Toxic Effects Of Signal Grass (Brachiaria Decumbens) On Drug- Metabolizing Enzyme Activities In Sheep

Signal grass (Brachiaria decumbens) is widely grown on livestock farms in many countries including Malaysia due to its high productivity and nutritive value. Unfortunately, it is toxic to sheep and goats causing a severe hepatic and renal damage, and death. Two experiments were conducted to determine the effect of the toxicity of signal grass (B. decumbens) on the activity of drug-metabolizing enzymes (DME) in sheep and cattle. It was hypothesized that the activities of selected enzymes would be affected during intoxication and that differences in the activity level of the enzymes in the two species might explain why cattle were safe from the toxic effect of the grass. Twenty-three healthy Wiltshire-Malin crossed rams, aged 1 4- 1 6 months were used, fifteen for the first experiment and eight for the later. In the first experiment, aniline 4-hydroxylase (A4H), aminopyrine N-demethylase (AND), UDP-glucuronyl transferase (UDPGT), glutathione S-transferase (GST) and cytochrome P450 of the liver and kidney of the control and intoxicated sheep wer

[Shariah Research in The Framework of Globalization: An Overview] Penyelidikan Syariah Dalam Kerangka Globalisasi: Satu Tinjauan

The community's demand for answer of hukm increasingly unique and diverse as a direct impact from the realities of life without boundaries specifically refer to globalization. As a result, a number of new issues of hukm have not been discussed in detail by classical Muslim scholars before. This dynamism of science and technology affects the change of hukm and the accuracy of the hukm and encourages more effective research. To form the foundation of the concept and the theory of this study, reference has been made to literary materials in library savings, important and official documents such as minutes of meetings, research reports, statistics, official documents of the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia and Mufti departments. Additionally, data was also obtained through face-to-face interviews and full participation observations in a meeting of a Sharia Technical Committee (fatwa). Additionally, data was also obtained through face-to-face interviews and full participation observations in a meeting of a Sharia Technical Committee (fatwa). The conclusion, the global and flexible nature of Sharia research can be seen the three factors in the Sharia research itself which simultaneously mutually reinforcing each other. Those three elements, the Idealisme of Islam is absolute and universal, the reality of society always changing and varied and the evolution of understanding and thinking of Muslim scholars. Sharia researchers need to be sensitive to changes in human life and their environment, especially socio-cultural change and thought was effect by globalization. Tuntutan masyarakat terhadap jawapan hukum semakin unik dan pelbagai kesan langsung daripada realiti kehidupan tanpa sempadan merujuk khusus kepada globalisasi. Hasilnya, lahir beberapa isu hukum baru yang dahulunya tidak dibincangkan secara terperinci oleh sarjana hukum Islam klasik. Dinamisme sains dan teknologi ini memberi kesan terhadap perubahan hukum Islam dan ketepatan hukum serta mendorong penyelidikan yang lebih efektif. Bagi membentuk landasan konsep dan teori kajian ini, maka rujukan telah dibuat terhadap bahan-bahan literatur dalam simpanan perpustakaan, dokumen penting dan rasmi seperti minit mesyuarat, laporan penyelidikan, statistik, dokumen rasmi Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia dan jabatan-jabatan Mufti. Di samping, data turut diperoleh melalui temu bual secara bersemuka dan observasi penyertaan penuh dalam mesyuarat jawatankuasa teknikal syariah (fatwa). Kesimpulannya sifat global dan fleksibel dalam penyelidikan syariah dapat dilihat pada ketiga-tiga faktor dalam penyelidikan Syariah itu sendiri yang secara serentak saling memperkukuhkan antara satu sama lain. Ketiga-tiga unsur tersebut ialah idealisme Islam yang mutlak dan universal, realiti masyarakat yang sentiasa berubah dan berbeza-beza dan seterusnya kefahaman serta pemikiran fuqaha yang juga berevolusi. Para penyelidik Syariah perlu sensitif terhadap perubahan hidup manusia dan persekitarannya terutama perubahan sosio budaya dan pemikiran yang berlaku akibat globalisasi

Assessing the construct validity and reliability of ‘twenty-five identified potential BIM uses (25_PoBU)’ in construction industry in Malaysia

Nowadays, the AEC community is preparing for a wholesale adoption of BIM. Therefore, it is now becoming increasingly important for public and private owners to engage with BIM initiatives and provide more comprehensive direction and guidance to their project teams about the use of BIM. In light of these, there is a need for validated questionnaire on the potential BIM uses in the construction industry. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to examine the overall fit statistics of the 'Twenty-Five Identified Potential BIM Uses (25_PoBU) across the Project Lifecycle' using the Rasch Measurement Model. This paper is approached from the perspective of clients? organisations. A 25-item questionnaire was used to collect data from 175 respondents. The findings of this research showed that the 25_PoBU instrument satisfactorily met the fit statistics

Possible participation of protein kinase C and cyclic guanosine monophosphate pathway in antinociception of ethanol extract of Ficus deltoidea var angustifolia leaves in mice

This study was conducted to evaluate the involvement of protein kinase C (PKC) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) pathway in the antinociception of ethanol extract of F. deltoidea (EEFD) leaves. To evaluate the involvement of PKC, the mice were treated with EEFD or acetylsalicylic acid (ASA, 100 mg/kg) 30 minutes before receiving phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA, 0.03μg/paw) intraplantarly at the right hind paw. The mice were observed to record the licking and biting the injected paw. To estimate the involvement of cGMP, the mice were divided into four groups (n = 7). Two groups were pre-treated with methylene blue (20 mg/kg) and after 20 minutes, they were given EEFD or vehicle. Another two groups were pre-treated with vehicle 20 minutes before EEFD or vehicle administration. After 30 minutes, induced with 0.6% acetic acid and the number of abdominal writhing was recorded. EEFD produced significant effect of inhibition of abdominal writhing in dose dependent manner. Similarly, administration of EEFD at the similar doses resulted in significantly reduced in nociception induced by intraplantar injection of PMA as it showed reduction in paw licking time. The pre-treatment with methylene blue significantly enhanced the anticoceptive activity of EEFD.The present results suggested that PKC and cGMP pathway possibly inactivated in the antinociceptive action exerted by EEFD

Effect of Phenobarbitone Treatment Against Signal Grass (Brachiaria decumbens) Toxicity in Sheep

The effect of phenobarbitone against signal grass (Brachiaria decumbens) toxicity was studied in 26 male crossbred sheep. Grazing on signal grass significantly decreased the concentration of cytochrome P-450 and the activity of drug metabolizing enzymes, viz. aminopyrine-N-demethylase, aniline-4-hydroxylase, UDP- glucuronyltransferase and glutathione-S-transferase in liver and kidneys of affected sheep. Oral administration of phenobarbitone (30 mg/kg body weight) for five consecutive days before grazing on B. decumbens pasture, and thereafter, for three consecutive days every two weeks, resulted in significant increases in hepatic and renal activities of drug-metabolizing enzymes. The induction of drug metabolizing activity in sheep grazing on signal grass group was found to be lower than in animals given phenobarbitone alone. Induction by phenobarbitone provided a degree of protection against the toxic effects of B. decumbens as indicated by the delay in the appearance of signs of toxicity. Furthermore, these were much milder compared to those in the sheep not treated with phenobarbitone. The present study suggests that phenobarbitone-type cytochrome P-450 isoenzyme-induction may increase resistance against signal grass (B. decumbens) toxicity in sheep

In vitro antiproliferative and antioxidant activities of the extracts of Muntingia calabura leaves.

The in vitro antiproliferative and antioxidant activities of the aqueous, chloroform and methanol extracts of Muntingia calabura leaves were determined in the present study. Assessed using the 3,(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) (MTT) assay, the aqueous and methanol extracts of M. calabura inhibited the proliferation of MCF-7, HeLa, HT-29, HL-60 and K-562 cancer cells while the chloroform extract only inhibited the proliferation of MCF-7, HeLa, HL-60 and K-562 cancer cells. Interestingly, all extracts of M. calabura, which failed to inhibit the MDA-MB-231 cells proliferation, did not inhibit the proliferation of 3T3 (normal) cells, indicating its safety. All extracts (20, 100 and 500 μg/ml) were found to possess antioxidant activity when tested using the DPPH radical scavenging and superoxide scavenging assays with the methanol, followed by the aqueous and chloroform, extract exhibiting the highest antioxidant activity in both assays. The total phenolic content for the aqueous, methanol and chloroform extracts were 2970.4 ± 6.6, 1279.9 ± 6.1 and 2978.1 ± 4.3 mg/100 g gallic acid, respectively. In conclusion, the M. calabura leaves possess potential antiproliferative and antioxidant activities that could be attributed to its high content of phenolic compounds, and thus, needs to be further explored

Antihypercholesterolemia property and fatty acid composition of MARDI-produced virgin coconut oils

Virgin coconut oil (VCO), or in Malays known as ‘minyak kelapa dara’, has gain a lot of attention recently due to various medicinal values. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of feeding two types of VCOs, VCOA (produced via a standard drying method) or VCOB (prepared via fermentation process), that were produced by Malaysia Agriculture Research and Development Institute (MARDI) in lowering the plasma lipid parameter in rabbits. Nine groups of New Zealand White male rabbits (n = 6/group) were used in this study. Group 1 and 2 animals were treated with 0.9% normal saline, but fed either with a normal or cholesterol-added diet (negative control), respectively. Group 3 - 5 and 6 - 8 were given orally with the different volume (0.5, 1.0 and 2.5 ml/kg/day) of VCOA or VCOB followed by the cholesterol-added diet. Group 9 were treated with 5 mg/kg Atorvastatin and fed a cholesterol-added diet. All groups were treated for 8 weeks and blood samples were taken from the marginal ear vein prior to treatment (day 0), weeks 4 and 8 for the analysis of plasma. The rabbits fed with different volume of VCOs showed significant (P < 0.05) reduction in plasma cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels compared to the control group in weeks 4 and 8. The triglycerides level increased significantly (P < 0.05) on week 4 before reduced on week 8, to a level that is still significant when compared to week 0. The HDL level also increased significantly (P < 0.05) on weeks 4 and 8 after treatment. Fatty acid analysis revealed the presence of all important fatty acids. Both VCOs showed insignificant effect on all parameters measured when compared together. In conclusion, the MARDI-produced VCOs appeared to possess great potentials as antihypercholesterolemic agent that required further in-depth study

Implikasi isu-isu sains dan teknologi dalam pembangunan penyelidikan fatwa kontemporari

Issues of science and technology affect changes in hukm and require research on hukm is made more effective and systematic.Therefore, the most important contemporary ijtihad, referring to research methodology fatwa in response to new legal issues that arise in specific community issues related to science and technology. Discussion of this article refers to the theory of Islamic law, that every law that is built based on ijtihad were no clear text (Qat'i) can change based on changes in time, place and circumstance, intention and traditions ( 'urf).This article will focus on aspects of contemporary ijtihad methodological approach in research fatwa and significance.Society expects answers thoroughly and appropriate legal and in line with current developments.The need for ijtihad contemporary Islamic societies today are at the stage of an emergency, failure to meet this requirement also indirectly negatively affect the development of the law in line with the development of science and technology

Penyelidikan Syariah Dalam Kerangka Globalisasi: Satu Tinjauan

Tuntutan masyarakat terhadap jawapan hukum semakin unik dan pelbagai kesan langsung daripada realiti kehidupan tanpa sempadan merujuk khusus kepada globalisasi. Hasilnya, lahir beberapa isu hukum baru yang dahulunya tidak dibincangkan secara terperinci oleh sarjana hukum Islam klasik. Dinamisme sains dan teknologi ini memberi kesan terhadap perubahan hukum Islam dan ketepatan hukum serta mendorong penyelidikan yang lebih efektif. Bagi membentuk landasan konsep dan teori kajian ini, maka rujukan telah dibuat terhadap bahan-bahan literatur dalam simpanan perpustakaan, dokumen penting dan rasmi seperti minit mesyuarat, laporan penyelidikan, statistik, dokumen rasmi Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia dan jabatan-jabatan Mufti. Di samping, data turut diperoleh melalui temu bual secara bersemuka dan observasi penyertaan penuh dalam mesyuarat jawatankuasa teknikal syariah (fatwa). Kesimpulannya sifat global dan fleksibel dalam penyelidikan syariah dapat dilihat pada ketiga-tiga faktor dalam penyelidikan Syariah itu sendiri yang secara serentak saling memperkukuhkan antara satu sama lain. Ketiga-tiga unsur tersebut ialah idealisme Islam yang mutlak dan universal, realiti masyarakat yang sentiasa berubah dan berbeza-beza dan seterusnya kefahaman serta pemikiran fuqaha yang juga berevolusi. Para penyelidik Syariah perlu sensitif terhadap perubahan hidup manusia dan persekitarannya terutama perubahan sosio budaya dan pemikiran yang berlaku akibat globalisasi