Gynura procumbens ethanol extract and its fractions inhibit macrophage derived foam cell formation.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY RELEVANCE: Gynura procumbens (Lour.) Merr. displayed cardio-protective effect that may prevent atherogenesis. The primary underlying pathological process of cardiovascular disease is atherosclerosis. Atherosclerotic lesion composed of macrophages, T cells and other immune cells which incorporated with cholesterol that infiltrates from the blood. AIM OF THE STUDY: The present study was performed to determine underlying mechanism of G. procumbens ethanol extract and its fractions such as aqueous, chloroform, ethyl acetate and hexane affect macrophage derived foam cell formation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Lipid droplets accumulation in treated macrophages were visualized by Oil Red O staining while the total cholesterol present in the treated macrophages were measured using Cholestryl Ester quantification assay kit. Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) were used to detect TNF-α and IL-1ß secretion in the supernatant of treated macrophages. Gene expression of Lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1) and ATP-binding cassette transporter A-1 (ABCA-1) in treated macrophages were analyzed using Real-Time Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR). RESULTS: G. procumbens ethanol extract and its fractions reduced lipid droplet accumulation and total cholesterol in oxLDL-treated macrophages together with significantly reduction of TNF-α and IL-1ß secretions in supernatant oxLDL-treated macrophages. LOX-1 gene expression was significantly reduced when G. procumbens ethanol extract and its fractions were added in oxDL-treated macrophages. In contrast, G. procumbens ethanol extract and its fractions significantly increased the expression of ABCA-1 gene in oxLDL-treated macrophages. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, G. procumbens ethanol extract and its fractions inhibit the formation of macrophage derived foam cell by reducing TNF-α and IL-1ß expression, which usually highly expressed in atherosclerotic plaques, suppressing scavenger receptor LOX-1 gene that binds oxLDL but induced ABCA-1 gene that mediate lipid efflux from macrophages.

Chemical Composition and Synergistic Repellent Activity of Jasminum officinale and Anthemis nobilis Essential Oils Against Aedes aegypti Mosquitoes

Abstract@#Introduction: Mosquitoes are important vectors responsible for transmission of many pathogens that cause major human morbidity and mortality. Natural repellents such as essential oils may provide a means of protection from mosquito bites that are safe and more pleasant to use. Methods: In this study, essential oils from the flowers of Jasminum officinale and Anthemis nobilis were characterised by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and were further tested for their repellent efficacy, individually and in combinations, against Aedes aegypti using a rat model. Results: Forty-two compounds accounting for 77.50% of J. officinale essential oil and fifty-one compounds representing 87.96% of A. nobilis essential oil were identified. Oxygenated monoterpenes and diterpenes constituted 31.14% and 21.20% of J. officinale essential oil, respectively. For A. nobilis essential oil, oxygenated monoterpenes accounted for 84.79% of the compounds identified. The essential oils of J. officinale and A. nobilis at 20% concentration provided repellency of 68.45% and 73.15%, respectively, against Ae. aegypti for 120 min. The mixture of essential oils in a 1:1 ratio (JC1) exhibited 88.20% repellency for 120 min, which was significantly higher than the repellency of 20% concentration of the individual oils. Conclusion: The synergistic interactions among the varied constituents of J. officinale and A. nobilis essential oils enhanced the mosquito repellent activity

Citrus aurontifolia and Cymbopogan flexuosus against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli

Abstract@#Introduction: Good hand hygiene is an important measure to avoid the transmission of infectious agents in the hospital and in the community. This study aimed to investigate the antimicrobial effects of Citrus aurantifolia (key lime) juice and the aqueous extract of Cymbopogan flexuosus leaves on the growth of Staphylocuccus aureus and Escherichia coli. Methods: Antimicrobial activity was quantitatively evaluated by spectrophotometry and viable cell count versus bacterial growth time. The efficacy of the plant extracts and the commercial hand wash product was also compared by measuring the number of bacterial colonies before and after using C. aurantifolia juice and commercial hand wash product. Results: In the kinetic growth study, C. aurantifolia juice and the aqueous extracts of C. flexuosus leaves effectively eliminated S. aureus and E. coli. C. aurantifolia juice also efficiently removed most of the microorganisms on the volunteers’ hand, indicating a significant finding in human trial compared to in vitro study. The percentage of microorganisms left after hand washing with C. aurantifolia juice was significantly reduced to 91.72 %, which was comparable with that of the commercial hand wash product (82.87 %). Conclusion: This study showed that these plant materials are promising alternatives for antibacterial agents in hand wash products. Further studies should be conducted on the use of C. aurantifolia juice as hand sanitiser given its antibacterial activities against endemic microbes

Subacute oral toxicity study of ethanolic leaves extracts of Strobilanthes crispus in rats

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To examine the oral toxicity of repeated dosing of Strobilanthes crispus (S. crispus) ethanol leaves extract on the liver and kidney functions in Sprague Dawley rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Young female rats aged between 8 and 12 week-old were randomly assigned into four groups with five animals each group (n=5). The first group served as control, while the second, third and fourth groups were orally treated with a single dose daily with 150 mg/kg, 300 mg/kg, and 600 mg/kg of S. crispus ethanol leaves extract for 14 d consecutively. Cage-side observation was conducted for first 4 h after each dosing. The body weight changes, food consumptions and water intake were also recorded. Serum biochemical parameters, i.e., aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, creatinine and urea were determined at Day 15. All results were expressed as mean±SD and analysed using Dunnett's test.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>It was obtained that 14-day oral administration of S. crispus ethanol leaves extract did not cause any adverse effects or lethality to the female Sprague Dawley rats. No significant changes in serum biochemical parameters, relative organs weights, body weights, food intake and water consumptions were observed between the treatment groups and control.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>In conclusion, 14-day oral administration of S. crispus ethanol leaves extract was safe to be consumed in female rats without affecting the liver and kidney functions.</p>