Determination of heavy metals, macro and trace elements in selected medicinal plants from Central Market of San Salvador, El Salvador
OJC-Vol. 4 (2021), Issue 1, pp. 27 – 35 Open Access Full-Text PDF
Ulises G. Castillo, Sofía Hernández, Melissa Morataya, Keny Núñez, Freddy A. Carranza, Morena L. Martínez and Marvin J. Núñez
Abstract:Medicinal plant’s quality and safety are becoming a great interest topic worldwide, especially due to contamination with heavy metals. The main objective of this study is to determine the phytochemical composition and quantify the concentration of heavy metals, trace and macro elements in fourteen medicinal plants purchased in the Central Market of San Salvador. Samples were dried and fractionated, subsequently digested and analyzed at first by phytochemical screening and then by atomic absorption spectrometry. The concentration of twelve elements was determined, only Matricaria chamomilla exceeded the established World Health Organization limit for Cd and Cu. Acourtia nudicaulis and Turnera diffusa exceeded the permitted concentration of Ni. The concentration of these elements must be inspected in medicinal plants sold in the informal markets of El Salvador to ensure the safety and quality. To our knowledge, this is the first study of heavy metals in medicinal plants conducted in El Salvador.
A comprehensive review on biological impact of Anthocyanins on human life
OJC-Vol. 4 (2021), Issue 1, pp. 19 – 26 Open Access Full-Text PDF
Musarat Jabeen, Namra Hussain, Hira Noreen, Iqra Amjad, Amna Zia, Maria Manzoor, Komal Ashraf, Rabia Mehmood
Abstract:Due to the beneficial effects of anthocyanins on plants, animals and human beings, they have become the most interesting topic of research for scientists. They are being used in food industry as well as in pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. Anthocyanins are present in red, blue, orange, purple, violet and intermediate color mostly. They are non-hazardous natural pigments that have positive impact on human health. They occur in nature since the evolution of flowering plants on earth. As humans were wild in ancient times, they consumed their large concentration through their diet and human digestive system is very active for their digestion. In this review, the chemistry and impact of anthocyanins on human health is discussed briefly.
Isolation and identification of Aspergilli causing Banana fruit rot
OJC-Vol. 4 (2021), Issue 1, pp. 8 – 18 Open Access Full-Text PDF
Fatima Ali, Naureen Akhtar, Shazia Shafique, Sobiya Shafique
Abstract: Banana is a commercially and nutritionally important food crop worldwide and is affected by several fungal diseases. The most important post-harvest disease is fruit rotting. Fruit rot is responsible for significant losses in banana. The present study was therefore, designed to isolate and explore the mycoflora associated with banana fruit rot. For this, infected samples were grown on different media to obtain pure cultures of isolated fungal pathogens. Identifications were made initially on morphological basis and then confirmed by genetic analysis. A comprehensive study of micro and macroscopic features revealed four Aspergillus species with two of Aspergillus fumigatus, one of Aspergillus flavus and one of Aspergillus niger. Genetic analysis by Nucleotide sequence analysis of ITS region of rDNA was performed. The sequence alignment of two different isolates of Aspergillus fumigatus showed 99% homology to different strains deposited in Genbank i.e., 004(KU321562.1), SK1(KM207771.1), and 98% homology to AHBR16(KF305755.1), SF8(KX011021.1).
Evaluation of the anthelmintic properties of a traditional remedy based on a mixture of red algae using an in vitro assay on gastrointestinal nematodes of donkeys
OJC-Vol. 4 (2021), Issue 1, pp. 1 – 7 Open Access Full-Text PDF
Michela Maestrini, Marcelo Beltrão Molento, Simone Mancini, Francesco Saverio Robustelli della Cuna, Giovanni Furnari, Donatella Serio, Laura Cornara, Stefania Perrucci
Abstract: The anthelmintic properties and composition of an Italian traditional anthelmintic remedy based on a red algae mixture (RAE) was assessed using the egg hatch test (EHT). The ability of different dilutions \((1.0, 5.0, 50,\) or \(100%)\) of RAE was determined and compared with the positive and negative controls against gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) of donkeys. The experiment was performed in triplicate. Data were analysed using the ANOVA and Tukey test. In the mixture, Palisada tenerrima, Laurencia intricata and Laurencia spp. red algae were identified. The $100\%$ RAE was able to totally inhibit the egg hatch, showing an efficacy comparable \((P < 0.05)\) to that of the reference drug \((98.7%)\). An egg hatch reduction of \(89.5, 43.7\), and \(23.4%\) was observed at \(50, 5\) and \(1%\) dilutions, respectively. In conclusion, RAE was able to inhibit the egg hatch of GIN of donkeys in a concentration-dependent manner with a correlation coefficient \((R2)\) of $0.968$, corroborating with its anthelmintic effect.