A comparative study of nutrient composition and in vitro ruminal degradability of selected local plants, Macaranga sp.and Mallotus sp.was carried out and Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) was used as control.The results obtained from proximate analysis revealed that there were significant difference (P
Honey quality is the main criterion used for evaluating honey production in the stingless bee Heterotrigona itama, and it is correlated with the plant species consumed as its main diet. The objective of this study was to obtain the metabarcode data from 12 populations of H. itama species throughout Malaysia (Borneo and Peninsular Malaysia) using the trnL marker. A total of 262 species under 70 families and five phyla of plants were foraged by H. itama in the studied populations. Spermatophyta and Magnoliophyta were recorded as the two most abundant phyla foraged, at 55.95% and 32.39%, respectively. Four species, Garcinia oblongifolia, Muntingia calabura, Mallotus pellatus, and Pinus squamata, occurred abundantly and were consumed by H. itama in all the populations. These data are considered as a fundamental finding that is specific to the diet of H. itama for strategizing the management of the domestication process specifically in a mono-cropping system and in a netted structure. Thus, based on these findings, we recommend Momordica charantia, Melastoma sp., and Cucumis sativa as the best choices of food plant species to be planted and utilized by H. itama in meliponiculture.
Introduction: Traditionally, Mallotus paniculatus (Balik Angin) plant is used in the treatment of various
diseases in rural areas such as remedy after childbirth, wound healing and fever. In this present study, four
medicinal properties of the plant were investigated which included antibacterial, antifungal, anticancer and
antioxidant activities. Materials and Methods: Potential medicinal compounds were extracted from the plant
leaves by sonication with 3 different solvents namely ethanol, ethyl acetate and hexane respectively. The
antibacterial and antifungal properties were determined using disc diffusion agar and broth dilution assay,
the antioxidant activity by DPPH scavenging assay and the anticancer effect by MTT assay. Results: From the
screening of the medicinal properties, M. paniculatus leave extracts were shown to possess antibacterial,
antioxidant and anticancer properties but not antifungal properties. Ethanolic and ethyl acetate extracts of
the leave were active against gram positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis) but not
gram negative bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli). The antioxidant activity of the
ethanolic crude extract was high; with IC50 of 30 μg/ml comparable with the positive controls; ascorbic acid
and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). Both ethanolic and ethyl acetate extracts were cytotoxic against breast
cancer (MCF7), colon cancer (HT-29), cervix cancer (Hela) cell lines. Conclusion: M. paniculatus leave
extract has many potential medicinal values for further studies.