Natural antioxidants derived from plants have shown a tremendous inhibitory effect on free radicals in actively metabolizing cells. Overproduction of free radicals increases the risk factor of chronic diseases associated with diabetes, cancer, arthritis and cardiovascular disease. Andrographis paniculata, Cinnamon zeylanicum, Curcuma xanthorrhiza, Eugenia polyantha and Orthosiphon stamineus are ethnomedicinal plants used in the Asian region to treat various illnesses from a common fever to metabolic disease. In this study, we have quantified the total phenolic (TPC) and flavonoid content (TFC) in these plants and its inhibitory effect on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) and 2,2′-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) free radicals as well as the cytotoxicity effect on cell lines proliferation and zebrafish embryogenesis. Results showed that Cinnamon zeylanicum and E. polyantha have the highest phenolic and flavonoid content. Furthermore, both herbs significantly inhibited the formation of DPPH and ABTS free radicals. Meanwhile, O. stamineus exhibited minimum cytotoxicity and embryotoxicity on tested models. Good correlation between IC50 of 3T3-L1 cells and LC50 embyrotoxicity was also found. This study revealed the potent activity of antioxidant against free radical and the toxicology levels of the tested herbal plants.

The effect of the ethanol and aqueous extracts of Cervicare™, a poly-herbal preparation comprised of the combination of 6 plants, on cell proliferation and apoptosis using cervical cancer HeLa and CaSki cells was investigated for the first time in the present study.

2,2-dichloropropionic acid (2,2DCP) is used as herbicide in agricultural industry and it is one of the halogenated organic compounds distributed widely in the world causing contamination. In this study, a bacterial strain isolated from contaminated soil where halogenated pesticides applied in Universiti Teknologi Malaysia and it was named “JHA1”. Bacterium JHA1 was able to utilize 2,2 dichloropropionate 2,2-DCP or (Dalapon) as a source of carbon and energy. Based on 16S rRNA analysis, the isolate showed 87% identity to Terrabacter terrae strain PPLB. The identity score was lower than 98% so that it was suggested to be new organisms that worth for further investigations if it will be proven that this is novel. Therefore, current isolate was designated as Terrabacter terrae JHA1. The isolate grew in the minimal media containing 10 mM, 15 mM, 20 mM and 25 mM of 2,2- DCP as the sole energy and carbon source and the best growth rate was in 20 mM as the optimum concentration of 2,2-DCP while bacterial growth was inhibited in medium with 30 mM 2,2-DCP.