Chapter 2 Review of Literature

Beet root, scientifically known as Beta vulgaris is one of the well-known plants belonging to
this family. It is an annual herb with tuberous root stocks. Beta is found throughout the
Mediterranean, the Atlantic coast of Europe, the Near East, and India. It is used in Indian
traditional system of medicine, specifically used to enhance the activity of sex hormones. It
ranks among the ten most potent vegetables with respect to antioxidant property. It makes an
excellent dietary supplement being not only rich in minerals, nutrients and vitamins but also
has unique phytoconstituents, which have several medicinal properties .Several parts of this
plant are used in medicinal system such as antioxidant, anti-depressant, anti-microbial,
antifungal, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, expectorant and carminative. It is one of the natural
food which boosts the energy in athletes as it has one of the highest nitrates and sugar contents
plant. Beet root contains Betaine(M. Jose-Yacaman, Langmuir ) (Betacyanin pigment
responsible for its red colour) is used as natural food colour in dairy and meat products. It can
be taken as salad during pregnancy because it is helpful in the growth of foetus.

2.1. PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES

Anti-inflammatory effect: The protective effect of (Beta vulgaris L.)beat root dmso extract
(BVEE) on gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity and to elucidate the potential mechanism was
investigated. BVEE treatment also ameliorated the extent of histologic injury and reduced
inflammatory infiltration in renal tubules. These findings suggest that BVEE treatment
attenuates renal dysfunction and structural damage through the reduction of oxidative stress,
inflammation, and apoptosis in the kidney.

Antioxidant Properties: The effects of home processing on the antioxidant properties and in
vitro bio accessibility of red beetroot bioactive were investigated. The in vitro digestion method
revealed the highest recovery for TP (16%) and TAC (1.3%) in jam. This study provides
comparative data to evaluate the effects of various home-processing techniques on antioxidant
potential of red beetroot products.

Anti-stress effect, Anti-Anxiety and ant Depressive effect :The protective effect of Beta
vulgaris Linn. Ethanolic extract (BVEE) of leaves against acute restraint stress (ARS) induced
anxiety- and depressive-like behaviour and oxidative stress in mice was investigated. BVEE
exhibits anxiolytic and antidepressant activity in stressed mice along with good antioxidant.
(Delgado-Vargas, A.R. Jiménez, O. Paredes)

Anti-cancer: Table beet affects numerous biochemical reactions, enzymes and metabolic
synthesis. According to results, it seems that moderate and permanent consumption of table

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 Chapter 2 Review of Literature

beet product affects the life expectancy of patients favourably; however, due to the increasing
values of EGF, medical control is necessary for patients with prostate cancer treated by
chemotherapy. 8 Antihypertensive effect: Beta vulgaris cicla and Beta vulgaris rubra shows
that BVc extracts possess antihypertensive and hypoglycaemic activity as well as excellent
antioxidant activity. BVc contains apigenin flavonoids, namely vitexin, vitexin-2-
Orhamnoside and vitexin-2-Oxyloside, which show antiproliferative activity on cancer cell
lines. BVr contains secondary metabolites, called betalains, which are used as natural dyes in
food industry and show anticancer activity. In this light, BVc and BVr can be considered
functional foods.

2.2. Antimicrobial activity of the beetroot

Antimicrobial activity for the silver NPs by Beetroot extract at room temperature 25 °C) were
measured by calculating the diameter of inhibition zones. The minimum concentration for
inhibiting the growth of references bacteria was recognized and calculated. In this sense, 30 μl
was the best minimum concentration for inhibiting the growth of pathogenic bacteria, because
at concentration of 20 μl, the inhibition of growth was not seen clearly. Finally, the diameter
of the inhibition zone was interpreted.

2.3. Antimicrobial activity of synthesized silver NP

Escherichia coli ,staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniaeles were used as reference
strains for the antimicrobial assay Escherichia coli were inhibited strongly according to the
results, gram negative bacteria were entirely sensitive, The antibiotic (tetracycline)were used
in the agar well method

2.4. Characterization

The NPs were characterized by UV-Vis, FTIR, XRD, FESEM and TEM techniques. The
UVVis analysis determined the Surface Plasmon Resonance of the AgNPs.The FT-IR
measurements were applied to identify the potential of functional NPs that can be used as
beneficial and practical catalysts. The FE-SEM, TEM, and XRD techniques confirmed the
formation of cubic and crystalline structure. NPs have improved catalytic activity, because
larger surface area and smaller size are considered as important features in nanoparticles.
Furthermore, we took one more sample of mint.

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 Chapter 2 Review of Literature

Peppermint leaf and oil are used for folk medicine, as flavoring agents, and in cosmetic and
pharmaceutical products throughout the world . Peppermint oil is the most extensively used of
all the volatile oils.
2.5. CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS
Menthol is the primary component of the essential oil of peppermint and is mostly responsible
for the agent’s anti spasmolytic effects. Various constituents of peppermint oil are limonene
(1.0-5.0%), cineole (3.5-14.0%), menthone (14.0-32.0%), menthofuran (1.0 -9.0%),
isomenthone (1.5- 10.0%), menthyl acetate (2.8-10.0%), isopulegol (0.2%)
2.6. ANTIMICROBIAL EFFECT

Menthol is virucidal against Influenza, Herpes and other viruses in vitro.(1) Aqueous extracts
of peppermint have mild antibacterial effects against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative
bacteria MINT aqueous extract was dissolved in 10% of dmso for the sonigation, Mint extract
at room temperature 25 °C) were measured by calculating the diameter of inhibition zones. The
minimum concentration for inhibiting the growth of references bacteria was recognized and
calculated. In this sense, 30 μl was the best minimum concentration for inhibiting the growth
of pathogenic bacteria, because at concentration of 20 μl, the inhibition of growth was not seen
clearly. Finally, the diameter of the inhibition zone was interpretedAntimicrobial activity of
synthesized silver NPEscherichia coli ,staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniaeles
were used as reference strains for the antimicrobial assay Escherichia coli were inhibited
strongly according to the results, gram negative bacteria were entirely sensitive the antibiotic
(tetracycline)were used in the agar well method.

2.7. Characterization

The NPs were characterized by UV-Vis, FTIR, XRD, FESEM and TEM techniques and the
analysis determined the Surface Plasmon Resonance of the AgNPs.The FT-IR measurements
were applied to identify the potential of functional NPs that can be used as beneficial and
practical catalysts. The FE-SEM, TEM, and XRD techniques confirmed the formation of cubic
and crystalline structure. NPs have improved catalytic activity, because larger surface area and
smaller size are considered as important features in nanoparticles.

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