Stress-relieving properties of a polyherbal blend with Syzygium aromaticum L. and Coffea canephora Pierre ex A. Froehner: A review and bibliometric analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Syzygium aromaticum and Coffea canephora are acknowledged for their outstanding antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and nerve-stimulant properties, showcasing potential in brain protection. Therefore, this study aims to quantitatively review existing literature and assess the potential of using it to formulate a herbal tea blend for managing stress and anxiety. METHODS: Data was retrieved from the Scopus database, and a bibliometric analysis was performed using VOSviewer software. RESULTS: Following a screening process, a total of 121 articles were identified, with S. aromaticum yielding a higher number compared to C. canephora. A detailed exploration of each plant revealed active components such as eugenol, ß-caryophyllene, α-humulene, caffeine, mangiferin, and chlorogenic acids, each exhibiting stimulatory effects alongside antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The neuroprotective effects were attributed to the reduction of oxidative stress and inflammation, coupled with the stimulation of neurotransmitters and hormones like dopamine, serotonin, cortisol, and adrenaline. CONCLUSIONS: The review showed that these plants positively affect mood and cognition by influencing the brain's pleasure system. This suggests the need for further research to combine these plant extracts for developing 'Tenang tea', a potential herbal blend for managing stress and anxiety.

Promising roles of Zingiber officinale roscoe, Curcuma longa L., and Momordica charantia L. as immunity modulators against COVID-19: A bibliometric analysis.

Zingiber officinale, Curcuma longa, and Momordica charantia are medicinal plants that are commonly used in the form of herbal tea, which is formulated to strengthen the immune system, especially against COVID-19 infection. Excellent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunostimulatory properties have been reported for their bioactive compounds, which have been shown to aid in stimulating immune systems as well as lowering the risk of severe COVID-19 such as lung injury. Yet, no bibliometric study on the subject is available. Hence, the purpose of this study is to quantitatively examine the existing articles related to the therapeutic potential of these three herbs, as well as their mechanisms of action in combating the SARS-CoV-2 virus. A total of 121 papers were retrieved from Scopus database up to 14th March 2023. The bibliometric analysis was conducted using VOSviewer software. Based on the literature search, Z. officinale was the most researched plant. India appeared as the most prolific country, with the highest number of articles contributed by two authors from India (Rathi, R. and Gayatri Devi, R.). In terms of keywords, the plants were associated with immune modulation, management of symptoms, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiviral activities. Several important bioactive compounds were responsible for these effects such as gingerol, paradol, shogaol, curcumin, calebin A, momordicoside, karaviloside and cucurbitadienol. These compounds were hypothesized to prevent and cure COVID-19 by regulating inflammatory response, downregulating oxidative stress and modulating immunostimulatory activity. This review paper therefore supports the potential of Z. officinale, C. longa, and M. charantia to be formulated as a herbal blend for treating and preventing COVID-19 infection.

First Report on Wild Ginger (Family: Zingiberaceae) Species Composition with New Records in Limestone Forests of Kelantan, Peninsular Malaysia.

The wild gingers in the family Zingiberaceae have a wide range of habitat distribution. The species growing in Malaysian forests are the most studied. Nevertheless, the aromatic perennial herb family found in limestone forests is the least studied. The present study identified the ginger species compositions, determined the conservation status of the identified ginger species, and compared the distribution of the ginger species in selected limestone forests of Kelantan due to the lack of intensive study focusing on wild gingers in Malaysian limestone forests, especially in the state of Kelantan, to date. In various months, wild ginger species observation was conducted at four limestone forests in Kelantan. From the survey performed during the present study, Gua Setir and Gua Ikan recorded 16 species with 12.5% overlapping species. Gua Setir comprised 61.5% more ginger species than Gua Ikan. In total, 13 species (81.25%) were evaluated based on the Red List of Threatened Species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Three wild ginger species listed as high conservation value (HCV), Zingiber aurantiacum, Zingiber petiolatum and Zingiber wrayi, were identified at the limestone karst valley of Gua Setir. The current study presented updated and new records of the limestone wild ginger flora in Kelantan. The research also demonstrated that each limestone forest consisted of different combinations of ginger species. Consequently, conservation efforts and sustainable management currently enforced in the limestone forests would lead to long-term protection of the plants. Furthermore, the wild gingers could become a tourist attraction for limestone forests located in recreational areas.

Halia hutan (Famili: Zingiberaceae) mempunyai taburan habitat yang luas. Kajian mengenai tumbuhan herba yang berbau harum ini kurang dilakukan di kawasan hutan batu kapur Malaysia. Kajian ini telah mengenal pasti komposisi spesies halia, menentukan status pemuliharaan spesies halia yang telah dikenal pasti, serta membandingkan taburan spesies halia di beberapa hutan batu kapur di Kelantan. Kajian ini juga dilakukan kerana kekurangan kajian intensif yang memfokuskan halia hutan di hutan batu kapur Malaysia, terutamanya di negeri Kelantan, sehingga kini. Pemerhatian terhadap spesies halia hutan telah dilakukan di empat hutan batu kapur di Kelantan. Gua Ikan dan Gua Setir telah merekodkan 16 spesies halia semasa pemerhatian tersebut dengan 12.5% spesies yang bertindih. Gua Setir merangkumi 61.5% spesies halia berbanding Gua Ikan. Secara keseluruhan, 13 spesies (81.25%) halia yang dikenal pasti telah dinilai berdasarkan Red List of Threatened Species oleh International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Sebanyak tiga spesies halia telah disenaraikan sebagai spesies high conservation value (HCV) iaitu Zingiber aurantiacum, Zingiber petiolatum dan Zingiber wrayi. Ketiga-tiga spesies ini telah dikenal pasti di lembah kars Gua Setir. Kajian ini telah memberikan rekod spesies yang telah dikemas kini serta rekod baru bagi spesies halia hutan di kawasan batu kapur di Kelantan. Kajian ini juga menunjukkan bahawa setiap hutan batu kapur terdiri daripada gabungan spesies halia yang berbeza. Oleh yang demikian, usaha pemuliharaan dan pengurusan mampan yang dilakukan pada masa kini di hutan batu kapur akan membawa kepada perlindungan jangka panjang untuk tumbuhan halia. Tambahan pula, tumbuhan halia hutan juga boleh dijadikan sebagai tarikan pelancong untuk hutan batu kapur di kawasan rekreasi.

Mutagenicity and safety pharmacology of a standardized antidiabetic polyherbal formulation.

Synacinn is a standardized polyherbal extract formulated for the treatment of diabetes mellitus and its complications. This study aims to assess the mutagenicity potential of Synacinn by Ames assay and in vivo bone marrow micronucleus (MN) test on Sprague Dawley rat. Human ether-a-go-go-related gene (hERG) assay and Functional Observation Battery (FOB) were done for the safety pharmacology tests. In the Ames assay, Dose Range Finding (DRF) study and mutagenicity assays (+/- S9) were carried out. For the MN test, a preliminary and definitive study were conducted. In-life observations and number of immature and mature erythrocytes in the bone marrow cells were recorded. The hERG assay was conducted to determine the inhibitory effect on hERG potassium channel current expressed in human embryonic kidney cells (HEK293). FOB tests were performed orally (250, 750, and 2000 mg/kg) on Sprague Dawley rats. Synacinn is non-mutagenic against all tested strains of Salmonella typhimurium and did not induce any clastogenicity in the rat bone marrow. Synacinn also did not produce any significant inhibition (p ≤ 0.05) on hERG potassium current. Synacinn did not cause any neurobehavioural changes in rats up to 2000 mg/kg. Thus, no mutagenicity, cardiotoxicity and neurotoxicity effects of Synacinn were observed in this study.

Vibrio spp. and Their Vibriocin as a Vibriosis Control Measure in Aquaculture.

Vibriosis disease is a major threat to the aquaculture industry caused by Vibrio spp. that are often resistant to antibiotics. Alternative controlling measures such as bacteriocins could be effective due to their narrow-spectrum activity. Hence, this systematic literature review (SLR) was carried out to review the feasibility of Vibrio spp. and their vibriocins to be used as a vibriosis control measure in aquaculture. A literature search using the web of science (WOS) and SCOPUS databases resulted in 42 unique articles which were reviewed. The results showed that Vibrio spp. could be used as a probiotic to control vibriosis, but not recommended due to their opportunistic nature and pathogenesis. Vibriocin showed narrow-spectrum activity against Vibrio spp. including highly pathogenic strains such as V. alginolyticus, V. harveyi, and V. parahaemolyticus. This supported this review's hypothesis of using vibriocin as a targeted vibriosis control measure. Vibrio cholerae was the most studied and showed the highest inhibition range, inhibiting 13 different vibrio and non-vibrio species. Various innovations were reported in the field and vibriocins can now be produced on large scales using whole-cell culture. Vibriocins were structurally diverse, large molecular weight, and relatively heat stable. These vibriocins mainly inhibited the cell wall but could have other novel mechanisms. These properties could affect the extraction process as well as applications in aquaculture, hence, should be considered in future research.

Synacinn™: Bacterial reverse mutation test data in five histidine-requiring strains of Salmonella Typhimurium.

The present data described the analysis of mutagenicity in SynacinnTM by assessing the point mutations occurring due to Synacinn™ exposure to five tester strains of Salmonella typhimurium (TA1537, TA1535, TA98, TA100 and TA102), in the presence or absence of an exogenous mammalian metabolic activation system (S9). It was conducted in two Phases - Phase I (Dose Range Finding experiment-DRF) and Phase II (Mutagenicity Assay 1 and 2). DRF and Mutagenicity Assay 1 was conducted employing plate incorporation method, while Mutagenicity Assay 2 was performed using pre-incubation method. Formulation analysis pertaining to SynacinnTM was performed for both Mutagenicity Assay 1 and 2. Dose formulations were prepared fresh on each day of the experiment. Adventol 50% v/v in purified water was selected as a suitable vehicle based on the preliminary solubility test. Based on the Phase I analysis, 5 mg/plate was selected as the highest concentration of SynacinnTM followed by lower concentrations of 2.5, 1.25, 0.625 and 0.313 mg/plate for the Mutagenicity Assays. Genetic integrity of all the tester strains used was confirmed by performing genotyping before their use. All the data acceptability criteria were fulfilled confirming the validity of the test.

Analytical method cross validation by HPLC for identification of five markers and quantification of one marker in SynacinnTM formulations and its in vivo bone marrow micronucleus test data.

A HPLC method has been validated for identifying five markers (gallic acid, rosmarinic acid, catechin, andrographolide and curcumin) and quantifying curcumin in SynacinnTM formulation. The validation (bracketed strengths of 10 mg/mL and 100 mg/mL) involved assessment of selectivity, precision, Limit of Detection (LOD), Limit of Quantification (LOQ), linearity, accuracy, stability in diluent and formulation stability. Meanwhile, in vivo bone marrow micronucleus test data was presented to evaluate the toxicity potential of Synacinn™ to cause clastogenicity and/or disruption of the mitotic apparatus, as measured by its ability to induce micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MN PCE) in Sprague Dawley rat bone marrow. The test was conducted in two phases viz., Phase I (Dose Range Finding experiment) and Phase II (Definitive experiment). Phase I was conducted to assess general toxicity and bone marrow cytotoxicity of Synacinn™, and to select the doses for the definitive experiment. In-life observations included mortality, clinical signs of toxicity and body weight. Bone marrow samples were collected and extracted from the femur bone using fetal bovine serum. The pellet obtained after the centrifugation was used for preparing bone marrow smears to evaluate the number of immature and mature erythrocytes.