Heterotrigona Itama Bee Bread Extracts: Effect of Solvent Polarity on Extraction Yield, Chemical Characteristics and Antioxidant Activity

The stingless bee bread formation in the beehives occurs via lactic acid fermentation of the pollen mixed with nectar and bee salivary enzymes. The lack of research and studies about the effect of different extraction solvents in retaining the chemicals and the antioxidant activity of stingless bee bread were noticed. Hence, the objectives of this study were to determine the chemical contents and DPPH scavenging activity of different extracts of Heterotrigona itama stingless bee bread. The bee bread sample was macerated with four different extraction solvents including 95% ethanol (95EE), 70% ethanol (70EE), dichloromethane (DE) and hexane (HE). The chemicals analyses were proximate analysis, resorcinol-sulfuric acid assay and fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, while antioxidant activity was measured using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay. As a result, the bee bread of H. itama was found to contain 46.88% carbohydrates, 24.72% moisture content, 21.10% crude proteins, 3.41% crude fats, 2.32% ash and 1.75% crude fibers. The highest yield of extract was recorded by 70EE (41.1%, w/w). Resorcinol-sulfuric acid assay revealed that 70EE contained more total carbohydrates (842.585 mg/mL) compared to 95EE (738.178 mg/mL). In addition, intense FTIR signals at 3100–3600 cm-1 were found in 95EE and 70EE, indicating the presence of hydroxyl group, while strong 2800–3000 cm-1 signals found in HE revealed the presence of aliphatic group, and an intense carbonyl group signal at 1550–1750 cm-1 were detected in DE. Furthermore, 70EE also showed the strongest antioxidant activity compared to other extracts with IC50 value of DPPH radicals scavenging was 0.5173 mg/mL. Thus, these findings would provide the information about chemical composition and antioxidant activity of bee bread, as well as help in promoting the bee bread as a healthy functional food

Antibacterial and DPPH free radical-scavenging activities of methanolic extracts of Aaptos sp. (Marine Sponges)

This study reports on the evaluation of the antioxidant and antibacterial activities of twelve methanolic extracts (A-L) of Aaptos sp., collected from various locations of Terengganu Islands, namely Pulau Bidong, Pulau Kapas, Pulau Perhentian and Pulau Redang. The antioxidant activity of the twelve specimens was evaluated using the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging method. The antibacterial bioassay against 5 bacteria, i.e. Bacillus subtilis (gram-positive), Escherichia coli (gram-negative), Bacillus proteus, Streptococus agalatea and Streptococus fecalis, was carried out using the disc-diffusion method. In the DPPH method, all extracts exhibited moderate and strong radical scavenging activity when compared to the standards used, i.e. quercetin and butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) with the inhibition percentage in the range of 55–89%. In particular, specimen H exhibited the strongest radical scavenging activity with IC50 value of 0.1mg/ml. On the contrary, all the specimens showed antibacterial activity at least against one test organism. Interestingly, specimens C, G and L, which were collected from Perhentian, Bidong and Kapas Islands respectively, exhibited weak to strong activity against all bacterial strains. Beside that, specimen F (collected off Redang Island) was weakly bactericidal only against Bacillus proteus. Meanwhile, specimen G (collected off Bidong island) was primarily selected for further isolation to yield cholestan-3β-ol and aaptamine

Cytotoxic Aaptamines from Malaysian Aaptos aaptos

In a preliminary screen, Aaptos aaptos showed significant cytotoxic activity towards a panel of cell lines and was thus subjected to bioassay-guided isolation of the bioactive constituents. In addition to the known aaptamine, two new derivatives of the alkaloid were isolated from the bioactive chloroform fraction of the crude methanolic extract. Detailed analysis by NMR and mass spectroscopy enabled their identification to be 3-(phenethylamino)demethyl(oxy)aaptamine and 3-(isopentylamino)demethyl(oxy) aaptamine. The cytotoxic activities of the three alkaloids were further evaluated against CEM-SS cells

Crustacean shell waste as a potential feed material

Crustacean wastes are waste products collected from marine industry. This review includes fundamental studies of crustacean waste such as protein, carotenoid and lipid including chitin and natural pigment named astaxanthin. Crude protein in crustacean shells like shrimp shell at 27.23%, crab shell (25.98%) and lobster shell (23.24%) are indicators that crustacean waste can be further developed as essential support feed in industries. Astaxanthin from carotenoid group is the most important property of crustacean waste that can provide red colour pigment besides acts as precursor for mechanism of vitamin. Astaxanthin is a natural source that can provide secondary protein source to livestock and fish as it can replace synthetic colour used today with natural pigment colour for ornamental fish that provides fancy skin colors that could increase market value. Extracts from crustacean waste too could provide benefits to pharmaceuticals industry such as source for cosmetics and health supplement. Astaxanthin in crustacean waste is also an immune system booster that contains high antioxidant. Natural astaxanthin extracts too has potential as an alternative colour source that could replace synthetic colors in feeds for ornamental fish

Biochemical Analysis and α-Glucosidase Inhibition of Ziziphus mauritiana (Bidara) Immature Leaves Extracts

Ziziphus mauritiana is locally known as ‘bidara’ and commanly used as traditional medicine for various ailments and disease treatments. The aims of this study is to evaluate the biochemicals composition and α-glucosidase inhibition of Ziziphus mauritiana immature leaves extracts. The fresh leaves were used to estimate the proximate values. The leaves were extracted separately with aqueous and ethanol using ultrasonication-asssisted technique, while crude polysaccharide was yielded from aqueous extract after ethanol precipitation. The ethanol (EE), aqueous (AE) and polysaccharide (PS) extracts were studied for total phenolics content (TPC), total sugars content (TSC), α-glucosidase inhibition and chemical fingerprints using fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Proximate nutritional analysis revealed the presence of high moisture (70.89%) as well as crude proteins (6.92%), crude fibres (6.17%), ash (3.50%), fats (0.46%) and carbohydrates (12.0%). EE contained the most abundance TPC (24.80±0.08 mg GAE/g of extract) compared to AE (20.71±3.14 mg GAE/g of extract) and PS (3.28±1.58 mg GAE/g of extract). Meanwhile, all extracts contained high amount of carbohydrates with values 127.1 to 186.6 μg/mL. AE and PS showed stronger α-glucosidase inhibition compared to EA with IC50 values 0.959±0.15, 0.962± 0.17 and2.152±0.13 mg/mL, respectively. Thus, this research could contribute towards providing valuable scientific information to the local communities and for promoting further research on Z. mauritiana young leaves in Malaysia

α-glucosidase Inhibition, DPPH Scavenging and Chemical Analysis of Polysaccharide Extracts of Aquilaria sp. Leaves

Aquilaria sp. belongs to Thymelaeaceae family. This genus produces a unique fragrant wood locally known as ‘gaharu’. It is well known for usages in aromatherapy while very few scientific evidence on its usage as herbal medicine have been published. The current study was therefore conducted to determine the chemical characteristics as well as antioxidant and α-glucosidase inhibition potential of carbohydrate-rich extracts (aqueous and polysaccharide extracts) of three Aquilaria species leaves (A. malaccensis, A. sinensis and A. subintegra). The isolation of polysaccharide (PS) from the aqueous extract (AE) was conducted by ethanol precipitation prior to ultrasonic-assisted extraction. The total phenolic content (TPC), proximate and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis were carried out to investigate the chemical characteristics, while the bioactivities determined were 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging and α-glucosidase inhibition. As a result, AE of A. malaccensis leaves showed the strongest α-glucosidase (IC50: 0.094 mg/mL) and DPPH (IC50: 0.094 mg/mL) inhibition while contained more TPC (61.16 mg GAE/g) compared to other two species. Furthermore, PS of A. malaccensis leaves displayed even stronger α-glucosidase inhibition (IC50: 0.014 mg/mL) compared to its respective AE and other PS. In conclusion, this study primarily revealed the scientific evidence on the bioactive potential of PS of Aquilaria sp

Phenolics, fatty acids composition and biological activities of various extracts and fractions of Malaysian Aaptos aaptos

International audienceObjective To investigate phenolics, fatty acids composition and biological activities of various extracts and fractions of Malaysian Aaptos aaptos. Methods Fatty acid methyl ester was analyzed by gas chromatography-flame ionization detector. Antioxidant activity was determined using 2,2-diphenyl-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging assay and total phenolics content by Folin-Ciocalteu procedure. Vera cells viability was evaluated using methyl thiazole tetrazolium and the inactivation of herpes simplex virus type 1 by neutral red uptake assay. p-Hydroxybenzamide isolated by column chromatography was characterized by utilizing nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and electron impact mass spectrometry. Results The chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of Aaptos aaptos produced higher portions of straight-chain saturated fatty acid, while hexane extract mainly consisted of unsaturated fatty acid. The five majors of fatty acid methyl ester were identified as behenic acid, cis-10-heptadecenoic acid and cis-10-pentadecenoic acids, palmitic acid and tricosanoic acid. In addition, among all organic extracts, chloroform extract inactivated herpes simplex virus type 1 while exhibited weak cytotoxic activity against normal Vero cells and also exhibited strong cytotoxic activity on HL-60, MCF-7, K562, CEM-SS and WEHI-3B cells. A phenolic compound, p-hydroxybenzamide was also isolated from the sponge. Conclusions Aaptos aaptos could be a source to derive the potential antiviral and anticancer agents. However, further studies are needed to determine the mechanism involved in the process

Enhancing photosynthesis and root development for better fruit quality, aroma, and lessening of radioactive materials in key lime (Citrus aurantifolia) using Trichoderma harzianum and Bacillus thuringiensis

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of Trichoderma harzianum and Bacillus thuringiensis alone or with gradual levels of NPK on photosynthesis, growth, fruit quality, aroma improvement and reduced radionuclides of key lime fruits. The lemon seedlings were treated with (T0) without fertilizers as control, (T1) 100g of NPK at 100, (T2) 5 g of Trichoderma. harzianum at 50 + 50 g of NPK at 50, (T3) 5 g of Bacillus thuringiensis at 50 + 50 g of NPK at 50 , (T4) 7.5 g of Trichoderma harzianum at 75 + 25 g of NPK at 25 , (T5) 7.5 g of Bacillus thuringiensis at 75 + 25 g of NPK at 25 , (T6) 10 g of Trichoderma harzianum at 100 and (T7)10 g of Bacillus thuringiensis at 100 . The results showed that T2 increased net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, internal CO2 concentration, fresh and dry root biomass by 209, 74, 56, 376, 69.4 and 71.6, while, T5 increased root volume, root length, and root tip number by 27.1, 167, and 67, respectively over the control trees. The microbial treatments developed cortex, vascular cylinder and tracheal elements of the root. Fruit number, length, diameter, weight, pulp thickness, pulp/peel ratio, juice, total soluble solids (TSS), pigment contents and antioxidant activity increased significantly in the T2 treatment. Vitamin C, total phenols, total flavonoids, and total sugar content increased by 1.59-, 1.66-, 1.44- and 2.07- fold in T5 treated fruits compared to the control. The two microbes increased volatile compounds and decreased radionucleotides in the fruit, moreover, 27 identified and 2 (two) unmatched volatile compounds were identified by GCMS analysis. It is concluded that T. harzianum and B. thuringiensis with 25–50 g NPK treatments improved photosynthesis, root structure, fruit growth, fruit quality, aroma and lessened radionuclides in key lime fruits

www.mdpi.com/journal/marinedrugs

Abstract: In a preliminary screen, Aaptos aaptos showed significant cytotoxic activity towards a panel of cell lines and was thus subjected to bioassay-guided isolation of the bioactive constituents. In addition to the known aaptamine, two new derivatives of the alkaloid were isolated from the bioactive chloroform fraction of the crude methanolic extract. Detailed analysis by NMR and mass spectroscopy enabled their identification to be 3-(phenethylamino)demethyl(oxy)aaptamine and 3-(isopentylamino)demethyl(oxy) aaptamine. The cytotoxic activities of the three alkaloids were further evaluated against CEM-SS cells