Antioxidant activity of methanol extracts of different parts of Lantana camara

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the antioxidant activity of methanolic extracts of Lantana camara (L. camara) various parts and the determination of their total phenolics content.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The extract was screened for possible antioxidant activities by free radical scavenging activity(DPPH), xanthine oxidase inhibition activity and Griess-Ilosvay method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The results showed that all the plant parts possessed antioxidant properties including radical scavenging, xanthine oxidase inhibition and nitrites scavenging activities. The antioxidative activities were correlated with the total phenol. The leaves extract of L. camara was more effective than that of other parts.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>This study suggests that L. camara extracts exhibit great potential for antioxidant activity and may be useful for their nutritional and medicinal functions.</p>

Pharmacological screening of methanolic extract of Ixora species

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the antimicrobial activity of methanolic extracts of different parts of Ixora species.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Antimicrobial activity was carried out using disc diffusion assay against fungi, gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All methanolic extracts of different parts of Ixora species showed a broad-spectrum of antibacterial and antiyeast activities, which inhibited the growth of at least one bacterium or yeast. There was no remarkable difference between different Ixora species observed in this study.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The significant antimicrobial activity shown by this Ixora species suggests its potential against infections caused by pathogens. The extract may be developed as an antimicrobial agent.</p>

Epidemiology of Helicobacter pylori among multiracial community in Northern Peninsular, Malaysia: effect of age across race and gender

OBJECTIVE@#To study the epidemiology of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection according to age group.@*METHODS@#H. pylori infection data among 1 965 consecutive patients referred to the Endoscopy Unit collected at Sungai Petani Hospital for oesophagogastro-duodenoscopy (OGD). The patients were divided into 9 age groups (10-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, 80-89 and 90-99 years). In addition these groups were further divided into three minor group namely young adults (10-39), older adults (40-69) and geriatric groups (70-99).@*RESULTS@#Overall prevalence of infection of H. pylori was analyzed and found that the prevalence increase with age (P<0.05). When the patients divided by ethnic and gender group with age, prevalence rate among young adults and older adults significantly higher (P<0.05) compared to geriatric groups across all races and gender (P<0.05). Furthermore, significantly higher number of males were infected compared to female (P<0.05) but such trend was only observed among older adult groups. In addition, there is a significant differences in H. pylori infection prevalence rates among ethnic groups (highest in Indians adults, followed Chinese and low in Malays, P<0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#The overall prevalence of H. pylori did increase with age group across ethnicity and gender, in Northern Peninsular Malaysia.