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The purpose of this research is to examine the relationship between factors leading to student loyalty in open and distance learning universities. Specifically, this research explores the relationship between perceived service quality, perceived e-service quality, and university image as mediators of student loyalty in Open University Malaysia (OUM). Data were collected from 16 OUM learning centres throughout Malaysia. A purposive stratified convenience sampling technique was applied and a sample size of 752 respondents was obtained. The data indicated that perceived service quality has a positive and significant relationship with both university image and student loyalty. Similarly, it was found that perceived e-service quality has a positive significant relationship with both university image and student loyalty. University image acted as a mediator both in the relationship between perceived service quality and student loyalty, and in the relationship between perceived e-service quality and student loyalty.

Abstract Ethnopharmacological relevance Medicinal plants have been used for ages by indigenous communities around the world to help humankind sustain its health. Graviola (Annona muricata), also called soursop, is a member of the Annonaceae family and is an evergreen plant that is generally distributed in tropical and subtropical areas of the world. Graviola tree has a long history of traditional use due to its therapeutic potential including anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, insecticide and cytotoxic to tumor cells. Aim of the study This study aimed to investigate the in vitro antiproliferative effects and apoptotic events of the ionic liquid extract of Graviola fruit (IL-GFE) on MCF-7 breast cancer cells and their cytokinetics behaviour to observe their potential as a therapeutic alternative in cancer treatment. Materials and methods The cell viability assay of the extract was measured using tetrazolium bromide (MTT assay) to observe the effects of Graviola fruit extract. Then the cytokinetics behaviour of MCF-7 cells treated with IL-GFE is observed by plotting the growth curve of the cells. Additionally, the cell cycle distribution and apoptosis mechanism of IL-GFE action on MCF-7 cancer cells were observed by flow cytometry. Results IL-GFE exhibited anti-proliferative activity on MCF-7 with the IC50 value of 4.75 μg/mL, compared to Taxol with an IC50 value of 0.99 μg/mL. IL- GFE also reduced the number of cell generations from 3.71 to 1.67 generations compared to 2.18 generations when treated with Taxol. Furthermore, the anti-proliferative activities were verified when the growth rate was decreased dynamically from 0.0077 h to 1 to 0.0035 h-1. Observation of the IL-GFE-treated MCF-7 under microscope demonstrated detachment of cells and loss of density. The growth inhibition of the cells by extracts was associated with cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase, and phosphatidylserine externalisation confirms the anti-proliferation through apoptosis. Conclusions ionic liquid Graviola fruit extract affect the cytokinetics behaviour of MCF-7 cells by reducing cell viability, induce apoptosis and cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase. Graphical abstract Image 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phaleria macrocarpa is an herbal plant used in Malaysia to enhance vitality. The aim of this study was to screen the α-glucosidase inhibitory activity of different parts (fruit flesh, leaves and stem) of P . macrocarpa. Methanol (polar) and n-hexane (nonpolar) extracts, obtained by room temperature solvent extraction, were evaluated for in vitro α-glucosidase activity inhibition. The compounds were identified by using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry ( GC- MS) according to their similarity index of >70%, which might be responsible for α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. The methanol extract of the fruit flesh had the highest yield (25.6 ± 0.5%), whereas the n-hexane extract of the stem is more effective against α-glucosidase activity ( IC50 0.8 ± 0.1 μg/mL). The fruit flesh ( IC501.3 ± 0.2 μg/mL) and leaves ( IC501.6 ± 0.6 μg/mL) had also well effectively. The identified metabolites are predominantly phenolics, carbohydrates, triterpenes and organic acids, such as D-fructose, squalene, α-linolenic acid and α- D-glucopyranoside. In-depth chemical profiling using GC- MS was performed for the first time for this plant to assess the likely compounds present in the extract that could be associated with anti-hyperglycemic activity. Of the three parts tested, every part indicates the potential α-glucosidase inhibitory activity and hexane extract of stem showed more inhibitory activity among all extracts. Thus, P . macrocarpa can attenuate hyperglycemia by potently inhibiting carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzymes, making it a viable plant as a source of natural compounds for the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Practical Application P . macrocarpa ( Scheff.) Boerl . belongs to the Thymelaeaceae family, which is known as ' Mahkota Dewa' is one of the well-known traditional herbs in South Asian countries. Every part of this plant has been reported to be used as a traditional medicine for diabetic treatment for many years. In the present study, the ability of this plant to inhibit carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzymes (α-glucosidase) was explored. All extracts tested exhibited the content to inhibit yeast α-glucosidase enzymes in vitro, and these beneficial effects appear to be due to some bioactive compounds in P . macrocarpa. Our preliminary investigation gives a principle for further animal and clinical studies of a possible use of P . macrocarpa for the management of diabetes mellitus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Malaysia, Lignosus rhinocerus is one of the few important traditional medicinal mushrooms being used by indigenous communities to treat diseases. Currently, this rare mushroom can be found in the deep forest in Peninsular Malaysia, but its number is insufficient to meet the increasing local demand. Therefore, a vitrification technique previously used in the cryopreservation of actinomycetes was adapted in this study to preserve and maintain the commercially potential L. rhinocerus strain in a viable state. In this study, combinations of different sucrose concentrations and exposure time were experimented without serial washing phase after thawing. In addition, electron microscopy and comet assay were applied to study the cryoinjury and genotoxity of vitrified mycelial cells. Mycelial cells incubated for 10 minutes in 1.6 M sucrose of Plant Vitrification Solution 2 (PVS2) yielded largest radial mycelial growth with 100% survival rate. Scanning electron microscopy results indicated the swelling of mycelial cells due to osmotic shock which occurred from thawing procedure, while transmission electron microscopy findings revealed fusion of two nucleus membranes of dikaryotic mycelium. Comet assay suggested insignificant differences (p > 0.05) of comet formation between the normal and vitrified mycelial cells, suggesting cryoprotectants used in vitrification will not cause genotoxity to mycelial cells of L. rhinocerus. In conclusion, the current vitrification technique is suitable to cryopreserve the dikaryotic mycelial cells of L. rhinocerus with 100% regeneration and without trace of genotoxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malaysia has a rich diversity of medicinal plants and some of them inhibit xanthine oxidase (XO), which can be introduced as new natural sources of gout medication and a substitute for synthetic xanthine oxidase inhibitors (XOI). The degree of XO inhibitory activity was determined by measuring the absorbance spectrophotometrically at 295 nm, which is associated with uric acid formation. Our preliminary screening study had employed the use of distilled water, 70% methanol and absolute ethanol to extract XOI from twenty parts of five plant species, namely, Averrhoa carambola, Carica papaya, Dimocarpus longan malesianus, Manilkara zapota and Salacca zalacca. These plants were selected based on their frequent medicinal usages by local folks. The results have shown that an aqueous extract of Carica papaya mature leaves has promising activity to inhibit XO up to 75.68 ± 0.1%. Statistical experimental design were employed to optimize the selected sample (dried Carica papaya leaves: distilled water) on extraction of XOI and the maximum XOI percentage of 86.93 ± 1.9% was obtained, which exhibited only 6.76% less than the activity exhibited by allopurinol (93.69 ± 0.2%), a commercial XOI. The comparison was made between allopurinol and optimized extract on the basis of IC50 concentrations. Allopurinol showed IC50 value of 3.74 µg/ml that is considerably lower as compared to the optimized sample (4.33 µg/ml). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A method for the extraction of betacyanins pigments of dragon fruit (Hylocereus polyrhizus) grown in Malaysia was studied. A processing scheme consisting of solvent system selection (ethanolic and aqueous ethanolic) was proposed to study the effect of water in enhancing betacyanin recovery from the pulp of H. polyrhizus fruit. Betacyanins, in concentrated extracts from the dragon fruit (H. polyrhizus), were identified as betanin, phyllocactin, hylocerenin and their respective C-15 isoforms using High-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) analysis. Structural alteration was monitored by using selected solvent systems. As for the relative peak area ratios, some betacyanins showed a higher stability than others. Betanin, one of the main betacyanin in selected Malaysian H. polyrhizus cultivars, displayed the most stable structure. Comparing the peak area ratios of individual betacyanins, it was noticed that ethanolic assay might induce co-occuring of the C-15 isoforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]