@article {1820, title = {Phytochemical Screening, In vitro Antioxidant Activities and Zebrafish Embryotoxicity of Abelmoschus esculentus Extracts}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Journal}, volume = {14}, year = {2022}, month = {June 2022}, pages = {690-701}, type = {Research Article}, chapter = {690}, abstract = {

Background: Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench (A. esculentus) commonly known as okra is being used as a medicinal plant traditionally, due to its phytochemical content that exhibits significant biological activities. Objective: The present study was undertaken to determine phytochemicals, antioxidant activity and embryotoxic effects of hexane extract (HE), chloroform extract (CE), methanol extract (ME), and aqueous extract (AE) of A. esculentus cultivated in Malaysia. Materials and Methods: A. esculentus extracts were screened for the phytochemicals while in vitro antioxidant activities were evaluated by performing 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhidrazyl (DPPH) assay and reducing power assay. Meanwhile, the embryotoxicity were accessed by exposing zebrafish embryos to the extracts and developmental endpoint recorded with median lethal concentration (LC50). Results: The phytochemical screening showed the presence of flavonoids, tannins, phenols, saponins, anthraquinones, alkaloids and reducing sugars. The highest phenolic content was obtained in the CE at 143.85 μg (GAE)/mg extract. Whereas the HE depicted the highest flavonoid content at 63.76 μg (QE)/mg extract. At 1000 μg/mL, ME showed the highest free radical scavenging activity at 28.86 \% and reducing power at 0.271, in both DPPH and reducing power assay, respectively. While the CE presented a significant embryotoxic effect on zebrafish with the LC50 at 236.07 μg/mL. The morphological malformation of embryos, scoliosis and pericardial oedema were observed at 500 μg/mL of HE and ME treatment. Conclusion: As a result, with various ranges of phytochemical compounds, antioxidant capacities and lower toxic effects of A. esculentus extracts may be efficient in reducing the inflammation precursors that drive chronic inflammatory illnesses.

}, keywords = {Abelmoschus esculentus, Antioxidant Capacity, Phytochemicals, Zebrafish embryotoxicity}, doi = {10.5530/pj.2022.14.88}, author = {Veshalini K and Daryl Jesus Arapoc and Zainah Adam and Rosniza Razali and Noor Azuin Suliman and Noor Azlina Abu Bakar} } @article {569, title = {Anti-Proliferative Properties of Terminalia sericea Burch. Ex Dc Leaf Extracts Against Caco2 and HeLa Cancer Cell Lines}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Journal}, volume = {10}, year = {2018}, month = {March 2018}, pages = {408-415}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {408}, abstract = {

Introduction: Terminalia spp. are characterised by their high levels of antioxidant phytochemicals and several species have anticancer activity. This study examines the anti-proliferative activity of T. sericea leaf extracts against Caco2 and HeLa carcinoma cell proliferation. Methods: Solvent extracts were prepared from T. sericea leaves and their antioxidant capacities were determined by the DPPH free radical scavenging assay. Anti-proliferative activities against Caco2 and HeLa cancer cells were determined by an MTS based cell proliferation assay. Toxicity was determined using the Artemia franciscana nauplii bioassay. Results: The methanolic and aqueous T. sericea leaf extracts displayed high antioxidant capacities (equivalent to 150 and 340 mg of ascorbic acid per gram of plant material extracted respectively). In contrast, the ethyl acetate, chloroform and hexane extracts had relatively low antioxidant contents (\≤5 mg of ascorbic acid equivalents per gram of plant material extracted). The antioxidant contents of the T. sericea leaf extracts correlated with the ability of the extracts to inhibit proliferation of Caco2 and HeLa cancer cell lines. The high antioxidant methanolic and aqueous extracts were potent inhibitors of cell proliferation, with IC50 values 120-1400 \μg/mL. The aqueous T. sericea leaf extract was particularly effective, with IC50 values of 528 and 120 \μg/mL against Caco2 and HeLa cells respectively. The methanolic extract also displayed good, albeit substantially less potent, antiproliferative activity against HeLa cells, with an IC50 of 1358 \μg/mL. In contrast, the lower antioxidant content extracts generally did not inhibit cancer cell proliferation. Cell imaging studies detected morphological features consistent with apoptosis in Caco2 cells exposed to sub-lethal concentrations of the methanolic and aqueous T. sericea leaf extracts, indicating that these extracts are functioning by cytotoxic mechanisms. The aqueous T. sericea leaf extract displayed low to moderate toxicity in the Artemia franciscana bioassay, with an LC50 value of 737 \μg/mL. All other extracts were nontoxic. Conclusion: The antiproliferative activity and low toxicity of the T. sericea methanolic and aqueous leaf extracts extracts against HeLa and Caco2 cancer cell lines indicates their potential in the treatment and prevention of some cancers.

}, keywords = {Anticancer activity, Antioxidant Capacity, Antiproliferative Activity, Apoptosis, Combretaceae, DPPH, Silver Cluster Leaf}, doi = {10.5530/pj.2018.3.67}, url = {http://fulltxt.org/article/499}, author = {BiYun Gu and Joseph Shalom and Ian E. Cock} } @article {378, title = {Comprehensive Evaluation of Antioxidant Potential of Selected Osbeckia species and their in vitro Culture, Purification and Fractionation}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Journal}, volume = {9}, year = {2017}, month = {July 2017}, pages = {674-682}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {674}, abstract = {

Background: Health-benefit properties of natural pigments have been intensely studied, especially the anthocyanins. In the last few decades, research on anthocyanins has attracted biologists by the increasing evidence of their health beneficial effects. Osbeckia, belongs to Melastomataceae and is well-known for colouring pigments and other bioactive compounds. In the present study, total anthocyanin and antioxidant capacity indicators were evaluated from 8 Osbeckia spp. and anthocyanin was extracted from in vitro cultures of O. aspera and O. reticulata. Materials and Methods: The antioxidant effect was studied using ABTS (2, 2\’-azino-bis-3-ethyl benzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) radical cation decolourisation assay, the FRAP, the scavenging ability of hydroxyl radicals and the superoxide anion scavenging activity. Anthocyanin extracted from in vitro cultures were purified and fractionated using column chromatography and LC-MS MS analysis. Results: In vitro cultures of O. aspera was obtained in MS medium fortified with various combinations of Benzyl Adenine (BA), Naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) and 2, 4-D. The chromatograms of O. aspera revealed the presence of malvidin-3 -diglucoside, peonidin, delphinidin and cyanindin whereas O. reticulata cultures accumulated large amounts of malvidin, cyanindin and cyanidin aglycone. The purified anthocyanins of these species were evaluated for their antioxidant potential and was found more remarkable than the crude extracts. Conclusion: Osbeckia species are rich in anthocyanin and therefore display potential AOX power. O. aspera and O. reticulata callus was induced in vitro production of anthocyanins. The pool of anthocyanins was purified and fractionated by LCMS/ MS and AOX assays were performed with the purified anthocyanin which showed higher level activities.

}, keywords = {Anthocyanins, Antioxidant Capacity, Free Radicals, Osbeckia Spp., Reactive Oxygen Species}, doi = {10.5530/pj.2017.5.107}, url = {/files/pj-9-5/10.5530pj.2017.5.107/index.html}, author = {Bosco Lawarence and Murugan K} }