11 research outputs found
Analysis of preliminary phytochemical screening of Typhonium flagelliforme
Typhonium flagelliforme (Araceae) is a medicinal herb which is endowed with curative properties against a variety of illness including injuries, oedema, coughs, pulmonary ailments, bleeding and cancer. In order to assess its phytochemical components, an experiment was conducted on one to six month old ex vitro and in vitro extracts of T. flagelliforme. The active (ex vitro and in vitro) extracts of T. flagelliforme were screened for phytochemicals components such as alkaloids, flavonlids, terpenoids and steroids. Alkaloids and flavonoids are the main phytochemical constituents of T. flagelliformewhich are found to be in the highest amount in two and four month old of ex vitro plants. High amounts of main phytochemical constituents were observed during the flowering process which started in two month old plant and finished at the end of the three month old plant
In vitro mass propagation of Typhonium flagelliforme as affected by plant growth regulators
Tubers were used as explants in in vitro mass propagation of Rodent Tuber (Typhonium flagelliforme). The explants were obtained from sterile plantlets and placed in shoot induction medium containing basal salts of Murashige and Skoog (MS) and various concentrations of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and -naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). Treatment containing 5 mg/l (w/v) of BAP with 1 mg/l (w/v) of NAA produced the highest number of shoots per explant (29.17) after 12 weeks of culture and also the highest mean fresh weight of shoots formed in treatment containing 5 mg/l (w/v) of BAP with 1 mg/l (w/v) of NAA. For ex vitro establishment, well- rooted plantlets were transferred in potting medium containing peatmoss, perlite and vermiculite (3:1:1)
Tamoxifen and raloxifene modulate gap junction coupling during early phases of retinoic acid-dependent neuronal differentiation of NTera2/D1 cells
Gap junctions (GJ) represent a cellular communication system known to influence neuronal differentiation and survival. To assess a putative role of this system for neural effects of tamoxifen (TAM) and raloxifene (RAL), we used the human teratocarcinoma cell line NTera2/D1, retinoic acid (RA)-dependent neuronal differentiation of which is regulated by gap junctions formed of connexin43 (Cx43). As demonstrated by Western blot analysis, concentrations above 1 µmol/l for TAM, and 0.1 µmol/l for RAL lead to a temporary time- and concentration-dependent increase in Cx43 immunoreactivity, which reached a peak for TAM after 1 day and for RAL after 2 days. Immunocytochemical stainings revealed the increase in Cx43 immunoreactivity to result from an accumulation in intracellular compartments such as the Golgi apparatus or lysosomes. In addition, TAM and RAL were able to prevent the RA-dependent decrease of Cx43 immunoreactivity in NTera2/D1 cells, normally observed during neuronal differentiation. This suggested a suppression of neuronal differentiation to result from these substances. According to this, treatment of NTera2/D1 cells with 10 µmol/l TAM or RAL during weeks 1 and 2 of a 6 weeks RA-driven differentiation schedule impaired, whereas treatment during weeks 5 and 6 did not impair, neuronal differentiation of these cells. Modulation of GJ coupling between NTera2/D1 cells by TAM and RAL seems therefore to perturb early neuronal differentiation, whereas differentiated neurons in the mature brain seem to be not affected. These effects could be of importance for actions of TAM and RAL on early embryonic steps of nervous system formation