Urolithiasis is a common worldwide problem with high recurrence. This review covers thirty six (36) families starting from alphabet M to R. It includes Rubiaceae (17); Phyllanthaceae and Rutaceae (09); Polygonaceae (08); Pinaceae and... more
Urolithiasis is a common worldwide problem with high recurrence. This review covers thirty six (36) families starting from alphabet M to R. It includes Rubiaceae (17); Phyllanthaceae and Rutaceae (09); Polygonaceae (08); Pinaceae and Piperaceae (06) (01) plant used globally in different countries. Hopefully, this review will not only be useful for the general public but also attract the scientific world for antiurolithiatic drug discovery.
The phytosynthesis of metal nanoparticles is nowadays attracting the increased attention of researchers and is much needed given the worldwide matter related to environmental contamination. The antimicrobial activity of colloidal and... more
The phytosynthesis of metal nanoparticles is nowadays attracting the increased attention of researchers and is much needed given the worldwide matter related to environmental contamination. The antimicrobial activity of colloidal and spray formulation of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) synthesized by pomegranate peel extract against Candida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus, and their cytotoxicity in mammalian cells were tested in the present study. Dry matter, pH, total phenolics, and ellagic acid in the extract were determined. Then, AgNPs were phytosynthesized and characterized by X-ray diffraction, electron transmission microscopy, dynamic light scattering, zeta potential, and Ag + dosage. Spray formulations and respective chemical-AgNP controls were prepared and tested. The peel extract reduced more than 99% of Ag + , and produced nanoparticles with irregular forms and an 89-nm mean size. All AgNP presented antimicrobial activity, and the spray formulation of green-AgNP increased by 255 and 4 times the effectiveness against S. aureus and C. albicans, respectively. The cytotoxicity of colloidal and spray green-AgNP was expressively lower than the respective chemical controls. Pomegranate peel extract produced stable AgNP with antimicrobial action and low cytotoxicity, stimulating its use in the biomedical field.
This work aimed to assess the effect of combining two pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) cultivars at different rates on the ellagitannin content, antioxidant capacity, and total phenolic content of varietal pomegranate juices. Widely... more
This work aimed to assess the effect of combining two pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) cultivars at different rates on the ellagitannin content, antioxidant capacity, and total phenolic content of varietal pomegranate juices. Widely distinct juices made from Mollar de Elche and Wonderful cultivars were used for the elaboration of blended juices. They were stored for 70 days at both room and refrigeration temperatures. This study revealed a significant cultivar effect on the stability of main pomegranate ellagitannins (punicalagins, punicalins, punicalagin-like compound, and ellagic acid derivatives) and on the antioxidant capacity measured by the ABTS+ and DPPH* in vitro assays. Blended juices enhanced and/or retained the initial ellagitannin content and antioxidant capacity of pure juices during storage. Thus, blending varietal juices could be suggested as a promising alternative to the development of fresh juices with a high, stable phytochemical load.
Punicalagin (PC) is an ellagitannin found in the fruit peel ofPunica granatum. We have demonstrated antioxidant and antigenotoxic properties ofPunica granatumand showed that PC and ellagic acid (EA) are its major constituents. In this... more
Punicalagin (PC) is an ellagitannin found in the fruit peel ofPunica granatum. We have demonstrated antioxidant and antigenotoxic properties ofPunica granatumand showed that PC and ellagic acid (EA) are its major constituents. In this study, we demonstrate the antimutagenic potential, inhibition of BP-induced DNA damage, and antiproliferative activity of PC and EA. Incubation of BP with rat liver microsomes, appropriate cofactors, and DNA in the presence of vehicle or PC and EA showed significant inhibition of the resultant DNA adducts, with essentially complete inhibition (97%) at 40 μM by PC and 77% inhibition by EA. Antimutagenicity was tested by Ames test. PC and EA dose-dependently and markedly antagonized the effect of tested mutagens, sodium azide, methyl methanesulfonate, benzo[a]pyrene, and 2-aminoflourine, with maximum inhibition of mutagenicity up to 90 percent. Almost all the doses tested (50–500 μM) exhibited significant antimutagenicity. A profound antiproliferative ef...
Punica granatum L (pomegranate) is a deciduous shrub, native to Iran. Nowadays, besides its use as a fruit, its medicinal properties have attracted the interest of researchers of many countries. Pomegranate fruit has medicinal properties... more
Punica granatum L (pomegranate) is a deciduous shrub, native to Iran. Nowadays, besides its use as a fruit, its medicinal properties have attracted the interest of researchers of many countries. Pomegranate fruit has medicinal properties such as anti-inflammatory and antibacterial activities. The pomegranate seed oil has inhibitory effect on skin and breast cancers. The pomegranate seed oil has phytoestrogenic compounds and the fruit is rich in phenolic compounds with strong antioxidant activity. Ellagic acid is one of the main components of pomegranate with phenolic structure and antioxidant activity. This review article presents the recently published findings on different aspects of this plant focusing on its medicinal properties.
Advanced Glycation Endproducts (AGEs) are a heterogeneous group of molecules produced from non-enzymatic glycation. Accumulation of AGEs in vivo plays an important role in the pathology of chronic human diseases including type-2 diabetes... more
Advanced Glycation Endproducts (AGEs) are a heterogeneous group of molecules produced from non-enzymatic glycation. Accumulation of AGEs in vivo plays an important role in the pathology of chronic human diseases including type-2 diabetes and Alzheimer's disease. Natural AGEs inhibitors such as the pomegranate (Punica granatum) fruit show great potential for the management of these diseases. Herein, we investigated the in vitro anti-glycation effects of a pomegranate fruit extract (PE), its phenolic constituents [punicalagin (PA), ellagic acid (EA) and gallic acid (GA)], and their in vivo derived colonic metabolites [urolithin A (UA) and urolithin B (UB)]. All of the samples showed anti-glycation activities and PE, PA, and EA were more potent inhibitors than the positive control, aminoguanidine. PE and the purified phenolics also exhibited carbonyl scavenger reactivity. Our study suggests that pomegranate may offer an attractive dietary strategy for the prevention and treatment o...
Background Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the most common cause of morbidity and mortality among hemodialysis (HD) patients. It has been attributed, among other causes, to hypertension and dyslipidemia. The aim of the... more
Background Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the most common cause of morbidity and mortality among hemodialysis (HD) patients. It has been attributed, among other causes, to hypertension and dyslipidemia. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of a year-long consumption of Pomegranate juice (PJ), on two traditional cardiovascular (CV) risk factors: hypertension and lipid profile, as well as on cardiovascular events. Methods 101 HD patients were randomized to receive 100 cc of PJ (0.7 mM polyphenols) or matching placebo juice, three times a week for one year. The primary endpoints were traditional CV risk factors; blood pressure and lipid profile. Systolic, diastolic and pulse pressure, plasma levels of triglycerides (TG), high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL) and total cholesterol were monitored quarterly during the study year. Secondary endpoint was incidence of cardiovascular events. Results PJ consumption yielded a signif...
The global surge in multi-drug resistant bacteria and the imminence of tuberculosis pandemic necessitate alternative therapeutic approaches to augment the existing medications. Pomegranate, the fruit of Punica granatum Linn. (Punicaceae),... more
The global surge in multi-drug resistant bacteria and the imminence of tuberculosis pandemic necessitate alternative therapeutic approaches to augment the existing medications. Pomegranate, the fruit of Punica granatum Linn. (Punicaceae), widely recognized for potency against a broad spectrum of bacterial pathogens, deserves further investigation in this respect. This study determines the therapeutic potential of pomegranate juice, extracts of non-edible peel prepared with methanol/water, and its four polyphenolic constituents, namely caffeic acid, ellagic acid, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) and quercetin, against drug-resistant clinical isolates. Phenotypic characterisation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) and KPC-type carbapenemase producing Klebsiella pneumoniae was performed by biochemical and molecular methods. Resistance profiles of M. tuberculosis and K. pneumoniae were determined using LJ proportion and Kirby-Bauer methods, respectively...
To synthesize, characterize and evaluate the antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities of novel nanocomposites containing silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) associated or not to β-calcium glycerophosphate. These nanocomposites were produced... more
To synthesize, characterize and evaluate the antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities of novel nanocomposites containing silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) associated or not to β-calcium glycerophosphate. These nanocomposites were produced through a 'green' route using extracts of different parts of pomegranate. Antimicrobial and antibiofilm properties against Candida albicans and Streptococcus mutans were determined by the minimum bactericidal/fungicidal concentration and biofilm density after treatments. All extracts used were successful in producing AgNPs. Composites made with peel extracts showed the highest antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity against both microorganisms tested and performed similarly or even better than chlorhexidine. AgNPs associated or not to calcium glycerophosphate produced by a 'green' process may be a promising novel antimicrobial agent against oral microorganisms.
MPM cholesterol content was not significantly affected by consumption of PJ or date seed extract alone. In contrast, consumption of Hallawi date fruit extract or a combination of PJ together with date fruit and date seeds extract... more
MPM cholesterol content was not significantly affected by consumption of PJ or date seed extract alone. In contrast, consumption of Hallawi date fruit extract or a combination of PJ together with date fruit and date seeds extract significantly decreased macrophage cholesterol content by 12% or 28%, respectively.
The medical application of pomegranate fruits and its peel is attracted human beings. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the in vitro α-Glucosidase inhibition, antimicrobial, antioxidant property and in vivo anti-hyperglycemic... more
The medical application of pomegranate fruits and its peel is attracted human beings. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the in vitro α-Glucosidase inhibition, antimicrobial, antioxidant property and in vivo anti-hyperglycemic activity of Punica granatum (pomegranate) fruit peel extract using Caenorhabditis elegans. Various invitro antioxidant activity of fruit peel extracts was determined by standard protocol. Antibacterial and antifungal activities were determined using disc diffusion and microdilution method respectively. Anti-hyperglycemic activity of fruit peel was observed using fluorescence microscope for in vivo study. The ethyl acetate extract of P. granatum fruit peel (PGPEa) showed α-Glucosidase inhibition upto 50 % at the concentration of IC50 285.21 ± 1.9 μg/ml compared to hexane and methanol extracts. The total phenolic content was highest (218.152 ± 1.73 mg of catechol equivalents/g) in ethyl acetate extract. PGPEa showed more scavenging activity on 2,2-diph...
