Biotechnological Perspective of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS)-Mediated Stress Tolerance in Plants

All environmental cues lead to develop secondary stress conditions like osmotic and oxidative stress conditions that reduces average crop yields by more than 50% every year. The univalent reduction of molecular oxygen (O2) in metabolic reactions consequently produces superoxide anions (O2•−) and other reactive oxygen species (ROS) ubiquitously in all compartments of the cell that disturbs redox potential and causes threat to cellular organelles. The production of ROS further increases under stress conditions and especially in combination with high light intensity. Plants have evolved different strategies to minimize the accumulation of excess ROS like avoidance mechanisms such as physiological adaptation, efficient photosystems such as C4 or CAM metabolism and scavenging mechanisms through production of antioxidants and antioxidative enzymes. Ascorbate-glutathione pathway plays an important role in detoxifying excess ROS in plant cells, which includes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) in detoxifying O2•−radical and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) respectively, monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR), dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR) and glutathione reductase (GR) involved in recycling of reduced substrates such as ascorbate and glutathione. Efficient ROS management is one of the strategies used by tolerant plants to survive and perform cellular activities under stress conditions. The present chapter describes different sites of ROS generation and and their consequences under abiotic stress conditions and also described the approaches to overcome oxidative stress through genomics and genetic engineering

An Open Label Pre and Post Test Clinical Evaluation of Efficacy of Tila Taila Abhyanga and Massage of Yoni in Cystocele with Special Reference to Chyuta Avastha of Vasti

Prolapse or downward displacement of pelvic organs especially vagina, uterus and rectum is a common and disabling condition among women of menopausal age group. It affects their quality of life also. Displacement of vaginal anterior compartment results in cystocele. Quoting Acharya Susruta reference, the aim of this study is to find the efficacy of Tila taila yoni Abhyaṅga in Cyuta avastha of Vasti with respect to first degree cystocele. 30 subjects were selected satisfying inclusion and exclusion criterias with the approval of Institutional ethical committee. Clinical evaluation is done with the help of relevant subjective and objective parameters. The subjective parameters were assessed before and after the treatment for a period of one month with UDI questionnaire and objective parameter with Baden-Walker system of grading Pelvic Organ Prolapse. Three months follow-up evaluation was also done with same parameters. The Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test is used to statically decompose the clinical data. Subjective parameters showed improvement of the condition viz frequency and urgency of urination, urine leakage with and without any activity, cough, sneeze, small amount of urine leakage, difficult and incomplete bladder emptying, bulging in vagina However, leakage not related to urgency, lower abdominal pressure, painful urination and lower abdomen or genital area, pelvic area heaviness or dullness, pelvic discomfort and burning micturition showed only a little reduction with the treatment. Objective parameter is also highly statistically significant at p value < 0.001

Bromelain enzyme from pineapple: in vitro activity study under different micropropagation conditions

The aim of this work was to evaluate the activity of bromelain in pineapple plants (Ananas comosus var. Comosus), Pérola cultivar, produced in vitro in different culture conditions. This enzyme, besides its pharmacological effects, is also employed in food industries, such as breweries and meat processing. In this work, the enzymatic activity was evaluated in the tissues of leaves and stems of plants grown in culture medium without plant growth regulator. The most significant levels of bromelain were observed in leaf tissue after 4 months of culture in vitro in medium with a filter paper bridge, followed by medium gelled by the agar. The results of this study, regarding the different structures of the pineapple (leaves and stems) in vitro showed that the activity of bromelain varied depending on the culture conditions, the time and structure of which was quantified, ensuring a viable strategy in the production of seedlings with high levels of bromelain in subsequent phases of micropropagation.The authors thank the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA/Brazil), National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq/Brazil), Agency for the Improvement of Higher Education Studies (CAPES/Brazil) and Sergipe State Research and Technological Innovation Foundation (FAPITEC/SE, Brazil) for their financial support. The authors also acknowledge the valuable contributions of Dr. Sarah Brandao Santa Cruz Barbosa (in memoriam) during the execution of this study