Advancements in Life Sciences, volume 2, issue 1
Published online: 25-November-2014
ISSN 2310-5380
IN THIS ISSUE
Short Communications:
A cost effective preparative thin layer chromatography cleanup method for high performance liquid chromatography analysis of aflatoxins B1, B2 and G2
Naveed Ahmed, Sohail Hassan Khan, Muhammad Ashraf Anjum, Abdul Rehman, pages 1-4
Read Abstract
Aflatoxins are the by-products of fungal metabolism and common contaminants in feed. To keep their level below permissible limits, various assays have been developed. Currently, High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detection of toxins is most widely used method but the cleanup methods requiring specific gadgets have increased the cost of the assay. Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) is effective and economical but it only gives semi quantitative determination for aflatoxin. This study explores the preparative potential of TLC as cleanup method for HPLC analysis of toxin. Standard aflatoxins solutions containing 10 ng of B1, 2.5 ng of B2 and 2.5 ng of G2 were spotted on silica plates and then extracted using chloroform and acetone (4:1). The extracted toxins were resolved and quantified on HPLC using fluorescent detection. The results showed 81, 79 and 60% mean recovery of aflatoxin B1, B2 and G2, respectively. This method was proved equivocally comparable to other methods of aflatoxins cleanup and thus can be used as an alternative cost effective cleanup method.
Full Length Research Articles:
Pomegranate juice attenuates acetaminophen induced hepatotoxicity in rat model of experiment
Tamanna Jahangir, Mohammed M. Safhi, Firoz Alam, pages 5-9
Read AbstractBackground: Pomegranate fruit has high contents of various polyphenols and antioxidants due to which it possesses variety of therapeutic properties. In particular, pomegranate fruit peel and flowers have exhibited high antioxidant activity in different studies. Acetaminophen (APAP) overdose is the most common cause of drug induced liver toxicity including both accidental and intentional types. In our study, we investigated the protecting mechanism of pomegranate fruit juice (PJ) against toxicity caused by APAP in Wistar rats. Methods: Rats were fed with 0.2% (w/v) pomegranate fruit extract as prophylaxis to counter single dose of APAP (2 g/kg, p.o). After that variation in levels of glutathione, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and glutathione reductase (GR) were marked. Results: A single dose of APAP elevated serum toxicity markers including lipid peroxidation. A simultaneous sharp depletion of glutathione and its metabolizing enzymes glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR) was observed. Oral doses of PJ at (0.1% & 0.2% w/v) caused a significant (P<0.001) reduction in toxicity marker enzymes. A striking elevation in antioxidant armory was seen as in response to PJ. Conclusion: The results provide a clear picture of the defensive effect of PJ against APAP induced hepatic toxicity.
Clinical effectiveness of Carbimazole and Propylthiouracil for Hyperthyroidism in Patients of Punjab, Pakistan
Maria Fareed Siddiqui, Sidra Hasnain, Zahra Batool, MH Qazi, Muhammad Imtiaz, Ismat Fatima, Rabail Alam, pages 10-15
Read AbstractBackground: The primary objective of any drug for hyperthyroidism is to control clinical manifestations and maintenance of normal levels of hormonal concentrations. It also targets to prevent the recurrence of disease along with minimizing associated risk factors. In this study, effectiveness of oral anti thyroid agents was checked to normalize altered levels of thyroid hormones due to hyperthyroidism. Methods: The study was comprised of 40 subjects of whom 30 were experiencing hyperthyroidism and were administered anti-hyperthyroid drugs. 10 patients of hyperthyroidism were not taking any medication. Standard dose regimens of carbimazole and propylthiouracil were employed for all 30 hyperthyroid patients under closed monitoring. Physical as well as biochemical analyses of all subjects were done and thyroid profiling was performed for measuring levels of free thyroxine (fT4), free triiodothyronine (fT3), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and antibodies against thyroglobulin (Tg). Results: Thyroid profiles of medicated hyperthyroid patients were compared with the profiles of non-medicated group. Statistical analysis appeared with non-significant values for all four parameters. Conclusion: No significant difference was found between medicated and non-medicated groups. We recommend that combinatorial drugs and new derivatives with better efficacy and fewer side effects should be employed to treat hyperthyroidism.
Phylogenetic analysis of coat protein gene of CYDV-RPV strain from Wheat
Madiha Zamurrad, Shahid Hameed, Irfan Ul Haque, Kamran Saleem, Samra Kausar, pages 16-22
Read AbstractBackground: Keeping in view the potential damage caused by viruses to production of different crops and possible ‘directed damages’ by manipulated viral attack in/across border collectively make phylogenetic analysis of any attacking viral specie important. Cereal yellow dwarf viruses (CYDV) are highly important viruses in wheat causing significant yield loss. Methods: Double antibody sandwich ELISA and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect and confirm the polerovirus i.e. CYDV-rhopalosiphum padi virus (RPV), and unassigned viruses (SGV, RMV) in Punjab and NWFP provinces. The PCR products were inserted into a pGEM®-T easy vector, which then transformed in JM-107 cells of Escherichia coli. Recombinant plasmids were sequenced. Nucleotide and predicted amino acid sequences were aligned, analyzed and compared with other RPV isolates of the family. The nucleotide sequence data were used to make a phylogenetic tree. Results: Sequencing of 600 bp of coat protein gene confirmed the presence of CYDV-RPV strain. Pakistani isolate has close phylogenetic relationship with RPV-Mexcio and RPV-Yolo (USA). They had 99.95% similarity with RPV-Pakistan. The RPV-Aus, RPV-IR, and RPV-Cal (USA) had 99.94% identities with RPV-Pakistan. Conclusion: This work led to a conclusion that there is very low genetic diversity in RPV-Pakistan. Now it is in our future interest to clarify the identity of RPV-PK with more sequencing. The current study may help scientists to formulate appropriate management strategies against CYDV-RPV.
Genotypic response of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) for resistance against gram pod borer (Helicoverpa armigera)
Muhammad Zeeshan Shabbir, Muhammad Arshad, Babar Hussain, Imran Nadeem, Shahbaz Ali, Asim Abbasi, Qurban Ali pages 23-30
Read AbstractBackground: Chickpea is an important pulse crop of Pakistan. The pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner), is the major pest in most of the chickpea growing areas of the country. A field trial was carried out at Entomological Research Area, Ayub Agriculture Research Institute (AARI), Faisalabad, during growing season of 2012-13 to evaluate the resistance of chickpea genotypes against gram pod borer (Helicoverpa armigera). Methods: Experiments were conducted in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications having plot size 3 ft × 20 ft. Morphological characters of chickpea like pod trichome, pod wall thickness, pod length, pod breadth, pod area and number of pods per plant were measured. The pod borer larval population/pod infestation was recorded from fifteen randomly selected plants per plot after ten days interval. Results: It was found that the genotypes which had higher trichomes length and density and pod wall thickness were more resistant against Helicoverpa infestation. Significant genetic variation for resistance against Helicoverpa armigera attack was found in chickpea and variety K-70005 showed resistant behavior followed by K-08004 and K-60062. Conclusions: It was concluded from prescribed study that the most susceptible genotypes were K-70005, K-08004 and K-70008 for the attack of Helicoverpa armigera to reduce grain yield.
Optimization of Zinc seed priming treatments for improving the germination and early seedling growth of Oryza sativa
Syed Qamar Abbas, Mahmood Ul Hassan, Babar Hussain, Tassadduq Rasool, Qurban Ali, pages 31-37.
Read AbstractBackground: Seed priming is a technique that is used to regulate seed germination through temperature and moisture content management, which helps to increase the seed germinating potential. Zinc (Zn) is an essential micronutrient for rice growth and development. Lab and pot experiments were conducted to explore the potential of seed priming with Zn for improving the germination and early seedling growth of fine grain rice. Methods: Zinc was applied as seed priming. For priming, seeds of fine rice cultivars Super Basmati and Shaheen Basmati were soaked in 0.05%, 0.1%, 0.5% and 1% aerated Zn solutions (w/v); while untreated dry seeds and water soaked seeds were taken as control. Results: Seed priming with 0.1% and 0.5% Zn solution not only reduced the time for 50% germination but it also decreased the mean germination time. Moreover, seed priming with 0.1% and 0.5% Zn solution improved the germination vigour, germination index and final germination percentage in both the tested cultivars. Similarly, plumule length, radicle length, seedling dry weights and vigour index were also improved by seed priming with 0.1 and 0.5% Zn solution. Application of 0.1% Zn solution also improved tillering, leaf emergence, leaf elongation and chlorophyll content. However, increase in concentration application of Zn from 0.1% to 0.5% was toxic for seeds of both cultivars. Conclusion: In conclusion, rice seeds may be primed with 0.5% Zn solution used to improve the germination and early seedling growth.
Characterization and efficiency assessment of PGPR for enhancement of rice (Oryza sativa L.) yield
Abid Ilyas Dar, Fahad Saleem, Mumtaz Ahmad, Muhammad Tariq, Anwar Khan, Arfan Ali , Bushra Tabassum, Qurban Ali, Ghazanfar Ali Khan, Bushra Rashid, Idrees Ahmad Nasir,Tayyab Husnain, pages 38-45
Read AbstractBackground: Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) play an important role in phosphorous solublization, nutrient uptake and crop productivity. A variety of PGPR and their combinations were supplemented to rice crop for evaluation of their effects on plant height, filled grain per panicle, tillers per plant, 1000 grain weight, panicle length and yield per acre. Methods: Roots of sugarcane plants and their adhering soil samples were used as an isolation source for PGPR. The nursery plant roots of local rice varieties i.e. Super Basmati and Basmati-515 were inoculated with isolated PGPR formulation. Data was recorded and statistically analyzed to determine analysis of variance, genetic correlation, path coefficient and principle component. Results: 5 out of 11 bacterial strains produced high indole acetic acid (IAA). Other 6 were either average or low producers of the acid. The strains selected for maximum amount of phosphorous solublization were CEMB-22 (Klebsiella sp.) and CEMB-15 (Burkholderia sp.) with best IAA production. It was found that higher genetic advance, heritability, genotypic and phenotypic correlation have positive direct effects on yield properties of rice. Conclusion: Yield of rice can be enhanced by the application of CEMB-22+CEMB-15 PGPR in combined formulation.
