In vitro responses of plant growth factors on growth, yield, phenolics content and antioxidant activities of Clinacanthus nutans (Sabah snake grass)

Clinacanthus nutans, commonly known as Sabah snake grass, is one of the more important medicinal plants in Malaysia’s herbal industry. C. nutans has gained the attention of medical practitioners due to its wide range of bioactive compounds responsible for various biological activities, such as anti-cancer, anti-venom and anti-viral activities. Due to its high pharmacological properties, the species has been overexploited to meet the demands of the pharmaceutical industry. The present study was conducted to establish a suitable in vitro culture procedure for the mass propagation of C. nutans. Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium, supplemented with different types of cytokinins, auxins, basal medium strength and sucrose concentrations, were tested. Based on the results, a full-strength MS basal medium supplemented with 12 µM 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and 30 g/L sucrose was recorded as the best outcome for all the parameters measured including the regeneration percentage, number of shoots, length of shoots, number of leaves and fresh weight of leaves. In the analysis of the phenolics content and antioxidant activities, tissue-cultured leaf extracts assayed at 100 °C exhibited the highest phenolic content and antioxidant activities. The propagation of C. nutans via a plant tissue culture technique was recorded to be able to produce high phenolic contents as well as exhibit high antioxidant activities

Shoot multiplication and callus induction of Labisia pumila var. alata as influenced by different plant growth regulators treatments and its polyphenolic activities compared with the wild plant

This study aims to investigate whether the in vitro-cultured L. pumila var. alata has higher antioxidant activity than its wild plant. An 8-week-old L. pumila var. alata nodal segment and leaf explants were cultured onto Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with various cytokinins (zeatin, kinetin, and 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP)) for shoot multiplication and auxins (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and picloram) for callus induction, respectively. The results showed that 2 mg/L zeatin produced the optimal results for shoot and leaf development, and 0.5 mg/L 2,4-D produced the highest callus induction results (60%). After this, 0.5 mg/L 2,4-D was combined with 0.25 mg/L cytokinins and supplemented to the MS medium. The optimal results for callus induction (100%) with yellowish to greenish and compact texture were obtained using 0.5 mg/L 2,4-D combined with 0.25 mg/L zeatin. Leaves obtained from in vitro plantlets and wild plants as well as callus were extracted and analyzed for their antioxidant activities (DPPH and FRAP methods) and polyphenolic properties (total flavonoid and total phenolic content). When compared with leaf extracts of in vitro plantlets and wild plants of L. pumila var. alata, the callus extract displayed significantly higher antioxidant activities and total phenolic and flavonoid content. Hence, callus culture potentially can be adapted for antioxidant and polyphenolic production to satisfy pharmaceutical and nutraceutical needs while conserving wild L. pumila var. alata

Determination of experimental domain factors of polyphenols, phenolic acids and flavonoids of lemon (Citrus limon) peel using two-level factorial design

This study aimed to evaluate the significant extraction factors in achieving higher recovery yield of total polyphenols, phenolic acids and flavonoids content from Citrus limon peel using two-level factorial design. The effect of five independent factors including drying temperature (40–60 °C), methanol concentration (20–60%), extraction temperature (28–60 °C), extraction time (30–60 min) and storage duration (0–14 days) were evaluated. Among all the examined factors, results showed that drying temperature, storage duration and extraction temperature were the most significant and contributing factors affecting the total polyphenols, phenolic acids and flavonoids content of lemon peel at P < 0.05. On the contrary, methanol concentration and extraction time exhibited the least significant and contribution at P greater than 0.05. In conclusion, the experimental domain factors were successfully obtained from this experiment, Therefore, further study on optimization of the obtained factors will be conducted in the future study using response surface methodology

Combining chitosan and vanillin to retain postharvest quality of tomato fruit during ambient temperature storage

Tomato, being a climacteric crop, has a relatively short postharvest life due to several factors such as postharvest diseases, accelerated ripening, and senescence that trigger losses in quantity and quality. Chemicals are widely used to control postharvest disease. Inaptly, it leads to detrimental effects on human health, environment and it is leads to increased disease resistance. Chitosan and vanillin could be an alternative to disease control, maintain fruit quality, and prolong shelf life. The aim of this research was to evaluate the potential of chitosan and vanillin coating on the tomato fruit’s physicochemical quality during storage at 26 ± 2 °C/60 ± 5% relative humidity. Chitosan and vanillin in aqueous solutions i.e., 0.5% chitosan + 10 mM vanillin, 1% chitosan + 10 mM vanillin, 1.5% chitosan + 10 mM vanillin, 0.5% chitosan + 15 mM vanillin, 1% chitosan + 15 mM vanillin, and 1.5% chitosan + 15 mM vanillin, respectively, were used as edible coating. The analysis was evaluated at 5-day intervals. The results revealed that 1.5% chitosan + 15 mM vanillin significantly reduced disease incidence and disease severity by 74.16% and 79%, respectively, as well delaying weight loss up to 90% and reducing changes in firmness, soluble solids concentration, and color score. These coatings also reduced the rate of respiration and the rate of ethylene production in comparison to the control and fruit treated with 0.5% chitosan + 10 mM vanillin. Furthermore, ascorbic acid content and the antioxidant properties of tomato were retained while shelf life was prolonged to 25 days without any negative effects on fruit postharvest quality

Effects of chitosan and salicylic acid on physiological characteristics of eggplant (Solanum melongena)

Eggplant (Solanum melongena) falls under the fruit species under the family of Solanaceae. It is grown widely throughout tropical and subtropical Zones in the world. It is a good source of phenolics, flavonoids, vitamins, calcium and protein. Due to its high nutritional properties, the demand for eggplant is increasing annually. However, due to limited planting space, it is difficult for the producers to increase the production in order to meet the demand. Thus, the objective of this study is to improve the growth and development of selected physiological characteristics of eggplant with chitosan and salicylic acid. The experiment was carried out in factorial randomized complete block design (RCBD) with 4 replications. This experiment was conducted at Field 15, Universiti Putra Malaysia. The plants were treated with chitosan and salicylic acid at four different rates; 0, 2, 4 and 6 ml/L for chitosan and 0, 50, 100 and 150 mg/L for salicylic acid. The treatments were applied either alone or in combination. Results revealed that the application of chitosan combined with salicylic acid influenced the physiological characteristics of the eggplant compared to the control group. Combination of 4 ml/L chitosan with 150 mg/L salicylic acid gave the highest mean values of plant height (107.13 cm), number of branches (14.91), number of leaves (136.08), total number of flowers per plant (101.8), compared to other treatments. Therefore, due to cost effectiveness and better impact on physiological characteristics the combination of 4 ml/L chitosan and 150 mg/L salicylic acid as foliar fertilizer is recommended to improve the growth and development of eggplant

Manipulation of safed musli (Chlorophytum borivilianum) tubers using growth regulator to enhance sprouting and storability

Establishing a new crop outside its origin is a challenge in the agriculture production. Understanding the behavior of planting materials as well as the plant growth and development under specific conditions are important in cultivating a new crop. Therefore, this thesis focuses on three aspects of handling the planting materials of safed musli, a newly introduced crop in Malaysia. In the first experiment, safed musli tuber were soaked gibberellic acid (GA3)at 10, 15 and 20 mg/L, and humic acid (HA) at 5, 10 and 15% to break tuber dormancy. Result from this experiment showed that both GA3 and HA were successful in breaking the tuber dormancy and promoted homogenous sprouting. Tubers treated with 20 mg/L GA3 and 15% HA were found to have higher leaf area index, fibrous root length, and higher number of tubers with bigger tuber diameter which finally translated to increased yield. However,15% HA was more cost effective compared to 20 mg/L GA3. In the second experiment, tubers were either planted as whole or cut with three levels of tuber weight (3, 6 and 9 g). There was no interaction between the two factors all measured parameters. Besides, different tuber weight categories did not affect the plant growth. However, when the tubers were subjected to cutting, it influenced the plants to produce higher leaf area index, fibrous root length, higher number of tubers, bigger tuber diameter and finally, higher tuber dry weight. In the third experiment, tubers were stored in two temperatures which is at 28˚C and 10˚C and were sprayed with paclobutrazol at four concentrations of 0, 100, 200 and 300 mg/L. The data demonstrated that safed musli tubers had excessive sprouting in 28˚C especially for treatment without paclobutrazol. Paclobutrazol at 28˚C was not successful in inhibiting sprouting, but it reduced sprouting as well as sprout growth. Only minimal sprouting occurred in tubers stored at 10˚C during the eight months of storage. Upon removal from the storage environment, the tuber viability was also not affected by this low temperature. Overall, in order to cultivate safed musli, cut tuber weighing 3 g should be treated with 15% HA for an hour prior to planting. Upon harvest the tubers can be stored up to five months at 10°C without loss in planting quality

Phenolics content and antioxidant properties of Strobilanthes crispus as affected by different extraction solvents

Strobilanthes crispus or locally known as Pecah Kaca among Malaysian is a medicinal plant that belongs to the family Acanthaceae. S. crispus is an ethnomedicinal plant with high antioxidant content and is indicated in the treatment of diabetes, cancer, and hypertension. This study was conducted to study the phenolics content and antioxidant properties of S. crispus leaf as affected by different concentrations of extraction solvents. In this study, water and various concentrations (25, 50, 75 and 100%) of methanol and acetone in water were used as extraction solvent of S. crispus dried leaves. The antioxidant properties of S. crispus were measured by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) (free radical scavenging activity and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. The highest polyphenols and phenolic acids content were recorded in 50% acetone extract with 10.80 and 33.86 mg GAE/g DW, respectively. Meanwhile, the highest total flavonoids content (4.98 mg QE/g DW) was obtained in 100% acetone extract. In the antioxidant analysis, the highest DPPH free radical scavenging activity was exhibited from 75% acetone extract with 24.88 mg TE/g DW and the highest FRAP value was obtained from 25% acetone extract with 47.21 mg TE/g DW. In conclusion, acetone was found to be the most suitable extraction solvent for phenolics content and antioxidant properties of S. crispus leaf in this study

Phenolic content and antioxidant properties of selected medicinal and culinary herbs under different temperatures

Medicinal and culinary herbs have been used since a long time ago in food to enhance flavor, color, aroma as well as to increase self-life. Herbs are rich in numerous bioactive compounds and possess a wide range of therapeutic properties. This study was conducted to analyze phenolic contents (total polyphenols, phenolic acids and flavonoids contents) and antioxidant activity (DPPH free radical scavenging activity) of selected medicinal and culinary herbs (oregano, basil, coriander, rosemary and thyme) as exposed to different water temperature (27 and 100ºC). From this study, the highest total polyphenols and phenolic acids contents were recorded from 100ºC oregano and thyme extracts with 3.79 and 7.06 mg GAE/g DW, respectively. Meanwhile, the highest total flavonoids content was recorded from the 100ºC oregano extract (3.12 mg QE/g DW) and the highest DPPH free radical scavenging activity was exhibited from 100ºC rosemary extract (3.72 mg TE/g DW). Hence, it is suggesting that herbs used in this study were able to withstand high temperature and suitable to use for cooking. [Fundam Appl Agric 2020; 5(2.000): 211-215

Ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemistry, pharmacological properties and toxicology of Curcuma caesia Roxb.: a review

Curcuma caesia or commonly known as black turmeric is belongs to family Zingiberaceae. The rhizome which is the most important part of this species is widely used as a folk medicine for the treatment of asthma, fever, cancer, wounds, allergies, toothache, leprosy, bronchitis, epilepsy, hemorrhoids, leukoderma and rheumatoid arthritis. C. caesia is one of the important species of Curcuma which possess various bioactive compounds that responsible for numerous pharmacological activities. The rhizome which is the most prominent feature of the plant is rich with essential oil. In addition, the leaves of this species also consist of essential oil with various bioactive compounds. This review article is aimed to discuss in-depth on botany, ethnomedicinal uses, geographical distribution, propagation, phytochemical studies, pharmacological activities and toxicity of C. caesia. The phytochemical studies revealed that a total of 17 functional groups were detected from rhizome extract of C. caesia. The pharmacological studies conducted demonstrated that C. caesia extract exhibited anti-acne, analgesic, anthelmintic, anti-asthmatic, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-diabetic, antiproliferative, anticancer, antiulcer, hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, neurotoxicity and cytotoxicity effects. Furthermore, toxicity studies revealed that C. caesia extract is safe for consumption and does not cause toxicity