Effects of Methods and Durations of Extraction on Total Flavonoid and Phenolic Contents and Antioxidant Activity of Java Cardamom (Amomum compactum Soland Ex Maton) Fruit.

Free radicals contribute to the pathophysiology of degenerative diseases which increase mortality globally, including mortality in Indonesia. Amomum compactum Soland. Ex Maton fruit from the Zingiberaceae family, also known as Java cardamom, contains secondary metabolites that have high antioxidant activities. The antioxidant activity of the methanol extract of Java cardamom fruit correlates with its flavonoid and phenolic compound contents, which can be affected by different methods and durations of extraction. This study aimed to measure and compare the effects of extraction methods and durations on total flavonoid and phenolic contents (TFCs and TPCs) and subsequent antioxidant activities by the 2,2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) (ABTS), and cupric ion reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC) assays. Methanol extracts of Java cardamom were produced by continuous shaking (CSE), microwave-assisted (MAE), or ultrasonic-assisted extractions (UAE) for three different durations. CSE for 360 min resulted in the highest TFCs (3.202 mg Quercetin Equivalent/g dry weight), while the highest TPCs (1.263 mg Gallic Acid Equivalent/g dry weight) were obtained by MAE for 3 min. Out of the investigated methods, MAE for 3 min resulted in the highest antioxidant activity results for the extracts. We conclude that the polyphenolic antioxidant yield of Java cardamom depends on two parameters: the method and the duration of extraction.

Allotopic expression of mitochondrial genes: Basic strategy and progress.

Allotopic expression of mitochondrial genes is a deliberate functional relocation of mitochondrial genes into the nucleus followed by import of the gene-encoded polypeptide from the cytoplasm into the mitochondria. For successful allotopic expression of a mitochondrial gene, several key aspects must be considered. These include the different codon dictionary used by the mitochondrial and nuclear genomes, different codon preferences between mitochondrial and nuclear-cytosolic translation systems, and the provision of an import signal to ensure that the newly translated protein in the cytosol is successfully imported into mitochondria. The allotopic expression strategy was first developed in yeast, a useful model organism for studying human and other eukaryotic cells. Currently, a number of mitochondrial genes have been successfully recoded and nuclearly expressed in yeast and human cells. In addition to its use in evolutionary and molecular biology studies, the allotopic expression strategy has been developed as a potential approach to treat mitochondrial genetic disorders. Substantial progress has been recently achieved, and the development of this technique for therapy of the mitochondrial disease Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) has entered phase III clinical trials. However, a number of challenges remain to be overcome to accelerate the successful application of this technique. These include improvement of nuclear gene expression, import into mitochondria, processing, and functional integration of the allotopically expressed polypeptides into mitochondrial protein complexes. This review discusses the current basic strategy, progress, challenges, and prospects of the allotopic expression strategy for mitochondrial genes.

Impact of composted guava leaves and neem seeds on the growth and curcuminoid- and xanthorrhizol-yields of Curcuma zanthorrhiza RoxB / Impacto de folhas de goiabeira compostada e sementes de nim no crescimento e r endimento de curcuminóides e xanthorrizil de Curcuma zanthorrhiza RoxB

ABSTRACT: The compost from the waste of pharmaceutical industries, such as guava leaves (GL) and neem seeds (NS) is used in organic agriculture. Curcuma zanthorrhiza RoxB. is a widely recognized herbal medicine that grows natively in Indonesia. Curcuminoids and xanthorrhizol are the primary bioactive components of C. zanthorrhiza. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the impact of GL and NS compost on the growth and bioactive yields of C. zanthorrhiza. Treatments consisted of cow manure, GL compost, NS compost, GL+NS compost, or a no compost control, at 2 and 4 kg per plant. Results demonstrated that the NS and GL+NS compost applied with 4 kg per plant had increased fresh rhizome yield compared with the other treatments. Composted NS at 2 kg per plant increased the plant height and pseudo stem diameter traits compared with the control treatment. The compost application of GL+NS at 2 and 4 kg per plant significantly increased the leaf length and number of shoots. All treatments showed unchanged the leaf width and number of leaves. The compost application of GL and NS (2 kg per plant) showed higher production of curcuminoidsthan the control. The compost consisting of GL (2 kg per plant), NS (4 kg per plant), and GL+NS also increased the production of xanthorrhizol compared with the control treatment. Results illustrated the practical application of GL and NS composts from industrial pharmaceutical extraction waste for the organic farming cultivation of C. zanthorrhiza.

RESUMO: O composto dos resíduos das indústrias farmacêuticas, como folhas de goiaba (GL) e sementes de nim (NS), é usado na agricultura orgânica. Curcuma zanthorrhiza RoxB. é um medicamento fitoterápico amplamente reconhecido que cresce de forma nativa na Indonésia. Os curcuminóides e o xanthorrizol são os principais componentes bioativos de C. zanthorrhiza. Neste trabalho, objetivou-se avaliar o impacto do composto GL e NS no crescimento e produtividade bioativa de C. zanthorrhiza. Os tratamentos consistiram em esterco de vaca, composto GL, composto NS, composto GL + NS ou controle sem composto, em 2 e 4 kg por planta. Os resultados demonstraram que o composto NS e GL + NS aplicado com 4 kg por planta aumentou a produção de rizoma fresco, em comparação com os outros tratamentos. A NS compostada a 2 kg por planta aumentou as características de altura da planta e diâmetro do pseudoestêmico em comparação com o tratamento controle. A aplicação de composto de GL + NS em 2 e 4 kg por planta aumentou significativamente o comprimento das folhas e o número de brotações. Todos os tratamentos apresentaram alteração na largura e número de folhas. A aplicação de composto de GL e NS (2 kg por planta) apresentou maior produção de curcuminóide do que o controle. Os compostos constituídos por GL (2 kg por planta), NS (4 kg por planta) e GL + NS também aumentaram a produção de xanthorrizol em comparação com o tratamento controle. Os resultados ilustraram a aplicação prática de compostos GL e NS de resíduos de extração farmacêutica industrial para o cultivo orgânico de C. zanthorrhiza.

Current understanding of structure, function and biogenesis of yeast mitochondrial ATP synthase.

The yeast mitochondrial ATP synthase is a rotary molecular machine primarily responsible for the production of energy used to drive cellular processes. The enzyme complex is composed of 17 different subunits grouped into a soluble F1 sector and a membrane-embedded F0 sector. The catalytic head of the F1 sector and the membrane integrated motor module in the F0 sector are connected by two stalks, the F1 central stalk and the F0 peripheral stalk. Proton translocation through the F0 motor module drives the rotation of the subunit 910-ring that generates torque which is transmitted to the calaytic head through the γ subunit of the central stalk. The rotation of the γ subunit causes changes in conformation of the catalytic head which leads to the synthesis of ATP. Biogenesis of the enzyme involves modular assembly of polypeptides of dual genetic origin, the nuclear and the mitochondrial genomes. Most of the yeast ATP synthase subunits are encoded by the genome of the nucleus, translated on cytosolic ribosomes and imported into mitochondria. In the mitochondria, the enzyme forms a dimer which contributes to the formation of cristae, a characteristic of mitochondrial morphology. Substantial progress has recently been made on the elucidation of detailed stucture, function and biogenesis of yeast mitochondrial ATP synthase. The recent availability of high-resolution structure of the complete monomeric form, as well as the atomic model for the dimeric F0 sector, has advanced the understanding of the enzyme complex. This review is intended to provide an overview of current understanding of the molecular structure, catalytic mechanism, subunit import into mitochondria, and the subunit assembly into the enzyme complex. This is important as the yeast mitochondrial ATP synthase may be used as a model for understanding the corresponding enzyme complexes from human and other eukaryotic cells in physiological and diseased states.

Anticancer activity test of ethyl acetate extract of endophytic fungi isolated from soursop leaf (Annona muricata L.).

OBJECTIVE: To analyze anticancer activity of an ethyl acetate extract of endophytic fungi isolated from soursop leaf (Annona muricata L.). METHODS: Anticancer activity of fungal extracts was determined by observing its toxicity against MCF-7 (Michigan Cancer Foundation-7) cells in vitro by using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay method. At an extract concentration of 100 µg/mL, 4 isolates out of 12 showed high activity against the cancer cell growth. The four isolates were then selected for further IC50 determination, by measuring the inhibition of cancer cell proliferation at extract concentration of 25 µg/mL, 50 µg/mL, 100 µg/mL, 200 µg/mL and 400 µg/mL. RESULTS: Results showed that isolate Sir-G5 had the highest anticancer activity with an IC50 of 19.20 µg/mL. The best isolates were screened again using a normal cell (Chang cells) to determine its toxicity against normal cells. Results indicated that the extracts do not affect the proliferation of normal cells. Molecular identification showed that the fungal isolate Sir-G5 has a close relationship with Phomopsis sp. CONCLUSIONS: The endophytic fungi isolated from soursop leaf has the potential to be used as a source of anticancer agents.