Polyphenols

Numerous new diseases are spreading in the world and allopathic drug therapy is not sufficient to combat all these diseases. So there is a need to find cure of various ailments by herbal therapy. Herbal drugs are now shaping the future of therapy of various diseases. Allopathic drugs are effective but they have numerous side effects, sometimes their adverse effects may outweigh the benefits in curing diseases in human beings. So the current approach is now directed towards developing technologies for developing herbal therapies which could cure diseases with no or minimal side effects. In the present review Asparagus racemosus Willd. has been discussed. This plant could prove to be a milestone in herbal therapy because of its wide spectrum of pharmacological actions and uses. The review discusses about Asparagus racemosus Willd ., its chemical constituents and therapeutic potentials.

Capsicum (Capsicum annuum) of different ripening stages contains different biochemicals that might be altered by the cooking processes practiced in the different part of this country. The present study was designed to analyze their in vitro antioxidant profile before and after thermal processing in water at different temperatures and pH. Thermal processing was done at 60oC, 80oC and 100oC, whereas pH 5.0 and 9.0 were also used for extraction. The assays performed included DPPH radical decolorization assay, reducing power assay and assay for total phenolic contents. It was observed that the reducing power and total phenolic content improved in case of all the three different maturity stages of the vegetable after thermal processing and pH dependent extraction. DPPH radical scavenging ability, however, was diminished. This indicated that non-polar antioxidants were not extracted in the extraction conditions. Improved antioxidant profile in aqueous assay systems was probably due to better solublization of the polar antioxidants in hot water and different acid-base conditions. Improvement in the total phenolic contents substantiated the radical scavenging abilities of the three variants after aqueous extraction.

Cancer is a major obstruction to the growing world. The reason for this crisis is modification of lifestyle management and alteration in food intake. Fruits and vegetables are rich in phenolic and phytochemical compounds which provide chemoprotective properties. Utilization of fruits and vegetables reduces the risk of recurring diseases. Apple is an important part of food chain rich in source of phenolic compounds that provides chemoprotective activity. Apple and mango skin contains more nutritional value than any other fruit, which inhibits cancer cells. Apple and Mango peels are the key by-product during processing of apples and mangoes. This study is a literature based review defining the comparison of phenolic compounds in apple peel and mango peel.