Flora-Glad Chizoba Ekezie ¹, W. Jessie Suneetha ¹, K. Uma Maheswari ¹, T. N. V. K. V. Prasad ², B. Anila Kumari ¹

Affiliations
1 Post Graduate and Research Centre, Department of Foods and Nutrition, Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad - 500 030, IN
2 Nanotechnology Laboratory, Institute of Frontier Technology, Regional Agricultural Research Station, Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University, Tirupati - 517 502, IN

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a multifunctional disorder which is increasing rapidly in most parts of the world. It has been estimated that up to one third of patients with diabetes mellitus use some form of complementary and alternative medicine. One plant that has received the most attention for its anti-diabetic properties is Momordica charantia commonly referred to as bitter gourd. In this study, bitter gourd was extracted in various media i.e. ethanol, water, citric acid, sodium carbonate and sodium chloride. The samples were evaluated for their in-vitro ability to inhibit α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes activity. Ethanol extract was observed to have maximum inhibition against these enzymes. The IC₅₀ values recorded for inhibition of α-amylase activity were 81.34, 87.56, 83.89, 97.71 and 83.12 μg/ml respectively for crude extracts of ethanol, water, citric acid, Na₂CO₃ and NaCl. Similarly, the ability of extracts to inhibit α-glucosidase was reflected in the result pattern ethanol<Na₂CO₃<NaCl<aqueous<citric acid (i.e. 72.81<75.66<80.15<81.22<83.85 μg/ml). Therefore, ethanol extract has potential applications in developing drug therapy for the treatment of diabetes using bitter gourd.

Keywords

Momordica Charantia, α-Amylase Activity, A-Glucosidase Activity, Phytochemical Properties, Anti-Diabetic Properties.

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T. Hima Bindu ¹, K. Jagamohan Reody ¹, K. Uma Maheswari ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Botany, Kakatiya University, Warangal, A.P. - 506 009, IN
2 Department of Food and Nutrition, PGRC, ANGRAU, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad - 500 030, IN

Abstract

Industrial effluents are being used for irrigation in places nearby the industries of paper, dairy and distillery. Paperboard industrial effluents are mostly used in growing rice and wheat. Rice grain quality is a prime factor from consumer as well as marketing point of view. Grain shape and size are important traits in determining the market value. The consumer's preference depends on their socio-economic status, besides physical dimensions, whiteness and translucence of the milled rice. Organoleptic quality is one of the vital factors for sustaining demands by the consumer's test for the acceptance of any rice variety. There was a scarce of studies about the industrial pollution effects on the physical, sensory and cooking (organoleptic) characteristics. Hence, there is a need to study about the effect of effluents on the quality of rice.

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K. Uma Maheswari ¹, Vijaya Khader ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Foods & Nutrition, Post Graduate and Research Centre, Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University, Rajendranagar, Hyderahad-30, Andhra Pradesh, IN
2 Department of Foods & Nutrition, CAS, PGRC, ANGRAU, Hyderabad-30, Andhra Pradesh, IN

Abstract

Water scarcity and crop failure are the main distressing features of drought, resulting in primary deficits of foods, fodder and drinking water. The primary effect of drought is on agriculture and hence it's worst victims, from the stand point of nutrition are the rural landless labourers (Venkateswarlu, 1992), Among these communities within the households it is the woman who suffers most from dietary deficits. This category is usually referred to as vulnerable group even under normal conditions.

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