Copper uptake potential of Philippine giant bamboo (Dendrocalamus asper) under varied initial copper concentration, water hardness and pH

Copper is a commonly used metal in construction, engineering, agriculture and water treatment. Consequently, increased copper concentrations resulting in adverse environmental effects is inevitable. Phytoremediation using Dendrocalamus asper or Philippine giant bamboo (PGB) is a viable option for treatment of copper-contaminated media, but their copper uptake potential remains largely unexplored. As such, the copper uptake of PGB was evaluated under varying environmental conditions, namely initial copper concentration, water hardness and pH.Six-month old propagules were planted in artificially contaminated water in order to determine the copper uptake after 16 days of treatment. Using a Box-Behnken design of experiment, it was found that both initial copper concentration and pH have significant and proportional effects on copper uptake. However, due to possible speciation and/or competition, the optimum copper uptake occurred at 20 ppm Cu and pH 5 (as opposed to 7). A mathematical equation, bearing an R2 = 0.7097, was constructed as a possible model for copper uptake of PGB to understand when PGB phytoremediation is most effective. At copper concentrations lower than 3.81 ppm, higher pH is beneficial to copper uptake and vice versa. Overall, phytoremediation using D. asper or PGB is effective especially at low pH and elevated copper concentrations

Persea americana Mill. (Lauraceae) extract exhibits antioxidant and antibacterial properties

This paper highlighted the antioxidant and antibacterial property and chemical constituents of the three parts of Persea americana. The radical scavenging activity of P. americana is dependent on the plant parts. The stem-bark ethanol extract had the highest scavenging activity. This better activity of stem-bark could be accounted to its high phenolic content. All extracts of the three plant parts exhibited inhibitory activity against S. aureus but only stem-bark extract showed inhibition against E. coli. Among the six chemicals screened, flavonoids, terpenoids, cardiac glycosides, and alkaloids were found present in all the samples. Therefore, ethanol extracts of the three plant parts of P. americana contained phytochemicals which are free radical and bacterial growth inhibitors, acting possibly as antioxidants and antibacterial

Chemical constituents, antioxidant and antibacterial activity of Syzygium cumini (L.) skeels (Myrtaceae)

This work investigated the phytochemical constituents, antioxidant and antibacterial activities of the leaves, fruitpericarp, and stem-bark of Syzygium cumini, which is known for its uses in traditional folk medicine in the Philippines. The three plant parts contained alkaloids, terpenoids, glycosides, saponins, alkaloids, and tannins. All samples exhibited antioxidant activity. The fruit-pericarp had the highest radical scavenging activity of 56.73%, followed by the stem-bark and leaves having 51.97%, 47.51%, respectively. Leaves had the highest phenolic content with 382.75 mg AAE/g sample while stem-bark had 369.17 mg AAE/g sample. All samples showed inhibitory activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli with diameter zone of inhibitions range from 8.12 to 13.28 mm, except fruit-pericarp against E. coli. The three plant parts of S. cumini exhibits antioxidant and antibacterial activities which are mainly attributed to the various phytochemical constituents

Phytochemical screening and teratogenic effect of lyophilized water extracts from Ocimum sanctum L. (Holy Basil) and Tamarindus indica L. (Tamarind) Leaves in Danio rerio Embryos

The toxic and teratogenic effects of lyophilized water extracts of Ocimum sanctum and Tamarindus indica in Danio rerio embryos and their active phytochemicals were assessed and analyzed in this study. Analysis revealed that O. sanctum contained flavonoids, terpenoids, saponins, and tannins while T. indica had flavonoids, terpenoids, saponins, and alkaloids. In D. rerio assay, a 100% mortality was observed in embryos exposed to 5000 ppm and 10000 ppm of O. sanctum and to 10000 ppm of T. indica after 12 hours of exposure. At 48 hours of exposure, O. sanctum extract-treated embryos showed 25.00% and 58.33% mortality while T. indica had 8.33% and 33.33% mortality at 100 and 500 ppm concentrations of each extract, respectively. Embryos at 100 ppm or higher concentrations significantly recorded lower heartbeat rate while no heartbeat was observed in embryos at 1000 ppm or higher concentrations of O. sanctum and at 5000 ppm or higher concentrations of T. indica. Embryos exposed to 100 ppm and 500 ppm significantly recorded lower hatchabilities (66.67% and 16.67% for O. sanctum and 91.67% and 58.33% for T. indica, respectively) when compared to the control embryos. No hatched was noted in 1000 ppm of both plant extracts. Growth retardation, yolk deformity, and tail malformation were the most observed teratogenic effects of both plant extracts

Phytochemical constituents and teratogenic effect of lyophilized extracts of Bixa orellana L. (Achuete) and piper betle L. (Ikmo) leaves in Danio rerio embryos

This work highlighted the preliminary chemical screening and toxic and teratogenic effects of lyophilized extracts of leaves of Bixa orellana and Piper betle in developing zebrafish, Danio rerio, embryos. Chemical analysis revealed that both B. orellana and P. betle contained flavonoids, cardiac glycosides, and saponins in varying amount while the former has an addition of terpenoids and the latter has tannins as additional compounds present. In toxicity assay, a 100% mortality of embryos was observed at 10000 μg/ml concentration after 36 hours and at 5000 μg/ml concentration after 48 hours of exposure in both plants. Plant extracts affect the hatchability of embryos, which can be accounted to the observed delayed development. Coagulated embryo was the most distinct toxic effect while delayed development and tail malformation were the most observed teratogenic effects of both plant extracts

A sterol from Auriculariaauricula-judae

Silica gel chromatography of the dichloromethane extract of the fruiting bodies of Auriculariaauricula-judaeled to the isolation of ergosterol peroxide (1). The structure of 1 was elucidated by extensive 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy and confirmed by comparison of its 1H and 13CNMR data with literature data

Copper uptake potential of Philippine giant bamboo (

Copper is a commonly used metal in construction, engineering, agriculture and water treatment. Consequently, increased copper concentrations resulting in adverse environmental effects is inevitable. Phytoremediation using Dendrocalamus asper or Philippine giant bamboo (PGB) is a viable option for treatment of copper-contaminated media, but their copper uptake potential remains largely unexplored. As such, the copper uptake of PGB was evaluated under varying environmental conditions, namely initial copper concentration, water hardness and pH.Six-month old propagules were planted in artificially contaminated water in order to determine the copper uptake after 16 days of treatment. Using a Box-Behnken design of experiment, it was found that both initial copper concentration and pH have significant and proportional effects on copper uptake. However, due to possible speciation and/or competition, the optimum copper uptake occurred at 20 ppm Cu and pH 5 (as opposed to 7). A mathematical equation, bearing an R2 = 0.7097, was constructed as a possible model for copper uptake of PGB to understand when PGB phytoremediation is most effective. At copper concentrations lower than 3.81 ppm, higher pH is beneficial to copper uptake and vice versa. Overall, phytoremediation using D. asper or PGB is effective especially at low pH and elevated copper concentrations

Chemical constituents of phellinus gilvus (Schwein.) Pat.

Chemical investigation of the dichloromethane extract of the fruiting bodies of Phellinus gilvus (Schwein.) Pat. has led to the isolation of ergosterol peroxide (1) and triacylglycerols (2). The structure of 1 was elucidated by extensive 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy and confirmed by comparison of its 13C NMR data with literature data

Chemical constituents of coprinopsis lagopus

Chemical investigation of the dichloromethane extract of the fruiting bodies of Coprinopsis lagopus led to the isolation of 3β-linoleyloxyergosta-7,22-diene (1), ergosterol peroxide (2), linoleic acid (3) and triacylglycerols (4). The structure of 1 was elucidated by extensive 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy. © 2016, International Journal of Toxicological and Pharmacological Research. All rights reserved

Cytogenotoxic assessment of aqueous extract of Momordica charantia L. (Cucurbitaceae) leaves in Allium cepa L. root-tip meristem cells

The cytogenotoxic effects of Momordica charantia L. was assessed using Allium cepa L. root tip meristem assay. Root tips of A. cepa were exposed to different concentrations (0%, 1%, 3%, 5%, 7%) of aqueous extract of M. charantia. Mitotic index, chromosomal aberrations, and the percentage incidence of abberant cells were determined. Results revealed that M. charantia extract exhibited cytotoxic and genotoxic effects and these were concentration dependent. Among the extract concentrations, 1% extract recorded the highest mitotic index of 80.86% whereas 7% showed the lowest mitotic index of 11.00%. In terms of genotoxicity, all extract treated cells showed different chromosomal aberrations and these include vagrant chromosome, bridging, disturbed anaphase, polyploidy, ghost cell, elongated nucleus, binucleated cell, micronucleus, C-metaphase, pointed nucleus, and stickiness. The number of aberrant cells increased in increasing concentration of the extract. The 7% of extract significantly produced the highest incidence of 84.84% while the 1% of extract had the lowest incidence of 2.89%