Process optimization of ultrasonic assisted extraction of betalains from red beet, Beta vulgaris L. waste stalks

858-866Beetroot stalks are regarded as agroindustrial waste, despite their nutritious and colourant characteristics. The pigments found in beetroot waste stalks were extracted using an ultrasonication approach in this investigation. Multiple regression analysis was used to investigate and assess the individual and interaction effects of power intensity, solid-solvent ratio, and sonication period on the betalains. Under optimal conditions (power intensity of 79.801 W/cm2, solid-solvent ratio of 22.4 g/ml, and sonication time of 26.7 min), the maximum betacyanin (3 mg/g) and betaxanthin (4.36 mg/g) were achieved. All responses of betalains extracted from beetroot waste stalks showed a significant (P <0.05) influence of process factors. It was also revealed in the study that ultrasound assisted extraction had actual yield of betalains (betacyanin, 2.92 mg/g and betaxanthin 4.27 mg/g), total phenolic content (69.74 mg GAE/g), as well as superior antioxidant activity (76.32%), than traditional techniques, under optimal conditions of independent process variables

Improvement of plant regeneration through the electroporation of colt Cherry (Prunus avium x pseudocerasus) isolated protoplasts

Improvement of plant regeneration through the electroporation of colt Cherry ([i]Prunus avium[/i] x [i]pseudocerasus[/i]) isolated protoplasts. Electronique et pilotage des plante

Isolation, Identification and Molecular Characterization of Phytase Producing Bacteria, Pseudomonas Sp. aazad

Phytases are enzyme capable of hydrolysing phytic acid to myo-inositol and inorganic phosphorus. The aim of the present study was the screening and isolation of efficient phytase producing bacteria from soil samples. 14 bacterial isolates were found to produce clear zone of hydrolysis on PSM containing 0.5% ca-phytate. Out of all phytase positive isolates, five bacterial isolates 100A, 9H, 14A, 4D, and 2B showed significant phytase production in submerged fermentation. The isolate 14A was found to be the best among all with the maximum production of 89.09 U/ml after 72 h of incubation at 30 ºC. Colony morphology and microscopic examination (Gram’s staining) of maximal phytase producer suggested that the isolate 14A is gram negative rod. Further on molecular analysis the bacterial isolate showed closest similarity with Pseudomonas sp. 16S rDNA sequencing and sequence similarity search using BLAST showed that it matches 97 % with Pseudomonas pulluriniana, while 3% was found to be unique sequence and named as Pseudomonas sp. aazad. The crude phytase from the isolate showed optimum activity at pH 6 and temperature 50 ºC

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Not Availablehis study investigated the immunomodulatory potential of oral administration of Lactobacillus helveticus-fermented milk and cell free supernatant after fermentation in mice. Mice were fed for a period of 2, 5 or 8 consecutive days with L. helveticus fermented milk, cell free supernatant. The control group was fed only milk. The immune response was assessed by analyzing lysosomal enzymes viz. β-galactosidase and β-glucuronidase, phagocytic activity of peritoneal macrophages and lymphocyte proliferation index at the end of feeding periods. The mice fed with L. helveticus fermented milk and cell free supernatant showed significant increased lysosomal enzymes levels and phagocytic activity in peritoneal macrophages in comparison to control group. Similarly, lymphocyte proliferation index was also higher in fermented milk and cell free supernatant group. The results suggested that lactic acid bacteria as well as immunoactive component released in milk had positive impact on non specific (phagocytic activity) and specific immune response (lymphocyte proliferation).Not Availabl

Reversal reaction in borderline leprosy is associated with a polarized shift to type 1-like Mycobacterium leprae T cell reactivity in lesional skin. A follow-up study

Borderline leprosy patients often undergo acute changes in immune reactivity that manifest as reversal reaction (RR) in the course of the disease. RR is associated with an exacerbated local delayed-type cellular immune response to Mycobacterium leprae and is responsible for severe tissue damage. We investigated whether RR episodes are associated with a change in T cell subsets in the lesional skin with regard to their cytokine secretion profiles. M. leprae-responsive T cell lines and thereafter T cell clones (TCC) were generated from the lesional skin of seven untreated borderline leprosy patients (with or without RR) and again from three of these patients experiencing RR during treatment. The phenotypes of the M. leprae-responsive TCC were either CD4+, CD8+, CD4-/CD8+/TCR gammadelta+, or CD4-/CD8-/TCR gammadelta+, although most of them were CD4+. Regardless of the clinical status of the untreated patients, a major subset of the M. leprae-responsive TCC was type 0-like and produced both IFN-gamma and IL-4. Interestingly, in all three patients who experienced a (re)occurrence of RR during treatment after the first analysis, a clear shift to polarized IFN-gamma production by the M. leprae-responsive TCC (type 1-like) was observed. This shift in T cell subsets was also reflected in the observed decrease in serum IgG and IgM levels of the same patients during RR. These finding indicate that CD4+ M. leprae-responsive T cells with a polarized type 1-like phenotype might be responsible for the immune-mediated tissue damage occurring during R

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Not AvailableUsing a unique set of household-level data from the Indian state of Punjab, this paper assesses the performance and financing of dairy value chains at their upstream. We find co-existence of formal value chains driven by dairy cooperatives and private processors including multinationals and informal value chains driven by vendors or local traders and consumer-households. The resource-rich dairy farmers prefer partnerships with private dairy processors or vice versa. The small dairy farmers are more dependent on informal channels for the sale of their produce. Although, there is no significant difference in milk yield across herd sizes and value chains, the farmers associated with cooperative value chain earn more profit. The findings also indicate the practice of scale-based price discrimination in the formal segment, especially by the multinationals. Further, more than half of the dairy farmers finance their dairying activities borrowing from the formal as well as informal sources. The chain-based financing is restricted to the value chains driven by the local traders and private domestic processors. The financing by commercial banks is limited and is biased in favour of resource-rich dairy farmers.Not Availabl