Plant growth regulators induced changes in antioxidant potential and andrographolide content in Andrographis paniculata Wall.ex Nees

In this study, 5 μM ABA and GA₃ concentration were used to study the effect of these growth regulators on the andrographolide content and antioxidant potentials of Andrographis paniculata. The growth regulators were applied by means of foliar spray during morning hours. A significant enhancement in non-enzymatic antioxidant contents was observed in all sampling days in A.paniculata plants under ABA and GA₃ treatments. Ascorbic acid and α-tocopherol content was increased significantly under the growth regulator treatments in leaves, stem and roots of A. paniculata. The activities of antioxidant enzymes such as ascorbate peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase were increased by ABA and GA₃ treatments in the leaves, stem and roots of A. paniculata plants. The HPLC analysis was used to quantify the andrographolide content in control and growth regulator treated plants. The growth regulators ABA and GA₃ treated plants showed increased contents of andrographolide when compared to control.     

Comparison of serum lipid compositions, lipid peroxide, alpha-tocopherol and lipoproteins in captive marine mammals (bottlenose dolphins, spotted seals and West Indian manatees) and terrestrial mammals

Concentrations of serum lipid components, lipid peroxide (LPO) and α-tocopherol and electrophoretic patterns of lipoproteins in serum samples obtained from captive marine mammals and terrestrial mammals were compared. Serum concentrations of total cholesterol, free fatty acid, and phospholipid in fish-eating animals were significantly higher than those in manatees and cows. Serum LPO and α-tocopherol concentrations in the fish-eating animals were also significantly higher than those in manatees, cows and dogs. Different patterns of densitometric scans of low density lipoprotein (LDL) and a significantly lower percentage of LDL were demonstrated in the dolphins compared with the seals, cow and dogs. The concentration of LPO was significantly correlated with triglyceride and phospholipid concentrations in serum from the dolphins. These results suggest that triglyceride and phospholipid are susceptible to oxidative reaction in fish-eating animals. Evaluation of serum lipids, LPO and α-tocopherol concentrations is needed for nutritional husbandry for fish-eating animals.     

Effect of temperature on α-tocopherol, fatty acid profile, and pigments of Diacronema vlkianum (Haptophyceae)

Diacronema vlkianum was grown in polyethylene bags at two different temperatures (18 and 26°C) in the laboratory. The biochemical composition level decreased when the temperature increased from 18 to 26°C. The maximum cell number at 18°C was 11.9 × 10⁶ cells ml⁻¹, while maximum cell number at 26°C was 1.6 × 10⁶ cells ml⁻¹. The maximum level of α-tocopherol was 257.7 ± 21.6 μg g⁻¹ dry weight (DW) at 18°C. The highest total carotenoids and chlorophylls were 6.5 mg g⁻¹ DW and 4.3 mg g⁻¹ DW, respectively, and the main pigments were determined as astaxanthin and lutein. Polyunsaturated fatty acids were found to be the predominant group, reaching 39.5% of the total fatty acids at 18°C. This comprised 20:5(n − 3) as the main polyunsaturated fatty acids (20.4%, at 18°C) followed by 22:6(n − 3) (4.8%, at 18°C). The results suggest that D. vlkianum can be successfully used as feed in shellfish hatcheries or aquaculture hatcheries, either as a substitute or in association with other microalgae, when this algae is cultured at 18°C.