PHYTOCHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS OF THE LEAVES OF LEUCAENA LEUCOCEPHALA FROM MALAYSIA

Objective: This study was conducted to identify the phytochemical constituents of Leucaena leucocephala leaf extracts using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).Methods: Hexane, petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanol leaves extract of L. leucocephala were analyzed using GC-MS, while the mass spectra of the compounds found in the extract were matched with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) library.Results: GC-MS analysis of L. leucocephala leaves revealed the presence of 30 compounds and the major chemical constituents were Squalene (41.02%), Phytol (33.80%), 3,7,11,15-Tetramethyl-2-hexadecen-1-ol (30.86%) and 3,7,11-Tridecatrienenitrile, 4,8,12-trimethyl (25.64%). Some of these compounds have been reported to possess various biological activities such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, hepatoprotective, antiparasitic, insecticide, nematicide, pesticide, anti coronary, antiarthritic, antiandrogenic, hypocholesterolemic, cancer preventive, anti-cancer, analgesic, anesthetic, allergenic and etc.Conclusion: The findings of this study indicating that L. leucocephala leaves possess various potent bioactive compounds and is recommended as a plant of phytopharmaceutical importance

Assessment of the humification degree of peat soil under sago (Metroxylon sagu) cultivation based on Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and Ultraviolet-Visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopic characteristics

Sago palm (Metroxylon sagu) is a tropical crop that can survive the acidic conditions of peat soil, which is cultivated at large scale in Sarawak (Malaysia). The performance of sago palm on deep peat is variable, and not all specimens are able to grow to maturity and produce a trunk. It is hypothesised that sago growth may be influenced by peat humification because a positive relationship between the fertility of peat soil and its degree of humification has been well reported. This article investigates the humification degree of peat soil used for cultivation of sago palms, as indicated by spectroscopic characteristics. The peat soil adjacent to trunking and non-trunking palms was sampled and compared with exposed uncultivated peat. The results showed that, where largely undecomposed woody material predominated in the underlying peat, degree of humification decreased with increasing depth. Uncultivated peat was more highly humified than cultivated peat because the latter was continuously replenished with new plant matter. On the basis of FTIR spectroscopy, no significant difference was found between cultivated peat sampled adjacent to trunking and non-trunking palms. On the other hand, the UV-Vis and FTIR data suggested lower humification degree in the underlying peat which may have led to inconsistent growth

Characterization and Conversion of Sludge Palm Oil (SPO) into Biodiesel

Sludge Palm Oil (SPO) is a potential low-cost feedstock for biodiesel production. The conversion efficiency and the quality of biodiesel produced is governed by the feedstock and the conversion reaction. To our knowledge, the potential of SPO produced by palm oil mills in Sarawak has yet to be explored. Hence, this paper aims to characterize the SPO obtained from Sarawak palm oil mills and to optimize the predominant conversion reaction. The SPO was converted into biodiesel via a sulphuric acid catalyzed esterification reaction, followed by transesterification using potassium hydroxide and methanol. This SPO contained 1.30 - 10.15% moisture, 2.91 - 7.63% sediment and 47.05 – 87.86% free fatty acids (FFA). The optimum esterification conditions identified were: SPO:methanol ratio (1:10), sulphuric acid concentration (1.84%) and reaction time (3.25 hr). Under these conditions, the biodiesel yield was 74% with an FFA conversion efficiency of 79.87%. The water produced during the esterification process was found to hinder the reaction, reducing both conversion efficiency and biodiesel yield. The findings of this study offer important insights about the challenges and feasibility of biodiesel conversion from SPO, where esterification is inevitable due to its high FFA content

Cynometra cauliflora essential oils loaded-chitosan nanoparticles: Evaluations of their antioxidant, antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities

Nanoencapsulation has appeared as an alternative approach to protect the bioactive constituents of essential oils (EOs) and to improve their properties. In this study, Cynometra cauliflora essential oils (CCEOs) were nanoencapsulated in chitosan nanoparticles (CSNPs) using an emulsion-ionic gelation technique. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images illustrated a well dispersion and spherical shape of C. cauliflora EOs-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (CCEOs-CSNPs) with an average size of less than 100 nm. In addition to that, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses revealed the success of CCEOs nanoencapsulation. The encapsulation efficiency (EE) was in the range of 38.83% to 44.16% while the loading capacity (LC) reached 32.55% to 33.73%. The antioxidant activity (IC50) of CCEOs-CSNPs was ranged from 21.65 to 259.13 μg/mL when assessed using DPPH radical scavenging assay. CCEOs-CSNPs showed an appreciable antimicrobial effects on diabetic wound microorganisms. Notably, cytotoxic effects against human breast cancer MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells recorded IC50 of 3.72–17.81 μg/mL and 16.24–17.65 μg/mL, respectively, after 72 h treatment. Interestingly, no cytotoxicity against human breast normal MCF-10A cells was observed. Thus, nanoencapsulation using CSNPs could improve the properties of CCEOs in biomedical related applications

Chitosan-Based Nanoencapsulated Essential Oils: Potential Leads against Breast Cancer Cells in Preclinical Studies

Since ancient times, essential oils (EOs) derived from aromatic plants have played a significant role in promoting human health. EOs are widely used in biomedical applications due to their medicinal properties. EOs and their constituents have been extensively studied for treating various health-related disorders, including cancer. Nonetheless, their biomedical applications are limited due to several drawbacks. Recent advances in nanotechnology offer the potential for utilising EO-loaded nanoparticles in the treatment of various diseases. In this aspect, chitosan (CS) appears as an exceptional encapsulating agent owing to its beneficial attributes. This review highlights the use of bioactive EOs and their constituents against breast cancer cells. Challenges associated with the use of EOs in biomedical applications are addressed. Essential information on the benefits of CS as an encapsulant, the advantages of nanoencapsulated EOs, and the cytotoxic actions of CS-based nanoencapsulated EOs against breast cancer cells is emphasised. Overall, the nanodelivery of bioactive EOs employing polymeric CS represents a promising avenue against breast cancer cells in preclinical studies

Cynometra cauliflora L.: An indigenous tropical fruit tree in Malaysia bearing essential oils and their biological activities

Cynometra cauliflora L., locally known as ‘‘nam-nam” or ‘‘katak puru-puru” in Malaysia is belonging to the Fabaceae family. The tree is native to Malaysia and has been used traditionally as folk medicine. Limited works have been conducted on C. cauliflora regarding its chemical composition. In view of this, the present study aimed to identify the essential oil (EO) composition of the leaf, twig and fruit of C. cauliflora and evaluate their antioxidant, antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities. EOs obtained from different parts of the tree were analyzed using capillary GC and GC/MS. Twenty-six, seventeen and fifty constituents were identified in the leaf, twig and fruit EOs of C. cauliflora. Results demonstrated the dominance of monoterpenes hydrocarbons in the leaf oil and oxygenated monoterpenes in the twig oil. On the contrary, fruit oil was abundant in oxygenated sesquiterpenes. Different chemical profiles were found in different parts of EOs which have contributed to varied biological activities. Twig oil (IC50 37.12 ± 2.84 mg/mL) showed better antioxidant power than the leaf (IC50 207.17 ± 2.95 mg/mL) and fruit oils (IC50 461.88 ± 12.61 mg/mL) in DPPH assay. Additionally, twig oil inhibited an entire range of microorganisms tested with inhibition zones ranging 10.3 ± 0.4 to 29.7 ± 0.4 mm. The twig oil displayed low MIC and MBC values against Staphylococcus aureus (MIC 125.0 mg/mL; MBC 250.0 mg/mL) and MRSA (MIC 125.0 mg/mL; MBC 250.0 mg/mL). In in vitro MTT assay, twig oil showed antiproliferative effects against human breast cancer MCF-7 cells