Effects of prenatal tobacco smoke on cerebellum histomorphological changes at critical developmental stages in CD-1 mice / Efectos del humo de tabaco en los cambios histomorfológicos del cerebelo en las etapas críticas del desarrollo prenatal en ratones CD-1

SUMMARY: In this study the consequences of prenatal exposure to tobacco smokes on the histo-morphological changes of cerebellum was assessed by comparing the smoker mice to the nonsmoker mice. A total of 30 pregnant cd-1 mice were divided into three groups of 10 mice each and with two replicates per group (5 mice each). Following acclimation for five days, the mice were placed in a special modified smoking machine for 2 hours per day over a two- and three-week period for group two and group three, respectively. Group one was considered as a control group. Mice in the control group were exposed simultaneously to fresh air from the room, while those in the treatment groups were exposed to tobacco smoke from six commercial filter cigarettes, containing 0.8 mg of nicotine, 10 mg of tar, and 10 mg of carbon monoxide, for three 1-hour exposure periods every day for three weeks. The mice in the control group were exposed to room air for three 1-hour periods every day for the same period of three weeks. The results from this study showed a correlation between maternal smoking and histological changes in Neuron purkinjense (Purkinje cells) of the cerebellum. They also showed that prenatal smoking period may have caused more damage in the histology and structure of Neuron purkinjense in some juvenile mice. An increased incidence of morphology damage of the cerebellum's Neuron purkinjense' structures was also observed in fetuses with prolonged exposure to tobacco smoking. Exposure of in utero maternal smoking may interfere with brain biological development parameters, giving rise to structural abnormalities of the cerebellum. This study concluded that tobacco smoke exposure to pregnant mice may affect neurodevelopment which may induce behavioural changes as a result of reduced cerebellar size and function.

RESUMEN: Se evaluaron los efectos producidos por la exposición prenatal al humo de tabaco en ratones expuestos y no expuestos y los cambios histomorfológicos observados en el cerebelo en ambos grupos. Un total de 30 ratones cd-1 preñados se dividieron en tres grupos de 10 ratones cada uno y con dos réplicas por grupo (5 ratones cada uno). Después de la aclimatación durante cinco días, los ratones se colocaron en una máquina de fumar modificada, especial durante 2 horas al día, durante un período de dos y tres semanas para el grupo dos y el grupo tres, respectivamente. El grupo uno se consideró como grupo control. Los ratones del grupo de control fueron expuestos simultáneamente al aire limpio de la habitación, mientras que los grupos de tratamiento fueron expuestos al humo de tabaco de seis cigarrillos comerciales, que contenían 0,8 mg de nicotina, 10 mg de alquitrán y 10 mg de monóxido de carbono. durante tres períodos de 1 hora diariamente, durante tres semanas. Los ratones del grupo de control se expusieron al aire ambiente durante tres períodos de 1 hora todos los días durante el mismo período de tres semanas. Los resultados de este estudio mostraron una correlación entre el tabaquismo materno y los cambios histológicos en las neuronas purkinjenses (células de Purkinje). Se observó además que el período de tabaquismo prenatal puede haber causado mayor daño en la histología y estructura de las neuronas purkinjenses en algunos ratones jóvenes. También se observó una mayor incidencia de daño morfológico de las estructuras de las neuronas purkinjenses del cerebelo en fetos con exposición prolongada al tabaquismo. La exposición al tabaquismo materno en el útero puede interferir con los parámetros de desarrollo biológico del cerebro, dando lugar a anomalías estructurales del cerebelo. Este estudio concluyó que la exposición al humo del tabaco en ratones preñados puede afectar el desarrollo neurológico, lo que puede inducir cambios de comportamiento como resultado de la reducción del tamaño y la función del cerebelo.

Indole acetic acid and ACC deaminase from endophytic bacteria improves the growth of Solarium lycopersicum

Background: Endophytic bacteria are ubiquitous in all plant species contributing in host plant's nutrient uptake and helping the host to improve its growth. Moringa peregrina which is a medicinal plant, growing in arid region of Arabia, was assessed for the presence of endophytic bacterial strains. Results: PCR amplification and sequencing of 16S rRNA of bacterial endophytes revealed the 5 endophytic bacteria, in which 2 strains were from Sphingomonas sp.; 2 strains from Bacillus sp. and 1 from Methylobacterium genus. Among the endophytic bacterial strains, a strain of Bacillus subtilis LK14 has shown significant prospects in phosphate solubilization (clearing zone of 56.71 mm after 5 d), ACC deaminase (448.3 ± 2.91 nM α-ketobutyrate mg-1 h-1) and acid phosphatase activity (8.4 ± 1.2 nM mg-1 min-1). The endophytic bacteria were also assessed for their potential to produce indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). Among isolated strains, the initial spectrophotometry analysis showed significantly higher IAA production by Bacillus subtilis LK14. The diurnal production of IAA was quantified using multiple reactions monitoring method in UPLC/MS-MS. The analysis showed that LK14 produced the highest (8.7 uM) IAA on 14th d of growth. Looking at LK14 potentials, it was applied to Solanum lycopersicum, where it significantly increased the shoot and root biomass and chlorophyll (a and b) contents as compared to control plants. Conclusion: The study concludes that using endophytic bacterial strains can be bio-prospective for plant growth promotion, which might be an ideal strategy for improving growth of crops in marginal lands.

Nutritional Assessment and Mineral Composition of Some Selected Edible Vegetables.

Aims: The present study aimed to assess the nutritional significance of some of the commonly consumed vegetables collected from Hangu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Study Design: The study was designed in randomized block design and each analysis was performed with three replicates. Place and Duration of Study: Kohat University of Science & Technology, Kohat and the duration of the study was one year. Methodology: Present study was conducted to determine the nutritional importance of the commonly consumed vegetable viz. Amaranthus caudatus, Lathyrus aphaca, Abelmoschus esculenthus, Solanum melongena, Raphanus sativus and Brassica rapa. These vegetable species were evaluated for their nutritional values and mineral composition. By the nutritional analysis of these vegetable species, the total proteins, fats, carbohydrates, ash, and moisture contents were evaluated, whereas the macro-elements (Mg and Na) and micro-elements (Fe, Cu, Pb, Mn, Cr, and Cd) were analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometric method. Results: The moisture content was found to be highest in R. sativus (13.59%±0.01), whereas A. caudatus was found to be highest in crude fats (2.91%±0.01), ash content (24.16% ± 0.03) and the protein value (15.65% ± 0.02). The fiber analysis indicated the highest value in A. esculenthus (30.93%±0.03), whereas B. rapa was found to be highest in the content of carbohydrates (86.65%±0.02) and thus the energy value was also calculated to be highest in B. rapa (352.52 ± 0.09). A. caudatus was also separated from the rest of the vegetables based on principal component analysis. 3-D component plot and rotated component matrix showed that this separation was due to variations in Pb and protein contents. Conclusion: The results of this study revealed that Amaranthus caudatus and Raphanus sativus are the most balanced sources with respect to nutritional values and mineral composition, as both of them were found to contain the highest content of essential nutrients and the mineral elements (macro and micro-elements).

Proximate Based Comparative Assessment of Five Medicinal Plants to Meet the Challenges of Malnutrition.

Aims: The present study aimed to assess the nutritional significance of some of the economically important medicinal plants species collected from Pakistan. Study Design: The study was designed in randomized block design and each analysis was performed with three replicates. Place and Duration of Study: Kohat University of Science and Technology, Kohat and duration of the study was ten months. Methodology: Present study was conducted to determine the nutritional importance of medicinal plants viz. Achyranthes aspera, Xanthium strumarium, Albizzia lebbeck, Amaranthus cruentus and Calotropis procera. Proximate compositions of these plant species (moisture, ash, fats, fiber, alcohol soluble extractive (ASE), proteins,carbohydrates and energy value) were carried out using standard methods of food analysis. Results: The mean moisture content ranged from 0.334% for X. strumarium to 8.18% for A. cruentus. X. strumarium was found highest in fats, fibers and ASE. Highest percentage of moisture (8.2%) and ash (15.9%) was found in A. cruentus. C. procera was identified as a good source of carbohydrates (67.3%) and energy value (301.9 kcal/100g). The ICPOES analysis of the medicinal plants showed that A. lebbeck had significant concentrations of calcium while A. cruentus had highest concentration of iron, potassium, magnesium, manganese and phosphorous as compared to other medicinal plants. The heavy metals contents were either absent or negligible. Conclusion: The present finding suggests that the selected medicinal plants have a promising potential to not only cure ailments but to maintain a healthy life.

Phenolic Constituents of Pomegranate Peels (Punica granatum L.) Cultivated in Oman.

Aims: This study was undertaken to analyze total phenolics and total flavonoids contents; and total antioxidant capacity of pomegranate peel extract and to identify the major functional components in the extract. Study Design: The extract was subjected to ESI-MS/MS. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Sultan Qaboos University and DARIS Research Center, University of Nizwa, between December 2011 and August 2012. Methodology: Pomegranate peel extract was analyzed using a Waters Quattro Premier XE tandem quadrupole mass spectrometer (Waters Corporation, Manchester, UK) equipped with electro-spray ionization (ESI) source. Instrument control and data acquisition were performed using Mass Lynx ver. 4.1 software. The instrument was calibrated for nominal resolution for MS1 and MS2 up to 1200 m/z using the sodium caesium iodide standard calibration solution. Results: Results revealed high contents of total phenolics (64.2 mg Gallic acid equivalent/ g dry solids) and total flavonoids (1.4 mg Catechin equivalent/ g dry solids) respectively. Total antioxidant capacity ranged from 42.3 – 461.2 μmolTrolox equivalent/ g dry solids. The analysis revealed the presence of 61 different polyphenols in the extract among which 12 hydroxycinnamic acids, 14 hydrolysable tannins, 9 hydroxybenzoic acids, 5 hydroxybutanedioic acids, 11 hydroxy-cyclohexanecarboxylic acids and 8 hydroxyphenyls. Major compounds were tannins and flavonoids such as; illogic acid, gallic acids, punicalin, and punicalagin. Conclusion: A wide variety of phytochemicals present in pomegranate peel extract were identified. These functional compounds in pomegranate peels could be utilized by the food industry and pharma/nutraceutical’s industry. Further work should be done to isolate and quantify major functional compounds of pomegranate peels such as ellagic acid.