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The quest for new sources of cheap and eco-friendly insecticide for insect pest management remains a major challenge facing cowpea farmers in many developing countries. In this study, the toxicity and biochemical mechanisms associated with the insecticidal efficacy of acetone and n-hexane extracts of Xylopia aethiopica (Dunal) and Senna occidentalis (L.) on Callosobruchus chinensis (L.) were investigated. The insecticidal efficacy varied with concentration, exposure time and extracts type. Acetone extract of X. aethiopica was less toxic (LD₅₀ = 2.47%) than its n-hexane extract (LD₅₀ = 1.39%) but with S. occidentalis, acetone extract was more toxic (LD₅₀ = 0.73%) than n-hexane extract (LD₅₀ = 1.37%). Acetone extract of both plants evoked a significant reduction in egg-laying and eclosion ability of adult C. chinensis compared to n-hexane extract except on cowpea pre-treated with acetone extract of S. occidentalis. Only the extracts of X. aethiopica reduced protein concentration compared to control. The activity of glutathione reductase and glutathione peroxidase was significantly reduced by both extracts of S. occidentalis while only n-hexane extract of S. occidentalis elicited a significant reduction in the activity of glutathione S-transferase and trehalase compared to other treatment levels. GC-MS analysis depicted Diisoocotyl phthalate (50.37%) and isomers of Aromandendrene (19.22%) as the main compounds in S. occidentalis and X. aethiopica respectively. Both botanical extracts also contained other insecticidal and insectifuge compounds in differential amounts. Overall, the findings demonstrated the potential of both botanical extracts, particularly acetone extract of S. occidentalis as alternatives to synthetic insecticide for controlling adult C. chinensis.
 

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α-crystallin is a member of small heat shock protein family (sHSP) which shows both structural and chaperone functions. This protein plays important role in eye lens transparency and indicates protective function in the other tissues. The lenticular levels of copper ions significantly enhance in diabetic patients, aged and cataractous lenses. In eye lenses, the free copper ions induce ascorbic acid auto-oxidation, leading to formation of dehydroascorbic acid and other oxidative products as well as reactive oxygen species. The oxidized forms of ascorbic acid along with the reducing sugars enter into pathological reactions with the eye lens proteins, forming toxic advanced glycation end-products (AGEs). As one of the main components of eye lens antioxidant defense mechanism, glutathione could scavenge the copper ions, inhibiting the formation of reactive oxygen species in eye lenses.
In the current study, the structural and functional properties of human αB-crystallin were assessed using different spectroscopic methods. In the presence of copper ions, αB-crystallin exhibited important alterations in both structure and chaperone activity which upturned in the presence of glutathione. Moreover, incubation of human αB-crystallin with copper resulted in significant increase in the protein oligomeric size distribution which largely prevented upon simultaneous incubation with glutathione.
Overall, glutathione may scavenge free copper ions in the lenticular tissue, inhibiting their damaging effects on crystallin proteins and other redox-sensitive molecular targets such as ascorbic acid. Our results may introduce a new protective role for glutathione which is highly important in diabetic and aged lenses showing increased levels of copper ions.  

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The two-spotted spider mite (TSSM) Tetranychus urticae Koch is one of the most destructive mites in many plants due to its characteristics, such as high reproductive potential, short life cycle, and feeding method. Excessive use of chemical compounds without considering environmental factors has led to high residual toxins in food products and resistance to pesticides. Temperature is an essential non-living factor that affects various biological aspects of pests and pesticide toxicity levels. In this study, the interaction of different temperatures (15, 20, 25, and 30 °C) in the photoperiod (16L:8D h) was investigated on the toxicity of spiromesifen on the adult TSSM. Then the levels of α-esterase and glutathione S-transferase activity were measured. The highest LC₅₀ was recorded at 15 °C after 24 h (LC₅₀ = 21.269 mg ai/l), and the lowest value corresponds to 30 °C after 48 h (LC₅₀ = 0.860 mg ai/l). The level of toxicity also increased with a temperature increase, so the toxicity was recorded 3.6 folds higher at 30 °C compared to 15 °C. The α-esterase and glutathione S-transferase activity also increased with an increase in the temperature, but this increase was significant only for esterase activity. The relationship between temperature and the power of pesticide toxicity in areas with different daily and controllable temperature changes can effectively provide a valuable proposal to reduce pesticide consumption and increase the efficiency of pest control.


 

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This study was conducted to investigate the effect of adding Bacillus subtilis (IS02) to the diet on survival, biochemical indices, and histological alternations of juvenile wild common carp, Cyprinus carpio, exposed to salinity stress. Juvenile common carp (about 1.1 g) were fed diets containing 0 (control), 2.5 × 10⁸ (pro-8), and 2.5 × 10⁹ (pro-9) cfu/g probiotic for 15 days and then transferred directly to brackish water (13 g/L) and sampled after 3 and 10 days. Diet and sampling time had no significant effect on fish survival, which was above 96% in all treatments. Body moisture and potassium were only affected by sampling time, with moisture decreasing significantly after salinity stress while potassium increased significantly. Whole body sodium in pro-8 treatment did not change significantly during salinity stress, and probiotic treatments had lower chloride levels than the control before and after salinity stress. Adding probiotic to the diet increased glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase activity, and reduced glutathione concentration, while decreasing malondialdehyde concentration. Probiotics caused white blood cells infiltration in the kidney tissue. No significant tissue damage was observed in the gill and kidney, compared to the control after salinity stress. This study shows that juvenile wild common carp can tolerate direct transfer to the Caspian Sea without dietary probiotic supplementation. However, probiotic stimulates the kidney immunity, enhances ionoregulation, and increase antioxidant capacity in fish, which can have beneficial effects under field conditions.
 

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Objective: Environmental pollution is of major concern today and lead is considered to be one of the most important environmental pollutants. Long-term contact with lead causes harmful effects to humans. This study seeks to determine the effects of Curcuma longa (turmeric extract) consumption and exercise training on glutathione peroxidase and protein carbonyl in kidney and spleen tissues from rats exposed to lead. Methods: We randomly classified 60 male rats into the following six groups of 10 rats per group: 1) control; 2) sham (turmeric extract solvent); 3) lead; 4) training + lead; 5) turmeric extract + lead; and 6) training + lead + turmeric extract. The training program for groups 3 and 6 consisted of running on a level treadmill for 40 sessions (eight weeks at five sessions per week) at a speed of 22 to 15 m/min for 26 to 64 minutes. Turmeric extract (30 mg/kg) was injected three times per week for eight weeks. Amounts of glutathione peroxidase and protein carbonyl were measured by ELISA. Results: The amount of protein carbonyl in the kidney and spleen tissues of the lead group increased compared to the sham, training, combined and extract groups. Rats in the combined, extract and practice groups (F=4.787; P=0.002) had lower levels of protein carbonyl in their kidney and spleen tissues compared to the sham group (F=6.970, P=0.000). Glutathione peroxidase levels in the kidney and spleen tissues were less in the lead group compared to the sham group. However these levels in the training, extract, and combined groups increased compared with the sham group (respectively, in kidney and spleen P=0.051, F=2.466 and P=0/086, F=2.11). Conclusion: Intake of turmeric extract and exercise alone did not cause complete inhibition of the oxidative effects in kidney and spleen tissues. However, exercise and consumption of turmeric extract can be effective in reducing the harmful effects of lead.

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Selenium is an essential element for humans, therefore, adding it to plants is convenient for biofortification. Thus, the aim of this work was to analyze experimentally the ability of sodium selenite to increase the concentration of Se and modify the antioxidant activity in tomato plants. We used plants of the Toro hybrid variety and applied three treatments: 0, 2 and 5 mg L^-1 of selenium as sodium selenite (Na₂SeO₃) using an irrigation system. Three samplings 40, 80, and 120 days after transplantation and a quantification of the accumulation of selenium and macronutrients in leaves, stems, and fruits were carried out. Plant height, stem diameter, firmness, and total solids of fruits and total dry matter were measured. The enzyme activity of catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase was quantified. The results indicated positive effects of Se on agronomic variables of the plants and fruit quality; however, fruit production showed no significant differences. Se had no effect on the concentration of the macro and micronutrients. The addition of 5 mg L^-1 of Se resulted in significant increases in the concentration of selenium on a dry basis, reaching 20.4 µg g^-1 in leaves, 52.3 µg g^-1 in stems, and 35.8 µg g^-1 in fruits. The increase in enzyme activity in the fruits was enhanced by the application of 5 mg L^-1 of Se: There was up to 352.7% more catalase activity, 312.2% more glutathione peroxidase activity, and 200.8% more superoxide dismutase activity compared with the control.

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Cabbage aphid, Brevicoryne brassicae (L.) (Hom.: Aphididae) is an important pest of crucifers and is controlled by different insecticides, especially dimethoate.The toxicity of dimethoate in six populations of the pest from different parts of Iran was assayed using Leaf-dip method. The bioassay results indicated significant difference in susceptibility to dimethoate among the six populations that were investigated. The highest level of resistance to dimethoate was obtained for Mehrshahr (Meh) population (RR= 91.25). Diethyl maleate (DEM), ,piperonylbutoxide (PBO), and triphenyl phosphate (TPP) suppressed the level of resistance to dimethoate, indicating the resistance to this insecticide was caused by glutathione S-transferases (GSTs), mixed function oxidases, and esterases, respectively. Cytochrome P450 monooxygenases and GSTs activity increased, respectively, 2.7 and 9.6-fold in resistant population compared with the susceptible one. When α-naphthyl acetate was used as substrate, up to 4-fold increase in esterase activity was observed in resistant population. Moreover, 6.2-fold elevation in esterase activity was shown in resistant strain when β-naphthyl acetate was the substrate. Overall, the mechanisms of insecticide resistance in cabbage aphid populations from six regions of Iran were related to GSTs, esterase, and cytochrome P450 monooxygenases activities.
 

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