Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 52 in total

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  1. Zolkeflee NKZ, Wong PL, Maulidiani M, Ramli NS, Azlan A, Mediani A, et al.
    Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 2024 May 14;708:149778.
    PMID: 38507867 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2024.149778
    The increasing prevalence of lean diabetes has prompted the generation of animal models that mimic metabolic disease in humans. This study aimed to determine the optimum streptozotocin-nicotinamide (STZ-NA) dosage ratio to elicit lean diabetic features in a rat model. It also used a proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) urinary metabolomics approach to identify the metabolic effect of metformin treatment on this novel rat model. Three different STZ-NA dosage regimens (by body weight: Group A: 110 mg/kg NA and 45 mg/kg STZ; Group B: 180 mg/kg NA and 65 mg/kg STZ and Group C: 120 mg/kg NA and 60 mg/kg STZ) were administered to Sprague-Dawley rats along with oral metformin. Group A diabetic rats (A-DC) showed favorable serum biochemical analyses and a more positive response toward oral metformin administration relative to the other STZ-NA dosage ratio groups. Orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) revealed that glucose, citrate, pyruvate, hippurate, and methylnicotinamide differentiating the OPLS-DA of A-MTF rats (Group A diabetic rats treated with metformin) and A-DC model rats. Subsequent metabolic pathway analyses revealed that metformin treatment was associated with improvement in dysfunctions caused by STZ-NA induction, including carbohydrate metabolism, cofactor metabolism, and vitamin and amino acid metabolism. In conclusion, our results identify the best STZ-NA dosage ratio for a rat model to exhibit lean type 2 diabetic features with optimum sensitivity to metformin treatment. The data presented here could be informative to improve our understanding of non-obese diabetes in humans through the identification of possible activated metabolic pathways in the STZ-NA-induced diabetic rats model.
  2. Benchoula K, Serpell CJ, Mediani A, Albogami A, Misnan NM, Ismail NH, et al.
    Sci Rep, 2024 Feb 15;14(1):3823.
    PMID: 38360784 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-45608-z
    Zebrafish have been utilized for many years as a model animal for pharmacological studies on diabetes and obesity. High-fat diet (HFD), streptozotocin and alloxan injection, and glucose immersion have all been used to induce diabetes and obesity in zebrafish. Currently, studies commonly used both male and female zebrafish, which may influence the outcomes since male and female zebrafish are biologically different. This study was designed to investigate the difference between the metabolites of male and female diabetic zebrafish, using limonene - a natural product which has shown several promising results in vitro and in vivo in treating diabetes and obesity-and provide new insights into how endogenous metabolites change following limonene treatment. Using HFD-fed male and female zebrafish, we were able to develop an animal model of T2D and identify several endogenous metabolites that might be used as diagnostic biomarkers for diabetes. The endogenous metabolites in males and females were different, even though both genders had high blood glucose levels and a high BMI. Treatment with limonene prevented high blood glucose levels and improved in diabesity zebrafish by limonene, through reversal of the metabolic changes caused by HFD in both genders. In addition, limonene was able to reverse the elevated expression of AKT during HFD.
  3. Annuar NAK, Azlan UK, Mediani A, Tong X, Han R, Al-Olayan E, et al.
    Biomed Pharmacother, 2024 Feb;171:116134.
    PMID: 38219389 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116134
    Mitragynine is one of the main psychoactive alkaloids in Mitragyna speciosa Korth. (kratom). It has opium-like effects by acting on μ-, δ-, and κ-opioid receptors in the brain. The compound also interacts with other receptors, such as adrenergic and serotonergic receptors and neuronal Ca2+ channels in the central nervous system to have its neuropharmacological effects. Mitragynine has the potential to treat diseases related to neurodegeneration such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, as its modulation on the opioid receptors has been reported extensively. This review aimed to provide an up-to-date and critical overview on the neuropharmacological effects, mechanisms of action, pharmacokinetics and safety of mitragynine as a prospective psychotropic agent. Its multiple neuropharmacological effects on the brain include antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, antidepressant, sedative, stimulant, cognitive, and anxiolytic activities. The potential of mitragynine to manage opioid withdrawal symptoms related to opioid dependence, its pharmacokinetics and toxic effects were also discussed. The interaction of mitragynine with various receptors in the brain produce diverse neuropharmacological effects, which have beneficial properties in neurological disorders. However, further studies need to be carried out on mitragynine to uncover its complex mechanisms of action, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamic profiles, addictive potential, and safe dosage to prevent harmful side effects.
  4. Mediani A, Baharum SN
    Methods Mol Biol, 2024;2745:77-90.
    PMID: 38060180 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3577-3_5
    Metabolomics can provide diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic biomarker profiles of individual patients because a large number of metabolites can be simultaneously measured in biological samples in an unbiased manner. Minor stimuli can result in substantial alterations, making it a valuable target for analysis. Due to the complexity and sensitivity of the metabolome, studies must be devised to maintain consistency, minimize subject-to-subject variation, and maximize information recovery. This effort has been aided by technological advances in experimental design, rodent models, and instrumentation. Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1H-NMR) spectroscopy of biofluids, such as plasma, urine, and faeces provide the opportunity to identify biomarker change patterns that reflect the physiological or pathological status of an individual patient. Metabolomics has the ultimate potential to be useful in a clinical context, where it could be used to predict treatment response and survival and for early disease diagnosis. During drug treatment, an individual's metabolic status could be monitored and used to predict deleterious effects. Therefore, metabolomics has the potential to improve disease diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up care. In this chapter, we demonstrate how a metabolomics study can be used to diagnose a disease by classifying patients as either healthy or pathological, while accounting for individual variation.
  5. Qadi WSM, Mediani A, Kasim ZM, Misnan NM, Sani NA, Jamar NH
    Metabolites, 2023 Jul 13;13(7).
    PMID: 37512555 DOI: 10.3390/metabo13070849
    The aim of this research was to assess the antibacterial and antioxidant properties as well as the variation in metabolites of the cell-free supernatant (CFS) produced by lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from local plants: Lactiplantibacillus plantarum ngue16, L. plantarum ng10, Enterococcus durans w3, and Levilactobacillus brevis w6. The tested strains exhibited inhibitory effects against pathogens, including Bacillus cereus, B. subtilis, Cronobacter sakazakii, Escherichia coli, Salmonella Typhimurium, and Staphylococcus aureus using the agar spot assay and well diffusion method. The CFS from all four strains displayed antibacterial activity against these pathogens with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging from 3.12 to 12.5 mg/mL and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) values ranging from 6.25 to 25.0 mg/mL. Moreover, the CFS demonstrated resilience within specific pH (3-8) and temperature (60-100 °C) ranges and lost its activity when treated with enzymes, such as Proteinase K and pepsin. Furthermore, the CFS exhibited antioxidant properties as evidenced by their ability to inhibit the formation of two radicals (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) compared to the negative control, De Man, Rogosa, and Sharpe (MRS) broth. The use of proton-based nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) spectroscopy revealed the presence and quantification of 48 metabolites in both the CFS and MRS broths. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) effectively differentiated between CFS and MRS broth by identifying the specific metabolites responsible for the observed differences. The partial least squares (PLS) model demonstrated a significant correlation between the metabolites in the LAB supernatant and the tested antibacterial and antioxidant activities. Notably, anserine, GABA, acetic acid, lactic acid, uracil, uridine, propylene glycol, isopropanol, serine, histidine, and indol-3-lactate were identified as the compounds contributing the most to the highest antibacterial and antioxidant activities in the supernatant. These findings suggest that the LAB strains investigated have the potential to be utilized in the production of functional foods and the development of pharmaceutical products.
  6. Qadi WSM, Mediani A, Benchoula K, Wong EH, Misnan NM, Sani NA
    Foods, 2023 May 12;12(10).
    PMID: 37238789 DOI: 10.3390/foods12101971
    Fermentation of milk enhances its nutritional and biological activity through the improvement of the bioavailability of nutrients and the production of bioactive compounds. Coconut milk was fermented with Lactiplantibacillus plantarum ngue16. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of fermentation and cold storage for 28 days on physicochemical characteristics, shelf life, and antioxidant and antibacterial activities of coconut milk as well as its proximate and chemical compositions. The pH of fermented milk decreased from 4.26 to 3.92 on the 28th day during cold storage. The viable cell count of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in fermented coconut milk was significantly increased during fermentation and cold storage period (1 to 14 days), reaching 6.4 × 108 CFU/mL, and then decreased significantly after 14 days to 1.6 × 108 CFU/mL at 28 days. Yeast and molds in fermented coconut milk were only detected on the 21st and 28th days of cold storage, which ranged from 1.7 × 102 to 1.2 × 104 CFU/mL, respectively. However, the growth of coliforms and E. coli was observed on the 14th until the 28th day of cold storage. The fermented coconut milk demonstrated strong antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Cronobacter sakazakii, Bacillus cereus, and Salmonella typhimurium compared to fresh coconut milk. Fermented coconut milk had the greatest 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) values, with 67.1% and 61.961 mmol/g at day 14 of cold storage, respectively. Forty metabolites were detected in fermented and pasteurized coconut milk by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) metabolomics. The principal component analysis (PCA) showed clear difference between the fermented and pasteurized coconut milk as well as the studied cold storage days. The metabolites responsible for this variation were ethanol, valine, GABA, arginine, lactic acid, acetoin, alanine, phenylalanine, acetic acid, methionine, acetone, pyruvate, succinic acid, malic acid, tryptophan, uridine, uracil, and cytosin, which were higher in fermented coconut milk. However, sugars and other identified compounds were higher in fresh coconut milk. The findings of this study show that fermentation of coconut milk with L. plantarum ngue16 had high potential benefits to extending its shelf life and improved biological activities as well as other beneficial nutrients.
  7. Farag MA, Elmetwally F, Elghanam R, Kamal N, Hellal K, Hamezah HS, et al.
    Food Chem, 2023 Mar 15;404(Pt B):134628.
    PMID: 36283313 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2022.134628
    Tea is one of the world's most popular beverages, with several health benefits. Polyphenols are the predominant constituents to account for its health benefits. Despite the well-known benefits of tea on health, the uniqueness of its aroma, taste, and features is an added value that contribute to the increased popularity of this beverage worldwide, and they are associated with the alterations in the metabolites during tea processing and cultivation. The manufacturing of tea consists of several stages with various processes as withering, fixing, rolling, fermentation and drying. The classification into tea types is according to such processing. The high-quality production of the various tea classes also depends on agricultural conditions, such as shading, plucking, climate, and soil composition. Metabolomics is well recognized as an effective tool for evaluating the quality of tea products. Applications in controlling the quality of tea products and adulterant detection are discussed in this review.
  8. Benchoula K, Mediani A, Hwa WE
    J Cell Commun Signal, 2023 Mar;17(1):25-34.
    PMID: 35551607 DOI: 10.1007/s12079-022-00680-4
    The increase in blood glucose causes a myriad of pathways and molecular components to malfunction, leading to diabetes. Diabetes affects each organ differently by activating distinct pathways. It has an impact on the liver, pancreas, kidney (nephropathy), eyes (retinopathy), and nervous system (neuropathy). Understanding the effects of diabetes on each organ is the first step in developing a sustained treatment for the disease. Among the many cellular molecules impacted by diabetes is Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII), a complex Ca2+/calmodulin-activated serine/threonine-protein kinase. When intracellular [Ca2+] rises, it binds to calmodulin (CaM) to produce Ca2+/CaM, which activates CaMKIIs. This factor is involved in the pancreas, liver, heart, muscles, and various organs. Thus, Understanding CaMKII action in each organ is critical for gaining a complete picture of diabetic complications. Therefore, this review covers CaMKII's functions in many organs and how it affects and has been affected by diabetes.
  9. Ain Ibrahim NN, Kamal N, Mediani A, Sajak AAB, Lee SY, Shaari K, et al.
    Food Technol Biotechnol, 2023 Mar;61(1):107-117.
    PMID: 37200789 DOI: 10.17113/ftb.61.01.23.7711
    RESEARCH BACKGROUND: Curcuma species (Zingiberaceae) are well known medicinal herbs in India and Southeast Asia. Despite various findings reporting their beneficial biological activities, very little information has been recorded on the Curcuma caesia. Thus, this study aims to determine the phenolic content, antioxidant and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity of both rhizome and leaves of C. caesia.

    EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: Rhizome and leaves of C. caesia were dried with oven (OD) and freeze (FD)-drying methods, and extracted with different Φ(ethanol,water)=100:0, 80:20, 50:50 and 0:100. The bioactivities of C. caesia extracts were evaluated using in vitro tests; total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant (DPPH and FRAP) and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR)-based metabolomics approach was employed to differentiate the most active extracts based on their metabolite profiles and correlation with bioactivities.

    RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The FD rhizome extracted with Φ(ethanol,water)=100:0 was observed to have potent TPC expressed as gallic acid equivalents, FRAP expressed as Trolox equivalents and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity with values of (45.4±2.1) mg/g extract, (147.7±8.3) mg/g extract and (265.5±38.6) µg/mL (IC50), respectively. Meanwhile, for DPPH scavenging activity, the Φ(ethanol,water)=80:20 and 100:0 extracts of FD rhizome showed the highest activity with no significant difference between them. Hence, the FD rhizome extracts were selected for further metabolomics analysis. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed clear discrimination among the different extracts. Partial least square (PLS) analysis showed positive correlations of the metabolites, including xanthorrhizol derivative, 1-hydroxy-1,7-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-(6E)-6-heptene-3,4-dione, valine, luteolin, zedoardiol, β-turmerone, selina-4(15),7(11)-dien-8-one, zedoalactone B and germacrone, with the antioxidant and α-glucosidase inhibition activities, whereas curdione and 1-(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-7-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-(lE,6E)-1,6-heptadiene3,4-dione were correlated with α-glucosidase inhibitory activity.

    NOVELTY AND SCIENTIFIC CONTRIBUTION: C. caesia rhizome and leaf extracts contained phenolic compounds and had varies antioxidant and α-glucosidase inhibitory capacities. These findings strongly suggest that the rhizomes of C. caesia are an invaluable natural source of active ingredients for applications in pharmaceutical and food industries.

  10. Zulkefli N, Che Zahari CNM, Sayuti NH, Kamarudin AA, Saad N, Hamezah HS, et al.
    Int J Mol Sci, 2023 Feb 27;24(5).
    PMID: 36902038 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24054607
    Wounds are considered to be a serious problem that affects the healthcare sector in many countries, primarily due to diabetes and obesity. Wounds become worse because of unhealthy lifestyles and habits. Wound healing is a complicated physiological process that is essential for restoring the epithelial barrier after an injury. Numerous studies have reported that flavonoids possess wound-healing properties due to their well-acclaimed anti-inflammatory, angiogenesis, re-epithelialization, and antioxidant effects. They have been shown to be able to act on the wound-healing process via expression of biomarkers respective to the pathways that mainly include Wnt/β-catenin, Hippo, Transforming Growth Factor-beta (TGF-β), Hedgehog, c-Jun N-Terminal Kinase (JNK), NF-E2-related factor 2/antioxidant responsive element (Nrf2/ARE), Nuclear Factor Kappa B (NF-κB), MAPK/ERK, Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt, Nitric oxide (NO) pathways, etc. Hence, we have compiled existing evidence on the manipulation of flavonoids towards achieving skin wound healing, together with current limitations and future perspectives in support of these polyphenolic compounds as safe wound-healing agents, in this review.
  11. Serag A, Zayed A, Mediani A, Farag MA
    Sci Rep, 2023 Feb 13;13(1):2533.
    PMID: 36781893 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-28551-x
    Tongkat ali commonly known as Malaysian Ginseng (Eurycoma longifolia) is a herbal root worldwide available in nutraceuticals, either as a crude powder or capsules blended with other herbal products. Herein, a multiplexed metabolomics approach based on nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and solid-phase microextraction combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SPME-GC-MS) was applied for authentic tongkat ali extract vs some commercial products quality control analysis. NMR metabolite fingerprinting identified 15 major metabolites mostly ascribed to sugars, organic and fatty acids in addition to quassinoids and cinnamates. Following that, multivariate analysis as the non-supervised principal component analysis (PCA) and supervised orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) were applied revealing that differences were related to fatty acids and 13,21-dihydroeurycomanone being more enriched in authentic root. SPME-GC-MS aroma profiling led to the identification of 59 volatiles belonging mainly to alcohols, aldehydes/furans and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons. Results revealed that aroma of commercial products showed relatively different profiles being rich in vanillin, maltol, and methyl octanoate. Whereas E-cinnamaldehyde, endo-borneol, terpinen-4-ol, and benzaldehyde were more associated to the authentic product. The present study shed the light for the potential of metabolomics in authentication and standardization of tongkat ali and identification of its true flavor composition.
  12. Ahamad Bustamam MS, Pantami HA, Shaari K, Min CC, Mediani A, Ismail IS
    Fish Shellfish Immunol, 2023 Jan;132:108455.
    PMID: 36464078 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2022.108455
    Tilapia is one of the most common fish species that is intensively produced all over the world. However, significant measures at improving aquaculture health must be taken since disease outbreaks are often encountered in the rapidly developing aquaculture industry. Therefore, the objective of the study was designed to evaluate the metabolite changes in tilapia' sera through 1H NMR metabolomics in identifying the potential biomarkers responsible for immunomodulatory effect by the indigenous species of Malaysian microalgae Isochrysis galbana (IG). The results showed that IG-incorporated diet mainly at 5.0% has improved the immune response of innate immunity as observed in serum bactericidal activity (SBA) and serum lysozyme activity (SLA). The orthogonal partial least squares (OPLS) analysis indicated 5 important metabolites significantly upregulated namely as ethanol, lipoprotein, lipid, α-glucose and unsaturated fatty acid (UFA) in the 5.0% IG-incorporated diet compared to control. In conclusion, this study had successfully determined IG in improving aquaculture health through its potential use as an immune modulator. This work also demonstrated the effective use of metabolomics approach in the development of alternative nutritious diet from microalgae species to boost fish health in fulfilling the aquaculture's long-term goals.
  13. Ibrahim NNA, Wan Mustapha WA, Sofian-Seng NS, Lim SJ, Mohd Razali NS, Teh AH, et al.
    PMID: 36704214 DOI: 10.1155/2023/7006565
    Plants are the primary source of the food chain and are rich in nutrients and biochemical compounds that mainly give beneficial effects to humans as well as other living organisms. Curcuma caesia Roxb. is a family member of Zingiberaceae commonly known as black turmeric. The leaves and rhizomes of this plant are extensively used in Ayurvedic medicine and as traditional remedies for various ailments. The aromatic rhizomes and leaves are due to the presence of essential oils reported as camphor, ar-turmerone, (Z)-β-ocimene, ar-curcumene, 1,8-cineole, β-elemene, borneol, bornyl acetate, tropolone, ledol, β-elemenone, and α-bulnesene. Previous research studies have revealed most of the biological activities of C. caesia, such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties, which are due to the presence of various bioactive components. The diverse chemical composition contained in this plant contributes to various biological activities, which may be beneficial for the health, food, and cosmetic industries. The purpose of this review was to summarise updated research on the in vitro and in vivo activities of C. caesia as well as the current clinical investigations. A compilation of the latest findings regarding the potential activities of C. caesia and mechanisms related to its health benefits is discussed and reviewed. This valuable information is the key that can be used for the development of drugs, functional food ingredients, and food products.
  14. Abdel Rahman RT, Kamal N, Mediani A, Farag MA
    ACS Omega, 2022 Dec 20;7(50):45797-45809.
    PMID: 36570239 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.2c04708
    Herbal cigarettes, known as tobacco-free or nicotine-free cigarettes, are those recognized as being-tobacco free, being composed of a mixture of various herbs claimed to lessen the smoking habit hazards. However, controversial data regarding its properties occur in the literature with no comprehensive overview or analysis of its effects. Like herbal smokeless tobacco, they are often used to substitute for tobacco products (primarily cigarettes) regarded as a "nonsmoking" aid. This review capitalizes on herbal cigarettes with regard to their quality characteristics, sensory attributes, chemical composition, and health properties to rationalize their choice as a nonsmoking aid. Furthermore, the impacts of heat and/or pyrolysis that occur during smoking on its chemical composition are presented for the first time. Some herbal smokes may produce notable metabolic problems that increase the risk of several chronic metabolic diseases. In general, burning substances from plants can have a variety of negative effects on the body attributed to toxic chemicals such as carbon monoxide, polyaromatics, nicotine, and N-nitrosamines. This review compiles and discusses the phytochemical compositions detected in various herbal cigarettes alongside sensory and quality attributes and health effects.
  15. Kasim N, Afzan A, Mediani A, Low KH, Ali AM, Mat N, et al.
    Phytochem Anal, 2022 Dec;33(8):1235-1245.
    PMID: 36192845 DOI: 10.1002/pca.3175
    INTRODUCTION: Ficus deltoidea Jack (Moraceae) is a plant used in Malaysia to treat various ailments, including diabetes. The presence of several varieties raises essential questions regarding which is the potential bioactive variety and what are the bioactive metabolites.

    OBJECTIVES: Here, we explored the phytochemical diversity of the seven varieties from Peninsular Malaysia using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) analyses and correlated it with the α-glucosidase inhibitory activity.

    METHODOLOGY: The Nuclear Overhauser Effect Spectroscopy (NOESY) One-Dimensional (1D)-NMR and LC-MS data were processed, annotated, and correlated with in vitro α-glucosidase inhibitory using multivariate data analysis.

    RESULTS: The α-glucosidase results demonstrated that different varieties have varying inhibitory effects, with the highest inhibition rate being F. deltoidea var. trengganuensis and var. kunstleri. Furthermore, diverse habitats and plant ages could also influence the inhibitory rate. The heat map from NMR and LC-MS profiles showed unique patterns according to varying levels of α-glucosidase inhibition rate. The Partial Least Squares (PLS) model constructed from both NMR and LC-MS further confirmed the correlation between the α-glucosidase inhibition rate of F. deltoidea varieties and its metabolite profiles. The Variable Influence on Projection (VIP) and correlation coefficient (p(corr)) values values were used to determine the highly relevant metabolites for explaining the anticipated inhibitory action.

    CONCLUSION: NMR and LC-MS annotations allow the identification of flavan-3-ols and proanthocyanidins as the key bioactive factors. Our current results demonstrated the value of multivariate data analysis to predict the quality of herbal materials from both biological and chemical aspects.

  16. Kamal MSA, Mediani A, Kasim N, Ismail NH, Satar NA, Azis NA, et al.
    J Pharm Biomed Anal, 2022 Feb 20;210:114579.
    PMID: 35016031 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2021.114579
    Ficus deltoidea var angustifolia (FD-A) reduces blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) but the mechanism remains unknown. Changes in urine metabolites following FD-A treatment in SHR were, therefore, examined to identify the mechanism of its antihypertensive action. Male SHR were given either FD-A (1000 mg kg-1 day-1) or losartan (10 mg kg-1 day-1) or 0.5 mL of ethanolic-water (control) daily for 4 weeks. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was measured every week and urine spectra data acquisition, on urine collected after four weeks of treatment, were compared using multivariate data analysis. SBP in FD-A and losartan treated rats was significantly lower than that in the controls after four weeks of treatment. Urine spectra analysis revealed 24 potential biomarkers with variable importance projections (VIP) above 0.5. These included creatine, hippurate, benzoate, trimethylamine N-oxide, taurine, dimethylamine, homocysteine, allantoin, methylamine, n-phenylacetylglycine, guanidinoacetate, creatinine, lactate, glucarate, kynurenine, ethanolamine, betaine, 3-hydroxybutyrate, glycine, lysine, glutamine, 2-hydroxyphenylacetate, 3-indoxylsulfate and sarcosine. From the profile of these metabolites, it seems that FD-A affects urinary levels of metabolites like taurine, hypotaurine, glycine, serine, threonine, alanine, aspartate and glutamine. Alterations in these and the pathways involved in their metabolism might underlie the molecular mechanism of its antihypertensive action.
  17. Mediani A, Hamezah HS, Jam FA, Mahadi NF, Chan SXY, Rohani ER, et al.
    Front Nutr, 2022;9:1057366.
    PMID: 36518998 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.1057366
    Preserving fresh food, such as meat, is significant in the effort of combating global food scarcity. Meat drying is a common way of preserving meat with a rich history in many cultures around the globe. In modern days, dried meat has become a well enjoyed food product in the market because of its long shelf-life, taste and health benefits. This review aims to compile information on how the types of meat, ingredients and the used drying technologies influence the characteristics of dried meat in physicochemical, microbial, biochemical and safety features along with technological future prospects in the dried meat industry. The quality of dried meat can be influenced by a variety of factors, including its production conditions and the major biochemical changes that occur throughout the drying process, which are also discussed in this review. Additionally, the sensory attributes of dried meat are also reviewed, whereby the texture of meat and the preference of the market are emphasized. There are other aspects and concerning issues that are suggested for future studies. It is well-known that reducing the water content in meat helps in preventing microbial growth, which in turn prevents the presence of harmful substances in meat. However, drying the meat can change the characteristics of the meat itself, making consumers concerned on whether dried meat is safe to be consumed on a regular basis. It is important to consider the role of microbial enzymes and microbes in the preservation of their flavor when discussing dried meats and dried meat products. The sensory, microbiological, and safety elements of dried meat are also affected by these distinctive changes, which revolve around customer preferences and health concerns, particularly how drying is efficient in eliminating/reducing hazardous bacteria from the fish. Interestingly, some studies have concentrated on increasing the efficiency of dried meat production to produce a safer range of dried meat products with less effort and time. This review compiled important information from all available online research databases. This review may help the food sector in improving the efficiency and safety of meat drying, reducing food waste, while maintaining the quality and nutritional content of dried meat.
  18. Azlan UK, Khairul Annuar NA, Mediani A, Aizat WM, Damanhuri HA, Tong X, et al.
    Front Pharmacol, 2022;13:1035220.
    PMID: 36686668 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.1035220
    Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are sporadic maladies that affect patients' lives with progressive neurological disabilities and reduced quality of life. Neuroinflammation and oxidative reaction are among the pivotal factors for neurodegenerative conditions, contributing to the progression of NDs, such as Parkinson's disease (PD), Alzheimer's disease (AD), multiple sclerosis (MS) and Huntington's disease (HD). Management of NDs is still less than optimum due to its wide range of causative factors and influences, such as lifestyle, genetic variants, and environmental aspects. The neuroprotective and anti-neuroinflammatory activities of Moringa oleifera have been documented in numerous studies due to its richness of phytochemicals with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This review highlights up-to-date research findings on the anti-neuroinflammatory and neuroprotective effects of M. oleifera, including mechanisms against NDs. The information was gathered from databases, which include Scopus, Science Direct, Ovid-MEDLINE, Springer, and Elsevier. Neuroprotective effects of M. oleifera were mainly assessed by using the crude extracts in vitro and in vivo experiments. Isolated compounds from M. oleifera such as moringin, astragalin, and isoquercitrin, and identified compounds of M. oleifera such as phenolic acids and flavonoids (chlorogenic acid, gallic acid, ferulic acid, caffeic acid, kaempferol, quercetin, myricetin, (-)-epicatechin, and isoquercitrin) have been reported to have neuropharmacological activities. Therefore, these compounds may potentially contribute to the neuroprotective and anti-neuroinflammatory effects. More in-depth studies using in vivo animal models of neurological-related disorders and extensive preclinical investigations, such as pharmacokinetics, toxicity, and bioavailability studies are necessary before clinical trials can be carried out to develop M. oleifera constituents into neuroprotective agents.
  19. Alapid AAI, Abd Majid R, Ibraheem ZO, Mediani A, Ismail IS, Unyah NZ, et al.
    Metabolites, 2021 Jul 28;11(8).
    PMID: 34436427 DOI: 10.3390/metabo11080486
    Andrographolide (AG) has been shown to have several medicinal and pharmaceutical effects, such as antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-diabetic, and anti-malarial activities. Moreover, studies to assess the pharmacological effect of AG on the metabolic changes of uninfected red blood cells (uRBCs) have not yet been investigated. This study aims to evaluate the pharmacological effects of AG compared to chloroquine (CQ) on the metabolic variations of uRBCs in vitro using a proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR)-based metabolomics approach coupled with multivariate data analysis (MVDA). Forty-one metabolites were successfully identified by 1H-NMR. The results of the unsupervised data analysis principal component analysis (PCA) showed ideal differentiation between AG and CQ. PC1 and PC2 accounted for 71.4% and 17.7% of the explained variation, respectively, with a total variance of 89.10%. Based on S-plot and VIP values, a total of 28 and 32 metabolites were identified as biomarkers in uRBCs-AG and uRBCs-CQ, respectively. In uRBCs treated with AG, ten metabolic pathways were determined to be disturbed, including riboflavin metabolism, d-glutamate and d-glutamine metabolism, phenylalanine metabolism, glutathione metabolism, proline and arginine metabolism, arginine biosynthesis, citrate cycle, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, and pyruvate metabolism as well as alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism. In contrast, in CQ-treated uRBCs, nine affected metabolic pathways were determined, which involved the same metabolic pathways for uRBCs-AG, except for glutathione metabolism. These findings suggest an evident relationship between AG and CQ associated with metabolic changes in intact RBCs after being exposed to the treatment. The metabolomics results could allow useful comprehensive insights into the underlying mechanism of the action of AG and CQ on red blood cells. Consequently, the 1H-NMR-based metabolomics approach was successfully utilized to identify the pharmacological effects of AG and CQ on the metabolic variations of uRBCs.
  20. Hellal K, Mediani A, Ismail IS, Tan CP, Abas F
    Food Res Int, 2021 02;140:110046.
    PMID: 33648271 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2020.110046
    Lupinus albus or white lupine has recently received increase attention for its medicinal values. Several studies have described the hypoglycemic effect of the white lupine, which is known as a food plant with potential value for treatment of diabetes. This study provides useful information for the identification and quantification of compounds in L. albus fractions by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy. In total, 35 metabolites were identified from L. albus fractions.Principal component analysis (PCA) was used as a multivariate projection method for visualizing the different composition of four different fractions. The bioactivities of fractions with different polarity obtained from the extract of L. albus seeds are reported. Among the fractions studied, the chloroform fraction (CF) exhibits a high free radical scavenging (DPPH) and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities with IC50 values of 24.08 and 20.08 μg/mL, respectively. A partial least-squares analyses (PLS) model had been successfully performed to correlate the potential active metabolites with the corresponding biological activities. Metabolites containing proline, caprate, asparagine, lupinoisolone C, hydroxyiso lupalbigenin and some unknown compounds show high correlation with the bioactivities studied. Moreover, the structural identification in the active fraction was supported by ultrahigh-performance-liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS) analysis. A total of 21 metabolites were tentatively identified from MS/MS data by comparison with previously reported data. Most of these compounds are isoflavonoids without known biological activity. This information may be useful for developing functional food from L. albus with potential application in the management of diabetes.
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