Characterization of natural monatin isomers, a high intensity sweetener from the plant Sclerochiton ilicifolius from South Africa

The objective was to establish the natural occurrence of the various isomers of monatin in extracts of Sclerochiton ilicifolius plant material harvested from different growing regions in South Africa. The natural occurrence of the 2S,4S isomer has been reported as well as the synthesis of the 2R,4R isomer. The 2R,4R is reported as the most intense sweetness however its natural occurrence has not been fully reported, as a result it was not possible to establish whether these isomers are indeed already present in the plant or come from racemisation during the processing of the plant. The presence of the monatin isomers 2S,4S; 2R,4R in aqueous extracts of S. ilicifolius root bark was demonstrated in each sample harvested at two different time points. The 2R,4R, 2S,4S, 2R,4S, and 2S,4R monatin isomers were absent in the aqueous extracts of S. ilicifolius stem and leaf samples, however was shown to be present in the root bark, and root core samples. This report confirms previous findings which suggested that the 2S,4S and 2R,4R monatin isomers occur naturally in S. ilicifolius.The CSIR (VPE6T)http://www.elsevier.com/locate/sajb2019-03-01hj2018Chemistr

Investigating volatile compounds in the vapour phase of (1) a hot water infusion of rhizomes, and of (2) rhizomes of Siphonochilus aethiopicus using head space solid phase microextraction and gas chromatography with time of flight mass spectrometry

Wild ginger, Siphonochilus aethiopicus, is a traditional remedy for the treatment of allergic asthma and other conditions. Preparations include hot infusions of rhizomes and steaming of the rhizomes and inhalation of the vapour. Volatile compounds in the vapour phase (representing the fraction that is inhaled) of both (1) a hot water infusion of fresh and air dried rhizomes and of (2) rhizomes were concentrated by head space solid phase microextraction (H/S-SPME) and analysed by gas chromatography with time of flight mass spectrometry (GC-TOFMS). Eucalyptol (1,8-cineole) was the major compound present in the vapour phase of a hot water infusion of fresh and dried rhizomes, and was also present as one of three major compounds in the vapour phase of fresh rhizomes. The drying of rhizomes caused a significant loss of eucalyptol and other compounds. Eucalyptol reportedly controls airway mucus hypersecretion and asthma. As such the presence of eucalyptol in the vapour phase of hot preparations may contribute to the anecdotal effectiveness of S. aethiopicus as a decongestant and traditional remedy for the treatment of allergic asthma.http://www.elsevier.com/locate/sajb2017-09-30hb2016Chemistr

Diverse mitochondrial effects, antiplasmodial and anti-inflammatory potentials of Costus afer (Ker Gawl), Nauclea latifolia (Sm) and Sphenocentrum jollyanum (Pierre) in mice infected with Plasmodium berghei

OBJECTIVES : This study reported the antiplasmodial, anti-inflammatory and mito-protrective effects of Costus afer (CA), Nauclea latifolia (NA) and Sphenocentrum jollyanum (SJ) methanol extracts in Plasmodium berghei-infected mice. METHODS : Air-dried CA, NA and SJ were extracted with methanol. Antiplasmodial activity of these extracts were monitored using chloroquine-sensitive and resistant strains of Plasmodium berghei. Heme and hemozoin contents, interleukins and C-reactive protein as well as mitochondrial permeability transition (mPT) pore opening, lipid peroxidation (mLPO) and F0F1 ATPase activity were determined by spectrophotometry. Phytochemical constituents were determined using UPLC-QTOF-MS and NMR spectroscopy. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS : CA, NL and SJ decreased percentage parasitemia to 0.25 ± 0.07; 0.30 ± 0.14 and 0.25 ± 0.07% relative to control (8.60 ± 0.15%) in the chloroquine-sensitive model and to 0.40 ± 0.14; 0.30 ± 0.14 and 0.45 ± 0.07, respectively as against 10.88 ± 0.26% of the infected control in the chloroquine-resistant model. In chloroquine-resistant model, NL decreased mLPO (0.41 ± 0.04) F0F1 ATPase (0.15 ± 0.02 mmol pi/mg protein /min) while CA enhanced mPT pore opening at 100 mg/kg,and SJ (50 mg/kg) reversed parasite-induced mPT pore opening (1.66 vs 9.4 folds). The NL increased heme, decreased hemozoin, IL-6, CRP, TNF-α, while SJ dose-dependently increased IL-10. UPLC-QTOF-MS analysis showed that coumaric acid, divaricatinic acid, diocin and aferiosides A and C were present in CA, 3-caffeoylquinic acid, 18, 19-dihydroangustine, jatrorrhizine, 17-epinaucleidinal, strictosamide and quinovic acid 3-O-rhamnoside in NL and quinic acid, jatrorrhizine and mabioside B in SJ. While the three medicinal plants have varying antimalarial effects, their decoction will be better for a synergistic purpose.https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/journal-of-king-saud-university-sciencehj2024ChemistryNon

Chemical examination of essential oil from stem, roots and fruit peels of Nigerian Citrus jambhiri

The chemical profiles of the stem, root and fruit peel essential oils of Citrus jambhiri were investigated. Pulverized plant samples (500 g) each was hydrodistilled using all-glass Clevenger-type apparatus to obtain the essential oils. Two-dimensional GC-TOFMS was used for compositional profiling of the extracted oils. Chemical profiling of the stem oil of C. jambhiri revealed the presence of 64 components (83.11 %), the root oil of C. jambhiri showed 55 components (74.21 %) and the fruit peel oil of C. jambhiri revealed 25 components (83.56 %). The major components of the stem oil of C. jambhiri is 3,4-dimethyl-1,5-cyclooctadiene(13.43 %); geijerene (14.38 %) and γ-terpinene (8.07 %) were observed as main constituents in C. jambhiri root oil whereas cis-linalool oxide (19.85 %), trans-linalool oxide (furanoid) (14.86 %), terpinen-4-ol (7.37 %) and limonene (4.64 %) were the major components of C. jambhiri fruit peel oil. Even though the samples were obtained from the same plant, the compositional profile of the essential oils from various plant parts differs.TET FUNDhttps://www.tandfonline.com/loi/teop202021-01-27hj2020Chemistr

The long-run performance of IPOs: the case of the Stock Exchange of Mauritius

This study examines the long-run performance of initial public offerings on the Stock Exchange of Mauritius (SEM). The results show that the 3-year equally weighted cumulative adjusted returns average −16.5%. The magnitude of this underperformance is consistent with most reported studies in different developed and emerging markets. Based on multivariate regression models, firms with small issues and higher ex ante financial strength seem on average to experience greater long-run underperformance, supporting the divergence of opinion and overreaction hypotheses. On the other hand, Mauritian firms do not on average time their offerings to lower cost of capital and as such, there seems to be limited support for the windows of opportunity hypothesis

Potential of South African medicinal plants targeting the reduction of Aβ42 protein as a treatment of Alzheimer's disease

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE : Twenty South African medicinal plant species were selected by conducting a literature review based on the relevant information of their reported traditional medicinal uses and scientific reports against Alzheimer's disease, dementia, anxiety, mental illness, depression, acetylcholinesterase inhibition, headache, epilepsy, convulsion, hysteria, and sedative effects. AIM OF STUDY : The goal of this study was to investigate the biological activity of the traditionally used medicinal plant extracts against Alzheimer's disease by in vitro screening of the extracts to determine their potential to decrease levels of Aβ42 protein. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Different plant parts (leaves, stem, bark, and stalks) of twenty selected plants were collected from the Manie van der Schijff Botanical Garden, University of Pretoria. Plant parts were dried, ground and then extracted using DCM:MeOH (1:1). We measured the levels of β-amyloid precursor protein proteolytic products in HeLa cells stably transfected with APP carrying the Swedish mutation using ELISA. RESULTS : Of 33 plant extract 10 (30.3%) were found active based on the potential to significantly reduce the production of Aβ42. Amongst them extracts of leaves of Xysmalobium undulatum (Apocynaceae), leaves of Cussonia paniculata (Araliaceae) and leaves of Schotia brachypetala (Fabaceae) potently decreased the production of Aβ42 by 77.3 ± 0.5%, 57.5 ± 1.3%, and 44.8 ± 0.1%, respectively. X. undulatum and S. brachypetala enhanced non-amyloidogenic processing of β-amyloid precursor protein, thereby decreasing Aβ42 level. We also showed that C. paniculata induced the decrease of Aβ42 level through inhibiting APP processing. In addition, we isolated two cardenolides, compound [A] and [B], from X. undulatum and found that they potently decreased the Aβ42 production. CONCLUSION : These data suggest that the extract of X. undulatum, C. paniculata, and S. brachypetala have potential to be developed for Alzheimer's disease treatment. These active extracts and compounds are considered for further studies which examine their efficacy towards the reduction of Aβ42 through inhibiting APP process.The University of Pretoria Post Graduate Research Support Bursay, South Africa and by the Bio-Synergy Research Project (NRF-2012M3A9C4048793) and the Bio & Medical Technology Development Program (NRF-2015M3A9A5030735) of the Ministry of Science, ICT, and Future Planning through the National Research Foundation, Republic of Korea.http://www.elsevier.com/locate/jethpharm2020-03-01hj2019Chemistr

UPLC-MS analysis of cannabis sativa using tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), and tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) as marker compounds: inhibition of breast cancer cell survival and progression

Cannabis sativa L. extracts were characterized by ultra performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) using tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), and tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) as marker compounds. The inhibitory effects of various extracts were determined on the survival and progression of highly metastatic breast cancer cells. A higher amount of CBD was found in the dichloromethane extract, and this was found to be effective in inhibiting breast cancer cell growth in vitro and in angiogenesis. Collectively, it may be concluded that CBD, THC, and THCA in the African variety of C. sativa can be used as marker compounds in UPLC-MS analysis. The ability of the plant to inhibit breast cancer cell survival and progression may affirm the traditional use of the drug as an anticancer agent.The National Research Foundation and DST-IKS Based Technology, South Africa.https://journals.sagepub.com/home/npxpm2020Chemistr

Antiplasmodial hirsutinolides from Vernonia staehelinoides and their utilization towards a simplified pharmacophore

Please open article to read abstractThis work was financially supported by the Department of Science and Technology which awarded an innovation fund to five South African institutions (The Medical Research Council, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, University of Cape Town and University of Pretoria) to scientifically validate South African medicinal plants for the treatment of malaria

Metabolomics and in-vitro bioactivities studies of fermented Musa paradisiaca pulp : apotential alpha-amylase inhibitor

The in-vitro synthesis of bio-compounds via fermentation is a promising route for bioactive molecules intended for disease control and management. Therefore, this study evaluated the effect of fermentation on the antioxidants, antihyperglycemic and anti-inflammatory properties and the resultant chemometric phytochemical profiles of unripe plantain fruits. The results revealed that Escherichia coli and Propionibacterium spp. are suspected as the key fermenters. The E coli showed negative results to the pathogenicity test; Propionibacterium appeared to be opportunistic. A significant increase in the total polyphenols and protein and decreased flavonoids was recorded in the phytochemical profile of the methanolic extract of the fermented unripe plantain pulp; however, the ascorbic acid content was not significantly altered. The 1H NMR fingerprint showed that there is a closely related chemical shift among the shorter fermentation time (days 2–6) and the unfermented, while the more extended fermentation periods (days 7–12) with enhanced bioactivities were closely related based on the chemometrics analyses. Furthermore, the UPLC-QTOF-MS analysis annotated the presence of bioactive compounds in the day-9 fermented sample: polyhydroxy glucose conjugates (3-Methoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl 6-O-(3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoyl)-beta-D-glucopyranoside), short chain peptide (leucyl-glycyl-glycine), amino acid derivatives (4-Aminophenylalanine, and N-Acetylhistidine), linear and cyclic fatty acid derivatives (palmitoyl putrescine, ricinoleic acid, phytosphingosine, gabalid, rubrenoic acid, 2-aminocyclopentanecarboxylic and cystodienioc acid). The synergistic effect of these newly formed compounds and the increase in the phenolic content of the day-9 fermented unripe plantain may account for its more potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antihyperglycemic activity. Therefore, the products obtained from the day 9 fermentation of unripe plantain pulp may serve as potential nutraceutical agents against gastro-enteric sugar digestion and absorption and sugar-induced oxidative stress, inflammation and metabolic disease.https://www.cell.com/heliyonhj2024ChemistrySDG-02:Zero HungerSDG-03:Good heatlh and well-bein