Muhammad Syarhabil Ahmad

Chemical composition and disruption of quorum sensing signaling in geographically diverse United States propolis.

Propolis or bee glue has been used for centuries for various purposes and is especially important in human health due to many of its biological and pharmacological properties. In this work we showed quorum sensing inhibitory (QSI) activity of ten geographically distinct propolis samples from the United States using the acyl-homoserine lactone- (AHL-) dependent Chromobacterium violaceum strain CV026. Based on GC-MS chemical profiling the propolis samples can be classified into several groups that are as follows: (1) rich in cinnamic acid derivatives, (2) rich in flavonoids, and (3) rich in triterpenes. An in-depth analysis of the propolis from North Carolina led to the isolation and identification of a triterpenic acid that was recently isolated from Hondurian propolis (Central America) and ethyl ether of p-coumaric alcohol not previously identified in bee propolis. QSI activity was also observed in the second group US propolis samples which contained the flavonoid pinocembrin in addition to other flavonoid compounds. The discovery of compounds that are involved in QSI activity has the potential to facilitate studies that may lead to the development of antivirulence therapies that can be complementary and/or alternative treatments against antibiotic resistant bacterial pathogens and/or emerging pathogens that have yet to be identified.

Effects of Process Variables on Size of Chitosan-Alginate Capsules through Extrusion-Dripping Method

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of process variables on size of chitosan-alginate capsules produced through extrusion-dripping method. Chitosan-calcium chloride solution was extruded into sodium alginate to form chitosan-alginate capsules which have a defined inner core and membrane. The results showed that sodium alginate concentration, chitosan concentration, chitosan to calcium chloride concentration ratio, needle diameter, gelation time have significant effect on the diameter and membrane thickness of chitosan-alginate capsules. Under the tested condition, chitosan-alginate capsules with diameter in a range of 3.4 mm to 4.5 mm were produced. The membrane thickness of the capsules increased when the curing time increased from 5 min to 60 min. As the concentration of sodium alginate (0.3-0.9 %w/v) and chitosan (0.4-1.0 %w/v) increased, the diameter of the chitosan-alginate capsules increased. The diameter of chitosan-alginate capsules increased with decreasing the chitosan to calcium chloride concentration ratio (1:0.5-1:1.5).

Antioxidant and Wound Healing Activity of Polyherbal Fractions of Clinacanthus nutans and Elephantopus scaber

Elephantopus scaber and Clinacanthus nutans are traditionally used as wound healing herb. The objective of the present study is to develop a new polyherbal formulation, by comparison, the herbal combination of Elephantopus scaber and Clinacanthus nutans as an in vitro antioxidant activity with their individual herbal activity followed by fractionation of polyherbal formulation for in vivo wound healing activities and identification of bioactive compounds from their active fractions. Antioxidant activity was performed in vitro by DPPH scavenging antioxidant activity followed by in vivo wound healing activities using excision wound model, incision wound model, and burn wound model. Toxicity of the fractions of the polyherbal formulation was performed by a dermal toxicity test. The result showed that Elephantopus scaber crude extract on the basis of EC50 performs a much faster action (15.67 μg/mL) but with less % inhibition (87.66%) as compared to the combination of the new polyherbal formulation of crude extract (30 μg/mL). The polyherbal formulation has the highest % inhibition (89.49%) at the same dose as compared to Elephantopus scaber (87.66%). In comparison among all crude and fractions of new polyherbal formulation, it was found that the ethyl acetate fraction of polyherbal formulation has the fastest activity (EC50 14.83 μg/mL) with % inhibition (89.28%). Furthermore, during evaluation of wound contraction on excision and incision wound model, ethyl acetate fraction possesses the highest activity with (P < 0.001) and (P < 0.0001), respectively. During burn wound model, aqueous fraction (P < 0.001) possesses the highest activity followed by an ethyl acetate fraction (P < 0.0001). LC-MS analysis discovered the presence of several flavonoid-based compounds that work synergistically with sesquiterpene lactone and other bioactive compounds. In conclusion, flavonoid increases the antioxidant activity that surges the rate of wound contraction and works synergistically with other bioactive compounds.

Influence of process variables and formulation composition on sphericity and diameter of Ca-alginate-chitosan liquid core capsule prepared by extrusion dripping method

ABSTRACT The influence of process variables and formulation composition on the sphericity and diameter of the alginate capsules which contained dual cations (Ca-and-chitosan) are characterized in this study. Capsule sphericty was not influenced by needle diameter but instead, capsule diameter increased proportionally with the needle diameter. The combined effects of the liquid core solution and alginate solution on the sphericity of the capsules are tabulated. Spherical capsules can be produced when the following criteria were fulfilled: stirring speed is in the range of 240–300 rpm; calcium chloride concentration is >5 g/L; viscosity of liquid core solution is >203 mPa.s; as well as viscosity of alginate solution is in between 47 and 386 mPa.s. The capsule diameter was predicted using a modified Tate’s law equation and an error analysis was conducted to evaluate the equation. The predicted diameter was well correlated with the experimental data with an average absolute deviation <3.6%.

Optimization study of Chromalaena odorata essential oil extracted using solventless extraction technique

Solventless extraction process of Chromalaena odorata using reduced pressure and temperature has been investigated. The percentage yield of essential oil produce was calculated for every experiment with different experimental condition. The effect of different parameters, such as temperature and extraction time on the yield was investigated using the Response Surface Methodology (RSM) through Central Composite Design (CCD). The temperature and extraction time were found to have significant effect on the yield of extract. A final essential oil yield was 0.095% could be extracted under the following optimized conditions; a temperature of 80 °C and a time of 8 hours.

Preparation and Characterization of Ca-alginate-chitosan Capsules for Controlled Release of Imidacloprid as Larvaecide Delivery System

Ca-alginate-chitosan based capsules were prepared and then loaded with imidacloprid larvaecide for its controlled release against Aedes aegypti larvae. The Ca-alginate-chitosan capsules containing imidacloprid were characterized using FTIR and SEM. Imidacloprid encapsulation was proven through HPLC analysis. Imidacloprid loading and encapsulation efficiency were 5.9 % and 34 %. The in vitro release test showed that the usage of Ca-alginate-chitosan capsules positively modified the release profiles of the imidocloprid in water. The imidacloprid release kinetics fit the Korsmeyer--Peppas model and follows the anomalous transport profile. The bioassay results showed that Ca-alginate-chitosan capsule loaded with imidacloprid is effective against Aedes aegypti larvae at lower doses than that required by the technical grade imidacloprid for the control of Aedes aegypti larvae.

An Updated Review of Pharmacological, Standardization Methods and Formulation Development of Rutin

1Rashid Latif College of Pharmacy, 35-kmFerozepur Road, Lahore, Pakistan. 2University College of Pharmacy, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan. 3School of Bioprocess Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), Kompleks Pusat Pengajian Jejawi 3 (KPPJ3), Kawasan Perindustrian Jejawi, 02600, Arau, Perlis, Malaysia. 4Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. 5Saint-Petersburg State Chemical-Pharmaceutical Academy, Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation, 14, ul. Prof. Popova, St. Petersburg, 197376 Russia.

Identification of Flavonoids (Quercetin, Gallic acid and Rutin) from Catharanthus roseus Plant Parts using Deep Eutectic Solvent

Green technology is the most important topic in the pharmaceutical field because it reduces the cost of medicines and minimizes the environmental impact of the field and is better for human health and safety. Green chemistry emphasizes that the solvent should be nontoxic, safe, cheap, green, readily available, recyclable, and biodegradable. Deep eutectic solvents, a new type of green solvent, have some renowned properties—for instance, high thermal stability, low vapor pressure, low cost, biodegradability, and high viscosity. In this study, deep eutectic solvents made up of choline chloride-glycerol (1:2) were used for the extraction and isolation of flavonoid (rutin, gallic acid, and quercetin) from Catharanthus roseus plant parts, flower petal, leaves, stem, and root. The amounts of rutin and quercetin in flower petal are 29.46 and 6.51%, respectively, whereas, rutin, gallic acid, and quercetin amounts in leaves are 25.16, 8.57, and 10.47%, respectively. In stem, the amounts of rutin, gallic acid, and quercetin are 13.02, 5.89, and 7.47%, respectively. In root, only quercetin has been obtained that is 13.49%. The HPLC is an analytical method, which was found to be an excellent technique for determination of rutin, gallic acid, and quercetin using deep eutectic solvent extraction from plant parts of Catharanthus roseus.

Antioxidant and Total Phenolic Content of Catharanthus roseus Using Deep Eutectic Solvent

Deep eutectic solvents as a new type of eco-friendly solvents have attracted attention in chemistry, medicine, and other fields for the extraction and separation of target compounds from medicinal plants. Deep eutectic solvents are easy to prepare and have many advantages as solvents, such as chemical inertness with water, low cost, easy biodegradability, and pharmaceutically acceptable toxicity. In this study, a deep eutectic solvent made up of choline chloride-glycerol (1:2) was used for the extraction of flavonoids from Catharanthus roseus plant parts (flower petal, leaves, stem, and root). The highest amount of phenolic content was detected in flower petal, that is, 194.50 mg GAE/g. In DPPH test, the maximum amount of antioxidant activity determined in the flower petal was 73.13%; IC50 was calculated by using a linear regression equation; IC50 value of the standard, stem, root, leaf, and flower petal was 13.22, 90.44, 83.93, 120.14, 79.49 μg/ml, respectively. The result of this research is that Catharanthus roseus has a compatible antioxidant activity. This can be helpful for the treatment of diseases caused by free-radical oxidative stress.

Worldwide Importance of Medicinal Plants: Current and Historical Perspectives

There is no existence of life without plants. Plants are the essential foundation of medicine. Some important drugs that are still in use today are derived from traditional medicinal herbs. The hunt for new medicines has engaged ethnobotany and ethnopharmacology — a new route as an important source of knowledge, which led toward different sources and classes of compounds. Nowadays, studies on structure-activity relationships, and their impact on the design of novel drugs have rendered them one of the utmost valuable and thus significant accomplishments of pharmacochemistry, an advance constituent in the group of pharmaceutical sciences. In this paper, we have discussed the historical importance of medicinal plants, geographical importance throughout the world, some important historical observations of medicinal plants, and leading drugs of plant origin which are still being used to treat various ailments, with or without any structural modifications.