Salt- and pH-induced functional changes in protein concentrate of edible green seaweed <Emphasis Type="Italic">Enteromorpha</Emphasis> species

Protein concentrates (PCs) were extracted from three edible green seaweed species of Enteromorpha (E. compressa, E. linza, and E. tubulosa) and were studied for their functional properties with respect to salt and pH. The protein content in the PC was found to be 60.35 ± 2.0, 53.83 ± 0.70, and 33.36 ± 1.04% in E. compressa, E. tubulosa, and E. linza respectively. The minimum nitrogen solubility was observed at pH 4.0 in all three PCs. The water-holding and oil-holding capacities in the three PCs ranged from 1.22 ± 0.06 to 1.53 ± 0.07 ml H₂O/g PC and from 1.05 ± 0.07 to 1.34 ± 0.10 ml oil/g PC respectively. Foaming capacity and stability were found to be pH-specific. They varied significantly with pH and NaCl concentration (P < 0.05). The inexpensive source of protein concentrate from Enteromorpha species could be incorporated into value-added food products.     

Effect of aromatase inhibitors on the ovarian development of stunted yearlings of rohu (Labeo rohita): a preliminary study

In India, many of the fish farmers stock 1-year-old stunted fishes (stunted yearlings) of Indian major carps (IMC) for enhancing fish production through compensatory growth, but many of them observed problems of early maturation in these fishes. Application of aromatase inhibitors for deceleration of ovarian maturation is one of the probable solutions to mitigate this issue. In the present study, a synthetic aromatase inhibitor letrozole [25 (L₂₅) and 50 (L₅₀) mg kg^?1 feed] and a plant-derived aromatase inhibitor, grape seed extract [100 (G₁₀₀) and 200 (G₂₀₀) mg kg^?1 feed], were fed to stunted yearlings of rohu (Labeo rohita) for 45 days well before the onset of breeding season. Maturation indices such as gonadosomatic index (GSI) and serum oestradiol (E) levels indicated a dose-dependent inhibition of ovarian development in the aromatase-inhibitor-treated fish. Higher dose of letrozole (GSI, 15.12 ± 0.18; E, 3.19 ± 0.42) and grape seed extract (GSI, 16.90 ± 0.40; E, 3.60 ± 0.75) were found to be more effective since control fish showed further advancement in maturation (GSI, 21.20 ± 1.10; E, 7.33 ± 0.74) during the peak breeding season (15th June). Histological observations also confirmed the results revealing a delayed initiation of ovarian development in the case of higher doses of letrozole and grape seed extracts. These results indicate the possible use of aromatase inhibitors in arresting the early maturation process in IMC.     

Development of the Nondestructive Leaf Area Estimation Model for Valeriana (Valeriana jatamansi Jones)

Leaf area (LA) is an important parameter related to plant growth and physiology. An allometric model was developed to estimate the LA of endangered medicinal plant Valeriana jatamansi using linear measurements such as leaf length (L) and width (W). LA and other leaf dimensions were measured using a laser leaf area meter. Leaves from seven accessions of valeriana were collected from the experimental site during 2015. Different regression models were developed between LA and other leaf components, viz. L, W, etc. The linear model having LW as an independent variable (y = 0.487 + 0.644 LW) provided the best estimation [coefficients of determination (R²) = 0.974, root mean square error (RMSE) = 2.222, coefficient of variation (CV) = 4.529]. Validation of the selected model showed a higher correlation between the actual leaf area (ALA) and the predicted leaf area (PLA) [R² = 0.956, RMSE = 2.310, CV = 5.319, predicted residual error sum of squares (PRESS) = 1067.352].     

PGPR and entomopathogenic fungus bioformulation for the synchronous management of leaffolder pest and sheath blight disease of rice

BACKGROUND: The biological control of plant pests and diseases using a single organism has been reported to give inconsistent and poor performance. To improve the efficacy, bioformulations were developed possessing mixtures of bioagents. RESULTS: Bioformulations combining Pseudomonas fluorescens Migula strains Pf1 and AH1 and Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuill. isolate B2 were developed and tested for their efficacy against leaffolder pest and sheath blight disease on rice under glasshouse and field conditions. The combination of Pf1, AH1 and B2 effectively reduced the incidence of leaffolder insect and sheath blight disease on rice compared with other treatments. An in vitro assay of leaffolder preference to rice leaf tissues treated with Pf1 + AH1 + B2 biformulation showed variation from normal growth and development of leaffolder larvae. Plants treated with the Pf1 + AH1 + B2 combination showed a greater accumulation of enzymes, lipoxygenase and chitinase activity against leaffolder insect compared with other treatments. Similarly, the plants showed a higher accumulation of defence enzymes, peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase activity against sheath blight pathogen in Pf1 + AH1 + B2 treatment compared with the untreated control. The bioformulation mixture attracted the natural enemy population of leaffolder under field conditions. In addition, a significant increase in rice grain yield was observed in Pf1 + AH1 + B2 treatment compared with the untreated control. CONCLUSION: The combination of P. fluorescens strains and B. bassiana isolate effectively reduced the incidence of leaffolder insect and sheath blight disease on rice plants and showed the possibility of controlling both pest and disease using a single bioformulation. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

In-vitro and in-vivo binding activity of chicken egg yolk immunoglobulin Y (IgY) against gliadin in food matrix

Chicken egg yolk immunoglobulin Y (IgY) is a promising alternative for the prevention of enteric gliadin absorption, the predisposing factor of celiac disease (CD). IgY antibody was produced from the egg yolk of Single Comb White Leghorn chickens during the immunization period for the development of an oral immunotherapeutic agent. Here, we report the potential use of spray dried IgY antibody formulation using sugar protectants (mannitol, sorbitol, or microcrystalline cellulose powder (MCCP)). The long-term stability of the spray dried egg yolk powder formulated with 37.5% mannitol (EYP-M) preserved IgY antibody activity at 99.9%, which was significantly higher than that with other protectants (p < 0.05). In a dissolution test, the EYP-M shows 82.4% IgY activity after 2 h in simulated gastric fluid (SGF). A competitive ELISA at 50% inhibition (IC(50)) shows that 1.6 mg/mL EYP-M bound to 7.6 mg/mL and 10.5 mg/mL gliadin in SGF without and with food matrix conditions, respectively, whereas in simulated intestinal fluid, the formulation bound to 10 mg/mL gliadin, regardless of a food matrix. In-vivo study: BALB/c mice fed with EYP-M and gliadin at a ratio of 1:5 (w/w) demonstrated that gliadin absorption in the gastrointestinal tract was minimal at <1%. Thus, EYP-M containing IgY antibody may be used in CD patients to eliminate the effects of ingested toxic gliadin.     

Molecular detection of important abortion-causing microorganisms in preputial swab of breeding bucks using PCR-based assays

Infectious diseases and aetiological agents related to female reproductive systems were extensively covered compared to its male counterpart. There needs a proper study to bridge this gap, where microflora and infectious agents of both male and female reproductive are mutually intelligible. With this study, we aimed to evaluate the microbial contamination of the preputial cavity and also screened for abortion-causing agents which are zoonotic as well. In goats, such types of abortions are caused by Brucella melitensis, Chlamydophila, Campylobacter and Coxiella etc. One of the major sources of contamination of semen is the preputial cavity, which is exposed to the external environment leading to spread of infection into the female via semen straws or by natural service. In the current study, good quality bucks (n = 32, Barbari = 12, Jamunapari = 10, Jakhrana = 10) which were routinely used for semen collection were screened for their preputial swabs, for the presence of the above pathogens. For detection of Brucella melitensis, OMP31 based TaqMan® probe real-time PCR assay was used, and for Chlamydia, 16srRNA gene based SYBR® green real-time PCR assay was employed for detection of Chlamydophila abortus. While for Campylobacter spp. and Coxiella burnetii, 16srRNA gene based conventional PCR and Trans-PCR were used, respectively. In the current study, of the screened preputial swabs, none of them showed positive for Brucella and Coxiella, but of the screened 32 samples 17 showed positive for Chlamydia (53.13%) and two (6.25%) showed positive for Campylobacter spp. The current study emphasizes on the farms and laboratories which were regularly involved in screening of brucellosis also often overlook the other potential non-brucella pathogens, causing abortions eventually incurring severe economic losses to the goat keepers.     

Effect of coconut palm wine (Toddy) on carbohydrate metabolism in pregnant rats and fetuses

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of an alcoholic beverage (Toddy) and the equivalent quantity of ethanol on carbohydrate metabolism in utero. Female rats were exposed to Toddy from coconut palm (24.5 ml/kg body weight/day) and ethanol (0.52 ml/kg body weight/day) for 15 days before conception and throughout gestation. On the 19th day of gestation, hypoglycemia was seen in both the treated groups, but it was more in the Toddy-treated group. Synthesis of glycogen was elevated on exposure to ethanol/Toddy but its degradation was enhanced only in alcohol-exposed rats. Key enzymes of citric acid cycle and gluconeogenesis were inhibited on administration of both alcohol and Toddy. Activity of glycolytic enzymes were increased. Toddy seemed to potentiate the toxicity induced by alcohol, indicating the additive effects of congeners.     

Molecular characterization and variability analysis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Apple scar skin viroid</Emphasis> in India

Apple scar skin viroid (ASSVd) infection is a major limitation to apple fruit quality and causes huge economic losses. In surveys of apple orchards in the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, fruits with dappling symptoms were noticed. ASSVd was detected from these fruits and molecularly characterized. Ten clones from three isolates were sequenced, of which seven were new sequence variants of ASSVd. The clones had significant sequence variability (94–100%) with each other. Variability was more common in the pathogenic domain of the viroid genome. Four of the clones were 330 nucleotides (nt) long, and the other six had an additional nucleotide. Phylogenetic analysis showed close affinity of the present isolates with some Chinese and Korean isolates. The study reports seven new variants of ASSVd and also provides the first molecular evidence of viroid infection (ASSVd) in apple in India.     

Insect growth inhibition,antifeedant and antifungal activity of compounds isolated/derived from Zingiber officinale Roscoe (ginger) rhizomes

Fresh rhizomes of Zingiber officinale (ginger), when subjected to steam distillation, yielded ginger oil in which curcumene was found to be the major constituent. The thermally labile zingiberene‐rich fraction was obtained from its diethyl ether extract. Column chromatography of ginger oleoresin furnished a fraction from which [6]‐gingerol was obtained by preparative TLC. Naturally occurring [6]‐dehydroshogaol was synthesised following condensation of dehydrozingerone with hexanal, whereas zingerone and 3‐hydroxy‐1‐(4‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxyphenyl)butane were obtained by hydrogenation of dehydrozingerone with 10% Pd/C. The structures of the compounds were established by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and mass (EI‐MS and ES‐MS) spectral analysis. The test compounds exhibited moderate insect growth regulatory (IGR) and antifeedant activity against Spilosoma obliqua, and significant antifungal activity against Rhizoctonia solani. Among the various compounds, [6]‐dehydroshogaol exhibited maximum IGR activity (EC₅₀ 3.55 mg ml ^?1) while dehydrozingerone imparted maximum antifungal activity (EC₅₀ 86.49 mg litre^?1). © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry