Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis system (PAGE) and inhibition tests for biochemical characterization of alpha- and beta-esterases were used to obtain a functional classification of esterases fromAspidosperma polyneuron. The characterization of alpha- and beta-esterases from young leaves of A. polyneuron by the PAGE system showed fourteen esterase isozymes. The differential staining pattern showed that Est-2 isozyme hydrolyzes beta-naphthyl acetate; Est-6, Est-7 and Est-8 isozymes hydrolyze alpha-naphthyl acetate, and Est-1, Est-3, Est-4, Est-5, Est-9, Est-10, Est-11, Est-12, Est-13, and Est-14 isozymes hydrolyze both alpha- and b-naphthyl acetate. Inhibition pattern of a- and beta-esterases showed that Folidol is a more potent inhibitor that Malathion, while Thiamethoxan (an insecticide with organophosphorus-like action) acts as an Est-4 and Est-6 inhibitor and induces the appearance of Est-5 and Est-7 isozymes as more intensely stained bands. Inhibition tests showed that OPC insecticides inhibit or activate plant esterases. Thus, plant esterases may be used as bioindicators to detect the presence and toxicity of residues of topically applied insecticides in agriculture and may be valuable for monitoring pollutants in the environment

ABSTRACT. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of high dilutions of Pulsatilla nigricans in dinamisations 6, 12, 18, 24 and 30 CH on the vigour of soybean seeds subjected to accelerated aging. The experiment was conducted according to a randomised design with 6 treatments and 10 replicates. The treatments consisted of dinamisations 6, 12, 18, 24 and 30 CH and a distilled-water control. After the treatments, the seeds were subjected to accelerated aging (48h at 42ºC) in a growth chamber (25 ± 2ºC). The study evaluated the germination, the length of primary roots and shoots, the fresh weight of roots and shoots and the enzymatic activity of peroxidase (POX-EC1.11.1.7). The variables were analysed by ANOVA, and the means were compared using the Scott-Knott test (p = 0.05). The germination and the fresh weight of roots and shoots of the seedlings treated with Pulsatilla nigricans were higher than the water control, except that CH 30 did not significantly increase the fresh weight of shoots. The dinamisations 6, 24 and 30 CH produced a lower primary root length compared with the control. The dinamisations 12, 18 and 30 CH yielded a greater length of shoots. The total length of seedlings was reduced by the high dilutions 6 and 24 CH.

Introduction: Temperature is one of the main environmental factors that act on plants, affecting physiological processes such as germination and vigor, growth, photosynthesis, water and nutrients uptake, among others [1]. When seeds are exposed to temperature stress during imbibition process occur dramatic changes in the reorganization and function of the plasma membrane impairing the stability and functional structure of the membrane resulting in the decrease on germination and embryo death [2][3]. In plant, stress triggers wide response that extends from the change of gene expression and cell metabolism to changes in growth rate and productivity. The organism’s reaction is a function of plant capacity to produce effects opposite to the action of stressors [4]. Aim: the purpose of this study was to evaluate high dilution effect of Arsenicum album on physiological variables of germination and growth of sorghum. Material and Methods: The experiment was conducted at the Laboratory of Physiology and Homeopathy at Universidade Estadual de Maringá - UEM. Arsenicum album 6x matrix was acquired in homeopathic laboratory. From matrix, other dilutions were prepared according to Brazilian Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia [5] with the homeopathic remedies prepared in distilled water (1/10) and succussed by 100 times in mechanical arm (50-Denise Model Autic). For cold test, 50 seeds were distributed on germitest paper moistened to 2.5 times the weight of paper under different dilutions of A. album (9, 12, 18, 24 and 30x) with four replications. The control consisted of distilled water. After sowing, the rolls were placed in plastic bags and sealed, and lead in BOD-chamber at 10°C for 7 days. After this period, the rolls were removed from plastic bags and transferred to BOD-chamber at (25 ± 2)°C, arranged at random where they remained for seven days. Germination percentage (GP%) were evaluated according to Rules for Seed Analysis [6]. The length of primary roots (LPR) and length of hypocotyl (LH) were determined only for seedlings. The total length seedlings (TLS) was calculated as the sum of the lengths of hypocotyl (LH) and primary root (LPR). The fresh biomass (FB) of the seedlings were obtained by removing from their cotyledons, and then weighed on an analytical balance. The dry biomass (DB) was obtained after drying at (80 ± 1)°C for 72h. The experimental design was completely randomized. We adopted the double-blind procedure, thereby avoiding possible researcher interference. Data were subjected to analysis of variance and means compared by Scott-Knott (P≤ 0.05). Results: Seed exposure for seven days to cold stress at 10º C inhibited the germination percentage (GP%). Dilutions 9 and 18x showed the lowest germination percentage (Figure 1A). The cold inhibited the total length of hypocotyls (LH) the length of the seedlings (TLS), with the lowest values ​​observed in seeds treated with dilution 24x (Figures 1B and 1C). Fresh biomass production of seedlings (FB) also was reduced the dilutions 9, 12 and 24x (Figure 1D). Seedlings treated with the dilution 24x reduced the dry biomass production (DB) (Figure 1E). Conclusions: We can conclude that homeopathy Arsenicum album 24x reduced the germination percentage, the length, fresh and dry biomass of sorghum. Probably the cause of this reduction is the lower absorption/water content in the system. The reduction in water content can be the cause lower values ​​for the variables mentioned. However, the inhibitory action of the 24x dilution in water content is not yet known and will be one of the goals of future work.

The effects of high dilutions of Cymbopogon winterianus (citronella) on the growth and germination of Sida rhombifolia are analyzed; 5 homeopathic dilutions (3cH, 6cH, 12cH, 24cH, 30cH) and a control (water) were used, with 5 repetitions. Variables analyzed were the primary growth of the root system, length of the shoot, fresh mass total, germination percentage and germination speed index. All dilutions stimulated the primary growth of the root. Dilutions 3cH, 6cH, 12cH and 30 cH stimulated the growth of the aerial parts and 24cH inhibited it. Dilutions 6cH, 12cH, 24cH and 30cH stimulated a larger production of fresh mass than 3cH. Dilution 12cH resulted in the largest germination percentage while 24cH in the lowest. Dilution 12cH resulted in the highest score in the germination speed index, while 3cH and 24cH in the lowest. Keywords: Homeopathic dilutions; Plants; Germination; Growth; Cymbopogon winterianus; Sida rhombifolia.   Efeitos de altas diluições de Cymbopogon winterianus Jowitt (citronella) na germinação e crescimento de sementes de Sida rhombifolia Resumo Os efeitos de altas diluições de Cymbopogon winterianus (citronella) no crescimento e germinação de Sida rhombifolia são analisados; 5 diluições ho´meopáticas (3cH, 6cH, 12cH, 24cH, 30cH) e um controle (água) foram utilizados, com 5 repetições. As variáveis analisadas foram: crescimento primário do sistema da raiz, longitude do broto, massa fresca total, porcentagem de germinação e índice de velocidade de germinação. As diluições 3cH, 6cH, 12cH e 30cH estimularam o crescimento das partes aéreas, que foi inibido pela diluição 24cH. As diluições 6cH, 12cH e 30cH estimularam uma maior produção de massa fresca que a diluição 3cH. A diluição 12cH mostrou a porcentagem máxima de germinação, enquanto 24cH mostrou a mínima. Igualmente, a diluição 12cH resultou no máximo índice de velocidade de germinação, enquanto as diluições 3cH e 24cH, os mínimos. Palavras-chave: Diluições Homeopática; Plantas; Germination; Crescimento; Cymbopogon winterianus; Sida rhombifolia.   Efectos de altas diluciones de Cymbopogon winterianus Jowitt (citronella) en la germinación y crecimiento de semillas de Sida rhombifolia Resumen Los efectos de altas diluciones de Cymbopogon winterianus (citronella) en el crecimiento y germinación de Sida rhombifolia son analizados; 5 diluciones homeopáticas (3cH, 6cH, 12cH, 24cH, 30cH) y un control (agua) fueron utilizados, con 5 repeticiones. Las variables analizadas fueron: crecimiento primario del sistema de la raíz, largura del brote, masa fresca total, porcentaje de germinación e índice de velocidade de germinación. Las diluciones 3cH, 6cH, 12cH y 30cH estimularon el crecimiento de las partes aéreas, mientras que éste fue inhibido por la dilución 24cH. Las diluciones 6cH, 12cH, 24cH y 30cH estimularon una mayor producción de masa fresca que la dilución 3cH. La dilución 12cH mostró el máximo porcentaje de germinación, mientras que la dilución 24cH, el mínimo. Igualmente, la dilución 12cH resultó en el máximo índice de velocidad de germinación, mientras que las diluciones 3cH y 24cH, los mínimos. Palabras-clave: Diluciones homeopáticas; plantas; germinación, crecimiento, Cymbopogon winterianus; Sida rhombifolia.   Correspondence author: Carlos Moacir Bonato, cmbonato@uem.br, State University of Maringá-SP, Brazil How to cite this article: Marques RM, Marques-Silva GG, Bonato CM. Effects of high dilutions of Cymbopogon winterianus Jowitt (citronella) on the germination and growth of seedlings of Sida rhombifolia. Int J High Dilution Res [online]. 2008 [cited YYYY Mmm DD]; 7(22): 31-35. Available: http://journal.giri-society.org/index.php/ijhdr/article/view/208/342. ÂÂÂ

Introduction: Acetone is an organic solvent with molecular structure CH3(CO)CH3, its endogenous production in the animal body is called ketosis. The production of this compound increases with the fat. Acetone influences the lipid membrane, altering its fluidity and lipid composition [1], causing cell damage and leakage and can cause cell death. The use of herbicides in organic farming is not accepted by the Brazilian legislation [2]. So the weed control becomes a problem for organic farmers. The aim of this study is to evaluate the herbicide potential of high dilutions of acetone on Avena sativa L. Materials and Methods: The preliminary tests were conducted at the Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Homeopathy, State University of Maringá (UEM). The seeds of Avena sativa are placed in Petri dishes. Fitty seeds were germinated and grown in Petri dishes containing 15ml of high dilution of acetone and maintained at 25°C ± 2 and 12h photoperiod. Acetone dilutions (6, 12, 18, 24 and 30cH) were obtained according to the Brazilian Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia [3]. Were evaluated the shoot length (cm), total length (cm), fresh root (mg) and total dry mass (mg). The plants growth was measured after 7 days. The control consisted of distilled water. The experiment evaluated 4 replicates of each treatment and the data were analyzed by ANOVA and means were compared by Scott-Knott test (P ≤ 0.05). Results and Discussion: Dilutions 6, 24 and 30 cH inhibited the growth of the shoot and total seedling of A. sativa. The root fresh weight was significantly reduced by 4 dilutions (6,12,24 and 30x), with no difference of 24x compared to the control. The total dry mass of plants of A. sativa was reduced in all the dilutions studied, showing an inhibitory effect on growth of seedlings subjected to treatment. Somehow, acetone diluited inhibited the growth and accumulation of biomass of these seedlings, suggesting an imbalance in metabolism that resulted in a reduction in the variables values. Conclusion: The results suggest that high dilutions acetone interfere on the growth and accumulation of biomass of A. sativa.