Use of tree seedlings for the phytoremediation of a municipal effluent used in dry areas of north-western India: Plant growth and nutrient uptake

Impacts of municipal effluent (ME) irrigation on soil physicochemical properties and its remediation by tree species were assessed with a view to utilize this resource in growing woodlot, controlling land degradation and improving environmental quality in suburban areas. Acacia nilotica L. (babool), Dalbergia sissoo L. (sissoo) and Eucalyptus camaldulensis seedlings planted in July 1998 were irrigated with ME at ½ PET (T₂), 1 PET (T₃), 2 PET (T₄), and with canal water at 1 PET (T₅). The control was soil without seedlings irrigated with ME at 1 PET (T₁). Application of ME increased minerals concentration from T₂ to T₄ in both soil and seedling in June 1999 and 2000. The increase in soil pH, EC, SOC was by <2.00-fold and availability of potassium (K), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn) by >2-fold, NH₄–N by 10.44-fold and PO₄–P by 6.57-fold in T₄ than those in T₅ treatment in 2000. Available NH₄–N, PO₄–P, Mg and K were higher in 0–15 cm soil layer but continued irrigation and low soil carbon influenced leaching of NO₃–N, Na, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn resulting their higher concentrations in 60–90 cm soil layer (P < 0.01). Lower soil nutrients in T₃ than in T₁ suggested soil amelioration by the planted seedlings and because of lowest concentration of most of the nutrients E. camaldlensis showed highest soil amelioration capacity. But nutrient utilization efficiency was highest in A. nilotica for K, Ca, Mg, Na, Fe, Cu and Zn, D. sissoo for N and P, and E. camaldulensis for Mn. Thus, planting tree seedlings, particularly E. camaldulensis, under ecological amelioration could in this way help in controlling land degradation and enhancing biomass and aesthetic benefits, although long-term application of effluent would lead to mineral/salt accumulation in soil and plants.     

Growth of Dalbergia sissoo in desert regions of western India using municipal effluent and the subsequent changes in soil and plant chemistry

Increasing demand for fodder and fuelwood and the scarcity of a good quality water in arid areas has resulted in a search for an alternative source of water for biomass production. An experiment utilizing municipal effluent in growing Dalbergia sissoo was conducted. Five treatments included T1, municipal effluent at 1 PET (Potential evapo-transpiration) (without plant); T2, municipal effluent at 1/2 PET; T3, municipal effluent at 1PET; T4, municipal effluent at 2 PET; and T5, canal water at 1 PET. Observations included plant height, collar diameter at one-month intervals and plant mineral composition, mineral uptake and changes in soil properties at 24 months of plant age. Application of municipal effluent produced better growth in D. sissoo seedlings. Concentrations of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn) were greater in seedlings irrigated with municipal effluent than those of the seedlings irrigated by the treatment T5, and positively related with the quantity of irrigation. The concentrations were greatest in foliage compared to the other parts of seedling, with the exception of Cu concentration. Application of municipal effluents resulted in a 2- to 3-fold increase in the concentrations of soil K, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn, whereas NH4-N and PO4-P availability increased by 8.1- and 4.5-fold, respectively. The increase in soil organic carbon was only observed in treatments T3 and T4. The accumulations of soil NO3-N, Na, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn were more in lower soil layers but the other soil parameters showed their greatest values in the upper soil layer. Irrigation using municipal effluent did not result in toxicity to the seedlings before the age of 24 months. The results suggest that municipal effluent could be utilized, as an important source of water and nutrients in growing D. sissoo to increase biomass production in the needs of suburban dwellers. However, a preliminary treatment to reduce excess NH4-N and PO4-P will be required before application to the plantation.     

Control of flowering in rice through synthetic microProteins

Photoperiod‐dependent flowering in rice is regulated by HEADING DATE 1 (Hd1), which acts as both an activator and repressor of flowering in a daylength‐dependent manner. To investigate the use of microProteins as a tool to modify rice sensitivity to the photoperiod, we designed a synthetic Hd1 microProtein (Hd1miP) capable of interacting with Hd1 protein, and overexpressed it in rice. Transgenic OX‐Hd1miP plants flowered significantly earlier than wild type plants when grown in non‐inductive long day conditions. Our results show the potential of microProteins to serve as powerful tools for modulating crop traits and unraveling protein function.     

Resistin: A journey from metabolism to cancer

Resistin, a small secretory molecule, has been implicated to play an important role in the development of insulin resistance under obese condition. For the past few decades, it has been linked to various cellular and metabolic functions. It has been associated with diseases like metabolic disorders, cardiovascular diseases and cancers. Numerous clinical studies have indicated an increased serum resistin level in pathological disorders which have been reported to increase mortality rate in comparison to low resistin expressing subjects. Various molecular studies suggest resistin plays a pivotal role in proliferation, metastasis, angiogenesis, inflammation as well as in regulating metabolism in cancer cells. Therefore, understanding the role of resistin and elucidating its’ associated molecular mechanism will give a better insight into the management of these disorders. In this article, we summarize the diverse roles of resistin in pathological disorders based on the available literature, clinicopathological data, and a compiled study from various databases. The article mainly provides comprehensive information of its role as a target in different treatment modalities in pre as well as post-clinical studies.     

Analgesic Effect of Piracetam on Peripheral Neuropathic Pain Induced by Chronic Constriction Injury of Sciatic Nerve in Rats

Despite immense advances in the treatment strategies, management of neuropathic pain remains unsatisfactory. Piracetam is a prototype of nootropic drugs, used to improve cognitive impairment. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of piracetam on peripheral neuropathic pain in rats. Neuropathic pain was induced by the chronic constriction injury of the sciatic nerve. Following this, piracetam was intraperitoneally administered for 2 weeks in doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg, and pain was assessed by employing the behavioural tests for thermal hyperalgesia (hot plate and tail flick tests) and cold allodynia (acetone test). After the induction of neuropathic pain, significant development of thermal hyperalgesia and cold allodynia was observed. The administration of piracetam (50 mg/kg) did not have any significant effect on all the behavioural tests. Further, piracetam (100 mg/kg) also had no effect on the hot plate and tail flick tests; however it significantly decreased the paw withdrawal duration in the acetone test. Piracetam in a dose of 200 mg/kg significantly modulated neuropathic pain as observed from the increased hot plate and tail flick latencies, and decreased paw withdrawal duration (in acetone test). Therefore, the present study suggests the potential use of piracetam in the treatment of neuropathic pain, which merits further clinical investigation.     

Molecular genetic diversity analysis for heat tolerance of indigenous and exotic wheat genotypes

Journal of Plant Biochemistry and Biotechnology - Four hundred and ninety-six indigenous and exotic aestivum and durum wheat accessions were phenotyped for heat tolerance at three locations during...     

In Silico Identification of Piperazine Linked Thiohydantoin Derivatives as Novel Androgen Antagonist in Prostate Cancer Treatment

International Journal of Peptide Research and Therapeutics - Prostate cancer is the most prevalent deadly cancer in men worldwide. Androgen receptors are widely recognized for their prognostic and...     

Associations of PKC isoforms with the cytoskeleton of B16F10 melanoma cells.

Although PKC plays a major role in regulating the morphology and function of the cytoskeleton, little is known about in situ associations of specific isoforms with the cytoskeleton. We demonstrate that seven PKC isoforms are expressed in B16F10 melanoma cells and show different levels of induction by serum. Using cell cytoskeleton preparations (CSKs), confocal microscopy, and immunocytochemistry, all isoforms show specific patterns of localization to focal contact-like structures (alpha, delta), very small cytoplasmic granules/vesicles (all isoforms), dense ordered arrays of small granules in the perinuclear region (alpha, delta), granules/vesicles associated with a homogeneous framework in the cytoplasm adjacent to the nucleus (gamma), or irregular-shaped patches of granules at or near the nuclear perimeter (eta, theta). In addition, several isoforms are present as cytoplasmic granules/ vesicles in linear or curvilinear arrays (alpha, delta, epsilon, theta). When isoform localization is examined using 3.7% formaldehyde or methanol:acetone, the patterns of localization in CSKs are often difficult or impossible to detect, and many are described here for the first time. Double-labeling experiments with CSK demonstrate that PKC actin co-localizes with punctate alpha-rich particles above the nucleus, granules of epsilon throughout the cytoplasm, and with theta in irregular-shaped aggregates associated with the nucleus. Vimentin co-localizes with perinuclear granules of delta and beta(2), and alpha-tubulin co-localizes with theta in structures at or near the nuclear surface and in microtubules associated with the microtubule organizing center (MTOC). In summary, the present study demonstrates that seven PKC isoforms are endogenously expressed in B16F10 melanoma cells. These isoforms show various levels of induction by serum and specific patterns of association with various components of the detergent-resistant cell cytoskeleton.