Abstract.A preliminary ethnobotanical survey of traditional salad food or ulam was conducted within Sama-Bajau community in Kampung Taun Gusi, Kota Belud Sabah, Malaysia on May 2017.Three key informants were selected using snowball sampling technique, and data about traditional salad food (ulam) were collected by semi-structured interview and field observation. A total of 28 species of plants from 26 genera and 20 families were recorded have been consumed as ulam. The study also reveals apart from being consumed as traditional salad food (ulam), 15 species are also used as herbal medicine to treat or prevent various diseases such as cough, diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer, flu, fever, red eyes, ringworms, and for postpartum treatment. Zingiberaceae is the most utilized plant as an herbal medicine by Sama-Bajau community of Kampung Taun Gusi, Kota Belud. These Zingiberaceae species are namely; Curcuma caesia (kunyit hitam), Curcuma zanthorrhiza, (temulawak), and Zingiber zerumbet (lempoyang). Clinacanthus nutans (belalai gajah), and Orthosiphon stamineus (misai kucing) are recorded to be used as herbal medicine to treat diabetes and high blood pressure. The decoction of the young shoot of Capsicum annum (lada) has been used to treat ringworms among children and red eyes, moreover, the paste of the leaf has been used to reduce high fever. Meanwhile, Cosmos caudatus (ransa ransa) and Centella asiatica (pegaga) have been consumed for health and wellness maintenance and as anti-aging herbs.

This article aims to communicate several teaching and learning activities that were redesigned for biology practical courses for Universiti Malaysia Sabah’s Foundation Science students during the restriction control movement (RMO) due to the Covid-19 outbreak. When RMO has been started the closure of the university campus resulted in postponed of biology practical face-to-face sessions in the laboratory. The teaching and learning activities have been guided by the Foundation Science Biology Laboratory Manual, however, during the pandemic, the delivery approach was modified using online platforms, including video-based blog or vlog, pre-recorded video, using real-time video conferencing i.e. Google Meet, Webex, scheduled online discussions via mobile apps i.e Whatsapp, Telegram, and greater utilization of Universiti Malaysia Sabah online learning platform, SmartV3UMS. The purpose of these redesigned methodologies that are presented in this paper was mainly focusing on delivering the established practical courses’ contents to achieve the intended learning outcomes. A total of 353 students registered for these practical courses. They were divided into 16 groups, with 22 or 23 students per group. All these interventions have facilitated students to sustain their access to Foundation in Science study despite the physical engagement limitation and have opened a pathway to a new normal of science education.

Traditional vegetable salad or "ulam" are shown to have beneficial properties for health maintenance and should be further studied and used as a source of food as well as medicine. Apparently, the fern species are highlighted common plants that have been consumed as traditional vegetable all around Borneo, especially Stenochlaena palustris or locally known as "lemiding" (Brunei), "lambiding" (Sabah), "midin" (Sarawak), and "kalakai" (Kalimantan). Stenochlaena palustris was also studied for its phenolic contents and antioxidant properties. The extract of the edible young sterile frond of Stenochlaena palustris contained more anthocyanins (51.32 mg/100 g dry matter) compared to extracts of mature sterile, young fertile, and mature fertile fronds of the fern. The Penan people also used Stenochlaena palustris as herbal medicine to reduce high fever and served it to new mothers during the postpartum recovery period. Other fern species that have been cited used in Borneo are Diplazium esculentum, Nephrolepis acutifolia, and Nephrolepis bisserata. Fruit of Solanum torvum, leaves of Cosmos caudatus, the flower buds of Etlingera spp., young shoot of bamboo species, and banana inflorescence have been consumed as traditional vegetable in many parts of Borneo, the preparation being either fresh or used as a condiment in cooking. In previous literature also noted that seaweeds namely Kappahycus alvarezzii and Eucheuma denticulatum, as well as mushrooms like Termitomyces aurantiacus, have also been administered as traditional vegetable. It is scientifically shown that traditional vegetable from Borneo have potential as food that could bring health benefit to the consumer, especially in preventing oxidative damage related diseases, microbial infection, and metabolic disorder such as diabetes. Innovation on consumption method of traditional vegetable also suggested, for example, the traditional vegetable be developed into natural food products and food additive, e.g. herbal teas, essential oil.

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This paper provides a brief enumeration of 22 species of plants and four species of fungi as wild edibles, and 13 species of plants that have been used for medicinal purposes by Dusun people of Kampung Pinolobu, Kadamaian, Kota Belud, Sabah. Seven informants were selected using snowball sampling technique, and data on edibles and medicinal plants were collected using semi structured interviews. This study reveals how Dusun people of Kampung Pinolobu used 13 species of medicinal plants to treat ailments and diseases like fever, high blood pressure, flatulence, rheumatism, cold, cough, and gastric pain. The flower of Carica papaya and fruit of Passiflora foetida are used for high blood pressure treatment, leaves of Manihot esculenta serve two purposes, as traditional vegetables and also consumed to avoid flatulence. Decoction made from the root of Ficus septica was given to women during postpartum recovery as they believed that it would help to keep the body warm, treat headache, and stomach pain. Paste made from leaves of Melastoma malabathricum is used to treat wounds. Meanwhile crushed leaves of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, root decoction of Imperata cylindrica, sap from Calamus sp. are used to treat high fever, crushed leaves of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis is also used to subside carbuncle.  Decoction of young leaves of Psidium gujava and Leucosyke capitella are used to treat stomach pain. Meanwhile decoction of crushed tuber of Curcuma longa is used to treat gastric pain.