Design, development and implementation of contextualized learning materials in grade 7 mathematics

This study aimed to develop and try-out contextualized learning materials (CLMs) in grade 7 mathematics in response to a mandate to contextualize the basic education curriculum. Ten CLMs were prepared following the ADDIE model clustered into three phases. Phase 1 analyzed the activities and materials found in the locality of the students, phase 2 integrated these aspects into the design and development of the materials and phase 3 constituted the implementation and evaluation of the materials in a secondary school of a province. Results indicate that local activities include livelihood, leisure and family-related practices using native materials found in the community. The experts agreed that the developed CLMs are highly valid in terms of objectives, content, organization, materials and resources, effectivity, and features of contextualization. Following further revisions, the implementation of the materials brought about a significant improvement on the posttest scores of the students. The final version of the materials can be easily understood based on the computed Flesch Reading Ease test scores and within the grade level of its end-users as indicated by the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level test results. Thus, the constructed CLMs are valid and effective and may serve as models in developing contextualized materials in mathematics

Phytoconstituents from Alpinia purpurata and their in vitro inhibitory activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Alpinia purpurata or red ginger was studied for its phytochemical constituents as part of our growing interest on Philippine Zingiberaceae plants that may exhibit antimycobacterial activity. The hexane and dichloromethane subextracts of the leaves were fractionated and purified using silica gel chromatography to afford a mixture of C28–C32 fatty alcohols, a 3-methoxyflavone and two steroidal glycosides. The two latter metabolites were spectroscopically identified as kumatakenin (1), sitosteryl-3-O-6-palmitoyl-β-D-glucoside (2) and b-sitosteryl galactoside (3) using ultraviolet (UV), infrared (IR), electron impact mass spectrometer (EIMS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments, and by comparison with literature data. This study demonstrates for the first time the isolation of these constituents from A. purpurata. In addition to the purported anti-inflammatory activity, its phytomedicinal potential to treat tuberculosis is also described