Ovipositional periodicity of caged <Emphasis Type="Italic">Anopheles gambiae</Emphasis> individuals

Background  

Anopheles gambiae s.s. Giles is a major malaria vector in Sub-Saharan Africa. Studies of the basic biology of this mosquito, including oviposition, provide a background for assessing which attributes might be exploited for suppressing A. gambiae populations. Here, we report on when during the diel cycle A. gambiae individuals deposit eggs as compared to the ovipositional patterns of groups.     

Comparative Study on the Chemical Composition,Antioxidant Properties and Hypoglycaemic Activities of Two <Emphasis Type="Italic">Capsicum annuum</Emphasis> L. Cultivars (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Acuminatum</Emphasis> small and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cerasiferum</Emphasis>)

The present study aimed to evaluate for the first time the phenols, flavonoids, carotenoids, capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin content and the antioxidant and hypoglycemic properties of Capsicum annuum var. acuminatum small and C. annuum var. cerasiferum air-dried fruits. The ethanol extract of C. annuum var. acuminatum small, characterized by the major content of total poliphenols, flavonoids, carotenoids and capsaicinoids, showed the highest radical scavenging activity (IC₅₀ of 152.9 μg/ml). On the contrary, C. annuum var. cerasiferum showed a significant antioxidant activity evaluated by the β-carotene bleaching test (IC₅₀ of 3.1 μg/ml). The lipophilic fraction of both C. annuum var. acuminatum and C. annuum var. cerasiferum exhibited an interesting and selective inhibitory activity against α-amylase (IC₅₀ of 6.9 and 20.1 μg/ml, respectively).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">In vitro</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">In vivo</Emphasis> Antioxidant Properties of Extracts from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Coptis chinensis</Emphasis> Inflorescence

The inflorescence of cultivated Coptis chinensis has been valued for tea production for many years in China. The antioxidant activities of C. chinensis inflorescence extracts prepared by various solvents were investigated by using several established in vitro systems: 2,2′-azinobis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS), α,α-diphenyl-β-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and superoxide radical scavenging assays, reducing power assay, and ferrothiocyanate (FTC) and thiobarbituric acid (TBA) assays. The results showed that the 70% ethanol extract (EE) had the strongest antioxidant activity in vitro among the various extracts. Based on the in vitro results, EE was used to evaluate the antioxidant activity of C. chinensis inflorescence in vivo. The liver and kidney of intoxicated animals showed a significant decrease in superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione (GSH) levels, while the malondialdehyde (MDA) level showed a significant increase. These changes were significantly reversed after treatment with EE and the standard vitamin E. Thus, the C. chinensis inflorescence may be a valuable natural source that can be applicable to food industries.     

Evaluation of the Biochemical Components and Chromatic Properties of the Juice of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Vaccinium macrocarpon</Emphasis> Aiton and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Vaccinium oxycoccos</Emphasis> L.

Benzoic acid, total anthocyanins, soluble solids, titratable acidity, and colour properties in juice of the American cranberry Vaccinium macrocarpon and the European cranberry Vaccinium oxycoccos were investigated. Berry juices of V. macrocarpon cultivars were distinguished by their higher total anthocyanin and benzoic acid amounts. These cultivars accumulated on average 43.11 mg/l of benzoic acid and 92.45 mg/l of total anthocyanins. The levels of benzoic acid and total anthocyanins in V. oxycoccos cultivars were 17.52 mg/l and 42.54 mg/l, respectively. The V. macrocarpon cultivars ‘Franklin’, ‘Le Munyon’, ‘Searles’, and ‘Early Richard’ were selected as the best according to the enhanced total anthocyanins and benzoic acid amounts. The separation of anthocyanins by HPLC-UV-VIS revealed the presence of six anthocyanins, with peonidin-3-galactoside being the most prevalent. Galactoside together with glucoside conjugates comprised the largest percentage of total anthocyanins in the juices of V. macrocarpon and V. oxycoccos cultivars.     

Analysis of Flavonoids from Leaves of Cultivated <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lycium barbarum</Emphasis> L.

Leaves of Lycium barbarum are widely used as medicine vegetables and functional tea in China. The main flavonoids present in the leaves were separated and identified by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry (LC-(APCI) MS) and ultraviolet-visible spectra with shift additives. The predominant flavonoid was identified as rutin. Leaves are the rutin-rich parts (16.03–16.33 mg/g). In the wild and cultivated L. barbarum fruits, contents of rutin were determined very low (0.09–1.38 mg/g). The contents of total flavonoids (21.25 mg/g) of cultivated L. barbarum leaves were much higher than those in the wild L. barbarum leaves (17.86 mg/g), so cultivated barbarum leaves are a suitable source for medicine vegetables and functional tea.     

Proteomic analysis of the defense response to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Magnaporthe oryzae</Emphasis> in rice harboring the blast resistance gene <Emphasis Type="Italic">Piz-t</Emphasis>

Background

Rice blast (caused by Magnaporthe oryzae) is one of the most destructive diseases of rice. While many blast resistance (R) genes have been identified and deployed in rice cultivars, little is known about the R gene-mediated defense mechanism. We used a rice transgenic line harboring the resistance gene Piz-t to investigate the R gene-mediated resistance response to infection.

Results

We conducted comparative proteome profiling of the Piz-t transgenic Nipponbare line (NPB-Piz-t) and wild-type Nipponbare (NPB) inoculated with M. oryzae at 24, 48, 72 h post-inoculation (hpi) using isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ) analysis. Comparative analysis of the response of NPB-Piz-t to the avirulent isolate KJ201 and the virulent isolate RB22 identified 114 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) between KJ201-inoculated NPB-Piz-t (KJ201-Piz-t) and mock-treated NPB-Piz-t (Mock-Piz-t), and 118 DEPs between RB22-inoculated NPB-Piz-t (RB22-Piz-t) and Mock-Piz-t. Among the DEPs, 56 occurred commonly in comparisons KJ201-Piz-t/Mock-Piz-t and RB22-Piz-t/Mock-Piz-t. In a comparison of the responses of NPB and NPB-Piz-t to isolate KJ201, 93 DEPs between KJ201-Piz-t and KJ201-NPB were identified. DEPs in comparisons KJ201-Piz-t/Mock-Piz-t, RB22-Piz-t/Mock-Piz-t and KJ201-Piz-t/KJ201-NPB contained a number of proteins that may be involved in rice response to pathogens, including pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins, hormonal regulation-related proteins, defense and stress response-related proteins, receptor-like kinase, and cytochrome P450. Comparative analysis further identified 7 common DEPs between the comparisons KJ201-Piz-t/KJ201-NPB and KJ201-Piz-t/RB22-Piz-t, including alcohol dehydrogenase I, receptor-like protein kinase, endochitinase, similar to rubisco large subunit, NADP-dependent malic enzyme, and two hypothetical proteins.

Conclusions

Our results provide a valuable resource for discovery of complex protein networks involved in the resistance response of rice to blast fungus.

     

Divergent evolution of rice blast resistance <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pi54</Emphasis> locus in the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oryza</Emphasis>

Background

The rice blast resistance gene Pi54 was cloned from Oryza sativa ssp. indica cv. Tetep, which conferred broad-spectrum resistance against Magnaporthe oryzae. Pi54 allelic variants have been identified in not only domesticates but also wild rice species, but the majority of japonica and some indica cultivars lost the function.

Results

We here found that Pi54 (Os11g0639100) and its homolog Os11g0640600 (named as #11) were closely located on a 25 kbp region in japonica cv. Sasanishiki compared to a 99 kbp region in japonica cv. Nipponbare. Sasanishiki lost at least six genes containing one other R-gene cluster (Os11g0639600, Os11g0640000, and Os11g0640300). Eight AA-genome species including five wild rice species were classified into either Nipponbare or Sasanishiki type. The BB-genome wild rice species O. punctata was Sasanishiki type. The FF-genome wild rice species O. brachyantha (the basal lineage of Oryza) was neither, because Pi54 was absent and the orientation of the R-gene cluster was reversed in comparison with Nipponbare-type species. The phylogenetic analysis showed that #11gene of O. brachyantha was on the root of both Pi54 and #11 alleles. All Nipponbare-type Pi54 alleles were specifically disrupted by 143 and 37/44?bp insertions compared to Tetep and Sasanishiki type. In addition, Pi54 of japonica cv. Sasanishiki lost nucleotide-binding site and leucine-rich repeat (NBS–LRR) domains owing to additional mutations.

Conclusions

These results suggest that Pi54 might be derived from a tandem duplication of the ancestor #11 gene in progenitor FF-genome species. Two divergent structures of Pi54 locus caused by a mobile unit containing the nearby R-gene cluster could be developed before domestication. This study provides a potential genetic resource of rice breeding for blast resistance in modern cultivars sustainability.

     

Comparative Study of Lipophilic and Hydrophilic Antioxidants from <Emphasis Type="Italic">In vivo</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">In vitro</Emphasis> Grown <Emphasis Type="Italic">Coriandrum sativum</Emphasis>

Coriander is commonly used for medicinal purposes, food applications, cosmetics and perfumes. Herein, the production of antioxidants in vegetative parts (leaves and stems) of in vivo and in vitro grown samples was compared. In vitro samples were clone A- with notorious purple pigmentation in stems and leaves and clone B- green. Seeds were also studied as they are used to obtain in vivo and in vitro vegetative parts. Lipophilic (tocopherols, carotenoids and chlorophylls) and hydrophilic (sugars, ascorbic acid, phenolics, flavonols and anthocyanins) compounds were quantified. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by radical scavenging activity, reducing power and lipid peroxidation inhibition. The in vivo sample showed the highest antioxidant activity mainly due to its highest levels of hydrophilic compounds. Otherwise, in vitro samples, mainly clone A, gave the highest concentration in lipophilic compounds but a different profile when compared to the in vivo sample. Clones A and B revealed a lack of β-carotene, β- and δ-tocopherols, a decrease in α-tocopherol, and an increase in γ-tocopherol and clorophylls in comparison to the in vivo sample. In vitro culture might be useful to explore the plants potentialities for industrial applications, controlling environmental conditions to produce higher amounts of some bioactive products.     

Carotenoid Composition of Jackfruit (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Artocarpus heterophyllus</Emphasis>), Determined by HPLC-PDA-MS/MS

Carotenoids are pigments responsible for the yellow-reddish color of many foods and are related to important functions and physiological actions, preventing several chronic-degenerative diseases. The objective of this study was to confirm the carotenoid composition of jackfruit by high-performance liquid chromatography connected to photodiode array and mass spectrometry detectors (HPLC-PDA-MS/MS). The main carotenoids were all-trans-lutein (24–44%), all-trans-β-carotene (24–30%), all-trans-neoxanthin (4–19%), 9-cis-neoxanthin (4–9%) and 9-cis-violaxanthin (4–10%). Either qualitative or quantitative differences, mainly related to the lutein proportion, were found among three batches of jackfruit. Since the fruits from batch A showed significantly lower contents for almost all carotenoids, it also had the lowest total carotenoid content (34.1 μg/100 g) and provitamin A value, whereas the total carotenoid ranged from 129.0 to 150.3 μg/100 g in the other batches. The provitamin A values from batches B and C were 3.3 and 4.3 μg RAE/100 g, respectively. The carotenoid composition of jackfruit was successfully determined, where 14 of the 18 identified carotenoids were reported for first time. Differences among batches may be due to genetic and/or agricultural factors.     

Opportunistic out-crossing in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Nicotiana attenuata</Emphasis> (Solanaceae), a predominantly self-fertilizing native tobacco

Background  

Although Nicotiana attenuata is entirely self-compatible, chemical and other floral traits suggest selection for the maintenance of advertisement for moth pollinators.     

Volatile Compounds and Antioxidative Activity of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Porophyllum tagetoides</Emphasis> Extracts

Porophyllum tagetoides is an annual warm-weather herb that has an intense typical smell. Its leaves are commonly used in soup preparation and traditional medicine for treatment of inflammatory diseases. Its volatile compounds and antioxidant properties were evaluated in crude, aqueous and ethanol leaf extract and an oil emulsion using different antioxidant assays in vitro, such as: DPPH radical scavenging activity, redox potential, polyphenol content, reducing power and optical density. A high antioxidative activity was found when comparing leaves with stems. The crude extract from leaves showed a very high reducing power (2.88 ± 0.20 O.D.) and DPPH radical-scavenging activity (54.63 ± 4.80%), in concordance with a major concentration of vitamin C (23.97 ± 0.36 mg/100 g). Instead, the highest polyphenol content (264.54 ± 2.17 mg GAE/g of sample) and redox potential (561.23 ± 0.15 mV) were found by the ethanol and aqueous extract, respectively. Aldehydes and terpenes such as nonanal, decanal, trans-pineno, β-myrcene and D-limonene were the major volatiles found. This study suggests that Porophyllum tagetoides extracts could be used as antioxidants.     

Antioxidative and Anticancer Activity of Extracts of Cherry (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Prunus serrulata</Emphasis> var. <Emphasis Type="Italic">spontanea</Emphasis>) Blossoms

Organic solvent (methanol, ethanol, and acetone) extracts and water extracts of cherry (Prunus serrulata var. spontanea) blossoms were prepared, and antioxidant activities of the extracts were evaluated. Methanolic CBE (100 μg/ml) showed the highest total phenol content (104.30 μM), radical scavenging activity (34.2%), and reducing power (0.391). The effect of CBE on DNA damage induced by H₂O₂ in human leukocytes was evaluated by Comet assay. All CBE was a potent dose dependent inhibitor of DNA damage induced by 200 μM of H₂O₂, methanolic CBE showed the most strong inhibition activity. The methanolic CBE of 500 μg/ml showed 38.8% inhibition against growth of human colon cancer cell line HT-29. These results indicated that cherry blossoms could provide valuable bioactive materials.     

A Greenhouse Assay for Powdery Scab (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Spongospora subterranea</Emphasis> f. sp. <Emphasis Type="Italic">subterranea</Emphasis>) Resistance in Potato

The plasmodiophorid pathogen Spongospora subterranea f. sp. subterranea causes powdery scab disease of potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.), which severely affects tuber quality. Adequate chemical control of the disease is lacking, so breeding resistant potato cultivars is important. Little is known about the mechanisms or genetics of host resistance, as the epidemiology of the pathogen makes research on the disease difficult. An environmentally controlled disease screen that allows the accurate and repeatable assessment of diseased tubers (rather than a ranking system) is required to study host resistance in more detail. A high-throughput greenhouse disease assay is described that has been used to assess varying levels of tuber disease resistance of potato genotypes for three consecutive Southern Hemisphere growing seasons (2001–2002, 2002–2003, 2003–2004). This assay allows the evaluation of symptoms on tubers to verify resistance, rather than inferring the tuber infection on the basis of root galling or zoosporangial root infection. The assay was used to determine the level of resistance of genotypes of both known and unknown resistance status. The assay clearly distinguished the susceptible and resistant standards, and the results were highly correlated over the three seasons. The most efficient ways of assessing tuber disease susceptibility of genotypes are discussed. The consistency of the results and the ability to screen many genotypes confirms the value of the assay as a tool for early-generation selection in a plant breeding programme.     

Chemical and structural characterization of lignins isolated from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Caragana sinica</Emphasis>

Successive extractions of the dewaxed Caragana sinica with 70 % ethanol, 70 % ethanol containing 1 % NaOH, 1 M KOH, 1 M NaOH, 3 M KOH, and 3 M NaOH at 75 °C for 3 h released 80.4 % of the original lignin. The physico-chemical properties and structural features of these lignin fractions were comprehensively characterized by alkaline nitrobenzene oxidation, GPC and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy. The results showed that all the lignin fractions had relatively lower molecular average-weights ranging between 910 and 1630 g/mol. Moreover, 2D-NMR showed that the lignin fraction L₂ isolated with 70 % ethanol containing 1 % NaOH from C. sinica was similar to a hardwood lignin, with a high S/G ratio accounted for 1.2, a predominance of β-O-4′ aryl ether linkages (77 % of all side-chains), followed by β-β′ resinol-type linkages (8 %) and lower amounts of β-5′ phenylcoumaran substructures (7 %), β-1′ spirodienone-type linkages (3 %), and cinnamyl end groups (5 %). The high predominance of the S-lignin units, together with the high proportion of β-O-4′ aryl ether linkages could contribute to a relatively high reactivity of C. sinica lignin during alkaline pulping.     

Chemical and Morphological Characteristics of New Clones and Commercial Varieties of Globe Artichoke (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cynara cardunculus</Emphasis> var. <Emphasis Type="Italic">scolymus</Emphasis>)

The globe artichoke is a widely consumed vegetable in the Mediterranean Basin, with Italy being the leading producer. In southern Italy, its cultivation contributes to local economic stability and social development. The producers are increasingly choosing to replace autochthonous varieties, such as ‘Violetto di Sicilia’, with cultivars bred or selected outside of the region, putting pressure on the maintenance of traditional varieties. Here, we have undertaken a detailed morphological and chemical analysis of a group of clones selected from a population of ‘Violetto di Sicilia’. All the traits measured displayed genetic variation, particularly the total content of phenolics and minerals. The capitula of the ‘Violetto di Sicilia’ clones contained, on average, 6.3 g kg⁻¹ of fresh weight total phenolics, compared with 4.5 g kg⁻¹ in the two commercial varieties. The clones also had more inulin than commercial varieties (254 vs. 225 g kg⁻¹ of dry matter), as well as a good mineral content. The set of clones is of interest in the context of the proposed improvement of the crop through breeding and selection of genotypes with high nutritional quality and a specific end-use (industrial processing or fresh consumption).     

Acute Effects of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ginkgo Biloba</Emphasis> Extract on Vascular Function and Blood Pressure

We investigated whether a single dose of standardized Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) can improve vascular function. A randomised controlled crossover trial was conducted on 14 young healthy men, who received GBE or placebo. The digital volume pulse was monitored to measure reflection index (DVP-RI) and stiffness index (DVP-SI) and peripheral augmentation index (pAIx) was assessed using radial pulse wave analysis at baseline and 2, 4 and 6 h after treatment. DVP-SI was slightly higher 2 h following GBE compared to placebo (P < 0.05); other outcome variables were unaffected by treatment.     

Effects of intraspecific competition on the life cycle of the stonefly, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Nemurella pictetii</Emphasis> (Plecoptera: Nemouridae)

Background  

Considerable variation of life cycle duration in given insect species has been frequently recorded. Splitting of populations into cohorts with different life cycle lengths may occur, sometimes even between siblings from the same batch. Larval populations of the stonefly Nemurella pictetii in central Europe regularly split into a very fast developing and a normal univoltine cohort, leading to partial multivoltinism. The causes for such variation remain unknown but presumably act on the larval stage in which most of the life cycle is spent. We therefore studied possible effects of intraspecific competition on growth and development of larvae in the laboratory.     

Seasonal deviation effects foliar endophyte assemblage and diversity in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Asparagus racemosus</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hemidesmus indicus</Emphasis>

Background

Fungal endophytes are the living symbionts which cause no apparent damage to the host tissue. The distribution pattern of these endophytes within a host plant is mediated by environmental factors. This study was carried out to explore the fungal endophyte community and their distribution pattern in Asparagus racemosus and Hemidesmus indicus growing in the study area.

Results

Foliar endophytes were isolated for 2 years from A. racemosus and H. indicus at four different seasons (June–August, September–November, December–February, March–May). A total of 5400 (675/season/year) leaf segments harbored 38 fungal species belonging to 17 genera, 12 miscellaneous mycelia sterile from 968 isolates and 13 had yeast like growth. In A. racemosus, Acremonium strictum and Phomopsis sp.1, were dominant with overall relative colonization densities (RCD) of 7.11% and 5.44% respectively, followed by Colletotrichum sp.3 and Colletotrichum sp.1 of 4.89% and 4.83% respectively. In H. indicus the dominant species was A. strictum having higher overall RCD of 5.06%, followed by Fusarium moniliforme and Colletotrichum sp.2 with RCD of 3.83% and 3%, respectively. Further the overall colonization and isolation rates were higher during the wet periods (September–November) in both A. racemosus (92.22% and 95.11%) and H. indicus (82% and 77.11%).

Conclusion

Study samples treated with 0.2% HgCl₂ and 75% EtOH for 30 s and 1 min, respectively, confirmed most favorable method of isolation of the endophytes. Owing to high mean isolation and colonization rates, September–November season proved to be the optimal season for endophyte isolation in both the study plants. Assessing the bioactive potential of these endophytes, may lead to the isolation of novel natural products and metabolites.