Germination and growth response of flax (Linum usitatissimum) to salinity stress by different salt types and concentrations

This investigation was conducted to explore the effects of salt types with different concentrations on germination and growth parameters of flax seeds. The experiment was set out as a factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design with three replications. We used six kinds of salts (NaCl, CaCl₂, CaCO₃, Na₂SO₄, Na₂CO₃ and KCl) with concentrations of 0, 50, 100 and 200 mM. According to the results, the inhibitory effects of the five salt types differed substantially, especially in the case of CaCO₃, Na₂CO₃ and Na₂SO₄. Inhibitory effects of these salts were very strong compared to those of NaCl and CaCl₂. Germination of flax seeds by various salts was in the order of NaCl > CaCl₂ > KCl > Na₂CO₃ > Na₂SO₄ > CaCO₃. The effect of salt concentration was obvious, too. Seeds of flax were able to germinate even in 200 mM NaCl, but they only germinated in distilled water or at very low CaCO₃, Na₂CO₃ and Na₂SO₄ concentrations (50 mM).     

Investigation of soil compaction on yield and agronomic traits of wheat under saline and non-saline soils

Inappropriate crop management and long-term use of heavy agricultural equipment can lead to soil compaction. On the other hand, soil and water salinity causes reduction in the plant yield in addition to adverse effects on plants tolerance to the various stresses. The aim of this study was to investigate the interaction between soil compaction and salinity on the macronutrients uptake and wheat yield as well as its agronomic traits. The pot experiment was carried out on the loamy soil in a completely randomized block design with three replications. The treatments consisted of two salinity types (saline, EC = 6 dS/m and non-saline soil) and five levels of compaction; control, 5%, 10%, 15% and 20%. The results showed that soil compaction had significant effect on the amount of N, P and K in wheat grain, so that the uptake of N, P and K by grain has been decreased by increasing the compaction level of soil. Soil salinity had significant effect on N, P and K content in grain that the content of N, P and K has been diminished in the saline treatments compared to non-saline treatments. Results on the agronomic traits and yield of wheat also revealed that soil compaction and salinity had significant effect (p < 0.01) on straw weight, number of ears, number of grain, and thousand grain weight which caused reduction in these parameters. The interaction between compaction and salinity had only significant correlation (p < 0.01) with thousand grain weight leading to the decrement of thousand grain weight with increasing compaction levels, particularly in the saline treatment.     

Mucoadhesive Chitosan Electrospun Nanofibers Containing Tetracycline and Triamcinolone as a Drug Delivery System

The mucoadhesive Chitosan (CS) nanofibers as a drug delivery system were developed. Chitosan was modified via the immobilization of thiol groups from L-cysteine as a mucoadhesive reagent. The mucoadhesive properties of the chitosan nanofibers were evaluated by tensiometer set and via tensile studies. Drug and mucoadhesive agent loading lead to decrease diameters and increased porous of nanofibers. The release of Tetracycline (Tet) and Triamcinolone (Tri) were increased with increasing immersion time and it became constant at long immersion times. Mucoadhesion studies were done at pH 2–7 and in pH 6 maximum mucoadhesive properties observed. Release studies demonstrated a sustained release of both drug continued up to 48 hours. Microbial studies were performed on the nanofibers. The drug delivery system represented a novel tool for improve the therapeutic efficacy of various drugs that are poorly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. Also it is an efficient system for treatment of oral ulceration.     

Response of European seabass (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Dicentrarchus labrax</Emphasis>) to canola oil diets: effect on growth performance,fish health and liver and intestine histomorphology

This study was undertaken to assess the effects of feeding European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) canola oil-added diets on growth, health status and liver and intestine histomorphology. Seabass (56.18 ± 0.16 g initial body weight) were fed one of three fish meal-based diets with ~48 % crude protein and ~16.0 % lipid, combining fish oil (FO) and canola oil (CO) for 12 weeks. The diets contained: zero (control, CTRL), 45 (CO50) or 63 (CO70) g CO kg^?1 assigned in triplicates to three dietary groups. The results indicated that neither dietary oil type (FO or CO) nor CO level adversely affected (P > 0.05) the growth, feed utilization or major blood constituents’ composition as an indicator of the overall health status of fish. Despite the CO diets influence on head kidney macrophage activity being unappreciable (P > 0.05), there was a reducing trend with an increase in CO level incorporation. The CO70 diet induced a minor fat infiltration in hepatocytes and leucocytes infiltration, hyperplasia of the basal nuclei and supranuclear vacuolization of the enterocytes of the distal intestine. The present observations suggest that it is possible to incorporate up to 63 g CO Kg^?1 in the feed for European seabass juveniles without major negative effects on growth, health status or liver and intestinal histomorphology.     

The Effects of Estrogen Receptors' Antagonist on Brain Edema,Intracranial Pressure and Neurological Outcomes after Traumatic Brain Injury in Rat

Background:

In previous studies, the neuroprotective effect of 17β-estradiol in diffuse traumatic brain injury has been shown. This study used ICI 182,780, a non-selective estrogen receptor antagonist, to test the hypothesis that the neuroprotective effect of 17β-estradiol in traumatic brain injury is mediated by the estrogen receptors.

Methods:

The ovariectomized rats were divided into eight groups. Brain injury was induced by Marmarou’s method. Estrogen was injected 30 minutes after traumatic brain injury, and ICI 182,780 was injected before traumatic brain injury and also before estrogen treatment. In one group only ICI 182,780 was injected. The brain water content and Evans blue dye content were measured 24 and 5 hours after traumatic brain injury, respectively. The neurologic outcomes and intracranial pressure were assessed before, 4, and 24 hours after traumatic brain injury.

Results:

Brain water content and Evans blue content were less in estrogen-treated group comparison to vehicle group. ICI 182,780 eliminated the effects of estrogen on brain edema and brain blood barrier permeability. Intracranial pressure was increased significantly after trauma, and estrogen decreased intracranial pressure at 4 and 24 hours after traumatic brain injury in comparison to vehicle. This inhibitory effect was also eliminated by treatment with ICI182,780. ICI 182,780 also inhibited the estrogen induced increase in neurologic outcomes following traumatic brain injury. However, the use of ICI 182,780 alone had no neuroprotective effect after traumatic brain injury.

Conclusion:

The results suggest that classical estrogen receptors have probably a role in the neuroprotective function of estrogen following traumatic brain injury.Key Words: Estrogens, Intracranial pressure (ICP), Brain edema     

New withanolides from Mandragora officinarum: First report of withanolides from the Genus Mandragora

Two new withanolides named mandragorolide A (1) and mandragorolide B (2) were isolated from the MeOH extract of the whole plant of Mandragora officinarum of Jordanian origin, along with five known withanolides namely larnaxolide A (3), withanolide B (4), datura lactone 2 (5), withanicandrin (6) and salpichrolide C (7). Compound 3 has been reported only once before, from the leaves of Larnax glabra. This is the first report of withanolides of different biogenetic types from the genus Mandragora. Isolation of known fatty compounds, coumarins, sterols and tropane alkaloids was also achieved in this study.     

Variation Of Water Retention In Various Soils Of Kuwait

Soil properties varied in water retention; due to soil texture and organic matter content. Variations of texture in many soils are effected mostly to soil forming factors of parent materials of the soil, biological activities, climactic variation, and duration of soil reaction. While the organic matter contents are affected totally by the environmental conditions of the soils. Water holding capacity of different soils influences plants growth and development in diverse soil characteristics of the world and determines soil productivity. Water resources for agricultural activities are limited, particularly in arid environment and soil water holding capacity of arid soil is very low. Kuwait can be good example of arid environment with limited water resources for agriculture activities and possess soil of coarse texture with very low organic matter content (Anonymous, 1997). Agricultural development in Kuwait meets many problems for crop production and urban landscaping. Water resources are limited and the quality is deteriorating at the same time soil water holding capacity is very low. Enormous amount of water, particularly desalinated expensive water is wasted for agricultural activities. This paper will study various parts of Kuwaiti soils water holding capacity and develop water retention data for efficient water irrigation and improvement of plant growth.     

Anti-Seizure Activity of 1-Adamantane Carboxylic Acid in Common Experimental Seizure Models: Role of Benzodiazepine-GABAA Receptors

Background:Despite introduction of modern antiepileptic drugs, 30% of epileptic patients are still drug resistant. Remarkable three-dimensional spatial structure of AdCA, yet the simplicity of the molecule, makes AdCA a promising lead compound. Methods:Sedative/motor impairment and 24-h mortality rate of AdCA were determined in mice. Impact of AdCA on (1) threshold and occurrence of clonic seizures induced by PTZ in mice, (2) incidence of tonic seizures induced by MES in mice, and (3) incidence of generalized seizures and duration of evoked afterdischarges in amygdala-kindled rats, were determined. The role of benzodiazepine receptors in the AdCA effect on clonic seizure threshold was also assessed. Results:AdCA showed sedative effect (TD₅₀ = 224.5 [190.2-289.9] mg/kg). LD₅₀ = 805.5 (715.2–988.1) mg/kg was obtained for AdCA. The compound increased PTZ seizure threshold from 180 mg/kg (p < 0.05) and also inhibited the incidence of clonic seizures (ED₅₀ = 256.3 [107.4-417.3] mg/kg). AdCA also decreased afterdischarge duration (p < 0.01) and the incidence of generalized seizures (ED₅₀ < 50 mg/kg) in the kindled rats. However, AdCA did not protect mice against tonic seizures induced by MES. The benzodiazepine receptor antagonist flumazenil prevented the increase of seizure threshold by AdCA. Conclusion:AdCA possesses anticonvulsant activity in kindling and PTZ models through the activation of benzodiazepine/GABA_A receptors with acceptable therapeutic index. Key Words: Anticonvulsants, Flumazenil, Pentylenetetrazole     

Assessment of nitrogen mineralization potential and availability from neem seed residue in a savanna soil

 Nitrogen (N) mineralization and availability from neem seed residue after oil extraction was studied in a laboratory incubation and greenhouse cropping. Several decomposition models were tested for estimating potentially mineralizable N and mineralization rates from the residue. Net N mineralization was best described by a Gompertz function and a mixed-order rate model with R ²=0.996 for each and residual mean square error (RMSE)=8.3 for the Gompertz function and 8.8 for the mixed-order rate model. A consecutive reaction model also fitted the data closely (R ²=0.983; RMSE=16.6) and is preferable to a Gompertz function or a mixed-order rate model because of its mechanistic basis. Potentially mineralizable N estimated by the decomposition models ranged from 335 to 489 mg N kg^–1 representing between 32% and 43% of total N applied. Actual cumulative N mineralized in a 98-day incubation period was 339 mg N kg^–1 soil. Bio-available N from neem residue and inorganic N (urea) with maize as a test crop in a greenhouse cropping gave similar biomass yield and N uptake, suggesting rapid N mineralization from neem residue to meet plant nutrition. Received: 15 July 1998     

Vegetable oil blend as alternative lipid resources in diets for gilthead seabream, Sparus aurata

The recent decreasing worldwide supplies of marine oils have forced the aquaculture industry to investigate alternative lipid sources for use in marine fish feeds. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of dietary replacement of fish oil by vegetable oils on gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) growth performance, nutritive utilization, body composition, and fatty acid profile as well as feed cost. Two dietary vegetable oil (VO) mix blends (VO1 and VO2) in which: sunflower (SO), cottonseed (CO) and linseed (LO) for VO1 or soybean oil (SBO) for VO2, were tested as 60% fish oil (FO) substitutes versus the 100% FO control or reference diet (FO). Three iso-proteic (46% CP) and iso-lipidic (18%) experimental diets were hand fed, twice a day, 6 days a week to apparent visual satiety to triplicate groups of seabream growers (average initial weight, 130.9 ± 3.44 g), until fish reached market size (300–400 g/fish) after 20 weeks at mean ambient temperature 27.0 ± 1.8°C. All experimental diets were well accepted by seabream growers regardless of the different lipid sources used, as overall mean feed intake (FI) and daily intake (DFI) were not significantly different (P > 0.05) among dietary treatments. In terms of growth performance, fish fed VO1 diet (with LO) exhibited a relatively lower, but significant (P < 0.05), total weight gain (WG) than fish fed all FO diet (FO). However, mean value of WG of fish fed either vegetable oil-tested diet was nonsignificantly different. Feeding seabream growers vegetable oil (VO) diets (VO1 or VO2) had no significant effect on specific growth rate (SGR), daily weight index (DWI), or feed conversion ratio (FCR) among dietary treatments. Consumption of VO for 20 weeks did not significantly alter the major nutrient composition of fish, but the muscle fatty acid (FA) profile was significantly altered compared to the reference FO diet. Comparatively reduced levels of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acids (DHA), as well as elevated levels of linoleic and linolenic acids (LA and LNA) compared with fish fed the FO were noticed. In terms of economics, 17 or 20% reduction in Kg feed cost was obtained for diets VO1 or VO2, respectively. In terms of growth performance and cost, VO2 diet showed slight relative superiority over VO1 diet. However, in terms of liver structure morphology, VO1 diet (with LO) has resulted in less fat-infiltration and altered hepatic cells than VO2 (with SBO). As these traits do not affect yield or the price paid for the fish, VO2 diet has therefore been considered better than VO1 as complementary lipid sources for gilthead seabream grower diets.