Mortality of Potato Psyllid (Hemiptera: Triozidae) on Host Clippings Inoculated With Ergot Alkaloids

Our previous study provided correlative evidence that morning glory species harboring endophytic fungi (Periglandula) are resistant to potato psyllid [Bactericera cockerelli (Šulc)], whereas species free of fungi often allowed psyllid development. In this study, we manipulated levels of ergot alkaloids in host tissues by inoculating clippings from potato plants with extracts from morning glories that harbor Periglandula [Ipomoea leptophylla Torrey, Ipomoea imperati (Vahl) Grisebach, Ipomoea tricolor Cavanilles, Ipomoea pandurata (L.) G. F. Meyer, and Turbina corymbosa (L.)] and one species (Ipomoea alba L.) that does not harbor the endophyte. Ergot alkaloids (clavines, lysergic acid amides, and ergopeptines) were detected in potato clippings, thus confirming that leaves had taken up compounds from solutions of crude extracts. Psyllid mortality rates on inoculated clippings ranged between 53 and 93% in treatments producing biochemically detectable levels of alkaloids, when compared with 15% mortality in water controls or the alkaloid-free I. alba. We then tested synthetic analogs from each of the three alkaloid classes that had been detected in the crude extracts. Each compound was assayed by inoculating clippings of two host species (potato and tomato) at increasing concentrations (0, 1, 10, and 100 µg/ml in solution). Psyllids exhibited a large and significant increase in mortality rate beginning at the lowest two concentrations, indicating that even very small quantities of these chemicals led to mortality. Feeding by nymphs on artificial diets containing synthetic compounds resulted in 100% mortality within 48 h, irrespective of compound. Further testing of ergot alkaloids to characterize the mode of action that leads to psyllid mortality is warranted.

Screening of Plants Hydro-Alcoholic Extracts from Kerman for their Inhibition of β-Glucuronidase Activity

In neonatal jaundice, β-glucuronidase converts conjugated bilirubin into the unconjugated form and increases its level in the blood. Many natural compounds have been identified as β-glucuronidase inhibitors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of hydro-methanolic extracts of 100 plants on β-glucuronidase. The β-glucuronidase activity was measured by a spectrophotometric method using Phenolphthalein glucuronide and 4-nitrophenyl β-D-glucuronide. Kinetic study of the enzyme was performed in the presence and absence of the plant extract. It was revealed that from hydro-methanolic (70%) extracts, Rosa damascena and Ipomoea tricolor showed more than 85% inhibitory effect on β-glucuronidase. Rosa damascena showed competitive inhibition, and Ipomoea tricolor showed non-competitive inhibition. The Km and Vmax values for β-glucuronidase were 23.32 mM and 0.814 mM min-1, respectively. When using 4-nitrophenyl β-D-glucuronide, Stevia and Cerasus avium showed more than 65% inhibitory effect on β-glucuronidase. Both Stevia and Cerasus avium showed non-competitive inhibition. The Km and Vmax values for β-glucuronidase were 16.98 mM and 0.936 mM min-1, respectively. None of the plant extracts showed an activation effect on the enzyme. The data suggest that these plants might be good candidates for the treatment of neonatal jaundice and its related diseases.

STATISTICAL DATA ANALYSIS WHICH RESULT FROM THE BIO-DIAGNOSIS AND BIO-TREATMENT OF INJURED RATS WITH THE HYPERLIPIDEMIA AND HYPERGLYCEMIA DISEASES

ABSTRACTObjective: This study in bioinformatics aims to investigate the potential effect of Ipomoea tricolor and Sophora tomentosa on liver function enzymesactivity, serum lipid profile, oxidative stress biomarkers, and on blood glucose in high fat diet-induced hypercholesterolemia (HC) and STZ-inducedhyperglycemia (HG) in rats.Methods: Blood glucose level, liver function enzymes, alanine aminotransferases and aspartate aminotransferases, alkaline phosphatase, and lactatedehydrogenase (LDH) were determined. Besides, lipid profile including total cholesterol (TC), triacylglycerol (TG), total lipid, and high-densitylipoprotein-cholesterol was investigated. Moreover, oxidative stress biomarkers, lipid peroxide, and nitric oxide as well as non-enzymatic antioxidant,glutathione (GSH) were also examined in different therapeutic groups.Results: A significant increase in blood glucose level, liver function enzyme activities, LDH, lipid profile and oxidative stress markers, while significantdecrease in LDH-C and GSH level in HC-HG induced rats compared to control one. A marked amelioration in all biochemical parameters underinvestigation on treatment of HC-HG rats with I. tricolor and S. tomentosa with different fluctuating percentages of improvement. Histopathologicalexamination of liver and pancreas was also performed and declared HC-HG showed congestion in portal vessels and sinusoids with mild centrilobularhepatocyte degeneration, marked hepatocyte ballooning and hydropic degeneration, while HC-HG treated rats with I. tricolor and S. tomentosa showednormal lobular hepatic architecture with mild sinusoidal dilatation and congestion. On the other hand, a histological organization of pancreas of HC-HGrats showing disarrangement changes in pancreatic blood vessels and interlobular duct as well as disordered in acini. The treatment of HC-HG rats withI. tricolor and S. tomentosa showed enhancement in Langerhans cells and restore of most pancreatic tissue in comparison with standard drugs.Conclusion: The statistical results showed that each extract ameliorated high blood glucose level liver injury, HC and oxidative stress indicatingrelieving of oxidative damage associated with the complexity of HG and HC. These results demonstrated that these two plants extracts may be acandidate intelligent antioxidant, hypolipidemic, hypoglycemic, and hepatoprotective nutraceuticals which need further clinical investigation to beapplied effectively to reduce perturbation in HC associated diabetes.Keywords: Ipomoea tricolor, Sophora tomentosa, Lipid profile and liver function enzymes, Endothelial dysfunction markers, Statistics and imagerecognition, Histopathological analysis.