Utilization of Leucaena leucocephala and Gliricidia sepium as supplements by goats fed Panicum maximum basal diet

Tropical Animal Health and Production - The objective of this study was to determine the effect of supplementations of Leucaena leucocephala or Gliricidia sepium by goats fed old Panicum maximum...     

Major flavonoids in grape seeds and skins: antioxidant capacity of catechin, epicatechin, and gallic acid

Grape seeds and skins are good sources of phytochemicals such as gallic acid, catechin, and epicatechin and are suitable raw materials for the production of antioxidative dietary supplements. The differences in levels of the major monomeric flavanols and phenolic acids in seeds and skins from grapes of Vitis vinifera varieties Merlot and Chardonnay and in seeds from grapes of Vitis rotundifolia variety Muscadine were determined, and the antioxidant activities of these components were assessed. The contribution of the major monomeric flavonols and phenolic acid to the total antioxidant capacity of grape seeds and skins was also determined. Gallic acid, monomeric catechin, and epicatechin concentrations were 99, 12, and 96 mg/100 g of dry matter (dm) in Muscadine seeds, 15, 358, and 421 mg/100 g of dm in Chardonnay seeds, and 10, 127, and 115 mg/100 g of dm in Merlot seeds, respectively. Concentrations of these three compounds were lower in winery byproduct grape skins than in seeds. These three major phenolic constituents of grape seeds contributed <26% to the antioxidant capacity measured as ORAC on the basis of the corrected concentrations of gallic acid, catechin, and epicatechin in grape byproducts. Peroxyl radical scavenging activities of phenolics present in grape seeds or skins in decreasing order were resveratrol > catechin > epicatechin = gallocatechin > gallic acid = ellagic acid. The results indicated that dimeric, trimeric, oligomeric, or polymeric procyanidins account for most of the superior antioxidant capacity of grape seeds.     

Characterization and purification of polyphenol oxidase from artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.)

In this study, the polyphenol oxidase (PPO) of artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) was first purified by a combination of (NH(4))(2)SO(4) precipitation, dialysis, and a Sepharose 4B-L-tyrosine-p-aminobenzoic acid affinity column. At the end of purification, 43-fold purification was achieved. The purified enzyme migrated as a single band on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicated that PPO had a 57 kDa molecular mass. Second, the contents of total phenolic and protein of artichoke head extracts were determined. The total phenolic content of artichoke head was determined spectrophotometrically according to the Folin-Ciocalteu procedure and was found to be 425 mg 100 g(-1) on a fresh weight basis. Protein content was determined according to Bradford method. Third, the effects of substrate specificity, pH, temperature, and heat inactivation were investigated on the activity of PPO purified from artichoke. The enzyme showed activity to 4-methylcatechol, pyrogallol, catechol, and L-dopa. No activity was detected toward L-tyrosine, resorsinol, and p-cresol. According to V(max)/K(m) values, 4-methylcatechol (1393 EU min(-1) mM(-1)) was the best substrate, followed by pyrogallol (1220 EU min(-1) mM(-1)), catechol (697 EU min(-1) mM(-1)), and L-dopa (102 EU min(-1) mM(-1)). The optimum pH values for PPO were 5.0, 8.0, and 7.0 using 4-methylcatechol, pyrogallol, and catechol as substrate, respectively. It was found that optimum temperatures were dependent on the substrates studied. The enzyme activity decreased due to heat denaturation of the enzyme with increasing temperature and inactivation time for 4-methylcatechol and pyrogallol substrates. However, all inactivation experiments for catechol showed that the activity of artichoke PPO increased with mild heating, reached a maximum, and then decreased with time. Finally, inhibition of artichoke PPO was investigated with inhibitors such as L-cysteine, EDTA, ascorbic acid, gallic acid, d,L-dithiothreitol, tropolone, glutathione, sodium azide, benzoic acid, salicylic acid, and 4-aminobenzoic acid using 4-methylcatechol, pyrogallol, and catechol as substrate. The presence of EDTA, 4-aminobenzoic acid, salicylic acid, gallic acid, and benzoic acid did not cause the inhibition of artichoke PPO. A competitive-type inhibition was obtained with sodium azide, L-cysteine, and d,L-dithiothreitol inhibitors using 4-methylcatechol as substrate; with L-cysteine, tropolone, d,L-dithiothreitol, ascorbic acid, and sodium azide inhibitors using pyrogallol as substrate; and with L-cysteine, tropolone, d,L-dithiotreitol, and ascorbic acid inhibitors using catechol as a substrate. A mixed-type inhibition was obtained with glutathione inhibitor using 4-methylcatechol as a substrate. A noncompetitive inhibition was obtained with tropolone and ascorbic acid inhibitors using 4-methylcatechol as substrate, with glutathione inhibitor using pyrogallol as substrate, and with glutathione and sodium azide inhibitors using catechol as substrate. From these results, it can be said that the most effective inhibitor for artichoke PPO is tropolone. Furthermore, it was found that the type of inhibition depended on the origin of the PPO studied and also on the substrate used.     

Co-relation of Growth and Yield as Affected by Va- rious Levels of Nitrogen Contents in the Leaves of Feutrell''''s Early ( Citrus reticula Blanco )

Research studies on the corelation of growth and yield as affected by different levels of Nitrogen in Feutrell's Early revealed that the yield is directly responsible for growth. Increasing nitrogen level increase the growth and yield of plants upto a certain limit but when this limit is cro ssed, the growth of tree may increase in terms of girth and height but the spread and yield of the tree is decreased. This indicates the effect of nitrogen in relation of growth and yield.     

Genotypic Variation in Root Systems of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) across Environments

Root systems of various chickpea genotypes were studied over time and in diverse environments, – varying in soil bulk density, phosphorus (P) levels and moisture regimes. In a pot study comparing a range of chickpea genotypes, ICC 4958 and ICCV 94916‐4 produced higher root length density (RLD) and root dry weight (RDW), which were better expressed under P stress conditions. In two field experiments in soils of intermediate and high soil bulk densities, ICC 4958 also had greater RLD and RDW, particularly under soil moisture stress conditions. The expression of greater rooting ability of ICC 4958 under a wide range of environmental conditions confirms its suitability as a parent for genetically enhancing drought resistance and P acquisition ability. The superiority of ICC 4958 over other genotypes was for root proliferation expressed through RLD. Thus, the variation in RLD can be the most relevant root trait that reflects chickpea's potential for soil moisture or P acquisition.     

Relationship between milk somatic cell count and postpartum ovarian cyclicity and fertility in dairy cows

The main objective of the study was to describe the relationship of high somatic cell count (SCC) with the incidence of abnormal postpartum resumption of ovarian cyclicity and reproductive performance in dairy cows. The factors influencing SCC were also investigated. Four hundred and forty-seven cows from six dairy herds in Japan were monitored for SCC and postpartum resumption of ovarian cyclicity. Cows with high SCC (200,000 to 500,000) had a higher incidence of prolonged luteal phase (P < 0.01) than cows with an SCC of 50,000 to 100,000. The high SCC cows (> 500,000) also showed a higher incidence of delayed first ovulation post partum than cows with an SCC ≤500,000 (P < 0.05) during the first month post partum. Cows with an SCC of 200,000 to 500,000 showed lower conception and pregnancy rates, and more days from calving to conception than cows with an SCC of less than 200,000 (P < 0.05). Cows in parity 5 or more had a higher incidence of high SCC than cows in the first and second parities (P < 0.05). It is concluded that cows with a high SCC have a higher incidence of abnormal postpartum resumption of ovarian cyclicity, leading to reduced reproductive performance.     

Effects of treatment with St. John's Wort on blood glucose levels and pain perceptions of streptozotocin-diabetic rats

This present study was undertaken to examine treating effects of St. John's Wort (SJW) extract on nociceptive perception of STZ-diabetic animals based on its potential antidiabetic and antinociceptive activities. One week administrations of SJW extract (125 and 250 mg/kg) induced significant decrease in high blood glucose levels of three weeks STZ-diabetic rats and improved their dysregulated metabolic parameters. In addition, SJW extract treatment caused restoration in the mechanical hyperalgesia of diabetic animals. These findings provide a rationale for the traditional use of SJW against diabetes and display the potential of this plant as a new drug candidate/source for the treatment of diabetic pain.     

棉花连作对渭干河-库车河三角洲绿洲土壤理化性质的影响

以渭干河-库车河三角洲绿洲连作5、10、15、20 a和25 a的棉田土壤为研究对象,对棉田土壤的理化性质和酶活性进行分析。结果表明： 随着棉花连作年限的增长棉田土壤容重增大、孔隙度下降,粗砂和细沙含量增加,粘粒含 量下降,其变化连作15 a极为明显; 随着连作年限的增长盐分含量和pH值逐渐降低,有机质和碱解氮含量大幅度升高,速效磷比较稳定或略有减小,而钾的含量显著下降,致使氮、磷、钾比例失调,其增减变化连作15 a极为显著; 随着连作年限的增长脲酶、过氧化氢酶和转化酶的活性呈现先升后降的趋势,连作15 a都达到最高值,蛋白酶和磷酸酶活性也呈现先升后降的趋势,但其活性连作20 a达到最高值。 由研究结果可以得出研究区棉花连作年限不宜超过15 a,棉花连作年限超过15 a时,会导致土壤容重增大、孔隙度下降,土体紧实板结,结构性差,土壤养分含量失衡,酶活性降低,土壤质量下降等连作障碍,使得棉花产出和效益受到影响。     

Prevalence and some risk factors associated with trichinellosis in backyard pig farms in Zaria, Nigeria

The aim of this study was to determine the presence of trichinellosis in backyard-farmed pigs and the risk factors associated with the infection in Zaria, Kaduna State. Serum samples were collected from 120 pigs selected at random from 50 small backyard farms, and the presence of Trichinella spp. antibodies was determined using a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. Data on farm management practices from the farms were obtained through the use of a structured questionnaire. The overall seroprevalence of Trichinella spp.-specific antibodies was 40 % (48/120) by ELISA. All the extensive farms sampled had at least one Trichinella-positive animal. The age and sex of the animals were not significantly (p?>?0.05) associated with the infection; however, the management systems, presence of rodents, rodent control, and access to dead pigs showed significant (p?<?0.05) association with Trichinella spp.-infected pigs on the farm. In conclusion, there was a high prevalence of antibodies to trichinellosis in backyard raised pigs in Zaria, and intensive pig farming with the adoption of proper biosecurity measures is advocated to prevent the transmission and spread of trichinellosis.