• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.308-315
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• 2005

Aflatoxin contamination is a major problem in several food crops. Aflatoxin, a mycotoxin, produced by Aspergillus flavus has gained immense concern in the scientific world because of its tremendous harmful effects. The study was focused to see the effect of oil and aqueous extract of neem (Azadirachta indica) seeds on the growth of Aspergillus and production of aflatoxin by the mold. Various amounts of neem oil $(5\;-\;50\;{\mu}l/ml)$ and aqueous extract of neem (5 - 50 mg/ml) were used both in the broth as well as the solid medium. Fungistatic (MIC) and minimal fungicidal concentrations (MFC) were found to be $10\;{\mu}l/ml$ and $50\;{\mu}l/ml$ respectively for neem seed oil. At the concentration of $5\;{\mu}l/ml$ neem oil and 5 mg/ml of aqueous extract, a significant decrease in the aflatoxin content was found in broth medium. Aflatoxin production was totally inhibited at $50\;{\mu}l/ml$ and 50 mg/ml for neem oil and aqueous extract of neem respectively, in both treatments. There was significant inhibition of mycelium dry weight by the neem seed oil. Mycelial growth was totally inhibited at $20\;{\mu}l/ml$ of neem seed oil concentration in broth, whereas it was not affected at all by aqueous extract. It can therefore be inferred that the oil and extract from the neem seed leads to inhibition of aflatoxin production while neem seed oil also significantly inhibits the mycelial growth. Neem seed oil thus can be used as potent, natural and easily available anti-aflatoxigenic agent.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.1-16
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• 1982

The thermal conductivies of grain are influenced by many physical factors such as' initial temperature, moisture content, composition, bulk density or porosity of grain. However, not only few researchers considered all these factors in determining thermal conductivities of grain but also many researchers considered only moisture content as a major effective factor on the thermal conductivity. This study was conducted to experimentally determine the thermal conductivities of rough rice (3 Japonica-type, 3 Indica-type) and barley(covered, naked) as a function of initial temperature, moisture content and porosity of grain, and to investigate the effect of those physical factors on the thermal conductivities of grain. The results of this study are summarized as follows; 1. The average time correction value for this experimental apparatus was 7 sec, which. was insignificant to the calculated thermal conductivity. The resulting conductivity for considering time correction value was only 4.9 percent higher than that calculated by the non-corrected equation. 2. The thermal conductivity was in the range of 0.1208~0.2058W/$m^{\circ}K$ for naked barley, 0.1138~0.1724W/$m^{\circ}K$ for covered barley, 0.0912~0.1864W/$m^{\circ}K$ for Japonica-type rice and 0.086~0.1774W/$m^{\circ}K$ for Indica-type rice. 3. The thermal conductivities of grain increased with initial temperature and moisture content of grain but decreased with porosity of grain. 4. The regression equations of the thermal conductivity of each grain were determined as a function of initial temperature, moisture content and porosity. The regression equations of the thermal conductivity of both Japonica-type and Indica-type rough rice were also determined.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.264-270
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• 2001

The effects of leaf extracts of 14 different non-host plant species on in vitro conidial germination of Phaeoisariopsis personata, the causal organism of late leaf spot(LLS) of groundnut were evaluated. Aqueous and ethanol leaf extracts of Datura metel, Lawsonia inermis and aqueous leaf extracts of Sphaeranthus indicus at 25%(w/v) concentration completely inhibited the conidial germination of P. personata both at 24h and 48h after incubation. Aqueous leaf extracts of Blumea bifoliata, Eucalyptus globules, Ocimum sanctum and Pongamia pinnata, and ethanol leaf extracts of Azadirachta indica and S. indicus inhibited the conidial germination by >90%. Aqueous and ethanol leaf extract of L. inermis and S. indicus were highly inhibitory to conidial germination up to 1% concentration. Aqueous and ethanol leaf extracts of D. metel and ethanol leaf extract of A. indica were highly inhibitory to P. personata even at 0.01% (100 ppm) concentration. Ethanol leaf extract of A. indica up to $80^{\circ}$, aqueous leaf extracts of D. metel and S. indicus up to $100^{\circ}$, and L. inermis up to $60^{\circ}$, were highly stable and retained their fungitoxic effects. Extract of D. metel was antifungal even after 180 days when it was stored both at room temperature and $4^{\circ}$. Aqueous leaf extract of D. metel at 2% concentration effectively reduced the development of LLS by >60%, under greenhouse conditions both in prophylactic and simultaneous applications. Extracts of D. metel could be a potential economical and an eco-frendly alternative for control of late leaf spot, and its efficacy under field conditions is further being evaluated.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.9-15
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• 2016

The changes of resistant starch (RS) contents of cooked rice with soybean and coconut oils under different storage conditions were investigated and RS contents were compared between the rice and cooker types. The japonica (Hopyeong) and the indica (Thailand) type rice were cooked (washed rice: water = 100: 130) using an electric cooker and a saucepan. The coconut oil and soybean oil (3%, based on rice, w/w) were added into cooking water before heating. The RS contents of freeze-dried cooked rice powders (newly-cooked rice, stored for 12 h in the refrigerator, microwave heating after storage for 12 h in the refrigerator) were measured by the AOAC method. The RS contents of cooked rice using a saucepan were higher than those using an electric cooker. The indica type cooked rice had a higher RS content than the japonica type cooked rice, regardless of storage conditions. However, addition of oil before cooking rice resulted in increased RS content on storage in the refrigerator. The highest RS content of the cooked indica type rice with soybean oil ($5.89{\pm}0.22%$) that was stored for 12 h in the refrigerator was analyzed. The results suggested that the cooked rice formed retrograded (RS3) and amylose-lipid complex (RS5) type RS; furthermore, the RS content is affected by storage conditions, rice, cooker and oil types.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.28-34
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• 1997

This study was conducted to determine the protein content, cell wall fractions, and mineral concentrations of some minor plant species collected for one year in pastures grazed by goats in the Philippines. An assessment of nutrient variability and a comparison of forage protein and mineral concentrations to the critical value of protein and minerals based on animal needs were also studied. The plant species were the following: grasses(Axonopus compressus, Eleusine indica, Rottboellia exaltata); legumes (Aeschynomene indica, Calopogonium muconoides, Desmodium tortousum); and herbs (Corchorus olitorius, Ipomea aquatica, Sida acuta, Synedrella nodiflora). The two seasons (dry and wet) were subdivided into Dry-1 (December to February, 132 mm total rainfall), Dry-2 (March to May, 25 mm total rainfall), Wet-1 (June to August, 1,138 mm total rainfall), and Wet-2 (September to November, 1,118 mm total rainfall). Results showed that significant differences were obtained on various nutrient fractions including those mineral concentrations across species. Across season, acid detergent lignin (ADL) had higher (p < 0.05) value at Dry-1. Legumes and herbs were higher in crude protein (CP) especially Sida acuta. Grasses showed the highest neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) with the addition of Sida nodiflora (herb) for it contained high NDF. Aeschynomene indica contained the highest amount of ADL and the herbs (Ipomea aquatica and Sida acuta) had exceptionally high concentration of minerals. Coefficient variation of the various nutrient values ranged from 27.3 to 136.7%. Some forage minerals appeared to be deficient (sodium, phosphorus and copper) or excess (molybdenum) for the whole or part of the year. This study shows that some minor plant species could extend the range of concentration of some nutrients (i.e., CP and minerals) beyond that normally found in conventional pasture species.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.181-185
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• 2001

This study was carried out to select chamazulene containing species and to know whether chamazulene content varies depend on individual plants within a population or not. Among five collected mugworts, chamazulene was detected only in Artemisia indica. Chamazulene content in the leaves was higher than that in stems at vegetative stage. Camazulene in inflorescence was not higher than that in leaves even at reproductive stage. Chamazulene was higher in the leaves of the upper part of the plant than those of the middle and lower of the plant at vegetative stage. Chamazulene contents of 50 individuals within a population were varied from 0.01% to 0.11% with mean of 0.045%. About 36 individuals, 72 percent of total individuals examined, had more than 0.03% of chamazulene. There was no difference in chamazulene contents between parents and their clones.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.33.1-33.17
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• 2022

Nervous necrosis virus (NNV) is a deadly infectious disease that affects several fish species. It has been found that the NNV utilizes grouper heat shock cognate protein 70 (GHSC70) to enter the host cell. Thus, blocking the virus entry by targeting the responsible protein can protect the fishes from disease. The main objective of the study was to evaluate the inhibitory potentiality of 70 compounds of Azadirachta indica (Neem plant) which has been reported to show potential antiviral activity against various pathogens, but activity against the NNV has not yet been reported. The binding affinity of 70 compounds was calculated against the GHSC70 with the docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation approaches. Both the docking and MD methods predict 4 (PubChem CID: 14492795, 10134, 5280863, and 11119228) inhibitory compounds that bind strongly with the GHSC70 protein with a binding affinity of -9.7, -9.5, -9.1, and -9.0 kcal/mol, respectively. Also, the ADMET (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity) properties of the compounds confirmed the drug-likeness properties. As a result of the investigation, it may be inferred that Neem plant compounds may act as significant inhibitors of viral entry into the host cell. More in-vitro testing is needed to establish their effectiveness.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.327-336
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• 2016

The Bagan, the central part of Myanmar, is dry zone where the mean annual precipitation is less than 600 mm for the last ten years. Forest in this region has been degraded due to biotic and abiotic disturbances. While there have been various efforts to rehabilitate the degraded area, the information on growth and physiological characteristics of planting species and the impacts of planting trees in the region still lacks. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the growth and physiological water use efficiency characteristics of five species (Azadirachta indica A. Juss., Acacia catechu Willd., Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehn., Acacia leucophloea (Roxb.) Willd. and Albizia lebbek (L.) Willd.) which are utilized as rehabilitation species in the dry zone and to identify the impacts of tree planting on microclimate change in dry zone. The growth and the foliar carbon isotope composition of seedlings and the above mentioned five species planted in 2005 were measured. And from February 2015 to January 2016, microclimatic factors air temperature and relative humidity at 60 cm and 2 m above soil, soil temperature, soil water contents and precipitation were measured at every 30-minute interval from the two weather stations installed in the plantation located in Ngalinpoke Mt. Range. One was established in the center of A. indica plantation, and the other was in the barren land fully exposed to the sunlight. Among the five species, A. indica and A. lebbek which showed higher water use efficiency could be recommended as rehabilitation species in dry zone. Planting trees in the dry area was shown to affect the change of microclimate with shading effects, declining temperature of the land surface and aridity of the air, and to contribute to conserving more water in soil by preventing direct evaporation and containing more water with fine roots of trees.

• Korean Journal of Weed Science
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.289-293
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• 2011

Field experiments were conducted to predict rice yield losses caused by Echinochloa crus-galli (L.)P. Beauv., Bidens frondosa L. and Aeschynomeme indica L. at a range of plant densities under machine transplanted rice cultivation in different regions of Korea in 2006, and to determine their economic threshold levels (ET). All data were fitted to Cousens' rectangular hyperbola to estimate parameters for predicting rice yield loss. The rice yield loss models of Bidens frondosa L. was predicted as y=5.43/(1+0.0113x), $R^2$=0.963, A. indica was y=5.47/(1+0.0332x), $R^2$=0.976 and E. crus-galli y=5.43/(1+0.01552x), $R^2$=0.950. The mean competitivities represented by the parameter, whose reciprocal ($1/{\beta}$) is a weed density reducing crop yield by 50%. Those of E. crus-galli, B. frondosa and A. indica were 0.01552, 0.01113 and 0.0332 in normal-season machine transplanting of Korea, respectively. Single year mean economic thresholds (ET) of A. indica were 0.5, 0.6 and 0.7 plant $m^{-2}$ with the application of flucetosulfuron, flucetosulfuron+imazosulfuron GR and flucetosulfuron+imazosulfuron+carfentrazone GR herbicides, respectively. Meanwhile ET values of 1.6, 1.9 and 1.9 plants $m^{-2}$ for B. frondosa, 1.2, 1.4, and 1.4 plants $m^{-2}$ for E. crus-galli.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.219-224
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• 2018

The fruit and stem of Opuntia ficus-indica var. aboten (OFS), a native plant of Jeju Island, are considered a safe food source. Moreover, stem extracts have been previously reported to possess a variety of biological effects (e.g. anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant, including the ability to partially ameliorate cognitive impairment), suggesting that this plant may have utility as a functional food. The present study investigated whether fermentation by lactic acid bacteria enhances the biological effects of OFS extracts. The acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity of fermented or non-fermented OFS extracts was evaluated, and the content of marker components dihydrokaempferol (DHK) and quercetin-3-methyl ether (3-MeQ) was analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography. Fermented (relative to non-fermented) OFS extracts exhibited improved AChE inhibitory activity ($IC_{50}=28.35 mg/mL$), with AChE inhibitory activity resulting from fermentation by L. plantarum ($IC_{50}=12.56mg/mL$) exceeding that resulting from fermentation by L. fermentum ($IC_{50}=17.71mg/mL$). Furthermore, fermented (relative to non-fermented) OFS extracts exhibited a 16.7 % increase in DHK content, and 3-MeQ content of OFS extracts fermented by L. plantarum and L. fermentum increased by 28.6 % and 21.4 %, respectively. Therefore, OFS stem extract AChE inhibitory activity, as well as DHK and 3-MeQ content, was enhanced by fermentation with Lactobacillus spp. This suggests that fermented OFS extracts may contribute to prevention or improvement of cognitive impairment. These data are anticipated to be useful in the development of enhanced-efficacy OFS products.