Aims:The effectiveness of microalgae in the post-treatment of palm oil mill effluent (POME) was being investigated for colourremoval and COD reduction. Methodology and results:Raw POME, obtained from a local palm oil mill and treated with anaerobic and aerobic processes for 50 days and 16 days of hydraulic retention time (HRT) respectively, was then used in the phycoremediation study. Three different species of microalgae (Ankistrodesmus falcatus, Scenedesmus sp. and Chlorellasp.) were inoculated in a culture media which contained 20%, 40% and 60% dilution of POME. The pH of thetreated POME sample was not adjusted and fixed at the original pH of about pH 8-9. The growth of the microalgae was determined every 2 days based on their chlorophyll concentration. Chlorellasp. showed the best adaptation and grew well in all dilutions of the treated POME sample and subsequently chosen for remediation of the POME sample without any dilution.Conclusion, significance and impact of study:Chemical oxygen demand (COD) and colour removal of POME were determined every 2 days. Chlorellasp. performed well with COD reduction and colour removal of 67.87% and 53.26%, respectively.

Objective: To compare the in vitro antioxidant capacity of a diatom, Chaetoceros calcitrans (. C. calcitrans) extracted using six types of solvents. Methods: Each extract was evaluated in terms of extraction yield, total carotenoid, fucoxanthin content, total phenolic and antioxidant capacities (DPPH and ABTS

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the mechanistic basis for the attenuation of bone degeneration by edible bird's nest (EBN) in ovariectomized rats. METHODS: Forty-two female Sprage-Dawley rats were randomized into 7 groups (6 in each group). The ovariectomized (OVX) and OVX + 6%, 3%, and 1.5% EBN and OVX +estrogen groups were given standard rat chow alone, standard rat chow +6%, 3%, and 1.5% EBN, or standard rat chow +estrogen therapy (0.2mg/kg per day), respectively. The sham-operation group was surgically opened without removing the ovaries. The control group did not have any surgical intervention. After 12 weeks of intervention, blood samples were taken for serum estrogen, osteocalcin, and osteoprotegerin, as well as the measurement of magnesium, calcium abd zinc concentrations. While femurs were removed from the surrounding muscles to measure bone mass density using the X-ray edge detection technique, then collected for histology and estrogen receptor (ER) immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Ovariectomy altered serum estrogen levels resulting in increased food intake and weight gain, while estrogen and EBN supplementation attenuated these changes. Ovariectomy also reduced bone ER expression and density, and the production of osteopcalcin and osteorotegerin, which are important pro-osteoplastic hormones that promote bone mineraliztion and density. Conversely, estrogen and EBN increased serum estrogen levels leading to increased bone ER expression, pro-osteoplastic hormone production and bone density (all P<0.05). CONCLUSION EBN could be used as a safe alternative to hormone replacement therapys for managing menopausal complications like bone degeneration.