Effects of gamma irradiation under vacuum and air packaging atmospheres on the phytochemical contents, biological activities, and microbial loads of Kaempferia parviflora rhizomes

Lyophilized Progenitor Tenocyte Extracts: Sterilizable Cytotherapeutic Derivatives with Antioxidant Properties and Hyaluronan Hydrogel Functionalization Effects

Cultured primary progenitor tenocytes in lyophilized form were previously shown to possess intrinsic antioxidant properties and hyaluronan-based hydrogel viscosity-modulating effects in vitro. The aim of this study was to prepare and functionally characterize several stabilized (lyophilized) cell-free progenitor tenocyte extracts for inclusion in cytotherapy-inspired complex injectable preparations. Fractionation and sterilization methods were included in specific biotechnological manufacturing workflows of such extracts. Comparative and functional-oriented characterizations of the various extracts were performed using several orthogonal descriptive, colorimetric, rheological, mechanical, and proteomic readouts. Specifically, an optimal sugar-based (saccharose/dextran) excipient formula was retained to produce sterilizable cytotherapeutic derivatives with appropriate functions. It was shown that extracts containing soluble cell-derived fractions possessed conserved and significant antioxidant properties (TEAC) compared to the freshly harvested cellular starting materials. Progenitor tenocyte extracts submitted to sub-micron filtration (0.22 µm) and 60Co gamma irradiation terminal sterilization (5−50 kGy) were shown to retain significant antioxidant properties and hyaluronan-based hydrogel viscosity modulating effects. Hydrogel combination products displayed important efficacy-related characteristics (friction modulation, tendon bioadhesivity) with significant (p < 0.05) protective effects of the cellular extracts in oxidative environments. Overall, the present study sets forth robust control methodologies (antioxidant assays, H2O2-challenged rheological setups) for stabilized cell-free progenitor tenocyte extracts. Importantly, it was shown that highly sensitive phases of cytotherapeutic derivative manufacturing process development (purification, terminal sterilization) allowed for the conservation of critical biological extract attributes.

Fabrication, Optimization, and Characterization of Antibacterial Electrospun Shellac Fibers Loaded with Kaempferia parviflora Extract

This study aimed to develop a Kaempferia parviflora (KP) extract based on electrospun shellac fibers capable of transporting methoxyflavones. This study used a Box-Behnken design to determine the optimal production parameters that influence the fiber diameter and bead-to-fiber ratio responses. The optimization step produced fibers with a small diameter (574 nm) and a lower bead-to-fiber ratio (0.48 beads per fiber) by combining 37.25% w/w shellac and 1.50% w/w KP extract with a solution feed rate of 0.8 mL/h and an electrical voltage of 18 kV. The KP extract was found to be dispersed throughout the electrospun shellac fibers during the characterization study. The results were highly correlated with the theoretical values, indicating that the regression models used to predict the response variables were adequate. A study of in vitro dissolution confirmed that KP extract-loaded electrospun shellac fibers could produce a sustained-release profile within 10 h. Additionally, KP-infused shellac fibers demonstrated antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus. This KP loading method combined with shellac properties provided a new delivery system and could be used to explore novel biomedical materials.

Optimization of Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction of Yields and Total Methoxyflavone Contents from Kaempferia parviflora Rhizomes

The major bioactive components of Kaempferia parviflora (KP) rhizomes, 3,5,7,3′,4′-pentamethoxyflavone (PMF), 5,7-dimethoxyflavone (DMF), and 5,7,4′-trimethoxyflavone (TMF), were chosen as the quantitative and qualitative markers for this plant material. In order to extract bioactive components (total methoxyflavones) from KP rhizomes, ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) was proposed as part of this study. Plackett–Burman design (PBD) and Box–Behnken design (BBD) were utilized to optimize the effects of UAE on extraction yields and total methoxyflavone contents in KP rhizomes. First, PBD was utilized to determine the effect of five independent variables on total yields and total methoxyflavone contents. The results indicated that the concentration of the extracting solvent (ethanol), the extraction time, and the ratio of solvent to solid were significant independent terms. Subsequently, BBD with three-level factorial experiments was used to optimize the crucial variables. It was discovered that the concentration of ethanol was the most influential variable on yields and total methoxyflavone contents. Optimum conditions for extraction yield were ethanol concentration (54.24% v/v), extraction time (25.25 min), and solvent-to-solid ratio (49.63 mL/g), while optimum conditions for total methoxyflavone content were ethanol concentration (95.00% v/v), extraction time (15.99 min), and solvent-to-solid ratio (50.00 mL/g). The relationship between the experimental and theoretical values was perfect, which proved that the regression models used were correct and that PBD and BBD were used to optimize the conditions in the UAE to obtain the highest yield and total methoxyflavone content in the KP rhizomes.

Preparation and Properties of Anti-Nail-Biting Lacquers Containing Shellac and Bitter Herbal Extract

The purpose of the present investigation was to formulate and evaluate anti-nail-biting lacquers consisting of bitter herbal extracts. The hydroalcoholic extracts obtained from Andrographis paniculata and Tinospora crispa were determined for phytochemical constituents, total phenolic contents, antioxidant activities, anti-inflammatory activities, and cytotoxicities. Anti-nail-biting lacquers were prepared by using herbal extracts (bittering agent), shellac (film forming polymer), ethanol (volatile solvent), and other indispensable additives with continuous stirring. Thus, attempts to enhance the film property and bitterness are accomplished by using polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP K30) as a copolymer and varying concentrations of herbal extracts. Good accepted formulations were established for drying time, pH, viscosity, smoothness of film, film strength, water resistant, and solubility in simulated saliva and evaluated their bitterness in human volunteers. The results revealed that phytochemical constituents including tannins, glycosides, reducing sugars, alkaloids, terpenoids, and flavonoids were found present in both extracts while saponins were only detected in A. paniculata extract. Although T. crispa extract exhibited a significantly higher ( $p<0.05$ ) total phenolic content and antioxidant activity than A. paniculata extract, it showed lower protein denaturation inhibition property than A. paniculata extract. Because of the potentials of both extracts without cytotoxicity, anti-nail-biting lacquers containing either A. paniculata extract or T. crispa extract were developed and evaluated. Drying time of formulations was 6-11 min with visually seen glossiness of formulation. Formulations of the nail lacquer showed good pH, viscosity, smoothness of film, film strength, water resistant, and solubility in simulated saliva. The formulations displaying no significant cytotoxicity effect on CRL-2076 cells were assessed on healthy human volunteers to compare bitterness and film characteristics. The results revealed that the optimized formulation containing A. paniculata extract could successfully achieve good film forming property and bitterness release which is considered promising for stopping nail biting.

Establishment of a Rapid Micropropagation System for Kaempferia parviflora Wall. Ex Baker: Phytochemical Analysis of Leaf Extracts and Evaluation of Biological Activities

This study aimed to establish a rapid in vitro plant regeneration method from rhizome buds of Kaempferia parviflora to obtain the valuable secondary metabolites with antioxidant and enzyme inhibition properties. The disinfection effect of silver oxide nanoparticles (AgO NPs) on rhizome and effects of plant growth regulators on shoot multiplication and subsequent rooting were investigated. Surface sterilization of rhizome buds with sodium hypochlorite was insufficient to control contamination. However, immersing rhizome buds in 100 mg L⁻¹ AgO NPs for 60 min eliminated contamination without affecting the survival of explants. The number of shoots (12.2) produced per rhizome bud was higher in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing 8 µM of 6-Benzyladenine (6-BA) and 0.5 µM of Thidiazuron (TDZ) than other treatments. The highest number of roots (24), with a mean root length of 7.8 cm and the maximum shoot length (9.8 cm), were obtained on medium MS with 2 µM of Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). A survival rate of 98% was attained when plantlets of K. parviflora were acclimatized in a growth room. Liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was used to determine the chemical profile of K. parviflora leaf extracts. Results showed that several biologically active flavonoids reported in rhizomes were also present in leaf tissues of both in vitro cultured and ex vitro (greenhouse-grown) plantlets of K. parviflora. We found 40 and 36 compounds in in vitro cultured and ex vitro grown leaf samples, respectively. Greenhouse leaves exhibited more potent antioxidant activities than leaves from in vitro cultures. A higher acetylcholinesterase inhibitory ability was obtained for greenhouse leaves (1.07 mg/mL). However, leaves from in vitro cultures exhibited stronger butyrylcholinesterase inhibitory abilities. These results suggest that leaves of K. parviflora, as major byproducts of black ginger cultivation, could be used as valuable alternative sources for extracting bioactive compounds.