Vitamin B6 and homocysteine levels in carbamazepine treated epilepsy of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Objectives: The study focused on the plasma levels of vitamin B6 and homocysteine in different genotypes of MTHFR (C677T, A1298C) and GABRG2 (C588T, C315T) genes in carbamazepine resistant epilepsy in the population of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.Methodology: Patients who were possible candidates for carbamazepine therapy were followed for six months for their seizure control. Plasma levels of vitamin B6 and homocysteine were determined using immunoassay based techniques at baseline and after six months. MTHFR (C677T, A1298C) and GABRG2 (C588T, C315T) genes were genotyped using restriction fragment length polymorphisms. Seizure control during therapy was recorded on a standardized proforma.Results: Low vitamin B6 levels and hyperhomocysteinemia were found in 61.7% of resistant patients (n=34). Resistant patients had the following frequencies of variant genotypes (677CT=38.1% and 677TT=24.4%; 1298AC=42.2% and 1298CC=26.1%; 588CT= 47.6% and 315TT= 33.3%) of MTHFR (C677T and A1298C) and GABRG2 (C588T and C315T) genes. A significant decline in vitamin B6 (P<0.0001) and hyperhomocysteinemia were found in variant genotypes of MTHFR (C677T, A1298C) and GABRG2 (C588T, C315T) genes.Conclusion: Following six months of carbamazepine of therapy in heterozygous variant genotypes of MTHFR (677CT and 1298AC) and GABRG2 (588CT and 315CT) genes, we observed a significant fall in vitamin B6 levels and hyperhomocysteinemia.Keywords: Carbamazepine, epileptics, homocysteine, seizure control, RFLP, vitamin B

Vitamin B6 and homocysteine levels in carbamazepine treated epilepsy of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Objectives: The study focused on the plasma levels of vitamin B6 and homocysteine in different genotypes of MTHFR (C677T, A1298C) and GABRG2 (C588T, C315T) genes in carbamazepine resistant epilepsy in the population of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Methodology: Patients who were possible candidates for carbamazepine therapy were followed for six months for their seizure control. Plasma levels of vitamin B6 and homocysteine were determined using immunoassay based techniques at baseline and after six months. MTHFR (C677T, A1298C) and GABRG2 (C588T, C315T) genes were genotyped using restriction fragment length polymorphisms. Seizure control during therapy was recorded on a standardized proforma. Results: Low vitamin B6 levels and hyperhomocysteinemia were found in 61.7% of resistant patients (n=34). Resistant patients had the following frequencies of variant genotypes (677CT=38.1% and 677TT=24.4%; 1298AC=42.2% and 1298CC=26.1%; 588CT= 47.6% and 315TT= 33.3%) of MTHFR (C677T and A1298C) and GABRG2 (C588T and C315T) genes. A significant decline in vitamin B6 (P<0.0001) and hyperhomocysteinemia were found in variant genotypes of MTHFR (C677T, A1298C) and GABRG2 (C588T, C315T) genes. Conclusion: Following six months of carbamazepine of therapy in heterozygous variant genotypes of MTHFR (677CT and 1298AC) and GABRG2 (588CT and 315CT) genes, we observed a significant fall in vitamin B6 levels and hyperhomocysteinemia

Alleviation of Boron Stress through Plant Derived Smoke Extracts in Sorghum bicolor

Boron is an essential micronutrient necessary for plant growth at optimum concentration. However, at high concentrations boron affects plant growth and is toxic to cells. Aqueous extract of plant-derived smoke has been used as a growth regulator for the last two decades to improve seed germination and seedling vigor. It has been established that plant-derived smoke possesses some compounds that act like plant growth hormones. The present research was the first comprehensive attempt to investigate the alleviation of boron stress with plant-derived smoke aqueous extract on Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) seed. Smoke extracts of five plants, i.e. Cymbopogon jwarancusa, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Peganum harmala, Datura alba and Melia azedarach each with six dilutions (Concentrated, 1:100, 1:200, 1:300, 1:400 and 1:500) were used. While boron solutions at concentrations of 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 ppm were used for stress. Among the dilutions of smoke, 1:500 of E. camaldulensis significantly increased germination percentage, root and shoot length, number of secondary roots and fresh weight of root and shoot while, boron stress reduced growth of Sorghum. It was observed that combined effect of boron solution and E. camaldulensis smoke extract overcome inhibition and significantly improved plant growth. Present research work investigated that the smoke solution has the potential to alleviate boron toxicity by reducing the uptake of boron by maintaining integrity of plant cell wall. The present investigation suggested that plant derived smoke has the potential to alleviate boron stress and can be used to overcome yield losses caused by boron stress to plants

Effect of Gamma Irradiation on Yeild and Yeild Contributing Traits in Hybrids of Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

The seeds of two hybrids FSS64 and SF0049 of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) were irradiated with different doses of gamma irradiation i.e., 10, 15, 20, 25 Krad from the source of cobalt Co60 at Nuclear institute for food and agriculture (NIFA), Peshawar. The irradiated seeds were sown in the research area of the department of Botany, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University, Sheringal, Dir-Upper during the crop season of 2016. It was noted that a negative correlation was established in doses of 10, 15, 20, 25 Krad versus number of parameters like number of leaves, number of seeds per head and fresh seed weight. With the gradual increase in doses, decreases in mean values for the mentioned parameters were observed. Significant reductions in the mean values were observed for mentioned parameters in both the hybrids FSS64 and SF0049 of sunflower and consistently retardation was recorded with the increasing doses. Direct relationship occurred in the mean values of days taken to germination and maturity while on the other hand means values significantly raised with the rising of doses thus the duration of the mentioned parameters is increased. It was also concluded that rising of doses caused restraining in the mean values of all the parameters, which clarified that both hybrids were sensitive to high doses of gamma irradiation. Furthermore, there were also recovered a few Mutant genotypes in FSS64 hybrid at 15 Krad due to genetic variability with proliferation of two capitula with single peduncle on the main shoot. Differences in the mean square values through analysis of variance with respect to different doses of irradiation for all the parameters were highly significant, while due to the hybrids effect of the number of leaves was non-significant. Moreover, non-significant results were achieved in the mean square values due to the relations between hybrids and doses for days to maturity and the number of leaves