• Photosynthetic stimulation by elevated CO₂ (eCO₂) may be limited by the capacity of sink organs to use photosynthates. In many legumes, N₂-fixing symbionts in root nodules provide an additional ...sink, so that legumes may be better able to profit from eCO₂. However, drought not only constrains photosynthesis but also the size and activity of sinks, and little is known about the interaction of eCO₂ and drought on carbon sink strength of nodules and other organs.
• To compare carbon sink strength, faba bean was grown under ambient (400 ppm) or elevated (700 ppm) atmospheric CO₂ and subjected to well-watered or drought treatments, and then exposed to 13C pulse-labelling using custom-built chambers to track the fate of new photosynthates.
• Drought decreased 13C uptake and nodule sink strength, and this effect was even greater under eCO₂, and was associated with an accumulation of amino acids in nodules. This resulted in decreased N₂ fixation, and increased accumulation of new photosynthates (13C/sugars) in leaves, which in turn can feed back on photosynthesis.
• Our study suggests that nodule C sink activity is key to avoid sink limitation in legumes under eCO₂, and legumes may only be able to achieve greater C gain if nodule activity is maintained.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common female reproductive endocrine problem worldwide. The prevalence of mental disorder is increasing among PCOS patients due to various physical, ...psychological, and social issues. Here we aimed to evaluate the mental health and associated factors among women suffering from PCOS in Bangladesh.
We performed an online cross-sectional survey among 409 participants with PCOS using Google Forms. We used structured questionnaires to collect socio-demographic information and lifestyle-related factors. Also, we applied patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD-7) scale, and UCLA loneliness (UCLA-3) scale for psychometric assessment of the participants. Finally, we applied several statistical tools and performed data interpretations to evaluate the prevalence of mental health disorders and associated factors among patients with PCOS in Bangladesh.
Prevalence of loneliness, generalized anxiety disorder and depressive illness among the women with PCOS were 71%, 88%, and 60%, respectively. Among the mental illness, mild, moderate, and severe cases were 39%, 18%, and 14% for loneliness; 39%, 23% and 26% for generalized anxiety disorder; and 35%, 18%, and 7% for depressive disorder. According to the present findings, obesity, financial condition, physical exercise, mealtime, food habit, daily water consumption, birth control method, and long-term oral contraceptive pills contribute to developing mental health disorders among females with PCOS in Bangladesh.
According to present study results, high proportion of women suffering from PCOS experience several mental disorders in Bangladesh. Although several socio-demographic and lifestyle-related factors were found to be associated with the poor mental health of women with PCOS; however, PCOS itself is a condition that favors poor physical and psychological health. Therefore, we recommend proper treatment, public awareness, and a healthy lifestyle to promote the good mental health of women suffering from PCOS.
Increased biomass and yield of plants grown under elevated CO2 often corresponds to decreased grain N concentration (N), diminishing nutritional quality of crops. Legumes through their symbiotic N2 ...fixation may be better able to maintain biomass N and grain N under elevated CO2, provided N2 fixation is stimulated by elevated CO2 in line with growth and yield. In Mediterranean‐type agroecosystems, N2 fixation may be impaired by drought, and it is unclear whether elevated CO2 stimulation of N2 fixation can overcome this impact in dry years. To address this question, we grew lentil under two CO2 (ambient ~400 ppm and elevated ~550 ppm) levels in a free‐air CO2 enrichment facility over two growing seasons sharply contrasting in rainfall.
Elevated CO2 stimulated N2 fixation through greater nodule number (+27%), mass (+18%), and specific fixation activity (+17%), and this stimulation was greater in the high than in the low rainfall/dry season. Elevated CO2 depressed grain N (−4%) in the dry season. In contrast, grain N increased (+3%) in the high rainfall season under elevated CO2, as a consequence of greater post‐flowering N2 fixation. Our results suggest that the benefit for N2 fixation from elevated CO2 is high as long as there is enough soil water to continue N2 fixation during grain filling.
Using a free‐air CO2 enrichment facility, this study found that elevated CO2 stimulated N2 fixation in lentil through increasing number, mass, and specific activity of root nodules, but the effect was different between a low and high rainfall year. Only in the high rainfall year, N2 fixation continued until late in the season, and grain N concentration was maintained under elevated CO2. These findings suggest that elevated CO2 stimulation of N2 fixation can optimize N supply to legume grains, but only if sufficient water maintains symbiotic fixation activity during the grain filling period.
Background Pithecellobium dulce (Roxb.), an evergreen medium-sized, spiny tree which have vast nutritional values and widely used in ayurvedic medicines and home remedies. The plant has also been a ...rich source of biologically active compounds. The present study was designed to isolate pure compound from ethyl acetate fraction of methanol extract of leaves and to know the efficacy as antioxidant as well as its anti-tumor activity on Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cell (EAC). Methods The leaves were extracted with methanol and fractionated with different solvents. The isolation of the compound was carried out by column chromatography from ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) and structure was revealed by .sup.1H-NMR and .sup.13C NMR. The antioxidant activity was investigated by the scavenging of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radicals as well as the inhibition of oxidative damage of pUC19 plasmid DNA, hemolysis and lipid peroxidation induced by a water-soluble free radical initiator 2,2'-azo (2-asmidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH) in human erythrocytes. In vivo anti-tumor activity of the compound was also evaluated by determining the viable tumor cell count, hematological profiles of experimental mice along with observing morphological changes of EAC cells by fluorescence microscope. Results The isolated compound kaempferol-3-O-alpha-L-rhamnoside effectively inhibited AAPH induced oxidation in DNA and human erythrocyte model and lipid per oxidation as well as a stronger DPPH radical scavenging activity. In anti-tumor assay, at a dose of 50 mg/kg body weight exhibit about 70.89 + or - 6.62% EAC cell growth inhibition, whereas standard anticancer drug vincristine showed 77.84 + or - 6.69% growth inhibition. Conclusion The compound may have a great importance as a therapeutic agent in preventing oxidative damage of biomolecules and therapeutic use in chemotherapy. Keywords: Antioxidant, Anti-tumor, EAF, NMR analysis, AAPH, EAC cell
Through stimulation of root growth, increasing atmospheric CO2 concentration (CO2) may facilitate access of crops to sub-soil water, which could potentially prolong physiological activity in dryland ...environments, particularly because crops are more water use efficient under elevated CO2 (eCO2). This study investigated the effect of drought in shallow soil versus sub-soil on agronomic and physiological responses of wheat to eCO2 in a glasshouse experiment. Wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Yitpi) was grown in split-columns with the top (0-30 cm) and bottom (31-60 cm; 'sub-soil') soil layer hydraulically separated by a wax-coated, root-penetrable layer under ambient CO2 (aCO2, ∼400 μmol mol-1) or eCO2 (∼700 μmol mol-1) CO2. Drought was imposed from stem-elongation in either the top or bottom soil layer or both by withholding 33% of the irrigation, resulting in four water treatments (WW, WD, DW, DD; D = drought, W = well-watered, letters denote water treatment in top and bottom soil layer, respectively). Leaf gas exchange was measured weekly from stem-elongation until anthesis. Above-and belowground biomass, grain yield and yield components were evaluated at three developmental stages (stem-elongation, anthesis and maturity). Compared with aCO2, net assimilation rate was higher and stomatal conductance was lower under eCO2, resulting in greater intrinsic water use efficiency. Elevated CO2 stimulated both above- and belowground biomass as well as grain yield, however, this stimulation was greater under well-watered (WW) than drought (DD) throughout the whole soil profile. Imposition of drought in either or both soil layers decreased aboveground biomass and grain yield under both CO2 compared to the well-watered treatment. However, the greatest 'CO2 fertilisation effect' was observed when drought was imposed in the top soil layer only (DW), and this was associated with eCO2-stimulation of root growth especially in the well-watered bottom layer. We suggest that stimulation of belowground biomass under eCO2 will allow better access to sub-soil water during grain filling period, when additional water is converted into additional yield with high efficiency in Mediterranean-type dryland agro-ecosystems. If sufficient water is available in the sub-soil, eCO2 may help mitigating the effect of drying surface soil.
Antioxidants play an important role to protect damage caused by oxidative stress (OS). Plants having phenolic contents are reported to possess antioxidant properties. The present study was designed ...to investigate the antioxidant properties and phenolic contents (total phenols, flavonoids, flavonols and proanthrocyanidins) of methanolic extracts from Morus alba (locally named as Tut and commonly known as white mulberry) stem barks (TSB), root bark (TRB), leaves (TL) and fruits (TF) to make a statistical correlation between phenolic contents and antioxidant potential.
The antioxidant activities and phenolic contents of methanolic extractives were evaluated by in vitro standard method using spectrophotometer. The antioxidant activities were determined by total antioxidant capacity, DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazine) radical scavenging assay, hydroxyl radical scavenging assay, ferrous reducing antioxidant capacity and lipid peroxidation inhibition assay methods.
Among the extracts, TSB showed the highest antioxidant activity followed by TRB, TF and TL. Based on DPPH and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity, the TSB extract was the most effective one with IC₅₀ 37.75 and 58.90 μg/mL, followed by TRB, TF and TL with IC₅₀ 40.20 and 102.03; 175.01 and 114.63 and 220.23 and 234.63 μg/mL, respectively. The TSB extract had the most potent inhibitory activity against lipid peroxidation with IC₅₀ 145.31 μg/mL. In addition, the reducing capacity on ferrous ion was in the following order: TSB > TRB > TL > TF. The content of phenolics, flavonoids, flavonols and proanthocyanidins of TSB was found to be higher than other extractives.
The results indicate high correlation and regression (p-value <0 .001) between phenolic contents and antioxidant potentials of the extracts, hence the Tut plant could serve as effective free radical inhibitor or scavenger which may be a good candidate for pharmaceutical plant-based products. However, further exploration is necessary for effective use in both modern and traditional system of medicines.
Magnolia champaca Linn. has traditionally been used for medicinal activity in Asia for treating various chronic diseases as well as a source of food, medicines, and other commodities. Due to the ...long-used history of this plant, the present study was designed to explore the in vitro, in vivo and in silico anti-inflammatory and antineoplastic properties of the methanolic extract and fractions and the pure compound isolated from the most active chloroform fraction (CHF) of the stem bark of the plant. The isolated compound from the most active CHF was characterized and identified as a glycoside, trans-syringin, through chromatographic and spectroscopic (1H-NMR and 13C-NMR) analyses. In the in vitro anti-inflammatory assay, CHF was most effective in inhibiting inflammation and hemolysis of RBCs by 73.91 ± 1.70% and 75.92 ± 0.14%, respectively, induced by heat and hypotonicity compared to standard acetylsalicylic acid. In the egg albumin denaturation assay, CME and CHF showed the highest inhibition by 56.25 ± 0.82% and 65.82 ± 3.52%, respectively, contrasted with acetylsalicylic acid by 80.14 ± 2.44%. In an in vivo anti-inflammatory assay, statistically significant (p < 0.05) decreases in the parameters of inflammation, such as paw edema, leukocyte migration and vascular permeability, were recorded in a dose-dependent manner in the treated groups. In the antineoplastic assay, 45.26 ± 2.24% and 68.31 ± 3.26% inhibition of tumor cell growth for pure compound were observed compared to 73.26 ± 3.41% for standard vincristine. Apoptotic morphologic alterations, such as membrane and nuclear condensation and fragmentation, were also found in EAC cells after treatment with the isolated bioactive pure compound. Such treatment also reversed the increased WBC count and decreased RBC count to normal values compared to the untreated EAC cell-bearing mice and the standard vincristine-treated mice. Subsequently, in silico molecular docking studies substantiated the current findings, and the isolated pure compound and standard vincristine exhibited −6.4 kcal/mol and −7.3 kcal/mol binding affinities with topoisomerase-II. Additionally, isolated pure compound and standard diclofenac showed −8.2 kcal/mol and −7.6 kcal/mol binding affinities with the COX-2 enzyme, respectively. The analysis of this research suggests that the isolated bioactive pure compound possesses moderate to potent anti-inflammatory and antineoplastic activity and justifies the traditional uses of the stem bark of M. champaca. However, further investigations are necessary to analyze its bioactivity, proper mechanism of action and clinical trials for the revelation of new drug formulations.
Background and aims
Legume N
2
fixation is highly sensitive to drought. Elevated CO
2
(eCO
2
) decreases stomatal conductance (g
s
) and improves water use efficiency (WUE), which may result in soil ...water conservation and allow N
2
fixation to continue longer under drought. Using a Free-Air CO
2
Enrichment (FACE) approach, this study aimed to elucidate whether eCO
2
improves N
2
fixation of
Pisum sativum
L. under drought.
Methods
In a FACE system, plants were grown in ambient CO
2
(~400 ppm) or eCO
2
(~550 ppm) and subjected to either terminal drought or well-watered treatments. Measurements were taken of photosynthesis, soil water dynamics, water soluble carbohydrates (WSC), amino acids (AA) and N
2
fixation.
Results
Lower g
s
under eCO
2
increased water use efficiency at leaf and plant level, and this translated to slower soil water depletion during drought. Elevated CO
2
increased WSC and decreased total AA concentrations in nodules, and increased nodule activity under drought. N
2
fixation was stimulated (+51%) by eCO
2
in proportion to biomass changes. Under eCO
2
a greater proportion of plant total N was derived from fixed N
2
and a smaller proportion from soil N uptake compared to aCO
2
.
Conclusion
This study suggests that eCO
2
increased WUE and this resulted in slower soil water depletion, allowing pea plants to maintain greater nodule activity under drought and resulting in appreciable increases in N
2
fixation. Our results suggest that growth under eCO
2
can mitigate drought effects on N
2
fixation and reduce dependency on soil N resources especially in water-limited agro-ecosystems.
Background and aims
Increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration (CO
2
) stimulates the leaf-level (intrinsic) water use efficiency (iWUE), which may mitigate the adverse effects of drought by ...lowering water use in plants. This study investigated the interactive effect of CO
2
and soil type on growth, yield and water use of canola (
Brassica napus
L.) in a dryland environment.
Methods
Two canola cultivars (vigorous hybrid cv. ‘Hyola 50’ and non-hybrid cv. ‘Thumper’) were grown in large intact soil cores containing either a sandy Calcarosol or clay Vertosol under current ambient (aCO
2
) and future elevated CO
2
(eCO
2
), ∼550 μmol mol
−1
). Net assimilation rates (
A
net
), stomatal conductance (g
s
) and leaf area were measured throughout the growing season. Seed yield and yield components were recorded at final harvest. Water use was monitored by lysimeter balances.
Results
Elevated CO
2
-stimulation of iWUE was greater than the effect on leaf area, therefore, water use was lower under eCO
2
than aCO
2
, but this was further modified by soil type and cultivar. The dynamics of water use throughout the growing season were different between the studied cultivars and in line with their leaf development. The effect of eCO
2
on seed yield was dependent on cultivar; the non-hybrid cultivar benefitted more from increased CO
2
. Although textural differences between soil types influenced the water use under eCO
2
, this did not affect the ‘CO
2
fertilisation effect’ on the studied canola cultivars.
Conclusion
Elevated CO
2
-induced water savings observed in the present study is a potential mechanism of ameliorating drought effects in high CO
2
environment. Better understanding of genotypic variability in response to water use dynamics with traits affecting assimilate supply and use can help breeders to improve crop germplasm for future climates.
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