Assessment of the Nutritive,Biochemical, Antioxidant and Antibacterial Potential of Eight Tropical Macro algae Along Kachchh Coast,India as Human Food Supplements

Eight tropical marine macro algae were investigated for in-vitro antioxidant, antibacterial, and biochemical properties. The moisture content [% DW (dry weight)] ranged from 7.21 to 14.72%; ash, 24.92 to 47.04%; lipids, 0.73 to 2.67%; protein, 4.56 to 12.59%; and carbohydrate, 30.1 to 48.51%. The % sum of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) ranged from 21.71 to 78.22%, while omega-6/omega-3 (ω6/ω3) ratio was from 0 to 2.08, which remained within the prescribed World Health Organization (WHO) standards (<10). The % sum of essential amino acids (EAAs) ranged from 86.18 to 204.66, and Na/K ratio ranged from 0.37 to 2.85. The extracts exhibited significant (P < 0.05) values for total phenol (7.25–16.0 µg PGE mg^–1 DW) and total flavonoid (4.06–15.63 µg QE mg^–1 DW) at 200 µg/ml. Antibacterial activity was tested against the selected food spoilage and pathogenic bacteria. The principal component analysis (PCA) confirmed a positive correlation between total phenolic content, 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging activities, and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), which supports the integration of seaweeds as ingredients in functional foods.     

Evaluation of bronchodilator and anti-anaphylactic activity of Myrica sapida

Background: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways. The available treatment options have major limitations owing to low efficacy, associated adverse events and compliance issues. Therefore, the health burden of bronchial asthma is increasing globally at an alarming rate, providing a strong impetus for the development of new therapeutics. Myrica sapida is known traditionally in Ayurveda to possess anti-asthmatic activity. Hence, the present investigation was undertaken to evaluate the bronchodilator and anti-anaphylactic activity of the stem bark of Myrica sapida. Methods: Experimental models studied were acetylcholine induced bronchospasm in guinea pigs, egg albumin induced anaphylaxis in guinea pigs, in vitro studies on tracheal strip of egg albumin sensitized guinea pigs. Results: Treatment with ethanolic extract of M. sapida, 75 mg/kg, orally resulted in significant protection against acetylcholine aerosol induced bronchospasm and allergen induced anaphylaxis in guinea pigs. Ethanolic extract of M. sapida (75 mg/kg, p.o.) prevented the potentiation of responses and also produced a decrease in pD2 value of histamine and acetylcholine in guinea pig tracheal strip. Conclusion: These results suggest that M. sapida possesses bronchodilator activity, has potent inhibitory effect on immediate hyper-sensitivity reactions and decreases bronchial hyper-responsiveness.