EFFICACY OF ANTIOXIDATION AND ANTI- INFLAMMATION OF THE LEAF EXTRACTS OF BORRERIA HISPIDA

Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the total content of phenol, terpenoid and flavonoids from leaf extract of Borreria hispida which was collected from Tamilnadu regions. The leaf extract was also evaluated for antioxidant activity and in vitro anti-inflammatory activity.Methods: In the present investigation, the best accession was screened out through antioxidant activity by qualitative and quantitative methods. The leaf extract was evaluated for antioxidant activity by 1,1–diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay. The in vitro anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated using albumin denaturation assay.Results: Among the five solvents, maximum antioxidant activity was found in the ethanolic extract of Thanjavur accession (81.3±0.1 %). Total content of phenol, terpenoid and flavonoids were quantified as 33.21±0.06 mg Gallic Acid Equivalents, 76.4±0.02 and 18.27±0.08 mg QE/g respectively. The maximum inhibition rate of albumin denaturation of Borreria hispida was found to be 89.3±0.5% at a dose of 10 mg/ml.Conclusion: It was concluded that the maximum percentage of antioxidant activity was found in Thanjavur accession which attributes the highest radical scavenging activity and the ethanolic leaf extract of Borreria hispida was exhibited a superior level of anti-inflammatory activity

BIOACTIVE POTENTIAL OF AN EPIBIOTIC STREPTOMYCES STRAIN, CN3 FROM THE SEA FAN JUNCELLA JUNCEA

ABSTRACTObjective: To screen and isolate peptide antibiotics producing epibiotic bacteria from the surface of the sea fan Juncella juncea, and partially purifythe active compound.Methods: In this study, epibiotic bacteria were isolated by swabbing a small area of the coral surface with a sterile cotton swab, which was thendirectly swabbed on to Zobell marine agar plates. Antibiotic production was screened using agar overlay method and the active peptide was partiallypurified using anion exchange chromatography and reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). Phylogenetic identificationbased on comparative sequence analysis of 16Ss rRNA gene indicated that the stain fell under the genera Streptomyces.Results: In the initial screening using agar overlay method the strain was found to exhibit broad spectral activity exhibiting both antibacterial andantifungal activities. Protease digestion of the crude extract resulted in the loss of activity indicating the proteinaceous nature of the active molecules.Bioassay guided purification using anion exchange chromatography, and RP-HPLC was carried and the active peptide was partially purified. Anepibiotic Streptomyces strain CN3 producing potent broad spectral peptide was isolated.Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of epibiotic bacteria associated with corals as a potential source for the discovery of novelantimicrobials and other natural products.Keywords: Coral, Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight, Selected pathogens

ISOLATION, SCREENING, AND CHARACTERIZATION OF CHITINASE PRODUCING BACTERIA FROM MARINE WASTES

Objective: Aim of this study deals with screening and characterization of chitinase-producing bacteria from marine waste and its deposited soil along the coastal regions in Chennai.Methods: The soil samples were collected aseptically and subjected to serial dilution to isolate the bacterial strains. Totally, 35 morphologically different microorganisms were isolated and were screened for their chitinolytic activity in colloidal chitin incorporated media through zone assay using Congo red stain. The biochemical tests were performed for the isolated to prove their validity and further with sequencing to determine the species.Results: The isolates were screened based on the size of the zone formed. Best chitinase producers were subjected to biochemical tests and 16s ribosomal RNA sequencing. A novel strain, Acinetobacter ASK18, a gram-negative, motile organism was identified. Thus, the isolate may be a potent producer of chitinase, and the marine wastes can be utilized efficiently to generate a high value-added product.Conclusion: A novel strain, Acinetobacter ASK18, would further be subjected to purification of the enzyme produced, and hence the active principle could be evaluated as an effective pharmacological drug in anticancer and antibacterial properties.Keywords: Marine wastes, Chitinase, Congo red, Biochemical tests, 16s rRNA sequencin

THEORETICAL APPROACH ON TARGETING PLANT FUNGAL PATHOGENIC PROTEINS AGAINST NATURALLY ISOLATED COMPOUNDS FROM CHITINIPHILUS SHINANONENSIS

Objective: The objective of this study was to find the potency and bioefficacy of Asiatic acid and triterpene against four different plant fungal pathogens using a structure-based drug designing approach. Methods: The pathogenic fungus which causes a dreadful effect on plants is reviewed from literature study, and its three-dimensional structures are retrieved from the protein data bank database. On the other hand, ligands are prepared. Finally, prepared fungal drug targets are docked with naturally isolated compounds using AutoDock tools. Results: Both compounds Asiatic acid and triterpene structures are complementary to bind at the active site of four different drug targets. Comparatively, it is more favorable for Avr2 effector protein from Fusarium oxysporum with Ki value of 126.60 μM, 1.76 μM, and dock score value of −5.32 kcal/mol and −7.85 kcal/mol for Asiatic acid and triterpene, respectively. Thus, interaction analysis was carried out only for these protein-ligand complexes. Conclusion: The computational biology study states that these two compounds can be the lead candidate for treating disease caused by plant fungal pathogen F. oxysporum. However, further study has to be done in vitro and in vivo to prove its same efficacy

STUDIES ON PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING, ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY AND ANTI-BACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF SALACIA OBLONGA STEM EXTRACT

Objective: The present study was performed to investigate the phytochemical screening, antioxidant activity and antibacterial activity from the stem extract of Salacia oblonga (S. oblonga).Methods: The stem extracts were evaluated for antioxidant activities by DPPH (1, 1–Diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl) radical scavenging assay. Different concentrations of aqueous stem extract were tested using the agar disc diffusion technique for the activity against Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus cereus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.Results: The phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of active ingredients such as steroids, saponins, phenols, flavonoids, terpenoids, alkaloids and quinones in the stem extract of S. oblonga. Among the extracts prepared from different solvents (ethanol, aqueous, acetone, petroleum ether and chloroform) the maximum antioxidant activity was found in the aqueous stem extract (84.3±0.0 %) of S. oblonga in Hubli accession followed by others accession like Udipi (72.9±0.25 %) and Jogimat (68.0±0.15%.) The antibacterial activity of aqueous stem extract of S. oblonga shown more active against Bacillus subtilis. It was found to be inactive against Escherichia coli.Conclusion: It was concluded that the phytochemical screening of aqueous stem extract of S. oblonga in Hubli accession shown strong positive for the availability of natural chemical constituents and also an excellent antioxidant and antibacterial activity.Keywords: Salacia oblonga, Phytochemicals, Antioxidant, Antibacterial activity, DPPH, Disc diffusion

Anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of coral reef associated gastropod, Trochus tentorium from Tuticorin coastal waters, Southeastern India

The aim of this work was to investigate extensively, the biomedical potential of the mollusc Trochus tentorium which are abundantly associated with coral reef of the Tuticorin coastal water. The 100% acetone fraction of the gastropod tested for its analgesic effect on Swiss mice model and anti-inflammatory activity on albino rat showed promising results. T. tentorium at the concentration of 25 and 50 mg/kg (p.o) showed significant decrease in the paw thickness (41.15 and 73.6%, respectively) at the 5th hour of the experiment. The 100% column-purified fraction of the T. tentorium (200 mg/kg p.o) exhibited significant (p < 0.001) inhibition of 79.22% against acetic acid induced abdominal constrictions. The dose of 25 mg/kg showed the inhibitions in the writhings of 67.86% (p<0.001) of animals when compared to the standard (diclofenac sodium), and 56.83% (50 mg/kg) inhibition was observed. These facts suggest that T. tentorium is a potential source for anti-inflammatory and analgesic compounds.Key words: Analgesic activity, anti-inflammatory activity, mollusc, southeastern India