The health benefits of plant food-based diets could be related to both integrated antioxidant and antiinflammatory mechanisms exerted by a wide array of phytochemicals present in fruit, vegetables, herbs and spices. Therefore, there is mounting interest in identifying foods, food extracts and phytochemical formulations from plant sources which are able to efficiently modulate oxidative and infl...

We aimed to determine the effects of food herbs and spices on several gene expressions. Some herbs and/or spices are found to have a potent transcriptional suppressor activity for the tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases 1 (TIMP-1) gene. The in vitro effect of the herb Sage ethanol extract on the expression of TIMP-1 was confirmed by reverse transcriptasepolymerase chain reaction (RT-P...

The status of lipid peroxidation was investigated in rats fed M. Koenigii (curry leaf) and B. juncea (Mustard). Concentration of malondialdehyde showed a significant decrease, while hydroperoxides and conjugated dienes were significantly increased in liver and heart of both the experimental groups. SOD and catalase activity was found to be increased in liver and heart of both the spices adminis...

We performed a laboratory analysis of spices sold in Sri Lanka for lead content. Samples of curry powder, chili powder and turmeric powder from seven provinces, collected using the market basket survey method, underwent atomic absorption spectrometry. Blanks and standards were utilised for instrument calibration and measurement accuracy. The results were validated in two different laboratories....

Eight commonly used spices Syzygium aromaticum, Cinnamonum zeylanicum, Zingiber officinale, Murraya koenigii, Piper nigrum, Trachyspermum ammi, Allium sativum and Allium cepa were tested for in vitro antifungal activity on Aspergillus niger, a causative agent of different destructive disease. Out of eight plant materials used, five showed significant antifungal activity against the test pathoge...