Phytochemicals are versatile plant secondary metabolites with therapeutic properties. In this review, we explore lemongrass’s phytochemistry and pharmacological potential (Cymbopogon) as well as its impact on gut microbiota. Lemongrass is well-known for its antioxidant, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-hypertensive, anti-diabetic, anti-mutagenicity, anxiolytic properties, and for its hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic activities. Therefore, it is widely used in pharmaceuticals, food, feed, and the cosmetics industry. Lemongrass contains phenolic metabolites (including phenolic acids, flavonoids, stilbenes, and lignans), terpenoids, and alkaloids, which are potent bioactive ingredients. Lemongrass is a precious medicinal plant. Furthermore, lemongrass phytochemicals are considered potential agents to improve health by establishing a balanced gut ecosystem. Lemongrass is considered a quintessential food and feed additive at the industrial level, since there are no issues with residue or toxins. Lemongrass powder and essential oils are used to modulate the gut ecosystem by generating anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant responses, increasing the optimum nutrient absorption in the gut system. This review will further explore lemongrass’s phytochemical, pharmacological, and therapeutic potential.

Culinary herbs and spices are widely used in daily diets. Pakistan’s flora is enriched with phytochemicals due to a diverse range of land. Phytochemicals, including volatile and non-volatile compounds, have captured much interest due to their numerous health advantages and significance in daily diet. The present study aimed to conduct in-depth metabolomic profiling of Pakistani-grown fenugreek leaves (Trigonella foenum-graecum), fennel seeds (Foeniculum vulgare), mint leaves (Mentha royleana), coriander seeds (Coriandrum sativum) and basil leaves (Ocimum basilicum) by using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The first study was conducted to optimize extraction using different solvents (methanol, ethanol, chloroform, acetone, and water). Total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and total condensed tannins (TCT) were quantified along with the antioxidant and anti-diabetic activities. The highest TPC (125.42 ± 10.89 mg GAE/g) and the highest antioxidant and anti-diabetic potential were quantified in mint. Seventy-one phytochemical metabolites were identified using LC-MS/MS, while forty-nine volatile constituents were identified using GC-MS. A positive correlation was identified between phenolic contents and their biological activities. Furthermore, molecular docking helped to find drug molecules with more excellent anti-diabetic activity based on their binding affinities. This study suggests that selected herbs and spices from Pakistan have significant nutraceutical and phytopharmaceutical potential. This study could further help in drug discovery.

Plant bioactive phenolic metabolites have recently attracted the attention of researchers due to their numerous health advantages. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate with advanced techniques the bioactive metabolites and antioxidant and antidiabetic capacity of four unconventional edible plant leaves: lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf), chicory (Cichorium intybus L.), moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam.), and ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.). The extraction process was optimized using different solvents. These plants’ phenolic composition, identification, and characterization have been determined herein using LCESI-QTOF-MS/MS. This research identified 85 phenolic compounds, including 24 phenolic acids, 31 flavonoids, 7 stilbenes and lignans, and 17 other metabolites. Moreover, the study determined that moringa has the highest total phenolic content (TPC; 18.5 ± 1.01 mg GAE/g), whereas ryegrass has the lowest (3.54 ± 0.08 mg GAE/g) among the selected plants. It seems that, compared to other plants, moringa was found to have the highest antioxidant potential and antidiabetic potential. In addition, twenty-two phenolic compounds were quantified in these chosen edible plants. Rosmarinic acid, chlorogenic acid, chicoric acid, ferulic acid, protocatechuic acid, and caffeic acid were the most abundant phenolic acids. In silico molecular docking was also conducted to investigate the structure–function relationship of phenolic compounds to inhibit the alpha-glucosidase. Finally, the simulated pharmacokinetic characteristics of the most common substances were also predicted. In short, this investigation opens the way for further study into these plants’ pharmaceutical and dietary potential.

Milk and sodium alginate beads (SA) as encapsulation materials can improve the viability of Lacticaseibacillus acidophilus LAC5. The present study focused on interactive structural optimization of milk and SA-based beads for improved survival of L. acidophilus LAC5 in cheddar cheese. L. acidophilus was microencapsulated using varying concentrations of milk and SA, e.g., T₀ (Milk/SA 0:0), T₁ (Milk/SA 1/1:1), T₂ (Milk/SA 1/2:1), T₃ (Milk/SA 1/1:1.5), T₄ (Milk/SA1/2:1.5), T₅ (Milk/SA 1/1:2.0) and T₆ (Milk/SA 1/2:2.0). Free and encapsulated L. acidophilus were compared for their survival in gastroenteric conditions. Structural and spectral analysis was performed using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR). The free and encapsulated probiotics were incorporated into cheddar cheese. Organic acids were quantified using HPLC. The combination of SA and milk significantly (p < 0.05) improved the survival of L. acidophilus as compared to free cells. The increase in polymer concentration improved the structure of beads and the survival of probiotics. However, the release profile of beads decreased with the increase in polymer concentration. FTIR showed the presence of milk and SA in the beads. Better storage stability (10⁸ CFU/mL) was observed for T₆ in all the treatments as compared to free cells. The addition of encapsulated cells improved the sensory characteristics of cheese. This may help the local food industry to utilize native probiotic strains to be incorporated into probiotic foods with improved bio-accessibility.

Background: The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has brought destructive consequences on the global political, economical, social, financial, and healthcare structures [1]. The pandemic has risen up the level of anxiety, depressive thoughts and psychological stress among students who were studying in china, but now stocked in home country. Approximately 30,000 Pakistani students are being enrolled in M.Phil and PhD in China. The aim of this study is to identify the psychological and physiological impact of COVID-19 on these students.