Lansium domesticum Corr. or “long-kong” is one of the most popular fruits in Thailand. Its peel (skin, SK) and seeds (SD) become waste unless recycled or applied for use. This study was undertaken to determine the bioactivity and phytochemical components of L. domesticum (LD) skin and seed extracts. Following various extraction and fractionation procedures, 12 fractions were obtained. All fractions were tested for antioxidant capacity against O₂^−• and OH^•. It was found that the peel of L. domesticum fruits exhibited higher O₂^−• and OH^• scavenging activity than seeds. High potential antioxidant activity was found in two fractions of 50% ethanol extract of peel followed by ethyl acetate (EA) fractionation (LDSK50-EA) and its aqueous phase (LDSK50-H₂O). Therefore, these two active fractions were selected for further studies on their antioxidative activity against DNA damage by hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) in human TK6 cells using comet assay. The comet results revealed DNA-protective activity of both LDSK50-EA and LDSK50-H₂O fractions when TK6 human lymphoblast cells were pre-treated at 25, 50, 100, and 200 μg/mL for 24 h prior to H₂O₂ exposure. The phytochemical analysis illustrated the presence of phenolic substances, mainly scopoletin, rutin, and chlorogenic acid, in these two active fractions. This study generates new information on the biological activity of L. domesticum. It will promote and strengthen the utilization of L. domesticum by-products.

Gymnema inodorum (GI) is an indigenous medicinal plant and functional food in Thailand that has recently helped to reduce plasma glucose levels in healthy humans. It is renowned for the medicinal properties of gymnemic acid and its ability to suppress glucose absorption. However, the effects of gymnemic acids on adipogenesis that contribute to the accumulation of adipose tissues associated with obesity remain unknown. The present study aimed to determine the effects of gymnemic acids derived from GI tea on adipogenesis. We purified and identified GiA-7 and stephanosides C and B from GI tea that inhibited adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 cells. These compounds also suppressed the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (Pparγ)-dependent genes, indicating that they inhibit lipid accumulation and the early stage of 3T3-L1 preadipocyte differentiation. Only GiA-7 induced the expression of uncoupling protein 1 (Ucp1) and pparγ coactivator 1 alpha (Pgc1α), suggesting that GiA-7 induces mitochondrial activity and beige-like adipocytes. This is the first finding of stephanosides C and B in Gymnema inodorum. Our results suggested that GiA-7 and stephanosides C and B from GI tea could help to prevent obesity.

In this study, tamarind (Tamarindus indica L.) seed extracts with potential antioxidant activity and toxicity to cancer cells were developed as functional foods and nutraceutical ingredients in the form of emulsion gel beads. Three extracts were obtained from ethanol and water: TSCH50, TSCH95 and TSCH. All extracts exhibited high potential for superoxide anion scavenging activity over the IC₅₀ range < 5–11 µg/mL and had no toxic effects on normal cells, however, the water extract (TSCH) was the most effective due to its free radical scavenging activity and toxicity in mitochondrial membranes of cancer cells. Next a study was designed to develop a new formulation for encapsulation and intragastric floating delivery of tamarind seed extract (TSCH) using wax-incorporated emulsion gel beads, which were prepared using a modified ionotropic gelation technique. Tamarind seed extract at 1% (w/w) was used as the active ingredient in all formulations. The effect of the types and amounts of wax on the encapsulation efficiency and percentage of the active release of alginate gel beads was also investigated. The results demonstrated that the incorporation of both waxes into the gel beads had an effect on the percentage of encapsulation efficiency (%) and the percentage of the active ingredient release. Furthermore, the addition of water insoluble waxes (carnauba and bee wax) significantly retarded the release of the active ingredient. The addition of both waxes had a slight effect on drug release behavior. Nevertheless, the increase in incorporated waxes in all formulations could sustain the percentage of active ingredient release. In conclusion, wax-incorporated emulsion gel beads using a modified ionotropic gelation technique could be applied for the intragastric floating delivery and controlled release of functional food and nutraceutical products for their antioxidant and anticancer capacity.

The ethanolic extract of Carissa carandas L. (ECE) inhibited the enzyme tyrosinase, enhanced the proliferation of normal human dermal fibroblast cells, and increased the formation of collagen type I, indicating possible anti-aging and whitening effects. However, the stratum corneum acts as a rate-limiting stage in the absorption of herbal extracts through the skin, resulting in limited absorption of ECE via the skin, which affects the efficacy of ECE. The purpose of this study was to develop ECE encapsulated in transethosomes for improved skin penetration as a novel brightening and anti-aging cosmeceutical ingredient. Transethosomes were successfully developed using the sonication technique, with a suitable formulation including 1.00% (w/w) phosphatidylcholine, 0.10% (w/w) polysorbate 80 and 28.55% (v/v) ethanol. The physicochemical properties, encapsulation efficacy, in vitro skin permeation and toxicity of ECE-loaded transethosomes were also investigated. The result showed that the percentages of encapsulation of ECE loaded in transethosomes increased slightly with higher concentrations of the ECE. When compared to the liquid extract, the ECE loaded in transethosomes significantly increased (p < 0.05) skin penetration. Furthermore, ECE loaded with transethosomes showed low cytotoxicity in normal human dermal fibroblast cells and caused no skin irritation when evaluated on reconstructed human epidermal skin. Given these abilities, it is evident that transethosomes containing ECE are highly effective anti-aging and skin-whitening agents, making them a promising new cosmeceutical ingredient.

This study focused on osteogenesis activities from Cyanobacteria (Nostoc species), including cytotoxicity, cell proliferation, cell differentiation and cell mineralization with osteoblast cell (MC3T3-E1). The four Nostoc species; N. parmelioides, N punctiforme, N. muscorum and N. paludosum were made axenic and cultured for a month. The ethanolic crude extracts were obtained by maceration extraction; the yield was in the range of 7.00 - 10.00 % (w/w). By using the TLC technique, it was observed that in all of the samples, there were phytochemical bands corresponding with β-carotene and chlorophyll a which were used as standard compounds. As a result, all crude extracts had no toxic effect on osteoblast cells after being incubated for 24 and 48 h with various concentrations (1 - 1,000 µg/mL), although they did not significantly promote osteoblast proliferation. In addition, it was found that 3 crude extracts (N. parmelioides, N punctiforme, and N. paludosum) also promoted osteoblast differentiation significantly after being induced for 9 days. Similarly, there was no difference between the relative cellular mineralization among treatment groups after being induced for 25 days. The potential ethanolic extracts on osteoblast cell differentiation were further partitioned by liquid-liquid partition chromatography (hexane, dichloromethane and aqueous fractions), and were analyzed for osteoblast differentiation with alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity. All of hexane and dichloromethane fractions from N. parmelioides (181.72±6.75 % and 195.11±3.27 %), N punctiforme (194.34±2.36 % and 168.69±1.08 %), and N. paludosum (191.54±7.66 % and 167.12±9.46 %) had a significantly higher effect of ALP activity than their aqueous fractions. In conclusion, our data suggested that the nonpolar potential major compound, which might correspond with carotenoids (β-carotene, xanthophyll and chlorophyll a) from Nostoc species, exhibited positive effects on osteoblast differentiation by increasing the alkaline phosphatase enzyme.