Hossam S. El-Beltagi

Effect of lead acetate toxicity on experimental male albino rat.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect of different doses of lead acetate (1/20, 1/40 and 1/60 of LD50) on body weight gain, blood picture, plasma protein profile and the function of liver, kidney and thyroid gland. METHODS Male albino rats were divided into four groups, the first group represented the health control animals, while the second, third and fourth groups were ingested orally with sub lethal doses of lead acetate (1/20, 1/40 and 1/60) of the oral LD50, respectively. One dose was ingested every two days during the experimental period (14 weeks) including the adaptation time. Blood was collected and used for all analysis. RESULTS The results showed that, the ingestion of Pb(2+) induced significant stimulation in glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (ALT) and glutamic-oxalacetic transaminease (AST) activity. Also, total soluble protein and albumin contents of plasma were significantly decreased, while the content of globulin was changed by the Pb(2+) treatments. The cholinesterase activity was inhibited, but the activities of alkaline and acid phosphates and lactate dehydrogenase were stimulated, while plasma glucose level was elevated as a result of lead acetate intoxication. In case of blood picture, Pb(2+) ingestion reduced the contents of hemoglobin and RBCs count of intoxicated rats blood and the plasma levels of T3, T4 and blood WBCs count were decreased. CONCLUSIONS It can be concluded that lead acetate has harmful effect on experimental male albino rats. Therefore, the present work advises people to prevent exposure to the lead compound to avoid injurious hazard risk.

Bioavailability of Iron, Zinc, Phytate and Phytase Activity during Soaking and Germination of White Sorghum Varieties

The changes in phytate, phytase activity and in vitro bioavailability of iron and zinc during soaking and germination of three white sorghum varieties (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench), named Dorado, Shandweel-6, and Giza-15 were investigated. Sorghum varieties were soaked for 20 h and germinated for 72 h after soaking for 20 h to reduce phytate content and increase iron and zinc in vitro bioavailability. The results revealed that iron and zinc content was significantly reduced from 28.16 to 32.16% and 13.78 to 26.69% for soaking treatment and 38.43 to 39.18% and 21.80 to 31.27% for germination treatments, respectively. Phytate content was significantly reduced from 23.59 to 32.40% for soaking treatment and 24.92 to 35.27% for germination treatments, respectively. Phytase enzymes will be activated during drying in equal form in all varieties. The results proved that the main distinct point is the change of phytase activity as well as specific activity during different treatment which showed no significant differences between the varieties used. The in vitro bioavailability of iron and zinc were significantly improved as a result of soaking and germination treatments.

Biochemical changes in phenols, flavonoids, tannins, vitamin E, β-carotene and antioxidant activity during soaking of three white sorghum varieties

OBJECTIVE To investigate the changes in total phenols, flavonoids, tannins, vitamin E, β-carotene and antioxidant activity during soaking of three white sorghum varieties. METHODS The changes in total phenols, total flavonoids, tannins, phenolic acids compounds, flavonoid components, vitamin E, β-carotene and antioxidant activity during soaking of sorghum grains were determined. RESULTS Total phenols, total flavonoids, tannins, vitamin E, β-carotene and antioxidant activity in raw sorghum were ranged from 109.21 to 116.70, 45.91 to 54.69, 1.39 to 21.79 mg/100 g, 1.74 to 5.25, 0.54 to 1.19 mg/kg and 21.72% to 27.69% and 25.29% to 31.97%, respectively. The above measured compounds were significantly decreased after soaking. p-Hydroxybenzoic acid, vanillic acid, syringic acid and cinnamic acid represent the major phenolic acids in Dorado variety. While ferulic acid, p-coumaric acid, gallic acid and caffeic acid represent the major phenolic acids in Shandaweel-6. On the other hand, protocatechuic acid represents the major phenolic acids in Giza-15. Regarding flavonoids components, Dorado was the highest variety in kampferol and naringenin while Shandaweel-6 was the highest variety in luteolin, apigenin, hypersoid, quercetin and christen. Finally, Giza-15 was the highest variety in catechin. Phenolic acids, flavonoid compounds and antioxidant activities were decreased after soaking. CONCLUSIONS Sorghum varieties have moderate quantities from total phenols, total flavonoids, tannins, phenolic acids compounds, flavonoid components, vitamin E, β-carotene and antioxidant activity which decreased after soaking.

Some Biochemical Markers for Evaluation of Flax Cultivars Under Salt Stress Conditions

ABSTRACT Increment of salt stress brought about a clear enhancement of the oxidative activities in tolerant plant species. Five cultivars of flax (Linum Usitatissimum L.) Sakha−1, Sakha−2, Giza−8 (Egyptian origin), Alfa-B (Lithanian origin), and Ariane (French origin) were tested for salt stress tolerance. Plants were subjected hydroponically to sodium chloride (0.00 and 100 mM NaCl) for 21 days. Parameters of oxidative stress such as activity of antioxidant enzymes peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) together with lipid peroxidation were determined. Electrophoretic isozyme profiles detection and total soluble protein SDS-PAGE were used as biochemical markers for assessing plant salt tolerance. Plant growth of Ariane was improved at 100 mM NaCl as compared to control (0.0 NaCl) whereas plant growth of Sakha−1 and Sakha−2 was decreased by 100 mM NaCl level. No response was observed on plant growth of Giza−8 and Alfa-B cultivars under salt stress. Nutrients concentration ratios were disturbed under high level of NaCl (100 mM). The relative salt tolerance of Sakha−1 and Ariane cultivars was associated with high antioxidant enzymes activity POD, SOD, and low MDA content. Salt stress caused an inhibition in the synthesis of polypeptide in the leaves of flax cultivars. In addition, electrophoretic profiles of POD and SOD showed differences under salt stress. From this study, it could be concluded that Ariane and Sakha−1 cultivars showed salt tolerance for the high capacity to limit oxidative damage by increasing their activity of antioxidant enzymes together with the low content of MDA and the decrease of Na/K concentration, which may play as a part of biochemical and physiological role involved in salt tolerance and impair the oxidative damage resulted from salinity salt stress. Ariane and Sakha-1 cultivars were found to be more tolerant to salinity salt stress.

Acaricidal activity of different extracts from Syzygium cumini L. Skeels (Pomposia) against Tetranychus urticae Koch

OBJECTIVE To investigate the acaricidal activity of different extracts from Syzygium cumini (S. cumini) (Pomposia) againsst Tetranychus urticae Koch (T. urticae) and the biochemical changes in antioxidants enzymes. METHODS Six extracts of S. cumini (Pomposia) at concentrations of 75, 150 and 300µg/mL were used to control T. urticae (Koch). RESULTS The ethanol extract showed the most efficient acaricidal activity agent against T. urticae (98.5%) followed by hexane extract (94.0%), ether and ethyl acetate extract (90.0%). The LC50 values of the promising extract were 85.0, 101.0, 102.0 and 98.0µg/mL, respectively. The activities of enzymes including ascorbate peroxidase (APX), peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in susceptible mites were increased. The activities of all antioxidant enzymes reach the maximum value in mites at LC50 with ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The extract of S. cumini has acaricidal acivity against T. urticae, and the ethanol extract is the most efficient.

The effect of lead acetate toxicity on experimental male albino rat.

The toxic effect of Pb ion (lead acetate) was investigated using male albino rats, which was ingested at 1/20, 1/40, and 1/60 sublethal doses. Relative to normal control, the ingestion of Pb2+ induced significant stimulation in ALT and AST activity. In addition, total soluble protein and albumin contents of plasma were decreased, while the content of globulin was changed by the Pb2+ treatments. The cholinesterase activity was inhibited, but the activities of alkaline and acid phosphates as well as lactate dehydrogenase were stimulated as a result of lead acetate intoxication. These observations were gradually paralleled across the experiment dose of the three doses of intoxicated Pb2+. In the case of blood picture, Pb2+ ingestion significantly reduced the contents of hemoglobin and RBC count of intoxicated rat’s blood, while the plasma levels of T3 and T4 and blood WBC count were insignificantly decreased or unchanged. All results of the present study showed that the Pb2+ ingestion was more effective in the case of the high dose (1/20 LD50) than that of the low dose (1/60 LD50) ingestion relative to the normal healthy control. The results of the present work advice the need to avoid exposure of humans to the lead compound to avoid injurious hazard risk.

Protein solubility, digestibility and fractionation after germination of sorghum varieties.

The changes in crude protein, free amino acids, amino acid composition, protein solubility, protein fractionation and protein digestibility after germination of sorghum were investigated. Sorghum varieties (Dorado, Shandaweel-6, Giza-15) were soaked for 20 h followed by germination for 72 h; the results revealed that crude protein and free amino acids in raw sorghum varieties ranged from 10.62 to 12.46% and 0.66 to 1.03 mg/g, respectively. Shandaweel-6 was the highest variety in crude protein and free amino acids content. After germination, crude protein was decreased and free amino acids were increased. There was an increase in content of valine and phenylalanine amino acids after germination. On the other hand, there was a decrease in most of amino acids after germination. After germination protein solubility was significantly increased. Regarding protein fractions, there was an increase in albumin, globulin and kafirin proteins and a decrease in cross linked kafirin and cross linked glutelin after germination.

Biochemical changes in grape rootstocks resulted from humic acid treatments in relation to nematode infection

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of humic acid on nematode infected, resistant and susceptible grapes in relation to lipid peroxidation and antioxidant mechanisms on selected biochemical parameters known as proactive substances. METHODS The grape rootstocks, superior, superior/freedom and freedom were reacted differently to Meloidogyne incognita and Rotylenchulus reniformis according to rootstock progenitor. Two weeks after inoculation, two commercial products of humic acid were applied at the rate of (2, 4 mL or grams/plant) as soil drench. After 4 months, nematode soil populations were extracted and counted. A subsample of roots from each plant was stained and gall numbers, embedded stages per root were calculated, final population, nematode build up (Pf/Pi), average of eggs/eggmass were estimated. Subsamples of fresh root of each treatment were chemically analyzed. RESULTS Freedom reduced significantly the nematode criteria and build up. Humic acid granules appeared to be more suppressive to nematode build up on superior and the higher dose on superior/freedom than liquid treatments. On freedom, all treatments reduced significantly the nematode build up regardless to the material nature. The higher dose was more effective than the lower one. As a result of humic acid applications, the malondialdehyde (MDA) and H2O2 contents were significantly reduced after humic acid treatments while the antioxidant compounds glutathione (GSH), ascorbic acid (ASA) and total phenol contents were significantly increased when compared with check. Antioxidant defense enzymes ascorbate peroxidase (APX), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO)showed significant increase in their specific activities in treated plants compared with nematode treated check. CONCLUSIONS Humic acid treatments improve the yield of grape by increasing the contents of antioxidant compounds and the specific activities of antioxidant enzymes.

Effect of roasting treatments on protein fraction profiles, some enzyme activities of Egyptian peanuts

Egyptian peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) samples were roasted at 180°C for different time periods (0, 3, 5, 10, 20, and 45 min). Different protein fractions (total soluble protein, albumin, globulin and sodium dodecyl sulfate–2-mercapto ethanol) were separated using different solvents. Activities of acid phosphatase (AP), lipoxygenase (LOX), POX and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) were estimated in the total soluble protein fraction of roasted peanut. The results showed that peanut protein solubilities were variable and dependent on roasting temperature. Most of the albumin bands of roasted peanut samples changed after 20 min roasting time as well as the major arachin globulin protein starting to disappear. AP, LOX, POX, esterase, catalase and PPO activities showed significant decrease as a result of the roasting process.

Antioxidant enzyme activities and lipid peroxidation as biomarker for potato tuber stored by two essential oils from Caraway and Clove and its main component carvone and eugenol

Abstract Objective To evaluate two essential oils from Caraway and Clove and its main component carvone and eugenol as sprout inhibitors on germination of potato tubers. Methods The enzymes activities: catalase, glutathione-S-transferase, peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase and superoxide dismutase, in addition to lipid peroxidation level were tested in potato tubers stored for 3, 6 and 9 weeks. Essential oils; Caraway, Clove, carvone and eugenol with three concentration (100, 200 and 300 ppm) were used to control germination process of potato tubers. Results The results of enzyme activities varied depending on the function of enzymes involved. As general trend the activities of the enzymes recorded are significantly found on the range of enzyme control or less, which prevent of potato tuber from germination. Glutathione-S-transferase activity was significantly increased after treatment with essential oils and the activity of enzyme reached (23.3±5.15) (100 ppm) for Caraway, (18.8±0.00) (100 ppm) for carvone, (10.4±0.00) (100 ppm) for colve, and (14.1±0.0) (100 ppm) for eugenol respectively compared to control (7.86±3.26). Conclusions Polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase activity increased in its activity and recovered to the level of control after treatment with essential oils which maintain potato tuber for 9 weeks. The pure essential oils especially carvone have more potent as suppressor of potato tuber germination.