Renal, Cardiac and Osteo – protective effects of beta – sitosterol glycoside in hypertensive rats

Phytosterols are now popularly used as nutraceuticals for preventing, managing and retarding the progression of chronic diseases. Although several experimental studies have shown that β – sitosterol possess cardioprotective and hepatoprotective effects in different chronic diseased animal model, there is insufficient information on the biological effects of its conjugated form. This study therefore investigated the renoprotective, cardioprotective and osteoprotective effects of β – sitosterol glycoside (BSSG) in Cadmium Chloride (CdCl2) – induced hypertensive rats. Renal damage was induced by CdCl2 and the hypertensive groups treated with lisinopril (standard drug) at low dosage and BSSG at both low and high dosage. Serum urea and creatinine were quantified using appropriate standard methods to ascertain the integrity of the glomeruli and determine estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) while serum sodium, potassium, chloride, carbonate levels were assayed for spectrophotometrically to determine the extent of tubular damage and serum osmolarity. Serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and calcium levels were measured as markers of bone demineralisation. The effect on lipid profile was also determined, while atherogenic and coronary heart indices were calculated to determine the degree of predisposition to cardiovascular diseases. β – sitosterol glycoside in a concentration dependent manner significantly (p =.05) reduces renal damage markers (serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum electrolytes (sodium, potassium, chloride and bicarbonate ions)), bone demineralisation markers (alkaline phosphatase and serum calcium ion) and markers of risk of atherosclerosis (total cholesterol, triacylglyceride and LDL - cholesterol). The results indicate that β – sitosterol glycoside elicits biological activities similar to its unconjugated form. Keywords: Cadmium Chloride, hypertensive, renal damage, β – sitosterol glycoside, estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR

Effect of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria and gibberellic acid on salt stress tolerance in tomato genotypes

Salinity stress is a limiting factor that affects attainment of optimal yield of many vegetable crops at various growth stages in many arid and semi-arid parts of sub-Saharan Africa. The objective of this study was to explore salt tolerance of tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum L.) genotypes under the influence of gibberellic acid (GA3) and Bacillus subtilis under screen house conditions. Tomato seeds were pre-soaked with 0, 0.4, 0.5 or 0.6 mM concentrations of GA3 and control in distilled water, respectively; for 12 hr at room temperature. The seeds were germinated in a screen house in 10 kg of soil contained 0, 100, or 200 mM NaCl treatment in polyethene bags. After two weeks of seed germination, the seedlings were inoculated with B. subtilis with the exception of controls. Results revealed that the single or combined treatments of GA3 (at different concentrations) and Bacillus subtilis significantly (P<0.05) increased photosynthetic pigments, and enhanced the concentrations of potassium, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus ions in the salt-stressed tomato. Both tomato genotypes showed low concentrations of sodium ions at all levels of gibberellic acid with Bacillus subtilis. Also, there were significant (P < 0.05) increases in the compatible solutes, antioxidant enzymes activity and antioxidant potential of salt-stressed tomato genotypes, in the combined treatments of GA3 and Bacillus subtilis. Tomato genotypes treated with GA3 and Bacillus subtilis, showed greater salt-tolerance even at high levels of salinity, than single treatment of either GA3 or Bacillus subtilis. Based on these findings, the genotypes are suitable for future breeding programmes to achieve optimal crop yield in saline conditions.Le stress de salinit\ue9 est un facteur limitant qui affecte la r\ue9alisation du rendement optimal de nombreuses cultures potag\ue8res dans de nombreuses r\ue9gions arides et semi-arides de l\u2019Afrique sub-saharienne. L\u2019objectif de cette \ue9tude \ue9tait d\u2019explorer la tol\ue9rance au sel des g\ue9notypes de tomate ( Solanum lycopersicum L.) sous l\u2019influence de l\u2019acide gibb\ue9rellique (GA3) et de Bacillus subtilis . Les graines de tomate ont \ue9t\ue9 pr\ue9alablement tremp\ue9es avec des concentrations de GA3 de 0, 0,4, 0,5 ou 0,6 mM et du contr\uf4le dans de l\u2019eau distill\ue9e, respectivement; pendant 12 heures \ue0 temp\ue9rature ambiante. Les graines ont germ\ue9 dans un abri grillag\ue9 dans 10 kg de sol contenant 0, 100 ou 200 mM de traitement au NaCl dans des sacs en poly\ue9thyl\ue8ne. Apr\ue8s deux semaines de germination des graines, les plants ont \ue9t\ue9 inocul\ue9s avec B. subtilis. Les r\ue9sultats ont r\ue9v\ue9l\ue9 que des traitements uniques ou combin\ue9s de GA3 (\ue0 diff\ue9rentes concentrations) et de Bacillus subtilis (P <0,05) augmentaient consid\ue9rablement les pigments photosynth\ue9tiques et augmentaient les concentrations d\u2019ions potassium, calcium, magn\ue9sium et phosphore dans la tomate stress\ue9e par le sel. Les deux g\ue9notypes de tomates ont montr\ue9 de faibles concentrations d\u2019ions sodium \ue0 tous les niveaux d\u2019acide gibb\ue9rellique avec Bacillus subtilis. En outre, il y a eu des augmentations significatives (P <0,05) des solut\ue9s compatibles, de l\u2019activit\ue9 des enzymes antioxydantes et du potentiel antioxydant des g\ue9notypes de tomates stress\ue9s par le sel, dans les traitements combin\ue9s de GA3 et de Bacillus subtilis. Les g\ue9notypes de tomates trait\ue9s avec GA3 et Bacillus subtilis ont montr\ue9 une plus grande tol\ue9rance au sel m\ueame \ue0 des niveaux \ue9lev\ue9s de salinit\ue9. Sur la base de ces r\ue9sultats, les g\ue9notypes conviennent aux futurs programmes de s\ue9lection pour obtenir un rendement optimal des cultures dans des conditions salines