Search

Background: This study focused on the antiplasmodial activities of two botanicals: Morinda lucida and Alstonia boonei used in malaria treatment. The in vivo activity of the plants against established Plasmodium berghei NK65 infection was evaluated in 75 experimental mice randomly distributed into 15 groups and treated with extracts of M. lucida and A. boonei, combined recipe of the two plants at graded doses of 400, 600, and 800 mg/kg and chloroquine at 10 mg/kg. Results: The results revealed that the percentage parasitemia was higher in the infected untreated mice (18.40%) than the treated mice. Among the treated mice, the highest percentage parasitemia (6.0%) was obtained in mice treated with 800 mg/kg of A. boonei while the lowest percentage parasitemia (0.0%) was obtained in mice treated with 10 mg/kg of chloroquine. Chloroquine eliminated all the parasites (100% clearance) when compared to the percentage clearance by the plant extracts. For the plant extracts, antiplasmodial activity was highest with the combined recipe of M. lucida and A. boonei at 800 mg/kg (92%) and lowest at 800 mg/kg (45%) of M. lucida. Meanwhile, the optimal antiplasmodial activity (83%) of M. lucida was obtained at 400 mg/kg and that of A. boonei was obtained at 600 mg/kg (85%). Conclusions: This study revealed that the two plant extracts under the study have antiplasmodial activities which are promising in reducing the morbidity and mortality of drug-resistant malaria in endemic communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to design and develop a novel cost effective method for fluoride removal, applicable to rural areas of developing countries. Adsorption is widely considered as one of the appropriate technologies for water defluoridation. This study investigates the feasibility of using low-cost biomass based activated carbon from the bark of Morinda tinctoria coated with aluminum hydroxide (AHAC) for water defluoridation, at neutral pH range. Characterization of AHAC was done through IR, SEM with EDAX studies before and after fluoride treatment. The fluoride adsorption capacity of AHAC as a function of contact time, pH and initial fluoride concentration was investigated. The role of co-existing interfering ions also was studied. The isotherm and kinetic models were used to understand the nature of the fluoride adsorption onto AHAC. Freundlich isotherm and intra-particle diffusion were the best-fitting models for the adsorption of fluoride on AHAC. Fluoride adsorption kinetics well fitted with pseudo-second order model. The results showed excellent fluoride adsorption capacity was found to be 26.03 mg g at neutral pH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The in vitro cytotoxic and genotoxic evaluation of hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and methanol extracts of Morinda tinctoria leaves was carried out by MTT assay and chromosomal aberration (CA), sister chromatid exchange (SCE), cell proliferation kinetics (CPK), and mitotic index (MI) tests. Five cancer cell lines [SW480 (colon adenocarcinoma); MCF-7 (breast cancer); K562 (chronic myeloid leukemia); NCIH-23 (lung cancer); SKMEL-28 (skin melanoma)] were chosen for the MTT assay. The genotoxic evaluation was carried out on human lymphocyte cell cultures at various concentrations (5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 mg/mL). The results obtained showed (i) concentration-dependent percentage inhibition with the IC values of different solvent extracts for cell lines studied ranging from 3.99 to 20.84 mg/mL, (ii) decrease in MI and very slight modification in the CPK values, and (iii) statistical increase in the percentage of cells with CA and the frequency of SCE for cultures exposed to various crude extracts. This is the first report on cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of M. tinctoria leaves extracts. The results suggest that the plant extracts exhibit cytotoxic and possible genotoxic effects with increasing concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a severe psychiatric condition. The allopregnanolone biosynthesis has been implicated as one of the possible contributors to PTSD. Inulin-type oligosaccharides of morinda officinalis (IOMO) had been shown to be effective in the therapy of depression. However, few studies concern the anti-PTSD-like effects of IOMO. To evaluate this, the single prolonged stress (SPS) model was used in the present study. It had been shown that the behavioral deficits of SPS-treated rats were reversed by IOMO (25.0 and 50.0 mg/kg, i.p.), which reversed the increased freezing time in contextual fear paradigm (CFP) and the decreased time and entries in open arms in the elevated plus maze (EPM) test without affecting the locomotor activity in the open field (OF) test. In addition, the decreased allopregnanolone in the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and amygdala was reversed by IOMO (25.0 and 50.0 mg/kg, i.p.), respectively. In summary, the present study indicated that the IOMO exert anti-PTSD-like behaviors, which maybe associated with the brain allopregnanolone biosynthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The corrosion of copper in 0.25 M sulphuric acid was studied by the addition of aqueous extract of leaves of Morinda tinctoria using weight loss and electrochemical methods. The addition of inhibitor moderately improves the inhibition efficiency. Increase in temperature and acid concentration decreases the performance of the inhibitor. The adsorption of the inhibitor on the copper surface in sulphuric acid medium obeys Freundlich isotherm. The AC impedance studies reveal that the process of inhibition is through charge transfer reaction, and polarization studies indicate the mixed nature of the inhibitor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mosquitoes are the major vector for the transmission of malaria, dengue fever, yellow fever, filariasis, chikungunya and Japanese encephalitis, and they accounted for global mortality and morbidity with increased resistance to common insecticides. The aim of this study was to investigate the larvicidal potential of the acetone leaf extracts of Morinda tinctoria and synthesized silver nanoparticles against third instar larvae of Culex quinquefasciatus Say (Diptera: Culicidae). Nanoparticles are being used in many commercial applications. It was found that aqueous silver ions can be reduced by aqueous extract of plant parts to generate extremely stable silver nanoparticles in water. Synthesized AgNPs were characterized by ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy, Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) analysis. The synthesized silver nanoparticles have also been tested against the third instar larvae of C. quinquefasciatus. The leaf extract and the AgNPs high mortality values were 50 % lethal concentration (LC) = 8.088 and 1.442 ppm against C. quinquefasciatus, respectively. The results recorded from ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy support the biosynthesis and characterization of silver nanoparticles. These results suggest that the leaf extract of M. tinctoria and synthesis of AgNPs have the potential to be used as an ideal eco-friendly approach for the control of C. quinquefasciatus. By this approach, it is suggestive that this rapid synthesis of nanoparticles would be proper for developing a biological process for mosquito control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging infectious disease caused by SFTS virus with 12-30% fatality rate∙ Despite severity of the disease, any medication or treatment for SFTS has not developed yet∙ One approach to prevent SFTS spreading is to control the arthropod vector carrying SFTS virus∙ We report that 2-methylbenzaldehyde analogues from M∙ officinalis have a dual function as acaricide against Dermatophagoides spp∙ and Haemaphysalis longicornis and indicator (color change) against Dermatophagoides spp∙ Based on the LD50 values, 2,4,5-trimethylbenzaldehyde (0∙21, 0∙19, and 0∙68 μg/cm3) had the highest fumigant activity against D∙ farinae, D∙ pteronyssinus, and H∙ longicornis, followed by 2,3-dimethylbenzaldehyde (0∙46, 0∙44, and 0∙79 μg/cm3), 2,4-dimethylbenzaldehyde (0∙66, 0∙59, and 0∙95 μg/cm3), 2,5 -dimethylbenzaldehyde (0∙65, 0∙68, and 0∙88 μg/cm3), 2-methylbenzaldehyde (0∙95, 0∙87, and 1∙28 μg/cm3), 3-methylbenzaldehyde (0∙99, 0∙93, and 1∙38 μg/cm3), 4-methylbenzaldehyde (1∙17, 1∙15, and 3∙67 μg/cm3), and M∙ officinalis oil (7∙05, 7∙00, and 19∙70 μg/cm3) ∙ Furthermore, color alteration of Dermatophagoides spp∙ was shown to be induced, from colorless to dark brown, by the treatment of 2,3-dihydroxybenzaldehyde∙ These finding indicated that 2-methylbenzaldehyde analogues could be developed as functional agent associated with the arthropod vector of SFTS virus and allergen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new anthraquinone, 2,5,8-trihydroxy-1-methoxyanthraquinone ( 1), was isolated from the roots of Morinda officinalis together with two anthraquinones, 1,4-dihydroxyanthraquinone ( 2) and anthragallol-1,3-dimethylether ( 3), and two iridoids, ningpogenin ( 4) and monotropein methyl ester ( 5). The structure of 1 was elucidated by spectroscopic methods including 1D, 2D NMR, HR-MS, and IR. This is the first report of compounds 2-5 from the genus Morinda. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mangifera indica, Alstonia boonei, Morinda lucida and Azadirachta indica (MAMA) decoction, commonly prepared and used in Nigeria from 1:1:1:1 ratio of Mangifera indica L. (Anacardiaceae), Alstonia boonei De Wild (Apocynaceae), Morinda lucida Benth (Rubiaceae), and Azadirachta indica A. Juss (Meliaceae) leaves, plus four new variants of this combination were subjected to three in vivo antimalarial test models using chloroquine-sensitive Plasmodium berghei berghei to determine the most active under each of the test models. Using the original formulation, MAMA (1:1:1:1) which gave ED and ED of 101.54 ± 2.95 and 227.18 ± 2.95, respectively, as reference for comparison, MAMA-1 (1:2:2:2), with 79.58 ± 1.30 and 170.98 ± 1.30, gave significantly ( p < 0.05) higher survival at 85 and 340 mg/kg when 80 % of the mice survived for 15.6 and 17.8 days, respectively, while MAMA-2 (2:1:2:2), with 83.57 ± 1.93 and 164.23 ± 1.93, gave comparable survival except at 170 mg/kg with 60 % survivors for 12 days. MAMA-1 and MAMA-2 were the best curative formulations with MAMA-1 giving additional prophylactic activity. MAMA-3 (2:2:2:1) with 98.70 ± 0.91 and 220.17 ± 0.91, gave comparable ( p > 0.05) survival at 85 mg/kg with 60 % survival for 13.2 days and significantly higher survival at 42.5 mg/kg for 17 days with 40 % survival. Both MAMA and MAMA-3 were the best chemosuppressive formulations plus additional curative activities. MAMA-4 (1:1:2:2), the best prophylactic formulation with 94.87 ± 2.43 and 201.20 ± 2.43 gave significantly higher ( p < 0.05) survival at all doses except at 21.25 mg/kg which gave 60 % survival up to 10 days. Thus, the antimalarial therapy desired, following appropriate diagnosis, whether prophylactic, chemosuppressive or curative would determine which of the MAMA decoction formulations to be prescribed. This phenomenon of formulary optimization may also be applied to other pharmacological activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drosophila sechellia, an island endemic that specializes on a single host plant, has a lower rate of egg production than its generalist sister species D. melanogaster, D. simulans, and D. mauritiana. Earlier work showed that part of this difference in egg production was due to a reduction in the number of ovarioles in D. sechellia relative to its sister species. Here, I extend this earlier work by genetically analyzing the difference in egg production between D. sechellia and D. simulans. In all, 10 genetic markers were used in several interspecific backcrosses to identify chromosome regions that affected the rate of egg production. While previously mapped factors affecting ovariole number appear to impact the rate of egg production, new, non-ovariole factors were also identified. Overall, the difference in egg production between D. sechellia and D. simulans appears to be a polygenic trait. The relationship between these factors and genes involved the adaptation of D. sechellia to its host plant is not yet clear. The data are consistent with the hypothesis that decline in egg production is, in part, a negative pleiotropic effect of genetic changes required for host specialization in D. sechellia, although finer-scale genetic analysis of both traits is needed to truly test this hypothesis.Heredity (2004) 92, 235-241, advance online publication, 7 January 2004; doi:10.1038/sj.hdy.6800401 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the study on the occurrence of nitrosatable amines in Nigerian medicinal plants. The study examined of several medicinal plant roots such as Alostonia boonei, Pleioceras barteri, and Morinda lucida which were removed to soil to avoid contamination. Results revealed that medicinal plant roots contains 0.87, 0.91, and O.9milligram (mg) respectively, which suggests a possible secondary alkylamines which can generate carcinogenic nitrosamines.

Photoheterotrophic and photoautotrophic cell suspension cultures were raised from a callus tissue derived from a Morinda lucida Benth. plant (Rubiaceae). The cultures were characterized with regard to fresh weight, dry weight, cell number, pH, chlorophyll and quinoid natural products. The amount of lipoquinones (phylloquinone, α-tocopherol, plastoquinone, ubiquinone) isolated from the photoautotrophic cultures matched the amount detected in an intact leaf. Anthraquinone glycosides which are found in the roots of Morinda plants were not present in the photoautotrophic culture. The photoheterotrophic culture contained only trace amounts of these pigments. Abundant anthraquinone synthesis was observed when photoautotrophic and photoheterotrophic suspension cultures were transferred into darkness, provided sucrose was present in the medium. Induction of synthesis of anthraquinone pigments coincided with a rapid disappearance of lipoquinones from the culture. Thus, in the suspension culture, photoautotrophy correlates with lipoquinone synthesis and heterotrophy correlates with anthraquinone synthesis. This reflects the situation in the intact plants where lipoquinones are chloroplast-associated whereas anthraquinones occur in the roots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on a study conducted by the authors related to the chemical compounds of morinda coreia's roots. It states that solvent removal from extracts led to extracts of methanol (MeOH) and ethyl acetate (EtOAc). It highlights that cytotoxicity of isolated compounds was tested against HeLa cells. It mentions that silica gel column chromatography (CC) was performed on fraction DC2.

The effects of medium strategies [maintenance (M), intermediary (G), and production (P) medium] on cell growth, anthraquinone (AQ) production, hydrogen peroxide (H 2O 2) level, lipid peroxidation, and antioxidant vitamins in Morinda elliptica cell suspension cultures were investigated. These were compared with third-stage leaf and 1-month-old callus culture. With P medium strategy, cell growth at 49 g l -1, intracellular AQ content at 42 mg g -1 DW, and H 2O 2 level at 9 µmol g -1 FW medium were the highest as compared to the others. However, the extent of lipid peroxidation at 40.4 nmol g -1 FW and total carotenoids at 13.3 mg g -1 FW for cultures in P medium were comparable to that in the leaf, which had registered sevenfold lower AQ and 2.2-fold lower H 2O 2 levels. Vitamin C content at 30?120 µg g -1 FW in all culture systems was almost half the leaf content. On the other hand, vitamin E content was around 400?500 µg g -1 FW in 7-day-old cultures from all medium strategies and reduced to 50?150 µg g -1 FW on day 14 and 21; as compared to 60 µg g -1 FW in callus and 200 µg g -1 FW in the leaf. This study suggests that medium strategies and cell growth phase in cell culture could influence the competition between primary and secondary metabolism, oxidative stresses and antioxidative measures. When compared with the leaf metabolism, these activities are dynamic depending on the types and availability of antioxidants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]