Oxidative stress is developed due to susceptibility of biological substrates to oxidation by generation of free radicals. In degenerative diseases, oxidative stress level can be reduced by antioxidants which neutralize free radicals. Primary objective of this work was to screen four medicinal plants, namely, Andrographis paniculata, Costus speciosus, Canthium parviflorum, and Abrus precatorius, for their antioxidant property using two biological substrates-RBC and microsomes. The antioxidative ability of three solvent extracts, methanol (100% and 80%) and aqueous leaf extracts, was studied at different concentrations by thiobarbituric acid reactive substances method using Fenton's reagent to induce oxidation in the substrates. The polyphenol and flavonoid content were analyzed to relate with the observed antioxidant effect of the extracts. The phytochemical screening indicated the presence of flavonoids, polyphenols, tannins, and -carotene in the samples. In microsomes, 80% methanol extract of Canthium and Costus and, in RBC, 80% methanol extract of Costus showed highest inhibition of oxidation and correlated well with the polyphenol and flavonoid content. From the results it can be concluded that antioxidants from medicinal plants are capable of inhibiting oxidation in biological systems, suggesting scope for their use as nutraceuticals.

Free radical-mediated oxidation is often linked to various degenerative diseases. Biological substrates with lipids as major components are susceptible to oxygen-derived lipid peroxidation due to their composition. Lipid peroxide products act as biomarkers in evaluating the antioxidant potential of various plants and functional foods. The study focused on evaluation of the antioxidant potential of two extracts (methanol and 80% methanol) of four medicinal plants, Andrographis paniculata, Costus speciosus, Canthium parviflorum, and Abrus precatorius, against Fenton reaction-mediated oxidation of three biological lipid substrates; cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, and brain homogenate. The antioxidant activity of the extracts was measured by thiobarbituric acid reactive substances method. Also, the correlation between the polyphenol, flavonoid content, and the antioxidant activity in biological substrates was analyzed. Results indicated highest antioxidant potential by 80% methanol extract of Canthium parviflorum (97.55%), methanol extract of Andrographis paniculata (72.15%), and methanol extract of Canthium parviflorum (49.55%) in cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, and brain, respectively. The polyphenol and flavonoid contents of methanol extract of Andrographis paniculata in cholesterol (r = 0.816) and low-density lipoprotein (r = 0.948) and Costus speciosus in brain (r = 0.977, polyphenols, and r = 0.949, flavonoids) correlated well with the antioxidant activity. The findings prove the antioxidant potential of the selected medicinal plants against Fenton reaction in biological lipid substrates.

Background: Muslims fast during the month of Ramadan by abstinence from food and drink every day from dawn to sunset. Studies have reported contradictory results concerning the changes in body weight and biochemical parameters. No study has been conducted on the association between fasting and body weight and biochemical parameters in the Indian setting on healthy Muslim subjects. Objectives: To assess the effect of fasting during Ramadan on biochemical parameters such as lipid profile, liver function test, renal function test, antioxidant activity, random blood sugar, hemoglobin, body composition, and blood pressure in a sample of healthy individuals. Methods: In this study, 52 healthy free-living participants (25 Male, 27 Female, 21-64 years) who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria and completed both follow-ups (before and after Ramadan) were studied. Participants were fasting 12 hours a day for at least 21 days, including menstruating women. It was a free-living study with no dietary restrictions. Anthropometric, lipid profile, and liver and renal functions were measured by standard methods. Body composition was analyzed by bioelectrical impedance. Results: Significant beneficial changes in albumin, alanine aminotransferase, creatinine, and HDL were observed, while total cholesterol, random blood sugar, AST, and ALP enzymes remained unchanged after Ramadan. Fasting did bring in some changes in body composition; among both men and women, mean weight loss ranged from 0.81-1.4 kg in the majority of the subjects, which was due to loss in muscle mass. Also, no change in intra-and-extra cellular water content was observed after fasting. Conclusions: Significant improvements were observed in HDL levels and liver function tests, which can be attributed to the loss of body weight. Slight improvement in liver function tests may be related to the changes in cytokines and alteration in sleep patterns. Ramadan-like fasting, along with the nutritional education prior to fasting, may be beneficial and effective in the spiritual and overall well-being.

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Nutritional supplements are used in the management of diseases. The composition and form of nutrients in the supplements depend on the altered needs and gastrointestinal function of patients. The nutrition label of the supplements lacks information on the in vitro digestibility of nutrients which ultimately decides the availability of nutrients for absorption. Various factors that influence digestibility and availability include source of the nutrient, gut functionality, processing, physicochemical properties in the food matrix and inter-nutrient interactions. This study aimed at analyzing the in vitro starch and protein digestibility of six commercially available food formulations used in various disease conditions. The starch digestibility index (SDI) ranged from 64.47 ± 1.92 to 82.35 ± 2.71 and rapidly available glucose (RAG) from 26.06 ± 0.61 to 44.23 ± 0.38g per 100g. Dietary fiber content was inversely related with SDI (r - 0.845). The protein digestibility ranged from 41.42 ± 2.67 - 96.84 ± 1.01%. Formulations containing isolated forms of whey, casein and soy protein had a higher digestibility than in combinations. Besides information on the nutrient content, specifying the digestion characteristics of disease specific commercial formulations will help in their judicious use in meeting the nutritional requirements in various disease conditions.