Estimation of genetic diversity, structure and trait association of winged bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus (L.) DC.), genotypes through AFLP and ITS markers

235-245The genetic diversity among ninety five accessions of winged bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus (L.) DC.) belonging to six countries of African and Asiatic origin was detected by employing amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of nuclear ribosomal DNA markers. A medium to low-level of genetic diversity exists among the accessions of P. tetragonolobus. Association between the AFLP markers and flower, pod and seed traits: days to 50% flowering (DFW), pod length (PDL), pod width (PDW), green pod length (GPL), number of pods per plant (PDSP), number of seeds per pod (SDPD), 100 seed weight (SWT) and seed-oil content (SOC) was carried out by employing the mixed linear model (MLM) based kinship matrix (K-model). Traits like SOC and PDW were found to be strongly associated with AFLP markers. Population structure analysis among the genotypes identified five discrete sub-populations among the studied African and Asiatic lines of P. tetragonolobus

Effect of garlic on cardiovascular disorders: a review

Garlic and its preparations have been widely recognized as agents for prevention and treatment of cardiovascular and other metabolic diseases, atherosclerosis, hyperlipidemia, thrombosis, hypertension and diabetes. Effectiveness of garlic in cardiovascular diseases was more encouraging in experimental studies, which prompted several clinical trials. Though many clinical trials showed a positive effect of garlic on almost all cardiovascular conditions mentioned above, however a number of negative studies have recently cast doubt on the efficary of garlic specially its cholesterol lowering effect of garlic. It is a great challenge for scientists all over the world to make a proper use of garlic and enjoy its maximum beneficial effect as it is the cheapest way to prevent cardiovascular disease. This review has attempted to make a bridge the gap between experimental and clinical study and to discuss the possible mechanisms of such therapeutic actions of garlic