Influence of water extract of Mexican sunflower (Tithonia diversifolia) on growth of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata)

Laboratory analysis of the water extract of Tithonia diversifolia shoot and root on infra-red spectrometer to determine the phytotoxic potential and greenhouse experiments to evaluate its phytotoxic effect and growth promoting attribute on cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) were carried out. T. diversifolia contained some compounds having functional groups such as alcohols, olefins, six-membered ring lactams, ester, aromatic compound which can also be found in sesquiterpene lactones, an allelochemical implicated in phytotoxicity. The extract promoted seedling and plant growth. Bacillus and Streptococcus spp. earlier isolated from the root rhizosphere of T. diversifolia caused some changes in the spectra of the component compounds in the extract. The plant extract promoted growth of cowpea.African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 4 (4), pp. 355-360, 200

ANTIMICROBIAL AND ANTIPLASMODIAL ACTIVITIES OF A QUATERNARY COMPOUND FROM RITCHIEA CAPPAROIDES VAR. LONGIPEDICELLATA

Ritchiea capparoides var. longipedicellata (Capparidaceae) leaves are used in ethnomedicine in Western-Nigeria to treat infectious and parasitic diseases. This study was aimed at identifying the compound(s) that are responsible for the antimicrobial and antiplasmodial activities of the leaves and also to contribute to the chemistry of the plant species. A 70 % aqueous ethanolic extract of the leaves of R. longipedicellata was subjected to repeated liquid chromatographic methods on silica gel, Lobar RP-18 column and Sephadex LH -20 to isolate a Draggendorf positive compound. The compound was identified by 1H and 13C NMR, ultra-violet spectroscopy and polarimetry. The antimicrobial activity of the compound was evaluated using the microbroth dilution method while the antiplasmodial activity was carried out according to Trager and Jenson (1976). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was expressed in mg/ml. The isolated compound, leavo-isomer of stachydrine, inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli NCTC 8196 and Staphylococcus aureus NCTC 6571 at the MIC of 5 mg/ml. In the anti-malaria assay, the compound had inhibitory activity with the concentration required to cause 100% lethality being 0.667 mg/ml. Conclusion: The antibacterial and antiparasitic effects of quaternary ammonium compounds are well documented. However, this study is the first report of the presence and biological activities of this compound in this plant species which may justify the ethnomedicinal uses of the leaves

GEOPHYSICAL EVALUATION OF THE GROUNDWATER POTENTIAL AND AQUIFER PROTECTIVE CAPACITY IN PART OF OYE-EKITI, SOUTHWESTERN NIGERIA

Assessment of groundwater potential and aquifer protective capacity in part of Oye-Ekiti, Southwestern Nigeria using the electrical resistivity method of geophysical prospecting was carried out. The study involved Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) technique using the Schlumberger array with current electrode spacing (AB/2) of 100 m. Thirty-one (31) VES locations were obtained with the aid of ABEM SAS 300 Resistivity Meter and plotted on the double log graph as VES curves. The VES curves were interpreted quantitatively by partialcurve matching and assisted by 1-D forward modeling using the WinResist software. The VES interpretation results (layer and thickness) were used to generate maps of the study area. A, K, H, KH, HA, QH, AA, HKH, KQH and AKH-type curves were identified in the area. The overburden thickness ranged from thick (20 to 28 m), moderate (10 to 19.9 m) to low overburden (0 to 9.9 m). The bedrock relief shows areas of moderate/high (530.1 to 558 m) and low reliefs (514 to 530m).&nbsp

P38 MAP kinase inhibitors as potential therapeutics for the treatment of joint degeneration and pain associated with osteoarthritis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Evaluate the potential role of p38 inhibitors for the treatment of osteoarthritis using an animal model of joint degeneration (iodoacetate-induced arthritis) and a pain model (Hargraeves assay).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>P38 kinase activity was evaluated in a kinase assay by measuring the amount of phosphorylated substrate ATF2 using a phosphoATF2 (Thr⁷¹) specific primary antibody and an alkaline phosphate coupled secondary antibody and measuring the OD at 405 nm. TNFα and IL-1β secretion from LPS stimulated THP-1 monocytic cells and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells were measured by ELISA. Rats treated with vehicle or p38 inhibitor were injected intra-articularly in one knee with iodoacetate and damage to the tibial plateau was assessed from digitized images captured using an image analyzer. The effect of p38 inhibitors on hyperalgesia was evaluated in rats given an intraplantar injection of carrageenan and 4 h later the paw withdrawal time to a radiant heat source was measured.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>SB-203580 and VX-745 are both potent inhibitors of p38 with IC₅₀s of 136 ± 64 nM and 35 ± 14 nM (mean ± S.D.), respectively. Similarly, SB-203580 and VX-745 potently inhibited TNF release from LPS stimulated human THP-1 cells with IC₅₀s of 72 ± 15 nM; and 29 ± 14 nM (mean ± S.D.) respectively. TNF release from LPS stimulated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells was inhibited with IC₅₀s 16 ± 6 nM and 14 ± 8 nM, (mean ± S.D.) for SB-203580 and VX-745 and IL-1 was inhibited with IC₅₀s of 20 ± 8 nM and 15 ± 4 nM (mean ± S.D.), respectively. SB-203580 and VX-745 administered orally at a dose of 50 mg/kg resulted in the significant (p < 0.05) inhibition of joint degeneration in the rat iodoacetate model of 45% and 31%, respectively. SB-203580 demonstrated a dose related inhibition of joint degeneration of 30, 25, 12 and 8% at 50, 25, 10 and 5 mg/kg p.o. b.i.d. in the rat iodoacetate model. Similarly, both p38 inhibitors significantly (p < 0.05) attenuated the pain response (paw withdrawal time) in the Hargraeves hyperalgesia assay when administered orally at 30, 10 and 3 mg/kg.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>SB203580 and VX-745 demonstrated attenuation of both cartilage degeneration and pain in animal models and suggest that p38 inhibitors may be a useful approach for the treatment of osteoarthritis.</p

Phytochemical and Antimicrobial Properties of Mangifera indica Leaf Extracts

There have been reports of increasing development of drug resistance among human pathogens as well as undesirable side effects of certain antimicrobial agents.It is therefore necessary to search for new agents that are better, cheaper and without side effects for treating infectious diseases especially in developing countries. In this study, phytochemical composition and antimicrobial activities of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of leaves of Mangifera indica were investigated. Standard methods were employed to screen for the phytochemicals. Agar well diffusion method was used to determine the antimicrobial effects of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of M. indica leaves against seven different clinical isolates namely:Stapylococcus aureus, Micrococcus virians, M. leteus, Escherichia coli, Klebsellia pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and a fungus, Candida albicans. Phytochemical screening showed the presence of active pharmacological components such as tannins, saponins, cardiac glycoside, flavonoid and alkaloids. Aqueous extract demonstrated a higher activity than the ethanolic extract. S. aureus showed highest sensitivity to the aqueous extracts with MIC 31.25mg/mL. Least sensitivity was observed in K. pneumoniae and Candida albicans with MIC 125mg/mL each in the two extracts.M. indica exhibited significant antimicrobial activity comparable to gentamicin which is used as control in this study

Phytochemical and Antimicrobial Properties ofnMangifera indica Leaf Extracts

There have been reports of increasing development of drug resistance among human pathogens as well as undesirable side effects of certain antimicrobial agents.It is therefore necessary to search for new agents that are better, cheaper and without side effects for treating infectious diseases especially in developing countries. In this study, phytochemical composition and antimicrobial activities of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of leaves of Mangifera indica were investigated. Standard methods were employed to screen for the phytochemicals. Agar well diffusion method was used to determine the antimicrobial effects of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of M. indica leaves against seven different clinical isolates namely:Stapylococcus aureus, Micrococcus virians, M. leteus, Escherichia coli, Klebsellia pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and a fungus, Candida albicans. Phytochemical screening showed the presence of active pharmacological components such as tannins, saponins, cardiac glycoside, flavonoid and alkaloids. Aqueous extract demonstrated a higher activity than the ethanolic extract. S. aureus showed highest sensitivity to the aqueous extracts with MIC 31.25mg/mL. Least sensitivity was observed in K. pneumoniae and Candida albicans with MIC 125mg/mL each in the two extracts.M. indica exhibited significant antimicrobial activity comparable to gentamicin which is used as control in this study

The Nbp35/ApbC homolog acts as a nonessential [4Fe-4S] transfer protein in methanogenic archaea

© 2019 Federation of European Biochemical Societies The nucleotide binding protein 35 (Nbp35)/cytosolic Fe-S cluster deficient 1 (Cfd1)/alternative pyrimidine biosynthetic protein C (ApbC) protein homologs have been identified in all three domains of life. In eukaryotes, the Nbp35/Cfd1 heterocomplex is an essential Fe-S cluster assembly scaffold required for the maturation of Fe-S proteins in the cytosol and nucleus, whereas the bacterial ApbC is an Fe-S cluster transfer protein only involved in the maturation of a specific target protein. Here, we show that the Nbp35/ApbC homolog MMP0704 purified from its native archaeal host Methanococcus maripaludis contains a [4Fe-4S] cluster that can be transferred to a [4Fe-4S] apoprotein. Deletion of mmp0704 from M. maripaludis does not cause growth deficiency under our tested conditions. Our data indicate that Nbp35/ApbC is a nonessential [4Fe-4S] cluster transfer protein in methanogenic archaea

Basic Science in Movement Disorders: Fueling the Engine of Translation into Clinical Practice

\ua9 2024 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society. Basic Science is crucial for the advancement of clinical care for Movement Disorders. Here, we provide brief updates on how basic science is important for understanding disease mechanisms, disease prevention, disease diagnosis, development of novel therapies and to establish the basis for personalized medicine. We conclude the viewpoint by a call to action to further improve interactions between clinician and basic scientists. \ua9 2024 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society

A HYBRID MACHINE LEARNING MODEL FOR NETWORK INTRUSION DETECTION

&nbsp;Intrusion detection is a significant challenge in network security, as it involves detecting unseen attacks in a network or system. In this research, we aimed to build a hybrid machine learning model for intrusion detection using artificial intelligence (AI). To do this, we used the KDD CUP 99 dataset and applied two machine learning algorithms: AdaBoost and Stochastic Gradient Descent Classifier (SGDC). These algorithms were combined to form two hybrid models: SGDC_ADA and ADA_SGDC.&nbsp; The results of our study showed that the SGDC_ADA model had an accuracy of 0.97 and outperformed the ADA_SGDC model, which had an accuracy of 0.96. In addition, the SGDC_ADA model had an average precision of 0.97, average recall of 0.96, and average F1-score of 0.97, while the ADA_SGDC model had an average precision of 0.96, average recall of 0.95, and average F1-score of 0.96.&nbsp; Overall, our research suggests that the SGDC_ADA hybrid model is an effective method for intrusion detection, with high accuracy and low error rates. This model may be useful in improving network security and protecting against unseen attacks