Informatics Publishing Limited

B. Babitha ¹, P. Kiranmayi ², K. Aruna ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Foods and Nutritional Science, Acharya Nagarjuna University, Guntur, 522 510, A.P., IN
2 Department of Biochemistry, Acharya Nagarjuna University, Guntur, 522 510, A.P., IN

Abstract

Banana is one of the rare fruits which satisfy the definition of a good food, that is, one that contains an ample proportion of nutritive constituents which are easily digested and absorbed, while available at reasonable cost. Banana is unique due to its high calories and nutritive value. As compared to apple, it contains five times more vitamin A and iron, four times protein, three times phosphorus, twice the carbohydrate and the other vitamins and minerals. Bananas are highly perishable commodities with post harvest losses estimated at 20 to 80 per cent. The current post harvest problems for bananas are mainly concerned with storage and marketing. The causes of such losses during storage and marketing include the susceptibility of mature fruit to physical damage, decay of ripe banana fruit due to the attack by pathogenic fungi and uneven and unpredictable ripening of the fruit.

Full Text

     

Samer Salim Abed ¹, Khalid Imran ², P. Kiranmayi ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Biochemistry, Acharya Nagarjuna University, Guntur District - 522510, Andhra Pradesh, IN
2 Department of Microbiology, Krupanidhi Degree College, Bengaluru - 560035, Karnataka, IN

Abstract

Dental caries is an age-old oral disease afflicting humans irrespective of gender, age, socio-economical background, and geographical location. Despite extensive research being done worldwide to prevent dental caries, it is undoubtedly still a significant public health issue. Streptococcus mutans, a commensal bacteria of the oral microflora, is the primary etiological agent strongly linked to dental caries. In recent years, medicinal plant-based phytotherapy has drawn great attention towards managing various diseases as it is effective and safe. The aim of the investigation was to evaluate the antibacterial activity of fresh Citrus limon fruit juice against S. mutans and to quantify its ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) concentration. Additionally, to determine the MIC, MBC and growth curve assay of standard ascorbic acid against S. mutans. Fresh C. limon fruit juice demonstrated significant antimicrobial activity against the S. mutans reference strain (MTCC 497) by the agar well diffusion method. The ascorbic acid concentration of C. limon juice was found to be 0.194 % w/w by HPLC technique. The MIC and MBC values of standard ascorbic acid against S. mutans were found to be 12.5 mg/ml and 25 mg/ml, respectively. The growth curve assay demonstrated that ascorbic acid at a sub-MIC concentration of 6.25 mg/ml did not display any significant variations in the growth rate of S. mutans. To summarize, C. limon fruit juice is a potential source of natural antibacterial metabolites against S. mutans. Ascorbic acid, one of the chief components of C. limon fruit, is a promising agent for the development of anti-caries products. Further studies are warranted for developing novel formulations using ascorbic acid with other natural metabolites for the prevention and better management of caries.

Keywords

Antimicrobial Activity, Ascorbic Acid, C. limon, Dental Caries, HPLC, S. mutans

Full Text