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Not AvailableVitamin-A deficiency is a major health concern. Traditional yellow maize possesses low provitamin-A (proA). Mutant crtRB1 gene significantly enhances proA. 24 experimental hybrids possessing crtRB1 allele were evaluated for β-carotene (BC), β-cryptoxanthin (BCX), lutein (LUT), zeaxanthin (ZEA), total carotenoids (TC) and grain yield at multi-locations. BC (0.64–17.24 µg/g), BCX (0.45–6.84 µg/g), proA (0.86–20.46 µg/g), LUT (9.60–31.03 µg/g), ZEA (1.24–12.73 µg/g) and TC (20.60–64.02 µg/g) showed wide variation. No significant genotype × location interaction was observed for carotenoids. The mean BC (8.61 µg/g), BCX (4.04 µg/g) and proA (10.63 µg/g) in crtRB1-based hybrids was significantly higher than normal hybrids lacking crtRB1-favourable allele (BC: 1.73 µg/g, BCX: 1.29 µg/g and proA: 2.37 µg/g). Selected crtRB1-based hybrids possessed 33% BC and 40% BCX compared to 6% BC and 5% BCX in normal hybrids. BC showed positive correlation with BCX (r = 0.90), proA (r = 0.99) and TC (r = 0.64) among crtRB1-based hybrids. Carotenoids didn't show association with grain yield. Average yield potential of proA rich hybrids (6794 kg/ha) was at par with normal hybrids (6961 kg/ha). PROAH-13, PROAH-21, PROAH-17, PROAH-11, PROAH-23, PROAH-24 and PROAH-3 were the most promising with >12 µg/g proA and >6000 kg/ha grain yield. The newly identified crtRB1-based hybrids assume significance in alleviating malnutrition.Not Availabl

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Not AvailablePopcorn is a popular snack item worldwide. The geneticbase of popcorn germplasm is quite narrow, which resultedin limited number of popcorn hybrids. Here, a set of sub-tropically adapted 39 popcorn inbreds of exotic- andindigenous-origin, were characterized using morphologicaltraits and molecular markers for their effective utilization inhybrid breeding. Significant variation for grain poppingpercentage (GPP: 86.0-98.0%), percent popping expansion(PPE: 1493-3213%) and volume after popping (VAP: 210-315ml) was observed. The mean PPE (2069%) and GPP(93.6%) among popcorn inbreds were higher than thepopcorn check variety, VL popcorn (PPE: 1739%, GPP: 92%).Positive correlations were observed among GPP, PPE andVAP. Molecular characterization using 72 SSRs produced237 alleles with a mean of 3.3 alleles per locus.Polymorphism information content ranged from 0.05 to0.68, while Jaccard’s dissimilarity coefficients varied from0.27-0.82. Principal coordinate analysis also depicted diversegenetic nature of inbreds. Cluster analysis grouped theinbreds into three major clusters each having 16, 18 and 5inbreds. Contrasting inbreds were identified fordevelopment of mapping populations to identify locigoverning desirable popping quality. The study alsoidentified potential heterotic combinations. The informationgenerated here assumes great significance in breeding forpopcorn hybrids.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableMalnutrition is a widespread problem that affects human health, society, and the economy. Traditional maize that serves as an important source of human nutrition is deficient in vitamin-E, vitamin-A, lysine, and tryptophan. Here, favorable alleles of vte4 ( -tocopherol methyl transferase), crtRB1 ( -carotene hydroxylase), lcyE (lycopene "-cyclase), and o2 (opaque2) genes were combined in parental lines of four popular hybrids using marker-assisted selection (MAS). BC1F1, BC2F1, and BC2F2 populations were genotyped using gene-based markers of vte4, crtRB1, lcyE, and o2. Background selection using 81–103 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) markers led to the recovery of recurrent parent genome (RPG) up to 95.45%. Alpha (a)-tocopherol was significantly enhanced among introgressed progenies (16.13μg/g) as compared to original inbreds (7.90μg/g). Provitamin-A (proA) (10.42μg/g), lysine (0.352%), and tryptophan (0.086%) were also high in the introgressed progenies. The reconstituted hybrids showed a 2-fold enhancement in a-tocopherol (16.83μg/g) over original hybrids (8.06μg/g). Improved hybrids also possessed high proA (11.48μg/g), lysine (0.367%), and tryptophan (0.084%) when compared with traditional hybrids. The reconstituted hybrids recorded the mean grain yield of 8,066 kg/ha, which was at par with original hybrids (mean: 7,846 kg/ha). The MAS-derived genotypes resembled their corresponding original hybrids for the majority of agronomic and yield-related traits, besides characteristics related to distinctness, uniformity, and stability (DUS). This is the first report for the development of maize with enhanced vitamin-E, vitamin-A, lysine, and tryptophan.Not Availabl

The influence of sodium carboxymethylcellulose on drug release from polyethylene oxide extended release matrices

Anionic polymer sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CELLOGEN® HP-HS and/or HP-12HS)was investigated for its ability to influence the release of three model drugs propranolol hydrochloride, theophylline and ibuprofen from polyethylene oxide (POLYOX™ WSR 1105 and/or Coagulant) hydrophilic matrices. For anionic ibuprofen and non-ionic theophylline, no unusual/unexpected release profiles were obtained from tablets containing a mixture of two polymers. However, for cationic propranolol HCl, a combination of polyethylene oxide (PEO) with sodium carboxymethylcellulose (NaCMC) produced a significantly slower drug release compared to the matrices with single polymers. The potential use of this synergistic interaction can be a design of new extended release pharmaceutical dosage forms with a more prolonged release (beyond 12 h) using lower polymer amount, which could be particularly beneficial for freely water-soluble drugs, preferably for once daily oral administration. In order to explain changes in the obtained drug release profiles, Fourier transform infrared absorption spectroscopy was performed. A possible explanation for the more prolonged propranolol HCl release from matrices based on both PEO and NaCMC may be due to a chemical bond(i.e. ionic/electrostatic intermolecular interaction) between amine group of the cationic drug and carboxyl group of the anionic polymer, leading to a formation of a new type/form of the active (i.e. salt) with sustained release pattern

Release Behaviour of Propranolol HCl from Hydrophilic Matrix Tablets Containing Psyllium Powder in Combination with Hydrophilic Polymers

The objective of this study was to investigate the release behaviour of propranolol hydrochloride from psyllium matrices in the presence hydrophilic polymers. The dissolution test was carried out at pH 1.2 and pH 6.8. Binary mixtures of psyllium and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) used showed that an increase in the percentage of HPMC in the binary mixtures caused a significant decrease in the release rate of propranolol. Psyllium-alginate matrices produced lower drug release as compared to when the alginate was the matrix former alone. When sodium carboxy methyl cellulose (NaCMC) was incorporated into the psyllium, the results showed that matrices containing the ratio of psyllium-NaCMC in the 1:1 ratio are able to slow down the drug release significantly as compared to matrices made from only psyllium or NaCMC as retardant agent suggesting that there could be a synergistic effect between psyllium and NaCMC. The double-layered tablets showed that the psyllium and HPMC in the outer shell of an inner formulation of psyllium alone had the greatest effect of protecting the inner core and thus producing the lowest drug release (DE = 38%, MDT = 93 min). A significant decrease in the value of n in Q = kt (n) from 0.70 to 0.51 as the psyllium content was increased from 50 to 150 mg suggests that the presence of psyllium in HPMC matrices affected the release mechanism. Psyllium powder had the ability in the combination with other hydrophilic polymers to produce controlled release profiles. Care and consideration should as such be taken when formulating hydrophilic matrices in different combinations