In vitro antibacterial activity and major bioactive components of Cinnamomum verum essential oils against cariogenic bacteria, Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus

Choi, O.,Cho, S.K.,Kim, J.,Park, C.G.,Kim, J. China Humanity Technology Publishing House 2016 Asian Pacific journal of tropical biomedicine Vol.6 No.4

Objective: To evaluate the antibacterial activity of Cinnamomum verum (C. verum) from 32 different essential oils against cariogenic bacteria, Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) and Streptococcus sobrinus (S. sobrinus). Methods: The antibacterial activities of each essential oil were individually investigated against S. mutans and S. sobrinus. The essential oil of C. verum was selected for further evaluation against S. mutans and S. sobrinus. Gas chromatography mass spectrometry was used to determine the major constituents of C. verum essential oil. In addition, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration of the most effective constituent was investigated. Results: The essential oil from C. verum exhibited the greatest antibacterial activity. Gas chromatography mass spectrometry analysis revealed that the major components of C. verum essential oil were cinnamaldehyde (56.3%), cinnamyl acetate (7.1%) and β-phellandrene (6.3%). The MIC of cinnamaldehyde was measured using broth dilution assays. The MIC of cinnamaldehyde was 0.02% (v/v) against both bacterial strains tested. The minimum bactericidal concentration of cinnamaldehyde against S. mutans and S. sobrinus were 0.2% and 0.1% (v/v), respectively. Conclusions: The essential oil of C. verum and its major component cinnamaldehyde possessed considerable in vitro antibacterial activities against cariogenic bacteria, S. mutans and S. sobrinus strains. These results showed that the essential oil of C. verum and its bioactive component, cinnamaldehyde, have potential for application as natural agents for the prevention and treatment of dental caries.

Antimicrobial activity of crude extracts prepared from fungal mycelia

Synytsya, A.,Monkai, J.,Bleha, R.,Macurkova, A.,Ruml, T.,Ahn, J.,Chukeatirote, E. China Humanity Technology Publishing House 2017 Asian Pacific journal of tropical biomedicine Vol.7 No.3

Objective: To evaluate the in vitro antimicrobial property of three different partitioned extracts (petroleum ether, ethanol and water) prepared from some fungal mycelia. Methods: Seven fungal mycelia were prepared, initially extracted with acidified ethanol (0.2 mol/L HCl in 80% ethanol), yielding the raw crude extracts. The obtained extracts were then further partitioned with petroleum ether (F1), ethanol (F2) and water (F3). All the fractions were tested for antimicrobial activity using the disc diffusion assay. Results: Our data showed that all the fractions could inhibit the testing bacteria. However, the inhibitory activity was found to be dependent on (i) the fungal strains used; (ii) the solvent extracted; and (iii) the testing bacteria assayed. In general, the ethanolic extracts (F2) derived from all fungi displayed highest inhibitory activity against the testing bacteria except for Chaetomium sp. Conclusions: The findings of the present study concluded that the extracts prepared from the fungal mycelia had the bioactive compounds with antibacterial property. This study is a pioneering work and further study should be carried out for development of the new drug leads.

Effect of cytokinins on in vitro multiplication of Sophora tonkinensis

Jana, S.,Sivanesan, I.,Jeong, B.R. China Humanity Technology Publishing House 2013 Asian Pacific journal of tropical biomedicine Vol.3 No.7

Objective: To determine the effects of different cytokinins at various concentrations on in vitro shoot multiplication of an important medicinal plant. Methods: Nodal explants (1.5-2.0 cm) of Sophora tonkinensis were used. Multiple shoots were induced from nodal explants cultured on the Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0, 8.0, or 16.0 μmol 2-isopentyladenine (2iP), N6 benzyladenine, kinetin or thiadiazuron. Results: Among the four investigated cytokinins, 2iP showed the best response for shoot multiplication. Maximum shoot induction (75%) was achieved on the MS medium supplemented with 2.0 μmol 2iP, with a mean number of 5.0 shoots per explant. In comparison to other cytokinins tried, 2iP showed the highest shoot elongation with a mean shoot length of 4.8 cm. Root initiation was observed within 15 d within the transfer of shoots onto the MS basal medium, and the rooting percentage was 100% with a mean number of 5.4 roots per shoot and root length of 6.2 cm over a period of 4 weeks. The healthy plants, hardened and transferred to a greenhouse for proper acclimatization, exhibited 100% survival. Conclusions: It can be summarized that 2iP is the optimal plant growth regulator for Sophora multiplication.

Down-regulation of tyrosinase, TRP-1, TRP-2 and MITF expressions by citrus press-cakes in murine B16 F10 melanoma

Kim, S.S.,Kim, M.J.,Choi, Y.H.,Kim, B.K.,Kim, K.S.,Park, K.J.,Park, S.M.,Lee, N.H.,Hyun, C.G. China Humanity Technology Publishing House 2013 Asian Pacific journal of tropical biomedicine Vol.3 No.8

Objective: To investigate the suitability of citrus-press cakes, by-products of the juice industry as a source for the whitening agents for cosmetic industry. Methods: Ethylacetate extracts of citrus-press cakes (CCE) were examined for their anti-melanogenic potentials in terms of the inhibition of melanin production and mechanisim of melanogenesis by using Western Blot analysis with tyrosinese, tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP-1), TRP2, and microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) proteins. To apply the topical agents, citrus-press cakes was investigated the safety in human skin cell line. Finally flavonoid analysis of CCE was also determined by HPLC analysis. Results: Results indicated that CCE were shown to down-regulate melanin content in a dose-dependent pattern. The CCE inhibited tyrosinase, TRP-2, and MITF expressions in a dose-dependent manner. To test the applicability of CCE to human skin, we used MTT assay to assess the cytotoxic effects of CCE on human keratinocyte HaCaT cells. The CCE exhibited low cytotoxicity at 50 μg/mL. Characterization of the citrus-press cakes for flavonoid contents using HPLC showed varied quantity of rutin, narirutin, and hesperidin. Conclusions: Considering the anti-melanogenic activity and human safety, CCE is considered as a potential anti-melanogenic agent and may be effective for topical application for treating hyperpigmentation disorders.

Modulatory effects of the fruits of Tribulus terrestris L. on the function of atopic dermatitis-related calcium channels, Orai1 and TRPV3

Nam, J.H.,Jung, H.W.,Chin, Y.W.,Kim, W.K.,Bae, H.S. China Humanity Technology Publishing House 2016 Asian Pacific journal of tropical biomedicine Vol.6 No.7

Objective: To examine the effects of Tribulus terrestris L. (T. terrestris) extract on the modulation of calcium channels to evaluate its use in topical agents for treatment of atopic dermatitis. Methods: The 70% methanol extract of T. terrestris was prepared. Human HEK293T cells with over-expressed calcium release-activated calcium channel protein 1 (Orai1), transient receptor potential vanilloid 1, or transient receptor potential vanilloid 3 (TRPV3) were treated with T. terrestris extract. Modulation of ion channels was measured using a conventional whole-cell patch-clamp technique. Results: T. terrestris extract (100 μg/mL) significantly inhibited Orai1 activity in Orai1-stromal interaction molecule 1 co-overexpressed HEK293T cells. In addition, T. terrestris extract significantly increased the TRPV3 activity compared with 2-Aminoethyl diphenylborinate (100 μmol/L), which induces the full activation of TRPV3. Conclusions: Our results suggest that T. terrestris extract may have a therapeutic potential for recovery of abnormal skin barrier pathologies in atopic dermatitis through modulating the activities of calcium ion channels, Orai1 and TRPV3. This is the first study to report the modulatory effect of a medicinal plant on the function of ion channels in skin barrier.

Noble strain of Sparassis latifolia produces high content of β-glucan

Lee, D.J.,Jang, M.C.,Ra Jo, A.,Choi, H.J.,Kim, K.S.,Chi, Y.T. China Humanity Technology Publishing House 2015 Asian Pacific journal of tropical biomedicine Vol.5 No.8

Objective: To classify four new Sparassis strains (CLM1, CKM1, CKM2, and KJM1) using the internal transcribed spacer sequence and to elucidate their β-glucan content and mycelial growth. Methods: Two different microbiological media were used to determine growth rate. The β-glucan contents were analyzed using the Megazyme Mushroom and Yeast Beta-Glucan kit. To determine the genetic relationships, phylogenetic trees were constructed using ClustalX. Multiple sequence alignments were printed and shaded with the BOXSHADE 3.21 program. Results: In this study, four new Sparassis strains were isolated from the southern region of the Korea Peninsula. They were all classified into the Sparassis latifolia clade as a monophyletic group based on the internal transcribed spacer sequence. Mycelial growth rate of the CLM1 strain was highest in potato dextrose agar and potato dextrose agar larch. The β-glucan content of the CLM1 strain was highest at 29.5% (w/w). A high degree of sequence divergence was detected in the RNA polymerase second largest subunit II gene (RPB2) within Sparassis spp. tested. The putative amino acid sequences of the RPB2 had a distinct sequence. The nucleotide sequences of the RPB2's intron were also divergent among Sparassis spp., even though their nucleotide length was well conserved within Sparassis latifolia. Conclusions: These results indicate that the nucleotide sequences and the amino acid sequences of RPB2 can be used to identify individual Sparassis sp. The Sparassis strain CLM1 may be best for developing a remedy to prevent or treat cancer and other chronic diseases.