background and objectives:gamma-irradiation is used vastly for both decontamination and sterilization of natural products; but these high-energy rays can affect heat-sensitive essential oils. methods: the oleo-gum-resin of boswellia carterii (burseraceae) was sterilized by γ-irradiation at dose 30 kgy. the essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation of non-irradiated boswellia (nib) and irradi...

arkinson’s disease (PD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases characterized by tremor, stiffness and slowness of motion due to dopamine (DA) depletion following dramatic loss of dopaminergic neurons in Substantia nigra. Unfortunately, this debilitating disease has no curative treatment. Neuroprotective agents might be useful via postponing the initiation of neurodegenerative proc...

A quick, simple and improved DNA extraction method from polysaccharide rich leaves of Boswellia serrata Roxb. has been developed. Different methods involving use of CTAB and SDS with or without modification were used. A CTAB based extraction method which uses diatomite to remove polysaccharides, such as, gums and resin, proved to be the best. This method allowed recovery of good quality DNA in ...

The sex-inducing pheromone of Volvox carteri is a glycoprotein that triggers development of males and females at a concentration below 10(-16) M. Evidence is presented for the existence of a novel mechanism of signal amplification operating within the extracellular matrix of this multicellular organism. A family of 70 kDa matrix glycoproteins denoted pherophorins bear a C-terminal domain being ...

Hydrogen gas functions as a key component in the metabolism of a wide variety of microorganisms, often acting as either a fermentative end-product or an energy source. The number of organisms reported to utilize hydrogen continues to grow, contributing to and expanding our knowledge of biological hydrogen processes. Here we demonstrate that Volvox carteri f. nagariensis, a multicellular green a...