Acta Chemica Malaysia

Journal: Acta Chemica Malaysia (ACMY)
Author: Joy 0. Oyebisi, Osaro lyekowa, Amowie P. Oviawe, Ayodele Fatona, and Silvanus O. Innih
ISSN: 2576-6732
e-ISSN: 2576-6724

This is an open access journal distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License CC BY 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited

DOI: 10.26480/acmy.01.2026.47.51

Objective: Acalypha wilkesiana Hoffmanni is a medicinal plant known to contain several bioactive secondary metabolites with reported therapeutic potential. This study investigated the antihypercholesterolemic activity and structural characterization of compounds isolated from the hexane leaf extract of A. wilkesiana. Hypercholesterolemic rats exhibited elevated total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels compared to treated groups. Treatment with the isolated compound significantly reduced total cholesterol and LDL levels (P < 0.05) relative to untreated hypercholesterolemic rats. In addition, antioxidant enzyme activities, including glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT), were significantly increased, while malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were reduced (P < 0.05) Spectroscopic analysis revealed characteristic infrared absorption peaks at 1019.3, 1101.3, 1116.47, 1248.74, 1462.44, 1721.48, and 2859.17 cm. Mass spectrometry showed a molecular ion peak at m/z 406 (M + 2) corresponding to a molecular formula of C25H4204. Based on spectral data and comparison with literature, the compound was identified as ursodeoxycholic acid methyl ester. The isolated compound from A. wilkesiana demonstrated significant antihypercholesterolemic and antioxidant effects, suggesting its potential as a candidate for further drug development.

Journal: Acta Chemica Malaysia (ACMY)
Author:Edobor Obayuwana, Osaretin Flourish Omolola, Joseph Raymond Enoghase’, Erayetan Yusuf Olamide
ISSN: 2576-6732
e-ISSN: 2576-6724

This is an open access journal distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License CC BY 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited

DOI: 10.26480/acmy.01.2026.41.46

Objective: Artocarpus heterophyllus fruit pulp extract were tested for protective effects against Mercuric Chloride- induced nephrotoxicity experimentally induced in Wistar rats, using phytochemical screening, biochemical parameters and histological studies. Methods: A total of twenty five adult male Wistar rats were randomized into five groups each containing five rats; Group A(control), group B which received Mercuric Chloride(3mg/kg), group C received A heterophyllus (1000 mg/kg), extract+Mercuric Chloride group D received vitamin E (200mg/kg) plus Mercuric Chloride and group E which received A. heterophyllus only. All groups received their respective treatments for four weeks. Phytochemical screening and quantitative phytochemical analysis of Artocarpus heterophyllus fruit pulp were done. Body weight gain, Kidney weight, kidney index, serum urea, serum creatinine and serum electrolytes were carried out. Histological study of kidney tissues using HE stain were performed. Graphpad Prism version 9 was used for data analysis and level of significance was set at p < 0.05 Results: Phytochemical screening of the extract showed the presence of high amounts of phenols (29 ± 0.48 mg/100 g) and saponins (19 ± 1.1%), while flavonoids, tannins, and alkaloids were present in moderate quantities. Injection of Mercuric Chloride significantly reduced body weight gain, caused nephromegaly, increased serum urea and creatinine levels, and resulted in marked histopathological damage in kidneys characterized by tubular necrosis and inflammatory cell infiltration. Treatment with aqueous extract of A. heterophyllus fruit pulp and vitamin E effectively reversed body weight loss, restored biochemical parameters, and ameliorated histopathological architecture of kidneys induced by Mercuric Chloride (ANOVA, p < 0.05 ) Oral administration of A. heterophyllus extract alone did not alter body weight gain, renal functions caused no significant histopathological changes in kidneys. Conclusions: Pretreatment with aqueous extract of fruit pulp of A. heterophyllus offered significant nephroprotection against Mercuric Chloride-induced nephrotoxicity which can be attributed to the synergistic antioxidant effect of its phytoconstituents.

Journal: Acta Chemica Malaysia (ACMY)
Author: Tochukwu K. T, Ezeugo J. O, Umeuzuegbu J. C, Ndive J. N, Ojike P. C, Ifediorah E. I
ISSN: 2576-6732
e-ISSN: 2576-6724

This is an open access journal distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License CC BY 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited

DOI: 10.26480/acmy.01.2026.32.40

This study optimizes the co-processing of coconut shell oil with vacuum gas oil (VGO) via fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) using response surface methodology (RSM). Coconut shells were characterized for its proximate, calorific value (HHV) and ultimate composition. The pyrolysis oil was produced from waste coconut shells via fast pyrolysis and characterised using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The physicochemical properties of the pyrolysed oil, including viscosity, acid value, saponification value, specific gravity, ester value, and pH, were determined. The oil was cracked with vacuum gas oil using the fluid catalytic cracking process to produce the biofuel, which was further characterised using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). (RSM) Techniques were used to develop and optimise pyrolysis oil and biofuel yields among the considered factors (particle size, heating temperature, holding time, and reaction temperature) and (temperature, time, reactor riser, and dosage mixture), respectively. The proximate, calorific value (HHV) and ultimate analysis of the coconut shell, was determined as follows: moisture content 7.67%, volatile matter 66.1%, ash 1.4%, fixed carbon 24.8%, HHV 4339.85 kcal/kg, carbon 56.43%, hydrogen 4.16%, oxygen 37.51%, and nitrogen 0.48%. The pyrolysed oil shows a viscosity of 12.7 cP, a saponification value of 332.39 mg KOH/g, an ester value of 192.14 mg KOH/g, and an acid value of 140.25 mg KOH/g, demonstrating suitability but a high oxygenate content. The experimental and predicted yields for bio-oil was obtained at 62.35 and 64.12 wt% (particle size 1.5 mm, heating temp. 500 °C, holding time 60 min, reaction temp 550 °C) and for bio-fuel was obtained at 70.12 and 71wt%, under the operating parameters of temperature (500, 532℃), time (300, 228 min), reactor riser (30, 38 inches) and dosage mixture (0.5, 0.78). Quadratic models demonstrated excellent fit. The coefficient of determination (R2) for the pyrolysed oil and biofuel yields is 0.9914 and 0.9876, respectively. The quality of the model was investigated by analysis of variance (ANOVA).