A protocol for micropropagation of Alpinia galanga

Emerging buds of rhizome of Alpinia galanga Willd produced shoots and roots simultaneously when cultured in MS medium supplemented with kinetin 3.0 mg l^-1. Each explanted shoot bud produced 8 shoots in average and roots simultaneously within 8 weeks. Shoot proliferation could be continued even after a year by transferring each divided shoot explant to the same medium. Regenerated plantlets could be sucessfully transferred to soil where they grew well within 10–12 weeks with 80% survivality. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Habitat distribution modelling and reinforcement of Elaeocarpus serratus L. - A threatened tree species of Assam,India for improvement of its conservation status

Elaeocarpus serratus L., commonly known as ‘rudraksh’ referred in the Ayurveda as a wonderful plant for strengthening body constitutions, has been recognized as a threatened plant of Assam, India. Traditionally, rudraksh beads, its bark and leaves are used to cure various ailments like stress, anxiety, depression, nerve pain, epilepsy, migraine, lack of concentration, asthma, hypertension, arthritis and liver diseases. The population stock of the species has been depleting very fast in its natural habitat due to rapid habitat fragmentation and changing climate altering the structural and functional integrity of the plant. Hence, conservation of E. serratus L. with proper scientific investigation to prevent from extinction in its wild habitat is urgently needed. The present study was emphasized with the specific objectives to study the distribution and population status, predication of suitable sites through ENM, standardization of macropropagation methods and reinforcement/reintroduction into the suitable wild habitat to improve conservation status. In the present investigation E. serratus L. was reported in few locations of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh with population sizes of mean density, frequency of occurrence and abundance in relation to other associated species as 0.333, 13.922 and 2.215 respectively. For improving the conservation status, potential area and habitat for reinforcement was predicted using Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) distribution modelling algorithm. Subsequently, macropropagation protocol was standardized through seed germination and air-layering; saplings were raised and 1050 saplings were reintroduced to the wild habitats selected on the basis of ecological niche modelling. Survival rate was found significantly high as 68%, suggesting that our approach is effective for changing population status and to conserve the plant.     

405 nm-Excited Fluorescence Spectra of the Juice of the Lemon (Citrus x Limon)

A 405 nm diode laser is used to excite fluorescence of juices of raw and ripe lemons. Emission bands appear approximately at 520 nm and 670 nm. Fluorescence intensity ratio F520/F670 is determined for the two stages. Variation in the fluorescence intensity ratio is observed during the process of ripening or growth of the fruit. Time-resolved spectra at this excitation wavelength reveal two decay times at both the stages at the emission wavelength of 520 nm, and two decay times at the raw stage and one decay time at the ripe stage at 670 nm.     

Lactobacillus acidophilus Alleviates Platelet-Activating Factor-Induced Inflammatory Responses in Human Intestinal Epithelial Cells

Probiotics have been used as alternative prevention and therapy modalities in intestinal inflammatory disorders including inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Pathophysiology of IBD and NEC includes the production of diverse lipid mediators, including platelet-activating factor (PAF) that mediate inflammatory responses in the disease. PAF is known to activate NF-κB, however, the mechanisms of PAF-induced inflammation are not fully defined. We have recently described a novel PAF-triggered pathway of NF-κB activation and IL-8 production in intestinal epithelial cells (IECs), requiring the pivotal role of the adaptor protein Bcl10 and its interactions with CARMA3 and MALT1. The current studies examined the potential role of the probiotic Lactobacillus acidophilus in reversing the PAF-induced, Bcl10-dependent NF-κB activation and IL-8 production in IECs. PAF treatment (5 µM×24 h) of NCM460 and Caco-2 cells significantly increased nuclear p65 NF-κB levels and IL-8 secretion (2-3-fold, P<0.05), compared to control, which were blocked by pretreatment of the cells for 6 h with L. acidophilus (LA) or its culture supernatant (CS), followed by continued treatments with PAF for 24 h. LA-CS also attenuated PAF-induced increase in Bcl10 mRNA and protein levels and Bcl10 promoter activity. LA-CS did not alter PAF-induced interaction of Bcl10 with CARMA3, but attenuated Bcl10 interaction with MALT1 and also PAF-induced ubiquitination of IKKγ. Efficacy of bacteria-free CS of LA in counteracting PAF-induced inflammatory cascade suggests that soluble factor(s) in the CS of LA mediate these effects. These results define a novel mechanism by which probiotics counteract PAF-induced inflammation in IECs.     

The cytoplasmic domain of neuropilin-1 regulates focal adhesion turnover

Though the vascular endothelial growth factor coreceptor neuropilin-1 (Nrp1) plays a critical role in vascular development, its precise function is not fully understood. We identified a group of novel binding partners of the cytoplasmic domain of Nrp1 that includes the focal adhesion regulator, Filamin A (FlnA). Endothelial cells (ECs) expressing a Nrp1 mutant devoid of the cytoplasmic domain (nrp1^cytoΔ/Δ) migrated significantly slower in response to VEGF relative to the cells expressing wild-type Nrp1 (nrp1^+/+ cells). The rate of FA turnover in VEGF-treated nrp1^cytoΔ/Δ ECs was an order of magnitude lower in comparison to nrp1^+/+ ECs, thus accounting for the slower migration rate of the nrp1^cytoΔ/Δ ECs.     

In vitro plantlet regeneration from cotyledons of the tree-legume Leucaena leucocephala

Two plant regeneration methods applicable to Leucaenaleucocephala were developed. In the first method, involvingorganogenesis via callus formation, cotyledon, hypocotyl and root segments wereinitiated on MS medium containing different concentrations ofN⁶-benzyladenine (BA), 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), andnaphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). Both compact (type I) and friable (type II) calliwere obtained from the cotyledon and hypocotyl explants treated with differentconcentrations of the growth regulators. Shoots were generated only from thefriable calli formed from the cotyledon explants. The calli formed from thehypocotyl explants did not generate shoots and the root explants died withoutforming callus. Cotyledon explants from 3–4 day old seedlings showedmaximum callus induction compared to those from older seedlings. In a secondmethod involving direct organogenesis, excised cotyledons were cultured on 1/2MS medium containing 10–35 mg l^–1N⁶-benzyladenine (BA) for 7–14 days. Transfer of thecotyledonsto regeneration medium containing low BA resulted in callus formation andsubsequent shoot regeneration from the base of the excised cotyledon explants,with up to 100% frequency. Regenerated shoots rooted best on a basal mediumcontaining no growth regulators.     

Fenugreekine,a new steroidal sapogenin-peptide ester of Trigonella foenum-graecum

A new C₂₇-steroidal sapogenin-peptide ester, fenugreekine, has been isolated from seeds of Trigonella foenum-graecum. On acid hydrolysis, it afforded diosgenin, yamogenin, (25R)-spirosta-3,5-diene, a mixture of three isomeric (2S,3R,4R-, 2S,3R,4S-, 2S,3S,4R-)-4-hydroxyisoleucine lactones, 4′-hydroxyisoleucyl-4-hydroxyisoleucine lactone, and a C₁₄-dipeptide which was partially characterized. On the basis of this chemical transformation and spectral (UV, IR, PMR, MS) evidence of fenugreekine and its transformation products, the steroidal sapogenin-peptide ester is assigned structure (1). The two dipeptides also have not been encountered before in nature or prepared synthetically. The compound shows a number of interesting pharmacological and virological activities.