• CELLMED
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.19.1-19.32
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• 2013

Piper sarmentosum is a creeping herb belongs to the family of Piperaceae. It is locally known to the Malays as 'Pokok kadok' and can be found in different regions of South-East Asia including Malaysia. Ethnopharmacologically, various parts of the plant (e.g. leave, fruit and root) are widely used in Asian countries for centuries to treat different types of diseases and ailments such as hypertension, diabetes, joint aches, muscle pain, coughs, influenza, toothaches and rheumatism. Scientific findings also demonstrated different pharmacological actions of various parts of P. sarmentosum such as adulticidal, antitermite, antioxidant, antifungal, antituberclosis, antiplasmoid, antimalarial, hypoglycemia, antiinflammatory, antinoceptive, antipyretic, antibacterial, anticancer, antituberculosis, antiangiogenesis, antimicrobial, antifeedant and cytotoxic activities. Different types of phytochemical constituents have been successfully identified and isolated from various parts of P. sarmentosum. Therefore, the information related to the botany, ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemical constituents and pharmacological activities of P. sarmentosum were reviewed here.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.9
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• pp.1263-1266
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• 2002

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of some production factors on commercial production of Etawah Crossbred Goats (ECG) of Inpres Desa Tertinggal member groups (AKIDT) at Krasak, Pandansari, Brajan, and Kragilan villages in Boyolali regency, Central Java, Indonesia. The study was from February to April 2000. Eighty respondents of AKIDT were selected by simple random sampling and the data were analyzed using Cobb Douglas Production Function. The results showed that ECG production simultaneously were highly significant (p<0.01) influenced by amount of feed consumed (kg TDN/year, $x_1$), number of does of ECG (Animal Unit/year, $x_2$), number of kids and does/ barn/year (Animal Unit/year, $x_3$), labor use (man-days/year, $x_4$) and work capital (US$/year, $x_5$) with $R^2= 0.6568$. In addition, ECG production was partially influenced by $x_2$, $x_3$ and $x_5$ (p<0.01) and $x_1$ (p<0.05), but not significant (p>0.05) by $x_4$. Technically, production factors of $x_1$, $x_2$, $x_3$, $x_4$, $x_5$ had reached technique efficiency (0$x_1$, $x_3$, $x_4$, $x_5$ did not showed efficiency (Ep<1) and $x_2$ was not efficient yet.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.213-217
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• 2010

Sarcocystis sp. infection was investigated in 20 necropsied captive wild mammals and 20 birds in 2 petting zoos in Malaysia. The gross post-mortem lesions in mammals showed marbling of the liver with uniform congestion of the intestine, and for birds, there was atrophy of the sternal muscles with hemorrhage and edema of the lungs in 2 birds. Naked eye examination was used for detection of macroscopic sarcocysts, and muscle squash for microscopic type. Only microscopically visible cysts were detected in 8 animals and species identification was not possible. Histological examination of the sections of infected skeletal muscles showed more than 5 sarcocysts in each specimen. No leukocytic infiltration was seen in affected organs. The shape of the cysts was elongated or Circular, and the mean size reached $254{\times}24.5{\mu}m$ and the thickness of the wall up to $2.5{\mu}m$. Two stages were recognized in the cysts, the peripheral metrocytes and large numbers of crescent shaped merozoites. Out of 40 animals examined, 3 mammals and 5 birds were positive (20%). The infection rate was 15% and 25% in mammals and birds, respectively. Regarding the organs, the infection rate was 50% in the skeletal muscles followed by tongue and heart (37.5%), diaphragm (25%), and esophagus (12.5%). Further ultrastructural studies are required to identify the species of Sarcocystis that infect captive wild animals and their possible role in zoonosis.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.20-30
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• 1999

In order to modify lipid production of Perilla qualitatively as well as quantitatively by genetic engineering, genes involved in carbon metabolism were isolated and characterized. These include acyl-ACP thioesterases from Perilla frutescens and Iris sp., four different $\beta$-ketoacyl- ACP synthases from Perilla frutescens, and two $\Delta$15 a-cyl-ACP desaturases(Pffad7, pffad3). Δ15 acyl-ACP desa turase (Δ15-DES) is responsible for the conversion of linoleic acid (18:2) to $\alpha$-linolenic acid (ALA, 18:3). pffad 3 encodes Δ15 acyl-desaturase which is localized in ER membrane. On the other hand, Pffad7 encodes a 50 kD plastid protein (438 residues), which showed highest sequence similarity to Sesamum indicum fad7 protein. Northern blot analysis revealed that the Pffad7 is highly expressed in leaves but not in roots and seeds. And Pffad3 is expressed throughout the seed developmental stage except very early and fully mature stage. We constructed Pffad7 gene under 355 promoter and Pffad3 gene under seed specific vicillin promoter. Using Pffad7 construct, Perilla, an oil seed crop in Korea, was transformed by Agrobacterium leaf disc method. $\alpha$-linolenic acid contents increased in leaves but decreased in seeds of transgenic Perilla. Currently, we are transforming Perilla with Pffad3 construct to change Perilla seed oil composition. We isolated three ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGP) genes from Perilla immature seed specific cDNA library. Nucleotide sequence analysis showed that two of three AGP (Psagpl, Psagp2) genes encode AGP small subunit polypeptides and the remaining (Plagp) encodes an AGP large subunit. PSAGPs, AGP small subunit peptide, form active heterotetramers with potato AGP large subunit in E. coli expressing plant AGP genes.