Pengekstrakan Alga Gracilaria Changii, Pencirian Aktiviti Antioksisan, Antikanser Dan Antimikrob Serta Potensi Sebagai Agen Antikandida [RM262. S252 2007 f rb].

Penyelidikan ini telah dijalankan untuk mengkaji kesan aktiviti antimikrob, antioksidan dan antikanser serta melihat keberkesanan ekstrak Gracilaria changii sebagai agen rawatan ke atas mencit yang diaruhkan penyakit. This research was conducted to study the antimicrobial, antioxidant as well as anticancer activities and to evaluate the extract of Gracilaria changii as an antimicrobial agent in the treatment of the disease induced mice

In vitro antioxidant activity of Lantadene A

Lantadenes are the pentacyclic triterpenoids present in the leaves of the plant Lantana camara. Pentacyclic triterpenes are often studied as their biological properties are considerable and contributes to the development of modern therapeutic drugs. In recent years various natural product based compounds are extensively studied for various pharmacological activities including antioxidant activity. Therefore, this study aims to determine the in vitro antioxidant activity of Lantadene A (from Lantana camara ) as results will enhance the knowledge of the compound towards development of hepatoprotective agents. The antioxidant assays performed on the compound were the DPPH radical scavenging assay, nitric oxide assay, superoxide anions scavenging activity and iron chelating assay. Results showed promising antioxidant activities as the IC50 for Lantadene A in the above assays were 6.574 mg/ml, 0.098 mg/ml, 2.506 mg/ml and 0.001 mg/ml respectively as compared to the standards (BHT, ascorbic acid and EDTA) 0.027 mg/ml, 0.075 mg/ml, 1.025 mg/ml and 0.47 mg/ml respectively. The DPPH radical scavenging assay for Lantadene A was weaker than BHT while iron chelating assay of Lantadene A is much stronger than the standard. The rest of the assays were comparable to the reference standards. These results suggest that Lantadene A can be a potential cadidate to be developed as an antioxidant.

Antioxidant Activity and Hepatoprotective Potential of Polyalthia longifolia and Cassia spectabilis Leaves against Paracetamol-Induced Liver Injury

In the present study, in vitro antioxidant, free radical scavenging capacity, and hepatoprotective activity of methanol extracts from Polyalthia longifolia and Cassia spectabilis were evaluated using established in vitro models such as ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH•), hydroxyl radical (OH•), nitric oxide radical (NO•) scavenging, metal chelating, and antilipidperoxidation activities. Interestingly, all the extracts showed considerable in vitro antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities in a dose-dependent manner when compared to the standard antioxidant which verified the presence of strong antioxidant compound in leaf extracts tested. Phenolic and flavonoid content of these extracts is significantly correlated with antioxidant capacity. Since P. longifolia extract was exhibited better in vitro antioxidant activities, it was subjected for in vivo hepatoprotective activity in paracetamol-intoxicated mice. Therapy of P. longifolia showed the liver protective effect on biochemical and histopathological alterations. Moreover, histological studies also supported the biochemical finding, that is, the maximum improvement in the histoarchitecture of the liver. Results revealed that P. longifolia leaf extract could protect the liver against paracetamol-induced oxidative damage by possibly increasing the antioxidant protection mechanism inmice. Our findings indicated that P. longifolia and C. spectabilis have potential as good sources of natural antioxidant/antiaging compounds

EVALUATION OF IN VITRO CYTOTOXIC ACTIVITY OF OCIMUM BASILICUM AND MENTHA SPICATA EXTRACTS

Objective: The objective of the current research was to evaluate the cytotoxicity of Ocimum basilicum (OB) and Mentha spicata (MS).Methods: In vitro cytotoxic potential of OB and MS extracts was evaluated against human cancer HL60 cell lines using 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay. The treated cell morphology was observed by light microscope.Results: The OB and MS extracts inhibited proliferation of HL60 cells in concentration dependent manner with IC₅₀ of 45.67 µg/ml and 98.1 µg/mlfor 42 hrs, respectively. The morphology of the HL60 cells treated with OB and MS extracts at high concentrations (200 and 100 µg/ml) indicated cellshrinkage, clumping, and signs of apoptosis.Conclusion: OB and MS extracts induced cell death in HL60 cell lines. Further, in vivo studies and identification of active components from OB extract,and their exact mechanism of action could be useful in designing new anticancer therapeutic agents.Keywords: Cytotoxicity; HL60 cell; apoptosis; medicinal plant

Acute and Subchronic Toxicity Study of Euphorbia hirta L. Methanol Extract in Rats

Despite Euphorbia hirta L. ethnomedicinal benefits, very few studies have described the potential toxicity.The aim of the present study was to evaluate the in vivo toxicity of methanolic extracts of E. hirta.The acute and subchronic oral toxicity of E. hirta was evaluated in Sprague Dawley rats. The extract at a single dose of 5000mg/kg did not produce treatment related signs of toxicity or mortality in any of the animals tested during the 14-day observation period. Therefore, the LD 50 of this plant was estimated to be more than 5000mg/kg. In the repeated dose 90-day oral toxicity study, the administration of 50mg/kg, 250mg/kg, and 1000mg/kg/day of E. hirta extract per body weight revealed no significant difference

EFFICACY OF CLITORIA TERNATEA LEAF EXTRACT AGAINST EXPERIMENTAL ASPERGILLOSIS

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of methanolic extract of Clitoria ternatea leaf in experimental murine systemic aspergillosis. Methods: The investigation of methanolic extract of C. ternatea leaf against experimental murine systemic aspergillosis was assessed by the survival rates, quantitative determination of fungal burden in spleen, kidney and lung organs, histopathological evaluation and serum galactomannan index. Results: Methanolic extract of C. ternatea and amphotericin B demonstrated survival benefits over control. All untreated animals died by day 14. Similarly, both treated groups had significant reductions (P< 0.05) in the fungal burden of lungs, kidneys and spleen. By day 28, there was a complete clearance of the fungi from these organs. A decline was also observed in serum galactomannan level of treated animals. Conclusion: The methanolic extract of C. ternatea was effective against aspergillosis in immunocompromised mice comparable to that of amphotericin. This study merits further clinical investigations of this extract as well as isolation and characterization of their bioactive antifungal chemical constituent(s)

Anti-cancer natural products inducing cross-talk between apoptosis and autophagy mutual proteins to regulate cancer cell death: design of future green anticancer therapies

The present letter concerns anti-cancer natural products inducing cross-talk between apoptosis and autophagy mutual proteins to regulate cancer cell death for future cancer green therapeutic approaches. The course of cancer advancement has always been attributed to the defectiveness in cell death mechanisms (Du et al., 2013; Hematulin et al., 2014). These defects act as a shield in protecting tumor cells from drugs and therapies, all at the same time, maintaining a longer life span and prompting their dispersion procedures. Autophagy and apoptosis safeguards cells from cellular damages and maintains proliferation and homeostasis by deporting outgrowth and controlling differentiation of pernicious cells. The autophagic proteins are conventionally found in hindering apoptosis whereas vice versa accounts had been reported for apoptotic-intermediates in preventing autophagic responses

Ultrastructural Study of Elaeis guineensis (Oil Palm) Leaf and Antimicrobial Activity of its Methanol Extract against Staphylococcus Aureus

Purpose: To evaluate the antimicrobial activity of the methanol extract of Elaeis guineensis leaf against Staphylococcus aureus and to determine the effect of extract treatment on the microstructure of the microbeMethods: The antimicrobial activity of the methanol leaf extract of the plant against S. aureus was examined using disc diffusion and broth dilution methods. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were carried out to determine the major alterations in the microstructure of S. aureus after treatment with the extract.Results: The extract showed a good antimicrobial activity against S. aureus with a minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) of 6.25 mg/mL and for Chloramphenicol was 30.00 ìg/mL. The main changes observed under SEM and TEM were structural disorganization of the cell membrane which occurred after 12 h and total collapse of the cell 36 h after exposure to the extract.Conclusion: We concluded that the methanolic extract of E. guineensis leaf exhibited good antimicrobial activity against S. aureus and this is supported by SEM and TEM.Keywords: Antimicrobial activity, Elaeis guineensis, Staphylococcus aureus, Scanning electron microscopy, Transmission electron microscop

Regulating mitochondrial biogenesis : from herbal remedies to phytomedicine for cancer prevention

Mitochondria are well-adapted endosymbiotic intracellular organelles, acting as the energy supplier for survival and proliferation of cells under aerobic conditions. Moreover, cellular proliferation largely depends on the total number of mitochondria, governed by the process of mitochondrial biogenesis (Davila and Zamorano, 2013; Yoboue et al., 2014)

Standardization of Euphorbia hirta with Chemical Compounds Identification (GC-MS)

The present study was intended to evaluate the various pharmacognostical procedures in the leaves of E. hirta, (Euphorbiaceae). The various pharmacognostical parameters were carried out as per WHO guidelines procedure i.e., macroscopic and microscopic evaluation, heavy metal analysis, functional group analysis by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and assay. The study was extended with analyzing the chemical compounds identification in the extract of E. hirta by using GC-MS. The assay part of standardization involved determination of the antioxidant activity (DPPH assay) which could help assesses the chemical effects and establishes curative values. The extracts showed an antioxidant activity above 50%, independent of the extraction time. Six major peaks in the range of 600 - 1500 and 2800 - 3400 cm-1 were observed in the FTIR spectra. The chemical constituent aspect of standardization involves quantification of the main chemical components in E. hirta. The GC-MS method used for quantification of 1,3,4,5-tetrahydroxycyclohexanecarboxylic acid in the extract was rapid, accurate, precise, linear (R2 = 0.9981), rugged and robust. The concentrations of heavy metals determined in E. hirta extract are well below the permissible limit. The result of the pharmacognostical standardization of this plant serves as a reference piece and helps in future identification and authentication of this plant specimen