This study was done to observe the anthropometry and body composition changes before, during, and after the holy month of Ramadan. This study was carried out on 46 staff from one of the local universities, which comprised of 14 males and 32 females ranging in age from 25 to 40 years old. There were four sessions done to complete this study, namely, a week before Ramadan (T1), 1st week of Ramadan (T2), 3rd week of Ramadan (T3), and a month after Ramadan (T4). All subjects were assessed according to weight, body circumference, and body composition status. It was found that subjects with different weight status showed a significant reduction in weight (P < 0.01) but no significant reduction in body fat percentage (P < 0.05). The findings suggest that weight reduction does not promise a reduction in body fat. Changes in neck circumference were only found in normal subjects. Hence, it can be said that overweight and obese subjects showed no changes in anthropometry status during Ramadan. No changes in body composition were reported in all three weight groups except for trunk body fat. In conclusion, normal subjects showed significant changes in various anthropometry parameters, but overweight and obese subjects showed no obvious difference.

Pomegranate (Punica granatum) is one of the oldest known edible fruit. Recently, there has been an increased interest in this fruit as a functional food for health benefits due to its use in disease prevention and promotion of overall health wellness. This study aims to investigate the effects of pomegranate extract for the development of non-opioid substitution therapy for in-vitro and in-vivo studies. Anthocyanin contents consisting of cyanidin 3-glucoside, diglucoside, and pelargonidin 3-glucoside, diglucoside were detected and quantified in pomegranate extract using high-performance liquid chromatography. The optimum dosage of the extract was determined based on the regulation of MORs and cAMP proteins in U-87 cells. Co-treatment of the extract with morphine was performed to evaluate its potency in reducing the concentration levels of MORs and cAMP. For animal studies, rats were divided into two major groups representing both acute and chronic morphine-induced treatments and the Morris water maze (MWM) study was employed after treatment for each rat. The rats were sacrificed after the treatments and serum samples were collected to evaluate the levels of CREB and BDNF. The results indicated that each of the anthocyanin content tested in the study was present in the pomegranate extract. Additionally, in-vitro studies using pomegranate extract treatment showed that the extract was effective in decreasing the MORs and cAMP protein levels in U-87 cells at a concentration of 0.125 mg/mL. The memory impairment based on the MWM study in rats was also subsequently improved after treatment with pomegranate extract as compared to treatment with morphine. The blood serum derived from the rats treated with pomegranate extract also showed a significant decrease in CREB level and an increase in BDNF as compared to rats treated with morphine. In conclusion, this study substantiates the potency of pomegranate extract as a non-opioid substitution therapy for in-vitro and in-vivo studies.

Psophocarpus tetragonolobus also known as the Asparagus pea or winged pea (Family: Fabaceae) most widely grown in hot, humid equatorial countries like Malaysia. It provides a source of vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium and iron. The antioxidant potential of 75% methanol extract, ethyl acetate and chloroform soluble fractions of P. tetragonolobus was screened for in-vitro antioxidant activity using total phenolic content, ferric reducing power, 2, 2’-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) assay, Ferric Thiocyanate (FTC) and Thiobarbituric Acid (TBA) tests. It was found that ethyl acetate fraction have maximum amount of polyphenolics compounds (1.69 mg/g GAE in concentration 0.5 mg/mL) higher than methanol and chloroform fractions. Antioxidant concentration was found highest in ethyl acetate extract (27.12 mM) using FRAP method, while chloroform extract has the highest antioxidant level (4.48 mM) using ABTS assay. Ethyl acetate extract of P. tetragonolobus was found to have highest antioxidant activity (7.27%) compared to methanol and chloroform using FTC method. While, TBA results shows no difference in antioxidant activity of all extract of P. tetragonolobus.

Objective: This study was conducted to study the level of knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) on good manufacturing practices (GMP) among food handlers in Terengganu hospitals.Methods: A cross-sectional study was done with four hospitals involved. Then, sampling method used was purposive convenience sampling. The data had been collected using a method of a questionnaire and being analyzed by using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) 20.0 version.Results: The findings from this study indicate that food handlers in four Terengganu hospitals have a good level of knowledge (83.0±1.51), attitudes (87.2±3.42) and practices (90.7±1.76) regarding GMP. Results show that the association between socio-demographic data factors and variables of level KAP on GMP had significant value. The socio-demographic data involves were gender, ages, working experiences and attendance of training courses. In the other hand, a positive correlation was pointed out for three levels each, between knowledge and attitudes (r=0.13), knowledge and practices (r=0.24), and between attitudes and practices (r=0.42). However, only level practices and attitudes show significant correlation with p<0.05.Conclusion: As the conclusion, effective and compulsory food safety training on a regular and ongoing basis should be highlighted and conducted for all food service employees in order to minimize the prevalence of foodborne hazards.

Context: Lansium domesticum corr. is a member of the family Meliaceae, and known locally as duku and has been used traditionally in the prevention and treatment of various illness. Aim: To study the cytotoxic effect and morphological changes of human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells (HT-29) treated with different duku (Lansium domesticum corr.) extracts. Methods: The L.domesticum corr. fruit extracts were processed involving three different solvents; methanol, ethanol and ethyl acetate. HT-29 cell lines were treated with different concentrations of L. domesticum corr. (0-100 µg/ml) extracts for a total of 24, 48 and 72 hours. Cytotoxicity of cells line was determined by using MTT assay as per IC 50 values. Results: Methanol extract of L. domesticum corr. showed IC 50 value at 6.79 ± 0.00 µg/ml and 50.0 ± 0.00 µg/ml respective, while ethyl acetate extract of L. domesticum corr. reached IC 50 value at 86.00 ± 0.08 µg/ml, and 96.0 ± 0.12 µg/ml. There was no IC 50 value of ethanol extract from L.domesticum corr. Only methanol extract showed toxicity towards HT-29 cells line. Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first repeat the exploring the effect of duku (L. domesticum corr.) extract on HT-29 cells line.