Biology

To improve the cell protoco~ for Gymnema syivestre, we investlgated the influence of initial sucrose concentration, inocuKum density, and optima[ concentrations of auxins (IBA and NAA) in flask cultures, as we[[ as the role of aeration volume in bioreactor cultures. Cell growth was enhanced 9-fo~d when the medium was supplemented wlth 3% sucrose versus a sucrose-flee environment. Increasing the inocuJum density to 60 g (wet weight) [_-1 but no further, greatly improved the growth of these cultures. All concentrations of [BA proved inhibitory while supp[ementation with $ mg L -I NAA was assoclated with significantly higher dry-cell weights. In our bioreactor cultures, a step-wise increase in aerMion volume from 0.05 to @40 wm was optimal for cell growth. Although blomass (i.e., fresh weight) accumulated in the bioreactor up until Day 20, the dry-col| weights increased 10-fold, but only through Day 15. ]-he internal dynamics of our culture media indicated that sucrose was preferentially utilized and that its concentration steeply decreased at the [og phase~ [n contrast, both gNucose and fructose supplies were exhausted onJy at the beginnlng of the declining phase. Our findlngs suggest that a 15-d culture period is optima[ for G. sylvestre ceK~ growth in a bioreactoro

The Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.Czern & Coss) cv. Varuna plants subjected to sulfur stress were studied for changes in dry matter accumulation, root:shoot ratio, Chl content, Chl a:b, net photosynthetic rate, S uptake, photosynthetic sulfur use efficiency, total protein content, and enzymatic activities of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (RuBPC), nitrate reductase (NR) and ATP-sulfurylase. Starvation of sulfur significantly reduced most of the parameters studied except ATP-sulfurylase which was induced under deficient sulfur level.

Thirty-day-old plants of mustard (Brassica juncea L.) were sprayed with 10−10, 10−8, or 10−6 M aqueous solution of 28-homobrassinolide (HBR). The HBR-treated plants were healthier than those treated with water and yielded more. Maximum increase over control was found in 60-d-old, 10−8 M-HBR-treated plants in fresh and dry mass per plant, carbonic anhydrase (CA, E.C. 4.2.1.1) activity, and net photosynthetic rate (P N), at harvest in number of pods per plant and seed yield per plant (the respective values were 25, 30, 34, 69, 24, and 29 %). A further increase in the concentration of HBR (10−6 M) did not make any additional impact on the growth and yield. Increased CA activity and P N were correlated with growth and seed yield.

Cadmium (Cd) accumulation, oxidative damage, and nitrogen
metabolism were studied in roots and leaves of 30-d-old blackgram plants [Vigna
mungo (L.) Hepper], grown in a mixture of soil and compost (3:1) with different
Cd concentrations. Significant reductions in both root and shoot dry weight were
noted. The concentration of Cd in roots and leaves increased with increasing Cd
levels. The level of lipid peroxidation elevated with a consequent increase in H2O2
content under Cd stress in both plant organs. The activity of enzymes mediating the
nitrogen assimilation in roots and leaves was greatly reduced in the presence of Cd,
except glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) which showed a significant increase.

Chlorpyrifos (CPF) is one of the most widely used organophosphorus (OP) insecticides until 2000 when the United States Environmental Protection Agency restricted some of its domestic uses due to its toxicity. Despite this, CPF remains one of the most widely used OP insecticides. Eugenol is a flavoring agent used in cosmetic and food products. Furthermore, eugenol acts as a pro-oxidant and as an anti-oxidant, under certain circumstances. Therefore, the present study aims to evaluate the possible immuno-toxicogical consequences produced by CPF on different immunological aspects and to assess the protective role of eugenol in attenuating the CPF-induced immunotoxicity. The changes in humoral and cell mediated-immunity were evaluated by measuring the level of immunoglobulin (IgG), lymphocyte viability, neutrophil phagocytic function assay, total white blood cells count (WBC) and relative differential white blood cells count. On the biochemical level, estimation of nitric oxide (NO) level and catalase activity was also undertaken. The treatment with CPF showed an inhibitory effect on the level of lymphocyte viability, neutrophil phagocytic index, total white blood cells count, relative lymphocyte count, IgG concentration and catalase activity. On the other hand, a high level of NO was detected upon animal treatment with CPF. Interestingly, eugenol pre-and post-treatment to CPF-treated group improved the lymphocyte viability, total white blood cells count, relative lymphocyte count, catalase activity and the NO level. Moreover, eugenol pre-and post-treatment recovered phagocytic activity of neutrophils and restored IgG level. In conclusion, eugenol has protective and curative roles in attenuating the CPF-induced immunotoxicity.

Chlorpyrifos (CPF) is one of the most widely used organophosphorus (OP) insecticides until 2000 when the United States Environmental Protection Agency restricted some of its domestic uses due to its toxicity. Despite this, CPF remains one of the most widely used OP insecticides. Eugenol is a flavoring agent used in cosmetic and food products. Furthermore, eugenol acts as a pro-oxidant and as an anti-oxidant, under certain circumstances. Therefore, the present study aims to evaluate the possible immuno-toxicogical consequences produced by CPF on different immunological aspects and to assess the protective role of eugenol in attenuating the CPF-induced immunotoxicity. The changes in humoral and cell mediated-immunity were evaluated by measuring the level of immunoglobulin (IgG), lymphocyte viability, neutrophil phagocytic function assay, total white blood cells count (WBC) and relative differential white blood cells count. On the biochemical level, estimation of nitric oxide (NO) level and catalase activity was also undertaken. The treatment with CPF showed an inhibitory effect on the level of lymphocyte viability, neutrophil phagocytic index, total white blood cells count, relative lymphocyte count, IgG concentration and catalase activity. On the other hand, a high level of NO was detected upon animal treatment with CPF. Interestingly, eugenol pre-and post-treatment to CPF-treated group improved the lymphocyte viability, total white blood cells count, relative lymphocyte count, catalase activity and the NO level. Moreover, eugenol pre-and post-treatment recovered phagocytic activity of neutrophils and restored IgG level. In conclusion, eugenol has protective and curative roles in attenuating the CPF-induced immunotoxicity.

SC (Saussurea costus) (Asteraceae) is a traditionally known and potent plant which is well considered for its medicinal uses in different indigenous Indian systems of medicine. This study was undertaken to investigate the hepatoprotective effect of SC against liver injury induced by CCl 4 intoxication. Animals were divided into five groups. Group I, served as normal control. Group II received 2 mL CCl 4 /kg b.w. diluted with olive oil, at 1:1 ratio on day 11. Groups III and IV were pre-treated orally respectively with 100 and 200 mg/kg b.w. aqueous roots extract of SC for 10 days followed by subcutaneous injection of CCl 4 (2 mL/kg b.w.), once on day 11. Group V were orally given Liv-52 (100 mg/kg b.w.) once daily for 10 days followed by subcutaneous injection of CCl 4 (2 mL/kg b.w.), once on day 11. Our results show that, the activity of serum hepatic enzymes (ALT, AST, and ALP) were significantly elevated in guinea pigs treated with CCl 4 , while both the SC root extract and Liv-52 reduced significantly these enzymes activity. Also, the levels of glucose, urea and cholesterol were decreased when compared with intoxicated control. Histopathological examination of intoxicated animals showed dilation, hemorrhage, vacuolization, inflammation and necrosis indicating liver damage, while the animals received SC or Liv-52 that showed less pathological effects or normal liver when compared to animals treated with CCl 4 alone. Biochemical and histological results confirm the hepatoprotective effect of aqueous extract of SC.

Chlorpyrifos (CPF) is one of the most widely used organophosphorus (OP) insecticides until 2000 when the United States Environmental Protection Agency restricted some of its domestic uses due to its toxicity. Despite this, CPF remains one of the most widely used OP insecticides. Eugenol is a flavoring agent used in cosmetic and food products. Furthermore, eugenol acts as a pro-oxidant and as an anti-oxidant, under certain circumstances. Therefore, the present study aims to evaluate the possible immuno-toxicogical consequences produced by CPF on different immunological aspects and to assess the protective role of eugenol in attenuating the CPF-induced immunotoxicity. The changes in humoral and cell mediated-immunity were evaluated by measuring the level of immunoglobulin (IgG), lymphocyte viability, neutrophil phagocytic function assay, total white blood cells count (WBC) and relative differential white blood cells count. On the biochemical level, estimation of nitric oxide (NO) level and catalase activity was also undertaken. The treatment with CPF showed an inhibitory effect on the level of lymphocyte viability, neutrophil phagocytic index, total white blood cells count, relative lymphocyte count, IgG concentration and catalase activity. On the other hand, a high level of NO was detected upon animal treatment with CPF. Interestingly, eugenol pre-and post-treatment to CPF-treated group improved the lymphocyte viability, total white blood cells count, relative lymphocyte count, catalase activity and the NO level. Moreover, eugenol pre-and post-treatment recovered phagocytic activity of neutrophils and restored IgG level. In conclusion, eugenol has protective and curative roles in attenuating the CPF-induced immunotoxicity.

Aims: To examine the effects of the administration of CD on lipid metabolism and liver enzymes in hyperlipidemic subjects. Study design: 20 subjects were divided into two groups, each containing ten subjects. Each subject in the 1st group ingested 1g, while the subject in the 2nd group ingested 2g of CD powder as a broth suspension in a single daily dose before lunch during the follow up period of one month. Patients kept their individual diet relatively constant. Methodology: We included 20 hyperlipidemic volunteers (men; age range 20-50 years) of a total of 80 subjects. Blood samples were taken and analyzed for total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), Low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), atherogenic index (AI), serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). Results: The results of the present study show a significant decrease in the