Chemical Constituents of Garcinia Mangostana, G. Parvifolla, G. Griffitti and G. Diversifolia (Guttiferae) and Their Biological Activities

Four plants from the Garcinia genus were subjected to chemotaxonomic investigations with the isolation of a number of compounds. The structures of the compounds were established by spectroscopic methods such as MS, UV, IR, 1HNMR and 13C-NMR and by comparison with previous studies. The investigations of the pericarp of local grown Garcinia mangostana afforded known compounds which are mangostin, l3-mangostin, y-mangostin and gartanin.In investigations of the bark and heartwood of G. parvifolia collected from Ayer Hitam Forest Reserve, Puchong two xanthones, GP2, GH2 and stigmasterol were isolated. From another separate collection of the same species from Johor, three compounds were isolated: stigmasterol, an unidentified compound and an novel compound, GK3. Study on the leaves and stems of G. griffitti collected from Taman Negara , Pahang afforded two known compounds friedelin and (3-amyrin. Investigations on leaves and stems of G. diversifolia collected from Fraser's Hill also yielded friede!in. The plant extracts were evaluated for their biological activities against selected fungal and bacterial pathogens. The antifungal activity was performed using the 'Poison Food' method. The extracts from the test plant showed different antifungal activity towards the vegetative growth of plant pathogenic fungi ; Helminthosporium oryzae, Alternaria padwickii, Colletotrichum capsici, Fusarium oxysporum, Curvularia lunata and Pesta/otia theae The chloroform extract of the heartwood of G. parvifolia collected from Ayer Hitam Forest Reserve, Puchong was the most effective in inhibiting the mycelial growth for the test fungi. The antibacterial activity was tested using the 'Agar Diffusion' method. The extracts from the test plant also showed different antibacterial activity against the growth of six test bacteria ; Bacillus subtilis, E. coli, Erwinia carotovora, Microccoccus sp, Proteus vulgariS and Pseudomonas solanacearum. Chloroform extract of G. mangostana gave the highest average zone of inhibition, indicating the degree of its sensitivity

An in vitro study of the antifungal activity of Trichoderma virens 7b and a profile of its non-polar antifungal components released against Ganoderma boninense

Ganoderma boninense is the causal agent of a devastating disease affecting oil palm in Southeast Asian countries. Basal stem rot (BSR) disease slowly rots the base of palms, which radically reduces productive lifespan of this lucrative crop. Previous reports have indicated the successful use of Trichoderma as biological control agent (BCA) against G. boninense and isolate T. virens 7b was selected based on its initial screening. This study attempts to decipher the mechanisms responsible for the inhibition of G. boninense by identifying and characterizing the chemical compounds as well as the physical mechanisms by T. virens 7b. Hexane extract of the isolate gave 62.60% ± 6.41 inhibition against G. boninense and observation under scanning electron microscope (SEM) detected severe mycelial deformation of the pathogen at the region of inhibition. Similar mycelia deformation of G. boninense was observed with a fungicide treatment, Benlate® indicating comparable fungicidal effect by T. virens 7b. Fraction 4 and 5 of hexane active fractions through preparative thin layer chromatography (P-TLC) was identified giving the best inhibition of the pathogen. These fractions comprised of ketones, alcohols, aldehydes, lactones, sesquiterpenes, monoterpenes, sulphides, and free fatty acids profiled through gas chromatography mass spectrometry detector (GC/MSD). A novel antifungal compound discovery of phenylethyl alcohol (PEA) by T. virens 7b is reported through this study. T. virens 7b also proved to be an active siderophore producer through chrome azurol S (CAS) agar assay. The study demonstrated the possible mechanisms involved and responsible in the successful inhibition of G. boninense

Co-design of a digital dietary intervention for adults at risk of type 2 diabetes

Background Co-design has the potential to create interventions that lead to sustainable health behaviour change. Evidence suggests application of co-design in various health domains has been growing; however, few public-facing digital interventions have been co-designed to specifically address the needs of adults at risk of Type 2 diabetes (T2D). This study aims to: (1) co-design, with key stakeholders, a digital dietary intervention to promote health behaviour change among adults at risk of T2D, and (2) evaluate the co-design process involved in developing the intervention prototype. Methods The co-design study was based on a partnership between nutrition researchers and designers experienced in co-design for health. Potential end-users (patients and health professionals) were recruited from an earlier stage of the study. Three online workshops were conducted to develop and review prototypes of an app for people at risk of T2D. Themes were inductively defined and aligned with persuasive design (PD) principles used to inform ideal app features and characteristics. Results Participants were predominantly female (range 58–100%), aged 38 to 63 years (median age = 59 years), consisting of a total of 20 end-users and four experts. Participants expressed the need for information from credible sources and to provide effective strategies to overcome social and environmental influences on eating behaviours. Preferred app features included tailoring to the individual’s unique characteristics, ability to track and monitor dietary behaviour, and tools to facilitate controlled social connectivity. Relevant persuasive design principles included social support, reduction (reducing effort needed to reach target behaviour), tunnelling (guiding users through a process that leads to target behaviour), praise, rewards, and self-monitoring. The most preferred prototype was the Choices concept, which focusses on the users’ journey of health behaviour change and recognises progress, successes, and failures in a supportive and encouraging manner. The workshops were rated successful, and feedback was positive. Conclusions The study’s co-design methods were successful in developing a functionally appealing and relevant digital health promotion intervention. Continuous engagement with stakeholders such as designers and end-users is needed to further develop a working prototype for testing

Carotenoid stability during storage of yellow gari made from biofortified cassava or with palm oil

The carotenoid composition of gari made from biofortified cassava (BG) was compared to that of existing gari of similar appearance but made from white cassava with added red palm oil (RPG). Storage of both yellow gari products was modelled at ambient temperatures typical of tropical areas (19-40 °C) over a 3 month-period at constant relative humidity. Carotenoid content and hence vitamin A activity of the gari products decreased markedly with time and temperature. Trans-β-carotene degradation fitted well the kinetics predicted by the Arrhenius model, in particular for BG. Activation energies for trans-β-carotene were 60.4 and 81.0 kJ.mol−1 for BG and RPG respectively (R2 = 0.998 and 0.997 respectively): hence the minimum energy to cause degradation of trans-β-carotene in gari was lower with BG. Rates of degradation of 9-cis β-carotene in gari were of the same order as with trans-β-carotene. Although the initial content of trans-β-carotene was twice as high in the BG compared to RPG, trans-β-carotene in BG degraded much faster. Results showed that the average shelf life at ambient temperature for BG was significantly shorter than for RPG and therefore carotenoids in BG were less stable than in RPG

Responsiveness of sphingosine phosphate lyase insufficiency syndrome to vitamin B6 cofactor supplementation

Sphingosine- 1- phosphate (S1P) lyase is a vitamin B6- dependent enzyme that degrades sphingosine- 1- phosphate in the final step of sphingolipid metabolism. In 2017, a new inherited disorder was described caused by mutations in SGPL1, which encodes sphingosine phosphate lyase (SPL). This condition is referred to as SPL insufficiency syndrome (SPLIS) or alternatively as nephrotic syndrome type 14 (NPHS14). Patients with SPLIS exhibit lymphopenia, nephrosis, adrenal insufficiency, and/or neurological defects. No targeted therapy for SPLIS has been reported. Vitamin B6 supplementation has therapeutic activity in some genetic diseases involving B6- dependent enzymes, a finding ascribed largely to the vitamin’s chaperone function. We investigated whether B6 supplementation might have activity in SPLIS patients. We retrospectively monitored responses of disease biomarkers in patients supplemented with B6 and measured SPL activity and sphingolipids in B6- treated patient- derived fibroblasts. In two patients, disease biomarkers responded to B6 supplementation. S1P abundance and activity levels increased and sphingolipids decreased in response to B6. One responsive patient is homozygous for an SPL R222Q variant present in almost 30% of SPLIS patients. Molecular modeling suggests the variant distorts the dimer interface which could be overcome by cofactor supplementation. We demonstrate the first potential targeted therapy for SPLIS and suggest that 30% of SPLIS patients might respond to cofactor supplementation.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/162713/2/jimd12238.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/162713/1/jimd12238_am.pd

Spectroscopic identification of geometrical isomers of α- and β-carotenes from palm oil

To date, all identification of palm carotenoids are tentative based on electronic absorption spectra, comparison of the elution sequence with past studies and authentic standards. This study reports the isolation of individual major isomers of palm carotenes using a semi-preparative C30 column. The results of MS, 1 H NMR of four isolated peaks, assigned as Fraction 1 (a mixture of 13 and 13’ cis α-carotene), Fraction 2 ( 13 cis β-carotene), Fraction 3 (all trans α-carotene) and Fraction 4 (cis β-carotene) supported the identification of their structures