PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING, ANTIOXIDANT POTENTIAL AND CYTOTOXIC ACTIVITY OF MELASTOMA MALABATHRICUM LINN. FROM DIFFERENT LOCATIONS

Objective: The initial study was to screen the phytochemical content of methanol extract of M. malabathricum from seven different locations. The other objective was to evaluate the total phenolic content (TPC), Total flavonoid content (TFC), antioxidant potential and cytotoxic activity (on Hepatoma G2 cells) of these extracts and to determine the relationship between TPC and other parameters.Methods: The preliminary phytochemical screening for the presence of the secondary metabolite was carried out according to standard procedures. TheTPC,TFC and antioxidant activity were determined using Folin-Ciocalteu method, aluminium chloride (colorimetric) methodand1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity respectively.Results: Qualitative phytochemical screening showed the presence of tannins, analkaloid, steroids, flavonoid, phenols, terpenoids and fixed oil but tested negative for the presence of glycoside and saponins. The samples were found to have high TPC and antioxidant activity. The Bachok Kelantan sample (L7) showed highest phenolic content (671.51±50.07 mg of GAE/g) as well as highest DPPH free radical scavenging activity (80.81% and IC50 102 µg/ml). The highest cytotoxic activity against HepG2 cells (IC50 1.4µg/ml) was shown by KualaTerengganu, Terengganu sample (L1). The Spearman correlation showed that, there is a strong positive correlation between TPC and antioxidant activity (r = 0.714) as well as strong negative correlation between MTT IC50 and TPC (R =-0.649) of M. malabathricum from different locations. Moreover, there is a weak positive correlation between TFC and antioxidant activity (R = 0.286, p= 0.535). Also, there is poor correlation between TFC and cytotoxicity (R =-0.216, p= 0.64).Conclusion: The phenolic compounds are associated with the cytotoxic and antioxidant activities of M. malabathricum, whereas flavonoids are poorly and weakly associated with cytotoxic and antioxidant activities of M. malabathricum respectively. The total phenolic content, mean flavonoid content and mean antioxidant activity of M. malabathricum from different locations were significantly different across seven locations (p<0.05).Â

Anti-uterine fibroid effect of standardized labisia pumila var. Alata extracts in vitro and in human uterine fibroid cancer xenograft model

Background: Uterine fibroids are a common type of solid tumor presenting in women of reproductive age. There are very few alternative treatment available from conventional treatment involving surgeries. Labisia pumila var. alata or locally known as ‘Kacip Fatimah’ was widely used as traditional medicine in Malaysia. This plant has been used to maintain a healthy female reproductive system. The present study aimed to evaluate anti fibroid potential of L. pumila extracts through in vitro apoptosis activity against uterine leiomyoma cells (SK-UT-1) and in uterine leiomyoma xenograft model. Evaluation of bioactive markers content were also carried out. Methods: Apoptotic induction of the extracts was determined by morphological examination of AO/PI dual staining assay by flourescent microscopy and flow cytometry analysis on Annexin V-FITC/PI stained cells. In vivo study was done in immune-compromised mouse xenograft model. HPLC analysis was employed to quantify marker compounds. Results: Morphological analysis showed L. pumila induced apoptosis in a dose dependent manner against SK-UT-1 cells. In vivo study indicated that L. pumila significantly suppressed the growth of uterine fibroid tumor. All tested extracts contain bioactive marker of gallic acid and cafeic acid. Conclusion: This work provide significant data of the potential of L. pumila in management of uterine fibroids

Effects of Foliar NPK Application on Growth, Yield and Nutrient Content of Sweet Corn Grown on Rengam Series Soil

The present study was carried out to evaluate the effects of different rates of macronutrients as a foliar spray on the growth performance, yield, and nutrient content of sweet corn grown in the Rengam soil series. The treatments consisted of five rates of macronutrients as a foliar fertilizer at 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 % NPK. Foliar NPK was applied 25 and 50 days after sowing to the sweet corn seedlings. The results showed that fresh cob weight, cob number, flowering, and dry matter yield of sweet corn significantly increased at the rate of 75%, and 100% of NPK foliar fertilizers. The macro and micronutrient concentrations in ear leaf, mature leaves, stem, cob, and flowers of 75 and 100% NPK treated corn were significantly increased over the control plants. The macronutrient content in the whole plant was also significantly higher at 75% and 100% NPK treatments. Fe and Mn contents in the whole plant were also the highest in 75% and 100% NPK treatments. Macronutrient concentration in ear leaf and whole corn plants significantly correlated with the fresh cob yield of corn. It is concluded that foliar application of N, P, and K macronutrients (75 to 100% NPK) enhanced the yield and quality of sweet corn

PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING, ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF PURE SYRINGIN IN COMPARISON TO VARIOUS SOLVENTS EXTRACTS OF MUSA PARADISIACA (BANANA) (FRUIT AND FLOWER) AND TOTAL PHENOLIC CONTENTS

Objective: The study concentrated on exploring the radical scavenging activity of various banana extracts in comparison to pure syringin and the total phenolic contents of the extracts.Methods: The banana parts were prepared and extracted by cold extraction technique and the extracts obtained were used to carry out some phytochemical screening by Trease and Evans method. The ability of the extract to scavenge free radicals was measured using 2, 2-diphenyl-1-pcrylhydrazyl radical using quercetin as a reference radical scavenger by the method of Gyamfi. Further analysis of total phenolic contents present in the extracts was carried out using Singleton and Rossi method.Results: Tepal methanol extract was found to have the highest radical scavenging activity compared to others, such as tepal ethanol, tepal aqueous, skin methanol, flesh methanol and pure syringin. The IC50 value of the tepal methanol extract was found to be 22.5 µg/ml. The highest total phenolic contents (expressed as microgram of Gallic acid equivalent per gram of the extracts) were found in tepal methanol extract (8000 µg/g) and the least in Flesh methanol extract (2150 µg/g).Conclusion: The results generated from this study showed that tepal banana extracts possess very good radical scavenging activity and as well the largest amount of phenolic contents, which could introduce phenols as the main radical scavenger in banana extracts and offering effective protection from free radicals, and the antioxidant activity of pure syringin was not obvious may be due to the presence of highly anti oxidative compounds present in banana, phenolics and flavonoids.Â

SOME NATURAL PRODUCTS AND THEIR SECONDARY METABOLITES ATTRIBUTED TOWARDS DIABETIC CURE: A REVIEW

Diabetes is one of the major health and development challenges of the 21st century. According to the International Diabetes Federation, there are currently more than 371 million people living with diabetes and another 28 million are at risk of developing the disease. Aside from conventional allopathic medicines, traditional/alternative therapy plays a substantial part in treating diabetes mellitus. In the final few decades eco-friendly, bio-friendly, cost effective and relatively safe plant-based medicines have gone from the periphery to the mainstream with the increased research in the area of traditional medication. Plant-based medications are preferable as mainly non-toxic, having typically fewer side effects, better compatibility with physiological flora, and availability at low-costs. However, secondary metabolites isolated from these plants (Diosmin, Tangeritin, Lycopene, Syringin etc., ) possess this antidiabetic property. The power of the herb/active compound to enhance glucose utilization and lower plasma glucose level in rats suffering from insulin deficiency suggests that these plant extracts/phytochemicals may be useful in the discussion of human diabetes.Â

APPLICATION OF HPTLC AND FTIR PROFILINGCOUPLED WITH CHEMOMETRICS FOR THE DIFFERENTIATION OF THE VARIETIES OFFICUS DELTOIDEAJACK

Objective: The aims of this study were to identify and evaluate the chemical markers of Ficus deltoidea Jack (FD)varieties namely var. deltoidea, var. trengganuensis, var. kunstleri, var. motleyana, var. intermedia, var. borneensis, var. bilobata and var. angustifolia by High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) and to discriminate between the varieties based on Fourier Transform Infra Red (FTIR) data. Methods: Methanol extracts of eight varieties and water extracts of five varieties were subjected to HPTLC and FTIR fingerprinting analysis. Quantification of markers (vitexin and isovitexin) was performed by HPTLC. Cluster analysis of Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) was employed to discriminate between the varieties based on their FTIR data. Results: Two markers, vitexin and isovitexin, were found in all of the varieties, but their contentswere varied in the different samples.Cluster analysis (PCA and HCA) was employedto discriminate between the varieties based on their FTIR data. Clear separation between the methanol extracts of the varieties was observed, whereas the discrimination of the water extracts of the varieties showed some disparities. Conclusion:The findings indicate that HPTLC combined with FTIR coupled with chemometricanalysis isa reliable analytical tool for the identificationand discrimination of Ficus deltoideavarieties. Keywords:Ficus deltoidea Jack, HPTLC, FTIR profiling, vitexin, isovitexi