Plastome data analysis of Cucumis melo subsp.agrestis

It is of interest to refine the taxonomic status of C. melo ssp. agrestis using its plastome data. The chloroplast size and GC% was found to be 1,56,016 bp and 36.92% respectively in Cucumis melo subsp. agrestis. The plastome of C. melo subsp. agrestis comprises of two inverted repeat (IR) regions of 25,797 bp each. It consisted of 133 genes with 88 protein-coding genes, 8 rRNA genes and 37 tRNA genes. Analysis of the C. melo ssp. agrestis plastome data will help breeders to improve the yield the crop.     

An evaluation of the phytochemical composition,antioxidant and cytotoxicity of the leaves of Litsea elliptica Blume – An ethnomedicinal plant from Brunei Darussalam

Litsea elliptica is traditionally believed to prevent and treat stomach ulcers, cancer, fever and headaches. This study investigates the phytochemical composition, antioxidant and cytotoxic effects of L. elliptica leaf extracts. The phytochemical content was determined via GCMS analysis and total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) were analysed using the Folin-Ciocalteu and aluminium-chloride assays. Antioxidant activities were determined using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging, 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) scavenging and ferric-ion reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays, whereas cytotoxicity was determined using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and calcein/ethidium viability assays. The mechanism of cytotoxicity was investigated using Annexin V/propidium iodide. Modifications in the mitochondria were investigated using MitoTracker Red CMXRos. Ten and twenty-six compounds were characterized in the young-leaf and mixed-leaves extracts, respectively. The young-leaf methanolic extract demonstrated the highest antioxidant capacity of at least four-folds greater than the mixed-leaves and ethanolic extracts. The methanolic extract also had higher TPC and TFC values compared to the ethanolic extract. Although the mixed L. elliptica leaves had lower antioxidant capacities compared to the young leaves, the mixed leaves extract has demonstrated greater cytotoxicity against the A549 cancer cell line. Further investigation revealed that the L. elliptica leaves-induced cytotoxicity on A549 cells was possibly via the non-inflammatory mitochondria-mediated apoptotic pathway. Overall, our results showed the potential of the L. elliptica leaves possessing cytotoxic activities against carcinoma cells where the compounds present can be further investigated for its therapeutic application.Keyword: Litsea elliptica, Phytochemical composition, Antioxidant, Cytotoxicity, A549 cells, Anticancer     

Seasonal changes in respiration of halophytes in salt playas in the Great Basin,U.S.A.

Many desert playas are covered with water in the early spring. As theweather becomes warmer and drier, water evaporates, increasing saltcontent of the soil from 7,000 to almost 16,000 mmol NaCl Kg^-1. Changes in respiratory metabolism during the growing season of fourhalophytes characteristic of cold desert playas was followed usingcalorimetry. In order of decreasing salt tolerance, the species examinedwere: the forbs Salicornia rubra, S. utahensis; the grass Distichlisspicata; and the shrub Allenrolfea occidentalis. Tissue collected in thefield from sites of low and high salinity in a single playa during May, June,and August of 1997 was put in isothermal calorimeters and the metabolicheat rate (q) and respiration rate (R_CO2) measured. Efficiency ofsubstrate carbon conversion (q/R_CO2) and predicted specific growthrate (H_BR_SG) were calculated. These species are allwell-adapted to the environment in which they are found. Highestmetabolism, respiration, efficiency and growth are found during May andJune and are lowest during the hot, dry month of August. Differencesbetween the species are also noted.     

The distribution and diversity of culturable aerobic heterotrophic benthic bacteria in the continental slope of the Bay of Bengal: Linked abiotic factors, including a tsunami

The culturable aerobic heterotrophic benthic bacterial population and community structure in relation to the physico-chemical parameters in the continental slope of the Bay of Bengal was studied. In addition, diversity indices were calculated and pretsunami (in 2004) and post-tsunami (in 2005) diversity values were compared. Sediment samples were collected from two cruises in the depth zone of 214–1000 m (10°36′ N–20°01′ N and 79°59′ E–87°30′ E). The vertical distribution of the total heterotrophic bacterial population during both cruises was higher in the top section (0–3 cm) of the sediment. The average total heterotrophic bacterial population was in the range of 0.42–37.38 × 10⁴ CFU/g to 1.66–19.73 × 10⁴ CFU/g dry sediment weight during the two cruises, respectively. The limiting physico-chemical factors were sediment pH, sediment temperature, TOC, porosity, and clay as revealed from multiple regression (r = 0.75) and BIOENV (Partial Correlation ρω = 0.447) analyses. The shannon-Wiener index (H′ log e), Simpson index (D), Margalef index (d) and Pielou’s evenness index (J′) were found to be higher in the 1000 m depth stations. Cluster analysis showed that the 500 m depth stations clustered either with the 200 m or with the 1000 m stations. The 200 m depth stations never formed a cluster with the 1000 m stations. Pre-tsunami diversity indices at two depth ranges (200 m and 1000 m) were higher than those of the post-tsunami indices, which was quite evident from the cluster analysis as well. This study confirms the effect of the tsunami surge in the sediments of the continental slope of the Bay of Bengal in the marine ecosystem, which is also attributed to the temporal variation of the heterotrophic bacterial population and diversity.     

Urease inhibitors from Indigofera gerardiana Wall

Three new phloroglucinol type compounds Indigoferin-A (1), Indigoferin-B (2) and Indigoferin-C (3), along with a known compound β-sitosterol were isolated from the Indegofera gerardiana Wall. The structures of Indigoferin-A (1), Indigoferin-B (2), and Indigoferin-C (3) were deduced on the basis of spectroscopic techniques (EI-MS, HREI-MS, (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR, HMQC, and HMBC). The urease inhibition studies on all the four compounds have also been carried out.     

Attenuation of oxidative damage-associated cognitive decline by Withania somnifera in rat model of streptozotocin-induced cognitive impairment

Oxidative stress is a critical contributing factor to age-related neurodegenerative disorders. Therefore, the inhibition of oxidative damage, responsible for chronic detrimental neurodegeneration, is an important strategy for neuroprotective therapy. Withania somnifera (WS) extract has been reported to have potent antioxidant and free radical quenching properties in various disease conditions. The present study evaluated the hypothesis that WS extract would reduce oxidative stress-associated neurodegeneration after intracerebroventricular injection of streptozotocin (ICV-STZ) in rats. To test this hypothesis, male Wistar rats were pretreated with WS extract at doses of 100, 200, and 300 mg/kg body weight once daily for 3 weeks. On day 22nd, the rats were infused bilaterally with ICV-STZ injection (3 mg/kg body weight) in normal saline while sham group received only saline. Two weeks after the lesioning, STZ-infused rats showed cognitive impairment in the Morris water maze test. The rats were sacrificed after 3 weeks of the lesioning for the estimation of the contents of lipid peroxidation, reduced glutathione, and activities of glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase. Pretreatment with WS extract attenuated behavioral, biochemical, and histological alterations significantly in dose-dependent manner in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex of ICV-STZ-infused rats. These results suggest that WS affords a beneficial effect on cognitive deficit by ameliorating oxidative damage induced by streptozotocin in a model of cognitive impairment.     

Quercetin Protects Against Oxidative Stress Associated Damages in a Rat Model of Transient Focal Cerebral Ischemia and Reperfusion

Experimental studies have demonstrated that oxidative stress and apoptosis play an important role in cerebral ischemic pathogenesis and may represent a target for treatment. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the quercetin dihydrate (Q) protects against cerebral ischemia neuronal damage. Male Wistar rats were subjected to transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) for 2?h and reperfused for 72?h. Quercetin (30?mg/kg, i.p) was administrated 30?min before the onset of ischemia and after the ischemia at interval of 0, 24, 48, and 72?h. The administration of Q showed marked reduction in infarct size, reduced the neurological deficits in terms of behaviors, suppressed neuronal loss and diminished the p53 expression in MCAO rats. Q was found to be successful in upregulating the antioxidant status and lowering the TBARS level. Conversely, the elevated activity of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), and activity of caspase-3 in MCAO group was attenuated significantly in Q treated group when compared with MCAO group. Our study reveals that Q, as a powerful antioxidant, could prevent free radicals associated oxidative damage and morphological changes in the MCAO rats. Thus, it may have a therapeutic value for the treatment of stroke.     

Application of Short Tandem Repeat markers in diagnosis of chromosomal aneuploidies and forensic DNA investigation in Pakistan

Purpose

Short Tandem Repeat (STR) genetic markers hold great potential in forensic investigations, molecular diagnostics and molecular genetics research. AmpFlSTR® Identifiler™ PCR amplification kit is a multiplex system for co-amplification of 15 STR markers used worldwide in forensic investigations. This study attempts to assess forensic validity of these STRs in Pakistani population and to investigate its applicability in quick and simultaneous diagnosis and tracing parental source of common chromosomal aneuploidies.

Methodology

Samples from 554 healthy Pakistani individuals from 5 different ethnicities were analyzed for forensic parameters using Identifiler STRs and 74 patients' samples with different aneuploidies were evaluated for diagnostic strengths of these markers.

Results

All STRs hold sufficient forensic applicability in Pakistani population with paternity index between 1.5 and 3.5, polymorphic information content from 0.63 to 0.87 and discrimination power ≥ 0.9 (except TPOX locus). Variation from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium was observed at some loci reflecting selective breeding and intermarriages trend in Pakistan. Among aneuploidic samples, all trisomies were precisely detectable while aneuploidies involving sex chromosomes or missing chromosomes were not clearly detectable using Identifiler STRs. Parental origin of aneuploidy was traceable in 92.54% patients.

Conclusion

The studied STR markers are valuable tools for forensic application in Pakistan and utilizable for quick and simultaneous identification of some common trisomic conditions. Adding more sex chromosome specific STR markers can immensely increase the diagnostic and forensic potential of this system.