Quassia borneensis has been traditionally used as antihypertensive agent without any scientific literature on its mechanism
of action. The objective of this study was to evaluate the antiinflammatory, antioxidant and antiproliferation properties of
Q. borneensis extracts. The hexane, chloroform and aqueous extracts of root and bark of Q. borneensis were subjected to
nitric oxide (NO) inhibition assay in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) protein
level was analyzed by Western blot. The antioxidant and antiproliferative activities of the extracts on HL-60 cells were
determined using Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) and MTT assays, respectively. The chloroform extract of
Q. borneensis root obtained by soxhlet method (CSR) significantly inhibited 97.64 ± 0.96% of NO production (p < 0.001)
and suppressed iNOS expression (p < 0.05) at the highest concentration of 1.0 µg/ml. The chloroform extract of bark
obtained by maceration (CMB) exhibited the highest antioxidant capacity in the absence and presence of HL-60 cells,
where the FRAP value were 125.45 ± 9.10 µM FeSO4
.7H2
O and 181.55 ± 3.45 µM FeSO4
.7H2
O, respectively. The greatest
inhibition of HL-60 cell proliferation was exhibited by the chloroform extract of bark obtained by soxhlet method (CSB)
with the IC50 of 5.0 µg/ml. The findings suggested that the chloroform extracts of Q. borneensis possess antiinflammatory,
antioxidant and antiproliferative activities.
The aqueous extract of Prismatomeris glabra root has been used traditionally in Malaysia by the aborigines and certain rural Malays for its ergogenic effects, to maintain wellness and to enhance physical stamina. It has also been used as an aphrodisiac for generations in the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Previous studies have shown that plants with ergogenic effects may also act as a stimulant and impair cognitive function. Therefore, we seek to investigate the effects of P. glabra on non-spatial memory in male Sprague Dawley rats using object recognition test. Trial rats were injected intraperitoneally with an aqueous extract of P. glabra roots at doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg for the acute (30 min) and subacute (7 days) studies. Scopolamine (0.3 mg/kg) was used as a positive control only in the acute study meanwhile control rats were injected with saline. The locomotor activity of rats was also determined in the same test. We demonstrated that groups treated with 50 and 100 mg/kg of the extract lost their ability to discriminate the novel from familiar object in choice phase and did not alter the locomotor activity in both studies. Our results also indicated that the deficits in non-spatial working memory occured at these doses were not due to impaired locomotor activity.
Background: Obesity is major contributor to diseases and mortality. Constant weight loss significantly reverses diseases related to obesity and helps prolong human life expectancy. To date, there has been limited scientific evidence comparing the effectiveness of the Aqua Zumba® Fitness program and conventional aqua jog among obese women. Thus, the purpose of this study is to compare the effects between 12 weeks of Aqua Zumba® Fitness and aqua jog on health parameters among middle-age women. Methods: A total of sixty sedentary obese women (BMI >30 kg/m2), aged 40-59 years old were randomized to either Aqua Zumba® Fitness (AZ, n=20), aqua jog (AJ, n=20) or control group (C, n=20). Exercise groups were involved in different 12-week aqua exercise programs, 3 times per week, 60 minutes per session, with an intensity of 50-75% of maximum heart rate. Body mass (BM), skeletal muscle mass (SMM), body fat percentage (BF%), waist circumference (WC), upper and lower body strength (UBS and LBS), cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), and flexibility were measured at baseline (week-0) and post-exercise intervention (week-13). Result: The AZ group demonstrated significant changes (p
Background: Obesity is major contributor to diseases and mortality. Constant
weight loss significantly reverses diseases related to obesity and helps
prolong human life expectancy. To date, there has been limited scientific
evidence comparing the effectiveness of the Aqua Zumba® Fitness program
and conventional aqua jog among obese women. Thus, the purpose of this
study is to compare the effects between 12 weeks of Aqua Zumba® Fitness
and aqua jog on health parameters among middle-age women. Methods: A
total of sixty sedentary obese women (BMI >30 kg/m2), aged 40-59 years old
were randomized to either Aqua Zumba® Fitness (AZ, n=20), aqua jog (AJ,
n=20) or control group (C, n=20). Exercise groups were involved in different
12-week aqua exercise programs, 3 times per week, 60 minutes per session,
with an intensity of 50-75% of maximum heart rate. Body mass (BM),
skeletal muscle mass (SMM), body fat percentage (BF%), waist
circumference (WC), upper and lower body strength (UBS and LBS),
cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), and flexibility were measured at baseline
(week-0) and post-exercise intervention (week-13). Result: The AZ group
demonstrated significant changes (p