Malacca Pharmaceutics

Hexane Extract from Squirrel-Tail Palm Fruit (Wodyetia bifurcata) as a Moisturizing Cream: Phytochemical Profile, Formulation, and Evaluation

2026-05-11T21:43:06+07:00

Dry skin, characterized by excessive water loss from the outermost layer of the epidermis, is a common dermatological concern that can be addressed with topical moisturizers. This study aimed to formulate and evaluate a moisturizing cream based on the n-hexane extract of squirrel-tail palm fruit (Wodyetia bifurcata) and to identify its phytochemical profile. The dried fruit pulp was macerated in n-hexane, and the resulting extract was characterized using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Two cream formulations containing 5% (F1) and 15% (F2) of the extract, together with a base cream (F0) and a commercial cream (F+), were prepared as oil-in-water emulsions and evaluated for moisturizing effectiveness on the heels of six female volunteers (aged 35–50) over 14 days using a skin moisture analyzer. Physical properties of the creams were assessed using organoleptic, homogeneity, pH, spreadability, adhesion, irritation, and hedonic tests, along with a four-cycle stability test. GC–MS analysis identified 48 compounds dominated by fatty acids and their methyl esters, with 9-octadecenoic acid (Z)-, methyl ester (10.55%), I-(+)-ascorbic acid 2,6-dihexadecanoate (8.14%), and hexadecanoic acid, methyl ester (5.55%) as major constituents. The mean moisturizing effectiveness values were 13.46% for the crude extract, 19.48% for F1, and 25.83% for F2, indicating concentration-dependent moisturizing activity. All physical property results complied with the SNI 16-4399-1996 standard, and no skin irritation was observed. Overall, formulation F1 was identified as the optimal preparation in balancing physical stability, sensory acceptability, and moisturizing performance, supporting the cosmetic potential of W. bifurcata fruit as a natural moisturizing agent.

Computational Screening of Persea americana Peel and Seed Phytochemicals as Potential Multi-Target Antidiabetic Agents

2026-07-08T00:27:37+07:00

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a global health burden, and current oral antidiabetic drugs are associated with undesirable side effects. Avocado (Persea americana) peel and seed are underutilized by-products rich in bioactive phytochemicals. This study aimed to evaluate the antidiabetic potential of ten gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS)-derived compounds (five from peel and five from seed) against five protein targets, α-glucosidase, α-amylase, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4), protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B), and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) using PASS Online bioactivity prediction and molecular docking. PASS Online predicted high antidiabetic probabilities (probability active > 0.7) for epicatechin and chrysoeriol-4′-O-pentoside-7-O-rutinoside. Molecular docking with AutoDock Vina 1.2.0 showed that epicatechin bound strongest to α-glucosidase (−9.2 kcal/mol) and α-amylase (−8.7 kcal/mol), comparable to acarbose. Chrysoeriol-4′-O-pentoside-7-O-rutinoside exhibited high affinity for α-glucosidase (−8.8 kcal/mol), DPP-4 (−8.4 kcal/mol), PTP1B (−8.1 kcal/mol), and AMPK (−8.0 kcal/mol). ADMET predictions indicated that epicatechin has favorable drug-likeness properties (no Lipinski violations, high GI absorption). At the same time, chrysoeriol-4′-O-pentoside-7-O-rutinoside may face bioavailability challenges due to its large, glycosylated structure (molecular weight 742.68 g/mol). These results suggest that avocado seed flavonoids, particularly epicatechin, are promising multi-target antidiabetic candidates for nutraceutical development, though experimental validation is required to confirm these computational predictions.

Mapping In Silico Strategies for Natural Product-Derived Candidates in Atopic Dermatitis: A Bibliometric Analysis and Methodological Review

2026-09-15T08:40:11+07:00

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease with a complex pathogenesis involving multiple molecular targets and biological pathways. The multicomponent nature of natural products broadens the range of potential compound-target interactions, supporting the use of in silico approaches to identify and prioritize therapeutic candidates. This review aimed to map the development of in silico strategies used to prioritize natural product-derived candidates for AD and to evaluate how these strategies have been applied across the literature. A bibliometric analysis and a methodological review were conducted on 70 articles retrieved from Scopus up to August 2026. Although no publication-year restriction was applied, the earliest article meeting the inclusion criteria was published in 2020, with publication output increasing over time. Molecular docking was employed in 57 studies (81.4%), network pharmacology in 53 studies (75.7%), molecular dynamics in 18 studies (25.7%), and dedicated ADMET screening in 11 studies (15.7%). The methodological review revealed variations in analytical workflow, ranging from candidate selection using databases or chemical profiling to target prioritization and evaluation of molecular interactions. Differences were also observed in data sources, selection criteria, analytical parameters, protocol validation, and the degree of methodological integration. These findings indicate substantial methodological diversity and highlight the need to align methods with study objectives, report analytical parameters more clearly, and strengthen connections between successive stages of analysis.

The Effectiveness of Cabbage Leaf (Brassica oleracea) Compress in Breast Engorgement with Insights from Other Natural Anti-Inflammatory Agents: A Narrative Review

2026-04-21T10:15:32+07:00

Breast engorgement is a common problem among lactating women that can cause pain, swelling, breast firmness, and discomfort, potentially interfering with successful breastfeeding. Cabbage leaf (Brassica oleracea) compresses have been widely used as a simple non-pharmacological intervention; however, their clinical effectiveness and underlying anti-inflammatory mechanisms require further synthesis. This narrative review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of cabbage leaf compresses in managing breast engorgement and to explore the biological mechanisms that may support their therapeutic effects. A structured literature search was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and the Cochrane Library. Of 128 initially identified records, 18 studies were included in the qualitative synthesis after duplicate removal, screening, and eligibility assessment. Overall, the evidence indicates that cabbage leaf application can reduce breast pain, swelling, firmness, and discomfort in lactating women, with several comparative studies reporting outcomes comparable to conventional cold or gel-pack therapy. Mechanistic evidence further suggests that cabbage-derived bioactive compounds, including flavonoids, polyphenols, glucosinolates, isothiocyanates, and sulforaphane, may exert anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects through suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress, and nuclear factor kappa-B signaling. Despite these promising findings, considerable heterogeneity in study design, intervention protocols, and outcome assessment limits the strength of the current evidence. Cabbage leaf compresses therefore represent a practical, accessible, and potentially effective non-pharmacological option for managing breast engorgement, although further well-designed randomized controlled trials with standardized clinical and biomarker-based outcomes are warranted.

Comparative GC-MS Analysis of Methanol, Ethyl Acetate, and n-Hexane Extracts of Melia azedarach L. Fruit

2026-06-16T19:46:06+07:00

Melia azedarach L. is a medicinal plant traditionally used in various communities and is known to contain chemically diverse phytoconstituents. This study aimed to characterize and compare the phytochemical profiles of methanol, ethyl acetate, and n-hexane extracts of M. azedarach fruit using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The three extracts showed distinct chemical profiles that reflected differences in solvent polarity. The methanolic extract produced 14 chromatographic peaks corresponding to 42 possible compounds and was dominated by cis-vaccenic acid (55.35%), 17-octadecynoic acid (19.11%), and n-hexadecanoic acid (8.71%). The ethyl acetate extract contained 15 peaks corresponding to 45 possible compounds, with cis-vaccenic acid (30.23%), heptadecane, 2,6,10,15-tetramethyl- (16.38%), and β-sitosterol-related compounds (9.26%) as the major constituents. The n-hexane extract showed the greatest number of chromatographic peaks, with 28 peaks corresponding to 84 possible compounds, and was dominated by hexadecanoic acid methyl ester (29.67%), 9-octadecenoic acid methyl ester (19.42%), farnesyl bromide (12.49%), and cis-vaccenic acid (7.55%). Overall, the extracts were characterized predominantly by fatty acids, fatty acid esters, and lower-abundance terpenoid-, triterpenoid-, and sterol-related constituents. The differences among the three extracts demonstrate the influence of solvent polarity on the phytochemical composition of M. azedarach fruit. Because compound assignments were based primarily on GC-MS library matching, the identified constituents should be considered tentative until confirmed using authentic standards or complementary structural techniques. These findings provide a comparative chemical profile of M. azedarach fruit and a basis for further compound confirmation and targeted biological evaluation.