Wound healing is a well-coordinated process that restores skin integrity upon injury. However, some wound treatment poses harmful effects on the skin, which delay the normal wound healing process. Marphysa moribidii, a marine baitworm or polychaete, represents unique ability to regenerate posterior segment after injury, which may be beneficial in the wound healing treatment. The effectiveness of the polychaete as wound healing treatment was discovered through skin irritation, microbial testing, animal wound model, and chemical identifications. Three polychaete extracts (PE) emulsifying ointment (0.1%, 0.5%, and 1.0%) were topically applied to the full thickness wound model once daily for 14 days. Interestingly, PE 1.0% revealed the most rapid wound healing effects as compared to other treatments, including gamat (sea cucumber) oil (15% w/v) and acriflavine (0.1% w/v). Histopathological analysis using Masson’s trichrome staining further confirms that PE treated wound exhibited minimal scar, high collagen deposition, and the emergence of neovascularisation. The extract also displayed a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 0.4 g/ml against Escherichia coli and absence of skin irritation, infectious bacteria, and heavy metals from the extract. Moreover, chemical compounds such as alkaloid, flavonoid, amino acids, and organic acid were detected in M. moribidii extracts, which could contribute to wound healing activity. In conclusion, this study further justifies the beneficial use of polychaete in treating wound healing and could be developed as a novel bioactive agent in nutraceuticals and pharmaceutical drugs.

Honey authenticity is one of the most critical honey trading issues worldwide. Fake honey (FH) represents almost 80% of the honey market in Malaysia. Apart from violating consumer’s rights, FH consists of none of the beneficial nutritional value other than pure honey (PH). Moreover, prolonged consumption of FH may cause harm to human health. However, data regarding these issues is limited. In this study, both PH and FH were tested using 3T3-L1 adipocytes and in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese Sprague Dawley rats. Initially, a physicochemical analysis was performed on both the honey samples according to the Codex Alimentarius Commission and International Honey Commission procedures. After 72 hr, PH significantly reduced lipid accumulation and triglyceride levels in the adipocytes. In the rats, low glucose, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels were significantly detected after orally administered for 16 weeks. Conversely, FH significantly induced higher lipid accumulation and triglyceride levels in adipocytes and excess high blood glucose, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels in rats. The results demonstrated that FH has negative effects on lipid metabolism, and prolonged consumption may cause health complications. Furthermore, prompt actions are required to address this problem.

Sea cucumber has long been utilized as a treatment for a variety of ailments, including antibacterial, antifungal, immunomodulatory, and wound healing. As for the first time, the extracts of three sea cucumber species’ i.e, Actinopyga lecanora, Holothuria atra, and Stichopus vastus, were compared and tested on the cytotoxicity of cancer cells using MTT and Annexin V/Propidium Iodide assays. This study investigates the protection of sea cucumber extracts against the breast cancer cell line (T-47D). All three extracts were found to be actively declining the cancer cell progression, with the IC50 values of 6.25±0.50 µg/ml (A. lecanora), 7.5 ± 1.39 µg/ml (H. atra) and 3.25 ± 0.53 µg/ml (S. vastus). LC-MS/MS analysis was used to identify chemical compunds in the extracts. The 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), total phenolic and flavonoid contents, and anti-collagenase activity were also assessed in all the three extracts. The results demonstrated the absence of antioxidant and flavonoid chemicals in S. vastus, A. leconara and H. atra extracts. However, H. atra contained phenolic compounds (0.4794 mgGAE/g DW). Furthermore, all tested extracts showed significant anti-collagenase activity, which supported the reduction of cancer cell proliferation. However, more research into the mechanism of action of the extract is needed before sea cucumbers therapeutic characteristics may be used to combat breast cancer.

Kelulut honey is favoured for its tremendous nutritional benefits. However, the lack of systematic safety studies leads to it having no quality control or safety guarantee for the consumers. Consequently, the present work was designed to assess the effect of daily kelulut honey consumption. Subacute oral toxicity study was conducted following the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) test guideline 407. Sprague Dawley rats were administered with kelulut honey at the concentrations of 500, 1,000, and 2,000 mg/kg for four weeks, and observed for any changes or toxicity signs following daily consumption. The rats were physically and biochemically analysed, and the serum of highest honey concentration (2,000 mg/kg) consumption underwent metabolite analysis. Histopathology observations on the kidney and liver were also performed. The highest concentration of kelulut honey did not show any mortality or toxicity. Overall, there were no significant differences in all parameters, physically and biochemically, as compared to the control (distilled water), thus indicating the absence of toxicity of kelulut honey daily consumption. It was found that kelulut honey consumption demonstrated generally good health effects, such as in controlling food intake, weight gain, and increasing immune function. The honey’s lethal medium dose surpassed 2,000 mg/kg, thus classified in category 5 according to the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals, which means that it is safe to consume at a high dose.

Diopatra claparedii which is colloquially known as Ruat Sarung can be found along the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. The species has a unique ability to regenerate anterior and posterior segments upon self-amputation or injury, thus having potential as a wound healing promoter. In this study, the wound healing potential of D. claparedii aqueous extract on acute wound model in rats was revealed for the first time. Various concentrations (0.1%, 0.5%, and 1.0% w/w) of D. claparedii ointment were formulated and tested on Sprague Dawley rats through topical application on full-thickness skin wounds for 14 days. The wound healing effects were investigated via behaviour observation, wound contraction, and histopathological analysis. Quality assessment was performed via skin irritation test, microbial contamination test (MCT), and heavy metal detection. The study also included test for antibacterial activities and detection of bioactive compounds in D. claparedii. One percent of D. claparedii ointment showed rapid wound healing potential with good soothing effects and more collagen deposition in comparison to the commercial wound healing ointments such as acriflavine (0.1% w/v) and traditional ointment gamat (sea cucumber extract) (15.0% w/v). No local skin irritation, microbial contamination, and insignificant concentration of heavy metals were observed, which indicate its safe application. Moreover, the aqueous extract of D. claparedii exhibited antibacterial activities against Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value at 0.4 g/ml. 1H NMR analysis of the aqueous extract of D. claparedii revealed some metabolites that might be responsible for its wound healing properties such as amino acids, halogenated aromatics, organic acids, vitamins, and others. Altogether, these results suggested that the aqueous extract of D. claparedii could be utilised as an alternative natural wound healing promoter.