Potential antioxidant and antiradical agents from Allium ascalonicum: Superoxide dismutase and density functional theory in silico studies.

Antioxidants are compounds that can inhibit excessive free radical reactions in the body. Excessive free radicals can cause system imbalances in the body which can trigger oxidative stress and cause serious illness. The limitations of antioxidants in the body can be overcome by consuming safe natural additional antioxidants that can be obtained from natural products. Isolating compounds of Allium ascalonicum leaves as antioxidant and antiradical agents in inhibiting excessive free radicals by in vitro and in silico. The extracted compounds were purified by column chromatography. The compounds obtained were then characterized using ultraviolet, infrared, NMR, and mass spectrometry. Determination of antioxidant activity was carried out by in vitro using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and the non-enzymatic superoxide dismutase (SOD) methods. The in silico study used the density functional theory (DFT) calculation method with global descriptive parameters (GDP), donor acceptor map (DAM), and frontier molecular orbitals (FMO) analysis. Three compounds have been isolated, of which compound 1 is a new compound. In the DPPH method, compound 1 has more strong antioxidant activity than others, as well as in the non-enzymatic SOD method. Whereas, in the DFT calculation shows that compound 1 has the best reactivity and stability between other compounds and was categorized as the best antiradical. Compound 1 has the highest antioxidant activity compared to the other compounds by in vitro both the DPPH and non-enzymatic SOD methods. In silico, compound 1 has the potential as the best antiradical.

Anti-Infection of Oral Microorganisms from Herbal Medicine of Piper crocatum Ruiz & Pav.

The WHO Global Status Report on Oral Health 2022 reveals that oral diseases caused by infection with oral pathogenic microorganisms affect nearly 3.5 billion people worldwide. Oral health problems are caused by the presence of S. mutans, S. sanguinis, E. faecalis and C. albicans in the oral cavity. Synthetic anti-infective drugs have been widely used to treat oral infections, but have been reported to cause side effects and resistance. Various strategies have been implemented to overcome this problem. Synthetic anti-infective drugs have been widely used to treat oral infections, but they have been reported to cause side effects and resistance. Therefore, it is important to look for safe anti-infective alternatives. Ethnobotanical and ethnopharmacological studies suggest that Red Betel leaf (Piper crocatum Ruiz & Pav) could be a potential source of oral anti-infectives. This review aims to discuss the pathogenesis mechanism of several microorganisms that play an important role in causing health problems, the mechanism of action of synthetic oral anti-infective drugs in inhibiting microbial growth in the oral cavity, and the potential of red betel leaf (Piper crocatum Ruiz & Pav) as an herbal oral anti-infective drug. This study emphasises the importance of researching natural components as an alternative treatment for oral infections that is more effective and can meet global needs.

Phytochemical Analysis and Anti-Biofilm Potential That Cause Dental Caries from Black Cumin Seeds (Nigella sativa Linn.).

The oral cavity is an excellent place for various microorganisms to grow. Spectrococcus mutans and Spectrococcus sanguinis are Gram-negative bacteria found in the oral cavity as pioneer biofilm formers on the tooth surface that cause caries. Caries treatment has been done with antibiotics and therapeutics, but the resistance level of S. mutans and S. sanguinis bacteria necessitates the exploration of new drug compounds. Black cumin (Nigella sativa Linn.) is known to contain secondary metabolites that have antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-biofilm, anti-inflammatory and antifungal activities. The purpose of this review article is to present data on the potential of Nigella sativa Linn seeds as anti-biofilm. This article will discuss biofilm-forming bacteria, the resistance mechanism of antibiotics, the bioactivity of N. sativa extracts and seed isolates together with the Structure Activity Relationship (SAR) review of N. sativa compound isolates. We collected data from reliable references that will illustrate the potential of N. sativa seeds as anti-biofilm drug.

Moringa oleifera: A Review of the Pharmacology, Chemical Constituents, and Application for Dental Health.

Moringa oleifera L., commonly known as Kelor in Indonesia and miracle tree in English, has a rich history of utilization for medicinal, nutritional, and water treatment purposes dating back to ancient times. The plant is renowned for its abundance of vitamins, minerals, and various chemical constituents, making it a valuable resource. Among its notable pharmacological properties are its effectiveness as an anti-diabetic, anti-diarrheal, anti-helmintic, anti-leishmanial, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-allergic, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidant agent. In this comprehensive review, we delve into the extensive pharmacological applications and phytochemical constituents of M. oleifera and its application in dental health.

Antifungal Constituents of Piper crocatum and Their Activities as Ergosterol Biosynthesis Inhibitors Discovered via In Silico Study Using ADMET and Drug-Likeness Analysis.

Along with the increasing resistance of Candida spp. to some antibiotics, it is necessary to find new antifungal drugs, one of which is from the medicinal plant Red Betel (Piper crocatum). The purpose of this research is to isolate antifungal constituents from P. crocatum and evaluate their activities as ergosterol biosynthesis inhibitors via an in silico study of ADMET and drug-likeness analysis. Two new active compounds 1 and 2 and a known compound 3 were isolated, and their structures were determined using spectroscopic methods, while their bioactivities were evaluated via in vitro and in silico studies, respectively. Antifungal compound 3 was the most active compared to 1 and 2 with zone inhibition values of 14.5, 11.9, and 13.0 mm, respectively, at a concentration of 10% w/v, together with MIC/MFC at 0.31/1.2% w/v. Further in silico study demonstrated that compound 3 had a stronger ΔG than the positive control and compounds 1 and 2 with -11.14, -12.78, -12.00, and -6.89 Kcal/mol against ERG1, ERG2, ERG11, and ERG24, respectively, and also that 3 had the best Ki with 6.8 × 10-3, 4 × 10-4, 1.6 × 10-3, and 8.88 µM. On the other hand, an ADMET analysis of 1-3 met five parameters, while 1 had one violation of Ro5. Based on the research data, the promising antifungal constituents of P. crocatum allow P. crocatum to be proposed as a new antifungal candidate to treat and cure infections due to C. albicans.

Unveiling the Anti-Cancer Potential of Onoceranoid Triterpenes from Lansium domesticum Corr. cv. kokosan: An In Silico Study against Estrogen Receptor Alpha.

Breast cancer is a significant global concern, with tamoxifen, the standard treatment, raising long-term safety issues due to side effects. In this study, we evaluated the potential of five onoceranoid triterpenes from Lansium domesticum Corr. cv. kokosan against estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) using in silico techniques. Utilizing molecular docking, Lipinski's rule of five, in silico ADMET, and molecular dynamics simulations, we assessed the potency of five onoceranoid triterpenes against ERα. Molecular docking indicated competitive binding energies for these triterpenes relative to the active form of tamoxifen (4OHT) and estradiol, an ERα native ligand. Three triterpenes met drug-likeness criteria with favorable ADMET profiles. Notably, 2 demonstrated superior binding affinity in molecular dynamics simulations, outperforming estradiol, closely followed by 3 and 4. Hierarchical clustering on principal components (HCPC) and the spatial distribution of contact surface area (CSA) analyses suggest that these triterpenes, especially 2, may act as antagonist ligands akin to 4OHT. These findings highlight the potential of onoceranoid triterpenes in treating ERα-related breast cancer.

Potential of Syzygnium polyanthum as Natural Food Preservative: A Review.

Food preservation is one of the strategies taken to maintain the level of public health. Oxidation activity and microbial contamination are the primary causes of food spoilage. For health reasons, people prefer natural preservatives over synthetic ones. Syzygnium polyanthum is widely spread throughout Asia and is utilized as a spice by the community. S. polyanthum has been found to be rich in phenols, hydroquinones, tannins, and flavonoids, which are potential antioxidants and antimicrobial agents. Consequently, S. polyanthum presents a tremendous opportunity as a natural preservative. This paper reviews recent articles about S. polyanthum dating back to the year 2000. This review summarizes the findings of natural compounds presented in S. polyanthum and their functional properties as antioxidants, antimicrobial agents, and natural preservatives in various types of food.

In silico Study of Antiviral Activity of Polyphenol Compounds from Ocimum basilicum by Molecular Docking, ADMET, and Drug-Likeness Analysis.

Aim: The SARS-CoV-2 virus is a disease that has mild to severe effects on patients, which can even lead to death. One of the enzymes that act as DNA replication is the main protease, which becomes the main target in the inhibition of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. In finding effective drugs against this virus, Ocimum basilicum is a potential herbal plant because it has been tested to have high phytochemical content and bioactivity. Apigenin-7-glucuronide, dihydrokaempferol-3-glucoside, and aesculetin are polyphenolic compounds found in Ocimum basilicum. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the mechanism of inhibition of the three polyphenolic compounds in Ocimum basilicum against the main protease and to predict pharmacokinetic activity and the drug-likeness of a compound using the Lipinski Rule of Five. Patients and Methods: The method used is to predict the molecular docking inhibition mechanism using Autodock 4.0 tools and use pkcsm and protox online web server to analyze ADMET and Drug-likeness. Results: The binding affinity for apigenin-7-glucuronide was -8.77 Kcal/mol, dihydrokaempferol-3-glucoside was -8.96 Kcal/mol, and aesculetin was -5.79 Kcal/mol. Then, the inhibition constant values were 375.81 nM, 270.09 nM, and 57.11 µM, respectively. Apigenin-7-glucuronide and dihydrokaempferol-3-glucoside bind to the main protease enzymes on the active sites of CYS145 and HIS41, while aesculetin only binds to the active sites of CYS145. On ADMET analysis, these three compounds met the predicted pharmacokinetic parameters, although there are some specific parameters that must be considered especially for aesculetin compounds. Meanwhile, on drug-likeness analysis, apigenin-7-glucuronide and dihydrokaempferol-3-glucoside compounds have one violation and aesculetin have no violation. Conclusion: Based on the data obtained, Apigenin-7-glucuronide and dihydrokaempferol-3-glucoside are compounds that have more potential to have an antiviral effect on the main protease enzyme than aesculetin. Based on pharmacokinetic parameters and drug-likeness, three compounds can be used as lead compounds for further research.

New Triterpenoids from Lansium domesticum Corr. cv kokossan and Their Cytotoxic Activity.

Lansium domesticum Corr. is a member of the Meliaceae family that is widely spread in tropical and subtropical region of Asia and America. Traditionally, the fruit of this plant has been consumed because of its sweet taste. However, the fruit peels and the seeds of this plant have been rarely utilized. The previous chemical investigation of this plant showed the presence of secondary metabolites with many biological activities, including cytotoxic triterpenoid. Triterpenoids is a class of secondary metabolites which contain thirty carbon atoms in the main skeleton. The high modification of this type of compound, including the ring opening, highly oxygenated carbons, and the degradation of its carbon chain to give the nor-triterpenoid structure, is responsible for its cytotoxic activity. In this paper, we isolated and elucidated the chemical structure of two new onoceranoid triterpenes, kokosanolides E (1) and F (2), from the fruit peels of L. domesticum Corr., along with a new tetranortriterpenoid, kokosanolide G (3), from the seeds of L. domesticum Corr. The structural determination of compounds 1-3 was undertaken through FTIR spectroscopic analysis, 1D and 2D NMR, mass spectrometry, as well as through a comparison of the chemical shifts of the partial structures of compounds 1-3 with the literature data. The cytotoxic properties of compounds 1-3 were tested against MCF-7 breast cancer cells using the MTT assay. Moderate activity was shown by compounds 1 and 3, with IC50 values of 45.90 and 18.41 µg/mL, respectively, while compound 2 showed no activity (IC50 168.20 µg/mL). For the onoceranoid-type triterpene, the high symmetrical structure of compound 1 is presumably the reason for its better cytotoxic activity compared with that of compound 2. Compound 3 showed moderate activity, mainly because of the presence of the furan ring, which, based on the literature, gives better cytotoxic activity in a tetranortriterpenoid-type structure. The findings of three new triterpenoid compounds from L. domesticum indicate the significant value of this plant as a source of new compounds.

Breynia cernua: Chemical Profiling of Volatile Compounds in the Stem Extract and Its Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Antiplasmodial and Anticancer Activity In Vitro and In Silico.

Breynia cernua has been used as an alternative medicine for wounds, smallpox, cervical cancer, and breast cancer. This plant is a potential source of new plant-derived drugs to cure numerous diseases for its multiple therapeutic functions. An in vitro study revealed that the methanol extract of B. cernua (stem) exhibits antioxidant activity according to DPPH and SOD methods, with IC50 values of 33 and 8.13 ppm, respectively. The extract also exerts antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus with minimum bactericidal concentration of 1875 ppm. Further analysis revealed that the extract with a concentration of 1-2 ppm protects erythrocytes from the ring formation stage of Plasmodium falciparum, while the extract with a concentration of 1600 ppm induced apoptosis in the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line. GC-MS analysis showed 45 bioactive compounds consisting of cyclic, alkyl halide, organosulfur, and organoarsenic compounds. Virtual screening via a blind docking approach was conducted to analyze the binding affinity of each metabolite against various target proteins. The results unveiled that two compounds, namely, N-[ß-hydroxy-ß-[4-[1-adamantyl-6,8-dichloro]quinolyl]ethyl]piperidine and 1,3-phenylene, bis(3-phenylpropenoate), demonstrated the best binding score toward four tested proteins with a binding affinity varying from -8.3 to -10.8 kcal/mol. Site-specific docking analysis showed that the two compounds showed similar binding energy with native ligands. This finding indicated that the two phenolic compounds could be novel antioxidant, antibacterial, antiplasmodial, and anticancer drugs. A thorough analysis by monitoring drug likeness and pharmacokinetics revealed that almost all the identified compounds can be considered as drugs, and they have good solubility, oral bioavailability, and synthetic accessibility. Altogether, the in vitro and in silico analysis suggested that the extract of B. cernua (stem) contains various compounds that might be correlated with its bioactivities.

Natural Cycloartane Triterpenoids from Corypha utan Lamk. with Anticancer Activity towards P388 Cell Lines and their Predicted Interaction with FLT3.

BACKGROUND: Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the world. Leukemia is a type of cancer that accounts for 31.5% of all cancers in children under the age of 15 in industrialized countries and 15.7% in developing countries. The inhibition of FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) is a suitable approach for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) therapy as it is overexpressed in AML. AIM AND OBJECTIVE: This study intends to explore the natural constituents from the bark of Corypha utan Lamk., and assess their cytotoxicity on murine leukemia cell lines (P388) in addition to predicting their interaction with FLT3 as a studied target by computational methods. METHODS: Compounds 1 and 2 were isolated from Corypha utan Lamk using the stepwise radial chromatography method. These compounds were assessed for their cytotoxicity against Artemia salina using the BSLT and P388 cells and the MTT assay. The docking simulation was employed to predict the possible interaction between triterpenoid and FLT3. RESULTS: Isolation from the bark of C. utan Lamk. generated two triterpenoids, cycloartanol (1) and cycloartanone (2). Based on the in vitro and in silico studies, both compounds were found to have anticancer activity. The evaluation of cytotoxicity from this study reveals that cycloartanol (1) and cycloartanone (2) could inhibit P388 cell growth (IC50 value at 102.6 and 110.0 µg/mL, respectively). The binding energy of cycloartanone was -9.94 Kcal/mol with a Ki value of 0.051 µM, while the binding energy and Ki value of cycloartanol (1) were found to be 8.76 Kcal/mol and 0.38 µM, respectively. These compounds also demonstrate a stable interaction by forming hydrogen bonds with FLT3. CONCLUSION: Cycloartanol (1) and cycloartanone (2) exhibit potency as anticancer agents by inhibiting P388 cells in vitro and the FLT3 gene in silico.

Potential of 24-Propylcholestrol as Immunity Inducer against Infection of COVID-19 Virus: In Silico Study Immunomodulatory Drugs.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) caused by SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2) has infected millions of people and caused hundreds of thousands of deaths worldwide. However, until now no specific drug for SARS-CoV-2 infection has been found. This prompted many researchers to explore compounds as anti-SARS-CoV-2 candidates. One of the efforts to deal with the spread of the COVID-19 virus is to increase the body's immune system (immune). Medicinal plants are known to have the ability as immune-modulators, one of which is Betel leaf (Piper betle L.) which has good activity as antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-viral with other pharmacological effects. An in silico approach in drug development was used to search for potential antiviral compounds as inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro Protein, RBD, and Non-structural Protein (NSP15). OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the potential of Betel leaf compounds as immunemodulators and good inhibitory pathways against COVID-19. METHODS: In this study, a potential screening of steroid class compounds, namely 24- propilcholesterol was carried out as an anti-SARS-CoV-2 candidate, using an in silico approach with molecular docking simulations for three receptors that play an important role in COVID-19, namely Mpro SARS-CoV-2, RBD SARS-CoV-2 and a non-structural protein (NSP15) and were compared with Azithromycin, Favipiravir and Ritonavir as positive controls. RESULTS: Based on the results of molecular docking simulations, compound from Betel leaf, 24- Propylcholesterol, showed high binding affinity values for spike glycoprotein RBD and nonstructural protein 15 (NSP15), namely -7.5 and -7.8 kcal/mol. Meanwhile, a native ligand of Mpro, inhibitor N3, has a higher binding affinity value than 24-propylcholesterol -7.4 kcal/mol. CONCLUSION: 24-Propylcholesterol compound predicted to have potential as an anti-SARS-CoV-2 compound. However, it is necessary to carry out in vitro and in vivo studies to determine the effectiveness of the compound as an anti-SARS-CoV-2.

Potential Nevadensin from Ocimum basilicum as Antibacterial Agent against Streptococcus mutans: In Vitro and In Silico Studies.

BACKGROUND: Streptococcus mutans is one of the bacteria that contributes to biofilm formation and causes dental caries. The inhibition of SrtA, gbpC, and Ag I/II is a promising target to be developed as an antibacterial. Ocimum basilicum is known to have antibacterial activity. AIM AND OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the potential nevadensin as antibacterial against S. mutans. METHODS: Antibacterial analysis was carried out by disc diffusion and micro-dilution methods and the in-silico study was performed with ligand-protein docking. RESULTS: The result showed that the MIC and MBC values of nevadensin are 900 and 7200 µg/mL, respectively. The binding energy of nevadensin to SrtA, gbpC, and Ag I/II were -4.53, 8.37, -6.12 kcal/mol, respectively. CONCLUSION: Nevadensin shows moderate activity as an antibacterial against S. mutans. Meanwhile, in silico studies showed it has the same binding strength as chlorhexidine in inhibiting SrtA, whereas to gbpC and Ag I/II, it has a weaker binding affinity. Therefore, nevadensin has the potential as a natural antibacterial against S. mutans by inhibiting SrtA.

The Potential of 24-Propylcholestrol as Antibacterial Oral Bacteria of Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212 and Inhibitor Biofilms Formation: in vitro and in silico Study.

Introduction: Uncontrolled biofilm can cause several diseases such as dental caries, gingivitis, and periodontitis. Dental caries is a disease caused by the accumulation of plaque-containing pathogenic bacteria, including Enterococcus faecalis. These bacteria infect the root canals of teeth and colonize to form biofilms. Biofilm inhibition is carried out by interfering with cell wall formation metabolism. MurA enzyme has a role in peptidoglycan biosynthesis of cell walls. Enterococcal surface protein (Esp) is the main contributor of E. faecalis to form biofilms. In addition, inhibition of biofilms by interfering with the quorum sensing (QS) system, suppressing gelatinase virulence factors by blocking autoinducers gelatinase biosynthesis-activating pheromone (GBAP). Purpose: Knowing the potential of Piper betel Linn. compounds as antibacterial in vitro and antibiofilm agents against E. faecalis in silico. Patients and Methods: The compounds were purified by a bioactivity-guided chromatographic method. Antibacterial activity was tested by disc diffusion method, in vitro studies. In silico study, compound P. betel L. was used as the test ligand and compared with positive control fosfomycin, ambuic acid, quercetin, and taxifolin. The proteins used MurA, Esp, GBAP, and gelatinase were docking with the Autodock Vina PyRx 0.8 followed by the PYMOL program and visualized with the Discovery Studio 2020 program. Results: An antibacterial compound was identified 24-propylcholesterol which can inhibit the activity of E. faecalis ATCC 29212 with MIC value of 78.1 µg/mL and MBC value of 156.3 µg/mL. Molecular docking results showed the binding affinity of 24-propylcholesterol with MurA, ESP, GBAP, and gelatinase enzymes was -7.6, -8.7, -5.3, and -7.9 kcal/mol. Conclusion: 24-propylcholesterol has potential as an antibacterial against E. faecalis and as an antibiofilm through in silico inhibition of QS. However, further research is needed in vitro and in vivo to determine the effectiveness of these compounds as antibacterial and antibiofilm.

Anti-Alopecia Activity of Alkaloids Group from Noni Fruit against Dihydrotestosterone-Induced Male Rabbits and Its Molecular Mechanism: In Vivo and In Silico Studies.

Androgenic alopecia (AA) is a condition that most commonly affects adult men and is caused by an increase in the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in the hair follicles. Anti-alopecia drugs should be discovered for hair follicles to enter the anagen growth phase. Therefore, this study evaluated the hair growth-promoting activity of Noni fruit's water, ethyl acetate, n-hexane fractions, and sub-fractions from the active fraction in the alopecia male white rabbit model. The Matias method was modified by inducing rabbits using DHT for 17 days, followed by topical application of Noni fruit solution for 21 days. Meanwhile, hair growth was evaluated by histological observation of the follicular density and the anagen/telogen (A/T) ratio in skin tissue. In the first stage, five groups of male white rabbits were studied to obtain the active fraction; DHT+Minoxidil as standard, DHT+vehicle (NaCMC 1%), DHT+FW, DHT+FEA, and DHT+FH. The FEA as the active fraction was followed by open-column chromatography separation (DCM:Methanol) with a gradient of 10% to produce sub-fractions. In the second stage, the six main sub-fraction groups of male rabbits studied were DHT+FEA-1 to DHT+FEA-6. The follicular density of groups FEA-3 was 78.00 ± 1.52 compared with 31.55 ± 1.64 and 80.12 ± 1.02 in the Vehicle and Minoxidil groups. Additionally, group FEA-3 showed large numbers of anagen follicles with an A/T ratio of 1.64/1 compared to the vehicle group of 1/1.50 and 1.39/1 for Minoxidil control. Group FEA-3 was identified by LC-MS/MS-QTOF, followed by molecular docking to the androgen receptor (PDB: 4K7A), causing alopecia. The results showed that three alkaloid compounds with skeleton piperazine and piperidine, namely (compounds 2 (−4.99 Kcal/mol), 3 (−4.60 Kcal/mol), and 4 (−4.57 Kcal/mol)) had a binding affinity similar to Minoxidil, with also has alkaloid skeleton piperidine−pyrimidine (−4.83 Kcal/mol). The dynamic behavior showed the stability of all androgen receptor compounds with good RMSD, SMSF, and SASA values after being studied with 100 ns molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. This study produced a common thread in discovering a class of alkaloid compounds as inhibitors of androgen receptors that cause alopecia.

A Review of Bioactive Compounds and Antioxidant Activity Properties of Piper Species.

Antioxidants are compounds that are able to inhibit the negative effects that come from free radicals. The phenomenon of imbalanced antioxidant production and the accumulation of free radicals in cells and tissues can cause oxidative stress. Excessive free radicals that enter the body cannot be warded off by endogenous antioxidant compounds so that the required antioxidant compounds can come from the outside, which helps in the performance of endogenous antioxidants. Antioxidants that come from outside consist of synthetic and natural antioxidants; however, synthetic antioxidants are not an option because they have toxic and carcinogenic effects. Therefore, the use of natural ingredients is an alternative method that is needed to create a new natural antioxidant compound. Piper species are being considered as possible medicinal plants for the development of new sources of antioxidants. Several studies have been carried out starting from the extract levels, fractions, and compounds of the Piper species, which showed good antioxidant activity. Currently, some of these plants are being used as ingredients in traditional medicines to treat allergies, toothaches, and coughs. This review examines the distribution, botanical data, pharmacology, especially antioxidant activity, and the compounds contained in five Piper species, namely Piper amalago L., Piper betle L., Piper hispidum Sw., Piper longum L., and Piper umbellatum L.

Ocimum Species: A Review on Chemical Constituents and Antibacterial Activity.

Infection by bacteria is one of the main problems in health. The use of commercial antibiotics is still one of the treatments to overcome these problems. However, high levels of consumption lead to antibiotic resistance. Several types of antibiotics have been reported to experience resistance. One solution that can be given is the use of natural antibacterial products. There have been many studies reporting the potential antibacterial activity of the Ocimum plant. Ocimum is known to be one of the medicinal plants that have been used traditionally by local people. This plant contains components of secondary metabolites such as phenolics, flavonoids, steroids, terpenoids, and alkaloids. Therefore, in this paper, we will discuss five types of Ocimum species, namely O. americanum, O. basilicum, O. gratissimum, O. campechianum, and O. sanctum. The five species are known to contain many chemical constituents and have good antibacterial activity against several pathogenic bacteria.

Current Research of Phytochemical, Medicinal and Non-Medicinal Uses of Uncaria gambir Roxb.: A Review.

Uncaria gambir Roxb. is a plant from Southeast Asia and is widely used as an alternative medicine with various applications. This plant has been widely used in traditional medicine. This paper aims to provide information on U. gambir, a summary of data on phytochemicals and on medical and nonmedical activities. Phytochemical studies reveal biologically active constituents such as flavonoids, phenolics, and alkaloids. Various studies have shown that extracts and compounds obtained from U. gambir have medical uses for their antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-helminthic, anticancer, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, anti-hyperglycemic, anti-hyperuricemic, anti-lipid peroxidation, antihyperlipidemic and other properties. In addition, this extract has other uses, such as adsorbent for dyes and metal ions, as well as corrosion inhibition. Thus, U. gambir, which is commonly used in traditional medicine, is a potential plant for many therapeutic applications and prospects for drug development as well as other applications such as adsorbent and corrosion inhibition.

Enhancement Methods of Antioxidant Capacity in Rice Bran: A Review.

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a primary food that is widely consumed throughout the world, especially in Asian countries. The two main subspecies of rice are japonica and indica which are different in physical characteristics. In general, both indica and japonica rice consist of three types of grain colors, namely white, red, and black. Furthermore, rice and rice by-products contain secondary metabolites such as phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and tocopherols that have bioactivities such as antioxidants, antimicrobial, cancer chemopreventive, antidiabetic, and hypolipidemic agents. The existence of health benefits in rice bran, especially as antioxidants, gives rice bran the opportunity to be used as a functional food. Most of the bioactive compounds in plants are found in bound form with cell wall components such as cellulose and lignin. The process of releasing bonds between bioactive components and cell wall components in rice bran can increase the antioxidant capacity. Fermentation and treatment with enzymes were able to increase the total phenolic content, total flavonoids, tocotrienols, tocopherols, and γ-oryzanol in rice bran.

Prediction of the mechanism of action of catechin as superoxide anion antioxidants and natural antivirals for COVID-19 infection with in silico study.

Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 attacking the lungs, which contain the most oxygen. The involvement of oxidative stress in the body and the role of antioxidant compounds, namely catechins, are thought to be able to prevent various diseases, including the COVID-19 infection virus. An in silico approach was employed between the catechins and the protein NADPH oxidase (Nox), followed by the coronavirus protease protein, to limit the generation of reactive oxygen species. This research using the in silico method seeks to predict the mechanism of action of catechin as a superoxide radical anion inhibitor and as an antiviral for COVID-19. This study carried out molecular docking simulations of catechin compounds against Nox and coronavirus proteases and then compared them with positive controls GKT136901 and remdesivir. The binding energy of catechin and Nox in a docking simulation is - 8.30 kcal/mol, which is somewhat lower than GKT136901's binding value of - 8.72 kcal/mol. Catechin and coronavirus proteases had binding energy of - 7.89 kcal/mol, which was greater than remdesivir's binding energy of - 7.50 kcal/mol. Based on in silico data, catechin as an antioxidant compound can be antiviral for COVID-19.