Review on Eurycoma longifolia Pharmacological and Phytochemical Properties

Eurycoma longifolia or Tongkat Ali is famous for its aphrodisiac property and the traditional uses range from tonic after childbirth to treating malaria. Phytochemical studies revealed the presence of bioactive compounds such as quassinoids, alkaloids, squalene derivatives, tirucallane-type triterpenes and biphenylneolignans. Existing research revealed that plant has potential to treat various diseases and to replace the current treatment. Purpose of this article is to evaluate and summarize the existing literatures concerning phytochemical, biological and toxicological studies of E. longifolia. It is expected that critical evaluation will be useful for researchers working o

In vitrosafety & quality analysis on three tongkat ali plants & in vivo elevation of testosterone in fowls

Eurycoma longifolia (EL), Polyathia bullata (PB), and Stema tuberosa (ST) are three species of plants sharing the synonym of "Tongkat Ali" and commonly known as Tongkat Ali Putih, Tongkat Ali Hitam, and Tongkat Ali Merah, respectively. The roots of the plants were encapsulated and given to fowls. Before being tested on animals, the capsules' content was analyzed on a few safety and quality parameters, i.e., pH and moisture tests, heavy metal content, microbial load, and steroid presence. 12 mg of each Tongkat Ali powder included in a capsule was given to fowls for 30 days. The outcome showed an increase in testosterone in fowls with the highest value of 9.73 ± 1.20 nmol/L obtained by PB, followed by EL and ST, 7.70 ± 0.59 nmol/L, and 6.25 ± 0.70 nmol/L, respectively. The Tongkat Ali plants were concluded to be safe in vitro and able to boost the male hormone in vivo

In vitro safety & quality analysis on three species of Tongkat Ali plants & their in vivo elevation of testosterone in fowls

Eurycoma longifolia, Polyathia bullata, and Stema tuberosa are three species of plants sharing the synonym of "Tongkat Ali" and commonly known as Tongkat Ali Putih, Tongkat Ali Hitam, and Tongkat Ali Merah, respectively. However, less study has been done on its effectiveness to increase testosterone by P. bullata and S. tuberosa compared to E. longifolia. In this study, all three types of Tongkat Ali were compared for their testosterone elevations in fowls. The roots of the plants were encapsulated and given to fowls. Before being tested on animals, the capsules' content was analyzed on a few safety and quality parameters, i.e., pH and moisture tests, heavy metal content, microbial load, and steroid presence. A total of 12 mg of each Tongkat Ali powdered material included in a capsule and given to 14 fowls for 30 days. The outcome showed an increase in testosterone in fowls with the highest value of 9.73 ± 1.20 nmol/L obtained by P. bullata, followed by E. longifolia and S. tuberosa, 7.70 ± 0.59 nmol/L, and 6.25 ± 0.70 nmol/L, respectively compared to the control of only 4.08 ± 0.85 nmol/L. The results showed that P. bullata and S. tuberosa were safe to consume (in vitro) and able to increase testosterone level in the fowls (in vivo). Thus, it also provide added information on the less studied Tongkat Ali plants and their potential as an aphrodisiac plants

The Ranking of Tongkat Ali Plants to Boost Testosterone Hormone Evaluated in both In vitro and In vivo Experiments

In this study, the Tongkat Ali plants were evaluated for effect on testosterone concentrations and their order in boosting the steroidal hormone from the highest to lowest ranked. Eurycoma longifolia(EL), Stema tuberosa(ST), and Polyathia bullata(PB) are collectively referred to as “Tongkat Ali”. The roots were dried and powdered, then extracted with water under reflux. Size-exclusion chromatography was utilized to isolate the protein fraction, which was subsequently characterized using the Bradford Assay and SDS-PAGE. LC-MS was used to test for the presence of natural testosterone within the Tongkat Ali plants. For in vitroand in vivoevaluations, each plant extract was treated with TM-3 Leydig cells (50 μg/mL) for 72 hours and administered in mice (6 mg/mL) twice/day for 20 days. The extraction of EL, ST, and PB yielded 0.74%, 0.46%, and 0.34% w/w of total protein, respectively. SDS-PAGE analysis revealed a single band between 10 and 15 kDa. In vitroevaluations showed that extracts of EL, ST, and PB increased testosterone secretion by 56.02 nmol/L (41.1% compared to the untreated controls), 40.49 nmol/L (18.65%) and 36.99 nmol/L (10.93%), respectively. In the in vivostudies, EL extract showed the highest testosterone concentration at 3.85 nmol/L (51.18% compared to the untreated controls), followed by ST with 3.35 nmol/L (43.95%) and lastly, PB at only 1.88 nmol/L (9.1%). Tongkat Ali plants boosted the male hormones in both in vitroand in vivostudies, with the order being EL>ST>PB

Fruit extract derived from a mixture of noni, pineapple and mango capable of coagulating milk and producing curd with antidiabetic activities

Summary: Research background. Morinda citrifolia L. (noni), Ananas comosus L. cv. Sarawak (pineapple) and Mangifera indica L. cv. Apple (mango) represent fruits capable of coagulating milk and forming a curd. Plant-derived milk coagulants have antidiabetic phytochemicals that enrich the curd. Hence this work evaluates the dual benefits of the fruits in coagulating milk and the antidiabetic activities found in the obtained curd. Experimental approach. The three fruits were mixed to form a supercoagulant (a milk coagulant mixture of the extracts at a ratio of 1:1:1), and the milk coagulation time was measured. The milk was coagulated by the supercoagulant, and thus fortified curd was tested for its ability to inhibit α-glucosidase and α-amylase activities. Then, the fortified curd was fed daily to streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats and their biochemical markers such as blood glucose level, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine transaminase, etc. as well as histopathology of their liver and kidney tissues were compared with the untreated diabetic rats and normal rats. Results and conclusions. The supercoagulant had a milk coagulation time of (28±3) s at a 50 mg/mL concentration. Its fortified curd inhibited α-glucosidase and α-amylase activities, with IC50 values of (4.04±0.03) and (3.42±0.02) mg/mL, respectively. The average mass of the streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats fed daily with curd formed by the supercoagulant was (201±10) g on day 20 compared to diabetic control rats with (149±16) g. The blood glucose concentration for rats treated with the supercoagulant after fasting was (15±1) mmol/L compared to the diabetic control rats ((26±2) mmol/L). Blood tests on the treated rats showed aspartate aminotransferase, alanine transaminase, γ-glutamyl transferase and alkaline phosphatase (liver function tests) amounts of (214±78), (91±13), 3 and (510±38) U/L, respectively, while the total protein and renal function tests showed the concentrations of albumin, globulin, urea and creatinine of (37±2) g/L, (30±2) g/L, (11±1) mmol/L and (42±3) μmol/L, respectively. These concentrations were found to be similar to those of the normal rats on day 20. Furthermore, a histopathological study performed on the liver and kidney of the rats found no apparent damage. Novelty and scientific contribution. This supercoagulant derived from a mixture of fruits is able to coagulate milk rapidly, and its curd is fortified with safe antidiabetic agents. The supercoagulant is potentially useful in producing functional dairy food to prevent diabetes or as a supplement for diabetics to control their blood sugar. Such products are capable of replacing dairy products derived from animal enzymes and provide consumers with additional functional dairy products.

Gastrointestinal parasites in Macaca fascicularis living in two urban areas of Malaysia

Macaca fascicularisor commonly known as long-tailed macaques,are nonhuman primates that are increasingly vulnerable in becoming natural reservoirs for many microorganisms including gastrointestinal (GI) parasites, largely due to anthropogenic activities. This study was conducted to detect and compare GI parasites in M. fascicularisfound in densely urbanized settings. The fecal samples of the long-tailed macaques were collected at a public university campus (Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi) and a tourist site (Bukit Melawati, Kuala Selangor). A total of 80 fecal samples were collected: 50 at the university campus, and the remaining samples from the tourist site. The fecal samples were processed by flotation techniques to include the GI parasites and then were subjected tomorphological analysis to identify important taxonomy keys under microscopic magnification. A total of 139 parasites were identified from both locations and classified into 5 phylums and 17 families. Among the 139 parasites, 33 parasites were grouped into 6 genus of GI parasites. Among the gastrointestinal parasites that were identified from both study sites, three parasites were zoonotic namely Strongyloidsspp., Trichostrongylusspp.and Trichurisspp.Results showed that the diversity index of GI parasites was higher at the university campus compared to the tourist site with Simpson’s Index values of 0.953 and 0.880, respectively, while the Shannon’s Index values were 3.282 and 2.399, respectively. This research revealed that there are more parasite infections in the long-tailed macaques in the campus surroundings compared to those found in the tourist site. Therefore, it is highly suggested that authority intervention by translocating the long-tailed macaques elsewhere is necessary to avoid prolonged contact and possible parasite transmission to humans, and if any parasitic infections occur, appropriate medication such as anthelmintic drugs should be readily available at the university campus clinics

Improved glucose biosensor based on glucose oxidase-horseradish peroxidase/multiporous tin oxide modified-electrode

The fabrication of a crosslinked network of glucose oxidase-horseradish peroxidase/tin oxide (GOx-HRP/SnO2), immobilized on glassy carbon electrode (GCE) and its utilization as a sensor for glucose detection has been reported. The 3-D network established with GOx-HRP/SnO2 has possessed high sensitivity and stability by performing the electrocatalytic features in sensing of glucose. The turbidity of fabrication has been scanned and analyzed using UV-Vis Spectroscopy. The morphology and composition of the fabricated GOx-HRP modified multi-nanoporous SnO2 nanofibers were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Cyclic voltammetry and amperometry were used to study the proposed electrochemical biosensor. The effect of applied electrode potential, pH and the concentration of glucose on the sensitivity of the biosensor have been systemically investigated which indicates that these systems should be very useful for other sensing applications

Skeletal muscle proteome and meat quality of broiler chickens subjected to gas stunning prior slaughter or slaughtered without stunning

The study examined the effects of pre-slaughter gas stunning and slaughter without stunning on meat quality and skeletal muscle proteome of broiler chickens. Fifty Cobb broiler chickens were randomly assigned to either a neck cut without pre-slaughter stunning (Halal slaughter) or pre-slaughter gas stunning followed by a neck cut. Samples of Pectoralis major muscle at 7 min, 4 h and 24 h postmortem were analyzed for pH, shear force, color, drip and cooking losses. Proteome profile of the 7 min samples was examined by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Birds subjected to Halal slaughter had higher (P < 0.05) redness than those gas stunned at 4 and 24 h postmortem. Gas-stunned birds had lower (P < 0.05) muscle pH and shear force and higher (P < 0.05) drip and cooking losses compared with those subjected to Halal slaughter throughout postmortem storage. Gas stunning up-regulated (P < 0.05) the expression of beta-enolase, pyruvate kinase and creatine kinase compared with Halal slaughter. Results indicate that pre-slaughter gas stunning hastened postmortem energy metabolism and had detrimental effects on the water holding capacity and redness of broiler breast muscles

Comparison of three aphrodisiac plants (eurycoma longifolia, polyalthia bullata and stema tuberosa) synonymous with tongkat Ali

The indigenous people of Malaysia pioneered the use of Tongkat Ali for its aphrodisiac purposes. They gave at least three plants the common name of Tongkat Ali, including E. longifolia, P. bullataand S. tuberosa. Since E. longifoliais the most widely used root of the three, it has undergone extensive research compared to P. bullataand S. tuberosa. Proteins found in E. longifoliahave been proven to be the aphrodisiac bioactive constituent. Parameters such as pH level, moisture content, heavy metal content and microbial load were compared between all three roots after aqueous extraction under reflux, followed by quantitative protein assay, SDS PAGE and HPLC. The pH and moisture content of the extracts were within the acceptable ranges of 5% to 6% and 3% to 7% (w/w), respectively; additionally, no heavy metals were found. Microbes, which were initially detected, were undetectable once a decontamination step was introduced during the treatment. The protein yield for E. longifolia, P. bullataand S. tuberosawere 0.014%, 0.008% and 0.006% (w/w), respectively, and the SDS PAGE provided a single band within the range of 10 to 20 kDa molecular weight. The HPLC of Eurycomanone, a common quassinoid compound, was found in E. longifoliabut not in the other two Tongkat Ali. In conclusion, the three plants investigated possess several physicochemical differences but share the same protein, likely contributing to their aphrodisiac activity

Antioxidant, antidiabetic and antibacterial activities of curd derived from selected plants fortified with ocimum tenuiflorum

Mangifera indica cv. Apple (mango), Ananas comosus cv. Sarawak (pineapple) and Morinda citrifolia (noni) are associated with the milk-clotting ability. While Ocimum tenuiflorum (holy basil) known to have phytochemicals with important biological activities. In this study, the aim was to determine the extent of O. tenuiflorum in providing biological activities to the curd achieved by the three milk-clotting plants. A freeze-dried mixture of plant extracts in the ratio of 1:1:1 was prepared from the kernel of M. indica and fruits of A. comosus and M. citrifolia to form a natural milk-clotting agent. The curd was fortified with O. tenuiflorum, which was then examined for antioxidant activities utilising the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity and Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) assay. The anti- diabetic action was determined using an α-amylase inhibiting test, whereas the antibacterial activity was determined using the agar well diffusion method on selected bacteria. The results for DPPH, FRAP and alpha-amylase inhibitory assays for the fortified curd with O. tenuiflorum showed IC50 values of 1.47±3.82 mg/mL, 370.8±0.3 mg GAE/g and 3.19±1.59 mg/mL, respectively. Antibacterial activity was found in the O. tenuiflorum fortified curd against two Gram-positive bacteria (S. aureus and B. cereus) and three Gram negative bacteria (S. marcescens, E. coli and A. baumannii), all with MIC of 2.3 mg/mL. In conclusion, the O. tenuiflorum evaluated to enhance the anti-oxidative, anti-diabetic and antimicrobial properties of the curd achieved by the combined effects of M. indica, A. comosus and M. citrifolia