Evaluation of Culture Media for Mycelial and Sporangial Production of Phytophtora Colocasiae.

Eight different culture media were used to determine where Phytophthora colocasiae would bet grow and reproduce. Mycelia growth of 86 mm, 79.6 mm, 80.6 mm, 72 mm and 50 mm growth of P. colocasiae were obtained in Carrot Agar, Carrot Potato Agar (CPA) medium, Papaya Sucrose Agar, Host leaf extract agar, Oat meal agar respectively. P. colocasiae grown on Carrot agar for 4-7 days gave Carrot agar was supplement the nutrients to Phytophthora spp. to enhanced production of sporangial growth.

In Vitro Regeneration from Shoot Tip and Nodal Explants of Simarouba Glauca DC, a Promising Biodiesel Tree.

An efficient regeneration protocol was developed from shoot tip and nodal explants of Simarouba glauca DC, a promising biodiesel plant. Nodal explants appeared to have better regeneration capacity than shoot tip explants (40%) in the tested media. The highest regeneration frequency (90%) and shoot number (7.00 ± 1.00 shoots per explants) were obtained in nodal explants in Murashige and Skoog’s (MS) medium supplemented with 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) 4.43 μM and α-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) 5.36 μM.Induced shoot buds were multiplied and elongated on the MS medium supplemented with BAP (4.44 μM), NAA (5.36 μM) and TDZ (Thidiazuron) 2.27 μM with 9.66±0.33 (mean length 5.35±0.32 cm) and 9.00±0.57 (mean length 4.51±0.15cm) shoots using nodal segments and shoot tip explants, respectively. Halfstrength woody plant medium (WPM) containing 2.46μM indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) produced the maximum number of roots (6.00±1.15). The rooted plantlets were hardened on MS basal liquid medium and subsequently in polycups containing sterile soil and vermiculite (1:1) and successfully established in pots.

Oxidative Stress in Cardiovascular Disease.

Over the last two decades, it has become increasingly clear that reactive oxygen species (ROS), including free radicals are involved in cardiovascular disease. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the clinical implications of these oxidants. The ROS are common by-products of many oxidative biochemical and physiological processes. They can be released by xanthine oxidase, NAD(P)H oxidase, lipoxygenases, mitochondria, or the uncoupling of nitric oxide synthase in vascular cells. ROS mediate various signaling pathways that underlie vascular inflammation in atherogenesis. Various animal models of oxidative stress support that ROS have causal role in atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular diseases. They are too reactive to be tolerated in living tissue, and aerobic organisms use sophisticated defense system, both enzymatic and non-enzymatic for prevention of overload of free radicals. In a number of pathophysiological conditions, the delicate equilibrium between free-radical production and antioxidant capability can be altered in favor of the former, thus leading to oxidative stress and increased tissue injury. This review focuses on the biochemical evidences concerning involvement of ROS in several cardiovascular diseases, namely atherosclerosis, heart failure, hypertension and ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Breeding biology of Megalops cyprinoides from Visakhapatnam coast.

Studies on stages of maturity, gonado-somatic indices and breeding cycle from two different habitats viz., the polluted Harbour Waters and the unpolluted Yerragedda Mouth revealed that M. cyprinoides breeds twice a year i.e., during Jan-Jul and Dec-Jan. Size at first maturity was 18 cm. in females and 19 cm. in males at both the stations. Sex ratio was 1:1 at the polluted station and 1:1.1 at the unpolluted station indicating a slight domination of females.

Intermediary metabolic changes in rabbits administered linamarin or potassium cyanide.

Since cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is a staple food item of several million people in the tropics, its toxicity cannot be underestimated. Therefore an attempt has been made to understand the metabolic changes caused by the chronic administration of sublethal doses linamarin, the principal cyanoglucoside of cassava, to rabbits. A significant rise in lactic acid and total cholesterol in liver and brain and a highly significant depletion of phospholipids of brain tissue was observed. There were also significant variations in the lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme pattern of treated animals as compared with the control rabbits. The findings suggest that some of the biological effects of linamarin are similar to those of free cyanide.

Pattern of enzyme changes in rabbits administered linamarin or potassium cyanide.

Diseases like tropical ataxic neuropathy and endemic goitre have been reported to have definite correlation with a chronic ingestion of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz). The toxicity of cassava has been attributed to its two cyanogenic glycosides, linamarin and lotaustralin. In this study, an attempt has been made to understand the pattern of changes in certain clinically significant enzymes brought about by the chronic administration of sublethal doses of linamarin to rabbits. The profound elevation in rhodanese activity observed in the linamarin and cyanide treated rabbits indicated the attempt of the tissues to detoxify cyanide. That intact linamarin could be hydrolysed in vivo was a significant finding from the study. The mode of toxicity of linamarin was similar to that of cyanide by producing a gradual shift from aerobic to anaerobic metabolism.