20 research outputs found
Antibacterial and phytochemical investigations of Mikania micrantha H.B.K. (Asteraceae) from Sabah, Malaysia
No full textPrevious study on Mikania micrantha had unveiled its importance as
protein phosphatase-1 (PP1) inhibitor and cytotoxic agent against HL60
cells. The present study was carried out to investigate the antibacterial
properties and to determine the phytochemicals content of M. micrantha.
Crude methanolic extracts from powdered dry samples were partitioned
using liquid-liquid separation technique and further fractionated using
silica gel column chromatography to yield six partitionates and 5 fractions.
All partitionates and fractions were challenged with Gram positive and
Gram negative bacteria and the performances are compared with standard
antibiotics. The results revealed that four partitionates (ME, CE, EAE and
CME) possessed good antibacterial properties. While, fraction F1 from
column chromatography is showing convincing activities towards tested
bacteria. Phytochemical tests of the crude extracts, partitionates and
fractions had detected the presence of tannins, polyphenols, alkaloids,
saponins and triterpenoids. This result supports the potential of this plant
species used as a new chemotherapeutic drug
Chemical and biological profiling of weeds and medicinal plants targeting protein kinase and phosphatases in signal transduction in cancer
No full textA total of 162 methanolic extracts of plant collected from Sabah were studied and screened for novel bioactive compounds against protein kinase and phosphatases involved in signal transduction in cancer. The targeted protein screening systems were kinase (MKK1) and phosphatase (MSG5 and PP1) which using different strain of mutated yeast namely MKK1P386, MKK1P386-MSG5, PAY704-1 and PAY700-4. Screening of crude methanolic extracts showed 13 potential extracts against PP1 protein which classified as inhibitor to GLC7 (UMS71, UMS91 and UMS990); inhibitor sensitive to glc7-10 catalytic domain change (UMS80) and inhibitor insensitive to glc7-10 catalytic domain change (UMS70, UMS108, UMS901, UMS908, UMS963, UMS974, UMS975, UMS984 and UMS993). Meanwhile, about 21 and 26 crude methanolic extracts including UMS643 were found as toxic against MKK1 and MSG5 screening assay, respectively. Four extracts (UMS71, UMS91, UMS108 and UMS643) had been selected to further separate by using liquid-liquid extraction methods and subsequently re-tested against all screening assay. However, only UMS71 and UMS91 showed consistent inhibitions against PP1 screening assay. The potential extracts partitions are Chloroform (CE), Hexane (HE) and Ethyl acetate (EAE) from UMS71 and Chloroform (CE) from UMS91. They were found to be inhibitor insensitive to glc7-10 catalytic domain change with the inhibitory zones ranged between 7.33±1.15mm until 9.5±0.70mm. Thus, both UMS71 (Chromoleana odorata) and UMS91 (Mikania micrantha) had been chromatographed through Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) and Column Chromatography. Each column fraction was screened against PP1 screening assay and the results showed 8 potential fractions from CE of UMS71. Fraction 2 (F2) was classified as inhibitor to GLC7 and exhibited strongest inhibitory zones ranged between 8.00±0.00mm until 15.0±0.0mm. As for UMS91, Fraction 2 (F2) of CE also showed activities during PP1 screening assay. This fraction was classified as inhibitor to GLC-7 with the range between 13.5±0.7mm until 14.0±1.4mm. Phytochemical test had been conducted on UMS71 dan UMS91 extracts whereas both UMS71.CE (Fraction F1-F10) and UMS91.CE (Fraction F1-F5) were scanned through UV/Vis spectroscopy. The presence of alkaloid, flavonoid, tannin, saponin and triterpenoid were observed on both samples. However, only selected fraction (UMS71.CE.F2) which possessed the most consistent and strongest antiphosphatase activities had been analysed for compounds identification by using GC-MS. The analysis revealed the presence of 10 compounds. The dominant phytocomponents in the extract fraction are hexachloro-ethane, n-nonylaldehyde, methyl-4-oxooctanoate, longiverbenone, 2-butenal,2-methyl-4-(2,6,6-trimethyl-1-cyclohexen-1-yl), neophytadiene, phytol, dihydro-neoclovene, aromadendrene and 2,6-ditert-butylquinone. Fraction UMS71.CE.F2 had also chosen to undergo the enzymatic analysis in order to determine the specificity of inhibitions against protein phosphatase type-1 (PP1). Spectrophotometric method was used to assay for the enzyme activity and both maximum enzyme velocity (Vmax) and Michealis- Menten (Km) constants were evaluated and compared for normal and inhibited reactions. The Km and Vm for substrate (DiFMUP) were 0.125mM and 125 while the Km’ and Vm’ at 300μg/μl were 0.60mM and 200.0, respectively. Other biological activities such as in-vitro cytotoxicity and antimicrobial test of UMS71 also had been reported. However, cytotoxicity test was only conducted at CE partitions level were found to exhibits cytotoxic activities against HeLa cervix adenocarcinoma (IC50 value 39.00±1.00μg/ml) cancer cell lines. Meanwhile, antibacterial test carried out for UMS71.CE.F2 showed week inhibitory activities on S. pneumonia (11.67±2.08mm), S. aureus (10.33±0.58mm), P. aeruginosa (10.67±0.58mm), E. coli (8.00±0.00mm) and S. typhii (8.00±0.00mm) when compared to ampicillin as control positive
Penyaringan fitokimia dan aktiviti biologi (ujian anti kulat, GSK-3ß, RAS-RAF dan PP1) terhadap spesis rumpai
No full textKajian ini dijalankan bagi menguji kehadiran fitokimia (flavanoid, gula deoksi dalam
kardium glikosida, tanin dan polifenol) serta aktiviti biologi seperti anti kulat (Candida
albicans dan Candida krusei) dan anti kanser (pPl, GSK-3ß dan Ras-Rat) pada 10 jenis
sampel rumpai yang telah dikmnpulkan disekitar kawasan Membakut dan Sepanggar,
Sabah. Spesis rumpai diuji ialah Axonopus compressus, Lipocarpha chinensis, Chloris
barbata, Imperata cylindrica, Milcania micarantha, Eleusine indica, Mimosa invisa,
Paspalum conjugatum, Pasiflora feotida dan Chrysopogon aciculatus. Kesemua sampel
diekstrak dengan menggunakan kaedah rendaman dalam 100010 (v/v) metanol dengan
nisbah 1:6. Strain yis yang digunakan bagi ujian penyaringan anti kanser adalah PAY704-
1, PAY700-4, H10075 dan H10006. Hasil kajian menunjukkan kesemua sampel yang
diuji tidak berupaya untuk merencatkan pertumbuhan C. albican dan C. krusei. Bagi
ujian perencatan PP1, GSK-3ß dan Ras-Raf pula; hanya sampel M micarantha sahaja
yang berupaya merencatkan PPI. Zon perencatan oleh sampel M micarantha adalah
pada julat 14±0.5 mm hingga 22±0.5 mm bagi strain yis PAY700-4 dan 14±0.5 nun
hingga 18±0.5 nun bagi strain yis PAY704-1. Manakala, tiada zon perencatan didapati
pada ujian penyaringan GSK-3ß dan Ras-Raf. Bagi ujian penyaringan fitokimia pula,
flavanoid serta gula deoksi dalam kardium glikosida didapati hadir pada kesemua sampel
ujian. Walaubagaimanapun, kesemua spesis ujian menunjukkan basil negatif pada ujian
tanin dan polifenol yang telah dijalankan
Difficulties experience by Science Foundation students on basic Mendelian Genetics topic: A preliminary study
No full textThis paper aims to report and identify the difficulties experienced by Science Foundation students in understanding basic Mendelian Genetics based on their ability to solve three types of basic Mendelian Genetics problems. The problems given are; a monohybrid cross and two dihybrid cross cases. Result shown that 52.6% students were able to solve all the given problems while another 47.4 % had difficulties to solve at least one of the given problems. Among the students that had difficulties to solve the given problems, 4.4% students had difficulties to solve Type 1 problem, 13.3% students had difficulties to solve Type 2 problem, 15.6% students had difficulties to solve Type 3 problem, 8.9% students that had difficulties to solve both Type 1 and 3 problems, 40% students had difficulties to solve both dihybrid cross Type 2 and 3 problems, and 17.8% students were unable to solve all the given problems. E(X) or number of questions that the Science Foundation students had difficulties to solve is 0.874. The standard deviation for number of questions that the Science Foundation students had difficulties to solve is 1.842. In solving basic Mendelian Genetics problems, we expected students were able to solve the problems given and also can clarify the techniques used in term of genetic context. The initial finding reported in this study may be used to have a better understanding on students' ability and problem solving skills in learning genetics
Comparison of Antioxidant Activity and Phytochemical Content of Borneo Wild Berry, Rubus fraxinifolius (Rogimot)
No full textRubus fraxinifolius, locally known as Rogimot, is an underutilized edible fruit and grown wildly around Mount Kinabalu, Sabah. Antioxidant activities and phytochemicals content in three different parts (i.e., fruit, stem and leaves) of this plant were analyzed by using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2-2'-Azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline)-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS), as well as ferric reducing/antioxidant power assay (FRAP). Samples were freeze-dried and extracted using 5 different solvents namely dH2O, absolute ethanol, 80% (v/v) ethanol, absolute methanol and 80% (v/v) methanol. The result of antioxidant tests showed that 80% (v/v) methanol crude extract display higher antioxidant value compared to the other solvents extract. Phytochemical analysis from these extracts showed that the TPC and TFC were higher in the leaves at 56.32 ± 0.05 (mg GAE/g) and 31.36 ± 1.05 (mg CE/g), respectively. Meanwhile, TAC and TCC were found higher in the fruit flesh at 22.27±1.28x10-14 (mg C-3-GE/g) and 10.02 ± 0.22 (mg BC/g), respectively. The same trend was found for antioxidant assay, where leaves show highest values as compared to the other plant parts. These finding suggested that the leaves of R. fraxinifolius has a potential to be used as a natural antioxidative for human health
Biological activities of Chromolena odorata (L.) King and Robinson (Asteraceae) collected from Sabah, Malaysia as protein phosphatase type-1 inhibitor
No full textChromolena Odorata has been traditionally used as wound healer in local community. The present study investigated the anti-kinase and anti-phosphatases activities on methanolic C. odorata extract. Mutant yeast strains used are MKK1P386, MKK1P386_MSG5, PAY704-1 and PAY700-4. Bioassay guided fractionation of C. odorata revealed positive activities of hexane, ethyl acetate and chloroform partitions. Column chromatography of all partitionates later confirmed fraction F2 from chloroform extract had most favorable activity with inhibitory zone ranged between 7±0.0 mm until 15±0.0 mm. Kinetic analysis including maximum enzyme velocity (Vm) and Michealis-Menten constant (Km) were evaluated and compared for both normal and inhibited reactions. Enzyme activity with DiFMUP as substrate showed fraction F2 act as PP1 enzyme inhibitor with the Km value 0.60 mM and Vm value 200 mM/min as compared to the normal enzymatic reaction. Results provided unveil the potential of C. odorata as an effective therapeutic agent
Improving Pre-University Students’ Understanding of Basic Plant Tissue Culture Topic through Laboratory Teaching: A Case Study of UMS
No full textLaboratory work is an important component in biology-based courses. In Malaysia, biology courses were offered to students from the upper secondary level to pre-university level. However, practical work and experimentation still not being fully emphasized in teaching and learning session. The objective of this paper is to demonstrate the effectiveness of laboratory teaching for basic plant tissue culture topic at Foundation Science, University Malaysia Sabah. Two hundred fifty-six pre-university science students had participated in this study. Test comprises of two sections (theory and practical) was given to the students before and after lab session. The data was analysed using R statistical software. Paired t-test and Pearson’s correlation coefficient were utilized to make statistical interpretation of the Pre-lab and Post-lab test. The results showed that the average mean value for the Post-lab test was higher, with an increased to four questions answered correctly as compared to Pre-lab test. The results of the paired t-test also significant and there was a high correlation between Pre-lab test and Post-lab test. These findings prove that laboratory teaching did significantly improve the students’ level of understanding after participating in the laboratory session
Ethnobotanical Indices for Traditional Vegetable and Herbal Medicine Species Consumed in Kota Belud, Sabah, Malaysia
No full textThe difference of traditional vegetable species used in two predominantly Sama Bajau villages: Kampung Taun Gusi and Kampung Menunggui, in Kota Belud, Sabah were determined with different strategies. Similarity of listed species between different villages was determined by using Jaccard’s index of similarity and the most useful plants were evaluated using Frequency of Citation (FC). Use Value (UV) was used to determine the citation of plants during semi-structured interviews. A total of 46 species of traditional vegetables from 41 genera and 25 botanical families were listed from two villages. Jaccard’s index of similarity for ulam species between two localities; Kampung Taun Gusi and Kampung Menunggui is revealed at J = 0.348. Meanwhile Jaccard’s index of similarity for species that have been also served as traditional herbal medicine for both villages is revealed at J = 0.111. In average, informants cited 7.67 ± 3.89 vegetable taxa, the highest frequency citation (FC) calculated for Cosmos caudatus, Centella asiatica, Musa paradasiaca, FC= 0.83 for all three species. Meanwhile the FC calculated for Ipomea batatas, Cucumis sativus, Vigna unguiculata, Artocarpus heterophyllus value at 0.67. Use value for C. caudatus and C. asiatica are both recorded at UV = 1.67. Two species from family Fabaceae recorded UV ≥ 1.00; V. unguiculata (1.33) and Abelmoschus esculentus (1.00). Other species that recorded UV ≥ 1.00; C. sativus (1.33) and Capsicum annum (1.00). There was no significance difference (p > 0.05) between genders and knowledge on traditional vegetables. These data could provide the baseline for preservation of traditional knowledge and for bio-prospecting since some selected vegetables that are also used as traditional medicine. These three species, C. caudatus, C. asiatica, and M. paradasiaca, should be given priority in sustainable management of food plant species in Kota Belud
Encouraging STEM interest among high school students in rural area of Sabah: A BOTANIstNJA module integrated with Problem-based Learning case
No full textDue to declining number of students enrolled in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics education (STEM) subjects, the Ministry of Education has introduced STEM packages option for Form 4 students starting January 2020. Nevertheless, it is important to cultivate the learning interest towards STEM subjects starting from the lower form. In this study, an integrated problem-based learning Biology module called BOTANIstNJA was implemented to Form 1 and 2 of a secondary school in a rural area to gauge their interest in learning STEM subject. Total of 79 students participated in this case study related to plants, simple plant specimen activity and early career exposure as a Botanist. Three perspectives: teaching, learning, and communications skills were evaluated through questionnaires and analysed by means of frequency distribution. All students expressed “strongly agree” at 78.5%, 57.0%, and 51.9%, respectively. This result suggests the effectiveness of the integrated problem-based learning module to stimulate students’ interest and shall be continued to encourage them in taking the STEM package
The effects of ketone bodies and ketogenesis on the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway: A systematic review
No full textKetogenesis and the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway are linked to metabolic imbalance and dis- ease progression. While ketone metabolism and mTOR inhibition are mechanistically con- nected, their functional relationship across disease models remains unclear. Although ke- togenesis can be induced by ketone ingestion, ketogenic diet, or fasting, their individual effects on this pathway require further clarification. This study systematically reviews the relationship between ketogenesis and PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling, following PRISMA guide- lines across 3 databases. Eligible studies that met the selection criteria were evaluated usin
