Antioxidant and antigenotoxic potencies of Sempervivum armenum on human lymphocytes in vitro.

In this research, the genotoxic and antigenotoxic effects of methanol extract of Sempervivum armenum (MSA) were studied using micronucleus (MN) test and sister chromatid exchange (SCE) test systems in cultured human peripheral blood cells. According to the SCE and MN tests results, MSA reduced the genotoxic effects of aflatoxin B1. In order to explain the reason for the antigenotoxic effects of MSA, antioxidants levels were determined. Cotreatments of 5, 10, 20 mg/mL concentrations of MSA with aflatoxin B1 decreased the frequencies of SCE, MN and the malondialdehyde level and increased the amount of superoxide dismutase, glutathione and glutathione peroxidase which were decreased by aflatoxin. The results of this experiment showed that MSA has strong antioxidative and antigenotoxic effects and this antigenotoxic activities of MSA can be due to the antioxidant activities.

Genetic diversity and relationships detected by ISSR and RAPD analysis among Aethionema species growing in Eastern Anatolia (Turkey).

In this study, Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and Inter-Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) analysis were used to examine the genetic relationships among eight Aethionema species (Aethionema caespitosum, A. arabicum, A. cordatum, A. fimnraitum, A. armenum, A. speciosum supsp. speciosum, A. memraneceum, A. grandiflorum var. grandiflorum) growing in the wild in Eastern Anatolia, Turkey. Fourteen RAPD primers and 7 ISSR primers were used. The UPGMA cluster was constructed using a combination of data from RAPD and ISSR markers. The Aethionema species were classified into two major groups. The similarity matrix values of between 0.182 (A. cordatum, A. speciosum supsp. speciosum) and 0.927 (A. grandiflorum var. grandiflorum, A. cordatum). High genetic variations among Aethionema species growing in the wild in Eastern Anatolia, Turkey may reveal differences in their origin. The present study suggests that both RAPD and ISSR analysis are useful for the differentiation of the Aethionema species.

Hartree-Fock and Density Functional Theory analysis of N-phenyl-1,2-naphthylamine.

The energetic properties of N-phenyl-1,2-naphthylamine have been determined using a series of theoretical calculations and their geometries have been optimized using Hartree-Fock (HF) and Density Functional Theory (DFT). The structures have been examined to predict lower-lying energy structure of the title molecule within the considered potential conformations. Structural parameters and energetics, such as total energies with Zero-Point energy corrections, highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energies, have been analyzed and compared between the structural isomers. 1-NPN is the most commonly used molecule for many purposes, mainly as the fluorescent probe in binding assays. When compared the two structures, we showed that 2-NPN isomers are energetically more stable than 1-NPN isomers. It is possible that 2-NPN may be favored in many applications with respect to 1-NPN, and thus its function may be understood in the light of its molecular and structural properties.

Expression analysis and knockdown of two antennal odorant-binding protein genes in Aedes aegypti.

The presence and expression of odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) in the olfactory organs suggest that they play an important role in mosquito olfaction. However, no direct evidence has been found for their involvement in the host-seeking behavior of mosquitoes. It is important to establish a method in which a loss-of-function test can be performed to determine the possible role of these genes in olfaction. In this study, a double subgenomic Sindbis virus expression system was used to reduce the expression of two Obp genes in Aedes aegypti L (Diptera: Culicidae), AaegObp1 and AaegObp2. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis showed predominant expression of both genes in the female antennae, the primary olfactory tissue of mosquitoes. Moreover, at 11 days post virus-inoculation, the mRNA levels of AaegObp1 and AaegObp2 were significantly reduced in olfactory tissues of recombinant virus-inoculated female mosquitoes compared to that of controls by approximately 8 and 100-fold, respectively. These data suggest that the double subgenomic Sindbis virus expression system can be efficiently used to knockdown Obp gene expression in olfactory tissues of mosquitoes. We discuss the potential for a systematic analysis of the molecular players involved in mosquito olfaction using this newly developed technique. Such analysis will provide an important step to interfere with the host-seeking behavior of mosquitoes to prevent the transmission of diseases.

The possibility of useful usage of biodegradation products of sunflower plants.

Heads of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) were first biodegraded at 55 degrees C by their microflora. Biodegradation products of sunflower heads (BPSH) were analyzed. They were found to contain 9.77% dry matter, 3.98% total ash, 3.18% crude protein and 5.75% total organic matter. BOD load was determined as 4.80 g/100 g. Subsequently, the effects of BPSH at various concentrations (1.0%, 2.5%, 10% and 100%) on the seed germination and some growth parameters of Phaseolus vulgaris L., Cicer arietinum L. and Triticum vulgare L. were investigated. The percentages of seed germination and germination index of seeds were similar between the control and 1.0% and 2.5% BPSH groups, but these values decreased at higher concentrations. On the other hand, growth of the seedlings gradually increased up to a concentration of 10% BPSH and decreased at 100% concentration. As a result, at concentrations up to 10% the product was found to be beneficial for growth of plants.