Capsaicin (N-vanillyl-8-methyl-6-(E)-none amide) is a unique and significant compound from group component of capsaicinoids. This component can only be found in the plants from the Capsicum genus. It is the primary source of pungency or spiciness of chilli pepper. Traditionally, capsaicin has been used to alleviate pain. Recently, some studies showed significant therapeutic effects of capsaicin in many diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, cancer and obesity. Determination of the most effective dosage used and underlying working mechanism of capsaicin are still in progress. Currently, capsaicin research, especially in drug interaction and encapsulation technologies, has not been reviewed. We aim to report current experimental evidence of capsaicin research focusing on its pharmacolog- ical properties, interaction with drugs and ways to improve the bioavailability of capsaicin. It is essential to provide a general orientation for further investigation that can discover more potency of capsaicin usage as a medicinal supplement to treat various diseases.
Hypoglycaemic and antihyperglycemic activity of oil palm Elaeis guineensis fruit extract on normal and Streptozotocininduced
diabetic rats was studied. The oil palm fruit extract (OPF) were administered orally at different concentrations (100,
200 and 500 mg kg-1 b.w.) in fasting and post-prandial rats. Hypoglycaemia was not observed in the group of normal rats
treated with OPF. In fasting rats, OPF (500 mg kg-1 b.w.) has caused the blood glucose level (BGL) to reduce significantly.
For post-prandial diabetic rats, the antihyperglycemic activity was observed after OPF treatment at concentrations 200
and 500 mg kg-1. Chronic OPF treatments (for 28 days) had increased the diabetic rat’s body weight and reduced BGL as
well as improved plasma insulin secretion. The result of this study suggests E. guineensis palm fruit extract show evidence
of antihyperglycemic properties from the reduction of the BGL in diabetic rats.
Ficus deltoidea or Mas cotek is one of the common medicinal plants used in Malaysia has been claimed to have antidiabetic activity. However, scientific evidence to confirm its efficacy is still lacking. Thus, the present study was undertaken to evaluate the potential of ethanolic extract of Ficus deltoidea to reduce hyperglycaemia in streptozotocininduced diabetic rats at different prandial state. The results showed that, ethanolic extract of Ficus deltoidea significantly reduced fasting and postprandial hyperglycemia particularly after 4 and 6 hours of extract administration. Likewise, glucose tolerance activity was significantly improved in the presence of Ficus deltoidea ethanolic extract at a low dose, 100 mg/kg. It is suggested that ethanolic extract of Ficus deltoidea at particular doses, possess fasting and postprandial antihyperglycemic activity as well as glucose tolerance activity in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.
Ficus deltoidea atau nama tempatannya 'Alas Cotek' telah dipercayai secara tradisional mempunyai aktiviti hipoglisemia. Dalam kajian ini, aktiviti hipoglisemia ekstrak akuas Ficus deltoidea pada tikus normal dan diabetik ringan (aruhan streptozotocin) telah dikaji. Ekstrak pada dos berbeza (100, 500 dan 1000 mg/kg) telah diberi secara oral kepada kedua-dua kumpulan dalam keadaan puasa dan pasca prandial. Keputusan menunjukkan bahawa ekstrak akuas Ficus deltoidea tidak mempunyai kesan hipoglisemia pada tikus normal dan tikus diabetik ringan puasa. Pada tikus diabetik ringan pasca prandial, ekstrak akuas Ficus deltoidea pada dos 1000 mg/kg menunjukkan menunjukkan aktiviti hipoglisemia selepas 2 (p < 0.01), 4 (p < 0.05) and 6 (p < 0.01) jam pengambilan ekstrak. Mefformin, 500 mg/kg juga menunjukkan aktiviti hipoglisemia selepas 2 (p < 0.05), 4 (p < 0.01) and 6 (p < 0.01) jam pengambilan. Oleh sebab itu, kami mencadangkan bahawa mekanisme tindakan ekstrak akuas Ficus deltoidea mungkin melalui peningkatan pengambilan glukos oleh tisu otot serta pengurangan glukoneogenesis pada hepar.
Changes in nitrate and nitrite contents (leaves and stem) of Amaranthus gangeticus (AG) and Amaranthus paniculatus (AP), resulting from blanching, storage time (0-4 days), storage temperature (0 and 4ºC), and reheating were analysed. Results showed that fresh AG (1859 ± 7.07 mg/kg) had higher nitrite content than AP (1262 ± 2.12 mg/kg). Nitrites content was 506 ± 2 and 825 ± 3.5 mg/kg for AG and AP, respectively. Reheating and storage times significantly increased the conversion of nitrate to nitrite in AG and AP. Storage at 0 and 4oC exhibited a significant change (P < 0.05) in nitrate and nitrite contents for both samples. Higher nitrite content was found in AP when stored at 4oC and 0oC. The present study indicated that storage time and temperature affected the nitrite contents in blanched AG and AP when stored in low temperatures. Apart from that reheating was also found to increase the formation of nitrite.
Ficus deltoidea or locally known as Mas cotek is one of the common medicinal plants used in
Malaysia. Our previous studies showed that this plant have blood glucose lowering effect. Glucose
uptake into muscle and adipocytes cells is one of the known mechanisms of blood glucose lowering
effect. This study was performed to evaluate the effect of Ficus deltoidea on glucose uptake activity
into muscle cells. The cells were incubated with Ficus deltoidea extracts either a,lone or combination
with insulin. Amount of glucose uptake by L6 myotubes was determined using glucose tracer, 2-deoxy-
[l-:-Hj-glucose. The results showed that Ficus deltoidea extracts at particular doses enhanced basal or
insulin-mediated glucose uptake into muscle cells significantly. Hot aqueous extract enhanced glucose
uptake at the low concentration (10 pg/ml) whereas methanolic extract enhanced basal glucose uptake
at high concentrations (500 and 1000 fig/ml). Meanwhile, ethanolic extract enhanced glucose uptake at
low and high concentrations. Methanolic extract also mimicked insulin activity during enhancing
glucose uptake into L6 muscle cells. Glucose uptake activity of Ficus deltoidea could be attributed by
the phenolic compounds presence in the plant. This study had shown that Ficus deltoidea has the
ability to enhance glucose uptake into muscle cells which is partly contributed the antidiabetic activity
of this plant.
Defatted dabai peel contains a high amount of anthocyanin. Anthocyanins are known to prevent several
types of disease, including cardiovascular-related complications. This study aimed to describe the
effects of different doses of defatted dabai peel extract by histopathological analyses on lesions in the
liver, kidney, heart and aorta. Histopathology methods were applied to determine the protective effects
of defatted dabai peel extracts against hypercholesterolemia-induced oxidative damages to animal
organs. Haematoxylin and eosin staining was applied for histopathology examination for liver, kidney,
heart and aorta. Data showed that a high dose of defatted dabai extract (3000 mg per day) applied to
hypercholesterolemic rabbits for eight weeks had mild protective effect, especially reducing the severity
of hepatic fibrosis and steatosis of the renal medulla. The high dose of extract supplementation also
reduced inflammation of aorta and formation of atherosclerosis plaque in the cell wall of right ventricle
of the heart. The high dose of defatted dabai peel extract could be a protective agent against oxidative
stress.
The present study was carried out to determine the concentrations of selected metal elements (lead, copper, manganese, zinc and iron) in 51 samples of commercial drinking water and tap water available in Malaysia. The results indicated that low metal elements were found in the studied water samples. Lead, manganese, zinc and iron were not detected in some of the studied samples, except copper. The concentrations of the metal elements in the studied samples were well below the maximum permitted concentrations as recommended. Therefore these drinking water are safe for consumption and do not pose adverse effect to the health of consumers due to metal toxicity.
Ficus deltoidea is one of the common medicinal plants used in Malaysia. This epiphytic plant, from the Moraceae family has been claimed to have antidiabetic property. However, scientific evidence to confirm its efficacy is still lacking. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of ethanolic extract of F. deltoidea on glucose level in normal rats at different prandial state. The results showed that, all doses of ethanolic extract of F. deltoidea reduced fasting blood glucose particularly after 6 h of administration. Interestingly, the extract did not produce severe hypoglycemia as shown by its comparable effect with metformin. Likewise, postprandial hyperglycemia was also significantly reduced particularly after 4 and 6 h of administration. Furthermore, extract was used at a dose of 1000 mg/kg b.w., reduced postprandial hyperglycemia similar to metformin. This suggests that postprandial antihyperglycemic mechanism of this extract is mediated through enhancement of glucose uptake into muscle cells and reduction of hepatic gluconeogenesis. Glucose tolerance activity was also significantly improved in the presence of ethanolic extract of F. deltoidea. From this study, it is suggested that ethanolic extract of F. deltoidea reduced postprandial hyperglycemia and improves glucose tolerance activity in normal rats.
Pomelo pomace (PP) from Malaysia Tambun White (PO52) variety, dried at different temperature under vacuum condition were evaluated. PP was obtained after extraction process and contained high moisture content (MC). Dried PP can be used as an alternative to livestock feed, hence, dried concentrated form was preferable. Nevertheless, drying process significantly affects the physico-chemical properties of a dried product. Therefore, the present study was carried out to discover the effects of drying temperature on the physico-chemical properties (MC, pH, vitamin C, browning index (BI) and total color change) of PP. The PP was dried at different drying temperature (50, 60, 70, 80 and 90°C) using a vacuum drying (VD) oven for 24 hr. The freeze drying (FD) process was used as a control. The result showed the MC gradually decreased with increasing drying temperature, of which similar trend was also observed for the water activity and total soluble solids (TSS). In contrast, pH showed increment in value with elevated drying temperature. Interestingly, at 90°C, vitamin C of VD (30.38 mg / 100 g DW) was higher than FD pomelo pomace (21.10 mg / 100 g DW). BI significantly increased as temperature increased. However, no significant changes were observed for total color change after VD. In conclusion, VD at 90°C showed the most recommended temperature because the composition of quality properties at this temperature was not significantly varied with control. These fundamentals information of pomelo pomace could be the guideline for postharvest technologist and food processing manufacturers for various applications.
This study was aimed at assessing the antioxidant capacity and phenolic (free, bound, and total) contents in selected commercial beverages. Three different types of beverages commonly available in Malaysian supermarkets namely, cocoa, coffee and tea were selected. Phenolic contents were determined using a Folin-Ciocalteu assay. Antioxidant capacity (ferric reducing power and scavenging activity) was determined using FRAP and TEAC assays. Based on analysis of variance, coffee showed the highest amount of free phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity compared to cocoa and tea (p < 0.05). The major phenolic compound detected in coffee was chlorogenic acid. Cocoa showed higher phenolic content than tea. However, cocoa and tea have similar catechin content and possessed comparable antioxidant capacity. The free phenolic content in the three beverages was found to be highly correlated with antioxidant capacity. In addition, moderate correlation was observed between total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity. On the other hand, there was no significant contribution of bound phenolic compounds towards antioxidant capacity. The contribution of antioxidant capacity in these beverages could be due to phenolic compounds in the free form. The study indicated that the beverages studied possessed varying degrees of antioxidant capacity and phenolic contents.
Antioxidant activity, free radical scavenging activity and phenolic content of red cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata rubra), Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa pekinensis var cylindrica), green cabbage (Brassica oleracea var capitata), mustard cabbage (Brassica juncea var rugosa) and Chinese white cabbage (Brassica rapa var chinensis), grown in Malaysia, were evaluated. Red cabbage had the highest antioxidant activity and phenolic content compared to the other cruciferous vegetables studied (p < 0.05). The contributions of all cruciferous vegetables to the antioxidant activity was >79%. The radical scavenging activity was in the order of Chinese white cabbage > red cabbage > mustard cabbage > Chinese cabbage > green cabbage. There was a significant difference (p < 0.05) in the means of scavenging activity observed between cabbage, Chinese cabbage and Chinese mustard. Phenolic content was significantly different (p < 0.05) among all the cruciferous vegetables studied, and was in the order of red cabbage > Chinese white cabbage > green cabbage > Chinese cabbage >mustard cabbage. The study indicated that red cabbage possessed the highest antioxidant capacity and phenolic compounds concentration among all the cruciferous vegetables studied.