Musa acuminata

The present study aims to investigate the phytochemical screening, antioxidant and anti-diabetic activity of commonly used fruits, Musa acuminata Red Dacca (Red Banana), Citrus sinensis (Orange) and Phyllathus emblica (Amla). Edible part of Phyllanthus emblica, Musa acuminata Red Dacca and peel of Citrus sinensis are taken for the study. The phytochemical screening of ethanolic extract of Musa acuminata revealed strong presence of carbohydrates and glycosides and moderate presence of tannins, proteins, flavonoids, steroids and phenols. The ethanolic extract of Citrus sinensis showed abundance of flavonoids and least presence of carbohydrates, proteins and steroids. Strong presence of phenol was shown in Phyllanthus emblica and all the others were present in least amount. The antioxidant activity was determined by ferric reducing power assay (FRP) where Phyllanthus emblica showed maximum activity that was followed by Citrus sinensis peel and then Musa acuminata. α-Amylase inhibitory assay was performed to detect the antidiabetic activity of these fruits by comparing with  commercially available drug Okamet. It was Phyllanthus emblica that used lowest concentration to inhibit the enzyme which was found similar to positive commercial standard Okamet that is used for reducing blood sugar level. Hence it can be concluded that Phyllanthus emblica has good antioxidant and antidiabetic property than Musa acuminata and Citrus sinensis.

Gum from the peels of unripe plantain, Musa acuminata was extracted, after crushing, with distilled water and bleached with sodium hypochlorite solution. Five different granule batches of paracetamol were prepared with different concentrations of the powdered gum at concentrations of 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 % respectively, as mucilage. The disintegrant and lubricant were maize starch and magnesium stearate at 5 and 1 % total tablet weights, respectively. The wet granulation method was used with the incorporation of the disintegrant intragranularly. Similar granulations were made with a commercial binder - sodium carboxymethylcellulose (SCMC) for comparison. The flow properties of the granules were evaluated and the granules were compressed into tablets. The physicochemical properties of the tablets were evaluated. The plantain gum was fairly white. The granules produced with plantain gum showed similar flow properties with those produced with SCMC. The tablets formulated with plantain gum were more friable that the tablets formulated with SCMC, though, the values became close with increase in adhesive concentration. The tablets formulated with plantain peel gum disintegrated and released the drug faster than those formulated with SCMC. For example, the T30% in 0.1 N HCl was 3 mins for granulations with 6% plantain gum, and 10mins for those formulated with 6% of SCMC. The results show that the gum from fresh peels of Musa acuminata could be a good alternative binder to the commercially sourced SCMC in pharmaceutical formulations.