Mate is a traditional drink obtained from the leaves of yerba mate and rich in a diversity of plant bioactive compounds including polyphenols, particularly chlorogenic acids. Studies, even though limited, suggest that consumption of mate is associated with health effects, including prevention of cardiometabolic disorders. Molecular mechanisms underlying the potential health properties are still largely unknown, especially in humans. The aim of this study was to investigate nutrigenomic effects of mate consumption and identify regulatory networks potentially mediating cardiometabolic health benefits. Healthy middle-aged men at risk for CVD consumed a standardised mate extract or placebo for 4 weeks. Global gene expression, including protein coding and non-coding RNA profiles, was determined using microarrays. Biological function analyses were performed using integrated bioinformatic tools. Comparison of global gene expression profiles showed significant change following mate consumption with 2635 significantly differentially expressed genes, among which six are miRNA and 244 are lncRNA. Functional analyses showed that these genes are involved in regulation of cell interactions and motility, inflammation or cell signalling. Transcription factors, such as MEF2A, MYB or HNF1A, could have their activity modulated by mate consumption either by direct interaction with polyphenol metabolites or by interactions of metabolites with cell signalling proteins, like p38 or ERK1/2, that could modulate transcription factor activity and regulate expression of genes observed. Correlation analysis suggests that expression profile is inversely associated with gene expression profiles of patients with cardiometabolic disorders. Therefore, mate consumption may exert cardiometabolic protective effects by modulating gene expression towards a protective profile.

Pondweed is a rhizomatous perennial weed of aquatic habitats that recently adapted to rice ecosystems in northern Iran. Two field experiments were conducted at the Rice Research Institute of Iran to determine the impact of pondweed on rice yield and identify effective herbicides for pondweed control. The focus of the first study was to evaluate the herbicides commonly used in Iranian rice, including butachlor, pretilachlor, oxadiargyl, pendimethalin, thiobencarb, and bensulfuron-methyl. None of these herbicides effectively controlled pondweed, except bensulfuron, which reduced pondweed biomass by ≥95% and produced 26% higher rough rice grain yield than the nontreated plots. The second experiment evaluated the performance of acetolactate synthase–inhibiting herbicides on pondweed control, rough rice yield, and pondweed regrowth. Herbicide efficacy on pondweed varied from 36% to 100%. Five preemergence herbicides, bensulfuron at 45 g ai ha−1, flucetosulfuron at 30 g ai ha−1, triafamone plus ethoxysulfuron at 40 g ai ha−1, and metsulfuron-methyl at 15 g ai ha−1, provided ≥98% control of pondweed. Use of postemergence herbicides penoxsulam at 35 g ai ha−1, bispyribac-sodium at 30 g ai ha−1, and pyribenzoxim at 35 g ai ha−1 provided 36%, 89%, and 93% pondweed control, respectively. Rough rice yields ranged from 107% to 124% in herbicide-treated plots compared with the nontreated plots. Soil-applied herbicide treatments produced higher (≥119%) yield than the hand-weeded control or foliar-applied herbicides. Pondweed regrowth was affected by herbicides and was variable. Soil-applied residual herbicides metazosulfuron, flucetosulfuron, and metsulfuron provided complete control of pondweed and prevented regrowth. In contrast, pondweed regrowth in other soil- and foliar-applied herbicide treatments occurred, indicating their lesser translocation to underground vegetative rhizomes. This study shows that although most sulfonylurea herbicides can control pondweed effectively to achieve high rough rice yield, only a few soil-applied herbicides were able to prevent pondweed regrowth.

Toxoplasma gondii is the causative agent of toxoplasmosis, and an important problem of public health. The current treatment for toxoplasmosis is the combination of pyrimethamine and sulphadiazine, which do not act in the chronic phase of toxoplasmosis and have several side-effects. This study evaluated the anti-T. gondii activity and potential mechanism of Moringa oleifera seeds’ aqueous extract in vitro. The concentration of M. oleifera extract in HeLa cells was determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide cell viability assays. The presence of T. gondii was assessed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and toluidine blue staining. Pyrimethamine and sulphadiazine were used as drug controls. Modifications in T. gondii morphology and ultrastructure were observed by electron microscopy. In vitro, the M. oleifera extract had no toxic effect on HeLa cells at concentrations below 50 μg mL−1. Moringa oleifera extract inhibits T. gondii invasion and intracellular proliferation with similar results for sulphadiazine + pyrimethamine, and also shows cellular nitric oxide production at a concentration of 30 μg mL−1. Electron microscopy analyses indicated structural and ultrastructural modifications in tachyzoites after treatment. We also observed an increase in reactive oxygen species production and a loss of mitochondrial membrane integrity. Nile Red staining assays demonstrated a lipid accumulation. Annexin V–fluorescein isothiocyanate and propidium iodide staining demonstrated that the main action of M. oleifera extract in T. gondii tachyzoites was compatible with late apoptosis. In conclusion, M. oleifera extract has anti-T. gondii activity in vitro and might be a promising substance for the development of a new anti-T. gondii drug.

A waterhemp [Amaranthus tuberculatus (Moq.) J. D. Sauer] biotype (designated as “NER”) collected from a soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] production field in eastern Nebraska survived the POST application of fomesafen at the labeled rate. The objectives of this study were to (1) quantify the level of resistance to protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPO) inhibitors (acifluorfen, fomesafen, and lactofen) applied POST, (2) determine the mechanism of PPO-inhibitor resistance in the NER biotype, (3) determine whether NER possessed multiple resistance to acetolactate synthase (ALS)-, 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS)-, and photosystem II (PSII)-inhibiting herbicides, and (4) control NER with POST soybean herbicides. A whole-plant dose–response bioassay revealed that the NER biotype was 4- to 6-fold resistant to PPO-inhibiting herbicides depending on the known susceptible biotype (S1 or S2) used for comparison. A Kompetitive Allele Specific PCR (KASP™) assay was developed and performed for rapid and robust detection of the ΔG210 mutation (deletion of a codon) in the PPX2L gene. All samples of the NER biotype tested positive for the ΔG210 mutation. Dose–response bioassays confirmed that the NER biotype was resistant to three additional herbicide sites of action. Chlorimuron and imazethapyr, both ALS inhibitors, applied at 32X the labeled rate resulted in <80% reduction in the aboveground biomass of the NER biotype. The same biotype was 3- and 7-fold resistant to glyphosate (EPSPS inhibitor) and atrazine (PSII inhibitor), respectively. Glufosinate, 2,4-D choline plus glyphosate, and dicamba were the only soybean POST herbicides that controlled NER effectively (≥92% aboveground biomass reduction). Amaranthus tuberculatus is the first confirmed weed species in Nebraska to evolve resistance to four distinct herbicide sites of action, leaving no POST herbicide choice for effective control in glyphosate-resistant and conventional (non-transgenic) soybean.

The field of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) represents a vast and largely untapped resource for modern medicine. Exemplified by the success of the antimalarial artemisinin, the recent years have seen a rapid increase in the understanding and application of TCM-derived herbs and formulations for evidence-based therapy. In this review, we summarise and discuss the developmental history, clinical background and molecular basis of an action for several representative TCM-derived medicines, including artemisinin, arsenic trioxide, berberine and Salvia miltiorrhiza or Danshen. Through this, we highlight important examples of how TCM-derived medicines have already contributed to modern medicine, and discuss potential avenues for further research.

Common cocklebur (Xanthium pensylvanicum Wallr.) root tissue was used to investigate the mechanism of action of glyphosate [N - (phosphonomethyl)glycine]. Arrival of glyphosate in the root-tip was followed closely by a rise in ATP levels to 136% of control levels by 2 h after treatment. Incorporation, but not uptake, of 14C-leucine was significantly decreased within 2 h after treatment. Incorporation declined steadily over a 32 -h time course. Uptake of 33P by the roots was temporarily stimulated by glyphosate, and as a percent of the total 33P taken up, there was decreased incorporation into RNA and DNA fractions by 8 h. Our results indicate that glyphosate may cause the rapid rise in ATP level primarily by inhibiting protein synthesis.

Cultures of Streptomyces tendae grown on Actinomyces medium containing clomazone contained less geosmin 48 h after inoculation than untreated controls, suggesting a possible inhibition of reactions prior to sesquiterpenoid biosynthesis. However, exposure to clomazone increased geosmin accumulation in S. tendae cultures grown on Hickey-Tresner medium and in cultures of the fungus Penicillium expansum. Additionally, clomazone increased accumulation of a sesquiterpenoid tentatively identified as a eudesmol in S. tendae, indicating possible point(s) of inhibition subsequent to sesquiterpenoid biosynthesis. Geosmin biosynthesis was induced by transferring cultures of S. tendae inoculated on Actinomyces medium to Hickey-Tresner medium 24 h after inoculation. When harvested at 48 h, geosmin biosynthesis-induced-cultures exposed to clomazone contained more geosmin than untreated controls, indicating that response of a single taxon to clomazone can be rapidly altered by changing medium composition.

Thirteen-day-old common cocklebur (Xanthium pensylvanicum Wallr. # XANPE) plants were treated with 15 μg glyphosate [N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine] applied to the lowermost true leaves. Growth was inhibited rapidly following treatment. About 56% of applied 14C-glyphosate was taken up within 8 h. Within 4 days after treatment, diffusive resistance increased in treated leaves but did not change in untreated leaves. Glyphosate had little effect on nonstructural carbohydrate content of leaves, but soluble carbohydrate levels of stems and roots had increased by 130 and 180%, respectively, by 56 h after treatment. The uptake of 33P into roots was unaffected by the herbicide, but transport of P to the aerial tissues was severely inhibited. Effects such as inhibition of P movement could result from inhibition of protein synthesis.

Effects of 16 herbicides representing 14 herbicide classes on growth and extractable phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL, EC 4.3.1.5) were examined in light- and dark-grown soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr. ‘Hill’] seedlings. High purity (96 to 100%) herbicides were supplied via aqueous culture at various concentrations: 0.5 mM amitrole (3-amino-s-triazole), 0.1 mM atrazine [2-chloro-4-(ethylamino)-6-(isopropylamino)-s-triazine], 0.07 mM diclofop-methyl {methyl ester of 2-[4-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)phenoxy] propanoicacid}, 0.5 mM DSMA (disodium methanearsonate), 0.2 mM fenuron (1,1-dimethyl-3-phenylurea), 0.05 mM fluridone {1-methyl-3-phenyl-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-4(1H)-pyridinone}, 0.5 mM MH (1,2-dihydro-3,6-pyridazinedione), 0.5 mM metribuzin [4-amino-6-tert-butyl-3-(methylthio)-as-triazin-5(4H)-one], 1.8 μM nitralin [4-(methylsulfonyl)-2,6-dinitro-N,N-dipropylaniline], 0.5 mM norflurazon [4-chloro-5-(methylamino)-2-(α,α,α-trifluoro-m-tolyl)-3(2H)-pyridazinone], 0.05 mM paraquat (1,1′-dimethyl-4,4′-bipyridinium ion), 0.15 mM perfluidone {1,1,1-trifluoro-N-[2-methyl-4-(phenylsulfonyl)phenyl] methanesulfonamide}, 0.2 mM propanil (3′,4′-dichloropropionanilide), 0.1 mM propham (isopropyl carbanilate), 0.5 mM TCA (trichloroacetic acid), and 0.05 mM 2,4-D [(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)acetic acid]. Dark-grown soybean seedlings (3-day-old) were transferred to control solutions (2 mM CaSO4) or to herbicide solutions (in 2 mM CaSO4) and grown at 25 C in continuous white light (200 μE•m-2•s-1) or continuous darkness until harvested 24 or 48 h after transfer. After 48 h, growth (fresh weight, dry weight, elongation) was inhibited by most of the chemicals. Other signs of toxicity (necrosis, secondary root stunting, and root tip swelling) were noted for some treatments. Roots were most affected, although hypocotyls were generally not changed. Hypocotyl elongation was stimulated by atrazine, fluridone, and norflurazon after 48 h light. Extractable PAL activity from soybean axes was decreased by atrazine, fenuron, metribuzin, norflurazon, propanil, propham, and 2,4-D. Amitrole and paraquat were the only herbicides that increased extractable PAL activity. Other compounds tested had no effect on the enzyme. None of the herbicides significantly affected in vitro PAL activity.

The effects of haloxyfop {2-[4-[[3-chloro-5(trifluoromethyl)-2-pyridinyl] oxy] phenoxy] propanoic acid} and haloxyfop-methyl on elongation and respiration of primary roots of corn [Zea mays L. ‘B37 X Oh43’] and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr. ‘Hodgson 78’] were examined. Intact roots of etiolated seedlings were exposed to both forms of the herbicide. At a concentration of 10-6 M, neither form of the herbicide had an effect on elongation or respiration of soybean roots. In contrast, elongation of corn roots was completely inhibited within 24 h of exposure to 10-6 M haloxyfop. This treatment reduced the respiration rate of corn root apices by 30% but had little effect on ATP content. After 72 h of exposure to haloxyfop [10-6 M], both ATP content and respiration rate of corn root apices had declined 35%. Haloxyfop-methyl produced equivalent effects on elongation and respiration of corn roots. Studies with isolated corn root mitochondria indicated that haloxyfop inhibits electron transport at relatively high concentrations (I50 = approximately 2 mM for various substrates). Because significant reductions in ATP content and respiration rate of corn root apices were not detected during the period when elongation was inhibited (initial 24 h of exposure), it is concluded that impairment of respiration is a secondary response to the herbicide.

Common lambsquarters tolerance to glyphosate is problematic because of the species' widespread distribution, competitive ability with many crop species, the widespread use of glyphosate in agriculture, and the weed's potential to develop decreased sensitivity to multiple herbicide sites of action. The mechanism that confers common lambsquarters tolerance to glyphosate is not known. Therefore, we conducted experiments to determine the mechanism of tolerance to glyphosate in an accession of common lambsquarters from Indiana relative to a sensitive accession from Wisconsin. The ED50 (the effective dose that reduced shoot mass 50% relative to nontreated plants) value for the tolerant accession (1.6 kg ae ha−1 ± 0.4 standard error of the mean [SEM]) was eightfold greater than the ED50 for the sensitive accession (0.2 kg ae ha−1 ± 0.2 SEM) 28 d after treatment. The glyphosate target-site (EPSPS) DNA sequence at proline 106, shikimate accumulation as an estimate of EPSPS sensitivity, and EPSPS protein abundance did not differ between accessions. Absorption of 14C-glyphosate was slightly greater in the tolerant accession than it was in the sensitive accession at 48 and 72 h after treatment (HAT). However, the tolerant accession translocated a smaller percentage of absorbed 14C-glyphosate to the tissue above the treated leaf, which included the shoot apical meristem, at 24, 48, and 72 HAT (P ≤ 0.05, 0.01, and 0.10, respectively). These results suggest an important role of reduced translocation in conferring tolerance of common lambsquarters to glyphosate.

Management of herbicide resistance can be most effectively accomplished if every person and organization involved in agricultural production takes an ownership position and participates in solving the growing problem of weed resistance to herbicides. Growers and other pest management practitioners are keys to effective herbicide resistance management since they make the final decisions on practices used. However, many other people and organizations have an important role to play as well. Agricultural input supply networks, including chemical companies, are a widely used information source for growers' decisions through company marketing efforts. Government agencies may influence decisions through regulations or incentive programs. University scientists through their research, education, and outreach programs may impact management decisions, and organizations such as professional societies, farm and commodity groups, public interest organizations, and the agricultural press play roles as well. It is critically important that all of these groups impacting herbicide resistance management decisions are sending the same message and that message is based on sound science. The time to act is now.

The impact of nutrition and energy reserves on the fertility of ruminants has been extensively described. However, the metabolic factors and the molecular mechanisms involved in the interactions between nutrition and ovarian function are still poorly understood. These factors could be hormonal (either reproductive and/or metabolic) and/or dietary and metabolic (glucose, amino acids and fatty acids). In this review, we briefly summarize the impact of those nutrients (fatty acids, glucose and amino acids) and metabolic hormones (insulin/IGF-I, growth hormone, T3/4, ghrelin, apelin and the adipokines (leptin, adiponectin and resistin)) implicated in the development of ovarian follicles, oocytes and embryos in ruminants. We then discuss the current hypotheses on the mechanisms of action of these factors on ovarian function. We particularly describe the role of some energy sensors including adenosine monophosphate-activated kinase and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors in the ovarian cells.

Malaria is a major health concern particularly in Africa which has about 90% of the worldwide annual clinical cases. The increasing number of drug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum justifies the search for new drugs in this field. Antimalarial activity of 2-substituted 6-nitro- and 6-amino-benzothiazoles and their anthranilic acids has been tested. An in vitro study has been performed on W2 and 3D7 strains of P. falciparum and on clinical isolates from malaria-infected patients. Toxicity has been assessed on THP1 human monocytic cells. For the most active drug candidates, the in vitro study was followed by in vivo assays on P. berghei-infected mice and by in vitro assays in order to determine the stage-dependency and the mechanism of action. Of 39 derivatives tested in vitro, 2 had specific antimalarial properties. Each compound was active on all stages of the parasite, but one was markedly active on mature schizonts, while the other was more active on young schizont forms. Both drugs were also active on mitochondrial membrane potential. In vivo data confirmed efficiency with a sustained decrease of parasitaemia. Products A12 and C7 may be considered as potential antimalarial worthy of further chemical and biological research.