Political Economy of The Budgetary Process in Malaysia

The ruling political party or the ruling government has rights in drafting and implementing economic policies including the budget policy. In the case of Malaysia, as observed, the budget policy is associated with the long or medium term economic development plans that are drafted, current thinking or thought of economic policies and additional measures that would be introduced probably related to major economic events such as the impact of financial or global economic crises. Also the budget includes economic policies according to the ruling party’s manifesto and promises made during the election. Eventhough the budget is the ruling government’s privilege but the government’s financial plan, i.e the allocation and the manner of spending, taxation and borrowing are subject to law, acts, rules and procedures. The ruling government cannot simply utilize economic resources for its political means or interests. This paper argues that there is a solid link between the ruling political party with the preparation of the budget policy. To examine the matter this paper uses the survey method. This paper has found that in the case of Malaysia the Member of Parliaments do influence the outlining of the annual budget

Political Economy of The Budgetary Process in Malaysia

The ruling political party or the ruling government has rights in drafting and implementing economic policies including the budget policy. In the case of Malaysia, as observed, the budget policy is associated with the long or medium term economic development plans that are drafted, current thinking or thought of economic policies and additional measures that would be introduced probably related to major economic events such as the impact of financial or global economic crises. Also the budget includes economic policies according to the ruling party’s manifesto and promises made during the election. Eventhough the budget is the ruling government’s privilege but the government’s financial plan, i.e the allocation and the manner of spending, taxation and borrowing are subject to law, acts, rules and procedures. The ruling government cannot simply utilize economic resources for its political means or interests. This paper argues that there is a solid link between the ruling political party with the preparation of the budget policy. To examine the matter this paper uses the survey method. This paper has found that in the case of Malaysia the Member of Parliaments do influence the outlining of the annual budget

The genome of the Tiger Milk mushroom, Lignosus rhinocerotis, provides insights into the genetic basis of its medicinal properties

BACKGROUND The sclerotium of Lignosus rhinocerotis (Cooke) Ryvarden or Tiger milk mushroom (Polyporales, Basidiomycota) is a valuable folk medicine for indigenous peoples in Southeast Asia. Despite the increasing interest in this ethnobotanical mushroom, very little is known about the molecular and genetic basis of its medicinal and nutraceutical properties. RESULTS The de novo assembled 34.3 Mb L. rhinocerotis genome encodes 10,742 putative genes with 84.30% of them having detectable sequence similarities to others available in public databases. Phylogenetic analysis revealed a close evolutionary relationship of L. rhinocerotis to Ganoderma lucidum, Dichomitus squalens, and Trametes versicolor in the core polyporoid clade. The L. rhinocerotis genome encodes a repertoire of enzymes engaged in carbohydrate and glycoconjugate metabolism, along with cytochrome P450s, putative bioactive proteins (lectins and fungal immunomodulatory proteins) and laccases. Other genes annotated include those encoding key enzymes for secondary metabolite biosynthesis, including those from polyketide, nonribosomal peptide, and triterpenoid pathways. Among them, the L. rhinocerotis genome is particularly enriched with sesquiterpenoid biosynthesis genes. CONCLUSIONS The genome content of L. rhinocerotis provides insights into the genetic basis of its reported medicinal properties as well as serving as a platform to further characterize putative bioactive proteins and secondary metabolite pathway enzymes and as a reference for comparative genomics of polyporoid fungi.This research is supported by High Impact Research Grant UM.C/625/1/HIR/ MoE/E20040-20001 from the University of Malaya/Ministry of Education, Malaysia. H-YYY is supported by the postgraduate research grant (PPP) PV024/ 2012A from University of Malaya, Malaysia. Y-HC is a recipient of Australian Research Council Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (ARC DECRA)

The genome of the Tiger Milk mushroom, Lignosus rhinocerotis, provides insights into the genetic basis of its medicinal properties

BACKGROUND: The sclerotium of Lignosus rhinocerotis (Cooke) Ryvarden or Tiger milk mushroom (Polyporales, Basidiomycota) is a valuable folk medicine for indigenous peoples in Southeast Asia. Despite the increasing interest in this ethnobotanical mushroom, very little is known about the molecular and genetic basis of its medicinal and nutraceutical properties. RESULTS: The de novo assembled 34.3 Mb L. rhinocerotis genome encodes 10,742 putative genes with 84.30% of them having detectable sequence similarities to others available in public databases. Phylogenetic analysis revealed a close evolutionary relationship of L. rhinocerotis to Ganoderma lucidum, Dichomitus squalens, and Trametes versicolor in the core polyporoid clade. The L. rhinocerotis genome encodes a repertoire of enzymes engaged in carbohydrate and glycoconjugate metabolism, along with cytochrome P450s, putative bioactive proteins (lectins and fungal immunomodulatory proteins) and laccases. Other genes annotated include those encoding key enzymes for secondary metabolite biosynthesis, including those from polyketide, nonribosomal peptide, and triterpenoid pathways. Among them, the L. rhinocerotis genome is particularly enriched with sesquiterpenoid biosynthesis genes. CONCLUSIONS: The genome content of L. rhinocerotis provides insights into the genetic basis of its reported medicinal properties as well as serving as a platform to further characterize putative bioactive proteins and secondary metabolite pathway enzymes and as a reference for comparative genomics of polyporoid fungi. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1471-2164-15-635) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

Identifikacija bioaktivnih proteina gljive Ophiocordyceps sinensis i određivanje njihovog antioksidacijskog i citotoksičnog učinka pomoću shotgun analize proteoma

Research background. Ophiocordyceps sinensis, a highly valued medicinal fungus, is close to extinction due to overexploitation. Successful cultivation of O. sinensis fruiting body (OCS02®) shows that the cultivar has a promising nutritional value and numerous bioactive compounds. Antioxidant and antiproliferative properties and biologically active proteins of the OCS02® are investigated for possible development into nutraceuticals. Experimental approach. The chemical composition of the OCS02® cold water extract was determined, and the antioxidant activities were examined using ferric reducing, DPPH• and O2•- scavenging assays. Tetrazolium dye (MTT) cytotoxic assay was performed to assess the antiproliferative activity of the extract. Bioactive proteins in the active fraction of the extract were identified using liquid chromatography (LC) and tandem-mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Results and conclusions. The OCS02® extract exhibited strong O2•- scavenging (expressed as Trolox equivalents (18.4±1.1) mol/g) and potent cytotoxic activities against adenocarcinomic human alveolar basal epithelial (A549) cells (IC50=(58.2±6.8) µg/mL). High molecular mass polysaccharides, proteins and protein-polysaccharide complexes could have contributed to the antioxidant and cytotoxic selectivity of the OCS02®. LC-MS/MS analysis identified several potential cytotoxic proteases and an oxalate decarboxylase protein which may exhibit protection effects on kidneys. Novelty and scientific contribution. The findings demonstrate the potential of OCS02® to be developed into functional food due to its promising superoxide anion radical scavenging capacity, cytotoxic effect and presence of biopharmaceutically active proteins.Pozadina istraživanja. Vrlo cijenjena medicinska gljiva Ophiocordyceps sinensis je na rubu izumiranja zbog njezine prekomjerne eksploatacije. Uspješnim uzgojem plodišta gljive O. sinensis (OCS02®) potvrđeno je da taj kultivar ima obećavajuća hranjiva svojstva te sadržava brojne bioaktivne spojeve. Ispitana su njegova antioksidacijska i antiproliferacijska svojstva te sastav biološki aktivnih proteina, s ciljem mogućeg razvoja nutraceutika. Eksperimentalni pristup. Utvrđen je kemijski sastav ekstrakta gljive u hladnoj vodi, a antioksidacijska je aktivnost ispitana pomoću FRAP metode te metodama uklanjanja DPPH˙ i O2 radikala. Citotoksičnost odnosno antiproliferacijska aktivnost ekstrakta ispitana je testom na osnovi tetrazolija (MTT test). Bioaktivni proteini su identificirani u aktivnoj frakciji ekstrakta pomoću tekućinske kromatografije i tandemske spektrometrije masa. Rezultati i zaključci. Ekstrakt gljive OCS02® imao je izrazito jako svojstvo uklanjanja superoksid radikala (izraženo u ekvivalentima Troloxa (18,4±1,1) mol/g) i snažan citotoksični učinak (IC50=(58,2±6,8) µg/mL) na humane epitelne stanice adenokarcinoma pluća (A549). Moguće je da polisaharidi, proteini i kompleksi proteina s polisaharidima velike molekularne mase pridonose antioksidacijskoj i citotoksičnoj selektivnosti gljive OCS02®. Tekućinskom kromatografijom i tandemskom spektrometrijom masa identificirano je nekoliko potencijalno citotoksičnih proteaza te protein oksalat dekarboksilaza koji bi mogli imati zaštitni učinak na bubrege. Novina i znanstveni doprinos. Dobiveni rezultati pokazuju da se gljiva OCS02® može upotrijebiti u proizvodnji funkcionalne hrane zbog njezine obećavajuće sposobnosti uklanjanja superoksidnih aniona, citotoksičnog učinka te prisutnosti biofarmaceutski aktivnih proteina

Giant oyster mushroom, Pleurotus giganteus (Agaricomycetes): Current status of the cultivation methods, chemical composition, biological, and health-promoting properties

Pleurotus giganteus (Berk.) Karunarathna & Hyde is one of the largest edible mushrooms which can be found either in groups or solitary and in soil and buried woods, but seldom in grassland. It has been recorded in Southeast Asia, Australasia, and China by either its common names or local names. Previously known as Lentinus/Panus giganteus, its unique physical characteristics and the utilization of molecular tools have since anchored its taxonomical position in the Pleurotus genus. A sawdust-based substrate coupled with soil casing method is described as a standard cultivation procedure for P. giganteus. The basidiocarp of P. giganteus is found to be rich in carbohydrates, proteins, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and polysaccharides. Both ethanol and aqueous extracts of P. giganteus have been studied in vitro for its antioxidative, antifungal, anticancer, hepatoprotective, and neurite outgrowth capabilities. The review covers the optimum cultivation methods of P. giganteus, as well as its various biological activities and medicinal properties that have been studied by different approaches. Available data in regards to the chemical compounds present in P. giganteus are also compiled for future references. Overall, both in vitro and in vivo studies have shown significant bioactivity comparable to other recognized Pleurotoid mushrooms

Medicinska gljiva Lignosus rhinocerus svojim imunomodulacijskim učinkom i reguliranjem signalnog puta posredovanog faktorom nekroze tumora uzrokuje apoptozu i zaustavlja stanični ciklus stanica karcinoma usne šupljine ORL-204

Research background. Tiger milk mushroom (Lignosus rhinocerus) is a medicinal mushroom that is geographically distributed in the region of South China, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines and Papua New Guinea. Consumption of its sclerotium has been reported to treat various ailments. However, its anticancer potential towards oral cancer cell lines is yet to be determined considering the traditional method of its consumption by biting/chewing of the sclerotium. Experimental approach. Mushroom sclerotial powder of cultivar TM02® was extracted and fractionated in a chromatographic column prior to cytotoxicity testing against a panel of human oral cancer cell lines. The capability of the identified bioactive fraction in regulating several molecules associated with its tumour necrosis factor (TNF) pathway was investigated. Results and conclusions. 2,5-Diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) proliferation assay indicated that cell lines ORL-48 (derived from gingiva), ORL-188 (derived from the tongue) and ORL-204 (derived from buccal mucosa) were inhibited by cold water extract of L. rhinocerus sclerotia and its high-molecular-mass fraction (HMM) in varying degrees with ORL-204 being most affected. Hence, the treatment of ORL-204 with HMM mushroom extract was further investigated. HMM mushroom extract induced apoptosis and G0/G1 phase cell cycle arrest through caspase-3/7 cleavage. Activities of MIP2 and COX-2 were downregulated by 0.2- and 4.6-fold respectively in the HMM mushroom extract-treated ORL-204 cells. Novelty and scientific contribution. Using ORL-204, we showed that HMM mushroom extract may act via the TNF pathway at various network sites as a potential dietary compound for cancer prevention and natural adjunct therapeutic to conventional cancer treatment.Pozadina istraživanja. Medicinska gljiva Lignosus rhinocerus rasprostranjena je na području južne Kine, Tajlanda, Malezije, Indonezije, Filipina i Papua Nove Gvineje. Sklerocij gljive koristi se za liječenje različitih oboljenja. Međutim, dosad još nije ispitan antikacerogeni učinak sklerocija ove medicinske gljive, koja se tradicionalno konzumira tako da se grize odnosno žvače, na stanice karcinoma usne šupljine. Eksperimentalni pristup. Ekstrakt praha sklerocija kultivara gljive TM02® frakcioniran je pomoću kromatografske kolone, te je zatim ispitan njegov citokosični učinak na različite stanične linije humanih karcinoma usne šupljine. Ispitana je sposobnost bioaktivne frakcije da regulira molekule koje sudjeluju u sintezi faktora nekroze tumora (TNF). Rezultati i zaključci. Ispitivanjem proliferacije stanica pomoću testa redukcije 2,5-difenil-2H-tetrazolijeva bromida (MTT) utvrđeno je da ekstrakt sklerocija L. rhinocerus dobiven hladnom vodom, i to frakcija velike molekulske mase, u različitoj mjeri inhibira rast staničnih linija ORL-48 (izoliranih iz desni), ORL-188 (izoliranih ih jezika), a ponajviše onih linije ORL-204 (izoliranih iz sluznice obraza). Stoga smo dodatno istražili učinak ekstrakta gljive velike molekulske mase na staničnu liniju ORL-204. Ektrakt je potaknuo apoptozu i zaustavio stanični ciklus u fazi G0/G1 cijepanjem kaspaze 3/7. U stanicama ORL-204 tretiranim ekstraktom gljive velike molekulske mase smanjila se aktivnost enzima MIP2 za 0,2 puta, a enzima COX-2 za 4,6 puta. Novina i znanstveni doprinos. Pomoću stanične linije ORL-204 pokazali smo da ekstrakt medicinske gljive velike molekulske mase može djelovati na sintezu faktora nekroze tumora, te se upotrijebiti kao prirodni dodatak prehrani za prevenciju razvoja karcinoma ili kao dodatak konvencionalnom liječenju karcinoma

Mapping patterns of abiotic and biotic stress resilience uncovers conservation gaps and breeding potential of Vigna wild relatives

This study provides insights in patterns of distribution of abiotic and biotic stress resilience across Vigna gene pools to enhance the use and conservation of these genetic resources for legume breeding. Vigna is a pantropical genus with more than 88 taxa including important crops such as V. radiata (mung bean) and V. unguiculata (cowpea). our results show that sources of pest and disease resistance occur in at least 75 percent of the Vigna taxa, which were part of screening assessments, while sources of abiotic stress resilience occur in less than 30 percent of screened taxa. This difference in levels of resilience suggests that Vigna taxa co-evolve with pests and diseases while taxa are more conservative to adapt to climatic changes and salinization. twenty-two Vigna taxa are poorly conserved in genebanks or not at all. this germplasm is not available for legume breeding and requires urgent germplasm collecting before these taxa extirpate on farm and in the wild. Vigna taxa, which tolerate heat and drought stress are rare compared with taxa, which escape these stresses because of short growing seasons or with taxa, which tolerate salinity. We recommend prioritizing these rare Vigna taxa for conservation and screening for combined abiotic and biotic stress resilience resulting from stacked or multifunctional traits. the high presence of salinity tolerance compared with drought stress tolerance, suggests that Vigna taxa are good at developing salt-tolerant traits. Vigna taxa are therefore of high value for legume production in areas that will suffer from salinization under global climate change.publishedVersio