The phenolic profile of pea (Pisum sativum): a phytochemical and pharmacological overview

Phytochemistry Reviews - Pisum sativum L., (Fabaceae), commonly known as dry, green or field pea, is one of the most popular and economically important legumes. It enjoys a worldwide culinary,...     

Assessing the Suitability of Various Physiological Traits to Screen Wheat Genotypes for Salt Tolerance

Success of improving the salt tolerance of genotypes requires effective and reliable screening traits in breeding programs. The objective was to assess the suitability of various physiological traits to screen wheat genotypes for salt tolerance. Thirteen wheat genotypes from Egypt, Germany, Australia and India were grown in soil with two salinity levels （control and 150 mmol/L NaCI） in a greenhouse. The physiological traits （ion contents in leaves and stems, i.e. Na^＋, Cl^-, K^＋, Ca^2＋）, the ratios of K^＋/Na^＋ and Ca^＋/Na^＋ in the leaves and stems, net photosynthesis rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, chlorophyll content （SPAD value）, and leaf water relations, were measured at different growth stages. The physiological traits except for Na^＋ and Cl^- in stems and the leaf transpiration rate at 150 mmol/L NaCI showed a significant genotypic variation, indicating that the traits that have a significant genotypic variation may be possibly used as screening criteria. According to the analysis of linear regression of the scores of the physiological traits against those of grain yield, however, the physiological traits of Ca^2＋ and Ca2^＋/Na^＋ at 45 d and final harvest with the greatest genotypic variation were ranked at the top. From a practical and economic point of view, SPAD value should be considered to be used as screening criteria and/or there is a need to develop a quick and practical approach to determine Ca^2＋ in plant tissues.     

Protease-activated receptor-1 (hPar1), a survival factor eliciting tumor progression

Although ample evidence point to the central involvement of protease activated receptor-1 (PAR1) in tumor progression, little is known about the fate of the tumor when hPar1 is being silenced. We observed that hPar1 antisense clones exhibit low PAR1 levels, attenuated cell proliferation and invasion in vitro, and tumor formation in vivo. These clones showed noticeably reduced paxillin phosphorylation compared with the parental A375SM cells, whereas no change in the integrin levels was noticed. Antisense clones injected into the mice resulted in very few and only occasional small tumors, whereas advanced and vascularized tumors were observed in A375SM cells. The antisense-derived tumor sections expressed active caspase-3, increased terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated nick-end labeling staining, and a markedly reduced proliferating cell nuclear antigen level compared with A375SM cell-derived tissue sections. Likewise, ablation of the hPar1 gene in a tetracycline-inducible hPar1 system leads to apoptosis in immature blood vessels, whereas mature vessels were unaffected. The activation of PAR1-induced pAkt/protein kinase B abrogated serum-deprived Bim(EL) induction and also markedly inhibited Bax levels. On the other hand, small interfering RNA silencing of the hPar1 gene induced the expression of Bim(EL), a direct substrate of Akt/protein kinase B and also induced expression of active caspase-9 and caspase-3. These results altogether identify PAR1 as a survival factor that protects cells from undergoing apoptosis. We conclude that whereas PAR1 gene expression correlates with tumor progression, its neutralization effectively initiates an apoptotic pathway leading at least in part to significantly reduced tumor formation.     

Concordance of leishmaniasis cutaneous tests in Tunisia

A cross sectional study aimed to evaluate the effect of antigenic preparation (Leishmania infantum versus Leishmania major) and dose of leishmania antigens (5 x 10(6) versus 2.5 x 10(6) parasites in the same volume) on the reproducibility of delayed type hypersensitivity leishmania skin test. Results showed that among 34 individuals involved from visceral leishmaniasis endemic area. 26 (76.5%) had a positif Leishmania infantum leishmania (L-L. infantum) test and 27 (79.4%) to Leishmania major leishmania (L-L. major). Mean size of cutaneous reaction was 5.94 +/- 2.86 mm for L-L. infantum and 5.41 +/- 3.23 mm for L-L. major, with a significant positive linear association (p < 10-3). Intra-class correlation coefficient was 0.80 (CI95% = [0.64-0.93]) and concordance Kappa (kappa) was 0.57 (CI95% = [0.40-0.74]). Among 153 individuals from zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis. 92.9% revealed a positive test for both types of leishmanin (L-L. major full dose versus L-L. major half dose). Mean size of cutaneous reaction was 12.61 +/- 4.65 mm for the reference test and 11.30 +/- 3.95 mm for diluted one, with a positive linear association (p < 10-3). Intra-class correlation coefficient was 0.78 (IC95% = [0.71-0.84]) and concordance Kappa (kappa) was 0.82 (IC95% = [0.73-0.91]). These results demonstrate a limited effect of leishmania antigenic variation and antigen dose on the reproducibility of delayed type hypersensitivity induced by the leishmanin test.     

Effects of water-deficit on lipids of safflower aerial parts

Three-week-old plants of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) were subjected to a water-deficit stress. The lipid composition of the shoot parts of both control (well-watered) and water stressed plants was analyzed. Experimental data revealed that moderate stress induced an increase in total lipid content within all lipidic classes. However, severe water-deficit induced a sharp decrease in the total lipid content and specially in polar lipids, particularly in phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, monogalactosyl-diacylglycerol and digalactosyl-diacylglycerol. Also, the content of neutral lipids was increased. Concerning the fatty acid composition, water-deficit induced a decrease in their degree of unsaturation expressed by a reduction in the proportions of linolenic (18:3) and linoleic (18:2) acids and most of lipidic classes.     

Lymphocytes apoptosis in patients with acute exacerbation of asthma

Asthma is characterized by airway inflammation, which can be now assessed by the analysis of induced sputum. Ten patients with asthma were investigated during acute exacerbation for the quantification of apoptosis, for Bcl-2 and Fas expression, in induced sputum lymphocytes. They were compared to 12 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and 10 healthy controls. Spontaneous apoptosis was determined by staining nuclei with propidium iodide, and analyzed with a FACScan. Bcl-2 was measured by Western blotting, and results were obtained by densitometric scanning, done by the gel proanalyser. The investigation of Fas was performed using the streptavidin-biotin preroxidase-complex method. Patients with asthma and patients with COPD exhibited a significant increase of cellularity, percentage of neutrophils, eosinophils and lymphocytes when compared to healthy controls. Apoptosis in induced sputum mononuclear cells was found decreased in patients with asthma compared to COPD patients and healthy controls. The quantification of apoptosis was measured after exposure to anti-cytokine antibodies. Anti-TNF-alpha antibody blocked the apoptosis in both patients groups and healthy controls, suggesting that TNF-alpha acted as an inducer of apoptosis. Anti-IL-10 blocked apoptosis completely exclusively in patients with asthma. Bcl-2 expression was found to be increased in induced sputum mononuclear cells from patients with asthma, compared to healthy controls and patients with COPD. Expression of Fas could be detected in patients with asthma, at a lower level than COPD patients and healthy controls. Distinct mechanisms of apoptosis were found in patients with asthma and patients with COPD, characterized by different levels of Bcl-2 and Fas expression. Induction of apoptosis should be a beneficial process in allergic inflammation traduced in induced sputum mononuclear cells. The apoptosis process is assumed by two different mechanisms in asthma and COPD. Our findings indicated that in asthmatic patients, activated lymphocytes accumulate in the bronchi; because of their prolonged survival that maintains inflammation.     

Efficacy of intra-lesional glucantime in the treatment of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in basic health care conditions

A randomized placebo-controlled trial treating cutaneous lesions due to Leishmania major with intralesionnel glucantime, was conducted in El Guettar between december 1994 and June 1995, in order to assess efficacy of this therapy under field conditions. It included 109 patients: 52 were administrated glucantime and 57 received local treatment (eosin 5% and alcohol 95%). Prognostic factors were similar in both groups. Results did not reveal a significant difference between glucantime and eosin regarding the rapidity of the healing of lesions. However, scars seem to be of better quality among the glucantime group. Bacterial super infection was noticed among 57.6% of humid lesions sampled among 33 patients. Isolated strains included group A streptococcus (22%), staphylococcus aureus (16.7%) or an association of both agents (61.1%). Resistance profile indicated that streptococcus and staphylococcus respond well to macrolids compared to other antibiotic groups.     

Descriptions of Tachygonetria africana n. sp. and T. pretoriensis n. sp. and redescriptions of two other species of Tachygonetria Wedl, 1862 (Nematoda: Pharyngodonidae), all parasitic in Geochelone pardalis (Testudinidae) from South Africa

Two new species of Tachygonetria, T. africana n. sp. and T. pretoriensis n. sp. are described. Both are parasites of Geochelone pardalis (Bell) from South Africa. In addition, two subspecies, T. longicollis fitzsimmonsi Petter, 1966 and T. macrolaimus macrolaimus (Linstow, 1899), also parasites of Geochelone pardalis (from Pretoria Zoo, South Africa), are redescribed and new information on their morphology is presented. On the basis of their morphology, these subspecies are raised to full specific level.