Protective effects of components of the Chinese herb grassleaf sweetflag rhizome on PC12 cells incubated with amyloid-beta42

The major ingredients of grassleaf sweetflag rhizome are β-asarone and eugenol, which can cross the blood-brain barrier and protect neurons. This study aimed to observe the neuroprotective effects and mechanisms of β-asarone and eugenol, components of the Chinese herb grassleaf sweetflag rhizome, on PC12 cells. First, PC12 cells were cultured with different concentrations（between 1 × 10–10 M and 1 × 10–5 M） of β-asarone and eugenol. Survival rates of PC12 cells were not significantly affected. Second, PC12 cells incubated with amyloid-beta42, which reduced cell survival, were cultured under the same conditions（1 × 10–6 M β-asarone and eugenol）. The survival rates of PC12 cells significantly increased, while expression levels of the m RNAs for the pro-apoptotic protein Bax decreased, and those for the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl m RNA increased. In addition, the combination of β-asarone with eugenol achieved better results than either component alone. Our experimental findings indicate that both β-asarone and eugenol protect PC12 cells through inhibiting apoptosis, and that the combination of the two is better than either alone.

Monitoring the Turmeric Finger Disease and Growth Characteristics Using Sensor Based Embedded System —A Novel Method

In this cyber era, novelty plays a prime role in the field of agriculture that majorly depends on computer-based measurements and control. Herein before, it was totally controlled and performed by the agriculturists. One of the technological innovative methods to measure and monitor the turmeric finger growth characteristics is the embedded system that is based on sensor array module such as flex sensor, temperature sensor and pH sensor. The experimental work has been designed and tested with five set of nodes and the growth of turmeric finger is tenuously monitored by measuring the change in flex resistance. Out of five nodes, two nodes were diseased. Deliberately, one node was left as such and the other node was treated with natural pesticides (pseudomonas and viride) to restrict the rhizome rot disease attack. After cultivation, it was found that the rhizome rot disease attack on the node which was treated with pesticides was comparatively lesser than the other node. The five different nodes have been used in the experimental work with an average flex sensor resistance of 3.962 cm/kΩ. In a nutshell, this proposed method manifests the farmers to detect the rhizome rot disease at its earlier stage and to prevent it as well by screening the growth of the turmeric fingers when it is under the soil.