Welcome Note from Editor-in-Chief

It is with great pleasure that I write this editorial to welcome you to the first issue of this new International journal, “Pakistan Biomedical Journal” (PBMJ). The topics covered by the journal are certainly broad and interesting. Biomedical science is a collection of applied sciences that help us understand, research, and innovate within the field of healthcare. It includes disciplines like molecular biology, clinical virology, bioinformatics, and biomedical engineering, among others. It's designed to apply the biological sciences to advance not only individual health but also the area of public health. Biomedical Research can help health professions better understand things like the human body and cell biology, making advances in our understanding of epidemics, health initiatives, and human health in the age of longer life expectancy. It aids our understanding of infectious disease and provides research opportunities into some of our most troubling health issues. The journal will continue to publish high quality clinical and biomedical research in health and disease later in life. Peer review will remain a vital component of our assessment of submitted articles.I am very happy to have a team of excellent editors and editorial board members from the top international league covering in depth the related topics. They will ensure the highest standards of quality for the published manuscripts and, at the same time, keep the process time as short as possible. We hope to bring best researches in the field of biomedical sciences that may serve as a guideline in health awareness, understanding the mechanisms and its management in future.   We definitely look forward to receiving your excellent studies to making PBMJ synonymous with high quality in the biomedical science domain.

Documenting the Therapeutic Potential of Encapsulated Cardamom Essential Oil

Proposed study was an effort to investigate the antimicrobial and nutraceutical worth of black and green cardamom extracts. For the purpose, cardamom powders were analyzed followed by the supercritical fluid extraction, GC-MS quantification, estimation of antimicrobial and antioxidant potential of the extracts. Afterwards, encapsulation of cardamom essential oils in guar gum and whey protein isolates blends and finally bio-evaluation trial was carried out for the management of hypercholesterolemia, liver and renal malfunctioning. In present study, supercritical fluid extraction technique was used to obtain high extraction efficiency. In terms of antioxidant potential, black cardamom showed higher amount of polyphenols than green cardamom as 1325.03±7.69 and 934.72±6.94 mg GAE/100g for TPC, 208.63±10.36 and 192.45±9.62 μmol Fe2+/g for FRAP, 172.58±6.14 and 143.96±7.38 μM Trolox/g for ABTS, 63.57±3.48 and 56.81±2.01 % for DPPH assays. However, total flavonoids contents were present in greater amount in green cardamom compared to black cardamom investigated as 215.74±6.32 and 168.25±5.26 mg CE/g. GC-MS quantification indicated that 1,8-cineole (44.24% and 28.71%) and α-terpinyl acetate (12.25% and 38.4%) were the principle components in black and green cardamom essential oils which were responsible for pungency and pleasant aroma, respectively. Moreover, antimicrobial evaluation revealed that green cardamom extract exhibited more inhibitory effects than black cardamom extract on the growth of microorganisms, quorum sensing inhibition of C. violaceum and biofilm formation inhibition of S. typhimurium and E. coli. The results related to encapsulation of black and green cardamom supercritical fluid extracts showed that encapsulation efficiency, entrapment capacity and moisture content ranged between 63.54% to 84.72%, 5.77% to 7.08% and 5.81% to 6.33% in freeze dried capsules. On the basis of encapsulation efficiency, one from black and one from green cardamom encapsulates were used for cupcakes development and in the preparation of nurtaceutical diets. Cupcakes containing green cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) extract produced good aroma while taste was good with the cupcakes prepared from black cardamom (Amomum subulatum) extract. The diets contained green cardamom (D1) and black cardamom (D2) encapsulated essential oils were prepared alongside control (Do) for comparison purpose. Bio-evaluation study conducted on male Sprague Dawley rats, accordingly two different studies were designed on the basis of diets i.e. study I (rats fed on normal diet) and study II (rats were given high cholesterol diet). The body weights of experimental rats were significantly effected with diets in both studies. Black cardamom encapsulated extract (D2) instigated highest reduction in weight gain during the study period. Likewise, D2 imparted maximum decrease in total cholesterol levels in study I and II, by 4.42% and 12.53% whereas LDL by 6.75% and 14.08% respectively. However, levels of HDL and triglycerides were effected non-significantly by diets in study I but effects were significant in study II. Likewise, D2 instigated maximum reduction in urea and creatinine levels in study I and II i.e. 8.63% and 19.25% and 9.2% and 20.46%. Furthermore, diets resulted improved antioxidant status by increasing glutathione levels and decreasing thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). Amongst diets, black cardamom encapsulated extract (D2) was proved more effective for glutathione contents enhancement during the investigation in study II. The restoration/stabilization of liver function tests towards normal ranges proved the safety of resultant therapeutic diets. From the current explorations, results concluded that diets supplemented with encapsulated black and green cardamom essential oils were efficient tool to mitigate lifestyle related disorders.