This study explores the role of sterols as lipid biomarkers to indicate their input which originates from various sources in the marine environment. Sterols and their ratios were investigated in sediments taken from sixteen sampling stations at Pulau Tinggi, Johor in order to assess the sources of organic matter. The compounds extracted from the sediments were quantified using a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The distributions of sterols indicated that organic matter at all sampling stations originated from a mixture of marine source and terrestrial origins at different proportions. A total of eleven sterols were quantified, with the major compounds being phytosterols (44% of total sterols), cholesterol (11%), brassicasterol (11%) and fecal sterols (12%).
Introduction: Acalypha indica is commonly referred to as “pokok kucing galak”. It is an herbaceous species that grow along the earth’s equator line, including the wet, temperate and tropical regions. Domestic cats experience the effect of this plant by reacting very favorably to the root. The first compilation of the ethnopharmacology and phytochemistry of the Acalypha plants was published. This genus is the fourth largest genus of the Euphorbiaceae family, with about 500 species. However, the review only represents about one third of the species from the Acalypha genus. Methods: Hence, this study is performed to obtain updates on the biochemistry of this plant, via literature search. Results: From the articles, almost every part of the plant, including the leaves, stems and roots, are used as traditional remedies. Local people consume the plant for therapeutic purposes such as anthelminthic, anti-ulcer, anti-bacteria, anti-microbial and wound healing. In homeopathy practice, it is used for asthma and bronchitis. Nevertheless,
there is still a potential risk of using A. indica. It was reported that this traditional medicine could induce Intravascular haemolysis in patients with a glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency. Clinical evaluations of Acalypha extract could be utilized to justify the ethnomedicinal claims and for the safety of its therapeutic applications. Meanwhile, there is an increase in the phytochemical and chromatographic experiments of A. indica that could introduce the extract’s role in pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, zoology and veterinary fields. It contains secondary metabolites, including dihydroactinidiolide; a terpenoid, alkaloids, flavonoids and steroids, for example, brassicasterol. Conclusion: The finding of this review concludes that Acalypha is a natural source, worth to be further investigated. It is hoped that new biologically active constituents could be discovered, since only few Acalypha species were comprehensively studied.