Inhibitory activity of homoisoflavonoids from Caesalpinia sappan against Beauveria bassiana

Four homoisoflavonoids, 4-O-methylsappanol (1), protosappanin A (2), brazilin (3) and caeasalpin J (4), isolated from Caesalpinia sappan, were tested for inhibitory activity against Beauveria bassiana. Compound 1 showed activity against this fungus.     

Antibacterial activity of the essential oil from Aristolochia indica

The essential oil of Aristolochia indica, containing beta-caryophyllene and alpha-humulene as major constituents, was found to show a moderate antibacterial activity.     

Antimicrobial activity of Securinega leucopyrus

Extracts of the leaves of Securinega leucopyrus exhibited a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity.     

Prevalence and incidence of the root-inhabiting fungi, Fusarium, Cylindrocarpon and Pythium, on container-grown Douglas-fir and spruce seedlings in British Columbia

Surveys were made at the end of the 1990 and 1991 growing seasons for root-inhabiting fungi in the genera Fusarium, Cylindrocarpon and Pythium from the roots of one year-old container-grown Douglas-fir and spruce seedlings grown under greenhouse conditions. In the 1990 survey of four nurseries, it was found that 61–97% of both Douglas-fir and spruce roots were colonized with Fusarium, Cylindrocarpon or Pythium. There were significantly (p0.05) more Douglas-fir roots than spruce roots colonized by Fusarium at all nurseries, however, there were significantly (p0.05) more spruce roots than Douglas-fir roots colonized by Cylindrocarpon and Pythium. Root colonization of Douglas-fir and spruce by the three fungal genera during 1991 varied from 0–82% at three nurseries, however, only at a south coastal nursery was there significantly (p0.05) more spruce than Douglas-fir roots colonized by Cylindrocarpon. Significantly more seedlings were infected in 1990 than in 1991. In 1991, there were few significant differences between Douglas-fir and spruce, in the percentage of seedlings with colonized roots and in the percentage of growth medium colonized by the fungi. However, there were significant differences between nurseries.     

Antinociceptive activity of Wrightia tinctoria bark

The ethyl acetate, acetone and methanol extracts of Wrightia tinctoria bark showed antinociceptive activity on acetic acid-induced writhing test in mice, their effects being comparable to that of acetylsalicylic acid.     

Antinociceptive activity of Malvastrum coromandelinum

The aerial parts of Malvastrum coromandelinum showed antinociceptive activity in the 0.6% acetic acid-induced writhing test in mice, the effects of acetone extract (200 mg/kg, p.o.) being comparable with acetylsalicylic acid (100 mg/kg, p.o.)     

Foliar traits of jasmine plants intercropped in coconut

Shade is one of the important limiting factors in intercropped agro-ecosystems. Objective of this work is to analyze the role of eight foliar traits of juvenile plants of five different species of Jasminum grown under coconut shade. The results reveal the shade tolerant J. pubescence to produce more number of nodes and longer shoots in all the three seasons studied. J. grandiflorum produced longer leaves and internodal distance than other species tested. Winter season shoots were longer with more number of nodes and longer internodal distances than rainy season. Results are discussed in relation to the adaptive behavior of plants to shade.     

Detection of OvHV-2 from an outbreak of sheep associated malignant catarrhal fever from crossbred cattle of Southern India

An outbreak of sheep associated malignant catarrhal fever in crossbred cattle in a village of Andhra Pradesh, southern India, affected thirteen adult cows and two calves from a population of forty animals. All the affected animals were died between December and January 2013–14. The clinical and gross postmortem findings were typical of MCF in Indian crossbred cattle. Migrating sheep flocks were suspected source of infection for the cattle. The diagnosis was confirmed by heminested PCR in all the affected cattle and the suspected sheep flock. The PCR provided evidence of ovine herpes virus type 2.     

The cellular src gene product regulates junctional cell-to-cell communication

Overexpression of the cellular src gene in NIH 3T3 cells causes reduction of cell-to-cell transmission of molecules in the 400- to 700-dalton range. This down-regulation of gap junctional communication correlates with the activity of the gene product, the protein tyrosine kinase pp60c-src. The down-regulation was enhanced by point mutation of Tyr527 (a site that is phosphorylated in pp60c-src and that inhibits kinase activity) or by substitution of the viral-src for the cellular-src carboxyl-terminal coding region. Mutation of Tyr416 (a site phosphorylated upon Tyr527 mutation) suppresses both the down-regulation of communication by Tyr527 mutation and that by gene overexpression. The regulation of communication by src may be important in the control of embryonic development and cellular growth.