Pradeep Negi | Central Food Technological Research Institute (C.F.T.R.I) (original) (raw)
Papers by Pradeep Negi
Food & Function, 2022
Ulcerative colitis is a recurrent inflammatory illness of the colon with an elevated risk of deve... more Ulcerative colitis is a recurrent inflammatory illness of the colon with an elevated risk of developing colon cancer. The Ensete superbum peel fraction incorporated foods can be utilized as an adjuvant treatment strategy.
Journal of Food Science, 2021
Ensete superbum Roxb. Cheesman (wild banana) is a plant traditionally used for the treatment of f... more Ensete superbum Roxb. Cheesman (wild banana) is a plant traditionally used for the treatment of fever and diarrhea. On a preliminary screening, the ripe peel aqueous extract (PA) exhibited higher cytotoxicity (cell viability of 49% against HCT-15 at 75 µg/ml; and 46% against Caco2 at 50 µg/ml), superior anti-inflammatory (IC50 of 0.49 µg/ml), and greater anti-mutagenic activity at 500 µg/plate compared to the aqueous extracts of seed (SA), flower (FA) and bract (BA). Therefore, we further evaluated the anti-proliferative activity of PA and its fractions. The ability to inhibit the growth of cell lines (HCT-15 and Caco2) was used for the bio-guided fractionation and isolation of active compounds in PA using chromatographic techniques. Multiple extractions of the PA yielded the peel dioxane fraction (PD), and column fractionation of PD yielded eight compounds, of which three (Compound D-PDD, Compound E-PDE, and Compound G-PDG) possessed higher cytotoxic activity. At 10 µg/ml, the cell viability of HCT-15 was 50.1%, 46.5%, and 61.9%, respectively; Caco2 was 98.2%, 62.9%, and 64.7%, respectively, for PDD, PDE, and PDG. These compounds also showed apoptotic effect as evidenced by measuring the mitochondrial membrane potential, dual staining (acridine orange/ethidium bromide), DNA fragmentation, and the ROS status in colorectal cell lines. The UPLC-HRMS/MS, FTIR, and NMR data revealed the active compounds as quercetin-3-O-rutinoside, 3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxybenzoic acid, and 4',5,7-trihydroxyflavone. These findings indicate the anti-proliferative potential of PA, and warrant further investigation of its active principles in the amelioration of colorectal cancer in in vivo models. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The potential of an underutilized crop as a source of therapeutic agents for colon cancer was established, as the study showed a high cytotoxic activity of wild bananas against HCT-15 and Caco2 cell lines. Bioactivity guided fractionation of peel fraction identified the active compounds present in wild banana, and their anticancer activity was attributed to the induction of cell death. The study indicated that wild banana has the potential to inhibit the growth of colon cancer cells.
Notulae Scientia Biologicae, 2013
A highly reproducible in vitro regeneration method for tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) cul... more A highly reproducible in vitro regeneration method for tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) cultivar ‘Arka Ahuti’ was established by using hypocotyl, leaf and cotyledon explants from in vitro raised seedlings on Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with different concentrations and combinations of hormones 6-Benzylamino purine (2 to 4 mg/L) and Indole-3-acetic acid (0.1 to 1 mg/L). The medium supplemented with 2 mg/L 6-benzylamino purine and 0.1 mg/L indole-3-acetic acid was found to be the best for inducing direct shoot regeneration and multiple shoots per explant from hypocotyl explants. Callus induction was observed in all the explants and regeneration of shoots was also promoted by all these combinations. Shoots were transferred to the elongation medium which also induced 100% rooting. After hardening, plants were transferred to soil. Thus, a tissue culture base line was established for ‘Arka Ahuti’ cultivar of tomato for obtaining direct regeneration using hypocotyl, leaf ...
Acta Alimentaria, 2014
This study was conducted to develop a low cost method to preserve papaya (Carica papaya L.) pulp ... more This study was conducted to develop a low cost method to preserve papaya (Carica papaya L.) pulp at ambient temperature with a combination of treatments including acid, heat, and cinnamon oil. Papaya pulp processed without and with 200 ppm cinnamon essential oil at pH 5.1, 81 °C, 7 min (ST2 and ST3); pH 3.9, 69 °C, 13 min (ST4 and ST5); and pH 4.5, 75 °C, 15 min (ST6 and ST7) was stored for 8 weeks at ambient temperature (28±2 ºC). The cinnamaldehyde content of the papaya pulp treated with cinnamon oil decreased significantly during storage. ST5 and ST7 retained significantly higher β-carotene contents and lightness values compared to ST4 and ST6 during storage. The results indicated that acidification of papaya pulp to pH 4.5 and pasteurization at 75 °C for 15 min with 200 ppm cinnamon oil can be applied to obtain safe and high quality product, which is stable for 8 weeks at ambient temperature.
Food & Function, 2011
To study the expression pattern of carotenoid biosynthetic pathway genes, changes in their expres... more To study the expression pattern of carotenoid biosynthetic pathway genes, changes in their expression at different stages of maturity in tomato fruit (cv. Arka Ahuti) were investigated. The genes regulating carotenoid production were quantified by a dot blot method using a DIG (dioxigenin) labelling and detection kit. The results revealed that there was an increase in the levels of upstream genes of the carotenoid biosynthetic pathway such as 1-deoxy-d-xylulose-5-phosphate reductoisomerase (DXR), 4-hydroxy-3-methyl-but-2-enyl diphosphate reductase (Lyt B), phytoene synthase (PSY), phytoene desaturase (PDS) and ζ-carotene desaturase (ZDS) by 2-4 fold at the breaker stage as compared to leaf. The lycopene and β-carotene content was analyzed by HPLC at different stages of maturity. The lycopene (15.33 ± 0.24 mg per 100 g) and β-carotene (10.37 ± 0.46 mg per 100 g) content were found to be highest at 5 days post-breaker and 10 days post-breaker stage, respectively. The lycopene accumulation pattern also coincided with the color values at different stages of maturity. These studies may provide insight into devising gene-based strategies for enhancing carotenoid accumulation in tomato fruits.
Food Reviews International
Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture
Journal of Food Processing and Preservation
Ozone: Science & Engineering
Journal of food science and technology, 2018
, commonly known as Kadamba, is one of the economically important trees, which is being exploited... more , commonly known as Kadamba, is one of the economically important trees, which is being exploited for paper, pulp and wood industries, however uses of its fruits are not reported. In the present investigation the fruits were analysed for their proximate and mineral content at different stages of maturity, and the ripe fruit was used for nectar preparation. Proximate analysis of the ripe edible fruit showed that it is rich in fat (2.4%) and proteins (2.1%), and has calorific value of 103.7 kcal/100 g. The nectar prepared from the ripe fruits showed mean overall acceptability score of more than 6 indicating its suitability for nectar preparation. The shelf life of nectar was found to be 150 days at ambient conditions (28 ± 3 °C). The nectar was rich in minerals and antioxidants, and can be recommended for consumption by various age groups. However, studies are required to ascertain its physiological effect on consumers.
Food Technology and Biotechnology, 2016
The ability of acetone and ethyl acetate extracts of the leaves of a traditional Indian medicinal... more The ability of acetone and ethyl acetate extracts of the leaves of a traditional Indian medicinal plant, Indian borage (Plectranthus amboinicus Benth) to prevent spoilage of artificially inoculated model food systems (cabbage and papaya) and natural microfl ora of chicken meat was evaluated. These extracts were able to reduce the bacterial counts in all food systems; however, the eff ective concentration varied with the complexity of the system (cabbage<papaya<chicken). A probable mode of action of extracts was investigated by analyzing the changes they cause in bacterial cell wall and leakage of nucleic acid from bacterial cells. Both acetone and ethyl acetate extracts at their respective minimum inhibitory concentrations resulted in leakage of cell constituents to an extent of 40 to 80 and 60 to 95 %, respectively, compared to the control, and fi nally leading to disintegration of cell walls. These fi ndings indicate the potential use of ethyl acetate and acetone extracts of Indian borage leaves in food preservation.
Zeitschrift für Naturforschung C, 2001
Curcumin, the yellow coloring pigment of turmeric is produced industrially from turmeric oleoresi... more Curcumin, the yellow coloring pigment of turmeric is produced industrially from turmeric oleoresin. The mother liquor after isolation of curcum in from oleoresin known as curcumin removed turmeric oleoresin (CRTO) was extracted three times with n-hexane at room temperature for 30 min to obtain turmeric oil. The turmeric oil was subjected to fractional distillation under vacuum to get two fractions. These fractions were tested for antifugal activity against A spergillu s flavus, A . parasiticus, Fusarium moniliform e and Penicillium digitatum by spore germination method. Fraction II was found to be m ore active. The chemical constituents of turmeric oil, fraction I and fraction II were determined by GC and identified by GCMS. Aromatic turmerone, turmerone and curlone were major compounds present in fraction II along with other oxygenated com pounds.
Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Disease, 2012
ABSTRACT Objective To study the antibacterial and antimutagenic properties of the Peltophorum fer... more ABSTRACT Objective To study the antibacterial and antimutagenic properties of the Peltophorum ferrugineum flower extracts.Methods Dried flowers of P. ferrugineum were extracted successively with hexane, ethyl acetate, acetone and methanol, and the total phenolic content of extracts were determined spectrophotometrically at 760 nm after reaction with the Folin–Ciocalteu reagent. The extracts were tested against Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Yersinia enterocolitica by agar dilution method. The antimutagenicity of extracts was studied using the tester strains of Salmonella typhimurium by the standard plate incorporation test. The effect of extracts on nucleic acid leakage (spectrophotometrically at 260 nm), bacterial respiration (total dissolved oxygen) and bacterial cell wall (Scanning Electron Microscopy) were also determined.ResultsThe total phenolic content of extracts was in the order of methanol > acetone > hexane > ethyl acetate. All the extracts showed antibacterial activity with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranging from 0.1 to 1.25%. However, higher activity was found with acetone and methanol extracts. The acetone and methanol extracts showed strong antimutagenic activity against sodium azide and methyl methane sulfonate induced mutation in Salmonella tester strains. The antibacterial action of extracts was probably due to the ability of these extracts to cause the disintegration of cell wall, leakage of genetic material and inhibition of respiration.Conclusions It can be concluded that the acetone and methanol extracts of P. ferrugineum possess antibacterial and antimutagenic activities, and can find application as food preservatives and nutraceuticals.
Chemistry and Pharmacology of Naturally Occurring Bioactive Compounds, 2013
Food and Nutrition Sciences, 2013
The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file. All in-text references underlined in b... more The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file. All in-text references underlined in blue are added to the original document and are linked to publications on ResearchGate, letting you access and read them immediately.
Journal of Food Science and Technology, 2015
Innovative Food Science & Emerging Technologies, 2006
Diet rich in fruits and vegetables has been associated with preventing mutagenesis and cancer and... more Diet rich in fruits and vegetables has been associated with preventing mutagenesis and cancer and other health benefits. In the present study, hexane and chloroform extracts from the fruit rinds of Garcinia pedunculata were tested for their antioxidative and antimutagenic activities. Both the hexane and chloroform extracts showed antioxidant activity studied through β-carotene-linoleate model system and α, α-diphenyl-βpicrylhadrazyl (DPPH) method at various concentrations. At 500 ppm concentration, in case of β-carotene-linoleate model system, the hexane and chloroform extracts of G. pedunculata showed 60 and 67% antioxidant activity respectively, whereas the free radical scavenging activity was 45% and 65%, respectively with DPPH method. The antimutagenicity of the hexane and chloroform extracts against the mutagenicity of direct acting mutagen sodium azide was determined by the Ames test. Both the extracts showed strong antimutagenicity at or above 1250 μg/plate in the tester strains of Salmonella typhimurium (TA100 and TA1535). However, the hexane extract showed higher antimutagenic potential than the chloroform extract. Thus, this preliminary study documents for the first time the antioxidant and antimutagenic properties of the extracts from the fruit rinds of G. pedunculata.
Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 2010
Carotenoids are one of the most widespread groups of pigments in nature and more than 600 of thes... more Carotenoids are one of the most widespread groups of pigments in nature and more than 600 of these have been identified. Beside provitamin A activity, carotenoids are important as antioxidants and protective agents against various diseases. They are isoprenoids with a long polyene chain containing 3 to 15 conjugated double bonds, which determines their absorption spectrum. Cyclization at one or both ends occurs in hydrocarbon carotene, while xanthophylls are formed by the introduction of oxygen. In addition, modifications involving chain elongation, isomerization, or degradation are also found. The composition of carotenoids in food may vary depending upon production practices, post-harvest handling, processing, and storage. In higher plants they are synthesized in the plastid. Both mevalonate dependent and independent pathway for the formation of isopentenyl diphosphate are known. Isopentenyl diphosphate undergoes a series of addition and condensation reactions to form phytoene, which gets converted to lycopene. Cyclization of lycopene either leads to the formation of β-carotene and its derivative xanthophylls, β-cryptoxanthin, zeaxanthin, antheraxanthin, and violaxanthin or α-carotene and lutein. Even though most of the carotenoid biosynthetic genes have been cloned and identified, some aspects of carotenoid formation and manipulation in higher plants especially remain poorly understood. In order to enhance the carotenoid content of crop plants to a level that will be required for the prevention of diseases, there is a need for research in both the basic and the applied aspects.
Food & Function, 2022
Ulcerative colitis is a recurrent inflammatory illness of the colon with an elevated risk of deve... more Ulcerative colitis is a recurrent inflammatory illness of the colon with an elevated risk of developing colon cancer. The Ensete superbum peel fraction incorporated foods can be utilized as an adjuvant treatment strategy.
Journal of Food Science, 2021
Ensete superbum Roxb. Cheesman (wild banana) is a plant traditionally used for the treatment of f... more Ensete superbum Roxb. Cheesman (wild banana) is a plant traditionally used for the treatment of fever and diarrhea. On a preliminary screening, the ripe peel aqueous extract (PA) exhibited higher cytotoxicity (cell viability of 49% against HCT-15 at 75 µg/ml; and 46% against Caco2 at 50 µg/ml), superior anti-inflammatory (IC50 of 0.49 µg/ml), and greater anti-mutagenic activity at 500 µg/plate compared to the aqueous extracts of seed (SA), flower (FA) and bract (BA). Therefore, we further evaluated the anti-proliferative activity of PA and its fractions. The ability to inhibit the growth of cell lines (HCT-15 and Caco2) was used for the bio-guided fractionation and isolation of active compounds in PA using chromatographic techniques. Multiple extractions of the PA yielded the peel dioxane fraction (PD), and column fractionation of PD yielded eight compounds, of which three (Compound D-PDD, Compound E-PDE, and Compound G-PDG) possessed higher cytotoxic activity. At 10 µg/ml, the cell viability of HCT-15 was 50.1%, 46.5%, and 61.9%, respectively; Caco2 was 98.2%, 62.9%, and 64.7%, respectively, for PDD, PDE, and PDG. These compounds also showed apoptotic effect as evidenced by measuring the mitochondrial membrane potential, dual staining (acridine orange/ethidium bromide), DNA fragmentation, and the ROS status in colorectal cell lines. The UPLC-HRMS/MS, FTIR, and NMR data revealed the active compounds as quercetin-3-O-rutinoside, 3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxybenzoic acid, and 4',5,7-trihydroxyflavone. These findings indicate the anti-proliferative potential of PA, and warrant further investigation of its active principles in the amelioration of colorectal cancer in in vivo models. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The potential of an underutilized crop as a source of therapeutic agents for colon cancer was established, as the study showed a high cytotoxic activity of wild bananas against HCT-15 and Caco2 cell lines. Bioactivity guided fractionation of peel fraction identified the active compounds present in wild banana, and their anticancer activity was attributed to the induction of cell death. The study indicated that wild banana has the potential to inhibit the growth of colon cancer cells.
Notulae Scientia Biologicae, 2013
A highly reproducible in vitro regeneration method for tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) cul... more A highly reproducible in vitro regeneration method for tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) cultivar ‘Arka Ahuti’ was established by using hypocotyl, leaf and cotyledon explants from in vitro raised seedlings on Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with different concentrations and combinations of hormones 6-Benzylamino purine (2 to 4 mg/L) and Indole-3-acetic acid (0.1 to 1 mg/L). The medium supplemented with 2 mg/L 6-benzylamino purine and 0.1 mg/L indole-3-acetic acid was found to be the best for inducing direct shoot regeneration and multiple shoots per explant from hypocotyl explants. Callus induction was observed in all the explants and regeneration of shoots was also promoted by all these combinations. Shoots were transferred to the elongation medium which also induced 100% rooting. After hardening, plants were transferred to soil. Thus, a tissue culture base line was established for ‘Arka Ahuti’ cultivar of tomato for obtaining direct regeneration using hypocotyl, leaf ...
Acta Alimentaria, 2014
This study was conducted to develop a low cost method to preserve papaya (Carica papaya L.) pulp ... more This study was conducted to develop a low cost method to preserve papaya (Carica papaya L.) pulp at ambient temperature with a combination of treatments including acid, heat, and cinnamon oil. Papaya pulp processed without and with 200 ppm cinnamon essential oil at pH 5.1, 81 °C, 7 min (ST2 and ST3); pH 3.9, 69 °C, 13 min (ST4 and ST5); and pH 4.5, 75 °C, 15 min (ST6 and ST7) was stored for 8 weeks at ambient temperature (28±2 ºC). The cinnamaldehyde content of the papaya pulp treated with cinnamon oil decreased significantly during storage. ST5 and ST7 retained significantly higher β-carotene contents and lightness values compared to ST4 and ST6 during storage. The results indicated that acidification of papaya pulp to pH 4.5 and pasteurization at 75 °C for 15 min with 200 ppm cinnamon oil can be applied to obtain safe and high quality product, which is stable for 8 weeks at ambient temperature.
Food & Function, 2011
To study the expression pattern of carotenoid biosynthetic pathway genes, changes in their expres... more To study the expression pattern of carotenoid biosynthetic pathway genes, changes in their expression at different stages of maturity in tomato fruit (cv. Arka Ahuti) were investigated. The genes regulating carotenoid production were quantified by a dot blot method using a DIG (dioxigenin) labelling and detection kit. The results revealed that there was an increase in the levels of upstream genes of the carotenoid biosynthetic pathway such as 1-deoxy-d-xylulose-5-phosphate reductoisomerase (DXR), 4-hydroxy-3-methyl-but-2-enyl diphosphate reductase (Lyt B), phytoene synthase (PSY), phytoene desaturase (PDS) and ζ-carotene desaturase (ZDS) by 2-4 fold at the breaker stage as compared to leaf. The lycopene and β-carotene content was analyzed by HPLC at different stages of maturity. The lycopene (15.33 ± 0.24 mg per 100 g) and β-carotene (10.37 ± 0.46 mg per 100 g) content were found to be highest at 5 days post-breaker and 10 days post-breaker stage, respectively. The lycopene accumulation pattern also coincided with the color values at different stages of maturity. These studies may provide insight into devising gene-based strategies for enhancing carotenoid accumulation in tomato fruits.
Food Reviews International
Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture
Journal of Food Processing and Preservation
Ozone: Science & Engineering
Journal of food science and technology, 2018
, commonly known as Kadamba, is one of the economically important trees, which is being exploited... more , commonly known as Kadamba, is one of the economically important trees, which is being exploited for paper, pulp and wood industries, however uses of its fruits are not reported. In the present investigation the fruits were analysed for their proximate and mineral content at different stages of maturity, and the ripe fruit was used for nectar preparation. Proximate analysis of the ripe edible fruit showed that it is rich in fat (2.4%) and proteins (2.1%), and has calorific value of 103.7 kcal/100 g. The nectar prepared from the ripe fruits showed mean overall acceptability score of more than 6 indicating its suitability for nectar preparation. The shelf life of nectar was found to be 150 days at ambient conditions (28 ± 3 °C). The nectar was rich in minerals and antioxidants, and can be recommended for consumption by various age groups. However, studies are required to ascertain its physiological effect on consumers.
Food Technology and Biotechnology, 2016
The ability of acetone and ethyl acetate extracts of the leaves of a traditional Indian medicinal... more The ability of acetone and ethyl acetate extracts of the leaves of a traditional Indian medicinal plant, Indian borage (Plectranthus amboinicus Benth) to prevent spoilage of artificially inoculated model food systems (cabbage and papaya) and natural microfl ora of chicken meat was evaluated. These extracts were able to reduce the bacterial counts in all food systems; however, the eff ective concentration varied with the complexity of the system (cabbage<papaya<chicken). A probable mode of action of extracts was investigated by analyzing the changes they cause in bacterial cell wall and leakage of nucleic acid from bacterial cells. Both acetone and ethyl acetate extracts at their respective minimum inhibitory concentrations resulted in leakage of cell constituents to an extent of 40 to 80 and 60 to 95 %, respectively, compared to the control, and fi nally leading to disintegration of cell walls. These fi ndings indicate the potential use of ethyl acetate and acetone extracts of Indian borage leaves in food preservation.
Zeitschrift für Naturforschung C, 2001
Curcumin, the yellow coloring pigment of turmeric is produced industrially from turmeric oleoresi... more Curcumin, the yellow coloring pigment of turmeric is produced industrially from turmeric oleoresin. The mother liquor after isolation of curcum in from oleoresin known as curcumin removed turmeric oleoresin (CRTO) was extracted three times with n-hexane at room temperature for 30 min to obtain turmeric oil. The turmeric oil was subjected to fractional distillation under vacuum to get two fractions. These fractions were tested for antifugal activity against A spergillu s flavus, A . parasiticus, Fusarium moniliform e and Penicillium digitatum by spore germination method. Fraction II was found to be m ore active. The chemical constituents of turmeric oil, fraction I and fraction II were determined by GC and identified by GCMS. Aromatic turmerone, turmerone and curlone were major compounds present in fraction II along with other oxygenated com pounds.
Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Disease, 2012
ABSTRACT Objective To study the antibacterial and antimutagenic properties of the Peltophorum fer... more ABSTRACT Objective To study the antibacterial and antimutagenic properties of the Peltophorum ferrugineum flower extracts.Methods Dried flowers of P. ferrugineum were extracted successively with hexane, ethyl acetate, acetone and methanol, and the total phenolic content of extracts were determined spectrophotometrically at 760 nm after reaction with the Folin–Ciocalteu reagent. The extracts were tested against Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Yersinia enterocolitica by agar dilution method. The antimutagenicity of extracts was studied using the tester strains of Salmonella typhimurium by the standard plate incorporation test. The effect of extracts on nucleic acid leakage (spectrophotometrically at 260 nm), bacterial respiration (total dissolved oxygen) and bacterial cell wall (Scanning Electron Microscopy) were also determined.ResultsThe total phenolic content of extracts was in the order of methanol > acetone > hexane > ethyl acetate. All the extracts showed antibacterial activity with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranging from 0.1 to 1.25%. However, higher activity was found with acetone and methanol extracts. The acetone and methanol extracts showed strong antimutagenic activity against sodium azide and methyl methane sulfonate induced mutation in Salmonella tester strains. The antibacterial action of extracts was probably due to the ability of these extracts to cause the disintegration of cell wall, leakage of genetic material and inhibition of respiration.Conclusions It can be concluded that the acetone and methanol extracts of P. ferrugineum possess antibacterial and antimutagenic activities, and can find application as food preservatives and nutraceuticals.
Chemistry and Pharmacology of Naturally Occurring Bioactive Compounds, 2013
Food and Nutrition Sciences, 2013
The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file. All in-text references underlined in b... more The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file. All in-text references underlined in blue are added to the original document and are linked to publications on ResearchGate, letting you access and read them immediately.
Journal of Food Science and Technology, 2015
Innovative Food Science & Emerging Technologies, 2006
Diet rich in fruits and vegetables has been associated with preventing mutagenesis and cancer and... more Diet rich in fruits and vegetables has been associated with preventing mutagenesis and cancer and other health benefits. In the present study, hexane and chloroform extracts from the fruit rinds of Garcinia pedunculata were tested for their antioxidative and antimutagenic activities. Both the hexane and chloroform extracts showed antioxidant activity studied through β-carotene-linoleate model system and α, α-diphenyl-βpicrylhadrazyl (DPPH) method at various concentrations. At 500 ppm concentration, in case of β-carotene-linoleate model system, the hexane and chloroform extracts of G. pedunculata showed 60 and 67% antioxidant activity respectively, whereas the free radical scavenging activity was 45% and 65%, respectively with DPPH method. The antimutagenicity of the hexane and chloroform extracts against the mutagenicity of direct acting mutagen sodium azide was determined by the Ames test. Both the extracts showed strong antimutagenicity at or above 1250 μg/plate in the tester strains of Salmonella typhimurium (TA100 and TA1535). However, the hexane extract showed higher antimutagenic potential than the chloroform extract. Thus, this preliminary study documents for the first time the antioxidant and antimutagenic properties of the extracts from the fruit rinds of G. pedunculata.
Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 2010
Carotenoids are one of the most widespread groups of pigments in nature and more than 600 of thes... more Carotenoids are one of the most widespread groups of pigments in nature and more than 600 of these have been identified. Beside provitamin A activity, carotenoids are important as antioxidants and protective agents against various diseases. They are isoprenoids with a long polyene chain containing 3 to 15 conjugated double bonds, which determines their absorption spectrum. Cyclization at one or both ends occurs in hydrocarbon carotene, while xanthophylls are formed by the introduction of oxygen. In addition, modifications involving chain elongation, isomerization, or degradation are also found. The composition of carotenoids in food may vary depending upon production practices, post-harvest handling, processing, and storage. In higher plants they are synthesized in the plastid. Both mevalonate dependent and independent pathway for the formation of isopentenyl diphosphate are known. Isopentenyl diphosphate undergoes a series of addition and condensation reactions to form phytoene, which gets converted to lycopene. Cyclization of lycopene either leads to the formation of β-carotene and its derivative xanthophylls, β-cryptoxanthin, zeaxanthin, antheraxanthin, and violaxanthin or α-carotene and lutein. Even though most of the carotenoid biosynthetic genes have been cloned and identified, some aspects of carotenoid formation and manipulation in higher plants especially remain poorly understood. In order to enhance the carotenoid content of crop plants to a level that will be required for the prevention of diseases, there is a need for research in both the basic and the applied aspects.