Persistent organic chemicals in Malaysian waters: a review.

A critical review of the levels of persistence organic chemicals in Malaysian waters from 1980 to 2002. This review concentrated on the detection several toxic substances by groups of scientists in the marine environment, evaluated their quantities and provides estimates of their potential danger for the health of both marine life and humans. The compounds include polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, tributyl-tin and pesticides. In summary, the levels of some persistent organic chemicals is lower compared with other Southeast Asia countries and the levels in this region still at the medium level compared with more urbanized and industrialized regions in the West. Nevertheless, continuous monitoring and investigations on the level of the persistent organic chemicals are needed in Malaysia. Transboundary pollution potential should be taken as an important consideration in any development project especially in Southeast Asia

Selective in vitro cytotoxic effects of piroxicam and mefenamic acid on several cancer cells lines.

Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) are heterogenous group of compounds used to cure and prevent inflammation. It was demonstrated that NSAIDs has the ability to inhibit the viability of colon cancer cells in vitro. We investigated the effects of Piroxicam and mefenamic acid on the viability of 4 cancer cell lines in which 2 of them are colon cancer cell lines (HCT 116 and CaCo-2). Cell viability was determined using MTT assay. Both NSAIDs was observed to markedly decrease the cell viability of both cell lines (HCT 116 and CaCo-2). Piroxicam was statistically more cytotoxic towards the cancer cell lines when compared to mefenamic acid. However, the cytotoxic effect of NSAIDs was less potent on breast cancer cells (MCF-7) and liver cancer cells (Hep G2). In conclusion, piroxicam and mefenamic acid showed selective cytotoxic effects against colon cancer cells but not against liver or breast cancer cells

Evaluation of the antinociceptive activity of Ficus deltoidea aqueous extract.

The aqueous extract of Ficus deltoidea leaves was evaluated for possible antinociceptive activity in three models of nociception, namely, acetic acid-induced abdominal writhing, formalin and hot plate test. The results of the present study showed that intraperitoneal administration of the F. deltoidea leaves aqueous extract at the dose of 1, 50 and 100 mg/kg, 30 min prior to pain induction produced significant dose-dependent antinociceptive effect in all the models used, which indicating the presence of both central and peripherally mediated activities. Furthermore, the antinociceptive effect of the extract in the formalin and hot plate test was reversed by the non-selective opioid receptor antagonist naloxone suggesting that the endogenous opioid system is involved in its analgesic mechanism of action. Thus, the present results demonstrated that F. deltoidea leaves aqueous extract contains pharmacologically active constituents which possess antinociceptive activity justifying its popular therapeutic use in treating conditions associated with the painful conditions