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Context: Termitomyces clypeatus (Lyophyllaceae) is a filamentous edible mushroom, having ethnomedicinal uses. However, information about the antioxidant, anticancer and antitumour properties of this mushroom remains to be elucidated., Objective: The study examines the in vitro antioxidant, anticancer and in vivo antitumour activity of T. clypeatus., Materials and Methods: Antioxidant activity was evaluated with seven in vitro assays. Cytotoxicity of T. clypeatus was tested against a panel of cancer cells lines including U373MG, MDA-MB-468, HepG2, HL-60, A549, U937, OAW-42 and Y-79 using MTT assay. The antitumour activity of aqueous extract was evaluated against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) tumour model in Swiss albino mice., Results: HPLC analysis of aqueous extract revealed the presence of sugar entities. Termitomyces clypeatus showed excellent in vitro antioxidant activity. Termitomyces clypeatus was found cytotoxic against all cancer cells, among which it showed higher activity against U937 (IC 50 25 ± 1.02 μg/mL). Treatment of EAC-bearing mice with varied doses of aqueous extract significantly (p < 0.01) reduced tumour volume, viable tumour cell count and improved haemoglobin content, RBC count, mean survival time, tumour inhibition and % increase life span. The enhanced antioxidant status in treated animals was evident from the decline in the levels of lipid peroxidation, increased levels of glutathione, catalase and superoxide dismutase., Discussion: The analyzed data indicate that the aqueous extract of T. clypeatus exhibits significant antitumour activity, which might be due to the antioxidant effects on EAC bearing hosts., Conclusion: Termitomyces clypeatus possesses anticancer activity, valuable for application in food and drug products.

Context: Amaranthus spinosus Linn. (Amaranthaceae), commonly known as ''spiny pigweed'', is used in both Indian traditional system and folk medicine for treatment of infectious diseases for a long time in several traditional herbal medicinal preparations. A novel fatty acid [(14E, 18E, 22E, 26E)-methyl nonacosa-14, 18, 22, 26 tetraenoate] is the major metabolite present., Objective: This study examines the antibacterial potential of the fatty acid isolated from the A. spinosus against some Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria., Materials and Methods: Three Gram-positive and seven Gram-negative bacterial strains were used for antibacterial assay. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the fatty acid was analysed by dilution method and the effects of the fatty acid on the bacterial membrane were studied in detail by flow cytometry analysis., Results and Discussion: All the studied bacterial strains were found to be inhibited at a concentration of 100 μg/mL. Staphylococcus aureus ML-59, Bacillus lycheniformis 10341, Shigella boydii 8, Vibrio cholera 811, Vibrio cholera 854 and Vibrio alginolyteus were susceptible and sensitive to the tested fatty acid with a MIC value of 25 μg/mL. It proved a full spectrum of antibacterial activity associated with alterations in the permeability of bacterial membranes., Conclusion: The fatty acid from the A. spinosus possesses potent antibacterial action.

Context: Amaranthus spinosus Linn. (Amaranthaceae), commonly known as "spiny pigweed", is used both in the Indian traditional system and in folk medicine to treat diabetes., Objective: The present study evaluates the scientific basis of antidiabetic activity of chloroform fraction of methanol extract of A. spinosus and of an isolated constituent of A. spinosus., Materials and Methods: HPLC analysis was performed to determine the purity and the amount of the constituent present in the plant extract. The yeast α-glucosidase inhibition technique was used to determine the antidiabetic activity of A. spinosus. Acarbose was used as a standard. An appropriate therapeutic approach for preventing diabetes mellitus and obesity is to retard the absorption of glucose by inhibition of α-glucosidase., Results: One novel fatty acid with strong α-glucosidase inhibitory activity - (14E, 18E, 22E, 26E) - methyl nonacosa-14, 18, 22, 26 tetraenoate [1] (IC50 value 6.52 µM/mL) and β-sitosterol [2] were purified. Compound 1 was found to be more potent than the methanol extract. HPLC quantitative analysis revealed that 0.15% of compound 1 and 0.06% of compound 2 were present in the plant extract., Conclusion: This novel fatty acid can potentially be developed as a novel natural nutraceutical for the management of diabetes.

Context: In the Indian traditional system of medicine, Melothria heterophylla (Lour.) Cogn., (Cucurbitaceae) is prescribed for the treatment of diabetes mellitus., Objective: In the present study, the antidiabetic effect of ethanol extract of Melothria heterophylla (EEMH), and its active isolated constituents were investigated in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic Swiss albino rats., Method: Successive Soxhlet extraction of the dried total aerial parts with petroleum ether for defatting and then with ethanol (95%) to obtain ethanol extract, which was concentrated under reduced pressure. Hyperglycemia was induced in rats by STZ (50 mg/kg, body weight). Twenty-four hours after STZ induction, respective groups of diabetic rats received EEMH (200 and 400 mg/kg, body weight), gallic acid (GA) (2 and 4 mg/kg, body weight), and rutin (RU) (2 and 4 mg/kg, body weight), respectively, orally daily for 15 days. Glibenclamide (0.5 mg/kg, orally) served as reference. Blood glucose levels and change in body weight were measured on every 5(th) day during 15 days of treatment. Biochemical parameters, viz., serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and serum insulin, were measured., Results: EEMH and its active constituents significantly (p < 0.01) normalized blood glucose levels and serum biochemical parameters as compared to those of STZ controls. Both GA (4 mg/kg) and RU (4 mg/kg) exhibited maximum glucose lowering effect (69.1 and 66.7%, respectively) in diabetic rats compared to the other dose (2 mg/kg) at the end of the study. EEMH, gallic acid and RU also showed significant increase in serum insulin, and body weight of STZ-induced diabetic rats., Conclusion: Therefore, ethanol extract of Melothria heterophylla, GA and RU demonstrated remarkable antidiabetic activity in STZ-induced diabetic rats.