Search Results (14)

Myrobalan fruits are important ingredients of traditional remedies, such as the Ayurvedic formulation Triphala or the Tibetan formulation Bras bu 3. Myrobalan-containing remedies are described to have positive effects on metabolism, the cardiovascular system, and the immune system. The chemical composition of botanical mixtures can be very complex, and it is often impossible to identify individual compounds as specific active ingredients, which suggests a multi-target mode of action. In this in vitro study, the effect of myrobalan extracts in human cell models was investigated to gain more information about the molecular mechanism of action and to find possible synergistic effects. Direct and indirect antioxidant effects were investigated, and the activation of immunobiochemical metabolic pathways involved in the cellular immune response was examined in cell lines treated with extracts of the fruits of Phyllanthus emblica, Terminalia chebula and Terminalia bellirica, as well as a combination of them. In particular, a synergistic effect on the activation of the endogenous antioxidant defence system was observed with the combined treatment of the three fruit extracts. An integrated transcriptome analysis of cells treated with a combination of fruit extracts confirmed an effect on immune pathways, oxidative stress, and detoxification processes. This study shows the modulation of various signalling pathways and cellular processes that may be part of the multi-target mechanism of individual and combined myrobalan fruit extracts. Although the results are limited to in vitro data, they contribute to a better understanding of how botanical mixtures work and provide hypotheses for further research. Full article

Terminalia bellirica (Gaertn) Roxb. and Terminalia chebula Retz. are significant botanicals in ancient Ayurvedic medicine. They are renowned for their therapeutic properties, notably in addressing gastrointestinal (GI) diseases. These plants have undergone thorough examination related to their antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties, which make them highly efficient natural treatments for controlling gastrointestinal infections. The current research demonstrated the antibacterial efficacy of fruit extracts of Terminalia bellirica and Terminalia chebula against Bacillus cereus, Shigella sonnei, Shigella flexneri, and Salmonella typhimurium. We performed disc diffusion and liquid microdilution experiments to evaluate the antibacterial efficacy. All extracts of Terminalia bellirica and Terminalia chebula showed good antibacterial effects against B. cereus and S. flexneri. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranged from 94 µg/mL to 556 µg/mL. The methanolic extracts from both plants also showed noteworthy antibacterial activity against S. sonnei and S. typhimurium, with MIC values of 755 µg/mL for both. Fractional inhibitory concentration studies revealed additive interactions between some conventional antibiotics and the plant extracts when used concurrently. Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analyses revealed that the T. bellirica and T. chebula extracts contained various tannins including methyl gallate, propyl gallate, gallic acid, and ellagic acid. Lethality assays conducted using Artemia franciscana Kellogg nauplii indicated that all the plant extracts are non-toxic. The antibacterial properties and absence of toxicity in T. bellirica and T. chebula fruit extracts indicate their potential for antibiotic development, warranting additional mechanistic and phytochemical studies. Full article

Maha Pigut Triphala is the herbal mixture of three fruits consisting of T. bellirica, T. chebula, and E. officinalis also known as P. emblica. Humans regularly eat the fresh fruits of these plants on a daily basis. Maha Pigut Triphala is one of the widely known herbal medicinal formulas used in traditional Thai medicine. Besides studying pharmacological properties, attention should also be paid to the safety and toxicity studies of herbal medicines. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the acute and chronic oral toxicity of Maha Pigut Triphala (2:1:3) in Sprague-Dawley rats. A single dose of Maha Pigut Triphala at a concentration of 5000 mg/kg body weight was administered orally to female rats in the acute oral toxicity study. In the chronic oral toxicity study, male and female rats were treated with various concentrations of Maha Pigut Triphala (600, 1200, and 2400 mg/kg body weight) once daily for 270 consecutive days. The presence of abnormalities in the symptoms and behavior of the rats were observed and recorded throughout the experiment. Additionally, body weight, organ weight, and mortality were recorded. At the end of the study, blood samples were collected for hematological and blood chemistry analysis, while the internal organs were evaluated for gross pathological and histopathological changes. The acute oral toxicity study revealed no mortality and abnormal symptoms or behavior in Maha Pigut Triphala-treated rats. Moreover, gross pathological and histopathological findings did not reveal any abnormalities in the internal organs. In the chronic oral toxicity evaluation, although there were negligible changes in body weight, organ weight, and hematological and blood chemistry parameters in rats treated with Maha Pigut Triphala for 270 days, no behavioral or gross pathological and histopathological abnormalities were observed. Overall, the results of this study demonstrate that Maha Pigut Triphala (2:1:3) neither causes acute nor chronic oral toxicity in rats, proposing the safety of this herbal formula in animals prior to human trials and use. Full article

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has arisen due to antibiotic overuse and misuse. Antibiotic resistance renders standard treatments less effective, making it difficult to control some infections, thereby increasing morbidity and mortality. Medicinal plants are attracting increased interest as antibiotics lose efficacy. This study evaluates the antibacterial activity of solvent extracts prepared using Terminalia bellirica and Terminalia chebula fruit against six bacterial pathogens using disc diffusion and broth microdilution assays. The aqueous and methanol extracts of T. bellirica and T. chebula showed substantial zones of inhibition (ZOIs) against Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). The activity against those bacteria was strong, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) ranging from 94 µg/mL to 392 µg/mL. Additionally, the T. bellirica methanolic extract showed noteworthy antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and an extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) E. coli strain (MIC values of 755 µg/mL for both). The aqueous T. bellirica and T. chebula extracts also inhibited Klebsiella pneumoniae growth (MIC values of 784 µg/mL and 556 µg/mL, respectively). The corresponding methanolic extracts also inhibited ESBL K. pneumoniae growth (MIC values of 755 µg/mL and 1509 µg/mL, respectively). Eighteen additive interactions were observed when extracts were combined with reference antibiotics. Strong antagonism occurred when any of the extracts were mixed with polymyxin B. Liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy (LC-MS) analysis of the extracts revealed several interesting flavonoids and tannins, including 6-galloylglucose, 1,2,6-trigalloyl-β-D-glucopyranose, 6-O-[(2E)-3-phenyl-2-propenoyl]-1-O-(3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoyl)-β-D-glucopyranose, propyl gallate, methyl gallate, sanguiin H4, hamamelitannin, pyrogallol, gallic acid, ellagic acid, chebulic acid, and chebuloside II. All extracts were nontoxic in brine shrimp assays. This lack of toxicity, combined with their antibacterial activities, suggests that these plant species may be promising sources of antibacterial compound(s) that warrant further study. Full article

Chebulae Fructus (CF) is known as one of the richest sources of hydrolyzable tannins (HTs). In this study, ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a photodiode array detector method was established for simultaneous determination of the 12 common phenolcarboxylic and tannic constituents (PTCs). Using this method, quantitative analysis was accomplished in CF and other four adulterants, including Terminaliae Belliricae Fructus, Phyllanthi Fructus, Chebulae Fructus Immaturus, and Canarii Fructus. Based on a quantitative analysis of the focused compounds, discrimination of CF and other four adulterants was successfully accomplished by hierarchical cluster analysis and principal component analysis. Additionally, the total contents of the 12 compounds that we focused on in this study were unveiled as 148.86 mg/g, 96.14 mg/g, and 18.64 mg/g in exocarp, mesocarp, and endocarp and seed of CF, respectively, and PTCs were witnessed to be the most abundant in the exocarp of CF. Noticeably, the HTs (chebulagic acid, chebulanin acid, chebulinic acid, and punicalagin) were observed to be ultimately degraded to chebulic acid, gallic acid, and ellagic acid during sunlight-drying of the fresh fruits. As a result, our study indicated that CF and its adulterants could be distinguished by the observed 12 PTCs, which were mainly distributed in the exocarp of the fruits. The HTs were prone to degrade into the three simple phenolcarboxylic acids during drying or processing, allowing us to obtain a more comprehensive understanding of the PTCs, with great significance in the improved quality of CF and related products. Full article

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory disease significantly impacting patients’ lives. This study aimed to elucidate the alleviating effect of ethyl acetate extract (TBEA) from Terminalia bellirica fruit on UC and to explore its mechanism. TBEA was the fraction with the best anti-inflammatory activity screened using in vitro anti-inflammatory assays, and HPLC initially characterized its composition. The mice model of ulcerative colitis was established after free drinking of 2.5% dextran sulfate sodium for six days, and the experimental group was treated with 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg TBEA for seven days. We found that TBEA significantly alleviated symptoms in UC mice, including a physiologically significant reduction in disease activity index and pathological damage to colonic tissue. TBEA dramatically slowed down oxidative stress and inflammatory process in UC mice, as evidenced by decreasing myeloperoxidase and malondialdehyde activities and increasing glutathione and catalase levels by reducing the concentrations of IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, and NO in UC mice, as well as by regulating key proteins in the IL-6/JAK2/STAT3 pathway. Meanwhile, TBEA maintained intestinal homeostasis by regulating intestinal flora structure. Our study provides new ideas for developing TBEA into a new drug to treat UC. Full article

There are a plethora of plant species in India, which have been widely used in vegetable dishes, soups, desserts and herbal medicine. In addition to these traditional uses, today there is the extra possibility of also being able to use these plants in the nutritional supplements industry due to their favorable antioxidant and mineral composition. In this sense, thirteen vegetable species—Chanania lanzan, Ziziphus mauritiana, Nilumbo nucifera, Terminalia catappa, Terminalia arjuna, Terminalia bellirica, Terminalia chebula, Lagenaria siceraria, Luffa aegyptiaca, Praecitrullus fistulosus, Benincasa hispida, Citrullus lanatus var. lanatus and Cucurbita maxima—have been analyzed. In this paper we discuss the distribution of polyphenols and minerals (Na, K, Mg, Ca, Al, P, S, Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Mo, As and Pb) in different seed parts (the rhizome, pericarp, carpel, seed coat and kernel) of the above species and their possible use in the nutritional supplements industry. The concentrations of total polyphenols, flavonoids and minerals ranged from 407 to 3144 mg rutin hydrate/100 g, 24 to 3070 mg quercetin/100 g and 1433 to 7928 mg/100 g, respectively. K, Ca, P and S were abundant in these herbal fruits. In two species of herbal fruits, Terminalia arjuna and Terminalia chebula, only part of the seed structure was suitable for use in nutritional supplements. Full article

Natural polymer (cellulose)-based fabric was colored using an environmentally friendly natural dye extracted from Jalawe (Terminalia bellirica) in the preparation of Batik fabric, a cultural heritage of Indonesia that is recognized by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Despite the significant favorable properties in terms of functions, environmental, and cultural aspects, the combination between natural polymer-based fabric and natural dyes makes the Batik fabric an ideal medium for bacterial growth, leading to lower product quality. In the quest for a sustainable, environmentally friendly, rich-in-culture, yet durable textile, this study aimed at the functionalization of natural dye (ND)-colored Batik fabric with antibacterial ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) synthesized from Electric Arc Furnace Dust (EAFD) waste. An in situ immobilization process with a Chemical Bath Deposition (CBD) method was explored at a pH range from 6 to 11 at 50 °C. Characterization methods include XRD, XRF, FESEM, EDX, FT-IR, tensile strength measurement, agar diffusion testing, and a CIE L*a*b* scale measurement. The XRD and XRF results showed that pure (>98%) ZnO NPs were formed at pH 11 of the CBD process. FESEM results demonstrated that the pure ZnO NPs either precipitated at the CBD reactor or were immobilized on the cellulose fabric, exhibiting distinct morphology compared to the non-pure ZnO NPs. EDX elemental analysis before and after washing demonstrated the durability of the ZnO NPs attachment, in which 84% of the ZnO NPs remained on the fabric after two washing cycles (equal to 10 cycles of home laundering). The FT-IR spectra provided information on the chemical functional groups, demonstrating the success of the ZnO NPs immobilization on the cellulose fabric through Van der Waals or coordination bonding. Moreover, the in situ immobilization of ZnO NPs enhanced the Batik fabric’s tensile strength but reduced its elongation. ZnO NP-functionalized Batik fabric that was treated at pH 10 and pH 11 showed antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus. The CIE L*a*b* scale results showed that the immobilization process affects the color quality of the ND-colored Batik fabric. However, based on organoleptic observations, the color of the Batik fabric that was treated at pH 11 is still acceptable for Jalawe ND-colored Batik fabric. Full article

Pitting is a form of localized corrosion. One way to increase pitting resistance is, therefore, to cover surfaces with inhibitor molecules. Many plant extracts have been reported to be able to adsorb onto metal surfaces. According to uniform corrosion, the corrosion rate is reported to be decreased due to adsorption. Terminalia bellirica fruit contains organic chemicals which can adsorb onto metal surfaces. The extract of Terminalia bellirica fruit was used in this work as a corrosion inhibitor for 304 stainless steel in an acidic solution. The results showed a decrease in the corrosion current density of 304 stainless steel when the extract was added. A very high corrosion inhibition efficiency (%IE) of 95% was obtained with an extract addition of 300 mg L^–1. Moreover, Terminalia bellirica fruit extract clearly showed an increase in the pitting potential of 304 stainless steel in potentiodynamic polarization curves, which was caused by the physical adsorption. The Langmuir adsorption isotherm model can be used to describe the adsorption of the extract molecule on 304 stainless steel surfaces. Besides the conventional pitting potential (E_pit), the parameter called pitting potential improvement in percentage (%PPI) was shown in this work. Additionally, it was calculated based on two boundaries. It can be used to quantify the pitting potential in a percentage. Pitting resistance both in terms of pitting potential and in terms of pitting potential improvement was found to be increased with increasing concentrations of the extract. The highest pitting potential improvement of 29% was achieved at 300 mg L^–1 of extraction addition. Full article

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of autochthonous Nepalese fruits on nutrient degradation, fermentation kinetics, total gas production, and methane production in in-vitro rumen fermentation. The fruits of Terminalia chebula (HA), Terminalia bellirica (BA), and Triphala churna (TC), a commercial mixture with equal parts (33.3% DM basis) of Phyllanthus emblica, Terminalia bellirica, and Terminalia chebula, were used. These were tested at three inclusion levels of 20% 40% and 100% of the total sample (as dry matter) in maize silage (MS). MS was used as a control (0% additive). These 10 treatments were tested for two 48-h incubations with quadruplicate samples using rumen fluid from 2 heifers. Total gas production (TGP: mL at standard temperature and pressure (STP)/g DM), methane production (expressed as % and mL/g DM), and volatile fatty acids were determined. After incubations, the filtrate was used to measure pH and volatile fatty acids (VFA), while the residue was used to measure degraded dry matter (dDM) and calculate the partitioning factor (PF48) and theoretical short-chain fatty acid concentration (tVFA). Rumen fluid pH linearly (p < 0.01) decreased in all treatments with increasing dose during fermentation. The CH₄% was less in all three treatments with 100% autochthonous plants than in control, but there were no significant linear or quadratic effects for increasing BA, HA, and TC doses. The PF48 increased for all treatments with a significant linear and quadratic effect (p < 0.05) of increasing dose. Compared to MS, the inclusion of autochthonous plants increased the total volatile fatty acids, with no significant dose effects. The tVFA linearly decreased (p > 0.05) with an increasing dose of BA and HA. All treatments showed quadratic effects on tVFA (p < 0.05) with increasing dose. Increasing TC dose linearly (p < 0.05) and quadratically (p < 0.05) increased total VFA, while increasing HA dose had only a quadratic (p < 0.05) effect on total VFA. All treatments reduced total gas production (TGP) and methane concentration (CH₄%) when compared to MS. The tested autochthonous fruits can be used as additives with a basal feed diet to reduce enteric methane emissions. The most effective anti-methanogenic treatment was 40% HA, which resulted in 18% methane reduction. Full article

As the human lifespan becomes longer, many people invest time and money in managing external beauty. However, managing external beauty has the disadvantage of causing side effects or that the effect does not last. Therefore, research and development are required to maximize effectiveness, eco-friendliness, and sustainably in beauty management. The purpose of this study was to experimentally identify the anti-aging effects, such as skin wrinkle and elasticity improvement, of extracts from Bahera, Phyllanthus emblica, Triphala, and Carica papaya, and to confirm their development as whitening and wrinkle functional cosmetic materials. In this study, a solid mixture was prepared using eco-friendly Terminalia bellirica, amla (Phyllanthus emblica), Triphala, and Carica papaya, and experimental samples were extracted. Antioxidant tests, antibacterial activity tests, polyphenol and flavonoid content, and deodorization tests were conducted to test the efficacy of experimental samples. The procedures and methods of these experiments are summarized in the following article. In this study, we found that the Bahera, Phyllanthus emblica, Triphala, and Carica papaya extracts had significant effects on whitening and wrinkle improvement, and that the effects of using ethanol-based extracts as the co-solvent were even greater. In other words, extracts of Bahera, Phyllanthus emblica, Triphala and Carica papaya showed antioxidant, whitening, and anti-wrinkle effects, and extracts that used ethanol as a co-solvent showed greater effects. In particular, we found that the optimal concentration of ethanol as a co-solvent maximizes its effectiveness at 70%. Full article

Traditional Triphala (three fruits), consisting of Phyllanthus emblica, Terminalia chebula, and Terminalia bellirica, presents a broad range of biological activities. However, its ability to inhibit dengue virus (DENV) infection has not been reported yet. Herein, the authors investigated the efficiency of three different Triphala formulations and its individual extract constituents to inhibit DENV infection. Treatment with T. bellirica extract or Triphala formulated with a high ratio of T. bellirica extract showed remarkable efficiency in significantly lowering DENV infection in Vero cells. Their effects were further studied in Huh7 cells, to address its potential ability in human cells. Treatment with 100 μg/mL of T. bellirica extract or Triphala resulted in an approximate 3000-fold or 1000-fold lowering of virus production, respectively. Furthermore, the treatment diminished IL-6 and CXCL-10 expressions, which are the hallmark of the cytokine storm phenomenon in DENV infection. The HPLC profiling demonstrated gallic acid as a major compound, the treatment by which showed its ability to effectively inhibit DENV infection after virus entry. Molecular docking demonstrated that gallic acid was able to interact with DENV NS5 protein, which could be one of Triphala’s antiviral mechanism. This study offers Triphala formulation and its ingredient, T. bellirica extract, as a natural based pharmaceutical to be used in DENV infection treatment. Full article

Batik has become more desirable in the current fashion mode within the global market, but the environmental damage induced by this fabric’s synthetic dye practices is a matter of concern. This study aimed to discuss the application of organic materials as natural dyes in the clean production of textiles to maintain the environment. The research was a case study from the community services program in Kampung Malon, Gunungpati, Semarang City, Indonesia, focused on the batik home industry of the Zie Batik fabric. Furthermore, natural pigments from various plant organs (stem, leaves, wood, bark, and fruit) of diverse species, including Caesalpinia sappan, Ceriops candolleana, Maclura cochinchinensis, Indigofera tinctorial, I. arrecta, Rhizopora spp., Strobilantes cusia, and Terminalia bellirica were used for this type of material. These pigments are more biodegradable, relatively safe, and easily obtained with zero liquid waste compared to the synthetic variants. The leftover wastewater from the coloring stages was further utilized for other processes. Subsequently, the remaining organic waste from the whole procedure was employed as compost and/or timber for batik production, although a large amount of the wastewater containing sodium carbonate (Na₂CO₃), alum (KAl(SO4)₂·12H₂O), and fixatives (Ca(OH)₂ and FeSO₄) were discharged into the environment during the process of mordanting and fixating, with the requirement of additional treatment. Full article

The deciduous tree Terminalia bellirica found in Southeast Asia is extensively used in traditional Indian Ayurvedic medicine for the treatment of hypertension, rheumatism, and diabetes. The anti-atherogenic effect of Terminalia bellirica fruit has not been fully elucidated. Here, we investigated the effect of Terminalia bellirica extract (TBE) on low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation and inflammation in macrophages. TBE showed 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity (EC₅₀: 7.2 ± 1.2 μg/mL) and 15-lipoxygenase inhibitory activity. TBE also significantly inhibited free radical-induced LDL oxidation compared to the solvent control in vitro. In THP-1 macrophages, TBE treatment resulted in significant decreases of the mRNA expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1beta (IL-1β), and lectin-like oxidized LDL receptor-1 (LOX-1). TBE also reduced matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 secretion and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in THP-1 macrophages. These results show that TBE has the inhibitory effects on LDL oxidation and macrophage inflammatory response in vitro, suggesting that its in vivo use might inhibit atherosclerosis plaque progression. Full article