Perfil fitoquímico e avaliação do potencial citotóxico do extrato das folhas de crescentia cujete L.

Introdução: com passar dos anos as espécies vegetais passaram a ser alternativas terapêuticas para grande parte da população, mesmo com restritas pesquisas científicas que assegurem sua eficácia e segurança. Dentre essas, encontra-se a Crescentia cujete, uma espécie arbórea, com grande distribuição no Nordeste do Brasil. Conhecida população local como coité ou árvore de cabaça, é utilizada para diferentes finalidades terapêuticas, como analgésico, antitumoral, espasmolítica e alguns distúrbios ginecológicos. Objetivo: avaliar a possível citotoxicidade e realizar a caracterização fitoquímica do extrato hidroalcoólico da Crescentia cujete. Metodologia: o extrato foi obtido através de homogeneização com solução hidroalcoólica. A avaliação da citotoxicidade se baseou nas metodologias de fragilidade osmótica eritrocitária e letalidade frente à Artemia salina L. Resultados: foram detectados a presença de promissores fitoquímicos como taninos, saponinas e cumarinas. Os ensaios citotóxicos demonstraram CL50 1186,77μg/mL, considerado baixo potencial citotóxico frente à Artemia salina L. quanto ao percentual hemolítico, o extrato obteve percentual de 60,67%. Conclusão: portanto, fomenta-se a realização de novas pesquisas in vivo e in vitro que busque caracterizar seu potencial tóxico, como também mais estudos para quantificação dos compostos fitoquímicos para possível aplicação no desenvolvimento e descoberta de fármacos.

Sustratos de nidificación y densidad de nidos de abejas sin aguijón en la Reserva de la Biósfera de los Petenes, México.

Las abejas sin aguijón (ASA) son organismos relevantes en los ecosistemas por su desempeño como polinizadores. En México, la mayor diversidad de ASA se encuentra en el sureste. En este estudio se determinaron las especies de ASA y densidad de nidos en dos sitios con diferente perturbación dentro de La Reserva de la Biosfera de los Petenes (RBLP) Campeche (México). Asimismo, se identificaron los sustratos y las especies arbóreas de nidificación. En total se realizaron diez muestreos en transectos entre los meses de enero a mayo de 2018. Se registraron 56 nidos pertenecientes a ocho especies diferentes de ASA (Cephalotrigona zexmeniae, Frieseomelitta nigra, Lestrimellita niitkib, Nannotrigona perilampoides, Partamona bilineata, Plebeia frontalis, Scaptotrigona pectoralis y Trigona fulviventris). Las especies con mayor número de nidos correspondieron a F. nigra (41,07 %) y S. pectoralis (28,57 %). No se encontraron diferencias significativas en la densidad de nidos entre los sitios Hecelchakán (2,15 nidos/ha) y Calkiní (0,19 nidos/ha). El sustrato preferido para anidación son las cavidades en árboles vivos (78,57 %). En total 15 especies arbóreas fueron identificadas como sustrato de nidificación y la especie más abundante correspondió a Crescentia cujete (n = 18, 40,9 %). El grado de perturbación tuvo poco efecto en el número y densidad de nidos de ASA, sin embargo, en general, la RBLP presentó una composición de especies y densidad de nidos reducida. Por lo tanto, este estudio permitió establecer las bases para futuros estudios sobre estrategias de manejo y conservación de estas especies para evitar su desaparición en la RBLP.

A Cream Formulation Of Extract Of Maja Leaves (Crescentia cujete) As An Antimicrobial Against Staphylococcus aureus

Maja (Crescentia cujete L) is a plant that has medicinal properties for various diseases. Leaves of Maja contain some compounds such which are thought to have the potential to be antibacterial. The purpose of this study was to determine the potential of maja leaf extract in cream dosage form and to prove the presence of Antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus. The cream of Maja leaf extract was made into several formulations; (5, 10, 15 %) The results was the cream of Maja leaf extract was able to inhibit the growth of S. aureus with the largest inhibition zone at a concentration of 15% with an average of 11.52 ± 0.95mm. Cream formulations were evaluated physically; organoleptic was resulting F1 in brownish-green, F2 in brown, and F3 in dark brown. Homogeneity tests show that all formulations were homogeneous. The pH value of all formulations following the cosmetic standard was about 4.5 – 6.5. The standard viscosity value was between 2000 – 4000 cps. The stability test of cream preparations shows no changes in the form of low-temperature storage (4ºC), room temperature, and high temperature (40ºC), so that maja leaf extracts can be formulated in cream preparations and cream formulations

PHYTOCHEMICAL INVESTIGATION, SPECTRUM ANALYSIS OF SALVADORA PERSICA AND CRESCENTIA CUJETE

Salvadora persica is a well-known medicinal plant which belongs to the family Salvadoraceae. It is commonly known as the Meswak tree. Calabash tree or Crescentia cujete tree belongs to the family of Bignoniaceae. It is also known as the gourd tree. These two plants have been studied by preliminary phytochemical and FTIR analysis. Data gathered on solvent extraction and preliminary phytochemical method suggested that the presence of primary and secondary metabolites in leaf tissue. Two solvents such as ethanol and aqueous are used here to reveal the phytocompounds and extend our work to find out the various functional groups present in these two plants through FTIR analysis was done. Spectrum of Salvadora persica showed 5 peaks that are 599.89, 654.86, 1409.06, 1431.24, 2930.96 and spectrum of Crescentia cujete showed that 13 peaks that are 470.65, 520.80, 630.75, 652.93, 776.38, 1060.89, 1155.41, 1248, 1321.30, 1431.24, 1527.69, 2860.56, 2924.21. The present study revealed that the functional groups of both plants, such as alcohols or phenols, alkanes, amines, esters or carboxylic acid or lactones, aldehyde or ketones, acetates and ethylene.

A Review of the Phytochemistry, Ethnobotany, Toxicology, and Pharmacological Potentials of Crescentia cujete L. (Bignoniaceae)

Crescentia cujete is an economical and medicinal plant of wide indigenous uses including hypertension, diarrhea, respiratory ailments, stomach troubles, infertility problems, cancer, and snakebite. Despite these attributes, C. cujete is largely underutilized, notwithstanding the few progresses made to date. Here, we reviewed the available findings on the ethnobotany, phytochemistry, toxicology, and pharmacology, as well as other economic benefits of the plant. The information on the review was gathered from major scientific databases (Google scholar, Scopus, Science Direct, Web of Science, PubMed, Springer, and BioMed Central) using journals, books, and/or chapters, dissertations, and conference proceedings. The review established the antidiabetic, antioxidant, acaricidal, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anthelmintic, antivenom, wound healing, neuroprotection, antiangiogenic, and cytotoxic properties from aqueous and organic (particularly ethanol) aerial parts attributed to several secondary metabolites such as flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, tannins, phenols, cardiac glycosides, phytosterols, reducing sugar, and volatile oils. Economically, the fruit hard outer shell found applications as musical tools, tobacco pipes, bowls, food containers, and bioethanol production. While most of the current studies on C. cujete are mainly from Asia and South America (Philippines, Bangladesh, India, etc.), part of the persistence challenge is lack of comprehensive data on the plant from in vivo pharmacological studies of its already characterized compounds for probable clinical trials toward drug discovery. Consequently, upon this, modern and novel translational studies including the concept of ‘-omics’ are suggested for studies aiming to outfit more comprehensive data on its therapeutic profiles against pathological markers of diseases and to fully explore its economic benefits.

Effect of Majapahit (Crescentia cujete L.) fruit powder on the immune profile of Litopenaeus vannamei after infection with Vibrio spp.

Background and Aim: The use of bioactive compounds is a promising tool to improve shrimp health regarding vibriosis. This study aimed to determine the effect of the dietary Majapahit (Crescentia cujete L.) fruit powder on the cellular immune response of vannamei shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) infected with Vibrio harveyi, Vibrio alginolyticus, and Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Materials and Methods: Twelve vannamei shrimp (aged 1 month) were randomly divided into four groups (n=3). Vannamei shrimp received experimental feed with different concentrations of Majapahit fruit powder for 20 days: Group A, 0%; Group B, 3.04%; Group C, 6.08%, and Group D, 9.12%. Subsequently, vannamei shrimp was infected with V. harveyi, V. alginolyticus, and V. parahaemolyticus. The total hemocytes, total differential hemocytes (hyaline, semi-granular, and granular cells), and phagocytic activity were assessed. Data were analyzed through analysis of variance (p<0.05) using SPSS ver. 24 for Windows. Results: Majapahit fruit powder at a dose of 3.04% increased the number of hyaline cells of L. vannamei after infection with Vibrio spp. Supplementation of the feed formula with Majapahit fruit powder at a dose of 3.04% increased the number of semi-granular and granular cells compared with the control. Furthermore, Majapahit fruit powder at doses of 3.04% and 6.08% increased the hemocytes compared with a dose of 9.12%. The phagocytic activity of L. vannamei after infection with Vibrio spp. tends to increase after supplementation with 3.04% Majapahit fruit powder. Conclusion: This study showed that the addition of C. cujete L. powder to the feed formula increased the cellular immune response. The most effective dose ranged from 3.04% to 6.08%.

Bioethanol Production from an Underutilized Plant, Calabash (Crescentia Cujete) Using Co-Culture of Saccharomyces Cerevisiae and Cronobacter Malonaticus

Response surface methodology (RSM) model was used to optimize ethanol production from calabash (Crescentia cujete) pulp juice using co-culture of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Cronobacter malonaticus. The calabash pulp was squeezed with muslin cloth, and vacuum filtered to clear solution before use. The clear juice was tested for reducing sugars using the Dinitrosalicylic acid (DNS) method. Twenty three runs (23), including 3 controls, of the fermentation were conducted at varying temperatures, pH, and volumes of inoculum. The process parameters (input variables): volumes of inoculum, temperature, and pH were subjected to response surface model, using the Central composite design (CCD). Fermentation was done in conical flasks covered with cotton wool and foil in a stationary incubator for four days (96 hours). Active co-culture of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Cronobacter malonaticus was used, with inoculum developed using Marcfaland’s method. Samples were collected every 24 hours, centrifuged, filtered and analyzed for measurement of the output variables: reducing sugar, cell density and ethanol concentration. The concentration of reducing sugars from Calabash pulp was 3.2 mg/ml. Results obtained also revealed that the fermentation can take place on a wide range of temperature; 29-31.60C . The optimal pH range for performance of the co-culture for the fermentation process was pH range 7.9- 8.0. The optimum volume of inoculum was 5.5%v/v (ie 5.5 ml in 94.5ml juice). The optimized process using the RSM model gave 6.97% v/v bioethanol at 29oC and pH 7.9. The bioethanol yield from Calabash substrate is reasonable with co-culture considering the concentration of reducing sugars obtained from the juice and the duration of the fermentation.