Frontiers of Agriculture and Food Technology

Frontiers of Agriculture and Food Technology ISSN 7295-2849 Vol. 2 (5), pp. 001-007, May, 2012. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Factors controlling micropropagation of Myrica esculenta buch. – Ham. ex D. Don: a high value wild edible of Kumaun Himalaya

Indra D. Bhatt^1* and Uppeandra Dhar²

¹Niigata University of Pharmacy and Applied Life Sciences, 265-1 Higashizima, Niitsu-shi 956-8603, Japan.

²G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development Kosi-Katarmal, Almora - 263 643 (UA), India.

Accepted 10 March, 2012

Abstract

Various factors such as browning, season, media type and plant growth regulators influence the micropropagation of female trees of Myrica esculenta. These factors have successfully been addressed after addition of some media additives, collection of the explant at right season, standardizing the media type and use of plant growth regulators at varying concentrations. Polyvinylpyrollidone (PVP - 0.5%) was found effective for successful partial removal of phenolic compounds and obtaining maximum percent survival of explants. The explant collection season played an important role in reducing phenol induced browning and winter season was found best for explant establishment. The maximum number of shoots (4-5/explant) was obtained in Woody Plant Medium (WPM) supplemented with 10µM kinetin and 0.1µM naphthalene acetic acid (NAA). Of all the media types tried, Woody Plant Medium was found to be the best. Kinetin was found superior to benzyl amino purine and N⁶(γ ,γ-dimethylallyamino)purine (2iP) for explant establishment and multiplication. NAA induced rooting to 45.8% of explants in 1/2 strength Woody Plant Medium. However, ex vitro survival percentage was low.

Key Words: Browning, in vitro, plant regeneration, tissue culture, woody plant medium.

Frontiers of Agriculture and Food Technology ISSN 7295-2849 Vol. 2 (5), pp. 001-005, May, 2012. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Assessment of a fruit extract (Sechium edule) on the labeling of blood elements with technetium-99m

Gláucio Diré Feliciano¹*, Maria Luísa Gomes¹, Elaine Alves Correia Lima¹, Roberto Levi Jales³, Mauro Castro Faria¹ and Mário Bernardo Filho²

¹Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto de Biologia Roberto Alcantara Gomes, Departamento de

Biofísicae Biometria. Av. 28 de Setembro, 87, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 20551-030, Brazil.

²Instituto Nacional do Câncer, Centro de Pesquisa Básica, Praça Cruz Vermelha, 23, CEP 20230-130, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.

³Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Departamento de Farmácia, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.

Accepted 06 January, 2012

Abstract

Natural products have been widely used by human beings. However, sometimes the biological effects of these products are not fully known. Chayotte (Sechium edule) is a vegetable used in the folk medicine. Red blood cells (RBC) labeled with technetium-99m (99mTc) have several clinical applications. The aim of this work was to evaluate the influence of an extract of chayotte on the labeling of blood elements with 99mTc using stannous chloride (SnCl₂) in the concentrations like to 1.2, 0.006, 0.0005 and 0.0006 µg/ml. The extract of chayote was incubated in various concentrations for 1hour with blood which was withdrawn from Wistar rats. After that SnCl₂ was added and the incubation continued for more 1 h. Elapsed this time 99mTc as sodium pertechnetate (NaTcO₄) was toted. The blood was centrifuged and plasma (P) and RBC were isolated, also precipitated with trichloroacetic acid (TCA, 5%) and soluble (S) and insoluble (I) fractions (F) of plasma and cells (C) were determined. The radioactivity (ATI%) was rated in RBC, IF-P and IF-C. The results have showed that extract was able to reduce the radiolabeling using SnCl₂ (0.006, 0.0005 and 0.0006µg/ml). We can speculate that this effect may be on account of the products with oxidant proprieties.

Keywords: chayote, red blood cells, plasma proteins, technetium-99m, radiopharmacy.

Frontiers of Agriculture and Food Technology ISSN 7295-2849 Vol. 2 (4), pp. 001-003, April, 2012. © International Scholars Journals

Short Communication

In vitro anti trypanosomal activity of some medicinal plants used in the treatment of trypanosomosis in Northern Nigeria

Wurochekke A.U.¹ and  Nok A.J.²*

¹Biochemistry Department, Federal University of Technology, Yola, Nigeria.

²Biochemistry Department, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.

Accepted 12 February, 2012

Abstract

The in vitro trypanocidal activity of 13 medicinal plants used by local herdsmen in Northern Nigeria for the treatment of trypanosomosis was investigated. Forty-four different extracts prepared from the 13 plants were screened for in vitro activity against Trypanosoma brucei brucei. Four of the extracts showed activity against the parasite at minimum concentration of 8.3 mg/ml of blood.

Key words: Medicinal plants, trypanosomosis, Trypanosoma brucei brucei.

Frontiers of Agriculture and Food Technology ISSN 7295-2849 Vol. 2 (4), pp. 001-004, April, 2012. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Prevalence of bla_SHV genes in clinical isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae at Saint Camille medical Center in Ouagadougou

Boukaré Zeba¹* Pere Jacques Simporé², Odile G. Nacoulma¹, Jean-Marie Frere³

¹Laboratoire de Biochimie et de Chimie appliquée/ Enzymologie. UFR-SVT/ Université de Ouagadougou/ Burkina Faso.

²Saint Camille medical center/ Ouagadougou/ Burkina Faso.

³Enzymologie/ Centre d’ingenierie des protéines / Ulg/ Belgique.

Accepted 13 January, 2012

Abstract

Five bacterial strains (4 Klebsiella pneumoniae and 1 Escherichia coli ) representative of pathogenic species and resistant to b-lactam antibiotics are investigated to isolate the genes responsible of b-lactamase activity. The use of engineering techniques enables us to show the widespread of bla_SHV genes particularly in clinical isolates of K. pneumoniae. Our results highlighted an atypical bla_SHV-11 gene.

Keys words: b-Lactamases, Klebsiella pneuminiae, bla_SHV  gene, Saint Camille medical centre, Ouagadougou.

Frontiers of Agriculture and Food Technology ISSN 7295-2849 Vol. 2 (4), pp. 001-004, April, 2012. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Microbial contaminants of cultured Hibiscus cannabinus and Telfaria occidentalis tissues

Odutayo O. I. ¹*, Oso R. T.,¹ Akinyemi B. O.¹ and Amusa N. A.²

¹Dept of Biological Sciences, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago- Iwoye, Nigeria.

²Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, Obafemi Awolowo University, PMB 5029 Moor Plantation, Ibadan, Nigeria.

Accepted 10 March, 2012

Abstract

Nine microbial contaminants comprising of five bacteria and four fungi species were isolated from Hibiscus cannabinus and Telfaria occidentalis cultured tissues. The rate of occurrence of bacteria isolates was higher than that of fungi. The bacterial isolates includes Pseudomonas syringae pv phaseolicoli, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus subtilis, Corynebacterium sp and Erwinia sp. While fungal contaminats includes Alterneria tenius, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus fumigatus and Fusarium culmorum. Possible sources of contamination and means of eliminating these contaminants is discussed.

Key words: Micro-propagation, plant tissue culture, bacterial and fungal isolates, contamination.

Frontiers of Agriculture and Food Technology ISSN 7295-2849 Vol. 2 (4), pp. 001-005, April, 2012. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Preliminary studies of inhibitions in Aspergillus flavus with extracts of two lichens and Bentex-T fungicide

Suberu H.

Department of Biological Sciences,Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto. E-mail: [email protected]. Tel: 234- 060237162.

Accepted 14 February, 2012

Abstract

One ml aqueous concentrations at 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, and 5.0 mg/ml of laboratory extracts of Hypogymnia physodes and Ramalina farinacea (Lichens), and Bentex-T, were incorporated separately in a basal broth culture medium inside conical flasks. Mycelial dry weight of Aspergillus flavus, grown on the medium with the extracts of the lichens, was inhibited between 70% - 80% compared to unincorporated control medium. Bentex-T inhibited the A. flavus between 60% - 65%. Sporulation of A. flavus was inhibited more by Bentex-T and the extract of R. farinacea by 60% - 75% than the 29% - 34% caused by H. physodes. Spores of A. flavus in control medium commenced germination after 2 h while it was mostly after 4 h or 6 h in the incorporated media. Inhibition of germination was significant at 5% level with 0.1 and 0.25 mg/ml and highly significant at 1% level with 0.5 to 5.0 mg/ml concentrations of the extracts and Bentex –T. The extract of R. farinacea appeared to be most inhibitory on the germination of the spore.

Key words: Lichen extracts, fungitoxic, Aspergillus flavus.