Name: Jegathiswary D/O Ganasan

Matrics: S56094

QUESTION 1

Table 1 shows the fresh weight (g/sample), dry weight (g/sample), starch content (mg/g fresh
weight of sample) and reducing sugar content (mg/g fresh weight of sample) for an aquatic
plant the Cryptocoryne elliptica cultured in various concentration of NaCl for a period of five
weeks. Calculate the mean and standard deviation (SD) for the data. Present the data in the
most appropriate format. Subsequently, deduce your conclusion based on the data presented.
Table 1.1. The effects of saline treatment on Cryptocoryne elliptica fresh weight, dry weight, starch
content and reducing sugar content after five weeks. The mean ± standard deviation is reflected in this
table.
Duration of NaCl Fresh Dry weight Starch Reducing
treatment (mg/L) weight g/sample content sugar content
(Week) (g/sample) (mg/g fresh (mg/g fresh
wt) wt)
1 0 1.1989 0.5313 0.1835 2.3508
±0.0880 ±0.0209 ±0.0003 ±0.0000

100 1.2240 0.5077 0.1416 2.2807

±0.0322 ±0.0051 ±0.0008 ±0.0005

200 1.3963 0.3071 0.0869 1.8746

±0.0799 ±0.0074 ±0.0026 ±0.0057

2 0 1.1854 0.7253 0.1681 2.7173

±0.0237 ±0.0503 ±0.0021 ±0.0059

100 1.0827 0.6388 0.0337 2.8359

±0.0270 ±0.0250 ±0.0023 ±0.0033

200 1.8483 0.4511 0.1055 1.5531

±0.0227 ±0.0166 ±0.0002 ±0.0010

3 0 1.7965 0.7160 0.0507 3.2176

±0.0444 ±0.0142 ±0.0009 ±0.0005

100 1.1109 0.6610 0.0332 2.8230

±0.0957 ±0.0329 ±0.0010 ±0.0001

200 0.9835 0.5712 0.1107 2.9933

±0.0180 ±0.0328 ±0.0006 ±0.0005

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 4 0 2.5914 0.7494 0.1162 4.9305
±0.2280 ±0.0055 ±0.0087 ±0.0006

100 2.6528 0.6365 0.0914 3.0124

±0.1076 ±0.0217 ±0.0002 ±0.0006

200 2.5177 0.7707 0.3460 3.3490

±0.0245 ±0.0235 ±0.0008 ±0.0013

5 0 2.8622 1.2424 0.0922 5.2265

±0.0884 ±0.0533 ±0.0011 ±0.0006

100 2.8478 0.9217 0.1116 3.9036

±0.0423 ±0.0212 ±0.0006 ±0.0009

200 2.7538 0.7263 0.4750 4.2897

±0.0618 ±0.0259 ±0.0007 ±0.0304

control 100 mg/L 200 mg/L

3.5
Fresh weight (g/sample)

3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
0 1 2 3 4 5
Duration (week)

Figure 1.1. The effects of saline treatment on Cryptocoryne elliptica fresh weight after five weeks. The
error bars reflect the mean ± standard error.

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 control 100 mg/L 200 mg/L

1.6
1.4
Dry weight (g/sample)

1.2
1
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
1 2 3 4 5
Duration (week)

Figure 1.2. The effects of saline treatment on Cryptocoryne elliptica dry weight after five weeks. The
error bars reflect the mean ± standard error.

control 100 mg/L 200 mg/L

0.6
Starch content (mg/g fresh wt)

0.5

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1

0
0 1 2 3 4 5
Duration (week)

Figure 1.3. The effects of saline treatment on Cryptocoryne elliptica starch content after five weeks. The
error bars reflect the mean ± standard error.

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 Reducing sugar content (mg/g fresh wt) Control 100 mg/L 200 mg/L
7

0
1 2 3 4 5
Duration (week)

Figure 1.4. The effects of saline treatment on Cryptocoryne elliptica reducing sugar content after five
weeks. The error bars reflect the mean ± standard error.

Conclusion

In Cryptocoryne elliptica samples, starch content increased as saline concentration increased, however
reducing sugar content decreased. As a result, based on its carbohydrates profile, this aquatic plant is
relatively tolerant of salinity stress. In order to acquire a better insight of its adaptability, more research
into the relation between salinity stress and the carbohydrate metabolic pathway should be done.

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QUESTION 2
Table 2 displays effects of stingless bee honey consumption (1000mg/kg) for 14 days in male
and female rats. Based on the data, answer the following questions.

1. Calculate mean and standard error mean (SEM) from the data.

Table 2.1. Mean and standard error mean (SEM) of each biochemical parameter concentration (mmol/L)
after stingless bee honey consumption (1000mg/kg) for 14 days in male and female rats.

Rat
Mean SEM
Biochemical Parameter Gender
1 2 3 4

Male 9.1 9.4 8.5 8.5 8.88 0.23

Urea (mmol/L)
Female 9.4 8.9 7.8 8.1 8.55 0.37

Total Cholesterol Male 2.2 2.3 1.8 1.9 2.05 0.12

(mmol/L) Female 2.3 2.3 2.6 2.3 2.38 0.08

Male 1.1 0.9 0.7 0.9 0.90 0.08

Triglycerides (mmol/L)
Female 1.2 0.8 0.8 01.0 0.95 0.10

2. Display data from question 1 in a suitable format.

Table 2.2. Mean ± standard error mean (SEM) of each biological parameter concentration (mmol/L) after
stingless bee honey consumption (1000mg/kg) for 14 days in male and female rats.
Biochemical Parameter (mmol/L)
Gender Urea Total Cholesterol Triglycerides

Male 8.88 ± 0.23 2.05 ± 0.12 0.90 ± 0.08

Females 8.55 ± 0.37 2.38 ± 0.08 0.95 ± 0.10

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 Male Female
14

12
Concentration (mmol/L)

10

0
Urea Total Cholesterol Triglycerides
-2
Biochemical parameter
-4

Figure 2.1. Mean concentration of each biochemical parameter (mmol/L) after stingless bee honey
consumption (1000mg/kg) for 14 days in male and female rats. The error bars reflect the mean ±
standard error.

3. Write the main findings from this study?

Three anti-obesity parameters, urea, total cholesterol, and triglyceride concentrations, were used
to examine the effects of honey bee intake in rats. The urea content is the highest biochemical
parameter recorded whereas triglycerides concentration was the lowest in both male and female
rats. Male rats revealed higher urea concentration with a value of 8.88±0.23 mmol/L after
stingless honey bee consumption. Meanwhile, female rats exhibited higher total cholesterol
(2.38±0.08) and triglycerides concentrations (0.95±0.1).

4. What the major problem with the data? (Problem statement)

When honey is given to obese and diabetic animal models, it has been demonstrated to help them
control their blood sugar levels (Zulkhairi Amin et al., 2018). The stingless bee honey's diverse
biological features, which include enzymes, sugar, phytochemical constituents, and other
bioactive ingredients including trace elements, amino acids, organic acids could play a role in
affecting disease signalling pathways (Mohd Rafie et al., 2018). Despite this, there is a lack of
research into the metabolic profile of stingless bee honey, particularly in terms of its anti-obesity
potential.

5. Deduce your conclusion based on the figure obtained.

The findings indicate that stingless bee honey can enhance lipid profiles in rats by modulating lipid
metabolism. Stingless bee honey has great potency to be utilized as therapeutic agent to reduce
obesity as well as diabetics as both of these chronic diseases are interrelated. In terms of its
therapeutic benefits, further scientific investigations along with clinical trials on humans are
essential to gain a greater insight of the stingless bee honey potentials as a medication.

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QUESTION 3

Table 3 displays the surface temperature (oC) and the number of individual of skinks recorded
from 0800 hrs until 1700 hrs. Using the information given in the table, answer the following
question.

1. Create a suitable figure for the data provided.

35 20

18
30
16

25
Surface temperature (°C)

14

Number of individuals
12
20
10
15
8

10 6

4
5
2

0 0
08:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00
Time of the day

Surface Temperature Number of Individuals

Figure 3.1. The surface temperature (oC) and the number of individual of skinks recorded from 0800 hrs
until 1700 hrs.

2. Calculate mean daily temperature

22+22.5+23.2+23.9+24.8+26.2+28.2+ 31+28+25.4
= = 25.52°𝐶
10

3. Determine,
a. Maximum temperature = 31°C
b. Minimum temperature = 22°C
c. Range of daily temperature = 31°C - 22°C
= 9°C

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4. State the main findings from this study?
The relationship between physiological environment and activity of skinks were evaluated from
morning until evening. At 0800 hours, when the lowest temperature was recorded at 22°C, the
number of skinks was the lowest, with only three individuals. Meanwhile, around 1300 hrs, when
the temperature is 26.2°C, the peak number of skinks is 18. When the temperature rises over the
average surface temperature of 25.52°C at 1400 hours, the number of skinks decreases
dramatically.

5. Deduce your conclusion based on the figure obtained.

Skinks were most active in the afternoon, when the surface temperature was optimal. Beyond the
optimal temperature, the number of skinks begins to decline. According to the findings of the
study, skinks thrive best when the surface temperature is warm in the afternoon. Skink
distribution and activity are considered to be driven by the availability of microenvironments with
an appropriate temperature. More research on the connection between thermal biology and
skink activity patterns are required to improve our understanding of physiological ecology.

References

Ahmad, A., Ismun, A., & Taib, M. (2017). Effects of Salinity Stress on Carbohydrate Metabolism in
Cryptocoryne elliptica cultures. Journal of Tropical Plant Physiology, 9, 1–13.

Andrews, R. M. (1994). Activity and Thermal Biology of the Sand-Swimming Skink Neoseps
reynoldsi: Diel and Seasonal Patterns. Copeia, 1994(1), 91–99.
https://doi.org/10.2307/1446674

Mohd Rafie, A. Z., Syahir, A., Wan Ahmad, W. A. N., Mustafa, M. Z., & Mariatulqabtiah, A. R.
(2018). Supplementation of Stingless Bee Honey from Heterotrigona itama Improves
Antiobesity Parameters in High-Fat Diet Induced Obese Rat Model. Evidence-Based
Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2018, 1–10.
https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/6371582

Zulkhairi Amin, F. A., Sabri, S., Mohammad, S. M., Ismail, M., Chan, K. W., Ismail, N., Norhaizan,
M. E., & Zawawi, N. (2018). Therapeutic Properties of Stingless Bee Honey in
Comparison with European Bee Honey. Advances in Pharmacological Sciences, 2018,
6179596. https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/6179596