Faridah Abas

Bio: Faridah Abas is an academic researcher from Universiti Putra Malaysia. The author has contributed to research in topics: DPPH & Clinacanthus nutans. The author has an hindex of 35, co-authored 312 publications receiving 5337 citations.

Screening of Malaysian indigenous microalgae for antioxidant properties and nutritional value

Abstract: Fourteen indigenous microalgal samples from Malaysia were isolated, purified and cultured from fresh, brackish and marine waters. The ability of the microalgae to be natural sources of antioxidants was studied by a screening test using three antioxidant chemical assays [ferric thiocyanate (FTC), thiobarbituric acid (TBA) and 1, 1’-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)]. The results showed that six microalgal methanolic crude extracts (Isochrysis galbana, Chaetoceros calcitrans, Scenedesmus quadricauda, Chlorella vulgaris, Nannochloropsis oculata and Tetraselmis tetrathele) were active in inhibiting the lipid peroxidation of linoleic acid. Among all the microalgae, I. galbana and C. calcitrans showed the highest antioxidant activity (>90%) in FTC and TBA assays, indicating that these microalgae might contain active compounds for protection from lipid peroxidation. Nutritional analyses were performed on microalgae with high antioxidant activities (I. galbana and C. calcitrans) in order to investigate their nutritive value. Both microalgae were found to be rich in nutrients. For examples, I. galbana had average percentage composition of protein, carbohydrate, and lipid, as 47.9 ± 2.5; 26.8 ± 0.2; 14.5 ± 1.4%, respectively, while the corresponding values for C. calcitrans were 36.4 ± 1.7; 27.4 ± 3.0; 15.5 ± 0.9%. In addition, they contained high levels of omega-3 polyunsatrated fatty acids (PUFA) (28.0% ± 0.7 in I. galbana and 28.5% ± 1.4 in C. calcitrans), omega-6 PUFA (6.5% ± 1.8 in I. galbana and 23.0% ± 2.5 in C. calcitrans) and a high composition of essential amino acids. This study illustrates that some microalgae such as I. galbana and C. calcitrans have the potential to be used as natural sources of antioxidants with high nutritional value.

I and i

Abstract: There is, I think, something ethereal about i —the square root of minus one. I remember first hearing about it at school. It seemed an odd beast at that time—an intruder hovering on the edge of reality. Usually familiarity dulls this sense of the bizarre, but in the case of i it was the reverse: over the years the sense of its surreal nature intensified. It seemed that it was impossible to write mathematics that described the real world in …

疟原虫var基因转换速率变化导致抗原变异[英]／Paul H, Robert P, Christodoulou Z, et al//Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A

Abstract: 抗原变异可使得多种致病微生物易于逃避宿主免疫应答。表达在感染红细胞表面的恶性疟原虫红细胞表面蛋白1（PfPMP1）与感染红细胞、内皮细胞、树突状细胞以及胎盘的单个或多个受体作用，在黏附及免疫逃避中起关键的作用。每个单倍体基因组var基因家族编码约60种成员，通过启动转录不同的var基因变异体为抗原变异提供了分子基础。

Microalgae for biodiesel production and other applications: A review

Abstract: Sustainable production of renewable energy is being hotly debated globally since it is increasingly understood that first generation biofuels, primarily produced from food crops and mostly oil seeds are limited in their ability to achieve targets for biofuel production, climate change mitigation and economic growth. These concerns have increased the interest in developing second generation biofuels produced from non-food feedstocks such as microalgae, which potentially offer greatest opportunities in the longer term. This paper reviews the current status of microalgae use for biodiesel production, including their cultivation, harvesting, and processing. The microalgae species most used for biodiesel production are presented and their main advantages described in comparison with other available biodiesel feedstocks. The various aspects associated with the design of microalgae production units are described, giving an overview of the current state of development of algae cultivation systems (photo-bioreactors and open ponds). Other potential applications and products from microalgae are also presented such as for biological sequestration of CO 2 , wastewater treatment, in human health, as food additive, and for aquaculture.

Curcumin: The Indian solid gold

Abstract: Turmeric, derived from the plant Curcuma longa, is a gold-colored spice commonly used in the Indian subcontinent, not only for health care but also for the preservation of food and as a yellow dye for textiles. Curcumin, which gives the yellow color to turmeric, was first isolated almost two centuries ago, and its structure as diferuloylmethane was determined in 1910. Since the time of Ayurveda (1900 Bc) numerous therapeutic activities have been assigned to turmeric for a wide variety of diseases and conditions, including those of the skin, pulmonary, and gastrointestinal systems, aches, pains, wounds, sprains, and liver disorders. Extensive research within the last half century has proven that most of these activities, once associated with turmeric, are due to curcumin. Curcumin has been shown to exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, and anticancer activities and thus has a potential against various malignant diseases, diabetes, allergies, arthritis, Alzheimer's disease, and other chronic illnesses. These effects are mediated through the regulation of various transcription factors, growth factors, inflammatory cytokines, protein kinases, and other enzymes. Curcumin exhibits activities similar to recently discovered tumor necrosis factor blockers (e.g., HUMIRA, REMICADE, and ENBREL), a vascular endothelial cell growth factor blocker (e.g., AVASTIN), human epidermal growth factor receptor blockers (e.g., ERBITUX, ERLOTINIB, and GEFTINIB), and a HER2 blocker (e.g., HERCEPTIN). Considering the recent scientific bandwagon that multitargeted therapy is better than monotargeted therapy for most diseases, curcumin can be considered an ideal "Spice for Life".