Momordica charantia (Indian and Chinese bitter melon) extracts inducing apoptosis in human lung cancer cell line A549 via ROS-mediated mitochodria injury

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer related deaths worldwide with about 40% occurring in developing countries. The two varieties of Momordica charantia, which are Chinese and Indian bitter melon, have been subjected to antiproliferative activity in human non-small cell lung cells A549. The A549 cells were treated with hot and cold aqueous extraction for both the bitter melon varieties, and the antiproliferative activity was evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The apoptotic mechanism of action on A549 human lung cancer cells was evaluated first morphologically using Hoechst 33358, and cytoskeleton staining using Filamentous-actin (F-actin) cytoskeleton FICT and DAPI followed by caspase-3/7, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and p53 activity. Chinese hot aqueous extraction (CHA) exhibited potent antiproliferative activity against A549 human lung cancer cells. The morphological analysis of mitochondria destruction and the derangement of cytoskeleton showed apoptosis-inducing activity. CHA increased the caspase-3/7 activity by 1.6-fold and the ROS activity by 5-fold. Flow cytometric analysis revealed 34.5% of apoptotic cells significantly (p<0.05) compared to cisplatin-treated A549 human cancer cells. CHA is suggested to induce apoptosis due to their rich bioactive chemical constituents. These findings suggest that the antiproliferative effect of CHA was due to apoptosis via ROS-mediated mitochondria injury

Effects of cobalt-60 gamma on microbial elimination and phytochemical constituents in orthosiphon aristatus (Misai Kucing) (Blume) Miq.

Medicinal plants are used for various purposes, however, the presence of microorganisms in them is the main safety risk. The study aimed to evaluate the effects of gamma irradiation on microbial contaminants and phytochemical constituents of Orthosiphon aristatus (Blume) Miq. The plant was irradiated using doses of 3, 6, 9, and 12 kGy and the microbial contamination was assessed using phenotypic and genotypic analyses. The qualitative screening using chemical tests was performed to identify the presence of important phytochemical constituents including alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids, tannins, steroids and triterpenes. Results showed that the total microbial counts in O. aristatus were significantly reduced (P < 0.05) following irradiations at 3- and 6 kGy. Pathogenic bacteria were not detected in O. aristatus after irradiation at 6 kGy while the phytochemical constituents were conserved. In conclusion, gamma irradiation has significantly reduced and eliminated microbial contaminants and preserved the phytochemical constituents of O. aristatus. This study highlights the use of a low and specific dose, 6 kGy that is effective to reduce and eliminate microbial contaminants in O. aristatus

Effects of cobalt-60 gamma on microbial elimination and phytochemical constituents in orthosiphon aristatus (misai kucing) blume (miq.)

Medicinal plants are used for various purposes, however, the presence of microorganisms in them is the main safety risk. The study aimed to evaluate the effects of gamma irradiation on microbial contaminants and phytochemical constituents of Orthosiphon aristatus (Blume) Miq. The plant was irradiated using doses of 3, 6, 9, and 12 kGy and the microbial contamination was assessed using phenotypic and genotypic analyses. The qualitative screening using chemical tests was performed to identify the presence of important phytochemical constituents including alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids, tannins, steroids and triterpenes. Results showed that the total microbial counts in O. aristatus were significantly reduced (P &amp;lt; 0.05) following irradiations at 3- and 6 kGy. Pathogenic bacteria were not detected in O. aristatus after irradiation at 6 kGy while the phytochemical constituents were conserved. In conclusion, gamma irradiation has significantly reduced and eliminated microbial contaminants and preserved the phytochemical constituents of O. aristatus. This study highlights the use of a low and specific dose, 6 kGy that is effective to reduce and eliminate microbial contaminants in O. aristatus

Phytochemical evaluation and cytotoxic activities of stem bark and leaf extracts of Mesua assamica

Natural products and their derivatives have historically been invaluable as a source of therapeutic agents. The Mesua (Calophyllaceae) has been known to produce various new chemical compounds of medicinal values. Some Mesua species have yielded new potential anticancer agents that are important to the pharmaceutical industry. In this research, phytochemical constituents, antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of different solvent extracts of Mesua assamica stem bark and leaves were evaluated. The stem bark and leaves of M. assamica were successively extracted in hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol. Qualitative phytochemical analysis showed that most of the M. assamica extracts consist of important phytochemicals, namely, anthraquinones, terpenoids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, phlobatannins, alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, glycosides, decreasing sugars, steroids, lipids, phenols, coumarins, carbohydrates, proteins, and betacyanin indicating its potential for medicinal use. Quantitative determination of total phenolics, total flavonoids, and in vitro antioxidant activities through DPPH assay of M. assamica extracts have been achieved by utilizing colorimetric methods. In vitro cytotoxic evaluation through MTT assay induction against human breast MCF-7 cancer cell lines exhibited that hexane extracts were found to have IC50 value below 30 μg/mL and conferred effectiveness in inducing cell death MCF-7. The diversity of phytochemicals present suggests that the stem bark and leaves of M. assamica could serve as a supply of potentially valuable medications. Exploiting the plant’s pharmacological qualities will necessitate more study on the isolation, purification, and identification of bioactive components

Total antioxidant activity and enzymatic inhibition against alpha-amylase, alpha-glucosidase and pancreatic lipase of irradiated Archidendron bubalinum

Introduction: Archidendron bubalinum is an underutilised plant with numerous antioxidant properties and has a great potential to inhibit enzymes linked with diabetes and obesity. Food irradiation is an advanced technology to prolong the lifespan of plant, prevent physical spoilage and eradicate food borne disease. Present study was aimed to determine the total antioxidant activity, enzymatic inhibition against alpha-amylase, alpha-glucosidase and pancreatic lipase and the toxicity levels of non-irradiated and irradiated (3, 6, 9 & 12 kGy) hot aqueous extract of A. bubalinum. Methods: The antioxidant ability of the extract was determined by total phenolic content (TPC), total flavanoid content (TFC), Diphenyl-1-Picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), β-carotene assay and ferric reducing antioxidant potential (FRAP) assay. The inhibitory activities were evaluated using α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and pancreatic lipase inhibition as-say. The toxicity levels of A. bubalinum extract were determined using Brine shrimp and Zebra-fish assays. Results: Results showed that irradiated A. bubalinum at 12 kGy demonstrated the highest TFC (448.99 ± 5.02 mg GAE/g), FRAP (2.55 ± 0.40 mmol Fe2+/g) and β-carotene bleaching activity (79.49%). Whereas, non-irradiated A. bubalinum samples expressed the highest TPC (2517.07 ± 15.81 mg GAE/g) and exhibited the lowest IC50 values of α-amylase (31.99 ± 3.15 μg/ml), α-glucosidase (23.40 ± 0.69μg/ml) and pancreatic lipase (32.81 ± 7.96 μg/ml) activity. The toxicity assays also showed no significant different between irradiated and non-irradiated samples. Conclusion: The study suggests that gamma irradiation has the prospective future to increase antioxidant properties and maintaining the enzyme inhibitory activities to preserve the sample of A. bubalinum for commercial purposes

Phytochemical analysis of Elateriospermum tapos and its inhibitory effects on alpha-amylase, alpha-glucosidase and pancreatic lipase

Elateriospermum tapos contains high unsaturated fat and phytochemicals with many health benefits. This paper focuses on activities and inhibitory effects of E. tapos on digestive enzymes. Cold water, hot water and 70% ethanol extracts of the seed and shell of the fruit of E. tapos were used in this study. The extracts were screened for antioxidant activity, total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, and inhibitory effects on α-amylase, α-glucosidase and pancreatic lipase. Hot water extraction of shell of the E. tapos fruit had the highest total phenolic content (1298.60 ± 4. 24 µg GAE 100 g-1), total flavonoid content (16685.58 ± 487.77 µg CE 100 g-1) and antioxidant activity by 2, 2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and β-carotene methods (84.16 and 122.17% respectively). The seed cold extract showed maximum α-amylase inhibition with IC50 (half maximal inhibitory concentration) of 0.03 mg mL-1. The lowest IC50 (0.02 mg mL-1) for α-glucosidase inhibition was from seed ethanol extracts while shell cold extract had the lowest IC50 for pancreatic lipase inhibition (37.80 mg mL-1). Results confirmed E. tapos as potential antioxidant and inhibitor of digestive enzymes for lipid (pancreatic lipase) and carbohydrate (α-amylase and α-glucosidase) which are beneficial to combat obesity and diabetes

Antioxidative and anti-inflammatory activities of Hibiscus cannabinus L. leaf aqueous extract and its potential benefit in experimental atherosclerosis in vitro

Kenaf or scientifically known as Hibiscus cannabinus has been reported to be widely cultivated in West Africa, Bangladesh, India and Southern China. The objective of this study is to evaluate the nutritional composition of H. cannabinus leaf as well as its in vitro antioxidant activities and anti-inflammatory properties towards human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC). Fresh H. cannabinus leaves were collected from Taman Pertanian Universiti, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). The mixture of the dried powder leaf and water were incubated in the water bath at 40°C for 12 hour in order to produce the aqueous extract. Proximate, elemental and vitamins analysis were done on fresh H. cannabinus leaves to determine the nutritional composition. Then, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay and Ferric Reducing/Antioxidant Power (FRAP) assay was done on H. cannabinus leaves aqueous extract to determine antioxidant power whereas the phenolic and flavonoid content of H. cannabinus leaves aqueous extract were assessed by total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) assays. Cytotoxic assessment of H. cannabinus leaves aqueous extract was performed by exposing the HUVECs to the extract at concentrations ranging from 50 to 1000 μg/ml for 24 hr with complete medium. The inhibitory concentration (IC50) of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and the effective concentration (EC50) of H. cannabinus leaves aqueous extract in preventing H2O2–induced cell injury were assessed using the MTT assay. The antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects of H. cannabinus leaves aqueous extract on H2O2–induced cell injury were carried out by seeding and divided HUVECs into three groups; the positive control (PC) group, HUVECs were exposed to either 250 μM H2O2 or 10 ng/ml TNF-α alone; the treated groups HUVECs were incubated with various concentrations of extracts (50, 100, 200 and 400 μg/ml) for 30 minutes prior exposured to H2O2 (250 μM) or TNF-α (10 ng/ml); the negative control (NC) groups, HUVECs were incubated with culture medium only. The cells were incubated for 24 hours at 37 oC with 5% CO2 supply for analysis of antioxidant enzymes activities (SOD, GPx and Catalase) and lipid peroxidation level (MDA) as well as anti-inflammatory effects (NO, VCAM-1, ICAM-1, MCP-1 and M-CSF). All results of this study were then statistically validated using one-way ANOVA, SPSS version 16. The result showed that H. cannabinus leaf contained carbohydrate, protein and fat with very high level of moisture with 79.2%. On the other hand, the leaf contained considerable values of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2 and Vitamin E. For the mineral analysis, it was found that H. cannabinus leaf contained high level of potassium and calcium and other mineral traces were included magnesium, ferum, selenium, and zinc. The leaf phenolic content was 3.21 ± 0.10mg (GAE)/0.1gml-1 extract and the flavonoid content was 2.17±0.54 mg (QE)/0.1gml-1 extract. TPC and TFC results correlated positively with DPPH and FRAP with 92.4% and 3.8 μmol Fe (II) sulphate/g respectively. H. cannabinus leaves aqueous extract was found to be non-toxic to the cells as no inhibitory concentration (IC50) and significantly attenuate the cytotoxicity effect of H2O2 at 50μg/ml. H. cannabinus leaves aqueous extract doses within concentration range of 50-400 μg/ml protected the cells against cellular damage and caused significant reduction in the anti-oxidative enzyme (SOD, GPx and Catalase) activities (p<0.05/p<0.01) with reduction of NO production in comparison with the PC. Besides that, the expressions of VCAM-1, ICAM-1, MCP-1 and M-CSF in the H. cannabinus leaves aqueous extract-treated groups were lowered (p<0.05/p<0.01) than PC. These findings suggest that H. cannabinus leaf possesses antioxidative (polyphenols and flavonoid) and anti-inflammatory properties and that it attenuates the initial stage of atherogenesis in vitro

Evaluation of acute toxicity of an aqueous extract of irradiated Labisia pumila on zebrafish embryo (Danio Rerio)

This research aimed to compare the toxicity effect of non-irradiated and irradiated Labisia pumila at a different dosage of 3, 6, 9 and 12 kilogray (kGy). Different irradiated dosages of L.pumila were prepared using Cobalt-60 gamma irradiation and the acute toxicity were assessed through zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryo. The survival rate, hatching rate, heartbeat rate and scoliosis were observed. Data were analyzed using SPSS 25.0 windows. The lethal dose (LC50) value was calculated. The LC50 value of non- irradiated extract L. pumila is 125 μg/ml compared to irradiated extract is 62.5 μg/ml respectively. Hatchability of zebrafish of L.pumila extract reduce in the higher concentration for non-irradiated sample at 250 μg/ml and for irradiated sample at 125 μg/ml. Presence of scoliosis not observed in all concentration for irradiated and non-irradiated sample. The heartbeat of zebrafish embryo treated with irradiated L. pumila extract (0–62.5 μg/ml) was within the normal range (120–180 bpm for all doses), but at higher concentrations (125 μg/ml) the heartbeat differs from normal ranges for all the doses. From this time forward, irradiated and non-irradiated of this plant was safe to be consumed due to its pharmaceutical effect but it still exhibited mild toxicity effect on zebrafish embryo. The diverse irradiated doses show a change of toxicity level of this plant which higher doses show mild toxicity to the zebrafish embryo compared to low doses exposure

Evaluation an aqueous extract of irradiated and non irradiated of Orthosiphon aristatus on zebrafish embryo (Danio rerio) through acute toxicity assay

Background: Orthosiphon aristatus has been usually related to be powerful in curing many illnesses inclusive of post-partum remedy, anti-influence, rheumatism and stopping osteoporosis as a result of menopause. Objectives: Thus, this study was designed to differentiate the toxicity effect of non-irradiated and irradiated Orthosiphon aristatus at different dosage of 3, 6, 9 and 12 kilogray (kGy) on zebrafish embryo. Method: Survival rate, hatching rate, heart beat rate and scoliosis were observed and date were analysed using SPSS 25.00 windows. Result: The lethal dose (LC50) of non-irradiated Orthosiphon aristatus is 381.81 μg/mL compare to irradiated extract at 3 % is (371.27 μg/mL), 6 % (311.03 μg/mL), 9 % (160.72 μg/mL) and 12 % (140.18 μg/mL). Hatchability of zebrafish embryo for Orthosiphon aristatus extract decrease in the higher dosage of irradiated sample compared to non-irradiated sample. No presence of scoliosis was observed in all dosage of irradiated and non-irradiated of Orthosiphon aristatus. The heartbeat of zebrafish embryo treated with irradiated Orthosiphon aristatus specifically 12 % show decrease at 250 μg/mL concentration. Remaining dosage of irradiated and non-irradiated Orthosiphon aristatus show average heartbeat around 120-160 bpm. Conclusion: As conclusion, irradiated and non-irradiated of Orthosiphon aristatus is safe to be consumed due to its pharmaceutical effect but it still exhibited mild toxicity effect on zebrafish embryo