Genetic variation at five microsatellite loci was used to investigate the evolutionary and geographical origins of cassava (Manihot esculenta subsp. esculenta) and the population structure of cassava's wild relatives. Two hundred and twelve individuals were sampled, representing 20 crop accessions, 27 populations of cassava's closest wild relative (M. esculenta subsp. flabellifolia), and six po...

European water frog hybrids Rana esculenta (Rana ridibunda x Rana lessonae) reproduce hemiclonally, transmitting only their ridibunda genome to gametes. We compared fitness-related larval life-history traits of natural R. esculenta from Poland with those of the two sympatric parental species and of newly generated F1 hybrids. Compared with either parental species, F1 hybrid offspring had higher...

Influenced by the ancient literature of various communities and reports presented by modern authors regarding the medicinal uses of Colocacia esculenta., present study was conducted to investigate the antihepatotoxic efficacy associated with Colocacia esculenta whole leaf juice. The antihepatotoxic and hepatoprotective studies were carried against two well known hepaotoxins paracetamol and CCl4...

Irradiation leads to immunosuppression, hemopoiesis injury as well as sub-health of human being. The protective and therapeutic effects of cuttlefish ink on hemopoiesis in 60Co gamma radiated model mice were investigated. One hundred and twenty female ICR mice aged 6 weeks (20-24g) were randomly divided into five groups: the control group, the model group, and the low, medium, high dosage group...

Homoeopaths treat disease using very low dose preparations administered according to the principle that “like should be cured with like.” Practitioners select a drug that would, if given to a healthy volunteer, cause the presenting symptoms of the patient. For example, the homoeopathic remedy Allium cepa is derived from the common onion. Contact with raw onions typically causes lacrimation, sti...

Phytoremediation is the technique based on the use of plants to remediate sites contaminated with organic and inorganic pollutants. This technology is rapidly growing as is helpful to growing industries. Colocasia esculenta is a tropical plant grown primarily for its edible corm and the root vegetables. It has many names like Taro and Eddoe. It is a wide spread emergent aquatic plant, generally...

The prophenoloxidase (proPO) system catalyzing the melanin production is considered as implicated in the innate immune system in invertebrates. The phenoloxidase (PO)-like activity was detected in the cuttlefish embryo sampled at the end of the organogenesis and few hours before hatching. Various modulators of the PO activity were used to assess the triggering of the proPO activating system. Th...

Stages of merogony of a coccidian parasite were commonly observed during histological examination of the digestive tract of 7 crustacean species from Galician coastal waters. Study of the fine structure of these merogonial stages by transmission electron microscopy revealed the presence of a typical apicomplexan apical complex. Newly hatched Sepia officinalis obtained from egg masses, cultured ...

Several cell wall constituents, including melanins or melanin-like compounds, have been implicated in the pathogenesis of a wide variety of microbial diseases caused by diverse species of pathogenic bacteria, fungi, and helminthes. Among these microorganisms, the dimorphic fungal pathogen Paracoccidioides brasiliensis produces melanin in its conidial and yeast forms. In the present study, melan...