In vitro propagation of the endangered medicinal orchid,Dendrobium lasianthera J.J.Sm through mature seed culture

Objective:To study asymbiotic seed germination and mass propagation of Dendrobium lasianthera which is one of the endangered medicinal orchids using seeds.Methods:The 14 weeks old hand pollinated seeds were sown on Vacin and Went(VW)solid medium supplemented with various concentrations of peptone(1,2,3 g/L) and without peptone which was used as control treatment.At the 4,8,and 12 weeks after the seeds were sown,seed germination and shoot formation were investigated.To evaluate the role of organic nutrient additives on subsequent shoot development and root formation,particular shoots with about 1 cm length contains 1–2 leaves obtained from the seeds germination was cultured on VW medium additives with different of organic nutrient:15% coconut water,2 g/L peptone,150 g/L banana homogenate,and without organic nutrient was used as control.After 16 weeks of culture,the plantlet height,number of leaves,number of roots,leaf length and root length were recorded.Results:The supplementation of 2 g/L peptone in VW medium was proven to be suitable concentration for seed germination(100%) and shoot formation with 84.0% the protocorm development to phase 5(shoot).VW medium containing 15% coconut water was effectively improved the shoot development,with well developed roots and leaves compared to the other treatment and 95% of acclimatized plantlets survived.Conclusions:This protocol is an efficient way for the in vitro mass propagation of this Dendrobium lasianthera.

Hot aqueous leaf extract of Lasianthera africana(Icacinaceae) attenuates rifampicin-isoniazid-induced hepatotoxicity

Objectives： The aim of this study is to evaluate the hepatoprotective effect of Lasianthera africana （lcacinaceae） against isoniazid （INH） and rifampicin （RlF）-induced liver damage in rats. Methods： The hepatoprotective effects of hot aqueous L. africana （HALA） leaf extract （0.1-1 g/kg） and sily-matin （50 mg/kg） were assessed in a model of oxidative liver damage induced by RIF and INH （100 mg/kg each） in Wistar rats for 28 days. Biochemical markers of hepatic damage such as alanine aminotrans- ferase （ALT）, aspartate aminotransferase （AST） and alkaline phosphatase （ALP） were assessed. The antiox- idant statuses of plasma glutathione peroxidase （GSPx）, glutathione reductase （GSH）, catalase （CAT） and superoxide dismutase （SOD） and lipid peroxidation were evaluated. Results： The pretreatment of INH and RIF decreased hematological indices and the antioxidant levels （P〈 0.001） and increased the levels of liver marker enzymes （P〈 0.001）. However, pretreatment with HALA extract and silymarin provoked significant elevation of hematological indices. The levels of AST, ALT, and ALP were depressed （P 〈 0.001 ）. Total triglycerides, total cholesterol, total bilirubin and low-density lipoprotein were decreased （P 〈 0.001）. However, high-density lipoprotein, bicarbonate, and electrolytes like chloride and potassium were elevated （P 〈 0.001）, but sodium was depressed （P 〈 0.05）. Additionally, GSH, GSPx, SOD and CAT were elevated （P 〈 0.01） and malondialdehyde was depressed （P 〈 0.001 ） when compared to the R1F-INH-treated rats. Histopathological evaluations support hepatoprotective activity. Conclusion： This study demonstrated that HALA leaf extract attenuated RIF-INH-induced hepatotoxicity. L, africana could be exploited in management of RIF-INH-induced hepatitis.