Journal of Phytology

The Effect of solvent, pH, extraction time and temperature on the extraction of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity of Carpobrotus edulis

N. Laloo — 2023-02-06

Two 2³ factorial design studies were performed to determine the effect of solvent, pH, extraction time and temperature on the extraction of phenolics and radical scavenging activity contained in crude leaf extracts of Carpobrotus edulis. For the aqueous model, pH 9, 72 h and 40 °C provided the highest yield (31.03 ± 0.58%), while the highest yield for the methanolic extracts was obtained using the same temperature and pH, but with a longer extraction time of 168 h (64.21 ± 2.12%). Quantitative phytochemical analysis was performed to determine the amount of phenolics, tannins and flavonoids contained in the crude extracts. When water was used as an extraction solvent, the highest concentration of phenolics was obtained using pH 9 and extracting for 72 h at 40 °C (6.42 ± 0.03 milligrams Gallic Acid Equivalent per gram of extract). However, when methanol was used as a solvent, the highest concentration of phenolics was obtained when the same pH and time of extraction was used, but at a lower temperature (25 °C) – 7.44 ± 0.50 mg GAE/g of extract. Antioxidant activity was determined using the ABTS and DPPH assays. For both, methanol extracts produced lower IC₅₀ values than the aqueous extracts. The best combination of extraction conditions for aqueous extracts is pH 9, and 72 h of extraction at 40 °C. This produced the lowest IC₅₀ values for both assays (298.28 μg/mL for DPPH and 140.77 μg/mL for ABTS assay). When methanol is used as a solvent, the extraction conditions producing the lowest IC₅₀ values were pH 9, 72 h and 25 °C for the DPPH assay (109.84 μg/mL), and pH 5, 168 h and 25 °C for the ABTS assay (26.79 μg/mL). These values are all higher than for the positive control, ascorbic acid. A positive correlation exists between phenolic content and radical scavenging activity – higher phenolic content resulted in higher radical scavenging activity. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was higher for the aqueous extracts than for the methanol extracts. Thus, extraction conditions must be modified to maximise extraction of phenolics, to obtain maximum radical scavenging activity.

Influence of medium and gelling agents concentration on in vitro rooting of Polygonum tinctorium

Minsol Choi — 2024-02-07

Polygonum tinctorium has long been employed in the medical and dye industries in many nations, particularly in Korea and Japan, for traditional fabric staining as a source of blue color. The plant tissue culture method has proven to be a rapid and sustainable approach for the regeneration of various plant species, particularly those with medicinal or ornamental value. In this study, we explored the in vitro root regeneration and growth of P. tinctorium in response to different growth media and gelling agents. Among the tested media, Schenk and Hildebrandt medium (SH medium) demonstrated superior performance, resulting in the highest number and length of roots per explant. SH media produced about 53 and 18% higher root per explant and a 40% and 14% increase in root length compared to B5 and MS media, respectively. Half strength of SH medium proved to be the optimal condition for both root number (7.46 roots per explant) and root length (3.81 mm). Among the gelling agents, 2 g/L of Gelrite medium was most effective in promoting the highest and tallest roots. These findings have the potential to enhance rooting abilities in various crops, particularly in the case of medicinal and ornamental plants, and may offer valuable insights for future industrial-scale root production of P. tinctorium.

Phytochemical analysis of root extracts of Rhynchostylis retusa (L.) Blume from the Eastern Ghats of India

Shaik Noorjahan — 2024-02-14

Rhynchostylis retusa (Orchidaceae) is an important ethnomedicinal herb in Indian systems of medicine. Tribal healers commonly employ the roots of this epiphytic orchid to treat various ailments. In the present study, the shade-dried root powder of R. retusa was subjected to cold extraction with four solvents, such as n-hexane, acetone, ethyl acetate, and methanol. The crude root extracts were then taken for qualitative phytochemical screening. Furthermore, GC-MS analysis of ethyl acetate and methanol root extracts was carried out. The methanol root extract of R. retusa showed a positive result for all the phytochemicals tested except for saponins. GC-MS analysis of R. retusa methanol root extract revealed the presence of 16 phytoconstituents. Major phytoconstituents such as 9-Hexadecenoic acid, methyl ester, [Z] Heptadecanoic acid, 16-methyl-, methyl ester, Ethanone,1-[4-(4-morpholyl benzylidene amino)phenyl]-, are recorded in the methanol root extract. In the present study, both methanol and ethyl acetate root extracts showed the presence of9-Hexadecenoic acid, methyl ester, [Z] as the major phytocompound. The phytocompounds identified in methanol and ethyl acetate root extracts exhibit various biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, and anticancer properties. Based on the findings of the current study, it can be inferred that the roots of R. retusa contain diverse bioactive compounds with medicinal properties. Further investigation of these R. retusa root extracts holds the potential for the discovery and development of innovative pharmaceuticals.

Exploring genetic diversity and trait associations with foliar blast disease among parental lines in pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R Br]

R. Rasitha — 2024-03-05

Thirty-seven pearl millet genotypes were evaluated for morphometric traits and disease incidence and severity during summer and kharif, 2022. Pooled ANOVA revealed significant variation were present in all genotypes across different season. Association studies identified high positive correlations between grain yield and traits such as single earhead weight, single ear head threshed weight, and test weight, with direct and indirect effects on grain yield through key characters. E2 (kharif – 2022) showed favourable conducive weather parameters for disease infection throughout the growing season compared to E1. The higher PCV relative to GCV for disease incidence underscores the environmental influence in disease resistance programs. Negative correlations between disease metrics and yield traits highlight blast disease’s detrimental effect on grain yield. Disease severity indirectly suggests environmental factors may enhance its impact. Disease incidence exhibited a direct negative impact on yield, supported by negative genotypic correlations. The line, PT 6679, exhibit both high yield and highly resistant to blast. Restorer lines (PT 6029, PT 6067, PT 6300, PT 6707, PT 7068) and B lines (ICMB 01666, ICMB 02777) showed promising yield attributes with high to moderate disease resistant for future breeding programs. In D2 analysis, five clusters revealed distinct genetic diversity with Clusters II and V indicating strong hybrid vigor, while Clusters IV (PT 6946, ICMB 06111) and V (ICMB 93111, ICMB 95444) excelled in disease resistance. Clusters I (PT 6029, PT 7068) and II (GMR 58) exhibited superior grain yield, particularly Cluster I, had potential restorer lines for future breeding. Clear differentiation between B and R lines underscored genetic distinctions in trait expression, validating the use of morphological data for assessing genetic diversity.

Combination of composted poultry manure and inorganic fertilizers enhance growth and yield of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) in a rooftop growing system

Moomtahina Rahman — 2024-03-10

Rooftop vegetable productions are becoming an important part of the recent rejuvenation of urban agriculture particularly in densely populated urban areas. However, due to weight limits often associated with rooftop growing systems, rooftop plant growing media including soil, may not contain optimal fertility levels required to maximize plant growth and productivity. Therefore, the success of rooftop vegetable production often depends on proper fertility management schemes to create optimal plant growing conditions. Therefore, an experiment was conducted to investigate combine impacts of composted poultry manure (CPM) and inorganic fertilizers on growth and yield of tomato under rooftop growing conditions. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design (CRD) with eight treatments and three replications. The treatments included T₁: Control (no CPM and no NPK), T₂: 4 ton CPM ha^-1, T₃: N₅₅P₁₅K₅₀ kg ha^-1, T₄: N₁₁₀P₃₀K₁₀₀ kg ha^-1, T₅: N₁₆₅P₄₅K₁₅₀ kg ha^-1, T₆: 4 ton CPM ha^-1+ N₅₅P₁₅K₅₀ kg ha^-1, T₇: 4 ton CPM ha^-1+ N₁₁₀P₃₀K₁₀₀ kg ha^-1, and T₈: 4 ton CPM ha^-1+N₁₆₅P₄₅K₁₅₀ kg ha^-1. The results showed that NPK fertilizers alone and CPM combined with NPK fertilizers greatly improved tomato plant growth and fruit yield. However, maximum plant growth and tomato yields (68 t ha^-1) and economic benefits (benefit: cost ratio 6.9) were achieved with 4 t ha^-1 CPM amendment and 100% recommended doses of NPK fertilizers. Control treatment (T1: -CPM, -NPK) had the lowest tomato yield (6.2 t ha^-1). Composted poultry manure alone contributed for around 15.0 t ha^-1 tomato yield and supplemented for around 30 kg ha^-1 N fertilizer. Combine application of 4 t ha^-1 CPM and 100% RDF of NPK fertilizers indicated as the agreeable combination in this study for optimal tomato plant growth and yield under rooftop growing conditions.

Chemical profiles of essential oils of two cultivars of Melaleuca cajuputi leaves and flowers

Hong Thia Le — 2024-03-14

In the present study, the differences between the chemical compositions of the essential oils obtained from the leaves and flowers of two cultivars of M. cajuputi collected from Moc Hoa district, Long An province. By using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry, a total of 105 components have been identified in the essential oils of four samples of two M. cajuputi cultivars such as “Tràm gió” leaves, “Tràm gió” flowers, “Tràm cừ” leaves and “Tràm cừ” flowers. The Agglomerative Hierarchical Cluster (AHC) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) were performed to show the similarities/dissimilarities in chemical compositions among the four studied samples. As a result, the components of the essential oils of four studied samples were divided into two clusters. Cluster I included two samples such as “Tràm gió” leaf and “Tràm gió” flower with high presence of 1,8-cineole (35.12 and 17.69%), linalool (3.31 and 5.03%), (R)-α-terpinyl acetate (9.17 and 8.1%). Cluster II comprised “Tràm cừ” leaf and “Tràm cừ” flower with the high concentration of α-pinene (9.87 and 12.19%), γ-terpinene (10.48 and 11.3%), p-mentha-2,4(8)-diene (8.8 and 12.7%).

Phytochemical analysis and antimicrobial potential of Bauhinia tomentosa leaf extracts

Subana Suyambumani — 2024-03-23

Herbal medications have high demand in both advanced and budding nations because of their increased bioavailability and minimal side effects. In the present study, the ethanolic and acetone extracts from Bauhinia tomentosa leaf were investigated for their antibacterial potential against Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus), Gram-negative bacteria (Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and yeast (Candida albicans). Phytochemical examination revealed the presence of diverse secondary metabolites, such as flavonoids, alkaloids, phenolic compounds, tannins, and saponins in leaf extracts. GC-MS analysis detected 15 chemical constituents in the extracts, with the major compounds such as 2-Phenyl-1-3- Oxazol, Caryophyllne, dodecanoic acid, d-glycero-d-galacto-haptose, Phytol, Tetradecanoic acid, 1-Hexacosanol, Isophytol, Oleic acid, 7H-Purine-2-amine,7-methyl, and eicosane. Antibiotics study have been used to explore drug resistance in pathogens. These extracts exhibited concentration-dependent antibacterial activity against the tested bacterial strains. The acetone displayed higher antibacterial activity than the ethanol extract, which could be attributed to the efficiency of the solvent extract in extracting the bioactive compounds. The findings of this study offer valuable information regarding the phytochemical composition and antibacterial potential of B. tomentosa leaf extract. The bioactive compounds identified through GC-MS analysis may be responsible for the observed antibacterial activity. Furthermore, the leaf extracts were non-toxic, and their potent antibacterial effects may be attributed to the presence of bioactive phytoconstituents. Future studies may contribute to the development of B. tomentosa based antimicrobial agents with potential therapeutic applications.

Phytochemical analysis and antioxidant potential of Pseudolachnostylis maprouneifolia

Indra Sen Singh — 2024-03-28

Pseudolachnostylis maproneifolia is a popular medicinal plant, particularly revered in the eastern province of Zambia, especially within Petauke District. Despite its widespread application in traditional medicine, the chemical composition of this plant has not been studied so far. Consequently, there was a pressing need to investigate the medicinal potential of its leaf extract. This study was carried out through preliminary phytochemical screening and GC-MS analysis of the ethanolic extract. The phytochemical profile revealed various secondary metabolites endowed with antifungal, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-cancer, antibacterial, antiviral, and antioxidative properties. To quantify its medicinal potential, the total flavonoid content (TFC) and total phenolic content (TPC) was determined using a UV-Vis spectrophotometer. The methanolic extract exhibited a TFC of 157.20 mg QE/g and a TPC of 63.75 mg GAE/g, with an IC₅₀ value of 45.57 μg/mL, signifying a strong antioxidant capability. Notably, the IC₅₀ value of the standard (ascorbic acid) was 23.19 μg/mL. Further analysis involved quantifying the mineral elements crucial for treating anemia, such as iron, copper, zinc, and manganese. AAS based analysis revealed concentrations of these elements to be relatively higher, indicating their suitability for treating anemia. Complementing these findings, in silico molecular analysis and ADMET analysis of five selected phytochemicals, along with a reference cancer drug, yielded promising results such as a highest binding energy of -9.01 Kcal/mol, high gastrointestinal absorption and the lowest inhibition constant of 249.88 nM. These outcomes strongly advocate for subsequent in vitro and in vivo studies on these molecules, supporting their importance as potential drug candidates for cancer drug development.

Effect of abscisic acid on rice defense mechanism against Fusarium oxysporum

Guo Peng — 2024-04-12

Fusarium oxysporum is one of the most destructive pathogens which causes rice seedling blight. ABA is part of a large signaling system that provides an effective system against microbial and environmental manipulations. The role of ABA in plant defense mechanisms is not clear. In this experiment, we prove the role of abscisic acid (ABA) in boosting rice plant resistance against F. oxysporum and optimizing ABA concentrations against F. oxysporum. This study is divided into two experiments. In the first experiment, we used various ABA concentrations of 0.0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, and 0.25 mmol/L under F. oxysporum stress. In the second experiment, we use Fluridone FLD as an ABA inhibitor with the following treatments, (F) is only applied with F. oxysporum (ABA+F), abscisic acid with F. oxysporum (ABAI+F), ABA inhibitor Fluridone with F. oxysporum (ABAI), where only ABA inhibitor Fluridone was applied and CK was used as a control. The results revealed that all the plants treated with ABA exhibit better performance against F. oxysporum, except those treated without ABA. ABA concentrations of 0.2 mmol/L effectively decreased the disease index and disease incidence rate as well as improved the quality of seedlings. ABA effectively increased the activity of defense-related enzymes like PPO, POD, PAL and SOD. ABA also lowers down the MDA content which proves its effectiveness against F. oxysporum. ABA resistance was also proved by plants treated with the abscisic acid inhibitor ABAI (Fluridone FLD). The ABA inhibitor reduced the rice resistance to F. oxysporum, by conforming the expression of defense-related genes PRB1-3, PRBI-2 and Xa39(t). These gene expressions indicate the involvement of ABA in plant defense system.

Macroalgae of the sandy cays of Alacranes Reef: Gulf of Mexico

Daniel Torruco — 2024-04-17

In the summer of 2018, a field trip to the five sandy cays on the leeward edge of the Alacranes reef was made: Pájaros Island, Chica Island, Pérez Island, Muertos or Desertora Island and Desterrada Island. The total area recorded for the 5 islands is 530,407 m², representing 1.7% of the reef area. In the keys, an extensive collection of macroalgae was carried out in the supralittoral zone (0-80 cm), mesolittoral (81-140 cm), and beginning of the infralittoral zone (150-330 cm). All keys have a maximum height of 3-4 m. A total of 175 species, 4 growth forms, 8 varieties, and one subspecies were recorded. The sandy cays of this reef have been recognized as important nesting areas for turtles and seabirds, hence the importance of their description for their conservation. To try to understand its dynamics, the database obtained was subjected to a divisive classification analysis considering 19 attributes including substrate, protection, reproductive status, and depth. The system reached a total diversity of 425.99 beles Ind^-1. The analysis presents that depth and substrate are mainly responsible for the largest drops in information in the system. The spatial analysis given by a biplot analysis shows an ecotonal continuum from the center of origin to the right, influenced by the substrate and by wave protection. This analysis gives an explained variance of 60.03% in the first three components. The high diversity of flora recorded in this work can be an important support for protecting and conserving the reef.

Optimizing suitable solvent for phenylpropanoid extraction and antioxidant activities in Agastache rugosa hairy roots

Bao Van Nguyen — 2024-04-26

Agrobacterium-mediated hairy roots (HRs) can induce genetic stability, rapid growth, and the synthesis of bioactive compounds in plant roots. Agastache rugosa is otherwise called Korea Mint and several studies have reported that this plant has been used for the treatment of various diseases due to the presence of a variety of bioactive compounds. A. rugosa HRs are rich in secondary metabolites than the seedling roots, and the HRs extract might be more useful in pharmacology, especially in cosmetology. This study aimed to select the suitable solvent for the extraction of phenylpropanoid compounds, total phenolic (TP), flavonoid (TF), and antioxidant activities (DPPH, ABTS scavenging activity, and reducing power assay). In this study, we extracted the A. rugosa HRs with three different extracts of solvent (water, MeOH, and EtOH) of A. rugosa HRs and analyzed the phenylpropanoid compounds, TP, TF, and antioxidant activities. The result showed that 70% MeOH extracts showed the highest activities in all assays, followed by the 70% EtOH, and water extracts. In addition, 70% of MeOH extracts showed the highest TP and TF (46.14±0.25 GAE mg/g DW and 65.46±1.41 QE mg/g DW, respectively) contents, which was 1.96- and 1.76- times higher than that of the water extracts. The phenylpropanoids in A. rugosa HR extracts were identified by using HPLC, and the results showed that 70% MeOH and EtOH showed the highest contents. Regarding these results, we can conclude that 70% MeOH is the optimal solvent to extract the A. rugosa HRs for the highest phenylpropanoid, TP, TF content, and antioxidant activities. This study might be useful for producing useful compounds at an industrial scale.

Chemical composition of essential oil from the leaves of Cinnamomum camphora (L.) J. Presl

Maroua Cheribot Cherif — 2024-05-15

In the present study, the chemical composition of Cinnamomum camphora leaves collected from Algeria was studied. The chemical composition of the hydrodistilled essential oil of C. camphora, collected from Skikda (North Eastern Algeria), was analyzed by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). The essential oil showed the presence of 17 major compounds representing 93.57% of total essential oil and the major compounds were camphor (36.81%), α-Pinene (9.91%), D-Limonene (8.63%) and Camphene (6.99%).

In vitro antioxidant and anticancer potential of intra-cellular ethyl acetate extract of marine-derived fungus Talaromyces tratensis SS10

S. Shabana — 2024-05-15

Marine fungi are well-known for producing structurally distinct secondary metabolites, making them potential sources of novel therapies. The present investigation aims to study the in vitro antioxidant and anticancer potential of intra-cellular crude ethyl acetate extracts of Talaromyces tratensis SS10. In the present study, qualitative and quantitative phytochemical studies of various solvent extracts of T. tratensis have been carried out using standard protocols. Later, ethyl acetate extract of T. tratensis was analyzed for phytochemicals using Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Further, the antioxidant properties of the T. tratensis ethyl acetate extract have been done by Ferric reducing antioxidant power assay (FRAP). Further, the anticancer potential of this extract has been carried out by MTT assay against human cancer cells such as MDA MB 231, HeLa, and HT-29. Ethyl acetate exhibited a higher yield of chemical extraction than the other solvents used. The GCMS analysis of T. tratensis ethyl acetate extract revealed major phytoconstituents such as N-(1,1-Dimethylpropyl)-2,2,3-trimethylaziridine-1-carboxamide, 1-Undecanol, 5,5 Dimethyl-3-vinyl cyclohex-2-en-1-one, 1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid, bis (2-methyl propyl) ester. T. tratensis ethyl acetate extract showed the highest percentage of Fe3+ reduction (48.093±1.469%) at 120 μg/mL, with an IC50 value of 157.26 μg/mL concentration. Furthermore, 100 μg/mL of the extract showed significant cell death rates in cytotoxic assays, indicating a low percentage of viable cells for all three examined cell lines. The T. tratensis ethyl acetate extract has shown a dose-dependent cytotoxic effect against all tested cancer cell lines. The better IC50 value (6.25 μg/mL) was recorded in the case of HeLa cell lines followed by 12.5 μg/mL for both MDA MB 231 and HT-29 cell lines. The presence of bioactive compounds such as Benzeneethanamine, N-[(pentafluorophenyl)methylene]-beta.,3,4-tris[(trimethylsilyl) oxy]-, 1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid, bis(2-methylpropyl) ester, and cyclononasiloxane, octadecamethyl- may have contributed to the ethyl acetate extracts’ strong antioxidant and anticancer properties. The current study’s findings show that T. tratensis SS10 has the potential for drug development due to its chemical constituents, which possess various biological activities.

Evaluation of antimicrobial and anticancer efficacy of silver nanoparticles phytofabricated by Nyctanthes arbor-tristis L. leaf extract

P. Kiruba — 2024-07-02

Nyctanthes arbor-tristis L. (Oleaceae), commonly known as harsingar, is a plant with potential medicinal properties. The plant was used in traditional folk medicine and as a pharmacological activity. The present study reports a rapid and eco-accommodating technique to synthesize silver nanoparticles AgNPs with low cost and with no need to heat, using aqueous extracts of N. arbor-tristis L. Phytochemical analysis was conducted to detect the existence of alkaloids, flavonoids, saturated sugar, saponins, glycosides, steroids, tannins, terpenoids, and proteins in the plant. A color change observed in the test confirmed the synthesis of AgNPs. SEM, XRD, EDX, FTIR, and UV – Visible spectrophotometer (DLS) were used to characterize the synthesized AgNPs. The antibacterial potential of AgNPs was further tested against different bacterial strains such as Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhimurium, Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumonia displayed by finding the maximum zone of inhibition observed against S. typhi of 24.6 mm, S. aureus 21.6±0.57 mm, P. aeruginosa 19 mm, K. pneumonia 17 mm and E. coli 15.3±0.57 mm. Furthermore, the synthesized AgNPs were also exhibited as anticancer properties against MDA-231 cell line Human Breast cancer cell line which was determined dose dependent manner and their concentration of 2.5 to 30 μg/mL respectively, and noted the inhibitory range at 30 μg/mL of its concentration, which was further tested in high inhibitory effect on their leaf extract high concentration in cytotoxic, bactericidal experiments.

Cytotoxicity effect and antioxidant potential of 5-Hydroxymethyl Furfural (5-HMF) analogues-An advance approach

W. A. Al-Baadani — 2024-07-04

Rivea hypocrateriformis (Desr.) Choisy is a profound medicinal belongs to the family Convolvulaceae. Natural products are considered as an alternative source for a positive approach to the drug design and drug discovery. R. hypocrateriformis is becoming the most important natural source to produce diverse phytometabolites with varying biochemical activities. Therefore, in the proposed study, we utilizing R. hypocrateriformis for isolating the 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furfural (5-HMF) and characterized it by different scientifically approved spectroscopic techniques namely ¹HNMR, ¹³C NMR, FTIR and mass spectroscopy respectively. As a part of this study, the synthesis of chemical analogues has been achieved by coupling 5-HMF with quinoline derivatives and it was also studied for their antioxidant and anticancer potentials. The results demonstrated that amongst the test compounds, 3d and 3b have shown significant free radical scavenging assay followed by 3e and 3a with a maximum inhibitory effect, 76.69 %, 75.90 %, 67.60 % and 56.07 % respectively at 50 μg/mL. The anticancer activity studied through SRB assay showed that, compound 3a was effective at low concentration (10 μg/mL) against the Colo-205 cell line. This study demonstrated the applicability of R. hypocrateriformis against the cytotoxicity and antioxidant potential of 5-HMF. It can further be utilized by the researcher and pharmaceutical industry to design a potential drug candidate to treat cellular toxicity.

High eggplant (Solanum aethiopicum L.) fruit intake for short duration enhances the antioxidant activity and biochemical parameters in rats

Franklyn Nonso Iheagwam — 2024-07-18

Solanum aethiopicum is consumed in large quantities by various ethnic groups within Nigeria. This study evaluated the effect of S. aethiopicum fruit ethanol extract (SAFE) short-term intake at high doses on antioxidant and biochemical properties in rats. Thirty-six male Wistar rats were divided into six experimental groups. Two groups served as controls, while others were treated daily with graded doses of SAFE (500, 1000, 1500 and 2000 mg/kg b.w.) for fourteen days. Liver function, lipid profile, oxidative stress biomarkers, and liver pathology were assayed. Oral administration of SAFE significantly (p<0.05) reduced lipid peroxidation while increasing superoxide dismutase activity and glutathione concentration. Biomarkers of lipid profile and liver function were significantly (p<0.05) improved in SAFE-administered groups without altering the liver microarchitecture. The results suggest that short-term administration of S. aethiopicum fruit at high concentrations improves antioxidants and possesses hypocholesterolaemic properties without inducing hepatic alteration associated with its principles.

Chemoprofiling of Cucumis pubescens Willd. fruits

R. Kavitha — 2024-07-25

Cucumis pubescens, a notable therapeutic plant belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family is extensively utilized in South India’s habitual medicine. Despite its medicinal importance, the phytochemical content of this plant remains largely unexplored. The objective of the present study was to examine the phytochemical composition of the fruits of C. pubescens. Initially, HPLC analysis was employed to separate secondary metabolites, revealing seven major phytochemical fractions. The use of a suitable mobile phase system (Acetic acid: Acetonitrile: Water, 4:2:10) at 280 nm facilitated clear isolation. Subsequent spectral analyses confirmed the presence of bioactive compounds. UV-Vis spectral analysis indicated the abundance of flavonoids and tannins. The presence of functional groups, for instance, C=O (carbonyl), C-C (benzene), and Ar-C-H (aromatic hydrocarbon) were validated through FTIR. Further analysis through GC-MS identified 23 bioactive compounds, with quercetin and kaempferol being the predominant ones, followed by gallic acid and caffeic acid. The pharmacological activity of these compounds underscores the therapeutic potential of C. pubescens. In conclusion, this study highlights the rich chemical diversity of C. pubescens, suggesting its potential as a valuable medicinal species with pharmaceutical significance.

Evaluation of the inhalation of lavender oil on physiological and psychological effects: A pilot study

Suzan Marwan Shahin — 2024-08-12

Stress has a proven negative impact on health. Recently, researchers have been interested in finding natural based solutions that can assist in managing stress levels. Essential oils (EOs) are natural phytochemicals that are powerful in their health care benefits. Lavender EO is popular in its role of relieving stress. Thus, the main purpose of this study is to investigate the relaxation effect of inhaling lavender essential oil on the physiological and psychological parameters using smart technology. The study was conducted on university students, in which a homogenous group of healthy students were selected to participate in this study. The students were exposed to olfactory stimulation, which involves spraying the air “as a control” and the lavender essential oil using an air diffuser. The physiological measurements were taken by smart tools that measure the heart rate (HR), heart rate variability (HRV), and oxygen level (OL). Conventional medical instruments were used to measure the heart rate (HR), and blood pressure (BP). The psychological measurements were recorded by surveying the participants using the online web application tool “Google Forms” by answering mood state questionnaires, which took place after the experimental and control conditions. Results showed that aromatherapy inhaling lavender EO has a significant effect on the overall measured physiological parameters (reduction in the HR and BP, and increase in the HRV), and enhancement on the overall psychological parameters; thus minimizing the overall stress levels among the university students.

Genetic diversity of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes with grain zinc and iron content for yield and its attributing traits

Shanzida Khan Sharna — 2024-08-13

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is crucial for global food security, providing essential calories for about one-third of the world’s population and a great source of micronutrients like zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe). This study focuses on the screening of thirty wheat germplasms for Zn and Fe content, and their association with yield and related traits. Analysis of variance showed significant variation among the genotypes for all studied traits including Zn and Fe content. The phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) and genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) were very close for micronutrient indicating fruitful for selection of these traits, whereas great differences for yield and yield attributing traits. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance was also observed for Zn and Fe content, but low for yield per plant. Genotype BAW897 and DSN117 for Zn, BAW1006 and SADH-22 for Fe and BAW1006 and Sonalika for yield were selected based on the mean performance, and BAW667 was best considering all three traits, suggesting their suitability and adaptability for cultivation to fulfil the agricultural demand. Zn and Fe content showed negative associations with canopy temperature, chlorophyll content yield and its different contributing characters. Principal Component Analysis revealed that zinc had a positive value in PCA1, iron showed a positive value in PCA2, and total yield was positively associated with PCA2, with the first five components explaining 77.1% of the cumulative variance. The thirty genotypes were clustered in four major groups, having maximum number in cluster 1 and minimum in cluster 4. Cluster 1 consists of the most promising genotypes having higher micronutrient content and high yielding ability. The identified genotypes can be utilized in forthcoming breeding to ensure both food and nutritional security in Bangladesh.

Calibration and validation of APISM-Wheat Model in Mediterranean areas

Meryem Ibnmrhar — 2024-08-24

The Agricultural Production Systems sIMulator-Wheat (APSIM-Wheat) model is one of the most widely used agricultural models. It is a powerful simulator that has been successfully calibrated and tested for many locations in the world, especially in Western Australia (WA). However, there is a noticeable lack of a standard guide for realizing the calibration validation of APSIM-Wheat that could be applied in areas with a Mediterranean climate similar to that of WA. Therefore, this study aims to examine crop simulations reported in published articles and to provide a detailed description of input data and statistical assessment, which represent the two main components of the calibration-validation protocols. The PRISMA (PREFERRED Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) method was used to identify and select relevant papers for this review. Following the analysis of 31 calibration protocols extracted from selected eligible articles, it was found that regardless of the objective of using APSIM-Wheat, the same category of data is required for calibration. As far as meteorological data is concerned, the information essential to this study was daily maximum and minimum air temperatures, rainfall (mm), and solar radiation. In the case of soil data, information about the texture and hydraulic characteristics, especially PAWC, DUL and LL was required. Regarding agricultural management data, this pertains to cultivated crops, Nitrogen fertilization (rate and time of application) and sowing (date and density). For the statistical evaluation, it was observed that 90 percent of studies analyzed in this review revealed the use of RMSE.

Impact of electron beam and ethyl methane sulphonate on chlorophyll mutations in rice genotypes ASD 16 and Norungan

M. Prasannakumari — 2024-08-26

Induced mutagenesis facilitates the creation of novel gene combinations within a plant genome, preserving its basic structure. This study investigates the impact of electron beam radiation and ethyl methane sulphonate (EMS) on chlorophyll mutations in rice genotypes, ASD 16 and Norungan. The seeds were irradiated with five different doses of electron beam and EMS during rabi 2021-22. The M₁ generation was assessed for seedling survival, seedling height and spikelet fertility followed by an identification of chlorophyll mutants in the M₂ generation. At specific mutagen doses, ASD 16 and Norungan exhibited the genotypic difference for chlorophyll mutants. Various chlorophyll mutations, such as albino, chlorina, xantha, striata, viridis, albomaculata, alboviridis and xanthoviridis were observed. ASD 16 was more sensitive to both mutagens, while Norungan showed a broader response. EMS proved to be a more effective in inducing mutations than the electron beam. Lower and moderate mutagen doses demonstrated higher efficiency indicating the importance of optimizing mutagenic conditions. This study illuminates the significance of chlorophyll mutants genetic makeup varietal differences. The strong and diverse response observed in Norungan underscores its suitability for mutation breeding programmes. These findings contribute to the efficient utilisation of mutagenesis in improving rice traits providing practical implications for elevating crop quality and promoting genetic diversity in rice cultivation.