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Background Medicinal plants occupy an important place in the lives of people around the world. This study covers an area where medicinal plants are widely used for various health-related problems due to easily available sources. Objective: The current study aimed to document the quantities of data about the most commonly used medicinal plants in the district Bannu and two common species' biological activities. Methods Ethno-pharmacological data were collected from different locations of district Bannu in the period from 2018 to 2019.The information about biological activities was concentrated on two species: Withania coagulans (Stocks) Dunal and Mentha viridis L. The data was compiled randomly by semi-structured interviews from having different groups, ages consist of both genders, male and female. Results The ethno-pharmacological data were collected from 115 native people, including 14 traditional healers. The most frequently cited families were: Solanaceae and Moraceae with 5 species (5.88%) followed by Apiaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Fabaceae with 4 species each (4.7%). The highest use-value was reported for Withania coagulans (0.47), followed by M. viridis (0.44), Tamarix aphylla (0.43), Curcuma longa (0.42), Plantago ovata (0.41), Linum usitatissimum (0.40). Least use value was reported for Ziziphus nummularia (0.04).The highest RFC value was reported for W. coagulans (47.82), followed by M. viridis (44.34), and T. aphylla (43.47). Conclusion The study will result in further pharmacological and clinical research to discover new medicines to improve the health system. It is the first step in unraveling natural products' potential and requires careful study and investigation to enrich the system worldwide. The study will also contribute to the conservation of medicinal plants in the area of Bannu.

Psyllium husk (Plantago ovata Forssk.), is an excellent source of natural soluble fiber. Arabic flatbread formulation standardized in a laboratory was scaled up for production in a commercial bakery. The water holding capacity (WHC) of wholegrain wheat flour (WGF), white wheat flour (WWF) and psyllium husk (PS) were found to be 2.9, 2.3 and 59.2 g water/g dry matter, respectively. The total dietary fiber (TDF) for WWF control bread (3.20 ± 0.23%) increased significantly to 5.62 ± 0.16 and 7.56 ± 0.18% with the addition of 3% and 5% psyllium, respectively. The corresponding soluble dietary fiber (SDF) values for these samples were 1.31 ± 0.13, 3.02 ± 0.16 and 4.15 ± 0.14%, respectively. The WWF Arabic flatbread samples also followed a similar trend for TDF and SDF contents with the addition of psyllium husk. At a level of 5% psyllium, the WWF test bread had a puncture force of 2.97 ± 0.16 N (much softer) compared with 3.40 ± 0.35 N for the WWF control bread (0% psyllium), whereas the WGF with 5% psyllium addition had a puncture force of 3.05 ± 0.19 N at the zero day of storage compared to that of 3.94 ± 0.19 N for WGF bread with no psyllium added. The major objective of this study was not only to enhance the soluble dietary fiber content in Arabic flatbread, but also to improve the consumer acceptability of this staple food of this region. Incorporation of psyllium husk did not adversely affect the objective color of crumb or overall consumer acceptability, and produced Arabic flatbread with softer texture, better flexibility (folding) and superior eating quality.

A frozen banana pulp with functional properties was developed and characterized in this work. For this, 0 g, 3 g, 5 g and 7 g of psyllium in 100 g of banana pulp were added. The use of this fiber in industrialized products can contribute to the nutritional enrichment of the products and provide functional benefits already acknowledged, such as lowering LDL cholesterol, lowering blood glucose, increasing satiety and relieving constipation. According to the World Health Organization, vegetable consumption should be increased, as it reduces the risk of chronic diseases. The main purpose of this work was to incorporate psyllium in frozen banana pulp to develop a healthy product. The samples were evaluated through chemical analyses, rheological properties and sensory testing with Check-All-That-Apply questions (CATA). The addition of psyllium had a significant effect not only on the viscosity but also on the sensory and nutritional properties of the frozen banana pulp. This study indicated that the production of frozen banana pulp with psyllium is viable, as it has desirable nutritional and sensory characteristics which can contribute to the maintenance of health.

Plantagos are important economical and medicinal plants that possess several bioactive secondary metabolites, such as phenolics, iridoids, triterpenes, and alkaloids. Triterpenoids are the ubiquitous and dynamic secondary metabolites that are deployed by plants for chemical interactions and protection under biotic/abiotic stress. Plantago ovata, a cultivated species, is the source of psyllium, while Plantago major, a wild species, has significant therapeutic potential. Wild species are considered more tolerant to stressful conditions in comparison to their cultivated allies. In view of this, the present study aimed to decipher the terpenoid biosynthetic pathway operative in P. ovata and P. major using a comparative transcriptomics approach. Majority of terpenoid biosynthetic genes were observed as upregulated in P. major including rate limiting genes of MVA (HMGR) and MEP (DXR) pathways and genes (α-AS, BAS, SM, and CYP716) involved in ursolic acid biosynthesis, an important triterpenoid prevalent in Plantago species. The HPLC output further confirmed the higher concentration of ursolic acid in P. major as compared to P. ovata leaf samples, respectively. In addition to terpenoid biosynthesis, KEGG annotation revealed the involvement of differentially expressed unigenes in several metabolic pathways, aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis, biosynthesis of antibiotics, and biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. MYB was found as the most abundant transcription factor family in Plantago transcriptome. We have been able to generate valuable information which can help in improving terpenoid production in Plantago. Additionally, the present study has laid a strong foundation for deciphering other important metabolic pathways in Plantago.

The experiment was laid out in a Factorial Randomized Block Design with sixteen treatments and replicated three times. There was no significant difference among the treatments with respect to nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content of leaves under different levels of planting geometry and interaction effect. But different nutrient levels had significant influence in the N, P and K content in isabgol plant. Higher N (3.76%), P (0.7%) and K (3.59 %) content in the leaves was observed when plants supplied with 75 % RDF (37.5:18.75:22.50 + 7.5 t FYM). The maximum uptake of N (229.11 kg /ha), P (43.98 kg /ha) and K (218.46 kg /ha) was found at row spacing of 22.5 cm, which was significantly superior to other spacing levels.Nutrients had significantly influenced the N, P and K uptake. The 75 % RDF (37.5:18.75:22.50 + 7.5 t FYM) level recorded maximum uptake of N (166.36 kg /ha), P (32.13 kg /ha) and K (158.39 kg /ha), which was significantly superior to all other nutrient levels.Among the interactions, 22.5 cm row spacing + 75 % RDF (37.5:18.75:22.50 + 7.5 t FYM) recorded significantly maximum N, P and K uptake (252.05, 49.31 and 238.85 kg/ha respectively). Where, RDF= recommended dose of fertlizer, FYM = Farm yard manure

The experiment was laid out in a Factorial Randomized Block Design with sixteen treatments and replicated three times. The result indicated that the spacing of 22.5cm recorded significantly maximum number of spikes (36.50), seed yield (1221 kg /ha), husk yield (305 kg/ha), swelling factor (13.70 cc /g) and protein content (11.91%) in the seeds. Among the different nutrient levels, maximum number of spikes (35.79), seed yield (904 kg /ha), husk yield (225 kg/ha), swelling factor (13.93 cc /g) and protein content (12.24 %) of seeds were obtained with the application of 75 % RDF (37.5:18.75:22.50 + 7.5 t FYM.) and the interaction of row spacing of 22.5 cm and 75% RDF recorded maximum yiled and quality parameters found non significant.

The microwave-assisted extractions (MAE) of Ocimum basilicum L. (basil) seed, Trigonella foenum-graecum (fenugreek) seed, and Plantago ovata Forsk (psyllium) seed husk hydrocolloids (BSH, FSH, and PSH, respectively) were performed at their maximum desirability function (for BSH) or optimum (for FSH and PSH) conditions and compared with conventional heating extraction (CHE). The extraction conditions had been defined based on two responses (Yield % and viscosity, mPa s) after relevant post-screening or optimization experiments based on previous experiments. Higher (17.89, 12.33, 32.60, 30.19, 71.73%) average extraction yields were obtained for BSH extracted by MAE (MAE-BSH), BSH extracted by CHE (CHE-BSH), FSH extracted by MAE (MAE-FSH), FSH extracted by CHE (CHE-FSH), and PSH extracted by MAE (MAE-PSH) in respective order compared with the estimated values (15.03, 9.96, 32, 22, and 65.4). Molecular weight (Mw) measurements were executed and the average Mw was determined to be 3.93 × 106, 2.89 × 106, 6.81 × 106 Da in the heavier fractions of BSH, FSH, and PSH. The FT-IR spectroscopy was performed and the predominant absorbance bands were defined. Dielectric properties of the 2% BSH, FSH, and PSH solutions were found to be comparable with distilled water. The steady flow analysis showed shear-thinning behavior for BSH, FSH, and PSH. The apparent viscosity (η, mPa s) of PSH was the highest followed by BSH and FSH. Dynamic flow measurements showed characteristics of a weak gel for BSH and PSH. Scanning electron microscopy showed morphological variations between the studied hydrocolloids. In addition, the study also indicated that microwave heating has lower destructive effects on the functional properties of the extract as compared to conventional thermal processing and could pave the way for future research. To conclude, MAE was found to be the efficient method for extraction of hydrocolloids with higher yield at a shorter extraction time.

Intercropping medicinal plants with grain legumes provides an excellent opportunity for small-scale farmers to generate more income and move towards sustainable cropping systems. The effect of arbu...

Psyllium (from Plantago ovata; ispaghula) is used as a dietary supplement and is supplied in the form of husk, granules, capsules, or powder. Consumers using psyllium-containing laxatives, healthcare workers handling these, and pharmaceutical workers in laxative-manufacturing plants are known to be at risk of sensitization and subsequent rhinitis, asthma, contact urticaria, and even anaphylaxis. To our knowledge, the case we present here is the first of baker's immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated occupational allergy due to psyllium exposure. Our patient, a 24-year-old female baker with no previous allergies, was referred to our clinic with suspected occupational rhinitis. After 1 year of baking with cereal flour or gluten-free flour-mix, she began to suffer from rhino-conjunctival symptoms during workdays. Skin prick tests with agents from the patient's workplace revealed allergies not only to wheat and rye flours but also to psyllium, with a remarkable 10 mm wheal. Subsequently, nasal provocation tests confirmed occupational allergic rhinitis to psyllium. We also found work-related sensitization to buckwheat, which she used in gluten-free baking. Due to the increased prevalence of celiac disease and the popularity of gluten-free and vegan food, psyllium has recently become a common ingredient in baking, used as a substitute for gluten or eggs. Bakers handle allergens such as these in high concentrations and this may lie behind the emergence of respiratory and dermal symptoms. It is essential to consider new or recenlty introduced materials as possible allergens if it is suspected that a baker has work-related respiratory or allergic symptoms.

Summary The aim of the article was to obtain maximum information about plant mucilage, its sources and applications in the pharmaceutical industry. This study focuses on the scientific articles and books available in Internet resources and college library that deal with the sources, applications, extraction and isolation of plant mucilage. Mucilage is obtained mainly from plant sources and can be isolated easily. Due to the low cost, easy availability, non-toxicity, non-irritancy, and biocompatibility, mucilage is of great demand in the field of pharmaceuticals. Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L., Trigonella foenum-graecum L., Abelmoschus esculentus L, Plantago ovata Forssk. and Aloe barbadensis L. are some common sources of mucilage. The isolation methods vary depending on the part of the plant where mucilage is present. It is commonly used as gelling agent, suspending agent, binder, and disintegrant. Since it is hydrophilic in nature, chances of deterioration are higher. In this review, different mucilage sources and their isolation methods are discussed in detail. Mucilage is used as excipient in many formulations of tablets, suspensions, gels, etc. The study explores the potential of plant mucilage as an excipient in pharmaceutical formulations. The biodegradable and biocompatible properties of this inexpensive excipient make it more favourable for the newer formulation development.

Introduction. At present, global prevalence of celiac disease attracts increasingly greater attention of researchers. The study of its extraintestinal manifestations is a crucial task for early and timely diagnosis of the disease, as well as the identification of new risk groups. To date, there are only isolated publications concerning the study of celiac disease incidence in patients with acne. This topic is of particular interest since systemic retinoids with a hepatotoxic effect and antibiotics significantly affecting the intestinal microflora are the first-line drugs in the treatment of moderate and severe acne. Undoubtedly, these side effects influence on the course of acne in celiac patients. So, to prevent the complications of the treatment, it is necessary to search, develop and introduce into practice safe combinations, including drugs having a protective effect both for the intestinal microflora and for the liver. It is known that psyllium (Plantago ovata seed shells/Ispaghula husks) have similar effects.Objective. To study the effect of psyllium on the tolerability and effectiveness of systemic therapy with isotretinoin and doxycycline in patients with moderate acne with celiac disease. Material and methods. We examined 65 patients with celiac disease suffering from moderate acne, who were randomized into two groups – group 1 (taking an antibiotic – doxycycline) and group 2 (taking a systemic retinoid – isotretinoin), then each group was divided into two subgroups A and B, depending on the prebiotic intake (powder of oval plantain seeds shells Plantago ovata Forssk (psyllium). The patients were followed up for 8 and 24 weeks, respectively. All patients received adjuvant topical therapy. In each group, a medical check-up was done before treatment, 2 months after the onset and then after the treatment completion.Conclusion. Patients in both subgroups who received psyllium in addition to antibiotics and systemic retinoids treatment showed better results after treatment in terms of skin condition, overall health and quality of life.

BACKGROUND Burn wounds are a worldwide health problem, leading to physical and psychological disabilities in all age’s groups. With regard to absorbent properties of Plantago ovata mucilage which can decrease wound moisture, we aimed to compare the effect of silver sulfadiazine (SSD) 1% and powdered P. ovata on second-degree burn wound healing in rats. METHODS This experimental study was conducted on 30 male Wistar rats with second-degree burn in three groups. Group 1 (control) did not receive any treatment; group 2 and group 3 (treated groups) were dressed daily using SSD cream and P. ovata powder, respectively. The weight of rats, wound size (by applying ImageJ software) and percentage of wound healing on the 5th, 7th, 10th, 13th, 16th, 19th, and 22nd days (by diagnosing a plastic surgeon) and histological cutaneous changes at day 22 were evaluated. The Prism software was applied for data analysis. The Haematoxylin & Eosin as well as Masson's trichrome staining were performed on wound skin biopsies. RESULTS On day 22nd, 20%, 50% and 60% of the rats had complete wound healing in the control, SSD and P. ovata groups, respectively. A significant decrease in wound size was shown in the treated groups compared to the control group (P0.05). CONCLUSION However, the wound healing in P. ovata group or SSD was better than the control group, and the significant difference was not found with the treated group.

Herein, we report a polysaccharide-based hydrogel isolated from psyllium husk (a well-known dietary fiber) and evaluated for its swelling properties in deionized water (DW) at different physiological pH values, i.e., 1.2, 6.8 and 7.4. Swelling of psyllium hydrogel (PSH) in DW under the influence of temperature and at different concentrations of NaCl and KCl solutions was also examined. A pH-dependent swelling pattern of PSH was observed following the order DW > pH 7.4 > pH 6.8 > pH 1.2. Stimuli-responsive swelling and deswelling (on–off switching) behavior of PSH was observed in DW and ethanol, DW and normal saline, at pH 7.4 and pH 1.2 environments, respectively. Similar swelling behavior and on–off switching attribute of PSH-containing tablets indicated the unaltered nature of PSH even after compression. Scanning electron micrographs of swollen and then freeze-dried PSH via transverse and longitudinal cross-sections revealed hollow channels with an average pore size of 6 ± 2 μm. Furthermore, PSH concentration-dependent sustained release of theophylline from tablet formulation was witnessed for >15 h following the non-Fickian diffusion mechanism. Subacute toxicity studies revealed the non-toxic nature of PSH. Therefore, dietary fiber-based material, i.e., PSH could be a valuable pharmaceutical excipient for intelligent and targeted drug delivery.

BACKGROUND Plantago ovata is a medicinal plant, rich in fibre. Its seed-husk (psyllium) is used to control constipation, obesity, diabetes and cholesterol levels etc. In the presented study, it was incorporated into poultry meat formulations and the quality parameters of the cooked samples were tested. METHODS Ground thigh meat from chicken was mixed with water and powdered Plantago ovata husk. The amount of water and husk ranged between 0-40% and 0-3%, respectively. The proximate composition of raw batters and cooked samples was tested. Production yields were calculated after cooking the samples in a water bath. Water activity, texture and colour parameters were analysed in the cooked samples. RESULTS Fat content was lower in the samples with higher water addition. Water activity was lower in the samples with psyllium, but increased in the case of the highest water addition. Production yields were the highest while hardness was the lowest in the sample with both 3% of Plantago ovata husk and 40% of water. Lightness decreased when psyllium was added while redness decreased with both psyllium and water addition. CONCLUSIONS The formulation with 40% of water and 3% of psyllium was chosen as the best, due to high production yields. Further tests should be conducted to test microbiological stability, shelf-life and consumer acceptance of products manufactured according to the abovementioned parameters.

The present investigation was carried out to characterize four different types of psyllium seeds including one landrace for their nutritional, structural, antioxidant profile and biological active compounds. DSC analysis showed the highest peak temperature (TP) of 107.57 ºC in RI-89 and end set temperature (TE) of 130.2 ºC for HI-5 cultivar. FT-IR analysis displayed strong absorption bands at frequencies 960, 1380, 1740, 2280 and 3280cm-1. SEM micrographs of each cultivar showed compact and irregular mass of fiber at various magnifications. Protein, fat, ash and total carbohydrate content of psyllium seed flour were recorded up to 13.33, 0.38, 5.0 and 77.88 %, respectively. Ethanol was found to be a suitable solvent than methanol to extract the phytonutrients from psyllium seed flour. DPPH free radical scavenging activity (FRSA) of methanolic and ethanolic extract varied between 31 to 39 % and 38.9 to 43 %, respectively. However, ABTS-FRSA varied between 31.7 to 32.9 % and 33.2 to 34.3 %, for methanolic and ethanolic extract, respectively. Total flavonoids and total phenolic content was recorded up to 2.92 mg RE/g and 4.37 mg GAE/g, in ethanolic extract. The reducing power (RP) and Metal chelating activity (MCA) also varied significantly (p≤0.05) among the cultivars. The MCA ranged from 33.20 to 34.81 % in methanolic extracts and 34.62 to 36.07 % in ethanolic extracts. The lowest absorbance for reducing power was found in methanolic extract of landrace (0.16), whereas, the highest was found in ethanolic extract of RI-89 (0.37). Physico-chemical properties including oil and water absorption capacity of both seed and flour did not vary significantly among the cultivars, whereas significant difference was observed in seed hydration capacity among cultivars evaluated. Among the physical properties, L/W ratio ranged from 1.80 to 199, whereas porosity and angle of repose were of 59.2 to 67.7 % and 23.20 to 27.02º, respectively. Static coefficient of friction was found less using steel (0.484 to 0.667) as a test surface compared to wood (0.679 to 0.744) and plastic (0.536 to 0.560). Bulk density, true density and porosity of various psyllium seed cultivars varied between 0.57 to 0.63 g/cm3 and 1.50 to 1.77 g/cm3 and 58.2 to 67.7%, respectively. Geometric mean diameter (Dg), Arithmetic mean diameter (Da) and surface area of seeds (A) varied from 1.49 to 1.60 mm and 1.68 to 1.79 mm and 5.91 to 6.78 mm2, respectively.

The extent of genetic diversity in the crop plants is of prime concern to plant breeders and germplasm curators. Therefore, a study was employed to determine the genetic diversity and to evaluate the performance of eight genotypes of isabgol (Plantago ovata Forsk.) through analysis of morpho-physiological and yield attributing characteristics. All the germplasm was collected from different areas of Bangladesh. The experiments were conducted at the research field of Regional Spices Research Centre, Magura during the rabi season, 2019-20 to characterize phenotypically and to evaluate the performance of different isabgol germplasm. The experiments were laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications. The highest plant height (42.33 cm), number of tillers per plant (7.33), number of leaves per plant (74), length of leaf (30.00 cm), number of spikes per plant (29.0), length of spike (4.03 cm), 1000 seeds weight (2.0 g) and seed yield (823 kg ha-1) of isabgol was found from the germplasm PO-001 and the lowest plant height (39.67 cm), number of tillers per plant (6.33), number of leaves per plant (69.33), length of leaf (26.33 cm), number of spikes per plant (23.0), length of spike (3.67 cm), 1000 seeds weight (1.87 g) and seed yield (705 kg ha-1) of isabgol was found from the germplasm PO-007. On the basis of this field trail in terms of seed yield and other important agronomic characteristics the genotypes PO-001 can be chosen for future breeding material to release a commercial variety in Bangladesh climatic conditions.

Nowadays, consumers’ attention to the functional foods has increased significantly. In this study, the effect of different concentration (0.5, 1, and 2%) of P.ovata Forsk seed mucilage (PFM) on survivability of L.acidophilus, physicochemical, and sensory attributes of produced low‐fat yoghurt were investigated in 0, 7, 14, and 21 days of storage period. Results showed that at the beginning of the storage period, the number of L.acidophilus in yoghurt samples containing PFM was significantly higher than control sample. The highest number of L.Acidophilus was observed in yoghurt sample contain 2% PFM (6.68 log CFU/g) on the first day of storage period. The lowest decrease of L.Acidophilus (0.2 log CFU/g) was observed in the sample contain 2% PFM. Treatments containing PFM had lower pH and higher acidity than the control sample. Addition of PFM to the yoghurt samples increased water holding capacity (WHC) during storage period significantly while syneresis decreased. The highest WHC (89%) and the lowest syneresis (6%) were observed in yoghurt sample containing 2% PFM. Sensory evaluation results showed that the treatments containing PFM were not significantly different in taste, but the probiotic yogurt containing 1% PFM had the highest acceptability in terms of total appearance and texture. Evaluation of L, a, and b values indicated that yoghurt sample containing 2% PFM was significantly lower in L and b values and higher in a value than the control sample. Therefore, using P.ovata Forsk seed mucilage in yoghurt sample formulation improved the physicochemical attributes and probiotic survivability of produced yoghurt sample.

Psyllium gum is a hydrocolloid found in the husk of seeds from Plantago ovata. Psyllium husk has been used in traditional medicine in areas of India and China. Its consumption has been shown to provide nutritional benefits, such as the capacity to reduce the glycaemic index, to minimize the risk of cardiovascular diseases, to decrease cholesterol and constipation problems and others. Thus, interest in the incorporation of psyllium in food products is twofold. First, it can be a natural alternative to the use of other gums and hydrocolloids considered additives. Second, it can be used to improve the nutritional properties of products in which it is incorporated. However, for this purpose, it is necessary to add great quantities of psyllium. This review analyses the potential use of psyllium in distinct food products, considering its advantages and inconveniences as well as possible solutions for undesired effects. Among the analyzed products there are bakery products and, in particular, gluten-free breads where psyllium has been used as a gluten substitute. The incorporation of psyllium into dairy products such as yogurts and those derived from fruits, among others, is also addressed.

Flowering is one of the major developmental processes that govern the economic yield of crop plants. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms underlying flowering in Isabgol, an important high-value medicinal crop. Here, we analyzed the leaf transcriptome of early and late flowering genotypes by high throughput next-generation sequencing to uncover the genes and pathways involved in flowering time and flower development. Illumina paired-end sequencing of Isabgol leaves at the stem elongation stage, generated 8,976,119 and 4,282,684 reads respectively in DPO-14 (early flowering) and DPO-185 (late flowering) genotypes. The sequence assembly resulted in 40,175 and 39,533 transcripts respectively in early and late genotypes. A total of 17,768 (95.50) in DPO-14 and 21,255 (94.10) in DPO-185 CDS were annotated. There were 8981CDS were differentially expressed of which 1220 (13.58%) were significantly upregulated while 1485 (16.53%) CDS were significantly downregulated in DPO-185 compared with DPO-14. In total, 229 genes were identified belongs to distinct flowering pathways in Isabgol. A putative schematic network of flowering pathway regulation in Isabgol was proposed. Significant DEGs (60 genes) related to flowering time and flower development were detected between the early and late flowering genotypes. Significant differences in fold change expression of 17 genes were observed in early and late flowering genotypes. Many differentially expressed genes (DEGs) involved in flowering time and flower development were identified. The expression data will serve as a resource for unraveling the functions of specific genes involved in flower development in Isabgol and other plants. These findings are significant for further understanding of the molecular basis for flowering time regulation, breeding, and molecular biology in Isabgol as well as other crop plants.

Made available in DSpace on 2021-06-25T11:47:12Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2020-09-01. Added 1 bitstream(s) on 2021-07-15T14:36:18Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 S0102-09352020000501609.pdf: 244443 bytes, checksum: 47a5e1cbcb9ab5ebb819555bdecbf883 (MD5) The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Psyllium (PSY) and Carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) administration on fecal elimination of sand in horses with asymptomatic sand accumulations. Eight horses were selected from sandy areas and randomly divided into 2 groups of four animals. The subjects were treated either with CMC or PSY. The presence of intestinal sand was confirmed through radiography and glove sedimentation test. The study was performed in two phases, with a 7-day interval. In phase I, all the animals received 8 liters of warm water; in phase II, the CMC group received 8 liters of water + 1g/kg of CMC, whereas the PSY group received 8 liters of water + 1g/kg of PSY. All administrations were performed through nasogastric intubation and fractionated in 2 equal volume administrations with an interval of two hours. General and specific physical examination of the digestive system were performed in conjunction with abdominal ultrasonography before the administrations and after 6, 12, 24, 36 and 48 hours, aiming to evaluate intestinal motility and presence of sand. All the feces eliminated by the animals within the 72 hours following the administrations were quantified, diluted and sedimented in order to calculate the sand output (g/kg of feces). All the animals were also subjected to radiographic examination to quantify sand accumulation prior to phase I and after 72 hours of phases I and II. No adverse effects were observed after the treatments. It was possible to notice higher sand elimination in both groups during the phase I, whereas no difference was observed in sand elimination rates between the groups in phase II. The radiographic scores presented differences between the initial timepoint and 72h in phases I and II for both groups. Based on the sand elimination rates and radiographic score, this study demonstrated that sand output was greater after administration of water alone, compared to CMC and Psyllium, leading to the inference that removal of the sandy environment and prevention of sand re-ingestion are effective measures for the elimination of sand from the colon of horses with asymptomatic sand accumulations. Univ Estadual Paulista, Fac Med Vet & Zootecnia, Botucatu, SP, Brazil Univ Estadual Paulista, Fac Med Vet & Zootecnia, Botucatu, SP, Brazil

This pot experiment was carried out to investigate the efficiency of plant rhizospheric microorganisms (PRMs) to counteract salinity stress in Plantago ovata. The treatments included soil salinity ...

Objective: Evaluation of the effect of psyllium (Plantago ovata) in pain symptoms in fibromyalgia carriers. Methods: The study included women with fibromyalgia (FM) enrolled in the waiting list of the Clinic School of Physical Therapy of Unisul. Data were collected from March to May 2017. The Visual Analog Scale (EVA) was used to assess the degree of pain, and the pain frequency was assessed through an objective question. Each patient received 300g of Psyllium to use 10g a day for thirty days. Data were expressed as mean and analyzed statically by analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results: A total of 33 FM patients were evaluated, ranging from 31 to 68 years. Before the intervention with psyllium the lowest number in the EVA was 5 (n = 1) and greater 10 (n = 3). After the use of psyllium the smallest number on the scale was 2 (n = 1) and the highest 10 (n = 2). Regarding the frequency ofpain, 75.75% (n = 25) of the patients reported having pain every day before the intervention and 51.51% (n = 17) after. The data from this study showed differences to improve the degree and frequency of pain, but were not statistically significant. Conclusion: Despite not having statistically significant values, it was possible to see improvement in the frequency and degree of pain in some patients. Objetivo: Avaliar o efeito do psyllium (Plantago ovata) nos sintomas de dor em pacientes com fibromialgia. Métodos: Participaram do estudo mulheres com fibromialgia (FM) cadastradas na lista de espera da Clínica Escola de Fisioterapia da Unisul. A coleta de dados foi feita de março a maio de 2017. Para avaliar o grau de dor foi utilizada a Escala Visual Analógica (EVA), e a frequência de dor foi avaliada através de uma pergunta objetiva. Cada paciente recebeu 300g de Psyllium para utilizar 10g ao dia durante trinta dias. Os dados foram expressos em média e analisados estaticamente pela análise de variância (ANOVA). Resultados: Foram avaliadas 33 pacientes com FM, com idade variando entre 31 a 68 anos. Antes da intervenção com o psyllium o menor número na EVA foi 5 (n=1) e maior 10 (n=3). Após o uso do psyllium o menor número na escala foi 2 (n=1) e o maior 10 (n=2). Já com relação à frequência da dor, 75,75% (n=25) das pacientes informaram ter dor todos os dias antes da intervenção e 51,51% (n=17) após. Os dados deste estudo demonstraram diferença para melhora do grau e frequência de dor, porém não foram estatisticamente significantes. Conclusão: Apesar de não se ter obtido valores estatisticamente significativos, foi possível visualizar melhora na frequência e grau de dor em algumas pacientes.

The antioxidant and hepatoprotective activities of psyllium husk mucilage (PHM) were studied in carbon tetrachloride induced hepatotoxicity rat model. Subsequently, biochemical hepatic parameters were evaluated alongside the assessment of glutathione reductase, superoxide dismutase and catalase potentials in the rats’ liver tissue. Moreover, histopathology and western blot techniques were employed for the assessment of TNF-α protein expression level in the current study. Our results demonstrated that oral administration of PHM at 100 mg/kg in rats significantly ameliorated the deleterious effects induced by CCl4 on the rats’ livers. This was manifested by the substantial results obtained from in vitro antioxidant assays, the reestablishment of the level of different liver biomarkers, the fortification of the liver architecture to close typical and reduction of the TNF-α expression level in comparison to that of CCl4- intoxicated control group. The current approach highlighted the special role of the dietary fiber of psyllium husk, as a promising natural hepatoprotective agent.

Background Oral mucositis (OM) is one of the most common complications of mucotoxic cancer therapy. Mucositis induces clinically significant pain, increases the risk of infections and affects the patients’ quality of life. Objective This study investigated the effects of an herbal preparation from Plantago ovata hydrocolloid in the prevention and treatment of OM, in breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy with a regimen including adriamycin. Design, setting, participants, and interventions This research was a double-blind, randomized, controlled crossover trial. The herbal compound consisted of a mixture of 500 mg of P. ovate husk in 30 mL water plus three drops of vinegar per dose, which was used as a mouthwash. Phytochemical and physicochemical tests of the compound were also performed. Twenty-eight patients who developed mucositis during the chemotherapy screening cycle were randomized to the herbal compound (n = 14) and placebo (n = 14) groups. They received herbal compound or placebo three times per day during their next chemotherapy cycle (cycle 1 of treatment). Patients were crossed over during cycle 2 of treatment and received the alternative therapy. An oral care protocol was prescribed to all patients in cycles 1 and 2 of the treatment. Main outcome measures The patients were visited at baseline, the end of the first and second weeks of the screening cycle, and the end of the first and second weeks of each of two treatment cycles. The degree of mucositis was used as the main treatment outcome. Other indexes, such as the severity of pain, xerostomia grade and the quality of life were also measured. Results Compared with the placebo, the herbal compound significantly reduced the degree of mucositis, the severity of pain and the xerostomia grade; it also improved the patients’ quality of life (P Conclusion The oral care protocol and the herbal compound based on P. ovata are effective ways for preventing and treating OM in patients undergoing mucotoxic cancer therapy. Trial registration Iranian registry of clinical trials IRCT20180923041093N1.

Background: Plantago ovata Forsk (Psyllium seed) is an annual plant of plantago genus. This plant widely grows in India and Iran. The Psyllium seed contains mucilage, protein, sugar, fat and tannins. Seed’s husk is a known source to extract hydrocolloid. Objective: The aim of this study was to optimize gum extraction from the Psyllium seed. Methods: The response surface methodology (RSM) was used to estimate the effect of independent variables on the extraction yield of Psyllium gum. The obtained experimental data were fitted to a second- order polynomial equation using multiple regression analysis and analyzed by appropriate statistical methods. A central composite design (CCD) was used for experimental design and analysis of the results to obtain the best possible combination of extraction temperature (X1= 60-80°C), extraction time (X2= 1-3 h), and the ratio of water to raw material (X3= 30-70%) for the maximum gum extraction. Results: Optimum extraction conditions were extraction temperature of 79°C, extraction time of 2.5 h, and the ratio of water to the raw material of 57%. The experimental extraction yield under optimal conditions was found to be 9 ± 0.25%, which was in agreement with the predicted value of 9.4%. Conclusion: This study showed that Psyllium gum can be used as a hydrocolloid source for pharmaceutical and food industry such as edible films for food packaging.

Background Fiber intake has been associated with a lower risk of developing various chronic diseases such as metabolic diseases (e.g. obesity, diabetes, dyslipidemia). In this line, psyllium presents a high content of soluble fiber, associated with health benefits. Scope and approach The aim of this review is to evaluate the scientific evidence of psyllium health benefits. The nutritional properties of psyllium are presented, as well as its various applications in food products. The main functional benefits of psyllium are presented in topics, as follows: the effect on cholesterol control, on type 2 diabetes, and on obesity and satiety. Key findings and conclusions Products containing psyllium can be an effective alternative to improve the functionality and produce healthy foods. The addition of psyllium to a food product (e.g. bakery goods, dairy, meat and gluten-free products). Can provide the health claim for a fiber-containing product, which is an important advantage in the market. In addition, it may allow consumers to ingest adequate amounts of fiber without increasing calorie intake, as well as contributing to other health benefits such as cholesterol control, glycemic control, satiety, among others. Psyllium can be easily added to food formulations and does not change the flavor perception of the product. Thus, the food industry may play an important role in the prevention of chronic non-communicable diseases when using psyllium in food products.

The aim of the study was to characterize raw aqueous extracts from Plantago ovata husk in terms of molecular chain mass, osmotic, hydrodynamic, and rheological properties. The raw extracts used in this study have not been yet investigated in the indicated research area. Determination of the molecular weight of the chains present in the extract was performed by gel permeation chromatography (GPC). Osmotic properties were characterized using membrane osmometry. Rheological properties were investigated via classical rotational rheology with normal force measurements, as well as less common but equally important measurements of extensional viscosity. Two types of chains with an average molecular mass of 200 and 1780 kDa were found. The values of the first virial coefficient (B2) indicate the predominance of biopolymer-biopolymer interactions. The hydrodynamic radius established at 25 and 30 °C was 74 and 67 nm, respectively, and lower than at 40 °C (>600 nm). The first critical concentration was determined: c*=0.11g·dL−1. The dominance of negative normal force values resulting from the formation of a pseudo-gel structure of the heteroxylates was demonstrated. Extensional viscosity measurement results revealed that the studied extracts cannot be treated as simple shear-thinning fluids, as indicated by shear flow, but should be considered as viscoelastic fluids.

Ispaghul (Plantago ovata Forsk.) as an important medicinal plant has obtained a remarkable reputation due to therapeutic applications of seed mucilage. To determine the effect of in vitro-induced polyploidy on various characteristics of P. ovata, the terminal bud of two true leaves seedlings were separately treated with colchicine [0.1, 0.3 and 0.5% (w/v) for 6, 12 and 24 h] and trifluralin [7.5, 15 and 22.5% (w/v) for 24, 48 and 72 h] solutions. The ploidy level of induced tetraploids was determined via chromosome counting of root tip cells, and then confirmed through flow-cytometric analysis. Comparison the morphological, physiological, anatomical features of intact diploids and induced tetraploids revealed that tetraploids had considerable more height, thicker leaf, larger spike and seed, larger pollen grain and more seeds per spike. Moreover, the amount of chlorophyll (a, b, and total) and carotenoids, as well as chloroplast number in guard cells was further in tetraploids than diploids. Unlike density, stomata size in tetraploids was bigger than that one in diploids. It was also observed that seeds of tetraploids had more mucilage than diploids. In summary, we firstly developed the P. ovata tetraploids and suggested 0.3% colchicine for 24 h and 22.5% trifluralin for 72 h as the optimum treatments for inducing tetraploidy in P. ovata.

The structures of two hydrogels formed by purified brush-like polysaccharides from Plantago ovata seed mucilage have been characterised from the nanometre to micrometre scale by using a combination of SANS and USANS techniques. These two hydrogels have distinctly different melting and rheological properties, but the structure of their gel networks bears striking similarity as revealed by USANS/SANS experiments. Surprisingly, we find that the dramatic changes in the rheological properties induced by temperature or change in the solvent quality are accompanied by a small alteration of the network structure as inferred from scattering curves recorded above melting or in a chaotropic solvent (0.7 M KOD). These results suggest that, in contrast to most gel-forming polysaccharides for which gelation depends on a structural transition, the rheological properties of Plantago ovata mucilage gels are dependent on variations in intermolecular hydrogen bonding. By enzymatically cleaving off terminal arabinose residues from the side chains, we have demonstrated that composition of side-chains has a strong effect on intermolecular interactions, which, in turn, has a profound effect on rheological and structural properties of these unique polysaccharides.

Flavonoids are the most widespread secondary metabolites in plants, which are synthesized through the phenylpropanoid pathway. These are known to possess various types of health promoting activities. Plantago ovata, a medicinally important plant has not been explored much in terms of its antioxidant potential. In the present study, the expression pattern of genes of the phenylpropanoid-flavonoid biosynthetic pathway in P. ovata was studied in detail for the first time. These genes showed expression in both the tissues under study (leaf and ovary). In addition, the in vitro radical scavenging activity, total antioxidant capacity, and reducing power ability of the plant extracts were also assessed. The experiments revealed that the leaf extract of P. ovata had higher antioxidant activity than that of the husk extract, which also correlated with their total phenolics and flavonoid content. The flavonoid and phenolics content of the leaf extract was observed to be 320.9 ± 0.052 mg Rutin/g dry wt. and 43.8 ± 0.092 mg GAE/g dry wt., respectively. The results of this study suggest that the methanolic extract of P. ovata leaf is a source of natural compounds with significant antioxidant activity. It also presented P. ovata as a possible new source of natural antioxidants which can be further explored as a therapeutic agent in the free radical induced diseases.

Zinc causes toxicity to the plants in an excess concentration and it is manifested by chlorosis, rolling of leaf margins, and disruption of membrane integrity. The heavy metal stress also triggers the stimulation of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant systems. Polyamines are naturally occurring, secondary metabolites, protecting plants from heavy metal-induced stress. Plants also up-regulate the mRNA expression of Metallothionein in response to heavy metal-induced oxidative stress. The alteration in Metallothionein type 2 (PoMT2) expression of a medicinally important herb Plantago ovata in presence of polyamines like Putrescine, Spermidine, and Spermine in addition to ZnSO4.H2O by the semi-quantitative and the quantitative methods have been demonstrated in the present study. We have observed reductions in the expression of the Metallothionein type 2 gene in the presence of the aforementioned polyamines which implies their protective and antioxidant properties to fight against the zinc induced stress. 1 mM Put has been more efficient in increasing the total chlorophyll content (compared to 2 mM Put) by about 36% each in 1000 µM ZnSO4 treated P. ovata seedlings. Spermidine also enhanced chlorophyll content. 2 mM Put and 0.5 mM Spm have shown even better efficiencies in increasing the total antioxidant and DPPH radical scavenging activities. The lipid peroxidation has been found to decrease in Put and Spm supplemented samples by up to about 47% in both cases. Significant reductions in lipid peroxidation and down-regulation of PoMT2 gene expression indicate the roles of polyamines in partially alleviating Zn-induced oxidative damage.

In this paper, the phytochemical analysis of the seeds of a new Iranian Plantago ovata Forssk. population exemplar is reported. This phytochemical analysis was carried out by means of hydroalcoholic maceration, column chromatography, NMR and MS analyses and led to the isolation of sixteen compounds belonging to five different classes of natural compounds. After comparison with previous analyses, a clear difference about their whole phytochemical patterns could be observed in some terms. A possible explanation of this was generally given, too.

Seed and fruit mucilage is composed of three types of polysaccharides—pectins, cellulose, and hemicelluloses—and demonstrates adhesive properties after hydration. One of the important functions of the mucilage is to enable seeds to attach to diverse natural surfaces. Due to its adhesive properties, which increase during dehydration, the diaspore can be anchored to the substrate (soil) or attached to an animal’s body and dispersed over varied distances. After complete desiccation, the mucilage envelope forms a thin transparent layer around the diaspore creating a strong bond to the substrate. In the present study, we examined the mucilaginous seeds of six different plant taxa (from genera Linum, Lepidium, Ocimum, Salvia and Plantago) and addressed two main questions: (1) How strong is the adhesive bond of the dried mucilage envelope? and (2) What are the differences in adhesion between different mucilage types? Generally, the dried mucilage envelope revealed strong adhesive properties. Some differences between mucilage types were observed, particularly in relation to adhesive force (Fad) whose maximal values varied from 0.58 to 6.22 N. The highest adhesion force was revealed in the cellulose mucilage of Ocimum basilicum. However, mucilage lacking cellulose fibrils, such as that of Plantago ovata, also demonstrated high values of adhesion force with a maximum close to 5.74 N. The adhesion strength, calculated as force per unit contact area (Fad/A0), was comparable between studied taxa. Obtained results demonstrated (1) that the strength of mucilage adhesive bonds strongly surpasses the requirements necessary for epizoochory and (2) that seed mucilage has a high potential as a nontoxic, natural substance that can be used in water-based glues.

Mucilage is a hydrophilic mixture of polysaccharides produced by seeds of many species, and used in research, industrial processes and as human health supplements. As such, demand often outweighs supply. In recent years, several researchers have reported that mucilage can be produced efficiently from in vitro-cultured calli as a direct ‘plant-less’ alternative to seed mucilage; however, this mucilage has not been rigorously characterised. Here we replicate previously published culturing and extraction procedures and couple them with compositional analysis to determine whether the mucilage produced from Plantago ovata and P. lanceolata calli are similar to seed mucilage. Our monosaccharide profiling and microscopy show that, while calli derived from either seedling hypocotyls or roots yield more material than seeds using the same extraction techniques, the majority of extract mass is cellular debris. Debris polysaccharide composition was significantly different to seed mucilage from both species. Plant tissue culture as an alternative source of high yields of useful mucilage polysaccharides, at least by these and similar methods, is likely to not be possible.

Seed mucilage polysaccharide production, storage and release in Plantagoovata is strikingly different to that of the model plant Arabidopsis. We have used microscopy techniques to track the development of mucilage secretory cells and demonstrate that mature P.ovata seeds do not have an outer intact cell layer within which the polysaccharides surround internal columellae. Instead, dehydrated mucilage is spread in a thin homogenous layer over the entire seed surface and upon wetting expands directly outwards, away from the seed. Observing mucilage expansion in real time combined with compositional analysis allowed mucilage layer definition and the roles they play in mucilage release and architecture upon hydration to be explored. The first emergent layer of hydrated mucilage is rich in pectin, extremely hydrophilic, and forms an expansion front that functions to ‘jumpstart’ hydration and swelling of the second layer. This next layer, comprising the bulk of the expanded seed mucilage, is predominantly composed of heteroxylan and appears to provide much of the structural integrity. Our results indicate that the synthesis, deposition, desiccation, and final storage position of mucilage polysaccharides must be carefully orchestrated, although many of these processes are not yet fully defined and vary widely between myxospermous plant species.

BackgroundIsabgol (Plantago ovata Forsk.) downy mildew (DM), caused by obligate oomycete pathogen Peronospora plantaginis Underwood., is the single most damaging disease of Isabgol. However, reports on the genes and pathways involved in mediating resistance are still unknown.ResultsIn the present study, transcriptomic analysis was carried out by next generation sequencing of DM infected and uninfected leaves of resistant and susceptible genotypes to understand the genetic mechanisms underlie the host-plant resistance. A total of 33.47 million reads were generated and de novo assembled and annotated. The assembly using Trinity yielded 38803, 40175, 45451 and 39533 non-redundant transcript contigs, respectively in susceptible infected, Susceptible uninfected, Resistant infected and resistant uninfected samples. More than 90% of coding DNA sequence (CDS) predicted were annotated using BLAST search. Isabgol transcriptome showed the highest similarity to Sesamum indicum (41-59%) followed by Erythranthe guttata (10-13%). Putative CDS encoding Pathogen associated Molecular Pattern (PAMP)-triggered immunity (PTI), Effector-Triggered Immunity (ETI), Cell wall degrading enzymes, Phytohormone signalling and Phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathways involved in host-pathogen interaction were identified in addition to the identification of several candidate resistance (R) genes enriched in response to DM infection. We identified significantly differentially expressed genes (DEGs) genes; 6928 DEGs in resistant uninfected (RU) vs resistant infected (RI) of DPO-185 (resistant) genotype and 8779 susceptible uninfected (SU) vs susceptible infected (SI) of DPO-14 (susceptible) genotype. Expression of 11 genes involved in plant defense quantified accordingly using RT-qPCR.ConclusionsThis study for the first time provides the glimpse of transcriptional responses to the DM resistance in Isabgol. The genes and pathways will be helpful in further investigating the molecular mechanisms associated with DM disease resistance in Isabgol and to develop control mechanisms accordingly.

Hydrodynamically Balanced systems have wide development as they have achieved the parameters of modern drug delivery system, it is a type of system which owes very tremendous and curative benefits for the delivery of oral controlled release dosage forms and have wide properties in many aspects such as its main role is to maintain the effective concentration in the system for longer period of time. To reduce the gastric mucosal irritation due to the presence of synthetic polymers, being a natural polymer incorporation of Plantago ovate (Psyllium Husk) could ease out the mucosal irritation in the gastric region. Due to its properties such as a rate-controlling polymer possessing a very good quality of swelling and good gelling nature, and also incorporated as a matrix-forming agent basically in the modified release formulation. Locust bean gum can be used as sustained-release carriers and release modifiers for the delivery of drugs. It is a neutral plant galactomannan extracted from the seeds (kernels) of the carob tree Ceratonia siliqua L fabaceae. Nowadays it is focussing polymer and a lot of researchers are focussing on exploring the potential in topical drug delivery, colonic drug delivery, oral sustained drug delivery, ocular drug delivery, buccal drug delivery.