Seeds have well-established passive physical and chemical defense mechanisms that protect their food reserves from decay-inducing organisms and herbivores. However, there are few studies evaluating potential biochemical defenses of dormant seeds against pathogens. Caryopsis decay by the pathogenic Fusarium avenaceum strain F.a.1 was relatively rapid in wild oat (Avena fatua L.) isoline "M73," w...

The effect of Musa paradisiaca stem kernel juice was investigated in experimental urolithiatic rats. Stone forming rats exhibited a significant elevation in the activities of two oxalate synthesizing enzymes - Glycollic acid oxidase and Lactate dehydrogenase. Deposition and excretion of stone forming constituents in kidney and urine were also increased in these rats. The enzyme activities and t...

A major role of the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase family of enzymes is to catalyze the production of superoxides and other reactive oxygen species (ROS). These ROS, in turn, play a key role as messengers in cell signal transduction and cell cycling, but when they are produced in excess they can lead to oxidative stress (OS). Oxidative stress in the kidneys is now c...

An alternative source of oxalate oxidase (Oxox) was to be purified for use in a biosensor system to detect oxalate in patients suffering from primary hyperoxaluria (PH). Oxox has been isolated from a number of sources, however there is significant variation in the information available. Prior to the purification of Oxox, the properties of commercially available Sigma Aldrich Ltd. Oxox were rese...

BACKGROUND The study compared the effect of urinary calcium with that of oxalate on urinary saturation [relative saturation ratio (RSR)] of calcium oxalate. METHODS A retrospective data analysis was conducted on urinary stone risk analysis from 667 patients with predominantly calcium oxalate stones. Urinary RSR of calcium oxalate was individually calculated using Equil 2. A "theoretical" curv...