Amitava Basu

Sensitization of cisplatin therapy by a naphthalimide based organoselenium compound through modulation of antioxidant enzymes and p53 mediated apoptosis

Abstract The widely used anti-cancer drug cisplatin imparts various toxic manifestations in the host, with nephrotoxicity being the most severe one. The trace element selenium shows antioxidant activity in both human and animals. The present study was designed to assess the chemoprotecting and chemoenhancing efficacy of a naphthalimide based organoselenium compound 2-(5-selenocyanato-pentyl)-benzo[de]isoquinoline 1,3-dione during cisplatin chemotherapy in mice bearing Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells. Cisplatin (5 mg/kg b.w.) was administered intraperitoneally and the organoselenium compound (3 mg/kg b.w.) was given by oral gavage in concomitant and pretreatment schedule. The effects of the test compound was evaluated by assaying biochemical, hematological, histological, genotoxicity parameters and by investigating induction of apoptosis in tumor cells, and calculating tumor growth response in the host. The organoselenium compound significantly prevented cisplatin induced generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), reactive nitrogen species, and onset of lipid peroxidation in the kidney tissue of the experimental mice. In addition, the test compound was also substantially restored cisplatin induced depleted activities of the renal antioxidant enzymes and reduced glutathione level; prevented the serum blood urea nitrogen level, creatinine level, chromosomal aberration, DNA damage, histological alterations of kidney, and normalized the hematological profile of the tumor bearing mice. Furthermore, the organoselenium compound alone or during combination therapy induced apoptosis in tumor cells through mitochondria mediated and DNA damage mediated pathway and ultimately increased the life span of the tumor bearing host. Hence, the results showed that the test compound not only reduced the toxicity of cisplatin but also enhanced its anti-tumor efficacy.

Vanadium(III)-L-cysteine protects cisplatin-induced nephropathy through activation of Nrf2/HO-1 pathway

Abstract Cisplatin (CDDP) is one of the first-line anticancer drugs; however, the major limitation of CDDP therapy is development of nephrotoxicity (25–35% cases), whose precise mechanism mainly involves oxidative stress, inflammation and cell death. Therefore, in search of a potential chemoprotectant, an organovanadium complex, viz., vanadium(III)-L-cysteine (VC-III) was evaluated against CDDP-induced nephropathy in mice. CDDP was administered intraperitoneally (5 mg/kg b.w.) and VC-III was given by oral gavage (1 mg/kg b.w.) in concomitant and pre-treatment schedule. The results showed that VC-III administration reduced (p < 0.001) serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen levels, suggesting amelioration of renal dysfunction. VC-III treatment also significantly (p < 0.001) prevented CDDP-induced generation of reactive oxygen species, reactive nitrogen species, and onset of lipid peroxidation in kidney tissues of the experimental mice. In addition, VC-III also substantially (p < 0.001) restored CDDP-induced depleted activities of the renal antioxidant enzymes such as, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-S-transferase, and glutathione (reduced) level. Furthermore, histopathological study also confirmed the renoprotective efficacy of VC-III. Western blotting analysis appended by immunohistochemical data showed that VC-III treatment quite effectively reduced the expression of proinflammatory mediators such as, NFκβ, COX-2 and IL-6. VC-III administration also stimulated Nrf2-mediated antioxidant defense system by promotion of downstream antioxidant enzymes, such as HO-1. Moreover, treatment with VC-III significantly (p < 0.001) enhanced CDDP-mediated cytotoxicity in MCF-7 and NCI-H520 human cancer cell lines. Thus, VC-III can serve as a suitable chemoprotectant and increase the therapeutic window of CDDP in cancer patients.

First Report of Corynespora Leaf Spot Caused by Corynespora cassiicola on Chilli in West Bengal, India

Chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) also known as red pepper is the highest consumed spice in the world, belongs to the family Solanaceae and genus Capsicum. It is an important constituent of many foods, adding flavor, colour, vitamins, pungency and therefore indispensable to the world food industries. Chilli is one of the major cash crops in India and our country is rated to be the second largest exporter in the world.

Variability in Alternaria solani causing frequent outbreak of early blight disease being a major constraint in potato production in the plains of West Bengal

Davana (Artemisia pallens) ia an important high valued annual aromatic herb of India belonging to the family Asteraceae. India has a monopoly in production and export trade of davana oil and India stands 3 in essential oil production in the world. This study was conducted at Department of seed science and technology, TamilNadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore to standardization of suitable invigouration treatment for seed quality enhancement in davana under laboratory condition. The seeds of davana subjected to different seed invigouration treatments. The treatments are seed invigouration with GA3 25 ppm, GA3 50 ppm, GA3 100 ppm, Thiourea 100 ppm, Thiourea 150 ppm, Thiourea 200 ppm, KNO3 0.05%, KNO3 0.1%, KNO3 0.2% with three different soaking durations viz., 10, 20 and 30 mins. and dry seeds served as control. The observation made on germination %, seedling length (cm), dry matter production and vigour index. The results revealed that seed invigouration with GA350 ppm for 20 min. improved the germination (62%), seedling length (2.4cm) and vigour index (147.6)S genetic diversity is an important issue for forest restoration more willingly than low genetic diversity is suitable for commercial forestry for their economic importance and value. Viable diversity upholds in platelets generated through clonal propagation and horticulture is slightly difficult and this may be created genetic drift. Low genetic diversity among five cultivated populations of Terminalia arjuna was revealed using DNA fingerprints generated by ten commercially available random (RAPD) primers i.e. RPI01 to RPI10. Out of ten primers, eight primers generated total 79 bands with 69 polymorphic bands and 87.34 percentage of polymorphism, while primer RPI02 and RPI08 did not show amplification. Applied all 8 primes having a good polymorphic informativeness among the populations (mean PIC=0.355±0.032 and Ho=0.463±0.018). Higher genetic variation, gene diversity (H), Shannon’s Information index (I) and Percentage of polymorphic bands (PPB) among populations (H=0.290±0.162, I=0.440±0.221 and PPB=87.34%) was observed compared to within populations (maximum H=0.165±0.212, I=0.239±0.304 and PPB=39.24%, minimum H=0.026±0.104, I=0.038±0.150, PPB=06.33%). Low average gene diversity (π=0.075±0.062) within population, higher pair wise Fst (ranged from 0.498 to 0.844) among the population and Analysis of Molecular Variance (AMOVA) shown adequate genetic variation among population (Percentage of variation Pv=75.57) but serious low genetic variation within populations (Pv=24.43, ΦST=0.756). Among the populations of T. arjuna the higher relative differentiation (GST=0.7843) with restricted gene flow GST (Nm)=0.1375 was observed. Unbiased measures of genetic distance and phylogram revealed that all locations have their once genetic identity and they arranged in their respective clusters. Lowest distance was showed by accession collected from JNKVV and TFRI Jabalpur.OMICS Group Conferences 5716 Corsa Ave., Suite 110, Westlake Los Angeles, CA 91362-7354, USA Phone: +1-650-268-9744, Fax: +1-650-618-1414, Toll free: +1-800-216-6499 Email: agri2014@omicsgroup.net “Organize your Events at OMICS Group Conferences” Proposals are invited for organizing Symposia/Workshops at OMICS Group Conferences or OMICS Group will sponsor small events at your universities in related areas under the title of your own. These proposals can be sent to respective conference mail ids or to symposia@omicsonline.org 167th OMICS Group ConferenceSoil fertility is coupled with number of microorganisms present and their activities in soil. In the present investigation, a pot culture experiment with factorial completely randomized design (FCRD) was performed to evaluate the impact of a lignite based bioinoculant (VIMP) containing consortium of four phosphate solubilizing species of Burkholderia viz., Burkholderia cenocepacia strainVIMP01(JQ867371), Burkholderia gladioli strain VIMP02 (JQ811557), Burkholderia gladioli strain VIMP 03 (JQ867372) and Burkholderia species strain VIMP 04 (JQ867373) isolated from sugarcane and sugar beet rhizosphere, on enzyme activities, CO2 evolution rate and available phosphorus in sterile and nonsterile soil along with or without sugar beet. The highest soil acid and alkaline phosphatase activities were recorded on 90 DAS while the highest soil urease and dehydrogenase activities were recorded on 30 and 60 DAS respectively. Soil microbial activities were recorded at the highest level by the treatment of nonsterile soil + VIMP + sugar beet in combination where the level of available phosphorus was found to be increased substantially by 87.63% and 115.14% as compared to sterile soil alone and nonsterile soil alone control treatments, respectively. Effects of graded levels of phosphorus fertilizer viz. 50%, 75%, 100% RDF with or without bioinoculant VIMP on yield and phosphorus uptake of sugar beet under field trial were also studied using factorial randomized block design (FRBD). The yield and phosphorus uptake of sugar beet recorded by the treatment 75% P2O5 + VIMP were found at par with results of treatment 100% P2O5 + VIMP.The grain smut [Sporisorium sorghi (Link.)Willd] pathogen on sorghum is externally seed borne. The smut sori break during threshing releasing the spores; that adhere to the surface of healthy seeds and remain dormant till next season. The infection takes place before the seedlings emerge out. The conditions suited for delayed germination of seeds favour the smut infection. An attempt has been made to find out the suitable fungicides for the management of grain smut of sorghum. Among the several fungitoxicants reviewed belonging to different groups; the seeds treated with carboxin+thiram (Vitavax power) followed by sulphur @ 3.0 g kg−1 just before sowing recorded significantly higher seed yield and lesser smut incidence and better seed quality parameters.Cereals are the major energy source for a large proportion of the world population. Consequently, reliance on a high proportion of cereal-based diets is now inducing health problems due to poor grain nutritional quality that is mainly due to low micronutrient content. As a result more than 2 billion people in the world are affected by Micronutrient malnutrition. According to WHO, (2002) Zinc (Zn) deficiency ranks fifth leading risk factor for disease in the developing world. Thus, increasing concentrations of Zn in cereal grains is, therefore, an important global humanitarian challenge. Hence, a study was carried in Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) to enhance the Zn density in the grains of three basmati rice cultivars containing low, medium and high Zn after screening the available germplasm in IARI. Their response to different sources and rate of Zn fertilization was studied in soils of divergent characteristics. The results showed that the three cultivars (CSR 30, Pusa Sugandh-5 and Pusa Basmati-6) differed in Zn accumulation in the grains. The Zn application through ZnSO4 in the form of basal and biweekly foliar application has increased the Zn content up to 30.34 mg kg -1 which is near to have a measurable biological impact on human health.G is being widely used as a therapeutic food and a flavouring agent in Indian households. Rapid urbanization and more women joining the workforce, has led to an increase in the demand of shelf stable, ready-to-eat, convenience foods with consistent functional quality. Peeled garlic cloves offer convenience but have short shelf life as they have high tendency towards surface discoloration, moisture loss and microbial spoilage. The nature of the demand for minimally processed products requires that they be fresh-like, visually acceptable and appealing. Reports suggest that commercial ready-to-use garlic products such as paste, powder, flakes etc. do not retain the fresh like characteristics and the required functionality owing to the harsh processing procedures followed for their manufacture. Modified atmosphere packaging is a potent tool to maintain the freshness and functional quality of minimally processed garlic cloves in terms of its total antioxidant capacity, total phenolic content, pungency and nutritional value. In the present investigation, the effect on quality of minimally processed garlic cloves of two varieties, viz., Yamuna Safed (G-1) and Yamuna Safed-4 (G-323) was evaluated during modified atmosphere storage. Freshly peeled garlic cloves were packed in different modified atmosphere conditions of oxygen (1-3%) and carbon dioxide (515%) concentrations and stored for 28 days at 10oC and 75-85% RH. It was observed that there was a non-significant increase in PLW for both the varieties under various modified atmospheric storage conditions in all the samples. Modified atmospheric packaging of samples was found to be most effective for retaining firmness, colour and other quality parameters such as total soluble solids, total antioxidant activity, total phenols and pyruvic acid and minimizing respiration and ethylene evolution rates throughout the storage period irrespective of and variety used.Aluminium is considered as the main abiotic stress in lentil grown on soils containing excessive aluminium contents. Developing more aluminium tolerant genotypes of lentil would help to improve productivity on these soils. This study assessed the differential response of lentil genotypes to aluminium toxicity stress under hydroponic and soil conditions to evaluate genotypes for aluminium tolerance. Significant genotypic differences in root length, shoot length, dry weight of root and shoot, root re-growth after staining, accumulation of aluminium in roots and shoots were observed under 0, 74, 148 and 222 and 296 mM Al concentration. Root and shoot aluminium contents were significantly lower in the tolerant than sensitive genotypes, indicating that aluminium exclusion mechanism was involved for aluminium tolerance. These results were compared with similar measurements including yield from soil assay. Root and shoot, aluminium content at 222mM Al concentrations were significantly correlated with biomass production under controlled conditions and ranked the genotypes with their seed yield in the soil assay. The trend in the differential responses of tolerant (‘L-7903’ and ‘L-4602’) and sensitive (‘L-4147’ and ‘BM-4’) genotypes to aluminium stress was fairly consistent in hydroponic and soil assays.