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In folk and traditional medicine in Bangladesh, Adenanthera pavonina L. has been used for the treatment of asthma, diarrhea, gout, inflammations, rheumatism, tumour, ulcers and as a tonic. In castor oil induced diarrhea model on rat, the methanol extract of A. pavonina bark has significantly reduced the cumulative wet fecal mass in the dose dependant protection. At the doses of 500 mg/kg body weight found 17.91% reduction and at 1000 mg/kg body weight found 34.32% reduction in comparison to the control. In acute toxicity study on mice, the LD50 value of the methanolic extract was found to be 1453.44 mg/kg. The elements N, P, K, S, Ca and Mg were found to be the highest amount of the powdered bark sample. The observed activities as well as mineral composition of the bark powder possesses pharmacological potential to develop natural compounds based pharmaceutical products and also justifies its use in traditional ayurve dic form of medicine

The volatile compounds of the essential oils of Carum roxburghianum Benth. (Radhuni) seeds of three different ecotypes of Bangladesh were obtained by hydrodistillation method and maximum yield was 2.57 % (w/w). The oils were analyzed by GC and GC-MS and thirty volatile compounds were identified and quantified. Predominantly monoterpene hydrocarbon accounted for 59.27-91.11 % of the total oil. The major constituents of the oils were limonene (29.33-59.37 %), 5,7,8-trimethyl-dihydrocoumarin (11.5326.69 %), sabinene (2.49-17.43 %), γ-terpinene (4.10-10.13 %), p-cymene (3.20-7.67 %), apoil (0.5-7.11 %), terpenolene (1.09-7.03 %), β-cis-caryophyllene (2.07-5.42 %), terpinene-4-ol (0.07-5.11 %), cis-sabinene hydrate (3.78-4.89 %), α-phellandrene (0.05-3.54%) and myristicine (0.28-2.33 %). The highest concentration of the elements (in ppm) were Ca 18900, Mg 6900, P 5500, K 5000, S 2900, Na 2000, Zn 115.0, Fe 105.0, B 43.0, Cr 0.561, Ni 0.464, Pb 0.042 and Co 0.033 in the three studied ecotypes. The Physico-chemi...

Background Medicinal herbs are used for the treatment of different ailments since antiquity. Different parts of Anethum sowa L. is used in folk medicine as a carminative for the treatment of flatulence, colic and hiccups of infants and children, antioxidant, antimicrobial and antispasmodic agent. The aim of our present study is to evaluate the chemical composition of the essential oil, proximate and elemental composition, amino acid, fatty acid profile and thermal behaviour of its root part as well as different pharmacological activities like antioxidant, antimicrobial and cytotoxicity of the root essential oil. Methods The air-dried roots of Anethum sowa L. were subjected to hydro-distillation to yield the essential oil. The antioxidant activity of the essential oil was studied by DPPH radical scavenging activity. The antimicrobial activity was tested against four Gram-positive, six Gram-negative bacteria and four fungi species. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and Minimum bacterial concentration (MBC) for each examined microorganism were determined using the micro-dilution method. The LC50 value of the oil was also evaluated by brine shrimp lethality assay. The subsequent proximate analysis was also done by AOAC methods. The elemental analysis of the root powder was analysed by ICP-MS, AAS and FP system. The fatty acid was extracted by hot and cold extraction method and the analyses were carried out by GC. The amino acid profile was done by the amino acid analyzer. The DTA, DTG and TG of the root powder were taken by the thermogravimetric analyzer. Results A total of 24 constituents was identified and quantified in the essential oil and its water extract portion by GC and GC-MS. Apiol (81.99 and 74.779%) was found the highest phenylpropanoid constituent followed by m-diaminobenzene (10.446 and 8.778%) in the essential oil and aqueous extract portion. On the other hand, β-butyrolactone (5.13%) and isobutyl acetone (3.73%) were found in the major constituents in the water extract part. The IC50 value of the essential oil was found to be 3.07 mg/mL by DPPH radical assay methods. The LC50 value of the brine shrimp cytotoxicity assay of the essential oil was observed at 0.81 μg/mL. The essential oil showed better activity on Gram-negative bacteria than Gram-positive bacteria and fungi. The proximate composition showed that root contained 5.29% ash, 2.01% protein, 54.09% crude fibre, 0.15% essential oil and 1.14% fatty oil for hot extract and 0.23% for cold extract on the dried basis. The palmitic (33.81 & 31.58%) and linoleic acid (30.03 & 23.79%) were the major saturated and unsaturated fatty acids in the cold and hot extracted root powder respectively. Ca (23,600 mg/kg), Mg (7620.33 mg/kg) and K (1286.15 mg/kg) were the most predominant elements followed by Ni (1187.30 mg/kg), Se (913.79 mg/kg), Li (317.84 mg/kg), Na (288.72 mg/kg) and Fe (206.88 mg/kg). The toxic elements were found to be within the permissible limit. Glutamic acid (19.37%), glycine (14.53%) and lysine (17.08%) were found as the major amino acids. The decomposition rates were obtained by TG, DTG and DTA curve of the powder sample at various temperature ranges. Conclusions The results demonstrated that the root part of Anethum sowa L. is a rich source of mineral elements, essential amino acid and fatty acids. The essential oil is the highly potential as bioactive oil for pharmaceuticals and medical applications, possessing antioxidant, antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities. The thermal analysis suggested as a simple, effective and rapid method to characterize the Anethum sowa L. species as well as to assess for herbal formulation. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12906-017-1601-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

GLC spectrum of standard fatty acids methyl esters (FAMEs). (DOCX 132Â kb)

Chromatogram of standard amino acids. (DOCX 108Â kb)

Thermo-gravimetric spectrum of Anethum sowa L. root powder. (DOCX 125Â kb)

Amino acids chromatogram of Anethum sowa L. root. (DOCX 201Â kb)

GLC spectrum of hexane extract of Anethum sowa L. root. (DOCX 149Â kb)

GLC spectrum of pet.ether extract of Anethum sowa L. root. (DOCX 139Â kb)

Juvenile xanthogranuloma (JXG) is a benign self-limiting non langerhans cell histiocytic lesion of unknown etiology and pathogenesis. It commonly affects infants and adolescents only 15% cases reported from the adult population. It characteristically appears as yellow to brown solitary papule, affecting the skin of head, neck and trunk region. Extra cutaneous JXG are reported from various sites including central nervous system, gastrointestinal system, kidney, larynx, tongue with single case report from tympanic membrane and external auditory canal. We describe a very rare case of adult JXG occurring as multiple papules from the external auditory canal and granulations from middle ear, which presented as persistent otorrhea. We discuss the clinical presentation, imaging, pathological findings and review of literature for this case. To the best of our knowledge this is first reported case of JXG from the middle ear cavity.

Background Anethum sowa L. is widely used as an important spice and traditional medicinal plants to treat various ailments. On the basis of scientific ethnobotanical information, this study was undertaken to evaluate the antioxidant, antimicrobial and cytotoxic activity of the crude extracts of Anethum sowa L. roots as well as to identify the classes of phytochemicals by chemical tests. Methods The antioxidant potential of the extracts was ascertained with the stable organic free radical (2, 2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl). The agar well diffusion method was used to determine the susceptibility of bacterial and fungal strains of the crude extracts. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBC) were determined by the microdilution test. Cytotoxic activities were screened using brine shrimps (Artemia salina) lethality assay. Finally, phytochemicals were profiled using standard procedures. Results A preliminary phytochemical screening of the different crude extracts by methanol, ethyl acetate and chloroform showed the presence of secondary metabolites such as flavonoids, alkaloids, saponin, cardiac glycosides and tannins while cyanogenetic glycosides were not detected. The methanol, ethyl acetate and chloroform extracts displayed high antioxidant activity (IC50 = 13.08 ± 0.03, 33.48 ± 0.16 and 36.42 ± 0.41 μg/mL, respectively) in the DPPH assay comparable to that of the standard ascorbic acid and BHT (IC50 = 3.74 ± 0.05 and 11.84 ± 0.29 μg/mL). The cytotoxic activity of the crude ethyl acetate and chloroform extracts possessed excellent activity (LC50 = 5.03 ± 0.08, 5.23 ± 0.11 and 17.22 ± 0.14 μg/mL, respectively) against brine shrimp larvae after 24 h of treatment and compared with standard vincristine sulphate (LC50 = 0.46 ± 0.05 μg/mL). The extracts also showed good antimicrobial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria when compared with two standard antibiotics ciprofloxacin and tetracycline. Conclusion These results showed that the Anethum sowa root extracts are the important source of the antioxidant, antimicrobial and cytotoxic agent. So, further research is necessary to isolate and characterize of different phytoconstituents for pharmaceutical drug lead molecules and also to verify its traditional uses.

The present research has been performed on black pepper of two cultivars to evaluate their nutritional quality and safety issue on the basis of proximate, chemical and pharmacological properties. The proximate results were compiled with the standard USDA limits. K, Ca, Mg, Na, Fe, Al and Se were detected as major elements, whereas the toxic elements were found within the recommended limit. The GC‐MS analysis of the essential oils showed the presence of δ‐3‐carene (32.61%) as the major component in Kerala cultivar whereas β‐caryophyllene (18.39%) was the major components in Indigenous cultivar. The IC₅₀ values of DPPH antioxidant activity of the essential oils were found to be 44.16 and 22.88 mg/mL in Indigenous and Kerala cultivars, respectively. The antimicrobial activity of the essential oils showed good activity in both cultivars. The LC₅₀ values of the brine shrimp cytotoxic activity were 1.03 and 1.21 μg/mL in Indigenous and Kerala cultivars, respectively. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Spice quality is an important issue in the food industries as well as export markets. Due to the toxicological effect of imported spices, much attention has been paid to the safety issue especially on cytotoxicity and toxic metal contaminations. The present study reveals that both cultivars possess rich amount of nutritional components, essential minerals, phyto and flavouring components in their essential oils and recommended level of toxic elements as well as decent antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. This study promises to scaffold a new window for exportation of quality spice and confer potential for use in food, nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industries.

The oil obtained by the hydro-distillation method from the fresh leaves and stems of Anethum sowa L. (Dill) herb was analyzed by GC-MS. Twenty compounds were isolated and identified. The major constituents were apiole (25.39%), o-cymene (15.25%), α-thujene (14.84%), β-phellandrene (7.17%), 6,6-dimethyl-2-(3-oxobutyl) bicyclo(3.1.1) heptan-3-one (6.90%), exo-2-hydroxycineol (5.03%), limonene (4.13%), 3-isopropyl-4-methyl-1-pentyn-3-ol (2.89%), myristicine (2.46%) and dihydroumbellulone (2.14%). Key words: Anethum sowa L.; Essential oil; GC-MS; Apiole DOI: 10.3329/bjsir.v45i2.5721Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res. 45(2), 173-176, 2010

Agricultural land use in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam is dominated by intensive irrigated rice cropping systems on both alluvial and acid sulfate soils. A stagnating and occasionally declining productivity may be linked on the alluvial soils to low N use efficiency and low soil organic matter content while on acid sulfate soils to acidity, Al toxicity and P deficiency. For economic reasons, farmers increasingly diversify their cropping system by replacing the dry season rice by high-value horticultural crops grown under upland conditions. However, upland cropping is likely to further exacerbate the soil-related problems. Organic substrates from decentralized waste and waste water management are widely available and may help to alleviate the reported soil problems. During the dry season of 2003/2004, the effect of the application of various types and rates of locally available waste products on crop performance was evaluated at both an alluvial and an acid sulfate soil site. The C and N mineralization dynamics of nine organic substrates from waste and waste water treatment were determined by anaerobic (N) and aerobic (C) incubation in the laboratory. The response of 12 week-old mungbean (dry matter accumulation) to substrate application (1.5 – 6.0 Mg ha−1) was evaluated on a degraded alluvial and on an acid sulfate soil. In the alluvial soil, largest mineralization rates were observed from anaerobic sludge. Biomass increases in 12 week-old mungbean ranged from 25-98% above the unfertilized control. In the acid sulfate soil, highest net-N release rates were observed from aerobic composts with high P content. Mungbean biomass was related to soil pH and exchangeable Al3+ and was highest with the application of aerobic composts. We conclude that the use of organic substrates in the rice-based systems of the Mekong Delta needs to be soil specific.

O babaçu (Attalea speciosa Mart ex Spreng) é uma palmeira oleaginosa nativa do Brasil, fonte de diversas matérias-primas para as indústrias cosmética e alimentícia, de cujas amêndoas se extrai um óleo com amplas aplicações, inclusive para a produção de biodiesel, além de ser importante para as populações das regiões Norte e Nordeste. Os estudos básicos relativos à germinação, à regeneração e à conservação desta palmeira são essenciais para ajudar a compreender aspectos reprodutivos deste importante recurso genético. Este trabalho teve por objetivo estudar a germinação in vitro de Attalea speciosa, considerando os aspectos fisiológicos, morfo-anatômicos e bioquímicos, determinar um protocolo de embriogênese somática a partir de embriões zigóticos e determinar o comportamento de armazenamento das sementes, bem como as melhores condições de conservação ex situ. A biologia reprodutiva de babaçu foi investigada quanto aos aspectos fisiológicos, morfológicos, bioquímicos e metabólicos da germinação in vitro. O crescimento e desenvolvimento do cotilédone e da plântula foram avaliados durante 0, 7, 14, 21, 30, 45, 90 e 120 dias de cultivo in vitro. As massas fresca e seca e o comprimento das estruturas da plântula foram determinados ao longo do período de germinação. Verificou-se que a germinação ocorreu lentamente, com o crescimento contínuo do cotilédone até os 45 dias, período a partir do qual surgiram os catafilos e o eófilo, seguidos da raiz primária. A análise do perfil metabólico e dos ácidos graxos permitiu confirmar que proteínas e lipídios são as principais reservas utilizadas pelo cotilédone no início da germinação, quando são degradados, liberando aminoácidos, glicerol e ácidos graxos livres. Visando reproduzir vegetativamente a espécie, o primeiro protocolo para embriogênese somática foi desenvolvido, a partir de embriões zigóticos. O meio de cultivo de MS com sais e vitaminas foi utilizado como meio básico, acrescido de L-glutamina (0,5 g.L-1), L-cisteína (0,1 g.L-1) e sacarose (30 g.L-1) e de auxinas para indução de calos primários e embriogênicos. A concentração de 2,5 mg.L-1 de 2,4-D, em meio básico, sem adição de carvão ativado, permitiu a formação de embriões somáticos em 80% dos calos embriogênicos e levou à obtenção o maior número de embriões formados por calo, após seis meses de indução. Em meio sem auxina, os embriões somáticos obtidos foram diferenciados, maturados e convertidos em plantas completas ao final de 12 meses. A conservação de sementes de Attalea speciosa com 5% de umidade foi testada em quatro temperaturas (-196 °C, -20 °C, 6 °C e 25 °C) e quatro períodos de armazenamento (0, 90, 180 e 360 dias). Os testes de germinação pós-conservação foram realizados a partir do resgate e cultivo dos embriões zigóticos in vitro. Verificou-se uma queda significativa nas taxas de germinação nos materiais mantidos na temperatura de 25 °C após 360 dias. Os resultados obtidos com esse trabalho sugerem que, por tolerar dessecação abaixo de 5% e conservação a baixas temperaturas (-196 °C, -20 °C), situações nas quais não houve redução nas taxas de germinação, as sementes de Attalea speciosa apresentem um comportamento de armazenamento ortodoxo. Os resultados aqui apresentados são os primeiros dados de perfil metabólico relatados para o embrião durante a germinação de uma palmeira, além de ser o primeiro protocolo desenvolvido para embriogênese somática e determinação do comportamento de armazenamento e condições de conservação para Attalea speciosa. Dissertação (Doutorado em Botânica) - Instituto de Ciências Biológicas , Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, DF. Orientador: Jonny Everson Scherwinski-Pereira, Embrapa Recursos Genéticos e Biotecnologia.

Coolia is a widespread and ecologically important genus of benthic marine dinoflagellates found in tropical regions. Historically, there has been taxonomic confusion about the taxonomy and toxicity of this group. The goal of this study was to resolve morphological questions concerning Coolia tropicalis and determine the taxonomic identity of the Australian Coolia isolate which has been reported to produce cooliatoxins. To accomplish this, the morphology of tropical strains from Belize (the type locality of C. tropicalis), Malaysia, Indonesia, and Australia were examined and compared to published reports. The morphological analysis showed that C. tropicalis differs from the original description in that it has a slightly larger size (35–47 μm long by 30–45 μm wide versus 23–40 μm long by 25–39 μm wide), and the shape of fourth apical plate, and the length of Po plate (7.4–12 μm versus 7 μm). Based on both morphology and phylogenetic analysis using LSU D1- D3 rDNA sequences, the clones of C. tropicalis from Malaysia, Indonesia, and Belize were found to form a monophyletic clade within the genus. The strain producing cooliatoxin was found to be C. tropicalis, not Coolia monotis as originally assumed. To explore the factors influencing the growth of Coolia species, the growth rates of C. tropicalis and Coolia malayensis were determined at different temperatures and salinities. Both species tolerated a wide range of temperatures, but cannot survive at temperatures 35°C. C. monotis, the dominant species reported in the literature, probably does not produce toxins., Sí

Airborne γ radiometric and spectrometric surveys have shown that the Kab Amiri granite pluton is associated with an aero-γ anomaly of magnitude equivalent to about 4 backgrounds. Detailed field studies including γ spectrometric surveying, sampling, trenching and laboratory investigations revealed the following observations and conclusions. (1) The radioactive anomalies are associated with an episyenitized granite stock exposed to the south of the main pluton. (2) This western contact is controlled by a NW left-lateral major fault and its associated tension fracture systems. (3) The radioactive anomalous zones show many alteration features inclufing muscovitization, sericitization, ferrogenation and carbonatization. (4) The uranium contents range between 16–28 ppm in the non-altered granites, and between 44–169 ppm in the radioactive zones. The Th is very much depleted ranging 1–5.5 ppm with no distribution pattern. (5) The U-deposition is believed to epigenetic since it is associated with the muscovitized and carbonatized episyenite which represent later stages in the episyenitization process itself that is characterized by strong K-leaching.