Screening for salt tolerance in maize and comparative evaluation on chemical composition and mineral nutrients

Soil salinity is one of the significant environmental issues that have adverse effects on growth and productivity in Maize (Zea mays). Ultimately, the level of soil salinity hampers grain nutrition in maize. The availability of salt-tolerant maize genotypes, with an adequate grain nutritional quality, is a challenge in agriculture. Despite numerous nutritional studies in maize have been conducted, no report has been made on how nutrition is being affected under saline conditions. Therefore, the objective of this study was to screen the elite genotypes could sustain chemical composition and mineral nutrients under saline conditions. The hydroponic system was used to screen twenty genotypes of maize for salinity tolerance at the seedling stage. The study employed a completely randomized design (CRD) to test the genotypes under four different levels of salinity (control, 0, 4, 8 and 12dS/m). At the maturity stage, the genotypes were further screened in saline and normal field conditions. Randomized complete block design (RCBD) under split-plot arrangement with four different levels of salinity (control, 0, 4, 8 and 12dS/m) was used. Quantitative analysis of mineral contents was performed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Both maize under normal and saline field conditions were analyzed. Greenhouse hydroponic screening revealed that G-12, G-13 and G-15 performed best in morphological and physiological traits under saline condition. G-12, G-13 and G-15 performed best in field screening under normal and saline conditions based on yield and yield-related components (plant height, grain yield per plant, 100-grain weight and number of grains per cob). Grain chemical composition showed that G-12, G-13 and G-15 contained high protein (5.93-11.79%) and carbohydrate contents under saline conditions. G-15 was found to have the highest concentration of nutrients such as Ca, Fe and Zn under salinity. Further, the effect of ion antagonism was found to play a vital role in the decrease or increase of mineral nutrients in 20 genotypes under saline conditions. The study results concluded that G- 15 performed the best among the 20 genotypes of maize recommended for cultivation under saline condition

Cytotoxic and antiviral potentials of Euphorbia milii var. splendens leaf against Peste des petits ruminant virus

Purpose: To determine the cytotoxic and antiviral potentials of Euphorbia milii var. splendens leaf against Peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV). Methods: The methanol extract, as well as n- hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and n- butanol fractions of E. milii leaves were screened for cytotoxic and antiviral activities against PPRV using Vero cell line and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Results: Non-cytotoxic concentrations with cell survival rate (CSP) greater than 50 % were considered virucidal. Methanol extract and fractions produced significant (p < 0.05) effects at all test concentrations against PPRV. The 50 % cytotoxic concentration (CC50) calculated was ≤ 25 µg/mL for extract and fractions. In antiviral assay, ethyl acetate, n-hexane, and n-butanol fractions at all test concentrations ranging from 1.56 - 800 µg/mL were non-virucidal; even at their non-cytotoxic concentrations these fractions did not show antiviral activities. However, the methanol extract and its chloroform fractions showed significant (p < 0.05) virucidal potential. Conclusion: The results suggest that further isolation of antiviral constituents from the fractions may open new horizons for the development of new antiviral agents

Evaluating the antidiabetic and antioxidant properties of 5- benzyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole-2-thiol

Purpose: To evaluate 5-Benzyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole-2-thiol (OXPA) for antidiabetic and antioxidant properties. Methods: Antidiabetic activity was evaluated using three in vitro models, glucose uptake by yeast cells, alpha amylase inhibition assay and hemoglobin glycosylation inhibition assays. Antioxidant potential was determined by DPPH radical scavenging, reducing power and lipid peroxidation assays. Results: OXPA showed antidiabetic activity in all the three models. The activity of the compound was comparable with that of metronidazole in glucose uptake by yeast cells, but the alpha amylase inhibition activity of the compound was slightly lower than that of acarbose, whereas the hemoglobin glycosylation inhibition activity of the compound was higher than that of vitamin E. DPPH free radical and hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity of the compound was comparable with that of vitamin C. In reducing power assay, the activity of the compound was lower than that of vitamin C (p > 0.05). Conclusion: The results of antidiabetic and antioxidant activity indicate that OXPA may be a drugcandidate for treating both diabetes and its associated oxidative stress

Erectile dysfunction: prevalence, risk factors and involvement of antihypertensive drugs intervention

Purpose: To explore the literature regarding prevalance, risk factors and the involvement of antihypertensive drugs in erectile dysfunction (ED).Methods: Original research articles, reviews, editorials and case reports published in English language on the prevalence of sexual/erectile dysfunction in hypertensive men taking antihypertensive drugs and risk factors were identified through a search of four bibliographic databases, namely, PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL and EBSCO Health.Results: Recent analyses suggest that hypertensive men of almost all age groups suffer from ED but it is more prevalent in elderly male patients. The involvement of β-blockers was found to be controversial. Nevertheless, some evidence had been found regarding the use of propranolol in high doses.Conclusion: The present review indicates the need for research to unravel the role of β-blockers in the manifestation of ED in hypertensive males, whom there are no contributory factors such as sedentary lifestyle, aging, stress and anxiety, etc.Keywords: Hypertension, Antihypertensive drugs, β-Blockers, Propranolol, Erectile dysfunction, Life style, Risk factor

QUANTIFICATION OF SINENSETIN IN EXTRACTS OF ORTHOSIPHON STAMINEUS USING HIGH PERFORMANCE THIN-LAYER CHROMATOGRAPHY

The present study aimed to develop a high performance thin layer chromatography method for the determination of sinensetin and apply it to standardize the extracts Orthosiphon stamineus. The samples and a series of standards were applied in duplicate on silica gel plate, which was then developed using mobile phase comprising chloroform and ethyl acetate (6:4, v/v) to a distance of 5 cm. Afterwards, the plate was dried and subjected to densitometry at 366 nm for the quantification of sinensetin. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) was found to be 0.05 and 0.50 µg/ml, respectively. The method showed linearity in a range of 0.50-100.00 µg/ml with correlation coefficient 0.9988. The recovery, intra- and inter day accuracy were found to be 95.67-97.65, 97.64-99.54 and 97.83-98.57%, respectively, with relative standard deviation (RSD) less than 5%. The extracts contained sinensetin from 0.470-1.335 mg/g/. The results of this study indicate that the developed method is sensitive, reliable, repeatable and reproducible and may be applied to standardize extracts of Orthosiphon stamineus

Bryophyllum pinnatum: BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION, VERNACULAR NAMES, PARTS USED, TRADITIONAL USES, PHYTOCHEMICAL AND PHRMACOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES

Bryophyllum pinnatum (Family: Crassulaceae) is a traditional herb that has widely been used for removal of kidney stones and is found to possess a number of pharmacological activities such as antiviral, antipyretic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, hypocholesterolemic, antioxidant, diuretic, antiulcer, styptic, antidiabetic, astringent, antiseptic, antilithic, cough suppressant, anticancer, antihypertensive, fungitoxic and uterine relaxant. The plant contains flavonoids, tannins, anthocyanins, glycosides, alkaloids, phenols, bufadienolides, saponins, coumarins, carotenoids, sitosterols, quinines, tocopherol and lectins. The flavonoids rutin, quercetin, luteolin and luteolin 7-O-β-d-glucoside detected in the plant might be a responsible factor for the anti-inflammatory effect. Diuretic and antioxidant activity of the plant could be responsible for its wide use against urolithiasis. Anthocyanidines could be responsible for the antimicrobial activity of the plant. Kaempferol 3-O-α-l-arabinopyranosyl (1→2) α-l-rhamnopyranoside) and two other polar flavonoids (quercetin 3-O-α-l- arabinopyranosyl (1→2) α-l-rhamnopyranoside and 4′, 5-dihydroxy-3′, 8-dimethoxyflavone 7-O-β-d- glucopyranoside) are responsible for the antileshmanial activity. Bufodienolides are found to have cytotoxic property and hence might be responsible for the anticancer effect. The present study is undertaken to update and ease the researchers to get a comprehensive summary of the plant regarding its botanical description, common name, parts used, traditional uses, phytochemical evaluation and pharmacological activities

Determination of proximate chemical composition and detection of inorganic nutrients in maize (Zea mays L.)

Maize germplasm was collected from different maize research institutes and sown at University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan for the determination of proximate chemical composition and detection of inorganic nutrients. The proximate chemical composition of maize was performed in the laboratory by measuring moisture, crude fat, fiber and protein, whereas the detection of inorganic nutrients such as sodium (Na), calcium (Ca), manganese (Mg), potassium (K), iron (Fe) etc. was carried out using laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). The laboratory experiments shows that maize grains contain moisture content in the range of (8.98 to 10.45%), ash (0.81 to 1.35%), crude fiber (0.79 to 2.78%) and crude protein (11.05 to 12.79%

DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF RP-HPLC METHOD FOR SIMULTANEOUS QUANTIFICATION OF SULFACETAMIDE SODIUM AND PREDNISOLONE SODIUM PHOSPHATE

Sulfacetamide sodium (SFS), in combination with prednisolone sodium phosphate (PSP), is indicated for ophthalmic infections. The present study describes a reverse phase-high performance liquid chromatography method for simultaneous estimation of these two drugs using diode-array detector. Isocratic elution with solvent system acetate buffer (0.01 M, pH 7): acetonitrile: methanol 75:20:5 (v/v/v), at a flow rate of 0.8 mL min-1 gave optimum resolution. The detection limits for SFS and PSP were calculated as 1.15 µg mL-1 and 1.45µg mL-1, while quantification limits were 3.83 µg mL-1 and 4.84 µg mL-1 respectively. Accuracy was found to be 99-101% with relative standard deviation (RSD) values less than 2%. The proposed method is accurate, precise, sensitive, reproducible and applicable for normal usage in quality control laboratories. It would prove advantageous in utilizing less time and resources as previously there is no reported single assay for simultaneous quantification of the aforementioned drugs

Rapid Detection of Nutrients in "Zea mays L" using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry

Trace elements and minerals found in our food are essential for our health but at the same time may become hazardous iftaken in high concentrations. Therefore, the analysis of trace elements in the food is very crucial and indispensable. The present work reports for the first time results of the analysis of mineral composition (macro-, micro-and trace-elements) in yellowmaize flour using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Concentrations of 20 elements including toxic elements (Pb, Cd, As, Ni, Cr, Sr, U), essential elements (Ca, Co, Se, Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo ) and probably essential elements (Mg, K, Na, Ba, Al) were detected in yellow maize flour. The results of the analysis of the inorganic elements such as Al, As, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, Pb, U, Zn yellow maize flour using ICP-MS, revealed contents of 200.05, 0.17, 2.53, 1290.27, 0.04, 0.145, 9.85, 11.46, 115.13, 914.98, 1594.14, 21.48, 1.71, 63.89, 6.08, 17.05, 5.23, 0.027, 33.89 µg/g in yellow maize flour, respectively. The detailed analysis of Cd or Pb in yellow maize flour revealed that none of them exceeded the maximum limitset by the European Legislation or values recommended by the codex alimentarius. The distinctive features of ICP-MS for rapid sample analysis demonstrated by this study suggests that this method offers promise for precision measurements of maize flour inorganic nutrients as compared to conventional methods