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PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF SOME PLANT EXTRACTS ON HYPERURICEMIA IN EXPERIMENTAL ANIMALS
2019
FATMA ABO EL-MAGD | M. Tawfik | F. Moawad | N. Ali
Hyperuricemia (elevated serum levels of uric acid) is a key risk factor for the development of gout, and has been linked to renal dysfunction, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Hyperuricemia was induced by oxonic acid (uricase inhibitor) in experimental rats to evaluate the protective effect of alcoholic extracts from parsley shoots, celery seeds and fig leaves. The rats were divided into 6 groups, and the first one served as a normal control group. Three groups of rats were given various plant extracts (celery, parsley and fig) by oral administration using a stomach tube at a dose of 250 mg/kg. A positive control group of rats was administered orally the hypouricemic drug, allopurinol (xanthine oxidase inhibitor) at a dose of 100 mg/kg. A negative control group did not receive any plant extracts or drugs. The various plant extracts and the drug were administered for the rats every day for 9 days. On the 10th day, all groups except the normal control received a single dose of oxonic acid (250 mg/kg) by intraperitoneal injection to induce hyperuricemia. After two hours of hyperuricemia induction by oxonic acid injection, blood samples were collected from all rat groups. The protective effects of various plant extracts were monitored through measurement of uric acid and other blood biochemical analyses for the rats as well as assay of xanthine oxidase enzyme in liver tissues. The data indicated a significant (P<0.05) increase in the levels of uric acid, urea, creatinine and potassium, and a significant (P<0.05) decrease in the levels of total calcium in serum of hyperuricemic rats (negative control) compared to the normal control group. These results indicated that oxonic acid caused hyperuricemia and renal dysfunction in the nega tive control group. The protective effects of various plant extracts were established by appearance the levels of uric acid and other kidney function tests near to their normal values which appeared in the normal control group. The different plant extracts exhibited protective effects against hyperuricemia in variant efficacies compared to allopurinol. These efficacies were in the following order: fig > allopurinol > celery ≈ parsley. Comparatively, the different plant extracts exhibited inhibitory effects on the activity of liver xanthine oxidase enzyme in variant efficacies compared to allopurinol. These efficacies were in the following order: allopurinol > fig > celery ≈ parsley. It can be noticed that fig extract was the most effective treatment against hyperuricemia while allopurinol was the strongest inhibitor against xanthine oxidase activity.
Show more [+] Less [-]EFFECT OF GROWTH REGULATOR NAA AND IBA APPLICATIONS ON TOTAL PHENOLIC AND FLAVONOID COMPOUNDS EXTRACTED FROM IN VITRO PRODUCED CALLUS OF CHICORY PLANT (Cichorium intybus L.)
2019
Marwa Othman | Laila Helmi | Abdelaziz Hosni
This research study was carried out in the plant tissue culture laboratory of the Agricultural Botany Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, Shoubra El-khaima, Cairo, Egypt. Experiments were executed for the duration of two consecutive years 2017 and 2018 on chicory plant. Chicory (Cichorium intybus L.), which belongs to Asteraceae family, is considered as an important medicinal plant due to the presence of many bioactive substances such flavonoids, phenolic compounds, alkaloids, steroids, terpenoids, including( coumarines, cichoriin, esculetin, inulin, sesquiterpene lactones, chicoric acid, caffeic acid and some vitamins). In this research in vitro experiments were carried out using full strength Murashige and Skoog basal medium (MS) supplemented with different combinations of two plant growth regulators; Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) including two concentrations (0.5 – 2.0 mg/l) and Naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) comprising four concentrations (0.5 – 2.0 – 3.0 – 5.0 mg/l). An abaxially (lower side) leaf explants (square pieces 0.5 × 0.5 cm) which were taken from 20 days old aseptic chicory seedlings were inoculated to (MS) surface. Initially, chicory seeds were aseptically germinated on half-strength MS medium, after surface sterilization by 70 % (v/v) ethanol for 60 seconds then soaking in 10 % Clorox (0.5% sodium hypochlorite NaOCl) for 10 min to produce the aseptic chicory seedlings which were the source of true leaf explants used in this research study. Total phenolic compounds and flavonoids content were extracted from six-week C. intybus friable callus produced under both light and dark in vitro culture conditions inside a growth chamber incubation room where temperature was adjusted at 25oC ±1. Total phenolic compounds and flavonoids were determined by spectrophotometric methods. The highest values for their contents were from chicory calli when MS callus induction medium was supplemented with 2 mg/l NAA under total dark condition when compared with the other remaining growth regulator treatment combinations and alternative light regime conditions.
Show more [+] Less [-]Effect of chitosan and salicylic acid as exogenous elicitors on growth and biochemical constituents of broccoli seed sprouts
2019
Rasha Bondok | Ahmed Abdel-Hafez | Hany Metwally | Zeinab Abdeghany
The effect of chitosan and salicylic acid treatments to investigate the seedling growth parameters of Broccoli seed sprouts (Tiburon f1) cultivar was the aim of this study. Salicylic Acid and Chitosan are the )elicitors( that stimulate the sprout, which are divided into Biotic (biological origin), abiotic (chemical or physical origin) elicitors and phytohormones have been applied alone or in combinations, in hydroponic solutions or sprays, and in different selected time points of the sprout growth or during post-harvest. Cumulative time had been completed (harvest time) using tap water, chitosan at 25, 50,100 ppm and salicylic acid at 65,130,260 ppm for seed soaking and sprouting , then precooled and air-dried sprouts were randomly chosen from glass jar (replicate) to collect data of sprout length, hypocotyl length, radical length, dry weight and fresh weight. Also, Samples of harvested 3, 5 and 7 days old etiolated broccoli dried using air draft oven at 65.5C° then grounded into powder for chemical analysis while fresh sprouts and seeds were analyzed for total phenols. However treatment with chitosan at 100 ppm cleared that the moisture, protein, ash, fiber, calcium , potassium, and total phenols of sprouts were increased by 9.63%, 33.73%, 11.80, 11.67%, 336.50 ppm, 196.43 ppm and 66.51mg/100g, respectively. Treated sprouts with salicylic acid at 65 ppm concentrate were also induced an increments on the same constituents reached 9.53%, 33.40%, 11.63, 10.46%, 333.50 ppm, 190.60 ppm and 62.90mg/100g, respectively over control (untreated). Therefore, treated sprouts with chitosan or salicylic acid could be considered as useful tool for improving the growth characters and bioactive metabolites of Broccoli seed sprouts For their Production of anti-cancer materials, As well secondary metabolic pathways respond to specific treatments with elicitors would be the basis for to enhance the production of secondary metabolites, in order to produce quality and healthy fresh foods
Show more [+] Less [-]ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT EFFECTS ON PRODUCTIVE, PHYSIOLOGICAL PERFORMANCE AND IMMUNE RESPONSE OF TWO DEVELOPED LAYING HENS
2019
ahmed youssef | Ibrahum El-wardany | Magdy Hassan | Mohammed Shourrap
In this experiment, a total number of 165 birds (150 female + 15 male) from each developed laying hens Silver Montaza and Matrouh 20 weeks old up to 40 weeks of age. All bids were weighted and randomly distributed into five treatments with three replicates per treatment (10 females and 1 male / replicate) with almost similar initial average body weight. Feed and fresh water were ad libitum during the experimental period. Each experimental group was exposed to natural day light and supplemented with Ultraviolet light as in its program light, the first group (control group) exposed to no UV light, the second, third, fourth and fifth groups were exposed to 1, 2, 3 and 4 hours/day respectively to UV light from UV lamps after sunset, and controlled by a timer as following : 1- Hens in the first treatment were exposed to sun light and yellow lamps to 17h/day without exposed to UV lamps (Control). 2- Hens in the second treatment were exposed to sun light to sunset, UV lamps for 1h/day and supplemented with yellow lamps to the end of light period. 3- Hens in the third treatment were exposed to sun light to sunset, UV lamps for 2h/day and supplemented with yellow lamps to the end of light period. 4- Hens in the fourth treatment were exposed to sun light to sunset, UV lamps for 3h/day and supplemented with yellow lamps to the end of light period. 5- Hens in the fifth treatment were exposed to sun light to sunset and UV lamps for 4h/day without exposed to yellow lamps. Birds were reared under similar condition. The results indicated that live body weight (LBW), feed intake (FI), egg mass, some blood components, immune responses to sheep red blood cells and New castle were significantly improved (P≤0.05) by exposed birds to UV lamps after sunset supplemented in its program light. It could be concluded that the efficient exposed time to UV lamps was (2-3 hours/day) for silver Montaza and Matrouh developed laying hens.
Show more [+] Less [-]DETERMINANTS OF AGRICULTURAL INVESTMENT IN LIGHT OF CONTEMPORARY LOCAL VARIABLES
2019
Gomaa Abdel-Aziz | S. Makled | Eman Kadoss
Investment is one of the most important tools of the economic and social development plans in order to achieve its objectives. The success of development policies depends on several factors, including the volume of investments and the efficiency of their distribution in different fields. This requires that the investment plans and programs set in line with the state's ability to use these investments effectively. Agricultural investment is one of the basic means for the success of agricultural development as it is the main basis for increasing production as well as increasing income and creating more job opportunities and investment is a variable variable has an effective role in finding solutions to the problems of the economy sucking As well as absorbing a measure of manpower that is not working, thus contributing to reducing the problem of unemployment, and increasing the government agricultural investment, which opens the way for private investments in the form of productive projects that contribute to increase production and thus increase exports and reduce imports, thus improving the agricultural balance and increasing national and individual income. Which is reflected in the increase in savings, which in turn lead to the creation of new investments. It can be said that the strategy of agricultural development in Egypt aims to encourage and increase rates of investment growth, whether public investment owned by the state or private investment contributes to increase production And of improving the investment required for the projects of infrastructure and this leads to increased investment activities by adding new projects within the economic structure. The strategy of agricultural development in Egypt aims to encourage and increase the rates of investment growth whether it is a public investment owned by the state or other sectors that contribute to the productivity of the private sector and the infrastructure necessary for the production projects. This leads to increase the investment activities by adding new productive projects that diversify the production base Within the economic structure, despite the successive economic changes experienced by the Egyptian economy, there is still a slowdown in the advancement of government agricultural investments with a clear and significant decline in investments directed to Compared to agricultural sectors obeyed other than the impact is clearly on the performance of the agricultural sector and thus lower rates of agricultural development in Egypt. From the above, the total agricultural investment equation shows that this investment increased by 0.21%, 0.54%, 0.52% for each 1% increase in both agricultural and agricultural exports in the previous year and agricultural income in the previous year, respectively, while decreasing Total agricultural investment by about 0.91% and 0.23% for each increase in agricultural balance deficit and exchange rate by 1%. In other words, the most important variables affecting agricultural investment in a given year were the agricultural GDP of the previous year, the value of agricultural income, and agricultural exports. The statistical significance of this relationship was found at 0.05, and the significance of the model as a whole was found to be around 79% of the changes in the investment to the aforementioned factors.
Show more [+] Less [-]Effect of nitrogen fertilizer and compost rates addition at different depths on some soil chemical properties
2019
Yousry Mahmoud | Hussein Elmaddah | Mansour Elsodany
Two field experiments were conducted on clay loam soil during the two successive seasons, summer season 2017 using maize plants and winter season 2017/2018 using barley plants at El-Gemmeiza Agricultural Research Station, El-Gharbia Governorate to evaluate the direct and residual effects of compost rates mixed with the surface soil layer to 10 cm or added in 30 cm mole depth, arranged in parallel orientation with respect to one another and spaced at 3 m apart besides the nitrogen fertilizer rates on improving some soil chemical properties. Furthermore economical analysis was done by calculating the net income for every treatment to determine the economical treatment. The rates of compost were 0.0, 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 Ton fed-1, while the nitrogen rates were 0.0, 50, 75 and 100 % of the recommended dose for every growing crop. The experiments were conducted in a split-split plot in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates. Results can be summarized as follows: 1- All treatments slightly decreased the soil reaction (pH) in the two growing seasons. 2- Soil salinity (EC), soluble cations and anions and total soluble salts (TSS) significantly increased by increasing nitrogen or compost rates and significantly decreased by increasing application depth. On the other hand, SAR values were significantly decreased with all treatments. 3- All treatments led to significant increases in Ex. Ca, Mg, K and cation exchange capacity (CEC), whereas Ex. Na and ESP were significantly decreased with all treatments in the two seasons. 4- All treatments clearly enhanced total nutrients (N. P and K) of the investigated soil. Also, Organic carbon (O.C, %) and C/N ratio were significantly increased with all treatments. 5- According to the economical analysis, the application of 5 ton compost fed-1 in 30 cm mole depth with 100 % the recommended dose of nitrogen fertilizer for every crop was the best treatment compared with the other treatments, since it gave the highest net income (16809.80 L.E fed-1). 6- Therefore, it is more useful to use those treatments (compost rates at 30cm mole depth with nitrogen fertilizer) to get a markedly improve in chemical properties which reflect on higher yield.
Show more [+] Less [-]Management of Lettuce Bacterial Soft Rot Disease Using Biotic and Abiotic Agents under Field Conditions
2019
Mona Abbas | Afaf El-Meneisy | Mohamed Ebrahim | Nagy Abdel-Ghafar
The current investigation was planned to apply some biotic and abiotic treatments singlely and/or combined to control bacterial soft rot diseases of lettuce under field conditions in Qaha region, Qalyubia Governorate, Egypt. The application of resistance inducers (jasmonic acid and salicylic acid), antibiotics (norfloxacin and tetracycline) and bio-agents (isolates of B. subtilis and Ps. fluorescens) significantly reduced the disease severity as a single treatment compared to the control treatment. Obtained results indicated that resistance inducers appeared to be most effective against bacterial soft rot disease of lettuce compared with other treatments, while antibiotics were less effective at controlling the disease. However, the interaction between bio-agents as soil drench treatment, antibiotics, or resistance inducers as foliar treatment significantly reduced the severity of lettuce bacterial soft rot disease compared with the control treatment. Furthermore, the interaction between disease severity was more reducted with interaction treatments between Ps. fluorescens isolate rather than interact with treatments between B. subtilis isolate and other treatments. However, the interaction between the isolate of Ps. fluorescens as bio-agent treatment or norfloxacin as antibiotic or salicylic acid as a plant resistance inducer, were the most effective methods to control the disease compared with other treatments. Meanwhile, the interaction between resistance inducers and antibiotics as foliar treatments were significantly reduced from the severity of lettuce bacterial soft rot disease compared with the control treatment. Disease severity was more reduced with the application of interaction between norfloxacin and resistance inducers than the interaction between tetracycline and resistance inducers. Meanwhile, the severity of the disease decreased more with the application of interaction between salicylic acid and antibiotics than the interaction between jasmonic acid and antibiotics. Generally, all combination treatments were more efficient than single treatments alone to significantly manage the spread and the infection of the disease compared to the untreated control.
Show more [+] Less [-]THE URBAN SPRAWL ON AGRICULTURAL LANDS IN GHARBIA GOVORNORATE
2019
Mohamed Ahmed Kandil | M. El-Eraqi | M. Shehata
This study focuses on the evolution of urban encroachment on arable land in Egypt. There are three forms of encroachment on arable land. The first type is the removal of the fertile topsoil of agricultural land for the main purpose of bricks manufacturing. The second type is the setting aside of arable land and letting the land go unproductive for long time periods. The third type is the permanent conversion of arable land to buildings. The total acreage lost to encroachment from January 25, 2011 revolution till November 18, 2018 is about 85 thousands feddans of fertile land. The first type of topsoil removal constitutes 7.7 percent of the total lost acreage .While setting aside of arable land constitutes 35.5 percent and the conversion of arable land to buildings constitutes 57.8 percent of total land lost to encroachment . Rapid population growth is the main driver for accelerating encroachment on arable land in Egypt. This is especially evident in the governorates that are not endowed with desert backyard. Gharbeya governorate is a good example of densely populated regions with no desert backyard that could be used for urban expansion. The study reveals that population in Gharbeya grew during the period 2006-2017 with an annually rate of 2.1 percent. While cultivated area and cropped area declined with an annual rate of 1006 feddans and 2992 feddans respectively during the same time period. The continued encroachment on agricultural land is a major threat to Egypt’s food security due to the limited base of arable land in Egypt. In fact per capita share of arable land is declining very rapidly over the years. For example, the ratio of population to arable land increased from 10.4 in 2006 to 15.4 in 2017. The country is attempting to make up for the lost land through reclamation of desert land. Unfortunately, reclamation of desert land is very expensive endeavor and requires major investment in basic infrastructure such as roads, irrigation networks, power grids, and social infrastructure. Therefore it is of utmost importance for the government to pay due attention to the problem of urban encroachment on old arable land and devise policies and legislations that would put a brake on this phenomena .
Show more [+] Less [-]CHEMOINFORMATIC ANALYSIS OF SOME FUNGAL PECTINASES INHIBITORS
2019
rasha mohamed | K. Ramadan | S. Hassanein | R. Francis | A. Abdel Azeiz
Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici attacks tomato plants and causes wilt disease. Fusarium Pathogenicity is including pectinases enzymes which enable the Fungal penetration into host cell wall. The present study is focused on using Computational tools such as Auto-Dock program for screening of inhibitors of endo and exopolygalacturonase enzymes. It based on Lamarckian Genetic Algorithm (LGA) that estimate the binding energy and inhibition constant as parameters to select the best binding. The binding energy and amino acids interactions for the selected inhibitors were compared with that of the enzyme substrate (polygalacturonic acid) Allium species such as onion plant have been used widely as antimicrobial and antifungal plants. It contains ranged between 1 and 5 % of non-protein sulfur amino-acids, including SE-Prop-1-enyl-L-cysteine S-oxide, S-3Allylsulphinyl-L-alanine and S-Methylcysteine sulfoxide have satisfactory binding interactions and inhibition constant with endo and exopolygalacturonase. In the present study, these compounds were extracted from white onion bulb Giza 20 and detected in the onion extract LC/MS analysis. The Inhibitory effect of these compounds for exopolygalacturonase enzyme was confirmed experimentally by determination of the enzyme activity in the presence and the absence of these compounds. White onion extract 45% inhibition percentage of the exopolygalacturonase activity. The enzyme kinetic study showed increase in the Km value with stable V-max value in presence of 7µg/µL of the onion extract. Also, In-vitro experiment of inhibition of F. oxysporum growth in presence 20% and 40% of onion extract showed inhibition percentages of 47% and 53% respectively. The results concluded that onion extract inhibits Fusarium growth through inhibition of exo and endo polygalacturonase. The inhibitory effect of onion extract could be due to its contents of S-E-Prop-1enyl-L-cysteine S-oxide, S-3-Allylsulphinyl-Lalanine and S-Methylcysteinesulphoxide, these compounds have excellent binding interactions and inhibition effects on both exo- and endopolygalacturonases enzymes of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Lycopersici
Show more [+] Less [-]Bio-treatment of wastewater using mixed algal cultures
2019
Olfat Salem | Adel Hammad | Sayed Ismail | Abd Elghany Elgendy
This study was carried out to evaluate the efficiency of mixed algal cultures for wastewater treatment. Free and alginate-immobilized forms of mixed algal culture were used. The highest removal percentages of biological oxygen demand (BOD) were 86.4% and 71.2 % after 32hrs and 48 hrs. in case of free and immobilized cells, respectively. Moreover, the highest values of chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal were 83.74% and 59.71% after 32hrs and 48 hrs for free and immobilized cells, respectively. Treatment with free cells showed removal values for total dissolved salts (TDS), phosphorus and NH3-N were 20.5%, 34.6% and 43.8% respectively after 32 hours. While in case of immobilized cells the highest removal values 18.4%, 34% and 58.5%, for TDS, Phosphorus and NH3-N, respectively were recorded after 48 hrs. Generally, concentration of heavy metals decreased due to treatment with algal free and immobilized cells. As a result of treatment with algal free and immobilized cells, 100% and 95.9% of Cu wastewater content was removed after 8 hrs and 48 hrs, respectively. Moreover, 96.2% and 98.1% of Fe was removed after 32 and 48 hours due to application of free and immobilized cells, respectively. As a result of inoculation with the mixed algal cultures in free cells 99.4% of Mn and 84.2% of Zn content were removed after 32 hours. Whereas, 98.6% of Pb content was removed after only 8 hrs. In case of using the immobilized cells the highest removal percentages of the three heavy metals recorded after 48 hours as follow 97.8% of Mn, 89.0% of Pb and 97.37% of Zn. Accordingly, treatment of wastewater with mixed algal free or immobilized cells is a fruitful method to produce an effluent of high quality to be used for irrigation. Whereas, the algal free cells were found to be more efficient than the immobilized ones.
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