Durian or scientifically known as Durio zibethinus is one of the most well-known seasonal fruits in the Southeast Asia
region. However, its safe consumption in individuals with hypertension is still controversial. This study was conducted
to investigate the effect of durian on blood pressure of spontaneously hypertensive rat model. Four groups of rats (n=5)
were fed with either a low dose durian (26 g/kg), a high dose durian (52 g/kg), sugar solution (8 mL/kg) which has
similar sugar composition in the durian as placebo control, and distilled water as vehicle control (8 mL/kg) for 14 days.
The durian doses for rats were obtained by converting from human doses. Baseline reading of blood pressure and heart
rate were recorded before the first oral administration of durian. The blood pressure and heart rate were also measured
1 h after the durian oral administration on day 1, 3, 7 and 14 of the experiment. In conclusion, durian fruit possessed
an acute effect on the blood pressure of hypertensive rats but heart rate was unaffected. High dose administration of
durian led to significant elevation of blood pressure after 1 h of consumption. Meanwhile, low dose of durian (26 g/kg)
caused an insignificant reduction in systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Tolerance to the durian fruit was observed after
three to seven days of the oral administration and low dose consumption of durian fruit was safe in the hypertensive rat.
Enzim RNA-bergantung RNA polimerase adalah sasaran dadah yang menarik untuk mengubati jangkitan denggi. Analog
nukleosida menyerupai substrat asal enzim polimerase. Ia bertindak sebagai perencat atau substrat kepada enzim ini lalu
menyebabkan penamatan pramatang bebenang DNA/RNA atau penghasilan DNA/RNA yang rosak. Ini akan menghentikan
proses replikasi virus. Kajian dok molekul untuk mengenal pasti interaksi molekular antara enzim dan ligannya telah
dilakukan berdasarkan maklumat yang diperoleh berkenaan struktur kristal domain RdRp. Tapak pengikat-ligan domain
RdRp yang terdiri daripada sisa asid amino Asn492, Asn405, Lys401, Thr605 dan Gly601 telah dikenal pasti setelah
pengedokan analog nukleosida yang boleh didapati secara komersial dijalankan. Pengedokan analog nukleosida yang
menyerupai substrat asal RdRp ke dalam tapak pengikat menunjukkan mod pengikat-ligan dengan ikatan hidrogen,
aromatik-π dan interaksi cas adalah interaksi utama yang terlibat. Kajian ini juga memberi maklumat berkenaan
farmakofor analog nukleosida yang boleh digunakan dalam reka-bentuk dadah berasaskan struktur terhadap sasaran
penting ini.
Garlic has gained popularity worldwide as a non-pharmacological treatment for hypertension but its use in Malaysia is still moderate. This study was undertaken among Malaysian urban population to assess their knowledge, awareness and attitude towards garlic supplement. This study is a cross sectional study and was carried out from February to May 2015. A total of 202 respondents took part in the study with 45% (n=91) taking garlic supplement. The result demonstrated that there was a significant negative correlation with age and knowledge score (r=-0.15, p=0.03). Majority of the respondents were unaware (n=61/202, 69.8%) that garlic has blood pressure lowering properties. Most preferred conventional medicines (n=119/202, 58.9%) over garlic supplement (n=83/202, 41.1%). However, most of the respondents (n=176/202, 87.1%) were interested to know more about the use of garlic for hypertension. There is no significant correlation between knowledge, awareness and attitude of respondents towards garlic supplement.
Growing needs, inadequate supply along with health and religious issues are reasons for the increase in the demand for an alternative source of gelatine in the food and pharmaceutical industries. This study was conducted to optimize the process for producing halal-compliance gelatine from chicken waste; chicken shank and toes (CST). Double extraction process employed produced gelatine which was vitreous, lightweight and gossamer in appearance. Gelatine yield was 9.52%(w/w) with a pH of 3.85, moisture content of 7.17%, total protein content of 93.77%, total fat content of 0.93% and total ash of 1.57%. The Bloom strength of the CST gelatine (148.33 ± 5.51) was found to be slightly lower than the commercially available bovine gelatine (BS) (169.33 ± 58.53) (P > 0.05). Amino acid analysis showed that the CST gelatine (91.38 ± 1.01%) was comparable to BS gelatine (90.65 ± 1.56%)(P > 0.05). Double extraction has been shown to successfully increase the surface area to volume ratio of CST waste resulting in increased yield in gelatine and protein with lower total fat content obtained. The test results obtained showed that the CST gelatine produced through this method complies with pharmaceutical standards.
Gelatine is used as an excipient for various pharmaceutical dosage forms, such as capsule shells (both hard and soft),
tablets, suspensions, emulsions and injections (e.g. plasma expanders). It is also broadly used in various industries
such as food and cosmetics. Gelatine is a biopolymer obtained from discarded or unused materials of bovine, porcine,
ovine, poultry and marine industrial farms. The discarded materials can be the skin, tendons, cartilages, bones and
connective tissues. Gelatine sourced from animals is relatively easy and inexpensive to produce. The potential needs of
gelatine cannot be overemphasised. Rising demands, health concerns and religious issues have heightened the need for
alternative sources of gelatine. This review presents the various industrial uses of gelatine and the latest developments
in producing gelatine from various sources.