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Impact of Endophytic and Rhizospheric Fungi on The Growth and Specialised Metabolite Production of Phyllanthus niruri L.
Get PDFMedicinal plants are rich sources of specialised metabolites, crucial for various fields like agriculture, forestry, food processing, biofuels and environmental remediation. Microbes, particularly endophytic and rhizospheric fungi, play a significant role in optimising the production and regulation of these compounds. Several research showed these fungi in various plants, but they have not been thoroughly studied in Phyllanthus niruri, especially to promote growth and elicit lignan compounds like phyllanthin in P. niruri. A total of 131 fungi, consist of 57 rhizospheric fungi and 74 endophytic fungi, were successfully isolated from P. niruri in six different lowland areas in West Java. The potency assay results indicated that 106 fungi could produce indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). Six fungi could synthesise cellulase, and one fungus had the capability to solubilise phosphate. Our results showed that Fusarium sp., Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Colletotrichum tenuissimum, Colletotrichum fructicola, Pseudallescheria boydii, Aspergillus aculeatus, Myrothecium inundatum, Colletotrichum truncatum can synthesise IAA. Fusarium sp. and Myrothecium inundatum could synthesise cellulase and only Aspergillus aculeatus have activity as phosphate solubilisation.Cocultivation of P. niruri and eight endophytic and rhizospheric fungi showed that Fusarium sp., C. gloeosporioides, P. boydii, A. aculeatus and M. inundatum had the potential traits to increase biomass, phyllanthin levels and phyllanthin yield. In general, these fungi have the potency to be elicitors to enhance phyllanthin in P. niruri
Skeletochronology, Body Growth and Effectiveness of Growth Marks to Estimate the Ages of Sumatran Water Monitor Lizards (Varanus salvator macromaculatus)
Get PDFDemand for water monitor lizards (Varanus salvator macromaculatus) from Sumatra and Kalimantan for the leather industry is the highest compared to varanid species from Java (V. s. bivittatus) or Sulawesi (V. s. ziegleri). No conclusive evidence on the age estimate of the individuals being harvested. The skeletochronology method was used to estimate harvested Sumatran water monitors’ age and body growth using fibular bones. The mid-diaphysis fibula bone cross-sections of 81 individuals (39 females and 42 males) showed that the line of arrested growth (LAG) was not always clearly visible. Periosteal bones in individuals with SVLs of 39.0 cm to 70.0 cm showed double and multiple LAGs and only a few individuals had apparent LAG. As the SVL increases, the double and multiple LAGs are not seen in individuals with more than 70 cm SVL. The estimated ages of harvested individuals of female V. s. macromaculatus with SVLs ranging from 40.1 cm to 71.0 cm were 2-3 years old, whilst for male with SVLs ranging between 39.0 cm to 96.0 cm, were 2-5 years old. A strong correlation between the SVL and fibular mid-diaphysis diameter was observed in both sexes. This indicates that the formation of LAGs occurs steadily every year, although LAGs are not always clearly visible in every individual, especially in young ones
Biological and Chemical Co-surfactant for Fabrication of Antibacterial Silver Nanoparticles and Potential Application in Agriculture
Get PDFSilver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been widely applied as antimicrobial materials. In this work, a new fabrication method of AgNPs has been proposed through a combination of tea seed saponin extraction as a non-ionic biological surfactant and cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC) as a co-surfactant. The morphology and optical properties of as-prepared AgNPs were analysed by SEM and UV-vis absorbance measurement, respectively. The results indicate that AgNPs obtained high homogeneous particle sizes with a mean diameter of 44.5 ± 3.8 nm. The optical property of AgNPs was exhibited through a UV-vis absorbance spectrum of ~420 nm. In addition, the antibacterial behaviour of E. coli (ATCC 25922) was increased according to the AgNPs concentration. The diameter of inhibition zones was 12 mm, 14 mm and 16 mm under AgNPs concentrations of 0.8 ppm, 8 ppm and 80 ppm, respectively. Our initial trial treatment of AgNPs in young broccoli (Brassica oleracea) exhibited promising potential for plant protection in agricultural applications
Characterisation and Phylogenetic Analysis of the Complete Plastid Genome of Physalis minima L. from Malaysia
Get PDFPhysalis minima L. is an herbaceous plant with ethnobotanic importance across many Asian cultures. In this study, we sequenced and assembled the plastid genome (plastome) of a P. minima sample from Malaysia, and conducted intraspecific pairwise and phylogenetic analyses with available data of its relatives. Our sample had a plastome of 156,973 bp in size with a GC content of 37.5%. The genome was circular, consisting of a large single-copy of 87,196 bp, a small single-copy of 18,447 bp, and a pair of inverted repeats of 25,665 bp each. A total of 129 genes were annotated, including 84 CDSs, 37 tRNAs, and eight rRNAs. Between the China and Malaysia accession, 458 variable sites were identified, and the pairwise distance was 0.003. Phylogenetic analysis was conducted using the complete plastome sequence based on the maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference methods. The findings revealed that our sample was significantly differentiated from the accession from China, and that both P. minima accessions clustered away from P. angulata, the synonym suggested by certain taxonomic authorities. This study facilitates precise taxonomic identification of P. minima within ethnomedicinal frameworks, enabling its distinction from closely related or putatively synonymous species that may exhibit divergent phytochemical compositions. These results provide important insights into the genetic diversity and taxonomic status of P. minima, and support its informed use in future research, conservation and medicinal applications
Morpho-Physiological Responses of Selected Vegetables in Hydroponic and Soil-Based Systems Under Climatic Stress
Get PDFAn extreme climatic change due to anthropogenic activities causes disruptions in ecosystems and threatens the planet’s overall balance. Hydroponic is smart and sustainable agriculture practice that aims to produce two times more yield than traditional practices. To investigate the efficiency of hydroponics technique, the morpho-physiological responses of selected vegetable species were analysed. Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), Eggplant (Solanum melongena), Lettuce (Lactuca sativa), Green Chili (Capsicum annuum) and Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) were selected for the experiment. Soil nutrients analysis and hydroponics nutrients uptake analysis were also carried out side by side using UV-Visible Spectroscopy, Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy and Titration method. In hydroponic water analysis, it was found that 42% of supplied Cl- had been taken up by the plants whereas 79% of all supplied Zinc and Iron had been taken up by the plants. The uptake percentages of other anions and cations ranged between 45% to 62%. Morpho-physiological responses of Lettuce and Tomato in soil-based and hydroponic experiments were almost similar. Whereas, hydroponically grown Okra, Green Chili and Eggplant showed maximum height, roots length, number of leaves and weight. Overall findings showed that hydroponic system was more efficient in terms of crops yield, water usage and environmental contamination. Thus, it is recommended to increase the duration of experiment in future to further verify the climatic change effects
Length-Weight Relationship, Size Distribution, and Sexual Maturity of Climbing perch, Anabas testudineus (Bloch, 1792) From Different Habitats in Malaysia (Early view)
Get PDFThe growth and reproductive performance of fish are influenced by ecological factors. This study investigated the biology of climbing perch, Anabas testudineus, in relation to habitat. A total of 2,880 climbing perch were collected from three habitats (irrigation canal, swamp, and paddy field) in Peninsular Malaysia during the dry and rainy seasons, and their biometric measurements (total length and body weight) and sexual maturity indices were measured. Two-Way Classification Analysis (TCA) revealed significant sexual dimorphism in all morphometric parameters, significant habitat effects on fish size, and pronounced seasonal variation in environmental parameters, while condition factor and seasonal effects on morphometrics were not significant. Results showed that body size was largest in fish from irrigation canals during the rainy season, with males averaging 12.84 ± 1.17 cm in total length (32.38 ± 4.4 g body weight) and females averaging 13.70 ± 1.83 cm (52.84 ± 12.54 g), consistent with the upper size range reported for this species. Fish from irrigation canals also exhibited more advanced gonadal development, confirmed by higher gonadosomatic indices (GSI) and histological evidence of vitellogenic oocytes in females and spermatozoa-filled seminiferous lobules in males. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) indicated that larger body sizes and advanced gonadal development were associated with higher dissolved oxygen and pH, whereas smaller sizes correlated with elevated water temperature. This study highlights the critical roles of sex, habitat quality, and seasonal variation in shaping the growth and reproductive traits of wild climbing perch populations and provides evidence-based insights for fisheries management in tropical freshwater ecosystems
Genetic Polymorphisms Associated with Obesity in Southeast Asian Populations: A Systematic Review without Meta-Analysis
Get PDFObesity is a growing global public health challenge, with genetic factors playing a crucial role in its development. This review synthesises findings from Southeast Asian studies to investigate the association between gene polymorphisms and obesity risk across various ethnic populations. A comprehensive search of three databases, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, initially retrieved 2,021 articles, from which 25 studies were meticulously selected based on stringent inclusion and exclusion criteria. The quality of the studies was assessed through the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS), a risk bias tool. These studies encompass 8,312 participants and examined 33 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). UCP polymorphism demonstrated a significant association with overall adiposity (OR = 2.02, P = 0.01) in Malaysian women, while the rs659366 UCP2 was linked to weight gain in an Indonesian cohort. LEP variants were not significantly associated with obesity in Malaysians, and FTO variants showed mixed results, with rs9939609 (OR = 3.72, P = 0.009) and rs1421085 (OR = 3.22, P < 0.001) variants being associated with obesity and higher body mass index (BMI) in Indonesians, but no significant findings in Malaysians. These results emphasise the genetic diversity within Southeast Asia and the challenges in replicating genetic associations across populations. To address these inconsistencies and improve our understanding of obesity in Southeast Asia, there is a pressing need for more extensive and diverse cohort studies, complemented by comprehensive genome-wide association studies (GWAS), to identify robust obesity biomarkers in Southeast Asia
Clinical Outcome of Epilepsy Surgery of The Temporal Lobe in Paediatric Group: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Get PDFBackground: This study was to identify seizure outcome following epilepsy surgery in paediatric group using Engel classification. We also identified histological and radiological findings of the study population.
Methods: This study was a retrospective cohort study over a period of eight years from 1 January 2012 until 1 July 2019. Engel Outcome Classification was used to identify seizure outcome at immediate, three to six months and one year post-operation. Age, sex, age of seizure onset, age of operation, body weight, number of antiepileptic medications pre and post-operation, duration of stay in intensive care unit (ICU) and ward, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and histopathological findings and complications were noted. Analytically, Fisher’s exact test was used for categorical data. Wilcoxon Signed Rank test was used for continuous but not normally distributed data. In this study, Univariate logistic regression is used to understand whether Engel Classification I can be predicted from categorical variables and numerical variables. A set P-value of < 0.05 was considered of statistical significant.
Results: 29 paediatric patients met study criteria. The mean time between seizure onset and surgery was 5.6 years. Non-invasive evaluation was used in all 29 patients during preoperative assessment. With the use of the Engel Outcome Classification, Engel I outcome or seizure free was achieved in 28 patients (96.6%) at immediate follow-up, 24 patients (82.8%) at three to six months follow-up and 24 (82.8%) at one year follow-up. Hippocampal Sclerosis was present in 13 patients (44.8%). Tumours were present in 16 patients (55.2%). The complication proportion was 14.4%. Only two patients (6.9%) underwent reoperations. There are significant changes in post operative Anti Epileptic Medications (AEDs) reduction in this study (P = 0.006). Possible risk factor of seizure was suggestive for less recurrence of seizure, which may become a predictor to achieve Engel I classification in this study (P = 0.052).
Conclusion: The surgery outcome of epilepsy surgery of the temporal lobe in paediatric group was comparable in this study. Careful patient selection by multidisciplinary evaluations is mandatory
Neurodevelopment and Gross Motor Function Outcomes in Children at Risk or Diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy using Snoezelen Multisensory Room
Get PDFBackground: The Snoezelen multisensory room is an internationally recognised intervention designed to provide sensory stimulation that promotes developmental progress in children. This study aimed to evaluate neurodevelopmental and gross motor outcomes in children at risk of, or diagnosed with, cerebral palsy and who received neurodevelopmental therapy in the Snoezelen multisensory room at Hospital Pakar Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kelantan.
Methods: Twenty-six patients aged three to 24 months, either at risk of or diagnosed with cerebral palsy, were recruited. However, only 20 patients completed the study. All participants underwent neurodevelopmental therapy in the Snoezelen multisensory room for 12 weeks. Demographic and clinical characteristics were recorded. Neurodevelopment was assessed using the Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination (HINE), and gross motor function was evaluated using the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM-88) scores. Assessments were performed before therapy and after 12 weeks. Pre- and post-therapy scores were compared using paired t-tests.
Results: HINE scores increased significantly from pre-therapy (mean = 60.70, standard deviation [SD] = 16.19) to post-therapy (mean = 66.75, SD = 18.18; t = –3.211, P = 0.005). GMFM-88 scores also showed significant improvement from pre-therapy (mean = 49.00, SD = 34.34) to post-therapy (mean = 101.95, SD = 55.70; t = –6.116, P < 0.001).
Conclusion: Neurodevelopmental therapy delivered in a Snoezelen multisensory room was associated with significant improvements in neurodevelopmental and gross motor function after 12 weeks among children at risk of cerebral palsy
Understanding Gait, Its Neurophysiologic Control and Systematic Localisation of Gait Abnormalities
Get PDFGait analysis is a crucial diagnostic tool in neurology and rehabilitation, reflecting the intricate coordination between the central and peripheral nervous systems, musculoskeletal structures, and sensory feedback mechanisms. This article integrates the neurophysiological basis of gait, emphasising the role of central pattern generators in the spinal cord and the mesencephalic locomotor region in regulating initiation, speed, and adaptability (1). Gait disorders result from disruptions in various neural structures, including the cerebellum, basal ganglia, motor and sensory pathways, and the peripheral nervous system (2). Functional gait disorders, characterised by inconsistent or exaggerated patterns, require differentiation from organic conditions (3). This article also highlights diagnostic tools, including motion capture systems, electromyography, and wearable sensors, as well as therapeutic interventions, such as physical therapy, pharmacological treatments, and emerging rehabilitative technologies (4)