The present study evaluated the antioxidant activity of the fruit of Annona squamosa by means of in vitro studies involving two different solvent extracts: methanol and aqueous. The antioxidant properties of the extract were determined by scavenging 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH), lipid peroxidation (LPO), nitric oxide (NO), superoxide anion (O2(-)), hydroxyl radical (OH(•)), reducing power and total antioxidant. The results showed that, compared to aqueous extract, a methanolic fruit extract of A squamosa has a higher percentage of inhibition of DPPH radical scavenging activity (97.99%), LPO (94.15%), NO scavenging activity (70.96%), O2(-) scavenging activity and OH(•) scavenging activity (78.68% and 85.25%, respectively), total antioxidant activity (206 μg α-tocopherol/g) and reducing power (56.0 μg of ascorbic acid/g). The results obtained in the in vitro models clearly suggest that methanol extract has higher antioxidant activity than the aqueous extract due to a higher presence of phenolic and flavonodal constituents in the methanol extract.

Objectives:The aim is to evaluate the anticancer potential of Annona squamosa (AS) against 7, 12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA)-induced mammary carcinoma in rats. Methods:The tumor was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats by gastric intubation of 25 mg DMBA in 1 ml olive oil. After 3 months of induction period, the methanolic extract of AS at different doses of 100, 150, 200, 250, and 300 mg/kg body weight were administered orally a dose per day to mammary carcinoma-bearing rats for 45 days. The serum and tissue levels of glycoprotein components as well as the activities of marker enzymes and lysosomal enzymes were measured in DMBA-induced mammary carcinoma-bearing rats.Results: Administration of AS resulted in decrease in the levels of marker and lysosomal enzymes and also alterations in the body weight and tumor volume were also restored to near normalcy in a dose-dependent manner. The results of the present study indicate that AS has anticancer effect and it exhibits its potential effect at the dosage of 200 mg/kg body weight in mammary carcinoma-bearing rats. Conclusions:Based on the results obtained, it can be concluded that the methanol extract of AS possesses anticancer properties. Further study is needed to isolate the active principle of this extract responsible for anticancer activity to develop the future pharmaceuticals.

Oil spillages are so common in many fields which lead to contaminated soil. Soil polluted land filling contains bacteria that produce a broad spectrum of bio-surfactants. Bio-surfactant as an efficient biological surfaceactive agent may provide an alternative solution for the removal of heavy metals from industrial wastes. The biosurfactant has more potential efficiency in the process of remedying natural resources. Surfactin, Iturin and Fengycin are widely studied bio-surfactants. The present study was aimed to isolate and characterize the biosurfactant producing bacteria from the soil samples collected from the petrol bunk. Two isolates obtained were used for the further analysis. Catalase, Lactose fermentation, Citrate utilization tests were positive for isolate 1 and identified as Staphylococcus sp. Starch hydrolysis, Methyl red test, Catalase, Lactose fermentation, Citrate utilization tests and Nitrate reduction were positive for isolate 2 and identified as Bacillus sp. The samples were anlayzed for the Bio-surfactant property using Haemolytic activity, oil drop assay, oil collapse activity and emulsification test. The functional group was detected using the FTIR analysis. Bacillus sp. strains have more potent biosurfactant property than Staphylococcus sp. and they act as bio-surfactants in removing the stains. Biochemical characterization of isolated samples, determination of bio-surfactant producing organism by oil spreading activity, drop collapse assay, oil spreading activity and biofilm formation were confirmed by Bacillus species bacteria