Combined effect of corn in the barrier crop and plant extracts against Cowpea mild mottle virus infecting soybean [Glycine max (L. ) Merr. ] in the field

Cowpea mild mottle virus (CpMMV) is one of the problems that can decrease soybean production. The research was conducted on the combined effects of corn in the barrier crop with plant extracts against CpMMV infecting soybean in the field. The field data was conducted using a Completely Randomized Design. The mean of disease incidence and disease severity is measured from total plants in each replicate plot on each treatment. Planting one or two of corn lines were grown at the edge four weeks before planting soybeans. Cashew nut shell (CNS), pagoda leaf, and rhizome of ginger extracts were applied using the sprayer and applied at 24 h before virus acquisition and transmission by whiteflies. The result showed that the virus incubation period ranged from 9−38 days after transmission longer than the untreated control. Planting two corn lines at the edge with CNS extract as bioactivator on soybean was the most extended incubation period of the virus and the lowest absorbance value DAS-ELISA of 0.20. There was a 73.11 % increase in the relative inhibition level of the virus. Planting corn at the edge with CNS extract proved to be more effective than soybean monoculture with CNS extract. However, soybean monoculture with CNS extract provides a better relative inhibition level of the virus (64.32 %) than planting two rows of corn on the edge combined with ginger of rhizome extract and planting two rows of corn on the edge with pagoda leaf extract as bioactivator on a soybean plant.

Ethanol Extract of Yacon Leaves (Smallanthus sonchifolius) Attenuates Fibroblast and Myofibroblast Expansion in Association With Downregulation of TGF β1 and Snail mRNA Expression in 5/6-Subtotal Nephrectomy Model in Mice

@#Introduction: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is characterized by fibroblast activation, myofibroblast formation, and up-regulation of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) that may activate Snail in fibroblast to myofibroblast transition. Ethanol extract of Yacon leaves is known to have a renoprotective effect on diabetic nephropathy but its effect in the CKD model is unknown. This experimental study aimed to elucidate the effect of ethanol extract from Yacon leaves in attenuating renal failure in a CKD mice model. Methods: Male Swiss-Webster mice (3 months, 30–40 grams, n=25) underwent 5/6 subtotal nephrectomy (SN) to induce CKD. The mice were divided into five groups: SN, SN mice with oral treatment of Yacon leaves ethanol extract with doses 0.735 μg/kg (SN+YK1), 1.47 μg/kg (SN+YK2), and 2.94 μg/kg (SN+YK3), and a Sham operation (SO) group with aquadest 0.1% supplementation. Mice were euthanized on day 14 after the operation and kidneys were harvested. Paraffin sections were used for histological analysis. Immunostaining was done for quantifying fibroblasts and myofibroblasts. We performed RT-PCR to measure TGF-β1 and Snail mRNA expressions. Results: The SN group had significantly higher fibroblast number, myofibroblast fraction area, TGF-β1 and Snail mRNA expressions compared to the SO. The fibroblasts number (p<0.001) and myofibroblast fraction areas (p<0.001) were significantly lower in Yacon treated-groups compared to the SN group. RT-PCR analysis showed lower mRNA expressions of TGF-β1 and Snail, but no significant differences were found among the various Yacon treated-groups. Conclusion: Ethanol extracts of Yacon leaves improved kidney damage in male mice with 5/6 subtotal nephrectomy model.