Journal of Experimental Biology and Agricultural Sciences
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Therapeutic potential of Momordica charantia L. var. abbreviata leaves and stem crude extract against acetaminophen-induced liver damage in Sprague-Dawley rats
Get PDFThis study investigated the therapeutic potential of Momordica charantia L. var. abbreviata leaves and stem crude extract in treating acetaminophen-induced liver damage in Sprague-Dawley rats. The research evaluated the effects of liver treatment by analyzing the phytochemical components, histopathological changes, and biochemical markers of liver function, specifically Serum Glutamic Oxaloacetic Transaminase (SGOT) and Serum Glutamic Pyruvic Transaminase (SGPT). The experimental study involved administering varying concentrations of the M. charantia L. var. abbreviata extract, namely 200 mg/10 mL, 400 mg/10 mL, and 800 mg/11 mL, to test rats with acetaminophen-induced liver damage. The levels of SGOT and SGPT enzymes were measured. The results indicated that the crude extract contains beneficial phytochemicals, and its administration led to significant reductions in both SGOT and SGPT levels, suggesting a hepatotreatment effect. Histopathological analysis further supported these findings, showing improvements in liver tissue damage that surpassed those observed in the positive control group. The study results indicate that M. charantia L. var. abbreviata shows hepatotreatment potential, offering a promising alternative treatment for acetaminophen-induced liver damage
Molecular Characterization of Macherla Sheep: Comparative Genetic Insights with the Nellore Brown Sheep
Get PDFIndigenous sheep breeds are vital to the livelihoods of small and marginal farmers because of their adaptability to harsh environments and their efficient use of local feed resources. In Andhra Pradesh, the Nellore Brown sheep is well-known for its superior meat quality and adaptability, while the lesser-known Macherla sheep has received limited scientific attention. The present study aimed to characterize the Macherla sheep at the molecular level and assess its genetic differentiation from Nellore Brown sheep using microsatellite markers. A total of 50 blood samples were collected from unrelated animals of both populations. Genomic DNA was extracted and genotyped using 25 FAO-recommended microsatellite loci. The study identified 262 alleles in the Macherla population and 253 in the Nellore Brown population, with mean allele numbers per locus of 9.88 and 10.25, respectively. The number of private alleles (alleles unique to each breed) was 91 for Macherla and 81 for Nellore Brown sheep. The mean observed heterozygosity (Ho) was 0.593 for both groups, while the mean expected heterozygosity (He) was 0.74 for Macherla and 0.73 for Nellore Brown. The polymorphic information content (PIC) ranged from 0.640 to 0.927 for Macherla and from 0.698 to 0.922 for Nellore Brown, indicating the high informativeness of the markers used. Furthermore, bottleneck analysis revealed no evidence of recent genetic bottlenecks in either population. The pairwise FST value of 0.059 and Nei's unbiased genetic distance of 0.212 indicated moderate genetic differentiation between the two populations. Population structure and factorial correspondence analyses suggested breed admixture, likely due to gene flow between the populations. Overall, this study provides the first molecular insights into Macherla sheep, highlighting its distinct genetic identity and underscoring the need to conserve it as a valuable local genetic resource
Plant growth-promoting properties of endophytic bacteria isolated from Cotton roots (Gossypium hirsutum L.) cultivated in soils from two contrasted Southern-East regions in Senegal
Get PDFEndophytic bacteria are microorganisms that play critical roles in plant physiology and ecosystem function. Among them, plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) significantly promote plant growth, enhance stress resistance, and increase crop yields. However, limited information is available on the endophytic bacteria associated with cotton roots (Gossypium hirsutum L.). This study aimed to determine the diversity of plant growth-promoting (PGP) functions of cotton root endophytic bacteria cultivated in soils from two geographical regions in Senegal: Koussanar and Syllacounda. A cotton trapping culture was conducted using soil samples collected from these two regions to isolate and characterize root endophytic bacteria. Various traits, including morphological characteristics (size and color), physiological traits (Gram and catalase tests), and biochemical traits (phosphate solubilization, siderophore production, and auxin production), were measured in this study. The results revealed significant differences in soil properties and environmental conditions between the two regions. A total of 96 endophytic bacteria with distinct PGP traits were isolated from cotton roots in Koussanar, while 79 were isolated from the Syllacounda region. Among the 175 isolates, 82 were identified as Gram-negative, 35 exhibited catalase activity, and 48 emitted green fluorescence. All isolates tested positive for indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production, while 124 produced siderophores, and only 68 were capable of solubilizing phosphorus. When comparing the two sites, Koussanar had a higher number of Gram-negative isolates that were catalase-positive and produced siderophores. In contrast, Syllacounda had a greater number of isolates with fluorescence activity and phosphorus solubilization abilities. Some endophytic bacterial isolates, such as K2, K13, K20, K35, K49, K53, K54, and K60 from Koussanar, as well as S5, S6, S11, S15, S20, S21, S38, S40, S47, S51, S64, S72, and S79 from Syllacounda, demonstrated the best PGP performances. The findings of this study suggest that these endophytic bacteria are promising candidates as bioinoculants for promoting cotton plant growth and protection
Genome Editing Technologies towards Tomato Improvement: Recent Advances and Future Perspectives
Get PDFTomato (Solanum lycopersicon L.) is the world's second major vegetable crop and a superior model plant for studies on fruit biology. However, the changing climatic conditions are hugely impacting the yield and quality of tomato. CRISPR/Cas9 technology has been widely used in tomato breeding for enhanced disease resistance, herbicide tolerance, domestication and urban farming of wild tomato, and improved fruit yield and quality. Furthermore, new and advanced editing systems like Cas12a, Cas12b, base editing, and prime editing have been recently applied for high-precision tomato improvement. CRISPR variants, PAM-less genome editing, advanced transformation protocols, and gene delivery systems have played a critical role in fast breeding. This review offers an informative summary of recent progress in various genome editing methods and applications for improving tomatoes. It also focuses on critical issues, regulatory concerns, and prospects of genome editing platforms to improve tomato and allied crops
Unveiling the positive impacts of the genus Rhodococcus on plant and environmental health
Get PDFOrganic farming has emerged as a sustainable solution to the adverse effects (diminished nutritional value, compromised food quality, environmental contamination, and public health hazards) that are usually associated with harmful chemical pesticides. To overcome such loss, one must explore the plant-associated microbes that are the naturally occurring root commensal and could positively improve crop health. In this review, we highlight the importance of the bacterial genus Rhodococcus, a subset of Actinobacteria that carries immense potential in enhancing crop yield and is associated with bioremediation of toxic pesticides and other chemicals to improve soil health. However, it has been noticed that few species of Rhodococcus are pathogenic for the plant (R. fascians) as well as humans/animals (R. equi). But still, the majority of Rhodococcus isolates are found to be non-pathogenic and carry substantial beneficial traits. Here, we have attempted to comprise those beneficial traits of the different members of the genus Rhodococcus. The main emphasis of this review article is to explore the major areas such as enzyme production, phytohormone synthesis, growth regulation, siderophore production, bioremediation, organic compound degradation, and environmental pollution control. Opinions towards the applications of advanced methodologies for utilizing the cumulative prospective potential of the genus Rhodococcus have also been discussed in the different sections of the review. Conclusively, this article gathers the scattered information from the past and recent literature about this bacteria and provides the future direction about how it can improve plant/soil health and eliminate toxic chemicals and environmental pollutants
CRISPR driven Cyanobacterial Metabolic Engineering and its role in metabolite production
Get PDFRecently, the advancement in sustainable methods for fabricating novel metabolites is one of the prime challenges in metabolic engineering. The current increase in fuel prices and its limited supply made the scientific community more concerned about finding an alternate source of fuel generation. Scientists are now interested in biofuel because of its low cost and ease of production. An intriguing area of research in metabolic engineering is using imaginative manipulation of microbes to manufacture chemicals or molecules of commercial importance. One such bacterium whose commercial potential is rapidly attracting the attention of the scientific fraternity is Cyanobacteria, which are either single-celled or multi-cellular filamentous photosynthetic organisms that can also fix CO2. The generation of biofuel has been transformed by the use of CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) technology in cyanobacteria, which allows for precise genetic alterations to improve their metabolic processes. Scientists can effectively modify the cyanobacterial genome using CRISPR to increase lipid accumulation, maximize photosynthetic efficiency, and enhance stress tolerance. Cyanobacteria have gained attention in the scientific community as a potential source for biofuel production due to several advantageous characteristics like photosynthetic capacity, genetic manipulation, lack of dependency on fertile land, high biomass yield, versatile biofuel production etc. which our present manuscript aims to catalogue. Cyanobacteria play a pivotal role in developing environmentally friendly energy solutions by converting CO2 into renewable energy sources, serving as a flexible platform for producing different types of biofuels and reducing greenhouse gas emissions
Medicinal value of Lippia multiflora Mondenke flowers in the fight of oral and dental infections
Get PDFOral infections pose a significant global health issue. This study assessed the antibacterial properties of methanol and dichloromethane extracts from Lippia multiflora flowers against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 43300 and Streptococcus mutans ATCC 2517, two bacteria known to cause oral infections. The study measured the ability of these flower extracts to inhibit the growth and biofilm formation of S. aureus and S. mutans using micro-dilution and crystal violet methods, respectively. Additionally, we analyzed the presence of secondary metabolites in the extracts both qualitatively and quantitatively. The antioxidant properties of the extracts were evaluated using DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP methods. The results indicated that the dichloromethane extract demonstrated a more substantial bactericidal effect than the methanolic extract against S. mutans and S. aureus, with minimal bactericidal concentrations of 0.25 ± 0.02 mg/mL and 3.13 ± 0.30 mg/mL, respectively. Furthermore, the dichloromethane extract at a 100 µg/mL concentration exhibited the highest anti-biofilm activity against both S. aureus and S. mutans. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, quinones, and tannins in both extracts. The total phenolic content was higher in the methanolic extract (49.57 ± 2.74 mg EAG/100 mg) compared to the dichloromethane extract (25.71 ± 0.39 mg EAG/100 mg). Similarly, the total flavonoid content was more significant in the methanolic extract (2.87 ± 0.049 mg EQ/100 mg) than in the dichloromethane extract (2.24 ± 0.02 mg EQ/100 mg). The methanolic extract also exhibited superior anti-DPPH and anti-ABTS activities, as well as a higher Fe (III) reduction potential than the dichloromethane extract (P < 0.05). These findings suggest that L. multiflora flowers could serve as a potential source of antimicrobial agents for combating oral infections
Effects of Elicitation on Invitro Regeneration of two Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) Cultivars in Tissue Culture
Get PDFExploring alternative avenues, in vitro culture emerges as a promising option for potential bioactive compound sources. However, compared to intact plants, only a few cultures demonstrate efficient synthesis of secondary metabolites. Elicitors have gained prominence as stress agents for enhancing in vitro micropropagation in specific tissues, organs, and cells. Recent advancements in plant tissue culture involve elicitors, opening new possibilities for in vitro production of crucial food crops. This research aimed to investigate the impact of three elicitors (Activane®, Micobiol®, and Stemicol®) on germination and in vitro multiplication of two tomato cultivars explants, employing both direct and indirect in vitro organogenesis. Among the texted elicitors, Micobiol® emerged as a successful elicitor, promoting optimal seed germination, survival, and 100% growth compared to the 80% in the control group. Further, Activane® exhibited a favourable induction response and achieved 96%, 95%, and 100% in weight and diameter of callus, yet various elicitor concentrations did not exert significant influence across treatments. In conclusion, an effective disinfection and in vitro implantation of tomato seeds ensured successful germination, promoting seedling survival and growth. Various elicitors positively impacted in vitro organogenesis, particularly in root induction, with higher survival percentages in acclimatized plants. The study guides future research on elicitor treatments for large-scale tomato in vitro propagation, emphasizing the need to identify optimal elicitor concentrations
AN ASSESSMENT OF PESTICIDE POISONING INCIDENCES PRESENTED AT HEALTH CARE FACILITIES IN MASHONALAND CENTRAL PROVINCE, ZIMBABWE
Get PDFAcute Pesticide Poisoning (APP) is a significant problem in developing countries, causing loss of productivity and fatalities in the agricultural sector. However, limited information on the connection between pesticide use, APP, and deaths in Zimbabwe is available. This study aimed to evaluate incidents that resulted in APP and identify the specific pesticides that caused them at Health Care Facilities (HCFs) in Mashonaland Central Province. Researchers conducted a survey asking standardized questions to gather information on APP cases from 93 HCFs. Descriptive statistics and chi-square association tests for APP cases in the targeted HCFs were calculated using IBM SPSS version 22. The study found that 43% of APP cases were due to pesticides belonging to the World Health Organization (WHO) class II acute toxicity category, while 26.1% were caused by Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs). Most of the cases were due to intentional poisoning (87.1%), with the majority (55.9%) of APP incidents being males. The highest APP cases were recorded in the 21-30 age group (38.8%), followed by the 31-40 age group (32.8%). These results emphasize the significant impact of intentional poisoning by WHO class II type pesticides, particularly HHPs, on the incidence of APP in Zimbabwe. To mitigate the impact of HHPs on human health, it is recommended that the government of Zimbabwe consider pesticide risk reduction measures, such as stricter pesticide registration criteria, import restrictions, and the promotion of less toxic alternatives. These findings highlight the urgent need for policymakers, researchers, and other stakeholders in the agricultural sector to work collaboratively towards creating a safer and more sustainable farming environment in Zimbabwe
Influence of particle size fraction and bioactive compound contents on the biological activities of Solanum torvum L. leaf powder extracts
Get PDFThis study investigates the bioactive compound content and biological activities of raw powder extracts and particle size fractions from Solanum torvum leaves. The leaves, harvested from Douala, were processed into powders and subsequently divided into different fractions. Methanolic extracts of these powders were analyzed for their content of bioactive compounds (total polyphenols, total flavonoids, and condensed tannins), antioxidant (DPPH, ABTS, FRAP assays), and antimicrobial (bacterial and fungal) activities. The particle size fraction of 250-400 µm constitutes the largest proportion (33.41%) of the raw powder. The highest contents of bioactive compounds are found in the 200-250, 400-500, and < 125 µm fractions for total polyphenols (44.62 ± 0.19 mg GEA/100 ml extract), total flavonoids (14.47 ± 0.37 mg QE/100 ml extract), and condensed tannins (22.79 ± 0.12 mg CE/100 ml extract), respectively. The antioxidant activity of extracts from 500-800µm fraction improved their DPPH and ABTS assays by 31.50% and 40.44% compared to the raw powder. The same fraction (500-800 µm) and the raw powder extracts demonstrated bactericidal activities, while the 125-200, 200-250, and ≥ 800 µm fraction extracts exhibited moderate and significant antifungal activities against several bacterial and fungal strains, respectively. These biological activities are primarily attributed to the average flavonoid contents, which become more accessible in extracts after fractionation. This method of processing powder suggests that no plant powder should be disregarded or rejected due to its low content of bioactive compounds