Nutritional profile of the java plum reveals array of neuroprotective agents

Researchers discovered that the stem of the java plum (Syzygium cumini) is a good source of antibacterial, antioxidant, and neuroprotective agents. The study, published in the International Journal of Green Pharmacy, revealed the scientific rationale behind the use of the java plum’s stem as a traditional herbal remedy.

• Existing studies have shown that other parts of the java plum tree, such as the leaves, fruit, and roots, exhibit a wide range of beneficial properties. These include anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-HIV activities.
• The antibacterial activity of stem extracts from S. cumini was tested against two Gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and Staphylococcus aureus) and two Gram-negative bacteria (E. coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa). This was done through the agar well diffusion method.
• Aqueous, methanolic, and ethanolic extracts of the stem of S.cumini were used for phytochemical screening which revealed the presence of flavonoids.
• Aqueous and alcoholic stem extracts of S. cumini were subjected to enzymatic and non-enzymatic biochemical assays to estimate antioxidant activity. Biochemical assays that were used include superoxide dismutase activity (SOD), catalase activity (CAT), glutathione content (GSH), and glutathione S-transferase (GST).
• A neurotoxic shock was induced in rat pheochromocytoma (PC)-12 cell line using 6-OHDA. This was done to determine the neuroprotective effect of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of the S. cumini stem.

The results of the study showed that the java plum possesses antioxidant and neuroprotective activities, as well as, antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria

Find the full text of the study at this link.

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Journal Reference: 

Sharma Y, Mehrotra A, Kundu N, Srivastava NS. A STUDY OF ANTIBACTERIAL, ANTIOXIDANT AND NEUROPROTECTIVE EFFECT OF STEM OF SYZYGIUM CUMINI. International Journal of Green Pharmacy. 12 October 2017;11(4). DOI:10.22377/ijgp.v10i04.1289