Anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities of the ethanolic extract of Pluchea indica (L) less leaf

Ethanolic extract of Pluchea indica leaf (PIL) was used to investigate its anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities by using carrageenan - induced oedema model and acetic acid induced writhing test. PIL exhibited significant and dose-dependent anti-inflammatory activity at a dose of 300 mg/kg when administered orally. It is also demonstrated that the i.p administration of PIL at a dose of 10, 30, 100 and 300 mg/kg produced significant inhibition of abdominal constriction induced with 0.6% (v/v) acetic acid in dose dependent manner. These results indicate that PIL exhibits significant anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects

Preliminary toxicological evaluations of Polypeptide-K isolated from Momordica Charantia in laboratory rats.

This study examined the toxicological effects and safety of polypeptide k isolated from the seeds of Momordica charantia in laboratory rats. 30 male Sprague Dawley rats (12 weeks old, bodyweight 180-200 g) were randomly divided into 3 groups (1000 mg/kg, 500 mg and 0 mg/kg). Rats were acclimatized to laboratory conditions for 7 days and at day 8 rats were dosed orally with polypeptide k (in 2% DMSO/normal saline) and the controls received the dosed vehicle only. Rats were then observed for 72 hours before sacrificed. Rats were anaesthetized by pentobarbital (50 mg/kg ip) and 2-3.0 mL of blood was taken by cardiac puncture and rats were scarified by anaesthetic overdose. Immediately, organs (heart, lungs, liver, kidneys) were weigh and taken for histology. Organ sections were then evaluated by a histopathologist. Serum samples were assayed for liver functions (ALT and γ-GT) and kidney functions (BUN and creatinine). All rats showed normal behavior after the dosing and no statistical changes were observed in al blood parameters and organ weight. Histological examinations revealed normal organ structures. In conclusion, dosing of rats up to 1000 mg/kg did not have any effects on the rat behavior, liver or kidney functions nor histology of the selected organs

A Review of Ergonomics towards Productivity

Nowadays often heard saying that ergonomics is one of the important things in improving the productivity of an industry. Ergonomic work culture must be applied in work space because reducing accident, injury, illness and the cost of treating employees and this can increase worker productivity thus give profit to the organization. Environmental ergonomics includes several factors such as lighting, thermal comfort, vibration, emotional and psychological needs of an individual. Psychological and physiological problems would increase stress levels and in turn affect the productivity of the organization. When employees feel stress and keep repeating the current situation they do the job, the potential of facing accident is high. In this research paper described ergonomic functions in the organization and also the relationship between ergonomics and productivity within an organization, At conclusion of the study the principles of ergonomics should be adopted and implemented by all sectors, especially in the industrial sector, to ensure that employees work safer, more comfortable, and healthier and productivity increased. It also can give a good impression, where employees work more efficiently in their workplace

Supplier-retailer relational satisfaction in the chicken industry: rhetoric or reality

The purpose of this study is to determine the factors that influence the relational satisfaction between chicken retailers and chicken suppliers in Terengganu. In this study, relational satisfaction as the dependent variable and six independent variables, namely trust, commitment, service quality, personal, organization and the business environment. The independent variable in this research is divided into two components which are labelled as intangible factors and tangible factors. The result discovered that the correlation analysis, all six independent variables are positively and significantly correlated to the dependent variable. The regression analysis revealed that only the intangible variables have a significant and positive relationship with the dependent variable. Moreover, the trust factor is the most influencing factor among the retailers followed by service quality and commitment.Keywords: relational satisfaction; trust; service quality; chicken retailers; supplier

Comparison of conjugated linoleic acid and other fatty acid content of milk fat of mafriwal and jersey cows.

Special attention has been given to the milk Fatty Acids (FA) that have a beneficial effect for human health such as mono and poly unsaturated fatty acids in particularly the Conjugated Linoleic Acids (CLA). This study was undertaken to investigate the milk fat contents of CLA variables (CLA and CLA-desaturase index) and other FA composition of Mafriwal and Jersey cows under same feeding system. In addition, the relationship between these two CLA variables with milk production and milk fat percent was determined. All the cows were grazed on pasture and given 5.5 kg of concentrate per head daily. Milk FA composition was determined using gas chromatography after extraction of milk fat using modified Folch's method. The results showed a significant variation (p<0.05) in the FA contents of the two breeds. The cis-9, trans-II CLA and CLA-desaturase index in milk fat of Mafriwal were significantly higher (p<0.05) than that of Jersey cows. Mafriwal cows produced significantly (p<0.05) higher concentrations of C18:0, C18:1cis-9, C18:3 and C20:1 than that of Jersey, while Jersey cows produced significantly (p<0.05) higher concentrations of C12:0 and C14:0 than Mafriwal cows. Additionally, significant positive correlations were observed between CLA variables and milk production. This study indicates that the breed of cows has an effect on CLA and other FA composition of milk fat and Mafriwal cows produced significantly higher percentages of CLA than Jersey cows which would provide better benefits for human health. Furthermore, the milk fat content of CLA and CLA-desaturase index were positively related to the milk production

Industrially produced trans fatty acids: major potential sources in Malaysian diet

This study was conducted to determine the major potential sources of industrially produced trans fatty acids (IP-TFAs) in Malaysian diet. Levels of IP-TFAs were initially determined in samples (n = 136) collected from 8 food groups (baked products, snacks, dairy products, breakfast cereals, fast foods, semisolid fats and cooking oils, and fried foods). A survey was carried out to 105 subjects aged 19-59 years old to determine the intake of IP-TFAs using Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ). The IP-TFAs range from 0-5.79% of food, with the highest found in semisolid fats and cooking oils (0.1-5.79%), followed by fast foods (0.04-0.86%), baked products (0.01-0.29%), breakfast cereals (0.06-0.45%), snacks (0.03-0.26%), dairy products (0-0.26%), and fried foods (0.002-0.06%). A Spearman’s Rho rank test showed that there were significant correlations (p < 0.05) between 4 of the food groups (semisolid fats and cooking oils, fast foods, fried foods, and baked products), with the total IP-TFA intakes of subjects. In general, total IP-TFAs intakes of subjects were < 1% of subjects’ diet (0.067%-0.91% of subjects’ total calorie intakes). This indicate that high fat foods (semisolid fats and cooking oils, fast foods, fried foods, and baked products) were the main contributor of IP-TFAs in Malaysian diet, despite the low proportion oftransfatty acids, following their high frequency of daily intake

Gastroprotective activity of Spirulina platensis in acetic acid and ethanol induced ulcers in rats

Objective: The effects of gastroprotective properties of Spirulina platensis was investigated in acetic acid and ethanol induced ulcers in rats. Methods: Administration of 2 and 4mg/kg Spirulina platensis extract for 7 days. After day 7, oral administration of either 80% (v/v) ethanol or 6% (v/v) acetic acid. Control rats received saline or anti-ulcer drug omeprazole (20 mg/kg) prior to ulcer induction. Results: The extract inhibited the mean lesion score of acetic acid, 4.333 to 3.000. Whereas, for ethanol induced ulcers, the extract reduced the lesion scoring from 2.833 to 1.677. However, this activity was statistically less potent than the anti-ulcer drug, omeprazole. Spirulina platensis alone did not induce any ulcers in rats. Conclusions: These results suggested that Spirulina platensis has gastroprotective activity against ulcers induced by acetic acid and ethanol

Pengetahuan, Sikap dengan Partisipasi Pedagang Dalam Pengelolaan Sampah Pasar

Abstract: Knowledge, Attitude with Merchants Participation In The Management of Market Waste. In Banjarbaru city waste volume transported by TPS officers per day about 90 tons / day to TPA. One of the source of waste is the market which is a big problem because most of the market waste is wet garbage. So these waste piles become flies nest, rats, insects.Waste management is also influenced by the participation of merchants that were still lacking awareness to play an active role in the implementation. The purpose of this study is to determine the relations of knowledge, attitude with the participation of merchants in waste management in the Bauntung market Banjarbaru. The type of this research is analytical survey research with Cross Sectional approach. The population in this study is all merchants in the Bauntung market Banjarbaru. The sample is 85 respondents, obtained by proportional sampling method. The research variables consist of independent variables, namely knowledge and attitude while the dependent variable is the participation of merchants in waste management. Data analysis used is univariat and bivariate (using Chi Square with α = 0,05). The result of the research stated that there is no correlation between knowledge level and participation (p-value 0,747> 0,05). There is a correlation between attitudes with participation (p-value 0.00

Development and characterisation study of liposomes-encapsulated piroxicam

The objective of present work was to develop a novel liposomes-based drug delivery system for a lipophilic non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, piroxicam. The system was prepared using proliposomes method and optimised for different preparation parameters including type of proliposomes, concentration of drug, duration of hydration and type of particle size reduction treatment used. All prepared liposomal samples were extensively characterized for their drug-entrapment and size profile using various in-vitro techniques. Present work showed that the most optimum formulation (Pro-lipoTM Duo; 12mg piroxicam per gram Pro-lipoTM; 10 hours hydration time) produced highest amount of actual drug been entrapped in liposomes (800.4 mg/g Pro-lipoTM) with a satisfactory entrapment efficiency of 15.36%. This formulation had also produced liposomal samples with a homogenous (polydispersity index = 0.45) and small particle size (359.95nm). Extrusion technique was found to cause significant reduction in drug-entrapment and size profile of drug-loaded liposomes. A 4-weeks storage study showed that drug-entrapment and size profile of liposomal samples were stable in both refrigerated and room temperature. Electron microscopy revealed that prepared liposomal samples were spherical-shaped and showed concentric lamellae. In conclusion, present work successfully demonstrated a simple, reproducible and practical method of preparation for liposomes-encapsulated piroxicam.Keywords: Proliposomes; Liposomes; Piroxicam; Encapsulation; Particle size; Transmission electron microscop

In vitro cytotoxic and antioxidant properties of the aqueous, chloroform and methanol extracts of Dicranopteris linearis leaves

The in vitro cytotoxic and antioxidant properties of the aqueous, chloroform and methanol extracts of the Dicranopteris linearis leaves were investigated in the present study. The cytotoxic effect was determined against the normal (3T3) and cancer cells’ lines (MCF-7, HeLa, HT-29, HL-60, K-562 and MDA-MB-231) using the 3,(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) (MTT) assay, while the antioxidant activity was assessed using the DPPH radical and superoxide scavenging assays. Based on the results obtained, the aqueous extract was not effective against any of the types of cancer cells studied; the chloroform extract was effective only against MCF-7 and HeLa; and the methanol extract was effective against all the cancer cells used. Interestingly, all extracts failed to produce cytotoxic effect against the 3T3 cells (normal cell) indicating their safety. All extracts (20, 100 and 500 μg/ml) were found to exert antioxidant activity when tested using the DPPH radical and superoxide scavenging assays; with the methanol, followed by the aqueous and chloroform extracts exhibiting the highest antioxidant activity in both assays. The total phenolic content for the aqueous, methanol and chloroform extracts were 3112.1 ± 6.7, 3417.3 ± 4.7 and 1012.7 ± 5.3 mg/100 g gallic acid, respectively. In conclusion, the leaves of D. linearis possess potential cytotoxic activity against various types of cancer cell lines depending on the types of extracts used and antioxidant activity, which need to be further explored.Keywords: Dicranopteris linearis, in vitro anticancer activity, MTT assay, aqueous extract, chloroform extract, methanol extrac