Journal of Science and Mathematics Letters

Chemical Constituents of Loranthaceae (Mistletoes): A Review

2023-10-24T12:04:40+00:00

This article review is designed to bring some updates on the phytochemistry of the Loranthaceae family in order to throw more light on future research priorities. Loranthaceae family is the leading pantropical semi parasitic shrubs generally termed mistletoe. They consist of about 75 genera and 1000 species growing in many countries of Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, South America and New Zealand with diverse widespread uses in adornment, food and medication. The literatures for this review was collected from various online databases: Google Scholar, PubMed, Research gate, Science Direct, Scopus and web of Science for nine genera namely, Globimetula, Scurrula, Dendrophtoe, Loranthus, Phragmanthera, Tapinanthus, Taxillus, Tripodanthus and Viscum based on the type of phytochemicals, popularity and environmental setting. Chemical studies of the Loranthaceae species have produced a number of important phytochemicals belonging to different classes. The recent investigations led to the discovery of several secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, lignan and neolignans and triterpenes. Hence this review represents a comprehensive assessment of the phytochemical studies carried out on Loranthaceae plants and could be a source of therapeutically beneficial products.

Assessing the Profile of Glyphosate Residues in Maize Grains Sold in the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, Nigeria

2023-11-21T05:00:04+00:00

The profile of glyphosate residues in maize grains sold in the Federal Capital Territory Abuja (FCT), Nigeria was assessed. Twenty-six maize grain samples of yellow and white morphotypes were collected from some selected markets within the FCT, Abuja. Analytical methods on the pulverized maize grains included solvent extraction using (acetonitrile/water (55:45), clean-up of pesticide residues and their quantification by HPLC/UV as described by the AOAC-QuEChERS method. The results showed that the mean concentration of glyphosate in the maize grains ranged from 0 to 24.30 ± 0.002 mgkg^_1 with a mean glyphosate concentration of 3.474 mgkg^-1 was detected. Four samples representing 17.86% of the samples collected violated the WHO/FAO CODEX standard of 5.0 mgkg^-1 while values recorded for Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) for all the samples were within an acceptable limit of 0 - 1 mgkg^-1. Heath risk index values were <1 suggesting that the consumer populations were not at risk. The high profile of glyphosate residue in maize grains from Gwagwalada Area Council of the FCT is of great concern and needs to be further investigated.

Chemical Diversity of Indole Alkaloids from Malaysian Kopsia Species (Apocynaceae) and Their Biological Activities.

2024-01-05T09:47:33+00:00

The genus Kopsia, which belongs to the family Apocynaceae, has been used extensively in traditional treatment. This mini-review provides a comprehensive analysis of the chemical diversity of indole alkaloids from Malaysian Kopsia species and their biological activities. Fifteen species with 164 indole alkaloids have already been studied and successfully isolated and characterised. Most of them are categorised as aspidofractinine, aspidospermane and eburnane types. The literature and references for this manuscript were obtained from various sources including SciFinder®, Reaxys®, ScienceDirect®, PubMed Central®, NIH National Library of Medicine, Google Scholar and The Plant List®.

A Review on Chemical Constituents and Pharmacological Action of the Genus Lindera

2024-03-14T04:30:11+00:00

The genus Lindera consists of approximately 100 species that are widely distributed in tropical and subtropical areas throughout the world. It is represented by widely well-known medicinal and aromatic plants that produce various phytochemicals with potential pharmacological actions. This review attempts to summarize the information on the phytochemicals of Lindera species together with their biological properties. The data and information were collected via an electronic search engine which are Scopus, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, PubMed, and SciFinder. Sesquiterpenes represent the major chemical compounds that have been characterised in Lindera species, as well as alkaloids, flavonoids, and phenolics. These compounds were shown to possess anticancer, antifibrotic, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antioxidant, anti-arthritic, cytotoxic, antiallergic, and antihyperlipidemic properties. The outcome of these studies will further support the therapeutic potential of the genus Lindera and provide convincing evidence for its future clinical applications in modern medicine.

Detection of SpaP and vicR Genes in Non-biofilm Producing Streptococcus mutans Isolated from Dental Caries and Plaque

2024-03-19T04:50:26+00:00

Evidence accumulated over many decades has clearly shown that Streptococcus mutans is a major agent in dental caries. S. mutans SpaP gene (Cell Surface Antigen) mediates the binding of these cariogenic bacteria to tooth surfaces. The aim of this study was to detect the presence of SpaP and vicR genes in non-biofilm forming Streptococcus mutant isolated from dental plaques. In this study, 120 clinical samples were obtained from different dental clinics and hospitals in Baghdad. 26 Bacterial isolates identified as Streptococcus mutans by using selective media (Mitis-salivarius agar) and microscopic examination after gram staining then confirmed S. mutans by molecular detection using SpaP genes. Interestingly all 26 isolates were non-biofilm forming after microtiter plate assay based on the crystal violet staining method, and negatively resulted for the detection of vicR gene which responsible for biofilm formation. 10 antibiotics (Doxycycline, Ofloxacin, Tetracycline, Erythromycin, Vancomycin, Clindamycin, Rifampicin, Imipenem, Amikacin and Cefepime) were used to examine sensitivity of S. mutans isolates, all isolates were multi-drugs resist (MDR) for all 10 antibiotics used. We can conclude that absence of biofilm forming ability does not affecting antibiotic resistance and virulence of Streptococcus mutance.

The Application of Pandan and Soybean Extracts on the Biosynthesis of Tin Oxide Nanoparticles

2024-04-23T12:36:04+00:00

Development of benign and efficient approaches towards the replacement of the conventional methods for producing SnO₂ nanoparticles (SnO₂ NPs) has begun in which a biosynthesis process has been introduced. This study utilizes biomolecules, specifically the flavonoids and carbohydrate groups in pandan and soybean extracts. The biosynthesized nanoparticles underwent characterization through relevant spectroscopies. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis revealed the absorption bands of SnO₂ and Sn-O-Sn groups, with the complete disappearance of peaks associated with untreated pandan and soybean. X-ray Diffraction (XRD) indicated the formation of tetragonal structure in SnO₂ NPs with primary peaks at 27^o, 34^o, and 51^o. Additionally, UV-Visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) yielded band gap values of 4.86 and 3.45 eV for SnO₂ NPs derived from pandan and soybean, respectively. In summary, the application of biosynthesized SnO₂ NPs as a potential heterogeneous catalyst for purifying dye-polluted water through a photocatalytic process is highlighted.

Biomedical Laboratory Practices and Challenges in Digitalization: A Review

2024-04-24T07:05:18+00:00

Biomedical laboratory plays an important role in the healthcare system by providing services for medical screening, diagnosis, and treatment selection, which is the backbone of a healthcare system. The growing demand for complex testing has placed biomedical laboratories under heavy pressure, leading to an increase in collaboration and bridging the service gaps among laboratories. During the COVID-19 pandemic, laboratories around the globe struggled to perform a large number of COVID-19 laboratory tests every day, as the country combats through the outbreak. This review provides an overview of biomedical laboratory settings and assurance, and discusses current biomedical laboratory practices and their level of digitalisation in Malaysia and a few other countries, such as the United States, Europe, Saudi Arabia, and Africa, during the outbreak. Despite the variety of laboratory practices in different countries, digitalisation remains important in supporting the healthcare system during the COVID-19 pandemic. This review also highlighted the challenges of current practices, which should be addressed to further enhance the accessibility and reliability of biomedical laboratory services. The suggestion of collaboration within the healthcare system has also been discussed to improve laboratory services for handling outbreak situations.