Effect of Temperatures on Drying Kinetics, Extraction Yield, Phenolics, Flavonoids, and Antioxidant Activity of Phaleria macrocarpa (Scheff.) Boerl. (Mahkota Dewa) Fruits

Phaleria macrocarpa (Scheff.) Boerl. or ‘Mahkota Dewa’ is a popular plant found in Malaysia as it is a valuable source of phytochemicals and therapeutic properties. Drying is an essential step in the storage of P. macrocarpa fruits at an industrial level to ensure their availability for a prolonged shelf life as well as preserving their bioactive compounds. Hence, this study evaluates the effect of different temperatures on the drying kinetics, extraction yield, phenolics, flavonoids, and antioxidant activity of P. macrocarpa fruits. The oven-drying process was carried out in this study at temperatures of 40 ◦C, 50 ◦C, 60 ◦C, 70 ◦C, and 80 ◦C. Six thin-layer drying models (i.e., Lewis, Page, Henderson and Pabis, two-term exponential, Logarithmic, and Midilli and Kucuk models) were evaluated to study the behaviour of oven-dried P. macrocarpa fruits based on the coefficient of determination (R 2 ), root mean square error (RMSE), and chi-square (χ 2 ). The quality of the oven-dried P. macrocarpa fruits was determined based on their extraction yield, total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and antioxidant activity (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) using ultrasound-assisted extraction. The results showed that the time for moisture removal correspondingly increased in the oven-dried P. macrocarpa fruits. Apparently, the Midilli and Kucuk model is the most appropriate model to describe the drying process. The range of effective moisture diffusivity was 1.22 × 10−8 to 4.86 × 10−8 m2/s, and the activation energy was 32.33 kJ/mol. The oven-dried P. macrocarpa fruits resulted in the highest extraction yield (33.99 ± 0.05%), TPC (55.39 ± 0.03 mg GAE/g), TFC (15.47 ± 0.00 mg RE/g), and DPPH inhibition activity (84.49 ± 0.02%) at 60 ◦C based on the significant difference (p < 0.05). A strong correlation was seen between the antioxidant activity, TPC, and TFC in the oven-dried P. macrocarpa fruits. The current study suggests that the oven-drying method improved the TPC, TFC, and antioxidant activity of the P. macrocarpa fruits, which can be used to produce functional ingredients in foods and nutraceuticals

Effect of Drying Techniques on Phytochemical Contents and Biological Activities on Bamboo Leaves as Potential Herbal Tea

Presently, bamboos have gained global attention for their therapeutic potential. However, it is rarely considered for its biological activities due to the limitations of studies, especially in Sabah, Malaysia. Thus, searching for the phytochemical content and biological activities among bamboo leaves has increased demand in certain Asian countries. Six species of bamboos, namely Bambusa vulgaris, B. multiplex, B. tuldoides, Dinochloa sublaevigata, Gigantochloa levis, and Schizostachyum brachycladum, were studied with five drying methods: sun drying, shade drying, microwave drying, oven drying, and freeze-drying. The infused leaves of bamboo extracts were analyzed for their total phenolic (TPC) and flavonoid (TFC) contents. The antioxidant activities were determined using two assays; the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. Toxicity tests of potential bamboo extracts were investigated using the brine shrimp lethality bioassay (BSLB). Bioactive compounds of potential bamboo extracts were determined using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The freeze-drying method exhibited the highest yield for the phytochemical contents and antioxidant activities, excluding B. vulgaris, which is preferable to microwave drying. TPC and TFC results showed a range of 2.69 ± 0.01 – 12.59 ± 0.09 mg GAE/g and 0.77 ± 0.01 – 2.12 ± 0.01 mg QE/g, respectively. The IC50 of DPPH ranged from 2.92 ± 0.01 to 4.73 ± 0.02 μg/mL, showing high radical scavenging activity. FRAP values also significantly differed, ranging from 6.40 ± 0.12 to 36.65 ± 0.09 mg TE/g. Toxicity studies of potential bamboo extracts displayed no toxicity activity against the BSLB based on LC50 analysis. This data may help in utilizing the bamboo leaves as functional food applications to be developed into bamboo tea

Green manufacturing practices (GMP) framework for local small and medium enterprises (SME) in Johor, Malaysia: a review on enablers and barriers and preliminary findings on critical factors

This study focuses mainly on Green Manufacturing Practices (GMP) for local small medium enterprises (SME) in the state of Johor, Malaysia. This review includes the enablers and barriers in GMP from previous studies in local and international contexts. Critical factors that affect GMP were also highlighted. It also points out relationships between enablers and barriers of GMP and measures the strengths and weaknesses of GMP. This paper also reviewed the implementation practices, issues and norms. The reviewed outcome will be a guide to formulate an effective framework for GMP in SME

A comprehensive review of the ethnobotanical, phytochemical, and pharmacological properties of the genus Bambusa

Throughout Africa, China, India, and other parts of the world for ages, the genus Bambusa (Poaceae) has been utilized in folk medicine. Various studies have concentrated on the ethnobotany, phytochemistry, and pharmacology of Bambusa spp. in recent years. This scoping study employed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guideline to analyze articles published from 2003 to 2021 on Bambusa spp. The articles were also retrieved from the Scopus database. As a result, 97 articles were selected based on the criteria given: 50 articles for the ethnobotanical aspect, 11 articles for the phytochemical aspect, and 44 articles for the pharmacological aspects (including 8 similar articles from other aspects). A large variety of pharmacological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, antimalarial, anticancer, antidiabetic, abortifacient, and cytotoxicity activities, were found in the crude extracts and purified bioactive components of Bambusa spp. Alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolics, terpenoids, and other compounds have all been isolated and named from Bambusa spp. Bambusa spp. have a sizable worldwide marketplace due to their outstanding medicinal benefits and minimal toxicity, which has sparked increased attention from academics. Nevertheless, there is no available review article that has compiled all the information regarding the utilization and properties of Bambusa spp. Hence, this review aims to identify and reveal the widely used Bambusa spp. that have grown worldwide. The review mainly summarizes the phytoconstituents and their corresponding pharmacological properties, which are significant in providing a collective scientific evaluation of Bambusa spp. for the development and utilization of a potential novel ethnomedicine

Documenting Butterflies Diversity (Lepidoptera: Rhopalocera: Nymphalidae) as Potential Nature Tourism Products at Sukau Rainforest Lodge and Sukau Ecotourism Research Centre, Kinabatangan, Sabah

Sukau Rainforest Lodge (SRL) and Sukau Ecotourism Research Centre (SERC) have been recognized as two ecotourism sites in Sabah. However, there were no butterfly tourism products carried out at both sites. As a result, a 5-day survey of butterfly diversity was conducted using fruit-baited traps. Butterfly diversity, richness, and abundance were evaluated using Shannon-Weiner Diversity for both sites. SWOT analysis was also carried out at both sites throughout a 3-week observation. The results showed there were 20 species from 6 subfamilies of Nymphalidae butterflies. A total of 96 individuals of each species were also tabulated, with SRL revealing a higher diversity index compared to SERC due to its large surrounding area. The butterfly specimens were collected for educational purposes as nature tourism products. Lack of research, no butterfly signage, forest fragmentation, and mass tourism activities were identified as weaknesses and threats with their strengths and opportunities as proper guidelines based on SWOT analysis. Hence, it shows that both sites are valuable for nature tourism based on their unique butterfly fauna as butterfly tourism products. This study could also provide baseline data on butterfly diversity and its potential as butterfly tourism products at both sites. Butterfly diversity data and SWOT analysis are compulsory for the creation of butterfly tourism products. Such valuable fauna can be integrated as nature tourism products in conjunction with appropriate decision-making strategies

A Review of Dendrophthoe pentandra (Mistletoe): Phytomorphology, Extraction Techniques, Phytochemicals, and Biological Activities

Dendrophtoe pentandra, popularly known as mistletoe, is a semi-parasitic plant that can grow on many host plants and is native to Southeast Asia, especially Malaysia. D. pentandra is regarded as an unfavourable plant for an economically significant horticultural plant; however, D. pentandra is also regarded as a medicinal plant and is used in traditional and alternative medicine to treat coughs, diabetes, hypertension, and cancer. Scientific research has also found that this plant has significant potential for medical properties such as antioxidant, antibacterial, anticancer, antiproliferative, antidiabetic and antihyperglycaemic, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxicity, hepatoprotective, immunomodulatory, and anti-aging properties. Numerous phytochemical compounds from D. pentandra extracts have been identified using extraction techniques such as maceration and reflux. Thus, this review aims to provide thorough information on phytomorphology, extraction techniques, phytochemicals, biological activities, and the future prospects of D. pentandra

A Review of <i>Dendrophthoe pentandra</i> (Mistletoe): Phytomorphology, Extraction Techniques, Phytochemicals, and Biological Activities

Dendrophtoe pentandra, popularly known as mistletoe, is a semi-parasitic plant that can grow on many host plants and is native to Southeast Asia, especially Malaysia. D. pentandra is regarded as an unfavourable plant for an economically significant horticultural plant; however, D. pentandra is also regarded as a medicinal plant and is used in traditional and alternative medicine to treat coughs, diabetes, hypertension, and cancer. Scientific research has also found that this plant has significant potential for medical properties such as antioxidant, antibacterial, anticancer, antiproliferative, antidiabetic and antihyperglycaemic, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxicity, hepatoprotective, immunomodulatory, and anti-aging properties. Numerous phytochemical compounds from D. pentandra extracts have been identified using extraction techniques such as maceration and reflux. Thus, this review aims to provide thorough information on phytomorphology, extraction techniques, phytochemicals, biological activities, and the future prospects of D. pentandra