THE 4th Annual CNPD (Centre for Natural Products Discovery) Conference

The 4th Annual CNPD (Centre for Natural Products Discovery) Conference held on 19-22 June 2023 at the John Lennon Arts and Design Building, has been a remarkable success. The feedback from the participants from all over the world (e.g., Bangladesh, Czech Republic, China, Pakistan, India, Italy, Nepal, Romania, South Korea, Switzerland, The Philippines, Turkey and USA), as well as from our home participants, was simply excellent. Many commented that our conference is one of the best conferences they have ever attended. Prof Laura Bishop, PVC Science opened the conference, and welcomed the participants on behalf of the Faculty and LJMU. Prof Satya Sarker, Director of School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, and the Founding Head of the Centre for Natural Products Discovery, presented an overview of the centre and welcomed everybody on behalf of the School and the Centre. During the conference, several outstanding invited talks were presented and the quality of the short 10 min presentations was also excellent. The poster session was lively and highly interactive, the extended tea/coffee breaks and lunch breaks provided a fantastic opportunity for networking. There was a lively panel discussion on the contemporary issues in natural products research, and the impact of AI on natural products research and scientific publications dominated the discussion. There were three prizes sponsored by Goss Scientific, and Perkin Elmer, given to the best poster, the best short oral presentation and the best overall performance, selected by a panel of four judges, two internal and two externals. We are absolutely delighted to see our PhD student Waed Alsheikh won the best oral and overall best performance prizes. It can be mentioned that Waed is the Faculty Winner of the 3 min thesis presentation, and the LJMU winner through popular votes. The conference concluded with my ‘vote of thanks’, and a declaration that the 5th Annual CNPD conference will be held online over Teams in 2024, and 6th Annual CNPD conference will be held face-to-face in Liverpool in 2025

In-vitro antioxidant activities of the fruits peel of citrus macroptera Mont. Var. Annamensis

In-vitro antioxidant activities of the fruit peels of Citrus macroptera were studied in the present work. Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assays were performed to evaluate the antioxidant properties of the fractions from n-hexane and methanol crude extracts from the fruit peels of this plant. Results suggested that all fractions from methanol crude extract showed good antioxidant activities. Meanwhile, all fractions from n-hexane extract exhibited as weak antioxidant properties. The results were comparable with standard ascorbic acid. The potency of antioxidant activities of the fruits peel of C. macroptera depends on the type of extracts

The Use of natural Products in 3D Printing of Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms

Background Three-dimensional printing (3DP) has been investigated widely for applications in pharmaceutical sciences. Different 3DP techniques have been employed such as fused deposition modelling (FDM 3DP), powder bed 3DP, stereolithography 3DP (SLA 3DP), selective laser sintering (SLS 3DP), pates-extrusion 3DP and inkjet 3DP. Aim This article aims to explore the use of natural products as active ingredient or excipient. Methods Literature search was conduced for latest applications of 3DP for pharmaceutical dosage forms, and typical employed materials were identified. Results Polymeric materials form the main bulk of 3DP excipients such as polyvinyl alcohol or ploy lactic acid. Chemical stabilisers may be added to these polymers to increase their stability at high temperatures during hot melt extrusion for making filaments or printing. In addition, photoinitiators have been added such as diphenyl(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl) phosphine oxide in SLA 3DP, or candurin gold sheen in SLS 3DP. Presence of lead has been detected in FDM £DP, which originated from the nozzle. Currently, natural products have been employed only in paste extrusion 3DP of pharmaceutical dosage forms. We have identified a protentional natural thermoplastic polymer that may be used in 3DP FDM. Conclusion Natural products may be employed in 3DP of pharmaceutical dosage forms to improve the safety profile of printed objects.   Key words: Three-dimensional printing; polymers; thermoplastics; photoinitiators, natural polymer

Sinteza i spektroskopska analiza 5beta-kolan derivata

The facile synthesis and spectroscopic data analyses of three 5beta-cholane derivatives, 3beta-tosyloxy-5beta-cholan-24-ol (3), 5beta-cholan-24-ol (4) and 5eta-cholan-24-yl tosylate (5), have been described.Opisana je jednostavna sinteza i spektroskopska analiza tri derivata 5beta-kolana, 3beta-tosiloksi-5beta-kolan-24-ol (3), 5beta-kolan-24-ol (4) i 5beta-kolan-24-il tosilat (5)

Sinteza i spektroskopska analiza 5beta-kolan derivata

The facile synthesis and spectroscopic data analyses of three 5beta-cholane derivatives, 3beta-tosyloxy-5beta-cholan-24-ol (3), 5beta-cholan-24-ol (4) and 5eta-cholan-24-yl tosylate (5), have been described.Opisana je jednostavna sinteza i spektroskopska analiza tri derivata 5beta-kolana, 3beta-tosiloksi-5beta-kolan-24-ol (3), 5beta-kolan-24-ol (4) i 5beta-kolan-24-il tosilat (5)

Therapeutic potential of Leea indica (Vitaceae)

Background Leea indica (Burm. f.) Merr. (fam. Vitaceae), commonly known as ‘bandicoot berry’, is a Thai medicinal plant, and distributed widely in the far-east and south-east Asian countries, and in some parts of northern Australia. In Thailand, this plant has traditionally been used for the treatment of diarrhoea, pain, gastric ulcer, viral infections and some forms of cancers. Aims To review published findings on medicinal properties of L. indica and to critically appraise its therapeutic potential. Methods A comprehensive literature search was performed utilizing several databases, notably, Web of Science, PubMed and Google Scholar, and other relevant published materials. The keywords used in the search, individually as well as in combinations, were Leea indica, Vitaceae and traditional medicine. Results In vitro assays and in vivo animal studies displayed efficacy of the extracts and fractions of L. indica as an analgesic, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant and antiproliferative agent and indicated their therapeutic potential. Phytochemical studies revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, polyphenolics and terpenoids as major bioactive components in L. indica. Conclusion Preliminary bioactivity studies on L. indica provided some scientific basis for its traditional therapeutic applications. The presence of certain bioactive compounds in this plant could further support its therapeutic potential and traditional medicinal uses

Soxhlet extraction cycle-dependent diversity in phenolic profile and antioxidant potency of red cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata F. rubra)

Introduction: The Brassicaceae vegetables are a rich source of secondary metabolites that exhibit several health benefits and protection against numerous degenerative diseases. Objectives: The current study was performed to investigate the effect of Soxhlet extraction cycles on the phenolic profile of red cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata F. rubra) and its biological activities. Materials and Methods: The red cabbage sample was harvested from the research fields of Ayub Agricultural Research Institute Faisalabad, Pakistan. The ethanol extracts were prepared using 1-, 2-, 4-, and 8-cycles Soxhlet extraction technique. The antioxidant potential of red cabbage extracts was estimated by evaluation of total phenolic contents (TPC), total flavonoid contents (TFC), DPPH radical scavenging capacity and reducing power. The identification and quantification of polyphenols were carried out by RP-HPLC. The antibacterial activity of red cabbage extracts was determined against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus and the antiproliferative activity was carried out by MTT mitochondrial viability assay against the human A549 cancer cell line. Results: Gallic acid, p-hydroxyl benzoic acid, chlorogenic acid, and p-coumaric acid were the major phenolic acids, whereas catechin and quercetin were the major flavonoids detected in the red cabbage extracts. The extraction cycles were found to have significant (p ≤ 0.05) effects on the phenolic profile of the red cabbage extracts.  TPC of extracts ranged from 5.22-11.72 mg/g dry matter, measured as gallic acid equivalent, while the TFC ranged from 1.64-5.19 mg/g dry matter; measured as catechin equivalent. The 4-cycles extract of red cabbage exhibited the maximum TPC, TFC, and DPPH free-radical scavenging and reducing activity. Conclusion: The study concluded that the Soxhlet extraction cycles could exert a considerable effect on the yield and polyphenol composition of red cabbage extracts as well as their antioxidant potential. Antibacterial and antiproliferative activities were observed by all the extracts of red cabbage

Derivati feniloctene kiseline s antioksidativnim učinkom iz sjemenki biljke Ilex aquifolium

Reversed-phase preparative HPLC analysis of the methanol extract of the seeds of Ilex aquifolium afforded two antioxidant phenylacetic acid derivatives, 2,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (1) and 2,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid methyl ester (2). The structures were determined by spectroscopic methods. In the DPPH assay for antioxidant activity, the IC50 values of 1 and 2 were 1.50 x 10-3 and 2.55 x 10-3 mg mL-1, respectively, compared to 2.88 x 10-5 mg mL-1 of quercetin, a natural antioxidant.Reverzno-faznom preparativnom HPLC analizom metanolnog ekstrakta sjemenki biljke Ilex aquifolium izolirana su dva derivata feniloctene kiseline s antioksidativnim učinkom, 2,4-dihidroksifeniloctena kisleina (1) i metilni ester 2,4-dihidroksifeniloctene kiseline (2). Njihove strukture određene su spektroskopskim metodama. U DPPH testu na antioksidativno djelovanje, IC50 vrijednosti spojeva 1 i 2 bile su 1.50 x 10-3 i 2.55 x 10-3 mg mL-1, dok je IC50 prirodnog antioksidansa kvercitina bila 2.88 x 10-5 mg mL-1