Insect growth regulatory activity of Thevetia nerifolia Juss. against Spodoptera litura (Fab.)

Screening for insect growth regulatory activity (IGR) of Thevetia nerifolia leaf extracts were evaluated against Spodoptera litura (Fab.). Methanol extract of leaves provided 53.8 % larval mortality, 29.6 % pupation and 22.3 % adult emergence at 2.5 % concentration level. The extract was further subfractioned with solvents of different polarity in search of better IGR activity and chloroform extract was found to be most active in terms of larval mortality (27.5-61.5 %), pupation (28.4-60.2 %) and adult emergence (19.8-52.8 %). GI50 of the extract was recorded to be 3.02 %. Activity was attributed to the glycosides present in the extract

Valorisation of black carrot pomace: microwave assisted extraction of bioactive phytoceuticals and antioxidant activity using Box–Behnken design

The present study compares three methods viz. microwave assisted extraction (MAE), ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE) and conventional solvent extraction (CSE) for extraction of phenolic compounds from black carrot pomace (BCP). BCP is the major by-product generated during processing and poses big disposal problem. Box–Behnken design using response surface methodology was employed to investigate and optimize the MAE of phenolics, antioxidant activity and colour density from BCP. The conditions for maximum recovery of polyphenolics were: microwave power (348.07 W), extraction time (9.8 min), solvent–solid ratio (19.3 mL/g) and ethanol concentration (19.8%). Under these conditions, the extract contained total phenolic content of 264.9 ± 10.02 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/100 mL, antioxidant capacity (AOC) of 13.14 ± 1.05 lmol Trolox equivalents (TE)/mL and colour density of 68.63 ± 5.40 units. The total anthocyanin content at optimized condition was 753.40 ± 31.6 mg/L with low % polymeric colour of 7.40 ± 0.42. At optimized conditions, MAE yielded higher colour density (68.63 ± 5.40), polyphenolic content (264.9 ± 10.025 mg GAE/100 mL) and AOC (13.14 ± 1.05 lmol TE/mL) in a short time as compared to UAE and CSE. Overall results clearly indicate that MAE is the best suited method for extraction in comparison to UAE and CSE. The phenolic rich extract can be used as an effective functional ingredient in foods

Nutritional quality of organic rice grown on organic composts

The use of organic nutrient sources in improving crop quality can be a viable alternative to traditional farming. Organic farming encourages the reduction of agrochemicals and promotes soil conservation principles. Although crop quality depends on several factors, among which the nutrient source plays a great role, there is little information available on how rice quality is affected by different organic composts. Here we grew aromatic rice on two levels of four organic composts made from kudzu vine (Pueraria lobata) at 5 and 10 Mg ha$^{-1}$, Urtica sp. (nettle) at 5 and 10 Mg ha$^{-1}$, Lantana sp. at 5 and 10 Mg ha$^{-1}$, winter weeds at 2.5 and 5 Mg ha$^{-1}$, and two other organic amendments of poultry at 2.5 and 5 Mg ha$^{-1}$ and farmyard manure at 5 and 10 Mg ha$^{-1}$. We studied the effect of these organic sources on nutritional and physico-chemical properties, and on the cooking quality of the rice, using a fertilized, chemical treatment as positive control. Our results show that grain yield was significantly influenced by the supply of major plant nutrients. The highest rice yield of 4.0 Mg ha$^{-1}$ was obtained from the inorganically fertilized treatment. The protein content in grains was the highest, 8.98%, in the inorganic treatment (100:60:40 kg N, P, K ha$^{-1}$) and lowest, 7.55%, in the control. Among organic treatments, farmyard manure at 10 Mg ha$^{-1}$ contributed the least in terms of the protein content of the rice (7.78%). Significantly higher iron content, of 52.2 $\mu$g g$^{-1}$, was recorded with organic fertilization than inorganic fertilization (42.1 $\mu$g Fe g$^{-1})$. However, inorganic fertilization was superior in terms of copper content, of 4.1 $\mu$g Fe g$^{-1}$, compared with organic treatments: 3.1–4.0 $\mu$g Fe g$^{-1}$. Quality attributes indicated that cooked kernel length was positively correlated with the kernel elongation ratio. Winter weed compost provided comparative benefits for rice yield (3.87 Mg ha$^{-1})$ and quality in terms of protein (8.42%), iron (48.31 $\mu$g g$^{-1})$ and head rice recovery (49.39%) compared with other sources of nutrients. The results of this study suggest that organic nutrient sources can perform comparatively well as regards chemical and physico-chemical properties, and cooking quality of rice, if not better in some parameters than inorganic fertilization

Nutritional quality of organic rice grown on organic composts

The use of organic nutrient sources in improving crop quality can be a viable alternative to traditional farming. Organic farming encourages the reduction of agrochemicals and promotes soil conservation principles. Although crop quality depends on several factors, among which the nutrient source plays a great role, there is little information available on how rice quality is affected by different organic composts. Here we grew aromatic rice on two levels of four organic composts made from kudzu vine (Pueraria lobata) at 5 and 10 Mg ha$^{-1}$, Urtica sp. (nettle) at 5 and 10 Mg ha$^{-1}$, Lantana sp. at 5 and 10 Mg ha$^{-1}$, winter weeds at 2.5 and 5 Mg ha$^{-1}$, and two other organic amendments of poultry at 2.5 and 5 Mg ha$^{-1}$ and farmyard manure at 5 and 10 Mg ha$^{-1}$. We studied the effect of these organic sources on nutritional and physico-chemical properties, and on the cooking quality of the rice, using a fertilized, chemical treatment as positive control. Our results show that grain yield was significantly influenced by the supply of major plant nutrients. The highest rice yield of 4.0 Mg ha$^{-1}$ was obtained from the inorganically fertilized treatment. The protein content in grains was the highest, 8.98%, in the inorganic treatment (100:60:40 kg N, P, K ha$^{-1}$) and lowest, 7.55%, in the control. Among organic treatments, farmyard manure at 10 Mg ha$^{-1}$ contributed the least in terms of the protein content of the rice (7.78%). Significantly higher iron content, of 52.2 $\mu$g g$^{-1}$, was recorded with organic fertilization than inorganic fertilization (42.1 $\mu$g Fe g$^{-1})$. However, inorganic fertilization was superior in terms of copper content, of 4.1 $\mu$g Fe g$^{-1}$, compared with organic treatments: 3.1–4.0 $\mu$g Fe g$^{-1}$. Quality attributes indicated that cooked kernel length was positively correlated with the kernel elongation ratio. Winter weed compost provided comparative benefits for rice yield (3.87 Mg ha$^{-1})$ and quality in terms of protein (8.42%), iron (48.31 $\mu$g g$^{-1})$ and head rice recovery (49.39%) compared with other sources of nutrients. The results of this study suggest that organic nutrient sources can perform comparatively well as regards chemical and physico-chemical properties, and cooking quality of rice, if not better in some parameters than inorganic fertilization

Nutritional quality of organic rice grown on organic composts

International audienc

Comparative Evaluation of Smear Layer and Debris on the Canal Walls prepared with a Combination of Hand and Rotary ProTaper Technique using Scanning Electron Microscope

ABSTRACT Introduction The effect of smear layer and debris on the success rate of endodontic treatment has not yet been definitely determined. So the present study was aimed to evaluate the amount of smear layer and debris on the canal walls prepared with a combination of hand and rotary ProTaper technique using NaOCl and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) alternately as root canal irrigants using scanning electron microscope (SEM). Materials and methods Eighty intact freshly extracted human permanent mandibular premolar teeth were collected and randomly divided equally into four groups. In group I canals were prepared with hand K-Flexofiles; group II with rotary ProTaper instruments; group III with rotary ProTaper instruments and final instrumentation was done with hand K-Flexofile; group IV with rotary ProTaper instruments and final instrumentation was done with RC-Prep and irrigated with 1 mL of normal saline. In all groups canals were irrigated using NaOCl and EDTA alternately. After instrumentation, the teeth were prepared for SEM examination using five-score indices for debris and smear layer at coronal, middle, and apical third levels. Statistical analysis was performed using chi-square test (p&lt;0.05) and Kruskal-Wallis test (p&lt;0.05). Results Statistically significant difference was observed between the groups in cleaning the apical third. Groups I and III showed better canal cleanliness compared to group II. The use of EDTA and NaOCl in group III was more effective in removing debris and smear layer compared to EDTA and normal saline in group IV. Regardless of the instrumentation technique employed and the irrigant used, the cleaning ability decreased in the apical third, resulting in higher debris and smear layer scores compared to coronal and middle third levels. Conclusion None of the instrumentation techniques in the present study could completely eliminate the smear layer and debris from the canal walls. Instrumentation of the canals with hand files after automated rotary preparation could result in cleaner canal walls. Clinical significance Alternate irrigation with NaOCl and EDTA is effective in the removal of debris and smear layer in the coronal and middle level, but the effectiveness in the apical third is less. How to cite this article Kiran S, Prakash S, Siddharth PR, Saha S, Geojan NE, Ramachandran M. Comparative Evaluation of Smear Layer and Debris on the Canal Walls prepared with a Combination of Hand and Rotary ProTaper Technique using Scanning Electron Microscope. J Contemp Dent Pract 2016;17(7):574-581. </jats:sec