In this study, microwave-assisted Knoevenagel condensation was used to produce two novel series of derivatives (1−6) from benzylidenemalononitrile and ethyl 2-cyano-3-phenylacrylate. The synthesized compounds were characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and 1 H NMR spectroscopies. The pharmacodynamics, toxicity profiles, and biological activities of the compounds were evaluated through an in silico study using prediction of activity spectra for substances (PASS) and Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion, and Toxicity (ADMET) studies. According to the PASS prediction results, compounds 1−6 showed greater antineoplastic potency for breast cancer than other types of cancer. Molecular docking was employed to investigate the binding mode and interaction sites of the derivatives (1−6) with three human cancer targets (HER2, EGFR, and human FPPS), and the protein−ligand interactions of these derivatives were compared to those reference standards Tyrphostin 1 (AG9) and Tyrphostin 23 (A23). Compound 3 showed a stronger effect on two cell lines (HER2 and FPPS) than the reference drugs. A 20 ns molecular dynamics (MD) simulation was also conducted to examine the ligand's behavior at the active binding site of the modeled protein, utilizing the lowest docking energy obtained from the molecular docking study. Enthalpies (ΔH), Gibbs free energies (ΔG), entropies (ΔS), and frontier molecular orbital parameters (highest occupied molecular orbital−lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (HOMO−LUMO) gap, hardness, and softness) were calculated to confirm the thermodynamic stability of all derivatives. The consistent results obtained from the in silico studies suggest that compound 3 has potential as a new anticancer and antiparasitic drug. Further research is required to validate its efficacy.
Reducing post-harvest loss is a reasonable step towards food security globally. However, the lack of deep knowledge of the causes and determinants of postharvest loss poses a great challenge to strategies for alleviating postharvest loss. This study, therefore, identifies the causes and drivers of postharvest losses in onion, in Nigeria, to alleviate the menace. Data collected from 360 farmers were analysed with descriptive statistics and a multiple regression model. Results showed that the primary causes of postharvest loss were rot, diseases and pests, drying and bruises. While, poor storage facilities, poor transportation systems, long distances to marketing centres, poor agricultural extension services and inadequate credit were secondary causes. The driving factors of postharvest loss in onion were extension services (β = -0.1269, p < .05), access to credit (β = -0.1054, p < .05), household size (β = -0.2650, p < .01), age of the farmer (β = 0.0557, p < .05), level of education (β = -1.0500, p < .01), farm size (β = 0.3801, p < .01), distance to market (β = 0.2187, p < .05), output (β = 0.1180, p < .01), and length of storage after harvest (β = 0.0635, p < .05). Therefore, this study recommends improved transportation systems in agrarian areas, overhauling of extension services, making credit facilities available to farmers at affordable interest rates, and developing efficient post-harvest management technologies by research institutes.
Callosobruchus maculatus (cowpea beetle) is a field-to-store pest causing over 90% losses of cowpea. The search for new plant-derived crop protectant that can be explored as alternative to synthetic pesticides is urgently needed. Thus, the phytochemical screening, as well as the bioactivity of different polarity of organic solvents of leaf and stembark extracts of Trichilia heudelotii (Meliaceae), was investigated against the field-to-store insect pest Callosobruchus maculatus in laboratory bioassay. The non-polar (hexane) and polar (ethanol) extracts [0.0 (control), 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 ml] of the leaf and stem bark were added to 100 g of cowpea. The following parameters of the cowpea weevil life cycle were analysed at the various concentrations: adult mortality, oviposition rate, number of larvae and pupae, and emergence of first filial progeny. The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of flavonoids, terpenoids, alkaloids, saponins in both the non-polar and polar extracts. Furthermore, the various treatments used were significantly (p< 0.05) effective in controlling C. maculatus from 1 and also 30 days after treatment (DAT) for both the non-polar and polar extracts when compared to the control. However, the most effective treatment was observed with the polar (EtOH) stem bark extract at 1.5 ml, which caused more mortalities and fewer emergence of the insect. Our findings suggest that the non-polar and polar leaf and stem bark of T. heudelotii extracts could serve as a sustainable and potential alternative to synthetic chemicals in pest control.
<p>A field study was carried out to assess the efficacy of some botanicals in the control of field insect pests in two varieties of okra. Dry leaf extract of <em>Chromolaena odorata</em> (Siam weed) and fresh and dry root extracts of <em>Boerhavia diffusa</em> served as treatments which were compared with Lambda-cyhalothrin and a control. The experiment was fitted into a randomized complete block design with three replications. Data collected were subjected to Spearman’s correlation analysis and a two-way analysis of variance and significant different means were separated using Fishers Least Significant Difference (LSD) test at 5 % level of probability. The results revealed that treated plants generally performed better than the untreated plants as they were taller, had more leaves, branches, wider stem girths and gave higher fruit yield. Fresh root extract of <em>B. diffusa</em> performed better in most parameters measured. A significant positive correlation was observed between insect pest populations, and between growth and yield parameters, while there was a significant negative correlation between overall yield and insect pest population. NHAe 47-4 okra variety performed better than F1-Lucky variety. Fresh root extract of <em>B. diffusa</em> is recommended for management of <em>B. tabaci </em>(Genadius, 1889)<em> </em>and <em>Amrasca biguttula </em>Ishida, 1912<em> </em>in okra.</p>
The present piece of research work was carried out at the field of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka-1207, from December 2010 to May 2011 to determine optimum irrigation levels for the hybrid maize varieties. There were four hybrid maize varieties: V1 (BARI Hybrid Maize-5), V2 (Pacific 60), V3 (NK 40) and V4 (Ajanta) and three levels of irrigation: I1 = Two irrigations at 25 and 50 DAS, I2 = Three irrigations at 25, 50 and 75 DAS and I3 = Four irrigations at 25, 50, 75 and 100 DAS, respectively. Almost all the plant and yield contributing characters showed significant variation except days to 6 leaf stage and days to bud initiation stage. The maximum yields were recorded in V1I3 (7.92 t ha-1) which was statistically identical to V4I3 (7.83 t ha-1), V2I3 (7.45 t ha-1), V1I2 (7.40 t ha-1), V2I2 (6.87 t ha-1) and V4I2 (6.80 t ha-1), respectively. The highest benefit cost ratio (BCR) was observed (2.37) in both V1I3 and V1I2 treatment combination. Moreover, total average water saving in one hectare land for maize cultivation by adopting I2 irrigation treatment over I3 is 4,49,837 gallons. Among the treatment combinations, V1I3 (BARI Hybrid Maize-5 with three irrigations at 25, 50 and 75 DAS) was the suitable combination in terms of grain yield and economic return for maize cultivation.Bangladesh Agron. J. 2015, 18(2): 23-29
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