Journal of Applied and Natural Science
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Isolation and extraction of gallic acid from Hylocereus undatus and a biochemical and histological study on laboratory Wistar albino rats with induced rheumatoid arthritis
Get PDFThe herb Hylocereus undatus, which is rich in phytochemicals and thought to contain antioxidants comparable to those in its peel, has a lot of promise for use in the food field. The presented study aimed to study the protective effect of the aqueous extrac and the active compounds (gallic acid) isolated from the dragon fruit (H. undates) to lessen the impact of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) induced by Freund\u27s Complete Adjuvant (CFA)) by studying some of the changes in biochemical and histochemical parameters. The Wistar albino rats (male) were divided into four groups viz., Group I : A negative control group, dosed only with plain water orally, Group II : Induced for RA by CFA, a positive control group; Group III: dosed with aqueous extract of the fruit of H. undatus (kg/500 mg); and Group IV: dosed with gallic acid isolated from this fruit (kg/mg20). The results showed a significant increase in malondialdehyde (MDA), platelet, interleukin 6 ( IL-6), and RF in rats treated with CFA and a significant decrease in Hb compared to the negative control group. There was a significant decrease of MDA, Platelet, IL-6, and RF in the groups treated with aqueous extract and a significant increase in Hb compared with the positive control group while there was a significant decrease in each of MDA, platelets, IL-6, and RF. Based on a histological analysis, the study group\u27s liver and kidneys had smaller lesions and different abnormalities than the control . Thus, the fruit plant\u27s gallic acid extracts were protective in reducing RA damage caused by CFA and improving kidney and liver tissue
Effect of aromatic plants on the pork’s, beef’s, and sheep’s fats quality
Get PDFFoods rich in lipids, particularly meat and subcutaneous fat, are important macronutrient sources that can influence food quality and health. Lipids can unexpectedly oxidize due to several variables, including processing, storage conditions, and microbial deterioration. Antioxidants are one of the many methods employed to reduce lipid oxidation. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the effect of nine aromatic plants (oregano (Origanum vulgare), thymus (Thymus vulgaris), lemon balm (Melissa officinalis), nutmeg (Myristica fragrans), coriander seed (Coriandrum sativum), fennel seed (Foeniculum vulgare), rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus), basil (Ocimum basilicum), and mint (Mentha spicata)) on pork, beef, and sheep fats during a maturation and storage process lasting 210 days. The animals’ fats lipolytic quality was monitored by analyzing the acidity index and degree, peroxidation and TBA index, and total fatty acid composition. The findings revealed that nutmeg, thymus, and rosemary protected against studied fats hydrolysis by showing minimum values of 27.7 mg, 32.5 mg, and 28.6 mg of KOH/g of fat, respectively. Despite hydrolysis, three plants, nutmeg, oregano, and coriander seed, had a substantial preventive effect against fat oxidation. Supplementation fats with these three aromatic plants had the lowest peroxidation and TBA indexes with values of 0.368 mg, 0.422 mg, and 0.806 mg of MDA/kg of fat, respectively. This was also represented in the percentage of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Adding aromatic plants had a significant effect on animals’ fat quality. They reduced fat hydrolysis, protected fat against oxidation, and improved fat’s total fatty acid composition, nutritional and health quality.
Molecular detection of genetic types of Cryptosporidium parvum parasite causing diarrhoea in Mosul city
Get PDFCryptosporidium is a crucial zoonotic parasite that leads to self-limiting gastroenteritis. The primary species responsible for cryptosporidiosis are Cryptosporidium hominis and C. parvum. The objective of the study was the microscopic identification using the Modified Zeihl Neelsen and floatation using the sugar sheather solution, as well as using the molecular identification technology via the Nested Polymerase Chain Reaction (nPCR) to detect the 18SrRNA gene with DNA sequence analysis and the phylogenetic tree of some positive samples from various areas of Mosul city. Stool samples from 154 children under five with diarrhoea were collected at Ibn AlAtheer Teaching Hospital in Nineveh Governorate from July to December 2023. Samples were tested for Cryptosporidium using Modified Zeihl Neelsen stain and floatation techniques. DNA extraction and nPCR were performed for molecular analysis. The study showed that the infection percentage was 20.77% for 32 samples out of the total number of samples 154 stool samples, which were tested and microscopically identified in addition to the results of the molecular test that was conducted by using the Nested Polymerase Chain Reaction (nPCR) (32 samples were positive and 122 samples were negative) to confirm the accuracy of the microscope examination. The percentage of infection with C. parvum parasite was observed to be 18.75%, and the DNA sequencing of the infected samples was conducted. The three new isolates emerged for the first time in the Nineveh governorate and were registered at the National Center for the Biological Information (NCBI) with serial numbers (PP669700, PP669699, and PP669701).
Antibacterial and antibiofilm activity of cinnamic acid against Multidrug-resistant bacteria isolated from Ramadi Teaching hospitals, Iraq
Get PDFVarious bacterial pathotypes remain a significant public health concern due to their pathogenicity and antimicrobial resistance. Moreover, the ability of bacteria to form biofilms can hinder host defense and antimicrobial eradication, leading to additional resistance. This study aimed to estimate the cinnamic acid\u27s anti-biofilm activity against biofilms-producing bacteria. From October to November 2023, various clinical isolates were obtained from the Bacteriology Unit, Ramadi Teaching Hospital, Iraq. All isolates were identified using a conventional and automated VITEK-2 compact system. Based on the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines and the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST), the Kirby- Bauer disk diffusion and AST were performed for antimicrobial susceptibility. Biofilm formation was estimated using a 96-well Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) reader. Based on the antimicrobial susceptibility test, all bacterial isolates showed antibiotic resistance, including Kleibsella pneumonieae, Psuedomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The data showed that MICs of cinnamic acid against bacteria were 125 μg /ml.The biofilms formed by all isolates exhibited strong strength (OD570 : 0.078-0.099). Cinnamic acid demonstrated significant inhibition of biofilm production in Multidrug resistance (MDR) bacteria (P-value = 0.0236). The results indicated that Cinnamic acid could be a promising anti-infective agent based on its ability to inhibit MDR-bacterial infections through biofilm formation.
Contribution to the optimization of citrus (Citrus clementina Hort. Ex Tanaka) fruit fertilization using mobile lysimetry in orchards of the Souss-Massa region, Morocco
Get PDFThe growth and development of citrus trees and the quality of their fruits are significantly influenced by the essential role of mineral plant nutrition. This study aimed to improve the productivity of the citrus (Citrus clementina Hort. Ex Tanaka) orchards by optimizing mineral nutrition through well-monitored fertilization and fertigation aspects using lysimetry. The first phase consisted of studying the behavior of the nutrients in the soil solution at the high root concentration level, analysis of the nutritional status of five varieties of clementines (Sidi Aissa, Cadoux, Orogrande, Nules, and Nour), and the variation of leaf composition in major elements (Nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, and calcium) for the five varieties along phenological stages, through the exploitation of the results of analyses carried out for the management of mineral nutrition in 47 plots of citrus fruit in the Souss-Massa region with the use of lysimetry. The results obtained in this first part revealed an important variation of the nutrients in the soil solution (55.24%) in terms of water inputs, fertilizers, and edaphic conditions, as well as a large variation of foliar compositions (62.98%). The second phase, consisting of regular monitoring of the mineral nutrition dynamics targeting the “Nules” variety grafted on “Citrus macrophylla” affirmed the importance of the citrus fertilization approach for determining the availability, distribution, nutrient interactions in soil solution and plant response by regular leaf diagnostics. Thus, mobile lysimetry offered a powerful tool for achieving both productivity and sustainability in citrus fertilization programs.
Influence of vegetation index to the rainfall intensity in Pasuruan Area, East Java Province, Indonesia
Get PDFAn increase in population increases the rate of urbanization. This results in changes in land cover from vegetation to artificial material. As a result, much of the land surface reflects the sun\u27s energy. Consequently, this increases the surface temperature of the land. An increase in land surface temperature (LST) will increase the intensity of rainfall. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the relationship between the increase in LST and rainfall intensity. Changes in land cover can be detected by normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and normalized difference built-up index (NDBI) parameters. Landsat satellite imagery was used to detect NDVI, NDBI, and LST. Image processing was done for imageries scanned in 1995, 2015, 2017, and 2021. Two areas in the East Java Province of Indonesia, namely Malang City and Pasuruan Area, were selected. The daily rainfall intensity data were collected from related rainfall stations in the same year. The Mononobe method was applied to analyze hourly and minute rainfall intensity. IDF curves were drawn from the analyzed results. The relationship between both parameters was analyzed by comparing the LST and hourly rainfall intensity from the IDF curve. The studied results showed that the maximum temperature increase from 1995 to 2021 for the Malang City and Pasuruan Area was 2.60 C and 7.60 C, respectively. For rain, the maximum rainfall intensity increased by 58 mm for Malang City and 18 mm for the Pasuruan Area. LST and rainfall intensity change trends of the two areas had a positive coefficient of regression. The findings can be used to predict the rainfall intensity and floods based on the LST data.
Prevalence of β-lactamase enzymes and molecular detection of the AmpC gene in Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from various clinical infections
Get PDFMost species of Gram-negative bacteria produce the enzyme β-lactamase, which can inactivate the structure of β-lactam antibiotics. Pseudomonas aeruginosa has revealed countless resistances to β-lactam antibiotics and others over the last few decades. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the prevalence of ampicillin β-lactamase (AmpC) enzymes, conduct a molecular investigation of the AmpC gene expressing the enzymes and assess their impact on the widespread occurrence of antibiotic resistance in P. aeruginosa. One hundred and fourteen P. aeruginosa isolates were collected from wounds, UTIs, burns, ears, and sputum and identified using various culture media, tests, and the VITEK 2 compact system. The isolates were identified, exhibiting high resistance rates of 100% to Ampicillin and 95.4% to Nalidixic acid. They also demonstrated resistance rates of 18.2% to Chloramphenicol and 22.7% to Ciprofloxacin. The Iodometric method test revealed that 63.1% produced β-lactamase enzymes, while the remaining 36.8% did not produce β-lactamase enzymes. The finding of the CHROM agar and Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamases) ESBLs (tests showed that 100% of isolates produced broad-spectrum β-lactamase. The double disk synergy test (DDST) for detecting AmpC enzymes showed that 19.2% tested positive, while 80.7% were unable to produce these enzymes. Molecular detection of the AmpC gene revealed that 81.8% of the isolates possessed this gene, while 18.1% did not. Out of the 22 isolates of P. aeruginosa studied, 18 exhibited a high percentage of the AmpC gene. This gene produces penicillinase enzymes, contributing to resistance against most studied antibiotics.
Physiological and biochemistry response of mustard greens (Brassica juncea var. Tosakan) to iron and zinc biofortification
Get PDFIron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) agronomically biofortification is required on mustard greens, as their nutritional value is still insufficient to meet human needs. This biofortification is anticipated to meet the dietary requirements of Zn and Fe to prevent the stunting phenomenon. This investigation aimed to examine the consequences of foliar Fe and Zn with varying concentrations (T1 to T16) on the physiology and biochemistry of biofortified mustard. The research was carried out in a greenhouse located in Karang-anyar, Central Java, Indonesia using a randomized block design (RBD) with two factors, namely Fe-EDTA and Zn-EDTA, each concentration of 0; 0.2; 0.4; 0.6 gl-1 with three replications. Fe and Zn were applied on the 21st day after sowing with foliar spray. The results showed that Fe biofortification up to a concentration of 0.6 g L-1 with or without a combination of Zn can increase physiological and biochemical parameters in mustard greens, namely photosynthetic rate up to 6.747 µmol m-2 s-1(T15) transpiration rate 0.653 µmol m-2 s-1 (T5) stomatal conductance 18.854 µmol m-2 s-1(T5) number of stomata by 283.7 (T13), stomatal opening width by 7.777 µm (T16), iron content by 56.109 mg kg-1 (T14), but Zn content can only increase when Zn is added alone without Fe, an increase in Zn up to 18.127 mg kg-1 (T4).This study showed that Fe and Zn biofortification up to a concentration of 0.6 g L-1 was able to improve the biochemicals of mustard greens, especially their Fe and Zn contents and also the physiology of mustard greens.
Aerial photo database model of Indonesia\u27s national territory in a Geospatial intelligence perspective
Get PDFThe National Aerial Photo Database is a collection of aerial photographs obtained through aerial photography using specific cameras or sensors with manned or unmanned aerial vehicles across the territory of the Republic of Indonesia. These photographs are stored in a computer system for easy access, management, and updating. No national aerial photo database system currently meets the need for accurate and complete aerial photos and other geospatial information to support decision-making. The present study aimed to develop a model for the National Aerial Photo Database from a geospatial intelligence perspective based on statutory regulations. The collection of aerial photo data in a centralized database commenced with scanning negative film based on location and flight paths and copying all digital data. The original negative films were scanned at 20 μm resolution in a Vexcel Ultrascan 5000 photogrammetry scanner. The resulting size of one scanned photo is 140 Mb to 160 Mb. This research adopts a qualitative research method with a case study approach. This research involved the electronic implementation of geospatial data and information by utilizing Geographic Information System (GIS) software, image and geospatial information data management, and the Scrum framework. This research concluded that geospatial intelligence efforts can better understand activity patterns, infrastructure development, and potential threats in the national territory. The insights gained from the aerial photo database aid in identifying trends, detecting anomalies, and assessing risks, all of which are critical for better decision-making in national security.
Combining ability of quality protein maize (Zea mays L.) inbred lines for agronomic, yield and quality traits in temperate hilly regions of Kashmir, India
Get PDFThe combining ability provides insightful information about the genetic mechanisms that govern the inheritance of traits and enables the identification of potential inbred lines ; and promising hybrid combinations for crop improvement. However, most studies on quality protein maize (QPM) have focused on nutritional aspects, and very few are focused on their combining ability. In addition, studies on the adaptation, hybrid performance and stability of QPM in temperate areas remain scarce.Therefore, the present study sought to examine the combining ability of eight QPM inbred lines (QPM13, QPM14, QPM20, QPM21, QPM49, QPM50, VQL1, and VQL17). These 8 lines were subjected to half-diallel mating. Consequently, 28 crosses obtained were further evaluated in the temperate region of Kashmir against one check and parents in the RCBD, with three replications in a single row.The results revealed significant variances for general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) for most of the recorded agronomic, yield, and quality traits. The crosses QPM49 × VQL1, QPM 13 × QPM14, QPM21 × VQL17, QPM13 × QPM50 and QPM50 × VQL17 were found to perform best in terms of earliness in tasselling (-1.842), silking (-1.204), days to mature (-2.654), highest yield (12.875 g)and protein content (1.113%), respectively. These promising crosses can be viable material sources for future QPM variety development programs in temperate regions.