MyMedR

Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 21 in total

Abstract:

Sort:

Multi-elemental composition and physical properties of honey samples from Malaysia

Chua LS, Abdul-Rahaman NL, Sarmidi MR, Aziz R

Food Chem, 2012 Dec 1;135(3):880-7.
PMID: 22953800 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2012.05.106

The elemental profiles of six honey samples from Malaysia had been constructed using the data obtained from both ICP-AES and ICP-MS. Potassium and sodium were the most abundant minerals covering from 69.3-78.6% and 14.1-28.7%, respectively. The ratio of potassium to sodium was more than one. Even though the minerals and trace elements composition varied dependent on the type of honey samples, there was no statistically significant difference between the analysed honey samples, namely tualang, gelam, acacia and a few forest honeys based on two-factor ANOVA and cluster analysis. The total element content of honey samples were strongly correlated with the electrical conductivity, but only have moderate correlation with the ash content and honey colour based on the regression analysis. PCA result on the available elemental data from worldwide honeys, including honey samples from Malaysia revealed that potassium and sodium were the mineral markers to distinguish honey origin. Both tualang and gelam honey samples from Malaysia have close mineral profile with sesame honeys from Egypt and multifloral honeys from India, whereas forest honeys Malaysia were near to avocado honeys from Spain and multifloral honeys from India.

Matched MeSH terms: Potassium/analysis
Nutritional values of wild edible freshwater macrophytes

Zakaria MH, Ramaiya SD, Bidin N, Syed NNF, Bujang JS

PeerJ, 2023;11:e15496.
PMID: 37456903 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.15496

BACKGROUND: The social acceptability of wild freshwater macrophytes as locally consumed vegetables is widespread. Freshwater macrophytes have several uses; for example, they can be used as food for humans. This study determined the proximate composition and mineral content of three freshwater macrophyte species, i.e., Eichhornia crassipes, Limnocharis flava, and Neptunia oleracea.
METHODS: Young shoots of E. crassipes, L. flava, and N. oleracea were collected from shallow channels of Puchong (3°00'11.89″N, 101°42'43.12″E), Ladang 10, Universiti Putra Malaysia (2°58'44.41″N, 101°42'44.45″E), and Kampung Alur Selibong, Langgar (06°5'50.9″N, 100°26'49.8″E), Kedah, Peninsular Malaysia. The nutritional values of these macrophytes were analysed by using a standard protocol from the Association of Official Analytical Chemists. Eight replicates of E. crassipes and L. flava and four replicates of N. oleracea were used for the subsequent analyses.
RESULTS: In the proximate analysis, N. oleracea possessed the highest percentage of crude protein (29.61%) and energy content (4,269.65 cal g-1), whereas L. flava had the highest percentage of crude fat (5.75%) and ash (18.31%). The proximate composition trend for each species was different; specifically, all of the species possessed more carbohydrates and fewer crude lipids. All of the species demonstrated a similar mineral trend, with high nitrogen and potassium and lower copper contents. Nitrogen and potassium levels ranged from 12,380-40,380 mg kg-1 and from 11,212-33,276 mg kg-1, respectively, and copper levels ranged from 16-27 mg kg-1. The results showed that all three plant species, i.e., E. crassipes, N. oleracea, and L. flava are plant-based sources of macro- and micronutrient beneficial supplements for human consumption.

Matched MeSH terms: Potassium/analysis
Fulltext Controlled image-based prediction of soil nutrient concentrations (NPK) using machine and deep learning

Maqsood U, Karamat Ullah Khan T, Jhanjhi NZ, Sattar K, Iftikhar F, Imtiaz Ali N, et al.

PLoS One, 2026;21(10):e0360517.
PMID: 42945351 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0360517

Soil nutrient analysis is essential for sustainable agriculture and precision farming. Traditional chemical tests for nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are reliable but costly, time-consuming, and often unavailable in remote areas. The objective of this study is to develop a novel approach that combines laboratory chemical extraction, controlled image acquisition, image processing, machine learning, and deep learning to classify soil nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels. 50 independent soil samples were analyzed, chemically extracted, and classified as Low, Medium, or High for each nutrient. A specially designed black-box prototype was developed to capture high-quality images of soil extract samples under consistent lighting conditions. The images were used to extract color and texture information, which was evaluated using multiple classical machine-learning algorithms, such as K-nearest neighbours, support vector machines, logistic regression, random forest, extra trees, gradient boosting, and Gaussian naive Bayes. A convolutional neural network-based model was also used for comparison. To minimize data leakage, all validation procedures were performed at the physical-sample level, and augmented images were restricted to the training data. The best models obtained using nested cross-validation for nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium were KNN, Random Forest, and Logistic Regression, respectively, with accuracies of 60%, 82%, and 48%. The nitrogen model correctly identified the High category, and the phosphorus model correctly identified the dominant Low category each time. For potassium, Logistic Regression made predictions of all three classes and outperformed the majority class baseline. The Classical machine-learning models slightly outperformed the compact CNN for nitrogen and potassium, while both achieved the same accuracy for phosphorus; however, overall performance remained limited by the small and imbalanced dataset. The findings suggest that the proposed framework could contribute to image-assisted decision-making in smart farming and support improved soil management practices, particularly in regions where laboratory testing facilities are limited.

Matched MeSH terms: Potassium/analysis
A Survey on Nutrition Labeling for Sodium, Potassium, and Phosphorus of Packaged Food and Beverages

Asan NB, Wei Kun DW, Ooi YBH, Khor BH

J Ren Nutr, 2025 Jan;35(1):229-233.
PMID: 38848805 DOI: 10.1053/j.jrn.2024.05.006

OBJECTIVES: Nutrition labeling is important to guide patients with chronic kidney disease to make informed choices. This study aimed to evaluate the extent and accessibility of nutrition labeling for sodium, potassium, and phosphorus on food and beverage products in a supermarket.
METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in a Malaysian supermarket. Information on sodium, potassium, and phosphorus contents was collected from the nutrition fact panel, while information on food additives containing sodium, potassium, and phosphorus was collected from the ingredient list.
RESULTS: The survey included 2,577 foods and beverages, and 79.4% of the products included sodium information in nutrition fact panels, but only 11.7% and 2.0% disclosed potassium and phosphorus content, respectively. Sodium-containing additives were found in 78.6% of products; potassium- and phosphorus-containing additives were reported in 28.5% and 46.9% of products, respectively. Sodium-containing additives were typically listed as "salt," potassium-containing additives as "alternative names," and phosphorus-containing additives as "starch" and "E numbers." Imported products were more likely to include sodium (P potassium and phosphorus information on nutrition labels in Malaysia food and beverage products, which presents significant challenges for individuals with chronic kidney disease in choosing appropriate products for their dietary needs.

Matched MeSH terms: Potassium/analysis
Fulltext The New Standardized Malaysian Healthy Eating Index

Jailani M, Elias SM, Rajikan R

Nutrients, 2021 Sep 30;13(10).
PMID: 34684475 DOI: 10.3390/nu13103474

Healthy Eating Index (HEI) is a diet quality measure that assesses the population's compliance towards dietary guidelines. In Malaysia, diet quality measure, though existing, has some limitations in terms of application and relevance. This study aims to develop a new standardized Malaysian Healthy Eating Index (S-MHEI) that can measure the diet quality of all Malaysians regardless of their energy requirement level. The Malaysian Dietary Guidelines (MDG) 2010 and MDG for Children and Adolescents (MDGCA) 2013 were used as main references in developing the index components. In addition, the latest Malaysian Adults Nutrition Survey (MANS) and Adolescent Nutrition Survey (ANS) were also referred to ensure the relevance of the components selected. For adequacy components, the least restrictive method was used in setting the standard for the scoring system. Meanwhile, the scoring system for moderation components was built based on the Recommended Nutrient Intake (RNI) 2017. The new S-MHEI comprises of 11 components with a maximum total score of 100. The least restrictive method allowed the index to be used across energy requirement levels. However, the index will not be sensitive towards adhering to the specific recommended amount of intake-which in effect, made the index focus on measuring diet quality rather than diet quantity.

Matched MeSH terms: Potassium/analysis
Plant proteins, minerals and trace elements of Eurycoma longifolia (Tongkat Ali)

Chua LS, Abdul-Rahman N, Rosidi B, Lee CT

Nat Prod Res, 2013 Mar;27(4-5):314-8.
PMID: 22468741 DOI: 10.1080/14786419.2012.676552

A water extraction method has been used to extract plant proteins from the roots of Eurycoma longifolia harvested from Perak and Pahang, Malaysia. On the basis of the spectroscopic Bradford assay, Tongkat Ali Perak and Pahang contained 0.3868 and 0.9573 mg mL(-1) of crude protein, respectively. The crude proteins were separated by one dimensional 15% sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis into two (49.8 and 5.5 kD) and four (49.8, 24.7, 21.1 and 5.5 kD) protein spots for Tongkat Ali Perak and Pahang, respectively. Isoleucine was present in the highest concentration significantly. Both plant samples showed differences in the mineral and trace element profiles, but the minerals calcium, magnesium and potassium were present in the highest concentration. The highly concerned toxic metals such as arsenic and lead were not detected.

Matched MeSH terms: Potassium/analysis
Characterization of Matured Vermicompost Derived from Valorization of Palm Oil Mill Byproduct

Lim SL, Wu TY

J Agric Food Chem, 2016 Mar 2;64(8):1761-9.
PMID: 26844586 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.6b00531

The valorization process involves transforming low-value materials such as wastes into high-value-added products. The current study aims to determine the potential of using a valorization process such as vermicomposting technology to convert palm oil mill byproduct, namely, decanter cake (DC), into organic fertilizer or vermicompost. The maturity of the vermicompost was characterized through various chemical and instrumental characterization to ensure the end product was safe and beneficial for agricultural application. The vermicomposting of DC showed significantly higher nutrient recovery and decreases in C:N ratio in comparison with the controls, particularly in the treatment with 2 parts DC and 1 part rice straw (w/w) (2DC:1RS). 2DC:1RS vermicompost had a final C:N ratio of 9.03 ± 0.12 and reasonably high levels of calcium (1.13 ± 0.05 g/kg), potassium (25.47 ± 0.32 g/kg), magnesium (4.87 ± 0.19 g/kg), sodium (7.40 ± 0.03 g/kg), and phosphorus (3.62 ± 0.27 g/kg). In addition, instrumental characterization also revealed a higher degree of maturity in the vermicompost. Ratios of 2921:1633 and DTG2:DTG3 also showed significant linear correlations with the C:N ratio, implying that those ratios could be used to characterize the progression of vermicompost maturity during the valorization process of DC.

Matched MeSH terms: Potassium/analysis
Kinetic properties of 137Cs uptake by the cesium-accumulating eustigmatophycean microalga

Khudzari J, Fukuda SY, Shiraiwa Y, Iwamoto K

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2023 Mar;30(12):34460-34467.
PMID: 36509956 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-24573-6

Cesium-137 (137Cs) is one of the radioactive substances that was released into the environment as a result of the Fukushima nuclear disaster. Radiocesium exposure is of great concern due to its potential environmental implications. However, research on 137Cs removal using algae is still limited. This is the first report to describe the kinetic properties of 137Cs uptake by Vacuoliviride crystalliferum in the presence and absence of potassium. In this work, we studied the kinetic properties of 137Cs uptake using a freshwater microalga, V. crystalliferum (NIES 2860). We also analyzed the effects of temperature, light, and potassium (K) on the 137Cs uptake. Results showed that V. crystalliferum can remove up to 90% of 157 nM 137Cs within an hour. At 20 °C, the removal increased by up to 96%, compared to less than 10% at 5 °C. However, the removal was inhibited by nearly 90% in the dark compared to the removal in the light, implying that V. crystalliferum cells require energy to accumulate 137Cs. In the inhibition assay, K concentrations ranged from 0 to 500 µM and the inhibitory constant (Ki) for K was determined to be 16.7 µM. While in the uptake assay without potassium (- K), the Michaelis constant (Km) for Cs was 45 nM and increased to 283 nM by the addition of 20 µM potassium (+ K), indicating that V. crystalliferum had a high affinity for 137Cs. In addition, the maximum uptake velocity (Vmax) also increased from 6.75 to 21.10 nmol (mg Chl h)-1, implying the existence of Cs active transport system. In conclusion, V. crystalliferum is capable of removing radioactive 137Cs from the environment and the removal was favorable at both normal temperature and in the light.

Matched MeSH terms: Potassium/analysis
The spatial distribution of physicochemical parameters in coastal sediments along the Bay of Bengal Coastal Zone with statistical analysis

Pandion K, Arunachalam KD, Dowlath MJH, Chinnapan S, Chang SW, Chang W, et al.

Environ Monit Assess, 2022 Nov 19;195(1):126.
PMID: 36401680 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-022-10568-w

The current study focused on the monitoring of pollution loads in the Kalpakkam coastal zone of India in terms of physico-chemical characteristics of sediment. The investigation took place at 12 sampling points around the Kalpakkam coastal zone for one year beginning from 2019. The seasonal change of nutrients in the sediment, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, total organic carbon, and particles size distribution, was calculated. Throughout the study period, the pH (7.55 to 8.99), EC (0.99 to 4.98 dS/m), nitrogen (21.74 to 58.12 kg/ha), phosphorus (7.5 to 12.9 kg/ha), potassium (218 to 399 kg/ha), total organic carbon (0.11 to 0.88%), and particle size cumulative percent of sediments (from 9.01 to 9.39%) was observed. A number of multivariate statistical techniques were used to examine the changes in sediment quality. The population means were substantially different according to the three-way ANOVA test at the 0.05 level. Principal component analysis and cluster analysis showed a substantial association with all indicators throughout all seasons, implying contamination from both natural and anthropogenic causes. The ecosystem of the Kalpakkam coastal zone has been affected by nutrient contamination.

Matched MeSH terms: Potassium/analysis
Assessment of pilot-scale sewage sludge pelletization for non-food crop fertilization: nutrient content, pathogenicity, and growth performance

Samsudin MH, Yusoff MZM, Hassan MA, Zakaria MR, Roslan AM, Salamat SS, et al.

Environ Monit Assess, 2024 Aug 12;196(9):807.
PMID: 39133340 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-024-12956-w

Application of sewage sludge as fertilizer can be beneficial for sustainable agriculture as it could largely account for nitrogen and phosphorus demand for crops and has lower costs compared to other disposal routes, e.g., incineration, and sanitary landfills. This study evaluates the feasibility of pilot-scale pelletization of sewage sludge for non-food crops (e.g., ornamental plants). The co-pelletization method was designed by mixing sewage sludge and binder (tapioca starch) at a 9:1 sludge-to-starch weight ratio. The amount of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) of the resultant pellets were determined at 5.7%, 4.9%, and 0.2%, respectively. Following Malaysian and US Standards, non-essential elements and pathogenicity of the pelletized sewage sludge were measured below the predetermined limits and hence safe for agricultural application. The planting trial using 50% inorganic fertilizer + 50% sewage sludge pellets exhibited a promising result on the growth of the flowering plant Celosia plumosa, with having better dimension and color, 20% higher in height, 4% more chlorophyll content, 54% more leaf, 43% greater stem growth, and 27% more flowers compared to control. Likewise, the planting trial on Tagetes erecta resulted in 10.5% wider leaf, 10.6% heavier leaf dry weight, and 12.5% more chlorophyll content compared to control with full usage of inorganic fertilizer. By considering liquidities to operate the production facility, the economic analysis estimated that the production cost per ton of pelletized sewage sludge produced was USD 0.98.

Matched MeSH terms: Potassium/analysis
Co-composting of palm oil mill sludge-sawdust

Yaser AZ, Abd Rahman R, Kalil MS

Pak J Biol Sci, 2007 Dec 15;10(24):4473-8.
PMID: 19093514

Composting of Palm Oil Mill Sludge (POMS) with sawdust was conducted in natural aerated reactor. Composting using natural aerated reactor is cheap and simple. The goal of this study is to observe the potential of composting process and utilizing compost as media for growing Cymbopogun citratus, one of Malaysia herbal plant. The highest maximum temperature achieved is about 40 degrees C and to increase temperature bed, more biodegradable substrate needs to be added. The pH value decrease along the process with final pH compost is acidic (pH 5.7). The highest maximum organic losses are about 50% with final C/N ratio of the compost is about 19. Final compost also showed some fertilizing value but need to be adjusted to obtain an ideal substrate. Addition of about 70% sandy soil causes highest yield and excellent root development for C. citratus in potted media. Beside that, compost from POMS-sawdust also found to have fertilizer value and easy to handle. Composting of POMS with sawdust shows potential as an alternative treatment to dispose and recycle waste components.

Matched MeSH terms: Potassium/analysis
Applied K fertilizer use efficiency in pineapples grown on a tropical peat soil under residues removal

Ahmed OH, Ahmad HM, Musa HM, Rahim AA, Rastan SO

ScientificWorldJournal, 2005 Jan 21;5:42-9.
PMID: 15674449

In Malaysia, pineapples are grown on peat soils, but most K fertilizer recommendations do not take into account K loss through leaching. The objective of this study was to determine applied K use efficiency under a conventionally recommended fertilization regime in pineapple cultivation with residues removal. Results showed that K recovery from applied K fertilizer in pineapple cultivation on tropical peat soil was low, estimated at 28%. At a depth of 0-10 cm, there was a sharp decrease of soil total K, exchangeable K, and soil solution K days after planting (DAP) for plots with K fertilizer. This decline continued until the end of the study. Soil total, exchangeable, and solution K at the end of the study were generally lower than prior values before the study. There was no significant accumulation of K at depths of 10-25 and 25-45 cm. However, K concentrations throughout the study period were generally lower or equal to their initial status in the soil indicating leaching of the applied K and partly explained the low K recovery. Potassium losses through leaching in pineapple cultivation on tropical peat soils need to be considered in fertilizer recommendations for efficient recovery of applied K.

Matched MeSH terms: Potassium/analysis*
Fulltext Milk Powder Fortified with Potassium and Phytosterols to Decrease the Risk of Cardiovascular Events among the Adult Population in Malaysia: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis

Gandola AE, Dainelli L, Zimmermann D, Dahlui M, Detzel P

Nutrients, 2019 May 30;11(6).
PMID: 31151244 DOI: 10.3390/nu11061235

This study evaluated the cost-effectiveness of the consumption of a milk powder product fortified with potassium (+1050.28 mg/day) and phytosterols (+1200 mg/day) to lower systolic blood pressure and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, respectively, and, therefore, the risk of myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke among the 35-75-year-old population in Malaysia. A Markov model was created against a do-nothing option, from a governmental perspective, and with a time horizon of 40 years. Different data sources, encompassing clinical studies, practice guidelines, grey literature, and statistical yearbooks, were used. Sensitivity analyses were performed to evaluate the impact of uncertainty on the base case estimates. With an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio equal to international dollars (int$) 22,518.03 per quality-adjusted life-years gained, the intervention can be classified as very cost-effective. If adopted nationwide, it would help prevent at least 13,400 MIs, 30,500 strokes, and more than 10,600 and 17,100 MI- and stroke-related deaths. The discounted cost savings generated for the health care system by those who consume the fortified milk powder would amount to int$8.1 per person, corresponding to 0.7% of the total yearly health expenditure per capita. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of the results. Together with other preventive interventions, the consumption of milk powder fortified with potassium and phytosterols represents a cost-effective strategy to attenuate the rapid increase in cardiovascular burden in Malaysia.

Matched MeSH terms: Potassium/analysis*
Nutritional characteristics of the leaves of native plants growing in adverse soils of humid tropical lowlands

Osaki M, Watanabe T, Ishizawa T, Nilnond C, Nuyim T, Shinano T, et al.

Plant Foods Hum Nutr, 2003;58(2):93-115.
PMID: 12906350

Acid sulfate, peat, sandy podzolic, and saline soils are widely distributed in the lowlands of Thailand and Malaysia. The nutrient concentrations in the leaves of plants grown in these type of soils were studied with the aim of developing a nutritional strategy for adapting to such problem soils. In sago and oil palms that were well-adapted to peat soil, the N, P, and K concentrations were the same in the mature leaves, while the Ca, Mg, Na, and Fe concentrations were higher in the mature leaves of the oil palm than of the sago palm. Melastoma malabathricum and Melaleuca cajuputi plants that were well-adapted to low pH soils, peat. and acid sulfate soils were also studied. It was observed that a high amount of Al accumulated in the M. marabathricum leaves, while Al did not accumulate in M. cajuputi leaves. M. cajuputi plants accumulated large amounts of Na in their leaves or stems regardless of the exchangeable Na concentration in the soil, while M. malabathricum that was growing in saline-affected soils excluded Na. Positive relationships between macronutrients were recognized between P and N, between K and N, and between P and K. Al showed antagonistic relationships with P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Cu, and Na. Na also showed antagonistic relationships with P, K, Zn, Mn, Cu, and Al. Fe showed weak antagonistic relationships with Zn, Mn, Cu, and Al.

Matched MeSH terms: Potassium/analysis
Fulltext Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria improve growth and yield related attributes of chili under low nitrogen availability

Raza A, Ejaz S, Saleem MS, Hejnak V, Ahmad F, Ahmed MAA, et al.

PLoS One, 2021;16(12):e0261468.
PMID: 34919599 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0261468

Nitrogen (N) is a macronutrient desired by crop plants in large quantities. However, hiking fertilizer prices need alternative N sources for reducing its requirements through appropriate management practices. Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are well-known for their role in lowering N requirements of crop plants. This study assessed the impact of PGPR inoculation on growth, allometry and biochemical traits of chili under different N doses. Two PGPR, i.e., Azospirillum 'Er-20' (nitrogen fixing) and Agrobacterium 'Ca-18' (phosphorous solubilizing) were used for inoculation, while control treatment had no PGPR inoculation. Six N doses, i.e., 100, 80, 75, 70, 60 and 50% of the N required by chili were included in the study. Data relating to growth traits, biochemical attributes and yield related traits were recorded. Interaction among N doses and PGPR inoculation significantly altered all growth traits, biochemical attributes and yield related traits. The highest values of the recorded traits were observed for 100% N with and without PGPR inoculation and 75% N with PGPR inoculation. The lowest values of the recorded traits were noted for 50% N without PGPR inoculation. The PGPR inoculation improved the measured traits compared to the traits recorded noted in same N dose without PGPR inoculation. Results revealed that PGPR had the potential to lower 25% N requirement for chili. Therefore, it is recommended that PGPR must be used in chili cultivation to lower N requirements.

Matched MeSH terms: Potassium/analysis
Gynura procumbens Merr. decreases blood pressure in rats by vasodilatation via inhibition of calcium channels

Hoe SZ, Lee CN, Mok SL, Kamaruddin MY, Lam SK

Clinics (Sao Paulo), 2011;66(1):143-50.
PMID: 21437451

INTRODUCTION: Gynura procumbens has been shown to decrease blood pressure via inhibition of the angiotensinconverting enzyme. However, other mechanisms that may contribute to the hypotensive effect have not been studied.
OBJECTIVES: To investigate the cardiovascular effects of a butanolic fraction of Gynura procumbens in rats.
METHODS: Anaesthetized rats were given intravenous bolus injections of butanolic fraction at doses of 2.5-20 mg/kg in vivo. The effect of butanolic fraction on vascular reactivity was recorded in isolated rat aortic rings in vitro.
RESULTS: Intravenous administrations of butanolic fraction elicited significant (p < 0.001) and dose-dependent decreases in the mean arterial pressure. However, a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in the heart rate was observed only at the higher doses (10 and 20 mg/kg). In isolated preparations of rat aortic rings, phenylephrine (1 × 10⁻⁶ M)- or potassium chloride (8 × 10⁻² M)-precontracted endothelium-intact and -denuded tissue; butanolic fraction (1 × 10⁻⁶ - 1 × 10⁻¹ g/ml) induced similar concentration-dependent relaxation of the vessels. In the presence of 2.5 × 10⁻³ and 5.0 × 10⁻³ g/ml butanolic fraction, the contractions induced by phenylephrine (1 × 10⁻⁹-3 × 10⁻⁵ M) and potassium chloride (1 × 10⁻² - 8 × 10⁻² M) were significantly antagonized. The calcium-induced vasocontractions (1 × 10⁻⁴-1 × 10⁻²M) were antagonized by butanolic fraction concentration-dependently in calcium-free and high potassium (6×10⁻² M) medium, as well as in calcium- and potassium-free medium containing 1×10⁻⁶ M phenylephrine. However, the contractions induced by noradrenaline (1 × 10⁻⁶ M) and caffeine (4.5 × 10⁻² M) were not affected by butanolic fraction.
CONCLUSION: Butanolic fraction contains putative hypotensive compounds that appear to inhibit calcium influx via receptor-operated and/or voltage-dependent calcium channels to cause vasodilation and a consequent fall in blood pressure.

Matched MeSH terms: Potassium/analysis
Surface characterization analysis of failed dental implants using scanning electron microscopy

Daood U, Bandey N, Qasim SB, Omar H, Khan SA

Acta Odontol Scand, 2011 Nov;69(6):367-73.
PMID: 21449690 DOI: 10.3109/00016357.2011.569507

To investigate the failure of 15 dental implants (Paragon/Zimmer) in relation to their surface quality.

Matched MeSH terms: Potassium/analysis
Sustainable reuse of rice residues as feedstocks in vermicomposting for organic fertilizer production

Shak KP, Wu TY, Lim SL, Lee CA

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2014 Jan;21(2):1349-59.
PMID: 23900949 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-013-1995-0

Over the past decade, rice (Oryza sativa or Oryza glaberrima) cultivation has increased in many rice-growing countries due to the increasing export demand and population growth and led to a copious amount of rice residues, consisting mainly of rice straw (RS) and rice husk (RH), being generated during and after harvesting. In this study, Eudrilus eugeniae was used to decompose rice residues alone and rice residues amended with cow dung (CD) for bio-transformation of wastes into organic fertilizer. Generally, the final vermicomposts showed increases in macronutrients, namely, calcium (11.4-34.2%), magnesium (1.3-40.8%), phosphorus (1.2-57.3%), and potassium (1.1-345.6%) and a decrease in C/N ratio (26.8-80.0%) as well as increases in heavy metal content for iron (17-108%), copper (14-120%), and manganese (6-60%) after 60 days of vermicomposting. RS as a feedstock was observed to support healthier growth and reproduction of earthworms as compared to RH, with maximum adult worm biomass of 0.66 g/worm (RS) at 60 days, 31 cocoons (1RS:2CD), and 23 hatchlings (1RS:1CD). Vermicomposting of RS yielded better results than RH among all of the treatments investigated. RS that was mixed with two parts of CD (1RS:2CD) showed the best combination of nutrient results as well as the growth of E. eugeniae. In conclusion, vermicomposting could be used as a green technology to bio-convert rice residues into nutrient-rich organic fertilizers if the residues are mixed with CD in the appropriate ratio.

Matched MeSH terms: Potassium/analysis
Fulltext Salinity-induced changes in the morphology and major mineral nutrient composition of purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.) accessions

Alam MA, Juraimi AS, Rafii MY, Hamid AA, Aslani F, Hakim MA

Biol Res, 2016 Apr 18;49:24.
PMID: 27090643 DOI: 10.1186/s40659-016-0084-5

This study was undertaken to determine the effects of varied salinity regimes on the morphological traits (plant height, number of leaves, number of flowers, fresh and dry weight) and major mineral composition of 13 selected purslane accessions. Most of the morphological traits measured were reduced at varied salinity levels (0.0, 8, 16, 24 and 32 dS m(-1)), but plant height was found to increase in Ac1 at 16 dS m(-1) salinity, and Ac13 was the most affected accession. The highest reductions in the number of leaves and number of flowers were recorded in Ac13 at 32 dS m(-1) salinity compared to the control. The highest fresh and dry weight reductions were noted in Ac8 and Ac6, respectively, at 32 dS m(-1) salinity, whereas the highest increase in both fresh and dry weight was recorded in Ac9 at 24 dS m(-1) salinity compared to the control. In contrast, at lower salinity levels, all of the measured mineral levels were found to increase and later decrease with increasing salinity, but the performance of different accessions was different depending on the salinity level. A dendrogram was also constructed by UPGMA based on the morphological traits and mineral compositions, in which the 13 accessions were grouped into 5 clusters, indicating greater diversity among them. A three-dimensional principal component analysis also confirmed the output of grouping from cluster analysis.

Matched MeSH terms: Potassium/analysis
The potential reuse of soybean husk as feedstock of Eudrilus eugeniae in vermicomposting

Lim PN, Wu TY, Sim EY, Lim SL

J Sci Food Agric, 2011 Nov;91(14):2637-42.
PMID: 21725978 DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.4504

Soybean (Glycine max L.) is one the most commonly consumed legumes worldwide, with 200 million metric tons produced per year. However, the inedible soy husk would usually be removed during the process and the continuous generation of soybean husk may represent a major disposal problem for soybean processing industries. Thus, the main aim of the present study was to investigate the possibility to convert soybean husk (S) amended with market-rejected papaya (P) into vermicompost using Eudrilus eugeniae.

Matched MeSH terms: Potassium/analysis

Filters

Please provide feedback to Administrator (afdal@afpm.org.my)

External Links