Nutritional Composition and Bioactive Compounds of Bael (Aegle marmelos) and Development of Functional Food Products

Aegle marmelos, widely known as bael, belongs to the Rutaceae family. It is one of the most inexpensive and appealing fruits, considered to be an essential source of natural antioxidants and bioactive components. The major purpose of the research study was to investigate the nutritional composition and bioactive constituents of bael pulp, as well as to develop new value-added products that maintain the maximum quantity of nutrients. The developed food products were subjected to evaluate sensory attributes according to a nine-point hedonic scale. It was found that the moisture, protein, fat, crude fiber, and total ash content of bael fruit pulp were 61.20%, 2.48%, 0.47%, 3.04%, and 1.29%, respectively. When compared to the catechin standard, the antioxidant activity of such extract indicated good antioxidant capacity, with an IC50 value of 75.68 μg/ml for methanol extract. Vitamin C content was about 10.21 mg/100g. Besides, total flavonoid and phenolic contents were found as 140 mg of Quercetin Equivalent (QE)/g and 106.65 mg of Gallic Acid Equivalent (GAE)/g, respectively. Results of sensory attributes revealed that there was a significant difference (P ba and bael bar. The overall acceptability of bael murabba (6.7) and bael bar (7.1) is acceptable in quality, but their specific characteristics were found slightly different by the test panelists. These products might be applicable for the treatment of several diseases like atherosclerosis, diabetes, constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, peptic ulcer, tumor, and osteoporosis.

突发性泄漏事件大气环境与健康风险评估系统研究

针对近些年频繁发生的突发性泄漏事件,为了能快速应急响应以降低事故的伤害程度,构建了突发性泄漏事件大气环境与健康风险评估系统。该系统以广泛应用的重气扩散模型SLAB以及最佳毒物伤害准则AEGLs为基础,将两者有机结合,可以实时有效地给出毒物事故性泄漏所造成的致死、致残、致伤等伤害区域分布以及各区域的最大半宽、最大纵深和面积统计量。针对事故的泄漏方式、泄漏物质、持续泄漏时间和气象条件等因子进行了一系列敏感性试验。分析表明,事故性泄漏的伤害区域分布几乎不受泄漏方式、环境温度、相对湿度的影响,而主要取决于泄漏物质、持续泄漏时间、环境风速和环境稳定度等因素。

A Multi-Scale Urban Atmospheric Dispersion Model for Emergency Management

To assist emergency management planning and prevention in case of hazardous chemical release into the atmosphere,especially in densely built-up regions with large populations,a multi-scale urban atmospheric dispersion model was established.Three numerical dispersion experiments,at horizontal resolutions of 10 m,50 m and 3000 m,were performed to estimate the adverse effects of toxic chemical release in densely built-up areas.The multi-scale atmospheric dispersion model is composed of the Weather Forecasting and Research （WRF） model,the Open Source Field Operation and Manipulation software package,and a Lagrangian dispersion model.Quantification of the adverse health effects of these chemical release events are given by referring to the U.S.Environmental Protection Agency＇s Acute Exposure Guideline Levels.The wind fields of the urban-scale case,with 3 km horizontal resolution,were simulated by the Beijing Rapid Update Cycle system,which were utilized by the WRF model.The sub-domain-scale cases took advantage of the computational fluid dynamics method to explicitly consider the effects of buildings.It was found that the multi-scale atmospheric dispersion model is capable of simulating the flow pattern and concentration distribution on different scales,ranging from several meters to kilometers,and can therefore be used to improve the planning of prevention and response programs.

Antifungal activity of Aegle marmelos(L.) Correa(Rutaceae) leaf extract on dermatophytes

Objective:To evaluate the in vitro antifungal activity of Aegle marmelos leaf extracts and fractions on the clinical isolates of dermatophytic fungi like Trichophyton mentagrophytes,Trichophyton rubrum,Microsporum canis,Microsporum gypseum and Epidermophyton floccosum.Methods:The minimum inhibitory concentration(MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration(MFC) of various extracts and fractions of the leaves of Aegle marmelos were measured using method of National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards(NCCLS).Results:Aegle marmelos leaf extracts and fractions were found to have fungicidal activity against various clinical isolates of dermatophytic fungi.The MIC and MFC was found to be high in water and ethyl alcohol extracts and methanol fractions(200μg/mL) against dermatophytic fungi studied.Conclusions:Aegle marmelos leaf extracts significantly inhibites the growth of all dermatophytic fungi studied.If this activity is confirmed by in vivo studies and if the compound is isolated and identified,it could be a remedy for dermatophytosis.

<i>In vitro</i>propagation of <i>Aegle marmelos</i>(L.) corr., a medicinal plant through axillary bud multiplication

A protocol for rapid in vitro propagation from nodal explants of the medicinal tree species Aegle marmelos (L.) corr. of family Rutaceae has been described. High frequency bud break were induced on Murashige and Skoog’s (1962) basal medium supplemented with 0.5 mg benzyladenine (BA)/l. After 10 days of culture, nodal explants with multiplied buds started callusing with restricted growth and defoliation. When the same nodal explants ware transferred into the same basal medium supplemented with 0.5 mg BA/l with different concentrations of either kinetin (KN) or gibberellic acid (GA3) or in combinations has shown healthy shoots with expanded shoot length. Excised shoots (2cm-3cm long with 2 to 3 nodes) when grown on 1/2 MS basal medium with 2.5 mg/l indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and 0.5% activated charcoal (A.C.)/l has shown rhizogenesis. After excision, in the second passage, the nodal explants also showed bud break when sub cultured on MS basal medium supplemented with 0.5 mg BA/l. These shoots also successfully rooted on the same above said medium.

Phytochemical profile and pharmacological activity of Aegle marmelos Linn

Aegle marmelos Linn.（Rutaceae）, commonly known as ＂bael＂ in Nepal and India, is a valuable medicinal plant and is considered sacred by the Hindus. It is used to cure several diseases in the Indian traditional medicine system of Ayurveda and has had similar uses among many ethnic communities residing in Indian subcontinent for over 5000 years. Its leaves, bark, stem, fruits and seeds have been used for various medicinal purposes. Bael fruits are especially effective in the treatment of chronic diarrhea, dysentery and peptic ulcers, while they are also useful as a laxative and cure for respiratory infections. Scientific studies have validated many of the ethnomedicinal uses of A. marmelos, which include antibacterial,antiviral, antidiarrheal, gastroprotective, anti-ulcerative colitis, hepatoprotective, antidiabetic, cardioprotective and radioprotective effects. Recently, this plant has also received attention as an anticancer agent for the treatment of various types of cancers. Thus, this review focuses on scientific evidence verifying the important pharmacological activity such as antioxidant, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, hepatoprotective,cardioprotective and anticancer activity of A. marmelos.

Determination of Some Ethnomedicinally Important Constituents of Aegle marmelos Fruit During Different Stages of Ripening

AIM:Aegle marmelos is a medicinal herb belonging to the Rutacae family.The fruit of A.marmelos at each stage of ripening is used as ethnomedicine to cure various diseases.The aim of the present study was to determine the components contributing to the medicinal value of the A.marmelos fruit at different stages of ripening.METHODS:High-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC)was used to determine polyphenol,vitamins,organic acids and sugars in A.marmelos fruit at different stages of ripening.RESULTS:Tannin,a polyphenol responsible for astringent and antimicrobial properties of A.marmelos fruit was found to increase during ripening.Riboflavin,a vital medicinal component was detected in traceable amount only in full-ripe A.marmelos fruit.Ribofla-vin contributes towards body growth,reproduction and red cell production.The content of ascorbic acid(vitamin C)which is useful in preventing scurvy decreased significantly as fruit ripens.CONCLUSIONS:The difference in the medicinal effect of A.marmelos fruit at each stage of ripening might be due to the presence of different amount of polyphenol,vitamins and organic acids.

Effect of high shear homogenization on quality characteristics of bael fruit pulp

Response surface methodology was used to investigate the influence of high shear homogenization speed(A:3000-12000 r/min)and processing time(B:30-120 min)on bael fruit pulp quality parameters.The experimental results were best fitted in the suggested quadratic model to delineate and envision the responses in terms of color(values of L^(*),meaning brightness to blackness,1oo-0;a^(*),meaning green-a^(*)to red+a^(*);and b^(*),meaning blue-b^(*)to yellow+b),total soluble solids,ascorbic acid,viscosity,andβ-carotene content with the highest coefficients of determination(R2)ranging from 0.80 to 0.99.Significant(P<0.05)change in the L^(*)value,total soluble solids,ascorbic acid,andβ-carotene content was found with change in homogenization speed.The interaction effect of homogenization showed a significant difference in a^(*)value and total soluble solid content of the pulp.The best homogenization conditions were determined via multiple response optimization as 10682 r/min speed and 43.18 min process time.The quality parameters of the pulp at optimized conditions were observed as L^(*)15.35,a^(*)4.51,b^(*)10.25,ascorbic acid 18.64 mg/100 g,viscosity 5349 cP,andβ-carotene 4.14μg/100 g.In addition,total phenolic content,flavonoid content,and antioxidant content of homogenized bael fruit pulp was found to significantly(P<0.05)increase from(83.76±1.24)to(119.21±1.35)mg gallic acid equivalent(GAE)/100 mL,(147.39±0.69)to(156.10±1.11)mg quercetin equivalent(QE)/100 mL,and(41.77%±0.60%)to(66.53%±0.41%),respectively.Consequently,this strategy could be used in fruit processing industries to process highly fibrous fruits and nonuniform-textured fruit pulptoavoid sedimentation whileretaining functionality.

In vivo antiplasmodial potential of three herbal methanolic extracts in mice infected with Plasmodium berghei NK65

Objective: The present study deals with the investigation of antiplasmodial potential of leaf methanolic extract of Aegle marmelos, Aristolochia indica and Cassia auriculata against Plasmodium berghei(NK65)infected mice.Methods: The chloroquine-sensitive parasites P. berghei(1 × 106) were inoculated into Swiss albino mice intraperitoneally. The methanol extracts of three herbal plants were orally administered in P. berghei infected mice which were further assessed using the four-day suppressive test at different doses of 150, 300 and 600 mg/kg per day. Chloroquine(CQ) was used as the standard drug with of 1.25, 2.5 and 5 mg/kg concentrations and was orally administered.Results: The leaves of A. marmelos, A. indica, and C. auriculata were found to suppress P. berghei parasitaemia in Swiss albino mice by(67.0 ± 4.02)%,(72.0 ± 8.44)% and(52.7 ± 2.06)% at 600 mg/kg/d with ED50 values of 284.73, 233.77 and 562.48 mg/kg, respectively. These herbal plants increased the mean survival time of infected mice and prevented body weight loss. GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of hentriacontan-16-one(C31 H62 O) in A. indica extract. The histopathology study showed non-toxic to kidney and liver at 600 mg/kg/body weight.Conclusions: Overall results revealed that herbal plants may be active in the development of novel and cheap antimalarial compounds.

In-vitro study:Immunomodulatory and cytotoxicity effects of ethanolic leave extracts of Aegle marmelos and Ficus benghalensis

Objective:To assess the immunomodulatory and antibacterial properties of the coastal trees Aegle marmelos(A.marmelos)and Ficus benghalensis(F.benghalensis)by in-vitro methods.Methods:A.marmelos and F.benghalensis leaves were extracted with the solvents di-ethyl ether,ethanol and methanol.The extracts were investigated for antibacterial activity against human pathogenic bacteria and immunomodulatory activity against human peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMC),respectively.Results:F.benghalensis ethanol cold extract gave maximum inhibition zones against Escherichia coli NCIM 2931(B2)at 18 mm and enhanced the growth of human PBMC.It was non-toxic to human PBMC shown by the Tryphan blue dye exclusion method,sulforhodamine B and MTT assays.IR phyto-chemical analysis demonstrated the presence of the functional groups:NH,CH_(2),CH_(3),CO,OH,-C-C=O,and C-S.We confirmed the presence of quantifiable amounts of tannins and alkaloids with traces of phenolic compounds by thin layer chromatography analysis.Conclusions:Leaves of A.marmelos and F.benghalensis provide both antibacterial and immunomodulatory properties.