Antifungal activity and evaluation of phenolics contents of dill Anethum graveolens L. extracts original from Algeria

188-194The present study aims to evaluate the antifungal activity of dill Anethum graveolens L. against two fungus pathogens of cereals in Algeria, where quantification of the secondary metabolite was investigated in different plant part (whole plant, seeds) and two soil conditions, one is non-salty and second salty soil.The polyphenols, flavonoids, and tannins ranged from 6.25±0.74 mg/g dried weight for the tannins to 167±9.47 mg/g dried weight for polyphenols. The antifungal activity of extracts was tested against Rhynchosporium secalis and Pyrenophora tritici-repentis. The mycelial growth of the tested fungi was also determined to evaluate the antifungal activity. The ideal concentration showed a significant reduction of the two tested fungi was found to be 10 mg/mL, and the mycelial growth inhibition was determined after 7 days of incubation. Observations on the mycelial growth after extracts treatment decreased growth diameters. The effect of the hexanoic extract on inhibition of P. tritici-repentis was 91.17% and the methanolic extract inhibited R. secalis at 93.42% as the highest inhibition rate. Thus, the extract of dill could be used to control fungus pathogens as a potential source of eco-friend fungicide

Antifungal activity and evaluation of phenolics contents of dill Anethum graveolens L. extracts original from Algeria

The present study aims to evaluate the antifungal activity of dill Anethum graveolens L. against two fungus pathogens of cereals in Algeria, where quantification of the secondary metabolite was investigated in different plant part (whole plant, seeds) and two soil conditions, one is non-salty and second salty soil.The polyphenols, flavonoids, and tannins ranged from 6.25±0.74 mg/g dried weight for the tannins to 167±9.47 mg/g dried weight for polyphenols. The antifungal activity of extracts was tested against Rhynchosporium secalis and Pyrenophora tritici-repentis. The mycelial growth of the tested fungi was also determined to evaluate the antifungal activity. The ideal concentration showed a significant reduction of the two tested fungi was found to be 10 mg/mL, and the mycelial growth inhibition was determined after 7 days of incubation. Observations on the mycelial growth after extracts treatment decreased growth diameters. The effect of the hexanoic extract on inhibition of P. tritici-repentis was 91.17% and the methanolic extract inhibited R. secalis at 93.42% as the highest inhibition rate. Thus, the extract of dill could be used to control fungus pathogens as a potential source of eco-friend fungicide

X-ray crystal structure, UV–Vis and NMR spectroscopic, and molecular docking studies of pyribencarb isomers

The crystal structures of the pyribencarb E and Z stereoisomers were determined using single-crystal X-ray crystallography. The isomers were confirmed a single data respectively by crystal analysis, LC-UVD mass spectrometry, and NMR spectroscopy. Pyribencarb E crystallizes in triclinic P−1 and the Z isomer in monoclinic P21/c, with the crystal structures showing comparable packing motifs. Moreover, molecular docking was carried out with cytochrome bc1, revealing binding energies in the ranges of −24.9 to −17.6 and −21.6 to −14.7kcal/mol for the E and Z isomers, respectively. Through a combined experimental and theoretical approach, this study contributes to our understanding of pesticides. Graphical Abstrac

X-ray crystal structure of endosulfan sulfate

X-ray crystallography is an important method used to confirm the three-dimensional structure of a chemical compound. In this study, the crystal structure of endosulfan sulfate was investigated. Endosulfan sulfate is the major metabolite of the insecticide endosulfan, which is composed of two stereoisomers (α and β). From GC–MS analysis, α- and β-endosulfan each gave a single peak in the endosulfan sample, but only one peak was observed for endosulfan sulfate. Interestingly, in X-ray crystallography, two conformers of endosulfan sulfate (A and B) were observed at a ratio of 2(A):1(B). A heterocyclic seven-membered ring of conformer B assumed a horizontal-chair form, differing from two twisted forms of α-endosulfan while a vertical-chair form was observed for conformer A, showing the very similar structure to β-endosulfan; this difference in conformation is caused by differing bond angles at O(1)–C(8)–C(3) and O(2)–C(9)–C(4). In space packing, two asymmetric units were obtained, and three molecules were aligned in the order of A–A–B conformers in each unit. The total potential energy of A was slightly lower (approximately 4 kcal/mol) than B, possibly resulting in the two molecules of A that exist in a rigid crystal state. However, A and B conformers should not exist at room temperature in a solution state for GC–MS analysis, likely due to the small energy difference.The authors research was supported by contract research funds (Grant no. 550–20170104) of the Research Institute for Veterinary Science (RIVS) from the College of Veterinary Medicine and by the BK 21 Plus Program (Grant no. 5260–20150100) for Creative Veterinary Science Research. The funders had no role in study design, data collection, analysis and interpretation, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript

Nitric oxide induces MUC5AC mucin in respiratory epithelial cells through PKC and ERK dependent pathways

BACKGROUND: Nitric oxide (NO) is generally increased during inflammatory airway diseases. This increased NO stimulates the secretion of mucin from the goblet cell and submucosal glands but the mechanism is still unknown precisely. In this study, we investigated potential signaling pathways involving protein kinase C (PKC) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in the NO-induced MUC5AC mucin gene and protein expression in A549 cells. METHODS: Nitric oxide was donated to the A549 cells by NOR-1. MUC5AC mucin levels were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). MUC5AC promoter activity was determined by measuring luciferase activity after the lysing the transfected cells. Activation of PKC isoforms were measured by assessing the distribution of the enzyme between cytosolic and membrane fractions using immunoblotting. Immunoblotting experiments using a monoclonal antibody specific to PKC isoforms were performed in the cytosol and membrane fractions from A549 cells. Western blot analysis for pERK and p38 were performed using the corresponding antibodies from the cell lysates after donating NO to the A549 cells by NOR-1. RESULTS: The transcriptional activity of MUC5AC promoter was maximal at the concentration of 0.1 mM NOR-1 for 1 hour incubation in transfected A549 cells. (±)-(E)-methyl-2-((E)-hydroxyimino)-5-nitro-6-methoxy-3-hexenamide (NOR-1) markedly displaced the protein kinase C (PKC)α and PKCδ from the cytosol to the membrane. Furthermore, the PKC-α,βinhibitors, GÖ6976 (10 nM) and PKCδ inhibitors, rottlerin (4 μM) inhibited the NOR-1 induced migration of PKCα and PKCδ respectively. NOR-1 also markedly increased the MUC5AC promoter activity and mRNA expression, mucin synthesis and ERK1/2 phosphorylation. The PKC inhibitors also inhibited the NOR-1 induced MUC5AC mRNA and MUC5AC protein synthesis by inhibiting the activation of PKCα and PKCδ with ERK1/2 pathways. CONCLUSION: Exogenous NO induced the MUC5AC mucin gene and protein through the PKCα and PKCδ – ERK pathways in A549 cells. Inhibition of PKC attenuated NO-mediated MUC5AC mucin synthesis. In view of this findings, PKC inhibitors might be useful in the treatment of bronchial asthma and chronic bronchitis patients where NO and mucus are increased in the bronchial airways

Transmission of Seasonal Outbreak of Childhood Enteroviral Aseptic Meningitis and Hand-foot-mouth Disease

This study was conducted to evaluate the modes of transmission of aseptic meningitis (AM) and hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD) using a case-control and a case-crossover design. We recruited 205 childhood AM and 116 HFMD cases and 170 non-enteroviral disease controls from three general hospitals in Gyeongju, Pohang, and Seoul between May and August in both 2002 and 2003. For the case-crossover design, we established the hazard and non-hazard periods as week one and week four before admission, respectively. In the case-control design, drinking water that had not been boiled, not using a water purifier, changes in water quality, and contact with AM patients were significantly associated with the risk of AM (odds ratio [OR]=2.8, 2.9, 4.6, and 10.9, respectively), while drinking water that had not been boiled, having a non-water closet toilet, changes in water quality, and contact with HFMD patients were associated with risk of HFMD (OR=3.3, 2.8, 6.9, and 5.0, respectively). In the case-crossover design, many life-style variables such as contact with AM or HFMD patients, visiting a hospital, changes in water quality, presence of a skin wound, eating out, and going shopping were significantly associated with the risk of AM (OR=18.0, 7.0, 8.0, 2.2, 22.3, and 3.0, respectively) and HFMD (OR=9.0, 37.0, 11.0, 12.0, 37.0, and 5.0, respectively). Our findings suggest that person-to-person contact and contaminated water could be the principal modes of transmission of AM and HFMD

Simultaneous determination of 13 mycotoxins in feedstuffs using QuEChERS extraction

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by various fungi and are known to have a significant negative impact on human and animal health. When feedstuffs are contaminated with mycotoxins, their toxicities may be caused a variety of diseases. In this study, the residual mycotoxins in feedstuffs were analyzed using LC-MS/MS incorporated with QuEChERS extraction. Analytical method validation was performed for LOD, LOQ, linearity, and recoveries with consideration of matrix effects prior to the residual analysis. They were all reached to the accepted range of validation level. Using 39 feedstuff samples (5 g) for mycotoxin analysis, nine samples were contaminated by four major mycotoxins such as fumonisin B1 (FB1), deoxynivalenol, fumonisin B2, and zearalenone. Among them, FB1 was detected at the highest concentration as 18.0943 mg/kg. The total sum of fumonisins in 39 samples did not exceed the maximum residual level (MRL) criterion set by Korean Food and Drug Administration. Altogether, intensive management of mycotoxins in Korean feedstuffs should be implemented with proper and routine monitoring, even their residual concentrations are not exceeded over the MRL levels because of high frequent detection found in this study

Effect of Population Reduction on mtDNA Diversity and Demographic History of Korean Cattle Populations

The population sizes of three Korean indigenous cattle populations have been drastically reduced over the past decades. In this study, we examined the extent to which reduction in populations influenced genetic diversity, population structure and demographic history using complete mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region sequences. The complete mtDNA control region was sequenced in 56 individuals from Korean Black (KB), Jeju Black (JEB) and Korean Brindle (BRI) cattle populations. We included 27 mtDNA sequences of Korean Brown (BRO) from the GenBank database. Haplotype diversity estimate for the total population was high (0.870) while nucleotide diversity was low (0.004). The KB showed considerably low nucleotide (π = 0.001) and haplotype (h = 0.368) diversities. Analysis of molecular variance revealed a low level of genetic differentiation but this was highly significant (p<0.001) among the cattle populations. Of the total genetic diversity, 7.6% was attributable to among cattle populations diversity and the rest (92.4%) to differences within populations. The mismatch distribution analysis and neutrality tests revealed that KB population was in genetic equilibrium or decline. Indeed, unless an appropriate breeding management practice is developed, inbreeding and genetic drift will further impoverish genetic diversity of these cattle populations. Rational breed development and conservation strategy is needed to safeguard these cattle population

Self-reported Smoking and Urinary Cotinine Levels among Pregnant Women in Korea and Factors Associated with Smoking during Pregnancy

This study examined urinary cotinine levels and self-reported smoking among pregnant women in Korea and the factors associated with smoking during pregnancy. The subjects were selected from pregnant women who visited 30 randomly sampled obstetric clinics and prenatal care hospitals in Korea in 2006. Smoking status was determined by self-reporting and urinary cotinine measurement. A total of 1,090 self-administered questionnaires and 1,057 urine samples were analyzed. The percentage of smoking revealed by self-reporting was 0.55% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.11-0.99) and that revealed by urinary cotinine measurement (>100 ng/mL) was 3.03% (95% CI, 1.99-4.06). The kappa coefficient of agreement between self-reported smoking status and urinary cotinine measurement was 0.20 (95% CI, 0.03-0.37). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that early gestational period, low educational level, and being married to a smoker were significant risk factors for smoking during pregnancy. Smoking among pregnant women in Korea is not negligible, and those who are concerned to maternal and child health should be aware of this possibility among pregnant women in countries with similar cultural background