Leaf Extract Research Articles

Chemical fingerprinting and multicomponent quantitative analysis for quality control of Cinnamomum tamala collected from Western Himalaya by HPLC-DAD

Cinnamomum tamala, commonly known as “Indian bay leaf” or “Tejpat”, is an economically important plant widely used in medicine, food and cosmetic industries. Growing demand for its leaf and bark in the herbal trade and non-availability of quality materials lead to large-scale species admixture and adulteration in the global market. The present study aims at developing a validated HPLC-DAD (High-performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detection) method and multiple markers-based chemical fingerprints for quality evaluation of C. tamala leaf extracts. Five bioactive compounds, viz., coumarin, cinnamyl alcohol, cinnamic acid, cinnamaldehyde and cinnamyl acetate, were identified and quantified in 28 samples collected from the western Himalayan region of India. The chromatographic separation was achieved on Shimadzu Shimpak C18 column (dimension 250×4.6 mm, pore size 5 μm) with a gradient elution of mobile phase using acetonitrile and 0.1 percent phosphate buffer and the chromatograms were obtained at a wavelength of 265 nm. The method validation was done by analyzing the linearity, LOD, LOQ, precision, stability, repeatability and recovery rates of standard compounds for quantitative analysis. The values of coefficient of correlation (R2) and standard deviation were found to be close to 1 for linearity and similarity analysis; and less than 3 percent in case of precision, stability, repeatability and recovery. The content of target compounds such as coumarin, cinnamyl alcohol, cinnamic acid, cinnamaldehyde and cinnamyl acetate varied in the range of 0-1.09, 0-0.05, 0.07-0.51, 0.39-1.27 and 0-0.27percent, respectively. In the chemical fingerprint of C. tamala leaves, a total of 13 peaks were assigned as common peaks. The results of the study indicated that the HPLC method now developed combining chemical fingerprint with quantification of analytes could serve as a useful tool for quality evaluation of herbal raw materials of C. tamala and a valuable reference for further study.

Neuroprotective and antioxidant potential of Moringa oleifera leaf extract in a murine model of Parkinson's disease

Neuroprotective and antioxidant potential of Moringa oleifera leaf extract in a murine model of Parkinson's disease

Mitigating the Toxic Effects of Salinity in Wheat Though Exogenous Application of Moringa Leaf Extract

Mitigating the Toxic Effects of Salinity in Wheat Though Exogenous Application of Moringa Leaf Extract

Effect of Ethanolic Leaf Extract of Piper guineense (Uziza) on the Kidneys of Paraquat-Induced Adult Male Wistar Rats

Effect of Ethanolic Leaf Extract of Piper guineense (Uziza) on the Kidneys of Paraquat-Induced Adult Male Wistar Rats

In vivo study of celery (Apium graveolens L) extract for regenerating pancreatic β-cell

Background: The celery plant (Apium graveolens L.) is a widely distributed herbal plant globally known for being a significant source of natural active products, including phenolic compounds and antioxidants demonstrating antidiabetic activity. Previous research findings have indicated the impact of celery leaf extract on reducing blood glucose levels. However, up to now, there is a dearth of research investigating the potential effect of celery leaf extract on the regeneration of pancreatic beta cells in mice with diabetes models.Objective: This study aims to determine the effect of the ethanol extract of celery leaves on the number of pancreatic cells in Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced mice.Method: This research method uses a randomized controlled group posttest only design. Experimental animals were divided into five groups, including a group of experimental animals in a healthy condition, the group with hyperglycemia, hyperglycemia group with celery extract at 200 mg/kg BW, hyperglycemia group with celery extract at 400 mg/kg, and hyperglycemia group with extract celery is 800 mg/kg BW. Termination was performed on day 60 after therapy and pancreas hematoxylin and eosin staining. They are counting the number of cells with a photo slide with 400x magnification in 5 fields of view—statistical analysis using One-Way ANOVA.Results: The study revealed that celery extract could increase the number of pancreatic cells compared to the control group (P<0.002). Notably, the highest increase in pancreatic cell count was observed in the group administered with 400 mg/BW of celery extract.Conclusion: Celery leaf extract effectively increased the number of beta cells in vivo.

Pharmacological Properties of White Mulberry (Morus alba L.) Leaves: Suppressing Migratory and Invasive Activities Against A549 Lung Cancer Cells.

Morus alba known as a white mulberry is a medicinal plant that has been used in food ingredients and traditional medicine. M. alba leaves contain various bioactive phenolic compounds, in particular chlorogenic acid (CGA), which is a major bioactive ingredient. Their anticancer potency of M. alba leaf extracts derived from Soxhlet extraction was evaluated based on cytotoxicity and antimigratory and antiinvasive properties. The dichloromethane extract exhibited the highest nitric oxide radical scavenging activity with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) value of 780μg/mL, promising cytotoxicity against HuCCA-1, MCF-7, and A-549 cells with IC50 values of 59.18, 62.20, and 103.25μg/mL, respectively. CGA selectively inhibited the growth of MCF-7 cells with an IC50 value of 26.75μg/mL and showed potent radical scavenging activity against DPPH radicals (IC50 = 18.85μg/mL). An ethanolic extract derived from the gradient Soxhlet extraction suppressed A549 lung cancer cell migration and invasion more effectively than CGA with no migratory inhibition effect on noncancerous HaCaT cells. Furthermore, the ethanolic extract and CGA accelerated HaCaT wound closure at 20µg/mL, which was the same as allantoin. Bioactive ingredients including triterpenes, steroids, phenolics, and flavonoids were mainly detected in all extracts. The highest content of CGA (52.23g/100g dry weight) was found in the ethanolic extract derived from the gradient Soxhlet extraction. These findings show the potency of the dichloromethane extract as a cytotoxic agent against various cancer types and the ethanolic extract as an antimetastatic agent by their antimigratory and antiinvasive activities.

Chitosan/teff flour active films incorporated with citric acid and beetroot leaf extract: Physicochemical properties and mathematical modeling of phenolic release

Active compounds are integrated into food packaging films to enhance their food protection capabilities. Understanding the release of these components in films, particularly in crosslinking scenarios, is crucial. This study aimed to mathematically model the release of phenolic compounds from chitosan/teff flour films to understand how active compounds gradually release. Moreover, it was aimed to study the effects of incorporation of beetroot leaf extract and citric acid crosslinking. The collective observations, encompassing increased density and thermal stability, alongside concurrent reductions in moisture content, water solubility, water vapor permeability and swelling index following citric acid addition, strongly suggested the presence of crosslinking. Applying Fick's law and the finite element method revealed a substantial influence of the crosslinking agent on diffusion coefficients. The model exhibited strong agreement with experimental data, as reflected in low root mean square error values ranging from 3.02 to 8.50 mmol/m3 for films. Furthermore, the influence of citric acid crosslinking on the release of TPC was evident, as indicated by a decrease in average diffusion coefficient values from 3.499 × 10−13 m2 s−1 to 1.770 × 10−13 m2 s−1 with the formula with 1.5 % citric acid and 0.5 % beetroot leaf extract. This showcases the impact of various parameters on controlled release in food packaging.

Antimicrobial Activity, Cytotoxicity, and Qualitative Phytochemistry of Leaf, stem bark, and root bark extracts from Prunus africana (Hook. F.) Kalkman

The rise of resistant strains poses a significant public health risk, particularly, in sub-Saharan Africa, where over 50% of global infectious disease-associated deaths occur, highlighting the urgent need for novel, safe, affordable, and accessible antimicrobials. Accordingly, we investigated the antimicrobial activity, cytotoxicity, and qualitative phytochemistry of the aqueous, hydroethanolic, and acetonic leaf, stem bark, and root bark extracts of Prunus africana (Hook. F.) Kalkman, based on its ethnomedicinal information. The results showed the aqueous root bark and aqueous/acetonic stem bark extracts demonstrated significant (p<0.05) antimicrobial efficacy against S. aureus at 800 µg/ml, outperforming other extracts and the reference antibiotic. Growth inhibition zones for most extracts on S. aureus showed a concentration-dependent increase, though not significantly (p>0.05) different. The acetonic root bark extract, particularly at 800 µg/ml, exhibited superior inhibitory effects against B. cereus compared to other extracts (p<0.05), although the positive control antibiotic significantly (p<0.05) outperformed all plant extracts. Notably, none of the studied extracts affected P. aeruginosa and E. coli, while varying effects were observed against C. albicans. Further we observed that the hydroethanolic and aqueous stem bark extracts' exceptionally low Minimum Inhibitory and Bactericidal Concentrations (MICs and MBCs) against S. aureus (3.125 µg/ml). Conversely, the acetonic leaf extract showed higher MIC and MBC values against S. aureus (100 µg/ml). Cytotoxicity assessments using brine shrimp nauplii revealed the percentage mortalities caused by Vincristine and aqueous root/stem bark extracts at 1000 µg/ml, were significantly (p<0.05) higher than those caused by other extracts (Median lethal concentrations (LC50) of 513 µg/ml to 24327.82 µg/ml). Qualitative phytochemistry identified alkaloids in root bark and stem bark extracts, flavonoids, phenols, quinones, steroids, and terpenoids across all samples, with saponins in acetonic root bark and all three leaf extracts, and glycosides in acetonic stem bark, hydroethanolic root bark, and acetonic leaf extracts. These findings highlight the diverse antimicrobial and cytotoxic properties of P. africana extracts, suggesting potential therapeutic applications and emphasise the need for further exploration.

The Antioxidant and Whitening Effect of Miracle Fruit (Synsepalum dulcificum) Seed and Leaf Methanol Extracts

The seed and leaf 70% methanol extracts of miracle fruit (Synsepalum dulcificum) were investigated for its whitening activity for application as a functional ingredient in cosmetic products. At the leaf extract concentration of 100 mg/ml, the DPPH radical scavenging activity was found to be 94.58%, the ABTS<sup>+</sup> radical scavenging activity was 36.62%. The total polyphenolic content of seed and leaf extract was 18.76 mgGAE/g, 71.42 mgGAE/g, respectively. The seed and leaf extracts reduced both tyrosinase activity and L-DOPA oxidation in a concentration-dependent manner. In B16F10 mouse melanoma cells, leaf extract inhibited 30% of melanin synthesis at 100 mg/ml. Miracle fruit seed and leaf extracts also inhibited the expression of melanogenesis genes such as microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein (TRP)-1. Moreover, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction of the extract showed that the mRNA expression of MITF, tyrosinase, and TRP-1 was decreased. The data suggested a protective role for the <i>Synsepalum dulcificum</i> seed and leaf extracts against melanogenesis.

In Vitro Vitamin C Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity, Cytotoxicity and Anti-Cancer Activity of Methanolic Urtica dioica L. Leaf Extract as a Food Supplement

Antioxidant capacity, cytotoxicity on two vital cell lines and the anti-cancer activity of methanolic Urtica dioica L. leaf extract (UDE) collected from Duzkoy, Giresun, Turkey were studied by determining safe concentration. The antioxidant capacity of the extract was expressed as vitamin C equivalency by spectrophotometric MTT assay. The cytotoxic concentration 50% was measured by the linearity between UDE concentrations (CC50) and the cell viability of non-cancer kidney cell lines (BHK-21, MDBK). The anti-cancer activity was conducted on human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG2) by determining inhibition concentration (IC50) on cell proliferation. The vitamin C equivalence of UDE increased linearly by increasing the concentration. The cytotoxic and non-toxic concentrations of UDE were determined on BHK-21 and MDBK with 15.71 mg/ml and 5.14 mg/ml of CC50 respectively. The extract inhibited the proliferation of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells with a 2.46 mg/ml of IC50. In conclusion, the present study tried to explain in detail the dose-dependent activity of Urtica dioica L. leaf extract. The dose-response results showed that Urtica dioica L. leaf extract could have low cytotoxicity, but potential anti-cancer activity at safe concentrations.

Green synthesis and characterization of Ag nanoparticles using fresh and dry Portulaca Oleracea leaf extracts: Enhancing light reflectivity properties of ITO glass

AbstractSilver (Ag) nanoparticles (NPs) are perceiving remarkable progress during the past few periods due to its exclusive properties in many applications. Recently, green synthesis method of NPs is racing against traditional chemical and physical methods by avoiding the use of many toxic chemicals, and expensive devices. Accordingly, in this study, dry and fresh Portulaca‐oleracea L. leaf extract has been employed for producing AgNPs as a reducing, capping and stabilizing agents. This process is simple, eco‐friendly and green. UV–vis spectra showed the formation of AgNPs represented by the change of a colorless liquid to brownish solution. The crystallinity of the AgNPs, was confirmed by X‐ray diffraction (XRD). The contribution of the available functional groups of the leaf extract in the reduction and capping process of NPs was demonstrated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). This study showed that fresh Portulaca‐oleracea L. leaf extract provides better NPs in terms of stability, purity, degree of crystallinity and spherical shape. The biosynthesized AgNPs from both procedures were coated on the indium tin oxide (ITO) glass substrates to enhance the reflectivity property. It has been shown that the utilized AgNPs, from fresh Portulaca‐oleracea L. extract, has smaller size and negligeable agglomeration, consequently lower light transmittance.

Phytomediated Synthesis of Zinc Oxide (ZnO) Nanoparticles via Vitex negundo Leaf Extract: Characterization, Antibacterial and Antibiofilm Activity

This study provides evidence for the green synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) using Vitex negundo leaf extract. The UV–Visible (UV–Vis) spectrum of ZnO NPs and calcinated ZnO NPs (ZnO-C) showed peaks at 370[Formula: see text]nm and 374[Formula: see text]nm, respectively, confirming zinc ion reduction to zinc oxide. The ZnO NPs and calcinated counterparts were further characterized by FTIR, XRD, FE-SEM and EDX. FTIR results revealed the presence of alcoholic and aromatic groups, like flavonoids, in the leaf extract. The XRD pattern showed a distinctive Wurtzite crystalline phase with a hexagonal shape. The Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis data revealed that ZnO’s surface area and pore size is 22.8[Formula: see text]m2/g and 12.9[Formula: see text]nm, whereas ZnO-C exhibited a surface area of 23.5[Formula: see text]m2/g and pore size of 13.1[Formula: see text]nm. The SEM data demonstrated numerous irregular and agglomerated flakes fusing to form a roughly spherical morphology with the size, in the range of 15–20[Formula: see text]nm and 11–16[Formula: see text]nm for ZnO and ZnO-C NPs, respectively. The results of the antimicrobial assay by disc diffusion method and MIC testing revealed that ZnO and ZnO-C NPs exhibited moderate to high antimicrobial activity against various microorganisms, indicating their application against bacterial infection. In addition, the ZnO NPs significantly disrupted the biofilm of Bacillus cereus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, as confirmed by CV assay and fluorescent microscopy.

Antifungal activity test of Dewandaru leaf extract (Eugenia uniflora L) against Candida in otomycosis

Background: Tropical climate conditions and a lack of public awareness about maintaining environmental cleanliness mean that infectious diseases are still a major health problem in Indonesia. Bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites are pathogenic organisms that cause infections. Fungal infections receive less attention because they are rarely fatal for the sufferer. Fungal infections in the ear, known as otomycosis, are often caused by Candida fungi. The Dewandaru plant (E. uniflora L) as a type of plant that is widely used for traditional medicine in the community is known to have antifungal potential. This plant contains flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, anthraquinones and tannins which have antifungal properties. Method: The method used in this research was experimental research with a post test only control group design on C. albicans test material. The positive control was 1% Clotrimazole suspension and the negative control was 96% ethanol solution. Result: Research showed that there was an inhibitory effect of E. uniflora L leaf extract in concentrations of 100%, 90% and 80% against the Candida albicans fungus. Average diameter of the inhibitory area of leaf extract E. uniflora L concentrations of 100%, 90% and 80% respectively were 22.2 mm; 19.0mm; and 18.0 mm, while the average diameter of the 1% Clotrimazole inhibition area was 31.8 mm. Conclusion: There is an inhibitory effect of Dewandaru leaf extract (E. uniflora L) in concentrations of 100%, 90% and 80% against the Candida albicans fungus.

Cytotoxicity Test of Ethyl Acetate Fraction and Ethanol Fraction of Papaya Leaf Extract (Carica Papaya. L) Against Hep-2 Laryngeal Cancer Cells

Papaya leaves are used as medicine for fever, malaria, increased appetite, constipation, and anti-cancer. In the previous study using the Brine Shrimp Lethality Test (BSLT), an ethanol extract of papaya leaf had an LC50 value of 23.73 mg/mL. This suggests that papaya leaves are a compound, that uses a 70% ethanol extract of papaya leaves and has cytotoxic potential. Research objectives: This research aimed to determine the cytotoxic effect of the ethanol and ethyl acetate fractions of a 70 % ethanol extract of papaya leaf against Hep-2 cells. Performed in vitro by the direct calculation method (viable cell count), so its LC50 is known. The ethanol and ethyl acetate fraction of papaya leaf extract as a test solution was made in 5 concentrations, with concentrations of 20.93; 16.26; 12.64; 9.82, and 7.63 µg/ml. Result: The results obtained the LC50 ethanol fraction of 11.2616 μg/ml and the ethyl acetate fraction of LC50 12.4 of 882 μg/ml. Conclusion: Based on this, it can be concluded that the fraction of ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts of papaya (Carica papaya L.) have cytotoxic properties against Hep-2 cells in a range that goes very, very toxic, i.e., 5–50 µg/ml, and have the potential to be developed as an anticancer drug.

LENGTH-WEIGHT RELATIONSHIP OF CLARIAS GARIEPINUS FED PSIDIUM GUAJAVA AND MANGIFERA INDICA LEAF EXTRACT

The length weight relationship (LWR) of Clarias gariepinus fed Psidium guajava and Mangifera indica leaf extract was evaluated for six (6) months. A total of 420, eight (8) weeks old fingerlings of Clarias gariepinus was used for this study. Experimental fish were fed 40 % crude protein diet with inclusion of both leaf extracts at 0 %, 4 %, 6 %, and 8 %. Experimental fish were stocked in twenty-one 4ft by 4ft tarpaulin tanks half filled with borehole water, acclimation was done for 7 days during which they were fed commercial diet. Aqueous extract was done for both leaves and stored in plastic cans for further use. Weight and length of fish was measured biweekly and data was used to assess the length-weight relationship. The result of this study showed that the best weight was recorded in treatment 2 fed 4 % Psidium guajava extract and the least in treatment 5 fed 4 % Mangifera indica extract. The result on LWR revealed the regression coefficient ‘b’ to be  from 17.68-20.40 which indicates a positive allometric growth, since ‘b’ value is more than 3. This further means that the fish samples in this study became heavier, stouter, deeper bodied or bigger as it increases in length i.e all parts of the fish increase in size proportionately with the length.

Control of Fungal Pathogens Associated with Post-Harvest Rot Agents of Groundnut using Plant Extracts

Post-harvest losses due to fungal pathogens pose a significant threat to groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) production, affecting both food security and economic stability. In this study, we investigated the potential of plant extracts as eco-friendly alternatives for controlling fungal pathogens associated with post-harvest rot of groundnut. Four plant species, including neem (Azadirachta indica), garlic (Allium sativum), ginger (Zingiber officinale), and turmeric (Curcuma longa), were selected based on their known antimicrobial properties. Crude extracts were prepared from these plants and evaluated for their antifungal activity against common post-harvest rot agents, including Aspergillus spp., Fusarium spp., and Penicillium spp. The agar well diffusion method was employed to assess the inhibitory effects of the plant extracts against the fungal pathogens. Additionally, a control trial was conducted using leaf extracts of neem and drumstick (Moringa oleifera), with phytochemical analysis performed to determine the composition of bioactive compounds. The results revealed significant antifungal activity of all tested plant extracts, with neem extract exhibiting the highest efficacy against fungal pathogens. Phytochemical analysis indicated the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, tannins, saponins, and terpenoids in the leaf extracts, highlighting their potential as sources of natural bioactive compounds. These findings suggest that plant extracts offer promising alternatives to synthetic fungicides for controlling post-harvest rot pathogens in groundnut. Further research is warranted to optimize the efficacy of plant extracts and elucidate their mechanisms of action for practical applications in groundnut storage and processing facilities.

Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activities of Jasminum officinale L. f. var. grandiflorum (L.) Kob. Leaf Extracts

The investigation of phytochemicals and their effects on plants is currently receiving significant attention due to the well-known fact that plants contain secondary metabolites that have high levels of usefulness in various applications. These applications include food additives, biopesticides, and pharmaceuticals. In a recent study, we thoroughly examined the total phenolic content (TPC), and the antioxidant, and antibacterial properties of Jasminum officinale L.f. var. grandiflorum (L.) Kob. (also known as Spanish jasmine) leaf extracts, providing valuable insights into its potential benefits. Our study performed a crude methanol (ME) extraction of Spanish jasmine leaves with acid-base solvent partitioning, resulting in an acidic fraction (AE), a neutral fraction (NE), and an aqueous fraction (AQ). The Folin-Ciocalteu method was used to determine the TPC of the extracts. The AE fraction displayed the highest TPC (79.8±0.61 mgGAE/g dry weight), followed by the NE and AQ fractions. The extracts were further evaluated for their antioxidant activity using the DPPH assay. The AE fraction had the highest antioxidant activity with an EC50 value of 4.6±0.40 µg/mL. The main active compound, oleuropein, was isolated and determined using spectral data. The isolated compound displayed excellent antioxidant activity with an EC50 value of 13.0±0.06 µg/mL. Moreover, the antibacterial activity of the Spanish jasmine leaf extracts was calculated using the disc diffusion method based on the minimum inhibitory concentration. The AE fraction exhibited activity against the Gram-negative bacteria, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, with a MIC value of 0.78 µg/mL. The AE fraction also displayed the highest degree of activity against Staphylococcus strains, including drug-resistant

Evaluation of In vitro anti-inflammatory activity and In-silico pharmacokinetics and molecular docking study of Horsfieldia iryaghedhi

Background: Phytochemicals are still a valuable source to develop clinically important drugs in treating chronic and acute diseases. Inflammation is a response to an injurious stimulus of the body and novel therapeutic agents are needed to alleviate the condition with minimum side effects. Aims and Objectives: To investigate in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of methanol and aqueous leaf, bark, and combination extracts of plant Horsfieldia iryaghedhi by heat-induced egg albumin denaturation method and to analyze the phytochemicals of Horsfieldia iryaghedhi for their anti-inflammatory potential against cyclooxygenase- 2 (COX-2) using molecular docking. Methodology: Matured and fully expanded fresh leaves and barks of H. iryaghedhi were collected, and the extractions were obtained cold maceration using 99.9% methanol and distilled water as solvents. A concentration series was then developed, and the anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated against Diclofenac sodium as the positive control, using the heat-induced egg albumin denaturation method. Further, selected phytochemicals were tested against COX-2 enzyme (PDB ID: 5IKR) using site-specific molecular docking with autodock vina and the binding energies and pharmacokinetic and toxicity parameters were evaluated. Results: The methanol and aqueous extracts have shown a moderate to strong concentration-dependent anti-inflammatory activity with reference to standard Diclofenac sodium (IC50 116.4 μg/ml) and Methanol bark extract exhibited potent anti-inflammatory activity compared to other extracts (IC50 293 μg/ml). Further, Methanol and aqueous extracts showed a statistically significant correlation between concentration and percentage inhibition (p<0.05, R2 ≈1). The molecular docking results suggest that the phytochemicals available on the plant have possible COX-2 inhibitory activity and the compounds selected (Methyl 2,4-dihydroxy-6-methylbenzoate and N, N-Dimethyl-5-methoxy tryptamine) even got favourable toxicity and pharmacokinetic parameters confirming their drugability. Conclusion: Methanol bark extract of Horsfieldia iryaghedhi have marked in vitro anti-inflammatory activity. The results indicate a solid possibility of lead discovery of anti- inflammatory agents from the bark and leaves of Horsfieldia iryaghedhi. However, further molecular dynamics studies and in vivo tests may be required to confirm the findings.

Synthesis, Characterization, and Photocatalytic Activity of Cu-Doped MgO Nanoparticles on Degradation of Methyl Orange (MO)

The purpose of this study is to synthesize Cu-doped MgO nanoparticles and test the performance of photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange (MO). Mg(NO3)2, CuCl2, NaOH, and fresh Calotropis procera leaf extract were used as precursors. The prepared nanoparticles were characterized by using FT-IR, XRD, SEM, and UV-Vis spectrometer to study the functional group, crystal structure, surface morphology, and absorption edge, respectively. The wide band above 3000 cm−1 from the FT-IR spectrum corresponds to the stretching vibrations of flavonoids and phenolic compounds of Calotropis procera leaf extract. Furthermore, the Mg-O bonding of undoped MgO and Cu-doped MgO NPs is represented by new peaks which appeared at 831 and 835 cm−1, respectively. The crystal size of undoped MgO and Cu-doped MgO nanoparticles is 13.04 nm and 12.08 nm, respectively. The SEM microstructure of pure MgO showed higher agglomeration than the Cu-doped MgO nanoparticles. The degradation efficiency of the Cu-doped MgO NPs was compared with that of the MgO NPs, and the photocatalytic activity of these NPs was evaluated using the photocatalytic degradation rates of MO dye. Cu-doped MgO NPs showed higher degradation efficiency than pure MgO NPs. The insertion of Cu in the MgO structure improved the photocatalytic efficiency of the MgO NPs under optimal conditions. Therefore, Cu-doped MgO exhibits high photocatalytic activity compared with undoped MgO nanoparticles under sunlight irradiation.

In-vitro comparative study of solvent effect on antioxidant properties of leaf extracts of Anthocleista djalonensis

This study demonstrated that the extraction solvents play an important role in the extraction of important bioactive compounds with antioxidant properties from the leaves of Anthocleista djalonensis. Anthocleista djalonensis, a plant native to tropical Africa, is believed to have antioxidant properties due to its bioactive composition. The powdered leaves were macerated using local gin, hot distilled water, and analytical ethanol to extract bioactive compounds. The in vitro antioxidant activity of these extracts was assessed using 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging assays, nitric oxide scavenging assay, and hydrogen peroxide scavenging assay. Ascorbic acid was used as a reference. The DPPH and hydrogen peroxide scavenging tests showed concentration-dependent responses. Distilled water had the lowest IC50 value of 0.079 mg/ml and showed the most antioxidant potential in DPPH. Local gin demonstrated significant hydrogen peroxide scavenging ability with an IC50 value of 0.12 mg/ml, surpassing the standard drug. The nitric oxide scavenging assay showed a concentration-dependent increase in both ethanol and local gin extracts. Ethanol and local gin extracts showed maximum antioxidant activity, with ethanol extract showing 22.84% inhibition and local gin extract showing a higher activity of 46.29% inhibition. However, ascorbic acid showed the highest inhibition of nitric oxide production at 57.10%. The study highlights the importance of solvent selection in herbal preparation for optimal health benefits regarding antioxidant activity.