Irrigation is necessary to help meet the high demand for water by sugarcane in several countries including Brazil and Australia. The crop irrigation requirements are typically estimated using the ...crop coefficient-reference evapotranspiration (Kc-ETo) procedure. Sugarcane evapotranspiration rates were measured in three different sugarcane-producing regions of the world, and crop coefficients (Kc) were derived for those diverse environments, irrigation methods, and farming systems, therefore representing a robust basis for irrigation management. We also verified the occurrence of the inverse relation between Kc and ETo found in previous studies. Two experiments in Brazil and one in Australia were used for the analysis. Our data showed that Kc for a full canopy cover was lower than 1.0 in the three experimental sites and that sugarcane evapotranspiration (ETc) seems to be limited and exceeds ETo only when this is below 4 mm day
−1
. In one of the Brazilian experiments, Kc declined at higher rates than in the other two experiments, and for the three sites, average Kc was 0.77 and 0.87, respectively, for initial and full cover phase when ETo > 6 mm day
−1
. The increase of aerodynamic and other upstream resistances to water transport of plants appears to be one of the reasons for Kc to decrease at high levels of ETo. Based on our data and the literature, the Kc values provided by Allen et al. (
1998
) could overestimate the irrigation needs of sugarcane under high evaporative demand conditions. Irrigation management based on Kc should use the average ETo from the preceding 3 days before irrigating to save water and energy while maintaining high yield levels.
Medicinal plants are one of the most important sources of drugs used in the pharmaceutical industry. Among traditional medicinal plants, Lippia gracilis Schauer (Verbenaceae) had been used for ...several medicinal purposes in Brazilian northeastern. In this study, leaf essential oil (EO) of L. gracilis was prepared using hydrodistillation. Followed by GC–MS analysis, its composition was characterized by the presence of thymol (55.50%), as major constituent. The effects of EO on cell proliferation and apoptosis induction were investigated in HepG2 cells. Furthermore, mice bearing Sarcoma 180 tumor cells were used to confirm its in vivo effectiveness. EO and its constituents (thymol, p-cymene, γ-terpinene and myrcene) displayed cytotoxicity to different tumor cell lines. EO treatment caused G1 arrest in HepG2 cells accompanied by the induction of DNA fragmentation without affecting cell membrane integrity. Cell morphology consistent with apoptosis and a remarkable activation of caspase-3 were also observed, suggesting induction of caspase-dependent apoptotic cell death. In vivo antitumor study showed tumor growth inhibition rates of 38.5–41.9%. In conclusion, the tested essential oil of L. gracilis leaves, which has thymol as its major constituent, possesses significant in vitro and in vivo antitumor activity. These data suggest that leaf essential oil of L. gracilis is a potential medicinal resource.
In addition to seven known alkaloids (2, 6–11) and 1,2,4-trimethoxybenzene (1), three isoquinoline-derived alkaloids (3–5), namely, duguetinine (3), a compound based on an unprecedented ...oxahomoaporphine scaffold, and two new 8-oxohomoaporphine alkaloids, duguesuramine (4) and 11-methoxyduguesuramine (5), and a new asarone-derived phenylpropanoid (10) were isolated from the bark of Duguetia surinamensis. The isolation workflow was guided by HPLC-HRESIMS/MS and molecular networking-based analyses. Twenty-four known alkaloids were dereplicated from the D. surinamensis alkaloid-rich fraction network and were assigned by manual MS/MS interpretation. Their cytotoxic potential was evaluated.
Triacylglycerol (TAG) productivity of Isochrysis galbana, Nannochloropsis oceanica and Phaeodactylum tricornutum was compared to study their suitability for biotechnological applications. ...Photoautotrophic batch cultures grown at 20 °C and 50 μmol photons m−2 s−1 showed that N. oceanica had the least TAG content and TAG productivity of the three microalgae. Hence, effects of temperature and light intensity on growth rate and accumulation of TAG were subsequently assessed only in I. galbana and P. tricornutum by cultivation at 20 and 30 °C under 50, 300 and 600 μmol photons m−2 s−1. Although P. tricornutum did not grow at temperatures higher than 20 °C, an increase in both TAG content (from 28.37 to 39.53%) and productivity (from 15.58 to 31.39 mg L−1 d−1) was observed at the highest irradiance values. We also found that combined effects of temperature and light intensity enhanced TAG content (from 18.59 to 31.71%) and productivity (from 11.76 to 21.67 mg L−1 d−1) in I. galbana.
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•Productivity of oil and biomass in batch-cultured marine microalgae was compared.•Increase in temperature and irradiance rose oil productivity in Isochrysis galbana.•An increase in light intensity rose oil productivity in Phaeodactylum tricornutum.•Phaeodactylum tricornutum showed the highest productivity in biomass and neutral lipids.
Isoquinoline alkaloids, especially from the Annonaceae family, have shown biological potential against parasites. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the potential of the alkaloid fractions of the ...plant Fusaea longifolia against Plasmodium falciparum and annotate the compounds present in these samples. The tentative characterization of the alkaloids from the leaves and branches of F. longifolia was performed using liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and molecular networks. Through manual interpretation of the MS/MS spectra, 18 alkaloids were dereplicated from F. longifolia, 17 of which were reported for the first time in this species. An unpublished putative glycosylated alkaloid was annotated by interpreting the fragmentation data profile. Regarding biological activity, the fractions studied showed high activity against P. falciparum with half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 2.42 and 1.60 µg mL-1 for branches and from the leaves, respectively, both similar to the reference standard quinine (IC50 of 1.24 µg mL-1). The structures of the 17 alkaloids were subjected to in silico analysis using molecular docking against four enzymes related to anti-Plasmodium activity (wild type (dm-PfDHFR) and mutant type (qm-PfDHFR), dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (PfDHODH) and purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PfPNP)). Molecular docking revealed strong interactions, especially between oxoxylopine 17 and hydroxycassythicine N-oxide 10, which may be potential new sources against P. falciparum.
Virola surinamensis (Rol. ex Rottb.) Warb. (Myristicaceae), popularly known in Brazil as “mucuíba”, “ucuúba”, “ucuúba-branca” or “ucuúba do igapó”, is a medicinal plant used to treat a variety of ...diseases, including infections, inflammatory processes and cancer.
In the present work, we investigated the chemical constituents and the in vitro and in vivo inhibition of human colon carcinoma HCT116 cells by essential oils obtained from the bark (EOB) and leaves (EOL) of V. surinamensis.
EOB and EOL were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed via gas chromatography with flame ionization detection and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. In vitro cytotoxic activity was determined in cultured cancer cells HCT116, HepG2, HL-60, B16–F10 and MCF-7 and in a non-cancerous cell line MRC-5 by the Alamar blue assay after 72 h of treatment. Annexin V/propidium iodide staining, mitochondrial transmembrane potential and cell cycle distribution were evaluated by flow cytometry in HCT116 cells treated with essential oils after 24 and 48 h of treatment. The cells were also stained with May-Grunwald-Giemsa to analyze cell morphology. In vivo antitumor activity was evaluated in C.B-17 SCID mice with HCT116 cells.
The main constituents in EOB were aristolene (28.0 ± 3.1%), α-gurjunene (15.1 ± 2.4%), valencene (14.1 ± 1.9%), germacrene D (7.5 ± 0.9%), δ-guaiene (6.8 ± 1.0%) and β-elemene (5.4 ± 0.6%). On the other hand, EOL displayed α-farnesene (14.5 ± 1.5%), β-elemene (9.6 ± 2.3%), bicyclogermacrene (8.1 ± 2.0%), germacrene D (7.4 ± 0.7%) and α-cubebene (5.6 ± 1.1%) as main constituents. EOB showed IC50 values for cancer cells ranging from 9.41 to 29.52 μg/mL for HCT116 and B16–F10, while EOL showed IC50 values for cancer cells ranging from 7.07 to 26.70 μg/mL for HepG2 and HCT116, respectively. The IC50 value for a non-cancerous MRC-5 cell was 34.7 and 38.93 μg/mL for EOB and EOL, respectively. Both oils induced apoptotic-like cell death in HCT116 cells, as observed by the morphological characteristics of apoptosis, externalization of phosphatidylserine, mitochondrial depolarization and fragmentation of internucleosomal DNA. At a dose of 40 mg/kg, tumor mass inhibition rates were 57.9 and 44.8% in animals treated with EOB and EOL, respectively.
These data indicate V. surinamensis as possible herbal medicine in the treatment of colon cancer.
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The present work describes the delignification of wheat straw through an environmentally friendly process resulting from sequential application of autohydrolysis and organosolv processes. Wheat straw ...autohydrolysis was performed at 180°C during 30 min with a liquid–solid ratio of 10 (
v
/
w
); under these conditions, a solubilization of 44% of the original xylan, with 78% of sugars as xylooligosaccharides of the sum of sugars solubilized in the autohydrolysis liquors generated by the hemicellulose fraction hydrolysis. The corresponding solid fraction enrichment with 63.7% of glucan and 7.55% of residual xylan was treated with a 40% ethanol and 0.1% NaOH aqueous solution at a liquid–solid ratio of 10 (
v
/
w
), with the best results obtained at 180°C during 20 min. The highest lignin recovery, measured by acid precipitation of the extracted lignin, was 3.25 g/100 ml. The lignin obtained by precipitation was characterized by FTIR, and the crystallinity indexes from the native cellulose, the cellulose recovered after autohydrolysis, and the cellulose obtained after applying the organosolv process were obtained by X-ray diffraction, returning values of 21.32%, 55.17%, and 53.59%, respectively. Visualization of the fibers was done for all the processing steps using scanning electron microscopy.
Given human-related changes, quality distributional data are required for consistent conservation. Still, the lack of proper biogeographic information is a major setback for many groups. Here, we use ...new occurrences for
Aglae caerulea
in the Cerrado to model its potential distribution. We used Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) and Genetic Algorithm for Rule-Set Production (GARP) algorithms in different modeling runs and both previous and new
A
.
caerulea
occurrences to predict this species distribution. Models which used only the previous
A
.
caerulea
’s records did not predicted the new Cerrado records, while those where we used the latter did predict the new ones as minimally suitable.
A. caerulea
distribution significantly increased towards the Cerrado according to both MaxEnt and GARP algorithms. Gallery forests are important dispersal alternatives for several species dwelling the Amazon and the Atlantic forest. Niche models of other rare Euglossini bees are advised to better evaluate their distributions.
Field relations, petrography, bulk and micro-scale chemistry reveal that the most recent history of hazardous Changbaishan-Tianchi volcano should be revised with important implications for volcanic ...hazard in NE Asia. Currently, the two most recent large eruptions are identified separately as a VEI 5 trachytic Baguamiao eruption (BGM) and the much heralded VEI 7, late 946CE (Common Era) “Millennium” eruption (ME) of comendite. However, we find that the former is part of the latter based on the following evidence: (1) trachytic fallout of the BGM lies directly on the comendite tephra of the ME without any indication of depositional hiatus; (2) abundant mingled trachyte-comendite pumice in the tephra deposits; (3) similar chemistry of mingled pumice and its components to those in the BGM and ME products; (4) correlation of bimodal glass shard compositions in the distal ‘B-Tm’ ash from the Japan Sea with comendite and trachyte glass from the BGM and ME products. Based on the above evidence, we suggest that the great Millennium eruption of 946CE should be revised finally to include the BGM trachyte as its final stage. Furthermore, deposits attributed to two other trachytic eruptions in 1668 and/or 1702CE (also called Baguamiao by some authors), and 1903CE referred to in historic accounts were also examined. Our field observations, petrography, bulk and micro-scale chemistry combined with previously published Ra/Th ages indicate that all these trachytes are either primary deposits of the ME or its reworked deposits. Thus our findings do not support two separate post-ME eruptions and require that volcanic hazard assessment at Changbaishan volcano include this new interpretation.
Recently published geochronological data integrated with our new petrochemical and volcanological framework informs the magma dynamics leading to the ME. The ME comendite, derived from a parental trachyte similar to the BGM started accumulating at shallow levels around 12ka to 8ka. Around 4 to 1.6ka the BGM trachyte sensu strictu separated from its basaltic parent and started accumulating and crystallizing separately from the ME comendite. Just prior to the ME eruption, mingling of trace amounts of a third more mafic hybrid is implicated by the composition of mafic glass selvedges. The strong evidence for mixing of all these endmembers in the eruption products suggests that recharge mixing and overturn of this predominantly comendite-trachyte system occurred during the ~1ka ME. The common occurrence of comendite and trachyte in the last 100ka (also maybe 1Ma) at Changbaishan-Tianchi suggests that conditions for trachyte-comendite magma interactions are prevalent in the magma system of Changbaishan and maybe crucial in catastrophic eruptions there.
•A critical piece of stratigraphic and petrochemical sleuthing clarifies the recent eruptive history of CBSTC volcano.•We clarifies that deposits attributed to ~300 or ~100 year old eruption are in fact part of the Millennium eruption.•We emphasize the correlation and its implications for the magma dynamics of the Changbaishan system.
Baculoviruses are circular double-stranded DNA viruses that infect insects and are widely used as the baculoviral expression vectors (BEVs), which provide a eukaryotic milieu for heterologous ...expression. The most frequently used vector is based on Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV). However, purification of recombinant proteins produced using BEVs is laborious, time-consuming, and often expensive. Numerous strategies have been explored to facilitate purification of heterologous proteins, such as fusion with occlusion body (OBs)-forming proteins like polyhedrin (Polh). Baculoviruses produce OBs in the late stages of infection to protect the virion in the cellular environment, and the main protein responsible for OB formation is Polh. In this study, we investigated the effect of fusing the gene that encodes the surface antigen (S-HBsAg) of hepatitis B virus (HBV) to either the N- or C-terminus of the AcMNPV Polh. The production of recombinant viruses and recombinant proteins was confirmed, and the ability to form chimeric S-HBsAg-containing OBs was accessed by light and scanning electron microscopy of infected cells. The fusion was found to affect the shape and size of the OBs when compared to wild-type OBs, with the N-terminal fusion producing less-amorphous OBs than the C-terminal construct. In addition, the N-terminal construct gave higher levels of expression than the C-terminal construct. Quantitative and qualitative immunoassays with human serum or plasma antibodies against HBsAg showed that the two forms of the antigen reacted differently. Although both reacted with the antibody, the N-terminal fusion protein reacted with more sensitivity (2.27-fold) and is therefore more suitable for quantitative assays than the C-terminal version. In summary, the BEVs represents a promising tool for the production of reagents for the diagnosis of HBV infection.
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