Search Results (6)

Background/Objectives: This study evaluates the effectiveness of a toothpaste containing Java Tea and Little Ironweed in alleviating tooth sensitivity compared to a conventional potassium nitrate toothpaste. Methods: A total of 90 healthy patients aged 18–70 with up to two teeth exhibiting gingival recession were recruited into this study. All selected teeth had a visual analog scale (VAS) score ≥ 4 in response to tactile or air blast stimuli. Excluded teeth included those requiring restoration or participants undergoing treatments affecting sensitivity or taking pain medication/anti-sensitivity agents. Participants were randomly divided into three groups and instructed to brush twice daily with different toothpastes. The S1 group was prescribed toothpaste containing Java Tea and Little Ironweed extract, the S2 group was prescribed toothpaste containing Java Tea and Little Ironweed extract with 0.7% potassium nitrate, and the S3 group was prescribed toothpaste containing potassium nitrate. VAS scores were recorded at baseline, 2 weeks, and 4 weeks. Data were then compared and statistically analyzed between the groups. Results: For the tactile test, the final number of included teeth was 47 in the S1 group, 46 in the S2 group, and 22 in the S3 group. For the air blast test, the number of teeth included was 38 in the S1 group, 30 in the S2 group, and 27 in the S3 group. At baseline, mean VAS scores were comparable across groups for both tactile (S1: 6.89 ± 0.98; S2: 6.65 ± 1.52; S3: 6.82 ± 1.99) and air blast tests (S1: 7.39 ± 1.15; S2: 7.53 ± 1.31; S3: 6.89 ± 2.12). All groups showed significant reductions in VAS scores from baseline at both 2 and 4 weeks. A Kruskal–Wallis test indicated significant between-group differences in VAS scores at 2 and 4 weeks (p = 0.001). Post hoc analysis (Dunn’s test with Bonferroni correction) at 2 weeks revealed that the S1 group had significantly higher VAS scores than those of S2 (tactile p = 0.001, air blast p = 0.001) and S3 (tactile p = 0.002, air blast p = 0.018). By 4 weeks, the S2 group demonstrated superior efficacy, with significantly lower VAS scores compared to those of S1 (tactile p < 0.001, air blast p = 0.030) and S3 (tactile p = 0.035, air blast p = 0.001). Conclusions: All tested toothpastes effectively reduced dentin hypersensitivity over the study period. Potassium nitrate toothpaste provided more rapid initial relief, when compared to the herbal formulation alone; however, both achieved similar outcomes by 4 weeks. The herbal toothpaste supplemented with potassium nitrate demonstrated superior efficacy and may offer a promising natural alternative for managing dentin hypersensitivity. Full article

Prostate cancer (PCa) remains both a global health burden and a scientific challenge. We present a review of the molecular targets driving current drug discovery to fight this disease. Moreover, the preventable nature of most PCa cases represents an opportunity for phytochemicals as chemopreventive when adequately integrated into nutritional interventions. With a renovated interest in natural remedies as a commodity and their essential role in cancer drug discovery, Malaysia is looking towards capitalizing on its mega biodiversity, which includes the oldest rainforest in the world and an estimated 1200 medicinal plants. We here explore whether the list of top Malay plants prioritized by the Malaysian government may fulfill the potential of becoming newer, sustainable sources of prostate cancer chemotherapy. These include Andrographis paniculate, Centella asiatica, Clinacanthus nutans, Eurycoma longifolia, Ficus deltoidea, Hibiscus sabdariffa, Marantodes pumilum (syn. Labisia pumila), Morinda citrifolia, Orthosiphon aristatus, and Phyllanthus niruri. Our review highlights the importance of resistance factors such as Smac/DIABLO in cancer progression, the role of the CXCL12/CXCR4 axis in cancer metastasis, and the regulation of PCa cells by some promising terpenes (andrographolide, Asiatic acid, rosmarinic acid), flavonoids (isovitexin, gossypin, sinensetin), and alkylresorcinols (labisiaquinones) among others. Full article

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most prevalent form of liver disease. Orthosiphon aristatus (Blume) Miq, a traditional plant in South Asia, has previously been shown to attenuate obesity and hyperglycaemic conditions. Eight weeks of feeding C57BL/6 mice with the standardized O. aristatus extract (400 mg/kg) inhibited the progression of NAFLD. Liver enzymes including alanine aminotransferase and aspartate transaminase were significantly reduced in treated mice by 74.2% ± 7.69 and 52.8% ± 7.83, respectively. Furthermore, the treated mice showed a reduction in serum levels of glucose (50% ± 5.71), insulin (70.2% ± 12.09), total cholesterol (27.5% ± 15.93), triglycerides (63.2% ± 16.5), low-density lipoprotein (62.5% ± 4.93) and atherogenic risk index relative to the negative control. Histologically, O. aristatus reversed hepatic fat accumulation and reduced NAFLD severity. Notably, our results showed the antioxidant activity of O. aristatus via increased superoxide dismutase activity and a reduction of hepatic malondialdehyde levels. In addition, the levels of serum pro-inflammatory mediators (IL-6 and TNFα) decreased, indicating anti-inflammatory activity. The aqueous, hydroethanolic and ethanolic fractions of O. aristatus extract significantly reduced intracellular fat accumulation in HepG2 cells that were treated with palmitic–oleic acid. Together, these findings suggest that antioxidant activities are the primary mechanism of action of O. aristatus underlying the anti-NAFLD effects. Full article

Hildebrand and Hansen solubility parameters, and log P value are widely used to determine the solubility of polymers in solvents. The models were used to explain the recovery of phytochemical, rosmarinic acid from Orthosiphon aristatus extract in C18 solid phase extraction (SPE) using the eluent consisting of ethyl acetate and chloroform in the decreasing polarity of solvent system. The experimental recovery of rosmarinic acid appeared to be well explained by the Hansen solubility model. The small difference in the Hansen solubility parameters, particularly for dispersion and hydrogen bonding forces, results in a higher polar solvent system for high rosmarinic acid recovery. The results found that the Hansen solubility model fitted well to the recovery of rosmarinic acid from crude extract with high coefficient of determination (R² > 0.8), low standard error (4.4%), and p < 0.05. Hildebrand solubility is likely to be the second fit model, whereas log P has poor R² < 0.7 and higher standard error (7.3%). The Hansen solubility model describes the interaction of solute–solvent in three dimensions (dispersion, polar, and hydrogen bonding forces) which can accurately explain the recovery of rosmarinic acid. Therefore, Hansen solubility can be used to predict the recovery of rosmarinic acid from O. aristatus extract using SPE. Full article

High rosmarinic acid (RA) productivity has been achieved by applying jasmonic acid and yeast extract elicitors to the in vitro sprout culture of Orthosiphon aritatus (IOSC). The highest RA accumulation from three solvents was detected in IOSC after treatment with yeast extract (5 g/L). HPLC analysis clearly confirmed a drastic increase in RA subjected to yeast extract elicitation. Therefore, this yeast extract elicited IOSC was chosen for a lactic acid bacteria (LAB) fermentation study as a model system. This selected IOSC was subjected to different types of LAB fermentations (Lactobacillus plantarum ATCC 8014 and Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM) for different periods of time 24, 48 and 72 h. The LAB fermentations consisted of solid state fermentations (SSF) and liquid state fermentations (LSF) in a Digital Control Unit (DCU) fermenter system. The aim was to determine the effect of fermentation on the antioxidant properties of the plant extract. Results indicated that all types of LAB fermentation decreased the level of RA and total phenolics, however, a slight increase in total flavonoids and flavonols was observed in SSF samples. HPLC results confirmed that the longer the fermentation, the greater the reduction in RA content. The highest reduction was obtained in the sample of LSF inoculated with L. plantarum for a period of 72 h. The temperature of fermentation (37 °C) was predicted as contributing to the declining level in RA content. The loss in RA was concomitant with a loss of total antioxidant activity (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activity, Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity (TEAC), and Superoxide Dismutase (SOD)-like activity). These results indicate that RA is the major contributor to the antioxidant activity of this plant. Full article