Blood pressure lowering effect of Ficus deltoidea kunstleri (FDK) has been associated with changes in the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System (RAAS) and endothelial function in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats (SHR). Whether it also involves other systems is unclear. This study therefore screened for other potential BP lowering mechanisms in FDK-treated SHR based on urine metabolite profile obtained using 1H-NMR spectrometry and multivariate data analysis. Male SHR were administered orally, either 0.5 mL of distilled water (control), or 1000 mg.kg-1 body weight of FDK or 10 mg.kg-1 body weight of losartan once daily for 4 weeks. BP was measured weekly and 24-hr urine was collected using metabolic chambers at the end of the 4th week. Animals were then euthanised and blood was collected for estimation of total anti-oxidant capacity TAC. Kidneys were harvested for antioxidant enzyme gene expression studies. BP in FDK- and losartan-treated SHR was significantly lower, whereas serum TAC was significantly higher than those in the controls. Orthogonal partial least square analysis indicated that FDK-treated SHR were separated from controls by the presence of a larger number of ketone body and amino acid metabolism intermediates. Superoxide dismutase-2, catalase and fork head box gene expressions were higher in kidneys of FDK-treated SHR than those in the controls. It appears that apart from RAAS, the BP lowering effect of standardized aqueous-ethanolic extract of leaves of FDK in SHR is also associated with increased TAC, antioxidant enzyme expressions and probably also involves multiple metabolic pathways, including those involving ketone bodies, amino acids and energy metabolism
1 J Plant Biochem Physiol, Vol. 9 Iss. 4 No: 258 inflorescence. It arises at the node opposite the leaf on a lateral plagiotropic branch [5]. The lateral branch has sympodial mode of growth, the apical bud develops into the inflorescence and the growth continued by the activity of the axillary bud [6]. In the early development, pepper inflorescence is covered by a leaflike structure called the prophyll [5]. Emergence of inflorescence from prohyll in black pepper could be regarded as equivalent to the term ‘heading’ in cereal crops. Pepper plants raised from seeds have a long period of more than three years of vegetative phase and emergence of inflorescence from the prophyll. For plants derived from cuttings emergence of inflorescence is about 1 month after planting in Hainan [7]. Once flowered, pepper plants maintain perpetual flowering habit throughout their lifetimes. This means after the pepper plants there is no distinct period of vegetative growth and reproductive growth. Thus the reproductive growth can compete with vegetative growth for nutrients. The common practice of Reproductive Success in Black Pepper before and after Emergence of Inflorescence Jianfeng Yang*, Chao Zu, Can Wang, Zhigang Li, Huan Yu, Kemo Jin Department of Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Haikou, China
Plants respond and adapt to their environment for survival and reproduction. Plant growth, development and fitness are important factors affecting crop production and food security. Plants have evolved inducible defenses in response to biotic and abiotic stresses regulated by temperature, light and circadian rhythm. Activation of plant immune signals against particular pathogen infection is a securely controlled mechanism wherein defense responses are specifically turned on upon recognition of pathogen. As a result, adverse effects on plant growth and development can be controlled and minimized. It remains elusive how interactions between plants and pathogens operate the immune signaling responses in relation to environmental fluctuations. This paper summarizes recent studies demonstrating the interactions between plant innate immunity, temperature, light and circadian rhythm. In addition, our review identifies further research questions and implications for experimental design and analysis to elucidate the complex relationship necessary to explain the interaction between plant immunity temperature, light and circadian rhythm.
Hemp is a local plant of highlands of Pakistan, it is a crop of massive economic importance, and this paper is an effort to acknowledge the marvelous physio-chemical properties and socio-economical uses of hemp plant. Hemp extract is rich in antioxidants and a significant phenolic content. It is a crop containing a high polyunsaturated acid content and antioxidants. The hemp oil was extracted from the seeds of hemp and 33% yield was acquired and it was compared for its TPC and antioxidants with the commercially available hemp oil. Folin-Ciocalteu reagent and DPPH assay were used to determine total phenolic content of oil and leaves extracts. The future prospects of the study reside in the idea that hemp is a valuable crop thus it should be explored further for commercial and edible purposes.
BACKGROUND Chilling injury of Mungbean (Vigna radiate L.) is a common problem which is encountered in the early spring of cultivation. Uniconazole (UNZ) can alleviate a variety of abiotic stresses such as low temperature. There has been no systematic investigation on the genes underlying the response to Uniconazole-induced tolerance of mungbean to chilling stress in mungbean. RNA sequencing was used to compare different transcriptome of mungbean plant with or without UNZ prior chilling stress.
