Consortium biofertilizers to economise nutrient use and sustain productivity in cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz)

Climate change events and the COVID-19 pandemic have brought to focus the significance of cassava as a supplementary food crop worldwide. However, the high yield potential of the crop necessitates timely and adequate enrichment of the soil with nutrient inputs. Consortium biofertilizers offer a viable option for reducing intensive fertilizer use to sustain soil health and productivity in cassava. The efficacy of a liquid consortium biofertilizer, specifically a plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) Mix - I, in economizing nutrient use in cassava was evaluated in a 4 x 3 factorial randomized block design, replicated thrice. The treatments consisted of combinations of four levels of biofertilizers and three levels of nutrients. Biometric and yield observations were recorded, and soil properties were analyzed before and after the harvest of the crop. The results showed that the liquid biofertilizer consortium at a concentration of 5% + 75% of the recommended dose, with 37.5:37.5:75 kg NPK/ha as chemical fertilizers, recorded significantly superior tuber yield in cassava. Considering the economics, the application of the PGPR liquid formulation (5%) thrice (basal, 2 and 4 MAP) along with 37.5:37.5:75 kg NPK/ha, or at a concentration of 2% with 50:50:100 kg NPK/ha, realized higher benefit-cost ratios and can be recommended for use in cassava.

Anti-viral compounds from Jatropha curcas seed extract with anti-HIV-1 and anti-SARS-CoV-2 action

Many studies have dealt with the medicinal properties of Jatropha curcas;however, there are limited studies on the scope of its antiviral potential. This is a fact associated with the current challenges posed by HIV-AIDS and COVID-19, which has reinforced the need to expand the knowledge about its antiviral resource. Based on the search for natural products with anti-HIV-1 and anti-SARS-CoV-2 activities, this work analyzed the extract of J. curcas seed, the structure of the plant whose antiviral references were not found in the literature, and the compounds that can potentiate it as a candidate for herbal medicine. GC-MS analysis was used to screen for the active substances of the J. curcas seeds, and the literature was searched to find those with anti-HIV-1 and anti-SARS-CoV-2 indication. The results showed they have 27 compounds, of which glycerol 1-palmitate, stigmasterol and gamma-sitosterol were shown to have antiviral action in the literature. Regarding glycerol 1-palmitate, no detailed description of its antiviral action was found. Stigmasterol and gamma-sitosterol act as anti-HIV-1 and anti-SARS-CoV-2, respectively, inhibiting the reverse transcriptase of HIV-1, the proteases 3CLpro, PLpro and the spike proteins of SARS-CoV-2. However, despite the fact that the extract of J. curcas seeds consist of antiviral compounds that fight against the etiological agents of HIV-AIDS and COVID-19, it is concluded that there is a need to deepen this evidence, by in vitro and in vivo assays.

Lagerstroemia, Euphorbia hirta, and Kleinhovia hospita as inhibitors of heptad repeat (HR) SARS-CoV-2 spike protein based on an in silico study

Severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19), has become a global health issue. Spike proteins from the virus have a vital role in infection. Herbal medicines such as Lagerstroemia, Euphorbia hirta, and Kleinhovia hospita have several pharmacological functions such as anticancer, antiviral, and antioxidant because of their bioactive compound content. Based on an in silico study, this research was conducted on the possibility of phytochemicals from herbal Lagerstroemia, E. hirta, and K. hospita to inhibit spike protein SARS-CoV-2. A three-dimensional (3D) compound structure of each herbal medicine was docked with HR protein using AutoDock Vina software. The docking result, which has the best binding energy value, is continued with the analysis of molecular dynamics simulation. Lagerine, rutin, and nicotiflorin compounds might bind to proteins with lower binding energy. Protein was unstable when complexed with compounds compared with control, as seen from the root-mean-square deviation (RMSD) value. Therefore, this research is pre-experimental to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins by herbal medicines.

Evolution of the cassava (Manihot esculenta, Euphorbiaceae) in vitro germplasm bank of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences of the UNNE and the Institute of Botany of the Northeast (CONICET-UNNE) in pre-pandemic and pandemic times due to COVID-19

The normal management of plant germplasm conservation laboratories involves carrying out numerous and diverse activities, which were affected by the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). The objective of this publication was to review the evolution of the cassava in vitro germplasm bank at the FCA-UNNE and IBONE (CONICET-UNNE) and to tell about usual management practices and the procedures to preserve living plant material and the personnel's life involved in pre-pandemic and COVID-19 pandemic times. Teachers, researchers, undergraduate and graduate students carried out, for almost 40 years, the in vitro conservation of 56 cassava cultivars from different countries. Before March 2020, the bank management consisted mainly in scientific-technological activities for the conservation of the material and the search for parameters to establish an order of subcultures. Having decreed Social, Preventive and Compulsory Isolation in Argentina, conservation activities continued applying the usual practices by following political-institutional sanitary measures. To face the new sanitary scenarios, methodologies must be adjusted so that they are effective at maintaining viability of the plant material and at prolonging conservation time.

Philippine medicinal plants with potentialimmunomodulatory and anti-SARS-CoV-2 activities

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) continues to devastate the world's health and economy, affecting all aspects of life leading to widespread social disruption. Even as several vaccines have been developed, their availability in developing countries is limited and their efficacy against the variants of SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2) needs to be continuously assessed. The World Health Organization (WHO) has acknowledged that vaccines alone will not overcome the global challenges of COVID-19. Medicinal plants may provide the needed support. Herein, we identify Philippine medicinal plants that possess phytochemicals with potential anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity and/or immunomodulatory properties that may strengthen one's immune system against COVID-19. These plants were selected from 100 of the best-studied Philippine medicinal plants with antiviral and immunomodulatory properties. The general antiviral and specific anti-SARS-CoV-2 activities and immunomodulatory properties of the phytochemicals that these plants contained were searched. While many compounds assessed individually using in vitro and in silico techniques suggest potential anti-SARS-CoV-2 or immunomodulatory effects, this review sought to identify the medicinal plants which contain these compounds and which, based on literature, have the best potential application against COVID-19. These plants are Allium spp. bulbs (bawang), Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Nees leaves (sinta), Cocos nucifera L. oil (niyog), Euphorbia hirta L. leaves (tawa-tawa), Euphorbia neriifolia L. leaves (sorosoro), Moringa oleifera Lam. leaves (malunggay), Ocimum basilicum L. leaves (balanoy), Piper nigrum L. seeds (paminta), Vitex negundo L. leaves (lagundi), and Zingiber officinale Roscoe rhizome (luya). This review provides a shortlist that can guide research on possible solutions to COVID-19 using Philippine medicinal plants.

Survey on the level of knowledge of medicinal plants used against Coronavirus disease, influenza and colds among travelers who came for the COVID-19 test at the Institut Pasteur de C..te d'Ivoire

Objective: This study was conducted to identify medicinal plants in the fight against Coronavirus disease, influenza and colds cited by travelers who came for their Covid test at the Institut Pasteur of C..te d'Ivoire. Methodology and Results: A semi-structured interview was conducted with 527 travelers from April 1 to June 30, 2021. The interviewed travelers were predominantly male (69.4%). Travelers going to France (28.46%) were the most numerous. The most represented age groups were 41-64 (43.83%) and 25-40 (43.26%). When the level of education is considered, the surveyed travelers have a higher level of education (89.94%). Entrepreneurs (13.85%), traders (12.66%), company directors (12.33%), students (8.54%) and health workers (6.45%) are the majority. Only 21.63% of travelers used traditional medicine in the last 12 months prior to the survey. Various plants are used to fight (33.43%) or prevent (56.57%) Coronavirus disease (7.02%), influenza (3.60%) and colds (2.84%). In total, 13 species of medicinal plants divided into 13 genera and 13 families were cited. Azadirachta indica (Meliaceae) with citation frequencies (cf) of 22%, Zingiber officinale (Zingiberaceae) with cf of 21% and Citrus limon (Rutaceae) with cf of 14% were the most cited species. Conclusion and application of results: These plants could be used for research and development of phytomedicines against Coronavirus, influenza and cold.