Targeting Mitochondria by Plant Secondary Metabolites: A Promising Strategy in Combating Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is one of the most prevalent and debilitating neurodegenerative conditions, and is currently on the rise. Several dysregulated pathways are behind the pathogenesis of PD; however, the critical targets remain unclear. Accordingly, there is an urgent need to reveal the key dysregulated pathways in PD. Prevailing reports have highlighted the importance of mitochondrial and cross-talked mediators in neurological disorders, genetic changes, and related complications of PD. Multiple pathophysiological mechanisms of PD, as well as the low efficacy and side effects of conventional neuroprotective therapies, drive the need for finding novel alternative agents. Recently, much attention has been paid to using plant secondary metabolites (e.g., flavonoids/phenolic compounds, alkaloids, and terpenoids) in the modulation of PD-associated manifestations by targeting mitochondria. In this line, plant secondary metabolites have shown promising potential for the simultaneous modulation of mitochondrial apoptosis and reactive oxygen species. This review aimed to address mitochondria and multiple dysregulated pathways in PD by plant-derived secondary metabolites.

In Vitro Replication Inhibitory Activity of Xanthorrhizol against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2

In spite of the large number of repositioned drugs and direct-acting antivirals in clinical trials for the management of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, there are few cost-effective therapeutic options for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus 2 (SCoV2) infection. In this paper, we show that xanthorrhizol (XNT), a bisabolane-type sesquiterpenoid compound isolated from the Curcuma xanthorrhizza Roxb., a ginger-line plant of the family Zingiberaceae, displays a potent antiviral efficacy in vitro against SCoV2 and other related coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-1 (SCoV1) and a common cold-causing human coronavirus. XNT reduced infectious SCoV2 titer by ~3-log10 at 20 μM and interfered with the replication of the SCoV1 subgenomic replicon, while it had no significant antiviral effects against hepatitis C virus and noroviruses. Further, XNT exerted similar antiviral functions against SCoV2 variants, such as a GH clade strain and a delta strain currently predominant worldwide. Neither SCoV2 entry into cells nor the enzymatic activity of viral RNA polymerase (Nsp12), RNA helicase (Nsp13), or the 3CL main protease (Nsp5) was inhibited by XNT. While its CoV replication inhibitory mechanism remains elusive, our results demonstrate that the traditional folk medicine XNT could be a promising antiviral candidate that inhibits a broad range of SCoV2 variants of concern and other related CoVs.

Agronomics Characteristics and Its Correlation of New Plant Type Promising Rice Lines

<p>Karakteristik Agronomi dan Korelasinya pada Galurgalur Harapan Padi Tipe Baru. Dalam program pemuliaan tanaman padi diperlukan pengetahuan tentang karakter dan korelasinya dengan hasil gabah. Penelitian dilakukan untuk mempelajari karakter tanaman dan korelasinya dari 35 galur harapan PTB dengan Ciherang dan Sintanur sebagai varietas pembanding, ditanam di dua lokasi, Bogor dan Pusakanagara, pada MT 2009 (MK dan MH). Rancangan yang digunakan adalah acak kelompok dengan tiga ulangan. Bibit umur 21 hari ditanam satu bibit per lubang, jarak tanam 20 cm x 20 cm, pada petak berukuran 2 x 5 m2 per baris. Karakter tanaman bervariasi antargalur dan beberapa di antaranya berbeda nyata dengan varietas pembanding Ciherang dan Sintanur, kecuali untuk hasil gabah. B11742-RS*2-3-MR-34-1-2-1 merupakan galur dengan postur tanaman terendah, hasil gabah rendah, dan umur terpendek. Sebagian besar galur mempunyai karakter padi tipe baru (PTB). Hasil gabah berkorelasi positif dengan semua karakter, tetapi hanya berkorelasi nyata dan positif dengan tinggi tanaman, berkisar antara 91,4-120,7 cm.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Abstrak</strong></p><p>In a plant breeding program, knowledge of the character and interrelationships among yield and yield contributing characters are necessary. This study was carried out to identify the plant character and its correlation between yield-correlated traits of 35 NPT rice promising lines with Ciherang and Sintanur as check varieties, planted in two locations, Bogor and Pusakanagara and two seasons (2009 dry and wet season, DS-WS). Those lines were planted in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) arrangement, in three replications. The 21-days-old seedling planted one seed per hole, spacing 20 cm x 20 cm, with a plot size of 2 x 5 m2 per line. Plant characters varied and were significantly different from Ciherang and Sintanur as check varieties except for grain yield. B11742- RS*2-3-MR-34-1-2-1 was the line that had the lowest plant height, grain yield, and the shortest growth duration. Most of the lines had character as new plant type variety. Grain yield positively correlated with all characters, but only significantly and positively correlated with plant height at range from 91.4- 120.7 cm.</p>

Bitumen Emulsion in Malaysia–A Conspectus

Bitumen emulsion is an important building material, especially in highway pavement construction. It is a mixture of bitumen (asphalt), water and emulsifying agent, dispersed in tiny particles in an aqueous medium. It is an important material widely used in the pavement construction ever since the first introduction in the year 1900’s. This paper aims to provide an overview and an understanding among the practitioners on the bitumen emulsion from the manufacturing process, naming and categorizing to its potential application. Bitumen emulsion can be manufactured in a batch plant or in-line plant. Being water based, it is capable to be applied under ambient temperature besides being more environmental friendly. Categorizing the bitumen emulsion is simple but the naming may differs slightly according to local specification. Continuous research also has end up in the modification of conventional bitumen emulsion using polymers to produce polymer modified bitumen (PMB) emulsion which decreases thermal susceptibility and permanent deformation (rutting). It has resulted in even wider application of bitumen emulsion as in microsurfacing, slurry seal and cape seal.