Basil Nse Ita, Godwin Ndarake Enin, Itoro Esiet Udo

Dissotis erecta is a shrubby herb belonging to the Melastomataceae family, commonly found in Nigeria. It is widely recognized for its diverse ethnomedicinal applications, including treating edema, diarrhea, stomach discomfort, and rheumatism. Alongside other plant parts, its flowers, rich in biologically active compounds, are valued for their aesthetic appeal and potential health benefits. This study assessed the antioxidant properties, total phenolic, total flavonoid, and bioactive contents of the methanolic extract of D. erecta flowers. The antioxidant properties were determined by the DPPH radical scavenging activity, ABTS radical scavenging activity, ferric reducing activity, and metal chelating assay. The extract demonstrated strong DPPH radical scavenging activity, ABTS radical scavenging activity, metal chelating ability, and reducing power, with IC50 values of 79.84 ± 0.64 µg/mL, 125.77 ± 2.64 µg/mL, 87.89 ± 0.91 µg/mL, and 71.71 ± 0.55 µg/mL, respectively. Phytocompounds such as alkaloids, sterols, and terpenoids were present in the flower extract, while phlobatanins and glycosides were absent. Total phenolic content was 57.47 ± 0.21 mg GAE/g, while total flavonoid content was 83.52 ± 0.31 mg QE/g. Gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) analysis identified α-terpineol (86.53%), nerolidol (7.44%), campesterol (1.12%), and neocurdione (1.29%) as the predominant components. These findings indicate that D. erecta flowers contain a significant amount of phytocompounds with antioxidative properties that could potentially be useful in managing diseases related to oxidative stress.

Sciences of Phytochemistry

Umar Abdulkadir Hassan, Jalilah Ibrahim Tahir, Comfort Foluwake Akanji, Abdulmutalib Adamu, Albashir Tahir

Pain and inflammation are global public health challenges, often requiring safer and more effective treatments. Medicinal plants like Guiera senegalensis have been traditionally used for pain and inflammatory conditions, but scientific validation of their therapeutic potential is limited. This study aimed to evaluate the analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties of ethanol leaf extract of G. senegalensis in murine models. Fresh G. senegalensis leaves were collected, authenticated, and subjected to ethanol extraction. Phytochemical analysis was conducted to identify bioactive compounds. Acute toxicity studies were performed following OECD guidelines. Analgesic effects were evaluated using the acetic acid-induced writhing test and the hot plate test, while the anti-inflammatory activity was assessed using the formalin-induced paw edema model. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of tannins, saponins, and flavonoids. Acute toxicity tests showed no mortality or severe adverse effects at 2000 mg/kg. The extract demonstrated dose-dependent analgesic activity, with 84% inhibition of writhing at doses of 25 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg, outperforming Diclofenac (59%). In the hot plate test, moderate central analgesic effects were observed. Anti-inflammatory tests showed significant reductions in paw edema at doses of 12.5 and 25 mg/kg, comparable to Diclofenac. Ethanol leaf extract of G. senegalensis exhibits significant analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities, likely mediated by its flavonoid, saponin, and tannin content. These findings support its traditional use and highlight its potential as a natural alternative for managing pain and inflammation.

Sciences of Phytochemistry

Rina Wijayanti, Windi Susmayanti, Dias Feni Meliana, Afifah Husnun Fauziyah, Aprilia Mega Anjeline, Devyra Yunika Mutiara Sari Suwarto Putri, Fadhia Tafrichatul Ulya

Pandan leaves (Pandanus amaryllifolius Roxb.) possess various biological activities due to their secondary metabolites, including flavonoids, alkaloids, phenolics, saponins, and triterpenoids/steroids. This study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial and antifungal activities of pandan leaf extracts, fractions, and isolates against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pityrosporum ovale, as well as to optimize surfactants in shampoo formulations. The experimental design used a post-test-only control group. Samples were processed through maceration, followed by fractionation and isolation using the KLT-P method. Antibacterial and antifungal activities were assessed using the agar well diffusion method. The most effective antibacterial activity against E. coli was observed in the n-hexane isolate at 700 ppm, with an inhibition zone of 19.6 mm, classified as strong. For S. aureus, the 100% water fraction produced an inhibition zone of 9.96 mm, classified as weak. The ethanol extract showed antifungal activity against P. ovale with an inhibition zone of 6.29 mm, categorized as moderate. Shampoo formulation optimization using sodium lauryl sulfate and cocamide DEA resulted in an ideal ratio of 0.235 to 0.764. This combination produced a shampoo with acceptable physical characteristics, including a pH of 5.71, foam height of 2.56 cm, and viscosity of 899.9 cps, all of which met the standard requirements.

Sciences of Pharmacy

Ni Made Dwi Sandhiutami, Yesi Desmiaty, Fahleni Fahleni, Rizqya Cahya Handayani, Windy Ciang

Passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) leaf extract is rich in flavonoids, which possess anti-inflammatory properties. This study aimed to enhance the anti-inflammatory effect of the extract through a nanoparticle gel formulation. Nanoparticles of the extract (NEP) were prepared using ionic gelation with a Carbomer 940 base. The anti-inflammatory efficacy of NEP was evaluated in vivo using a carrageenan-induced paw edema model in rats. Five groups (n=5) were tested: a negative control (Carbomer 940 gel base), a positive control (Sodium Diclofenac), and three NEP formulations with concentrations of 1% (NEP-1), 3% (NEP-2), and 5% (NEP-3). The NEP gels were homogeneous with a faint yellow color and a characteristic odor. Their spreadability ranged from 7.50 ± 0.67 cm to 7.69 ± 1.26 cm, viscosity exhibited plastic flow properties, and pH values were within 4.47 ± 0.06 to 5.20 ± 0.10. The anti-inflammatory effectiveness of NEP formulations increased with concentration, achieving edema inhibition rates of 3.66% (NEP-1), 68.47% (NEP-2), and 82.37% (NEP-3). In conclusion, the nanoparticle gel formulations of passion fruit leaf extract demonstrated good physical properties, with NEP-3 being the most effective in reducing carrageenan-induced paw edema in rats.

Sciences of Pharmacy

Gumilar Adhi Nugroho, Yesi Desmiaty, Yati Sumiyati, Sandra Loretta Suherman, Helsa Lim

Taro (Colocasia esculenta L.) is a plant with a long history of use in traditional medicine in several countries worldwide. The corm of taro and two commercial products were analysed due to total phenolic, flavonoid, luteolin, and antioxidant properties. Taro corm was extracted with water and analysed for phytochemical screening, total flavonoids, total phenolic, luteolin, and antioxidant properties. The phytochemical screening of taro showed that it contains secondary metabolites of flavonoids, tannins, saponins, triterpenoids, and quinones. The results of the determination of total flavonoid content of taro extract, Product 1, and Product 2 capsule obtained 19.34 ± 0.26 mg QE/g extract, 18.58 ± 0.18 mg QE/g extract, and 16.29 ± 0.23 mg QE/g extract. The results of determining the total phenolic content of taro, Product 1, and Product 2 capsules obtained 39.75 ± 0.95 mg GAE/g extract, 38.46 ± 0.46 mg GAE/g extract, and 35.91 mg GAE/g extract. ± 0.82 mg GAE/g extract. The results of the determination of luteolin from taro, Product 1, and Product 2 capsules obtained 0.83 ± 0.05 %, 0.39 ± 0.04 %, and 0.18 ± 0.08 %. The results of the antioxidant activity test obtained IC50 of vitamin C of 4.6780 ± 0.0319 ppm, corm dry extract and ginger rhizome 141.2383 ± 3.4995 ppm and 97.6685 ± 7.8760 ppm, respectively, and capsule products 2; 126.0724± 1.3672 ppm. The water extract of corm and available products containing CE extract have met the quality standard parameters required for non-specific parameters, luteolin content, and antioxidant properties.

Sciences of Phytochemistry

Olusesan Ojo, Mokgadi P. Mphahlele, Edwin M. Mmutlane, Derek T. Ndinteh

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) remains a global threat to human health, and its recent burden has necessitated an urgent need for new antibiotics to fight the growing negative impacts of AMR. Vitellaria paradoxa Gaertn. is a medicinal plant used to treat bacterial infections, including diarrhea, tuberculosis (TB), and other respiratory infections in Africa. This study, therefore, assessed the antimicrobial effect and the cytotoxicity of isolated secondary metabolites from the hexane extract of V. paradoxa stem-bark against a panel of bacterial pathogens. After cold maceration, the resulting extract was purified using column chromatography on silica gel. The resazurin-based 96-well plate micro-dilution method was used to assess the antimicrobial activity of the isolated compounds. On further assay, the MTT assay was used to evaluate the cytotoxic effect of compounds on the cervical cancer cell line (HeLa). The column fractionation led to the isolation of 11-hydroxy β-amyrin cinnamate (compound 1), α-amyrin cinnamate (compound 2), and sitosterol cinnamate (compound 3). All the compounds exhibited antibacterial activity against the tested pathogens, with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranging from 0.0625 – 1.0 mg/mL. Compound 3 showed the highest antibacterial activity against all bacterial strains (MICs; 0.0625 - 0.25 mg/mL). The compounds showed no remarkable cytotoxic properties (IC50; 77.82 ± 10.5 - 82.53 ± 4.07). As far as we know, the results described the antimicrobial activities of compounds 1-3 for the first time. These results provide scientific justification for the traditional uses of V. paradoxa in treating bacterial infections. The highest antibacterial effect of compound 3 highlights its potential as a lead compound.

Sciences of Phytochemistry

Godwin Ndarake Enin, Basil Nse Ita, Paul Sunday Thomas, Jude Efiom Okokon, Blessing Ofonime Lawson, Chidera Getrude Ohanaka

Maesobotrya barteri is widely used in Nigerian ethnomedicine to treat diabetes, arthritis, and infections. In this study, the methanol and aqueous leaf extracts' phytochemical constituents and antioxidant potentials were evaluated using standard procedures. At the same time, the enzyme inhibitory activity of methanol extract on α-amylase and α-glucosidase in rats was also investigated. The antioxidant properties of the extracts were evaluated by the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity and ferric reducing power (FRAP). Phytochemical screening of methanol and aqueous extracts revealed the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, tannins, and cardiac glycosides. Total phenolics and flavonoids of the extracts ranged from 0.04 to 3.18 mg of GAE/g and from 27.70 to 57.70 mg of QE/g, respectively. Antioxidant analysis showed IC50 values of DPPH (192.95, 196.04, and 17.19 µg/mL) and FRAP (30.48, 37.64, and 38.15 µg/mL) for the methanolic extract, aqueous extract, and ascorbic acid, respectively. Assessment of the methanolic extract against α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes in rats at doses of 150, 300, and 450 mg/kg using starch, sucrose, and maltose as substrates, with acarbose as a reference drug, significantly reduced blood glucose levels (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that M. barteri leaf extract has antioxidant properties and inhibits both α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes in rats, likely due to the phytochemicals present in the extract.

Sciences of Pharmacy

Nabila Ali Rghebi, Rima Farag Elmzughi, Reham Abubaker Alrgaei, Malak Amar Belal

Vitamins are essential for many bodily functions and must be obtained through food or supplements. Community pharmacists play an active role in educating patients about vitamins and supplements, guiding their safe use, and helping avoid potential drug-vitamin interactions. This study employed a cross-sectional design, targeting Libyan community pharmacists in Tripoli between August and November 2024, to assess their knowledge, attitudes, practices, and opinions regarding vitamin supplements. The selected participants completed a self-administered questionnaire, and the collected data were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 27. Pearson’s correlation was used to assess the relationship between knowledge, attitude, practice, and opinion. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Of the 200 pharmacists who participated, more than half were female (118, 59%), and over two-thirds (139, 69.5%) held a Bachelor's degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences as their highest qualification. Nearly two-thirds (130, 65%) had less than five years of work experience. Based on their self-assessment, 95 (47.5%) of the pharmacists felt moderately confident in their knowledge of vitamin supplements. Notably, the majority of community pharmacists scored above average in all four domains: knowledge (122, 61%), attitude (142, 71%), practice (126, 63%), and opinion (150, 75%). A significant negative correlation was found between knowledge and attitude (p < 0.05). Regarding the dispensing of vitamins without a prescription, 71 (35.5%) of community pharmacists usually dispensed them to 50% of their patients, with adult patients (136, 68%) being the largest age category. Additionally, 78 (39%) of pharmacists relied on laboratory test results before dispensing. Focused educational initiatives aimed at enhancing pharmacists' understanding and improving their dispensing practices are necessary.

Sciences of Pharmacy

Subba Tata Sape

The increasing resistance of bacteria to conventional antibiotics poses a global health challenge, emphasizing the urgent need to discover new antibacterial compounds to combat hard-to-treat infections. This study aims to evaluate the bactericidal activity of crude leaf extracts from the multi-medicinal plant Bacopa monnieri against six bacterial strains. The crude extracts, prepared at different concentrations (100, 200, and 300 µg/mL), were tested for efficacy using the agar well diffusion method. Among the tested extracts, the ethanol extract exhibited the highest bactericidal activity, followed by chloroform and hexane extracts. Notably, all three solvent extracts at 300 µg/mL were most effective against Staphylococcus aureus, with inhibition zones of 21.5 mm (ethanol), 16.12 mm (chloroform), and 10.3 mm (hexane). In contrast, the lowest antibacterial activity was observed against Proteus vulgaris, with inhibition zones of 15.3 mm (ethanol), 10.2 mm (chloroform), and 5.6 mm (hexane). These findings suggest that the ethanol extract of B. monnieri is a promising candidate for the development of novel antibacterial compounds.

Sciences of Phytochemistry

Lulus Mualimin, Mentari Sekar Arum

Cancer is a complex disease characterized by disruptions in cell regulation mechanisms, leading to abnormal or uncontrolled cell growth and the ability to spread to other parts of the body. The caspase-3 protein plays a crucial role in the apoptotic mechanism and is a key target in cancer therapy. Bioactive compounds from the brown alga Sargassum, such as fucoidan and fucoxanthin, show significant potential as anticancer agents through mechanisms including apoptosis induction, cell cycle arrest, and metastasis inhibition. This study employed an in silico method to investigate the interaction between the natural ligands fucoidan and fucoxanthin and the target protein caspase-3, simulating their potential as anticancer drug candidates. The analysis revealed distinct interactions for each ligand with the target protein, as indicated by their binding affinity values. The interaction between fucoidan and caspase-3 resulted in a binding affinity value of ∆G -4.7 kcal/mol, which was lower in effectiveness compared to the interaction between fucoxanthin and caspase-3, with a binding affinity value of ∆G -7.7 kcal/mol. This suggests that fucoxanthin exhibits stronger anticancer activity through its interaction with caspase-3 compared to fucoidan. Meanwhile, toxicity tests showed that fucoidan has a lower toxicity profile than fucoxanthin, particularly in terms of LD₅₀ values and active/inactive toxicity parameters. These findings indicate that fucoxanthin has potential as anticancer drug candidates. Further research is needed to optimize their therapeutic efficacy and safety profiles.

Aquatic Life Sciences