Nickel nanoparticles induces cytotoxicity, cell morphology and oxidative stress in bluegill sunfish (BF-2) cells

The rationale of the current study was to assess the suitability of BF-2 cell line as a model to assess nanotoxicity in the caudal fin cells of bluegill sunfish in vitro. The current study investigates the potential toxicity, morphological changes and oxidative stress of nickel nanoparticles (Ni NPs) in bluegill sunfish cells (BF-2) using mitochondrial, neutral red uptake and lactate dehydrogenase assays. Results indicated a concentration dependent cytotoxic effect after 24 h in mitochondrial, lysosomal and lactate dehydrogenase activities. BF-2 cells morphology was altered when exposed to 30 μg ml−1 concentrations of Ni NPs for 24 h. Dose dependent increase of oxidative stress was evidenced in BF-2 cells when exposed to Ni NPs, showed significant escalation in peroxidation of lipids (LPO), protein carbonyl (PC), glutathione sulfo-transferase (GST) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) as compared to their experimental controls. However, the catalase (CAT) and total glutathione content (TGSH) was found to decrease dose dependently in BF-2 cells exposed to Ni NPs. The current study demonstrated that BF-2 cells may serve as a sensitive indicator for aquatic contaminant evaluations in toxicological research.publishe

Chemical characterization and antioxidant properties of exopolysaccharides from mangrove filamentous fungi Fusarium equiseti ANP2

A filamentous fungi F. equiseti strain ANP2 with good exopolysaccharide (EPS) yield, apparent viscosity was screened and isolated from Krishna estuarine mangrove sediments. Based on molecular characteristics the selected strain was confirmed as F. equiseti, yielded EPS (4.9 ± 0.25 g/L) and whole cell biomass (3.5 ± 0.2 g/L) in MSM during early stationary phase. The crude EPS was purified by chromatography of Q-Sepharose and Superdex-75, affording Ms and MF-1 fractions were obtained, respectively. Chemical analyses revealed that EPS is primarily composed of neutral sugars and proteins. FTIR-spectroscopy revealed presence of hydroxyl, carbonyl groups and glycosidic bonds which correspond to typical heteropolysaccharide. GC analysis demonstrated that MF-1 mainly consist of mannose (72.6%) and glucose (27.3%). Viscosity studies exhibited typical non-Newtonian pseudoplastic behaviour with high viscosity. The scavenging ability on hydroxyl radicals, indicate that MF-1-EPS has good antioxidant activity. Current study demonstrated that MF-1 differed from previously characterized Fusarium sp., and can serve as potential antioxidant. Keywords: Fusarium equiseti, Exopolysaccharides, Gas chromatography, Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy, Antioxidant activit

Isolation and characterization of plumbagin (5- hydroxyl- 2- methylnaptalene-1,4-dione) producing endophytic fungi Cladosporium delicatulum from endemic medicinal plants

The rationale of the present study was to isolate and identify endophytic fungi from endemic medicinal plants in Eastern Ghats and screened for antimicrobial potential of isolated fungal crude extracts. A total of 329 endophytic strains were isolated from 600 infected leaves and stem cuttings of endemic plants. The diversity and species richness was analyzed statistically and found to be higher in leaf segments than in stem segments. From isolated fungal strains, Cladosporium delicatulum was identified using molecular identification methods and selected as the most potent plumbagin-producing endophytic strain. Further the isolation and structural characterization of endophytic fungal plumbagin (5-hydroxyl-2-methylnaptalene-1,4-dione) was purified and confirmed through spectroscopy analysis. The molecular weight was determined as m/z 188 in positive mode by ESI-MS, which confirmed to be plumbagin which potentially inhibited all tested pathogens, therefore the endophytic fungal plumbagin from the current study possesses important biological activities against pathogens. Keywords: Endophytic fungi, Cladosporium delicatulum, Structural characterization, Plumbagin, Biological activitie