Sugar, organic acid, phenolic acid and plant growth regulator content of extracts of honeydew of the aphid Myzus persicae and of its host plant, Raphanus sativus

The honeydew of Myzus persicae feeding on radish seedlings contains glucose, fructose, trehalose, melezitose and sucrose, of which glucose and fructose are present in radish seedlings. In addition, the honeydew contains eight organic acids, of which seven are present in uninfested seedlings and six are present in infested radish seedlings: of the eighteen phenolic acids in the honeydew, five are present in uninfested radish seedlings. Auxins, gibberellins, growth inhibitors and cytokinins are present in the honeydew. The presence of carbonate and bicarbonate previously recorded in honeydew of M. persicae could not be confirmed, but ammonia is present in fresh honeydew and accounts for its high pH.     

Photochemoprevention of ultraviolet B signaling and photocarcinogenesis

Exposure to solar radiation, particularly its ultraviolet (UV) B component, has a variety of harmful effects on human health. Some of these effects include sunburn cell formation, basal and squamous cell cancers, melanoma, cataracts, photoaging of the skin, and immune suppression. Amongst these various adverse effects of UV radiation, skin cancer is of the greatest concern. Over the years, changes in lifestyle has led to a significant increase in the amount of UV radiation that people receive, and this consequently has led to a surge in the incidence of skin cancer. The development of skin cancer is a complex multistage phenomenon involving three distinct stages exemplified by initiation, promotion and progression stages. Each of these stages is mediated via alterations in various cellular, biochemical, and molecular changes. Initiation, the first step in the carcinogenesis process is essentially an irreversible step in which genetic alterations occur in genes that ultimately leads to DNA modification and fixation of mutation. Tumor promotion is the essential process in cancer development involving clonal expansion of initiated cells giving rise to pre-malignant and then to malignant lesions, essentially by alterations in signal transduction pathways. Tumor progression involves the conversion of pre-malignant and malignant lesions into an invasive and potentially metastatic malignant tumor. All these processes for skin cancer development involve stimulation of DNA synthesis, DNA damage and proliferation, inflammation, immunosuppression, epidermal hyperplasia, cell cycle dysregulation, depletion of antioxidant defenses, impairment of signal transduction pathways, induction of cyclooxygenase, increase in prostaglandin synthesis, and induction of ornithine decarboxylase. Photochemoprevention has been appreciated as a viable approach to reduce the occurrence of skin cancer and in recent years, the use of agents, especially botanical antioxidants, present in the common diet and beverages consumed by human population have gained considerable attention as photochemopreventive agents for human use. Many such agents have also found a place in skin care products. Although this is more common in oriental countries, its popularity is significantly growing in western countries. In this article, we have summarized the available information of laboratory studies on UVB-mediated signaling that can be exploited as targets for photochemoprevention. We suggest that the use of skin care products supplemented with proven chemopreventive agents in conjunction with the use of sunscreens along with educational efforts may be an effective strategy for reducing UV-induced photodamage and skin cancer in humans. The mechanistic basis for the use of such products is discussed.     

Autocrine/paracrine actions of growth hormone in human melanoma cell lines

Melanoma is the most aggressive skin cancer. Its aggressiveness is most commonly attributed to ERK pathway mutations leading to constitutive signaling. Though initial tumor regression results from targeting this pathway, resistance often emerges. Interestingly, interrogation of the NCI-60 database indicates high growth hormone receptor (GHR) expression in melanoma cell lines. To further characterize melanoma, we tested responsiveness to human growth hormone (GH). GH treatment resulted in GHR signaling and increased invasion and migration, which was inhibited by a GHR monoclonal antibody (mAb) antagonist in WM35, SK-MEL 5, SK-MEL 28 and SK-MEL 119 cell lines. We also detected GH in the conditioned medium (CM) of human melanoma cell lines. GHR, JAK2 and STAT5 were basally phosphorylated in these cell lines, consistent with autocrine/paracrine GH production. Together, our results suggest that melanomas are enriched in GHR and produce GH that acts in an autocrine/paracrine manner. We suggest that GHR may constitute a therapeutic target in melanoma.     

Chemosystematics in the Rutaceae: A chemotaxonomic survey of flavonoids and monoterpenes in leaves of Acmadenia species

By means of thin layer chromatography and gas liquid chromatography the distribution of monoterpenes and flavonoid aglycones in the leaves of 19 samples of 15 species of Acmadenia has been investigated. The distribution of flavonol and flavone aglycones shows a close agreement with recently proposed taxonomic divisions within the genus. It is proposed that these patterns may be of importance in interpreting the evolutionary development of the genus.     

Ethnobotany of Ghalegay,District Swat,Pakistan*

Ethnobotanical study of plants revealed that the local community of Ghalegy, District Swat, invariably uses 126 species of 59 families for various purposes. Based on their traditional local uses, fifty- seven species ( 4512%) were classified as medicinal, forty-seven as fire wood ( 3713%) , forty- five as forage ( 3517%) , twenty- eight as honey bee species ( 2212%) , twenty- seven as vegetable species ( 2114%) , 25 as edible fruits ( 14 wild and 11cultivated) , thirteen as timber wood ( 1013%) , twelve as ornamental ( 91 5%) , eleven as furniture wood, ten as shelter and thatch makers ( 719%) , ten as fencing ( 719%) , five as poisonous ( 4%) , four as religiousPsuperstitious species, three species used in making hand sticks and wooden tools ( 21 4%) , three as utensil cleaner species ( 214%) , three as evil repellent and one as fish poisoning species. The area is in plant resources and traditional knowledge but it needs ecological management for its sustainability.     

Allelopathic effects of Sorghum vulgare Pers.

Summary Sorghum vulgare Pers. a tropical fodder crop significantly reduced the vertical growth and drymass of Sorghum vulgare, Pennisetum americanum, Zea mays and Setaria italica. Aqueous extracts of various plant parts, field soils and decaying mulch significantly reduced germination, radicle growth and water contents of all test species. The toxicity levels were depending upon the plant parts used in the biossay experiments and the sensitivity of the test species. It is suggested that the Sorghum fields be rotated with other crops to maximize the crop productivity.     

Determining Risk Factors for Dengue Fever Severity in Jeddah City,a Case-Control Study (2017)

Dengue fever is a major public health problem in Saudi Arabia. Unfortunately, preventive strategies are still deficient. It can progress to severe and lethal forms, and available knowledge does not allow early prediction of which cases of dengue fever (DF) will progress to dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF). The aim of this study was to evaluate the host and viral factors that could play a role in the progression of severe dengue cases in the frame of the revised 2009 WHO classification. Data were compiled from the Jeddah Dengue Fever Operation Room (DFOR) in the Maden Al-Fahd primary healthcare center in Jeddah. An unmatched case-control study was conducted on 123 severe cases, and 245 controls (non-severe cases) diagnosed during 2014–2016. Risk factors for severe dengue fever were secondary infection (p = 0.02), and co-morbidities, particularly diabetes and hypertension (p < 0.001). Age, gender, nationality, socioeconomic status, viral serotype, and access to health care were not significantly associated with severe disease. The main risk factors for severe dengue fever were secondary infection, and co-morbidities (hypertension and diabetes). We recommend disseminating these data to stakeholders to improve dengue control interventions in periods with anticipated high incidence.Key words: Dengue fever, viral infection, case control, risk factors     

Antimalarial activities of gedunin and 7-methoxygedunin and synergistic activity with dillapiol

Gedunin from Cedrela odorata (Meliaceae), a potent in vitro antimalarial agent, was investigated for its in vivo efficacy in CD‐1 mice infected with Plasmodium berghei. When orally administered at 50 mg kg‐1 day‐1 for 4 days, gedunin was able to suppress the parasitaemia level by 44%. However, no clear dose‐response effects were observed in the 0–100 mg kg‐1 day‐1 dose range. Preliminary pharmacokinetics in Sprague‐Dawley rats showed poor absorption. However, a binary treatment of 50 mg kg‐1 day‐1 gedunin with 25 mg kg‐1 day‐1 dillapiol, a cytochrome P450 inhibitor, increased parasitaemia clearance in mice to 75%. A clear dose‐response was observed in the 0–50 mg kg‐1 day‐1 gedunin dose range when administration was combined with 25 mg kg‐1 day‐1 dillapiol. In addition, 7‐methoxygedunin, a semi‐synthetic derivative which is more stable to degradation than gedunin, suppressed the level in mice by 67% at 50 mg kg‐1 day‐1. When administered at this dose in combination with 25 mg kg‐1 day‐1 dillapiol, clearance increased to 80%. These results demonstrate the potentialefficacy of antimalarial drugs and phytomedicines based on gedunin and the value of the combination therapy.