Efficacy of wild medicinal plant extracts against predominant seed-borne fungi of broad bean cultivars

Seed samples of four Egyptian broad bean cultivars were tested for seed-borne fungi. The deep freezing method was used to isolate twelve seed-borne fungi viz., Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus flavus, A. niger, Botrytis fabae, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Fusarium oxysporum, F. solani,, Penicillium italicum, Rhizoctonia solani, Rhizopus stolonifer, Stemphylium globuliferum and Trichothecium roseum from the broad bean cultivars viz., Giza 3, Giza 429, Giza 843 and Misr 1. Aspergillus flavus, Botrytis fabae, Fusarium oxysporum and Penicillium italicum were the most predominant fungal species. Aqueous extracts from five wild medicinal plants (Asclepias sinaica, Farsetia aegyptia, Hypericum sinaicum, Phagnalon sinaicum, and Salvia aegyptiaca) which were collected from the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt were tested against the predominant fungal pathogens. All the aqueous plant extracts significantly inhibited the mycelial growth of these fungi, but the extract of Asclepias sinaica exhibited the strongest antifungal activity. The maximum seed germination rate was observed in infested Giza 843 and minimum in Misr 1. Treating seeds with plant extract of Asclepias sinaica (10%) enhanced the percentage of seed germination of all cultivars in both laboratory and pot experiments. Maximum root and shoot lengths of seedlings were recorded in Giza 843 during fungal infestation or treatment by plant extract. In greenhouse experiment, the aqueous A. sinaica extract reduced disease severity and total pigments but increased total phenolics and fruit yield

Biological control of the predominant seed-borne fungi of tomato by using plant extracts

Aqueous extracts from five wild traditional medicinal plants (Achillea fragrantissima, Balanites aegyptiaca, Peganum harmala, Rumex vesicarius, and Urtica urens) which were collected from different locations in Egypt were tested against the predominant fungal pathogens (Alternaria alternata f. sp. lycopersici,  A.  solani, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici and Rhizoctonia solani) infested tomato seeds . All the aqueous plant extracts significantly inhibited the mycelial growth and spore germination of these fungi, but the extract of A. fragrantissima exhibited the strongest antifungal activity. The maximum seed germination, plant emergence and seedling vigor was detected after the treatment of tomato seeds with 10% A. fragrantissima extract. Pathogenicity testing of tomato seeds by predominant fungi indicated positive infection of tomato seeds but A. solani had the most aggressive infection. In greenhouse experiment, the aqueous A. fragrantissima extract reduced disease severity but increased total pigments, total phenolics and fruit yield

STUDI PELAKSANAAN PROGRAM SUPLEMENTASI KAPSUL VITAMIN A PADA BALITA DI PUSKESMAS ANDALAS

Masalah Kurang Vitamin A (KVA) di Indonesia masih merupakan masalah gizi utama. Meskipun KVA tingkat berat (xerophthalmia) sudah jarang ditemui, akan tetapi KVA tingkat subklinis, yaitu tingkat yang belum menampakkan gejala nyata, masih menimpa masyarakat luas terutama kelompok balita. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui gambaran pelaksanaan program suplementasi kapsul vitamin A pada balita di Puskesmas Andalas. Penelitian menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif dengan pengumpulan data menggunakan triangulasi metode yaitu wawancara mendalam, telaah dokumen dan observasi. Sumber informan ditentukan secara purposive sampling dengan jumlah informan 9 orang. Pengolahan dan analisis data menggunakan content analysis dan disajikan dalam bentuk teks naratif. Hasil penelitian tahap input, penentuan sasaran menggunakan data riil dan rumus proyeksi balita, sumber dana dari APBD dan BOK khusus untuk distribusi sweeping, ketersediaan vitamin A mencukupi jumlah sasaran, sedangkan tenaga pelaksana gizi masih kurang. Tahap process, mulai dari perencanaan, pelaksanaan program sampai pencatatan dan pelaporan berjalan sesuai standar. Tahap Output, program mencapai indikator keberhasilan tetapi sosialisasi tentang vitamin A masih kurang. Kesimpulan penelitian bahwa hampir semua indikator program berjalan sesuai prosedur

Ketepatan Penggunaan Obat Hipoglikemik Oral pada Pasien Diabetes Mellitus Tipe II di RSUD DR. Moewardi Surakarta Periode Januari – Juni 2013

Diabetes mellitus tipe 2 merupakan suatu penyakit menahun yang ditandai kadar gula darah yang melebihi nilai normal. Untuk itu diperlukan kesesuaian dan ketepatan pemilihan obat hipoglikemik oral. Penelitian ini bertujuan mengetahui dan mengevaluasi ketepatan penggunaan obat hipoglikemik oral pada pasien diabetes mellitus tipe 2 rawat jalan di RSUD DR. Moewardi Surakarta periode Januari – Juni 2013 berdasarkan standar pedoman konsensus pengelolaan dan pencegahan diabetes mellitus tipe II di Indonesia yang disusun oleh perkumpulan endokrinologi Indonesia (PERKENI tahun 2011). Jenis penelitian yang dilakukan adalah penelitian bersifat observasional (non eksperimental) yang dilakukan secara retrospektif dan dianalisis dengan metode analisis deskriptif. Kriteria inklusi sampel meliputi diagnosis utama penyakit diabetes mellitus tipe 2. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan obat hipoglikemik oral yang digunakan adalah golongan biguanid yaitu metformin (32%) sedangkan golongan sulfonilurea yaitu glibenklamid (1%), glikazid (2%) dan glikuidon (8%), golongan tiazolidindion (2%), golongan penghambat glukosidase alfa (28%) dan kombinasi obat (27%), sedangkan hasil evaluasi ketepatan penggunaan obat hipoglikemik oral adalah 100% tepat indikasi, 100% tepat obat, 98,47% tepat dosis dan 98% tepat pasie

Caractérisation hydrochimique des aquifères fissurés de la région de San- Pedro (Sud-Ouest de la Côte d’Ivoire)

La région de San-Pedro est située dans le Sud-Ouest de la Côte d’Ivoire. Son substratum est constitué de roches cristallines et métamorphiques fracturées. L’objectif de la présente étude est de mieux connaître lespropriétés hydrochimiques et les mécanismes d’acquisition de la minéralisation des eaux souterraines de la région de San-Pedro. La base de données comporte les données des analyses physico-chimiques des eaux souterraines des aquifères fissurés et des fiches techniques des forages. L’approche hydrochimique et l’Analyse en Composantes Principales Normées ont été utilisées pour le traitement de ces données. Les résultats de cette étude montrent que les eaux souterraines de San-Pedro sont caractérisées par une faible minéralisation. Elles se subdivisent en deux principaux hydrofaciès : les eaux bicarbonatées et les eaux chlorurées. D’après le système calco-carbonique, on distingue trois familles d’eau dans la zone d’étude en fonction des indices de saturation vis-à-vis des carbonates : les eaux à circulation très lente, les eaux à circulation lente et les eaux à circulation rapide. L’ACPN a permis de mettre en évidence trois phénomènes principaux gouvernant la minéralisation des eaux souterraines : le temps de séjour de l’eau dans la roche aquifère, les apports superficiels et l’hydrolyse acide. Les eaux souterraines de la région de San-Pedro sont potables pour la consommation des populations humaines d’une manière générale. Ces résultats concourent à une meilleure connaissance des propriétés hydrochimiques des ressources en eaux souterraines du socle cristallin de Côte d’Ivoire

Alternative control of early blight of tomato using plant extracts from Acacia nilotica, Achillea fragrantissima and Calotropis procera

The in vitro and in vivo antifungal potential of extracts of three wild medicinal plants, (Acacia nilotica (L.) Delile, Achillea fragrantissima (Forssk.) Sch.Bip. and Calotropis procera (Aiton) W. T. Aiton) was examined against Alternaria solani, the causal agent of the early blight of tomato. Aqueous or ethanol extracts of all tested plants reduced the mycelial growth and conidium germination of A. solani in vitro. Ethanol extracts were more effective against the pathogen than the aqueous extracts. Extract of C. procera exhibited more antifungal potential against the pathogen than other plant extracts. Observations by scanning and transmission electron microscopy showed dramatic alterations in the morphology and ultrastructure of A. solani when treated with the ethanol extract of C. procera at a concentration of 20%. Phytochemical screening confirmed the presence of many bioactive constituents in the extracts which were in greater amounts in C. procera than the other two plants. In a plot experiment, both types of extracts from C. procera reduced disease severity. Tomato fruit yield was increased after the treatment with the plant extracts

Comparative studies on the effect of benomyl on growth and ultrastructureof two isolates of phytophthorainfestans from Egypt

The effect of benomyl as a fungicide on growth rate and ultrastructure of two isolates (P623 and P1319) of Phytophthora infestants is compared. Using different concentrations (50, 100, 200 and 500 ppm) of benomyl caused an inhibition of the mycelial growth of both isolates depending on the degree of concentration. The isolate P1319 was found to be more sensitive to benomyl than the isolate P623. Ultrastructural studies confirmedthese observations. The hyphae of isolate P1319 subjected to 100 and 500 ppm benomyl showed severe changes in the cítoplasm more than isolate P623. The increase of lipid bodies and vacuoles in hyphal cytoplasm of both isolates was the characteristic phenomenon after treatment of benomylparticulary at the concentration of 500 ppm

Biological and molecular characterization of fEg-Eco19, a lytic bacteriophage active against an antibiotic-resistant clinical Escherichia coli isolate

Characterization of bacteriophages facilitates better understanding of their biology, host specificity, genomic diversity, and adaptation to their bacterial hosts. This, in turn, is important for the exploitation of phages for therapeutic purposes, as the use of uncharacterized phages may lead to treatment failure. The present study describes the isolation and characterization of a bacteriophage effective against the important clinical pathogen Escherichia coli, which shows increasing accumulation of antibiotic resistance. Phage fEg-Eco19, which is specific for a clinical E. coli strain, was isolated from an Egyptian sewage sample. Phage fEg-Eco19 formed clear, sharp-edged, round plaques. Electron microscopy showed that the isolated phage is tailed and therefore belongs to the order Caudovirales, and morphologically, it resembles siphoviruses. The diameter of the icosahedral head of fEg-Eco19 is 68 +/- 2 nm, and the non-contractile tail length and diameter are 118 +/- 0.2 and 13 +/- 0.6 nm, respectively. The host range of the phage was found to be narrow, as it infected only two out of 137 clinical E. coli strains tested. The phage genome is 45,805 bp in length with a GC content of 50.3% and contains 76 predicted genes. Comparison of predicted and experimental restriction digestion patterns allowed rough mapping of the physical ends of the phage genome, which was confirmed using the PhageTerm tool. Annotation of the predicted genes revealed gene products belonging to several functional groups, including regulatory proteins, DNA packaging and phage structural proteins, host lysis proteins, and proteins involved in DNA/RNA metabolism and replication.Peer reviewe

Ultrastructural studies on Vicia faba and its pathogen Botrytis fabae in response to lithium chloride

Ultrastructural investigations of the effect of lithium chloride on Botrytis fabae and its host, Vicia faba are described. Five concentrations (1, 3, 5, 7, 9 mM) of lithium chloride are chosen in the study. The results indicate that the chlorophyll content of host leaves is not affected at lower concentration (3 mM), whereas the higher concentration (9 mM) decreased the chlorophyll content. These two concentrations caused a pronounced cellular disorganization of B. fabae that ranged from disruption of the wall to marked cytoplasmic degeneration. Inoculated host leaves with B. fabae led to the appearance of more vacuolated cytoplasm, a disorganized membrane system of chloroplast and an increase in number of plastoglobuli. These observations are similar to those of host cells treated with 9 mM of lithium chloride. Host cells are not affected by the concentration of 3 mM. Ultarstructural studies indicate that the lower concentration of lithium chloride can be used as a safe fungicide to control B. fabae without a harmful effect on the host (V. faba)