Factors affecting Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) infesting some tomato hybrids throughout summer season in Assiut Governorate, Upper Egypt

An area of about half acre was cultivated with tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) in 2012 summer season. Obtained data indicated that the infestation began when the plant aged one month. Infestation with T. absoluta reached the maximum number of 50 and 28 larvae per 10 leaves on hybrids of H6 and H7, respectively. The infestation was then decreased gradually until the end of the season. The relative efficiency of the plant age factor was found 25% out of about 90%. Data indicated also that mirid bugs seemed to be responsible for about 14% of the variability of the infestation with T. absoluta larvae. Mirid bugs occupied the second rank of the rating sort. Both hybrids, (H6 and H7) showed similar effect of maximum temperature on larval infestation. Rating sort of co-efficient of determination revealed that the air temperature ranked the fourth factor. However, air temperature was found to be responsible for about 9% and 10% of the variability of larval infestation between the two hybrids H6 and H7, respectively. The maximum relative humidity took the lowest level. The statistical analysis indicated that the coefficient of determination of soil temperature and larvae of T. absoluta infesting H6 and H7 was about 10% and 17%, respectively. Results of the present investigation clearly show that plant age (Rate 1) may be the key factor as it had a small simple correlation despite RH (Rate8) approximately had a similar simple correlation. These reversed evidences, prove that the simple correlation is not enough to determine the potency of an independent factor unless it correlate with other factors. Thus, multi-coefficient analysis is highly recommended in such cases

Evaluation of the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of the spent coffee extracts and their applications as natural food preservatives of chicken fillets

The present study aimed at evaluating the phytochemical composition, antioxidant, and antimicrobial potentials of spent coffee extracts (SCE) to use these extracts as natural preservatives of food. The effectiveness of SCE in postponing the oxidation and extending the shelf life of chicken fillets through delaying the microbial growth were investigated. Spent coffee was collected and extracted using water and ethanol. The extracts were analyzed for their bioactive components using Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and antioxidant properties using different spectrophotometric assays. The detected bioactive components were mainly fatty acids (80 %), flavonoids, terpenoids and caffeine (5.4 %). Spent coffee ethanolic extract was richer in its active components than the aqueous one. Additionally, the in vitro antibacterial efficacy of the extracts against several food-borne bacterial strains revealed that spent coffee ethanolic extract was effective against all the tested bacteria with inhibitory percentages ranging from 34.62 to 66.69 %, whereas the aqueous extract expressed an inhibitory effect only against Salmonella typhimurium (35.82 %). To assess the practical utility of SCE as food preservatives, chicken fillets were treated with SCE at two levels (0.1 % and 0.2 %) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT, 0.02 %) was used as a synthetic preservative. The antioxidant and microbiological attributes of the SCE treated chicken fillets were investigated at 3 d intervals for 15 d. The results showed that inclusion of SCE enhanced the chicken fillets antioxidant properties and microbiological characteristics. Furthermore, the chicken fillets treatments succeeded in stopping the rise of the total bacterial count, with no Salmonella sp. or fungal contamination, and additionally, the overall total coliform was less than 102 cfu/ g; indicating their safety for human consumption. In conclusion, this study proved that spent coffee-treated chicken fillets exhibited extended shelf life through delaying the microbial spoilage and maintaining the antioxidant quality

Farnesol attenuates cadmium-induced kidney injury by mitigating oxidative stress, inflammation and necroptosis and upregulating cytoglobin and PPARγ in rats

Heavy metals are environmental pollutants that can harm animals and humans even at low concentrations. Cadmium (Cd) is known for its serious health effects on different organs and its toxicity is associated with oxidative stress (OS) and inflammation. Farnesol (FAR), a sesquiterpene alcohol found in many vegetables and fruits, possesses promising anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. This study evaluated the effect of FAR on Cd-induced kidney injury, pinpointing its effect of the redox status, inflammation, fibrosis and necroptosis. Rats in this study received FAR for 14 days and Cd on day 7. Elevated serum creatinine, urea and uric acid, and several kidney histopathological alterations were observed in Cd-administered rats. Cd increased MDA, decreased antioxidants, downregulated PPARγ and upregulated NF-κB p65, IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β. Necroptosis mediators (RIP1, RIP3, MLKL, and caspase-8) and α-SMA were upregulated, and collagen deposition was increased in Cd-administered rats. FAR ameliorated kidney injury markers and tissue damage, attenuated OS, suppressed NF-κB and inflammatory mediators, and enhanced antioxidants. In addition, FAR suppressed RIP1, RIP3, MLKL, caspase-8, and α-SMA, and enhanced kidney cytoglobin and PPARγ. In conclusion, FAR protects against Cd nephrotoxicity by suppressing OS, inflammatory response and necroptosis, effects associated with enhanced antioxidants, cytoglobin, and PPARγ

Lysinibacillus Isolate MK212927: A Natural Producer of Allylamine Antifungal ‘Terbinafine’

Resistance to antifungal agents represents a major clinical challenge, leading to high morbidity and mortality rates, especially in immunocompromised patients. In this study, we screened soil bacterial isolates for the capability of producing metabolites with antifungal activities via the cross-streak and agar cup-plate methods. One isolate, coded S6, showed observable antifungal activity against Candida (C.) albicans ATCC 10231 and Aspergillus (A.) niger clinical isolate. This strain was identified using a combined approach of phenotypic and molecular techniques as Lysinibacillus sp. MK212927. The purified metabolite displayed fungicidal activity, reserved its activity in a relatively wide range of temperatures (up to 60 °C) and pH values (6–7.8) and was stable in the presence of various enzymes and detergents. As compared to fluconazole, miconazole and Lamisil, the minimum inhibitory concentration of the metabolite that showed 90% inhibition of the growth (MIC90) was equivalent to that of Lamisil, half of miconazole and one fourth of fluconazole. Using different spectroscopic techniques such as FTIR, UV spectroscopy, 1D NMR and 2D NMR techniques, the purified metabolite was identified as terbinafine, an allylamine antifungal agent. It is deemed necessary to note that this is the first report of terbinafine production by Lysinibacillus sp. MK212927, a fast-growing microbial source, with relatively high yield and that is subject to potential optimization for industrial production capabilities

Effects of Dietary Bioactive Lipid Compounds of <i>Acacia nilotica</i> Bark on Productive Performance, Antioxidant Status, and Antimicrobial Activities of Growing Rabbits under Hot Climatic Conditions

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of dietary Acacia nilotica bark bioactive lipid compounds (ANBBLCs) as novel feed additives on the growth performance, carcass criteria, antioxidants, and antimicrobial activities of growing male rabbits. A total of 100 California male weanling rabbits aged 35 days were divided into four nutritional treatments, each of which contained ANBBLCs at concentrations of 0 (control group), 50, 100, and 150 mg/kg diet (n = 25 per treatment, each replication consisting of one animal). The average body weight of the animals was 613 ± 14 g. The experiments lasted for 56 days. Dietary ANBBLC levels linearly improved (p p Lactobacillus increased and Staphylococcus decreased (p < 0.05) in comparison to the control group when ANBBLC levels were added to the diets of rabbits. Rabbit diets supplemented with ANBBLCs increased dressing percentages and decreased abdominal fat. This study shows that ANBBLCs can be used as a feed additive to enhance the growth performance, carcass criteria, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties of growing rabbits

Candesartan Attenuates Cisplatin-Induced Lung Injury by Modulating Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and TLR-4/NF-&kappa;B, JAK1/STAT3, and Nrf2/HO-1 Signaling

Cisplatin (CIS) is an effective chemotherapeutic agent against different cancers. The use of CIS is associated with acute lung injury (ALI) and other adverse effects, and oxidative stress and inflammation were implicated in its toxic effects. Candesartan (CAN), an angiotensin II (Ang II) receptor blocker, showed beneficial effects against oxidative stress and inflammation. Therefore, this study investigated the potential of CAN to prevent CIS-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and lung injury in rats, pointing to the involvement of TLR4/NF-&kappa;B, JAK1/STAT3, PPAR&gamma;, and Nrf2/HO-1 signaling. The rats received CAN (5 mg/kg) for 10 days and were challenged with a single dose of CIS (7 mg/kg) on day 7. CIS caused injury to the alveoli and the bronchial tree, increased lipid peroxidation, nitric oxide, myeloperoxidase, TLR-4, NF-&kappa;B p65, iNOS, TNF-&alpha;, IL-6, IL-1&beta;, and caspase-3, and decreased cellular antioxidants and IL-6 in the lungs of rats. CAN effectively prevented tissue injury, suppressed TLR-4/ NF-&kappa;B signaling, and ameliorated oxidative stress, inflammatory markers, and caspase-3 in CIS-administered rats. CAN enhanced antioxidants and IL-10, decreased Ang II, increased Ang (1&ndash;7), suppressed the phosphorylation of JAK1 and STAT3, and upregulated SOCS3 in CIS-administered rats. These effects were associated with the downregulation of Keap1 and enhanced Nrf2, GCLC, HO-1, and PPAR&gamma;. In conclusion, CAN prevented CIS-induced lung injury by attenuating oxidative stress, suppressing TLR-4/NF-&kappa;B and JAK1/STAT3 signaling, Ang II, and pro-inflammatory mediators, and upregulating PPAR&gamma;, and Nrf2/HO-1 signaling

Azithromycin Mitigates Cisplatin-Induced Lung Oxidative Stress, Inflammation and Necroptosis by Upregulating SIRT1, PPARγ, and Nrf2/HO-1 Signaling

Acute lung injury (ALI) is one of the adverse effects of the antineoplastic agent cisplatin (CIS). Oxidative stress, inflammation, and necroptosis are linked to the emergence of lung injury in various disorders. This study evaluated the effect of the macrolide antibiotic azithromycin (AZM) on oxidative stress, inflammatory response, and necroptosis in the lungs of CIS-administered rats, pinpointing the involvement of PPARγ, SIRT1, and Nrf2/HO-1 signaling. The rats received AZM for 10 days and a single dose of CIS on the 7th day. CIS provoked bronchial and alveolar injury along with increased levels of ROS, MDA, NO, MPO, NF-κB p65, TNF-α, and IL-1β, and decreased levels of GSH, SOD, GST, and IL-10, denoting oxidative and inflammatory responses. The necroptosis-related proteins RIP1, RIP3, MLKL, and caspase-8 were upregulated in CIS-treated rats. AZM effectively prevented lung tissue injury, ameliorated oxidative stress and NF-κB p65 and pro-inflammatory markers levels, boosted antioxidants and IL-10, and downregulated necroptosis-related proteins in CIS-administered rats. AZM decreased the concentration of Ang II and increased those of Ang (1-7), cytoglobin, PPARγ, SIRT1, Nrf2, and HO-1 in the lungs of CIS-treated rats. In conclusion, AZM attenuated the lung injury provoked by CIS in rats through the suppression of inflammation, oxidative stress, and necroptosis. The protective effect of AZM was associated with the upregulation of Nrf2/HO-1 signaling, cytoglobin, PPARγ, and SIRT1