Journal of Food Health and Bioenvironmental Science

Antioxidant and Anti-acne Activities of Stingless Bee Honey and Propolis Extract

Duangduan Wattanuruk, Nathapong Matintarangson — Fri, 26 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0700

Stingless bees form a large group of bees that lack a sting and are found in tropical and sub-tropical

areas. Honey and propolis are major products that are produced by the stingless bee. This study aimed to investigate honey and propolis extracts, leading us to isolate bioactive compounds for their antioxidant and anti-acne properties. The four different stingless bee species (Geniotrigona thoracica, Heterotrigona itama, Tetragonula pagdeni, and Lepidotrigona terminate), collected from a community enterprise area (southern Thailand). The raw propolis was extracted via maceration with 20% ethanol. The present study aimed to assess the concentration of phenolics and flavonoids using Folin-Ciocalteu method, Aluminum Chloride Colorimetry method and DPPH respectively, as well as the antibacterial against bacteria Propionibacterium acne (DMST 14917) using the agar well diffusion method. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values were determined by the in vitro method.The findings indicate that G. thoracica honey has the highest content of total phenolic (30.28±0.51mgGAE/g), flavonoids (59.77±0.05 mg RE/g), and DPPH (1.251±0.27mg/ml), while the phenolic (25.34±0.06 mgGAE/g), flavonoids (44.33±0.41) and DPPH (2.210±0.28) of H. itama propolis extract are higher than those of the other extracts.The antibacterial activity of the honey against P. acne was categorized as highly strong inhibitory, while propolis extract was classified as moderate inhibitory. Additionally, G. thoracica honey exhibits the highest antibacterial activity against P. acnes at 37.74±1.5 mm, MIC (62.5 µg/ml) and MBC (125 µg/ml), while
H. itama propolis extract was 14.43±2.7 mm, MIC (125 µg/ml) and MBC (250 µg/ml). These results indicated that stingless bee honey and propolis extracts contain valuable quantities of phenolic and flavonoid compounds, which serve as natural anti-oxidants and exhibit notable anti-microbial activity. The results suggest that stingless bee products hold commercial potential as a natural source of bioactive ingredients to be formulated into cosmetic agents.

Diversity and Structure of Aquatic Insect Communities in Relation to Water Quality Parameters in The Kasetsart University Drainage Ditches, Central Thailand

Taeng On Prommi, Pattrawan Khamboonruang , Sravut Klorvuttimontara — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0700

This study evaluates the impact of anthropogenic influence on the drainage ditches of Kasetsart University's Kamphaeng Saen Campus in Nakhon Pathom Province, using water quality measurements and aquatic insect data collected during a six-month period from October 2022 to March 2023. Six sampling ditches with various human activities were chosen. Organic wastes from agriculture, residences and buildings were the primary causes of pollution. A total of 6,232 aquatic insects from six orders—Hemiptera (28.32%), Coleoptera (7.76%), Odonata (12.52%), Diptera (36.33%), Ephemeroptera (2.47%) and Trichoptera (12.6%)—were collected. In the current study, the order Diptera was the most diversified and relatively abundant in all sampling sites. However, the order Trichoptera was most common in KUKPS6, a running water ditch. The orders Hemiptera and Coleoptera had the highest abundance in the KUKPS1, while Odonata and Ephemeroptera had the highest abundance in KUKPS2. The Shannon-Weiner diversity index for aquatic insects was between 1.527 and 2.959, indicating slightly good water quality. According to the Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA), dissolved oxygen, orthophosphate, nitrate-nitrogen, turbidity and pH were the most influential factors. Based on the data on physicochemical water quality and entomofauna composition, the results concluded that Kasetsart University's drainage ditches were slightly polluted.

Comparison of Pebbles Growing Media from Agricultural Waste Materials on Productivity Growth of Melon (cv. Orange Man and cv. Galia 248) Cultivated in Greenhouse Conditions

Yuttaya Yuyen, Suchaya Kiattiprajuksa — Fri, 26 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0700

The objective of this research project was to compare the results from the use of pebbles growing media made from agricultural waste suitable for the growth and productivity of two cultivars, Orange Man melon and Galia 248 melon in a greenhouse. Pebbles growing media could reduce cost from the traditional material used for growing melon and have higher productivity for farmers. The experiment was divided into 5 experimental sets, namely, set that uses 100% of pebbles from agricultural waste (T1), set that uses normal planting material(coconut husk and chopped coconut coir in the ratio of2 to 1), 25 percent mixed with pebbles from agricultural waste at 75 percent (T2), 50 percent mixed with pebbles from agricultural waste at 50 percent (T3), 75 percent mixed with pebbles from agricultural waste at 25 percent (T4), and normal planting material 100 percent (T5).The research methodology is CRD, with one-way and two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). In addition, the pair test with Scheffe’s method to compare the difference that affects fruit weight of the melon at 42 days after pollination was used. The comparison of the means and standard deviation were performed by Scheffe’s method at P ≤ 0.05 significance level. From the growth and productivity records of two cultivars melon, it was found that the experimental set that is most suitable is T2 which gave high yield of fruit width, fruit length, fruit weight and Brix value. Orange Man cultivars grown with T2 exhibited the average fruit width, fruit length, fruit weight and Brix value at 23.6±1.8 cm, 23.7±1.9 cm, 1.9±0.1 kg and 16±0.0 degrees Brix, respectively and Galia 248 cultivars grown with T2 exhibited the average fruit width, fruit length, fruit weight and Brix value at 23.2±0.8 cm, 24.4±1.2 cm, 1.9±0.1 kg and 15±0.6 degrees Brix, respectively. These results indicated that the factors of cultivar and treatment at the time of pollination are not different from each other with the statistical significance and confidence level of 95 percent compared with melons grown with T5 (normal planting material). These findings can lead to benefit farmers by reducing the cost of growing material for as much as 75 percent per time. The new material are easily manageable as well as having a long service life.