First report of anatoxin-a encoding gene in isolated cyanobacterial strains from Malaysia

Aims: This study focus on the presence of cyanobacterial toxin in Malaysia and anatoxin-a-encoding gene was detected in this study and the status of cyanobacterial toxins in Malaysia can now be clarified. Methodology and results: As part of status determination of cyanobacterial toxins in Malaysia, cyanobacterial strains have been isolated from different environments and identified using cyanobacterial 16S rRNA gene sequence. PCR assay was carried out to detect the presence of cyanobacterial toxin-encoding genes in these isolated strains by amplifying genes encoded for microcystin, anatoxin-a, cylindrospermopsin and saxitoxin. Using molecular identification of 16S rRNA gene sequences, a total of forty-two cyanobacterial strains were identified, which belongs to eighteen different genera of Synechococcus, Cyanobium, Synechocystis, Chroococcidiopsis, Leptolyngbya, Nodosilinea, Limnothrix, Pseudanabaena, Cephalothrix, Aerosakkonema, Oscillatoria, Alkalinema, Pantanalinema, Planktolyngbya, Scytonema, Nostoc, Hapalosiphon and Symphyonemopsis. The toxicity of these strains was tested using PCR amplification of toxin-encoding genes using specific primers. Conclusion, significance and impact of study: Anatoxin-a (ATX) gene, which involved in the biosynthesis of anatoxin-A was detected in two isolated strains namely Limnothrix sp. B15 and Leptolyngbya sp. D1C10. This study focus on the the presence of cyanobacterial toxin in Malaysia can now be determined as potential threat because anatoxin-a-encoding gene was detected in this study and the status of cyanobacterial toxins in Malaysia can now be clarified. © 2018, Universiti Sains Malaysia

Antiulcerogenic, Anti-Secretory and Cytoprotective Effects of Piper Cubeba (L.) on Experimental Ulcer Models in Rat

This paper evaluated anti-gastric ulcer and anti-secretory effects of a popular spice Piper cubeba L, (Family: Piperaceae) in rats. The gastric ulcer protective potential of an aqueous suspension of Piper cubeba (PCS) was evaluated against different acute gastric ulcer models in rats induced by pyloric ligation (Shay), hypothermic restraint stress, indomethacin and by necrotizing agents (80% ethanol, 0.2 M NaOH and 25% NaCl) induced gastric mucosal injury. Piper cubeba aqueous suspension (PCS) at the doses 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight administered orally (intraperitoneally in Shay rat model) showed a dose-dependent ulcer protective effects in all the above models. Besides, the PCS offered protection against ethanol-induced depletion of gastric wall mucus (GWM); replenished the reduced non-protein sulfhydryls (NP‑SH) concentration and significantly replenished malondialdehyde (MDA) contents in the gastric tissue. Ethanol induced histopathological lesions of the stomach wall characterized by mucosal hemorrhages and edema was reversed by Piper cubeba aqueous suspension treatment. Pretreatment of rats with Piper cubeba provided significant protection of gastric mucosa through its antioxidant capacity and/or by attenuating the offensive and by enhancing the defensive factor

Bioremediation and Electricity Generation by Using Open and Closed Sediment Microbial Fuel Cells

The industrial contamination of marine sediments with mercury, silver, and zinc in Penang, Malaysia was studied with bio-remediation coupled with power generation using membrane less open (aerated) and closed (non-aerated) sediment microbial fuel cells (SMFCs). The prototype for this SMFC is very similar to a natural aquatic environment because it is not stimulated externally and an oxygen sparger is inserted in the cathode chamber to create the aerobic environment in the open SMFC and no oxygen supplied in the closed SMFC. The open and closed SMFCs were showed the maximum voltage generation 300.5 mV (77.75 mW/m2) and 202.7 mV (45.04 (mW/m2), respectively. The cyclic voltammetry showed the oxidation peak in open SMFCs at +1.9 μA and reduction peak at -0.3 μA but in closed SMFCs oxidation and reduction peaks were noted at +1.5 μA and -1.0 μA, respectively. The overall impedance (anode, cathode and solution) of closed SMFCs was higher than open SMFCs. The charge transfer impedance showed that the rates of substrate oxidation and reduction were very low in the closed SMFCs than open SMFCs. The Nyquist arc indicated that O2 act as electron acceptor in the open SMFCs and CO2 in the closed SMFCs. The highest remediation efficiency of toxic metals [Hg (II) ions, Zn (II) ions, and Ag (I) ions] in the open SMFCs were 95.03%, 86.69%, and 83.65% in closed SMFCs were 69.53%, 66.57%, and 65.33%, respectively, observed during 60–80 days. The scanning electron microscope and 16S rRNA analysis showed diverse exoelectrogenic community in the open SMFCs and closed SMFCs. The results demonstrated that open SMFCs could be employed for the power generation and bioremediation of pollutants

EFFECT OF BETA VULGARIS L. ON CHOLESTEROL RICH DIET-INDUCED HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIA IN RATS

Abstract The lyophilized aqueous extract of Beta vulgaris L. (beet root) (BVE) was investigated for its possible antihypercholesterolemic and antioxidant potential in cholesterol rich diet-induced hypercholesterolemia in Wistar albino rats. Hypercholesterolemia was induced in rats by feeding 1% cholesterol rich diet for 10 weeks. Lipid profile and glucose were estimated in serum. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and non-protein sulfhydryls (NP-SH) levels were measured in liver and heart. Hypercholesterolemic rats showed a significant increase in total cholesterol and triglycerides and a significant decrease in high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) levels. BVE at the doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight for 70 consecutive days showed a significant decrease in total cholesterol and triglycerides and significant increase in HDL-C. Furthermore, hypercholesterolemic rats showed free radical generation (lipid peroxidation), evident by a significant increase in MDA level and a significant reduction in NP-SH content in both liver and heart homogenates. BVE treatment significantly decreased MDA level and significantly replenished the reduced NP-SH content in both liver and heart tissue. The acute toxicity test of BVE showed no mortality or morbidity in rats. The findings indicate that BVE has a significant antihypercholesterolemic and antioxidant potential and/or free radical scavenging properties in hypercholesterolemic, rats possibly exerted by the phytoconstituents present in the beet root. Rezumat Studiul experimental evaluează acţiunea antihipercolesterolemiantă şi antioxidantă a extractului apos liofilizat al rădăcinii plantei Beta vulgaris (Chenopodiaceae). Studiul a fost realizat pe şobolani albi de laborator, cărora li s-a indus experimental hipercolesterolemia. A fost evaluat profilul lipidic şi glucidic al animalelor, concentraţia serică a malonildialdehidei. De asemenea, au fost evaluate (ĭn ţesutul hepatic şi cardiac) grupările sulfhidril non-proteice. Rezultatele obţinute indică proprietăţile antihipercolesterolemiante şi antioxidante, datorate fitoconstituenţilor prezenţi în rădăcina plantei studiate

Proanthocyanidin-rich date seed extract protects against chemically induced hepatorenal toxicity

A hydroacetone extract was prepared from seeds of Phoenix dactylifera L. var. Khalas, which is an industrial by-product of date processing. The proanthocyanidin nature of the extract (coded as DTX) was characterized by phytochemical and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analyses. The total phenol/proanthocyanidin content and antioxidant activity of DTX were estimated by Folin-Ciocalteu, vanillin-sulfuric acid, and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assays, respectively. The hepatorenal protective activity of DTX was evaluated using CCl4-induced toxicity model in rats, in comparison with silymarin (SYL). Results of the histopathological examination and measurements of various hepatorenal serum indices and tissue biochemical markers demonstrated that DTX displayed marked protective potential against CCl4-induced liver and kidney injury at 100 mg/kg/rat. Relative to the control CCl4-intoxicated group, pretreatment with DTX significantly (P<.001) suppressed the elevated serum levels of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase (ALT and AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), bilirubin, creatinine, and calcium, whereas it significantly (P<.001) increased the diminished serum levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and total protein (TP). Moreover, DTX significantly decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) formation and increased TP synthesis in hepatorenal tissues compared with the intoxicated control. The improvement in biochemical parameters by DTX was observed in a dose-dependent manner and confirmed by restoration of normal histological features. The acute toxicity test of DTX in rats revealed safety of the extract. This study reveals that DTX enhances the recovery from xenobiotics-induced toxicity initiated by free radicals

GC-MS Analysis: In Vivo

Liver disease is a worldwide problem. It represents one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality in humans. Achillea biebersteinii is used as herbal remedy for various ailments including liver diseases. But the scientific basis for its medicinal use remains unknown. Thus, this research was undertaken to evaluate the efficiency of A. biebersteinii essential oil (ABEO) (0.2 mL/kg) in the amelioration of CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in rodent model. Moreover, the chemical content of the oil was investigated using GC and GC-MS. The following biochemical parameters were evaluated: serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (GPT), gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase (γ-GGT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and total bilirubin. Furthermore, lipid profile, malondialdehyde (MDA), nonprotein sulfhydryl (NP-SH), and total protein (TP) contents in liver tissue were estimated. 44 components (92.0%) of the total oil have been identified by GC-MS analysis where α-terpinene and p-cymene were the most abundant. The high serum enzymatic (GOT, GPT, GGT, and ALP) and bilirubin concentrations as well as the level of MDA, NP-SH, and TP contents in liver tissues were significantly reinstated towards normalization by the ABEO. Histopathological study further confirmed these findings. In addition, ABEO showed mild antioxidant activity in 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging and β-carotene-linoleic acid assays

Isolation, Identification, and Characterization of Cadmium Resistant Pseudomonas sp. M3 from Industrial Wastewater

The present study deals with the isolation, identification, and characterization of the cadmium resistant bacteria from wastewater collected from industrial area of Penang, Malaysia. The isolate was selected based on high level of the cadmium and antibiotic resistances. On the basis of morphological, biochemical characteristics, 16S rDNA gene sequencing and phylogeny analysis revealed that the strain RZCd1 was authentically identified as Pseudomonas sp. M3. The industrial isolate showed more than 70% of the cadmium removal in log phase. The cadmium removal capacity of strain RZCd1 was affected by temperature and pH. At pH 7.0 and 35°C, strain RZCd1 showed maximum cadmium removal capacity. The minimal inhibitory concentration of strain RZCd1 against the cadmium was 550 µg/mL. The resistance against the cadmium was associated with resistance to multiple antibiotics: amoxicillin, penicillin, cephalexin, erythromycin, and streptomycin. The strain RZCd1 also gave thick bands of proteins in front of 25 kDa in cadmium stress condition after 3 h of incubation. So the identified cadmium resistant bacteria may be useful for the bioremediation of cadmium contaminated industrial wastewater

Enhanced bioremediation of toxic metals and harvesting electricity through sediment microbial fuel cell

Performance of sediment microbial fuel cells (SMFCs) with aerated (A-SMFC) and nonaerated (NA-SMFC) cathodes was evaluated at different operating conditions in toxic metal removal and power generation. The A- and NA-SMFC open-circuit voltages were respectively about 665 and 275 mV, with quite steady performances for 120 days. The cell design points of both SMFCs were calculated by implementing polarization curves, and they were at 1 kΩ (power density 8.1 mW/m2 and current density 0.0504 mA/m2 with voltage 150 mV) for NA-SMFC and 100 Ω (power density 252.81 mW/m2 and current density 0.954 mA/m2 with voltage of 275 mV) for A-SMFC, respectively. Cathode potentials were at 30 kΩ 290 mV (NA-SMFC) and 500 mV (A-SMFC). As to the anode, at 30 KΩ, it was −180 mV (NA-SMFC) and 190 mV (A-SMFC). The voltammetry profiles of A-SMFC showed maximum current (forward scan, 22.7 μA; reverse scan, −19.4 μA) followed by NA-SMFC (forward scan, 11.3 μA; reverse scan, −9.5 μA). The cell design points of A-SMFC and NA-SMFC were altered after pH and temperature amendments at 200 and 700 Ω, respectively. As to metal removal rate, the maximum arsenic cadmium and lead removal was observed in A-SMFC at pH 7.0 (77.70%, 90.86%, and 83.91%) and 45°C (66.22%, 79.03%, and 71.17%). Scanning electron microscopy confirmed, at pH 7.0 and 45°C, an optimal biofilm growth at cathode and anode graphite of both SMFCs. After 120 days of operation, genomic DNA was extracted from biofilms and analyzed for rDNA 16S sequences. Similarity search was performed by using Basic Local Alignment Search Tool algorithm against the National Center for Biotechnology Information Gen Bank showing Pseudomonas spp. dominance at both anode and cathode. The results revealed that the A-SMFC system could be employed as an effective and long-term tool for power generation as well as stimulated bioremediation of the polluted sediments

Gastroprotective effect of radish “Raphanus Sativus” L. on experimental Gastric ulcer models in rats

Department of Pharmacognosy and Medicinal, Aromatic & Poisonous Plants Research Center (MAPPRC), College of Pharmacy, P.O. Box 2457, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia Email: [email protected], [email protected] sativus L. ‘Radish’ locally known as Fijl, is a Brassicaceous plant of cabbage family which has been reputed for its benefic medicinal properties. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the freshly squeezed Radish juice (FRJ) for its anti-gastric ulcer activity in experimental models, besides preliminary qualitative phytochemical screening. Oral administration of FRJ in doses of 2 and 4 ml/ 200 g b.w. significantly inhibited gastric ulcer formation induced by necrotizing agents (ethanol, sodium hydroxide and sodium chloride) hypothermic restraint-stress and indomethacin. The FRJ also replenished the ethanol induced depleted gastric wall mucus secretion and nonproteinsulfhydryl (NP-SH) concentrations in rats. The phytochemical screening showed the presence of flavonoids, anthocyanins and sulfurated constituents. In conclusion, the results indicate that the fresh juice of Radish possesses gastroprotective potential related to the mucus secretion stimulation (potentiation of defensive factors); and increase in NP-SH concentration is probably due to prostaglandin-inducing abilities, mediated through its antioxidant activity