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Cyclooxygenase (COX) and lipoxygenase (LOX) enzymes play a pivotal role in producing pro-inflammatory eicosanoids, including prostaglandins (PGs) and leukotrienes (LTs), in the inflammation process. Mitragynine is a primary alkaloid contained in the kratom’s leaves and has been reported to show anti-inflammatory activity by suppressing COX-2 mRNA translation to lowering PGs synthesis. In this study, the Kratom’s alkaloid extract containing ~ 46% mitragynine was found to exhibit dual inhibition activity towards COX-2/5-LOX enzymes at concentrations below 25 ppm in the LPS-induced RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. At these levels, no cell toxicity was observed while the cells became death (e.g., 10–46% viability at 50–100 ppm) and only COX-2 inhibition activity was observed after exposed with more than 25 ppm of alkaloid extract. In contrast, the methanolic-crude extract of Kratom’s leaf containing ~ 5% mitragynine showed no inhibition toward COX-2/5-LOX enzymes and did not toxic onto the cells, even after treated at 100 ppm. The alkaloid extract suppressed several antiinflammation parameters, including ROS (64% reduction at 25 ppm), NO (30% reduction at 25 ppm), TNF-α (~ 50% reduction at 25 ppm), and IL-6 production (60% reduction at 6.25 ppm). In silico molecular studies indicated strong binding affinity of Kratom alkaloids to COX-2 and 5-LOX active sites, supporting the Kratom’s alkaloids to have great potential dual inhibition activity towards COX-2/5-LOX enzymes and to be developed as a safer NSAIDs with fewer side effects.

Marine angiosperms produce a wide variety of secondary metabolites with unique structural features that have the potential to be developed as effective and potent drugs for various diseases. Recently, research trends in secondary metabolites have led to drug discovery with an emphasis on their pharmacological activity. Among marine angiosperms, seagrasses have been utilized for a variety of remedial purposes, such as treating fevers, mental disorders, wounds, skin diseases, muscle pain, and stomach problems. Hence, it is essential to study their bioactive metabolites, medical properties, and underlying mechanisms when considering their pharmacological activity. However, there is a scarcity of studies on the compilation of existing work on their pharmacological uses, pharmacological pathways, and bioactive compounds. This review aims to compile the pharmacological activities of numerous seagrass species, their secondary metabolites, pharmacological properties, and mechanism of action. In conclusion, this review highlights the potency of seagrasses as a promising source of natural therapeutical products for preventing or inhibiting human diseases.

Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) is a medicinal plant that is commonly used as spice and preservative. Many types of endophytic fungi have been reported as being associated with medicinal plants and able to synthesize secondary metabolites. In this study, endophytic fungi were isolated from all plant parts of turmeric plants. Identification of the endophytic fungi was done using morphological characteristics and sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of ribosomal DNA. The dual culture method was used for screening antibacterial activity of the endophytic fungi against Morganella morganii, a common histamine-producing bacteria. The disc diffusion method was used to test the ability of water fractions of selected endophytic fungi to inhibit M. morganii growth. Two-dimensional thin layer chromatography was used to determine the fungal extract inhibition activity on histamine formation. In total, 11 endophytic fungi were successfully isolated and identified as Arthrobotrys foliicola, Cochliobolus kusanoi, Daldinia eschscholzii, Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium proliferatum, Fusarium solani, Fusarium verticillioides, Phanerochaete chrysosporium, and Phaeosphaeria ammophilae. Five isolates showed inhibition activity against M. morganii in the dual culture tests. Based on the disc diffusion assay, A. foliicola and F. verticillioides inhibited the growth of M. morganii as a histamine-producing bacteria, and inhibiting histamine formation in fish. The best effects in inhibiting growth of the histamine-producing bacteria and histamine formation inhibition in fish were produced with F. verticillioides water fraction at 0°C incubation.

Vanillin is an aromatic substance widely employed across the food and pharmaceutical sectors. Petroleum-derived chemicals in conventional synthetic vanillin production pose environmental and safety concerns, highlighting the need for sustainable, bio-based alternatives. Lignocellulosic waste, abundant and rich in lignin-derived compounds, is a promising feedstock for microbial bioconversion to bio-vanillin. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) play essential roles in this process, serving as fermentation agents and as sources of crucial enzymes, including feruloyl esterase, laccase, and feruloyl decarboxylase. This review discusses the bioconversion pathways of lignocellulose and lignin-derived intermediates into bio-vanillin, the functional roles of LAB and their enzymes, and critical factors affecting process efficiency. Furthermore, current challenges and future perspectives for process optimization and technological advancement are addressed. In summary, generating bio-vanillin from lignocellulosic waste represents an innovative and promising strategy for meeting the growing demand for high-value natural flavor compounds.

This study aimed to synthesize AuNPs utilizing Centella asiatica leaf extract as a bioreductor of Au 3+ to Au 0 for cosmeceutical uses. The green synthesis approach was chosen for this study due to its various advantages, including its simplicity, eco-friendliness, and low cost. In this work, multiple pHs (acid, neutral, and alkaline), temperatures (25, 37, 50, and 70 °C), and plant concentrations (2, 4, 6, 8, and 10%) were utilized to optimize the synthesis process. The results showed that the suitable conditions for synthesizing AuNPs were at 70 °C, pH 7, and 4% concentration of C. asiatica extract. The UV–Vis spectra identified an SPR with a maximum wavelength of 526 nm, indicating the SPR spectra of AuNPs. SEM, EDX, TEM, FTIR, and XRD were used to characterize the synthesized AuNPs. The chemical elements comprised 13.6% Au and had spherical, rod, triangular, and hexagonal shapes. The AuNPs form a crystallinity profile based on the Bragg reflection of gold nanocrystals. The study was extended by examining anti-aging efficiency using stability, moisture retention, glycation, antioxidant, and cytotoxicity assay. AuNPs exhibit good stability since they do not change the SPR and zeta potential value after the stability test. The percentage inhibition value of AuNPs for the glycation assay was 95.30 + 3.51%. Moreover, the AuNPs do not exhibit cytotoxic activity at various concentrations from 6.25 to 100 μg/mL in NIH-3T3 mouse fibroblast cells. These findings suggest that the AuNPs synthesized utilizing C. asiatica could be a promising candidate for cosmetic components with anti-aging properties.

The turmeric plant serves as a botanical origin of antioxidant compounds. One potential approach to expedite the generation of antioxidant compounds from turmeric involves the utilization of its endophytic fungi. Endophytic fungi, identified as microorganisms that inhabit plant tissues, demonstrate an ability to produce chemical compounds derived from host plants, thereby exhibiting potential as pharmaceutical agents. This study aims to isolate and characterize antioxidant compounds derived from turmeric endophytic fungus BoCiClD-2 extract. The chemical compounds originating from the fungus were obtained via a dynamic liquid fermentation process in a solution comprised of potato dextrose broth (PDB) on a rotary shaker over 12 days at ambient temperature. The crude extract was purified using column chromatography followed by 2-dimensional thin-layer chromatography. The antioxidant activities of the extract and fraction were assessed through the implementation of the DPPH free radical scavenging method. The active compounds were characterized by FTIR spectrophotometry, proton spectrophotometry, carbon, and DEPT NMR. EtOAc crude extract and fraction II from endophytic fungus have antioxidant activity with IC50 values of 96.08±0.06 and 96.23±0.09µg/mL, respectively. Then, fraction II.2, obtained from the second purification from fraction II, had the highest antioxidant activity of 51.85%. Interpretation of NMR spectrophotometer data from fraction II.2 showed that the compound suspected to have antioxidant activity was 3-hydroxy-4-methyl benzoic acid. Therefore, the endophytic fungus BoCiClD-2 has the potential for development as a generator of naturally occurring active compounds that possess antioxidant properties.