Evaluation of Acute and Subacute Toxicity of Fumaria officinalis Alkaloids in Mice

Background: Fumaria officinalis is largely used in traditional medicine due to its efficiency in the treatment and prevention of numerous diseases and its large spectrum of therapeutic effects. Its multiple beneficial properties are due to its richness in bioactive substances, particularly isoquinoline alkaloids. However, few studies have addressed the toxicity of this plant. Objectives: The present work aimed to study acute and subacute toxicity of alkaloids extracted from F. officinalis using Swiss albino mice as the in vivo model. Methods: Alkaloids from the aerial parts of F. officinalis were extracted and administered to male and female Swiss albino mice. The acute and subacute toxicities were studied by monitoring the weight and histopathological study of animal bodies and organs (e.g., liver, heart, spleen, and kidneys). Results: The results revealed that mice treated with increasing doses developed serious symptoms of toxicity (i.e., respiratory problems, tremors, coma, and paralysis leading the death) and lost weight. The LD50 was estimated at 1341.11 mg/kg permitting its classification as a low-toxic plant. The microscopic observations demonstrated disturbances in the kidney and liver, but not the heart and spleen. Conclusion: The alkaloids of the aerial parts of F. officinalis expressed severe toxicity in mice, particularly at high doses. Nevertheless, the neutral fraction of alkaloids is more indicated

Heterogeneous degradation of amoxicillin in the presence of synthesized alginate-Fe beads catalyst by the electro-Fenton process using a graphite cathode recovered from used batteries

International audienceIron alginate beads (Fe-Alg) were prepared, characterized and implemented for the degradation of amoxicillin (AMX) by the heterogeneous electro-Fenton process using a graphite cathode recovered from used batteries. Scanning electron (SEM) showed that (Fe-Alg) beads have a spherical shape and the results of energy dispersive spectrometric (EDS) revealed the presence of iron in (Fe-Alg). Optimization of the operating parameters showed that a complete degradation of AMX was achieved within 90 min of heterogeneous electro-Fenton treatment by operating under these conditions: initial AMX's concentration: 0.0136 mM, I = 600 mA, [Na2SO4] = 50 mM, pH = 3, T = 25 degrees C, omega = 360 rpm. The corresponding COD abatement was 50%. Increasing the contact time increased the COD abatement to 85.71%, after 150 min of heterogeneous electro-Fenton treatment. The results of the kinetic study by using nonlinear methods demonstrated that the reaction of AMX degradation obeyed to a pseudo-second order kinetic. Iron content 4.63% w/w was determined by acid digestion method. After 5 cycles of use, the Alg-Fe catalyst depletion was only 8%. Biodegradability was remarkably improved after electro-Fenton pretreatment, since it increased from 0.07 initially to 0.36. The heterogeneous electro-Fenton process had efficiently eliminated AMX and it increased the biodegradability of the treated solution

A physical map of the short arm of wheat chromosome 1A

Bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) has a large and highly repetitive genome which poses major technical challenges for its study. To aid map-based cloning and future genome sequencing projects, we constructed a BAC-based physical map of the short arm of wheat chromosome 1A (1AS). From the assembly of 25,918 high information content (HICF) fingerprints from a 1AS-specific BAC library, 715 physical contigs were produced that cover almost 99% of the estimated size of the chromosome arm. The 3,414 BAC clones constituting the minimum tiling path were end-sequenced. Using a gene microarray containing ∼40 K NCBI UniGene EST clusters, PCR marker screening and BAC end sequences, we arranged 160 physical contigs (97 Mb or 35.3% of the chromosome arm) in a virtual order based on synteny with Brachypodium, rice and sorghum. BAC end sequences and information from microarray hybridisation was used to anchor 3.8 Mbp of Illumina sequences from flow-sorted chromosome 1AS to BAC contigs. Comparison of genetic and synteny-based physical maps indicated that ∼50% of all genetic recombination is confined to 14% of the physical length of the chromosome arm in the distal region. The 1AS physical map provides a framework for future genetic mapping projects as well as the basis for complete sequencing of chromosome arm 1AS

Abstracts of 1st International Conference on Computational & Applied Physics

This book contains the abstracts of the papers presented at the International Conference on Computational & Applied Physics (ICCAP’2021) Organized by the Surfaces, Interfaces and Thin Films Laboratory (LASICOM), Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University Saad Dahleb Blida 1, Algeria, held on 26–28 September 2021. The Conference had a variety of Plenary Lectures, Oral sessions, and E-Poster Presentations. Conference Title: 1st International Conference on Computational & Applied PhysicsConference Acronym: ICCAP’2021Conference Date: 26–28 September 2021Conference Location: Online (Virtual Conference)Conference Organizer: Surfaces, Interfaces, and Thin Films Laboratory (LASICOM), Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University Saad Dahleb Blida 1, Algeria