Effects of tualang honey on reproductive system and bone properties in ovariectomised rats.

Madu adalah produk semulajadi bernutrisi tinggi yang digunakan secara meluas dalam bidang terapi perubatan sejak zaman dahulu lagi. Dalam kajian ini, keberkesanan madu lebah Tualang dalam mengurangkan komplikasi menopaus mengunakan tikus betina yang telah diovariektomi dua belah. Honey is a highly nutritional natural product that has been widely used in the folk medicine for a number of therapeutic purposes. In this study, Tualang honey was evaluated for its effectiveness in reducing postmenopausal changes in bilaterally ovariectomised rats

Post-weaning exposure to bisphenol A induces histological changes in the liver

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC) widely used in industry as a plasticizer for the production of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. The liver is highly sensitive to BPA, even at low doses. The objective of the study is to investigate the effect of BPA on histo-architecture of the liver in post-weaning rats. Post-weaning female rats were exposed to BPA by oral gavage over a six weeks period. The results showed that even at low environmental doses, BPA exposure had adverse effects on the liver histo-architecture, thereby disrupting the functions of cellular. The administration of BPA resulted in severe hepatocytes necrosis, dilated sinusoid, and depicting features of conspicuous Kupffer cells. The results may be due to the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by BPA. In conclusion, post-weaning exposure of BPA resulted in significant histological alterations due to ROS generation

Protective effect of Tualang honey against cadmium-induced morphological abnormalities and oxidative stress in the ovary of rats

Background: To investigate the protective effects of Tualang honey against the toxicity effects induced by cadmium (Cd) on the ovary. Methods: A total of 32 female Sprague Dawley rats were taken and randomly divided into four groups (n = 8). Throughout the experimental period of 6 weeks, negative control-NC (vehicle deionized water), positive control-CD (Cd at 5 mg/kg), Tualang honey followed by Cd exposure-TH (Tualang honey at 200 mg/kg and Cd at 5 mg/kg) and Tualang honey control-THC (Tualang honey at 200 mg/kg) groups, were administered orally on a daily basis. Results: Rats exposed to Cd were significantly higher in ovarian weight, number of antral and atretic follicles as compared to the NC group. The disruptive effects of Cd on ovarian follicles were associated with a disruption in gonadotropin hormones and decreases in follicular stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). Moreover, a significant formation of oxidative stress in ovarian Cd-exposed rats has been proven by increasing the level of lipid peroxidation products (malondialdehyde) and decreasing the levels of enzymatic antioxidant (catalase). Interestingly, a daily supplementation of high antioxidant agents such as Tualang honey in these animals, caused significant improvements in the histological changes. Additionally, less atretic follicles were observed, restoring the normal level of LH and FSH (P < 0.001), and normalizing the ovarian malondialdehyde (P < 0.05) and catalase levels in comparison with CD group (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Tualang honey has protective effects against Cd-induced ovarian toxicity by reducing morphological abnormalities, restoring the normal levels of gonadotropin hormones and stabilizing equilibrium levels of lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzyme in ovaries of rats. SITI SARAH BINTI MOHAMAD ZAID// SITI SURAYA BINTI RUSLEE, IKMAL HISYAM BIN BAKRIN, NOORDIN BIN MOHAMED MUSTAPHA, GOH YONG MENG

Energy saving campaign: by the student for the students

Social influence through persuasion technology could be key in promoting energy conservation practices among university students who are avid users of social media sites. Although there is a plethora of resources on energy conservation available online, students would feel compelled to view online resources produced by their own circle of friends. Social media sites allow students to publish their works seamlessly and viewed by their peers instantly. Interactive communication on social media sites encourage lecturers’ and students’ participation in the campaign

Protective Roles of Honey in Reproductive Health: A Review

Nowadays, most people who lead healthy lifestyles tend to use natural products as supplements, complementary medicine or alternative treatments. Honey is God’s precious gift to mankind. Honey has been highly appreciated and extensively used since ancient history due to its high nutritional and therapeutic values. It is also known to enhance fertility. In the last few decades, the important role of honey in modern medicine has been acknowledged due to the large body of convincing evidence derived from extensive laboratory studies and clinical investigations. Honey has a highly complex chemical and biological composition that consists of various essential bioactive compounds, enzymes, amino and organic acids, acid phosphorylase, phytochemicals, carotenoid-like substances, vitamins and minerals. Reproductive health and fertility rates have declined in the last 30 years. Therefore, this review aimed to highlight the protective role of honey as a potential therapeutic in maintaining reproductive health. The main role of honey is to enhance fertility and treat infertility problems by acting as an alternative to hormone replacement therapy for protecting the vagina and uterus from atrophy, protecting against the toxic effects of xeno-oestrogenic agents on female reproductive functions and helping in the treatment of gynaecological disorders, such as vulvovaginal candidiasis infection, that affect women’s lives

Protective role of Mas Cotek (Ficus deltoidea) against the toxic effects of bisphenol A on morphology and sex steroid receptor expression in the rat uterus

Background: Numerous scientific studies have found that young women are at a high risk of reproductive infertility due to their routine exposure to numerous bisphenol A (BPA) products. This risk is highly associated with the production of reactive oxygen species from BPA products. Ficus deltoidea, which has strong antioxidant properties, was selected as a potential protective agent to counter the detrimental effects of BPA in the rat uterus. Methods: Female Sprague–Dawley rats were allocated into four groups (n = 8) as follows: (i) the Normal Control group (NC), (ii) the BPA-exposed group (PC), (iii) the group concurrently treated with BPA and F. deltoidea (FC) and (iv) the group treated with F. deltoidea alone (F). Results: After 6 weeks of concurrent treatment with F. deltoidea, uterine abnormalities in the BPA-exposed rats showed a significant improvement. Specifically, the size of stromal cells increased; interstitial spaces between stromal cells expanded; the histology of the glandular epithelium and the myometrium appeared normal and mitotic figures were present. The suppressive effects of BPA on the expression levels of sex steroid receptors (ERα and ERβ) and the immunity gene C3 were significantly normalised by F. deltoidea treatment. The role of F. deltoidea as an antioxidant agent was proven by the significant reduction in malondialdehyde level in BPA-exposed rats. Moreover, in BPA-exposed rats, concurrent treatment with F. deltoidea could normalise the level of the gonadotropin hormone, which could be associated with an increase in the percentage of rats with a normal oestrous cycle. Conclusion: F. deltoidea has the potential to counter the toxic effects of BPA on the female reproductive system. These protective effects might be due to the phytochemical properties of F. deltoidea. Therefore, future study is warranted to identify the bioactive components that contribute to the protective effects of F. deltoidea

Protective role of Ficus deltoidea against BPA-induced impairments of the follicular development, estrous cycle, gonadotropin and sex steroid hormones level of prepubertal rats

Ficus deltoideais one of the well-known medicinal plants in Malaysia that is traditionally used by the Malay community totreat various ailments and for maintenance of female reproductive health. The objective of this study is to evaluate thepotential protective roles ofFicus deltoideaagainst BPA-induced toxicity of the pituitary-ovarian axis in pre-pubertal femalerats. In this study, four groups of pre-pubertal female Sprague Dawley rats were administered with the followings by oralgavage for a period of six weeks: NC (negative control- treated with vehicle), PC (positive control-treated with BPA at 10 mg/kg/BW), F (treated withFicus deltoideaat 100 mg/kg/BW, then exposed to BPA at 10 mg/kg/BW) and FC (Ficus deltoideacontrol - treated withFicus deltoideaat 100 mg/kg/BW). Daily vaginal smear, ovarian follicular development as well asgonadotropin and sexual-steroid hormone levels were determined. The findings showed thatFicus deltoideademonstratedpreventive role against BPA-induced toxicity on the ovaries. This was evident bythe increased percentage of rats withnormal estrous cycle, qualitatively reduced number of atretic follicles (as observed in histopathological examination) andnormalization of the gonadotropins hormone (FSH) and sexual steroid hormone (progesterone) levels. In conclusion,Ficusdeltoideahas the capability to prevent the effects of BPA toxicity in the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis of prepubertalfemale reproductive system, possibly due to its variety ofphytochemical properties. Therefore, these findingsstrongly support the traditional belief that this medicinal plant is beneficial as daily dietary supplement forthe maintenance of female reproductive health

Moderating effects on residents’ willingness in waste sorting to improve waste handling in Dammam City, Saudi Arabia

While the total amount of municipal solid waste (MSW) in Dammam city was about 13 million tons in 2013, it is expected to reach about 18.4 million tons in 2025. Although the main problem in Dammam city is an increase in solid waste production without any formal treatment except landfilling, the lack of waste segregation greatly affects the residents’ handling practices of solid waste due to incorrect disposing practices. The objective of this study explored the possibility of Dammam residents’ participation in sorting and recycling to improve MSW handling and to measure the influence of psychological factors which affecting residents’ willingness to participate in waste handling regarding socioeconomic levels and moderating effects. This study also examined various respondents’ perspectives on sorting and recycling sustainable waste and the handling of waste generation. This study covered most Dammam communities, with a gender distribution of 56% males and 44% females and the monthly income ranging from SR700 to SR12,000. The descriptive analysis showed that of the 450 participants, 170 (37.8%) were in the middle-income levels, 199 (44.2%) were in the high-income levels and 81 (18%) were in the low-income levels. The moderating effect of income was observed between attitude and willingness to sort and recycle waste in the low-income levels and high-income levels groups. Additionally, an association was found between market incentives and willingness to sort and recycle waste in the low-income levels and high-income levels groups. The gender status of the participants had a moderating effect on the relationship between market incentives and willingness to sort and recycle waste in males and females. Additionally, the moderating effect of social influence on households’ willingness to sort and recycle waste was moderated by gender in males and females

Understanding the effect of internal and external factors on households’ willingness to sort waste in Dammam City, Saudi Arabia

The acceleration of growth in the population in Saudi Arabia and the increase in municipal solid waste generation have caused a problem in Dammam city: an increase in solid waste production. Therefore, solid waste sorting is an important practice of municipal solid waste management. The main objectives in this research are understanding the effect of internal and external factors on household willingness in sorting waste in Dammam city and studying the attempts to construct a theoretical research model by adding market incentives, government facilitators, and awareness into the popular planned behaviour theory to explain residents’ waste sorting intentions. The data collection and analysis are based on the questionnaire study, which is based on the questionnaire survey data from 450 households in Dammam. This study revealed that social influence significantly predicts households’ willingness to sort and recycle, that is, to promote recycling. Additionally, the variable social influence has a significant but low influence on households’ willingness to sort and recycle. The result of the structural equation model shows that perceived behavioural control significantly predicts households’ willingness to sort and recycle waste. This finding is consistent with the theoretical expectation. Therefore, this research shows that attitude, social influence, perceived behavioural control, market incentives, government facilitators and awareness positively and significantly affect residents’ waste sorting intentions. Additionally, this research corroborates the discrepancy between internal and external variables