African Journal of
Biotechnology

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Biotechnol.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1684-5315
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJB
  • Start Year: 2002
  • Published Articles: 12487

Table of Content: 7 December 2016; 15(49)

December 2016

Identification of a novel submergence response gene regulated by the Sub1A gene

Submergence is one of the major constraints to rice production in many rice growing areas in the world. The Sub1A gene has been demonstrated to dramatically improve submergence tolerance in rice. Here, we report the identification of a novel submergence response (RS1) gene that is specifically induced in the Sub1A-mediated submergence tolerance response. Under submergence, RS1 was upregulated in M202 (Sub1A) but...

Author(s): Hewei Du,, Min Huang, Jianxiong Zhu, Hang Su and Xiu Zeng

December 2016

Investigation of Argania spinosa L. (Skeels) polyphenols growing in arid and semi-arid conditions

Argania spinosa L. Skeels, belonging to the Argania genus of the Sapotaceae family, is a species native to Morocco and Algeria.  Due to its perfect adaptation to soil and climate, this tree plays an important ecological role in a constantly threatened encroached desert region. To understand the biological role of polyphenols in making the argan tree adapts to its natural habitat, we conducted a comparative study in...

Author(s): Souad Djied, Saida Danoune, Jacqueline Grima-Pettenati Amina Belhandouz and Meriem Kaid-Harche

December 2016

Evaluation of the anti-inflammatory properties of the hexane extract of Hydrocotyle bonariensis Comm. Ex Lam. leaves

This study investigates the anti-inflammatory properties of Hydrocotyle bonariensis Comm. Ex Lam, a medicinal plant used by indigenous traditional healers to manage chronic inflammatory diseases especially rheumatism and arthritis. The hexane extract of H. bonariensis leaves was evaluated for the presence and concentration of phytochemicals. It was subjected to heat-induced albumin denaturation and human red blood cell...

Author(s): Obaseki, O. E., Adesegun, O. I., Anyasor, G. N. and Abebawo, O. O.

December 2016

Occurrence of Escherichia coli in Brassica rapa L. chinensis irrigated with low quality water in urban areas of Morogoro, Tanzania

Low quality water has become valuable resource with restricted or unrestricted use in food production depending on its quality. This study has quantified the occurrence of Escherichia coli in Brassica rapa L. chinensis (Chinese cabbage) vegetables and low quality irrigation water. A total of 106 samples including Chinese cabbage (69) and water (37) were collected. The E. coli were cultured in petri film selective E....

Author(s): Ofred J. Mhongole, Robinson H. Mdegela, Lughano J. M. Kusiluka and Anders Dalsgaard

December 2016

Application of polymeric nanoparticles for controlled release of ethanolic extract of guapeva leaves (Pouteria gardneriana Radlk) against Riphicephalus (Boophilus) microplus through in vitro studies

The study was designed to evaluate the ethanolic extract acaricide action from Pouteria gardneriana Radlk specie adsorbed in chitosan nanoparticles for controlled release against Riphicephalus (Boophilus) microplus. Leaves of P. gardneriana Radlk were collected, air-dried, ground and extracted with ethanol. Chitosan nanospheres were obtained by the phase inversion method. Conductometric titration, UV-Vis and FTIR...

Author(s): Priscila Fernanda Pereira Barbosa, Pablo Peres de Mendonça, Rômulo Davi Albuquerque Andrade, Ana Carolina Ribeiro Aguiar, Andréa Rodrigues Chaves, Adilson Ben da Costa and  Fabiano Guimarães Silva

December 2016

Allelopathic effect of aqueous extract of fresh leaf castor beans (Ricinus communis L.) applied to the beginning stage of soy (Glycine max L.) and safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.)

Allelopathy defines the production of specific biomolecules (allelochemical) by a plant that can induce positive or negative impacts on another culture. The crop of castor beans (Ricinus communis L.) is being economically valued and receiving attention, mainly by the biodiesel production, castor oil and animal feeding. In this study, the allelopathic effect of aqueous extract from fresh leaves of castor beans (Ricinus...

Author(s): Renathielly Fernanda da Silva, Rodrigo Techio Bressan, Bruno Meneghel Zilli, Maurício Antônio Pilatti, Samuel Nelson Melegari de Souza and Reginaldo Ferreira Santos