Alpha-Glucosidase Inhibitory and Antioxidant Activity of Solvent Extracts and Fractions of Typha domingensis (Typhaceae) Fruit

Purpose: To identify a solvent fraction with potent antiglucosidase and antioxidant activities from the fruit of Typha domingensis.Methods: Extracts were prepared using hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, acetone (AE), methanol, and water. Antiglucosidase and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activities of extracts were assessed. The most active extract was partitioned into chloroform, ethyl acetate, butanol (BF) and water, and the antiglucosidase and radical scavenging activities of the fractions were determined. Mode of inhibition of the strongest antiglucosidase fraction was investigated. Polyphenol, coumarin, proanthocyanidin (TPro), and hydroxycinnamic acid contents of the extracts and fractions were evaluated.Results: AE had the highest antiglucosidase (EC50 = 12.36 μg/mL) and radical scavenging (EC50 = 8.57 μg/mL) activities. Solvent-partitioning of AE resulted in BF, which showed markedly stronger antiglucosidase activity (EC50 = 4.27 μg/mL) than quercetin (EC50 = 22.18 μg/mL). BF also had potent radical scavenging activity (EC50 = 7.20 μg/mL). BF was rich in TPro (735.65 mg/g) and was a competitive glucosidase inhibitor. TPro content correlated with antiglucosidase (R2 = 0.709) and DPPH scavenging activities (R2 = 0.838).Conclusion: TPro-rich BF of T. domingensis fruit is a highly potent glucosidase inhibitor and radical scavenger. The findings demonstrate a potential for the development of natural antihyperglycemic agents with antioxidant effect from T. domingensis fruit.Keywords: Typha domingensis, Antiglucosidase, Antioxidant, Proanthocyanidin, Hydroxycinnamic acid, Polyphenol, Coumari

Determination of borneol and other chemical compounds of essential oil of Dryobalanops aromatica exudate from Malaysia

Purpose: To determine borneol and other chemical compounds of essential oil derived from the exudate of Dryobalanops aromatica in Malaysia.Methods: Exudate was collected from D. aromatica and subjected to fractional distillation to obtain essential oil. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was performed to characterize the composition of the isolated essential oil.Results: Essential oil (7.58 %) was obtained with the highest yield (3.24 %) in the first 2 h of fractional distillation. Thirty compounds which accounted for 97.56 % of total essential oil composition were identified by GC-MS, and they include sesquiterpenes (46.87 %), monoterpenes (31.05 %), oxygenated monoterpenes (16.76 %) and oxygenated sesquiterpenes (2.13 %). Borneol (0.74 %) was also detected in the essential oil.Conclusion: Borneol and other terpenoid compounds are present in the essential oil of the exudate of D. aromatica.Keywords: Exudate, Dryobalanops Aromatica, Fractional distillation, Essential oil, Gaschromatography-mass spectrometry, Borneo

Chemical composition of essential oil of exudates of Dryobalanops aromatica

Purpose: To identify the chemical composition of essential oil from the exudates of Dryobalanops aromatica from Malaysia.Methods: Exudate was collected from D. aromatica and subjected to fractional  distillation to obtain essential oil. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry  (GC-MS) was used to characterize the composition of the isolated essential oil.Results: The yield of essential oil was 7.58 %, with the highest yield (3.24 %) within the first 2 h of fractional distillation. Thirty compounds which accounted for 97.56 % of essential oil composition were identified. These include sesquiterpenes (46.87 %), monoterpenes (31.05 %), oxygenated monoterpenes (16.76 %) and oxygenated  sesquiterpenes (2.13 %). Borneol accounted for 0.74 % of the essential oil.Conclusion: Essential oil from the exudates of D. aromatica contains terpenoid  compounds and borneol.Keywords: Dryobalanops aromatica, exudate, fractional distillation, essential oil, GS-MS, borneo

Antioxidant, Iron-chelating and Anti-glucosidase Activities of Typha domingensis Pers (Typhaceae)

Purpose: To evaluate the phytochemical profile as well as in vitro antioxidant, iron-chelating, and anti-glucosidase activities of Typha domingensis Pers. (Typhaceae) Methods: Total polyphenols, flavonoids, hydroxycinnamic acids, and pro-anthocyanidins in the respective aqueous extracts of male and female flowers, and fruit of T. domingensis were determined by established procedures. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by superoxide anion radical and nitric oxide scavenging assays. Iron chelating activity was assessed using a ferrozine-based assay. Anti-glucosidase activity was determined using 4-nitrophenyl α-D-glucopyranoside as a substrate. Results: Phenolic contents decreased in the following order: fruit > female flower > male flower. Superoxide scavenging half-maximal effective concentration (EC50) of fruit, female flower and male flower extracts was 3.5, 4.8, and 28.2 mg dry matter (DM)/ml, respectively, while nitric oxide scavenging EC50 of fruit, female flower and male flower extracts was 0.16, 0.65, and 0.95 mg DM/ml, respectively. On the other hand, iron chelating EC50 of female flower, male flower and fruit extracts was 4.86, 6.43, and 10.88 mg DM/ml, respectively. Only the fruit and female flower extracts exhibited anti-glucosidase activity, with EC50 of 0.75 and 5.07 mg DM/ml, respectively. Conclusion: The fruit and female flower extracts of T. domingensis are promising sources of natural antioxidants, iron chelators, and glucosidase inhibitors

Antifungal and cytotoxic activities of extracts obtained from underutilised edible tropical fruits

Objective: To evaluate antifungal and cytotoxic activities of four underutilised fruit species, i.e. Artocarpus altilis (breadfruit), Cynometra cauliflora (nam-nam), Mangifera pajang (M. pajang) (Bambangan) and Physalis minima (wild gooseberry). Methods: Extracts from the fresh flesh of Artocarpus altilis and Cynometra cauliflora, the flesh and kernel of M. pajang, and the whole fruit of Physalis minima were obtained by sequential extraction using hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, ethanol, methanol and distilled water. Each extract was assessed against six species of human fungal pathogens using a colourimetric broth microdilution method. The cytotoxicity was evaluated using African monkey kidney epithelial (Vero) cells. Results: All 30 extracts showed inhibitory activity against Cryptococcus neoformans. However, none of the extracts were active against Aspergillus fumigatus. The ethanol, methanol and water extracts from the kernel of M. pajang fruit showed the strongest activity against three species of Candida and Trichophyton interdigitale, with a minimum inhibitory concentration range of 0.001 - 0.630 mg/mL. The corresponding mean 50% cytotoxic concentrations for these three extracts were 358.7, 158.4 and 261.3 μg/mL, respectively against Vero cells. In contrast, the flesh of M. pajang fruit (hexane, chloroform and ethyl acetate extracts) showed statistically significant (P<0.001; ANOVA) strong toxicity against the cells, with 30.6, 13.5 and 22.2 μg/mL of mean values of 50% cytotoxic concentrations, respectively. Conclusions: The results suggest that the bioactivity of the kernel of M. pajang fruit is more selective towards fungi and thus is a potential source of new antifungal agents

Identification of potential anticancer protein targets in cytotoxicity mediated by tropical medicinal fern extracts

Background: Medicinal fern species represent a potentially important source for both food and medicinal applications. Previously, two underutilized tropical fern species (Blechnum orientale and Phymatopteris triloba) were reported with cytotoxic activities against selected cancer cell lines. However, the exact mechanism remains elusive. Objective: In this paper, we reported the identification of six differentially expressed proteins isolated from cancer cells, following exposure to the cytotoxic fern extracts. Materials and Methods: The identities of these cancer proteins were determined by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight protein sequencing. Results: The cancer proteins were identified as follows: elongation factor 1-γ, glyceraldehydes-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, heat shock protein 90-β, heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein-A2/B1, truncated nucleolar phosphoprotein B23, and tubulin-β chain. To the best of our knowledge, this paper represents thefirst time these cancer proteins are being reported, following exposure to the aforementioned cytotoxic fern extracts. Conclusion: It is hoped that further efforts in this direction could lead to the identification and development of target-specific chemotherapeutic agents

Evaluation of glucosidase inhibitory and cytotoxic potential of five selected edible and medicinal ferns

Purpose: To evaluate the glucosidase inhibitory and cytotoxic activities of five selected edible and medicinal ferns, namely, Blechnum orientale, Davallia denticulata, Diplazium esculentum, Nephrolepis biserrata, and Pteris vittata. Methods: The aqueous extracts of the five ferns were prepared by water extraction at 90 ºC for 1 h. Antiglucosidase assay was used to determine the effect of each extract on yeast alpha-glucosidase activity in vitro. Cytotoxicity was evaluated using methylthiazol tetrazolium assay on chronic myelogenous leukaemia cell line (K562). The phenolic, hydroxycinnamic acid, flavonoid and proanthocyanidin contents of the extracts were also determined. Results: The a-glucosidase inhibitory activity of D. esculentum (half maximal effective concentration, EC50 = 6.85 µg/ml) was considerably stronger than that of myricetin (EC50 = 53.21 µg/ml). B. orientale, D. esculentum, N. biserrata, and P. vittata were cytotoxic to K562 cells. P. vittata had the strongest cytotoxicity, although it was less potent than 5-fluorouracil. D. denticulata had the highest phenolic, hydroxycinnamic acid and flavonoid contents of all the extracts while B. orientale had the highest proanthocyanidin content. Conclusion: Among the five ferns evaluated, D. esculentum is a potential source of an antidiabetic agent and is recommended for further investigation in this regard. All the fern extracts, except D. denticulata, exhibited dose-dependent cytotoxicity against K562 cells

Antifungal and cytotoxic activities of selected medicinal plants from Malaysia

This study was conducted to investigate the antifungal potential and cytotoxicity of selected medicinal plants from Malaysia. The extracts from the stem of Cissus quadrangularis and the leaves of Asplenium nidus, Pereskia bleo, Persicaria odorata and Sauropus androgynus were assayed against six fungi using p-iodonitrotetrazolium-based on colorimetric broth microdilution method. All the plant extracts were found to be fungicidal against at least one type of fungus. The strongest fungicidal activity (minimum fungicidal concentration=0.16 mg/mL) were exhibited by the hexane extract of C. quadrangularis, the hexane, chloroform, ethanol and methanol extracts of P. bleo, the hexane and ethyl acetate extracts of P. odorata, and the water extract of A. nidus. In terms of cytotoxicity on the African monkey kidney epithelial (Vero) cells, the chloroform extract of P. odorata produced the lowest 50% cytotoxic concentration (100.3 ± 4.2 μg/mL). In contrast, none of the water extracts from the studied plants caused significant toxicity on the cells. The water extract of A. nidus warrants further investigation since it showed the strongest fungicidal activity and the highest total activity (179.22 L/g) against Issatchenkia orientalis, and did not cause any toxicity to the Vero cells

In vitro antidermatophytic activity and cytotoxicity of extracts derived from medicinal plants and marine algae

Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate the antidermatophytic activity of 48 extracts obtained from medicinal plants (Cibotium barometz, Melastoma malabathricum, Meuhlenbeckia platyclada, Rhapis excelsa, Syzygium myrtifolium, Vernonia amygdalina) and marine algae (Caulerpa sertularioides, Kappaphycus alvarezii) against Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton interdigitale (ATCC reference strains), and the cytotoxicity using African monkey kidney epithelial (Vero) cells. Active plant extracts were screened for the presence of phytochemicals and tested against clinical isolates of Trichophyton tonsurans. Methods: Six different extracts (hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, ethanol, methanol and water) were obtained from each plant or algae sample using sequential solvent extraction. The antidermatophytic activity for the extracts was assessed using a colourimetric broth microdilution method. The viability of Vero cells was measured by Neutral Red uptake assay. Results: All the extracts (except the water extracts of V. amygdalina, C. sertularioides and K. alvarezii) showed antidermatophytic activity against Trichophyton spp. The minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) ranges for the plant extracts against T. rubrum and T. interdigitale are 0.0025–2.50 and 0.005–2.50 mg/mL, respectively. The algae extracts exhibited lower potency against both species, showing MFC ranges of 0.08–2.50 and 0.31–2.50 mg/mL, respectively. The ethanol and methanol extracts from the leaves of R. excelsa, and the methanol and water extracts from the leaves of S. myrtifolium were highly active (MFC 2.8) against reference strains of T. rubrum and T. interdigitale, and most of the clinical isolates of T. tonsurans. Phytochemical analysis indicates the presence of alkaloids, anthraquinones, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, phenolics and triterpenoids in the extracts. Conclusions: The medicinal plant extracts exhibited stronger antidermatophytic activity compared to the algae extracts. The leaves of R. excelsa and S. myrtifolium are potential sources of new antidermatophytic agents against Trichophyton spp

Anti-Proliferative, Antioxidant and Iron-Chelating Properties of the Tropical Highland Fern, Phymatopteris triloba (Houtt) Pichi Serm (Family Polypodiaceae)

Purpose: To determine the phenolic constituents as well as anti-proliferative, antioxidant and iron-chelating activities of the leaf and rhizome extracts of Phymatopteris triloba . Methods: Concentrations of selected hydroxybenzoic acids, hydroxycinnamic acids and flavonoids in aqueous extracts were quantified using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Anti-proliferative activity was assessed on human cervix cancer cell line (HeLa) and human chronic myelogenous leukemia cell line (K562). Superoxide and nitric oxide scavenging activities as well as iron-chelating activity were determined colorimetrically. Results: Protocatechuic acid content of the rhizome extract (154.7 g/g dry matter (DM)) was 1.9-fold higher than in the leaf extract. p-Hydroxybenzoic acid (34.6 g/g DM) and gallic acid (18.9 g/g DM), were only detected in the rhizome extract. Sinapic acid (6.6 g/g DM) was detected in the leaf extract only. Myricetin content of leaf extract (98.5 g/g DM) was 3.7-fold higher compared with the rhizome extract. At 500 g DM/ml, both extracts produced about 40 and 30 % anti-proliferative activity on HeLa cells and K562 cells, respectively. Both extracts had moderate nitric oxide-scavenging and iron-chelating activities. The leaf extract half-maximal effective concentration (EC50) value of 0.85 mg/ml (scavenging of superoxide radicals) was higher than that of ascorbic acid. Conclusion: P. triloba is a potential source of anti-proliferative, antioxidant and iron-chelating agents. Its bioactivities may be attributed to the presence of phenolic constituents