Antifeedant, Growth Regulatory and Ovicidal Effect of Sambucus ebulus L. Extract on Tribolium confusum Duv.

Aqueous extract from leaves of Sambcus ebulus L. were tested for antifeedant, growth regulation and ovicidal effects against the red floor beetle Tribolium confusum Duv. under laboratory condition (29?1?C, RH 60?5% and 12L:12D). The results indicated a significant deterrence for feeding, and comparatively significant larval, pupal and adult weight decrease in treated vs. controlled insects. Similarly the ovicidal effect of the extract was significant, thus reducing the number of F1 generation of resulting adults

Effect of Sweet Wormwood Artemisia annua Crude Leaf Extracts on Some Biological and Physiological Characteristics of the Lesser Mulberry Pyralid, Glyphodes pyloalis

The lesser mulberry pyralid, Glyphodes pyloalis Walker (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is a monophagous and dangerous pest of mulberry that has been recently observed in Guilan province, northern Iran. In this study, the crude methanol extract of sweet wormwood Artemisia annua L. (Asterales: Asteracaea) was investigated on toxicity, biological and physiological characteristics of this pest under controlled conditions (24 ± 1 °C, 75 ± 5% RH, and 16:8 L:D photoperiod). The effect of acute toxicity and sublethal doses on physiological characteristics was performed by topical application. The LC50 and LC20 values on fourth instar larvae were calculated as 0.33 and 0.22 gram leaf equivalent/ mL, respectively. The larval duration of fifth instar larvae in LC50 treatment was prolonged (5.8 ± 0.52 days) compared with the control group (4.26 ± 0.29 days). However larval duration was reduced in the LC20 treatment. The female adult longevity in the LC50 dose was the least (4.53 ± 0.3 days), while longevity among controls was the highest (9.2 ± 0.29 days). The mean fecundity of adults after larval treatment with LC50 was recorded as 105.6 ± 16.84 eggs/female, while the control was 392.74 ± 22.52 eggs/female. The percent hatchability was reduced in all treatments compared with the control. The effect of extract in 0.107, 0.053, 0.026 and 0.013 gle/mL on biochemical characteristics of this pest was also studied. The activity of α-amylase and protease 48 hours post—treatment was significantly reduced compared with the control. Similarly lipase, esterase, and glutathione S-transferase activity were significantly affected by A. annua extract

Assessment of soy phytoestrogens' effects on bone turnover indicators in menopausal women with osteopenia in Iran: a before and after clinical trial

BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis is the gradual declining in bone mass with age, leading to increased bone fragility and fractures. Fractures in hip and spine are known to be the most important complication of the disease which leads in the annual mortality rate of 20% and serious morbidity rate of 50%. Menopause is one of the most common risk factors of osteoporosis. After menopause, sex hormone deficiency is associated with increased remodeling rate and negative bone balance, leading to accelerated bone loss and micro-architectural defects, resulting into increased bone fragility. Compounds with estrogen-like biological activity similar to "Isoflavones" present in plants especially soy, may reduce bone loss in postmenopausal women as they are similar in structure to estrogens. This research, therefore, was carried out to study the effects of Iranian soy protein on biochemical indicators of bone metabolism in osteopenic menopausal women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This clinical trial of before-after type was carried out on 15 women 45–64 years of age. Subjects were given 35 g soy protein per day for 12 weeks. Blood and urine sampling, anthropometric measurement and 48-h-dietary recalls were carried out at zero, 6 and 12 weeks. Food consumption data were analyzed using Food Proccessor Software. For the study of bone metabolism indicators and changes in anthropometric data as well as dietary intake, and repeated analyses were employed. RESULTS: Comparison of weight, BMI, physical activity, energy intake and other intervening nutrients did not reveal any significant changes during different stages of the study. Soy protein consumption resulted in a significant reduction in the urinary deoxypyridinoline and increasing of total alkaline phosphatase (p < 0.05), although the alterations in osteocalcin, c-telopeptide, IGFBP3 and type I collagen telopeptide were not significant. CONCLUSION: In view of beneficial effect of soy protein on bone metabolism indicators, inclusion of this relatively inexpensive food in the daily diet of menopausal women, will probably delay bone resorption, thereby preventing osteoporosis

Population fluctuation of poplar aphid, Chaitophorus populeti (Hom.: Drepanosiphidae) and its predators in the Chaharmahal-Bakhtiari provinceï

Chaitophorus populeti (Panzer) is considered as an important pest of Populus alba in the Chaharmahal-Bakhtiari province. During 2000-2001, the population fluctuation of the aphid and its predators was studied in four different regions including Juneghan, Zayandeh-Rood, Baba-Heidar and Cheshmeh-Ali. Population sampling was carried out weekly in these regions by cutting four branches (length 30 cm) from four trees considering the four main geographical directions. Then the aphids and natural enemies in each branch were counted. The results indicated that the peak of aphid populations occurred on the first half of June of 2000 and second half of June of 2001, with the mean of 165 ± 8.8 and 184 ± 6.6 aphids per branch respectively. In these two years, the aphid population densities, as well as population densities in the four geographical directions were not statistically different (p>0/05). The predators of the aphid collected in the four studied regions included four species of ladybirds, one lacewing species, two species of bugs and one fly species. There was a significant correlation between the aphid population and its predators. The calculated determination coefficient (R2) between the aphid population and ladybirds, and between the aphid population and other predators were 0.78 and 0.48 respectively, in 2000; and 0.88 and 0.84 respectively, in 2001. In both years, the determination coefficient between the aphid population and ladybirds was more than that of between the aphid population and other predators in the four regions

The growth regulatory, deterrency and ovicidal activity of worm wood [Artemisia annua L.] on Tribolium confusum Duv. and identification of its chemical constituents by GC-MS

The chemical composition of worm wood Artemisia annua L. (Astraceae), a medicinal plant, was studied by gas chromatography and gas chromatographymass spectrometry (GC-MS). About 60 compounds were identified, from which the major compounds were erythritol (50.30%), camphore (7.25%), pinocarveol (4.13%) and diethoxyethane (2.18%). The effect of crude extract on deterrency was maximal in 1000 μL/L treatment (only 4.66 ±1.05 insects were attracted to treated food) compared to control (12.6 ±0.96) The growth regulatory effect showed that 1600 μL/L treatment variously affected the weight of larvae, pupae and adult (0.48 ±0.003, 2.17 ±0.02 and 1.31 ±0.015, respectively) and finally the ovicidal effect and the number of adults appearing in F1 were similarly affected (38.5 ±1.7 and 33.75 ±2.31), comparing to control (99.25 ±1.727 and 92.5 ±1.35). The present result and previous results on this plant species indicate that it can be a good candidate for controlling stored product insects

Protective effects of gallic acid against methotrexate-induced toxicity in rats

Background: Methotrexate, as a chemotherapy drug, can cause chronic liver damage and oxidative stress. Aim of this study was to evaluate the preventive effect of gallic acid (GA) on methotrexate (MTX)-induced oxidative stress in rat liver. Methods: Twenty-eight male rats were randomly divided into four groups as control, MTX (20 mg/kg, i.p.), MTX + GA (30 mg/kg/day, orally) and GA treated. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were used as biochemical markers of MTX-induced hepatic injury. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels and hepatic antioxidant enzymes activities including catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were assayed in liver tissue. The expression of SOD2 and GPx1 genes were evaluated by real-time RT-PCR and liver histopathology was evaluated by light microscopy. Results: The result obtained from current study showed that GA remarkably reduced MTX-induced elevation of AST, ALT and ALP and increased MTX-induced reduction in GSH content, GPx, CAT and SOD activity as well as GPx1 and SOD2 gene expressions. Histological results showed that MTX led to liver damage and GA could improve histological changes. Conclusions: Our results indicate that GA ameliorates biochemical and oxidative stress parameters in the liver of rats exposed to MTX. © 2017, © 2017 The Royal Belgian Society for Surgery

Rippling of graphitic surfaces: A comparison between few-layer graphene and HOPG

The surface structure of Few-Layer Graphene (FLG) epitaxially grown on the C-face of SiC has been investigated by TM-AFM in ambient air and upon interaction with dilute aqueous solutions of bioorganic molecules (L-methionine and dimethyl sulfoxide, DMSO). Before interaction with molecular solutions, we observe nicely ordered, three-fold oriented rippled domains, with a 4.7 +/- 0.2 nm periodicity (small periodicity, SP) and a peak-to-valley distance in the range 0.1-0.2 nm. Upon mild interaction with the molecular solution, the ripple periodicity `` relaxes'' to 6.2 +/- 0.2 nm (large periodicity, LP), while the peak-to-valley height increases to 0.2-0.3 nm. When additional energy is transferred to the system through sonication in solution, graphene planes are peeled off, as shown by quantitative analysis of Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy which indicate a neat reduction of thickness. Upon exfoliation rippled domains are no longer observed. In comparative experiments on cleaved HOPG, we could not observe ripples on pristine samples in ambient air, while LP ripples develop upon interaction with the molecular solutions. Recent literature on similar systems is not univocal regarding the interpretation of rippling. The ensemble of our comparative observations on FLG and HOPG can be hardly rationalized solely on the basis of the surface assembly of molecules, either organic molecules coming from the solution or adventitious species. We propose to consider rippling as the manifestation of the free-energy minimization of quasi-2D layers, eventually affected by factors such as interplanar stacking, and interactions with molecules and/or with the AFM tip

Protective effects of gallic acid against methotrexate-induced toxicity in rats

Background: Methotrexate, as a chemotherapy drug, can cause chronic liver damage and oxidative stress. Aim of this study was to evaluate the preventive effect of gallic acid (GA) on methotrexate (MTX)-induced oxidative stress in rat liver. Methods: Twenty-eight male rats were randomly divided into four groups as control, MTX (20 mg/kg, i.p.), MTX + GA (30 mg/kg/day, orally) and GA treated. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were used as biochemical markers of MTX-induced hepatic injury. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels and hepatic antioxidant enzymes activities including catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were assayed in liver tissue. The expression of SOD2 and GPx1 genes were evaluated by real-time RT-PCR and liver histopathology was evaluated by light microscopy. Results: The result obtained from current study showed that GA remarkably reduced MTX-induced elevation of AST, ALT and ALP and increased MTX-induced reduction in GSH content, GPx, CAT and SOD activity as well as GPx1 and SOD2 gene expressions. Histological results showed that MTX led to liver damage and GA could improve histological changes. Conclusions: Our results indicate that GA ameliorates biochemical and oxidative stress parameters in the liver of rats exposed to MTX. © 2017, © 2017 The Royal Belgian Society for Surgery