Haruan Channa striatus Homepage

INTRODUCTION

Haruan Channa striatus for centuries is known among local for protein and traditional remedy inducing healing, particularly wound - internal and external, being well desiminated by words of mouth of villages and mid-wifes.  In recent years, since 1985, scientific research to determine the authenticity of the claims been carried out 

BIOLOGICAL INFORMATION

1.            Morphology and Taxonomy

Haruan a local name for Channa striatus, having very similar external morphology to C. melanosoma,

2.           Distribution and Population Dymanic

This freshwater carnivorous air-breathing fish is well distributed and commonly found in natural ponds, small lakes and river tributories, as well as in man-made water body namely agricultural cannels, rice fields, reservoirs and fish-farms througout the Malay Peninsula or West Malaysia, and Sabah - Sarawak the East Malaysia (Mat Jais, 1985)

3.            Stock Identification

The Kelantan, Johore and Penang Stock

4.           Behaviour

AQUACULTURE

BIOMEDICAL PROPERTIES

1.            Wound Healing 

2.            Antinociceptive

3.            Antiimflammation

4.            Antimicrobial

BIOMEDICAL PRODUCTS

PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS

CURRENT ISSUES

1.            Toxic Medicine - Diethylene Glucol

Toxic medicine leaves trail of death in the recent local NST, Monday May 7 2007, p 27 definitely an interesting higlight of mismanagement when poisonous solvent sold by counterfeiters and mixed into drugs around the world that killed thousands.  This is certainly horrifying, and scary scenario just soon after knowing that most of our fresh silky plastic look vegetables sold in Malaysia were indeed tainted and full of banned cocktail pesticides (NST, Wednesday May 2 2007, Front Page).  The news defy and make one to ponder ‘by having an apple a day will send the doctor away and good nutrition to age well’ are just gimmicks and really words of wisdom?.  Due course of toxication kidney kidney failiare, that followed after dysfunctioning of liver and Central Nervous System.  Some showing paralysis and having breathing difficulty before succumbed to death, mostly children being poisoned by their unsespecting parents.

Syrup poison, diethylene glycol is an indispensable part of modern world, an industrial solvent and prime ingredient in some anti-freeze agent, is also a killer.  This poison has been loaded into all varieties of medicines namely cough syrup and fever medication, as well in injectable drugs.  Counterfeiters replacing glyecrin the more epensive syrup usually ued in drugs, food, toothpaste and other products with poisonous sweet-tasting solvent.  In the last TWO Decades, this toxic syrup has been detected in at least eight mass poisonings around, and there could involved thousands of unsespected death.  In many cases the actual origin of the poison has never been determined, and although China based on interview and Panama 365 death in 2006 due to drug-poisoning is the most probable origin the Yangtze Delta and known as Chemical Country.

Poisoning in Haiti, Bangladesh, Nigeria and India, beyond Panama and China Diethylene Glycol which looks and behave like the real glycerin, but much cheaper together with industrial chemical Melamine should be considered and on the look out for safety.

2.            Dengue Vaccine

The are 44 death in first four months this year (2007) from 16,214 cases, compared to 21 from 10,244 cases of dengue fever in Malaysia, and increased of more than 50 %.  It is even more disturbing to learn that the disease has seen a rise of 16 % in cases every year since 2003, with fatalities reaching record levels in 2004, when 102 people died (NST, Tuesday May 8 2007, p 26).  Obviously, mismanagement of the construction sites and careless attitude of the public contributing the most, but the primary healtcare officials may need to work on a more aggressive and effective measures.  The long gone history of Malaria epidemic in 1901, and the seriousness of the then authority to fight the disease should be taken into account where a win-win situation between economic developments, environment and human health maintainance are in tandem.  Controlling Aedes mosquito, the vector of dengue virus is sensible, and be taken seriously at all levels.

         When Dengue Vaccine still a long way off, that could take another 15 to 20 years, an extensive research is being conducted in several countries namely US, India and Malaysia for dengue is now a global public health problem. The vaccine, most promising a plant based anti-viral perparation known as Dengimm, that could cripple highly infectious dengue virus must provide strong and lasting immunity.  The now common treatment involves easing symptoms, among others Platelet Count, plenty of bed-rest, lots of fluids sometimes given intravenous, paracetamol to reduce fever and pain reducing medicines.  None however so far, focusing being on effort to increase platelet production and count in dengue patients, by mean of drug suppliments.