Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 57 in total

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  1. Fulltext Phytochemical Composition, Antioxidant Activity, and Enzyme Inhibitory Activities (α-Glucosidase, Xanthine Oxidase, and Acetylcholinesterase) of Musella lasiocarpa
    Li R, Ru Y, Wang Z, He X, Kong KW, Zheng T, et al.
    Molecules, 2021 Jul 24;26(15).
    PMID: 34361630 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26154472
    In this study, we aimed to investigate the chemical components and biological activities of Musella lasiocarpa, a special flower that is edible and has functional properties. The crude methanol extract and its four fractions (petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, and aqueous fractions) were tested for their total antioxidant capacity, followed by their α-glucosidase, acetylcholinesterase, and xanthine oxidase inhibitory activities. Among the samples, the highest total phenolic and total flavonoid contents were found in the ethyl acetate (EtOAc) fraction (224.99 mg GAE/g DE) and crude methanol extract (187.81 mg QE/g DE), respectively. The EtOAc fraction of Musella lasiocarpa exhibited the strongest DPPH· scavenging ability, ABTS·+ scavenging ability, and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity with the IC50 values of 22.17, 12.10, and 125.66 μg/mL, respectively. The EtOAc fraction also showed the strongest ferric reducing antioxidant power (1513.89 mg FeSO4/g DE) and oxygen radical absorbance capacity ability (524.11 mg Trolox/g DE), which were higher than those of the control BHT. In contrast, the aqueous fraction demonstrated the highest acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity (IC50 = 10.11 μg/mL), and the best xanthine oxidase inhibitory ability (IC50 = 5.23 μg/mL) was observed from the crude methanol extract as compared with allopurinol (24.85 μg/mL). The HPLC-MS/MS and GC-MS analyses further revealed an impressive arsenal of compounds, including phenolic acids, fatty acids, esters, terpenoids, and flavonoids, in the most biologically active EtOAc fraction. Taken together, this is the first report indicating the potential of Musella lasiocarpa as an excellent natural source of antioxidants with possible therapeutic, nutraceutical, and functional food applications.
    Matched MeSH terms: Phytochemicals/analysis*
  2. Fulltext Optimization of an Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction Condition for Flavonoid Compounds from Cocoa Shells (Theobroma cacao) Using Response Surface Methodology
    Md Yusof AH, Abd Gani SS, Zaidan UH, Halmi MIE, Zainudin BH
    Molecules, 2019 Feb 16;24(4).
    PMID: 30781448 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24040711
    This study investigates the ultrasound-assisted extraction of flavonoids from Malaysian cocoa shell extracts, and optimization using response surface methodology. There are three variables involved in this study, namely: ethanol concentration (70⁻90 v/v %), temperature (45⁻65 °C), and ultrasound irradiation time (30⁻60 min). All of the data were collected and analyzed for variance (ANOVA). The coefficient of determination (R²) and the model was significant in interaction between all variables (98% and p < 0.0001, respectively). In addition, the lack of fit test for the model was not of significance, with p > 0.0684. The ethanol concentration, temperature, and ultrasound irradiation time that yielded the maximum value of the total flavonoid content (TFC; 7.47 mg RE/g dried weight (DW)) was 80%, 55 °C, and 45 min, respectively. The optimum value from the validation of the experimental TFC was 7.23 ± 0.15 mg of rutin, equivalent per gram of extract with ethanol concentration, temperature, and ultrasound irradiation time values of 74.20%, 49.99 °C, and 42.82 min, respectively. While the modelled equation fits the data, the T-test is not significant, suggesting that the experimental values agree with those predicted by the response surface methodology models.
    Matched MeSH terms: Phytochemicals/analysis
  3. Vasorelaxant and chemical fingerprint studies of Citrus reticulatae pericarpium extracts
    Tan CS, Loh YC, Ch'ng YS, Ng CH, Yeap ZQ, Ahmad M, et al.
    J Ethnopharmacol, 2019 Mar 25;232:135-144.
    PMID: 30543913 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2018.12.014
    ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Citrus reticulatae Pericarpium (Chen pi) was widely used as an important ingredient in the prescription of TCM to treat phlegm fluid retention type hypertension. Since Chen pi is involved in treatment as antihypertensive TCM formula, we have reasonable expectation in believing that it might possess vasorelaxant activity.

    AIM OF THE STUDY: This study is designed to investigate the vasorelaxant effect of Chen pi and to study its pharmacology effects.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: The vasorelaxant effect of water extract of Chen pi (CRW) were evaluated on thoracic aortic rings isolated from Sprague Dawley rats. The fingerprint of Chen pi and the extracts were developed with quantification of hesperidin content by HPTLC.

    RESULTS: CRW exhibited the strongest vasorelaxant activity. CRW caused the relaxation of the phenylephrine pre-contracted aortic rings in the presence and absence of endothelium as well as in potassium chloride pre-contracted endothelium-intact aortic ring. The incubation of propranolol (β-adrenergic receptor blocker), atropine (muscarinic receptor blocker), Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (NO synthase inhibitor), ODQ (sGC inhibitor), indomethacin (COX inhibitor), 4-aminopyridine (KV blocker), barium chloride (Kir blocker), and glibenclamide (KATP blocker) significantly reduced the vasorelaxant effects of CRW. CRW was also found to be active in reducing Ca2+ releases from the sarcoplasmic reticulum and suppressing the voltage-operated calcium channels.

    CONCLUSION: The vasorelaxant effect of CRW on rat aorta involves NO/sGC, calcium and potassium channels, muscarinic and β-adrenergic receptors.

    Matched MeSH terms: Phytochemicals/analysis
  4. Phytochemical analysis and antioxidant activity of the seed of Telfairia occidentalis Hook (Cucurbitaceae)
    Eseyin OA, Daniel A, Paul TS, Attih E, Emmanuel E, Ekarika J, et al.
    Nat Prod Res, 2018 Feb;32(4):444-447.
    PMID: 28361553 DOI: 10.1080/14786419.2017.1308366
    The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) radical, nitric oxide, reducing power, hydrogen peroxide scavenging, and total antioxidant activities of the methanol extract, n-hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, butanol and aqueous fractions of the seed of Telfairia occidentalis were evaluated. Total phenolic content was determined using the Folin-Ciocalteu method. The dichloromethane fraction exhibited the highest DPPH radical scavenging, reducing power and total antioxidant activities. Two pure compounds which were identified by FTIR, H-and 2D NMR and Mass spectroscopy as 9-octadecenoic acid (TOS B) and 10-hydroxyoctadecanoic acid (TOS C) and four oily isolates, TOS A, TOS D, TOS E and TOS F were obtained from the dichloromethane fraction. TOS E had the highest DPPH radical scavening activity comparable to that of ascorbic acid. GC-MS analysis revealed the major compounds in TOS E as 4-(2,2-Dimethyl-6-methylene cyclohexylidene)-2-butanol; 3-(3-hydroxybutyl)-2,4,4-trimethyl-2-cyclohexene-1-one and 1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid disooctyl ester. Thus, the seed of T. occidentalis can be consumed for its antioxidant property.
    Matched MeSH terms: Phytochemicals/analysis
  5. Phytochemical quantification and HPLC analysis of Parkia speciosa pod extract
    Cheong NDH, Mohamed E, Haron N, Camalxaman SN, Abdullah A, Mohamad Yusof MI, et al.
    Med J Malaysia, 2024 Mar;79(Suppl 1):34-39.
    PMID: 38555883
    INTRODUCTION: Parkia speciosa Hassk., commonly known as bitter bean or twisted cluster bean, is a tropical leguminous plant species native to Southeast Asia. The plant's edible pods have been traditionally used in various cuisines, particularly in Malaysian, Thai, and Indonesian cooking. Apart from being used as a food ingredient, the pods of P. speciosa also have a range of potential applications in other fields, including medicine, agriculture, and industry. The pods are said to have several phytochemicals that hold great therapeutic values such as reducing inflammation, improving digestion, and lowering blood sugar levels. However, there is limited information on the specific phytochemical contents of the pods in the literature. Thus, the aim of this study is to quantify the total phenolic and flavonoid compounds and to determine the concentrations of four selected phytochemical compounds in the P. speciosa pod extract (PSPE).

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: Quantification of the total phenolic (TPC) and flavonoid contents (TFC) in PSPE were done via colourimetric methods; and the determination of the concentrations of four specific phytochemicals (gallic acid, caffeic acid, rutin, and quercetin) were done via High- Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC).

    RESULTS: Colourimetric determination of PSPE showed TPC and TFC values of 84.53±9.40 mg GAE/g and 11.96±4.51 mg QE/g, respectively. Additional analysis of the phytochemicals using HPLC revealed that there were 6.45±3.36 g/kg, 5.91±1.07 g/kg, 0.39±0.84 g/kg, and 0.19±0.47 g/kg of caffeic acid, gallic acid, rutin, and quercetin, respectively.

    CONCLUSION: The findings show that PSPE contains substantial amounts of caffeic acid, gallic acid, rutin, and quercetin, which may indicate its potential as antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-lipid, and antiviral medicines.

    Matched MeSH terms: Phytochemicals/analysis
  6. Health-promoting effects of red palm oil: evidence from animal and human studies
    Loganathan R, Subramaniam KM, Radhakrishnan AK, Choo YM, Teng KT
    Nutr Rev, 2017 Feb 01;75(2):98-113.
    PMID: 28158744 DOI: 10.1093/nutrit/nuw054
    The fruit of the oil palm tree (Elaeis guineesis) is the source of antioxidant-rich red palm oil. Red palm oil is a rich source of phytonutrients such as tocotrienols, tocopherols, carotenoids, phytosterols, squalene, and coenzyme Q10, all of which exhibit nutritional properties and oxidative stability. Mutagenic, nutritional, and toxicological studies have shown that red palm oil contains highly bioavailable β-carotene and vitamin A and is reasonably stable to heat without any adverse effects. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the nutritional properties of red palm oil. The possible antiatherogenic, antihemorrhagic, antihypertensive, anticancer, and anti-infective properties of red palm oil are examined. Moreover, evidence supporting the potential effectiveness of red palm oil to overcome vitamin A deficiency in children and pregnant women, to improve ocular complications of vitamin A deficiency, to protect against ischemic heart disease, to promote normal reproduction in males and females, to aid in the management of diabetes, to ameliorate the adverse effects of chemotherapy, and to aid in managing hypobaric conditions is presented.
    Matched MeSH terms: Phytochemicals/analysis
  7. Fulltext Thermal Stability and Sensory Acceptance of Cupcakes Containing Red Palm Olein
    Loganathan R, Tarmizi AHA, Vethakkan SR, Teng KT
    J Oleo Sci, 2020 Jul 02;69(7):671-676.
    PMID: 32522941 DOI: 10.5650/jos.ess19253
    The study was designed to evaluate the nutritive value, thermal stability and consumer acceptance of cupcakes baked with red palm olein compared to palm olein. Thermal stability was evaluated for acidity, peroxide, p-anisidine and total oxidation value (cumulative between peroxide and p-anisidine values), as well as fatty acid composition. The concentrations of phytonutrients including tocopherols and tocotrienols, alpha- and beta-carotene after baking were also determined. Acceptance of the cupcakes was assessed using a structured hedonic scale of five points by 29 panelists. As compared to initial test oil (red palm olein), acidity (red palm olein, 0.07±0.01% vs cupcakes containing red palm olein, 0.09±0.01%; P=0.0232), peroxide value (red palm olein, 0.33±0.05 meq O2 kg-1 vs cupcakes containing red palm olein 0.73±0.06 meq O2 kg-1; P=0.0011) and total oxidation value (red palm olein, 2.24±0.13 unit vs cupcakes containing red palm olein, 3.09±0.17 unit; P=0.0012) were found to be higher in cupcakes containing red palm olein, which is within the acceptable rancidity range (peroxide value < 7.5 meq O2 kg-1) for snack food category. No changes were found on oxidative parameters (acidity, peroxide, p-anisidine values and total oxidation value) in cupcakes containing palm olein. Cupcakes made with red palm olein retained nearly 100% of alpha- and beta-carotenes upon baking. Tocopherol homologues were stable in both comparisons, with 95% retention as compared to tocotrienol homologues (~85%). Cupcakes made from red palm olein received higher score (mean=3.29) in sensory evaluation as compared to cupcakes containing palm olein (mean=3.07). The study, therefore, encourages the inclusion of red palm olein in the formulation of bakery products.
    Matched MeSH terms: Phytochemicals/analysis
  8. Fulltext Phosphorus Removal and Phytonutrients Retention in the Refining of Solvent Extracted Palm-Pressed Mesocarp Fiber Oil
    Lau HLN, Tee YS, Chan MK, Teh SS
    J Oleo Sci, 2022;71(2):177-185.
    PMID: 35110462 DOI: 10.5650/jos.ess21256
    Phosphoric acid is used in the refining of palm oil for the removal of phosphatides. The high concentration of phosphorus in solvent extracted palm-pressed mesocarp fiber oil hinders palm oil mills to recover this phytonutrients-rich residual oil in pressed fiber which typically contains 0.1 to 0.2% of total oil yield. This study aimed to refine the palm-pressed mesocarp fiber oil and determine the optimum dosage of phosphoric acid for acid-degumming of palm-pressed mesocarp fiber oil while retaining its phytonutrients. The refining process was carried out with combination of wet degumming, acid degumming, neutralisation, bleaching and deodorization. The optimum dose of phosphoric acid was identified as 0.05 wt.% by incorporating the wet degumming process. The refined palm-pressed mesocarp fiber oil showed a reduction in phosphorus content by 97% (from 901 ppm to 20 ppm) and 97% free fatty acid content removal (from 6.36% to 0.17%), while the Deterioration of Bleachability Index increased from 1.76 to 2.48, which showed an increment of 41%. The refined oil retained the key phytonutrients such as carotenoids (1,150 ppm) and vitamin E (1,540 ppm) that can be further developed into high-value products. The oil meets the quality specification of refined, bleached, and deodorized palm oil while preserving the heat-sensitive phytonutrients, which in turn provides a new resource of nutritious oil.
    Matched MeSH terms: Phytochemicals/analysis*
  9. Phytochemical profile of Orthosiphon aristatus extracts after storage: Rosmarinic acid and other caffeic acid derivatives
    Chua LS, Lau CH, Chew CY, Ismail NIM, Soontorngun N
    Phytomedicine, 2018 Jan 15;39:49-55.
    PMID: 29433683 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2017.12.015
    BACKGROUND: Orthosiphon aristatus (Blume) Miq. is a medicinal herb which is traditionally used for the treatment of diabetes and kidney diseases in South East Asia. Previous studies reported higher concentration of antioxidative phytochemicals, especially rosmarinic acid (ester of caffeic acid) and other caffeic acid derivatives in this plant extract than the other herbs such as rosemary and sage which are usually used as raw materials to produce rosmarinic acid supplement in the market.

    PURPOSE: The phytochemical profile of O. aristatus was investigated at different storage durations for quality comparison.

    METHODS: The phytochemicals were extracted from the leaves and stems of O. aristatus using a reflux reactor. The extracts were examined for total phenolic and flavonoid contents, as well as their antioxidant capacities, in terms of radical scavenging, metal chelating and reducing power. The phytochemical profiles were also analyzed by unsupervised principal component analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis, in relation to the factor of storage at 4 °C for 5 weeks.

    RESULTS: The leaf extract was likely to have more phytochemicals than stem extract, particularly caffeic acid derivatives including glycosylated and alkylated caffeic acids. This explains higher ratio of total phenolic content to total flavonoid content with higher antioxidant capacities for the leaf extracts. Rosmarinic acid dimer and salvianolic acid B appeared to be the major constituents, possibly contributing to the previously reported pharmacological properties. However, the phytochemical profiles were found changing, even though the extracts were stored in the refrigerator (4 °C). The change was significantly observed at the fifth week based on the statistical pattern recognition technique.

    CONCLUSION: O. aristatus could be a promising source of rosmarinic acid and its dimer, as well as salvianolic acid B with remarkably antioxidant properties. The phytochemical profile was at least stable for a month stored at 4 °C. It is likely to be a good choice of herbal tea with comparable radical scavenging activity, but lower caffeine content than other tea samples.

    Matched MeSH terms: Phytochemicals/analysis*
  10. Fulltext Fruits for Seizures? A Systematic Review on the Potential Anti-Convulsant Effects of Fruits and their Phytochemicals
    Siang LH, Arulsamy A, Yoon YK, Shaikh MF
    Curr Neuropharmacol, 2022;20(10):1925-1940.
    PMID: 34517803 DOI: 10.2174/1570159X19666210913120637
    Epilepsy is a devastating neurological disorder. Current anti-convulsant drugs are only effective in about 70% of patients, while the rest remain drug-resistant. Thus, alternative methods have been explored to control seizures in these drug-resistant patients. One such method may be through the utilization of fruit phytochemicals. These phytochemicals have been reported to have beneficial properties such as anti-convulsant, anti-oxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities. However, some fruits may also elicit harmful effects. This review aims to summarize and elucidate the anti- or pro-convulsant effects of fruits used in relation to seizures in hopes of providing a good therapeutic reference to epileptic patients and their carers. Three databases, SCOPUS, ScienceDirect, and PubMed, were utilized for the literature search. Based on the PRISMA guidelines, a total of 40 articles were selected for critical appraisal in this review. Overall, the extracts and phytochemicals of fruits managed to effectively reduce seizure activities in various preclinical seizure models, acting mainly through the activation of the inhibitory neurotransmission and blocking the excitatory neurotransmission. Only star fruit has been identified as a pro-convulsant fruit due to its caramboxin and oxalate compounds. Future studies should focus more on utilizing these fruits as possible treatment strategies for epilepsy.
    Matched MeSH terms: Phytochemicals/analysis
  11. Superfruits: Phytochemicals, antioxidant efficacies, and health effects - A comprehensive review
    Chang SK, Alasalvar C, Shahidi F
    Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr, 2019;59(10):1580-1604.
    PMID: 29360387 DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2017.1422111
    The term "superfruit" has gained increasing usage and attention recently with the marketing strategy to promote the extraordinary health benefits of some exotic fruits, which may not have worldwide popularity. This has led to many studies with the identification and quantification of various groups of phytochemicals. This contribution discusses phytochemical compositions, antioxidant efficacies, and potential health benefits of the main superfruits such as açai, acerola, camu-camu, goji berry, jaboticaba, jambolão, maqui, noni, and pitanga. Novel product formulations, safety aspects, and future perspectives of these superfruits have also been covered. Research findings from the existing literature published within the last 10 years have been compiled and summarized. These superfruits having numerous phytochemicals (phenolic acids, flavonoids, proanthocyanidins, iridoids, coumarins, hydrolysable tannins, carotenoids, and anthocyanins) together with their corresponding antioxidant activities, have increasingly been utilized. Hence, these superfruits can be considered as a valuable source of functional foods due to the phytochemical compositions and their corresponding antioxidant activities. The phytochemicals from superfruits are bioaccessible and bioavailable in humans with promising health benefits. More well-designed human explorative studies are needed to validate the health benefits of these superfruits.
    Matched MeSH terms: Phytochemicals/analysis
  12. Water-soluble palm fruit extract: composition, biological properties, and molecular mechanisms for health and non-health applications
    Leow SS, Fairus S, Sambanthamurthi R
    Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr, 2022;62(32):9076-9092.
    PMID: 34156318 DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2021.1939648
    The oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) fruit is a source of vegetable oil and various phytonutrients. Phytochemical compounds present in palm oil include tocotrienols, carotenoids, phytosterols, squalene, coenzyme Q10, and phospholipids. Being a fruit, the oil palm is also a rich source of water-soluble phytonutrients, including phenolic compounds. Extraction of phytonutrients from the oil palm vegetation liquor of palm oil milling results in a phenolic acid-rich fraction termed Water-Soluble Palm Fruit Extract (WSPFE). Pre-clinical in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo studies carried out using various biological models have shown that WSPFE has beneficial bioactive properties, while clinical studies in healthy volunteers showed that it is safe for human consumption and confers antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. The composition, biological properties, and relevant molecular mechanisms of WSPFE discovered thus far are discussed in the present review, with a view to offer future research perspectives on WSPFE for health and non-health applications.
    Matched MeSH terms: Phytochemicals/analysis
  13. Anti-staphylococcal properties of four plant extracts against sensitive and multi-resistant bacterial strains isolated from cattle and rabbits
    Medina MFE, Alaba PA, Estrada-Zuñiga ME, Velázquez-Ordoñez V, Barbabosa-Pliego A, Salem MZM, et al.
    Microb Pathog, 2017 Dec;113:286-294.
    PMID: 29101063 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2017.10.053
    The aim of this study is to investigate the biopotency of methanolic extracts of Vitex mollis, Psidium guajava, Dalbergia retusa, and Crescential alata leaves against various staphylococcal strains isolated from cattle and rabbits. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus strains were isolated from cattle, while other strains were isolated from rabbits using standard methodology. The total phytochemical phenolic and saponins contents were obtained being the main groups of the antinutritional factors. The antimicrobial activity of the extracts against the standard culture of S. aureus (control) and S. aureus isolated from cattle and rabbits were investigated comparatively relative to that of oxacillin. It was found that both the control S. aureus and the isolated S. aureus are susceptible to all the four plant extracts, and sensitive to oxacillin. Of all the S. aureus including the control, MRSA2 is the most susceptible to all the extracts at 1000 μg/mL, except that of V. mollis where it is the least susceptible. Among all the plant extracts, P. guajava is the most active against MRSA2 and SOSA2. Therefore, the isolates from cattle (MRSA1 and MRSA2) are more susceptible to all the plant extracts than the isolates from rabbits. Among all the rabbit isolates, CoNS3 is the least susceptible to the extracts. Since all the plant extracts exhibit remarkable inhibitory activities against all the S. aureus strains, they are promising towards the production of therapeutic drugs.
    Matched MeSH terms: Phytochemicals/analysis
  14. Medicinal uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology of Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre: a review
    Al Muqarrabun LM, Ahmat N, Ruzaina SA, Ismail NH, Sahidin I
    J Ethnopharmacol, 2013 Nov 25;150(2):395-420.
    PMID: 24016802 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2013.08.041
    Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre is one of the many plants with diverse medicinal properties where all its parts have been used as traditional medicine in the treatment and prevention of several kinds of ailments in many countries such as for treatment of piles, skin diseases, and wounds.
    Matched MeSH terms: Phytochemicals/analysis
  15. Fulltext Genus ruellia: pharmacological and phytochemical importance in ethnopharmacology
    Afzal K, Uzair M, Chaudhary BA, Ahmad A, Afzal S, Saadullah M
    Acta Pol Pharm, 2015 Sep-Oct;72(5):821-7.
    PMID: 26665388
    Ruellia is a genus of flowering plants commonly known as Ruellias or Wild Petunias which belongs to the family Acanthaceae. It contains about 250 genera and 2500 species. Most of these are shrubs, or twining vines; some are epiphytes. Only a few species are distributed in temperate regions. They are distributed in Indonesia and Malaysia, Africa, Brazil, Central America and Pakistan. Some of these are used as medicinal plants. Many species of the genus has antinociceptive, antioxidant, analgesic, antispasmolytic, antiulcer, antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory properties. The phytochemicals constituents: glycosides, alkaloids, flavonoids and triterpenoids are present. The genus has been traditionally claimed to be used for the treatment of flu, asthma, fever, bronchitis, high blood pressure, eczema, and diabetes. The objective of this review article is to summarize all the pharmacological and phytochemical evaluations or investigations to find area of gap and endorse this genus a step towards commercial drug. Hence, further work required is to isolate and characterize the active compounds responsible for these activities in this plant and bring this genus plants to commercial health market to serve community with their potential benefits.
    Matched MeSH terms: Phytochemicals/analysis
  16. Fulltext The Effects of Drying Techniques on Phytochemical Contents and Biological Activities on Selected Bamboo Leaves
    Benjamin MAZ, Ng SY, Saikim FH, Rusdi NA
    Molecules, 2022 Sep 30;27(19).
    PMID: 36234995 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27196458
    The therapeutic potential of bamboos has acquired global attention. Nonetheless, the biological activities of the plants are rarely considered due to limited available references in Sabah, Malaysia. Furthermore, the drying technique could significantly affect the retention and degradation of nutrients in bamboos. Consequently, the current study investigated five drying methods, namely, sun, shade, microwave, oven, and freeze-drying, of the leaves of six bamboo species, Bambusa multiplex, Bambusa tuldoides, Bambusa vulgaris, Dinochloa sublaevigata, Gigantochloa levis, and Schizostachyum brachycladum. The infused bamboo leaves extracts were analysed for their total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC). The antioxidant activities of the samples were determined via the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays, whereas their toxicities were evaluated through the brine shrimp lethality assay (BSLA). The chemical constituents of the samples were determined using liquid chromatography−tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The freeze-drying method exhibited the highest phytochemical contents and antioxidant activity yield, excluding the B. vulgaris sample, in which the microwave-dried sample recorded the most antioxidant and phytochemical levels. The TPC and TFC results were within the 2.69 ± 0.01−12.59 ± 0.09 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g and 0.77 ± 0.01−2.12 ± 0.01 mg quercetin equivalent (QE)/g ranges, respectively. The DPPH and ABTS IC50 (half-maximal inhibitory concentration) were 2.92 ± 0.01−4.73 ± 0.02 and 1.89−0.01 to 3.47 ± 0.00 µg/mL, respectively, indicating high radical scavenging activities. The FRAP values differed significantly between the drying methods, within the 6.40 ± 0.12−36.65 ± 0.09 mg Trolox equivalent (TE)/g range. The phytochemical contents and antioxidant capacities exhibited a moderate correlation, revealing that the TPC and TFC were slightly responsible for the antioxidant activities. The toxicity assessment of the bamboo extracts in the current study demonstrated no toxicity against the BSLA based on the LC50 (lethal concentration 50) analysis at >1000 µg/mL. LC-MS analysis showed that alkaloid and pharmaceutical compounds influence antioxidant activities, as found in previous studies. The acquired information might aid in the development of bamboo leaves as functional food items, such as bamboo tea. They could also be investigated for their medicinal ingredients that can be used in the discovery of potential drugs.
    Matched MeSH terms: Phytochemicals/analysis
  17. Fulltext Clinacanthus nutans Leaves Extract Reverts Endothelial Dysfunction in Type 2 Diabetes Rats by Improving Protein Expression of eNOS
    Azemi AK, Mokhtar SS, Rasool AHG
    Oxid Med Cell Longev, 2020;2020:7572892.
    PMID: 32879653 DOI: 10.1155/2020/7572892
    Diabetes mellitus is associated with endothelial dysfunction; it causes progressive vascular damage resulting from an impaired endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation. In the diabetes state, presence of hyperglycemia and insulin resistance predisposes to endothelial dysfunction. Clinacanthus nutans, widely used as a traditional medicine for diabetes is reported to have hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the possibility of C. nutans affecting the vascular endothelial function in diabetes remains unclear. This study was aimed at evaluating the effects of C. nutans methanolic leaves extract (CNME) on endothelial function in a type 2 diabetes (T2DM) rat model. Sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into five groups (n = 12 per group): nondiabetic control, nondiabetic treated with four weeks of CNME (500 mg/kg/daily), untreated diabetic rats, diabetic treated with metformin (300 mg/kg/daily), and diabetic treated with CNME (500 mg/kg/daily). T2DM was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of low-dose streptozotocin (STZ) to rats fed with high-fat diet (HFD). Endothelial-dependent and endothelial-independent relaxations and contractions of the thoracic aorta were determined using the organ bath. Aortic endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression was determined using Western blotting. Endothelial-dependent relaxation was reduced in diabetic rats. Both diabetic groups treated with CNME or metformin significantly improved the impairment in endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation; this was associated with increased expression of aortic eNOS protein. CNME- and metformin-treated groups also reduced aortic endothelium-dependent and aortic endothelium-independent contractions in diabetics. Both of these diabetic-treated groups also reduced blood glucose levels and increased body weight compared to the untreated diabetic group. In conclusion, C. nutans improves endothelial-dependent vasodilatation and reduces endothelial-dependent contraction, thus ameliorating endothelial dysfunction in diabetic rats. This may occur due to its effect on increasing eNOS protein expression.
    Matched MeSH terms: Phytochemicals/analysis
  18. Hydnocarpus: an ethnopharmacological, phytochemical and pharmacological review
    Sahoo MR, Dhanabal SP, Jadhav AN, Reddy V, Muguli G, Babu UV, et al.
    J Ethnopharmacol, 2014 May 28;154(1):17-25.
    PMID: 24732111 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2014.03.029
    The genus Hydnocarpus (Flacourtiaceae) includes forty species that are spread across the globe. In the Indian System of Medicine, Hydnocarpus pentandrus (Buch.-Ham.) Oken. is primarily used for treating leprosy and other skin disorders. It is known as "Chaulmoogra" and is also used to treat other indications including constipation, inflammation, blood disorders, and worm infestations. Various species of Hydnocarpus are also used in traditional medicine in China, Thailand, Malaysia, and Myanmar for several skin disorders. To assess the therapeutic potential of species from the Hydnocarpus genus and to determine future avenues for research.
    Matched MeSH terms: Phytochemicals/analysis
  19. In silico screening of Allium cepa phytochemicals for their binding abilities to SARS and SARS-CoV-2 3C-like protease and COVID-19 human receptor ACE-2
    Bondhon TA, Fatima A, Jannat K, Hasan A, Jahan R, Nissapatorn V, et al.
    Trop Biomed, 2021 Jun 01;38(2):214-221.
    PMID: 34172713 DOI: 10.47665/tb.38.2.060
    Corona virus SARS-CoV-2-induced viral disease (COVID-19) is a zoonotic disease that was initially transmitted from animals to humans. The virus surfaced towards the end of December 2019 in Wuhan, China where earlier SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) had also surfaced in 2003. Unlike SARS, SARS-CoV-2 (a close relative of the SARS virus) created a pandemic, and as of February 24 2021, caused 112,778,672 infections and 2,499,252 deaths world-wide. Despite the best efforts of scientists, no drugs against COVID-19 are yet in sight; five vaccines have received emergency approval in various countries, but it would be a difficult task to vaccinate twice the world population of 8 billion. The objective of the present study was to evaluate through in silico screening a number of phytochemicals in Allium cepa (onion) regarding their ability to bind to the main protease of COVID-19 known as the 3C-like protease or 3CLpro, (PDB ID: 6LU7), 3CLpro of SARS (PDB ID: 3M3V), and human angiotensin converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2), [PDB ID: 1R42], which functions as a receptor for entry of the virus into humans. Molecular docking (blind docking, that is docking not only against any target pocket) were done with the help of AutoDockVina. It was observed that of the twenty-two phytochemicals screened, twelve showed good binding affinities to the main protease of SARS-CoV-2. Surprisingly, the compounds also demonstrated good binding affinities to ACE-2. It is therefore very likely that the binding affinities shown by these compounds against both 3CLpro and ACE-2 merit further study for their potential use as therapeutic agents.
    Matched MeSH terms: Phytochemicals/analysis
  20. Fulltext Phytochemical constituents and biological activities of different extracts of Strobilanthes crispus (L.) Bremek leaves grown in different locations of Malaysia
    Ghasemzadeh A, Jaafar HZ, Rahmat A
    BMC Complement Altern Med, 2015;15(1):422.
    PMID: 26613959 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-015-0873-3
    Strobilanthes crispus is a well-known herb in Malaysia with various pharmaceutical properties. S. crispus is known to contain several biologically active chemical constituents which are responsible for its pharmaceutical quality.
    Matched MeSH terms: Phytochemicals/analysis
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