Microscopical Characterization and Physicochemical Standardization of Leaves, Stems and Roots of Spondias mombin L. (Anacardiaceae)

Background: Spondias mombin L. belongs to the family Anacardiaceae. Despite its wide ethnomedicinal applications in the management of diverse diseases, there is a paucity of documented reports on its standardization.Objectives: The present study evaluated microscopical characters and some physicochemical properties of different parts of the plant for its identification and standardization.Material and Methods: Epidermal tissue preparation of the leaf of Spondias mombin (SM) was obtained using physical method while thin sections (10-12 μm) of the stem bark and root were obtained using a rotary microtome. Physicochemical parameters were determined for the powdered samples of SM using standard methods.Results: Diagnostic characters from the epidermal tissue of the leaf revealed anomocytic, paracytic stomatal type, non-glandular trichome, smooth to slightly wavy anticlinal walls while sections of the stem bark and root were characterized with abundant sclereids and calcium oxalate crystals. The stomatal number and stomatal index of the abaxial epidermis were 23.70±0.86 and 24.62±0.78 %, respectively. Ethanol had the highest extractive value (17.84±0.50) % in the leaf whereas it was lowest in petroleum ether (1.92±0.08) %. The leaf had the lowest ash value (7.13±0.76) %.Conclusion: The microscopical characterization and some of the physicochemical parameters reported herein could be useful in the compilation of monograph for the correct identification of Spondias mombin, thus contributing to the knowledge of its collection and preservation.

Struktur Anatomi dan Uji Histokimia Terpenoid dan Fenol Dua Varietas Sirih Hijau (Piper betle L.)

This study aims to determine the anatomical structure and histochemical test of terpenoid and phenol compounds in two varieties of green betel plants (Piper betle). Making leaves anatomical structure preparations using the fresh method, testing terpenoid compounds with 5% copper acetate, testing phenol with ferric trichloride 10% and some grains of sodium carbonate. The observations of the anatomical structure of green betel leaf varieties 1 and varieties 2 have similarities consisting of the upper epidermis, upper hypodermis, palisade parenchyma, parenchymal sponges, vascular bundles (xylem and phloem), sclerenchyma, cholenchyma, lower epidermis, lower hypodermis, secretory cells, trichoma, stoma and calcium oxalate crystals, and in varieties 2 look more trichomes. The anatomical structure of the variety 1 betel stem and varieties 2 are arranged from the outside in the direction of the epidermal tissue, colenchymal tissue, cortical bundles, sclerenchyma, cortex, medullary and peripheral vascular files, pith, the central part of the stem is a secretory gland. Phenol in betel vine varieties 1 and varieties 2 is positive in the secretion cell part which is spread in the parenchymal tissue of the mother's leaf bone and lamina, whereas in the stem is spread around the cortex and pith parenchyma. Positive secretion cells contain phenol not as much as secretory cells containing terpenoids. Based on quantitative observations the size of oil cell density and secretion cell diameter, the essential oils contained in the cell secretions in the leaves of variety 1 are more than varieties 2 while in the varieties 2, there are more varieties 1.

Periodontal Manifestation in a Patient with Kindler Syndrome

Kindler syndrome is a rare subtype of inherited epidermolysis bullosa. A 42-year-old female patient was admitted to our clinic with a complaint of tooth mobility. Multiple hypo- and hyperpigmented macules dissipated all over her body, prominent poikilodermatous changes, xerosis of the skin, and atrophy were seen in the clinical extraoral examination. Intraoral examination showed atrophy of the buccal mucosa, limited oral opening, epidermal tissue easily separated from the connective tissue, painful ulcers of the hard palate, severe periodontitis, and keratosis of the lips. All of the teeth showed mobility. After dermatologist consultation, the diagnosis of the patient was clinically identified as “Kindler syndrome.” All of her teeth were extracted due to her progressive periodontal disease and late admission to our clinic. Periodontal treatment might be effective in treating and controlling oral symptoms related to the syndrome and in improving the patient’s quality of life.

Nobiletin Reduces Lipid Accumulation in Sebocytes and Inhibits PPAR Delta Activation in Epidermal Tissue Models

Background: Acne vulgaris is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the majority of the population at some point in their lifetime. Acne pathogenesis is multifactorial with four primary contributors that play a pivotal role in the formation of acne lesions: inflammation, androgeninduced sebum production, abnormal keratinization, and bacterial colonization. Recent studies have demonstrated the anti-inflammatory, anticarcinogenic, anti-diabetic, and anti-lipid properties of certain Polymethoxylated Flavones (PMF) derivatives.

Influence of Structural Reinforcements on the Twist-to-bend Ratio of Plant Stems

During biological evolution, plants have developed a wide variety of body plans and concepts that enable them to react or adapt to changing environmental conditions. Their morphological-anatomical and mechanical adaptations to conflicting conditions are especially interesting. A good example is the trade-off between flexural and torsional rigidity, as represented by the dimensionless twist-to-bend ratio. We have developed geometric models of a plant tissue reflecting the 2D situation of triangular cross-sections comprising of a parenchymatous matrix with vascular bundles surrounded by an epidermis and analysed them by using mathematical models (finite element analysis) to measure the effect of either reinforcements of the epidermal tissue or fibre reinforcements such as collenchyma and sclerenchyma on the twist-to-bend ratio. The change from an epidermis to a covering tissue of corky periderm increases both the flexural and the torsional rigidity and decreases the twist-to-bend ratio. Furthermore, additional fibre reinforcement strands in a parenchymatous ground tissue lead to a strong increase of the flexural and a weaker increase of the torsional rigidity and thus resulting in a marked increase of the twist-to-bend ratio. Within the developed model, a reinforcement by 49 sclerenchyma fibre strands or 24 collenchyma fibre strands is optimal in order to achieve high twist-to-bend ratios. Dependent on the mechanical quality of the fibres, the twist-to-bend ratio of collenchyma-reinforced axes is noticeably smaller, with collenchyma having an elastic modulus that is approximately 20 times smaller than that of sclerenchyma.

Proteomics reveals that quinoa bioester promotes replenishing effects in epidermal tissue

The continuous search for natural products that attenuate age-related losses has increasingly gained notice; among them, those applicable for skin care have drawn significant attention. The bioester generated from the Chenopodium quinoa’s oil is a natural-origin ingredient described to produce replenishing skin effects. With this as motivation, we used shotgun proteomics to study the effects of quinoa bioester on human reconstructed epidermis tridimensional cell cultures after 0, 3, 6, 12, 24, and 48 h of exposure. Our experimental setup employed reversed-phase nano-chromatography coupled online with an Orbitrap-XL and PatternLab for proteomics as the data analysis tool. Extracted ion chromatograms were obtained as surrogates for relative peptide quantitation. Our findings spotlight proteins with increased abundance, as compared to the untreated cell culture counterparts at the same timepoints, that were related to preventing premature aging, homeostasis, tissue regeneration, protection against ultraviolet radiation and oxidative damage.

Isolation of Lineage Specific Nuclei Based on Distinct Endoreduplication Levels and Tissue-Specific Markers to Study Chromatin Accessibility Landscapes

The capacity for achieving immense specificity and resolution in science increases day to day. Fluorescence-activated nuclear sorting (FANS) offers this great precision, enabling one to count and separate distinct types of nuclei from specific cells of heterogeneous mixtures. We developed a workflow to collect nuclei from Arabidopsis thaliana by FANS according to cell lineage and endopolyploidy level with high efficiency. We sorted GFP-labeled nuclei with different ploidy levels from the epidermal tissue layer of three-day, dark-grown hypocotyls followed by a shift to light for one day and compared them to plants left in the dark. We then accessed early chromatin accessibility patterns associated with skotomorphogenesis and photomorphogenesis by the assay for transposase-accessible chromatin using sequencing (ATAC-seq) within primarily stomatal 2C and fully endoreduplicated 16C nuclei. Our quantitative analysis shows that dark- and light-treated samples in 2C nuclei do not exhibit any different chromatin accessibility landscapes, whereas changes in 16C can be linked to transcriptional changes involved in light response.

Establishment of long-term ostracod epidermal culture

Primary crustacean cell culture was introduced in the 1960s, but to date limited cell lines have been established. Skogsbergia lerneri is a myodocopid ostracod, which has a body enclosed within a thin, durable, transparent bivalved carapace, through which the eye can see. The epidermal layer lines the inner surface of the carapace and is responsible for carapace synthesis. The purpose of the present study was to develop an in vitro epidermal tissue and cell culture method for S. lerneri. First, an optimal environment for the viability of this epidermal tissue was ascertained, while maintaining its cell proliferative capacity. Next, a microdissection technique to remove the epidermal layer for explant culture was established and finally, a cell dissociation method for epidermal cell culture was determined. Maintenance of sterility, cell viability and proliferation were key throughout these processes. This novel approach for viable S. lerneri epidermal tissue and cell culture augments our understanding of crustacean cell biology and the complex biosynthesis of the ostracod carapace. In addition, these techniques have great potential in the fields of biomaterial manufacture, the military and fisheries, for example, in vitro toxicity testing.