Rhaphidophora decursiva (Roxb.) Schott is commonly used to treat colon cancer among Chinese community in Malaysia. This study aims to evaluate histopathologic changes in liver and kidney tissues after treated with R. decursiva extract in male Sprague Dawley rats. The rats were divided into 4 groups consisting of 6 rats per group for each acute, subacute and subchronic toxicity evaluations, with a total of 72 rats. All control groups received distilled water (vehicle). For subacute toxicity, the 3 treatment groups received a daily oral dose of the plant extract at 70, 140 or 210 mg/kg for 28 days. As no lethality was observed in subacute toxicity study, similar doses were used for the 3 treatment groups in 90-day subchronic toxicity. Histological examination of liver revealed some abnormal but not significant morphology characteristics. For acute toxicity, liver tissues in group treated with 2100 and 3500 mg/ kg extracts showed presence of activated kupffer cells, sinusoidal dilatation and cytoplasmic vacuolation, same as group treated with 140 and 210 mg/kg extracts for both subacute and subchronic toxicity. However, group treated with 140 mg/kg extract in subchronic toxicity just showed the presence of cytoplasmic vacuolation. Similarly, no significant abnormal histopathological changes were observed in kidneys tissue for all toxicity studies. The presence of granular cast were noticed in group treated with 2100 and 3500 mg/kg extracts for acute toxicity, however, cellular and protein cast only occurred in group treated with 3500 mg/kg extracts. For subacute and subchronic toxicity, granular cast can be observed in group treated with 210 mg/kg extract. Also, cellular can be seen in group treated with 210 mg/kg extract for subacute toxicity. In conclusion, the treatment of R. decursiva extracts did not show any significant toxicological changes as observed by histopathological examination in the kidney and liver tissues for all toxicity studies.The plant (Rhaphidophora decursiva (Roxb.) schott) (Voucher no: SK 2104/13) was collected based on convenience sampling from residential areas of Bercham in the Ipoh city of Perak state, Peninsular Malaysia. Approximately 1 to 2 kg of the whole plant with stems and leaves were collected. The leaves were separated from the stem and

Thiol groups of cysteine (Cys) residues in proteins react with quinones, oxidation products of polyphenols, to form protein–polyphenol adducts. The aim of the present work was to quantify the amount of adduct formed between Cys residues and 4-methylcatechol (4MC) in minced beef. A Cys–4MC adduct standard was electrochemically synthesized and characterized by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) as well as NMR spectroscopy. Cys–4MC adducts were quantified after acidic hydrolysis of myofibrillar protein isolates (MPIs) and LC–MS/MS analysis of meat containing either 500 or 1500 ppm 4MC and stored at 4 °C for 7 days under a nitrogen or oxygen atmosphere. The concentrations of Cys–4MC were found to be 2.2 ± 0.3 nmol/mg MPI and 8.1 ± 0.9 nmol/mg MPI in meat containing 500 and 1500 ppm 4MC, respectively, and stored for 7 days under oxygen. The formation of the Cys–4MC adduct resulted in protein thiol loss, and ca. 62% of the thiol loss was estimated to account for the formation of the Cys–4MC adduct for meat containing 1500 ppm 4MC. Furthermore, protein polymerization increased in samples containing 4MC as evaluated by sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), and the polymerization was found to originate from protein–polyphenol interactions as evaluated by a blotting assay with staining by nitroblue tetrazolium.

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of low-temperature storage with and without vacuum packaging and osmotic treatments on palm heart (Elaies guineensis). Palm heart samples were packed with and without vacuum and were kept at 5 and 10C. Another group of samples were treated with solutions of sugar, salt and sugar-salt mixture (20%, w/w), potassium sorbate, sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate-sodium benzoate mixture (100 mg/kg each) prior to storage at 5C. Vacuum packaging significantly prolonged the shelf life but temperatures of 5 and 10C did not have significant effect on color and texture. Vacuum packed samples stored at 5C showed minimum changes in color and texture, exceeding 22 days of storage. All osmotic treatments have significant effect on the color development. The whiteness index reduced gradually as storage period progressed. Sugar and salt solutions were better than preservatives in preserving the color and texture of palm heart samples. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONSPreservation of fresh palm hearts (Elaies guineensis) can be achieved by vacuum packaging and osmotic treatment using sugar, salt and sugar-salt mixture. These preservation methods are simple and practical, making them feasible for commercial purposes. Segregation or sorting of palm hearts (E. guineensis) is necessary to achieve homogeneity and consistency in the product shelf life.