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Gastrointestinal nematode infections can cause great losses in revenue due to decrease livestock production and animal death. The use of anthelmintic to control gastrointestinal nematode put a selection pressure on nematode populations which led to emergence of anthelmintic resistance. Because of that, this study was carried out to investigate the efficacy of aqueous and methanol extract of Cassia siamea against the motility of C. elegans Bristol N2 and C. elegans DA1316. Caenorhabditis elegans Bristol N2 is a susceptible strain and C. elegans DA1316 is an ivermectin resistant strain. In vitro bioassay of various concentrations of (0.2, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0 and 2.0 mg mL-1) aqueous and methanol extracts of C. siamea was conducted against the motility of L4 larvae of C. elegans Bristol N2 and C. elegans DA1316. The L4 larvae were treated with 0.02 µg mL-1 of ivermectin served as positive control while those in M9 solution served as negative control. The activity of the extracts was observed after 24 h and 48 h. A significant difference was recorded in the extract performance compared to control at (P < 0.001) after 48 h against the motility of the larvae of both strains. The methanol extracts inhibited the motility of C. elegans Bristol N2 by 86.7% as well as DA1316 up to 84.9% at 2.0 mg mL-1 after 48 h. The methanol extract was more efficient than aqueous extract (P < 0.05) against the motility of both strains of C. elegans. Cassia siamea may be used as a natural source of lead compounds for the development of alternative anthelmintic against parasitic nematodes as well ivermectin resistant strains of nematodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Throughout the cryopreservation process, plants were exposed to a series of abiotic stresses such as desiccation and osmotic pressure due to highly concentrated vitrification solution. Abiotic stress stimulates the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) which include hydrogen peroxide, superoxide radicals, and singlet oxygen. Higher production of ROS may lead to oxidative stress which contributes to the major injuries in cryopreserved explants. Antioxidant enzymes in plant such as ascorbate peroxidase (APX) can protect plants from cell damage by scavenging the free radicals. This study was determined based on APX enzyme activity of Aranda Broga Blue orchid's protocorm-like bodies (PLBs) in response to PVS2 (Plant Vitrification Solution 2) cryopreservation treatments at different stages. PLBs that were precultured at 0.25 M sucrose for 3 days were subjected to vitrification cryopreservation method. Results obtained showed that the highest APX activity was achieved at PVS2 cryoprotectant treatment prior liquid nitrogen (LN) storage. This phenomenon indicating that accumulation of osmotic and dehydrating stress throughout the cryopreservation treatment resulted in oxidative burst which in turn leads to higher APX activity in order to control the excess production of ROS. To conclude, PVS2 treatment was revealed as the most detrimental step throughout cryopreservation treatment. Thus, this research also suggested that exogenous antioxidant such as ascorbic acid can be added throughout cryopreservation procedure especially at PVS2 treatment in the future experiments to aid in regrowth of cryopreserved explants by reducing oxidative stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The terrestrial Ludisia discolor, also referred to as the jewel orchid is prized for the quality of its leaves. L. discolor is known as a medicinal herb and is touted for its heatand pathogen-resisting qualities. L. discolor is valuable in the production of both flavonoids and anthocyanins, antioxidants that are exalted in the health industry. Plant cell cultures have emerged as alternative sources of anthocyanin production. Plant protoplast cultures are used frequently in transient gene expression studies and in the establishment of callus and cell suspension cultures. Benefits of plant protoplast system include similarity to cells found in plant tissues, reproduction under controlled conditions, and prevention of masking of stress responses to previous handling techniques. A study was conducted to assess the amenability of the stem and leaves of L. discolor to protoplast isolation. The stem and leaf segments were weighed, sliced into thin layers, immersed in a digestion medium, washed and then cultured onto a recovery medium. Results indicated that the production of plant protoplasts from L. discolor may be viewed as an alternative in the generation of cell cultures and ultimately in the production of anthocyanins from the cell cultures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the distribution of Anacardiaceae in Teluk Bahang Permanent Forest Reserve (TBPFR) in Pulau Pinang, all trees with a diameter at breast high (DBH) ≥ 5 cm were enumerated in a study site constituting 0.4 ha of the reserve. Seventy five individuals of Anacardiaceae (14% of all trees) are recorded. These individuals represent 4 genera and 5 species, namely, Mangifera pentandra, Mangifera macrocarpa, Gluta elegans, Campnosperma auriculatum and Swintonia floribunda. The mean density of Anacardiaceae within the study plots is 7.50±8.14 (mean±S.D.) per ha whereas the basal area (BA) calculated is 0.97 m2/0.40 ha. The importance value (IVi) for Anacardiaceae is 81%. The estimated total aboveground biomass (TAGB) for Anacardiaceae is 24.24 ton/0.40 ha. A total of 333 Anacardiaceae saplings with a DBH < 5 cm are recorded. These saplings have been identified as juveniles of the genera Gluta (9.99%), Swintonia (84.90%) and Mangifera (5.11%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]