Time and Concentration-Dependent Differential Antioxidant Potential in the Gum of Medicinally Important Araucaria Heterophylla

Abstract

Recently many lethal diseases are caused by oxidative stress. The accumulation of reactive species, including ROS and reactive nitrogen species, can be harmful to human health, as they can attack cells and tissues within the body, causing several diseases. Antioxidants are therefore needed exogenously by the body. Numerous antioxidant-based products are commercially available but have side effects. The plantbased natural antioxidants are preferred over synthetic antioxidants. Natural antioxidants are cost-effective as well as environmentally friendly. Araucaria heterophylla is a well-known medicinal plant in the family Araucariaceae. The major component of these species is known as carbohydrates-rich gum which possesses antioxidant, antimicrobial, antipyretic, neuroprotective, anticoagulant, and antiviral activities. Therefore, the main objective of the current study was to investigate the time and concentration-dependent antioxidant potential in the gum of Araucaria heterophylla. Here, four different concentrations (2.5, 5.0, 7.5, and 10mg/10mL) were tested for antioxidant activity. The dose-dependent and time-dependent (05, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, and 70min) activities displayed variation in antioxidant potential. The gum extract (10mg/10mL) of Araucaria heterophylla showed the highest activity (89%) after 60min incubation. However, the other concentrations (2.5-7.5mg/10mL) exhibited 31, 66, and 88% activities. These results suggest that the antioxidant activity is strongly dependent on incubation time and concentration. Hence the gum of Araucaria heterophylla is an excellent source of natural antioxidants and can be used by food and pharmaceutical industries for various human diseases.

Unraveling the Combinational Approach for the Antibacterial Efficacy Against Infectious Pathogens Using the Herbal Extracts of the Leaves of Dodonaea Viscosa and Fruits of Rubus Fruticosus

“…Active phytochemicals found in medicinal plants have a variety of biological functions that can benefit human health through the pharmaceutical and alimentary sectors, but they also have significant value in the cosmetic, perfume, and agrochemical industries. Phenylpropanoids, terpenoids, and the most notable alkaloids are just a few of the secondary metabolites found in these plants that are being studied for therapeutic development (Geissman 1963;Ahmad et al 2011a;Hussain et al 2015;Majeed et al 2021;Ashraf et al 2023). In the current study the antimicrobial potential of Dodonaea viscosa and Rubus fruticosus either alone or in combination was used in different ratio against four types of pathogenic bacteria including K. pneumoniae, S. aureus, P. aeruginosa and S. typhi.…”

“…8. The T4 (D. viscosa in combination with R. fruticosus in the ratio of 3:1) displayed 13mm zone of inhibition against S. typhi while, the T5 (D. viscosa alone) exhibited 26mm zone of inhibition against pathogenic bacteria (Ashraf et al 2023).…”

“…The leaves of D. viscosa and fruits of R. fruticosus were either used alone or in combination for the investigation of antimicrobial activities. Thèse combinations included were T1 (5mg/mL:1.0mg/mL), T2 (4:1), T3 (3:1), T4 (2:1), T5 (leaves alone 1mg), T6 (1:5), T7 (1:4), T8 (1:3), T9 (1:2), T10 (fruits extract alone), T11 or control according to the recent protocols (Ahmad et al 2021;Ashraf et al 2023).…”

“…Plant extracts were poured into the wells of each plate at varying concentrations or ratios to check the effect of the extract against each strain of the bacteria. Before their introduction into the plates a bacterial lawn was inoculated on the nutrient agar plate against whom the activity was going to be observed (Ahmad et al 2021;Ashraf et al 2023).…”