Challenges on the Development of Biodiversity Biobanks: The Living Archives of Biodiversity

Biodiversity biobanks or ex situ biodiversity biorepositories tend to receive less attention compared with their biomedical counterparts. In this review, we highlight the necessity for these biorepositories by presenting their significant role in health, biodiversity, linking of big data, other translational research, and biodiversity conservation efforts. Moreover, the significant challenges in developing and maintaining biodiversity biobanks based on successful biobanks in some megadiverse developing countries are examined to provide insights into what needs to be done and what can be improved by up-and-coming biodiversity biobanks. These challenges include lack of financial support and political will; availability of experts; development of standard policies; and information management system. In addition, issues regarding access and benefit sharing and Digital Sequence Information must be addressed by biodiversity biobanks.

In vivo nonspecific immunomodulatory and antispasmodic effects of common purslane (Portulaca oleracea Linn.) leaf extracts in ICR mice

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Portulaca oleracea (common purslane) is used in traditional medicine to cure various illnesses. However, its immune-protective properties and antispasmodic effects still need more pharmacological data if the plant will be utilized in herbal and drug formulations. Therefore, the present study determined the capacity of this plant species to modulate nonspecific immune responses and to confirm its antispasmodic activity in vivo in ICR mice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Phagocytic activity of peritoneal macrophage, splenic lymphocyte proliferation and plasma lysozyme levels were measured in mice that were immunosuppressed using cyclophosphamide and treated with the ethyl acetate extract of Portulaca oleracea. In addition, the charcoal meal transit test was used to measure intestinal motility using ethanolic (EtOH), hexane (HEX), and ethyl acetate (EA) solvent extracts. Phytochemical analysis was undertaken and DPPH scavenging properties of the three solvent extracts were also determined.

RESULTS

The EA extract of P. oleracea exhibited immunoactivity through significant increase in phagocytosis and higher proliferative response in splenic lymphocytes. Plasma lysozyme level was also higher in EA-treated mice at high dose but this was not statistically significant. Decreased intestinal motility was also exhibited in mice treated with the three leaf solvent extracts compared to the negative control and the acetylcholine-treated group. The antispasmodic activity of the solvent extracts was comparable to that of the atropine-treated group. Phytochemical analysis showed the presence of tannins in EA extract in addition to alkaloids and steroids. The EtOH and HEX extracts contain alkaloids, steroids and terpenoids. DPPH scavenging activity was highest in the EA extract.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study showed that the EA extract of P. oleracea leaves ameliorated the immunosuppressive action of cyclophosphamide in mice. The results also indicated that the three solvent extracts of the plant decreased smooth muscle spasms in mice ileum. However, further experiments are warranted to further isolate the plant's immunoactive component. Also, the mechanisms involved in the immunoactivity and antispasmodic properties of P. oleracea deserve full elucidation.

Immunostimulatory effects of Uncaria perrottetii (A. Rich.) Merr. (Rubiaceae) vinebark aqueous extract in Balb/C mice

AIMS OF THE STUDY

Crude extract of Uncaria perrottetii (A. Rich.) Merr. vinebark was evaluated for its immunomodulating activity in Balb/C mice. Initially, the immunomodulatory potential of the plant extract was evaluated using in vitro immune response assays at different concentrations of the plant extract (10 μg/mL, 20 μg/mL, 50 μg/mL and 100 μg/mL). Using the optimum concentration determined in the in vitro assays, the protective effect of the plant extract was assessed against drug-induced immunosuppression in vivo.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

For the in vivo experiment, thirty-six (36) mice were divided into 3 groups of 12 mice each: (1) cyclophosphamide drug-induced (30 mg/kg BW) immunosuppressed mice (Cy group) served as the positive control; (2) Uncaria perrottetii extract and Cy-treated mice (U+Cy); and (3) PBS-injected mice as the negative control group [(-) CTRL].

RESULTS

The optimum concentration was determined to be 50 μg/mL in the in vitro assays. At this concentration, Uncaria perrottetii extract stimulated peritoneal phagocyte activation, produced a significant increase in the activity of phagocytic cells from the spleen and promoted splenic cellular proliferation with or without lipopolysaccharide (LPS) when compared with the PBS-treated cells (negative control). Moreover, cells treated with 50 μg/mL of Uncaria perrottetii increased macrophage respiratory burst activity that was comparable to that of the phorbol myristate acetate-stimulated splenic macrophages. In all immune assays undertaken in the in vivo experiment, the Cy-treated mice showed significantly lower response when compared with the PBS-treated mice. Significant improvement in peritoneal cell activation, phagocytic activity and cellular proliferation was exhibited by the U+Cy-treated mice when compared with Cy-injected mice. The extract from Uncaria perrottetii also significantly enhanced respiratory burst and plasma lysozyme activity compared with the Cy-injected mice.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on the results of both in vitro and in vivo trials, Uncaria perrottetii extract has immunopotentiating activities on the innate immunity of Balb/C mice and the extract could potentially reverse the immunosuppressive effects of Cy. However, the potential of the plant as source of bioactive products and metabolites for drug development still has to be fully investigated.

Occurrence, histopathology and experimental transmission of hepatopancreatic parvovirus infection in Penaeus monodon postlarvae

Hepatopancreatic parvovirus (HPV) was detected in samples of Penaeus monodon post-larvae (PL-13, PL-18, PL-19, PL-26) from 2 hatcheries in 2 provinces (Samar and Iloilo) in the Philippines. The percentage of infection was 20 to 100% in postlarvae obtained from the hatchery in Samar in August 2001. Postlarvae from the hatchery in Iloilo, sampled in October and November 2001, had 70 to 99% HPV infection. Wet mounts of squashed hepatopancreatic tissue stained with malachite green (wet-mount technique) and histopathology revealed the presence of large, usually single, basophilic intranuclear inclusion bodies in the distal tubules, which led to displacement of the nucleoli. Light microscopy showed ovoid to spherical inclusion bodies, 5 to 11 mmicrom in diameter. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the inclusion bodies were composed of electron-dense granular material and virions. The virions appeared roughly spherical and averaged 18 to 22 nm in diameter. An experiment was undertaken to induce HPV infection by feeding P. monodon postlarvae with virus-infected postlarvae. P. monodon postlarvae (PL-16), initially determined as free from HPV, were found HPV-positive 24 h after being fed with infected material. The percentage of infection ranged from 30% at Day 1 post-infection (p.i.) to 100% at Day 7 p.i. determined by the wet-mount technique and by histopathology. This is the first report of a successful horizontal transmission of HPV in P. monodon postlarvae.