The Feasibility Study of Physicochemical Properties of Sarawak Liberica sp. Coffee Pulp

Liberica coffee is a minor species that is planted all around the world. Therefore, there is little study conducted on this coffee species as only one percent is cultivated all around the world. In Malaysia, there is still no research focusing on coffee pulp from Sarawak liberica sp. and thus leading to this study. The wastes and by-product such as coffee pulps will become the residues as they were not needed in processing the coffee. This will create environmental pollution. Thus, this research aimed to evaluate the feasibility study on the physicochemical properties of coffee pulp from Sarawak liberica sp. including determination by colorimetric assays for phenolic and flavonoid content, antioxidant activity, and reducing sugar analysis. The antibacterial activities of coffee pulp were evaluated against Gram-positive, Staphylococcus aureus, and Gram-negative Salmonella typhimurium using a disc diffusion method. As a result, Sarawak liberica sp. coffee pulp extract contained total phenolic content of 24.24 mg GAE/g of coffee pulp, a total flavonoid content of 39.39 mg QE/g of coffee pulp, DPPH scavenging activity of 92.24 ± 0.03%, reducing sugar analysis of 13.13 mg GE/g of coffee pulp, and there was no significant effect of antibacterial activities. Therefore, the physicochemical study determination in this study would add values toward Sarawak liberica sp. coffee pulp by-product and thus reducing the disposal of Liberica coffee wastes in the future.

Cellular Fucosylation Inhibitors Based on Fluorinated Fucose-1-Phosphates

<a>Fucosylation of glycans impacts a myriad of physiological and pathological processes. Inhibition of fucose expression emerges as a potential therapeutic avenue for example in cancer, inflammation, and infection. In this study, we found that protected 2-fluorofucose 1-phosphate efficiently inhibits cellular fucosylation with a four to seven times higher potency than known inhibitor 2FF, independently of the anomeric stereochemistry. Nucleotide sugar analysis revealed that both the α- and β-GDP-2FF anomers are formed inside the cell. In conclusion, we developed A2FF1P and B2FF1P as potent new tools for studying the role of fucosylation in health and disease</a> and they are potential therapeutic candidates.

Cellular Fucosylation Inhibitors Based on Fluorinated Fucose-1-Phosphates

<a>Fucosylation of glycans impacts a myriad of physiological and pathological processes. Inhibition of fucose expression emerges as a potential therapeutic avenue for example in cancer, inflammation, and infection. In this study, we found that protected 2-fluorofucose 1-phosphate efficiently inhibits cellular fucosylation with a four to seven times higher potency than known inhibitor 2FF, independently of the anomeric stereochemistry. Nucleotide sugar analysis revealed that both the α- and β-GDP-2FF anomers are formed inside the cell. In conclusion, we developed A2FF1P and B2FF1P as potent new tools for studying the role of fucosylation in health and disease</a> and they are potential therapeutic candidates.

Comparison of selected local honey with Manuka honey based on their nutritional and antioxidant properties

This study aimed to determine and compare the proximate composition, sugars content and antioxidant properties of selected Malaysian raw honey (Tualang, Gelam, Kelulut, Wild, and Pineapple) with Manuka honey. Proximate analysis (energy, carbohydrate, protein, fat, ash, moisture and total dietary fibre), sugar analysis (fructose, sucrose, glucose and maltose), total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant analysis (DPPH radical scavenging activity and linoleic acid oxidation assay) were conducted on the honey samples. The proximate analysis and sugar analysis results for all honeys were within Codex Alimentarius Commission guidelines. In general, Malaysian honeys exhibited lower level of carbohydrates (80.27% to 82.32%), energy (324.18 kcal/100 g to 331.20 kcal/100 g), ash (0.17% to 0.28%) and protein (0.24% to 0.26%, except for Gelam 0.45%) but higher in moisture (17.07% to 19.08%) and fat (0.10% to 0.36%) contents compared to Manuka honey. No significance differences (P>0.05) was detected in total sugar among the honey samples. Overall, among the selected honeys, Kelulut honey has the highest energy content, lowest moisture level, fat content and fructose level. Meanwhile, Wild honey showed the highest phenolic content and antioxidant activities.