RAMAN SPECTRA OF OXALATES AND OXALATOCOMPLEXES : VIBRATIONS OF DICARBOXYL

This paper deals with the raman spectra of oxalates and oxalato-complexes.@IAC

ON THE RAMAN SPECTRA OF OXALATES IN SOLUTlON AND THE STRUCTURE OF THE OXALATE ION

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ON THE POLARlSATlON OF RAMAN LINES OF FORMIC ACID, AND FORMATE AND TRICHLORACETATE IONS

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Development of transgenic barstar lines and identification of a male sterile (barnase)/restorer (barstar) combination for heterosis breeding in Indian oilseed mustard (Brassica juncea)

Transgenic lines containing the barstar gene (encoding for Barstar an intracellular inhibitor of the ribonuclease, Barnase both from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens) have been developed in Indian oilseed mustard, Brassica juncea, to develop a complete male sterility/ restoration system for heterosis breeding in this crop. Transgenics were also raised using a modified sequence of the barstar gene based on parameters known to influence transgene expression in heterologous systems. The wild type and modified barstar lines were analysed for their restoration capabilities by crossing them with agronomically suitable male sterile barnase lines developed earlier in our laboratory. Of 30 different combinations of crosses tested between three male sterile barnase lines and several single-copy barstar lines, only one combination was found to restore male fertility among F1 progeny. Subsequent analysis of F2 progeny derived from such F1 restored events (containing both barnase and barstar genes) revealed stable inheritance of both genes in the segregating population thereby indicating proper functionality of the same. Further, pollen viability in restored events was found to be comparable to that observed in transgenic lines containing the barstar gene alone, indicating efficient restoration by the barstar protein in the presence of the ribonuclease. The male sterile line and its corresponding restorer identified in the present study constitute a complete, functional male sterility/restorer system in B. juncea and the traits can be diversified into appropriate combiners for heterosis breeding

Comparative mapping of Brassica juncea and Arabidopsis thaliana using Intron Polymorphism (IP) markers: homoeologous relationships, diversification and evolution of the A, B and C Brassica genomes

Background: Extensive mapping efforts are currently underway for the establishment of comparative genomics between the model plant, Arabidopsis thaliana and various Brassica species. Most of these studies have deployed RFLP markers, the use of which is a laborious and time-consuming process. We therefore tested the efficacy of PCR-based Intron Polymorphism (IP) markers to analyze genome-wide synteny between the oilseed crop, Brassica juncea (AABB genome) and A. thaliana and analyzed the arrangement of 24 (previously described) genomic block segments in the A, B and C Brassica genomes to study the evolutionary events contributing to karyotype variations in the three diploid Brassica genomes. Results: IP markers were highly efficient and generated easily discernable polymorphisms on agarose gels. Comparative analysis of the segmental organization of the A and B genomes of B. juncea (present study) with the A and B genomes of B. napus and B. nigra respectively (described earlier), revealed a high degree of colinearity suggesting minimal macro-level changes after polyploidization. The ancestral block arrangements that remained unaltered during evolution and the karyotype rearrangements that originated in the Oleracea lineage after its divergence from Rapa lineage were identified. Genomic rearrangements leading to the gain or loss of one chromosome each between the A-B and A-C lineages were deciphered. Complete homoeology in terms of block organization was found between three linkage groups (LG) each for the A-B and A-C genomes. Based on the homoeology shared between the A, B and C genomes, a new nomenclature for the B genome LGs was assigned to establish uniformity in the international Brassica LG nomenclature code. Conclusion: IP markers were highly effective in generating comparative relationships between Arabidopsis and various Brassica species. Comparative genomics between the three Brassica lineages established the major rearrangements, translocations and fusions pivotal to karyotype diversification between the A, B and C genomes of Brassica species. The inter-relationships established between the Brassica lineages vis-à-vis Arabidopsis would facilitate the identification and isolation of candidate genes contributing to traits of agronomic value in crop Brassicas and the development of unified tools for Brassica genomics

Comparative antioxidant and hepatoprotective potential quercetin and corycavidine from Hedyotis corymbosa (L.) Lam. and Solanum xanthocarpum Schrad & Wendl.

776-784Liver disease is the major health issues in current era. Antioxidants play the essential role in hepatoprotection by protecting the hepatic cells against free radicals. Flavonoids and alkaloids are the essential plants bioactive that play the major role in the antioxidant system. In our project we used diamond flower Hedyotis corymbosa (L.) Lam. and Yellow berried Nightshade Solanum xanthocarpum Schrad & Wendl., and both plants have major phytoconstituent which acts as antioxidants. Thus, the aim of the current study validates the isolation, characterization, and determination of in vivo antioxidant and hepatoprotective consequences of corycavidine and quercetin that were isolated from Diamond flower Hedyotis corymbosa (L.) Lam. and Yellow berried Nightshade Solanum xanthocarpum Schrad & Wendl.. The study intent to isolate and identify the antioxidant and hepatoprotective agent from two different plants and compare their hepatoprotective potential to obtain the most effective liver protective phytoconstituent. Quercetin was isolated from S. xanthocarpum by column chromatography employing n-butanol: acetic acid: H2O (2:2:6) as a solvent system, however, corycavidine was isolated from H. corymbosa by column chromatography employing chloroform: methanol: diethylamine (4:1:2.2) as mobile phase. Structural illustrations were confirmed by UV, FT-IR, 1H-NMR, and 13C-NMR, and mass spectroscopy. Both the phytoconstituents, corycavidine and quercetin, were explored for their antioxidant potential by investigating CAT, SOD GSH, and LPO in liver homogenates of experimental rats. Additionally, the in vivo hepatoprotective effect was examined against simvastatin (20 mg/kg, p.o.), which induced hepatotoxicity in experimental rodents. The liver protective activity was computed by determining distinct biochemical parameters like SGOT, SGPT, ALP, bilirubin, total protein, cholesterol and urea along with hematological parameters and histopathological studies. The results of spectroscopic methods confirmed that the isolated phytochemical constituent from the H. corymbosa is corycavidine, a benzylisoquinoline alkaloid, however from S. xanthocarpum is quercetin a flavonoid. Both phytoconstituents significantly (P <0.05 P <0.001) and dose-dependently reversed simvastatin induced elevated levels of SGOT, SGPT, cholesterol, urea, total bilirubin and restored the total protein and albumin level in experimental rats. Furthermore, it also signifies the blood parameters at a dose of 50 and 100 mg/kg and restored the body protection system. The histological examination exhibited that corycavidine and quercetin at a dose of 100 mg/kg showed regeneration of hepatocytes around the central vein with nearly normal liver architecture. The results expressed the hepatoprotective outcome of quercetin is preeminent than corycavidine and therefore, scientifically validates its traditional application