scholarly journals Phytochemical Constituents and Toxicity of the Ethanol Extract of Ricinus communis (L.) in Drosophila melanogaster

2021 ◽  
pp. 12-21
Author(s):  
Tran Thi Tu Ai ◽  
Huynh Hong Phien ◽  
Tran Thanh Men

The study aimed to evaluate the toxic ability of the ethanol extract of Ricinus communis (L.) in Drosophila melanogaster fruit fly model. The toxicity was determined through different criteria, including the ability to cause harmful effects on second instar larvae, reproduction, growth and development, and the movement ability of fruit flies. The results showed that the ethanol extract of Ricinus communis expressed its high toxicity against 2nd instar larvae of Drosophila melanogaste with the LD50 value of 64.63 mg/mL. In addition, Ricinus communis extract reduced the growth rate, reproduction and decreased the movement ability of Drosophila melanogaster. The total flavonoid and polyphenol content of the ethanol extract of Ricinus communis were 338.26 mgQE/g extract and 160.43 mgGAE/g extract, respectively. These findings contribute to confirming the toxic properties of ethanol extract of Ricinus communis and their potential use in preventing and controlling pest.

Author(s):  
Manoj Kumar

The medicinal plants have a vital role to take care of the healthy human life. The large family Euphorbiaceae contains nearly about 300 genera and 7,500 species. Amongst all, Ricinus communis L. or castor bean plant has high traditional and medicinal values towards a disease free community. The castor bean plant is effective as antifertility activity, antiimplantation activity, antinociceptive activity, anticancer activity, antioxidant activity, immunomodulatory activity, hepatoprotective activity, antidiabetic activity, antiulcer activity, antimicrobial activity, insecticidal activity, molluscicidal and larvicidal activity, bone regeneration activity, central analgesic activity, antihistaminic activity, antiasthmatic activity, cytotoxic activity, lipolytic activity, antiinflammatory activity, and wound healing activity. In addition, the constituents present in this plant are beneficial for the purpose of contraception, leaving no detrimental effects on the body. The objective of the present review focuses on the phytochemical constituents, pharmacological activities and future perspectives of the R. communis L. plant.


2020 ◽  
Vol 110 (4) ◽  
pp. 558-565 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Oviedo ◽  
G. Van Nieuwenhove ◽  
C. Van Nieuwenhove ◽  
J. Rull

AbstractPlant-derived compounds can be an environmentally friendly alternative to synthetic pesticide use for pest management. Essential oils (EOs) in several plant families have been found to be toxic to various pest species of insects through topical application, ingestion, and as fumigants. Previous studies revealed that, among various environmentally friendly insecticides, the EOs of Baccharis dracunculifolia and Pinus elliottii and an ethanol extract of Solanum granulosoleprosum plus Ricinus communis, were toxic to Ceratitis capitata and Anastrepha fraterculus (Diptera: Tephritidae) when applied topically to pupae or when ingested by adults. Here, we aimed to examine the potentially toxic effects of these plant-derived compounds when these two pestiferous fruit fly species were exposed to their vapors. We also examined their fumigant effect on female fecundity and fertility and compared it with water and ethanol controls. Exposure of C. capitata and A. fraterculus sexually mature adults to volatiles and vapors of both B. dracunculifolia and P. elliottii EOs resulted in lower longevity (half-life), survivorship, and female fecundity than the water vapor control. Toxicity of C. capitata was greater for P. elliottii than for B. dracunculifolia while the reverse was true for A. fraterculus. Exposure to vapors of S. granulosoleprosum + R. communis (S + R) had no effect on longevity but reduced survivorship of adults of both species. Interestingly, exposure to vapors of S + R, 50% (v/v) and pure ethanol resulted in greater fecundity of females of both frugivorous fly species than the water control. By contrast, fertility (% egg hatch) was in all cases high (>85%) and not different than the water control. Exposure to ethanol vapors appears to have similar effects on frugivorous tephritids as those reported on saprophagous and frugivorous species of Drosophila, a novel finding that may have important practical implications.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel Paul ◽  
Guillaume Giraud ◽  
Katrin Domsch ◽  
Marilyne Duffraisse ◽  
Frédéric Marmigère ◽  
...  

AbstractFlying insects have invaded all the aerial space on Earth and this astonishing radiation could not have been possible without a remarkable morphological diversification of their flight appendages. Here, we show that characteristic spatial expression profiles and levels of the Hox genes Antennapedia (Antp) and Ultrabithorax (Ubx) underlie the formation of two different flight organs in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. We further demonstrate that flight appendage morphology is dependent on specific Hox doses. Interestingly, we find that wing morphology from evolutionary distant four-winged insect species is also associated with a differential expression of Antp and Ubx. We propose that variation in the spatial expression profile and dosage of Hox proteins is a major determinant of flight appendage diversification in Drosophila and possibly in other insect species during evolution.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sujatha Thankeswaran Parvathy ◽  
Amala Joseph Prabakaran ◽  
Thadakamalla Jayakrishna

AbstractCastor (Ricinus communis L) is an ideal model species for sex mechanism studies in monoecious angiosperms, due to wide variations in sex expression. Sex reversion to monoecy in pistillate lines, along with labile sex expression, negatively influences hybrid seed purity. The study focuses on understanding the mechanisms of unisexual flower development, sex reversions and sex variations in castor, using various genotypes with distinct sex expression pattern. Male and female flowers had 8 and 12 developmental stages respectively, were morphologically similar till stage 4, with an intermediate bisexual state and were intermediate between type 1 and type 2 flowers. Pistil abortion was earlier than stamen inhibition. Sex alterations occurred at floral and inflorescence level. While sex-reversion was unidirectional towards maleness via bisexual stage, at high day temperatures (Tmax > 38 °C), femaleness was restored with subsequent drop in temperatures. Temperature existing for 2–3 weeks during floral meristem development, influences sexuality of the flower. We report for first time that unisexuality is preceded by bisexuality in castor flowers which alters with genotype and temperature, and sex reversions as well as high sexual polymorphisms in castor are due to alterations in floral developmental pathways. Differentially expressed (male-abundant or male-specific) genes Short chain dehydrogenase reductase 2a (SDR) and WUSCHEL are possibly involved in sex determination of castor.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie E. Hereira-Pacheco ◽  
Yendi E. Navarro-Noya ◽  
Luc Dendooven

AbstractRhizosphere and root endophytic bacteria are crucial for plant development, but the question remains if their composition is similar and how environmental conditions, such as water content, affect their resemblance. Ricinus communis L., a highly drought resistant plant, was used to study how varying soil water content affected the bacterial community in uncultivated, non-rhizosphere and rhizosphere soil, and in its roots. Additionally, the bacterial community structure was determined in the seeds of R. communis at the onset of the experiment. Plants were cultivated in soil at three different watering regimes, i.e. 50% water holding capacity (WHC) or adjusted to 50% WHC every two weeks or every month. Reducing the soil water content strongly reduced plant and root dry biomass and plant development, but had little effect on the bacterial community structure. The bacterial community structure was affected significantly by cultivation of R. communis and showed large variations over time. After 6 months, the root endophytic bacterial community resembled that in the seeds more than in the rhizosphere. It was found that water content had only a limited effect on the bacterial community structure and the different bacterial groups, but R. communis affected the bacterial community profoundly.


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