Asia Life Sciences

Abstract : Speaking is the earliest skill among other language skills acquired by children and serves as the medium most frequently used in communication. Nevertheless, speaking becomes a difficult skill when performed in public, especially for elementary school. This study aims at describing how the use of video as the media in role playing in teaching speaking to elementary school students can improve their ability in speaking. This is a qualitative study using classroom action research as the design. The subject was the elementary school students at SDI Khaira Ummah Padang, West Sumatra, Indonesia. The selected video was entitled ―As a Result of Telling Lies‖ which was played before the students were asked to speak. The data were the students’ oral expression ability collected using tests, interviews, observation and documentation. The results of data analysis show that the students’ speaking ability improves in every cycle.

Abstract : This study was carried out to investigate the phytochemical screening, antioxidant activity, and anxiolytic-like effects of the ethanolic extract of Melissa officinalis L. (MO) (Family of Lamiaceae). The antioxidant activity of MO was determined by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azino-bis-3- ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) methods. The antioxidant activity and phytochemical screening were performed on the ethanol extract of MO and then was orally administered to rats at doses of (30, 300, and 500 mg/kg daily) during the experimental period of 10 days for behavioral tests by using the elevated plus maze (EPM), and biochemical studies. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, steroids, triterpenoid and tannins. The phenol concentration was (46.90 mg EAG/g DM), and flavonoids were found to be (15.06 mg EQ/g DM). DPPH radical scavenging assay showed potent antioxidant power with IC50 values of 15.44 µg/ml and ABTS (137.45 µg/ml). The sub-chronic administration of Melissa officinalis L. ethanol extract increased significantly the percentage of entries and the time spent on the open arms compared with a control group. The levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) were significantly reduced by MO ethanol extract. The present study reveals that Melissa officinalis L. can be used as a potential source of natural antioxidants to prevent oxidative stress, and suggests that it possesses anxiolytic-like effect.