Antiglycation and antioxidation properties of juglans regia and calendula officinalis:possible role in reducing diabetic complications and slowing down ageing

OBJECTIVE:Accumulation of advanced glycation end products(AGEs) in the body due to the non-enzymatic glycation of proteins and oxidation is associated with aging and diabetes mellitus.In this study we wanted to investigate the antiglycation and antioxidation potential of two medicinal plants:Juglans regia and Calendula officinalis.METHODS:In-vitro investigation was carried out to discover the antiglycation and antioxidation potential of J.regia and C.officinalis.Using an Ultraviolet Double-beam Spectrophotometer,we evaluated the antiglycation property of the crude methanolic extracts of J.regia and C.officinalis by assessing their ability to inhibit the Maillard reaction.Employing the same instrument we also measured the antioxidation potential of these plant extracts using the nitric oxide(NO) free radical-scavenging assay.RESULTS:J.regia had greater antiglycation ability,with a minimum inhibitory concentration(MIC 50) of 28 μg/mL as compared with that of C.officinalis(270 μg/mL).C.officinalis had greater antioxidation potential(26.10,22.07 and 16.06% at 0.5 mg,0.25 mg and 0.125 mg,respectively,as compared with 18.15,16.50 and 16.06% of J.regia,respectively).CONCLUSION:J.regia and C.officinalis inhibited the Maillard reaction and prevented oxidation in-vitro.Hence,the extracts of these plants could have therapeutic uses in curbing chronic diabetic complications and slowing down aging.

Screening of solanum surrattense for antibacterial,antifungal,phytotoxic and haemagglutination

OBJECTIVE:Plants produce a variety of useful bioactive materials that have been used to cure different ailments of human beings.With the same idea in mind,the crude methanolic extract and various fractions of Solanum surrattense were screened for antibacterial,antifungal,phytotoxic and heamagglutination activities.METHODS:Standardized assays were followed for the determination of antibacterial,antifungal phytotoxic and heamagglutination activity.RESULTS:The results of the antibacterial showed that crude methanolic extract was significantly active against Staphylococcus aureus(86%) The nhexane fraction showed good activity against Pseudomonas aerogenosa(66.6%) and Bacillus subtilus(66.6%).The crude methanolic extract and various fractions were inactive against all test fungi.The crude methanolic extract,n-hexane,CHCl 3 and aqueous fractions showed moderate phytotoxic activities of 46.67%,40.00%,33.34% and 33.34% respectively at 1000 μg/mL.The crude methanolic extract and various fractions S.surrattense were unable to agglutinate RBCs of the human blood indicating that this species lack phytolectins.CONCLUSION:The test sample showed significant antibacterial activity,no antifungal and heamagglutination activity while moderate phytotoxic was observed against Lemna minor L.