Sartan (cancer) and its treatment in Unani Medicine

The knowledge of Sartan (cancer) in the Unani (Greco-Arabian) systems of medicine can be traced to ancient times (131-200 A.D.). Like all other diseases its etiology has also been attributed to the combustion and imbalance of certain humors in the body. Unani simples-plants, animals and minerals-and formulations used for the treatment of the disease have been tabulated with recipes, methods of preparation, doses (wherever available) and modes of administration. The claims have been reviewed in the light of research work conducted in India during the last three decades.

Influence of light and ambient carbon dioxide concentration on nitrate assimilation by intact barley seedlings

The influence of light, dark, and ambient CO(2) on nitrate assimilation in 8- to 9-day-old barley seedlings was studied. To develop the photosynthetic apparatus fully, the seedlings were grown in nitrogen-free Hoagland solution for 5 days in darkness followed by 3 days in continuous light.The seedlings reduced nitrate and nitrite in both light and dark, although more slowly in darkness. The slower nitrate reduction in darkness was not due to decreased uptake, since the steady-state internal concentration of nitrate was doubled. The faster nitrate reduction in light was attributed to recent products of photosynthetic CO(2) fixation supplying reducing energy, possibly by shuttle reactions between chloroplasts and cytoplasm. In carbohydrate-deficient tissue, it appeared that recently fixed photosynthate could supply all of the energy required for nitrate reduction. When sufficient metabolites were present in the green tissue, light was not obligatory for the reduction of nitrate and nitrite.

Effect of l-Canavanine on Nitrate Reductase in Corn Roots

l-Canavanine inhibits the appearance of nitrate reductase (NADH-nitrate oxidoreductase, EC 1.6.6.1) in both root tips and mature root sections of corn (Zea mays L.). Ten-fold more canavanine was required to cause a 50% reduction in the level of nitrate reductase activity (NRA) in root tips than in mature root sections. For example with one particular batch of seeds 500 mum canavanine was effective in root tips whereas only 50 mum was required in mature root sections. In root tips arginine (1 mm) completely reversed the effect of 1 mm canavanine. In mature root sections higher concentrations of arginine (approximately 5 mm) were required for a complete reversal of the canavanine effect. Additions of canavanine to roots after a period of 3 hours with 5 mm KNO(3) resulted in a loss of NRA. NO(3) (-) protected nitrate reductase from this inactivation in both root tip and mature root sections.

Surma and lead poisoning

Blood lead concentrations were measured in 62 Asian children, of whom 37 had definitely had surma applied to their eyes and 25 were thought not to have done. The mean concentration in those who had not used surma was 0.98 +/- SD 0.42 mumol/1 (20.3 +/- 8.7 microgram/100 ml) compared with 1.65 +/- 0.68 mumol/4 (34.2 +/- 14.1 microgram/100 ml) in those who had. Analysis of 29 different samples of surma showed 23 of them to be composed largely of lead sulphide. We conclude that the use of surma is associated with high blood lead concentrations. In our cases most of it had been obtained abroad, and hence government restrictions might be ineffective in limiting its use: a better method of prevention might be to inform the leaders of Asian communities of the risks.

Photosynthesis and transpiration of the flag leaf in four spring-wheat cultivars

Co2 exchange and transpiration rates of the flag leaves of four spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars, namely Glenlea, Neepawa, Opal and Kolibri, were compared using infra-red gas-analysis technique. The plants were grown in a controlled environment under an 18-h photoperiod, with day and night temperatures of 20 and 15° C, respectively. The time course of the CO2-exchange rate (CER) of the flag leaf differed among cultivars. CER began to decrease rapidly some 2 weeks after ear emergence in Glenlea, Neepawa and Kolibri, but only after 4 weeks in Opal. The decline in CER of Glenlea, Neepawa and Opal was continuous throughout the period of grain development whereas in Kolibri CER was maintained at a constant level between the 4th and 6th weeks after ear emergence. The transpiration rates of the flag leaves of the 4 cultivars did not change markedly until 6-7 weeks after ear emergence, indicating that the reduction in CER was not primarily a response to increased stomatal resistance to the diffusion of CO2. Removing the ear of the main shoot of intact plants failed to depress CER of the subtending flag leaf until 5 weeks after ear removal. Removing the ears of all the tillers of plants in which all but 3 tillers had been removed at ear emergence did not depress CER until 4 weeks after ear emergence, but removal of the ear of the main shoot of plants where all the tillers had been removed at ear emergence reduced the CER of the flag leaf 2 weeks after ear removal. Removal of tillers at ear emergence had a marked effect on the time course of CER and transpiration rates of the flag leaf. Both CER and transpiration rates of a 4-tiller plant were maintained at a higher level throughout ear development as compared to those of a one-tiller plant. The transpiration rate of the flag leaf of Glenlea increased during the later part of the life of the leaf even for one-tiller plants with no ear, indicating that such a stomatal response may be part of the normal course of leaf aging and not a response to a feedback stimulus from the ear.

Effect of leaf age on photosynthesis and transpiration of cassava (Manihot esculenta)

The effect of plant and leaf age on CO2-exchange rates (CER) and transpiration rates in 15 genotypes of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) was measured in situ by infrared gas analysis. The plants were grown in a controlled-environment room with a 14-h photoperiod, day–night temperatures of 29–24 °C, and 60–70% relative humidity.Plant age had no effect on leaf CER, whereas transpiration rates in 14-week-old plants were significantly greater than those in 7-week-old plants. Both CER and transpiration rates decreased with leaf age. The decline was negligible when measured at low photosynthetic photon flux density. At saturating light, however, both CER and transpiration rates decreased significantly in most of the genotypes. Significant genotypic differences were observed in the pattern of decline. Both stomatal (rs) and residual (rr) resistances to the diffusion of CO2 increased with leafage in all the genotypes. The relative increase in rr was much greater than the increase in rs. In all the genotypes the ratio rr:rs was greater than unity, suggesting that rr is the major component of the total resistance to photosynthesis. Chlorophyll content and specific leaf weight also varied significantly among the genotypes. However, chlorophyll content decreased and specific leaf weight increased with leaf age.

Ammonium and amino acids as regulators of nitrate reductase in corn roots

When amino acids or ammonia are added to plant systems, the effects on the development of nitrate-dependent nitrate reductase activity are variable. In addition, amino acids added singly or as casein hydrolysate may not support a normal growth. A physiologically correct mixture of amino acids, one similar in composition to amino acids released by the endosperm, has been shown to support normal growth and protein synthesis in corn (Zea mays) embryos. In this investigation, we have used the mixture of corn amino acids to determine whether amino acids have an effect on the appearance or disappearance of nitrate reductase activity. The results show that these amino acids partially inhibit the induction of nitrate reductase in corn roots. The effect is more pronounced in mature root than in root tip sections. When glutamine and asparagine are included along with the "corn amino acid mixture," the inhibition is more severe. Amino acids or amino acid analogues added singly to the induction medium have a similar effect: i.e. when the induction of nitrate reductase is inhibited in the root tips (lysine, canavanine, azaserine, azetidine-2-carboxylic acid, dl-4-azaleucine, asparagine, and glutamine), that inhibition is more severe in mature root sections. Arginine enhanced the recovery of nitrate reductase in root tips but inhibited it in mature root sections. The effect of the amino acids is apparently on some phase of the induction processes (i.e. the uptake or distribution of nitrate or a direct effect on the synthesis of the enzyme) and not on the turnover of the enzyme.

Effect of light and glucose on the induction of nitrate reductase and on the distribution of nitrate in etiolated barley leaves

Barley seedlings grown in the dark with 10 mm KNO(3) have low levels of nitrate reductase activity even though large amounts of No(3) (-) accumulate in the leaves. When the leaves are excised and transferred to the light, there is an increase in nitrate reductase activity both in the presence and absence of exogenous NO(3) (-). When the leaves are transferred to a glucose solution (0.05 m) but kept in the dark, induction of nitrate reductase activity occurs only when fresh NO(3) (-) is added to the system.In dark-grown leaves, there are small traces of NO(3) (-) in a "metabolic pool." Addition of glucose does not alter this distribution. Light, on the other hand, results in an appreciable accumulation of NO(3) (-) in the metabolic pool. There is a linear correlation between nitrate reductase activity and the size of the metabolic NO(3) (-) pool. Our results thus suggest that NO(3) (-) accumulates in a storage pool when seedlings are grown in continuous darkness. The transfer of this NO(3) (-) to an active metabolic pool is mediated by light but not by glucose. We believe that this transfer of NO(3) (-) leads to the induction of nitrate reductase. When NO(3) (-) is included in the medium, both light and glucose increase its incorporation into the metabolic pool. The results suggest two mechanisms for regulating the metabolic NO(3) (-) pool: (a) a transfer from the storage pool which requires light; and (b) a transfer from the external medium which requires either glucose or light.

Comparative studies on the induction and inactivation of nitrate reductase in corn roots and leaves

A comparison of induction and inactivation of nitrate reductase and two of its component activities, namely FMNH(2)-nitrate reductase and NO(3) (-)-induced NADH-cytochrome c reductase, was made in roots and leaves of corn (Zea mays L. var. W64A x 182E). The three activities were induced in parallel in both tissues when NO(3) (-) was supplied. WO(4) (=) suppressed the induction of NADH- and FMNH(2)-nitrate reductase activities in root tips and leaves. The NO(3) (-)-induced NADH-cytochrome c reductase activity showed a normal increase in roots treated with WO(4) (=). In leaves, on the other hand, there was a marked superinduction of the NO(3) (-)-induced NADH-cytochrome c reductase in the presence of WO(4) (=).The half-life values of NADH-nitrate reductase and FMNH(2)-nitrate reductase measured by removing NO(3) (-) and adding WO(4) (=) to the medium, were 4 hours in root tips and 6 hours in excised leaves. Addition of NO(3) (-) in the induction medium together with WO(4) (=) gave partial protection of NADH-nitrate reductase and FMNH(2)-nitrate reductase activities in both root tips and leaves with a t(0.5) of 6 and 8 hours, respectively. NO(3) (-) also reduced the loss of nitrate reductase activity from mature root sections. In the presence of cycloheximide, both NADH-nitrate reductase and NO(3) (-)-induced NADH-cytochrome c reductase activities were lost at similar rates in root tips. NO(3) (-) protected the loss of NO(3) (-)-induced NADH-cytochrome c reductase to the same extent as that of NADH-nitrate reductase.

Evaluation of branched ear derivatives of Triticum aestivum L

The branched spikes of Triticum turgidum L. have a potential of producing a high number of kernels. Some of the selected lines of T. turgidum yielded up to 150 kernels per spike as compared to 60--70 kernels per spike in the common wheat cultivar Chenab-70. The best of these lines were crossed with the common wheats Chenab-70, Mexipak, and C-271. Among the lines obtained by selection from the advanced generations of the T. turgidum X Chenab-70 cross, some are similar to Chenab-70 with respect to tillering, plant shape, plant height, and leaf position, but their spikes are branched like those of the T. turgidum parent. These lines appear to be fairly homozygous. Chenab-70 produces, on the average, 60 kernels per spike, 34.8 g of grain per plant and has a 1000-kernel weight of 35 g. The number of kernels per spike, the yield of grain per plant and the 1000-kernel weight of the selected hybrid lines ranged from 25 to 133, from 8.5 to 59.6 g, and from 30.0 to 46.0 g, respectively, which shows that the chances of obtaining high-yielding new common wheat cultivars having spikes branched as those of the T. turgidum parent fairly good.

Effect of glucose on the induction of nitrate reductase in corn roots

In Zea mays L., addition of glucose to the induction medium has no effect on the induction of nitrate reductase during the initial 3 hours either in root tips (0-10 mm) or mature root sections (25-35 mm). With longer times, higher levels of enzyme activity are recovered from both root segments when glucose is present in the incubation medium. The induction in root tips is saturated by 10 mm NO(3) (-). Higher concentrations of NO(3) (-) are required for saturation in mature root sections. The response to glucose is seen over a wide range of external NO(3) (-) concentrations.Nitrate reductase activity is lost rapidly when nitrate is withdrawn from the induction medium. Additions of glucose do not prevent this loss. Additions of glucose have no effect on total uptake of NO(3) (-) by the root segments but they increase the anaerobic NO(2) (-) production in both root tips and mature root segments. This latter measurement is considered to be an estimate of an active NO(3) (-) pool in the cytoplasm. Thus the results show that glucose alters the distribution of NO(3) (-) within the root sections. This may be an important factor in controlling the in vivo stability of the enzyme or its rate of synthesis.

The effect of soaking and drying seeds before planting on the germination and growth of Triticum vulgare under normal and saline conditions

The soaking of wheat seed (Triticum vulgare L.) in water or CaCl2 solutions followed by air-drying before planting accelerated the germination but did not affect the final percentage germination and subsequent growth of the seedlings under normal conditions. However, under conditions of 0.5% NaCl salinity the soaking and drying of the seeds before planting stimulated the germination and growth of the seedlings. In no case were the presowing treatments more effective in improving the germination and root and shoot growth under 0.5% NaCl salinity than under normal condition. Under 0.5% NaCl salinity the seedlings grown from treated seeds had more extensive and deeper root systems than the seedlings grown from untreated seeds. Presowing soaking of the seed failed to improve the germination under increasing salinity of 1.0 and 1.5% NaCl.

The interaction of respiration and photosynthesis in induction of nitrate reductase activity

The respiration and photosynthesis requirement for induction and maintenance of nitrate reductase activity was determined on leaves of Hordeum vulgare L. In this induction, glucose substituted for light in both dark-grown and carbohydrate-depleted green leaves. Oxygen appeared to be required for induction in all cases studied. In light and under N(2), 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea completely inhibited induction, presumably by inhibiting the production of O(2), Hence, under N(2) the leaves appeared to utilize both the O(2) produced by photosynthesis and the CO(2) produced by respiration. CO(2) fixation can then produce both photosynthate to drive the induction and terminal electron acceptors to allow photosynthetic electron flow. This possibility was further suggested by the observation that CO(2) was an absolute requirement for induction in carbohydrate-depleted barley leaves. Results obtained with respiratory inhibitors also indicated that respiration drove the induction of nitrate reductase.Exogenously supplied glucose also substantially slowed the loss of nitrate reductase that occurred when barley leaves were placed in darkness. It is presumed that glucose allowed the synthetic or activation phase of the induction to proceed more rapidly. Our results support the hypothesis that one of the main effects of light may be to supply photosynthate to support respiration, which then drives the induction process.