Assessment of different pretreatments to breakage dormancy and improve the seed germination in Elaeocarpus serratus L. - an underutilized multipurpose fruit tree from South India

R. Raji,E. A. Siril 한국산림과학회 2018 Forest Science And Technology Vol.14 No.4

The seeds of Elaeocarpus serratus, a tropical underutilized fruit tree are characterized by hard seed coat and consequent poor water uptake and low germination. To improve the regeneration through seeds, various parameters such as viability of seeds, water uptake, and effect of seed mass on germination and pretreatments were performed using a completely randomized design (CRD). Tetrazolium (TZ) test was conducted using fresh, mature seeds revealed 50±2.56% mean viability. Seeds of different weight classes showed similar pattern of water uptake and the saturation level was achieved at 60hrs of soaking. Seeds belong to weight class 2.6-3.5g were germinated (12.5±1.26%) with 175±1.75 days (d) of mean time taken for germination (MTG). Germination capacity of seeds varied significantly among different populations and Varkala population gave 12.5±1.1% germination with 174.6±2.5 d MTG. Among various seed treatments, mechanical scarification was superior in germination and significant reduction in MTG (p0.05). The mechanical scarification by complete removal of seed coat resulted in 49.2±1.52% germination within a short period of time (9.52±0.89 d MTG). However, the complete removal of seed coat without damaging to embryo is a difficult task. An alternate treatment (Mechanical scarification II) by making cracks on nut faces vertically followed by soaking in distilled water for 24hrs gave 48.4±1.73% germination with significantly reduced MTG (12.14±0.56 d) over unsoaked, untreated control (6.5±1.84% germination and 197.18±1.79 d MTG; p0.05). This treatment (Mechanical scarification II) is therefore recommended for E. serratus seeds as it can adopt easily and can achieve 7 fold increases in germination over control. The recorded germination through mechanical scarification is in tune with realized viability percentage of the seeds.

Effect of daflon-500®, a flavonoid compound on chlorpyriphos-induced oxidative changes in the hypophysis and testes in adult male rats

Olatunji Aishat O.,Ayo Joseph O.,Suleiman Mohammed M.,Ambali Suleiman F.,Shittu Muftau,Akorede Ganiu J.,Raji Lukman O.,Atata Jamila A.,Biobaku Khalid T.,Azeez Mistura O. 한국독성학회 2022 Toxicological Research Vol.38 No.3

Alteration of redox status is one of the molecular pathways commonly associated with pesticide toxicity. Antioxidants, including those obtained from plant phenolics, have been shown to mitigate pesticide-induced cellular injury. The present study was aimed at evaluating the effect of daflon-500®, a flavonoid compound on sub-chronic chlorpyriphos-evoked changes in antioxidant and biochemical parameters in the hypophysis and testes of adult male rats. Twenty-five male albino rats were randomly divided into 5 groups of 5 animals each. Group I (DW) received distilled water (2 ml/kg); group II (SO) was dosed with soya oil (2 ml/kg); Group III (DAF) received daflon-500® at 1000 mg/kg ̴ 1/5th of LD50 (≥ 5000 mg/kg); group IV (CP) was administered chlorpyriphos at 7.74 mg/kg ̴ 1/10th of LD50 (77.4 mg/kg) while group V (DAF + CP) was previously treated with daflon-500® (1000 mg/kg) and then exposed to CP (7.74 mg/kg), 30 min later. Daily oral regimen administration was done for 60 days after which the animals were sacrificed by cervical venesection after light chloroform anesthesia. The hypophysis and testicular tissues were harvested, and their homogenates were analyzed for malondialdehyde, catalase and superoxide dismutase, and acetylcholinesterase levels. A significant increase in the hypophysis and testicular MDA concentrations, coupled with a decrease in the SOD, CAT, and AChE activities were observed in the CP group. The levels of these oxidative and biochemical parameters were alleviated in the group pretreated with Daflon-500®. Results of this study demonstrated that pre-treatment with Daflon-500® mitigated CP-induced alterations in oxidative and biochemical parameters apparently due to the antioxidant effect of the flavonoid compound.

Combined effects of direct plasma exposure and pre-plasma functionalized metal-doped graphene oxide nanoparticles on wastewater dye degradation

K. Navaneetha Pandiyaraj,D. Vasu,A. Raji,Rouba Ghobeira,Parinaz Saadat Esbah Tabaei,Nathalie De Geyter,Rino Morent,M.C. Ramkumar,M. Pichumani,R.R. Deshmukh 한국공업화학회 2023 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.122 No.-

The current study investigates the combinatorial effect of the photocatalytic performance of plasma pretreatedTi-Cu-Zn doped graphene oxide (TCZ-GO) nanoparticles (NPs) and advanced oxidation processesof a non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma on the degradation of reactive orange-122 (RO-122) dyecompounds. Firstly, in order to enhance the photocatalytic performance of the synthesized compositeNPs, they were subjected to glow discharge plasma treatments operating in different gases (Ar, air, O2and N2). Their surface morphology, chemical composition and band gap were examined by means ofscanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and UV–Vis spectrophotometryrespectively. XPS results revealed that plasma-treated NPs exhibited a higher content of oxygenvacancies and a variation in their oxidation states (Ti4+?Ti3+, Cu+?Cu2+). These plasma-induced surfacechemical changes hindered the recombination of photo-generated electron-hole pairs which led to a dropin the bandgap of the NPs with N2 plasma-treated NPs acquiring the lowest bandgap. Lastly, the articleexamined the actual decomposition of RO-122 dye in wastewater by an Ar plasma treatment alone orcombined with the plasma-treated TCZ-GO NPs via spectrophotometric analyses, electrical conductivity,pH and total organic carbon (TOC) removal measurements. Moreover, the reactive species produced duringthe combined plasma/photocatalysis induced degradation were detected in situ by optical emissionspectroscopy. Results revealed that the processes carried out by combining N2 plasma-treated TCZ-GONPs and Ar plasma exhibited the highest degradation efficiency (85 %) due to the generation of moreOH and H2O2. Overall, it can be concluded that plasma-aided treatment processes used synergisticallyas indirect surface functionalization of TCZ-GO NPs and direct plasma treatment of wastewater are extremelyefficient in the degradation of toxic compounds and can be extrapolated to various environmentalapplications.

Hollow mesoporous silica spheres supported Ag and Ag–Au catalyzed reduction of 4-nitrobenzo-15-crown

Raji Vadakkekara,Mousumi Chakraborty,Parimal A. Parikh 한국공업화학회 2014 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.20 No.3

Hollow mesoporous silica (HMS) spheres of size within the range 120–220 nm have been prepared usingpropanol–water solvent as template and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as stabilizer. HMSsupported silver and silver–gold catalysts were prepared by impregnating metal nanoparticles on HMSand were characterized by ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–vis), dynamic light scattering (DLS),optical microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transforminfrared spectroscopy (FTIR), inductive coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and N2adsorption–desorption. The reduction of 4-nitrobenzo-15-crown (4-NB-15-C) was compared using HMSsupported silver and silver–gold nanocatalysts varying experimental parameters. Bimetallic Ag–Au/HMS nanocatalysts was found to be more active than monometallic Ag/HMS nanocatalyst.

Hemoglobin F level in different hemoglobin variants

Akanni E. Olufemi,Oseni B. Sola,Bamisaye E. Oluwaseyi,Raji A. Ajani,Mewoyeka O. Olusoji,Hassan R. Olubunmi 대한혈액학회 2011 Blood Research Vol.46 No.2

Background :Fetal hemoglobin (HbF) levels in different hemoglobin variants in Osogbo, Nigeria, were estimated using two principal methods of estimation using existing information for HbF concentration and distribution of various hemoglobin variants in the area, as well as diagnosed cases of thalassemia. Two hundred and sixty samples collected from HbSS, HbSC, HbAA, HbAS, and HbAC subjects were analyzed. HbF level and hemoglobin type were determined in this study. Methods :The hemoglobin type was determined using cellulose acetate electrophoresis at an alkaline pH, and HbF was determined by the acid elution and alkaline denaturation methods. Results :The mean±SD of HbF in the respective hemoglobin variants was as follows: HbSS, 2.09±1.94%; HbSC, 0.85±0.54%; HbAA, 0.69±0.46%; HbAS, 0.52±0.31%; and HbAC, 0.57±0.26%. The mean HbF level across the hemoglobin variants was statistically significant (P<0.05). Investigating the sex distribution of the HbF level in the studied population revealed a slightly higher mean HbF level in females than in their male counterparts. Conclusion :Within the study population, the HbF level was found to be highest in HbSS and lowest in HbAS. The two methods of estimating HbF are equally reliable, since there was no significant difference between the results obtained from the two methods.