Background: Sea grapes or  Caulerpa racemosa have a lot of phytochemical content, especially unsaturated fatty acids that are beneficial for health. This study aims to evaluate the effects of sea grapes extract on blood glucose levels, total cholesterol-, and Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator (PGC)-1α in male Wistar rats, which were given per-oral (p.o.) cholesterol- and carbohydrates fat-enriched diets (CFED). Methods: Forty male Wistar albino rats weighing between 200 – 250 g were used for this study. Animals were randomly distributed into four groups of ten animals each. Group A served as control (received standard dry pellet diet). Rats in group B were fed on CFED for 4 weeks.  Groups C and D were fed on CFED and were administered 150 and 450 mg/kg of  sea grapes extract (p.o.), respectively. Results: Group C rats indicated a blood glucose reduction and an increase in PGC-1α serum, in comparison to group D (p<0.05). There were no significant differences between group C and D in blood cholesterol reduction (high dose of the extract did not have significant effects) (p=0.222), and both groups had the same effect in lowering total cholesterol in rats. Conclusion: Sea grapes extract is proven to improve blood glucose, total cholesterol, and PGC-1α levels in rats fed with CFED.

Background: Sea grapes or  Caulerpa racemosa have a lot of phytochemical content, especially unsaturated fatty acids that are beneficial for health. This study aims to evaluate the effects of sea grapes extract on blood glucose levels, total cholesterol-, and Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator (PGC)-1α in male Wistar rats, which were given per-oral (p.o.) cholesterol- and carbohydrates fat-enriched diets (CFED). Methods: Forty male Wistar albino rats weighing between 200 – 250 g were used for this study. Animals were randomly distributed into four groups of ten animals each. Group A served as control (received standard dry pellet diet). Rats in group B were fed on CFED for 4 weeks.  Groups C and D were fed on CFED and were administered 150 and 450 mg/kg of  sea grapes extract (p.o.), respectively. Results: Group C rats indicated a blood glucose reduction and an increase in PGC-1α serum, in comparison to group D (p<0.05). There were no significant differences between group C and D in blood cholesterol reduction (high dose of the extract did not have significant effects) (p=0.222), and both groups had the same effect in lowering total cholesterol in rats. Conclusion: Sea grapes extract is proven to improve blood glucose, total cholesterol, and PGC-1α levels in rats fed with CFED.

Abstract. Rifqiyati N, Wahyuni A. 2019. Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) leaf  infusion effect on mammary gland activity and kidney function of lactating rats. Nusantara Bioscience 11: 101-105. Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill) leaf, traditionally, is believed to have a potential in increasing and smoothing breast milk production. This study aimed to determine the effect of fennel leaf infusion on milk production and to know the side effects of its use. The material used in the research was infusion of fennel leaves (Foeniculum vulgare Mill) collected from Kopeng, Central Java. The research utilized 12 female rats each with 5 newborns off springs. The experiment was designed in Completed Random Design (CRD) with 4 treatments and 3 replications. Histological preparation of mammary glands was set using paraffin method with HE staining. Kidney function was observed through uric acid level in the blood. The results showed that the diameter of lactiferous ducts and of its lumen diameter were significantly influenced by 15 days fennel leaf infusion treatment. The largest lactiferous duct diameter observed was on P3 treatment group (452.97 ± 75.033 µm) and the smallest was observed in control groups (273.17 ± 38.746 µm). The numbers of active alveoli observed in treatment groups, i.e., in P1 (20 g/300  mL), P2 (40 g/300  mL), and P3 (60 g/300  mL), increased than inactive alveoli. The blood uric acid level observed was 4.0-4.6 mg/dl. The results suggested that the infusion of fennel leaf with a treatment dose of 60 g infusion in 300  mL distilled water administered for 15 days can significantly increase the diameter of lactiferous lumen of female rat mammary glands, and increase the diameter of the alveoli and the number of active alveolar mammary glands. Histological picture of mammary gland also showed that the female rats treated with dose of 60g infusion per 300  mL aquadest increased milk secretion and than the other treatment groups. The treatment also showed no significant side effects.

Macaca fascicularisis one of the nonhuman primates that live in groups with many males and females (multi male multi female group) so that interactions between individuals often occur. Despite having a wide distribution, M. fascicularis continues to decline in population. One of the efforts to protect M. fascicularis from extinction is to provide an ex-situ conservation area. The purpose of this study was to analyze social behavior at various age levels of M. fascicularis in the Banjarnegara ex-situ conservation area. This research was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic using the focal animal sampling method. The observation object in this research were puppies, juveniles, adult males and adult females. The results showed that the age level of puppies was dominated by affiliation behavior by 50%, The adolescent age level is dominated by grooming and playing behavior by 46.1%, while the adult age level is dominated by grooming behavior by 60.2%. The social behavior that most often appears is grooming with a frequency of 233.33 times at the adult age level and the behavior that rarely appears is agonistic behavior as much as 8.5 times at the adolescent age level. The longest duration of social behavior was found in adult grooming for 80.4 (seconds). The conclusion of this study is that the social behaviors observed during the pandemic include grooming, agonistic, sexual, affiliation and play. Most of the social behavior of M. fascicularis in ex-situ conservation areas experienced an increase in frequency compared to before the pandemic, except for agonistic behavior which decreased in frequency during the pandemic.

Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) traditionally used by people as antifertility agent for female. Fennel leaves (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) contain phytoestrogen that has role as antiestrogen or synthesized become antiestrogen. Coumarin is the kind phytoestrogen that can be antiestrogen to female reproductive organs such as ovary and utery. The aim of this research is to find out the influence of fennel leaves infuse (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) on morphometric of ovary and utery in female rats (Rattus sp.) administered after parturition, to find out the effective dose  affecting the morphometric of ovary and utery and to find out the total coumarin consisted in fennel leaves (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.). This research was carried out by using CRD (Completely Randomized Design) consisted of 2 groups, those are control group (aquades) and treatment groups (doses of fennel leaves infuse 20 g/300 ml, 40 g/300 ml and 60 g/300 ml). The treatment was administered in the morning and afternoon for 15 days. After 15 days of treatment, the rats were sacrificed and dissected to measure the morphometry of reproductive organs (ovary and utery). The data obtained was analyzed by Analysis of Varian (ANOVA) and continued by LSD (Least Significance Different) test with significance of 5%. The measurement of coumarin level was performed by TLC (Thin Layer Chromatography) densitometry method. The result of this research showed that the administration of infused fennel leaves (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) at dose of 20 g/300 ml, 40 g/300 ml and 60 g/300 ml significantly decreased ovarian weigh in female rats (Rattus sp.) after parturition (p<0,05), but not decreased the  length, width, thick of ovary, length and diameter of utery (p>0,05). No difference was observed between doses 20 g/300 ml, 40 g/300 ml and 60 g/300 ml, and it showed that the dose 20 g/300 ml of fennel leaves infuse was able to be used to decrease the weigth of ovary. Coumarin level observed in leaves is 0,09%, and it is higher than the coumarin content in fruit/seed.