IDENTIFICATION OF PLANT UTILIZATION IN THE LIFE CYCLE CEREMONY OF THE KAILI DA'A TRIBE IN UWEMANJE VILLAGE, KINOVARO DISTRICT, SIGI REGENCY

The purpose of this study was to obtain information about the types of plants used by the Kaili Da’a tribe in life cycle ceremonies that are still preserved for generations in Uwemanje village, Kinovaro district, Sigi district. The research population is all people who live in Uwemanje Village, Kinivaro District, which are spread over 4 hamlets. The research method uses survey research with the help of interview questionnaires. Interviews were conducted on key respondents and general respondents. Key respondents were selected by purposive sampling as much as 10% of the population, namely the people who were considered to be the most knowledgeable about the ins and outs of this ceremony, such as Sando, traditional leaders, village heads and village priests. Meanwhile, general respondents are people who are recommended by key respondents with a record that they are at least 30 years old and are married or have a family. The data and information in this study were processed descriptively. Types of plants/plants used in life cycle ceremonies consist of 21 species, namely: rice (Oryza sativa L.), coconut (Cocos nucifera L.), banana (Musa paradisiaca L.), cocor duck (Kalanchoe pinata L.), areca nut (Areca catechu L.), turmeric (Curcuma domestica L.), nail paci (Lawsonia enermis L.), bogenvil (Boganvillea glabra L.), pandanus (Pandanus amarylifolius L.), jatropha (Jatropha curcas), forest basil ( Ocimum sanctum L.), moringa (Moringa oleifera L.), shallot (Allium cepa L.), Bengal grass (Eleusine indica L.), hibiscus (Hibiscus tiliaceus L.), peacock flower (Caesalpinia pulcherima L.), betel (Piper betle L.), keluwih (Artocarpus camansi L.), jasmine (Jasminum sambac L.), palm sugar (Arenga pinnata), and red sugar cane (Saccharum officinarum L.). The percentage of utilization of plant parts that are most directly utilized is the leaves which amount to 14 with a percentage of 65.66%, flowers amount to 4 to 16.67%, fruit to reach 3 to 12.5%. The least used parts are rhizomes, seeds, tubers, roots and stems with a percentage of 5.17%.

Assessment of fertility potential index of some soils of Moheshkhali betel leaf (Piper betle L.) estate

Fifteen soil samples (0-15cm depth) and fifteen betel leaf samples from Bara Moheshkhali, Choto Moheshkhali, Hoanak, Kalmarchora, Shaplapur union of Moheshkhali upazila, Cox’s Bazar district were collected on December-January (2020-2021). It was collected for the purpose of evaluating the color, particle density, moisture content, texture, pH, EC and organic matter content of soils and total nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium and sulfur of the soils and total protein content, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and sulfur of leaves. Maximum sampled soil was containing yellowish red color when moist and showed brown color when dried. Some of them were flood plain soil and that’s why showed grey color during dry and moist condition. Mean particle density was 2.49 g/cm3 and mean moisture content was 13.95%. Average sand, silt and clay were 65.08%, 18.56% and 19.26%, respectively. The texture of the soils was sandy loam to clay loam. The sand was by far the dominant fraction in the soils. Mean pH value was 5.63, organic matter was 0.30% and EC was 99.38μS/cm. Mean total nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and sulfur of the soils were 0.04, 0.46, 0.25 and 0.26%, respectively. The mean concentration of protein, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and sulfur in the betel leaf samples were 20.56, 3.29, 0.39, 0.79 and 0.20%, respectively. This investigation focuses on the fertility status and physico-chemical properties of soil in betel leaf garden of only hilly island of Bangladesh, Moheshkhali. J. Biodivers. Conserv. Bioresour. Manag. 2021, 7(1): 25-32

Pengaruh Spray Herbal Dari Daun Kelor (Moringa Oleifera Lam) Dan Daun Sirih (Piper Betle Linn) Terhadap Penyembuhan Luka Sayat Ayam Kampung

Kajian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui respons peternak terhadap penggunaan spray herbal dari daun kelor dan daun sirih pada penyembuhan luka sayat ayam kampung. Kajian ini dilaksanakan pada bulan April 2021, bertempat di Kelurahan Attangsalo, Kecamatan Ma’rang, Kabupaten Pangkep. Metode kajian ini dilaksanakan dengan menggunakan Rancangan Acak Lengkap (RAL) dengan jumlah ternak 36 ekor ayam kampung dengan 4 perlakuan dan 3 ulangan, masing-masing ulangan terdiri dari 3 ekor ayam. Setiap sampel rancangan percobaan yang digunakan pada kajian ini yaitu P0 (tanpa perlakuan spray herbal daun kelor dan daun sirih), P1 (50 ml spray herbal daun kelor dan 10 ml daun sirih), P2 (50 ml spray herbal daun kelor dan 20 ml daun sirih), P3 (50 ml spray herbal daun kelor dan 30 ml daun sirih). Variable yang diamati adalah pengukuran panjang luka, waktu penyembuhan luka dan waktu pengeringan luka. Hasil kajian ini menunjukkan bahwa spray herbal dari daun kelor (M. oleifera L) dan daun sirih (P. betle L) dapat mempengaruhi penyembuhan luka sayat pada ayam kampung, dari 4 perlakuan yang paling berpengaruh ada pada P3 dengan konsentrasi 50 ml spray herbal daun kelor dan 30 ml daun sirih.

Appraisal of Bioactive Compounds of Betel Fruit as Antimalarial Agents by Targeting Plasmepsin 1 and 2: A Computational Approach

In many countries, the fruit of betel (Piper betle Linn) is traditionally used as medicine for treating malaria. It is a fatal disease, and existing medications are rapidly losing potency, necessitating the development of innovative pharmaceutics. The current study attempted to determine the compounds in the n-hexane fraction of betel fruit extract and investigate the potential inhibition of bioactive compounds against aspartic protease plasmepsin 1 (PDB ID: 3QS1) and plasmepsin 2 (PDB ID: 1LEE) of Plasmodium falciparum using a computational approach. The ethanol extract was fractionated into n-hexane and further analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to obtain information regarding the compounds contained in betel fruit. Each compound’s potential antimalarial activity was evaluated using AutoDock Vina and compared to artemisinin, an antimalarial drug. Molecular dynamics simulations (MDSs) were performed to evaluate the stability of the interaction between the ligand and receptors. Results detected 20 probable compounds in the n-hexane extract of betel fruit based on GC-MS analysis. The docking study revealed that androstan-17-one,3-ethyl-3-hydroxy-, (5 alpha)- has the highest binding affinity for plasmepsin 1 and plasmepsin 2. The compound exhibits a similar interaction with artemisinin at the active site of the receptors. The compound does not violate Lipinski’s rules of five. It belongs to class 5 toxicity with an LD50 of 3000 mg/kg. MDS results showed stable interactions between the compound and the receptors. Our study concluded that androstan-17-one,3-ethyl-3-hydroxy-, (5 alpha)- from betel fruit has the potential to be further investigated as a potential inhibitor of the aspartic protease plasmepsin 1 and plasmepsin 2 of Plasmodium falciparum.

Preliminary study on the potential of topical anaesthesia from betel leaf and clove leaf extract

Introduction: Betel leaf (Piper betle Linn.) and clove leaf (Syzygium aromaticum) are Indonesian herbs which are known to cause a numb sensation. The main ingredients of betel leaf, which act as an anesthetic, are caryophyllene, eugenol, methyl eugenol, eucalyptol (1.8-cineol), linalool, α-Pinene, estragole, while cloves have local anesthetic effects through their ingredients, namely eugenol, and β-Caryophyllene. Research on the benefits of these two ingredients as topical anesthetics in Indonesia is still rare. This study was aimed to describe the potential of betel leaf and clove leaf extract as a topical anesthetic in Wistar rats. Methods: This research was a laboratory experimental research with simple randomized controlled design. The sample consisted of 6 male Wistar rats, each of which was given four treatments, namely extract with a concentration of 50%, 75%, and 100%, and topical anaesthetic benzocaine 20% as a control. Each treatment was tested using an electric stimulator and observed onset, duration of action, and depth of topical anaesthesia. The data were processed using descriptive statistics with tables and graphs. Results: Betel leaf extract with a concentration of 100% had a better mean onset, duration of work, and depth of anesthesia than the 20% benzocaine control, whereas 75% clove leaf extract had the longest duration of action compared to 20% benzocaine and 100% concentration was the topical anesthetic agent with the highest anesthetic depth. Conclusion: Based on the onset, duration of action, and depth of anesthesia, betel leaf, and clove leaf have potential as topical anesthetic agents.

Efficacy of Thai Plant Extracts for Antibacterial and Anti-Biofilm Activities against Pathogenic Bacteria

The emergence of drug-resistant bacteria has impacted the outcome of current therapeutics as a threat to global healthcare; novel medicines are urgently needed. Thirteen medicinal plants were collected in Northeastern Thailand, and their crude ethanolic extracts were evaluated for antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC25923 and Escherichia coli ATCC25922 using the broth micro-dilution method. Piper betle leaf ethanolic extract showed optimal activity against both representative bacterial strains. Activity was also observed against clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and E. coli, with minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranging from 0.31 mg/mL to 2.5 mg/mL and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) ranging from 0.62 mg/mL to 2.5 mg/mL. A time-kill study revealed that the extract activity was time- and dose-dependent, and also bactericidal on the tested bacteria. P. betle extract inhibited biofilm formation and promoted biofilm eradication in both S. aureus and E. coli. 4-Allyl-1,2-diacetoxybenzene and eugenol were identified as the most abundant compounds in the extract and may play major roles in the anti-bacterial and anti-biofilm activity. Results suggest that ethanolic P. betle leaf extract shows promise as an alternative method for the prevention of bacterial diseases.