Larvicidal potential of different solvent extracts and oleanolic acid derivative from Coccinia indica against vector mosquitoes

The mosquito larvicidal activities of different solvent extracts (chloroform, ethyl acetate, and methanol) from the leaves of Coccinia indica were studied. Among the extracts tested, the methanol extract showed the highest larvicidal activity against early fourth instar larvae of Culex quinquefasciatus (LC₅₀?=?142?mg?L^?1), Aedes aegypti (LC₅₀?=?158?mg?L^?1) and Anopheles stephensi (LC₅₀?=?161?mg?L^?1) after 24?h of exposure period. The lowest larval mortality was observed with the ethyl acetate extract with the LC₅₀ values of 927, 872, and 730?mg?L^?1 against Cx. quinquefasciatus, Ae. aegypti, and An. stephensi, respectively. The chloroform extract showed the moderate larvicidal activity against the mosquito species tested with the LC₅₀ values from 446 to 546?mg?L^?1. A new triterpene was isolated from the methanol extract using bio-assay guided separation and identified as an oleanolic acid derivative by NMR, IR and mass spectral studies. The compound showed prominent larvicidal activity against Cx. quinquefasciatus, Ae. aegypti and An. stephensi with the LC₅₀ values of 5.6, 5.0, and 4.8?mg?L^?1, respectively. The results of the present investigation offer an opportunity for developing alternatives to rather expensive and environmentally hazardous organic insecticides.     

Studies on in vitro degradability of mixed crude enzyme extracts produced from Pleurotus spp

A preliminary investigation was conducted to assess lignocellulolytic efficiency of crude extracts from three white-rot fungi, Pleurotus florida PF05 (PF), Pleurotus sajor-caju PS07 (PS) and Pleurotus eryngii PE08 (PE). The activities of CMC-ase, xylanase, beta-glucosidase, beta-xylosidase, laccase and Mn peroxidase in extracts were evaluated. PF produced its highest CMC-ase (317 UL(-1)'), beta-glucosidase (62 UL(-1)), beta-xylosidase (37 UL(-1)) and laccase (347 UL(-1)) activities while, PS produced highest xylanase (269 UL-(1)) and Mn peroxidase (69 UL(-1)) activities. In addition, crude extracts extracted were employed for their in vitro degradability assessment; and were evaluated with mono and mixed extracts separately to corn cob substrate. The losses in cell wall components and dry matter during 5 and 10 days incubations were analyzed after treatments of extracts. Maximum 8.2, 4.4 and 2.8% loss were found respectivelyin hemicellulose (HC), cellulose (C) and lignin (L) with mono extract of PF within 10 days. The influence of mono extract of each strain (PF PS and PE) and their mixed extracts (PF+PS, PF+PE, PS+PE and PF+PS+PE) on degradation of cell wall constituents were remarkably differed. The mixed extract treatment proved maximum 13.6% HC loss by PF+PS+PE extract, 9.2% loss in C by PF+PS extract and 5.2% loss of L by the PF+PS+PE extract treatment. The highest dry matter loss (8.2%) was recorded with PF+PS+PE mixed extract combination.     

Antimicrobial activities of extracts from Indo-Pacific marine plants against marine pathogens and saprophytes

This study is the second of two surveys designed to systematically screen extracts from marine plants for antimicrobial effects against ecologically relevant marine microorganisms, and to compare results on a geographical basis. In the preceding survey, extracts from tropical Atlantic marine algae and seagrasses were screened in growth inhibition assays against the pathogenic fungus Lindra thalassiae, the saprophytic fungus Dendryphiella salina, the saprophytic stramenopiles, Halophytophthora spinosa and Schizochytrium aggregatum, and the pathogenic bacterium Pseudoaltermonas bacteriolytica. In this study, the same assay microorganisms were used to examine the antimicrobial effects of lipophilic and hydrophilic extracts from 54 species of marine algae and two species of seagrasses collected from Indo-Pacific reef habitats. Overall, 95% of all species surveyed in this study yielded extracts that were active against one or more, and 77% yielded extracts that were active against two or more assay microorganisms. Broad-spectrum activity against three or four assay microbes was observed in the extracts from 50 to 21% of all species, respectively. Extracts from the green alga Bryopsis pennata and the red alga Portieria hornemannii inhibited the growth of all assay microorganisms. Given that antimicrobial activity was prevalent among extracts of Indo-Pacific marine plants, it is interesting to note that the inhibitory effects of each extract varied considerably between the assay microorganisms. Overall, H. spinosa and D. salina were the most susceptible while L. thalassiae, S. aggregatum, and P. bacteriolytica were the most resistant to the extracts tested. These results provide good evidence that antimicrobial chemical defenses are widespread among Indo-Pacific marine plants. Further, the activity profiles of plant extracts suggest that antimicrobial secondary metabolites can have pathogen-selective or broad-spectrum effects. To confirm these results, chemical studies will be needed to isolate and characterize the compounds responsible for the observed antimicrobial activities.     

Antimicrobial activities of extracts from tropical Atlantic marine plants against marine pathogens and saprophytes

Studies investigating disease resistance in marine plants have indicated that secondary metabolites may have important defensive functions against harmful marine microorganisms. The goal of this study was to systematically screen extracts from marine plants for antimicrobial effects against marine pathogens and saprophytes. Lipophilic and hydrophilic extracts from species of 49 marine algae and 3 seagrasses collected in the tropical Atlantic were screened for antimicrobial activity against five ecologically relevant marine microorganisms from three separate kingdoms. These assay microbes consisted of the pathogenic fungus Lindra thalassiae, the saprophytic fungus Dendryphiella salina, the saprophytic stramenopiles, Halophytophthora spinosa and Schizochytrium aggregatum, and the pathogenic bacterium Pseudoaltermonas bacteriolytica. Overall, 90% of all species surveyed yielded extracts that were active against one or more, and 77% yielded extracts that were active against two or more assay microorganisms. Broad-spectrum activity against three or four assay microorganisms was observed in the extracts from 48 and 27% of all species, respectively. The green algae Halimeda copiosa and Penicillus capitatus (Chlorophyta) were the only species to yield extracts active against all assay microorganisms. Among all assay microorganisms, both fungi were the most resistant to the extracts tested, with less than 21% of all extracts inhibiting the growth of either L. thalassiae or D. salina. In contrast, over half of all lipophylic extracts were active against the stramenopiles H. spinosa and S. aggregatum, and the bacterium P. bacteriolytica. Growth sensitivity to hydrophilic extracts varied considerably between individual assay microorganisms. While 48% of all hydrophilic extracts were active against H. spinosa, 27% were active against P. bacteriolytica, and only 14% were active against S. aggregatum. Overall, more lipophilic extracts inhibited microbial growth than hydrophilic extracts. The variability observed in the antimicrobial effects of individual extracts against each assay microorganism reflects the importance of choosing appropriate test microbes in assays from which ecologically relevant information is sought. Results from this survey demonstrate that antimicrobial activities are prevalent among extracts from marine algae and seagrasses, suggesting that antimicrobial chemical defenses are widespread among marine plants.     

Synthesis,characterization, and antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of novel bis-isatin carbohydrazone derivatives

In the present study, the synthesis of new bis-isatin carbohydrazone derivatives and their antimicrobial and antioxidant activities were investigated. The structures of new compounds were elucidated by Fourier transform infrared, ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectra. The antimicrobial activity of the compounds was determined by using the two-fold serial dilution technique against various bacterial and fungal species in comparison to standard drugs. All synthesized compounds displayed a broad spectrum of activities with minimum inhibitory concentration values ranging from 6.25 to 100 μg/ml against tested microorganisms. The in vitro antioxidant activity was evaluated using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), and the total antioxidant capacity by a phosphomolybdenum assay and their ability to chelate ferrous iron. In general, the derivatives were found to exhibit antioxidant activity. Further, the compounds with electron-withdrawing groups at the C5 position demonstrated significant antimicrobial and antioxidant activities.     

Studies on the water extracts of medicinal plants grown in copper mining areas and their antioxidant effects

High copper (Cu) accumulation in medicinal plants might favor lipid peroxidation and hence affect antioxidant responses. This effect was studied by determining antioxidant activities in the water extracts of medicinal plants from Cu mining impact site and compared with control samples. Antioxidant activities of the extracted medicinal plants were assayed by measuring (1) total phenolic and flavonoid contents, (2) diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)^? free radical scavenging activity, and (3) inhibition capacities of lipid peroxidation. The total phenolic as well as total flavonoid contents of the mining impact samples and control samples are not significantly different. However, inhibition of lipid peroxidation capacities was significantly less (12–60%) for mining impact samples as reflected by the IC₅₀ values. These anomalies were attributed to high concentrations of Cu (2–4-fold higher) in mining impact samples as measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. A positive correlation was observed between Cu levels and IC₅₀ values for the inhibition of lipid peroxidation for mining impact samples.     

The importance of different forms of Pb on diminishing biological activities in a calcareous soil

In this experimental study, we evaluated the effect of different lead (Pb) fractions on biological properties in soil spiked with 0, 600, 1200 and 1800 mg kg^?1 Pb, during a 90-day incubation period at 25?28°C. Different Pb fractions were measured by sequential extraction at days 1 and 90 after soil treatment. Diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA)-extractable Pb and soil biological properties at days 1, 5, 15, 45 and 90 were measured. The concentration of Pb in soluble and exchangeable fractions was very high at day 1, but it showed remarkable transfer into carbonate and residual fractions by day 90. Substrate-induced respiration, basal respiration, acid and alkaline phosphatases, microbial populations (bacterial, fungal and actinomycetes) and biomass carbon decreased significantly with soil contamination compared with the control. With Pb ageing, these biological properties increased. Metabolic quotient (qCO₂) increased significantly compared with the control with increasing Pb concentration. The toxicity of various forms of Pb for the biological status of the soil was in the following order: KNO₃ extractable>NaOH extractable>EDTA extractable>HNO ₃ extractable>total content Pb. Thus, the bioavailable fractions are better indicators of Pb pollution in soils.     

Interference of three weed extracts on uptake of nutrient in three different varieties of paddy through radio tracer techniques

Interference of three dominant weed extracts viz., Ageratum conyzoides L., Melilotus indica All. and Parthenium hysterophorus L. were examined on seed germination, seedling growth, and nutrient uptake (32P and 65Zn) in three different varieties (PD-10, PD-12 and PB) of paddy (Oryza sativa L.). Among the three different varieties irrespective of weed extracts, PD-10 and PD-12 were resistant and PB was susceptible in terms of seed germination, radicle length and plumule dry weight; and PD-12 and PB were resistant and susceptible, respectively, in terms of plumule length and total seedling dry weight. A. conyzoides caused maximum reduction in seed germination and M. indica in seedling growth in different varieties of paddy. The weed extracts interfered in uptake of both 32P and 65Zn and there was a gradual decrease in uptake of both nutrients with increasing concentration of extracts in both root and shoot. The uptake of 32P and 65Zn was more inhibitory with the extracts of A. conyzoides and M. indica, respectively in different varieties. The inhibition in seed germination, seedling growth and nutrient uptake may be due to the presence of phenolics and other secondary metabolities. The phenolics such as gallic, vanillic, protocatechuic and p-hydroxybenzoic acids were identified from these weed extracts.     

Antibacterial,antiviral and antioxidant activities of aerial part extracts of Peganum harmala L. grown in Tunisia

Ethyl acetate, chloroform, butanol, and methanol extracts from the aerial part of Peganum harmala were tested for antibacterial, antioxidant, and antiviral activities. The antibacterial activity was evaluated by the determination of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) using the solid medium technique. Oxacillin, amoxicillin, ticarcillin, cefotaxim, and amphotericin were used as control agents. The antiviral activity was evaluated against human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) strain AD-169 (ATCC Ref. VR 538) and Coxsackie B virus type 3 (CoxB-3) using a cytopathic effect (CPE) reduction assay. The antioxidant activity was evaluated using two tests: 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free-radical scavenging and ammonium thiocyanate methods. Among tested extracts; the chloroform extract displayed a higher antibacterial activity against Gram-positive than Gram-negative bacteria. The butanol extract demonstrated the highest antioxidant activity. The methanol extract showed significant antiviral activity against CoxB-3 virus. The chloroform extract may be an important source of bactericidal compounds against Gram-positive bacteria.     

不同干扰程度下高原湿地纳帕海土壤酶活性与微生物特征研究

采用In-situ野外取样技术与室内实验分析相结合,对不同人为干扰程度下滇西北高原湿地纳帕海土壤酶活性和微生物数量特征进行研究。结果表明：（1）在人为活动干扰下,湿地类型从原生沼泽向沼泽草甸-草甸-垦后湿地逆向演替,F检验显示土壤脲酶、蛋白酶和蔗糖酶活性在各类型湿地间差异显著（F脲酶=14.246,F蛋白酶=13.760,F蔗糖酶=15.392）,表现为垦后湿地〉沼泽草甸〉草甸〉原生沼泽,过氧化氢酶活性差异不显著（F过氧化氢酶=2.697）,且与上述三种水解酶变化规律不同。（2）F检验显示,土壤细菌数量差异显著（F细菌=10.883）,呈现沼泽草甸〉草甸〉垦后湿地〉原生沼泽;土壤真菌与放线菌数量差异显著（F真菌=18.032,F放线菌=15.078）,呈现沼泽草甸〉垦后湿地〉草甸〉原生沼泽。（3）回归分析表明,土壤脲酶与过氧化氢酶极显著正相关。在草甸湿地类型中,土壤脲酶、蔗糖酶、蛋白酶间呈显著线性正相关。土壤酶活性虽与微生物数量相性不显著。（4）纳帕海湿地土壤微生物数量与酶活性变化是对人为不同干扰类型与强度的响应。     

Studies on the growth of some marine unicellular algae under different artificial light sources

Documented evidence of the suitability of various artificial light sources for the culture of unicellular algae is scarce. This paper reports the results of a comparison of the growth rates of 5 species of marine unicellular algae at various light intensities produced by an incandescent filament source or daylight fluorescent tubes. Under light saturating conditions the maximum growth rate achieved by each species was the same under each artificial source. Under sub-optimal intensities, no difference in the growth rates under the 2 sources was detected in the case of Phaeodactylum tricornutum, Chlorella ovalis or Monochrysis lutheri. However, under these conditions both Brachiomonas submarina and Dunaliella primolecta required higher intensities of incident illumination from the fluorescent source than from the incandescent source to maintain a particular relative growth rate.     

毛乌素沙地东南缘沙漠化过程中土壤酶活性的演变研究

研究了毛乌素沙地东南缘沙漠化过程中土壤脲酶、过氧化氢酶和多酚氧化酶活性的响应过程,并对其与土壤养分的相关关系进行分析。结果表明,随沙漠化程度的加剧,土壤脲酶、过氧化氢酶和多酚氧化酶活性均降低,随土层深度的增加,土壤脲酶活性呈降低趋势,土壤过氧化氢酶和多酚氧化酶并未表现出规律性变化,沙漠化过程破坏了土壤酶的活性,三种酶活性能较为敏感地反映土壤环境的变化;相关性分析结果显示,土壤三种酶活性之间存在着极显著正相关性．且三种酶活性与土壤有机质和全氮含量之间同样存在极显著正相关性,表明三种酶在相互作用过程存在共生关系,且能够作为衡量土壤肥力的重要指标。土壤脲酶、过氧化氢酶和多酚氧化酶活性变化可作为衡量沙漠化环境变化的重要指示性指标,并可为进一步揭示沙漠化的生物学规律提供依据。     

In vitro agonistic and antagonistic endocrine disrupting effects of organic extracts from waste water of different treatment processes

Effluents from wastewater treatment plant （WWTP） have been reported to have a broad spectrum of endocrine disrupting compounds （EDCs）. The majority of studies have focused on the occurrence of estrogenic activity, while ignoring nuclear hormone receptors （NRs） pathways. In the present study, a battery of in vitro yeast bioassays and a cell bioassay, including antagonistic and agonistic effects on estrogen receptor （ER）, androgen receptor （AR）, progesterone receptor （PR）, estrogen- related receptor （ERR） and aryl hydrocarbon receptor （AHR）, were conducted to evaluate the removal efficien- cies of EDCs by different treatment processes of a WWTP located in Beijing. Estrogenic, anti-estrogenic, anti- androgenic, anti-progesteronic, anti-ERR and the activa- tion of AHR activities were detected in samples from all treatment processes and the receiving water. The concen- tration of estrogenic contaminants with estradiol （E2） equivalent concentrations ranged from 0.82 x 10-9 to 3.54 x 10 9g Ee_EQ.L-1. The concentration of anti-estrogenic contaminants with 4-hydroxytamoxifen （4-OHT） equiva- lent concentrations ranged from 1.24 × 10-6 to 2.36 x 10-6 g 4-OHT-EQ.L-1. The concentration of anti-androgenic contaminants ranged from 2.21 x 10-s to 3.52 × 10-6g flutamide-EQ. L-1. The concentration of anti-progesteronic contaminants ranged from 3.15 x 10^-5 to 2.71 x 10^-4g RU486-EQ. L-1. The concentration of anti-ERR contami- nants ranged from 7.09 x 10-5 to 6.50 x 104 g 4-OHT-EQ × L^-10. The concentration of AHR activators ranged from 1.7 × 10-10 to 3.4 × 10^-10g TCDD-EQ-L-1. These processes including secondary clarifier, coagulation, as well as coal and sand filtration could eliminated 67.2% of estrogenic contaminants, 47.0% of anti-estrogenic contaminants, 98.3% of anti-androgenic contaminants, 88.4% of anti- progesteronic contaminants, 65.4% of anti-ERR contami- nants and 46.9% of AHR activators. WWTP effluents contain multiple receptor disruptors may have very complex adverse effects on exposed organisms.     

Allelopathic effect of four weed species extracts on germination, growth and protein in different varieties of Glycine max (L.) Merrill

Allelopathic effect of Ageratum conyzoides L., Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers., Parthenium hysterophorus L., and Solanum nigrum L. were examined on seed germination, seedling growth, total protein content and protein profile on Ankur, Bhatt, Bragg, PK -416, PS-1042 and Shilajeet varieties of soybean (Glycine max (L) Merill). Aqueous extracts of weeds (10% w/v) showed both inhibitory and stimulatory influence on percent seed germination and seedling growth in different varieties of soybean. On the basis of per cent reduction in different parameters, the variety Bragg and PS-1042, and Shilajeet were resistant and susceptible respectively to different weed extracts, and among weed extracts, S. nigrum was most effective followed by P. hysterophorus compared to others. The total protein content (mg/g f wt.) in different varieties was increased with all the weed extracts except Bragg with C. dactylon and P. hysterophorus, PS-1042 with A. conyzoides and Shilajeet with C. dactylon, in which it was decreased. The protein banding pattern in different varieties not only differ between control and treatments but also among treatments. The order of susceptibility of different varieties with different weed extracts followed the order: Ankur > PK-416 > Bhatt > Shilajeet > Bragg and > PS-1042.     

不同母岩区马尾松人工林土壤酶活性及微生物学性质研究

红壤丘陵区马尾松人工林对土壤性质有重要影响。研究马尾松长期种植对该区主要母岩（花岗岩、第四纪红黏土和红砂岩）发育土壤酶活性及微生物学性质的影响。微生物性质结果显示,土壤微生物生物量碳氮在花岗岩区较高,但有机碳在第四纪红黏土区矿化相对强烈;0～20 cm土层,花岗岩区和红砂岩区土壤有机碳相对趋向累积,而20～40 cm土层,第四纪红黏土区土壤有机碳相对累积;花岗岩区林地土壤微生物群落相对稳定,且0～20 cm层土壤微生物群落真菌较多。转化酶活性和脲酶活性在花岗岩和第四纪红黏土区较高;酸性磷酸酶活性在第四纪红黏土区显著较高;各母岩区土壤多酚氧化酶活性无显著性差异;过氧化氢酶活性在花岗岩区显著较高;因此,在马尾松与土壤长期作用下,花岗岩区土壤微生物群落稳定性,生化强度较高,相对适宜马尾松林种植。     

不同大气污染区林木根区土壤重金属和酶活性研究

黄埔区是广州市污染较严重的地区,其中林木也受到了大气等污染物的危害。林木根区的土壤重金属和酶活性是探讨污染对林木影响机制和反映污染程度的重要指标。作者分别在该区的石化厂、硫酸厂附近林地和非污染的华南农业大学校园(对照)共3个区选择了台湾相思、马尾松、尾叶桉和荔枝4个树种、11个采样点,共采集了33个供试土壤样品,分析了林木根区土壤重金属(Cu、Zn、Pb、Cd)全量、有效量和土壤酶(脲酶、过氧化氢酶、酸性磷酸酶和蛋白酶)活性。结果表明,(1)石化厂重金属含量总体上与对照区差异不大,而硫酸厂区重金属含量则显著地高于对照区,污染严重。(2)不同调查区根区土壤酶活性存在显著差异,各调查区平均土壤酶活性大小顺序基本上表现为:对照区>石化厂区>硫酸厂区,尤其是硫酸厂区显著地低于对照区;而同一调查区不同树种之间的酶活性也存在差异,台湾相思根区土壤脲酶的活性均比其它树种高;从酶活性看,在硫酸厂严重污染胁迫下,台湾相思比尾叶桉更耐污染。(3)对土壤重金属含量和酶活性进行典型相关分析得出:根区土壤有效Zn含量对过氧化氢酶和酸性磷酸酶活性有明显的刺激作用,但抑制了蛋白酶活性;有效Cd则抑制了过氧化氢酶和酸性磷酸酶活性,但刺激了蛋白酶活性。     

刈割对牧草地下部根区土壤养分及土壤酶活性的影响

对不同刈割强度对牧草地下部根区土壤养分状况及土壤酶活性进行了研究,结果表明,牧草刈割对根区土壤养分、土壤酶活性和土壤微生物数量存在一定影响。不同刈割强度对牧草根区土壤有机质、全磷和全钾含量无明显影响。土壤全氮、碱解氮、速效磷、速效钾含量均因刈割强度的增加而显著下降。土壤蔗糖酶、脲酶活性因刈割处理强度的增加而下降;土壤过氧化氢酶活性则表现为相反的变化趋势。刈割对土壤微生物总数量的影响较大,表现为轻刈割>不刈割>重刈割。     

Toxicological study of plant extracts on termite and laboratory animals

Toxic activity of leaf extracts of Polygonum hydropiper L. and Pogostemon parviflorus Benth. were tested in the laboratory against tea termite, Odontotermes assamensis Holm. Both the tested extracts caused mortality of the termite. The highest toxic activity (100%) was found in the 2.0% chloroform extracts of P. hydropiper. The chloroform extract of P. hydropiper was explored for possible mammalian toxicological effects. The LD50 was 758.58 mg/kg in male albino mice. Subcutaneous injection of sub-lethal dose of extract into male mice once a week for 6 weeks failed to express any significant influence on WBC, RBC count and blood cholesterol.     

Solubility of anthracene in complex solvent systems

A very extensive and effective research in the fields of classical and molecular cytogenetics of cancer cells, during the past 10 years, has produced a rather concrete picture of the events and mechanisms rendering a normal cell a malignant one: Mutational changes in the control of so‐called cellular oncogenes play a fundamental role in cell transformation and tumor progression. These oncogenes are highly conservative and, therefore, important genes normally coding for a series of specific proteins particularly involved in growth control and differentiation processes.

The most important alterations of these genes are: (1) Point mutations (e.g. base transitions) in essential base pairs of the respective proto‐oncogenes causing an uncontrolled expression of the latter, (2) translocations of specific chromosomal segments resulting in transfer of a proto‐oncogene from its normal (controlled) location into the area of highly active genes and by that in its activation, (3) amplification of DNA sequences including proto‐oncogenes which also can cause their over‐expression, (4) insertion of retroviral oncogenes into the DNA, (5) point mutations or deletions in “control genes” rendering the respective gene mutation homozygous or hemizygous.

All these events are mutations in the strict sense the mutageneticist applies to the endpoints of his experimental studies. Above all, the fundamental importance of translocations and point mutations in the transformation process has clearly been evidenced by these data. Therefore, the design of experiments in mutagenicity testing should preferentially consider these types of mutations. Any mutagen, e.g. certain heavy metals or their compounds, inducing those types of mutations, must be considered suspicious not only concerning its mutagenicity in germ cells but also in somatic cells, and, by that, its carcinogenicity.