• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.785-791
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• 2014

Crude extracts or phytochemicals obtained from some plants have potential anti-cancer properties. Teucrium persicum is an Iranian endemic plant belonging to the Lamiaceae family which has traditionally been used to relieve abdominal pains. However, the anti-cancer properties of this species of the Teucrium genus have not been investigated previously. In this study, we have used a highly invasive prostate cancer cell line, PC-3, which is an appropriate cell system to study anti-tumor properties of plants. A methanolic extract obtained from T persicum potently inhibited viability of PC-3 cells. The viability of SW480 colon and T47D breast cancer cells was also significantly decreased in the presence of the T persicum extract. Flow cytometry suggested that the reduction of cell viability was due to induction of apoptosis. In addition, the results of wound healing and gelatin zymography experiments supported anti-cell invasion activity of T persicum. Interestingly, sublethal concentrations of T persicum extract induced an epithelial-like morphology in a subpopulation of cells with an increase in E-Cadherin and ${\beta}$-Catenin protein levels at the cell membrane. These results strongly suggest that T persicum is a plant with very potent anti-tumor activity.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.3123-3129
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• 2013

Background: The search for naturally occurring agents in routinely consumed foods that may inhibit cancer development is of high priority. [6]-Paradol is a pungent phenolic bioactive component from ginger with welldocumented health promoting antioxidant, antimutagenic, antigenotoxic and anti-inflammatory properties. However, anticarcinogenic effects have yet to be fully explored. The objectives of the present study were therefore to assess protective effects against 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) induced buccal pouch carcinogenesis in male golden Syrian hamsters. Methods: Oral squamous cell carcinomas developed in the left buccal pouch of hamsters on painting with 0.5% of DMBA, three times in a week. To assess the apoptotic associated gene expressing potential of [6]-paradol, it was orally administered to DMBA treated hamsters on alternate days from DMBA painting for 14 weeks. Results: We observed 100% tumor formation with marked levels of neoplastic changes and altered the expression of apoptotic associated gene (p53, bcl-2, caspase-3 and TNF-${\alpha}$) was observed in the DMBA alone painted hamsters as compared to control hamsters. Oral administration of [6]-paradol at a dose of 30 mg/kg b.wt to DMBA treated animals on alternative days for 14 weeks significantly reduced the neoplastic changes and improved the status of apoptosis associated gene expression. Conclusion: These observations confirmed that [6]-paradol acts as a tumor suppressing agent against DMBA induced oral carcinogenesis. We also conclude that [6]-paradol also effectively enhances apoptosis- associated gene expression in DMBA treated animals.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 1985

This experiment was undertaken to investigate proper conditions for protoplast isolation from strains of Agaricus bisporus, Flammulina velutipes, Lentinus edodes, Pleurotus florida, Pleurotus ostreatus, Pleurotus sajor-caju and Volvariella volvacea. Combination of ${\beta}-D-glucanase$, novozym 234 and snail enzyme with 0.6M $MgSO_4$ in 0.05M Na-maleate buffer, pH 5.8 was the most effective for isolation of protoplasts. High yields of protoplasts were obtained from $4{\sim}5$ days old mycelia of P. florida and P. ostreatus on mushroom complete agar medium. Protoplasts were also obtained in good yield from other fungi but A. bisporus and V. volvacea. In the latter two cases protoplast release was observed; however, the yield was much lower than those of the other fungi.

• Journal of Species Research
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.159-168
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• 2015

Although airborne pollen is invisible to the eye, it has been known as a major source to respiratory allergic reactions. For this reason, airborne pollen is monitoring in many countries to predict pollen concentration based on locality and season. However, the morphological characteristics of airborne pollen and their potential tendency as an allergen are still obscure. In the present study, we selected 52 airborne pollen samples based on previously reported data and investigated their detail pollen characteristics using LM and SEM. Major airborne pollen in Korea has sorted in 19 families (most angiosperms except four gymnosperm families), and all pollen grains are small to medium in size ($P=17.34-49.86{\mu}m$) apart from the bisaccate pollen grains of Pinaceae ($P=46.49-106.20{\mu}m$). The aperture number and shape vary from sulcate to polyporate. While the inaperture pollen has found only in gymnosperm (Cupressaceae and Taxaceae), triporate or polyporate is common pollen type in angiosperm. The sexine ornamentations could divide into several types, but the most sculpturing types are inconspicuous like psilate, rugulate and granulate. Reticulate pollen grains as a semitectum have occurred the species of genera Platanus and Fraxinus only. To estimate the possible relationships between pollen features and allergen, the results are discussed in botanical context.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.13-19
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• 2014

Objectives: The present study investigated the protective effect of Wattakaka (W.) volubilis leaf extract against streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes in rats. Methods: Male Wistar rats were divided into five groups (with six rats in each group) and were fed ad libitum. The rats were fasted for sixteen hours before diabetes was induced by injecting a single dose of 90 mg/kg body weight of STZ in 0.9-percent normal saline through an intraperitoneal route. The five groups were as follows: Group 1: normal control (saline-treated), Group 2: untreated diabetic rats, Groups 3 and 4: diabetic rats treated orally with petroleum ether cold maceration extract (PEME) of W. volubilis (50 and 100 mg/kg body weight), and Group 5: diabetic rats treated orally with metformin (250 mg/kg body weight). All rats received treatment for 21 days. For the STZ-induced diabetic rats, the blood-glucose, ${\alpha}$-amylase, total protein and alanine transaminase (ALT) levels were measured on days 7, 14 and 21 of the treatment with PEME of W. volubilis and the treatment with metformin. Histopathological changes in the liver were examined with hematoxylin-eosin staining. Morphological changes in the liver were also examined with glutaraldehyde fixation. Results: The treatments with PEME of W. volubilis and with metformin in experimental rats by oral injections for 21 days produced reductions in the levels of serum biochemical markers. Histopathology and scanning electron microscopy results showed that the administrations of PEME of W. volubilis and of metformin suppressed the generation of abnormal liver cells in the STZ-treated rats. Conclusion: These results suggest that both PEME of W. volubilis and metformin have a protective effect against STZ-induced diabetes.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.112-119
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• 2005

The effects of Rhizobium inoculant, nitrogen, phosphorus, and molybdenum on nodulation, dry matter production, yield attributes, pod and seed yields, protein and phosphorus contents in seed of pea (pisum sativum) var. IPSA Motorshuti-3 were assessed by a field experiment. Among the treatments Rhizobium inoculant in combination with 25kg P and 1.5kg Mo/ha performed best in recording number of nodules/plant, total dry matter yield, number of pods/plant, number of seeds/pod, 1000-seed weight, green pod yield, green and mature seed yields of pea. The highest green pod yield of 15.37 t/ha ($97.05\%$ increase over control) and green seed yield of 9.6t/ha ($69.31\%$ increase over control) were obtained by inoculating pea with Rhizobium inoculant in association with 25kg P and 1.5 Mo/ha. The effects of 60 or 120kg N/ha were comparable to Rhizobium inoculant in most cases. There were positive correlations among yield attributes, yield, protein and phosphorus contents in seeds of pea. From the viewpoint of yield attributes, yield, and seed quality, application of Rhizobium inoculant along with 25kg P and 1.5kg Mo/ha was considered to be the balanced combination of nutrients for achieving the maximum output from cultivation of pea in Shallow-Red Brown Terrace Soil of Bangladesh.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.366-370
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• 2004

One hundred and sixty day-old Hainan chicks were randomly allotted into eight pens to investigate the effect of different dietary concentrations of chromium (Cr) in the form of chromium chloride, and different dosages of florfenicol on humoral immune responses by determining antibody titers to Newcastle disease (ND) vaccines using the hemagglutination inhibition test. The results indicated that ND antibody titers were significantly higher in chicks receiving Cr at low (5 mg/kg feed) and middle (10 mg/kg feed) dose compared with the control (p<0.01). However, ND antibody titers were significantly decreased in chicks receiving Cr at a high dosage of 500 mg/kg feed (p<0.01), though the ND antibody titers of the early days (d 21 and d 28 of age) were higher than that of the control group. It is suggested that excessive Cr intake has detrimental effects on ND antibody production in chicks. No significantly lower response was measured in chicks that received florfenicol at a low dosage of 50 mg/kg feed (p>0.05), but the ND antibody titers were significantly decreased in chicks receiving 200 and 400 mg/kg feed of the drug (p<0.01). The ND antibody titers of group receiving 200 mg/kg feed of florfenicol plus 10 mg/kg Cr were slightly higher than that of the group receiving single florfenicol of 200 mg/kg although, no significant differences were observed between these two treatments. It is suggested that the humoral immune response impaired by florfenicol (200 mg/kg feed) could not be significantly reversed by Cr (10 mg/kg feed).

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Applied Microbiology Conference
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• 2005.06a
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• pp.245-247
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• 2005

A cellulolytic fungus isolated from Agave plantation in northeastern Thailand was identified as Acrophialophora nainiana. The fungus was capable of growing at pH between 3 - 7 and 25 - 45 $^{\circ}C$, with the optimum conditions at pH 5.0 and 40 $^{\circ}C$. The wild isolate produced cellulases, comprising of exoglucanase (0.019 U/mg protein), endoglucanase (0.366 U/mg protein), and ${\beta}$-glucosidase (0.001 U/mg protein). Mutations with UV and NTG produced the UV 10-2 mutant with cellulases activities including exoglucanase (0.093 U/mg protein), endoglucanase (0.585 U/mg protein), and ${\beta}$-glucosidase (0.013 U/mg protein). Purification of the enzymes with ultrafiltration, ammonium sulfate precipitation, and ion-exchange chromatography yielded the maximal cellulase specific activities of 2.736 U/mg protein (exoglucanase), 0.235 U/mg protein (endoglucanase), and 0.008 U/mg protein (${\beta}$-glucosidase). The mutant's cellulases were the most active at pH 5.0 and 60 $^{\circ}C$. Ion-exchange chromatography revealed that A. nainiana UV 10-2 cellulases were comprised of two peaks with one peak showing the single endoglucanase activity while the other peak showed a mixture of the three enzyme activities. Production of A. nainiana UV 10-2 cellulases using banana leaf stalk as the sole carbon source gave comparable yields to that of the pure ${\alpha}$-cellulose. The enzymes were used in the simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) of plant residue (Coix aquatica) along with Kluveromyces marxianus to produce ethanol. Moreover, when the enzymes were used in the bioscouring process of fabric, the desiravle traits of textile processing including immediate water absorbency, increased in whiteness and reduction of yellowness of the treated fabric were observed.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.193-200
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• 2013

Trichoderma asperellum SKT-1 is a microbial pesticide that is very effective against various diseases. Our study was undertaken to evaluate T. asperellum SKT-1 for induction of resistance against yellow strain of Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV-Y) in Arabidopsis plants. Disease severity was rated at 2 weeks post inoculation (WPI). CMV titre in Arabidopsis leaves was determined by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) at 2 WPI. Our results demonstrated that among all Arabidopsis plants treated with barley grain inoculum (BGI) of SKT-1 NahG and npr1 plants showed no significant reduction in disease severity and CMV titre as compared with control plants. In contrast, disease severity and CMV titre were significantly reduced in all Arabidopsis plants treated with culture filtrate (CF) of SKT-1 as compared with control plants. RT-PCR results showed increased expression levels of SA-inducible genes, but not JA/ET-inducible genes, in leaves of BGI treated plants. Moreover, expression levels of SA- and JA/ET-inducible genes were increased in leaves of CF treated plants. In conclusion, BGI treatment induced systemic resistance against CMV through SA signaling cascade in Arabidopsis plants. While, treatment with CF of SKT-1 mediated the expression of a majority of the various pathogen related genes, which led to the increased defense mechanism against CMV infection.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.103-108
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• 2006

Efficacy of aqueous leaf extracts of medicinal plants viz., Eucalyptus globulus, Ocimum sanctum and Piper betle were evaluated against the hatching of eggs, mortality of nymphs and mortality and fecundity of adult mealy bugs (Maconellicoccus hirsutus Green) under in vitro conditions. Totally seven concentrations 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 70 and 100 percent were tested against mealy bugs. The results revealed that with the increase in the concentration of extracts, there was a corresponding decrease in hatching, nymphal & adult mortality and fecundity in all the extracts tested. The hatching of eggs was minimum at 100 percent concentration in E. globulus (20.00%) followed by O. sanctum (30.42%) and P. betle (36.06%) over control (96.73%). The growth and development of nymphs and adults were adversely affected after the treatment. The nymphs did not attain the adult stage and there was total mortality of nymphs in different treatments. The duration of nymphal stage was reduced by 2-10 days in E. globulus, 1-7 days in O. sanctum and 1-2days P. betle at higher concentrations. However, at lower concentrations it was prolonged by 2-4 days in all the three extracts. At lower concentrations the mortality of adults was on par with the control. Similarly the adult duration was also reduced by 3-4 days at 100 percent concentration and prolonged by 5-6 days at lower concentrations in all the extracts. With the increase in concentrations of the extracts there was decrease in the fecundity of eggs. Thus, the leaf extracts of E. globulus was found to be most effective followed by O. sanctum and P. betle against mealy bugs.