Efficacy of Thai Herbal Extract Oral Care Products in Promoting Antimicrobial Health Among Healthy Volunteers

Background: Reducing the levels of oral microbials, including Streptococcus mutans, Candida albicans, and Lactobacilli sp., would provide the prevention of dental caries and oral illness. Aims: To assess the antimicrobial effectiveness against oral pathogens of oral care products that contain urginea maritima extract (UM) extract, including lozenges, mouth spray, and mouthwash. Methods: The skin irritation test was conducted on each product compared with controls in healthy participants (n = 10) by the 24-hour closed obstruction patch test. The elimination of oral pathogens in participants (n = 30) before and after product usage (as per the instruction) was assessed using a modified dip slide test. Result: The physical appearance and stability of oral care products were almost preferable. When added to oral care products for oral health maintenance, the cariogenic bacteria S. mutans, Candida species, and Lactobacilli species have been found to exhibit antimicrobial activity

Root of Seablite (Suaeda maritima), the Medicinal Halophyte for Skincare Application

Background: Seablite (Suaeda maritima) grows near mangrove forests and shrimp farms on the coast of the Thai Gulf and South of Thailand. Extracts of S. maritima root can relieve or treat some skin symptoms or diseases, and it can be possessed. Methods: The aim of this study was to screen phytochemical constituents of S. maritima root extract (SMRE) to determine their in vitro biological activities related to skincare properties. Results and Discussion: Qualitative phytochemical screening was positive for tannins and triterpenes. Total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) were 191.3 ± 3.55 mg of GAE/g and 21.2 ± 2.09 mg of QE/g, respectively. SMRE inhibited the DPPH (2,2-Diphenyl-1-Picrylhydrazyl) radical (IC50 = 0.25 ± 0.2 mg/ml) and lipid peroxidation (IC50 = 2.61 ± 0.5 mg/ml). Human skin fibroblasts were increased by 26.58 ± 5.91% after treatment with SMRE (1.0 mg/ml) and exhibited wound healing capacity by narrowing the gap between skin fibroblast clusters. Conclusion: This study confirms the potential of SMRE for skincare protection which meets the need for traditional uses of plant-derived products for skincare applications

Bryonolic Acid Blocks Cancer Cell Clonogenicity and Invasiveness through the Inhibition of Fatty Acid: Cholesteryl Ester Formation

Bryonolic acid (BrA) is a pentacyclic triterpene present in several plants used in African traditional medicine such as Anisophyllea dichostyla R. Br. Here we investigated the in vitro anticancer properties of BrA. We report that BrA inhibits acyl-coA: cholesterol acyl transferase (ACAT) activity in rat liver microsomes in a concentration-dependent manner, blocking the biosynthesis of the cholesterol fatty acid ester tumour promoter. We next demonstrated that BrA inhibits ACAT in intact cancer cells with an IC50 of 12.6 ± 2.4 µM. BrA inhibited both clonogenicity and invasiveness of several cancer cell lines, establishing that BrA displays specific anticancer properties. BrA appears to be more potent than the other pentacyclic triterpenes, betulinic acid and ursolic acid studied under similar conditions. The inhibitory effect of BrA was reversed by exogenous addition of cholesteryl oleate, showing that ACAT inhibition is responsible for the anticancer effect of BrA. This report reveals new anticancer properties for BrA

Ethnobotanic, Ethnopharmacologic Aspects and New Phytochemical Insights into Moroccan Argan Fruits

This review summarizes available data on argan fruit botany, geographical distribution, traditional uses, environmental interest, socioeconomic role, phytochemistry, as well as health beneficial effects and examination of future prospects. In particular, ethnomedical uses of argan fruits are carried out throughout Morocco where it has been used against various diseases. Different classes of bioactive compounds have been characterized including essential oils, fatty acids, triacylglycerols, flavonoids and their newly reported acylglycosyl derivatives, monophenols, phenolic acids, cinnamic acids, saponins, triterpenes, phytosterols, ubiquinone, melatonin, new aminophenols along with vitamin E among other secondary metabolites. The latter have already shown a wide spectrum of in vitro, and ex vivo biologicalactivities including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, antihypertensive, anti-hypercholesterolemia, analgesic, antimicrobial, molluscicidal anti-nociceptive and anticancer potential. Argan flesh (pulp) contains a broad spectrum of polyphenolic compounds which may have utility for incorporation into nutraceuticals and cosmeceuticals relevant to the food, cosmetic and health industries. Further research is recommended, especially on the health beneficial effects of the aminophenols

Inhibitory capacity of extracts and main constituents of hop flowers

Abstract Background Hops (Humulus lupulus Linn.) produce flowers that are used on an industrial scale to impart sensory properties to beer and have some pharmacologic properties already published in the literature. Gout, type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer’s are diseases the appearance/aggravation of which is related to the action of enzymes such as xanthine oxidase, α-glucosidase and acetylcholinesterase, respectively, which are associated with oxidative stress. Our hypothesis is that the extracts and chemical constituents isolated from the flowers of hops act as enzyme inhibitors and scavenge free radicals. Hexane and methanol extracts were obtained from flowers of different cultivars produced in Brazil and from commercial pellets, with the contents of bitter acids and xanthohumol determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), after QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe) extraction and were evaluated for their pharmacologic properties. Results The extracts and analytical standards showed a significant capacity against oxidative stress in all evaluated methods (DPPH·, ABTS·+, HO·). Xanthohumol and extracts with a high concentration of this compound demonstrated a strong capacity to inhibit the xanthine oxidase and significantly reduce the formation of uric acid. The results with the α-glucosidase revealed promising pharmacologic action for all samples, even more effective than the commercial drug (acarbose). The acetylcholinesterase inhibition assays were effective for hexane extracts and ICE-4, with values obtained close to the eserine. Conclusion It can be concluded with the results obtained that extracts and patterns of hop flowers showed promising potential to combat oxidative stress and complementary treatment of gout, type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease