https://mail.smujo.id/jnpb/issue/feed Asian Journal of Natural Product Biochemistry 2025-01-23T22:29:09+00:00 Khalid Ahmad Khalid editors@smujo.id Open Journal Systems <p>Encourages submission of manuscripts dealing with all important contributions to natural product chemistry, include bioactivity compounds of land and sea and of plants, microbes and animals; activities of antimicrobial, antiviral, antiparasite, anti-cancer, etc.; ethnopharmacology, ethnomedicines and medical application; plant-derived drugs and pharmaceutical formulations and evaluation; as well as biochemistry, chemistry, biotechnology, physiology, cell structures, pharmacology, toxicology , and chemical ecology of natural products.</p> https://mail.smujo.id/jnpb/article/view/19887 Pharmacognostic characterization and biological activities of Aponogeton crispus and A. rigidifolius 2024-12-11T11:49:54+00:00 RANUJA SARVESWARAN sranuja20@gmail.com W. J. A. BANUKIE JAYASURIYA banukie@sjp.ac.lk BHAVANTHA DIAS tharindubhavantha@gmail.com ISURU KARIYAWASAM isurufasi@sjp.ac.lk PRIYANI HETTIARACHCHI phlakshmi96@gmail.com SUGANDHIKA SURESH sugandhika@sjp.ac.lk <p>Abstract. Sarveswaran R, Jayasuriya WJAB, Dias B, Kariyawasam I, Hettiarachchi P, Suresh S. 2025. Pharmacognostic characterization and biological activities of Aponogeton crispus and A. rigidifolius. Asian J Nat Prod Biochem 23: 1-10. The potential anti-inflammatory effects of the plant family Aponogetonaceae have yet to be widely studied despite the existing ethnomedicinal evidence. This study aimed to investigate the pharmacognostic characteristics and pharmacological activities of Aponogeton crispus Thunb. and Aponogeton rigidifolius H.Bruggen plants. Anti-inflammatory and anti-hyperglycemia-related bioactivities of these plants were evaluated using well-established in vivo and in vitro methods. The safety profiles of the aqueous plant extracts were investigated in acute and chronic toxicity studies. Significance among different test groups in each assay was analyzed statistically. Reducing sugars, amino acids, alkaloids, flavonoids, and polyphenols were found in the preliminary phytochemical screening. In pharmacological assessments, aqueous extracts of A. crispus at 120 mg/kg showed the highest inhibition of carrageenan-induced rat paw edema, indicating its significant therapeutic potential. The percentage reduction in acetic acid-induced writhes was 46.48±3.46% for A. crispus and 54.22±2.10% for A. rigidifolius. Both extracts significantly reduced the body temperature of test rats at the third and fourth hour in brewer's yeast-induced pyrexia. Moreover, both plants showed appreciable safety profiles in 2,000 mg/kg dose. The study concludes that both A. crispus and A. rigidifolius plants possess explicit pharmacognostic characteristics, show significant therapeutic effects against the cardinal signs of inflammation and hyperglycemia, also exhibit no in vivo toxicities.</p> 2025-01-19T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2025 Asian Journal of Natural Product Biochemistry https://mail.smujo.id/jnpb/article/view/20276 Chitosan nanoparticles encapsulating turmeric (Curcuma longa) extract for the management of Streptococcus agalactiae-associated breast cancer 2025-01-23T22:29:09+00:00 CLETUS ANES UKWUBILE doccletus@yahoo.com NNAMDI DAVID MENKITI mcmenkiti84@gmail.com OTALU OTALU JR otalu_202@yahoo.com <p><strong>Abstract. </strong><em>Ukwubile</em><em> CA</em><em>, Menkiti</em><em> ND</em><em>, Otalu Jr</em><em> O</em><em>.</em> <em>20</em><em>23</em><em>. </em><em>Chitosan nanoparticles encapsulating turmeric (</em>Curcuma longa<em>) extract for the management of </em>Streptococcus agalactiae<em>-associated breast cancer</em><em>.</em> <em>Asian</em><em> J Nat Prod Biochem </em><em>23</em><em>: </em><em>19-26</em><em>.</em> Breast cancer associated with <em>Streptococcus agalactiae</em> Lehmann &amp; Neumann, 1896 infection poses complex therapeutic challenges, often exacerbating inflammatory responses and impacting tumor progression. Despite the use of various anticancer drugs, the development of resistance by cancer cells against these is still prevalent, hence, the need for an appropriate drug delivery strategy in the form of chitosan nanoparticles for effective treatment against breast cancer. This study investigates the antibacterial and anticancer effects of turmeric (<em>Curcuma</em><em> longa</em> L.) extract encapsulated in chitosan nanoparticles (NPs) against <em>S. agalactiae</em>-associated breast cancer, assessing its influence on key bacterial and cancer biomarkers. <em>Curcuma longa</em> extract-loaded chitosan NPs were synthesized via ionic gelation and characterized for stability and particle size. Breast cancer cells and <em>S. agalactiae</em> cultures were treated with these NPs, and bacterial growth inhibition assays quantified antibacterial activity. Anticancer effects were evaluated using cell viability assays and measurements of inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers, including Tumor Necrotic Factor-alpha (TNF-a), interleukin-1beta (1L-1B), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-) and Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) levels. <em>Curcuma longa</em>-loaded chitosan NPs exhibited a significant antibacterial effect, reducing <em>S. agalactiae</em> counts by 87% compared to the control (p &lt; 0.01). In cancer cells, the NPs decreased TNF-? and IL-1? levels by 52% and 48%, respectively, and significantly reduced COX-2 expression by 43% (p &lt; 0.01). Additionally, ROS levels in treated cancer cells were reduced by 60% compared to control, highlighting the potent antioxidative activity of the NPs. These findings demonstrated the enhanced therapeutic potential of <em>C. longa</em>-loaded chitosan NPs for combating infection-associated breast cancer. The encapsulation of <em>C. longa</em> extract in chitosan NPs significantly improves antibacterial and anticancer activities, offering a dual-targeted approach that holds promise for treating <em>S. agalactiae</em>-associated breast cancer.</p> 2025-02-05T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2025 Asian Journal of Natural Product Biochemistry https://mail.smujo.id/jnpb/article/view/18763 Characterization of caffeinated facial creams with Diploknema butyracea butter as an emollient 2024-12-30T22:47:21+00:00 SAPANA SUBEDI sapanasubedi48@gmail.com SANTOSH KOIRALA skoirala1984@gmail.com PRAYAN POKHAREL prayan07@gmail.com DHAKA RAM BHANDARI dhakarambhandari@gmail.com <p><strong>Abstract. </strong><em>Subedi S, Koirala S, Pokharel P, Bhandari DR</em><em>.</em> <em>20</em><em>25</em><em>. Characterization of caffeinated facial creams with </em>Diploknema butyracea <em>butter as an emollient.</em><em> Asian</em><em> J Nat Prod Biochem </em><em>23</em><em>: 11-18</em><em>.</em> Caffeine, a versatile ingredient in cosmetics, is known for its vasoconstrictive, anti-inflammatory, UV protective, and anti-aging properties. The plant <em>Diploknema butyracea</em>, a medium-sized tree belonging to the Sapotaceae family, native to Nepal, India, and Bhutan, is known as <em>chyuri</em>, and its seeds contain about 55% fat, known as <em>chyuri</em> butter. <em>Chyuri</em> butter is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids and vitamins (A and E) to hydrate, nourish, soften skin and serve as an effective emollient. In this study, we formulated caffeinated facial creams with <em>D. butyracea</em> butter and meticulously evaluated their physical and chemical properties. Caffeine was extracted via liquid-liquid extraction. Four formulations (F1 to F4) with varying concentrations of <em>chyuri</em> butter and caffeine were assessed for pH, stability, acid and saponification values, spreadability, in-vitro occlusivity, centrifugation, after-feel, smear type, removal, and dilution. The pH of the creams ranged from 6.7 to 7.6. All formulations, except F1, remained stable and homogeneous at different temperatures. Acid values (9.5-11.2) and saponification values (23.5-26.8) were satisfactory. The creams demonstrated good spreadability (4.3-4.5 cm) and improved water retention due to <em>chyuri</em> butter. No phase separation occurred during centrifugation. The creams formed a non-greasy film, were easily removable with tap water, and were confirmed as O/W (oil in water) type. Our findings not only validate the efficacy of caffeine and chyuri butter in cosmetic cream formulations but also open up new possibilities for their use in skincare products.</p> 2025-01-19T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2025 Asian Journal of Natural Product Biochemistry