ABSTRACT
To explore the function of a heat shock transcription factor gene (HSFB1) and its promoter in Amorphophallus, a 1 365 bp DNA sequence was obtained by homologous cloning from Amorphophallus albus. The gene expression level of AaHSFB1 determined by qRT-PCR indicated that AaHSFB1 gene is more sensitive to heat stress. The expression level of AaHSFB1 in roots increased followed by a decrease upon heat treatment, and the highest expression level was observed after heat treatment for 1 h. The expression level of AaHSFB1 in leaves reached the highest after heat treatment for 12 h. The expression level in bulbs did not change greatly during the heat treatment. Subcellular localization analysis showed that AaHSFB1 protein was localized in the nucleus. A 1 509 bp DNA sequence which contains the AaHSFB1 promoter was obtained by FPNI-PCR method. Bioinformatics analysis showed that the promoter contained heat stress response elements HSE and a plurality of cis-acting elements related to plant development and stress response. A prAaHSFB1::GUS fusion expression vector was constructed to further analyze the function of AaHSFB1 promoter. The expression vector was transformed into Arabidopsis thaliana by Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated method, and GUS staining analysis on transgenic plants after heat treatment was performed. The results showed that AaHSFB1 promoter had very high activity in the leaves. Therefore, we speculate that AaHSFB1 may play an important role in the stress resistance of A. albus, especially when encountering heat stress.
Subject(s)
Amorphophallus/metabolism , Arabidopsis/genetics , Cloning, Molecular , Gene Expression Regulation, Plant , Plant Proteins/metabolism , Plants, Genetically Modified/geneticsABSTRACT
The Amorphophallus genus is a perennial herb which belongs to the family Araceae. There are more than 170 species in this genus, which is widely distributed in tropical and subtropical areas. As a kind of food and medicine Amorphophallus has been used for more than 2000 years in China. Because of the high content of konjac glucomannan (KGM) and dietary fiber, it has attracted more attention worldwide. In this article, the DNA contents of A. konjac, A. albus and A. bulbifer in China, A. albus, A. paeoniifolius and A. muelleri in Indonesia were estimated by using flow cytometry. In the samples of China, the DNA contents were 12.95 ± 0.73 pg/2C in A. konjac, 10.51 ± 0.05 pg/2C in A. albus and 17.61 pg/2C in A. bulbifer, and for Indonesia, 14.16 ± 0.48 pg/2C in A. albus (flowering), 8.49 ± 0.2 pg/2C in A. paeoniifolius and 17.84 ± 1.46 pg/2C in A. muelleri were used. Interspecific variation was found significantly (P \0.01), suggesting that DNA content might be a parameter that can be used to differentiate the species. Intraspecific variation has also been found significantly (P \ 0.01), whether in the same region or between two regions. As far as we know, this is the first report on genome size estimation of the A. konjac, A. albus and A. muelleri using flow cytometry. Understanding the genome size of Amorphophallus species will help to sequence the genome and analyse the genetic diversity, evolutionary relationship and geographical variation pattern of Amorphophallus species.
ABSTRACT
Background: Pain is defined as an unpleasant feeling caused by intense or damaging stimuli. Amorphophallus paeoniifolius known as “Elephant foot yam” is a highly potential tropical tuber crop of Araceae family. The tubers are used as antihaemorrhoidal, haemostatic, expectorant, appetizer, anthelmintic, aphrodisiac and rejuvenating agent. Diclofenac, a COX inhibitor is used as analgesic widely. Analgesic activity of alcoholic extract of Amorphophallus paeoniifolius has been proved in previous animal studies.Methods: Swiss Albino mice of either sex (20-30g) were procured from the central animal house of KFMS&R, Coimbatore. Animals were maintained under controlled temperature and light conditions with food and water ad libitum. Mice were kept in the department to get acclimatized. 24 mice were divided into 4 groups (n=6). Drugs were given orally after 12 hours of fasting. Group I was the control received normal saline, Group II received standard-diclofenac (25mg/kg). Group III and Group IV received aqueous extract of Amorphophallus paeoniifolius 200mg/kg and 400mg/kg respectively.Results: The latency period of Group IV (aqueous extract of Amorphophallus paeoniifolius 400mg/kg) was significant (p<0.01) compared to Group I (controls) and Group II (standard) was significant (p<0.001) when compared to Group IV (aqueous extract of Amorphophallus paeoniifolius 400mg/kg) by hot plate method. In acetic acid induced writhing when compared to control, the percentage inhibition of aqueous extract of Amorphophallus paeoniifolius was 43.65% at 200mg/kg, 46.09% at 400mg/kg and that of the standard was 54.39%.Conclusions: It was concluded that aqueous extract of Amorphophallus paeoniifolius has analgesic activity due to peripheral and central inhibition of prostaglandins synthesis. The extract may have phytoconstituents which inhibit COX enzyme peripherally or act on central opioid receptors(µreceptors) for producing analgesia. It can be used as an add-on drug there by reducing side effects by conventional analgesics.
ABSTRACT
The international standards for top glucomannan flour require a minimum of 70% glucomannan. The glucomannan content of Amorphophallus oncophyllus flour was approximately 60%, with starch as the major impurity. Elimination of starch was expected to increase the purity of glucomannan. The purpose of this research was to study starch hydrolysis of the flour using α-amylase. Temperature (35.5-84.5oC), time (0.4-3.6 h) and pH (2.2-8.8) of hydrolysis were selected as independent variables. A central composite design of response surface methodology (RSM) was performed to obtain the optimum condition. This approach was a novelty of this enzymatic purification of A. oncophyllus. Glucomannan content, starch content, and solubility were chosen as the response variables. The models were reliable for predicting the responses (R2≥ 0.771). It was predicted that the highest glucomannan content (93.0%) obtained at the lowest starch content (1.14%), which hydrolysed at pH 6.17, 84.5oC and 3.6 h. Prior the verification of the optimum hydrolysed condition from the model, the glucomannan and starch content was 81.59% and 2.27%, respectively. After purification, the absorbance of the ß-1,4 glycosidic bond increased as a sign of higher glucomannan purity. A less rough surface and irregular shape of the grain morphology was observed after purification.
Os padrões internacionais para a farinha de alta calidade de glucomanan requerem um mínimo de 70% de glucomanan. O conteúdo de glucomanano da farinha de Amorphophallus oncophyllus foi de aproximadamente 60%, com o amido como a maior impureza. Esperava-se que a eliminação do amido aumentasse a pureza do glucomanan. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi estudar a hidrólise do amido da farinha usando α-amilase. A temperature (35,5-84,5oC), o tempo (0,4-3,6 h) e o pH (2,2-8,8) da hidrólise foram selecionados como variáveis independentes. Um desenho central composto pertencente á metodologia da superfície de resposta (MSR) foi realizado para obter a condição ótima. Esta abordagem foi uma novidade desta purificação enzimática de A. oncophyllus. O conteúdo de glucomanan, conteúdo de amido e solubilidade foram escolhidos como as respostas. Os modelos foram confiáveis para predizer as respostas (R2≥ 0,771). Os modelos indicaram que o maior conteúdo de glucomanan (93,0%) foram obtidos no menor conteúdo de amido (1,14%),que hidrolisou a um pH 6,17, 84,5ºC e 3,6 h. Antes da verificação da condição hidrolisada ótima do modelo, o conteúdo de glucomanan e amido foi de 81,59% e 2,27%, respectivamente. Após a purificação, a absorbância da ligação ß-1,4 glicosídica aumentou com um sinal de maior pureza de glucomanan. Uma superfície mais lisa e forma irregular da morfologia do grão foi observada após a purificação.
Subject(s)
Amorphophallus , alpha-Amylases , Flour , HydrolysisABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:To optimize the toxicity attenuation processing technology of Amorphophallus sinensis Belval.. METH-ODS:With the overall score of taste stimulation and rabbit eye irritation of A. sinensis Belval. as the index,and based on the sin-gle factor method,orthogonal test was designed to investigate the the influences of the amount of saturated calcium hydroxide solu-tion,heating time and heating temperature on the processing effect,and verification tests as well as irratation comparison before and after processing were conducted. RESULTS:The amount of saturated calcium hydroxide solution and heating temperature had significant influence on the processing effect. The optimal processing technology was to add saturated calcium hydroxide solution 30 times as much as the amount of medicinal materials at 100 ℃ and heat it for 30 min. The verification tests showed overall scores of 8.05,8.44 and 8.37(RSD=2.5%,n=3). The average overall scores before and after processing were 0.12 and 8.54(n=10)re-spectively. CONCLUSIONS:The medicinal materials processed by the optimal technology have lower stimulation and irritation. The optimal technology is stable and reliable.
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The present study was aimed to evaluate the antibacterial activity of Amorphophallus campanulatus (family: Araceae) commonly known as jangli suran. The root, stem and leaf of A. campanulatus, extracted successively with polar (aqueous, methanol), dipolar (acetone) and non polar (chloroform) solvents, yielded more phyto compounds in case of root followed by stem and leaf. The extracts were assessed for their antibacterial activity against both gram positive and gram negative bacteria viz., Bacillus cerus, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli, Proteus vulgaris, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoneae. The gram positive bacteria were found to be more sensitive than gram negative bacteria. The inhibition of both gram positive and gram negative bacteria by the extracts indicate the presence of broad spectrum antibiotic potential. The root extract of the plant was found to be more effective in inhibiting the bacterial growth as compared to stem and leaf. The methanol root extract of the plant showed maximum inhibition against all gram positive and one gram negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria followed by acetone and chloroform. The highest activity index was recorded in methanol extract of root in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The results were promising and supported the use of plants root by traditional healers in curing several ailments.
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Objective: To study the effects of Amorphophallus konjac refined powder combined with minimal flavonids on antioxidation , serum lipids and body weight in rats .Method: Wistar rats were divided into four groups fed with different diets, and then antioxidative ability of blood and liver, levels of serum lipids and body weight were detected and analysed in rats. Results: Konjac refined powder combined with Ginkgo biloba flavonids could decrease MDA content and increase activities of SOD and GSH-Px significantly, and also reduce serum TC, LDL-C, TG levels, improve HDL-C level in rats. As to antiobesity, no notable difference was found .Conclusion: Combined with flavonids, the antioxidation of Konjac food is improved significantly, and serum lipids level is decreased, but antiobesity effect is in-significant.
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Object To investigate the ultrafine grinding and nanometer powder's antiobesity effect of Amorphophallus rivieri Durieu on nutritional obese rats. Methods The content of triglyceride, cholesterol and high density lipoprotein (HDL) of blood was measured by UV spectraphotometry method. The blood glucose was determined by spectraphotometry method. The antiobesity effect was determined by weight loss and Lee's coefficient. Results Compared with powder and polysaccharide of A. rivieri, the ultrafine grinding and nanometer powder of A. rivieri could significantly decrease the rat body weight and the Lee's coefficient of nutritional obese rats (P