Influence of wheat straw and rhizosphere on seed germination, early seedling growth and bio-chemical attributes of Trianthema portulacastrum

Decomposing wheat (Triticum aestivum) straw and rhizosphere-infested soil were evaluated for their suppressive activity against horse purslane (Trianthema portulacastrum), a noxious summer weed in Pakistan. Two separate pot studies were carried out. Wheat straw was incorporated at 4, 6 and 8 g kg-1 soil five days before the sowing of horse purslane. Pots without straw incorporation were maintained as control. In a second study, soil was taken from 15 and 30 cm depths from a previously cropped wheat field immediately after its harvest and was used as growing medium. Soil from an intentionally uncropped area of the same field was used as control. Suppressive activity was measured in terms of germination dynamics, seedling growth, and biochemical attributes such as chlorophyll contents, total soluble phenolics, soluble protein and antioxidant enzymes. Germination, seedling growth, chlorophyll contents and soluble protein of horse purslane were all negatively influenced. Higher phenolics and enhanced activities of antioxidant enzymes were noticed in response to wheat residues incorporation and its rhizosphere soil. Both studies established that the phytotoxic influence of wheat straw and wheat-infested rhizosphere soil on horse purslane can further be exploited for horse purslane management as a sustainable approach.

Toxic action of aqueous wheat straw extract on horse e purslane

The toxic action of aqueous wheat (Triticum aestivum) straw extracts was investigated on germination, early seedling growth, some biochemical attributes and the antioxidant enzymes of horse purslane (Trianthemaportulacastrum). Aqueous extracts of wheat straw were prepared by soaking the wheat straw in distilled water in 1:10 w/v ratio and diluted to obtain the concentrations of 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100%. These were used as pre and post emergence in laboratory and screen house trials. Wheat aqueous extracts exhibited phytotoxicity to horse purslane by inhibiting and delaying its germination and suppressing seedling growth. Wheat phytotoxins in its aqueous extracts suppressed the chlorophyll content and soluble protein, and enhanced soluble phenolics and the activity of antioxidant enzymes as catalase, peroxidase and superoxide dismutase in the seedlings of horse purslane compared with the control. Such inhibitory activity is believed to originate from exposure to wheat phytotoxins that are present in its aqueous straw extract. The suppressive effects of wheat straw need to be investigated further under field conditions.

Comparative allelopathic potential of metabolites of two Alternanthera species against germination and seedling growth of rice

A laboratory study was conducted to investigate the allelopathic effect of aqueous extracts of plant parts of Alternanthera philoxeroides and A. sessilis and soil incorporated residues on germination and seedling growth of rice (Oryza sativa). Aqueous extracts prepared from different plant parts of Alternanthera species delayed rice germination. Alternanthera philoxeroides and A. sessilis inhibited rice germination by 9-100% and 4-49%, respectively. Germination of rice seeds was reduced with increasing concentration of aqueous leaf extracts of both weed species. Early seedling growth (root and shoot lengths) and seedling vigor index were significantly reduced by 5% aqueous leaf extract compared with distilled water treated control. Germination, root and shoot lengths, root and shoot dry weights and seedling vigor index of rice were drastically reduced by 3 and 4% in residue infested soil compared with residue free soil. The inhibitory effect of A. philoxeroides in terms of germination and seedling growth of rice was greater than that of A. sessilis. Five percent aqueous leaf extract and 4% residue infested soil of A. philoxeroides caused complete failure of rice seed germination. Alternanthera philoxeroides contained water soluble phenolics, namely 4 hydroxy-3-methoxy benzoic acid (16.19 mg L-1) and m-coumaric acid (1.48 mg L-1), whereas Alternanthera sessilis was rich in chlorogenic acid (17.85 mg L-1), gallic acid (11.03 mg L-1) and vanillic acid (9.88 mg L-1). The study indicates that the allelopathic potential of Alternanthera species may play an important role in enhancing the invasiveness of these species and may suppress rice plants in the vicinity.

Effect of huitlacoche (Ustilago maydis DC Corda) paste addition on functional, chemical and textural properties of tortilla chips

AbstractThis study analyzed the addition of huitlacoche paste (HP) in baked tortilla chips (TC), evaluating its effects on functional, physicochemical and structural changes during processing. Two blue corn grains were nixtamalized, stone milled, air dried and milled to obtain flour; commercial blue corn flour (TM1) and commercial TC (TM2) were used as controls. Additions of 0, 3, 6 and 9% of HP were formulated; masas were prepared at 55% moisture content (MC), precooked and baked in an industrial machine. TC crispiness was influenced by grain characteristics and percentage of HP. Huitlacoche paste addition caused an increase in total dietary fiber (from 5.27 to 14.54%), total soluble phenolics content (from 17.52 to 37.60 mg GAE/100 g) and antioxidant capacity (from 6.74 to 7.98 μmol TE/g) in TC. Results suggest that tortilla chips added with huitlacoche can be an alternative to prepare this traditional edible fungus and produce healthier snacks, not fried and enriched with bioactive compounds.

Alkaline soluble Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigote antigen (ASEA) applied to dot-ELISA

The alkaline soluble Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigote antigen (ASEA) was assessed in dot-ELISA for the diagnosis of Chagas' disease. Serum samples (355) from chagasic and non-chagasic patients were studied, and IgG antibodies to ASEA were found in all patients with chronic Chagas' disease. In non-chagasic patients 95.6% were negative, except for those with leishmaniasis (visceral and mucocutaneous), and some patients from control group reacted in low titers. The data indicate that dot-ELISA using ASEA is suitable for seroepidemiologic surveys to be employed in endemic areas for Chagas' disease.

Detection of Toxoplasma gondii soluble antigen, SAG-1(p30), antibody and immune complex in the cerebrospinal fluid of HIV positive or negative individuals

Active infection by T. gondii was evaluated by immunoassay for soluble SAG-1 (p30), the major surface antigen from T. gondii, specific antibodies and immune complexes in human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples. A total of 263 samples of CSF were collected from hospitalized patients presenting neurological disorders and analyzed for antibodies to HIV. Patients were divided into two groups: HIV positive (n = 96) or HIV negative (n =167). The results of the assays showed that 45% of all samples were positive for soluble SAG-1. Toxoplasma Ag/Ab immune complexes were detected in 19% of the CSF samples and 62% were positive for T. gondii- specific IgG. A combination of these assays in the presence of clinical findings consistent with active Toxoplasma infection may predict the presence of toxoplasmic encephalitis. Moreover, detection of soluble SAG-1 in the CSF of these individuals appears consistent with active infection.

Analysis of proteins from membrane and soluble fractions of Giardia duodenalis trophozoites of two Brazilian axenic strains

In the present study, we have analyzed by sodium docecyl sulphate - polyacrilamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), immunoblotting and Concanavalin A blotting (Con A blotting) proteins of membrane fractions and soluble fractions obtained from Giardia duodenalis trophozoites of two axenic strains isolated in Brazil from a symptomatic (BTU-11) and an asymptomatic patient (BTU-10), as compared to the reference strain Portland 1. Both Brazilian strains showed a complex and homogeneous electrophoretic pattern of proteins, but some differences could be observed. Several glycoproteins were detected, particularly the proteins of 81, 72, 59 kDa and the protein of 62 kDa in the membrane proteins and cytosol, respectively. Many antigenic components were revealed by anti-Giardia rabbit IgG antibodies in the immunoblotting analysis. Among these components, the membrane protein of 32 kDa and the cytosol protein of 30 kDa could be related to giardin, as previously demonstrated.

Liver and serum soluble protein changes and pathomorphology in undernourished mice with acute Schistosomiasis mansoni

Body, liver and spleen weights; histopathology of the liver, spleen and intestines; hepatic and serum soluble proteins changes were the parameters studied in undernourished Swiss albino mice experimentally infected with S. mansoni. Non-infected deficient animab had lower liver/body weight and spleen/body weight ratios as compared to the controls (22.60% casein group). Infected mice showed higher values regardless the type of diet. Undernourished infected subgroup showed a persistent exudative periovular reaction in the liver. Soluble hepatic proteins content and serum protein fractions appeared to be lower in the deficient infected mice. A significant difference was detected in the gammaglobulin fraction between infected and non-infected animals fed the control diet with higher values for the former. Our data suggest that the effects of malnutrition, per se, are sometimes more detrimental to the host than those due to Manson 's schistosomiasis.

Determination of fat soluble vitamins from amazonian fresh-water fishes. I. HPLC analysis of tambaqui, pirarucu and cuiu-cuiu livers .

It was found that fish livers from the Amazon have considerable amounts of vitamins A, D and E compared with the values of the standartized cod-liver oil. Tambaqui liver oil has high concentration of vitamin A1(retinol) and vitamin A2 (degidroretinol) whereas the liver oils of pirarucu and cuiu-cuiu have preferently the vitamin A2. The contents of the vitamins D and E observed in the liver oils of tambaqui and cuiu-cuiu was extremely high.

Changes in the amount of soluble carbohydrates and polyphenols contents during decomposition of Montrichardia arborescens (L.) Schott

This study describes the aerobic and anaerobic decay of soluble carbohydrates (CH) and polyphenols (PH) during decomposition of Montrichardia arborescens. Plant and water samples were collected in the Cantá stream (2º 49' 11" N and 60º 40' 24" W), Roraima, Brazil. Decomposition chambers with plant fragments and stream water were incubated. Particulate organic matter was separated from dissolved organic matter and concentrations of CH and PH were determined. The results were fitted to 1st order kinetics models. CH and PH comprised a labile fraction (LCH and LPH) and a refractory fraction (RCH and RPH). The global coefficient associated with LCH weight loss was 1.4 times higher under aerobic conditions (3.4 day-1) higher than for anaerobic conditions. On the other hand, the RCH decay rate in the anaerobic process (0.0074 day-1) was 1.39 times higher. LCH was estimated to be 92% while RCH amounted to 8%. The LPH anaerobic decay was 5.2 times the value for the aerobic decay (0.67 day-1). For both conditions, RPH decay coefficients were similar (» 0.011 day-1). In the aerobic experiments LPH and RPH corresponded to 92.5% and 7.5%, respectively. For the anaerobic process these contents were 85.5% and 14.5%, respectively. From these results, we concluded that in the Cantá stream, the anaerobic degradation of phenols is more efficient than the aerobic counterpart. The aerobic condition provides a faster decay of carbohydrates of this plant.

Soluble ST2 Testing: A Promising Biomarker in the Management of Heart Failure

Abstract ST2 is a member of the interleukin-1 receptor family biomarker and circulating soluble ST2 concentrations are believed to reflect cardiovascular stress and fibrosis. Recent studies have demonstrated soluble ST2 to be a strong predictor of cardiovascular outcomes in both chronic and acute heart failure. It is a new biomarker that meets all required criteria for a useful biomarker. Of note, it adds information to natriuretic peptides (NPs) and some studies have shown it is even superior in terms of risk stratification. Since the introduction of NPs, this has been the most promising biomarker in the field of heart failure and might be particularly useful as therapy guide.

Inhibitory effect of cyclophosphamide on the biosynthesis of a perchloro-soluble protein fraction of ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells

The perchloro-soluble mucroptotein fraction was determined in the cells of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma on the 10th and 12th days post-inoculation of the tumor. After 3 days of a single subcutaneous dose of cyclophosphamide (200 mg/kg) the mucoprotein levels were found considerable lower. This difference was highly significant statistically.

Immunization with PIII, a fraction of Schistosoma mansoni soluble adult worm antigenic preparation, affects nitric oxide production by murine spleen cells

Nitric oxide (NO) is an important effector molecule involved in immune regulation and defense. NO produced by cytokine-activated macrophages was reported to be cytotoxic against the helminth Schistosoma mansoni. Identification and characterization of S. mansoni antigens that can provide protective immunity is crucial for understanding the complex immunoregulatory events that modulate the immune response in schistosomiasis. It is, then, essential to have available defined, purified parasite antigens. Previous work by our laboratory identified a fraction of S. mansoni soluble adult worm antigenic preparation (SWAP), named PIII, able to elicit significant in vitro cell proliferation and at the same time lower in vitro and in vivo granuloma formation when compared either to SEA (soluble egg antigen) or to SWAP. In the present work we report the effect of different in vivo trials with mice on their spleen cells ability to produce NO. We demonstrate that PIII-immunization is able to significantly increase NO production by spleen cells after in vitro stimulation with LPS. These data suggest a possible role for NO on the protective immunity induced by PIII.