MyMedR

Fulltext Antifungal activity of Boesenbergia Rotunda (temukunci) extract against filamentous spoilage fungi from vegetables

Zakuan, Z., Mustapa, S.A., Sukor, R., Rukayadi, Y.

International Food Research Journal, 2018;25(1):433-438.

MyJurnal

The filamentous spoilage fungi in vegetables can lead to significant impact in food and economic loss. In order to overcome this problem, chemical fungicide has been implemented in vegetable farming and processing but it causes problems towards environment and food safety. Thus, the utilization of natural products such as plants extracts, which exhibit antimicrobial and antifungal activity, is more acceptable to solve this problem. The aim of this study is to investigate the antifungal activity of Boesenbergia rotunda extract against ten filamentous spoilage fungi isolated from five vegetables. The extract was used to treat fungal isolates from vegetables; CRb 002 (Penicillium sp.), CHa 009 (Aspergillus sp.), TMa 001 (Geotrichum sp.), TMa 002 (Aspergillus sp), ONb 001 (Aspergillus sp.), WBb 003 and WBb 004 (Fusarium sp.) WBb 007 (unidentified), WBb 008 (Aureobasidium sp.) and WBb 010 (Penicillium sp.). The results showed that the yield of the extract of B. rotunda using ethanol (95%) was 11.42% (w/v). The 10% of B. rotunda extract exhibited antifungal activities against ten filamentous fungi after 5 days treatment with growth reduction of 41.56%, 30.68%, 86.20%, 50.62%, 26.67%, 47.44%, 50.74%, 36.39%, 42.86%, and 39.39% for WBb 008, WBb 004, WBb 007, WBb 003, CRb 002, WBb 010, CHa 009, TMa 001, ONb 001, and TMa 002, respectively. B. rotunda extract showed highest antifungal activity against fungi isolated from winged bean (WBb 007) with percentage reduction in growth was 86.20%, while the lowest activity was against fungi isolated from the carrot (CRb 002) with 26.67% reduction in growth. Generally, the TPC of fungi in the vegetable samples were reduced after treatment with 5% of B. rotunda extract at 5 min and 10 min of exposure time. The results suggested that B. rotunda extract has high potential to become natural food preservative which can reduce the fungi spoilage of vegetables.

Rational use of intravenous polymyxin B and colistin: A review

Zakuan ZD, Suresh K

Med J Malaysia, 2018 10;73(5):351-359.

PMID: 30350826 MyJurnal

Polymyxin B and colistin (polymyxin E) were introduced in clinical practice to treat Gram-negative infections in 1950s but their parenteral use waned in 1970s due to toxicity concerns. Resurgence of polymyxins use in Malaysia began approximately in 2009 due to a lack of treatment options for MDR Gram negative superbugs such as Acinetobacter baumannii, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. However, limited experience and a lack of widespread availability of up-to-date dosing guidelines could potentially result in incorrect use of these last resort antibiotics by managing doctors. The recent report of polymyxin resistant strains is also a cause of concern. Herein, we discuss the importance of preserving the efficacy of polymyxins in hospitals, the similarities and differences between polymyxin B and colistin, issues pertaining to current use of polymxyins and strategies to improve polymyxins' prescription. Polymyxins should only be used to treat significant infections, in optimum doses and if possible, in combination with other antibiotics.

Fulltext The epidemiology and clinical spectrum of melioidosis in a teaching hospital in a North-Eastern state of Malaysia: a fifteen-year review

Zueter A, Yean CY, Abumarzouq M, Rahman ZA, Deris ZZ, Harun A

BMC Infect Dis, 2016;16:333.

PMID: 27423906 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-016-1583-2

Over the last two decades, many epidemiological studies were performed to describe risks and clinical presentations of melioidosis in endemic countries.

Study site: Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM)

Fulltext Preference of treatment facilities among Malaysian Hajj pilgrims for acute respiratory symptoms

Deris ZZ, Hasan H, Sulaiman SA, Wahab MS, Naing NN, Othman NH

Saudi Med J, 2009 Aug;30(8):1103-4.

PMID: 19668898

Fulltext A secondary mode of action of polymyxins against Gram-negative bacteria involves the inhibition of NADH-quinone oxidoreductase activity

Deris ZZ, Akter J, Sivanesan S, Roberts KD, Thompson PE, Nation RL, et al.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 2014 Feb;67(2):147-51.

PMID: 24169795 DOI: 10.1038/ja.2013.111

Polymyxin B and colistin were examined for their ability to inhibit the type II NADH-quinone oxidoreductases (NDH-2) of three species of Gram-negative bacteria. Polymyxin B and colistin inhibited the NDH-2 activity in preparations from all of the isolates in a concentration-dependent manner. The mechanism of NDH-2 inhibition by polymyxin B was investigated in detail with Escherichia coli inner membrane preparations and conformed to a mixed inhibition model with respect to ubiquinone-1 and a non-competitive inhibition model with respect to NADH. These suggest that the inhibition of vital respiratory enzymes in the bacterial inner membrane represents one of the secondary modes of action for polymyxins.

Optimization of Culture Medium for the Growth of Candida sp. and Blastobotrys sp. as Starter Culture in Fermentation of Cocoa Beans (Theobroma cacao) Using Response Surface Methodology (RSM)

Mahazar NH, Zakuan Z, Norhayati H, MeorHussin AS, Rukayadi Y

Pak J Biol Sci, 2017;20(3):154-159.

PMID: 29023007 DOI: 10.3923/pjbs.2017.154.159

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Inoculation of starter culture in cocoa bean fermentation produces consistent, predictable and high quality of fermented cocoa beans. It is important to produce healthy inoculum in cocoa bean fermentation for better fermented products. Inoculum could minimize the length of the lag phase in fermentation. The purpose of this study was to optimize the component of culture medium for the maximum cultivation of Candida sp. and Blastobotrys sp.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Molasses and yeast extract were chosen as medium composition and Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was then employed to optimize the molasses and yeast extract.

RESULTS: Maximum growth of Candida sp. (7.63 log CFU mL-1) and Blastobotrys sp. (8.30 log CFU mL-1) were obtained from the fermentation. Optimum culture media for the growth of Candida sp., consist of 10% (w/v) molasses and 2% (w/v) yeast extract, while for Blastobotrys sp., were 1.94% (w/v) molasses and 2% (w/v) yeast extract.

CONCLUSION: This study shows that culture medium consists of molasses and yeast extract were able to produce maximum growth of Candida sp. and Blastobotrys sp., as a starter culture for cocoa bean fermentation.

Ocular surface infections in northeastern state of malaysia: a 10-year review of bacterial isolates and antimicrobial susceptibility

Rahman ZA, Harun A, Hasan H, Mohamed Z, Noor SS, Deris ZZ, et al.

Eye Contact Lens, 2013 Sep;39(5):355-60.

PMID: 23982472 DOI: 10.1097/ICL.0b013e3182a3026b

Ocular surface infections that include infections of conjunctiva, adnexa, and cornea have the potential risk of causing blindness within a given population. Empirical antibiotic therapy is usually initiated based on epidemiological data of common causative agents. Thus, the aims of this study were to determine the bacterial agents and their susceptibility patterns of isolates from ocular surface specimens in our hospital.

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