Perubahan fizikokimia dalam brokoli dan bunga kobis semasa penyimpanan

Kualiti fizikokimia dalam sayur-sayuran berubah semasa penyimpanan. Kajian ini menentukan perubahan fizikokimia dalam brokoli dan bunga kobis semasa penyimpanan dan menentukan keadaan penyimpanan yang paling sesuai. Uji kaji ini dijalankan berdasarkan suhu penyimpanan (4 °C dan 23 °C) dan kaedah pembungkusan (tidak dibungkus dan dibungkus dengan beg plastik polietilena) berbeza sepanjang tempoh 168 jam (7 hari). Perubahan warna, kehilangan berat (PLW), kandungan kelembapan, kandungan klorofil dan aktiviti antioksidan (kandungan jumlah polifenol (TPC) dan aktiviti penyingkiran radikal bebas (DPPH)) ditentukan pada 24-, 96- dan 168- jam. Sampel disimpan pada 4 °C dan dibungkus mengalami kehilangan fizikokimia paling minimum berbanding disimpan pada 23 °C dan tidak dibungkus. Brokoli disimpan pada 4 °C dan dibungkus dengan beg plastik polietilena mempunyai perubahan minimum bagi warna (L*= 40.63, a*= -9.88, b*= 19.71), PLW (2.03%), kelembapan (84.42%), klorofil (2.66 mg/g) dan vitamin C (122.05 mg/100 g). Manakala brokoli disimpan pada 23 °C dan dibungkus dengan beg plastik polietilena mempunyai kandungan antioksida yang lebih tinggi (171.15 mg/100 g bagi TPC, 77.66% bagi DPPH). Bunga kobis disimpan pada 4 °C dan dibungkus dengan beg plastik polietilena mengalami perubahan fizikokimia paling minimum bagi warna (L*= 67.63, a*= -1.36, b*= 4.77), PLW (0.97%), kelembapan (93.26%), klorofil (1.22 mg/g) dan vitamin C (41.92 mg/100 g). Manakala bunga kobis disimpan pada 23 °C dan dibungkus dengan beg plastik polietilena mempunyai kandungan antioksida yang lebih tinggi (167.64 mg/100 g bagi TPC, 85.51% bagi DPPH). Justeru, keadaan penyimpanan yang paling sesuai bagi sampel brokoli dan bunga kobis adalah pada suhu 4 °C dan dibungkus dengan beg plastik polietilena

Effect of different hydrolysis time and enzymes on chemical properties, antioxidant and antihyperglycemic activities of edible bird nest hydrolysate

Edible bird nest (EBN) is a dried glutinous secretion from the salivary glands of swiftlet species commonly found in the Southeast Asian region, including Malaysia. It is consumed traditionally by the Chinese as food delicacy and also considered as an important ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine for its beneficial health effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of enzymatic hydrolysis using alcalase, papain and papaya juice hydrolyze at 0.5 to 3 hr on the degree of hydrolysis (DH), protein solubility, concentration of reducing sugar, antioxidant and anti-hyperglycemic activity. In general, an increase in hydrolysis time increases the DH and soluble protein digestion rate. However, the concentration of reducing sugar was not affected by hydrolysis time. The solubility of proteins was highest for alcalase and papain at 3 h, while papaya juice at 2 h. Papain showed the highest antioxidant activity in 1 and 2 h of hydrolysis time whereas at 3 h, results for both papain and alcalase were higher compared to papaya juice. Result of anti-hyperglycemic activity showed that only EBN hydrolyzed using papaya juice has positive activity. Based on this study, enzymatic hydrolysis had improved the functional properties of EBN and results showed the potential of EBN to be developed as natural antioxidants and anti-hyperglycemic agents

Jumlah fenol, aktiviti antioksidan dan ketoksikan ekstrak bendalir lampau genting (SFE) buah Ziziphus mauritiana

Kajian ini menentukan jumlah fenol, antioksidan dan ketoksikan buah Ziziphus mauritiana yang diekstrak menggunakan pengekstrakan bendalir lampau genting (SFE). Ekstrak dianalisis untuk jumlah kandungan fenol (TPC) dan aktiviti antioksidan berdasarkan aktiviti penyingkiran radikal bebas, 2,2-difenil-1-pikrilhidrazil (DPPH). Kajian ketoksikan akut dilakukan pada tikus Sprague Dawley (24 jantan, 24 betina), dibahagikan kepada 4 kumpulan; diberikan 0 (kawalan), 1, 2.5 dan 5 g ekstrak/kg berat badan. Kajian kesitotoksikan dilakukan menggunakan ujian MTT pada titisan sel V79-4 dan kajian kegenotoksikan dilakukan menggunakan Ujian Mikronukleus (MNA) dengan pewarnaan akridin jingga (AO). Ekstrak menghasilkan TPC sebanyak 539.18 mg setaraan asid galik (GAE)/100 g dan penyingkiran radikal bebas DPPH sebanyak 16.65%. Dalam kajian ketoksikan akut, semua tikus selamat tanpa bukti manifestasi klinikal atau ketoksikan. Kajian kesitotoksikan ekstrak menunjukkan kesan kesitotoksikan (IC50 0.48 mg/mL). Kajian kegenotoksikan menunjukkan bahawa ekstrak tidak mempunyai kesan kegenotoksikan pada tikus yang diuji. Secara keseluruhan, ekstrak bertindak dengan cara yang berbeza, in vivo dan in vitro. Sebagai kesimpulan, ekstrak adalah sumber fenol yang baik namun tidak menunjukkan aktiviti antioksidan yang tinggi. Ia tidak toksik dan tidak menyebabkan kegenotoksikan terhadap haiwan yang dikaji pada kepekatan sehingga 5 g ekstrak/kg berat badan. Walau bagaimanapun, ekstrak didapati sitotoksi terhadap titisan sel V79-4 yang dikaji

Kesan suhu pengekstrakan akueus terhadap ciri fizikokimia dan antioksidan gam bendi (Abelmoschus esculentus)

Penyelidikan ini dijalankan untuk menilai ciri fizikokimia gam bendi yang diekstrak pada suhu 25, 40, 60 dan 80 ℃. Ekstrak gam bendi kemudiannya dianalisis bagi penentuan pH, warna, kapasiti pengikat air, reologi dan kandungan fenol jumlah (TPC). Aktiviti antioksidan iaitu pemerangkapan radikal bebas 2,2-diferil-1-pikrihidrazil (DPPH) serta kuasa antioksidan penurunan ferik (FRAP) turut dijalankan. Hasil berat kering gam bendi menunjukkan tiada perbezaan signifikan (p>0.05) pada suhu pengekstrakan 25 ℃ dan 40 ℃. pH ekstrak gam bendi adalah hampir neutral (pH 6.69-6.75) pada suhu pengekstrakan 25 ℃ hingga 80 ℃, mempunyai warna yang cerah dan kuning kehijauan. Kapasiti pengikat air gam bendi yang diekstrak pada 25 ℃ dan 40 ℃ didapati lebih tinggi secara signifikan (p0.05). Kesimpulannya, peningkatan suhu pengekstrakan dapat meningkatkan hasil esktrak tetapi memberi kesan pengurangan kapasiti pengikat air serta kelikatan ketara ekstrak gam yang terhasil. Oleh itu, adalah penting untuk mengenal pasti objektif akhir penggunaan gam bendi bagi membolehkannya diekstrak menggunakan suhu yang paling sesuai dengan potensi penggunaannya

Metabolomski pristup otkrivanju različitih metabolita u ekstraktima crne kurkume (Curcuma caesia) pomoću 1H NMR i utvrđivanju njihove korelacije s antioksidacijskom aktivnosti i inhibicijom α-glukozidaze

Research background. Curcuma species (Zingiberaceae) are well known medicinal herbs in India and Southeast Asia. Despite various findings reporting their beneficial biological activities, very little information has been recorded on the Curcuma caesia. Thus, this study aims to determine the phenolic content, antioxidant and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity of both rhizome and leaves of C. caesia. Experimental approach. Rhizome and leaves of C. caesia were dried with oven (OD) and freeze (FD)-drying methods, and extracted with different Φ(ethanol,water)=100:0, 80:20, 50:50 and 0:100. The bioactivities of C. caesia extracts were evaluated using in vitro tests; total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant (DPPH and FRAP) and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR)-based metabolomics approach was employed to differentiate the most active extracts based on their metabolite profiles and correlation with bioactivities. Results and conclusions. The FD rhizome extracted with Φ(ethanol,water)=100:0 was observed to have potent TPC expressed as gallic acid equivalents, FRAP expressed as Trolox equivalents and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity with values of (45.4±2.1) mg/g extract, (147.7±8.3) mg/g extract and (265.5±38.6) µg/mL (IC50), respectively. Meanwhile, for DPPH scavenging activity, the Φ(ethanol,water)=80:20 and 100:0 extracts of FD rhizome showed the highest activity with no significant difference between them. Hence, the FD rhizome extracts were selected for further metabolomics analysis. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed clear discrimination among the different extracts. Partial least square (PLS) analysis showed positive correlations of the metabolites, including xanthorrhizol derivative, 1-hydroxy-1,7-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-(6E)-6-heptene-3,4-dione, valine, luteolin, zedoardiol, β-turmerone, selina-4(15),7(11)-dien-8-one, zedoalactone B and germacrone, with the antioxidant and α-glucosidase inhibition activities, whereas curdione and 1-(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-7-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-(lE,6E)-1,6-heptadiene3,4-dione were correlated with α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. Novelty and scientific contribution. C. caesia rhizome and leaf extracts contained phenolic compounds and had varies antioxidant and α-glucosidase inhibitory capacities. These findings strongly suggest that the rhizomes of C. caesia are an invaluable natural source of active ingredients for applications in pharmaceutical and food industries.Pozadina istraživanja. Vrste roda Curcuma (Zingiberaceae) poznate su ljekovite biljke u Indiji i jugoistočnoj Aziji. Usprkos različitim istraživanjima koja potvrđuju njihov pozitivan biološki učinak, vrlo je malo podataka o vrsti Curcuma caesia. Stoga je svrha ovog istraživanja bila odrediti udjel fenola, antioksidacijsku aktivnost i svojstvo inhibicije α-glukozidaze u rizomu i lišću biljke C. caesia. Eksperimentalni pristup. Rizom i lišće biljke C. caesia sušeni su u pećnici ili zamrzavanjem, te su pomoću etanola i vode u različitim omjerima: Φ(etanol,voda)=100:0, 80:20, 50:50 i 0:100 dobiveni ekstrakti biljke. Biološka aktivnost ekstrakata C. caesia mjerena je in vitro, pri čemu su određeni udjel ukupnih fenola, antioksidacijska aktivnost (pomoću metoda DPPH i FRAP) i svojstvo inhibicije α-glukozidaze. Metabolomskim pristupom su na osnovi rezultata protonske nuklearne magnetske rezonancije (1H NMR) pronađeni najaktivniji ekstrakti, ovisno o profilu metabolita i njhovom utjecaju na biološku aktivnost crne kurkume. Rezultati i zaključci. Ekstrakt dobiven sušenjem rizoma zamrzavanjem te ekstracijom u čistom etanolu (Φ(etanol,voda)=100:0) imao je velik udjel ukupnih fenola izražen u ekvivalentima galne kiseline od (45,4±2,1) mg/g, FRAP-vrijednost izraženu u Trolox ekvivalentima od (147,7±8,3) mg/g i svojstvo inhibicije α-glukozidaze izraženo kao IC50 vrijednost od (265,5±38,6) µg/mL. Najveću sposobnost uklanjanja DPPH radikala imali su ekstrakti dobiveni sušenjem rizoma zamrzavanjem i ekstrakcijom u otopinama etanola Φ(etanol,voda)=80:20 i 100:0, a među njima nije bilo statistički bitne razlike. Stoga su ekstrakti dobiveni nakon sušenja rizoma zamrzavanjem odabrani za metabolomsku analizu. Analizom glavnih komponenata (PCA) opažene su jasne razlike između ekstrakata. Metodom parcijalnih najmanjih kvadrata pronađene su pozitivne korelacije između metabolita, uključujući derivat ksantorizola, 1-hidroksi-1,7-bis(4-hidroksi-3-metoksifenil)-(6E)-6-hepten-3,4-dion, valin, luteolin, zedoardiol, β-turmeron, γ-selinen, zedoalakton B i germakron, i antioksidacijske aktivnosti te inhibicije α-glukozidaze, dok su kurdion i 1-(4-hidroksi-3,5-dimetoksifenil)-7-(4-hidroksi-3-metoksifenil)-(1E,6E)-1,6-heptadien-3,4-dion bili u korelaciji s inhibicijom α-glukozidaze. Novina i znanstveni doprinos. Rizom i lišće biljke C. caesia sadržavaju fenolne spojeve te imaju različitu antioksidacijsku aktivnost i svojstvo inhibicije α-glukozidaze. Rezultati istraživanja jasno pokazuju da rizom biljke C. caesia predstavlja vrijedan prirodni izvor aktivnih sastojaka za primjenu u farmaceutskoj i prehrambenoj industriji

Anti-obesity effect of ethanolic extract from Cosmos caudatus Kunth leaf in lean rats fed a high fat diet

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a major health concern both in developed and developing countries. The use of herbal medicines became the subject of interest for the management of obesity due to its natural origin, cost effectiveness and minimal side effects. The present study aimed at investigating anti-obesity potential of ethanolic extract from Cosmos caudatus Kunth leaf (EECCL). METHODS: In this study, the rats were randomly divided into six groups i.e., (1) Normal Diet (ND); (2) Normal Diet and 175 mg/kgBW of EECCL (ND + 175 mg/kgBW); (3) Normal Diet and 350 mg/kgBW of EECCL (ND + 350 mg/kgBW); (4) High Fat Diet (HFD); (5) High Fat Diet and 175 mg/kgBW of EECCL (HFD + 175 mg/kgBW); (6) High Fat Diet and 350 mg/kgBW of EECCL (HFD + 350 mg/kgBW). The anti-obesity potential was evaluated through analyses of changes in body weight, visceral fat weight, and blood biochemicals including total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), leptin, insulin, adiponectin, ghrelin and fecal fat content. In addition, metabolite profiling of EECCL was carried out using NMR spectroscopy. RESULTS: Rats receiving EECCL together with HFD showed significant (p  0.05) different with those of ND rats. Other related obesity biomarkers including plasma lipid profiles, insulin, leptin, ghrelin and adiponectin levels also showed significant improvement (p < 0.05). Administration of EECCL caused significant (p < 0.05) increase in fecal fat excretion, which validates the hypothesis of lipase inhibition, an anti-obesity mechanism similar to standard drug of Orlistat. The 1H-NMR spectra of EECCL ascertained the presence of catechin, quercetin, rutin, kaempherol and chlorogenic acid in the extract. CONCLUSION: Conclusively, EECCL showed anti-obesity properties by inhibition of intestinal lipid absorption and modulation of adipocytes markers

Kesan kaedah pengeringan dan pelarut yang berbeza terhadap kandungan fenol, aktiviti antioksidan dan antihiperglisemik ekstrak rizom halia hutan (Alpinia mutica Roxb.)

Alpinia mutica Roxb. (Zingiberaceae), juga dikenali sebagai halia hutan ialah sejenis tumbuhan yang kaya dengan sumber bahan bioaktif, berupaya menentang sel kanser dan berpotensi untuk bertindak sebagai agen antioksidan. Kajian ini dijalankan untuk mengkaji kesan kaedah pengeringan (pengeringan ketuhar (PK) dan sejuk beku (PB)) serta penggunaan campuran pelarut etanol dan air pada nisbah yang berbeza (100:0, 50:50 dan 0:100) terhadap kandungan fenol, aktiviti antioksidan dan antihiperglisemik ekstrak rizom A. mutica (ERA). Kandungan fenol ERA dikaji dengan ujian penentuan Jumlah Kandungan Fenol (TPC) manakala aktiviti antioksidan ditentukan dengan Ujian Aktiviti Penyingkiran Radikal Bebas (DPPH) dan Ujian Kuasa Penurunan Ferik (FRAP). Aktiviti antihiperglisemik dikaji melalui perencatan enzim α-glukosidase. Hasil kajian ini menunjukkan bahawa penggunaan kaedah pengeringan dan pelarut yang berbeza mempengaruhi kandungan fenol, aktiviti antioksidan dan kesan antihiperglisemik ERA. Sampel PK yang diekstrak dengan nisbah pelarut 100:0 menunjukkan aktiviti antioksidan (DPPH) dan kesan antihiperglisemik yang terbaik dengan nilai kepekatan perencatan separuh maksimum (IC50) yang paling rendah, 550.94 ± 50.02 dan 84.97 ± 11.69 μg/mL. Sampel PK (100:0) juga mencatatkan kandungan fenol (155.55 ± 9.36 mg GAE/g ekstrak) dan nilai FRAP (108.98 ± 10.08 mg TEAC/g ekstrak) yang tertinggi dengan perbezaan yang ketara berbanding dengan sampel lain (p < 0.05). Korelasi positif antara TPC dengan aktiviti antioksidan dan antihiperglisemik menunjukkan kebarangkalian bahawa sebatian fenol ialah komponen yang bertanggungjawab terhadap aktiviti biologi yang diperoleh. Hasil kajian ini menunjukkan bahawa teknik pengeringan dan nisbah pelarut ekstrak yang digunakan jelas mempengaruhi kandungan fenol, aktiviti antioksidan dan kesan antihiperglisemik (ERA)

Kesan kepekatan fukoidan dan tempoh penapaian terhadap pencirian fizikokimia kombucha diperkuat dengan fukoidan

Kombucha adalah sejenis minuman yang terhasil daripada penapaian teh manis dengan menggunakan kultur simbiotik bakteria dan yis. Fukoidan merupakan sejenis polisakarida fungsian daripada rumpai laut yang dipercayai mempunyai kesan kesihatan yang baik. Penyelidikan ini telah dijalankan bertujuan untuk mengetahui kesan kepekatan fukoidan (0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 dan 1.00 mg/mL) dan hari penapaian yang berbeza terhadap sifat fizikokimia (pH, jumlah pepejal terlarut (TSS), warna, kandungan fenol jumlah (TPC), kandungan flavonoid jumlah (TFC), kandungan gula, kandungan alkohol dan keasidan boleh titrat (TA)) serta kualiti kimia kombucha yang diperkaya dengan fukoidan. Nilai pH sampel kombucha menurun dengan ketara (p<0.05) apabila tempoh penapaian berpanjangan. Penambahan fukoidan mempengaruhi warna L *, a *, dan b * tanpa corak tertentu. Tempoh penapaian yang lebih lama meningkatkan kecerahan, namun mengurangkan kemerahan dan kekuningan semua sampel kombucha. Sementara itu, kandungan TSS dan gula sampel kombucha berkadar songsang dengan tempoh penapaian, kecuali bagi kombucha (0.75 mg/ mL) yang dicatatkan lebih tinggi (p <0.05) nilai TSS daripada kombucha (0.25 mg/mL fukoidan) pada hari ke 14. Bagaimanapun, tiada kesan signifikan (p>0.05) penambahan kombucha yang diperkuat dengan fukoidan terhadap gula. Secara keseluruhan, jumlah kandungan fenol dan flavonoid meningkat (p<0.05) dengan penambahan fukoidan dan tempoh penapaian, manakala peratusan TA dan kandungan etanol kombucha meningkat dengan tempoh penapaian berpanjangan. Kesimpulannya, sampel kombucha mengalami perubahan fizikokimia dan peningkatan jumlah kandungan fenol dan flavonoid selari dengan tempoh penapaian. Kajian ini menunjukkan bahawa fukoidan berpotensi digunakan sebagai bahan berfungsi dalam minuman kombucha

Therapeutic effects of Cosmos caudatus kunth leaf extract in the prevention and treament of obesity in sprague dawley rats

Obesity is a common nutritional disorder that has become one of the most important health issues of modern society around the world. Accumulating studies have shown that various herbs can be good sources of potent antioxidants. However, little information is available on the anti-obesity potential of these herbs. Preliminary study was carried out to investigate the anti-obesity and antioxidant activity of 8 common herbs, namely Cosmos caudatus, Pluchea indica, Lawsonia inermis, Carica papaya, Piper betle, Andrographis paniculata, Pereskia bleo and Melicope lunu. Antiobesity activity was assessed using inhibition of pancreatic lipase (PL) and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity whereas antioxidant activity was measured using free radical DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) scavenging activity. Results of the preliminary study revealed that C. caudatus exhibited good anti-obesity activity as well as excellent antioxidant activity. Therefore, C.caudatus was selected for further study by extraction with different concentrations of ethanol (100%, 80%, 60%, 50% and 40%). Hundred percent ethanol extracts of C. caudatus showed highest activity in both anti-obesity (21.8±1.5% and 19.9±1.1% in pancreatic and lipoprotein lipase assay) and antioxidant activity (24.9±1.1 μg/mL) with total phenolic content of 865.8±5.0 mg GAE/g extract and total flavonoid content of 398.8±34.8 mg RE/g extract compared to that of other extracts. Strong positive correlation between antioxidant activity (DPPH) and both phenolic (r =0.708) and flavonoid (r = 0.766) content was observed. The same trend existed between anti-obesity (PL and LPL) and that of phenolic (r = 0.935,0.845) and flavonoid (r = 0.945, 0.835) compounds respectively. The extract consisted of various flavonoids (quercetin, quercitrin, catechin,epicatechin, kaempherol, rutin, and chlorogenic acid) as identified by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), liquid chromatography mass spectroscopy (LC-MS), and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Based on the results obtained, 100% ethanol extract of C.caudatus was further assessed for the preventive and therapeutic effects of obesity in vivo. In the preventive study, C. caudatus extract (175 mg/kg and 350 mg/kg body weight) was given to the lean Sprague dawley rats fed with high fat diet (HFD) for 11 weeks whereas in the treatment study, obese rats were treated with C. caudatus extract (200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg body weight) for 9 weeks. In the preventive study, the extracts significantly suppressed the increase in body weight gain by 33.0 - 42.5% and percentage of abdominal fat by 33.0 - 42.0% when compared to that of control HFD group. However, it failed to reduce the weight and percentage of abdominal fat in HFD induced obese rats. Nevertheless, for both experiments the extract significantly suppressed the increase of plasma triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL, insulin and leptin level. In addition,plasma ghrelin and adiponectin levels were increased. The extract also increased the fecal excretion of fat in rats (96.9±10.5 - 114.6±9.3 mg/g in preventive study and 87.7±10.0 - 124.6±20.2 mg/g in treatment study) when compared to that of control HFD groups (55.4±6.6 - 58.2±2.6 mg/g) respectively, suggesting that C. caudatus reduces the progression of obesity by inhibiting pancreatic lipase, leading to malabsorption of fat,validating the in-vitro results obtained in first part of the study. In the final part of the study, both urine and serum metabolites of rats were analyzed using (NMR) spectroscopy and multivariate data analysis (MVDA). Lean and obese rats were clearly discriminated from each other on Orthogonal partial least square (OPLS-DA) score plot proving the ability of the high fat diet used in inducing obesity. Metabolites associated with lipid, tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA), glucose, amino acid, creatine and gut microbiota metabolism were found to be responsible for the discrimination observed. Interestingly, the therapeutic effects of C. caudatus extracts, specifically the low dose (200 mg/kg) were found to be better than that of Orlistat, based on the fact that the metabolic profiles of C. Caudatus treated groups were very similar to that of normal group. Betaine, succinate, 3-hydroxybutyrate,creatine, glycine, N-acetylglycine, pyruvate and glutamine were significantly increased/ decreased towards the normal level. Finally, partial least square analysis (PLS-DA) showed that the obese group moved away from the position of lean group and after 9 weeks of treatment both treated groups were regulated back closer towards their healthy baseline levels,confirming the therapeutic effects of the extracts obtained from biochemical assays measured in the previous chapter. This study showed the antiobesity effects of C. caudatus through inhibition of lipase activity as demonstrated by the increase in fecal fat content and also the positive effects on other obesity biomarkers measured. It also successfully demonstrated the ability of NMR based metabolomics in unraveling therapeutic effects of C. caudatus and further provides biochemical insights into the metabolic alterations associated with obesity. Results of the study suggest that C. caudatus has potential as a natural supplement or functional ingredient for the prevention and treatment of obesity

Breakfast consumption patterns, knowledge, attitude, practice and barriers among Malaysian university students

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. However, university students tend to skip breakfast due to their hectic lifestyles. Therefore, the patterns, knowledge, attitude, practice (KAP), and barriers of breakfast consumption were investigated in this study via questionnaires among 396 students of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. Results showed that only 35.9% of students had breakfast between 6 to 7 days per week. Chinese students had a significantly higher (p<0.001) breakfast consumption compared with other groups. These results were consistent with the KAP scores in which Chinese students had the highest scores compared to their counterparts. However, the overall KAP scores were still at moderate levels with significant (p<0.001) positive correlations were found between knowledge and attitude (r=0.421), knowledge and practice (r=0.166), and attitude and practice (r=0.443). Malay students acknowledged the high cost of breakfast as a significant (p=0.03) barrier for breakfast consumption compared to other groups. No significant difference (p>0.05) was shown in other parameters. In conclusion, the frequency of breakfast consumption among the students was still low. The focus should be emphasized on practical strategies to address the barrier and encourage behavioral change for the students