Diuretic, laxative and toxicity studies of Cocculus hirsutus aerial parts

The aqueous extract of the Cocculus hirsutus aerial parts (100 and 200 mg/kg, p.o.) showed significant diuretic activity and laxative effect in rats. The acute toxicity, orally evaluated in mice, was found to be higher than 3000 mg/kg.     

Antibacterial activity of Mappia foetida leaves and stem

Successive petroleum ether, chloroform and methanol extracts of Mappia foetida leaves and stem were tested for their antibacterial activity. The methanol fractions were found to be most effective against all the tested organisms.     

Seasonal shoot and needle growth of loblolly pine responds to thinning, fertilization, and crown position

The impacts of thinning, fertilization and crown position on seasonal growth of current-year shoots and foliage were studied in a 13-year-old loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) plantation in the sixth post-treatment year (1994). Length of new flushes, and their needle length, leaf area, and oven-dry weight were measured in the upper and lower crown from March through November. Total shoot length was the cumulative length of all flushes on a given shoot and total leaf area per shoot was the sum of leaf areas of the flushes.

By the end of June, first-flush foliage reached 70% of the November needle length (14.3 cm) and 65% of the final leaf area (15.0 cm²). Cumulative shoot length of first- and second-flush shoots achieved 95% of the annual length (30.3 cm), whereas total leaf area per shoot was 55% of the final value (75.3 dm²). Fertilization consistently stimulated fascicle needle length, dry weight, and leaf area in the upper crown. Mean leaf area of upper-crown shoots was increased by 64% six years after fertilization. A significant thinning effect was found to decrease mean leaf area per shoot in the crown. For most of the growing season, the thinned-fertilized trees produced substantially more leaf area per shoot throughout the crown than the thinned-nonfertilized trees. These thinned-fertilized trees also had greater needle length and dry weight, longer first flush shoots, and more leaf area per flush than trees in the thinned-nonfertilized plots. Needle length and leaf area of first flush shoots between April and July were linearly related to previous-month canopy air temperature (T_a). Total shoot length strongly depended on vertical light gradient (PPFD) within the canopy, whereas shoot leaf area was a function of both PPFD and T_a. Thus, trees produced larger and heavier fascicles, more and longer flush shoots, and more leaf area per shoot in the upper crown than the lower crown. We conclude that thinning, fertilization, and crown position regulate annual leaf area production of current-year shoots largely by affecting the expansion of first flush shoots and their foliage during the first half of the growing season.     

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.     

An efficient method for the purification and characterization of nematicidal azadirachtins A,B, and H,using MPLC and ESIMS

Azadirachtin A enriched concentrate containing 60% active ingredient (a.i.) was prepared from the methanolic extract of the de-fatted neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) seed kernels. Azadirachtins A, B, and H, the three major bioactive constituents of neem seed kernel, were purified from this methanolic concentrate by employing reverse phase medium-pressure liquid chromatography (MPLC), using methanol-water solvent system as an eluant. The three pure azadirachtin congeners thus obtained were characterized by their unique mass spectral fragmentation, using electrospray probe in positive ion mode (ESI). All three azadirachtins exhibited nematicidal and antifungal activities. Azadirachtin B was the most effective against the reniform nematode Rotylenchulus reniformis (EC(50) 96.6 ppm), followed by Azadirachtin A (119.1 ppm) and H (141.2 ppm). At 200-ppm concentration, the test compounds caused 50-65% mortality of Caenorhabditis elegans nematode. Azadirachtin H showed the highest activity against the phytophagous fungi Rhizoctonia solani (EC(50) 63.7 ppm) and Sclerotium rolfsii (EC(50) 43.9 ppm), followed by B and A. The isolation of pure azadirachtins A, B, and H directly by MPLC purification from its concentrate and their characterization by ESIMS are unique and less time-consuming.     

One-time transfers of cash or capital have long-lasting effects on microenterprises in Sri Lanka

Standard economic theory suggests that one-time business grants can have at most temporary effects, and accordingly, policies to increase incomes of the self-employed in developing countries typically rely on sustained engagement. In contrast, we found long-lasting impacts from one-time grants given in a randomized experiment to subsistence firms. Five years after we gave $100 or $200 to 115 of 197 male and 100 of 190 female Sri Lankan microenterprise owners, we found 10-percentage-point-higher enterprise survival rates, and $8-to-$12-per-month-higher profits for male-owned businesses that received the grants. Female-owned businesses showed no long-term (or short-term) impacts. Our follow-up investigation interviewed 94% of the original sample and collected survivorship data from the remaining 6%, demonstrating that tracking long-term outcomes is both feasible and worthwhile. The results suggest that one-off grants may have lasting impacts on some types of subsistence firms, challenging the view that sustained engagement is always required.     

Design and chemical synthesis of a homogeneous polymer-modified erythropoiesis protein

We report the design and total chemical synthesis of "synthetic erythropoiesis protein" (SEP), a 51-kilodalton protein-polymer construct consisting of a 166-amino-acid polypeptide chain and two covalently attached, branched, and monodisperse polymer moieties that are negatively charged. The ability to control the chemistry allowed us to synthesize a macromolecule of precisely defined covalent structure. SEP was homogeneous as shown by high-resolution analytical techniques, with a mass of 50,825 +/-10 daltons by electrospray mass spectrometry, and with a pI of 5.0. In cell and animal assays for erythropoiesis, SEP displayed potent biological activity and had significantly prolonged duration of action in vivo. These chemical methods are a powerful tool in the rational design of protein constructs with potential therapeutic applications.     

Triterpenoidal constituents of an aqueous extract from neem kernels

A quantitative HPLC analysis of the major triterpenoids present in an aqueous extract of powdered neem kernels prepared in the traditional manner was undertaken. The study shows that water extracts contain all the principal triterpenoids in neem kernel though the quantities extracted are much less than in the subsequent extraction with methanol.     

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.