Kajian terhadap perspektif pelajar sarjana pendidikan (teknik & vokasional) mengenal kualiti makanan yang dijual oleh pengusaha makanan di kantin Kolej Universiti Teknologi Tun Hussien Onn: satu kajian kes

Kajian kes ini adalah bertujuan untuk meninjau perspektif pelajar Saijana Pendidikan (Telaiik dan Vokasional) mengenai kualiti makanan yang dijual oleh pengusaha makanan di kantin Kolej Universiti Teknologi Tun Hussien Onn. Dua kantin dipilih iaitu kantin asrama dan kantin utama KUiTTHO. Kantin merupakan pusat atau tempat pelajar-pelajar mendapatkan sumber makanan dan minuman yang berkualiti dan bersih. Kita sering kali mendengar berlakunya keracunan makanan. Malah kematian berpunca daripada keracunan makanan juga turut dilaporkan. Walaupun secara sedar atau tidak, ramai antara kita biasa mengalami keracunan makanan sekurang-kurangnya sekali setahun. Berasaskan kepada perkara inilah, kajian ini dijalankan bagi mengetahui kualiti makanan yang dijual oleh pengusaha kantin tersebut dari perspektif pelajar ini sebagai pengguna. Hanya satu jenis instrumen kajian yang dijalankan dalam kajian ini iaitu kaedah tinjauan melalui soal selidik. Kaedah ini bersesuaian dengan kedudukan responden yang terlibat , iaitu terdiri daripada 113 orang pelajar Saijana Pendidikan (Teknik dan Vokasional) dan 10 orang pekeija kantin. Aspek yang ditinjau adalah dari segi kebersihan semasa pengendalian dan penyediaan makanan, perspektif pelajar mengenai kualiti sesuatu makanan, corak pemilihan sesuatu makanan oleh pelajar dan perbezaan kualiti makanan antara dua buah kantin di KUiTTHO. Hasil dapatan kajian ini menunjukkan bahawa kualiti makanan yang dijual di dua buah kantin KUiTTHO dari perspektif 113 orang responden yang terdiri daripada pelajar Saijana Pendidikan (Teknik & Vokasional) KUiTTHO dan 10 orang pekeija kantin KUiTTHO adalah memuaskan dan juga hasil dapatan kajian menunjukkan bahawa wujud perbezaan terhadap kualiti makanan yang dijual di kedua-dua kantin yang dikaji

High quality of bacterial dna extraction from Corbicula fluminea (Müller, 1774) tissue in Kelantan

Corbicula fluminea is a freshwater clam that is served as a popular traditional food in Kelantan, Malaysia. However, there are limited studies that report on high quality bacterial metagenome deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) from C. fluminea. Therefore, this study compares the effectiveness and efficiency of conventional cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) protocol, a commercial kit, and modified CTAB protocol for bacterial DNA extraction from the soft tissue surface of raw C. fluminea. The instruments used to examine the quality of the extracted bacterial DNA were DeNovix DS-11 spectrophotometer, gel electrophoresis machine, and UV transilluminator. The results showed that the bacterial DNA extracted from modified CTAB protocol had the highest purity and integrity with the A260/A280 ratio of 1.92 ± 0.01 and A260/A230 ratio of 1.83 ± 0.06 as well as the DNA band with minimum smear. This concludes that modified CTAB protocol is the best approach for the bacterial extraction from the C. fluminea

Potential of Leucas zeylanica extract to eliminate E. coli and S. aureus in Corbicula fluminea (“Etak”) tissue

“Etak” or Corbicula fluminea, is a freshwater mollusc species regularly consumed as a popular snack among the Kelantanese in Malaysia. The “etak” is usually heated with traditional smoking process which is considered as half cooked and the smoked C. fluminea is commonly known as “etak salai”. This study focuses on the potential of Leucas zeylanica leaves extract to eliminate the bacteria content in “etak salai”. Extraction of bacterial genomic DNA was performed and confirmed the existence of Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) in “etak salai”. Antibacterial properties of L. zeylanica leaves extract was identified using disc diffusion assay and the result obtained exhibit that 70 μg/μL of L. zeylanica extract was the optimum concentration to give the effect of 11 mm inhibition zone for E. coli and 15 mm inhibition zone for S. aureus. This finding proof that L. zeylanica leaves could be the ingredients in the paste for “etak salai” preparation

Effect of substituting concentrate with dwarf Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) on intake, growth and carcass composition of rabbits

Dwarf Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) is considered to be more suitable as forage for ruminants due to its high yield and nutritive value, but there is limited research on rabbits. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of replacing concentrate with dwarf Napier grass on intake, gorwth performance and carcass composition of growing rabbits. Twelve growing rabbits were randomly distributed into three dietary groups in a completely randomised design: (i) concentrate feed ad libitum as control diet (T1), (ii) half of the control diet plus dwarf Napier grass ad libitum (T2), and (iii) quarter of the control diet plus dwarf Napier grass ad libitum (T3). The results showed that diets had a significant (p<0.05) effect on intake, growth performance and some non-carcass components. Rabbits fed T3 diet showed significantly (p<0.05) lower total DM intake than those fed T1 and T2 diets. Similarly, rabbits fed T3 diet showed significantly (p<0.05) lower total weight gain and daily weight gain than those fed T1 diet, but the respective values of those fed T2 diet were non-signifiacntly different from those fed T1 and T3 diets. There was significant effect on weights of meat with bone, fat, pelt, head and kidney by the diets, whereas weights of most of the non-carcass components were similar among the groups. In conclusion, diet consisting of half of the concentrate and dwarf Napier grass ad libitum is recommended to be used as it may reduce the feed cost compared to diet consisting of the concentrate alone

The effect of spinach leaf powder (spinacia oleracea) on the quality of dried noodle

This study has utilized the incorporation of different concentrations of spinach powder into wheat flour to produce the best formulation of dried spinach noodle based on sensory and physicochemical tests comprising of colour and texture profile analyses. F2 consists of 4g of spinach powder and was selected as the best formulation. F2 shows a better result than control in terms of significantly higher moisture (8.21 ± 0.01%), ash (3.33 ± 0.01%), crude protein (14.22 ± 0.01%), crude fiber content (8.69 ± 0.06%) and lower crude fat (5.46 ± 0.05%) and carbohydrate content (60.09 ± 0.13%); and also contains a significantly higher total chlorophyll content (24.68 ± 0.01mg/L). The F2 sample also has a lower cooking time (5.33 ± 0.06 minutes), cooking loss (7.43 ± 0.13%), and swelling index (1.85 ± 0.03 ml/g), but a higher cooking weight (246.52 ± 0.01g) and water absorption (161.26 ± 0.10%). The storage quality of the best formulation was conducted for 8 weeks and results were recorded every week. Based on the storage stability result of water activity, moisture content, and microbiological count, all of the values are within the acceptable range and are still safe for consumption. No significant difference was observed for all texture parameters of the F2 noodle upon storage. However, the colour of F2 noodle increase in lightness, greenness, and decrease in yellowness. Overall, the incorporation of spinach powder into noodles can increase the nutrient content and maintain its eating quality

Extraction and phytochemical screening from different parts of franggipani (Plumeria alba)

Plumeria alba (Apocynaceae) has been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of ulcers, herpes and scabies. The plant aerial parts (stem barks, leaves and flowers) were extracted using various solvents of different polarities, i.e.n- hexane, ethyl acetate, dichloromethane and methanol. In addition, the cold extraction using water was performed to obtain water soluble extract. The phytochemical screening of the crude extracts revealed the presence of tannins, saponins, flavonoids, steroids, terpenoids, cardiac glycosides, phytosteroid and reducing sugar

Phytochemical analysis and antimicrobial activity from different parts of Plumeria alba

Plumeria alba (Apocynaceae) is used in the treatment of ulcers, herpes and scabies. Extraction and phytochemical constituents of different polarity of solvent were investigate for aerial parts (stem, leaf and flower) of Plumeria alba. Soxhlet extraction for hexane, ethyl acetate, dichloro-methane, methanol was perform as well as for aqueous extraction. Phytochemical screening of the crude extract revealed the presence of tannins, saponins, flavonoids, steroids, terpenoids, cardiac glycosides, phytosteroid and reducing sugar in the plants investigated. The antimicrobial activity of crude extract for each solvents were determined using the disc diffusion method for Fusarium solani, Aspergillus niger, Candida albicans, Saccharomyces cerevisae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus cereus. The results obtained revealed that the ethyl acetate extracts of the flower and leaf was most potent, inhibiting Aspergillus niger, Saccharomyces cerevisae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Bacillus cereus with diameter zones of inhibition ranging from 7mm to 15mm, followed by methanolic extract of the stem and leaf with zone range of 8mm to 11mm, but Bacillus subtilis showed no resistance to the all extract

Evaluation of the total phenol content and antioxidant potential of plant extract (Plumeria alba)

The total phenol content (TPC) and antioxidant activities of methanol extracts from aerial parts of P.alba were studied. The results showed that stem bark contained the highest level of total phenols (7.17 ± 0.1947 mg GAE/g) while the lowest level was obtained from the flower (6.00 ± 0.244 mg GAE/g). The IC50 value of BHT (control) was 22.6 ± ug/ml and the values from the extract of stem bark, leaf and flower were 22.3 ± 2.71, 25.9 ± 0.23 and 30.1 ±2.23 ug/ml respectively. These results indicated that stem bark exhibited the higestr antioxidant activity compared to other plant part and almost similar with the control (BHT). A medium correlations were found between total phenols and free radical scavenging capacities in tested extracts by DPPH system ((R2 = 0.605

Antimicrobial activities of Plumeria alba extracts

Plumeria alba (Apocynaceae) has been traditionally used as medicine for the treatment of ulcers, herpes and scabies. The plants were extracted using various solvents, i.e. hexane, ethyl acetate, dichloromethane and methanol. In addition, the cold water extraction was also performed to obtain the aqueous extract. The phytochemical screening of the crude extracts revealed the presence of tannins, saponins, flavonoids, steroids, terpenoids, cardiac glycosides, phytosteroid and reducing sugar. The antimicrobial activity of each crude extract was determined using the disc diffusion method for Fusarium solani, Aspergillus niger, Candida albicans, Saccharomyces cerevisae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus cereus. The results showed that the ethyl acetate extracts of the flowers and leaves were very potent in inhibiting A. niger, S. cerevisae, P. aeruginosa and B. cereus with the zone of inhibition diameters ranging between 7mm and 15mm. Meanwhile, the inhibition diameters of methanolic extract from the stems and leaves were between 8mm and 11mm, but B. Subtilis showed no resistance to all extracts

First report on pollinating behavior of the small carpenter bee Ceratina ridleyi Cockerell (Hymenoptera, Apidae) in Globba leucantha var. bicolor Holttum (Zingiberaceae)

Small carpenter bees of the genus Ceratina are widespread, but little-studied as pollinators despite their presence in various pollinator assemblages. This study documents the importance of Ceratina ridleyi as a pollinator of the small-flowered Malaysian ginger Globba leucantha var. bicolor. Species of Zingiberaceae are defined by peculiar floral morphologies (e.g staminodes and a single functional anther) but are rarely studied for their insect pollinators. Surprisingly, C. ridleyi was revealed as the single pollinator of Globba leucantha’s showy flowers even though the presence of Apis sp., Trigona sp., and Amegilla sp. were observed in the study site. This small carpenter bee collects both pollen and nectar from the ginger flower. Pollen grains were observed attached to its scopal hairs and hairs on the ventral thorax and ventral abdomen. The bee contacts the flower’s sole stigma only during foraging for pollen, where the stigma contacts pollen accumulated on hairs of the bee’s ventral thorax and ventral abdomen. This study represents the first pollination report of a Ceratina pollinating a species of Zingiberaceae, and only the second report of any Ceratina pollinating a flower with complex morphology