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In a digestibility trial with 24 growing pigs (Danish Landrace × Duroc; male, castrated) the apparent crude nutrient digestibility of organically produced lucerne and red clover products was determined. The products (dried lucerne leaf (LL): 198 g crude protein (CP) per kg dry matter (DM); lucerne leaf silage (LLS): 295 g CP/kg DM; lucerne whole plant silage (LS): 213 g CP/kg DM; red clover whole plant silage (RCS): 263 g CP/kg DM) were fed to the animals together with a compound feed adapted for the whole plant or leaf material. Titanium dioxide was added to this supplement, which was used as an inert marker for the digestibility calculation. Differences were found in feed intake throughout the sampling phase in the metabolic cages. The whole plant silages (LS: 53.6% digestibility of organic matter (dOM), 56.3% digestibility of crude protein (dCP); RCS: 69.9% dOM, 69.3% dCP) as well as the LLS (63.0% dOM, 58.0% dCP) showed a higher dOM and dCP than the LL (45.0% dOM, 42.7% dCP). It was suspected that the saponins, which are mainly enriched in the leaves, influence the feed intake and digestibility of the leaf products. The quality and method of preserving feed also affected digestibility test feedstuffs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cochlospermum planchonii (Cochlospermaceae), Erythrina senegalensis (Fabaceae), Nauclea latifolia (Rubiaceae), Securidaca longepedunculata (Polygalaceae) and Voacanga africana (Apocynaceae) are medicinal plants used in mental disorders in some regions of Côte d'Ivoire. The quantitative estimation of saponins by the foam index test showed that these phytocompounds are present in abundance in plant organs, and are variously distributed. The extracts of saponins from the organs of said plants were obtained with varying yields in the range 4.80-11.12%. The haemolytic profiles of saponin extracts revealed a coexistence of majority triterpene saponins. The antioxidant activity of the saponin extracts, measured by spectrophotometry against the stable free radical DPPH, showed a better antiradical efficacy, respectively, of leaves of E. senegalensis (EC50 = 1.0333 mg/ml) and roots of S. longepedunculata (EC50 = 1.3900 mg / ml). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to assess the skin-related anti-photoaging activities of the 2 epimeric forms of protopanaxadiol (PPD), 20( S)-PPD and 20( R)-PPD, in cultured human keratinocytes (HaCaT cells). The anti-photoaging activity was evaluated by analyzing the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), as well as cell viability for HaCaT cells under UV-B irradiation. The activities for MMP-2 and -1 in conditioned medium were determined using gelatin zymography, and MMP-2 protein in the conditioned medium was detected using Western blot analysis. 20( S)-PPD, but not 20( R)-PPD, suppressed UV-B-induced ROS elevation. Neither of the epimers, at the concentrations used, exhibited cytotoxicity, irrespective of UV-B irradiation. 20( S)-PPD, but not 20( R)-PPD, exhibited an inhibitory effect on UV-B-induced MMP-2 activity and expression in HaCaT cells. In brief, only 20( S)-PPD, a major metabolic product of PPD-type ginsenosides, inhibits UV-B-induced ROS and MMP-2 elevation, implying its stereospecific anti-photoaging activity on the skin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the key modes of action of compounds that targets fungal plant pathogen membrane components. The compounds may be synthetic fungicides or antifungal metabolites produced by antagonists or by the host plant as part of its natural defense mechanisms. Also discussed are fungal membrane structure and the implications of compounds that target fungal membranes in plant disease control.

The article discusses the management of Phytophthora capsici on pepper in recirculating hydroponic systems using biosurfactants. An investigation on the efficacy of rhamnolipid and saponin biosurfactants in zoosporic plant pathogens in recirculating systems is undertaken hydroponically, utilizing a pepper -phytophthora capsici pathosystem. Findings of the examination revealed that revising the recirculating nutrient solution of biosurfactants resulted in 100% control of the disease.

Two steroidal saponins have been purified from cayenne pepper (Capsicum frutescens). Both have the same steroidal moiety but differ in the number of glucose moieties: the first saponin has four glucose moieties (molecular mass 1081 Da) and the second contains three glucose moieties (molecular mass 919 Da). Solubility in aqueous solution is less for the saponin containing three glucose moieties than for the one containing four glucose moieties. The larger saponin was slightly fungicidal against the nongerminated and germinating conidia of Aspergillus flavus, A. niger, A. parasiticus, A. fumigatus, Fusarium oxysporum, F. moniliforme, and F. graminearum, whereas, the second saponin (molecular mass 919 Da) was inactive against these fungi. Results indicate that the absence of one glucose molecule affects the fungicidal and aqueous solubility properties of these similar molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Long-lasting pain may partly be a consequence of ongoing neuroinflammation, in which astrocytes play a significant role. Following noxious stimuli, increased inflammatory receptor activity, influences in Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase activity and actin filament organization occur within the central nervous system. In astrocytes, the Ca(2+) signaling system, Na(+) transporters, cytoskeleton, and release of pro-inflammatory cytokines change during inflammation. The aim of this study was to restore these cell parameters in inflammation-reactive astrocytes. We found that the combination of (1) endomorphin-1, an opioid agonist that stimulates the Gi/o protein of the μ-opioid receptor; (2) naloxone, an opioid antagonist that inhibits the Gs protein of the μ-opioid receptor at ultralow concentrations; and (3) levetiracetam, an anti-epileptic agent that counteracts the release of IL-1β, managed to activate the Gi/o protein and Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase activity, inhibit the Gs protein, and decrease the release of IL-1β. The cell functions of astrocytes in an inflammatory state were virtually restored to their normal non-inflammatory state and it could be of clinical significance and may be useful for the treatment of long-term pain., (Copyright © 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)