Molecular Networking-Guided Isolation of New Etzionin-Type Diketopiperazine Hydroxamates from the Persian Gulf Sponge Cliona celata

The Persian Gulf is a unique and biologically diverse marine environment dominated by invertebrates. In continuation of our research interest in the chemistry and biological activity of marine sponges from the Persian Gulf, we selected the excavating sponge Cliona celata for detailed metabolome analyses, in vitro bioactivity screening, and chemical isolation studies. A UPLC-MS/MS (MS²) molecular-networking-based dereplication strategy allowed annotation and structural prediction of various diketopiperazines (DKPs) and etzionin-type diketopiperazine hydroxamates (DKPHs) in the crude sponge extract. The molecular-networking-guided isolation approach applied to the crude extract afforded the DKPH etzionin (1) and its two new derivatives, clioetzionin A (2) and clioetzionin B (3). Another new modified DKP (4) was identified by MS/MS analyses but could not be isolated in sufficient quantities to confirm its structure. The chemical characterization of the purified DKPHs 1–3 was performed by a combination of 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy, HRMS, HRMS/MS, and [α]_D analyses. Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited broad antibacterial, antifungal, and anticancer activities, with IC₅₀ values ranging from 19.6 to 159.1 µM. This is the first study investigating the chemical constituents of a C. celata specimen from the Persian Gulf. It is also the first report of full spectroscopic data of etzionin based on extensive spectroscopic analyses.     

Grain filling and yield of mung bean affected by salicylic acid and silicon under salt stress

Two experiments were carried out in 2013 and 2014, to investigate changes in grain filling rate (GFR), grain filling duration (GFD) and yield of mung bean in response to salicylic acid (SA) and silicon (Si) under salt stress (0, 3, 6 and 9 dS m^?1). In experiment 1, four levels of SA (0, 0.5, 1 and 1.5 mM), but in experiment 2, two levels of SA (0 and 1 mM) and Si (0 and 2 mM) were applied. In experiment 1, GFR, GFD, yield components, biological and grain yields and harvest index were decreased with increasing salt stress. Application of different levels of SA, especially 1 mM, increased GFR, but decreased GFD. In experiment 2, GFD under salinity was shorter than that under non-saline condition, resulting in comparatively smaller grains. Application of Si and particularly SA accelerated grain development under all salinity treatments. The superiority of SA treated plants in GFR, grain weight and grains per plant resulted in greater grain yield per plant under saline and non-saline conditions.     

Phytic acid,iron and zinc content in wheat ploidy levels and amphiploids: the impact of genotype and planting seasons

Micronutrient deficiency is one of the most common and widespread nutritional issues. Among the factors mitigating the bioavailability of Zn (zinc) and Fe (iron), phytic acid plays a key role; therefore, in order to scrutinize genetic alterations ?related to micronutrient and phytate contents, we examined the concentrations of zinc, iron, and phytic acid, as well as its mole ratio to ?zinc in various wheat species grown in two planting seasons. The concentrations of phytic acid and its mole ratio to zinc were 0.61?1.55 g kg^?1 dry weight and 1.88?4.17 for autumn, and 0.97?2.02 g kg^?1 dry weight and 2.10?4.05 for spring planting. There was a significant discrepancy among wheat species; tritipyrum had the highest concentration of iron, phytic acid and its mole ratio to zinc, and T. monococcum and T. aestivum recorded reasonable zinc bioavailability. Correlation studies between grain phytic acid concentrations and other measured traits revealed various relationships, denoting an irrefutable impact of planting season and wheat ploidy levels on modification of wheat genotypes. The characters contributing more positively with principal component (PC) 1 were Zn and Fe under spring planting and Fe under autumn planting. Spike number per square meter, biological yield and grain yield in spring cultivation, and grain zinc concentration in autumn cultivation were positively correlated to principal component (PC) 2. Given that the concentration of Fe and Zn in all the studied genotypes is relatively high and due to the existence of other desirable agronomic traits, this study believes that it could possibly enhance the applicability of some of these genotypes for breeding purposes.     

Nutritional status of Washington Navel orange orchards in arid lands of southern Iran

Nutrient deficiency may be a reason for citrus decline in many countries. In the current investigation, soil and leaf samples of 63 Washington Navel orange orchards in arid lands of southern Iran (Darab region) were analyzed to study the nutritional status of orange orchards and to find relationships between soil properties and nutrients content of soils and orange leaves. The soils differed widely in clay content (3–37%), pH value (7.04–7.95), calcium carbonate equivalent (18–86%), and organic matter content (0.3–12%). These soils represented a wide range of plant nutrients concentration. Majority of the studied soils had sufficient concentrations of all nutrients (except Fe). Results indicated that pH, organic matter, clay, and calcium carbonate contents are the most important characteristics that control the soil nutrients availability. The mean contents of N, K, P, Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu in leaves were 2.59, 0.84, and 0.14% and 66, 44, 17, and 12?mg?kg^?1, respectively. Most orchards showed K, Fe, and Zn deficiencies. We found no relationships between nutrients content in leaf and soil (except for K, Mn, and Zn); and this indicated that soil analysis may not be a reliable method for most nutrient deficiency diagnosis.     

Compatibility of Natural Dyes on Aluminum Pre-Mordanted Woolen Yarns by Determination of Diffusion Coefficient

In the present research, a method of assessing relative compatibility rating of single and binary mixtures of walnut green shell, cochineal, and weld natural dyes on aluminum pre-mordanted woolen yarns was proposed, where a proportion of the calculated diffusion coefficients of dyes was postulated. To calculate the diffusion coefficient values, the uptake behavior of dyes was derived as the K/S and the exhaustion curves by dyeing the woolen yarn samples with the individual dye as well as with the mixtures of dyes obtained from practical conditions of dyeing. A typical method was employed to dye the samples at two temperatures of 80 and 95 oC. The method proposed for determination of the compatibility of dyes was more verified at higher temperature, that is, 95 oC, against a conventional method of solution analysis. The results of compatibility showed that the selected binary mixtures of cochineal-weld have an excellent compatibility. The other mixtures, that is, walnut green shell-cochineal and walnut green shell-weld showed weak-moderate and very weak compatibility, respectively.     

The potential of using insecticidal properties of medicinal plants against insect pests

In this study, botanicals extracted from two the species of family Scrophulariaceae, Verbascum cheiranthifolium Boiss and Verbascum speciosum Schard, were examined for their effect on mortality and progeny production against adults of Sitophilus oryzae (L.). The plant extracts were applied at five dose rates, which 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 3% (w/v). Adults of S. oryzae was exposed to the treated wheat at 25 degrees C and 65% RH and mortality was assessed after 24 h, 48 h, 7 day, 14 day and 21 day of exposure. Then all adults were removed and the treated substrate remained at the same conditions for an additional 45 day after this interval, the commodity was checked for progeny production. In use two extracts the mortality of adults increased with the increase of dose and exposure interval so that; mortality was 100% after 21 days of exposure at the highest dose rate. Results indicated that applied of V. cheiranthifolium extract was more effective than V. speciosum against adult insects. Interestingly, in two cases complete suppression (100% reduction) of the progeny production (F1) was observed in the treated wheat than in control even in the lowest dose rate. Therefore, our results indicate that these medicinal plants can be used for protection of stored grain from infestations of stored-product insect pests.     

Growth and some physiological parameters of four sugar beet (Beta vulgaris l.) cultivars as affected by salinity

The comparative responses of certain biochemical and physiological characteristics to salinity were studied in 4 cultivars of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) plants. Eight weeks old plants were treated with NaCl at 0, 25 and 50 mM in nutrient solutions. Plants were grown under controlled environment and harvested after 3 weeks for measurements of biochemical and physiological parameters. Results showed that in 25 mM NaCl for cultivars of ET5 and C3-3, soluble sugars in leaves, photosynthetic rate and growth parameters were significantly increased as compared to those of other cultivars. In 50 mM NaCl photosynthetic rate and soluble sugars were significantly increased only in ET5 cultivar as compared with those of others. Results indicated that in 25 mM NaCl, ET5 cultivar showed high growth responses and tolerated to 50 mM NaCl.     

No detected hepatitis B virus-DNA in thalassemic patients infected by hepatitis C virus in Kerman province of Iran

This research was aimed to investigate the prevalence and clinical impact of occult HBV infection in thalassemic patients with chronic HCV infection. In this cross-sectional study we have totally examined 60 patients suffering HBV and HCV infections by PCR and RT-PCR methods, respectively, in Kerman province of Iran. ELISA technique (RADIM, Italy) was used to detect anti-HBc, anti-HBs and HBsAg. The serum level of liver enzymes (SGOT, SGPT, DB, TB and ALK) were analyzed in the HCV infected patients (MAN, IRAN). Statistical analyses performed using t-test and Chi-square. We found that 27 cases (out of 60) were infected by HCV but HBV-DNA was not seen in HCV infected patients. Present findings also showed that none of samples were HBsAg positive but 9 (33%) (out of 27) HCV-RNA positive patients were anti-HBc positive and 11 (40.7%) were positive for anti-HBs. We found that SGOT, SGPT, DB, TB and ALK are above normal in 27 (100%), 19(70.3%), 12(44.5%), 15 (55.5%) and 15 (55.5%) RNA-HCV positive patients, respectively. The prevalence of hepatitis C infection is very high in thalassemic patients and based on other studies our results showed that the prevalence of HCV infection in Kerman is more than other provinces of Iran. In contrast with other studies HBV-DNA in these patients could not be detected, hence, it seems that occult HBV infection isn't frequent in Iranian thalassemic patients who suffering from chronic HCV infection.