Assessment of genetic divergence for quantitative traits in thermo tolerant tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) genotypes

In the present study, 21 thermo tolerant tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) genotypes were evaluated to delineate the extent of genetic diversity through 10 quantitative traits. The genotypes were categorized into 4 distinct clusters using D2 statistics. Cluster IV had the maximum number (10) of genotypes, where all heat tolerant genotypes grouped together, followed by cluster I (5). Intra cluster analysis revealed that the cluster IV had highest distance, while the inter cluster distance was maximum between cluster III and cluster IV (6.53) indicating the presence of wide range of variability among genotypes of the cluster. Cluster IV recorded maximum cluster mean for yield (579.0), average fruit weight (33.33) and fruit set per cent (54.8) and the cluster III recorded highest mean value for days to 50 percent flowering (67.33). Principal component analysis showed that the first two principal components (PC’s) accounting for 77.6 per cent of total variation. On the basis of inter cluster distance, cluster mean and principal component analysis observed in the present study, a crossing programme involving genotypes from cluster IV will be promising one for developing heat tolerant tomato hybrids

Karonda and Jamun seeds’ in vitro anticancer efficacy

In the search for potential anticancer agents from fruits, the present research work was carried out to examine the in vitro cytotoxic potential of seed part of Carissa carandas (karonda) and Syzygium cumini (jamun) against nine human cancer cell lines from eight different origins namely MCF-7, T-47D (breast), SF-295 (CNS), HCT-116 (colon), A-549 (lung), MDA-MB-435 (melanoma), OVCAR-5 (ovary), PC-3 (prostate) and A-498 (renal). Methanolic extracts were used as test material and anticancer activity was determined via SRB assayat 100 μg/mL. Results revealed that seeds suppressed the proliferation of human cancer cells with growth inhibition range of 78-100% (karonda) and 71-93% (jamun). Karonda seeds exhibited 100% growth inhibition of A-549 and OVCAR-5 cancer cells where as jamun seeds displayed 93% growth inhibition of SF-295 cancer cells. The seeds were then evaluated at lower concentrations of 50, 30, 10 and 1 μg/mL in which seeds exhibit significant in vitro cytotoxic effect against lung cancer cells (A-549). Further, IC50 values were calculated and it was observed that seed extracts from both the fruits showed IC50<10 in case of lung cancer cells whereas karonda seed extract also showed IC50<10 in case of colon cancer cells. To conclude, karonda and jamun seeds possess certain constituents with cytotoxic properties that can be used to develop anticancer agents especially for lung cancer therapy and to provide a great service to cancer patients, further studies are required for the isolation of active ingredients from these seeds

Karonda and Jamun seeds’ in vitro anticancer efficacy

573-578In the search for potential anticancer agents from fruits, the present research work was carried out to examine the in vitro cytotoxic potential of seed part of Carissa carandas (karonda) and Syzygium cumini (jamun) against nine human cancer cell lines from eight different origins namely MCF-7, T-47D (breast), SF-295 (CNS), HCT-116 (colon), A-549 (lung), MDA-MB-435 (melanoma), OVCAR-5 (ovary), PC-3 (prostate) and A-498 (renal). Methanolic extracts were used as test material and anticancer activity was determined via SRB assayat 100 μg/mL. Results revealed that seeds suppressed the proliferation of human cancer cells with growth inhibition range of 78-100% (karonda) and 71-93% (jamun). Karonda seeds exhibited 100% growth inhibition of A-549 and OVCAR-5 cancer cells where as jamun seeds displayed 93% growth inhibition of SF-295 cancer cells. The seeds were then evaluated at lower concentrations of 50, 30, 10 and 1 μg/mL in which seeds exhibit significant in vitro cytotoxic effect against lung cancer cells (A-549). Further, IC50 values were calculated and it was observed that seed extracts from both the fruits showed IC50karonda seed extract also showed IC50karonda and jamun seeds possess certain constituents with cytotoxic properties that can be used to develop anticancer agents especially for lung cancer therapy and to provide a great service to cancer patients, further studies are required for the isolation of active ingredients from these seeds

Vitamin D status in pregnant women and their newborns in a tertiary care hospital

Background: In the recent years there has been an increased understanding of the role that vitamin D plays in regulation of cell growth, calcium absorption and immunity and its impact on the developing fetus and maternal health is of significant concern. This study aims at evaluating the Vitamin D status in pregnant women and their newborns.Methods: A cross sectional study was done on 100 pregnant females according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. At the time of delivery, maternal blood was collected, and newborn samples were taken from newborn side of umbilical cord and sent for analysis.Results: The prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency has been found to be 85% of pregnant females and 91% of the newborns. Only 5% of pregnant females and 1% of the newborns showed Vitamin D sufficiency. Maternal and newborn vitamin D levels show a positive correlation. Mean maternal and newborn Vitamin D levels were found to be 16.78±7.04 ng/mL and 11.29±5.75 ng/ml.Conclusions: Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent among pregnant women in north India. Low maternal vitamin D levels lead to vitamin D deficiency in the newborns also

Bis(O-ethyl dithio­carbonato-κ2 S,S′)bis­(pyridine-3-carbonitrile-κN 1)nickel(II)

The Ni2+ ion in the title complex, [Ni(C3H5OS2)2(C6H4N2)2], is in a strongly distorted octa­hedral coordination environment formed by an N2S4 donor set, with the Ni2+ ion located on a centre of inversion. In the crystal, weak C—H⋯S and C—H⋯N inter­actions are observed

(7-Chloro-2-oxo-2H-chromen-4-yl)methyl piperidine-1-carbodithio­ate

In the title compound, C16H16ClNO2S2, the piperidine ring is in a chair conformation. In the coumarin ring system, the dihedral angle between the benzene and pyran rings is 3.5 (1)°. In the crystal, a weak C—H⋯O hydrogen bond links mol­ecules into chains along [001]. In addition, π–π stacking inter­actions are present involving the benzene and pyran rings, with a centroid-to-centroid distance of 3.712 (2) Å. The crystal studied is a nonmerohedral twin with refined components 0.221 (1) and 0.779 (1)