Vijaya Lobo - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Vijaya Lobo

Pharmacognosy Journal, Jun 1, 2010

Free radicals are fundamental to any biochemical process and represent an essential part of aerob... more Free radicals are fundamental to any biochemical process and represent an essential part of aerobic life and our metabolism. They are continuously produced by the body's normal use of oxygen such as respiration and some cell mediated immune functions. Naturally, there is a dynamic balance between the amount of free radicals generated in the body and antioxidants to quench and/or scavenge them and protect the body against their deleterious effects. [1] The ROS inducing superoxide anionic radical (O 2 −), hydrogen peroxide (O 2 −2) and hydroxyl radicals (•OH) are implemented in oxidative damage to various cellular macromolecules. Increasing number of evidence suggested that oxidative stress induced biochemical changes are crucial etiological factors in several chronic human disease such as diabetes mellitus, cancer, atherosclerosis, arthritis, inflammation and neurodegenerative disease. [2] There have been many studies undertaken on how to delay or prevent the onset of these diseases. The most likely and practical way to fight against degenerative diseases is to improve body antioxidant status, which could be achieved by higher consumption of vegetables and fruits. Foods from plant origin usually contain natural antioxidants that can scavenge free radicals. The antioxidants may mediate their effect by directly reacting with ROS, quenching them and / or chelating the catalytic metal ions. Several synthetic antioxidants, e.g. BHA and BHT are commercially available but they are suspected to cause or prompt negative health effects, and also show low solubility and moderate antioxidant activity. Natural antioxidants, especially

Majority of the diseases/disorders are mainly linked to oxidative stress due to free radicals [1]... more Majority of the diseases/disorders are mainly linked to oxidative stress due to free radicals [1]. Free radicals are fundamental to any biochemical process and represent an essential part of aerobic life and metabolism [2]. The most common reactive oxygen species (ROS) include superoxide (0 2 .) anion, hydrogen peroxide (H 2 0 2), peroxyl (ROO-) radicals, and reactive hydroxyl (OH.) radicals. The nitrogen derived free radicals are nitric oxide (NO .) and peroxynitrite anion (ONOO .). ROS have been implicated in over a hundreds of diseases states which range from arthritis and connective tissue disorders to carcinogenesis, aging, physical injury, infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome [3]. In treatment of these diseases, antioxidant therapy has gained an immense importance. Current research is now directed towards finding naturally occurring antioxidants of plant origin. Antioxidants have been reported to prevent oxidative damage by free radical and ROS, and may prevent the occurrence of disease, cancer and aging. It can interfere with the oxidation process by reacting with free radicals, chelating, catalytic metals, and also by acting as oxygen scavengers [4,5]. Plant and plant products are being used as a source of medicine since long. The medicinal properties of plants have been investigated in the recent scientific developments throughout the world, due to their potent antioxidant activities, no side effects and economic viability [6]. Flavonoids and phenolic compounds widely distributed in plants which have been reported to exert multiple biological effect, including antioxidant, free radical scavenging abilities, anti-inflammatory, anticarcinogenic. etc. [7]. They were also suggested to be a potential iron chelator [8,9]. Novel natural antioxidants from some plants have been extensively studied in the past few years for their antioxidant and radical scavenging properties. Hygrophila schulli (Buch.-Ham.) Almeida and Almeida seeds, Hygrophila auriculata (Schum) Heine (syn) Asteracantha longifolia Nees, Acanthaceae is described in ayurvedic literature as Ikshura, Ikshugandha, and Kokilasha "having eyes like the Kokila or Indian Cuckoo." The plant is widely distributed throughout India, Srilanka, Burma, Malaysia and Nepal. The whole plant, roots, seeds, and ashes of the plant are extensively used in traditional system of medicine for various ailments like rheumatism, inflammation, jaundice, hepatic obstruction, pain, urinary infections, oedema and gout. It is classified in ayurvedic system as seethaveeryam, mathuravipaka and used for the treatment of ABSTRACT Antioxidants play an important role in inhibiting and scavenging free radicals, thus providing protection to human against infections and degenerative diseases. Current research is now directed towards natural antioxidants originated from plants due to safe therapeutics. Hygrophila schulli is used in Indian traditional medicine for a wide range of various ailments. To understand the mechanism of pharmacological actions, antioxidant properties of the Hygrophila schulli seed extract were tested using standard in vitro models. The alcoholic extract of Hygrophila schulli exhibited strong scavenging effect on 2, 2-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) free radical, superoxide, nitric oxide radical and ABTS radical scavenging assay. The free radical scavenging effect of Hygrophila schulli extract was comparable with that of the reference antioxidants. The data obtained in the present study suggests that the extract of Hygrophila schulli seed have potent antioxidant activity against free radicals, prevent oxidative damage to major biomolecules and afford significant protection against oxidative damage.

Plant science today, Mar 15, 2022

Potential roles of phytochemicals in combating severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus infe... more Potential roles of phytochemicals in combating severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus infection. Plant Science Today (Early Access).

Pharmacognosy Journal, May 1, 2010

Objectives: Anthocephalus indicus A. Rich. is a medicinally important plant. It is used to treat ... more Objectives: Anthocephalus indicus A. Rich. is a medicinally important plant. It is used to treat the various remedies and diseases. It is mentioned in the literature that he phytoconsituents present in the plant is used for diabetes. The present study aims to examine the antidiabetic potential of aqueous extract of Anthocephalus indicus A. Rich. fruits. Material and Methods: Sprague Dawley adult male rats weighing 150-180g were used for the study. Alloxan monohydrate was used to induce diabetes. Aqueous extract of Anthocephalus indicus fruit (400 mg/kg body weight) was orally administered to the diabetic rats for 21 days. The serum glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL and LDL were studied. The preliminary phytochemical analysis of the aqueous fruit extract was carried out to detect the presence of alkaloid, flavonoid, tannins, glycosides, steroids, phenols coumarins and quinones. The histopathological study of liver and pancreas of rats of all the groups was done by haemat...

Objective: Aim of our study is to evaluate the antioxidant activity of aqueous extract of leaves ... more Objective: Aim of our study is to evaluate the antioxidant activity of aqueous extract of leaves of Anthocephaus indicus A. Rich. Methods: Anthocephalus indicus aqueous leaves extract was screened for its antioxidant activity by total antioxidant assay, ferric reducing antioxidant power and nitric oxide radical scavenging activity. TLC bioautography method was used for rapid screening of antioxidant compounds in the extract. Total phenolic and total flavonoid content was estimated by folin-ciocalteau and aluminium chloride method respectively. Results: Total antioxidant activity of aqueous leaves extract of Anthocephalus indicus was found to be 221.03±2.85 mM of ascorbic acid. As the concentration of extract increases the ferric reducing antioxidant power was found to be increased. The IC50 value of extract for scavenging of nitric oxide radicals was found to be 0.36 mg/ml of extract. Total phenolic and flavonoid content was found to be 386.59±0.02 and 320±0.02 mg/g dry weight of le...

THE ASIAN JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE, 2020

Plants have always been a vital source of medicines and other essential products that have been a... more Plants have always been a vital source of medicines and other essential products that have been a part of human life ever since time immemorial. Pharmacognosy and its associated aspects have been going through constant evolution and investigation with every generation revealing different and new pharmaceutical properties of plants and their products. The horticulture sector of India has witnessed a great demand of exotic fruits and vegetables in the last decade. These are either imported or artificially introduced in an exotic and non-indigenous habitat. A large number of these exotic plants which are consumed as fruits and vegetables possess a variety of bioactive phytochemical compounds. These bioactive compounds impart them some really important medicinal and pharmacological properties such as anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, hepatoprotective, anticarcinogenic, antiulcerogenic, analgesics etc. This review article is an attempt to briefly address such exotic fruits and vegetab...

International journal of applied research, 2016

This study was conducted to isolate bacteria from garden soil from the college campus in Kalyan, ... more This study was conducted to isolate bacteria from garden soil from the college campus in Kalyan, Dist Thane, and evaluate their potential as biofertilizers. Seven morphologically distinguished bacterial isolates (ASH1, SOB1, SOB2, SOB3, SOB4, PS1 and PS2) were isolated. These isolates were studied for their colony characteristics and were found to be Gram negative in nature. These isolates could grow at a broad temperature range, tolerate high concentrations of salt and survive in varying pH concentrations. The isolates were checked for their ability to produce IAA, sulphate ions, organic acids, siderphores, nitrites and solubilise phosphates. Isolate SOB3 was found to produce maximum amount of IAA, nitrites and showed higher sulphate oxidising potential. These isolates if used as biofertilizers can restore the soil's natural nutrient cycle and build soil organic matter, thus providing nutrients to the

International Journal of Life-Sciences Scientific Research, 2017

Coriandrum sativum Linn. is a promising functional food which is not only known to provide nutrit... more Coriandrum sativum Linn. is a promising functional food which is not only known to provide nutrition, but also medicinal benefits and is a potent source of antioxidants. The study monitors effect of storage temperature (-2.2 o C) and duration (0, 3, 6, 9 days) on antioxidant status of the plant. All parameters present in this study-Ascorbic acid, Tocopherol, Total phenols, SOD, POX, CAT, content were studied by spectrophotometric assays. A number of preservation methods have been designed to extent the shelf life of the food product and to maintain their antioxidant potential. The aim of the present study was to monitor changes in the above mentioned antioxidants during refrigerated storage. The study hypothesizes that as the storage period increases the level of enzymatic antioxidants increase with increase in degree of damage whereas the non-enzymatic antioxidants decrease (except phenolic) and concludes that the overall antioxidant status of the plant decreases considerably during storage condition. During storage, these antioxidants probably react with free radical, produced by aerial oxygen and are depleted, decreasing their concentration, despite being stored at refrigerator conditions.

Pharmacognosy Reviews, 2010

In recent years, there has been a great deal of attention toward the field of free radical chemis... more In recent years, there has been a great deal of attention toward the field of free radical chemistry. Free radicals reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species are generated by our body by various endogenous systems, exposure to different physiochemical conditions or pathological states. A balance between free radicals and antioxidants is necessary for proper physiological function. If free radicals overwhelm the body's ability to regulate them, a condition known as oxidative stress ensues. Free radicals thus adversely alter lipids, proteins, and DNA and trigger a number of human diseases. Hence application of external source of antioxidants can assist in coping this oxidative stress. Synthetic antioxidants such as butylated hydroxytoluene and butylated hydroxyanisole have recently been reported to be dangerous for human health. Thus, the search for effective, nontoxic natural compounds with antioxidative activity has been intensified in recent years. The present review provides a brief overview on oxidative stress mediated cellular damages and role of dietary antioxidants as functional foods in the management of human diseases.

Pharmacognosy Journal, 2010

Plant Science Today, 2022

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of the current ... more Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of the current ongoing global pandemic COVID-19 is yet far away from the clutches of contemporary western medicines. With the lack of conventional drugs for this deadly disease the scope for the development of herbal formulations and Ayurvedic medication is finding a sound basis in the current scenario. The past two years has witnessed detailed and focused investigations on the biologically active constituents derived from a range of medicinal plants and their potential antiviral properties against SARS-CoV-2. The promising results of these investigations have intrigued the medical and plant experts in pharmacognosy enough to consider herbal medicines and plant-based products as they are more effective in combating the COVID-19 crisis. However, a large-scale application of the same would require more focused and thorough research on this matter. This review is an attempt to describe the current and fut...