A Preliminary Survey of Traditional Organic Piscicides from Local Flora of Paschim Medinipur District, West Bengal, India

The present work is an extensive field work in different Blocks of Paschim Medinipur district and review of published literature concerning piscicidal properties of locally available plants growing in this district. It will provide comprehensive information for further research. Due to presence of safe phyto-chemical, these plants would be an eco-friendly alternative of synthetic chemical substances to reduce the chemical hazards in the environment. The present study provides only preliminary report and may be the source for further scientific and analytical research to evaluate the efficacy of the toxic as well as safe properties of these plants. Total 90 no. of plant species belonging to 81 no of Genus, 46 no of Families are enumerated alphabetically with scientific names, common Names, ecological status, parts used and chemical nature. Traditional plant piscicides used by tribes in this district has also been studied. No such work has yet been done in this district

Rare and low-frequency coding variants alter human adult height

Height is a highly heritable, classic polygenic trait with ~700 common associated variants identified so far through genome - wide association studies . Here , we report 83 height - associated coding variants with lower minor allele frequenc ies ( range of 0.1 - 4.8% ) and effects of up to 2 16 cm /allele ( e.g. in IHH , STC2 , AR and CRISPLD2 ) , >10 times the average effect of common variants . In functional follow - up studies, rare height - increasing alleles of STC2 (+1 - 2 cm/allele) compromise d proteolytic inhibition of PAPP - A and increased cleavage of IGFBP - 4 in vitro , resulting in higher bioavailability of insulin - like growth factors . The se 83 height - associated variants overlap genes mutated in monogenic growth disorders and highlight new biological candidates ( e.g. ADAMTS3, IL11RA, NOX4 ) and pathways ( e.g . proteoglycan/ glycosaminoglycan synthesis ) involved in growth . Our results demonstrate that sufficiently large sample sizes can uncover rare and low - frequency variants of moderate to large effect associated with polygenic human phenotypes , and that these variants implicate relevant genes and pathways

New genetic loci link adipose and insulin biology to body fat distribution.

Body fat distribution is a heritable trait and a well-established predictor of adverse metabolic outcomes, independent of overall adiposity. To increase our understanding of the genetic basis of body fat distribution and its molecular links to cardiometabolic traits, here we conduct genome-wide association meta-analyses of traits related to waist and hip circumferences in up to 224,459 individuals. We identify 49 loci (33 new) associated with waist-to-hip ratio adjusted for body mass index (BMI), and an additional 19 loci newly associated with related waist and hip circumference measures (P < 5 × 10(-8)). In total, 20 of the 49 waist-to-hip ratio adjusted for BMI loci show significant sexual dimorphism, 19 of which display a stronger effect in women. The identified loci were enriched for genes expressed in adipose tissue and for putative regulatory elements in adipocytes. Pathway analyses implicated adipogenesis, angiogenesis, transcriptional regulation and insulin resistance as processes affecting fat distribution, providing insight into potential pathophysiological mechanisms

Bioactivity-guided fractionation to identify β-glucuronidase inhibitors in Nymphaea pubescens flower extract PUBLIC INTEREST STATEMENT

Abstract: The plant Nymphaea pubescens Willd. (Family: Nymphaeaceae) is edible having medicinal importance. The objective of the study was to analyze the potential hepatoprotective properties of the flowers and pedicels of N. pubescens by inhibiting the enzyme β-glucuronidase. Crude methanol extracts of flower and pedicel as well as chloroform, ethyl acetate, and aqueous fractions of the flower extract were tested for their activities against the enzyme in vitro. The extracts and the fractions were analyzed by GC-MS to identify metabolites present in them. Flower (IC 50 value = 270.27 ± 4.67 μg/ml) and pedicel (IC 50 value = 868.46 ± 28.21 μg/ ml) extracts have shown to inhibit the β-glucuronidase activity. Chloroform (IC 50 value = 147.16 ± 6.68 μg/ml), ethyl acetate (IC 50 value = 183.94 ± 2.37 μg/ml), and aqueous (IC 50 value = 339.43 ± 5.34 μg/ml) fractions showed significantly stronger activity than that of silymarin (IC 50 value = 792.62 ± 10.01 μg/ml), the known inhibitor of the enzyme. GC-MS-based analysis of the flower extract and solvent fractions led to the identification of kaempferol having 79-fold stronger activity than that of silymarin, IC 50 value of kaempferol being 10.44 ± 0.084 μg/ml or 0.0037 mM ± 0.0001. Subjects ABOUT THE AUTHORS Jayashree Acharya is presently working as a researcher in the Department of Botany, University of Calcutta to search for enzyme inhibitor metabolites from food plants. She is a part-time lecturer in Botany in a college. Bratati De, professor, is interested in studying bioactive compounds of medicinal and food plants. She is working for dereplication of bioactive constituents of plants using plant metabolomics approach. PUBLIC INTEREST STATEMENT The flower and pedicel of the aquatic edible plant Nymphaea pubescens Willd, familiar as water lily in English and sapla-shaluk in Bengali, have medicinal importance. The flowers are cardio-tonic and astringent. The whole plant or parts of the plant are used in folk medicine and siddha for curing diabetes, bleeding piles, dyspepsia, jaundice, and eye disorders. Present work was carried out to justify, partially, the health beneficial effect scientifically. The study supports the hepatoprotective potential of the flower and pedicel extracts. A plant metabolite having such activity was also identified. After further study, this aquatic edible plant has the potential to be utilized as a novel hepatoprotective food cum medicinal plant

Evaluation of Angiotensin I-Converting Enzyme (ACE) inhibitory potential of some underutilized indigenous fruits of West Bengal using an

Introduction. Angiotensin I-Converting Enzyme (ACE) is a key component in regulation of blood pressure by virtue of the rennin-angiotensin system. ACE converts the inactive decapeptide, angiotensin I, into the potent vasopressor octapeptide, angiotensin II, and inactivates bradykinin, which has a vasodilating action. So, inhibition of ACE has become a major target in control of hypertension. It is well known that the consumption of fruits could provide health benefits by lowering the risk of chronic diseases such as metabolic syndrome diseases including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Our current study was focused on investigating the ACE inhibitory property of a few underutilized minor fruits of West Bengal using an in vitro assay. Materials and methods. The potential antihypertensive activity of underutilized indigenous edible fruits of West Bengal, India, was evaluated by their ability to inhibit Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE). The ACE inhibitory property was assayed using ACE from rabbit lung and hippuryl-histidyl-leucine as the substrate. Nineteen fruit species belonging to 15 families were investigated. The percentage ACE inhibitory activities of these fruits were studied at 20 µg fresh weight of fruit extract per mL. The total phenol content of all these fruits was determined following the standard Folin-Ciocalteu method. Total flavonoid content was also measured. Results. The aqueous fruit extracts of the red variety of Trapa bispinosa, Phoenix sylvestris, Cicca acida, Achras sapota and Averrhoa carambola presented more than 75% ACE inhibition. On the other hand, Punica granatum, Spondias pinnata, Trapa bispinosa (green) and Ziziphus mauritiana showed about 50% inhibition. Aegle marmelos, Annona squamosa, Annona reticulata, Feronia elephantum, Physalis peruviana and Syzygium jambos showed low activity (< 50% inhibition). Discussions. To date there has been no report on Angiotensin I-Converting Enzyme inhibitory activities of these underutilized minor fruits of West Bengal, India. During our study no correlation could be established between the % ACE inhibition and the total phenol or flavonoid content of these fruit extracts. So, it appears that non-phenolic components may also be responsible for ACE inhibitory activity. In our investigation we tried to establish the fact that the consumption of these underutilized minor fruits might have potential in managing cardiovascular diseases

Bioactivity-guided fractionation to identify β-glucuronidase inhibitors in Nymphaea pubescens flower extract

The plant Nymphaea pubescens Willd. (Family: Nymphaeaceae) is edible having medicinal importance. The objective of the study was to analyze the potential hepatoprotective properties of the flowers and pedicels of N. pubescens by inhibiting the enzyme β-glucuronidase. Crude methanol extracts of flower and pedicel as well as chloroform, ethyl acetate, and aqueous fractions of the flower extract were tested for their activities against the enzyme in vitro. The extracts and the fractions were analyzed by GC–MS to identify metabolites present in them. Flower (IC50 value = 270.27 ± 4.67 μg/ml) and pedicel (IC50 value = 868.46 ± 28.21 μg/ml) extracts have shown to inhibit the β-glucuronidase activity. Chloroform (IC50 value = 147.16 ± 6.68 μg/ml), ethyl acetate (IC50 value = 183.94 ± 2.37 μg/ml), and aqueous (IC50 value = 339.43 ± 5.34 μg/ml) fractions showed significantly stronger activity than that of silymarin (IC50 value = 792.62 ± 10.01 μg/ml), the known inhibitor of the enzyme. GC–MS-based analysis of the flower extract and solvent fractions led to the identification of kaempferol having 79-fold stronger activity than that of silymarin, IC50 value of kaempferol being 10.44 ± 0.084 μg/ml or 0.0037 mM ± 0.0001

Metabolic profile and &#946;-glucuronidase inhibitory property of three species of Swertia

ABSTRACT &#946;-Glucuronidase inhibitors are suggested as potential hepatoprotective agents. Swertia chirayita (Roxb.) Buch.-Ham. ex C.B. Clarke, Gentianaceae, is known for its hepatoprotective and anti-hepatotoxic activity in Ayurvedic system of medicine for ages. This plant is substituted by other species like S. decussata Nimmo ex C.B. Clarke and S. bimaculata (Siebold & Zucc.) Hook. f. & Thomson ex C.B. Clarke. The aim of the study was to compare metabolite profile and &#946;-glucuronidase inhibitory activity of these three important species of Swertia and to identify the active constituents. S. chirayita (IC50 210.97 µg/ml) and S. decussata (IC50 269.7 µg/ml) showed &#946;-glucuronidase inhibitory activity significantly higher than that of silymarin, the known inhibitor of the enzyme. The activity of S. bimaculata was low. The metabolites present in the three species were analyzed by HPLC and GC-MS based metabolomics approach. Five amino acids, twenty one organic acids, one inorganic acid, eight fatty acids, twenty one phenols including xanthones, eight sugars, seven sugar alcohols, five terpenoids and amarogentin were identified. Activities of the xanthones mangiferin (IC50 16.06 µg/ml), swerchirin (IC50 162.84 µg/ml), decussatin (IC50 195.11 µg/ml), 1-hydroxy-3,5,8-trimethoxy xanthone (IC50 245.97 µg/ml), bellidifolin (IC50 390.26 µg/ml) were significantly higher than that of silymarin (IC50 794.62 µg/ml). Quinic acid (IC50 2.91 mg/ml), O-acetylsalicylic acid (IC50 48.4 mg/ml), citric acid (IC50 1.77 mg/ml), D-malic acid (IC50 14.82 mg/ml) and succinic acid (IC50 38.86 mg/ml) also inhibited the enzyme &#946;-glucuronidase. The findings suggest that constituents, in addition to the xanthones, probably also contribute to the bioactivity of different Swertia species by synergistic effect. Further in vivo study is required to support the claim

Metabolomics analysis of rice responses to salinity stress revealed elevation of serotonin, and gentisic acid levels in leaves of tolerant varieties

<p>A GC-MS based analytical approach was undertaken to understand the metabolomic responses of seedlings of 2 salt sensitive (Sujala and MTU 7029) and 2 tolerant varieties (Bhutnath, and Nonabokra) of indica rice (<i>Oryza sativa</i> L.) to NaCl induced stress. The 4 varieties responded differently to NaCl treatment with respect to the conserved primary metabolites (sugars, polyols, amino acids, organic acids and certain purine derivatives) of the leaf of rice seedlings. However, there were significant differences in salt induced production of chorismic acid derivatives. Serotonin level was increased in both the salt tolerant varieties in response to NaCl induced stress. In both the salt tolerant varieties, increased production of the signaling molecule gentisic acid in response to NaCl treatment was noticed. Salt tolerant varieties also produced increased level of ferulic acid and vanillic acid. In the salt sensitive varieties, cinnamic acid derivatives, 4-hydroxycinnamic acid (in Sujala) and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (in MTU 7029), were elevated in the leaves. So increased production of the 2 signaling molecules serotonin and gentisic acid may be considered as 2 important biomarker compounds produced in tolerant varieties contributing toward NaCl tolerance.</p