Response of growth regulators and micronutrients on yield and physico-chemical quality of Ber (Zizyphus mauritiana Lamk) cv. BAU Kul-1

Ber (Zizyphus mauritiana Lamk.) is an indigenous delicious, nourishing fruit grown widely throughout the India but faces heavy fruit drop due to several biotic and abiotic stress factors resulted in declining trend of ber pro-duction over the year. Keeping these facts in foreground, replicated field experiment was conducted during 2013-14 and 2014-15 at HRS, Mondouri, BCKV, West Bengal with eleven treatments consist two different levels of NAA, GA3, 2,4-D, ZnSO4 and H3BO3 along with a control (water spray). Results of investigation revealed that application of 2,4-D @ 10 mg/l recorded highest fruit set (48.80%). Maximum fruit retention (42.83%) and total no. of fruits/tree (514) were obtained with the application of NAA @ 20 mg/l. Application of GA3 @ 20 mg/l recorded significantly (p?0.05) higher yield (30.67 kg/tree), fruit weight (60.5 g), fruit length (5.8 cm), fruit breadth (5.1 cm), pulp to seed ratio (13.9) and specific gravity (1.104) as well as economic returns over control during both the year of experiment. Among the treatments H3BO3 at 0.4% recorded the highest TSS (11.7°Brix), total sugar (8.33%), reducing sugar (5.21%) and TSS: Acid (107.36) ratio with lowest fruit acidity (0.10 %) whereas highest vitamin-C content of fruit was recorded with GA3 at 20 mg/l (64.68 mg / 100 g) followed by NAA at 20 mg/l. Results suggest that twice spraying of GA3 @ 20 mg/l and H3BO3 at 0.4% is vital for optimizing yield components, yield and quality of ber (cv. BAU Kul-1) in trans-Gangetic plains of West Bengal

Matrix Metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) Promoter Polymorphisms are Well Linked with Lower Stomach Tumor Formation in Eastern Indian Population

Expression of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1), an interstitial collagenase, plays a major role in cellular invasion during development of gastric cancer, a leading cause of death worldwide. A single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) 21607 1G/2G site of the MMP-1 gene promoter has been reported to alter transcription level. While the importance’s of other SNPs in the MMP-1 promoter have not yet been studied in gastric cancer, our aim was to investigate MMP-1 gene promoter polymorphisms and gastric cancer susceptibility in eastern Indian population. A total of 145 gastric cancer patients and 145 healthy controls were genotyped for MMP-1 21607 1G/2G (rs1799750) by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), while MMP-1 2519 A/G (rs1144393), MMP-1 2422 T/A (rs475007), MMP-1 2340 T/C (rs514921) and MMP-1 2320 T/C (rs494379) were genotyped by DNA sequencing. A positive association was found with MMP-1 2422 T/A SNP that showed significant risk for regional lymph node metastasis (P = 0.021, Odd’s ratio (OR) = 3.044, Confidence intervals (CI) = 1.187– 7.807). In addition, we found a significant association with lower stomach tumor formation among gastric cancer patients for three adjacent polymorphisms near the transcriptional start sites of [MMP-1 2422 T/A (P = 0.043, OR = 2.182, CI = 1.03– 4.643), MMP-1 2340 T/C (P = 0.075, OR = 1.97, CI = 0.94–4.158) and MMP-1 2320 T/C (P = 0.034, OR = 2.224, CI = 1.064– 40731)]. MMP-1 level in patients’ serum was correlated with MMP-1 promoter haplotypes conferring these three SNPs to evaluate the functional importance of these polymorphisms in lower stomach tumor formation and significant correlation was observed. Furthermore, MMP-1 2519 A/G polymorphism displayed poor cellular differentiation (P = 0.024, OR = 3.8, CI = 1.69–8.56) attributing a higher risk of cancer progression.In conclusion, MMP-1 proximal promoter SNPs are associated with the risk of lower stomach tumor formation and node metastasis in eastern Indian population

SPECTROSCOPIC CHARACTERIZATION OF PHYTOCONSTITUENTS ISOLATED FROM A RARE MANGROVE AEGIALITIS ROTUNDIFOLIA ROXB., LEAVES AND EVALUATION OF ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF THE CRUDE EXTRACT

Objective: The aim of the study is to isolate and characterize the phytochemicals from the leaves of a rare and unexplored mangrove Aegialitis rotundifolia and evaluate the antimicrobial properties of the crude extract. Methods: The dried powdered plant material was extracted with ethanol, and the ethanol extract obtained was dissolved in distilled water and partitioned using n-hexane first and then ethyl acetate. The ethyl acetate fraction was subjected to column chromatography for isolation of phytocompounds. The isolated compounds were characterized using infrared (IR), carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance (13C NMR), proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR), mass spectroscopy, and thin-layer chromatography (TLC). Antimicrobial activity of the crude extracts was performed using the well diffusion method against four bacterial strains and two fungal strains. Results: Three pure compounds were isolated from the leaves of Aegialitis rotundifolia, namely, 3,4-dimethyl benzoic acid, 3’-methoxy-4’-hydroxy-flavan-3-ol, and 3’,7-dimethoxy-dimethyl-4’,3,5-trihydroxy flavone which were confirmed by spectroscopic studies. Strong antibacterial activity was shown by the test extract against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, whereas Escherichia coli and Bacillus cereus showed average and nil activity, respectively. The antifungal activity of the test extract was found to be strong for both the fungal strains, namely, Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger. Conclusion: The results of the present study show that the isolated compounds were confirmed to be 3,4-dimethyl benzoic acid, 3’-methoxy-4’- hydroxy-flavan-3-ol, and 3’,7-dimethoxy-dimethyl-4’,3,5-trihydroxy flavone and the test extracts showed potent antimicrobial activity for all the bacterial and fungal strains except E. coli and B. cereus which showed average and nil activity, respectively

PHYTOCHEMICAL PROFILING USING LC-Q-TOF-MS ANALYSIS AND IN VITRO ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF A RARE SALT-SECRETING MANGROVE AEGIALITIS ROTUNDIFOLIA ROXB. LEAVES EXTRACT

Objective: The present work deals with the qualitative study of the phytoconstituents present in Aegialitis rotundifolia Roxb., ethanolic leaves extract and evaluate its antioxidant properties in vitro. Methods: The qualitative phytochemical analysis of the extract was performed first using preliminary phytochemical tests and then by liquid chromatography quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-Q-TOF-MS). The antioxidant properties were investigated comprehensively using seven in vitro models viz., 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, nitric oxide (NO) scavenging, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) scavenging, superoxide (SOD) radical scavenging, lipid peroxidation (LPO) assay, reducing power (RP), and total antioxidant activity. Results: The preliminary phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of several important phytochemical groups whereas the LC-Q-TOF-MS analysis detected 25 phytoconstituents in the extract mostly belonging to flavonoids and alkaloids. The test extract showed strong dose-dependent antioxidant activity in all the seven in vitro models, however, the activity of the extracts was slightly lower compared to the reference standard ascorbic acid. Conclusion: The test extract showed strong antioxidant properties which could be possibly due to the phytoconstituents detected in the extract

DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF RP-HPLC AND UV SPECTROPHOTOMETRIC METHODS FOR THE QUANTIFICATION OF CAPECITABINE

Objective: The objective of the present study was to develop and validate a new liquid chromatographic technique and four new spectrophotometric methods for the quantitative estimation of Capecitabine.Methods: In the first method, the chromatographic technique was carried out in isocratic technique on Shimadzu Model CBM-20A/20 Alite HPLC system, equipped with SPD M20A prominence PDA detector with Zorbax C18 (150 mm × 4.6 mm i. d, 5 µm particle size) column. The method was optimized with a mobile phase consisting of 0.1 % Acetic acid and Acetonitrile (35:65, v/v) with flow rate 0.5 ml/min. In second, third, fourth and fifth methods, spectrophotometric techniques were applied. The absorption maximum (λmax) was observed at 305 nm, 305 nm, 303 nm and 297 nm for method B (developed in 0.1 N hydrochloric acid), C (developed in sodium acetate buffer pH 4.0), D (developed in phosphate buffer pH 7.0) and E (developed in borate buffer pH 9.0) respectively. Different validation parameters such as linearity, precision, accuracy, limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ), robustness were also determined.Results: The linearity of the calibration curves for the analyte in the desired concentration range is good for both the HPLC (R2 = 0.9994) and UV methods. The LOD and LOQ were found to be 0.02354 μg/ml and 0.07162 μg/ml respectively. The % RSD values for the validation parameters (precision and accuracy) were less than 2.0%.Conclusion: The proposed chromatographic and spectrophotometric methods were validated and can be applied for the determination of Capecitabine in pharmaceutical formulations.Keywords: Capecitabine, UV spectrophotometric, ­­Forced degradation, RP-HPLC, Method validatio

MANAGEMENT OF MICROBIAL BIOFILM USING NANO PARTICLE: A REVIEW

Microorganisms create biofilms, which are surface adherent community structures. These biofilms are essential to the infection process mediated by microbes. Antibiotic resistance is another thing that biofilm spreads, which is a big worry these days. Diverse bacteria use diverse mechanisms to create biofilms, and these mechanisms often depend on the environment in which they grow as well as strain-specific characteristics. Many chemical compounds are discovered to be useful in investigating the biofilm management method. The usefulness of nanoparticles in preventing biofilm-mediated disease is the subject of the current review. Using nanoscale particles to fight microbial biofilm is one possible way to treat these persistent diseases. Recently, antibacterial agents have been delivered employing innovative nanotechnology-based antimicrobial activity in order to destroy planktonic bacteria and their biofilm structures. In the sphere of medicine, this technique is now considered developing. Antimicrobial-loaded nanoparticles alone or in combination with other materials could increase the bacterial activity of nanomaterials to prevent the formation of biofilms. These particles are reactive substances that readily penetrate the matrix, serving as a barrier to numerous antibodies. One type of nanoparticle, called AgNPs, exhibited antibacterial action by rupturing the integrity of the bacterial cell membrane, which resulted in the release of cellular content and eventual death. Additionally, polymeric-based formulations like hydrogel, polymeric microspheres, nanospheres, and smart olimer, as well as lipid-based nanoparticles like liposomes and solid lipid nanoparticles, have been used in the biofilm treatment. Additionally, research is ongoing with various metals like copper, zinc, and their oxides. Here, we talked about the safety issues and the promise of metal oxide nanoparticles. The pathogens are effectively killed by NPs without endangering other cells or having any negative effects on living cells

Accumulation of Biological and Behavioral Data of Female Sex Workers Using Respondent-Driven Sampling Around the World: Systematic Review

Background: Respondent-Driven Sampling (RDS) is generally used to study hidden or hard-to-reach populations. The objective of the present work is to describe the initiation, implementation, and complications that arise during RDS of female sex workers (FSWs) around the world. Method: Behavioural and biological data of FSWs collected through RDS was mined from peer-reviewed articles, published during 2010-2022. Review protocol was developed and registered in the PROSPERO (registration number CRD42022346470) and published separately. Results: It was found that most of the RDS (69 articles, globally) were largely successful in the recruitment of FSWs, with varying response rates. Conclusion: Present outcomes supports the application of RDS in surveillance for any such population by providing a minimal set of parameters of testing procedures (methodology) including methods to evaluate the quality also