No abstract

Propolis is a resinous material collected by honey bees from various plant sources. The chemical constituents differ depending on the source of vegetation area. To date, no study of the chemical constituents of

In the beauty and wellness industries, the association between herbs, skin aging, hyperpigmentation, and cosmeceuticals is gaining significance. The process of skin aging occurs in the epidermal and dermal layers and is primarily associated with the deterioration of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Deterioration of ECM can be due to increased matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) or decreased transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β). Along with some pigment defects such as hypo or hyperpigmentation, this process can cause skin wrinkles, roughness, and dryness. There is a need to slow down the ECM degradation and inhibition of melanin formation. Herbs have a high potential due to their various biologically active compounds. Malaysia is one of the countries rich in tropical rainforests with its traditional medicinal herbs. However, the use of Malaysian herbs in skin aging and hyperpigmentation is still limited. Thus, this review focuses on selected Malaysian herbs that are traditionally used for various purposes and have potential as anti-aging and anti-hyperpigmentation properties. The information contained in the present review indicates that selected Malaysian herbs can be used in the treatment of skin aging and hyperpigmentation and will assist the cosmetics sectors in the development of herbal anti-aging and antihyperpigmentation formulations.

Introduction: Cymbopogon nardus is a strong aromatic plant with relevant medicinal properties due to its essential chemical compounds and its potential therapeutic effects. This study was aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial activities of citronella essential oil against several oral pathogens and to identify the volatile compounds. Methods: The essential oil of C. nardus was purchased from Excellent Wisdom Sdn. Bhd., Malaysia. The source of raw material was collected from Malacca, the southern region of Malaysia, and the company made its taxonomic identification. An experimental in-vitro study was conducted on the essential oil processed from C. nardus genus Cymbopogon of Poaceae family. The in-vitro antimicrobial activities of C. nardus essential oil were evaluated against Streptococcus mutans (ATCC 25175), Streptococcus sobrinus (ATCC 33478), and Candida albicans (ATCC 10231) using agar well diffusion assay. The identification of the volatile compounds was performed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Results: The C. nardus essential oil exhibited inhibitory activity against C. albicans at the concentration of 6.25%, whereby the inhibitory activity against S. mutans and S. sobrinus began at the concentration of 25%. The antimicrobial activity of C. nardus essential oil was statistically significant at the concentration of 50% in all tested pathogens. The GC-MS analysis of the C. nardus essential oil revealed the presence of few constituents, which include monoterpenes, diterpenes, sesquiterpenes and phenolic compounds. Monoterpenes were the major identified terpenoids and contributed to 54.45% of the total volatile composition. The main identified monoterpenes were citronellal (11.35%), z-Citral (11.34%), β-Myrcene (6.70%), and β-Trans-ocimene (6.03%), which was the first time β-Myrcene and β-Trans-ocimene was found in high percentage. Conclusion: C. nardus essential oil is an active antibacterial agent against several oral pathogens, and the percentages of active volatile compounds are different within different origins.

Synsepalum dulcificum (S. dulcificum) commonly known as "miracle fruit" because its berries have the capability to modify sour taste to the sweet taste when eaten. Beside the berries, S. dulcificum leaves were also known to possess biological properties such as antioxidant, antimutagenic and antidiabetic activities. However, the study of its antimicrobial activity against oral pathogen is still lacking. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial activity of its leaves against cariogenic bacteria and to analyse its phytochemical compounds. The samples of S. dulcificum leaves were collected in Kelantan, the east coast region of Peninsular Malaysia and extracted with distilled water using a Soxhlet technique. The antibacterial activity of the S. dulcificum leaves aqueous extract against Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans), Streptococcus sobrinus (S. sobrinus) and Lactobacillus salivarius (L. salivarius) was evaluated using the broth microdilution assay. The identification of the phytochemical compounds was performed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The antibacterial study showed the minimum inhibitory concentration of S. dulcificum leaves aqueous extract against S. mutans and S. sobrinus were 16 mg/mL and 8 mg/mL, respectively. Interestingly, there was no inhibitory effect of S. dulcificum leaves aqueous extract against L. salivarius. A total of 42 chemical compounds were identified and major identified bioactive compounds groups were heterocyclic and phenolic compounds. Our results suggested S. dulcificum leaves aqueous extract has antimicrobial properties against S. mutans and S. sobrinus, but no inhibitory activity against oral normal flora, with the presence of bioactive compounds has potential in oral care products application.