Publications by authors named "Zhi Xiang Ng"

Article Synopsis
  • The study investigates how Peperomia pellucida reduces inflammation in ARPE-19 eye cells exposed to high glucose and advanced glycation end products (AGEs) by exploring specific signaling pathways (NF-κB and PPAR-γ).
  • Both the methanolic extract and ethyl acetate fraction of P. pellucida showed no toxicity to the cells and provided protection against cellular stress caused by high glucose levels and AGEs.
  • Key phytochemicals in P. pellucida demonstrated strong binding to inflammatory proteins, suggesting their potential role in inhibiting the inflammatory response in these retinal cells.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The formation of advanced glycation end product (AGE) is a risk factor for diabetic retinopathy. Since the current treatment for diabetic retinopathy is accompanied by side effects, preliminary findings have suggested Peperomia pellucida (L.) Kunth as a potential alternative therapeutic option for diabetic retinopathy.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: In this priority-setting exercise, we sought to identify leading research priorities needed for strengthening future pandemic preparedness and response across countries.

Methods: The International Society of Global Health (ISoGH) used the Child Health and Nutrition Research Initiative (CHNRI) method to identify research priorities for future pandemic preparedness. Eighty experts in global health, translational and clinical research identified 163 research ideas, of which 42 experts then scored based on five pre-defined criteria.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Hyperglycemia in diabetes mediates the release of angiogenic factors, oxidative stress, hypoxia, and inflammation, which in turn stimulate angiogenesis. Excessive angiogenesis can cause diabetic retinopathy, diabetic neuropathy, and diabetic nephropathy. All of these complications are debilitating, which may lead to an increased susceptibility to lower-limb amputations due to ulcerations and infections.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is a major chronic metabolic disorder in public health. Due to mitochondria's indispensable role in the body, its dysfunction has been implicated in the development and progression of multiple diseases, including Type 2 Diabetes mellitus. Thus, factors that can regulate mitochondrial function, like mtDNA methylation, are of significant interest in managing T2DM.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Selected traditional medicinal plants exhibit therapeutic effects in coronavirus disease (Covid-19) patients. This review aims to identify the phytochemicals from five traditional medicinal plants (Glycyrrhiza glabra, Nigella sativa, Curcuma longa, Tinospora cordifolia and Withania somnifera) with high potential in modulating the main protease (Mpro) activity and cytokine storm in Covid-19 infection. The Mpro binding affinity of 13 plant phytochemicals were in the following order: Withanoside II>withanoside IV>withaferin A>α-hederin>withanoside V>sitoindoside IX>glabridin>liquiritigenin, nigellidine>curcumin>glycyrrhizin>tinocordiside>berberine.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The extraction of plant bioactive compounds from Platycladus orientalis (L.) Franco remains a great challenge due to the different chemical groups. This study aimed to compare the bioactive compounds with enzyme inhibitory effect from P.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Peperomia pellucida (L.) Kunth is a medicinal plant used to manage inflammatory illnesses such as conjunctivitis, and gastrointestinal and respiratory tract disorders in tropical and subtropical regions. However, little is known about its pharmacological mechanism of action against eye diseases.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

This study aimed to compare the effect of fermentation and drying on the organoleptic characteristic, total phenolic content, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of Peperomia pellucida (L.) Kunth tea with commercial Camellia sinensis tea. The phenolic content, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities in P.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

This study aimed to compare the total phenolic (TPC), flavonoid (TFC), radical scavenging and cytotoxic activities in the aqueous methanolic extracts of , , , and with two dietary plants: and . The TPC and TFC in medicinal plant extracts were 12-93% lower than as follows: > > . > > The decreasing radical scavenging activity in medicinal plant extracts shared similar trend: > > .

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

This study aimed to investigate the effect of in vitro digestion on the antioxidant activity and carbohydrate-digestive enzymes inhibitory potential of five edible mushrooms after subjected to four domestic cooking; namely, boiling, microwaving, steaming and pressure-cooking. The water extracts of raw (uncooked), cooked and in vitro digested mushrooms were compared for their water-soluble phenolic content (WPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), radical scavenging activity (TEAC and DPPH), anti-α-amylase and anti-α-glucosidase activities. Among the raw samples, possessed the highest antioxidant activities (FRAP, TEAC, DPPH) and WPC while - displayed the highest TFC, anti-α-amylase and anti-α-glucosidase activities.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

This study aimed to investigate the effect of four cooking methods with different durations on the in vitro antioxidant activities of five edible mushrooms, namely , , , and Among the raw samples, showed the highest total antioxidant activity (reducing power and radical scavenging), total flavonoid, ascorbic acid and water soluble phenolic contents. Short-duration steam cooking (3 min) increased the total flavonoid and ascorbic acid while prolonged pressure cooking (15 min) reduced the water soluble phenolic content in the mushrooms. The retention of antioxidant value in the mushrooms varied with the variety of mushroom after the cooking process.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

This study aimed to investigate the changes in the proteome of bitter gourd prior to and after subjecting to boiling and microwaving. A comparative analysis of the proteome profiles of raw and thermally treated bitter gourds was performed using 2D-DIGE. The protein content and number of protein spots in raw sample was higher when compared to the cooked samples.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

This study aims to investigate potential diabetic retinopathy (DR) risk factors by evaluating the circulating levels of pentosidine, soluble receptor for advanced glycation end-product (sRAGE), advanced oxidation protein product (AOPP) as well as glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities in DR patients. A total of 235 healthy controls, 171 type 2 diabetic without retinopathy (DNR) and 200 diabetic retinopathy (DR) patients were recruited. Plasma was extracted for the estimation of pentosidine, sRAGE, AOPP levels and GPx activity whereas peripheral blood mononuclear cells were disrupted for SOD activity measurement.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Receptor for advanced glycation end-product (RAGE) gene polymorphism 2245G/A is associated with diabetic retinopathy (DR). However, the mechanism on how it affects the disease development is still unclear.

Aim: This study aims to investigate the relationship between 2245G/A RAGE gene polymorphism and selected pro-inflammatory, oxidative-glycation markers in DR patients.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: This study aimed to assess the circulating levels of activated nuclear factor kappa B p65 and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 in diabetic retinopathy patients who were taking antihyperglycemic and antihypertensive drugs.

Methods: In total, 235 healthy controls and 371 Type 2 diabetic patients [171 without retinopathy (DNR) and 200 patients with retinopathy (diabetic retinopathy)] were recruited for this study. Plasma and the nuclear fraction of peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated for the quantification of the monocyte chemotactic protein-1 and nuclear factor kappa B p65 levels, respectively.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: In this study, we aimed to investigate the possible association between SLC2A1 26177A/G polymorphism and diabetic retinopathy (DR) in Malaysian patients with type 2 diabetes.

Methods: Genomic DNA was extracted from 211 Malaysian type 2 diabetic patients (100 without retinopathy [DNR], 111 with retinopathy) and 165 healthy controls. A high resolution melting assay developed in this study was used to detect SLC2A1 26177A/G polymorphism followed by statistical analysis.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Conflicting results have been reported in different populations on the association between two particular RAGE gene polymorphisms (-429T/C and -374T/A) and retinopathy in diabetic patients. Therefore this study was designed to assess the association between both gene polymorphisms with retinopathy in Malaysian diabetic patients. A total of 342 type 2 diabetic patients [171 without retinopathy (DNR) and 171 with retinopathy (DR)] and 235 healthy controls were included in this study.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background/aims: The receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetic microvascular complications. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between 2245G/A gene polymorphism of the RAGE gene and retinopathy in Malaysian type 2 diabetic patients.

Methods: 342 unrelated type 2 diabetic patients (171 with retinopathy (DR), 171 without retinopathy (DNR)) and 235 unrelated healthy subjects from all over Malaysia were recruited for this study.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The present study compares water-soluble phenolic content (WPC) and antioxidant activities in Chinese long bean (Vigna unguiculata), bitter gourd (Momordica charantia), water convolvulus (Ipomoea aquatica) and broccoli (Brassica olearacea) prior to and after subjecting to boiling, microwaving and pressure cooking. The total antioxidant activity was increased in cooked water convolvulus, broccoli and bitter gourd, estimated based on the ferric reducing antioxidant power, the Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl radical scavenging activity. Pressure cooking did not cause any significant decline in the antioxidant property.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF