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The agricultural sector generates approximately 1300 million tonnes of waste annually, where up to 50% comprising of raw material are discarded without treatment. Economic development and rising living standards have increased the quantity and complexity of waste generated resulting in environmental, health and economic issues. This calls for a greener waste management system such as valorization or recovery of waste into products. For successful implementation, social acceptance is an essential component with involvement of all local stakeholders including community to learn and understand the process and objective of the implementation. The agricultural waste product manufacturing industry is expected to increase with the growing demand for organic food. Thus, proper livestock and crop waste management is vital for environmental protection. It will be essential to successfully convert waste into a sustainable product that is reusable and circulated in the system in line with the green concept of circular economy. This review identifies the commercially produced crops by-product that have been considered for valorization and implemented green extraction for recovery. We highlight the importance of social acceptance and the economic value to agricultural waste recycling. Successful implementation of these technologies will overcome current waste management problems, reduce environmental impacts of landfills, and sustainability issue for farm owners.

The agricultural sector generates approximately 1300 million tonnes of waste annually, where up to 50% comprising of raw material are discarded without treatment. Economic development and rising living standards have increased the quantity and complexity of waste generated resulting in environmental, health and economic issues. This calls for a greener waste management system such as valorization or recovery of waste into products. For successful implementation, social acceptance is an essential component with involvement of all local stakeholders including community to learn and understand the process and objective of the implementation. The agricultural waste product manufacturing industry is expected to increase with the growing demand for organic food. Thus, proper livestock and crop waste management is vital for environmental protection. It will be essential to successfully convert waste into a sustainable product that is reusable and circulated in the system in line with the green concept of circular economy. This review identifies the commercially produced crops by-product that have been considered for valorization and implemented green extraction for recovery. We highlight the importance of social acceptance and the economic value to agricultural waste recycling. Successful implementation of these technologies will overcome current waste management problems, reduce environmental impacts of landfills, and sustainability issue for farm owners.

The agricultural sector generates approximately 1300 million tonnes of waste annually, where up to 50% comprising of raw material are discarded without treatment. Economic development and rising living standards have increased the quantity and complexity of waste generated resulting in environmental, health and economic issues. This calls for a greener waste management system such as valorization or recovery of waste into products. For successful implementation, social acceptance is an essential component with involvement of all local stakeholders including community to learn and understand the process and objective of the implementation. The agricultural waste product manufacturing industry is expected to increase with the growing demand for organic food. Thus, proper livestock and crop waste management is vital for environmental protection. It will be essential to successfully convert waste into a sustainable product that is reusable and circulated in the system in line with the green concept of circular economy. This review identifies the commercially produced crops by-product that have been considered for valorization and implemented green extraction for recovery. We highlight the importance of social acceptance and the economic value to agricultural waste recycling. Successful implementation of these technologies will overcome current waste management problems, reduce environmental impacts of landfills, and sustainability issue for farm owners.

The agricultural sector generates approximately 1300 million tonnes of waste annually, where up to 50% comprising of raw material are discarded without treatment. Economic development and rising living standards have increased the quantity and complexity of waste generated resulting in environmental, health and economic issues. This calls for a greener waste management system such as valorization or recovery of waste into products. For successful implementation, social acceptance is an essential component with involvement of all local stakeholders including community to learn and understand the process and objective of the implementation. The agricultural waste product manufacturing industry is expected to increase with the growing demand for organic food. Thus, proper livestock and crop waste management is vital for environmental protection. It will be essential to successfully convert waste into a sustainable product that is reusable and circulated in the system in line with the green concept of circular economy. This review identifies the commercially produced crops by-product that have been considered for valorization and implemented green extraction for recovery. We highlight the importance of social acceptance and the economic value to agricultural waste recycling. Successful implementation of these technologies will overcome current waste management problems, reduce environmental impacts of landfills, and sustainability issue for farm owners.

Decline in forest productivity due to forest conversion is defining the Bornean landscape. Responses of bacterial communities due to land-use changes are vital and could define our understanding of ecosystem functions. This study reports the changes in bacterial community structure in organic soil (0–5 cm; O-Horizon) and organic-mineral soil (5– 15 cm; A-Horizon) across Maliau Basin Conservation Area old growth forest (MBOG), Fragment E logged forest (FELF) located in Kalabakan Forest Reserve to Benta Wawasan oil palm plantation (BWOP) using two-step PCR amplicon analysis of bacteria DNA on Illumina Miseq next generation sequencing. A total of 30 soil samples yielded 893,752-OTU reads at ≥97% similarity from 5,446,512 good quality sequences. Soil from BWOP plantation showed highest unshared OTUs for organic (49.2%) and organic-mineral (50.9%) soil. MBOG soil showed a drop in unshared OTUs between organic (48.6%) and organic-mineral (33.9%). At phylum level, Proteobacteria dominated MBOG but shifted to Actinobacteria in logged and plantation soil. Present findings also indicated that only FELF exhibited change in bacterial communities along the soil depth, moving from the organic to the organic-mineral layer. Both layers of BWOP plantation soils deviated from other forests’soil in β-diversity analysis. To our knowledge, this is the first report on transitions of bacterial community structures with different soil horizons in the tropical rainforest including Borneo, Sabah. Borneo tropical soils form a large reservoir for soil bacteria and future exploration is needed for fully understanding the diversity structure and their bacterial functional properties.

Decline in forest productivity due to forest conversion is defining the Bornean landscape. Responses of bacterial communities due to land-use changes are vital and could define our understanding of ecosystem functions. This study reports the changes in bacterial community structure in organic soil (0–5 cm; O-Horizon) and organic-mineral soil (5– 15 cm; A-Horizon) across Maliau Basin Conservation Area old growth forest (MBOG), Fragment E logged forest (FELF) located in Kalabakan Forest Reserve to Benta Wawasan oil palm plantation (BWOP) using two-step PCR amplicon analysis of bacteria DNA on Illumina Miseq next generation sequencing. A total of 30 soil samples yielded 893,752-OTU reads at ≥97% similarity from 5,446,512 good quality sequences. Soil from BWOP plantation showed highest unshared OTUs for organic (49.2%) and organic-mineral (50.9%) soil. MBOG soil showed a drop in unshared OTUs between organic (48.6%) and organic-mineral (33.9%). At phylum level, Proteobacteria dominated MBOG but shifted to Actinobacteria in logged and plantation soil. Present findings also indicated that only FELF exhibited change in bacterial communities along the soil depth, moving from the organic to the organic-mineral layer. Both layers of BWOP plantation soils deviated from other forests’soil in β-diversity analysis. To our knowledge, this is the first report on transitions of bacterial community structures with different soil horizons in the tropical rainforest including Borneo, Sabah. Borneo tropical soils form a large reservoir for soil bacteria and future exploration is needed for fully understanding the diversity structure and their bacterial functional properties.

Decline in forest productivity due to forest conversion is defining the Bornean landscape. Responses of bacterial communities due to land-use changes are vital and could define our understanding of ecosystem functions. This study reports the changes in bacterial community structure in organic soil (0–5 cm; O-Horizon) and organic-mineral soil (5– 15 cm; A-Horizon) across Maliau Basin Conservation Area old growth forest (MBOG), Fragment E logged forest (FELF) located in Kalabakan Forest Reserve to Benta Wawasan oil palm plantation (BWOP) using two-step PCR amplicon analysis of bacteria DNA on Illumina Miseq next generation sequencing. A total of 30 soil samples yielded 893,752-OTU reads at ≥97% similarity from 5,446,512 good quality sequences. Soil from BWOP plantation showed highest unshared OTUs for organic (49.2%) and organic-mineral (50.9%) soil. MBOG soil showed a drop in unshared OTUs between organic (48.6%) and organic-mineral (33.9%). At phylum level, Proteobacteria dominated MBOG but shifted to Actinobacteria in logged and plantation soil. Present findings also indicated that only FELF exhibited change in bacterial communities along the soil depth, moving from the organic to the organic-mineral layer. Both layers of BWOP plantation soils deviated from other forests’soil in β-diversity analysis. To our knowledge, this is the first report on transitions of bacterial community structures with different soil horizons in the tropical rainforest including Borneo, Sabah. Borneo tropical soils form a large reservoir for soil bacteria and future exploration is needed for fully understanding the diversity structure and their bacterial functional properties.

Decline in forest productivity due to forest conversion is defining the Bornean landscape. Responses of bacterial communities due to land-use changes are vital and could define our understanding of ecosystem functions. This study reports the changes in bacterial community structure in organic soil (0–5 cm; O-Horizon) and organic-mineral soil (5– 15 cm; A-Horizon) across Maliau Basin Conservation Area old growth forest (MBOG), Fragment E logged forest (FELF) located in Kalabakan Forest Reserve to Benta Wawasan oil palm plantation (BWOP) using two-step PCR amplicon analysis of bacteria DNA on Illumina Miseq next generation sequencing. A total of 30 soil samples yielded 893,752-OTU reads at ≥97% similarity from 5,446,512 good quality sequences. Soil from BWOP plantation showed highest unshared OTUs for organic (49.2%) and organic-mineral (50.9%) soil. MBOG soil showed a drop in unshared OTUs between organic (48.6%) and organic-mineral (33.9%). At phylum level, Proteobacteria dominated MBOG but shifted to Actinobacteria in logged and plantation soil. Present findings also indicated that only FELF exhibited change in bacterial communities along the soil depth, moving from the organic to the organic-mineral layer. Both layers of BWOP plantation soils deviated from other forests’soil in β-diversity analysis. To our knowledge, this is the first report on transitions of bacterial community structures with different soil horizons in the tropical rainforest including Borneo, Sabah. Borneo tropical soils form a large reservoir for soil bacteria and future exploration is needed for fully understanding the diversity structure and their bacterial functional properties.

Decline in forest productivity due to forest conversion is defining the Bornean landscape. Responses of bacterial communities due to land-use changes are vital and could define our understanding of ecosystem functions. This study reports the changes in bacterial community structure in organic soil (0–5 cm; O-Horizon) and organic-mineral soil (5– 15 cm; A-Horizon) across Maliau Basin Conservation Area old growth forest (MBOG), Fragment E logged forest (FELF) located in Kalabakan Forest Reserve to Benta Wawasan oil palm plantation (BWOP) using two-step PCR amplicon analysis of bacteria DNA on Illumina Miseq next generation sequencing. A total of 30 soil samples yielded 893,752-OTU reads at ≥97% similarity from 5,446,512 good quality sequences. Soil from BWOP plantation showed highest unshared OTUs for organic (49.2%) and organic-mineral (50.9%) soil. MBOG soil showed a drop in unshared OTUs between organic (48.6%) and organic-mineral (33.9%). At phylum level, Proteobacteria dominated MBOG but shifted to Actinobacteria in logged and plantation soil. Present findings also indicated that only FELF exhibited change in bacterial communities along the soil depth, moving from the organic to the organic-mineral layer. Both layers of BWOP plantation soils deviated from other forests’soil in β-diversity analysis. To our knowledge, this is the first report on transitions of bacterial community structures with different soil horizons in the tropical rainforest including Borneo, Sabah. Borneo tropical soils form a large reservoir for soil bacteria and future exploration is needed for fully understanding the diversity structure and their bacterial functional properties.

Two new bicyclogermacrenes, capgermacrenes A (1) and B (2), were isolated with two known compounds, palustrol (3) and litseagermacrane (4), from a population of Bornean soft coral Capnella sp. The structures of these metabolites were elucidated based on spectroscopic data. Compound 1 was found to inhibit the accumulation of the LPS-induced pro-inflammatory IL-1β and NO production by down-regulating the expression of iNOS protein in RAW 264.7 macrophages.

Two new bicyclogermacrenes, capgermacrenes A (1) and B (2), were isolated with two known compounds, palustrol (3) and litseagermacrane (4), from a population of Bornean soft coral Capnella sp. The structures of these metabolites were elucidated based on spectroscopic data. Compound 1 was found to inhibit the accumulation of the LPS-induced pro-inflammatory IL-1 ß and NO production by down-regulating the expression of iNOS protein in RAW 264.7 macrophages."

A new manoalide-related sesterterpene, (4E,6E)-dehydro-25-O-methylmanoalide (1), was isolated from the organic extracts of the Bornean marine sponge Luffariella variabilis, together with the known compound (4E,6E)-dehydromanoalide (2). The structure of compound 1 was elucidated by interpretation of its spectroscopic data.

Two new bicyclogermacrenes, capgermacrenes A (1) and B (2), were isolated with two known compounds, palustrol (3) and litseagermacrane (4), from a population of Bornean soft coral Capnella sp. The structures of these metabolites were elucidated based on spectroscopic data. Compound 1 was found to inhibit the accumulation of the LPS-induced pro-inflammatory IL-1 ß and NO production by down-regulating the expression of iNOS protein in RAW 264.7 macrophages."

Two new bicyclogermacrenes, capgermacrenes A (1) and B (2), were isolated with two known compounds, palustrol (3) and litseagermacrane (4), from a population of Bornean soft coral Capnella sp. The structures of these metabolites were elucidated based on spectroscopic data. Compound 1 was found to inhibit the accumulation of the LPS-induced pro-inflammatory IL-1β and NO production by down-regulating the expression of iNOS protein in RAW 264.7 macrophages.

A new manoalide-related sesterterpene, (4E,6E)-dehydro-25-O-methylmanoalide (1), was isolated from the organic extracts of the Bornean marine sponge Luffariella variabilis, together with the known compound (4E,6E)-dehydromanoalide (2). The structure of compound 1 was elucidated by interpretation of its spectroscopic data.

North Borneo, located in the Coral Triangle Region (CTR), the world's marine mega biodiversity, has an extremely rich source of marine life. The marine ecosystem is a fusion of complex interaction between the marine environment and marine organisms leading to predatory, competition for space or habitat, protection from disease or infection and directly imposing the pressure to survive among slowmoving, sessile soft bodied marine invertebrates. Thus, marine invertebrates biosynthesize secondary metabolites as a means ,of self defence. Recent development in drug discovery has revealed the potential of marine secondary metabolites as lead pharmaceutical drugs. This research focuses on two invertebrates; the sea hare Aplysia dactylomela Rang and Alcyonacean soft corals (Lobophytum pauciflorum, Sinularia flexibilis and Scleronephthea corymbosa) to investigate the structural diversity of secondary metabolites and its biological potentials. Populations of A. dactylomela from Dinawan Island yielded 10 compounds, Sulug Island yielded 9 compounds and Mantanani Island yielded 12 compounds, comprising of five new compounds with two new chemical skeletons. Compounds were mostly halogenated and comprised of acetogenins, charmigrane, cuparane, syndrean and bromoindoles. Three Alcyonacean soft coral species were analysed to contain 22 secondary metabolites; Lobophytum pauciflorum yielded 6 compounds, Scleronephthya corymbosa yielded 6 compounds and Sinularia flexibilis yielded 10 compounds comprising of furanocembranoids, pregnane type strerols and cembrane diterpenes. Secondary metabolites from the soft corals yielded five new compounds. Structure eluddation of compounds was determined via 10-NMR (proton and carbon), 2D-NMR (HSQC, COSY, HMBC and NOESY), HRMS and FTlR measurements. Sesquiterpenes (+)-elatol (16) and 2,3,5,6-tetrabromoindole (22) inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli (HP0408) and Vibrio cholera (HP0908) at MIC 5 µg/mL and 10 µg/mL. The syndrean 12-acetoxypalisadi

North Borneo, located in the Coral Triangle Region (CTR), the world's marine mega biodiversity, has an extremely rich source of marine life. The marine ecosystem is a fusion of complex interaction between the marine environment and marine organisms leading to predatory, competition for space or habitat, protection from disease or infection and directly imposing the pressure to survive among slowmoving, sessile soft bodied marine invertebrates. Thus, marine invertebrates biosynthesize secondary metabolites as a means ,of self defence. Recent development in drug discovery has revealed the potential of marine secondary metabolites as lead pharmaceutical drugs. This research focuses on two invertebrates; the sea hare Aplysia dactylomela Rang and Alcyonacean soft corals (Lobophytum pauciflorum, Sinularia flexibilis and Scleronephthea corymbosa) to investigate the structural diversity of secondary metabolites and its biological potentials. Populations of A. dactylomela from Dinawan Island yielded 10 compounds, Sulug Island yielded 9 compounds and Mantanani Island yielded 12 compounds, comprising of five new compounds with two new chemical skeletons. Compounds were mostly halogenated and comprised of acetogenins, charmigrane, cuparane, syndrean and bromoindoles. Three Alcyonacean soft coral species were analysed to contain 22 secondary metabolites; Lobophytum pauciflorum yielded 6 compounds, Scleronephthya corymbosa yielded 6 compounds and Sinularia flexibilis yielded 10 compounds comprising of furanocembranoids, pregnane type strerols and cembrane diterpenes. Secondary metabolites from the soft corals yielded five new compounds. Structure eluddation of compounds was determined via 10-NMR (proton and carbon), 2D-NMR (HSQC, COSY, HMBC and NOESY), HRMS and FTlR measurements. Sesquiterpenes (+)-elatol (16) and 2,3,5,6-tetrabromoindole (22) inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli (HP0408) and Vibrio cholera (HP0908) at MIC 5 µg/mL and 10 µg/mL. The syndrean 12-acetoxypalisadi

North Borneo, located in the Coral Triangle Region (CTR), the world's marine mega biodiversity, has an extremely rich source of marine life. The marine ecosystem is a fusion of complex interaction between the marine environment and marine organisms leading to predatory, competition for space or habitat, protection from disease or infection and directly imposing the pressure to survive among slowmoving, sessile soft bodied marine invertebrates. Thus, marine invertebrates biosynthesize secondary metabolites as a means ,of self defence. Recent development in drug discovery has revealed the potential of marine secondary metabolites as lead pharmaceutical drugs. This research focuses on two invertebrates; the sea hare Aplysia dactylomela Rang and Alcyonacean soft corals (Lobophytum pauciflorum, Sinularia flexibilis and Scleronephthea corymbosa) to investigate the structural diversity of secondary metabolites and its biological potentials. Populations of A. dactylomela from Dinawan Island yielded 10 compounds, Sulug Island yielded 9 compounds and Mantanani Island yielded 12 compounds, comprising of five new compounds with two new chemical skeletons. Compounds were mostly halogenated and comprised of acetogenins, charmigrane, cuparane, syndrean and bromoindoles. Three Alcyonacean soft coral species were analysed to contain 22 secondary metabolites; Lobophytum pauciflorum yielded 6 compounds, Scleronephthya corymbosa yielded 6 compounds and Sinularia flexibilis yielded 10 compounds comprising of furanocembranoids, pregnane type strerols and cembrane diterpenes. Secondary metabolites from the soft corals yielded five new compounds. Structure eluddation of compounds was determined via 10-NMR (proton and carbon), 2D-NMR (HSQC, COSY, HMBC and NOESY), HRMS and FTlR measurements. Sesquiterpenes (+)-elatol (16) and 2,3,5,6-tetrabromoindole (22) inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli (HP0408) and Vibrio cholera (HP0908) at MIC 5 µg/mL and 10 µg/mL. The syndrean 12-acetoxypalisadi

North Borneo, located in the Coral Triangle Region (CTR), the world's marine mega biodiversity, has an extremely rich source of marine life. The marine ecosystem is a fusion of complex interaction between the marine environment and marine organisms leading to predatory, competition for space or habitat, protection from disease or infection and directly imposing the pressure to survive among slowmoving, sessile soft bodied marine invertebrates. Thus, marine invertebrates biosynthesize secondary metabolites as a means ,of self defence. Recent development in drug discovery has revealed the potential of marine secondary metabolites as lead pharmaceutical drugs. This research focuses on two invertebrates; the sea hare Aplysia dactylomela Rang and Alcyonacean soft corals (Lobophytum pauciflorum, Sinularia flexibilis and Scleronephthea corymbosa) to investigate the structural diversity of secondary metabolites and its biological potentials. Populations of A. dactylomela from Dinawan Island yielded 10 compounds, Sulug Island yielded 9 compounds and Mantanani Island yielded 12 compounds, comprising of five new compounds with two new chemical skeletons. Compounds were mostly halogenated and comprised of acetogenins, charmigrane, cuparane, syndrean and bromoindoles. Three Alcyonacean soft coral species were analysed to contain 22 secondary metabolites; Lobophytum pauciflorum yielded 6 compounds, Scleronephthya corymbosa yielded 6 compounds and Sinularia flexibilis yielded 10 compounds comprising of furanocembranoids, pregnane type strerols and cembrane diterpenes. Secondary metabolites from the soft corals yielded five new compounds. Structure eluddation of compounds was determined via 10-NMR (proton and carbon), 2D-NMR (HSQC, COSY, HMBC and NOESY), HRMS and FTlR measurements. Sesquiterpenes (+)-elatol (16) and 2,3,5,6-tetrabromoindole (22) inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli (HP0408) and Vibrio cholera (HP0908) at MIC 5 µg/mL and 10 µg/mL. The syndrean 12-acetoxypalisadi

North Borneo, located in the Coral Triangle Region (CTR), the world's marine mega biodiversity, has an extremely rich source of marine life. The marine ecosystem is a fusion of complex interaction between the marine environment and marine organisms leading to predatory, competition for space or habitat, protection from disease or infection and directly imposing the pressure to survive among slowmoving, sessile soft bodied marine invertebrates. Thus, marine invertebrates biosynthesize secondary metabolites as a means ,of self defence. Recent development in drug discovery has revealed the potential of marine secondary metabolites as lead pharmaceutical drugs. This research focuses on two invertebrates; the sea hare Aplysia dactylomela Rang and Alcyonacean soft corals (Lobophytum pauciflorum, Sinularia flexibilis and Scleronephthea corymbosa) to investigate the structural diversity of secondary metabolites and its biological potentials. Populations of A. dactylomela from Dinawan Island yielded 10 compounds, Sulug Island yielded 9 compounds and Mantanani Island yielded 12 compounds, comprising of five new compounds with two new chemical skeletons. Compounds were mostly halogenated and comprised of acetogenins, charmigrane, cuparane, syndrean and bromoindoles. Three Alcyonacean soft coral species were analysed to contain 22 secondary metabolites; Lobophytum pauciflorum yielded 6 compounds, Scleronephthya corymbosa yielded 6 compounds and Sinularia flexibilis yielded 10 compounds comprising of furanocembranoids, pregnane type strerols and cembrane diterpenes. Secondary metabolites from the soft corals yielded five new compounds. Structure eluddation of compounds was determined via 10-NMR (proton and carbon), 2D-NMR (HSQC, COSY, HMBC and NOESY), HRMS and FTlR measurements. Sesquiterpenes (+)-elatol (16) and 2,3,5,6-tetrabromoindole (22) inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli (HP0408) and Vibrio cholera (HP0908) at MIC 5 µg/mL and 10 µg/mL. The syndrean 12-acetoxypalisadi

A new manoalide-related sesterterpene, (4E,6E)-dehydro-25-O-methylmanoalide (1), was isolated from the organic extracts of the Bornean marine sponge Luffariella variabilis, together with the known compound (4E,6E)-dehydromanoalide (2). The structure of compound 1 was elucidated by interpretation of its spectroscopic data.

Chemical extraction of the soft coral Sinularia flexibilis collected from Mantanani Island, Kota Belud, Sabah has led to the isolation of ten known cembrane diterpenes. The chemical structures of isolated compounds were elucidated based on ¹H-NMR and ¹³C-NMR spectroscopic data. This is the first record of chemical analysis of S. flexibilis from the waters of Malaysia. Identical secondary metabolites isolated from S. flexibilis from other regions suggest the use of these cembrane diterpenes as possible chemotaxonomical markers for this genus of soft coral.

Chemical extraction of the soft coral Sinularia flexibilis collected from Mantanani Island, Kota Belud, Sabah has led to the isolation of ten known cembrane diterpenes. The chemical structures of isolated compounds were elucidated based on 1 H-NMR and 13 C-NMR spectroscopic data. This is the first record of chemical analysis of S. flexibilis from the waters of Malaysia. Identical secondary metabolites isolated from S. flexibilis from other regions suggest the use of these cembrane diterpenes as possible chemotaxonomical markers for this genus of soft coral.

Chemical extraction of the soft coral Sinularia flexibilis collected from Mantanani Island, Kota Belud, Sabah has led to the isolation of ten known cembrane diterpenes. The chemical structures of isolated compounds were elucidated based on 1 H-NMR and 13 C-NMR spectroscopic data. This is the first record of chemical analysis of S. flexibilis from the waters of Malaysia. Identical secondary metabolites isolated from S. flexibilis from other regions suggest the use of these cembrane diterpenes as possible chemotaxonomical markers for this genus of soft coral.

Chemical extraction of the soft coral Sinularia flexibilis collected from Mantanani Island, Kota Belud, Sabah has led to the isolation of ten known cembrane diterpenes. The chemical structures of isolated compounds were elucidated based on 1 H-NMR and 13 C-NMR spectroscopic data. This is the first record of chemical analysis of S. flexibilis from the waters of Malaysia. Identical secondary metabolites isolated from S. flexibilis from other regions suggest the use of these cembrane diterpenes as possible chemotaxonomical markers for this genus of soft coral.

Chemical extraction of the soft coral Sinularia flexibilis collected from Mantanani Island, Kota Belud, Sabah has led to the isolation of ten known cembrane diterpenes. The chemical structures of isolated compounds were elucidated based on ¹H-NMR and ¹³C-NMR spectroscopic data. This is the first record of chemical analysis of S. flexibilis from the waters of Malaysia. Identical secondary metabolites isolated from S. flexibilis from other regions suggest the use of these cembrane diterpenes as possible chemotaxonomical markers for this genus of soft coral.

A new briarane-type diterpenoid, named 2-acetoxyverecynarmin C, was isolated from the methanolic extract of an octocoral, Pennatula aculeata, that exhibited cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitory activity. The structure of the compound was elucidated by ESI-HRMS, 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy and comparison of the measured spectral data with those reported in the literature. The relative stereochemistry at chiral carbons was established from 2D NOESY experiments. 2-Acetoxyverecynarmin C is a tricyclic compound containing a furan ring at C-7,8 of a briarane skeleton. 2Acetoxyverecynarmin C showed moderate inhibitory activity in in vitro COX-1 and COX-2 assays.

A new briarane-type diterpenoid, named 2-acetoxyverecynarmin C, was isolated from the methanolic extract of an octocoral, Pennatula aculeata, that exhibited cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitory activity. The structure of the compound was elucidated by ESI-HRMS, 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy and comparison of the measured spectral data with those reported in the literature. The relative stereochemistry at chiral carbons was established from 2D NOESY experiments. 2-Acetoxyverecynarmin C is a tricyclic compound containing a furan ring at C-7,8 of a briarane skeleton. 2Acetoxyverecynarmin C showed moderate inhibitory activity in in vitro COX-1 and COX-2 assays.

Red algae genus Laurencia is an interesting alga with the ability to produce halogenated secondary metabolites that exhibits ecological and pharmaceutical potential. In na-ture, Laurencia is selectively grazed by sea hares (Aplysia dactylomela). In this study, Laurencia populations in three islands (Mantanani, Sulug, and Dinawan Islands) in the coast-al waters of North Borneo were investigated and their chem-ical relationship with sea hare determined. Four species of Laurencia were found to grow abundantly in these waters, Laurencia snackeyi, Laurencia majuscula, Laurencia nangii, and Laurencia similis. Sea hares, Aplysia dactylomela, found grazing on Laurencia were collected and their chemical com-position determined. A total of 20 halogenated metabolites were isolated and identified via spectroscopic data. Isolated compounds could be grouped into syndrean (5), chamigrane (6), non-chamigrane sesquiterpene (3), cuparane (1), bromoindole (2), and C15 acetogenin (acetylene type) (3). Sea hares from Mantanani, Sulug, and Dinawan Islands contained a total of 9, 10, and 10 compounds, respectively. In addition,12-acetoxypalisadin B (1), which was isolated from sea hares of Sulug Island is a first record of its existence in nature.

Rice wine or `tapai' is one of the traditional alcoholic beverages, which has been produced in Sabah for ages and is used in most of the cultural rituals and ceremonies. This study delves on the chemical characterization of rice wine produced from common and glutinous rice using three different traditional starter cakes; 1) bitter, 2) bitter sweet, 3) sweet. Each batch of fermentation involving one type of rice and starter cake lasted for 4 weeks and the wine collected were separated from its rice, and the fermented rice was extracted in ethanol to yield crude extract. Sweet starter cake had the highest yeast/LAB load followed by bitter sweet and bitter and accordingly resulted in and weight reduction of substrate at an average of 450 %, 230 % and 210 % respectively. The volume of wine produced by glutinous rice was twice the volume produced by common rice. pH of the wines was in the range of 4.3 and 4.7. Morphological changes in the rice grain during fermentation were observed through scanning electron micrographs (SEM) and the presence of yeast/LAB growth and changes to the rice grains were observed. High Performance Liquid Chromatography analysis of the wine revealed that wine produced from common rice with its respective starter cake contained much lower glucose content [1) Bitter : 120.643 ± 0.21 mg/ml, 2) Bitter-Sweet : 270.42 ± 0.32 mg/ml, 3) Sweet : 310.326 ± 5.83 mg/ml] as compared to glutinous rice [1)Bitter : 300.274 ± 0.28 mg/ml, 2) Sweet and bitter : 320.251 ± 0.00 mg/ml, 3) Sweet : 440.138 ± 29.97 mg/ml]. However, gas chromatography analysis showed that rice wine produced from common rice had comparatively higher alcohol percentage; 9% to 12 % as compared to glutinous rice; 7% to 8 %. The difference in wine taste could be attributed to the varying type and amounts of organic acids and metabolites contained in the starter cakes and produced during the fermentation process. Gas Chromatography analysis revealed details of this complex composition. C

Rice wine or `tapai' is one of the traditional alcoholic beverages, which has been produced in Sabah for ages and is used in most of the cultural rituals and ceremonies. This study delves on the chemical characterization of rice wine produced from common and glutinous rice using three different traditional starter cakes; 1) bitter, 2) bitter sweet, 3) sweet. Each batch of fermentation involving one type of rice and starter cake lasted for 4 weeks and the wine collected were separated from its rice, and the fermented rice was extracted in ethanol to yield crude extract. Sweet starter cake had the highest yeast/LAB load followed by bitter sweet and bitter and accordingly resulted in and weight reduction of substrate at an average of 450 %, 230 % and 210 % respectively. The volume of wine produced by glutinous rice was twice the volume produced by common rice. pH of the wines was in the range of 4.3 and 4.7. Morphological changes in the rice grain during fermentation were observed through scanning electron micrographs (SEM) and the presence of yeast/LAB growth and changes to the rice grains were observed. High Performance Liquid Chromatography analysis of the wine revealed that wine produced from common rice with its respective starter cake contained much lower glucose content [1) Bitter : 120.643 ± 0.21 mg/ml, 2) Bitter-Sweet : 270.42 ± 0.32 mg/ml, 3) Sweet : 310.326 ± 5.83 mg/ml] as compared to glutinous rice [1)Bitter : 300.274 ± 0.28 mg/ml, 2) Sweet and bitter : 320.251 ± 0.00 mg/ml, 3) Sweet : 440.138 ± 29.97 mg/ml]. However, gas chromatography analysis showed that rice wine produced from common rice had comparatively higher alcohol percentage; 9% to 12 % as compared to glutinous rice; 7% to 8 %. The difference in wine taste could be attributed to the varying type and amounts of organic acids and metabolites contained in the starter cakes and produced during the fermentation process. Gas Chromatography analysis revealed details of this complex composition. C

This project studies the bioactive properties of the Gorgonians, being carnivorous soft corals with specialised nerve cells. These organisms are intermediate between hard corals and soft corals as they contain a rigid skeleton and are classified under the phylum Cnidarians. Five samples of Gorgonians were studied (Ug#k#spl, UG#k#sp2, Ug#k#sp3, UG#k#sp5, Ug#k#sp6). Yield of crude for all 5 species displayed prominent bioactive properties by inhibiting the growth of environmental bacteria, leading to the isolation of compound 1 from the MeOH crude ofUg#k#sp6. As much as 0.847 g (0.37%) of MeOH crude and 0.936 g (0.41%) of Hexane crude was obtained from the species studied. Therefore, based on spectral data Compound 1 that was isolated from Ug#k#sp6 can be assigned as CgHlg06. This compound is active against Clostridium sordelli and Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Apart from this, suspected sterols were isolated from all 5 species and a pattern of similarity could be seen as they contained approximately the same Rf value based on Thin Layer Chromatography suggesting their use as biomarkers for species of Gorgonian. Studies on marine natural product shows the various defence of marine organisms towards the environment and isolation of these products can be put to beneficial use through recent advance in biotechnology.

This project studies the bioactive properties of the Gorgonians, being carnivorous soft corals with specialised nerve cells. These organisms are intermediate between hard corals and soft corals as they contain a rigid skeleton and are classified under the phylum Cnidarians. Five samples of Gorgonians were studied (Ug#k#spl, UG#k#sp2, Ug#k#sp3, UG#k#sp5, Ug#k#sp6). Yield of crude for all 5 species displayed prominent bioactive properties by inhibiting the growth of environmental bacteria, leading to the isolation of compound 1 from the MeOH crude ofUg#k#sp6. As much as 0.847 g (0.37%) of MeOH crude and 0.936 g (0.41%) of Hexane crude was obtained from the species studied. Therefore, based on spectral data Compound 1 that was isolated from Ug#k#sp6 can be assigned as CgHlg06. This compound is active against Clostridium sordelli and Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Apart from this, suspected sterols were isolated from all 5 species and a pattern of similarity could be seen as they contained approximately the same Rf value based on Thin Layer Chromatography suggesting their use as biomarkers for species of Gorgonian. Studies on marine natural product shows the various defence of marine organisms towards the environment and isolation of these products can be put to beneficial use through recent advance in biotechnology.