Asmah Awal

In vitro Xanthine Oxidase (XO) and Albumin Denaturation Inhibition Assay of Barringtonia racemosa L. and Total Phenolic Content Analysis for Potential Anti-Inflammatory Use in Gouty Arthritis -

Aim: This study was conducted to evaluate the in vitro anti-inflammatory activities and total phenolic content (TPC) of methanolic extracts of infloresence axes, endosperms, leaves, and pericarps of Barringtonia racemosa L. Methods: The anti-inflammatory study was conducted by assessing the potential through xanthine oxidase (XO) and albumin denaturation inhibition assays. Meanwhile, the TPC in the extracts were assessed by Folin-Ciocalteu assay. Results: In the XO inhibition assay, the infloresence axes extract was found to exert the highest inhibition capacity at 0.1% (w/v) with 59.54 ± 0.001% inhibition followed by leaves (58.82 ± 0.001%), pericarps (57.99 ± 0.003%), and endosperms (57.20 ± 0.003%) extracts. Similarly in the albumin denaturation inhibition assay, the infloresence axes extract had shown the greatest inhibition capacity with 70.58 ± 0.004% inhibition followed by endosperms (66.80 ± 0.024%), leaves (65.29 ± 0.006%), and pericarps extracts (43.33 ± 0.002%). Meanwhile, for TPC analysis, leaves extract was found to have the highest phenolic content (53.94 ± 0.000 mg gallic acid equivalent [GAE]/g DW) followed by infloresence axes (31.54 ± 0.001 mg GAE/g DW), endosperms (22.63 ± 0.001 mg GAE/g DW), and the least was found in pericarps (15.54 ± 0.001 mg GAE/g DW). Conclusion: The results indeed verified the in vitro anti-inflammatory activities of B. racemosa and supported its potential to be used in alleviating gouty arthritis and XO-related diseases.

In Vitro Germination and Acclimatization of Sugar Palm (Arenga pinnata Wurmb Merr.)

Sugar palm (Arenga pinnata Wurmb Merr.) is a multipurpose tree which provides different products with high economic values and plays an important role in small, integrated farming systems of rural communities in Asia. However, its cultivation is hindered by the limitations of recalcitrant seeds and prolonged dormancy. Thus, an in vitro germination protocol of sugar palm was carried out as an alternative propagation method using mature seeds, young seeds and immature zygotic embryos as explants. Optimized germination including shoot/roots emergence were evaluated on MS medium supplemented with different concentrations of PGRs. The highest frequency of the in vitro germination of sugar palm was observed from the immature zygotic embryo explant cultured on MS medium supplemented with PGRs (100%), while the least germination rate (30%) was recorded on basal MS medium after 8 weeks of culture. Young seed and mature seed explants sown directly on moistened soil for viability test proved dormancy. In vitro germination of explants was depended on genotype and treatments. Complete plantlets formation was observed after 7–9 months of culture. In vitro plantlets with roots were successfully acclimatized in soil: peat moss: perlite (40:40:20) substrates mixture with 80% survival rate after 4 months.