Bioactive properties of Citrus unshiu’s essential oil for its application to textiles

This study was aimed to analyze chemical components of essential oil from whole fruits of Citrus unshiu and its fragrance and to investigate its bio-functions as a skin-health finishing agent to textiles. The components of oil and fragrance were respectively determined by using both FT-IR and GC-MS. As for bioactive properties, the skin irritancy from oil was assessed by Kawai’s method and antimicrobial activity was evaluated by MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration). As results, major component of the citrus oil was identified as D1-limonene which also constituted most of its fragrance. Any skin reaction was not found by Kawai’s method, which means that the citrus oil does not cause irritancy on human skin. As for microbial activity against S. aureus, K. pneumoniae, and P. acnes, the lowest minimum inhibitory concentrations were 0.50 mg/ml, 0.28 mg/ml, and 0.23 mg/ml, respectively. These results suggest that Citrus unshiu’s essential oil could be utilized as a bioactive natural finishing agent for skin-healthcare textiles.     

Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction for the Recovery of Carotenoids from Guava’s Pulp and Waste Powders

Plant Foods for Human Nutrition - In this work, lycopene- and β-carotene-rich extracts were obtained from guava’s pulp and waste powders using maceration (ME), ultrasonic bath (BUAE,...     

Chlorpromazine-Induced Hyperprolactinemia on Rat’s Uterus

Background:

Hyperprolactinemia is a common side effect of antipsychotic drugs that requires further investigation. The current study was designed to evaluate dose-dependent effect of chlorpromazine (CPZ) on hormonal changes and uterine horn histological structure in rats. Moreover, the mammary glands were analyzed to show hyperprolactinemia-induced histological changes.

Methods:

Albino Wistar rats (n = 32) were divided into four groups. The first group was set as a control. In the three drug-treated groups (eight rats in each group), CPZ was administered by a gavage at doses of 3, 10, and 30 mg/kg/day for 28 days. One day after the last administration of the drug, the animals were sacrificed. Histopathological and histomorphometrical analyses of the uterine horns and mammary glands were carried out to evaluate dose-dependent effect of CPZ on histological structure. Serum levels of prolactin (PRL), estradiol, progesterone, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH) were also evaluated.

Results:

Remarkable (P < 0.05) elevation was observed in CPZ-administrated animals'' uterine horn endometrium, myometrium, and perimetrium thicknesses, and the mammary glands were observed with galactorrhea features. The serum level of progesterone and PRL significantly (P < 0.05) increased, while the serum concentration of LH, FSH, and estradiol was notably (P < 0.05) decreased depending on administrated CPZ dose. No histological and biological changes were occurred in the control animals.

Conclusion:

The present findings suggest that CPZ-induced disturbances not only depend on PRL level and increased PRL level largely depends on administrated doses of the CPZ. Key Words: Hyperprolactinemia, Uterus, Rats     

Forty Years’ Development of Hybrid Rice: China’s Experience

China is the first country where heterosis of hybrid rice was successfully exploited commercially on a large scale in the world. Hybrid rice has been developed for 40 years since Prof. Yuan initiated it in China. It had been planted about 330 million hectares with an increase of nearly 400 million tons of rice during 1976–2002. China’s experience on hybrid rice could be attributed to utilization of various cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) resources, high outcrossing rate CMS lines and stable environmentally induced genetic male sterile (EGMS) lines, improvement of diseases resistance and grain quality, and combination of ideal plant type with heterosis in hybrid rice breeding program. Innovative breeding techniques, e.g. improvement in root system, molecular marker-assisted selection and wild hybridization should be considered in further development of hybrid rice in China.     

Agroforestry Systems for Food and Nutrition Security–Potentials,Pathways and Policy Research Needs

SUMMARY

Food insecurity and malnutrition continue to be the most daunting development challenges in most developing countries. Increases in the productivity of cereal grain crops have helped many developing countries achieve self-sufficiency in meeting the energy requirements, but malnutrition still exist. Agroforestry–growing useful tree crops with annual crops–could provide a solution to food security micronutrient malnutrition. The paper develops a conceptual framework for identifying pathways of how agroforestry systems can contribute to nutrition security and its potential as a food-based nutrition intervention. Furthermore, a theoretical framework for studying the interactions of agroforestry and nutrition security is developed. Finally, policy implications and research needs are identified.