Evaluation of six cold-season turfgrasses responses to lead phytotoxicity for screening tolerant species

Lead (Pb) is one of the most hazardous heavy metal that caused serious problems for ecosystem at recent years. In this study, the effect of Pb on seed germination, incipient growth and antioxidant enzymes of six common used turfgrasses was investigated. The results showed that after implementation of different concentrations (0, 1000, 2000 and 3000 µM) of Pb, Agropyron elongatum exhibited the highest germination percentage (90%) under 3000 µM Pb, followed by Lollium perenne L. (85.56%). The lowest germination parameters including germination vigor, rate, index and germination percentage was found in Festuca ovina, which means it is the most sensitive species to Pb than the other studied turfgrasses. In contrast, F. rubra, F. ovina, A. elongatum and L. perenne had the most significant aerial growth and the lowest chlorophyll degradation even at high lead concentration. An increase in L. perenne and A. elongatum antioxidant enzymes activities as well as a decrease in F. ovina observed after exposure to 3000 µM Pb which correlated to their tolerance and sensitivity to Pb respectively. However, such increase in antioxidant activity was also found in F. Rubra and Poa pratensis but could not inhibit chlorophyll degradation and seedling growth retardation. It might support that there is suggesting the probable existence of a lead-injury mechanism rather than the oxidative stress. Overall, A. elongatum is introduced as the most tolerant turfgrass among studied ones, which could be cultivated in Pb-polluted sites

Nerinine and homolycorine, amaryllidaceae alkaloids from the bulbs of Galanthus transcaucasicus Fomin

Background and objectives: Many members of the Amaryllidaceae are regarded as toxic. The toxic constituents that occur in the whole family are referred to as the Amaryllidaceae alkaloids. The main aim of this study was the identification of alkaloid compounds from Galanthus transcaucasicus Fomin, a medicinal plant from Amaryllidaceae. Methods: Planar and column chromatography techniques were used for isolation of alkaloid components. GC/MS analysis was carried out for the identification of alkaloid compounds. Results: Silica gel column chromatography of the alkaloidal extract of G. transcaucasicus bulbs afforded seven fractions. Preparative thin layer chromatography of these fractions led to the isolation of compounds 1 (nerinine)and 2 (homolycorine). Galantamine was not detected in any of these fractions. Conclusion: Our findings showed that G. transcaucasicus could be a new source of bioactive alkaloids for possible applications in pharmaceutical industries

Microbial biosurfactants as key multifunctional ingredients for sustainable cosmetics

A polar head and an apolar tail chemically characterize surfactants, they show different properties and are categorized by different factors such as head charge and molecular weight. They work by reducing the surface tension between oil and water phases to facilitate the formation of one homogeneous mixture. In this respect, they represent unavoidable ingredients, their main application is in the production of detergents, one of if not the most important categories of cosmetics. Their role is very important, it should be remembered that it was precisely soaps and hygiene that defeated the main infectious diseases at the beginning of the last century. Due to their positive environmental impact, the potential uses of microbial sourced surfactants are actively investigated. These compounds are produced with different mechanisms by microorganisms in the aims to defend themselves from external threats, to improve the mobility in the environment, etc. In the cosmetic field, biosurfactants, restricted in the present work to those described above, can carry high advantages, in comparison to traditional surfactants, especially in the field of sustainable and safer approaches. Besiede this, costs still remain an obsatcle to their diffusion; in this regard, exploration of possible multifunctional actions could help to contain application costs. To highlight their features and possible multifunctional role, on the light of specific biological profiles yet underestimated, we have approached the present review work

In silico identification and characterization of putative differentially expressed genes involved in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) seed development

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