Journal of Natural Products Discovery (LJMU)
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THE RELEVANCE OF TOPICAL PLANT USAGE IN TRADITIONAL HERBAL MEDICINE: AN INVESTIGATION INTO WEST AFRICAN TRADITIONAL MEDICINAL PLANTS WITH COSMECEUTICAL POTENTIAL IN SOUTHERN GHANA.
Full text linkIntroduction: Cosmetopea, a relatively novel and under-reported field in ethnobotany, is concerned with documenting medicinal plants\u27 cosmetic/skin-related uses across countries and cultures.
Aim: To identify Western African plants and plant preparations traditionally used for skin conditions and other skin applications and to determine the activity of a selected medicinal plant.
Method: A quantitative ethnobotanical survey was conducted within Southern Ghana to investigate knowledge of medicinal plant species and preparations used topically for various skin conditions amongst local and rural communities. Results: Plant use was cited as highest amongst men (76%) and herbal practitioners (60%). In total, the survey revealed 25 medicinal plants distributed amongst 20 plant families with 6 species being most frequently cited overall, which included Senna alata, Ageratum conyzoides, Momordica charantia, Phyllanthus amarus, Alstonia boonei and Ricinis communis. Major skin applications of most plant species reported were for the treatment of skin diseases whilst lesser applications were recorded for cosmetic use. In terms of skin conditions, pimples/rashes was recorded with a high frequency of citations (34.87%). Mixtures were cited as the most common (62%) preparation type whilst raw application was recorded with the lowest usage (3%). A total of 28 medicinal plant recipes were recorded with the leaf plant part being reported with the highest frequency of usage (64%) in preparations. Mechanical extraction techniques including grinding or crushing were frequently cited (46%) whilst solvent extraction namely by water was reported with the lowest use (3%).
Conclusion: It was determined that the uses of such plants are relevant amongst local and rural communities and in the traditional herbal industry in Ghana
The Proceedings of the 4th CNPD Conference: “NATURAL PRODUCTS IN COSMETICS, FOOD AND MEDICINE”
No full textThe 4th Annual CNPD (Centre for Natural Products Discovery) Conference was held on 19-22 June 2023 at the John Lennon Arts and Design Building (Liverpool John Moores University).
The Organisation Committee has kindly approved the publication of all communications presented to this event in this issue of the Journal of Natural Products Discovery.
This issue will replace the classic “Book of Abstracts” that was published in previous years. Therefore, authors will have a collective D.O.I. associated with their presentations instead of an ISSN.
We hope that in this way both the event and splendid work of the attendants will be more publicly accessible.
Please, follow this example to cite any of the abstracts:
Gibbons, S. (2023). " Phytochemistry: not just for drugs and busting bugs." Journal of Natural Products Discovery 2(1): 2.
Prof. Dr. Satyajit D. Sarker
Editor in Chief
Dr. Jose M. Prieto-Garcia
Executive Editor
Dr Alistair Fielding
Member of the Editorial Committe
LEGALISING DRUGS OF ABUSE: THE LE CHATELIER THOUGHT EXPERIMENT
Full text linkBackgroundThere is currently much debate on legalising some psychoactive materials such as Cannabis. This could stabilise policing costs, reduce crime, generate tax revenue and control sale by registration of outlets. Such outcomes are valuable, but legalisation may have unintended consequences that are deleterious to society or have no effects on crime or user’s health. Here, I propose that behaviour following changes to control of possession and supply may have outcomes that could be predicted by the equilibrium law proposed by Henry Le Chatelier. This law describes a system moving in such a way as to remove the constraints placed upon it. AimsThe purpose of this opinion paper is to follow Le Chatelier’s Principle (LCP) as a thought experiment to predict the outcomes (products) of drug consumption (reactants) when factors influencing this consumption (conditions) are changed. If this equilibrium law can be applied to human behaviour, it may have value to predict the outcomes of these conditions and assess whether they are positive or injurious. It must be noted that the views expressed here are solely those of the author.MethodsPubmed, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink and Google were used for literature searches and “drugs” will be used for drugs of abuse and distinct from medicinal drugs, apart from methadone and heroin (diamorphine). ResultsApplying LCP predicts that drug use may not necessarily decrease, but availability, poor health and criminal activity may increase use. The businesses behind drug treatment and illegal distribution have too much financial incentive to halt operations. ConclusionOrganisations recommending legislative changes to drug control should conduct thought experiments to horizon scan for unintended consequences, that may be costly and deleterious to society. Governments often focus too heavily on the evidence base as the sole driver for change. However, common sense drawn from opinion from these experiments may lead to wisdom. Keywords; War on drugs, legalisation, Le Chatelier’s Principle, psychoactive substance
Quantification of Linalool in 3D Printed Fast-Dissolving Oral Films by A High-Pressure Liquid Chromatography Method
Full text linkIntroduction: Linalool has shown inhibitory effects against Candida albicans. Microbial resistance is developing towards the current antifungal drugs. Therefore, an oral formulation of linalool oil may be used to effectively treat oral thrush. A wide range of patients can use fast-dissolving oral films (FDFs). Three-dimensional printing (3DP) may be utilised for the manufacture of FDFs.
Aims: to formulate linalool in FDFs and quantify it using high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC).
Methods: A powder formulation containing linalool (5%w/w) was prepared and filaments were produced at 75°C and printed at 185°C. The films were dissolved either in methanol or deionised water, and linalool was quantified in the aqueous solutions. The mobile phase of a previously reported HPLC method was modified to quantify linalool in the aqueous solutions. The HPLC method was validated by measuring linalool in standard methanol and aqueous solutions.
Results: Preparing aqueous solutions of filaments and films provided less variability in the analyses. 3D-printed FDFs had an average weight of 78.44 ± 6.84 mg. Applying the HPLC method revealed that the amounts of linalool changed from a theoretical 25 mg (per 0.5 g of filament) to the range of 23.98 ± 1.22 to 33.79 ± 2.43 mg. In contrast, the amounts of linalool were changed in films from theoretical 25 mg (per 0.5 g of film) to 13.82 ± 3.24 mg to 21.04 ± 0.92 mg. These observations indicated the evaporation of linalool considerably during printing at 185 °C.
Conclusion: This work found that linalool FDFs should be printed at temperatures lower than 185 °C and dissolved in deionised water for better HPLC analytical consistency
NUTRITIVE AND MEDICINAL VALUE OF GONGRONEMA LATIFOLIUM
Full text linkBackground
The tropical rainforest plant Gongronema latifolium is popular for its nutritive and medicinal value across many African nations. The rich phytochemistry of this plant is responsible for a wide variety of pharmacological actions. It is commonly used as a vegetable in soups, salads or as a food spice in other food preparations. Medicinally, it is widely used in diabetes, malaria, hepatitis, stomachache, anorexia, cough etc.
Aims
This essay aims to cover details about the origin, botanical features, ethnopharmacological uses, indigenous rights, phytochemical profile and pharmacological properties of Gongronema latifolium.
Methods
PubMed and Google Scholar databases were searched for the name “Gongronema Latifolium”.
Results & Conclusion
This short review tried to justify the ethnomedical importance of G.latifolium for researchers. It is enriched with varities of flavonoids, saponins,alkaloids and steroidal phytochemicals which exhibit prominent pharmacological actions such as hypoglycaemic, hypolipidemic, cytotoxic, anti-oxidant and antimicrobial in-vitro and in-vivo. One of the active compound; iloneoside was able to show potent antileukemic activity. Itshould be evaluated against other cancer cell lines. Lastly, further research is required to understand the true potential of this African plant.
 
The Use of natural Products in 3D Printing of Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms
Full text linkBackground
Three-dimensional printing (3DP) has been investigated widely for applications in pharmaceutical sciences. Different 3DP techniques have been employed such as fused deposition modelling (FDM 3DP), powder bed 3DP, stereolithography 3DP (SLA 3DP), selective laser sintering (SLS 3DP), pates-extrusion 3DP and inkjet 3DP.
Aim
This article aims to explore the use of natural products as active ingredient or excipient.
Methods
Literature search was conduced for latest applications of 3DP for pharmaceutical dosage forms, and typical employed materials were identified.
Results
Polymeric materials form the main bulk of 3DP excipients such as polyvinyl alcohol or ploy lactic acid. Chemical stabilisers may be added to these polymers to increase their stability at high temperatures during hot melt extrusion for making filaments or printing. In addition, photoinitiators have been added such as diphenyl(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl) phosphine oxide in SLA 3DP, or candurin gold sheen in SLS 3DP. Presence of lead has been detected in FDM £DP, which originated from the nozzle. Currently, natural products have been employed only in paste extrusion 3DP of pharmaceutical dosage forms. We have identified a protentional natural thermoplastic polymer that may be used in 3DP FDM.
Conclusion
Natural products may be employed in 3DP of pharmaceutical dosage forms to improve the safety profile of printed objects.
Key words: Three-dimensional printing; polymers; thermoplastics; photoinitiators, natural polymer
Antioxidant Activity of Apis Mellifera Bee Propolis: A Review
Full text linkBackgroundPropolis is a natural product manufactured by bees from balsamic materials collected from plants that surround the hive, undergoing subsequent modification by the enzymes of these insects. It has several functions in the hive, such as sealing cracks and antimicrobial action. Folk medicine worldwide has used this resin in their health practices, and modern research turns its eyes to natural materials to become sources of new molecules to treat the most diverse ailments. AimsThis work collected information on studies that test the antioxidant activity of propolis, produced by Apis mellifera bees, using different antioxidant methods available. MethodsThe search for this review was carried out in the following databases: SciELO, Google Scholar, PubMed, MEDLINE, Catalog of Dissertations and Theses of CAPES, BVS, CRD, Embase, Science Direct, Scopus and Cochrane Library. Publications in Portuguese, English and Spanish in the last decade were included.ResultsThe 173 articles chosen showed quantitative and qualitative data about the potential of this natural product in the area of interest. Propolis extracts reached amazing values in antioxidant tests; they were as active as isolated substances already recognized as standard patterns. Many studies have brought information about the antioxidant mechanisms of propolis, such as free radical scavenging, metal chelation, and electron donation.ConclusionThis review brings scientific evidence, in vitro and in vivo, that supports the idea that propolis is a good candidate for producing new antioxidant pharmaceutical and food formulations in the future
EFFECTS OF IMPORTANT PLANT SPECIES OF TERUEL ON THE PRO-INFLAMMATORY SIGNALLING CASCADE OF HUMAN MONOCYTES.
No full textBackground: The study of medicinal and edible plants from Teruel (Spain) –one of the biodiverse regions of the Mediterranean- has been particularly limited to the writing up and analysis of taxonomical databases and lists of protected species. The following analysis and work will be the first of its nature test their anti-inflammatory activity can be successfully based on information gained through knowledge on their traditional use
APPLICATIONS OF ELECTRON PARAMAGNETIC RESONANCE SPECTROSCOPY IN NATURAL PRODUCT RESEARCH
Full text linkBackground
Applications of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy to natural product research have proven useful to understand the properties of natural product extracts and their intrinsic compounds. There are few reviews on this subject written as an initial introduction.
Aims
To provide an explanatory review of applications of EPR to natural products research.
Methods
The search for this review was carried out in the following databases: SciFinder, Google Scholar, PubMed, MEDLINE, and Science Direct, with particular emphasis on publications from the last decade.
Results
The articles chosen showed qualitative and quantitative data about the applications of EPR in the natural product research area. Studies include the use to measure radical scavenging capacity and direct detection of radicals in extracts. Other applications include the study of autooxidation, and photochemical properties.
Conclusion
This review brings together many examples highlighting methods by which EPR spectroscopy is useful in natural products research as a guide for future use
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