Increasing evidence suggests that fatty acid desaturases, rate-limiting enzymes in unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis, are important factors in the pathogenesis of lipid-induced insulin resistance. The conversion of dihomogamma linolenic acid (DGLA) into arachidonic acid (AA) in human plasma phospholipids has been shown to be regulated by insulin, suggesting a role for insulin in fatty acid desaturase 1 regulation. However insulin's role in monocyte inflammation associated with obesity and lifestyle disease development is uncertain. We therefore investigated if insulin is able to induce expression of stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD, Δ9 desaturase), fatty acid desaturase 1 (FADS1, Δ5 desaturase), and fatty acid desaturase 2 (FADS2, Δ6 desaturase), as well as the sterol regulatory element binding transcription factor 1-c (SREBP-1c) in monocytes. Here, for the first time, we demonstrate that THP-1 monocytes are insulin-responsive in inducing expression of SCD, FADS1, and FADS2 in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Understanding secondary consequences of postprandial hyperinsulinemia may open up new strategies for prevention and/or treatment of obesity-related metabolic complications.

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A 2-year field study indicated that pearl millet yielded more when sown after fallow, cow pea and green gram than after maize. Preceding fallow, cow pea and green gram reduced the nitrogen requirement of pearl millet by 40 kg/ha compared with maize. Pearl millet responded linearly up to the highest rate of nitrogen (80 kg/ha). N applied to millet had no residual effect on the subsequent crop of chickpea. The chickpea yield followed the order fallow > green gram ^ cow pea > maize. Chickpea responded to phosphorus up to 40 kg/ha. Green gram-pearl millet-chickpea proved the most profitable cropping sequence. Continuous cropping and application of nitrogen and phosphorus improved the organic carbon and available phosphorus but decreased the available potassium status of the soil.

Thirteen promising strains of Rice bean (Vigna umbellata) were analysed for their proximate compositions and antinutritional factors. Protein content in these varieties ranged from 17.50 to 23.10 per cent, ash from 3.06 to 4.48 per cent, ether extract from 2.4 to 3.9 per cent and crude fibre from 1.70 to 4.25 per cent. Trypsin inhibitor activity ranged from 112.63 to 163.98 units/g and polyphenols ranged from 0.58 to 1.19 per cent. Phytohemagglutinating activity was present in all the strains, except one, RB-32. Oligosaccharides, viz., raffinose, stachyose and verbascose, ranged from 0.32 to 0.91, 0.95 to 1.98 and 1.40 to 2.58 per cent, respectively. Attempts have been made to compare the results with a standard variety each of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), moong (Vigna radiata) and mash (Vigna mungo).