• Textile Coloration and Finishing
• /
• v.31 no.4
• /
• pp.323-331
• /
• 2019

Sorghum is a rich source in phytochemicals, such as tannins, phenolic acids, anthocyanins, phytosterols and policosanols. Sorghum has been known to have antimicrobial, antiinflammatory, antioxidant properties. In this study, poly(vinyl alcohol)(PVA)-sorghum extract(SE) composite nanoweb was produced by electrospinning and its characteristics including bioactivities were investigated. The SE had antimicrobial and antiinflammatory activities as well as a reduced cytotoxicity. The PVA-SE nanoweb had a highly enhanced antimicrobial activity compared to PVA nanoweb. The amount of proinflammatory cytokine released from macrophages treated with the PVA-SE nanoweb was reduced. The PVA-SE nanoweb can be a potential candidate for medical and cosmeceutical materials providing antimicrobial and antiinflammatory activities with a low degree of cytotoxicity.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.17 no.11
• /
• pp.4991-4998
• /
• 2016

Objective: This research was conducted to explore mechanisms behind the potency of quercetin in inhibiting colon cancer induced in an experimental model. Materials and Methods: Forty adult male rats of Wistar strain were distributed into 4 groups; a negative control group, a colon cancer bearing group, a quercetin-treated group and a 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-treated group. Serum TAG72 and GAL3 levels were quantified by ELISA. Colonic Wnt5a and Axin-1 gene expression was estimated by PCR. In addition, colonic tissues were subjected to immunohistochemical examination of Bax expression and histological investigation of histopathological alterations. Results: Quercetin elicited significant reduction in serum TAG72 and GAL3 levels, in addition to significant suppression of colonic Wnt5a gene expression and amplification of colonic Axin-1 gene expression. Also, it caused moderate positive reaction for Bax in mucosal epithelium. Conclusion: The present research provides experimental evidence about the activity of quercetin in the colon cancer of rats. Inhibitory effects on cancer development might be ascribable to regulatory action on Wnt signaling and induction of apoptosis.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.24 no.10
• /
• pp.1377-1381
• /
• 2014

In order to discover and develop novel signaling inhibitors from plants, a screening system was established targeting the two-component system of Cryptococcus neoformans by using the wild type and a calcineurin mutant of C. neoformans, based on the counter-regulatory action of high-osmolarity glycerol (Hog1) mitogen-activated protein kinase and the calcineurin pathways in C. neoformans. Among 10,000 plant extracts, that from Harrisonia abyssinica Oliv. exhibited the most potent inhibitory activity against C. neoformans var. grubii H99 with fludioxonil. Bioassay-guided fractionation was used to isolate two bioactive compounds from H. abyssinica, and these compounds were identified as chebulagic acid and chebulanin using spectroscopic methods. These compounds specifically inhibited the calcineurin pathway in C. neoformans. Moreover, they exhibited potent antifungal activities against various human pathogenic fungi with minimum inhibitory concentrations ranging from 0.25 to over $64{\mu}g/ml$.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
• /
• v.3 no.4
• /
• pp.205-211
• /
• 2003

Stem bark of Cinchona sp. (Rubiaceae) is one of the well known drugs for its therapeutic values in traditional as well as modern medicine. Even though a lot of work has been carried out on quinoline alkaloids of Cinchona, its phenolic constituents received very little attention. In the present study, we evaluated antioxidant properties of C. officinalis stem bark methanolic extract and water extract containing phenolic compounds (total phenolics 21.37, 5.18% w/w respectively in the two extracts) in different in vitro and ex vivo models viz., antiradical activity by DPPH reduction, superoxide radical scavenging activity in riboflavin/light/NBT system, nitric oxide radical scavenging activity in sodium nitroprusside/Greiss reagent system and inhibition of lipid peroxidation induced by iron-ADP-ascorbate in liver homogenate and haemolysis of erythrocytes induced by phenylhydrazine in erythrocyte membrane stabilization study. Both the extracts exhibited very good antioxidant activity in all the models tested. The phenolic compounds including tannins present in the stem bark seem to offer protection from the oxidative damage.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.295-302
• /
• 2011

Almost half of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions arise from agriculture and enteric methane ($CH_4 $) emissions arising from ruminant animals constitute 30% of total $CO_2$-e emissions. Enteric $CH_4$ emissions have increased by 9% since 1990. Extensive research has been undertaken to develop reliable methods for measuring enteric $CH_4$ emissions. New Zealand studies using the SF6 tracer technique suggest that on average this technique yields similar values to the 'gold' standard of calorimetry, but with a larger variance. National inventory estimates based on results obtained using the $SF_6$ technique will therefore overestimate the uncertainty. Mitigating emissions can be achieved by changing feed type but there are practical and cost barriers to the use of alternative feeds. Forages containing condensed tannins do reduce emissions but are agronomically inferior to the forages currently used. Rumen additives have shown some success in-vitro but results from in-vivo trials with both monensin and fumaric acid have been disappointing. The development of methods for directly manipulating rumen microorganisms are at an early stage and work to develop vaccines that can inhibit methanogenesis has yielded mixed results. The successful identification of sheep with contrasting $CH_4$ yields raises the possibility that, in the long term, a breeding approach to $CH_4$ mitigation is feasible.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.17 no.5
• /
• pp.663-669
• /
• 2004

Four, mature rumen fistulated male swamp buffaloes with an average initial weight of $426{\pm}25kg$ were randomly allocated to receive dietary treatments according to a $4{\times}4$Latin square design. Four dietary treatments with varying proportions of ureatreated rice straw (UTRS) and cassava hay (CH) were offered (100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 0:100). Each feeding period lasted 21 days, the first 14 days for feed adjustment and intake measurement and the final 7 days for rumen fluid and faecal collections. The results demonstrated the potential use of both UTRS and CH as roughage sources. As levels of CH increased in the diets pH values were maintained (6.5-7.0). Ruminal $NH_3-N$ concentrations were significantly (p<0.05) raised as higher levels of CH were incorporated into the diets. Moreover, cellulolytic and proteolytic bacterial populations were enhanced while total protozoal counts were decreased (p<0.05). In addition, DM, OM and CP digestibilities and their digestible intakes as well as estimated energy increased with increasing levels of CH in the diets. The results suggest a favorable effect of CH substituting for UTRS.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
• /
• v.7 no.3
• /
• pp.290-296
• /
• 2007

Glinus oppositifolius and Trianthema decandra belonging to the Ficoidaceae family were commonly used by tribal peoples for the treatment of liver disorders and cancer. The preliminary phytochemical screening of those plants showed the presence of flavonoids, terpenoids, tannins and saponins. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro antioxidant activities of the methanol extracts of Glinus oppositifolius (MEGO) and Trianthema decandra (METD). The antioxidative capacities of MEGO and METD were determined by the following four complementary assay; DPPH radical scavenging assay, superoxide anion generation by xanthine-xanthine Oxidase assay, hydroxyl radical scavenging assay and $Fe^{2+}$-ascorbate induced by lipid peroxidation assay. The $IC_{50}$ values of the both extracts were calculated from the inhibition curve. The $IC_{50}$ MEGO and METD in DPPH, superoxide anion, hydroxyl radical scavenging and lipid peroxidation assay are 1.85, 7.31, 13.95, 22.82 and 2.21, 9.78, 14.87, 19.76 ${\mu}g/ml$ respectively. Both the extracts exhibited a significant antioxidant effects.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
• /
• v.9 no.3
• /
• pp.225-231
• /
• 2009

The present study deals with the amelioration by Lagerstroemia speciosa Linn. leaf extract against hepatotoxicity induced by carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$), which was evaluated in terms of serum marker enzymes like serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase, serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, serum total bilirubin, total protein levels along with concomitant hepatic and antioxidants like superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione, glutathione peroxidase and lipid peroxidation enzymes were monitored. These biochemical parameters altered by the single dose level of $CCl_4$ (0.75 ml/kg body weight, i.p). Pre treatment with L. speciosa prior to the administration of $CCl_4$, at the doses of 50 and 250 mg/kg. body weight/day, p.o. for 7 days, significantly restored all the serum and liver tissue parameters near to the normal levels, respectively. Silymarin was used as a reference standard, prior to the administration of $CCl_4$ to rats. These findings indicate the protective potential of L. speciosa against hepato toxicity which possibly involve mechanism related to its ability of selective inhibitors of (reactive oxygen species like antioxidants brought about significant inhibition of TBARS suggesting possible involvement of $O_2{\cdot}-$, $HO_2{\cdot}$, and ${\cdot}OH$. In conclusion, the amelioration may be attributed to the synergistic effects of its constituents rather than to any single factor as the leaves are rich in tannins, sterols, flavonoids, saponins etc.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.29 no.3
• /
• pp.407-411
• /
• 2000

감식초를 제조할 때 떫은감에 함유된 탄닌성분이 알콜발효균주의 생육 및 알콜발효물의 품질에 미치는 영향에 대해 조사하였다. 알콜발효균주에 대한 생육저해는 녹숙감에서 분리된 탄닌에서 가장 뚜렷했으며 그 뒤로 완숙기, 연시 탄닌 순으로 나타났고, S cerevisiae YJK20에 비해 S, kluyveri DJ97이 생육저해를 적게 받았다. 알콜발효액의 단도는 첨가한 탄닌함량이 높을수록 서서히 감소하여 0.2%, 0.3%탄닌처리고(III, IV)는 발효 3일까지 그 감소가 현저하였으나, 발효6일에는 모든 처리구에서 5.8~6.0$^{\circ}$Brix로 일정수준을 보였다. 발효액의 알콜함량은 참가한 탄닌함량이 낮을수록 단기간에 높은 알콜함량을 나타내었으나, 각 처리구의 최고 알콜함량에서는 큰 차이가 없었다. 또한 첨가한 탄닌함량이 높을수록 발효액의 a값 증가가 뚜렷하여 최종 발효액에서 갈색도를 나타내는 a/b값이 높은 것으로 나타났다. 탁도도 발효 1일에 각처리구에서 거의 동일한 수준이었으나, 알콜\ulcorner량이 최고치를 나타내는 발효 4일에는 0.3% 탄닌처리구(IV)에서 가장 높았으며, 각 처리구의 총페놀성 물질 및 가용성 탄닌의 함량은 발효가 진행됨에 따라 감사하였다.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.52 no.3
• /
• pp.243-249
• /
• 2014

Acanthamoeba spp. commonly cause Acanthamoeba keratitis which is typically associated with the wear of contact lenses. Therefore, finding an economic, efficient, and safe therapy of natural origin is of outmost importance. This study examined the in vitro lethal potential of ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of Helianthemum lippii (L.) (sun roses) against Acanthamoeba castellanii cysts isolated from patients with amoebic keratitis. Both extracts proved to be potent as regard to their lethal effects on A. castellanii cysts with comparable results to chlorhexidine. The ethyl acetate was more promising with cumulative lethality. It showed a highly significant lethal percentage along the duration of treatment. The analysis of the more potent ethyl acetate extract revealed the presence of 2.96 mg/100 g of total phenolics, 0.289 mg/100 ml of total flavonoids and 37 mg/100 mg of total tannins which highlighted their phytomedicinal role.