GC/MS and Antioxidant, Antidiabetic and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Green Solvent Extracts of Heterospathe elata Leaves.

Plants are the prime source of phytoconstituents that can act as potent agents for the prevention and treatment of various diseases. Heterospathe elata is a plant belonging to the Arecaceae family having numerous medicinal properties. The present study was undertaken to prepare crude extracts of Heterospathe elata leaves with solvents of different polarity dimethyl carbonate (DMC), isopropyl alcohol (IPA), hydro alcohol (HYA) and water (WTR) by using successive Soxhlet extraction method. Further, the antioxidant, antidiabetic, and anti-inflammatory activities were assessed by the spectrophotometric method and possible bioactive phytoconstituents from the hydro alcohol extract of Heterospathe elata leaves using GC/MS. In our study, it was found that the GC/MS analysis revealed the presence of nineteen bioactive phytoconstituents. The highest antioxidant activity was found in the water extract. In antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory activity highest potential was shown by hydro alcohol extract and the lowest was in the dimethyl carbonate extract. These findings support the Heterospathe elata leaves showed the high biological potential attributed to a high amount of bioactive phytoconstituents and could be utilized as value-added functional food and medicine.