O-Acetylschisantherin L

Effect of lignite on alleviation of salt toxicity in soybean (Glycine max L.) plants.[Pubmed:29035772]

Plant Physiol Biochem. 2017 Nov;120:186-193.

Salt toxicity of agricultural land is a natural phenomenon which is due to agricultural irrigation. This toxicity is harmful to crop productivity via increasing oxidative stress products. In a factorial controlled trial, four levels of lignite-enriched soil (soil lignite content: none, 50, 75 and 100 g kg(-1)) were exposed to three levels of soil salinity (0, 5 and 10 dS m(-1) NaCl). Then reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation (hydrogen peroxide and superoxide radical), lipid peroxidation, antioxidant enzymes activities (peroxidase, catalase and super oxide dismutase), proline, glycine betaine, soluble sugars and soluble protein contents of soybean plants were compared across different lignite concentration and saline toxicity. Under the 5 and 10 dS m(-1) NaCl, sodium entry to the leaf and root cells, hydrogen peroxide concentration, superoxide radical generation, lipid peroxidation and osmoprotectants creation increased and consequently plant growth reduced (12-49%). Lignite applications by improving the cation exchange capacity of soil (8-16%), enriched the leaf and root cells with potassium (5-26%), calcium (40-56%), magnesium (30-42%) and inhibited the sodium entry to the cells, and consequently increased potassium/sodium ratio and reduced oxidative stress, antioxidant activities and synthesis of osmoprotectants in soybean leading to increased plant biomass (18-37%). Lignite usage in 75 and 100 g kg(-1) soil showed a better effect than 50 g kg(-1) soil on reducing harmful effects of salt toxicity. Soil enrichment with lignite improves plant tolerance to salt toxicity via decreased oxidative stress.

Facile Synthesis and Characterization of L-Aspartic Acid Coated Iron Oxide Magnetic Nanoparticles (IONPs) For Biomedical Applications.[Pubmed:29036735]

Drug Res (Stuttg). 2018 May;68(5):280-285.

Natural L-aspartic acid coated iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles (Asp@IONPs) were prepared by a one pot, in-situ and green co-precipitation method in an aqueous medium. Functionalized iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles (IONPs) were characterized by Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. Cellular toxicity of IONPs was also investigated on HEK-293 cell lines. The results showed that the zeta potential of Asp@IONPs was about -21.1 mV and the average size was 17.80+/-3.09 nm. Cell toxicity results show that as prepared IONPs are biocompatible. Asp@IONPs show the possibility of using these nanoparticles in the development of in vitro and in vivo biomedical fields due to do not possess a toxic effect, good zeta-potential and related small and narrow size distribution.

Morphological, Physiological and Ultrastructural Changes in Flowers Explain the Spatio-Temporal Emission of Scent Volatiles in Polianthes tuberosa L.[Pubmed:29036488]

Plant Cell Physiol. 2017 Dec 1;58(12):2095-2111.

Tuberose or Polianthes tuberosa L. is a horticultural crop of tropical origin, widely cultivated for its pleasant and intense floral fragrance in the evening. Here an investigation was made into the physiological and cell biological aspects of floral scent biosynthesis, tissue localization and emission that have not previously been examined. Volatiles collected from floral headspace were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) for identification of individual compounds and elucidation of emission patterns. Transcript accumulation and the amount of active enzyme were measured to understand the enzymatic route of scent volatile biosynthesis. Localization of scent volatiles was investigated by histochemical and ultrastructural studies. Scent emission was found to be rhythmic and nocturnal under normal day-night influence, peaking at night. Enhanced enzyme activities and transcript accumulation were recorded just prior to maximum emission. Through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis, the presence of a large number of floral stomata on the adaxial surface of the tepal was revealed which might have bearing on tissue-specific emission. Guard cells of stomata responded significantly to histochemical tests, which also indicated that epidermal tissues are mostly involved in scent emission. High metabolic activity was found in epidermal layers during anthesis as shown by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis. Further, new insight into the localization of scent compounds, the plausible tissue involved in their release along with the preceding ultrastructural changes at the cellular levels is presented. Finally, ultrastructural analysis of the tepal surface has been able to fill a major gap in knowledge of stomatal involvement during scent emission.

Sero-detection of Toxocara canis infection in human with T.canis recombinant arginine kinase, cathepsin L-1 and TES-26 antigens.[Pubmed:29035863]

Acta Parasitol. 2017 Dec 20;62(4):775-778.

Three recombinant antigens viz. arginine kinase, cathepsin L-1 and TES-26 of Toxocara canis were expressed in Escherichia coli and evaluated for their potential in the detection of T. canis larval infection in human in immunoglobulin G-enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (IgG-ELISA). Results of the IgG-ELISA with the above recombinant antigens were confirmed with commercially available IgG detection kit for T. canis infection used as a standard test. All three recombinant antigens were 100% sensitive in the detection of positive cases (n = 6) of T. canis infection in human and were screened for their cross-reactivity in human patients with history of Toxoplasma gondii, Plasmodium vivax, Entamoeba histolytica, hydatid and hookworm infections. The recombinant TES-26 antigen showed higher specificity and cross-reacted with T. gondii infection sera only. However, arginine kinase and cathepsin L-1 recombinant antigens showed cross-reactions with sera of patients infected with T. gondii, P. vivax and E. histolytica but not with the patient sera infected with hydatid and hookworm. These results show that recombinant TES-26 is a potential diagnostic candidate antigen for human toxocarosis caused by migrating T. canis larvae.

Antibiotic effects on seed germination and root development of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.).[Pubmed:29035755]

Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2018 Feb;148:135-141.

Antibiotics are emerging pollutants released into the environment through wastewater and manure or effluents from livestock plants. Compared to the wide literature on the effects of antibiotics on the development of drug-resistant bacteria and on the adverse effects on animals and human beings, the effects on plants are less investigated. Here we evaluated the effects of four antibiotics (cloramphenicol: CAP, spiramycin: SPR, spectinomycin: SPT, vancomycin: VAN) belonging to different chemical groups, on seed germination and root development of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L. cv. San Marzano). Specifically, seed germination and root elongation kinetics, as well as the number of mithotic figures in root apical meristem, were studied in relation to different concentrations of each antibiotic (0, 0.1, 1, 10, 100, 1000mgL(-1)) for 10 and 7 days, respectively. Results showed that seed germination was not affected, but root development (root elongation kinetics and cell division) was impaired at concentrations from 10mgL(-1) (SPT) and 100mgL(-1) (CAP) to 1000mgL(-1) (SPR and VAN).