RHODOMYRTUS TOMENTOSA: A PHYTOCHEMICAL AND PHARMACOLOGICAL REVIEW

Rhodomyrtus tomentosa is a common wood, prevalent in areas with undemanding soil conditions and resistant toward pests and diseases. The plant can be found in China, Taiwan, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam. Literature and artwork indicate that R. tomentosa played an important holistic role in the daily lives of several ancient cultures, providing medicinal benefits. R. tomentosa exhibits a wide spectrum of pharmacological effects and has been used to treat colic diarrhea, wounds, heartburn, abscesses, gynecopathy, and as a pain killer. R. tomentosa was used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat urinary tract infection. 42 compounds have been isolated from this plant and structurally elucidated. They comprise phloroglucinol, flavonoid, terpenoid, anthracene glycoside, tannin, and other compounds. Rhodomyrtone, a member of the acylphloroglucinols demonstrated a significant activity against a wide range of Gram-positive bacteria. Rhodomyrtone exhibited both antimicrobial and anti-infective activities. Several biological activities have been documented as antibacterial, antifungal, antimalarial, osteogenic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory. R. tomentosa has been studied extensively for alternative antimicrobial agents. Although rhodomyrtone exhibited potential activity with a very low minimum inhibitory concentration value, the mechanisms of action of this compound are still unclear. Furthermore, toxicity studies on it extract to validate pharmacological activities are required.Keywords: Rhodomyrtus tomentosa, Kemunting, Phytochemical, Pharmacological, Biological activities, Chemical constituents

Biosynthesis of metallic nanoparticles using plant derivatives and their new avenues in pharmacological applications – An updated report

AbstractThe field of nanotechnology mainly encompasses with biology, physics, chemistry and material sciences and it develops novel therapeutic nanosized materials for biomedical and pharmaceutical applications. The biological syntheses of nanoparticles are being carried out by different macro–microscopic organisms such as plant, bacteria, fungi, seaweeds and microalgae. The biosynthesized nanomaterials have been effectively controlling the various endemic diseases with less adverse effect. Plant contains abundant natural compounds such as alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, steroids, tannins and other nutritional compounds. These natural products are derived from various parts of plant such as leaves, stems, roots shoots, flowers, barks, and seeds. Recently, many studies have proved that the plant extracts act as a potential precursor for the synthesis of nanomaterial in non-hazardous ways. Since the plant extract contains various secondary metabolites, it acts as reducing and stabilizing agents for the bioreduction reaction to synthesized novel metallic nanoparticles. The non-biological methods (chemical and physical) are used in the synthesis of nanoparticles, which has a serious hazardous and high toxicity for living organisms. In addition, the biological synthesis of metallic nanoparticles is inexpensive, single step and eco-friendly methods. The plants are used successfully in the synthesis of various greener nanoparticles such as cobalt, copper, silver, gold, palladium, platinum, zinc oxide and magnetite. Also, the plant mediated nanoparticles are potential remedy for various diseases such as malaria, cancer, HIV, hepatitis and other acute diseases

Kenaf cellulose-based poly(amidoxime) ligand for adsorption of rare earth ions

A well-known adsorbent, poly(amidoxime) ligand, was prepared from polyacrylonitrile (PAN) grafted kenaf cellulose, and subsequent characterization was performed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The adsorption capacities of the prepared ligand for rare earth metals are found to be excellent, with adsorptions of La 3+ , Ce 3+ , Pr 3+ , Gd 3+ and Nd 3+ experimentally determined to be 262, 255, 244, 241 and 233 mg·g −1 , respectively, at pH 6. The experimental values of the adsorption of rare earth metals are well matched with the pseudo-second-order rate equation. The reusability of the adsorbent is examined for seven cycles of sorption/desorption, demonstrating that the proposed adsorbent could be reused for over seven cycles without any significant loss in the original removal capability of the ligand

Hydrothermal syntheses of tungsten doped TiO 2 and TiO 2 /WO 3 composite using metal oxide precursors for charge storage applications

Synthesis of advanced functional materials through scalable processing routes using greener approaches is essential for process and product sustainability. In this article, syntheses of nanoparticles of titanium dioxide (TiO₂), tungsten trioxide (WO₃), WO₃-doped titanium dioxide (W-TiO₂) and TiO₂/WO₃ composite at hydrothermal conditions using corresponding metal oxide precursors are described. Electrochemical charge storage capabilities of the above materials are measured using cyclic voltammetry, charge-discharge cycling and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in aqueous KOH electrolyte. The TiO₂ and the WO₃ nanoparticle showed a specific charge (Q) of ∼12 and ∼36 mA h g⁻¹ at a current density of 2 A g⁻¹ in 6 M KOH, respectively. The Q of TiO₂ increased upon W doping up to 25 mA h g−1 for 5 wt% W-TiO2 and the WO₃/TiO₂ composite showed the highest storage capability (Q ∼40 mA h g⁻¹). Changes in the charge storage capabilities of the doped and composite materials have been correlated to materials properties.Bhupender Pal acknowledges the Research & Innovation Department of Universiti Malaysia Pahang (http://ump.edu.my) for award of Postdoctoral Fellowship. This project is funded under Flagship Strategic Leap 3 of Universiti Malaysia Pahang (Grant Number # RDU 172201)

Synthesis of poly(hydroxamic acid) ligand from polymer grafted corn-cob cellulose for transition metals extraction

Poly(hydroxamic acid) ligand was synthesized using ester functionalities of cellulose-graft-poly(methyl acrylate) copolymer, and products are characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis. The poly(hydroxamic acid) ligand was utilized for the sensing and removal of transition metal ions form aqueous solutions. The solution pH is found a key factor for the optical detection of metal ions, and the reflectance spectra of the [Cu-ligand]n+ complex were observed to be the highest absorbance 99.5% at pH?6. With the increase of Cu2+ ion concentration, the reflectance spectra were increased, and a broad peak at 705?nm indicated that the charge transfer (p-p transition) complex was formed. The adsorption capacity with copper was found to be superior, 320?mg?g-1, and adsorption capacities for other transition metal ions were also found to be good such as Fe3+, Mn2+, Co3+, Cr3+, Ni2+, and Zn2+ were 255, 260, 300, 280, 233, and 223?mg?g-1, respectively, at pH?6. The experimental data show that all metal ions fitted well with the pseudo-second-order rate equation. The sorption results of the transition metal ions onto ligand were well fitted with Langmuir isotherm model (R2?>?0.98), which implies the homogenous and monolayer character of poly(hydroxamic acid) ligand surface. Eleven cycles sorption/desorption process were applied to verify the reusability of this adsorbent. The investigation of sorption and extraction efficiency in each cycle indicated that this new type of adsorbent can be recycled in many cycles with no significant loss in its original detection and removal capability

Antidiabetic Effect of Oral Borapetol B Compound, Isolated from the Plant Tinospora crispa

Aims. To evaluate the antidiabetic properties of borapetol B known as compound 1 (C1) isolated from Tinospora crispa in normoglycemic control Wistar (W) and spontaneously type 2 diabetic Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats. Methods. The effect of C1 on blood glucose and plasma insulin was assessed by an oral glucose tolerance test. The effect of C1 on insulin secretion was assessed by batch incubation and perifusion experiments using isolated pancreatic islets. Results. An acute oral administration of C1 improved blood glucose levels in treated versus placebo groups with areas under glucose curves 0–120 min being 72±17 versus 344±10 mmol/L (P<0.001) and 492±63 versus 862±55 mmol/L (P<0.01) in W and GK rats, respectively. Plasma insulin levels were increased by 2-fold in treated W and GK rats versus placebo group at 30 min (P<0.05). C1 dose-dependently increased insulin secretion from W and GK isolated islets at 3.3 mM and 16.7 mM glucose. The perifusions of isolated islets indicated that C1 did not cause leakage of insulin by damaging islet beta cells (P<0.001). Conclusion. This study provides evidence that borapetol B (C1) has antidiabetic properties mainly due to its stimulation of insulin release

Synthesis of poly (hydroxamic acid) ligand from polymer grafted khaya cellulose for transition metals extraction

A cellulose-graft-poly(methyl acrylate) was synthesized by free radical initiating process and the ester functional groups were converted into the hydroxamic acid ligand. The intermediate and final products are characterized by FT-IR, FE-SEM, HR-TEM and XPS technique. The pH of the solution acts as a key factor in achieving optical color signals of metal complexation. The reflectance spectra of the [Cu-ligand]n+ complex was found to be a highest absorbance at 99.8 % at pH 6 and it was increased upon increasing of Cu2+ ion concentrations and a broad peak at 700 nm was observed which indicated the charge transfer (π-π transition) metals-Cu complex. The adsorption capacity of copper was found to be superior (336 mg g−1) rather than other transition metals such as Fe3+, Co3+, Cr3+, Ni2+, Mn2+ and Zn2+ were 310, 295, 288, 250, 248 and 225 mg g-1, respectively at pH 6. The experimental data of all metal ions fitted significantly with the pseudo-second-order rate equation. The transition metal ions sorption onto ligand were well fitted with the Langmuir isotherm model (R2>0.99), which suggested that the cellulose-based adsorbent known as poly(hydroxamic acid) ligand surface is homogenous and monolayer. The reusability of the poly(hydroxamic acid) ligand was checked by the sorption/desorption process up to ten cycles without any significant loss in its original sensing and removal performances

Oral Hygiene Improvement using Combined Mouthwash with Plant extracts

Dental caries considered as one of the most common infectious diseases affecting mankind today, the dissolution of tooth structure by acid produced as a result of the fermentation of dietary carbohydrates by oral bacteria. The antimicrobial susceptibility of medicinal plants including black pepper, black cumin, cinnamon, cardamom on toothpaste and mouthwash against oral isolates for healthcare improvement was studied. Different oral isolates from 50 selected individuals aged 3 to 60 years were obtained from both genders, and a total of 59 bacterial and yeast isolates were collected, purified, and tested against four different commercial medicinal plants extracts for antimicrobial susceptibility profile. A total of 10 mouthwashes was purchased, and the combined action of the medicinal plants with mouthwash was studied against oral isolates. We found a higher bacterial population was in the age group of 3–40 years than other two groups, with approximately 44%. In addition, the combined action of acetone plant extracts (alone) against oral isolates showed increasing effect profile up to 61.02% when combination A (Ci/N) was added. Also, While, the combined action of medicinal plants with mouthwash was improved 100% with combination C. We conclude that the combination C (P/N/Ca/Ci) with mouthwash showed high susceptibility against oral isolates