In plants, transgenes with inverted repeats are used to induce efficient RNA silencing, which is also frequently induced by highly transcribed sense transgenes. RNA silencing induced by sense transgenes is dependent on RNA-dependent RNA polymerase 6 (RDR6), which converts single-stranded (ss) RNA into double-stranded (ds) RNA. By contrast, it has been proposed that RNA silencing induced by self-complementary hairpin RNA (hpRNA) does not require RDR6, because the hpRNA can directly fold back on itself to form dsRNA. However, it is unclear whether RDR6 plays a role in hpRNA-induced RNA silencing by amplifying dsRNA to spread RNA silencing within the plant. To address the efficiency of hpRNA-induced RNA silencing in the presence or absence of RDR6, Wild type (WT, Col-0) and rdr6-11 Arabidopsis thaliana lines expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) were generated and transformed with a GFP-RNA interference (RNAi) construct. Whereas most GFP-RNAi-transformed WT lines exhibited almost complete silencing of GFP expression in the T1 generation, various levels of GFP expression remained among the GFP-RNAi-transformed rdr6-11 lines. Homozygous expression of GFP-RNAi in the T3 generation was not sufficient to induce complete GFP silencing in several rdr6-11 lines. Our results indicate that RDR6 is required for efficient hpRNA-induced RNA silencing in plants.

Pigmented rice has hight antioxidant nature, and its properties contribute to the successful formulation of nutraceutical food products. Based on this background, this research was aimed at determining the physicochemical, functional and antioxidant properties of ten pigmented Indonesian rice varieties - Merah Saleman, Mota, Beureum Taleus, Anak Doro M, Cempo Salamet, Ketan Putri, Ketan Hitam I, Ketan Hitam II, Gogo Niti II, and Care Hitam. The physic properties and proximate analysis of pigmented rice were showed a significant difference at p<0.05, except for crude fiber. The sample with the lowest amylose showed the highest peak, trough, and final viscosities, but with low pasting temperature. The gelatinization enthalpy ranged from 0.82 - 1.33 J/g, and the sample with the highest amylose had the lowest gelatinization peak. The functional properties of the water absorption index ranged from 4.22 - 7.63 g/g, the water solubility index was between 3.62 - 7.40%, the oil absorption index varied from 0.88 - 1.36 g/g, while the swelling power was between 5.31 - 8.42 g/g. Furthermore, the antioxidant properties of the samples measured in terms of the phenolic content ranged from 2.17 - 10.60 mg GAE/g, the flavonoids varied from 0.43 - 2.31 mg QE/g and their activity used the stable 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and hydroxyl radicals. The total flavonoid in the phenolic component was positively correlated with the antioxidant activity. In conclusion, the ten pigmented rice showed a wide range of physicochemical, functional, and antioxidant properties, making the samples useful for the formulations of various products with health benefits.

Roteins hydrolyzed from melinjo seeds (Gnetum gnemon) at green (GM), yellow (YM) and red (RM) stages of maturity were studied for their effectiveness in antioxidant and antidiabetic activities. The seed protein extract was hydrolyzed using alcalase 2.4L, and the resulting hydrolysates with the highest degree of hydrolysis, protein profile, and the most potent contributors to antioxidant and invitro antidiabetic activities were identified. The degree of hydrolysis value of hydrolysates ranged from 52-84%, and the SDS-PAGE protein profile showed two distinct bands in which the band with molecular weight of 30 kDa degraded more intensively. Antioxidant capacity was measured using different standard methods, including radical cation 2,2-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothizoline-6-sulphonate) (ABTS•+) assay, hydroxyl radical (OH•), and superoxide anion (O2•-) scavenging. The green hydrolysate (GMH) had significantly higher (p<0.05) free radical scavenging (ABTS•+, OH•, and O2•-) activities than that of the yellow hydrolysate (YMH) and red hydrolysate (RMH). However, invitro antidiabetic testing was performed based on the inhibitory activity of α-amylase and α-glucosidase. GMH was found to be more effective than YMH and RMH. These results showed that the antioxidant and antidiabetic activity in hydrolyzed GM protein has high potential to be utilized as natural nutraceuticals.

Enhancement of solubility and dissolution rate of atorvastatin calcium by co-crystallization