Puziah Hashim

Triterpene Composition and Bioactivities of Centella asiatica

Leaves of Centella asiatica (Centella) were analysed for their triterpene composition and bioactivity such as collagen enhancement, antioxidant, anticellulite and UV protection capacity properties. Triterpenes of Centella were measured using HPLC-PAD on an Excil ODS 5 μm (C18) column for the simultaneous determination of asiatic acid, madecassic acid, asiaticoside and madecassoside. Centella was found to contain significant amounts of madecassoside (3.10 ± 4.58 mg/mL) and asiaticoside (1.97 ± 2.65 mg/mL), but was low in asiatic and madecassic acid. The highest collagen synthesis was found at 50 mg/mL of Centella extracts. The antioxidant activity of Centella (84%) was compared to grape seed extract (83%) and Vitamin C (88%). Its lipolytic activity was observed by the release of glycerol (115.9 µmol/L) at 0.02% concentration. Centella extracts exhibited similar UV protection effect to OMC at 10% concentration. In view of these results, the potential application of Centella in food and pharmaceutical industries is now widely open.

Corn Silk (Stigma Maydis) in Healthcare: A Phytochemical and Pharmacological Review

Corn silk (Stigma maydis) is an important herb used traditionally by the Chinese, and Native Americans to treat many diseases. It is also used as traditional medicine in many parts of the world such as Turkey, United States and France. Its potential antioxidant and healthcare applications as diuretic agent, in hyperglycemia reduction, as anti-depressant and anti-fatigue use have been claimed in several reports. Other uses of corn silk include teas and supplements to treat urinary related problems. The potential use is very much related to its properties and mechanism of action of its plant’s bioactive constituents such as flavonoids and terpenoids. As such, this review will cover the research findings on the potential applications of corn silk in healthcare which include its phytochemical and pharmacological activities. In addition, the botanical description and its toxicological studies are also included.

FTIR spectroscopy combined with chemometrics for analysis of lard adulteration in some vegetable oils

This study was aimed to develop a fast technique of Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy for detection and quantification of lard adulteration in some vegetable oils, namely canola oil (Ca‒O), corn oil (CO), extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), soybean oil (SO), and sunflower oil (SFO). The FTIR spectra associated with Ca‒O, CO, EVOO, SO, and SFO as well as their blends with lard were scanned, interpreted, and identified. The chemometrics of partial least square (PLS) and discriminant analysis (DA) at fingerprint regions of 1500–1000 cm−1 was used for quantifying and classifying of lard in the mixture with vegetable oils, respectively. PLS calibration can be successfully used for quantification of lard in the mixture with vegetable oils, either using normal spectra or its first derivatives. Furthermore, DA based on Mahalanobis distance can classify lard in vegetable oils. El objetivo de este estudio fue desarrollar una técnica rápida de espectroscopia de infrarrojos por transformada Fourier (FTIR) para la detección y cuantificación de adulteración con grasa de cerdo de algunos aceites vegetales, principalmente aceite de colza (Ca‒o), aceite de maíz (CO), aceite de oliva virgen extra (EVOO), aceite de soja (SO) y aceite de girasol (SFO). El espectrograma FTIR asociado con Ca‒O, CO, EVOO, SO y SFO, así como sus mezclas con grasa de cerdo, fueron escaneadas, interpretadas e identificadas. El análisis quimiométrico de mínimos cuadrados parciales (PLS) y análisis discriminantes (DA) en la región de 1500–1000 cm−1 se usaron para cuantificar y clasificar la grasa de cerdo en la mezcla con aceites vegetales, respectivamente. La calibración PLS puede ser usada satisfactoriamente para la cuantificación de grasa de cerdo en la mezcla con aceites vegetales, bien usando un espectro normal o sus primeras derivadas. Además, DA basados en la distancia Mahalanobis pueden clasificar la grasa de cerdo en aceites vegetales.

Anti-elastase, anti-tyrosinase and matrix metalloproteinase-1 inhibitory activity of earthworm extracts as potential new anti-aging agent

OBJECTIVE To examine whether earthworms of Eisenia fetida, Lumbricus rubellus and Eudrilus eugeniae extracts have elastase, tyrosinase and matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) inhibitory activity. METHODS The earthworms extract was screened for elastase, tyrosinase and MMP-1 inhibitory activity and compared with the positive controls. It was also evaluated for whitening and anti-wrinkle capacity. RESULTS The extract showed significantly (P<0.05) good elastase and tyrosinase inhibition and excellent MMP-1 inhibition compared to N-Isobutyl-N-(4-methoxyphenylsulfonyl)-glycylhydroxamic acid. CONCLUSIONS Earthworms extract showed effective inhibition of tyrosinase, elastase and MMP-1 activities. Therefore, this experiment further rationalizes the traditional use of this worm extracts which may be useful as an anti-wrinkle agent.

Optimization of Natural Lipstick Formulation Based on Pitaya (Hylocereus polyrhizus) Seed Oil Using D-Optimal Mixture Experimental Design

The D-optimal mixture experimental design was employed to optimize the melting point of natural lipstick based on pitaya (Hylocereus polyrhizus) seed oil. The influence of the main lipstick components—pitaya seed oil (10%–25% w/w), virgin coconut oil (25%–45% w/w), beeswax (5%–25% w/w), candelilla wax (1%–5% w/w) and carnauba wax (1%–5% w/w)—were investigated with respect to the melting point properties of the lipstick formulation. The D-optimal mixture experimental design was applied to optimize the properties of lipstick by focusing on the melting point with respect to the above influencing components. The D-optimal mixture design analysis showed that the variation in the response (melting point) could be depicted as a quadratic function of the main components of the lipstick. The best combination of each significant factor determined by the D-optimal mixture design was established to be pitaya seed oil (25% w/w), virgin coconut oil (37% w/w), beeswax (17% w/w), candelilla wax (2% w/w) and carnauba wax (2% w/w). With respect to these factors, the 46.0 °C melting point property was observed experimentally, similar to the theoretical prediction of 46.5 °C. Carnauba wax is the most influential factor on this response (melting point) with its function being with respect to heat endurance. The quadratic polynomial model sufficiently fit the experimental data.

Modeling of a natural lipstick formulation using an artificial neural network

An artificial neural network (ANN) was applied in conjunction with experimental data from a mixture of experimental designs to predict the melting point of a lipstick formulation. The experimental data were utilized for training and testing the suggested model. By using the ANN performance results, the optimum parameters were found to be pitaya seed oil 25% w/w, virgin coconut oil 37% w/w, beeswax 17% w/w, candelilla wax 2% w/w, and carnauba wax 2% w/w. The relative standard error under these parameters was only 0.8772%. It was found that batch back-propagation (BBP) gave the optimal algorithm and topology with a configuration of five inputs, two hidden nodes and one output node; the most important parameter was the carnauba wax content with a relative importance of 24.5%.

Assessment of Antioxidant Capacity, Anti-collagenase and Anti-elastase Assays of Malaysian Unfermented Cocoa Bean for Cosmetic Application

Recent trends in anti-aging research projected the use of antioxidant compound derived from botanical products. Phenolic acids, flavonoids and high molecular weight polyphenols are some of antioxidants which are able to protect human skin against the harmful effects of ultraviolet irradiation, i.e. photoaging and skin cancer development. Various studies have demonstrated cocoa beans to contain polyphenols and possess health promoting effects mainly on antiradical property. In this study, the HPLC/DAD quantification of (–)-epicatechin from PBC123 and PBC140 Malaysian unfermented cocoa bean extracts (CBEs) were 121.01 and 118.09 mg/g DW, whereas concentration of (+)-catechin were 6.65 and 6.53 mg/g DW, respectively with no significant differences (p>0.05). In term of antioxidant capacity, Ferric reducing/antioxidant power of the respective clones were assayed at 822.10 and 795.99 mM FeSO4/g DW. Inhibition of proteinases expression induces by reactive oxygen species were exhibited in the anti-collagenase and anti-elastase assays. The anti-collagenase activity of PBC123 and PBC140 were 62.99% and 59.96% whereas anti-elastase has been measured at 36.60% and 15.75%, respectively. Positive and high correlation were observed within epicatechin content (1), FRAP (2) and anti-collagenase (3) with significant relationships for both PBC123 and PBC140 (r12=0.901, r13=0.768 and r23=0.908). A statistical One-Way ANOVA showed that there was no significant difference obtained between PBC123 and PBC140 in terms of epicatechin, FRAP and anti-collagenase assays, however, significant difference was observed from anti-elastase assessment (p<0.05).These results indicate unfermented PBC123 clone as a potential source of natural ingredient in a cosmetic industry.

FTIR spectroscopy coupled with chemometrics of multivariate calibration and discriminant analysis for authentication of extra virgin olive oil

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to develop FTIR spectroscopy combined with chemometrics for the authentication of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) from grape seed oil (GSO), soybean oil (SO), and walnut oil (WO). FTIR spectra of EVOO and that mixed with GSO, SO, and WO were scanned at mid infrared region (4000–650 cm−1). The optimized wavenumbers region was used for the quantification of oil adulterants using multivariate calibration of partial least square (PLS) and principle component regression (PCR) as well as for classification using discriminant analysis (DA). PLS at optimized wavenumbers was used with R2 for the relationship between actual and predicted values of GSO, SO, and WO was >0.99. The values of root mean square error of calibration (RMSEC) were relatively low, i.e. 0.308%, 0.658%, and 0.101% for GSO, SO, and WO, respectively. DA at the optimized frequency region could successfully classify EVOO and EVOO adulterated with GSO, SO, and WO.

Efficacy of cocoa pod extract as antiwrinkle gel on human skin surface

Cocoa pods are abundant waste materials of cocoa plantation, which are usually discarded onto plantation floors. However, due to poor plantation management, the discarded cocoa pods can create suitable breeding ground for Phytophthora palmivora, which is regarded as the causal agent of the black pod disease. On the other hand, cocoa pods potentially contain antioxidant compounds. Antioxidant compounds are related to the protection of skin from wrinkles and can be used as functional cosmetic ingredients. Therefore, in this study, cocoa pods were extracted and to be used as active ingredients for antiwrinkles.