Traditional Knowledge and Usage of Edible Plants among Temuan Community in Gunung Ledang Johor National Park, Malaysia

Edible plants are important for their nutrient values as part of human diet and as food resources that are essential in times of food shortage. Due to the rapid declining usage of edible plants, loss of traditional knowledge and food security issues have caused the urgent need to document and safeguard the edibles knowledge especially among indigenous people. The objectives of this study were to document edible plant species used by Temuans in Gunung Ledang Johor National Park and to determine the relative value of the plants. The data was collected through a semi-structured interview and free listing technique that were applied to all 85 informants in the nearest village to the national park. Frequency Citation (FC), utilization of frequency (f), Cultural Importance Index (CI), and Cultural Food Significance Index (CFSI) were used to evaluate the relative importance of the different edible plants. A total of 43 edible plant species belonging to 22 families and 33 genera were recorded in the study

Documentation, antimycobacterial activity, and phytochemical profiling of selected medicinal plants used by the jakun community in Johor

Tuberculosis (TB) is a major threat to human health due to its increasing global epidemiology and emerging drug-resistant strains. While traditional knowledge (TK) could be a tool for development of novel TB treatment, TK itself is at verge of loss due to modernization and deforestration. The objectives of the study were to document the TK of medicinal plants used for the treatment of TB and its related symptoms as practiced by the Jakun community ofKampung Peta, situated in Taman Negara Johor Endau Rompin; to investigate the antimycobacterial activity and mechanism of action of the selected medicinal plants extracts; and to profile their major phytochemical constituents. Documentation of TK were analyzed qualitatively from semi-structured interviews. Among 23 species documented, water and organic crude extracts of selected plants were evaluated for their antimycobacterial activity using agar disk diffusion, resazurin microplate assay, and agar plate assay against Mycobacterium smegmatis. Upon treatment with the active crude extracts, mechanism of action was investigated via time-kill analysis, leakage of compounds absorbing at 280 nm, field emission-scanning electron microscopy, and 2D proteomic analysis. Findings showed that ethyl acetate extract of Thottea grandifl.ora displayed the largest inhibition zone (DIZ= 14.92 ± 0.86 mm). Hexane extracts of Dipteroca,pus sublamellatus and Tetracera macrophylla showed the lowest minimum inhibition concentration (MIC= 0.78 mg/mL). Ethyl acetate extract of T macrophylla, and both hexane extracts of D. sublamellatus and T macrophylla showed the lowest minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC= 3.13 mg/mL). At 4-fold of MIC, ethyi acetate extract of T macrophylla killed the bacterial cell within 8 hours of treatment by multitarget mechanisms such as inhibition of protein and cell wall synthesi, and distruption of metabolic processes. Using gas chromatography- mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis, pyrazole and phenanthroline derivatives were detectes moss among the majorconstituents that potentially contribute to the antimeoheaded activity. The result scientifically validated the plants used in Jakun traditionaI medicine,displayed promising therapeutic properties and further studies in this direction world head to the get antimycobacterial agent

The Prevalence of Acceptable Quality of Women Herbal Products Sold Online in Malaysia

The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of quality herbal products sold online in Malaysia. The quality of herbal products focuses on two specific issues which are the legality of the labelling on herbal products and microbial contamination in herbal products.  Using keywords such as â€˜herbal products’, ‘jamu’, and ‘women herbal products’, a total of 111 herbal products were selected to observe the labelling of herbal products from Malaysian online stores (Lazada, Shopee and iHerbs). 90.1% of the selected products are registered and fulfilled the labelling guidelines as required by National Pharmaceutical Registration Authority (NPRA). Among the 10 samples from the legally registered products, all of the products were contaminated with gram-negative bacteria with accepted number of colony forming unit (CFU <107), but none was contaminated with E. coli, Salmonella and S. aureus. Therefore, it can be concluded that the NPRA urgently needs to devise a process of post-marketing surveillance of the quality of herbal products sold through online platforms in Malaysia

Preliminary Phytochemical and Antimycobacterial Investigation of Some Selected Medicinal Plants of Endau Rompin, Johor, Malaysia

Tuberculosis (TB), the primary cause of morbidity and mortality globally is a great public health challenge especially in developing countries of Africa and Asia. Existing TB treatment involves multiple therapies and requires long duration leading to poor patient compliance. The local people of Kampung Peta, Endau Rompin claimed that local preparations of some plants are used in a TB symptoms treatment. Hence, there is need to validate the claim scientifically.  Thus, the present study was designed to investigate the in vitro anti-mycobacterial properties and to screen the phytochemicals present in the extracts qualitatively. The medicinal plants were extracted using decoction and successive maceration. The disc diffusion assay was used to evaluate the anti-mycobacterial activity, and the extracts were subjected to qualitative phytochemical screening using standard chemical tests. The findings revealed that at 100 mg/ml concentration, the methanol extract of Nepenthes ampularia displayed largest inhibition zone (DIZ=18.67 ± 0.58), followed by ethyl acetate extract of N. ampularia (17.67 ± 1.15) and ethyl acetate extract of Musa gracilis (17.00 ± 1.00). The phytochemical investigation of these extracts showed the existence of tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, saponins, and steroids. The pronounced anti-mycobacterial properties displayed by the screened medicinal plants scientifically proved the claim by traditional people of Endau Rompin Johor. It is suggested that the extracts may be considered for further evaluation

Insecticidal and repellant activities of Southeast Asia plants towards insect pests: a review

Crops are being damaged by several plant pests. Several strategies have been developed to restrict the damage of cultivated plants by using synthetic pesticides and repellants. However, the use to control these insects is highly discouraged because of their risks on humans. Therefore, several alternatives have been developed from plant extracts to protect crops from plant pests. Accordingly, this review focuses on outlining the insecticidal and repellant activities of Southeast Asia plants towards insect pests. Several extracts of plants from Southeast Asia were investigated to explore their insecticidal and repellant activities. Azadiracha indica (neem) and Piper species were highly considered for their insecticidal and repellant activities compared to other plants. This review also addressed the investigation on extracts of other plant species that were reported to exert insecticidal and repellant activities. Most of the conducted studies have been still in the primarily stage of investigation, lacking a focus on the insecticidal and repellant spectrum and the identification of the active constituents which are responsible for the insecticidal and repellant activity

Comparison of phytochemicals, antioxidant and anti-cholinesterase activity of unripe and ripe fruit of sonneratia caseolaris

Sonneratia caseolaris, also known as mangrove apple produces the edible fruit which can be found mainly on tidal mud in mangroves area. Since this fruit is considered as underutilized fruit as it is not fully discovered for its potential health benefits and not fully commercialized, hence this study aimed to determine the phytochemicals contents (i.e. total flavonoid, phenolic, anthocyanins and carotenoids contents), antioxidant and anti-cholinesterase activity of different parts (flesh and stem cap) of the unripe and ripe fruit extracts. Phytochemicals, antioxidant and anti-cholinesterase activities were determined using standard methods of spectrophotometric analysis. The flesh part of unripe S. caseolaris displayed the highest total phenolic, flavonoid and carotenoid contents as compared to the other parts in 80% methanol extract with the values of 67.67±0.10 mg (GAE/g), 37.06±0.30 mg (RE/g) and 5.41±0.10 mg (BC/100 g), respectively. The flesh part of unripe S. caseolaris in 80% methanol extract exhibited the best antioxidant properties in three different assays (i.e. DPPH, FRAP and ABTS) with the values of 98.32±0.28%, 67.72±0.74 mmol/g and 91.24±1.23 mg/g, respectively. The acetylcholinesterase inhibition also was found to be higher in the flesh part of unripe 80% methanol S. caseolaris extract with 47.18±0.68% at the concentration of 250 µg/mL. Therefore, utilization of this fruit as natural antioxidant and acetylcholinesterase inhibition sources may develop new pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products

Preparation and characterization of PMMA-AgNPs polymer composite as a dental prosthesis

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been used for centuries in the field of medicine due to the antimicrobial properties. AgNPs has been synthesized and incorporated in different aspects of biomaterials. It is reported that AgNPs as a result of its small size, it provides sufficient antimicrobial effect at lower filler level, thus can be used in dentistry for prevention and reduction of biofilm formation on a surfaces of dental prosthesis. The purpose of this study is to develop AgNPs antimicrobial acrylic resin for dental prosthesis. The effect of AgNPs incorporated into acrylic resin poly methyl methacrylate (PMMA) on the bacterial biofilm was studied in terms of bacterial growth and the incorporating effect on the thermal stability of these polymeric biocides was evaluated. Silver nanoparticles in colloidal form was added to PMMA(ONDA-CRYL) using microwave and make four dental prosthesis at the different concentration. The specimens were delivered to the four toothless patients for 21 days. The formed biofilm was tested for microbiological study (taxonomic profile). After setting, the specimens were characterized to determine the spatial distribution of AgNPs on the PMMA matrix through scanning electron microscope and the thermal stability was examined using TGA and DSC. The modified PMMA prosthesis base containing AgNPs, which exhibited good in vivo antimicrobial properties without altering their thermal properties of degradation as well as their mechanical properties and minimize the maximum infectious signs by reducing the formation of microbial biofilm forming on the surfaces of dental prostheses. As the modification of PMMA with AgNPs improved the anti-biofilm properties without altering its mechanical and thermals properties to the degradation, it could be used as a dental prosthesis

An update on the ornamental fish industry in Malaysia: Aeromonas hydrophila-associated disease and its treatment control

Malaysia is the world’s major producer and exporter of ornamental fish, contributing 9% to the global trade and taking the second position after Singapore. Because of their artistic appeal and tremendous commercial value for international trade, ornamental fish recently gain rapid importance for foreign exchange and as a source of employment. While ornamental fish production is growing, there is an increase in infectious diseases, resulting in high fish mortality with significant economic loss. Bacterial disease is a serious problem for ornamental fish industry. Bacterial species surveillance in diseased freshwater ornamental fish from an aquarium shop reveals that Aeromonas hydrophila is the most dominant bacteria isolated. Consequently, Malaysia is stepping up its efforts by implementing the Economic Transformation Program and other biosecurity steps to address the aquaculture issues and encourage the regrowth of the ornamental fish market. Chemotherapeutic medications, phytobiotics, probiotics, yeast extracts, vaccines, and disinfectants can be used in controlling bacteria. Further studies should be done to find new antibacterial agents from natural sources to combat bacterial fish diseases and reduce fish mortality rate in sustainable aquaculture farms. This review summarizes the literature on ornamental fish industries and aquaculture production in relation to A. hydrophila-associated diseases and ornamental fish health management in Malaysia

Ethnomedical Knowledge of Plants Used for the Treatment of Tuberculosis in Johor, Malaysia

This study documented ethnomedical knowledge of plants used for the treatment of tuberculosis (TB) and its related symptoms as practiced by the Jakun community of Kampung Peta, situated in Endau Rompin Johor National Park, Johor, Malaysia. Eight key informants were selected by snowball sampling technique and data about medicinal plants were collected by semistructured interviews, participatory observations, and focus group. Qualitative analysis was undertaken using thematic analysis. There were 23 species of plants (22 genera, 20 families) documented and herbarium specimens were deposited at the UTHM Herbarium. Dipterocarpus sublamellatus was recorded for the first time with ethnomedical uses while other species were previously reported. The qualitative approach employed in this study demonstrates the emic perspective in terms of perceptions on traditional herbal medicine, transfer of knowledge, significant taboos related with medicinal plants, and their conservation efforts. Local and biomedical terminology in treatment of TB showed substantial correspondence. The outcomes obtained in the study are worth being further investigated for conservation strategies and are worthy of verifying their ethnomedical claims scientifically