Nitric oxide in plants: an insight on redox activity and responses toward abiotic stress signaling.

Plants, as sessile organisms, are subjected to diverse abiotic stresses, including salinity, desiccation, metal toxicity, thermal fluctuations, and hypoxia at different phases of plant growth. Plants can activate messenger molecules to initiate a signaling cascade of response toward environmental stresses that results in either cell death or plant acclimation. Nitric oxide (NO) is a small gaseous redox-active molecule that exhibits a plethora of physiological functions in growth, development, flowering, senescence, stomata closure and responses to environmental stresses. It can also facilitate alteration in protein function and reprogram the gene profiling by direct or indirect interaction with different target molecules. The bioactivity of NO can be manifested through different redox-based protein modifications including S-nitrosylation, protein nitration, and metal nitrosylation in plants. Although there has been considerable progress in the role of NO in regulating stress signaling, still the physiological mechanisms regarding the abiotic stress tolerance in plants remain unclear. This review summarizes recent advances in understanding the emerging knowledge regarding NO function in plant tolerance against abiotic stresses. The manuscript also highlighted the importance of NO as an abiotic stress modulator and developed a rational design for crop cultivation under a stress environment.

In vitro establishment of cell suspension culture of Ceropegia bulbosa for improved production of cerpegin content through elicitation of engineered carbon and ZnO nanoparticles.

 The present investigations aimed to conserve C. bulbosa a threatened plant species and for production of cerpegin through cell culture technology using ENP elicitation. Leaf explants were aseptically cultured with normal MS medium-supplemented PGRs BA and NAA various concentrations, and the best callus induction response was recorded on 4.5 + 4.5 µM. The prospective special effects of the ENPs on plant cell cultures are the key part of our study and used to evaluate leaf callus culture proliferation with the reduction of browning, establishment, biomass, and metabolite formation. The CNP concentrations (0, 2, 4, 8, 12 mg/l) are used for the callus proliferation and browning reduction. The cell suspension cultures are also established, and they were elicited with EZnONPs (0, 25, 50, 100, 150 mg/l) for evaluation of biomass, antioxidant, non-antioxidant enzyme activation, toxicity, ROS defense activation, and metabolite development in cell cultures. The metabolite extraction, UV, and NMR characterization confirm that the toxic and nontoxic effect of ENPs on leaf cell cultures varies with high to low concentration.

Prudent planning in management of mucocele of appendix.

INTRODUCTION: Appendiceal mucocele is a rare obstructive dilatation of the appendix caused by intraluminal accumulation of mucoid material. Having no typical clinical picture, patients presenting with lower right quadrant abdominal pain are sometimes mistaken for acute appendicitis. An untreated mucocele may progress leading to high mortality. CASE REPORT: A 47-year-old female presented with dull pain in the right lower abdomen, associated with generalized weakness and nausea since 6 months. Other than mild tenderness over the right iliac fossa. Physical and laboratory examination was insignificant. Abdominal sonography was doubtful between appendicular abscess and mucocele appendix. Dual contrast CT scan of abdomen was highly suggestive of an appendicular mucocele. DISCUSSION: The patient had a vertical midline incision exploratory laparotomy done and a cystic mass measuring 7 × 4 × 4 cm3 was found arising from the body of appendix. With suspicion of malignancy because of size, right hemicolectomy with ileotransverse anastomosis was done. Histopathological examination showed features of low grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm. CONCLUSION: Pre-operative diagnosis of appendicular mucocele is difficult, nevertheless, it is important for the selection of the appropriate surgical procedure in order to prevent intra-operative complications and early surgical intervention has excellent long-term prognosis.