Pharmacognostical and Phytochemical Studies and Biological Activity of Curculigo latifolia Plant Organs for Natural Skin-Whitening Compound Candidate.

Curculigo latifolia (family Amaryllidaceae) is used empirically for medicinal purposes. It is distributed throughout Asian countries, especially Indonesia. This study aimed at standardizing the C. latifolia plant, analyzing its phytochemical profile, and evaluating its pharmacological effects. The powder from each organ (root, stem, and leaves) was standardized organoleptically and microscopically. Samples were extracted by graded maceration using hexane, ethyl acetate, and ethanol. The extracts were determined for total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC). Antioxidant (radical scavenging and metal ion reduction) and antityrosinase activities were determined by spectrophotometric methods. Extracts were analysed for phytochemical profiles by LC-ESI-MS. The highest TPC and TFC were found in the ethanolic extract of the root organ (68.63 ± 2.97 mg GAE/g) and the ethyl acetate extract of the stem (14.33 ± 0.71 mg QE/g extract). High antioxidant activities were found in the ethanolic root extract (20.42 ± 0.33 µg/mL) and ethanolic stem extract (45.65 ± 0.77 µg/mL) by DPPH• and NO• assays, respectively. The ion reduction activity (by CUPRAC assay) was most significant in the ethyl acetate stem extract (390.42 ± 14.49 µmol GAEAC/g extract). Ethanolic root extract was the most active in inhibiting tyrosinase (IC50 value of 108.5 µg/mL). The correlation matrix between TPC and antioxidant activities showed a moderate to robust correlation, whereas the TPC and antityrosinase activity showed a robust correlation. The TFC and antioxidant or antityrosinase activities showed a weak to moderate correlation. The LC-ESI-MS data identified major phenols in the active extracts, including methyl 3-hydroxy-4-methoxy-benzoate, quercetin, 4-O-caffeoylquinic acid-1, and curculigoside. Overall, this study suggests that extracts from the C. latifolia plant offer potent antioxidant and antityrosinase activities, allowing them to be used as natural antioxidants and candidates for skin-lightening compounds.

Nur S ，Setiawan H ，Hanafi M ，Elya B ... -  《SCIENTIFIC WORLD JOURNAL》

Crystal Guava (Psidium guajava L. "Crystal"): Evaluation of In Vitro Antioxidant Capacities and Phytochemical Content.

Free radicals can cause many diseases, such as cancer. Antioxidant is a compound that could scavenge free radicals. One of the natural antioxidants is guava. The goals of this research were to investigate the antioxidant activity of leaves and fruit of crystal guava by determining the value of the Antioxidant Activity Index (AAI) using DPPH, CUPRAC, and FRAP; evaluate the total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC); analyse the correlation between the TPC and TFC with AAI DPPH, CUPRAC, and FRAP, and analyse the correlation between the 3 methods. Extraction was performed by the reflux method using n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and ethanol. Determination of AAI DPPH, CUPRAC, FRAP, the TPC, and the TFC was performed by UV-visible spectrophotometry. The correlation of the TPC and TFC with AAI DPPH, CUPRAC, and FRAP and, also, the correlation of the 3 methods were investigated by Pearson's method. The antioxidant activity of leaves and fruit extracts of crystal guava showed AAI DPPH in the range of 0.33-56.46, CUPRAC 0.20-7.31, and FRAP 1.65-59.89. The highest TPC was given by ethanol leaf extracts (49.55 ± 1.45 g GAE/100 g), while the highest TFC was for n-hexane leaf extracts (9.68 ± 0.210 g QE/100 g). The TPC of leaves extract had a significantly positive correlation with AAI DPPH, CUPRAC, and FRAP. AAI DPPH, AAI CUPRAC, and AAI FRAP of leaves and fruit extract of crystal guava showed a significantly positive correlation. In general, leaves extract had strong antioxidant activity by the three methods. For the highest antioxidant activity, ethanol was the best solvent for extraction leaves and ethyl acetate for extraction fruit of crystal guava. The TPC in leaves extract contributed to the antioxidant activity by DPPH, CUPRAC, and FRAP methods. The Antioxidant activity of leaves and fruit extracts of crystal guava was linear by the three methods.

Hartati R ，Nadifan HI ，Fidrianny I 《SCIENTIFIC WORLD JOURNAL》

An Investigation into the Phytochemical Content and Antioxidant, Antidiabetic, and Wound-Healing Activities of Curculigo latifolia Found in Brunei Darussalam.

This present study aimed to investigate the phytochemical content and antioxidant and antidiabetic activities of Curculigo latifolia leaves (CL) and C. latifolia roots (CR) found in Brunei Darussalam. Phytochemical screening showed that CL and CR extracts contain saponins, tannins, glycosides, and terpenoids. CR showed higher total phenolic content (TPC), but lower total flavonoid content (TFC) when compared to CL. The high TPC in CR contributed to its potent radical scavenging activity (RSA) against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals and strong ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). Additionally, CR exerted significant inhibition of ∝-glucosidase and ∝-amylase, suggesting a potential link between the chemical compounds and its antioxidant and antidiabetic effects. In the animal study of antihyperglycemic activity, treatment with 250 mg/kg body weight (b.w.) of the CL extract normalised the blood glucose levels and improved body weight gain of alloxan-induced diabetic rats within 14 weeks. Furthermore, our investigation into the wound-healing effects of young C. latifolia leaves (YCL) and matured C. latifolia leaves (MCL) showed a significant reduction in wound size on Day 3, 5, and 7 of the experimental study, indicating its wound-healing potential. Based on our findings, C. latifolia can be consumed as part of a balanced diet due to its antioxidant and antidiabetic properties.

Taufik AY ，Yasin HM ，Ahmad N ，Arai M ，Ja'afar F ... -  《SCIENTIFIC WORLD JOURNAL》

Antioxidant activities of ethanol extracts and fractions of Crescentia cujete leaves and stem bark and the involvement of phenolic compounds.

Das N ，Islam ME ，Jahan N ，Islam MS ，Khan A ，Islam MR ，Parvin MS ... -  《BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine》

The Effects of Drying Techniques on Phytochemical Contents and Biological Activities on Selected Bamboo Leaves.

Benjamin MAZ ，Ng SY ，Saikim FH ，Rusdi NA ... -  《MOLECULES》