Comparison of Antioxidant Activity and Phytochemical Content of Borneo Wild Berry, Rubus fraxinifolius (Rogimot)

Rubus fraxinifolius, locally known as Rogimot, is an underutilized edible fruit and grown wildly around Mount Kinabalu, Sabah. Antioxidant activities and phytochemicals content in three different parts (i.e., fruit, stem and leaves) of this plant were analyzed by using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2-2'-Azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline)-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS), as well as ferric reducing/antioxidant power assay (FRAP). Samples were freeze-dried and extracted using 5 different solvents namely dH2O, absolute ethanol, 80% (v/v) ethanol, absolute methanol and 80% (v/v) methanol. The result of antioxidant tests showed that 80% (v/v) methanol crude extract display higher antioxidant value compared to the other solvents extract. Phytochemical analysis from these extracts showed that the TPC and TFC were higher in the leaves at 56.32 ± 0.05 (mg GAE/g) and 31.36 ± 1.05 (mg CE/g), respectively. Meanwhile, TAC and TCC were found higher in the fruit flesh at 22.27±1.28x10-14 (mg C-3-GE/g) and 10.02 ± 0.22 (mg BC/g), respectively. The same trend was found for antioxidant assay, where leaves show highest values as compared to the other plant parts. These finding suggested that the leaves of R. fraxinifolius has a potential to be used as a natural antioxidative for human health

Biological activities of Chromolena odorata (L.) King and Robinson (Asteraceae) collected from Sabah, Malaysia as protein phosphatase type-1 inhibitor

Chromolena Odorata has been traditionally used as wound healer in local community. The present study investigated the anti-kinase and anti-phosphatases activities on methanolic C. odorata extract. Mutant yeast strains used are MKK1P386, MKK1P386_MSG5, PAY704-1 and PAY700-4. Bioassay guided fractionation of C. odorata revealed positive activities of hexane, ethyl acetate and chloroform partitions. Column chromatography of all partitionates later confirmed fraction F2 from chloroform extract had most favorable activity with inhibitory zone ranged between 7±0.0 mm until 15±0.0 mm. Kinetic analysis including maximum enzyme velocity (Vm) and Michealis-Menten constant (Km) were evaluated and compared for both normal and inhibited reactions. Enzyme activity with DiFMUP as substrate showed fraction F2 act as PP1 enzyme inhibitor with the Km value 0.60 mM and Vm value 200 mM/min as compared to the normal enzymatic reaction. Results provided unveil the potential of C. odorata as an effective therapeutic agent

Ethnobotanical Indices for Traditional Vegetable and Herbal Medicine Species Consumed in Kota Belud, Sabah, Malaysia

The difference of traditional vegetable species used in two predominantly Sama Bajau villages: Kampung Taun Gusi and Kampung Menunggui, in Kota Belud, Sabah were determined with different strategies. Similarity of listed species between different villages was determined by using Jaccard’s index of similarity and the most useful plants were evaluated using Frequency of Citation (FC). Use Value (UV) was used to determine the citation of plants during semi-structured interviews. A total of 46 species of traditional vegetables from 41 genera and 25 botanical families were listed from two villages. Jaccard’s index of similarity for ulam species between two localities; Kampung Taun Gusi and Kampung Menunggui is revealed at J = 0.348. Meanwhile Jaccard’s index of similarity for species that have been also served as traditional herbal medicine for both villages is revealed at J = 0.111. In average, informants cited 7.67 ± 3.89 vegetable taxa, the highest frequency citation (FC) calculated for Cosmos caudatus, Centella asiatica, Musa paradasiaca, FC= 0.83 for all three species. Meanwhile the FC calculated for Ipomea batatas, Cucumis sativus, Vigna unguiculata, Artocarpus heterophyllus value at 0.67. Use value for C. caudatus and C. asiatica are both recorded at UV = 1.67. Two species from family Fabaceae recorded UV ≥ 1.00; V. unguiculata (1.33) and Abelmoschus esculentus (1.00). Other species that recorded UV ≥ 1.00; C. sativus (1.33) and Capsicum annum (1.00). There was no significance difference (p > 0.05) between genders and knowledge on traditional vegetables. These data could provide the baseline for preservation of traditional knowledge and for bio-prospecting since some selected vegetables that are also used as traditional medicine. These three species, C. caudatus, C. asiatica, and M. paradasiaca, should be given priority in sustainable management of food plant species in Kota Belud

Improving Pre-University Students’ Understanding of Basic Plant Tissue Culture Topic through Laboratory Teaching: A Case Study of UMS

Laboratory work is an important component in biology-based courses. In Malaysia, biology courses were offered to students from the upper secondary level to pre-university level. However, practical work and experimentation still not being fully emphasized in teaching and learning session. The objective of this paper is to demonstrate the effectiveness of laboratory teaching for basic plant tissue culture topic at Foundation Science, University Malaysia Sabah. Two hundred fifty-six pre-university science students had participated in this study. Test comprises of two sections (theory and practical) was given to the students before and after lab session. The data was analysed using R statistical software. Paired t-test and Pearson’s correlation coefficient were utilized to make statistical interpretation of the Pre-lab and Post-lab test. The results showed that the average mean value for the Post-lab test was higher, with an increased to four questions answered correctly as compared to Pre-lab test. The results of the paired t-test also significant and there was a high correlation between Pre-lab test and Post-lab test. These findings prove that laboratory teaching did significantly improve the students’ level of understanding after participating in the laboratory session

Difficulties experience by Science Foundation students on basic Mendelian Genetics topic: A preliminary study

This paper aims to report and identify the difficulties experienced by Science Foundation students in understanding basic Mendelian Genetics based on their ability to solve three types of basic Mendelian Genetics problems. The problems given are; a monohybrid cross and two dihybrid cross cases. Result shown that 52.6% students were able to solve all the given problems while another 47.4 % had difficulties to solve at least one of the given problems. Among the students that had difficulties to solve the given problems, 4.4% students had difficulties to solve Type 1 problem, 13.3% students had difficulties to solve Type 2 problem, 15.6% students had difficulties to solve Type 3 problem, 8.9% students that had difficulties to solve both Type 1 and 3 problems, 40% students had difficulties to solve both dihybrid cross Type 2 and 3 problems, and 17.8% students were unable to solve all the given problems. E(X) or number of questions that the Science Foundation students had difficulties to solve is 0.874. The standard deviation for number of questions that the Science Foundation students had difficulties to solve is 1.842. In solving basic Mendelian Genetics problems, we expected students were able to solve the problems given and also can clarify the techniques used in term of genetic context. The initial finding reported in this study may be used to have a better understanding on students' ability and problem solving skills in learning genetics

Antibacterial and phytochemical investigations of Mikania micrantha H.B.K (Asteraceae) from Sabah, Malaysia

Previous study on Mikania micrantha had unveiled its importance as protein phosphatase-1 (PP1) inhibitor and cytotoxic agent against HL60 cells. The present study was carried out to investigate the antibacterial properties and to determine the phytochemicals content of M. micrantha. Crude methanolic extracts from powdered dry samples were partitioned using liquid-liquid separation technique and further fractionated using silica gel column chromatography to yield six partitionates and 5 fractions. All partitionates and fractions were challenged with Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria and the performances are compared with standard antibiotics. The results revealed that four partitionates (ME, CE, EAE and CME) possessed good antibacterial properties. While, fraction F1 from column chromatography is showing convincing activities towards tested bacteria. Phytochemical tests of the crude extracts, partitionates and fractions had detected the presence of tannins, polyphenols, alkaloids, saponins and triterpenoids. This result supports the potential of this plant species used as a new chemotherapeutic drug

A preliminary survey on edibles and medicinal plants used by Dusun of Kampung Pinolobu, Kadamaian, Kota Belud, Sabah, Malaysia

This paper provides a brief enumeration of 22 species of plants and four species of fungi as wild edibles, and 13 species of plants that have been used for medicinal purposes by Dusun people of Kampung Pinolobu, Kadamaian, Kota Belud, Sabah. Seven informants were selected using snowball sampling technique, and data on edibles and medicinal plants were collected using semi structured interviews. This study reveals how Dusun people of Kampung Pinolobu used 13 species of medicinal plants to treat ailments and diseases like fever, high blood pressure, flatulence, rheumatism, cold, cough, and gastric pain. The flower of Carica papaya and fruit of Passiflora foetida are used for high blood pressure treatment, leaves of Manihot esculenta serve two purposes, as traditional vegetables and also consumed to avoid flatulence. Decoction made from the root of Ficus septica was given to women during postpartum recovery as they believed that it would help to keep the body warm, treat headache, and stomach pain. Paste made from leaves of Melastoma malabathricum is used to treat wounds. Meanwhile crushed leaves of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, root decoction of Imperata cylindrica, sap from Calamus sp. are used to treat high fever, crushed leaves of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis is also used to subside carbuncle. Decoction of young leaves of Psidium gujava and Leucosyke capitella are used to treat stomach pain. Meanwhile decoction of crushed tuber of Curcuma longa is used to treat gastric pain

Preliminary Investigations for antioxidant properties of ferns species collected in Long Banga, Sarawak

Ferns are traditionally consumed as vegetables and used to prevent or cure various ailments as they have a few medicinal properties including antioxidant activity. However, little is known on ferns in Long Banga, Sarawak such as Calymmodon clavifer, Hymenophyllum acanthoides, and Oleandra pistillaris especially on their medicinal properties.Thus, the study study is carried out to evaluate the antioxidant activity of crude extracts of Calymmodon clavifer, Hymenophyllum acanthoides and Oleandra pistillaris collected in Long Banga, Sarawak. All crude methanolic extracst were subjected to 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) antioxidant assay. Total phenolic and total flavanoid content were also determined for phytochemical analysis. DPPH antioxidant test of all extracts showed that H. acanthoides gave the significant EC50 value 0.030 mg/ml in comparison to the EC50 value of the standard used, Trolox 0.035 mg/ml. Furthermore, phytochemical analysis showed higher total phenolic and total flavonoid content in the crude extract of H. acanthoides with the values of 304.81 ± 0.47 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g and 231.09 ± 0.91 mg catechin equivalents (CE)/g, respectively supporting the high antioxidant activity of H. acanthoides from DPPH test. Therefore, ferns collected in Long Banga, Sarawak shows promising potential as antioxidant agents to be used as alternative approach in therapeutic applications or preventions