Displaying publications 161 - 180 of 187 in total

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  1. Dual modification of starch via partial enzymatic hydrolysis in the granular state and subsequent hydroxypropylation
    Karim AA, Sufha EH, Zaidul IS
    J Agric Food Chem, 2008 Nov 26;56(22):10901-7.
    PMID: 18975963 DOI: 10.1021/jf8015442
    The effect of enzymatic pretreatment on the degree of corn and mung bean starch derivatization by propylene oxide was investigated. The starch was enzymatically treated in the granular state with a mixture of fungal alpha-amylase and glucoamylase at 35 degrees C for 16 h and then chemically modified to produce enzyme-hydrolyzed-hydroxypropyl (HP) starch. Partial enzyme hydrolysis of starch in the granular state appeared to enhance the subsequent hydroxypropylation, as judged from the significant increase in the molar substitution. A variable degree of granule modification was obtained after enzyme hydrolysis, and one of the determinants of the modification degree appeared to be the presence of natural pores in the granules. Enzyme-hydrolyzed-HP starch exhibited significantly different functional properties compared to hydroxypropyl starch prepared from untreated (native) starch. It is evident that the dual modification of starch using this approach provides a range of functional properties that can be customized for specific applications.
    Matched MeSH terms: Aspergillus/enzymology
  2. Fulltext Angioinvasive cerebral aspergillosis presenting as acute ischaemic stroke in a patient with diabetes mellitus
    Norlinah MI, Ngow HA, Hamidon BB
    Singapore Med J, 2007 Jan;48(1):e1-4.
    PMID: 17245496
    Cerebral angioinvasive aspergillosis is a rare manifestation of disseminated aspergillosis which may result in stroke in immunocompromised individuals. Reports of such disease in patients with diabetes mellitus are rare. We describe a 45-year-old man with diabetes mellitus who presented with a three-day history of right-sided limb weakness and aphasia. Cerebral computed tomography showed features of an acute infarct involving the left anterior and middle cerebral arteries. He was initially treated for an acute ischaemic stroke. Further history revealed that he was investigated for a growth in the sphenoid sinus two months earlier. Culture of the biopsied material from the sphenoid sinus grew Aspergillus fumigatus. Magnetic resonance imaging showed an extension of the growth to the brain, causing the acute ischaemic stroke. He was subsequently diagnosed with angioinvasive cerebral aspergillosis and was commenced on intravenous amphotericin B. Unfortunately, he succumbed to his illness despite treatment.
    Matched MeSH terms: Aspergillus fumigatus/isolation & purification
  3. Disseminated invasive aspergillosis in an apparently immunocompetent host
    Raja NS, Singh NN
    J Microbiol Immunol Infect, 2006 Feb;39(1):73-7.
    PMID: 16440127
    Aspergillosis is a spectrum of diseases caused by members of the genus Aspergillus that continues to pose a significant threat to immunocompromised, organ transplant, neutropenic and cancer patients. In view of increasing risk factors leading to invasive aspergillosis, it is imperative for clinicians to be familiar with the clinical presentation, diagnostic methods and management of the disease. We describe a 34-year-old immunocompetent male patient receiving chemotherapy for Aspergillus fumigatus infection that had disseminated to lung, liver and spleen. A computed tomogram of thorax and abdomen showed thick-walled cavities of different sizes with air fluid levels, consolidation in both lungs and involvement of liver and spleen. His broncheoalveolar lavage and sputum specimens yielded A. fumigatus. Successful treatment of this infection was achieved with amphotericin B and itraconazole.
    Matched MeSH terms: Aspergillus fumigatus/isolation & purification*
  4. Fulltext Microbial keratitis: aetiological diagnosis and clinical features in patients admitted to Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia
    Norina TJ, Raihan S, Bakiah S, Ezanee M, Liza-Sharmini AT, Wan Hazzabah WH
    Singapore Med J, 2008 Jan;49(1):67-71.
    PMID: 18204773
    Corneal ulceration remains one of the major causes of blindness in developing countries, including Malaysia. Our objective is to determine the epidemiological characteristics, clinical features, risk factors and the aetiology of microbial keratitis in patients admitted to Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM).
    Matched MeSH terms: Aspergillus/metabolism
  5. Applicability evaluation of Deep Eutectic Solvents-Cellulase system for lignocellulose hydrolysis
    Gunny AA, Arbain D, Nashef EM, Jamal P
    Bioresour Technol, 2015 Apr;181:297-302.
    PMID: 25661309 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2015.01.057
    Deep Eutectic Solvents (DESs) have recently emerged as a new generation of ionic liquids for lignocellulose pretreatment. However, DESs contain salt components which tend to inactivate cellulase in the subsequent saccharification process. To alleviate this problem, it is necessary to evaluate the applicability of the DESs-Cellulase system. This was accomplished in the present study by first studying the stability of cellulase in the presence of selected DESs followed by applicability evaluation based on glucose production, energy consumption and kinetic performance. Results showed that the cellulase was able to retain more than 90% of its original activity in the presence of 10% (v/v) for glycerol based DES (GLY) and ethylene glycol based DES (EG). Furthermore, both DESs system exhibited higher glucose percentage enhancement and lower energy consumption as compared to diluted alkali system. Among the two DESs studied, EG showed comparatively better kinetic performance.
    Matched MeSH terms: Aspergillus/enzymology
  6. Optimization of complex fermentation media for glucose oxidase production using statistical approach
    Gunny AA, Arbain D, Sithamparam L
    Pak J Biol Sci, 2013 Sep 15;16(18):960-4.
    PMID: 24502155
    Production cost of enzyme is largely determined by the type of the strain and raw material used to propagate the strain. Hence, selection of the strain and raw materials is crucial in enzyme production. For Glucose oxidase (GOx), previous studies showed Aspergillus terreus UniMAP AA-1 offers a better alternative to the existing sources. Thus, a lower production cost could be logically anticipated by growing the strain in a cheaper complex media such as molasses. In this work, sugar cane molasses, supplemented with urea and carbonate salt and a locally isolated strain Aspergillus terreus UniMAP AA-1 were used to produce a crude GOx enzyme in a small scale. A statistical optimization approach namely Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was used to optimize the media components for highest GOx activity. It was found that the highest GOx activity was achieved using a combination of molasses, carbonate salt and urea at concentration 32.51, 4.58 and 0.93% (w/v), respectively. This study provides an alternative optimized media conditions for GOx production using locally available raw materials.
    Matched MeSH terms: Aspergillus/enzymology*
  7. Tyrosinase inhibition, anti-acetylcholinesterase, and antimicrobial activities of the phytochemicals from Gynotroches axillaris Blume
    Abed SA, Sirat HM, Taher M
    Pak J Pharm Sci, 2016 Nov;29(6):2071-2078.
    PMID: 28375126
    The leaves of Gynotroches axillaris were chemically and biologically studied. Sequential extraction of the leaves using petroleum ether, chloroform, and methanol afforded three extracts. Purification of pet. ether extract yielded, squalene and β-amyrin palmitate as the major compounds, together with palmitic acid and myristic acid as the minor components. The methanol extract yielded two flavonoids, quercitrin and epicatechin. The isolated compounds were characterized by MS, IR and NMR (1D and 2D). Anti-acetyl cholinesterase screening using TLC bio-autography assay showed that palmitic acid and myristic acid were the strongest inhibition with detection limit 1.14 and 1.28 μ/g/ 5 μL respectively. Antibacterial against Gram-positive and negative and antifungal activities exhibited that β-amyrin palmitate was the strongest (450-225 μ/mL) against all the tested microbes. The tyrosinase inhibition assay of extracts and the pure compounds were screened against tyrosinase enzyme. The inhibition percentage (I%) of methanol extract against tyrosinase enzyme was stronger than the other extracts with value 68.4%. Quercitrin (59%) was found to be the highest in the tyrosinase inhibition activity amongst the pure compounds. To the best of our knowledge, this is first report on the phytochemicals, tyrosinase inhibition, anti-acetycholinesterase and antimicrobial activities of the leaves of G. axillaris.
    Matched MeSH terms: Aspergillus niger/drug effects; Aspergillus niger/growth & development
  8. Aspergillus and progression of lung disease in children with cystic fibrosis
    Harun SN, Wainwright CE, Grimwood K, Hennig S, Australasian Cystic Fibrosis Bronchoalveolar Lavage (ACFBAL) study group
    Thorax, 2019 02;74(2):125-131.
    PMID: 30275132 DOI: 10.1136/thoraxjnl-2018-211550
    BACKGROUND: The impact of Aspergillus on lung disease in young children with cystic fibrosis is uncertain.
    AIMS: To determine if positive respiratory cultures of Aspergillus species are associated with: (1) increased structural lung injury at age 5 years; (2) accelerated lung function decline between ages 5 years and 14 years and (3) to identify explanatory variables.
    METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis of association between Aspergillus positive bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cultures and chest high-resolution CT (HRCT) scan findings at age 5 years in subjects from the Australasian Cystic Fibrosis Bronchoalveolar Lavage (ACFBAL) study was performed. A non-linear mixed-effects disease progression model was developed using FEV1% predicted measurements at age 5 years from the ACFBAL study and at ages 6-14 years for these subjects from the Australian Cystic Fibrosis Data Registry.
    RESULTS: Positive Aspergillus BAL cultures at age 5 years were significantly associated with increased HRCT scores for air trapping (OR 5.53, 95% CI 2.35 to 10.82). However, positive Aspergillus cultures were not associated with either FEV1% predicted at age 5 years or FEV1% predicted by age following adjustment for body mass index z-score and hospitalisation secondary to pulmonary exacerbations. Lung function demonstrated a non-linear decline in this population.
    CONCLUSION: In children with cystic fibrosis, positive Aspergillus BAL cultures at age 5 years were associated contemporaneously with air trapping but not bronchiectasis. However, no association was observed between positive Aspergillus BAL cultures on FEV1% predicted at age 5 years or with lung function decline between ages 5 years and 14 years.
    Matched MeSH terms: Aspergillus/isolation & purification
  9. Fulltext Flavonoid analyses and antimicrobial activity of various parts of Phaleria macrocarpa (Scheff.) Boerl fruit
    Hendra R, Ahmad S, Sukari A, Shukor MY, Oskoueian E
    Int J Mol Sci, 2011;12(6):3422-31.
    PMID: 21747685 DOI: 10.3390/ijms12063422
    Phaleria macrocarpa (Scheff.) Boerl (Thymelaceae) is commonly known as 'Crown of God', 'Mahkota Dewa', and 'Pau'. It originates from Papua Island, Indonesia and it grows in tropical areas. Empirically, it is potent in treating the hypertensive, diabetic, cancer and diuretic patients. It has a long history of ethnopharmacological usage, and the lack of information about its biological activities led us to investigate the possible biological activities by characterisation of flavonoids and antimicrobial activity of various part of P. macrocarpa against pathogenic bacteria and fungi. The results showed that kaempferol, myricetin, naringin, and rutin were the major flavonoids present in the pericarp while naringin and quercetin were found in the mesocarp and seed. Furthermore, the antibacterial activity of different parts of P. macrocarpa fruit showed a weak ability to moderate antibacterial activity against pathogenic tested bacteria (inhibition range: 0.93-2.17 cm) at concentration of 0.3 mg/disc. The anti fungi activity was only found in seed extract against Aspergillus niger (1.87 cm) at concentration of 0.3 mg/well. From the results obtained, P. macrocarpa fruit could be considered as a natural antimicrobial source due to the presence of flavonoid compounds.
    Matched MeSH terms: Aspergillus niger/drug effects
  10. In vitro and in vivo antifungal activity of Cassia surattensis flower against Aspergillus niger
    Sumathy V, Zakaria Z, Jothy SL, Gothai S, Vijayarathna S, Yoga Latha L, et al.
    Microb Pathog, 2014 Dec;77:7-12.
    PMID: 25457794 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2014.10.004
    Invasive aspergillosis (IA) in immunocompromised host is a major infectious disease leading to reduce the survival rate of world population. Aspergillus niger is a causative agent causing IA. Cassia surattensis plant is commonly used in rural areas to treat various types of disease. C. surattensis flower extract was evaluated against the systemic aspergillosis model in this study. Qualitative measurement of fungal burden suggested a reduction pattern in the colony forming unit (CFU) of lung, liver, spleen and kidney for the extract treated group. Galactomannan assay assessment showed a decrease of fungal load in the treatment and positive control group with galactomannan index (GMI) value of 1.27 and 0.25 on day 28 but the negative control group showed high level of galactomannan in the serum with GMI value of 3.58. Histopathology examinations of the tissues featured major architecture modifications in the tissues of negative control group. Tissue reparation and recovery from infection were detected in extract treated and positive control group. Time killing fungicidal study of A. niger revealed dependence of the concentration of C. surattensis flower extract.
    Matched MeSH terms: Aspergillus niger/drug effects*
  11. Fulltext Purification of an alpha amylase from Aspergillus flavus NSH9 and molecular characterization of its nucleotide gene sequence
    Karim KMR, Husaini A, Sing NN, Sinang FM, Roslan HA, Hussain H
    3 Biotech, 2018 Apr;8(4):204.
    PMID: 29607285 DOI: 10.1007/s13205-018-1225-z
    In this study, an alpha-amylase enzyme from a locally isolated Aspergillus flavus NSH9 was purified and characterized. The extracellular α-amylase was purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation and anion-exchange chromatography at a final yield of 2.55-fold and recovery of 11.73%. The molecular mass of the purified α-amylase was estimated to be 54 kDa using SDS-PAGE and the enzyme exhibited optimal catalytic activity at pH 5.0 and temperature of 50 °C. The enzyme was also thermally stable at 50 °C, with 87% residual activity after 60 min. As a metalloenzymes containing calcium, the purified α-amylase showed significantly increased enzyme activity in the presence of Ca2+ ions. Further gene isolation and characterization shows that the α-amylase gene of A. flavus NSH9 contained eight introns and an open reading frame that encodes for 499 amino acids with the first 21 amino acids presumed to be a signal peptide. Analysis of the deduced peptide sequence showed the presence of three conserved catalytic residues of α-amylase, two Ca2+-binding sites, seven conserved peptide sequences, and several other properties that indicates the protein belongs to glycosyl hydrolase family 13 capable of acting on α-1,4-bonds only. Based on sequence similarity, the deduced peptide sequence of A. flavus NSH9 α-amylase was also found to carry two potential surface/secondary-binding site (SBS) residues (Trp 237 and Tyr 409) that might be playing crucial roles in both the enzyme activity and also the binding of starch granules.
    Matched MeSH terms: Aspergillus flavus
  12. Fulltext Stem bark of Canarium Odontophyllum Miq. (dabai) as potential source of antimicrobial agent
    Noor Fazdilah Mustari, Zafira Ayushah Zainul Alamin, Noraziah Mohammad Zin, Dayang Fredalina Basri
    Jurnal Sains Kesihatan Malaysia, 2017;15(1):1-6.
    MyJurnal
    The objective of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial potential of methanol, acetone and distilled water stem
    bark extracts from Canarium odontophyllum against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Bacillus cereus ATCC 6633,
    Escherichia coli ATCC 25932, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Acinetobacter baumannii strain sensitive, Candida
    albicans ATCC 64677, Candida glabrata ATCC 90028, Aspergillus niger and Fusarium solani M2781. The extracts from
    C. odontophyllum stem bark from 3.125 mg/ml to 25 mg/ml were screened against the tested microorganisms using disc
    diffusion method. The Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) of the
    extracts against susceptible organisms were determined using microbroth dilution method and streak-plate technique,
    respectively. From the antibacterial screening assay, the growth of S. aureus, B. cereus and A. baumannii were inhibited
    by methanol extract whereas the acetone extract was capable of inhibiting all the tested microorganisms except E.coli,
    F. solani and A. niger. The lowest MIC value for methanol extract was against A. baumannii (0.195 mg/ml) whereas
    its MBC value was twice its MIC value (0.391 mg/ml), indicating that methanol extract was bacteriostatic against A.
    baumannii. While for acetone extract, S. aureus showed bactericidal effect with equal MIC and MBC values at 0.195 mg/
    ml. In conclusion, stem bark of C. odontophyllum has the potential to be the source of antibacterial agent and can be
    exploited as an alternative phytoantimicrobial.
    Matched MeSH terms: Aspergillus niger
  13. Fulltext Design, synthesis and therapeutic potential of 3-(2-(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-ylthio)acetamido)-N-(substituted phenyl)benzamide analogues
    Tahlan S, Ramasamy K, Lim SM, Shah SAA, Mani V, Narasimhan B
    Chem Cent J, 2018 Dec 19;12(1):139.
    PMID: 30569392 DOI: 10.1186/s13065-018-0513-3
    BACKGROUND: The emergence of bacterial resistance is a major public health problem. It is essential to develop and synthesize new therapeutic agents with better activity. The mode of actions of certain newly developed antimicrobial agents, however, exhibited very limited effect in treating life threatening systemic infections. Therefore, the advancement of multi-potent and efficient antimicrobial agents is crucial to overcome the increased multi-drug resistance of bacteria and fungi. Cancer, which remains as one of the primary causes of deaths and is commonly treated by chemotherapeutic agents, is also in need of novel and efficacious agents to treat resistant cases. As such, a sequence of novel substituted benzamides was designed, synthesized and evaluated for their antimicrobial and anticancer activities.

    METHODOLOGY: All synthesized compounds were characterized by IR, NMR, Mass and elemental analysis followed by in vitro antimicrobial studies against Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus), Gram-negative (Salmonella typhi and Klebsiella pneumoniae) bacterial and fungal (Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger) strains by the tube dilution method. The in vitro anticancer evaluation was carried out against the human colorectal carcinoma cell line (HCT116), using the Sulforhodamine B assay.

    RESULTS, DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Compound W6 (MICsa, st, kp = 5.19 µM) emerged as a significant antibacterial agent against all tested bacterial strains i.e. Gram-positive (S. aureus), Gram-negative (S. typhi, K. pneumoniae) while compound W1 (MICca, an = 5.08 µM) was most potent against fungal strains (A. niger and C. albicans) and comparable to fluconazole (MIC = 8.16 µM). The anticancer screening demonstrated that compound W17 (IC50 = 4.12 µM) was most potent amongst the synthesized  compounds and also more potent than the standard drug 5-FU (IC50 = 7.69 µM).

    Matched MeSH terms: Aspergillus niger
  14. Initial screening of mangrove endophytic fungi for antimicrobial compounds and heavy metal biosorption potential
    Ling Onn M, Teen Lim P, Aazani Mujahid, Proksch P, Müller M
    Sains Malaysiana, 2016;45:1063-1071.
    Endophytic fungi provide protection to their host plant and the fungi often produce antimicrobial compounds to aid the host
    fighting off pathogens. These bioactive compounds were secondary metabolites which were often produced as waste- or
    by-products. In the present study, endophytic fungi isolated from mangrove plants and soils were characterized and their
    antimicrobial production and bioremediation potential of heavy metals copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) were assessed. Twelve
    (12) isolated and identified endophytic fungi belonged to seven species; Penicillium, Curvularia, Diaporthe, Aspergillus,
    Guignardia, Neusartorya and Eupenicillium. Antimicrobial activities of these 12 fungal endophytes were tested against
    Gram negative bacteria; Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Gram positive bacteria; Escherichia coli and fungi;
    Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger among others. Two isolates (related to Guignardia sp. and Neusartoya sp.) showed
    strong antimicrobial (and antifungal) activity whereas the rest showed no activity. Compounds were isolated from both
    isolates and screened using HPLC. Both isolates displayed chemically very interesting chromatograms as they possessed a
    high diversity of basic chemical structures and peaks over a wide range of polarities, with structures similar to Trimeric
    catechin and Helenalin among others. For bioremediation assessment, the results showed maximum biosorption capacity
    for two isolates related to Curvularia sp. and Neusartorya sp., with the former removing 25 mg Cu/g biomass and the
    latter removing 24 mg Zn/g biomass. Our results indicated the potential of mangrove endophytic fungi in producing
    bioactive compounds and also highlighted their potential for the treatment of heavy metal-contaminated wastewater.
    Matched MeSH terms: Aspergillus niger
  15. Fulltext Production of citric acid from sugarcane molasses by Aspergillus niger using submerged fermentation
    Almakki, Asma, Mirghani, Mohamed E.S., Kabbashi, Nassereldeen A.
    Biological and Natural Resources Engineering Journal, 2019;2(1):47-55.
    MyJurnal
    Citric acid (CA) has a high demand due to its various uses in the food and pharmaceutical industries. However, the natural supply of CA is minimal compared to its growing industrial demand. The increasing demand for CA can be fulfilled by using biotechnological processes. This study utilized liquid state bioconversion by Aspergillus niger for CA production using sugarcane molasses as the primary substrate. Sugarcane molasses which is agricultural waste consists of significant proportion of organic matters such as lipids and carbohydrates. This makes sugarcane molasses as a potential and alternative source of producing CA at a lower cost. In this study, statistical optimization was applied to improve CA production using submerged fermentation in shake flasks. Aspergillus niger was cultured in potato dextrose agar. Then, inoculum spores were introduced into the fermentation media for a specific duration according to the experimental design from Central Composite Design (CCD) tool under Response Surface Methodology (RSM) in Design Expert 6.0 software. Three parameters were chosen to be optimized at 32⁰C i.e.agitation rate (160, 80, 200 rpm), substrate concentration (47, 60, 73%) and fermentation time (24, 72, 120 h). High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR) analyses were conducted to measure CA yield. The optimization study showed that the media incubated for 72 hours with a substrate concentration of 60% and an agitation speed of 180 rpm produced the highest CA yield(21.2 g/L).The analysis of variance (ANOVA) also showed that CCD quadratic model was significant with P-value< 0.0104 and R2is0.8964.
    Matched MeSH terms: Aspergillus niger
  16. Synthesis, Characterization, Antimicrobial and Anticancer Studies of Metal Complexes of 2-methoxy-4-((3-methylpyridin-2-ylimino)methyl)phenol
    Mishra A, Tahlan S, Ramasamy K, Lim SM, Shah SAA, Narasimhan B
    Mini Rev Med Chem, 2020;20(13):1311-1317.
    PMID: 32368977 DOI: 10.2174/1389557520666200505124125
    BACKGROUND: Being derived from primary amine and aromatic aldehyde, Schiff base and their complexes have an imperative role in the improvement of inorganic chemistry, which are broadly studied as coordination compounds and are gradually becoming more important in biochemical and analytical applications.

    METHODS: They have also been used for antibacterial, antifungal, anticancer, antitubercular activities. Novel synthesised Schiff's base 2-methoxy-4-((3-methylpyridin-2-ylimino)methyl)phenol (SB) and its metal complexes (Zn[II], Cu[II], Co[II] and Ni[II]) were characterised by UV, IR and NMR spectroscopy. Formation of the Schiff base and the metal (Zn[II], Cu[II], Co[II] and Ni[II]) chelates was supported by spectral and analytical data. The ligand and metal complexes have been screened for their antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and antifungal activity against the fungi Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger. Further, the synthesised compounds were also screened for antiproliferative activity against the human colorectal carcinoma (HCT116) cell line using the Sulforhodamine B assay.

    RESULT: Metal complexes formed were found to enhance the potency of the Schiff base due to coordination with a copper complex, showing better activity than others.

    CONCLUSION: Copper complex was observed to be more potent than other complexes against all the pathogenic microbes and cancer cell line (HCT116).

    Matched MeSH terms: Aspergillus niger
  17. Fulltext Effect of storage conditions on quality of prebiotic dark chocolate
    Norhayati, H., Rasma Suzielawanis, Mohd Khan AMohd Khan, A.
    Malays J Nutr, 2013;19(1):111-119.
    MyJurnal
    Introduction: A prebiotic such as inulin is a well-known functional plant food ingredient. It is capable of stimulating growth of beneficial bifidobacteria in the intestine thus protecting against intestinal infections, preventing constipation, increasing mineral absorption, reducing the incidence of colon cancer, and producing B vitamins. Inulin added to food therefore has to be stable during food processing especially against heat treatment, low pH and Maillard reaction. Methods: Newly developed dark chocolate, DC-1, containing inulin (replacing sugar component) as an added value, was stored at 18oC, 60% relative humidity and 25oC, 80% relative humidity (RH) to determine shelf life stability compared to control dark chocolate, DC-0 (with high content of sugar). Sensory evaluation (quantitative descriptive analysis), water activity (aw), microbiological content and presence of inulin after storage of the prebiotic chocolate under both conditions were evaluated to determine shelf life. Results: The DC-1 chocolate had at least 12 months of shelf life at 18oC, 60% RH with better acceptance than DC-0; moreover, it did not experience microbiological and inulin content changes. At 25oC, 80% RH, the growth of Aspergillus sp. was observed on the surface of both DC-0 and DC-1 with aw >0.50 after a 2-month storage. Conclusion: Shelf life stability of DC-1 is almost similar to DC-0.
    Matched MeSH terms: Aspergillus
  18. Fulltext Screening antimicrobial activity of tropical edible medicinal plant extracts against five standard microorganisms for natural food preservative
    Rukayadi, Y., Lau, K.Y., Zainin, N.S., Zakaria, M., Abas, F.
    International Food Research Journal, 2013;20(5):2905-2910.
    MyJurnal
    Edible medicinal plants are often used in the treatment of various ailments and spice in traditional food preparation. In this study, 45 of tropical edible medicinal plants extracts from Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand were screened for their antimicrobial activity against five standard microorganisms for food preservative namely Aspergillus niger, Candida albicans, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. The methanol extracts of Piper nigrum L. seed, Piper cubeba L. seed, and the root of Ligusticum acutilobum Siebold and Zucc. showed antimicrobial activity against five species of standard microorganisms. Among them, P. cubeba L. extract demonstrated the most susceptible against all tested microorganisms. Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal bactericidal or fungicidal concentration (MBC or MFC) were performed by the broth microdilution techniques as described by the Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute. MIC values of P. cubeba L. extract to A. niger, C. albicans, E. coli, P. aeruginosa and S. aureus were 12.8, 1.6, 3.2, 6.4, and 1.6 mg/ml, respectively. P. cubeba extract killed A. niger, C. albicans, E. coli, P. aeruginosa and S. aureus with MBC values of 25.6, 3.2, 6.4, 12.8, and 3.2 mg/ml, respectively. The potent antimicrobial activity of P. cubeba L. extract may support its use for natural food preservative.
    Matched MeSH terms: Aspergillus niger
  19. Fulltext Antifungal effect of Malaysian neem leaf extract on selected fungal species causing otomycosis in in-vitro culture medium
    Puvan Arul Arumugam, Irfan Mohamad, Rosdan Salim, Zeehaida Mohamed
    Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2015;11(2):69-84.
    MyJurnal
    Azadirachta indica (neem) has been used for a long time in agricultural and alternative medicine. Neem
    had been proved effective against certain fungi that could infect human body. This pilot study aims to
    demonstrate the antifungal effect of Malaysian neem leaf extracts on the pathogenic fungi in otomycosis,
    Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans. This is a laboratory-controlled prospective study conducted at
    Universiti Sains Malaysia. The powder form of Malaysian neem leaf was prepared. Ethanol and aqueous
    extracts of the neem leaf was diluted with sterile water to establish five different concentrations of 50 g/
    ml, 25 g/ml, 12.5 g/ml, 6.25 g/ml and 3.125g/ml. The extract was tested on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar
    suspended with Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger respectively. Well diffusion method was used
    and zone of inhibition was measured. Growth of the fungi was inhibited in both alcohol and aqueous
    extract concentrations. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of Malaysian neem aqueous extract
    against Candida albicans was 11.91 g/ml, neem ethanol extract against Candida albicans was 5.16 g/
    ml, neem aqueous extract against Aspergillus niger was 7.73 g/ml and neem ethanol extract against
    Aspergillus niger was 9.25 g/ml. Statistical analysis showed that the antifungal activity of Candida
    albicans is better in alcohol neem than aqueous extract (p
    Matched MeSH terms: Aspergillus niger
  20. Fulltext Characterization of phenolics and biological activities of different solvent extracts from Withania somnifera fruit
    Tabassam, Q., Mehmood, T., Anwar, F., Saari, N., Qadir, R.
    International Food Research Journal, 2020;27(5):915-924.
    MyJurnal
    The present work studies the profiling of phenolic bioactive and in vitro biological (anticancer, antioxidant, and antimicrobial) activities of different solvent extracts from Withania
    somnifera fruit. Anticancer activity was performed using potato-disc assay and Agrobacterium tumefaciens. While antibacterial and antifungal evaluation was done by using disc diffusion method against bacterial (Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermidis, Escherichia coli, and
    Klebsiella pneumonia) and fungal (Aspergillus flavus and Fusarium oxysporum) strains.
    Among different extraction solvents used, n-hexane extract exhibited the highest inhibition of
    tumour initiation (64%), whereas ethyl acetate (15%) was the lowest by using potato-disc
    assay. Highest total phenolic and total flavonoid contents were noted for methanolic (69.10
    GAE mg/g DW%) and n-hexane (29.45 CE mg/g DW%) extracts, respectively. For antioxidant potential, 2,2,1-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging (IC50) and reducing power EC50 were noted to be superior (0.6 and 2.0 mg/mL, respectively) for n-hexane
    extract. All the tested extracts showed considerable antibacterial and antifungal activity with
    the highest growth inhibition zones for K. pneumoniae (31.70 mm) and A. flavus (27.09 mm)
    were shown by n-hexane extract. High Performance Liquid Chromatographic (HPLC) analysis of individual phenolics (gallic acid, 2,288.48 mg/kg) indicated the highest contents of these
    compounds in n-hexane extract, which might explain the potent biological activities of this
    extract. Our findings revealed that the bioactive present in the tested fruit had significant
    potential as anticancer, antibacterial, and antifungal agents. Further studies are needed to
    elucidate the mechanism of actions of isolated bioactive against specific diseases such as
    cancer, especially in the case of n-hexane fraction.
    Matched MeSH terms: Aspergillus flavus
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