A binary mixture of starch-starch or starch with other biopolymers such as protein and non-starch polysaccharides could provide a new approach in producing starch-based food products. In the context of food processing, a specific adjustment in the rheological properties plays an important role in regulating production processing and optimizing the applicability, stability, and sensory of the final food products. This review examines various biopolymer mixtures based on starch and the influence of their interaction on physicochemical and rheological properties of the starch-based foods. It is evident that the physicochemical and rheological characteristics of the biopolymers mixture are highly dependent on the type of starch and other biopolymers that make them up mixing ratios, mixing procedure and presence of other food ingredients in the mixture. Understanding these properties will lead to improve the formulation of starch-based foods and minimize the need to resort to chemically modified starch.
This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of topical application of aqueous extract of Hericium erinaceus fruiting bodies (HEFB) on the rate of wound healing enclosure and histology of the healed wound. Five groups of male Sprague-Dawley rats were experimentally wounded in the posterior neck area. A uniform wound area of 2.00 cm in diameter, using a circular stamp, was excised from the nape of the dorsal neck of all rats with the aid of a round seal. The animal groups were topically treated, respectively, with 0.2 mL each of sterilized distilled water (sdH2O); Intrasite gel; and 20, 30, and 40 mg/mL HEFB. Macroscopically, those rats whose wounds were dressed with HEFB and those in the Intrasite gel-treated group healed earlier than those treated with sdH2O. Histological analysis of healed wounds dressed with HEFB showed less scar width at wound enclosure and the healed wound contained fewer macrophages and more collagen with angiogenesis, compared to wounds dressed with sdH2O. In conclusion, wounds dressed with HEFB significantly enhanced the acceleration of wound healing enclosure in rats.
This study evaluates the in vitro inhibition of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMG-CoA) by Pleurotus pulmonarius extracts. The protective effect on the endothelial membrane against oxidative stress through the protection of nitric oxide bioavailability, as well as inhibition of endocan expression, was evaluated using human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs). Crude cold aqueous extract exhibited the most potent inhibitory activities against ACE and HMG-CoA reductase, with 61.79% and 44.30% inhibition, respectively. It also protected the bioavailability of NO released by HAECs, with 84.88% cell viability. The crude hot water extract was the most potent in inhibiting endocan expression, with 18.61% inhibition.
Leaves from three varieties of Ficus deltoidea, colloquially termed small- (FDS), medium- (FDM), and big-type leaf (FDB), were subjected to water extraction. The crude extracts were fractionated using water (WF) and ethyl acetate (EAF). The phenolic and flavonoid content, antioxidant activity, and cytotoxicity of the fractions were investigated. The EAF had the highest phenolic and flavonoid content compared to the other FDS fractions. Conversely, the FDM crude extract had the highest phenolic and flavonoid content compared to the other FDM samples. Antioxidant activity was highest in the FDB crude extract. Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography showed that two compounds, vitexin and coumaric acid, were present in the FDB crude extract. Additionally, the F. deltoidea leaves caused no signs of toxicity in a normal liver cell line. Our findings show that F. deltoidea varieties have excellent antioxidant activity with no cytotoxic effects on normal liver cells.
Antioxidant properties of crude extract, partition extract, and fermented medium from Dendrobium sabin (DS) flower were investigated. The oven-dried DS flower was extracted using 100% methanol (w/v), 100% ethanol (w/v), and 100% water (w/v). The 100% methanolic crude extract showed the highest total phenolic content (40.33 ± mg GAE/g extract) and the best antioxidant properties as shown by DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays. A correlation relationship between antioxidant activity and total phenolic content showed that phenolic compounds were the dominant antioxidant components in this flower extract. The microbial fermentation on DS flower medium showed a potential in increasing the phenolic content and DPPH scavenging activity. The TPC of final fermented medium showed approximately 18% increment, while the DPPH of fermented medium increased significantly to approximately 80% at the end of the fermentation. Dendrobium sabin (DS) flower showed very good potential properties of antioxidant in crude extract and partition extract as well as better antioxidant activity in the flower fermented medium.
The aim of this study was to develop and validate a rapid and simple high performance thin layer chromatographic (HPTLC) method to screen for antioxidant activity in algal samples. 16 algal species were collected from local Victorian beaches. Fucoxanthin, one of the most abundant marine carotenoids was quantified directly from the HPTLC plates before derivatization, while derivatization either with 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) or ferric chloride (FeCl3) was used to analyze antioxidants in marine algae, based on their ability to scavenge non biological stable free radical (DPPH) or to chelate iron ions. Principal component analysis of obtained HPTLC fingerprints has classified algae species into 5 groups according to their chemical/antioxidant profiles. The investigated brown algae samples were found to be rich in non-and moderate-polar compounds and phenolic compounds with antioxidant activity. Most of the phenolic iron chelators also have shown free radical scavenging activity. Strong positive and significant correlations between total phenolic content and DPPH radical scavenging activity showed that, phenolic compounds, including flavonoids are the main contributors of antioxidant activity in these species. The results suggest that certain brown algae possess significantly higher antioxidant potential when compared to red or green algae and could be considered for future applications in medicine, dietary supplements, cosmetics or food industries. Cystophora monilifera extract was found to have the highest antioxidant concentration, followed by Zonaria angustata, Cystophora pectinate, Codium fragile, and Cystophora pectinata. Fucoxanthin was found mainly in the brown algae species. The proposed methods provide an edge in terms of screening for antioxidants and quantification of antioxidant constituents in complex mixtures. The current application also demonstrates flexibility and versatility of a standard HPTLC system in the drug discovery. Proposed methods could be used for the bioassay-guided isolation of unknown natural antioxidants and subsequent identification if combined with spectroscopic identification.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the genotoxic effects of a crude extract of khat (Catha edulis, Forsk) leaves in rats. Two groups were fed khat crude extract, 1000 and 2000mg/kg body weight, for 90 days and were compared with a control group. The alkaline (pH>13) version of comet assay was used in this study. However, no previous published work has been undertaken and showed the effect of khat on DNA migration in the comet assay. To compare the comet assay results with another genetic endpoint, blood samples were analyzed for chromosomal aberrations. These results showed no DNA damage detected using comet assay in both the khat treated groups, while the results of chromosomal aberrations assay showed a significant increase (P<0.05) in the 2000mg/kg body weight treated group compared to the control group.
The effectiveness of many antimicrobial agents is currently decreasing; therefore, it is important to search for alternative therapeutics. Our study was carried out to assess the in vitro antibiofilm activity using microtiter plate assay, to characterize the bioactive compounds using Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography-Diode Array Detection and Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry and to test the oral acute toxicity on Sprague Dawley rats of extract derived from a novel bacterial species of Paenibacillus strain 139SI. Our results indicate that the crude extract and its three identified compounds exhibit strong antibiofilm activity against a broad range of clinically important pathogens. Three potential compounds were identified including an amino acid antibiotic C8H20N3O4P (MW 253.237), phospholipase A2 inhibitor C21H36O5 (MW 368.512), and an antibacterial agent C14H11N3O2 (MW 253.260). The acute toxicity test indicates that the mortality rate among all rats was low and that the biochemical parameters, hematological profile, and histopathology examination of liver and kidneys showed no significant differences between experimental groups (P > 0.05). Overall, our findings suggest that the extract and its purified compounds derived from novel Paenibacillus sp. are nontoxic exhibiting strong antibiofilm activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens that can be useful towards new therapeutic management of biofilm-associated infections.
Sarcococca saligna methanolic extract, fractions and isolated pure compounds saracocine (1), saracodine (2), pachyximine-A (3) and terminaline (4) were found to possess potent immunosuppressive activities. The fractions and compounds were tested in-vitro for their effects on human T-cell proliferation, and cytokine (IL-2) production. All the fractions, sub-fractions and purified compounds showed significant suppressive effect on IL-2 production in a dose-dependent manner. They also exhibited a suppressive effect on the phytohemagglutinin-stimulated T-cell proliferation. None of the extracts and purified compounds showed any cytotoxicity effects on the 3T3 mice fibroblast cell line. The crude extract, DCM fraction (pH9), DCM fractions (pH7) and one of the steroidal alkaloids (terminaline) were checked in-vivo for their hepato-protective potential against CCl4-induced liver injury. In in-vivo experiments, the basic and neutral DCM fractions and terminaline (4) significantly reduced inflammation in the liver. DCM fraction (pH9), DCM fractions (pH7) and compound 4 reduced the serum enzyme levels (ALT, AST, and ALP) down to control levels despite CCl4 treatment. They also reduced the CCl4-induced damaged area to almost zero as assessed by histopathology. The pale necrotic areas and mixed inflammatory infiltrate which are seen after CCl4 treatment were absent in the cases of basic, neutral fractions and terminaline treatment. These hepato-protective effects were better than the positive control silymarin. Our results suggest the therapeutic effect of S. saligna extract, fractions and bioactive steroidal alkaloids against CCl4-induced liver injury in vivo and their immunosuppressive function in vitro.
Hepato- and nephrotoxicity of Khat consumption (Catha edulis Forskal) have been evoked. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate such possible hepatorenal toxicity in female and male Sprague-Dawley rats (SD rats) focusing primarily on liver and kidney. In addition, female and male rats were investigated separately. Accordingly, forty-eight SD-rats (100-120 g) were distributed randomly into four groups of males and female (n = 12). Normal controls (NCs) received distilled water, whereas test groups received 500 mg/kg (low dose (LD)), 1000 mg/kg (medium dose (MD)), or 2000 mg/kg (high dose (HD)) of crude extract of Catha edulis orally for 4 weeks. Then, physical, biochemical, hematological, and histological parameters were analyzed. Results in Khat-fed rats showed hepatic enlargement, abnormal findings in serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) of male and female SD-rats and serum albumin (A) and serum creatinine (Cr) of female as compared to controls. In addition, histopathological abnormalities confirmed hepatic and renal toxicities of Khat that were related to heavy Khat consumption. In summary, Khat could be associated with hepatic hypertrophy and hepatotoxicity in male and female SD-rats and nephrotoxicity only in female SD-rats.
Increasing risk of antibiotic resistance of pathogenic bacteria has led to the exploration of alternative antibiotics derived from leaves of medicinal plants such as the fig (Ficus carica L.). The aim of this study was to determine the antimicrobial activity of the methanolic extract of fig leaves grown under Malaysian tropical environment against pathogenic bacteria linked to antibiotic resistance namely the Staphylococcus aureus and Escherechia coli. The methanolic extraction was performed by using soxhlet apparatus. The disc diffusion method was used to measure inhibition zone diameter on the Mueller-Hinton agar plate. Staphylococcus aureus displayed the highest diameter of inhibition zone against the extract at concentration of 900 mg/ml whilst Escherechia coli displayed the highest diameter of inhibition zone against both the 100% crude extract and 700 mg/ml, respectively. This study therefore highlighted the potential of developing alternative antibiotics derived from the methalonic extract of locally grown fig plant.
Atherosclerosis is a complex pathology that involves several factors in its development, like oxidative stress, inflammation, hyperlipidemia, platelet aggregation and thrombus formation. Several drugs and therapeutic approaches have been developed to handle these aspects of atherosclerosis. However, some of these treatments can be costly and have undesirable side effects. Many constituents of mushrooms have been shown to have potential anti-atherosclerotic effects in several in vitro and in vivo studies. Recently, the possible mechanisms in which they exert these effects have also been elucidated. In this review, some of the research focusing on mushrooms and their potential anti-atherosclerotic effects are examined. Many mushroom species exhibited anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory and hypolipidemic effects that can potentially attenuate the progression of atherosclerosis, either through their isolated compounds or use of crude extracts. More studies are focused on the effect that mushrooms have on gene expressions that are involved in oxidative stress, inflammation, and hyperlipidemia. These studies could provide us with a better understanding on the mechanisms in which the consumption of mushrooms could exert their possible anti-atherosclerotic effects. Further research needs to be done to uncover other possible mechanisms that are affected by mushroom use.
The present paper focused on antioxidant and cytotoxicity assessment of crude and total saponin fraction of Chlorophytum borivilianum as an important medicinal plant. In this study, three different antioxidant activities (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging (DPPH), ferrous ion chelating (FIC), and β -carotene bleaching (BCB) activity) of crude extract and total saponin fraction of C. borivilianum tubers were performed. Crude extract was found to possess higher free radical scavenging activity (ascorbic acid equivalents 2578 ± 111 mg AA/100 g) and bleaching activity (IC50 = 0.7 mg mL(-1)), while total saponin fraction displayed higher ferrous ion chelating (EC50 = 1 mg mL(-1)). Cytotoxicity evaluation of crude extract and total saponin fraction against MCF-7, PC3, and HCT-116 cancer cell lines using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5 diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) cell viability assay indicated a higher cytotoxicity activity of the crude extract than the total saponin fraction on all cell lines, being most effective and selective on MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line.
Elephantopus scaber and Clinacanthus nutans are traditionally used as wound healing herb. The objective of the present study is to develop a new polyherbal formulation, by comparison, the herbal combination of Elephantopus scaber and Clinacanthus nutans as an in vitro antioxidant activity with their individual herbal activity followed by fractionation of polyherbal formulation for in vivo wound healing activities and identification of bioactive compounds from their active fractions. Antioxidant activity was performed in vitro by DPPH scavenging antioxidant activity followed by in vivo wound healing activities using excision wound model, incision wound model, and burn wound model. Toxicity of the fractions of the polyherbal formulation was performed by a dermal toxicity test. The result showed that Elephantopus scaber crude extract on the basis of EC50 performs a much faster action (15.67 μg/mL) but with less % inhibition (87.66%) as compared to the combination of the new polyherbal formulation of crude extract (30 μg/mL). The polyherbal formulation has the highest % inhibition (89.49%) at the same dose as compared to Elephantopus scaber (87.66%). In comparison among all crude and fractions of new polyherbal formulation, it was found that the ethyl acetate fraction of polyherbal formulation has the fastest activity (EC50 14.83 μg/mL) with % inhibition (89.28%). Furthermore, during evaluation of wound contraction on excision and incision wound model, ethyl acetate fraction possesses the highest activity with (P < 0.001) and (P < 0.0001), respectively. During burn wound model, aqueous fraction (P < 0.001) possesses the highest activity followed by an ethyl acetate fraction (P < 0.0001). LC-MS analysis discovered the presence of several flavonoid-based compounds that work synergistically with sesquiterpene lactone and other bioactive compounds. In conclusion, flavonoid increases the antioxidant activity that surges the rate of wound contraction and works synergistically with other bioactive compounds.
DNA fingerprinting, also known as DNA profiling, serves as a standard procedure in forensics to identify a person by the short tandem repeat (STR) loci in their DNA. By comparing the STR loci between DNA samples, practitioners can calculate a probability of match to identity the contributors of a DNA mixture. Most existing methods are based on 13 core STR loci which were identified by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Analyses based on these loci of DNA mixture for forensic purposes are highly variable in procedures, and suffer from subjectivity as well as bias in complex mixture interpretation. With the emergence of next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies, the sequencing of billions of DNA molecules can be parallelized, thus greatly increasing throughput and reducing the associated costs. This allows the creation of new techniques that incorporate more loci to enable complex mixture interpretation. In this paper, we propose a computation for likelihood ratio that uses NGS (next generation sequencing) data for DNA testing on mixed samples. We have applied the method to 4480 simulated DNA mixtures, which consist of various mixture proportions of 8 unrelated whole-genome sequencing data. The results confirm the feasibility of utilizing NGS data in DNA mixture interpretations. We observed an average likelihood ratio as high as 285,978 for two-person mixtures. Using our method, all 224 identity tests for two-person mixtures and three-person mixtures were correctly identified.
Amauroderma rugosum is a wild mushroom that is worn as a necklace by the indigenous communities in Malaysia to prevent fits and incessant crying by babies. The aim of this study was to investigate the nutritive composition and antioxidant potential and anti-inflammatory effects of A. rugosum extracts on LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Nutritional analysis of freeze-dried mycelia of A. rugosum (KUM 61131) from submerged culture indicated a predominant presence of carbohydrates, proteins, dietary fibre, phosphorus, potassium, and sodium. The ethanol crude extract (EE), its hexane (HF), ethyl acetate (EAF), and aqueous (AF) fractions of mycelia of A. rugosum grown in submerged culture were evaluated for antioxidant potential and anti-inflammatory effects. EAF exhibited the highest total phenolic content and the strongest antioxidant activity based on 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) assays. HF showed dose-dependent inhibition of NO production in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells and NO radical scavenging activity. Gas chromatographic analysis of HF revealed the presence of ethyl linoleate and ergosterol, compounds with known anti-inflammatory properties. In conclusion, the nutritive compositions and significant antioxidant potential and anti-inflammatory effects of mycelia extracts of A. rugosum have the potential to serve as a therapeutic agent or adjuvant in the management of inflammatory disorders.
Melastoma malabathricum Linn. is a shrub that comes with beautiful pink or purple flowers and has berries-like fruits rich in anthocyanins. This study was carried out with the aim to evaluate the inhibitory activities of different concentrations of the M. malabathricum Linn. flower and fruit crude extracts against Listeria monocytogenes IMR L55, Staphylococcus aureus IMR S244, Escherichia coli IMR E30, and Salmonella typhimurium IMR S100 using the disc diffusion method. The lowest concentrations of the extracts producing inhibition zones against the test microorganisms were used to determine their minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs). In addition, the growth of Listeria monocytogenes IMR L55 and Staphylococcus aureus IMR S244 grown in medium supplemented with the respective extracts at different temperatures (4°C, 25°C, and 37°C) and pHs (4, 6, 7, and 8) was determined.
Liquid biphasic flotation (LBF), an integrated process of liquid biphasic system (LBS) and adsorptive bubbles flotation, was used for the purification of C-phycocyanin from S. platensis microalgae. Various experimental parameters such as type of phase forming polymer and salt, concentration of phase forming components, system pH, volume ratio, air flotation time and crude extract concentration were evaluated to maximise the C-phycocyanin recovery yield and purity. The optimal conditions for the LBF system achieving C-phycocyanin purification fold of 3.49 compared to 2.43 from the initial LBF conditions was in polyethylene glycol (PEG) 4000 and potassium phosphate combination, with 250 g/L of polymer and salt concentration each, volume ratio of 1:0.85, system pH of 7.0, air flotation duration of 7 min and phycocyanin crude extract concentration of 0.625 %w/w. The LBF has effectively enhanced the purification of C-phycocyanin in a cost effective and simple processing.
In aquaculture, commercial fish such as red hybrid tilapia are usually raised at high density to boost the production within a short period of time. This overcrowded environment, however, may cause stress to the cultured fish and increase susceptibility to infectious diseases. Antibiotics and chemotherapeutics are used by fish farmers to overcome these challenges, but this may increase the production cost. Studies have reported on the potential of mushroom polysaccharides that can act as immunostimulants to enhance the immune response and disease resistance in fish. In the current study, hot water extract (HWE) from mushroom stalk waste (MSW) was used to formulate fish feed and hence administered to red hybrid tilapia to observe the activation of immune system. Upon 30 days of feeding, the fish were challenged with pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) such as lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (poly (I:C)) to mimic bacterial and viral infection, respectively. HWE supplementation promoted better feed utilisation in red hybrid tilapia although it did not increase the body weight gain and specific growth rate compared to the control diet. The innate immunological parameters such as phagocytic activity and respiratory burst activity were significantly higher in HWE-supplemented group than that of the control group following PAMPs challenges. HWE-supplemented diet also resulted in higher mRNA transcription of il1b and tnfa in midgut, spleen and head kidney at 1-day post PAMPs injection. Tlr3 exhibited the highest upregulation in the HWE fed fish injected with poly (I:C). At 3-days post PAMPs injection, both ighm and tcrb expression were upregulated significantly in the spleen and head kidney. Results showed that HWE supplementation enhances the immune responses of red hybrid tilapia and induced a higher serum bactericidal activity against S. agalactiae.
Tinospora crispa and Tabernaemontana corymbosa have been used traditionally to treat fever, diabetes, rheumatism and sinusitis. The objective of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant activity of Tinospora crispa and Tabernaemontana corymbosa. The presence of apigenin and magnoflorine was detected using LCMS/MS in Tinospora crispa (Patawali) whereas appararicine, voafinine, conodusarine, conodurine, voacamine and voacangine were detected in Tabernaemontana corymbosa (Susur kelapa) methanol extract. The stem extract of Tinospora crispa showed high antioxidant activity in the following order: DPPH radical scavenging, reducing power and metal chelating assay (98.8%, 0.957, 81.97%) than Tabernaemontana corymbosa of leaves (90.04%, 0.652, 69.64%), stem (82.78%, 0.819, 36.70%) and root extracts (63.25%, 0.469, 51.56%), respectively. The high antioxidant activity in the stem extract of Tinospora crispa is due to the presence of apigenin and magnoflorine. The high antioxidant activity in Tabernaemontana corymbosa extract is due to its high phenol contents. There were significant linear positive correlation (r=0.788, p<0.001, r2=0.621) between the total phenolic content and DPPH free radical scavenging assay in the crude extracts of Tinospora crispa and Tabernaemontana corymbosa. Meanwhile, a significant moderate positive correlation was observed between the total phenolic content and ferric reducing power assay (r= 0.556, p<0.05, r2= 0.309). However, there was no significant difference in the correlation coefficient of total phenolic content and metal chelating assay.