Zahid Khorshid Abbas

Phytochemical, antioxidant and mineral composition of hydroalcoholic extract of chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) leaves.

The phytochemical, antioxidant and mineral composition of hydroalcoholic extract of leaves of Cichorium intybus L., was determined. The leaves were found to possess comparatively higher values of total flavonoids, total phenolic acids. The phytochemical screening confirmed the presence of tannins, saponins, flavonoids, in the leaves of the plant. The leaf extract was found to show comparatively low value of IC50 for 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) inhibition. The IC50 value of chicory leaves extract was found to be 67.2 ± 2.6 μg/ml. The extracts were found to contain high amount of mineral elements especially Mg and Zn. Due to good phytochemical and antioxidant composition, C. intybus L., leaves would be an important candidate in pharmaceutical formulations and play an important role in improving the human health by participating in the antioxidant defense system against free radical generation.

Nitric oxide-induced synthesis of hydrogen sulfide alleviates osmotic stress in wheat seedlings through sustaining antioxidant enzymes, osmolyte accumulation and cysteine homeostasis

Nitric oxide (NO) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) have been shown to act as signaling molecules in various physiological processes, play significant roles in plant cellular processes, and also mediate responses to both biotic and abiotic stresses in plants. The present investigation was carried out to test the effect of exogenous NO on endogenous synthesis of H2S in osmotic-stressed wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seedlings. The results show that application of NO to wheat seedlings, suffered from PEG8000-induced osmotic stress, considerably enhanced the activities of H2S-synthesizing enzymes l-cysteine desulfhydrase (LCD) and d-cysteine desulfhydrase (DCD) leading to enhanced level of endogenous H2S content. At the same time exogenous NO also enhanced the activity of cysteine (Cys)-synthesizing enzyme O-acetylserine(thiol)lyase (OAS-TL) and maintained Cys homeostasis under osmotic stress. NO and H2S together markedly improved the activities of antioxidant enzymes viz. ascorbate peroxidase (APX), glutathione reductase (GR), peroxidase (POX), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT). Furthermore, NO and H2S caused additional accumulation of osmolytes proline (Pro) and glycine betaine (GB), all these collectively resulted in the protection of plants against osmotic stress-induced oxidative stress. On the other hand, NO scavenger cPTIO [2-(4-carboxyphenyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide] and H2S scavenger HT (hypotaurine) invalidated the effect of NO on endogenous H2S levels and Cys homeostasis which resulted in weak protection against osmotic stress. Application of N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) suppressed GR activity and caused an increase in oxidative stress. We concluded that NO in association with endogenous H2S activates the defense system to the level required to counter osmotic stress and maintains normal functioning of cellular machinery.

Recent incidence and descriptive epidemiological survey of breast cancer in Saudi Arabia

Objectives: To review and analyze the pattern of breast cancer (BC) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Methods: A retrospective descriptive epidemiological review of BC of all diagnosed Saudi female cases from January 1990 to December 2014 was conducted at the Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, KSA. This report contains information obtained from the Saudi Cancer Registry and from King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center. Results: The number of women with BC increased steadily from 1990-2010. On the basis of the number of cases, the percentage distribution of BC appears to be increasing. There were 1152 female BC cases in 2008 in comparison with 1308 in 2009, and 1473 in 2010. Breast cancer ranked first among females accounting for 27.4% of all newly diagnosed female cancers (5378) in the year 2010. The average age at the diagnosis of BC was 48; weighted average was 49.8, and range 43-52. Conclusion: Among Saudi patients, there was a significant increase in the number of cases of BC, which occurs at an earlier age than in Western countries. Continued vigilance, mammographic screening, and patient education are needed to establish early diagnosis and perform optimal treatment.

Significance of sulfur in heat stressed cluster bean (Cymopsis tetragonoloba L. Taub) genotypes: responses of growth, sugar and antioxidative metabolism

ABSTRACT A sand culture experiment was carried out to study the effects of sulfur deprivation on heat stress tolerance of two cluster bean (Cymopsis tetragonoloba L. Taub) cultivars (GC-1 and Pusa Nau Bahar (PNB)). Three weeks old sulfur-starved and sulfur-supplemented plants were subjected to heat stress (45°C/35°C) treatment for 24 h. Total dry weight, chlorophyll content, Chlorophyll a:b ratio, electrolyte leakage, malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation, H2O2 content, sugar, glucose-6-phosphate (G-6-P), fructose-6-phosphate (F-6-P), ascorbate and glutathione concentrations and antioxidant enzyme activity (superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT)) were monitored, at the end of the heat stress treatment. Heat stress enhanced and sulfur starvation depleted the contents of sugar metabolites, but the accumulation of sugar, G-6-P and F-6-P were not related with heat stress tolerance. Antioxidant enzyme activities of SOD and CAT were influenced significantly more by sulfur starvation than heat stress. The results showed that under heat stress, the addition of sulfur helps to mitigate the oxidative damage in both the cultivars. However, GC-1 was more heat tolerant as it was characterized by significantly higher total dry weight, chlorophyll content, ascorbate and glutathione content and lower H2O2, MDA, electrolyte leakage than PNB.

Nitric Oxide and High Temperature Stress: A Physiological Perspective

High temperature stress is one the devastating abiotic stresses, causing severe damage to each stage of plant growth and development. However, to cope with detrimental effects of heat stress plants are equipped with a system of defense orchestrated by a combination of several sensor proteins, heat shock factors (HSFs), heat-shock proteins (HSPs), antioxidant enzymes and signaling molecules. Precise assessment of rising temperature at cellular level is of vital importance to induce defense system of plant before the onset of heat damage. Plants sense heat stress primarily by plasma membrane-enclosed sensors which generate a heat stress response that induces a downstream signal leading to the expression of stress-responsive genes. Nitric oxide (NO), along with abscisic acid, H2O2, Ca2+, and calmodulin (CaM), acts as an important signaling molecule in heat stress response in plants. Heat stress elevates synthesis of NO which in association with these molecules stimulate the DNA-binding activity of HSFs as well as the accumulation of HSPs leading to resistance to heat stress. Moreover, exogenous application of NO has also been shown to have an ameliorative effect on heat stress, which has been confirmed by several studies using NO scavengers and inhibitors. In the present chapter, the current understanding of the involvement of NO in heat stress and in the mechanism of thermotolerance is reviewed.

Seasonal dynamics in the trophic status of water, floral and faunal density along some selected coastal areas of the Red Sea, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia

AbstractEutrophication is posing a threat to the coastal marine ecosystems. The consequence of anthropogenic induced eutrophication of waters has resulted in severe deterioration of surface waters. In this research a preliminary data was collected on eutrophication by environmental monitoring on some selected coastal areas of the Red Sea near Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Sampling sites were selected from Haql, Sharmaa and Duba (five for each station) and water samples collected in four different seasons (Oct 2013, Jan 2014, April 2014 and July 2014) to study seasonal dynamics of water quality parameters (especially in reference to the trophic status of water). Only one coastal site from each station was found with some eutrophic characteristics. Water samples collected from these eutrophic sites were more alkaline, turbid, with higher nutrient and low dissolved oxygen contents as compared to other sampling sites. Dynamics in relative densities of coastal flora and fauna were also found to be related with coastal water quality. Human settlements, fish markets, boating clubs and tourisms near these coastal areas of the Red Sea were observed as the primary causes of nutrient loading; run-offs during rains carrying nutrients also aggravate the problem. The results of this study may help in estimating the intensity of the problem and as a forecast for time frame to take an action for the conservation of affected coastal marine ecosystems and restoration of degraded coastal areas of the Red Sea.

Ecotype Difference in Bioactive Constituents and In vitro Antioxidant Activities of Some Saudi Medicinal Plants

The bioactive phyto constituents of endemic and acclimated plants have been used for the bioprospecting of novel compounds, throughout the world. However, the constituents of bioactive phytochemicals and the antioxidant activity are influenced to a great extent by several variables such as altitude, sunlight, soils, season and region of cultivation. We collected Retama raetam Salsola inermis, Hyoscyamus albus and Fagonia arabica plants from two different regions; Jabalal-Lawaz (JAE) and Wadi-e-Dissa (WDE) of Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Phytochemical analysis of Methanolic leaf extracts of all the plants revealed the existence of alkaloids, phenols, flavonoids, terpenoids, tannins and carbohydrates. All the screened phytochemicals were higher in content in the JAE plants than WDE, except flavonoids in S. inermis (WDE). Results validate that these plants from Jabal-al-Lawz have considerable amount of bioactive constituents. Methanolic extracts of H. albus exhibited maximum DPPH antiradical, nitric oxide scavenging and metal chelating activities; however H2O2 scavenging activity was highest in R. raetam. It is concluded that the plants collected from Jabal-al-Lawz are rich sources of bioactive phytochemicals and antioxidants and they could be used in the treatment of oxidative-stress induced degenerative diseases and disorders. Original Research Article Mobin et al.; EJMP, 7(3): 125-136, 2015; Article no.EJMP.2015.075 126

DNA Barcoding in the Marine Habitat: An Overview

Major part of our planet includes the marine habitat which faces severe threat due to overexploitation of its bio resources. Assessment of biodiversity in the massive and diverse marine ecosystem is a challenging task. In this introductory chapter, we give a brief description of the marine habitat and types of marine organisms, followed by the concept of DNA barcoding. We also describe the applications and different initiatives of DNA barcoding in the marine ecosystem. A brief account of DNA barcoding in marine fungi, different groups of animals and plants is also elucidated. This chapter gives a bird’s eye view on the DNA barcoding in the marine perspective.

Comparative growth and physiological responses of two wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars differing in salt tolerance to salinity and cyclic drought stress

Abstract Two cultivars of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) with differential salinity tolerance were compared by evaluating the growth attributes, pigment composition and accumulation of Na+, K+, Zn2+, Fe 2+, Mn 2+ and proline. Wheat cultivars Al-Moiaya (AM) (salt tolerant) and Habbe-Druma (HD) (salt sensitive) were subjected to four levels of salinity (1.21 dS m−1, 4.4 dS m−1, 8.8 dS m−1 and 13.2 dS m−1) in factorial combinations with three drought stress (FC 30%, FC 60% and FC 90%) treatments in a randomized complete block design. Plant dry weight, leaf area ratio (LAR), soluble protein and total chlorophyll (Chl) content were higher in AM than HD. Salt-tolerant AM maintains a higher K+/ Na+ ratio and thereby is able to grow better than the salt-sensitive HD under both the stresses. The lower foliar Na+ in AM resulted in retention of higher Chl content, reflected in the strong positive correlations between plant ion status and Chl contents (Na+-Chl r2 = 0.83; Chl- Fe2+ r2 = 0.76; Zn2+ r2 = 0.93 and Mn2+ r2 = 0.88). In conclusion, our results suggested that the K+/Na+ ratio, exclusion of Na+ and ion homeostasis play much more important roles in the tolerance to salinity and drought stress than the compatible osmolyte, proline.

Phytoremediation of Eutrophic Waters

Eutrophication is one of the major threats to aquatic ecosystems. The European Union (EU) Water Framework Directive (WFD) has given directions to prevent deterioration, to protect aquatic ecosystems, and to promote the sustainable use of water. Hypoxia is one of the common effects of eutrophication in aquatic ecosystems and is becoming an increasingly prevalent problem worldwide. Changes in climate, particularly pH, temperature, and light affect the sustainability of phytoremediation systems. Free-floating aquatic macrophytes are highly capable for morphological and physiological adaptations to aquatic environment and have very high potential to take up and accumulate nutrients through their roots, stems, and leaves, and can remove different ionic forms of nutrients specially Nitrates (N) and Phosphates (P) from aquatic ecosystems. In this experiment some free-floating aquatic macrophytes viz. Eichhornia, Lemna, Salvinia, Spirodela, Wolffia were applied for the treatment of eutrophic waters. The mono, bi, tri, tetra, and penta-cultures of selected plant species were grown in artificial nutrient media for 21 days in a controlled environment to develop sustainable nutrient phytoremediation systems. In monoculture species system the nutrient removal potential of Eichhornia was found maximum removing 63 % N and 55 % P from eutrophic water. In di-culture species systems higher nutrient removal potential was shown by Eichhornia + Salvinia which can remove up to 75 % N and 62 % P. Highest nutrient removal potential was observed in tri-culture systems of Eichhornia + Lemna + Spirodela which removes 92 % N and 78 % P from nutrient media. In tetra-culture systems the nutrient removal potential was 88 % for N and 75 % for P of Salvinia + Eichhornia + Lemna + Spirodela. The penta-culture (Eichhornia + Lemna + Spirodela + Wolffia + Salvinia) system efficiently removes up to 85 % Nitrates (N) and 81 % of Phosphates (P) from the eutrophic water. The study indicates that under controlled conditions multi-species phytoremediation systems are more efficient in removing the nutrients from eutrophic waters than the mono-species phytoremediation systems. However, in all types of phytoremediation systems tri-culture phytoremediation system (Eichhornia + Lemna + Spirodela) showed highest efficiency and may be used for lowering high nutrient levels in eutrophic water.