Biology, Medicine, & Natural Product Chemistry
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Antibacterial Activity Test of Ethanol Extract Citrus Leaf Against Staphylococcus epidermidis
Get PDFOne of the causes of acne is an increase in colonies of Staphylococcus epidermidis bacteria. One of the acne treatments that trigger bacterial resistance is the irrational use of antibiotics. Therefore, it is necessary to discover natural materials with antibacterial potential, namely orange plants. This study aims to determine the effect of single and combination of lime, kaff, lemon, and sweet leaves extract on of S. epidermidis. The treatment of this study was the concentration of orange leaf ethanol extract of 2%, 4%, and 8% with a bacteria sample of S. epidermidis. Phytochemical screening test results contain alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, phenols, and essential oils. The results of the One-Way ANNOVA test showed a significant difference in the average diameter of the inhibition zone of orange leaf ethanol extract against the growth of S. epidermidis (Sig.<0.05). Post Hoc test showed that the effective concentration of lime leaves, kaffles, lemons, sweet oranges, and combination was 8%, while sweet oranges are the most significant treatment group in inhibiting the growth of S. epidermidis. The conclusion is that 8% sweet lime leaf ethanol extract can be used as a pharmaceutical raw material in inhibiting the growth of S. epidermidis with a strong category
Subacute Toxicity Study of Leaf Extract of Saccharum officinarum
Get PDFSaccharum officinarum (Family-Poaceae) is used traditionally to treat malaria and fever, among others. Evaluation of subacute administration ethanol leaf extract of Saccharum officinarum for possible effect on hematological indices, liver and kidney functions, and lipid profile of rats was carried out. The leaf extract (170, 340, 510 mg/kg body weight) was orally administered to male Wistar rats daily for 30 days, and the rats were sacrificed under light diethyl ether anesthesia after the administration. Subacute administration of S. officinarum leaf extract resulted in an insignificant increase in the body weights of rats without any significant (p>0.05) effect on the weights of liver and kidney when compared to control. The leaf extract treatment did not affect WBC, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophil, and basophil percentages. However, it caused significant (p0.05) decreases in total protein, albumin, and ALT levels. ALP was significantly (p0.05) effect on urea, creatinine, potassium, and sodium as well as total cholesterol, triglyceride, VLDL, and LDL levels of rats, but the highest dose (510 mg/kg) significantly (p<0.05) increased Cl level and reduced HDL level of rats when compared to control. The leaf extract exerts mild to moderate effects on the histology of the livers and kidneys of rats. Chronic study is advocated to investigate the effect of prolonged administration of rats’ extract organs and systems
Phytoplankton Diversity as a Water Quality Bioindicator of Mangrove Ecosystems in the Mangrove Rehabilitation and Mangrove Ecotourism Area of Merdeka Beach Serdang Bedagai
Get PDFThis study investigates the diversity and composition of phytoplankton as a bioindicator of water quality in the mangrove ecosystems of Merdeka Beach, Bagan Kuala Village, Serdang Bedagai. Sampling was conducted at three sites representing long-term rehabilitation (2010–2025), recent rehabilitation (2024–2025), and mangrove ecotourism areas. Phytoplankton abundance and diversity were analyzed using ecological indices, including Shannon-Wiener Diversity Index (H’), Trophic Diatom Index (TDI), and Percentage Pollution Tolerance Value (%PTV), alongside physicochemical water parameters. Results indicate spatial variation in water quality and phytoplankton communities. Station 1 showed moderate abundance and high diversity, indicating ecological stability. Station 2 exhibited increased abundance but lower diversity, reflecting transitional conditions. Station 3 demonstrated the highest abundance and pollution-tolerant taxa, consistent with elevated nutrient levels due to human activities. TDI and %PTV values corroborated these findings, identifying Station 3 as hypertrophic and heavily polluted. These results highlight the utility of phytoplankton as sensitive indicators of environmental quality and the effectiveness of rehabilitation efforts. The integration of biotic indices and water parameters provides a robust framework for ongoing ecological monitoring and coastal management strategies, particularly in mangrove ecosystems undergoing anthropogenic pressure and restoration
Effect of Ciprofloxacin Administration on Gastric Histopathological Changes in Mice
Get PDFCiprofloxacin is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic widely used in clinical and veterinary practice. While effective against a broad range of bacterial infections, several studies have reported potential adverse effects on the gastrointestinal tract, particularly the gastric mucosa. This study aimed to evaluate the histopathological changes in the gastric mucosa of mice following ciprofloxacin administration at different doses. A total of 24 male mice were randomly divided into four groups: control, low-dose ciprofloxacin, moderate-dose ciprofloxacin, and high-dose ciprofloxacin. Treatment was administered orally for 14 days. Gastric tissues were collected and examined histologically using hematoxylin-eosin staining. Histopathological analysis revealed dose-dependent mucosal alterations. The control group showed intact gastric architecture, while the low-dose group exhibited mild epithelial erosion. The moderate-dose group presented with mucosal disruption and inflammatory infiltration, and the high-dose group demonstrated severe ulceration, edema, and mucosal thinning. These findings indicate progressive gastric injury with increasing ciprofloxacin exposure. Ciprofloxacin administration induces dose-dependent gastric mucosal injury in mice, consistent with fluoroquinolone-related gastrointestinal toxicity. Caution is warranted in prolonged or high-dose therapy, and further studies are needed to explore the underlying mechanisms and potential gastroprotective interventions
Phytochemical Screening, GC-MS Charecterisation and Antioxidant Activity of N-Hexane Fraction of Microtrichia perotitii DC
Get PDFMicrotrichia perotitii DC belongs to the family Asteraceae (Compositeae) and it is an herb found in the West African countries. The herb has been used ethnomedicinally to treat children's rashes, burns, wounds, jaundice, rheumatism, diarrhea, and skin conditions. The n-hexane fraction of the ethanolic extract of the plant was investigated for the presence of secondary metabolites, characterisation as well as its antioxidant activity with a view to exploring other significant information that would be of benefit to scientific study. The n-hexane extract was subjected to partitioning, phytochemical screening using standard methods as well as spectroscopic characterizations using UV, FTIR and GC-MS analysis including antioxidant activity. The result of the phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, saponins, phenols, glycosides, steroids, terpenoids and flavonoids, but anthraquinones and phlobatannins were absent. The spectroscopy analysis showed a high degree of conjugation and it also reveals the presence of Hydroxyl (O-H), carbonyl (C=O) and methyl (C-H) groups, with the compound, Pentadecanoic acid, 14-methyl-, methyl ester, having the highest abundance while the antioxidant activity using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and Nitric oxide (NO),radical scavenging assays exhibited antioxidant activity with an IC50 value of 4.61mg/mL but less than ascorbic acid which has an IC50 value of 0.84mg/mL. The phytochemical compounds present in the plant could be responsible for its antioxidant property which suggests the use of the plant in the treatment of diseases induced by free radicals. In the light of the importance of this herb in local applications, the research was aimed at exploring the scientific evidences to support the local claims as well as improving information of the efficacy of the plant
siRNAs targeting icaD Gene of Staphylococcus aureus to Inhibit Biofilm Formation: Structural Analysis and Efficacy
Get PDFAntibiotic resistance in Staphylococcus aureus infections, especially those involving biofilm formation, is a global health issue. Biofilm protects bacteria from the immune system and antibiotic treatment, making them 10 to 1000 times more resistant. The icaD gene, part of the ica operon, is crucial for biofilm synthesis by enhancing the enzymes responsible for forming the biofilm matrix. The icaD gene sequence of Staphylococcus aureus was obtained from the GenBank NCBI database with the accession code CP140612.1, with a gene sequence length of 306 bp and employed several bioinformatics methods, including siDirect for designing and evaluating effective siRNA sequences to select the most promising candidates. Additionally, siRNA Scales, MaxExpect, Duplex Fold, and siPred were employed to analyze the siRNA sequence length, secondary structure, binding energy, and efficacy predictions of siRNAs targeting the icaD gene. The study found that out of 54 siRNA candidates, siRNA22, siRNA50, and siRNA25 achieved inhibition rates of 93.69%, 92.82%, and 92.52%, respectively. These results bioinformatically demonstrated their potential to suppress the expression of the icaD gene and highlight their promise as siRNA-based antibacterial therapies to combat biofilm-related infections. The designed siRNA computationally shows potential as an innovative therapy to combat biofilm infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus
Formula Optimization and Sensory Analysis of Functional Collagen Drink from Butterfly Pea Flower (Clitoria ternatea L.) and Red Guava (Psidium guajava L.)
Get PDFThe global market for functional beverages is experiencing rapid growth as consumer awareness for healthy lifestyles increases. The objective of this study is to ascertain the physical characteristics, optimal formula, and organoleptic quality of functional collagen beverages derived from a blend of bayang flower (Clitoria ternatea L.), red guava (Psidium guajava L.), and emprit ginger. In this study, an extreme vertex design was employed in conjunction with Minitab 19 to extract the materials. The extraction process was carried out using the following methods: telang flowers were subjected to a drying process at 40°C for 24 hours, followed by extraction with water at 60°C for 30 minutes; ginger emprit was dried at 60°C for 24 hours and then extracted at 55°C for 15 minutes; and red guava was blended with water at a 1:1 ratio. The total phenolic content was analyzed using the Folin-Ciocalteu method, while antioxidant activity was evaluated through the use of the DPPH method. Finally, sensory evaluation was conducted employing a hedonic test, which was completed by 100 untrained panelists. The optimal formula obtained was 50% telang flower extract, 30% red guava juice, 15% ginger emprit extract, and 5% collagen hydrolysate (desirability value 0.8288), resulting in antioxidant activity of 316.45 mg TE/100 ml and total phenolic content of 247.33 mg GAE/L. The sensory evaluation revealed that the subject demonstrated moderate acceptance, as indicated by an average preference score of 3.51. The combination of bay flower extract and guava juice exhibited a synergistic effect in enhancing antioxidant activity, while guava juice contributed significantly to the total phenolic content. Notwithstanding the favorable reception, the robust ginger flavor, elevated viscosity, diminished clarity, and textural characteristics
Application of Alginate-Based Edible Coating with Beeswax Addition on Minimally Processed Pears (Pyrus bretschneideri Rehd.)
Get PDFPears, especially after being cut, tended to experience a decline in quality and damage such as enzymatic browning, moisture loss, and texture changes. The application of alginate-based edible coating with the addition of beeswax was one of the innovations that could be applied to minimally processed pears to slow down the rate of deterioration. This study aimed to determine the effect of beeswax concentration in alginate-based edible coating solutions on the freshness of minimally processed pears and to identify the optimal beeswax concentration using the star method. The study was designed using a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) in a non-factorial arrangement with the addition of beeswax. The treatments consisted of six levels: BK as the control, B0 (alginate), B2 (alginate + 2% beeswax), B4 (alginate + 4% beeswax), B6 (alginate + 6% beeswax), and B8 (alginate + 8% beeswax), each with four replications. The results showed that the addition of beeswax to the alginate-based edible coating had a significant effect on moisture content, weight loss, firmness, total soluble solids, and color. The best treatment for maintaining pear freshness according to the star method was B4 (4% beeswax), which had a moisture content of 85.66%, weight loss of 1.79%, firmness of 874.63 gf, total soluble solids of 11.28 ËšBrix, and a lightness (L) value of 68.30 on day 12 of storage
Actinomycetes from Plant Rhizosphere in Gorontalo Karst Area as Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria
Get PDFThis study aimed to describe Actinomycetes from the rhizosphere of plants in the Gorontalo karst area as Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR). The research method is based on a quantitative descriptive method. Soil samples from the rhizosphere were collected using a purposive sampling technique from 8 plant species at two locations in the Gorontalo karst region, namely the Tanjung Kramat Hills. The characteristics of PGPR in this study focused on phosphate solubilization ability, Indole Acetic Acid (IAA) production, antagonism against the fungus Fusarium oxysporum, and tolerance to fungicides. Potential PGPR isolates were analyzed for phylogenetic relationships based on 16S rRNA gene sequences. The results showed that there were 6 actinomycetes isolates (RzHKC-01, RzKO-02, RzO-03, RzAK-04, RzPK-05, and RzOC-06) from 8 plant species in the Gorontalo karst region. One actinomycetes isolate, RzPK-05, showed potential as a PGPR with the ability to solubilize phosphate and produce IAA at 0.165 mg/L and 0.133 mg/L, respectively. Isolate RzPK-05 exhibited antagonistic properties against Fusarium oxysporum with an inhibition rate of 82.24% and was tolerant to fungicides such as Captive, Benlate, and Thiramo up to a concentration of 100 mg/L. Molecular analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene and phylogenetic tree reconstruction indicated that the RzPK-05 isolate is closely related to the genus Streptomyces with 100% similarity
Sensitive and Selective Chromatographic Method to Determine Vanadium in Commercial Phosphoric Acid
Get PDFThe spectrophotometric method adopting N-Benzoyl-N-phenylhydroxylamine was exechted for ascertaining vanadium in environmental samples. high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system equipped with a C18 RP column was used to determine vanadium in wet phosphoric acid and phosphate samples. A rapid pre-column response of vanadium with 5-Br-PADAP was used without prior separation or adding any masking agents. The results showed that, the chelates were detected after being injected through the column by UV- Vis detector at wavelength 585 nm. The molar absorptivity is 5.5 x104 and the retention time is 6.3 minutes. The sensitivity of this reagent is equal to twice as high as the use of (PAR) reagent. The RSD was 1.7% for weak concentrations to 0.22% for high concentrations and the relative error (RE) was between 3.21% and 1.07%. In conclusion the method of the currently study was found highly sensitive and selective and the results show a good accuracy and precision