ASEAN Journal of Scientific and Technological Reports

Sustainable Rubber Production Intercrop with Mixed Fruits to Improve Physiological Factors, Productivity, and Income

Wanphen Buakong — 2024-10-09

This study investigated the impact of various rubber intercropping models on productivity, income, and physiological factors, compared to rubber monocropping in Tamod subdistrict, Phatthalung province, Thailand. Three intercropping models from rubber smallholder farms with mature Hevea trees were evaluated: rubber with timber trees (RT), rubber with timber and fruit trees (RTF), and rubber with timber, fruit, and shrub trees (RTFS). The rubber monoculture served as the control treatment. Data was collected from May 2021 to April 2022. Results revealed that intercropping had an 11.3% lower Tapping Panel Dryness incidence than monocropping (88.7%). The RTFS model had the highest latex yield at 1,866.31 kg/ha/year and dry rubber content at 40.11%, outperforming the other models. In the RTF model, fruit yields were 809, 92, 458, and 61 kg/ha/year for Durio zibethinus L., Lansium domesticum, Garcinia mangostana, and Nephelium lappaceum L. The RTFS model had a Salacca zalaca fruit yield of 1,220 kg/ha/year. Environmentally, the RTFS model had the lowest average temperature (30.5°C), highest humidity (68.8%), and lowest light intensity (2,955 lux) compared to the other models. Soil moisture tension was also least negative in RTFS at -5.7 kPa and -5.3 kPa at 30cm and 50cm depths. Economically, the RTF model had the highest net profit at 4,892 USD/ha/year with a benefit-cost ratio of 2.75 and a return on investment of 176%. Sensitivity analysis showed RTF maintained the highest profits even with ±10% changes in revenue and costs. Rubber intercropping, particularly the RTFS model, improved productivity, income, and environmental conditions compared to monocropping.

Sage and Rosemary Extract Gel: Anti-Aging Efficacy in D-galactose-Induced Skin Aging Model

Ashok Kumar Gupta — 2024-10-09

This study aimed to develop a topical herbal gel incorporating Salvia officinalis Linn and Rosmarinus officinalis L. extracts to evaluate its anti-aging effects in a mouse model of skin aging. Salvia officinalis and Rosmarinus officinalis are rich in polyphenols and antioxidants, protecting against oxidative stress and inflammation, common factors in premature aging. The study involved formulating and characterizing twelve herbal gel variants containing methanol extracts from these plants. These gels exhibited desirable qualities, such as stability and viscosity, and HF4, containing carbopol 934, displayed superior release properties. HF4 demonstrated excellent extrudability, 103±1.82% w/w of net content, and 97.65±1.63% cumulative release at 5 hours. In a d-galactose-induced skin aging mouse model, HF4 exhibited significant anti-aging effects, with increased dermal and epidermal layer thickness, elevated glutathione levels, and reduced malondialdehyde levels compared to the untreated group. In conclusion, this study successfully created a topical herbal gel with the potential to combat skin aging by enhancing skin structure and reducing oxidative stress. These findings suggest the promising anti-aging properties of Salvia officinalis and Rosmarinus officinalis herbal gel formulations.

Performance of Hybrid and Inbred Rice Varieties under Vermicast Application

Ma Sheila C. Silguera — 2024-10-09

This study aimed to evaluate the performance of hybrid and inbred rice varieties using vermicast as fertilizer. Soil chemical properties, plant growth, and yield performance were observed and tested for significant differences. The experiment employed a Randomized, Completely Design-Factorial layout with three replications of 30 plots. Six check plots were also prepared as farmers fertilization practices for rice production. The total experimental area is 468 m², with a planting distance of 20m x 20m and a total plant population of 5,376. Factor A involved six rice varieties, and Factor B included varying vermicast levels. Growth parameters and yield components were assessed, and data were analyzed using two-factor ANOVA and LSD test. Results indicated significant differences among rice varieties in days to flowering, days to maturity, plant height, and grain yield per hectare. However, no significant differences were observed in productive tillers, filled grains, and thousand-grain weight. No interactions were observed between rice varieties and vermicast levels. Soil analysis revealed an increase in available phosphorus but a decrease in total nitrogen and potassium content in the soil after the experimental study. Based on the observed results, the study recommends utilizing the NSIC Rc314H variety in rice production with a vermicast application rate of 5 tons per hectare for better crop yield. Future research on vermicast application in lowland rice is highly recommended for more conclusive findings and valuable insights into optimizing rice cultivation with specific varieties and application for improved yield and sustainable agricultural practices.

Antioxidant Activity of Banana Peel Waste, the Development and Stability Evaluation of Facial Toner Containing Banana Peel Extract

Jutamas Numrueng — 2024-10-09

The banana processing industry produces many by-products, mainly banana peel. Banana peel waste, after banana processing, can be a good source of bioactive compounds. Extraction of phenolic compounds using optimum extraction conditions enhances the yield and quality of the products. This study evaluated optimizing the extraction time for the maximum extraction yield from banana peels, consequently lowering the overall process cost. In addition, the application of increasing the value of banana waste was also evaluated. The optimum conditions were achieved using 95% ethanol with a solid-to-liquid ratio of 1:5, 25 ± 5 ^oC under various extraction times (0-96 h). The responses, such as total phenol content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and DPPH inhibition activity, were measured by spectrophotometric analysis. The optimal incubation time at 72 h was found to be more effective compared to the others. The values of TPC, TFC, and DPPH inhibitory activity at optimized conditions were 8.23 ± 0.42 mg gallic acid equivalent (mg GAE)/g, 8.18 ± 0.08 mg quercetin equivalent (mg QE)/ g, and 93.96%, respectively. The ethanolic extract of banana peel had an inhibition concentration (IC₅₀) of 48.35 ± 0.88 μg/mL. After that, banana peel extract was subjected to study the potential for cosmetic application. The extract was applied as an ingredient in facial toner. The toners were preliminarily characterized. Banana peel waste possesses reasonable antioxidant activity and shows high stability over time. The results showed high potential for cosmetic applications using banana peel extract. In addition, using banana peel waste reduces agricultural waste in the environment.

Toxicity Evaluation of Copper, Nickel, and Mixture on Daphnia Magna

Tong Nguyen Xuan — 2024-10-25

This study conducted acute (48 hours) and chronic (21 days) toxicity tests of nickel (Ni²⁺), copper (Cu²⁺) ions, and a mixture of the Ni²⁺ - Cu²⁺ ions on Daphnia magna (D. magna) under M4 medium. The acute test results showed that the toxicity of Cu²⁺ was about 15 times higher than Ni²⁺, demonstrated by the 50% effect concentration (EC₅₀) value of 185.2 μg.L^-1 and 2706.97 μg.L^-1. In addition, the results also illustrated that the mixture of the Cu²⁺ – Ni²⁺ ions was more toxic to D. magna than a single metal with an EC₅₀ value of 175.22 μg.L^-1. Acute toxicity tests showed that the metal affected the viability of D. Magna, while the organism maturation and reproduction were affected under chronic exposure. Chronic test results showed that the toxicity of Cu²⁺ was higher than that of Ni²⁺ with EC₅₀ values of 9.06 μg.L^-1and 162.12 μg.L^-1; noticeably, the toxicity of the mixture of the two metals is higher than that of the single metal. In particular, Ni²⁺ at a concentration of 100 μg.L^-1 stimulated the maturation, survival, and reproduction of D. magna. but at higher concentrations (> 100 μgNi.L^-1), Ni²⁺ would bind to Cu^2+, which exerted a more substantial effect on the test organism. This study initially evaluated the toxicity of Cu²⁺ and Ni²⁺ on microcrustaceans D. magna, which is the premise for further studies on the genotoxicity of heavy metals on microcrustaceans in general and D. magna in particular to ensure the quality of the ecosystem.

Antiproliferative Activity and GCMS Analysis from the Leaves Extract of Different Cultivars Carica Papaya

Saowanee Maungchanburi — 2024-10-25

Papaya is the fruit of the Carica papaya plant.Several secondary metabolites from the Caricagenus have been reported to exhibit interesting biological activities.Its leaves are normally considered discarded.The research aimed to examine the antiproliferativeand antioxidanteffects of Carica papayaleaves from four different cultivars-Cocoa, Holland, Khaek Dam, and Red Ladyand evaluate the chemical composition of the extracts through GC−MS analysis. The MTT assay evaluated the antiproliferative activity of all extracts.Red Lady exhibited higher effectiveness against MCF-7, SW620, and Vero cell lines comparedto Khaek Dam, with IC₅₀values of 90.88 ± 0.39, 258.45 ± 2.16, and 301.73 ± 0.73 μg/mL, respectively.Cocoa and Holland extracts showed no cytotoxic effects on the mentioned cell lines. Antioxidant activity, measured through DPPH radical scavenging assays, revealed that Red Lady had the highest antioxidant capacity (IC₅₀163.87 μg/mL), followed by Khaek Dam, Cocoa, and Holland. As a result, the GC−MS analysis concentrated on the extracts of Lady and Khaek Dam. The chromatograms revealed that the extractsfrom Red Lady displayed 23 components, while those from Khaek Dam contained 22. The primary metabolite produced in Khaek Dam were n-hexadecanoic acid (17.53%), 1-heptadecanecarboxylicacid (6.86%), and loliolide (5.58%),while in Red Lady 9-octadecenamide(20.82%), n-hexadecanoicacid (8.26%), palmitoleamide (5.43%)were produced. This indicates a difference in the chemical composition between the two cultivars. It is clear from this study that the chosen species includeda range of potent phytochemicalswith antiproliferative characteristics.

Biodegrading Lignocellulosic Agricultural Waste using Phanerochaete chrysosporium and Electrical Current Stimulation

Asiah Sukri — 2024-10-25

White-rot fungi (WRF), such as Phanerochaete chrysosporium, play a significant role in the lignin degradation (LD) of biomass, an essential process in the carbon recycling of terrestrial ecosystems. However, the rapid development of the agroindustry has imposed a daunting task on biomass waste management. One green initiative focuses on enhancing the bioremediation of lignin since it forms a resistant barrier to chemical and biological LD. This work demonstrated that electric current stimulation (ECS) can markedly enhance LD by P. chrysosporium. Palm oil empty fruit bunches (EFBs) were utilized as a lignin-rich substrate for P. chrysosporium. These were placed in a 250-ml enclosure filled with unbuffered potato dextrose broth (PDB) as the electrolyte. The ECS was supplied in situ in two ways: (1) by inserting a zinc anode/air electrode redox couple into the enclosure to produce a self-sustaining discharge current (DC), and (2) by connecting the enclosure to an external current (EC). The lignin content (LC) of the EFBs was assessed after 30 days of exposure to fungal microbes in an uncontrolled environment. The fungal LD rate was highest at 3 mA and even doubled under the influence of the EC, enhancing the lignin removal by 74.6%. The proposed method is much simpler and cheaper than the electrocatalytic reactions produced by the electro-Fenton method.

Production of red palm oil and red palm fats by vacuum frying sterilization and multi-step fractionation

Patcharin Raviyan — 2024-10-25

The question on health impact of the refining palm oil has driven the oil palm producers in Thailand toward developing the wellness products that are in high demand in the future. Red palm oil (RPO) which is rich in carotenoids and vitamin E catches attention. However, production of RPO by the current steam sterilization method has negative impact on environment and requires high capital investment, while the cost-saving dry sterilization method delivers a low-quality product. To develop the effective RPO processing method suitable for the small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs), the vacuum frying method was studied. The whole production steps consist of vacuum frying sterilization, acid degumming, neutralization, and then multi-step fractionation. The steam sterilization method was compared by using the same arrangement step except the sterilizing procedure. Sterilization by the vacuum fryer was controlled at 80 °C, -400 to -720 mmHg. Results showed that the optimal vacuum frying time was 90 min. The fractionation temperatures of the vacuum frying method were 34 °C, 27 °C and 17 °C, whereas those of the steam sterilized method were 34 °C, 25 °C and 15 °C. Quality of RPOs produced from both methods were within the edible oil standard. The vacuum frying method produced the RPO with 0.17% free fatty acids, 6.65 meq.O₂/kg peroxide value, 620 mg/kg carotenoids, 835 mg/kg vitamin E and 61.31% yield. The main advantage in term of quality of the vacuum frying method lies mainly in improving yield and oil odor, which is a sensory characteristic that play an important role in consumer acceptance of the product. The red palm fats obtained from the multi-step fractionation provided a wide range of fats suitable for different applications. Therefore, the vacuum frying could be regarded as the sustainable process technology appropriated for the SMEs.

Isolation and Selection of Probiotic Bacteria from Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) as Probiotics for Promoting Fish Growth

Kantakan Thepnarong — 2024-10-25

Bacillus spp. and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were isolated from samples of Nile tilapia body (gastrointestinal tract, mucus, and fish scales) and fishpond water in Songkhla province, Thailand. Fifty-one bacterial isolates were obtained, and only 44 Gram-positive isolates were tested for their probiotic properties. These isolates were selected based on the ability to inhibit serious pathogens in tilapia, namely Streptococcus agalactiae and Aeromonas hydrophila; only isolated bacteria that can inhibit both fish pathogens were selected. Hence, 6 selected bacteria were further tested for their nutrient digestion, adhesion, and tolerance to acids and bile salts. It was found that only5 isolates passed those tests. There were three isolates of bacilli and two isolates of LAB. The five isolates were identified using the 16s rRNA gene method and API test kits, and only two isolates (Bacillus subtilis HW3B and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum DW5L) that could be safe for fish and humans were selected for further studies as probiotics for fish cultivation.

Metabolite Profiling and Morphological Screening of C. militaris Fruiting Bodies Extracts using UHPLC-QTOF-IMS and GC-MS Analysis

Shivani Thakur — 2024-11-09

The medicinal mushroom C. militaris has several health advantages and has been utilized for many years throughout Asia as a component of traditional medicine systems. It can be used as a functional food and in nutraceutical products. This study investigated the morphological characteristics of C. militaris during the large-scale cultivation and metabolic profiling of the ethanolic and aqueous extracts of their fruiting bodies. The cultural and morphological characteristics of C. militaris were studied during the growth of this mushroom in terms of production of mycelial growth and fruiting bodies by conventional microbiological techniques. Cordycepin content in the aqueous and ethanol extracts of fruiting bodies was evaluated using UHPLC-QTOF-IMS analysis. The detection of metabolites in the ethanol extract was done by GC-MS analysis. The cordycepin content in the ethanol and aqueous extracts of the fruiting bodies was found to be 16.92 mg/g and 10.88 mg/g, respectively. GC-MS spectra analysis of the C. militaris fruiting bodies ethanolic extracts indicated the existence of eighteen metabolites such as 3,4-Dihydroxymandelic acid-terms, n-Hexadecanoic acid, Ethyl pentadecanoate, 1, E-11, Z-13-Octadecatriene, 9,12-Octadecadienoic acid (Z, Z)-, I-9-Octadecenoic acid ethyl ester, 9,12-Octadecadienoic acid (Z, Z)-, Trimethyls, 9(11)-Dehydroergosterol tosylate, Ergosterol, Silane, (phenyloxiranylidene) bis[trimethy, Neophytadiene, 1-Octadecyne, n-Hexadecanoic acid, Ethyl 9-hexadecenoate, 2,5-Diiodo-9-oxabicyclo [4.2.1] nonane, i-Propyl 9,12,15-octadecatrienoate, Ergosta-4,7,22-trien-3.beta.-ol, and TMS Palmitic acid. Evaluating cordycepin content and other bio components of C. militaris will help exploit this mushroom for potential medicinal benefits and develop reasonable quality pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and functional food products.