The world's rainforests hold untold potential for drug discovery. Rainforest plants are thought to contain evolved defensive active metabolites of greater diversity compared to plants from temperate regions. In recent years, the interest and overall output from pharmaceutical companies on novel antibacterial agents has diminished at a time when there is a critical need for them to fight the threat of resistance. In this study, we have investigated the antimicrobial properties of 21 flowering plants from 16 different families against six bacterial strains consisting of two Gram negative and four Gram positive. Using the pour plate disc diffusion technique, almost all extracts from these plants were found to be active against some of the bacterial strains tested. The most interesting and active plants with broad spectrum activities include Duabanga grandiflora, Acalypha wilkesiana and Pseuduvaria macrophylla where the minimum inhibitory concentration, minimum bactericidal concentration and phytochemical analysis were carried out. This is the first report describing the antimicrobial and phytochemical properties of D. grandiflora and P. macrophylla. Our findings support the utilisation of higher plant species in the search for new antimicrobial molecules to combat new emerging infective diseases and the problem of drug resistant pathogens.
This review describes the morphological, phytochemical and pharmacological properties of Cinnamomum subavenium (Lauraceae). The plant grows wild in southern Mainland China, Burma, Cambodia, Taiwan, Malaysia and Indonesia. This plant is recorded as having long been used to treat carcinomatous swelling, stomach ache, chest pain, abdominal pain, hernia, diarrhoea, rheumatism, nausea and vomiting. This article enumerates an overview of phytochemical and pharmacological aspects that is useful to researchers for further exploration for the necessary development of this potential herb.
This review describes the morphological, phytochemical and pharmacological properties of Cinnamomum iners Reinw. ex Blume (Lauraceae). The plant grows wild in the lowland of Malaysia, India, Myanmar, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Brunei and Philippines. This plant is commonly used for its carminative, analgesic and antipyretic properties, for postpartum treatment, rheumatism and digestive ailments. This article enumerates an overview of phytochemical and pharmacological aspects that is useful to researchers for further exploration necessary for the development of this potential herb.
Aedes aegypti is a primary vector of dengue, a mosquito-borne viral disease infecting 50-100 million people every year. Here, we biosynthesised mosquitocidal silver nanoparticles (AgNP) using the aqueous leaf extract of Crotalaria verrucosa. The green synthesis of AgNP was studied by UV-vis spectroscopy, SEM, EDX and FTIR. C. verrucosa-synthesised AgNPs were toxic against A. aegypti larvae and pupae. LC50 of AgNP ranged from 3.496 ppm (I instar larvae) to 17.700 ppm (pupae). Furthermore, we evaluated the predatory efficiency of dragonfly nymphs, Brachydiplax sobrina, against II and III instar larvae of A. aegypti in an aquatic environment contaminated with ultra-low doses of AgNP. Under standard laboratory conditions, predation after 24 h was 87.5% (II) and 54.7% (III). In an AgNP-contaminated environment, predation was 91 and 75.5%, respectively. Overall, C. verrucosa-synthesised AgNP could be employed at ultra-low doses to reduce larval population of dengue vectors enhancing predation rates of dragonfly nymphs.
Stichopus hermanni and Stichopus vastus are sea cucumber species from the Stichopodidae family within the coastal waters of Malaysia. The integument of these invertebrates is hypothesised to contain abundant glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). GAGs are divided into non-sulphated and sulphated GAGs. Sulphated GAGs have various chemico-biological functions that are beneficial to humans. This study quantitatively analysed N-, O-sulphated and total sulphated GAG content from three different anatomical regions (integument, internal organs and coelomic fluid) of S. hermanni and S. vastus. The integument revealed the highest content of total, O- and N-sulphated GAGs, followed by the internal organs and the coelomic fluid for both species of sea cucumbers. The percentage division of O- and N-sulphated GAGs suggested that anatomical parts of both species showed higher levels of O-sulphated GAGs compared to N-sulphated GAGs. In conclusion, these findings indicate that the integument body wall of S. hermanni and S. vastus is a rich source of sulphated GAGs.
Ipomoea carnea Jacq. is an important folklore medicinal plant, assessed for its underexplored biological potential. Antioxidant, cytotoxic, antiproliferative and polyphenolic profile of whole plant was evaluated using various techniques. Maximum extract recovery (29% w/w), phenolic [13.54 ± 0.27 μg GAE/mg dry weight (DW)] and flavonoid (2.11 ± 0.10 μg QE /mg DW) content were recorded in methanol-distilled water (1:1) flower extract. HPLC-DAD analysis quantified substantial amount of six different polyphenols ranging from 0.081 to 37.95 μg/mg extract. Maximum total antioxidant and reducing potential were documented in methanol-distilled water and acetone-distilled water flower extracts (42.62 ± 0.47 and 24.38 ± 0.39 μg AAE/mg DW) respectively. Ethanol-chloroform root extract manifested highest free radical scavenging (IC50 of 61.22 μg/mL) while 94.64% of the extracts showed cytotoxicity against brine shrimps. Ethanol leaf extract exhibited remarkable activity against THP-1 cell line (IC50 = 8 ± 0.05 μg/mL) and protein kinases (31 mm phenotype bald zone).
A water extraction method has been used to extract plant proteins from the roots of Eurycoma longifolia harvested from Perak and Pahang, Malaysia. On the basis of the spectroscopic Bradford assay, Tongkat Ali Perak and Pahang contained 0.3868 and 0.9573 mg mL(-1) of crude protein, respectively. The crude proteins were separated by one dimensional 15% sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis into two (49.8 and 5.5 kD) and four (49.8, 24.7, 21.1 and 5.5 kD) protein spots for Tongkat Ali Perak and Pahang, respectively. Isoleucine was present in the highest concentration significantly. Both plant samples showed differences in the mineral and trace element profiles, but the minerals calcium, magnesium and potassium were present in the highest concentration. The highly concerned toxic metals such as arsenic and lead were not detected.
Phytochemical investigation on the bark of E. kingiana plant afforded ten compounds, including six polyketides namely kingianin A 1, kingianin B 2, kingianin E 3, kingianin F 4, kingianin K 5 and kingianin L 6, three endiandric acids; kingianic acid A 7, tsangibeilin B 8 and endiandric acid M 9, and one sesquiterpene; daibuoxide 10. All compounds were separated as racemic mixture by recycling high-performance liquid chromatography (RHPLC), except for daibuoxide. Their structures were elucidated by detailed spectroscopic and comparative literature data analysis. This is the first report on the presence of the sesquiterpene; daibuoxide in Endiandra genus. In vitro enzymatic bio-evaluation of the isolated compounds against α-amylase and α-glucosidase showed that 4 demonstrated the best α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity with IC50 values of 181.54 ± 6.27 µg/mL and 237.87 ± 0.07 µg/mL, respectively. In addition, molecular docking analysis confirmed the α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities demonstrated by 4.
Species from the Genus Calophyllum are rich source for bioactive phenolic compounds such as coumarins and xanthones. Phytochemical study carried out on the plant, Calophyllum macrocarpum has led to the isolation of three known prenylated xanthones, ananixanthone (1), trapezifolixanthone (2) and 8-deoxygartanin (3) with two common triterpenoids, stigmasterol (4), and friedelin (5). The structures of these compounds were identified and determined using spectroscopic techniques such as NMR and MS. The cytotoxic activities of compounds 1 and 2 as well as the extracts were tested against HeLa Chang liver and HEK-293 cell lines. Compound 1 exhibited appreciable cytotoxicity with the IC50 value of 11.08 ± 3.09 µM against HeLa Chang liver cell line and moderate cytotoxicity against HEK-293 cell line while compound 2 showed limited toxicity against these two cell lines.
Previous phytochemical investigations reported that Calophyllum spp have biosynthesized a wide range of bioactive phenolics such as xanthones and coumarins. The phytochemical study conducted on the stem bark of C. canum has led to the isolation of eight trioxygenated xanthones namely: 5-methoxytrapezifolixanthone (1), 5-methoxyananixanthone (2), caloxanthone C (3), 1,5-dihydroxy-3-methoxy-4-isoprenylxanthone (4), 6-deoxyisojacareubin (5), euxanthone (6), trapezifolixanthone (7), ananixanthone (8), together with three common triterpenoids, β-sitosterol (9), friedelin (10), and stigmasterol (11). Furthermore, xanthones 1 and 2 were isolated for the first time as naturally occurring xanthones from the plant extract. The structures of these compounds were identified and elucidated using advanced spectroscopic techniques such as 1 D & 2 D NMR, MS, and FTIR. The neuroprotective property of selected compounds was tested through in vitro stroke model. Among all tested compounds, 1 µm of compounds 8, 9, and 10 showed significant neuroprotective activity via reduction of apoptosis by ∼ 50%.
In this study, phytochemical composition, antioxidant, enzyme inhibition and cytotoxic activities of methanol and dichloromethane (DCM) extracts of Bougainvillea glabra (B. glabra) flowers were investigated. Methanol extract was found to have higher total bioactive contents and UHPLC-MS analysis of methanol extract revealed the presence of well-known phenolic and flavonoid compounds. Antioxidant activities were performed by radical scavenging (DPPH and ABTS), reducing power (FRAP and CUPRAC), phosphomolybdenum (TAC) and metal chelating assays. From our result, we observed that methanol extract had many antioxidant compounds. The DCM extract exhibited higher cholinesterases and α-glucosidase enzyme inhibition, while methanol extract showed significant urease inhibition. Both extracts exhibited strong to moderate cytotoxicity against MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, CaSki, DU-145 and SW-480 cancer cells with IC50 values ranging from 88.49 to 304.7 µg/mL. The findings showed the B. glabra to possess considerable antioxidant, enzyme inhibition and cytotoxic potentials and therefore has potential to discover novel bioactive molecules.
The chemical compositions, in vitro and in silico anti-dengue activity of the essential oils of the rhizomes of Curcuma longa Linn., C. aeruginosa Roxb., and C. xanthorrhiza Roxb. had been investigated. The C. longa oil was mainly composed of ar-turmerone (54.0%) and curlone (17.7%), while the C. aeruginosa oil was rich in curzerenone (23.4%), 1,8-cineole (21.2%), and camphor (7.1%). Xanthorrhizol (21.6%), β-curcumene (19.5%), ar-curcumene (14.2%), and camphor (9.2%) were the major compounds in the C. xanthorrhiza oil. Among the oils, the C. longa oil was found to be the most active NSB-NS3 protease inhibitor (IC50 1.98 μg/mL). PLS biplot disclosed that the essential oils were classified into three separated clusters based on their characteristic chemical compositions, with C. longa positioned closest to the in vitro anti-dengue activity. Four compounds from the C. longa oil have both hydrogen and hydrophobic bonds that could be responsible for the DENV-2 NS2B-NS3 inhibitory effect.
Gynura bicolor (Compositae) is a popular vegetable in Asia and believed to confer a wide range of benefits including anti-cancer. Our previous findings showed that the ethyl acetate extract of G. bicolor possessed cytotoxicity and induced apoptotic and necrotic cell death in human colon carcinoma cells (HCT 116). A combination of column chromatography had been used to purify chemical constituents from the ethyl acetate and water extract of G. bicolor leaves. Eight chemical constituents 5-p-trans-coumaroylquinic acid (I), 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (II), rutin (III), kampferol-3-O-rutinoside (IV), 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid (V), kampferol-3-O-glucoside (VI), guanosine (VII) and chlorogenic acid (VIII) were isolated from G. bicolor grown in Malaysia. To our best knowledge, all chemical constituents were isolated for the first time from G. bicolor leaves except rutin (III). 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid (V), guanosine (VII) and chlorogenic acid (VIII) demonstrated selective cytotoxicity (selective index>3) against HCT 116 cancer cells compared to CCD-18Co human normal colon cells.
The leaves of Cinnamomum iners (Reinw. ex Blume-Lauraceae) have been refluxed successively with chloroform and alcohol to get chloroform extract and alcoholic extract. Both the extracts have been assayed for cytotoxicity against human colorectal tumour cells. The chloroform extract exhibited significant cytotoxicity with IC(50) 31 µg mL(-1) (p 200 µg mL(-1). The chloroform extract has been further proceeded for chemical analysis by GC-TOFMS and 178 components were identified including acids, amines, amides, aldehydes, alcohols, esters, benzene derivatives, bicyclic compounds, terpenes, hydrocarbons, naphthalene derivatives, furan derivatives, azulenes, etc. Nine components representing 51.73% of the total chloroform extract were detected as major components. Caryophyllene (14.41%) and Eicosanoic acid ethyl ester (12.17%) are the most prominent components of the chloroform extract. β-Caryophyllene (14.41%) as most abundant compound supports potent cytotoxicity as shown by chloroform extract.
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.
A novel proaporphine-tryptamine dimer alkaloid, named phoebegrandine C 1, was isolated from the leaves of Phoebe grandis (Nees) Merr. Its structural elucidation was carried out using spectroscopic techniques, notably 2D NMR.
Genus Calophyllum is well-known for its phenolic constituents, especially coumarins, which have shown to have a wide range of significant biological activities. In this study, four known phenolic constituents and two triterpenoids have been isolated from the stem bark of Calophyllum lanigerum. The compounds were two pyranochromanone acids are known as caloteysmannic acid (1), isocalolongic acid (2), a simple dihydroxyxanthone, namely euxanthone (3), one coumarin named calanone (4), and two common triterpenoids, friedelin (5), and stigmasterol (6). Chromanone acids were reported for the first time in this Calophyllum species. Cytotoxic evaluations were carried out on n-hexane extract (87.14 ± 2.04 µg/mL; 81.46 ± 2.42 µg/mL) followed by the chromanone acids (1 [79.96 ± 2.39 µM; 83.41 ± 3.39 µM] & 2 [57.88 ± 2.34; 53.04 ± 3.18 µM]) against two cancerous cell lines, MDA-MB-231 and MG-63 cell lines, respectively. The results showed that all tested samples exhibited moderate cytotoxicity.
In tropical forests, Hoya, a plant with significant indigenous medicinal applications, has been underexplored in pharmacological studies. This systematic review meticulously investigates the diverse pharmacological effects exhibited by various Hoya species on human health. A comprehensive literature search, encompassing Scopus, ScienceDirect, and SpringerLink databases, employed specific keyword combinations ('Hoya' and 'pharmacological properties' OR 'pharmacology property'). The included studies exclusively focused on Hoya's impact on human health. The findings underscore Hoya's potential as a medicinal plant, demonstrating promising attributes such as anticancer, antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, antinociceptive, and parasympatholytic effects. Despite these promising indications, the review underscores the necessity for further in vivo investigations to fully unlock Hoya's therapeutic potential. A comprehensive understanding of its mechanisms of action, efficacy, and safety in living systems is imperative for realising its holistic therapeutic benefits.
This paper investigates the optimum processing conditions of microwave assisted extraction (MAE) of anthraquinone (aloe emodin, AE) and flavonoids (kaempferol 3-gentiobioside, K3G and kaempferol, KA) from Senna alata (L.) Roxb. The kinetic study indicates that MAE showed a greater extraction rate, compared to ultrasonic-assisted and maceration, due to the enhanced power which altered the leaf microstructures. The optimisation was undertaken using one-factor-at-a-time, two-level factorial design and central composite design were used to maximise the yield of the target compounds. The optimum yield of K3G (4.27 mg/g DW), KA (8.54 mg/g DW) and AE (0.86 mg/g DW) was obtained at 90.5% ethanol, microwave power of 18.6 W/mL with a desirability of 0.82. In addition, the yield of K3G and KA is correlated positively with the antioxidant activity.
A member of the Moringaceae family, Moringa Oleifera Lam is a perennial deciduous tropical tree known as the 'Miracle Tree' for its medicinal and nutritional benefits. Food and nutrition are crucial aspects of the development and maintenance of healthy health. Moringa oleifera is a multi-purpose herbal bush that is used as both human food and a medical alternative all over the world. Various parts of the tree are used to treat chronic diseases such as hypertension, heart disease, inflammation, oxidative stress, diabetes, and cancer. Moringa is an excellent source of essential nutrients and has been found to have a significant impact on improving nutritional deficiencies in populations with limited access to food. Moringa oleifera contains essential amino acids, carotenoids, minerals, fats, carbohydrates, proteins, phytochemicals, vitamins, and fibre. Moringa offers nutritional and economic advantages, medicinal and therapeutic uses, and future biological potential for human well-being.