Journal of Experimental Biology and Agricultural Sciences
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Optimizing Solvent Selection for Phytochemical Extraction from Senna alata (L.) Roxb. Leaves in Terengganu, Malaysia
Get PDFSenna alata is a medicinal plant known for its diverse phytochemicals, including flavonoids, phenolics, and tannins, which are primarily responsible for its antimicrobial activity. This experiment aimed to determine how total flavonoid content (TFC), total phenolic content (TPC), and total tannin content (TTC) are influenced by various extracting solvents from S. alata leaves collected from three districts in Terengganu, Malaysia. Four solvents were used to macerate the leaves: acetone, ethanol, ethyl acetate, and distilled water, at 50 °C for 72 hours. The extracts were quantified spectrophotometrically for TFC, TPC, and TTC. The results indicated no statistically significant differences in phytochemical yields among sampling locations, suggesting that geographical variation had a minimal effect on the concentrations of these compounds. However, the type of solvent significantly impacted the extraction efficiency. The highest TFC was observed in the ethyl acetate extract, with 2.908 mg of quercetin equivalent per gram. Both acetone and ethyl acetate were effective in extracting TPC, yielding 3.460 and 4.000 mg of gallic acid equivalent per gram, respectively. For TTC, acetone proved to be the best solvent, yielding 0.908 and 1.160 mg of tannic acid equivalent per gram. Throughout all parameters assessed, distilled water was the least effective at extracting these components. In summary, solvent polarity plays a crucial role in the extraction efficiency of S. alata leaves. These findings provide a foundation for optimizing solvent use in phytochemical extraction and offer practical insights for applications in the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and food industries
Screening of multifunctional PGPF and its efficacy on growth promotion of Oryza sativa L and Psophocarpus tetragonolobus L
Get PDFMultifunctional microorganisms with various plant growth-promoting abilities are highly desirable for the development of microbial formulations. This study examined eighteen rhizospheric isolates for their plant growth-promoting features, extracellular enzyme production, and eco-physiological properties in vitro. The isolates exhibited a range of plant growth-promoting traits. The most commonly observed characteristic was ammonia production (n=18), followed by phosphate solubilization and organic acid production (n=17). Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and siderophore production were noted in sixteen isolates. Seventeen isolates tested positive for lipase, fifteen for amylase, and fourteen for cellulose. These strains also demonstrated significant tolerance to salinity and heavy metals, exceeding globally accepted thresholds for polluted soils. Three isolates, namely Aspergillus niger, Trichoderma harzianum, and Penicillium commune, showed multiple plant growth-promoting abilities and were selected for further testing on Psophocarpus tetragonolobus and Oryza sativa. Among the selected three microorganisms, T. harzianum exhibited the highest germination rates, with 95% in P. tetragonolobus and 98.33% in O. sativa. Significant increases (p<0.05) in biomass, plant height, and root length were also recorded on the application of this microorganism. Furthermore, A. niger produced the most significant biomass increase in both crops. Inoculation with these fungal isolates significantly enhanced (p<0.05) seed germination and seedling growth. These strains demonstrate strong potential for development as bio-inoculants, providing a promising approach for sustainable agriculture
Agromorphological characterization of West African provenances of tiger nut (Cyperus esculentus, L.) for sustainable food and nutritional security in Senegal
Get PDFIn Senegal, agriculture is the primary source of employment, engaging nearly 70% of the active population. However, the sector faces challenges, such as high post-harvest losses and the degradation of natural resources, which hinder its performance. To promote sustainable development and enhance food and nutritional security, it is essential to encourage the cultivation of neglected and underutilized species with high nutritional value. This study aimed to assess the agromorphological characteristics of various tiger nut (Cyperus esculentus L.) provenances grown under Senegalese environmental conditions. The plant material consisted of mature, dry tubers from ten ecotypes originating from Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Benin, and Senegal. The experiments were conducted in a net house over a period of four months, during which various morphological growth parameters were assessed every 15 days. After the growth period, the plants were harvested, and different agronomic traits were recorded. The findings revealed significant agromorphological variability among the different tiger nut provenances. All measured traits, including plant height, chlorophyll content, tiller number, and shoot and root dry biomass, as well as tuber number, weight, size, and shape, showed considerable differences. For instance, ecotypes 2MALI and 1NIGE had the highest and lowest tuber dry weights, respectively, at 63.75g and 7.02g. Principal component analysis further highlighted strong correlations between certain parameters, such as the number of tillers and tubers. Cluster analysis categorized the C. esculentus provenances into three groups based on phenotypic similarity: Group I (1BENI, 2BENI, 2NIGE), Group II (1NIGE), and Group III (1BURK, 1MALI, 2SENE, 2BURK, 2MALI, 1SENE). These results indicate a considerable level of agromorphological variability among tiger nut provenances, providing a valuable foundation for scaling up the cultivation of this neglected and underutilized crop in Senegal
Field Evaluation of Local and Improved Cassava Varieties for Cassava Mosaic Begomoviruses in Lower Eastern Kenya Region
Get PDFCassava is a drought-tolerant crop that can help ensure long-term food security in Kenya. However, various diseases and climatic variations pose significant challenges to its production. One of the most detrimental diseases affecting cassava is cassava mosaic disease (CMD), primarily caused in East Africa by two viral species: East Africa Cassava Mosaic Virus (EACMV) and African Cassava Mosaic Virus (ACMV). This study focused on agronomically screening different cassava varieties for diseases and examining their prevalence across Makueni, Machakos, and Kitui Counties in Kenya, using an experimental design. The aim was to determine the cause of abnormal morphological changes observed in some cassava varieties in the field. The investigation revealed that all cassava varieties grown in Kitui, Makueni, and Machakos counties were affected by CMD, except for the bitter cassava variety grown in Kitui County. Morphological confirmation of CMD was conducted by carefully examining the disease characteristics in the field, supported by literature on cassava leaf diseases. Statistical analysis showed no significant difference in the prevalence of ACMV and EACMV among the locations (p = 0.3141 > 0.05) and (p = 0.1394 > 0.05) or between the cultivars (p = 0.3141 > 0.05) and (p = 0.1394 > 0.05), respectively. Additionally, molecular analysis performed on randomly selected leaves confirmed the presence of ACMV and EACMV in the three counties. For improved management of cassava, further research should focus on bitter cassava to better understand the genetic traits that make it less susceptible to CMD and to inform future breeding programs
Valorization and optimization of Pistachio Shell Biochar for Sustainable Reduction of Hexavalent Chromium [Cr(Ⅵ)]
Get PDFIn the leather tanning industry, wastewater often contains hazardous hexavalent chromium [Cr(Ⅵ)]. Adsorption is recognized as an effective method for treating this type of wastewater. However, commercial adsorbents can be costly. This study explores the conversion of pistachio shells into biochar as a cost-effective and reusable adsorbent for chromium removal. The results showed that pistachio shell biochar (PSB) effectively removed up to 400 mg L⁻¹ of Cr(Ⅵ) at a pH of 4, with a contact time of 50 hours and a biochar concentration of 1.2 g L⁻¹. Batch studies indicated that adsorption efficiency depends on pH, biochar dosage, chromium concentration, and contact time. FT-IR analysis identified key adsorption sites for chromium, while SEM images displayed multiple attachment locations. These findings confirm the potential of PSB as an efficient, sustainable, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly approach for chromium remediation
Life Table and Demographic Parameters of Helopeltis theivora Waterhouse (Hemiptera: Miridae)
Get PDFHelopeltis theivora is a significant pest of tea, causing economic losses through direct feeding damage to tender shoots in various tea-growing regions of Asia, including Malaysia. Understanding the population dynamics of this pest through life table analysis and demographic parameters is essential for identifying critical stages in its life cycle that influence population growth. Therefore, this study aimed to construct life tables and demographic parameters to assess the population dynamics of H. theivora on tea shoots. The experiment was conducted under controlled laboratory conditions at a temperature of 25 ± 1°C, a relative humidity of 70 ± 5%, and a 12:12 h light-dark photoperiod, using three cohorts of H. theivora, each consisting of 103, 105, and 113 one-day-old eggs. Observations were recorded daily on survival, mortality, and fecundity for each cohort to construct age-specific life tables and determine key demographic parameters. The life table analysis revealed that H. theivora exhibited a Type III survivorship curve, characterized by high mortality during the early developmental stages. The first instar nymphs experienced the highest mortality rate (22.47%), corresponding to a K-value of 0.111, indicating that this stage is crucial for managing the H. theivora population. Life expectancy (ex) for H. theivora decreased gradually as the individuals grew and developed. Overall, 40.81% of individuals reached adulthood, with a female-biased sex ratio of 1.0:0.92 (female to male). Female emergence began on day 23, while the last female died on day 69. Oviposition commenced on day 27 and continued until day 65, with a peak in egg-laying observed between days 34 and 45, accounting for 58.32% of the total egg production. On average, a female lived for 38.60 ± 1.60 days and laid approximately 160.47 ± 16.33 eggs during her lifetime. Demographic analysis revealed a high reproductive potential, with a net reproductive rate (R0) of 29.56 female offspring per female per generation, a mean generation time (Tc) of 38.68 days, an intrinsic rate of natural increase (rm) of 0.09 offspring per female per day, a finite rate of increase (λ) of 1.09 female offspring per female per day, and a population doubling time (DT) of 7.92 days. The results of this study indicate that management strategies should be implemented during the early nymphal stages, particularly during the first instar, to suppress the H. theivora population effectively
Identification and characterization of Sw5a, Ty1/Ty3, and Pelota gene in chilli plant against Chilli Leaf Curl Disease
Get PDFChili leaf curl virus disease (ChiLCVD), caused by begomoviruses, significantly hinders chili (Capsicum annuum L.) production globally. Begomoviruses manipulate protein interactions to undermine host defense mechanisms. This study focused on three key resistance genes, namely Sw5a, Ty1/Ty3, and a Pelota-like gene, which are involved in defending against the Chilli leaf curl virus (ChiLCV). These genes were identified in chili plants through their interactions with ChiLCV in tomato plants, retrieved, and subjected to BLAST analysis against C. annuum genomes. A comprehensive characterization included analyses of conserved motifs and domains, protein-protein interactions, and phylogenetic relationships in both chili and tomato plants. Additionally, molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations were performed on the Pelota protein with plant-derived compounds from Nirgundi (Vitex negundo), which were identified through GC-MS analysis. Seven conserved motifs were identified across homologous proteins, highlighting domains such as the aRF1/eRF1/PelA superfamily, NB-ARC, RdRP, and RX-CC-like domains. The Pelota protein was found to interact directly with RDRP, suggesting its crucial role in resistance. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that all protein sequences clustered within the same evolutionary branch for both chili and tomato. Among the 48 ligands tested, oleanolic acid displayed the highest binding energy (-6.3 kcal/mol), followed by vitrofloal-E and acetyl oleanolic acid. These findings emphasize the potential of V. negundo compounds to enhance resistance in the non-mutated Pelota protein, mimicking natural resistance mechanisms. This study advances our understanding of molecular resistance pathways in ChiLCV and highlights the therapeutic potential of natural plant compounds as sustainable solutions to mitigate ChiLCVD
Heavy Metals as Environmental Carcinogens: Implications for Lung Cancer in Humans
Get PDFEnvironmental causes of lung cancer are often overlooked, despite being one of the most common forms of cancer. This review critically analyzes both existing and emerging literature on the impact of human activity on the presence of heavy metals such as arsenic, nickel, chromium, and cadmium in the environment, and assesses their effects on lung cancer. While more research is needed to understand the genomic and epigenomic mechanisms by which these metals affect oxidative stress responses, inflammatory responses, and DNA damage response systems, this work emphasizes the importance of regulating their emissions to protect public health from harmful concentrations or chronic exposure. This study highlights the need to reconstruct toxicity studies not only based on exposure levels but also by considering fluctuations and the synergistic effects of these metals. This approach can lead to a better understanding of lung cancer risk and help in developing more accurate preventive and regulatory policies
Molecular Interactions of Mycobacterial Transporter for Novel Antimicrobial Strategies
Get PDFEfflux mechanisms for extruding antimicrobials, mediated by multidrug transporters, are key contributors to multidrug resistance in mycobacteria. The current study focused on molecular interaction analysis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis multidrug transporter implicated in multidrug and antimicrobial resistance. We screened a library of efflux transporter inhibitors against the protein structure to identify a lead compound that can potentially inhibit the transporter significantly. The efflux transporter sequence was modeled based on crystallized templates using protein structure prediction and molecular docking. The analysis deduced molecular interactions and critical binding residues that can be targeted as novel biotherapeutics strategies against multidrug transporters of mycobacteria. This study paves the way for targeting multidrug and antimicrobial resistance in the mycobacteria, offering hope for developing effective treatments
Heat Pump Drying of Nutmeg Pericarp: Engineering Properties, Drying Kinetics, and Haghi-Angiz-II Modelling for Process Optimisation
Get PDFThis study investigates the engineering properties of nutmeg pericarp and develops a mathematical model to describe its drying behavior in a heat pump dryer. Nutmeg pericarp, an underutilized part of the nutmeg fruit, is a rich source of phytochemicals but is highly perishable, necessitating immediate postharvest drying for further processing. Drying experiments were conducted at a controlled temperature of 55°C and a relative humidity of 37%. Regression modeling was used to analyze the drying kinetics, utilizing MATLAB R2020a and R Studio software. Various statistical metrics, including the coefficient of determination (R²), adjusted R², and root mean square error (RMSE), were evaluated to determine the predictive accuracy of different thin-layer drying models. Among the models assessed, the Haghi and Angiz-II model best fit the experimental data, achieving the highest R² value of 0.999. A scatter plot comparing the experimental and predicted moisture ratios further confirmed the reliability of this model. The effective moisture diffusivity ranged from 2.1 × 10⁻⁸ to 9.08 × 10⁻⁸ m²/s. Additionally, the quality assessment indicates that heat pump drying positively influences the key quality attributes of nutmeg pericarp