A new dieback disease of Acacia cyclops in South Africa caused by Pseudolagarobasidium acaciicola sp.nov.

2006 ◽  
Vol 84 (5) ◽  
pp. 750-758 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan R. Wood ◽  
J. Ginns
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Screening Tests ◽  
Dieback Disease ◽  
Acacia Cyclops ◽  
Environmental Weed

Acacia cyclops A. Cunn. ex G. Don (Fabaceae, Mimosoideae), originating from Western Australia, is a serious environmental weed in South Africa. A dieback disease of A. cyclops occurring in South Africa is described, and a fungus herein named Psuedolagarobasidium acaciicola Ginns sp.nov. (Basidiomycetes, Polyporales, Hyphodermataceae) was consistently isolated from diseased roots of A. cyclops trees showing early dieback symptoms. Isolates of P. acaciicola caused 100% mortality in pathogenicity screening tests using seedlings of A. cyclops. Saplings of A. cyclops were inoculated with one isolate of P. acaciicola, and all plants were killed within 2–3 months. No control plants died. Psuedolagarobasidium acaciicola was reisolated from all inoculated plants that died. Trees growing in the field were inoculated at two sites on two occasions. Most inoculated trees died within 2 years, whereas no control plants died. Eventually P. acaciicola fruited in vitro and in vivo allowing the basidiomes and cultures to be described. This fungus has potential to be developed as a bioherbicide to aid in the control of this serious environmental weed.

scholarly journals A Review of Plants Used in South African Traditional Medicine for the Management and Treatment of Hypertension

Planta Medica ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 85 (04) ◽  
pp. 312-334 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fatai Balogun ◽  
Anofi Ashafa
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Medicinal Plants ◽  
South African ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Agricultural Research ◽  
Higher Plants ◽  
In Vivo Studies ◽  
Research Councils

AbstractSouth Africa contains 9% of the worldʼs higher plants, and despite its rich biodiversity, it has one of the highest prevalence of hypertension in Africa. This review provides information on medicinal plants embraced in South Africa for hypertension management, with the aim of reporting pharmacological information on the indigenous use of these plants as antihypertensives. This review not only focuses on the activity of antihypertensive medicinal plants but also reports some of its phytochemical constituents and other ethnopharmacological and therapeutic properties. Information obtained from scientific and or unpublished databases such as Science Direct, PubMed, SciFinder, JSTOR, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and various books revealed 117 documented antihypertensive plant species from 50 families. Interestingly, Asteraceae topped the list with 16 species, followed by Fabaceae with 8 species; however, only 25% of all plant species have demonstrated antihypertensive effects originating from both in vitro and in vivo studies, lending credence to their folkloric use. Only 11 plant species reportedly possess antihypertensive properties in animal models, with very few species subjected to analytical processes to reveal the identity of their bioactive antihypertensive compounds. In this review, we hope to encourage researchers and global research institutions (universities, agricultural research councils, and medical research councils), particularly those showing an interest in natural products, for the need for concerted efforts to undertake more studies aimed at revealing the untapped potential of these plants. These studies are very important for the development of new pharmaceuticals of natural origin useful for the management of hypertension.

scholarly journals Long-Term Progestin-Only Contraceptives Result in Reduced Endometrial Blood Flow and Oxidative Stress

2006 ◽  
Vol 91 (9) ◽  
pp. 3633-3638 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Hickey ◽  
G. Krikun ◽  
P. Kodaman ◽  
Frederick Schatz ◽  
C. Carati ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Flow ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Access To Health Care ◽  
Abnormal Uterine Bleeding ◽  
Yale University ◽  
Discontinue Therapy ◽  
Endometrial Blood Flow

Abstract Context: Because of their safety and efficacy, long-term progestin-only contraceptives (LTPOCs) are well-suited for women with restricted access to health care. However, abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) causes half of all users to discontinue therapy within 12 months. Endometria of LTPOC-treated patients display aberrant angiogenesis with abnormally enlarged, thin-walled, fragile blood vessels, inflammation, and focal hemorrhage. In this study, similar effects were observed with a new third-generation implantable LTPOC. Objective: We hypothesized that LTPOC reduces uterine and endometrial blood flow, leading to hypoxia/reperfusion, which triggers the generation of reactive oxygen species. The latter induce aberrant angiogenesis, causing AUB. Design: Endometrial perfusion was measured by laser-Doppler fluxmetry in women requesting LTPOCs. Endometrial biopsies were obtained for in vivo and in vitro experiments. Setting: The study was conducted in the Yale University School of Medicine and Family-Planning Center in Western Australia. Patients: Seven women 18 yr or older requesting implantable LTPOCs were recruited in Western Australia. Intervention: Women received etonorgestrel implants. Main Outcome: LTPOC treatment resulted in reduced endometrial perfusion and increased endometrial oxidative damage. Conclusions: We propose that LTPOCs result in hypoxia reperfusion, which leads to aberrant angiogenesis resulting in AUB.

scholarly journals Medicinal Plants Used for the Traditional Management of Diabetes in the Eastern Cape, South Africa: Pharmacology and Toxicology

Molecules ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (11) ◽  
pp. 2759 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel Odeyemi ◽  
Graeme Bradley
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Medicinal Plants ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Traditional Healers ◽  
Bioactive Molecules ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
Insulin Mimetic ◽  
Almost All

The use of medicinal plants for the management of diabetes mellitus is on the rise in the developing countries, including South Africa. There is increasing scientific evidence that supports the claims by the traditional healers. In this review, we compare the families of previously reported anti-diabetic plants in the Eastern Cape by rating the anti-diabetic activity, mode of action and also highlight their therapeutic potentials based on the available evidence on their pharmacology and toxicity. Forty-five plants mentioned in ethnobotanical surveys were subjected to a comprehensive literature search in the available electronic databases such as PubMed, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar and Elsevier, by using “plant name” and “family” as the keywords for the primary searches to determine the plants that have been scientifically investigated for anti-diabetic activity. The search returned 25 families with Asteraceae highly reported, followed by Asphodelaceae and Alliaceae. Most of the plants have been studied for their anti-diabetic potentials in vivo and/or in vitro, with most of the plants having a higher percentage of insulin release and inhibition against carbohydrate digesting enzymes as compared with insulin mimetic and peripheral glucose uptake. Almost all the investigated plants also inhibit oxidative stress as part of their hypoglycemic activity with less toxicity. However, the isolation of their bioactive molecules is still lacking. This review provides a resource to enable thorough assessments of the therapeutic profiles of available medicinal plants used for the management of diabetes in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Further studies such as the identification of the active ingredients of potent plants still need to be carried out; this may lead to new molecules in drug discovery and development.

scholarly journals In vitro antimicrobial susceptibility of Mycoplasma mycoides mycoides large colony and Arcanobacterium pyogenes isolated from clinical cases of ulcerative balanitis and vulvitis in Dorper sheep in South Africa

2005 ◽  
Vol 76 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Kidanemariam ◽  
J. Gouws ◽  
M. Van Vuuren ◽  
B. Gummow
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Inhibition Zone ◽  
Antimicrobial Drugs ◽  
Disk Diffusion Test ◽  
Large Colony ◽  
Mycoplasma Mycoides ◽  
Inhibition Zones ◽  
Arcanobacterium Pyogenes

The in vitro activities of enrofloxacin, florfenicol, oxytetracycline and spiramycin were determined against field isolates of Mycoplasma mycoides mycoides large colony (MmmLC) by means of the broth microdilution technique. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of these antimicrobial drugs were determined for a representative number of 10 isolates and 1 type strain. The susceptibility of Arcanobacterium pyogenes to enrofloxacin, oxytetracycline and tilmicosin was determined by means of an agar disk diffusion test. The MICs of enrofloxacin, florfenicol, oxytetracycline and spiramycin were within the ranges of 0.125-0.5, 1.0-2.0, 2.0-4.0 and 4.0-8.0 µg / m , respectively. This study has shown that resistance of MmmLC against enrofloxacin, florfenicol, oxytetracycline and spiramycin was negligible. All the field strains of A. pyogenes that were tested were susceptible to enrofloxacin, oxytetracycline and tilmicosin with mean inhibition zones of 30.6, 42.3 and 35.8mm, respectively. Although there is lack of data on in vivo efficacy and in vitro MIC or inhibition zone diameter breakpoints of these antimicrobial drugs for MmmLC, the MIC results indicate that these 4 classes of antimicrobial drugs should be effective in the treatment of ulcerative balanitis and vulvitis in sheep in South Africa.

scholarly journals Protein-based RBD-C-tag COVID-19 Vaccination Candidate Elicits Protection Activity against SARS-COV-2 Variant Infection

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaganathan Subramani ◽  
Namir Shaabani ◽  
Dhwani Shetty ◽  
Haiwa Wu ◽  
Sunkuk Kwon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
T Cells ◽  
Aluminum Phosphate ◽  
Spike Protein ◽  
Igg Antibodies ◽  
Th1 Polarization ◽  
Protection Activity ◽  
Virus Strains

ABSTRACTThe identification of a vaccination candidate against COVID-19 providing protecting activity against emerging SARS-COV-2 variants remains challenging. Here, we report protection activity against a spectrum of SARS-COV-2 and variants by immunization with protein-based recombinant RBD-C-tag administered with aluminum-phosphate adjuvant intramuscularly. Immunization of C57BL/6 mice with RBD-C-tag resulted in the in vivo production of IgG antibodies recognizing the immune-critical spike protein of the SARS-COV-2 virus as well as the SARS-COV-2 variants alpha (“United Kingdom”), beta (“South Africa”), gamma (“Brazil/Japan”), and delta (“India”) as well as wt-spike protein. RBD-C-tag immunization led to a desired Th1 polarization of CD4 T cells producing IFNγ. Importantly, RBD-C-tag immunization educated IgG production delivers antibodies that exert neutralizing activity against the highly transmissible SARS-COV-2 virus strains “Washington”, “South Africa” (beta), and “India” (delta) as determined by conservative infection protection experiments in vitro. Hence, the protein-based recombinant RBD-C-tag is considered a promising vaccination candidate against COVID-19 and a broad range of emerging SARS-COV-2 virus variants.

Roles of Medicinal Plants and Constituents in Gynecological Cancer Therapy: Current Literature and Future Directions

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (20) ◽  
pp. 1772-1790 ◽  
Author(s):  
Esra Küpeli Akkol ◽  
Fatma Tuğçe Gürağaç Dereli ◽  
Eduardo Sobarzo-Sánchez ◽  
Haroon Khan
Keyword(s):  
Medicinal Plants ◽  
Gynecological Cancer ◽  
Gestational Trophoblastic Disease ◽  
Screening Tests ◽  
Synthetic Drugs ◽  
Interdisciplinary Approaches ◽  
Intrinsic Complexity ◽  
Psychosocial Conditions

: Gynecologic cancers, including cervical, primary peritoneal, ovarian, uterine/endometrial, vaginal and vulvar cancers and gestational trophoblastic disease, are characterized by abnormal cell proliferation in female reproductive cells. Due to the variable pathology of these cancers and the lack of appropriate screening tests in developing countries, cancer diagnosis can be reported in advanced stages in most women and this situation adversely affects prognosis and clinical outcomes of illness. For this reason, many researchers in the field of gynecological oncology have carried out many studies. : The treatment of various gynecological problems, which cause physical, biological and psychosocial conditions such as fear, shame, blame and anger, has been important throughout the history. Treatment with herbs has become popular nowadays due to the serious side effects of the synthetic drugs used in treatment and the medical and economical problems caused by them. Many scientists have identified various active drug substances through in vivo and in vitro biological activity studies on medicinal plants from the past to the present. While the intrinsic complexity of natural product-based drug discoveries requires highly integrated interdisciplinary approaches, scientific and technological advances and research trends clearly show that natural products will be among the most important new drug sources in the future. : In this review, an overview of the studies conducted for the discovery of multitargeted drug molecules in the rational treatment of gynecological cancers is presented.

scholarly journals Antibacterial Activity of Wild Mushroom Extracts on Bacterial Wilt Pathogen Ralstonia solanacearum

Plant Disease ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 100 (2) ◽  
pp. 453-464 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jana Erjavec ◽  
Maja Ravnikar ◽  
Jože Brzin ◽  
Tine Grebenc ◽  
Andrej Blejec ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antibacterial Activity ◽  
Bacterial Wilt ◽  
Ralstonia Solanacearum ◽  
Microtiter Plate ◽  
Screening Tests ◽  
Wild Mushroom ◽  
Early Screening ◽  
Mushroom Species

In total, 150 protein extracts from 94 different basidiomycete and ascomycete wild mushroom species were tested for antibacterial activity against the quarantine plant-pathogen bacterium Ralstonia solanacearum. In in vitro microtiter plate assays, 15 extracts with moderate to high antibacterial activities were identified: 11 completely inhibited bacterial growth and 4 showed partial inhibition. Of these 15 extracts, 5 were further tested and 3 extracts slowed disease progression and reduced disease severity in artificially inoculated tomato and potato plants. However, the in vitro activities of the extracts did not always correlate with their in vivo activities, which emphasizes the importance of performing early screening tests also in vivo. Testing of selected extracts against 12 R. solanacearum strains identified 6 with potential for broader applicability. Further analysis of extracts from Amanita phalloides and Clitocybe geotropa showed that the active substances are proteins with an approximate size of 180 kDa. To our knowledge, this is the first in vitro and in vivo study that demonstrates that mushroom protein extracts can be promising for treatment of bacterial wilt caused by R. solanacearum.

scholarly journals IMCA Induces Ferroptosis Mediated by SLC7A11 through the AMPK/mTOR Pathway in Colorectal Cancer

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lei Zhang ◽  
Wen Liu ◽  
Fangyan Liu ◽  
Qun Wang ◽  
Mengjiao Song ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Colorectal Cancer ◽  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Screening Tests ◽  
Therapeutic Drug ◽  
Solute Carrier Family ◽  
Colorectal Cancer Cells ◽  
Solute Carrier ◽  
The Impact

Ferroptosis, implicated in several diseases, is a new form of programmed and nonapoptotic cell death triggered by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation after inactivation of the cystine/glutamate antiporter system xc–, which is composed of solute carrier family 7 membrane 11 (SLC7A11) and solute carrier family 3 membrane 2 (SLC3A2). Therefore, inducing ferroptosis through inhibiting the cystine/glutamate antiporter system xc– may be an effective way to treat cancer. In previous screening tests, we found that the benzopyran derivative 2-imino-6-methoxy-2H-chromene-3-carbothioamide (IMCA) significantly inhibited the viability of colorectal cancer cells. However, the impact of IMCA on ferroptosis remains unknown. Hence, this study investigated the effect of IMCA on ferroptosis and elucidated the underlying molecular mechanism. Results showed that IMCA significantly inhibited the cell viability of colorectal cancer cells in vitro and inhibited tumor growth with negligible organ toxicity in vivo. Further studies showed that IMCA significantly induced the ferroptosis of colorectal cancer cells. Mechanistically, IMCA downregulated the expression of SLC7A11 and decreased the contents of cysteine and glutathione, which resulted in reactive oxygen species accumulation and ferroptosis. Furthermore, overexpression of SLC7A11 significantly attenuated the ferroptosis caused by IMCA. In addition, IMCA regulated the activity of the AMPK/mTOR/p70S6k signaling pathway, which is related to the activity of SLC7A11 and ferroptosis. Collectively, our research provided experimental evidences on the activity and mechanism of ferroptosis induced by IMCA and revealed that IMCA might be a promising therapeutic drug for colorectal cancer.

Correlation of in vivo and in vitro screening tests

1978 ◽  
Vol 4 (10) ◽  
pp. 296-299 ◽  
Author(s):  
Larz S.W. Spångberg
Keyword(s):  
Screening Tests ◽  
In Vitro Screening

Limitations on the Reliability of In Vitro Predictive Toxicity Models to Predict Pulmonary Toxicity in Rodents

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeremy M. Gernand
Keyword(s):  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Information Value ◽  
Screening Tests ◽  
In Vitro Tests ◽  
Screening Methods ◽  
Toxicity Screening ◽  
Animal Testing ◽  
Risk Models

Given the rapidly proliferating varieties of nanomaterials and ongoing concerns that these novel materials may pose emerging occupational and environmental risks, combined with the possibility that each variety might pose a different unique risk due to the unique combination of material properties, researchers and regulators have been searching for methods to identify hazards and prioritize materials for further testing. While several screening tests and toxic risk models have been proposed, most have relied on cellular-level in vitro data. This foundation enables answers to be developed quickly for any material, but it is yet unclear how this information may translate to more realistic exposure scenarios in people or other more complex animals. A quantitative evaluation of these models or at least the inputs variables to these models in the context of rodent or human health outcomes is necessary before their classifications may be believed for the purposes of risk prioritization. This paper presents the results of a machine learning enabled meta-analysis of animal studies attempting to use significant descriptors from in vitro nanomaterial risk models to predict the relative toxicity of nanomaterials following pulmonary exposures in rodents. A series of highly non-linear random forest models (each made up of an ensemble of 1,000 regression tree models) were created to assess the maximum possible information value of the in vitro risk models and related methods of describing nanomaterial variants and their toxicity in rat and mouse experiments. The variety of chemical descriptors or quantitative chemical property measurements such as bond strength, surface charge, and dissolution potential, while important in describing observed differences with in vitro experiments, proved to provide little indication of the relative magnitude of inflammation in rodents (explained variance amounted to less than 32%). Important factors in predicting rodent pulmonary inflammation such as primary particle size and chemical type demonstrate that there are critical differences between these two toxicity assays that cannot be captured by a series of in vitro tests alone. Predictive models relying primarily on these descriptors alone explained more than 62% of the variance of the short term in vivo toxicity results. This means that existing proposed nanomaterial toxicity screening methods are inadequate as they currently stand, and either the community must be content with the slower and more expensive animal testing to evaluate nanomaterial risks, or further conceptual development of improved alternative in vitro screening methodologies is necessary before manufacturers and regulators can rely on them to promote safer use of nanotechnology.

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