This research highlights the chemical composition, antioxidant and antibacterial activities of essential oils and various crude extracts (using methanol and methylene chloride) from Syzygium cumini leaves. Essential oils were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).The abundant constituents of the oils were: α-pinene (32.32%), β-pinene (12.44%), trans-caryophyllene (11.19%), 1, 3, 6-octatriene (8.41%), delta-3-carene (5.55%), α-caryophyllene (4.36%), and α-limonene (3.42%).The antioxidant activities of all extracts were examined using two complementary methods, namely diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing power (FRAP). In both methods, the methanol extract exhibited a higher activity than methylene chloride and essential oil extracts. A higher content of both total phenolics and flavonoids were found in the methanolic extract compared with other extracts. Furthermore, the methanol extract had higher antibacterial activity compared to methylene chloride and the essential oil extracts. Due to their antioxidant and antibacterial properties, the leaf extracts from S. cumini may be used as natural preservative ingredients in food and/or pharmaceutical industries.

One of the most vital environmental factors that restricts plant production in arid and semi-arid environments is the lack of fresh water and drought stress. Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) productivity is severely limited by abiotic stress, especially climate-related constraints. Therefore, a field experiment in split-plot design was carried out to examine the potential function of ascorbic acid (AsA) in mitigating the adverse effects of water stress on common bean. The experiment included two irrigation regimes (100% or 50% of crop evapotranspiration) and three AsA doses (0, 200, or 400 mg L⁻¹ AsA). The results revealed that water stress reduced common bean photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll and carotenoids), carbonic anhydrase activity, antioxidant activities (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical activity scavenging activity and 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical cation assay), growth and seed yield, while increased enzymatic antioxidants (peroxidase), secondary metabolites (phenolic, flavonoids, and tannins), malondialdehyde (MDA), and crop water productivity. In contrast, the AsA foliar spray enhanced all studied traits and the enhancement was gradual with the increasing AsA dose. The linear regression model predicted that when the AsA dose increase by 1.0 mg L⁻¹, the seed yield is expected to increase by 0.06 g m⁻². Enhanced water stress tolerance through adequate ascorbic acid application is a promising strategy to increase the tolerance and productivity of common bean under water stress. Moreover, the response of common bean to water deficit appears to be dependent on AsA dose.

This study evaluated nutritional values, bioactive constituents and antioxidant activities of the five wild underutilized fruits in the mountains of southwest Saudi Arabia (Coccinia grandis (L.) Voigt, Diospyros mespiliformis Hochst. Ex A.Dc., Cissus rotundifolius (L.), Ephedra foeminea Forssk., and Grewia villosa Willd.). The moisture content, crude fibers, total protein, total lipids, total hydrolyzable carbohydrate, total soluble sugars, and total free amino acids were analyzed. The results showed varying amounts among fruits of the five study species. In addition, the mineral composition, amino acid content, phenolic compounds, vitamins, and antioxidant activity were assessed. The highest content of total phenolic and total tannins was measured in D. mespiliformis (20.69 mg/g and 3.84 mg/g) and the lowest in E. foeminea (10.83 mg/g and 1.44 mg/g), respectively. The methanol extract (1 mg/ml) of D. mespiliformis displayed higher percentage of DPPH radical scavenging activity (87.36%). The methanol extract (1 mg/ml) of C. grandis exhibited the highest effect of total antioxidant activity and hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity (71.53%). The sufficient nutritional and antioxidant value of these wild fruits provide healthy food source for the local residents, much the same as many cultivated fruits and vegetables.

Lutein is a naturally potent antioxidant carotenoid synthesized in green microalgae with a potent ability to prevent different human chronic conditions. To date, there are no reports of the immune-stimulating effect of pure lutein isolated fromScenedesmus obliquus.Thus, we isolated the natural lutein fromS. obliquusand evaluated its effectiveness as an immunostimulant against cyclophosphamide-induced brain injury. We purified all-E-(3R, 3′R, 6′R)-Lutein fromS. obliquususing prep-HPLC and characterized it by¹H- and¹³C-NMR spectroscopy. We assigned rats randomly to four experimental groups: the Control group got a vehicle for lutein dimethyl sulfoxide for ten successive days. The Cyclophosphamide group received a single i.p injection of Cyclophosphamide (200 mg/kg). Lutein groups received 50 and 100 (mg/kg) of lutein one time per day for ten successive days after the cyclophosphamide dose. Lutein administration reduced brain contents of Macrophage inflammatory protein2 (MIP2), cytokine-induced- neutrophil chemoattractant (CINC), and Matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP1). Besides, it lowered the contents of interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β) and interleukin 18 (IL-18), associated with low content of NLR pyrin domain protein 3 (NLRP3) and consequently caspase-1 compared to the cyclophosphamide group. In the histomorphometric analysis, lutein groups (50 and 100 mg/Kg) showed mild histopathological alterations as they significantly reduced nuclear pyknosis numbers by 65% and 69% respectively, compared to the cyclophosphamide group. This is the first study that showed the immunomodulatory roles of lutein against cyclophosphamide-induced brain injury via decreasing neuroinflammation, chemokines recruitment, and neuron degeneration with the modulation of immune markers. Hence, lutein can be an effective immunomodulator against inflammation-related immune disorders.