Department of Biological Sciences

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://localhost:4000/handle/123456789/1922

Browse

Start date: 2021Subject: search.filters.subject.Nutraceuticals

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 6 of 6
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Studies on cytotoxic activity of Camel milk whey protein as a nutraceutical against HeLa cells
    (Camel Publishing House, 2023) Dubey, Uma S.
    Camel milk is an adapted dietary supplement with multiple antimicrobial and immuno-stimulatory properties. Diabetes, infant diarrhoea, hepatitis, allergy, lactose intolerance, and alcohol- induced liver damage have been treated with it (Galil et al, 2016). Numerous immunologically essential molecules, such as lysozymes, lactoferrin, lactoperoxidase, serum albumin, acidic whey protein, peptidoglycan recognition protein, and small peptides, contribute to its health benefits (Dubey et al, 2016). Recently, the anti-microbial and antioxidant properties of camel milk and its role as an anti-cancer and anti-hepatitis agent has been demonstrated (Khan et al, 2021). Camel milk also has the normal isotypes of antibodies shared with other mammalian species. Actually not only camel’s milk but even its urine is among such natural products enriched with molecules that are safe to humans and endowed with profound anti-cancer properties (Alebie et al, 2017). Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is an endogenous transcription factor with known preventative and therapeutic benefits for patients with cancer associated with organs like the liver, breast, prostate, etc. (Xie et al, 2012; Richmond et al, 2014). Aberrant AhR expression is involved in carcinogenesis (Korzeniewski et al, 2010).
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Bioactivity-guided purification and characterization of antioxidant, anti-gout and anti-diabetic polyphenols from Panchkuta: a traditional food combination of (semi) arid regions
    (Elsevier, 2024-12) Deepa, P.R.; Sharma, Pankaj Kumar
    Desert ecosystems have thrived in part because of the contribution of local traditions, along with conventional knowledge passed down through generations. Panchkuta, a combination of five plants, including Prosopis cineraria, Cordia dichotoma, Capparis decidua, Acacia senegal, and Mangifera indica, is a classic example of ethnic desert food and how communities utilize existing food resources to ensure nutritional security. In this study, we determined the total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, antioxidant, anti-gout, and anti-diabetic activities of crude and purified (using Amberlite XAD7HP and Sephadex LH-20) fractions of Panchkuta. Further, the phenolic compounds (quercetin, tiliroside, myricetin-3-O-galactoside, and others) responsible for these activities were identified by analytical techniques, including TLC, LC-MS, and HR-MS. The purified fraction showing maximum antioxidant activity in DPPH assay (Fraction 16, IC50–156.65 ± 12.6 μg/ml) was validated for its cytoprotective and anti-lipid peroxidative effects in the in vitro cell culture system (murine fibroblast cells). Fraction 9 showed the maximum anti-gout activity in xanthine oxidase assay (IC50- 80.59 ± 9.89 μg/ml) and fraction 11 showed the maximum anti-diabetic activity in α-amylase assay (IC50 of 101.54 ± 14.7 μg/ml). The study reinforces the understanding of traditional knowledge, relevance to One Health, and authenticates the potential medicinal value of Panchkuta through scientific validation.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Chromatographic analysis of bioactive metabolites from a traditional food combination of (semi) arid regions—panchkuta: insights for sustainable functional foods development
    (MDPI, 2024-10) Sharma, Pankaj Kumar; Deepa, P.R.
    Conventional agriculture may not meet the needs of the growing human population and sustainable development. These issues necessitate a shift towards traditional foods and underutilized desert plants, offering promising sustainable agricultural and food security alternatives. ‘Panchkuta’, a blend of five plants (Prosopis cineraria, Acacia senegal, Capparis decidua, Cordia dichotoma, and Mangifera indica), is a traditional food combination from (semi) arid regions. In this study, the bioactive metabolites were identified through analytical techniques, including TLC and GC-MS analysis. Tapping these underexplored plants can help design and develop healthy functional foods and nutraceutical products.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Matters of the desert: A perspective on achieving food and nutrition security through plants of the (semi) arid regions
    (Elsevier, 2023-12) Deepa, P.R.; Sharma, Pankaj Kumar; Joshi, Mukul
    The semi- and arid agro-climatic zones of India harbor numerous plants, many occurring as wild and neglected inhabitants of the desert landscape, that bear edible fruits. They are capable of growing in extreme temperatures, on marginal lands and water-scarce conditions. These also represent sustainable food sources for the future. The benefits that they confer to the ecosystems and communities can be manifold: (a) as influencers of agricultural productivity for other crops (like cereals) in agroforestry systems; (b) as balanced functional foods by way of providing high quality protein, macro- and micronutrients to target protein-calorie malnutrition; (c) as sources of antioxidants, nutraceuticals and bioactive leads to target the ever-increasing burden of non-communicable diseases like obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disorders. A few representative examples of the promising desert plants include: Prosopis cineraria, Acacia senegal, Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (cluster bean), Capparis decidua, Ziziphus mauritiana (Indian jujube), Cordia dichotoma, Leptadenia pyrotechnica, Calligonum polygonoides, and millets. Even though the potential of such plants has been recognized by food and agricultural scientists, research gaps like low yield, disease vulnerability, presence of anti-nutrients, unavailable genomic sequence information, exclusion from the formal food value chain, and poor marketing strategies, prevent the realization of their full potential. The current perspective looks at the promise afforded by underutilized plants of the Indian desert regions in ensuring food and nutrition security as well as the possibility of developing value-added agri-food products from them. The complementary role that food processing technologies can play in achieving the desired goals would also be highlighted so as to transform the desert plants from traditional to ‘climate-smart’ future foods.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Targeting lipid metabolism in plants for non-animal sources of nutraceuticals towards sustainable food production and scale up
    (Elsevier, 2023-10) Deepa, P.R.
    With the growing demand for nutraceuticals, there is renewed interest in tapping different resources, preferably from non-animal sources. This review discusses two major nutraceuticals, vitamin D and essential fatty acids that have documented health-promoting and disease-preventing benefits. The focus here is on the plant sources of two lipid-based nutraceuticals – vitamin D and stearidonic acid. To this end, the biochemical mechanisms have been discussed for the biosynthesis of these nutrients in plants, and compared with their other sources for potential targeting, using biotechnological and metabolic engineering approaches towards large scale production of these nutraceuticals. Minimizing the dependence on animal sources of nutraceuticals and reducing the extensive organic solvent based extraction procedures, are proposed towards environmentally friendly food production and sustainable scale up.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Comparative bioactivity assessment of bixin pigment and associated phytochemicals extracted from annatto seeds using conventional and green solvents
    (JFDA, 2024-06) Sharma, Pankaj Kumar; Deepa, P.R.
    Nutraceuticals, that include food ingredients and bioactives from natural products, confer physiological health benefits and protection against chronic diseases. Annatto is a tropical shrub grown in Central and South America and parts of India. Its seeds are rich in the edible carotenoid-derived apocarotenoid pigment, bixin, which is used as a natural colorant in food, textiles, and cosmetics, and is now gaining attention for its potential health-promoting attributes. Here, we compared a green solvent (ethyl lactate) based extraction of bixin and associated metabolites in annatto seeds (crushed and seed coat) with two other conventional solvents (acetone and acid-base). Bixin was characterized in the extracts using UV-visible- and FTIR- spectroscopy and thin-layer chromatography. The bixin-containing solvent extracts were then profiled for other co-existing metabolites using GC-MS analysis, which were found to be sesquiterpenes, terpenes, terpenoids, phytosterols, and tocotrienols. Their bioactivity was evaluated based on antioxidant and wound-healing efficacies and compared with pure bixin, using NIH-3T3 fibroblast cells in-vitro. Pure bixin, as well as the annatto solvent extracts, showed strong antioxidant and wound healing properties, wherein pure bixin and green solvent extract (ethyl lactate coat) exhibited higher levels of antioxidant activity, achieving 46.00% and 44.60% reduction in MDA levels, respectively, as well as enhanced wound-healing activity, with 54.09% and 53.60% wound closure within 24 h. The green solvent extracts of annatto seeds revealed: (a) differential bioactive profiles in annatto seeds (crushed and seed coat) in comparison with other solvents, and (b) strong antioxidant and wound healing properties. Thus, ethyl lactate extraction shows strong potential for sustainable environmental friendly production of functional foods/nutraceuticals from annatto seeds