Morphological, physiological, and biochemical responses of onion (Allium cepa L.) breeding lines to single and combined salt and drought stresses

Abiotic stresses deteriorate plant growth resulting in devastating yield losses. Salt stress solely cause ionic toxicity and disturbed homeostasis, whereas combined salt and drought stress has more pronounced effects on plants. Here we performed a pot experiment using 32 Turkish onion breeding lines and commercial cultivars for screening against salt, drought and combined salt and drought stress treatments initiated at the bulbification stage under greenhouse conditions. Physiological characteristics, such as gaseous exchange traits, chlorophyll index, leaf temperature, and morphological traits including number of leaves, length and diameter of leaf were measured during stress treatment and yield response of the onions was quantified by measuring bulb length, bulb diameter and bulb weight after harvest. Proline and malondialdehyde accumulation were estimated for biochemical effect of stress on onion genotypes. All genotypes responded differentially to the applied single and combined stresses. Overall results revealed that the breeding lines K25, U6, U17 and commercial cultivar K58, were grouped as sensitive across all stresses, whereas the breeding lines K41, U47, U49 and commercial cultivar K52, were found to be the most stable upon stress. These resilient genotypes can be used as breeding material for future abiotic stress studies.

Histopathological and biochemical effect of quercetin on monosodium glutamate supplementation-induced testicular toxicity

Background Despite the wide usage of monosodium glutamate (MSG) as a flavor enhancer in many types of food, it has been reported as a toxic agent to humans and experimental animals. It also adversely influences male fertility. Several research studies attributed detrimental effects of MSG on reproductive organs to oxidative stress. The current study investigated the effects of MSG on testis and the potential role of quercetin in attenuating them. Results MSG-treated rats showed a considerable elevation in lipid peroxidation level and reduction in glutathione concentration, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities in the homogenate of testis tissues. Treatment with quercetin in combination with MSG provided significant protection. When QU was used, the toxic side effects were significantly reduced, with a considerable reduction in lipid peroxidation and an increase in SOD and GPx activities, and glutathione concentration. Conclusions Quercetin may be used in combination with MSG to improve the histopathological, ultrastructure, oxidative stress, and biochemical parameters of testicular toxicity induced by MSG due to its antioxidant effects. Graphical abstract

Effects of Plant Protection Products on Biochemical Markers in Honey Bees

Plant protection products (PPPs) are pesticides that protect crops and ornamental plants. PPPs include primarily insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides. Bees’ contact with PPPs can cause immediate death or, in sublethal dose, may affect their physiology and/or behavior. Understanding the effect of PPPs’ sublethal doses is especially important. Contact with a sublethal dose of PPPs generally allows the bee to return to the hive, which may expose the whole colony to the harmful substance. Biochemical changes may affect colony condition, health, and performance. Most of the research on the biochemical effects of PPP in honey bees focuses on insecticides and among them neonicotinoids (especially imidacloprid). The vast majority of research is carried out on Apis mellifera workers. A small part of the research has been conducted on drones and queens. Pesticides, including fungicides and herbicides, may alter antioxidant defense, detoxification, gene expression, and immune response of the bee. They affect the drones’ semen quality and metabolic rate of the queen. In this review, the biochemical effect of PPP products in the honey bee was examined, with a focus on the effect on cytochrome P450 monooxygenases, glutathione transferases, and carboxylesterases, which take part in toxin metabolism or the detoxification process. PPPs effects on the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPX), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), proteases, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and phenoloxidase (PO) are also presented.

Biochemical effect of varied mixtures of extracts of Vernonia amygdalina (bitter leaf) and Gnetum africanum (Okazi leaf) on alloxan induced diabetic wistar rats

Diabetes mellitus is prevalent in many countries of the world, affecting all ages both in developing and developed nations. The use of plants as remedies or preventive therapies has increased over the years. The study investigated the biochemical changes caused by combined leaf extracts of Vernonia amygdalina (bitter leaf) and Gnetum africanum (okazi leaf) on alloxan induced diabetic wistar rats.Aqueous extracts of the leaves were prepared using the conventional method.Forty male wistar rats weighing 150-180g were grouped into eight (five rats each). Group 1 was the normal control while diabetes was induced using alloxan (160mg/ kg)in groups 2-8.Group 2 received no treatment while groups 3-7 received varied ratios of the extracts at (BI/OK|10:90%), (BI/OK|30:70%), (BI/OK|50:50%), (BI/OK|70:30%) and (BI/OK|90:10%). Group 8 was the diabetic control treated with the standard diabetic drug (Metformin). The animals were weighed and blood glucose was determined at 7-day intervals. They were sacrificed on the 28th day and blood samples collected for serum protein, serum electrolyte, urea, creatinine, liver enzymes and markers of oxidative stress analyses. The results showed steady increase in the body weights (g) of the rats with (BI/OK|70:30)% treated group showing the highest increase (175.40±1.28). The fasting blood sugar (mg/dl) showed timedependent reduction in all the treated diabeti groups with (BI/OK|90:10)% having the highest (56.20±1.65) reduction. There was a significant increase (p<0.05) in total blood protein concentration (g/dl) in all the treated groups. The results of this study showed time and ratio dependent effect on the parameters measured. Since the two plants are staple vegetables in some countries, their utilization particularly in appropriate combinations should be encouraged. Key words: Extracts, bitter leaf, waterleaf, diabetes mellitus, biochemical parameters.

Cushing’s disease: Does low-dose pasireotide offer a comparable efficacy and safety to high-dose?

Summary Whilst literature is expanding on pasireotide use in the management of Cushing’s disease (CD), there is still currently much unknown about long-term and low-dose pasireotide use in CD. We present a 60-year-old female with residual CD after transphenoidal surgery (TSS), being successfully managed with S.C. pasireotide for over 10 years. For 6 years, her S.C. pasireotide was inadvertently administered at 360 µg twice daily (BID), almost half the recommended dose of 600 µg BID. Despite the low-dose, her urinary free cortisol (UFC) normalised within 6 months and Cushingoid features resolved. She remained in biochemical and clinical remission on the same low-dose for 6 years, before a medication audit discovered her mistaken dose and directed her to take 600 µg BID. With the higher dose 600 µg BID for the next 5 years, her glycaemia worsened without any changes in her UFC and residual tumour volume. Our case showed the continuing effectiveness and safety of treatment with S.C. pasireotide for more than 10 years, and that a low-dose regimen may be considered an option for responders by its safety profile. Learning points A lower dose of pasireotide may be effective in the initial treatment of CD than the recommended 600 µg BID dosage, though more studies are required to explore this. Low-dose pasireotide use has the benefit of minimising adverse effects. In the long-term, pasireotide has a sustained clinical and biochemical effect and is well tolerated.