Leaf press juice from Bryophyllum pinnatum (Lamarck) Oken induces myometrial relaxation

Aims

The use of preparations from Bryophyllum pinnatum (Lamarck) Oken (Kalanchoe pinnata (Lamarck) Persoon) in tocolysis is supported by clinical evidence. We studied here the effect of B. pinnatum leaf press juice and its chemical fractions on the response of human myometrial strips. No data are available if the influence on myometrial strips of the juice differs from that of its components in the chemical fractions, in order to increase the pharmacological effect.

Methodology

In vitro study to test the effect of repeated addition of B. pinnatum leaf press juice (BPJ) and its chemical components in several dilutions (undiluted, 1-10%) on myometrium strips hang up in a myograph chamber. Chemical analysis is including HPLC, MPLC with Sephadex LH-20 and TLC.

Results

All test solutions are inhibiting contractility by reducing the amplitude and the area under the curve (AUC) of the contractions. Undiluted BPJ and its undiluted chemical fraction 4 are reducing most effective these two parameters: the amplitude was at 78% of the baseline (95% CI (77-89); p < 0.05) at the second addition of the BPJ and at 70% (95% CI (50-90); p < 0.05) of the first addition of fraction 4; the AUC was at 82% (95% CI (69-95); p < 0.05) of the baseline at the first addition of the press juice and at 51% (95% CI (27-74); p < 0.05) at the first addition of fraction 4. The BPJ decreased amplitude and AUC significantly faster and increased frequency significantly faster than the control. Fractions could be tentatively assigned to bufadienolids, flavonoids and cinnamic acids. Fraction 4, accounted for flavonoids, increased the frequency of the contractions most effectively: 557% of the baseline (95% CI (316-797); p < 0.05) at the first addition.

Conclusion

Leaf juice of B. pinnatum and its flavonoid fraction are most effective in relaxing myometrial strips by inducing frequency.     

Distribution, biology and host range of Rhembastus sp. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), a candidate for the biological control of Bryophyllum delagoense (Crassulaceae) in Australia

The biology and host range of a leaf-beetle, Rhembastus sp. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Eumolpinae) from Madagascar, was studied under quarantine laboratory conditions in South Africa to determine its potential as a biological control agent of Bryophyllum delagoense (Ecklon & Zeyher) Schinz (Crassulaceae) in Australia. Favourable attributes of the beetle include relative ease of culturing, multiple generations per year, and high levels of damage inflicted by adults, which feed on the plantlets produced at the end of each leaf, and root feeding larvae. The adults therefore have an impact on the reproductive potential of the plant and larval feeding on the roots hampers the uptake of water and may even facilitate secondary infections by pathogens. Despite indications from field surveys in Madagascar that Rhembastus sp. has a narrow host range, preliminary no-choice and multiple-choice trials in quarantine revealed that it could complete its development on five non-target species in the family Crassulaceae. Extensive host range trials still have to be undertaken in Australia before the beetle can be considered for release.     

Isolation and characterization of 17 polymorphic microsatellites in grass carp

Here we report the isolation and characterization of 17 polymorphic loci isolated from a partial genomic DNA library of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus) enriched for CA repeats. We tested variability of these microsatellites on 24 unrelated individuals collected in China. All microsatellites were polymorphic. The average allele number was 7.9 per locus, ranging from four to 13. The observed heterozygosity was from 0.46 to 0.88 with an average of 0.71, whereas the average expected heterozygosity was 0.78. Sixteen of the 17 microsatellites conformed to Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium, and inherited independently. These microsatellites can be used to study genetic diversity and population structure of wild populations, and facilitate selective breeding of cultured broodstocks.     

Alcidodes sedi (Col.: Curculionidae), a natural enemy of Bryophyllum delagoense (Crassulaceae) in South Africa and a possible candidate agent for the biological control of this weed in Australia

The Madagascan endemic, Bryophyllum delagoense (Crassulaceae), is a major weed in Queensland, Australia. Despite having first been recorded in Australia in the 1940s, it is far more invasive there than on the African mainland where it was introduced more than 170 years ago. This may be due to a number of factors, one of which could be the occurrence of new natural enemy associations in southern Africa. Among the insects of crassulaceous plants that have extended their host ranges, a stem-boring weevil, Alcidodes sedi, was studied to elucidate its status as a natural enemy of B. delagoense in southern Africa and as a candidate biological control agent for introduction to Australia. Laboratory studies indicated that damage inflicted by adult and larval feeding caused significant reductions in stem length and number of leaves. Preliminary host-range trials revealed that A. sedi can complete its development on other species in the Crassulaceae, including most of the introduced Bryophyllum species and some Kalanchoe species native to South Africa. Despite the oligophagous nature of A. sedi and the fact that it can complete its development on a number of ornamental species in the Crassulaceae, it should be considered a potential biological control agent in Australia. All of the native Crassulaceae in Australia are in the genus Crassula, most of which are very small and therefore unlikely to support the development of a large weevil like A. sedi. However, additional host-range trials will have to be undertaken in Australia to determine whether the weevil can be considered safe for release.     

Parasitoids, predators and PCR: the use of diagnostic molecular markers in biological control of Arthropods

Abstract:  The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) revolutionized the field of diagnostics, and today it has routine applications in medical, veterinary, forensic and botanical sciences. The fields of biological control and insect pest management have generally been slow to adopt PCR-based diagnostics in comparison with other fields of science. However, there has been increasing interest in the use of molecular diagnostic tools in arthropod biological control. In applied entomology, molecular techniques have generally been used for insect identification and systematics; however, PCR-based techniques are increasingly becoming recognized as valuable tools in ecological studies. Here, we review research that has used PCR-based techniques for parasitoid and predator/prey identification and detection, and place these studies in the context of their contributions to biological control of arthropods. The status and future directions of diagnostic molecular markers in applied entomology and insect pest management are also discussed.     

Microsatellite isolation from the gall midge Spurgia capitigena (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), a biological control agent of leafy spurge

Spurgia capitigena is a gall midge that has been released as a biological control agent of leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula), a noxious rangeland weed in North America. We isolated 15 microsatellite loci from S. capitigena with from two to 27 alleles at each locus. These markers will allow us to examine the structure and levels of neutral genetic variation in native and introduced populations.     

Isolation and characterization of microsatellite markers from Teretrius nigrescens Lewis (Coleoptera: Histeridae), predator of the storage pest Prostephanus truncatus (Horn) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae)

Teretrius nigrescens is a predator of the larger grain borer (LGB) Prostephanus truncatus, an invasive post-harvest pest in Africa. We describe the isolation and characterization of 24 novel polymorphic microsatellite markers and their testing on a population from Honduras. Alleles per locus ranged between 2 and 12, and observed heterozygosity between 0.037 and 0.646. Six loci deviated significantly from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and showed evidence of null alleles. These markers will be useful for studies of the predator's population structure and characterizing populations for control of LGB.     

Flavonoid glycosides of Kalanchoe spathulata

A new glycoside, patuletin 3,7-di-O-rhamnoside, together with patuletin, quercetin, quercetin 3-O-glucoside-7-O-rhamnoside, kaempferol and kaempferol 3-O-rhamnoside were identified from leaves and flowers of Kalanchoe spathulata.     

Use of parasite and genetic markers in delineating populations of winter flounder from the central and south‐west Scotian Shelf and north‐east Gulf of Maine

Discriminant function analyses of infection parameters of parasitic helminths revealed that abundances of seven helminth species contributed significantly to the delineation of four host populations of winter flounder Pleuronectes americanus from the central and south‐west Scotian Shelf and the north‐east Gulf of Maine (NAFO subdivision 4WX‐5Z). These were adult digeneans, Derogenes varicus , Genolinea laticauda , Steganoderma formosum and Steringophorus furciger , metacercariae of the digenean, Stephanostomum baccatum , and larval nematodes, Anisakis simplex and Hysterothylacium aduncum . The correct classification rate was 84% overall, with Georges Bank (5Z) and Sable Island Bank (4W) winter flounder being the most accurately classified samples at 98 and 88%, respectively. Winter flounder from south‐west Nova Scotia (4X), an inshore sample from St Marys Bay and offshore fish from Browns Bank, had the lowest rates of correct classification (76 and 71%, respectively) due, primarily, to cross‐misclassification between the two samples. Winter pairwise comparisons of four microsatellite markers identified significant genetic differences between all populations sampled with the Georges Bank population being the most genetically distinct overall, and St Marys Bay and Browns Bank fish being the least dissimilar.     

A set of primers for plastid indels and nuclear microsatellites in the invasive plant Heracleum mantegazzianum (Apiaceae) and their transferability to Heracleum sphondylium

This study reports the isolation and polymorphism characterization of four plastid indels and six nuclear microsatellite loci in the invasive plant Heracleum mantegazzianum. These markers were tested in 27 individuals from two distant H. mantegazzianum populations. Plastid indels revealed the presence of five chlorotypes while five nuclear microsatellite loci rendered polymorphism. Applications of these markers include population genetics and phylogeography of H. mantegazzianum. A very good transferability of markers to Heracleum sphondylium was demonstrated.     

Composition of the epicuticular and intracuticular wax layers on Kalanchoe daigremontiana (Hamet et Perr. de la Bathie) leaves

Epicuticular and intracuticular waxes from both adaxial and abaxial surfaces of the leaves of Kalanchoe daigremontiana were analyzed. All wax mixtures were found to contain approximately equal amounts of triterpenoids and very long chain fatty acid (VLCFA) derivatives. The triterpenoid fraction consisted of glutinol (8-19% of the total wax) and friedelin (4-9%), together with smaller amounts of glutanol, glutinol acetate, epifriedelanol, germanicol and β-amyrin. The VLCFA derivatives comprised C₂₇-C₃₅ alkanes (19-37% of the total wax), C₃₂-C₃₄ aldehydes (3-7%), C₃₂ and C₃₄ fatty acids (0.2-3%), C₂₆-C₃₆ primary alcohols (4-8%), and C₄₂-C₅₂ alkyl esters (2-9%). The wax layers were found to differ in triterpenoid amounts, with the intracuticular wax containing higher percentages of most triterpenoids than the epicuticular wax. Friedelin, the only triterpenoid ketone present, showed the opposite distribution with higher proportions in the epicuticular wax. VLCFA derivatives also accumulated to higher percentages in the epicuticular than in the intracuticular wax layer. Epicuticular wax crystals were observed on both the adaxial and abaxial leaf surfaces.     

Scanning electron microscopic evidence for a budding mode of chloroplast multiplication in higher plants

Scanning electron microscopic observations of leaf sections of certain plants show two distinct types of chloroplast multiplication. In the normal mode, chloroplast division is achieved by binary fission. In Bryophyllum pinnatum Kurz. the chloroplast multiplication occurs by a process similar to the budding of yeast. The advantages of using scanning electron microscopy to follow closely the different stages of chloroplast division are demonstrated.     

Efficient resolution of parentage in dogs by amplification of microsatellites

Parentage control has been performed for 15 litters from 12 different dog breeds by amplification of microsatellites. As it was possible to include all putative parents in all cases, they were solved by exclusion. Discrimination between parents/non-parents was made after genotyping of 6–9 microsatellite loci. In 12 of the cases all but one of the alleged fathers were excluded while in three cases it was unambiguously shown that superfecundation had taken place. Furthermore, one inclusion case concerning disputed maternity has been investigated. Maternity indices were calculated for 12 loci and probability of maternity was estimated to be 99-99%. These results testify that microsatellites can be applied very efficiently for resolution of parentage in dogs.