Using the canine hookworm Ancylostoma caninum as model we aimed to investigate the anthelmintic activity of goat's milk in vitro by describing in detail the nature of damage taking place cross sectionally in the worm cuticle after exposure to goat's milk through careful observation by transmission electron microscope (TEM). Adult worms were obtained from routine culling of unwanted dogs from Selayang Municipal Council (MPS) animal detention center, Rawang, Malaysia. Fresh raw goat's milk was used. Worms were cut into 1mm3 slices, fixed in 4% glutaraldehyde, washed with 0.1sodium cacodylate buffer, post fixed in 1% osmium tetroxide, washed again in 1%sodium cacodylate buffer, dehydrated in acetone, embedded in resin, polymerized, ultrathin cross section cut and stained with uranyl acetate before being viewed under transmission electron microscope. Goat's milk resulted in worm cuticular damage in the form of irregularity and significant thinning similarly seen with cysteine proteinases mediated damage. Internal hypodermic changes were also observed in the form of mitochondrial degeneration which appeared as large vacuoles similarly seen in albendazole affected worms. Understanding anthelmintic mechanism through transmission electron micrography has provided critical information in developing novel therapies from natural products. It also provides basis for the consumption of goat's milk as functional food for parasitic worm control.

Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) fruit is an important food in the Middle East. Some date palm cultivars like the Ajwa is revered for its health-promoting properties. Phytochemicals like phenolic compounds are in part responsible for such health benefits. However, detailed information on these compounds is lacking. The present work aimed to investigate phytochemical components of Ajwa cultivar using UHPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS in three different extraction solvents (aqueous, methanol–water, acetone–water) and three different extraction durations (2, 5 and 24 h). The proposed method provided tentative identification of 169 bioactive compounds out of which 44 (polyphenols and other phytochemical compounds) were successfully identified from three different extracts and three different extraction durations. Twenty-one compounds never previously reported in the Ajwa cultivar were identified. Aqueous-based extraction solvent and 24-h extraction duration yielded most phytochemical compounds.