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The Sunda porcupine ( Hystrix javanica , F.Cuvier, 1823) is a rodent-mammal species native to Indonesia and is utilised in traditional medicine for the treatment of various ailments. Some ethnic communities in Indonesia have traditional beliefs regarding Sunda porcupine's quills, which are thought to relieve back pain and toothache. Despite this traditional knowledge, there is limited scientific research on the topic. The aim of this study was to identify active compound in an ethanolic crude extract of Sunda porcupine's quills, and to evaluate its antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. The antioxidant activity was evaluated using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)-free radical scavenging assay while the antimicrobial activity was evaluated through microdilution resazurin assay. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents were also determined to support the antioxidant properties. The active compounds were identified using gas chromatography-mass spectrophotometer (GCMS) with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST-11) library. The result showed that the extract possesses antioxidant properties (IC 50 138.93 μg/mL) and antimicrobial properties against Escherichia coli ( E. coli ), Staphylococcus aureus ( S. aureus ), Bacillus subtilis ( B. subtilis ), Pseudomonas aeruginosa ( P. aeruginosa ) and Candida albicans ( C . albicans ) (IC 50 range 0.40 mg/mL-33.05 mg/mL). Total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) were 27.29 ± 2.20 mgGAE/g and 27.09 ± 1.66 mgQE/g, respectively. A total of 24 active compounds from the crude extract were identified. As much as five compounds serve as antioxidant agents, including: butylated hydroxytoluene; eicosane; 1-iodo-hexadecane; methyl ester hexadecanoic acid; and L-(+)-ascorbic acid 2,6-dihexadecanoate. Furthermore, as much as 11 compounds serve as antimicrobial agents, including: tetradecane; pentadecane; 2-isopropyl-5-methyl-1-heptanol; hexadecane; butylated hydroxytoluene; eicosane; 1-iodo-hexadecane; methyl ester hexadecanoic acid; benzenepropanoic acid, 3,5-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)-4-hydroxy-, methyl ester; L-(+)-ascorbic acid 2,6-dihexadecanoate; and octadecanoic acid. This study provides scientific validation for the use of the Sunda porcupine's quills in traditional medicine and highlights the potential for further research in animal bioprospecting., (© Penerbit Universiti Sains Malaysia, 2024.)

The fatty acid composition in the skin of Sunda porcupine (Hystrix javanica) is an interesting topic due to the special features of quills, especially in the dorsal region. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the composition of fatty acids in the dorsal region of Sunda porcupine skin. It was conducted using skin samples of the thoracodorsal and lumbosacral regions taken by biopsies and from frozen specimens. The skin lipid was extracted and then derivatized into fatty acid methyl ester before analyzing with gas chromatography mass spectrometry. The results showed that the skin is composed of up to 25 fatty acids ranging from C12 to C25 with various types but only 16 were found in both regions and sexes. Fatty acids with an antibacterial effect were found abundantly, such as oleic, palmitic, stearic, and linoleic acids. The total abundance in the thoracodorsal region was higher than lumbosacral, while the composition in male was higher than in female. Based on the results, the fatty acid composition in the dorsal skin region of Sunda porcupine consists of at least 16 types ranging from C12-C25. Additionally, the region and sex were observed to contribute significantly to the variation in skin fatty acid composition.

Uncoupling protein 1 (UCP-1) was believed to be an exclusive protein found in the brown adipose tissue of small rodents and humans; however, recent studies show that the expression of UCP-1 protein has been found in the sebaceous glands of the mouse tail and human skin. There are a few reports about the presence of UCP-1 in the sebaceous glands of other rodents, such as the Sunda porcupine (Hystrix javanica), a wild spiny rodent commonly found in Indonesia with a large sebaceous gland. The aim of this study was to identify the presence of UCP-1 in the sebaceous glands on the skin of the Sunda porcupine. The skin from three regions (thoracodorsal, lumbosacral and apex caudal) of eight adult Sunda porcupines was used to detect UCP-1-immunopositive cells through immunohistochemistry. All three regions were found immunopositive to anti-UCP-1 antibody in the sebaceous gland of quill and hair follicles, and the epidermal layer in quill and hair follicles with various intensities. The result of immunohistochemistry revealed that the thoracodorsal and apex caudal region was the most intense immunoreaction followed by the lumbosacral region. These findings proved that the presence of UCP-1 was also identified in the sebaceous glands of other rodent (Hystrix javanica) and regions of the body, which has not been reported previously.

Wound healing in the Sunda porcupine is believed to occur quickly, although the wound is large and severe. Wound enclosure involves many processes to restore the lost or damaged skin structure where conjugated polysaccharide-protein and collagen, as the main components deposited in wound tissue to restore it. The aim of this study was to evaluate alteration of polysaccharide contents and collagen in untreated full-thickness wound healing in the thoracodorsal and lumbosacral regions in the Sunda porcupines. Histological analysis was performed by periodic acid Schiff, alcian blue pH 2.5, picrosirius red staining method and Low Vacuum Scanning Electron Microscope (LV-SEM) imaging to obtain the fundamental data of healing process. Wound healing began with re-epithelization followed by progressive wound contraction with 4 overlapping stages in about 30-50 days until the wound closed (21-30 days in thoracodorsal and 30-50 days in lumbosacral). Neutral polysaccharide was more widely distributed compared to the acid polysaccharide in almost all stages of wound healing. The ratio of collagen I to III appeared to be higher in the thoracodorsal region than the lumbosacral region during healing process. LV-SEM imaging showed changes in connective tissue structure in the wound border and granulation tissue which appeared abundant and mixed of thin and thick fiber. In conclusion, cutaneous full thickness wound healing in the Sunda porcupine occurred faster in the thoracodorsal region, which might be correlated to the role of neutral polysaccharide and a high ratio of collagen I to III.

Bottom-up regulatory factors have been proposed to exert a strong influence on mammalian population density. Studies relating habitat quality to population density have typically made comparisons among distant species or communities without considering variation in food quality among localities. We compared dietary nutritional quality of two Bornean orangutan populations with differing population densities in peatland habitats, Tuanan and Sabangau, separated by 63 km. We hypothesized that because Tuanan is alluvial, the plant species included in the orangutan diet would be of higher nutritional quality compared to Sabangau, resulting in higher daily caloric intake in Tuanan. We also predicted that forest productivity would be greater in Tuanan compared to Sabangau. In support of these hypotheses, the overall quality of the diet and the quality of matched dietary items were higher in Tuanan, resulting in higher daily caloric intake compared to Sabangau. These differences in dietary nutritional quality may provide insights into why orangutan population density is almost two times greater in Tuanan compared to Sabangau, in agreement with a potentially important influence of diet quality on primate population density.