Search Results (17)

This is the first investigation that attempts to synthesize chitosan-loaded vanillin nanoformulation (vanillin-Nf) as a novel edible coating agent to prolong the storage life of Indian gooseberry (amla). Different concentrations of vanillin were encapsulated into chitosan via ionic gelation approach using sodium tripolyphosphate as a cross-linker. Vanillin-Nf 1:1 (w/v) exhibited maximum loading capacity (2.502 ± 0.008%) and encapsulation efficiency (54.483 ± 1.165%). The physico-chemical characterization of vanillin-Nf through SEM, DLS, FT-IR, and XRD techniques confirmed effective incorporation of vanillin into the chitosan biomatrix and formation of spherical nanocapsules, with a mean particle size of 232.83 nm, zeta potential +69.66 mV, and polydispersity index 0.296. The in vitro release profile of vanillin exhibited a biphasic and regulated release pattern. The application of vanillin-Nf as an edible coating solution on amla (Phyllanthus emblica L.) fruits was highly effective in reducing decay incidence up to 42.84% and extended their shelf-life to 15 days at 25 ± 2 °C. The vanillin-Nf coating significantly reduced weight loss in amla fruits (24.39 ± 1.02%) in comparison to control. In addition, vanillin-Nf coating also helped in preserving the key quality parameters, including pH, chlorophyll content, total soluble solids, total phenols, and antioxidant capacity of Indian gooseberries to a substantial extent at the end of storage. Collectively, our findings indicate that vanillin-Nf coating is an effective post-harvest approach for controlling decay, prolonging shelf-life, and maintaining the nutritional attributes of Indian gooseberries, highlighting its potential for commercial application in the food and agriculture industry. Full article

Phyllanthus emblica Linn. (commonly known as Amla or Indian Gooseberry) is commonly used in Ayurvedic medicine to treat respiratory infections, skin disorders, and gastrointestinal issues. The fruit contains an abundance of polyphenols, which contribute to its strong antioxidant properties. The antibacterial activity of fruit extracts derived from P. emblica against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Klebsiella pneumoniae was determined along with the antibiotic-resistant variants extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) E. coli, methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), and ESBL K. pneumoniae. Disc diffusion and broth dilution assays were conducted to assess the activity of aqueous, methanolic, and ethyl acetate extracts, with large zones of inhibition of up to 15 mm on agar observed for S. aureus and MRSA. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging from 158 to 1725 µg/mL were calculated. The aqueous and methanolic extracts of P. emblica were less active against E. coli, ESBL E. coli, K. pneumoniae, and ESBL K. pneumoniae, with the only noteworthy MIC (633 µg/mL) observed for the aqueous extract against K. pneumoniae. Interestingly, a lack of inhibition was observed on agar for any of the extracts against these bacteria. Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis identified several notable flavonoids, phenolic acids, terpenoids, and tannins. Notably, Artemia nauplii bioassays indicated that all extracts were nontoxic. The antibacterial activity and absence of toxicity in P. emblica extracts suggest their potential as candidates for antibiotic development, highlighting the need for further mechanistic and phytochemical investigations. Full article

Vitiligo is a chronic autoimmune pigmentation disorder shaped by a complex interplay of genetic predispositions and environmental triggers. While conventional therapies—phototherapy, corticosteroids, and immunosuppressants—can be effective, their benefits are often partial and temporary, with recurrence common once treatment stops. As such, there is increasing interest in exploring complementary approaches that may offer a more sustainable impact. Emerging evidence suggests that macronutrient and micronutrient-level changes could be beneficial for managing progression and, in some cases, facilitating repigmentation. Antioxidant-rich foods, such as apples, green tea, Indian gooseberry, onions, and peppers, may help mitigate oxidative stress, while inflammatory foods, such as gluten and high-phenol nuts and berries, may exacerbate the condition. Certain supplements, including high-dose vitamin D, vitamin C, vitamin E, and selenium, may enhance phototherapy outcomes. Omega-3 and other unsaturated fatty acids, in addition to prebiotics and probiotics, are under active investigation for their roles in gut health and immune regulation. Notably, plant-derived compounds, i.e., Ginkgo biloba, have demonstrated promise in promoting repigmentation and managing disease progression. However, it must be emphasized that these nutritional interventions remain exploratory, and more research is needed to establish their efficacy, safety, and optimal usage before they can be recommended as part of a standard treatment regimen. Full article

Candida forms a gel-like biofilm in the Foley’s catheter (FC) causing tenacious biofouling and severe urinary tract infections (UTIs). For the first time, a spice extract-based antifungal lock therapy (ALT) has been developed to inhibit the Candida albicans gel matrix in FC. Aqueous extracts of garlic, clove, and Indian gooseberry were used as ALT lock solutions and tested against biofilm-forming multidrug-resistant clinical isolates of C. albicans. Reduction in the gel matrices formation in the catheter was confirmed by Point inoculation, MTT assay, CFU, and SEM analysis at 12 and 24 h of incubation. Garlic was effective in controlling both C. albicans M207 and C. albicans S470; however, clove and gooseberry effectively controlled the latter. As evidenced by CFU assay, there were 82.85% and 99.68% reductions in the growth of C. albicans M207 and S470, respectively, at 24 h of incubation. SEM revealed a switch from the biofilm to the yeast mode and a drastic reduction in cell numbers, with mostly clumped or lysed cells. The study will provide an impetus to the development of novel spice extract-based ALT, reducing the selection pressure on the pathogen and lowering antimicrobial resistance. Further research in this area has the potential to leverage clinical applications. Full article

Wastewater containing a mixture of heavy metals, a byproduct of chemical, petrochemical, and refinery activities driven by urbanization and industrial expansion, poses significant environmental threats. Analyzing such wastewater through adsorbate-adsorbent experiments yields extensive datasets. However, traditional methodologies like the Box–Behnken design (BBD) within the response surface methodology (RSM) struggle with managing large datasets and capturing the complex, nonlinear relationships inherent in such experimental data. To address these challenges, ML techniques have emerged as promising tools for accurately predicting the removal percentage of heavy metals from wastewater. In this study, we utilized tree-based regression models—specifically decision tree regression (DTR), random forest regression (RFR), and extra tree regression (ETR)—to forecast the efficiency of gooseberry seed powder in removing chromium (Cr(VI)) from wastewater. Additionally, we employed an ML-based Nelder–Mead optimization approach to identify the optimal values for key features (initial Cr(VI) concentration, pH, and Indian gooseberry powder dosage) which maximized the Cr(VI) removal percentage. Our experimental results reveal that the ETR model achieved an impressive $R^2$ score of 0.99, demonstrating a low error rate in predicting the Cr(VI) removal percentage. Furthermore, we used DTR-Nelder–Mead, RFR-Nelder–Mead, and ETR-Nelder–Mead optimization approaches on a synthesized dataset of 2000 instances while varying the initial Cr(VI) concentration, pH, and Indian gooseberry powder dosage. The analysis determined that the DTR-Nelder–Mead and RFR-Nelder–Mead approaches yielded the highest Cr(VI) removal percentages of 78.21% and 78.107% at an initial concentration of 95.55 mg/L, respectively, a pH level of four, and an adsorbent dosage of 8 g/L of gooseberry seed powder. Furthermore, the ETR-Nelder–Mead approach obtained the maximum Cr(VI) removal percentage of 85.11% at an initial concentration of 99.25 mg/L, a pH level of 4.97, and an adsorbent dosage of 9.62 g/L of gooseberry seed powder. These results reported an increase in the Cr(VI) removal percentage ranging from 4.66% to 11.56% more than the Cr(VI) removal percentage obtained by experimentation. These findings underscore the efficacy of tree-based regression models and ML-based Nelder–Mead optimization in elucidating chromium removal processes from wastewater, offering valuable insights into effective treatment strategies. Full article

Humans are frequently exposed to various carcinogens capable of inducing cancer in multiple organs. Phyllanthus emblica (P. emblica) is known for its strong antioxidant properties and potential in cancer prevention. However, its effectiveness against combined carcinogens remains relatively unexplored. This study aimed to assess the chemopreventive potential of the ethanolic extract of P. emblica fruits against preneoplastic lesions in the liver and colon using a rat model. Rats were administered with diethylnitrosamine (DEN) and 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) to induce hepato- and colon carcinogenesis, respectively. The ethanolic extract of P. emblica fruit at 100 and 500 mg/kg bw significantly reduced the number of preneoplastic lesions in the liver by 74.7% and 55.6%, respectively, and in the colon by 39.2% and 40.8%, respectively. Similarly, the extract decreased the size of preneoplastic lesions in the liver by 75.2% (100 mg/kg bw) and 70.6% (500 mg/kg bw). Furthermore, the extract significantly reduced the cell proliferation marker in the liver by 70.3% (100 mg/kg bw) and 61.54% (500 mg/kg bw), and in the colon by 62.7% (100 mg/kg bw) and 60.5% (500 mg/kg bw). The ethanolic extract also enhanced liver antioxidant enzyme activities and demonstrated free radical scavenging in DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays. Additionally, the dichloromethane fraction of P. emblica showed significant cancer prevention potential by reducing intracellular ROS and NO production by 61.7% and 35.4%, respectively, in RAW 264.7 macrophages. It also exhibited antimutagenic effects with a reduction of 54.0% against aflatoxin B1 and 52.3% against 2-amino-3,4-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline-induced mutagenesis in Salmonella typhimurium. Finally, this study highlights the chemopreventive activity of P. emblica fruit extract against the initiation of early-stage carcinogenic lesions in the liver and colon in rats treated with dual carcinogens. Full article

Aonla, commonly known as Indian gooseberry (Phyllanthus emblica), is a plant native to India with various therapeutic and dietary benefits. This review covers the taxonomical, morphological, and species-level classifications of aonla fruit, including its flower biology, maturation, harvesting, and yield metrics. It also discusses the nutritional, physico-chemical, and phytochemical characteristics and the total antioxidant and antimicrobial activities and mineral compositions of several aonla fruit cultivars. Additionally, the health benefits of aonla are reviewed, including its analgesic, antipyretic, antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, ulcerogenic, chemo-protective, neuroprotective, free radical scavenging, hypoglycaemic, and immunogenic properties, which make it beneficial in the treatment and prevention of various illnesses. Further various forms of fruit extract are also considered to be beneficial for the improvement of plant and animal health. Overall, aonla is a valuable fruit with significant potential for use in improving human health. Full article

Using clarifying agents is essential in the production of fruit juice. This study utilized gelatin and bentonite as clarifying agents to improve the quality and shelf-life of Indian gooseberry juice (IGBJ). Different treatments were prepared using varying levels of gelatin and bentonite alone or in combination (1.5–2 mg/mL and 1–2 mg/mL, respectively). The untreated IGBJ was used as a control. The results showed the combined treatment of 1.5 mg/mL gelatin and 1 mg/mL bentonite significantly (p ≤ 0.05) improved the transmittance, △E value, total acidity, vitamin C, and antioxidant activity of the IGBJ sample. During storage for 49 days at 4 °C, the quality changes in the IGBJ were minimal with the use of 1.5 mg/mL gelatin and 1 mg/mL bentonite compared to the control (p > 0.05). The treated samples showed no signs of spoilage bacteria, yeast, or mold during cold storage. The combined use of gelatin and bentonite (1.5 mg/mL gelatin and 1 mg/mL bentonite) was found to effectively preserve the sensory quality, bioactivity, and color properties of IGBJ, thereby extending its shelf-life. Thus, gelatin and bentonite can be used as preferred filtering aids for quality and shelf-life extension in the food industry, as they have synergistic effects. Full article

The development of highly nutritious bakery products with optimum utilization of food waste is a major challenge for the food industry. The optimum utilization of food waste for the sustainable development goal of the country is important for the growth of the nation. The aim of the present work is to prepare value-added composite flour-mixed bread from waste fruit and vegetables. The composite flour was prepared in four formulations of peel and pomace with wheat flour (PPWF), as PPWF1, PPWF2, PPWF3, and PPWF4. Composite flour was blended with a mix of vegetable and fruit pomace powders and whole wheat flour. Indian gooseberry pomace powder, apple pomace powder, bottle gourd peel powder, and potato peel powder were used with whole wheat flour to make pomace and whole wheat flour compositions such as PPWF1, PPWF2, PPWF3, and PPWF4. Out of these four flours, PPWF3 contained a good amount of fiber 8.16%, crude protein 3.18%, total phenolic content 14.48%, moisture 9.5%, vitamin C 13.64 mg/100 g, and total phenolic compound 14.48 (mg/GAE/g), which are maximum and acceptable range values as compared to the other three composite flours and the control group flour. PPWF3 is used as a partial replacement ratio for wheat flour due to its high phenolic content, vitamin C content, and richness in fibers. This composite flour is used to make bread dough, and two samples, G1 and G2, are made, out of which G2 offers better nutritional, functional, and sensory evaluations in comparison with refined wheat bread, which is taken as a control group. Thus, such utilization of food waste in bread making can generate value from waste and improve the nutritional attributes of bread, which may improve an individual’s health. Full article

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic metabolic disease showing an exponential increase in its prevalence all over the world. High blood glucose level is one of the main clinical signs of the disease. Although several classes of drugs are available for treatment, their prolonged use and adverse effects behoove the use of alternative medicine. Plant-derived natural products have multifaceted beneficial roles in human pathophysiology. Plant metabolites like tannins, organic acids, polyphenols, terpenes, and flavonoids show multiple mechanisms of action against diabetes. The fruits of Emblica officinalis (EOF), also known as Indian gooseberry (amla), contain several phytochemicals, potentially having anti-diabetic activity. Hydrolyzable tannins are the major bioactive components of the amla fruit, the most abundant hydrolyzable tannin being β-glucogallin. The present review summarizes the mechanism of action and clinical evidence for the beneficial effects of EOF on T2DM and its associated complications. Full article

Kombucha is a fermented tea beverage obtained by the symbiosis of yeast, acetic acid bacteria and some lactic acid bacteria, and it has many health benefits. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of adding Indian gooseberry as a substrate to enhance the chemical properties of kombucha. In this study, traditional kombucha made from green tea was compared to kombucha made from green tea blended with various forms of Indian gooseberry, including whole fruit, dried fruit and juice. The fermentation was performed for 21 days and samples were collected every 3 days to enumerate the total number of yeast and bacteria. Physical and chemical properties, including total soluble solids, alcohol content, pH, acetic acid content, total phenolic and flavonoid content, antioxidant activity and organic acids, were analyzed. The results revealed that the dried Indian gooseberry kombucha (DIGK) demonstrated significantly high total phenolic content and total flavonoid content. In addition, DIGK had the highest D-Saccharic acid-1,4 lactone (DSL) on the 9th day of fermentation. This discovery suggests that dried Indian gooseberry can be used as an alternative substrate for kombucha fermentation to create a new type of kombucha beverage with enhanced chemical properties. Full article

The ayurvedic herb Emblica officinalis (E. officinalis) is a gift to mankind to acquire a healthy lifestyle. It has great therapeutic and nutritional importance. Emblica officinalis, also known as Indian gooseberry or Amla, is a member of the Euphorbiaceae family. Amla is beneficial for treating illnesses in all its forms. The most crucial component is a fruit, which is also the most common. It is used frequently in Indian medicine as a restorative, diuretic, liver tonic, refrigerant, stomachic, laxative, antipyretic, hair tonic, ulcer preventive, and for the common cold and fever. Hyperlipidemia is also known as high cholesterol or an increase in one or more lipid-containing blood proteins. Various phytocompounds, including polyphenols, vitamins, amino acids, fixed oils, and flavonoids, are present in the various parts of E. officinalis. E. officinalis has been linked to a variety of pharmacological effects in earlier studies, including hepatoprotective, immunomodulatory, antimicrobial, radioprotective, and hyperlipidemic effects. The amla-derived active ingredients and food products nevertheless encounter challenges such as instability and interactions with other food matrices. Considering the issue from this perspective, food component nanoencapsulation is a young and cutting-edge field for controlled and targeted delivery with a range of preventative activities. The nanoformulation of E. officinalis facilitates the release of active components or food ingredients, increased bioaccessibility, enhanced therapeutic activities, and digestion in the human body. Accordingly, the current review provides a summary of the phytoconstituents of E. officinalis, pharmacological actions detailing the plant E. officinalis’s traditional uses, and especially hyperlipidemic activity. Correspondingly, the article describes the uses of nanotechnology in amla therapeutics and functional ingredients. Full article

Nowadays, there is a large demand for nutrient-dense fruits to promote nutritional and metabolic human health. The production of commercial fruit crops is becoming progressively input-dependent to cope with the losses caused by biotic and abiotic stresses. A wide variety of underutilized crops, which are neither commercially cultivated nor traded on a large scale, are mainly grown, commercialized and consumed locally. These underutilized fruits have many advantages in terms of ease to grow, hardiness and resilience to climate changes compared to the major commercially grown crops. In addition, they are exceptionally rich in important phytochemicals and have medicinal value. Hence, their consumption may help to meet the nutritional needs of rural populations, such as those living in fragile arid and semi-arid regions around the world. In addition, local people are well aware of the nutritional and medicinal properties of these crops. Therefore, emphasis must be given to the rigorous study of the conservation and the nutritional characterization of these crops so that the future food basket may be widened for enhancing its functional and nutritional values. In this review, we described the ethnobotany, medicinal and nutritional values, biodiversity conservation and utilization strategies of 19 climate-resilient important, underutilized fruit crops of arid and semi-arid regions (Indian jujube, Indian gooseberry, lasora, bael, kair, karonda, tamarind, wood apple, custard apple, jamun, jharber, mahua, pilu, khejri, mulberry, chironji, manila tamarind, timroo, khirni). Full article

This study aimed to examine the total viable bacteria (TVBC); total coliform (TCC); fecal coliform (TFC); pathogenic Pseudomonas spp., Staphylococcus aureus, and total fungi (TF); and the effect of different low-cost disinfectants (sterile water, salt water, blanched, and vinegar) in decontamination of 12 types of fruit and 10 types of vegetables. In fruit samples, the lowest TVBC was enumerated at 3.18 ± 0.27 log CFU/g in Indian gooseberry and the highest at 6.47 ± 0.68 log CFU/g in guava. Staphylococci (2.04 ± 0.53–5.10 ± 0.02 log CFU/g), Pseudomonas (1.88 ± 0.03–5.38 ± 0.08 log CFU/g), and total fungi (2.60 ± 0.18–7.50 ± 0.15 log CFU/g) were found in all fruit samples; however, no Salmonella was detected in fruit samples. Similarly, the lowest TVBC recorded 5.67± 0.49 log CFU/g in cucumber and the highest 7.37 ± 0.06 log CFU/g in yard long bean. The Staphylococci (3.48 ± 0.13–4.81 ± 0.16 log CFU/g), Pseudomonas (3.57± 0.21– 4.75 ± 0.23 log CFU/g), TCC (1.85 ± 1.11–56.50 ± 37.14 MPN/g), TFC (1.76 ± 0.87– 3.78 ± 3.76 MPN/g), and TF (3.79 ± 0.18–4.40 ± 0.38 log CFU/g) were recorded in all vegetables samples, but no Salmonella was detected in yard long bean, pointed gourd, carrot, tomato, cucumber, or brinjal. However, vinegar showed the highest microbial load reduction of selected fruit and vegetables among the different treatments. With vinegar treatment, the highest reduction of TVBC (1.61-log) and TF (2.54-log) was observed for fruits, and TVBC (2.31-log) and TF (2.41-log) for vegetables. All the disinfectant treatments resulted in significant (p < 0.01) bacterial load reduction compared to control for the studied fruits and vegetable samples. Full article

This study aimed to confirm the synergistic effect of an Indian gooseberry (IG) and barley sprout (BP) mixture in differentiated adipocytes. To this end, 3T3-L1 adipocytes were treated with IG, BP, and IGBP mixtures during the differentiation period. On the last day of differentiation, we measured intracellular cAMP, triglyceride (TG), and fatty acid (FA) levels, as well as performed Oil Red O staining, glycerol release, and Western blot assays. During adipogenesis, IGBP (200 μg/mL) increased the cAMP levels by more than 2-fold and decreased the protein expressions levels of p-CREB (66.3%), C/EBPα (79.4%), C/EBPβ (85.9%), and PPARγ (74.1%) compared to those in the C group. Furthermore, the expression levels of the adipogenesis-related genes and GLUT4 (more than 3-fold) were regulated. During lipogenesis, the IGBP (200 μg/mL) activated AMPK and ACC levels and reduced the protein expression levels of SREBP1c, FAS, and LPL. This reduced the FA and TG contents in the cells by 47.6% and 76.3%, respectively, compared to those in the differentiated control (C) group, resulting in a more than 5-fold increase in glycerol release. In conclusion, we found that IGBP inhibited TG synthesis during adipogenesis and lipogenesis, and thus, displayed potential as a functional health food for preventing obesity. Full article