Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus or C. lanatus) has many potentially bioactive compounds including citrulline, which may influence atherosclerosis. In this study, we determined the effects of C. lanatus, provided as an extract of the cultivar `sentinel', on hypercholesterolemia-induced atherosclerosis in mice. Male LDL receptor deficient mice at 8 weeks old were given either C. lanatus `sentinel' extract (2% vol/vol; n=10) or a mixture of matching carbohydrates (2% vol/vol; n=8) as the control in drinking water, while fed a saturated fat-enriched diet for 12 weeks ad libitum. Mice consuming C. lanatus `sentinel' extract had significantly increased plasma citrulline concentrations. Systolic blood pressure was comparable between the two groups. Consumption of C. lanatus `sentinel' extract led to lower body weight and fat mass without influencing lean mass. There were no differences in food and water intake, and urine output between the two groups. C. lanatus `sentinel' extract administration decreased plasma cholesterol concentrations that were attributed to reductions of intermediate/low density lipoprotein cholesterol. Plasma concentrations of MCP-1 and IFN-γ were decreased and IL-10 increased in mice consuming C. lanatus `sentinel' extract. Intake of C. lanatus `sentinel' extract resulted in reductions of atherosclerosis in both aortic arch and thoracic regions. In conclusion, consumption of C. lanatus `sentinel' extract led to reduced body weight gain, decreased plasma cholesterol concentrations, improved homeostasis of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, and attenuated development of atherosclerosis without affecting systolic blood pressure in hypercholesterolemic mice.

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An experiment was conducted using farmer's okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) seeds in Seed Pathology Centre, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh to determine the efficacy of plant extracts (garlic, allmanda, neem, ginger and biskathali extracts) and vigour index of seedling for controlling the seed-borne fungal diseases of okra. In the laboratory experiment, the prevalence of seed-borne fungi associated with farmer's okra seed investigated by blotter method. The identified fungi species in the collected seeds were Colletotrichum dematium, Macrophomina phaseolina, Fusarium oxysporum, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Penicillium spp. and Rhizopus spp. The test seed materials were treated with garlic tablet, allmanda tablet @ 1:1 and 2:1 w/v and neem extract, ginger extract and biskathali extract @ 1:1 and 1:2 w/v for each to control pathogens with control treatment. The significantly highest germination (62.5%) and lowest incidence of pathogen (5.25%) were recorded in garlic tablet @ 2:1 w/v treated seeds. The okra seeds treated by garlic tablet @ 2:1 w/v was also showed the higher vigour index (545.60%) compare to untreated seed (423.40%).

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