Interaction of 8-Hydroxyquinoline with Soil Environment Mediates Its Ecological Function

Background: Allelopathic functions of plant-released chemicals are often studied through growth bioassays assuming that these chemicals will directly impact plant growth. This overlooks the role of soil factors in mediating allelopathic activities of chemicals, particularly non-volatiles. Here we examined the allelopathic potential of 8-hydroxyquinoline (HQ), a chemical reported to be exuded from the roots of Centaurea diffusa. Methodology/Principal Findings: Growth bioassays and HQ recovery experiments were performed in HQ-treated soils (non-sterile, sterile, organic matter-enriched and glucose-amended) and untreated control soil. Root growth of either Brassica campestris or Phalaris minor was not affected in HQ-treated non-sterile soil. Soil modifications (organic matter and glucose amendments) could not enhance the recovery of HQ in soil, which further supports the observation that HQ is not likely to be an allelopathic compound. Hydroxyquinoline-treated soil had lower values for the CO2 release compared to untreated non-sterile soil. Soil sterilization significantly influenced the organic matter content, PO 4-P and total organic nitrogen levels. Conclusion/Significance: Here, we concluded that evaluation of the effect of a chemical on plant growth is not enough in evaluating the ecological role of a chemical in plant-plant interactions. Interaction of the chemical with soil factors largel

Role of Mustard Seed Extract Based Hydrogel as an Adjunct to Non-surgical Periodontal Therapy in Chronic Periodontitis Patients: A Pilot Interventional Study

Introduction: Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease that leads to the destruction of both the hard and soft tissues of the periodontium. Various herbal extracts can be used as a Local Drug Delivery (LDD) agent to suppress the inflammation caused by micro-organisms. Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of a hydrogel based on mustard seed extract as an adjunct to Non-surgical Periodontal Therapy (NSPT) for the treatment of chronic periodontitis. Materials and Methods: This pilot interventional study was conducted at Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Chennai between June 2023 and July 2023. The study included a total of 30 participants diagnosed with chronic periodontitis who were divided into two groups: group A (n=15) received only Scaling and Root Planing (SRP), while group B (n=15) received SRP along with 0.5% mustard seed extract hydrogel. Baseline and two-week post-operative assessments included recording of Gingival Index (GI), Plaque Index (PI), and modified Sulcus Bleeding Index (mSBI). The data was analysed by Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), software version 23.0 for windows. An independent t-test was conducted to assess significance between the two groups, while the comparison of baseline and post-operative variables within each group was done using a paired t-test. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The mean age of study participants was 38.04±8.12 years in group A and 40.36±7.45 years in group B. The group treated with 0.5% hydrogel based on mustard seed extract exhibited a noteworthy enhancement in PI (p<0.05*). Intra-group comparisons revealed a significant difference in baseline and 2-week post-operative values for all parameters except mSBI in group A, although group B showed a significant difference for all the parameters (p<0.05*). Inter-group comparisons at two weeks showed statistically significant improvement in group B for PI but not for GI and mSBI. Conclusion: The supplemental application of 0.5% hydrogel derived from mustard seed extract alongside SRP yielded promising outcomes, suggesting a novel approach in the management of chronic periodontitis

Soil organic matter (SOM), phosphate-P and total organic N levels of sterile or non-sterile soil treated with 0, 80, 160 or 240 µg 8-hydroxyquinoline/g soil.

<p>Bars indicate 1 SE. Two way ANOVA was carried out for the effect of soil sterilization and HQ concentration and their interaction on SOM, PO₄-P and total organic N levels in soil.</p

Relative root length (%) of <i>Brassica campestris</i> and <i>Phalaris minor</i> when grown in non-sterile or sterile soil treated with 0, 80, 160 or 240 µg 8-hydroxyquinoline/g soil.

<p>Root length of untreated control (0 µg HQ/g soil) is taken as 100%, and root length of both the assay species were calculated to the zero level of HQ. Bars indicate 1 SE. Asterisks indicate significant difference between treatments and control at the level of P<0.05.</p

Organic matter (OM)-enriched soil had higher values of total organic nitrogen and CO₂ release compared to soil not enriched with OM (control soil).

<p>We examined the impacts of HQ-amended OM-enriched soil on plant growth, HQ recovery and total phenolics content of soil. (A) Total organic N and CO₂ release in soil enriched with organic matter and unamended control soil, (B) Relative root length (%) of <i>Brassica campestris</i> and <i>Phalaris minor</i> when grown in OM-enriched non-sterile soil treated with 0, 80, 160 or 240 µg 8-hydroxyquinoline/g soil. Root length of untreated control (0 µg HQ/g soil) is taken as 100%, (C) Recovery of 8-hydroxyquinoline from organic matter-enriched non-sterile soil treated with 0, 80, 160 or 240 µg HQ/g soil, (D) Total phenolic content of 8-hydroxyquinoline from OM-enriched non-sterile soil treated with 0, 80, 160 or 240 µg HQ/g soil. Bars indicate 1 SE. Asterisks indicate significant differences in the treatment from control at the level of P<0.001.</p

Microbial activity as determined by CO₂ release (µg CO₂ released/g soil/h) of soil treated with 0, 80, 160 or 240 µg 8-Hydroxyquinoline/g soil.

<p>Bars indicate 1 SE. Asterisks indicate significant difference between treatments and control (0 µg HQ/g soil) at the level of P<0.05.</p

The impact of HQ-amended C-modified soil on root growth of <i>Phalaris minor</i> (A) and <i>Brassica campestris</i>, and HQ recovery was studied.

<p>(A and B) Relative root length (%) of <i>P. minor</i> (A) and <i>B. campestris</i> (B) when grown in C-amended (0, 233 or 450 µg C/g soil) soil treated with 0, 80, 160 or 240 µg 8-hydroxyquinoline/g soil. Root length of untreated control (0 µg HQ/g soil) is taken as 100%, and root length of both the assay species were calculated to the zero level of HQ, (C) Recovery of 8-hydroxyquinoline from C-amended (0, 233 or 450 µg C/g soil) soil treated with 80, 160 or 240 µg 8-hydroxyquinoline/g soil. Bars indicate 1 SE.</p

8-Hydroxyquinoline recovery from sterile or non-sterile soil treated with 80, 160 or 240 µg HQ/g soil.

<p>Bars indicate 1 SE.</p

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Not AvailableCamelpox is a wide-spread infectious viral disease of camelids. An outbreak of camelpox was reported in 15 adult male dromedary camels aged between 10 to 16 years of an organized herd in winter season. The infected camels showed clinical signs of fever, anorexia, lachrymation, pendulous lips, excessive salivation and pock lesions on the skin of head, neck, mouth, lips, extremities, thigh, abdomen, scrotum and inguinal region. Mortalities were recorded in three infected camels after 10–12 days of infection and showed systemic pox lesions characterized by vesicles, papules, ulcerations and raised pock lesions in the mucous membranes of the mouth, tongue, tracheal mucosa, lung, abomasum and liver. Histopathology study revealed characteristic pox lesions with intracytoplasmic eosinophilic inclusion bodies in tongue. Lung showed lesion of interstitial pneumonia (n ¼ 2) and bronchointerstitial pneumonia (n ¼ 1). Liver showed infiltration of mononuclear cells around central veins and degenerative changes of hepatocytes. The abomasum and intestine showed ulcerations, marked capillary congestion and areas of lymphocyte infiltration in mucosa and submucosa. The presence of camelpox virus (CMLV) was confirmed in viral DNA isolated from formalin fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissues of tongue, lung, abomasum, liver, heart and intestine of infected camels by C18L gene PCR. The sequencing of viral DNAs showed phylogenetic relatedness with other CMLV isolates from India and other countries. Thus, our study confirmed the rare severe form of systemic camelpox outbreak in adult male dromedary camels hence future attention should be given for studies on virulence, strain identification and molecular epidemiology of CMLV for planning of effective preventive and control strategies.Not Availabl

Appendix C. A table presenting the volatile compounds collected from headspace of leaf litter of Ageratina adenophora of different regional origins.

A table presenting the volatile compounds collected from headspace of leaf litter of Ageratina adenophora of different regional origins