The purpose of the present study is to investigate whether the alcoholic extract of Graptophyllum pictum (L.) Griff. could decrease the intensity of nephrotoxicity in albino rats. Cisplatin at a single dose of 12 mg/kg body weight was administered intraperitonially to albino male Wistar rats. Nephrotoxicity was assessed by determining the serum creatinine and urea levels as well as renal antioxidant status in rats after cisplatin administration. Ethanolic extract of G. pictum at 150 and 300 mg/kg body weight was administered orally after cisplatin injection for 15 days. The extracts could significantly reduce the elevated serum creatinine and urea levels. Renal antioxidant defence systems, such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase activities and reduced glutathione level, depleted by cisplatin therapy were restored to normal by treatment with the extract. Cisplatin induced lipid peroxidation was also found markedly reduced by treatment with the extract. This result indicated that ethanolic extract of G. pictum rendered significant preventive effect against cisplatin induced nephrotoxicity.
Exploitation of hybrid vigour is quite possible in cross-pollinated crops. However, pigeonpea is a grain legume crop with a moderate level of cross-pollination (20-70%), which is mainly aided by insect pollinators. As a first step, hybrids based on genetic male sterility (GMS) were developed in pigeonpea, but the hybrid seed production technique is not farmer-friendly, because in the hybrid seed production plot 50% of the population, which are male-fertile in the female rows, have to be eliminated in time before contamination. This requires skilled labour and is a time-consuming process, which increases the cost of hybrid seed production. Therefore, the objective of this study was to develop cytoplasmic-genetic male-sterile (CGMS) lines in pigeonpea through wide hybridization, which would be very suitable for hybrid seed production. Two CGMS lines, viz. CORG 990052 A and CORG 990047, were developed by interspecific hybridization of Cajanus cajan and C. scarabaeoides. Restorers were identified and three CGMS-based pigeonpea hybrids were developed. The hybrid COPH 3 is found to be promising in Tamil Nadu State, India.
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