The general objective of this study was to determine the phytochemical contents of mahogany leaves and winged seeds. Ethanol extracts of mahogany winged seeds and leaves underwent qualitative tests for anthraquinones and ...

For the past thirty years the Sugar Regulatory Administration, including the defunct Philsugin and Philsucom, have been equipped only to use soil testing as the main basis for fertilizer recommendation. This system of ...

Peppers are rich in vitamins especially vitamin C and minerals like calcium, phosphorus, iron and a pungent ingredient known as capsaicin. Peppers are used as condiment and extensively in flavoring meats such as sausages ...

Anthocyanins, the natural colorants that belong to a group of plant compounds called flavonoids, are responsible for most of the red, orange, purple, violet, magenta, and blue colors found in fruits, vegetables, legumes, flowers, and other plants. The six vegetables specifically imparting the red-violet to purple color which are of interest to the researcher are camote (Ipomoea batatas), lupo (Alternanthera sessilis), kolitis (Amaranthus tricolor), kadios (Cajanus cajan), balagay (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus), and sitaw (Vigna sesquipedalis). The objectives of this study were to quantify the total anthocyanin content (TAC) from each particular vegetable’s part which are the leaves, seedpods, and the seeds; and relate them to their anti-oxidant and disease-fighting potentials to benefit humankind. Total anthocyanin content in the methanol extracts were analyzed using the pH differential method. Spectrophotometric quantitation was used at 520 nm and the concentration was expressed as ug/g cyanidin-3-glucoside. Results showed that 4 out of these 6 vegetables have positive values for TAC. Balagay has the least TAC (5.68 ± 0.6), followed by camote tops (6.57 ± 0.3), sitaw (18.2 ± 0.1), and finally kadios having the highest value (50.6 ± 1.1). On the other hand, 2 vegetables were found to have negative values for TAC, lupo (-6.98 ± 0.1) and kolitis (-1.25 ± 0.1), which are suspected to have another type of plant pigment, specifically a betalain. It is recommended that qualitative tests be performed on both plants, to confirm the presence of betalains, and quantify them if proven present; determine the antioxidant properties of each; and identify what specific compound causes this property. It is further recommended to include at least one of the four vegetables in the diet due to its many health benefits, at affordable prices....

Symplocos polyandra, locally known as balakbakan, is distributed throughout Southeast Asia, especially in the Philippines. The lack of available literature regarding the phytochemistry of this plant species prompted the conduct of testing of its potential antioxidant activity and quantification of its total flavonoid content and phenolic content. Balakbakan leaves were collected, exhaustively extracted with methanol, and fractionated on a silica gel column. 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyI (DPPH) assay showed that the acetone fraction has the highest percent DPPH radical inhibition with 86.41% at 500 ppm compared to 0.5 mM ascorbic acid at 87.61%. The acetone - methanol fraction has the highest ferric reducing capacity with a value of 208.24 μM ascorbic acid equivalents at 500 ppm. The total phenolic content of the different fractions ranged from 21.88 to 29.99 pg/mL catechin equivalents, with hexane - acetone fractions having the highest value. The flavonoid content ranged from 14.28 to 16.64 pg/mL catechin equivalents, with the methanol fraction having the highest value. The compounds responsible for the high antioxidant activity may not be a phenolic or flavonoid. Fractions from Symplocos polyandra are a promising source of bioactive compounds with antioxidant activity. Cytotoxicity test and analyses of alkaloid and chlorophyll content of the leaves is recommended for the leaves to be developed into tea products....

The purpose of this study is to investigate the antioxidant activity of fractions from epicarpium of Citrofortunella microcarpa (Philippine Lime) peels extract. Dried epicarpium of peels were extracted with methanol and fractionated with silica column and subjected to DPPH and FRAP assays as well as determination of total phenolic and flavonoid content. Three fractions were obtained after silica gel fractionation. The acetone-methanol fraction had the highest antioxidant activity with 81.06% DPPH radical inhibition and ferric reducing capacity of 1420.33 pM Fe²⁺ released, in comparison with ascorbic acid standard of 88.26% DPPH inhibition and ferric reducing activity of 502.038 ascorbic acid equivalents, respectively. The acetone-methanol fraction also contained the highest total phenolic and flavonoid content at 73.26 and to 55.11 μg/mL catechin equivalents, respectively. This demonstrates that the high antioxidant activity of the acetone-methanol fraction can be attributed to its high total phenolic and flavonoid content. Value could be added to calamansi waste peels by developing the peels extracts into products such as high antioxidant functional foods, or antioxidant dermal cream or ointments....

Calamansi is a condiment used in a vast variety of Filipino dishes, as well as an ingredient in various beverages, such as calamansi juice. Calamansi peels are discarded as waste. Thus, this research study was conducted ...

It has been known that bacterial staining is one of the fundamental procedures done when identifying microorganisms, hence, learning about it and obtaining skills to perform it has been given great importance. This activity led to the constant exposure of the students and researchers, alike, to the chemicals used to achieve results. The chemicals used, or in this case, the dyes, were synthetic in nature, thus they pose possible danger to those who are continuously using it. The purpose of this study is to determine the possibility of karonda (C. carandas) fruit and blue ternate (C. ternatea) flower crude extracts as alternative bacterial stains by observing their staining intensities on S. aureus. Methylene blue served as the positive control. Tannic acid was added as a mordant to the crude extracts and staining intensity was based on the Likert scale. Results showed that blue ternate flower had a mean score of 0.8 (low staining intensity), blue ternate with tannic acid had a mean score of 1.8 (average staining intensity) while karonda fruit crude extract had a mean score of 1.0 (low staining intensity), karonda with tannic acid had 1.2 (average staining intensity) compared to the control group which had a mean score of 3.0 (very high staining intensity. This means that the staining intensity of the crude extracts obtained from natural sources were way beyond the staining intensity of methylene blue which is of synthetic origin....

Staphylococcus aureus the leading cause of bacterial infections in hospitals and communities such as abscesses (boils), furuncles, and cellulitis is a major pathogen of increasing importance due to the rise in antibiotic resistance. Cardiospermum halicacabum a well-known plant was investigated to explore its capacity against bacterial activity such as S. aureus that would be useful in the production of compounds that can inhibit other pathogenic bacteria and other pathogenic microorganisms. This study attempted to extend such concept and explore the possibility of using halicacabum as possible agent in controlling human pathogens specifically the aureus. The mean (M) was used in order to determine the average zone of inhibition of aureus applied with balloon vine (C. halicacabum) leaf, fruit, and combined extracts, Amoxicillin (Positive control), and Ethanol (Negative control). Using the disc diffusion method, the crude extract of C. halicacabum showed that the greatest zone of inhibition of S. aureus was observed among those applied with Amoxicillin (M= 52mm), followed by those applied with balloon vine fruit extract (M=44mm) Both leaf extract (M=31mm and the combined leaf and fruit extract (M=30mm) also significantly exhibited inhibition against the S. aureus. There is no zone of inhibition observed among those applied with Ethanol (M=.00mm). The One-Way ANOVA test result shows that the p-value is .000 which is deemed to be statistically significant if p<.001....

This study evaluated the potential in vitro inhibitory activity of Basella alba leaves against enzyme markers of diabetes mellitus, α-amylase, and α-glucosidase. The dried plant sample was ground into fine powder, defatted, and soaked in methanol to obtain the crude extract. The crude methanolic extract of Basella alba was then fractionated sequentially in acetone-methanol mixtures with increasing solvent polarity ratios. Fractions obtained were evaluated for their α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory potential. The standard drug, acarbose inhibited 37.44 ± 7.65%, 83.99 ± 0.86%, and 86.52 ± 0.40% of α-amylase activity at 10, 30, and 50 ppm. The highest inhibition was observed in the acetone-methanol (4:1) fraction which inhibited 57.80 ± 0.71%, 56.39 ± 0.49%, and 46.94 ± 0.26% of α-amylase activity, followed by the acetone fraction with inhibitory activity of 22.24 ± 0.41%, 38.05 ± 0.68%, and 46.62 ± 0.32% at increasing concentrations of 50, 200, and 350 ppm, respectively. The acetone-methanol (1:4) mixture exhibited the lowest activity at 8.00 ± 0.35% for 50 ppm, and 0.61 ± 0.27% for 200 ppm. However, no inhibitory activity was demonstrated in any of the fractions of Basella alba against α-glucosidase. Total flavonoid content analysis revealed that all fractions have the same flavonoid content. Basella alba may serve an essential role in managing the risk of diabetes mellitus and is recommended for consumption on a regular basis....