Antibacterial activity of areca catechu nut extract / Nurul Najiha Ain Ibrahim

Areca catechu nut that is commonly known as Betel nut is an ancient herb which is significant to the cultural traditions of some countries in the South East Asia. The case of bacterial resistance to the existing antibacterial agents has increased, causing the need of novel antibacterial agent. However, the use of Betel nut as the antibacterial agent has not been reported in Malaysia. This study is carried out to determine the antibacterial properties of the young and the mature Betel nut, and to differentiate the strength of the antibacterial properties between both extracts. Both sample extracts were diluted into varying concentrations and were tested with Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi and Staphylococcus aureus isolates by implementing disc and agar well diffusion methods. The result showed an increase in the extract concentration shown by the increase in the halo zone. Agar well method showed a larger halo zone compared to the disc method. S.aureus is most susceptible to both extracts with the highest mean of halo zone at 200mg/ml is 17.7±0.58mm, followed by S.typhi with 14.7±0.58mm while E.coli is the most resistant bacteria with no zone of inhibition. This result indicates that Betel nut can be used as the medicinal agent to combat diseases associated with common bacteria due to the antibacterial effect elicited from both samples. Nevertheless, the young extract showed a slightly stronger antibacterial property strength compared to the mature extract

Metabolomski pristup otkrivanju različitih metabolita u ekstraktima crne kurkume (Curcuma caesia) pomoću 1H NMR i utvrđivanju njihove korelacije s antioksidacijskom aktivnosti i inhibicijom α-glukozidaze

Research background. Curcuma species (Zingiberaceae) are well known medicinal herbs in India and Southeast Asia. Despite various findings reporting their beneficial biological activities, very little information has been recorded on the Curcuma caesia. Thus, this study aims to determine the phenolic content, antioxidant and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity of both rhizome and leaves of C. caesia. Experimental approach. Rhizome and leaves of C. caesia were dried with oven (OD) and freeze (FD)-drying methods, and extracted with different Φ(ethanol,water)=100:0, 80:20, 50:50 and 0:100. The bioactivities of C. caesia extracts were evaluated using in vitro tests; total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant (DPPH and FRAP) and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR)-based metabolomics approach was employed to differentiate the most active extracts based on their metabolite profiles and correlation with bioactivities. Results and conclusions. The FD rhizome extracted with Φ(ethanol,water)=100:0 was observed to have potent TPC expressed as gallic acid equivalents, FRAP expressed as Trolox equivalents and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity with values of (45.4±2.1) mg/g extract, (147.7±8.3) mg/g extract and (265.5±38.6) µg/mL (IC50), respectively. Meanwhile, for DPPH scavenging activity, the Φ(ethanol,water)=80:20 and 100:0 extracts of FD rhizome showed the highest activity with no significant difference between them. Hence, the FD rhizome extracts were selected for further metabolomics analysis. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed clear discrimination among the different extracts. Partial least square (PLS) analysis showed positive correlations of the metabolites, including xanthorrhizol derivative, 1-hydroxy-1,7-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-(6E)-6-heptene-3,4-dione, valine, luteolin, zedoardiol, β-turmerone, selina-4(15),7(11)-dien-8-one, zedoalactone B and germacrone, with the antioxidant and α-glucosidase inhibition activities, whereas curdione and 1-(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-7-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-(lE,6E)-1,6-heptadiene3,4-dione were correlated with α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. Novelty and scientific contribution. C. caesia rhizome and leaf extracts contained phenolic compounds and had varies antioxidant and α-glucosidase inhibitory capacities. These findings strongly suggest that the rhizomes of C. caesia are an invaluable natural source of active ingredients for applications in pharmaceutical and food industries.Pozadina istraživanja. Vrste roda Curcuma (Zingiberaceae) poznate su ljekovite biljke u Indiji i jugoistočnoj Aziji. Usprkos različitim istraživanjima koja potvrđuju njihov pozitivan biološki učinak, vrlo je malo podataka o vrsti Curcuma caesia. Stoga je svrha ovog istraživanja bila odrediti udjel fenola, antioksidacijsku aktivnost i svojstvo inhibicije α-glukozidaze u rizomu i lišću biljke C. caesia. Eksperimentalni pristup. Rizom i lišće biljke C. caesia sušeni su u pećnici ili zamrzavanjem, te su pomoću etanola i vode u različitim omjerima: Φ(etanol,voda)=100:0, 80:20, 50:50 i 0:100 dobiveni ekstrakti biljke. Biološka aktivnost ekstrakata C. caesia mjerena je in vitro, pri čemu su određeni udjel ukupnih fenola, antioksidacijska aktivnost (pomoću metoda DPPH i FRAP) i svojstvo inhibicije α-glukozidaze. Metabolomskim pristupom su na osnovi rezultata protonske nuklearne magnetske rezonancije (1H NMR) pronađeni najaktivniji ekstrakti, ovisno o profilu metabolita i njhovom utjecaju na biološku aktivnost crne kurkume. Rezultati i zaključci. Ekstrakt dobiven sušenjem rizoma zamrzavanjem te ekstracijom u čistom etanolu (Φ(etanol,voda)=100:0) imao je velik udjel ukupnih fenola izražen u ekvivalentima galne kiseline od (45,4±2,1) mg/g, FRAP-vrijednost izraženu u Trolox ekvivalentima od (147,7±8,3) mg/g i svojstvo inhibicije α-glukozidaze izraženo kao IC50 vrijednost od (265,5±38,6) µg/mL. Najveću sposobnost uklanjanja DPPH radikala imali su ekstrakti dobiveni sušenjem rizoma zamrzavanjem i ekstrakcijom u otopinama etanola Φ(etanol,voda)=80:20 i 100:0, a među njima nije bilo statistički bitne razlike. Stoga su ekstrakti dobiveni nakon sušenja rizoma zamrzavanjem odabrani za metabolomsku analizu. Analizom glavnih komponenata (PCA) opažene su jasne razlike između ekstrakata. Metodom parcijalnih najmanjih kvadrata pronađene su pozitivne korelacije između metabolita, uključujući derivat ksantorizola, 1-hidroksi-1,7-bis(4-hidroksi-3-metoksifenil)-(6E)-6-hepten-3,4-dion, valin, luteolin, zedoardiol, β-turmeron, γ-selinen, zedoalakton B i germakron, i antioksidacijske aktivnosti te inhibicije α-glukozidaze, dok su kurdion i 1-(4-hidroksi-3,5-dimetoksifenil)-7-(4-hidroksi-3-metoksifenil)-(1E,6E)-1,6-heptadien-3,4-dion bili u korelaciji s inhibicijom α-glukozidaze. Novina i znanstveni doprinos. Rizom i lišće biljke C. caesia sadržavaju fenolne spojeve te imaju različitu antioksidacijsku aktivnost i svojstvo inhibicije α-glukozidaze. Rezultati istraživanja jasno pokazuju da rizom biljke C. caesia predstavlja vrijedan prirodni izvor aktivnih sastojaka za primjenu u farmaceutskoj i prehrambenoj industriji

Kesan kepekatan fukoidan dan tempoh penapaian terhadap pencirian fizikokimia kombucha diperkuat dengan fukoidan

Kombucha adalah sejenis minuman yang terhasil daripada penapaian teh manis dengan menggunakan kultur simbiotik bakteria dan yis. Fukoidan merupakan sejenis polisakarida fungsian daripada rumpai laut yang dipercayai mempunyai kesan kesihatan yang baik. Penyelidikan ini telah dijalankan bertujuan untuk mengetahui kesan kepekatan fukoidan (0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 dan 1.00 mg/mL) dan hari penapaian yang berbeza terhadap sifat fizikokimia (pH, jumlah pepejal terlarut (TSS), warna, kandungan fenol jumlah (TPC), kandungan flavonoid jumlah (TFC), kandungan gula, kandungan alkohol dan keasidan boleh titrat (TA)) serta kualiti kimia kombucha yang diperkaya dengan fukoidan. Nilai pH sampel kombucha menurun dengan ketara (p<0.05) apabila tempoh penapaian berpanjangan. Penambahan fukoidan mempengaruhi warna L *, a *, dan b * tanpa corak tertentu. Tempoh penapaian yang lebih lama meningkatkan kecerahan, namun mengurangkan kemerahan dan kekuningan semua sampel kombucha. Sementara itu, kandungan TSS dan gula sampel kombucha berkadar songsang dengan tempoh penapaian, kecuali bagi kombucha (0.75 mg/ mL) yang dicatatkan lebih tinggi (p <0.05) nilai TSS daripada kombucha (0.25 mg/mL fukoidan) pada hari ke 14. Bagaimanapun, tiada kesan signifikan (p>0.05) penambahan kombucha yang diperkuat dengan fukoidan terhadap gula. Secara keseluruhan, jumlah kandungan fenol dan flavonoid meningkat (p<0.05) dengan penambahan fukoidan dan tempoh penapaian, manakala peratusan TA dan kandungan etanol kombucha meningkat dengan tempoh penapaian berpanjangan. Kesimpulannya, sampel kombucha mengalami perubahan fizikokimia dan peningkatan jumlah kandungan fenol dan flavonoid selari dengan tempoh penapaian. Kajian ini menunjukkan bahawa fukoidan berpotensi digunakan sebagai bahan berfungsi dalam minuman kombucha

Effects of different drying methods and solvents on biological activities of Curcuma aeruginosa leaves extract

Curcuma aeruginosa Roxb. is one of the plants from the Zingiberaceae family which the rhizome has been used for medicinal purposes. However, the biological properties of the leaves have not been fully explored. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different drying methods and solvents on total phenolic content, antioxidant and anti-hyperglycemic activities of C. aeruginosa leaf extract. Samples were dried by oven drying (OD) and freeze drying (FD), and then extracted using different ratios of ethanol:water (100:0, 50:50 and 0:100). The amount of phenolic content (TPC) was determined using a spectrophotometer. Antioxidant activity was tested using the Free Radical Scavenging (DPPH) test and the Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power assay (FRAP), while the anti-hyperglycemic test was evaluated by determining the percentage of α-glucosidase inhibition. The results showed that FD at 100:0 and 50:50 concentrations had the highest phenolic content (30.88 and 33.06 mg GAE/g extract, respectively) and highest antioxidant activity value (38.24 and 42.46 mg TEAC/g extract, respectively). For DPPH, FD at 50:50 showed the highest inhibition of 71.48% compared to other extracts. Whereas FD at 100:0, 50:50 and 0:100 showed the highest α-glucosidase inhibition of 25.65, 30.78 and 27.65%, respectively. However, compared to Quercetin, the extract showed mild anti-hyperglycemic activity. The results indicated that FD is the best method of drying while 50:50 showed as the best solvents. Positive correlation between TPC with antioxidant and anti-hyperglycemic activities showed that C. aeruginosa leaf has potential as a source of natural antioxidant with the presence of phenolic compounds

Abstracts of the International Halal Science Conference 2023

This book presents the extended abstracts of the selected contributions to the International Halal Science Conference, held on 22-23 August 2023 by the International Institute for Halal Research and Training (INHART), IIUM, Malaysia in collaboration with Halalan Thayyiban Research Centre, University Islam Sultan Sharif (UNISSA), Brunei Darussalam. With the increasing global interest in halal products and services, this conference is timely. Conference Title:  International Halal Science ConferenceConference Acronym: IHASC23Conference Theme: Halal Industry Sustainability Through ScienceConference Date: 22-23 August 2023Conference Venue: International Islamic University (IIUM), MalaysiaConference Organizer: International Institute for Halal Research and Training (INHART), International Islamic University (IIUM), Malaysi

Pancreatic surgery outcomes: multicentre prospective snapshot study in 67 countries

Background: Pancreatic surgery remains associated with high morbidity rates. Although postoperative mortality appears to have improved with specialization, the outcomes reported in the literature reflect the activity of highly specialized centres. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes following pancreatic surgery worldwide.Methods: This was an international, prospective, multicentre, cross-sectional snapshot study of consecutive patients undergoing pancreatic operations worldwide in a 3-month interval in 2021. The primary outcome was postoperative mortality within 90 days of surgery. Multivariable logistic regression was used to explore relationships with Human Development Index (HDI) and other parameters.Results: A total of 4223 patients from 67 countries were analysed. A complication of any severity was detected in 68.7 percent of patients (2901 of 4223). Major complication rates (Clavien-Dindo grade at least IIIa) were 24, 18, and 27 percent, and mortality rates were 10, 5, and 5 per cent in low-to-middle-, high-, and very high-HDI countries respectively. The 90-day postoperative mortality rate was 5.4 per cent (229 of 4223) overall, but was significantly higher in the low-to-middle-HDI group (adjusted OR 2.88, 95 per cent c.i. 1.80 to 4.48). The overall failure-to-rescue rate was 21 percent; however, it was 41 per cent in low-to-middle-compared with 19 per cent in very high-HDI countries.Conclusion: Excess mortality in low-to-middle-HDI countries could be attributable to failure to rescue of patients from severe complications. The authors call for a collaborative response from international and regional associations of pancreatic surgeons to address management related to death from postoperative complications to tackle the global disparities in the outcomes of pancreatic surgery (NCT04652271; ISRCTN95140761)