Plant growth regulators induced urease activity in Cucurbita pepo L. cotyledons

This study is aimed to investigate the activity of urease (EC 3.5.1.5, urea amidohydrolase) that catalyzes the hydrolysis of urea in 5-day-old Cucurbita pepo cotyledons subjected to various concentrations of different growth regulators. The treatment of C. pepo cotyledons with different concentrations (100–600 μmol) of different auxins [indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), indole butyric acid (IBA), indole propionic acid (IPA) and naphthalene acetic acid (NAA)]; or with different concentrations (100–300 μmol) of different cytokinins [kinetin, zeatin and benzyladenine (6-BA)] resulted in a significant increase of urease activity, compared to control. The optimal effects were recorded for each of 500 μmol of IAA and 300 μmol of zeatin treatments. A gradual increase in urease activity was detected in cotyledons treated with various concentrations (0.2–1.0 mM) of 28-homobrassinolide (HBL), in relative to control. A substantial increase in urease activity was observed in cotyledons subjected to different concentrations of triazole (10–60 mg L–1), containing either triadimefon (TDM) or hexaconazole (HEX), compared to control. The combination of 300 μmol zeatin with any of protein inhibitors, namely 5-fluorouridine (FUrd), cordycepin and α-amanitin, resulted in the alleviation of their inhibitory effect on the urease activity

Evaluation of Allelopathic Potential of Rumex dentatus Root Extract and Allelochemicals on Cicer arietinum

The present study aimed to evaluate the allelopathic potential of root extract of Rumex dentatus L. and various allelochemicals on some physiological parameters in roots of Cicer arietinum L. The tested allelochemicals were benzoic, caffeic, cinnamic, ferulic, gallic, sinapic and vanillic acids. Seed germination of Cicer was inhibited by Rumex extract. Lipid peroxidation and hydrogen peroxide production increased gradually in response to extract concentration as well as allelochemicals treatment. The total soluble protein decreased whereas the total phenol increased under the various treatments. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD: 1.15.1.1) and catalase (CAT: 1.11.1.6) increased continuously with increasing extract concentration. However, peroxidase (POD: 1.11.1.7) increased sharply at 2% (w/v) followed by reduction at the higher concentrations and reached 1.1 U g-1 fresh weight at 10% (w/v) which was still higher than that of the control value. Ferulic acid was the most effective inducer for SOD activity followed by cinnamic acid. The POD activity increased remarkably particularly with cinnamic, benzoic and gallic acids. Sinapic, ferulic and coumaric acids enhanced CAT activity by 150.4%, 139.5% and 124.4%, respectively. The results reveal the possible use of R. dentatus as bioherbicide

Various Extracts of Some Medicinal Plants as Inhibitors for Beta-lactamase Activity

تمت دراسة التأثير المثبط لإنزيم بيتا لاكتاماز من  S. sciuriو Klebsiella pneumoniae بواسطة مستخلصات لعشرة نباتات طبية وقد تمت عملية الاستخلاص باستخدام الاسيتون والايثانول والماء في المختبر بطريقة طبق أجار اليود - النشا ، وأظهرت النتائج أن طريقة طبق أجار اليود - النشا يمكن استخدامها للكشف عن مثبطات البيتا لاكتاماز من المستخلصات النباتية المستخدمة قيد البحث. وقد أظهرت ثلاثــة مستخــلصات نبــاتية  وهي الونكا Catharanthus roseus, الكافور Eucalyptus camaldulensis  والفلفل العريض Schinus terebinthifolius) فعالية واضحة لتثبيط بيتا لاكتاماز من  Staphylococcus sciuri. وعلي الجانب الآخر  أظهرت مستخلصات نباتات الكافور Eucalyptus camaldulensis  والفلفل العريض Schinus terebinthifolius) نشاط مثبطا لبيتا لاكتاماز المعزول من  Klebsiella pneumoniae. وأوضحت النتائج أن مستخلصات الأسيتون كانت الأكثر تثبيطا للإنزيم من مستخلصات الإيثانول  والمستخلصات المائية. وأظهرت النتائج أن بيتا لاكتاماز المعزول من  S. sciuri كان الأكثر تأثــراً سلبا بواسطــة المستخلصات النباتية من بيتا لاكتــاماز المعزول من  .K. pneumoniaThe inhibitory effect of acetone, ethanol, and aqueous extracts of ten medicinal plants on β-lactamase from Staphylococcus sciuri and Klebsiella pneumoniae was investigated in vitro by starch-iodine agar plate method. The results revealed the success of starch-iodine method for the detection of the inhibition of β-lactamase activity by the various extracts of each individual plant. The acetone extracts of Catharanthus roseus, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, and Schinus terebinthifolius induced an inhibitory effect on β-lactamase from Staphylococcus sciuri. On the other hand, acetone extracts from only Eucalyptus camaldulensis, and Schinus terebinthifolius expressed strong inhibitory effect on β-lactamase from Klebsiella pneumoniae. The acetone extracts expressed the highest inhibition for β-lactamases activity compared to ethanolic and aqueous extracts which exhibited appreciable inhibitory effect. β-lactamase from S. sciuri was inhibited by extracts from C. roseus, E. camaldulensis and S. terebinthifolius whereas β-lactamase from K. pneumoniae was inhibited only by extracts from E. camaldulensis and S. terebinthifolius

Induction, immobilization, modification and natural inhibitors of α-glucosidase from Penicillum chrysogenum

α-glucosidase (EC: 3.2.1.20) was isolated from Penicillum chrysogenum. The enzyme was enhanced by plant growth regulators such as gibberellic acid (GA3), benzylaminopurine (BAP) and kinetin. Dansyl chloride inhibited the enzyme at 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 mM with T0.5 67, 52.2, 34.4 and 23.3 min, respectively. The substrate offered partial protection for the enzyme against dansyl chloride inhibition. The enzyme was activated by Ca2+ and Mg2+. However, Pb2+, Cd2+, Zn2+, Ni2+ and Hg2+ inhibited α-glucosidase activity. The enzyme was immobilized on Ca alginate and the optimal concentration for 3% w/v. The optimal concentration of CaCl2 was recorded at 3 mM. The optimal CaCl2 concentration and the optimum time for immobilization was 3mM and 4hr. The enzyme was inhibited by aqueous extracts of Datura stramonium, Trigonella foenum-graecum, Hyoscymus muticus and Cynodon dactylon. The IC50 values for the four extracts were 59.1, 73.6, 68.5 and 77.1 µg ml-1, respectively

Gamma radiation effects on vitamins, antioxidant, internal and molecular structure of Purslane seeds

Purslane contains the highest amount of omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and has better nutritional quality. Gamma irradiation is harmless and dependable method for refining the shelf life and nutritional quality of the stored seeds. The aim of this research is to study the influence of irradiation by gamma on structure, ascorbic acid and phenolic content of Purslane seeds. The results show that, ascorbic acid, phenolic content, carbohydrate and protein content in Purslane seeds decreased after exposed by gamma rays. Super oxidase dismutase, fat and fiber content in Purslane seeds increased after exposed by gamma radiation. The shape, size, interconnection and arrangement of molecules in/or around benzene ring in Purslane cells changed after exposure to gamma radiation

Crystal and Molecular Structure of 3-Amino-2-(4-methylphenylamino)quinazolin-4(3H)-one

The crystal structure of 3-Amino-2-(4-methylphenylamino)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (TNT2) is reported. TNT2 is monoclinic, space group C2/c with a = 23.127(5), b = 7.845(2), c = 14.625(3) A and beta=93.58 (3)°. The structure was refined by full matrix least square methods using SHELX93-97program to Rl = 0.051. Torsion angles calculation found that the three rings are-planar within the Experimental error. The phenyl ring connected to C2 is deviated slightly from the plane of quanozlin ring, this feature is different from that found in the molecules of 3-(Diacylamino)quinazolin-4(3H)-ones. Intermolecular hydrogen bond is found between N1...H18B with a value of 2.710 A

Crystal and Molecular Structure of 2-Hydrazino-3-methylquinoxaline

2-hydrazino-3-methylquinoxaline (TNT1) crystallizes in monoclinic system ,space group P2j/n. The cell dimensions were found to be:a =14.179(2), b = 11.799 (4), c = 4.949 (1) A & 0=93.42 A The data were collected with Nonious Fast area detector. The structure was solved using direct methods technique, and refined by full matrix least square methods and the reliability factor converged to Rl = 0.05. The two rings found to be planar. The hydrazino side chain is extended quasi trans. Intermolecular hydrogen bonds formation are between N9...HIOA ,N4...H10A and N10...H10B