Biochemical response in rats to the addition of curry leaf (Murraya koenigii) and mustard seeds (Brassica juncea) to the diet

Three groups with 12 weanling male albino rats were group fed for 90 days on a standard laboratory rat diet plus 20% coconut oil either without a supplement or with the addition of 10% curry leaf or 10% mustard seeds. Feed was offered at a level of 10% body weight. At the end of the trial, measurements were made on the total serum cholesterol, high density lipoproteins, low density lipoproteins, and very low density lipoproteins fractions, release of lipoproteins into the circulation, lecithin cholesterol acyl transferase activity and lipoprotein lipase activity. Feed intake and mean body weight of the rats on each treatment was not significantly different. Both spices resulted in a reduction in total serum cholesterol and LDL+VLDL, an increase in the HDL, lower release of lipoproteins into the circulation and an increase in the LCAT activity.     

Plant Regeneration from Citrus Root Meristems

Citrus root meristems, 300 to 500μ long, are able to grow in vitro and sometimes exhibit shoot differentiation spontaneously. Cultured on appropriate media such roots regenerate shoots and complete plants may be obtained.     

Immune response following vaccination against Salmonella Enteritidis using 2 commercial bacterins in laying hens

The humoral and cell-mediated immune (CMI) response to 2 commercial killed Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) vaccines (Layermune and MBL SE4C) was evaluated in laying hens. Layers were distributed in 2 experimental groups. The first received a single immunization at 16 wk of age, while the second experimental group was immunized at 12 wk of age and again at 18 wk of age. Serum immunoglobulin (Ig)G antibodies were measured using a commercial SE ELISA kit and showed persistent levels from 3 to 32 and 34 wk post-vaccination. The vaccination protocol using 2 immunizations showed a higher seroconversion level than the single vaccination. However, our results for bacterial intracellular survival indicated that IgG titers were not linked with bacterial killing. Local IgA production was measured in the intestines and oviducts with an in-house SE whole cell antigen ELISA. Only the MBL SE4C vaccine elicited IgA antibody production when tested on intestine and oviduct mucosal secretions, 3-weeks post-vaccination in both immunization protocol groups. To evaluate the CMI response, the splenic T-cells and B-cells populations were analyzed using flow cytometry. The CD3/B-cell ratio decreased 3 wk after the second immunization in the twice vaccinated Layermune group due to an increase in B-cells.     

Xylogenesis in black spruce: does soil temperature matter?

In boreal ecosystems, an increase in soil temperature can stimulate plant growth. However, cambium phenology in trees was better explained by air than soil temperature, which suggested that soil temperature is not the main limiting factor affecting xylogenesis. Since soil temperature and snowmelt are correlated to air temperature, the question whether soil temperature directly limits xylogenesis in the stem will remain unresolved without experiments disentangling air and soil temperatures. This study investigated the effects of an increase of 4 °C in soil temperature and a consequent 1-week earlier snowmelt on growth of black spruce [Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP] in the boreal forest of Quebec, Canada. The soil of two natural stands at different altitudes was warmed up with heating cables during 2008-2010 and cambial phenology and xylem production were monitored weekly from April to October. The results showed no significant effect of the treatment on the phenological phases of cell enlargement and wall thickening and lignification. The number of cells produced in the xylem also did not differ between control and heated trees. These findings allowed the hypothesis of a direct influence of soil temperature on stem growth to be rejected and supported the evidence that, in the short term, air temperature is the main limiting factor for xylogenesis in trees of these environments.     

Assessing phytoremediation potentials of selected tropical plants for acrylamide

Purpose  

Environmentally hazardous and health risk substances in animals and humans in the environment have increased as a result of continuing anthropogenic activities. Examples of these activities are food processing, laboratory, food production, industrial, and other relative activities that use various forms of acrylamide. All acrylamide in the environment are manmade. It is the building block for the polymer, polyacrylamide, which is considered to be a nontoxic additive. However, if the polymerization process is not perfect and complete, the polyacrylamide may still contain acrylamide which is toxic and may pose risks and hazards to the environment. Another form of acrylamide that may pose danger as well in the environment is the acrylamide monomer, which is also a very toxic organic substance that could affect the central nervous system of humans and is likely to be carcinogenic. Phytoremediation could be a tool to somehow absorb this neurotoxic agent and lessen the contamination in the soil. This technology could lessen the soil and water contamination by acrylamide thereby limiting the exposure of animals and humans. This study may also help solve the problem of disposing contaminated acrylamide waste materials. This study was conducted to achieve the following objectives: (1) to evaluate phytoremediation potentials of some selected tropical plants in acrylamide-contaminated soil, (2) to compare the performance of tropical plants in absorbing acrylamide through accumulation in their roots and shoots, and (3) to determine the outcome of acrylamide in the soil after treatment using the test plants with phytoremediation potentials.     

Intra- and inter-provenance variability in phloem phenols of Picea abies and relationship to a bark beetle-associated fungus

One hundred Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) clones (three ramets per clone) were analyzed for phloem phenol composition and concentration before and 10 days after wound inoculation with sterile malt agar. Fifty clones (Experiment 1) belonged to the same provenance, whereas the remaining clones (Experiment 2) belonged to five provenances from three geographic areas. In Experiment 2, two additional ramets from the same clones were mass inoculated with Ceratocystis polonica (Siem.) C. Moreau to quantify the resistance of each clone. Tree response to wound inoculations was characterized by increased catechin concentration in both experiments, accompanied by increases in astringin and decreases in piceid in Experiment 1. In both experiments, we observed a diverse group of phenolic compounds whose concentrations increased (catechin, astringin) or did not vary (taxifolin glucoside) in response to wound inoculations, whereas concentrations of a homogeneous group of stilbene compounds decreased (piceid) or did not vary (isorhapontin, unidentified stilbene). In Experiment 2, provenances from the alpine and Hercynian-Carpatic areas differed from provenances from the Baltic area with respect to the relative importance of these two groups of compounds, further indicating that the two groupings of phenolic compounds structure the Norway spruce populations. Eighty days after mass inoculation, the percentage of healthy sapwood, which was taken as a measure of tree resistance, indicated that clones from the Baltic area were less resistant to mass inoculations than clones from the alpine and Hercynian-Carpatic areas. We conclude that the degree of resistance of Norway spruce trees to mass inoculations with a bark beetle-associated fungus can be predicted based on the diversity of constitutive phloem phenols and the ability to induce phenol synthesis in response to wounding.     

A HPTLC densitometric method for the determination of aloeverose in Aloe vera gel

Aloe vera gel is a familiar ingredient in a range of widely available and advertisement healthcare and cosmetic products. As to date there are no documented reports on the standardization of A. vera gel and the following study is an attempt in this direction. A. vera gel was evaluated for its aloeverose content for the first time. Aloeverose, was separated on a thin-layer of silica gel by isocratic gradient elution technique was determined by using HPTLC-photodensitometry. The proposed method is simple and sensitive and can be used for the routine assay of aloeverose in phytomedicines containing A. vera gel.     

Seasonal water stress and the resistance of Pinus yunnanensis to a bark-beetle-associated fungus

We examined the influence of seasonal water stress on the resistance of Pinus yunnanensis (Franch.) to inoculation with Leptographium yunnanense, a pathogenic fungus associated with the aggressive bark beetle, Tomicus n. sp. Experiments took place between October 1997 and November 1999 in two plots located at the top and at the foot of a hill in Shaogiu, China, a region characterized by dry winters and wet summers. Following isolated and mass fungal inoculations, we observed the reaction zone length, fungal growth in the phloem, and the occlusion, blue-staining and specific hydraulic conductivity of the sapwood. Measurements of soil and needle water contents and predawn needle water potentials confirmed that trees were subject to mild water stress during winter, especially at the drier hilltop site. Measures of tree resistance to fungal infection of phloem and sapwood were congruent and indicated that trees were most susceptible to inoculation during the wet summer, especially at the lower-elevation plot. Specific hydraulic conductivity decreased after inoculation in summer. The results indicate that mild seasonal water stress is not likely responsible for the recent extensive damage to young P. yunnanensis stands by Tomicus n. sp. in the vicinity of our study plots. Rather, the results suggest that mild water stress enhances tree resistance to fungal pathogens associated with Tomicus n. sp.