Objective: To investigate the antioxidant, antibacterial, and chemical ingredients of Ardisia elliptica (A. elliptica) methanolic extracts. Methods: The plant was extracted using methanol. Antibacterial and antioxidant activ-ities were evaluated. Results: The results showed that both fruit and leaf extract of A. elliptica have significant antibacterial activities against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Fruit extracts showed higher content of phenolic (71 ± 0.03 GAE/mg extract dry weight), in com-parison to the leaf extracts (37 ± 0.05 GAE/mg extract dry weight). Flavonoid content, and Fe2+chelating activity of fruit extracts were higher than leaf extract. The percentage radical inhibition of fruit extract is found to be higher (70%) than that of leaf extract (60%). LCMS results indicated that the major compounds in the fruit extract were Gingerol, Aspidin, Kampherol, and Stercuresin, while the leaf extract contained Gingerol, Aspidin, Triangularin, and Salicyl acyl glucuronide. Furthermore, the results of GCMS indicated that fruit extract contained these major compounds:Vitamin E Tocopherol, 5-hepylresornicol, 2-Nonylmalonic acid, 5-pentadecylresornicol, and Stigmasta-7-22-dien-3-ol. However, leaf extract of A. elliptica contained these major compounds: Alpha Amyrenol, 4,4, 6, 6a, 6b, 8, 8a, 9,10, 11,12,12a, 14, 14a, 14b octadehydro-2H-picen-3-one, and Lonasterol, 4-t-Butyl-2-[4-nitrophenyl] phenol. Conclusions: The results provide evidence that fruit and leaf of A. elliptica extracts might indeed be used as a potential source of effective natural antimicrobial and anti-oxidant agents in pharmaceutical and food industries.

We evaluated the activity of methanolic extracts of Melaleuca cajuputi flowers against the filarial worm Brugia pahangi and its bacterial endosymbiont Wolbachia. Anti-Wolbachia activity was measured in worms and in Aedes albopictus Aa23 cells by PCR, electron microscopy, and other biological assays. In particular, microfilarial release, worm motility, and viability were determined. M. cajuputi flower extracts were found to significantly reduce Wolbachia endosymbionts in Aa23 cells, Wolbachia surface protein, and microfilarial release, as well as the viability and motility of adult worms. Anti-Wolbachia activity was further confirmed by observation of degraded and phagocytized Wolbachia in worms treated with the flower extracts. The data provided in vitro and in vivo evidence that M. cajuputi flower extracts inhibit Wolbachia, an activity that may be exploited as an alternative strategy to treat human lymphatic filariasis.
Adult ; Aedes ; Biological Assay ; Brugia pahangi ; Elephantiasis, Filarial ; Flowers* ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Melaleuca* ; Methanol* ; Microscopy, Electron ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Wolbachia

Objective: To assess the insecticide susceptibility status of Anopheles cracens (An. cracens) and Anopheles maculatus (An. maculatus) from knowlesi malaria endemic areas in Peninsular Malaysia towards DDT, malathion and deltamethrin and to determine the resistance mechanism involved. Methods: Adult and larval mosquitos were collected for surveillance. Susceptibility status of Anopheles was determined using the standard WHO adult bioassay, larval bioassay and biochemical enzyme assay. Results: WHO adult bioassay results indicated An. cracens collected from Kampung Sungai Ular, Pahang was resistant towards 4% DDT, while An. maculatus collected from Kampung Sokor, Kelantan and Kampung Sungai Lui, Selangor exhibited resistance towards 4% DDT. However, the enzyme activity profiles varied according to strains and species. The resistance ratio of larval bioassay, showed that all strains and species tested were susceptible to malathion and temephos. Conclusions: Since only a few anopheline strains exhibited low level of insecticide resistance towards malathion, DDT and temephos. These insecticides are still considered effective for vector control program towards An. cracens and An. maculatus.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of the filarial parasites,. ie.,. Brugia malayi, Brugia, Brugia pahangi(B. pahangi), Dirofilaria immitisand. Dirofilaria repens (D. repens) in domestic and stray cats. Methods: A total of 170 blood sample were collected from domestic and stray cats and examined for filarial worm parasites in two localities, Pulau Carey and Bukit Gasing, Selangor State, Malaysia. Results: The overall prevalence of infection was 23.5% (40/170; 95% CI = 17.4-30.6). Of this, 35% (14/40; 95% CI = 22.1-50.5) and 50% (20/40; 95% CI = 35.2-64.8) were positive for single B. pahangi nd D. repens, respectively. The remaining of 15% (6/40; 95% CI = 7.1-29.1) were positive for mixed B. pahangi and D. repens. In addition, 75% of the infected cats were domestic, and 25% were strays. No Brugia malayi and Dirofilaria immitis was detected. Eighty-four cats were captured at Pulau Carey, of which 35.7% (30/84) were infected. Among the cats determined to be infected, 93% (28/30; 95% CI = 78.7-98.2) were domestic, and only 6.7% (2/30; 95% CI = 19.0-21.3) were strays. Conversely, the number of infected cats was three times lower in Bukit Gasing than in Pulau Carey, and most of the cats were stray. Conclusions: B. pahangi and D. repens could be the major parasites underlying filariasis in the study area. Adequate prophylactic plans should be administrated in the cat population in study area.

Objective To investigate the antioxidant, antibacterial, and chemical ingredients of Ardisia elliptica (A. elliptica) methanolic extracts. Methods The plant was extracted using methanol. Antibacterial and antioxidant activities were evaluated. Results The results showed that both fruit and leaf extract of A. elliptica have significant antibacterial activities against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Fruit extracts showed higher content of phenolic (71 ± 0.03 GAE/mg extract dry weight), in comparison to the leaf extracts (37 ± 0.05 GAE/mg extract dry weight). Flavonoid content, and Fe

We report a case of a patient with Schistosoma mansoni infection who presented with liver cirrhosis and splenomegaly. She was diagnosed by a serological test and Kato-Katz thick smear stool examination. The patient was a 52-year-old woman from Sudan who came to Malaysia for a week to visit her sons. The patient lives in the middle of Rabak region, Sudan, a highly endemic area for schistosomiasis where her daily routine includes rearing of cows and farming. The site of toilet and sources of drinking water are canals and wells; both infested with snails. Patient had a long history of exposure and coming into contact with water from these canals and wells.