Antioxidant Capacity of Fresh and Dry Leaf Extracts of Sixteen Scutellaria Species

The antioxidant capacity of 16 Scutellaria species was examined using Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) assay. Total polyphenol, antioxidant capacity estimation and flavonoid content measurements were conducted on fresh and air dried leaf extracts. The highest total polyphenol content was obtained in dry leaf extracts of S. ocmulgee at 732.41 67 mg/g of gallic acid equivalent. Dry leaf extracts of S. ocmulgee registered 2480.93 μmol/g of Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity and the highest total flavonoid content with 200.63 μg/mL from fresh leaf extracts of S. alpina. Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), a common herb with known high antioxidant potential, was used as a standard for comparison with the Scutellaria species

Effect of particle size, coupling agent and DDGS additions on Paulownia wood polypropylene composites

Studies aimed at improving the tensile, flexural, impact, thermal, and physical characteristics of wood–plastic composites composed of Paulownia wood flour derived from 36-month-old trees blended with polypropylene were conducted. Composites of 25% and 40% w/w of Paulownia wood were produced by twin-screw compounding and injection molding. Composites containing 0–10% by weight of maleated polypropylene were evaluated and an optimum maleated polypropylene concentration determined, i.e., 5%. The particle size distribution of Paulownia wood filler is shown to have an effect on the tensile and flexural properties of the composites. Novel combination composites of dried distiller’s grain with solubles mixed with Paulownia wood (up to 40% w/w) were produced and their properties evaluated. Depending on the composite tested, soaking composites for 872 h alters mechanical properties and causes weight gain

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Thin Cell Layer (TCL) Cul-ture System for Herbal Biomass Production and Genetic Transformation of Bacopa monnieri L

Abstract Bacopa monnieri (L.) Wettst. (Scrophulariaceae) is a highly sought after medicinal plant with therapeutic properties as cognition enhancer as well as for other brain and body functions. Research was conducted to optimize a thin cell layer explant based micropropagation system to assist mass propagation. Thin cell layers (TCL) derived from leaf and internode segments were used as explants. Murashige and Skoog medium was used to formulate shoot induction, elongation, and rooting media. Shoot induction media were prepared by supplementing three concentrations (0.1, 1.0, and 10.0 µM) of four cytokinins 6-benzylaminopurine, 2-isopentenyl-adenine, 6-3-Hydroxybenzylaminopurine, and thidiazuron to study adventitious shoot bud induction response. An optimum shoot bud induction response was observed on MS medium supplemented with 10.0 µM 6-benzylaminopurine for both leaf and stem transverse thin cell layer (tTCL) explants. The average number of shoot buds from leaf tTCL explants was 59, whereas, on an average, 33 shoot buds were regenerated from internode tTCL explants. Elongation of adventitious shoot buds was achieved best in a liquid medium using Liquid Lab Rocker ® system. Elongated shoots recorded 100% rooting in MS medium supplemented with 5 µM indole butyric acid. Bacopa micropropagation employing tTCL explants for initial shoot bud induction and using LLR ® boxes in subsequent elongation step can achieve cost effective way to regenerate high volume of plantlets and biomass required for herbal industry. Leaf and stem tTCL explants both were suitable for Agrobacterium tumefaciens (EHA105) mediated genetic transformation. Successful transformation was scored * Corresponding author. L. A. Croom et al. 1233 within three days of co-cultivation with Agrobacterium suspension on the basis of Enhanced Green Fluorescent Protein (EGFP) expression as an early and non-destructible screening device. Transformation frequencies of 83% and 76% were accomplished for leaf and stem tTCL explants, respectively. Greenhouse grown Bacopa plants were analyzed as fresh and dry methanolic extracts for total polyphenol content (811.93 ± 7.98 and 814 ± 17.64 GAE mg g-1) and the Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity values were 1918.25 ± 173.12 and 3163.14 ± 403.25 µmol/g, respectively