Mineral Fertilization Influences the Growth, Cryptolepine Yield, and Bioefficacy of Cryptolepis sanguinolenta (Lindl.) Schlt.

Cryptolepis sanguinolenta (Lindl.) Schlt., the main source of cryptolepine alkaloid, is intensively exploited in the wild to treat malaria and Lyme disease. In this study, the influence of four inorganic fertilizers (supplying N, P, K, or NPK) and four growth periods (3, 6, 9, and 12 months after transplanting) on the herb’s root biomass, cryptolepine content and yield, and biological activities were investigated in a pot and field trial. The results showed the application of N (in the form of Urea or NPK) increased root biomass yield, cryptolepine content, and cryptolepine yield compared to unfertilized plants. The 9-month-old plants recorded the maximum cryptolepine content (2.26 mg/100 mg dry root) and cryptolepine yield (304.08 mg/plant), indicating the perfect time to harvest the herb. Plant age at harvest had a more significant influence (50.6–55.7%) on cryptolepine production than fertilizer application (29.2–33.3%). Cryptolepine extracts from 9- to 12-month-old plants had the highest antiplasmodial activity (IC50 = 2.56–4.65 µg/mL) and drug selectivity index (2.15–3.91) against Plasmodium falciparum Dd2. These extracts were also cytotoxic to Jurkat leukaemia cell lines (CC50 < 62.56 µg/mL), indicating the possible use of cryptolepine for cancer management. Growing the herb in the field increased cryptolepine yield 2.5 times compared to growth in a pot, but this did not influence the antiplasmodial activity of the extract. Commercial cultivation of C. sanguinolenta for 9 months combined with N application could be a promising solution to the sustainable use of this threatened medicinal species.

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Farmers’ and Herders’ Perceptions on Rangeland Management in Two Agroecological Zones of Benin

Land ◽

10.3390/land10040425 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (4) ◽

pp. 425

Author(s):

Rodrigue Vivien Cao Diogo ◽

Luc Hippolyte Dossa ◽

Sèyi Fridaïus Ulrich Vanvanhossou ◽

Badirou Dine Abdoulaye ◽

Kossi Hélliot Dosseh ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Natural Resources ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Sustainable Use ◽

Negative Attitude ◽

Rangeland Management ◽

Mineral Fertilization ◽

The North ◽

Unused Land ◽

Agroecological Zones ◽

Sound Management

The sustainable use of rangelands in pastoral areas requires the inclusion of all stakeholders to develop sound management strategies. However, the role of these actors in the sustainable management of natural resources is still poorly understood. The present study aims to (i) assess the perception of farmers and herders of the risks and opportunities of transhumance on rangeland resource use and management, and to (ii) generate useful knowledge for the design and implementation of policies that favor the coexistence of these actors and reduce competition over rangeland resources use in Benin. To this end, interviews were conducted with 240 crop farmers and herders using a semi-structured questionnaire in two contrasting agroecological zones in the northern (Kandi) and the southern (Kétou) part of the country. Among the respondents, 64% of farmers in the North were agro-pastoralists (owning 10.6 ha of land and 10.7 cattle) and 36% were herders (keeping 45.8 cattle and cultivating about 3.7 ha of land). They perceived that communal rangelands were entirely degraded. In the South, 36% of respondents were agro-pastoralists (with 0.3 cattle and farming 4 ha of land) and 64% cattle herders (raising 45.3 cattle and farming 0.9 ha of land only). Of the herders, 50% kept cattle for more than 20 years, while agro-pastoralists had no previous experience in cattle herding. Cultivation practices among crop farmers, such as high use of mineral fertilization (23.8%) and bush fires for land clearing (22.5%), were reported in Kandi (North) and Kétou (South) as factors that might contribute to land degradation. However, these farmers perceived transhumance as a threat to the sustainable use of natural resources. In contrast, herders perceived transhumance as an opportunity to valorize unused land and increase the availability of manure to cropland. The prevalent negative attitude of crop farmers regarding transhumant herders increases the vulnerability of cattle herding in both regions. There is an urgent need of raising awareness concerning the mutual benefits provided by the coexistence of crop farmers with herders to promote participative rangeland management strategies. This may contribute towards coping with the current challenges of food insecurity and increasing climate variability as well as to reducing recurrent conflicts in the region.

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In vivo efficacy and metabolism of the antimalarial cycleanine and improved in vitro antiplasmodial activity of novel semisynthetic analogues

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy ◽

10.1128/aac.01995-20 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Fidelia Ijeoma Uche ◽

Xiaozhen Guo ◽

Jude Okokon ◽

Imran Ullah ◽

Paul Horrocks ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Metabolic Pathways ◽

High Performance ◽

Antimalarial Activity ◽

Biological Activities ◽

Antiplasmodial Activity ◽

Survival Times ◽

Antiproliferative Effects ◽

Future Evaluation

Bisbenzylisoquinoline (BBIQ) alkaloids are a diverse group of natural products that demonstrate a range of biological activities. In this study, the in vitro antiplasmodial activity of three BBIQ alkaloids (cycleanine (1), isochondodendrine (2) and 2′-norcocsuline (3)) isolated from the Triclisia subcordata Oliv. medicinal plant traditionally used for the treatment of malaria in Nigeria are studied alongside two semi-synthetic analogues (4 and 5) of cycleanine. The antiproliferative effects against a chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum strain were determined using a SYBR Green 1 fluorescence assay. The in vivo antimalarial activity of cycleanine (1) is then investigated in suppressive, prophylactic and curative murine malaria models after infection with a chloroquine-sensitive Plasmodium berghei strain. BBIQ alkaloids (1–5) exerted in vitro antiplasmodial activities with IC50 at low micromolar concentrations with the two semi-synthetic cycleanine analogues showing an improved potency and selectivity than cycleanine. At oral doses of 25 and 50mg/kg body weight of infected mice, cycleanine suppressed the levels of parasitaemia, and increased mean survival times significantly compared to the control groups. The metabolites and metabolic pathways of cycleanine (1) were also studied using high performance liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. Twelve novel metabolites were detected in rats after intragastic administration of cycleanine. The metabolic pathways of cycleanine were demonstrated to involve hydroxylation, dehydrogenation, and demethylation. Overall, these in vitro and in vivo results provide a basis for the future evaluation of cycleanine and its analogues as leads for further development.

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Dependence of soil fertility on organic and mineral fertilization in a 46-year long-term field experiment

Acta Agronomica Hungarica ◽

10.1556/aagr.58.2010.suppl.1.5 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 58 (Supplement 1) ◽

pp. 35-40

Author(s):

S. Hoffmann ◽

K. Berecz ◽

S. Simon

Keyword(s):

Soil Fertility ◽

Farmyard Manure ◽

Organic Matter Content ◽

Fertilizer Application ◽

Matter Content ◽

Mineral Fertilization ◽

Npk Fertilizers ◽

N Utilization ◽

Ammonium Lactate

Increasing doses of farmyard manure (FYM) or equivalent mineral NPK fertilizers and their combinations were analysed in a crop rotation with potato, maize and winter wheat with special regard to their long-term influence on soil fertility. The yield-increasing capacity of FYM doses was only 82%, as compared to the equivalent amount of mineral NPK. Fairly high N release (50.9 kg ha −1 ) could be observed on the unfertilized plots. Great differences in N utilization were recorded, depending on the form and dose of fertilizers. The average N utilization from FYM was only 29.3%, while that of the equivalent fertilizer application was 49.8%. The lowest soil reactions were observed without fertilization and at the highest NPK doses. Negative N balances generally resulted in low soil organic matter content. FYM and equivalent NPK fertilizers had a similar influence on the ammonium lactate (AL)-extractable K 2 O content of the soil, while an increase in the AL-P 2 O 5 content could be observed in the case of mineral fertilization.

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BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES IN MEDICINAL SPECIES OF EUPATORIUM

Acta Horticulturae ◽

10.17660/actahortic.1999.501.44 ◽

1999 ◽

pp. 277-282 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

M. Clavin ◽

K. Lorenzen ◽

A. Mayer ◽

V. Martino ◽

T. Anke

Keyword(s):

Biological Activities ◽

Medicinal Species

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Effects of Cultivation Management on Pearl Millet Yield and Growth Differed with Rainfall Conditions in a Seasonal Wetland of Sub-Saharan Africa

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy11091767 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (9) ◽

pp. 1767

Author(s):

Yoshihiro Hirooka ◽

Simon K. Awala ◽

Kudakwashe Hove ◽

Pamwenafye I. Nanhapo ◽

Morio Iijima

Keyword(s):

Pearl Millet ◽

Crop Production ◽

Pennisetum Glaucum ◽

Growth Parameters ◽

Growth Period ◽

Fertilizer Application ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Mineral Fertilization ◽

Seasonal Wetlands ◽

Sub Saharan

The production of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R.Br.) is important in Namibia, in sub-Saharan Africa, owing to the prevailing low precipitation conditions. Most fields supporting crop production in northern Namibia are located in a network of seasonal wetlands. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of ridging and fertilizer application on the yield and the growth of pearl millet in the seasonal wetlands under different rainfall conditions. The study was conducted for two years (2017–2018) in the experimental fields in northern Namibia, and yield, yield components, and growth parameters were evaluated in relation to the application of different fertilizers (manure and mineral) with and without ridge-furrows. Manure fertilizer application presented the highest yield in 2018, whereas mineral fertilizer application showed the highest yield in 2017. The proportion of rainfall was the highest during the mid-growth period in 2017, and the reproductive stage in 2018. Thus, pearl millet plants under manure fertilization overcame damage resulting from waterlogging stress during the seed setting stage by improving the soil and plant nutrient conditions. In contrast, the plants under mineral fertilization were more tolerant to large amounts of rain during the mid-growth period. In this study, yield was mainly determined by total dry weight, and it was closely related to panicle density in both years. Therefore, we concluded that fertilizer application, including additional fertilizer based on the growth diagnostic, could be important for improving crop production in seasonal wetlands.

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Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) productivity in response to different fertilization strategies

Revista Agro mbiente On-line ◽

10.18227/1982-8470ragro.v11i4.4080 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. 296 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Wellington Da Silva Toledo ◽

João Paulo Agápto ◽

Gustavo Fonseca De Almeida

Keyword(s):

Common Bean ◽

Production Management ◽

Mineral Fertilizer ◽

Fertilizer Application ◽

Mineral Fertilizers ◽

Mineral Fertilization ◽

Manure Compost ◽

Sheep Manure ◽

Pod Length ◽

Pod Number

The feasibility of reducing non-renewable natural resources use in agriculture, associated with the need for ecologically-appropriate of organic waste disposal has become an important element in planning more sustainable agricultural systems. Consequently, the aim of the current study was to evaluate the response of the common bean, growing in an Eutrophic Latosol in the city of Buri-SP, to the application of organic and mineral fertilizers. An experiment was carried out in the 2015 agricultural year, using a randomized block design with 4 replicates and 5 treatments, these being: 1 - mineral fertilizer; 2 - organomineral fertilizer; 3 - sheep manure compost; 4 - chicken bedding compost, and control (soil without fertilizer application). The tested variables were: pod length (cm); per plant pod number; per pod seed number; mass of 100 grains (g); and grain yield (kg ha-1). Organomineral fertilizer provided the most significant increase in pod length, per plant pod number, and yield compared to the other treatments, except for sheep manure compost, where productivity did not differ. In addition, with the exception of mass per 100 seeds, there was no difference between treatments using organic fertilization and mineral fertilizer. Under the current study´s experimental conditions, organomineral fertilizer and sheep manure compost produced the highest productivity for common beans. Thus, mineral fertilization can be replaced by organic or organomineral alternatives, so helping to produce more sustainable production management and help reduce environmental impacts.

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General Toxicity screening of Royleanone derivatives using an Artemia salina model

Journal Biomedical and Biopharmaceutical Research ◽

10.19277/bbr.18.1.254 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

pp. 114

Author(s):

Epole Ntungwe ◽

Vera M. S. Isca ◽

Ana María Díaz-Lanza ◽

Carlos A. M. Afonso ◽

Patrícia Rijo

Keyword(s):

Natural Products ◽

Biological Activities ◽

Treatment Options ◽

Artemia Salina ◽

World Health ◽

Cytotoxic Activities ◽

Toxicity Screening ◽

Medicinal Species ◽

General Toxicity ◽

Starting Point

Cancer is the second leading cause of death globally. World Health Organization recorded an estimated 9.6 million deaths attributed to cancer in 2018. There is an urgent need for new anticancer drugs with novel modes of action. Natural products remain a valuable source for the identification and development of novel treatment options for cancer. Plectranthus species are well-known medicinal species used extensively for the treatment of different illnesses. These species are rich in diterpenoids which are reported to be responsible for various pharmacological activities including cytotoxic activities. Brine shrimp (Artemia salina) is broadly used in lethality studies and this model is a convenient starting point for cytotoxicity study when screening for general toxicity of natural products. This assay is based on their ability to kill a laboratory cultured nauplii. In this work, we report the general toxicity of some derivatives from 6,7-dehydroroyleanone (1) and 7α-acetoxy-6β-hydroxyroyleanone (2) compounds. The A. salina bioassay is a simple, rapid, and low-cost test, and is very useful for preliminary assessment of general toxicity in natural products thereby guiding the determination of possible biological activities.

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Biological Activities and Optimal Conditions for Making Khlu Tea

Applied Mechanics and Materials ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amm.901.11 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 901 ◽

pp. 11-15

Author(s):

Udomdeja Polyium ◽

Nopporn Sakulyunyongsuk

Keyword(s):

Total Phenolic Content ◽

Phenolic Content ◽

Biological Activities ◽

Block Design ◽

Sustainable Use ◽

Radical Scavenging ◽

Total Phenolic ◽

Mean Values ◽

Aoac Method ◽

The Difference

This research aims to study the biological activities of Khlu (Pluchea indica (L) Less) for the development of herbal tea. The leaves of Khlu were analyzed, including proximal composition using the AOAC method, antioxidant by DPPH radical scavenging assay, and total phenolic content by Folin-Ciocalteu's method. The sensory quality assessment of Khlu tea with randomized complete block design (RCBD). The mean was analyzed for the variance of ANOVA and analyzed for the difference of mean values using LSD method. The results showed that the fresh and dried leaves of methanol extract were showed the optimal of the DPPH values and the highest of total phenolic content. The optimal condition for the process of making Khlu tea was the temperature at 70 °C for 7 hours. The scores of sensory evaluation in terms of appearance, color, aroma, flavor (astringent) and overall were 7.37 ± 1.22, 7.23 ± 1.16, 6.97 ± 1.30, 7.00 ± 1.14 and 7.63 ± 1.10, respectively. These represent the potential of food crops for food sustainable use of biodiversity.

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Antimicrobial Effect of Quercus robur L. Leaves Selective Extracts from the Mezi Mountain of Djeniene Bourezg (West of Algeria)

Current Bioactive Compounds ◽

10.2174/1573407216666191226141609 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 16 (8) ◽

pp. 1181-1190

Author(s):

Elhassan Benyagoub ◽

Nouria Nabbou ◽

Amal Dine

Keyword(s):

Clavulanic Acid ◽

Quercus Robur ◽

Biological Activities ◽

Antifungal Susceptibility ◽

Diffusion Method ◽

Dilution Method ◽

Medicinal Species ◽

Disk Diffusion Method ◽

Amoxicillin Clavulanic Acid ◽

Microbial Strains

Background: Algeria, by its vast terrestrial extent and its climatic variation, has an abundant, rich and varied flora in which it was counted many aromatic and medicinal species that provide bioactive compounds characterized by their broad biological activities. In this context, this work is based on the evaluation of the antimicrobial activity of Quercus robur L. leaves extracts (Family of Fagaceae). Methods: Firstly, the collected plant material was defatted; then, the extraction of tannins and saponins was carried out according to a standard protocol where the extracts obtained were tested on some uropathogenic microbial strains by disk diffusion method with the determination of the Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MICs) by broth macro-dilution method. Results: The extraction yield of the selective extracts was 7.93 and 16.94% for tannins and saponins, respectively. The antibiotic resistance profile of the tested strains showed a resistance relatively important to several antibiotics, namely amoxicillin +clavulanic acid and ampicillin for Escherichia coli, while Pseudomonas aeruginosa showed resistance to amoxicillin+clavulanic acid, amikacin, cefotaxime and ceftazidime. However, Staphylococcus aureus was susceptible to penicillin, gentamicin, ofloxacin and chloramphenicol. Antifungal susceptibility testing has been shown that Candida albicans was susceptible to amphotericin B, econazole and it was clinically categorized as intermediate to miconazole drug. For antimicrobial tests, the tannins and saponins extracts exhibited a low to strong inhibitory effect at tested concentrations lower than 30 mg/mL (ranged from no inhibition to an inhibition zone diameter of 17.5 mm), depending on dose levels and tested microbial strains. Conclusion: This activity is proportional to the tested concentrations, knowing that tannins extract was more active compared to saponins extract. For this, Q. robur could constitute an important source for drug discovery.

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Effect of Different Doses of Nitrogen and Spacing on Viola odorata Linn. (Banafsha) in Mid Hill Zones of Himachal Pradesh

Journal of Non Timber Forest Products ◽

10.54207/bsmps2000-2015-4pa2xu ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 22 (2) ◽

pp. 61-63

Author(s):

Krishan Chand ◽

Hari Sankhyan ◽

Vimal Chauhan

Keyword(s):

Seed Weight ◽

Block Design ◽

Fertilizer Application ◽

Himachal Pradesh ◽

Fresh Weight ◽

Viola Odorata ◽

Commercial Cultivation ◽

Randomized Block Design ◽

Phosphorus And Potassium ◽

Different Doses

Viola odorata Linn. (Banafsha) is an important herb for commercial cultivation in temperate as well as sub-tropical climate (preferring a shady conditions) in the Himalayas. No systematic information on nitrogen fertilizer application and planting geometry is available for this crop. Therefore, an experiment was conducted to study the effect of the different doses of nitrogen and spacing on Viola odorata Linn. (Banafsha) in mid hill zones of Himachal Pradesh in Randomized Block Design with 3 replications. Treatments consisted of 4 levels of nitrogen (0, 60, 90, 120 kg/ha) and 5 row spacing (10 x 10 cm, 15 x 15 cm, 20 x 20 cm, 25 x 25 cm and 30 x 30 cm), respectively. Full does of Phosphorus and Potassium (60 kg/ha each) were applied at the time of transplanting. 1000 seed weight was observed maximum for N 120 kg/ha. Maximum value of fresh weight of flower was observed at 10 x 10 cm spacing, while number of leaves per plant, pod diameter and 1000 seed weight were found highest at the spacing of 25 x 25 cm. Application of 120 kg N/ha and spacing of 25 x 25 cm produced significantly higher pedicel length, fresh weight of flowers, while 1000 seed weight was found maximum for N 90 kg/ha at a spacing of 25 x 25 cm.

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