ANTIDIABETIC POTENTIAL OF BRACHYLAENA DISCOLOR

Background: The traditional African herbal medicinal system has many reports of anti-diabetic food plants with no known side effects. Such plants and their products have been widely prescribed for diabetic treatment with little known mechanistic basis of their functioning. Therefore, these natural products need to be evaluated scientifically in order to confirm antidiabetic property claims. Materials and Methods: In this study, leaves of Brachylaena discolor were evaluated for potential to inhibit α-amylase and α-glucosidase. The leaves were also screened for toxicity and free radical scavenging capacity. Results: Results from the study show that the methanolic extract gave a higher α-glucosidase inhibition potential and was able to effectively scavenge free radicals better than the aqueous extract. The toxicity, cytotoxicity and mutagenicity screen also showed that both plant extracts are safe for use. Conclusion: These results therefore indicate that B. discolor has the potential for use as a potential dietary adjunct or therapy for the treatment of diabetes

In vitro propagation of Alternanthera sessilis (sessile joyweed), a famine food plant

A complete protocol for micropropagation of Alternanthera sessilis using leaf explants was developed. Leaf explants from A. sessilis established on Murashige and Skoog medium were treated with various concentrations and combinations of auxins and cytokinins to determine the best method for callus formation, shoot regeneration and root formation. MS medium supplemented with 1 mg/l BAP and 1 mg/l 2,4-D was determined to be the most suitable for callus induction. After 2 weeks, the callus wasthen transferred to shooting media which consisted of half strength MS basal medium, 1 mg/l IAA and 1 mg/ l BAP. After 4 weeks, structures were observed with their basal ends embedded on the callus. These structures turned into green colored shoot buds. MS medium supplemented with 1 mg/l IAA and 1 mg/l BAP showed maximum shoot multiplication. For rooting, the optimal medium was half strength MS medium supplemented with 1 mg/l IBA. Rooted plantlets were then transferred to sunbag vessels which provided the high humidity environment. The hardened plants were then successfullyestablished in the soil medium and can function in the natural environment

Antidiabetic potential of Brachylaena discolor

Background: The traditional African herbal medicinal system has many reports of anti-diabetic food plants with no known side effects. Such plants and their products have been widely prescribed for diabetic treatment with little known mechanistic basis of their functioning. Therefore, these natural products need to be evaluated scientifically in order to confirm antidiabetic property claims.Materials and Methods: In this study, leaves of Brachylaena discolor were evaluated for potential to inhibit α-amylase and α-glucosidase. The leaves were also screened for toxicity and free radical scavenging capacity.Results: Results from the study show that the methanolic extract gave a higher α-glucosidase inhibition potential and was able to effectively scavenge free radicals better than the aqueous extract. The toxicity, cytotoxicity and mutagenicity screen also showed that both plant extracts are safe for use.Conclusion: These results therefore indicate that B. discolor has the potential for use as a potential dietary adjunct or therapy for the treatment of diabetes.Key words: Brachylaena discolor, α-amylase, α-glucosidase, DPPH, toxicit

Detection of Glutathione S-Transferase gene (GST2, GST3) during induction of somatic embryogenesis in grape (Vitis vinifera L.)

Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are an important group of multifunctional enzymes that belong to diverse multigene families. In plants these enzymes are involved in the detoxification of xenobiotic compounds, herbicide detoxification, and primary and secondary metaboplism and play an important role in plant growth and development. There are several reports that show that the expression of GST is linked to the developmental phases of somatic embryogenesis. This study highlights the detection of transcript abundances of glutathione S-transferase genes GST2 and GST3 in the process of somatic embryogenesis of Vitis vinifera, and the lack thereof in non-embryogenic tissue of leaf cultures of grape (control). These results indicate that the expression of GST2 and GST3 could be used as a molecular signal for the identification of embryogenic cultures during the early development of somatic embryos

A chromosome-level Amaranthus cruentus genome assembly highlights gene family evolution and biosynthetic gene clusters that may underpin the nutritional value of this traditional crop

Traditional crops historically provided accessible and affordable nutrition to millions of rural dwellers but have been neglected, with most modern agricultural systems over reliant on a small number of internationally-traded crops. Traditional crops are typically well-adapted to local agro-ecological conditions and many are nutrient-dense. They can play a vital role in local food systems through enhanced nutrition (especially where diets are dominated by starch crops), food security and livelihoods for smallholder farmers, and a climate-resilient and biodiverse agriculture. Using short-read, long-read and phased sequencing technologies we generated a high-quality chromosome-level genome assembly for Amaranthus cruentus, an under-researched crop with micronutrient- and protein-rich leaves and gluten-free seed, but lacking improved varieties, with respect to productivity and quality traits. The 370.9 MB genome demonstrates a shared whole genome duplication with a related species, Amaranthus hypochondriacus. Comparative genome analysis indicates chromosomal loss and fusion events following genome duplication that are common to both species, as well as fission of chromosome 2 in A. cruentus alone, giving rise to a haploid chromosome number of 17 (versus 16 in A. hypochondriacus). Genomic features potentially underlying the nutritional value of this crop include two A. cruentus-specific genes with a likely role in phytic acid synthesis (an anti-nutrient), expansion of ion transporter gene families, and identification of biosynthetic gene clusters conserved within the amaranth lineage. The A. cruentus genome assembly will underpin much-needed research and global breeding efforts to develop improved varieties for economically viable cultivation and realisation of the benefits to global nutrition security and agrobiodiversity