Biological Activities of Barringtonia Racemosa (Lecythidaceae) and the Quantitative Analysis of Phenolic Acids And Flavonoids Present in the Various Bioactive Extracts of the Species

Barringtonia racemosa (Family Lecythidaceae) posses several bioactivities and is used in traditional medicine of Malaysia. However, its antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and allelopathic activities investigation are still lacking. The aims of this study were therefore to determine those biological activities of methanolic, ethanolic and hot water leaf, stem and bark extracts of B. racemosa and quantitative analysis of phenolic acids and flavonoids present in the various bioactive extracts of the species. The methanolic and ethanolic extracts of bark showed strong free radical scavenging activity (89.23 ± 0.40 and 91.35 ± 0.89 %) and this was even higher than butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), ascorbic acid and α-tocopherol (antioxidant standards). The results also showed that all methanolic extracts (leaf, stem, and bark; 84.47 ± 0.05, 84.41 ± 0.28 and 84.03 ± 0.03 %) and ethanolic extracts of leaf and bark (82.58 ± 0.06 and 88.21 ± 0.06 %), respectively had similarly strong reducing power when compared to the antioxidant standards, tested in this study. The leaf of methanolic and ethanolic extracts showed strong antioxidant activity (80.03 ± 5.56 and 88.93 ± 8.32 %) in the β-carotene bleaching assay which were higher than the antioxidant standards. Although most of the hot water extracts showed weak to moderately antioxidant activities, the hot water extract of the leaf surprisingly showed strong reducing power potential (83.45 ± 0.07 %). Overall, the methanolic and ethanolic extracts of B. racemosa had effective antioxidant activities compared to hot water extracts. In Griess assay, all the B. racemosa extracts showed no significant activity on nitric oxide inhibition in RAW264.7 cell line. However, the extracts do not seem to be cytotoxic. In antibacterial assay, B. racemosa aerial parts extracts showed weak to moderate inhibitory activities against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria tested accept for boiling water extracts which was inactive. For antifungal assay, methanolic extracts of B. racemosa leaf, stem and bark exhibited the higher inhibitory activity among the four of seven fungi tested. Among different fungi tested, all extracts were found to be more sensitive to Fusarium sp. compared to the others. The seed germination assay results showed that B. racemosa extracts were able to effect the germination of the Brassica nigra L. (allelopathic activity). In the present study, quantitative analysis of phenolic compounds from B. racemosa leaf, stem and bark were performed using reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) technique. The results showed that gallic acid and naringin were the major phenolic acids and flavonoids present in all different aerial parts of B. racemosa. Ferulic acid, rutin, kaempferol and luteolin were also detected in several aerial parts of B. racemosa. Overall results obtained from the biological assays suggested that B. racemosa is a source of bioactive compounds endowed with interesting biological activities, such as strongly antioxidants agents and can be rated as good dietary sources of natural phenolic antioxidants

Total phenolic content, total flavonoid content and radical scavenging activity from zingiber zerumbet rhizome using subcritical water extraction

Subcritical water extraction (SWE) is an alternative technique implemented water as a solvent. The objective of this work was to extract Zingiber zerumbet rhizome using SWE at a temperature range from 100ºC to 180ºC with duration from 5 to 25 min. The extracts were analysed for total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC) and radical scavenging activity (RSA). Soxhlet extraction using ethanol was used for a comparison purpose. Results showed the highest TPC and TFC was obtained at 180ºC and 25 min extraction, with the yield of 18.52 mg GAE/gDW and 2.34 mg QE/gDW of rhizome for TPC and TFC, respectively. RSA at peak of 83.9 % inhibition at the condition of 180ºC and 10 min extraction. In comparison to Soxhlet extraction, the extract after SWE gives the highest amount of TPC and RSA. However, the values for TFC are lower as compared to ethanolic extract. Therefore, SWE process for Zingiber zerumbet extract is favourable for higher TPC and RSA. A direct linear correlation between the RSA with the TPC and TFC of the extracts shows that a strong correlation was observed between TPC and the RSA with the R2 obtained was 0.910 as compared to moderate correlation (R2=0.785) perceived in TFC. Thus, it shows higher radical scavenging activity in Zingiber zerumbet was contributed by phenolic content as compared to its flavonoid content. In overall, SWE is a potential alternative extraction process that should be further explored

Antioxidant activities of different aerial parts of putat (Barringtonia racemosa L.)

The antioxidant activities of methanolic, ethanolic and boiling water extracts of Barringtonia racemosa leaves, sticks, and barks were studied and their contents of total phenolics, flavonoids and carotenoids were measured. Methanolic extracts of aerial parts of the plant contained relatively higher levels of total phenolics than other extracts (leaf: 16.2 ± 0.02 mg gallic acid equivalent/g freeze dried-weight (FDW) tissue, stick: 29.9 ± 0.02 mg gallic acid equivalent/g FDW tissue, bark: 21.78 ± 0.20 mg gallic acid equivalent/g FDW tissue). The ethanolic extracts in aerial parts gave higher levels of total flavonoid (leaf: 38.55 ± 2.75 mg rutin/g FDW tissue, stick: 40.72 ± 5.91 mg rutin/g FDW tissue, bark: 68.29 ± 9.63 mg rutin/g FDW tissue). The amounts of β-carotene and lycopene were found higher in methanolic and ethanolic extracts of the leaf (342.2 ± 8.79 μg β-carotene/g FDW tissue, 77.38 ± 4.61μg lycopene/g freeze dried-weight tissue; 356.9 ± 0.93 μg β-carotene/g FDW tissue, 99.3 ± 5.29 μg lycopene/g FDW tissue,respectively). The methanolic and ethanolic extracts in all aerial parts tested exhibited very strong antioxidant properties when compared to butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), ascorbic acid and α-tocopherol in the free radical scavenging and reducing power assays

Induction of labour using foley catheter: traction versus non traction technique, a randomized prospective study.

Background: Cervical ripening of an unfavourable cervix can be achieved by placement of a transcervical Foley catheter. Objective: To assess the effectiveness of 750 ml traction on Foley catheter compared to no traction for labour induction. Study design: A randomized controlled trial performed on pregnant women at 37-41 week who were admitted for induction of labour with unfavourable cervix. They were randomly assigned into two groups, Foley’s with 750 ml traction and and without traction. The primary outcomes were improvement in Bishop Score, number of favourable cervix following induction and the mode of delivery. The secondary outcomes were maternal pain score, neonatal outcome, and maternal infection. Results: A total of 160 women were randomized into traction group (n=80) and non-traction group (n=80). The mean change in Bishop Score was similar in both groups. Traction group had significantly (p=0.006) higher number of vaginal delivery (70%) compared to non-traction group. The rate of successful VBAC was also significantly (p= 0.001) higher in the traction group. Participants were comfortable using both methods with low pain score. There was no difference in neonatal outcomes and risk of maternal infections in both groups. Conclusion: application of traction did result in more vaginal delivery and successful VBAC without risk of maternal and neonatal infection

Religiosity, religious coping and psychological distress among Muslim university students in Malaysia

High demands of academic life and social changes caused relatively high prevalence of psychological distress among university students compared to the general population. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of psychological distress among university students and to examine the factors associated with them. This was cross sectional study involving 467 Bachelor degree students from various faculties in Universiti Teknologi MARA. Participants were assessed using the Brief Religious Coping Scale (Brief RCOPE), the Hatta Islamic Religiosity Index 1996 (HIRS96) and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS 21). This study highlighted relatively high prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress among the students of UiTM Shah Alam. We also found consistent significant association between negative religious coping with both anxiety and depressive symptoms. Consistent with the earlier studies done among Muslim samples, the positive religious coping is not significantly associated with better psychological outcomes although only small effect was observed towards the depressive symptoms

Pengaruh Kualitas Pelayanan Dan Citra Korporat Terhadap Kepuasan Pengguna Uptp Kementerian Perdagangan Ri

Penelitian bertujuan untuk menganalisis apakah dan seberapa besar kualitas pelayanan yang dirasakan dan citra korporat memberikan pengaruh terhadap kepuasan kepada pengguna UPTP Kementerian Perdagangan RI.   Metode penelitian yang digunakan untuk mengukur Indeks Kepuasan Masyarakat (IKM) adalah dengan pendekatan deskriptif dan untuk melihat pengaruhnya digunakan metode kuantitatif dengan pendekatan regresi linier berganda menggunakan 150 orang sampel dari populasi para pengguna jasa pelayanan UPTP di Kementerian Perdagangan RI.  Walaupun nilai IKM yang dihasilkan tetap baik, namun nampak ada peningkatan jika dibandingkan dengan pengukuran pada tahun 2015.  Terlihat ada pengaruh yang nyata dari kualitas pelayanan terhadap kepuasan para pengguna UPTP Kementerian Perdagangan, dengan proporsi pengaruh terhadap kepuasan pengguna sebesar 60,5%, dimana faktor kemauan petugas untuk membantu pelanggan dan memberikan layanan dengan cepat, memberikan pengaruh paling besar

Chemical Composition and Antioxidant Activities of Catfish Epidermal Mucus

The antioxidant activity of Clarias gariepinus and Clarias sp.1 epidermal mucus were determined. Aqueous extracts of C.sp1 contained relatively higher levels of protein concentration [602.04mg g-1 fresh weight] than other extracts while the organic extracts (aqueous phase) of C.sp1 gave higher levels of protein concentration (43.50mg g-1 fresh weight) than dichloromethane phase for both species. The chemical composition analysis revealed the values of moisture, ash, crude protein, fat and carbohydrate contents present in both species. The DPPH scavenging effect of all extracts and standards on the DPPH radical decreased in order of: ascorbic acid > BHT > dichoromethane phase extract of C. gariepinus > aqueous phase of C. gariepinus > acidic extract of C.sp1 > acidic extract of C. gariepinus > dichloromethane phase extract of C.sp1 > aqueous phase extract of C.sp1 > aqueous extract of C. gariepinus > aqueous extract of C.sp1 at the concentration of 100ug/ml, respectively. Reducing power activities in all extracts increased with increasing concentration except for acidic extract of C. gariepinus which decreased at concentration of 100ug/ml. The Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) also increased as the concentration increased for all extracts. However, all extracts showed lower scavenging activity, reducing power and FRAP activities than BHT and ascorbic acid at the same concentrations. This preliminary information suggest that mucus from these fish species may be a source of novel antioxidant agents for fish and human health related applicants

Total phenolic, flavonoid content and antioxidant activity of Clinacanthus nutans leaves by water-based ultrasonic assisted extraction

Clinacanthus nutans (C. nutans)is a prominent herb species that widely cultivated in Southeast Asia region. The effect of water-based ultrasonic assisted extraction at various temperature (30 to 60 °C) and time (5 to 30 minutes) on the total phenolic, flavonoid content and antioxidant activity in C. nutansleaves extract was investigated. Acquired extract was quantified for its total phenolic, flavonoid content and antioxidant activity by Folin-Ciocalteu, aluminium chloride test and 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, respectively. The result has revealed that the highest temperature led to the degradation of bioactive compound in C. nutansleaves. The highest phenolic content and antioxidant activity achieved at 55 °C and 25 minutes with 13.87 ± 0.15 mg gallic acid g-1dry sample and 52.88 ± 3.91% inhibition, respectively. Meanwhile, greatest flavonoid content was obtained for 12.25 ± 1.01 mg quercetin g-1of dry sample at 55 °C and 15 minutes of extraction. From this study, it was shown that C. nutansextraction has gained benefit from ultrasonic assisted extraction and has possibilities of being used for the herbs utilisation of beneficial food materials, nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals at manufacturing industry

Enhancing Workplace Well-Being: A Multidimensional Approach to Person-Environment Fit

This review paper covers important gaps in the knowledge of Person-Environment Fit. PE fit is widely described as the compatibility between an individual and their work environment and more specifically the individual level criteria. However, there are several recurring issues in the P-E fit approach to stress, including a theoretical problem of inadequate distinction between different versions of fit; confusion between different functional forms of fit; and methodological problems relating to poor measurement of fit components and inappropriate analysis of the impact of fit on strain. Various studies and reviews have still fallen short of providing a comprehensive measure of PE fit, with most of the previous studies focusing exclusively on single fits of either person-job fit or person-organisation fit. Therefore, the current study aims to review the multidimensional measures of the PE fit study to gain a comprehensive view of the PE fit approach in enhancing workplace well-being. This study contributes to the occupational stress literature by delineating how the multidimensional measures of PE fit are associated with work-related stress and the possible outcomes related to both employees and organizational aspects indirectly. Future research may fill in these gaps and broaden the scope of the person-environment fit study