‘Delayed’ interference effects of air exposure on adult Chinese horseshoe crab Tachypleus tridentatus

As the haemolymph supplier of the tachypleus amebocyte lysate industry in China, Chinese horseshoe crab (Tachypleus tridentatus) inevitably undergoes air‐exposure stress during transportation and haemolymph collection. In this study, the effects of air‐exposure stress and subsequent recovery process on the activities of phosphatases, antioxidant enzymes and haemocyanin concentration in Chinese horseshoe crab were investigated to understand its ability to resist air‐exposure stress. Results showed no significant effects on the total antioxidant capacity (T‐AOC), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA) and alkaline phosphatase (AKP) between the control and experimental groups during the air‐exposure stress period (0–4 hr), except acid phosphatase (ACP). During the subsequent recovery period in water, significant differences in plasma T‐AOC levels and SOD, CAT, AKP and ACP activities were observed between both groups. No significant effects of CAT activity, SOD activity, MDA content and T‐AOC level were noted between the two groups after 12 hr of recovery. However, the AKP and ACP activities of the experimental group were significantly lower than those of the control group. Results revealed that air exposure may affect the activities of most non‐specific immune enzymes in the plasma of Chinese horseshoe crab, showing a ‘delayed” interference effect. Nevertheless, tested antioxidant enzymes have a strong recovery ability and can generally recover to the control group level after 12 hr. Haemocyanin concentration was not affected by air‐exposure stress during the whole experiment. Hereby, Chinese horseshoe crab can strongly resist air‐exposure stress.     

Analysis of groundwater behaviour in a farmer controlled subsurface tile drainage system in Mardan, Pakistan

Extensive subsurface drainage system was installed in districtMardan in the North West Frontier Provinceof Pakistan in 1987 to control increasingwater logging and salinity problems due tocanal irrigation. Several recentlycompleted fields studies have indicatedthat subsurface drainage system hasenormously lowered watertable in certainareas due to extensive drainage network. Therefore, a study of controlled subsurfacedrainage technique was initiated in MardanScarp area to observe the temporal andspatial variations in water table depths ofthis specific case under various modes ofcanal irrigation and monsoon rains. Twoartificially drained areas, consisting of40 ha and 160 ha respectively, werecontrolled and selected for extensivemonitoring. A total of 98 observationswells (7.6 cm dia. and 4.1 m depth) wereinstalled in between lateral drains toobserve water table fluctuation. Theresults of this study are very interesting.Each of the two areas monitored in thestudy behaved differently. It was observedthat in one of the areas design water tabledepth at 1.1 m was maintained with properfunctioning of the controlled techniqueapplied to the subsurface drainage system. The results from this area showed that 25to 55% of the time throughout the yearachieved this objective whereas in thesecond area desired water table could notbe maintained and water table depth in thisarea remained between 2.0 to 2.7 m causingunnecessary water stress to plants. Alsoit was observed that watertable in theformer area is mostly controlled by thefunctional behavior of the irrigationcanal. In addition, the proper functioningof controlled techniques in subsurfacedrainage system supplemented veryefficiently to retain the groundwater levelto the optimal limits in dry season and tothe design ones in the others for timelyneeds of the crops. Also rainfalls havesignificant impact on the spatial andtemporal behaviors of water table depths inboth the areas during the monsoon season.     

Grafting-induced seed gossypol levels by demethylation of (+)-delta-cadinene synthase genes in upland cotton

Two-year-grafting experiments within and between Gossypium barbadense and Gossypium hirsutum accessions were conducted to study the source, transfer, and alteration of gossypol and methylation of (+)-δ-cadinene synthase (CDN) genes along with whole chromosomes of A01, A04, A11, D01, D05, and D11, harbouring the cotton CDNs, using the whole genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) method. The results revealed that although a glandless line used in this study had a low level of gossypol in the seeds, it did not contain any pigment glands, indicating that expression pathways of gland and gossypol were under genetic control of different loci in cotton. Grafts with glandless rootstocks produced significant amounts of total gossypol in the seeds, clearly demonstrating that the source of gossypol biosynthesis was not specific to the root. Heterografts consisting of scion GN, a glandless line, and scion TM-1 grafted on Pima 3-79 rootstocks caused increased total seed gossypol levels whereas homograft TT had decreased total seed gossypol levels. Alteration of total gossypol levels was also associated with gland density, and DNA demethylation levels of (+)-δ-cadinene synthase genes.     

Anti-inflammatory activities of Taxusabietane A isolated from Taxus wallichiana Zucc

Current study was conducted to identify constituents of Taxus wallichiana Zucc. that might be responsible for its folk use in anti-inflammatory conditions. Taxusabietane A was isolated from the bark extract of Taxus wallichiana Zucc. Taxusabietane A was analyzed for in-vitro and in-vivo anti-inflammatory activities using Lipoxygenase (LOX) inhibition assay and carrageenan-induced paw edema model. Taxusabietane A revealed considerable LOX inhibitory activity with the IC₅₀ value being 57 ± 0.31. Standard compound Baicalein showed the IC₅₀ value being 22.1 ± 0.03 μM. Taxusabietane A also showed significant (5 and 10 mg/kg) anti-inflammatory activity induced by carrageenan. However, this study highlighted the potential of Taxusabietane A to be further explored as a new lead compound for management of conditions associated with inflammation.     

N-Methyl-6, 7-dimethoxyisoquinolone in Annona squamosa twigs is the major immune modifier to elicit polarized Th1 immune response in BALB/c mice

Annona squamosa (AS) has traditionally been used as ethnomedicine. We have earlier extracted and fractionated the twigs of AS based upon its bioactivity and observed its immune potentiating activity that was localized in its three fractions. Present communication deals with the phytochemical analysis and pharmacological investigation of the most active chloroform fraction that led to isolation and identification of a number of compounds whose structures were elucidated using 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic analysis. Amongst the twelve pure compounds isolated, five compounds Lanuginosine (1), (+) -O- methylarmepavine (2), (+)-anomuricine (3), Isocorydine (4), and N-methyl-6, 7-dimethoxyisoquinolone (5) were evaluated in vivo for their immune modifier activities in BALB/c mice after oral administration at three log doses of 0.3, 1.0 and 3.0 mg/kg for 14 consecutive days. Of these, three compounds (1, 2 and 5) showed dose dependent immune stimulating activity. However, the uppermost activity was noted in the compound N-methyl-6, 7-dimethoxyisoquinolone at the 3.0 mg/kg oral dose. The activity was assessed in the form of increased splenic T and B cellular proliferation, up-regulated CD4+, CD8+ and CD19+ cell population and accentuation in the peritoneal macrophage function. The compound possibly acted modifying the expression of Th1- and Th2- cytokines via stimulation of pro-inflammatory Th1 cytokines IL-2 and IFN-γ. These results warrant the use of the above compounds as an efficient immune-stimulant or immune-adjuvant against diseases with immune suppression. The analogs of the compound may further be chemically synthesized to achieve desired immune modifying activity.     

Photosynthetic responses to water deficit in six Mediterranean sclerophyll species: possible factors explaining the declining distribution of Rhamnus ludovici-salvatoris,an endemic Balearic species

We sought to explain the declining distribution in the Balearic Islands of the endemic shrub Rhamnus ludovici-salvatoris R. Chodat, by comparing its photosynthetic response to drought with that of several widely distributed, competing Mediterranean species (R. alaternus L., Quercus ilex L., Pistacia lentiscus L., Q. humilis Mill. and P. terebinthus L.). All of the study species, except for the two Rhamnus species, avoided desiccation by rapidly adjusting their stomatal conductance at the onset of drought, and maintaining constant leaf relative water content. The two Rhamnus species showed desiccation-tolerant behavior; i.e., as drought progressed, their predawn leaf relative water content decreased simultaneously with stomatal closure. All four desiccation-avoiding species showed a significant positive correlation between leaf thermal dissipation (estimated by the fluorescence parameter NPQ (non-photochemical quenching)) and the de-epoxidation state of the xanthophyll cycle (DPS). The two Rhamnus species exhibited maximum DPS regardless of treatment, but only R. alaternus increased NPQ in response to drought. Rhamnus ludovici-salvatoris had a high ratio of photorespiration to photosynthesis and a low intrinsic water-use efficiency; traits that are likely to be unfavorable for plant productivity under arid conditions. It also had the lowest DPS and thermal dissipation among the six species. We conclude that the photosynthetic traits of R. ludovici-salvatoris account for its limited ability to compete with other species in the Mediterranean region.     

Enhancement of growth and feed utilization of the European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) fed supplementary dietary salt in freshwater

The effects of increased dietary sodium chloride supplement on growth, feed efficiency (FE), feed dispensed rate and fillet composition and morphological indices of European sea bass (initial weight of 4.9 g) were investigated in freshwater using five different levels of supplemental salt (0 (control diet, with no salt supplemented), 1%, 3%, 5% and 9% of diet). Over the experimental period of 50 days, the final weight of dietary salt (DS) groups was found to be approximately 19% higher than the control group. The final weight, specific growth rate and FE were greatest at the moderate level (1–5%) of salt supplementation. Optimum level of DS inclusion was calculated as 3%. Feed efficiency was significantly enhanced with increasing salt level up to 5%. A negative relationship between daily feed intake and FE (r²=0.66) was observed. The average muscle ratio (MR) in groups fed 1–5% supplemented salt was around 51.4% whereas fish receiving control and 9% salty diets had 5.3% lower MR (48.7%) (P<0.05). However, no significant effects of salt inclusion were found on viscera or hepatosomatic indices. Muscle ash and dry matter content slightly rose with increasing DS in the diet, but with no statistical difference (P>0.05). Similarly, no significant changes were observed in either muscle protein or lipid content among the groups (P>0.05).     

Effects of dietary betaine on growth performance,fat deposition and serum lipids in broilers subjected to chronic heat stress

We evaluated the effects of supplementing betaine on growth performance, fat deposition and lipid metabolism status in broilers kept under chronic heat stress. Five hundred and forty chicks were randomly divided into six groups and the two normal temperature groups were held at normal ambient temperature and fed the basal diet (CONT) and basal diet plus 0.1% betaine, respectively. Heat stressed (HS) broilers were held at 32 ± 1°C from days 22 to 42 and fed the basal diet containing variable levels of betaine. Broilers were examined at days 28, 35 and 42 for body weight, feed consumption, fat deposition and serum lipids. The CONT and betaine‐supplemented groups showed higher (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05) feed consumption, body weight gain, and lower feed : gain ratio compared with the HS‐CONT group. Meanwhile, heat stress increased abdominal, intermuscular and subcutaneous fat deposition, whereas the supplemental betaine significantly decreased those compared with the HS‐CONT group. Additionally, betaine supplementation significantly decreased triglyceride, free fatty acids, low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol and high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol compared with HS‐CONT. Chronic HS reduces broiler production performance. However, betaine can reverse these negative effects partially and thus improve carcass composition by changing lipid metabolism.     

The effects of topical tripeptide copper complex and helium-neon laser on wound healing in rabbits

The aim of this study was to compare the clinical and histopathological effects of tripeptide copper complex (TCC) and two different doses of laser application (helium-neon laser, 1 and 3 J cm(-2)) on wound healing with untreated control wounds. Experimental wounds were created on a total of 24 New Zealand white rabbits and topical TCC or laser was applied for 28 days. The wounds were observed daily, and planimetry was performed on days 7, 14, 21 and 28 to measure the unhealed wound area and percentage of total wound healing. Biopsies were taken weekly to evaluate the inflammatory response and the level of neovascularization. The median time for the first observable granulation tissue was shorter (P < 0.05) in the low and high dose laser groups than in the control group (3 and 2.66 vs. 4.5 days), but was not different between the TCC and control groups (4.16 vs. 4.5 days). Filling of the open wound to skin level with granulation tissue was faster (P < 0.05) in the TCC and high dose laser groups than in the control group (14 and 16 vs. 25 days), but was not different between the low dose laser and control groups (23 vs. 25 days). The average time for healing was shorter (P < 0.05) in the TCC and high dose laser groups (29.8 and 30.2 vs. 34.6 days), but was not different between the low dose laser and control groups (33.8 vs. 34.6 days). Histopathologically, wound healing was characterized by a decrease in the neutrophil counts and an increase in neovascularization. The TCC and high dose laser groups had greater neutrophil and vessel counts than in the control group, suggesting a more beneficial effect for wound healing.