Mass spectrometry-based metabolomics approach for metabolite profiling and biomarker discovery of Acanthaceae medicinal plants and tissue cultures

Clinacanthus nutans (Sabah Snake Grass) and Strobilanthes crispus {daun pecah beling) from the family of Acanthaceae, are gaining research interest as the plants have been reported to possess various bioactivities. The present study was aimed to profile and identify the biomarker compounds of C. nutans and S. crispus plants and its tissue cultures using GCMS-based metabolomics approach. Using this high-throughput instrument coupled with advanced chemoinformatics softwares, the plants were found to rich with squalene, pentacyclic triterpenoids such as lupeol, betulin, phytosterols such as stigmasterol, campesterol and others such as alpha­tocopherol, didecan-2-yl phthalate, beta-tocopherol. As the metabolomes of C. nutans and S. crispus unfold, it is believed that such information will play critical role in the standardization and development of herbal drugs derived from the plants in the future

Cinnamomum iners as Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinase (MKK1) inhibitor

Novel inhibitors targeting signal transductions have emerged for cancer therapies. Cinnamomum species have been reported to inhibit the proliferation of various cell lines. In this study, the methanol and acetone extracts of Cinnamomum iner’s leaves demonstrated significant anti-kinase activity against MKK1 in the signal transduction pathway at quantity as low as 1 and 6 mg respectively. Both of the extracts were found to contain polyphenol and flavonoid with potent anti-oxidation activity against DPPH free radicals (IC50=0.2 and 0.3 mg/mL respectively). In conclusion, the extracts may serve as potential MKK1 inhibitors which can be developed into anti-cancer drug

Long term Mesenchymal stem cell culture on a defined synthetic substrate with enzyme free passaging

Mesenchymal stems cells (MSCs) are currently the focus of numerous therapeutic approaches in tissue engineering/repair because of their wide multi-lineage potential and their ability to modulate the immune system response following transplantation. Culturing these cells, while maintaining their multipotency in vitro, currently relies on biological substrates such as gelatin, collagen and fibronectin. In addition, harvesting cells from these substrates requires enzymatic or chemical treatment, a process that will remove a multitude of cellular surface proteins, clearly an undesirable process if cells are to be used therapeutically. Herein, we applied a high-throughput ‘hydrogel microarray’ screening approach to identify thermo-modulatable substrates which can support hES-MP and ADMSC growth, permit gentle reagent free passaging, whilst maintaining multi-lineage potential. In summary, the hydrogel substrate identified, poly(AEtMA-Cl-co-DEAA) cross-linked with MBA, permitted MSCs to be maintained over 10 passages (each time via thermo-modulation), with the cells retaining expression of MSC associated markers and lineage potency. This chemically defined system allowed the passaging and maintenance of cellular phenotype of this clinically important cell type, in the absence of harsh passaging and the need for biological substrates

Heavy Netals determination in Tea and its removal utillising Cattals, Typha Spp

In this work, dried Typha angustifolia (T A) leaves also known as the common cattail were used as an adsorbent in Pb(II) adsorption in synthetic aqueous solutions. Adsorption studies were conducted in batch mode. Batch adsorption studies using T A were conducted and proved to be able to adsorb Pb(II) effectively with the optimized dosage of 0.6g. Adsorption equilibrium was achieved within 8 hours with an effective removal percentage of 86.04%. Adsorption kinetics was further evaluated using four kinetic models such as the pseudo-first order, pseudo-second order, intraparticIe diffusion and Elovich model. Fitting of the data were done based on linear regression analysis. The sorption kinetic data fitted best to the pseudo-second order model with an R2 of 0.9979 followed closely by the Elovich model with an R2 of 0.9952. For the isothenn studies, the adsorption system fitted the Langmuir model best as compared to the Freundlich, Temkin and D-R model. The R2 achieved for the Langmuir model was 0.9903. The maximum adsorption capacity calculated from the Langmuir model was 51.02 mg/g with a maximum removal after 24 hours at 89%. This proves that adsorption occurred via monolayer coverage of the adsorbate at the outer layer of the adsorbent. The optimized adsorption conditions were then applied to tea infusion that has been initially spiked with a fixed concentration of lead. Three types of brands of teas were used which were Lipton, Boh and Sabah tea. In all 3 brands, the concentration of lead found was below 0.2 mg/g. Each brand was then spiked with different concentrations of lead to investigate the effects of the presence of caffeine in tea towards the adsorption performance of the leaves. It was found that the adsorption performance of the leaves increased with increasing amounts of lead in the tea infusion which was contrary to in distilled water. The percentage of removal achieved in tea infusion was 38.22% (Lipton), 36.23% (Boh) and 29.86% (Sabah tea) as compared to water at 6% for 1000 mg/L of lead. From the study, dried Typha angustifolia successfully adsorbed lead in both water and tea infusion with the performance improving in the presence of tea

Antibacterial and phytochemical investigations of Mikania micrantha H.B.K (Asteraceae) from Sabah, Malaysia

Previous study on Mikania micrantha had unveiled its importance as protein phosphatase-1 (PP1) inhibitor and cytotoxic agent against HL60 cells. The present study was carried out to investigate the antibacterial properties and to determine the phytochemicals content of M. micrantha. Crude methanolic extracts from powdered dry samples were partitioned using liquid-liquid separation technique and further fractionated using silica gel column chromatography to yield six partitionates and 5 fractions. All partitionates and fractions were challenged with Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria and the performances are compared with standard antibiotics. The results revealed that four partitionates (ME, CE, EAE and CME) possessed good antibacterial properties. While, fraction F1 from column chromatography is showing convincing activities towards tested bacteria. Phytochemical tests of the crude extracts, partitionates and fractions had detected the presence of tannins, polyphenols, alkaloids, saponins and triterpenoids. This result supports the potential of this plant species used as a new chemotherapeutic drug

Medicinal plants in Sabah (North Borneo) exhibit antipancreatic lipase, anti-amylase, and antioxidant properties

Medicinal plants have been widely used for their notable health benefits and help in disease prevention for generations. In recent years, obesity has become among the risk factors of hyperglycemia and oxidation stress. This study aims to investigate the potential of plants in Sabah, North Borneo to inhibit the key enzymes involved in obesity, hyperglycemia and oxidative stress. A total of 46 plant extracts were subjected to anti-pancreatic lipase, α-amylase inhibition and antioxidant assays. It was observed that S43 (Lantana camara) exhibited the greatest IC50 of anti-pancreatic lipase activity (mean of IC50 (±S.D.) = 0.20 mg mL-1 ± 0.010). Cinnamomum sp. (S42) has the most substantial α-amylase activity with a mean IC50 (±S.D.) = 2.68 mg mL-1 ± 0.471. S19 (Glochidion rubrum) was the most effective antioxidants (mean of IC50 (±S.D.) = 0.011 mg mL-1 ± 0.004) among all the investigated samples. Interestingly, three plant extracts were found (S6-Buchanania sp.; S22-Vitex negundo and S42-Cinnamomum sp.) to exhibit inhibition activity in ant pancreatic lipase, α-amylase and antioxidant assays. The bioactivities of plant extracts have been closely related to the content of phytochemicals, as in earlier studies. Thus, plants have the potential to serve as supplements and nutraceuticals for obesity and other related complications

Substituted Methoxybenzene derivatives: C8H9NO4, C9H11NO5 and C13H18O4

The structures of three methoxybenzenes, namely 1,2-dimethoxy-4-nitrobenzene, C8H9NO4, (I), 1,2,3-trimethoxy-5-nitrobenzene, C9H11NO5, (II), and 1-(2,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-1-butanone, C13H18O4, (III), are reported. Molecules of (I) and (III) are planar, but one of the three methoxy groups of (II) is twisted out of the phenyl ring plane as a result of steric hindrance. In all three solids, the molecules are linked to form centrosymmetrically hydrogen-bonded dimers; they are packed in parallel layers in (I) and (II), but in zigzag layers in (III)

Review of Nephelium lappaceum and Nephelium ramboutan-ake: A high potential supplement

Nephelium lappaceum (N. lappaceum) and Nephelium ramboutan-ake (N. ramboutan-ake) are tropical fruits that gain popularity worldwide due to their tastiness. Currently, their potential to be used as pharmaceutical agents is underestimated. Chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes and aging have high incidence rates in the modern world. Furthermore, pharmaceutical agents targeting pathogenic microorganisms have been hampered by the growing of antimicrobial resistance threats. The idea of food therapy leads to extensive nutraceuticals research on the potential of exotic fruits such as N. lappaceum and N. ramboutan-ake to act as supplements. Phytochemicals such as phenolic compounds that present in the fruit act as potent antioxidants that contribute to the protective effects against diseases induced by oxidative stress. Fruit residuals such as the peel and seeds hold greater nutraceutical potential than the edible part. This review highlights the antioxidant and biological activities (anti-neoplastic, anti-microbial, hypoglycemic actions and anti-aging), and chemical contents of different parts of N. lappaceum and N. ramboutan-ake. These fruits contain a diverse and important chemical profile that can alleviate or cure diseases

Industrial revolution 4.0: Universiti Malaysia Sabah perspective

Industrial Revolution 4.0 or IR 4.0 is getting the attention of Higher Learning Institutions throughout the world. In the case of Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), “transformation towards University/Industry 4.0” has been identified as one of the nine key result areas (KRAs) in the Strategic Plan 2018-2020. The transformation framework focusses on three areas namely Teaching and Learning 4.0, Smart Eco-UMS 4.0 and Research 4.0. Various initiatives have been planned for each area, some of which are currently being implemented. Previously, under the Strategic Plan 2013-2017, UMS gave great attention on developing and promoting UMS as an eco-campus in line with UMS aspiration to be the reference of eco-campus or green campus in the region. This will be further enhanced under Smart EcoUMS 4.0 in line with the United Nation sustainable development goals. One of the related initiatives is Smart Energy. Through the initiatives under the UMS Ecocampus Plan 2013-2017, a total reduction of 44.50 % in energy consumption was recorded between 2014-2017 compared to 2013 and with 29 % reduction in carbon footprint from 2014-2017. The commitment towards an ecocampus has significant impacts on lowering energy usage and reducing carbon footprint. We believe that the smart energy initiative will further contribute to another level of energy saving and carbon footprint reduction towards reducing the impacts of climate change