@article {2520, title = {Zinc Oxide Nanoparticle Green Synthesis Using Black Cumin Seed Aqueous Extract: Its Characterization and in vitro Anti- Hyperglycaemic Properties}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Journal}, volume = {17}, year = {2025}, month = {August 2025}, pages = {434-437}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {434}, abstract = {

Introduction: α-Amylase and α-glucosidase are carbohydrate metabolizing enzymes that are known to be involved in postprandial hyperglycaemia in diabetic patients. Objective: In a bid to source potent inhibitors of these enzymes, the study synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles and evaluated the in vitro anti-hyperglycaemic activity. Materials and Methods: The seed aqueous extract of black Cumin (BC) was used as a capping and/or reducing agent to synthesize ZnO NPs from zinc acetate precursor. The BC-ZnONPs were characterized by microscopy (FESEM and HRTEM) and spectroscopy (UV-Vis and EDX) methods. In vitro anti-hyperglycaemic evaluation was based on α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition assays. Results: The BC-ZnONPs showed a spherical-to-cubical shape with a 10-50 nm size range. The UV-Vis absorption peaks at 387 and 415 nm suggest the formation of biogenic ZnO NPs. The EDX spectrum revealed 68.92\% and 27.49\% weight compositions of Zn and O, respectively, to further substantiate ZnO nanoparticle synthesis. The BC-ZnONPs showed notable anti-hyperglycaemic properties with IC50 of 87.72{\textpm}5.13 and 124.21{\textpm}15.20 μg/mL against α-amylase and α-glucosidase, respectively. Conclusion: Black Cumin seed extract was a useful biogenic material for synthesizing ZnO NPs. The BCZnONPs showed promising anti-hyperglycaemic properties based on the notable inhibitory activities against α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes. Future work may include evaluating the synergistic effects of black Cumin metabolites and ZnONPs, as well as determining the in vivo toxicity profile for safety considerations.

}, keywords = {Anti-Hyperglycaemia, Black cumin, ZnO Nanoparticles, α-amylase, α-glucosidase}, doi = {10.5530/pj.2025.17.54}, author = {Ayodeji Oluwabunmi Oriola and Pallab Kar} } @article {244, title = {Vibrational Analysis and Thermal Behavior of Salvia hispanica, Nigella sativa and Papaver somniferum Seeds}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Journal}, volume = {9}, year = {2017}, month = {February 2017}, pages = {157-162}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {157}, abstract = {

Introduction: Salvia hispanica L., Nigella sativa L. and Papaver somniferum L. are involved in opiate-dependent behavior. It is known that the seeds of these three herbs contain high amounts of antioxidants, which are helpful in disease prevention, but further research is needed on some of their other phytochemical components (terpene alkaloids, benzoquinones and others), which are claimed to affect human opioid receptors. Methods: Seeds from the three afore mentioned plants have been studied by ATR-FTIR vibrational spectroscopy and thermo analytical techniques (TG/DTG, DTA and DSC). Results: The infrared spectrum has confirmed the presence of the ester carbonyl of terpenoid alkaloids (such as nigellamine) and the fully conjugated cyclic dione structure of quinones (e.g., thymoquinone). As regards the thermal stability of these seeds, small differences have been observed in their thermal profiles (endothermic effects at around 333\ºC for chia, 268\ºC for black cumin and 319\ºC for poppy seeds), which can be ascribed to their different content in carbohydrates. Conclusions: The functional groups of the main active constituents and the thermal behavior of these three seeds have been elucidated.

}, keywords = {ATR-FTIR, Black cumin, Chia, Poppy, Thermal analysis}, doi = {10.5530/pj.2017.2.26}, url = {http://phcogj.com/fulltext/293}, author = {Paula Carri{\'o}n-Prieto and Pablo Mart{\'\i}n-Ramos and Salvador Hern{\'a}ndez-Navarro and Iosody Silva-Castro and Manuela Ramos-Silva and Jes{\'u}s Mart{\'\i}n-Gil} }