Phenolic contents and antioxidant activities of leaf extracts from Elaeocarpus submonoceras Miq.

The phenolic contents and antioxidant activities of leaf extracts from Elaeocarpus submonoceras Miq. were determined for two alternative extractions, namely maceration with ethanol and successive extraction by Soxhlet, with various solvents. Ethanol extract showed the highest phenolic content and strong antioxidant activities against DPPH and ABTS, followed in rank order by methanol and ethyl acetate extracts. The ethyl acetate extract showed no cytotoxic effect towards HaCaT, a human skin non-carcinoma cell. Based on thin layer chromatography, cytotoxic and antioxidant activities, ethyl acetate extract was chosen for isolation. The structure of an isolated compound was identified as gallic acid from 1H-NMR. This study provides the first scientific information regarding the phenolic content and antioxidant activities of E. submonoceras Miq

Anticancer activity of okra raw polysaccharides extracts against human liver cancer cells

Purpose: To examine raw polysaccharides extract of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) as an anticancer agent against human liver cancer cells. Methods: Okra raw polysaccharide extract (ORPE) was obtained by ethanol extraction from the raw fruit. Huh7it cells were grown in DMEM (Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium) and cultured for 24 h prior to treatment with the extract. The cell culture was divided into 3 groups, viz, negative control group (KN), positive control group (KP, treated with 10 μg/mL doxorubicin), and ORPE (P) group. ORPE group was divided into 5 subgroups based on the dose used for treatment, viz, 50 (P1), 100 (P2), 200 (P3), 400 (P4), and 600 µg/mL (P5). Huh7it cell proliferation was measured by MTT assay. while measurement of Huh7it cell apoptosis, necrosis, and cell cycle analysis were carried out using Annexin V FITC-PI antibody test and flow cytometry. Results: ORPE significantly inhibited Huh7it cell proliferation and induced apoptosis. ORPE treatment with 600 µg/mL extract caused 5.82 % late cell apoptosis and 5.62 % early apoptosis. Cell cycle arrest occurred during G0/G1 phase. Conclusion: ORPE is a potential anticancer agent against human liver cancer cells due to its ability to induce apoptosis of huh7it cells by promoting cell cycle arrest during G0/G1 phase

A Novel Xylan-Polyvinyl Alcohol Hydrogel Bead with Laccase Entrapment for Decolorization of Reactive Black 5

In an attempt to find a more efficient technique for biodegradation of the recalcitrant Reactive Black 5 (RB-5) dye, a composite xylan-polyvinyl alcohol (xylan-PVOH) hydrogel was used to immobilize laccase from the white-rot fungus Trametes versicolor. Xylan was prepared from the black liquor of pulp and paper effluent, and it was esterified with citric acid prior to cross-linking with polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH). The optimum composition for the immobilized laccase bead formation consisted of 4% (w/v) modified xylan, 10% (w/v) PVOH, and 15 U.mL-1 crude laccase. The maximum decolorization of RB-5 (98.45 1.96 %) was obtained within the first cycle (6 h) at 40 °C. In the eighth cycle, the reused beads were able to decolorize 55.35 2.46 % of the RB-5. Moreover, the xylan-PVOH beads extended the optimum pH range of laccase activity from 6 to 10 and tolerated a temperature up to 10 °C higher than that of the free enzyme. These results suggest that the xylan-PVOH bead has great potential as the polymer matrix for enzyme immobilization, which has applications in wastewater treatment

Purification and Characterization of a Polyextremophilic α-Amylase from an Obligate Halophilic Aspergillus penicillioides Isolate and Its Potential for Souse with Detergents

An extracellular α-amylase from the obligate halophilic Aspergillus penicillioides TISTR3639 strain was produced and enriched to apparent homogeneity by ammonium sulfate precipitation and Sephadex G100 gel filtration column chromatography. The mass of the purified amylase was estimated to be 42 kDa by SDS-PAGE. With soluble starch as the substrate it had a specific activity of 118.42 U·mg−1 and Vmax⁡ and Km values of 1.05 µmol·min−1·mg−1 and 5.41 mg·mL−1, respectively. The enzyme was found to have certain polyextremophilic characteristics, with an optimum activity at pH 9, 80°C, and 300 g·L−1 NaCl. The addition of CaCl2 at 2 mM was found to slightly enhance the amylase activity, while ZnCl2, FeCl2, or EDTA at 2 mM was strongly or moderately inhibitory, respectively, suggesting the requirement for a (non-Fe2+ or Zn2+) divalent cation. The enzyme retained more than 80% of its activity when incubated with three different laundry detergents and had a better performance compared to a commercial amylase and three detergents in the presence of increasing NaCl concentrations up to 300 g·L−1. Accordingly, it has a good potential for use as an α-amylase in a low water activity (high salt concentration) and at high pH and temperatures

Phenolic content and biological activities of ethanol extracts from medicinal plants in East Kalimantan, Indonesia

The Dayak tribe are the indigenous people of West Kutai, East Kalimantan, Indonesia, and they have experiences in using plants for traditional medicine and the commonly used plants include Baccaurea macrocarpa (Miq.) Müll.Arg., Entada phaseoloides (L.) Merr., Goniothalamus macrophyllus (Blume) Hook.f. & Thomson, Gynura crepidioides Benth., Helicia robusta (Roxb.) R. Br var. robusta, Litsea elliptica, Pogostemon cablin (Blanco) Benth, and Rhodomyrtus tomentosa (Aiton) Hassk. Therefore, the present study aimed to analyze these plant species for their phenolic content, and antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-tyrosinase, and anticancer activities. The total phenolic content and total antioxidant capacity were analyzed using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent and the phosphomolybdenum method, respectively. The antioxidant activities were evaluated by DPPH and ABTS assays. The antibacterial activity was determined by agar well diffusion and microdilution methods against six bacterial strains. The anticancer activity of the plant extracts was assayed against MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells. Based on the ethanol extraction, the highest yield was obtained from L. elliptica (10.42%), while H. robusta extract contained the highest phenolic content, antioxidant capacity, and antioxidant activities. All the extracts exhibited antibacterial activities against all the tested strains of bacteria, with the highest activity found in R. tomentosa extract, which also showed the highest activity against the cancer cells. The ethanol extract from E. phaseoloides exhibited tyrosinase inhibition activity (IC50 = 543.83 ± 51.06 μg/mL). The results herein suggested that the ethanol extracts from some medicinal plants from East Kalimantan have potential as antioxidant, antibacterial, anticancer, and anti-tyrosinase agents

Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, and Antiplasmodial Activities of Sonchus arvensis L. Leaf Ethyl Acetate Fractions

Infection is one of the health problems and a disease that mainly causes death. Malaria is a parasitic infection that is transmitted through the Anopheles sp. The female then causes infection and besides malaria, other contaminants that caused infection are bacteria such as Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. This study aims to determine the antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antiplasmodial activity of Sonchus arvensis L. ethyl acetate fractions. In vitro antiplasmodial activity was carried out by Rieckman methods against Plasmodium falciparum strain 3D7. In vitro antioxidant activity was conducted by Prieto method against (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). Then antimicrobial activity was performed using well diffusion method against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Maceration of S. arvensis L. dried leaves used n-hexane and ethyl acetate successively. Then the ethyl acetate extract was fractionated by vacuum column chromatography, using n-hexane and ethyl acetate as mobile phases. There are five fraction groups based on thin-layer chromatography (TLC) analysis. The IC50 of antioxidant and antiplasmodial activity showed that fraction IV was the lowest value and categorized as active for antioxidant (IC50=22.56 μg/mL), for antiplasmodial (IC50=12.07 μg/mL). Fraction IV also had antimicrobial activity, with diameter of inhibition zone (DIZ) of 19.22 mm against Escherichia coli and 17.167 mm against Staphylococcus aureus

In vitro and in vivo antiplasmodial activities of leaf extracts from Sonchus arvensis L.

Background Malaria continues to be a global problem due to the limited efficacy of current drugs and the natural products are a potential source for discovering new antimalarial agents. Therefore, the aims of this study were to investigate phytochemical properties, cytotoxic effect, antioxidant, and antiplasmodial activities of Sonchus arvensis L. leaf extracts both in vitro and in vivo. Methods The extracts from S. arvensis L. leaf were prepared by successive maceration with n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and ethanol, and then subjected to quantitative phytochemical analysis using standard methods. The antimalarial activities of crude extracts were tested in vitro against Plasmodium falciparum 3D7 strain while the Peter's 4-day suppressive test model with P. berghei-infected mice was used to evaluate the in vivo antiplasmodial, hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, and immunomodulatory activities. The cytotoxic tests were also carried out using human hepatic cell lines in [3(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] (MTT) assay. Result The n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and ethanolic extracts of S. arvensis L. leaf exhibited good in vitro antiplasmodial activity with IC50 values 5.119 ± 3.27, 2.916 ± 2.34, and 8.026 ± 1.23 μg/mL, respectively. Each of the extracts also exhibited high antioxidant with low cytotoxic effects. Furthermore, the ethyl acetate extract showed in vivo antiplasmodial activity with ED50 = 46.31 ± 9.36 mg/kg body weight, as well as hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, and immunomodulatory activities in mice infected with P. berghei. Conclusion This study highlights the antiplasmodial activities of S. arvensis L. leaf ethyl acetate extract against P. falciparum and P. berghei as well as the antioxidant, nephroprotective, hepatoprotective, and immunomodulatory activities with low toxicity. These results indicate the potential of Sonchus arvensis L. to be developed into a new antimalarial drug candidate. However, the compounds and transmission-blocking strategies for malaria control of S. arvensis L. extracts are essential for further study

Hepatoprotective effect of crude polysaccharides extracted from Ganoderma lucidum against carbon tetrachloride-induced liver injury in mice

Background and Aim: Natural products are currently widely used as alternative treatments for liver disease. The study aimed to determine the hepatoprotective effect of crude polysaccharides extracted from Ganoderma lucidum against liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). Materials and Methods: Twenty-four male BALB/C mice were randomly divided into six groups. Serum and liver samples were taken on day 10 after G. lucidum administration. The levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, and the histology of the liver was evaluated using light microscopy. Results: G. lucidum extract significantly decreased the levels of ALT, AST, and MDA and significantly increased the levels of SOD and CAT. In the histological evaluation, the liver tissue of CCl4-treated mice exhibited hydropic degeneration, necrosis, and sinusoidal dilatation. G. lucidum extract administration improved this liver tissue histopathology. Conclusion: Crude polysaccharides extracted from G. lucidum showed a hepatoprotective effect, regenerating damaged liver tissue

Starch extracted from pineapple (Ananas comosus) plant stem as a source for amino acids production

Abstract Background Pineapple plant (Ananas comosus) is one of the largest productions in Asia and its increasing production has generated a huge amount of pineapple wastes. Pineapple plant stem is made up of high concentration of starch which can potentially be converted into value-added products, including amino acids. Due to the increasing demand in animal feed grade amino acids, especially for methionine and lysine, the utilisation of cheap and renewable source is deemed to be an essential approach. This study aimed to produce amino acids from pineapple plant stem hydrolysates through microbial fermentation by Pediococcus acidilactici Kp10. Dextrozyme was used for hydrolysis of starch and Celluclast 1.5 L for saccharification of cellulosic materials in pineapple plant stem. Results The hydrolysates obtained were used in the fermentation to produce methionine and lysine. Pineapple plant stem showed high starch content of 77.78%. Lignocellulosic composition of pineapple plant stem consisted of 46.15% hemicellulose, 31.86% cellulose, and 18.60% lignin. Saccharification of alkaline-treated pineapple plant stem gave lower reducing sugars of 13.28 g/L as compared to untreated, where 18.56 g/L reducing sugars obtained. Therefore, the untreated pineapple plant stem was selected for further process. Starch hydrolysis produced 57.57 g/L reducing sugar (100% hydrolysis yield) and saccharification of cellulosic materials produced 24.67 g/L reducing sugars (56.93% hydrolysis yield). The starch-based and cellulosic-based of pineapple plant stem were subjected as carbon source in methionine and lysine production by P. acidilactici Kp10. Conclusions In conclusion, higher methionine and lysine production were produced from starch-based hydrolysis (40.25 mg/L and 0.97 g/L, respectively) as compared to cellulosic-based saccharification (37.31 mg/L and 0.84 g/L, respectively) of pineapple plant stem. Graphical Abstrac