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Biotechnological Plants and the development of Biological Medicating Agents

Biotechnological Plants and the development of Biological Medicating Agents

Biotechnological plants have developed many useful medicines that has made possible to deal successfully with various life threatening diseases. With the introduction of therapeutic proteins that are better called as biological medicating agents, various health disorders can be eliminated fro the root. These anti-disease proteins are extracted from the natural sources such as plants and animals, and they possess tremendous potential to cure the crucial diseases with minimal or no risks to cause side-effects.

According to the recent reports, around 130 therapeutic proteins are now available in the pharmaceutical world market and large numbers are under their various stages of development. The discovery of human insulin that was the first restorative protein led to the fast growth of several branches related to the development and production of the pharmaceutical products. These provide ultimate options for various treatment therapies and thus deliver significant results in the field of fast recovery from health defects.

These proteins have wide application areas and are able to cure many lethal diseases such as diabetes, blood clotting disorders, etc. Several human vaccines have also been developed to provide immunity against the viral infections. Due to their inherent capability to provide effective solutions against numerous diseases, they are in high demand.

Theoretically, every living organism can be considered as the potential source of therapeutic proteins. But only few sources are available now for the extraction of these useful medicating agents. The best among them is Escherichia coli, a bacterium that can be easily operated as various studies related to its growth characteristics are already examined. They provide better transformation process so that sufficient quantities of proteins can be cultivated from them. Thus the biotechnological plants have developed biological medicating agents that have given new dimensions to pharmaceutical engineering.

 

For more information on Pharmaceutical engineering and the benefits of Biotechnological plants please visit the mentioned website

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Studies on Quorum Sensing Principle Among Seaweed Epibiotic Bacterial Organisms

Studies on Quorum Sensing Principle Among Seaweed Epibiotic Bacterial Organisms

Introduction

We are living in a microbial planet. About 71 % of the surface of this planet is covered by sea water. A typical milliliter of seawater contains 103 fungal cells, 106 bacteria, and 107 viruses, including pathogens that cause widespread -ortalities and microbes that initiate fouling of host surfaces ‘Rheinheimer, 1992). Thus, marine plants and animals are continually exposed to high concentrations of potentially harmful microbes. These microorganisms in nature exists as free living planktonic mode of life in sea water or it may exist as epibiotic organisms in various living and nonliving surfaces. Among living organisms, seaweeds and invertebrates act as suitable substrate for the establishment of epibiotic organisms Seaweeds are known to release a large amount of organic carbon into the surrounding environment providing a nutrient rich habitat for microorganisms like bacteria. Bacteria are generally considered to be independent unicellular organisms. One cell accomplishes all of the tasks of feeding, locomotion, ‘reproduction, respiration and all other processes necessary to keep an organism alive. There are several classes of bacteria such as primary film forming bacteria, sediment bacteria, symbiotic bacteria, and epibiotic bacteria in various aquatic organisms. The marine surface environment is a site of intense composition for living space by a wide variety of organisms. Bacteria are generally recognized as primary colonizers of this habitat and are able to form biofilm on marine surface such as invertebrates and algae (Bryers, et al., 1982). Bacteria may also be abundant on the surfaces of some algae as an important epibiotic organism. In many cases, the bacterial population found to be specific, with changes occurring throughout the year or life span of the algal surface. This algal-bacterial relationship is symbiotic in most cases; the epibiotic bacteria in seaweed play a protective role by releasing secondary metabolites into the surrounding seawater that help preventing extensive fouling of the surface. Epibiotic bacteria are therefore attracting attention as a source of new natural products. Bacteria from the larvae of some crustaceans protect them from fungal infection by the production of simple antimicrobial compounds. Bacteria isolated from the surface of a tunicate prevented the settlement of barnacle and tunicate larvae exposed to the bacteria as biofilm in petridishes (Evelyn et al., 2001). Seaweeds itself secretes secondary metabolites to prevent fouling and grazing. In addition to that epibiotic bacteria on macro algae can also produce antifouling compounds that work in concert with the seaweed derived compounds to protect the seaweed surface. Recent studies have highlighted important roles of epibiotic bacteria colonizing the surface of seaweeds and releasing antifouling compounds. For the past 50 years antibiotics have revolutionized medicine by providing cures for formerly life threatening diseases. However, strains of bacteria have recently emerged that are virtually unresponsive to antibiotics such multidrug resistance, arising mainly through antibiotic misuse, is now recognized as a global health problem. In this situation, it is clear that new classes of antibiotics are urgently needed. Many marine bacteria have been shown to produce secondary metabolites that display antibacterial properties. The first antibiotic from a marine bacterium was identified and characterized in 1966. In addition, bacteria in biofilm on the surface of marine organisms have been documented to contain a higher proportion of antibiotic producing bacteria than some other marine environments (Burgess, et al., 1999). Marine epibiotic bacteria, associated with nutrient-rich algal surfaces have also been shown to produce antibacterial secondary metabolites which inhibit the settlement of potential competitors. Recently a lot new novel antibiotics such as Phenazine, thiomarinol, phenazine-1-carboxylic acid, 1-hydroxyphenazine 2-n-heptylquinol-4-one, 2-n-nonylquinol-4-one pyolipic, loloatins, agrochelin, sesbanimides, pelagiomicins, indomycione and indomycione have been identified from various marine epibiotic bacterial organisms. In particular, some species of the genus Pseudomonas produce both antibiotics and several other bioactive substances. For example, Pseudoalteromonas rubra and Pseudoalteromonas aurantia have been reported to be antibiotic producing bacteria. The phenomenon of higher organisms utilizing their associated microflora for the production of beneficial secondary metabolites is common in the marine environment (Yotsu, et al., 1987). A study of bacteria isolated from marine algae surfaces indicated that the incidence of antibiotic producing strains from this habitat was 20% whereas that from sea water was only a few percent. In addition, some bacteria that previously did not produce any active compounds have been found to be producing such metabolites when they are exposed to other bacterial species or extra cellular chemical from other bacteria. Bacteria may also produce antimicrobial compounds when they sense the presence of competing organisms. However, few attempts have been made to study such chemical communication between different bacterial species or how this might affect. The secretion of antimicrobial compounds (Mearns-Spragg, et al., 1998). Bacterial communication by the chemical signals for specific function is simply known as Quorum sensing. In which a bacterial population receives input from the environment and elicits an appropriate response (Hiroaki and Kristina. 2003). The term “quorum sensing” describes the ability of a microorganism to perceive and response to diffusible signal molecules. Bacterial cells sense their population density through a sophisticated cell to cell communication system and trigger expression of particular genes. Tne first system of density-dependent regulation was studied in detail with the luminescence of Photobacterium fischeri (formerly known as Vibrio fischeri) by Bassler et al., 1997. Eventually, they discovered that 3-oxo-N-(tetrahydro-2-oxo-3-furanyl) hexanamid or N-3-(oxohexanoyl) homoserine lactone (OHHL) was responsible the agent in the broth that induced luminescence. Followed by this many researchers have confirmed that in Gram negative bacteria acyl-homoserine lactone is responsible for the cell to cell communication system.

In gram positive bacteria peptide and derivative peptide based signaling molecules seem to be the predominant mode of communication. During high cell density the marine bacteria can produce enzymes, surfactants, toxins, and antibiotics by the chemical signal communication. Marine epibiotic bacteria are also known to produce compounds active against drug resistant hospital pathogen by the cross species induction method. Building on assays described by Austin (Billaud and Austin 1990) a screening procedure has been developed in which marine bacteria are challenged by exposing them to terrestrial bacteria prior to assay of antimicrobial compounds. Hence in this present investigation it is proposed to find out the ability of sea weed epibiotic bacterial organism to produce antibacterial compounds through quorum sensing.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

SAMPLE COLLECTION

Seaweed samples were collected from Gulf of Mannar Marine Biosphere Reserve and identified up to species level by using CMFRI bulletin (14) as follows:

Table 1. List of Seaweeds species collected for the present study

SPECIES NAME FAMILY

Halimeda gracilis Chlorophyceae

Ulva lactuca Chlorophyceae

Microdictyon tenunis Chlorophyceae

Chondrococcus hornemonii Chlorophyceae

Enteromorpha intestinalis Chlorophyceae

Caulerpa cupressoides Chlorophyceae

Caulerpa racemosa Chlorophyceae

Dictyota dichotoma Phaeophyceae

Turbinaria ornata Phaeophyceae

Padina gymnospora Phaeophyceae

Sargassum cinearifolium Phaeophyceae

Dictyota batryensis Phaeophyceae

Sargassum sps Phaeophyceae

Hypnea musciformis Rhodophyceae

Acanthophora dendroides Rhodophyceae

Jania rubens Rhodophyceae

Hypnea valentiae Rhodophyceae

Hypnea pannose Rhodophyceae

Hypnea esperi Rhodophyceae

Acanthophora spicifera Rhodophyceae

ISOLATION OF EPIPHYTIC BACTERIA

The collected seaweed samples were thoroughly washed with sterile seawater to removes the loosely attached bacteria/particles. Seaweed fronds were scrubbed with sterile cotton swabs to obtain epiphytic bacteria. Epiphytic bacterial organism in the swab were inoculated in sterile peptone broth (50% sea water) and incubated at 28°C in an incubated shaker (220 rpm / min) for overnight. After the incubation period the enriched cultures were serially diluted up to 10-8 concentration and 200 microlitre of each diluted samples were transferred into the nutrient agar plate (50% sea water). The plates were incubated at 28°C for 5 days and the plates with crowded colonies were selected. In the crowded plates those colonies, which showed the sign of inhibition zone around its margin to the neighboring colony, were selected and considered as producer strain. The neighboring sensitive colonies were treated as inducer strain. Both producer and inducer strains were streaked repeatedly until to get pure culture. The pure culture were properly labeled and subjected to the quorum sensing analysis.

QUORUM SENSING

EXPERIMENT NUMBER 1

In this present study, the producer and inducer strains were cross reacted to find out the production of antibiotic compound through quorum sensing. Totally three set of cultures were maintained as follows (along with one as control).

A. Live cells of producer and inducer strains

B. Live cells of producer strain alone

C. Live cells of inducer strain alone

In culture system A 200ul of 16 hours old broth culture of both producer and inducer strains were added to the 15 ml of nutrient broth.

In culture system B 200ul of 16 hours old producer strain alone was inoculated.

In culture system C 200ul of 16 hours old inducer strain alone was inoculated.

All the cultures were incubated at 28°C for 5 days. After the incubation period the cultures were centrifuged at 10,000 rpm for 15mins. The supernatant was collected and subjected to antibacterial assay with respective inducer strain.

EXPERIMENT NUMBER 2

In this experiment, culture supernatant was obtained as per the procedure given in the experiment 1. 50ml of supernatant was mixed with equal volume of 80% methanol and 1% acetic acid mixture and it was shaked thoroughly in a separating funnel. Finally the methanol and acetic acid fractions were collected and concentrated by evaporation using water bath at 55°C. The viscous colloidal residues were resuspended in 600 microlitre of 50% methanol and it was used for antibacterial assay against different test organism.

TEST ORGANISMS:

1. Epiphytic Vibrio from seaweeds

2. Vibrio from primary film

3. Vibrio from Sediments

4. Pathogenic bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella sp. and Proteus sp

The test organisms Vibrio species were isolated from seaweed as epiphyles, biofilm, sediment and puffer fish by using TCBS medium (Hi media) The pathogenic bacteria were collected from clinical laboratories.

ANTIBIOTIC ASSAYS

Antibiotic activity was performed in duplicate using a standard paper disc diffusion method as well as well assay. In well assay 10mm in diameter wells were made in marine agar plates and the plates were swabbed with 16 hours old inducer strain. To these wells 200ul of cell free supernatant were added to each well. In paper disc assay the Watmann no.1 filter paper discs (6mm in diameter) were saturated with 200ul of cell free supernatant. The impregnant discs were Dlaced in the centre of the plates swabbed with test organisms. The plates were Incubated at 37°C overnight and observed for inhibition zone. The zone of inhibition was measured as the distance from the border of paper disc to the edge of the clear zone and expressed in mm.

BACTERIAL IDENTIFICATION

The organisms responded to the quorum sensing process alone were identified by the following biochemical analysis.

Colony morphology, Gram staining, Motility test, Oxidase test, Catalase test, Indole Production, Methyl red test, Voges Proskauer test, Citrate Utilization test, Triple sugar Iron test, Nitrate reduction test, Lactose fermentation, Urease test

Starch hydrolysis test, Protein hydrolysis test, Lipid hydrolysis test, Oxidative / Fermentative test, Salt concentration (0%, 3%, 5%, 7%, 10%), TCBS, Growth in Temperature, 42°C and 47°C

All the above mentioned biochemical tests were performed by following standard methodology given in the Microbiological Laboratory Manual by James 3.Cappuccino (1999).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:

QUORUM SENSING/CROSS SPECIES INDUCTION ANALYSIS

In the present investigation totally 54 isolates were collected out of seaweed species. Among 54 isolates, 17 of them are producer strain, another 17 are the inducer strain rest of 20 isolates is normal and not showing any signs of activity (Table.2).

a) Among these 17 producers strain 6 strains were isolated from Hypnea musiformis. 6 from Gracillaria edulis, 4 from Ulva lactuca & 1 from Sediment.

b) Among these 17-inducer strain 6 strains were isolated from Hypnea musiformis, 6 from Gracillaria edulis, 4 from Ulva lactuca & 1 from sediment.

All the 17 strains were named as

PRODUCERS STAINS

BrA+, BrB+, BrC+, BrD+, BrE+, BrF+ Hypnea musiformis

GcA+, GcB+, GcC+, GcD+, GcE+, GcF+ Gracillaria edulis

U1+, U2+, U3+, U4+ Ulva lactuca

SA+ Sediment

INDUCER STRAIN

BrA-, BrB-, BrC-, BrD-, BrE-, BrF- Hypnea musiformis

GcA-, GcB-, GcC-, GcD- GcE-, GcF- Gracillaria edulis

U1-, U2-, U3-, U4- Ulva lactuca

SA- Sediment

In this experiment among 17 Producer and Inducer strains only 3 of them have responded to the quorum sensing principle. (BrB+/Bo-?, (GcC+/GcC) and (SA+/SA-)

Table 2: The results of Quorum Sensing analysis of epibiotic bacterial isolates from seaweeds.

Seaweed sample Producer organism Inducer organism Cross-species producer with inducer Cross-species supernatant test with inducer Zone of clearance (mm)

Hypnea musiformis 1. BrA+2. BrB+3. BrC+4. BrD+5. BrE+6. BrF+ BrA-BrB-BrC-BrD-BrE-BrF- Br A+ /Br A-Br B+ /Br B-Br C+/Br C-Br D+/Br D-Br E+/Br E-Br F+/Br F- BrA-Br B-BrC-BrD-BrE-BrF- NIL39NILNILNILNIL

Gracillariaedulis 7. GcA+8. GcB+9. GcC+10. GcD+11. GcE+12. GcF+ GcA-GcB-GcC-GcD-GcE-GcF- Gc A+/Gc-Gc B+/Gc-Gc C+/Gc-Gc D+/Gc-Gc E+ /GcE-Gc F+/Gc- GcA-GcB-GcC-GcD-GcE-GcF- NILNIL26NILNILNIL

Ulva lactuca 13. U1+14: U2+15. U3+16. U4+ U1-U2-U3-U4- U1+/U0-U2+/U0-U3+/U0-U4+/U4- U1-U2-U3-U4- NILNILNILNIL

Sediment 17. SA+ SA- SA+/SA- SA- 28

c) The normal 20 bacterial strains isolated from 20 algal species were crossed with terrestrial bacteria such as E-coli, Staphylococcus aureus separately

This experiment does not showed any inhibition zones

Bacterial identification

The 3 producer and 3 inducer strains which were responded the quorum sensing principles alone were subjected to biochemical analysis for identification. The obtained results revealed that all the producer strains showed sings of Pseudomonas sps and the inducer strains showed signs of Vibrio sps. So, based on the obtained result all the producer strains seems to be a Pseudomonas sps where as all the Inducer strain belongs to the genus vibrio.

In the present investigation, it was aimed to produce the antibiotics from the seaweed epibionts through quorum sensing principle. The bacterial isolates of seaweed epibionts were identified as species of Pseudomonas and Vibrio from seaweeds Hypnea musiformis and Gracillaria edulis. In this study the Pseudomonas acts as a producer strain and Vibrio as inducer strain. The recent finding says that the seaweed epibionts having potential to control the metabolic activity of competitor organisms. Allison et al., 1998 reported that many bacterial strains up on attaching to a surface produce exopolysaccharides or exopolypeptides. In addition, it has been postulated that exopolysaccharides could mediate the attachment of the bacteria to the surface and induce metabolic changes.

The results of Vanderivere and Kirchman 1993 suggest that the addition of increased surface by adding sand will induce the exopolymer synthesis through the high cell density dependent system. In the same way the bacterial organisms attached to the surface of seaweed shows alteration of genes expression may be due to the response to the high competitive environment. When cell density increases the competition for space and nutrients are also increased. So the existing bacteria were forced to protect themselves in this competitive environment. Normally in this condition the bacteria will be activated to induce the expression of certain hidden genes in genetic material through quorum sensing. The quorum sensing is principles were active compounds (autoinducer) from bacterial cell will promote the expression of a particular hidden gene of other bacterial organism in a stressed condition.

Quorum sensing usually focused on the bacteria growing in homogeneous environment. However few studies have attempted to a study this principle in heterogeneous environment also. In this present investigation we have attempted to study both homogeneous as well as heterogeneous environment. In former one we have isolated producer strain in seaweed eipbionts and it shows inhibitory activity against the inducer organism at the same seaweed epibionts. Later producer strains from seaweed epibionts, were treated with various Vibrio organisms from different environment. The obtain result of this study shows that the producer strain are capable of secreting antibiotic compounds not only to their natural competitors in its own habitate but also to the pathogen inhabiting in a distant related environment.

In the gram negative bacteria AHSL is an active principle of quorum sensing. Our producer strain is also been identified as Pseudomonas sps. So in these organisms also active principle must falls under the AHSL. The cell-cell signaling mechanism can either require import of the signal and subsequent interaction with intracellular effectors or a two-component signaling system that transducers the information across the membrane. In V. harveyi genetic analysis of the density sensing apparatus has two independent density-sensing systems, and each is composed of a sensor-auto inducer pair; system one is composed of sensor I and Al -1, and system two is composed of sensor 2 and AI-2. The two densities – sensing system are redundant, because a null mutation in either system alone results in expression of hidden genes (Bassler, et al.,1999.).

The earlier genetic analysis in Pseudomonas reveals the Pseudomonas consist of two quorum sensing systems as Las R1-I and Rh1R-l and have linked with R and I genes, in addition recently a third Lux R homolog that is advanced to a cluster of quorum sensing – controlled (qsc) genes were detected. Las R is a transcriptional regulator that responses primarily to the Las I – generated signal and Rh1R is a transcriptional regularly that responses best to the Rhl -generated signal. In Pseudomonas auriginosa, at low population densities Las I produce a basel level of 3-O-C12-HSL. As density increases, 3-0-C12-HSL builds to a critical concentration, at which point interacts with LasR. This Las R -3-0-012-HSL complex that activates transcription of a number of genes [Whileley, et al., 1999].

We suggest that the above said mechanisms in Pseudomonas with quorum sensing principle might have occurred in the present study also. This induces the bacteria Pseudomonas in epibiotic seaweeds to secrete certain active compound against to the competitor Vibrio species.

In this present work the totally 54 isolates were screened from 20 different seaweed species out of which 34 species were showed the signs of quorum sensing i.e. 17 producer and 17 inducer strains, but when these organisms where subjected to quorum sensing principle in mixed culture only 3 them have responded. So the present study reveals around 17% of bacterial species isolated from seaweeds and sediment were responded to quorum sensing. According to the results of bacteria isolated from marine algae surfaces indicated that the incidence of antibiotic producing strains from this habitat was 20% where as that from sea water was only a few percent. In the present study also reveals more or less the same ratio in Pseudomonas spp. was observed. Our results also reveals a results of Kell et al., 1995; Stead et al., 1996; they have said the culture supernatant of Pseudomonas sps known to contain AHLS which induces the production of phenazine antibiotics. In this investigation due to time constraint, It was not attempted to identify the active compound secreted by Pseudomonas through quorum sensing, which may leave the space for the further intensive research in future.

In concluding this discussion, the quorum sensing is wider spread among bacterial population then was previously thought, (In Gram positive, Gram negative bacterial communication). Current assays for antimicrobial activities are inadequate because some antibiotic producing bacteria may require the presence of another bacterial species. These findings have important implication for the discovery of novel antimicrobial compounds from marine bacteria and may allow the development of new methods for screening novel compounds active against multidrug resistant bacteria.

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Vijaya baskar.P

PH.D SCHOLAR

DEPARTMENT OF BIOTECHNOLOGY

DR.GRD COLLEGE OF SCIENCE

COIMBATORE


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Question by D is for Daniel: Was the overall impact of Science and Medicine on society positive or negative?
How did the following breakthroughs in science affect the world scientifically, economically, politically, ethically and religiously?

1. The Heliocentric Theory
Led to the changing of views and perspectives toward science and religion
2. Theory of Evolution
Led to the advancement of biology, inspired Social-Darwinism, and went against the Church
3. The Germ Theory
Led to new methods in the curing of disease, biotechnology (e.g. fermentation) and bio-warfare
4. The Manhattan Project
Creation of new energy alternatives, changed modern warfare for the worse

I just need a summary of the points arguing for and against science but details and examples from the above 4 breakthroughs would be useful.

Thanks!

Best answer:

Answer by Jody
2. Charles Darwin’s Theory of Evolution states that the White race is supreme.

Racial tensions escalated because of this conclusion. Darwin wasn’t American by the way.

3. Antibiotics caused resistant bacteria strains and may be weakening immune systems with precautionalry overuse over the generations.

4. The atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima

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Posted by xblackmindx - November 17, 2010 at 7:37 am

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Chemical Composition, Minerals, Protein Fractionation, and Anti-nutrition factors in leaf of hargel plant (Solenostemma argel)

Chemical Composition, Minerals, Protein Fractionation, and Anti-nutrition factors in leaf of hargel plant (Solenostemma argel)

Chemical Composition, Minerals, Protein Fractionation, and Anti-nutrition factors in leaf of hargel plant (Solenostemma argel)

1 Murwan K. Sabah El-Kheir and 2 Murwa A.M

1 and 2 Department of Biochemistry, School of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Al Neelain University, Sudan.

E-mail: murwansabahelkhier@yahoo.com

Abstract:

This experiment was conducted in the Lab. of Biochemistry Department in 2003. The leaf of (Solenostemma argel) characterized by high carbohydrates (64.8%) and low crude fiber (6.5%). In addition the leaf contained 15 % protein, 1.6% crude oil, 7.7% ash, and 4.4% moisture content.  The results revealed that the leaf contained high potassium (0.54%), calcium (0.06%), magnesium (0.03%) and sodium (0.01%), but it characterized by low cupper (0.0001%), ferrous (0.002%), manganese (0.002%) and lead (0.001%). The protein fractionation of leaf characterized by high Albumins (16.7%), Non- Nitrogenous Protein (15.3%), Prolamine (11.7) and low Globulins (8.7 %), and Glutulin (6.2%). Leaf contained phytic acid (3.2 g/100g and tannin content (0.4%).

Key words: Hargel, Herb, Calcium and tannin.

1. Introduction

Hargel is (Solenostemma argel ) a plant or plant part of valued for its medicinal, aromatic or savory qualities. Herb plants produce and contain a variety of chemical substances that act upon the body (Shayoub, 2003). Herbs had been used all cultures throughout history. The primitive man observed and appreciated the great diversity of plants available to him. The plants provided food, clothing, shelter, and medicine (Shayoub, 2003). Certainly herbs have their place as self help minor infections, cough, cold, stomach upset, indigestion, catarrh, constipation and so on (WHO, 2002; Mcntyres 2003). Herbal medicine has provided the worlds population with safe, effective and low cost natural substances (medicine) for centuries (Shayoub, 2003).In Sudan, man is still depending on plants in the traditional uses especially in remote rural areas as main or the only source of healthcare, it begins at the house hold level, where family members posses a great sum of knowledge on the diagnosis and treatment of common ailments as their geographical and economical status dose not allow a chance for medical care (Agib, 2000).The plant used in this present investigation is Solenostemma argel (Del.) Haynes which is a member of the family Asclepiadaceae, it is a desert plant which widely distributed in Egypt, Libya, Chad, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Central and Northern part of the Sudan (Halima, 2001).However, among these above mentioned countries, Sudan is regarded as the richest source of the hargel plant which  found between Barbar and Abu Hamad.  In other Arabic countries and Sudan, the tradition name of this plant is hargel. The part used of the plant is dried leaves and stems (EL. Kamali, 1991).El-Kamali (1991) and Yagoub (2003) explained that the alcoholic extract of Solenostemma argel has anti fungal effect while

Mudawi (2003) reported that the chloroform extract (600 – 800 mg) induced a delayed and gradual decrease in amplitude of the spontaneous contractions of pregnant or non-pregnant uterus. Ross and their co-workers (1980) illustrated the presence of antibiotic substances in the ethanol extracts of Hargel plant. Khalid and their co-workers (1974) stated the presence of Kampferol and Steroidal glycosides in leaves of hargel.While Plaza, et al. (2003) reported that the protein, sugar, fiber, and vitamins are  present with minerals Na+, K+, Ca+2, Mg+2, Ni+3, P+3 and there is occurrence of four new pregnant glycosides from the priecarps of Solenostemma argel. The presence of biologically active components such as phytates and phenolic compounds are found to have adverse effects on intrinsic properties of proteins (Yagoub, 2003). Goldstein and Swain (1963) showed that the tannins are phenolic polymers precipitate protein from aqueous solution and it is reduce or inhibit enzyme activity. Phytic acid represents a complex class of naturally occurring organic form of phosphorus compounds that can significantly influence the functional and nutritional properties of foods (Fageer, 2003).

The objectives of this study are included:

The present work is an attempt to add something new and useful to trial and efforts basis through the use of Hargel plant (Solenosetemma argel). Sine Sudan is considered as one of the countries containing a wide variety of flora. Our objectives are namely: determine the chemical composition (moisture, protein, ash, fat, crude fiber and carbohydrate), mineral content (Ca, Mg, K., Na, Fe, Mn, Cu, Pb), protein fractionation (Albumin, Globulin, Prolamine, Glutulin and non-protein nitrogen), and anti-nutritional factors (Tannins and phytic acid) of leaf of Solenosetemma argel.

2. Experimental

2.1 Sample preparation

Leaves of Hargel plant were obtained from Department of Botany, Faculty of Agriculture, and University of Khartoum. The leaves of Solenostemma argel were cleaned from dust and foreign materials by hand and separately freed from other parts of plant and crushed by electricity machine into coarsely powdered (AOAC, 1990).

2.2 Chemical composition

Moisture content, crude protein, crude oil, ash content, crude fiber, total carbohydrates were determined according to AOAC (1990). Moisture content of leaf of Hargel plant was determined by drying samples at 105 oC overnight (AOAC, 1990). Total carbohydrates were obtained by subtraction of contents of the moisture, ash, oil, protein and crude fiber from 100.

2.3 Minerals content

The minerals of dried samples (leaf) were extracted according to Pearson’s method (1970) and were measured in a filtered 50 ml extraction solution by using Atomic absorption equipment.

2.4 Protein fractionation

The sequential extraction of protein was carried out according to Mendel and Osborne (1924). It is basis on solubility of protein in different solvents. Water – soluble protein (Albumins), salt-soluble protein (Globulins), alcohol – soluble protein (Glutulin), alkali – soluble – protein (Prolamine) and residual – proteins (None – protein nitrogen).The residues remaining after those successive extractions with four solvents were determined by semi micro-Kjeldhal method according to AOCA (1990).Percent protein extracted was calculated to total amount of protein in the samples extracted such as follows:

Soluble protein (total) % = T X N X TV X 14 X 6.25 X 100

1000 X A

Protein solubility % = Soluble protein X 100

Total protein

Where:

T = Titer reading (ml/HCl), N = Normality of the HCl (0.02N), TV =Total Volume of the aliquot extracted (100ml), A = Number of (ml) of sample extracted (2.0g), 14 = each ml of HCl is equivalent to 14 mg. Nitrogen, 1000 = Number of mg in one gram and 6.25 = conversion factor from nitrogen into protein %.

2.4 Anti-nutrition factors

2.4.1 Tannin content

Quantitative estimation of tannins for each sample was carried out by using modified vanillin- HCl methanol method as described by Price and Butler (1987).

There is no useful standards curve for tannin in food, but the tanninic acid was used for preparation the standard curve of tannic acid. The standard curve of tannic acid was prepared according to AOAC (1990) for measurement the concentration of tannin in our samples (plotting the concentration of tanninic acid (mg) against the corresponding reading of Spectrophotometer in Absorbance).

2.4.2 Phytic acid content

The phytic acid content was determined according to the method described by Wheeler and Ferrel (1971). Preparation of standard curve for phytic acid was done as follows: standard curve of different Fe (NO3) 3 concentrations was blotted against the corresponding of Spectrophotometer to calculated the ferric iron conc. The phytate phosphorus was calculated from the concentration of ferric iron assuming 4:6 irons: phosphorus molar ratio.

3. Statistical analysis:

Three separate sub samples from each origin sample were taken and analyzed. Then mean values were averaged. Data were assessed by analysis of variance (ANOVA) (Gomez and Gomez, 1984).

4. Results

4.1 Chemical composition

The chemical composition of leaf of the hargel is shown in Table 1. The findings indicated that moisture content of leaf is 4.4% which is lower than those values obtained by El-Kamali (1991).Protein content (15%) of leaf studied is coincided with those given by El-Kamali (1991). Whereas, crude oil of leaf studied is 1.6%.and the ash content is 7.7%. The crude fiber of the leaf studied is 6.5% while total carbohydrates of sample investigated is 64.8%.

4.2 Minerals content

Minerals contents of leaf of the hargel are given in Table 2.The results indicated that calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, ferrous, manganese, cupper and lead of leaf studied of hargel are 0.06, 0.03, 0.54, 0.01, .0.002, 0.002, 0.0001 and 0.001 %, respectively. The findings revealed that there is significantly difference in minerals content at level of p ? 0.05.

4.3 Protein fractionation

Protein fractionation of leaf studied is shown in Table 3. It is observed that the leaf contained 16.7% Albumin (water-soluble protein), 11.7 5 Prolamine (alkali-soluble protein), 8.7% Globulin (salt-soluble protein), 6.2% Glutulin ((alcohol-soluble protein) and 15.3 % Non-nitrogenous protein. The results indicated that there is significantly difference in protein fractionation of leaf studied at level of p ? 0.05.

4.4 Anti- nutrition factors

Anti- nutrition factors of leaf studied is given in Table 3.It is clearly indicated that the leaf studied contained high tannin (0.04%) and also contained high phytic acid (3.2g/100g). These results are inline with El-Kamali (1991) who reported that the leaf of hargel plant gave positive test with tannin.

Generally, this study revealed that the chemical composition, minerals, protein fractionation of leaf of hargel plant.

References

(1) AOAC. 1990. Association of  Official Analytical Chemists. Official Methods of Analysis. 15th edition. Washington,

(2) Agib, A.M. 2000. Pharmacology of Sudanese plants with putative anti- Inflammatory Activities –pharm. M. Sc., University of Khartoum.

(3) Elkamali., H.H. 1991. Botanical and Chemicall studies on Solenostemma argel (Del)

Hayne growing in Khartoum. M. Sc., University of Khartoum.

(4) Fageer, A.S. 2003. Effect of genotype malt pretreatment and cooking on phytates

in -vitro protein digestibility and protein fractions of cornflour. Ph.D Degree, University

of Khartoum.

(5) Gomez, T.P. and A.A.  Gomez 1984. Statistical Procedure for Agriculture Research John Willy and Sons Inc. New York, U.S.A.

(6) Goldstein, J.L and T. Swain 1963. Change in tannin in ripening fruit. Phyto chemistry (2),371

(7) Khalid, S.A.1974. Investigation on peucedanum ostruthium L. and Solenostemma argel (Del) Hayne. Doctorate thesis submitted to the University of Szeged, Hungary.

(8) Khalid, S.A., N.K. Szendrei and N. Ustavan 1974. Sudanese plants. I. Solenostemma argel. Herba Hung., 13: 33-35.

(9) Mcntyre, A.2003. Herbs at the forefront of modern medicine. Accessed at the website www.poditivehealth.com/permit/articles/herbal/herbal

(10) Mudawi, A.G.2003. Toxicological studies of Sudanese medicinal plants. M.Sc., Thesis Submitted to Khartoum University.

(11) Mendel, L. B. and T.B. Osborne 1924. Nutritional properties of protein of maize

Kernel. J. Biol. Chem.. 18: 1-4.

(12) Pearson, D. 1970. ” The chemical analysis of foods: J. and A. Churchill. 104 Gloucester place-London. Nutritional value and fatty acid composition o/some high yielding varieties of bajara. Bull of Grain Tech. (21), 41.

(13) Plaza, A., G Bifulco, A.l.Hamed,C. Pizza and S. Piocente 2003. Novel

Pregnant glycoside form Solenostemma argel (Hargel) argel, Presented at (The Changing Face of Natural Products Chemistry, the 44th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Pharmacology, July 12-16, 2003; chapel Hill , NC.

(14) Price, M.L., Van Scoyoc, and L.G.Butler 1987. A critical evaluation of the vanillin reactions as an assay for tannin in sorghum rain. J. Agric. Food chem. 26 (5): 1214-1218.

(15) Ross, S.A., S.E.  Megalla, D.W. Dishay and A. H. Awad 1980. Studies for determining antibiotic substances in some Egyptian plants. Hort. Abstr, 51, 309-312. part 2. Screening for Antimicrobial activity. Fitoterapia, 5, 303.

(16) Shayoub, M.E. 2003. Design formulation and evaluation of Solenostemma argel tablets (ALHARGAL). Thesis for doctor philosophy (Ph. D) degree. Faculty of pharmacy

University of  Khartoum. Sudan.

(17) Wheeler, E. L. and R.E Ferrel 1971. A method for phytic acid determination in wheat and wheat fractions. cereal chem. (48): 312-320.

(18) WHO. 2002. Traditional medicine strategy 2002-2005. Document WHO/EDM/ TRM/2002.1; Traditional medicine, Department of Essential Drugs and Medicines policy, world health organization, Geneva

(19) Yagoub, A. G 2003. A biophysical study on Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffal.) seeds total proteins of the traditionally fermented food. Thesis for doctorate degree of philosophy. Faculty of Agri. University of Khartoum.

Table 1 Chemical composition of leaf of hargel plant.

Parameter / sample

Moisture %

Protein

%

Ash

%

Oil

%

Crude fiber

%

Carbohydrates %

Leaf -studied

4.4

(±0.2)

15

(±0.6)

7.7

(±0.1)

1.6

(±0..4)

6.5

(±0.2)

64.8

(±0.1)

Table 2:  Minerals content of leaf of hargel plant.

Parameter / sample

Ca %

Mg %

K %

Na %

Fe %

Mn %

Cu %

Pb %

Leaf -studied

0.06 (±0.02)

0.03 (±0.01)

0.54 (±0.2)

0.01 (±0.01)

0.002 (±0.01)

0.002 (±0.01)

0.0001

(±0.01)

0.001 (±0.01)

Table 3:  Protein fractionation of leaf of hargel plant.

Parameter / sample

Albumin

%

Globulin

%

Glutulin

%

Prolamine

%

Non- nitrogen compound %

Leaf –studied

16.7 (±.1.2)

8.7

(±0.10)

6.2

(±0.2

11.7

(±1.2)

15.3

(±3.5)

Table4:Anti-nutrition factors (Tannin and Phytic acid) of leaf of hargel plant.

Parameter / sample

Tannin %

Phytic acid g /100 g

Leaf –studied

0.40 (±.02)

3.2 (±3.0)

1 Murwan K. Sabah El-Kheir and 2 Murwa A.M
1 and 2 Department of Biochemistry, School of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Al Neelain University, Sudan.
E-mail: murwansabahelkhier@yahoo.com


Question by The Kill: Is this a horrible view on cloning?
Cloning in biology is the process of producing populations of genetically-identical individuals that occurs in nature when organisms such as bacteria, insects or plants reproduce asexually. Cloning in biotechnology refers to processes used to create copies of DNA fragments (molecular cloning), cells (cell cloning), or organisms. By learning more about cloning and by being able to clone organisms, many doors of opportunity would be opened for the present and the future. For instance, if someone was cloned at birth, and their heart was failing later on in life, doctors could just remove the clone’s heart and place it in the actual human being. This would obviously spark huge amounts of controversy and people would suggest this as unethical because perhaps these clones would be viewed as “people” too. If these things were created with the sole purpose of bettering our lives and the generation’s to come, it shouldn’t matter. If these beings were manually created by scientists in Petri dishes, they’re not natural beings, but are rather creations of man. If cloning becomes successful in the future, people will have to understand that these life forms will be used for scientific and medicinal purposes only. There would be so many pros to successfully cloning a person and keeping them healthy so that they would be able to house organs and genetic information for others to benefit from. Harvesting brain cells from a cloned organism would be a ideal. Scientists learning to clone human brain cells and study them would be a big step for mankind as eventually cures for diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, would ensue. With greatness, comes danger and there would be a lot of “danger” in cloning. There are great debates on this subject today, and if it were to occur successfully, many people would most likely be upset with the fact that these beings are created and then destroyed. Like stem cell research, there are many people against cloning. They figure that diseases and bodily malfunctions for unknown reasons are natural events that happen in life and that there is no need to interfere with nature’s course. Although everyone is entitled to their own opinions and views, these aren’t going to stop people from trying to successfully clone humans. It will happen eventually and it may mean many embryos will unfortunately die along the way, but eventually human clones will exist, cures for diseases will be found and perhaps some of life’s medical mysteries will be finally be solved.

Best answer:

Answer by roxy!
dude omfg

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