Aim: To determine the efficacy and mode of action of hot and cold water extracts of Orthosiphon stamineus leaves against two strains of human herpes virus 1 (HHV-1) i.e. KOS-1 and acyclovir (ACV)-resistant UKM-1 (UKM-1) strains. Methodology and results: Hot and cold water extracts of O. stamineus were not cytotoxic to vero cells as determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) (MTT) assay with 50% cytotoxicity concentration (CC50) values of 3.4 and 3.3 mg/mL respectively. Antiviral activity was determined by plaque reduction assay in post-treatment, pre-treatment and virucidal assays followed by time-addition and time removal assay to relate with the stages during the viral infection cycle. Both extracts displayed antiviral activity against HHV-1 KOS-1 and HHV-1 UKM-1 strains with 50% effective concentration (EC50) values between 0.12-0.15 mg/mL in reducing plaque formation. The calculated selectivity indices (SI) were 23 and 28 for hot and cold water extract respectively, indicating that they have good potential as antiviral agent. The extracts were virucidal towards both HHV-1 KOS-1 and HHV-1 UKM-1 strains which may directly affects the virus structure. This is supported with the fact that exposure of the extracts inhibit viral attachment and penetration to the vero cells. In time-of addition assay, both extracts were effective during the early stage of virus infection cycle for HHV-1 KOS-1 strain which is in parallel with the results from the attachment and penetration studies. For HHV-1 UKM-1 strain, contact to the extracts at any time during post-infection inhibits virus replication and also progeny release. Conclusion, significance and impact of study Cold and hot water extracts of O. stamineus have good potential as antiviral agent against HHV-1 strain KOS-1 and more importantly against UKM-1 strain which is ACV-resistant. The extracts displayed virucidal effect and inhibition of early virus replication cycle involving viral attachment and penetration to cells.
Orthosiphon--adverse effects

BACKGROUND: Hyperglycemia, a characteristic feature of diabetes, induces glucotoxicity in pancreatic beta-cells, resulting in further impairment of insulin secretion and worsening glycemic control. Thus, preservation of insulin secretory capacity is essential for the management of type 2 diabetes. In this study, we evaluated the ability of an Orthosiphon stamineus (OS) extract to prevent glucotoxicity in insulin-producing cells. METHODS: We measured insulin mRNA expression and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) in OS-treated INS-1 cells after exposure to a high glucose (HG; 30 mM) concentration. RESULTS: The hexane extract of OS elevated mRNA expression of insulin as well as pancreatic and duodenal homeobox-1 of INS-1 cells in a dose-dependent manner. The hexane OS extract also increased the levels of phosphorylated phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) in a concentration-dependent manner. Additionally, Akt phosphorylation was elevated by treatment with 100 and 200 micromol of the hexane OS extract. Three days of HG exposure suppressed insulin mRNA expression and GSIS; these expressions were restored by treatment with the hexane OS extract. HG elevated peroxide levels in the INS-1 cells. These levels were unaffected by OS treatment under both normal and hyperglycemic conditions. CONCLUSION: Our results suggested that the hexane extract of OS elevates insulin mRNA expression and prevents glucotoxicity induced by a 3-day treatment with HG. This was associated with the activation of PI-3K and Akt.
Glucose ; Hyperglycemia ; Insulin* ; Orthosiphon* ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; Phosphorylation ; RNA, Messenger

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disorder which affects millions of population worldwide. Global estimates published in 2010 reported the world diabetic prevalence as 6.4%, affecting 285 million adults. Foot ulceration and wound infection are major forms of disabilities arising from diabetic diseases. This study was aimed to develop a natural antimicrobial finishing on medical grade textile that meets American Association of Textiles Chemists and Colorists (AATCC) standard. The textile samples were finished with the ethanolic extract of Penicillium amestolkiae elv609, an endophytic fungus isolated from Orthosiphon stamineus Benth (common name: cat's whiskers). Endophyte is defined as microorganism that reside in the living plant tissue, without causing apparent disease symptom to the host. The antimicrobial efficacy of the ethanolic extract of P. minioluteum was tested on clinical pathogens isolated from diabetic wound. The extract exhibited significant inhibitory activity against 4 bacteria and 1 yeast with the minimal inhibitory concentration ranged from 6.25 to 12.5 mg/mL. The results indicate different susceptibility levels of the test microorganism to the ethanolic extract. However, the killing activity of the extract was concentration-dependent. The finished medical textile showed excellent antimicrobial efficacy on AATCC test assays. All the microbial cultures treated with the textile sample displayed a growth reduction of 99.9% on Hoheinstein Challenge Test. The wash durability of the finished textile was found good even after 50 washes with commercial detergent. Besides, the gas chromatography mass spectrometry analysis showed that 6-octadecenoic acid and diethyl phthalate were the main bioactive constituents of the extract. In conclusion, the developed medical textile showed good antimicrobial efficacy on laboratory tests. This work can be extended to in vivo trials for developing healthcare textile products for antimicrobial applications.
Adult ; Bacteria ; Delivery of Health Care ; Detergents ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Ethanol ; Foot Ulcer ; Fungi ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Homicide ; Humans ; Orthosiphon ; Penicillium* ; Plants ; Prevalence ; Textiles ; Wound Infection ; Wounds and Injuries* ; Yeasts