Alkaloids from Piper nigrum and Piper betle

An investigation, on the roots of Piper nigrum and the aerial parts of Piper betle, has yielded several alkaloids. The dried root sample of Piper nigrum was extracted using various solvents in increasing polarity. The dried aerial part of Piper betle was extracted using the Soxhlet extraction method. The alkaloids isolated were pellitorine(1), (E)-1-[3',4'- (Methylenedioxy)cinnamoyl]piperidine(2), piperine(3), piperolactam D(4), cepharadione A(5), and 2,4-tetradecadienoic acid isobutyl amide(6). These compounds were isolated using chromatographic methods, while the elucidation of the structures was carried out using MS, IR and NMR techniques. The extracts of Piper nigrum and Piper betle were also tested for cytotoxicity activities. This is the first report on (E)-1-[3',4'-(Methylenedioxy)cinnamoyl] piperidine(2) from Piper nigrum as a natural product

Potential mosquito larvicides from Morinda citrifolia root extract

In our recent investigation on Morinda citrifolia as a potential larvicide against the larvae of Aedes aegypti, we found 1-hydroxy-2-methyl anthraquinone (1) to have good larvicidal activity. Extracts of the roots of Morinda citrifolia were also found to be larvicidal

Laccases repertoire of a subterranean termite Coptotermes curvignathus holmgren (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae)

Coptotermes curvignathus is a subterranean termite species that vigorously feed on living-tree. The cellulose, hemicelluloses, lignin components in the wood are too robust for many organisms to break down and extract energy from but they serve as main carbon and energy sources for C. curvignathus. The ability of this subterranean termite thrive on wood diet may attribute by its array of laccase repertoire. Laccases are known for many functions including detoxification of plant tissues via xenobiotic pathway, and most importantly for termite is lignin modification. This paper highlighted the type of laccases produced by C. curvignathus based on transcriptomic data that were generated from 500 termites’ digestive system using Illumina HiSeq 2000. Raw data was trimmed and assembled by SOLEXAQA and Bowtie before loaded into Gene Ontology based data mining software, Blast2GO (B2G). The result showed that, C. curvignathus expressed diverse laccase genes that were phylogenetically similar to other termites’ laccases and distinctly related to fungal or bacterial laccases. Other than providing laccase genes sequences for further gene and enzyme characterization, the result of this study is the first insight into C. curvignathus laccase repertoire that is important to elucidate how C. curvignathus could digest wood efficiently from either intact or partially hydrolyzed wood

Synergism of entomopathogenic fungus, Metarhizium anisopliae incorporated with fipronil against oil palm pest subterranean termite, Coptotermes curvignathus

The compatibility and synergy in efficacy of the termiticide fipronil with a biocontrol agent Metarhizium anisopliae, alone or in combination, against the subterranean termite, Coptotermes curvignathus were investigated. Sublethal doses of fipronil were found relatively less detrimental to fungal growth of M. anisopliae local isolates in a compatibility test. The fungus–insecticide bait formulation showed the greatest synergistic effect that increased termite mortality as well as reduced the lethal time at a sublethal dose of 0.05 mg a.i./l fipronil with conidia concentrations of 107 conidia/g bait (χ² = 48.80) at LT50 value of 6.46 days, followed by 108 conidia/gbait (χ² = 5.09) at LT50 value of 4.89 days compared to the use of these control agents alone. The insecticidal stress caused by sublethal fipronil in the formulated bait may weaken the termites and reduce their defence mechanism, which facilitates fungus infection on termites. The observed synergism treatments show the potential for integrated fungus–insecticide control method and need to be further investigated on termite infested oil palm trees

Isolation and characterization of endoglucanases produced by microbes residing in the gut of Coptotermes curvignathus termite

Bacteria and enzymes in the gut of termites play an important role to digest lignocellulosic material. Coptotermes curvignathus is one of the very few destructive species that can infest living plants. In this study, five bacteria isolated from C. curvignathus gut; four aerobic Bacillus spp. and an anaerobic uncultured bacterium were identified to produce endoglucanase with molecular size of 11 kDa which is significantly smaller than the endoglucanase produced by Reticulitermes speratus. Biolog reader identification showed that TG117 and N45/1 were Bacillus cereus/thuringiensis, TG111 was Bacillus pseudomycoides and TG005 was Bacillus mycoides. Endoglucanase produced by aerobic isolate NA45/1 showed promising potential as an industrial enzyme with significantly higher enzymtic activity than the commercial cellulase from Aspergillus Niger (C1184 Sigma). Endoglucanase NA45/1 displayed enzymatic activity 0.3961 U at pH 9 and 45°C. The endoglucanase TG111 acted optimally at alkaline condition with 0.2294 U whereas endoglucanase TG117 functioned best at slightly acidic condition. This study showed that the termite gut has a wide range of endoglucanase enzymes with various optimum temperatures and pH

Association of copper and zinc levels in oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) to the spatial distribution of Ganoderma species in the plantations on peat

Nutrients are essential for normal physiological processes in plants, and they play important roles in defence mechanisms against pathogens. Oil palms cultivated on peat are more prone to nutrient deficiency, especially micronutrients, and this may affect their susceptibility toGanoderma species, the major threat to the sustainability of oil palm throughout South-East Asia. This study was conducted to investigate the association of copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) in mature oil palm to the spatial distribution of Ganoderma species in the plantations on peat. Foliar samples (frond 17) of oil palm from two plantations (Betong and Miri) on peat in Sarawak, Malaysia, were collected based on the spatial distribution pattern of Ganoderma, and total Cu and Zn were quantified spectrometrically. The experiment was conducted twice at a 1-year interval. The concentrations of Cu and Zn were significantly lower in oil palms from infected areas in contrast to those from uninfected areas. In addition, oil palms in infected areas in Miri suffered Cu and Zn deficiencies. Furthermore, Cu and Zn were significantly lower in the oil palms in Miri that had higher Ganoderma occurrence, as compared to those in Betong, which had significantly higher Cu and Zn but lower Ganoderma occurrence

Association of copper and zinc levels in oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) to the spatial distribution of Ganoderma species in the plantations on peat

Nutrients are essential for normal physiological processes in plants, and they play important roles in defence mechanisms against pathogens. Oil palms cultivated on peat are more prone to nutrient deficiency, especially micronutrients, and this may affect their susceptibility toGanoderma species, the major threat to the sustainability of oil palm throughout South-East Asia. This study was conducted to investigate the association of copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) in mature oil palm to the spatial distribution of Ganoderma species in the plantations on peat. Foliar samples (frond 17) of oil palm from two plantations (Betong and Miri) on peat in Sarawak, Malaysia, were collected based on the spatial distribution pattern of Ganoderma, and total Cu and Zn were quantified spectrometrically. The experiment was conducted twice at a 1-year interval. The concentrations of Cu and Zn were significantly lower in oil palms from infected areas in contrast to those from uninfected areas. In addition, oil palms in infected areas in Miri suffered Cu and Zn deficiencies. Furthermore, Cu and Zn were significantly lower in the oil palms in Miri that had higher Ganoderma occurrence, as compared to those in Betong, which had significantly higher Cu and Zn but lower Ganoderma occurrence

Pellitorine, a potential anti-cancer lead compound against HL60 and MCT-7 cell lines and microbial transformation of piperine from Piper nigrum.

Pellitorine (1), which was isolated from the roots of Piper nigrum, showed strong cytotoxic activities against HL60 and MCT-7 cell lines. Microbial transformation of piperine (2) gave a new compound 5-[3,4-(methylenedioxy)phenyl]-pent-2-ene piperidine (3). Two other alkaloids were also found from Piper nigrum. They are (E)-1-[3’,4’- (methylenedioxy)cinnamoyl]piperidine (4) and 2,4-tetradecadienoic acid isobutyl amide (5). These compounds were isolated using chromatographic methods and their structures were elucidated using MS, IR and NMR techniques

Impact of phytic acid on nutrient bioaccessibility and antioxidant properties of dehusked rice

Whole grains consumption promotes health benefits, but demonstrates controversial impacts from phytic acid in meeting requirements of good health. Therefore, this study was aimed to determine the nutrient bioaccessibility and antioxidant properties of rice cultivars named BAdan^ or BBario^ and deduce the nutritional impact of phytic acid. Majority of the dehusked rice in the collection showed an acceptable level of in-vitro starch digestibility and in-vitro protein digestibility, but were poor in antioxidant properties and bioaccessibility of minerals (Ca, Fe and Zn). The drawbacks identified in the rice cultivars were due to relatively high phytic acid content (2420.6±94.6 mg/100 g) and low phenolic content (152.39± 18.84 μg GAE/g). The relationship between phytic acid content and mineral bioaccessibility was strongest in calcium (r=0.60), followed by iron (r=0.40) and zinc (r=0.27). Phytic acid content did not significantly correlate with in-vitro starch digestibility and in-vitro protein digestibility but showed a weak relationship with antioxidant properties. These suggest that phytic acid could significantly impair the mineral bioaccessibility of dehusked rice, and also act as an important antioxidant in nonpigmented rice. Bario rice cultivars offered dehusked rice with wide range of in-vitro digestibility of starch and protein, and also pigmented rice as a good source of antioxidants. However, there is a need to reduce phytic acid content in dehusked rice for improved mineral bioaccessibility among Bario rice cultivars

Chemical constituents of Artocarpus kemando (Moraceae).

The stem bark of Artocarpus kemando furnished 24-methylenecycloartenyl acetate (fatty acyl ester) (1) together with cycloartobiloxanthone (2). Compound 1 was obtained for the first time from this species. Structures of both compounds were determined using NMR and MS analysis. A cytotoxic study showed that the crude extract of the stem bark of Artocarpus kemando was significantly active against the HL-60 (human promyelocytic leukemia cell) and IMR-32 (human neuroblastoma cell) cell lines. This is the first report on the cyctotoxic activity of Artocarpus kemando. Dynamic Metadata(s)