Phytochemical investigation and in vitro antinociceptive activity of Clerodendrum indicum leaves

The crude ethanolic extracts of Clerodendrum indicum Linn. leaves were investigated for possible antinociceptive activity using acetic acid induced writhing model in mice. Phytochemical analysis was also carried out according to the standard procedures to identify the presence of different phytoconstituents in the ethanolic extract of the plant leaves. The study results showed 38.91 and 55.24% inhibition of writhings in the tested mice when ethanolic extract of Clerodendrum indicum Linn. leaves at doses of 250 and 500 mg kg(-1) body weight was given intraperitoneally, respectively. The study results were also compared with antinociceptive activity of the standard drug, Diclofenac sodium (68.37% inhibition) used at 25 mg kg(-1) body weight. At the above doses, the crude ethanolic extract of the plant showed significant antinociceptive activity in dose dependent fashion in acetic acid-induced writhing model in mice. The inhibition of writhings was calculated in respective to control group and it was found that p-values (<0.0001) obtained in all cases were extremely statistically significant. However, the phytochemical analysis showed the presence of alkaloid, steroid, saponin, tannin, reducing sugar and gum. The results suggest that crude ethanolic extracts of Clerodendrum indicum leaves possess significant antinociceptive properties justifying its folkloric use as analgesics and further research is necessary to isolate the principle phytochemical constituent(s) responsible for this activity.     

Phytochemical screening, cytotoxicity and antibacterial activities of two Bangladeshi medicinal plants

The objectives of the present study were to investigate phytochemical screening and to assay cytotoxicity and antibacterial activities of ethanolic extracts of leaves of two medicinal plants, Aglaonema hookerianum Schott (Family: Araceae) and Lannea grandis Engl. (Family: Anacardiaceae) available in Bangladesh. The brine shrimp lethality bioassay showed that the ethanolic extracts of Aglaonema hookerianum and Lannea grandis possessed cytotoxic activities with LC50 5.25 (microg mL(-1)) and 5.75 (microg mL(-1)) and LC90 10.47 (microg mL(-1)) and 9.55 (microg mL(-1)), respectively. Two extracts obtained from leaves were examined for their antibacterial activities against some gram positive bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus megaterium and Staphylococcus aureus, also gram negative strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Shigella dysenteriae, Salmonella typhi, Salmonella paratyphi and Vibrio cholerae. Agar disc diffusion method was applied to observe the antibacterial efficacy of the extracts. Results indicated that both plant extracts (500 microg disc(-1)) displayed antibacterial activity against all of the tested microorganisms. These results were also compared with the zones of inhibition produced by commercially available standard antibiotic, Amoxicillin at concentration of 10 microg disc(-1). Observed antibacterial properties of the ethanolic extract of Aglaonema hookerianum Schott and Lannea grandis Engl. showed that both plants might be useful sources for the development of new potent antibacterial agents.     

钻喙兰不同成熟度的胚培养研究

以钻喙兰不同成熟程度的胚为材料,通过种子直接过滤灭菌进行无菌播种。结果显示钻喙兰种子在培养基：花宝一号3 g+肌醇100 mg+胰蛋白胨1 g+维生素B1：0.5 mg+维生素B6：0.5 mg+香蕉 100 g+椰子汁100 ml+蔗糖30 g+琼脂粉(强度1 200 g/cm2)5.0 g+活性炭3 g+水1 000 ml上发芽率及生长效果最好,钻喙兰蒴果的采摘以果实浅黄色为最佳采摘方式。     

In vitro bioassays for salinity tolerance screening of potato

Summary Three in vitro bioassays (single-node cutting, root tip segment and microtuberization) gave similar results in ranking the salinity (NaCl) tolerance of several potato genotypes (Solanum spp.) and were verified by tuber yield criteria in a field lysimeter trial with salinized irrigation water. Salinity stress consistently depressed growth in the single-node cutting and root tip segment bioassays, reduced microtuber yield in the microtuberization bioassay and decreased tuber yield in field lysimeters. The single-node cutting bioassay was simpler to perform than the root tip segment and microtuberization bioassays and did not exclude certain genotypes as did the microtuberization bioassay. The single-node cutting bioassay can be recommended as a substitute for more labour-intensive and costly field assessments of salinity effects of yield.     

Relative salinity tolerance of potato cultivars assessed byin vitro screening

One hundred and thirty European and North American potato cultivars were assayedin vitro for salinity (NaCl) tolerance. A modified single-node cutting bioassay was used in which cultivars were exposed to a range of NaCl levels (0, 40, 80, and 120 mM), in a Murashige and Skoog-based medium, for 1 month. Evaluations were performed twice for each cultivar at each salt level, using five single-node cuttings. Six vegetative growth parameters (shoot and root lengths, fresh and dry weights) were measured at the time of harvest and corrected for differences in cultivar vigor. These relative values were subjected to multivariate cluster analysis. The sum of the relative rankings at 40, 80, and 120 mM NaCl partitioned the cultivars into 8 units. The cultivars Amisk, BelRus, Bintje, Onaway, Sierra, and Tobique were in the most salinity tolerant unit and in the top cluster group for vigor with the exception of Tobique. These cultivars can be recommended for further study.     

The effect of nitrogenous fertilizer on the photosynthesis of leaves of a ryegrass sward

The addition of nitrogenous fertilizer to a newly cut, N-deficient ryegrass sward resulted in an increased photosynthetic capacity in the next leaf to expand, showing that greater photosynthesis per unit leaf area as well as greater leaf area contributes to the increased growth of fertilized swards. Later in the 4-week growth period there was little difference in photosynthetic capacity between fertilized and unfertilized swards.     

Some morphological and anatomical studies of leaves and flowers of Murraya paniculata (Jack) Linn. in vivo and in vitro

In the present study, various explants of Murraya paniculata (Jack) Linn., such as cotyledons, shoots and young stems were cultured on MS medium supplemented with various concentrations of Benzyl Amino Purine (BAP) under 25 +/- 1 degree C with 16 h light and 8 h dark and also 8 h light and 16 h dark to obtain complete plant regeneration. In vitro flowering was observed from shoot explants cultured on MS supplemented with 0.5-2.0 mg L(-1) Naphthalene Acetic Acid (NAA) and also on MS basal medium under similar conditions. The leaves and flowers obtained from both in vivo and in vitro conditions were examined and compared. Morphological studies such as leaf clearing, epidermal peeling were studied using light and scanning electron microscope. Macromorphological studies of the flowers produced from in vivo and in vitro conditions were also examined. Morphologically, there were no differences between in vivo and in vitro flowers except the flowers produced from tissue culture systems were smaller in size with protruding stigmas. Differences were also found in the number of layers of palisade cells and the presence or absence of epicuticle layer of the leaves. Leaves produced from tissue culture system were smaller in size with membranous texture. Stomata were present only on the abaxial surfaces of both in vivo and in vitro leaves but the stomata were raised above the epidermis in the latter.     

Phytochemical investigation of Anthemis nobilis L. growing in Egypt

The phytochemical investigation of the flowers ofAnthemis nobilis L. growing in Egypt was carried out comprising their lipid, flavonoid and coumarin constituents. The presence of apigenin, apigenin 7-glucoside, apiin, luteolin, luteolin 7-glucoside, kaempferol, scopoletin, -sitosterol and hexacosanol was proved. TLC of the volatile oil was also reported.

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Zusammenfassung Die Blüten der in Ägypten vorkommendenAnthemis nobilis L. wurden phytochemisch auf ihre Lipid-, Flavonoid- und Coumarin-Bestandteile untersucht. Folgende Komponenten wurden gefunden: Apigenin, Apigenin 7-glukosid, Apiin, Luteolin, Luteolin 7-glukosid, Kampferol, Scopoletin, Sitosterin und aliphatischer Alkohol. Dazu wurden die ätherischen Öle mittels der Dünnschicht Chromatographie bestimmt.

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Résumé L'analyse de fleurs deAnthemis nobilis L. a été etudieé. Leur contenu de matière gras, flavonoïdes et coumarines. Apigénine, apigénine 7-glucoside, lutéoline, lutéoline 7-glucoside, apiin, kaempferol, scopolétin, -sitosterol et les alcools aléphatiques ont été determinés. La couche mince d'huile volatilisée a été également mise au point.

     

The effect of method of treatment with petroleum ether on the drying rate of grass leaves measured in the laboratory

Excised S24 perennial ryegrass leaves were dried in controlled and measured conditions of temperature (28°C), relative humidity (22%) and airspeed (40 cm s^?1), without treatment or after treatment with petroleum ether (4O–60°C boiling point) applied in various ways. Subsequent increase in the drying rate of the leaves varied greatly with method of application of petroleum ether, and the results indicate that the modification of the waxes on the leaf surfaces, which results in reduced cuticular resistance to water loss, requires the presence of liquid petroleum ether on the leaf surface. This effect increases with temperature, and the increase is due to the enhanced activity of the petroleum ether in dissolving waxes, rather than to direct thermal effect on tissue resistance. The practical implications of employing such a technique are discussed.     

Phytochemical Compounds and Antioxidant Activity Modified by Germination and Hydrolysis in Mexican Amaranth

Plant Foods for Human Nutrition - Amaranth (Amaranthus spp.) grains have become essential for human health and nutrition; due to the presence of bioactive compounds that have shown some biological...     

The effect of a seaweed concentrate on the in vitro growth and acclimatization of potato plantlets

Summary The seaweed concentrate ‘Kelpak’ is used commercially in the greenhouse and field to improve plant quality. ‘Kelpak’ was added to the in vitro culture medium of potato cv. ‘BP1’ and also applied as a leaf/soil drench immediately after transplanting. The addition of 0.25% seaweed concentrate to the medium improved plantlet quality and led to better establishment in the greenhouse. No beneficial effect of seaweed concentrate in the tissue culture medium was observed if a second cutting was part of the micropropagation process. Additional application of 0.5% seaweed concentrate in the greenhouse to plantlet cuttings derived from tissue culture was not beneficial.     

A comparative study of inhibitory effect of human calprotectin on the growth of human gingival fibroblast and foreskin fibroblast

In the present study, cytotoxicity effects of calprotectin on Human Gingival Fibroblast (HGF) and Human Foreskin Fibroblast (HFFF) were compared. For these evaluations, both cells were exposed to the different concentrations of calprotectin, for 24, 48 and 72 h. Cell proliferation was assessed using MTT assay. Our results revealed that growth inhibition of calprotectin on HGF and HFFF occur in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Results of this investigation showed that sensitivity of HGF cells to cytotoxic effect of human calprotectin was more than HFFF. The results indicate that drug resistance process is different for the two kinds of fibroblast cells.     

In vitro availability of iron from cereal meal with the addition of protein isolates and fenugreek leaves (Trigonella foenum-graecum)

In vitro iron availability was determined from a standard cereal meal (C) with and without the addition of protein isolates from bovine milk (BP), groundnut milk (GP) and soybean milk (SP). A second set of studies were done to investigate the potentially available iron from fenugreek leaves per se and the effect of their addition on the available iron from the cereal meal. The potentially available iron from the meal increased from 4.91% to 6.73% on the addition of BP. The next best enhancer was GP (4.91% to 6.17%). Although the addition of SP increased the total iron content of the cereal meal significantly, the percent available iron decreased compared to the other milk proteins. The addition of fenugreek leaves (100 g/meal) to the meal increased the total iron content of the meal significantly (3.24 mg to 9.12 mg) (p<.001), however, the available iron was observed to decrease (4.91% vs 4.34%).     

Phytochemical Properties and Antioxidant Activities of Extracts from Wild Blueberries and Lingonberries

Among Vaccinium species, blueberries (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) and lingonberries (Vaccinium vitis-idaea) are popular in the human diet. In this study, total phenolic, total flavonoid and total monomeric anthocyanin contents in the ethanol-water extracts of blueberry and lingonberry fruits grown wild in the forests in the central region of Poland were assayed. Antioxidant activities of the extracts from each plant were also evaluated for scavenging ability on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals and reducing power by cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC) method. Total phenolics in the blueberry extracts ranged from 4.58 to 5.28 mg GAE CE/g fw. The extracts from lingonberry fruits contained higher total contents of phenolic compounds (5.82–7.60 mg GAE/g fw) as well as total flavonoids (5.22–6.47 μmol CE/g fw) than those from blueberries (3.74–4.18 μmol CE/g fw). For the total monomeric anthocyanin contents, the blueberry extracts presented significantly higher values (3.01–3.93 mg cyanidin-3-glucoside (C3G) equivalent/g fw) in comparison to the lingonberry extracts (0.32–0.47). Blueberry extracts exhibited higher antioxidant activity measured by both assays in comparison to lingonberry extracts. Water extracts from fresh and dried fruits also exhibited significant antioxidant activities for both types of berries. Considering the health benefits that have been associated with polyphenolic consumption, these fruits could appear as a good source of this group of phytochemical compounds for their direct consumption or their use as ingredients for the design of new food products or food supplements.     

茯茶“散茶发花”加工前后差异化学成分的分离与鉴定

以乌龙茶(大红袍)、红茶、绿茶、黑茶(天尖茶原料、金湘益茯砖茶原料)为加工原料,运用"散茶发花"技术,加工制得不同茶类散装茯茶制品。本研究以不同性质茶叶的"发花"(真菌固体发酵)前后茶样作为研究对象,将"发花"前后的茶样经HPLC图谱叠加比对分析,寻找"发花"前后主要新增差异化学成分,同时运用制备色谱制备目标差异化学成分,并经HR-MS和NMR技术对其进行结构鉴定。结果表明,在本研究的分离条件下,不同性质的5种茶叶原料经相同"发花"处理后,各组形成的差异化学成分基本表现一致,其中选取分离、鉴定的两种新增差异化学成分均为黄酮醇化合物,分别是槲皮素和山奈酚。     

油菜诱变和离体草酸筛选抗菌核病材料

以油菜华双3号为材料，研究辐射诱变和离体草酸处理筛选抗菌核病材料的方法和技术，结果表明，用于离体筛选种的辐照剂量以40－120Krad为宜，用草酸处理60Co-γ射线照射种子产生的试管苗（一轮草酸筛选），或用草酸处理辐照种子及种子产生的试管苗（两轮草酸筛选），获得49株抗草酸小苗，未经辐射处理的种子均未筛选出抗草酸小苗，将抗草酸小苗离体叶接种核盘菌菌丝体，获得9株抗（耐）核盘菌的小苗。     

Changes in carbohydrate and nitrogenous components and amylase activities during germination of grain amaranth

Grain amaranth (Amaranthus hypochondriacus), Yercaud local variety, was soaked overnight and germinated for 192 h taking the soaked grains as the zero time (0 h) sample. The changes in the activities of - and -amylases, starch, sugar, protein and lysine contents during germination are reported. Activity of -amylase was high in the 0 h soaked grains, while -amylase activity was high in 72 h germinated grains. The joint action of the amylases resulted in a decrease of starch content from 0 to 192 h in germinated grains and an increase in total sugars during the initial period of germination.Protein nitrogen was found to decrease from 48 h to 192 h accompanied by an increase in free amino acid and non-protein nitrogen contents. Total lysine content was found to be increased by 31% in 24 h germinated grain amaranth. Protein fractionation of raw, soaked and 24 h germinated grain amaranth showed that the distribution of different types of proteins varied during germination of the grains. An increase of water soluble protein content was noticed in 24 h germinated grains.     

Influence of Pre-Drying Treatments on Physico-Chemical and Phytochemical Potential of Dried mahua Flowers

Plant Foods for Human Nutrition - Mahua (Madhuca longifolia) flowers are boon for the local tribes of India and have been successfully utilized traditionally for the value addition, and are very...