best of both worlds 2015

A Quarterly of the Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM)FRIM IN FOCUS | JUNE 20152

Focus articleED

ITOR

IAL

BOAR

D AdvisorsDato’ Dr Abd Latif MohmodDr Mohamed Nor Mohd Yusoff

Technical EditorMohamad Zaki Mohd Isa

Editor & WriterIda Suraini Abd Shukor

FRIM in Focus (FIF) is distributed free of charge upon request. We welcome feedback on any of the FIF articles.Address comments and enquiries to:

The Editor & Writer of FRIM In FocusForest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM)52109 Kepong, Selangor DE, Malaysia

Telephone: +603-6279 7501 | Facsimile: +603-6273 1076E-mail: [email protected] | Website: www.frim.gov.myDesign & Printing: Aslita Sdn Bhd

Cover photo: Food supplements from Bougainvillea (Photo: Asmar Hassan)

SENDUDUK, THE ROADSIDE REMEDYSenduduk, Penawar di Tepi JalanTan Ai [email protected]

Melastoma malabathricum—locally known as senduduk—is one of the seven newly-introduced herbal species to the global market under the National Key Economic Area (NKEA) No 11 in 2014. Melas stomos meaning black mouth in Greek simply describes one’s purplish black tongue when the raw sweet and sour Melastoma fruit is consumed. Various parts of the senduduk plant possess medicinal properties. Decoction from leaves and roots are used to treat diarrhoea, toothache and for treatment of mothers in confinement. Paste from leaves and roots stops bleeding from minor cuts, wounds and leech bites.

Senduduk grows well along roadsides in open areas of the primary and secondary forests. It is a small tree with flowers that vary from violet, purple, pinkish purple, mauve, pink and white. The flowers have five to seven petals and are short-lived; they bloom in sunlight and wither when the sun sets.

Senduduk fruits appear as fleshy capsules which upon maturity rupture irregularly exposing the soft dark pulp containing the seeds. Pulp colour varies according to the altitude and flower shade. The common lowland, highland and white-flowered

senduduk has purplish black, red and orange pulp respectively.

For the indigenous community of Peninsular Malaysia, senduduk is a common and useful plant. Both the senduduk ungu (purple-flowered) and putih (white-flowered) also known as kelodok is used although the white is more preferred. At least eight sub-ethnics of the Orang Asli community (Jahut, Jakun, Mendriq, Lanoh, Semoq Beri, Jahai/Temiar, Orang Kanaq, Temuan) use the plant as a general tonic and for treatment of various ailments such as crack heels,

A Quarterly of the Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM)JUNE 2015 | FRIM IN FOCUS 3

Focus article

ABOUT THE AUTHORTan Ai Lee is a research officer (ethnobotanist) at the Ethnobiology Branch, Natural Products Division. She obtained her first and second degrees from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. Her research activities include morphological characterisation of selected plant species, ethnobotanical studies, plant identification, and ex-situ conservation of medicinal and aromatic plants at the Ethnobotanic Garden. She conducted capacity building in the documentation of traditional knowledge on medicinal and aromatic plants in Peninsular Malaysia project by training the Orang Asli on plant herbarium preparation.

mouth ulcer, swelling, body aches and cough. The Jahuts boil senduduk with papaya leaves to remove bitterness of the latter.

There are seven Melastoma species in Peninsular Malaysia of which M. malabathricum and M. sanguineum are two species with ethnobotanical significance. Though fairly similar, the two species can be differentiated by the floral cup (basal structure which holds the flower structure together). Within the same species, bristles or hairs on the floral cup may be longer as the habitat altitude increases. In the absence of fertile parts and for species with similar types of floral cups, leaf and stem characteristics are used

a b

c

a b

c d

a b

c d

Various shades of senduduk (a) violet (b) purple, (c) pinkish purple/mauve and (d) white

Ruptured fruits of senduduk exposing the pulp (a) purplish black, (b) orange and (c) red with yellow or orange seeds

Floral cups of M. malabathricum (a) short bristles, (b) long bristles, (c) slightly spreading hairs (d) villous hairs

to distinguish between two Melastoma species.

The study on senduduk was possible with the involvement of various parties. The ethnobotanical usage for senduduk was gathered from FRIM project on traditional knowledge on medicinal and aromatic plants by the Orang Asli communities. Funding for the Natural Products Division project was provided by the MFRDB under the GPP-SB-0609-02. Plants and herbarium samples were obtained with contribution from the state forestry departments, the Johor National Park Corporation, as well as Kepong and Singapore herbaria.


Focus article

LOOKING AT FRAGRANCE IN FLOWERSDr Nor Azah Mohamad [email protected]

Mailina Jamil, Muhd Hafizi Zainal, Azrina Aziz & Mohammad Faridz Zoll Patah

Timber trees and flowering plants that grow in abundance at FRIM adorn the campus with flowers all year round. Once in a while, rarely flowering timber trees shower the campus with colourful fragranced flowers. The rare flowers contain essential oils which can be extracted and captured in the form of waxy minute amounts. The head-space solid-phase micro extraction technique (HS-SPME) is used to capture and detect fragrance compounds from the flowers. The simple and rapid method proceeds with fragrance chemical analyses via the gas chromatography mass spectrometry. The method represents a new frontier in the search for new fragrance compounds and perfume

β-caryophyllene, α-humulene, (Z,E)-α-farnesene, germacrene D, β-bisabolene, caryophyllene oxide, α-cardinol, α-bisabolol, and (2E,6Z)-farnesol. The sweet faint aroma of cengal flower may be due to the presence of (E)-β-farnesene. The compounds of β-bisabolene and cis-α-bergamotene are also present in cananga and jasmine oils.

Cannon-ball

Cannon-ball (Couroupita guainensis) is native to the rainforests of Central and South Americas. The Amazonians use the plant to treat hypertension, tumors, general pain and inflammation. A cannon-ball tree which is easily accessible can be

ingredients from forest plants. Several flowering timber trees such as cengal, cannon-ball, tembusu and jelutung were studied and are featured here.

Cengal

Cengal (Neobalanocarpus heimii) is the wood of choice in Peninsular Malaysia for house and boatbuilding. Due to its durable nature, cengal is sometimes called the Malaysian teak. Flowering of cengal occurs either annually or biannually. In 2014, flowering was observed between March and May. Fresh flowers were collected in the early morning and distilled to produce yellow-coloured oil. Chemical compounds in the oil include

1 2

Tropical rain forest is a treasure trove of medicinal and aromatic resources with its invaluable storehouse of chemical leads and medicines. Medicinal plants research among others, obtains essential oils and fragrance compounds from plants well-established for their therapeutic, calming effects and healing properties.

Melihat Wangian Bunga

Asm

ar H

assa

n


Focus article

found growing adjacent to FRIM Human Resources (B3) building fringing the road leading to the vehicle workshop. Its flowers emit an unmistakable sweet and rosy smell in the morning, delighting passersby. The strongly scented cannon-ball flowers attract insects for pollination; a process pertinent for survival of the species. The scent arises from chemical components namely 2Z,6E-farnesol, linalool, eugenol and phenyl ethyl alcohol (a common perfume ingredient).

Jelutung

Jelutung (Dyera costulata) is a species commonly sought for its wood while its latex is used to produce chewing gum. Jalan Jelutong at FRIM is named to reflect rows of jelutung trees bordering the edge of the road. The tiny star-shaped jelutung flowers are easily shed when exposed to the wind. Studies showed the flowers contain chemical substances such as α-copaene, (E)-β-damascenone, n-nonanal, n-decanal and methyl dodecanoate. The faint floral scent of jelutung flowers are contributed mainly by (E)-β-damascenone which is usually found in roses.

Tembusu

Tembusu or Fagraea fragrans tree has dark brown trunk and fissured bark similar to the bitter gourd plant. The extremely durable hardwood tree is suitable for making chopping boards. The tree is also resistant to termite attack and popular for furniture and heavy duty construction such as bridges, boats and railroads. Tembusu fruits, the bitter tasting red berries are usually preferred by birds and fruit

bats. The aroma of tembusu flower are caused by substances such as (E, E)-a-farnesene, methyl benzoate, pentadecane, tetradecane, tridecane, n-pentadecanol and elemicin. The flower distillate is a light yellow essential oil with main components comprising 2E-tridecenol, docosane, heneicosane, (E)-nerolidol, tetracosane, sesquilavandulol, methyl linoleate and (E, E)-a-farnesene. The chemical compounds combine to emit a distinct flower odour, thus the name Fagraea fragrans.

ABOUT THE MAIN AUTHORDr Nor Azah Mohamad Ali heads the Herbal Product Development Programme, Natural Products Division, FRIM. She graduated from Universiti Putra Malaysia in natural products chemistry and her research is mainly on essential oils, cosmetic formulations and agarwood.

1. Cengal flowers2. Cannon-ball flower3. Jelutung flowers on the

pavement of Jalan Jelutong4. Jelutung flowers for

chemical analysis5. Tembusu flowers for

chemical analysis6. Tembusu flowers

3

5 6

4A

smar

Has

san


Focus article

Aquilaria or karas belongs to the family Thymelaeaceae. The leaves are attributed to various traditional therapeutic uses such as treatment for cough, fever and mosquito bites. Oleoresin (a natural plant product containing essential oil and resin) produced by five species of Aquilaria is responsible for the healing properties. Amongst the five species, A. malaccensis commands the highest demand and is the most popular species in Malaysia.

A. malaccensis leaf extract shows high antioxidant activity. Antioxidants are compounds that help keep in balance free radicals in the body to maintain a healthy system. The extract is also a main ingredient in perfumery and toiletry formulations. The main constituents include mangeferin, genkwanin and iriflophenones. In addition, a microbial enumeration test showed the leaf extract complies to the safety limits regulated by the National Pharmaceutical Control Bureau, thus is safe from microbial contamination. The extract contains high carbohydrate constituents and suitable as active ingredient for daily health care products.

ABOUT THE MAIN AUTHORSiti Humeirah Ab Ghani is a research officer at the Herbal Product Development Programme, Natural Products Division, FRIM. Her MSc is in natural product chemistry from Universiti Putra Malaysia. Her specialisation includes natural products chemistry and product development.

TRANQUIL M AND THE MANY USES OF AQUILARIA LEAVESTranQuil M dan Pelbagai Kegunaan Daun Karas Siti Humeirah Abdul [email protected]

Dr Nor Azah Mohamad Ali, Saidatul Husni Saidin, Dr Zunoliza Abdullah, Shalini Markandan & Norulaiman Yusoff

The development of Tranquil M from Aquilaria leaves was featured in FRIM in Focus December 2014. The project won multiple awards in international and institutional innovation competitions held from 2012–2015. Various products were developed from Tranquil M including tea (karas tea), beverages (karas lemon tea, Aquilaria mixed beverage and CocoTranquil) and for personal care (rejuvenating serum and moisturising cream).

Karas tea developed by a joint collaboration between FRIM and Borneo BioGahru Sdn Bhd contains the powerful antioxidant ingredient from mature leaves of A. malaccensis. Karas tea will be marketed by the company through a licensing agreement with FRIM.

Specially formulated energy drinks such as karas lemon tea, Aquilaria mixed beverage and CocoTranquil are also products strengthened with antioxidants from Tranquil M. The all natural tea and beverages neutralise harmful free-radicals, are free from colourings and preservatives, and suitable for daily consumption.

Personal care products from rejuvenating serum and moisturising cream were developed using Tranquil M. The nanoemulsion formulation or Nano Tranquil for skin whitening and rejuvenating serum is suitable as a general treatment for maintaining a healthy skin.

CocoTranQuil

Drinks from Tranquil M include tea and lemon tea

Rejuvenating serum (right) and moisturising

cream (left)

Asm

ar H

assa

n


Focus article

KEEPING MOSQUITOES AT BAYMenghindari Nyamuk

Dr Nor Azah Mohamad [email protected]

& Zaridah Mohd Zaki

Yaqin insect repellent and aromatherapy spray

Dengue and dengue hemorrhagic fever remained as one of the main diseases that transcends age levels and background of Malaysian citizens. Such outbreaks have reached alarming levels in the country with 30,890 cases of dengue reported for 2015 by the Dengue Situation Update 462, 8 April 2015. The disease is spread mainly by the vector mosquito, Aedes aegypti. Preventive measures to control the vector using extracts and essential oils are gradually preferred as long-term usage of synthetic insecticides (though readily available) is known to produce harmful side-effects.

Health Organisation) bioassay test and repellent kits, and glass chamber. The larvae and adult of two mosquito species, Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus were observed to be killed or knocked down after being exposed to essential oils of serai wangi and limau purut.

FRIM produced a mosquito repellent spray with added aromatherapy benefits. The Yaqin mosquito repellent and aromatherapy spray marketed by Abadi Industry Sdn Bhd is a formulation of citronella and citrus extracts which is natural and free from harmful chemicals. The insect repellent herbal spray releases essential oil into the air which eliminates and repels mosquitoes as well as other insects from the area. The spray also produces a stimulating and refreshing aroma and doubles up as an air freshener.

Research on essential oils at FRIM began in the early 1980’s and involved a study of over 30 herbal plants and timber species. The studies have zeroed in to several plant extracts and essential oils that repel and terminate Aedes mosquitoes such as citronella, citrus and Cinnamomum oils. Essential oil, also known as plant volatiles are multi-component substances which emit pleasant or sometimes pungent aroma. Also known as the essence of plant materials, several essential oil is attributed to mosquito repellent effects.

Essential oil are obtained from plants via hydrodistillation and analysed using capillary gas chromatography (GC) and GC/mass spectrophotometry. The combination of phenylpropanoids, monoterpenes, and sesquiterpenes in essential oils is responsible for the repellent effect. Serai wangi (Cymbopogon nardus) and limau purut (Citrus hystrix) produce essential oils that are rich in monoterpenoid constituents while Cinammomum species produce phenylpropanoids.

The effectiveness of essential oil as a mosquito repellent is gauged using a standard WHO (World

ABOUT THE MAIN AUTHORDr Nor Azah Mohamad Ali heads the Herbal Product Development Programme, Natural Products Division, FRIM. She graduated from Universiti Putra Malaysia in natural products chemistry and her research is mainly on essential oils, cosmetic formulations and agarwood.

Asm

ar H

assa

n


Focus article

Herbal remedies and cosmetic ingredients based on herbs and spices have been around since ancient times. Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is a familiar plant to Malaysians and among the eighteen plant species earmarked to be developed as high value herbal products for the global market.

Ginger is often used as flavouring in food and beverage as a result of its hot and spicy taste. Owing to its warm and energising nature, ginger is one of the main ingredients in massage oil preparation for mothers in confinement. When used topically, ginger oil expels wind from the body, relieves joints aches and pains, and promotes normal blood circulation. Traditionally, massage oil is produced by heating up sliced or crushed ginger in coconut oil with other ingredients such as clove and lemon grass. Traditional massage oil is known to cause discomfort to users. The oil is dark-coloured, emits strong and pungent odour, and leaves a greasy feel to the skin.

Consumer preference indicates a market for user-friendly traditional massage oil. The ginger-based oil for confinement care utilises a selection of high quality authentic raw material which are distilled to obtain essential oils. The resulting formulation has a pleasant aroma, highly absorbent to

Various ginger-based herbal products

Ku Em ginger massage oil

ABOUT THE MAIN AUTHORSaidatul Husni Saidin is a research officer at the Herbal Development Programme, Natural Products Division, FRIM. Her MSc and BSc in plant systematic (biotechnology) and nutrition and community health respectively, are from Universiti Putra Malaysia. She specialises on herbal products development and supercritical fluid extraction.

KU EM GINGER OIL: ANCIENT REMEDY BACKED BY SCIENCEMinyak Halia Ku Em: Rawatan Tradisi Dengan Sokongan SainsSaidatul Husni [email protected]

Dr Nor Azah Mohamad Ali, Mailina Jamil, Mohd Faridz Zollpatah & Azrina Aziz

the skin and lightly coloured to avoid staining the clothing. The massage oil was tested for effectiveness, safety and free from heavy metal and microorganism contaminations. Gingers are also known to reduce inflammation due to its rich citral compounds (neral, geranial), geraniol and zingiberene which are incorporated in the formulation. Marketed as Ku Em, the newly formulated massage oil is certified Halal and registered under the Ministry of Health. Ku Em Global Sdn Bhd markets the ginger massage oil locally and to China, Europe and South Africa. The company is a participant of the FRIM-MARA Technopreneurship Programme in which herbal manufacturers receive assistance to develop scientifically value-added products from herbs and spices.

Ku Em products at an exhibition in China

Asm

ar H

assa

n


Focus article

Bougainvillea glabra, also known as paper flower or bunga kertas, is a widely-cultivated ornamental plant in many warm parts of the world. The evergreen woody plant produces clusters of colourful papery bracts. It is popularly cultivated as a year-round landscape plant because of its drought tolerant property which makes it excellent for hot seasons.

Bunga kertas which is native to the South American regions such as Brazil, Peru and Argentina is an appealing plant with varying colorful flowers such as white, yellow, orange, red, pink and purple. The flowering plant is found scattered throughout Malaysia and the neighbouring Asian countries.

The colourful bunga kertas petals are used in the Mexican traditional medicine as remedy to treat respiratory illnesses. The petals were reported to contain phenolic compounds that contribute towards its antioxidant activity. B. glabra was also known to posses various

medicinal properties such as anthihelmentic, antidiabetic, antiviral and insecticidal activities.

Market value for natural antioxidant is increasing and followed rapidly by research and development for new plant sources of natural antioxidants.

Flower resources attract attention owing to the high potential natural antioxidant constituents. Many of the abundant flower resources are edible and readily used as herbs. Bioactive compound studies on the flowers are also gaining popularity.

FRIM evaluated the Malaysian cultivated magenta petals of B. glabra for antioxidant properties such as superoxide and DPPH free radical

scavenging activities, oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) and total phenolic content. The B. glabra freeze-dried aqueous extract showed high antioxidant activity (above 80%) in both superoxide and DPPH free radical scavenging activities. The extract also showed good ORAC value (47,340 µM/100g TE) and total phenolic content (834.90 mg/100g GAE).

The petals of B. glabra are non-toxic and high in antioxidant activity. The natural antioxidants scavenge excess free radicals, keep the oxidative stress state in balance and prevent chronic degenerative age-dependant diseases as well as pre-matured aging

NUTRITIONAL BENEFITS OF THE BEAUTIFUL BOUGAINVILLEAKhasiat Bunga Bougainvillea

Dr Vimala [email protected]

Shalini Markandan & Juliza Mohamed

ABOUT THE MAIN AUTHORDr Vimala Subramaniam is a senior research officer at the Bioactivity Programme, Natural Products Division, FRIM. She holds a PhD in biotechnology and has 20 years of experience in antioxidants research. She is among the Malaysian pioneers in antioxidant research and has established nine antioxidant bioassays, produced many antioxidant standardised extracts and natural products, from which she won a number of national and international innovation awards.

symptoms. Daily intake of natural plant antioxidants as therapeutic agents prolongs the life span of cells. The aging process is slowed down when the cell membrane is protected against free radical mediated damage.

Epidemiological and clinical studies provide compelling evidence that phenolic antioxidant components and antioxidant vitamins in plant food are the principal contributing factors in significantly reducing the incidence of chronic and degenerative diseases. The highly beneficial plant food for bunga kertas is now available in three different products namely the Phantsy floral tea, Torrential Verve energy booster and Crimson high fibre cookies. The ready-for-commercialisation B. glabra antioxidant food supplements are produced by joint effort between FRIM and Furley Bioextracts Sdn Bhd.

Crimson high fibre cookies

Bougainvillea glabra or bunga kertas

Phantacy floral tea (left), Torrential Verve energy booster (right)

Asm

ar H

assa

n


Focus article

Program kerjasama antara Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) dan FRIM memasuki fasa kedua pada tahun 2014 dalam usaha membantu usahawan menghasilkan produk herba yang berkualiti dan mampu menembusi pasaran antarabangsa. Program Teknousahawan—Teknologi Herba yang dijalankan oleh Bahagian Pembangunan Usahawan MARA membimbing pengusaha herba membuktikan konsep (proof of concept) berlandaskan hasil penyelidikan

produk herba iaitu Kategori 1 (produk makanan dan minuman herba), Kategori 2 (produk kosmetik) dan Kategori 3 (produk ubatan tradisional). Program siri pertama (Siri I, 2012–2013) melibatkan lima syarikat dan produk seperti Jadual 1.

Program teknousahawan siri kedua (Siri II) pula menyaksikan kerjasama FRIM dengan lima syarikat iaitu The Cucurbits Company Sdn Bhd, Wan Rahmah Enteprise, TG Green Tech Industry Sdn Bhd, Zukifli Bamadhaj Sdn Bhd dan Tyzo Sdn Bhd (Jadual 2).

Program ini dijalankan bertujuan memberi kesedaran di kalangan peserta dan membantu menambah nilai produk herba. Di samping itu, program ini memastikan tiga kriteria utama pembangunan produk herba iaitu kualiti, keselamatan dan keberkesanan dipatuhi dan selari dengan keperluan Biro Keselamatan dan Kualiti Makanan, Kementerian Kesihatan dan Biro Pengawalan Farmaseutikal Kebangsaan. Pusat Teknologi Herba FRIM juga terlibat dalam menentukan produk herba yang dikilang selaras dengan Amalan Pengilangan Baik (GMP). Modul

PRODUK HERBA BERKUALITI, DARIPADA KAJIAN KE PASARANQuality Herbal Products, From Lab to Market

Dr Rasadah Mat [email protected]

Dr Nor Azah Mohamad Ali, Zamree Md Shah, Noor Rasyila Mohamed Noor & Nurhazwani Mohd Hirmizi

2

1

FRIM bagi menghasilkan produk herba yang bermutu tinggi dan memenuhi piawaian. Selain melaksanakan penyelidikan, FRIM menawarkan perkhidmatan dan berkongsi teknologi terkini dalam pemprosesan produk herba.

Sejak tahun 2012 FRIM telah melatih 10 syarikat usahawan herba dalam program yang berlangsung selama 12 bulan. Aktiviti penyelidikan dan penghasilan produk herba dijalankan bagi tiga kategori


Focus article

TENTANG PENULIS UTAMADr Rasadah Mat Ali ialah Pengarah Bahagian Hasilan Semula Jadi, FRIM. Beliau mempunyai PhD (pharmacognosy) daripada King’s College, University of London dan MSc dalam bidang fitokimia daripada Universiti Malaya. Beliau mengetuai Bahagiannya menjalankan aktiviti membantu industri herba tempatan meningkatkan nilai tambah produk untuk pasaran dalam dan luar negara. Antara aktiviti yang dijalankan ialah latihan usahawan herba di bawah Kementerian Pembangunan Usahawan dan Kepenggunaan (MeCD) yang bermula pada 2006. FRIM melatih sehingga 200 orang usahawan setahun dalam pelbagai bidang herba bermula daripada pengenalpastian, pemprosesan sehingga ke penghasilan produk.

Bil Syarikat Kategori Pegawai bertanggung jawab

1 Herbagus Sdn Bhd Kategori 3: kapsul belalai gajah Zamree Md ShahNurhazwani Mohd Hirmizi

2 Farmina Bio Plus Industries & Consultants Sdn Bhd

Kategori 3: kapsul mas cotek Dr Fadzureena JamaludinNoor Rasyila Mohamed Noor

3 Safah Herbs Beauty Recipe Kategori 2: kosmetik berasaskan ekstrak buah jambu air

Saidatul Husni SaidinDr Nor Azah Mohamad Ali

4 Ethno Resources Sdn Bhd Kategori 1: kopi campuran tongkat ali Dr Pin Kar Yong

5 Ku Em Global Sdn Bhd Kategori 2: minyak berasaskan halia Saidatul Husni SaidinDr Nor Azah Mohamad Ali

Jadual 1 Program Teknousahawan—Teknologi Herba Siri I

1. Produk program Siri I

2. Kerjasama FRIM dan Safah Herbs Sdn Bhd

3. Kerjasama FRIM dan Tyzo Sdn Bhd

4. Lawatan ke Pusat Teknologi Herba FRIM

Bil Syarikat Kategori Pegawai bertanggung jawab

1 The Cucurbits Company Sdn Bhd

Kategori 2: kosmetik berasaskan ekstrak SFE labu

Dr Nor Azah Mohamad AliSaidatul Husni Saidin

2 Wan Rahmah Enterprise Kategori 2: kosmetik berasaskan ekstrak gelenggang

Saidatul Husni SaidinDr Nor Azah Mohamad Ali

3 Syarikat Zulkifli Bamadhaj Sdn Bhd

Kategori 3: kapsul asam gelugor Zamree Md ShahNoor Rasyila Mohamed Noor

4 TG (Tok Guru) Green Tech Industry Sdn Bhd

Kategori 1: minuman herba berasaskan bidara

Dr Pin Kar YongSiti Humeirah Abd Ghani

5 Tyzo Sdn Bhd Kategori 3: kapsul tunjuk langit Dr Fadzureena JamaludinDr Mazura Md Pisar

Jadual 2 Program Teknousahawan—Teknologi Herba Siri II

program yang dijalankan merangkumi kerjasama R&D, sokongan teknikal dan lawatan ke makmal FRIM. Latihan praktikal dilaksana bagi mengecam dan menentukan spesies herba, formulasi produk kosmetik, dan teknik memproses bagi pengeluaran produk ubatan tradisional. 3

4


Book review

Book Title: Tropical Forest Fruits, Seeds, Seedlings and Trees. Malayan Forest Records No 52

Author: FSP Ng Publisher: Forest Research Institute

Malaysia, Kepong Published: 2014 Pages: 429 pp ISBN: 978-967-0622-22-4Price: RM250/USD150

After brief introductory chapters and a one-page bibliography, the bulk of the volume comprises the descriptions (pp 32–249), arranged alphabetically by family (and the genera alphabetically within those), and then seedling illustrations (pp 250–426), similarly arranged, the book ending with an index to generic names.

From a practical standpoint, the book will immediately be compared with EF de Vogel’s Seedlings of Dicotyledons (1980), though Dr Ng’s book has broader scope in dealing with seed and fruit structure through to tree-architecture, with gymnosperms as well as angiosperms. De Vogel’s book was based on a three-year research project in Java, leading to a thesis, and covered 150 species (133 genera) in 51 families, while Ng deals with 607 species (representing 309 genera in 86 families). De Vogel abandoned the classical distinction between epigeal and hypogeal germination, for example, while Ng has four germination types (with some subtypes), which he formally described in 1978. De Vogel has 16

seedling types with 9 subtypes whereas Ng has descriptions of seedlings as the first stages in the trees’ architectural development, of which he recognises 16 types in a key (p 15). De Vogel’s book was beautifully illustrated, partly in watercolours, by Mohammed Toha, one of the gifted artists who worked on CGGJ van Steenis’s magnificent Mountain Flora of Java (1972), whereas Ng’s book has studio photographs by ISY Ho and line drawings by the author. De Vogel had a glossary; Ng has some pages of ‘Essential concepts and definitions’.

Research for the book started in the 1960s when tropical rainforests were much less depleted than they are today. Seeds were collected, documented and germinated. The development of seedlings was followed daily, photographed and described; when large enough, young plants were established in the arboretum and grounds of FRIM at Kepong. Such simple techniques give

Tropical Forest Fruits, Seeds, Seedlings and Trees. Malayan Forest Records No 52

This handsome (and heavy) volume is the result of a 30-year study, the kind of project no longer really possible (or appreciated) in the short-term-oriented academic world of today, yet so fundamental in terms of practicalities. We learn that it was modelled on RS Troup’s Silviculture of Indian Trees (1921) and was intended to be a reference manual for foresters, particularly with a view to their using it in efforts to restore logged forest. It is derived from an initial synthesis published in two volumes (1990, 1991) as Manual of Forest Fruits, Seeds and Seedlings.


Book review

answers to questions on germination times besides potential dormancy and viability periods, which information was published separately by FRIM in 1991.

Documented and discussed are the early stages of tree-architecture, until this becomes obscured as the tree matures, forming its massive trunk through self-pruning, and its apex arrives in the canopy to produce a crown with ‘co-dominant non-pruning shoots’ in what Ng calls a ‘post-architectural stage’.

Each family entry has a brief introduction with distribution, number of genera and species and basic description, each genus within with its vernacular name, descriptions of seeds, fruits, and germination, with at least one example illustrated in line for each family, sometimes accompanied by colour photographs, together making up 225 figures. The bulk of the plates, whole pages of black-and-white and colour photographs of seedlings that follow, number 187. These are the meat of the book and will be those of greatest practical use and interest, a good example being the copious information on Syzygium spp. (p 185) for example.

Some of the introductory matter is perhaps a little less felicitous. The account of the ‘post-architectural stage’ of tree development and discussion of ‘crown-shyness’, on which the author has written before, are useful but, bearing in mind his unorthodox, iconoclastic discussion of fruit-types, where he rightly criticises the foisting of temperate-plant-based thinking on the tropics, his discussion of ‘leaves’ follows too much the very same essentialist Goethe canon rather than the recent more objective work showing a leaf-stem continuum. Other statements may surprise readers

too, such as when the flower is best seen as an immature fruit rather than something ‘shed at the end of its predetermined life unless fertilised’. And as far as leaves go, do those of grass really have ‘determinate growth’?

The author makes much of changes wrought in angiosperm classification by recent, largely molecular work (though this often supports the seed work published in the 1970s by EJH Corner, one of the few critics of then prevalent Cronquist- Takhtajan-Thorne ‘consensus’) and follows to a large extent modern family circumscriptions. However, he keeps Myrsinaceae separate from Primulaceae, Polyosmaceae from Escalloniaceae, and Pteleocarpaceae from Boraginaceae, while his Gentianaceae contains all Loganiaceae, and he declines to split up Euphorbiaceae (even keeping Pandaceae within) when, unless split, Euphorbiaceae has to embrace Rafflesiaceae! While (laudably) maintaining the traditional names Leguminosae and Guttiferae, he has given in to Lamiaceae (= Labiatae).

In another international context, it is perhaps unfortunate that the book’s title does not include the word ‘Malaysian’ or similar and it is also regrettable that Flora Malesiana treatments have not always been followed, e.g. Heynea (Meliaceae) not being recognised as distinct from Trichilia for example, both suggesting a somewhat inward-looking approach. Similarly, Carmona (Boraginaceae) is now known to be ‘nested’ in Ehretia, while the correct name for Symingtonia (Hamamelidaceae) is Exbucklandia, both of which (and several other) slips would have been avoided if reference had been made to modern plant-dictionaries. There are some spelling errors of which ‘septae’ is perhaps the most egregious—but

all of these things are minor cavils and the author and publisher are to be congratulated on bringing Dr Ng’s major accomplishment to scientific notice.

The ability to be able to identify fruits and seeds, seedlings and trees is in decline as older staff members retire and die. Based on long-term study and experience, such an ability is not fashionable in an academic world aping that of the north, despite the fact that such botanical riches are unique assets of tropical nations when compared with the depauperate nature of temperate floras.

Forest nurseries were formerly maintained in Peninsular Malaysia, but these too have largely lapsed there, forests being left to regenerate themselves, though in Sabah the tradition is fortunately strongly maintained. Although commercial nurseries in Peninsular Malaysia raise indigenous trees for urban greening, the range of species grown is a tiny proportion of the native tree flora. Many of these native tree species are endangered or even extinct, but those still hanging on could be saved by cultivation as has happened in many other parts of the world. It is to be hoped that this milestone book will act as a wake-up call before it is too late. Malaysia’s botanical heritage is in danger: without training and application of Dr Ng’s findings in practical conservation efforts, Malaysia’s international reputation is in jeopardy.

David J Mabberley Wadham College, University of Oxford, United Kingdom Macquarie University and Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney, Australia


News article

Soepadmo (kanan) menerima Pingat Linnean daripada HE Vicky Treadell (kiri), Pesuruhjaya Tinggi British di Malaysia

SOEPADMO TERIMA PINGAT LINNEANSoepadmo Receives the Linnean Medal

GBS MENANG EMAS DI ITEX 2015GBS Wins Gold at ITEX 2015Mohd Hafidz Hadi [email protected]

27 April 2015—Prof Dr E Soepadmo menerima anugerah Pingat Linnean yang mengiktiraf sumbangan beliau dalam bidang botani (taksonomi dan sistematik) serta peranannya mendidik generasi pelapis ahli botani. Soepadmo mula berkhidmat di FRIM pada tahun 1993 dan kini menyandang jawatan sebagai Penyelidik Felo.

Beliau merupakan penyelidik pertama FRIM serta saintis pertama Asia Tenggara yang diberi penghormatan oleh Persatuan Linnean yang beribu pejabat di London. Persatuan Linnean ialah persatuan biologi yang terawal ditubuhkan iaitu pada 1788. Peranan utama persatuan ini ialah mendokumentasi flora dan fauna bagi pemuliharaan kepelbagaian biologi. Pingat Linnean merupakan penghormatan kepada tokoh dalam bidang sains yang dianugerahkan setiap tahun bermula 1888.

Soepadmo dilahirkan pada 13 Mac 1937 di Kg Tegalan, Kartosuro, Jawa Tengah, Indonesia. Beliau merupakan salah seorang penerima Anugerah Merdeka pada 2012 dan juga penerima Anugerah Saintis Terbaik FRIM 2015.

Soepadmo memperoleh ijazah PhD daripada University of Cambridge pada 1966 bawah penyeliaan EJH Corner. Beliau berkhidmat sebagai pensyarah botani Universiti Malaya (1968−1978) dan profesor ekologi (1978−1993). Sejak 1993 beliau menjadi penyelaras dan ketua editor projek “Tree Flora of Sabah and Sarawak” di FRIM.

Beliau telah menemui 56 spesies tumbuhan dan pokok hutan tropika. Enam spesies tumbuhan dinamakan sempena nama beliau iaitu Actinodaphne soepadmoi, Aglaia soepadmoi, Cinnamomum soepadmoi, Ficus soepadmoi, Syzygium soepadmoi dan Vatica soepadmoi. Melalui pengalaman penyelidikannya Soepadmo menyumbang ke arah penetapan kawasan hutan perlindungan seperti Taman Negera Endau-Rompin dan Royal Belum.

21–23 Mac 2015—FRIM menerima anugerah pingat emas bagi inovasi "Good Budget System" (GBS) yang dipertandingkan sempena Ekspo Teknologi Antarabangsa (ITEX) 2015 di Pusat Persidangan Kuala Lumpur (KLCC). FRIM diwakili oleh Kumpulan Generasi Berdaya Saing daripada Bahagian Hasilan Semula Jadi yang ditubuhkan pada tahun 2011. Kumpulan ini dianggotai oleh Mohamad Jemain Mohamad Ridhuan, Mohammad Khair Mohd Ayob, Mohd Hafidz Hadi Abdullah, Saiful Azwan Mohd Basari, Norsuhaina Zakaria, Nuraini Abdul Majid dan Hani Idayu Bani.

GBS yang telah dipaten (PI 2014700686) turut memenangi anugerah di pelbagai peringkat seperti FRIM, NRE dan kebangsaan antaranya, tempat pertama di konvensyen KIK FRIM 2011 dan 2012, tempat ketiga di konvensyen KIK NRE 2012, pingat emas sempena hari inovasi FRIM 2012 serta emas bagi konvensyen mini ICC Wilayah Tengah 2013.

Inovasi GBS mengaplikasi konsep 3R "reduce, reuse, recycle" bagi proses penyulingan air di makmal-makmal FRIM. Prototaip GBS dibina menggunakan bahan terpakai. Air yang terhasil daripada proses penyulingan dikitar semula serta berpotensi menjimatkan penggunaan air sehingga dua juta liter setahun (penjimatan sehingga RM4608 setahun bagi 15 unit GBS).

Kumpulan Generasi Berdaya Saing


News article

TEKNOLOGI ROVBAM TERIMA DUA ANUGERAH DI KOREARoVBAM Technology Receives Two Prizes in Korea

6 Jun 2015—Teknologi RoVBAM —Kerusi beracuan meraih pingat emas sempena pertandingan reka cipta dan inovasi peringkat dunia 2015 yang diadakan buat julung kali pada 5–6 Jun di Seoul, Korea. Inovasi kumpulan yang terdiri daripada Dr Abdul Hamid Salleh, Tuan Anis Nadia dan Shaidatul Ishrin tersebut turut memenangi anugerah khas daripada

Asia Invention Association (AIA) bagi kreativiti dan inovasi cemerlang.

RoVBAM merupakan satu teknologi baharu menggunakan venir buluh yang dihasilkan menggunakan teknik pengelupasan putaran berbanding pengelupasan hirisan. Teknologi ini mampu menyerlahkan lagi nilai identiti buluh yang asal.

Piala anugerah khas (kiri) dan pingat emas (kanan)

FRIM MENYERLAH, ORIENTEERING MAKSAK 2015FRIM Shines, MAKSAK Orienteering 2015Zaridah Mohd [email protected]

& Syahida Emiza Suhaimi

16 Mei 2015 —Kejohanan Orienteering dan Dakiton Majlis Kebajikan dan Sukan Anggota-Anggota Kerajaan (MAKSAK) Malaysia berlangsung di Dataran Banda Hilir, Melaka dari 15–16 Mei. Sembilan pasukan peserta terdiri daripada MAKSAK Wilayah Persekutuan (WP), Perak, Sarawak, Selangor, Johor, Melaka, Polis Diraja Malaysia, Penjara Malaysia termasuk Angkatan Tentera Malaysia sebagai tuan rumah.

Orienteering merupakan sukan rekreasi menggunakan peta dan kompas yang mirip kepada permainan mencari harta karun. Selain kemahiran menggunakan kompas, peserta memerlukan peralatan seperti penanda kad kawalan dan kad perakam. Dalam kejohanan orienteering bandar atau jalan raya kali ini alat perakam manual diganti dengan alat perakam masa elektronik Sporident. Peserta perlu mencari beberapa titik kawalan yang diletakkan di kawasan

Pasukan orienteering MAKSAK Wilayah Persekutuan

tertentu. Pemenang ialah peserta yang menemui kesemua titik kawalan dan tiba di garisan penamat dalam masa yang paling singkat.

Seramai 11 orang penjawat awam FRIM yang terdiri daripada pengurus pasukan, jurulatih dan peserta mewakili Majlis Kebajikan dan Sukan Anggota-Anggota Kerajaan Wilayah Persekutuan (MAKSWIP) ke kejohanan tersebut. Kategori individu wanita terbuka menyaksikan Zaridah Mohd Zaki,

Siti Nur Aisyah Mohd Hashim dan Syahida Emiza Suhaimi menduduki tempat ketiga, keempat dan kesembilan. Individu lelaki terbuka pula menyaksikan Imin Kamin dan Abd Majid Jalil menduduki tempat keenam dan kesepuluh masing-masing. Johan kategori berpasukan keseluruhan (wanita) diraih oleh MAKSAK WP, manakala pasukan lelaki menduduki tempat kedua berpasukan.


Announcement

BEST OF BOTH WORLDS 2015An International Conference on Environmental Education Ensuring Effective Delivery for a Sustainable Future

6–13 September 2015Rainforest Discovery CentreSepilok, Sandakan, Sabah

The Best of Both Worlds (BoBW) conference is an international technical discussion on environmental education. The first BoBW conference was organised in South Africa in 1998 by the University of South Africa (UNISA). Subsequently, the conference organisers were alternated between FRIM and UNISA, and in 2014, the University of Sao Paolo hosted it for the first time in Brazil.

The 2015 conference highlights three themes of discussion comprising success stories on environmental education impacts on sustainability and biodiversity conservation, methods of implementation, the effectiveness of international perspectives on policies and future directions.

The programme includes a keynote address, oral and poster presentations, as well as technical visits. Participants may also opt for a pre-conference tour (6-7 September 2015) to the Kinabalu Park, UNESCO World Heritage Site and Sabah Tea Garden and post-conference tour (11-13 September 2015) to Lower Kinabatangan and Gomantong Cave.

Registration Fee + GST Malaysian (International)

• Pre-Conference Tour RM742 (USD300)• Presenter/Participants RM954 (USD500)• Students RM742 (USD400)• Daily Participants RM371/day (USD200/day)• Post-Conference Tour RM424 (USD150)

BoBW 2015 invites environmental education practitioners, teachers, parks and recreation area managers, academicians, non-governmental organisations, stakeholders and interested parties to participate in the conference.

For enquiry, please contact:

The BoBW2015 SecretariatFRIM, 52109 Kepong, Selangor(Dr Noor Azlin Yahya, Nik Azyyati Abdul Kadir, Naimah Che Long)Tel: +603 6279 7000 ext 7247 / 7254 / 7243Fax: +603 6280 4625Email: [email protected]

Further information is available at http://www.frim.gov.my/wp-content/uploads/seminar/BoBW2015.pdf

PERSIDANGAN INDUSTRI HERBA 2015Memperkasa jalinan industri herba ke arah transformasi ekonomi

3–5 November 2015Wisma Tani, Presint 4, Putrajaya

Persidangan Industri Herba 2015 (PIH2015) menyediakan platform untuk berkongsi pengetahuan tentang industri herba seperti pengetahuan tradisi, aktiviti terkini R&D, serta aplikasi dan keperluan semasa industri. Persidangan ini memberi peluang kepada pihak yang terlibat untuk mewujudkan rangkaian kerjasama dan meningkatkan kesedaran mengenai potensi herba. Sasaran peserta termasuk usahawan herba, penyelidik, ahli akademik, agensi, penggubal polisi dan individu yang mencari peluang perniagaan dan pelaburan.

Persidangan merangkumi program seperti pembentangan saintifik, perkongsian hasil penyelidikan, pameran industri dan agensi, klinik herba, sesi bersiri dengan pengusaha herba, forum, ceramah kesihatan dan demonstrasi masakan sihat.

Tarikh Penting• Penyerahan abstrak: 1 Julai 2015• Pemberitahuan penerimaan

kertas kerja: 15 Julai 2015• Abstrak lanjutan: 15 Ogos 2015

Yuran Penyertaan (termasuk GST)• Pameran: RM500• Seminar: RM300

Hubungi:Sekretariat Persidangan Industri Herba 2015 (PIH2015) FRIM, 52109 Kepong, Selangor(up: Rohana Abd Rahman / Nur Fazreen Zainal)Tel: 03 6279 7000, samb: 7559 / 7760 / 7761 / 7607 / 7657Faks: 03 6273 6587Emel: [email protected]

Documents

best of both worlds 2015